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Loretta Sanchez lands in soup over racial slur
VOL 20, No. 1079
May 22, 2015
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Periodical Postage
S KOREA PLEDGES $10 BN FOR INDIA INFRA
Obama recalls trip to India, Modi friendship Details on page 9
Jindal close to announcing presidential bid
Details on page 10
Indians in US adopt villages in Andhra
Details on page 9
Nine dead as gangs clash at Texas restaurant
Details on page 10
Details on page 11
Indian-origin 'Chicken King' tops UK rich list
Asians allege racial bias in admissions
Details on page 11
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Indian-American policeman wins award Details on page 11
INDIA POST SURVEY survey@indiapost.com This week’s question
Modi’s China visit was a breakthrough? Last week’s result
ISI should itself come clear on Osama issue? YES 89%
NO 11%
CONTENTS INFRA BOOST: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chairman, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Choi Kil-seon at the Hyundai Heavy
Bollywood ---------------------- 30-31
Industries Shipyard, in Ulsan, South Korea on May 19. Modi is back home after wrapping up his six-day tour that took him to China, Mongolia and South Korea where he held bilateral talks and signed several pacts to bolster India's relations with the three countries.
Classifieds ------------------------- 48
SEOUL: South Korea has pledged USD 10 billion for financing infrastructure projects, including smart cities and railways, in India. This came during a summit meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the ExportImport Bank of Korea expressed their intention to provide USD 10 billion for mutual cooperation in infrastructure, said a joint statement issued after the meeting.
The USD 10-billion pledge comprises "Economic Development Cooperation Fund (USD 1 billion) and export credits (USD 9 billion) for priority sectors, including smart cities, railways, power generation and transmission, and other sectors to be agreed", it added. The Modi-government has identified infrastructure as a key priority area to revive the economy. Modi's Korea visit was aimed at getting Korean investment in sectors like ship-building, which is lagging due to non- availability of technology in India. Details on page 5
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his June 1st, nurses at the King Edward Memorial hospital in Mumbai would have celebrated Aruna Shanbaug's birthday as they have been doing over the last four decades. But just short of two weeks to her 67th birthday, Aruna breathed her last after living in a vegetative state brought on by a brutal sexual assault 42 years ago by a ward attendant at that same hospital where she worked as a nurse. These past couple of years, India has been under the world's glare for increasingly brutal sexual assaults on women, leading to the dubious moniker of rape capital of the world. It is no consolation that India is not really the world's rape capital and that statistically the high rankers of reported cases of sexual assault are in the most advanced nations including the US and many in Europe. Of all the crimes that man is capable of committing, rape is perhaps one that evokes the most confusing kind of emotions among people as it not only brings one face to face with a debasing sense of violation but also sometimes gives rise to the question of whether the victim was to be blamed for it. Well, I do not know how anyone can explain cases such as that of Aruna or Nirbhaya, but unfortunately many young women are subjected to moral and character scrutiny by a hypocritical society that would rather not deal with such uncomfortable truths as being part of the society that collectively shapes the heinous perpetrators. Aruna was only 25 when she was raped and left paralyzed and comatose by her attacker. If there ever was a heartrending story of a beautiful life cut short owing to man's depravity, it is that of Aruna. And it is important that we know what happened to her, because ultimately the conversation has to come to redefining the male stereotype. Aruna's life has not been in vain as it helped shape important legislation in India with regard to euthanasia. It also brought hope in the form of the selfless nurses who took care of her for 42 long years. Humanity does thrive against savagery.
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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Special equation Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone might be termed as ex in real but in reel life they share a great chemistry.
Cover Story: Modi visit South Korea has pledged $10 billion for financing infrastructure projects, including smart cities and railways, in India.
Community: Gujarat Day Gujarat Day turned out to be a huge success besides being unique in raising funds for earthquake victims in Nepal.
AAPI Summit The White House hosted a Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at The George Washington University.
Life style: Gandhi in Durban In Phoenix Settlement, South Africa Mahatma Gandhi had lived for 21 years in a modest house called Sarvodaya.
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Top priorities Making taxation more reasonable and improving ease of doing business are now top priorities for India
Pelling Pelling is a small laid back town in the state of Sikkim located near the foothills of fascinating Kanchenjunga mountain
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May 22, 2015
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S Korea pledges $10 bn for India infra SEOUL: South Korea has pledged USD 10 billion for financing infrastructure projects, including smart cities and railways, in India. This came during a summit meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Export-Import Bank of Korea expressed their intention to provide USD 10 billion for mutual cooperation in infrastructure, said a joint statement issued after the meeting. The USD 10-billion pledge comprises "Economic Development Cooperation Fund (USD 1 billion) and export credits (USD 9 billion) for priority sectors, including smart cities, railways, power generation and transmission, and other sectors to be agreed", it added. The Modi-government has identified infrastructure as a key priority area to revive the economy. Modi's Korea visit was aimed at getting Korean investment in sectors like ship-building, which is lagging due to non- availability of technology in India.
The Indian government, it said, expressed its hope to discuss partnership with Korea with an aim to modernize the Indian ship-building industry. "The governments of both countries decided to provide support for facilitating private
to cooperate in audio-visual coproduction. The agreement in this regard is being signed under the provisions of India-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and would enable co-production of films,
Korea.
Boundless possibilities At a banquet hosted in his honor by South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye, at the delegation Level Talks between India and South Korea, in Seoul, South Korea on May 18
sector discussion on ways to cooperate in this area," it said. A Joint Working Group that includes the government and private sectors of the two countries will be established to facilitate coop-
animation and broadcasting programs. The pact would enable opportunities for collaboration between Indian and Korean film industries, and facilitate collabora-
were "boundless" possibilities for cooperation with South Korea in India's economic transformation and the two countries will prosper when the region is peaceful. "We are two major Asian de-
Narendra Modi addressing at 6th Asian Leadership Conference, in Seoul, South Korea on May 19
The statement further said President Park welcomed India's 'Make in India' initiative as it provides new avenues to enrich and add substance to bilateral relations. Modi invited Korea to become a privileged partner in 'Make in India' "to which President Park conveyed her appreciation," the statement said. The leaders called upon the business community from India and Korea to leverage the enormous synergies between their economies for mutual prosperity. The statement further said the leaders welcomed the interest of companies of the two countries in co-operation in the area of ship-building, including the construction of Indian vessels such as LNG carriers.
We will prosper when the region is peaceful and our sea lanes are secure and free. We know that we must be secure in our cyber world and safe in our physical world," he said.
eration in the shipbuilding sector.
Seven pacts India and South Korea inked seven agreements including the one on avoidance of double taxation and formalizing consultations between National Security Councils of the two nations, to boost bilateral ties. The agreements were signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye here. The India-South Korea Double Taxation Avoidance Convention signed in 1985 has been revised with a view to avoiding the burden of double taxation on taxpayers in the two countries. The two nations also agreed
tion and exchange. The two nations also signed an MOU for cooperation between the National Security Council Secretariat of India and the Office of National Security of South
mocracies. We have boundless possibilities for cooperation in India's economic transformation and our shared progress," Modi said. "Our destinies are linked with the future of Asia and the Pacific.
Meeting the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in Seoul
Asia of unity Addressing the Asian Leadership Forum, Modi warned that "rivalries" will hold Asia back. Countries of the region should collectively tackle challenges like terrorism, an endeavor in which India will assume its responsibility. "Asia of rivalries will hold us back. Asia of unity will shape the world," he said while making a strong pitch for collective efforts by the regional countries for prosperity and inclusive growth. The Prime Minister said it was the "collective task" of countries in the region to fight against the common challenges of terrorism, trans-national crimes, natural disasters and diseases.
Talks with UN Chief In his remarks at the Asia Leadership Forum in the South Korean capital, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon thanked Modi for his "strong partnership and leadership not only as an Asian regional leader but also global leadership." The UN chief met with Modi and discussed climate change and Security Council reform among other topics, Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters. "The Secretary-General underscored that 2015 would be a year for global action, as the new sustainable development goals are expected to be adopted in September at the General Assembly," Haq said. Ban also expressed the hope that Modi himself would represent India at the September summit in the city. Cont’d on page 6
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Modi tour bolsters ties with three countries ULSAN, South Korea: Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for home after wrapping up his sixday tour that took him to China, Mongolia and South Korea where he held bilateral talks and signed several pacts to bolster India's relations with the three countries.
with the confidence that our ties will get even better and our relationship will benefit people of our nations," he said. Modi, who began his trip with China, held wide-ranging talks with the leadership of the three nations and also wooed investors
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Republic of Korea,Park Geun-hye making Press Statements, in Seoul, South Korea on May 18
"My visit to the Republic of Korea has been very satisfying. I thank the Korean people & Government for their warm hospitality," Modi tweeted before he emplaned for Delhi from here after meeting Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo. "Meetings with President Park Geun-hye and business leaders were fruitful. Many aspects of strengthening India-Korea cooperation were discussed. I leave
for his 'Make in India' campaign. In South Korea, the final destination of his three-nation tour, Modi and President Park held discussions and resolved to add "new substance, speed and content" covering defense, trade and investment, and regional cooperation to take the bilateral ties to a qualitatively higher level. South Korea decided to provide USD 10 billion to India for infrastructure, development of
smart cities, railways, power generation and other diversified areas as the two countries agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a "Special Strategic Partnership". He began his three-day visit to China from Xi'an, the hometown of Chinese President Xi Jinping with whom he held "very substantive" discussions focusing on strengthening of mutual trust and the boundary issue. Modi also held talks with his counterpart Li Keqiang and pushed for clarifying the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Prime Minister then headed to Mongolia for the first ever visit by an Indian Premier to the country. Modi held wide-ranging discussions with his Mongolian counterpart Chimed Saikhanbileg and the two leaders pledged to take bilateral economic partnership to a new level. During the visit, India also announced a USD one billion credit line to Mongolia for infrastructure development as the two countries upgraded their ties to "Strategic Partnership" and agreed to deepen defense cooperation besides exploring potential for tie ups in areas like the civil nuclear sector. Modi's visit to the three countries also had its share of color and light moments as he was seen clicking selfies with leaders and common people, shooting arrows and playing musical instruments.PTI
Addressing the CEOs Forum and Business Meet, in Seoul, South Korea on May 19
Stoles inscribed with Tagore's poem SEOUL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented President Park Geun-hye two finely woven pashmina stoles on which a poem that Rabindranath Tagore had written specially for Korea is hand embroidered in English and Korean. "Presented President Park Geun-hye two finely woven pashmina stoles in which
Rabindranath Tagore's poem for Korea is hand embroidered," Modi tweeted. "The poem Gurudev Tagore specially wrote for Korea is hand embroidered in English and Korean," he said in another tweet. Tagore's poem on Korea, embroidered on the beige-colored stoles, was published in 1929 in the Korean daily 'Dong-A Ilbo'.
S Korea pledges $10 bn for India infra Cont’d from page 5
Lifting global economy South Korean President Park Geun-hye said "Modinomics" and Korea's "3.0 economic plan" can combine to become central drivers for lifting the global economy. Addressing the first meeting of the newly set up India- South Korea CEOs Forum, Park said, "Modinomics and Korea's 3.0 economic plan can combine to become central drivers for lifting the global economy," according to a tweet by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup. Park also proposed strengthening of cooperation between India and South Korea in the manufacturing, creative economy and new energy industries.
Time to 'Act East' Modi took another jibe at pre-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Friends of India in Republic of Korea, in Seoul, South Korea on May 19
vious governments which practiced 'Look East' policy, saying India has had enough of it and it's
time to 'Act East'. "Earlier, it was 'Look East Policy'. We have had enough of looking east.
We now have 'Act East Policy' - a key component of my government's foreign policy," Modi told Indian
Diaspora during a community reception at the Kyung Hee University here in the South Korean capital..-PTI
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$1 bln credit to Mongolia; deeper defense ties ULAN BATOR: India has announced a USD one billion credit line to Mongolia for infrastructure development as they upgraded their ties to "Strategic Partnership" and agreed to deepen defense cooperation besides exploring potential for tie ups in areas like the civil nuclear sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a two-day visit to Mongolia, the first ever by an Indian Premier, held wide-ranging discussions with his Mongolian counterpart Chimed Saikhanbileg and the two leaders pledged to take bilateral economic partnership to a new level. "I am pleased to announce that India will provide a Line of Credit of USD one billion to support expansion of Mongolia's
cific region. We can work together to help advance peace, stability and prosperity in this region." After their talks, the two Prime Ministers signed a joint statement committing to further consolidate bilateral ties and upgrade the comprehensive partnership to "strategic partnership" and agreed to renew their Treaty of Friendly Relations and Cooperation. The two sides inked 13 other pacts that includes one on enhancing cooperation in border guarding, policing and surveillance, air services, cyber security and new and renewable energy. Threat of terrorism Prime Minister Modi later addressed the State Great Hural, the Mongolian Parliament, which was
Narendra Modi and President of Mongolia, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj taking a selfie, in Mongolia on May 17
economic capacity and infrastructure," Modi said at a joint press interaction with Saikhanbileg at the State Palace here. "Today, Mongolia is also an integral part of India's Act East Policy," he said. "The destinies of India and Mongolia are closely linked with the future of Asia Pa-
specially convened on a holiday for the first time for a foreign leader. "Our security cooperation is growing. We can learn a great deal from each other. No one can doubt the well-known skills of Mongols! We are proud to conduct defense exercises together.
Modi gifted race horse, fiddle ULAN BATOR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a special gift – a brown race horse – from his Mongolian counterpart C h i m e d Saikhanbileg on his historic visit to the country. Horse named Kanthaka was gifted to him at the ‘Mini Naadam’ sporting festival. “ W i t h Kanthaka, a gift f r o m Mongolia,” Modi tweeted. Earlier Modi, “struck a new
chord” by trying his hand at the traditional fiddle he received as
a gift from Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.-PTI
And, I am pleased that we have signed agreements today to cooperate more closely on border security and cyber security," he told the lawmakers. He said India will also help establish a cyber security centre in Mongolia's defense and security establishment.-PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting President of Mongolia, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, in Mongolia on May 17
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China media says improve domestic environment BEIJING: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "trips and promises" to attract foreign investment can yield desired results only when India improves its domestic environment for investors, Chi-
to China during which he held talks with Chinese leaders on various issues, including Chinese investments in India. "There is no denying that New Delhi enjoys a favorable diplomatic
ter all these trips and promise." Despite the fact that Modi's government has brought in a series of measures to appeal to investors, such as establishing special economic zones, free tax zones and free trade areas, some of these efforts have come up against resistance of local governments. "They hold great control over adopting policies for local economic development," it said. "Whether Modi can bring enough inflow of foreign capiIndian community people taking pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a reception in tal for India is Shanghai on May 16 crucial for the nese media has said. climate due to its ideal geographi- country's development," it said. "Over the last 12 months, Modi cal position, with most key nations "India has been experiencing has not only left his footprints in worldwide hoping to maintain a anemic growth since the ecoWashington, Tokyo, Ottawa, Ber- good relationship with it." nomic crisis in 2008. In the meanlin and Beijing, but also hosted "Although Modi has been time, the government is short of heads of states from China, the traveling all year long, and deliv- money for development. IntroUS and Russia," an article in the ered some fruitful diplomatic re- ducing foreign investments is state-run Global Times said. sults, the biggest lesson is how therefore the only way to reach The article was published two to improve the country's domes- its economic growth targets," it day after Modi's three-day visit tic environment for investors af- said. -PTI
'Make in India' should diversify to other areas: Dell BEIJING: Calling for diversification of the 'Make in India' campaign into semiconductors and electronics, US multinational computer firm Dell has said it looks to step up investments in India specially in manufacturing of microprocessors and photo voltaic cells. Amit Midha, Head of Asia-Pacific and Japan region for Dell said most of the USD 22 billion deals signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Shanghai are energy-related and 'Make in India' should diversify into semiconductors and electronics. India has to think how to step up manufacturing of semiconductors which could attract big investments from abroad, he said, adding Dell already has manufacturing plant in Chennai and its products are being exported to Africa and
other countries. "Dell which has over 27,000 employees in India looks to invest in India more specially in supply chain for semiconductors, manufacturing of microprocessors and
Narendra Modi addresses the India-China Business Forum in Shanghai on May 16
photo voltaic cells," Midha, who is based in Shanghai, told PTI. Midha said Modi's pitch for investments during China visit was first among many steps which are required. Most of the agreements signed are on power and energy. "Lots of works needs to be done. One visit is not going to fix all," he said. The Digital India campaign can also shift to semiconductor and electronics manufacturing with special zones and incentives, he said. Dell already involved in India where it has seven facilities and is stepping up in investments especially in R&D, Midha said adding that semiconductor expansion can create jobs just the way it did in China where over two million people were employed.-PTI
Practical measures will enhance trust: Experts BEIJING: Practical measures agreed upon during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit will greatly reduce the chances of confrontation and enhance mutual trust between China and India, Chinese experts have said. The joint statement issued after the talks between Modi and Premier Li Keqiang "offered practical measures that could be applied soon and will greatly reduce the chance of confrontation," Liu Zongyi, a research fellow of Indian studies with the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, was quoted as saying by staterun Global Times here. Although the Belt and Road initiatives were not mentioned in the joint statement, the two countries agreed to speed up the development of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Liu said. "As well as expanded cooperation between two countries, the
people-to-people exchange progress is also important for bilateral ties," Ye Hailin, secretarygeneral at the Centre for South Asian Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the daily. “The mutual trust has been enhanced through a very personal approach," Ye said, adding that close people-to- people ties will lay good foundation for closer ties. An article in the Chinese language edition of the Global Times said, "for Chinese enterprises, India is a country where they have to go to." "Population of 1.28 billion, fastgrowing infrastructure and consumer markets are a huge attraction. Over the past years, Japan and South Korea companies have already done that fast in India, but the development of Chinese companies was clearly not enough," then article said.-PTI
China non-committal on reciprocating e-visas BEIJING: China has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to grant e-visas to Chinese tourists saying the move will facilitate people-to-people exchanges, but remained non-committal to reciprocate the gesture, which was earlier opposed by Indian intelligence agencies. "During his visit, Prime Minister Modi has announced issuance of e-visas for Chinese tourists. We welcome this move," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing. Asked if China would recipro-
cate the gesture, Hong said: "China is willing to make joint efforts with India under the Chinese laws and regulations so as to facilitate the exchanges of China and Indian people and seek for new development." Less than two lakh Chinese tourists visited India last year against the more than six lakh Indian visitors to China. India wants to woo Chinese tourists, whose numbers have surpassed 100 million to other countries. The e-visas are expected to boost the number of Chinese visitors to India.-PTI
CII welcomes business outcomes of visit NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China has redefined the economic partnership between the two largest and fastest-growing developing economies in the world, industry body CII has said. Welcoming the business outcomes of the visit, it said: "Prime Minister Modi's visit to China has redefined the economic partnership of the two largest and fastest-growing developing economies in the world".
In a statement, it said: "The Prime Minister personally took up matters of concern to industry, and CII's sense is that as a result, sentiments on both sides are very positive and upbeat." In the presence of the Prime Minister at the India-China Business Forum in Shanghai, Indian and Chinese companies exchanged 24 agreements for cooperation totaling USD 22 billion including investments and financing across sectors, the statement said.-PTI
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Obama recalls trip to India, Assocham gives Modi govt 7 on 10 friendship with Modi WASHINGTON: In his meeting with India's new Ambassador to the US, President Barack Obama fondly recalled his trip to the country in January this year and his personal friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India's new envoy Arun Singh met Obama at the President's Oval office and formally presented his credentials as the Indian Ambassador to the US. "Obama warmly welcomed Ambassador Singh back to Washington and wished him success in his responsibilities as India's next Ambassador to the United States," the Indian Embassy said. "The President fondly recalled his visit to India in January and personal friendship with Prime Minister Modi," the Embassy said. In his remarks, Singh conveyed warm greetings from the President and the Prime Minister of India to him and the First Lady. Singh said he was committed to work towards making the India-US strategic partnership global in outlook, strategic in content and transformative for India's development, as decided
by the leaders of the two countries in the summits held in September 2014 and January 2015.
retary in-charge of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan division in the Ministry of External Affairs, has
Envoy Arun Kumar Singh with President Obama at the Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony in the Oval Office on May 18
A 1979-batch IFS officer, Singh has replaced S Jaishankar, who was appointed as Foreign Secretary on January 28 this year. Singh, who has been joint sec-
done postings in Japan, Israel among other countries. He has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington for nearly five years. -PTI
Bobby Jindal close to announcing presidential bid WASHINGTON: Setting his sights on the White House, Indian-American Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has formed an exploratory committee to look into the possibility of mounting a credible challenge as a Republican nominee for the 2016 US presidential bid. If Jindal, 43, announces going ahead with his plans, he would be the first ever Indian-American politician to run for a US presidential election. In doing so, he would join the already crowded Republican presidential aspirants. Forming an exploratory committee is considered to be the first serious step toward a presidential bid. The Republican Governor, however, said he would make a final decision on a White House bid after his state's legislative session ends in mid-June. "My parents came to this country over 40 years ago with nothing but the belief that America is the land of freedom and opportunity. They were right," Jindal said on his website announcing the formation of the Bobby Jindal Exploratory Committee.
"We must fight to make sure the next generation is not the first generation to inherit fewer opportunities than their parents. Will you join me?" Jindal asked on the home page of the website with the
Bobby Jindal
headline 'Ready'. Jindal said that if he runs, his candidacy would be based on the idea the American people "are ready to try a dramatically different direction." "If I run, my candidacy will be based on the idea that the American people are ready to try a dra-
matically different direction. Not a course correction, but a dramatically different path," he said in a statement. Jindal, a former congressman who started his career in public service as Louisiana's health secretary, also tried to strike a difference between himself and other Republican leaders by describing policy plans he has released on health care, defense, energy and education. "While other Republican leaders are talking about change, I have published detailed plans to repeal and replace Obamacare, rebuild America's defenses, make America energy independent, and reform education for our nation's children," Jindal said.-PTI
NEW DELHI: Giving the Modi government 7 out of 10 for its first year's performance, Assocham has said it still needs to cover some ground on tax issues and a lot more needs to be done on improving ease of doing business. The industry body said the country's macro-economic situation has improved in the past one year with decline in inflation, stability in currency and attractive financial markets. "However, the NDA government has to cover some ground in terms of taxation issues, particularly with regard to FIIs' problems on retrospective liabilities and in taking big-ticket infrastructure projects off the ground," the chamber said in a statement. It also said a lot more needs to be done on improving ease of doing business at the state level. "The industry and the commentators must realize that an economy of two trillion dollars, well integrated with the world, can't be catapulted into high growth, just with the change of the government. "However much the government is sincere, policy tweaking, legislative changes and revival of
investment appetite need to be followed by increase in consumer demand, and would take time of say, 24-30 months. "And then, a lot would also depend on the global markets which are subdued," Assocham said. The government, it said, has made a good beginning, though it now needs to move faster on things like Goods and Services Tax and send a new signal of confidence. "Seven out of ten, according to Assocham, is the right score for the Narendra Modi government on completion of first year in office," the chamber said. Assocham President Rana Kapoor said government deserves credit for somehow making Parliament run better with the result that some of the difficult legislations have been cleared, including raising FDI limits in insurance and defense sectors to 49 per cent. "Likewise, investor confidence and transparency have been achieved with the successful completion of auction of coal blocks and spectrum, raking in over Rs 3 lakh crore for the Centre and states," Kapoor said.-PTI
'Modi has successfully used social media' WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the most popular politician on Twitter after US President Barack Obama, has successfully used social media to shape his public image as a tech savvy leader, according to new study. Modi uses social media as a personal signal than for issues, per se, US-based scholar Joyojeet Pal has said after doing an extensive research of the prime ministers postings on social media websites. "Modi has used social media successfully to shape his public image as a tech savvy leader, aligning himself with the aspirations of a younger generation in India," said Pal, assistant professor at University of Michigan's School of Information, whose paper has been published in the latest issue of the Television and New Media journal. With 12.3 million followers on Twitter, Modi is the world's No 2
most popular politician in the Twittersphere after Obama. Pal said during his campaign, Modi's account was more about his political vision. He mentioned national events and festivals and asked celebrities to support causes that appeared larger than his own.
In the months leading up to the general elections, he tweeted to a list of some of the most widely followed celebrities, including film stars, cricketers and spiritual figures, urging them to get young voters to register. According to Pal, Modi has also been quick to adopt the latest tech updates.-PTI
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Loretta Sanchez lands in soup over racial slur WASHINGTON: A veteran Democratic Senate candidate from US state of California, challenging Indian- American Kamala Harris, has landed herself in trouble after a videotape surfaced in which she is seen making a racial slur on Native Americans. Loretta Sanchez, the current representative for California's 46th congressional district, had announced her candidacy only on May 14. Sanchez, a long-time politician who has served in Congress for ten consecutive terms, is challenging Indian-American and California Attorney General Kamala Harris for the prestigious post in the US Senate in 2016.
The online video shows Sanchez tapping her hand over her open mouth and making a typical native American 'war cry' while speaking to a group of delegates. She appeared to be making a joke about the difference between Indian-Americans and Native American Indians. Sanchez apologized at a state Democratic convention in Anaheim, saying "in this crazy and exciting rush of meetings yesterday, I said something offensive and for that, I sincerely apologies." Earlier Sanchez told the Bee that she "got a call from somebody over the phone and he said, 'I want to talk to you about having help from the Indian community,' and I
thought he meant the American Indian community, in the sense of the Native American Indian community." The video was first reported by the local Sacramento Bee. Harris, whose mother is from India, expressed shock over the gesture. "I don't know what to say to that...except that...that's shocking. That's shocking," Harris said.-PTI
Kamala Harris
Deeply offensive Rishi Kumar, a Silicon Valley hi-tech executive and an elected city councilmember in Saratoga, CA, said in a statement, "Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez offended both the Indian American community and the American Indian community with her rather free flowing speech at the Indian American Caucus meeting that we helped organize at the California Democratic State Convention on Saturday this past weekend. As the President of the Bay Area Indian American Democratic Club, I was absolutely offended with her racial stereotype and while describing her ignorance about us Indian Americans. That is very unlike a Democrat and I was a bit shocked to see if happen in front of me. It behooves all of us to respect Americans from all ethnicities and backgrounds, as we are all equally invested towards keeping America great. I would like to believe that Congresswoman Sanchez has the best interest of the minorities and the ethnic population of America, but that is not a flippancy that backs it very well."
