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Nalini Ambady

Bone marrow appeal for Stanford Prof Details on page 26

VOL 18, No. 975

May 24, 2013

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Periodical Postage

INDIA RAISES CONCERN ON U.S. IMMIGRATION

Indian wonderkid is youngest Cal Univ topper Details on page 5

Sikh Caucus condemns attack Details on page 6

Gujarat takes back move on death penalty

Cricket facility opened in Bay Area Details on page 8

Details on page 6

‘Pak approach to India unlikely to change’

Ellis honor for Dr Barai, Dr Vidyasgar

Details on page 7 Details on page 6 Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai shakes hands with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at a meeting in New Delhi on May 10

Declan Walsh

Pak expels New York Times reporter Details on page 7

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

Will ties with Pak improve after Sharif victory?

Last week’s result

Should India bolster conventional defense on China border?

YES 73%

NO 27%

NEW DELHI: India has conveyed its concerns to the US pertaining to their immigration reforms currently under consideration and sought greater access for its highlyskilled non-immigrants.

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns also discussed ways to take forward Indo-US nuclear cooperation with India reaffirming its commitment to pursuing nuclear cooperation with

the US, official sources said here.

Burns' visit is in preparation for the forthcoming Indo-US Strategic Dialogue scheduled to be held here in the latter half of June and during the discussions, both reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and agreed to focus further on the economic issues, the sources said.

Indian-origin man shot dead in Malaysia Details on page 10

Details on page 5

CONTENTS

Obama honors Gurdwara shootout hero

Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 50 Community Post -------------- 16-27

WASHINGTON: The police officer who risked his life to save victims of the Wisconsin Gurdwara shootout last year was honored by US President Barack Obama at a White House award ceremony.

Six people were shot dead while three others injured when gunman Wade Michael Page went on a shooting rampage last August.

The toll could have been much

higher if not for Lieutenant Brian Murphy of the Oak Creek Police Department who saved several lives after being shot 12 times from a close range.

"When a gunman opened fire on a temple in Wisconsin and Brian was the first to arrive, he did not consider his own safety," Obama said during the ceremony.

Brian Murphy

Details on page 5

Date Book -------------------------- 48 Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 32-36 Horoscope ------------------------- 52 Immigration Post ------------- 44-47 Life Style ----------------------- 30-31 Philosophy ------------------------- 53 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 49-50 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-14 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 39-43

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

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Publisher’s Diary

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ooks like Pakistan is going to have a democratically elected government after all. From an Indian American perspective, the developments in Pakistan following the general elections, become doubly significant as Pakistan, its politics, its political leaders, its army, its spy agency ISI, and its people in general, are intricately meshed into the wellbeing of both India and the US. So how skeptical are we about the Prime Minister designate Nawaz Sharif?

Very, I admit. Although the governments of both the US and India are reacting suitably to Sharif's positive overtures, the people of both countries are not yet convinced.

Indians haven't forgotten at all that the Kargil war happened during Sharif's previous tenure as prime minister. Nor have they forgotten how Sharif backstabbed then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with his peace talks and then feigning ignorance about the Kargil intrusion.

Leaving aside the India perspective, here's an insider perspective that I thought was quite interesting. A columnist in Pakistan's leading daily Dawn points out how there's the possibility of some real change in Pakistan, which, similar to India, suddenly has one of the youngest demographic in the world. A little over 60 percent of Pakistan's population is under the age of 30; the median age is 22, which means 95 million of Pakistan's 190 million people are under that age. And this is expected to be significant not only for Pakistan, but the entire Muslim world.

Pakistan's intelligentsia is actually expecting the increased youth participation in the current election cycle would ensure increased accountability and high quality governance.

Well, I don't want to be skeptical and say "high hopes" to that; youth participation is always a welcome indication of change - but I am wondering what change can be expected from Sharif who has already ruled the country twice before and has left hardly any legacy even for himself to follow.

Sharif, on his part is promising to build a "naya Pakistan". Sounds like a pipe dream promise, but even if he means it to a small fraction, it would do the whole world a whole lot of good.

Romesh K Japra

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Pepped up song Priyanka Chopra's special song for Zanjeer is saucy but not suggestive and no one is allowed to call it an 'item song'

Cover Story: Immigration concerns India has conveyed its concerns to the US pertaining to their immigration reforms currently under consideration

Community: Address to NRIs Lambasting endemic corruption and the resultant loss of trust, Narendra Modi has pitched for a change in government

Immigration: USIBC campaign The USIBC is planning to launch a major campaign against certain killer provisions in the US immigration reform bill

Life Style: I am a loner Actor Ranbir Kapoor says, “I like to travel alone and over the years I have become a loner. I don't need any company.”

Techbiz:

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Pleading guilty to "felony charges" relating to adulterated drugs, Ranbaxy has agreed to pay USD 500 million penalty.

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Travel: Chitkul via Charang La The road to Thangi, hugging rocky mountains above the Sutlej coursing through the gorge, is simply breathtaking.

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India raises concern on immigration reform NEW DELHI: India has conveyed its concerns to the US pertaining to their immigration reforms currently under consideration and sought greater access for its highly-skilled non-immigrants.

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns also discussed ways to take forward IndoUS nuclear cooperation with India reaffirming its commitment to pursuing nuclear cooperation with the US, official sources said here.

Burns' visit is in preparation for the forthcoming Indo-US Strategic Dialogue scheduled to be held here in the latter half of June and during the discussions, both reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and agreed to focus further on the economic issues, the sources said.

"We raised matters relating to immigration reforms currently under consideration in the USA and

sought greater access for highly skilled non-immigrant categories," the sources said, adding the US raised issues relating to Preferential Market Access.

Indian Ambassador to the US

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns also discussed ways to take forward IndoUS nuclear cooperation with India reaffirming its commitment to pursuing nuclear cooperation Nirupama Rao has also already flagged India's concerns over the comprehensive immigration reform bill carrying eight killer pro-

visions which, if passed by the Congress, may prove to be detrimental to the interests of major Indian IT companies.

The first killer provision in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill is the ban on client site placement for H-1B workers.

Under this, any H-1B dependent employer (a company with more than 15 per cent of its workforce on H-1Bs), would be flatly prohibited from placing H1B workers at client sites or contracting for the services of those workers.

Secondly, the bill proposes new restrictions on client site placement for L-1 workers. The bill also places limit on total percentage of H-1B and L-1 Workers.

Under this, the immigration bill would impose a hard limit on the percentage of H-1B and L-1 workers that could make up a company's workforce in the US. Nearly half of US' highly skilled non-immigrants are Indians who

are about nine lakh in number.

Mathai and Burns, who also called on the Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor, also held a detailed discussion on energy-related issues including

In his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Burns recalled the distance Indo-US relations had traversed since early 2000 and attributed the success to his visionary leadership reiteration of Indian interest in LNG sales from the US. There was a discussion on regional issues including the situ-

ation in Afghanistan, sources said.

The official sources also said Burn's visit here comes as part of the ongoing process of highlevel engagement between US and India.

"Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, was here last month, Finance Minister had visited Washington in April. The Human Resources Development Minister is to travel to US shortly for the Education Dialogue and Home Minister will visit Washington for the Homeland Security Dialogue," they said.

Ways to enhance cooperation in the field of education, seen as a future pillar of Indo-US relations, was also discussed, they said.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Burns recalled the distance Indo-US relations had traversed since early 2000 and attributed the success to the visionary leadership of Singh, they added. -PTI

Indian wonderkid is youngest Obama honors Gurdwara shootout hero California Univ topper WASHINGTON: An 18-yearold Indian-American has become the youngest graduate topper of the prestigious University of California in more than a century.

Kolkata-born Ritankar Das has been named as the University Medalist, the prize which is given to the year's top graduating senior.

Das has taken just three years to complete his studies with a double major in bioengineering and chemical biology and a minor in creative writing from the University of California, Berkeley.

Further he is the first student from the College of Chemistry in 58 years, and the first ever from the Department of Bioengineering, to earn the honor, which includes a USD 2,500 scholarship.

"In my 30 years at Berkeley, I cannot think of a single undergraduate student who would match Ritankar's accomplishments, his range of activities and projects that he initiated and currently leads, and his academic excellence," wrote Marcin Majda, professor and undergraduate dean in the College of Chemistry, in a recommendation letter submitted to the prize committee.

On campus, he has served as an academic senator, helping man-

age a USD 1.7 billion operating budget and has taught as a graduate student instructor in the Chemistry, Biology, and AfricanAmerican Studies departments.

Das started doing research at age 13 at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

cipient.

He has presented his results across three continents, and has received recognition from the American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, and the National Science Foundation.

At this young age, he is the

Ritankar Das

Since then, he has continued energy-related research projects at British-Petroleum funded EBI Institute, Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, US Department of Energy, and Taiwan's Academia Sinica as a Cal Energy Corps re-

founder and chairman of 'See Your Future', a non-profit organization that uses digital learning techniques such as YouTube visual demonstrations and Skype tutoring to encourage disadvantaged students to pursue STEM careers. -PTI

WASHINGTON: The police made of to take down homicide officer who risked his life to save suspects in Los Angeles or Vevictims of the Wisconsin gas, or shooters in Miami or InGurdwara shootout last year was diana or Chicago or Iowa - savhonored by US President Barack ing untold numbers of lives" said Obama at a White House award Obama. ceremony.

"That's what you've got to be Six people were shot dead while made of to dodge live power lines three others injured when gunman during Hurricane Sandy to free Wade Michael Page went on a your partner pinned down by a shooting rampage last August. tree, all the while saying. I've got The toll could have been much you, pal". said the US President. higher if not for Lieutenant Brian Murphy of the Oak Creek Police “When a gunman opened Department who saved fire on a temple in Wisconsin several lives after being shot 12 times from a and Brian was the first to close range.

"When a gunman arrive, he did not consider opened fire on a temple his own safety," Obama said in Wisconsin and Brian was the first to arrive, he did not consider his own "Yes, this is their job. But it's safety," Obama said during the not just about the uniform that ceremony. they wear. It's about who they are, "He fought back until help ar- what they're made of" he added. rived and ordered his fellow offic"When a gunman entered a ers, who are here today, to pro- restaurant in Pasadena, Texas, it tect the safety of the Americans was three off-duty cops who put worshiping inside - even though themselves in harm's way so that he was lying there bleeding from others could escape," Obama 12 bullet wounds," he said. said as he honored along with "When asked how he did it he Murphy several other policemen said, that's just the way we're from across the nation at the top made," Obama said as he hon- cops ceremony at White House. ored the police officer at a White He said leaders needed to foHouse award ceremony. cus on making it harder for dan"That's what you've got to do. gerous criminals to get their That's what you've got to be hands on lethal weapons.-PTI

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Dr Barai & Dr Vidyasgar bestowed US Sikh Congressional Caucus condemns attack with Ellis Medal SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Two Indian Americans from Chicagoland along with four others from East Coast have now joined the elite group of Awardees of Ellis Medal of Honor that include former British PM Tony Blair, former US President Bill Clinton and prospective US President Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dr Bharat Barai, a front ranking Indian community activist and Dr Dharmapuri Vidyasgar, Professor Emiruts of Neonatology at University of Chicago Medical

Math subjects in Gujarat State SSC exam, 1964. At MS University, Baroda, he stood First in PreMedical, 1st, 2nd, Final MBBS, MD Medicine with Gold Medals in all the subjects.

After coming to USA, he obtained MD in Medicine (U of Illinois), MD in Medical Oncology (Northwestern University Med School), MD in Hematology (Rush Medical School).

He is currently Medical Director of the Cancer Institute, Methodist Hospitals, Clin Asst Prof Other Indian Americans who of Medicine at Indiana University were bestowed with the Medical School, award were Dr Kamla Member and former President of the Sazena of Ohio, Ramesh Medical Licensing Board of the State of Patel of New Jersey and Dr Indiana. He is a Mahendra Patel also of New front ranking commuJersey for their contributions nity activist receiving numerous community for the betterment of service awards in the last 25 years. He is a society in general Trustee and former President of The FedCenter, were bestowed with the eration of Indian American Assoprestigious Ellis Medal of Honor ciations (FIA) Chicago land area at a glittering function held on .Founding member and Former Saturday May 11at Ellis Island, Chairman of the Board of TrustNew York. ees of the Manav Seva Mandir, Other Indian Americans who and Trustee of the Indian Ameriwere bestowed with the award can Cultural Center NW Indiana were Dr Kamla Sazena of Ohio, and many Indian American orgaRamesh Patel of New Jersey and nizations.

Dr Vidyasagar, a graduate from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad came to USA in 1963 for training in Pediatrics.

He focused his further training in the field of Neonatology and he is considered one of the pioneers in this field. Besides his academic contributions in the US he is known for contributions to Global Health. He helped establish Neonatal and Perinatal programs in Poland, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, India and elsewhere.

He has been honored by several national and international agencies with awards which include: Honorary PhD

by Poznan Medical Institute, Dr Vidya Sagar Poland, Knights of Lithuania, Lithuania; Honorary Professor, Dr Mahendra Patel also of New China Medical College, Shenyan Jersey for their contributions for China; St. Tomas University, Mathe betterment of society in gen- nila Philippine. In 2012 he was ineral. This year there were total of vited by the Sri Ramachandra 100 awardees in USA and out of Medical University Chennai as a that, six were from Indian Ameri- Visiting Professor and consultant can group reflecting their positive to establish The Sri Ramachandra role in the mainstream society.

Center of Perinatal Excellence Born in Mumbai, Dr Bharat (SCOPE) Barai had a brilliant academic caThe Ellis Island Medal of reer, standing First in Science/ Honor founded by the National

Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) honors the contribution made to America by immigrants

Dr Bharat Barai

and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children.

Each year's recipients are read into the Congressional Record.

The Great Hall where immigrants were once processed, hosts the gala dinner which follows the ceremony. Approximately 100 Medalists are honored each year. Past Medalists include six Presidents, as well as Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government.

WASHINGTON: In its first American community," she said. public act, the newly-formed "That is why I have pushed American Sikh Congressional the FBI to finally begin tracking Caucus, has strongly con- hate crimes against the American demned an alleged hate crime at- Sikh community. This will help law tack against an 82-year-old Sikh enforcement officers in every loman in California. cality to do all they can to preSuch events, its co-chairs said vent violence against this, and make it all the more important for all, communities. We cannot wait the FBI to begin tracking hate any longer," Chu said. crimes against the Sikhs in the Singh's is the most recent atUS. tack in a string of violence The two Co-Chairs of the Cau- against Sikh Americans that were cus are Judy Chu and David on the rise following the SeptemValadao.

"My heart broke when I heard about “We must combat the suspected hate crime growing wave of violence on Piara Singh, an elderly Sikh man dedi- and intolerance that threatcated to his faith and his community," Chu ens the safety and civil said in a statement. liberties of all Americans�

Piara Singh, 82, volunteer of Gurdwara Nanaksar in Southwest Fresno, ber 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. was brutally attacked and beaten In another statement, Valadao with an iron bar recently. said he is deeply saddened to He sustained head wounds, a learn of the recent attack on Piara punctured lung, and broken Singh outside the Southwest bones and ribs during the assault. Fresno temple, Gurdwara "In the wake of Oak Creek and Nanaksar.

Elk Grove, it is clear that hysteria "Heartbreaking events such and stereotyping are still far too as this, highlight deep societal common. We must combat the problems, specifically what I begrowing wave of violence and in- lieve is a general disregard for tolerance that threatens the human life that has unfortunately safety and civil liberties of all become prevalent in our sociAmericans, including the Sikh ety," he said.-PTI

Gujarat withholds decision on death penalty for ex-Minister AHMEDABAD: Under attack from right wing groups, Gujarat government has withheld its decision to seek death penalty for former minister Maya Kodnani once a close aide of Chief Minister Narendra Modi - in a 2002 riots case.

The rethink by the government came a month after its decision to endorse the Supreme Court-appointed SIT's recommendation to seek death sentence for Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi and eight others in the Naroda Patiya riots case was slammed as "a deadly attack on Hindus". The decision was also kept on hold in the case of Bajrangi and eight others.

The state government had given its consent to SIT to file an appeal in the High Court seeking capital punishment for Kodnani, Bajrangi and others, who were awarded life term by a lower court.

"The decision has been withheld for now as we have to take opinion of state advocate gen-

eral," Gujarat Finance Minister and spokesperson Nitin Patel told PTI here.

"A final decision will be taken after advocate general gives his opinion," Patel added.

Kodnani, who was earlier a minister in the Modi government, was sentenced to 28 years in prison by a Special Court in August 2012 in connection with the postGodhra riots case State legal department sent a letter, dated May 10, to the office of Government Pleader in Gujarat High Court Prakash Jani, which processes the filing of appeals,

informing the decision of withdrawal of resolution dated April 14 giving consent to file appeals in the Naroda Patiya case.

"Yesterday I received a fax from the legal department informing that the government has decided to cancel the earlier decision of filing appeals. On receiving it, I have asked the Government Pleader's office to send me back the draft of appeals which we had prepared and sent to his office on May 6," special public prosecutor for SIT, Prashant Desai, told PTI. Kodnani, who was earlier a minister in the Modi government, was sentenced to 28 years in prison by a Special Court in August 2012 in connection with the post-Godhra riots case in which 96 people were killed.

Bajrang Dal activist Babu Bajrangi was sentenced to jail for his entire life, while eight others were given 31 years' jail term each in the same case.-PTI

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Pak approach to India unlikely Durban Chapter of GOPIO opened with fanfare to change: Haqqani India Post News Service

WASHINGTON: Even as there is a sense of positivity over IndoPak ties after the outcome of Pakistan polls, a former Pakistani diplomat believes a regime change is unlikely to bring any substantial shift in Islamabad's approach.

Former Pakistan Ambassador to

vited Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his swearing in ceremony.

"I think Nawaz Sharif will move to have relatively better relations with India, at least at a superficial level, cricket matches, cultural exchanges, speaking to Punjabis in

Husain Haqqani

the US Husain Haqqani noted this while giving an analysis of the post-election scenario in Pakistan.

"We will have a kind of a hughug, embrace-embrace, but no substantial changed attitude towards India," he said.

According to the reports in Pakistani media, Sharif has in-

Punjabi, on the Indian side," Haqqani said in response to a question.

"But strategically, will he say, let's put Kashmir on the back burner and move forward? I don't see that happening. Will he say that we need to actually implement the Most Favored Nation agree-

ment that the PPP reached, which has been held in a sort of limbo by the military?" Haqqani questioned.

The former diplomat said developments like setting up of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Kargil war have always contradicted Sharif's intentions of having good ties with India.

He said Sharif has a poor record on opposing extremists.

Husain Haqqani, who is close to the rival Pakistan People's Party, said that Sharif may not back up his statements with substance.

"He will say he wants good relations with the United States and there are individual Americans with whom he has very good relations," Haqqani told a press conference call by the New Yorkbased Council on Foreign Relations.

"Similarly, he will go ahead and engage with India. But will he really crack down on the hardline groups, many of whom campaigned for him and supported him in this election? I'm not so sure," Haqqani said.

Haqqani faulted Sharif for the creation of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a virulently anti-Indian Islamist movement, and noted that he was prime minister during the short Kargil war with India in 1999.-PTI & AFP

Pak expels New York Times reporter NEW YORK/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expelled The New York Times' Islamabad bureau chief after accusing him of "undesirable activities".

"Here I go. Hard to believe this is happening," New York Times Islamabad bureau chief Declan Walsh tweeted after filing his last report on the country's landmark general elections.

"Brought me to the airport, in convoy with various men in jeeps who refused to say hello. That's the job, I guess," Walsh said before leaving.

"72 hours, wheels up. To all friends, especially in Pakistan, who offered overwhelming support in recent days, thank you so much," he tweeted.

Pakistan's Interior Ministry had ordered the expulsion of Walsh on the eve of national elections, the newspaper had said.

The Times has strongly protested the move and is seeking his reinstatement.

The ministry did not give any detailed explanation for the expulsion order, which was delivered by

police officers in the form of a twosentence letter to the bureau chief at 12:30 am (local time) at his home.

"It is informed that your visa is hereby canceled in view of your undesirable activities," the order stated. "You are therefore advised to leave the country within 72 hours."

Walsh, 39, is a veteran correspondent who has lived and

has been conducting drone attacks on militants in Pakistan's border areas with Afghanistan.

Jill Abramson, the newspaper's executive editor, expressed concern about the order in a letter of protest to Pakistan's interior minister Malik Muhammad Habib Khan, describing Walsh as a "reporter of integrity who has at all times offered balanced, nuanced

Jill Abramson, the newspaper's executive editor, expressed concern about the order in a letter of protest to Pakistan's interior minister Malik Muhammad Habib Khan, describing Walsh as a "reporter of integrity who has at all times offered balanced reporting” worked in Pakistan for nine years, most of it for The Guardian newspaper of Britain.

He was hired by The Times in January, 2012, and has written extensively about the country's violent political convulsions, Islamist insurgency and sometimes tense relations with the US, which

and factual reporting on Pakistan."

She asked the minister to reinstate Walsh's visa.

The accusation of undesirable activities, she wrote, "is vague and unsupported, and Walsh has received no further explanation of any alleged wrongdoing." -PTI

DURBAN, SA: Leading South African Indians joined speakers from India and the US to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties with their home country at a series of seminars hosted by the Indian High Commission and GOPIO

cessful inauguration of the chapter is expected to aggregate more than 250 members by the end of 2013.

The GOPIO-Durban launch held at the beautifully decorated Jaipur Palace Restaurant was adorned with drapes and fairy lights, hanging chandeliers and

L to R - Pankaj Dooregaparsad Treasurer GOPIO Durban, K N Gupta, Director for Govt. Liaison in India, Munish Gupta, International Coordinator - Africa, Loshni Naidoo Country Coordinator South Africa, Gerelene Jagganath Secretary GOPIO Durban, Sudesh Maharaj President Durban, Amit More Convenor GOPIO Durban inauguration

in Durban and other cities during the last weekend of April.

GOPIO International South Africa also launched with fanfare its Durban Chapter on April 28 which was inaugurated by Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Rajiv Mehrishi, in the presence of many dignitaries including Indian High Commissioner Virendra Gupta, Indian Consul General V K Sharma, Durban Mayor's representative Councilor Michael Abrahams, GOPIO International's Coordina-

Ambassador Virendra Gupta

tor for Africa Munish Gupta and GOPIO International's Director for Government Liaison K N Gupta.

Nearly 300 South African PIOs and NRIs attended the five-hour extravaganza that took place at the chic Jaipur Palace Restaurant in Durban North.

GOPIO International South Africa's Durban chapter achieved the distinction of making an inauguration in the city of Mahatma Gandhi, within six months of formation and with 100 members already subscribed. The highly suc-

fresh flowers, typical of all the décor that goes with any East Indian function in South Africa that is now home to nearly 1.3 million PIOs and NRIs for over 160 years.

Overseas Indians from every walk of life, as well as from cities across South Africa - Zululand, Newcastle, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town - gathered to celebrate the launch of the first truly global Indian Diaspora organization as people and media later reported. Every detail was immaculately planned and executed by GOPIO International's South Africa Coordinator Loshni Naidoo, with the first team of office bearers that include President Sudesh Maharaj, Vice President Kinesh Pather, Treasurer Pankaj Doorgapersad, Secretary Gerelene Jagganath, Joint Secretary Krishnan Nair and a long list of Executive Committee members who will be working on developing various sectors of the local GOPIO Chapter.

The GOPIO chapter launch event was a sell-out and the restaurant had to extend space to an overflow area to accommodate last minute arrivals.

Timed with the launch, the Indian Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs & the Indian High Commission arranged Diaspora conferences in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, also attended and addressed by GOPIO International Africa Coordinator Munish Gupta.

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Cricket facility opened in Bay Area KARISHMA GOEL

FREMONT: California Cricket Academy (CCA) has opened its sixth cricket facility in Warm Springs in Fremont.

According to Kinjal Buch, president of CCA, this area is a "hotbed for cricket development" because it borders three major cities - Milpitas, San Jose and Fremont - that take part in cricket.

Anu Natrajan, the Vice Mayor of Fremont, attended the ceremony. She said it was great to be among a group of volunteers who were dedicated to the game and keen on providing opportunities for kids to learn the game.

"The city is aware of the cricket community's needs here in Fremont. We are looking at several opportunities to find permanent facilities for cricket including two cricket grounds," said Natrajan.

Local Junior Baseball League coordinator Vic Longford, who has worked with CCA to help open a cricket facility, also attended the ceremony.

"By working hand in hand with baseball organizers, we set an example of how community leaders can work together and sup-

Vice Mayor Anu Natrajan opening the cricket facility

gratulates CCA on the new practice nets in the Warm Springs area during their 10 year anniversary," said Jones. "We also congratulate CCA's Board of Directors, parents and coaches for their commitment in continuing their mission of providing practice

Mahesh Nihalani, a CCA Board of Advisor member, said it is his dream to see that cricket, like soccer, is played by every child and not only by Indo- American kids.

"I am happy and proud to see that CCA has progressed so much in the last 10 years in promoting cricket to school children here in the Bay Area." port each other", said Buch.

KeyPoint Credit Union has been a Premier Sponsor of CCA for the past 10 years.

The company has participated in every annual award ceremony to present the KeyPoint Cup to the winning team of the U-17 KeyPoint Tournament. Helen Grays Jones, Senior Vice President of KeyPoint Credit Union, commented that CCA has had phenomenal success in achieving the goal of providing facilities as well as the best coaches to teach cricket to youth.

"Our Executive Management Team con-

nets across the Bay Area to teach youth the fundamentals of cricket and good sportsmanship," she added.

Mahesh Nihalani, a CCA Board of Advisor member, said it is his dream to see that cricket, like soccer, is played by every child and not only by Indo- American kids.

"I am happy and proud to see that CCA has progressed so much in the last 10 years in promoting cricket to school children here in the Bay Area," said Nihalani. "We need to work hard to make it part of the School curriculum."

Vice Mayor hits out

Gopio-Sydney president Lucky Singh honored India Post News Service

fundraising events to help those in need in Australia and other parts of the world.

Some of the activities of GOPIO - Sydney are the annual GOPIO Youth Achievers Awards Night (Gyaan awards) where youths are acknowledged for their achievements in various fields such as academic, sports, social welfare, art, music, drama, media, aviation, photography and Indian

NEW DELHI: The Human Achievers Foundation honored 15 people at the Le Meridian Hotel in New Delhi for their humanitarian works on April 22. The Chief Guest of the ceremony was Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi who presented the awards.

The Human Achievers Foundation was setup with the single objective of empowering women globally, particularly in India, focusing on areas of works being done for child education adGOPIO-Sydney President Lucky Singh and other awardees with vancement Minister Vayalar Ravi and programs that enhance the quality of life for all languages; fund-raisers for the victims of in society. The foundation organizes such the Victorian Bush fire, Bihar Relief fund, annual events to acknowledge people from Tsunami in Samoa, Earthquake in IndoneIndia and some from the International com- sia, Floods in Fiji; and organized blooddrives, among other activities. munity.

Ms. Singh attended the Pravasi Bhartiya Ms. Lucky Singh, President of GOPIO Sydney chapter, was awarded for her ster- Diwas in Kochi, India in January, 2013 and ling community services and humanitarian co-chaired a session titled "Diaspora issues work in her community. She was amongst - Challenges and Opportunities in GOPIO's the seven recipients chosen from all over Annual convention in Kochi this year".

A teacher by profession, she is with the the world from various fields.

Ms. Singh has a deep passion for com- Department of Education in New South munity service and has made a positive Wales and was the only teacher chosen contribution to the Australian Indian com- from the state to be in the department's film munity. Under the banner of GOPIO- "Freedom from Fear" which dealt with refuSydney, she has organized a number of gee children.

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Sharif''s decision to invite Singh a positive step: US WASHINGTON: Nawaz Sharif's decision to invite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a "positive sign", the United States has said and expressed its willingness to work with the new government in Pakistan.

"We have seen those comments. I don't want to analyze it too much, but to say that it is a positive step and we look forward to working with the new government as it's formed," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters at her maiden news conference in her current position.

Psaki was responding to questions on the invitation by Sharif to Singh to attend his swearing in ceremony.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State John

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Kerry called the new elected leader of Pakistan to congratulate him on his electoral success.

