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Akash Dalal

Akash case: Justice delayed is justice denied Details on page 16

VOL 19, No. 1022

April 18, 2014

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U.S. INC TO INVEST IN INDIA AFTER POLLS

WASHINGTON: Expressing faith in India's growth story, several US companies have committed themselves to increasing investment after the ongoing general elections in the country.

"USIBC reaffirmed US companies' commitment to India's growth and focused on reviving investor sentiment and cross-border collaboration in the first year post-elections," said a release after private meeting of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan with top executives of global companies.

The meeting was hosted by the US India Business

Council (USIBC).

The industry representatives, including several CEOs, heard from the Governor the challenges the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) faces in taming inflation while promoting the growth, all in the midst of factors beyond the institution's control.

Among others the meeting was attended by KKR CoChairman Henry Kravis, Chairman of McGraw Hill Financial Harold McGraw, and Co-CEO of Warburg Pincus Charles Kaye.

Details on page 12

Vijay Seshadri

India-born poet wins 2014 Pulitzer Prize Details on page 5

US team's meeting with BJP leader off Details on page 5

Novelist Amitav Ghosh lectures at Northwestern Details on page 24

Will send guilty MPs, MLAs to jail: Modi

FICCI discusses IPR, other issues with US team

Details on page 6 Details on page 6

Obama invites two Indian Americans

China won't hike fee for Kailash Mansarovar Details on page 6

Details on page 5

NRIs from US campaigning in Gujarat for Modi

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 53

Details on page 6

Community Post -------------- 16-26 Date Book -------------------------- 50

INDIA POST SURVEY

Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 32-35

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Horoscope ------------------------- 52

This week’s question

Immigration Post ------------- 44-46

Indo-US relations will improve after polls?

Life Style ----------------------- 48-49 Philosophy ------------------------- 53

Last week’s result

Will new H1B initiative help Indians?

YES 67%

NO 33%

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4

COLOR OF KASHMIR: Tourists enjoy at Asia’s largest Tulip Garden on the foothhills of the Zabarwan hills in Srinagar on April 15

Real Estate -------------------- 38-39 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-14 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 41-43

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Publisher’s Diary

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resident Obama often puts the fear of India and China into the minds of young people to put them in competition mode. Addressing students in Maryland recently he exhorted them to match or outdo what the students from these two countries can do. While he may be right about competition from China, clubbing India together with it in the education sphere may be giving an undeserved tribute. According to the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, India is the only one of the so-called BRIC nations which does not have a university in the world top 100. Mainland China has two, both in the top 50, Russia and Brazil have one each. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has pointed out that not only Japan and Korea but also other South Asian countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand have taken a lead in providing quality education to their people. "India is left behind and is paying a huge price for it," he lamented.

Then why is it that Obama keeps talking about Indians taking away jobs of young Americans? He doesn't mention other countries of the East who are also doing well in education and jobs field. It is perhaps because Indians tend to do well on high skills related jobs/issues like IT. If the middle skill segment is very bad, it is not Obama's concern. But it should be India's concern. In fact, a little over 25% of India's population is still illiterate, according to the 2011 census.

In the ongoing Indian election, which the Modi-led BJP is expected to win, what are the prospects of improving the lot of middle and lower level education?

In its election manifesto, BJP has promised to raise expenditure on education and put special emphasis on skill development. It has also promised to set up a national commission on education to devise ways to reform and revive the sector. Indeed, if Modi is able to reform lower level education in India, Obama's fear of Indian students may not remain a mere rhetoric.

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Sweet dreams Jet-lagged by the 27-hour flight Irrfan overslept, prompting the guards to break into Irrfan's room in Hawaii

Cover Story: Pulitzer Prize India-born Vijay Seshadri has won the prestigious 2014 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for his collection of poems

Community: Akash case Another Indian student Akash Dalal, 19, has been held in solitary confinement for nearly two years without trial

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Immigration: More H1B visas A coalition of American information technology companies has sought more H-1B visas to keep the country ahead

Life Style: Sydney restaurant The New York Times describes Zaaffran as "a world away from almost anything you'd find on the subcontinent".

Techbiz: Investment promise Expressing faith in India's growth story, several US companies have committed to increasing investment after polls

Travel: Kasauli 77kms from Shimla, this small town was built in 19th century by the British and it has an old-world charm

44 52 12 41

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India-born poet wins 2014 Pulitzer Prize NEW YORK: India-born poet Vijay Seshadri has won the prestigious 2014 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for his collection of poems "3 Sections."

The 98th annual Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music were announced by Columbia University here.

Seshadri's '3 Sections' is a "compelling collection of poems that examine human consciousness, from birth to dementia, in a voice that is by turns witty and grave, compassionate and remorseless," the announcement said.

The prize for the poetry category was given for a "distinguished volume of original verse" by an American author.

A Columbia University alumni, Seshadri would receive USD 10,000 reward.

According to Seshadri's biography on the Pulitzer website, he currently teaches poetry and nonfiction writing at liberal arts college Sarah Lawrence in New York.

Born in Bangalore in 1954,

Seshadri came to America at the age of five and grew up in Columbus, Ohio.

His collections of poems include James Laughlin Award winner The Long Meadow and Wild

tion, the New Yorker, the Paris Review, Yale Review, the Times Book Review, the Philadelphia Enquirer and in many anthologies, including Under 35: The New Generation of American Poets and

Vijay Seshadri

Kingdom (1996). His poems, essays, and reviews have appeared in prestigious publications including the American Scholar, the Na-

The Best American Poetry 1997 and 2003.

Seshadri has received grants from the New York Foundation for

2 Indian-Americans invited to White House Easter WASHINGTON: The first ever Readers on the Storytime Stage Next Iron Chef, The View and Iron Indian-American Miss America will be Jim Carrey, Miss America Chef America.

2014 Nina Davuluri with cel- 2014 Nina Davuluri, former NFL For the second consecutive ebrated Indian-American chef player and NASA astronaut year, the White House has created Maneet Chauhan has been in- Leland Melvin, DJ Lance Rock, a yoga garden for the occasion. vited by the Debby Ryan from "Come enjoy a session of yoga White House for the Disney from professional instructors," the its annual Easter Channel's JESSIE White House said.

Egg Roll Celebraand Sesame The White House said DJ tions.

Street's Mando, Beauty and the Beatz, Ariana The celebraRosita, Abby Grande, Candice Glover, R5 feations among other Cadabby, and turing Ross Lynch, DJ Young1, things would feaCookie Monster. and Sesame Street's Mando, ture 'yoga' sesChefs Maneet Rosita, Abby Cadabby, and sions for the secC h a u h a n , Cookie Monster, will perform on ond consecutive A l e x a n d r a the Rock 'n' Egg Roll Stage. year. Easter Egg Guarnaschelli, The Official Emcee of the 2014 Roll will take place Sam Kass, Marc White House Easter Egg Roll is on April 21 on the Murphy, Charles Tommy McFly, who will introduce Nina Davuluri South Lawn of the Phan, Super acts on the Ellipse music stage.

White House.

Sprowtz, and the The United States Marine Corps The celebrations in support of Disney Channel Band will perform the first lady's 'Let's Move!' initia- cast of JESSIE will American classics. tive is focused on promoting prepare healthy With the 'Hop health and wellness with the eating demoninto Healthy, theme, 'Hop into Healthy, Swing strations in the Swing into Shape' into Shape'.

Play with your theme, all of the acThe day-long event is to be Food station. tivities on the attended by some 30,000 people Previously the South Lawn profrom across the country and will Executive Chef of mote healthy and feature live music, sports courts, several notable active living. cooking stations, storytelling and, restaurants inThe activities of course Easter egg rolling. cluding Vermilion include obstacle This year's special guest is 12- Chicago and Vercourses, yoga, year-old singing sensation Cam milion New York, dancing, playing Maneet Chauhan Anthony. Anthony will sing the Maneet Chauhan sports with profesNational Anthem as well as per- is featured as a sional athletes, form on the Rock 'n' Egg Roll judge on Chopped on the Food and of course, the traditional egg Stage.

Network and has appeared on The roll," the White House said. -PTI

the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, and has been awarded the Paris Review's Bernard F Conners Long Poem Prize and the MacDowell Colony's Fellowship for Distinguished Poetic

Pulitzer in the Reporting category for his coverage of science at the tercentenary of Harvard University when he was working for Universal Service. He died of cancer in 1992.

Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri got Pulitzer Seshadri is the fifth person for fiction in 2000 for her of Indian origin to bag the collection of stories "Interpreters of Maladies". prestigious award, the first Journalist-writer of Indian origin Geeta Anand being Gobind Behari Lal was the next to get the in 1937. Lal, a science award. Anand was the investigative reporter and feaeditor, was awarded the ture writer for the Wall Street Pulitzer in the Reporting Journal and won the award category for his in 2003 for "clear, concise and comprehensive stories coverage of science at that illuminated the roots, the tercentenary of significance and impact of corporate scandals in Harvard University America".

Indian-American physiAchievement. cian Siddhartha Mukherjee's acSeshadri is the fifth person of claimed book on cancer, 'The EmIndian origin to bag the presti- peror of All Maladies: A Biogragious award, the first being phy of Cancer,' won the 2011 Gobind Behari Lal in 1937. Lal, a Pulitzer Prize in the general nonscience editor, was awarded the fiction category. -PTI

US team's meeting with BJP leader off NEW DELHI: A meeting of a and Europe on transatlantic and four-member US Congressional global issues. delegation with a representative McDermott, a veteran Conof BJP has been virtually called gressman and a friend of India, told off because of reservations of the PTI that they were not directly told party over interacting with two of anything but they came to know its members as they had cam- of BJP's reservations over meeting paigned against giving visa to the two Congressmen who had a Narendra Modi. few years signed a petition against Jim McDermott, (78), a Demo- giving Modi a US visa on the postcrat Congressman from Washing- Godhra riots issue. ton state and a former Co-chair of When contacted, Prasad said India Caucus, and Robert Pattinger, he was in Patna in connection a Republican Congressman from North Carolina, were the two mem- The delegation was here on bers of the delegation behalf of German Marshall that the BJP representative did not want to meet, Fund (GMF), a non-partisan sources said.

American public policy and Indications were given to them that they grant-making institution may not be welcome in a meeting with BJP's chief spokes- with election campaign and he had person Ravi Shankar Prasad, that no idea of any delegation's meetwas said to have been scheduled ing with him. tomorrow, if they came with the At the moment, election camother two members who included paign was a more pressing issue, Loretto Sanchez of California. he added.

The delegation was here on During the stay, the delegation behalf of German Marshall Fund had met Information and Broad(GMF), a non-partisan American casting Minister Manish Tewari, public policy and grant-making Rajya Sabha member H K Dua, institution dedicated to promot- Afghanistan's Ambassador to Ining better understanding and co- dia and veteran journalist Sanjaya operation between North America Baru.-PTI

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Will send guilty MPs, MLAs to jail: Modi AHMEDABAD: Blaming Congress for criminalizing politics, Narendra Modi has said that if voted to power he will set up special courts to try the tainted MPs and MLAs and send the guilty behind bars within one year.

He also said that he would free the system from criminals within five years.

"I am disturbed by the criminalization of politics, for which, Congress is responsible.

Congress leaders started using criminals to retain power by hook or crook. Later, these criminals became powerful and turned politicians. We must free our political system from such criminals," Modi said.

Modi was giving a speech in Gandhinagar that was broadcast live across 100 locations in 15 states with the use of 3D holographic technology.

"Just give me one chance to

clean the system. I will set up special courts under the supervision of the Supreme Court to try all the tainted MPs and MLAs, that too within one year time limit. After

Modi said like MPs and MLAs the cleaning process would continue in the lower ranks as well. "After MPs and MLAs, the same process will be applied at the bottom, such as panchayats� one year, those who are guilty, will go to jail," he said.

Modi said like MPs and MLAs the cleaning process would continue in the lower ranks as well.

"After MPs and MLAs, the same process will be applied at the bottom, such as panchayats. It is my promise that I will free the system from criminals within five years," he added.

He also said that he promises that no discrimination or favoritism will be done in this cleaning process, even if that leader belongs to his party.

Modi, who kept a bust of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar close to him during his speech, accused the Congress of ignoring the architect of the Indian Constitution.

"Three leaders of the GandhiNehru family received Bharat Ratna award, but Dr Ambedkar was never conferred the highest honor.

After 40 years of his death, the government supported by BJP awarded him with the Bharat Ratna. Congress was not even ready to put up his photograph in the Parliament," Modi alleged. -PTI

China won't hike fee for Kailash Mansarovar yatris BEIJING: China has dropped its plan to hike the fees of Kailash Mansarovar yatra for Indian pilgrims by USD 100, but the two sides remained silent about India's plans for a consulate in Tibet.

The decision was taken on

India's request as Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh held the sixth annual Strategic Dialogue with her Chinese counterpart Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.

She said Liu immediately agreed to India's request to waive

Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh shakes hands with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin at a meeting in Beijing on April 15

its plan to increase the Mansarovar Yatra fees from USD 800 to USD 900.

"He has given immediate answer to India's request demonstrating the goodwill between the two countries," Singh told reporters after the day-long meeting.

India and China have signed an MOU under which Beijing has agreed to increase the facilities for Yatris. Singh said due to floods last year in Uttaranchal, only one batch of Yatris visited the place.

But at the same time, she did not indicate whether India's earlier request to open consulate in Tibet figured in the talks.

The expansion of Consulates figured.

"We have certain places in mind but certainly we are not going to talk about it before it is finalized," she said. Pressed further, she said, "It is under discussion we can not go into specifics until we finalize it."

Earlier reports said China has rejected India's request to re-open its diplomatic mission in Lhasa and asked New Delhi to choose Chengdu in Sichuan province, which is closest to Tibet, besides Kunming.

Similarly, China has reportedly shown interest in opening a Consulate in Chennai. Singh, however, declined to reveal details of discussions on this issue. -PTI

FICCI discusses IPR, other issues with US team NEW DELHI: Industry body there are regulatory issues faced FICCI raised the issue of US plans by both US MNCs in India and to declare India as a 'Priority For- Indian companies in the US and eign Country for IPR violations find pragmatic solutions to issues with a visiting delegation of such as IPR, taxation and transfer American companies. pricing," Ficci Secretary General Under the US Trade Act, a Pri- A Didar Singh said. ority Foreign Country is the worst "India is not an only importer classification given to foreign of patented products and technolcountries that deny adequate and ogy but itself has interest in a effective protection of IPR or fair strong IPR regime due to patents and equitable market access to US persons relying upon IPR pro- The agenda of the meeting tection. between the US delegation The agenda of the meeting between the and FICCI representatives US delegation and was the road-map for FICCI representatives resolution of thorny issues was the road-map for resolution of thorny is- between the two countries sues between the two countries in the commercial space being generated by its IT, Science that will be taken up with the new & Technology and Telecom indusIndian government post elections. try," Chairman of FICCI IPR ComThe US-India relations on com- mittee Narendra Sabharwal said. mercial front suffered due to isIssues such as Immigration Bill sues such as intellectual property also came up during the discusrights (IPR), taxation and transfer sion, as they bother the Indian IT pricing, among other things. industry and could impact the "There is a greater need to con- cost efficiency of US industry in solidate divergent positions as the long run, Ficci said. -PTI

NRIs from US campaigning in Gujarat for Modi VADODARA: Around 700 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from USA have landed in Gujarat and other parts of the country to campaign and vote for BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi.

The NRIs are visiting various towns and villages urging people to vote for Modi, Asian American Store Owners' Association (AASOA) Executive Director Vipul Patel told reporters here.

NRIs have also been address-

ing meetings in various parts of the country including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and other states appealing people to vote for Modi, he said, adding that the NRIs feel that India needs a strong leader like Modi to develop the country.

Indian-American businessman Piyush J Patel told PTI that nearly 5,000 NRIs are expected to fly home from the US before voting takes place in Gujarat on April 30.

-PTI

April 18, 2014

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Protect heart and soul of India, says Sonia NEW DELHI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi tonight broadcast an appeal on various TV channels saying that the current Lok Sabha elections was a fight to protect "the very heart and soul of India" from those who want to divide the people of this country.

Without naming either Narendra Modi or the BJP in her telecast, Gandhi said, "We want unity. They want to impose uniformity. They say, 'Just believe in ME".

Observing that Love and Respect, Harmony and Brotherhood - in a word, Non-violence - are the very heart and soul of our motherland, Gandhi said, "It is this, the very heart and soul of India, that we are fighting to protect in this election, from those who seek to change it, and to divide us."

In the strongest-ever attack on BJP in the current campaign,

Gandhi appealed to people to defeat "divisive and autocratic" forces which will "destroy" the Indian ethos.

The appeal for support to Con-

"Today, our society stands at a crossroads. The Congress ideology and vision will continue to take us towards a healthy, free democracy, open to the life of change and transformation," gress saw Gandhi launch an allout attack on BJP saying its vision is "clouded with hatred and falsehood" and its ideology is

"divisive and autocratic".

"Their vision, clouded with hatred and falsehood, their ideology - divisive and autocratic, will drive us to the ruination of our Bharatiyata and Hindustaniat," she said.

Gandhi said, "We are fighting in this election for a future where power is not the preserve of a select few but exercised by the many."

"Today, our society stands at a crossroads. The Congress ideology and vision will continue to take us towards a healthy, free democracy, open to the life of change and transformation," Gandhi said in her appeal.

Congress is fighting one of its toughest battles after being in power for ten years that has brought in anti-incumbency, forcing the party to fight with its back to the wall.-PTI

PM's daughter accuses Baru of violating trust NEW DELHI: Terming Sanjaya Baru's controversial account of his days in the PMO as "nothing but a stab in the back", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's daughter has accused him of "violating" the PM's trust while branding the book an "unethical", "mischievous" exercise.

Singh's daughter Upinder Singh, who teaches history at Delhi University, said Baru has pieced together "gossip" and unverified quotes, including some of her father's, and used them as statements of fact.

In an interview to The Indian Express, she also questioned the timing of the PM's former media adviser's book, which has hit stand amid general elections much to the embarrassment of the PMO and the ruling Congress, and said it could not be described as an "objective" book.

"It is an audacious account with so-called quotes, of even the Prime Minister, which have been recorded as facts.

Reported speech has been used as direct speech. Is this ethical?," she was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Questioning some of Baru's claims in the book, 'The Accidental Prime Minister: The making and unmaking of Manmohan Singh', she said he was never part of the decision-making process in

the PMO. "He is holding forth and projecting himself in the centre of events which is not true and he had no access to files. It is not as if he was the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. So what are the sources he has used? I spot

Upinder Singh

an element of self-promotion in these assertions," she said.

She said she was not speaking on behalf of the PM but added that, "we are extremely angry at the exaggerated level of access the author has ascribed to himself".

The family, Upinder said, was aware that the book was in the offing but when she had asked Baru when it would be out, he said, "Naturally, after the elections".

Rejecting the author's claim that the book's publisher chose the timing, she said she had written several books and knew that authors have a say in the timing of the release.-PTI

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Ex-bureaucrat paints a picture of helpless PM NEW DELHI: A retired top bureaucrat has painted a picture of a helpless Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being unable to control his ministers who had scuttled his move for reforms in the Coal Ministry and lashed out at MPs as "blackmailers and extortionists".

P C Parakh, a former Coal Secretary, also alleged that money is "openly asked" for appointment of directors and CEOs in Public Sector Enterprises (PSE).

68-year-old Parakh, who retired from service in December 2005, claimed that various Coal ministers including Shibu Soren and Dasari Narayana Rao besides MPs cutting across the political class scuttled reforms in the Coal ministry that could have prevented the coal scam despite full support of Prime Minister Singh in pushing reforms, "These two ministers reso-

lutely opposed my proposal to put coal blocks to open bidding. Un-

fortunately, the Prime Minister was not able to control his minis-

Former Coal Secretary P C Parakh poses for photographs with his book Crusader or Conspirator during its release in New Delhi on April 14

ters in the proposal that I made in 2004...I saw in the Ministry how Chief Executives and Directors of PSEs are appointed," he told reporters here.

"Money is openly asked for appointment of directors and CEOs. I saw MPs becoming blackmailers and extortionists. They blackmailed officers, they blackmailed CEOs of government companies. I saw how ministers have reversed the decision of the Prime Minister, who had agreed to putting coal blocks in Internet-based auctions," he said after release of his book "Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and other Truths".

Parakh said a situation has been created where it is difficult for civil servants to work with honesty and dignity.

He said whatever forward movement was achieved by him during his stint as Coal Secretary

was only when the Prime Minister was in charge of the ministry.

"When I was in Coal ministry, the Prime Minister gave me full support. Whatever changes had come in the Coal ministry it is because of Prime Minister. He also supported reforms in the Coal ministry. We were able to get a lot of work done because of proactive role of Manmohan Singh," he said.

Asked whether the multicrore coal scam could have been prevented if the reforms had been pushed through, Parakh replied in the affirmative. "Yes, if the Prime Minister had used his authority, it (scam) could have (been avoided)."

