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AAPI Chicago convention among the best Details on page 16

NEW YORK • WASHINGTON D.C. • CHICAGO • ATLANTA • CALIFORNIA

VOL 18, No. 977

June 7, 2013

50¢

Periodical Postage

CLOSER DEFENSE TIES WITH JAPAN SOUGHT

Bikram Choudhury

2 new rape cases against Yoga guru Details on page 6

Republican hopeful woos Indian Americans Details on page 18

PML-N govt will try Musharraf for treason

Jayasudha captivates Chicago

Details on page 7

Details on page 20

Time to end discrimination in welfare matters

Iran offers India oil fields at lucrative terms Details on page 11

Details on page 52

Pakistan court adjourns hearing on Saeed plea Details on page 6

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

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Did Chinese incursion in Ladakh affect the talks?

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

FRIEND OF INDIA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presenting the Padma Award for 2013 to Prof. Noboru Karashima at the reception hostedby the Japan-India Association, Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League and International Friendship Exchange Council, in Tokyo, Japan on May 28

TOKYO: Warning against "continuing threats" in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India sees Japan as a "natural and indispensable partner" in its quest for stability and peace in Asia that is washed by the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The Prime Minister also underlined the need for maritime security across the linked regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans for regional and global prosperity.

He stressed that maritime issues should be dealt according to the international law.

Classifieds ------------------------- 50 Community Post -------------- 16-26 Date Book -------------------------- 36

"Our defense and security dialogue, military exercises and defense technology collaboration should grow. We should consult and coordinate more closely in global and regional forums," Singh, who is here on a three-day visit, said.

Unveiling a three-pronged strategy on the eve of his Summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Singh said regional mechanisms should be strengthened to manage differences and reinforce congruence.

Edit Page --------------------------- 54

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Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 39-43

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

HealthScience Post --------- 32-35 Horoscope ------------------------- 14 Immigration Post ------------- 44-47 Life Style ----------------------- 48-50 Philosophy ------------------------- 53 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 30-31 TechBiz Post ------------------- 11-13

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Publisher’s Diary

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historic first again for the Indian American community - one of our very own has been elevated to become a judge in the country's second highest court - last week, Srikanth Srinivasan was nominated by President Obama and unanimously confirmed to the position of judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

The Indian American community is ecstatic, naturally. Imagine next, the very real possibility of an Indian origin individual serving in the Supreme Court of the United States of America!

Honestly, I have always believed in the American society's welcoming acceptance of merit - skin color notwithstanding - which is what makes it a nation that has always attracted immense talent to its shores - people who came here knowing that their talents would not only be recognized but also be highly valued.

As 21 influential US lawmakers, in their letter to the US Senate, seeking Srinivasan's confirmation as judge had written, it is long overdue that an Indian American has been appointed to a federal court in that position. I wouldn't be too harsh on this system and second that, but, I appreciate the fact that it has indeed happened in due course, and there can never be a more opportune moment than now.

But Srinivasan's appointment is not just cause for parochial pride for me. As an American of Indian origin, what is important for me is the diversity it brings to an otherwise sacrosanct institution that has always been politically divided.

And Srinivasan brings a different kind of diversity that might yet bring a fresh perspective to the federal bench - because he has earlier worked in the US Solicitor General's office for both Republican and Democratic administrations.

I guess a politically 'diverse' judge is more important than one who may simply add to the ethnic diversity of the judiciary in this country.

The Indian American community has great expectations from all of the members of our community who have risen to positions of power. And needless to say, has all the faith in their capability to do the community, this country and the country of their origin proud.

Romesh K Japra

rkjapra@indiapost.com

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Bollywood: ‘English’ victory Gauri Shinde's film English Vinglish, which featured Sridevi making a comeback, has won the San Diego Award.

Cover Story: Ties with Japan PM Manmohan Singh says India sees Japan as a "natural and indispensable partner" in its quest for stability and peace

Community: AAPI convention The four-day convention of AAPI in Chicago was easily among the best organized by this premiere ethnic organization.

Immigration: Profiling Latinos A judge has ruled that America's selfproclaimed toughest sheriff Joe Arpaio systematically singled out Latinos

Life Style: Devadasi heritage Famed dancer, choreographer, Viji Prakash pays a magnificent tribute to Devadasi heritage through Bharat Natyam

Techbiz: Iran offer Rattled by India sharply cutting down purchase of its oil, Iran has offered it oil fields on lucrative terms

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Travel: Banjar Banjar is a beautiful valley in Kullu District where one can trek, watch Himalayan peaks & enjoy local festivals

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Closer defense ties with Japan sought TOKYO: Warning against "continuing threats" in the IndoPacific region, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India sees Japan as a "natural and indispensable partner" in its quest for stability and peace in Asia that is washed by the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The Prime Minister also underlined the need for maritime security across the linked regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans for regional and global prosperity.

He stressed that maritime issues should be dealt according to the international law.

"Our defense and security dialogue, military exercises and defense technology collaboration should grow. We should consult and coordinate more closely in global and regional forums," Singh, who is here on a three-day visit, said.

Unveiling a three-pronged strategy on the eve of his Summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Singh said regional mechanisms should be strengthened to manage differences and reinforce congruence.

"There should be deeper regional economic integration and principles of freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce in accordance with international law should be upheld to resolve maritime issues peacefully," he said.

The remarks came amidst flexing of muscles by China in the South China Sea and East China Sea. He said both countries should work together more purposefully

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the Business Luncheon hosted by Nippon Keidanren, in Tokyo, Japan on May 28

to harness the potential of the seas and address common sea-based challenges such as piracy.

Addressing the Japan-India Association, Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League and the International Friendship Exchange Council here, Singh said the Indo-Pacific region was witnessing profound social and economic changes on a scale and at a speed rarely seen in human history.

The region has experienced an unprecedented rise in freedom, opportunity and prosperity over the last half century. He said at the same time, the region faces "multiple challenges, unresolved issues and unsettled questions".

He said historical differences persist despite growing inter-dependence.

"Prosperity has not fully eliminated disparities within and betweens states and there are growing threats to stability and security," he said.

"Japan is the only partner with whom we have a 2-plus-2 Dialogue between the Foreign and Defense Ministries.

"We have also begun bilateral exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force", he said

The Prime Minister stressed that in this moment of flux and change, there was a greatest opportunity to chart a new course for Asia in this century.

Noting that India and Japan are among the major actors in this region, he said, "It is our responsibility to foster a climate of peace, stability and cooperation and to lay an enduring foundation for security and prosperity".

"India's relations with Japan are important not only for our economic development, but also because we see Japan as a natural and indispensable partner in our quest for stability and peace in the vast region in Asia that is washed by the Pacific and Indian Oceans," he said.

"Our relationship with Japan has been at the heart of our Look

East Policy," Singh said.

The Prime Minister said that in recent years, bilateral political and security cooperation has gained in salience.

"Japan is the only partner with whom we have a 2-plus-2 Dialogue between the Foreign and Defense Ministries.

"We have also begun bilateral exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force", he said.

Singh said both countries have shared interests in maritime security and face similar challenges to energy security.

"There are strong synergies between our economies, which need an open, rule-based international trading system to prosper.

Together, we seek a new architecture for the United Nations Security Council", he said.-PTI

India committed to taking 'hard' decisions: PM TOKYO: India is committed to taking "hard and difficult" decisions in the long-term interest of the economy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here while assuring Japanese industry that the long-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime facing hurdles from states will be in place in an "appropriate type" by 2014.

On a mission to woo Japanese investors, Singh told leading business honchos at the Keidanren, the premier chamber of commerce and industry, that the present bilateral trade of USD 18 billion does no justice to the enormous potential that exists between the two countries.

The Prime Minister faced some searching questions from the Japanese industry which

sought improvement in tax regimes, further easing of priority sector lending rules to expand financial services and allowing opening of foreign bank branches in metropolitan cities.

"Our people have tasted the benefits of rapid growth and they will not settle for less. I want to assure you that our government is committed to take hard and difficult decisions in the long term interest of our economy," he said.

A top official of Mitsubishi Corporation said Japanese investors faced difficulties with different tax regimes in each Indian state leading to complications and wanted to know the timeline by when GST regime will be implemented.

"India is a federation and there are difficulties to bring states to

agree to surrender tax power but I am confident we will overcome the hurdle. We will work and we have been working to persuade more and more states to fall in line but it does require amendment of the

"Our people have tasted the benefits of rapid growth and they will not settle for less. I want to assure you that our government is committed to take hard and difficult decisions in the long term�

Constitution and needs much more energetic efforts than an ordinary piece of legislation," Singh said.

The GST has been facing opposition from several non- Congress states which have accused the Centre of trying to encroach on powers of the states and that such a move would hit their finances.

"So, I cannot say we can deliver tomorrow but if you ask me by 2014 once elections are out of the way, whichever government is there will be a general agreement of appropriate type in place to help propel India's growth story," he said.

The Prime Minister said as a result of a number of steps to revive the Indian economy, Government expects the growth rate in

the current fiscal (2013-14) to be much better than in the previous year, hopefully around six per cent or so.

"We will do even better in 2014-15.

The Prime Minister said the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor between Delhi and Mumbai was scheduled for completion as planned in 2017.

The procurement of civil works for Phase-I is in an advanced stage and construction is to begin soon. The engineering service consultants for Phase-ll of the DFC project are already in position, he said, hoping that Japanese companies will participate strongly in both phases.

Cont’d on page 7

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2 new rape cases against Yoga guru Bikram Choudhury

M

illionaire yoga guru Bikram Choudhury has been accused of rape, sexual assault and "human trafficking" in two new lawsuits filed by former students, according to a report in UK's Guardian.

As per the suits, filed in Los Angeles this month, Choudhury has "a propensity to sexually assault young women". The two suits, filed by women named only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, charge Choudhury and Bikram

Lady Gaga, David Beckham and Madonna have practiced Bikram, a series of 26 yoga poses that take place in rooms heated to over 100F (37.8C).

Another former Bikram student, Sarah Baughn, filed a suit in March claiming Choudhury made sexual advances while she was training to be a teacher. That complaint alleged sexual harassment but not rape. The two new plaintiffs have opted to maintain their anonymity.

Jane Doe 1 said she confronted Choudhury and told him his conduct was "unlawful, unwanted, and unconsented to". She said Choudhury tried to "inflict guilt" on her by saying if she came forward, the Bikram community would suffer Yoga College of India of sexual battery, false imprisonment, discrimination, harassment and other counts.

Calcutta-born Choudury, the 67-year-old founder of the "hot yoga" chain, runs an international empire of about 650 yoga studios across three continents.

Choudhury claims to have taught yoga to presidents Nixon, Reagan and Clinton. Celebrities including

All three women are being represented by Mary Shea Hagebols of Shea Law Offices in Oakland, California. "I have worked with the victims of sexual assault for decades," she said. "It is very difficult for someone to come forward and speak out against someone powerful and wealthy." She said her clients wished to protect other women from similar assaults.

Petra Starke, president of Bikram

Yoga College of India, said she could not comment on the cases.

Jane Doe 1, who filed her suit on 7 May, claims Choudhury raped her twice in the fall of 2011.

She claims that Choudhury's inner circle (identified in the suit as defendants 1-25) were aware of their boss's behavior.

"Plaintiff is informed and believes that after defendant Bikram Choudhury lures the young women to his place of business, through various schemes and designs and with the participation of his inner circle who are knowledgeable of and complicit in the abuse, he sexually assaults and/ or rapes them," the suit alleges.

In March this year Jane Doe 1 said she confronted Choudhury and told him his conduct was "unlawful, unwanted, and unconsented to". She said Choudhury tried to "inflict guilt" on her by saying if she came forward, the Bikram community would suffer.

Jane Doe 2, who filed on 6 May, claims that Choudhury raped her in November 2010 after her boyfriend gave her a gift of a $13,000 nine-week teacher training program at Choudhury's Bikram Yoga studio in San Diego. The grueling training program began at 7am and ended at between 2am and 3am. During the sessions, would-

Chinese daily calls Japanese leaders 'petty burglars' BEIJING: Piqued over Japan's warm ties with India, an influential Chinese daily has said New Delhi's wisdom lies in dealing with its disputes with Beijing calmly, undisturbed by "internal and international provocateurs".

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh undertook a visit to Tokyo amid reports of defense deals between the two sides, the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece, the People's Daily lashed out at Japanese politicians, terming them as "petty burglars" on China-related issues.

China is locked in a maritime dispute with Japan and the two countries are currently at loggerheads over the disputed islands in the resource-rich East China Sea. "Before Premier Li Keqiang's visit, the China-India border standoff was hyped up by international media. The divergence and contradictions between the two countries were also exaggerated as if the Sino-Indian ties had been strained suddenly," said in an article titled 'Sino-Indian dip-

lomatic miracle embarrasses Japanese politicians'.

"But what surprised the media was that China and India properly solved the issue in a short time. During Li's visit the top leaders of both countries had sincere and candid talks and came

It said, "India's great wisdom lies in dealing with ties with China in a calm way, undisturbed by internal and international provocateurs." to a series of strategic consensus and cooperation. The shift of Sino-Indian ties in such a short time is a miracle.

"In the development of SinoIndian ties there are several divergence and contradictions.

Some countries see these differ-

ences as an opportunity to provoke dissension," it said.

"China and India have great vision and great wisdom," it said, adding that "India's great wisdom lies in dealing with ties with China in a calm way, undisturbed by internal and international provocateurs."

Referring to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe call to Japan, India, Australia and the US to jointly form a "Democratic Security Diamond" to compete with the ascendant China, the paper said Abe also made visits to countries in China's neighborhood.

"Some politicians just made themselves petty burglars on China-related issues," it said.

"The so-called 'Democratic Security Diamond', 'Strategic Diplomacy' and 'Values Diplomacy' among other new terms seem very strategic. But in fact they unveiled the narrow-minded diplomatic thoughts of Japanese government. The conspiracy of these petty burglars is doomed to fail," it said.-PTI

be teachers were told what they could eat, wear (skimpy clothing and nothing green), what they could say and "the expressions on their faces", Jane Doe 2 alleges.

that practitioners will be able to live to 100 years old. Trainees were bullied and humiliated as well as praised, the suits say, and Choudhury allegedly gave lectures in which he disparaged gays,

Bikram Choudhury

During weeks of grueling training Choudhury singled out Jane Doe 2 claiming she was "a piece of gold in a roomful of brass". His approaches became more sexual and were rebuffed. The suit alleges the exhausted student was raped when she was "too weak and overwrought to fight him off".

The suits paint a cult-like atmosphere at the training camps.

Trainees were allegedly told that Choudhury is on the same level as Jesus Christ or Buddha, that Bikram yoga can cure cancer and

Americans and made ethnic slurs.

Jane Doe 2 claims that Choudhury recruits volunteers from overseas who are "so in fear of defendant Bikram Choudhury's wrath that they will travel to the US and risk violating immigration laws in order to serve him. Once in the US these volunteers work for little or zero pay. "Their duties include grooming him, massaging him, making his tea, bring[ing] him food and being forced to submit to sexual assaults and rapes against their will," the suit alleges.

Pak court adjourns hearing on Saeed's plea LAHORE: A Pakistani court the Mumbai attacks, which were has adjourned for nearly four carried out by members of the Pamonths the hearing of a petition kistan-based LeT. filed by Lashkar-e-Taiba founder A total of 166 people were killed Hafiz Mohammad Saeed seeking in the attacks in India's financial legal aid from the government to hub in November 2008. defend himself in a US lawsuit over US nationals Rabbi Gabriel the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Noah Holtzberg and his wife Rivka A Deputy Attorney General told Lahore US nationals Rabbi Gabriel High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial that Noah Holtzberg and his wife the US State and Jus- Rivka were killed in the tice Departments had challenged the Ameri- attacks. Their relatives filed can court's jurisdiction nine claims against LeT for issuing summons to members and several former Inter-Services Intelligence chief ISI officials Ahmed Shuja Pasha and other Pakistani officials over were killed in the attacks. Their the Mumbai attacks. relatives filed nine claims against The Lahore High Court should LeT members and several ISI offiwait till the challenge to the US cials. court's jurisdiction is decided beThey were accused of providfore moving on Saeed's petition, ing material support to the attackthe Deputy Attorney General said. ers.

The Chief Justice then adThe US court issued summons journed the matter till September 24. to Hafiz Saeed, former ISI chiefs The US lawsuit was filed by Ahmad Shuja Pasha and Nadeem relatives of two Jewish victims of Taj and other Pakistani.-PTI

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Serious concerns in Indo-Pak ties: Khurshid NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid says "serious concerns" have "piled up" in Indo-Pak ties in the backdrop of recent incidents, including killing of an Indian prisoner, which Pakistan will have to address before the two countries pick up "strands" of the composite dialogue.

With various Indo-Pak interactions scheduled in past few

"But these are signals given before he takes charge of the office of the Prime Minister and takes on board issues that are pending.