"The Secretary called Sharif to congratulate him on his strong showing in elections and told him that he looks forward to work-

ing with the government as the government is formed in Pakistan," she said.

"He looks forward to continuing a broad relationship of working together on a number of issues, including continuing to work on counterterrorism. Mr Sharif has indi-

Kerry would like to travel to Pakistan, she said in response to a question. He (Kerry) has indicated that he would like to go. I don't have any trip announcements or dates for you on that. Of course, it would have been a little precarious to go while they were going through polls

cated that economic development and growth is one of his focuses. But their focus right now is, of course, on forming the government. And once they do that, I'm sure we'll have more substantive conversations with them," she said.

Kerry would like to travel to Pakistan, she said in response to a question.

"He (Kerry) has indicated that he would like to go. I don't have any trip announcements or dates for you on that. Of course, it would have been a little precarious to go while they were going through the transition, as they've been going through in the last couple of weeks," she said. -PTI

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GOPIO-CT honors three Indian Americans and the Indian Diaspora since GOPIO has the network to convey information from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and from the Ministry of External Affairs as well as it brings Diaspora issue to the attention of India Govt."

New Jersey Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Upendra Chivukula, Connecticut Assemblyman Dr Prasad Srinivasan and former CT Lt. Governor Michael Fidele in their remarks recognized GOPIO's contribution for improved US Indian relations and its contribution in bringing the Indian American community together as well as in interacting with the GOPIO-CT award recipients with dignitaries and GOPIO-CT officials. From row, l to r: Dr Thomas Abraham, Anita Bhat, former CT Lt. Governor Michael Fidele, AmeriCares Chairman of the Board Dean Maglaris, Yale Univ. Professor Ramamurti Shankar, Milan Founder Suresh Sharma, Leena Ramchandani, Industrialist Rakesh Narang, Deputy Consul General Dr Devyani Khobragade, Sangeeta Ahuja, Ritu Johorey and Nandita Kotian; Back row, l to r: Stamford City Board of Finance Chair Jerry Bosak, Shelly Nichani, Pradeep Govil, Prakash Chakravarti, Lovella D'Silva, GOPIO-CT President Shailesh Naik, Varghese Ninan, Mohan Yadav, NJ Assembly Deputy Speaker Upendra Chivukula and Nisha Arora India Post News Service

Gopio-Connecticut Chapter honored three Indian Americans, two outstanding achievers and one person for community service

professor Dr Ramamurti Shankar, industrialist Rakesh Narang and community organizer Suresh Sharma.

Mr Ramamurti Shankar, John Randolph Huffman Professor of

For Community Service, the honor went to Suresh Sharma, Founder of Milan Cultural Association, Hartford, CT. In addition, GOPIOCT honored the American charity AmeriCares with Service to India Award. AmeriCares award was received by its Chairman of the Board Directors Dean Maglaris at its Annual Awards Banquet held at the Italian Center in Stamford on April 20. The three Indian Americans are Yale University

Physics and Professor of Applied Physics Yale University, New Haven was recognized for his contribution to Basic Sciences.

Close Tamil schools, says Malaysia leader KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian academic has called for the closure of Tamil and Chinese medium schools in the country to strengthen national unity, drawing sharp reaction from largest ethnic Indian political party which said the remarks are against the Federal Constitution.

Former education ministry director-general Abdul Rahman Arshad has called for the abolishment of vernacular schools in favor of a single stream school which uses Malay as medium.

"If we still allow such schools, don't ever hope to talk about unity, it will only be lip service," he said.

Malaysian Indian Congress

(MIC) president G Palanivel said the schools have been in existence for a long time, even before independence, and it was very sad that people were still questioning their existence.

"We are strongly against it as this is one of the rights under the Federal Constitution, where no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using or from teaching or learning any other language," he told state owned Bernama news agency.

Malaysia's 29 million people include 60 per cent Malays, 25 per cent ethnic Chinese and nine per cent ethnic Indians, a majority of whom are Tamils.PTI

Rakesh Narang, President and Founder of Wire & Plastic Machinery Corporation, New Haven, CT was recognized in the category of Entrepreneurship and Business Acumen.

For Community Service, the honor went to Suresh Sharma, Founder of Milan Cultural Association, Hartford, CT. In addition, GOPIO-CT honored the American charity AmeriCares with Service to India Award. AmeriCares award was received by its Chairman of the Board Directors Dean Maglaris.

The chief guest for the evening was Active Consul General of India Dr Devyani Khobragade who said "GOPIO is the prime organization which goes in between Govt. of India

Pak Ambassador to US resigns WASHINGTON: Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman, has resigned from her post.

Congratulating the new parliament on its election, Ambassador Rehman has sent in her resignation to the Prime Minister, saying that it is time a new envoy comes in as quickly as possible so that there is no gap in the relationship, an Embassy spokesman said.

A political appointee of the previous government and a close aide of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Rehman came to Washington at the time when the USPak relationship was at its lowest ebb in post 9/11. Rehman had succeeded in reviving the US-Pak relationship.-PTI

local communities.

GOPIO-CT President Shailesh Naik said that in eight years GOPIO-CT has excelled in service to the Indian American community as well to the local community such as hosting soup kitchens for homeless in Stamford.

The Awards Banquet was chaired by Dr Thomas Abraham, Founder President of GOPIO International who is also a Trustee of GOPIO-CT. The program was compeered

by TV Asia Anchor person Radhika Vasudeva. The award ceremony was followed by entertainment by GOBBA Dancers of Norwalk and dinner.

Indian-origin man shot dead in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: A 30-yearold Indian-origin businessman has been shot dead in the Malaysian city of Alor Setar, local media reported.

M Nagenthiran, a car repossessor, sustained three bullets injuries on his body which was found at the top floor of the fivestorey building where he lived, in Taman Setia Jaya area in the capital city of the Malaysian state of Kedah.

A neighbor of Nagenthiran informed the police after spotting his body.

G Parameswary, wife of the deceased, said she woke up in the wee hours after police came to inform her at her residence about the incident.

"I opened the door to find a policeman standing outside.

He told me that my husband was dead," The Malaysian Star newspaper quoted her as saying.

"I rushed out and found him lying in a pool of blood only a few meters from our unit," Parameswary said.

The deceased is survived by two children, the report said. -PTI

Ex-PM Pervez Ashraf barred from leaving Pak ISLAMABAD: A day after his resounding defeat in Pakistan's general election, former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf has been barred from leaving the country over allegations of corruption in setting up power projects.

The Federal Investigation Agency directed authorities in airports to prevent Ashraf and several others accused of wrongdoing in the rental power projects scam from leaving Pakistan.

Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau Pakistan's main anti-corruption agency had decided to file a case over the rental power projects after the May 11 polls.

In March, the Supreme Court had issued a contempt of court notice

to Ashraf for trying to influence the court by writing a letter to Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry seeking the setting up of a commission to investigate the scam.

The rental power projects were mooted by the outgoing Pakistan Peoples Party-led government as a solution to the country's crippling energy crisis.

The apex court had earlier ordered the arrest of Ashraf and other accused in the case but the NAB had said it had no evidence against the suspects to make arrests. PTI

May 24, 2013

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Indian parliamentary delegation feted in Miami of Hindus thrown out of Bangladesh and Pakistan and about forced MIAMI, Fl: An Indian delegation of parconversion of Hindus in liamentarians stopping by in Miami en route these countries. Questo India was hosted by GOPIO with a weltion of plight of come dinner. The delegation was headed Kashmiri Hindus was by the Indian Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker also raised.

Kariya Munda and consisted members from The delegation in a the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and a very polite manner tried few high officials of the Government of Intheir best to respond to dia. these issues. It truly The Indian Consul General Ajit Kumar was a family affair and his staff were also present at the dinwhere opinions differed ner. The delegation visited the newly inin certain cases but the stalled statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the spirit of affection took town of Davie, where Mayor Judy Paul over in this great get-towelcomed the guests. gether.

Deputy Speaker Munda praised the Deputy Speaker Mayor and the Indian Community for inIndian Parliamentary delegation with Davie Mayor Judy Paul and Indian community leaders of Miami area Munda expressed his stalling the statue and for bringing the pleasure to hear the Apostle of Peace to this part of the World.

Welcoming the delegation at the dinner, dia for the last fifteen years. The Indian views of the community on various aspects He said that Gandhi's message of peace is GOPIO Senior Vice President Dr Piyush C. community of South Florida is a vibrant of politics and sociology in India and that evergreen and is relevant for all times. The peaceful atmosphere at the site was obvi- Agrawal expressed his great pleasure of community that values these interactions it has kept such a close contact with the hosting parliamentary delegations from In- and raise issues of common concerns. For happenings in India. Members of Rajya ous. example, during this meeting, a strong voice Sabha and Lok Sabha, namely Lalit Mohan was heard about the rampant corruption in Suklabaidya, Sudarshan Bhagat, Sheikh almost all walks of life in India. Parliament Saidul Haque, Dr Vijaylaxmi Sadho and Mrs being highest law making body can initiate Putul Kumari took turns to address the isand make laws to curb the corrupt prac- sues raised by the community. tices. The delegation was beseeched to do Finally, Consul General Kumar, in his something about corruption that shall make seasoned diplomatic manner, offered the future of India brighter. bridging remarks to entice the appetite for Questions were raised about the plight a sumptuous dinner.

Cont’d from page 7 The evening began with messages from India's MOIA Minister Vayalar Ravi There was overwhelming response and through video who spoke highly of GOPIO appreciation for the work done by GOPIO, International's role and engagement with evident to attendees who received a GOPIO India in reaching out to and serving overbrochure detailing the organization's his- seas Indians. Ravi congratulated Durban tory and accomplishments. Gupta's talk and on the launch event and talked about the Q&A with the community leaders, academ- historic ties between India and South Afics and media has sparked widespread in- rica. terest in GOPIO International activities.

Mahatma Gandhi's grand-daughter Ela Even prior to the Durban chapter launch, Gandhi sent a wonderful message, speakcommunity activists held meetings with ing of a special role the Diaspora must asGOPIO International officials to start chap- sume and play to assimilate in their counters in at least four cittry as much as they ies across South Afcherish and stay with rica. their roots. GOPIO InThe Durban chapternational President ter launch on April Ashook Ramsaran 28th was the culminacongratulated Indians tion of two and a half in South Africa on the years of work that bemomentous occasion gan with the Regional and welcomed them Pravasi Bharatiya Diinto the growing vas in October 2010 in GOPIO fraternity Durban attended by worldwide.

Mrs Munish Gupta where Navanethum Pillay, Rajiv Mehrishi he met Loshni Naidoo United Nations Comand several others missioner for Human from the community interested in the work Rights, based in Geneva, a PIO from South of GOPIO International. Several community Africa, also sent her congratulatory note on organizations exist in South Africa, includ- the launch of GOPIO International chapter. ing a GOPIO faction that started in the midAmbassador Virendra Gupta applauded 1990s but faded away soon thereafter. The the role of organizations like GOPIO Inter2013 April launch of GOPIO International national and especially the hand they lent and the connectivity it brings through its the Indian government and its missions chapters in nearly 50 countries as well as overseas in reaching out to the community the close engagement with India has ush- and meetings its changing aspirations. ered in a new era for PIOs and NRIs who Ambassador Gupta echoed Munish's senhave accomplished much and are well re- timents in working closely with the youth. spected in the nation that was second home MOIA Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi made an to Mahatma Gandhi and still reveres the important presentation on the role of the Mahatma for the non violence message and Ministry and its various programs and achis fight against Apartheid. tivities.

India Post News Service

Durban Chapter of GOPIO opened with fanfare

Tech News RBI finds law vilolations by top banks NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India has unearthed various discrepancies, including noncompliance of KYC norms and fictitious PAN, in its probe following the Cobrapost expose that alleged money laundering by banks.

"There were definitely violations of KYC norms by banks," said a senior finance ministry official when asked whether RBI has found breaking of regulatory norms in its report.

RBI had launched the investigation into the working of banks following the expose which showed some bankers giving suggestions to customers on ways to bypass regulatory norms.

The first expose had named ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank. Later 23 public and private sector banks and insurance companies figured in the expose relating to money laundering.

While the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) refused to comment on the details of its report, market is abuzz with talks of violations of guidelines by banks.-PTI

'Stewardess' Richard Branson fired by AirAsia chief

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NEW DELHI: More than 500 entities and their promoters are feared to be running thousands of illicit Collective Investment Schemes across the country, although just one is registered with the market regulator Sebi for this kind of business and that is also yet to launch a scheme.

Under a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS), which is regulated by Sebi, the contributions made by the investors are pooled and utilized with a view to receive profits, income, produce or property, and is managed on behalf of the investors by its operator.

Since investors do not have day to day control over the management and operation of such schemes, Sebi follows a strict set of rules to regulate them and to grant registration for such businesses. -PTI

Ranbaxy pleads guilty in US, to pay USD 500 mn in settlement WASHINGTON: Pleading guilty to "felony charges" relating to manufacture and distribution of certain adulterated drugs made at two India units, the US subsidiary of Ranbaxy has agreed to pay USD 500 million - the largest settlement by a generic medicine maker till date.

The US Justice Department said in a statement: "In the largest drug safety settlement to date with a generic drug manufacturer, Ranbaxy USA, a subsidiary of Indian generic pharmaceutical manufacturer Ranbaxy Laboratories, pleaded guilty to felony charges relating to manufacture and distribution of certain adulterated drugs made at two of Ranbaxy's manufacturing facilities in India."

"Ranbaxy also agreed to pay a criminal fine and forfeiture total-

ing USD 150 million and to settle civil claims under the False Claims Act and related State laws for USD 350 million."

Ranbaxy USA pleaded guilty to three felony counts under Federal Food Drug and Cosmetics Act

'No significant impact on SBI California' KUALA LUMPUR: British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson donned high heels and fishnet stockings as a stewardess in a figure-hugging scarlet outfit on an AirAsia flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur, but was soon fired.

Wearing heavy make-up, the 62-year-old newsmaker was serving passengers as part of a Grand Prix bet with AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandez set two years ago.

The billionaire entrepreneur and owner of Virgin Atlantic Airlines also shaved his legs as promised, but insisted on keeping his beard, which made a startling contrast to the lipstick he had slicked on, 'The Australian' reported.

Branson and Fernandes had betted on which one of their Formula One racing teams would finish ahead of each other in their debut season of the 2010 Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

The terms of the bet was that the loser would serve as a female flight attendant on board the winner's airline. -PTI

Over 500 CIS entities at work; just one registered

CHANDIGARH: State Bank of India (SBI) has said there will not be any significant impact on its operations in the US after federal agencies asked its subsidiary SBI California not to open new branch in the country without permission.

"In America, physical branches are not that important. Most people...maximum percentage of transactions happen on internet and ATM. They (US authorities) have said your loan book or the physical expansion; you can halt for a while.

So, it really does not affect us significantly," SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri told reporters here.

SBI California has 25 branches, he added. "(US) Regulators advised us that you please have your house in order. In the bank in US there has been a large number of delinquencies and liquidation and they are worried.

They feel at this point you can

carry on (your) business," he said.

SBI California has been asked by federal agencies not to open a new branch in the US without permission and bolster its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act. Meanwhile, SBI Managing Director and Group Executive incharge of international operations Hemant Contractor in Mumbai told PTI: "There is absolutely no fine and no instances of mismanagement on our part. This is a minor issue. A section of the media here has blown the issue out of proportion and that there is nothing much in contravention to the regulatory requirements."

"Already we have taken a number of steps and are doing more to improve the overall operations and meet the regulatory requirements on the hiring soon, including inducting banking secrecy executives. We hope to come out of the consent mechanism as fast as possible," he added. -PTI

(FDCA), and four felony counts of knowingly making materially false statements to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The generic drugs at issue were manufactured at Ranbaxy's facilities in Paonta Sahib and Dewas in India.

"Under the plea agreement, the company will pay a criminal fine of USD 130 million, and forfeit an additional USD 20 million," the Justice Department said.

As part of the case's resolution, the whistle-blower, a former Ranbaxy executive Dinesh Thakur will receive about USD 48.6 million from the Federal share of the settlement amount.

"While we are disappointed by the conduct of the past that led to this investigation, we strongly believe that settling this matter now is in the best interest of all of Ranbaxy's stakeholders. The conclusion of the DOJ investigation does not materially impact our current financial situation or performance," Ranbaxy Laboratories CEO & Managing Director Arun Sawhney said. -PTI

'Indian regulatory environment supportive of biz growth' NEW DELHI: Buoyed by reform ing Foreign Direct Investment initiatives, majority of senior cor- (FDI) in retail chains and air carriporate executives are convinced ers. The government allowed 51 that the current regulatory envi- per cent FDI in multi-brand retail ronment is supportive of business and 49 per cent in civil aviation. growth in the country, according Besides, the setting up of Cabito an E&Y survey. net Committee on Investment to Global consultancy Ernst & fast track big-ticket infrastructure Young's survey also found that around 86 per cent of the executives Going by the report, the consider domestic greatest confidence economy to be stable or improving while invest- booster was allowing ing capital is the priority for about 40 per cent Foreign Direct Investment of the respondents.

(FDI) in retail chains "Nearly 67 per cent of them are of the opinion and air carriers that the current regulatory environment is supportive of projects and partial de-regulation business growth initiatives in In- of diesel prices, have also boosted dia," as per E&Y Capital Confi- the overall confidence, it said. dence Barometer.

The survey, which covered The readings come at a time over 70 respondents from India, when the government is making said organic growth remains a foefforts to boost economic growth, cus area for about 48 per cent of which slumped to five per cent last the executives. The outlook is for fiscal.

April-October 2013 period.

Going by the report, the greatCont’d on page 14 est confidence booster was allow-

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S&P says Sharif win bodes well for Pakistan rating SINGAPORE: Pinning hopes on significant economic reforms in Pakistan after Nawaz Sharif's victory in general elections, global agency S&P has said that the development bodes well for the country's credit profile, but ruled out any upgrade from the present junk grade rating.

S&P currently has a 'B-' sovereign credit rating on Pakistan, which is a non-investment or junk grade rating and means that the country is vulnerable to adverse business, financial and economic conditions but currently has the capacity to meet financial commitments.

In a statement issued here, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P) said that Pakistan's parliamentary election results set the stage for longer-term stability of its 'B-' sovereign credit rating on the country.

Welcoming the results, S&P

said: "This is a key achievement for Pakistan's maturing democracy, in the face of general economic malaise, widespread and incessant sectarian and political violence, large-scale domestic insurgencies, and ongoing tension with neighboring India."

S&P said that in its earlier report on Pakistan in April it had outlined its view that "timely, successful, and credible elections were essential for Pakistan to deliver a government with a reasonable chance of tackling the country's economic imbalances, including a looming balance of payments crisis. Preliminary election results indicate such an outcome.

"The elections took place on schedule, without major shortcomings that would result in a

Nawaz Sharif

Exports up 1.6 pc; trade gap widens to USD 17.7 bn NEW DELHI: India's exports grew for the fourth consecutive month recording a growth of 1.6 per cent in April but surge in gold imports pushed up the trade deficit to USD 17.7 billion.

Gold and silver imports during the month under review has increased by 138 per cent to USD 7.5 billion from USD 3.1 billion in April 2012.

"Imports has seen an undue growth of 10.9 per cent (in April to USD 41.95 billion) largely contributed by significant increase in gold imports," Commerce Secretary S R Rao told reporters here.

Exports in April stood at USD 24.16 billion as against USD 23.7 billion in April, 2012.

Expressing concern over the ballooning trade deficit, Rao said that government would take steps to bridge the gap.

"Government sees this growing trade imbalance with concern and would be taking into stock this heavy import of gold and would come out with considered steps as how to contain this growing trade deficit," he added.

After touching the second highest figure ever in a month in

January to USD 20 billion, the trade gap came down to USD 14.9 billion in February and USD 10.3 billion in March.

On the steps to discourage gold imports, Director General of Foreign Trade Anup Pujari said the government has imposed certain

Commerce Secretary S R Rao

duty but the steep fall in prices has neutralized its impact. "...gold imports have been so much, it is not an accepted thing.

In fact all of us must have been taken it by surprise," he added.

Besides, gold and silver, imports of crude oil; metals and scraps and chemicals grew by 4 per cent, 52 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.

After declining for consecutive eight months from May 2012, India's exports entered positive zone in January, 2013.

Rao said the absence of alternative avenues of investment was also pushing demand for gold upwards.

"It is an inflation proof investment for a citizen. If economic growth picks up and better avenues for investment (appear), then the consumer behavior shifts," he said.

Pujari said during Akshaya Tritiya festival people buy more gold. Oil imports in April stood at USD 14 billion as against USD 13.5 billion in April 2012. Non-oil imports grew by 14.9 per cent to USD 27.86 billion during the period.

On export growth, Rao said the shipments are showing continuous positive up-tick.

Sectors which registered positive export growth include rice, gems and jewellery (22 per cent), ready made garments (8.6 per cent), cotton (8.1 per cent), tea (5.4 per cent) and marine products (25 per cent).

Sectors which registered negative growth include petroleum (0.5 per cent), engineering (8.6 per cent), chemicals (1.4 per cent), man made yarn (3.3 per cent) and pharmaceuticals (1.6 per cent).

Rao said the positive growth trend is expected to continue in the coming months as new markets are performing. -PTI

disputed outcome, and with a large voter turnout despite intimidation and bombings on election day by extremist elements.

"The 60 per cent voter turnout, compared with 44 per cent in the 2008 elections, ensures greater legitimacy for the new government.

"We believe the election outcome puts the incoming government in good stead to sew up an IMF deal soon," S&P credit analyst Agost Benard said.

"This is needed to stabilize external finances and to provide the policy framework for necessary fiscal and energy sector reforms. If successful, these efforts will underpin the continued stability of the sovereign ratings at the current 'B-' level," he added. -PTI

Indian-origin trade adviser on UK tax haven list LONDON: An Indian-origin trade adviser is among nearly 1,000 high-profile Britons named on a vast database of offshore tax havens.

According to a 'Sunday Times' report, Alpesh Patel who advises UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) on trade with India has been named alongside footballer John Fashanu.

Both men have denied receiving any tax advantage from offshore arrangements.

The set of 2.5 million leaked documents being looked into by the UK's HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) relate to the activities of individuals and companies in low tax jurisdictions such as

Singapore, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cook Islands and comes in the wake of the department's increasingly toughening stance on wealth sheltered in tax havens.

Documents from the BVI show that Patel, 41, set up a firm called AHM Investors in 2005, which was listed as dormant the following year.

"It never got off the ground; it never traded," Patel told the newspaper, adding that the mindset of many financial firms had changed since the 2008 financial crisis regarding "tax efficient" offshoots in places like the BVI. "They didn't put a moral layer on it then," he said.-PTI

14

TechBiz Post

India Post

May 24, 2013

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Pak stocks zoom to record high; Canara Bank to raise up to $1 bn from overseas investors richer by Rs 10k cr KARACHI: Buoyed by an emphatic win by Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani stock market surged to a record high after crossing 20,000level for the first time in history and added nearly Rs 10,000 crore to the investors' wealth.

million dollar conglomerate Ittefaq group, has said that revival of economy would be among his top priorities. He is seen by many in Pakistan as someone who can fix the country's bleeding economy.

Although Pakistan's share mar-

The Karachi Stock Exchange's benchmark index KSE-100 rose to its all-time high of 20,309.36 points this morning with a gain of 1.8 per cent of 359 points, as the general elections held over the weekend delivered a clear mandate for the return of Sharif as the country's next Prime Minister.

Sharif, himself an industrialist and co-owner of diversified multi-

ket is small when compared to its Asian peers including that of India, the total wealth of its investors, measured in terms of total market value of all listed shares, rose by about Rs 10,000 crore to close to Rs five lakh crore.

There are only 569 listed companies on the Karachi Stock Exchange, as against about 5,000 in the Indian stock market, where to-

tal investor wealth is close to Rs 70 lakh crore.

The number of companies listed on KSE has come down in the past few years, from more than 650 in 2009, as the country's economy has been struggling amid a turbulent political scene.

However, a clear mandate in the just-held historic polls is expected to revive the economic activities and therefore the stock markets as well. Just one new company has got listed here so far in 2013, while there are no foreign investments at all in the country's stock market.

Under the slogan "Strong Economy -- Strong Pakistan," Sharif seems to have successfully projected his image as a flagbearer for private industry and entrepreneurship.

The industrial conglomerate run by 63-year-old Sharif's family is among the biggest in the country and has interests in steel, sugar and various other manufacturing businesses.

Established in 1939 by Nawaz Sharif's father late Muhammad Sharif, the group began with a small steel melting unit, which later became the largest private sector steel making entity within Pakistan. -PTI

Monsanto wins seed patent battle in US Supreme Court WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Monsanto over an Indiana farmer accused of having pirated the genetically-modified crops developed by the agribusiness giant.

The high court was unanimous in its decision, ruling that laws limiting patents do "not permit a farmer to reproduce patented seeds through planting and harvesting without the patent holder's permission."

The crux of the argument was over "patent exhaustion" which states that, after a patented item has been sold, the purchaser has "a right to use or resell that article," Justice Elena Kagan explained in the court's 10-page decision.

"Such a sale, however, does not allow the purchaser to make new copies of the patented invention," she added.

The ruling gave Monsanto shares a bounce after falling more than one percent in opening trade.

In a lawsuit filed in 2007, Monsanto had accused Vernon Hugh Bowman, a farmer, of infringing on its intellectual prop-

erty rights by replanting, cultivating and selling herbicide-resistant soybean seeds it spent more than a decade developing.

The patented seed, which allows farmers to aerially spray

spected his contract with Monsanto and purchased new Roundup Ready seeds each year for his first planting.

But he said hard times forced him to purchase a cheaper mixture

NEW DELHI: State-owned Canara Bank plans to raise up to USD 1 billion (about Rs 5,487 crore) through bonds this month from the overseas market to fund

plan, the Bangalore-based bank intends to open branches at 9 nine overseas destinations.

Dubey said the bank has already got license for opening a branch at Johannesburg in South Africa.

Besides, he said, the bank has plan to open offices in Sao Paulo (Brazil), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Tokyo (Japan), Abuja (Nigeria), Jeddah ( S a u d i Arabia), Qatar Financial Centre (Qatar), Frankfurt (Germany) and New York (the USA) by March 2015.

Canara Bank Chairman and Managing Director R K Dubey For the fourth quarter global business expansion. ended March 2013, Canara Bank "We are planning to raise USD reported 12.5 per cent decline in 750 million to USD 1 billion net profit at Rs 725 crore. through medium term note (MTN) The bank had earned a net program this month," Canara Bank profit of Rs 829.09 crore in the Chairman and Managing Director same period of the previous fisR K Dubey told PTI. cal. The total income of the bank The funds raised would be uti- increased by a marginal 4.8 per lized for growth of overseas busi- cent to Rs 9,471.57 crore in the ness of the bank, he said. fourth quarter of 2012-13.

Currently, the bank has five During the fiscal 2012-13, the overseas branches at London, bank recorded 14.3 per cent growth Leicester, Shanghai, Manama and in its net profit at Rs 3,283 crore Hong Kong. against Rs 2,872 crore previous fisAs part of its global expansion cal. -PTI

'Indian regulatory environment supportive of biz growth' Cont’d from page 12

Indiana grain farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman

Monsanto-made Roundup herbicide over their entire fields, was invented in 1996 and is now grown by more than 90 percent of the 275,000 US soybean farmers.

The farmer, 75, said he had re-

of seeds from a grain elevator starting in 1999, which he used for his second planting. The mixture included Roundup Ready soybeans, which Bowman was able to isolate and replant from 2000 to 2007.-AFP

"Another critical sign of a positive attitude toward the domestic economy is that respondents are extremely positive about the regulations implemented in the country," it said.

About 42 per cent of the Indian respondents said the global economy is improving whereas the same sentiment was expressed by just 21 per cent participants when the survey was conducted in October 2012.

"India is witnessing a high level of confidence in its economic growth. More than 50 per cent of the Indian respondents (as compared to 27 per cent six months

ago) were of the opinion that the domestic economy is recovering.