Parakh, who has been accused in one of the FIRs by the CBI probing Colagate, said auction of coal blocks in open market and e-marketing of coal, as proposed, would have ensured that there was no scam. -PTI

Reliance Industries a parallel state: 'CBI can no longer be govt's Dept of Dirty Tricks' Ex-WB Governor NEW DELHI: Former West Talking about the economic democracy is large, vibrant, but Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna health of the country, Gandhi is also deeply flawed. Size and Gandhi has dubbed Reliance In- said the economy had seen some scale cannot and do not in themdustries as a "parallel state" that phenomenal successes with selves validate a democracy. exercised power "brazenly" over many homeless getting houses There is something called qualnatural and financial resources. ity also. and other items of necessity.

"We used to talk of black "The monarch, the voter, is "Our economy is startling if money as a parallel economy and so it continues to be. But Reliance is a parallel State.

I do not know of any country where one single firm exercises such power so brazenly, over the natural resources, financial resources, professional resources and, u l t i m a t e l y, over human resources as the company of the Ambanis.

"From (B CBI Director Ranjit Sinha presents memento to Chairman, Governing Body, IIAS, Shimla, R) Ambedkar Gopalkrishna Gandhi at 15th D P Kohli Memorial Lecture on Eclipse at Noon: Shadows over Indias Conscience in New Delhi on April 15 who spoke of economic democracy to Ambani who repre- you do not want to see its other powerful but his power is consents a techno-commercial mo- side. If you see that side, you will stantly subverted by blandishnopoly of unprecedented scale, see it is schizophrenic. Corporate ment. Money is at our is a far cry indeed," he said de- greed has crossed all bounds, as democracy's throat. Money can livering the 15th D P Kohli Me- has corporate tastelessness," he and does do worse," Gandhi said at the function where CBI rank and morial lecture organized to mark said. the year-long golden jubilee celHolding that money was af- file led by its Director Ranjit Sinha ebrations of the CBI. fecting democracy, he said, "Our were present.-PTI

NEW DELHI: CBI was in for finally perfumed by mystery." some harsh words when former Gandhi pointed out that for someGovernor of West Bengal time the CBI had come under RTI Gopalkrishna Gandhi said the cen- purview and during that period tral probe agency had gained no- "heavens did not fall" but the toriety as "government's hatchet" opacity, secrecy and mystery and "Department of Dirty Tricks" made it move out of the Act. which was clothed in "opacity" "This is a great pity. The CBI is with perfume of "mystery". about investigations into corrupDelivering 15th D P Kohli Me- tion and certain crimes. It is not morial Lecture here, Gandhi, who security or intelligence agency," was CBI's guest speaker, minced he said while delivering a lecture no words while batting for bring- on "Eclipse at Noon: Shadows ing the agency within the purview over India's Conscience". of Right to Information Act (RTI) The lecture marked the formal and making it "spectacularly" and closing of the year long golden not "sensationally" autonomous. jubilee celebration of CBI. Gandhi, "It is seen as government's hatchet, rather than honesty's Gandhi pointed out that for ally. It is often called DDT - meaning not the sometime the CBI had dichloro diphenyl come under RTI purview trichloroethane, the colorless, tasteless, and during that period odorless insecticide it "heavens did not fall" should be, but the Department of Dirty Tricks", he said at the function a former IAS officer of Tamil Nadu where the entire CBI rank and file cadre, said the perception about led by its Director Ranjit Sinha CBI being a department of dirty were present. tricks needs to change.

Referring to the issue of cor"I will make a bold statement ruption, 69-year-old Gandhi, who to say it will change, because the is at present Chairman of Indian popular mood in the country in Institute of Advance Studies the matter of corruption has (IIAS), said CBI has a "mixed" im- changed. The post-RTI India is an age, not all of which was "flatter- altogether new India. Every village ing", and it will have to "change". in India has heard of the RTI and, He said the "RTI-trained" public what is more, it has used RTI, will expect, prod and make the CBI sometimes frivolously, sometimes an "instrument of change". perversely but, in the main part, "The CBI is clothed in opacity, transformationally and then ornamented by secrecy and cleansingly." -PTI

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Travails of travel agents: Are they getting obsolete?

A.Q. SIDDIQUI

L

ast week I met a senior Desi travel agent who shared few thought pro voking facts about America's largest but fast dwindling lot of travel agents and the personalized service they offer.

The question upper most in mind of most of them: Who cares for travel agents anymore? Our senators or lawmakers have no time to look beyond the stereotype of routine rituals. They book their own travels on the Internet so they have no concern for this sinking service industry.

The first blow was a shocking remark in August 2011 by President Barack Obama that the Internet had made travel agents obsolete. Then many airlines also started vying with each other in stabbing the agents and this industry in the back. The commissions were withdrawn. Once upon a time the airline ads would have asked the public to call the travel agent; gone are those days. The airline ads now lure customers to book online on their own websites.

This has speeded up the belief in the customer's mind that the Internet offers cheaper fares. And this is not true. It is a myth and superfluous conclusion. No website or online portal offers cheaper fares than travel agents. Airlines still distribute all fares through either approved travel agents or consolidators. The consolidators in turn sell these fares to other travel agents

in the market. The travel agent in turn keeps a small portion of the commission and shares the larger portion with customers.

The Desi travel agents spend their time and days convincing doubting customers that their fares are cheaper than the Internet.

"Most of our time is spent answering customers' emails copying online lower fares from websites, those who are not even travel agents. The unbridled rush for everything on Internet here has generated many "re-

Business within their own community.

Make your selection with price online but ask your travel agent to book the same.

Your agent will help save you a good amount and at same time, you help him survive and run his small business. Additional advantage is that your travel agent is always there to assist you in any emergency.

This travel agent friend of mine added that, "Use internet for your own satisfaction but let your travel agent issue your

Travel around the world with Your Travel Agents

ferral" websites who are not travel agents but show fares that do not really exist.

Many travelers, particularly Desi clients, are lured by such quotes and thus will keep arguing with travel agents that much cheaper fares are available online.

"Since the young generation is obsessed with Internet usage, " pointed out my friend," it is very imperative that someone enlighten them that buying tickets online they are really paying more and lose the personal touch that the travel agents offer.

At the same time they are killing the Desi

tickets. Save my time, we save your money and still, manually we find the best options for you!"

Working under permanent Internet stress, the travel agents suffer on other counts too. More often customers blame travel agents for airlines' poor service, delays, cancellations, baggage lost etc. The travel agent has no control on airline operations or service issues. Many customers purchase promotional fare tickets and would like to change travel dates later. They expect travel agents to do it for free or waive

change penalties.

A helpless travel agent is blamed for "not helping". He cited a recent incident with a customer who bought airline ticket for an emergency travel to attend a funeral at home and paid for it by American Express.

The unsuspecting poor agent did not obtain proper authorization from the customer, who happened to be a repeat client for him.

The airline was delayed due to fog or weather condition and the customer missed his onward flight. Although the airline did help him transfer through another carrier, he was delayed reaching his destination.

After completing his journey, the customer asked American Express for a charge back. When the agent called him and suggested that you had a service issue with airline so contact airline customer support and lodge a complaint, why did you charge back when you used the entire ticket? The "mean" customer answered him that you issued me ticket for this airline and I am not happy for that!

So my friend warns other agents that always obtain proper authorization for all Credit Card payments. And the last word, respect the clients who trust you and satisfy them for all their travel needs. Only by this way you can prove that travel agents are not obsolete.

Tech News Lutron to double revenue, expand sales network NEW DELHI: US-based lighting control solutions provider Lutron Electronics is aiming to double its business in India in the next two years on the back of increased demand from residential and commercial sectors.

The company is expanding its network in the country to make its energy saving devices available at 1,000 points of sales by 2016.

Lutron has a network of 70 distributors in eight cities.

Its product are available at 400500 points of sales at present.

"We are looking to double the business in the next two years. The market is so new here for energy conservation ... there is significant potential," Lutron Electronics President Michael W Pessina told PTI.

Viber targets 30 mn users in India by year-end NEW DELHI: Considering India as one of its priority markets, Viber - provider of mobile application that allows free voice calls and text messaging - is aiming to increase its user base here to 30 million by December.

The company which entered India last November has 17 million users. Globally, it has over 300 million users in 193 countries.

"India is among our priority markets and we are very confident that we will hit the 30 million mark by the end of this year," Viber India Country Head Anubhav Nayyar told PTI. He said there is immense opportunity for the company as smartphone sales are growing fast in India.-PTI

Hinduja proposes UN-led check on govt efforts UNITED NATIONS: A proposal conceptualized by Hinduja Group Chairman S P Hinduja for a publicprivate partnership for stock-taking government efforts to tackle challenges of terrorism, climate change and poverty has generated huge interest among global leaders.

Hinduja Foundation US Chairperson Shanu S P Hinduja said at a high-level meeting here that she has been approached by number of heads of state and leaders with "positive feedback" for 'Global Challenges Day', which is the brainchild of her father.-PTI

TechBiz

Regional Head Asus India Peter Chang launches the new Fonepad 7 Dual Sim tablet in New Delhi on April 15

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US companies commit investment in India after polls WASHINGTON: Expressing faith in India's growth story, several US companies have committed themselves to increasing investment after the ongoing general elections in the country.

"USIBC reaffirmed US companies' commitment to India's growth and focused on reviving investor sentiment and cross-border collaboration in the first year postelections," said a release after private meeting of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan with top executives of global companies.

The meeting was hosted by the US India Business Council (USIBC).

The industry representatives, including several CEOs, heard from the Governor the challenges the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) faces in taming inflation while promoting the growth, all in the midst of factors beyond the institution's control.

Among others the meeting was attended by KKR Co-Chairman Henry Kravis, Chairman of McGraw Hill Financial Harold McGraw, and Co-CEO of Warburg

Pincus Charles Kaye.

The USIBC said the members supported RBI's financial sector reforms, including actions to further deepen India's debt capital markets toward long-term infra-

tunities for meaningful US-India collaboration in the financial sector.

In addition to continued banking reforms, contributions of nonbank financial companies to the

edented volatility for Indian markets - and under Governor Rajan's able stewardship - the rupee has been one of the most stable currencies in emerging markets and globally," said the? CME Group's

"The past year saw unprecedented volatility for Indian markets - and under Governor Rajan's able stewardship - the rupee has been one of the most stable currencies in emerging markets and globally" structure development and manage risk.

"USIBC also discussed with Governor Rajan the importance of a vibrant payments industry with competition and dialogue spurring further innovations in mobile banking, prepaid, and cash transfer remittances for SME businesses and individuals," the release said.

The USIBC members welcomed the Governor's insight on oppor-

real economy, including those wholly-owned by foreign direct investment, were raised.

"American investors are grateful for the Reserve Bank of India's leadership of the Indian economy.

USIBC looks forward to continuing industry's dialogue with the RBI across capital markets, banking, payments and asset management," said USIBC Director for Financial Policy, Melissa Frakman.

"The past year saw unprec-

Senior Managing Director for Foreign Exchange and Metals, Derek Sammann.

CME Group is the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, headquartered in Chicago.

Formed in 1975 at the request of the US and Indian governments, the USIBC is the premier business advocacy organization advancing US-India commercial ties. -PTI

India leads global remittances with $70 bn WASHINGTON: India lead gration and Development Brief, global remittances in the year the World Bank said this year's 2013 with a whopping USD 70 remittance flows to developing billion in its kitty, of which USD countries will be an increase of 7.8 65 billion were earned from the per cent over the 2013 volume of country's flagship software services exports, the World The depreciation of Bank reported today. the Indian rupee durIndia's neighbor ing 2013 appears to China follows sechave attracted inflows ond with USD 60 billion, said the World through a surge in the Bank report, accord- deposits of non-resiing to which interna- dent Indians tional migrants from developing countries are ex- USD 404 billion, rising to USD 516 pected to send USD 436 billion billion in 2016. in remittances to their home Global remittances, including countries this year, despite more those to high-income countries, deportations from some host are estimated at USD 581 billion countries. this year, from USD 542 billion in In its latest issue of the Mi- 2013, rising to USD 681 billion in

2016, the report said.

"Remittances have become a major component of the balance of payments of nations. India led the chart of remittance flows, receiv-

ing USD 70 billion last year, followed by China with USD 60 billion and the Philippines with USD 25 billion," said Kaushik Basu, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank.

"There is no doubt that these

flows act as an antidote to poverty and promote prosperity. Remittances and migration data are also barometers of global peace and turmoil and this is what makes World Bank's KNOMAD initiative to organize, analyze, and make available these data so important," he said.

The depreciation of the Indian rupee during 2013 appears to have attracted inflows through a surge in the deposits of non-resident Indians rather than remittances, the World Bank said.

The bank said growth in remittances to the South Asia region has slowed, rising by a modest 2.3 per cent to USD 111 billion in 2013, compared with an average annual increase of more than 13 per cent during the previous three years.-PTI

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India calls for data sharing on taxation WASHINGTON: India has called for data sharing on taxation and blamed the industrialized and developed world for their reluctance on parting with this information.

"Although it (taxation) is not on the agenda in this meeting, the issue of data sharing is becoming very critical for the developing countries," said India's Economic Secretary Arvind Mayaram.

He was speaking during his intervention on investment at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting being held during the annual spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"The continuing reluctance of some of the industrialized countries for parting with information under administrative assistance requests is contrary to the spirit of the move towards automatic tax information exchange," Mayaram said.

India would like this to be considered in the next meeting so that jurisdictions are urged to do so in accordance with their treaty obligations, he added.

Mayaram said the International Industrial Working Group should look beyond the conventional solutions like Public Private Partnerships and infrastructure invest-

ment funds.

"India has ventured into new and innovative financing structures and avenues of raising capi-

investees.

Mayaram said uncertainty in the credit markets is impacting the ability of infrastructure develop-

Arvind Mayaram

tal like Infrastructure Debt Funds and Investment Business Trusts for pooled investment, which are mainly aimed at attracting investments from Pension funds and other cash-rich wealth funds," he said.

He noted that this aspect may be discussed, including the strategy of Pension/Sovereign Funds and the experiences of other members of G20, both as investors and

ers to raise finance for infrastructure projects and undermining confidence in private finance models.

"These ongoing liquidity issues are likely to increase financing costs associated with certain delivery models.

Therefore, it is imperative that MDBs are channeled towards funding in emerging economies," he said. -PTI

US industry wants India to avoid protectionism WASHINGTON: In order to attract investment, Indian Government should continue a policy approach that is pro-competition and pro-growth and not embrace policies that rely on protectionism, the American telecom industry has said.

"The telecommunications sector is an important contributor to India's continued economic growth and job creation through both domestic and export-oriented economic activities," the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) said in its comments submitted to the US International Trade Commission (ITC).

TIA is the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks.

The US ITC is conducting an investigation regarding industrial policies of the Government of India on whether they discriminate against US imports and investment in order to support Indian domestic industries, and the effect that

those barriers have on the US economy and US jobs.

"It must be noted that in order for India to enhance its competitiveness in the global ICT sector and to further encourage investment, the Government of India should continue a policy approach

In its submission, the TIA said, it "encourages the Government of India to reject preference policies, quotas, and other trade barriers that is pro-competition and progrowth, and not embrace policies that rely on protectionism," TIA said.

In its submission, TIA said it continues to be concerned that "there is an underlying trend in India to implement policies that

would reverse" the pro-growth and pro- competition policy trajectory that has benefited India in favor of policies that would seek to make India's ICT market less competitive, as well as establish barriers to trade and investment.

"In particular, we would note the growing use of policies that can be described as localization barriers to trade to meet the Government of India's objective of encouraging domestic manufacturing of telecommunications equipment, including in provisions of the 2012 National Telecom Policy and the 2011 National Manufacturing� Policy, it said.

In its submission, the TIA said, it "encourages the Government of India to reject preference policies, quotas, and other trade barriers that run counter to the market opening reforms that India has implemented in the past, which provided the catalyst for the unprecedented economic growth the country has experienced in recent years".-PTI

India still behind China in IP generation: Cisco LAS VEGAS: Even as start-ups have mushroomed in India over the last few months, the country is yet to reach the scale of intellectual property (IP) generation being seen in nations like China and Israel, technology giant Cisco CEO John Chambers said.

"The Indian market has to do a lot more (with) startups, create that entrepreneurial spirit at a faster scale. I am committed to India, but it has not taken off in terms of IP generated anywhere like China or Israel," Chambers told PTI in an interview.

He said Indian universities can play a bigger role in fostering entrepreneurship and the spirit for innovation.

Over the last two years, a large number of technology- driven start-ups have come into existence. These have received funding from a range of investors including angel investors, individu-

als as well as large venture capitalists.

Technology firms have not only acquired a lot of such start-ups but have also set up corpus to fund innovation.

Earlier this year, Cisco also created a corpus of USD 100 million to invest in early-stage startups

in the Internet of Everything (IoE) space globally.

In the past, Cisco invested in Indian ventures such as Apalya, Qyuki, Indiagames and Comviva.

Chambers said while there was a lot of activity going on for startups in India, this has to be done on a larger scale.-PTI

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US group says Indian laws not discriminatory WASHINGTON: Asserting that Indian patent and pharma laws falls within the bounds of what is allowed under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a top American non-profit consumer rights advocacy group has said Indian pharma laws should not be considered discriminatory.

In a submission to US International Trade Commission (USAITC), 'Public Citizen' said that India's rules meet the data protection requirements under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which is an international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization TRIPS. USITC is currently conducting an investigation on "Trade, Investment, and Industrial Policies in India: Effects on the US Economy" at the request of US lawmakers.

"The Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 prohibits the disclosure of information received by an officer of the Drug Controllers' Office, except for the purpose of official business, where it is required by a court of law, or with the permission of an official superior where test data is required when considering marketing approval for a new drug," Public Citizen said.

It said that the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 does not prevent the Government from relying on the data presented by the first applicant to assess submissions by the second and subsequent applicants for similar products.

It provides data protection rather than data exclusivity, and is

'Public Citizen' said that India's rules meet the data protection requirements under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which is an international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization TRIPS. TRIPS-compliant, it added.

"If policies adopted by India are legally permissible under its international trade obligations, then they should not be considered barriers," Public Citizen said.

"The TRIPS Agreement gives broad discretion to Member coun-

tries in determining intellectual property policies and as clarified in the Doha Declaration, allows for wide use of flexibilities in developing these policies to promote public interests, including public health," it said.

"Our analysis shows that Indian law falls well within the bounds of what is allowed under WTO rules and therefore should not be considered discriminatory," the submission said.

In light of this, the Commission's report should not find these policies to be harming US industrial interests," Public Citizen said.

Observing that the TRIPS Agreement allows countries to grant compulsory licenses on grounds of their choosing, Public Citizen said section 84 of India's patent law is somewhat narrower, providing three separate grounds for compulsory licensing, any one of which suffices to warrant a license: reasonable requirements of the public, price, and failure to work a patent in India.

"The sorafenib license is very important to public health.

It makes use of each of the three grounds, but reviews of the license have emphasized health interests and price," it said.-PTI

Mahindra, Belgium firm JV to market fruits MUMBAI: Auto major M&M's agri business unit Mahindra ShubhLabh Services has formed a 60:40 joint venture with Belgiumbased fresh produce firm Univeg, to offer high quality fruits in the domestic as well as global markets.

The JV aims at increasing productivity, improving price realization and setting up high quality supply chain for fresh produce, Mahindra & Mahindra Executive Director and President, Automotive and Farm Equipment Sectors, Pawan Goenka told reporters here.

"We consider this association has the right mix of market presence and farmer connects.

Mahindra's reach, together with our proven technical expertise across six continents and 32 distribution centers in Europe will be beneficial for all stakeholders," Univeg group Chairman and major shareholder Hein Deprez said.

The JV is eyeing Rs 50-75 crore revenue within 3-5 years and targeting 1 lakh tonne of fruits supply, Mahindra's agri & allied businesses chief executive Ashok Sharma said.

"The JV will enable both companies to leverage each other's

strengths thereby providing a win-win for farmers and end consumers alike," Goenka said.

Going forward, the two partners plan to strengthen the new busi-

accounts for only around 5 per cent or USD 1.5 billion.

There is no branded fruit sold in the country as of now and Saboro - the fresh fruit brand

Pawan Goenka (left), Mahindra & Mahindra Executive Director and President, Automotive and Farm Equipment Sectors along with Hein Deprez, Executive Chairman, UNIVEG Group, at a press conference in Mumbai on April 14

ness by further improving the fresh produce supply chain through various interventions and investments across the country, he said.

Goenka said the domestic fruits market currently stands at USD 30 billion of which organized players

launched by Mahindra group last November - is the first branded fruits vendor. The JV will sell fruits under the Saboro brand.