Indian-Americans adopt villages in Andhra Pradesh WASHINGTON: Several Indian-Americans have decided to adopt more than 2400 villages in Andhra Pradesh as part of 'Smart Village-Smart Ward' program which aims at comprehensive development of the areas. Nara Lokesh, Telugu Desam Party leader and son of Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, met several Indian-Americans in Los Angeles, San Jose, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Portland and Dallas, and asked them to invest in the villages in AP. Impressed by the idea of 'Smart VillageSmart Ward', several Indian-Americans have decided to adopt more than 2417 villages in AP, the visiting leader said. He met Assistant Secretary of Commerce Arun Kumar and discussed the smart city project in particular that of Visakhapatnam, a media statement said. "The day is not far when AP will become a formidable force that will set new precedents in the nation," Lokesh said while addressing the NRI Telugu community here. "I explained the immense potential our State presented as an investment destination and requested his support in making AP a manufacturing hub," he said. Lokesh also met Texas Governor Gregg Abott and Indian-American Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.-PTI
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Indian-origin 'Chicken King' tops UK rich list LONDON: An Indian-origin entrepreneur nicknamed 'Chicken King' for running UK's largest poultry business has topped this year's Asian Rich List for the Midlands region of England with an estimated wealth of 1.35 billion pounds. Ranjit Boparan, the founder and owner of 2 Sisters Food Group, has topped the Asian Rich List, Midlands, published by the Asian Media & Marketing Group (AMG), for a second consecutive year with an estimated wealth of 1.35 billion pounds, an overall increase of 50 million pounds over 2014. Leading NRI industrialists Lord Swraj Paul and his son Angad, whose Caparo Group has significant business presence in the Midlands region north of London, was ranked second with an estimated 725 million pounds.
Vedanta Resources founderchairman Anil Agarwal (370mn pounds), Abdul Rashid and Aziz Tayub (200mn pounds) of the wholesale Crown Crest Group and Shiraz Tejani (150mn pounds) of
Ranjit Boparan
the manufacturing group LPC complete this year's top five. "The list shows the remarkable resilience and diversity of Asian businesses in the UK. Despite the challenges of the general economy many business leaders in the community have seen opportunity
and potential and moved quickly to capitalize. "It is an inspiring picture and one that should energies entrepreneurs everywhere," said Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of AMG and one of a panel of four experts who examined British Asian wealth over the last year for the Asian Rich List. The combined overall net worth of 2015's 51 millionaires totaled 4.37 billion pounds, an increase of 60 million pounds since 2014. The list saw two new entries with a combined value of 32 million pounds. One is Danesh and Sanjay Gadhia at No 38 with Morningside Healthcare, their successful Leicester-based pharmaceutical wholesaler and retail chain valued at 20 million pounds. The second new entry is Manjit Pawar, director of Absolute Care Homes which provides dementia care and nursing services to clients in the north of England.-PTI
Asian groups complain of racial bias in admissions NEW YORK: Four IndianAmerican groups are among a coalition of 64 organizations that have filed a complaint against Harvard University and other Ivy League schools alleging "racialbias" against high-scoring AsianAmericans in their admission process. The 50-page complaint, filed before the US departments of Education and Justice, alleged that "Harvard University has
The complaint further alleged that Harvard University is discriminating against Asian-American applicants by using race as a major factor beyond what is allowed by relevant Supreme Court decisions. "Consequently, Asian-American applicants have become the largest group of victims of Harvard's racially based admissions practices," they alleged. Among the 64 organizations of Chinese, Korean and
Harvard University
engaged illegally in direct discrimination against Asian-American applicants by using stereotypes and racial bias in its subjective 'Holistic Evaluation Approach' and racial quota/rebalancing."
Pakistani students, there are four Indian-American groups: National Federation of Indian American Associations, Global Organization of People of Indian Origin-Los Angeles Chapter, BIT Sindri Alumni Associa-
tion of North India, and American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin. The complaint urged the federal government to ask Harvard to immediately "cease and desist from using stereotypes, racial biases and other discriminatory means in evaluating Asian-American applicants during its admission process". The complaint also asks Harvard to disclose the qualifications of its applicant pool, at least at a level comparable to such data disclosed by elite public universities, given that Harvard, too, is the recipient of significant federal funding. "We believe that a racially based admission process has played a major role in Harvard and other Ivy League colleges' discrimination against AsianAmerican applicants," it alleged, and cited the example of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi to illustrate that Asian-Americans have managed to rise to the top and emerge as role models. Many Asian-American organizations and individual students have voiced their rejection of such an unfair treatment in the past as well.-PTI
Indian-American policeman wins award HOUSTON: A 44-year-old Indian-American policeman has been awarded the prestigious "Top Civilian Supervisor of the Year" award for his efficient services to the Houston Police department in the US state of Texas. Harkeert Singh Saini received the award from Police Chief Charles A McClelland and Houston Mayor Anise Parker during a function held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel here. Saini, a police records supervisor has been working for the Houston Police department for the last 15 years. "Harkeert Singh Saini is a very efficient officer and very worthy of this award. Houston police department is proud of Saini" said Muzaffar Siddiqi, senior police
officer of city Police department. Various community leaders including Gurdip Singh Buttar, S Gurnam Singh Sandhar, Ajinder Singh Dhatt were present during
the occasion and congratulated Saini for his achievement. Saini, a graduate from Deshbandu College in New Delhi, hails from Hoshiarpur in Punjab. He came to the city in 1998, joined Houston Police Department in March 2000 and was subsequently promoted as an office supervisor in the following years. -PTI
9 dead as gangs clash at Indian-owned restaurant HOUSTON: At least nine outlaw rival biker gang members were killed and 18 others injured in "one of the most gruesome" gunfights at a popular sports bar run by an Indian-origin man in the US state of Texas. Eight bikers died at the scene of shooting at Twin Peaks restau-
for a meeting that, he said, focused on turf and recruitment, two areas where the groups have often clashed. Initial probe suggested a dispute broke out in a bathroom, escalated and included knives and firearms. But eventually the fight spilled into the restaurant parking
rant in Waco, while another died at a hospital later, police said. All those who died in the shooting were members of Bandidos and Cossacks biker gangs, local media reported. Authorities had anticipated trouble and pre-positioned officers near the restaurant that draws large lunchtime crowd. Waco police Sgt Patrick Swanton said at least five rival gangs gathered at the restaurant
lot, he said. There were 150 to 200 gang members inside the restaurant at the time. Bikers shot at each other and at officers, who returned the fire. "This is probably one of the most gruesome crime scenes I've ever seen in my 34 years of law enforcement," said Swanton. "I was amazed that we didn't have innocent civilians killed or injured." -PTI
„ Health
Line
Ebola virus evolved at normal rates BEIJING: The Ebola virus responsible for the outbreak in West Africa last year mutated at a normal rate, according to a new study which suggests the virus has not evolved to become more virulent or deadly. Researchers led by Wu-Chun Cao, an epidemiologist at the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity in Beijing, sequenced 175 Ebola virus genomes from people who were infected with the virus, including some who died. The analysis found that the virus evolved as it spread to new areas. However, it did not change at a faster rate than it has in past outbreaks - even though those outbreaks were localized to much smaller areas and infected fewer people. And there is no evidence that Ebola evolved harmful mutations as it spread through Sierra Leone, Nature.com reported. "This is just the virus doing what it does," said David Robertson, a computational and evolutionary biologist at the University of Manchester, UK. Researchers said that the virus continued to evolve more diversity as it spread, meaning that the viruses involved in each localized outbreak evolved independently of each other. -PTI
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Health department faces projected deficit of $6 million
SANTA FE, N.M.: The New Mexico health department is facing a projected deficit of nearly $6 million. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that the department had a $27 million surplus only two years ago, but its practice of contracting with private nursing services may have contributed to budget problems. State Rep. Luciano ``Lucky'' Varela told the newspaper that the budget shortfall is a result of the system. He said there has been excessive turnover among nurses, so the department has been hiring temporary nursing services to fill the gaps. The amount spent by the department on nursing services has increased more than four-fold in recent years. State health officials said that their budget woes were caused, in part, by higher bills, litigation costs, a general fund reduction, less money from state funds and inflation. Varela, D-Santa Fe, and other lawmakers questioned department officials during a meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee. -AP
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Vitamin B3 may help prevent skin cancer Details on Page 15
India asks Commonwealth to share best practices in health care GENEVA: India has asked the Commonwealth nations to share their best practices in critical areas, including health financing and access to essential drugs, to augment health system capacity. "The Commonwealth can make a contribution by way of sharing best practices in critical areas essential to augment the health system capacity," Health Minister J P Nadda said. "Some of these areas I would like to emphasize include health financing, health services administration, appropriate use of available medical technology and access to essential drugs including a robust supply chain management," he said. Nadda was addressing the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting at the 68th World Health Assembly 2015, here on the
theme "Universal health coverage - with an emphasis on ageing and good health". He also stressed the need for cooperation in medical education
and training within the Commonwealth to enhance availability of scientifically talented professionals in the 53-member grouping. Noting that the Common-
Health Minister J P Nadda
wealth is home to 2.2 billion people, with over 60 per cent under the age of 30, Nadda said that investment in universal health coverage, including for aged population, should be considered as a smart investment for future. "India is committed to achieve universal health coverage for all age groups. India has charted a path that depends largely on provision of affordable, quality health care through the public health system as its main form of social protection, with supplementation from the private sector to close gaps," the health minister said. "Our main challenge is to further expand health insurance mechanisms, as it currently covers only a small percentage of the population," he said.-PTI
India needs to improve health care: WHO GENEVA: India and many other southeast Asian countries need to improve their record on public health care, the WHO said here as it warned that the world will fall short in achieving the UN's Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) on many indicators by the end of this year. "Its been incredible progress in the past 25 years particularly in the fight against the epidemics of HIV, TB and malaria," said Ties Boerma, Director, Health Statistics and Information Sys-
tem, World Health Organization (WHO) releasing the World Health Statistics 2015 report. "Also, increase in safe drinking water. Much progress in child malnutrition, maternal and child mortality but those are still quite
far from the targets we set for the MDGs. We are not likely to achieve it by the end of this year," he said. Speaking of India's slow progress, Boerma said, "There is less progress for family planning, ante-natal care indicators.
It is a mixed picture. It is a progress picture but not as spectacular as in western Pacific". "One particular area is measles immunization where India has lagged behind in achieving good coverage and that hopefully will change in the future," said Colin Mathers, Coordinator, Department of Mortality & Burden of Disease, WHO. Measles immunization coverage among one-yearolds was 74 per cent in India in 2013 which is one of the lowest in the Southeast Asian region. India has seen only a 58 per cent reduction in under-five mortality rate between 1990 and 2013, again one of the lowest reductions in the region, ahead only of North Korea, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, Mathers said. There is a 21 per cent unmet need for family planning and only a 22 per cent reduction in proportion to population in access to improved sanitation in India between 1990 and 2012, as per MDG
targets. Some of the indicators where India has met the MDG targets or is on track are reduction in HIV incidence between 2001 and 2013 (57 per cent), mortality rate for tuberculosis between 1990 and 2013 (50 per cent), increase in
access to safe drinking water between 1990 and 2012 (77 per cent), he said. The World Health Statistics report is released annually ahead of the World Health Assembly which is due to begin on May 18 in Geneva. "Life expectancy is continuing to increase at the top end and also at the bottom end. The astonishing news is global life expectancy is increasing at the same rate as life expectancy in advanced countries," Mathers Cont'd on Page 15 said.
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Smokers quit better when own money wagered NEW YORK: When it comes to offering cash to get smokers to quit, more people go for the carrots than the stick - but the stick gets better results. In a study, smokers with $150 of their own money at stake were far more likely to quit than smokers who didn't have to wager their money to get the cash rewards. ``A bit of a stick was much better than pure carrot,'' said the study's lead author, Dr. Scott Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania. But here's the catch: Few people were willing to bet on themselves. Nearly everyone who was offered the rewards-only option, though, signed up for a stop smoking program. As employers try to hold down health care costs, growing numbers of them have been using financial incentives to encourage workers to quit smoking or get healthier in other ways. But there's been relatively little research on what works best, said senior author Dr. Kevin Volpp. The Penn researchers collaborated with CVS Health, the second largest U.S. drugstore operator, for the study. About 2,500
smokers took part - CVS employees, their relatives or friends. THE INCENTIVES Past research has found money is persuasive. Volpp and his colleagues tried to
see what difference it made if employees stood not only to win money for quitting, but also to lose money. About 1,000 smokers were offered the
With nail in eye, landscaper survives unhurt BOSTON: There must have been a fourleaf clover in those weeds. A 27-year-old landscaper escaped with barely a scratch after a nearly 3-inch nail hurtled into his eye when he accidentally hit it with a weedwhacker. Doctors who removed the nail at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital describe the case in New England Journal of Medicine. ``When you looked at him, all you saw
was the back end of the nail'' in his right eye, said Dr Wael Asaad, a neurosurgeon now at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University. It happened about two years ago, and the man wasn't identified. Doctors couldn't tell how long the nail was or its path, so radiologist Dr Rajiv Gupta used a new type of CT scanner to get detailed images. ``It reached almost to the tip of the other eye and the brain. It was a very long nail,'' he said. The good news: It had not penetrated
the globe of the eye, but was to one side. The bad news: It was lodged against one of the main arteries supplying blood to the head, and another artery serving the other eye. ``The tip of the nail was like the finger in the dam. We were worried that if we pulled it out, there would be bleeding'' - a jet of blood that could damage the other eye or the brain, or even prove fatal, Asaad said. So they made an elaborate plan in case an artery ruptured and had to be repaired: One surgeon was ready to operate through the head. A second surgeon was ready to operate through the neck. As these two stood by, a third surgeon carefully pulled out the nail. They waited several minutes. No major bleeding occurred. They stopped sedating him and the patient was allowed to wake. After a tetanus shot and a prescription for five days of preventive antibiotics, he was on his way. A checkup eight weeks later showed his vision had returned to normal. Had the nail struck 1 millimeter away, he likely would have had major damage, doctors said. As dramatic as it was, ``nails penetrating the skull are not as uncommon as you would think,'' usually from nail gun accidents, Asaad said. Gupta said the lesson is clear: ``Wear eye protection whenever operating heavy machinery'' or power tools, even simple ones used in gardening. -AP
chance to win up to $800 if they could quit for six months. Participation was high about 90 percent signed up. Another 1,000 were asked to put $150 down as a deposit. It they quit for six months, they would get their $150 back plus $650 - a total of $800. Only 14 percent took that offer. Another group of about 500 were offered no cash incentive, but did get the company's standard offering of counseling and nicotine replacement therapy. THE OUTCOME The few that put in their own money were a committed bunch. About half of them made it six months without a cigarette. That was a much better than the 17 percent of the rewards-only group that made it to the finish line. But there were so many people in the rewards-only program that the actual num-
ber who quit in that group was much higher - 156, compared to 78. Only 28 of the people offered no cash incentives quit - a measly 6 percent. To get the largest number of people to stop, ``it looks like the better bet might be for employers to supply pure reward,'' said Cliff Douglas, the American Cancer Society's vice president for tobacco control. He was not involved in the research. The study was published in New England Journal of Medicine. TOO-HIGH STAKES The study's authors say there's a compelling story in the success rate for the smokers who had money on the line. But they also say the $150 deposit apparently scared many away. One participant, Camelia Escarcego of Rialto, California, said she is unemployed and wouldn't have been able to come up with the deposit. Her sister works for CVS and Escarcego ended up in the rewardsonly group. A 12-year smoker, Escarcego, 55, said the hundreds of dollars was enough motivation. ``That helped me to have a little bit of money in my pocket,'' she said. Next month, CVS is to launch a quit smoking program for its 200,000 employees that will require a lower deposit of $50 and will award $700 to those who quit for a year. -AP
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Molecules that kill cancer cells discovered TORONTO: Scientists have discovered a new family of molecules that kill cancer cells and protect healthy cells and could be used to treat a number cancers, including cervical, breast, ovarian and lung cancers. New research shows that as well as targeting and killing cancer cells, the molecules generate a protective effect against toxic chemicals in healthy cells. Cells can become cancerous when their DNA is damaged. Many different things can cause DNA damage, including smoking, chemicals and radiation; understanding exactly what happens at the point of DNA damage can help scientists develop new cancer treatments. By studying this mechanism,
researchers from the University of Waterloo in Canada could identify new molecules that selectively target cancer cells. They studied the process of
pulses of light: one to start a reaction, and the other to monitor the way the molecules react. This technique let researchers watch how molecules interact in
The technique is like a high-speed camera, which uses two pulses of light: one to start a reaction, and the other to monitor the way the molecules react. This technique let researchers watch how molecules interact in real-time, revealing how cells become cancerous. DNA damage using a sort of molecular filming technique called femtosecond time-resolved laser spectroscopy. The technique is like a highspeed camera, which uses two
real-time, revealing how cells become cancerous. Researchers have been using femtosecond laser spectroscopy to study biological molecules for decades, in fields called
Tobacco a major risk factor for cancers NEW DELHI: Nearly half of the cancers affecting men and onefourth among women are related to tobacco as per a report, the Rajya Sabha was informed. "As per the report of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Cancer Registry Program, Time Trends in Cancer Incidence Rates 1982-2005 (2009), nearly half of the cancers in males and one-fourth of cancers among females are tobacco related," Health Minister J P Nadda said. He said that as per the World Health Organization (WHO), the use of tobacco is a major risk factor for four major non-communicable diseases namely cardio-vascular disease, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease. "WHO studies show that smoking substantially increases the risk of tuberculosis and deaths from TB. As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, India report (2010), 40 per cent of the TB burden in India may be attributed to smoking," Nadda said. Replying to another question, he said that as per the findings of a study titled 'Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India 2014', commissioned by his ministry and conducted by Public Health Foundation of India, the total economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in 2011 for persons aged 35-69 amounted to Rs 1,04,500 crore. He said that as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey - India (GATS 2010) conducted by his
ministry, in the age group of 15 years and above, 20.3 per cent of the females consume tobacco in some form or the other. Replying to another question, he said that as per the 'Report of Tobacco Control in India 2004', published by the Health Ministry, each year 8-9 lakh deaths in India can be attributed to tobacco use. The estimated number of tobacco-related cancer deaths in
The total economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in 2011 for persons aged 35-69 amounted to Rs 1,04,500 crore. India as per ICMR in 2014 was 1,47,269 while it was 1,42,671 in 2013. In 2012, it was 1,38,261, the minister said. "As per the report 'Cigarette Package Health Warnings - International Status Report 2014', published by Canadian Cancer Society, India is ranked 136 on its status of compliance with the cigarette package health warnings," he said. "This ranking is based on the size of the existing pack warnings i.e 40 per cent of the principal display area limited to the front panel only," Nadda said.
Replying to another question, Nadda said that a committee was constituted in July 2014 to review and suggest amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COPTA), 2003. The committee made a number of recommendations with regard to prohibition of smoking in public places, advertisements at point of sale, minimum legal age for sale of tobacco products, loose sale of tobacco products, depiction of tar and nicotine contents and the penal provisions. "After consideration of the recommendations, a draft amendment bill along with notes on clauses was prepared and placed in public domain, as part of the pre-legislative consultations with a view to elicit comments from stakeholders including general public up to February 15, 2015," Nadda said. Speaking about the measures taken for tobacco control, the Health Minister said COPTA 2003 was enacted, the National Tobacco Control Program was launched and Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and restrictions on sales) regulations 2011 under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 was issued which lays down that tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in food products among other steps. -PTI
femtochemistry and femtobiology. More recently, this technique was fused with molecular biology and cell biology techniques to advance our understanding of human diseases, notably cancer, and how their treatments work. This potential new field is being dubbed femtomedicine (FMD). "We know DNA damage is the initial and crucial step in the development of cancer," said Professor Qing-Bin Lu, lead author of the study from the University of Waterloo, Canada. "With the FMD approach we can go back to the very beginning to find out what causes DNA damage in the first place, then mutation, then cancer. FMD is promising as an efficient, economical and rational approach for discovering new drugs, as it can save resources required to synthesize and screen a large library of compounds," said Lu.
Taking advantage of the FMD approach, Lu and his colleagues discovered a new family of molecules called nonplatinum-based halogenated molecules, or FMD compounds. These are similar to cisplatin - a drug used to treat ovarian, testicular, lung, brain and other cancers. However, while cisplatin is highly toxic, the new FMD compounds are not harmful to normal cells. When the FMD compounds enter a cancer cell, they react strongly and form reactive radicals, which cause the cell to kill itself. When the FMD compounds enter a healthy cell, the cell starts to increase the amount of a protective molecule called glutathione (GSH) in the cell. This protects the cell against chemical toxins, so it is not damaged. The research was published in the journal EBioMedicine. -PTI
Rise of retinoblastoma among Indian kids NEW DELHI: There has been an increase in the cases of retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer, among children in India, according to ophthalmologists at AIIMS. Though the disease used to occur in approximately one in 20,000 live births, experts say that there has been a gradual increase in the number of cases with over 20,000 children being reported to be suffering from retinoblastoma every year. Retinoblastoma that affects mostly children below five years of age is a cancer that develops from the immature cells of a retina, the light-detecting tissue of the eye. The early signs of retinoblastoma in children is that the pupils appear red when light is thrown into the eyes due to blood vessels at the back of the eye. According to eye-specialists, late diagnosis and misconceptions about the symptoms are the major reasons that the retinoblastoma spreads from the eye to the brain and then the entire body, lessening the chances of survival. "Retinoblastoma can be caused both genetically and nongenetically and occurs mostly among children below the age of five years. There is lack of awareness among parents who bring
their children only after observing some major problem in their eyes by which time the cancer would have already spread," Bhavana Chawla, Associate Professor at AIIMS' R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, said. The experts said parents need to get their child tested as soon
as he/she shows symptoms such as shine in the eye balls, redness of the white part of the eye, poorly aligned eyes, reddish pupil, different-colored irises or poor vision. Professor Pradeep Sharma of R P Centre said India has made several medical advancements in treating eye cancer. "Treatments like surgery, laser surgery, chemotherapy with perfect effect are the only way to cure the disease. The situation is such that currently it is not possible to save the eyesight of the patient after the surgery, however research is on to make it possible," Sharma said. -PTI
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Vitamin B3 may help prevent skin cancer For the first time, a large study suggests that a vitamin might modestly lower the risk of the most common types of skin cancer in people with a history of these relatively harmless yet troublesome growths. In a study in Australia, people who took a specific type of vitamin B3 for a year had a 23 percent lower rate of new skin cancers compared to others who took dummy pills. In absolute terms, it meant that vitamin takers developed fewer than two of these cancers on average versus roughly 2.5 cancers for the others. The study did not involve melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Instead, it aimed at more common forms - basal and squamous cell cancers. More than 3 million cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. ``These are sort of the run-of-the-mill skin cancers that so many people get,'' said Dr. Richard Schilsky, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, an organization of cancer specialists. ``They're rarely lethal but they're very persistent and they keep coming back,'' and are expensive to remove, usually through surgery, freezing off the spots or radiation. He and other doctors with the oncology group said the vitamin, called nicotinamide,
could offer a cheap, easy way to lower risk. However, Australia has higher rates of skin cancer than the U.S. and other parts of the world, and some doctors may want more evidence beyond this single study before recommending the pills. Vitamins have long
proved elusive for cancer prevention, and some studies have even found certain ones can be harmful. Researchers also stressed they were not suggesting vitamin use for people who have not yet had one of these cancers.
