India-Post_03-25-2016_e-paper by Ghanshyam Bisht

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Mehbooba meets PM, govt likely soon Details on page 5

Indian honored with Asians in America Award

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VOL 21, No. 1122

March 25, 2016

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RAJA HEADS FOR NOV WITH BIG WIN

Details on page 5

Huge color smeared Holi celebration Details on page 16

Reservation is the right of Dalits, says PM Details on page 6

Nepal seals transit treaty, rail link with China Details on page 7

Successful Asian women leaders meet

Pakistan’s Sindh declares Holi as public holiday

Details on page 20

Details on page 7

Gurmeet wins Asian 20km race walk

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29

Details on page 6

INDIA POST SURVEY survey@indiapost.com This week’s question

Is Raja Krishnamoorthi complacent about November? Last week’s result

Should Rajat Gupta continue with his case? YES 26%

NO 74%

Classifieds ------------------------- 48

Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democratic primary candidate for the 8th Congressional District, celebrating his win with supporters on March 15

Community Post -------------- 16-27 Date Book -------------------------- 47 Edit Page --------------------------- 54

India Post News Service

CHICAGO: India Post in its earlier pre-election dispatches had clearly indicated that Raja Krishnamoorthi, an 8th Congressional District contestant, is heading for a victory and the last Tuesday night results vindicated IP reading. Raja trounced his two opponents by 2 to 1 margin in a Democratic primary and sailed past the winning post easily. Raja will be facing his Republican rival Pete DiCianni -

DuPage County commissioner and a Third Party candidate Bill Fraser (Independent, high school teacher). According to indications available, Raja will have a cake walk in the November 30 elections and will be representing the 8th District in the US Congress. In a talk to this paper, Raja said that he "will fight in Congress to save the middle-class in our country, because it's our middle-class that makes America strong.

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Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Immigration Post ------------- 44-46 Life Style ----------------------- 50-52 Perspective ------------------------ 34 Philosophy ------------------------- 53 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 30-32 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-15

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ver the past several weeks I spent considerable time and precious news print writing about Republican frontline Presidential contender Donald Trump unwittingly thus ignoring the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Or perhaps it was that the ridiculously loyal following Trump has been garnering worried me, or that there's a certain foregone conclusion that Clinton will be nominated by her party to make the final run for the White House, if not eventually be the President of the United States of America. However, it must be said for the sizeable number of Americans - Americans who see themselves as overwhelmingly liberal or independent, non-partisan, nonreligious and not afraid of socialism if I may dare say so, and someone whom I would refer to as rational - for not overtly liking left-of-center, old school Clinton. Looking from the perspective of this class of Americans, it's evident they are increasingly finding themselves at a cross roads, wanting to drum up enough support for Bernie Sanders in order to decimate the raging bull that is Donald Trump and not wanting to support the more popular Hillary Clinton. What is frustrating for these people, where even rabid Trump supporters are getting away with outright racist and intolerant intonations, they are vociferously being suppressed from speaking up, and being condemned as "sexist" for being anti-Hillary. Indeed, Clinton's gender is of no consequence to this section of the voting population, an overwhelming of who are women; rather, what they have an issue with, is trust. They have issues with Clinton's domestic and foreign policy stand, half truths and lack of transparency on her donors and the Clinton Foundation, her elitist lifestyle while being part of the establishment; her contradictions on the controversial email server, her non-smiling countenance and even her harsh-sounding voice. These voices are no mean voices. They are loud enough to be heard above the din of the candidates. Sadly for them, Clinton's speeches don't really elicit the hope that Obama's did all those years ago. As one anti-Hillary blogger put it, Americans will have a wretched choice to make this November. Is it still possible to get Elizabeth Warren in the fray?

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Love in Paris Mallika Sherawat has found love in Paris, the romantic city, dating French business magnate Cyrille Auxenfans.

Cover Story: Mehbooba meets PM Deadlock over government formation in J&K seems to have ended with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti calling on PM Modi

Community: Grand Holi Holi festival celebration on a grand scale was organized on March 19 at Dixon Landing Park, Milpitas.

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Immigration: Legal challenge The House has voted to embrace the legal challenge to President Barack Obama's actions on immigration

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Innovation hub IIT-Roorkee is giving the innovation hub a new push and has targeted to produce at least 100 entrepreneurs by next year

Bagdogra A small and tranquil town located in the northern part of West Bengal, it is a gateway to the famous hill station, Darjeeling.

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March 25, 2016

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Mehbooba meets PM, govt likely soon NEW DELHI: Deadlock over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir seems to have ended with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a meeting which she described as "very positive" and "good" in addressing issues pertaining to the people of the state. Mehbooba drove to the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday March 22, barely three days after PDP and BJP had hit a road block with BJP's chief interlocutor Ram Madhav announcing that his party would not be accepting any fresh demands from its erstwhile ally PDP. Emerging after a 30-minutelong meeting with the Prime Minister, Mehbooba said she had a "very positive meeting and a good meeting" with him. "We are seeing a stalemate for last two to three months over government formation in the state but today I am satisfied. I am very satisfied," she told reporters here. To a question whether the stalemate has ended, she said, "When you meet the Prime Minister of the country, naturally the solution to the problems faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir is more clear". She will be flying back to Srinagar where she will brief her party legislators. "I had been authorized by the party MLAs to

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on March 22

take a decision. I have convened a meeting and after that we will announce the future course of action." On government formation in the state, she said, "As I said I will talk to my MLAs because that is the forum. This is not the place. There is a particular place to make such announcements. I will go back to Srinagar and take the next step." Mehbooba came to Delhi on Monday after PDP make it clear

to BJP that there was some miscommunication and no fresh demands had been raised by the party for stitching an alliance. This was her second visit to the national capital in five days after her talks with BJP President Amit Shah failed to make any headway triggering speculation that the two parties could be making renewed efforts to reach out to each other in a bid to break the prolonged impasse. Mehbooba had a meeting with

her senior party colleagues, including former Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, during which final touches were given for the meeting with the Prime Minister, sources said. The fresh efforts from PDP, which has 27 MLAs in the 87member state Assembly, come in the backdrop of repeated assertions made by BJP that it was committed to implementation of Agenda of Alliance arrived at by late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

The talks with BJP, which has 25 MLAs, had hit a roadblock last week when the party's interlocutor Ram Madhav made it clear that no fresh demands would be entertained from PDP and that they had to decide whether they want to form a government based on the Agenda of Alliance document. The toughening of stand came as a surprise for Mehbooba who boarded a plane on Friday last and returned to the state. PDP MP Muzzafar Hussain Baig, who has been playing a key role in the backchannel talks, had clarified that PDP had made no fresh demands and that there was a miscommunication from both sides leading to derailing of talks. PDP and BJP had formed an alliance on March one, last year with Sayeed as the Chief Minister. Both the sides had formed an Agenda of Alliance which sought to address internal and external dimension of the state. PDP had toughened its stance after Sayeed's demise by seeking concrete plans for the state's development, including handing over of power projects to the State and vacation of land by the army before the coalition could be revived. Governor's rule was imposed in J-K on January 8 after Mehbooba decided against taking over the reins after her father's death. -PTI

Indian honored with Asians in America Award WASHINGTON: An IndianAmerican software executive, investor and philanthropist has been felicitated in the US with the inaugural Asians in America Award in recognition of his efforts to strengthen Indo-US ties. Silicon Valley-based Madhavan Rangaswami and a Chinese-origin Philanthropist, shipping magnate Dr James S C Chao were honored by the US China Education Trust for their efforts to strengthen ties between US-China-India trilateral relationship. In his acceptance speech Rangaswami underlined the need of "giving back" to society, which he said is the most gratifying thing in life. "Giving back is where I enjoy the most," he said, adding that the other thing is to connect people without expecting anything back. The small but powerful IndianAmerican community can collectively achieve a lot." Founder of Indiaspora,

Indiaspora founder MR Rangaswami (right) receiving the Asians in America award from Frank Islam

Rangaswami had organized the first Indian-American presidential ball in January 2013 before the second swearing of the US President Barack Obama. He and his team have started preparation for the second IndianAmerican ball for the next president which is set for January 18, 2017, said community leader and philanthropist Frank Islam in his introductory remarks. In 1997, Rangaswami cofounded the Sand Hill Group based in Silicon Valley. Sand Hill was one of the earliest software "angel investing" firms. Because of his success there, Forbes has recognized him on its "Midas" list of investors. In 2007, he established a new venture called Corporate Eco-Forum a by-invitation only membership organization for Global 500 companies that demonstrate a serious commitment to the environment as a business strategy. Today, the Forum has 70 members. -PTI

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March 25, 2016

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Reservation is the right of Dalits, says PM NEW DELHI: Making it clear that there will be no change in the reservation policy for Dalits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that nobody can snatch their right even as he accused his opponents of spreading "untruths" on the issue. The Prime Minister also compared Constitution architect B R Ambedkar to Martin Luther King who had fought for the rights of blacks. Delivering the Ambedkar Me-

he cannot snatch this very right of yours. What are we before Baba Saheb". Laying the foundation stone for Ambedkar National memorial, the Prime Minister targeted his political opponents accusing them of "spreading confusion and lies" on the issue and rued that while its "serves their politics", such things "weaken" the social fabric of the nation. The Prime Minister's renewed pitch on reservation comes ahead

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering Dr Ambedkar Memorial Lecture after laying foundation stone for Dr BR Ambedkar National Memorial in New Delhi on March 21

morial Lecture here, Modi said, "Nothing has ever happened to the reservation for Dalits, tribals, when we are in power but still lies are being spread to mislead people. "When Vajpayeeji became PM, a campaign was run saying reservation will be abolished. He was the Prime Minister for two terms and nothing of that sort happened. "BJP has ruled in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana for many years and the quota policy never suffered a scratch. Yet untruths

of assembly polls in five states West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry beginning next month. He repeatedly questioned "why it took 60 years" to do it and reminded that Ambedkar as law minister had to resign from Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet owing to lack of backing on the Hindu Code Bill that was a progressive move aimed to codify and reform Hindu personal law in India by giving the women equal rights in many spheres like property. Terming it "injustice" to call Ambedkar only a messiah of

The Prime Minister repeatedly attacked the main Opposition on the treatment meted out to Ambedkar in the last 60 years, saying had the Dalit icon been projected rightly many of the problems that grip society now would not have existed are being spread. People, who are only interested in doing politics, fail to come out of it," Modi said Asserting that quota is the "right" of the Dalits and the underprivileged that nobody can snatch, the Prime Minister noted, "As I had said earlier also that even if Ambedkar appears today,

Dalits, the Prime Minister said that he was the voice of all marginalized sections and was a "Vishwa Manav" (global personality) and likened him to civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King. Linking the waterways bill brought by his government in Parliament with Ambedkar's views

on India's maritime strength, Modi said no work on it happened in last 60 years and the difference is visible "when some bhakta (devotee) of Baba Saheb comes in government". Training his guns on opponents, he said that it is "indeed difficult to digest defeat", a swipe at Congress which faired poorly in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. "Some people don't like us. They don't even want to see us. They get fever on seeing us and in fever, one loses control of mind. "That is why they say all kinds of lies and all absurd things. Those who did not work for 60 years have given us a chance to do this and we take pride in doing such works like building a memorial at 26 Alipur Road," he said. Modi said it was for the first time that the Prime Minister of the country was delivering the Ambedkar Memorial lecture being organized for the sixth time. Without naming Congress, the Prime Minister repeatedly attacked the main Opposition on the treatment meted out to Ambedkar in the last 60 years, saying had the Dalit icon been projected rightly many of the problems that grip society now would not have existed. "The problem that we see in society would not have been there, had we not forgotten Ambedkar," he said. "Everybody knows what injustice was done to Baba Saheb and who did this injustice to him. What was the reason that the previous governments kept the decision on Indu Mills pending for so long? -PTI

Gurmeet wins Asian 20km race walk NOMI, Japan: Gurmeet Singh ships. created history here by becoming He finished seventh in his first the first Indian athlete to clinch a appearance in 2011, silver in 2012, gold medal in the Asian 20km Race a bronze each in 2013 and 2014 Walk Championships as he won and ninth last year. the men's event with his season's Gurmeet effort was just a few best effort. seconds outside his personal The 30-year-old Gurmeet best of 1:20:22.60 (in clocked 1 hour 20 minutes and 29 Bhubaneshwar in 2012) as well seconds. He beat Japan's Isamu the national record (1:20:21 in the Fujisawa (1:20:49) in a close fight name of K T Irfan). in the last 5km. Kazakhstan's In the women's 20km walk race Georgiy Sheiko won the bronze medal in 1:21:52. By winning the Asian title, Gurmeet has made a strong case for himself for selection in the Rio Olympic Games. Nine Indians have so far bettered the Games qualifying standard in men's 20km race walk and only three will make it to the final in Rio. Gurmeet's feat was the first time Gurmeet Singh stands on the podium after winning in 34 years that an Asian 20km Race Walk Championships Indian has won a gold in either an Asian Champi- event, National Games champion onships or Asian Games in this and Rio Games-bound Sapna finevent. ished fourth in a time of 1:35:57. Hakam Singh and Chand Ram China's Rui Liang won the gold won a gold each in 20km road walk in 1:28:43 while Kumiko Okada of in 1978 and 1982 Asian Games re- Japan (1:30:03) and South Korean spectively. Since then, no Indian Jeongeun Lee (1:33:53) took the has won a gold at the continen- silver and bronze respectively. tal level in this event. National record holder and Rio Gurmeet was also sixth time Olympics bound athlete Khushbir lucky as he finally stood atop the Kaur, who won a bronze medal in podium after winning a silver and the women's race here two years two bronze medals in his earlier ago, withdrew from this year's five attempts in this champion- competitions due to injury. -PTI

5 'Panchteerth' planned in honor of Ambedkar NEW DELHI: Seeking to appropriate the legacy of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, the BJP-led NDA government will develop five places as "Panchteerth" in his honor. The foundation stone was laid for a memorial to be built at Alipur Road where he spent his last days. After unveiling the plaque at a function at Vigyan Bhawan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the "Panchteerth" include Amedbkar's birthplace in Mhow, the place in London where he stayed while studying in UK, 'Deeksha Bhoomi' in Nagpur, where he took education and 'Mahaparinirvan Sthal' in Delhi, and 'Chaitya Bhoomi' in Mumbai. He said, in addition, the government is also building the Dr Ambedkar Foundation at 15,

ernment will launch the National Agriculture Market, an e-platform for farmers to get the best possible price for their produce. Highlighting the vision of Ambedkar, he said the icon had not just drafted the Constitution but has envisioned a power structure for electrifying every village in the country, harnessing the country's maritime strength and was a messiah of laborers in the country as he brought about labor reforms, apart from being a strong votary of women equality. PM Narendra Modi pays tribute before laying

Janpath in Delhi. Modi said on Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14, the gov-

foundation stone for Dr. B R Ambedkar National memorial

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 8

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Nepal seals transit treaty, rail link with China BEIJING: China has promised "non- interference" in Nepal's internal affairs as the two sides signed 10 agreements including a landmark transit treaty to end the land-locked country's total dependence on India while Beijing agreed to extend the strategic Tibet rail link to Nepal to boost con-

tegrity as well as the Nepali people's choice of development path, and will not interfere in Nepal's internal affairs," Li said. He also praised the recent constitutional process in Nepal that led to a major political crisis in the country. Premier Li's strong backing to

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Oli with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 21

nectivity. On his maiden visit to China close on the heels of his recent visit to India, Nepalese Prime Minister K P Oli held wide-ranging talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and called on President Xi Jinping. "China firmly supports Nepal's efforts to safeguard sovereignty, independence and territorial in-

Nepal comes in the backdrop of a chill in its relations with India following the months-long crippling blockade by Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, demanding amendments to the newly-enacted Constitution to ensure adequate political representation and reorganization of the federal boundaries. Li also pledged that China will boost cooperation in "key" areas

with Nepal, including connectivity, industrial capacity, oil and gas, trade, tourism and law enforcement, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. After the talks, the two sides signed 10 agreements including the transit treaty ending conflicting reports from Kathmandu that Oli may defer it. The much-publicized transit trade treaty will end Nepal's total dependency on Indian sea ports for third-country trade. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a feasibility study on a free trade area (FTA). Under this, the two countries will set up a working group to research areas of common concern, an official statement said. China's non-financial outbound direct investment in Nepal was at USD 32.03 million in 2015 while bilateral trade hit USD 866 million. The FTA will further boost bilateral trade and investment, the statement said. Oli, who arrived here on sevenday visit to China, was given a red carpet welcome by Premier Li at the ornate Great Hall of the People here. Oli's high-profile visit comes as Nepal seeks to open more supply routes from China amid fears of a repeat of recent nearly six-month long blockade when the Madhesis blocked Nepal's trade-routes with India, throwing normal life out of gear. -PTI

Nepal can be bridge between China, India: Xi BEIJING: Nepal can be a bridge of Peaceful Coexistence' they upbetween China and India, Presi- hold. dent Xi Jinping said here and as"As developing countries, serted that it is in the common in- China and Nepal are facing the terest of the "two big neighbors" historic missions of reform and that Nepal enjoys stability and development," Xi said. development. He hoped that Nepal will join "Nepal can be a bridge between China's Belt and Road (Silk Road) China and India," Xi told visiting initiative. Prime Minister K P Oli when the Xi called for more efforts to Nepalese leader called on him here speed up the establishment of a after a landmark transit agreement China-Nepal free trade area and was signed between the two coun- boost cooperation on connectivtries that will reduce Nepal's deity, energy, post-earthquake rependence on India for supplies. On his maiden visit Talking about the trilateral to China close on the China-Nepal-India heels of his recent visit to India, Oli held wide- relationship, Xi said he ranging talks with Chi- hopes Nepal will benefit nese Premier Li Keqiang and called on President from development in Xi. China and India Talking about the trilateral China-Nepal-India relationship, Xi said he hopes construction and industrial caNepal will benefit from develop- pacity. ment in China and India. The two sides should elevate It is in the common interest of tourism, educational and cultural the "two big neighbors" that cooperation and increase youth Nepal enjoys stability and devel- and media exchanges to further opment, he was quoted as saying cement their friendship, Xi said. by the state-run Xinhua news The Chinese President called agency. on the two sides to use new platXi said both Nepal and China forms like the Asian Infrastructure should carry forward the tradi- Investment Bank and the Shangtional friendship and expand prac- hai Cooperation Organization to tical cooperation to make the two expand cooperation. nations a "community of common Nepal will actively participate destiny". in the Belt and Road construction He said China and Nepal are and looks forward to closer coopclose neighbors that enjoy perma- eration with China on trade, finent friendship and comprehen- nance, connectivity, infrastrucsive cooperation. Xi stressed the ture and tourism as well as in insignificance of the 'Five Principles ternational affairs, Oli said. -PTI

Pak Sindh declares Holi as public holiday

AN HONOR DUE: Widows celebrate Holi of flowers at Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan in Mathura on March 21

KARACHI: For the first time, the colorful religious Hindu festival Holi will be a public holiday in Pakistan's Sindh province, the government has announced. In an unprecedented move, the provincial Sindh government issued a notification declaring March 24 as a public holiday. Earlier only the minority Hindu community in Pakistan were given holiday to celebrate the "festival of colors." "But this is the first time we have declared Holi as a public holiday throughout the province," said a spokesman for the Chief Minister House. The announcement comes days after Pakistan's National Assembly adopted a non-binding resolution to take steps to declare

Holi, Diwali and Easter as public holidays. Hindu lawmaker Ramesh Kumar Vankwani of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had moved the resolution. The decision was hailed by many, including the Pakistani media, as an attempt to steer the country towards a "more moderate ideological direction." The federal government, however, is yet to issue any notification to declare these festivals as public holidays. Hindus make up around 2 per cent of Pakistan's 200 million population, and mostly live in the Sindh province. Christians account for 1.6 per cent. Pakistan's religious minorities have long faced economic and social discrimination. -PTI

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NIA releases photos of Pathankot terrorists NEW DELHI: Ahead of the visit by a Pakistani probe team in connection with the Pathankot terror attack on an IAF base, NIA has released the photographs of four terrorists killed during the counteroffensive which began on

ies found in a country. About the remaining two, the NIA was planning to approach another forensic laboratory for conducting a fresh test of the samples recovered from the Airmen billet at the Pathankot air

and Kashif Jaan. The numbers shared belong to the Pakistani telecom operators like Mobilink, Warid and Telenor. The NIA has also sought details and picture of sons of Khayam Baber, whose son was part of the suicide squad that carried out the attack. Kashif Jaan, one of the key handlers of the attackers, had accompanied the terrorists till the border, the sources said. The bodies of four terrorists have been preserved. Out of the four, two of them have been identified as Nasir and Salim. Nasir was the one who had called his mother, Baber, in Bhawalpur using the phone snatched from the jeweler friend of a Superintendent of Police of Punjab The photographs of the terrorists who were killed inside Air Force Station Pathankot during Salwinder Singh. the terror attack on 2nd January. The NIA has annouced a reward of upto rupees one lac The NIA has also for any information regarding them given details, includJanuary 2 and lasted more than 80 base. Forensic laboratory in ing the batch number of food hours. Chandigarh had said they had packets used by the terrorists afThe move comes barely a few found human remains in the ter infiltrating into India on Dedays before the Special Investi- samples handed over by the NIA. cember 30. The terrorists had caregation Team (SIT) of Pakistan visIt will take some time before the fully buried the packets which had its here to ascertain the facts of identity of the remaining two was Pakistani markings and manufacthe case and investigation carried ascertained, an official source turing dates of November and December 2015, sources said. -PTI

The NIA has also given details, including the batch number of food packets used by the terrorists after infiltrating into India on December 30. The terrorists had carefully buried the packets which had Pakistani markings and manufacturing dates

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out by the National Investigation Agency. The NIA's handout featured the bodies of the four slain terrorists with description of their height. The anti-terror probe agency has said one of the terrorists did not have a toe in both the feet. The picture has been circulated and public asked to share information about them. Anybody giving "relevant and correct" information would be rewarded up to Rs one lakh, NIA said. The agency has already approached the Interpol for issuance of Black Notice for the four. The international notice is issued for identification of unidentified bod-

Talking of recent policy initiatives and legislative measures, the Prime Minister said the vision for developing India's maritime potential, and indeed for Inland Waterways, was first conceived by Ambedkar. On his birth anniversary, the Prime Minister said, India would host an international event at Mumbai to help harness maritime strengths and create waterways. Ambedkar also had a vision for providing electricity to all unconnected villages, which the Union Government has promised by 2018, he said, adding that it is also a step towards fulfilling his vision. The Prime Minister also recalled his recent meetings and interactions with Dalit entrepre-

said, hinting the same may not be completed before the Pakistani SIT's departure from India. The SIT will be arriving here on March 27 and would be holding consultations with the NIA about the probe conducted so far, the sources said. India has already sent a Letters Rogatory to Pakistan seeking certain details about the four. India has been seeking details of the phone numbers dialed by the four terrorists ahead of the attack on the airbase on the intervening night of January 1 and 2. The numbers are believed to be in the names of people connected with Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group including Mullah Dadullah

India's Agasthyamalai among biosphere reserves UNITED NATIONS: India's Reserve (ABR) was established in "unique" Agasthyamala Bio- 2001 and is spread across the two sphere Reserve in the Western states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Ghats is among 20 new sites added Biosphere reserves are places by the UN's top cultural body for learning about sustainable deUNESCO to its World Network of velopment aiming to reconcile the Biosphere Reserves. conservation of biodiversity with The International Coordinating the sustainable use of natural reCouncil added the new sites dur- sources. ing a two-day meeting in Lima, New reserves are designated capital of Peru, bringing the total each year by the International Conumber of biosphere reserves to 669 sites in 120 countries, including 16 transboundary sites. The newly adopted sites include 18 national sites and one transboundary site shared between Spain and Portugal. "Located in the Western Ghats, in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve the south of India, the Agasthyamala biosphere reserve includes peaks ordinating Council of the reaching 1,868 meters above sea UNESCO's Man and the Biolevel. Consisting mostly of tropi- sphere (MAB) Program, which cal forests, the site is home to brings together elected represen2,254 species of higher plants in- tatives of 34 UNESCO Member cluding about 400 that are en- States. demic," UNESCO said. "A number of tribal settlements "It is also a unique genetic res- with a total population of 3,000 are ervoir of cultivated plants espe- located in the (Agasthyamala) cially cardamom, jamune, nutmeg, biosphere reserve. pepper and plantain. Three wildThey largely rely on biological life sanctuaries, Shendurney, resources for their sustenance Peppara, Neyyar and Kalakad and recent projects have been set Mundanthurai Tiger reserve are up successfully to reduce their deincluded in the site," it said. pendence on the forests," The Agasthyamalai Biosphere UNESCO said.-PTI

5 'Panchteerth' planned in honor of Ambedkar neurs and the suggestions made by them. He said all these suggestions had been implemented by the Union Government in the recent Union Budget. He also took a dig at the media for not highlighting such initiatives as the "media never highlighted the good things". Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawarchand Gehlot said the Government has organized year long celebrations to commemorate 125th anniversary of Ambedkar and five places related with life. He said Ambedkar 'Mahaparinirvana Sthal' at 26 Alipur Road was dedicated to the nation by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 2, 2003 and will have exhibition halls, office, library, cafete-

ria, dormitory, to be divided into three basements and two floors above the ground. It will also have a Bodhi tree and a meditation garden besides a musical fountain. Gehlot said since the building is to be constructed as a memorial of Baba Saheb who was creator of the Constitution of India, it is designed in the shape of the book. It will also have 'Bheem Stumbh' at the entrance and a meditation hall at the back, he said, adding that the project cost is Rs 95 crore and will be completed by end of March 2018. Others present included Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan, Ministers of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar and Vijay Sampla. -PTI

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Aussie marathoner to run for education MELBOURNE: On a mission to raise funds for the education focused initiatives in India, an Australian marathon runner will embark on a 76-day-long-run from Jaisalmer to Meghalaya in August. Samantha Gash, a corporate lawyer by profession, who is now an athlete, said "my mind and heart is determined to finish the physical and mental challenge that is 'Run India'. It will definitely be one day at a time and remember that I need to be highly adaptable in order to do so." She said the objective to undertake the challenge of running almost 4,000 kms stretch covering several Indian cities from West to East was to raise funds which would go towards funding education focused initiatives through World Vision's programs in India. "My hope is also that I can shed some light on the complexities Indians face when it comes to accessing education and that a grassroots and holistic approach to development can be a life or game changer," 31-year-old said. She has run through some of the most extreme and inhospitable locations from deserts in Chile, China, Egypt and Antarctica, to mountains of Nepal, New Zealand, South Africa and India. Her Indian challenge would include not a direct run from West to East India but would also include other parts to visit World

Vision development programs in Pauri and Darjeeling. Samantha said that she was fascinated with India after her 2011 trip when she ran non stop for a 222 kms in Leh. "I found the running community in India so supportive and passionate. The landscape and terrain is incredibly diverse from desert to urban centers, mountains, tea estates, jungles and forests," she said.