Mahindra will invest Rs 30 crore in the JV in building up supply chain, Goenka said.-PTI

Cost of fighting warming 'modest,' says UN panel BERLIN: The cost of keeping body assessing climate science, global warming in check is "rela- projected that shifting the entively modest," but only if the ergy system from fossil fuels to world acts quickly to reverse the zero- or low-carbon sources inbuildup of heat-trapping gases cluding wind and solar power in the atmosphere, the head of would reduce consumption the UN's expert panel on climate growth by about 0.06 percentchange said. age points per year, adding that Such gases, mainly CO2 from that did not take into account the burning of fossil fuels, rose the economic benefits of reon average by 2.2 per cent a year duced climate change. in 2000-2010, driven by the use "The loss in consumption is of coal in the power sector, officials said as they launched Without additional measures the Intergovernmental Panel of Cli- to contain emissions, global mate Change's re- temperatures will rise about port on measures to 3 degrees to 4 degrees fight global warmCelsius (5 degrees to 7 ing.

Without addi- degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100 tional measures to contain emissions, global temperatures will rise relatively modest," Pachauri about 3 degrees to 4 degrees said.

Celsius (5 degrees to 7 degrees The IPCC said the shift Fahrenheit) by 2100 compared to would entail a near-quadrupling current levels, the panel said. of low-carbon energy, which in "The longer we delay the higher the panel's projections included would be the cost," IPCC chair- renewable sources as well as man Rajendra Pachauri told The nuclear power and fossil fuelAssociated Press after the panel's fired plants equipped with techweeklong session in Berlin. nologies to capture some of the "But despite that, the point I'm emissions. making is that even now, the cost Coal emissions have declined is not something that's going to in the US as some power plants bring about a major disruption have switched to lower-priced of economic systems. It's well natural gas but they are fueling within our reach." economic growth in China and The IPCC, an international India. -AP

Research reports by Indians jump 146% MUMBAI: The soft-power of the globe, which was the preserve of the West for centuries, is fast shifting to the East as emerging nations led by India and China are enhancing their science, education and technology policies, says a research.

According to a study, the country has seen a whopping 146 per cent increase in its research output in the past decade alone, taking its global share to 3.6 per cent.

"Over the past decade, the country has increased its scientific research output by a whopping 146 per cent and now accounts for 3.6 per cent of the total world share of researches, increased of its world share by 1.1 percentage points from 2.5 per cent a decade," says a Thomson Reuters report.

According to the report, the country produced twice as many published research papers in 2012.

The study on the G20 nations compared the research and innovation landscape of each of the nations and has found that the US and European Union have dropped in science and innovation impact, while Australia, China, India, France and Britain have gained influence.

The study analyzed the citation patterns in scientific research papers and the patent portfolios of the G20 over a 10-year-period and has found that the emerging markets, notably China and India, have made strides in closing the research and innovation gap with the developed nations.

Patent activity in the country oscillated between 4,000 and 7,000 per annum since data became widely available in 2005. For 2008 to 2012, the country captured its greatest world share of papers in chemistry, some 6.3 per cent of the world total, says the study. -PTI

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Desi News Instant deposits to HDFC bank with Xoom service India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Xoom Corporation, a leading digital money transfer provider, has announced a partnership with HDFC Bank Limited by offering instant deposits to INR denominated HDFC Bank accounts in India.

This breakthrough service allows Xoom customers to instantly deposit money directly into their recipients' HDFC Bank accounts in India. The instant service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year - even on banking holidays.

Details on page 26

Jewelry Fashion Show at Spring Wedding Expo

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

Details on page 26

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SUDHIR VYAS

EDISON, NJ: Another Indian student, that too from Rutgers University. Another case of bias against Indian community. The same court drama but while

T

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Akash case: Justice delayed is justice denied

India Post News Service

he first of its type Indian Jewelry Fashion Show at India New England News' Spring Wedding Expo at Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA by Syna's Collection coincided with its first anniversary launch. It showcased varieties of dresses, outfits and pieces of jewelry with great color variants and styles.

Syna's Collection, a Designer Hub of the Indo-Fusion Costume Jewelry is headed by Ms. Twinkle Morbia Gautam.

Why is there no permanent happiness in this world?

Akash Dalal

Dharun Ravi was sentenced to 30 days of jail, another Indian student Akash Dalal, 19, has been held in solitary confinement for nearly two years without trial.

Is this a systematic campaign

by someone with high political connections to blame hard-working, sincere Indian students and ruin their academic life. Looking to the past two cases it seems to be so. It is getting clear that Akash is being victimized by the local Jewish majority.

Akash was arrested in March of 2012 for his alleged role in conducting and encouraging attacks on Jewish temples in Bergen County, along with his friend and co-defendant, Anthony M. Graziano. He was accused of having racial motivations in carrying out the attacks, and of instructing Graziano on the proper way to build Molotov cocktails - bottles of alcohol with lit rags stuffed into the opening - and other explosive devices.

Following his arrest, Akash was charged with aggravated arson, bias intimidation, conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, and two counts of criminal mischief. He has

been in jail since his arrest, awaiting trial.

His bail amount was initially set at $2.5 million, but was lowered by the judge to just $1 million.

Akash's parents were putting together the bail money when they were notified that the amount had been increased to a staggering $4

that he spends up to 21 hours a day in a cell no larger than 8 ft. by 6 ft. in dimensions The court's bias can be judged by the fact that while Akash was being kept in isolation with no contact from anyone, how would he be able tell or inform anyone that he was going to purchase a gun and kill some-

Akash was being kept in isolation with no contact from anyone, how would he be able tell or inform anyone that he was going to purchase a gun and kill someone and that too a person of the stature of a county assistant prosecutor? million, as the FBI uncovered new evidence that Akash was going to buy a gun and murder Bergen County assistant prosecutor Martin Delaney upon release.

During his incarceration, Akash has spent the majority of the time in solitary confinement, meaning

one and that too a person of the stature of a county assistant prosecutor? That was just a cooked up charge, the community strongly feels. His parents, Adarsh and Harsh Dalal, have persisted in trying to clear their son's name and get him out of prison, but to no avail.

Graziano confessed to prosecutors in July of 2012 that he did attempt to burn down a synagogue, but did not implicate Akash, saying that he learned how to build the arson devices by doing research online. He is facing over a dozen criminal charges, including attempted murder, and is also in jail.

Members of the Indian community led by well-known community leader Peter Kothari has been in the forefront to fight for Akash and ensure that he gets a fair trial and that the proceedings be shifted out of the present court where the Indian community is not sure that justice will be done to Akash. It is said that justice delayed is justice denied and that applies aptly in Akash Dalal case.

Akash's father has even said that his son's incarceration is being unfairly used for political purposes, and as an example to other would-be terrorists. It is unclear how many years of jail time Akash will face if convicted of his charges.

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Moneydart deals in foreign currency for no fee SURENDRA ULLAL & HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: With many fists to its credit, including a successful launch in Chicagoland with two facilities now, Moneydart is now set to expand its activities by taking up increasingly foreign exchange transactions.

Shehla Jamil, head of Chicago facility, said in a talk to this paper that her agency would deal with and exchange any foreign currency at the most "competitive and best possible rate and the client would get the highest possible rate for the purchase or selling of foreign currency held by him. One can bring any currency and we will offer the

best possible rate for its exchange," she said.

Moneydart, she said, would undertake this transaction without charging any fee and that it is a novel feature with the client's best interests in mind. "Others charge Shehla Jamil, Branch Manager of Moneydart in Chicago

a fee ranging from one per cent to 10 percent," she said.

Moneydart was no doubt was licensed to deal in foreign exchange but it was mostly concentrating on the money transfer business so far. It will continue to keep up the pace in this area and is expected to cover almost all the States in this country. "So far the company has been licensed to operate in 35 States. In Chicago it has two full fledged faculties - one in Schaumburg and the other in Chicago. And both are doing well meeting the highest level of expectations and confidence from its patrons," she said in an exclusive talk to this paper.

Shehla feels that the new thrust for exchange of foreign currencies at competitive and no fee basis would prove a big boon to the customers who otherwise would have to pay fee and still may not be sure about the exchange rate for their currencies.

It was Prabhakar Patel, now Assistant Vice President and Project Head for North America, who was instrumental in getting Moneydart in Chicago and putting it on track.

Moneydart has already tapped big hotels, tour operators and corporations for soliciting their business and the efforts, according to Ms Shehla, are quite rewarding and encouraging It was Prabhakar Patel, now Assistant Vice President and Project Head for North America, who was instrumental in getting Moneydart in Chicago and putting it on track. He has now climbed the managerial ladder and is now setting his sight on having Moneydart licensed in all States of USA. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration from M. S. University, Gujarat, India. He joined Moneydart as a Business Development Manager in 2007 and became Assistant Vice President (Midwest) in 2009 handling Chicago operations while ensuring state and federal regulatory compliance for the Midwest states of Texas and Georgia.

Prabhakar has effectively expanded the network and implemented various marketing initiatives to increase brand exposure in the region. Prior to joining Moneydart in the US, Prabhakar managed operations and finances of several hotels, real estates and coffee plantations in Kenya.

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Hari Om Mandir celebrates Devi Jagran Asian Media USA

Goddess Durga at Hari Om Mandir

CHICAGO: Hari Om Mandir celebrated Chaitra Navratre Devi Jagran on Tuesday April 5 with a large number of devotees attending nine-day festival observed in the month of Chaitra.

Asha Khanna from New York was in attendance and with her very emotive rendition of Maa ki Bhentein, many of the devotees kept dancing in front of Devi idol for special blessings. Several attendees came from afar to attend the Jagran C h a i t r a Navratri is one of the most important festivals of Hindus. Devotees worship Maa Shakti, Goddess of cosmic power during this time and wish to be bestowed by divine benediction. Fasting and praying mark the Navratri celebra-

Akash case: Justice delayed is justice denied Cont’d from page 16

The most important, and yet the most neglected aspect of the Akash Dalal case is the fact that the boy has no prior criminal history, and his charges - aggravated arson, bias intimidation, conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, and two counts of criminal were baseless and biased from all angles.

Peter Kothari who is trying to generate an awareness and bring the Indian community in support of Akash Dalal told this correspondent that, "Akash's plight is the result of a Jewish American majority in the Hackensack area of New Jersey. Because Jewish places were being attacked and Akash was "indirectly" involved, he is now paying the price for rampant racial prejudices that could cost him his shot at a promising future."

"This is totally controlled by Jewish community, that is the only possible reason for this," said Peter, adding, "Many other religions have been attacked but the government has not done anything, but a synagogue gets attacked by someone and now Akash gets ar-

rested without having any direct involvement with the crime. It is time for our community to stand up to such injustice and judicial bias."

While Peter refused to speculate on the motivation of the court and could not speak about any details regarding the trial, he said

The trial was originally set to begin in September of last year, but was then delayed to December, and again to this January and given the case history, there's still no guarantee anything will really happen. that he was pushing ahead noholds-barred to make sure Akash gets a fair trial and that his case is heard justly in court. "Our aim is to get him out of jail and not be biased about it," said Kothari, adding that "if Akash is guilty, then let them prove him guilty, but just

not starting the trial is injustice in itself."

Peter said he and Akash's family are most upset about the constantly changing court dates to commence the trial. The trial was originally set to begin in September of last year, but was then delayed to December, and again to this January and given the case history, there's still no guarantee anything will really happen.

Akash's attorney, Brian Neary, requested the court to have the case moved to another jurisdiction, saying that because his client was facing charges for conspiring to murder a prosecutor in Bergen County, along with Judges Patrick Roma and Liliana DeAvila-Silebi, the court must recuse itself of the case and pass it on to another county.

Judge Edward Jerejian, however, blocked the motion, saying that threatening judges and lawyers just to get them off of a case is not permissible by law. Jerejian also denied requests by Neary to dismiss the indictments Akash is facing because the prosecutors who presented them in front of the grand jury may have made several mistakes.

tions. On the eighth and ninth day, Yagna (sacrifice offered to the fire) is performed to honor Durga Mata and bid her farewell. On these days Kanya Puja is performed.

Maa ke Bhagat Subhash Sharma was recognized with

Gopal Tiwari; Treasurer, Rajeshwari Rawat; Special Events, Sham Taxali; Inside Property Management, Ramesh Bhardwaj; Outside Property Management, Jeetu Patel; Publication, Usha Verma; Food & Prasad. Priests: Shastri

Children devotees during Devi Jagran event

Dhyanu Bhagat award for his continuous service for past twenty years (1994-2014) at Hari Om Mandir Jagrans. Subhash Sharma and his wife Kiran Sharma was also honored with Mata Ki Chunni

by Suchitra Sarkar, Prem Salwan and Nirmal Bagga.

Shastri Yogesh Pandya and Pt. Dinesh Kumar worked hard for decorating the temple beautifully for this occasion.

Following are members of the Executive Board: Indrajit Sarkar; President, Anil Saxena; Vice President, Sneh Chaudhary; Secretary,

Yogesh Pandya & Pt. Dinesh Kumar Hari Om Mandir located at DuPage County, has statues of all major North Indian gods & goddesses. Every Sunday there is a Havan and general congregation followed by Aarti and Bhojan Prasad. On every first Saturday of the month there is Devi Jagran from 7-10pm. Every Monday there is Shiv Puja and every Tuesday Hanuman Challisa Path is rendered. There are two learned priests available in the temple for Poojas, Havan, Kathas etc in the temple and at home.

Asha Khanna of NY rendering Maa Ki Bhentein

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Maharudra Yajna at Grayslake Hindu Temple HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: The Hindu Mandir of Lake County has announced hosting Sri Maha Rudra Yajna from Friday May 2 to Sunday May 4 at its facility in Grayslake, a north side suburb of Chicago.

This event is being held in Chicagoland after about five years and offers a rare opportunity for everyone to participate in a

can be done with or without the accompaniment of a Yajna ritual.

When accompanied with the Vedic fire ritual, it is called the Rudra Yajna.

The Yajna at the temple will commence on Friday, May 2 with Yajaman Sankalp and Laitha Sahastranamam from 5 pm and end with Maha Arati at 9 pm. The Sat-

Sri Rudram is a Sanskrit hymn in praise of Lord Shiva and is the oldest known prayer with a listing of various names of Lord Shiva.

Through the chanting of Sri Rudram, Lord Shiva's various attributes are invoked unique, and for many, a once in a life time event.

Sri Rudram is a Sanskrit hymn in praise of Lord Shiva and is the oldest known prayer with a listing of various names of Lord Shiva.

Through the chanting of Sri Rudram, Lord Shiva's various attributes are invoked and worshipped. The Rudram chanting

urday May 3 event will commence early in the morning with Sankalp for all Homam sponsors and will be followed by Mahanyasm, Kumbha Puja, Noon Arati and Mahaprasadam In the afternoon, there will be Veda chanting, lecture on Sandhyavandanm, Thevram recital, Bhajans, Krama Archana and

Maha Arati followed by of the repeated use of the words Mahaprasadam at 9pm.

"Chame".

There is a crowded program chalked out for Sunday May 4 starting from 5 am in the morning followed

by Surya Namaskaram Sanakalpam for Homam sponsors, Kalas Yatra, Abhishekam to Lord Shiva, Maha Arati and Maha Prasadam, Ashirvadham for devotees by 12-30 pm.

The afternoon event will be Shiva Parvathy Kalyanam at 3 pm.

Sri Rudram comprises Namakam and Chamakam and is a part of the Yajur Veda.

The first part, Chapter Rudra Abhishekam at the Temple 16 of the Yajur Veda, is known as Namakam because of the repeated use of the Lord Shiva is the very source word "Namo" in it. The second of cosmic energy for the entire crepart, Chapter 18 of the Yajur Veda, ation. He is the conqueror of is known as Chamakam because death and an embodiment of infi-

nite compassion and love. We owe our existence to his divinity and have to pray and worship him constantly, with gratitude and humility, for the welfare of all mankind.

Sri Maha Rudra Yajna is one of the highest forms of community worship, with the involvement of 121 Ritwiks reciting the Sri Rudra Prasna 11 times in one day followed by 133 recitations by priests the following day for the purpose of the Rudra Homam.

The Rudra Yajna is the most sacred and powerful among all the Maha Yajnas encompassing two Nishkama Karmas, namely, Deva Yajna (worship of Shiva and other divine beings), and Manushya Yajna (performed with large number of devotees who partake in prasadam or grace of the Lord).

The Mandir management has urged devotees to participate by sponsoring the Sri Maha Rudra Yajnam and derive huge spiritual benefits. Options range from donating for individual poojas and homams to the entire three day event.

Navaratri culminates with Ram Janma celebrations GEETHA PATIL

CHICAGO: Hindu Temple of Lake County hosed a nine day celebration of Vasant Navaratri from Monday, March 31 culminating with Ram Navami on Tuesday April 8 with lot of spiritual fervor, attracting hundreds of devotees to the temple.

The first day began with Ganesh Pujan and Devi Kalasha Sthapan along with Nava Parayana Ramacharita Manas Path with full devotion and dedication.

Every day Ramacharita Manas and Devi Path were performed by Pt. Anil Joshi with special Archana

Mata Ka Annapurna Alankar

Vasant Navarati Ram Utsav

and Mangalarati. On this first day of the Hindu New Year, Panditji gave blessings to all the devotees for their happy, healthy and prosperous future.

On April 5, Mata Ki Chowki was organized by Anu Gupta and attended by more than 300 devotees. For this occasion, Annapurna Alankaram (fresh fruits and vegetables) was planned which turned out to be a great attraction for Devi devotees. On April 7, Ashthami Kanya Pujan was performed by more than 250 devotees for almost 100 Devi Kanyas. All the devotees cleaned Kanyas' Charan, offered Tilak and gave plentiful gifts to all of them with devotion and religious zeal.

On the morning of April 8, Ramacharita Manas Path Purti was accomplished with great joy and Shree Rama Stuti, Avatar Stuti, and

Avatar (Janma) Chandha were chanted by Panditji along with more than 100 devotees. By noon, Shri Ram Janma was rejoiced with Abhishekam, Archana by chanting Shree Ram Shatanamavali. Exquisitely decorated, Baby Shri Ram was placed in Palana (Jhula).

In the evening, Shree Ram Janma Ustav was started with

unique Abhishekam for Shree Ganesha and Ram Lalla with Vedic Mantras and Strotas. Central attraction of the event was the entry of Raja Dasarath (Deep Kharya) and Kaushalya (Mohana Kharya) with their new born baby (Pranshu) as Shri Ram Lalla. They were welcomed with Mangal Kalash, Shank and Bell Nada and Mangalarati.

All devotees were chanting "Jai Shree Ram, Avadha mein Ananda Bhayo Jai Raghuvar Lal Ki" in chorus and enjoyed this moment with dancing. Janma Utsav badhayi and bhents were given to all children to enjoy. Ram Stuti sung by Sudha and Sudarshan Gaddam filled the shrine with religious atmosphere.

Melodious Bhakti songs were sung by Rita Patel, Atul Soni, Sangeetha Singh, Vishvanathan, and Kamalesh Desai. Before

Ram Janma celebration

Kanya Pujan

Mahamagalarati Pt. Joshi gave an enlightening speech on the significance of Shri Ram Janma Utsav.

"Shri Ram's philosophy of life provides guidance to us to lead our life with pride and dignity by executing our responsibilities towards family, county and world," he said.

Dr Harsh Kumar gave vote of thanks to more than 350 devotees who participated in the Utsav with all the enthusiasm in spite of it being a week day. Special mouthwatering Mahaprasadam prepared by temple kitchen team was served to all devotees.

April 18, 2014

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Hindi Lovers host Rekha Surya Concert SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Hindi Lovers Club of Illinois (HLC) hosted a musical concert featuring renowned Indian singer Rekha Surya on Sunday,

Vandana Jhingan, member executive team, Ashyana Banquet Owner S Jain and Hindi Lovers Club President Vinita Gulbani

Rekha Surya (center) flanked by Gurbachan Kaur and Vinita Gulbani

April 6 at Ashyana Banquets at its very beautiful ambience in Downers Grove, a south side suburb of Chicago.

Rekha Surya is one of the few practitioners of the Lucknow Gharana of North Indian music and she has preserved the legacy

of her legendary guru Begum Akhtar by propagating this art at prestigious concert and lecture venues in India and abroad. The infusion of spirituality into an essentially romantic genre is a unique part of her repertoire.

Cont’d on page 23

Berkeley Theological Union launches Hindu studies India Post News Service

BERKELEY: Members of Indian community at large have applauded plans to establish a program of Hindu studies at prest i g i o u s Graduate Theological U n i o n (GTU) at Berkeley in California.

We l coming this move, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said "We could learn from one another and thus arrive nearer to the truth.

As dialogue brought us reciprocal enrichment, we would be spiritually richer than before the con-

tact.

The first two courses in Hinduism at GTU will be offered in the fall semester, which will include sacred texts of Hinduism, and there is a goal to establish a Center for Dharma Studies within GTU. GTU, the largest Ph.D. program in religious studies in North America, includes nine seminaries and a variety of centers and affiliates. It enrolls about 1,300 graduate students representing 20 countries from around the world and its library has over 440,000 volumes. Riess Potterveld and Arthur Holder are Acting President and Dean respectively.