India needs to improve health care: WHO Cont'd from Page 12
Life expectancy at birth has increased 6 years for both men and women since 1990 and stands at 71 years. While life expectancy at 60 has also increased and stands at 80 years. "It is because people who live to be 60 have already avoided all the causes of death in infancy, childhood and middle age," said Mathers. The progress in Southeast Asia has been
Since 1990, child deaths have almost halved falling from an estimated 90 deaths per 1,000 live births to 46 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 the slowest in meeting the MDG targets among the WHO regions. "Big progress in western Pacific. And of course, China's progress has been instrumental there. Also, in the Americas huge progress has been made. And almost the same extent in the European region which stretches out to the central Asian republics," said Boerma. "Then we come to the regions that are slower which includes Southeast Asia including India and Indonesia. The east Mediterranean region and African region...not for all the indicators but those are the three
regions that need major attention to catch up," he added. The biggest achievement in meeting MDG targets globally was in HIV incidence followed by child mortality. The world has begun to reverse the spread of HIV, with new infections reported in 2013 of 2.1 million people, down from 3.4 million in 2001. Since 1990, child deaths have almost halved - falling from an estimated 90 deaths per 1,000 live births to 46 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013, saving 6 million children below five in the last 25 years, according to the report. The number of women who died due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth has almost halved between 1990 and 2013. This rate of decrease won't be enough to achieve the targeted reduction of 75 per cent by the end of this year. "Less progress has been achieved in maternal mortality. The target was three quarters less so quite farther off there," said Boerma. "I think it's crystal clear to everyone that there is a huge agenda that needs to be addressed in the coming 15 years as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," he said. The world is unlikely to meet the MDG target on access to basic sanitation. Around 1 billion people have no access to basic sanitation and are forced to defecate in open spaces such as fields and near water sources, the WHO said. -PTI
``At the moment, it's not something for the general population,'' said the study's leader, Dr. Diona Damian of the Dermatology University of Sydney in Australia. ``We must always remember the basics of sun-sensible behaviors'' avoiding overexposure and using sunscreen - as the best ways for anyone to lower risk, she said. The study involved 386 people who had at least two skin cancers in the previous five years. They took either 500 milligrams of the vitamin or dummy pills twice a day for a year. Neither they nor their doctors knew who got what until the study ended. Besides reducing the rate of skin cancers, vitamin use also seemed to cut the rate of precancers - scaly patches of skin
called actinic keratoses - by 11 percent after three months of use and 20 percent after nine months. Participants were tracked for six months after they stopped taking their pills, and the rate of new skin cancers was similar in both groups. ``The benefit wears off fairly quickly,'' Damian said. ``You need to continue taking the tablets for them to continue to be effective.'' Nicotinamide is thought to help repair DNA in cells damaged by sun exposure. It is not the same as nicotine, the addictive stuff in tobacco. It's also not the same as niacin and some other forms of B3, which can cause flushing, headaches and blood pressure problems. Those problems were not seen with nicotinamide in the study. Nicotinamide is sold over the counter, is easy to take, and ``there are essentially no side effects,'' Schilsky said. However, it might be a little tough to find. A check of one major drugstore chain found only other forms of B3, such as niacin, or combination B vitamins. Online, some retailers offered nicotinamide for prices ranging from a nickel to a dollar a tablet, sometimes combined with other things. Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council funded the study.-AP
Desi News Prof Keshav Patel at HUA Orlando MADHU PATEL
CHICAGO: Orlando Prof. Keshav Patel from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India is spending 5 weeks at HUA Orlando, volunteering his time and expertise promoting HUA and helping with the International Yoga Day celebrations. He is a former principal of Sheth M.N. Science College, Patan, India; Chairman - Board of studies in Mathematics at North Gujarat University Patan; Dy. Officer Commanding - NCC Bn. Vallabh Vidhya Nagar; and former professor of Cypress College, California, USA. Dr Dayal Meshri, an India born scientist and a philanthropist heading Advance Research in Tulsa, said that Prof Keshav is highly admired educationist from Patan, the region that he also hails from and that it would be in the fitness of things that other US universities also hold his lectures in their respective areas. Prof Kashav can be contacted at keshavpatel36@gmail.com orkeshavpatel@hua.edu
COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA
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The secret behind performing one's Dharm
May 22, 2015
Details on page 26
Gujarat Day celebration turns into fundraiser for Nepal victims RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service
CHICAGO: Members of the Gujarati community in Chicago land at large - Gujarati Samuday & Vishwa Gujarati Samaj - pulled together to celebrate Gujarat Day (Gujarat Diwas) commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Gujarat State coming into being as part of Indian Union way back in 1960 . Attended by a cross section of Indian community members Gujaratis and non Gujaratis - numbering over 400 at Manav Seva Mandir in Bensenville (a Chicago
Fun filled Annual Gala raises funds for Janyaa
Gujarat Day speakers - Vishnu Prasad, Dr Bharat Barai and Bina Patel. -Pics courtesy Asian Media USA
our joyous feelings by getting some cheer in the life of those who were helpless before the fury of nature. We made a strong pitch from the podium to donate funds for the victims
present to donate whatever they consider fit for a really good cause. Her appeal did not go in vain and donations in small and big amount kept on trickling in throughout the two hours session and. As put by Dr Barai "we could raise about
overhead costs involved for Gujarat Day or for the fundraiser. The total amount raised will be made over to Sewa International and the Nepal Association Chicago, said Dr Barai. The organizers had earlier succeeded in induc-
India Post News Service
MILPITAS, CA: Janyaa is a non-profit organization founded by few idealistic engineers who realized that lives of under privileged rural children in India can be changed by changing the way they learn at school. Started in 2009 by Venu Nadella, Janyaa has been on a mission of empowering children with hands on learning. Janyaa is a 501c (3) tax exempt non profit organization. Details on page 26
Rahat Ali coming to Chicago once again SURENDRA ULLAL
CHICAGO: The king of Sufi Music, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will be returning to Chicago after a two year hiatus on May 29 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The highly anticipated North American tour that began in Toronto will see Rahat traveling to various cities with the final show on June 13 in Trenton, New Jersey. Coming of a critically-acclaimed album, "Back 2 Love" and hit single "Zaroori Tha" which has over 35 million views on YouTube
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's live telecast from Gandhinagar courtesy TV Asia
suburb) last week, the event turned out to be a huge success besides being unique in that the lead organizers deemed it fit to raise funds also for the recent earthquake victims in Nepal. "This was an impromptu decision as we thought the right way of celebrating would be to share
and their families," said Dr Bharat Barai, a community activist and a lead organizer of the event. Bina Patel of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj acted as emcee and she did a wonderful job exhorting all those
Gujarat Day audience
$6000 without much effort." The lead was taken by Manav Seva Mandir , a no profit socio religions organization that announced a donation of $1000. Interestingly, there were no
Details on page 20 Gujarat Day guests Mafat Patel, Dr Manish Brahmbhatt flanked by Neal and Sonal Patel and Amrit Mittal
ing a few Gujarati and non Gujarati community leaders to help them to meet expenses. Amrit Mittal, Barai famiy ,Chhotalal Patel, Dr Manish Brahmbhat, Mafat Patel and MedStar Group volunteered to shoulder much of the burden. The MedSat Group founded by Naren Patel, a community leader was the President of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj USA that had celebrated Gujarat day last year. Naren Patel died three months ago and the MedStar Group decided to underwrite the food bill this time in his memory. The Group was represented by his family members - Smt Sumitraben, Neal, Raj and Sonal Patel. Cont’d on page 19
Community Across America
May 22, 2015
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BSC couples celebrate 50th wedding anniversary SURESH SHAH
and Ishaan performed "Lagna Geet' during this ceremony. This special event was covered by TV Asia Midwest Bureau chief Vandana Jhingan. BSC president Haribhai Patel congratulated all special couples and thanked all executive members who worked hard for the success of this event. At a separate event held at Waterford Banquet in Elmhurst, BSC executive Board members presented an Award to BSC chief Haribhai Patel on his golden jubilee of wedding anniversary. BSC executive member and News Media Photographer Jayanti Oza presented custom made Wedding Anniversary Jumbo card and good wishes for 50th Wedding Anniversary to Haribhai Patel and Madhubhai Patel.
50th wedding anniversary couples in group
CHICAGO: Bhartiya Senior Citizens of Chicago (BSC) celebrated 'Samuhik' Wedding Anniversary with 12 couples who had completed 50th years of marriages. The celebration took place at Rana Regan Community center in Carol Stream, a Chicago suburb, on May 16. More than 500 people including invited guests, members and their relatives were present and the ambience was that it looked as if it was originally 50 years ago that the couples got married.
There was a beautiful Mandap and the hall was decorated by seniors of BSC. The priest Rohitbhai Joshi performed wedding Vidhi including Vargodo with Dholak, Manek Stambh, Hast Melap, Mangal Fara, Kansar feeding, Sindur ceremony, Saptpadi and Akhand Saubhagyavati vidhi. Relatives and friends of all wedding anniversary couples congratulated them. BSC provided Badam Pista Ice cream, all Puja samagri, and Grand Dinner to all members and guests. Popular singer Nalini Parikh
Community shocked at death of Prashant Bhargava India Post News Service
CHICAGO: Members of Indian community across USA mourn sudden death of one their young budding artists, Prashant Bhargava, who even in his early prime of life began carving out a name for himself by churning out great art-cum-commercially viable films. Prashant, 42, a resident of Chicago died in New York, Friday May 18, while seeking to promote his third film 'Radhe Radhe.' His body was flown to Chicago and cremation took place at Slaughter and Son Funeral home on south side of Chicago in the presence of hundreds of his fans, family members, relatives and associates. Prashant Prashant's mother Ranjana Bhargava is also a front ranking community activist. Grieving for her son, she said, "He was a light taken early from us. We are still trying to make a sense of this loss."
Gurbachan Kaur, founding president of Hindi Lovers' Club, said that Prashant was a devout son, a visionary filmmaker and "we at the Club sorely grieve with her mother who happens to be an active Advisory member of our club." Bhargava family is planning a memorial service in coming months to fully honor his memory. He is survived by his mother Ranjana, father Vijay and younger sister Anurima. Prashant was an artist deeply committed to revealing extraordinary in the ordinary. His films are anthems of the underground, his canvas the rambunctious, fascinating, changing globe, taking us to far flung places and revealing the harmony in all. Bhargava Born in 1973 and educated at Kenwood Academy, Prashant went on to study computer science at Cornell University and theatrical direction at the Barrow Group and in the Actors Studio, MFA Program.
TV Asia's Vandana Jhingan (third from left) officiated as sister of the couple Jayanti Oza and Kala Oza. Vandana's parents (Left) were also present
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May 22, 2015
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Samskriti workshop on dance & music appreciation ELIZABETH VISUVALINGAM
CHICAGO: Chicago Samskriti Foundation hosted "Rasaanubhavam: an interactive exploration of Raga, Rasa and Rhythm," conceptualized by SF's founder-director Shoba Natarajan within its "Anubhava" (experience) series of workshops, here at Madden Theater, April 26. Presenters were Sanskritist scholar Maragatham Sundaresan, percussionist Vinod Gopinath, musician-vocalist Chitravina Ravikiran and Bharat Natyam danseuse Sudha Chandrasekhar. They spoke respectively on the
in multiples of 2 and helps reflect emotional state. Of the different nadais (tisram, catusram, etc.), he showed how sankeerna nadai of nine beats (5+4) could evoke the tranquil gait of an elephant, and khandam anger as in the vigorous dance (tandava) of Shiva. He started with the most common talam, the eight-beat Aadi, which remains constant irrespective of the tempo of the music. The 35 talams, which define "paragraph length," can be executed in different nadais. Gopinath also touched upon the more complex
pace of music and dance, which generate rasa more directly. Ravikiran observed that whereas the modes of medieval western music resembled ragas, everything has now been reduced to harmony in major and minor scales. The formulaic permutation and sequence of notes in Indian ragas make all the difference. Shankarabharanam, equivalent of major scale, is considered cheerful. Minor notes are exploited for melancholy: Shubapantuvaraali (Hindustani Todi), for example, exudes such Mallika Sarma (L) demonstrates Duryodhana's (excessive) 'evil' (ati-haasa) sadness that laughter as Yudhishthira (Ashwaty Chennat) loses the dice-throw in it is typically Mahabharata's famous gambling scene heard on All India Radio note. depicting trunk, etc. that evoke upon demise This child-prodigy, who wonder at a chubby child cavortof a great per- amazed scholarly connoisseurs ing. Storytelling thus becomes s o n a g e . at age 2 through effortless rec- compelling. Unprepared, she had W h e r e a s ognition of ragas, took listeners children act out love at first sight g l i d i n g through a fascinating exploration in "who verily could she be?" (meend) be- of their subtleties, how substitu- (Yaaro Ivar Yaaro in ragam tween notes tion or varied handling of a note Bhairavi), boys playing Rama, is central to could transform its emotional col- girls Sita, which became a hilariH i n d u s t a n i oring. Conversely, distinctions ous (hasya) workshop indeed. ornamenta- between proximate ragas, e.g., To illustrate how lyrics, raga, t i o n Shree and Madhyamaavati, must tala and abhinaya could combine (gamaka), os- be maintained. spontaneously to generate the cillation Whether to render a raga only experience of rasa, Sundaresan (kampitam) briefly to provide contrast or to composed an extempore verse unique to develop it at length, depends on that described the arrival of Carnatic mu- the rasa the musician wants to spring in Chicago. As Ravikiran sic opens up evoke that day. Voice culture is sang the words in ragam Bilahari richer possi- more mental than physical: lis- to Gopinath's Aadi talam, "Rasaanubhavam by Samskriti Foundation at Madden Theater, Naperville. Ravikiran is seen here bilities of tening to masters until the raga Chandrasekhar mimed the scentrying to set the verse to music (from left): emcee Vandana Iyengar, Chitravina Ravikiran, organizer emotional nu- becomes instinctive is critical. ery and exhilarating mood. Shoba Natarajan, Maragatham Sundaresan and Sudha Chandrasekhar ance: the Sudha Chandrasekhar, almost They were asked to explain their Indian notion and pursuit of aes- talams based on a non-integral singer may be saying "ma" with- 75, from Michigan mentioned the choices, the creative process itself, thetic 'taste' (rasa), generated by number of beats (2.5, 3.5, etc.). out actually touching this fourth, four kinds of abhinaya. As Sarma by the lovers of Indian culture and melodic structure (raga), rhythm Though rhythm may reinforce the what happens between and and Chennat did an invocatory connoisseurs enjoying the rasa, (tala), and visual expression pertinent emotion, percussion in around notes is more important dance to Ganesha, she indicated those present being described in (abhinaya), coming together fi- its supportive role must match the than the actual frequency of the the symbolic gestures (mudra) the Sanskrit verse itself. nally in a spontaneous ensemble. Sundaresan commented on rasa chapter of Natya Shastra, foundational treatise on the elements and principles of Indian theSARASWATHI RANGANATHAN ater. The performance revolves around evoking and sustaining CHICAGO: Popular Carnatic Enaraada," in Pantuvaraali, replete is extempore elaboration and impro- of feeling within the raga effectively. (aesthetic) 'sentiment' (rasa), tra- and national award winning play- with preliminary exploration of raga visation of swaras for a particular This krithi, not to mention the entire ditionally eight with tranquillity back singer Unnikrishnan en- (alapanam), niraval and sol-fa line in the composition (krithi), event, was an appropriate curtain added later. tranced a packed hall at a concert (swara) improvisation, with studied within the framework of the rhyth- raiser for the main Maharudram ritual. She illustrated through 'humor' hosted here by and at Hindu repartees from violinist Rao. Niraval mic cycle, bringing out the nuances Cont’d on page 19 (hasya-rasa), describing its Temple of Greater Chicago, on causes, psychophysical effects Sunday May 9. and accompanying transitory He was accompanied by violinmental states. Inferior characters ist B. Raghavendra Rao, percusare more prone to uncontrolled sionists Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan laughter. on mridangam and Guruprasad on Chandrasekhar's students, ghatam. The concert was the third Mallika Sarma and Ashwaty event held to raise funds for the Chennat, demonstrated its six "Maharudram and Navachandi grades. Hasya, as a subsidiary, Mahayagnam" June 12 through14. even trivial rasa difficult to distin- Anand Dance Academy director guish from the laughter reflex, may Dr. Sangita Rangala was master of not be the best choice to illustrate. ceremonies. Gopinath demonstrated the Unnikrishnan began with a three dimensions of rhythm, brisk set composition (varnam) namely speed (tempo), flow "Sarasija-naabha Maam Paahi" in (nadai) and repetitive cycles ragam Nattai followed by (talam). Speed is typically tracked Thayagaraja's "Siva Siva Carnatic vocalist Unnikrishnan (front center) performing at Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago
Carnatic vocalist pitches in at temple fundraiser
Community Across America
May 22, 2015
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Mother's Day at Skokie Grove Nursing Home
Skokie Seniors attending Grove Nursing Home Mother's Day celebration AsĂan Media USA
CHICAGO: Seniors from Grove Nursing Home recently celebrated Mother's Day with their family members in Skokie, a northwest suburb of Chicago. As part of its past 7 years tradition, they honored "Mataji, Maa, Baa, or Mom" with Satsang, Bhajan and Kirtan. This day is celebrated in many parts of the world for the past 101years and as put by Abraham Lincoln "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
attendees joined the festivity. Disciples sang devotional songs praying Lords Shrinathji, Ram, Hanuman, Krishna with melodious music, reconnecting them to happy old days back home. Curtain fell following final prayer of Aarti. Prasad (Offering of food to the divine) consisting of full dinner with various sweets and many other healthy heart delicious stuff wase enjoyed by all. Main guest participants were Shri and Smt Narayan and Surya Modi, Bharati Doshi, Manjula Mody, Dr. and Mrs. Chandrakant and Dina Modi, Dr. and Mrs. Kirit
ployees and volunteers were instrumental in success of the event. The Grove of Skokie Living and Rehab Center offers short and long term rehabilitation, IV therapy, wound care, Hospice and respite care. It accepts all kinds of insurances including Medicare, Medicaid and self pay. The facility has a special wing that accommodates Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other South Asian residents. The unit is staffed by Indian/Pakistani physicians, nurses and other ancillary personnel who speak over six common South Asian languages.
The main Dining hall was converted into auditorium and was decorated with fresh flowers, garlands, colorful balloons and banners of "Happy Mother's Day". About 75 seniors guests of 'Vaishnav Satsang Mandal' meditation group came to the event with residents of facility. Together they chanted Bhajan and Kirtan and other devotional songs. The auditorium was packed with many residents making their way with aid of wheel chair, walker and cane. Besides Hindus, various others ethnicities and religious Aarti at the Center on Mother's Day celebration
Gujarat Day celebration turns into fundraiser for Nepal victims Cont’d from page 16
The Nepali community was represented by one of its leaders Vishnu Prasad who joined Dr Barai, Bina Patel and Chhotalal Patel in
ments of the Gujarat government during her reign of about a year. She said that the State has made progress in health care, education, industrial development and striking relations and good rapport
alround efforts are made to cut down red tape and introduce one window clearance for their applications. The consensus at the meet was that Anandiben is a devoted leader and that the Gujarat
and Maya Joshi, Champak Shah Vallabh Patel, Dayal and Sharda Patel, Dipti Patel, Bhadra Shah. Minaxi Kansara. Many others em-
Carnatic vocalist pitches in at temple fundraiser Cont’d from page 18
A group of community leaders at Gujarat Day celebrations
appealing for relief funds. The event started with Chhotalal Patel welcoming the guests and Bina Patel announcing that there would be a live televised broadcast of a speech by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. A former teacher and a front tanking politician in Gujarat, Anandiben in her half an hour speech highlighted the achieve-
with the people though organizing one- to-one based meets at village and taluka levels. She also listed the daunting problems facing the people and the State and detailed her ideas to address them. From the viewpoint of NRIs and NRGs the most interesting point was her ardent appeal to come to Gujarat for investment and its industrial progress. She said that
State has made progress under her leadership. The meet ended with Nirav Patel, a young community activist, proposing a vote of thanks and inviting lead volunteers to come on the stage for acknowledging their support. He thanked members of the Gujarati and non-Gujarati community for their presence and support.
For more information and to visit the facility contact Noreen Lakhani or Rafi Zimmerman at 800 596-3300 or 847 679 2322.
The sudden transition to Maayaa-maalava-gowla, close to Pantuvaraali yet farther apart in its raga-structure, came as a surprise. Unnikrishnan brought out the varied moods of these two ragas skilfully with enchanting meandering raga phrases at the very start of the alapanam. "Bantureeti Kolu" in ragam Hamsa-naadam was delivered with a fast yet uplifting niraval for the phrase "Rama nama maney." A most soulful alapanam in Saara-mati followed for "Mokshamu Galada" also by Thyagaraja. The soft sanchaaras (characteristic melodic phrases) around the notes daivatham and nishaadam, doubled notes (janti prayogam, as in 'dha dha pa'), sudden glides between octaves transported the listener to another dimension. Composed by the late Dr. S Ramanathan, the ecstatic
"Sabesan Sevadi" in ragam Saaveri oozed with compassion. The swara improvisations had an upbeat quality, with delightful embellishing korvais (rhythmic patterns) on mridangam and ghatam. After a short "Karpaga Manohara" in Malaya-marutham, Thodi ragam was expanded in detail for "Karthikeya Gangeya Gowri Thanaya." The lightning fast traversals of all three octaves (tristhaayi-sanchaara) were breathtaking. Many audience favorites later, Unnikrishnan concluded with Annamacharya's "Thandanana" and a Shiva bhajan. The program began with a Vedic chant and brief welcome of the musicians by Dr. Muthuswamy, who with his wife were chief guests. Unnikrishnan, his accompanists by Lakshman Agadi and organizer Sivasubramanian were honored by Bhima Reddy, HTGC Present for their dedication.
Community Across America
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PCS showcases Bhangra at Chicago Cellular Field SURENDRA ULLAL
CHICAGO: The Bhangra music and Punjabi Dhol drum beats amplified through the powerful P.A. system reverberated in the Chicago White Sox U.S. Cellular Field Stadium for ten minutes with colorfully turbaned and costumed popular Punjabi folk dance Bhangra dancers making home run like moves on Wednesday, May 6. The performances were presented by Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS). The Chicago White Sox were playing against Detroit Tigers. More than eighteen thousand fans attended the Wednesday night game. PCS has previously presented Bhangra at Baseball games on July 28, 2010, July 21, 2009, and also on May 1, 2005 at the White Sox vs Detroit Tigers game. PCS has also presented Bhangra at Chicago Bull's basketball game in March 2009. PCS invited University of Chicago "UofC Bhangra" team, accompanied by live Punjabi dhol drums by Ajay Randhawa and Shirish Shah to perform at the event. Many Indian community members including friends and
Raj Mago and Dhol
PCS and the University of Chicago "UofC Bhangra" team performing Punjabi folk dance Bhangra at the U.S. Cellular Field. The performances were coordinated by PCS. Chicago White Sox were playing against Detroit Tigers
family members of the performers came to the ball game to support the performance, the event, and the home game. The White Sox were celebrating the Asian Heritage Night with special pre-game performances, including Punjabi Bhangra dancers and dhol drumming at Gate 4
for couple of hours. The White Sox also honored Japanese former White Sox players Kosuke Fukudome, Tadahito Iguchi and Shingo Takatsu in the sixth inning. Ceremonial first pitch was by Billy Dec, member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific
Rahat Ali coming to Chicago once again SURENDRA ULLAL
CHICAGO: The king of Sufi Music, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will be returning to Chicago after a two year hiatus on May 29 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The highly anticipated North American tour that began in Toronto will see Rahat traveling to various cities with the final show on June 13 in Trenton, New Jersey. Coming of a critically-acclaimed album, "Back 2 Love" and hit single "Zaroori Tha" which has over 35 million views on YouTube, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan continues a legacy of historic proportions. News of his sellouts in Canada, Detroit, and Memphis have energized his fans in Chicago. "Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is the stuff of legends, there are simply no western counterparts to compare him to", observed an ardent fan, Omair Rashid. Rahat has promised fans that he will debut a new set of qawwalis and songs while also singing classics such as Teri Meri, Mast Mast Do Nain, Ore Priya, and more. Known for transcending boundaries within the South Asian community, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a Pakistani native who has repeatedly praised Indians for em-
UoC and PCS team
bracing his music and providing a forum for his artistic skills. Nephew of legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a great Sufi singer and an ardent practitioner of Qawwali, Rahat belongs to a family of musical geniuses. Rahat's family unbroken tradition of Qawwali goes back over 600 years. Their influence can also be seen in the west as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan collaborated with Pearl Jam on the soundtrack of the hit movie D e a d M a n Walking. This is the fourth event that the team at Sahil & LA TAN are bringing. In 2014 they brought Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, and the Bollywood extravaganza SLAM! The Tour. They have revived the South
Asian music scene across the Midwest. "We think we've become the kind of promoters that audiences can rely on and we're always looking for opportunities to bring bigger and better things", said Bhavesh Patel of Sahil.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Islanders. "We are elated to share our rich Asian Indian Punjabi culture with the American mainstream, especially with such a large audience that probably would not be exposed to something like this otherwise. It creates awareness about our community and helps in creat-
ing mutual understanding and respect," said Vick Singh President, PCS PCS' coming events are "PCS Youth Scholarship and Graduation Night" on June 14 at Vice Roy of India Banquets, Lombard, IL and "PCS Sports Festival" on August 2 at Falcon Park District, Palatine IL.
Vivekananda Visiting Professor's legacy celebrated ELIZABETH VISUVALINGAM
CHICAGO "The Intellectual ity, eagerness to share with and Legacy of Christopher Bayly: a learn from peers and students, as Conversation" at University of Chicago (UC) Franke Institute for the Humanities, April 29 commemorated this first Indian Ministry of Culture Vivekananda Visiting Professor (20142015), who died of a heart-attack, April 18. Eulogies came from fellow historians, especially former students: Professors Dipesh Chakrabarty, Jennifer Pitts, David Armitage (Harvard), Ajay Skaria (Minnesota), Muzaffar Alam, Michael Dodson (Indiana University), Fredrik Albritton Jonsson and CB's reSir Christopher Baily (L), the first Indian Ministry of search assistant Culture Vivekananda Visiting Professor, poses Daniel Morgan. Suwith Swami Ishatmananda of the local san Bayly, his wife, Vivekananda Vedanta Society had come from U.K. CB was a pre-eminent scholar equals, while sticking to his own of British imperial and world his- positions, and wit brought to mattory. Traits praised included his ters serious. Cont’d on page 22 intellectual and personal generos-
May 22, 2015
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Akshaya Academy celebrates Fusion Fiesta Asian Media USA
CHICAGO: Akshaya Music Academy, a Music school in Schaumburg, hosted its Annual Showcase on Saturday May 2 with 93 students presenting a group recital of various classical Fusion songs at Countryside Church Sanctuary in Palatine. The founder, Mrs Minu Pasupathi, had trained students to sing Raga-based Fusion songs & made them perform with live orchestra. In honor of Saint Tyagaraja, his kritis were combined with various South Indian film songs based on the same raga / melodic scale. The event began with a welcome address, followed by a Solfeggio Special - about 19 children from ages 3 to 8 reciting
Akshaya Music Academy group with students
devathaas, animals & birds associated with each of the Saptaswaras. They were all displayed for public voting & the best projects were awarded special prizes. All the 14 students were recognized as well. The event concluded with all 93 students performing together. They sang Doe a Deer (song from the English movie Sound of Music), Nottuswaram of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, My country 'tis of thee (Patriotic song), Hum hongey kaam yaab with We shall overcome song by Martin Luther King junior, Janaganamana (Indian National Anthem) & Star Spangled Banner (American National Anthem). All students were uniformly dressed in Black and White costumes while rendering these group songs.