It was in these early discussions that Run India was really born," she said. Samantha would be accompanied by her crew of Indians, a Britisher and an American who join her during sections of the run. On January 26, another Australian marathon runner, Pat Farmer commenced on his South to North India run in a bid to promote ties between the two sides and encourage tourism and

Samantha Gash

"I have connected my love for endurance running over the past five years to raising funds with the goal to addressing complex barriers to access of education," she said. "My plans started to take shape once I developed a relationship with World Vision and we identified development programs near my suggested route.

people-to-people contact. With an aim to create awareness about India as a "must experience" destination for travelers from Australia, Farmer also would raise funds for the cause of the education of the girl child through this run, which began in Kanyakumari. He would be finishing the run in Srinagar on March 30. -PTI

Singapore PAP fields Indian in crucial by poll SINGAPORE: An Indian lawyer has been fielded by Singapore's ruling People's Action Party to take on one of the most outspoken opposition politicians in a crucial by poll. K Muralidharan Pillai, 48, was introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the PAP's candidate for Bukit Batok constituency at a press conference here. Pillai has served as secretary of the PAP's branch in the constituency from 2007 to 2011. He held roles such as the chairman of the ward's InterRacial and Religious Confidence Circle and vice-chairman of its community foundation. 53-year-old Chee Soon Juan, one of the most vociferous opposition politicians and Sec-

retary-General of Singapore Democratic Party, has also announced to contest the by poll. The by-election was necessi-

K Muralidharan Pillai

tated after David Ong resigned from the seat over accusation of

having an alleged affair with a woman grassroots volunteer and party member. The volunteer resigned from the PAP which has ruled Singapore for over five decades since independence in 1965. The by-election is set to test PAP's popularity after it swept through absolute majority in parliament in the general election last September. The party took 83 of the 89 seats, riding on a wave of patriotism inspired by last year's 50th anniversary of independence and respect for the country's independence leader, former premier Lee Kuan Yew, who died in March 2015. Indians constitute a little over 9 per cent of Singapore's total population of 5.5 million. PTI

Suu Kyi nominated for cabinet post NAYPYIDAW: Aung San Suu Kyi was nominated to join the cabinet in Myanmar's incoming government giving the democracy veteran a formal position in the administration, despite being blocked from the presidency. The Nobel laureate, who has vowed to rule above the next president Htin Kyaw, was named first in a list of ministers read out to lawmakers by the parliament speaker, who did not specify which position she or others would hold. "I hereby present the list of names for those who should become union ministers, proposed to the parliament by the presidentelect," parliament speaker Mann Win Khaing Than told MPs. A parliamentary vote to confirm the posts is expected later in the week. Observers say Suu Kyi is likely to take the role of foreign minister, giving her a cabinet post, in-

ternational clout and a seat at the country's influential Security Council, which is dominated by the still hugely powerful military. Under Myanmar's complex political rules, the cabinet role means she will likely have to forego her

Aung San Suu Kyi

formal position as head of her National League for Democracy, which she led to a stunning victory in historic November elections in the culmination of a decades-long struggle against military rule. -AFP

Cong takes a dig at Naidu's flattering NEW DELHI: Congress took a dig at Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu for hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "God's gift to India" wondering whether his flattering chant was much different from Dev Kant Baruah's "India is Indira and Indira is India" remark for which he was castigated. "When Baruah symbolically said Indira was India and India was Indira he was castigated; is Naidu's chant abt Modi being god's gift much diff?", party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi asked in a series of tweets. Baruah was the President of the Congress during the Emergency in the mid-seventies and is chiefly remembered for his sycophancy to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. "jaya's cabinet prostrates with idolatry & fawning flattery condemned; Wht of whole modi cabinet (egNaidu &Swaraj) paying verbal obeisance?", Singhvi said suggesting that Modi's cabinet is no different from that of the Tamil

Nadu CM which prostrates before her. Another party spokesman Sanjay Jha was sarcastic and recalled the Gujarat riots in 2002 when Modi was the Chief Minister. "God's gift indeed! Go ask the family of Ehsan Jafri and over a thousand mercilessly killed, and their families and children. #Shameless" "Dadri and Jharkhand lynching is a sickening manifestation of the decline and fall of India under Narendra Modi. #Shame", Jha said on the micro-blogging site Twitter. At the AICC briefing, party spokesman Manish Tewari remarked that the jury is still out whether the Prime Minister is God's gift to India or God's gift to the oligarchs of India. Moving the political resolution at the just concluded BJP national executive here, Naidu had hailed Modi as a "God's gift to India" and a messiah for the poor. -PTI

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Flydubai to give $20,000 per crash victim DUBAI: Dubai-based budget carrier flydubai has announced a USD 20,000 financial assistance to the kin of each of the 62 passengers, including an Indian couple, aboard its ill-fated flight bound for Russia that crashed after missing the runway in bad weather. Flydubai, a sister firm of Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates Airlines, said in a statement that

those affected. "Flydubai will additionally organize a program of hardship payments to the families amounting to USD 20,000 per passenger, in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage, with the aim of addressing immediate financial needs," the statement said. The Boeing 737-800, which took off from her for the southern

Emergency workers check the wreckage of crashed flydubai plane at Rostov-on-Don airport, Russia

at present, its priority is to identify and contact the families of the victims on board flight FZ981 and provide immediate support to

Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, exploded into a fireball after it was believed to have missed the runway amid bad weather during its

second attempt to land after circling for several hours. All 55 passengers and seven crew members on board the airliner were declared instantly dead. The deceased, that included Indians Mohan Shyam and his wife Anju Kathirvel Aiyappa, were mostly Russians. The passengers included 33 women, 18 men and four children while of the seven crew members, five were men and two were women. Representatives from the state-owned budget airline were arriving in Rostov-onDon - a city of some 1 million around 1,000 kilometers south of Moscow to aid the criminal probe into whether pilot error, a technical fault or poor weather was to blame for the accident. Flydubai was set up by the Dubai government in 2008 to mirror the success its flagship carrier Emirates Airline has had in long-haul flying in the low-cost segment. -PTI

Jet more interested in codeshare pacts NEW DELHI: Jet Airways has indicated it was more interested in stitching partnerships with other international carriers through codeshare pacts than joining any of the three global clubs and said its new European gateway Amsterdam offers stronger proposition over Brussels. The domestic carrier is all set

to commence operations from Dutch capital Amsterdam with daily non-stop flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Toronto from March 27. As of now Brussels is its European hub for international services. The Mumbai-based private air-

line has also entered into a codeshare partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Delta Air Lines to provide convenient connections for passengers to and from destinations across Europe and North America via Amsterdam. "I work with partners. For me bilaterally is the way that this air-

line has always grown. And we work with all the airlines across all the three alliances. They have partners with Star (Alliance), OneWorld and Sky Team. All of them are our partners. And they work bilaterally," Jet Airways Whole-Time Director Guarang

Shetty told reporters here. Star Alliance, OneWorld and Sky Team are the global airlines' clubs providing marketing branding to facilitate travelers making inter-airline codeshare connections within countries. Among the two domestic carriers - Air India and Jet Airways - flying international, only the former has joined one of these clubs. Air India became a part of 27-member Star Alliance in July 2014. The now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines had also announced its plans to join Oneworld but it stopped operations before it could be granted the membership. The SkyTeam had reportedly evinced interest in taking Jet Airways onboard after one of its members Etihad Airways picked up 24 per cent stake in it. "It is all about being bilateral where there is branding, it is not about conflict. It is about offering choice (to passengers). For me it is all about choice," he said.-PTI

Ex-dacoits support fight against deforestation JAIPUR: Former dacoits of Chambal ravines have offered their support for environment protection of Chambal ravines and urged the Centre to rope them in the fight against deforestation of the land. They handed over a letter addressed to Prime Minister

suggested that they should be developed like a sanctuary and dense forestation should be carried out. "It is a unique initiative in which the former dacoits met at Jaipur and expressed their wish to protect the Chambal ravines. They handed over a letter to the MP for

Former decoits of Chambal join in support for fight against deforestation

Narendra Modi to BJP MP Ramcharan Bohra urging that they should be associated in programs like Clean India Mission or Adarsh Gram Yojna as well. Concerned over reports that the government wants to flatten the ravines, the former dacoits

the Prime Minister with their demands," Vishnu Lamba, organizer of the function, said. He said former dacoits like Pancham Singh, Mohar Singh, Sima Parihar, Gabbar Singh, Malkhan Singh and others attended the program. -PTI

Ex-Pak cricketer Imran Khan meets Kejriwal NEW DELHI: Former Pakistani cricketer and Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf leader Imran Khan met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here. The two leaders discussed about their experiences in governance in their respective regions. "We exchanged our experiences in governance in both our reg i o n s (Khyber Imran Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan) and Delhi," Khan told reporters here, after the meeting. He said Kejriwal's experience is very similar to his. "Our parties were formed against status quo parties. Our ideas like good governance and fighting corruption are very similar. We'll be in touch on these is-

sues," he said. Khan said Kejriwal has accepted his invitation to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region in Pakistan, where his party is in power, as part of exchanging ideas

Khan with Arvind Kejriwal

on good governance. "I also invited him to Kyber Pakhtunkhwa which he accepted," he also said. Later, Kejriwal tweeted, "Met Imran Khan and we shared our experiences in politics. Both challenging status quo in respective countries." -PTI

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Cong MP Tharoor's remark draws BJP ire NEW DELHI: A controversy erupted over Congress leader Shashi Tharoor comparing JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar, facing sedition charges, with Bhagat Singh, drawing strong criticism from BJP, which accused the former Union Minister of insulting the freedom fighter. Addressing a group of students at the JNU, Tharoor, while listing the names of victims of sedition law under British rule had

patriots of the country. "Bhagat Singh went to the gallows chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' while fighting for the country's independence. Comparing Kanhaiya Kumar with Bhagat Singh is an insult to the freedom fighter and all the patriots. Shashi Tharoor should tell if Kanhaiya is Bhagat Singh, then what are Rahul and Sonia Gandhi," BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain said. Tharoor on his part clarified

Shashi Tharoor addressing students at the JNU

said Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time. "The biggest victims of sedition law under the British rule were Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant and Bhagat Singh," he said. When a girl mentioned about Kanhaiya, prompt came the remark that "Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time." The BJP took strong exception to Tharoor's comment saying it was an insult to the "great freedom fighter" as well as all

that he did not intend to equate Kanhaiya with Bhagat Singh. "You are finding one marginal thing which was said in response to a comment from the audience. Bhagat Singh was fighting colonial rule and foreign oppression and Kanhaiya is fighting for his beliefs in a very different democracy. "So the situations are different but the comparison (was) -young, Marxist, idealist, passionately committed to their motherland, in their 20s...that's all," he said in a clarification. -PTI

What is wrong in Manusmriti burning, ask students NEW DELHI: JNU students who were asked by the university to "explain their position" in connection with the burning of the copies of ancient legal text Manusmriti, have in turn questioned the administration about what is wrong in it. Weeks after the controversial event against Afzal Guru's hanging was held on campus, five ABVP rebels joined by left-backed All India Students Association (AISA) and Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) burnt sections of Manusmriti text at Sabarmati Dhaba on March 8, which was also the venue of the earlier event. The JNU administration had last week issued notices to five students asking them to explain their "position" in connection with the

event despite the varsity administration denying permission for it. "What is wrong in burning copies of Manusmriti? Protesting against anything which we find derogatory is our right. Also this is not the first time that copies of that book have been burnt by us," one of the students said in his re-

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is not the first time that copies of that book have been burnt by usâ&#x20AC;? sponse to the administration. Similar responses have been shared by two other students raising the point that the notices issued to them do not mention what is the "offence" for which they

have been asked to offer an explanation. Former ABVP office-bearer Pradeep Narwal, who had resigned from the party citing differences over the current row at university, was one of the main organizers of the event. He is, however, yet to respond to the notice served to him. "I got the notice today itself as I wasn't in the university. I am yet to respond to it but what is the problem in burning the copies of something we do not agree with? We have not burnt the entire book but only the portions that we found objectionable," he said. While three of the organizers were former ABVP office-bearers, two of them are still with the party but differ with their stand on Manusmriti.-PTI

Tech News Tibet, Xinjiang part of China's biz hubs BEIJING: China plans to make its troubled border provinces Xinjiang and Tibet major business hubs for seamless trading with Europe and South Asia as it moves ahead with the mega Silk Road project to boost its global influence. The 13th Five-Year Plan approved at the National People's Congress outlines China's ambition to make Xinjiang an important gateway to the West, Tibet to South Asia, Yunnan Province to Southeast Asia, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as an international passage to the ASEAN - which include Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. Xinjiang, bordering Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) and several Central Asian states, has been on the boil for years over ethnic tension between Uyghur Muslims and majority Han settlers from mainland China. The province in the last few years has also witnessed violent attacks allegedly carried out by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), prompting the Chinese government to deploy large number of troops to quell the turmoil. Tibet too has witnessed tension over incidents of self- immolation, protests calling for the return of the Dalai Lama from India.PTI

Orange County Register to be sold SANTA ANA, Calif.: The bankrupt owner of the Orange County Register has decided to sell to Digital First Media after a judge blocked a larger bid by the owner of the Los Angeles Times, an attorney said. Freedom Communications will ask a federal bankruptcy judge to confirm and approve the sale and the deal will close by March 31, William Lobel, an attorney representing Freedom, said in an email. The move caps a whirlwind of last-minute legal scrabbling to decide the fate of Freedom. The once-thriving regional powerhouse, which also owns the Riverside Press-Enterprise, found itself mired in debt after doubling down on newspaper production in a digital age. Tribune Publishing Co. won an auction for the newspaper group with a bid of $56 million. Digital First, which owns nine Southern California papers and websites, including the Los Angeles Daily News, was runner-up with $45.5 million.-AP

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IIT-Roorkee wants to produce 100 entrepreneurs by next year ROORKEE: IIT-Roorkee is giving the innovation hub in its campus a new push and has targeted to produce at least 100 entrepreneurs by next year besides shaping up an ecosystem where its alumni network world over would play the role of a mentor in guiding students from "ideation to execution". As part of this new vision, the sprawling campus got a 'Tinkering Lab' which was inaugurated by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on the opening day of the college's technology festival 'Cognizance 2016'. Parrikar also inspected some of the models on display. "The Tinkering Lab as the name suggests is a place where students can literally tinker around with ideas, without any fixed agenda or set up, and thus allow their imagination to run riot. "And, once they have arrived at some shape as to the final output, that can be taken further or incubated," Director, IIT-Roorkee, Pradipta Banerji told PTI. In the opening remarks at the festival, Banerji said any idea or

vision stands on three legs theory, practice and innovation. Parrikar later added the "fourth leg" as the ecosystem for innovation, which the government was committed to provide. The Defense Ministry has already set the ball rolling for DRDO and other organizations under it to collaborate with some of the

as a hangar, Parrikar emphasized the need to think "out of the box". "As students you must contribute to the India's growth story and come up with innovative ideas. "This hall was a hangar during the Second World War and now it's a wonderful Convocation Hall, so you see the spirit of innova-

IITs, NITs, IISc and other top institutions to tap innovation from academic campuses for design and production, Parrikar said. In his address to a massive gathering of students at the Convocation Hall, which once served

tion is already here," he said. Banerji, elaborating the vision in this domain, said labs like the new one, besides the existing incubation centers will "further fuel" the entrepreneurial spirit of the students, and "by next year we

expect to produce at least 100 innovators". "We have also begun the process to harness our alumni strength which spans from Bombay to Bay Area, and create an ecosystem where they play the role of mentors to these young minds, sharing their own success mantras thus serving as role models and also in guiding them," he said. IIT-Roorkee's parent institution, over 160-year-old Thomason College of Civil Engineering, the pioneering engineering institution in the country was created to train engineers for the construction of the Ganga Canal, considered an engineering marvel to this day. It was converted into a university soon after independence and in 2001 given the status of an IIT. "The college has its own legacy and stories to tell and inspire students and with new tinkering lab will add a further push to our goals for continuous innovation. "The new lab is spread in 12,000 sq ft and has two floors, housing two auditoriums where students can also hold seminars to discuss new ideas," Banerji said. -PTI

PM urges farmers to take up allied jobs NEW DELHI: With back-toback droughts hitting agriculture output hard, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for steps to conserve water and asked farmers to focus on crop diversification and go for allied activities like dairy, poultry and food processing to boost their income. Inaugurating a 3-day 'Krishi Unnati Mela', Modi said since May 2014 when it came to power, his government has taken several initiatives for agriculture growth, including introduction of a new insurance scheme and giving soil health cards to farmers, with a view to doubling their income by 2022. As per the latest government data, the all-India average monthly income of agricultural households during the crop year July 2012-June 2013 was estimated at Rs 6,426. He even gave a clarion call for

second green revolution in eastern states, which have adequate water and fertile land, through adoption of modern technologies. Putting a premium on water conservation to raise farm productivity and income, Modi said the government has identified 90 stuck irrigation projects which can irri-

gate 80 lakh hectares. The government is spending Rs 20,000 crore to boost irrigation projects. Attacking opposition parties for claiming that all projects and programs started when they were in power, the Prime Minister said: "You would be surprised to know that as many as 90 projects which

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the Krishi Unnati Mela, in New Delhi on March 19

are full of water like dams have been built, but there is no way to provide water to farmers." He added: "Now, my government is working to provide water from these projects and once it is completed, around 80 lakh hectares will get water. And once water reaches there, you all can think how much that land will give us back." The Prime Minister spoke of funds from MNREGA program to be utilized this summer for creation of assets such as ponds to conserve water. "About MNREGA, many discussions take place, but no asset has been created. This government is emphasizing... during this summer in every village, one work should be done through MNREGA and that is desilting of ponds, deepening of ponds and creating new ones. -PTI

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2 million BMWs exported from South Carolina CHARLESTON, S.C.: Two million BMWs made in South Carolina have been exported, a milestone reached when a metallic gray BMW X-5 was driven aboard a green-and-white auto carrier ship at the docks in downtown Charleston. The auto manufacturer opened its sprawling South Carolina plant in Greer back in 1994 and it is now the largest in the BMW manufacturing network. About 70 percent of the BMWs manufactured in the state are exported. A group of South Carolina

Ports Authority and BMW officials were on hand for a ceremony

marking the milestone. ``BMW has become part of the

fabric of this great state,'' said Manfred Erlacher, the president

AI to buy more wide-body planes HYDERABAD: Air India is mulling expanding its Boeing widebody aircraft feet to implement its plans of adding a host of new destinations in its overseas network in a couple of years. The airline is expected to draw up a firm plan in this regard early next fiscal, highly-placed airline sources said.

ing the same period. "But this will not suffice as we will be adding a number of destinations in the international network and hence require a good number of aircraft to meet the purpose," they said. As per estimates of global aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus, Indian airlines together are likely

India will require 380 wide-body planes, Boeing has pegged the requirement at 280. Boeing's senior vice president for Asia-Pacific and India sales Dinesh Keskar had during the India Aviation show here last week said that Indian aviation was frequency-driven and there was a market for 250-300 seater aircraft

As of now, the governmentowned carrier has 40 wide-body or twin-aisle planes in its fleet - 15 Boeing 777s, 21 B-787 (Dreamliners) and jumbo B-747, as against 68 Airbus single-aisle A320 family aircraft. "We have not added too many wide-body planes in the fleet in the last couple of years, except the induction of Dreamliners from the 2005 order. We are now considering expanding this fleet as well by adding some long range Boeing aircraft going forward," the sources said. A final call on the issue, including the choice of aircraft B-777s or Dreamliners - is expected to be made early next financial year, they said. The new routes that are on India's radar include Washington DC and Houston among others in the US, Sweden and some destinations across Africa, sources said. Air India is expected to take deliveries of another nine widebody planes by March 2018 which include six Dreamliners and three B777-300ERs. At the same time, it will induct another around 30 A320s, including A-320 neos, dur-

to order 1,740 and 1,600 planes respectively over the next 20 years. Of this, while Airbus forecast

like the Dreamliners and B-777s. As part of its fleet expansion plan, the national carrier had in 2006

FBI to assist Bangladesh to probe bank heist DHAKA: The FBI will help Bangladesh to probe the audacious central bank cyber heist from its foreign exchange account, authorities said, days after finance minister hinted at insider involvement in the USD 81 million scam that shocked the financial world. "The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will team up with Bangladesh police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the cyber heist at Bangladesh Bank's account with New York's Federal Reserve Bank," said CID's additional Deputy Inspector General Shah Alam after a meeting a senior FBI official here. "The meeting's agenda spanned around technical aspects. We will have cyber experts who will trace the IP address of the hack-

ers and the financial beneficiaries," Shah Alam was quoted as saying by the Daily Star. Finance Minister AMA Muhith had hinted insider involvement in the cross-country heist. "Of course, it (heist) would have never been possible unless some of the local people (Bangladesh Bank officials) were involved...the order for the transaction has to be complied with only after biometrics of six people are confirmed," Muhith has said. In a scam that shocked the financial world, unknown hackers tried to steal around USD 1 billion from Bangladesh's deposits with the US Federal Reserve in New York on February 5, using information stolen through the malware.-PTI

placed orders with Boeing for 68 aircraft - 27 Dreamliners, 15 B777300ERs, eight B777-200LRs and 18 B-737- 800s. The airline has so far taken delivery of 21 Dreamliners, 12 777-300ERs and all eight B777200LRs and 18 B-737-800s. However, the delivery of three B777-300ERs was postponed in the wake of the downturn in the global aviation sector in 2008 as there was no "cancellation" clause in the original purchase agreement with Boeing Company. But last September, Air India had decided to take the deferred delivery of these three planes, which are now expected to join the fleet between January-March next year. -PTI

of BMW Manufacturing. He said the gray BMW will be sold in Germany and the new owner will get a photo to commemorate the event. ``From my side I can promise you two things,'' he added. ``Many more BMWs are coming and it won't take 20 years for the next 2-millionth.'' State Ports Authority President and CEO Jim Newsome said the company has had a huge impact on South Carolina, directly employing 8,000, providing more than 20,000 jobs with automotive suppliers and investing $7 billion over the years. It also led the way for other foreign automotive manufacturers to locate in the state. Daimler AG is building its Sprinter vans at a plant in Ladson. Volvo Cars has a $500 million manufacturing plant under construction farther up Interstate 26 in Berkeley County. That plant is expected to eventually employ 4,000 workers. Newsome said companies such as BMW and Michelin in the Upstate, and Boeing in the Lowcountry, have an impact on everything from the quality of life to education and health care. ``There is no substitute for mega-manufacturing and the impact on the state,'' he said. BMW, he added, ``took a very bold step to be here.'' ``It's their largest plant today and I think that says a lot.'' -AP

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Stop media trial of Mallya: Mazumdar-Shaw HYDERABAD: Noted entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw says beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya should be given a fair opportunity to settle the loan default issues with banks, and maintained media trial against him would not help matters. Resolution of debt and financial disputes take a long time in the country due to lack of a bankruptcy law, she said in an interview to PTI here and noted Mallya has himself clarified he is willing to settle the loan default case and hence he needs to be given a fair opportunity to do so. She expressed confidence Mallya would return to India. Pointing out that the case was pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal for some years, the Chairperson and MD of biotechnology major Biocon, said: "It (settlement) does not happen overnight" and said media exerting pressure on Mallya to settle the dues instantly does not make it easy. "Today everybody is being tried by media...whether it's banks recovering their debtsâ&#x20AC;Śwhether it's the debtors, whether it's the governmentâ&#x20AC;Śeverybody is being tried by media...for instant recovery of all dues - each and every penny...which is unrealistic. So, media frenzy is getting in the way of following due processes," she said. Interestingly, noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj had said, "Wherever there are justifiable reasons (for non-payment of loans), actions should not be taken. However, where there are cases of willful default, where loans were diverted for other purposes, action should be taken. Catching thieves

will not harm the country." Mazumdar-Shaw, however, said there are many companies which have large debts even though they have not been declared as defaulters. One has to focus on the bigger issues of debt

debtor that you will be arrested, you will be put behind bars...that's not the way to recover the debts." "We never had bankruptcy law which is very important law to deal with all these things. I think we have to give an opportunity not

File photo of Vijay Mallya with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

recovery and dispute resolution and also on the mounting debt of public sector banks which is causing financial stress. The proposed bankruptcy law, when cleared by Parliament, would certainly expedite the process of resolving these enormous challenges (NPA issue), she said. "There are many debts which have to be recovered. Fair opportunity should be give to debtors to settle. But just being carried away by TV shows, nothing is going to come. "I think every defaulter should be given an opportunity to settle. If you constantly threaten the

just to Vijay Mallya but all debtors and defaulters to try and settle with banks and banks to recover as much dues as they can," Mazumdar-Shaw noted. Noting that she and Mallya grew up together, she said "I have known him for a long time. And I know that he is sincerely trying to settle his debt. But now he is so worried about the way media has been going after him." On whether Mallya would return to India, she said: "I am sure he will. Of course he is very worried about what will happen when he comes back. He is very keen to settle." -PTI

India may consider consolidating banks SINGAPORE: India may consider consolidating some of the country's banks into three to five large banks to support manufacturers and exporters to compete with the best in the global market, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said here. "India has created over the years many banks and none of them are of international standards," said Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, addressing a seminar in Singapore via videoconferencing. "There is a possibility of consolidating some of the country's banks into three to five large banks to support India's manufacturers and exporters to compete among the best in the global market," said Goyal. India currently has around 28 public sector banks that need to be consolidated, Goyal said. India needs more focused or specialized

Tata Steel expects big investment in Gopalpur SEZ SINGAPORE: Tata Steel is in discussion with foreign companies for investments up to Rs 20,000 crore in heavy industries over the next five years at its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project at Gopalpur in Odisha. "We believe we should be able to get foreign investment between Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore over the next five years at the Gopalpur SEZ," Tata Steel SEZ Managing Director Arun Misra told PTI here. "We are currently in discussion with 13 to 14 different investors. Talks are at various levels," he

Goa may be permanent venue for Defense Expo PANAJI: Notwithstanding the Goa government's claim that land was not allotted on permanent basis for the Def Expo and Aero India, papers tabled on the floor of the House here reveal that the state has already passed a resolution to give the land in Quittol (Betul) on permanent basis to host the two mega events. "Goa government-run Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in its 344th board meeting held on July 15, 2015 had resolved to grant in-principle approval for allotment of 150 acres of land at Quittol for organizing Def Expo and Aero (India) show on permanent basis," read a letter written by IDC Man-

aging Director S V Naik to the Department of Defense Procurement of the Defense Ministry.