"We would like him to settle down in his new job and then take up strands from where we left off," he said.

Cooperation with Saudi Arabia

Salman Khurshid

months, including at the level of Water Secretaries, being cancelled in the aftermath of the beheading of an Indian soldier along the LoC in January, he said, "We have a composite dialogue which will have to be picked up again".

Asked what were his expectations from the new government in Pakistan, Khurshid said, "There are some serious concerns that have piled up over the past few months and obviously some of those concerns will have to be addressed if we need to take all people in the country with us.

"It is important to have people supporting any initiative that is taken further".

He underlined that the composite dialogue has contours that both countries have decided are the best way to proceed.

"And that composite dialogue is essentially based on the idea of confidence building and resolving those issues that are possible to resolve and not getting into intractable issues that might take much longer to resolve," Khurshid told PTI in an interview.

"Obviously, that is where we will start off once again," he said.

Khurshid noted the positive comments that Pakistan Prime Minister-designate Nawaz Sharif made including on speeding up the Mumbai attack case trial there, not allowing the use of Pakistani soil for anti-India activities and the need to build peace with India.

Asked about the counter-terrorism cooperation with Saudi Arabia, which he visited, Khurshid said, "My last meeting was with the Minister for Internal Security who is very, very upbeat on India and who wants much more to happen between India and Saudi Arabia in terms of engaging on issues of counter terrorism".

He said he had also flagged the issue of cyber security during the meeting with the Saudi Minister "on which he said he is completely on board".

"He thinks that we have a shared destiny and he certainly

with the extremist groups and follow the Afghan constitution.

Khurshid said Saudis wanted to know in greater detail about India's view and perception "which again is broadly there but we are still waiting for more clarity to take place".

"We don't know how the Afghan-driven peace process with Taliban will finally pan out.

Whether the Doha office for this purpose is going to get activated and whether the Taliban will explicitly and specifically commit themselves to the red lines," he said.

He said that Afghan President Hamid Karzai during his visit to India "wasn't in a position to give details because I think it is still work in progress".

"We have said to Saudi that we would be very happy to closely engage with them, we would like to keep in touch with them and as things develop and as things become more obvious, we can then pick up the pieces of our discussion," he said.

Khurshid added Saudis "did not seem to have strong conclusive views".

"Their engagement and closer engagement with Afghanistan have been sought by the Afghan govt and I think they are still making up their mind on how to proceed and learning from experiences of countries like India who are already there in a big way," he said.

Asked how many people are expected to return to India from Saudi Arabia due to the controversial 'Nitaqat' law, Khurshid said, "We are working on this. It is still too early.

May be some thousands people, few thousand people will come back."

Asked how many people are expected to return to India from Saudi Arabia due to the controversial 'Nitaqat' law, Khurshid said, "We are working on this. It is still too early.

May be some thousands people, few thousand people will come back." sounded to me as a person who feels strongly for India," he said.

On the Saudi stand on Afghanistan and the red lines that India says should be adhered to while negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban, he said, "I think they are quite happy with the red lines".

The international community had earlier drawn red lines under which those wanting to join talks had to abjure violence, cut links

He stressed that the grace period of three months given to expatriates to regularize their papers is a generous offer.

"It is such a generous offer that we have that people who are unable or have been unable to live with their original sponsors can be in the market place to be picked up by other sponsors and that process is going on.-PTI

PML-N govt will try Musharraf for treason LAHORE: The incoming PML- cently informed the Supreme N government is ready to hold the Court of its inability to conduct trial of former Pakistani military the trial of Musharraf. ruler Pervez Musharraf over It told the apex court it could charges of treason, a party leader not take any controversial step said here. that would be irreversible for the The caretaker government that incoming elected government. conducted the May 11 polls had The PML-N won the general refused to initiate proceedings election and Sharif is set to beagainst Musharraf under Article come premier for a record third 6 of the Constitution for treason term. because of its limited mandate, but Musharraf is currently being the PML-N has decided not to held at his farmhouse on the outspare the former army chief who had overthrown the government "Sharif has made it clear that of Nawaz Sharif in 1999.

"Yes we have de- he has no personal issue cided to try Musharraf with Musharraf but he should for treason in the Supreme Court. Musharraf be tried for breaking the law had violated the Constitution and he should and violating the Constituface the music," PML- tion," Azeem said.

N parliamentarian Tariq Azeem said.

Prime Minister-elect Nawaz skirts of Islamabad, which has Sharif was very clear about trying been declared a "sub-jail".

Musharraf for violating the ConHe is facing charges over the stitution, he said.

2007 assassination of former pre"Sharif has made it clear that mier Benazir Bhutto, the killing of he has no personal issue with Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Musharraf but he should be tried Bugti in a 2006 military operation for breaking the law and violating and the detention of dozens of the Constitution," Azeem said. judges during the 2007 emergency.

The caretaker government re- -PTI

India committed to taking 'hard' decisions: PM Cont’d from page 5

He said the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) was also making good progress and had moved from the planning to the implementation stage. A number of priority projects for implementation from the first tranche of USD 4.5 billion provided by Japan for the DMIC have been listed.

"We have resolved the issues of priority sector lending treatment to DMIC projects. Restrictions on foreign currency borrowings have been relaxed. I understand a few problems remain relating to long term swap arrangements. We are willing to consider innovative suggestions to resolve these problems," he said, adding Japanese banks are being given licenses to open branches in metropolitan areas.

Japan has also offered financial and technical support for a detailed project report for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway Route.

"This is an ambitious project and we will need to take a holistic view, based on our infrastructure needs, commercial viability, overall national priorities and the availability of financial resources," he said.

Referring to the Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor, he said it provided another focus for expanded Japanese industrial cooperation in future.

He said a preliminary study for a comprehensive integrated master plan for this corridor has been completed and the second phase of the project was about to commence.

Noting that the two countries have been engaged in an energy dialogue to address some of the challenges in energy security, including the issue of access to assured, reliable, secure and affordable supply of hydrocarbons, Singh said Japanese investments in India in the areas of solar power generation, clean coal technologies and upgrading of brown coal would be welcomed. -PTI

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Zulu group accuses South African Indians of racism DURBAN: A Zulu pressure group has called for South African Indians to be excluded from transformation processes, citing "overt racism" towards Black South Africans from the time that Mahatma Gandhi was in the country.

But both the provincial government and the Indian community have dismissed the suggestions. Mazibuye African Forum, claiming to advocate socio-economic justice for indigenous Africans in South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal province, was reacting to a decision by the provincial govern-

ment to erect a statue in Durban to commemorate the arrival of the first Indians in 1860 as indentured laborers for sugar cane farms.

"We have and are still calling for the Indians to be completely excluded from Black Economic Empowerment, Affirmative Action as well as Employment Equity unconditionally, with immediate effect and reiterate that their classification with Africans as a previously disadvantaged group is not only counter-productive but counter-revolutionary as well," Mazibuye chairman Zweli Sangweni said in a statement. -PTI

Gallery showcasing Indian art opens in Dubai DUBAI: A new gallery showcasing Indian art in the Middle East has opened in Dubai with an exhibition featuring paintings by some of India's well known artists.

The gallery will run the exhibition titled 'Pioneers of Indian Modernism' till June 30 where six works by MF Husain, SH Raza, Tyeb Mehta, VS Gaitonde, Ram Kumar and Akbar Padamsee are on display.

The newly opened space has been named 'Sovereign' and is part of an expansion plan undertaken by India's 50year-old Pundole Art Gallery and Pundole's auction house.

The gallery will try to popularize regional art and serve as an advisor to private and corporate art collectors.

"The concept of Sovereign evolved from a multi-pronged mission. Although it may be a while before Indian art truly comes of age, it has made great headway in recent years, and is a buzzword for international museums, auctioneers, and art collectors,"

said owner and curator Dadiba Pundole.

According to Pundole, the Indian art market is currently valued at USD 400 million within a global art market that exceeds

USD 60 billion.

"The best way to look at these figures is to gauge, and then to harness the immense growth potential. At Sovereign, our aim is simply to make Indian art more available and accessible to collectors in the Middle East," he said. -PTI

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Pak jihadists replace slain al-Qaeda leaders NEW YORK: Committed Pakistani jihadists with ties to Afghan militants have replaced the slain top al-Qaeda leaders killed

by US drones in the country's restive tribal region, which analysts fear could plunge into "deeper chaos" after American troops leave neighboring Afghanistan in 2014.

"From multibillion-dollar military aid to stealthy and secretive drone strikes, Pakistan, perhaps even more than Afghanistan, has been the central focus of America's 12year war" on terror, the New York Times reported.

The paper said, "Although many senior leaders of Al Qaeda sheltering there have been felled by CIA missiles, they have been largely replaced by committed Pakistani jihadists with ties that span the border with Afghanistan."

The unruly tribal belt in northwestern Pakistan, a hotbed of Islamist militancy, has witnessed about 360 US drone strikes in the past decade, killing several high-ranking al-Qaeda commanders who took shelter in the restive region.

"Under pressure from Washington, Pakistan helped the CIA arrest some jihadists, while it quietly sheltered other armed militant groups, like the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, who were seen as furthering Pakistani interests in Afghanistan and India," the NYT said.

"With American combat troops leaving Afghanistan in 2014, and the drone campaign already winding down in Pakistan,

Kerala won’t let NRI businessman withdraw THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the government would not allow NRI entrepreneur from the state, M A Yousuf Ali, to withdraw from the convention centre project at Bolgatty in Kochi.

"Ali's decision to withdraw from the project is not acceptable. The land at Bolgatty was handed over to him under lease as per law. This was made clear by the Port Trust Chairman," he told reporters here.

Supporting Ali's venture, Chandy said he had been in the forefront in taking the Smart City Project forward during LDF government's tenure.

"There is no mistake on the part of Ali," he said.

On CPI-M's charge that the Lulu Group had encroached on government land to set up their Mall at Kochi, Chandy said he should not be humiliated.

Angered over the charge, Ali had announced he was withdrawing from the project, which he claimed would have given direct employment to more than 4,000 persons.

However, the Bolgatty project of the Lulu Group has also run into trouble with allegations of undervaluation of land given to the project by Cochin Port Trust. -PTI

“Pakistan helped the CIA arrest some jihadists, while it quietly sheltered other armed militant groups, like the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, who were seen as furthering Pakistani interests in Afghanistan and India”

analysts fear that unless the Pakistani Army can assert itself conclusively, the tribal region could be plunged into deeper chaos," the paper said.

"It's going to be a lot of trouble," Hasan Askari-Rizvi, a Pakistani academic and defense analyst, was quoted as saying by the paper. "If the insurgency increases in Afghanistan, it will spill into Pakistan's tribal areas, where the Taliban will become very confident."

For 12 years, the United States' security-driven policy has shaped power, politics and militancy in Pakistan, a country

with a network of seemingly indefatigable jihadi groups and a stockpile of over 100 nuclear warheads, it said.

Pakistan has witnessed an Islamist surge in recent years that has killed tens of thousands of people across the nation.

"Pakistani leaders who have long demanded an American exit from their region may get their wish, but a broader disengagement is also likely to diminish the financing, prestige and political importance Pakistan held as a crucial player in global counter-terrorism efforts, and could upset its internal stability," it said. -PTI

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Employers using social media for internal communication NEW YORK: Employers are now utilizing a host of social media tools such as instant messaging and social networks to communicate with their employees, a new study has found.

The research, which was based on surveys of 290 organizations from across North America, Europe and Asia, found that more than half of the employers surveyed currently use various social media tools as part of their internal communication initiatives as a way to build community.

Among the companies surveyed, instant messaging, used by 77 per cent, and streaming audio and video, used by 61 per cent, were the most popular social media tools, 'BusinessNewsDaily' reported.

Other tools being widely used include human resources or employee blogs, enhanced online employee profiles, social networks, SMS messaging and mo-

bile apps, according to the study by global professional services company Towers Watson.

"We believe that social media can be a great tool for communicating with employees in the workplace," said Kathryn Yates, global leader of communication con-

sulting at Towers Watson.

"By its nature, social media is designed to build community and could help engage employees on key topics such as performance,

collaboration, culture and values," Yates said.

Despite the increased adoption, reviews regarding each tool's effectiveness have been less than overwhelming. The study found that for each social media tool, less than half of those using it find it to be effective.

Also, only 40 per cent rated the use of social media technology as cost-effective.

However, researchers believe the importance of social media tools will only grow as businesses become more dependent on remote workers.

Currently, just 23 per cent of those surveyed said their company is effective at building community among its remote workers. -PTI

UN report calls for moratorium on lethal robots NEW YORK: The UN special rapporteur on extra judicial killings has presented a report recommending a moratorium on the development and use of "lethal robots" and the establishment of a high-level panel to discuss a policy for these weapons, which are designed to kill enemies "autonomously" on behalf of human soldiers.

The issue is expected to be taken up at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council set to convene in Geneva tomorrow.

With remotely piloted drone aircraft already in use, the report appears as fears grow that that some countries may eventually introduce these so-called killer robots.

Last month, rights group Human Rights Watch also started a

campaign calling for a ban on fully autonomous weapons.

The recommendations were compiled by Christof Heyns, the UN special rapporteur on extra

With remotely piloted drone aircraft already in use, the report appears as fears grow that that some countries may eventually introduce these so-called killer robots judicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

He urges the Human Rights

Council to call on all states to declare moratoriums on the testing, production, use of the robots.

He also recommends that the UN high commissioner for human rights convenes a high-level panel on lethal robots with the participation of experts in law, robotics, computer science, military operations and ethics.

Heyns incorporated these recommendations in his report, which expresses concern that robotic weapons may evolve into "autonomous" systems that can select and engage targets through computer programs and sensors without intervention by a human operator.

The report notes the danger of robots killing even those who are wounded and unable to fight or who are in the process of surrendering.- PTI

Indian submarine in distress gets Egyptian help CAIRO: India's submarine INS Sindhurakshak received help from Egyptian Navy when it encountered extreme bad weather and rough sea on its way back home after mid-life up-gradation in Russia.

The Sindhurakshak, a Russian Kilo Class submarine built in 1997 at Admiralteiskie Verfi shipyard in

St Petersburg, underwent mid-life up-gradation.

The Egyptian Navy towed the submarine to Port Said along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in March, sources said.

Welcoming the gesture, Indian ambassador to Egypt Navdeep Suri praised the professional han-

dling by the Egyptian Navy.

In a thank you cable to Egypt's Defense and Military Production Minister Gen Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, Suri said, "(Egyptian) Naval troops towed the submarine in a professional way to a safe Egyptian port", the official MENA news agency reported. -PTI

Pak plane scare pair to remain in custody till August LONDON: Two British Paki- scheduled stop at Manchester stani men charged with threaten- Airport after the pilot sent a siging to blow up a PIA aircraft were nal to Air Traffic Control. remanded in custody till August The two British citizens were 5 by a court here. traveling back from Pakistan afTayyab Subhani, 30, and ter attending Safdar's mother's Mohammed Safdar, 41, were de- funeral, the court was told. tained at Stansted Airport after a The Boeing 777 plane, carryPakistan International Airlines ing 308 passengers, was shad(PIA) flight they were on had to be escorted to safety by Royal Air The Boeing 777 plane, carForce Typhoon jets rying 308 passengers, was over UK airspace. shadowed into Stansted The two have been charged with endanger- Britain's designated countering the aircraft. terrorism airport by Royal Air The charge against Force jets after the pilot them read out at Chelmsford Magis- reported threats being made trates' Court said the duo had made false threats that owed into Stansted Britain's "crew and passengers would be designated counter-terrorism killed and the aircraft blown up airport by Royal Air Force jets before landing which was false, after the pilot reported threats misleading or deceptive". being made.

Subhani, a taxi driver, and Magistrate Sarah-Jane Davies Safdar, a restaurant worker, from refused an application to grant Lancashire spoke only to confirm the men bail. their names and addresses.

Endangering an aircraft carries Lawyers for the men said it was a maximum sentence of life impristheir intention to plead not guilty. onment and their case will be dealt PIA Flight PK 709 from Lahore under the UK's Aviation Security was diverted en route to its Act 1982. -PTI

Soda addiction as bad for your teeth as meth or crack WASHINGTON: Diet soda junkies, beware! Gulping down excessive amounts of soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, a new study has warned.

Methamphetamine, crack cocaine and soda - sweetened or not - are all highly acidic and can cause similar dental problems, according to Dr Mohamed Bassiouny, professor of restorative dentistry at the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia.

"You look at it side-to-side with 'meth mouth' or 'coke mouth,' it is startling to see the intensity and extent of damage more or less the same," Bassiouny said.

The acid in soda is in the form of citric acid and phosphoric acid, Bassiouny said, adding without good dental hygiene, constant exposure can cause erosion and significant oral damage, 'HealthDay News' reported.