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India Night highlights college memories

Grand Finale with over 250 participants Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Close to 1000 attendees, 250 participants, 17 board members enjoyed one of its type fantastic shows on Saturday, April 5, hosted by the Indian Student Association (ISA) at UIC Chicago

ate South Asian show featured a variety of acts to showcase the diversity of India. The show was centered on the importance of living each and every moment of college to its fullest. The emcees, Parth Shah, Jay Patel, and Xavier Thyvelikakath, took the audience

ing the victim of a car accident. As the show progresses, Jay and Xavier attempt to remind Parth of all the good times before graduation.

To relive the college experience, this was the first year that India Night displayed all four class

Taal performance

ISA Emcees (left to right): Jay Patel, Parth Shah, and Xavier

titled India Night 2014: Kollege Life Na Milegi Dobara (You Only Live College Once).

Chicago's largest undergradu-

on a journey through four years of college memories. Four weeks before graduation, Parth loses all his memories of college after be-

dances. Mesmerizing the audience, the highlight of India Night 2014 was Ministry of Dhazaara, (MOD) a group of men from vari-

ISA students

ous nationally competitive Chicago dance groups. They left a lasting impression and made one last great college memory. The show was closed by UIC Dangeraas, that was first placed at Dandia Dhamaka and is headed to Raas Nationals. Every dance group performed their finest on the stage, decorated by Elegance Decor, leaving the audience with a truly jaw-dropping experience.

ISA at UIC thanked everyone for making India Night 2014 a success. The UIC's chapter of Aahana, an organization that supports the education of disabled children and impoverished

women, was able to make $1000 from donations during the show.

ISA Board at UIC: Ami Shishodia-President; Parth ShahVice President; Nikesh Shah-Treasurer; Krishna Modi-Secretary; Monika Sharma-Cultural Chair; Axita Patel-Cultural Chair; Sonya Patel-Cultural Chair; Jay Patel-Social Chair; Neema Patel-Social Chair; Shivam Thakkar-Public Relations; Selwyn Varghese-Publicity Chair; Shivani Patel-Philanthropy Chair; Upesh DesaiWebmaster; Punit Soni-Design Chair; Viveka Patel-Freshman Rep; Aayush Shah-Freshman Rep; Parth Patel-Freshman Rep.

April 18, 2014

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Look out for 24-hr grand Veena concert SURENDRA ULLAL

Veena recitals program from SANA (file photos)

CHICAGO: This year the Veena Festival of North America themed "Ekaaham: Sounds of Infinity" has taken on the onerous task of raining the sounds of Veena in the Chicagoland area for 24 hours.

The recital is the outcome of huge planning by Shriram Sonty and Saradapurna Sonty of Sri Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA) - their tireless service of 25 years and counting, in the promotion of Veena and Indian classical music in USA.

The Veena festival will be held at The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont, IL on May 10 and May 11. This is the first time North America will witness the incessant outpouring of Veena strains without a break for all of 24 hours!

Conducted for the sixth year in a row by Shri Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA), a variety of thematic presentations have been planned by artists from India and USA.

Hindi Lovers host Rekha Surya Concert Neelam, Chairman & Founder of Hindi Lovers Club. Nand and The event was very well-at- Sudaksha Kapoor were also hontended by audiences that truly en- ored as senior members of the orjoyed the musical evening. ganization. Rohit Acharya had the The program started with beau- honor of reciting a prayer for peace tiful classic Bollywood melodies with the attendees of the event. sung by local Chicago artist, Vinita invited and introduced all Srinivas while people found their the Guests of Honor on stage and comfortable seats for the evening. kept the audience amused with her The show officially opened with shayari. She thanked them and the some welcoming words by board of Hindi Lovers Club for Vandana Jhingan, an Advisory their support and contributions.

Board member of the Club. Padmini Rekhaji sang in her deep and beautiful voice for two hours accompanied by Kamlesh Desai on KeyRekhaji sang in her deep board and Tabla master and beautiful voice for two Mumtaj Ali and DJ Nilesh, giving the audihours accompanied by ence a time to rememKamlesh Desai on Keyber. She sang Ghazals board and Tabla master and Thumri in the traditional style of Mumtaj Ali and DJ Nilesh, Lucknow Gharana and giving the audience a time Sufi poetry in her light classical style. Her to remember. voice took the audience an era back and she Rao and Raju Bunkapur, highly captivated the hearts right from her talented artists from Chicago, were opening act of a thumri style song called upon the stage and they did on Holi. She presently lives in New a great job at mesmerizing the au- Delhi, India. diences with their amazing choice The event also featured waterof old melodious songs. ing snacks and refreshments to Vinita Gulabani, President of stomach filling dinner delicacies. the Club greeted the guests and It was a complete evening of culsponsors with beautiful couplets. ture and traditions filled with great She welcomed Gurbachan Kaur people.

Cont’d from page 21

The Veena festival will be held at The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont, IL on May 10 and May 11. This is the first time North America will witness the incessant outpouring of Veena strains without a break

Some of the highlights include "Vallaki Vilaasam", a unique menagerie of Veenas i.e., Saptatantri Veenas (Sitar, Surbahar), Saraswathi Veena, Chaturtantri Veena (Guitar), Shatatantri Veena (Santoor) and Rudra Veena, conceived and directed by Chicago Veena artiste Saraswathi Ranganathan.

Among the artistes invited from India will be Dr Emani Kalyani, daughter of the celebrated Veena artiste Emani Shankara Shastry. Other highly accomplished artistes from

Chicagoland - Rajeswari Pariti, Jaishree Prasad and Rama Gurupalli - will be presenting 'Raaga Darshanam'. Student showcases and professional performances are expected to bring in over 80 Veenas from all over USA. Veena is an ancient timeless stringed instrument from Southern India akin to the lute known for its bass mellow meditative tone. In the recent past, there has been a concerted effort from SAPNA, Chicago, to preserve this pristine art form in all its glory.

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Novelist Amitav Ghosh lectures at Northwestern cated and increasingly influential. The visit will be an opportunity to increase ties and EVANSTON: Renowned Indian novelist cultural cooperation between the Indian comAmitav Ghosh is visiting Northwestern Uni- munity in Chicago and Northwestern Univerversity for two weeks from April 14 to teach sity as well as the Art Institute of Chicago.

Internationally celebrated, award-winning undergraduate and graduate/faculty seminars and to give two public lectures on writ- Ghosh has written seven novels and two ing about polyglot societies and traveling volumes of non-fiction. His works have been translated into more than the opium route in Asia.

20 languages. He is perThe visit is sponsored haps best known for the by the Center for Global Internationally first two volumes of his Culture and Communica- celebrated, awardwork, the Ibis trilogy: "Sea tion and the Sinha Kikeri of Poppies" and "River of Foundation in association winning Ghosh has Smoke." The first of these with the Art Institute of written seven novels volumes was nominated Chicago and various deand two volumes of for the prestigious Man partments and schools at non-fiction. His Booker Prize in 2008.

Northwestern.

"This is an extraordiThey include The works have been nary opportunity for Graduate School, the DeNorthwestern and for the partment of Communica- translated into more Indian and South Asian tion Studies, The Center for than 20 languages. community in Chicago the Writing Arts, The and others," said Dilip Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Departments of English and of Gaonkar, professor of communication at the Asian Languages and Cultures, the Asian School of Communication and director of Studies Program and the Roberta Buffett Cen- the Center for Global Culture and Commuter for International and Comparative Studies. nication at Northwestern.

"Amitav Ghosh is a world-renowned auThe Ghosh visit has been made possible through a significant amount in donations thor, lecturer and teacher, and he is truly a from the Chicago area Indian immigrant com- poster child for transnational knowledge," munity which is numerically large, highly edu- Gaonkar added.

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April 18, 2014

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Local group works to create Jewelry Fashion Show at Spring Wedding Expo supportive housing SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: A northwest suburban group called the Housing Task Force is working to create permanent supportive housing (PSH) for people with mental illness and other disabilities.

The main thrust in a PSH de-

lease. Rents are subsidized by the local housing authority, so they are affordable.

The Task Force is an all-volunteer non-profit organization. It works with private developers and social service providers to create

From (L-R) Lady visitor from Housing Task, Brady Hugh with Thakar S Basati.

A table was set at Palatine Gurdwara Sahib on Sunday March 30 to spread awareness about the project

velopment is that each resident will have his or her own apartment, complete with kitchen and bathroom, and a lease. Residents can live at a PSH building as long as they wish, provided they pay their rent and abide by the terms of the

PSH. Its role is to help build public awareness and support for PSH buildings.

The Task Force is currently working on PhilHaven, a similar project in Wheeling. It has been approved by the village and is now

awaiting funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

It is working on another project, Catherine Alice Gardens in Palatine. The group is circulating petitions to show the Palatine Village Council that the project has wide public support.

Supportive services, such as social work and case management are provided on-site by a local community mental health center or medical center. PSH has proven over the years to be remarkably effective in helping people with disabilities on their journeys toward recovery. PSH is also very cost-effective, costing much less that other alternatives such as nursing homes or homeless shelters.

Last June, the Task Force's partners opened Myers Place, a 39 unit PSH building in Mt. Prospect. Onsite support services are provided by the Kenneth Young Center, the community mental health and senior center for Elk Grove and Schaumburg Townships.

Hindu invocation opens Newman City Council India Post News Service

NEWMAN: Newman City Council in California (USA), which celebrated 125th Anniversary in 2013, had its first historic Hindu invocation on April 8, containing

of the prayer.

Zed recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He started and

Just before the Newman City Council Hindu invocation, from left to right, are Councilmember Nicholas Candea, Mayor Pro Tem Robert Martina, Hindu leader Rajan Zed, Mayor Ed Katen and Councilmember Roberta Davis

verses from world's oldest existing scripture.

President of Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan Zed delivered the opening prayer from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the City Council. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation

ended the prayer with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, Rajan Zed said, "Asato ma sad gamaya,

Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya", which he then translated as "Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from darkness to Light, and Lead me from death to Immortality." Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged councilmembers to keep the welfare of others always in mind.

Councilmembers, city employees and public were seen standing in prayer mode with their heads bowed down during this invocation.

Zed sprinkled few drops of water from river Ganga of India, considered holy by Hindus, around the podium before the prayer. Zed presented a copy of BhagavadGita to Mayor Ed Katen, who introduced and thanked Zed. "It is a historic moment of pride for the community when the prayers from ancient Sanskrit scriptures are being read in this great hall of democracy of this great city of Newman", Zed stated before starting the invocation.

Newman, whose tagline is "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Building for the Future", is known for its annual Fall Festival. Robert Martina and Michael E. Holland are Mayor Pro Tem and City Manager respectively.

India Post News Service

T

he first of its type Indian Jewelry Fashion Show at India New England News' Spring Wedding Expo at Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA by Syna's Collection coincided with its first anniversary launch. It showcased varieties of dresses, outfits a n d pieces of jewelry with great color variants and styles.

Syna's Collection, a Designer Hub of the Indo-Fusion Costume Jewelry is headed by Ms. Twinkle Morbia Gautam. It caters to clients from Singapore, China, New Zealand, Canada and India. In addition to the US clientele it is in fact, Mumbai, India where their high-

est number of clients is located.

Ms Twinkle says, "My Collection boasts a diverse and attention-grabbing repertoire. With endless color combinations, a variety of precious gems and intriguing styles, each piece is a one-ofa-kind addition to any outfit. " Beautiful models including Ms Jharna Madan, Mrs. India Inter-

national Nashua 2012, walked gracefully showcasing its exquisite jewelry. The show was supported by diligent and talented backstage artists. "Team Work" is what Ms. Morbia-Gautam gave credit to for the show's success.

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Why is there no permanent happiness in this world?

I

n today's world we find ourselves occupied with the pressures of work, family, ambition and recognition. There is a constant struggle to achieve more and move forward in the hope of a happier life, but amidst this blinding race some of us stop and ask ourselves the purpose of this struggle. We vehemently seek answers for why things happen the way they do and it is this search for true knowledge that leads us to different sources.

But the true source of knowledge is one that stands the test of eternal time and provides perfect answers, not merely to satiate the material senses but also our inner selves. Perfect knowledge is that which gives everlasting joy and contentment to its receivers and expounds the true position of every human being.

The ancient Indian scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita etc are reservoirs of this absolute knowledge and Swami Mukundananda uses perfect logic to explain their philosophy and extract's the essence of Divine Love from them. He also quotes from other great religions to satisfy even the most discerning knowledge seekers.

SWAMI MUKUNDANANDA

While conducting spiritual programs around the world Swamiji realized that people are anxiously

Swami Mukundananda

searching for answers to remove their inner doubts regarding life, duty, philosophy and the scriptures. And primarily these questions follow a repetitive pattern, i.e. the basic doubts are often similar. For the benefit of aspirants we will be presenting spiritual knowledge by Swamiji in the form of a series of simple questions and answers which will help dispel doubts and myths in anyone's mind.

In today's article we have a collection of questions that aspirants commonly ask on 'how to deal with the world'.

Why is there no permanent happiness in this world?

Answer: Every living being is incessantly searching for happiness. This search is natural to our being, since we are eternal parts of God, Who is the ocean of Divine Bliss. It is not that Krishna contains happiness and they are separate, He is happiness himself.

Therefore our search for happiness is unknowingly the search for God. Upon attaining Him alone can the soul experience the unlimited Divine Bliss that it is hankering for.

But we souls are searching for happiness in this material realm, which is not

Instant deposits to HDFC bank with Xoom service India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Xoom Corporation, a leading digital money transfer provider, has announced a partnership with HDFC Bank Limited by offering instant deposits to INR denominated HDFC Bank accounts in India. This breakthrough service allows Xoom customers to instantly deposit money directly into their recipients' HDFC Bank accounts in India. The instant service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year - even on banking holidays.

"Unlike other transfer services to India which typically take five days or more, Xoom is relentlessly working towards providing 'instant' for all of our services, and we are excited to launch instant deposits to HDFC Bank," said

Julian King, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development for Xoom. "This is great news for people who send money to HDFC Bank accounts.

Now NRIs can send money anytime, anywhere from their computer, mobile phone or tablet and

their bank deposits reach their recipients' HDFC Bank account instantly."

"At HDFC Bank, we are consistently looking at new ways in which we can make a difference in the lives of our customers.

Through this tie-up with Xoom we will be able to provide this breakthrough service of instant depos-

its," says Rajender Sehgal, Group Head, Financial Institutions Group, HDFC Bank. "We look forward to bringing a whole new world of convenience and flexibility to our account holders, allowing them to receive money from the US in a secure manner, at any time of the day or night.

Xoom provides great locked-in exchange rates for money transfers to India, and there is no fee when customers send more than $1,000 and pay with their U.S.-based bank account. Plus, Xoom continues to provide fast bank deposits within four hours to all other banks in India, including to NRE and NRO accounts, when sent during bank processing hours in India. Customers can also download the Xoom App for Android and iOS mobile devices for free.

possible. Shri Kripaluji Maharaj says that there are three conditions for true happiness; it should never go away, it should be unlimited in nature and only grow with time. But as we see for ourselves, the happiness we experience in this world is transitory.

A person who buys a motor bike feels elated with his new possession but is disheartened again to see a wealthier person with a car.

Therefore till the time we do not realize God and attain divine love our futile search for true happiness in this material things will continue.

My mind is constantly revolting while accepting that there is no happiness in material things. Is it OK to go through these experi-

material energy Maya, and so the three modes exist in our minds as well. Depending on the environment and where we focus our thoughts, one of the guna becomes prominent and our mind takes on the quality.

Our mind constantly oscillates between the three and when two people with divergent gunas meet it causes strife. Congruence can happen only when two people have same gunas but it is unreasonable to expect that they will match constantly.

The reason for our anxiety is that we expect everyone to think in the same manner as we do. And when this does not happen we get disturbed. Instead if we would re-

The reason for our anxiety is that we expect everyone to think in the same manner as we do. And when this does not happen we get disturbed. Instead if we would realize that people will naturally have differing views due to the modes of material nature, we will not be disturbed. ences and then conclude that there is no happiness, otherwise how will we know there is no happiness in it?

Answer: If you adopt the modus operandi of experiencing everything first before deciding that there is no happiness in it, your whole life will pass in this endeavor given that there are innumerable things in this world.

For example to decide that there is no happiness in consuming alcohol, is there a formula regarding how long will you consume alcohol before concluding so? As human beings God has bestowed us with the most developed subtle intellect among all living organisms, which can help us in making decisions even without experience. Merely by intellectual discrimination, without seeing or experiencing, humans are expected to reach a conclusion that there is no happiness in the world.

I am easily hurt if people insensitively criticize me, the way people behave with me deeply affects my mood. How can I insulate myself from reacting to other people's negative behavior with me?

Answer: The solution is to develop a better understanding of the world based on scriptural knowledge. The Vedas say that this material energy, Maya, consists of three gunas (modes of material nature): sattva guna (the mode of goodness), rajo guna (the mode of passion) and tamo guna (mode of ignorance).

Everyone's mind is made from

alize that people will naturally have differing views due to the modes of material nature, we will not be disturbed.

So by increasing our understanding of the world, we can insulate ourselves from the fluctuating moods of others.

Why should we love God instead of our parents, spouses, children and other relations? If God sits in everyone's hearts then why can I not simply love them?

Answer: It is important to first understand that we are the soul and not this body and hence our eternal relation with God. These worldly relations are temporary and will cease to exist the day we die. We have had innumerable such relations in our past lives but we don't remember them. But God is eternally situated in our hearts and does not leave us even for a minute. He is our eternal Father, Mother, Friend and Master and that is why scriptures tell us to love Him and develop our eternal relation with Him. Swami Mukundananda is a world renowned spiritual teacher from India, and is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and founder of JK Yog. He has received his degrees in engineering from world renowned institutes in India, IIT and IIM. He has inspired people all over the world on the path of spirituality, holistic health, yoga, meditation, service to society and God realization.

For details: www.jkyog.org

April 18, 2014

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India Post 27

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Offo: 2 States 2 Baby Doll: Ragini MMS 2 3 Locha-E-Ulfat: 2 States 4 Chaar Botal Vodka: 2 States 5 London Thumakda: Queen 6 Mast Magan: 2 States 28 India Post

April 18, 2014

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7 Party Toh Banti Hai: Bhootnath Returns 8 Tu Hi Hai Aashiqui: Dishkiyaaon 9 Palat (Tera Hero Idhar Hai): Main Tera Hero 10 Dard Dilo Ke: The Xpose

B

efore you speculate on the reasons that prompted the guards to break into Irrfan's room in Hawaii, rest assured all is well with him.

The actor, who is currently in Hawaii to shoot for the Hollywood film Jurassic World, was so jet-lagged by the 27-hour flight that he slept well past the wake-up call the morning after he reached there.

Though he was supposed to go for a routine check-up at 7 am

O

for medical insurance etc, he overslept, oblivious to the attempts to contact him.

"The security guards eventually broke into my room, only to find me asleep. I wonder if they felt I had committed suicide," says the actor, with a wry sense of humor.

This is not the first time the actor has been exhausted due to jet-lag. "I was once late for an international film festival because of this," he recalls.

nce again, Virat Kohli has landed up on Anushka Sharma's film sets, and this time, he didn't try to evade photographers or keep it clandestine. Virat stepped out of the Jodhpur airport, and headed to the hotel of Anushka. Anushka later left for Khejrala, to the sets of the film NH10, the shooting of which has brought Anushka to Jodhpur. Virat also left for Khejrala around afternoon.

Though both have been regularly denying seeing each other, it definitely doesn't seem to be a coincidence that both Virat and Anushka had to head to a small village called Khejarla, near Jodhpur, at the same time! Well, what better way to forget the T20 International World Cup defeat that in the company of ladylove, against the romantic and historic backdrop of Jodhpur?

Anushka debuts as a producer with this film that is based on a journey on the National Highway 10 that runs between New Delhi and Fazilka, near Indo-Pak border in Punjab. It is being directed by Manorama Six Feet Under director, Navdeep Singh.

April 18, 2014

Bollywood

India Post 29

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T

he first look of 'Ek Villain' shows Shraddha Kapoor riding a bike and the male lead, Siddharth Malhotra on her back seat. While shooting for Ekta Kapoor's 'Ek Villain' in Film City, Shraddha lost her control and hurt herself.

Though the 'Aashiqui' actress took lesson on driving, she was not prepared enough for the role and failed to control the heavy weight machine. While Siddharth Malhotra raced her on a bullet, she lost control when she tried to speed up and ended up sprawling on the road.

"She accelerated a bit too much, skidding instantly. She fell off and everybody panicked. She was shaken and had also bruised her knees and elbows" An eye-witness revealed, "It was an important scene.

Shraddha started off confidently, but the scene involved her overtaking Sidharth's bike. She accelerated a bit too much, skidding instantly. She fell off and everybody panicked. She was shaken and had also bruised her knees and elbows," the source added.

Fortunately, the actress was wearing a helmet at the time and so any serious injury was avoided. "The shoot was stalled for an hour. After she regained her composure, and the scene was finally canned by director Mohit Suri."