Certain sections of the society are opposed to Quittol (Betul) as a permanent venue for the Def

State Industries Minister Mahadev Naik tabled these documents on the floor of the House in response to a question by Congress legislator Chandrakant Kavlekar.

Expo and Aero India shows. Earlier, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had said that the land was not allowed on permanent basis to the Defense Min-

banks in the niche consumer segment. "There is room for banks both at the top and at the bottom," said Goyal, responding to a question on Indian banking sector in a dialogue with Singapore-based business community at the 'Emerging India Forum 2016' conference organized in Singapore. Apart from major public sector banks there are also a number of smaller players in the cooperative sectors regional and rural banks and the chain goes down the line to service the rural sector, he said. "We need really is a two sets of banks, large ones which can work in the international space and another set which can reach out to the people at the bottom of the pyramid in the rural areas where people would otherwise be intimidate," he said. The forum was attended by some 300 Singapore-based Indian businessmen. -PTI

istry for the purpose. Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar in a letter to Parsekar had requested to allot land in Goa for the Def Expo and Aero India shows. "Since starting of these shows, Aero India happens to be in Bengaluru and Def Expo in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. As the shows have grown significantly in the past few years, the present venues have become relatively unviable for smooth conduct of the shows due to a variety of reasons such as congestion around the venue, poor access, disturbances in functioning of Bengaluru airport etc," Parrikar said. -PTI

said at the 'Emerging India Forum 2016' in Singapore. The investment will be in defense, metal downstream and electronics as well as chemicals and pharmaceuticals among others, Misra, who is marketing the Gopalpur SEZ as a gateway to the South East Asian markets, said. Tata Steel is the anchor tenant for the multi-product 2,970-acre SEZ at Gopalpur in Odisha. The UK-based Midget Corporations is setting up an assembly plant for "unmanned aerial vehicle targets" which are used by army for firing practices. Singapore consultant Subrana Jurong has completed the SEZ's master plan with all land cleared for leasing within the 30 square km boundary. "All master-planning has been done, the entire area has been cleared, there is no encumbrance," Misra said. Basic utilities and road infrastructure has already been built in early development of the zone which has Tata Steel's ferrochrome plant. The Gopalpur SEZ, just off the National Highway 5, will be based on a Singapore model for industrial development which offers land parcels of various sizes for industries, he said. Tata Steel SEZ will invest between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 crore by 2020 in the Gopalpur SEZ, for which a Tata Power power plant proposal is also on the drawing board.-PTI

TechBiz Post

March 25, 2016

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and contact the families of the victims on board flight FZ981 and provide support to those affected. "flydubai will additionally organize a program of hardship payments to the families amounting to USD 20,000 per passenger, in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage, with the aim of address-

People place flowers, candles and toys in memory of the crash victims outside Rostov-On-Don airport, Russia

Flydubai, a sister firm of Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates Airlines, said in a statement that at present its priority is to identify

ing immediate financial needs," the statement said. The Boeing 737-800, which took off from here for the southern Rus-

sian city of Rostov-on-Don, exploded into a fireball after it was believed to have missed the runway amid bad weather during its second attempt to land after circling for several hours. All 55 passengers and seven crew members on board the airliner were declared instantly dead. The deceased, that included Indians Mohan Shyam and his wife Anju Kathirvel Aiyappa, were mostly Russians. The passengers included 33 women, 18 men and four children while of the seven crew members, five were men and two were women. Representatives from the stateowned budget airline were arriving in Rostov-on-Don - a city of some 1 million around 1,000 kilometres south of Moscow to aid the criminal probe into whether pilot error, a technical fault or poor weather was to blame for the accident. Flydubai was set up by the Dubai government in 2008 to mirror the success its flagship carrier Emirates Airline has had in longhaul flying in the low-cost segment. -PTI

'Nishiki' could be Japan's 'Silk Route' to India NEW DELHI: A fourth generation weaver from Japan, skilled in the rare art of 'Nishiki' silk weaving in that country, has visited the north Indian city of Varanasi, home to the famed Banarsi silk, in an Endeavour to keep alive the centuries old tradition. Master Amane Tatsumura, the brocade master from Kyoto whose family has kept alive the highest form of silk weaving through relentless Endeavour and research to restore its rich legacy says he is quite excited on his trip to Varanasi, considered a haven for silk weavers. "The spectator is stunned by the three-dimensional effect that a Nishiki fabric gives as it is woven in layers, accomplished only after a blueprint is realized through highly skilled and specialized craftsmen", says Tatsumura. The weaver was here as part of a special program organized by the Japanese Embassy to promote trade and cultural relations between the two countries. The 11th century Indian city which is also Prime Minister Modi's electoral constituency is

renowned for its Banarasi Saris and fine silk. Last year when the Japanese premier Shinzo Abe visited India, the cultural exchange between the two countries emerged as a mutual concern. Japanese people hold an immense sense of pride in their hearts for the ancient tradition of

In Japanese language, the idiographic character used for Nishiki is combination of the symbol for gold, implying that the value of Nishiki is equal to that of money. silk weaving, which is known all over the world for its excellence. Nishiki is woven on takabata looms since they were introduced from China over 1200 years ago. The rich silk fabric is exquisite, luminous, luxurious and multi-colored. The high precision and skill

level required in weaving this fabric and the resulting extraordinary beauty and quality demands that it be distinguished from ordinary brocade by giving it a distinctive name, Nishiki. In Japanese language, the idiographic character used for Nishiki is combination of the symbol for gold, implying that the value of Nishiki is equal to that of money. This unique brocade is created through the combined skills of numerous craftsmen, involving a broad range of technical processes that require time and patience. To secure the future path of Nishiki, an initiative was taken by Koho to establish the "Japan Traditional Weaving Preservation Research Society". Koho stands for combination of a weaving studio and research work to prevent the death of this unique art form. Tatsumura Heizo, the first generation artist performed the restoration of 70 ancient textile fragments from Horyuji Temple and the Soshoin (National Antiquities Museum of Japan), including the National Treasure, "Nishiki with Lion Hunting." -PTI

New tool to identify, kill duplicate PAN NEW DELHI: After years of labor, the Income Tax department has finally got a new technology tool to check the menace of duplicate PAN cards which also allows the taxman to 'kill' the second one. An ambitious electronic smart platform called the Income Tax Business Application-Permanent Account Number (ITBA-PAN)

new technology upgrade. The new system, upon finding on the ITBA-PAN platform that a duplicate PAN exists, will direct the taxman to inform applicants to approach their respective assessing officer and surrender the duplicate identity and, in case the applicant does not do so, the system will check the bonafides and

has been operationalised by the automatically 'kill' the duplicate department which will help the identity. taxman and PAN issuing intermeAs per latest data, while there diaries identify such duplicate are over 24.37 crore PANs regisnumbers every time a new appli- tered in the country, there are no cation for generation of the fresh accurate figures on the number of IT department-issued unique iden- duplicate ones. tity reaches their portals. PAN is a ten-digit alphanumeric "The department earlier used to number issued in the form of a lamicheck against duplicity of PAN in nated card by the IT department a manual fashion which was not to any person, firm or entity. foolproof but the new electronic A clean and error free PAN dasystem is very accurate," a senior tabase is the need of the hour for official said. the department which is trying to In cases of old PAN cards, he bring more taxpayers in the tax net said, however, the manual system and also curb generation of black has to go on. "There are not many such cases in the old system. Those are being As per latest data, while weeded out as and when there are over 24.37 crore information is obPANs registered in the tained," he said. The department, in country, there are no accuorder to ensure that no entity is able to evade rate figures on the number tax by way of holding of duplicate ones. two PAN cards, has been trying for a number of years to find a smart tool to check the menace. money. There have been numerous inGovernment had late last year stances in the past when while made quoting PAN mandatory for probing tax evasion and black several transactions, including money cases, investigators found purchase of jewellery above Rs 2 duplicate PAN cards were used to lakh, since the beginning of this perpetrate the economic fraud. year. "The new process will help The effort to popularize the use identification and surrender of of PAN in financial transactions, duplicate PAN allotted to a per- the CBDT had said, is "expected son so that further use of the same to be useful in widening the tax duplicate PAN allotted to a PAN net by non-intrusive methods. holder could be stopped," a recent "They (new PAN rules) are also communication, accessed by PTI, expected to help in curbing black from the systems wing of the de- money and move towards a cashpartment said informing field of- less economy," the Central Board fices of the department about the of Direct Taxes had said. -PTI

Desi News Farha Sayeed puts India on map of egg sculpting RAMESH SOPARAWALA & SUNTHAR VISUVALINGAM India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Often described as "First Lady" of people of Indian of origin here, Farha Sayeed, the wife of Indian CG Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, may now be better described as the "First Indian Lady" to put India on the international map of Eggo artists by holding the first ever solo exhibition of her beautifully hand crafted, hand sculpted and painted eggs of different birds at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Center in Chicago Downtown.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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Successful women leaders meet in Naperville Sreenivas Katragadda

Details on page 20

Sex trafficking documentary by Indian woman ASHOK JAIN MD & RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

DETROIT: Nipa Shah, talented Indian artist with penchant for producing and directing documentaries has done it again. With her daughter in the lead role and famed Hollywood artists in supporting roles, Nipa dared to touch upon a very sensitive theme - Sex trafficking - in her new documentary 'Paid In Full' which is slated to be formally launched next month here Details on page 22

Details on page 25

Huge color-smeared Holi gathering keeps 'our culture' alive

Details on page 19

CHICAGO: The Naperville Marriott was packed with a confluence of women leaders from corporations, community development organizations, small and medium women owned enterprises and students on Sunday March 13 to celebrate the progress and success of women in leadership roles at the Annual South Asian Woman's Conference. The event was hosted by the Indo American Community Services (IACS), a not-for-profit organization supporting the South Asian American community through various initiatives such as Diversity Career Expos, women empowerment forums, professional leadership and entrepreneurial conferences.

March 25, 2016

Vedas are a prominent source of spiritual knowledge

VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: Holi is a great festive occasion to celebrate and inundate each other with a rainbow of colors. Thousands of people gathered to spread cheer and enjoy delicious food, dazzling music and cultural extravaganza, raffle prizes, and dance to the beats of Desi Dhol. An ancient Indian festival, Holi celebrates Hindu legends while rejoicing in the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. While based in religious tradition, the holiday has become a popular event that welcomes all to participate in a celebration of brotherhood. Federation of Indo-Americans (FIA) of Northern California, Fremont Hindu Temple, and Festival of Globe (FOG) had organized their

39th Holi festival celebration on a grand scale on March 19 at Dixon Landing Park, Milpitas. There was tremendous response to the Holi event. It seemed as if an ocean of people had congregated to celebrate Holi. Over five thousand people enjoyed with great enthusiasm. In order to reduce pollution, skin irritations and make the festival environment friendly, Holi featured biodegradable and skin-friendly colors. People enjoyed music and DJ so much that they were requesting for music even after the event closing time. Dr Romesh Japra, President and Convener (FIA) said, "FIA Holi has over the years played an important role in keeping our culture alive and inculcating pious values in our youngsters. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 18

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Raja wins primary, heads for final victory in Nov India Post News Service

CHICAGO: India Post in its earlier pre-election dispatcheshad clearly indicated that Raja Krishnamoorthi, an 8th Congressional District contestant, is heading for a victory and the last Tuesday night results vindicated IP reading. Raja trounced his two opponents by 2 to 1 margin in a Democratic primary and sailed past the winning post easily. Raja will be facing his Republi-

try, because it's our middle-class that makes America strong. With 100% of the precincts in the 8th District reporting election returns, Krishnamoorthi won the support of 57 percent of voters with State Sen. Mike Noland at 29 percent and Villa Park President Deb Bullwinkel with 14 percent. Raja had all of the Chicago area major newspaper endorsements besides unequivocal support from a number of front ranking local, State and Federal politicians. He

Raja supporters celebrating his win in primary

can rival Pete DiCianni - DuPage County commissioner and a Third Party candidate Bill Fraser (Independent, high school teacher). According to indications available, Raja will have a cake walk in the November 30 elections and will be representing the 8th District in the US Congress. In a talk to this paper, Raja said that he "will fight in Congress to save the middle-class in our coun-

had the distinction to get all the communities united behind him on his way to winning the Democratic nomination for Congress. "I'm proud that we ran on ideas, not on insults," Raja said before hundreds of supporters in Schaumburg, Illinois, a northwest Chicago suburb in the heart of the 8th congressional district of Illinois. "That's how we'll win in November, and it's how we'll beat

Screening for colorectal cancer reduces mortality BEGUM NAZNNIN

CHICAGO: Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death and 3rd most common cancer in the country and it affects men and

women of all races and ethnicities equally. A recent report released by the CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention) in August 2015 found no increase in colorectal cancer screening from 2010 to 2013, which was both unexpected and disappointing. Based on data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey, the report showed that just 58.2% of adults reported being upto-date with colorectal cancer screening.

Cancer screening saves lives

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

Donald Trump. And let me tell Mr. Trump something tonight: We don't need him to make America great again. It's already great. We just need to make sure that America lives up to its promise - that if you work hard and play by the rules, you and your children can succeed. That's the America I believe in. That's the America you believe in. And, together, we'll make sure nobody takes it away." A small businessman, Raja Krishnamoorthi currently serves as president of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries. A unit of Sivananthan Laboratories, whose president is

J Digvenkar with Raja Krishnamoorthi

Raja Krishnamoorthi, developed cutting edge technology as part of an international mission successfully launched last month into outer space as part of ASTRO-H (also known as Hitomi), an X-ray astronomy satellite. He is a co-founder of InSPIRE, a nonprofit organization that provides training to Illinois students and veterans in solar technology, and was formerly Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council, whose mission is to promote innovative technologies that support economic growth and job creation in Illinois.

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Huge color-smeared Holi gathering keeps 'our culture' alive Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 16

Holi is a great festive occasion to celebrate and wish each other and get inundated with a rainbow of colors. It was difficult to recognize faces as they were all covered in multitude of colors. The entire gathering morphed into a huge family with people applying color to each other and making friends. It was also an opportune time to renew and make new friendships. People from all over California came to participate in the festivities. Many dignitaries and community leaders participated in Holi. Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves said, "We are really proud and grateful that Holi festival has come to Milpitas. After all

Milpitas is city of diversity and we want people from all the ethnicities to join in." Air India was the platinum sponsor for the Holi event. Air India started its nonstop flights between the Bay Area and New Delhi starting Dec. 2, 2015. The thrice-weekly flights out of San Francisco International Airport will use Boeing 777 long-range aircraft that seats eight in first class, 35 in business class and 195 in economy for a total of 238 passengers. FIA has upcoming event 'Festival of Globe' to be held from August 5 to August 14. It will include Mela, Cultural and Musical Extravaganza in Fremont on August 13 and 14, Grand Parade in Fremont on August 14, FOG Movie Fest at various

theaters in San Jose during August 512 and FOG awards on August 14.

Brand new www.fogsv.org website was launched at this grand occasion.

March 25, 2016

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Farha Sayeed puts India on map of egg sculpting

Consul General of India Dr. Ausaf Sayeed and Farha Sayeed inaugurating her "Eggstravaganza" exhibition at downtown Chicago Symphony Center. Starting third from left: CG Dr Ausaf, Farha, Raja Krishnamoorthy and Ausaf's mother among others

ing and the weather still pretty cool, hundreds of her friends, adIndia Post News Service mirers and art lovers from all walks of life came to attend this grand CHICAGO: Often described as exhibition and wished that she may "First Lady" of people of Indian organize more such exhibitions of of origin here, Farha Sayeed, the her art here. Very interestingly, wife of Indian CG Dr. Ausaf Farha Sayeed in her welcome adSayeed, may now be better de- dress to the gathering announced scribed as the "First Indian Lady" that a portion of the proceeds from to put India on the international the sale of her top of the class art map of Eggo artists by holding the items will be utilized for the benefit of the humanitarian project that the American India Foundation has been carrying on in India for years. The AIF initiative has been in the new born and maternal area for the past many years but the problem is huge and needs steady support. S u n t h a r Visuvalingam adds: India's only eggartist Farha Sayeed inaugurated the twoday public display of her unique work at the Chicago Symphony Center March 20. It was co-hosted by Zain and Lubaina Raj, with part of the sale proceeds going to support their American India Foundation's Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative (MANSI). Representatives of the Illinois Governor, Chicago Mayor, etc., were "Eternal Love" frames Mumtaz Mahal (shown) and Emperor Shah Jahan (on back face) within present along with loan egg-pedestal cal elite Desis and community members. first ever solo exhibition of her Many local artists could be seen beautifully hand crafted, hand in the gathering, and the March sculpted and painted eggs of dif- 20 evening reception saw visiting ferent birds at the Chicago Sym- tabla-maestro Zakir Hussain as phony Orchestra Center in Chi- guest of honor. Farha, who has been expericago Downtown. Even while it was Sunday morn- menting with various materials RAMESH SOPARAWALA & SUNTHAR VISUVALINGAM

since her youth, has a passion for creating Faberge-styled exotic art objects from egg shells of ostrich, rhea, emu, goose, duck, turkey, guinea and hen. First exposed to egg-art more than 17 years ago in Qatar, Farha has pioneered in introducing typically Indian motifs, both Islamic and Hindu. Each eggshell is intricately cut, carved and decorated by hand and ornamented using pearls, beads, crystals, brocade, velvet, satin, golden laces and rhinestone chains, making each a one of its kind masterpiece. Techniques also include decoupage, trolling, etching, engraving, dyeing and bead work. Reinforced with liquid polymer to prevent shattering, the shells preserve their natural beauty. Farah's collection of decorated eggs has been previously displayed at a

"Cinderella's Carriage" in gold renders homage to the Western origin of egg-art

Without frills, this "Praise be to God" in Arabic calligraphy is beautiful in itself

Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa

series of full-fledged solo exhibitions in Copenhagen, Jeddah, New Delhi, Sana'a (Yemen), etc., to great appreciation. Though the ancient notion of the primordial egg (brahmaanda) is central to VedicHindu cosmogony as source of all creation, it has paradoxically befallen an enquiring Indian-Muslim to appropriate this Western art-form and indigenize it into an individual expression of her own unique creativity. Farah's fertile imagination carves and chisels the pure smooth monochrome symmetry of the ovoid into an explosion of shapes and colors that represents the familiar things of our world and also invokes the formless transcendent.

Her "Nirvana" for example consists of three different shells-ostrich, rhea, goose-each enclosing the following one; intricately carved into hinged petals, they open out to suggest the otherwise indescribable experience of enlightenment that accompanies the blossoming of the thousand-petaled lotus. In minimalist calligraphic representations such as "Almighty Will," "Words of Purity" and "Divine Force" the egg, in its white purity or especially (emu) blackness, assumes the austere bareness of the Kaaba stone. This is in sharp contrast to her 'eggstravagaza' in portraying Western or decorative motifs, for example when transformed into the body of a carriage, especially that of Cinderella. Indian motifs comprise Mughal portraiture, exemplified by the "Eternal Love" of Mumtaz and Emperor Shah Jahan on opposing sides of the rounded surface, and by Padmini. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

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Successful women leaders meet in Naperville Sreenivas Katragadda

Some of the participants with Katie Lawler, Andrea Sreshta and Anupy Singla.

comed the audience. Sanjana Srinivasan, a student of Neuroscience at UIC and a finalist of the

IACS Internship Program, introduced IACS and talked about the Internship Program, through

Farha Sayeed puts India on map of egg sculpting Cont’d from page 19

Practical use is not merely suggested through pot, cups and accompanying vessels of tea sets, but implemented as lidded caskets to hold jewelry. Other pieces simply play with the surprising shapes of variously cut out shells as in the celebration of "Whirling Beauty." As member of the International Egg Art Guild (IEAG), Farha represented India as it were at the 40th Annual Eggs-Ibit International 2014 held in Dallas last June. The significance of her 'eggspression' goes well beyond art for it integrates diverse elements, motifs and uses, practical and fantastic,

which selected students have the opportunity to work as interns at the Capitol Hill and the White House. She also introduced the panel of speakers. The panelists included three accomplished women leaders from diverse fields - corporate, small business and the media. Katie Lawler, Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer, ITW, Andrea Sreshta, Co-Founder of LuminAID and Anupy Singla, famous cookbook author and Founder of Indian as Apple Pie; shared their personal experiences and offered practical advice on many challenges faced by professional women.

Lawler reminisced that she started her career working for a US Senator for a few years, went back to school to earn a degree in law and ended up as a HR professional at ITW. She commented that she "found her voice" during this journey by analyzing, learning and articulating what she wanted in her career. She advised all the participants to "find their voice" and "own their career" by continuously building skills and capabilities, accepting tough and varied assignments and building and nurturing networks and relationships within and outside work. Cont’d on page 23

Screening for colorectal cancer reduces mortality Cont’d from page 17

Tea-set consisting of pot, cups, creamer- and sugar-bowl

religious and profane, foreign and native, into the contemporary mosaic of Indian culture. In her own independent and original way, it complements very well the untiring diplomatic work of her husband, Consul-General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, in rallying Chicagoland's diverse Diaspora communities and reaching out to various constituencies in the host society around a shared love for and investment in India and its future. “Nirvana" suggests the Indian experience of enlightenment through blossoming of the cerebral lotus

Other studies show that up to 65% of adults have been screened appropriately. "Colorectal cancer screening rates have increased significantly in the past decade, but we still have a long way to go," says Edwin Chandrasekar, Executive Director at the Asian Health Coalition (AHC), and Deputy Director for the University of Chicago's Center for Asian Health Equity (CAHE). "There is strong evidence that routine screening for colorectal cancer reduces mortality in adults aged 50-75. Furthermore, when colorectal cancers are found and treated at an early stage, more than 90% will live more than 5 years. We still lag behind the Healthy People 2020 target of 70.5% of adults being up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening. The status quo must change," he added.

AHC and CAHE have teamed up on initiatives aimed at improving colorectal cancer screening rates for Asian Americans in the Chicago metropolitan area. Since 2013, the Partnership for Healthier Asians program has been helping to increase colorectal cancer awareness and promote screening targeting low-income Asian immigrant communities by working with community-based organizations. In recognition of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, the Asian Health Coalition and CAHE has launched a multi-lingual media awareness campaign urging Asian Americans age 50 or over to get screened. The posters are available in 6 languages. AHC was established in 1996 with a mission to improve the health and wellness of the Asian American community through advocacy, technical assistance, community-based education and research.

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South Asians turn out to vote in suburbs BRANDON LEE

CHICAGO: For the March 15th Illinois Primary Elections, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago and South Asian American Policy and Research Institute (SAAPRI) contacted over 7,600 infrequent South Asian voters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Election Day was the culmination of a two-month effort that included community forums, direct mail, telephone, and media outreach to motivate participation. "South Asians have been the target of hate speech by multiple candidates this election season, and today the community showed that such messaging won't be tolerated," said Reema Kapur of SAAPRI. "There are over 92,000 Asian Americans in the 8th Congressional District, and over 43,000 of them are South Asian, so our community has a vested interest in this race." The 8th Congressional District includes Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Roselle, and Bloomingdale. The candidates for election included a South Asian American, Raja Krishnamoorthi, running for the Democratic nomination in the 8th District. The seat is being vacated by another Asian American, Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

"There are over 92,000 Asian Americans in the 8th Congressional District, and over 43,000 of them are South Asian, so our community has a vested interest in this race."

"Fewer than 300 votes decided the 2010 general election in this district," continued Kapur. "Our community members know that if they show up in November, they can decide the winner." SAAPRI and Advancing Justice | Chicago will continue outreach to the community in the weeks leading up to Asian American Action Day in May, 2016, which focuses on state level efforts, and again for the General Elections in November. "Civic engagement is not a one day event when we go to Springfield for Asian American Action Day on May 17, we want South Asian Americans to be a huge part of the crowd," said Tuyet Le of Advancing Justice | Chicago. "As part of our community's push to build power we will be supporting

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measures including Automatic Voter Registration which will add thousands of new voters to the rolls." Asian Americans Advancing Asian American Advancing Justice Conference

Justice Chicago , Established in 1992, is the leading pan-Asian, multi-issue organization in the Midwest dedicated to empowering the Asian American community through advocacy by utilizing education, research, and coalition-building. It seeks to projects a united voice on the most pressing issues of concern to Asian Americans in metropolitan Chicago. It is a member of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice national affiliation, with partner affiliates in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta.

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Sex trafficking documentary by Indian woman ASHOK JAIN MD & RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

DETROIT: Nipa Shah, talented Indian artist with penchant for producing and directing documenta-

Scenes from the film

Nipa Shah, producer director of film 'Paid In Full'

ries has done it again. With her daughter in the lead role and famed Hollywood artists in supporting roles, Nipa dared to touch

The launch will be with Nipa hosting the Red Carpet premiere of this Hollywood Independent film on Sunday, April 3 at The Riviera Theater in Farmington Hills, Michigan, from 6 pm to 11:58 pm.Sex-Trafficking is the underlying theme of the story. A teaser of the documentary SOLD (with real

With her daughter in the lead role and famed Hollywood artists in supporting roles, Nipa dared to touch upon a very sensitive theme Sex trafficking - in her new documentary 'Paid In Full' which is slated to be formally launched next month here. upon a very sensitive theme - Sex trafficking - in her new documentary 'Paid In Full' which is slated to be formally launched next month here.

sex trafficking survivors) also filmed, directed, and produced by Nipa Shah, will also be shown prior to the feature screening. Two Hollywood actors, Zen

Gesner (Shallow Hal) & Gerry Bednob (The 40 Year Old Virgin), will travel to MI to attend the premiere. The event details are: Red carpet: 6 to 7:20 pm; Seating: 7:20 to 7:30 pm; SOLD Documentary teaser: 7:30 to 7:35 pm; Filmmakers Q & A: 7:40 to 7:55 pm - Emcee Fox 2 Detroit Reporter: Charlie Langton; Feature Screening: 8 to 9:25 pm; Hollywood actors attending Red Carpet are Zen Gesner and Gerry Bednob. A private dinner will be held after the screening. Nipa Shah said that she would like to have the film screened across USA but right now she

Film poster

has donned the mantle of distributor of the film as well. One of Southeast Michigan's leading marketing experts leveraging her 20-year career at General Motors along with more than 10 years of successful entrepreneurship, Nipa believes that Women leaders are made, not born.This is the topic of Nipa's keynote presentation and panel discussion at various leadership conferences. She discusses having passion, drive, a strong faith, and determination to live life large. Her real life experiences motivate and energize women participants. She became an "indie filmmaker" in 2015 with the production of a Hollywood feature film, Paid in Full. She continues pursuing her passion for filmmaking, with the production of documentaries and short films on topical social issues.