In the study, Bassiouny found that a woman in her 30s who drank two liters of diet soda daily for three to five years experienced tooth rot and decay remarkably similar to that suffered by a 29year-old methamphetamine addict and a 51-year-old habitual crack

cocaine user.

The younger man had used methamphetamine for three years, and often downed two or three cans of regular soda a day because the drugs made his mouth so dry. The older man reported an 18-year history of crack abuse, the report said.-PTI

Tech News Bata to launch sunglasses, scarves MUMBAI: Bata, a household name in the footwear market, is diversifying its business in accessories categories like sunglasses and scarves and is expecting to net 15-20 per cent of revenues from this area in the next two-three years.

"Our footwear business is growing at about 20 per cent annually, which is very good, but we want a diverse portfolio.

While we already have handkerchiefs in the market, in the next one month, we will introduce sunglasses and scarves," Bata Managing Director Rajeev Gopalakrishnan told PTI. Over the next two-three years, the non-footwear business should contribute 15-20 per cent of the overall revenues, he added.

"We want to be a contemporary brand, present across categories. The products will be priced keeping in mind the middle and the upper-middle class population," Gopalakrishnan said.

These products will be introduced across Bata stores.

Bata has over 1,350 stores, including 1,000 company-owned stores. -PTI

Dabur expands packaged food business NEW DELHI: FMCG major Dabur India has announced expansion of its packaged food business with the launch of fruit juicebased drinking yoghurts under the Real Activ brand.

"Unlike most other yoghurtbased products available in the market today, the Real Activ Drinking Yoghurt range is a unique combination of yoghurt and fruit juice in a drinkable format," Dabur India Ltd said in a statement.

The new Real Activ Drinking Yoghurt will be available in two delicious variants of Mango and Strawberry, it added.

It will be available in two stock keeping units of 1 liter and 200 ml priced at Rs 105 and Rs 25, respectively.

The company said it has also roped in Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu to endorse the brand.

"With the launch of Real Activ Drinking Yoghurt, we aim to not only expand the Real Activ brand but also give our consumers more choices to make their modern hectic lifestyle healthier," Dabur India Ltd Category Head-Foods Praveen Jaipuriar said.-PTI

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Smartphones may save 22 days of your time per year NEW YORK: Smartphone apps help users save 88 minutes of their time in a day or 22 days a year, a new study has found.

The study by market research firm Harris Interactive, based on the responses of 2,120 adults, found that 97 per cent of smartphone owners use at least one app on their device.-PTI

June 7, 2013

Iran offers oil fields at lucrative terms to India NEW DELHI: Rattled by India sharply cutting down purchase of its oil, Iran has offered oil fields on lucrative terms and routing gas pipeline through sea to avoid Pakistan, provided New Delhi raised oil imports.

Iran mounted a high-level delegation led by its Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi to impress upon New Delhi to raise oil purchases, which were cut to 13.3 million tons in 2012-13 from 18 million tons in the previous year.

This year imports are slated to fall further with Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), which bought 3.9 million tons of Iranian oil in 2012-13, not importing any so far this fiscal.

"We had a very fruitful meeting," Ghasemi said describing India as "brother and great neighbor".

"There is great relation and history between the two countries," he said after a 150-minute meeting with Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily.

While Ghasemi refused to di-

vulge details of discussion, Moily said there were "certain issues and difficulties" which need to be resolved, in apparent reference of western sanctions making import

Delhi has refused to join the pipeline over concerns of safety of the line and supplies in Pakistan.

Alternatively, Iran offered to ship the gas in its liquid form (liq-

as well as investing in Iran difficult.

Sources said Tehran was also willing to re-route the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline through an under-sea route to totally avoid going through Pakistan. New

uefied natural gas or LNG).

Also, it offered a production sharing contract (PSC) to ONGC Videsh Ltd for the Farzad-B gas field, which is estimated to hold 13 Trillion cubic feet of recoverable reserves - three times the size

of known reserves in Reliance Industries' KG-D6 block.

Iran traditionally offers only service contract to foreign companies, giving them a pre-fixed rate of fee for their effort in exploring and producing oil.

In contrast, a production sharing contract will give the foreign country ownership of the oil and gas explored and produced as also the freedom to ship it wherever they want.

Indian state-run firms led by OVL's contract for exploring the gas-rich Farsi block too is a service contract which if converted into a production sharing regime would mean that New Delhi can get close to 13 trillion cubic feet of gas.

"We had a very fruitful meeting. We are happy to visit our brother in our neighbor, India which is our great neighbor and brother. There is a great relationship and history between the two countries (and) we are looking for further(ing) (this) relationship," the Iranian Minister said.

Cont’d on page 12

Amway India Chairman, 2 Directors arrested KOZHIKODE: Network marketing firm Amway's India Chairman and CEO William S Pinckney and two company Directors have been arrested in the south Indian city Kozhikode on charges of financial irregularities.

The two directors are Sanjay Malhotra and Anshu Budhraja, crime branch sources said.

The arrests were made on a complaint of a woman who claimed to have incurred loss through the network and on the basis of three cases registered against the company last year in Wayanad district, they said.

Police had questioned the trio earlier this month and had asked them to report again for further questioning. They were arrested when they arrived at the police

station.

Last year, the crime branch (economic offences) wing here had conducted searches at the Amway

closed and goods produced were also seized.

The searches were launched following a complaint lodged by Visalakshi of Kozhikode claiming that she had incurred losses.

Meanwhile, an A m w a y press release at Kochi said William S Pinckney the comoffice at Thrissur, Kozhikode and pany was providing consistent Kannur in the south Indian state support and cooperating with the of Kerala as part of its crackdown investigations of the Kerala Police on money chain activities. Their CB-CID further to the complaint godowns at these centers were filed in 2012.

The management represented by William S Pinckney and Anshu Budhraja and Sanjay Malhotra have always been present to answer any queries of CB-CID, it said.

"With respect to the Wayanad case of 2011 for which it is believed that arrest warrants have been issued, the company or its officials have not been issued any summons to join the investigation nor was any information sought.

"In this respect, the company management would have been happy to cooperate with the Wayanad Police in that matter as well, as we always have as a law abiding corporate citizen, following all laid down laws of the land," it said. -PTI

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Goa CM threatens to Effective governance can propel eliminate offshore casinos growth to 8%: Chidambaram CHENNAI: India's economy will continue to grow at 5-6 per cent "regardless" of what government does or doesn't do, but with effec-

ment and good governance can bring to the table, is more effective governance that raises the growth rate from six per cent to

P Chidambaram

tive governance it can rise to over 8 per cent, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said here.

The country should focus on ensuring the conditions for economic growth remain "intact", he added.

"We will grow at a rate of 5 or 6 per cent regardless of what government does and what government does not do. What govern-

above eight per cent or so", he said.

Chidambaram was speaking at the first edition of Excellence in Financial Journalism awards, organized by city-based Shriram Group, here tonight.

"India will continue to grow.

What we should focus on, is ensuring that the conditions for growth remain intact and that gov-

ernance becomes more and more effective, more and more responsible and more and more efficient", he said.

The Finance Minister said steps like efficient use of money and design of projects can propel the growth rate to 9 per cent.

"If we can use money efficiently, if we can use time efficiently, if we can conceive and design products and projects more efficiently surely our growth rate can cross eight or nine per cent," he said.

"Irrespective of government, irrespective of Ministers, irrespective of me, India's economy will grow. Difference we can make is to ensure that the growth is not modest at five or six per cent, but the growth is at a brisk rate of 8 or 9 per cent," he said.

India's GDP growth is estimated to have plunged to a decade low of 5 per cent in 2012-13.

Before financial meltdown in 2008, it was growing at over 8 per cent.

Chidambaram said developments in global economies should not affect Indian (stock) markets and instead the focus should be on the performance of domestic companies. -PTI

Chidambaram urges UAE investment in infrastructure sector DUBAI: Seeking more foreign structure and corporate debt secinvestment into India, Finance tors," Lokesh said.

Minister P Chidambaram met sovThe minister also promised to ereign wealth funds here and discussed scope for investing into the infrastructure sector and corporate bonds.

On his daylong visit to the Gulf-nation, he met senior government functionaries and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) Managing Director Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Indian ambassador to the UAE M K Lokesh told PTI. "The two sides discussed ways to Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan strengthen investments in each others' countries and the finance min- look into the issues related to the ister sought more investment from UAE investments in India, he said. the UAE, especially in the infraThe visit is part of

Chidambaram's global tour to attract foreign investments. He has held similar investor meets in Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Qatar, Canada and the US to attract foreign investment into India.

Chidambaram has been emphasizing that India offers "unlimited" investment opportunities in the infrastructure sector and the country is looking at spending around USD 1 trillion over five years in areas such as roads, airports and seaports.

India is betting big on foreign resources to finance the Current Account Deficit (CAD), which had widened to a record high of 6.7 per cent in October-December quarter of 2012-13.

In his earlier meetings with the investor community, Chidambaram had expressed India's commitment to economic reforms.

He also highlighted the measures proposed in the Budget 2013-14 for investments and markets to help the economy grow at 6.1-6.7 per cent. -PTI

PANAJI: Chief Minister of the western Indian state of Goa Manohar Parrikar has vowed to eliminate offshore casinos from the state's waterfronts before he completes his tenure, in four years.

"By the time I complete four years, there will be no casino boat in Goa's waters," Parrikar said, adding that he might require one more

offshore casinos after a certain cut-off date which would be decided by the government.

However, at the moment, he has not stopped renewing licenses of casinos, as it needs to be done only after proper regulations, he said.

"We have not entertained any new application. Also one of the casinos which had applied to transfer its license to another man-

Manohar Parrikar

year to completely get them out if there are any licensing obligations.

Goa has five offshore casino vessels anchored in River Mandovi and he said that there is no need to doubt the government's intention to remove offshore casinos from the river.

He said that the Goa government would not renew licenses of

agement was denied permission to do so. This is enough to indicate that we have no intention to encourage offshore casinos," Parrikar said.

When it was pointed out that another company, M/s Delta Corp, had sought permission to replace its old vessel with a new one, Parrikar feigned innocence on the issue. -PTI

Iran offers oil fields at lucrative terms to India Cont’d from page 11

The minister refused to get into specifics of discussions saying, "We had a good discussion. It is natural that our meetings are about energy sector."

Moily said "hardships and difficulties" in trade with Iran were discussed "threadbare" and the two countries were committed to finding a lasting solution to the problems.

"We had certain issues which we discussed threadbare.

Both of us expressed our desire to continue (doing) business with each other. Whatever the hardship and difficulties we would like to resolve and get over," he said.

India has cut oil imports from

Iran as United States and European sanctions made payments in foreign currency impossible besides making it difficult to find ships and insurance for refineries processing oil from the Persian Gulf nation.

Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline has been on drawing board for more than a decade due to New Delhi's reluctance to join.

Tehran wants OVL to quickly invest and develop the Farzad-B gas field, which is estimated to hold 21.68 trillion cubic feet of reserves of which 12.8 Tcf can be recovered.

OVL has delayed investing USD 5 billion in bringing the field to production for the fear of being sanctioned by the US. -PTI

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5 new experts appointed on AI Board NEW DELHI: The Indian Government has appointed five experts from different fields as parttime Directors on the Air India Board, including IIM-Ahmedabad professor Ravindra H Dholakia who had headed a panel to suggest cost-cutting measures for the ailing national carrier.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh appointed them to utilize their specialized skills to help Air India achieve the targets set by the government through its Turnaround and Financial Restructuring Plans, an official release said.

Besides Dholakia, other nonofficial part-time Directors are former CEO of Proctor and Gamble, Gurucharan Das, noted academic Prem Vrat, former IAF vice chief Air Marshal (Retd) K K Nohwar and prominent private equity investment manager Renuka Ramnath.

The Dholakia panel, which sub-

mitted its report in March, had recommended steps to cut costs and increase savings in line with best global practices. It went into the expenses structure of the company, identified loopholes which

The Dholakia panel, which submitted its report in March, had recommended steps to cut costs and increase savings in line with best global practices. It went into the expenses structure of the company led to wasteful expenditure and recommended measures to plug them.

The appointments are part of the makeover in the state-owned

airline's Board which would decide on key issues, including leasing out and monetization of key assets and boost the functioning of the two new engineering and ground handling subsidiaries in the backdrop of heightened competition.

In 2010, the Ministry had appointed five independent directors. Of them, three quit the next year. They were Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, M A Yousuffali, managing director of Abu Dhabibased Emke Group, and Amit Mitra, who contested elections to become Finance Minister of West Bengal.

The three-year tenure of two others - Ambuja Realty chief Harsh Neotia and IAF chief Fali Homi Major - ended this January, prompting the government to appoint outside professionals to steer the airline to a better future. -PTI

Mauritius seeks more investments from Indian firms PORT LOUIS: Home to a host of Indian firms and a vast Indianorigin population, Mauritius wants a larger number of companies from India to come here - for setting up businesses in the island nation as well as in other African countries.

Positioning itself as a 'tax-free gateway to Africa', Mauritius is also promising a host of other benefits to the Indian companies routing their investments to various African nations through its soil.

"Traditionally, India has been an important economic partner for Mauritius. We have many Indian companies present here," the country's Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Xavier Luc Duval told PTI here.

"As we see things going forward, Indian firms have the knowhow and experience to help develop many of our emerging clusters, either on their own or through partnerships," he said.

Listing out the sectors where Indian companies can invest in Mauritius, Duval said these included education space, ICT (Information, Communications and Technology), BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), medical, deep sea mining and ocean economy.

The minister said film shooting is another area that offers great growth opportunities and benefits

for Indian entities.

"As for the film industry, we are granting a 30 per cent refund on all the expenditure made in Mauritius.

"We have been traditionally

Xavier Luc Duval

been an important centre for Indian films anyway and now with this 30 per cent refund, we are expecting much more film producers to come and shoot their films here," he said.

With regard to Indian companies looking to invest in other parts of Africa through Mauritius, Duval said: "In terms of our free port (a kind of tax-free economic zone) being used as a base for onward

shipping to Africa, there are opportunities for India.

"Also, for manufacturing activities for export to Africa, we are offering zero per cent income tax if the companies operate in our free port," he said.

A large number of Indian companies are already present in Mauritius, an African nation in Indian Ocean which has been very close to India for a long time. The persons of Indian origin are estimated to account for close to 70 per cent of the country's total 1.3 million population.

Indian companies doing business here include public sector giants like Indian Oil, SBI, LIC, Bank of Baroda, New India Assurance Company, Telecommunications Consultant India Ltd (TCIL) and Mahanagar Telephone (Mauritius) Ltd. Besides, a host of private sector entities, such as Infosys, Oberoi Group, Apollo, Fortis, Essar, Essel, Amity, Binani Cements and Bharat Telecom are also present here. -PTI

Pak merchants seek paper import from India LAHORE: The All Pakistan Paper Merchants Association has demanded that the government should allow it to import paper from India to bring down prices and to end the hegemony of manufacturers.

APPMA president Mohammad Ajmal and former president Khamis Saeed Butt said paper should be placed in the list of essential items as it plays an important role in promoting education.

They demanded that imports of paper should be allowed through the Wagah land border crossing.

A huge amount of foreign exchange is being wasted on importing paper from other countries because of a ban on imports from India, they said.

The APPMA leaders said the new government would have to examine the affairs of the Federal Board of Revenue, which has been ignoring proposals from paper merchants for many years.

They said in a statement that consumers were forced to use inferior paper due to non-availability of quality paper. At the same time, millers are causing a huge loss to the national exchequer through under-invoicing and other methods, they alleged.

Paper merchants will extend every possible help to the PMLN, which is set to form the new government, for ensuring the availability of quality paper across the country, Ajmal and Butt said. -PTI

RBI imposes restrictions on bank loans against gold MUMBAI: In a bid to curb demand for gold, the Reserve Bank has imposed restrictions on banks and NBFCs for providing loans against gold coins as well as units of gold ETFs and mutual funds. "...it is advised that while granting advance against the security of specially minted gold coins sold by them, banks should ensure that the weight of the coin does not exceed 50 grams per customer," RBI said in a notification to banks.

Also banks have been asked to ensure that the amount of loan to any customer against gold ornaments, gold jewellery and gold coins (weighing up to 50 grams) should be within the board approved limit.

As specially minted gold coins sold by banks may not be in the nature of bullion or primary gold, there would be no objection to the

bank granting loans against these coins, it added.

The central bank further said that banks cannot give advances against gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and units of gold Mutual Funds.-PTI

Horoscope

14 India Post

June 7, 2013

www.indiapost.com

Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

JUNE 7 TH - JUNE 13 TH 2013 (March 21 to April 20)

E

fforts made in the past will show results now. You may successfully negotiate a big contract with a large organization. Chances of making some money through stocks and lottery still strong. You may be taking a short trip to a coastal area with family this week.

You will be slowly getting ready for an upcoming big event in the family.