"Notably, the percentage of respondents with negative views about the Indian economy recorded a considerable decline to 14 per cent, as compared to 46 per cent in October 2012," the report said.

Compared to their global counterparts, Indian respondents are more focused on cost reduction and improvement of operational efficiency.

"Organic growth continues to be important for executives... The continued focus on organic growth indicates that confidence in the economy's long-term growth remains intact," it said. PTI

May 24, 2013

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India Post 15

Desi News Pitchfork Award for Nisarg Patel of Arizona India Post News Service

N

isarg Patel of the Arizona State University (ASU) has won the changing entrepreneurship and outstanding teaching awards at the annual Pitchfork Awards ceremony for co-founding a company that can detect bacteria in water. It reprograms bacteria to produce a protein biosensor that then purifies from the bacteria.

The idea for this technology came when one of Patel's laboratory partners, who went to Guatemala, saw children there looking at water and drinking it if it seemed clear.

"They don't realize it's contaminated with bacteria that they can't see, so that's one of the issues we're trying to solve," Patel was quoted as saying.

A total of 95 students were selected as finalists by a committee of university faculty and staff.

NRIs listen to Modi's video address at Fremont Temple India Post News Service

FREMONT: Indians from many States of India living in Bay Area, California, along with prominent members of Federation of Indo Americans (FIA) organized and participated to watch and listen to the Live video address to Indian Diaspora by Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, on Mother's Day. His address was shown in 20 US cities through video conferencing.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA www.indiapost.com

16 India Post

May 24, 2013

Addressing NRIs, CM Modi lambastes weak & corrupt leaders RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Lambasting endemic corruption prevalent at all levels of government and the resultant loss of trust in the government, a rising star in Indian politics

across the country. The video conference organized by a group of NRIs headed by Dr Bharat Barai, Kantibhai Patel, Mafat Patel, Naren Patel and others, was held at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows (a north side Chicago suburb) and by all standard was a huge

great Indian leader. It was also interesting to see the presence of Indian students from several US universities, like UIC, U of C and other educational institutions across Illinois, who had gathered to watch Modi's live address. This was the case at other centers also,

Details on page 20

bout of cold and flu mincing no words in pointing out the weakness of Indian leaders in handling foreign affairs or mentoring economic and trade policies.

Asserting that he has given a new meaning to "development" during his 12-year rule in Gujarat,

The event sponsors, organizers and volunteers

Narendra Modi has pitched for a change in the government, and its style of functioning at the Center.

Modi was addressing NRIs in

success attended as it was by over 1000 non-resident Indians representing all walks of life and all parts of India.

as our Washington correspondent adds, like students of University of Maryland who came to hear Modi talking on India and Gujarat.

SHUBHA BASKAR & ANITHA NAGENDRA

ST. LOUIS: It was the fifth year in a row that classical Indian dance enthusiasts staged one more Indian Dance Festival in St Louis during the week end of April 19-21.

The three-day festival had more than 150 artists from across USA and abroad, performing seven major Indian classical dance forms in both the morning and evening sessions. It may be one of the few dance festivals presented outside of the Indian subcontinent that can brag about such a feat of bringing.

Details on page 25

CM Modi's address via video conference being avidly watched by NRIs gathered at Rolling Meadows. Pics Asian Media USA

Details on page 24

Enthralling Indian Dance Festival in St. Louis

Radha & Krishna two aspects of one Supreme Lord

Guajarti Din speakers L to R Kanti Patel, Dr Bharat Barai and Naren Patel

20 major cities in USA through a video conference on May 12, which incidentally coincided with the celebration of Mother's Day

There was also another facility in Chicagoland - Haveli in Addison - where 400 plus Modi admirers gathered to listen to this

The Gujarat CM, a strong candidate for the post of a future Indian Prime Minister, was in his elements despite suffering from a

Modi said the greatest challenge facing India is restoring the "trust" of the people. "I strongly believe that the biggest challenge we are facing is absence of confidence.

No one trusts anyone. The country has lost confidence in every institution which we have been relying upon," he said, and pointed out that the root cause is endemic corruption.

Narrating several corruption related cases, he asserted that "this is the first time we have seen the worst form of corruption anywhere in the world, which we are observing in the country. And nobody at the top seems to be worried at all. What a pitiful situation. They have not left even coal.

Our house is set on fire by of our own lamp (Ghar ko aag lag gai ghar ke hi chirag se). Our own people are bent upon destroying us."

Cont’d on page 19

May 24, 2013

Community Across America

India Post 17

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Gopio & community welcome the new NY consul general India Post News Service

NEW YORK: GOPIO, in collaboration with several community organizations and groups in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tri-state area, held a well attended and highly successful welcome reception and dinner in New York for incoming Indian Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay. The event was held on April 26 at the Asia Society in New York and provided a unique opportunity to welcome, meet and greet Ambassador Mulay.

The Indian Consul General in

dia-Sponsors: Sahara, PIO TV, GloboSat, India Abroad; and participating organizations: Hyderbadi Cultural Assoc, Association of American Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI), Indian Dental Assoc, Indian Jewish Council IJC), National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA), Association of Indians in America (SAIA); attending organizations: Telugu Association, Bengali Association, Gujarati Association, and several others.

Also in attendance were Ambassador of Trinidad & Tobago to USA, Dr. Neil Parsan; Ambassa-

Release of the book," Global Indian Diaspora - GOPIO Making an Impact." (l-r) Ashook Ramsaran, Peter Advani, Hon. Upendra Chivukula, Norman Solovay, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Amb. Dnyaneshwar Mulay, H. R. Shah, Sant Singh Chatwal, Dr Thomas Abraham, J. Nami Kaur, Mridul Pathak, Atul Kumria

highlighting Amb Mulay's career and his impressive accomplishments, GOPIO International president Ashook Ramsaran made the formal welcome, stating that, "the Indian American community of the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area is a significant population of NRIs and PIOs, very progressive, quite supportive - and also very vocal on matters of interest and concern". Ramsaran added, "we bid you a warm welcome with GOPIO Memorandum to Amb Mulay (l-r) - Dr Asha Samant, Jaswant Mody, Dr Sudhir Parikh, Quddus Mohammed, Dr Thomas Abraham, Ashook Ramsaran, Amb. Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Dr Renuka Misra, J. Nami Kaur, Anita Bhat, Patsy Leopold, Mridul Pathak, Sangeeta Ahuja

New York is a high profile posi- dor of Mauritius to United Nation in the largest city in USA tions Milan Meeterban; former amongst the highest concentra- Ambassador of Suriname to tion of Non-Resident Indians United Nations, Krishna Nandoe; (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Ori- Deputy Speaker of New Jersey gin (PIOs), and host to numerous Assembly Upendra Chivukula; visits on a regular basis by promi- New York City Councilwoman, nent officials of the Government Leticia James; John Bartlett, Jr, of India for meetings with US offi- Freeholder of Passaic County in cials, the United Nations and the New Jersey.

Event coordinator was J. Nami Indian-American community on issues of interest to NRIs and Kaur, Secretary of GOPIO International, ably assisted by Mridul PIOs. The welcome reception and Pathak, GOPIO's Director of dinner was a combined community Diaspora Development. Other event, organized by GOPIO in part- members of the organizing team nership with GOPIO Chapters of New York, New Jersey and Con- Amb Mulay thanked GOPIO necticut; GOPIO and the community organiHealth, Cultural, Youth, Women's & Business zations for the warm and Councils; Life Members; GOPIO News overwhelming welcome. In Team. The event was his remarks, he stated that, co-sponsored by various prominent commu- "huge opportunities exist for nity organizations and companies, with sup- the Indian Diaspora in conport from media groups necting India and the USA and others as co-sponsors.

The sponsors included the In- included: Anita Bhat, Dr Asha dian American Chamber of Com- Samant, Ashook Ramsaran, merce - USA, Tulsi Restaurant, Jaswant Mody, Lal Motwani, Leopold, Quddus Asia Society, Bharat Travel, King- Patsy fisher, Parikh Media, HH-Resorts, Mohammed, Dr. Renuka Misra, Peter Advani, TV Asia, Society of Sangeeta Ahuja and Dr Thomas Indian American Architects & En- Abraham.

Following a video biography gineers of America (SIAEA); Me-

open hearts and open arms, with confidence that you will achieve much success during your tenure as Consul General if India in New York".

Amb Mulay thanked GOPIO and the community organizations for the warm and overwhelming welcome. In his remarks, he stated that, "huge opportunities exist for the Indian Diaspora in connecting India and the USA. Cont’d on page 19

18 India Post

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May 24, 2013

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$150,000 pledges to boost Akshaya Patra efforts bidder. Pledges amounting to $150,000 were made to support schools where meals are CHICAGO: The Chicago Chapter of delivered. The event hosted over 200 atAkshaya Patra Foundation (APF) held its tendees from the Chicagoland.

Hunger is a problem that over 50 million annual fundraiser recently at Intercontinental O'Hare, Rosemont, a north side suburb children are battling silently in India. It keeps of Chicago and received overwhelming these children out of school and forces them to take menial jobs to bring home food for their families.

Hunger also impedes their ability to learn.

The Foundation is one of the world's largest NGOs which runs school meal programs serving over 1.3 million children daily in over 9,000 Akshaya Patra team with Honorary Guest and Keynote Speaker. (Left to Right) schools from Dr. Desh Deshpande, Piyali Dutta, Jaishree Deshpande, 19 kitchens in Dr. Sam Pitroda, Sunil Kumar nine states in India. community support for its great cause.

A live auction was conducted where sevCont’d on page 20 eral donated items were sold to the highest Asian Media USA

KIDS ON THE RUN: The Montgomery County Road Runners Club organized a "Kids on the Run" and the "Kid's Marathon" at Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, MD on May 11. The beneficiary was The Dolores Swoyer Send-A-Kid-to-Camp Scholarship Fund. Kids from neighboring areas participated in large numbers. The event included 100-meter Toddler Trot and runs of a ½ mile, 1 mile and 2 km. Kid's Marathon is designed to motivate kids to run at least 3-4 days a week. Kids who complete this marathon are awarded a Marathon Completion certificate and a Gold Medal. There were T Shirts for early entrants, Special ribbons for all Toddler Trot and Half Mile Finishers and Medals for all 1 Mile Finishers!

The participating kids

Community Across America

May 24, 2013

India Post 19

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Addressing NRIs, CM Modi lambastes Gopio & community welcome the new NY consul general weak & corrupt leaders Cont’d from page 16

Acts, policies, behaviors of people who are sitting in power have caused 120 crore people losing their confidence and this lack of trust proliferates at different and unexpected directions with people taking wrong paths, to survive, to live. Law and order situation has worsened. Women do not feel safe. "Every daughter and every sister in the country should trust man," he said, eulogizing their role,

tuguese counterpart at the UNGA in 2011.

In sharp contrast to the developments in the country, Modi claimed his model of including all in the social and economic development of the State has paid rich dividends and that it has taken Gujarat to new heights.

"We have adopted the mantra of Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas (inclusion of everyone, development for everyone). We do not want development of only select sec-

want to see the truth about Gujarat, see the number of Awards the Congress-ruled UPA has given to Gujarat," he said.

Ridiculing anti-Gujarat and anti Modi tirades by interested quarters, he asked "Was it Narendra Modi who invented kites? Kites were there earlier too but the kites now draw the world to Gujarat Gir lions were there before Modi, but the Gir has blossomed into a tourist attraction now. Gujarat had a coastline before Modi. Yes but

Group of attendees with village mayors and elected officials

especially the mother, on Mother's Day. Touching upon the mishandling of foreign affairs, Modi said the country is being ruled by weaklings. Against the backdrop of China's incursion in eastern Ladakh last month, Modi observed, "I know what damage it can cause when rulers of a country are weak. You should look at the incidents of past one month. I am shocked to see, that China withdraws its forces to its territories but I don't understand that why Indian army is pulling back its forces from Indian soil?"

Going further, Modi said, "Can you imagine our soldiers getting beheaded? And after some days External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid hosts a lunch in Jaipur in honor of former Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, offering him chicken biryani here.

This raises lot of questions in the mind of common man."

Citing yet another case of inept handling of foreign policy, Modi said it is unbelievable that India's Foreign Minister is seen reading the speech of his counterpart from another country.

"Have you ever come across an instance where a Foreign Minister of our country, while addressing an international forum, takes some other country's papers and starts reading? What grave insult it can cause to our country," Modi said in reference to former External Affairs Minister S M Krishna reading out the speech of his Por-

tions of society," he said, and congratulated non-resident Indians and non resident Gujaratis in helping his State notching hefty progress in the past decade.

Sharing other instances of Gujarat's development, Modi pointed out how 24-hour electricity brought about a big difference

Ridiculing antiGujarat and anti Modi tirades by interested quarters, he asked "Was it Narendra Modi who invented kites? Kites were there earlier too but the kites now draw the world to Gujarat.

Gir lions were there before Modi, but the Gir has blossomed into a tourist attraction now in the lives of the people. On malnutrition, he said that for the past eight years Gujarat has made Herculean efforts to eradicate malnutrition. And the latest CAG report lauds the Gujarat model. The largest canal network for Narmada waters has come up in Gujarat during the last ten years. Likewise, 18,000 villages have broadband connectivity in Gujarat. "If you

was it put to use for any development? Today 35% of the nation's cargo is from Gujarat. We have 41 major and minor ports now. We added new life in the Kutch desert.

Modi did not paint the Rann white.

It was there. Only that people come here today and it has given impetus to handicrafts industry also."

Earlier in his speech, he talked about Mother and Motherland, and pitched for nurturing Prithvi (the mother earth) from getting degraded by environmental predators. He said that "we are the people who inherited the Sanskrit Mantra 'mata bhumi, putroaham prithivyam' which means, 'Bhumi is my Mata, I am a child of Prithvi."

Our this culture and thought that considers the Earth as a manifestation of the Mother that has given us immense strength The event at Meadows Club started at 5-30 pm with dinner followed by slide presentations on Gujarat. Dr Bharat Barai, a front ranking community leader and Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient, acknowledged sponsors who helped the successful culmination of this event while Kanti Patel, a community leader and one of the organizers, introduced community leaders one by one and invited them on dais for a photo session.

Naren Patel of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj touched upon Modi's achievements while Hetal Patel, a former president of FIA, along with Beena Patel and Bharti Desai emceed the event admirably.

Cont’d from page 17

a "Memorandum of critical issues and suggestions from the Indian American community of the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area".

These issues include recommendation for improved communication with the Indian-American community, including more responsiveness to telephone calls placed to consulate and staff for regularly needed consular services; recommendation to provide answers on a timely basis to more FAQs on current issues on website, email advisory.

Examples: OCI card, Passport Surrender procedures and fees; recommendation to set up a community feedback system on matters of interest and concern via commu-

India requires massive investments, is looking for technologies, continuously expanding education sector and health services and looks forward to proactive contributions of Diaspora in its developmental aspirations".

He added that, "the Government of India has taken enormous measures for promoting the wellbeing of the Diaspora and connecting them with India. Since the setting up of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry several special steps have been taken and a number of schemes introduced".

"Global Indian Diaspora GOPIO Making an Impact" a comprehensive publication authorized by GOPIO, was presented to Amb GOPIO's founding president, Mulay as part of the Dr Thomas Abraham, spoke New York release during the program. In addition, about GOPIO and its long GOPIO's founding life member and former sec- history of serving the retary general Dr Jagat interests of the Diaspora Motwani presented his latest book "India Reborn: Bharat Mahan, As Perceived nity and consulate meetings, interby Westerners, Gandhi, Nehru, active forum, interviews on televiTagore & Others" to Amb Mulay. sion and print, outreach to IndianGOPIO's founding president, Dr American community and other Thomas Abraham, spoke about ethnic groups; posting a "calendar GOPIO and its long history of serv- of events" which can be readily ing the interests of the Diaspora viewed for advance planning puron a global scale. Prominent com- poses; holding or collaborating on munity leaders and supporters also seminars on current critical issues welcomed Amb Mulay, extending such as youth, health, inter-gengood wishes and support: Dr. eration, inter-ethnic, etc. as well as Sudhir Parikh (Parikh Media); H. R. notable events such as Gadar CenShah (TV Asia); Norman Solovay tennial commemoration in USA. (Indian American Chamber of ComAt the conclusion of the promerce - USA); Hon. Upendra gram Amb Mulay took time to inChivukula (Deputy Speaker of New teract with attendees individually Jersey Assembly); and others. and in groups, as well as conducted GOPIO presented to Amb Mulay several interviews by the media.

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Enthralling Indian Dance Festival in St. Louis SHUBHA BASKAR & ANITHA NAGENDRA

ST. LOUIS: It was the fifth year in a row that classical Indian dance enthusiasts staged one more Indian Dance Festival in St Louis

bringing all these styles under one roof, on one stage to an audience that has kept coming back for more each year.

The St. Louis Indian Dance Festival had artists spanning various levels of expertise from h i g h l y sought after veterans to youngsters, just about stepping into the world of dance. The masters of the art performed on the same stage as did Team members of Gath Odissi - from India - performing the younger Odissi dance generation during the week end of April 19- and took pride in the fact that the 21. art was being kept alive for genThe three-day festival had more erations to come. than 150 artists from across USA The festival began with a lampand abroad, performing seven lighting ceremony performed by major Indian classical dance forms some of the senior citizens from in both the morning and evening the Indian community. This was sessions. It may be one of the few followed by an invocatory group dance festivals presented outside singing by the students of Guru of the Indian subcontinent that Seema Murthy Kasthuri. Stucan brag about such a feat of dents of Guru Prasanna Kasthuri

performed a short inaugural dance to the music of Late Chittibabu, renowned Veena player. Sailaja Pullela, a senior disciple of veteran maestro Vempati Chinna Sathyam, presented a graceful Kuchipudi dance. She performed the Tarangam with ease.

This was followed by Bharatanatyam by young artist Shalini Subbarao, a senior disciple of Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. She presented Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar's Sapthapadi "Geluvu Geluvu", followed by a Kannada Pada varnam "Shringara Chaturane" in which she skillfully portrayed the playful nature of the heroine, who wishes to be united

Samanvita, Kasrishma and Trisha strike an elegant pose in Kathak Dance

with Lord Krishna. This was followed by an energetic presentation of Ya k s h a g a n a a n d Bharatanatyam

by Mangala and Rajendra Kedlaya. Both of them wonderfully explored the beauty of Bharatanatyam for Lasya and Ya k s h a g a n a for more masculine characters through Dancer Mangala Doddaballapur performs Mahishasura the presentaMardhini - in Bharatanatyam style tion of scenes

from Mahabharatha - (Draupadi Vastrapaharana) and Mohini Bhasmasura.

The finale for the inaugural evening was an Odissi performance by Guru Aruna Mohanty and her dance troupe. The elegance, grace and lively dance performance was flawless and wonderful. The male dancers of the troupe with their energy and female dancers, with their matching grace, complemented each other.

The traditional style seemed to have got a modernized touch once they explored the folk and modern dancing steps. Their moves seemed to have become repetitive by then and may have lost people's attention.

Cont’d on page 23

$150,000 pledges to boost Akshaya Patra efforts Cont’d from page 18

A public-private partnership, Akshaya Patra combines good management, innovative technology and smart engineering to deliver school lunches at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts of the world. The APF is the world's largest non-governmental organization that feeds children. The Global Journal also

ranked Akshaya Patra 1st in the world for NGOs working to improve the lives of children and youth.

This event was chaired by Parminder Sawhney who in her welcome speech exhorted everyone to get involved and provide a chance to change the lives of underprivileged children in India. She credited her team members Jasneet Edke, Lubaina Raj, Neha Patodia, Akshay Patra Speakers Dr. Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande, Chairman and Interim CEO of Akshaya Patra Foundation USA, Dr Sunil Kumar and Dr. Sam Pitroda

Akshay Patra young volunteers

Ragini Shekhawat, Anu Aggarwal and Tanu Singh for working hard to ensure the success of this event.

Dr. Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande, Chairman and Interim CEO of APF USA gave a complete overview of the organization right from its inception to its current operation in 9 states of India. The guest speaker at this event was Dr. Sunil Kumar, Dean of Chicago Booth School of Business. Special dignitary who graced this benefit was Dr. Sam Pitroda who serves as Chairman of India's

National Knowledge Commission Dr. Pitroda remarked that Akshaya Patra is an excellent public/private partnership model benefiting a large number of children in India. He added that the Govt. of India is not equipped to solve all the problems facing the country unless NGOs like Akshaya Patra take an active role to address the needs. Through technology, innovation, management, entrepreneurship and business skills, APF has wrought wonders.

Following his speech, Ashley Singh sang "Tumhi Ho Bandhu ". There was a video presentation on the Foundation's work in India showing the kitchens where mid-day meals are prepared for school children and the process involved in doing this.

A beautiful Bollywood dance number was performed by Infinity dancers - Anika Gupta, Shivani Shah, Pooja Venkit, Ravisha Saini, Radhika Patel, and Jasmine Merchant. Vote of Thanks was given by event chair, Paraminder Sawhney.

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Hari Om Mandir celebrates Mother's Day Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Mother's Day was celebrated at Hari Om Mandir on May 8 with a cultural program and food, and despite it being a working day, more than 150 mothers

Sarkar. They launched the celebrations with the slogan "Happy Mother's Day - for the mothers by the mothers."

The Hindi devotional song (bhajan) "Insaaf ka mandir hai ye bhagwan ka ghar hai," was fol-

Kavita Rawla and others enjoying Mother's Day

came to attend the event.

Welcoming the guests, Nirmal Bagga, coordinator, introduced MCs Madhu Salwan and Suchitra

lowed by a talk on mothers, jokes, dances, musical items, folk dance, skit, ghazal, and songs.

Cont’d on page 22

United Punjabis celebrate a joyous Baisakhi Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Colorful Bhangras and Giddas, vintage Punjabi folk songs and the beat of the Dhol highlighted the Baisakhi celebration hosted by United Punjabis of America (UPA) recently at Cas-

adults having a chance to network and sing and dance. The activities for the kids were well planned while Rupa Puranik, a henna artist, was kept busy by a steady stream of women interested in having mehndi applied to their hands.

The United Punjabis of America team

cade Banquets in Bensenville, a northside suburb of Chicago The evening was remarkable for its cross-generational appeal, the little kids enjoying learning about Punjabi heritage and culture through arts and crafts and the

Pratibha Jairath, UPA vice president and Shammi Mittal UPA Events Coordinator, served as the MCs entertaining all those present with their shayris and lively introductions.

Cont’d on page 22

Hari Om Mandir Mother's Day participants

India Post 21

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United Punjabis celebrate a joyous Baisakhi

Cbazaar shopping portal targets Chicago MADHU PATEL

CHICAGO: Cbazaar, one of the biggest online shopping portals for ethnic Indian dress and jewelry, was in Chicago recently with a mini-exhibition of its wares at Double Tree Hilton in Schaumburg.

The one-day exhibition with limited display of some of its popular items - salwar kameez, sarees and men's wear - attracted a good

Children participatns in a colorful presentaiton Cont’d from page 21

Madhu Uppal, a UPA Board Member introduced the guest of honor, Dr Pramod Vohra, the Dean, Northern Illinois School of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Dr Vohra shared his belief in the value of education and he shared his passion for Punjabi music by singing two popular old Punajbi songs: 'ik meri akh kashni' and 'chan kitha guzari aye raat way'.

Madhu Kohli entertained the audience with "lathe di chadar'.

Shalabh Kumar, a successful entrepreneur and community activist, spoke about the importance of civic involvement and urged those present to take advantage

of the many upcoming opportunities to meet with political leaders.

In his welcome address,

Shoppers at Cbazaar exhibition in Chicago

This was followed by magnificent dances from the artists of Nach Le Mayuri Dance Company

Singers Pratibha Jairath and Raju Bankau

Manohar Sharma, the president of UPA, pointed out the unique nature of the organization and the enthusiasm of its officers in celebrating the rich history and culture of Punjabis. Dharam Punwani, a Trustee, introduced the UPA Board of Trustees and the members of the Executive Committee.

who performed Bhangras and Giddas. As Pratibha Jairath and Raju started singing, the dance floor quickly filled up with the young and old dancing side by side. The party lasted well into the midnight and left everyone looking ahead to the next UPA event.

number of visitors and potential buyers. This was enough of a market feel for Ashok Nageswarn, its local chief, to say that "we would again comeback to Chicago in near future - sometime in July."

Shoppers and visitors numbering over 100 made a relatively hefty purchase of over $10k with pending orders for silk sarees and other wears around the same amount. The US facility of Cbazaar already had a few exhibitions in the East Coast and plan to go Houston and West coast soon for similar displays, said Ashok in a talk to this paper.

Launched in Chennai a decade and half ago as an online gifting solution and later foraying into apparel, the brand gained popu-

15,000 items. On an average, over 100 designs are added every day.

In 2013, Cbazaar introduced Bollywood-inspired collections, and became the official online shopping partner of many movies.

It also offers a collection inspired

by Bengali films.

Sensing client base in USA, it

has opened facilities in this country too and is now intensively this market. "We would surely succeed here," Ashok pointed out, "as our products are of top quality and prices relatively cheap compared to others."

Hari Om Mandir celebrates Mother's Day Cont’d from page 21

Girls perform Giddha

larity with time and diversified its product range from wedding sarees, salwar kameez, and ghagra choli to ethnic wear for men and children, as well as fashion accessories. The products are delivered to more than 50 countries, said Ashok.

The online shopping portal houses one of the largest ranges of Indian couture, with more than

The theme covered was bhajan

by Usha Verma; talk on mothers by Sneh Chaudhary and Poornima Jha; songs by Harita Khanna, Kanchan Vij, Rashmi Gandhi, Padmini Rao, Sureshi and Pratibha; jokes by Anita Rawal and Indu Wadhwa; skit

by Malti; dances by Kavita Rawla, Uma Nath, Suchitra Sarkar, Mayoori and Pratibha; Neena Bawa's musical act "Neena Bawa the Man;" and last, but not the least, an international fashion show by the

ladies.

Youth volunteer Babu Sarkar accompanied on the dholak (drum)

Pratibha Jairath

and managed the DJ sound system with Pt. Yogesh Pandya. Tea and snacks were arranged by Usha Verma and P r e m Salwans. The program concluded with a fashion show and a vote of thanks.

Hari Om Mandir has statues of all major North Indian deiMayuri ties.

May 24, 2013

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Enthralling Indian Dance Festival in St. Louis Cont’d from page 20

The lighting and music support was awesome. Guru Yudhishtira Nayak performed with an intensity that rubbed off on the audience.

The second day of the festival began with youngster Neha Kidambi presenting an amazing Kuchipudi repertoire. She executed the Nritta with flair and abhinaya was erudite.

Smriti Bharadwaj presented a calmer version of the Reethigowla Varnam - "Sri Krishna Kamalanatha". She was pleasant on the stage. Joshua Cherian, a junior in high school, impressed the audience with his broad rechakas and utplavanas, and elaborate expressions. He had great stage presence.

Anisha Gururaj, another of Guru Prasanna's senior students, presented a beautiful dhruva tala alaripu followed by varnam. She showed keen alertness in her abhinaya and presented a beautiful rendition of jathis.

The evening began with an elegant presentation of Sattriya dance by Madhusmitha Bora and her group. They began their performance with Guru Bandhona and followed by Karatala Kamala both compositions of legendary poet Sankara Deva. They presented Chali, followed by Jayo Jayo Ram, where they narrated the story of Lord Rama very effectively. The dancers Madhusmita Bora, Prerona Bhuyan and Willow Swidler Notte brought the valuable art of Sattriya for the first time to St. Louis.

This performance was followed

dances were choreographed by the great maestro, Bipin Singh. It was an eye catching performance.

Prakruthi Hoskere balanced her performance with smaller dance numbers which were split across Nritta and Abhinaya. She came out very well with the execution of Shiva Stuti, and rendered a wonderful abhinaya for Kanjadalayatakshi. The expressions of Vasaka Sajjika Nayika, who waits for her beloved, was presented very well.

The presentation of Jaipur style Kathak broke the flow of nonstop rhythmical phrases when Dhamar taal was presented after her initial presentation of

the audience many a time. Ma Bavya presented a nice Bharatanatyam presentation to end the morning session.