Bridging communication gap across generations RAJINDER SINGH

PALATINE: The Sikh Community Outreach Society (SCOS) organized a Parent-Child, YouthAdult counseling seminar at Sikh Religious Society Gurdwara in Palatine, Illinois on March 13 where 25 children and more than 30 adults participated. The topic of discussion was communication or lack thereof. "Bridging Communication Gaps across Generations" was an open dialogue between parents and children facilitated by Dr Surinder Sucha Nand, a psychiatrist, who taught at University of Illinois Chicago, and youth counselors Jasvir Kaur Singh and Maneshwar Singh. The purpose of the workshop was to explore the day and age we communicate today within families, how has it changed and is it effective?

Dr Surinder Sucha Nand addressing seminar

Blow-ups occur due to vagueness in communication which are mostly indirect and unclear and made at inappropriate timings without regard to other's feelings or what's going on in their lives

at home, school or at work. The seminar opened with a short skit displaying in a humorous way the current state of communication between parents and children. When children come

home from school, there is very little or no personal communication due to smart phones, lap tops, video games, TV, and closed doors. The cultural differences be-

tween parents who grew up in India and the way they were raised by their parents does not compare to the children growing up here and now, which is creating issues. The control and punishment methods were also analyzed. Dr. Surinder Nand reviewed why the family nucleus is important and how we can improve our communication skills within our family. The participants learned about learning various styles of communication, how to be clear and direct as well as how to be good listeners. Overall, there was open and candid dialogue between generations and they gained a better understanding as to why parents ask so many questions and why children want privacy at certain age.

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Successful women leaders meet in Naperville Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 20

She also advised participants to find a good mentor who can provide direction and guidance on a range of issues such as career growth and work-life-balance. Andrea Sreshta talked about the origins of LuminAID. While she was studying at Columbia University, a major earthquake hit Haiti, devastating and displacing many people. Andrea along with fellow classmate and LuminAID co-founder Anna Stork turned their class project into a humanitarian mission. Their invention is a compact solar-powered light that helps people in emergencies. Based on research, they identified that their invention could help people living in the "tent-cities" of earthquake-affected areas where there is no electricity. The product became very successful and is backed by Mark Cuban of "Shark Tank" fame and is also racking up sales among campers and other outdoor adventurers. Andrea advised participants to build productive networks and relationships by keeping in touch and acknowledging support and help. She commented that "A simple "thank you" card will go a long way in maintaining relationships." She also stated that entrepreneurship is all about "aptitude and attitude", mentioning how important it is to face the challenges at hand with full vigor. Cookbook author and journalist Anupy Singla was the third panelist for the evening. Anupy is the author of three books. Her latest, 'Indian for Everyone', which was re-

leased in October 2014, is a compilation of the most popular Indian recipes outside of India. Born in India and raised outside of Phila-

North America. She is also a regular commentator on NPR, and teaches classes at various major grocery outlets. Anupy also had some in-

From Left to Right are - Sharda Bharatula, Saily Joshi, Lakshmi Nagamohan, Gowri Natarajan, Andrea Sreshta, Katie Lawler, Anupy Singla, Shahana Khan, Sarita Mahapatra, Suman Alur and Sanjana Srinivasan

delphia, she grew up visiting her grandfather's childhood village in Punjab, where she learned to cook and loved it. It was this love and passion that compelled her to leave daily reporting to teach her young girls how to appreciate good Indian food and blog about it on indianasapplepie.com - now also the name of her company. Her first two books, 'The Indian Slow Cooker' and 'Vegan Indian Cooking' remain the top-selling Indian cookbooks in North America. Anupy's food-related work has appeared in many publications across

teresting advice for attendees based on her multifaceted field experience. She advised attendees to own up mistakes and learn from them as they can only help them progress in their careers. She also encouraged the audience never to take shortcuts and to take on tasks that they feel are worth it and learning when to say no when priorities don't align. She also discussed the importance of having a

trusted network or team to confide in. The presentations were followed by a Q&A session in which panelists addressed questions from participants. IACS also highlighted some local women entrepreneurs. Mansi Hans, founder of A Colorful Affair and Soumitraa Ganguly, founder of Ankita Collections were the two entrepreneurs whose products were showcased at the conference. A Colorful Affair conducts art workshops and offers participants a custom art experience at various events such as birthday parties, picnics and corporate events. Ankita Collections sells paintings based on contemporary art from South Asia. Indian folk and tribal art forms are taught to students of different ages through extensive curriculums and training. Lakshmi Nagamohan, a member of the organizing team said that the conference was a huge success as it provided a unique platform for participants to network and learn about leadership strategies, and professional development and issues important to women in today's competitive workforce. Sreenivas Katragadda, president of IACS thanked all the speakers, participants, volunteers and the corporate sponsors Dover Corporation, Grainger, ITW and L&T Infotech and Access Technologies Solutions, Trinuc LLC.

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3-day American Natya Festival in St Louis SURI SWAMY

ST LOUIS: Conceived and curated by Soorya Performing Arts, the American Natya Festival is a dance festival of Indian traditional classical & folk dances. With supporting funds from Missouri Arts Council, a state agency of state of Missouri; Regional Arts Commission of Greater St. Louis area; USWIDE financials, Bright way Insurance, ARC Inc., and other patrons, the festival will be held from April 22- 24. This is conducted in Wydown Middle School auditorium in St. Louis. It provides a reputed, scholarly and popular

platform to experienced artists, young innovators and also to new experimentalists. Organizers say that the teams come from all over USA and also from different countries like India and Canada. In USA the team comes from Philadelphia, New Jersey, Tampa, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas, St Louis. Outside the country, the teams are from Calgary, Canada; Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune from India. Students of Soorya dance

American Dance Festival in St Louis

The festival will be inaugurated on Friday April 22. The first performance will be "Sameepyam" presented by Bharatha Darshana dance company from Alpharetta, GA, choreographed by Soujanya Madhusudhan. This will be followed by a presentation from Suryanarayana Murthy, a visiting artist from India presenting "Sandesham". The Canadian Bharathanatyam Dancer Malaviya Venkatasubbaiha will present "Lalithyam" followed by the day's highlight "Karna - Destiny's Child" - presented by Shree Padma Nrityam Academy, New Jersey, USA, choreographed by Bala Devi Chandrashekar. All dances on Friday are solo performances. This will highlight the importance of an individualistic achievement. The Saturday evening starts with a pre-

The Canadian Bharathanatyam Dancer Malaviya Venkatasubbaiha will present "Lalithyam" followed by the day's highlight "Karna - Destiny's Child" sentation of Navarasa Academy of Tampa, Florida; followed by Anubhava Mantapa of Soorya Dance Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Cleveland's Shri Kala Mandira presents -Yin Yang - Dimensions of Duality, choreographed by Sujatha Srinivasan. Visiting team from India, Nupura, will be presenting "Nritya Taranga" choreographed by Dr. Lalitha Srinivasan; followed by "Vibhava" - a modern Bharathanatyam dance performance by Three Aksha Dance Company from Philadelphia. Saturdays' highlights will be by dancers of Abhinaya School of Performing Arts, Houston, choreographed by Indrani Parthasarathy. Sunday events present more performances than any other day. It will start with a dance drama by Nrityaarpana School of Cincinnati, choreographed by Anupa Mirle; followed by a solo performance by Asha Adiga from Chicago.

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 25

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Meditation rooms opened at Nevada varsity MADHU PATEL

NEVADA: Meditation and Reflection Rooms formally opened on March 16 at the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR), one of the nation's top public research universities. These "Meditation and Reflection Rooms" feature two individual rooms and a larger space for re-

Watts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Religious leaders gathered on the occasion, besides Zed, included Gene Savoy Junior, International Community of Christ Bishop; Elizabeth Webb Beyer, Rabbi of Temple Beth Or and North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation; Roger Ca-

tion Church; Rafik I. Beekun of Northern Nevada Muslim Community; Carma Watts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Matt Goddard of Reno Buddhist Center; Baha'i leaders; etc. "Meditation and Reflection Rooms" is located in the $44 million 78,000 square foot Student

First Bank partners with Winnetka Park Dist STEPHANIE KULKE

CHICAGO: The First Bank & Trust has expanded its partnership with Winnetka Park District for 2016, co-sponsoring nine events including the 43rd annual Egg Hunt on March 26, and concluding with the Santa's Mailbox program in December. Many of the Winnetka Park District events are free and open to the public Assistant VP Marketing Yohanan said, "First Bank & Trust has served its customers through our Winnetka branch location for over 15 years, and now we join the

Clean-Up, Tower Road Beach, Maple Street Beach, Elder Lane Beach, Lloyd Beach, Centennial Beach. Sunday, June 19 - 9:00 a.m. 12:00 pm: Father's Day Brunch, Tower Road Beach Monday, July 4 - 10 am: July 4th Parade - Band Sponsor, Kicks off at Elm & Glendale Saturday, August 28 - 4:00 p.m. - 7:30 pm: End of the Summer Luau, Tower Road Beach Saturday, September 17 - 3:30 pm: Bike Winnetka, 2 or 8-mile group ride throughout Winnetka

First Bank &Trust's Winnetka Branch located at 100 Green Bay Road Religious leaders gathered on the occasion with University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) President Dr. Marc A. Johnson (standing fifth from right)

flection, meditation and prayer. It includes various cabinets where each group can keep their required religious icons and articles locked; to be brought out when needed. UNR President Dr. Marc A. Johnson told religious leaders gathered on the occasion that these rooms would be open and accessible to all members of the campus community of various religions/denominations and nonbelievers for meditation, reflection and prayer. The move by UNR accepting the longstanding need of campus community for a neutral space for meditation, prayer, reflection, etc. met with universal commendation, says Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism. "Meditation and Reflection Rooms" will be another feather in UNR's cap in making it a worldclass educational institution; Zed pointed out and added that "it thus recognizes the intersection of spirituality and education. It is a step

nary, Senior Pastor of Spirit Filled Church in Sparks; Sherif A. Elfass, Northern Nevada Muslim Community President; Matthew T. Fisher and Shelley L. Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center resident priests;

Stephen L. Child of American Clergy Leadership Conference; David Mitchell, Divine Mission President; Tim Oates, Associate Pastor of Spirit Filled Church; Sa-

Achievement Center (also opened on March 16), which also includes Writing Center, Math Center, Tutoring Center, Career Studio, Advising Center, Veterans' and Military Center, Disabilities Resource Center, Counseling Services, etc. This building "will help our students to become great scholars", a UNR brochure indicates. "Social Stairs" which features areas "where students will sit, congregate and informally gather", also forms a part of these Center.Many universities in USA and Canada already have prayer/ meditation room for quiet reflection and spiritual exercise. UNR, the flagship institution of Nevada constitutionally established in 1874; is helping create the world's most accurate atomic clock "which will lose only a fraction of a second over the next 14 billion years", is "home to one of the largest earthquake-simulation labs"; and boasts of several Pulitzer Prize winners and about half-a-dozen

in the positive direction." Religious community gathered on the occasion entered the "Meditation and Reflection Rooms" with a prayer read by Don

rah Canak-Brown, Unification Church youth leader; Daniel R. Sanchez, Jewish youth leader; Sumayya Beekun, Muslim youth leader; June H. Canak of Unifica-

Hollywood films shot on the campus. Recognized as a National Tier 1 University, it has about 21,000 students and its "vision" includes improving "social progress".

These rooms would be open and accessible to all members of the campus community of various religions/denominations and non-believers for meditation, reflection and prayer.

Winnetka Park District in sponsoring active and enriching experiences for all members of the community." The full schedule of co-sponsored events for 2016 includes: Saturday, March 26 - 10 am: 43rd Annual Egg Hunt, West Elm Park, 1155 Elm Street Saturday, April 9 - 12:00 - 1:30 pm: Fool's Lake Leap Lloyd Beach Saturday, May 14 - 10:00 a.m. 12:00 pm: Community Beach Wide

Friday, October 21: Pumpkins on the Beach, TBD Location Nov. 25 - Dec. 21: Santa's Mailbox, southwest corner of Elm & Chestnut (next to the post office) First Bank & Trust founded in 1995, is a locally-owned and managed community bank providing individuals, privately-held and family-owned businesses and nonprofits to boost economic growth and development in the community.

3-day American Natya Festival in St Louis Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 24

Rudrakasha - a famous dance team from Odissa will be sending its students to present Odissi. A great Kathak master - Guru Prerna Deshpande will be coming from India, presenting graceful Kathak dances. Soorya Dance Company will present Parabhakti, a short dance production; followed by Nritya Vaibhavam presented by Sri Nrithyanjali School of Dance, Chicago, IL, USA; choreographed by Sushmitha. Guru Sujatha Vinjamuri of St. Louis will present "Kundalini" with Kuchipudi Arts Academy. Another dance form Andhra Natyam will be introduced this time, performed by Nisha's School of Andhra Natyam, St. Louis, MO and directed by Nisha Magaluru. Parthiba Mannil will present

Bharathanatyam from her school Natya Padhanjali School of Dance. The last part of the dance festival will be a celebration of folk dances of India such as Bhangra, Raas, Garha. There will be a new national wide Indian classical dance festival called American Natya Idol Competition, conducted for students of ages 9 - 30. It will be on Saturday, April 23 from 8:30 am till 3:30 pm. It is first of its kind in the entire country because each student must face 12 judges at the same time on the panel. These judges hail from different countries and different regions of USA. The winner will get special prizes and also an opportunity to perform in India. This year's Life Time Achievement Award will be given to Guru Revathi Satyu, Guru Lalitha Srinivasan and Guru Asha Prem.

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March 25, 2016

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Vedas are a prominent source of spiritual knowledge SWAMI NIKHILANAND

e all want to know the answers to questions such as, "Who is God?" and "Why am I here?" the purpose of life and so on. In order to receive reasonable explanations, we have to find an authoritative and dependable source of knowledge. To think that we can get the answers to the questions merely based on our intellects is na誰ve, since these subjects are

produces the knowledge in the form of the Ved (which includes the Upanishads). That way, we are not left to wander aimlessly, but rather, we can acquire correct spiritual knowledge from the Ved, and proceed on the genuine path of God realization. How is Ved produced on earth? Ved is not a book which is written by someone, or a collection of

Since souls are eternal, and have eternally been under the bondage of maya, they have eternally been in need of knowledge to guide them. Thus, the knowledge must also be eternal. And it is contained in the Ved. Since Ved is eternal, it means that it was never made by anyone; including God (thus it is 'apaurusheya').

need of knowledge to guide them. Thus, the knowledge must also be eternal. And it is contained in the Ved. Since Ved is eternal, it means that it was never made by anyone; including God (thus it is 'apaurusheya'). However, Ved disappears within God during pralaya (dissolution), so it must be manifested by Him and made available again in the world during srishti (creation). Since God manifests Ved in the world, Ved is also called 'paurusheya', which means produced by God. But it is not composed by God, it is manifested by Him in the exact same way it existed before pralaya, in the previous srishti (for this reason it is also called 'vinirgat').

beyond our intellect, and hence on our own, we can only speculate. Thankfully, God makes this knowledge available to us. Why would He not? He has produced this world for the singular purpose of giving us the

speculations by different scholars. Ved is said to be both 'paurusheya' and 'apaurusheya'. 'Paurusheya' means produced by God. 'Apaurusheya' means not made by anyone, not even God. You see, like God, souls, and maya, Ved is

The sounds of Vedic Mantras One might wonder whether the words or sounds of the Vedic mantras are eternal. Actually, there are 4 levels of 'vani' or vocalization: para vani, pashyanti vani, madhyama vani, and vaikhari vani. Each one is progressively less subtle. The sounds of the Ved re-

chance to attain Him, so why would He not use His power to make the required knowledge available as well? Just like there is milk produced in the bosom of the mother even before the baby is born, similarly, before human population begins on earth, God

also eternal. It is Divine knowledge which resides eternally within God. In fact, Ved is considered to be God Himself ([vedo narayanah sakshat [Bhagwatam]). Since souls are eternal, and have eternally been under the bondage of maya, they have eternally been in

side within God in the most subtle form during pralay (para vani). Then they are transmitted by God to Brahma through pashyanti vani and madhyama vani. Pashyanti and madhyama vani cannot be heard by the ears - they are perceived directly by the mind,

or can even be received on a more subtle level. Then Brahma transmits the Ved to the first rishis of the earth planet through pashyanti and madhyama vani. After which, those rishis produce it in vaikhari vani, which can be heard by the ears.

Swami Nikhilanand

Vaikhari vani is also of two types: upanshu (whispered in the ear) and ucchayi (spoken out loud). For many generations, Ved is taught only orally, because the rishis in their Divine minds have the capacity to retain the entire 100,000 mantras of the Ved after only hearing it once (this is also why Ved is known as 'Shruti'). Later, for the benefit of ordinary souls, the Vedic mantras are recorded in written form, which is available in part today. In the next article, we will learn more about the Ved and how they can be utilized to fulfill the goal of human life. Disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj Swami Nikhilanand Ji is a Canadian born Hindu spiritual leader based in Austin, Texas. He

is a sanyasi disciple and pracharak of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Attracted to the teachings of Hinduism from a young age, Swamiji eventually let his deep spiritual longing lead him to India, where he was most fortunate to come under the guidance of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Thereafter, living in the ashrams of JKP, he extensively studied Hindi, the philosophy of the prime Sanskrit scriptures ( Ve d a s , Darshan Shastras, Gita, Bhagwatam), and practiced meditation in the tradition of raganuga bhakti. In 2003, he was given sanyas. Now, with the blessings of his Guruji, he offers satsang programs throughout America, engaging audiences with his clear explanations of Hindu philosophy coupled with inspired chanting of Sanskrit mantras and shlokas and charming nam sankirtan. His informative and compelling speeches provide practical insight into how to adopt the teachings of Sanatan Dharm into our daily lives, and inspire us to awaken our inner spiritual potential. To stay in touch with Swami Nikhilanand Ji, like his Facebook page at https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / SwamiNikhilanand or follow him on twitter at https://twitter.com/ Swami_Nikhil.

Health Fair at Midwest Temple on Apr 10 JAYANTI THAKKAR

CHICAGO: A free Health Fair has been arranged at Vaishnav Samaj of Midwest Temple(Haveli), in Addison, a northwest suburb of Chicago on Sunday, April 10; one of the temple's annual programs. Along with Vaishnav Samaj of Midwest Temple (haveli), Indian American Medical Association of Illinois(IAMA, IL) also cosponsors this event. The fair is open to all in need of medical checkup and health related problems. Preregistration is not required but it will start at the temple at 8 am and close at 11 am. The check up will include test-

Vashnav Samaj Health fair volunteers at previous event

ing of Blood Pressure, Blood Testing, Blood Sugar, EKG, Urinanalysis, Eye Screening, Bone Density tests, ENT exam, Chiropractic Consultation, Physical Therapy, Dental Exami-

nation, Hearing Test and Physical Examination. Information about Social Services and Benefits will also be provided. Also arranged is a diabetic education program. Please bring the list of

medicines that you are taking, so that the doctor can review it. Patients requiring blood testing need to observe fasting for 12 hours before the test and are advised not to take food or

drinks after 8 pm the previous night. Over 25 volunteer doctors and 75 health care professionals will provide their volunteer services for the event.

March 25, 2016

Community Across America

India Post 27

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Before you reject the system, understand it

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we have to find a pragmatic way to combine them. This makes it challenging to come to an agreement on complicated issues, but it's necessary to keep the country from coming apart. We cannot look to government to solve all our problems. Indeed, we live in an era in which government faces more and more problems it cannot effectively deal with. Increasingly, citizens have to step forward and fill the void that government leaves. We may well be moving into the century of the citizen. Our communities and lives are better because of citizen action. Indeed, unless citizens boost their involvement and contributions, many of our problems will not be solved. Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar, IU School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

on your desktop

f there's a theme that sets this political our representative democracy work. We season apart, it's the voters' utter dis- make progress incrementally, over years if dain for most of the people who prac- not generations. So you have to approach tice politics. They're fed up with politi- politics with great patience. Our system discians, they've lost faith and confidence in courages the rush to judgment - it puts a the political elite, and they don't believe premium on including as many voices as that the realm where possible, which takes politicians ply their time in a complicated craft - government country. works. Many people are There are many lealso turned off by what gitimate reasons for lies at the center of our these people to be system: deal-making. turned off by the way This involves a clash of politics has been pracideas in the public ticed and to be discourarena, compromise, and aged by the way the negotiation, which political system apmake a lot of Americans pears to work. But I'd uneasy. Yet it's how we argue that if you're hellresolve our differences bent on shaking up the - and has been since system, you also need the first day of the to understand it - and United States' existLee H. Hamilton understand that certain ence. features are likely to persist no matter how So politicians who insist on purity imhard you try to change them. pede solutions. There ought to be a healthy The first is that it is very hard to make tension between idealism and realism, but

NEWS

LEE H. HAMILTON

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Kar Gayi Chull : Kapoor & Sons 2 Jabra Fan: Fan 3 Sanam Re: Sanam Re 4 Soch na Sake: Airlift 28 India Post

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March 25, 2016

5 High Heels Te Nachche: Ki & Ka 6 Yeh Fitoor Mera : Fitoor 7 Gerua: Dilwale 8 Agar Tum Saath Ho : Tamasha 9 Janam Janam : Dilwale 10 Hua Hai Aaj Pehli Baar : Sanam Re

he may be just one year old in the film industry but Athiya Shetty has already set the gossip mills running with her link-up rumor, but the actress says such reports do not bother her. The 23-year-old 'Hero' actress is reported to be dating 'Ki & Ka' actor Arjun Kapoor after the two were spotted attending a party together in Mumbai recently. "I don't take link-up rumors seriously as long as I, my family and close ones know the truth. I don't give any thought to it," Athiya told PTI. Daughter of actor Suniel Shetty, Athiya said her father knows such things are bound to happen when you are a celebrity. "My father has been in the industry for so long and he understands that all these things come with a celebrity status. We don't give any importance to it. Such reports don't make our dinner table conversations," she added.

allika Sherawat has found love in Paris, one of the most romantic cities of the world. The 'Murder' actress is dating French business magnate Cyrille Auxenfans. Expressing her feelings on social media, Mallika tweeted "Being in love is one of the best feelings in the world!" According to a report in a leading daily, Mallika and Cyrille met each other through common friends. The couple has been going around for a while now. Cyille, who is based in Paris, is into real estate business. He showered Mallika with gifts, including an expensive car on Valentine's Day last month, the report stated. Besides working in Bollywood, Mallika also appeared in international projects like 'Hiss', 'The Myth' and 'Politics of Love'. She is a familiar face in France now and regularly attends the Cannes Film Festival.

aaghi', co-stars Shraddha Kapoor and Tiger Shroff are all praise for each other. The actors, who know each other since childhood, have studied in the same school. Shraddha said, "While shooting, at times I couldn't believe that we were acting together. When we were in school, he was a basketball player and was extremely focused, passionate and energetic... he's so even now. I was in awe of him at the time." Tiger said, "I have been a fan of Shraddha and her acting since her first movie. I feel extremely glad working with her... she's a star now." Action is a predominant theme in the movie, which also has strong element of romance. Talking about their on-screen chemistry, Shraddha says, "We were very comfortable with each other. Even during our workshops and readings, it was a lot of fun. While shooting a particular sequence, we'd get into the character and get back to normal fun and dancing once done." Shraddha is quite kicked about her role which includes performing stunts. She has also sung a song in the movie.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have been a fan of Shraddha and her acting since her first movie. I feel extremely glad working with her... she's a star now."

Bollywood

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S "I had a 25-minute role in Delhi 6. Boman Irani said something really great when he came to visit the set of Neerja. He said there are no big or small roles. Only big or small actorsâ&#x20AC;?

er characters in Bollywood are not as varied as her outings in South but actress Kajal Aggarwal says she chooses her roles carefully in the Hindi film industry. The 30-year-old 'Singham' star, who made her acting debut as a cameo in Aishwarya Raistarrer 'Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...', said strong script is the utmost criteria in taking up a project. "I am extremely happy that people have accepted me down South. I am doing good work there. But at the same time, I am not doing Bollywood just for the heck of it. Until and unless I get a good script and role, I don't give my nod to a project in Bollywood," Kajal told PTI. Last seen in 'Special 26' opposite Akshay Kumar, the actress has just wrapped up 'Do Lafzon Ki Kahani', a remake of Korean movie 'Always'.

onam Kapoor is in no hurry to cash in on the success of Neerja. The actress has said no to all offers post the biopic, except one. The only project that Sonam has agreed to do is for her sister Rhea Kapoor. Shashanka Ghosh, who directed Khubsoorat, will helm this project once again for the Kapoor sisters. While Khubsoorat revolved around Sonam's character, this time the actress will be a part of an ensemble cast. "I am doing my sister Rhea's production," Sonam confirms. "But I am not playing the central character. It's an ensemble cast. It will be directed by my Khubsoorat director Shashanka Ghosh. That's the only film I am doing right now." "I had a 25-minute role in Delhi 6. Boman Irani said something really great when he came to visit the set of Neerja. He said there are no big or small roles. Only big or small actors," Sonam added.

sha Gupta is one of the fittest actresses of Bollywood. The talented actress, who is known for her sharp features and svelte figure, has been rigorously following Pilates and is overwhelmed to see the best results as she feels that it has made her flexible and fitter than ever before. Apart from Pilates, Esha is also into weight training, as well as dance to maintain a toned body for her next film. Esha says, "Pilates is like doing intense yoga. It involves immense usage of the core. I do weights to build muscles, while dancing keeps my body toned, as it makes for a great cardio workout." "Whenever I get some time, I try and fit in all the exercises. So, I always carry my ankle weights, yoga mat and dumbbells with me. I'm on a glutenfree vegetarian diet. I don't drink or smoke. Occasionally, I enjoy a glass of red wine, but I have not had one for the last eight months now," she affirms.