(July 23 to August 22)

Y

ou may accept a new assignment or job this week. It will bedefinitely better than previous one. People in business will see sales surging up. You may replace one of the old vehicle with a new but economical car. You may spend some quality time with other professionals and quickly get acquainted. Clearance from government agency will come.

(April 21 to May 20)

A

government agency may give some run around causing little frustration in mind. Money wise you will do better and hit your financial goals without any difficulty. You may travel to a nice place with family this week. People prone to blood pressure should be extra careful for next few weeks. Any contract you sign will benefit you for long.

(May 21 to June 20)

C

ombination of Venus, Mercury and Jupiter if favorable. You will hear encouraging news from many directions. You may finally lay your hands on a nice property with lots of greenery around. A family reunion will cheer you up and you will get to spend some quality time with children. You are in line for a promotion or big raise.

(August 23 to September 22)

A

ny change in career at this point will prove to be blessing in disguise later on. You may dispose off some money making stocks and pocket the money. Some money can also come through legal channel this week. You may have to spend some money on repairs to one of your vehicle. You may change or drop your plans to attend a party this week.

(September 23 to October 22)

L

uck is definitely on your side. All hurdles big or small, will be followed by excellent solution. You will also receive valuable advice and guidance from a learned person. You may change your plans to visit a holy place because of some other important issue.

Loan application will get approved after submitting more paper work.

(June 21 to July 22)

Y

ou will be excited and start preparing for an upcoming long distance journey. You will attend couple of dinners this week and enjoy the company of family and a close friend. Stocks and any other kind of speculation will be profitable. There will be slight delay in relocation plans. You may order some real nice furniture for the house.

(October 23 to November 22)

M

eeting with some very successful people will go well and a favorable outcome is on the horizon. Do not go out of your way to help any one. You will be making a wise investment this week. Children will finalize a short vacation. You may invite few close friends at your place for dinner. It will be better to change the court date.

(November 23 to December 22)

Y

ou will enjoy the company of new friends. Business will pick up all of a sudden. Idea of initiating a law suit will continue to occupy your mind. Some visitors will confirm the date of their arrival.

People seeking for a change will be called for second interview and receive verbal confirmation. Bank balance will keep growing.

(December 22 to January 19)

H

ard work and patience will ultimately pay off. Things will get less stressful at work. You will continue to look for solution to an issue involving a child. Some of you may contact a small claim court to file a claim. An old friend will stop by to give invitation. You may start preparing for an upcoming long distance journey.

(January 20 to February 18)

Y

ou will feel content the way things are shaping up lately. Presence of three good planets in fifth will provide the necessary intellect and wisdom to make the best choices in personal as well as professional life. Some of you will be taking an important short business trip this week. Bank balance will start creeping up from now.

(February 19 to March 20)

Y

ou will gain an edge over the strong opponents and prove your point. Favorable outcome in legal matters also possible. You will get to meet few old friends at the party. Some of you may replace an old vehicle with new luxury model. You will buy some nice items for the house also. You will also give final shape to a short vacation.

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

June 7, 2013

www.indiapost.com

India Post 15

Desi News Himachal Day showcases Himachali heritage India Post News Service

MILIPITAS, CA: A colorful 'Himachal Day' was held for the second time at the India Community Center (ICC), Milipitas in Silicon Valley, California on Sunday, April 14 to mark the 66th Foundation Day of the North Indian State, nestled amongst the majestic snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.

Rajan Zed, who read the first Hindu opening prayer in United States Senate in Washington DC, and who also hails from Himachal, was the Guest of Honor. He traveled all the way from Reno to be part of the function. He recited a special opening prayer to start off the celebrations and said that it was events like these that brought communities together and he was so happy to be a part of it.

COMMUNITY

Jatt & Juliet cast performs live

ACROSS AMERICA www.indiapost.com

16 India Post

June 7, 2013

Details on page 25

AAPI Chicago convention among the best ever RAMESH SOPARAWALA & ASIAN MEDIA USA

Details on page 23

Thrilling concert by Sudha Ragunathan's ensemble Asian Media USA

Lamp lighting to set off AAPI Convention

CHICAGO, IL: Padmashree Sudha Ragunathan thrilled both connoisseurs of Carnatic music and those keen on experimental fusion by leading an ensemble that took liberties with traditional compositions while singing at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) in Lemont, on Sunday, May 5.

Ragunathan was accompanied

by Amit Heri (lead guitar), B. Raghavendra Rao (violin), Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan (mridangam), Guruprasad (ghatam), Arun Kumar (drums), and Keith Peters.

Details on page 20

Top singers make it a memorable concert

CHICAGO: The four-day convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) held in Chicago at Sheraton Hilton Towers from Thursday, May 23 was easily among the best organized by this premiere ethnic organization. It was evident from the attendance of an array of dignitaries, physicians from across the country, a number of informative seminars, meets of many a member medical organization, lavish entertainment and well thought out lunches and dinners.

The credit for this awesome show should go to the highly motivating leadership at the helm (Narendra Kumar and his team), the Convention Committee (Dr Birendra Marwah, Dr Uman Joshi, Dr Prem Rupani, Dr S Swaminathan

and Dr Satya Ahuja) and a number of volunteers who included a good number of second genera-

India Post News Service

NEWARK, CA: Unique Productions along with Sur Bahar Music School presented "Ek Haseen Shaam Aapke Naam" recently at Mehran restaurant in Newark, CA. It was a memorable musical concert before a packed house. Many missed the show since it was sold out a week before the event.

Details on page 24

AAPI President Dr. Narendra Kumar passing on Gravel to New President Dr Jayesh Shah

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn with Indian Minister Vylar Ravi

Shah. The mornings filled with well-attended Continuous Medical Education (CME) while the

evening banquets provided relaxation with varied entertainment.

Cont’d on page 19

AAPI officials and members with Sen Durbin

tion Indian physicians.

There was not a single dull moment and as Dr Ashok Jain of Michigan put it "those among us who did not come to this meet have admittedly missed a lot."

The first four days of the gala that continued into Monday, May 27 celebrated the leadership and displayed the achievements of outgoing AAPI President Dr Narendra Kumar, culminating on Sunday night in the handing over of the gavel and torch to young Dr Jayesh

AAPI Exhibition Launch by Senator Dick Durbin

Community Across America

June 7, 2013

India Post 17

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AMA President praises AAPI and IMGs RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

graduates have to wait up to three years to even apply for their unrestricted license. " Yet another area where IMGs face relatively uphill task is getting proper representations in leadership positions on state medical boards, RRCs, and specialty boards. These organizations and training programs shape the liAMA President Jeremy A Lazarus censing policies and essentially the future of the next and many more are active in varigeneration of physicians in this ous AMA sections" he observed. country. IMGs need to be adLazarus then recalled his expeequately represented in these or- rience while attending Health Care ganizations to make sure they are summit in Cochin early this year. heard, he said.

Many attendees at the meet pracAMA and its IMG Section, he said, is also lobbying to alleviate visa complications and delays. For example, the AMA supports federal legislation that would permanently reauthorize the J-1 Visa waiver program, expand the current cap on J-1 visa waivers from 30 positions to 50 positions per state, and exempt physicians-intraining from H-1B caps. He urged IMGS and Indian American physicians who are still out of fold of AMA to strengthen this organization and its IMGs section. "You

CHICAGO: Acknowledging the significant role played by Indian American physicians in the health care system of the country, Jeremy A Lazarus, President of the American Medical Association (AMA), strongly pitched for increasing the residency slots in general and International Medical Graduates in particular to overcome an impeding shortage of 60,000 physicians in the course of next four years only Addressing the 900 plus physicians at the 31 Annual Convention of AAPI, Lazarus said that "as our country approaches a looming physician shortage, IMGs not only bolster the number of physicians in practice, but also fill gaps in primary care and medically underserved areas." IMGs, he pointed out, tend to practice in areas that have a ratio of fewer than 120 physicians for every 100,000 people and a high percentage of elderly and minority patients.

Even as IMGs meet this critical need to improve U.S. health care for some of our more vulnerable populations, many IMGs are also committed to improving health care beyond their immediate communities.

In this context he lamented that "there aren't enough residency slots to accommodate the growth in graduates of American medical schools which makes it much harder for international graduates to obtain positions." The AMA goal is to have additional residency slots for 15,000 primary care, general surgery and other undersupplied specialty residency posiAMA supports federal tions AMA is also seeking legislation that would peran expansion of J-1 Visa waivers as that would manently reauthorize the J-1 make a difference in medi- Visa waiver program cal care for people in underserved rural and inner city neighborhoods. IMGs are a vital part of the medical work fill important roles in this regard - force and the American people often practicing in rural and inner need your knowledge and your city communities that are typically care," he said.

Lavishing praise on AAPI, he under-served by the medical comsaid that this medical body not munity.

Elaborating he said "despite only is the nation's largest interthis, the road to full-time practice national physician organization, it in this country is not exactly easy also represents the largest interfor IMGs as many states actually national physician population in have two different sets of evalua- the US. "It embraces more than 40 tion criteria for acceptance into their thousand physicians and 12 thouresidency programs - one for gradu- sand medical students, residents ates of American medical schools, and fellows. So it's no surprise that and one for graduates of interna- Indian-born physicians have emerged as leaders in the national tional schools."

"For instance, certain states will medical community, and in the grant a U.S. medical graduate their American Medical Association. unrestricted medical license after About 25 physicians of Indian orijust one year of residency, gin are in our House of Delegates, whereas international medical the AMA's policy-making body

tice medicine in the United States and a handful of other countries. "I was struck at this summit by the commitment to improve health care globally by the Indian physicians currently in practice here and in their native India," he said.

Lazarus took the opportunity to update those attending the meet about AMA efforts in mending the broken Medicare system that faces a threat of a nearly 30% Medicare pay cut and the broken sustainable growth rate formula - the SGR that's not sustainable and now growing.

AMA also continues to push for repeal of the 15-member Independent Payment Advisory Board. "Physicians already face arbitrary cuts due to SGR. The last thing we need is double jeopardy," he said The AMA also continues to monitor implementation of the Affordable Care Act and fight for the changes physicians need. For example, the AMA is helping shape proposed federal rules and guidance for health insurance ex-

changes, so that both state-run and federally-run exchanges include provisions that protect physicians and patients. The AMA also worked toward improvements in Medicaid.

For the program to remain viable, physicians must receive adequate reimbursement. The provision in the ACA that calls for raising Medicaid pay to Medicare levels for primary specialties from 2013-2014 will help. That's why, when proposals surfaced to eliminate this increase at the end of last year, the AMA organized 261 state, national and specialty medical societies in a letter of opposition. "Fortunately, Congress listened," he said.

AMA is also working to improve outcomes for medical students. It also seeks to reduce both the disease and cost burdens associated with some of the nation's most pervasive health conditions. Concluding he pitched again for widening AMA base. "If you are not a member of the AMA, I urge you to join us. We need your insights, your knowledge and your passion. Together, we are stronger," he said.

Community Across America

18 India Post

June 7, 2013

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Republican hopeful woos Indian Americans

A group of NIAPPI Indian delegates at Ted Cruz meet in Oakbrook

over 600. Shalabh (Shalli) Kumar, who led the NIAPPI delegation, also addressed the assembly and underlined the unique Indian American demographics and the

Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Delegates representing the National Indian American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI) joined the DuPage County chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) in hosting a reception for Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Monday, May 13 at Oak Brook Marriott Hotel.

The ambitious son of a Cuban father, Republican Presidential hopeful TedB Cruz who had fled with Shalli Kumar Castro's communism with just $100 stitched into growing importance of their vote.

Kumar emphasized his his underwear, Cruz received a rousing reception as presidential organization's commitment to inhopeful. The Senator briefly ad- dividual liberty, self-reliance, fisdressed the group of about 50 and cal discipline, free enterprise, and thanked the roomful of Indian and strong national defense. Dabbling Hispanic Republicans numbering on a strategy to win over the one

million Indian American voters to the Republican cause over the next decade, he observed that only 750K actually vote, with 70% of their vote going to Democrats.

Kumar underlined the need for a full scale national program from the Republican Party to induce at least 500K Indian American voters from the Democratic ranks by 2014, and 1M by 2016. He capped his presentation by projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as India's next Prime Minister, a Reagan-in-waiting, whom Republicans might endorse and emulate to their own benefit, given his wide popularity among the US Diaspora.

Illinois RNHA Chairman Steve Orlando observed that many would endorse the NIAPPI characterization of the values, entrepreneurial spirit, and charitableness of Indian Americans. There is perhaps a pressing need for a deeper analysis of the aspirations of Indian Americans for better aligning with Hispanic and other Asian immigrants and also to the American mainstream.

TM technique lowers BP and prevents heart attack MADHU PATEL

CHICAGO: Robert Schneider, MD asserted before physicians from around the country attending the 31st Annual AAPI Convention in Chicago that the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has a significant effect in lowering high blood pressure, besides lowering the incidence of heart attacks by 48 per cent.

Over 100 physicians were enthralled by Dr. Schneider detailing the research papers published over the last 40 years showing physiological changes during the TM technique.

Dr. Schneider has been the principal researcher of several studies on TM's effect on heart health Over 26% of the world's population is affected by hypertension which is the biggest cause of mortality, strokes and heart attacks. While drugs are able to reduce hypertension and heart attack, the TM technique achieves the same goals without numerous side effects.

The American Heart Association (AHA) published a report April 22 that concludes that Maharishi's TM technique lowers blood pressure, and recommends it be considered in clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of Hypertension. The report stated that the lower blood pressure through (TM) technique practice is associated with substantially reduced rates of death, heart attack, and stroke. The purpose of the report was to inform physicians which alternatives are effective.

Part of the impetus for this statement from the AHA comes from patients themselves, who are sometimes reluctant to take medi-

cation.

Based on a fast-growing interest in researching the TM technique, he also revealed that there is a significant reduction in medical costs among the 5000 patients practicing this technique compared to costs incurred by for nonmeditators. Further, studies on aging also demonstrated that those who had been practicing this technique for five years or

Robert Schneider

longer had a biological age of 12 years less than their non-meditating chronological counterparts.

Dr. Schneider also reviewed other research in progress with lowering PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in shell-shocked veterans, and ADHD, as well as the news from Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. For more information on the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, visit sites w w w. m u m . e d u / i n m p rschneider@totalhearthealth.info , www.tm.org or call 828 773 6038

PHO to celebrate Punjabi Youth Festival India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Punjabi Heritage Organization of Chicago (PHO) has scheduled Punjabi Youth Festival for Saturday, July 13 at 7 p.m. at Des Plaines Theatre, Des Plaines, a north side suburb of Chicago.

It is first ever Punjabi Youth Festival that would be highlighted with a night full of cultural performances by many local talents performing Bhangra, Gidha, and much more. Ajmer Sing Pannu, a PHO spokesman, says that this

Kabbadi game in progress

night is dedicated entirely to the "youngsters" of the community as it will give a platform to local Punjabi talent.

This is an effort to empower our young generation, and provide them a platform to prove their leadership skill, he added For the first

time, PHO will be hosting Mr & Ms Punjab cultural pageant. The Mr & Ms Punjab Pageant is a platform for guys and girls to showcase their knowledge and love of Punjabi culture, according to PHO sources.

Participants please contact phochicago@hotmail.com or call Ajmer Singh Pannu 630-440-3458, Jaskaran Dhaliwal 630-290-7993, Happy Heer 630-205-6575, Lakhvir Singh Sahota 847-489-7773, Santokh Singh DC 847-338-3866, Lovedeep Dulat 224-425-0705 or any PSCC official

Community Across America

June 7, 2013

India Post 19

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AAPI Chicago convention among the best ever Cont’d from page 16

The lunches and dinners close on the heels of mini-summits, panels featuring distinguished speakers and politicians representing

Ami Bera could not make it to the Convention but in a televised message applauded AAPI and the Indian American Physicians for their unequivocal commitment to the give their best to the health care

Senate Majority Leader Herry Reid addressing AAPI Members

Indo-US convergence, could not have been better timed.

Senator (D) Dick Durbin and American Medical Association (AMA) President Dr. Jeremy

system here and the society at large.

Recurrent themes across the speeches were the centrality of unity-in-diversity to the cultures and civic life of both nations,

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard with Dr Bharat Barai and Dr Umang Patel

Lazarus, and AMA VP for Corporate Diversity Eric Peterson spoke over lunch on Friday while Senator (D) Harry Reid, Rep. (D) Tulsi Gabbard, and VP of Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Association (FAIMER) Jack Boulet spoke the next day. Saturday dinner banquet featured Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao and Congressman Peter Roskam (Ill. 6th Dist.), while Sunday's dinner was graced by the speeches of Illinois Governor (D) Patrick Quinn, Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, and Chris Kaplan from Boehringer Ingelheim.

Physicians and for a change, Media people were recognized during the course of three days.