T

he 'Student of the Year' actress Alia Bhatt has justified her kissing scene in '2 States'. "This film (2 States) starts where most rom-coms end, it starts with the couple already being in relationship and wanting to get married. So to justify the fact that they are together for a while... There is intimacy between them. They are modern, forward thinking and at the same time very cultured and cater to conservative family. You see it (kissing) for three seconds in the trailer and that is how it is in the film," Alia said.

"There is awkwardness. I feel it is acting at the end of the day... He is playing Krish and I am playing Anaya we are not Arjun and Alia when we are doing that scene. This film is not about just that one kiss, the only reason it is written about is because Arjun and I said it is ok (to have it)," she said.

"People don`t look down upon it any more if done tastefully then the audience will be put off. It is a U/A film, it is a family film and we want family to come and enjoy the film," she said.

T

he 'Ishaqzaade' actor Arjun Kapoor reveals his love story with Salman Khan's sister Arpita Khan. Lots might have been said and written about his love relationship with Alia Bhatt but he confessed that his "first and only serious relationship so far" was with Arpita Khan, Salman's little sister. He said that he dated Arpita when he was very young and it lasted for only two years.

Arjun said that he was 18 then and was scared and nervous about telling the star about the relationship, "I was scared of Salman bhai and went and told him and the entire

family as I wanted them to know from me first. They were very kind about it. Salman was taken aback, but he respects people and relationships. In fact, he was partial in that relationship where he would always take my side."

Even after breaking up with Arpita, Arjun and Salman Khan were in good relationship. "I would hang out with him. He was my friend, my father-figure, older brother, everything at that point. He was an older brother I never had and he made me realize how important it is to have an older brother."

30 India Post

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April 18, 2014

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„ Health

Line

Gingrich blasts `ideologues' behind health law MANCHESTER: Newt Gingrich isn't holding back in his criticism of the Cabinet secretary and others behind the troubled rollout of the health care law.

The former House speaker and Republican presidential candidate says Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and other Democrats are ``nut-cake ideologues'' and less than competent.

Gingrich is among the prominent Republicans appearing at a gathering of conservatives in New Hampshire.

Gingrich and other speakers attacked the health law - and a central piece of the GOP's strategy heading into the fall elections.

Sebelius recently left the Obama administration.

The White House says 7.5 million people signed up for coverage under the health overhaul despite the glitches. -AP

„ Doctors take pledge to promote organ donation NEW DELHI: With a view to promoting cadaver transplant, over hundred undergraduate students of All India Institute of Medical Sciences have taken a pledge to meet the demand for organ donation.

According to the doctors, every year more than 1,00,000 patients in the country suffer from end-stage renal disease out of which only 4,000 are able to receive a donor kidney.

Cadaver transplant is an organ transplant from a brain-dead person.

"The idea is to spread awareness about the need to donate organs to bridge the gap between the demand and supply.

Doctors should practice what they preach to motivate people to come forward and take pledge to donate their organs," said Rajeev Makhuri, senior organ transplant coordinator Organ Retrieval Banking Organization (ORBO).

The student doctors took this pledge at the annual cultural festival of the institute called "Infest". The program was initiated

by AIIMS Director M C Mishra, who explained the importance of organ and blood donation during the festival. Organ donation is a novel job as it benefits the medical field, he had said.

Many patients lose their lives just because they do not get organs to replace their failed organs, said Makhuri. -PTI

Health Science

Know your baby's health before it is conceived!

Details on Page 35

32 India Post

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April 18, 2014

'Obamacare' under attack as conservatives eye 2016 MANCHESTER: Republicans and Wall Street.'' eyeing the 2016 White House race Neither Paul nor Cruz defended battered President Barack the sweeping budget plan Obama's health care law and authored by another potential nicked each other, auditioning presidential contender, Rep. Paul before a high-profile gathering of Ryan. The budget, approved by conservatives that some political the Republican-led House of Repveterans said marked the campaign's unofficial The summit comes as start.

Some of the party's prospective presidenpotential presidential candidates weighed in on tial candidates begin to the House Republicans' step up appearances controversial budget, in key states ahead of the party's struggle to gain support among His- the 2016 presidential panics, the Republican contest, even though Party's future and the up- New Hampshire's influcoming midterm elections as they took turns ential first-in-the-nation on a conference room presidential primary stage facing hundreds of isn't planned for anconservative activists gathered in New other two years.

Hampshire's largest city.

The summit comes as prospec- resentatives in recent days, transtive presidential candidates begin forms entitlement programs such to step up appearances in key as Medicare and Medicaid - which states ahead of the 2016 presiden- provide health care coverage to tial contest, even though New the elderly and poor - to help reHampshire's influential first-in-the- duce federal spending. nation presidential primary isn't Former Arkansas Gov. Mike planned for another two years. ``It's the unofficial kickoff of the 2016 process,'' said Republican operative Mike Biundo, who managed former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's last presidential campaign.

The Republican Party's nearuniversal opposition to the WASHINGTON: Democratic President's health care law domiRep. Ami Bera has been making a nated the conversation just a day habit lately of bucking his own after Secretary of Health and HuPresident and voting with the Reman Services Kathleen Sebelius publican majority in the House as it resigned after leading the rocky moves to amend or overturn parts rollout of the program derided as of the national health care law. ``Obamacare.''

Bera, a physician who favors Texas Sen. Ted Cruz declared expanding access to health that one resignation is not coverage, said that's consistent enough. ``We are going to repeal with his position that Congress every single word of Obamacare,'' should keep what works in the said the first-term senator and falaw and fix what doesn't. Yet it's vorite of the small government tea also a political strategy for a party movement.

Another tea party favorite, freshman lawmaker running for Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, insisted re-election in a swing district, that the party must broaden its even in left-leaning California. appeal in order to grow. The ReHe is one of a handful of publican Party, he said, cannot be Democrats who represent disa party of ``fat cats, rich people

Huckabee said the Ryan plan was simply ``a starting point,'' but that, ``there would be some things I'd probably change,'' declining to be more specific.

Another high-profile Republican, real estate mogul Donald

didates jockey for position, the stakes are high for November's elections in which control of Congress will be at stake. Republicans are fighting to win the six seats they need to claim the Senate majority, and if they succeed they

From L to R: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

Trump, was more critical. ``His whole stance is to knock the hell out of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security,'' Trump said of Ryan. ``I would leave it alone. I don't want to hurt people.''

As potential presidential can-

could block Obama's legislative priorities in the final two years of his presidency. The president's health care law could figure prominently in November House and Senate contests across the U.S. Cont'd on Page 34

Calif. Democrats walk middle path in health debate

Ami Bera

tricts that are closely divided between the two major political parties. A voter-approved independent redistricting process in Cali-

fornia has led to several highly competitive seats and forced politicians to appeal to middleof-the-road voters.

Bera said his focus in voting with the GOP has been on controlling the cost of health care for patients and employers. He said he hopes voters will prefer someone with his experience as a medical doctor for two decades making changes to the law. A complete repeal, however, is not an option, he said. ``We shouldn't go back to a time when, if you come down with cancer, your health insurance can drop you,'' he said.

Cont'd on Page 35

April 18, 2014

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India is facing huge Awareness about diabetes & its impact lacking cancer crisis LONDON: India is facing a cancer crisis, with smoking, belated diagnosis and unequal access to treatment causing largescale problems, experts said.

Every year in India around one million new cancer cases are diagnosed and around 600,000 to 700,000 people die from cancer. With this death toll projected to rise to around 1.2 million deaths per year by 2035, a new report on cancer care in India published in The Lancet Oncology reported.

The new report has been compiled by Professor Richard Sullivan and Professor Arnie Purushotham from King's Health Partners Cancer Centre at King's College London with the help of senior Indian colleagues including Professor CS Pramesh and Professor Rajan Badwe at the Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Mumbai.

"Access to affordable cancer treatment and care in India lags behind other parts of the world.

Making such treatment and care accessible will require addressing its causes, while also developing affordable treatments," Professor Sunil Khilnani, Director, King's India Institute, King's College London, said. Although India has a relatively lower incidence of cancer (around a quarter of that in the USA or Western Europe), the rate of deaths from cancer, adjusted for

age, is similar to that seen in high-income countries, the report said.

Less than a third of patients with cancer in India currently survive for more than five years after diagnosis.

Around 95 per cent of the medical colleges in India do not have comprehensive cancer care services, comprising Surgical, Medical and Radiation Oncology departments, in the same campus.

Currently there are around 2,000 medi-

cal and radiation oncologists in India - one per 5000 newly diagnosed cancer patients - and in almost all remote or rural areas even the most basic cancer treatment facilities are non-existent, it said.

As a result, urban cancer centers are overcrowded and under-resourced, leading to long waiting times, delayed diagnoses, and treatment that comes too late for many patients.-PTI

Kalam for tech convergence to fight cancer SRINAGAR: Former President A P J technologies will lead to emergence of new Abdul Kalam has expressed concern over advanced technology, resulting in increase the rising number of cancer cases in Jammu in the average life span of humans. and Kashmir and said there was a need to "Convergence of technologies like inhave convergence of various technologies formation technology, biotechnology, to fight such diseases. nanotechnology and ro"There has been a rise botics will lead to emerin cases of cancer in Kashgence of new advanced mir and it remains a main technology. Together threat partially due to difthese technologies will inferent dietary habits. Kashcrease our average life mir has a history of having span," he said. different types of commuKalam appreciated the nicable as well as non-comKashmir University's initiamunicable diseases. The tive to organize such an A P J Abdul Kalam convergence of technolointernational conference gies can help in fighting such diseases," and expressed hope that the outcome of Kalam said. the discussions among the scientists will Kalam was speaking at the inauguration contribute towards controlling the spread of a four-day International Conference on of dreaded diseases.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of DisThe conference is being attended by ease Processes at Kashmir University here. eminent national and international scienKalam said the convergence of various tists. -PTI

HYDERABAD: An estimated 60 million ing chart in their clinics, the study found people in India have diabetes, and six mil- out. lion of them suffer from sight-threatening The study revealed that people have retinopathy which is a fall-out of the dis- very little awareness about diabetes and ease, Public Health Foundation of India said importance of regular eye-tests, he said. in a report.

In fact, half of the respondents didn't It is estimated that number of diabetes patients in India would rise to 80 million by 2030, highest in the world, it said.

Worldwide, diabetes affects 170 million people; the number is expected to rise to 366 million by 2030. About 1.85 million people have suffered blindness due to diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to the report.

One out of five people with diabetes suffers from DR. Dr GVS Murthy, Director of Indian Institute of Public Health File photo of an awareness campaign on diabetes (Hyderabad), a constituency in Hyderabad unit of the PHFI, said that evidence shows that early detection and man- know they had diabetes until they visited agement are key to control the sight loss an eye clinic for vision issues. due to DR. Over half the patients visiting ophthalSpeaking to reporters at a two-day work- mologists are found to have been suffershop here, Murthy said not much attention ing from diabetes for over 10 years, with 15 is given to impact of diabetes on the per cent living with the condition for over patient's vision. Less than a third of diabe- 20 years and, therefore, putting themselves tes physicians have a simple vision-check- at a high risk of sight loss. -PTI

Health Science Post

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April 18, 2014

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Diaper shortages create hardship, health problems ST. LOUIS: Disposable diaper shortages among needy families are harming infants and their parents, according to health care providers and advocates for the poor.

Local food pantries receive countless requests for diapers but are unable to meet the demand, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Melinda Ohlemiller, CEO of Nurses for Newborns, said the organization would need as many as 10,000 diapers a day for its mostly poor clients but can only supply a dozen diapers per person in an emergency.

A 2013 study the medical journal Pediatrics identified ``diaper need'' among the poor as a growing health and psychological risk for babies and their mothers, who are more prone to depression. ``There's just a great need in our community, and no one is calling attention to this,'' said DiAnne Mueller, CEO of Crisis

Nursery, a regional child abuse prevention agency. Crisis Nursery workers who go door-todoor in poor neighborhoods to ask people what they need are almost always asked for diapers and formula, she said.

Formula purchases can be federally subsidized, but diapers are not covered by food stamps through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. ``We're giving people four to six diapers when in reality when most people buy a box of diapers, they're getting 24 or 48. It's like giving one tiny bar of soap a month. It's not enough - it's a token gesture,'' said Marcia Mermelstein, coordinator of the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry in St. Louis. ``They're tak-

Paralyzed Indian in Dubai hospital over unpaid bills DUBAI: An Indian, who became partially paralyzed after a stroke, has been stuck at a hospital here for the past four months as his estranged family has refused to foot the medical bill of around USD 27,000.

Maxwell Donald Pereira, 56, who has been in Dubai since 1978 and worked in the hospitality sector, suffered a life-threatening stroke on January 17 that left him immovable.

deemed him fit to travel to India accompanied by a nurse.

Pereira needs a special helmet to encase his fragile head, and the bone flap that has been removed needs to be taken in a special container at a constant temperature of -60 degree. All of this, and tickets, would cost him around Dh40, 000.

"I want to go home, I want to see my mum," Pereira was quoted as saying in the report.

Maxwell Donald Pereira

His medical expenses amount to Dh100, 000 (about USD 27,000), Gulf News reported.

Pereira, who was supervisor of a club, had undergone a life-saving brain surgery at a hospital here but his sponsor disappeared later.

Surgeons had to remove a bone flap from his cranium, which now needs to be surgically replaced.

Pereira's condition has stabilized since then although he cannot walk. The doctors have

Pereira's estranged wife and his 22-year-old son have refused to take his responsibility. His elderly mother has called several friends for help, according to the report.

Manish Shigwan, a former cashier at the club and Pereira's colleague, said that the visas of all the employees had been cancelled but they had not received salaries for the past two months and had no money to travel back home. -PTI

ing diapers that are clearly too small and taping them together and using whatever they can.''

Some cities and regions have

agencies such as food pantries and community outreach centers.

The National Diaper Bank Network in Connecticut says about

developed diaper banks that collect and promote donated diapers and act as a clearinghouse to

100 established diaper banks operate nationwide, including Happy Bottoms in Kansas City, which has distributed more than 1.5 million diapers to agencies that work with the poor.

Pvt insurers cover more people, lag in premium NEW DELHI: Nearly 65 per cent of the people who have health insurance are covered by private players but state-owned firms outperform them by accounting for over 61 per cent of the collections, says a study.

"Considering that about 65 per cent of people covered by health insurance across India fall under the ambit of private sector, the private insurers have outperformed the public insurance companies covering just 35 per cent of people," says the study by industry body Assocham.

"However, in terms of premium it is the other way round as public insurance companies account for maximum share of over 61 per cent in premium arising out of health insurance," it added.

Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said private health insurance will continue to grow in terms of covering the non-vulnerable, the middle class and higher income segments of the population that can afford to purchase it.

In terms of channel-wise distribution of medical insurance, individual agents bring in majority of business with 72.9 per cent share, the study said.

However, direct business is the major contributor in terms of premium collection with about 37 per cent share, followed by individual agents (31.6 per cent) and brokers (21.4 per cent).-PTI

Social worker Jessica Adams is organizing a nonprofit St. Louis diaper bank that would accept charitable donations and help distribute the diapers to those in need. Adams said she realized the need after going through a divorce with a toddler and three older children. Money was scarce, and she relied on food pantries to get by. ``I had to call family members for money for diapers,'' she told the newspaper. ``It's humiliating, absolutely humiliating.''

Nurses for Newborns and Crisis Nursery workers describe mothers rinsing out and then reusing disposable diapers, as well as seeing severe cases of diaper rash. ``Diapers are mandatory.

They're not optional,'' said Ohlemiller. ``And yet families are making really hard decisions: Are we going to buy diapers or formula or are we going to buy food?

That stress is putting a lot of hardships on families.'' -AP

'Obamacare' under attack as conservatives eye 2016 Cont'd from Page 32

and millions of people are enjoying its benefits. ``That's a debate that we're going to have, and we're eager to have,'' Czin said.

At the same time, Van Hollen, the senior Democrat on the House Budget Committee, called for Republicans to defend their support for their budget plan that would repeal the health care law, transform Medicare, increase prescription drug costs for seniors, and

The industrialist Koch brothers-affiliated Americans for Prosperity, which co-hosted the summit, has already spent millions of dollars on health care-related attack ads aimed at vulnerable Democratic senators in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Alaska, Colorado, Iowa and elsewhere.

Sebelius resigned days after the Obama administration announced that enrollment in the federal and state exchanges set up to offer subsidized In a conference call, private insurance policies Democratic Rep. Chris under the Affordable Care Act had grown to 7.5 mil- Van Hollen insisted that lion, a figure that exceeded ``Democrats are not expectations and gave running away from the Democrats a surprise success after a disastrous Affordable Care Act.'' rollout. It was welcome news for Democratic incumbents who've been forced to enact deep cuts in education. defend their support for the unCampaigning in Iowa, Ryan popular law. defended his recently passed In a conference call, Democratic budget plan as a sign of growing Rep. Chris Van Hollen insisted that Republican unity. ``Democrats are not running away ``Some people wanted to go from the Affordable Care Act.'' further, some people thought it Democratic National Committee went too far. The point is we unispokesman Mike Czin noted that fied around these common prinRepublican opposition to the ciples in a plan,'' the Wisconsin health care law was the founda- congressman said after headlintion of the party's unsuccessful ing an Iowa Republican dinner. political strategy in 2012. He said ``That's very important to me that the debate has changed now which is we can't just oppose, we that the law has been implemented have to propose.''-AP

April 18, 2014

Health Science Post

India Post 35

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Know your baby's health before it is conceived!

LONDON: A new technology that creates digital embryos by virtually mixing two people's DNA can allow parents a glimpse of their baby's health and physical traits before it has even been conceived.

The Matchright technology can allow people to screen out sperm donors who, when their genes are combined with those of the intended mother, could increase the risk of a child inheriting genetic diseases.

The technology, which will be available in two US fertility clinics later this month,

Princeton University, who co-founded GenePeeks, the company that markets the technology.

GenePeeks intends to use the system to identify rare conditions such as cystic fibrosis and Tay-Sachs disease, which are passed on to a child when both parents carry a mutation in a single gene.

Screening for genetic disorders usually involves sequencing the DNA of the prospective parents.

GenePeeks takes this a step further: algorithms are fed this information and use it to digitally recreate the process of genetic recombination - the mixing of genetic information between a sperm and an egg, 'New Scientist' reported. could also give clues to the baby's eye and skin pigmentation, height and waist size.

"It covers any disease or any trait that has a genetic influence," said Lee Silver at

Calif. Democrats walk middle path in health debate month when 12 Democrats voted to delay the penalty for failing to purchase Other California Democrats who have health insurance coverage. at times sided with House Republicans Last week, Bera, Peters and Costa, on various health reform votes include who represents a Fresno-area district, Reps. Julia Brownley, Jim Costa, Scott joined 15 other Democrats in voting for Peters and Raul Ruiz. a bill that sought to change the law's Republicans said voters concerned definition of full-time work from 30 about the impact of the health law will hours a week to 40 - raising the threshsee the Democrats' occasional siding old at which employers would have to with the GOP as simply a political ploy. provide insurance. ``People think there's nuances, that On another high-profile vote, Bera these members can throw a vote or two and Peters were joined by fellow freshthe other way and say `I'm for correcting men Brownley and Ruiz in voting for a it,''' said House majorbill that would delay ity whip Kevin the requirement that McCarthy, a Republi- Bera, Peters and larger employers offer can from Bakersfield. Costa, who repretheir full-time workers ``No, it's much bigger, sents a Fresno-area the chance to enroll in and people have made a health plan. district, joined 15 a decision.''

Those four are ReMcCarthy said op- other Democrats in publicans' chief Caliponents of the health fornia targets in this voting for a bill that care law are much more year's elections. motivated to vote this sought to change the Rep. Steve Israel of year than those who law's definition of full- New York, who oversupport it, which sees the Democrats' time work from 30 should be an advanHouse elections efhours a week to 40 tage for Republicans. fort, said he believes Republicans have they have voted as held more than 50 votes on changing or most of their constituents had wanted. repealing the law over the past three ``All of these polls agree on at least years, knowing most would die in the one thing: Voters in California want the Democratic Senate. The intent of the Affordable Care Act fixed and improved, votes was to give their candidates am- not repealed,'' Israel said. ``Every time a munition against incumbent Democrats California Republican insists on repealin competitive districts. ing the bill, they may animate their base, The fix-it approach by the Democrats but they are losing independents and could be low-risk. The GOP bills would moderates.'' pass the House with or without their supThis year's elections will be the third port. They and Democratic Party leaders straight in which GOP opposition to the know their votes will not change the law law will be a central focus. That strategy yet can moderate their records and help allowed the GOP to take the majority in them appeal to a wider swath of voters. the House during the last midterm elecPeters, of San Diego, joined Bera last tions in 2010.-AP Cont'd from Page 32

This allows them to look at the genetic make-up of the possible embryos.

Before a woman selects a donor from a participating fertility clinic, the Matchright algorithms, which Silver developed, are run thousands of times for each donor.