Realty Tidbits

DLF gains 3% on selling shopping mall MUMBAI: Shares of realty firm DLF rose over 3 per cent after the company sold its shopping mall at Saket in the national capital to its wholly-owned subsidiary for Rs 904.5 crore as part of the strategy to consolidate and monetize the rental assets. The stock of the country's largest realty firm gained 2.8 per cent to Rs 108 on BSE. At NSE, shares of the company went up 3.13 per cent to Rs 108.40. DLF said the Board has "approved sale of 'DLF Place Saket', a shopping mall, having built up area of 5.16 lakh sq ft along with land parcel ... To Nambi Buildwell Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of

the company on arm's length basis for an aggregate consideration of Rs 904.50 crore". This is in line with the strategy to structure ownership of existing assets in order to facilitate potential monetization either through REITs or otherwise in future, subject to necessary regulatory and statutory approvals, the company had said in a BSE filing yesterday. Meanwhile, DLF's Board has declared an interim dividend of Rs 2 per fully paid equity shares of Rs 2 each of the company for 201516 fiscal.-PTI

Woman gets 14 years for mortgage fraud SACRAMENTO, Calif.: A California woman has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted in a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud scheme. The Sacramento Bee reports that the U.S. attorney's office says 46-year-old Vera Kuzmenko of Loomis participated in a scheme that cost financial institutions more than $16 million. Prosecutors say Kuzmenko and another woman obtained more than $30 million in residential loans on more than 30 homes purchased through straw buyers in the Sacramento area. Kuzmenko had been a licensed real estate agent for part of the scheme. Prosecutors say she created fraudulent loan applications on behalf of the straw buyers and served as a straw buyer herself. Five other people have been found guilty in connection with the scheme. The case resulted from an investigation by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. -AP

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Details on Page 31

Home construction loans are complex: Here are nuts & bolts POONKULALI THANGAVELU

ake yourself aware of the complexities of home construction loans before you get one. Two types of construction loans There are two main types of home construction loans: • Construction-to-permanent. With these loans, the lender advances the money to pay for construction. After the home is built, the same lender rolls the loan balance into a standard mortgage. This is by far the more popular option. • Stand-alone construction. With these loans, it's often the lender that advances money to build the house. When construction is finished, you get a mortgage to pay off the construction debt. With a construction-to-permanent loan, there is one closing. During construction, you pay only interest on the outstanding loan balance. It converts into a mortgage after the home is built. You lock a maximum mortgage rate at the beginning, when construction begins. A stand-alone construction loan could be worthwhile if it allows a smaller down payment. Because this type of loan doesn't allow you to lock a maximum mortgage rate in advance, you risk a rise in interest rates. Another dis-

advantage is that your circumstances could change during construction, making it impossible to qualify for a permanent loan. And you pay for two closings -- once, on the construction

loan, and later, on the mortgage. More difficult to qualify Qualifying for a constructionto-permanent loan could be more onerous than getting a regular mortgage. This is because the lender doesn't have the completed house as collateral to back the loan during the construction period. Your down payment is likely to be at least 20 percent of the loan amount, although some lenders go as low as 10 percent. The lender will determine whether you can afford the loan payments during construction while you're

paying the rent or mortgage on your current home. Have adequate savings The lender will make sure you have savings to pay for unex-

pected costs. "There are always cost overruns when you are building a home that you may not know about until you are into it. We don't want them to use every last dime they have before they start," says Dennice Henshaw, east side division manager for Washington Federal in Seattle. Cost overruns tend to come about because borrowers have a tendency to change their minds about what they want as construction proceeds. Do your due diligence on the builder An important aspect of build-

ing your home is choosing the right builder. Find one that has built the kind of house you want in terms of price, style and size. Look into the builder's credentials with the local homebuilders association and ask for references from previous clients. You could also see if there are any complaints against the builder with the Better Business Bureau. Typically, your lender will look into the builder's credit standing, financial situation and licenses, as well as the track record for building similar homes. Ongoing inspections Lenders will conduct routine inspections as the home is built. During this period, the lender pays the builder in stages -called "draws" -- and usually sends an appraiser or inspector to make sure that construction proceeds as planned. Cynthia DeLuca, group mortgage manager for BB&T in Raleigh, North Carolina, says, "Our clients could get upside down, where they have 50 percent of the loan but the house is only 25 percent done. We look at how much it is going to cost to complete the house to try to stay on track." Typically, you sign off on each draw request so that you are kept informed how the work is proceeding. -Courtesy Bankrate.com

Lenders fail to sell Kingfisher House MUMBAI: In a blow to lenders' recovery efforts, the auction for Kingfisher House - once headquarters of Vijay Mallya's long-grounded airline - turned out to be a damp squib with no bidders coming forward due to litigation fears and a high reserve price of Rs 150 crore. The 17-member consortium, led by State Bank of India, will now meet on March 19 to discuss the future course of action to review the reasons including the reserve price for the failure

of the auction, sources said. Even before it started, bankers and experts were skeptical of the auction as no bidder had approached SBICAP Trustee, which conducted the e-auction, till March 14 - the last day to register and deposit the earnest money. The reserve price for Kingfisher House, with a built up area 17,000 sq ft in Vile Parle area near domestic airport here, was set at Rs 150 crore, which has widely been termed as too high for this Cont’d on page 31 property.

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Govt to bring in new tenancy law NEW DELHI: The government has said it will come out with a modern tenancy law to promote rental housing in urban areas after taking into account the contemporary requirements of the tenants. "We are planning a National Urban Rental Housing Policy ... In today's date, the tenants are more

The policy is being planned to promote rental housing in urban areas in view of the large migration of population from rural areas to cities, he said, adding that its draft has been circulated to the states for their views. The draft policy, which has been shared with states and other stakeholders, outlines certain rec-

CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee

in number... This policy will be for people who let out their house on rent," Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in Lok Sabha.

ommendatory incentives, both financial and non-financial, to promote rental housing. "We are trying to evolve a policy for modern tenancy law.

It is very challenging. I seek similar support from you (opposition) in the modern tenancy law. It is difficult but not impossible," Naidu said, while winding up a debate on the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013. Despite a housing shortage of approximately 19 million units, about 11.09 million houses are vacant in urban areas as per 2011 census data. The draft policy has suggested a host of fiscal incentives to encourage rental housing with a view to achieve the goal of housing for all by 2022. Housing is considered as one of the key sectors to promote growth by increasing demand for steel, cement, besides creating additional jobs. The draft policy has suggested tax incentives for house owners who will rent out the property, institutional owners wanting to set up mass rental housing and Property Tax exemption for Social Rental Housing properties. It also suggested treating rental housing stocks at par with owneroccupied premises in terms of property tax treatment and calculating other utility charges like water and electricity. -PTI

Developer drops lawsuit against Zuckerberg SAN FRANCISCO: A real estate developer has dropped his lawsuit against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg over a deal involving property behind Zuckerberg's home in Palo Alto, California. Zuckerberg's attorney says the case was dismissed with no payment to the developer, Mircea Voskerician. Voskerician had claimed in 2014 that Zuckerberg reneged on a promise to introduce the developer to wealthy friends as potential clients, after Voskerician agreed to sell Zuckerberg his rights to the neighboring property. ``Mr. Voskerician's decision to abandon his lawsuit confirms what we have always maintained, that his claims lacked merit and his case was nothing more than a fraudulent attempt to extort millions of dollars from Mr. Zuckerberg,'' Zuckerberg attorney Patrick Gunn said in a state-

ment. The dismissal was confirmed by Voskerician's attorney, Guyton Jinkerson, who joined the case in January to replace another lawyer who originally filed the suit.

``Upon careful reflection we determined that this case should be resolved and we worked with counsel for the defendants to reach an equitable settlement of this matter,'' Jinkerson said. -AP

Mark Zuckerberg

Sebi asks company to refund investor money NEW DELHI: Markets regulator Sebi has asked Jeevan Suraksha Real Estate and its directors to refund money to investors that the company raised illegally through redeemable preference shares (RPS). Besides, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) also imposed a ban on the company and its seven directors - Chandan Das, Ashok Chakraborty, Uttam Acharjee, Champa Biswas, Sangita Das, Arju Acharjee and Dipamoni Acharjee - for four years from the completion of refund. According to Sebi, the Assam-based company raised Rs 6.30 crore from over 299 entities during 2006-07, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Since shares were issued by the firm to more than 50 people, it qualified as a public issue that requires compulsory listing on recognized stock exchanges, which the company failed to do. Among others, it was also mandatory for the firms to bring out a prospectus with respect to the public issue. In an order, Sebi asked Jeevan Suraksha Real Estate and its directors to "refund the money collected by the company through the issuance of RPS...with an in-

terest of 15 per cent per annum compounded at half yearly intervals, from the date when the repayments became due to investors till the date of actual payment". In addition, they "shall issue public notice, in all editions of two national dailies (one English and one Hindi) and in one local daily with wide circulation, detailing the

modalities for refund, including details of contact person within 15 days of this order coming into effect". In case the company fails to comply with these directives, Sebi would make a reference to state government or local police to register a case against the company for fraud. Besides, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs would initiate the process of winding up of the company. -PTI

Lenders fail to sell Kingfisher House Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 30

Interestingly, the lenders had got done an independent valuation for the property and a leading real estate consultant had pegged the value at Rs 40-50 crore. The suggested valuation was, however, discarded by the lenders who went on to set the reserve price at Rs 150 crore. Another leading property consultant also said that the reserve price quoted by the banks was too high, taking into account the area and the current market trends. "There were no bidders. I think the higher reserve price was the reason for it. Lenders will now meet on March 19 to review the reserve price," said a source, adding that the bankers are as of now looking to lower it to Rs 100-120 crore.

There is a possibility that a fresh valuation would be done by some independent consultant. The online auction was held by SBICAPS Trustee, a subsidiary of SBI Caps, under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (Sarfaesi), 2002. Lenders had taken over Kingfisher House in February last year in a bid to recover part of their dues totaling over Rs 9,000 crore, which includes unpaid loans and accrued interest. The banks have stepped up their recovery efforts in recent past. Mallya, meanwhile, has left the country amid an intensified glare of various regulators and investigative agencies that are probing alleged irregularities involving various companies of his group. -PTI

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US home construction jumped in February WASHINGTON: Construction of new homes rose in February to the highest level in five months, but applications for new construction were weak for a third month. Housing starts rose 5.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.18 million units, the Commerce Department reported. Construction had fallen in January in December, declines that

had been blamed in part on winter weather. Applications for building permits, a gauge of future activity, fell 3.1 percent to an annual rate of 1.17 million units after a flat reading in January and a drop in December. The decline in building permits, unless reversed, could signal future trouble in an industry that was a bright spot for the economy last

year. But Bricklin Dwyer, an economist with BNP Paribas, said the slump in building permit applications should only translate into a brief construction slowdown given the solid fundamentals supporting housing. ``We see a resilient labor market as supportive of a continued slow and steady housing recovery and low housing inventory should continue to bolster residential construction ahead,'' Dwyer said. For February, construction of single-family homes rose 7.2 percent to an annual rate of 822,000 units. Construction in the smaller apartment sector edged up a slight 0.8 percent to a rate of 356,000 units. Regionally, construction activity plunged 51.3 percent in the Northeast but showed strength in all other regions. Construction rose 19.9 percent in the Midwest, 7.1 percent in the South and

26.1 percent in the West. The National Association of Homebuilders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index held steady at 58 for March. Readings above 50 indicate more builders view sales conditions as good rather than poor. Sales of new homes surged 14.5 percent last year to 501,000, mark-

NYC step toward affordable housing NEW YORK: New York City has taken a big step toward a new zoning plan that would create more affordable housing.

Real estate bill to protect home buyers NEW DELHI: The real estate regulatory bill will safeguard the rights of consumers against delays in completion of housing projects, industry body CII said and sought single-window and time-bound approval system for realty projects. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill was passed by Lok Sabha five days after its passage by Rajya Sabha. "Passage of the Real Estate Regulatory Act by both houses of Parliament paves the way for a well-deserved and long overdue legislation for safeguarding the rights of consumers, especially the common man, against occasional delays," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. The bill seeks to protect consumer interest, ensure efficiency in all property-related transactions, improve accountability of developers, boost transparency and attract more investments to the sector. It provides for setting up of Real Estate Regulatory Authorities

(RERAs), which will regulate transactions related to both residential and commercial projects and ensure their timely completion and handover. The real estate sector is not only crucial from economic perspective, having linkages with around 250 sectors, but also has deep socio-cultural importance in the Indian scenario, he added. CII hopes that all state governments would now soon come out with guidelines enabling timebound approval procedures for housing projects with appropriate penalties for erring departments/ ministries, he said.

"Not only would this step usher in a new era of transparency and accountability amongst all stakeholders, but will also help realize the government's ambitious 'Housing for All' scheme by 2022," Banerjee said. CII would continue to strive towards a single-window clearance regime for real estate and housing projects, he said. The bill provides for imprisonment of up to three years in case of promoters and up to one year in case of real estate agents and buyers for any violation of orders of Appellate Tribunals or monetary penalties or both. -PTI

ing the strongest year for this segment of the housing market since 2007. Economists are forecasting another good year for housing as strong employment gains led more people to decide to purchase homes. Strength in home construction was a pillar of growth for the economy last year. -AP

Mark-Viverito

The City Council has secured concessions from the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio. More details are being worked out. But Speaker Mel-

issa Mark-Viverito says she's ``comfortable'' the plan will pass the full council. The Wall Street Journal says developers' projects must now include some apartments affordable to residents who make 40 percent of the area's median income a b o u t $31,000 for a family of four. De Blasio's initial proposal placed that number at 60 percent - or $47,000. De Blasio calls the agreement a ``watershed'' moment. An opposing coalition called Real Affordability for All has now given its support. -AP

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March 25, 2016

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Shrinking space for Left-wing extremism BIBHU PRASAD ROUTRAY

eft-wing extremism (LWE) in India has more or less ceased to be a national problem. Over the past two years, there has been a significant drop in the extremists' ability to orchestrate violence, and consequently, extremism-related deaths have decreased. However, in order to defeat extremism completely, in 2016, the state needs to build on the gains made thus far, failing which this year could well mark the revival of the movement that has demonstrated remarkable survival capacities in the past.

statement called on the "patriots" to come forward to protect the country's natural wealth and resource for our future generations." Not only has the outfit made no secret of its discomfort regarding the use of drones and helicopters by the security forces that further titled the balance in favor of the state, it also appears extremely disturbed about the probable use of aerial attacks on its facilities in the Dandakaranya area. As the state makes further advances, such levels of desperation can become even more acute.

From National to Regional A far cry from its domination over nearly one-third of the country's geographical expanse, the influence of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) is now confined to only five states of the country. Of these, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha cumulatively account for 80 per cent of such activities. While approximately 20 districts in these five states witnessed most of the LWE violence in 2015, six districts (three in Chhattisgarh, one each in Odisha, Jharkhand and Maharashtra) can be termed as the worst affected districts, accounting for witnessing almost 60 per cent of the violent incidents. Previously a national problem, LWE has now become a regional problem, mostly limited to India's eastern board. Since 2013, the CPI-Maoist has admitted to such losses in a series of publications. The CPI-Maoist's central committee resolution that was adopted in early 2013 spoke specifically about how the mass base and recruitment abilities of the outfit has decreased in the Dandakaranya area. In early 2014, in an internally circulated interview for the Maoist Information Bulletin, General Secretary Muppala Lakshman Rao acknowledged the "loss of considerable number of party leaders at all levels starting from the central committee to the village level party committees" and "weakened movement in rural plains and urban areas." He termed the protection of its "subjective leadership from enemy attacks as one of the foremost tasks before the party." The trend of shrinking space for extremism is likely to continue in 2016 as effective counter-insurgency operations continue in states like Bihar and Jharkhand. However, whether or not such operations can make the outfit completely vacate its strongholds in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha remains a key question.

Chhattisgarh's Problem Chief Minister Raman Singh has termed Chhattisgarh a "safe state" for investment with "some Naxal activities," which are "reducing rapidly." However, extremism related data paints a different picture. Chhattisgarh accounts for 43 per cent of the violent LWE activities. In 2015, against the general trend of declining Maoist violence, the state registered a significant increase in extremism-related incidents over the previous year: from 326 to 488. According to the security establishment, the rise in incidents is due to the proactive operations undertaken by the security forces, especially by the District Reserve Group (DRG). According to the Chhattisgarh police, the DRG, comprising local youth and surrendered extremists in

Increasing Desperation Levels The acute level of desperation among the extremists over a stream of losses of cadres, especially senior cadres, is reflected in the tone and frequency of their appeals to their constituencies and prospective cadres. Not long ago, Maoist propaganda machinery churned out regular press releases detailing the outfit's agenda and its opposition to the government's moves. Not only have the sheer numbers of such press statements decreased significantly (the last press statement was issued in November 2015), lately, calls for armed revolution have been missing from the usual vocabulary of defiance. For instance, the 28 November 2015

In 2015, 168 civilians and 58 security forces were killed in LWE-related violence across the country. Of the slain civilians, 92 were termed as police informers by the extremists and killed as part of its campaign to establish a complete dominance over the area. Destroying of schools, roads, health centers and mobile towers are other components of this strategy. While targeting the security forces, the extremists resort to morale boosting pre-planned attacks that result in heavy casualties. The January 2016 attack in Palamu, Jharkhand, which killed seven security force personnel, and the April 2015 attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, in which 11 police personnel died, are examples. However, a bulk of the civilian and security force fatalities occur in smaller attacks that go unnoticed due to the limited number of casualties they inflict. This enables the extremists to keep away from the limelight, preserve their cadre strength and at the same time, continue nibbling at the state's presence in the remotest corners. As the CPI-Maoist deals with its organizational weakness, it will continue to resort to this dual strategy of inflicting serious as well as enduring losses on the state. Questionable Surrenders The surrender of a large number of Maoist cadres has been projected as a key to the declining strength of the outfits and

During an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha's Malkangiri district

the Bastar division, carried out 644 antiMaoist operations in 2015, both individually and in coordination with other state and paramilitary forces, during which they killed 46 extremists. This is indeed a huge achievement, given how 89 extremists were killed in total in the entire country in 2015. Yet, the extremist stronghold in Abhujhmad, large portions of which is located within the state, continues to be undisturbed and constitutes the 'liberated zone' where the janathana sarkar (people's government) has been established. Chhattisgarh's Sukma, Bijapur and Dantewada districts are among the six worst affected districts in the country. In 2016, the survival of Maoist extremism will crucially depend on how the outfit manages its control over its strongholds in Chhattisgarh. Assaults and a Slow Burn Strategy

also as a reflection of a growing disenchantment with the ideology of mindless blood spilling among the extremists. According to available data, 11,608 CPIMaoist cadres surrendered between 2010 and 2015. Combined with the number of Maoists killed and arrested, the total number of neutralized extremists stand at 14,838 in the same period. This is larger than the officially acknowledged cadre strength of the CPI-Maoist, which is about 12,000. The fact that the outfit still survives points either at its continued ability to recruit cadres or raises serious questions regarding the genuineness of such surrenders. Over the years, numerous reports have surfaced, detailing episodes of fake surrenders in which civilians unattached with extremism or petty criminals have been paraded by the police as extremists. The trend is at its worst in Chhattisgarh, where even senior officers within the police establish-

ment have raised questions about the genuineness of surrenders. However, given the proclivity to project surrenders as achievements and the state government's willingness to ignore such charges made even by insiders, such policies are likely to continue with the objective of amplifying the state's achievements. Human Rights, a Low Priority The broad contours of the counterMaoist policies of the government in New Delhi remain unknown. Contrary to the clear elucidation of its policies by the previous government, a great deal of secrecy surrounds the current policy. Yet, as evident from the odd official statements and on ground mobilization, a force-centric approach now dominates the official line of thinking. Deployment of additional battalions of central forces with an objective to actively pursue the senior leadership of the CPI-Maoist has emerged as a key component of this strategy. However, such a policy has also led to the state closing its eyes to episodes of violations of basic rights of law-abiding citizens. Increasing use of vigilante movements in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh has resulted in a growing number of cases in which NGO activists, media persons and tribals are being targeted by the state. In Chhattisgarh, where most of such incidents have occurred, local leaders of the ruling political party have reportedly joined the police in targeting journalists reporting violation of human rights. While a clean and just war can only be an idealistic goal in a counter-extremist situation, willful persecution of voices of dissent as a state policy is likely to continue, which ends up justifying the extremists' narrative of the state being a principal violator of tribal rights. Conclusion In spite of the academic and official attention it garnered and the propaganda it sought to indulge in, the CPI-Maoist never posed a pertinent danger to India's urban centers. Never in its short history of 11 years did the outfit come close to fulfilling its purported objective of overthrowing the government, even in the worst affected states. Attacks were carried out mostly on its near enemy, i.e. the security forces and the civilians intruding into its sphere of influence, whereas the far enemy, i.e. the government structure removed from the conflict zone, has remained unscathed. However, even with its current weakness, the outfit's capacity to hold on to its strongholds would pose the real challenge to the Indian state. The state has to deal with an outfit that does not kill many and yet, makes the entry of the state into the remotest areas of many states severely risk prone. In fact, weakness of the adversary must not lead to a state of complacency facilitating an extremist revival. A nuanced policy of making security force operations accountable and governing the reclaimed areas well would form the basis of a future free from extremism. The writer is Director, Mantraya.org, and Visiting Fellow, IPCS

March 25, 2016

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Heart disease main cause of deaths In India NEW DELHI: Cardiovascular diseases account for 26 per cent of all deaths in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed. "As per the estimates in the World Health Organization NCD Country Profile 2014, CVD (Cardio-vascular disease) is the leading cause of deaths in India and accounts for 26 per cent of all deaths," Health Minister JP

JP Nadda

Nadda said in a written reply. Management of Acute Coronary Event registry's feasibility study by Indian Council of Medical Research undertaken for small number of patients from 13 hospitals in 12 states (including registries in difficult terrains of the country) showed a medium time of symptoms onset to door of 15 hours and that of onset of symptoms to first medical contact of 2.5 hours, indicating a delay in transfer of these cases to Acute Coronary Event care hospitals, he said. -PTI

Â&#x201E; Grants for opioid abuse treatment ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.: The federal government is giving more than $1.7 million to five health centers and treatment providers in New Mexico to improve and expand substance-abuse services, particularly the treatment of opioid abuse. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced the grants being awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services. The senators said grants are going to First Choice Community Healthcare Inc. and First Nations Community Health Source Inc. in Albuquerque, La Familia Medical Center and Presbyterian Medical Services Inc. in Santa Fe, and the Pueblo of Jemez. According to the senators, the funding will mean more people can be screened and treated for substance abuse and there'll be more training for medical professionals so they can make informed prescribing decisions. -AP

Health Science

Smartphone microscopes to detect skin cancer

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Details on Page 39

Volunteering for infection in hunt for dengue, Zika vaccines WASHINGTON: Forget mosquito bites. Volunteers let researchers inject them with the dengue virus in the name of science - and an experimental vaccine protected them. Next up, scientists plan to use this same strategy against dengue's cousin, the Zika virus. It's called a human challenge, a little-known but increasing type of research where healthy people agree to be deliberately infected in the quest for new or improved vaccines against a variety of health threats, from flu to malaria. The dengue study offered more evidence that what sounds bizarre not only can be done safely, it can offer important clues for how well a shot might work. ``What we're trying to do is accelerate vaccine research,'' said senior author Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins University's school of public health. It may be the best way ``to know if you have a stinker before you try to test it in thousands or tens of thousands of people.'' The dengue candidate proved

highly promising, researchers reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Dengue fever may have slipped from the headlines as the related Zika virus sweeps through Latin America, but every year mosquito-borne dengue causes devastating outbreaks throughout the tropics and subtropics. While most people survive den-

suffer serious illness and about 25,000 die. Creating a vaccine has been tough. It must work against four separate strains of dengue, and a shot that's only partially protective might backfire. That's because people who survive one type of dengue can suffer worse symptoms if they're later infected with another strain.

A researcher holds a container with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil

gue with few or even no symptoms, more than 2 million a year

Enter an experimental vaccine created at the National Institutes

of Health, made from four live but weakened dengue strains. Initial studies had suggested the shots were safe and promising. But, ``we really wanted to have an early clue that it was go to work,'' especially against the hard-to-prevent dengue serotype 2, said Dr. Stephen Whitehead of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who led the vaccine development. Researchers at Hopkins and the University of Vermont gave 41 healthy people who'd never been exposed to dengue either a single dose of the vaccine or a dummy shot. Six months later, those volunteers were challenged - injected with a weakened version of that dengue-2 strain. The results were striking: All 21 people who'd gotten the real vaccine were completely protected while all 20 who'd gotten a placebo had dengue virus in their bloodstream and either a mild rash or a temporary drop in white blood cell count, researchers reported. Cont'd on Page 38

Smart insulin patch to control diabetes WASHINGTON: Scientists have created a synthetic painless patch filled with natural insulin-producing cells that can control blood sugar levels on demand. For decades, researchers have tried to duplicate the function of beta cells, the tiny insulin-producing entities that do not work properly in patients with diabetes. Insulin injections provide painful and often imperfect substitutes. Transplants of normal beta cells carry the risk of rejection or side effects from immunosuppressive therapies, researchers said. Now, scientists from University of North Carolina (UNC) in the US have devised another option - a synthetic patch filled with natural beta cells that can secrete doses of insulin to control blood sugar levels on demand with no risk of inducing hypoglycemia.