Awards were conferred by the attending dignitaries. Congressman

Asian immigration as the legitimate and necessary continuation and expansion of the earlier influx of white settlement, urgency of healthcare and immigration reform in the US, tremendous contribution of Indian American physicians to healthcare in their countries of origin and adoption especially for the underprivileged, and AAPI's growing political clout as the second largest association of medical professionals next to AMA. Lazarus, Peterson, Boulet, and Kaplan spoke of India's contribution to medicine and the various Indo-US and public-private partnerships taking shape. While the US politicians underlined their close and longstanding personal ties to the Indian community through autobiographical sketches, Nirupama Rao recalled her three years as Ambassador to

AAPI audience

The outgoing and incoming presidents with members

indispensable neighbor China to underscore the people-to-people relationship that underwrites the Indo-US relationship at the grassroots. Of Samoan-Caucasian parentage, Gabbard affirmed her attachment to India through her adopted Hindu faith and its gift of the Bhagavad Gita as the bedrock of her political commitments.

The evening entertainment was designed around parallel themes such as introducing the beauty of the city and its cultural life to outof-town visitors, bringing here to Chicago the diversity idiosyncrasies of the motherland, and overall to show that hardworking Indian doctors could be also artistically gifted and fun-loving people.

While the Sheraton stands along the scenic river walk, the Friday evening lake cruise - following the indoor fashion show - offered wider views of the cityscape, with

Saturday evening featured Bollywood singer KK (Krishna Kumar Kunath) whose passionate and melodious voice enthralled many but some preferred to enjoy

Young Volunteers and the future of AAPI who rendered yeomen services for the successful organization of 31st AAPI convention

the Chicago blues elsewhere in the

Eye catchng dance performance from Soria Dance Academy artists

socializing over dinner followed by dancing.

in India. Attendees could be overhead day-after-day singing the praises of the Windy City.

It was an awesome gesture from Indian Overseas Minister Vyalar

city. Performing in North America for the first time on Sunday, Soorya Festival from Kerala directed by Soorya Krishnamoorthy offered nonstop medley of Sanskrit chants, male acrobatics, classical Bharata Natyam and Kathak, tribal and fusion dances, movie songs from the regional languages (Hindi, Tamil, etc.), and thumping percussion exchanges.

"King of Comedy" Raju Srivastava from Mumbai obliged the Americanized professionals, who still filled the hall well past midnight, to rollover with fits of laughter as he reminded them in Hindi of their often rather "primitive" roots

Ravi to meet on one-to-one basis the Indian media and representatives of associations and other Chicago community activists in his suite at the Sheraton Hotel. He patiently listened to various complaints and suggestions, and was gracious enough to admit some of the structural weakness in the Indian system of justice, problems in OCI implementation and assured to forward some of the views expressed to the right departments.

Indian Consul Gangte had taken initiative to organize the meet and he also sought to clarify some of the points raised during the discussion.

Formally inaugurated by Sen. Durbin on Friday afternoon, the exhibition hall featured a wide range of pharmaceutical products, medical services, support systems, and also other vendors of Indian clothes, jewelry, handicrafts, even real estate, retirement homes in South Asia, and matchmaking services for professionals. A major sponsor of the convention was Bharat Matrimonial, which offered a well-attended standup comedy on miscommunication between the sexes, particularly those brought up in a Desi environment.

20 India Post

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June 7, 2013

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Thrilling concert by Sudha Ragunathan's ensemble Asian Media USA

CHICAGO, IL: Padmashree Sudha Ragunathan thrilled both connoisseurs of Carnatic music and those keen on experimental fusion by leading an ensemble that took liberties with traditional compositions while singing at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) in Lemont, on Sunday, May 5.

Ragunathan was accompanied

by Amit Heri (lead guitar), B. Raghavendra Rao (violin), Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan (mridangam), Guruprasad (ghatam), Arun Kumar (drums), and Keith Peters.

The concert was a part of the tour emanating from the movie

tional bond between mother and son perhaps overshadowed the narrative interest.

Following the invocatory prayer by an HTGC temple priest and welcome address by Dr Ram Bala, the concert began with Muttuswami Dikshitar's energetic Mahaganapatim in raagam Nattai, followed by Harikesha Nallur Mutthaiah Bhagavathar's set composition (varnam) in raagam Khamas.

India Funk, composed by Heri to celebrate the affinities among the diverse musical genres of the world, especially jazz and Carnatic, gave violinist Rao ample leeway to depart from strict traditional boundaries while echoing and responding to the lead guitar.

Live performance from artists (L to R) Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan (mridangam), Guruprasad (ghatam), and Sudha Ragunathan (vocal)

Morning Raga (2004), which culminated in lead actress Shabana Azmi rendering Thaaye Yashoda sung by Ragunathan in a manner that strikes a chord in the hearts of even those otherwise not attuned to Indian classical music.

Amit Heri had intended to popularize Carnatic music beyond its narrow circle of connoisseurs and many fans came away feeling that this powerful rendering of the emo-

Introducing the underlying concept, Ragunathan had praised Heri for fusing contemporary styles, such as jazz, into the movie's sound tracks even while preserving the uniqueness of the original Carnatic ragas and the character of the individual compositions Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiah's much awaited Thaaye (O Mother) Yashoda in the plaintive raagam

Morning Raga ensemble taking a bow before the cheering audience. -Pics Asian Media USA

Thodi, with its innovative fusion rendering blurs the distinction between divine and worldly expressions of childhood waywardness and parental love (vaatsalya).

While retaining the undiminished flavor, even exact phrases, from the original score, the ensemble greatly expanded the treatment that was now capped by a fullfledged percussion exchange.

Annamacharya's Brahmam Okate in raagam Bhowli that followed the intermission proved so popular that Ragunathan was obliged to sing it again just before the end, the second time with full audience participation, clapping, singing, and even dancing. There followed a languid jazzy rendering of several Sanskrit prayers, such as Guru Stotram and Upanishadic Asato Maa Sat Gamaya, in raagam Hamsadhvani.

Gandhian statesman C. Rajagopalachari's rare Tamil composition Kurai Ondrum Illai ("No grievance have I") in Raaga

Maalikaa, touched the hearts of all.

A natural choice for this fusion concert, the lilting "English Note" popularized by Madurai Mani Iyer blended seamlessly into Thyagaraja's Sita Kalyanam in raagam Shankaraabharanam. After Purandara Dasa's Bhaagyadaa Lakshmi Baramma in raagam Pantuvaraali (in Madhyama shruti) and repeat of Brahmam

Usha Pariti, while giving the vote of thanks, announced the rich variety of classical programs that HTGC was hosting over the next couple of months.

This "national integration" tour of ten North American cities is organized by the Cleveland Aradhana Committee that brought the whole ensemble over from India. Ragunathan was also intro-

Annamacharya's Brahmam Okate in raagam Bhowli that followed the intermission proved so popular that Ragunathan was obliged to sing it again just before the end, the second time with full audience participation, clapping, singing, and even dancing Okate, a Balamurali Krishna thillaana aptly concluded the concert.

The artistes were honored with shawls and gift baskets. HTGC Fine Arts Committee Coordinator

duced as Founder of Samudhaaya Foundation, which has supported health care for underprivileged children to the tune of Rupees 1.25 crore ($300,000) over the course of twelve years.

Jayasudha captivates Chicago with her inspiring story ARVIND PATEL

CHICAGO: Jayasudha, SouthIndian movie actress and a prominent A.P. state legislator, captivated the Chicago audience with her profoundly soul-stirring testimony of her personal faith at packed pews of the Grace Lutheran Church in Westchester, Illinois on May 22.

This community event hosted under the aegis of United Telugu Christians of Chicago [UTCC] drew a host of fans, guests, lay leaders and pastors to hear her inspiring story that changed her life.

"I want to be like Mother Teresa and I want to serve the Lord" solemnly declared Jayasudha in her testimony narrative amidst applause. She pledged that she would like to embark on a journey of altruism to help the poor and

the neediest with her Shine Development Trust charitable organization (India).

Articulating her personal story of faith, identity and spiritual triumph, Jayasudha recalled the frightful incident of March 1985 that changed her life.

Jayasudha narrated that while she was honeymooning in Thailand, she and her husband went on a water jet-ski ride and how in a split-second she lost grip and fell into Keerthi K. Ravoori and Dr Heyer Paul Devarapalli presenting the City of Chicago the water not knowing Resolution to Jayasudha how to swim.

While in that full panic-mode, she was beginning to drown and tine figure that gently lifted her out Jayasudha added that she that's when she encountered a of the deep waters and saved her screamed 'Jesus' in abject fear as white curly-haired, blue-eyed pris- from certain drowning. This, she

emphatically added, was the divine face of Jesus Christ that appeared and saved her life.

Describing the birth of Shine Trust Development, Jayasudha said she is interested in helping the poor and the most needy. Narrating the scriptural reference 'Love thy neighbor as thyself' she underlined her passion for taking up humanitarian causes. Her longterm mission is to open a home for the aged to help senior citizens live a life of dignity.

The special evening with Jayasudha started with choir singing. The praise and worship songs led by Sunny Mathews were followed by a welcome address by Vasanth Charles. The opening prayer was offered by Surender Charles.

Cont’d on page 22

Community Across America

June 7, 2013

India Post 21

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Gov joins Asian Heritage Month celebrations THERESA MAH & SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: It was a very spe- wines made in Illinois. cial occasion to celebrate Asian After a brief welcome the GovAmerican Heritage Month in Illi- ernor spoke about his support of nois State Capital Springfield re- the Asian American community cently. It was attended by over and the need to ensure that our 200 people, including many from state employees and appointees Indian American community. For to boards and commissions inthe first time a special reception was held at the Governor's mansion.

The Governor also led the opening ceremony of an exhibit that showcases the contribution of Asian Americans to Illinois at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

From the Indian Gov Quinn greeting Indian community activists view point, it was a Ashish Sen and Ranjit Ganguly pleasant surprise that the Springfield gathering had clude adequate number of Asian menu that included two South Americans. The Governor menAsian dishes: Paneer Makhani and tioned signing the Asian AmeriChanna Masala along with Thai can Employment Plan and his apbasil chicken and a Thai chicken pointment of an Advisory Counred curry, green papaya salad, Chi- cil. nese bean thread noodles, asAmong the attendees from the sorted appetizers, and a cardamom South Asian community were scented rice pudding (Kheer). Ashish Sen, CTA Board Member; Beverages featured beers and Nasir Jahangir, Sandeep Nain,

Venkateswara temple opens in Northeast Ohio RAJAN ZED

CLEVELAND, Ohio: Sree Venkateswara Temple of Cleveland in Richfield Village, Ohio, was set open on a seven-acre plot with elaborate seven-day celebrations starting May 22.

Cleveland Balaji temple replica

Besides Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) as main deity; its Sanctum Hall will also include the deities of Vighneswara (Ganesha), Sreedevi (Lakshmi), Bhudevi (Andal), Garuda and Anjaneya (Hanuman). Other Temple features include community hall, classrooms, kitchen, etc. Besides worship, Temple will also hold special events.

It took about seven years of efforts to realize this Temple. Earlier, the area devotees either gath-

ered at homes or traveled as far as Pittsburgh (about 120 miles) for worship services.

Dr. T. Ramakrishna Bandi, Lakshminarayanan Venkataraman, Ramakant Rambhatla and Sarala Venna are Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer respectively of the Temple Board.

Ancient Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vaari Temple in Tirumala Tirupati (India) is the most wellknown of Venkateswara temples in the world.

Bobbie Beshara and Rick Hudak are Mayor and Council President respectively of Village of Richfield, founded in

Idol of Lord Balaji

1809, which wants to maintain its rural character.

President of SNtial Technologies; Ms Talat Khan and Ms Jugnu Quddus Khan, and members of the Federation of Indian Associations, and others.

The exhibition at the Thomson Center has a wide range of artifacts, images and literature. There are rare photos of a 1956 Indian student picnic in Lake County, the "Corea Pavilion" at the 1893 World's Columbia Exhibition, and photo of a Pakistani youth cricket team in Bolingbrook and still im-

ages and program covers from a group of Asian American arts organizations.

"Asian Americans have contributed to the rich tapestry of Illinois for 150 years," Governor Quinn said. "One in 12 Illinoisans can now trace their roots to Asia, and this fascinating display offers a glimpse into the many routes taken by Asians to Illinois dating back to the 19th Century" Illinois is home to many different Asian American museums,

cultural institutions, community and civic organizations, business groups and media outlets. There are now more than 500,000 Asian Americans in Illinois, about 5.2 percent of the state's population.

The fastest-growing demographic in Illinois, the number of Asian Americans in Will County grew 172 percent between 2000 and 2010, 141 percent in Kane County, 133 percent in McLean County, and 110 percent in McHenry County.

Community Across America

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June 7, 2013

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Mesmerizing Odissi dance at the HTGC RAGHU BADDI

overcame the problem The segment after the break was about Lord Krishna called Krishna Saranam, that is Krishna's message for the world today. Snippets from Mahabharata were presented showing Lord Krishna's childhood, the narrative of "Kurukshetra " and the role of Sri Krishna in comforting Arjuna who

State Treasurer honors Sikh's contribution in World Wars THAKAR BASATI

CHICAGO: Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherdord, a Republican Senator from the State of Illinois, has co-sponsored an exhibit of Sikhs Contribution in World Wars in posters.

Posters are generated by S Sarwan Singh Raju, a board mem-

cently that he would help recognize the contribution of Sikhs in World Wars. Rutherford made a very impressive speech about Sikhs maintaining their identity and yet fighting without the fear of losing their life, protection provided by their turban, not helmet as is the

Artists with Fine Arts Committee

CHICAGO: The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago and Utkalaa Dance Academy jointly presented Orissa Dance Academy's "Gatha Odissi - a journey from the temple to the stage" featuring brilliant performances by artists from the state of Orissa on Saturday, May 18 at the Sama Rathi Auditorium of the temple.

A capacity crowd of more than 300 enjoyed the vibrant dances, specially designed lighting effects and the audio with melodic songs.

The evening began with a prayer by priest Murali Kidambi and was followed with welcome address by Usha Pariti, the Fine Arts chair and Bhima Reddy, the temple's vice president. Later, Madhavi Adivi and Ipsita Mahapatra introduced the artists.

Ipsita of Utkalaa Dance Academy, Chicago was instrumental in bringing this amazing program to the temple.

The ballet started with Kanch Pallavi, a dance composition by Aruna Mohanty, that depicted the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath (Rath Yatra) in the traditional Odissi style. The next segment was called "Ramayana Navarasa" that presented the seven rasas of the

Swargadapi Gariyasi

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford (third from left) with Indian Consul Bannerji and Sikh community activists

Ballet Krishna Sharnam

Jagannath Rath Yatra

great epic "Ramayan" beginning with Veera rasa (courage) followed

by Bhayanaka rasa (fear), Karuna rasa (compassion), Adhbhutha rasa (wonder) Vibhasya rasa (disgust), Rudra rasa (anger) and Shantham (peace and serenity). Language was never a barrier in understanding as the beautiful facial expressions and graceful movements of the artists

was depressed at the thought of destruction that the great war was about to bring.

The final segment of the program was called "Swargadapi Gariyasi" combining the well known "Vande Mataram" with other clips, presented in folk music style of Orissa.

Aruna Mohanty choreographed and starred in all the ballets along with her team of talented performers. All through these presentations, the audiences were held spell bound by the artistry of the performers. Madhavi Adivi proposed a vote of thanks. The artists were honored with shawls by temple president Tilak Marwaha.

ber of Sikh Religious Society of Chi- norm in Military. Consul Bannerji cago, Illinois. There are 12 posters also spoke about Sikhs' contribuof Sikhs in various frames with quo- tion in uplifting India both in Detations from military officials and fense and Economics. S Rajinder prominent politicians. Many of Singh Mago, a former President of these are displayed in Gurdwaras PCS Chicago, talked about Sikhs now and people admire them, take in Midwest area and some of the pictures and share with their friends. problems they are facing.

Over 83,000 Sikhs died in World Prof.Jagindar Singh Ramdev, a Wars and over 103,000 were well known scholar, stressed the wounded fighting alongside Brit- peaceful tenets of Sikh religion. S ish and US forces. Many of US citi- Sokhi Singh, President Sikh Relizens are not aware of Sikhs contribution and think Sikhs are turban Over 83,000 Sikhs died in wearing Muslims as shown by media. Sikhs World Wars and over have suffered a lot due 103,000 were wounded to mistaken identity and this is one way to edu- fighting alongside British cate them.

About 30 Sikhs from and US forces various organizations showed up for photo session with gious Society Chicago thanked the Treasurer to thank him for his the Treasurer and Bannerji for repco-sponsorship at Illinois State resenting Indian Consulate. He building lobby in Chicago. Indian invited them to visit Sikh Gurdwara Consul D. Bannerji in Chicago at- Sahib in Palatine. Both Rutherford tended the event. Rutherford had and Consul Bannerji were honored promised during PCS function re- with a flower bouquet.