The evening session had a powerful presentation of Kathak

by Sunaina Rao. She presented her ability of Nritta in Dhamaar. Later she took a Bharatanatyam piece and rendered it in the Kathak style with great ease. She also presented a special production whose theme was "injustice to women".

She stole the hearts of people with her briskness and sharp moves. Kripa Baskaran and her troupe who performed next showcased Bharatanatyam and did a wonderful job with the choreog-

The evening session had a powerful presentation of Kathak by Sunaina Rao. She presented her ability of Nritta in Dhamaar. Later she took a Bharatanatyam piece and rendered it in the Kathak style with great ease.

She also presented a special production whose theme was "injustice to women"

Ardhanaarishwaram. She later presented Ahalya Uddhar and Tarana, both were impeccable. Guru Prasanna Kasthuri presented a collaboration of Kathak and Bharatanatyam with live music. It was a novel idea and portrayed the nuances of dance very well. He was ably assisted by Sushma Mohan on Nattuvangam and Seema Kasthuri on vocals.

The morning session on the third and final day of the festival, began with a beautiful presentation of Bharatanatyam by Annuja Mathivanan.

She performed the popular pieces such as Idatthu Padam, T h a a y e Yashoda with ease and elegance. She was followed

by Sowmya Kumaran, who inspired the young St. Louis dancers with her perfect sense of Nritta Sowmya Kumaran in an enchanting Bharatanatyam and calm pose depicting enjoyment of love abhinaya. by another 'first-timer' for St. Louis Manasvini Avvari is the one who - a presentation of Manipuri dance stole the morning with her full

by Krishnakali Das Gupta. They scale embellishment of Kuchipudi presented Pontha Jagoi, with an advanced level of matuAnangkshep, Kaliya Dhaman, rity. She presented her Tarangam Dashavathar. Some of these with ease and was applauded by

raphy of Varnam - which portrayed the life story of Lord Sri Krishna.

Sahasra Sambha Moorthy presented some unique creations with slow, yet steady movements using the Bharatanatyam style to portray different aspects of choreography. Her portrayal of female/ male peacocks intrigued the audience. Prashanth Shah was as majestic as he always has been. He presented one solo with more of his playful footwork, and later a duet with Sunaina.

Although he did not perform to the caliber that was expected by the audience of such a great artiste, the crowds seemed to have enjoyed and kept up the "best audience" title once again this year! The last part of the show was a Mohiniattam performance by veteran dancer Guru Smitha Rajan of St.Louis. She presented an amazing abhinaya of Jagadodharana with an intense spell bound abhinaya. The festival concluded on a high note of the mangalam by the Mohiniattam group.

The 2013 festival once again brought the best in the performing arts to the St. Louis art patrons. It is here to stay and grow in St. Louis and will be a torch bearer for the Indian classical dances in the coming future. The person behind the festival - Guru Prasanna Kasthuri of Soorya Dance Company - thanked hundreds of volunteers and the Missouri Arts Council, Regional Arts Commission for their support and encouragement of the festival.

Guru Prassana in Krishna Pose

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May 24, 2013

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Modi's inspring video address India Post News Service

FREMONT: Indians from many States of India living in Bay Area, California, along with prominent members of Federation of Indo Americans (FIA) organized and participated to watch and listen to the Live video address to Indian Diaspora by Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, on Mother's Day. His address was shown in 20 US cities through video conferencing.

others. The video conference was attended by people from various Indo American Community Organizations of San Francisco Bay Area.

The program started with the invocation of American National Anthem and the Indian National Anthem. It was followed by playing of a few Indian nationalistic songs followed by the live speech on the video screen. On the Video Narendra Modi was introduced as Chief Minister of Gujarat and a

"They make claims of a strong government but still there are worries over safety of women. Few have seen the corruption as we are seeing now. They have not even left coal."

The event was organized at the Fremont Hindu Temple. Chandru Bhambhra coordinated the event with the help of prominent board members of FIA Rajesh Verma, Dharminder Dewan, Deepak Chhabra, Veeru Vuppala and many

future Prime Minister of India.

This was followed by Modi's speech in Hindi which came on the occasion of the 53rd Gujarat Day celebrations.

Here are highlights of his speech: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra

Audience listening to Narendra Modi at Fremont Temple on May 12

Modi said in his video address that the greatest crisis India is facing is that of trust deficit. In a comprehensive speech, Modi spoke about the development in Gujarat during the last ten years.

He said that the credit for the success of Gujarat does not go to an individual but to the collective efforts of the 6 crore people of Gujarat.

Talking about the state of affairs in the nation, Modi said that the greatest crisis the country is facing today is that of a trust deficit and that it is the need of the hour to rebuild this confidence of the people.

"This break of trust is due to the actions of some people occupying high office‌trust is a very big thing. The development in Gujarat has been possible because people have trust in each other.

Let us recall the values of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel and think of how this trust can increase," he affirmed.

He added that this increase in

that beheads them, their Prime Minister is fed chicken biryani.

That is when questions are raised."

He added, "They make claims of a strong government but still there are worries over safety of women. Few have seen the corruption as we are seeing now. They have not even left coal."

The Chief Minister opined that the optimism that was generated in the last years of the 1990s has disappeared in the last eight years when this was ideally a time to build on that optimism and show results.

Modi stated that the Gujarat

Narendra Modi

trust couldn't be merely by words.

Attacking the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Modi pointed out that the country is moving to a new crisis and that what happens when the rulers are weak, we have seen in the past month.

Modi stated, "China withdraws its forces from our territory but why are Indian forces withdrawing from Indian territory? Why did we retreat?"

Elaborating further on his point, Modi said, "The foreign minister of our nation is addressing an international forum but he reads the speech of another nation! Our soldiers are beheaded but the nation

Government is working towards 'Sarvangi (holistic), Sarvasparshi (all pervasive), Sarvasamaveshak (inclusive) and Sarvadoor Vikas'.

He stressed on the need of development reaching all corners of Gujarat.

"It should not be that one corner of Gujarat develops. Earlier Governments proudly said there is a golden corridor from Vapi to Mumbai. But is this something to be proud of? We need to also develop Kutch, Banaskantha, Radhanpur; we need to develop our coastline. It has to be Sarvasparshi."

Cont’d on page 26

May 24, 2013

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Radha & Krishna two aspects of one Supreme Lord SWAMI MUKUNDANANDA

5

,000 years ago Lord Krishna descended in the small village of Vrindavan to display His divine pastimes and teach the path of righteousness. His delightful leelas with the inhabitants of Vrindavan were elaborated by Sage Ved Vyas in Srimad Bhagvatam.

These divine leelas have formed the basis of devotion for spiritual seekers, who rejoice in singing their glories, and long for a drop of that divine bliss called brajras.

We have also heard and read the glories of 'gopi prem' which is said to be the highest form of selfless love for Sri Krishna. Of all the gopis, Radha Rani is known to be the dearest to Sri Krishna and their love is eulogized time and again by Rasik saints in devotional songs, Radhey Radhey bhajo, Shyama bhage chale ayenge…

Chant the holy name of Radha Rani and Shyama will come running to you.

The first step to building a

just as heat cannot be separated from fire and the energy cannot be separated from the energetic.

She possesses the highest level of selfless love called Madanakhya Mahabhav Bhakti for Sri Krishna.

We average humans cannot even imagine the power of this love.

Radha Rani's selfless devotion for Her beloved Sri Krishna is the source of greatest inspiration to progress on our spiritual path.

Question: What is the difference between Maya and Yogmaya? Is Mother Durga the personification of Yogmaya?

Swami Mukundananda: Maya is the external energy of God with which he makes this material world.

It is insentient and all the gross and subtle objects in this world are made from Maya. Yogmaya is the personal power of God, with which he governs all His other powers.

It is through this Yogmaya that He manifests His Divine abode, descends as an Avatar in the world and displays His divine pastimes.

Many a time people confuse Radha Rani as an ordinary woman, and undermine the fact that She is the personal form of God's Divine energy called Yogmaya. She is inseparable from Lord Krishna strong foundation of our devotion is to accept all the leelas of God as divine, therefore it is important to understand Radha Rani with divine sentiments. Many a time people confuse Radha Rani as an ordinary woman, and undermine the fact that She is the personal form of God's Divine energy called Yogmaya. She is inseparable from Lord Krishna,

Through this power, He sits in the hearts of all the souls, notes their karmas and yet remains hidden from them. It is also by Yogmaya that God's blissfulness, the sweetness of His form, the sweetness of His flute, and the nectar of His virtues and pastimes are manifest.

Most importantly for us, by virtue of Yogmaya, God bestows Grace

upon the souls of the world, granting them God-realization and Divine Love Bliss.

This Yogmaya energy governs

and Durga can be understood from the following story. One boy was coming home from school. On the way he was thinking that his mother

Swami Mukundananda

Maya, and then the material world is created. Hence, Yogmaya is called the Divine Mother of the universe. This Divine power also manifests in the personal form as Durga, Seeta, Kali, Radha, Lakshmi, Mangala, Parvati, etc.

So it is important to understand that these Personal Forms, whom we see in pictures depicted sitting by the side of God, are not ordinary women. They are different personal forms of Yogmaya.

Q: If Mother Durga and Radha Rani both are the personal forms of Yogmaya, what is the difference between them?

SM: Radha and Durga are both the Divine Yogmaya power of God and They are non-different from each other. Yet, there is a difference in the sweetness Bliss of Divine Love that we receive from both of them.

This difference between Radha

will be at home; she will give him a loving hug; she will ask him about his day at school; she will have prepared tasty snacks for him; he will ask her to take him to the ice cream shop, and so on. However, when he reached home, he found a totally different scenario. His mother had a stick in her hand and was beating his elder brother.

The boy thought, "My mother's mood is not good at present. Let me quietly sneak away to my bedroom. When she is in a better mood, I will speak to her." The mother is the same, but one is her fierce form and the other is her loving form.

Similarly, Mother Durga is the form of Yogmaya where she is combating and subduing demons. She is also engaged in administering the material energy, Maya, but Radha Rani is not concerned with any of this. She simply engages in the

loving service of Shree Krishna and engages the souls in the same. She bestows the highest level of selfless Divine Love on the souls, and it is by Her Grace that one attains Shree Krishna. Those who know this secret and wish to relish the sweetness of the nectar of Divine Love, worship the Divine Mother in her sweetest form as Shree Radha.

Q: Many people say that no description of Radha Rani exists in the Bhagavatam written by Maharshi Ved Vyas. Please tell if there is any scriptural mention of Radha Rani?

SM: This question addresses a widespread misnomer in the minds of many people and its importance demands that detailed evidence be given from the scriptures for the benefit of everyone.

We shall come to the Shreemad Bhagavatam later. First of all, let us visit the other scriptures. Let us begin with the eternal Vedas, and see if they mention Radha Rani.

Idam hyanvojasa sutam… (Rig Veda 3.51.10) "O Shree Krishna, Husband of Radha! Just as the gopis worship you, the Ved mantras also worship you. By them, drink Som Ras." Yasya renum padayorvishvabharta…

(Atharva Vediya Radhikopanishad) "Radha is that entity, the dust of whose lotus feet the Master of the Universe places on His head."

Next, let us come to the Puranas.

Ved Vyas, who is the writer of the Shreemad Bhagavatam, has written seventeen other Puranas as well, and Radha Rani is mentioned in six of them.

Cont’d on page 27

Tamil debate talk show a great success VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

FREMONT: Bay Area Tamil Manram proudly presented Tamil debate talk show, also known as "pattimandram" at Centerville Junior High school in Fremont on May 4.

The event was witnessed by over 600 Tamil enthusiasts and was a great show quenching the thirst of Tamils in Bay area. The show was moderated by Solomon Pappiah of Sun TV fame. He is credited for taking social themes to the masses and has so far moderated over 5000 debates programs across the globe.

Thiru. Pappaiah is known for his down to earth speaking style. His

command over Tamil enables him to get complex literary issues across to the common man. This

has enabled him to take social themes to the masses and bring about a social awakening in the

evolution of patti mandrams in Tamilnadu and beyond.

Jayakumar Muthalagu, President of Bay area Tamil Manram and his team welcomed Kalaimamani Pappaiah and Poet Arivumathi to the Bay area.

The debate show had two teams comprising eight Bay area locals talking on "To succeed in life, one needs courage or patience". The topic was debated for over two hours with each team expressing their views in a humorous and effective way. The team which expressed their strong views on "courage is the path to success" was represented by Nithyavathy Sundaresh, Daisy

Jayaprakash, Chitra Dharmarajan and Revathy Sitarama.

The team supporting that "Patience is the ultimate goal to succeed in life" was represented by Kandasamy Palanisamy, Mustafa Ahamed, Govind Gopal and Sugi Shiva. The talk was effectively moderated and Kalaimamani gave his opinion and advice on the path to success. He expressed his views and one's courage and patience play a vital role in shaping an individual.

Jayakumar, Indira and Arumugam thanked the sponsors and Tamil community for extending their support for this grand event and expressed the hope to entertain the community with many more such programs in future.

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NRIs listen to Modi's inspring video address at Fremont Temple Cont’d from page 24

The Chief Minister categorically stated that the development in Gujarat is due to the collective effort of 6 crore Gujaratis.

Taking on the anti-Gujarat elements who have been spreading lies only due to politics, he said, "We have changed the nature of development. I know people will start saying things even after this speech. The Feku industry people will get active but the fact is, this is the path that will take Gujarat to greater heights in the coming years."

Modi recalled that earlier the definition of good roads was that the road from north to south Gujarat was in good condition. But now, the vertical and horizontal road networks have been linked.

Likewise he said, "Some places had good institutes. But did we see if tribal areas have universities? We focused on this. We found out which Tehsil does not have schools to study science. Then we focused on medical, engineering colleges."

He further opined, "Earlier we had 11 universities. Now in the last ten years that has grown to 44. Can anyone say no?" He talked about the specialized universities in Gujarat like the sports university, the forensic science university and affirmed, "They will say that forensic science department was already there. We say our contribution is forensic science university."

Modi said, "We have never said there was nothing before Modi came. There were things. Compare the work done in 40 years with the work done in last 12 years. We have taken development to new heights for the well being of every person.

And I say it again, Narendra Modi has not done it. The credit goes to 6 crore people of Gujarat and those who have affection for Gujarat."

He further said, "Did Narendra Modi invent kites? Kites were there earlier too but was it thought that kites will draw the world to Gujarat?

Can someone tell me if the Gir lions were not there before Modi? Yes they where there. Did Gujarat not have a coastline before Modi? Yes it did. Everything was there still tourism was not there. World came to see Jagannath but not Somnath.

We made the efforts to change that."

"Yes there was a coastline but did they use it for any development? Today 35% of the nation's cargo is from Gujarat. We have 41 major and minor ports now. Till when will you negate everything?

We added new life in the Kutch desert. Modi did not paint the Rann white. It was there. Only that people come here today and it has given

impetus to handicrafts industry also."

The Chief Minister talked about the state Government's efforts to protect the Gir lions.

Sharing other instances of Gujarat's development, Modi spoke on how 24-hour electricity brought about a big difference in the lives of the people.

Referring to the Gujarati Diaspora he affirmed, "Staying there you have not let Gujarat or India get a bad name. In the true sense you are our cultural ambassadors and this has given strength to us."

On malnutrition, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader stated, "In 2001 we read the census reports and were alarmed by issue of malnutrition. From 2004 we launched a mission to eradicate malnutrition. And latest CAG report lauds the Gujarat model. There is a 33% improvement and we have to go further than this too." Again taking on the anti-Gujarat industry he said, "These people will not point to all-India figures. Only Gujarat."

Modi said that the largest canal network for Narmada waters has come up in Gujarat during the last ten years. Likewise, 18,000 villages have broadband connectivity in Gujarat.

Modi told the audience, "If you want to see the truth about Gujarat,

Modi, in his speech, sought contribution of the overseas Gujarati community in building a statue of unity of Sardar Patel, which he said would be double the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York see the number of Awards the Congress-ruled UPA has given to Gujarat!"

On the occasion Modi congratulated the Diaspora for organizing an event such as this and said that Gujarat is as much theirs.

"I am happy that you are cel-

ebrating this Gujarat event globally," he said.

The Chief Minister recalled that for years Gujarat Day celebrations were forgotten because those in power tried to hide the truth, be it the Maha Gujarat Movement or the firing of innocent youngsters from the Congress office at Bhadra in Ahmedabad.

"I bow to everyone who worked and gave their lives for Gujarat. I assure we will never forget their dreams," Modi declared.

The Chief Minister described Gujaratis as a global community that has always taken people together.

Referring to the Gujarati Diaspora he affirmed, "Staying there you have not let Gujarat or India get a bad name. In the true sense you are our cultural ambassadors and this has given strength to us."

Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of Mother's Day and he saluted the power of Matru Shakti.

He said this is a culture that considers the Earth as a manifestation of the Mother that has given Indians immense strength.

He gave the example of the Ganga and said that till Indians considered the Ganga as a Mother it remained clean but the moment they saw it only as a water body, it became polluted.

In his speech, Modi insisted that the country is experiencing a new crisis due to developments in the last few months, as he narrated several corruption related incidents.

Addressing the Gujarati Diaspora community, Modi claimed that during his rule in Gujarat, he has given a new meaning to development, which is not only inclusive but integrates all sections of the society without any differentiation.

"We have adopted mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. We do not want development of only select sections of society," Modi said in response to a question from Chicago.

Modi, in his speech, sought contribution of the overseas Gujarati community in building a statue of unity of Sardar Patel, which he said would be double the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York.

This, he said, would be the tallest statue of the world and a tribute to the son of the soil Sardar Patel, who single-handedly united the country after India achieved its independence in 1947.

After the inspiring speech for more than one hour, the program concluded with the singing of Vande Mataram and vote of thanks.

Fresno community comes together for Piara Singh FREMONT, CA: Over the last few days, the Fresno community has come together to show support for Piara Singh, the 82 year old Sikh who was brutally attacked during his early morning

attended a community forum and press conference, organized by local community members at the Fresno Nanaksar Gurdwara, for a discussion of the investigation into the attack on Piara Singh. The press conference included impacted family members, Fresno

walk home from his local Gurdwara.

Earlier, Sikh Coalition staff members visited Piara Singh in the hospital and spoke with family members to assess immediate and long-term needs.

In addition, the Sikh Coalition

Police Chief Jerry Dyer, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the FBI. The community forum and press conference provided an opportunity for community members to engage directly with the police department and US Attorney's office in a question and answer session.

India Post News Service

Bone marrow appeal for Stanford Prof Nalini Ambady India Post News Service

G

OPIO and other Indian community organizations have made an appeal to help save the life of Dr Nalini Ambady. She has been given a few weeks to find a bone marrow donor and time is running out!

Dr Nalini Ambady

Nalini, originally from Kerala, is a renowned scientist whose work was featured in Malcolm Gladwell's best selling book Blink.

She is the first Indian woman to

have been on the faculty of both Harvard and Stanford's psychology department. She is also the mother of two young girls.

Nalini needs your help. She is suffering from leukemia and needs a blood stem cell donor soon in order to survive. Due to certain genetic markers, her match will almost certainly be a fellow Keralite. Right now, there is no match in the registry for her.

Indian community organizations are requested to host a bone marrow donor drive to register South Asian community. Hosting a drive is easy! Be the Match, the national bone marrow registry, will help every step of the way. Registering takes only minutes - a simple cheek swab and a little paperwork. Anyone between the ages of 18-44 can be a donor. If you can't donate, you can help find donors.

For more information, visit www.NaliniNeedsYou.com or call 650-318-1297 in the US or contact: Taylor Phillips: taylorp@stanford.edu or Sribala Subramanian: bsubra@nyc.rr.com

May 24, 2013

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Radha & Krishna two aspects Walk for Education - A few miles for a million smiles of one Supreme Lord RITU MAHESHWARI

Cont’d from page 25

Yatha radha priya…

(Narad Purana) Tatrapi radhika shashvat… (Adi Purana) Rukmini dvaravatyam tu…

(Matsya Purana 13.37) Radhnoti sakalan Kaman…

(Devi Bhagavata Purana) Adau radham samuchcharya…

(Brahm Vaivarta Purana) Finally, let us come to the Shreemad Bhagavam. This scripture was spoken by Shukadev Paramhans to Parikshit. Shukadev is an eternal associate of Radha Rani. He is a Leela Shuk, who takes the form of a parrot, and recites wonderful things in Her Divine abode, Golok. He has so much of love for Radha Rani that if he takes Her Name, he faints for six months.

Since, Parikshit was cursed to be bitten by a snake in seven days, Shukadev had to complete the Bhagavatam in that period, and so he did not take Radha Rani's name directly. But he made indirect mention of her in many places. In the Radhopanishad, 28 names of Radha have been mentioned, including Gopi, Ramaa and Shree.

Radha is mentioned by some of these names in the Bhagavatam, for example: Kamayamaha etasya shrimatpadarajah… (Shreemad Bhagavatam 10.83.42) "The Master of Ramaa did Raas with the gopis." Here the word "Ramaa" has been used for Radha.

Ramaa can also mean Mahalakshmi, but that is not the usage here, since the Master of Mahalakshmi, Mahavishnu, does

ekamevasti… (Sama Rahasyopanishad) "Since eternity, the one Supreme Lord has divided Himself in two forms, the Energetic and the Energy.

That Supreme Energy (the Yogmaya power) is Radha, who is worshipped by the knowers of the Vedas."

Since Radha and Krishna are two aspects of the one Supreme Lord, they are inseparable from each other, just as milk and its whiteness are inseparable from each

FREMONT: In a symbolic gesture of support for the village children who have to walk about five kilometers to the nearest high school, more than 200 participants

surprised everybody with their fundraising efforts. The highest fundraisers were Reena Goyal, Deepali Syed and Chhavi Vijay.

Youth volunteers who participated in fundraising were Himani, Shankaran and Ankita.

On the day of the walk, the core

Divine Love is a subsidiary power of Radha Rani, and so the highest level of Bhakti resides in Her. This is characterized by intense longing for Shree Krishna, to the extent that is inconceivable to the human mind other, and fire and its light are one with each other. Thus, there is no question of separating Krishna and Radha.

However, in Their Divine pastimes, to relish the Bliss of Divine Love, They separate and again unite in many inconceivably sweet ways. These Divine pastimes of God are called leelas. When Shree Krishna and Radha Rani displayed Their leelas on the earth 5000 years ago, They relished the Bliss of parkiya bhav, or love in the paramour sentiment. Thus, they were not married to each other. Nonetheless, the Garg Samhita describes Their leelas during another descension, where Radha and Krishna were married, and Brahma was the priest in the ceremony. In

Their leelas are Divine and beyond the social codes of conduct prescribed for us conditioned souls. Since They both are the same One Supreme Entity, the question of whether they married or not in the worldly sense is not applicable not do the Raas leela.

Reme ramesho vrajasundaribhriyatharbhakah…

(Bhagavatam) Apart from these, Radha is mentioned in many other scriptures.

But in the context of this question, let these quotations suffice.

Q: Radha and Krishna were never married. Then what was the relationship between both of them?

SM: Radha and Krishna are two aspects of the Supreme Personality. One is the Energetic and the other is the Divine Energy. The Upanishads state: Anadirayam purusham

towards Her Beloved. In fact, Divine Love is a subsidiary power of Radha Rani, and so the highest level of Bhakti resides in Her. This is characterized by intense longing for Shree Krishna, to the extent that is inconceivable to the human mind.

The following verse gives a slight glimpse of this: aurvstomatkaturapi katham durbalenorasa…

"When Radha does not have darshan (sight) of Shree Krishna, the fire of the pain of separation in

India Post News Service

either case, Their leelas are Divine and beyond the social codes of conduct prescribed for us conditioned souls. Since They both are the same One Supreme Entity, the question of whether they married or not in the worldly sense is not applicable.

Q: The Gaudiya sampradya glorifies "Radha Bhav" as the highest devotional Bhav. It is also mentioned in the writings of many of the Bhakti Saints. Can you please describe Radha Bhav?

SM: Radha Rani, being the Divine power of Shree Krishna, has only one goal - selfless devotion

Her heart is so intense, that if the hazy lines above the smoke of that fire were to come out from Her body, the entire universe would burn to ashes." Such is the extent of Radha's longing for Shree Krishna.

Radha's devotion is also characterized by the highest level of selflessness, and complete absence of self-seeking. There is only one thought in Her mind - how to give happiness to Her Beloved. Such selfless devotion manifests in the gopis to a lesser extent, and in other saints to an even lesser extent.

Thus, the topmost form of pure Divine Love resides in the heart of Radha.

This is also called Madanakhya Mahabhav Bhakti. All the other God-realized saints, eternally liberated souls, and aspirants, derive inspiration from the nature of Radha's devotion. This devotion of Radha for Krishna has been termed as "Radha Bhav" by poets and saints.

Swami Mukundananda is a world renowned spiritual teacher from India, and is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and founder of JK Yog. He has received his degrees in engineering from world renowned institutes in India, IIT and IIM. He has inspired people all over the world on the path of spirituality, holistic health, yoga, meditation, service to society and God realization. This year, Swamiji will be conducting weeklong programs in 30+ cities of USA from April onwards. For more information visit: http://www.jkyog.org/ or contact: secretary@jkyog.org To attend Swamiji's Yoga, Meditation and Spiritual Discourses in USA, see the schedule for your city: www.jkyog.org/2013

5k/10k walk

joined in the Small Steps Foundation's 5K/10K Walk fundraiser held on May 5 at Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont.

SSF (Small Steps Foundation) is a non-profit public benefit volunteer corporation registered with the Secretary of State of California in Nov 2006, it was founded

by Tanuja and Akhil Aggarwal. Its primary mission is to support projects targeted at formal and informal education for underprivileged children in India. Small Steps Foundation also aims to bring awareness to the state of primary

SSF volunteers came early at 8 am to set up a festive meeting point near the Coyote Hills Visitor Center. There was some concern due to a rainy forecast, but the weather stayed warm, with lacey clouds shading the marshy vista, providing some spectacular views and amazing bird watching opportunities. Groups of other participants came with friends and family to enjoy the spring day. SSF has traditionally promoted family oriented events, and this was no exception as many grandparents accompanied the kids on the gentle

SSF volunteers

education in India, promote social responsibility among the fortunate and privileged individuals.

The annual walk is one of the two major fundraisers held by this organization, the other being the Diwali Dandia celebration. The walk was supported by local businesses ranging from professional services like accountants and dentists to children's extracurricular activity providers. This year the youth and new volunteers also participated in fundraising and

5 K route.

Manoj Joshi led a short yoga session for the walkers. Organizers of the event also held several games for the children including water balloon toss and spoon and marble race.

The delicious lunch was sponsored by Chaat Bhavan. The enjoyable event also included an introduction to the Board of executives by SSF Secretary, Anu Bansal and a short presentation by the SSF President, Reena Goyal.

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Sapna Mera Toota: Nautanki Saala 2 Mera Mann Kehne Laga: Nautanki Saala 3 Taki Taki: Himmatwala 4 Aaja Meri Jaan: I Love NY 5 Judaai Unplugged: I Love NY 28 India Post

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May 24, 2013 6 Aake Tere Kareeb: Ammaa Ki Boli 7 Kaali Kaali: Aake Tere Kareeb 8 Meethi Boliyaan: Kai Po Che! 9 Yaaram: Ek Thi Daayan 10 Manjha: Kai Po Che!

S

o Priyanka Chopra's first item song in Shootout At Wadala has come and gone. Moving on, she's not taking any risks with getting it absolutely right the second time around in her special song for Zanjeer.

We hear the lyrics by Shabbir Ahmed had to go for a second round of refurbishment. Says a source close to the project, "Initially Priyanka was very sure she wanted non-suggestive lyrics and movements. But then the words came out a little

flat. So the lyrics had to be livened up without losing their innocuousness. We finally zeroed in on these lines 'Mumbai Na Dilliwallon Ki, Pinky Hai Dilwaalon Ki'.

Priyanka felt this was saucy but not suggestive. And we went with that. And no one was allowed to call it an 'item song' because Priyanka wanted the number to be freed of implications commodifying women.

It was called a special song."

Keeping it vulgarity-free is all very well.