This produces up to 10,000 simulated embryos per pairing.

These are sequenced to look for mutations in single genes that can cause some 500 rare diseases, and then used to work out the disease risk in the hypothetical child that would develop from that particular partnership.

The woman, who pays USD 1995 for the service, then gets a list of "safer" donors from which to choose. -PTI

Indian-origin doctor cleared of genital mutilation LONDON: An Indian-origin doctor has been cleared by a medical tribunal in Britain on charges of intentionally performing surgery on a woman amounting to female genital mutilation (FGM).

Sureshkumar Pandya, a general practitioner, performed surgery to reduce the size of the 33-year-old woman's labia, but the results left her distraught, the Manchester tribunal was told.

According to the Evening Standard, the

Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found the anatomical result of the procedure could be said "to be equivalent to FGM", but cleared Pandya of intentionally causing it.

Tribunal chair Anthony Morgan said, "In your evidence you stated that you were totally against the practice of FGM and would not have any reason to carry it out. In the light of your character and the testimony you gave the panel accepts this".-PTI

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Realty Tidbits

New York to license title insurance agents ALBANY: New York's new budget gives state financial regulators authority to issue licenses to title insurance agents for the first time.

Sponsors say the measure is intended to protect consumers and lower costs for New York homeowners.

The Department of Financial Services is expected to require title insurance agents to meet qualification standards and undergo regular training.

The department already licenses other insurance agents and brokers.

It will also have authority to monitor complaints and abuse, revoke licenses and investigate conflicts of interest that drive up homeowner costs.

The department plans to issue regulations.

The Cuomo administration says reforms should result in a 20 percent reduction in title insurance premiums and closing costs for buying new homes and a cut refinancing transaction costs by more than 60 percent. -AP

„ Muncie summer recreation site to be auctioned MUNCIE: An eastern Indiana recreation site that has been used by area residents for swimming, fishing, water skiing and camping since 1957 is going to be auctioned.

Owner Don Irving says he and his wife Barbara decided to sell nine-acre Water Bowl and 160 surrounding acres because they are in failing health, The Star Press reported. ``Our kids can't run it because it's open only four months of the year. What are they supposed to do the other eight months to make a living?'' he said.

Don Irving said the increasing cost of insurance also was a challenge, as was the challenge of operating a family-run site.-AP

Real Estate 38

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Purdue foundation to buy 75-yearold church

April 18, 2014

Details on Page 39

5 emotional mistakes made by homebuyers MICHAEL ESTRIN

R

eal estate agents say emotional mistakes are common among homebuyers, who sometimes let good deals pass them by. Or worse, buyers overpay for their "dream homes" because they let feelings cloud their judgment.

But buyers shouldn't beat themselves up for getting emotional.

Buying a home is often the biggest purchase a person will make.

Homebuyers "need someone in their corner who can counsel them and make sure they are making a smart investment, not an emotionally driven purchase," says Nick Jabbour, a New York City real estate agent and vice president of Nest Seekers International.

Buyers should be aware of emotional mistakes many of their peers make. Here are five common errors, with advice on how to avoid making them.

Always looking for a better deal

Every market has its up and downs, but today's market has

conditioned homebuyers to make the mistake of thinking there's always a better deal just around the

corner. While it's true prices could drop further (and mortgage rates might decline), it's not a good idea for buyers to play the odds now, says Eileen Meehan, an associate with Re/Max Properties in Saddle River, N.J. "Even in the best of markets, we cannot predict what will happen tomorrow. I can't promise you that a bigger, less-expensive home will not come on the market the day after you close on this one," says Meehan.

"Market fluctuations are always part of real estate transactions."

"Be smart, do your homework, know the value of the area and the home you are buying, and be sure it meets your family's needs," Meehan says.

Falling in love at first sight With real estate, there should be no such thing as love at first sight, says Nick Jabbour, a New York City real estate agent and vice president of Nest Seekers International.

He has a simple rule for homebuyers.

"We will look at no less than five properties before we sign any contracts," Jabbour decrees.

"It's easy to fall in love right away.

(But) jumping on the first or second home that a buyer looks at will often result in buyer's remorse, overpaying and the inability to sell at a reasonable price down the

line."

Infatuated buyers who leap at a property tend to overlook the value of the process itself - from inspection to appraisal, says Fiona Dogan, a Realtor in the Rye, N.Y., office of Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty.

"Buyers can make the mistake of falling in love with a property after a first visit (but) before they do their necessary due diligence," says Dogan, who adds that lovestruck buyers sometimes waive key conditions in a rush to make an offer. Sometimes those overlooked details end up sinking the deal down the road.

Overpaying for perfection Every buyer wants the perfect home, but unfortunately it may not exist, says Nick Jabbour, a New York City real estate agent and vice president of Nest Seekers International. He is concerned when homebuyers insist they've found the perfect home and are eager to make

an offer.

"On the remote chance that a buyer does find perfection, the emotional attachment will sometimes become so high that the buyer will overpay or overextend themselves financially," Jabbour

warns.

And even if the home is perfect and the buyer isn't overpaying, the owner could have difficulty selling.

"A 100 percent match for one person may be a complete disaster to the majority of the population, and a buyer must consider an exit strategy from the beginning to avoid losing money when they sell," Jabbour says. "There is definite value over time for the enjoyment and use of the home, but that number is slight when compared to the total investment."

Equating 'short sale' with 'deal' In real estate, a deal is a deal, and the terms "short sale" and

"real estate owned," or "REO," are marketing buzzwords designed to lure bargain-hungry buyers, says Matt Joseph, broker and owner of West Avenue Realty in Miami.

"I see buyers running into the trap of buying a foreclosure or short sale thinking they are buying way below market value, when they are really overpaying," Joseph explains.

A good deal is a matter of the property's historic price, current market conditions and the home's features, as well as the buyer's own needs. Weighing all the factors isn't easy. But, Joseph says, buyers dramatically decrease their chances of making emotional mistakes by working with professionals who know the local market.

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Two 40-storeyed buildings in Noida to be demolished ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad High Court has ordered the demolition of two 40storeyed buildings in Noida, observing that "it has repeatedly come to notice that builders by joining hands with officers of the development authorities flout every conceivable rule, including building regulations".

A division bench comprising Justice V K Shukla and Justice Suneet Kumar ordered the demolition "within a period of four months" of the two newlyconstructed towers erected in Sector 93-A of Noida as part of the "Supertech Emerald Court Complex" comprising residential premises and shopping establishments.

The court also ruled that sanction be accorded by "the competent authority within a period of three months" for prosecution of the respondent company (Supertech) and officers of Noida authority under the UP Industrial Area Development Act, the UP Urban Development Act and UP Apartment (Promotion of Construction, Ownership and Maintenance) Act.

Besides, the court ordered that money be refunded to all those who had invested in the two towers "with 14 per cent interest compounded annually".

The judgment was passed while allowing the writ petition of "Emerald Court Owner Resident Welfare Association"

wherein it was alleged that the approval and construction of the two towers was "in complete violation of UP Apartment Acts".

The petitioner had claimed that the Noida Authority had given permission for raising the heights of the two towers, which were earlier supposed to have only 24 floors, "without maintaining the mandatory distance of 16 meters) from an adjoining building block, making it "unsafe, apart from blocking air and light".

5 emotional mistakes made by homebuyers Cont’d from page 38

"The biggest mistake I see are buyers not using Realtors that know the local market," Joseph says. "Trying to find a home on your own is very difficult if you're not familiar with the market on a micro level.

(Buyers working alone) may feel like they are receiving a deal, however, they do not get to see all inventory in the price range desired."

Lowballing instead of negotiating realistically A l l homebuyers want the lowest possible price, but there's a big difference between firm negotiating and lowballing, says Tracie Hamersley, senior vice president and associate broker at Citi Habitats in New York City.

"Buyers can come in with unrealistic expectations about what a property should

go for," says Hamersley, adding: "It's best for a buyer to make a realistic bid not too far off from where he or she would ultimately like to end up."

Lowball offers run the risk of being rejected out of hand or lengthening the process and annoying the sellers. Either way, Hamersley says buyers who lowball run a big risk of losing the property.

While all buyers are capable of lowballing, Hamersley says it's a problem especially common among cash buyers who don't need to borrow money. Such buyers are more attractive, especially to sellers who need to move quickly, but often the cash discount isn't worth as much as some buyers think, Hamersley says.

Courtesy Bankrate.com

Through the sanction order of 02.03.2012, the towers' heights had been raised from 66 meters to 121 meters.

The court allowed the petition observing "the builder is always under the impression that once the frame of the building is illegally constructed, the court can be persuaded to take a sympathetic view and permit the construction in total breach of legal provision".

"The price of land is skyrocketing and there is scarcity of land in group housing. Taking advantage of the situation, the builder lobby is exploiting the need of the people by setting up illegal construction and the unfortunate part is that it has active assistance of the officers of the development authority", the court said.

"The time has come when everyone should realize that rule of law is not a purchasable commodity and illegalities will not be tolerated merely because the builder has taken protection against the sanction which, admittedly, is illegal and in violation of building regulations", the court remarked. -PTI

Purdue foundation to buy 75-year-old church WEST LAFAYETTE: A church that has held services since 1939 will become the property of Purdue University next month, leaving the campus ministry with a one-year lease to give it time to find a new home.

Joe Hornett, chief operating officer of Purdue Research Foundation, told the Journal & Courier that the university's real estate arm is paying $2.4 million for University Church. The deal is scheduled to close May 1.

The Presbyterian Church's Synod of Lincoln Trails put the church on the market last year, and university officials began negotiations on the sale before Christmas, Hornett said.

It's unclear how Purdue will use the structure. ``As far as I know, there are no definitive plans for it right now in terms of a university use,'' Hornett said. ``But it was simply a matter of looking at where the University Church is located in reference to the parking garage on Grant Street, as well as to the (Purdue) Memorial Union and Grissom Hall and those things along Grant Street. It was a piece of property that the university did not want to see go.'' -AP

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K

asauli is a beautiful hill station located just 77kms from Shimla. The small town was built in 19th century by the British and it has an old-world charm. The Central Research Institute in Kasauli set up in 1900, is the oldest in India, taking care of pet, police and army dogs as well as their masters. It was also featured in the Time's best of Asia list under "Best Literary Excursion".

The narrow roads of Kasauli slither up and down the hillside and offer some magnificent vistas. Directly below is the spread of vast plains of Punjab and Haryana which as darkness falls, unroll a gorgeous carpet of twinkling lights. At 3647 m, the peak of Choor Chandni (also called the Choordhar) powerfully dominates the lower hills and across the undulating ranges, Shimla is visible.

The upper and lower malls run through Kasauli's length and one can enjoy long walks on it.

A mixed forest of pine, oak and huge horse-chestnut encircles the town. Its colonial ambience is reinforced by a stretch of cobbled roads, quaint shops, gabled houses with charming facades and scores of neat little gardens and orchards. This picturesque hill-station, oozing old-world charm is covered with tall Deodar, wild flowers, rhododendrons, wild roses, flame of the forest, and flowering Kichnar in summer and is a popular hub for bird-watchers. Winters, with snowfall, are beautiful too.

Cont’d on page 42

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KASAULI

Picturesque hill-station, oozing old-world charm Cont’d from page 41

WHAT TO SEE Monkey Point: 3 ½ Km from Hotel Ros Common a hill which derives its name from Rishi Man-ki who used to worship an idol of Lord Hanuman and later the summit is crowned with a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman and presently being looked after by the personnel of Air Force, stationed here. The area being restricted from security point of view, no belongings like camera, bags are allowed. Legend has it that Kasauli came into being when Lord Hanuman, on his way to getting the Sanjeevani herb, stepped here for jumping on to the Sanjeevani hill. At Kasauli there is a Hanuman Mandir atop the 300-mt high

i Baba

a Shirdi S

alak Baba B le p m e Nath T

Anglican Church

Mandir

Photographs of such blessed children are kept as record by Baba Vijay Kumar in the Temple.

Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir: Built in 1989

by Sai Sudha Trust, it is a famous temple located half km away from Garkhal. The idol of Sai Baba was built in Jaipur and the burning flame in this temple signifies the divine power of Sai Baba of Shirdi.

When to go: Best time to travel to Kasauli is between April-June and September-November.

HOW TO REACH: Air: From Kasauli the nearest airport is Chandigarh. Shimla is nearest airport for hillock, called Monkey Point, where Hanuman is supposed to have rested his feet.

The other attractions: An ancient Church is worth seeing located on the Upper Mall Road.

A little above this place, there is a Central Research Institute established in 1906 by Dr. Sample, It prepares vaccines for treatment of typhoid, cholera, smallpox, and snakebite and is only

of its kind in Asia.

Close to this there is Pasteur Institute founded in 1900 to produce anti-rabies vaccine against dog-bite. There is a sanatorium for TB patients who benefit by its healthy environment. TV Tower is another landmark. Baptist Church established in 1923 is also worth seeing.

Baba Balak Nath Temple: On the Graner Hill top is a famous temple of Sidh Baba Balak Nath.

It is believed that Baba Balak Nath one night appeared in dreams to a local resident named Vijay Kumar and told him to build a temple at the place. This temple is one of its own kind where issueless couples visit to be blessed with a child. Baptism ceremony of children is also performed in this temple.

Solan.

Rail: Nearest railhead is Kalka in Haryana, which is 40-km from Kasauli and 44-km from Solan. Solan is also connected with narrow gauge railway line from Kalka.

Road: Solan and Kasauli are well connected by road. Buses, coaches and taxis are easily available from Chandigarh and Delhi.

April 18, 2014

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Uttarakhand gears up for Chardham Yatra MUMBAI: Uttarakhand, recovering from an unprecedented natural disaster last year, is all geared up to revive its tourism sector and pinning hopes on a good re-

are ready to begin the 'holy yatra' from May 2 with the opening of Yamunotri and Gangotri gates," Umakant Panwar, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Uttarakhand

"We are positive about a turnaround. In 2012, 2-2.5 crore people, including foreign tourists, visited Uttarakhand, but this number fell by 80 per cent in 2013. We expect about 60-70 per cent rise in footfalls this year," Panwar said. sponse to the annual Chardham Yatra beginning next month.

The hill state, whose economy is hugely dependent on tourism, is home to Hindu holy shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri (Chardham), which attract a large number of devotees and religious travelers every year.

"We are in the process of rebuilding the state's infrastructure (which was hit by the disaster). We

told reporters here.

In June 2013, devastating floods and landslides caused destruction in the state. Though only 20 per cent of the state was affected by the calamity, it suffered a huge loss in terms of revenue.

"About 25-30 per cent of our revenue comes from tourism.

(Post-disaster) the footfalls declined dramatically and the state incurred Rs 12,000-crore revenue

loss," he said.

The state is spending about Rs five crore on marketing and publicity to revive the sector.

"We are positive about a turnaround. In 2012, 2-2.5 crore people, including foreign tourists, visited Uttarakhand, but this number fell by 80 per cent in 2013. We expect about 60-70 per cent rise in footfalls this year," Panwar said.

In 2015, Uttarakhand will definitely witness a complete turnaround and the state will regain its glory of being a tourist paradise, the official added.

The state has already spent Rs 1,000 crore on restoring its infrastructure mainly through government assistance.

"We will be spending Rs 4,000 crore more, which will be a combination of public and private funding, to restore the state to its past glory," Panwar said.

The state is planning to introduce 'Winter Chardham' to encourage religious tourism round the year. During winter, for six months, the deities from all the four dhams are shifted and worshipped in shrines of Kharsali, Mukhva, Ukhimath and Pandukeshwar (Joshimath) where tourists can visit and pray.

Besides Chardhams, Uttarakhand plans to promote other attractions like adventure, wildlife, leisure and eco-tourism.

While the restoration work is going on in full scale, the state government is offering sops like service tax waiver, reduction in VAT and tax holiday to the transport industry to boost the tourism sector, Panwar said. -PTI

New Ocean City ad targets vacation day OCEAN CITY: The latest advertising campaign for Ocean City targets a precious commodity: the vacation day.

In two new 30-second commercials for the resort, actors represent squandered vacation time.

Wearing yellow ``Vacation Day'' shirts, they deadpan how they've instead been used for doctor appointments, assembling bunk beds, garage reorganization or waiting for cable guy. ``I've been rolled over since 1987,'' says one actor, sporting a denim vest and a mustache-mullet combo.

Andy Malis, president of Ocean City's ad agency, MGH, said it was an idea borne from the headlines: fewer Americans are using their vacation days. In 2013, the aver-

age U.S. worker earned 14 vacation days but used only 10, Malis said.

``It was one of those light-bulb moments where we thought, the biggest competitor to Ocean City isn't the Jersey shore or Virginia

Beach,'' Malis said. ``It's that people are not spending as many days on vacation as they used to.

It really matched what all the trends have been - that the middle of the week (in Ocean City) is quieter in the summer.''

The commercials first aired April 1, during the opening day broadcasts of the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. Malis said the spots will air in heavier rotation next month and through the summer.-PTI

Polls fuelling growth in tourism industry NEW DELHI: The country's tourism industry is witnessing a boom thanks to the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, which have fuelled interest in foreign visitors to throng the nation to witness electioneering in the world's largest democracy, according to an Assocham study.

During the election period (April-May), there is likely to be an upsurge of 10 to 15 per cent in tourists visiting India from the US, UK, UAE, France and Singapore,

other high profile constituencies are up 15 per cent in the past two weeks, most online tour operators polled by the survey said.

Moreover, there is an increase of over 15-20 percent in rail bookings in the Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and about 10 per cent increase in the Lucknow-Ayodhya route, the survey said.

A large number of coaches, cars, and taxies are being booked for travel to Varanasi from Delhi and nearby towns. The high-profile

among others, besides over 62 rise in domestic tourists, who are traveling for electioneering, the study found.

Online travel portals have noticed a rise in bookings to destinations which are political hubs and places where major rallies have been scheduled.

Flight bookings for Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Gujarat and

contests in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Varanasi and Lucknow, have come as a boon for travel agents, it said.

The industry chamber surveyed nearly 500 tour operators from different cities and found that there is an increase in tourism business to the extent of 20 per cent, mainly because of the Lok Sabha election 2014. -PTI

Forget WiFi, travelers just want breakfast MUMBAI: Complimentary breakfast has secured the top position among guests globally this year, for the most preferred amenities, knocking off last year's free WiFi from the top position, according to a recent survey.

"Last year's victor, free WiFi, was knocked to third position when it comes to most preferred hotel amenity. When customers were asked to rank 33 different amenities, it was found that breakfast was the first choice amongst travelers, followed by an accessible restaurant," according to a survey by leading online accommodation booking website Hotels.com.

However, when guests were asked for the most important ame-

nity found inside the hotel room, free WiFi came out on top followed by a bathroom with a shower, while child care in the room was voted the least important.

"Travelers seem to have become fixated on where their next meal is coming from and this is highlighted in the findings. With the ever-increasing importance of technology it's surprising to see free WiFi has fallen from the top spot in the overall hotel amenities list, though it is still the most important for those when they are actually inside their hotel room, showing that keeping in contact whilst away remains a priority." Hotels.com's Alison Couper said.PTI

In Brief District hires immigrant teachers under new policy DENVER: Colorado's largest school district sees teaching potential among immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally when they were children.

They are people like Kareli Lizarraga, a 22-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate who grew up in California and Arizona after her parents brought her to this country from Mexico when she was 4.

Lizarraga, who is finishing her first year as a reading teacher for seventh-graders in Denver, told The Associated Press that she still remembers feeling shocked that she could not communicate when she first arrived in the United States. And, even more vividly, she recalls a Spanish-speaking teacher who reached out to help.

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg said his district began reaching out to what he saw as a talent pool soon after President Barack Obama took steps last year to allow young people living in the U.S. illegally to stay and work. Lizarraga is one of two teachers who qualified under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, and started work in Denver this school year.

Boasberg said more will be hired this coming year. ``Anything that touches on immigration generates a level of attention and controversy,'' Boasberg told the AP.

„ Chicago mayor supports jobs for 'dreamers' CHICAGO: Chicago's mayor is inviting young immigrants in the United States illegally to apply for internships, volunteer positions and summer jobs.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office announced that the so-called dreamers are welcome to apply for nearly 23,000 positions.

The ``dreamers'' take their name from the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM Act, which is stalled in Congress and would provide a way for them to permanently remain in the United States. The law's opponents say it would reward illegal immigration.

Emanuel says the city should support ``talented young people who are committed to their education, building their job skills, and bettering their communities.''

City staff will get training on helping immigrant students receive accurate and helpful information about opportunities available to them. -AP

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Obama`s paradoxical deportation policies Details on page 46

American IT firms group seeks more H1B visas WASHINGTON: A coalition of American information technology companies has sought more H-1B visas, arguing that this is essential to keep the country ahead in the highly competitive world.

The move comes after the US received more than 172,000 applications for the Congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2015 beginning October.