Jayasudha captivates Chicago with her inspiring story Cont’d from page 20

Mrs. Thara Chandran led the scriptural reading, Mahala Johnson offered a special prayer in memory of Oklahoma tornado victims.

Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, who was joined by a conglomerate of lay leaders, presented a special City Council Proclamation issued by the City of Chicago that applauded Jayasudha for her exem-

plary public service and for her devotion to charitable causes A special exhortation was delivered by Rev. Dr. John Christian Frederick Heyer Devarapalli. A group of Church pastors encircled Jayasudha and anointed her with prayer. The event was followed by dinner provided by the Green Chilli Restaurant sponsored by Emmanuel Neela, Rama Rao and Jeshar Abraham.

June 7, 2013

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India Post 23

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Himachal Day showcases Himachali heritage India Post News Service

MILIPITAS, CA: A colorful 'Himachal Day' was held for the second time at the India Community Center (ICC), Milipitas in Silicon Valley, California on Sunday, April 14 to mark the 66th Foundation Day of the North Indian State, nestled amongst the majestic snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.

Rajan Zed, who read the first Hindu opening prayer in United States Senate in Washington DC, and who also hails from Himachal, was the Guest of Honor. He traveled all the way from Reno to be part of the function. He recited a special opening prayer to start off the celebrations and said that it was events like these that brought communities together and he was so happy to be a part of it.

Setting the tone for the day, Jose Esteves, Mayor of Milpitas, Chief Guest for the occasion, said, "You all should be proud of your roots and it is very good to see all the Himachal people coming together here at India Community Center, Milpitas."

Being an occasion to showcase

Mayor Jose of Milpitas and Mahesh Nihalani.

Pics Iclickforacause.org

the rich cultural heritage of the Himalayan state, many people of all communities, several elected dignitaries and family friends celebrated the event with natives of Himachal who are either settled in or are working in the Bay Area.

"I learn a lot about my home country when I come to events like this," said Ash Kalra, a council member of San Jose.

"Himachal Pradesh remains on the top of the list of places I want to visit in India .It is very important for people

Pahari Dance

living far from their homeland to feel connected."

Mahesh Nihalani, one of the co-chairs of the event said, "I am from Shimla and feel proud to be one of the Himachalis who conceived and started 'Himachal Day' in 2009, to bring our Himachali

are thousands of miles away but not apart from our hearts. I express my best wishes to you all and I am very happy that you are retaining your roots still even though living far away from your state."

Reminding the gathering the need for improving basic ameni-

AVASC awards ten students at science fair India Post News Service

PHOENIX, AZ: The AVASC Foundation (Ashthavadhani Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty) awarded 10 prizes at the Intel 62nd International Science & Engineering Fair held in Phoenix, AZ on Thursday, May 16.

The non-profit charitable organization that aims to recognize and reward academically talented individuals and to serve the underprivileged, selected 10 students from over 1,500 ISEF Finalists who reached the Fair after winning local and regional competitions around the world. Awards were given for projects that display outstanding creativity, ingenuity and have the potential to alleviate the human condition or mark a substantive advance in the scientific field. The winning students & projects are: First Award of $1,000 Towards the Painless Painkiller: Design and Synthesis of Novel Fatty Acid Binding Protein Inhibitors for Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effects: Raghav Tripathi, 17, Westview High School, Portland, Oregon.

For 'An Advanced Biomimetic Hand Using Additive Manufacturing'

Holly Catherine Erickson, 17, Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos, New Mexico.

First Award of $500 Removal of c-IAP2 E3 Activity Alters Regulatory T-Cell Function and Differentiation: Neelanjan Lakshman, 18, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Greenbelt, Maryland

The non-profit charitable organization that aims to recognize and reward academically talented individuals and to serve the underprivileged, selected 10 students from over 1,500 ISEF Finalists Hyperglycemia and HIV A Correlation - Hyperglycemia Increases HIV Entry in T Cells via ROS Generation: Aakash Viren Jhaveri, 16, The Wheatley School, Old Westbury, New York Investigating MicroRNA-mediated Regulation of Class Specific

Dendrite Morphogenesis: Suhas Gondi, 17, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia.

An Inexpensive and Ultra-Compact Raman Spectrometer for Real World Applications: Jack Thomas Andraka, 16, North County High School, Glen Burnie, Maryland.

Ridge Cutting Machine: Pubudu Dinesh Anuruddha Chithrananda Kapuge Kapurubandage, 19, Mihinthale Central College, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka The Toxin in Rice- Arsenic in Our Food: Anuush Krishna Vejalla, 14, Detroit Country Day Upper School, Beverly Hills, Michigan Programmable Multiplexed Immunosensor for Rapid Cardiac Diagnostics: Andy Tran, 18, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions, Houston, Texas Qubit Rotator: A Nanowire Device for Rotation and Readout of Flying Electron Spin Qubits at Room Temperature for Quantum Computing: Saumil Bandyopadhyay, 18, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies, Richmond, Virginia.

CM Himachal on teleconfrence message

community together and celebrate and share our rich culture and heritage with the people here in the USA. I want this to be an annual event. We would also like to thank ICC for providing us the facility and all their help and support, to

ties in Himachal, the Chief Minister emphasized on the need for healthy linkages between the state and its people globally, to come together to make such developments happen.

Anand K Jha, Consul, Consu-

Singing a Pahari song

organize this State day."

Over a recorded telecast, specially arranged for the occasion by Gokul Butail, who was in Himachal at the time, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh expressed himself thus: "You all

late General of India, San Francisco, who was present on the occasion, said, "This is a beautiful platform to showcase the potential of Himachal Pradesh."

Cont’d on page 25

24 India Post

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Top singers make it a memorable concert

India Post News Service

NEWARK, CA: Unique Productions along with Sur Bahar Music School presented "Ek Haseen Shaam Aapke Naam" recently at Mehran restaurant in Newark, CA. It was a memorable musical concert before a packed house. Many missed the show since it was sold out a week before the event.

Among the top singers from Northern California were Alka

Bhatnagar (Nightingale of Bay Area), who has been awarded by Raj Kapoor himself and blessed by music legend RD Burman, Raj Sohal, most popular singer (voice of Sonu Nigam & Rafi), Sanjeev Kumar (velvet voice of Kumar Sanu), Jatinder Singh (voice of Kishore Da), Seema Verma (melodious voice), Mandeep Singh (Awesome Rafi singer), Jaya Satish (New talent) along with other local singers of East Bay. They had musicians from LA and Chicago, one of the best in US. They performed old and new Bollywood melodies including beautiful Ghazals and Sufi music.

Alka's versatility, style and range encompasses classical music, through playback to light and popular movie songs. It is rare to find such a multifaceted talent.

Alka started the concert with "lag ja gale", medley of Raag Yaman (nigahein milane ko ji chahtaa hein, jiya le gayo je mora, aaj jane ki zid na karo). Raj Sohal captured the audience with songs like "chand mera dil", "nazar na lag jaye". Sanjeev Kumar mesmerized with his beautiful rendering "do

dil mil raheen hein". Jatinder Singh with his strong voice stole the hearts by "tere mast mast do nain". Seema Verma with her melodious velvet voice sang the theme song "yeh sama hein yeh pyar ka". Mandeep Singh who is a very popular singer in Bay Area sang the awesome song of Rafi, "ek haseen sham ko dil mera".

Jaya Satish, the new talent impressed with "aaja re pardesi".

This unforgettable four-hour event was a full package of high quality entertainment. Unique productions intend to bring another signature event this fall due to public demand.

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Jatt & Juliet cast performs live RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa performing on the stage

SAN JOSE: A Jatt & Juliet concert based on the namesake movie was held in San Jose Civic Auditorium on May 18. Performances by the singer-actors from the movie were much appreciated.

Singers gave their best numbers and involved the audience throughout the program. The Punjabi community in Bay area encouraged the singers. Live performances by Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, Feroz Khan, Rupinder Handa and Babbu Gurpal kept the audience spell bound.

Sponsors included George Chauhan of Yuba City, Inder Dosanjh, Raj, Jasvir Kaur, Godavar Singh from Chat Bhavan, Jatinder Singh, Balkar Singh from Bombay Garden.

Organizers of the event

Rupinder performing with her melodious voice

Feroz Khan singing hit songs

Himachal Day showcases Himachali heritage Cont’d from page 23

"The dĂŠcor, complete with brass lamps and candles, and motifs from Himachal, painstakingly worked by two very talented Himachali ladies, Pranav Sood and Rashmi Bisht, was much appreciated," said Meena Patyal, co-chair of the event.

To present the native touch, artifacts of Himachal specially the famous hand woven woollen Kullu shawls and caps were on display and sale in the entrance lobby. The

of the event and author of 'An American in Khadi' - a biography of her grandfather Satyanand (Samuel Evans) Stokes, said on the occassion, "I am extremely happy that today we are celebrating our 2nd Himachal Day in the Bay area.

For me celebrating Himachal Day at ICC has been a dream come true and it would be nice to celebrate it every year.

Naati folk dance of Himachal

famous miniature Kangra paintings (of Radha Krishna folklore) now being revived by the 'Kangra Arts Promotion Society' were on display and all of them were sold off.

The colorful day event was packed with many dance and musical performances that brought the old and young together to celebrate the nostalgia of a hill culture in an alien land. More than 300 people came to enjoy Himachali music, dances and culinary delicacies.

Asha Sharma, also a co-chair

Children in typical Himachali dress

Apart from the fun, it will help people from the state to get better connected.

The effort taken to provide Himachali cuisine paid off. "It reminded us of the Dhams we have enjoyed back home several times," said Kiran Guleria, an organizer of the event.

The Himachali cuisine was specially prepared by Chefs of Amber Restaurant and was liked by everyone. "After living here for so many years, it feels great to showcase our rich culture and connect with the local Himachal community," said Kanta Sud, also an organizer.

Children performing a Himachali dance

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CAIR holds its 2nd Annual Muslim Day RAS SIDDIQUI

SACRAMENTO, CA: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held its 2nd Annual Muslim Day at the Capitol in Sacramento recently during which over a hundred representatives including many South-Asians from all over California took the opportunity to interact with the California State Government.

Although it was windy under the CAIR tent outside on the Capi-

their residence address and areas of interest. This writer was assigned to Team H, with a first meeting scheduled with Muffadal Ezzy representing Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a meeting that I could not reach on time (the Capitol takes a little getting used to for the once a year rookie).

The second meeting was with Betsy Hodges at the offices of Senator Ted Gaines who repre-

by CAIR's Basim Elkarra while looking for common ground.

Senator Jim Beall from the Fifteenth Senate District is now a Silicon Valley (San Jose area) political veteran who has been a member of the City Council, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, State Assembly and now the California Senate. Amongst his many areas of focus his continuing strong support for children

one day become an elected member working inside the Capitol.

In closing it was a great day overall for both California and the "experience" called America, one which triumphs over an atrocity

Sikh Caucus members call for hate crime tracking India Post News Service

Some State Capitol politicians with visitors

tol grounds, this was another beautiful spring day in California's capital city. A walk near the World Peace Rose Garden at State Capitol Park was warranted which somewhat delayed this scribe's arrival to the formal event opening The day proved that this is a place which is beautiful both inside and out. Although our main topics of interest targeted by CAIR for the day were 1) AB4 TRUST Act and 2) AB 241 CA Domestic Workers Bill of Rights plus 3) Free Speech Rights on College Campuses, the handful of the 110 meetings held during the day which I could attend demonstrated a sensitivity amongst our State Senate and Assembly on these and other topics of interest for not just Muslims but all Californians.

For those who may not be aware, AB4 deals with the issue of local law enforcement sharing information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the S-Comm program. CAIR seeks to limit costly detentions of aspiring citizens in local jails for deportation purposes and it only supports its use for serious crimes. AB-241 deals with the issue of housekeepers, nannies and caregivers in private homes so that their rights too can be protected including overtime pay, meal and rest breaks etc. The third quest for the day (Free speech rights on College campuses) is not an Assembly Bill yet but a push for one.

After a formal mid-morning opening, the attendees were split up into teams/groups based on

sents my own residential district.

It was a learning experience because we rarely get to interact with either our representatives or their staffers unless we really need to.

The last scheduled interaction was with Amin Nojan, Assembly Fellow at Assemblymember Bill Quirk's office.

Bill represents California's 20th Assembly District (Hayward and adjacent areas) where Muslims and south-Asians (Afghans, Indians and Pakistanis) are becoming quite a voting force due to their increasing numbers.

As a media representative I ac-

with disabilities has been commendable. Jim also supports responsible free speech and is a good listener. Some in our community have known him since his San Jose City Council days when he became its youngest elected member at the age of 28.

He has been widely supported by the south-Asian and Muslim community in his district for many years now and embodies the good old American value of fairness for those in need.

During and after lunch the wind kicked up a notch, but the political engagement continued just as

like Boston approximately two weeks earlier by continuing to promote peace and inclusion.

(Dedicated to the memory of the late James Beall Sr. (1923-2011) of the 82nd Airborne, and his family)

Dick Durbin in the U.S. Senate.

Approximately 140 members of the U.S. Congress have now endorsed our request for Sikh hate crime tracking, a modest policy change that will translate into expanded Sikh awareness training for law enforcement officials and significantly strengthen diagnostic and deterrence efforts in our community's

WASHINGTON, DC: A bipartisan group of 23 members of the U.S. Congress, representing the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, have written to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), requesting that the agency begin tracking hate crimes against Sikhs, the way it does for other communities.

The new letter builds on Formed last month, the bipartisan American earlier letters spearheaded Sikh Congressional by Congressman Joseph Caucus provides memCrowley (NY) in the U.S. bers of Congress a forum to learn about and House of Representatives address Sikh American and Senators Dianne issues. The Caucus is co-chaired by Con- Feinstein (CA) gresswoman Judy Chu (CA) and Congressman David fight against hate crimes.

At a recent congressional hearValadao (CA) and is composed of more than 30 members of the U.S. ing, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder publicly recommended that Congress.

The new letter builds on earlier the FBI begin tracking hate crimes letters spearheaded by Congress- against Sikhs, Hindus, and Arabman Joseph Crowley (NY) in the Americans. An advisory body of U.S. House of Representatives and law enforcement experts will make Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA) a decision about the issue during and Assistant Majority Leader the first week of June.

Campaign to spot mention of Sikhs in texts India Post News Service

State Senator Jim Beall with a visiting group

companied two other teams during their visits to the offices of Assemblymember Roger Dickinson and Senator Jim Beall respectively. Roger represents California's 7th Assembly District which includes Sacramento. He has been a good friend of all minority communities including local Muslims and South-Asians.

He listened to the team and responded to all the points raised

vigorously as Assemblymembers Mariko Yamada, Paul Fong and Cristina Garcia addressed the gathering just before the event officially came to a close. Support from the Asian and Latino members of our political leadership has been both inspirational and essential for our community. This was certainly reflected during Ms. Yamada's speech which included the hope that one of us at this gathering will

Harmeet Kaur is an active sevadar who lives in Houston, TX. When she received the Sikh Coalition's request to find textbooks that mention Sikhs, she immediately called her two brothers, and asked them for their social studies textbooks.

Then, she looked through the books for any mention of Sikhs or Sikhism. In her brother's world geography book, she found that it said, "Gobind Singh also introduced the practice of men wearing turbans on their head, and never cutting their beards or hair."

The book does not mention that Sikh women also do not cut their hair. In her other brother's world history book, she read that Sikhism

was a Hindu sect. She immediately visited the Sikh Coalition's "Throw the 'book' at Textbook Publishers" campaign page, and filled out the online form.

But she didn't stop there.

Harmeet then called a few friends who are also in high school, and asked them to look through their textbooks. On Sunday, when she went to gurdwara, she spoke with her aunt about the campaign. She encouraged her aunt to ask her daughter to review her social studies textbook that night. Harmeet also visited her neighbors, told them about the campaign, and asked them to check their social studies textbook.

The Sikh Coalition has now asked others to follow Harmeet's lead.

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Ilahi: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani 2 Aurangzeb (Rock): Aurangzeb 3 Badtameez Dil: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani 4 Sunn Raha Hai: Aashiqui 2 5 Kabira: Yeh Jawaani Hai 28 India Post

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June 7, 2013

Deewani 6 Slowly Slowly: Go Goa Gone 7 Akkad Bakkad: Bombay Talkies 8 Babaji Ki Booti: Go Goa Gone 9 Barbaadiyaan: Aurangzeb 10 Tum Hi Ho: Aashiqui 2

G

auri Shinde's film English Vinglish, which featured Sridevi making a comeback to films, apart from winning over audiences has won numerous awards. The latest is the Best Visiting Artist award at the Cinema Society of San Diego.

Announcing the win, Andrew Friedenberg, Director of Cinema Society San Diego, says, "You did it! You made history! As the founder and director of the Cinema Society of San Diego, I am proud to announce that the winner of the 2012-2013 season Best Visiting Artist Award, as voted on by our members, has gone to...