But Priyanka wanted, in the words of the source, the lyrics and movements to be "free of flab but nonetheless fab".

The brief during the shooting of the song to choreographer Ganesh Acharya was to make it bigger bouncier brighter than Katrina's 'Chikni Chameli'. But without the pelvic thrusts, heaves and aggressive gyrations. A tall order.

Gori hurt hurt Gori K

areena Kapoor is not only one of the most gorgeous looking actresses in Bollywood but also a powerhouse of talent. The actress is known for being a thorough professional and she proved it once again on the sets of Gori Tere Pyar Mein.

Kareena got injured while shooting with Imran Khan for Punit Malhotra's forthcoming flick Gori Tere Pyar Mein.

Even though Kareena had the option of opting for a body double, she insisted on performing the stunts on her own. The said stunt involved her and Imran to walk on a tight rope, without any support. In order to maintain balance, she was walking on the rope tightly, which resulted in her feet getting scratched by the thick jute thus leading to a bruise. If that wasn't enough, the scorching heat of the sun made it further worse. Despite all these odds, Kareena shot for the scene without any fuss and the scene was completed without any delay.

Mujra magic A

fter mesmerizing audiences with 'Maar Dala' in Devdas in 2002, Madhuri Dixit is back again to cast her spell with a 'mujra' number in director Abhishek Chaubey's upcoming film 'Dedh Ishqiya'.

The 'dhak-dhak' girl will perform the dance on a song titled 'Apke Karar Mein' composed by filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, also the producer of the film.

"The song is ready and we will be shooting for it after we are done with filming the entire movie. I can't reveal much but I will say that it is a very elaborate number which will be shot on a big set," producer Ketan Maru said in a statement here.

The dance sequence will see Madhuri reunite with Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj.

'Dedh Ishqiya' is a sequel to 2010 hit film 'Ishqiya'.

Bollywood

May 24, 2013

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A

lthough Kangna Ranaut is thankful to her mother Asha for teaching her basic life lessons, she also confesses to be scared of her strict mom.

Talking about her childhood memories, the actress said she doesn't remember her mom's lullabies, but her strictness.

Sharing a childhood moment, Kangna said: "I was beaten up with a broom.

There is nothing memorable than that. All mothers sing lullaby for their children and feed them with good food."

"My mother was a Sanskrit teacher and all the students in the school were scared of her," added the actress. But at the same time, Kangna says her mom trained her so well that if she has to quit acting, she has an alternative. "My mother had trained me in everything, except for acting.

I know how to wash dishes and cook food. I was told that you will let down the family after marriage," she told reporters at an event.

"So just in case it doesn't work out here, I am set," she added.

Mother's

Bleeding knee

broom S

F

or quite sometime, there has been news doing the rounds that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is planning to make a comeback but there has been no such official information from any source. Now the latest grapevine doing the rounds is that Aishwarya has chosen Yash Raj Films as her comeback pad. She will be paired opposite the 'Barfi!' actor Ranbir Kapoor.

It is heard that when Aditya Chopra approached Ash with the script, she liked it very much and showed her interest in the film. It is going to be a romantic drama and she will be paired opposite Ranbir.

Aishwarya is highly impressed with Ranbir's acting and thinks that he is a fabulous actor.

"Ash has heard the script and is very excited about it and working with a younger hero like Ranbir," a source is quoted as saying by a tabloid.

Ranbir and Ash pairing would really be interesting as the Kapoor lad is much younger to Aishwarya.

She said yes

ubhash Ghai's upcoming film Kaanchi which has newcomer Mishti Mukherjee making her debut, seems to have hit a minor setback.

Apparently, while shooting for a particular sequence the newcomer was required to jump from a height of 40 feet.

Though initially her body double was suppose to do the stunt but when the final shot was being taken, Mishti told the action director that she would want to do it herself.

“The body double was supposed to do the stunt but Mishti felt she could do it. She gave the shot and we all clapped but then we realized her knee was bleeding�

Says Ghai, "The body double was supposed to do the stunt but Mishti felt she could do it. She gave the shot and we all clapped but then we realized her knee was bleeding. But hats off to her spirit, she came for the shoot the next day though she was in pain and had fever."

Kaanchi that features Kartik Tiwari, Rishi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty marks Ghai's return to direction, and is slated for release later this year.

May 24, 2013

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ctor Ranbir Kapoor, who loves traveling, says he is a loner and prefers to travel alone.

"I like to travel alone and over the years I have become a loner.

I don't need any company... I can even have my lunch alone. I am very comfortable with myself and don't need any company," the 30-year-old told reporters at an event to promote his film Y e h

Jawaani Hai Deewani.

He had apparently been asked about the absence of Deepika, his co-star in the movie, from the promotional tour. It is reported that Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty, the director of his ambitious project 'Chennai Express', sat Deepika down and

‘I think romance can happen anywhere. There is no romantic destination as such. As long as you are in love with a person, there is nothing like it, apparently talked her out of the plan.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, the youth-

Scene from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

centric romantic drama has been directed

by Ayan Mukerji. The film is special for Deepika and Ranbir, who are just friends (not even using the term good here).

Recollecting his memories of his first trip with his friends, Ranbir said, "My first trip with my friends was when I finished my 10th standard and we went to Goa. It was a great experience as it was my first trip without my parents. The way I looked at life completely changed after that trip. I can't say what we did there."

When asked what his favorite romantic destination is, the actor says romance can happen anywhere." I think romance can happen anywhere. There is no romantic destination as such. As long as you are in love with a person, there is nothing like it."

IITian quits Hollywood to design lab in suitcase SAGAR KULKARNI

V

illage folk may soon have access to accurate medical diagnosis at their doorstep with a miniaturized pathological laboratory packed into a suitcase capable of conducting tests which could lead to early identification of many diseases.

Amit Bhatnagar, an alumnus of IIT-

Roorkee, who quit a plush job in Hollywood's famed Universal Studios, has designed a portable biochemistry laboratory, which comes packed in a suitcase and can perform 23 crucial medical tests

including for kidney, liver, heart, anemia, diabetes and arthritis.

The portable lab, which could prove a boon to people staying in remote areas that have little access to diagnostics which results in several diseases remaining undetected, was launched by Science and Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy.

"It is a complete compact lab in a suitcase with power backup. It has been designed to perform 23 vital blood tests for kidney, liver, heart, anemia, diabetes and arthritis accurately, cost-effectively and timely," Bhatnagar told PTI. The lab, which costs a maximum of Rs 3.5 lakh, includes blood analyzer, centrifuge, Micro pipettes, incubator, Laptop with Patient Data Management Software and consumables. "Key advantage of Mobile Lab is in its design, rugged analyzer, portability, cost effectiveness," Bhatnagar said.

The portable lab is being used by Border Roads Organization at its dispensaries in remote areas of Kargil, Leh, Nagaland, by the Central Reserve Police Force in the jungles of Chhattisgarh and various programs of the National Rural Health Mission in Haryana and Kerala on a pilot basis.

"We did a trial for 800-900 people in our dispensaries in remote areas. It has a lot of potential for early detection of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, cardiac problems and in emergencies," Brigadier S B Mahajan, Deputy Director General, Border Roads Organization said.

Mahajan said the results of the tests performed by the portable lab were validated against those done in conventional laboratories and were found to be accurate.

"We have put up a demand for procurement of more such units," he said.

Bhatnagar received a soft loan of up to Rs four crore for developing the lab from Technology Development Board of the Government of India.

He raised an additional Rs four crore from various other resources. Bhatnagar did his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT, Roorkee and went to the Pennsylvania State University in the US to complete his

Masters in Biomedical Engineering.

He joined as a business consultant at the Universal Studios, where he analyzed consumer trends for products of the Hollywood major.

But homeland beckoned him and the

Bhatnagar received a soft loan of up to Rs four crore for developing the lab from Technology Development Board of the Government of India.

He raised an additional Rs four crore from various other resources stint in Hollywood was cut short after nine months.

Back in Delhi, he and his technology partners at IIT Delhi decided to take on the problem faced by nearly 70 per cent of villages in the country which did not have access to accurate diagnosis.

The 'lab in a suitcase' was a fruit of the efforts put in by Bhatnagar and his collaborators at IIT-Delhi.-PTI

May 24, 2013

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PC Sorcar & daughter celebrate 100 years of magic ABHINAV ANAND

NEW DELHI: Maneka Sorcar, who holds an MBA from Ohio University, says she turned down a lucrative job in the US and decided to learn magic from her father, the magician Prodip Chandra Sorcar.

The world renowned conjurer known as PC Sorcar junior is teaming up with daughter and fellow magician Maneka to celebrate 100 years of "Indrajal", a show filled with mind boggling tricks and illusions that was passed on to him by his father, legendary magician P C Sorcar Sr. Call it a sleight of hand or pure science, but making historic monuments like the Taj Mahal or the Victoria Memorial or even a train full of passengers "vanish" seems like child's play for magician PC Sorcar junior.

"Indrajal is neither a sleight of hand, nor trickery but a combination of science, arts and psychology. What we see today as science was magic yesterday and what we see today as magic, will be science tomorrow. All these animations and latest technologies that you see today, are something people would have considered as magical before their advent sometimes back", P C Sorcar told PTI in an interview.

PC Sorcar Junior

In a career spanning four decades, the Kolkata-based magician has presented numerous acts among which spectacular and unforgettable have been making the Taj Mahal and the Victoria Memorial "disappear".

Some of his other famous illusionary acts also include Phycho Kinesis (making objects move,

bend and float in air), cycling on deep water, and making a train full of passengers disappear.

The veteran magician who has been combining a mix of spellbinding theatrical elements like drama, fantasy and scientific illusions to create astounding performances for over 40 years now says he was influenced by his father into joining his family's traditional work. "There is magic in everything we see and we do. If someone for eg Sachin Tendulkar plays good cricket, you call him "cricket ka jaadugar", or when you see a good actor, you may call him " cinema ka jaadugar".

Similarly, I felt that my father was a "jaadu ka Jaadugar- a magician of magic" and that is what brought me into this field and same holds true for my daughter," says Sorcar.

During the month long display

Maneka Sorcar

in Delhi, Sorkar and his daughter would present magical plays "Lahe-Lahe", "X- Ray eyes" and the "Revenge". "These will be a mix of traditional and the contemporary. All the contemporary acts have been conceptualized by me and nobody has ever done it till now," says Maneka Sorcar.

Sorcar says his daughter's contemporary acts will help to "immortalize" the art of magic in India and the world. "Celebrating 100 years of 'Indrajal', is a way of thanking our forefathers, who through their skills of creating scientific illusions have transformed the future of modern magic. It is an over-

whelming experience for me and my daughter to take forward the Sorcar family's legacy" says Sorcar.

"We as artists always work towards adding color in people's lives through our shows. Having the opportunity to perform 'Indrajal' in the presence of various crowds in different parts of the world, has been a humbling experience which has only added substance to our performance," he adds.

"Magic is my inheritance. It is personally a great moment of pride for me to be able to take this legacy forward and be a part of the celebration of magic through 100 years of 'Indrajal'. We are constantly evolving newer ways to mesmerize our audience and hope to continue in winning many hearts through our small world of illusion," says Maneka.

The father-daughter duo is also planning to soon start a "Gurukul", an institution to train magicians and teach them the art of magic, something which they has never been done in the country in an organized manner. the one-month long event organized by ADS Events will be conducted daily at the FICCI auditorium here. -PTI

Modern lifestyle causing dementia at early age LONDON: Modern lifestyle is causing dementia and other brain diseases to strike at a younger

age, with widespread use of computers, mobile phones and chemicals to blame, a new study has

found.

The latest research has found that the sharp rise of dementia and other neurological deaths in people under 74 cannot be put down to the fact that we are living longer.

The rise is because a higher proportion of old people are being affected by such conditions and what is really alarming, it is starting earlier and affecting

people under 55 years, according to the research published in journal Public Health.

Of the 10 biggest Western countries the US had the worst increase in all neurological deaths - men up 66 per cent and women 92 per cent between 1979-2010.

The UK was 4th highest - men up 32 per cent and women 48 per cent.

"These statistics are about real people and families, and we need to recognize that there is an 'epidemic' that clearly is influenced by environmental and societal changes," said Professor Colin Pritchard of Bournemouth University.

Pritchard and colleagues show

that there are rises in total neurological deaths, including the dementias, which are starting earlier, impacting upon patients, their families and health and social care services, exemplified by an 85 per cent increase in UK Motor Neu-

rone Disease deaths.

The research highlights that there is an alarming 'hidden epidemic' of rises in neurological deaths between 1979-2010 of adults (under 74) in Western countries, especially the UK. -PTI

Health

Line

Full recovery expected for man struck by lightning STEVENSVILLE, Mont.: Authorities say a 22-year-old ranch hand struck by lightning while moving irrigation pipe near Stevensville is expected to make a full recovery.

After being unconscious for as long as 30 minutes, Diego Ramirez was able to get on his motorcycle and ride to a co-worker. He was then flown by helicopter to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

Ramirez's employer, Matt Pendergast, tells the Ravalli Republic the lightning followed the wires on an iPod Ramirez was wearing and resulted in perforated eardrums.

No one saw the lightning strike.

Pendergast says he thinks it probably hit the pipe Ramirez was carrying. -AP

Family keeps hospitalized bomb victim upbeat BOSTON: Marc Fucarile lost his right leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, and doctors are still fighting to save his shattered left leg.

The 34-year-old from Stoneham is the last victim of last month's attack still at Massachusetts General Hospital and among a few of the most seriously injured who haven't been released from other hospitals or moved to rehab facilities.

Fucarile tells The Associated Press that his family, including his 5-year-old son and his fiancee, has kept him going.

He was at the marathon cheering on a friend when the second bomb went off. Two other friends also lost a leg. -AP

Careless smoking, oxygen blamed for Vegas fire LAS VEGAS: Fire investigators say an elderly Las Vegas man is lucky to be alive after another nearly fatal fire started by the deadly combination of careless smoking and medical oxygen.

The man who suffered severe smoke inhalation was rescued by neighbors who pulled him from a burning couch in his apartment near downtown about 8 pm.

He told paramedics he turned off his medical oxygen, started to smoke a cigarette then apparently fell asleep. The heat from the burning sofa woke him. -AP

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May 24, 2013

Brain can distinguish between types of laughter Details on Page 35

Asthma can be managed by recognising your triggers CAROLYN KAVITA TAURO

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lobally, asthma is one of the major causes of mor bidity and mortality. Cases have increased in the past 20 years especially in children. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases with over 200 million suffering from it worldwide. If urgent action isn't taken, the deaths due to asthma will increase in the coming decade. Although asthma cannot be cured, good control and management lies in early and proper diagnosis, treatment and patient education.

For those of us who are unfamiliar with the disease, Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, coughing and chest tightness. It is a chronic disorder caused by inflammation of the airways. These airways are respond in an exaggerated manner and hyper responsive, and obstruct airflow, when they are exposed to risk factors.

What are these trigger factors?

Trigger factors are several and not specific to the condition, in other words, a patient with asthma may not be affected by all of the factors. A patient with asthma may have unique triggers too. The risk factors include allergens such as pollens and moulds, house dust mites, animal

fur and even cockroaches.

Asthma patients who also smoke tobacco have worse asthma "attacks" than nonsmokers. The airways are less sensitive to corticosteroid (which is sometimes the best medicine to control the attack)

traffic pollution and non-allergic asthma in children of up to the age of 12 years.

Although still under study, it may be good to be mindful of the outdoor as well as the indoor air pollution around us in the form of

What is important is that when people with asthma exercise they should have 'releaser' and 'inhaler' with them. While exercising if you have symptoms you can take a pause and wait for 5 minutes and then go again.

So, if people's asthma is properly controlled then they can exercisejust like the way normal people do and quitting smoking has shown to improve lung function along with overall symptoms. Studies show a modest positive relation between

fumes from vehicles, factories, and smoke from cooking fuels in rural kitchens. One study conducted in Spain also showed adolescent

boys affected thrice as much with severe or exercise-induced asthma if they lived in streets with heavy goods vehicles constantly passing than those who did not.

Exercise is healthy provided we manage asthma well "Exercising is not a trigger for asthma for everybody. I think it does not trigger asthma with all asthmatics and generally we recommend children to do exercise because you can have other health issues if you do not do any exercise. It can bring out poor health in other ways. It is important that people must do some exercise.

What is important is that when people with asthma exercise they should have 'releaser' and 'inhaler' with them. While exercising if you have symptoms you can take a pause and wait for 5 minutes and then go again. So, if people's asthma is properly controlled then they can exercise just like the way normal people do.

So, you should be able to do your daily activities including exercise", says Dr Karen Bissell, Deputy Coordinator, Asthma Drug Facility (ADF), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

Cont'd on Page 34

India tops cervical cancer deaths: US study NEW DELHI: With nearly 73,000 women dying every year, India now tops the world in cervical cancer deaths according to a report released by a US-based research and advocacy group.

India represents 26.4 per cent of all women dying of cervical cancer globally, with China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand also showing high death incidence, says the "Cervical Cancer Global Crisis Card" released by the Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition.

According to the report card, cervical cancer kills an estimated 275,000 women every

year and 500,000 new cases reported worldwide. This entirely preventable disease is the second largest cancer killer of women in low and middle-income countries, with most women dying in the prime of life, it said.

Using data from the WHO, United Nations, the World Bank and IARC Globocan, the Crisis

Card has ranked 50 countries in the descending order of cancer mortality rates.

India, China, Brazil, Bangladesh and Nigeria represent more than half of the "global burden of cervical cancer deaths," says the US based body basing its study on global rankings.

According to the Crisis Card,

A woman in Zambia is 25 times more likely to die from cervical cancer than a woman in Australia and India has 750 times more deaths than Norway

Australia has the lowest cervical cancer mortality rate, which is due to the successful rollout of a comprehensive package of HPV vaccines, treatment and prevention.

The Crisis Card report also highlighted the startling disparities between women in the developed and developing world personified by cervical cancer.

"A woman in Zambia is 25 times more likely to die from cervical cancer than a woman in Australia and India has 750 times more deaths than Norway.

Cont'd on Page 34

May 24, 2013

Health Science Post

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Finding woman alive lifts Bangladesh rescuers SAVAR, Bangladesh: Even amid the euphoria over finding a woman alive in the rubble of a garment factory that collapsed more than two weeks ago, rescuers returned to the grim task of dismantling the wreckage and retrieving decomposing bodies, knowing there was little chance of finding any more survivors.

The death toll from Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster is more than 1,000 and climbing. More than 2,500 people were rescued in the immediate aftermath of the April 24 disaster, but crews had gone nearly two weeks without discovering anyone alive.

Then, in the midst of what had become a grim search for decaying bodies following the world's worst garment industry disaster, rescuers found a woman alive, providing a much-needed boost for the weary workers.

For 17 days, the 19-year-old seamstress lay trapped beneath thousands of tons of wreckage as temperatures outside climbed into the mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit). She rationed food and water. She banged a pipe in a desperate attempt to attract attention and was fast losing hope of

ing. They pulled her to safety. She was in two days I had nothing but water,'' Begum surprisingly good condition. told the television station. ``I had some ``I heard her say, `I am alive, please save bottles of water around me.'' me.' I gave her water. She was OK,'' said After the building collapse, Begum's Miraj Hossain, a volunteer who crawled through the debris to help cut Begum free.

Several photographers were allowed to take pictures of Begum.

Lying on her hospital bed under a sheet, she looked tired but alert.

She was hooked up to a monitor and an intravenous drip.

Maj. Gen. Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy, the head of the local military units in charge of rescue operations, said Begum told Survivor of a building collapse Reshma Begum receives treatment at a hospital in Savar him she was fine. Physicians have advised her to have complete rest, he said. mother, Zobeda Begum, spent sleepless Col. Azizur Rahman, a doctor at the hos- nights rushing from one place to another pital, said she still suffers from de- looking for her daughter, with other family hydration. members joining the search. When they She finally got the crews' ``She is not sleeping well. She is found out she had been rescued, they now being provided semi-liquid raised their hands in prayer. attention when she took a steel he said. pipe and began banging it, said food,'' Her rescue was broadcast on teleAbdur Razzak, a warrant officer vision across Bangladesh. The prime minister rushed to the hospiwith the military's engineering tal, as did Begum's family to embrace department who first spotted a loved one they thought they'd her in the wreckage never again see alive.

Begum was working on the secever making it out alive. ond floor of the Rana Plaza building on In the ruins of the collapsed eight-story April 24 when the building began collapsbuilding above her, the frantic rescue op- ing around her. She raced down a stairwell eration had long ago ended. to the first floor, where she was trapped, ``No one heard me. It was so bad for me. Suhrawardy said.

I never dreamed I'd see the daylight again,'' Her long hair became stuck under the the seamstress, Reshma Begum, told rubble, but she used sharp objects to cut Somoy TV from her hospital bed after her her hair and release herself, rescue officials rescue. said.

The miraculous moment came when sal``There was some dried food around me. vage workers finally heard Begum's bang- I ate the dried food for 15 days. The last

Online donors rally to help Royal Oak boy ROYAL OAK, Mich.: People from around the world are donating to help a Royal Oak boy born without eyes.

Online donations of more than $160,000 have come in from places as far away as Canada, Japan, Europe and Afghanistan to help Griffin Stein, 4, and his parents, Heston and Krissy, according to The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak. Griffin has two triplet siblings, Logan and Kaylee.

Heston Stein is an environmental site consultant for a real estate company and Krissy Stein works part-time, besides caring for the triplets. But they were financially strapped with a home mortgage on a house that was too small. And taking care of Griffin's special needs also swamped them.

``For the first time in a long time we have options - and peace of mind,'' said Heston Stein, 41. ``For the first 24 hours we were awe struck. The next day there were a lot of tears. People left comments on how Griffin's story had restored their faith in humanity and we felt that also. " Stein originally made a grant request to the online group Chive Charities to get a minivan to use with Griffin's wheelchair.

Chive Charities is an offshoot of the photographic entertainment website The Chive. Co-founder John Resig, of California, decided to help them raise money to build a $30,000 addition to their house after visiting the Steins, whose triplets share a room. -AP

``I just could not believe it when I saw her in the hospital,'' the mother, a frail woman in her 60s, said tearfully.

Earlier, the last survivor had been found April 28, and even her story ended tragically. As workers tried to free Shahina Akter, a fire broke out and she died of smoke inhalation.

Crews were instead engaged in the painstaking work of trying to remove bodies so the victims' families could bury their loved ones. They eventually approached the section where Begum was trapped. ``I heard voices of the rescue workers for the past several days. I kept hitting the wreckage with sticks and rods just to attract their attention,'' Begum said.

She finally got the crews' attention when she took a steel pipe and began banging it, said Abdur Razzak, a warrant officer with the military's engineering department who first spotted her in the wreckage.

The rescue crews ordered the cranes and bulldozers to stop immediately and used handsaws and welding and drilling equipment to cut through the iron rods and debris still trapping her. They gave her water, oxygen and saline as they worked. -AP

caption

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Multifarious benefits of walking DR K A RAJU

W

alking 30 minutes a day cuts the rate of people becoming diabetic by more than half and it cuts the risk of people over 60 becoming diabetic by almost 70 percent.

Walking cuts the risk of stroke by more than 25 percent.

Walking reduces hypertension. The body has over 100,000 miles of blood vessels. Those blood vessels are more supple and healthier when we walk.

Walking cuts the risk of cancer as well as diabetes and stroke.

Women who walk have a 20 percent lower likelihood of getting breast cancer and a 31 percent lower risk of getting colon cancer.

Women with breast cancer who walk regularly can reduce their recurrence rate and their mortality rate by over 50 percent.

The human body works better when we walk. The body resists diseases better when we walk,

In one study, people who walked and took medication scored twice as well in 30 days as the women who only took the medication.

Another study showed that depressed people who walked regularly had a significantly higher level of not being depressed in a year compared to depressed people who did not walk

and the body heals faster when we walk.

We don't have to walk a lot.

Thirty minutes a day has a huge impact on our health.

Men who walk thirty minutes a day have a significantly lower level of prostate cancer. Men who walk regularly have a 60 percent lower risk of colon cancer.

For men with prostate cancer, studies have shown that walkers have a 46 percent lower mortality rate.

Walking also helps prevent depression, and people who walk regularly are more likely to see improvements in their depression.

In one study, people who walked and took medication scored twice as well in 30 days as the women who only took the medication. Another study showed that depressed people

Asthma can be mnaged by recognising your triggers Cont'd from Page 32

Other triggers include occupational irritants such as adhesives, metals and latex, respiratory (viral) infections, emotional stress, chemical irritants, foods such as dairy products, eggs, peanuts, and drugs such as aspirin. These factors and ways to look out for them are seldom explained to parents in detail.

Mrs Laveena D'souza, the

approach to control the attack and prevent further attacks. Attacks are episodic although the airway inflammation is chronic in nature.

According to the Pocket Guide for Asthma Management and Prevention (for adults and children over 5 years of age), published by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in 2011, there are broadly two kinds of medicines used in asthma: Controller medicines which need to be used daily to

'No one told me that fruits like pineapples could trigger asthma in my child, or that he could get attacks if he had a birthday cake with food colour in it. I learnt that from watching my child go through the attack, mother of a child with asthma in Mumbai, recalls the ordeal she faced in the initial years of her son's struggle with asthma. She says to CNS, "I always thought my baby will only get affected by things that could be inhaled, like dust.

No one told me that fruits like pineapples could trigger asthma in my child, or that he could get attacks if he had a birthday cake with food colour in it. I learnt that from watching my child go through the attack, before I started reading labels on every food item I bought".

How is asthma managed?

Asthma is treated in a stepwise

prevent symptoms and improve lung function and prevent attacks and Reliever medicines which need to be taken to treat acute symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness and coughing.

"Inhalers," Mrs D'souza says, "are scary tools for a mother to use on her child. We are familiar with tablets and tonics, but an inhaler is something else. It is not easy to place that on your child's mouth while he is gasping for air".

According to Christophe Perrin, Pharmacist and Coordinator, Asthma Drug Facility (ADF), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), "The inhalers have the in-

gredient which when taken by the patient are in form of little drops, that reach the lungs. The turbohalers contain a powder and the size of the powder particles plays a very significant role in turbohalers.

So, it is a complex technology that matters in the asthma medicines. We need to master the manufacturing of these devices and then scale up."

In the pocket guide by GINA, special considerations for the control for asthma have been mentioned. These include Pregnancy when the mother-to-be is treated with the same medicines but with more care, as maternal asthma has shown to increase the chances of spontaneous abortion.

In Occupational asthma, exposure to the relevant trigger must stop since drug therapy is no substitute to this. Many people take drugs from over the counter (OTC) and some of the more common OTC drugs are Aspirin and other Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Up to 28 percent of adults with asthma suffer from asthma exacerbations in response to these drugs.

An aspirin challenge is required to confirm this diagnosis, which must be conducted in a facility with cardiopulmonary resuscitation capabilities. It is but obvious to say that these drugs must be completely avoided. Weight loss also reduces asthma symptoms.-CNS

who walked regularly had a significantly higher level of not being depressed in a year compared to depressed people who did not walk.

The body generates endorphins when we walk. Endorphins help us feel good.

Walking strengthens the heart.

Walking strengthens bones.

Walking improves the circulatory system.

Walking generates positive neurochemicals. Healthy eating is important but dieting can trigger negative neurochemicals and can be hard to do.

Walking generates positive neurochemicals. People look for-

ward to walking and enjoy walking.

And research shows that fit beats fat for many people. Walking half an hour a day has health benefits that exceed the benefits of losing 20 pounds.

When we walk every day, our bodies are healthier and stronger.

A single 30 minute walk can reduce blood pressure by five points for over 20 hours.

Walking reduces the risk of blood clots in your legs.

People who walk regularly have much lower risk of deep vein thrombosis.

Cont'd on Page 35

India tops cervical cancer deaths: US study Cont'd from Page 32

This level of inequity is also reflected across gender indicators with girls less likely to attend school but more likely to be malnourished and married as a child," said the report.

Recent data released by India's Health Ministry based on the National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) report in 2009 the number of cervical cancer cases were 101938 which has increased to 107690 in 2012.

In Uttar Pradesh a total of 17367 cases were reported in 2009 and it increased to 18692 in 2012.