"Hitting the FY 2015 cap for high-skilled visas in the first five days in April is more evidence that the STEM (science technology engineering and mathematics) economy in the US is continuing to heat up but it also serves as a powerful reminder that we are now unable to bring to America any more of these innovators who can help generate American jobs and help improve our economy," said Scott Corley, Executive Director of Compete America.

Compete America is a coalition of US companies dedicated to ensuring that the US has the highly educated and innovative workforce necessary to grow the economy and create American jobs.

"With the immigration debate now in the House, this is the time to address the old problem of access to the talent our fastest growing industries need to compete," he said.

Compete America, in a statement, said the growth rate of US STEM jobs has created a demand

sis are still there as well, the group said.

"With half or more of all the STEM masters and doctorates graduating every year from our US universities requiring visas to remain in the US as job creators, it's not hard to see the looming crisis of a talent shortage during eco-

talent they need.

A predictable path to a green card will not only encourage these talented workers to remain in the country but it will help further alleviate some pressures on the H1B system by allowing these workers to skip temporary visas altogether, the coalition said.

A predictable path to a green card will not only encourage these talented workers to remain in the country but it will help further alleviate some pressures on the H-1B system by allowing these workers to skip temporary visas altogether, the coalition said for skilled labor far exceeding the availability of qualified US workers.

This year the American economy is sending clear signs that not only are STEM jobs growing but the highly skilled shortages masked by the economic cri-

nomically-challenging times," it said.

Compete America said it supports immigration reform legislation that will address green card reforms and substantially increase the number of H1-B visas to allow US employers to get access to the

The US needs to move on to the business of fixing its highly skilled immigration system before it loses more of the top foreign professionals and job creators that help make America's fastest growing industries competitive, it said.

-PTI

Jeb Bush exposes Republicans' immigration problem MIAMI: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush set off a fury that served as a potent reminder of how difficult the immigration issue remains for his possible presidential ambitions and the Republican Party.

An early Republican establishment favorite, Bush has long urged his fellow Republicans to show more compassion for those who enter the country illegally.

But when he described illegal immigration in an interview as an ``act of love'' by people hoping to provide for their families, the backlash from his own party was swift and stinging.

Rep. Raul Labrador accused Bush of ``pandering.'' Sen. Ted Cruz and House Speaker John Boehner said the country should enforce the ``rule of law.'' And

conservative commentator Michelle Malkin created a new Twitter hashtag: (hash)CancelJebBush.

In a speech to an annual gathering of Connecticut Republicans, Bush noted the negative response to his remarks but said he sees no

Jeb Bush

conflict between enforcing the law and ``having some sensitivity to the immigrant experience.''

Some of the party's most powerful insiders and financiers are concerned immigration could define the coming nominating contest in the way it did in 2012.

Like Bush, Texas Gov. Rick Perry was jeered when he implied that his rivals were heartless if they opposed a law that lets some children of undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition at public colleges.

The 2012 Republican nominee, Mitt Romney took a hard line and advocated ``self-deportation'' for those here illegally. He won just 27 percent of the Hispanic vote, the lowest portion for a Republican in 16 years.

Cont'd on Page 45

Immigration Post

April 18, 2014

India Post 45

www.indiapost.com

Legislation for religious workers NC farmers lead country on legal foreign workers introduced in Congress WASHINGTON: Aimed at facilitating immigration of religious workers including those of Hindu and Sikh faith, a US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the House of Representatives.

Introduced by Congressman Mike Honda, the Freedom of Faith Act (HR 4460), will make permanent the special immigrant provision for non-minister religious workers.

The current religious workers program is set to expire in 2015.

When passed by the Congress, the Act would cover religious workers, who provide a variety of services, such as translating for Korean Presbyterian churches, singing as cantors in Jewish temples, delivering sermons as mullahs (clerics) in Muslim mosques, and helping with Hindu pujas during Dussehra, Naimittika, Shivaratri, and Sikh ceremonies such as Akhandpath.

Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Jain, Mormon, Catholic, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim workers would benefit from this.

"For over two decades, Congress has reauthorized this pro-

Introduced by Congressman Mike Honda, the Freedom of Faith Act (HR 4460), will make permanent the special immigrant provision for non-minister religious workers gram time and time again," Honda said.

"It's time we do what's right for our communities of faith and make permanent this program that al-

lows workers who lead worship, officiate events, and offer pastoral care, to receive temporary visas like ministers and faith leaders do," he said.

The move was welcomed by the various religious communities.

"Religious freedom is a bedrock of American society. However, religious freedom is meaningless without access to clergy, religious workers, and houses of worship.

By removing bureaucratic barriers preventing religious workers from serving the American people, the Freedom of Faith Act further strengthens our collective religious freedom," the Hindu American Foundation said.

The Freedom of Faith Act is a common sense solution that ensures religious communities are able to adequately maintain their houses of worship and other religious institutions, the American Jewish Community said.-PTI

Jeb Bush exposes Republicans' immigration problem Cont'd from Page 44

``The worst thing that can happen to a political party is not for voters to decide they don't like you,'' said Alex Castellanos, a Republican consultant and former Romney adviser. ``It's for voters to decide you don't like them, and that's where the Republican Party is right now.''

The Republican National Committee has urged the party to embrace an immigration overhaul, but comprehensive legislation remains stalled in Congress. Action is unlikely in an election year with high stakes. All 435 House seats, and 36 in the Senate, are on state ballots.

Republicans need to gain only six Senate seats to win majority control from Democrats. The political calculus makes the party's core base of voters critical, so House Republicans want to avoid an immigration fight that could

alienate them. But some establishment Republicans say the delay threatens the long-term future of the party. ``It's going to kill the Republican Party,'' said Al Hoffman, a Re-

Republicans need to gain only six Senate seats to win majority control from Democrats. The political calculus makes the party's core base of voters critical publican megadonor who chaired George W. Bush's presidential campaigns.

He and others argue the Republican Party needs a nominee with a ``Nixon-goes-to-China mentality'' - in which the party leader

takes an audacious, if not popular, step - on issues such as immigration. They suggest that's necessary in part to peel away some Hispanic voters from Democrats in 2016.

For Bush, the debate is personal. His wife, Columba, was born and grew up in Mexico. The two met while Bush was an exchange student there; she is now an American citizen.

In an interview with Fox News before an audience at the George Bush Presidential Library in Texas, Bush said immigrants who enter the country illegally should, in fact, pay a penalty. But he added that he viewed such a violation as ``a different kind of crime.'' ``Yes, they broke the law, but it's not a felony,'' he said. ``It's an act of love.''

Hispanics are a crucial voting bloc in an increasing number of swing-voting states, from Florida to Colorado to Nevada.-AP

A

s a push to change U.S. immigration laws stalls, North Carolina farmers have proven adept at legally bringing thousands of temporary agricultural laborers into the United States using a specialized visa program.

The North Carolina Growers Association is the largest single user of what's commonly called the H-2A guest worker program, which allows farmers to hire foreign workers for up to 10 months annually.

It secured permission to bring nearly 8,700 workers into the country during the year ending on Sept.

30, 2012, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Farmers and agriculture regulators elsewhere in the country have occasionally debated duplicating the North Carolina model,

particularly as state governments have cracked down on people working in the country illegally.

After Georgia farmers complained that a new state law was scaring away laborers, the Georgia Department of Agriculture considered whether to create a similar system locally.

However, even its supporters describe the model as the best of several expensive options. ``In most parts of the country, farmers are still figuring a way to eke by,'' said Lee Wicker, deputy director of the North Carolina Growers Association. ``And when they can't, they look at the H-2A program. I'm famous for telling farmers ... if you've got any other way to harvest your crops, H-2A should be your last resort. It's cumbersome, it's expensive.''-AP

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Immigration Post

46 India Post

April 18, 2014

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Obama`s paradoxical deportation policies

P

resident Obama has been called the Deporter in Chief as he has presided over nearly 2 million deportations during his presidency - higher than that of any other President. On the other hand, President Obama has also rolled out some of the most innovative prosecutorial discretion policies, which include granting deferred action to hundreds of thousand immigrants who came to the United States when they were young.

A revealing article in the Los Angeles Times shows that the high number of deportations is largely misleading. The likelihood of an undocumented individual already in the United States who has developed ties being deported has lessened considerably under President Obama.

Even people with removal orders can seek a stay of removal if they establish that they are deserving of prosecutorial discretion under the Morton June 17, 2011 Memo.

Young immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to the age of 16 and who meet other conditions can apply for deferred action, along with work authorization, under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The people who are being deported, and are part of the increased statistics, are those who recently crossed the border without inspection and are apprehended within 100 miles from the border. Under previous administrations, such people were informally bused back outside the United States in what was known as "vol-

CYRUS D. MEHTA

present in the United States without having been admitted or paroled and who are apprehended within 100 miles from the southern border and who also cannot prove that they were physically present in the country continuously for the preceding 14 days.

This rule was expanded to all borders on January 30, 2006.

This is not to suggest that the increased use of expedited removal to recent border crossers does not have devastating effects and should not be remedied through immigration reform measures, since many of these crossers are entering the United States to join family members.

Still, it is the expanded use of expedited removal that has resulted in an increase of deportations, when under prior administrations, such persons were informally returned from the United States without terming them as deportations.

Once a recent border crosser is expeditiously removed, a reentry into the United States also carries severe criminal penalties unlike a 'voluntary return." On the other hand, a person who has been in the United States for a longer period is less likely be placed in the removal proceedings, and even if this person is issued a Notice to Appear before an Immigration Judge, he or she can have a shot at requesting prosecutorial discretion under President Obama's administration than before, which will result in either administrative closure or termination of the case.

Unfortunately, the majority of

The people who are being deported, and are part of the increased statistics, are those who recently crossed the border without inspection and are apprehended within 100 miles from the border. Under previous administrations, such people were informally bused back outside the United States in what was known as "voluntary returns " untary returns." Under the Obama administration, these people are fingerprinted and issued formal deportation orders. INA section 235(b)(1), which was enacted by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, granted authority to expeditiously remove persons at the border who are deemed inadmissible under INA sections 212(a)(6)(C) for making a material misrepresentation or 212(a)(7) for not possessing valid visa documents.

On August 11, 2004, DHS promulgated a rule to expand expedited removal to persons who are

people who came to the attention of the immigration enforcement authorities within the interior, resulting in deportation proceedings, are those who got arrested for minor offenses.

As an aside and consistent with the topic of this article, there are instances when it can be more beneficial for a person to be placed in removal proceedings than not.

Pursuant to INA section 240A(b), an individual who meets 10 years of physical presence, good moral character for this entire period and can demonstrate exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to

qualifying relatives who are either citizens or permanent residents can obtain cancellation of removal, leading to lawful permanent resident status.

The hardship standard is extremely high and needs to be substantially beyond the hardship that

It is the expanded use of expedited removal that has resulted in an increase of deportations, when under prior administrations, such persons were informally returned from the United States without terming them as deportations would ordinarily be expected to result from the alien's deportation, as demonstrated in cases such as Matter of Monreal, 23 I&N Dec. 53 (BIA 2001); Matter of Andazola, 23 I&N Dec. 319 (BIA 2002) where cancellation was denied; and Matter of Recinas, 23 I&N Dec. 467 (BIA 2002) where it was granted. Another advantage of being in removal proceedings is to escape the 3 year bar based on unlawful presence of more than 180 days but less than 1 year pursuant to INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I).

Departing the United States under a grant of voluntary departure, which is issued prior to the alien accruing 1 year of unlawful presence, and after the commencement of proceedings, may allow this alien to reenter the United States without being subject to the 3-year bar.

Finally, another tactical advantage to being placed in removal proceedings is when an application for adjustment of status is denied, and the best way to get a second chance is to have an Immigration Judge review the adjustment application de novo in proceedings.

The irony is that ICE is often reluctant to put a person under these circumstances in removal proceedings because it is does not have the resources, and is also of the view that as an enforcement agency, it is contrary to the agency's mission to place someone in removal so that he or she can ultimately secure an immigration benefit.

One note of caution is that those who came into the United States on a visa waiver should not consider requesting a removal proceeding as they have waived their right to a removal hearing

under INA section 217(b).

President Obama used the increased deportation statistics to show that he was enforcing the law, but this has backfired among his critics. Those who favor stricter enforcement are not satisfied with the record increase in deportations by pointing to the Administration's expanded prosecutorial discretion policies that has resulted in the deferring of thousands of deportations.

Enforcement advocates in Congress use the President's expanded prosecutorial discretion policies, while conveniently ignoring the spike in deportations, as an excuse to delay immigration reform and cooperating with the President. At the same time, immigration advocates and allies have criticized President Obama for increasing deportations without truly bringing about genuine immigration reform.

After the passage of the S. 744, the Senate's immigration reform bill last year, there is now a stalemate where the prospects of immigration reform in the House have almost evaporated despite unanimous agreement that the immigration system is broken.

If President Obama desires to cement his legacy with respect to immigration reform, he may not be able to achieve it through this Congress. In the past, President Obama has indicated that he does not have the authority to further expand prosecutorial discretion, but this may have to change. The only way for the President to fulfill the promise he has made to so

are on the pathway to permanent residency if they are beneficiaries of employment and family immigrant visa petitions. In an eloquent New York Times editorial entitled Yes He Can, On Immigration, the following is worth extracting: "Mr. Obama may argue that he can't be too aggressive in halting deportations because that will make the Republicans go crazy, and there's always hope for a legislative solution. He has often seemed like a bystander to the immigration stalemate, watching the wheels spin, giving speeches and hoping for the best.

It's hard to know when he will finally stir himself to do something big and consequential."

The President must no longer fear doing something big and consequential on the immigration front. Some may justifiably fear that if the President ameliorates the plight of undocumented people through administrative reform measures, another President can quickly undo them; and therefore it is best for Congress to enact immigration reform.

Administrative remedies are clearly no substitute for comprehensive immigration reform passed through Congress, but it would be hard for a future President to undo wise administrative reform measures that provide a fix to a broken immigration system.

For example, DACA benefits have already been granted to hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who have been able to graduate from college and find jobs. It would be politically imprudent for a fu-

The President must no longer fear doing something big and consequential on the immigration front. Some may justifiably fear that if the President ameliorates the plight of undocumented people through administrative reform measures, another President can quickly undo them; and therefore it is best for Congress to enact immigration reform many who voted for him is to go about it on his own through administrative policy changes.

The Executive branch can expand deferred action to a broader group of people, which could include family members of DACA recipients and those who have US citizen children. The prosecutorial discretion guidelines under the Morton Memo ought to be further strengthened to ensure that they are not ignored by ICE officials, as many are wont to do.

The parole in place policy for relatives of military personnel can be expanded to benefit those who

ture President to undo DACA. Indeed, S. 744, the bipartisan reform bill that was passed by the Senate, incorporates DACA and places DACA recipients on a faster track to permanent residency. If President Obama implements bold administrative measures, it would be difficult for a future administration to undo them, and it is likely that a future Congress will have no choice but to readily adopt them into law. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

April 18, 2014

www.indiapost.com

India Post 47

A view of Darling Harbour from Zaaffran.

Pics Preeti Verma Lal

48 India Post

www.indiapost.com

PREETI VERMA LAL

SYDNEY: Drive by the Pyrmont Bridge in Sydney's it as a "special Indian restaurant that all can enjoy".

Darling Harbor. Park in 50 Murray Street parking lot.

Established in 1998, Zaaffran lives up to all the Take an elevator to the first floor of Harbourside Cen- accolades that have come its way and its stated mistre and stop in front of a bright yellowish-saffron sion of serving authentic Indian food with subtle back-lit signage. It reads: Zaaffran. The tagline: Fine flavors and contemporary presentation. Walk in and Indian Cuisine/BBQ. on a table there lie little silvery bowls of spices with Before you step in, you'd love to know why a 'do not touch' warning. On the wooden shelf, Zaaffran is the most talked of Indian restaurant in awards of excellence are stacked. town. The New York Times describes it as "a world The dĂŠcor is simple, the view of the Darling Haraway from almost anything you'd find on the sub- bor absolutely breathtaking. However, it is the food continent". The Australian Gourmet Traveller sug- that makes Zaaffran so special. For chef/partner gests that "to underVikrant Kapoor bestand Zaaffran you lieves that real Indian Before you step in, you'd love to know why must leave all preconfood lies not in comZaaffran is the most talked of Indian ceptions of Indian resmercial kitchens but in taurants behind" and gharanas (households) restaurant in town. The New York Times lauds its "innovative that are replete with describes it as "a world away from almost menu, subtle, masterful treasured old recipes. combinations." The anything you'd find on the subcontinent" Cont'd on Page 49 Sunday Telegraph tags

April 18, 2014

India Post 49

April 18, 2014 www.indiapost.com

When Irrfan got into an argument with Mira Nair

I

rrfan Khan admits that Ashoke Ganguli was one of the most difficult characters he has played and while working on The Namesake, he was often groping in the dark wondering how to make this unobtrusive first-generation Indian immigrant settled in the US, memorable.

He even got into an argument with director Mira Nair over the pronounced Bengali accent, reasoning that a professor, whose job was communicating with his students in English, would have got rid of the accent in three decades. And then he met novelist Jhumpa Lahiri's father, Amar Lahiri, a librarian at the University of Rhode Island, who spoke exactly the way Mira wanted.

"I taped him, without his permission, and listening to his voice, I slowly began to form a picture of

In fact he didn't see it for a long time and was pleasantly surprised when Aditya Bhattacharya called him to say he had no words to describe the film

Deepika's style statement MUMBAI: Deepika Padukone says she finds Rekha and Akshay Kumar to be the best dressed personalities in Bollywood.

"I like the way Rekha dresses the way she wants to. Trends come and go but she stands by what she believes in. I like that approach. Among men, Akshay is best dressed. His effortlessness (in dressing) makes him look good. He is athletic and this adds to the way he carries himself," Deepika said, making her debut as a designer with the Van Heusen Autumn Winter Collection.

Though Deepika launched a clothing line with Van Heusen, which also put together a fashion show to showcase her collection, she claimed that her mother influenced her dressing style even today and that she is not at all brand conscious. -PTI

Ashoke in my mind," the actor reminisces. Ashoke is a reticent character who didn't express much and Irrfan admits he didn't expect him to make much of an impression on the audience. He didn't see the film in New York, Toronto or Venice.

In fact he didn't see it for a long time and was pleasantly surprised when Aditya Bhattacharya called him to say he had no words to describe the film. Curiously, Irrfan asked him about Ashoke and Aditya replied, "He's the character you come out of the theatre remembering." That struck him as odd since Ashoke dies early in the film. So, when in New York he saw the film for the first time and was overwhelmed by the response.

"One lady was crying in front of my photograph, another came up to thank me. Parents who saw it immediately called their children to recommend a watch and vice versa. After it came to India I got a lovely message from Sharmila Tagore who had taken my breath away in Apur Sansar saying, 'Thank your parents for giving you birth.' It was amazing that a film could strike a chord across generations and continents," he muses.

Ranbir-Katrina plan live-in

F

ollowing his cousin Kareena Kapoor's footsteps, Ranbir Kapoor has also decided to live-in with his girlfriend Katrina Kaif before marriage. Since the couple hardly get time to spend with each other due to work commitments, they have decided to just stay together.

A Saharasamay report says that Ranbir has decided to move out of his Pali Hill family residence, Krishna Raj, where he hitherto was staying with his parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, and will now buy his own apartment where he can move in with Katrina.

Quoting a source, the report adds he has already spoken to a few builders and is looking for a big apartment situated somewhere between Bandra and Juhu. The actor will visit the apartments shortlisted by his agent personally before he finally selects his love nest for his alleged lady love.

Special Indian restaurant in Sydney Cont'd from Page 48

As such, the lunch/dinner dishes retain the exotic names.

Nizam Karahi Murgh, Birbal Nali, Bhoona masaledar chaampaey, Raj kachori, Achari paneer, among several others make it to the menu.

Desserts include pyramid of rose, lychee and pistachio ice cream; caramelized orange reduction, Toblerone-inspired pyramid; chocolate sauce; marinated strawberries, kulfi, gulab jamun.

And yes, the world's smallest dessert. A vanilla or pistachio ice cream scoop so small you could gulp it at one go. Just so that the

kids do not feel left out, there is a special kids menu that includes cumin-scented potatoes with naan, lentils with rice, butter chicken with rice, etc.

That's not all, though. If you sign up for Zaaffran VIP Birthday Club, you eat free on your birthday. You can also purchase gift vouchers for your loved ones.

And when you are done with a scrumptious meal, look out towards the harbor and see Sydney glimmer in a million neon lights.

Perhaps there is no other place where you can get such great view with great food.

Datebook

50 India Post

April 18, 2014

www.indiapost.com

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Fri, Apr 18 • Ghazal - Hariharan Live In Concert Venue: Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving St, Rahway, NJ 07065 Time: 8:00pm

Fri, May 2 • Madhura Delights Presents Girls night out !