Shyam Kane on the Tabla. Finally, four wonderful students sang Surya Medley, combining Isaiyarasee. It was sung in honor of Lord Narasimha Jayanthi. The live orchestra consisted of talented budding artists : Akshaya (Keyboard), Adrian (Keyboard), Vaibhav (Flute), Manisha (Flute), Keshav (Violin), Nikhil (Mridangam), Arjun (Guitar) & professional artists namely Sri. Guruprasad (Flute), Sri Nathan (Dolak). The chief guest for the day was Sri. Jayaraj Narayanan. Srutilaya Music School selected the Solfeggio group & the Surya Medley group as the Best performers of the day. Delicious food was catered by Indian CafĂŠ, Arlington Heights. Mrs Minu Pasupathi, a professional singer, gifted with a versa-
A section of the audience
the swaras from the Telugu Movie Sankarabharanam. A group full of boys sang Sarekaysaari song from the Hindi movie Parichai. The afternoon session re-
sumed with the evergreen Jagadanandakaraka in Naattai raga, combined with the famous Telugu song Jagadanandakaraka. The adult students performed a
Participating students at Akshaya annual event
group song of Hindolam Madley where they combined Samajavaragamana & Nigama nigamaantha. 14 of the students made creative Swara projects depicting the meaning, color, emotion,
There were few special guest performers who delighted the audience in the afternoon. There was an extra special treat - a soothing Hindustani Vocal Concert by Ashwin Rode from the University of Chicago ably accompanied by
tile voice proposed vote of thanks & provided impeccable rendering of the all time classic - "Singara veylaney deva" with her vocal Nadaswaram. This was indeed a crown ending of all the performances.
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May 22, 2015
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Indo American Center in dire need of leadership & direction
A
group of seniors gathered at Indian American Center in Chicago have questioned the direction in which this premiere organization for seniors, especially those hailing from India, is going. The consensus was that for the past many years it has been going from bad to worse in matter of service, celebration of festivals and the food that is being served. Many coming from India are not highly educated and lack good command over English and hence are wary of communicating their feelings or views to higher ups. A great many others feel that the top level guy now being non-Indian with poor knowledge of any Indian language, he would be virtually inapproachable. They turn out to be silent sufferers.
fact that there has been a frequent change at the top. Today it is headed by a non-Indian James Lemonides as the executive director and sadly he is poorly acquainted with Indian culture, language and likes/dislikes. Since he does not know the language, he cannot even converse with the Indians who come to the center, many of whom are conversant mostly with Hindi and other Indian languages. The attendees are mostly seniors. They form their own group, speak their own language and come to enjoy the "Golden Diners" lunch (under city's contribution) and share their sorrows as well as pleasures like music, discussions, news or chit chat etc as a social club. I went there on the Mother's Day celebration which was also attended by over 100 people who
Executive Director James Lemonides
The Center was started by several Indian Community leaders including Mafat Patel with the good intention of providing support and services to new Indian immigrants coming to the USA. One of the prime objectives was to get the new immigrants to get familiarized with the language, custom, the political system, the job market and the mainstream society. And those at the helm of affairs in the past sought to create an amiable ambience through celebrations of Indian festivals, organizing interesting seminars conducting classes, offering variety of services, including health care, , ensuring easy accessibility with the top most management and importantly good vegetarian food. This was a place where major Indian festivals used to get celebrated with seniors greeting each other, exchanging gifts and enjoying good meal. Over the years, there has been a huge change in the way that the Center functions and in no small measure this is due to the
If a captain of the ship does not know the direction or the course due to language barrier and also he is unable to communicate with the staff, how can he navigate the ship successfully causing minimum discomfort? How a CEO unfamiliar (with the cultures, foods and the language of the members or customers) can run any company; especially a Senior Center which requires motherly love, care & attention? Discussing with some people, we learnt that center was run somewhat better under previous CEO Mr Luthra or even Mr Chris Zala. And of course, there was wholesome praise for previous Gujarati lady chef who was replaced. Why! More and more people are retiring now and it is high time for the board of the IAC to wake
A group of attendees at Mothers' Day event at IAC
again included mostly seniors. Amongst Keynote speakers Sher M Rajput, Nand Kapoor and Ms Sudaksha Kapoor also agreed with my observation. Many present approached us with their feel of the Center and I requested them to come forward and let the administration know their needs and suggestions to improve the performance of the Center as it is a village hall for the community. Well, as expected the general consensus was that who listens? I was surprised and shocked to see the food menu for such an important occasion. It was Mothers' Day and the food was a joke or an insult to the mothers of all cultures. The food that day was Dal, Roti, Kheer and a banana. No Subji (vegetable) or any special dish. A dignitary friend from Nepal Dr Ramkrishna Shah had come on that day and he was also depressed while talking with some seniors. Who deserves the "credit" or the blame for the state of affair? The present chef or administrator or the Board? The buck stops at the CEO or the Board
up! Most of the funds for the center are raised from the Indian community. It is time that the IAC is restored to where it rightfully belongs - to the members of Indian community at large. The call of the time is to preserve and promote the needs, languages and culture of the community that is its big supporter. Lack of leadership also leads to the hijacking of the Center by others who have narrow view of the society and are insensitive to the feelings of communities other than their own. We must also appoint a new director who is Indian and who can easily communicate as well, with Indians, besides the chefs, who know what is right and well balanced menu for the seniors. They also need to be familiar with the Jains' and Vaishnavas' needs. The crying need of the time is to have a meeting place where in members come and enjoy the food, talk and celebrate their festivals. Communication! Communication! Communication! Is very vital! Madhu Patel
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Vivekananda Visiting Professor's legacy celebrated Cont’d from page 20
Jonsson spoke of CB's relevance to environmental thought and climate change. Industrialization was global from the start and rise of capital was a not a force in itself but anchored in preexisting processes of change. Africanist Emily Osborn noted how CB has made our world simultaneously more unified and complex. History is not mono-causal: multiple dispersed actors, not just Western elites, contributed to modernity. Pitts noted CB was ""impelled by utopian hope for a cosmopolitan liberal future" as "the least bad practice of political life." He admired Ram Mohun Roy in the face of the East India Company's racial-
Chakrabarty characterized his oeuvre as a "history of the world in 20th C." Instead of big coastal cities, such as Calcutta and Madras, CB chose to study inland urban elite with strong rural roots. He discovered big facts, such as control of Banaras by nine families. His work on "Hindu populism" focused on Madan Mohan Malaviya, whose journal CB introduced into libraries. In a controversial move, CB gave colonialism a long history into the 18th C and even earlier: while Western writers had underestimated its disruptive nature, Indians did the opposite. 'Subalternist' Chakrabarty, who now teaches CB's view of CB did not like being called history, characterized the Englishman as a a "global historian" because magnanimous winner. For Dodson, CB's he was so attentive to and two core works carerespectful of local context, fully account for economic, social and cul- noted Armitage tural complicities between rulers and natives that reveal the nature of co- ism. CB's formative experiences in lonial rule as stability in change Banaras in the 60s had continued through mutual advantage. Three to shape his thinking but in a libkey elements are role of Indian in- eral vein. It was CB who conceived termediaries (e.g., Banarasi mer- and inspired the "New Directions chants and banking families), how in Global History" UC conference British expansion rarely went un- held barely two weeks earlier. CB did not like being called a challenged, and compatibility between British and late Mughal po- "global historian" because he was so attentive to and respectful of litical culture in 18th Century. Skaria, CB's former Ph.D. stu- local context, noted Armitage, dent at Cambridge, said that schol- whose encounter with CB "25 arly meetings took place mostly in years ago was decisive for me." the pub. Though already very Others had pointed out that CB's loyal to the subaltern school, "local histories" were informed, Skaria read CB, then only 43, with conversely, by a global perspecfrustration, exhilaration and finally tive. CB's "intellectual companion admiration. CB was "developing a range of mutually dissonant in- and cherished friend," Susan, who sights and the vitality of the 18th had known him for 35 years, "even before we became a couple," told C is due to this very unruliness." Describing the rise of new the gathering "you've given me a Hindu classes (Agarwals, Khatris, most marvellous gift." She recalled etc.) and Muslim service gentry the exhilaration of living in a "perand literate families in small towns, manent dinner seminar," arguing CB turned upside down the pre- ferociously about everything, for vailing picture of 18th C. India as he loved to refine his ideas. CB shared ongoing chapters "stagnation in all spheres," said Moghul historian Alam. CB's ar- and ideas with students, and files ticle on the precolonial history of are being recovered here to put communalism, e.g., mobilization of together his final book. She conreligious symbols (cow, etc.), was cluded with emotion that Chris, seen by nationalist scholars as who "loved being in Chicago," disguised apologia for colonial- would have approved "because I didn't cry in front of you." ism.
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May 22, 2015
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Tagore story impresses as musical dance drama ARCHANA ASTHANA
PALO ALTO: Drawing from deep personal connections, Ranjita Chakravarty, in her directorial debut, dedicated the produc-
tion of "Chitra... The Warrior Princess" to the 154th birth anniversary of India's poet laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. The story
and its presentations have undergone several revisions by Tagore himself, from when he first wrote it in 1895, as a verse drama, "Chitrangada" in his native language, Bengali. In keeping with the times, he rewrote it as an abridged English translation named "Chitra". Again, later in life, the poet returned it to a musical dance drama format, closer to its origins. Today, it was presented as a poetic drama, a culmination of all that is the best performing arts has to offer - poetry, song, acting, dancing, storytelling - all through a minimal cast and stage setting, relying on the power of the enduring saga and its endearing depiction. The Cubberly Theater in Palo Alto provided the intimate milieu so important to draw the audience into the unfolding tale on the stage. The linear development of the
story hinges on the human want to be loved for its true inner self, rather than the illusion of the external appearance, however attrac-
tive that might be. Through the medium of dance and drama, Tagore's progressive views on female expression of carnal desire are
brought forth as a nuanced performance by Deergha Sahni, who carries the weight of the role on her winsome shoulders with grace and aplomb. Raised as a warrior princess by the King of Manipur, who wished only sons, she displays perfection in the art and science of battle. The opening scene with hued lighting and simple sets was charming, and the warrior poses that Chitra strikes with her trainer quite fetching, as was the short display of her warrior skills with weaponry. It left me wanting for more to firmly establish her prowess in this role. Immediately following is the entry of the other central character in the story, the Love God, Madan, who grants Chitra her wish to appear as an enchantress to woo Arjun who she encounters earlier in the forest. Arjun is spending his time in exile having taken the vow of celibacy and has
spurned Chitra's bold advances. She succeeds in winning Arjun over, using the weapon of her exquisite beauty and divested of her warrior qualities. The year passes for the lovers with fun and frolic presented as various dancers strive to convey the muse. Sanjib Bhattacharya, the stalwart of Manipuri dance, was specially delightful throughout his many appearances on stage. Just when you begin to think that the dialogue intense exchanges are hanging too long, the flow of the story resumes with a dance, a song, or a change of scenery. As the end of the year of her boon from Lord Madan draws near, Chitra wishes to return to her original self, and wants the love of her beloved based on the real-
ity of who she is, not the illusion of who he thinks she is. The complacent days take their toll, as Chitra emotes her anguish and tur-
moil with her duplicitous life. While her love stays the course, she wishes to have it returned with-
times, a lack of color and simple costumes of support dancers took away from the graceful flowing
out the trappings of beauty, rather as an equal partner to Arjun. As marauders besiege her native kingdom, the villagers appeal to Arjun to save them, in the absence of their prot e c t o r, Chitra. Arjun then is consumed with thoughts of Chitra and longs to meet a woman who is considered his equal in battle. Arjun's introspection is debated by Chitra who tries to thwart his increasing longing by commenting on the probable lack of beauty of the warrior princess. Arjun is now convinced that he would be honored to fight alongside her to save her kingdom. This moment of realization of her true strength liberates Chitra from the bonds of falsehood, and she claims Arjun's love by revealing her true self as the warrior princess. The contemporary sentiments of the play are as aligned with those of centuries ago, as a woman's germane need to be a respected and equal partner to her consort, in no way diminishes her inner strength and true identity. Deergha was superbly cast as the title character, and convincingly conveyed the duality of her role as the warrior princess, and the nubile enchantress. Myrton Runningwolf, as Arjun commanded the stage with his dominant persona. The comedic factor was offered by Madan, well played by Havish Ravipati. At
movements of Tagore dancers, while the live singing of Sonali Bhattacharya and Subhen Khatua
filled the auditorium with melodies of yesteryears. Ranjita demonstrated inspired directorial prowess, exacting passionate role playing by her cast. The modern context of the story is evident in the English dialogue, while the flavor of the original writing comes through the live singing in Bengali. All in all, an inter-
esting and entertaining adaptation of a modern rendition of an age old classic.
May 22, 2015
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Divine Vastu tips for wealth generation
W
ealth/Money is regarded as the basic need for surviving in the intricate world. Financial troubles can bring a lot of stress and strain. Following Vastu Shastra is very important to keep our finances flowing smoothly and prevent money from being blocked. It can help in a business, which is running into losses, by bringing back profits and bestowing prosperity. If the right rules of Vastu are followed, it will never let your finances to stagnate or dwindle. The article comes up with some very favorable Vastu tips for making good money and succeeding in any commercial venture. Go
through the Vastu advice and flourish in life. 'Kubera Moolai' or 'The Corner of Wealth': The main cause of financial flash or crash creates from the South-West corner for a place, which is called as "Kubera Moolai" meaning 'The Corner of Wealth'. • The financial position crashes if there is any construction of water body/ swimming pool, sump or any structure which is below the Earth in the South-West corner of the house, shop, office or industry. • Locate the safety locker at the South wall facing the North. The door of the locker should preferably open to the North, which is the direction of 'Kubera' (God of Wealth) as per Vastu. • Do not place the locker in North-East corner as it would cause loss of wealth. South-East and North-West corner are also
not preferred either as it can lead to unnecessary expenditure. • Make sure that the safety locker is not placed under the beam as it causes extreme pressure on financial stability. 'Eeshanya Moolai' or 'The Corner of God' The North-East corner is other source causing prosperity and wealth to flourish. This corner is called "Eeshanya Moolai" meaning 'The Corner of God'. • For development and stability construct a swimming pool/ water body, fountain in the NorthEast corner of the house and plot. • There should not be a religious place, high rise buildings or mountains on the North-East side or straight ahead of the gate which may cause financial loss. If it's shadow falls on the plot or house in the North or East direction, it reduces the vibrations. • If there is considerably less open space in the North-East side of the building or heavy machinery etc. have been installed in the North-East portion of the plot it may bring losses. • The head of the family should never occupy the North-East portion of the house. • The North or East side compound wall of the building may never be constructed as 'curved'. • The slope of the floor of the building is favorable towards the North-East corner compared to the South-West corner. The Vastu factors of your Plot: • Keep in mind that the plot you have purchased or living now could have changed due to some external factors or changes in due
• Tall and huge trees planted in the North-East side of the house blocking morning sunlight, imbalance financial stability. • Tall and huge trees that are planted in the South-West side of the house, prevents from misfortunes and improves financial sta-
Rewa Kumar
bility. The House plan and Money Flow: • The East portion of the house shall not be higher than the West portion of the house, considering both floor level and building level. • Keep the central portion of the building open without any constructions and objects. This place is known as the 'Brahmasthana'. If there is load here, life of the individuals living in the house may get affected negatively. • The South-East zone represents the zone of Cash and Liquidity. A toilet or garbage on this zone can hamper the flow of cash and liquidity. It also leads to a lack of self-confidence and passion. • The South-East zone should be free of water at this zone represents Fire or 'Agni' and Water diffuses Fire. Lighting a red bulb in this zone can strengthen it. but a red bulb outside the 22.5° zone can have negative impact. • The North Zone represents the zone of new ideas, opportunities and flow of money. A restroom or garbage here can flush out new ideas and opportunities from your
The South-East zone should be free of water at this zone represents Fire or 'Agni' and Water diffuses Fire. Lighting a red bulb in this zone can strengthen it. but a red bulb outside the 22.5° zone can have negative impact course of developmental activities. • The road in the front of the building should not be higher than the floor inside the building. • If there is a damaged building exactly opposite to the gate or main door of the house, it is not auspicious.
life. • Avoid placing your locker in the South-South-West (SSW) zone. • The West is the zone for gains. A disturbed West zone depletes your gains and you are not duly rewarded for your efforts. • Keep the Storeroom in the
house or office building in the South-West or West of the plot. • Keep the doors and windows clean and sparkling, as dirty glass restricts the flow of money. • Drainage pipes should preferably be fitted in the East or the North area of factories, offices or residences. Keep a perfect disposable system via drains in the house or working place. • A Water Fountain at the North-East corner of the house or hall with gentle sound of the water flowing provides positive energy to the rooms and also increases the inflow of money. • Fish aquariums kept in the North-East corner of the hall are very positive for wealth. The fishes are to be attractive. Choose some active and healthy fish and try to make sure that they are strong swimmers and active. Keep the water dirt free and aerated. The constant movement of fish will keep the energy of wealth on the
walls. • Place decorative boulders or curved pathways or pebbles around your building. This will increase the movement of financial energy in a business that is suffering from setbacks. • If your expenses are spiraling beyond control, keep live plants or grains in the restroom. It will prevent the money from going down the drain, because, symbolically, growing things reabsorb water energy and recycle it. • Keep a mirror to reflect your cash box or locker. It, symbolically, doubles your wealth and opportunities. • Keep a birdbath/bird house or feeder in the yard to attract wild life, as it augments the amount of energy around your home. Birdbaths and bird feeders can be of great help in cleaning up your finances and drawing prosperity from all directions. • Purple is the color, which rep-
If your expenses are spiraling beyond control, keep live plants or grains in the restroom. It will prevent the money from going down the drain, because, symbolically, growing things reabsorb water energy and recycle it move. • If the entrance to your apartment lies at the end of a long corridor, the energy flowing towards it will be too fierce, increasing risk to your financial investments. Its effect can be diluted by keeping a plant halfway down the corridor. • Make your front door distinctive or attract wealth within. Color it different from the neighboring
resents wealth. Keeping a purplecolored plant in the South-East corner would be beneficial. Else, a money plant could be grown in a purple colored pot and placed in the South-East corner of the office or drawing room of the house. This collectible article on Vastu Shastra is provided by Rewa Kumar of Divine Vastu Consultations & Research Center.
26 India Post
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May 22, 2015
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The secret behind performing Fun filled Annual Gala raises funds for Janyaa one's Dharm India Post News Service
SWAMI NIKHILANAND
T
he previous article described Shree Krishna's explanation to Arjun about how physical actions do not need to be abandoned in order to be freed from the bondage of karm only the attachment to the actions needs to be abandoned. He explained that there are two ways of freeing the mind from its attachment to actions: karm yog and gyan yog. Finally he instructed Arjun to attach his mind exclusively to Him and offer all his actions to Him, in order to attain Him (chapter 3, verses 19 & 30). Three ways of conducting our duties At this point, it will be helpful to remember that there are three ways of doing one's duty or dharm: 1. As an offering to God, with no motivation other than to please God. 2. Without thinking of God, but also without having attachment to the outcome of the action. 3. With attachment to the outcome of the action. The person in case #1 is free
from the bondage of the action, and in the end attains God, because this person has surrendered himself to God. Case #2 frees one from the bondage of the action, but does not result in God realization, because this person isn't surrendered to God. Case #3 only results in further bondage. So far, all of Shree Krishna's admonishments to Arjun have
been along the lines of either #1 or #2. However, this still leaves us with Arjun's question about the need for him to fight the war. Could he not renounce his involvement in the war and, living the life of an ascetic, pass his days with his
ing all of his prescribed duties, a wise person should inspire those who are ignorant to do likewise, because whatever actions great people perform, others follow (chapter 3, verse 21). Shree Krishna explains that
He reasons that if at any time He were to not attentively perform His duties, all humankind would go astray and be ruined. He says that He would become responsible for their confusion (with respect to what is proper conduct) and the cause of their downfall, because people follow His example in all respects (chapter 3, verses 23 & 24) mind absorbed in thoughts of God? That too would free him from the bondage of karm and result in God realization. Then why does Shree Krishna prefer Arjun to perform his duty of fighting the war, rather than to abandon his physical involvement in society and adopt the life of an ascetic? God and Saints perform their duty to benefit others S h r e e Krishna tells Arjun that just as an ignorant person performs actions with attachment, a wise person wishing for the betterment of the world perform actions while being free from attachment (chapter 3, verse 25). Why is this important? After all, the wise person has understood that his/her goal is God realization then why maintain any involvement in society and family? The reason is that if the wise person renounces his involvement in societal and family duties, it may create confusion in the minds of ignorant people who are attached to their actions (chapter 3, verse 26). Instead, by properly perform-
this is, in fact, one of the reasons that He comes to this world and performs actions. Even though He is not bound to perform any duties (because He is beyond dharm and adharm), nor is there anything in all of creation for Him to attain (because it all belongs to Him already), yet, He is engaged in the performance of His duties (chapter 3, verse 22). He reasons that if at any time He were to not attentively perform His duties, all humankind would go astray and be ruined. He says that He would become responsible for their confusion (with respect to what is proper conduct) and the cause of their downfall, because people follow His example in all respects (chapter 3, verses 23 & 24). The God realized personalities are in a similar situation. A saint has no reason to perform any action for himself, because he is already immersed in Divine bliss. Having attained God, he is completely self-contented and blissful from within. Then what does he need from the world? Such an individual has no dependence on any living being for anything, and nothing to gain from performing duties, because all the duties are to take a person to God. After attaining God, there is nothing left to attain, and thus, nothing left to do (chapter 3, verses 17 & 18). And yet, God realized saints also stay in the world and perform actions. Shree Krishna gives the example of King Janak, who was established in a state of Divine perfection, yet continued to perform all of his duties (chapter 3, verse 20). Cont’d on page 27
MILPITAS, CA: Janyaa is a non-profit organization founded by few idealistic engineers who realized that lives of under privileged rural children in India can be changed by changing the way they learn at school. Started in 2009 by Venu Nadella, Janyaa has been on a mission of empowering children with hands on learning. Janyaa is a 501c (3) tax exempt non profit organization. With its unique lab in the box program, Janyaa teaches young children
over 90 science and math experiments has been developed to match the curriculum of state schools. Each experiment has been carefully crafted using the principles of simplicity and practical understanding. Teachers are trained on using this kit to teach children from 6th to 9th grade. These teachers then make the daily classes in their schools more effective and interesting by infusing the hands on experiments from Janyaa. With this, children take more interest in understanding the con-
Swadesh Srivastava, Venu Nadella and Richard Sarvate
across India the concepts of science and math in an effective way so that children can understand them by relating them to their daily life. It has reached over 800 schools and helped over 100,000 students in states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala,
cepts, relate them effectively to their daily lives and more importantly have increased scientific temperament. Janyaa has consistently received a highly positive and encouraging response from both teachers and students. Janyaa's program is highly sustainable and cost effective.
Volunteers of Janyaa
Odisha and Gujarat. Janyaa had their 2nd Annual Gala on May 9 at India Community Center, Milpitas. It was a fun filled evening with standup comedy by Richard Sarvate, magic show by Majinga, music, dance to raise funds and awareness for Janyaa. The event was attended by over 500 and Janyaa raised over $50,000 to reach 608 schools and benefit over 125,000 students in 6 years. The working model of Janyaa is quite simple. A kit containing
A kit delivered to a school empowers students for 4 consecutive years. Janyaa's experiments are provided to schools in 3 boxes where all the experiments use very simple material that is easily available anywhere. This enables the child to practice with them without any fear of breaking them. And all this for less than $1 per child per year. Venu Nadella, founder of Janyaa thanked the volunteers and supporters and hoped that Janyaa grows manifold in years to come.
May 22, 2015
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India Post 27
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The secret behind performing one's Dharm Cont’d from page 26
To summarize, Shree Krishna advises Arjun to perform his duty by fighting the war because he is in a position of leadership, and his actions will be observed and emulated by others. If he decides not to fight, people will not understand the reasons why - they will only see that Arjun has abandoned his duty. Thus, in order to not create confusion in the minds of others, and to set a good example, Arjun should perform his duty - even though he has nothing to personally gain from it. This will influence the society in a positive way, and Arjun will still be free from the bondage of karm, and will attain God, as long as he keeps his mind in God all the time, and offers all his actions to Him. At the end of the third chapter, Arjun asks Shree Krishna a very practical question. He wants to know why it is that we do wrong things, even when we know it is wrong. What force is it that compels us to knowingly do wrong, almost against our will (chapter 3, verse 36)? We will see how Shree Krishna answers this in the next article.
Swami Nikhilanand
Disciple of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj: Swami Nikhilanand Ji is a Canadian born Hindu spiritual leader based in Austin, Texas. He is a sanyasi disciple and pracharak of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Attracted to the teachings of Hinduism from a young age, Swamiji eventually let his deep spiritual longing lead him to India, where he was most fortunate to come under the guidance of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Thereafter, living in the ashrams of JKP, he extensively studied Hindi, the philosophy of the prime Sanskrit scriptures (Vedas, Darshan Shastras, Gita, Bhagwatam), and practiced meditation in
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the tradition of raganuga bhakti. In 2003, he was given sanyas. Now, with the blessings of his Guruji, he offers satsang programs throughout America, engaging audiences with his clear explanations of Hindu philosophy
coupled with inspired chanting of Sanskrit mantras and shlokas and charming nam sankirtan. His informative and compelling speeches provide practical insight into how to adopt the teachings of Sanatan Dharm into our daily lives, and inspire us
to awaken our inner spiritual potential. To stay in touch with Swami Nikhilanand Ji, like his Facebook page at h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / SwamiNikhilanand or follow him on twitter at https://twitter.com/Swami_Nikhil.