English Vinglish! In fact, it wasn't even close - you dominated the voting! My congratulations to all of you for your appearance, your enthusiasm, your professionalism, and your kindness at our 29th season finale."

English Vinglish produced by Hope Productions and Eros International release last year in October.

S

anjay Gupta's Shootout At Wadala has done very well at the box office. So much so that the director-producer is contemplating a third installment of the franchise.

Gupta recently stated that he is giving attention to an 'Epic revenge saga', which turns out to be the third installment in the Shootout franchise. Further Gupta says that he is look-

ing forward to casting Abhishek Bachchan alongside John Abraham in the film.

Though the film is yet to be titled, we hear that Abhishek will be seen playing the character of a real life Hindu gangster while John's character will be based on the real encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar. While Abhi and John take the lead, the rest of the cast will comprise an ensemble crew.

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I

nternational actress and dancer Lauren Gottlieb is looking forward to work in an action-oriented Bollywood project in India. She wants to be the Angelina Jolie of Bollywood and has expressed her desire to share screen space with the superstar of Hindi cinema, Salman Khan.

"I am looking to stretch myself. To come across the world and take projects in different languages is a big challenge. I want to make sure that I am growing. I have been in India for five months and it has taught me so much. Project-wise, I want to take something which stretches me. I would love to be the Angelina Jolie of India," said Lauren.

If she gets the opportunity to work in Hindi cinema, who is the actor she would like to pair opposite? Lauren Gottlieb's answer was straight and simple, she want to act alongside Salman Khan as she feels he is the Tom Cruise of India.

"I would want to be with Salman Khan.

He is like the Tom Cruise of India... I am waiting to see what happens in future," she said.

kshay Kumar was advised a week's rest to recuperate by the doctors after he injured his right foot while shooting an action scene for Vipul Shah's 'Thupakki.' However, the actor was back on the sets after two days.

The shoot was at the Mumbai Central railway station and A R Murugadoss, the director of the film, ensured the scene didn't require much footwork from the actor. A segway was specially brought in to help Akshay navigate from his vanity van to the platform. Apparently, he woke up Vipul in the middle of the night and insisted the shoot be resumed.

A source close to the production house said, "All necessary permissions were taken to ensure a smooth shoot.

It was an 800-member strong unit with around 300 artistes dressed in military outfits.

Akshay, who was also in uniform, appeared to be limping a bit while giving the shots."

A

nother new debutante is going to join the band wagon of star kids in Bollywood - veteran actor Vinod Khanna's youngest son Sakshi. According to the latest grapevine, Sakshi Khanna is all set to make his debut with Milan Luthria's movie. Milan Luthria is the man behind successful blockbusters like 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai', 'The Dirty Picture.'

Currently he is filming 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2'.

Sakshi has been approached by many filmmakers but has decided to foray into Bollywood with Milan Luthria's movie. He has assisted the director in 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbai 2' and Milan was highly impressed with Sakshi.

"Ever since the word has spread that Khanna's youngest son Sakshi is open to making his acting debut, many bigwigs of the industry have tried to rope him in for their projects. In fact Mukesh Bhatt had also approached him for 'Aashiqui 2', but for some reason it did not work out.

A

fter having helped Sonakshi in making a blockbuster debut with 'Dabangg', Salman Khan is now giving the lady some painting tips.

According to a leading daily, the Dabangg actress and her mentor have one thing in common, which is interest in painting. Sonakshi, who is playing the role of an Artist in her upcoming film 'Lootera', has decided to paint live at the music launch event of the film.

A source close to the movie crew says, "Sonakshi, like Salman, has the same hobby, that is painting. She likes a lot of Salman's works of art, so much so that she calls herself a fan of his paintings. And recently, Sonakshi has been taking advice from Salman about painting live for the media."

Realty Tidbits

RBS launches real estate services for HNIs MUMBAI: British lender Royal Bank of Scotland has said it has launched a real estate services vertical aimed at high net worth clients.

"The Real Estate Services is a referral based offering which will offer a comprehensive range of real estate solutions to high net worth clients," it said in a statement.

The bank staff will work with clients, understand their goals and risk appetites, and then help them select a real estate service provider, the statement added.

Product head Anand Moorthy said investors are looking beyond purchase of premium homes and are also attracted to pre-leased commercial and retail property which creates the need for real estate solutions. -PTI

Illegal colony plan hits babu hurdle NEW DELHI: The Delhi government's bid to facilitate sale of property on "private" land in unauthorized colonies - a critical aspect of the Congress strategy to woo an influential vote bank ahead of this year's assembly polls - has been red-flagged for not being in consonance with the law.

After regularization of 895 unauthorized colonies in September, the government's March 2013 order permitting registration of sale deeds has been questioned by officials. Rights of gaon sabhas to lands on which construction has come up cannot be set aside, they say.

Senior officials have told the urban development department the March 12 order suffers from legal infirmities as there is no provision in the Delhi Land Reforms Act that allows transfer of land vested in gaon sabhas but in the possession of private owners by effecting "amendments in the revenue record".

Demolitions in Hindon floodplains

NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration has cracked down on the land mafia here. Amid heavy security, about 300 acres on the Hindon floodplains, estimated to be worth Rs 6,000 crore, were freed up. The move comes five days after the National Green Tribunal imposed a ban on construction and directed UP, Delhi and Haryana to demolish illegal structures, both temporary or permanent,

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Sri Lanka hails Indian housing assistance COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has welcomed a whopping Rs 1,372 crore Indian housing assistance program to build around 4000 homes in the country's eastern province.

The housing assistance program is one of the largest grant assistance projects implemented by India outside the country.

Live NRI - One stop for all your Real Estate needs VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

SAN JOSE: Live NRI is a fullservice India real estate and NRI property management services company that walks its clients through every step of the process of buying a home in India and managing your real estate as NRIs. Live NRI-India Property Expo was held on May 19 at Madhuban In-

clusive interview with Nisha Smith of Live NRI Team, for India Post newsweekly: India Post: What is Live NRI and what are the services offered by your company to NRIs? Nisha Smith: As one of the largest markets for South Asians in the United States, Live NRI is pleased to bring some of the most renowned developers in India to the event. Live NRI provides NRIs

Premlata Chhabra, Deepak Chhabra, Mamta Narula, Dr Romesh Japra, Chandru Bhambra, Manorama Joshi

dian cuisine, San Jose.

Here are excerpts from an ex-

worldwide hassle-free property investments, management and re-

lated services in India, from the comfort of their homes.

We offer the entire suite of services for successful and streamlined real-estate buying in India. Our experienced staff helps Manorama Joshi, Mooney, Mamta Narula, Nisha Smith you identify and build a property portfolio in emerging cit- management. Finally, the company ies like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, helps our clients sell their propGurgaon, Noida, Goa, Ahmedabad, erty and plot an exit strategy from Chandigarh and many more. their investments.

IP: What are the imperative ser- IP: What are the benefits of these vices offered by Live NRI? expositions?

NS: We will help in property NS: Live NRI has been at the consulting by identifying attrac- forefront of Indian real estate extive opportunities from premium positions across the United developers in the city of your States. These unique expositions choice including handling the allow the prospective buyers an specifics of documentation prop- opportunity to explore the exciterty purchase in India. We offer ing world of Indian real estate in on-going services to manage the the United States. property by leasing and property Cont’d on page 31

Mittal puts palatial London home up for sale LONDON: The credit crunch seems to be taking its toll on one of the world's richest Indians Lakshmi N Mittal, who has put up one of his mansions in central London up for sale.

The steel tycoon had bought the property on Palace Green in Kensington for 117 million pounds in 2008, when it was declared the most expensive home in Britain.

However, according to the 'Sunday Times', he may end up making a loss on the neo-Georgian building after it went on the market earlier this month for 110 million pounds.

The 12-bedroom palatial home was bought for Mittal's son, Aditya, from Israeli-American financier Noam Gottesman.

The entire first floor of the

Lakshmi N Mittal

14,736 square feet property is dedicated to the master bedroom quar-

ters, with a separate wing referred to as "Mrs Mittal's dressing room".

But Aditya, who is the chief financial officer of the family-owned steel firm ArcelorMittal, and his family reportedly never moved into the new mansion.

While the house does not have a swimming pool, it comes with planning permission for basement work and has a dedicated storage room for art, a flower room, a silver room and tutorial and homework rooms for children.

Lakshmi Mittal himself lives nearby at Kensington Palace Gardens, dubbed as London's

"billionaire's row" with neighbors including fellow tycoons such as Roman Abramovich and Len Blavatnik, ranked ahead of Mittal in this year's 'Sunday Times Rich List'.

As a result of the credit crunch and a fall in demand for steel from China, Mittal's fortunes took a hit of an estimated 2.7 billion pounds last year, resulting in him being deposed as the richest man in Britain by Russian industrialist Alisher Usmanov after eight years at the helm of the definitive wealth analysis.

Mittal had paid 57 million pounds for his current home and also owns a 70-million pounds former Philippine embassy in London, intended as a home for his daughter Vanisha. -PTI

Real Estate Post

June 7 , 2013

India Post 31

www.indiapost.com

Can I get a fair deal on vacant land?

STEVE MCLINDEN

Dear Real Estate Adviser, I'd like to buy a home in a nearby town but I can't find what I want in my price range. So I'm exploring the idea of building a home, though I'm told the community is "built out" as far as subdivisions go. I see random lots for sale, but I hesitate to buy without knowing more. Realtors only want to sell existing homes, it seems. Who can help me find a fair deal on vacant land?

- D. Adams Dear D., First off, you should know it's very unlikely you can buy a vacant lot and build a home on it for what you'd pay for an existing home. But if price isn't a big issue, by all means proceed. As you'll see, though, the process might be a bit more involved than you think.

As you've discovered, not all agents have the desire or background to help you locate and negotiate the purchase of a vacant lot for a "build-to-suit." Contact the main real estate agencies in the area and ask if they employ any

experienced land/lot agents. You'll want one who's done at least a half-dozen or so such deals in recent years and is familiar with local land issues. Since the seller is probably going to pay the commission, there's typically no reason you shouldn't use an agent, though some will ask for a flat fee because they'd net so little compensation otherwise.

In the meantime, you can do a little homework by checking websites for available area lots (select "land" and then "past sales"). Local builders, both conventional and custom, should have their own lot availability information, too. Such efforts should at least give you a ballpark idea of pricing. Then, the following tasks await you.

Match the home design and footprint to the existing neighborhood as best as possible. A 3,000square-foot home in a neighborhood of mostly 1,200-square-foot homes will have diminished resale potential. Realize, too, that there may be a good reason no one has

bought a specific lot, such as flooding, title or legal issues, or an odd shape. The best way to get the most thorough background on a lot is to employ a reputable title insurance company.

Determine the utility status of

and loan might be a better option.

You might also try talking with a mortgage broker because brokers aren't tied to one particular lender.

Ask about builder mortgages, land loans and combined land construction loans. If you do want

Negotiate. If the lot is still owned by the subdivision's original developer, there will probably be less negotiating room. Some developers will only sell lots on which they're contracted to build. The most motivated sellers are typically those who've had the property on the market for a considerable time the lot. Ideally, it will have such an infrastructure installed. Otherwise, you'll be dealing with the power company, water company, gas company and phone company for expensive work.

Pay cash, if you can. Major banks are a little shy about handing out small land loans because there's no house to serve as collateral. A credit union or savings

to finance through a conventional lender, you'll likely have to pay for a lender appraisal.

Get your new property surveyed. This is another good idea so you (and your neighbors) will be clear on boundary lines. The longer a property sits vacant, the greater the tendency for neighbors to appropriate little slices of it for their own uses such as gardens

and swingsets. Besides, a previous survey may have been inaccurate.

Check with the city and any homeowners association that governs the subdivision. This is to ensure the home you want to build is permissible. If it's in an existing subdivision, ask for a copy of any restrictive covenants placed on the land by original owners.

Negotiate. If the lot is still owned by the subdivision's original developer, there will probably be less negotiating room. Some developers will only sell lots on which they're contracted to build. The most motivated sellers are typically those who've had the property on the market for a considerable time and are facing economic pressures.

Sound complicated and expensive? If so, it might behoove you to take another look at the available housing and tour a few more homes that are relatively close to your desired profile. Good luck with your decision! -Courtesy Bankrate.com

Live NRI - One stop for all your Real Estate needs Cont’d from page 30

NRIs may often find it quite daunting to decide on the right property while wanting to invest in a house in India.

The traditional manner is to request friends, relatives and acquaintances to search for the right one. With Live NRI they can have a plethora of services and have their dream property back home.

IP: Why should NRIs invest in Indian real estate market?

NS: Indian economy is booming when compared to others. The rate of return on investment on real estate is around 8-10%, which is

Mamta Narula, Mooney

Mooney, Dr Romesh Japra, Nisha Smith, Mamta Narula

way high compared to United States.

Live NRI has pre-negotiated deals with the reputed builders and the clients can avail of these advantages which are open only for Live NRI clients.

IP: What are the current projects offered by Live NRI? NS: We are offering Adani in Ahmedabad, ATS

Greens in Noida, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Wadhwa group in Mumbai, K Raheja in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Goa, RNA (Mumbai), SARE Homes (Delhi NCR, Chennai), and TATA (Bengaluru).

IP: How many transactions have Live NRI completed till date?

NS: We have done about 600 transactions all over India.

IP: Which is the best region in India to invest?

NS: With regard to residential areas, Mumbai and NCR region are fast developing and give the maximum rate of return. With rapid industrialization and political stability, Ahmedabad is also a hot spot to cash in.

Dr Romesh Japra, Nisha Smith, Mamta Narula, Deepak Chhabra

„ Health

Line

Ex-cop faces more sex counts with minors ANOKA, Minn.: A former Minneapolis police officer accused of using social media to try to lure girls into sexual encounters has been charged with five new felony charges - bringing his number of alleged victims to 20.

The new charges against 32year-old Bradley Schnickel involve seven victims and include one allegation that he had sex with a 16-year-old.

The Star Tribune reports the Coon Rapids girl was 15 when Schnickel approached her in 2010 while she was roller blading. The charges say they began interacting through social media, then had sex multiple times in the summer of 2011.

After a hearing this month in Anoka County, prosecutor Paul Young said Schnickel used police equipment to find some alleged victims. -AP

„ Lovington hospital plans $16M expansion LOVINGTON, N.M.: Officials at Nor-Lea Hospital in southeastern New Mexico are planning another expansion that will include a new clinic, more parking and possibly apartments and senior living facilities.

The Lovington hospital completed an $18 million expansion just two years ago. The plans included in the 10- to 15-year master plan that was unveiled this week call for spending another $16 million. -AP

„ Missouri officials work to limit geese at lake CAMDENTON, Mo.: Missouri officials are trying to combat geese flocking near swimming beaches at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Geese can hamper water quality, contributing to high E. coli bacteria tests. They also can make a mess and be aggressive.

The Lake Sun Leader reports that the state Department of Natural Resources has adjusted landscaping techniques at beaches to dissuade geese from congregating. That has included allowing vegetation to grow near the beach and installing brown landscape rock.

Officials also have moved 24 geese from the Lake of the Ozarks to another park with aquatic and wildlife habitat.-AP

Health Science 32

India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 7, 2013

Deaths at Atlanta VA hospital prompt scrutiny Details on Page 34

Disabled girl's impossible dream to be doctor comes true PITTSBURGH: Regaining consciousness, Meghan Wilson found herself sliding across the ice on her stomach and feeling a buzzing pins-and-needles feeling, shoulders down, similar to a funny bone being bumped. The evaporating tingle was the last sensation she has felt below her shoulders since Dec. 26, 1996.

Along with brother Russ, the energized 17-year-old high school senior had taken the final run down a Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort slope in West Virginia, deciding near the bottom to ski over a mogul, which proved larger than expected. Her best guess is, the mogul caused the tip of a ski to fly back and strike her forehead, knocking her out long enough to prevent her from breaking her fall.

Apparently she landed on her stomach, her body arcing, hyperextending her neck. It broke her fifth vertebrae, crushing the spinal cord. ``I think I'm paralyzed,'' she told Russ, who had rushed to her side.

In an instant her life took a full detour. She was paralyzed, eventually able to move her shoulders and elbow but without feelings in her arms or use of her hands. She

would have to adjust physically and psychologically - and even relearn how to breathe.

In the 17 years since the accident, Meghan has had her fill of struggles and frustrations in life.

But there is joy - the exhilaration of achieving a personal goal that

Geoffrey Young, senior director of student affairs and programs for the Association of American Medical Colleges. ``I take my hat off to her. Congratulations to her and to the institution that accepted her.''

Pitt officials are heralding her

The accident midway through her senior year seemed to derail her career plans to become a doctor. In the hospital's Intensive Care Unit after the accident, and on a ventilator for seven weeks, she worked to cope with her disability by telling herself, ``No matter what happens with my body, I still have control of my mind. few thought possible for someone with quadriplegia.