After Uttar Pradesh the number

of cases of cervical cancer in 2012 which has shown an increasing trend are Maharashtra (9892), Bihar (9824), West Bengal (8396), Andhra Pradesh (7907), Tamil Nadu (7077) and others.

"Cervical cancer can happen to anyone. Certain women are at greater risk. These include women who started sexual activity at an early age, had multiple pregnancies, had multiple partners themselves, or their partners have multiple partners," said Dr Neerja Bhatla, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). -PTI

May 24, 2013

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Brain can distinguish between Dummies may boost heart types of laughter health in babies WASHINGTON: Different types of laughter such as joyful, mocking and ticklish makes the brain react in different ways, a new study has found.

These different kinds of laughter also spark different connections within the "laughter perception network" in the human brain depending on their context, according to scientists.

A laugh may signal mockery, humor, joy or simply be a response to tickling, but each kind of laughter conveys a wealth of auditory and social information.

Laughter in animals is a form of social bonding based on a primordial reflex to tickling, but human laughter has come a long

way from these playful roots, researchers said.

Though many people laugh when they're tickled, 'social laughter' in humans can be used to communicate happiness, taunts or other conscious messages to peers.

Researchers studied participants' neural responses as they listened to three kinds of laughter: joy, taunt and tickling.

"Laughing at someone and laughing with someone leads to different social consequences," said Dirk Wildgruber from the

University of Tuebingen, Germany.

"Specific cerebral connectivity patterns during perception of these different types of laughter presumably reflect modulation of attentional mechanisms and processing resources," said Wildgruber.

The researchers found that brain regions sensitive to processing more complex social information were activated when people heard joyous or taunting laughter, but not when they heard the 'tickling laughter'.

However, 'tickling laughter' is more complex than the other types at the acoustic level, and consequently activated brain regions sensitive to this higher degree of acoustic complexity.

These dynamic changes activated and connected different regions depending on the kind of laughter participants heard.

Patterns of brain connectivity can impact cognitive function in health and disease.

Though some previous research has examined how speech can influence these patterns, this study is among the first few to examine non-verbal vocal cues like laughter.

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE. -PTI

Multifarious benefits of walking Cont'd from Page 34

People who walk are less likely to catch colds, and when people get colds, walkers have a 46 percent shorter symptom time from their colds.

Walking improves the health of our blood, as well. Walking is a good boost of high density cholesterol and people with high levels of HDL are less likely to have heart attacks and stroke.

Walking significantly diminishes the risk of hip fracture and the need for gallstone surgery is 20 to 31 percent lower for walkers.

Walking is the right thing to do. The

best news is that the 30 minutes doesn't have to be done in one lump of time. Two 15 minute walks achieve the same goals.

Three 10 minute walks achieve most of those goals.

We can walk 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night and achieve our walking goals.

Walking feels good. It helps the body heal. It keeps the body healthy. It improves our biological health, our physical health, our psychosocial health, and helps with our emotional health. Walking can literally add years entire years to your life.

Note: All acupressure points are in the sole of your feet.

WASHINGTON: Using a dummy could protect babies from cot death by improving their cardiac control, according to new Australian study.

Epidemiological studies have consistently shown dummy use protects against cot death or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Associate Professor Rosemary Horne, of the Monash Institute of Medical Research said.

However, Horne said, how the soother does this has been unclear, 'ABC News' reported.

"Since 2005 there have been a number of case-controlled studies and they have all shown dummies to be protective, yet how does it work when dummies fall out 15 minutes after the baby goes to sleep," she said.

Horne and colleagues suggest the use of dummies helps improve infants' cardiac control.

SIDS is related to the failure of the infant's cardiac system to adjust appropriately to changes in heart rate and blood pressure and the inability to arouse themselves from sleep when breathing stops or there is a sudden fall in blood pressure, she said.

"It is counterintuitive that it would increase arousal as you give a dummy to a baby to go to sleep," said Horne.

As many as 37 healthy full-term-born infants were monitored during day sleeps at two to four weeks, two to three months and five to six months.

Researchers found in dummy users, the act of sucking increased heart rate variability, a measure of how the cardiovascular system adjusts the heart rate in response to changes in blood pressure, across all age groups.

Horne and colleagues suggest the use of dummies helps improve infants' cardiac control However, when dummy users were compared with non-users during non-sucking periods, differences in heart rate variability were only evident in the youngest two to four-week-old age group.

In this age group, dummy users had higher heart rate variability than non-users even when babies weren't sucking.

This indicates dummy use may improve cardiac control in newborns, which may serve as a protective mechanism for SIDS, Horne said. -PTI

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Fun and friends can help ease Stafford County doctor breast cancer pain faces 95 charges WASHINGTON: Breast cancer patients surrounded by people with whom they can have a good time or positive social interactions with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms of the disease, according to a new study.

The study, by researchers from Kaiser Permanente in US, is among the first to examine exactly how social relationships influence quality of life in breast cancer patients.

It also found that tangible support (such as help with household tasks and errands) was most useful to those with late-stage cancer.

"This study provides researchbased evidence that social support helps with physical symptoms. Social support mechanisms matter in terms of physical outcomes," said lead author Candyce H Kroenke, staff scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.

"While hundreds of studies have examined the role of factors influencing cancer risk and prevention, this study is one of a small but growing number that focus on quality of life after a breast cancer diagnosis," Kroenke said.

Part of the Pathways study of

breast cancer survivorship at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, the study included 3,139 female members of Kaiser Permanente in Northern California who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer between 2006 and 2011.

Within about two months of

their breast cancer diagnosis, study participants answered several detailed questionnaires on their social networks (including friends and relatives, spouse/in-

timate relationships, and religious, social and community ties).

They also answered questions on the kinds of support they received (tangible, emotional/informational, affection and positive social interaction); their emotional and physical quality of life; and physical symptoms from breast cancer.

Women with the highest levels of social integration - the largest social networks, or the personal relationships that surround an individual - were most likely to report the best overall quality of life during breast cancer treatment, and higher levels of social support were also related to better emotional quality of life.

Moreover, of the different types of social support, positive social interaction, defined as the availability of other persons to do fun things, was the most important predictor of physical quality of life.

Those who indicated having little or no positive interaction were three times more likely to report a low quality of life and greater physical symptoms.

The study was published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment journal. -AP

Swimming beneficial for young people with asthma MELBOURNE: Swimming can provide health benefits for young people with asthma, a new study has found.

Researchers from the Breathe Well Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Tasmania School of Medicine found swimming benefits young asthma sufferers, with no adverse effects on asthma control or exacerbations.

Asthma is a common condition among children and adolescents causing intermittent wheezing, coughing and chest tightness.

Director of Paediatric Education at the Royal Hobart Hospital Dr Sean Beggs, who assisted in the research, said concerns that physical exercise such as swimming could worsen asthma, had the potential to reduce participation, resulting in reduced physical fitness.

"The review aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of swimming training in children and adolescents with asthma aged 18 years and under," Beggs said.

"Our research found swimming training is well-tolerated in children and adolescents with stable asthma, and increases physical and cardio-pulmonary fitness as well as lung function," B e g g s added.

The re-

search reviewed evidence from eight studies involving 262 participants and combined the results to see if swimming was a safe and beneficial activity for young people.

The Asthma Foundation of Tasmania (AFT) Chief Executive Officer Cathy Beswick said the outcome of the project would ensure swimmers with respiratory problems achieved the best outcomes when trying to improve their health.

"Anecdotally it is understood swimming is an outstanding form of exercise for children and adults with asthma, but there have been concerns that it might have an impact on asthma control or even induce exacerbations," Beswick said.

"This research provides a strong scientific foundation for deciding who to recommend this form of exercise to and the type of exercise they should undertake," Beswick added.

The review has been published in the Cochrane Library. -PTI

FREDERICKSBURG, Va.: A Stafford County doctor has been charged with 95 felony counts, including involuntary manslaughter in the death of a patient.

Media outlets report that Dr. Nibedita Mohanty, 54, was arrested for allegedly prescribing tens of thousands of doses of narcotics to addicts and drug traffickers.

Along with the manslaughter count, she faces 72 counts of felony distribution of narcotics and 22 counts of obtaining money by false pretenses through insurance fraud.

Mohanty, the former chief of medicine at Stafford Hospital, was being held in Rappahannock Regional Jail. An initial court appearance has not been set.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that the manslaughter charge stems from an overdose death ``directly related to Mohanty's practice of over prescribing pain narcotics.'' The release offered no further details.

According to state Board of Medicine documents, Mohanty allegedly prescribed thousands of doses of narcotics to a 41-yearold patient who died two years ago despite indications the patient was abusing pills or had become addicted. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the records show the patient, who had been admitted to a hospital for a drug overdose two weeks earlier, died of ``acute combined oxycodone and (an antidepressant) toxicity.''

Authorities began investigating Mohanty's practice in 2011.

The Free Lance-Star says Mohanty and her attorney, Charles Roberts, denied any wrongdoing in a letter to the newspaper in March.

Mohanty's home and office

Dr. Nibedita Mohanty

were raided in January, and her medical license was suspended on an emergency basis in April.

In affidavits for search warrants filed in Stafford Circuit Court, Mohanty was accused of operating a ``pill mill'' and her medical practice was described as a haven for drug abusers and dealers.

Police claim they identified 46 people who were prescribed drugs

by Mohanty that were involved in trafficking prescription drugs. The FBI and the DEA have assisted Stafford authorities in the probe.

One informant told police he went to Mohanty at the suggestion of a friend who told him she would prescribe anything for $250. -AP

Legal help for AIDS patients JACKSON, Miss.: The Mississippi Center for Justice and the University of Mississippi Medical Center are partnering to provide free civil legal services to people living with AIDS. The collaboration includes the Mississippi State Department of Health's Crossroads Clinics Central and the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation.

Mississippi Center for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm, says in a news release that it will provide on-site legal assistance at

the Crossroads Clinics Central for people living with AIDS. The legal assistance will focus on AIDSstatus-related discrimination in housing and employment.

UMMC officials say that is important because it addresses one of the last barriers to making sure people with AIDS can reintegrate into society in a productive manner.

Officials say there are 97 medical-legal partnerships in the country serving 54,000 patients a year. -AP

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Kinnar Kailash from Kalpa

ASHIM CHOUDHURY

The author and his friends travel from Delhi to Himachal's famous Kinnaur district.

A blow-by-blow account of the trek in the mountains and valleys of Kinnuar.

D

espite it being Friday the thirteenth we are in high spirits as we assemble at the ISBT from where the bus for Shimla leaves. Rajat is waiting for me when I reach the bus adda. Soon Sunder arrives. But there's no sign of Anshuman our young team leader. Our worry mainly concerns the fact that Anshuman has the rucksack that contains all the provisions for the trip. Minutes before the Himachal Roadways conductor blows the final whistle Anshuman arrives with bags on his back twice as large as him! Our foursome journey to Shimla is full of fun and banter.

Bridge on a gorge

Early next morning our bus journey for Kinnaur begins from Shimla's Lakkad Bazar. It's evening by the time the bus winds it way to Rekong Peo, a small hill town nestled below the imposing Kinnar Kailash peaks. On the way we cross Theog, Narkanda, Rampur and several small villages overhanging the swollen Sutlej, which keeps us company for most of our road journey in Kinnaur. In the mountains it's best to travel by bus if you want to get a good view of the gorges and deep valleys. But window seats are not recommended for the weak at heart. At Rekong Peo we settle for the Snow View Hotel overlooking the market and a fascinating view of the Kinnar Kailash.

Cont’d on page 42

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Jersey shore towns race to do boardwalk repairs

Centre sanctions Rs 13.60 cr aid for Kovalam beach THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned Rs 13.60 crore for development of common amenities at the famous coastal tourism spot Kovlam near here.

Union Minister of state for HRD Shashi Tharoor, who represents

Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha said, he had received a letter from Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi on sanctioning of the fund.

Tharoor had taken up the proposals in this regard with the Centre.

The fund would be utilized for taking up schemes such as improving the bus stand, road sides and pathways to the beach, which are thronged by a large number of international and domestic tourists every year, Tharoor said in a statement here. -PTI

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J.: The One of New Jersey's most faticking of the clock has been mous boardwalks, in Seaside drowned out by the hammering of Heights, is hurdling toward nails and the pounding of pile driv- completion as well. About twoers in many Jersey shore towns thirds of the walkway has been reracing to finish boardwalk rebuild- built and is already being trod ing projects before Memorial Day upon by pedestrians. What reweekend and the hoped-for on- mains, a section roughly from the slaught of summer tourists. rental house made famous by Up and down the shore, com- MTV's ``Jersey Shore'' reality show munities whose oceanfront walk- to the northern boundary with ways were destroyed by Ortley Beach, remains under conSuperstorm Sandy are hurrying to struction. Pilings have been driven finish new ones.

And while almost all vow to be ready for the unofficial start of summer in two weeks, some are clearly closer to that goal than others.

Belmar, one of the first Jersey shore towns to begin Worker rebuilding a section of the Seaside Heights, NJ replacing its walkway, finished the major phase of its project deep into the sand, and support by a self-imposed April 30 dead- structures are being attached. line - an impressive performance Mayor Bill Akers vows the enthat earned its contractor a tire walkway will be ready for Me$100,000 bonus. Railings and morial Day weekend crowds. lights still need to be installed, but ``You'll be able to walk the enofficials say they're coming soon. tire length of the boardwalk, from Pat Higgins splits her years one end to the other, by Memorial between Bronxville, N.Y., and Day weekend,'' he said. ``That is a Belmar, where she spends each certainty. We will absolutely be spring and summer. She was ready.'' thrilled to walk on the new boardLike Belmar's boardwalk, walk one recent weekend.

Seaside's walkway will add light``Before I walked on it, I just ing and rails as soon as possible, sat my behind down on it and said, `This is so beautiful,''' she said. ``I'm just so happy to be here and have this again.''

To the south of Belmar, Spring Lake is virtually finished with its boardwalk; sections Strollers walk along a newly rebuilt section of boardwalk have been walkable for months already, and Sea Girt is but probably not in time for the nearing completion of its own holiday weekend. project.

Most of Bradley Beach's oceanTo the north, Avon is about front walkway is made of paving halfway done with its boardwalk; stones that survived the storm, but the borough got a late start due to a small section of wooden boardlegal wrangling over boardwalk walk at its southern end is still business reconstruction, and a gone. Joggers have to run in the dispute with environmentalists street next to where it once was. over its decision to rebuild using The northern portion of the boardipe, a hardwood cut from tropical walk, which is also wood, remains rain forests. intact. -AP

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India promotes its tourism hot spots in Gulf DUBAI: In an effort to woo travelers from the Gulf, India has hosted an event here, highlighting its tourism hot spots, including the picturesque state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The 'Incredible India' show this week was hosted on the sidelines of an industry event here and was attended by Consul General to Dubai Sanjay Verma, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Girish Shankar.

Speaking on the occasion, Shankar said India believes in twoway tourism and enumerated steps that the government has taken to boost the sector as he highlighted the potential of India's 29 recognized world heritage sites.

Consul General Verma said across the United Arab Emirates a total of 80,000 Indian tourist visas were issued last year out of which 60,000 were issued to UAE nationals alone.

He also said that over one million Indians visited Dubai last year.

Inviting tourists to his state,

Jammu and Kashmir Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that "Kashmir is a microcosm of India where all faiths and all weathers are represented."

He said tourism was worst hit sector during the militancy. "Even agriculture and horticulture sectors managed to survive but tourism was badly hit," he said.

"It is important to showcase Jammu and Kashmir because it is

Dubai's Jumeriah Group in talks for hotel in Goa DUBAI: Dubai's leading luxury hotel chain Jumeriah Group is planning a new venture in Goa ahead of the opening of its debut hotel in Mumbai in 2017.

"We're in serious discussions with the owner in Mumbai to do another hotel in Goa. It's culturally close, physically close (and) easy to administer from our head office in Dubai," said Gerald Lawless, Jumeirah Group CEO and President.

The company had signed a management agreement in the year 2012 to operate the 470room property in Mumbai's Lower Parel district.

Now it is in negotiations with the same developer to open a second property in Goa, although there was currently no timeframe.

Talking to Arabian Business, Lawless said that Jumeirah was eager to expand further in India, but had struggled with overcoming bureaucratic obstacles in the country.

"The barriers to entry are high, which is one of the difficulties in India and even then when you do get that entry, the bureaucracy is

so cumbersome for the developer it takes ages to get something up and running," he was quoted as saying.

A subsidiary of governmentowned Dubai Holding, the group operates Dubai's luxury Burj Al Arab and hotels across the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Gerald Lawless

The company's top executive also informed that the hotel chain is also seeking opportunities to open hotels in Pakistan and Myanmar.

In addition, the company is in 'serious discussions' for properties in Saudi Arabia, and hopes to open hotels in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Madinah, Lawless said. -PTI

also critical for national integration.

Tourism is the biggest sector in the state," he said.

Verma also highlighted growing

trade between the India and the UAE. "Trade between India and the UAE touches USD 1.4 billion every week (including oil) and

around USD 75 billion every year," Verma said, adding that Dubai has become the center of the Gulf region. -PTI

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To Chitkul via Charang La in Himachal times before we finally crossed the iron bridge. Shruting is a beautiful valley, glistening streams of water cutting across it. But it's eerie. Not a soul lives here, except for six ITBP jawans. Thirty minutes of trudging through a gentle valley of shrubs and flowers we are finally able to spot the two ITBP barracks in the fading sunlight.

Crossing a gurgling brook over a log bridge we are relieved to find a resting place for the night. The jawans organize food for us including the local drink and tinned tuna fish. The night is fun despite the frosty winds blowing outside.

Next morning, all four nursing a hangover, we set off for Charang.

Cont’d from page 39

By six next morning we're ready for last drive to Thangi a two-anda-half hour journey 41kms away, from where our trek begins. After aloo-parantha and tea our porters and the Maruti Gypsy arrive. The road to Thangi, hugging rocky mountains above the frothyfoamy Sutlej coursing through the gorge, is simply breathtaking.

There are a couple of major falls on the way.

After leaving the gorges we come upon lush green mountains dotted with homes and villages. A bend in the mountains, and the Sutlej is behind us. Another hour of uphill driving we come upon a few huts along the broken road.

One of them is Reena Hotel. This is Thangi.

Invisible from the road head, Thangi village is a steep ten minute climb above the road. It must be one of Himachal's most beautiful villages, better than any picture postcard! Here, trekkers to Charang La have to get clearance from the ITBP HQs. Better still, get advance clearance from Delhi or check with the ITBP check post near the Thangi road-head. Also, ask ITBP to convey your imminent arrival to Shruting, a ten-hour up-

DAY 2

Kinnar Kailash peak from Rekong Peo

After ten minutes of nail biting suspense, we resume our journey, soon coming on a steep fall. On a trek it's best to forget your fears and take to the mountains like a goat, or like Anshuman! Descents can be more dangerous than ascents and trekkers are advised to get a walking stick.

After the frightening descent, made worse by a herd of goats hurtling down, we come to a valley of rocks and boulders along the riverbed. A few more precipitous climbs and falls laterw rest in a valley of boulders hill trek, so that the jawans there, with limited rations, are not surprised. In any case, they will extend all possible hospitality.

After Thangi the road is motorable for another three kilometers, after which there's nothing in sight, except mountains above and a gushing river below.

The trek starts as a gentle walk along the road. But soon we come to a section of dirt track where there's hardly any space to place your feet…and down below it a steep fall over sharp rocks recently blasted off the mountain to build the road to Charang.

My feet get posted at this dangerous stretch and I decide to return. Reading the fright on my face, Anshuman, who has crossed the stretch, retraces his steps, offloads my back pack takes it all with him and says, "Just hold my hand."

Thankfully someone hands me a stick and I make it across!

Behind me the scene is being repeated with Sundar who, like me, also has a mild vertigo problem.

After the frightening descent, made worse by a herd of goats hurtling down, we come to a valley of rocks and boulders along the riverbed. A few more precipitous climbs and falls later, we rest in a valley of boulders crisscrossed by several meandering streams.

Taking in the beauty of the surrounding mountains we quench our thirst from ice-cold brooks and resume our journey. There are wild roses and several exotic plants and flowers along the route. Some patches look like gardens of heaven. 'God's own country', whoever gave that line to Kerala hadn't seen Kinnaur.

tea are served after which, while the dal-chawal gets ready, we soak our feet in the cold river flowing behind the log hut. A 15-minute rest after lunch, we begin our upward journey again.

Shruting is another 11 kilometers trek through undulating and sometimes extremely difficult terrain. You also have to brave the risk of falling rocks from loose mountainsides. The mountains here are in various stages of disintegration, some like black mounds of ash.

Occasionally wild goats grazing above the mountains could inadvertently hurtle rocks and stones at you. If it's not goats, then it's the blasting. Our porter tells us how five Nepali laborers had lost their lives when the blasted mountainside they were working on suddenly collapsed. Their bodies were never found. There are no memorials to such men who die to make roads for us.

Shruting The road to Shruting never seems to end. Finally, as we rest over a brook across another boulder strewn valley, the porter says, "Ab aa gaye saab, bas nadi par

Road between the mountains

karna hai." Indeed a bridge across the river was soon visible. But soon it disappeared as we took another bend in the mountains. It appeared and disappeared several

Lumbar

After over three hours of trekking, which included crossing the river on a trembling bridge of pine logs, we finally come upon a fourhouse village! This is Lumbar, at 9611 feet. A wooden hut, smelling of pinewood, is our 'hotel' and resting place. The quiet 'house' comes to life on our arrival. Hot cups of

It's a three-and-half-hour climb from Shruting to Charang a small village tucked away in the mountains. Apparently Charang was discovered only in 1960s around the Indo-China aggression. Midway to Charang one gets a panoramic view of Kaza village in the hazy distance. It takes us nearly an hour before we reach Charang.

Just before the gateway to Charang is a PWD guesthouse ideal for a nights stay. We unload

Distraction on the way to Thangi

our rucksack at the gateway and trek down to Charang crossing a rivulet on a rickety bridge.

Cont’d on page 43

Travel & Hospitality Post

May 24, 2013

India Post

43

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To Chitkul via Charang La in Himachal Cont’d from page 42

It's a small village of wood and mud houses spread over a large area and dotted with Buddhist gomphas. Surprisingly every home here has solar panels, their only source of electricity.

From Charang we set off for Lalanti at 13000 feet. An old man advises us to halt at the dwar before Lalanti. "You'll get plenty of wood and dung cakes to keep you warm through the night," he assures us.

The dwar is a niche in the mountains that shelters from wind and rain. The shepherds, cattle and all, often make overnight stopovers at these dwars.

The trek to Lalanti La (pass) is a steep 45 degree climb. It takes us two-and-half hours of breathless climbing before we make it to Lalanti La. Anshu has a 45 minute snooze before the rest of us catch up with him. By now the terrain has become tough and treacherous.

Lalanti La gives a bird's eye view of Charang on one side and the Kinnar Kailash peak on the other. The view takes our breath away - or whatever little is left of it! Tired, we want to pitch our tents but it is too windy, and there's no flat patch.

And Lalanti is still far away downhill. We have to negotiate a glacier that takes us half an hour.

Anshu cuts steps on the hard ice.

One missed step and we can slide to our deaths below. I picture my family and wonder if I'll meet them again. Sunder has to be virtually carted across the snow and scree.

Our ordeal ends as we come upon

DAY 3 Early next morning, after tea and nature's call, we set off for Lalanti.

The air is thin now and we're panting after ever few steps. Anshu

to the LP team. It was only the fear of returning alone that forces me to take the climb. We crawl on all fours. It takes us over an hour to make it across to Charang La, 17,320 feet. We're tired, but happy to be alive. Yet there's no respite.

The cloud cover is so thick we cannot see ahead.

And it's almost evening. Rajat and Chootu take the lead, sliding down the snow on their butts.

The rest of us follow suit, except Sundar who got stuck at the top.

Finally the two porters are dispatched up to bring him down. It's already dark and we have no choice but to pitch our tents in the ice itself, unsure if the area is stable.

This is an extra night we hadn't foreseen! Even our rations are over. The air is so thin we can barely breathe inside the tent. We take turns unzipping the tent for fresh cold air. All of us kept awake with prayers on our lips that we should not slide down the glacier.

DAY 5

Skelch by the author

and Rajat are way ahead of us, but they take the wrong way up a treacherous climb. An hour later they catch up with us. We still don't appear to be anywhere near a camping site.

After a few more tiring bends we are able to sight the pilgrim shelter at Lalanti. It's nearly 1.30 in the afternoon by the time we reach it, a tin shed stinking of cow and goat shit. We pitch our tents close by. Our porters cook a meal of,

After a few more tiring bends we are able to sight the pilgrim shelter at Lalanti. It's nearly 1.30 in the afternoon by the time we reach it, a tin shed stinking of cow and goat shit. We pitch our tents close by.

Our porters cook a meal of, you've guessed it, khichhidi a relatively flat patch. The porters decide to cook a meal and Rajat and Anshu go scouting for a place to pitch tents.

By the time they have pitched the tents our khichhdi dinner is ready…or is it lunch? We have lost track of time. The harsh terrain is littered with rocks and stones.

Lachhi lights a fire with cowdung cakes retrieved from the dwar. We rest for the night. The sky is studded with stars. The moon looks forlorn. It's a wakeful night as we are six packed into a tent for five. An unwashed, stinking Lachhi keeps rolling on to me.

Lonely Planet (LP) team coming from Chitkul. They bring bad tidings, that the Charang La (pass) is covered with snow. The good news is that the LP team has cut

you've guessed it, khichhidi!

Lalanti is a (relatively) green meadow where shepherds from Thangi and Charang bring their cattle to graze during monsoons.

It then becomes a huge production ground of milk, ghee and cottage cheese. And festivities follow.

With the long afternoon before us we explore the bushes and rocks for flora and fauna. And guess what Anshu discovers in the distant snow, a string of humans! We take turns at the binoculars. What a relief, the first sighting of fellow humans in two days! An hour later we go up to meet the 14-member

steps on the snow that will make our passage easier.

Since the last lap to Chitkul will take us at least nine hours, according to the LP team, we sleep early so that we can set off early next morning. By evening the weather packs up, becomes cloudy and damp, it starts drizzling copiously.

The night passes off uneventfully.

DAY 4 We set off early in the wet soggy morning. The terrain is full of rocks and boulders but, thankfully, it's not steep. After crossing the river and a final bend we come upon the dazzling Kinnar Kailash peaks! But soon the clouds mar our view. The drizzle turns into snowing! We move on, every step forward a Himalayan effort. We rest every few minutes.

The journey seems endless as we go up and down the soggy, snowy features. Not a blade of grass grows here. Our shoes get caught is small crevices. And we're not even wearing snow boots!

Weary of the journey even Anshuman, our young team leader, falls sick and throws up. Sundar and I are lagging behind. It's about 4.30 pm when we reach the base of Charang La. Rajat, the only one to hold on, eggs us on to move fast and cross the pass before it gets dark. The most difficult part of the trek is facing us. A half-kilometer perpendicular (65 degree) stretch of snow!

I have half a mind to run back

With the morning light our fears evaporate. The landscape is all white, it having snowed all night.

Our tents and rucksack are all wet and soggy. The drinking water and cooking gas are exhausted. So

with 'breakfast' of snow and Glucon C we set off downhill on our last lap to Chitkul.

After what seems an endless downhill trek we are delighted to meet a shepherd from Chitkul. It's nearly evening. "How far is Chitkul, we ask impatiently.

"Babuji, just ten minutes," the shepherd's answer delights us. But even after an hour there's no sign of Chitkul.

The terrain is still very steep.

But the air is no longer thin and we take in lungs full of air. About half an hour later we come upon a gushing stream straddled by hundreds of wooden houses. This is Chitkul. Even with the fading light and our tired senses we can see she's beautiful perched on the upper reaches of a valley of rolling greens.

The mountain stream cutting across Chitkul and the meadow finally falls into the river Baspa.

Beyond this last human habitation is the dirt road that leads to Tibet some 40 kms away. Only the ITBP and their mules are allowed to venture beyond.