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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS
1 Jeena Jeena : Badlapur 2 Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan : Roy 3 Jee Karda: Badlapur 4 Khamoshiyan : Khamoshiyan 5 Sooraj Dooba Hai : Roy 30 India Post
May 22, 2015
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R
anbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone might be termed as ex in real but in reel they share a great chemistry. They are the much talked about couple in Bollywood, it doesn't matter whether they are in a relationship or not. Deepika, who will again be seen opposite Ranbir in Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha' after the success of 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' says she shares a great equation with her ex-flame. "No matter how much we move on in our lives and no matter how comfortable we keep telling people we are working with each other, the question will keep coming up. But the point is, it was, is and will always be a very special equation that we share. Something that one can't explain and describe in too many words," Deepika told PTI in an interview. "Our work is an example of that. We did 'YJHD' together and it was a super success and people gave us so much love for that film and then we have finished another film ('Tamasha') in less than two years. I think that's amazing," Deepika said. The 'Piku' actress said that working with Ranbir and Imtiaz was always on her wishlist since she saw 'Rockstar'.
A
fter a lot of dilly-dallying, it can finally be confirmed now that Nargis Fakhri will be seen in the role of Sangeeta Bijlani in Anthony D'Souza's film on the life of former Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin. Rumors were rife regarding the cast for the onscreen role of the modelturned-actress. Names like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Kirti Shanon, Nigirs Fakhri were doing the rounds. Ekta Kapoor, whose Balaji Motion Pictures will produce the film, had even thought of asking Sangeeta to play herself, but they required a younger actress to for the role. Meanwhile, Emraan Hashmi who will be playing Azharuddin, and Prachi Desai who will appear as the cricketer's first wife are gearing up for their respective roles. Especially, Emraan is training hard to perfect his cricketing strokes and he is being helped by Azhar himself.
Emraan Hashmi who will be playing Azharuddin, and Prachi Desai who will appear as the cricketer's first wife
6 Tu Hai Ki Nahi : Roy 7 Judai : Badlapur 8 Tu Har Lamha : Khamoshiyan 9 Chhil Gaye Naina : NH10 10 Dard Karaara : Dum Laga Ke Haisha
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adhuri Dixit Nene has expressed her excitement for choreographer-di rector Remo D' Souza's sequel film ABCD 2 and said she was happy that dancebased films are being made in India. Talking to reporters at the launch of her dancing tutorial web portal 'Dance with Madhuri' version 2.0, she said, Remo was a fantastic person and was doing good work. "I am looking forward to his next film - ABCD sequel - it's in 3D so I am quite excited," she told. ABCD 2 features Shraddha Kapoor and Varun Dhawan in lead roles. I wish to take dance at every doorstep. I am very excited about 'Dance with Madhuri'," she said. Madhuri's husband Dr Sriram Nene was also present at the launch ceremony. Madhuri had launched the tutorial website in 2013 and it is accessible to 172 countries and has more than 100,000 frequent users. It provides lessons for all types of dance forms, such as Bollywood, Waltz, Samba, Dandia, etc.
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May 22, 2015
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onakshi Sinha may be daddy's girl, but what she shares with her mother Poonam is special in its own way. "This bond is unexplainable. I am daddy's girl, but there is no one closer to me than my mother. "While my father would be away for work, she was the one who was always home and brought us up sacrificing a lot in her own life, including her career. That takes a lot of strength and courage," says the 27-year-old. The actor adds, "She's always told me to be myself and not change for anyone. It used to sound very simple, but I've realized how important that advice is." Poonam, meanwhile, hails that spirit of Sona's. "When she started college and was on the heavy side, I used to wonder how as a teen, she's least bothered and not becoming conscious about her looks like any other girl her age. I used to tease her saying, 'if you don't lose weight, how will you attract good looking boys?' ... and very confidently, she would say, 'they'll be attracted to me anyway!'
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he title of Tiger Shroff's super-hero film has been changed from The Flying Sikh to The Flying Jat. Apparently this decision has been taken in the light of the earlier title's association with the iconic sprinter Milkha Singh who is known as the Flying Sikh. Says a source close to the project, "It was felt that the association of the title with Milkha Singh was too strong. The title has been changed to The Flying Jat." Tiger's Sardarji-superhero character remains unchanged. "He will still play a super-hero in a turban, a first for our cinema," says the source. The film's director Remo D'Souza says, "I want to bring the same level of excellence in The Flying Jat that we see in the Hollywood super-hero films.�
he sequel to the 2002 crime t h r i l l e r Aankhen that was announced way back in 2006 will finally see the light of day. However, the characters and actors in Aankhen 2 have undergone a complete transformation. Only Amitabh Bachchan is retained from the initial 2002 movie. Besides Amitabh Bachchan, the cast of Aankhen 2 includes John Abraham and Anil Kapoor. The film will be directed by Anees Bazmee in place of Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who directed the prequel which was based on one of his Gujarati plays. Meanwhile, producer Gaurang Doshi is still looking out for suitable female leads. John Abraham has taken over the role of Akshay Kumar's character as the latter's hands are full with other projects. and could not accommodate Aankhen 2. In Aankhen, Amitabh Bachchan played the role of the mastermind who organized the seemingly impossible bank heist.
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emale fans of actor Ranbir Kapoor may heave a sigh of relief as the actor would remain a bachelor for some time longer. His girlfriend Katrina Kaif rubbished reports of their engagement and wedding saying marriage was not on the cards any time soon. "There is no truth to these wedding dates, there are no plans as yet," Katrina's spokesperson told media adding the actress has a packed month. Media was abuzz with stories of their marriage after Ranbir confirmed that they will tie the knot by next year. "This year both of us are extremely busy, so there won't be any time for the marriage. We have planned to tie the knot by the end of next year. Both of us have agreed on that," the 'Barfi!' actor had revealed in an interview. The Kapoor kid added that both of them were sure about their relationship saying, "If we don't open about it now, it would be showing disrespect to the relationship. I am 33 now and its time I have my family. Even Katrina wants that."
Tech News Govt misses tax collection target by Rs 2,288 cr NEW DELHI: Government has missed the overall revised tax collection target for both direct and indirect taxes by Rs 2,288 crore in the financial year 2014-15. "Gross Tax Collections at Rs 12,45,037 crore has shown a growth of 9 per cent (Rs 1,06,303 crore) as compared to FY 2013-14. The gross tax collection is 9.8 per cent of GDP," the Finance Ministry said in a statement. The revised direct and indirect tax collection for last fiscal was Rs 12,47,324 crore - indirect tax mop up at Rs 5,42,325 crore and direct tax at Rs 7,05,000 crore. However, bettering its own financial targets, the government said it has contained the fiscal deficit at 4 per cent of GDP for 201415 at Rs 5,01,880 crore. -PTI
ISB prepares model for developing smart cities NEW DELHI: With the government embarking on an ambitious urbanization program, the Indian School of Business (ISB) has developed a framework to help cities assess and develop the prowess to become smart cities. The 'Smart City Maturity Model' (SCMM) has been prepared to help Indian cities as well as states assess their progress and align their strategies in this regard, according to an ISB research paper. To address the rising challenge of urbanization, especially with
increasing migration expected from the rural parts, the government is looking to develop at least 100 smart cities in coming years. More than 600 million people would be living in urban areas by 2031, as per estimates. Smart city is defined as one that leverages technology to integrate and optimize its resources towards better habitability, sustainability and citizen empowerment. According to ISB, the framework would help a city or state to assess its technology readiness and subsequently align the resources and capabilities.-PTI
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May 22, 2015
Smita Hashim, Global Product Manager, Chrome OS launches their range of Cromebooks in New Delhi on May 15
Reasonable taxation, ease of doing business govt's priority: Jaitley NEW DELHI: Making taxation more reasonable and improving ease of doing business will be among his top priorities going ahead, Finance Minister of India, Arun Jaitley said here as he outlined the economic road map of the Modi government for its second year. The government will also strive to eliminate discretions and maintain the speed of reforms, Jaitley told PTI in an interview. The Finance Minister also dismissed any perception that nothing has moved on the ground on policy front in reviving the economy and said that such a view was confined only to a section of critics. Answering a question about voices from India Inc complaining that the government was not walking the talk, Jaitley said there was no such "overwhelming perception". Some of the reports complaining about the economy not having taken off were "inspired news items referring to a dozen people without naming a single", he said. The Minister said that a section of corporates voicing disappointment were those who were used to a "system of largesses". On taxation, Jaitley said, the effort would be to make it "more reasonable". The government, which came to power in May last year, plans to roll out a common GST by April 1, 2016 on indirect taxes, while corporate tax rate would be brought down to 25 per cent from 30 per
cent over a period of four years on the direct taxes, he added. The government also intends
promoting growth. Speaking about the challenges before the government, he said:
Arun Jaitley
to eliminate the exemptions while reducing the rate of corporate tax, though these would be retained for individual taxpayers. "I would keep exemptions but keep that for individual tax payers and in the last two years I have strengthened the kind of exemptions," he said, adding it would help in increasing demand and
"One, there is a huge road map how to ease your doing business here...I would say (that) is work in progress". To help boost private investment and improve execution of projects, the effort would be to replace the practice of giving permissions and push pending legislations like GST and the land ac-
There are no "forces outside the government which can influence the governmental thinking" in the current dispensation and the responsibility begins and ends with the government, he said
quisition law, Jaitley said. A bankruptcy code is also being proposed to help companies exit the projects in case of difficulties, he said. The Minister also said that the previous UPA government followed an "erroneous road map" and focused on populist policies, while it also seemed indecisive and ineffective which eventually hit the credibility of decision making process. "We had fallen off global radar and policy decisions were influenced by collateral thinking and if I may use the phrase, which some persons in Congress party use, they abandoned liberalization and went in for cronyism. So whether its was spectrum, coal this is all examples of cronyism," he said. On the other hand, there are no "forces outside the government which can influence the governmental thinking" in the current dispensation and the responsibility begins and ends with the government, he said. Jaitley said the Modi government is ending the first year in office by eliminating discretions in as many areas as possible and it was pursuing liberalization without any discretion and crony capitalism. "As a result we have crossed one year without anybody even attempting to make serious or a non-serious allegation of corruption. So it's a fair government (following) a clean process," Jaitley said.-PTI
New ITR forms to be much simpler NEW DELHI: The controversial new income tax return forms, which had been put on hold, will be "far more simplified", Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here, but kept the suspense on if the requirement of disclosing all bank accounts and foreign travels will be retained. He said after having public consultations, he has asked the
income tax department to come up with the simplest form, which is available. "They (CBDT) are coming out with a proposal. Now that I am free from Parliament, they will put up before me," he told PTI in an interview when asked whether the number of pages of the forms will be cut down from thirteen and a half.
Asked whether the queries on foreign travel and bank accounts, considered by many as intrusive, would be dropped in the revised form, the Minister said: "You wait, but I can only tell you it will be far more simplified". He seemed to suggest that the questions about foreign travel and all bank accounts could be limited to a section of tax
assessees. "... As far as 8 or 9 out of 10 tax payers are involved, their form has to be very simple...There are various kinds of details, which are to be filled up, may be absolutely redundant for them," Jaitley said in reply to a question on the queries in the forms that triggered a controversy. -PTI
May 22, 2015
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Enough scope for China banks in India: Kochhar SHANGHAI: As it scales up presence in China, India's top private sector lender ICICI Bank has said there is also enough space for Chinese banks to play a complementing role in the Indian growth story. Ruling out any threat from Chinese banks for the Indian banking sector, ICICI Bank's chief Chanda Kochhar said that India's growth is largely reliant on bank funding at present and "there are enough opportunities" for everyone to participate in the growth process of the nation. Kochhar, who was here for the opening of ICICI Bank's first branch in China, also said that the bank's further expansion in this country would depend on the opportunities and growth it sees here. "We will focus on Indian corporates doing business in China and the Chinese companies looking to invest and trade with India and other regions where ICICI Bank is present. Further, we also look to cater to the banking needs of the Indian Diaspora residing in China," Kochhar told PTI in an interview. A large number of Indian companies have taken loans from Chinese lenders in the recent months to refinance their high-cost loans. On whether there is any threat to the Indian banks from Chinese peers given their competitive rates, Kochhar said: "Several foreign banks including Chinese banks have
Infosys to set up $120 mn center in China BEIJING: Expanding its operations in China, Indian technology major Infosys has unveiled a master plan to build a development centre in Shanghai with an investment of about USD 120 million to tap the burgeoning Chinese market. The master plan for the development centre was unveiled in the presence of Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka at the India-China Business Forum, which was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shanghai. The development centre with a staff capacity of about 4,500 will help to focus on Chinese and global markets, Rangarajan Vellamore, CEO, Infosys, China told PTI. The Shanghai campus is the first Infosys-owned overseas campus and will be ready by next year, he said. The IT major also signed an MOU with China's Guizhou provincial government for exploring business expansion in the province, he said. This will help to capture the growth trends of Chinese markets for Infosys China, whose annual turnover is around USD 120 million. The new Infosys centre is taking shape as India is pressing China to open its markets for Indian IT firms to address the USD 48 billion trade deficit in the bilateral trade, which stood at USD 70.6 billion last year. The issue figured prominently in Modi's talks with Chinese leadership during his three-day visit to the country. -PTI
a presence in the Indian banking sector and at the same time Indian banks also operate in foreign markets. "Considering that India's growth is largely reliant on bank funding at present, there are immense opportunities to participate in the growth process of the nation, and Chinese banks can have a complementing role," she said. Assets of foreign banks are a relatively small proportion of banking system credit in India, Kochhar said, adding that the favorable demographic profile and growing affluence reflect significant prospects in
Chanda Kochhar
retail lending, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. On ICICI Bank's plans and target customer base for the new Chinese branch, Kochhar said the bank's international strategy is focused on India-linked opportunities. Based in Shanghai, China's biggest city and a global financial hub, the branch was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the last day of his three-day China visit. The branch would begin with 17 banking professionals for corporate banking, operations, finance and treasury.-PTI
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Finance Minister expects rate cut by RBI NEW DELHI: Ahead of RBI's second bi-monthly monetary policy review, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said his "expectation" from Governor Raghuram Rajan was the same as general expectation on an interest rate cut. "My expectation is the same as your expectation," he said when asked about what he expected the RBI to do in the June 2 policy review. "I expect what you expect," when he was told during an interview with PTI that the expectation was of a rate cut by the RBI. The RBI has lowered its policy rate twice so far in 2015, but maintained a status quo in its first bimonthly monetary policy released on April 7 on fears of unseasonal rains impacting food prices. The repo rate, at which the RBI lends to the banking system, currently stands at 7.5 per cent and the cash reserve ratio, which is the amount of deposits parked with the central bank, is 4 per cent. According to analysts, the mix of slowing inflation and weaker-
than-expected growth are indicating that a policy rate cut is on the anvil. While a rate cut on or before June 2 is most likely, beyond that, room for additional rate cuts depend on structural reforms that the government undertakes. However, there is a risk factor of
The next round of rate cut may now be driven more by growth considerations, as inflationary momentum is likely to remain subdued monsoon being lower than the average affecting the crop production. Retail inflation eased to a fourmonth low of 4.87 per cent in April while industrial output slowed to a five-month low of 2.1 per cent in
Gujarat CM scouts for investments in China BEIJING: Following up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's highpitched campaign, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel is scouting for more investments in China, including for the world's biggest fresh water reservoir proposed at Gulf of Khambat.
Anandiben Patel
Patel, who met investors in Beijing, wants overseas investments to back the Rs 21,000-crore project that will tap water from rivers which otherwise drains into the sea. The project will be a boon as 68 per cent of the state suffers water deficit. Design and engineering work will start soon, after which tenders will be floated,
Patel told PTI. Several firms from China and Japan are studying the project, she said here after addressing the Indian community. Patel, who was one the two chief ministers to accompany Modi to China, flew to Gaungzhou province, which has a sisterprovince tie up with Gujarat. Their provincial capitals are also linked as sister-cities. Besides addressing a Business seminar in Guangzhou, China's most industrialized province, Patel will travel to Shenzhen where she is expected to work out a MoU between Qianhai Development Zone and Gujarat's GIFT city. This is her first visit to China after taking over as Gujarat's Chief Minister. As chief minister of the state, Modi made four visits to China to woo Chinese investors. Gujarat, which has the highest number Chinese investments, continues to be China's favorite investment destination. The state bagged new investments among the 26 MoUs signed at the India-China business forum in Shanghai.-PTI
March. At wholesale level, the deflationary pressure has persisted for the sixth month in a row and fall in prices of fuel and manufactured items pulled WPI inflation to a new low of (-)2.65 per cent in April. These macro-economic indicators strengthen government and industry's call to RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to cut interest rates. "We are penciling in a 25 bps repo rate cut by RBI on June 2 or even before that," SBI said in a research note. According to experts, the next round of rate cut may now be driven more by growth considerations, as inflationary momentum is likely to remain subdued. "We are convinced that retail inflation trajectory will be significantly benign on the back of a loss of purchasing power in rural economy," SBI said adding that "if inflation numbers stay below 5 per cent, there is an outside chance of an additional 0.25 per cent cut". PTI
4G to constitute 7% of smartphones sales in India NEW DELHI: Sales of 4G handsets in India is expected to increase to 7 per cent of total smartphone sales in the country this year, according to international market research firm GfK. "In first quarter of 2015, 4G share in both (India and Indonesia) was well below the global average, at 4 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively. 4G unit share within smartphones is expected to reach 7 per cent in India and 10 per cent in Indonesia in 2015,"
the latest GfK report on global smartphone market said. The report did not provide India specific smartphone sales number but as per Cybermedia
‘West will have to pay for damage caused to planet’ LONDON: India has asked the West to take responsibility for the damage caused by carbon emissions of the past and propose innovative financing solutions to tackle the global menace posed by climate change. "The West will have to pay for the damage they have caused to the world and the planet. That is something the Western world will have to take responsibility for because after all they have taken out all this CO2," Power Minister Piyush Goyal said here. Laying out India's plans on the road to becoming a renewable energy hub, the Union Minister of State for power, coal and new and renewable energy highlighted the crucial role still to be played by coal to ensure non-stop energy supply to every citizen of India. "The focus will have to be on finding innovative ways of financing clean energy and there can be several models, which could include long-term financing or low-cost financing, if they (West) are truly genuine in their
interest to support the efforts of countries like India. "India today consumes as much coal per capita as the US consumed 150 years ago. Today, they are talking of clean energy and climate change after discovering low-cost shale gas," the minister noted during his brief
Piyush Goyal
visit over the weekend. Elaborating on India's goals during the major Conference of Parties climate change conference planned in Paris later this year, he said: "Energy security will have to be one of the major dimensions of the agenda. India is committed to providing affordable 24x7 power and for that we will have to create an energy secure India.-PTI
Research, smartphone sales in India dipped 7 per cent in the first quarter this year to 19.5 million units, impacted by change in duty structure and restricted supplies from China. Smartphone sales increased by 7 per cent to 309.7 million in the reported quarter from 290.1 million a year ago. The growth of smartphone
sales in India and Indonesia is also expected to be helped by an expanding 4G network. This growth was over 19 per cent in first quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period of 2013. The sales value of smartphones increased 8 per cent to USD 96.2 billion during the quarter on year-on-year basis from USD 89.2 billion. "In first quarter 2015, 4G unit share surpassed 50 per cent of global smartphone demand for the first time. China saw the greatest 4G share increase in the quarter, up 16 percentage points to 73 per cent, from 57 per cent last quarter," the report said. GfK forecasts global smartphone unit demand to grow over 10 per cent y-o-y in 2015, a slowdown from the over 23 per cent growth experienced last year. "Emerging Asia is forecast to be the fastest growing region, driven by India and Indonesia, where low smartphone penetration leaves plenty of room for growth," Director of trends and forecasting at GfK, Kevin Walsh said. In India, Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm and Reliance Communications have the capability to start pan-India 4G service. Airtel has started providing 4G service in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Chandigarh and Amritsar at 3G mobile Internet rates. Besides, Aircel, which holds 4G spectrum in eight out of 22 telecom circles, has also launched 4G in select area. Videocon Telecom has announced its plan to launch 4G services in UP and Bihar by December at rates at par with 2G and 3G Internet services. -PTI
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Vedanta to refinance loans worth $1.6 bn LONDON: Minerals and mining major Vedanta is eyeing the expected low interest rates in India to refinance its short-term loans of up to USD 1.6 billion (about Rs 10,200 crore) with long-term options in this fiscal ending March 2016. The London-based company has loans worth USD 2.5 billion maturing in 2015-16, of which USD 2.1 billion is with the subsidiaries and the remaining USD 0.4 billion
Half of the immediate total maturities of USD 2.5 billion relates to short-term loans taken out in these subsidiaries at a relatively low cost
Gujarat cell to implement organic farming policy AHMEDABAD: Gujarat government will set up a cell to implement its new organic farming policy with a view to promote nonconventional method of farming over the use of chemical fertilizers, a senior official has said. "The state government is committed to promote organic farming and has allocated Rs 10 crore in the current fiscal for this purpose," B R Shah, Director of the state's Horticulture department, said at a seminar held at Gujarat Vidyapith here. "We will initially focus on tribal areas and help farmers with certification, marketing and brand building as well," he said. "An organic cell will be created under the Department of Agriculture to implement the policy and Gujarat organic farming committee will be consulted to monitor implementation of the policy," Shah said. Western Indian state Gujarat declared its organic farming policy last month and has become the ninth state to declare organic farming policy after Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland. The state government has launched the organic policy on April 10 and the seminar was held to discuss on how to implement
policy in phase-wise manner, Shah said. On May 1, state Chief Minister Anandiben Patel had announced in Vyara town of Tapi district that her government will give subsidy to encourage more and more farmers to take up organic farming. "As Chief Minister of Gujarat demonstrated a political will by introducing organic policy the state is likely to emerge as a roll
model for the rest of the country," agriculture policy analyst Devinder Sharma said. "We will take the concept of organic farming in phase -wise manner in villages and blocks of Gujarat and we believe that Gujarat can fully achieve organic farming methods in next ten years and it can show the way to country like the Gujarat model of development," he added.
"I have met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal few days back, he wants to provide organic food to the people of Delhi and he is also eager to take policy initiative in this regard," said Sharma. If the Arvind Kejriwal-led government will implement it in Delhi, then the country will follow that model. Because what happens in Delhi, it will reflect in entire country, he said. "We have to accept that agriculture is only culprit behind our country's problems of environment, GDP, human health and climate change," he said. "Because, agriculture has 41 per cent of share in green house gases an now the time has come to shift towards organic farming because you are not left with any option," Sharma said. "We have to encourage organic farming and agriculture universities should become part of it via promoting research of organic farming," he added. "Earlier farmers were told to use chemical fertilizers same way now there is a strong need to tell them to use organic ways of farming," added Sharma. According to him, economic policy should be framed to reduce the loss of farmers, who are adopting organic farming.-PTI
is with the group firm Vedanta Resources Plc. Vedanta Resources CFO D D Jalan has said that with Indian subsidiaries, half of the immediate total maturities of USD 2.5 billion relates to short-term loans taken out in these subsidiaries at a relatively low cost to drive finance costs down in the past, when long term project loans had higher rate of interest. "However, in today's expected lower interest rate scenario and abundant liquidity conditions in India, we would be refinancing these through a longer tenure instruments during the year in the domestic market," he said during an analysts conference call last week. Vedanta Resources total gross debt, excluding working capital loans, stood at USD 16.2 billion at the end of March 2015. Of this, subsidiaries had a debt of USD 8.4 billion and the balance is in
the holding company. Separately, the Group said at its earnings release: "Of the USD 2.1 billion debt maturing in subsidiaries during fiscal year 2016, almost USD 1.6 billion is in the Aluminium and Power businesses. "These maturities mainly relate to short-term loans which are expected to be refinanced from long-term sources in view of the softer interest rate regime in the Indian market." On loans, Jalan said: "Overall, we are targeting an increase in average maturity by a year on refinancing." The liquidity for the Group remains strong with USD 8.2 billion of cash and cash equivalents, along with an additional USD 1.2 billion of undrawn committed lines of credit, he told analysts and investors. Vedanta Resources has also taken a USD 350 million loan from the State Bank of India of which "USD 25 million had been drawn as at March 31, 2015, to meet the upcoming debt maturities." The London Stock Exchangelisted company had reported a consolidated net loss of USD 1.8 billion in 2014-15 against a net loss of USD 196 million in 2013-14 on account of one-time non-cash impairment charge of USD 4.5 billion. Consolidated revenue was largely flat at USD 12.9 billion for 2014-15. -PTI
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Honda recalls vehicles for Takata problems, Acura radar TOKYO: Honda Motor Co. recalled an additional 4.89 million vehicles around the world for a new type of problem in Takata air bag inflators, for which Japanese rivals Toyota and Nissan have already carried out recalls. Honda also announced a global recall for 47,800 Acura and other model vehicles for a defect in the radar system designed to make cars safer to drive by stopping automatically before crashes. With this announcement, the recalls over the Takata Corp. air bag inflator problems have ballooned to 19.6 million vehicles for Honda. Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. expanded their Takatarelated recalls by 6.5 million vehicles, to take care of the new problem.
In the latest problem, a leak can happen while the vehicle is in use, causing a rupture, and the air bag could explode, according to Honda. The earlier recalls were for exploding air bag inflators that stemmed from defects during production of the air bags. The cause of the defect is not
yet exactly pinpointed. Automakers, Takata and NHTSA, the transport authority in the U.S., are investigating. No North American vehicles are affected by the latest Honda recall. Some 1.72 million vehicles, for the 2004 through 2008 models years, were recalled in Japan. Other regional breakdowns were not immediately available.