The proof-of-concept builds on an innovative technology, the "smart insulin patch." Both patches are thin polymeric squares about the size of a quarter and covered in tiny needles, like a miniature bed of nails.

quickly respond to skyrocketing blood sugar levels and significantly lower them for 10 hours at a time. "This study provides a potential solution for the tough problem of rejection, which has long plagued studies on pancreatic cell transplants for diabetes," said Zhen Gu from UNC. "Plus it demonstrates that we can build a bridge between the physiological signals within the body and The "smart insulin patch," developed by these therapeutic cells outresearchers in the joint UNC/NC State side the body to keep gluBiomedical Engineering Department. cose levels under control," said Gu. However, whereas the former Beta cells typically reside in the approach filled these needles with pancreas, where they act as the manmade bubbles of insulin, this body's natural insulin-producing new "smart cell patch" integrates factories. In healthy people, they the needles with live beta cells. produce, store, and release the Tests of this painless patch in hormone insulin to help process small animal models of type-1 dia- sugar that builds up in the bloodbetes demonstrated that it could stream after a meal, researchers

said. However, in people with diabetes, these cells are either damaged or unable to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels under control, they said. Researchers constructed the "smart cell patches" using natural materials commonly found in cosmetics and diagnostics. They stuffed the hundreds of microneedles, each about the size of an eyelash, with culture media and thousands of beta cells that were encapsulated into microcapsules made from biocompatible alginate. When applied to the skin, the patch's microneedles poked into the capillaries and blood vessels, forming a connection between the internal environment and the external cells of the patch. The findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials. -PTI

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Smartphone microscopes to detect skin cancer HOUSTON, TEXAS: Mobile phonebased microscopy can be used to diagnose skin cancer accurately in settings where a traditional microscope is not available, according to a new study. Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston (UTHealth), said smartphone microscopes could improve the detection of skin cancer in developing countries. "Doctors in some remote areas don't have access to the high-powered microscopes we use to evaluate skin samples," said Richard Jahan-Tigh, assistant profes-

sor of dermatology at UTHealth. "Doctors there could use their smartphones to photograph growths and forward them for examination," said JahanTigh. "We did a head-to-head comparison with a traditional light microscope and while the smartphone microscope wasn't as accurate it resulted in the detection of about 90 per cent of the non-melanoma skin cancers," said Jahan-Tigh, who conducted the study with colleagues at McGovern Medical School and Harvard Medical School. "With the smartphone microscope, the

Alzheimer's 'lost' memories may be recoverable TOKYO: Sufferers of Alzheimer's disease may not have "lost" their memories, but could simply have difficulty accessing them, researchers said as they unveiled a possible treatment that could one day offer a cure to the ravages of dementia. Nobel Prize-winner Susumu Tonegawa said studies on mice showed that by stimulating specific areas of the brain with blue light, scientists could make the creatures recall thoughts that were otherwise unavailable to them. The results offer some of the first evidence that Alzheimer's disease does not destroy specific memories, but rather makes them inaccessible. "As humans and mice tend to have a common principle in terms of memory, our findings suggest that Alzheimer's disease patients, at least in their early stages, may also keep memories in their brains, which means there may be a possibility of a cure," Tonegawa told AFP. Tonegawa's team used mice that had been genetically modified to exhibit symptoms similar to those of humans suffering from Alzheimer's disease - a degenerative brain condition that affects millions of adults around the world. The animals were put in a box which had a low level electrical current passing through the floor - giving an unpleasant, but not dangerous, shock to their feet. An unaffected mouse that is returned to the same box 24 hours later freezes in fear, anticipating the same nasty sensation. Mice with Alzheimer's do not, suggesting they have no recollection of the experience. But when researchers stimulated targeted areas of the animal's brains - the "engram cells" associated with memory - using a blue light, they appeared to recall the shock. The same result was noted even when placing the creatures in a different box during stimulation, suggesting the memory had been retained and was being reactivated. Synaptic Connections By examining the physical structure of the mice's brains, researchers noted that those affected with Alzheimer's-like conditions had fewer "spines" - conduits through which synaptic connections are formed.

Via repeated light stimulation they were able to increase the number of spines to levels indistinguishable from those in normal mice, resulting in their exhibiting the freezing behavior seen in the original box. "The mice's memories were retrieved through a natural cue," Tonegawa said, referring to the box that initially triggered the freezing behavior. "This means that symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in mice were cured, at least in their early stages." The research, carried out by the RIKENMIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics, is among the first to prove that recall - rather than memory - is the problem, Japan-based RIKEN said. "It's good news for Alzheimer's disease

The research on mice offered hope for a future treatment for Alzheimer's disease, a condition that accounts for between 60to-70 percent of the 47.5 million people patients," centre director Tonegawa, who won the 1987 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine, told AFP by telephone from his office in Massachusetts. The optical stimulation of brain cells - a technique called "optogenetics" - involves inserting a special gene into neurons to make them sensitive to blue light, and then stimulating specific parts of the brain. Optogenetics has previously been used in psychotherapeutic treatments for mental illnesses such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Tonegawa said the research on mice offered hope for a future treatment for Alzheimer's disease, a condition that accounts for between 60-to-70 percent of the 47.5 million people around the world suffering from dementia, figures that are expected to increase as developed countries such as Japan grow older. But he cautioned more work was yet to be done. -AFP

detection rate for melanomas was 60 per cent," he said. "This is a good first step to show that smartphone microscopy has a future in dermatology and pathology," Jahan-Tigh said. A smartphone microscope can be made

that has been placed on a slide and waits for the sample to come into focus. The doctor then either reads the sample if he or she is a pathologist, or takes a photo and emails it to a pathologist for interpretation. Researchers examined 1,021 slides of specimens, which had a total of 136 basal cell carcinomas, 94 squamous cell carcinomas and 15 melanomas. T h e smartphone microscope was used to pick up 95.6 per cent of the basal cell carcinomas and 89 per cent of squamous cell carWith the help of a smartphone microscope, UTHealth's Richard Jahancinomas. Tigh, M.D., was able to detect non-melanoma skin cancer about 90 percent of the time.Image Credit: University of Texas Health Science Researchers Center at Houston (UTHealth) said that mobile phone-based miwith a 3 mm ball lens, a tiny piece of plastic croscopy has excellent performance charto hold the ball lens over the smartphone acteristics for the inexpensive diagnosis of lens and tape to grip everything in place. non-melanoma skin cancers in a setting A ball lens costs about USD 14 at an where a traditional microscope is not availelectronics store and is typically used for able. laser optics, researchers said. The findings appear in the journal ARA doctor or technician holds a CHIVES of Pathology and Laboratory smartphone microscope over a skin sample Medicine. -PTI

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New blood test may detect High sleep disturbance in Delhi students multiple diseases JERUSALEM: Scientists have developed a new blood test that may detect multiple diseases, including diabetes, cancer, traumatic injury and neurodegeneration, in a highly sensitive and specific manner. The novel method, developed in a series of experiments involving 320 patients and controls, infers cell death in specific tissue from the methylation patterns of

tumor or the beginning of an autoimmune or neurodegenerative disease), mark disease progression, reflect the success of therapy (eg anti cancer drugs), identify unintended toxic effects of treatment and more. However to date, it is not possible to measure cell death in specific human tissues non-invasively. The new blood test detects cell death in specific tissues by com-

The new blood test detects cell death in specific tissues by combining two important biological principles.

circulating DNA that is released by dying cells. Cell death is a central feature of human biology in health and disease, according to researchers led by Ruth Shemer and Yuval Dor from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Benjamin Glaser from Hadassah Medical Centre. It can signify the early stages of pathology (eg a developing

bining two important biological principles. First, dying cells release fragmented DNA to the circulation, where it travels for a short time. The second principle is that the DNA of each cell type carries a unique chemical modification called methylation. Methylation patterns of DNA account for the identity of cells (the genes that they express), are similar among

different cells of the same type and among individuals, and are stable in healthy and disease conditions. For example, the DNA methylation pattern of pancreatic cells differs from the pattern of all other cell types in the body. The researchers have identified multiple DNA sequences that are methylated in a tissue-specific manner (for example, unmethylated in DNA of neurons and methylated elsewhere), and can serve as biomarkers for the detection of DNA derived from each tissue. They then developed a method to detect these methylated patterns in DNA circulating in blood, and demonstrated its utility for identifying the origins of circulating DNA in different human pathologies, as an indication of cell death in specific tissues. They were able to detect evidence for pancreatic beta-cell death in the blood of patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes, oligodendrocyte death in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, brain cell death in patients after traumatic or ischemic brain damage, and exocrine pancreas cell death in patients with pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis. "Our work demonstrates that the tissue origins of circulating DNA can be measured in humans. This represents a new method for sensitive detection of cell death in specific tissues, and an exciting approach for diagnostic medicine," said Shemer. The findings were published in the journal PNAS. -PTI

Volunteering for infection in hunt for dengue, Zika vaccines Cont'd from Page 36

This kind of study mimics ``the closest that it can be to what may happen in natural infection,'' said Dr. Nikos Vasilakis, a virologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, who wasn't involved in the new work but calls the NIH shot ``one of the better vaccine candidates.'' Based in part on the findings, the Butantan Institute in Brazil last month began recruiting 17,000 people, ages 2 to 59, for the final testing needed to prove how well the NIH vaccine works against dengue in real-world conditions, when it is spread by mosquitoes. A competing vaccine, made by

Sanofi Pasteur, recently was approved by Brazilian regulators for ages 9 to 45. What about Zika, the dengue relative that's been linked to babies born with unusually small heads? Already, researchers are planning similar challenge studies that could start even before there's a vaccine candidate, Durbin said. ``We see a Zika challenge model as really beneficial for not only vaccine development but also to learn more about Zika itself,'' she explained. ``We know very little about Zika right now,'' including how long it stays in blood and other parts of the body. Key to these challenge stud-

ies: Scientists must modify a virus strain in the laboratory so that it doesn't make volunteers openly ill but still is strong enough to spark a mild infection, what Whitehead called ``that perfect in-between.'' Plus, that mimics what happens with both dengue and Zika, where most people who become infected never report symptoms. Before deliberately infecting someone, ``you have to know that it's a completely controllable situation, that it's a mild and controlled infection,'' said Dr. Beth Kirkpatrick, who directs the University of Vermont Vaccine Testing Center that tested the dengue model. -AP

NEW DELHI: A survey among college-going youths in Delhi has found that 34 per cent females and 15 per cent of their male counterparts have sleep disturbances and are at a higher risk of being affected by depression and anxiety. "In a recent survey, 34 per cent of female students and 15.7 per cent of male students reported disturbed sleep. "The study also found that students with sleep disturbances are at a higher risk of depression, anxiety, emotional and behavioral disturbances, deteriorating academic performance, internet and gaming addiction, excessive gadget use, inter personal relationship problems as well as alcohol and drug abuse," said the survey by the Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences (CIMBS).

The study, which was released on the eve of World Sleep Day, was done among 500 college-going youths in New Delhi. The theme of World Sleep Day this year is 'Good Sleep is a Reachable Dream'.

"Psychiatrists across the city are seeing a new trend of sleep disorder among children, adolescents and youths in which the individual sleeps late and wakes up late in the morning, leading to Phase Delayed Sleep Disorder (PDSD)," said Sunil Mittal, Director, CIMBS. He said that "a good night's rest is a key pillar of mental and physical health and the treatment of sleep disorders can reduce the risk of hypertension, diabetes, cancers, depression and anxiety. "Studies worldwide have shown that one third (35 per cent) of people feel they do not get enough sleep, impacting both their physical and mental health. "Insomnia alone affects 8-10 per cent of the general population and may lead to increased risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, headache, immune def i c i e n c y, anxiety, depression, memory problems, road traffic accidents and decreased work performance," s a i d Shobhana Mittal, attending consultant psychiatrist at CIMBS. Rajesh Kumar, member of World Association of Sleep Medicine, said sleep is especially essential for physical as well as emotional growth among the youth. -PTI

Varsities told to organize Yoga fests NEW DELHI: University Grants Commission (UGC) has sent letters to Vice Chancellors of universities asking them to organize two to three-day Yoga fest in April and May for students. In separate letters, UGC secretary Jaspal S Sandhu said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the need for making Yoga more appealing to youth so that they can imbibe this rich cultural heritage and their energy could be channelized in nation-building. "You are requested to organize 2 to 3-day 'Yoga Fest' during April-May, where students could

be sensitized about the strengths and health benefits of Yoga. "They may also be trained in the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) to be performed on International Day of Yoga on 21st June, 2016, which is available at the website of the Ministry of AYUSH," the letter said. Sandhu also suggested other activities for this fest' like cultural programs based on Yoga. Lectures by experts on subjects such as, 'Yoga for Lifestyle modifications', 'Yoga for Wellness', 'Yuva Yoga', 'Yoga and Detoxification', 'Power of Pranayama', could also be included in the fest, he said. -PTI

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Potential Zika risk estimated for 50 US cities NEW YORK: Key factors that can combine to produce a Zika virus outbreak are expected to be present in 50 US cities during peak summer months, a new study has warned. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is spreading the virus in much of Latin America and the Caribbean, will likely be increasingly abundant across much of the southern and eastern US as the weather warms, according to the study led by experts at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in US. Summertime weather conditions are fa-

Although the study does not include a specific prediction for this year, researchers note that long-range forecasts for this summer point to a 40-45 per cent chance of warmer-than-average temperatures over most of the continental US. vorable for populations of the mosquito along the East Coast as far north as New York City and across the southern tier of the country as far west as Phoenix and Los Angeles, according to computer simulations conceived and run by researchers at NCAR and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre. Spring and fall conditions can support low to moderate populations of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in more southern regions of its US range. Wintertime weather is too cold for the species outside southern Florida and southern Texas, the study found.

Researchers analyzed travel patterns from countries and territories with Zika outbreaks and found that cities in southern Florida and impoverished areas in southern Texas may be particularly vulnerable to local virus transmission. "This research can help us anticipate the timing and location of possible Zika virus outbreaks in certain US cities," said Andrew Monaghan from NCAR. "While there is much we still do not know about the dynamics of Zika virus transmission, understanding where the Aedes aegypti mosquito can survive in the US and how its abundance fluctuates seasonally may help guide mosquito control efforts and public health preparedness," Monaghan said. "Even if the virus is transmitted here in the continental US, a quick response can reduce its impact," added Mary Hayden from NCAR. Although the study does not include a specific prediction for this year, researchers note that long-range forecasts for this summer point to a 40-45 per cent chance of warmer-than-average temperatures over most of the continental US. This could lead to increased suitability for Aedes aegypti in much of the South and East, although above-normal temperatures would be less favorable for the species in the hottest regions of Texas, Arizona, and California, Monaghan said. Even if Zika establishes a toehold in the mainland US, it is unlikely to spread as widely as in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is partly because a higher percentage of Americans live and work in airconditioned and largely sealed homes and offices, he said. The findings were published in the journal PLOS Currents Outbreaks. -PTI

68 per cent of milk in India adulterated NEW DELHI: Over 68 per cent of milk in the country does not conform to standards laid down by the food regulator and the most common adulterant found in it is detergent, caustic soda, glucose, white paint and refined oil considered "very hazardous" which could cause serious ailments, the Lok Sabha was informed. Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said during Question Hour that a new scanner has been developed which can detect adulteration in milk in 40 seconds and can even pinpoint the adulterant. Earlier, for every type of adulteration, a separate chemical test was required. But now a single scanner can do the job, he said. There were murmurs among members when the minister suggested that these scanners could be pur-

chased by MPs through their constituency funds. Though the scanners are costly as of now, each test costs a mere 10 paisa, he said. Mr Vardhan said in the near future, GPSbased technology could be used to track the exact location where the milk supplied in the cold chain has been tampered with. There are two lakh villages in the country from where milk is collected. -PTI

India bans 344 fixed dose combination drugs NEW DELHI: The Health Ministry has banned about 344 fixed dose combination drugs, including cough syrups compositions, saying they involve "risk" to humans and safer alternatives were available. The ban on the drugs comes into immediate effect and the ministry has come out with a gazette notification regarding the matter. "Altogether 344 such fixed dose combinations have been banned. We have tried to bring objectivity to the issue by roping in the best of scientists to study the effects." "Show cause notices were also issued to more than 344 companies and they were given time to make further representations after the expert committee gave their recommendations," a senior Health Ministry official said. "Some of them did not even care to respond. Everybody was given ample opportunity. After that, the move was initiated. It was done after much examination," the official said. According to the notification, the matter has been examined by an expert committee appointed by the Central government. "On the basis of recommendations of

the said expert committee, the Central government is satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to regulate by way of prohibition of manufacture for sale, sale and distribution for human use of the said drugs in the country," the notification said. The 344 banned drugs include the fixed dose combination of Chlopheniramine Maleate and Codeine syrup sold under the popular cough syrup brand Corex. Following the government ban, pharmaceutical major Pfizer has discontinued manufacture and sale of Corex with immediate effect. "This is to inform you that the Government of India vide notification...dated March 10, 2016...has prohibited the manufacture for sale, sale and distribution of fixed dose combination of Chlopheniramine Maleate + Codeine Syrup with immediate effect. "In view of this, the company has discontinued the manufacture and sale of its drug Corex with immediate effect," Pfizer said in a BSE filing. Fixed dose combination drugs are combinations of two or more active drugs in a single dose form. -PTI

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agdogra, a small and tranquil town located in the northern part of West Bengal is a gate way to the famous hill station, Darjeeling. This place is situated just a few kilometers short of the Himalayan range and has a low hilly terrain which provides it with a serene and scenic environment of its own. Lush green tea gardens, hilly terrain, verdant meadows and a beautiful township provide a picturesque view to visitors here. The Teesta River flows near this town which adds to the beauty of the place. This town is famous for its calm environment, tea plantations and various festivals organized on the banks of River Teesta. Scenic views of the eastern range of the Himalayas attract tourists from all over the world. River rafting, trek-

This place is situated just a few kilometers short of the Himalayan range and has a low hilly terrain which provides it with a serene and scenic environment of its own.

king, mountaineering and camping are some of the attractive activities you can indulge in while visiting Bagdogra. The place acts as an air connection for hill stations like Darjeeling and Kalimpong and hence, it receives a large number of visitors throughout the year. Bagdogra, being a hilly region, remains cool and breezy throughout the year. However, the best time to visit Bagdogra is during the months from May to October. Events / Festivals Bagdogra is a place surrounded by nature and preserves a great amount of culture and traditions within. Several festivals in Bagdogra are celebrated by the people that includes Gangasagar Mela, Kenduli Mela, Jalpesh Mela, Naba Barsho and many more. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 42

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Taj Mahal sees drop in foreign tourists' arrival NEW DELHI: There has been a constant fall in the number of foreign tourists visiting Taj Mahal over the last few years though the government has undertaken various steps to ensure tourism-

friendly environment in the country, Rajya Sabha was informed. As per the data provided by Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma, 7.43 lakh foreign tourists visited the 17th century monument in Agra in 2012. The number fell to

6.95 lakh in 2013 and slumped further to 6.48 lakh in 2014. Sharma while responding to a question said, "No market study has been done to pinpoint the reason for the drop in foreign tourist footfalls to Taj Mahal." He, however, said some of the factors determining foreign tourists arrival to any place, including Taj Mahal, are, prevailing travel trends, economies of tourism source markets, connectivity, availability of reasonably priced hotel accommodation and good tourism infrastructure. To another question, the Minister replied the government has undertaken various initiatives to ensure safety and security of tourists such as a toll-free multi-lingual tourist helpline and a code of conduct for safer tourism. He said state chief ministers and UT administrators have been asked to take immediate steps for ensuring a conducive and friendly environment for all tourists. -PTI

Asia's largest tulip garden thrown open SRINAGAR: Asia's largest tulip garden on the banks of Dal Lake here has been thrown open to visitors about two weeks ahead of schedule as the Valley experienced warmer days leading to earlier blooming of the flowers. Director Floriculture Talat Pervez said the garden was opened two weeks earlier as warm days during the last few weeks had led to early blooming of the tulip bulbs. "This year, we already have 30 per cent bloom as of now and about 20 per cent bloom is achieved every day. We will have a full bloom in the garden within a week which is earlier than usual," he said. The director said the department has imported 4.20 lakh fresh bulbs, including 20 new varieties,

this year for the 15-hectare garden. "We also have 5.80 lakh old bulbs, so the total number of bulbs is around 10 lakh," he said. The garden, in the foothills of Zabarwan Range, has a total of 1.5 million tulips and its opening marks the beginning of new tourism season in Kashmir Valley. Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was opened in 2008 by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The idea of the garden was conceived to advance the tourism season in the Valley by two months. The average life span of the tulip flower is three to four weeks but heavy rains or too much of heat can destroy them. -PTI

IRCTC to sell tickets for helicopter service NEW DELHI: Seeking to promote helicopter-tourism, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and Pawan Hans have joined hands under an agreement that would allow flyers to book tickets through IRCTC website. Pawan Hans is a PSU of the Civil Aviation Ministry. The Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to implement the 'heli project' by making joint use of their capabilities and facilities to give a major fillip to tourism initiatives by the IRCTC, a railways PSU. The agreement envisages both sides to jointly identify areas of cooperation and draw up detailed projects to promote 'heli tourism' in the country and enable selling of online tickets for regular and chartered helicopter services and joy rides. "The signing of MoU with Pawan Hans will give a major push to our tourism initiatives by promoting 'heli tourism' in the country, an area which has enormous potential as a tourist product," IRCTC's Chairman and Managing

Director A K Manocha told PTI. The two sides will also facilitate marketing or cross-selling of products and services through both physical outlets and websites, thus improving the range of services to their own customers.

Both will also undertake opening and managing of various catering and hospitality outlets and budget hotels through their joint strength, at Pawan Hans (PH) properties and non-PH locations. IRCTC has already been pro-

viding helicopter rides to tourists for an aerial view of Mumbai. "The MoU will give a cutting edge to such an effort," Manocha said. Founded in 1985, Pawan Hans has been mandated to provide helicopter service to oil companies and has also been working on the

development of 'heli tourism' sector through a wide network of offices and facilities across the country. It has grown into one of Asia's largest helicopter companies with an impressive fleet. -PTI

Wisconsin promises supper clubs, family fun BARABOO, Wis.: Wisconsin's new tourism ads promote the state's supper club culture, among other things. The TV spots released at the governor's tourism conference also show a family and their dogs playing on the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfield. The boy actor in the ad says dogs are always welcome in Wisconsin - and if they want, they can bring their people too. Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett says that instead of celebrities that were featured in the 2014 ads by Hollywood directors David and Jerry

Zucker and Jim Abrahams, this time Wisconsin is the star of the ad campaign. The ads will run during the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The $3 million summer ad campaign includes supper club billboards in the Chicago area. The tourism conference is being held at the Ho-Chunk convention center near Baraboo. -AP

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Naba Barsho: Naba Barsho is observed as the New Year according to the Tibetan calendar and is

celebrated with great zest. During this time, tourists can witness the rich cultural and traditional heritage of this town, which is one of the major attractions of Bagdogra. Accommodation Bagdogra is a gateway town and hence, a lot of people visit this place throughout the year. There are various hotels and guest houses which provide comfortable rooms and modern facilities to visitors. Hotels and guest houses available in this town range from luxurious to economical ones. Many hotels provide scenic views of the mountain peaks and guided tours of the place which adds more value to your stay. Traditional food and various adventure sports are also provided by the

hotels according to the packages offered. Tourist attractions Sevokeshwari Kali Mandir:

Sevokeshwari Kali Mandir is located near the Coronation Bridge and is at a distance of nearly 36 km from Bagdogra. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is of high significance to the people. It is believed that Goddess Kali was first worshipped here and hence, it holds utmost importance for the local people. From the premises of the temple, one can see the beautiful

view of the peaks of Kanchenjunga. The place is decorated beautifully by the local people on special occasions like Durga Puja and Navratri. Salugara Monastery: Salugara Monastery in Bagdogra town is among those places which are renowned for their monasteries and monks. Tourists can pay a visit to the beautiful monasteries in Bagdogra. Salugara Monastery is located about 13 km away from Bagdogra and is famous for stupas of Buddha. This monastery was built by Buddhist monks who are the followers of the Dalai Lama. The most important attraction of this monastery is the Stupa which is 110 feet tall and was founded by the Tibetan Lama, Kalu Rinpoche. According to an ancient belief, the monastery is surrounded by hills which protect it. Thousands of people visit this place to witness the beautiful relics and idols of the monastery.

Best time to visit Bagdogra is located in a hilly region and the climatic conditions can be classified as temperate. Summer, monsoon and winter are the primary seasons that can be experienced here. Summers are moderately hot and many tourists visit the place during this period. Monsoon season is long and the South West monsoon brings rains to the region. Winters are cool and conditions are ideal for visiting. The peak tourist season is during the months from October to March. How to Reach Air: Bagdogra Airport is fully functional for domestic as well as international flights. Visitors can conveniently take flights to reach here from some of the major cities

of India. Railways: The nearest railhead to this town is Jalpaiguri which is a major railway junction and is connected to the main cities of India. Frequent trains are available from major cities of India to Jalpaiguri railway station, from where tourists can take a bus or taxi to reach Bagdogra.

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An older section of Tokyo beckons TOKYO: Explore Tokyo beyond the crowded tourist highlights and you'll find many older parts of the city with a different look and slower pace. One of these, the area around the Metro station Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, is a convenient side trip if you're visiting the Tokyo Skytree, which is four stops

shopping street marked by two small decorative towers. On your right you'll see an old-fashioned candy shop where the proprietor dresses in garb from the Edo period (including an entirely unconvincing wig of a topknot hairstyle). Farther along on the left is the Fukagawa Edo museum.

An old-fashioned candy shop in the neighborhood around the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa metro station in Tokyo.

away. There's a charming local history museum, public garden, coffee shops and a contemporary art museum. The neighborhood may not be picturesque in the conventional sense but there's a lot to see if you have an eye for detail and an appreciation for the charm of urban and slightly shabby locales. FUKAGAWA EDO MUSEUM From the Metro station, head south and turn right onto an old

Most tourists with any interest in history end up at the Edo Tokyo Museum with its indoor re-creations of historic buildings from the Edo era, which began in the 1600s. The Fukagawa museum, which predates the Edo Tokyo museum, is much smaller and more charming, with a life-size Edo-period town re-created on its lower level. Be prepared to take your shoes off to go inside the little shops and homes, and a guide

with adequate or better English will show you how the old-fashioned locks work and how ropes pull a skylight open over a stove. You can even try a rice-pounding device. The guide will also explain how to tell the difference between a nice but tiny house for someone well-off (note the tatami-covered floor) versus a poor person's home with a mostly bare wood floor and just a couple of rice straw mats. Lighting sets the mood through 15minute day-and-night cycles with recordings of birds, merchants calling and the cry of the animatronic cat on a rooftop. COFFEE, THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE Walk the small streets and alleys around the museum and you'll find a mix of residences, shops, small businesses and light industrial spaces. You'll find much that is rather old-time Japanese, like restaurants selling the local specialty of rice with clams. But the neighborhood is also something of a hot spot for coffee shops. Don't think in terms of grabbing a morning cup of joe. Some of these don't even open till later in the day, and they're more about relaxing and making a ritual of it. Some are quite small and the menus may be limited. The one I visited, aside from coffee and tea, had just had two cakes and two flavors of small cookies, chocolate and sesame, but the cookies were exquisite. There also an outpost of a U.S.