(Ashim Choudhury is author of 'The Sergeant's Son'. He can be reached at ashimch@yahoo.com visit his blog ashimch13.blogspot.in)

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In Brief Cape Verdeans in New England recall life at home FALL RIVER, Mass.: On a Monday morning many years ago, Jacinto Benros' parents were dressed in their finest clothing as if they were going to a party.

Benros, now 80, and his parents were one of the few Jewish families on the Cape Verdean islands.

His father - who was a municipal official - and mother were going to a Catholic Church to be baptized. A local priest had pressured Benros' father to have his family baptized or else his public office would be in jeopardy. ``We had to be baptized in a hurry,'' said Benros, who today lives in Central Falls, R.I., and does not practice any religion. He remembered the pressure - overt and subtle - the Jewish community experienced when he was growing up in Cape Verde when it was still a Portuguese colony. ``I never wrote about this, but I always wanted to, so that people can know that the Jews were in one way or another persecuted,'' Benros said.

That story is just beginning to be told, thanks to the efforts of the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, a nonprofit that works with the descendants of Cape Verdean Jews to document their story.

Working with Cape Verdean government authorities, the organization has renovated a Jewish burial site in Praia, the capital city of Cape Verde. Dozens of people joined Cape Verdean officials in rededicating the small, restored burial site, which contains 10 tombstones, during a ceremony on May 2. -AP

Heritage official resigns amid controversy WASHINGTON: A co-author of a disputed Heritage Foundation report on a new immigration bill has resigned amid controversy over claims he made about immigrants having low IQs. A spokesman for the conservative think tank confirmed Jason Richwine's resignation without offering details.

Richwine was one of two authors of a report that said immigration legislation pending in the Senate would cost $6.3 trillion over 50 years as immigrants consumed federal benefits without making up for it in taxes. The report quickly came under attack as critics from the left and right said it didn't account for economic benefits from immigration. -AP

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May 24, 2013

Some observations on draft immigration bill-II Details on page 47

USIBC to launch campaign against US immigration reform bill WASHINGTON: The US India Business Council (USIBC) is planning to launch a major campaign, on a scale witnessed during the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, against certain killer provisions in the US immigration reform bill, in

ship.

The only time when the USIBC had launched a similar kind of effort was in 2006 when it hired the services of Patton Boggs to successfully lobby in favor of the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear deal

ing of top American companies like Boeing, Pepsico and General Electricals, USIBC, which is one of the best advocate of India-US relationship in the town, feels that the bill is a missed opportunity to promote economic growth in a

decided to launch a massive lobbying effort at the Hill.

In recent past, USIBC members have been regularly bringing to the notice of US lawmakers the adverse impact the comprehensive immigration reform would have on

File photo of Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram (left) during a Q&A session with US CEOs and business representatives during a Luncheon organised by US-India Business Council in New York. also in the picture Ajay Banga (2nd left), Chairman of USIBC and CEO of Master Card New York on April 17

particular those related to much sought after H-1B visas.

In addition to mounting its own effort and putting in all its resources to convince the US lawmakers that the killer provisions of the comprehensive immigration reform bill - that has been introduced in the Senate by the bipartisan group of eight Senators called the Gang of Eight - the top business group representing the interest of US companies doing business in India is in the final stages of hiring a top lobbying firm for the purpose.

With time running fast, the USIBC, its member companies and the lobbying firm are expected to fan across the Capitol Hill to what its proponents argue to make the case that the US-India knowledge economy is the centerpiece of the relationship and the free movement of technical professionals is as vital as is the free movement of manufacturing.

USIBC, which over the years has emerged as a key driver of India-US relationship, believes that both US and Indian job creation and competitiveness depend on their collective agility and ability to scale across all sectors, which underscores the very need for intensifying the US-India partner-

at the Capitol Hill.

USIBC, which had written a letter to the Gang of Eight before they introduced their immigration bill in the Senate, believes that it makes no sense for the US to advance a policy that turns away talented, highly-educated individuals who want to contribute to America's prosperity and competitiveness.

It argues that the bill would put the US at a relative disadvantage

meaningful way.

The US and India as the world's largest free-market democracies should be working more closely together, not setting up walls of protectionism, it believes.

Given the substantial jump in India US trade - which was USD 86 billion in goods and services in 2011 and the two-way trade crossing USD 100 billion in 2012 USIBC argues that the two econo-

We are deeply concerned about aspects of the negotiations that have been reported in the press that could actually hinder US innovation, growth and competitiveness, as well as do serious harm to US-India relations," USIBC president Ron Somers had told the Gang of Eight in a letter dated March 22 in the global marketplace, driving away skilled workers to go elsewhere, including to Canada and Europe.

And the proposed caps on H1B visas will instead put a cap on economic growth in both the US and India, something that is bad for US domestic markets and the global economy, it argues.

With its membership compris-

mies are irrevocably intertwined.

This bill drives a wedge between the two countries, undermining economic growth for both nations, its members believe.

Not only the bill is "at best aggressively protectionist", Indianborn, highly-skilled workers are also disproportionally affected in the bill, USIBC members fell and it is this strong believe in that it has

the India US relationship, which US President Barack Obama has described as the defining partnership of the 21st century.

"We are deeply concerned about aspects of the negotiations that have been reported in the press that could actually hinder US innovation, growth and competitiveness, as well as do serious harm to US-India relations," USIBC president Ron Somers had told the Gang of Eight in a letter dated March 22.

The letter had brought to the notice of the Senators how Indian IT companies are playing a crucial role in making US companies competitive.

"Particularly targeted by the proposed restrictions would be global IT services companies headquartered in India, which are in fact enabling American companies to remain globally competitive," he then said.

"An outright prohibition on sponsoring visas and/or stringent new restrictions coupled with higher visa fees that may only apply to the Indian IT services sector would create an uneven playing field and harm US-based clients.

Cont'd on Page 47

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US working with India to streamline education visa process WASHINGTON: The United States is working with the Indian Government to stream line the latter's education visa, which is being considered as a major hindrance for American students wanting to go to the country for education, a top Obama Adminis-

going to China for studies.

Even as more American students would like to go to India for studies, not many are able to travel because of the difficulties they face in getting the education visa.

"We recognize that there are indeed challenges and hindrances which have prevented more American stuEven as more American dents from choosing India as a destination," students would like to go to the Assistant SecreIndia for studies, not many tary of State for South are able to travel because and Central Asia, Robof the difficulties they face in ert Blake, told students at the Boston Univergetting the education visa sity.

"We are working tration official has said. with the Indian government to Currently, while more than streamline education visa pro100,000 Indian students come to cesses, which have been repeatthe US for study every year, the edly identified as a key reason for number of American students who why so few American students go studied in India in 2011-2012 was to India," Blake said in his remarks. a mere 4,300 and far less than those "And through a grant from our

Robert Blake

Embassy in New Delhi, the US-India Educational Foundation is working with Indian institutions of higher education to encourage more US students to study there,

Recalling 2008 raid, immigrants call for reform

including by developing better housing and support offices for foreign students," he said.

The Obama Administration has launched 'Passport to India' initiative to send more and more American students to India for studies.

The United States is also working with businesses and foundations to increase opportunities for more Americans to experience India during their college or university years through study abroad, internships, and service learning opportunities.

This complements other State Department-sponsored programs for study abroad, including Fulbright, Gilman, and Critical Language Scholarships.

Passport to India now has 10 partnerships with companies as diverse as Honeywell, United Airlines, Citigroup, which have created hundreds of new opportunities for American students in India. -PTI

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa: Recalling the devastating consequences suffered by workers and families affected by a 2008 immigration raid at a kosher slaughterhouse in Iowa, immigrants marked the fiveyear anniversary by calling for reforms to prevent similar, widescale deportations in the future.

Workers and relatives impacted by the May 12, 2008 raid at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville joined with church leaders and advocates for a somber rally and prayer service in Cedar Rapids.

They said they wanted to use the tragedy of the raid to push Congress to enact reform that would allow immigrants in the country illegally to stay to work and eventually seek citizenship.

Meeting outside the federal courthouse, organizers passed out 389 red roses to remember each of the workers arrested by federal agents who descended on the largest employer in Postville, a town of 2,200 in northeastern

Iowa. Workers were arrested and bused to a makeshift courthouse set up at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. Many of them pleaded guilty to identity theft charges under immediately-

He said he was forced to live apart from his wife and two young daughters, Merlin and Ilvana, now 10 and 6, for three years before he was able to return on a special visa reached plea agreements, served months in prison, and were deported.

In a matter of hours, Postville lost nearly one-fifth of its population and families were torn apart.

Fermin Loyes, 32, said he was

arrested while working at the plant, then the nation's largest kosher slaughterhouse, and deported to his native country of Guatemala. He said he was forced to live apart from his wife and two young daughters, Merlin and Ilvana, now 10 and 6, for three years before he was able to return on a special visa. His daughters joined the march, waving American flags and signs calling for reform. ``It was very sad, very difficult.

I don't want to remember that day,'' he said. ``We want reform so that we can live here, so that we can have a nice life.''

More than 250 people gathered outside the courthouse, a site they said was chosen because of federal officials' role in the raid and prosecutions. The building also houses an office of U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican, where the protesters delivered a letter asking him to support immigration reform. -AP

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NYC weighs allowing many immigrants to vote NEW YORK: Hundreds of thousands of immigrants could get the right to vote in New York City elections under a proposal that would mark the biggest expansion yet of efforts to enfranchise them.

The measure, aired at a City Council hearing, would make New York the biggest locale to let noncitizens cast ballots. Advocates estimate that more than 800,000 green card and visa holders would be able to help choose the mayor, council members and other city officials.

The proposal, which is in play amid a fractious debate in Washington over overhauling immigration laws, may amplify a decadeslong debate over whether voting rights should be reserved for citizenship or embrace newcomers on the premise that they also have a stake in the society. ``We're all involved in politics since we're born. And the people

away. He was active in politics in his homeland, and he'd like to vote for New York candidates who share his views on immigration, job creation and other issues.

While immigrant and votingrights advocates see non-citizen suffrage as a matter of taxpayer fairness and civic engagement, some officeholders and others view the vote as a fundamental province of citizenship, a privilege to hold out as a goal for new arrivals. ``Voting is the most important right we are granted as citizens, and you should have to go through the process of becoming a citizen and declaring allegiance to this country before being given that right,'' Mayor Michael Bloomberg said through a spokeswoman.

No vote has been scheduled on the measure, which faces legal as well as political questions.

In a country that describes it-

For the eight years it took Agha Saleh to get U.S. citizenship after he left Lahore, Pakistan, he felt saddened that the American ``government of the people, by the people'' didn't apply to him.``It was a dream, perhaps, this democracy of the United States,'' Saleh, who helps lead a Queens community group, said at the hearing who look for government to work for them have to be involved in the political process,'' Dominican immigrant Jose Torrero said through a translator in an interview.

Torrero, 70, left Santo Domingo to join his daughter in New York four years ago and has a green card. He's preparing to apply for citizenship, but it's likely years

self as a nation of immigrants, many states once let non-citizens vote. Those policies changed by the 1930s, amid anti-immigrant sentiment and other political currents of the time, said Ron Hayduk, a Queens College political science professor who wrote a book on immigrant voting.

The idea has had something of a renaissance in recent decades.

A half-dozen Maryland cities now allow it, four Massachusetts towns have OK'd it but are awaiting state approval. But immigrant suffrage initiatives were defeated at the polls in San Francisco and Portland, Maine, in 2010.

In New York City, non-citizens were able to vote for the school board for three decades, until the board was disEdward Adedeji, a Nigerian immigrant, checks in with poll worker Rosalind Jamieson as he votes banded soon at the St. Marks Day School in the U.S. presidential election in the Crown Heights a f t e r section of New York, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 Bloomberg took office in paigned for local officials but 2002. cratic ideals.

Councilman Daniel Dromm's For the eight years it took Agha couldn't vote for them before beproposal would open all city elec- Saleh to get U.S. citizenship after coming a U.S. citizen in 2000.

New York state election law tions to foreigners who are in the he left Lahore, Pakistan, he felt country legally and have lived in saddened that the American ``gov- prohibits immigrants from voting, New York City for at least six ernment of the people, by the and advocates and the mayor's office dispute whether the City months. They would register as a people'' didn't apply to him. separate category of ``municipal ``It was a dream, perhaps, this Council has the authority to allow voters'' but would vote alongside democracy of the United States,'' it in the city. In any event, it would citizens.

Saleh, who helps lead a Queens require federal authorities' review The idea has been floated in the community group, said at the hear- for compliance with the Voting Rights Act. council for years, but it now has ing.

City Board of Elections lawyers more than enough sponsors to Advocates also say the vote pass. Dromm says he believes would help immigrants engage expressed concerns in a letter this there would be enough to over- with their political leaders, and vice week about the potential costs and logistics of implementing the plan, ride a mayoral veto, should it come versa. to that. ``I think that their voices will but they didn't opine on the unBackers invoke a most Ameri- be heard louder and clearer,'' City derlying idea.

Council Speaker Christine can complaint - taxation without Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez said representation - and they note that in an interview. After immigrating Quinn, who exercises considerable citizenship can take a decade or from Licey al Medio, Dominican control over what measures come more to acquire. And to some, the Republic, as a teenager in 1983, he to a vote, hasn't taken a position issue strikes at the heart of demo- taught in a public school and cam- on the proposal. -AP

Opponents seek vote on immigrant driver's card law SALEM, Ore.: Two Republican state representatives want voters to decide whether to overturn a new law that allows immigrants living in Oregon without legal permission to obtain driver's licenses.

Rep. Kim Thatcher of Keizer, Rep. Sal Esquivel of Medford and Portland activist Richard LaMountain with the group Oregonians for Immigration Reform are sponsors of a referendum submitted to the Secretary of State's Office.

Referendum supporters will have to work quickly if they hope to make the November

2014 ballot. They'll have to gather more than 58,000 valid signatures from registered voters within 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.

The law is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, but it would be put on hold until after the election if referendum proponents successfully force a vote.

Critics say the law rewards illegal actions and might encourage more people without legal documents to come to Oregon. ``If someone is willing to disregard immigration laws, what other laws are they willing to disregard?''

Thatcher said last month.

Supporters say it would make Oregon's roads safer by reducing the number of unlicensed and uninsured drivers.

The law is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, but it would be put on hold until after the election if referendum proponents successfully force a vote

``(The referendum) is trying to make this about immigration when this is a public safety issue about Oregon's roads,'' said Jeff Stone, director of Oregon Association of Nurseries and an architect of the law.

Stone said he's disappointed by the referendum, especially because the legislation passed with bipartisan support.

Gov. John Kitzhaber signed the bill recently before a throng of cheering supporters in front of the Capitol.

The law would allow tens of thousands of immigrants living in Oregon without legal permission

to get driver's licenses good for four years, half as long as a standard Oregon license. Immigrants and others who don't have documents proving they are in the country lawfully, including elderly and homeless people, could apply for the driver's licenses if they've lived in Oregon for at least a year and meet other requirements.

The restricted driver's licenses could not be used to vote, board a plane or buy a firearm. The licenses would be marked ``Driver's Card'' to distinguish it from a standard Oregon license. -AP

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Some observations on draft immigration bill-II DAVID A. ISAACSON Continued from last week

V

visas will be extended to cover family preference immigrants who have had petitions filed more than 3 years ago, but siblings and married children over 31 (whose family preferences are anyway being phased out under BSEOIMA) won't get work authorization if they come on V visas, and will only be allowed to be present for 60 days per fiscal year.

The unmarried sons and daughters, and married ones under 31, will get work authorization with their V visas and will be able to stay on a longer-term basis. Pages 313-317.

So for the family preferences that will continue to exist, this is like the old V visa; for siblings and over-31 married sons and daughters, it's more like a dual-intent B-2 tourist visa.

The cutoff for stepchildren will be parental marriage by 21 years of age, consistent with the other "child" definitions of most of the rest of the INA, instead of the current age-18 cutoff. Page 322.

The general cutoff age for adoptions valid under the INA will be extended from 16 to 18. Pages 322323.

Immigration Judges and DHS would gain new discretionary authority to terminate removal proceedings or admit someone to the U.S. if removal or refusal of admission is against the public interest or would result in hardship to certain U.S. citizen or LPR immediate family members, although this new authority would not apply in the case of certain criminal removability grounds and certain other

exchange visitors would not be subject to the INA 212(e) foreignresidence requirement. Also, physician training even under a status such as a J-1, which ordinarily requires a foreign residence which one has no intention of abandoning, would be dual-intent (that is, would not require such a foreign residence). Pages 367-370.

The exemptions from the English and civics testing requirements for naturalization in the case of certain older immigrants would be expanded somewhat.

Those who are over 65, and have lived in the US as an LPR for 5 years, would be exempt from the English/civics tests. The limited exemption from the English language requirement, under which the applicant is still required to take the U.S. civics test but can do so in their native language, would apply with 50 years of age plus 20 years as an LPR, 55 years of age plus 15 years as an LPR, or 60 years of age plus 10 years as an LPR. For those 60 years of age or older who had been LPRs for 10 years, the civics-test requirement could be waived on a case-by-case basis. Pages 393-394.

The one-year filing deadline for asylum claims would be eliminated, and people who have been granted withholding of removal but denied asylum because of the one-year deadline would be allowed to reopen their cases. Page 552.

Over the next three fiscal years, there would be 75 new Immigration Judges appointed each fiscal year, for a total of 225, in an effort to reduce the backlog of immigration court cases. Pages 566-567.

H-1B non-immigrants whose employment terminates will have a 60-day grace period, and will also be considered to be maintaining H-1B status during the pendency of "a petition to extend, change, or adjust their status" that is filed during such 60-day grace period grounds of removability. Pages 328331.

H nonimmigrant petition beneficiaries who entered the US before age 16 and had a baccalaureate or higher degree from a US institution would be exempt from the unlawful presence bars (that is, the 3- and 10-year bars). The unlawful-presence waiver for others, under section 212(a) (9) (B) (v) of the INA, would be extended to cover hardship to a U.S. citizen or LPR spouse, son, daughter, or parent. Pages 331332.

J-2 spouses and children of J-1

H-4 spouses will be employment authorized so long as they are from a country that grants reciprocal benefits to U.S. citizens. Pages 663664.

H-1B non-immigrants whose employment terminates will have a 60-day grace period, and will also be considered to be maintaining H1B status during the pendency of "a petition to extend, change, or adjust their status" that is filed during such 60-day grace period.

Some low-risk H-1B non-immigrants, as well as A, E, G, (other) H, I, L, N, O, P, R, or W non-immigrants,

can have their visas renewed in the United States at the discretion of DOS. Pages 664-667.

F-1 student status will be dualintent for a bachelor's degree or above: that is, students applying for visas to study in bachelor's degree programs, doctoral programs and so on will not need to show intent to return to their home country afterwards, but can plan to remain in the United States and put their valuable knowledge to use here. Pages 725-727.

E-4 non-immigrant visas, which would function like the current E-3 visas available to Australian nationals working in a specialty occupation, will be created for South Korea and other countries with which we have free trade agreements as recognized by DHS with the concurrence of DOS and the US Trade Representative. There is a limit of 5,000 E-4s per sending country, which does not include derivative spouses and children.

Pages 732-733.

There will be E-3 visas created for Irish nationals which only require a high school education or at least 2 years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least 2 years of training or experience (a la the current diversity visa standard).

Page 734.

O-1s will get portability between employers like what H-1Bs have now. Pages 736-737.

Non-immigrants with a pending application for extension of stay and related work authorization are authorized to continue employment until the application is adjudicated (as opposed to the current limited regulatory extension of employment authorization). Page 738.

Canadians over age 55 will be allowed to come as B-2 visitors for up to a 240-day period out of any 365 days, and maintain a home here, as long as they also have one in Canada. Pages 742-744.

Retirees over 55 will be able to get a new Y visa, renewable in 3year increments, if they use at least $500,000 to purchase one or more residences in the US which sold for more than 100% of the most recent appraised value (per their local property assessor), reside here for more than 180 days per year, and meet certain other financial requirements. Pages 744-746.

A limited number of new W nonimmigrant visas will be available for workers in O*Net Job Zone 1, 2, and 3 occupations, but they will not be available for higher job zones (requiring more than 2 years of preparation) or positions requiring a bachelor's degree or involving "computer operation, computer programming, or computer repair".

Pages 776-778, 803-804.

W status is for an initial term of 3 years, renewable for additional 3year periods. You have to first apply at a consular post abroad to be designated a "certified alien". If you are unemployed for more than 60 days, you have to leave. You can only work for a registered employer, and they have to first carry out recruitment for their desired registered position and fail to find a "qualified United States worker . . . who is ready, willing and able to fill such position". The recruitment is reminiscent of PERM recruitment for professional occupations, except that a "U.S. worker" would be

There will be E-3 visas created for Irish nationals which only require a high school education or at least 2 years of work experience in an occupation defined more broadly than under PERM, to include anyone with unrestricted work authorization, rather than only U.S. citizens, LPRs, asylees, refugees, and temporary residents such as RPIs or their IRCA equivalent. Pages 785-786, 789-804.

The registered W-visa position continues to be registered if the employer has filed an I-140 petition for the W worker by the end of the 3-year period. It will cease being so if the petition is approved or de-

nied, or the employment of the worker is terminated. Pages 805806. This raises the question of what happens if the petition is approved, but the priority date is not current-is the worker then stuck in limbo? That may be an unintended flaw in the legislation that can be fixed as the bill moves forward.

W visas are, at least, dual-intent, page 828, so it isn't a problem that the W worker is anticipating such a petition being filed for him or her.

But, W non-immigrants will not be able to take advantage of the prong of the merits-based visa system that will allow others to become LPRs after being in lawful status for 10 years. Page 271.

This, too, is an anomaly that may hopefully be fixed as the bill moves forward-why should W non-immigrants be treated less favorably than absolutely everyone else who is lawfully present?

The W nonimmigrant may terminate his employment for any reason and take up employment with another registered employer in another registered position. Page 819.

There will be new X nonimmigrant visas, and a new immigrant visa program, for qualified entrepreneurs. The qualifications have to do with number of jobs created, financing devoted to your company by qualified venture capitalists etc., and/or your company's revenue.

You will need to maintain nonimmigrant status for at least two years before you can petition as an entrepreneur immigrant (although not necessarily as an X nonimmigrant). Pages 828-844.

Concluded

USIBC to launch campaign against US immigration reform bill Cont'd from Page 44

Such restrictions could unleash the unintended consequence of delaying US innovation, reducing local job creation, and, worse, forcing companies to move projects offshore, outside the United States," Somers said.

"USIBC unequivocally supports the free movement of high skilled technical professionals between the two countries; our very Knowledge Economy, which we have worked so assiduously to build even before Y2K, and our shared future, depend on this," he said.

"The free movement of technical professionals between our economies has enabled our companies, both in the US and India, to become more globally competitive and to prosper. This has been

good for business - on both sides.

In 2006 two-trade in goods and services was USD 25 billion, and today two-way trade in goods and services is USD 100 billion," Somers said.

The Confederation of Indian Industry too has written to the gang of eight on this issue.

In a letter to the Gang of Eight, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) had expressed concerns about provisions related to H-1B and L-1 visas.

"CII is of the opinion that the provisions on H1B visas in particular would be against the interests of Indian companies, and create an unequal playing field for them. CII urges the US Congress to reject such discriminatory provisions," said Chandrajit Banerjee, the director general of CII. -PTI

Datebook

48 India Post

May 24, 2013

www.indiapost.com

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat Jun 1 • Hemant Kulkarni's Svar Sangam Music school presents Sangeet Varsha Venue: Durga Mandir, 4240 New Jersey 27, Princeton, NJ 08540 Time: 9:00 am Contact: 7329951281

Sun Jun 2 • Ekal 2013 Musical Concert With Sanjeevani

Fri Jun 7 • An Evening Of Indian Classical Music Indradeep Ghosh Venue: Tibet House, 22 W 15th St, NY 10011 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 917-626-1470

Sun, Jun 9 • Tagore's Legacy in the 21st Century

Venue: Performing Arts Center, 2600 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08818 Time: 4:00 pm Contact: 732-599-4892

Venue: Producers Club, Grand Theatre, 358 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 Time: 1:00 pm Contact: 201-204-6980

Sat, jun 8

Sat Jun 15

• Paresh Rawal in Double Roll - Dear Father (In Hindi) Venue: George Hess School Complex, 700 Babcock Rd, Hamilton Township, NJ 08330 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 3479796104

• Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan live in New York Venue: Nassau Coliseum, 1156 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, NY 11553 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 646-452-3424

Fri, May 24 • Jatt and Juliet Venue: David Starr Jordan High School, 6500 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 626-450-5450

Sat, jun 1 • Democracy 101 - Political Education and Kids & Youth Panel Venue: IND TV Studio , 372 Turquoise Street Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 2-4pm Contact: 510 378 0698 Ajay Bhutoria bhutoria.ajay@gmail.com

Sat, May 25 • Jai Ho! Dance Party

Sun, Jun 9

Venue: Dim Mak Studios, Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90028 Time: 9:00 pm Contact: 971-344-2022

Venue:Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Time: 7:00pm Contact: 404-502-8846

• Shankar Ehsaan Loy Live

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of Month Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org

Sat, May 25 • Yaadein - Memories

Sun, Jun 9

Venue: Cal Poly Pomona University Theatre, 3801 W Temple Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: 858-776-6704

• Shankar Ehsaan Loy Live Concert In LA

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's

Venue: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Time: 6:00pm Contact: 404-502-8846

Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes

May 2nd - 25th • "UnderCurrents and the Quest for Space," Venue: Somarts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Time: 5pm - 8pm

ATLANTA Upcoming Sun, Jun 2 • Vasundhara Exotic Jewellers Presents Designer Show

Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org/bal-mukund

Venue: Holiday Inn Express Hotel, 765 Hammond Dr, Atlanta, GA 30328 Time: 1:00pm Contact: 8455530873

May 24-26

Spiritual paintings

Fri, Jun 7

Venue: CSE Gallery (in the Compassion Building, first floor) 1146 University Avenue San Jose, CA 95126

• Disco Deewane Nite !! Retro Bollywood Party

A Week-end Retreat with Swami Brahmarupananda Venue: Vivekananda Monastery & Retreat 6723 122nd Ave., Ganges, MI 49408 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: (269) 543-4545

May 12th through June 9th • Salma Arastu's

Sun, Jun 23 • Anantha: Infinite Possibilities Venue: Sophia B. Clarke Theater, 1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 909-630-8558

Venue: Ashiana banquet hall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 9:00 pm Contact: 404-246-3256

• Sri Ramakrishna's Teachings in Eight Aphorisms

Wed, Jun 3 Sat Jun 14 • Singing Sensation Venue: Impact Conference Center, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 678-463-6613

• DJ Rekha Of Basement Bhangra Live!

Venue: Tantrik Chicago, 800 W Superior, Chicago, IL 60622 Time: 9:00pm

„

Realty Tidbits

Bengal received zero investment in realty in FY'13 KOLKATA: West Bengal did not receive any investment, either foreign or domestic, in the real estate sector in the financial year 2012-13, according to a report by industry body Assocham.

"The state of West Bengal has absolutely no share in the total value of new investment commitments worth over Rs 42,000 crore made by the domestic and foreign private sources in the real estate sector across India in the last fiscal," the report with a real estate sector specific analysis said.

"Although total outstanding investments in the real estate sector in West Bengal is worth over Rs 37,000 crore as of March 2013, the state has registered a 100 per cent decline vis-a-vis new investment commitments attracted by the realty sector between 2011-12 and 2012-13," it said. -PTI

„ Work on fourth bridge over Tawi in final stages JAMMU: The construction work on the fourth bridge over Tawi river was in its final stages and the link would soon be thrown open for public use, Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla has said.

"The construction work of fourth Tawi bridge is almost complete and it will help tackle traffic congestion in Jammu," Bhalla said during a public meeting at Satwari area here.

Emphasizing that the government was focused on timely completion of various developmental projects being executed in different parts of the state, Bhalla said, "The work on artificial (Tawi) lake is in full swing and after completion it will attract tourists visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.

"This will also boost the economy of the state and generate employment avenues for the youth."

The minister said that government was making efforts to provide all infrastructure facilities to the people and added that the state has prepared a comprehensive plan to meet the developmental needs of the people.