No injuries have been reported related to the latest problem, Tokyo-based Honda said. Separately, the radar system problem affects 22,700 vehicles in North America, nearly 6,000 vehicles in Europe and nearly 11,000 vehicles in Japan, for the 2014 and 2015 models years. A system software update will correct the problem. There has been one reported
accident for this problem, in which a radar system in a Honda vehicle on a Tokyo street mistakenly thought a vehicle was approaching and automatically braked, causing the vehicle behind to crash into its rear bumper. No one was injured, Honda said. Nissan's Takata-related recalls have grown to about 4 million around the world. Toyota's Takatarelated recalls have ballooned to 8.1 million vehicles. Takata supplied other automakers, including Ford Motor Co, BMW and Chrysler AG. At least six people have died worldwide due to the defect for which the original Takata recalls were carried out. Even before the latest recalls, 10 automakers recalled 22 million worldwide because of the Takata air bag problem. -AP
Assocham for Sonepat, Panipat Mobile phone ban in schools improves grades in Smart City project CHANDIGARH: Inclusion of Haryana's upcoming satellite towns of Sonepat and Panipat in Center's ambitious '100 Smart Cities project' can help attract fresh investments worth about Rs 200300 crore in the region, industry body Assocham has said.
world-class educational institutes in Rajiv Gandhi Education City, availability of vast residential/ commercial spaces, availability of skilled/unskilled workforce, extension of metro rail services are certain key factors that can drive the growth of this region," said the
"Rise in industrial investment in sectors like automobile, biotechnology, business process outsourcing (BPO), education, food processing, healthcare, hospitality, IT, petrochemicals, sports goods, textile and others will create about 2-2.5 lakh direct and indirect jobs in this region during the course of the next 2-3 years," read an Assocham paper titled 'Sonepat & Panipat: Strong case for inclusion in Smart Cities Project'. "Strategic location with proximity to Delhi, speedy development of Kundli-Palwal-Manesar (KMP) Expressway, establishment of
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. "Soaring realty prices in Delhi, Gurgaon and other neighboring cities present significant business expansion opportunities for domestic and global industries, and that is another key factor which makes both Sonepat and Panipat ideal for being developed as smart cities," said D S Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham, while releasing the chamber's strategy paper. "Providing tax rebate, concessions on development charges and other related subsidies can
further boost economic growth of the region and help realize allround development of Haryana," said Rawat. "As a Smart City, both Sonepat and Panipat should be able to offer economic activities and employment opportunities to a wide section of their residents, regardless of their level of education, skills or income levels," said the strategy paper. . The state government and the industry should collaborate to support the required skill development for such activities in a big way as it would help both Sonepat and Panipat in developing suitable environment for economic activities and employment opportunities, the paper added. T h e government of Haryana should identify comparative and unique advantages of both the cities together with core competencies in specific areas of economic activities and promote them aggressively by developing required infrastructure and attracting investors and professionals to take up such activities, it further said. Haryana has enjoyed a positive track-record in terms of overall development, including an average annual growth rate of almost nine per cent during 2005-06 and 2012-13, ahead of the national growth rate of eight per cent during the same period.-PTI
LONDON: Banning mobile phones from schools distinctly improves examination results, a new study published by the London School of Economics has found. Mobile phone bans in schools has the effect of giving students an extra week's education over the course of an academic year, researchers said. Researchers looked at schools in four cities and found test scores improved by over 6 per cent in
student achievement improve, but also that low-achieving and low income students gained the most," said report authors Louis-Philippe Beland and Richard Murphy. "We found the impact of banning phones for these students was equivalent to an additional hour a week in school, or to increasing the school year by five days," the economists said. Researchers surveyed the test scores of secondary schools in Birmingham, Leicester, London
those which banned mobile phones. They found low-achieving and low-income students improved the most, 'BBC News' reported. Despite the benefits of new mobile technology, phones cause distractions, reduce productivity and are detrimental to learning, researchers said. "We found that not only did
and Manchester before and after mobile phone bans were introduced. "The results suggest that low achieving students are more likely to be distracted by the presence of mobile phones while high achievers can focus in the classroom regardless of the mobile phone policy," researchers added. -PTI
May 22, 2015
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Israel invites bids for W.Bank settler homes JERUSALEM: The Israeli ministry of construction issued tenders for the building of 85 new housing units in the Givat Zeev settlement, settlement watchdog Peace Now has said. The tenders for the settlement, which lies immediately south of the West Bank city of Ramallah, had been issued last year but received no bids from contractors so were issued again, Peace Now and the construction ministry said. The Peace Now statement came hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to present his new government to Israel's parliament for a vote of approval. Netanyahu's new coalition, the fourth he will head, contains many ministers from his rightwing Likud party and the far-right Jewish Home committed to east Jerusalem and West Bank settlement construction, where Palestinians envision their future state. The Palestinian leadership has already condemned the incoming coalition, with chief negotiator Saeb Erakat predicting it would seek to expand settlements and not work to reach peace. -AFP
Bill to curb benami transactions welcomed MUMBAI: Real estate industry has hailed the Center's decision to bring in a law to check `benami' transactions, saying this will ensure transparency in the sector and also related fields. The Cabinet has approved the new Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill which aims at curbing the generation of domestic black money. Apart from confiscation, the Bill provides for prosecution and aims to act as a major avenue for blocking generation and holding of black money in the form of benami property, especially in real estate. "The Cabinet nod to curb black money in the form of benami transactions is a very welcome step for the real estate sector. This will ensure transparency in the future," Sanjay Dutt, Managing Director (South Asia) at property consultant Cushman & Wakefield Executive said. The proposed legislation will also force current property holders to procure proper documentation and legal ownerships for their claims, ensuring that right ownership information is put in place, he said. One of the key issues in real estate and infrastructure is lack of clarity of ownership of potential land. -PTI
Real Estate 38 India Post
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Foreclosures fueled racial segregation in US India Post News Service
WASHINGTON, DC: Some 9 million American families lost their homes to foreclosure during the late 2000s housing bust, driving many to economic ruin and in search of new residences. Hardest hit were black, Latino, and racially integrated neighborhoods, according to a new Cornell University analysis of the crisis.
May 22, 2015
Cont’d on page 37
Haryana forms panel to probe grant of licenses to Vadra CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government has formed a commission to probe grant of license(s) to some entities, including Robert Vadra's company, for developing commercial colonies in Sector 83 of Gurgaon. Earlier, the CAG had alleged that Vadra's firm was one of the nine companies in the area which had not submitted documents on financial adequacy. BJP had made land deals under the previous Congress regime in Haryana a major poll issue during last year's election alleging that land rules were relaxed to favor a few including Vadra, the son-inlaw of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The state government has appointed a retired Judge of Delhi High Court, Justice S N Dhingra, as one-man Commission of Inquiry to probe issues concerning the grant of license(s) for developing commercial colonies by the Department of Town and Country Planning, Haryana, to some entities in Sector 83, Gurgaon. The Commission headed by
Justice Dhingra would also probe subsequent transfer or disposal of the lands, allegations of private enrichment, ineligibility of benefi-
sitting," an official spokesman said here tonight. Notably, "undue favors" to builders, including Vadra's Sky-
Robert Vadra
ciaries under the rules, and other connected matters, bringing Vadra land deal under the scanner. "The Commission will submit its report to the government as soon as possible but not later than six months from the date of its first
light Hospitality, by the Haryana government during the Congress regime had come under attack from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The CAG report, tabled in the Haryana Assembly in March, had
alleged that because of Vadra, rules were also relaxed for other developers and builders, including real estate major DLF Universal Ltd. Underlining that "the possibility of extending undue benefit to particular applicants cannot be ruled out," the report had mentioned how a commercial license was granted to Sky Light Hospitality merely after reading Vadra's name in the directors' column. The development came a day after a senior Minister in the Khattar government, Ram Bilas Sharma, had said that it would appoint a Commission of Inquiry to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe alleged irregularities during the 10-year of the Congress rule, including controversial land deals involving Vadra. In 2012, senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, in his capacity as Director General of Consolidation and Land Holding Department, had canceled the mutation of the land deal in Gurgaon involving real estate giant DLF and Vadra. Cont’d on page 36
Nitesh Estates, Goldman Sachs to invest $250 mn MUMBAI: Realty player Nitesh Estates says it has tied up with global investment bank Goldman Sachs to jointly invest up to USD 250 million in income generating commercial assets in the country. "Nitesh Estates, along with Goldman Sachs have entered into an agreement to jointly invest in income-producing commercial real estate assets in India for up to USD 250 million," a statement issued here said. Besides this, Goldman Sachs has also committed USD 37 million for the Bengaluru-based firm's acquisition of Koregaon Park Plaza, a one million sq ft operational shopping mall and future high-end office complex development in Pune. "This investment announce-
ment with Goldman Sachs, an experienced investor in Indian and
global real estate, will accelerate our foot print across the country by providing capital where it is needed as well as through acquisitions of existing projects," Nitesh Estates Chairman and Managing Director Nitesh Shetty said. Nitesh Estates acquired the shopping mall for Rs 250 crore. "Like Koregaon Park Plaza, future target real estate investments will be in leased, income-producing A-grade office buildings and luxury commercial and hospitality facilities throughout India's tier 1 cities," he said. Commenting on the tie-up, Goldman Sachs India Chairman Sonjoy Chatterjee said, "We believe the cyclical recovery in India has begun. The new government is focused on boosting po-
tential growth and removing bottlenecks, which will kick start the investment and consumption cycles leading to enhanced GDP growth. "This announcement is consistent with our strategy to invest in sectors critical to India's development." Nitesh Estates currently has a residential portfolio of USD 1 billion and a development portfolio exceeding 20 million sq ft divided across four asset classes including residential, commercial, hospitality and retail. In addition to its base of Bengaluru, the company intends to expand its operations in Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, the National Capital Region and Pune. -PTI
Real Estate Post
May 22, 2015
India Post 39
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Foreclosures fueled racial segregation in US India Post News Service
WASHINGTON, DC: Some 9 million American families lost their homes to foreclosure during the late 2000s housing bust, driving many to economic ruin and in search of new residences. Hardest hit were black, Latino, and racially integrated neighborhoods, according to a new Cornell University analysis of the crisis. Led by demographer Matthew Hall, researchers estimate racial segregation grew between Latinos and whites by nearly 50 percent
alter the complexion of American cities for a generation or more. "Among its many impacts, the foreclosure crisis has partly derailed progress in achieving racial integration in American cities," said Hall, assistant professor of policy analysis and management in Cornell's College of Human Ecology. Examining virtually all urban residential foreclosures from 2005 to 2009, Hall and co-authors find that mostly black and mostly Latino neighborhoods lost homes at rates approximately three times
The paper notes racial integration slowed most sharply in western and southern cities, locations such as Atlanta, Las Vegas and Sacramento, where minority populations suffered a rash of foreclosures. and between blacks and whites by about 20 percent as whites abandoned and minorities moved into areas most heavily distressed by foreclosures. Forthcoming in the June print issue of the American Sociological Review and recently published online, the paper, "Neighborhood Foreclosures, Racial/Ethnic Transitions, and Residential Segregation," noted that the crisis spurred one of the largest migrations in U.S. history, changes that could
higher than white areas, with ethnically mixed communities also deeply affected. They estimate that the typical neighborhood experienced 4.5 foreclosures per 100 homes during the crisis, but the figure rises to 8.1 and 6.2 homes in predominately black and Latino areas, respectively, while white neighborhoods lost only 2.3 homes on average. As an avalanche of foreclosures buried minority and racially mixed communities, their white
populations shrank and black and Latino populations swelled. Researchers found that white households were significantly more likely to leave areas with high foreclosure rates, while black and Latino families entered these neighborhoods out of necessity or to seek newly affordable housing options. "Not only were white households less likely to be foreclosed on, but they also were among the first to leave neighborhoods where foreclosures were high, particularly those with racially diverse residents," said Hall. Co-authored by Kyle Crowder, professor at the University of Washington, and Amy Spring, assistant professor at Georgia State University, the paper notes racial integration slowed most sharply in western and southern cities, locations such as Atlanta, Las Vegas and Sacramento, where minority populations suffered a rash of foreclosures. By contrast, segregation in northeastern and Rust Belt cities was less affected by the crisis, likely due to relatively few foreclosures and more deeply entrenched ethnic divides. The research was funded, in part, by the Cornell Population Center, Cornell's Center for the Study of Inequality, Cornell's Institute for the Social Sciences, and the University of Washington.
Haryana forms panel to probe grant of licenses to Vadra Cont’d from page 36
The probe into alleged questionable land deals of Vadra was a major election issue in the run-up to the Parliamentary and Assembly elections in 2014, with even Prime Minister Narendra Modi aggressively raising the issue during poll rallies. Another senior Minister of the Manohar Lal Khattar government, Anil Vij had taken a swipe at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi over his "suit-boot ki sarkar" barb, tweeting "that the scams of Rahul Gandhi's suited-booted (well dressed) brother-in-law Robert Vadra will definitely be probed." The Justice Dhingra Commission will make an inquiry and give its findings and recommendations with respect to the matters including the circumstances under which license(s) for development of com-
mercial colonies were granted to some entities in Sector 83, Gurgaon and whether the entities were eligible for grant of license(s) as per the applicable laws, rules, circulars, notifications, guidelines etc. prevalent in Haryana. The Commission shall also inquire whether the transfer of licenses by the original licensee within a short period of time to other entities was violative of law, rules, circulars, notifications and/ or guidelines etc; and whether the Town and Country Planning Department had contemplated the transactions that had taken place before or after the grant of license, particularly with reference to the loss of revenue to government. Further, it will recommend measure(s) which may be adopted to meet the ends of justice, particularly with a view to take cor-
rective action to prevent loss of revenue to the public exchequer and also prevention of undue private enrichment at the cost of the public exchequer in such cases in the future; to consider such other matters, including, complaints given by different individuals, political parties and also the Comptroller and Auditor General reports etc. on the subject. Also, it will give findings and recommendations to meet the ends of justice, particularly relating to allegations of criminal conspiracy, criminal misconduct and undue private enrichment, if any and the role of public servants and private individuals therein; and to recommend remedial measures, for systemic improvement, with a view to prevent loss of revenue to the public exchequer and undue private enrichment in future. -PTI
SC order on land acquisition in Noida hailed NEW DELHI: Hailing the Supreme Court order upholding land acquisition in Noida-Greater Noida as valid, realtors' body CREDAI said the apex court's verdict would benefit more than 2 lakh home buyers It further said the development would renew confidence of home buyers and investors in the NCR property market, leading to a likely
rise in housing demand. The Supreme Court upheld the Allahabad High Court judgment declaring as valid acquisition of land between 2006 to 2009 in 65 villages in Noida and Greater Noida, adjacent to the national capital. A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu dismissed a batch of appeals filed by farmers as well as Noida and Greater Noida Authority against the High Court's October 21, 2011, verdict. T h e high court had refused to quash land acquisition and had directed that 10 per cent of the developed land be given to farmers. "The Supreme Court has put to rest the biggest doubt that flat buyers had raised that whether buying properties in government allotted land could also be cancelled by any court of law. "By upholding the development in Noida and Greater Noida, the court has set a precedent and added comfort to home buyers and real estate developers that government allotment can be trusted," CREDAI President Getamber Anand told PTI. He said more than two lakh home buyers as well as real estate
developers and financial institutions would benefit. "This will renew confidence in home buyers and demand for flats is likely to increase in this area," he said. CREDAI-NCR President Manoj Gaur thanked the Supreme Court for safeguarding the rightful interests of home buyers. "So far hundreds of crores have already been invested for the development of the area. This order will enable unlocking value for all stakeholders and help the customers, developers and financial institutions redeem their capital that had been in deadlock after the objections were raised," Gaur said in a statement. Property consultant Cushman & Wakefield Executive Managing Director South Asia Sanjay Dutt said: "...the Supreme Court's judgment is definitely a relief to buyers who had invested in their dream homes and had been living under a huge cloud of uncertainty since the last many years." "We now expect these affordable residential markets to see increased transaction activity as demand in the segments up to mid-
income remains strongest even in current market conditions," he added. Amrapali CMD Anil Sharma said the decision has taken care of all stakeholders such as farmers, home buyers and the financial institutions. "67 per cent higher compensation and 10 per cent developed land have brought cheers for all farmers of the area. All uncertainties have cleared now and project would move faster as financial institutions will not hesitate to fund the projects for clear title land," he said. -PTI
40 India Post
P
elling is a small town in the state of Sikkim in the West Sikkim region. The town is a laid back place and it attracts travelers from different parts of the country. It is located near the foothills of Kanchenjunga and one can witness an outstanding view of the mountain from here. There are numerous scenic spots that one can visit in the area. The main attractions of the place are the monasteries that dot the countryside. Visit-
www.indiapost.com
ing these tranquil monasteries is a good way to spend time in the region. Some of the main places are Pemayansgtse Monastery and Sangachoeling Monastery. There are many sculptures and paintings that you can find in these places and they are not crowded. One can get a panoramic view from the Sangachoeling Monastery. If you are visiting during the month of January, you can see a dance called Cham in the Pemayansgtse Monastery. The Sangay Waterfall is situated 10 kilo-
May 22, 2015
meters from the town of Pelling and this is a good picnic spot. Another interesting place is the Kchehepalri Lake which lies amidst dense forests and is considered holy. It might also be worth checking the Rabdantsey Ruins. Tourist attractions Changey Waterfall: At a distance of about 10 km from Pelling is Changey Waterfall, one of the prominent tourist attractions of the region. Situated at an altitude of 300
m, this waterfall commands the serene view of the natural surroundings. It is known for its great white line that forms due to the whiteness of the waterfall with the backdrop of thick green vegetation. Darap Village: Situated around 7 km from Pelling en route Yuksum is the serene Darap Village. A part of the Darap Eco-Tourism Committee, this village is highly dominated by Limboo community. Cont’d on page 42
May 22, 2015
Travel & Hospitality Post
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US Airways likely to stop flying this fall FORT WORTH, Texas: After more than 75 years of flying, the end is near for US Airways. American Airlines plans to shut down the venerable carrier over a 90-day stretch that could begin as soon as July, which would mean a final departure around October. American executives designed the gradual fade-out to avoid the kind of technological glitches and massive flight delays that plagued United Airlines after it abruptly switched to Continental's computer systems in 2012. US Airways flights will slowly disappear and be replaced by American flights in a single reservations system. It's one of the trickiest parts of merging two airlines. ``It's absolutely critical because it's really the core system for almost every customer-facing transaction that happens at the airline,'' said Maya Leibman, the chief information officer for parent American Airlines Group Inc., now the world's biggest airline operator.
Even if all goes smoothly, vestiges of US Airways will remain. Most noticeably, American won't finish repainting all the US Airways jets until mid-2016 and even later for a few US Airways Express planes. Company executives expect that they will still be com-
bining labor groups and flight-operating systems through 2017, four years after the merger. The disappearance of US Airways isn't likely to affect fares. American already sets
Ranjit Sagar Dam to be gateway to JK tourism JAMMU: Asserting that Ranjit Sagar Dam has tremendous potential to come up as a major tourist attraction, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said the area will be developed as the "gateway" of Jammu and Kashmir's "leisure tourism". "Ranjit Sagar Dam has tremendous potential to come up as a leisure-cum-adven-
ture and water-sports hub that will become a major tourist attraction for people from all over the country, especially the neighboring states", Mufti said. While undertaking a visit to Kathua district to oversee the progress of the development works of the dam, the Chief Minister said "the area will be developed as the Gateway of J&K's Leisure Tourism". He also called for dovetailing the famous Basohli Paintings and Arts with its tourism potential so that footfall of heritage lovers gains visibility in the scenic spot. Meanwhile, Health Minister and local MLA Lal Singh, who was accompanying Chief Minister, said the government is committed to promote Jammu as an independent tourist destination.
"The government will highlight several locations in Jammu with tourism potential so that the number of tourists is increased this season," Singh said. Later, Mufti Sayeed viewed a concept presentation on 'Tourist Hub' in Basohli. On developing Basohli, as major tourist attraction, he called upon the Tourism Department and the concept designers to immediately frame a strategy that brings to fore its huge potential. The Chief Minister also asked the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, to come up with a proposal for upgradation of Government Higher Secondary School, Basohli, as a model school. While expressing his gratitude to the Central Government for sanctioning 1210metre pre-stressed Double-Lane KeerianGandial Bridge over river Ravi in Kathua district at a cost of Rs 158 crore, Mufti Sayeed said it will provide succor to the people of two hamlets of Keerian and Gandial, who have to travel 45 km to reach the district headquarters. The CM also directed the Public Works Department to immediately start the work on the Bridge so that it is completed within the stipulated timeline of three years. The state government had taken up with the Union Road Transport Ministry the construction of the Bridge, which has now been sanctioned under Inter-State Connectivity scheme of CRF (Central Road Fund). -PTI
those for both carriers. Since 2005, mergers have eliminated five big airlines and left four companies controlling more than 80 percent of the U.S. air-travel market. Fares have been rising modestly, and fees have gone up sharply. US Airways traces its roots back to 1939 and the founding of an airmaildelivery outfit in western Pennsylvania that was called All-American Airways. It became Allegheny Airlines, gobbled up Mohawk Airlines, and morphed into US Air and then US Airways. When US Airways combined its reservations system with that of America West Airlines after their 2005 merger, there were disruptions at several airports. Kerry Philipovitch, who is American's senior vice president of customer experience and held the same position at US Airways, blamed lack of adequate training for employees. This time,
she said, American plans to train 9,000 airport employees and 2,000 reservations agents for the changeover. From the start, the company decided to switch US Airways to the computer and reservations systems of much larger American. That reduced the number of employees who would need retraining, and it stood in contrast to United, which adopted the systems of smaller Continental. American simplified things by taking care of some business separately, such as merging the frequentflier programs earlier this year. And it is getting technology advice from IBM. American notified travel agents that as soon as July, all US Airways flights at least 90 days out will change to American flights in the schedule. But the wind-down of US Airways could still be delayed - executives declined to commit to a deadline. ``I've worked in technology long enough to know not to give any specific dates,'' Leibman said, ``because when you don't necessarily meet that date for a good reason, it looks like a failure to the outside world. -AP
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Cont’d from page 40
A small number of families from other communities including Bhutias, Chettris, Tamangs, Rais, Gurungs and Lepchas also inhabit the place. Nestled amidst verdant hills and rich green forests, the village offers spectacular views and is a perfect location to enjoy virgin nature. Tourists traveling to Pelling should never miss to visit this scenic village. Khangchendzonga Waterfalls: Khangchendzonga Waterfalls, located around 28 km from Pelling is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in West Sikkim. Topjor Bhutia, a local tour operator from Pelling discovered this falls during mid 90's and today it is among one of the leading tourist spots in West Sikkim. The vigorous and imposing water cascading down granite rocks is truly a mesmerizing sight. This waterfall is active all year round. Rimbi Waterfall & Hydro Project: The beautiful Rimbi waterfall is located around 17 km from Pelling. It is formed by Rimbi River and falls on the way to Khecheopalri and Yuksom attracting a good number of tourists. During summer, the waterfall looks spectacular attracting many waterfall lovers. Located close to the waterfall is one of the oldest hydro power stations in Sikkim. Established in early 70's, this power
PELLING
Marvelous monasteries, waterfalls and scenery
station is the source of energy for most of the villa towns of West Sikkim including Gazing, Tigjuck and Pelling. Khecheopalri Lake: Synonymous with peace and tranquility, Khecheopalri Lake, located around 28 km from Pelling is considered sacred by both Buddhist and Hindus. The original
Sikkim has selected the site for bungee jumping activities. Best time to visit The climatic conditions of the town of Pelling are comfortable and pleasant during all times of the year. It is possible to visit the place at any point, except the monsoon season. So, the best time would be from September to May.
name of the lake is Kha-Chot-Palri, which means "Heaven of Padmasambhava". It is believed that wishes made on this lake are fulfilled. Locally known as Sho Dzo Sho, meaning "Oh Lady, Sit Here", the lake is visited by many devotees from all over the country. Sanga Choeling Monastery: This 17th century monastery, located atop a hill is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim. Sanga Choeling, which means "island of esoteric teaching", was founded
by Lama Lhatsun Chempo and is around 7 km from the Pemayangtse Monastery. Built in Tibetan style of architecture, the monastery can be reached on foot. Singshore Bridge: Situated at a distance of about 5 km Pelling is Singshore Bridge, a well-known 198 m suspension bridge. Connecting two hills, this 16th year old bridge is the highest bridge of Sikkim and the second highest bridge in Asia. The government of
How to reach By Train: The nearest railway station is the town of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. The station is connected to some cities across the country such as Chennai, New Delhi, Howrah, Alipur and Darjeeling. By Air: If you are planning to travel by air, the only option is the Bagdogra Airport that is situated outside the town of Bagdogra. The airport is located around 124 kilometers from the town of Pelling. There are scheduled commercial flights from places such as Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati and Mumbai.
May 22, 2015
Travel & Hospitality Post
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Chinese company sends 12,000+ on Thai holiday BANGKOK: A Chinese company is sending more than 12,000 people on a holiday to Thailand, tourism officials said, with one resort hosting a series of back-toback banquets catering to thousands of guests at a time. Thailand's tourism body said the enormous group of holidaymakers was one of the largest they had accommodated from
The 12,700 tourists are being sent by Infinitus China, a direct sales company, and began arriving in Thailand on 10 May, Chattan said. They will travel in groups of 23,000 at a time and will make a sixday trip to Bangkok and the nearby seaside town of Pattaya, he added. Those arriving include both
a company in China, where employees and customers are often rewarded for meeting targets. "It will be a challenge but it's one we relish," Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, the executive director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's public relations wing, told AFP.
employees of the firm as well as freelance sales staff and regular customers. The visit comes less than a week after France received more than 6,000 Chinese holidaymakers from a single Chinese firm that booked 4,760 rooms in 79 four-and five-star hotels.