Oman records 17% rise in Indian tourists MUMBAI: Oman received 17 "In 2014, we started promoting per cent more Indian tourists in Oman as an ideal wedding desti2015 at 299,022 than in 2014 and nation for Indians as Muscat is the Arab nation is expanding its close to India. Our efforts were rebasket of holiday-related activities warded as we witnessed several to attract more travelers from the large-scale weddings in the last country. two years," Oman Tourism "Oman received 299,022 Indian Ministry's India Representative tourists last year, recording a 17 Lubaina Sheerazi said in a release per cent growth over 2014," ac- here. cording to Oman's National CenShe said MICE (meetings, intre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The statistics also reflects a growth of 60 per cent in Indian arrivals in the nation on the Arabian Peninsula in the last five years. "The increase is very encouraging and reflects all the hard work we have put Mokallah Beach in promoting and marketing in Oman the destination in India.

centives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism in Oman has also seen an increase and the country will make efforts at hosting more such events. Muscat has recently seen growth in the MICE market and this is expected to expand even faster with the opening of a new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in the capital, Sheerazi said. "To attract more tourists from India, we are looking at promoting various activities. We have observed over the years that Indian travelers don't travel just for sightseeing and shopping anymore. "More young people are now travelling and they prefer active holidays and we have a lot to offer to these travelers - from canyoning to deep sea diving, from sailing to golfing," Sheerazi added. -PTI

chain, Blue Bottle, that caused something of a stir when it opened, with lines reported to be two hours long. Its conspicuous modern building with an industrial vibe and huge coffee-roasting machinery was far calmer on a recent weekday, but it's still not a place to camp out with your laptop, though people did seem to stay to chat. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TOKYO If you're willing to walk a bit farther you can also have a completely modern experience in this old neighborhood at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. Two ex-

Save Ships,'' exploring freedom of expression, and ``Pixar: 30 Years of Animation.'' KIYOSUMI GARDENS Kiyosumi Gardens is easy to find on your way to or from the Metro, visible across the main street opposite the entrance to the shopping street near the Fukagawa Edo Museum. It's a beautiful typical Japanese garden laid out around a large pond, first opened for company use by the founder of Mitsubishi in 1880 (Mitsubishi was a shipping firm at the time), then donated to the city and opened as a public park in 1932. The garden is nice to stroll around

Kiyosumi Gardens in Tokyo, one of a number of things to see and do in the neighborhood around the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa metro station.

hibits that just opened are running through May 29: ``Loose Lips

or find a bench to gaze at the pond. -AP

Registration begins for Amarnath Yatra NEW DELHI: The registration for this year's Amarnath Yatra, which will begin on July 2, has started and permission for undertaking the pilgrimage will be given on first-come-first-serve basis. Designated branches of Punjab National Bank, J&K Bank and YES Bank across the country will register pilgrims. One permit will be valid for one person only and each bank branch has been allotted a fixed per day, per route quota for registering pilgrims. "No one below the age of 13 years or above 75 years and no woman with more than six week's pregnancy shall be registered for the pilgrimage," an official release said. Every pilgrim will have to submit the application form and the compulsory health certificate (CHC) to obtain the permit for the

pilgrimage, it said. The formats of the application form and CHC, and the list of doctors/medical institutions authorized to issue CHC are available on the shrine board's website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. "Pre-paid sim cards from other states shall not work in Jammu and Kashmir and yatra area. Pilgrims can purchase pre- activated sim cards at the base camps of Baltal and Nunwan. Women pilgrims must not wear sarees during the yatra. Salwar kameez, pant-shirt or a track suit is advisable," it said. For any pilgrimage-related information, people can seek help on -- 01912503399 and 01912555662 (Jammu) and 01942501679, 01942591821 (Srinagar) and visit w e b s i t e : www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. PTI

In Brief US to accept H-1B applications from April 1 WASHINGTON: The US would start accepting applications for the much sought-after H-1B work visas for highly-skilled workers for the fiscal year 2017 from the beginning of next month, officials said. H-1B visa, popular among Indian techies, is used by American companies to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering and computer programming. There is no change in the congressionally-mandated cap of 65,000 on H-1B visas for the Financial Year 2017, beginning October 1. The first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed for individuals with a US Master's degree or higher are exempted from the 65,000 cap. In a statement, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said this year it expects to receive more than 65,000 petitions during the first five business days of the program. The agency will monitor the number of petitions received and notify the public when the H-1B cap has been met. "If USCIS receives an excess of petitions during the first five business days, the agency will use a computer- generated lottery system to randomly select the number of petitions required to meet the cap," the official statement said. -PTI

Â&#x201E; Judge tells officials to decide on citizenship HARTFORD, Conn.: A federal judge in Connecticut has ordered immigration officials to decide on a 1982 citizenship request by a man who was deported to Italy in 2011. U.S. District Judge Vanessa Bryant in Hartford ruled that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services failed to ever issue a decision on Arnold Giammarco's naturalization application. Giammarco, a U.S. Army veteran, moved to Connecticut legally with his family as a child in the early 1960s. He was deported in 2011 because of misdemeanor convictions and currently lives in Campo di Fano, about two hours east of Rome. Giammarco and another Connecticut resident who was deported to Italy were recently subpoenaed by state lawmakers to testify about how convictions affect immigrant families. -AP

Immigration 44 India Post

www.indiapost.com

March 25, 2016

Macedonia sends back hundreds of refugees Details on page 46

GOP-led House backs legal challenge to Obama on immigration WASHINGTON: The House has voted to embrace the legal challenge to President Barack Obama's actions on immigration in an election-year fight over executive authority and the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally that has roiled the Republican Party. Republicans who hold a commanding majority cast the issue as Obama exceeding his constitutional authority in unilaterally expanding programs for immigrants. They prevailed on a 234-186 vote that authorizes Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to file a friend-of-the-court brief in the case of United States v. Texas. A lawsuit from 26 states, led by Texas, challenges Obama's actions, with the Supreme Court set to hear arguments next month and possibly rule in June. "It is about the integrity of our Constitution," said Ryan, who maintained that any changes in the immigration system rests with Congress acting legislatively. "Those lines - that separation of powers - could not be clearer. But in recent years, the executive branch has blurred these bound-

aries, to the point of overstepping them altogether." Democrats argued that Republicans are following the lead of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. He has called for removing millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, accused some Mexican immigrants of being rapists and murderers, and pledged to get Mexico to build a wall along the U.S. border. Immigration bitterly divided the

GOP presidential candidates, with Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio calling on candidates to soften their tone. Bush quit the presidential race last month and Rubio abandoned his bid recently. "Why does the majority party not just say what they want? They want millions of immigrants deported," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. "Out on the campaign trail on immigration we get lies and demagoguery from Republicans -

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., arrives to take questions from reporters at a weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington

Trump wants Indian students staying back WASHINGTON: Indians studying in American educational institutions should not be kicked out as the country needs smart people like them, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has said as he sought to set the record straight about his immigration policies. "Whether we like that or not, they pay, et cetera, et cetera but we educate a lot of people, very smart people. We need those people in the country," Trump, 69, told Fox News in an interview when asked about his views on legal immigration. "They cannot come into the country. You know, they go to

plural." After losing the Hispanic vote badly in the 2012 election, Republican leaders insisted that the party needed to be more inclusive for a diverse electorate if the GOP had any hope of winning the presidency. A bipartisan group of senators, including Rubio, crafted a broad overhaul of immigration that boosted border security, increased visas for legal immigrants and a provided a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally. The Senate approved the legislation, but the measure stalled in the House despite initial efforts that were quickly abandoned by former Speaker John Boehner, ROhio, then-Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and Ryan. Faced with the failure of the legislation, Obama acted in late 2014 to allow people who have been in the United States more than five years and who have children in the country legally to "come out of the shadows and get right with the

Harvard, they are first in their class and they're from India they go back to India and they setup companies and they make a fortune and they employ lots of people and all of that," he said.

"Many people want to stay in this country and then want to do that. I think somebody that goes through years of college in this

country we shouldn't kick them out the day they graduate, which we do," Trump said clarifying his position on certain aspect of H-1B visas. Trump has been widely accused of having an "all or nothing" stance when it comes to immigrants. There are about the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. He has been advocating the scrapping of the H-1B visa program from the beginning of his campaign as he thinks it is "very unfair" for American workers and has been taking away their jobs. IT professionals from India and major Indian IT companies are beneficiary of H-1B, a nonimmigrant visa in the US which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. -PTI

The Senate approved the legislation, but the measure stalled in the House despite initial efforts that were quickly abandoned law." He also announced the expansion of a program that affects people who came here illegally as children. "The president has the right to take these administrative actions under the law," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said on the House floor in arguing that former Republican President Ronald Reagan went further in his actions on immigration in the 1980s. Outraged Republicans accused Obama of executive overreach and pointed to his previous steps to unilaterally change his health care law. The GOP complained that Obama was behaving like a monarch, a criticism that energizes Republican voters. -AP

Immigration Post

March 25, 2016

India Post 45

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'Nuclear option' used to kill immigration bill AUGUSTA, Maine: Republicans are angry that House Democrats used a legislative maneuver to squash Maine Gov. Paul LePage's plan to punish cities and towns that prohibit police from asking about a person's immigration status. Democrats say they quickly killed the bill to prevent LePage from ``stirring up the politics of fear and hatred.'' The Democrat-controlled House voted 77 to 67 along party lines to block the bill from being referred to a committee. The rarely used maneuver by House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, of Skowhegan, effectively killed the bill on the same day it was first printed. The Democrats used their majority power to dismiss the bill before supporters even had the chance to speak at a public hearing, said Assistant Minority Leader Ellie Espling, of New Gloucester. ``I was absolutely furious today when this happened,'' she said. ``It's sort of a nuclear option as far as maneuvers are concerned.''

Assistant Majority Leader Sara Gideon, a Democrat from Freeport, said the bill would encourage police to pull over people based on the color of their skin. ``We have no place for these

people's immigration status. The bill would have denied funds for schools and general assistance programs and also funds from the state's revenue sharing program. LePage has been trying since

Gov. Paul LePage

blatantly racist, Trump-like maneuvers in Maine,'' Gideon said. The bill would have withheld state money from cities and towns that don't let police seek information from federal agencies about

his election to use financial leverage on municipalities that provide assistance to immigrants without visas, a population that includes people seeking political asylum. AP

Indian workers face deportation under UK law LONDON: Thousands of Indians in the UK may get hit by a new law from next month under which they could be deported if their annual salary is below 35,000 pounds. The changes will affect professionals living and working in Britain on a Tier-2 visa who earn less than 35,000 pounds a year at the end of five years of their stay in the country. "The UK government changed the settlement rules in 2012 to break the link between coming to work in the UK and staying here permanently. We were clear that the new rules would apply to migrants who entered Tier-2 from April 6, 2011. Those individuals were aware when they entered that new settlement rules would apply to them," a Home Office statement said. Indian professionals have formed the largest category of individuals issued such visas over the years. According to the UK's Office of National Statistics (ONS), of the 55,589 Tier-2 sponsored visa applications cleared in 2014-2015, nearly 78 per cent were for Indians (31,058).

down by the system. Kicking out tax-paying people like us is not the answer to the immigration crisis," said an Indian marketing assistant, who moved here in November 2011 on a Tier-2 visa. The visa is issued based on a "certificate of sponsorship" issued to UK-based firms to hire such professionals from outside the EU and allows them a maximum of six years' stay. At the end of five years, these workers were able to apply for permanent residency or "Indefinite Leave to Remain" (ILR) in the UK. But from next month, those qualifying for ILR under the fiveyear category must also prove they earn at least 35,000 pounds a year or face the prospect of a rejection, which means they would have to return to their home country or ultimately be deported if they refuse to leave voluntarily. The other major groups employed under this category include Americans, Australians, Chinese and Japanese nationals. However, the government remains adamant that the changes are essential to tackle the

'India can resist western cultural infiltration' BEIJING: Praising India's decision to not to grant visa to a US commission on religious freedom, state-run Chinese media said New Delhi always accorded priority to national interest in its foreign policy and has the capability to resist US-led western "cultural infiltration". "As a major power, New Delhi rarely plays up to other nations. This has been one of India's most significant features since it gained independence in 1947. National interest is always prioritized in New Delhi's foreign policies," it said. "Given the independent and self-reliant stance of the Indian government, there is little likelihood for other powers to draw New Delhi over to their camps. Refusing visas to the US delegation is consistent to India's traditional way of handling its foreign relations," it said. This is not the first time the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has been refused visas. The panel was denied access to India in

2009, an article in the state-run Global Times said. "Cultural collision between the US and India will see an intensifying trend in the future. Although in the US, where religion is separated from politics, the USCIRF may not represent the

Accusing the US for attempting to use its soft power, especially its system of values, to influence the internal affairs of other nations, it said Washington is manipulating US smart power governmental stance, it is part of the White House strategy to use its soft power, including religion, to influence and even subvert other regimes.

"The US will continue to infiltrate its system of values into India by all possible means, to which New Delhi will still firmly reject," it said. Accusing the US for attempting to use its soft power, especially its system of values, to influence the internal affairs of other nations, it said Washington is manipulating US smart power, a combination of hard power and soft power strategies, to influence others. "However, to Washington's disappointment, New Delhi has the capability and determination to resist US-led Western cultural infiltration. While almost all the other civilized nations have been Westernized in many aspects of life, India has shown high confidence in its traditional culture," it said. "Compared with other nations, Western culture has exerted little influence on New Delhi. Cultural confidence is a key driving factor for India to stick to its own religions, ideologies and customs," it said. -PTI

Nearly 40,000 Indian and other non-EU professionals face deportation from the UK along with their families unless they earn a minimum of ÂŁ35,000 a year.

The exact figure of those affected by the salary threshold requirements remains uncertain but it is estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 workers. "London is my home, I have worked hard and built a life here with my family. We feel very let

country's immigration problems. A Home Office spokesperson said: "In the past it has been too easy for some businesses to bring in workers from overseas rather than to take the long-term decision to train our workforce here at home." -PTI

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Macedonia sends back hundreds of refugees IDOMENI, Greece: Macedonia sent back hundreds of refugees to Greece a day after they bypassed a border fence in a mass push to continue their journey north to Europe's prosperous heartland - a move Greece blamed on ``criminal misinformation'' possibly spread by volunteers working with them. Interior Ministry spokesman Toni Angelovski told The Associated Press the migrants ``have been returned to Greece.'' About 1,500 people, frustrated at being stuck for weeks in a waterlogged tent city outside the closed crossing of Idomeni, pushed their way into Macedonia through an unguarded section of the border. They walked about 5 kilometers (3 miles) and forded a swollen stream near the Greek village of Hamilo. A Macedonian official said 700 migrants who had been detained overnight were deported to Greece through the same location they entered. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the press, also said about 50 journalists and volunteers detained with the migrants were released after paying

fines of 250 euros ($280) for illegally entering Macedonia. Greek police said groups of migrants were seen coming back to Greece from unguarded sections of the border east and west of Idomeni - although Greece says it received no official notification or repatriation request from

About 200 people who had camped overnight near Hamilo went back to Idomeni, while Macedonian police guarded the area. It was not possible to account for all the migrants. Despite repeated Greek appeals for them to move to available organized shelters, about 14,000

1,500 refugees pushed their way into Macedonia

Macedonia. A spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency in Idomeni, Babar Baloch, confirmed that many had returned to Idomeni.

people are stuck in the Idomeni tent city in swampy conditions after days of heavy rain, and hundreds were queuing under a shelter for food handouts.

``As long as (refugees) still believe that there is a chance of getting through (to Macedonia), this will continue,'' Immigration Minister Ioannis Mouzalas said. ``There is no way the border will open.'' For months, hundreds of thousands of people from the Middle East and Africa flowed through Idomeni, on their way to seek asylum in central Europe. But a tightening in border controls that started in Austria and extended down the Balkan migration route ended in a total border closure last week. Now, about 44,000 people are stranded in Greece, after crossing from nearby Turkey in flimsy smugglers' boats. The European Union's commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos - a Greek politician - visited Idomeni and deplored the ``tragic, unacceptable'' conditions he saw. ``This tests the principles and values of the civilized world, and Europe," he said. ``This situation must end immediately.'' Avramopoulos also appealed to EU countries to honor the bloc's commitments to share out asylumseekers. Greek Prime Minister Alexis

Tsipras blamed mass move to circumvent the border fence on misleading leaflets distributed at Idomeni, which encouraged the refugees to make a concerted push north. Tsipras said ``unknown people, perhaps groups that call themselves volunteers,'' handed out leaflets advising migrants to cross the border by bypassing the fence and warning that if migrants left the overflowing Idomeni camp for shelters in northern Greece, they would be imprisoned there. ``This is criminal behavior toward people who face great hardship,'' Tsipras said. ``This must stop.'' Greek police are investigating the incident. Tsipras urged the refugees to leave Idomeni for the shelters, and called on volunteers working with them to help scotch false rumors. Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, in a statement, said only a ``united and humane'' response from the European Union can solve the continent's migration problem. ``More migrants in deteriorating tent cities at the border only encourages (people) smuggling,'' Poposki said. -AP

Homeland Security raids curb border crossings WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is openly and unapologetically stepping up efforts to find and deport unaccompanied children and families who arrived in the U.S. in the 2014 surge of illegal crossings. The politically fraught endeavor is a follow-through on a nearly 2-year-old warning that those immigrants who don't win permission to stay in the United States would be sent packing. It comes at a time when Republican presidential candidates are pushing for tougher immigration action. Homeland Security officials have kept a wary eye on the border since more than 68,000 unaccompanied children and roughly as many people traveling as families, many fleeing widespread violence in Central America, were caught crossing the border illegally in 2014. The effort to step up enforcement against families and young immigrants started in the midst of a new wave of such immigrants. Previous efforts to curb illegal crossings seemed to work initially, as the number of children and families making the journey dropped about 40 percent between 2014 and 2015. But that number started to rise again late last summer. At the same time, the immigration

court system faced a backlog of more than 474,000 cases. Now Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson is touting government efforts to find and deport families as well as those unaccompanied children who are now adults and have been ordered home. One of those unaccompanied children-turned-adults targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement is 19-year-old Wildin David Guillen Acosta. He said he came to the United States from Honduras by bus, car and on foot after a gang member threatened his life. ``He'd say, `I'm going to kill you, I'm going to kill you,''' Acosta said in Spanish. ``I told my mother, and she told me to come to the United States.'' Speaking in an immigration jail in rural Georgia, Acosta said he was afraid to go home. ``There's a lot of violence, a lot of death,'' Acosta said. ``They'll kill you for a telephone.'' His mother, Dilsia Acosta, said her son came to the U.S. in June 2014 at the peak of the crossings. Wildin Acosta was arrested in January after a judge ruled that he should be deported. Wildin Acosta had been going to school and working since arriv-

ing in North Carolina. He had hoped to win asylum. Wildin Acosta's lawyer, Evelyn Smallwood, said that he may be sent back to Honduras as soon as this weekend, despite a pending request in immigration court to reopen his case. U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement have not told Smallwood when Wildin Acosta may be returned. ``We are asking that ICE not

tistics. Other formerly unaccompanied child immigrants with pending deportation orders have been detained in preparation for deportation. ``We have sent out thousands of leads on (unaccompanied children) who have final orders issued by the immigration courts, some in absentia, some in person, and we are out looking for those leads,'' Tom Homan, ICE's chief of en-

interfere with his opportunity to have a fair hearing,'' Smallwood said. Since October, more than 800 immigrants who arrived as unaccompanied children have been sent home, according to ICE sta-

forcement and removal operations, told lawmakers in February. ``I have 129 (fugitive operations) teams out there every day.'' About 10,000 unaccompanied children have been ordered out of the country since July 2014, but

roughly 87 percent of those orders were issued in absentia, according to Justice Department figures. Johnson said the arrests should come as no surprise since he announced in late 2014 that new border crossers were an enforcement priority. ``We do not have, and cannot have, an open border so we have to have enforcement at the border,'' Johnson told The Associated Press. ``Are enforcement actions against families pleasant? No, of course not. In a very personal way, I recognize that.'' The arrests have angered immigration advocates and Democrats who argue it is dangerous to send families and young immigrants back to dangerous and impoverished Central American countries. And the efforts come at a complicated time for Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who are both vying for the Hispanic vote. Both candidates have promised to be more lenient in enforcing immigration laws than President Barack Obama. Kevin Appleby, director of international migration policy for the Center for Migration Studies, said the administration is ``caught in a difficult spot.'' -AP

Datebook

March 25, 2016

NEW JERSEY Upcoming Sat, Mar 26 • Umar Chee Antique Pan dil chee Romantic Gujarati Drama Venue: Plainfield High School - NJ, 950, Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060 Time : 7:30 pm

Sun, Apr 3 • Vishal - Sekhar with Neeti Mohan Live in New Jersey Venue: BERGANPAC, 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631 Time: 08:00 pm

Sun, Apr 17 • IFMP HOLI 2016 Venue: Mercer County Park East, 1346 Edinburg Road, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550 Time: 12:00 pm

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Sat, Mar 26 • Holi Bollywood Dance Party-Play with Real Colors Venue: Maple / Aspen Club, 157 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036 Time : 9:30 pm Contact: 646-543-8127

Thu, Apr 07 • DJ Rekha Presents BASEMENT BHANGRA Venue: Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012 Time : 07:00 pm Contact: 718-207-0058

Sun, Apr 24 • Mummy Mari Yamuna, Ame Ena Namuna Venue: Hindu Community Centre, 143-09 Holly Ave, NY 11355 Time : 6:00 pm

Sun, Mar 27 • Heritage 2016- An afternoon of Indian Music and Kathak Dance

India Post 47

CHICAGO

Upcoming Sat, Apr 2 • Festival of Colors HOLI, SAN JOSE Venue: Rainbow Park, 6155 Rainbow Drive,

Venue: ACME HOLLYWOOD THEATER,

San Jose, CA 95129

135 North La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Time: 11:00 am

90036

Contact: 408-573-7307

Time: 2:00 pm

Fri, Apr 08 • Iffer International Night

Sat, Apr 16 • HOLI COW ! Bollywood Boat Party

Venue: Golden Peacock Banquets, 24989

Venue: Pier 40, 89 King Street, San Fran-

Santa Clara St, Hayward, CA 94544

cisco, CA 94107

Time: 07:00 pm

Time: 12:00 pm

Contact: 650-921-2846

Contact:

Sun, Apr 10 • Saroj Khan Dance Workshops Los Angeles - Ages 8-16

315-746-0250

ATLANTA Upcoming

Venue: North Hollywood, 6407 Farmdale

Sat, Apr 9 • Hope Night At The Hawks

Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 91606

Venue: Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive,

Time: 10:00 am

Atlanta, GA 30303

Contact: 310-407-9191

Time: 7:30 pm

Sun, Apr 10

Sun, Apr 10 • Vishal and Shekhar Live in Atlanta

• Saroj Khan Dance Workshops Los Angeles Adults Venue: North Hollywood, 6407 Farmdale Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 91606 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 310-407-9191

Sun, Apr 10 • Kaifi aur Main Venue: The Terrace Theatre, 300 East Ocean

Venue: Cobb Energy Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339 Time: 06:30 pm

Sun, Apr 24 • Gujarati Comedy Natak GOLMAAL Venue: Atlanta Event Hall, 3750 Venture

Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802

Drive, Duluth, GA 30096

Time: 06:30 pm

Time: 5:00 pm

ILLINOIS Upcoming 1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Swami Ishatmananda • Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662

• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822

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s a child, Amma never used to accept anything at its face value. Her habit of questioning elders about the meaning of conventional beliefs and practices must have struck many as being highly precocious. One day she visited the Bhavanarayana Temple in Bapatla along with some of her young friends and stayed on there after the others had left to play. She approached anyone who would listen to her. Nobody had satisfactory answers and most simply brushed aside her enquiries saying that there was no need for a young girl to concern herself with such serious affairs. When Amma brought in some flowers and Tulasi leaves for worshipping the deity and placed them temporarily on the ground in front of her, the temple priest become upset and cried out, "Why have you placed these on the earth when they are meant to be offered to the goddess? Don't you know that this is sacrilege?" "These plants have themselves sprouted from the earth. Was that also a sacrilege?" she countered wryly. The priest did not answer. Perhaps he had no answer to give. Later on Amma went into the inner sanctum for a closer look at the deity. The priest did not notice her there and unintentionally locked Amma inside the temple when he PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA

hey began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons." -Mark 1:32-34 The spirit of Jesus had control over cosmic energy. The faith of the sick allowed Jesus to send the all-healing energy out of his body to reinforce their weakened life force. The energy in the body of Jesus and the energy in the bodies of the persons healed both came from the cosmic energy of God. Jesus commanded his will to connect the cosmic energy with the energy in his brain and send it down through his hands in everflowing, potent rays to the body of the afflicted person. Healing by sending energy through the hands, "He laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them," is based on the healer's ability to connect with and consciously direct the cosmic energy of God. The body lives in an omnipresent sea of this vibratory power. This energy sustains life and recharges the vitality of the body as it becomes depleted by physical and mental activity.

left for the night. She took advantage of this situation to approach the image of the goddess and examine it with a clinical thoroughness. She removed the eye coverings from the idol and found no eyes but only stone underneath. Then she undressed the image, removed all of the ornaments, felt the sticky color painted on the stone. She tried to move the image of the Goddess, but it wouldn't

source of All That Is, perhaps that earth is the True Deity worthy of our worship!" She picked up a handful of soil and addressed it thus, "Mother! They are worshipping all of the things that are born of you, grow up in you, and merge again back into you, but they are neglecting you. Why don't you make them recognize you?" "You tolerate patiently when plowed or trampled underfoot.

looked at the soil in her open palm in silence for a time. "Why this Forbearance? Who will recognize your Magnanimity? Who could enter into your boundless heart of Compassion?," she questioned out loud and then was silent for a few moments. Then she added softy, "Yes truly, it is not for anyone's sake, it is not for anyone's praise that you are so. It is your very nature, your Dharma (Law), the expression of

Earth is the True Deity worthy of our worship

Jillelamudi Amma

"Mother! They are worshipping all of the things that are born of you, grow up in you, and merge again back into you, but they are neglecting you. Why don't you make them recognize you?"

budge and when she called out aloud to it the idol remained mute. All the while she was wondering to herself, "Is this idol of stone really God or is God something else? The image looks altogether different without the ornamentsâ&#x20AC;ŚAre the ornaments God? Is the one who recognizes divinity in idol God? Or, perhaps the earth itself is God; the earth which is source of all these (idol, ornaments, worshippers, etc.,), the

You calmly bear the good and the bad without making any distinction between the twoâ&#x20AC;Ś Though they slaughter your own dear children and make your tender body spill with blood; though they break your heart with axes, still you do not condemn them, you do not abuse them, and you will never punish them. On the contrary, even the wicked you take upon your lap to comfort and refresh." Overcome with anguish, she

your heart of hearts, so generous, wide and pure. In that broad heart there is a place only for the eternal, surging nectar-tide of kindness and love." Filled with gratitude, she fell prostrate on the ground as if to embrace the all-embracing earth, to bind it firmly in heart and arms. Excerpted from motherofall.org. The 93rd birth anniversary of Jillelamudi Amma will be observed on March 28

The power of the life force transmitted outwardly for healing others is proportionate to the power of the will of the healer. Masters, such as Jesus, who have infinite control of their will, can radiate the all-creative healing ray of life through any organ, but especially through the hands, feet, or eyes. It is the consciously generated and directed power of the life force

minds. One who knows his soul knows how to work miracles through the life force, the master of life and death, by sending it through the hands in healing rays to burn out disease in any stricken person. Jesus used various outward means of transmitting the cosmic energy: laying on of hands, divinely charged words of healing, transmission of energy by will through

fection of the soul. It is related that when Jesus exorcised the devils from many, they came out crying, "'Thou art Christ, the Son of God.' And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak." Since all things of the astral world are hidden according to the will of God, concealing the dynamics of the mysterious workings of material creation, Jesus did not want himself to be revealed except in the

How Jesus transmitted healing power of God The cosmic energy, and its individualized expression as life force in the body, is finer even than X-rays, and thus has the power to destroy not only physical germs but mental bacteria of evil tendencies flowing through the hands that causes healing by employing the life-force activity, which creates, integrates, disintegrates, crystallizes, metabolizes, and produces and sustains the complex body of differentiated cells. This life force is intelligent but diminished and out of one's control in bodies governed by weak, ego-identified

the ether, powerful thoughts broadcast to the one in need. The cosmic energy, and its individualized expression as life force in the body, is finer even than X-rays, and thus has the power to destroy not only physical germs but mental bacteria of evil tendencies and the bacteria of delusion's ignorance that obfuscates the per-

Whatever you have in your mind - forget it; Whatever you have in your hand give it; Whatever is to be your fate - face it! -Abu Sa'id If someone remarks: "What an excellent man you are!" and this pleases you more than his saying, "What a bad man you are!" know that you are still a bad man. -Sufyan al Thawri if you have never trodden the path of love, go away and fall in love; then come back and see us. -Jami The sun never says to the earth, 'You owe me.' Look what happens with a love like that. It lights up the whole sky. -Hafiz IF words come out of the heart, they will enter the heart, but if they come from the tongue, they will not pass beyond the ears. -Al-Suhrawardi

Jesus Christ

natural human way by the declaration of his works in fulfillment of the words of the prophets. Excerpted from Paramahansa Yogananda's "The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You." Good Friday will be observed on March 25 and Easter on Sunday March 27

The Thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it. -Bayazid Bistami Happy are those who find fault with themselves instead of finding fault with others. -Muhammad

Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

50 India Post

DUBAI: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period love saga "Bajirao Mastani" continued its winning streak by taking home maximum trophies at the Times of India Film Awards - 2016 including the best director prize for the filmmaker and best actor honor for Ranveer Singh. An awards season favorite this year, "Bajirao Mastani" also earned Priyanka Chopra the best supporting actress award, best playback singer trophy (female) for Shreya Ghoshal and composer of the year award for Bhansali ('Deewani Mastani').