Venue: RASOI III, 620 Geoges Road, Manmouth JN, NJ 08852 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 609-436-9890

Sat, May 3 • Natya-aalinganam 2014– Embracing Dance Venue: Lawrence High School Auditorium, 2525 Princeton Pike, Lawrence, NJ 08648 Time: 2: 30 pm

Sat, Apr 26 • Vaisakhi Mela 2014 Venue: Colden Center, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 516-852-2222

Sun, Apr 20 • Raaga Lahari - Telugu Music Concert

Sun, Apr 20 • Raaga Lahari - Telugu Music Concert

Venue: India Community Center, 525

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of Month

Venue: India Community Center, 525 Los

Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org

Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA 95035

Fri, May 2

Time: 5:00 pm

• An Evening Of Indian Classic Music

Contact: 408-242-3484

Venue: New York Insight Meditation Center, 28 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001 Time: 08:00 pm Contact : 718-672-3211

Fri, April 25 • Simply Bhangra Nights With

Sun, May 4 • Carnatic Violin Duet - Lalgudi G.j.r.krishnan Vijayalakshmi

And

Lalgudi

Venue: American-Scandinavian Foundation, 58 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016 Time : 2:00 pm Contact : 732-433-0836

Coches Street, Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 5:30 pm

Live Dholi

Sat, May 3 • Udit Narayan - Alka Yagnik Live In Concert

Venue: Agenda Lounge, 399 South 1st

Venue: Jordan High School Auditorium,

Street, San Jose, CA 95113, USA, San

6500 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805

Jose, CA 95113

Time: 6:00 pm

Time : 9:00 pm Contact:

Contact: 310-715-3030

408-569-2417

Sat, May 3 • Udit Narayan - Alka Yagnik Live In Concert Venue: Jordan High School Auditorium, 6500 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805 Time: 6 pm Contact: 310-715-3030

June 5th to 8th • Ugadi Celebrations Prana Prathishta Mahotsavam of Anjaneya Swami, Ayyappa Swami, Durga Matha, Nava Graha's and Sri Kanyaka Parameswari (Vasavi Matha)

ATLANTA Upcoming Sat, Apr 19 • Vaisakhi Celebration 2014 Venue: Ashiana Global Mall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 7:00pm

Sun, Apr 20 • Hariharan Live in Concert Mehfil-e-Ghazal & Geet Venue: Grand Ball Room, 6100 Live Oak Pkwy, Norcross, GA 30093 Time: 6:00 pm

Venue: Hindu Temple of St Louis, 725

Sun, May 18 • Klose To My Soul Sonu Nigam Live In Concert

Weidman Road, St. Louis, MO 63011

Venue: Atlanta Civic Center, 395, Pied-

Time: 6 pm

mont Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Contact: (636) - 230-3300

Time: 7:00 pm

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 Website: www.jkyog.org/bal-mukund

Fri, 16 May

• Klose To My Soul - Sonu Nigam Venue: Sears Centre Arena - Chicago, IL, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 Time : 08:30 pm

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

Classifieds

April 18, 2014

India Post 51

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PROPERTY FOR SALE IN MUMBAI

PROPERTY FOR SALE IN BANGALORE

Luxurious 5 Bed, 6 bath 3730 sq. ft duplex apartment with 1380 sq. ft private garden + servants room having attached bath in Ashok Towers, next to ITC Hotel in Parel. Apt is in premium 18 acre complex with club house, swimming pool, tennis, squash, badminton courts, football field and jogging track. Excellent maintenance.

Premium 3 Bed, 3 Bath apartment in Mantri Classic in Koramangala. Complex has swimming pool, landscaped gardens, squash and badminton courts, club house with gymnasium and steam room, table tennis and pool tables, indoor games, back up generator, water treatment plant and many other modern amenities.

Interested parties please contact

Interested parties please contact

+91-98-1991-5452 or email: jumanshi@rediffmail.com

+91-99-2033-8230 or email: jumanshi@rediffmail.com

RESTAURANT FOR SALE/RENT

WANTED FINANCE MANAGER

Tel:

Well equipped & very nicely furnished Indian Restaurant on SALE & RENT located in the heart of Devon Ave Market.

Best location in Chicago. Only serious enquiries please.

Call: 312-479-5506

Tel:

MATRIMONIALS BRIDE-GROOM WANTED LOOKING FOR BRIDECITIZEN OR GREEN CARD HOLDER

For a New Jersey based Jain boy, 25, 5’11” well built, graduated in computer science from NIU university-near Chicago, presently working as a senior software engineer in I-GATE solutions in NJ. Good family backgroundfather a journalist and mother a former bank employee in Mumbai.

Contact: Pratima at 98212 61134 or e mail : pratimadshah@gmail.com or Madhav at 815-793-7277 or e-mail

smadhav88@gmail.com

NEWS on your desktop www.indiapost.com

FINANCE MANAGER WANTED URGENTLY. ANY WORK EXPERIENCE CAN APPLY. MUST BE ACCURATE, COMPUTER LITERATE, HAVE GOOD TYPING SKILLS AND HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF COMMUNICATION.

WILL EARN $3040 MONTHLY. Email at

georgecorney001@gmail.com for application

Horoscope

52 India Post

April 18, 2014

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Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

APRIL 18 TH - APRIL 24 TH , 2014 (March 21 to April 20)

Y

ou are just inches away from hitting the bulls eye and it can happen any day after 14th. Financial rewards will be much greater than earlier anticipated. Help will come from totally unexpected place to overcome a tricky situation. You may attend a social event with family. Spouse may complain of some aches and pains.

(September 23 to October 22)

Y

ou will keep gathering opinion from people close to back up your plans. The decision will not be easy but you will make up your mind to relocate and start working towards making it a grand success. Expenses will come down a lot this week. You may attend an important meeting and spend some quality time with a famous person.

(October 23 to November 22)

(April 21 to May 20)

T

he situation will be now or never. It will be better to go for it with full swing. Money you need will definitely become available when the real time comes. You may purchase some advanced electronics gadget for personal use.Some one close will try to test your patience, stay calm. You will start cutting down on sweets from now.

I

f you play your cards right and stick to your demands, the other side will come to your terms quickly. You will also overcome a major road block in your career with the help of an influential person. You may feel little nervous about a child not doing well lately.

Bank balance will continue to grow with fast pace.

(November 23 to December 22)

(May 21 to June 20)

L

ife will finally take a dramatic turn for better and the opportunity will be not less than a financial jackpot and you will reap rich rewards for a very long time to come. A needy friend will benefit from your advise. You will start working on an important business trip.

A child not doing well lately will clear all difficulties.

C

hild will be given a lucrative offer to join right after finishing college. You may be asked for additional paper work to get the clearance or approval. You may visit an old friend with family this week. Some of you may also give final shape to an upcoming trip. It will be better to hold on to stocks recently purchased.

(June 21 to July 22)

I

mprovements or changes you had been waiting for in career can take place this week. A big refund may also show up in mail or bank account. Value of stocks recently purchased will shot up and it will be better to hold on to them only for another two weeks. Idea of taking an overseas trip will continue to boggle your mind.

(December 22 to January 19)

F

or those looking for a job exalted Venus will help find one, though it might be less than expectations, but will be a great help to make a come back. People in business will experience slight delay in getting their plans implemented. Some one close will give very practical piece of advice, have an open mind.

(July 23 to August 22)

S

trong Sun will bring confidence back. Most of the issues will get resolved in first attempt. People in business will add new product and need to invest heavily this week. You may need more evidence or paper work to resolve a legal matter. Spouse may ask you to be more diplomatic when dealing with some people you do not like.

(January 20 to February 18)

P

lanets are in right order to help you with your plans and you should strike with full force. Strong Venus in second will give several opportunities to make some easy money this week.

You may take family out to a nice place and relish some good food.

You may also start some kind of loan process also for business.

(August 23 to September 22)

P

eople prone to blood pressure problem should be extra careful for next several weeks. There is no harm in keeping an eye on bank balance on regular basis and and avoid big purchases.

Pressure at work will increase and the help will be hard to find. Chances are still very strong to get some money from speculation or lottery.

PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations.

He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

(February 19 to March 20)

M

aintain a safe distance from a female you met recently . Value of stocks recently purchased will shot up suddenly and it will be a great idea to dispose them off and wait another week to buy them back. Some of you may start gathering papers to apply for a home loan. Party will be good but avoid driving under the influence.

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Philosophy

April 18, 2014

India Post 53

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he bus lumbered to a halt, expelling the acrid odor of exhaust fumes and hot rubber into the warm spring air.

As I took my place in line, I suddenly felt my ears stop up like they do when the pressure changes inside an airplane as it makes its descent. I felt cut off from the scene before me, as if I were enclosed in a bubble, unable to act in any but the most mechanical manner.

I lifted my right foot to step up into the bus and collided head-on with an invisible force that entered my awareness like a silently exploding stick of dynamite, blowing the door of my usual consciousness open and off its hinges, splitting me in two.

In the gaping space that appeared, what I had previously called "me" was forcefully pushed out of its usual location inside me into a new location that was approximately a foot behind and to the left of my head. "I" was now behind my body looking out at the world without using the body's eyes.

From a non-localized position somewhere behind and to the left, I could see my body in front and very far away. All the body's signals seemed to take a long time to be picked up in this non-localized place, as if they were light coming SWAMI RAMDAS

T

here are no external signs to mark out a God-realized saint. He does not grow a horn. But he is always full of bliss.

He is happy under all conditions.

No miracles can be expected from him, as a matter of course. But they are sometimes done by him by God's will, without his intention to perform them.

Satsang or association with a saint is indeed valuable. But it must be of the right kind. Internal contact must be established. Otherwise there is danger of the aspirant's mind getting externalized and remaining attached to the physical person of the saint, missing the impersonal Truth which the saint embodies. Without reaching the depths of the inner Reality represented by the saint, one cannot reap the full benefits of Satsang.

One must take care not fall into the error of thinking that a saint's grace can be won by adoring merely his body and serving him without looking upon all beings as his expressions and serving them with an equal vision. There is nothing more dangerous to an aspirant than narrow, personal attitude. His progress depends on the extent to which he is able to expand his heart and universalize his outlook.

One cannot rise beyond a certain stage of spiritual advancement

from a distant star. Terrified, I looked around, wondering if anyone else had noticed something.

All the other passengers were calmly taking their seats, and the bus driver was motioning me to put my yellow ticket into the machine so we could be off.

I shook my head a few times, hoping to rattle my consciousness back into place, but nothing changed. I felt from afar as my fingers fumbled to insert the ticket

pletely disconnected from it. The face of the woman next to me seemed far away, and the air between us seemed foggy, as if filled with a thick, luminous soup. She turned to gaze out the window for a moment, then reached up to pull the cord to signal the driver to let her off at the next stop. When she rose, I slid over into her seat by the window and bid her goodbye with a smile. I could feel sweat rolling down my arms and beading up

the body's mouth, and hearing through the body's ears.

The force of will failed miserably. Instead of experiencing through the physical senses, I was now bobbing behind the body like a buoy on the sea. Cut loose from sensory solidity, separated from and witnessing the body from a vast distance, I moved down the street like a cloud of awareness following a body that seemed simultaneously familiar and foreign.

An invisible force entered my awareness like dynamite

Suzanne Segal

The force of will failed miserably. Instead of experiencing through the physical senses, I was now bobbing behind the body like a buoy on the sea. Cut loose from sensory solidity and separated from and witnessing the body

into the slot and I walked down the aisle to find a seat. I sat down next to an older woman I had been chatting with at the bus stop, and I tried to continue our conversation. My mind had completely ground to a halt in the shock of the abrupt collision with whatever had dislodged my previous reality.

Although my voice continued speaking coherently, I felt com-

on my face. I was terrified.

The bus arrived at my stop on the rue Lecourbe, and I got off. As I walked the three blocks home, I attempted to pull myself back into one piece by focusing on my body and willing myself back into it where I thought I belonged in order to regain the previously normal sensation of seeing through the body's eyes, speaking through

There was an incomprehensible attachment to that body, although it no longer felt like "mine." It continued to send out signals of its sensory perceptions, yet how or where those signals were being received was beyond comprehension.

Excerpted from 'Collision with the Infinite' published by Blue Dove Press

if he is bound to any institution.

In spiritual matters, the best rules are those which are not made by others but self-imposed - by the Guru form within. A tree does not grow in the shade of another tree, but gets stunted. It can grow fully only in the open. So also you must have a free and open atmosphere for your spiritual growth.

One may receive light and inspiration from saints and sages, but one must have an atmosphere of freedom in which to develop

welling God is none other than your Guru who initiated you from outside as a human being. Guru is the immortal, all-pervading Spirit.

Never look upon him as a mere person. If you develop this attitude from the beginning, you will realize that the Guru never dies.

You will never feel his absence as he is eternally within you.

because God is everywhere and not only in forests and caves. He is in us, with us and all about us. To seek Him, we need not go anywhere.

The examples of Buddha, Chaitanya and Vivekananda are not for all to follow. They are rare cases in which God made them renounce the external ties also so that they might freely serve all mankind.

When God wants us to undertake such a glorious mission, by all means, let us not resist the current

Renunciation It is not by mere external renunciation that one attains God. There

one's nature, independent of all external interference or guidance.

By depending always on guidance from without the disciple does not look within and rely on God who dwells in the heart.

So get inspiration from saints, but do not think of taking shelter permanently in any Ashram. Live alone in a free atmosphere. Then God within will lead you. The ind-

are so may who have externally renounced and gone to the forests but have not realized Him. It is not necessary that one should externally renounce anything. It is not the outer condition that matters so much as one's inner state of mind.

If we dedicate our life to God and live in His light, it does not matter where we live. We can live in the family and still realize Him,

It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.

- Saint Augustine When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

- Khalil Gibran If there was less sympathy in the world, there would be less trouble in the world.

- Oscar Wilde Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.

- Norman Cousins

For spiritual growth, do not be bound to any institution The indwelling God is none other than your Guru who initiated you from outside as a human being. Guru is the immortal, all-pervading Spirit. Never look upon him as a mere person.

What does love look like?

Almost all of our sorrows spring out of our relations with other people.

- Arthur Schopenhauer

Swami Ramdas

when it comes to sweep away our narrow limitations. Sri Krishna and Janaka in their lives have shown that even for the work of Lokasangraha, the normal duties of life that fall to our lot need not be abandoned. To attain Moksha for oneself, willful breaking off from external ties is not at all necessary.

Excerpted from 'Thus Speaks Ramdas' published by Anandashram

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.

- Confucius There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.

- Aeschylus

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April 18, 2014

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Oman's Duqm port and US exit from Afghanistan

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he US is keenly following developments in Duqm, an Omani port overlooking the Indian Ocean, and a number of US defense, military and civilian personnel have visited Oman in this connection. British Royal Navy ships have called at Duqm, and in 2010, HMS Enterprise conducted a hydrographic survey of approaches to the harbor.

Likewise, HMS Echo has carried out logistic assessments of the port for future visits by Royal Navy ships. In March 2014, sixteen warships from the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) member navies were sighted in the port preparing for joint naval and live firing exercises in the Arabian Sea. Although

VIJAY SAKHUJA

First, the port offers the US Navy the ability to operate in the Arabian Sea without the fear of being 'bottled up' in the Persian Gulf in the event of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In the past, Iran has threatened to close the Strait in case of an attack on its nuclear facility.

Iran has the capability to disrupt international shipping through the Hormuz by using sea mines that can hit shipping particularly the 20-30 oil and gas tankers which exit the Persian Gulf each day.

The second driver is the possible US plan to use Duqm for shipping home military hardware after its withdrawal from Afghanistan. The logistic expediency of

Duqm port in Oman

Duqm does not have any military infrastructure, the above reports suggest that it could emerge as a strategic naval outpost in the Indian Ocean.

Till very recently, Duqm was a small fishing harbor and the township had a population of about few thousand people; most of them belonging to the Bedouin tribe.

The ongoing developments at the port are part of a larger Omani plan to turn Duqm into an industrial city, create a Special Economic Zone, and complement the other Omani ports of Fujairah and Salalah which dot the 2,000 km coastline overlooking the Indian Ocean.

According to the master plan, Duqm port would have a huge dry dock, receive vessels of up to 180,000 dwt and handle containers - dry, liquid and other cargo which can also be linked to the proposed GCC rail network.

There are at least two reasons for the US interest in Duqm port.

transporting military hardware back home has been studied and it is estimated that nearly 20,000 containers would be required to pack US$7 billion worth of military equipment, particularly the 20-tonne Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles which are priced as high as US$1 million.

The other option for the US is to avoid heavy transportation costs and transfer the MRAPs to Afghanistan or Pakistan.

The US view is that the Afghan Army is not capable of operating and maintaining these sophisticated and complex vehicles. As far as Pakistan is concerned, there have been several rounds of talks for the transfer of MRAPs which would help it to fight the Taliban insurgents.

It appears that the US is not satisfied with Pakistan's attempts to crack down on terrorism and support US anti-terrorism goals in the region, which may rule out

a transfer of MRAPs. Further, Islamabad's silence over the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan looms large over the US decision to transfer military hardware to Pakistan. Also, the US would not like to annoy India and Afghanistan by transferring military equipment to Pakistan.

This would certainly disappoint Pakistan who may not offer guarantees for the safe transit of US convoys carrying military hardware to the port of Karachi for transshipment. There is a history of attacks on the US/NATO supply chains that transit through the provinces of Sindh, Punjab, Peshawar and the Khyber Pass and thereafter into Afghanistan.

Given the uncertainties, Duqm offers good facilities for transshipment of US military hardware.

US and Oman enjoy robust relations and signed the Base Access Agreement in 1980 which was renewed in 1985, 1990, 2000, and 2010. Under the agreement, the US military uses a number of Omani military, air and naval facilities; these were effectively put to use in Iraq and now in Afghanistan.

Oman has followed a balanced foreign policy and has maintained friendly relations with GCC member countries and neighbors, particularly Iran. It was instrumental in the release of the 15 Royal British Navy personnel captured by Iranian forces in 2007.

In 2011, Oman used its good offices with Iran for the release of three American hikers that were suspected to be engaged in espionage in Iran.

In recent times, Oman facilitated and brokered a dialogue between the US and Iran to break the impasse over the nuclear talks much to the disappointment of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and some other Gulf states. In essence, Oman's proactive diplomacy to ensure stability in the Arabian Gulf is acknowledged by the US. The writer is Director (Research) Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi.

Courtesy IPCS

India Post Mother & son

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hat Sanjaya Baru, the former media advisor to the Prime Minister of India, has said in his recent book about the relationship between Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi has not come as a revelation. It was generally known that Sonia Gandhi was the power behind the throne and Manmohan Singh was just a puppet carrying out her wishes. The details he has provided of Sonia's interference in cabinet formation and policy matters only confirms what had always been suspected. The Prime Minister's Office, as expected, has denied the charges and said the book "smacks of fiction and colored views." That the principal actors have not themselves reacted to the general view, accepted in the country, midway through the elections only reinforces the suspicion. BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has been openly saying that a mother's love for her son has ruined the country's economy, compromised India's security and increased opportunities for corruption at the very top level.

Rahul Gandhi has been a reluctant politician, trying to hide when issues of concern require an answer or demand some action.

Sonia Gandhi herself has not been a transparent actor. It is only by surmise that the media came to interpret the developments, the appointments and postings at the top level as having the stamp of 10 Janpath, the famous home of Sonia Gandhi. Now that she is not in best of health, she has pushed her son into the limelight where he continues to appear insincere in his pronouncements. When he talks of women's empowerment or education at the lower levels, or any other promise, he gets a question which is not always asked out of politeness. Is it the time for making more promises on the same issues which have been afflicting the country? What were you doing in the last five years when you were in government? It is during the tenure of your government that the economy has run aground; prices of common man's commodities have shot up and the issue of women's security has taken on new urgency.

On what grounds do you demand re-election? Just to perpetuate the dynasty?

It is not nice to see a young man being thrust on a job he doesn't like. He could better be enjoying race driving in Italy.

Or some other fond outdoor activity in a European setting.

There is no sincerity in what he has been forced to do by his mother. And herein lies the reason for the decline of the Congress party even as the president of party wasted time over strategies to anoint her son.

Manmohan Singh has been a pliant partner in this fiasco.

According to the book if he had not been hamstrung by 10 Janpath, he might have performed better and the country would also not have seen the economic mishaps and the corruption scandals. He had to tolerate the corrupt in his cabinet to please the party president.

Even today Sonia Gandhi has not come forward to accept the responsibility for the wrong decisions that have cost the country and are still harming it. It is by divine grace the country has enjoyed this period without any serious terrorist action. Otherwise, AK Antony, the worthy she has appointed as defense minister, would not have been able to cope in time of a disaster. Under his watch questions are being raised about the preparedness of the armed forces thus endangering security of the country. There have been a rash of accidents in the Navy owning responsibility for which the Navy chief has resigned but the minister of defense stays on. No replacement has been named a month after the Navy chief quit. General complaints have been there for a long time about shortage of defense equipment whose acquisition has been stopped for fear of being accused of corruption; a fear that dates back to the Bofors scandal which still continues to tarnish the first family.

April 18, 2014

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