Itthiphol Kunplome, Pattaya's mayor, confirmed that the first batch of nearly 3,000 employees had begun arriving in his city. "We are ready to welcome them and ready to facilitate their activities while they are in Pattaya," he told AFP. A tour guide involved in the colossal task of organizing 400 coach trips to ferry the groups said 300 colleagues would be on hand until the last holidaymaker leaves. "The company chose Thailand because they were impressed with our beaches, temples, cultural performances and fruits," he told AFP, asking not to be named. Chattan said all the guests would attend one of a series of giant banquets at the Royal Cliff Hotel in Pattaya. A planning schedule seen by AFP shows the hotel intends to host four nights of giant banquets, the largest of which will feed 3,935. Tourism is one of Thailand's largest earners, usually accounting for around 10 percent of GDP, and China sends the largest number of tourists. But the industry has taken a hit thanks to ongoing political instability and a significant drop in Russian arrivals following the rouble's depreciation. -AFP
Himachal to start water sports in Pong Dam SHIMLA: Tourists visiting Kangra and Dharamsala areas of Himachal Pradesh can hope for added attractions like water sports, Shikaras and houseboats in Pong Dam reservoir in near future. "The government is preparing a master plan to cash in on the tourism potential of the water reservoir and the concept of cottages, resorts and bird watching could also be introduced alongside the 65 Km stretch of the dam," said Vice Chairman of State Tourism Development Board, Vijay Singh Mankotia. The private sector has shown interest in these activities and "we may engage private players in translating the idea into action," he added. Talking to media persons here, Mankotia expressed anguish over
red-tapism in the government set up and rued that tourism plans remain buried in files and asserted that "Tourism can't be file exercise, it has to take shape on the ground." He said he had personally talked to the Chief Minister Virbhadra
Singh and asked him to expedite the plans. "I have also talked to CM regarding involving the private sector in promoting tourism and told him that the government cannot
do it the way it is doing. There is resistance in the government on this, but we will have to go with the private sector for result oriented tourism," he stressed. Referring to the lingering proposals for construction of ropeways in the state due to tendency of tendering, re-tendering and filing of projects, he said he had been associated with the tourism sector for over 20 years and also served as tourism minister, but he was sorry to say that the progress on ropeways front was far from appreciable in the state. Mankotia said that after much effort, three out of the six ropeways projects were cleared recently by the government, while many others have been hanging fire and have almost been buried deep in files. -PTI
Char Dham, tourist spots in Uttarakhand safe DEHRADUN: Dismissing apprehensions of visitors planning to cancel their bookings for Uttarakhand in the wake of the latest earthquake in Nepal, the state government has said Char Dham yatra routes and all tourist spots are absolutely safe and there is no need to worry. The fresh wave of tremors in Nepal had generated fear in the minds of tourists and pilgrims bound for Uttarakhand, who were in a mood to cancel their bookings to different destinations across the state, Uttarakhand Tourism Min-
Char Dham yatra and all the places of tourist interest across the state are absolutely safe. Those planning to visit Uttarakhand can go anywhere in the state without any trouble," Dhanai said. He said that the state government is "fully prepared" to deal with any natural calamity including quakes. We have the State Disaster Response Force besides a well-oiled disaster mitigation and management machinery which has been directed to evacuate pilgrims and tourists in case of a crisis," the
ister Dinesh Dhanai said. The state government has received several calls from prospective visitors wanting to know whether their visit to the hill state will be safe. Even private tour operators, who have made the bookings, are inquiring about the situation. "But there is no need to fear as
minister said, in a bid to instill confidence among visitors bound for the hill state. Describing tourist arrivals in the state since the start of the Char Dham yatra season this year on April 21 as "encouraging", Dhanai said so far 1,15,162 devotees have visited Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.-PTI
SpiceJet introduces 4 new services NEW DELHI: Budget carrier SpiceJet has introduced four new services for travelers, albeit for a price, weeks after aviation regulator DGCA gave a free hand to domestic carriers to charge for extra services such as choice seat and extra baggage among others. The move would help the Gurgaonbased airline to increase its ancillary revenue by a significant extent. SpiceJet Assist is a service that provides assistance to passengers at the airport for both departure and arrival and comes at an introductory fee of Rs 500 per passenger per sector, the airline said in a statement. Similarly, priority check-in, for which a customer would have to shell out an additional Rs 200 other than the ticket price, allows pas-
sengers to beat the queue by checking-in at specially designated priority check-in counters. Coming at a cost of Rs 100 per bag, bag-out-first ensures the customer's baggage is brought out first on the baggage claim belt
along with other priority-tagged bags. Spice Assurance, at a price of Rs 35 per flight, gives passengers additional peace of mind by compensating them for baggage loss, flight delays and cancellations beyond the usual compensation amounts, the statement said.-PTI
In Brief 2 Indian-Americans arrested for H1B visa fraud WASHINGTON: Two IndianAmericans, who recruited foreign workers mainly from India with purported IT expertise, have been arrested in New Jersey on charges of H-1B visa fraud. Hiral Patel, 32, and Shikha Mohta, 31, employees of SCM Data Inc. and MMC Systems Inc have been charged with one count of conspiracy to bring in and harbor aliens and to obstruct justice. Both are residents of Jersey City. The conspiracy charge with which Patel and Mohta are charged carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine. The federal complaint alleges that Patel, Mohta and other conspirators recruited foreign workers mainly from India with purported IT expertise who sought work in the US. They then sponsored the foreign workers' H1-B visas with the stated purpose of working for SCM Data and MMC Systems' clients throughout the US. When submitting the visa paperwork to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they falsely represented that the foreign workers had full-time positions and were paid an annual salary, as required to secure the H-1B visas. Contrary to these representations and in violation of the H-1B program, Patel, Mohta and others paid the foreign workers only when they were placed at a third-party client who entered into a contract with SCM Data or MMC Systems, the federal complaint alleged.
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Immigration 44 India Post
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May 22, 2015
Bishops want immigrant detention system dismantled Details on page 46
White House summit expands opportunity for AAPIs India Post News Service WASHINGTON D C: On May 12, during Asian American and
Surgeon General of the United States Dr Vivek Murthy delivers remarks following the announcement of his appointment as Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (Initiative) hosted the first-ever White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at The George Washington University. Nearly 2,000 community leaders, federal officials, and members of the public representing over 40 states and the Pacific Islands attended the Summit, along with hundreds tuning into the livestream. This unprecedented event for the AAPI community welcomed community leaders, celebrities, and guests from all over the country. The Summit highlighted the Obama Administration's policies and programs over the past six years and outlined efforts for the next two years and decades to come. The Summit's theme was Connect, Share, and Mobilize. "This is a historic turning point for the AAPI community. Federal representatives, community lead-
ers, youth, and others from all over convened today to connect with one another and find ways to continue working together to expand opportunity for AAPIs every-
net Secretaries and multiple federal agency leaders highlighting accomplishments benefiting the AAPI community. As part of the event, a fact sheet on these
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Deputy Director Jason Tengco and Executive Director Kiran Ahuja deliver opening remarks at the White House Summit on AAPIs. -Pic Albert Lu
where," said Initiative Executive Director Kiran Ahuja. The Summit featured six Cabi-
agency accomplishments was released. Cont'd on Page 45
Details on page 45
Unsafe homes rented to Bhutanese refugees PITTSBURGH: A western Pennsylvania landlord rented unsafe and uninhabitable apartments, many of them to Bhutanese refugees, and violated state consumer protection laws in the process, the state attorney general said in a lawsuit. The lawsuit against Davin Gartley, 39, of Mount Lebanon, is the latest legal dispute for the landlord who has been fighting with Pittsburgh building inspectors and Allegheny County Health Department officials for years. A key claim in the lawsuit stems from a Pittsburgh apartment complex that was condemned last year - forcing about 20 mostly Bhutanese families to be displaced - after frequent problems with water and sewage. The nonBhutanese tenants were low-income residents or ex-offenders in need of cheap housing, city officials said. Details on page 46
Activists use Clinton stance to pressure Obama WASHINGTON: Immigration activists are trying to use Hillary Rodham Clinton's stance on immigration to pressure President Barack Obama to do more for immigrants. Clinton said recently that if elected president, she would expand on the executive actions Obama took last fall to grant legal work permits to millions of immigrants in this country illegally. The White House insists that Obama went as far as he legally could. But Clinton said she would do more than her fellow Democrat, including extending deportation protections to the parents of so-called ``Dreamers'' - immigrants brought illegally to this country as youths. Activists with the (hash) Not1More Campaign said they are sending a letter to the White House urging Obama to follow Clinton's lead. ``President Obama could make
urging and vocal support of his party.'' Immigration is emerging as an important issue in the presidential campaign, with Clinton using it to differentiate herself from her Republican opponents, who oppose the unilateral steps Obama took. But Clinton's comments also opened a split with the current president of her own party, one that immigration activists hope to use to their advantage. White House press secretary Josh Earnest, when asked about Clinton's comments, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. looking on at right, as President Barack that Obama had already Obama meets with Congressional leaders in gone as far as he could. the Cabinet Room of the White House in ``The president was Washington determined to use as Party believe in these changes as much of his authority as he could more than talking points, they to try to bring some much needed should move for President Obama accountability to our broken imto enact them immediately with the migration system. And that was the changes to the immigration enforcement system outlined by Clinton, now,'' said the letter provided to The Associated Press. ``If Hillary Clinton and the Democratic
reflected in the announcement that he made,'' Earnest said. The activists' letter also pointed to comments Clinton made questioning conditions in immigrant detention centers, and urged Obama to end detentions of vulnerable populations including pregnant women and transgender people. Obama's executive actions have been challenged in court and are currently on hold pending a ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A group of House members and Senators have announced they were filing an amicus brief to support a continued injunction against the executive actions. Signers included GOP Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, both presidential candidates. A third senator running for president, Rand Paul of Kentucky, did not sign. -AP
Immigration Post
May 22, 2015
India Post 45
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GOP strips immigration language from defense bill WASHINGTON: House conservatives have voted down a nonbinding provision aimed at helping young immigrants without permanent legal status enlist in the military, angering some fellow Republicans and handing Democrats a political issue heading into an election year. The vote was 221-202 to remove the measure from Congress' annual defense policy bill. Some 20 Republicans voted ``no'' but couldn't overcome conservatives who threatened to oppose the overall bill if they didn't get their way. ``This Congress should support and represent Americans by voting to stop military service opportunities from being taken from struggling American families in order to give them to illegal aliens,'' GOP Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, who led the fight, argued on the House floor ahead of the vote. The handful of Republicans on the other side of the issue struggled to round up votes. Their job was made harder because
Democrats had already decided to vote against the defense bill for unrelated budgetary issues, giving Brooks and his supporters leverage to bring down the bill if they didn't prevail. ``This is a mistake,'' said Rep. Carlos Curbelo, a freshman Republican from Florida. ``It sends the
ing into a presidential election year. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her top lieutenants held a press conference to denounce Republicans over the issue, and presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton also got in on the action. She issued a statement from her politi-
The vote was 221-202 to remove the measure from Congress' annual defense policy bill. Some 20 Republicans voted ``no'' but couldn't overcome conservatives who threatened to oppose the overall bill if they didn't get their way. wrong message to the country. I assure you that the overwhelming majority of Americans are for allowing young people who were raised in this country, who love this country and want to serve it, to have that opportunity.'' Democrats wasted no time in jumping on an issue that could help them mobilize Latino voters head-
cal director, Amanda Renteria, saying: ``If these courageous young men and women want to serve, they should be honored and celebrated, not discriminated against.'' The debate revived the simmering partisan dispute over executive actions President Barack Obama took last fall to defer de-
White House summit expands opportunity for AAPIs Cont'd from Page 44
AAPI community for the Administration.
In addition to conversations with federal officials and AAPI leaders, the Summit featured artistic presentations by distinguished AAPI artists. These presentations served as a medium to highlight and address issues that impact AAPI communities around the country, as well as to celebrate the accomplishments of AAPI achievement in arts and entertainment.
Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole, Paula Fuga, and and Shawn Pinental deliver an artistic presentation
During the Summit, Dr Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States, was announced as Co-Chair of the Initiative, serving alongside Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. In addition, three newly appointed members of the President's Advisory Commission on AAPIs were introduced: Jacob James Fitisemanu, Jr., Sanjita Pradhan, and Paul Watanabe. They join 16 members of the Commission who were appointed last May and represent the diverse
portations for millions of immigrants in this country illegally, including expanding protections for those, known as Dreamers, who arrived in the United States as young children. Many Republicans argued that supporting the provision included in the defense bill would have validated the actions Obama took, which have been challenged in court and are on hold pending a
ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. ``The House should not take action to legitimize the president's unconstitutional overreach,'' said House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. Other Republicans argued that the $612 billion defense policy bill, which covers a multitude of military issues, was not the place for a debate on immigration. -AP
2 Indian-Americans arrested for H1B visa fraud WASHINGTON: Two IndianAmericans, who recruited foreign workers mainly from India with purported IT expertise, have been arrested in New Jersey on charges of H-1B visa fraud. Hiral Patel, 32, and Shikha Mohta, 31, employees of SCM Data Inc. and MMC Systems Inc have been charged with one count of conspiracy to bring in and harbor aliens and to obstruct justice. Both are residents of Jersey City. The conspiracy charge with which Patel and Mohta are charged carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine. The federal complaint alleges that Patel, Mohta and other conspirators recruited foreign workers mainly from India with purported IT expertise who sought work in the US. They then sponsored the foreign workers' H1-B visas with the stated purpose of working for SCM Data and MMC Systems' clients throughout the US. When submitting the visa paperwork to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they falsely represented that the foreign workers had full-time positions and were paid an annual salary, as
required to secure the H-1B visas. Contrary to these representations and in violation of the H-1B program, Patel, Mohta and others paid the foreign workers only when they were placed at a thirdparty client who entered into a contract with SCM Data or MMC Systems, the federal complaint alleged. According to federal complaint,
in some instances Patel, Mohta and others generated false payroll records to create the impression that the foreign workers were paid full-time wages. "On multiple occasions the conspirators required workers to pay SCM Data or MMC Systems their gross wages in cash," the complaint alleged. In exchange, SCM Data or MMC Systems would subtract taxes and fees and issue payroll checks to the foreign workers in a smaller amount. -PTI
PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law
Former Assistant State s Attorney
Civil & Criminal Litigation Felonies, Misdemeanors, Inc DUI 1 Personal Injury, Business, Divorce etc. 1 Property Tax for Commercial Properties 1 1
http://www.proy-singh.com Moderator Gautam Raghavan, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Jenny Yang, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy participate in a fireside chat at the White House Summit on AAPIs
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Immigration Post
46 India Post
May 22, 2015
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Bishops want immigrant detention system dismantled WASHINGTON: Catholic bishops have called for the federal government's immigrant detention system to be dismantled, and predicted Pope Francis would address the issue when he visits the U.S. this fall. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a sobering report that tens of thousands of immigrants are housed in prison-like conditions that cause psychological harm and are inhumane and ineffective. That includes a large number of moms and little kids, because of a growth in family detention after last summer's spike in migration from Central America. More and more detention facilities are operated by for-profit corporations that perpetuate an immoral system to please shareholders at the expense of taxpayers, the bishops said.
They detailed disturbing conditions that are especially traumatic for kids, including sexual abuse and lack of medical treatment and due process, and said the entire system should be dis-
Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle and chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Migration. ``The current practice of family detention must end. As a nation we must do better.''
Immigrant activists and religious leaders have raised growing alarms about conditions at immigrant detention centers since the Southern border crisis last summer mantled and replaced with alternatives to detention. ``From a moral standpoint this is unacceptable,'' said Bishop
Elizondo and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio told reporters the issue of immigrants' rights is of deep importance to Francis and he's
Unsafe homes rented to Bhutanese refugees PITTSBURGH: A western Pennsylvania landlord rented unsafe and uninhabitable apartments, many of them to Bhutanese refugees, and violated state consumer protection laws in the process, the state attorney general said in a lawsuit. The lawsuit against Davin Gartley, 39, of Mount Lebanon, is the latest legal dispute for the landlord who has been fighting with Pittsburgh building inspectors and
line and began ``digging trenches and running garden hoses'' to supply the apartments with water from neighboring properties he owned, the lawsuit said. Gartley was sent several warnings by the Health Department - and eventually a private criminal complaint but didn't fix the problems, the lawsuit said. Rather, the property got worse, and by March 2014, a broken or clogged line caused sewage to
Allegheny County Health Department officials for years. A key claim in the lawsuit stems from a Pittsburgh apartment complex that was condemned last year - forcing about 20 mostly Bhutanese families to be displaced - after frequent problems with water and sewage. The nonBhutanese tenants were low-income residents or ex-offenders in need of cheap housing, city officials said. The Health Department inspected the complex after Gartley shut off water service to the 14unit building because of a leaking
pool in front of the apartment complex. In April, the Health Department issued an emergency order requiring the tenants to leave. The units were re-inspected last May, and violations included failure to remove garbage, raw sewage inside and outside the units, balconies that were in danger of collapsing and rodent infestation, the lawsuit said. ``To date, the units ... remain vacant and uninhabitable,'' the suit said. Upendra Dahal, project director of the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh, said
the Bhutanese families that were evacuated have been relocated with the help of the association and other relief and social service agencies. Betty Cruz, the city's special initiatives manager, said the Pittsburgh area has 4,000 to 5,000 Bhutanese residents, which is why the city supported the creation of Dahal's group last year. Dahal said many Bhutanese leave their Asian homeland because of ethnic cleansing and religious persecution. The city's Bhutanese population is also growing because of ``secondary migration from other cities and states'' as Pittsburgh has developed a welcoming reputation, Dahal said. Gartley is accused of exposing other tenants to lead paint, failing to provide smoke detectors, firesafe doors, safe decks and balconies, and failing to pay water bills, which has caused service to be shut off at various properties. He also failed to place rental security deposits in escrow accounts and to return them within 30 days after tenants moved out, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit seeks unspecified restitution to Gartley's tenants plus fines under Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law. The fines are $1,000 per violation but can rise to $3,000 each if the affected tenant is 60 or older. The total amount of violations alleged and fines sought is not specified in the lawsuit. -AP
likely to speak to it during his upcoming visit to the U.S. and address to a joint meeting of Congress in September. ``All of this is something that is close to his heart and I'm sure he will say something about it,'' DiMarzio said. A spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the bishops' findings and recommendations. Immigrant activists and religious leaders have raised growing alarms about conditions at immigrant detention centers since the Southern border crisis last summer brought tens of thousands of unaccompanied youths and families to the U.S., primarily fleeing gang violence in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Two large new family detention
facilities were built in Texas to supplement one in Pennsylvania, and the number of beds exploded from 100 to an expected 3,700. At the facilities, moms and children, often young, are detained with little access to the outside world and scant opportunity to plead their case, the bishops' report said. Children grow depressed and lose weight, and moms who fled violence in their home countries live in fear and despair. The bishops said these detention centers are being used as a form of deterrent, and said families should not be detained at all and instead the government should invest in alternatives to detention. But such a change would require a major shift in resources from a Republican-led Congress that has focused on enforcement and is unlikely to make such an investment. -AP
Task force to conduct nail salon probes NEW YORK: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he was creating a task force to investigate nail salons and crack down on worker abuse following a report of widespread exploitation and health problems of manicurists. ``We will not stand idly by as workers are deprived of their hardearned wages and robbed of their most basic rights,'' he said in a statement. The task force will recover un-
tion and suffered serious health problems. Cuomo says the plans are taking shape after the reports. He said salons will be required to post signs in a half-dozen languages that inform workers of their rights, and officials will perform outreach to encourage workers to come forward to report abuses. The state Department of Labor investigated 29 salons in 2014 finding 116 violations. The Times
A customer receives a manicure at a nail salon
paid wages and shut down unlicensed businesses, Cuomo said. New health regulations will be created and implemented to require protective gear where warranted and increase ventilation in the salons that often reek of chemicals. A two-part investigative series in The New York Times found nail salon workers were forced to toil long hours amid toxic chemicals performing manicures and pedicures for little wages. The newspaper also reported many workers had little, if any, breathing protec-
stories were based on interviews with hundreds of salon workers. Cuomo said later that one of the problems with uncovering abuses is that many of the workers have ``issues'' with their immigration status and are afraid to contact authorities or a lawyer. Also, few workers have health insurance. While members of the task force will not inspect every salon, ``the nail salons need to know that there's a possibility that an inspector will walk in the door.'' -AP
Datebook
May 22, 2015
NEW JERSEY Upcoming Sun, May 24 • 1st South Asian Festival 2015 Venue: Garden State Exhibit Center, 50 Atrium Dr, Franklin Township, NJ 08873 Time: 10:00 am Contact: 732-910-6227
Fri, May 29
• A Night of Chicks and Cheers Venue: Jewel of India (Hotel 999), 999 U.S. 1, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 732-822-6163
Sun, Jun 7
NEW YORK Upcoming Sat, May 23
• Demonstrators condemn attacks on immigrants Venue: Hunter College, 69th St. between Park and Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10065 Time : 7:30 pm
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
CHICAGO
Upcoming
Upcoming
Sun, May 24 • Shaan And Little Champs Live In Los Angeles Venue: The Terrace Theatre, 300 East Ocean
Carnatic Duo Violin Concert
Venue: Hunter College, 69th St. between Park and Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10065 Time : 7:30 pm
• Ek Shaam Ekal Ke Naam With Rana Chatterjee & Sangeeta Melekar
Fri, May 29
Venue: Nicholas Music Center Rutgers University, 85 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Time : 3:00 pm
Venue: Jewel of India (Hotel 999), 999 U.S. 1, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 732-822-6163
• A Night of Chicks and Cheers
Sun, Jun 14 • EKTAA- Chhandam School Show (Fremont) Venue: Centerville Jr. High School Auditorium, 37720 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA
ILLINOIS Upcoming 1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes
Time: 4:00 pm Contact: 510-378-0545
Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807
Venue: ALOHA Mind Math | Reading | Writ-
Sat, Jun 27 • The Classic Burmans
Mondays and Fridays
ing - Sherman Oaks, 12501 Chandler Blvd,
Venue: Carrington Hall, 1201 Brewster
Los Angeles, CA 91607
Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062
Time: 11:30 am
Time: 7:00 pm
Contact: 747-300-1015
Contact: 408-802-5128
Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802 Time: 06:00 pm
Sat, May 23 • An Unique South Indian
India Post 47
Sat Jun 6 • Vocab Bee 2015 in Sherman Oaks
Sun, Jun 7 • Kumar Sanu Aashiqon Ki Mehfil Live in Bay Area
94536
ATLANTA Upcoming
North First Street, San jose, CA 95112
Sat, May 30 • Amjad Sabri Live In Concert
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: 5th Avenue Event Hall, 2720 Mall
Contact: 408-579-9426
of GA Blvd, Buford, GA 30519
Venue: San Jose Airport Garden Hotel, 1740
Time: 8:30 pm
Wed, Jun 10
Venue: Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, 777 Chick
Sat, Jun 6 • Help Nepal (Dayro and Hasairo)
Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Venue: Sardar Patel Bhavan, 5331 Royal
Time: 8:00 am
Woods Pkwy, Tucker, GA 30084
Contact: 207-401-9800
Time: 8:00 pm
Fri, Jun 12 • Dil to Pagal hai ..Unforgettable
Mon, Aug 31 • MITHAS 2014 Membership
• Jbl Presents A.R.Rahman The Intimate Concert
Hits of 90s Venue: Mehran Restaurant, 5774 Mowry School Rd, Newark, CA 94560 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 408-646-0330
Venue: Wong Auditorium, MIT, 70 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02142 Time: 07:00 pm Contact: 857-205-9731
• Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105
Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105
Swami Ishatmananda • Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662
• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822
India Post
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May 22, 2015
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48
Horoscope
May 22, 2015
India Post
49
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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar May 22nd - May 28th 2015 (March 21 to April 20)
Y
ou will breathe a sigh of relief after making final payment on old bills. Expenses will stay under controls from now and on and soon you will start to see money in saving accounts. You will get more busy and will have to spend extra hours at work. A short pleasure trip is in the air. Spouse may complain of some aches and pain in joints.
(April 21 to May 20)
O
pportunity will come by itself. Take your time and try to make the right choice or have a second opinion before you make the final commitment. New contract will have long term financial benefits. You may take family out to a nice place for dinner this week. You will continue to gain edge over business opponents and in legal matters.
(May 21 to June 20)
A
nd suddenly you will find your self in driving seat one more time. This time you will aim high and go for the long term gains. Three benefics in your sign will help you make the right choices in all aspects of life. You may also do some work in or around your home. Right time to launch the new project in association with people living far away.
(June 21 to July 22)
Y
ou may be asked for more or re submit some paper work. Some of you will be slowly getting ready for an upcoming overseas trip. Money stuck for long time will be finally released. You will gain friendship of a very influential person this week. Things will get more relaxed at work and in near future you will be promoted to next level.
(July 23 to August 22)
(November 23 to December 22)
F
inally you will see the light at the end of tunnel. Professional goals will become visible and within reach. Assurance coming via mail. Some of you may take over another running business this week. New contract will benefit you for long time. Some one tall and with fair complexion will be helpful. Property deal can also get finalized.
(August 23 to September 22)
T
hough there is no immediate danger but you will start little uncomfortable at existing place of work and start looking around for a better opportunity. Some of you will be getting ready to travel long distance for few weeks. Some money could go towards legal fee. Bachelors will be introduced to another professional through a common friend.
(September 23 to October 22)
R
unning around will not go waste and you will be suitably rewarded. You will successfully negotiate and recover money from an insurance company. It may take you few more weeks to recover and fully cure from an health issue that keep popping up every year. A property deal could get delayed because of some last minute requirements.
(October 23 to November 22)
Y
ou will receive some valuable gifts from some one close. You will continue to stay on top of everything at work, eager to finish project well before deadline. People self employed will get some more and new clients this week. You may get a chance to sit with some influential people this week. Bank balance will continue to grow.
PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com
Y
ou will commit your self to a new relationship or a business partnership this week. New assignment can open new doors and may take you to the next level in career. You will also quickly recover from any illness this week. You will make some plans with children. Claim you file will be soon awarded in your favor.
(December 22 to January 19)
T
ransiting planets in sixth help those seeking for a change in career. New boss or associate will not be much cooperative. You may pay a visit to a holy place with family. Avoid stretching limits when bidding on a property. Some of you may need to deal with a government agency and come up with some nice answers to query.
(January 20 to February 18)
A
nother member will be added in the family soon. Property deal will be finalized. Mind will be at peace as you will keep finding good solutions to all problems big or small. You may be taking a short trip to comparatively warmer area for business purpose. You will also make final payment on an old loan or credit card bill.