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The movie, however, lost the best film award to Kabir Khan's 2015 blockbuster "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", which was widely appreciated for its emotional story of a Pakistani deaf and mute girl who is rescued by a Hanuman devotee, played by Salman Khan. While Bhansali kept his award acceptance speech short and sweet, his lead actor appeared overwhelmed and took some time on the stage to thank the filmmaker. Addressing Bhansali, Ranveer said, "You are an inspiring man. I am something else when I work with you. I hope our collaboration continues and we work together again to entertain audience." When his name was announced, Ranveer pulled Bhansali in a long bear hug and kissed him before walking up to the stage. Ranveer was presented the award by an entrepreneur but it seemed the 30-year-old wanted to make the most of the moment as he asked superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was hosting the segment, to come and present him his best actor trophy. Kabir Khan dedicated the best film honor to the movie's star and co-producer Salman. For her endearing turn as bucked-teeth

March 25, 2016

Dattoo in Anand L Rai's "Tanu Weds Manu Returns", Kangana Ranaut won the best actress award. Krishika Lulla of Eros International, the film's co-producers, accepted on the behalf of the actress.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan won the best actor critic's choice award for his portrayal of a cranky father in "Piku". The 73year-old, while thanking audience for its support, said he was glad people were finally accepting films like "Piku". Cont'd on Page 53

Cont'd on Page 53

March 25, 2016

India Post 51 www.indiapost.com

She quit her job to help orphans in India

aroline Boudreaux was an account executive at a TV station in Austin, Texas, when a trip to India changed her perspective on life, causing her to quit her corporate job and make some news of her own. In May 2000, Boudreaux, then 28, took a trip around the world with a friend. One of their stops along the way was to a small village in India where her friend had sponsored a child. The two women met the young boy and saw first-hand how far her donations had gone to help the child and his family thrive. A few days later, the women were invited to the home of a local family that had taken in several orphaned children, but they could have never prepared for what they witnessed. "They were all bald, all filthy," Boudreaux tells PEOPLE. "Some

were emaciated and some were puffed out, but just kind of empty looking eyes, and they were really super clingy. You wouldn't leave your dog there." Boureaux then had a special encounter with a baby girl who had a profound effect on her. "There was this one little girl, this precious baby. I was rocking her to sleep and I went into her room to put her to bed and there were these wooden beds, mildew growing up the walls - it was just so hot and damp. The minute I had to put that little starving baby onto that bed, I just thought, 'What is going on? What am I doing? I'm partying around the world and they're living like this.' " In that moment, Boudreaux was inspired to start The Miracle Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to transform the lives of orphans in India.

Boudreaux says the organization has partnered with 14 orphanages in India, and her staff members follow the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to get the children

Caroline Boudreaux with Indian girls

I was bipolar and alcoholic: Honey Singh

opular rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh suddenly disap peared from public eye in late 2014 and was missing for the scene for almost 18 months. Speculations were rife that the 'Lungi Dance' singer was taking treatment in a rehabilitation centre for drug abuse. Some reports also said that he had a fall-out with Shah Rukh Khan during an overseas tour and he wasn't getting any new projects. Now, Honey is back to claim his spot and has also performed at the recently held Mirchi Music Awards. He has opened up about the 'missing period' and cleared the airs over the rumors that did the rounds while he was not around. In an interview with a leading daily, Honey said that he was holed up in his Noida house, struggling with bipolar disorder which was aggra-

vated because of his addiction to alcohol. "I was suffering from bipolar disorder. It went on for 18 months, during which I changed four doctors, the medication wasn't working on me and crazy things were happening," he told.

healthy and vaccinated and secure educators, house mothers, counselors and funding. People can also volunteer to go to the orphanages as ambassadors

The 'King of Rap' also revealed to the daily that during those days he penned over 50 poems and intends to publish them some day. He said that his fans should see the dark phase he successfully battled to come out a winner. Rubbishing the reports about his tiff with Shah Rukh, Honey said that the 'Dilwale' star used to call him up regularly during his darkest phase to enquire about his health. Honey will be next seen in his first Punjabi action-thriller 'Zorawar' as the solo lead in the role of a soldier searching for his identity. The film is slated to release on May 6. He was earlier seen in 2014 Bollywood film 'The Xpose''.

and devote their time for weeklong periods. There are 153 million orphans in the world, according to UNICEF, and Boudreaux says they are the most vulnerable people in the world. "We decided we wanted to make our organization scalable because we wanted to get to as many of those 153 million children as possible," Boudreaux says. "We didn't want to go into one orphanage and make it good. We wanted to develop a franchise methodology that can go into any orphanage." Since the start of the organization, Boudreaux has noticed great improvements in many of the orphans' lives. "When we get there, we always

ask them what they want to be when they grow up," she says. "They've only known two people in their lives - either a police officer or a teacher, so that's what they want to be. But after we've been there for six months, they want to be the prime minister! They just have this huge hope." Boudreaux says it doesn't take much to change the lives of these children. "Not everybody can quit their job and start an organization and help orphans, but everybody could give $5, $10 or $100 dollars a month," she says. "It costs about $100 a month to take care of everything they need, including college." Meera, an 18-year-old orphan in India, is one of the many success stories to come from The Miracle Foundation's efforts. "Previously, I was very thin, and now my height has increased and my weight has increased," she tells PEOPLE. "I also have a house mother, who I get a lot of love from and she is like a guardian. It's like living with a family." Meera says she now has good teachers, recreation, food and clothing, adding that education is the "best thing that has happened." "I feel like I can grow up as a girl with confidence and save my life," she adds. "When you give education to young people, it really helps them grow." Boudreaux feels equally fulfilled. "I now have everything money can't buy," she says. "I have this great mission and great work now. It's given me something so powerful to do." -Courtesy PEOPLE magazine

52 India Post

March 25, 2016 www.indiapost.com

5 apps to help families stay in touch

e hear a lot about fami lies spending too much time distracted by digital devices. But screens do have some family-friendly benefits: New apps can help family members stay connected and coordinated. Here is a handful of Apple- and Android-friendly apps that might help keep your little group in touch and on task: MINI-NETWORK: Slack Slack functions as your own private social network. It's as simple to use as Facebook, but more customizable. And you can use the bulk of the service for free (though prices are listed at Slack.com for additional services). Popular with small companies and work groups who need to share information and plan projects, Slack works well for families too. You begin by including several people in a group, and then you can create distinct channels within the group. Perhaps one channel is parents-only communication, while others are for parents with each kid. Maybe another includes the whole family plus grandparents, aunts and uncles. You can post anything from private messages and daily sched-

ules to photos or URLs. Slack also serves as a free messaging app, and you can use it to store PDFs of things like the address of a restaurant or a flight itinerary. And you can integrate it with Google Calendar and Google Drive. One speed bump: While you can respond to a family member's post with emojis, you can't create

ily Locator by Life360 Life 360 is one of many family and friends locator apps. Once you add family members to your account, you can check their cell phones' locations via GPS at any time. Want to know if your child's bus is nearing home? Or if your spouse has left work yet? It's all there.

Wistiki shows a new app and gadget called Wistiki that uses technology to pinpoint the spot where items were lost. Lost keys and wallets can cost families time, money and stress.

a conversation thread by commenting on it. The app's developers say that feature is coming soon. FINDING EACH OTHER: Fam-

In testing the app, we found that it sometimes confuses locations that are very close. If two places are near each other, Life360 may tell you that a family member has arrived at one when they're

What does Prashantt crave for in Jaipur?

ajasthani actor Prashantt Guptha, who played an NRI in the Sonam Kapoor starrer, 'Neerja', was in Jaipur recently to visit his family and friends. Prashantt shared his childhood memories of playing cricket in his hometown. "Though I was born and brought up in New York, I have some fond memories of the Pink City. I would come here for my summer breaks and spend time with my grandparents. Back then, there was only this one restaurant that served pizzas, and I would go there for snacking. I also like to go to this famous kulfi wala in Raja Park with my cousins and friends." Despite being raised in New York, Prashantt said his Hindi is as proficient as his English. He added, "I come from a traditional Rajasthani family and we speak Hindi at home. No one can tell from my accent which part of the world I come from. And I'm married to a Punjabi girl, so I have a Punjabi accent too!"

About the film, Prashantt said, "Though it's completely a Sonam Kapoor film, people did notice me in the small role of the NRI who

Prashantt Guptha

was shot dead by the terrorists. And I'm very happy with the response my character received in the film."-Courtesy Times of India

actually at the other. So the app is helpful but not infallible. The free version works well, but you're limited to logging just two locations. FINDING YOUR STUFF: Wistiki The idea of never again losing your keys, phone or other important items is pretty appealing. Wistiki offers Philippe Starckdesigned little cards, tags and key fobs that can be tracked with the app. You attach them to something you treasure (your wallet, your dog, your TV remote). Then if (when) you can't find the item, you can make the Wistiki sound an alarm. If it's not close enough for you to hear, you can look at the app to find its location. Best part: If your lost item is in range of anyone else's Wistiki, theirs will anonymously (and without their knowledge) send GPS coordinates to the system. So other people are essentially helping find your stuff and you're helping find theirs, without having to do anything. Parents can attach the tags to a child's backpack, coat or other item that tends to get misplaced by little ones. Bonus: All that time you no

longer spend searching for your phone is time you can devote to face-to-face conversation with family members. Wistiki comes in three shapes and four colors. BUYING... : AnyList If you've ever remembered on the way home from the supermarket that you actually needed three more things, a shopping-list app may save you time and heartache in the future. AnyList allows group members to contribute to a running list, which you can scan through when you're out running errands. It also offers a recipe manager, so you won't be stuck in the produce department trying to remember whether tonight's dinner requires leeks or scallions. ...AND SELLING: Totspot And when you're ready to clear out clutter, you might be able to earn money for it at the marketplace app Totspot. Originally created as an online market for new or gently used kids' clothes, Totspot now lets you buy and sell grown-up clothes and even (shhhh!) unload gifts you don't want. It's sort of the virtual yard sale you don't have time to have. -AP

Modern-day 'Ramayan' trilogy planned

ineet Sinha was so struck by 'The Lord of the Rings' when he first watched it as a student in Hyderabad in 2001 that he went on to study filmmaking in California. But it was only a decade later that he realized that a film of that stature is yet to come alive on Indian screens. So in 2013, while hanging out with his American filmmaker friends, Sean Graham and Ronnie Allman, Vineet decided to retell an epic adventure of Indian origins and the group unanimously picked Ramayan, to be made into an international trilogy. The first installment will be titled 'The Ramayan Entering the Forest'.

The team flew down to India in March to begin work. "We noticed that all the weapons used in blockbuster Hollywood franchises were built by a Dehradun-based company - Jon Snow's sword in 'Game of Thrones,' Iron Man's armor, Captain America's shield, and all the swords from 'Pirates of the Carribean'. We decided to enlist the same company to design for us," says Sean who is co-directing the film with Vineet. The US-based trio is now in Ooty for a recce. "We will film with drone and gimbal technology. Our story will stay true to Valmiki's version. We are currently working on neverseen-before looks for the rishis and rakshasas. Vishwamitra will be seen in a Gandalf-like avatar," Sean adds. How's their version different? Vineet insists, "Filmmaking standards have evolved and previous versions don't do the story justice."

March 25, 2016

India Post 53 www.indiapost.com

Shiamak 'will never direct dance based film'

ce choreographer Shiamak Davar says he is not cer tain if he will ever step into direction but if he does, it will be anything but a dance-based film. Shiamak said he, however, wants to direct a movie, which will have a message of hope. "I don't think I will ever direct unless there is something, a topic I really want to do, very strong.... (has) a message of hope. That can be a story but I haven't come across anything like it and I am definitely not going to direct a dance movie," Shiamak told PTI. "I would rather do something I am good at. I will obviously put dance in the movie but it shouldn't be the focus because my focus has been theatre. I love theatre so I would put that in the film, more than just dance," he added. The 54-yearold choreographer is undoubtedly one of the most revered choreographers in Bollywood and from Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan to cur-

rent generation actors Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan, he has made all stars dance to his tunes. When asked about the general perception about Salman being a difficult actor to choreograph as he creates his own steps, Shiamak laughed and said, "It's a wrong perception that he is difficult to choreograph. I think the only thing, which he doesn't like if one does too much, is technical. That is something I do hence he runs away, saying, 'Oh no! Why Shiamak?' "But I have never had any problem with him ever." Shiamak added that with celebrities like Salman, Shah Rukh and megastar A m i t a b h Bachchan, choreography takes a back seat as their

Shiamak Davar

stage presence is more than enough to uplift an act. "These people are power because of their performance. They walk on the stage and you forget everything else. We don't need technical (brilliance). We need performers." Among the current crop of actors, Shiamak finds Varun, Ranveer and Sushant Singh Rajput, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone the finest dancers in the industry. Varun and Sushant have been Shiamak's students in the past. When asked if he has to put a restraint on Ranveer's high-octane energy levels while choreog r a p h i n g him, Shiamak said, "Ranveer is outstanding. The energy he creates on stage is magical. He is fire. I don't need to control his energy... "He respects me and my troupe so much that he comes to my studio, learns everything with us and is very professional. There are times when I tell him don't put much power in a particular song and go classy, cool and he does that."-PTI

Ronit Roy bags Hollywood project

oining the bandwagon of the West-bound Bollywood stars this year is Ronit Roy. The well-known film and TV star has bagged Rohit Karn Batra's Hollywood film, 'The Field'. Although this will be Ronit's first Hollywood project, it will be a second international outing for the actor who was

Ronit Roy

earlier a part of Deepa Mehta's 'Midnight's Children'. 'The Field', revolving around a crime family is expected to go on the floors in April and besides Ronit, stars Radhika Apte and Neeraj Kabi. When contacted, Ronit confirms and reveals that he plays an elder brother in the mafia thriller that has a motley crew including Indian, British and American actors. The actor says, "I begin shooting in April. It is a period film portraying old Delhi, but it has a very international flavor." Adding that he is looking forward to the experience, Ronit adds, "I accepted the role because it's a very interesting character that is part of a great story. Rohit (director) has been living with the script since quite a few years. His conviction in the script has also helped me make a decision to do it." As for sharing screen space with Radhika Apte for the first time, Ronit adds, "This is my first film with Radhika; I've never worked with her but I've seen her work. She's immensely talented and I feel she will give a new dimension to her part."

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Cont'd from Page 50 earned Papon the best singer seats to see him perform. close friends Shah Rukh, Aamir ter a short hiatus, got the crowd 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 (male) award. grooving on his chartbusters Salman paid a tribute to the Khan and Sanjay Dutt. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Kalki Koechlin picked the best The award ceremony, held at Bollywood heroes including his Though the star looked a bit lost and even had Varun and 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 actress critic's choice award for the Dubai International Stadium, during his act, it was Ranveer come on stage and per12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 "Margarita, With A Straw". were hosted by Riteish Deshmukh, saved by his high- form with him. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 The best supporting actor Parineeti Chopra (in a pair) and Among the hosts, Riteish's octane performance 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 (male) award went to Anil Kapoor Manish Paul. which he maintained impeccable comic timing added 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Bachchan was also honored for his performance in Zoya throughout his over- right punches to quirk up the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Akhtar's "Dil Dhadakne Do". with the living legend award, five minute perfor- long night, while Parineeti pro12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Deepak Dobriyal was honored which was presented to him by vided the able support with her mance. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 with the award for the best actor Anil Kapoor at the second edition Ranveer paid a effervescence and smart stage 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 in a comic role for "Tanu Weds of TOIFA. dancing tribute to presence. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Manu Returns". Another highlight of the event In one of the segments, the Bachchan by per12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Sooraj Pancholi bagged the remained the presence of stars duo jokingly read out some preforming on his hits 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 best debutant (male) trophy for Shah Rukh, Salman, Ranveer and like "Pag Ghungroo", dictions made by an imaginary 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 last year's forgettable movie Kareena Kapoor Khan, who, "Jumma Chumma", astrologer. "15 years later, 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 "Hero", while Bhumi Pedneker among others, captivated the au"Saara Zamana" and Salman Khan is still single, 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 took home the best debutant (fe- diences with their performances. "Kajra Re". The actor Karan Johar is also 'still' single 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 male) award for her acclaimed Shah Rukh received the loudgot Bachchan on the and John Abraham is still trying 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 performance as an "over-sized" est cheers and the warmest recepstage and made him to act," they quipped, evoking 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 bride in romantic-comedy-drama tion by the audience as he made do a little jig on "Kajra laughter from the audience. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 "Dum Laga Ke Haisha". his way on the stage for his short Manish, a hosting regular, enRe", giving a befit12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Neeraj Ghaywan took home but engaging performance. gaged with the stars to entertain ting end to his act. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 the best debutant director prize The 50-year-old actor perKareena paid a the audience. One such example 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 for his work on "Masaan". formed on his hits like "Gerua", homage to Hindi film was when he asked actor Varun 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Best album award went to "Chhaiyaan Chhaiyaan" and the divas from Helen to Dhawan to do a seductive dance 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 "Roy", while Varun Grover latest rage "Jabra Fan", and with herself, in the con- for the crowd. Like a true sport, 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 bagged the best lyricist honor for his dimpled smile, signature armthe young star did a small jig at temporary setting. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" ('Dum stretching pose and infectious his number "Mann ma emotion Rapper Yo Yo Anil Kapoor at TOIFA Red Carpet 18 March - Dubai 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Lagake Haisha'). energy enthralled the audience, so jaage" much to the audience's Honey Singh, who is International Stadium, Dubai Sports City 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 The sweet melody also much so that people stood on their back in the music af- delight.-PTI

'Bajirao Mastani' wins big at Dubai awards

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March 25, 2016

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2016 EU-India Summit: Platform for Change?

India Post

MIRJAN SCHULZ

n 30 March 2016, India sify bilateral cooperation. dia is an important trading partand the European There continue to be sticking ner and market for the EU. LikeUnion (EU) will meet points. For example, India would wise, after the Gulf Cooperation for a 13th summit. The like the EU to address visa regu- Council (GCC), the EU is the secnegotiations about a Free Trade lation challenges for Indians who ond largest union India trades Agreement (FTA) will presumably seek access to the European la- with. be on top of the agenda. It will be bor market. The trade in goods between the first summit since 2012, which The EU has urged India to re- India and the EU increased to was previously on an annual ba- duce the taxes on car imports as US$ 95.0 billion in 2013 and the sis and was established in 2000. well as a liberalization of the trade in commercial services rose What can be the opportunities and hurdles for Foreign Direct Invest- to US$ 31.0 billion in the same challenges of a strengthened EU- ment (FDI). year. India partnership in light of the upIndia has been upset in the FDIs from the EU to India accoming Summit? past with Europe's insistence on counted for US$ 45.3 billion in Election season in both India human rights and sees it as inter- 2013. However, the European and the EU put the Summit on the ference in its internal affairs. Commission still sees India as a backburner. Moreover, in the However, giving up the human "comparatively restricted" trade meantime, certain complications in rights clauses in FTAs with other partner. The disputed Ease of DoEU-India relations arose after the EU prohibited the import of 700 medicines from India in 2015, and the diplomatic fallout after the death of two Indian fishermen shot by Italian marines in 2012. In 1963, India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor of the EU. There were sevPrime Minister Narendra Modi with EU Council President Donald Tusk at eral efforts to exG20 Summit 2015 in Turkey pand these relations, for example, with the common Joint Action Plan countries would betray the Euro- ing Business Index from the in 2005 and 2008 which covers pean idea of a peace project. With World Bank supports this view, domains of trade, law enforcement regard to the next Summit, the EU and ranked India at 130 of 189 and security as well as education can signal its willingness to also countries in its 2016 index. and cultural exchanges. encourage new Indian initiatives Since 2007, the EU and India Since the EU identified India as such as the Make in India cam- have been negotiating for a comone of its ten strategic partners in paign and the Smart Cities mon Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 2004, 30 different annual dia- project. India, on its part, can sup- called Broadbased Trade and Inlogues were implemented. Despite port the EU in terms of maritime vestment Agreement (BTIA). The this, EU-India relations are still security, counter-piracy and suspension of the summit in the underperforming compared to counter-terrorism. past few years also stopped the other foreign relations of the two Besides the EU as a whole, In- negotiations of the BTIA. unions. dia has strong relations with the Both sides can benefit from a UK, Germany, France and the reopening of the negotiations durEU and India: Still Seeking Netherlands. ing the upcoming Summit. OtherCommon Ground This raises the question if some wise, the EU runs the risk of fallIndia and the EU have several EU member states are more stra- ing into oblivion in India and misssimilarities: diversity in terms of tegically important to India than ing the chance to cooperate with languages, cultures, and the EU as an entity. Bilateral ne- a future global player. India, too, ethnicities. India is often cited as gotiations seem easier than con- can benefit from the EU's knowthe world's largest democracy sultation with the whole union. how with regard to joint-research and the EU as the biggest union technologies and sciences. The of democracies. In both, bureau- Free Trade Agreement: Next question here is not whether an cracy is a huge obstacle for policy Step? FTA between the EU and India will implementation. Trade and commerce remain be arrived at - this will definitely Although EU-India relations on top of the agenda for EU-In- come about - but when this will are stable, both partners have yet dia relations. With growing happen. to address the challenges and op- wealth and around a seven per The writer is Research Intern, portunities to expand and inten- cent growth of its economy, In- IPCS

Education awareness

o many forces, both for good and evil, are working simultaneously all over the world. They have been at work at all times, in the past and will continue to so work in the future also. The question is not who wins. The question is are we aware of what is going on? There are those who are caught up in the struggle to eke out a living; those well off are engaged in ensuring a comfortable life for themselves and their children, making sure they do not lose what they have. Those deprived are trying to rise amid unfavorable circumstances and there are those who take to the easier way of crime or drugs. Each section of these people are not aware of the perspective or perception of any other section. Thus we are like working in, so to say, a blind. In such circumstances any effort to raise awareness among people should be welcome. Take the case of education in India. Pratham, the most prominent NGO in the educational field in India, claims reaching out to over 200,000 children and mainstreaming over 30,000 children across 10 States. There are other NGOs also in the field making a little dent. As per the Indian government's Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2012, 96.5% of all rural children between the ages of 6-14 were enrolled in school. However, nearly 40 per cent are said to drop out at the primary stage itself. Another reason for poor quality of primary education is that around 25% of teachers remain absent every day. Dr Karan Singh, a former prince of Jammu & Kashmir and exGovernor of the State is really a prince among politicians. Presently a Rajya Sabha member from the Congress party, he is a scholarphilosopher who was an ideal candidate for President of India but was passed over by Sonia Gandhi. He is also chairman of the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace which has come out with a report on educational opportunities in India's conflict zones. With interview of concerned students this report raises our awareness about regions where children are denied education because of an atmosphere of fear and terror. According to this report, students from conflict affected regions frequently brought up early experiences that affected their ability to succeed in - or even get admitted to - college. These students said they had not been able to attend primary school for years at a time, leaving them unprepared for the rigors of higher education. Over12.4% of survey respondents attributed their lack of enrolment in higher education to "social unrest at their native place". The report quotes the case of a young woman from Mizoram, who talked about the dire consequences of not gaining adequate skills in higher education. She said, "Most of the people in our place, since we cannot earn a living going to offices or something like that, join militant forces, go underground and become militants. In order to avoid that there should be skill development so that we earn a living and not join the group." Students in conflict zones expressed a desire to see themselves and their realities reflected in their school curricula. Lack of representation in textbooks made them feel that their lack of development and exposure to violence was inevitable. Said one student from a porous border region studying in Delhi, "You study history, but there is no history of northeast. It's about kings and queens of other Indian subcontinents. All these factors, the insurgents are using these weaknesses as a tool to brainwash the people." Dr Karan Singh in an article has appealed to the government to take these recommendations into account in the New Education Policy it is planning. The article has provoked an immediate response from a reader who asks why could not the party which was in power for most of the years after independence do anything in the matter?

March 25, 2016

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