He assured people that their genuine demands would be fulfilled in a phased manner.

Bhalla, meanwhile, said that the government has a comprehensive plan to use open spaces and develop recreational parks for beautification of Jammu and build walkways. -PTI

Real Estate 49

India Post

www.indiapost.com

May 24, 2013

For access to colonies, developers will have to buy land To provide access to existing and proposed colonies in Gurgaon, real estate developers will have to secure right of way (RoW) by purchasing land on their own from the land owners.

The Town and Country Planning Department has decided to form a three-member committee of developers for each sector to purchase land falling under the 24-m RoW.

Don't sell a smelly house MARCIE GEFFNER

H

omebuyers don't want houses that stink. Sellers must identify and remediate odors that make prospective purchasers hold their noses and run for the exits.

A buyer's market is a tough challenge for sellers, says Patti Ketcham, owner of Ketcham Realty Group in Tallahassee, Fla. "If you're selling," she says, "your house has to look a little better, smell a little better and be priced a little better than the other houses the buyer will look at that same day."

Unfortunately, it's not always easy for sellers to identify familiar smells that might be problematic, says Neeraj Gupta, director of product research and development at ServiceMaster Clean, which performs major cleanups and post-disaster restorations of residential and commercial properties.

"There is no 'odor meter,'" Gupta says. "People get used to the odor of their house and may not notice that something is not pleasant."

Outside sniffers The best way to find out whether a house smells OK is to "ask someone who doesn't live there to come inside and give an opinion," Gupta says.

The obvious "someone" would be the real estate broker hired to sell the home. But not all brokers will point out that a house smells bad, even if they're willing to offer other helpful suggestions.

Ketcham, for one, says she's not outspoken about odor issues. Instead, she offers to pass along any unfiltered "brutal truth" comments she hears from her colleagues who bring buyers to see the property.

which, Gupta says, is easy to remediate.

The point might seem obvious, but the first line of defense in any smelly situation is to remove the source of the problem, even if that

Cigarette smoke can cling to furnishings, drapes and other window coverings and work its way inside walls. Some topically applied solutions can help to reduce the stench That way, the message gets delivered with less risk to her cordial relationship with the sellers.

"I will never be the kind that will come out and tell you that your house smells like cat litter or mothballs," she says. "I would rip my tongue out first."

Pet odors The two most common sources of difficult and offensive odors are pets and cigarettes; neither of

means a beloved pet must board elsewhere for a while.

"It's kind of cruel," Gupta says, "but if the pet is in the house, you're introducing new odor every day. For people who have pets, over time, it's a losing battle to get rid of the odor."

Cat urine, among the worst of the bad odors, can seep into carpet fibers, carpet padding, concrete and wood floors, upholstery fabrics, and furniture cushions

and pillows.

"Oftentimes," he says, "you have to remove the carpet, remove the pad and seal the floor, and then replace the carpet and the pad."

Cleaning the carpet might help.

But Gupta warns that any humidity will raise the odor from the padding or floor beneath.

No smoking Cigarette smoke can cling to furnishings, drapes and other window coverings and work its way inside walls. Some topically applied solutions can help to reduce the stench, but an ozone generator, hydroxyl generator or air scrubber should be more effective, Gupta says. These approaches are "very effective in absorbing odors," he says, though there is no guarantee that an odor can be eliminated completely.

One more tip: If someone suffers a long illness or dies in a home, a good airing may be adequate to remove any odors. In the case of a violent death, however, professionals who handle what's known as "trauma cleanup" should be called to do the job. The cost could be $1,000 or more depending on the type of remediation and the square footage.

"It's not like buying glass cleaner in a store and cleaning your windows," Gupta says. "If you have that type of situation, it's probably best to call a professional. It may be traumatic for you to do it yourself."-Courtesy Bankrate.com

Can't ignore the hoarder next door STEVE MCLINDEN

Dear Real Estate Adviser, I live next to a neighbor who hoards. The junk literally overflows from his house. We as neighbors have pitched in to clear out his front yard and add some plantings, but he then just started parking on the lawn. His hovel is going to make selling our home much harder. I am wondering if there's any re-

course. Both the city and county say it's the other's responsibility.

What can be done?

- Kate S. Dear Kate, Obsessive-compulsive therapy, for starters. But I'm guessing we're talking about options for you and the rest of the neighborhood, not your adjacent hoarder. It is worthwhile to note, however, that such

hoarders often suffer from a mental disorder and tend to revert to old ways if not treated, regardless of how often people clean for them.

Sadly, it's common for various agencies to pass the buck on enforcement because such situations are typically thankless and tough to rectify, plus hoarders rarely allow them access to their properties.

First, there's a chance that you can get the hoarder to agree - no doubt reluctantly - to let a neighborhood team declutter inside and out, though you'll no doubt discover a massive task at hand. I suggest that if you do volunteer to clean (again!), it should only be on eyesore areas visible from the exterior.

Cont’d on page 50

Real Estate Post

50 India Post

May 24, 2013

www.indiapost.com

Home prices near most affordable levels in over 30 yrs: HDFC NEW DELHI: Home prices may have been on an upward spiral for many years, but the cost of owning a house in India remains near the most affordable level in over three decades, shows data compiled by mortgage giant HDFC Ltd. The average price of a home,

purchased with a housing loan, rose to over Rs 45 lakh in the 201213 fiscal - marking the fourth consecutive year of uptrend from about Rs 25 lakh in the year 200809, HDFC has said in a presentation.

However, factors like an even greater surge in the personal income levels, tax incentives and lower interest rates, have resulted into houses becoming more affordable to purchase, it said.

As per an 'affordability' ratio compiled for over three decades

by HDFC, the average cost of owning a house stood at 4.7 times of the annual income of the home buyer in 2012-13.

The affordability ratio, which takes into account the annual income of the home buyer along with the price of the house, stood at as high as 22 in the year 1994-95, but has been mostly on a declining trend since then.

This means that a home buyer, on an average, needed an amount equivalent to nearly 22 times his or her annual income in 1994-95, but an amount less than five times of the annual earnings is required

for purchasing a house now.

HDFC has released this dataset as part of an investor presentation on its latest fiscal financial results.

Explaining the improved affordability in the housing market, HDFC said it has been possible because of rising disposable income, tax incentives (on interest and principal repayments) and affordable interest rates available to the home loan customers.

The lender further said that the mortgage market was also witnessing a high demand growth because of increasing urbanization and favorable demographics of the country, where 60 per cent of population is below 30 years of age and there is a rapid rise in new households.

Interestingly, the affordability ratio has remained in the range of 4.5-4.7 for the five consecutive years now, although the home prices have nearly doubled in this period.

Excluding a temporary dip during 2008-09, the home prices in the country have been rising for 11

main strong as long as the affordability ratio stays in the range of 4.2-5.5 times, while various tax incentives on home loans are making them affordable for the consumers.

HDFC further said that the tax incentives also lower the effective interest rate on mortgages, while the Union Budget 2013-14 has provided an additional one-time benefit of interest deduction up to Rs 1 lakh for first time home buyers, provided the loan amount and property cost does not exceed Rs 25 lakh and Rs 40 lakh, respectively.

As per its presentation, the effective interest rate on home loans currently stands at 5.5 per cent, down from 8.1 per cent in 2002 and 11.6 per cent in the year 2000. The effective rate takes into account tax benefits on principal and interest repayments made by the home loan buyers.

HDFC said that a low housing penetration also implies huge growth potential, because mortgages as a percentage of nominal

HDFC said that a low housing penetration also implies huge growth potential, because mortgages as a percentage of nominal GDP in India stands very low at 8 per cent years now, after hitting the lowest level in two decades at below Rs 15 lakh in the year 2001-02. However, the average annual income of a home loan customer has almost tripled during this period from less than Rs four lakh to close to Rs 12 lakh currently.

To be precise, the affordability ratio of 4.7 during the last fiscal 2012-13 is the fourth lowest ever figure, after after 4.3 in the year 2003-04, 4.5 in 2008-09 and 4.6 in 2011-12.

As per industry experts, the housing loan demand would re-

GDP in India stands very low at 8 per cent. It is lower than the figures for many countries including China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore, USA, UK and Denmark.

Established in 1977, HDFC has financed over 4.4 million housing units on a cumulative basis and its net outstanding loans stood at over Rs 1.7 lakh crore as on March

31, 2013.

It saw its standalone profit after tax rise by 18 per cent to Rs 4,848 crore in the last fiscal, while operating income grew by 22 per

cent to Rs 20,797 crore. At consolidated level, the profits rose by 22 per cent to Rs 6,640 crore and total income grew 19 per cent to Rs 35,987 crore. -PTI

Can't ignore the hoarder next door Cont’d from page 49

If you are rebuffed by the hoarder, then try contacting your local codeenforcement department (again!) though this time offer to let the inspector onto your property to take pictures of the neighbor's place. If there are other neighborhood complainants, that solidifies the case. If the neighbor is breaking one or more property safety codes, then that's additional impetus.

In most jurisdictions, owners must allow unfettered access for first responders and keep clear at least a 3-foot-wide swath to windows and doors. All that clutter is fire fodder, too. An in-depth analysis of fires in Melbourne, Australia, showed that, while hoardingrelated house fires accounted for less than 1 percent of fires, they produced almost a quarter of all firerelated fatalities.

If there are sanitary issues, your complaint might be best addressed to the health department. Endless piles of stuff tend to attract rodents, roaches and stray animals and are legitimate threats to neighborhood health. That agency might give the owner a time frame to come into compliance. If the hoarder fails to do it, he can be fined, or better yet, made to vacate while cleaning crews are brought in at the owner's expense.

If you feel that local area agencies are going into "stall" or "ignore" mode on this, you could always try a "make a stink" strategy.

Contact your city council member or city manager about city inaction and if neither responds, then con-

If there are sanitary issues, your complaint might be best addressed to the health department.

Endless piles of stuff tend to attract rodents tact area newspapers and TV stations. Talk with a few of your neighbor allies first to see if they'll agree to interviews if the press comes.

Public officials might then have to force action.

Or as a long shot, try contacting the popular TLC show "Hoarding: Buried Alive" with your neighbor's contact info as well as yours. For additional insight, read the book "Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding," by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee..-Courtesy Bankrate.com

Godrej Properties to raise Rs 700 cr through rights issue MUMBAI: Godrej Group real estate arm Godrej Properties plans to raise around Rs 700 crore through rights issue to fuel its growth plans, a top company official said here.

"We have planned to raise around Rs 700 crore through rights issue mainly to fund our growth plans," GPL Managing Director and Chief Executive Pirojsha Godrej told reporters while announcing the fourth quar-

ter numbers.

He said the issue was expected to be launched in the second quarter of this financial year 2013-14.

"Despite challenging macroeconomic environment and the real estate sector under-performing, we have been able to achieve a significant growth in FY13. We want to keep up with this growth momentum and launch new projects in this fiscal year," Godrej said.

GPL plans to launch nearly 15

projects, some of which may come up in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore and later in Pune and Chennai.

"The funds raised through the issue will be utilized for ongoing projects as well as new projects. It will give us good visibility to sustain performance," he added.

Godrej further said though FY'13 was challenging, 2013-14 will be a better year both for the economic growth as well as for the sector.-PTI

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Notice is hereby given that sealed competitive bids will be accepted in the office of the GSA-Purchasing Department, County of Alameda, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite 907, Oakland, CA 94612 NETWORKING BIDDERS CONFERENCES for RFP #901020 Services to AB109 Clients North County–Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 2:00 p.m. at General Services Agency, Conference Room 1107, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA South County–Wednesday, May 29, 2013, 10:00 a.m. at Fremont Public Library, Fukaya Room B, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont, CA Responses Due by 2:00 pm on June 28, 2013 County Contact: Kai Moore (510) 208-4882 or via email: kai.moore@acgov.org Attendance at Networking Conference is Non-mandatory. Specifications regarding the above may be obtained at the Alameda County GSA Current Contracting Opportunities Internet website at www.acgov.org.

5/24/13 CNS-2482658#

Horoscope

52 India Post

May 24, 2013

www.indiapost.com

Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

MAY 24 TH - MAY 30 TH 2013 (March 21 to April 20)

C

ombination of three planets in second continues to steer your life in the right direction making much efforts. Opportunity will come by itself. Luck is definitely on your side so do not hesitate to take chances and aim high. Spouse may continue to have aches and pain in joints. You will be on the move most of the week and enjoy it.

(July 23 to August 22)

Y

ou may have to deal with legal issue you had been trying to avoid for past six months. Favorable changes will continue to take place in career. Some of you may have slight change in a partnership setup. Contract you sign this week will have positive impact for long term. You may invite few old friends and close relatives for dinner.

(April 21 to May 20)

I

t's the health you should be extra careful for next couple of weeks.

Always keep water next to you and have some sips before you make any major decisions. Impulsive decisions could prove self destructive. Get the clause you don't like removed before you sign those important papers this week. You will get to meet old friends at the party.

(August 23 to September 22)

Y

ou are still traveling on a rocky road, as long as you stay focused and keep an eye on your goals, it will soon be in your grip. You may have to take an older family member for check up this week.

People applying for another job will be called for another interview.

One of your older vehicle may need minor repairs this week.

(May 21 to June 20)

I

ts high time you get in touch with siblings and enquire about their well being. Presence of Mercury and Venus in your sign is encouraging. Things you had been waiting for months may finally take place causing lots of excitement in life. People at home will show their immediate support. A new door to make money will open up for you this week.

(September 23 to October 22)

T

hings will start improving as combination of Mercury and Venus in house of luck is favorable. You will slowly regain confidence and start working on your plans more aggressively. Just avoid hot and spicy food for next few weeks. Bank may need more details or paper work. Insurance bill will come down a lot from now and on.

(June 21 to July 22)

P

lanets in eleventh keep opening new avenues to make money one after other. You will make good use of time on hand and take family out to a nice place for dinner. Just avoid too much oily things and sweets. Some of you will be making a smooth switch to a better job this week. One of your old vehicle will need minor repairs.

(October 23 to November 22)

S

till combination of Sun, Mars and Jupiter in seventh is favorable.

Changes this week will be nothing less than a miracle and will bring all the energy and confidence back. You will get to spend an evening with some important people and get close to them quickly.

You will not take much time to grab the offer on the table.

(November 23 to December 22)

C

ombination of Sun, Mars and Jupiter in sixth will help you achieve professional goals and will especially help those looking for a career change. One of your strong opponents will move away. You may gain morale victory in ongoing legal battle or an appeal may get accepted by a government agency. You may start a new relationship.

(December 22 to January 19)

I

t may be difficult to find the solution involving a child and you may have few sleepless night because of this tension. People looking for a change in career will receive a good lead or an offer and will start working on it. You may be studying some useful material to update your knowledge. An upcoming trip will be finalized.

(January 20 to February 18)

Y

ou will buy some nice indoor plants or do some serious gardening around your home. Material studied recently will come handy and the chances are you will be moved to next level at work this week. You may be spending lots of money towards children this week. Meeting with a successful and self employed person will go very well.

(February 19 to March 20)

S

un and Mars in third help you gain edge over even the strongest opponents. Be little aggressive and the jobs will be done quickly this week. Communications will not go waste and the results will be instant. You will enjoy an evening with friends and close relatives this week. A property deal can also become reality this week.

Pandit Parashar, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

510-886-4370 website: www.parashar.com

Philosophy

May 24, 2013

India Post 53

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis ADI SHANKARACHARYA

T

he following is an excerpt from the translation of the popular devotional song Bhaja Govindam by Adi Shankaracharya. The translation was published in the Sivananda Ashram magazine in its Autumn 2003 number: Seek Govinda, Seek Govinda, Seek Govinda, O Fool! When the appointed times comes (death), grammar rules (worldly knowledge) surely will not save you.

O Fool! Give up the thirst to possess wealth. Create in your mind, devoid of passions, thoughts of the Reality. With whatever you get, entertain your mind, be content.

Seeing the full bosom of young maidens and their navel, do not fall a prey to maddening delusion.

This is but a modification of flesh and fat. Think well thus in your mind again and again.

The water drop playing on a lotus petal has an extremely uncertain existence; so also is life ever unstable. Understand, the very world is consumed by disease and conceit, and is riddled with pangs.

As long as there is the ability to earn and save, so long are all your dependants attached to you. Later on, when you come to live with an old, infirm body, no one at home cares to speak even a word with you!!

As long as there dwells breath in EDWARD CONZE

T

he Buddhist notion of emptiness is often misunder stood as nihilism. While nihilism concludes that reality is unknowable, that nothing exists, that nothing meaningful can be communicated about the world, the Buddhist notion of emptiness arrives at just the opposite, namely that ultimate reality is knowable, that there is a clear-cut ontological basis for phenomena, and that we can communicate and derive useful knowledge from it about the world.

Emptiness (sunyata) must not be confused with nothingness.

Emptiness is not non-existence and it is not non-reality.

What is emptiness then? To understand the philosophical meaning of this term, let's look at a simple solid object, such as a cup.

How is a cup empty? We usually say that a cup is empty if it does not contain any liquid or solid.

A cup empty of liquids or solids is still full of air. A cup in a vacuum does not contain any air, but it still contains space, light, radiation, as well as its own substance.

Hence, from a physical point of view, the cup is always full of something. Yet, from the Buddhist

the body, so long they enquire of your welfare at home. Once the breath leaves, the body decays, even the wife fears that very same body.

So long as one is in one's boyhood, one is attached to play, so long as one is in youth, one is attached to one's own young woman; so long as one is in old age, one is attached to anxiety, yet no one, alas to the Supreme Brahman, is ever seen attached.

When youthfulness has passed, where is lust and its play?

When water is evaporated, where is the lake? When the wealth is reduced, where is the retinue?

When the Truth is realized, where is samsara?

Take no pride in your possession, in the people at your command, in the youthfulness that you have. Time loots away all these in a moment. Leaving aside

change, birth and death.

One ascetic with matted locks, one with shaven head, one with hairs pulled out one by one, another parading in his ochre robes these are fools who, though seeing, do not see. Indeed, these different disguises or apparels are only for their belly's sake.

The body has become worn out.

The head has turned grey. The mouth has become toothless. The

Worldly knowledge won't help you at the time of death

Adi Shankaracharya

The head has turned grey. The mouth has become toothless. The old man moves about leaning on his staff. Even then he leaves not the bundle of his desires

Who is your wife? Who is your son? Supremely wonderful indeed is this samsara. Of whom are you?

From where have you come? O brother, think of that Truth here.

Through the company of the good, there arises non-attachment; through non-attachment there arises freedom from delusion; when there is freedom from delusion, there is the Immutable Reality; on experiencing the Immutable Reality, there comes the state of 'liberated-in-life'.

all these, after knowing their illusory nature, realize the state of Brahman and enter into it.

Day and night, dawn and dusk, winter and spring, again and again come and depart. Time sports and life ebbs away. And yet, one leaves not the gusts of desires.

O Distracted One! Why worry about wife, wealth? Is there not for you the One who ordains? In the three worlds it is the associationwith-good-people alone that can serve as a boat to cross the sea of

old man moves about leaning on his staff. Even then he leaves not the bundle of his desires.

One may, in pilgrimage, go to where the Ganges meets the ocean, called the Gangasagar, or observe vows, or distribute gifts away in charity. If he is devoid of first-handexperience-of-the-Truth, according to all schools of thought, he gains no release, even in a hundred lives.

The 1225th birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya was celebrated on May 15.

point of view, the cup is always empty. The Buddhist understanding of emptiness is different from the physical meaning. The cup being empty means that it is devoid of inherent existence.

This is pretty much the antithesis to Greek philosopher Plato's idealism. Plato holds that there is an ideal essence of everything, e.g. cups, tables, houses, humans,

if there is no visual and tactile sensation. And, there cannot be visual and tactile sensation if there is no physical object.

The perception thus depends on the presence of sensations, and the physical object. This is to say that the cup's essence is not in the mind. It is neither to be found in the physical object. Obviously, its essence is neither

etc. One may argue that lack of inherent existence of objects does not imply the same for natural phenomena and beings.

In case of a human being, there is a body, a mind, a character, a history of actions, habits, behavior, and other things we can draw upon to describe a person. We can analyze the mind and see that there are sensations, cognition,

Objects of perception have no inherent existence

Gautam Buddha

and so on. He assumes that the essence of cups ultimately exists in the realm of mind.

After all, it is the mind that perceives properties of an object and imputes cupness onto one object and tableness onto another. Does it follow that the mind is responsible for the existence of these objects? Apparently, the mind does not perceive cups and tables

The Buddhist understanding of emptiness is different from the physical meaning. The cup being empty means that it is devoid of inherent existence physical nor mental. It cannot be found in the world, not in the mind, and certainly not in any heavenly realm, as Plato imagined.

We must conclude that the objects of perception have therefore no inherent existence.

If this is the case for a simple object, such as a cup, then it must also apply to compound things, such as cars, houses, machines,

feelings, ideas. Or, we can analyze the brain and find that there are neurons, axons, synapses, and neurotransmitters. However, none of these constituents describe the essence of the person, the mind, or the brain. Again, the essence remains elusive.

The 2576th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha will be observed on May 25.

You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.

- Buddha If you have a glass full of liquid you can discourse forever on its qualities, discuss whether it is cold, warm, whether it is really and truly composed of H-2-O, or even mineral water, or sake. Meditation is Drinking it!

- Taisen Deshimaru To study Buddhism is to study ourselves. To study ourselves is to forget ourselves.

- Dogen Zenji Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.

- Shunryu Suzuki We live thinking I am right, I am wise.

Herein lies the cause of human delusion.

-Ko Kamei "If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.

-Zen Proverb

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Elections in Pakistan took violence to new level PORTIA B. CONRAD

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akistan had its historic polls, ruling PPP - made a final push to- the smaller provinces that they but the election campaign- wards the poll. remain insecure and denied of a ing in much of the country • The Pakistan Muslim League free environment to elect their repwas muted by high levels of vio- - N (PML-N) did not get hit by vio- resentatives. Today, in the postlence. Over the last four months lence as a large portion of its vot- election scenario, it is unclear how leading up to the elections, death ers belong to the province of far the elections would be taken tolls situated in violence have risen Punjab. as fully legitimate by the parties up to 1300. The list of terrorist at• Law and order remained an and the public opinion from the tacks in the last month itself sums issue in Karachi; the rest of Sindh, smaller provinces. up to a large number - at least 118 however, was in a much better One must remember that viopeople have been killed and 494 injured.

One must make a note of the difference in regular violence in Pakistan vis-à-vis the violence caused due to elections. The 2013 elections have taken the frequency and intensity of violence to another level. Who are the perpetrators, and who are the victims? What have been the major trends in the violence?

The election camAmbulances shift injured people to nearby hospitals after an attack on an election rally paign was marred by in northwestern Kurram Agency on May 6 threats and violence perpetrated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). state when compared with the lence had also cast a shadow over Since the start of the election cam- metropolis. It was also not easier Pakistan's last election in 2008. On paign, the liberal parties - the Pa- to identify the level of electoral 27 December 2007, Benazir Bhutto, kistan People's Party (PPP), the violence in Karachi, as the city former prime minister and the head Awami National Party (ANP), and was the primary focus of violence of the PPP - then the leading opthe Muttahida Qaumi Movement relating to ethnic, sectarian, and position party - was assassinated (MQM) - have been the primary criminal factors. Over the last few after a campaign rally. Two months later, however, her party and the target. Pakistani Taliban spokesPLM-N emerged victorious from man, Ahsanullah Ahsan, has the campaign and formed a coaliclaimed responsibility for numer- Candidates for the ous attacks. tion government. liberal parties comWhat has the State machinery plained that the viothen done for the security of the Major trends voters? The Election Commission On the day of the elections, lence had forced appeared too weak, or perhaps there were several incidents of vio- them to dramatically politically indoctrinated, by the lence killing more than fifty scale back their affluent classes not to take proper people. However, the following campaigning activiaction against corrupt politicians. trends could be observed overall: Apparently, the military had said • The right-of-centre parties ties, leaving the field that they would take charge of had an advantage over their left- open for Islamist deploying 70,000 troops to proof-centre counterparts. Indeed, tect polling stations, augmenting the ANP was targeted more fre- candidates to win more than 500,000 police and sequently than any other party; the over voters. Howcurity personnel.

MQM was also increasingly so; ever, despite the Candidates for the liberal parand the PPP, ostensibly, was too ties complained that the violence absence of a level scared to campaign properly. had forced them to dramatically • In Balochistan, the situation playing field they scale back their campaigning acwas dangerous as well as unprewent ahead with the tivities, leaving the field open for dictable, since only 284 of the 3,794 Islamist candidates to win over polling stations across the prov- election voters. However, despite the abince were billed as "normal." Of sence of a level playing field for the remaining, 2,897 were categoyears, Karachi has remained all political parties, the caretakers rized "very sensitive" and 633 as highly violent. and the executive agencies did go "sensitive." ahead with the election process.

• Punjab, the country's politiNow, the post election political Implications cal heartland, remained clear of environment should not fail the What are the implications of any electoral violence. The streets nation that has struggled for deof urban and rural areas alike, were these trends?

Much of the violence took place mocracy for most of its existence. alive with the sights and sounds The writer is Research Intern, of frenzied campaigning, as com- outside the populous province of NSP, IPCS peting political parties - except the Punjab, creating an impression in

Sharif lesson

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s there a lesson for the BJP in the triumph of Nawaz Sharif's party in Pakistan? Both have been in the opposition in the last few years. Sharif bided his time and did not try to destabilize the unpopular PPP government of Asif Ali Zardari. This could be partly due to the fear of an Army take over. Years in exile also taught him patience. He has been critical of the PPP government but his party did not resort to ugly demonstrations like the one the BJP is now indulging in demanding resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The BJP has disrupted parliament umpteen times in the UPAII tenure and taken to demonstrations on the streets or demands of resignations of ministers this or ministers that.

A better place to show up the incompetence of the government is parliament. With diligent homework, it could expose the corruption and the mala fide intentions of the government and prove that there are competent leaders in its own ranks. Raucous demonstrations on the streets or loud protestations on TV do not create the impression that it will be a party of good governance if at all it manages to secure the number one position in the 2014 election. It doesn't inspire faith that it has announced no economic program or policies which can improve the lot of the common man. It has shown the country only its disruptionist tendencies and confused thinking. For instance, when in government at the Center between 1998 and 2004, it had originally proposed drastic measures like 100 percent foreign investment in multi-brand retail. But today the BJP's central leadership is opportunistically opposing FDI in retail in direct confrontation with the approach of some of their own chief ministers like Narendra Modi.

Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand, has demonstrated remarkable maturity in staying the course in the opposition. Another matter in his favor is the poor image of the Army as rulers in the eyes of people. They have had enough of military dictators and Pakistan is worse off because of missed opportunities to develop democracy. Sharif said he had worked hard for a détente with New Delhi before Musharraf deposed him and that he will pick threads from where he left after Vajpayee's historic visit to Lahore. His claims can be taken with a pinch of salt as he was the one who ordered Pakistan's nuclear test in retaliation to India's.

His take that as Prime Minister he did not know about the Kargil attack can also not be believed. But it can be believed that today he is sincere in his desire to improve ties with India and is in favor of economic reform, deregulation and pro-business policies. Such measures can not only revive Pakistan's economy but would be greatly facilitated by an opening to India.

The BJP during its time in the opposition has almost been in wilderness. It bungled the Karnataka mess that its leaders there had created. LK Advani has blamed the central leadership for the Karnataka fiasco. He believes that had the party taken firm action when it became clear that their chief minister BS Yeddyurappa was indulging in corruption, the course of events would have been different. Instead, frantic efforts were made to placate him by condoning his "peccadilloes" in the name of adopting a "pragmatic approach" to save the party's only government in South India.

The problem with the BJP is that its major central leaders are all eyeing the prime ministerial chair in 2014. In this fight with each for that nebulous goal they cannot agree on one leader like the PML (N) of Pakistan had in Nawaz Sharif. The central leaders of BJP are not ready to accept Narendra Modi as the chief aspirant as all of them - namely Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and LK Advani - believe they are a better option. A "Kissa Kursi Ka" is being played out even before the coveted kursi is available.

May 24, 2013

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