(February 19 to March 20)
Y
ou will be excited and start getting ready to move to another location. Luck is definitely on your side. Boss will pay attention to what you are saying and consider your request seriously. It will not take much time to hear positive response from him. You may attend couple of small get together with family and meet very old friends.
510-886-4370 www.parashar.com
50 India Post
www.indiapost.com
May 22, 2015
Mahatma Gandhi's house in the Phoenix Settlement -Pics Preeti Verma Lal A signpost marking Phoenix Settlement
PREETI VERMA LAL
P
hoenix is a very good word…As the legend goes, the bird phoenix comes back to life again and again from its ashes." I was driving to Durban's Phoenix Settlement and on N2, these words were resonating magically in
The first inspiration for Phoenix Settlement came from his 1894 visit to a Trappist monastery in Mariamhill outside Durban. Ten years later, he along with his friend Albert West bought 20 acres of land which had some mango and orange trees. Soon, Phoenix bustled with life. The International Printing Press that Gandhi set up in 1903 started whirring and Indian Opinion newspaper was born. When the family grew bigger, Manilal, his second son, built a house adjacent to the original house. Mahatma Gandhi stayed in this house for 21 years before returning to India.
From the highway, the road ascends and opens into a large tract of land which houses the printing press and the two Gandhi homes. A bust of the Mahatma sits in a thatched gazebo and a flight of steps lead to the Mahatma's house. On the white wall is a plaque with Sarvodaya etched in golden on black granite. The house and the printing press were razed during the infamous 1985 Inanda riots and the house is a reconstruction of the original. Inside, there are no personal belongings. His thoughts and photographs adorn the walls and the shelves. Cont'd on Page 52
A letter written by Mahatma Gandhi on January 20, 1897
the air. In 1909, Mahatma Gandhi had uttered these in a letter to Maganlal Gandhi. In Phoenix Settlement, Mahatma Gandhi had lived for 21 years in a modest house called Sarvodaya. It was in this settlement that he ran the newspaper Indian Opinion and Kasturba Gandhi started a school for children. In 1893, MK Gandhi, then a 23-year old barrister had landed in Durban to fight a civil suit for a rich Indian client.
The International Printing Press that was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1903
India Post 51
May 22, 2015 www.indiapost.com
Priyanka to debut on American TV as FBI agent
P
riyanka Chopra will debut on American television as an FBI agent in the drama series, Quantico, which is a part of the ABC Network's new line-up of shows for its prime-time fall season. The show revolves around a diverse group of recruits, who arrive at the FBI Quantico Base for training. Priyanka essays the lead role of Alex Parrish, who is the halfCaucasian, half-Indian FBI trainee, with a haunting past. PC is the first Indian actress to play the lead in an American TV series. Speaking about her show, Priyanka was quoted as saying, "I am constantly looking for new challenges that push the boundaries of my creativity and talent. I have had an amazing experience shooting the pilot episode with them. I can't wait to get back on
set to see where the writers lead us." "Wow. I'm still reeling," she said at a party to celebrate the presentations in New York where networks unveil new programming to advertisers. "Quantico" was "my first pick out of everything ABC sent me ... and I got it, so I was like, 'and it got picked up,' so it all happened so fast. I just hope it's amazing and people love it." Chopra plays an FBI trainee at Quantico Base in Virginia. "All of (the FBI agents) have secret pasts and something happens where one of us is blamed and then I have to find out who did it," she laughed, adding that there's "a lot of drama and all the fun, of course." Chopra, 32, is a former Miss
World. She has starred in films like the romance musicals "Fashion"
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra in a scene from Quantico
and "Andaaz," and has also re-
Nawazuddin bags Best Actor award at NYIFF
B
ollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who came to limelight after his brilliant performance in the 2012 film 'Kahaani' starring Vidya Balan, said he was honored at receiving the Best Actor award for his film 'Haraamkhor' at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). "I'm feeling very honored to have received such a prestigious award at a big festival like this one. Thanking all for love and support always," Nawazuddin said in a statement. The plot of the film 'Haraamkhor' is based in Gujarat. The film is about a married school teacher who gets romantically involved with one of his students. The movie marks the Bollywood debut of actress Shweta Tripathi, who plays the role of the student involved with the teacher whose role is essayed by Nawazuddin. It is directed by Shlok Sharma and produced by Anurag Kashyap. 'Haramkhor' had also screened at the Indian Film Festival of Los
Angeles, where Shweta won the Best Actress award and shared it with Kalki Koechlin, who won it for 'Margarita With A Straw'. Nawazuddin's role as the cigarette-smoking IB official Khan in Sujoy Ghosh's directorial 'Kahaani'
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
catapulted him to fame. Thereafter he was cast in major films like 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Gangs of
leased music. "American TV is at the best
Wasseypur 2', and the Aamir Khan starrer 'Talaash', two of which fetched him the National Film Award in the category Special Jury Award. He had done a cameo in the song 'Emotional Atyachar' of 2009 film Dev D. Prior to this he also appeared in blink-and-miss roles in movies like 'Sarfarosh', 'Shool' and 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. He has worked in many critically acclaimed films that were screened at film festivals across the world and won several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film 'The Lunchbox'. The award winning talent will also be seen in the Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' which is slated for release on July 17.
place it has ever been. It has incredible content," she said. "I binge watch TV shows when I'm doing hair and makeup, and I just think that all (American) shows that are coming out are so different, so much variety and there's so many different kinds of people on it that the uniqueness of each show is amazing." Chopra, who will continue to make Bollywood movies, said she knows her fans in India are excited because "they've trended 'Quantico' worldwide like five times." Piggy Chops also shared the trailer of her debut American drama Quantico on Twitter and tweeted, "Here it is The trailer of #Quantico ! Say whaaaa? Me so nervous!!!" Priyanka's portions were much appreciated on Twitter as her friends and colleagues from Bollywood instantly took to the micro-blogging site to tweet their support for the actress' new move.
Let's take a look at what the Twitterati had to say...Disclaimer: All tweets are sourced from Twitter and written as is. Priyanka is known to be on friendly terms with most of her co-stars. Here's what her co-stars and directors had to say about her TV debut... Madhur Bhandarkar @imbhandarkar:"@priyankachopra outstanding....full JALWA!!!!" Riteish Deshmukh @Riteishd: "@priyankachopra Now thats called a MAIN STREAM DEBUT - outstanding. Congratulations" Arjun Kapoor @arjunk26:@priyankachopra ur most welcome madam...desi girl goes videsi... That's not all! TV actors have been raving about Priyanka's performance. TV actors know what the daily grind is like and when they chose to encourage Priyanka in her new outing, you know that they sure must be impressed. Here's what TV celebs had to say about the Bollywood diva's TV stint: Gurmeet Choudhary @gurruchoudhary:Congratulations @priyankachopra for your American show #QuanticoABC ... You r showing even sky is not d limit.. Bravo.. Sushant S Rajput @itsSSR:Wow, just saw the super trailer of quantico. Riveting, super compelling, so very excited for this one. @priyankachopra extremely proud of u!! Sidharth bhardwaj @SidBhardwaj3:Take a bow @priyankachopra for #Quantico you gave me 3 and a half minutes of sheer pride and joy about my country and the talent it has. -AP & agencies
52 India Post
May 22, 2015 www.indiapost.com
Sunny Leone promises 'amazing, exciting things'
Y
ou can never have an over dose of Sunny Leone. Not even after two back-toback bombs in Bollywood (Ek Paheli Leela and Kuch Kuch Locha Hai, for the uninitiated). Because there are three things that make her films stand out from the clutter: Sunny, sensuousness, and skin... and a lot of it to boot! The Indo-Canadian diva, otherwise called Karenjit Kaur Vohra, sat down on her 34th birthday for a freewheeling chat on her films, the choices she's made, B'town's heroes (all men are the same, she says), and her position in Bollywood's pecking order. And guess what? Sunny's never opened up like this before. With Ek Paheli Leela and Kuch Kuch Locha Hai, you had two back-to-back releases this year. Is this your best birthday in India this year? Well, considering one did well and one did not, I guess it's mixed feelings. I guess I am happy that I have one more release this year, and hopefully people will enjoy it. Do you think you are perceived differently between now and the time when made your grand en-
try in India via Bigg Boss 5 in 2011? Yes I do. So many amazing things have happened over the last few years and, to be honest, I feel this is just the beginning. There are s o m e amazing exciting things I h a v e planned t h i s year for everyone and I can't wait to release the information. You're doing many films and it seems you've finally arrived in Bollywood. Yes I have arrived and I am here to stay for hopefully a long time. I have carved my own path and will continue living on my own terms. Do you ever see yourself in the coveted A-list club? Or, is it a
lost battle for you because of how you are perceived? I think any entertainer would like to be considered an A-lister. Perception is everything and I am still trying to figure it out. Like I have said in the past, I don't have a godfather or godmother, mentor, or someone w h o h a s been in the industry a long time that I consult with. I have Daniel Weber (husband) and between the both of us we try and make as wise decisions as possible. Sometime we make great ones, and sometimes we make mistakes. But, I can guarantee, we definitely learn from the good and especially the bad. And when things don't go
Finding Gandhi in Durban Cont'd from Page 50
It is not a Museum. Instead, a pilgrimage for those who believe and want to learn more about Gandhi's philosophy. On that fateful day in 1985, the printing press met the same rueful fate. There was no arson, but the rioters left no trace of the press. Today, there is no original press artifact. Quite like the house, the printing also houses framed photographs and copies of Gandhi's letters and writings. Indian Opinion was closed in 1961 but it has been revived again by Ila Behn, Gandhi's granddaughter who was born in the Phoenix Settlement and still lives in Durban. In Durban's Phoenix Settlement,
well, we both get beyond fired up to go above and beyond to keep building the brand. We might fall but we get up and keep fighting.
forward when no one else wants me to. My husband and I work very hard to be creative in branding "Sunny Leone".
What does Sunny Leone's list of actors she'd love to work with looks like? I want to work with actors who want to work with me. Plain and simple. I like Priyanka Chopra and Shraddha Kapoor.
What types of roles you are looking for? I mainly try and focus on good stories so it doesn't matter if I am a positive character or one that is slightly grey. In most of my movies, I am the lead character. But as I have learned, it's not just the story that matters.
Having survived in the industry for so many years now, do you think it's time for you to move on to bigger projects with established actors? I would love to but you can only work on what's on the plate. Hopefully in the future I can work on bigger projects. What do you think of Indian men? I think men all over the world are pretty much the same. But, the difference would be culture and religion. I love how my parents raised us and how my father was with my mother and me. He adored my mother. He was a great man. It seems the audience has already accepted you, but was it as easy it sounds? Not at all. I fight and I push
A signboard marking the school that Kasturba Gandhi had established
A photograph of Kasturba and Mahatma Gandhi in their house in Phoenix Settlement
He is no more, but his words still live on the white walls: I want world sympathy in this battle of right against might. Date: 5.4.30. The words still echo in the Phoenix Settlement. Mahatma Gandhi's words still ring true 85 years after they were uttered.
Your established image is extremely glamorous. Are your upcoming films going to break that perception? A couple of them are definitely going to be less glamorous... where the story is not based around glamour.
Kashmir sapphire ring fetches $7.3 million at auction GENEVA: A prize 35-carat sapphire from Kashmir fetched $7.3 million, according to the auction house Christie's. The sale, to a private anonymous Asian buyer, set a world record per carat for a Kashmir sapphire at $209,689 per carat, Christie's said in a statement. Kashmir sapphires are sought after for their rich cornflower blue
I walk the ground that Mahatma Gandhi had walked a century ago.
We have talked to some directors and all of them said that you're witty, intelligent and a go getter to the core. What's it then that's stopping you from experimenting with your roles? Again, it's about what is offered. I tried to pick different roles this year. The only one that is left that falls in the same space as my past roles is Masti Zaade and then after that movie the others are very different.
or velvety blue color. Sapphirebearing rock deep in the northwestern Himalayas was exposed in a rock slide in 1881, prompting a rush of mining activity. The mines were exhausted by the 1930s. The cushion-shaped sapphire
ring is set with triangular-cut diamond shoulders and baguette-cut diamonds elsewhere, mounted in gold. The sapphire is of the notable velvety hue often compared to the color of a peacock's neck feathers. Among other top pieces sold was a rectangular-cut pink diamond ring of 5.18 carats surrounded by an oval of white diamonds. It sold for $10.7 million. The buyer was anonymous. There was no buyer for a large brooch dubbed the ``Maria Christina Royal devant-de-corsage.'' It was presented by King Alfonso XII of Spain to his wife, the Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria, on their wedding day in November 1879. In all, the Christie's ``Magnificent Jewels'' sale totaled $97.5 million. -AP
Philosophy
May 22, 2015
India Post 53
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Page Sponsored by Sahanis MARY O'MALLEY
T
here are five core qualities (flow, spaciousness, light, love, and stillness/peace) that are the essence of the meadow of your well-being and as you learn how to open into Life, you will live from these qualities. They have always been with you, but you haven't noticed them because you have been too busy living inside your mind. 1. Flow In the great circle of Life, flow shows up in the dance of day and night and changes from one season into the next. Death is also a part of this flow. Life arises out of mystery, expressing itself in an amazing variety of forms, and each and every one will dissolve back into mystery. Even the invisible world flows. The only thing in all of creation that doesn't flow is the human ego. It has declared that there is a me in here and then there is Life out there. It believes itself to be separate from the flow of Life and believes that its job is to control it. As long as you see yourself as separate, you will view Life as a potential threat and will withdraw from the flow of Life 2. Spaciousness If you look carefully, you will see that Life loves space. Right now, you are sitting on a planet that is dancing through vast SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI
W
e often hear that Veda is scientific. Is this true? The Veda as a whole is looked upon as a means of knowledge in the Vedic tradition of learning. Being an independent means of knowledge, the subject matter of Veda has got to be one which is beyond the scope of other means of knowledge and it has to be meaningful as well. Science is a body of knowledge gained by one's perception and inference. Any scientific theory is therefore subject to contention. An error is committed when one makes a statement that the 'Veda' is scientific. Neither can a scientist accept the declaration nor one who knows the tradition can stand it. Proper it would be to say that the Veda is not illogical inasmuch as its area is independent of perception and inference. When the last portion of the Veda, that is, Vedanta talks about the truth of oneself, does it reveal totally an unknown Self? If it does, the Self would be like heaven, which exists without any possibility of immediate knowledge in this life. If it talks about a Self which is self-evident, then the Self cannot be the subject matter of the Veda,
oceans of space and it is 24,000,000,000,000 miles to the closest star. Then there are stars that are billions of times farther away than that! Can you even begin to imagine how much space that is? And this is all happening in a universe that seems to have no end. When you are open to this moment, spaciousness permeates your body, mind and heart. This is your natural state that can be accessed no matter what is happening in your life. 3. Light
Mary O'Malley
mind so it can expand and dance, and when energy is free to flow, it shines. There is no accident that when a great burden has been lifted or you feel very happy, you oftentimes say "I feel so light!" It is also no coincidence that the word delight means 'of light'! 4. Love When you rediscover the spaciousness of being open again to the great flow of Life, feeling energy moving through you rather than trying to control it, you begin to recognize that the word that
brings all things together. 5. Stillness Look out at the world and see this dance of form that has been going on for eons - things arising and passing away - mosquitoes, dinosaurs, your great grandparents, mountains and even stars. Everything in this dance of Life appears and then eventually disappears. This constant movement of Life extends all the way out to the dance of galaxies and all the way within to electrons dancing around the nucleus of every single
retrieved: The arrow once
Five core qualities of your well-being
sped from the bow The
This urge to connect at the heart of Life is all about Love. The great mystics of the world have all agreed that when you come out of your struggling mind, what you recognize and fully become is Love.
-Ali the Lion, Caliph of
We think of light as coming from the sun, but the leading edge of science is now saying that everything is made out of light. David Bohm, the grandfather of quantum physics, once said that matter is just frozen light! You have so much energy within you that wants to be let out of the prison of your struggling
best describes this movement of light is Love. This urge to connect at the heart of Life is all about Love. The great mystics of the world have all agreed that when you come out of your struggling mind, what you recognize and fully become is Love. And it is this Love, this allurement, this urge to connect, that
atom of your body. But that is only half of it. All of this movement arises out of a vast stillness, a stillness that births all the varied forms of Life. Excerpted from 'What's In the Way IS the Way.' Mary O'Malley is an author, speaker, group facilitator and counselor in Kirkland, Washington.
it being already evident. Vedanta, therefore, cannot be a part of the Veda since it reverses its status of being an independent means of knowledge. It will have no subject matter to be looked upon as one solely revealed by the Veda. A human being employs various means of knowledge including the Veda to know. Every piece of knowledge becomes evident to the person through a relevant means
means of knowing. Self-evident existence of oneself is revealed when one says: "I am". So the Veda does not need to reveal the existence of the Self. If this Self is Brahman, the cause of the entire world, which is non-dually one, then there is no way of knowing that Reality by the individual, whose existence is no doubt self-evident but is taken to be the knower other than the
has got to be immediate. If any intellect raises any objection to the way in which the advaita sampradaya presents the meaning of the sentences like "tat tvamasi"that you are, we employ reason along with the texts of the sruti and smrti to see the fallacy in the arguments raised by the one who objects or differs. When the doubts and errors are cleared, the vision of Vedanta that
Islam, son-in-law of Mohammed the Prophet Listen, O drop, give yourself up without regret, and in exchange gain the Ocean. Listen, O drop, bestow upon yourself this honor, and in the arms of the Sea be secure. -Rumi Man (and woman) has an infinite capacity for selfdevelopment. Equally, he has an infinite capacity for self-destruction. A human being may be clinically alive and yet, despite all appearances, spiritually dead.
Teaching that to understand Islam one must be a lover, how can one un-
ment that the 'Veda' is scientific. Neither can a
derstand Islam when the
scientist accept the declaration nor one who
known and who is subject to all forms of limitation. Vedanta, in this area, is a means of knowledge to free oneself from the error. So it has a subject matter to be included in the Veda. Here, in Vedanta, the subjectmatter being myself, the knowledge unfolded by its sentences
The missed opportunity.
Islam and Sufism are one.
An error is committed when one makes a state-
knows the tradition can stand it.
word spoken in haste.
- Idries Shah
Vedanta is independent of perception & inference
of knowing. This person does not come to be evident through any means of knowing. Employing a means of knowledge presupposes the presence of the person who employs. Naturally the person is self-evident. So, existence of oneself does not depend upon any evidence born of any employed
Three things cannot be
heart is empty of love. -Zarina Bibi Swami Dayananda Saraswati
"I am Brahman", the whole stays without any blemish, proving that Vedanta is a means of knowledge, independent of perception and inference. Swami Dayananda Saraswati is a renowned traditional teacher of Advaita Vedanta, and founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam.
What has he found who has lost God? And what has he lost who has found God?
sure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs
-Ibn 'Ata' Allah AlIskandari
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May 22, 2015
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Chinese inroads in Sri Lanka threaten India's security
W
hen the new government of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena decided to review every Chinese investment approved by the previous President Mahinda Rajapakse's government - including the Colombo Port Expansion Project (CPEP) - many believed this would lay the groundwork for Sri Lanka's China policy. Indian observers keenly monitored developments to see if the CPEP would be approved, as a disapproval of the project would lead to probable closer relations with India. Much to India's dismay, the Sri Lankan government approved the $1.4 billion project in April 2015, indicating that Sirisena's foreign policy was going to be rather China-friendly. Why Does China Invest in Sri Lanka's Maritime Infrastructure? China depends heavily on Africa and West Asia for its oil and gas imports. Beijing has revamped its policy to have strategic influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to reduce its dependence on the Malacca straits. China's cargo ships have tre-
its strengths of occupying a strategic geographical position in the IOR. Thus, it's a win-win situation for both countries. But is this engagement solely an old-fashioned trade and economic exchange or are there ulterior motives to the Chinese economic activity? In September 2014, New Delhi was alarmed when Sri Lanka agreed to dock China's warship and nuclear submarine at the Colombo port - that is controlled by a Chinese developer. Warship Chang Xing Dao and submarine Changzheng-2 arrived at the southern port of Colombo, supposedly for refueling purposes. New Delhi raised concerns about Chinese influence in the Palk Strait, located in close proximity to the Indian coastline. With the construction of these new ports, will India witness more Chinese warships and submarines at its doorstep in the name of antipiracy rounds in the Gulf of Aden? To matters complex, India does benefit from the re-construction and modernization of Colombo Port as over 70 per cent of India's trading ships make halts at Colombo. This is due to an age old Indian policy that does not allow
are in the form of loans. Besides the construction of ports in Sri Lanka, the state-owned China National Electronic Import and Export Corporation (CNEIEC) has also undertaken the $103 million Lotus Tower project. The CNEIEC is involved in defense electronics and other military services. It is not difficult to believe that the Lotus Tower, the tallest in South Asia, will be used as a surveillance facility. This not only raises security concerns in India but also in the broader South Asian region. India does not have the required investment capability to match or outbid the Chinese capacity, but is not investing hampering our security? There are also growing concerns due to the flourishing ChinaPakistan bilateral. India may be unable to, and will not, directly counter China. However, it could adopt a collective security mechanism along with other regional powers. This would be a much-needed pragmatic approach to counter China's influence in the region. Given the evolving geopolitics in the larger IOR, India has begun playing a more strategic role. There are great expectations from Indian
Colombo South Port
mendously increased in size to accommodate the growing trade. These state-of-the-art cargo ships require modern ports to handle logistics. Sri Lanka receives a great deal of its revenue due to its strategic position in the Indian Ocean. Economically Colombo would greatly benefit from the modernization of its ports. China has a strong involvement in Sri Lankan ports; for instance, the re-structuring and revamping projects for both Colombo and Hambantota ports have been commissioned to Beijing. These ports will now be developed to accommodate the largesized cargo vessels. China is economically aggressive in its approach and invests wherever it can reap benefits. Sri Lanka knows it needs to build on
India Post
ROSHNI THOMAS
merchant ships to make more than one port call at a time on the Indian coast. These ships have to invariably go through Sri Lanka. This is due to the lack of facilities in our domestic ports and our outdated maritime policy. Why India Needs to React Most of India's trade passes through Sri Lanka, which makes the latter a key component of ensuring India's security. New Delhi's inability to invest in Colombo and Beijing's growing readiness is a matter of concern. There is an urgent need to modify our maritime policies in the light of the changing global maritime environment. India may not undertake large commercial investments like China, but it invests on the lines of aid unlike Chinese investments, which
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recently-concluded China visit. Is this India's response to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visits to India's neighbors? Most countries in Asia are apprehensive about their relations with China. With China's phenomenal rise, it is understood that it does not hesitate to exploit. But India still maintains a more fair and peace-oriented image among its neighbors. With the Indian Ocean being an integral factor for security, it is time for Modi to apply his best diplomatic efforts with the rest of the Asian countries to bring about greater cooperation and security in the region before the string of pearls becomes a hangman's knot. The writer is Research Intern, IPCS
One year of Modi
A
n army of pundits has delivered, and is delivering, its verdict on the achievements and failures of the Modi govern ment as it completes its first year in office. As expected, BJP and friends are listing only success stories while the Congress led bandwagon is shouting failures and betrayal. Still there is a common consensus of some objective commentators which is credible and can be taken note of. They feel that Modi may not have delivered on promised big reforms but his government has taken measures that could lay the foundation for long-term growth. One big success has been injecting optimism in the economy, after months of despair. What has led to this optimism is Modi's policy statement: "We are creating an environment that is stable, where rules will not be changed frequently and there will be no surprise elements." Another major achievement has been a huge reduction in big corruption involving top politicians and industrialists. There has been a big paradigm shift. Devoting a full column to this achievement, Swaminathan S. Anklesariya Aiyer says in Times of India, "So many industrialists are unhappy with Modi for refusing them access. This indicates a totally new situation where industrialists cannot negotiate clearances and policy changes at private meetings‌Businessmen can no longer influence the appointment of bank chairmen, or get inconvenient businessmen transferred." One investor spoke of a governance transition. "Most big industrial groups are used to fixing things, which is not happening in this government." For Times of India the biggest success of the Modi government has been the transformed foreign policy as India moved from nonalignment to multi-alignment. It says Modi "has been doing agendasetting tours round the world, with the core message that India is now open for business. He has also used his rock-star reception abroad to mobiles the Indian Diaspora." A short list of government's other achievements finds that GDP growth has turned around and India is set to surpass China next year to become the world's fastest growing major economy. Inflation is down. Government finances are healthy - both fiscal and current account deficits are under control - and capital inflows have been the highest since '91-92. Insurance and defense sectors have been liberalized and diesel decontrolled. Coal production has grown 8.3%, the highest in 23 years, allowing many power plants to restart. The paralysis afflicting project approvals is over. Both the general and railway budgets were refreshingly investment oriented. A year ago, no one imagined that every Indian family could aspire to a bank account. This is precisely what is happening. The stage is now set for a historic change in benefits delivery to the poor via cash transfers through Aadhar identity and mobile phones, which will cut subsidy fraud dramatically. Elaborating on this, M.J. Akbar writes in Indian Express, "Those who take a bank account for granted can never truly appreciate how much it means for a person who has never had one. The Jan Dhan Yojana is also the first substantive challenge to chit funds, which mop up cash from the poor and divert it into unsavory directions. The poor simply had no place to keep their very limited surplus." "Given this fair record," asks Gurcharan Das, "why is discontent brewing?" he himself provides the answer: "When you are coming out of such a low economic ditch, it takes time for jobs to come back. When consumer demand is still weak, company results are poor; the producer is shy of investing and jobs prospects are bleak. It's also been a bad year for agriculture and a weak minister hasn't helped. Construction jobs are slow to come back because balance sheets of infrastructure companies were destroyed by approval paralysis of the past government." Das says by moving towards the political centre, Modi seems to have displeased everyone. However he knows that votes reside in the political centre and results of his policies will soon start showing.
May 22, 2015
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