Meghan, 33, was graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with a medical degree. Awarded her Ph.D. in 2011, she received the M.D. to complete the demanding Pitt medical scientist training program after nine years. ``I'm so thankful,'' she said, ``that Pitt gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream.''

Acceptance to medical school for a fully paralyzed student is rare but not unprecedented, said

unique combination of skills and experience as holding potential to improve the quality of life for others with spinal-cord injuries. ``I'm just astounded by all of the challenges that she's surmounted by doing an extremely solid job in this demanding program,'' said Richard A. Steinman, director of Pitt's medical scientist training program, noting her ``intellectual, medical and research skills.''

Getting into Pitt was an emotional pendulum.

Meghan, near the top of her class at Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., was a gymnast turned competitive spring-board diver, a student actor in musical theater who also enjoyed doing artwork.

She was in the math league and served as president of a service club that, among other things, collected food for the poor.

The accident midway through her senior year seemed to derail her career plans to become a doctor. In the hospital's Intensive Care Unit after the accident, and on a ventilator for seven weeks, she worked to cope with her disability by telling herself, ``No matter what happens with my body, I still have control of my mind. ``I hoped that if I had the right attitude, I would be able to deal with anything,'' she said.

The first-year focus was rehabilitation and psychologically orienting herself to paralysis. She landed scholarships to the University of Florida, two hours from her Tampa home. Her mother, Diane Wilson, helped her and her assistants settle into a routine of care - she has to be fed, washed and dressed, among other daily tasks.

Cont'd on Page 34

Govt examining US court order against Ranbaxy NEW DELHI: The Health Ministry is examining the US court order related to violation of USFDA drug safety norms by Ranbaxy at its manufacturing units in India but is yet to order a probe into the matter.

"Right now, we are looking into the US court order against Ranbaxy and whether there has been any violation of Indian laws," a health ministry official said.

The ministry has also asked the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to examine the US court order to determine whether any Indian laws were violated by the drug production facilities in Himachal Pradesh and

Madhya Pradesh, the official said.

"If there is any violation, then a probe would be ordered," the

manufacture and distribution of certain adulterated drugs made at two plants in India and agreed to

official said.

Ranbaxy had pleaded guilty to "felony charges" relating to

pay USD 500 million in settlement with the US authorities.

The government is also study-

ing the 2008 report of DCGI, which had probed the case and decided against banning Ranbaxy's drugs in India.

Japanese drugmaker DaiichiSankyo, the current owners of Ranbaxy, had threatened to sue the company's former promoters for allegedly concealing and misrepresenting critical information about US investigation into sale of adulterated drugs.

The former promoters of Ranbaxy had rebutted the current Japanese owner's allegations of hiding information on US probe into drug adulteration, saying they did not misrepresent any facts or falsify any data. -PTI

June 7, 2013

Health Science Post

India Post

33

www.indiapost.com

Butterflies tell UT climatologist about climate AUSTIN, Texas: The University of Texas' star climatologist was planning a career in medical research until she met the white rats. ``The cutest little white rats,'' she says with a smile, remembering the creatures she encountered on the first day of vertebrate

Camille Parmesan

physiology lab in her premed senior year at UT. She read the instructions on how to anesthetize the rats, cut them open alive, remove some organs and eventually kill them. ``I just said `No' and I walked out,'' Camille Parmesan told the Austin AmericanStatesman. She headed straight for the office of Professor Michael Singer, who had taught an animal behavior class she'd enjoyed that included a two-week butterfly research trip to California. She told Singer she was switching her major to zoology, and she wanted to write a thesis on butter-

flies.

That's how Parmesan wound up one recent day standing on a chair, trying to nail the Distinguished Texas Scientist Award onto the institutional-green wall of her cluttered office overlooking the UT Tower. After dropping the nail and retrieving it from behind her bookcase, she managed to mount her most recent plaque next to her U.S. Fish and Wildlife certification of appreciation and the National Wildlife Federation's 2006 Conservation Achievement Award. Her 2007 Nobel is on another wall.

Oh, her Nobel? She shrugs. It was a team Nobel Peace Prize, she says, won with other scientists from throughout the world. ``There were about 1,200 of us,'' says Parmesan, who was lead author of the Nobel winning climate change impact research performed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The panel, established in 1988 by the United Nation's World Meteorological Organization, each year produces a report - two phone booksize tomes - on the far-reaching impacts of climate change. ``It was so much work, and it's all-volunteer,'' says Parmesan, 51. She had to slide that work into her schedule as professor of integrative biology at UT; it wasn't part of her university job description. But finding time for these sorts of things is just part of life when you're an eminent scientist whose papers have been cited by other scientists more than 14,000 times.

Science was part of her life as far back as Parmesan can remember. ``My mother got me into it,'' she says.

Parmesan grew up in Houston. Her mother was a geology and botany student and an amateur conservationist, Parmesan says, and ``ever since I literally could walk, she

Apollo Hospitals to invest Rs 540 cr to add 1,000 beds in FY14 NEW DELHI: Healthcare major Apollo Hospitals plans to invest around Rs 540 crore in the current financial year to add 1,000 beds in existing facilities, as it looks to expand its network in the country.

"The investment on the 1,000 beds in FY14 will be around Rs 540 crore," Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd Group CFO Krishnan Akhileswaran told PTI. The Chennai-headquartered firm also plans to add 150 pharmacies in the country in the current financial year, Akhileswaran added.

At the end of FY13, Apollo Hospitals had a network of 1,503 operational pharmacies.

When asked how the company plans to raise the capital required for expansion, Akhileswaran said: "It would be through both debt and internal accruals."

As part of the expansion plan, the company would be adding 1,000 beds across its various hospitals, including Chennai and Nellore.

The company would add 200 beds at its

Trichy facility, 200 beds at Nellore hospital and 30 beds in Chennai facility, Akhileswaran said.

"Besides, we would add 60 beds at Women and Child Hospital, 125 beds at Nashik, 170 beds at Apollo Hospital South Chennai and 180 beds at North Bangalore hospital," Akhileswaran added.

For the year ended March 31, 2013, revenues of the hospital division of Apollo Hospitals, including hospital-based pharmacies and consulting increased by 14.3 per cent to Rs 2,216.7 crore in FY13 compared to Rs 1,940.2 crore in FY12.

The healthcare major posted consolidated revenues of Rs 3,768.7 crore for the fiscal ended March 31, 2013. The company's profit after tax stood at Rs 304.4 crore for FY13.

Apollo Hospitals currently has a network of 8,420 beds across 51 hospitals, 1,503 pharmacies, 92 primary care and diagnostic clinics and 100 telemedicine units across 10 countries. -PTI

was taking me on hikes. She'd bring along field guides.'' They explored the Big Thicket together. ``When I was 10 years old, there was a sixth-grade science fair, and I built the Big Thicket ecosystem,'' she says. ``And I won.''

Parmesan's interest in the outdoors and the creatures that live there was reignited on that butterfly-study trip she took in col-

``What I was able to show was that the butterfly is moving north,'' she says. ``It was one of only three papers in the world on climate change. It really jolted scientists.'' lege with Singer's class.

And, about Singer: ``He's my husband,'' she says as she sips a cup of tea, ``but that didn't happen until later, when I was a graduate student.'' She had brewed the tea for herself in her office, which also contains a fridge and toaster oven. The woman does a lot of living inside these walls, and it's not surprising to learn that her marriage is interwoven with science and UT. Parmesan has studied many species of butterflies, she says, ``but the one that has

given me the most bang for the buck is Edith's checkerspot. It's just a brilliant species to ask questions of because it is very, very sensitive to climate.''

She'd been studying this butterfly for 10 years when, as a postdoctoral student at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara, Calif., she won a NASA grant that resulted in her first single-author paper in 1996 on the effects of climate change on butterflies.

Her research involved combing the West Coast - all of it, from Mexico to Canada visiting established butterfly colony sites and discovering how the populations had changed. She concluded that the butterflies were moving because southern climates were getting too hot for them. ``What I was able to show was that the butterfly is moving north,'' she says. ``It was one of only three papers in the world on climate change. It really jolted scientists.''

In the past four years, Parmesan has been working more with numbers than with butterflies, analyzing data on how various species are adapting to climate change.

Mexican green jays, for example, are now residents of Texas, she says, and they're farther north in greater numbers. In the U.S. and Europe, she says, swallows are breeding an average of two weeks earlier than in the past.-AP

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June 7, 2013

www.indiapost.com

Deaths at Atlanta VA hospital prompt scrutiny ATLANTA: One patient with a history of substance abuse and suicidal thoughts was left alone in a waiting room inside the Atlanta VA Medical Center, where he obtained drugs from a hospital visitor and later died of an overdose.

Another patient wandered the 26-acre campus for hours, picking up his prescriptions from an outpatient pharmacy and injecting himself with testosterone before returning voluntarily to his room.

The cases at the Atlanta VA Medical Center are the latest in a string of problems at Veterans Affairs facilities nationwide, prompting outrage from elected officials and congressional scrutiny of what is the largest integrated health care system in the country with nearly 300,000 employees. ``It's not just Atlanta. There are issues throughout the United States,'' said Rep. Jeff Miller, RFla., chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, who noted there are many hard-working employees within the VA but

feels legislation is needed to reform operations nationwide.

In recent years, there have been inquiries into the Pittsburgh VA system after five people died of Legionnaire's disease and the

Buffalo, N.Y., VA hospital, where at least 18 veterans have tested positive for hepatitis. There have also been whistleblower complaints ranging from improper sterilization procedures to radiology tests left unread at a VA facility in Jackson, Miss.

Meanwhile, the need continues to grow: In just the area of mental health, an estimated 13 percent to

20 percent of the 2.6 million service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

In fiscal year 2011, the VA served nearly 6.1 million patients at its 152 medical centers.

At the Atlanta VA Medical Center, two reports issued in mid-April by the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General detailed allegations of mismanagement and poor patient care linked to three deaths. The case of a fourth veteran was a turning point for Miller: A man in a wheelchair came to the Atlanta VA emergency room complaining of hearing voices but was not admitted and later found in a locked hospital bathroom dead of an apparent suicide.

Officials at the Atlanta VA Medical Center said they had already taken steps to address the issues cited in the reports, which included requiring visitors to be supervised and closer patient monitoring. The facility serves some 87,000 veterans with an op-

erating budget of more $500 million.

The interim director has been replaced, and a former deputy assistant secretary, Leslie B. Wiggins, has been brought in to take over. ``One of my primary goals is to ensure Atlanta has an environment that fosters physical and psychological safety,'' Wiggins said during a May 20 news conference.

Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat whose district is served by the center, met with Wiggins and said he was impressed with her experience and hopeful changes would be made. ``This is your own inspector general coming out and clearly pointing out these things. We have four soldiers, veterans who are dead because of actions taken by or lack of actions taken by the management at that hospital,'' Scott said.

In one report, investigators found the Atlanta facility did not sufficiently address patient care safety, failed to monitor patients

and did not have adequate policies for dealing with contraband, visitation and drug tests. In the case of the man who overdosed on drugs from a hospital visitor, the report said the man was

``One of my primary goals is to ensure Atlanta has an environment that fosters physical and psychological safety,'' Wiggins said during a May 20 news conference. searched when he returned to his room and given a drug test. However, it was later determined another patient had provided the urine. Investigators said the facility had not provided staff with a policy for collecting urine, which should include securing the bathroom or direct observation. Investigators also noted the unit had no written policy on patient visitors.-AP

Disabled girl's impossible dream to be doctor comes true 2011-12 received 4,912 applications and 17 percent were offered Thinking a medical degree was interviews for a class of 150 impossible to achieve, she re- about 3 percent of the total appliceived a degree in neurobiology cants. The MST program accepts with plans to conduct research. only eight to 10 students from an But with her graduation ap- elite pool of 400 medical school proaching, her organic chemistry applicants, for a 2 to 2.5 percent professor, James A. Deyrup, out acceptance rate. of the blue told her, ``I see you as With top MCAT scores and a physician.'' grades bolstered by successful She confessed to a long desire research, she sent applications to to be a physician ``to help people 12 medical schools with a personal in a direct and immediate way,'' and statement explaining her quadriplegia. She was granted an interview at But with her graduation apthree medical schools. proaching, her organic A fourth granted an inchemistry professor, James terview but rescinded it on claims her disabilA. Deyrup, out of the blue ity meant that she told her, ``I see you as a could not meet admission standards. physician.''

Two did not accept continue with her research. After her after her interview. One school some debate about being a doc- did admit her to its M.D./Ph.D tor, her original career path was program, but rescinded the offer back on track. when the medical school refused ``That gave me permission to to admit her. consider being a physician,'' Unlocking the door Meghan said. ``It allowed me to But Meghan is stubborn. Just say, `Maybe I can go to med because she uses a wheelchair school.' `` doesn't mean she's going to be The first giant step was getting pushed around. into an M.D./Ph.D program to alIn 2003, she adopted Plan B. low her to treat patients and do She sent 45 letters to medical research. Such programs typi- school and admissions deans, cally accept the most highly quali- along with the directors of the fied medical school applicants. For medical scientist training proexample, Pitt medical school in grams of 15 medical schools beCont'd from Page 32

fore sending an application to each. The letter explained that she would hire and train medical assistants to assist under her direction during patient examinations.

Her strategy outlined a path to success as a doctor and researcher, while reflecting determination and commitment. ``You have to be tough,'' she said. ``You have to be prepared to prove yourself over and over again. Physicians rightfully must be skeptical. You have to be at ease and confident that you can take excellent care of patients.''

This time she was granted an interview at three schools. Pitt's medical school was the only one to invite her back for a second interview, this time to meet department heads and others to discuss her circumstances.

The door had edged open. ``We never have had people with quadriplegia, and I don't think any other medical school has,'' said Arthur Levine, Pitt medical school dean, noting her top credentials and convincing letter. ``In a nanosecond I thought that she should be admitted.''

Still, he called a medical faculty meeting to discuss her circumstances. He and Edward Curtis, dean of admissions at the time, spoke on her behalf.

But one faculty member arose in opposition to Meghan's admission, saying she couldn't imagine

going to a physician unable to do a physical exam.

Then Timothy R. Billiar, the chairman of Pitt's Department of Surgery, stood to address the faculty. ``The best physicians operate with one organ - the brain.

There are many ways she can contribute,'' he said. Dr. Billiar's statements swayed the faculty ``and that was that,'' Dr. Levine said.

Education by exhaustion Now the real work began. For nearly a decade she underwent in-

Meghan's ears then place the diaphragm on the back and chest so she could hear the patient's heart and breathing patterns. She trained the assistants with faculty help.

She has lived in a first-floor apartment with wheelchair access in Point Breeze, and travels to campus in a special van that her aide drives. She's no stranger to the Pittsburgh cultural scene, regularly attending concerts in Oakland and eating out with friends. Twice in the past decade she's traveled to Europe dur``The best physicians opering breaks. ate with one organ - the But her medical brain. There are many ways education has been her she can contribute,'' he said. focus. Her dissertation, published in the jourDr. Billiar's statements nal Public Library of Science One, describes swayed the faculty her discovery of a partense education and clinical ticular biomarker that could be rounds, while also doing advanced used to help diagnose amyoresearch for her dissertation. Get- trophic lateral sclerosis or Lou ting through medical school has Gehrig's disease and track its probeen described as the educational gression. equivalent of having a hose put in ``The caliber and importance of your mouth and being told to swal- her research project was evident, low when the faucet is turned on. highlighting a new way to predict Once in Pittsburgh, Meghan how this terrible disease, ALS, had to hire personal aides and would or could progress in paeventually medical assistants, usu- tients, and she published a firstally Pitt nursing students or phy- authored paper and very well resician assistants, to examine pa- garded study in an international tients under her direction and de- science journal,'' Dr. Steinman scribe the results to her. They said. ``She did quite well with her would put the stethoscope into thesis research.'' -AP

June 7, 2013

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www.indiapost.com

Coenzyme may slash heart failure deaths by half

R

egular doses of the dietary supple ment Coenzyme Q10 can cut the death rate of patients suffering from advanced heart failure by half, a new study conducted in several countries, including India, suggests.

Coenzyme Q10 decreases all cause mortality by half, according to the results of a multicentre randomized double blind trial presented at Heart Failure 2013 congress in Lisbon, Portugal.

It is the first drug to improve heart failure mortality in over a decade and should be added to standard treatment, lead author Professor Svend Aage Mortensen, said.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) occurs naturally in the body and is essential to survival. CoQ10 works as an electron carrier in the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cells, to produce energy and is also a powerful antioxidant.

CoQ10 levels are decreased in the heart muscle of patients with heart failure, with the deficiency becoming more pronounced as heart failure severity worsens.

Statins are used to treat many patients with heart failure because they block the synthesis of cholesterol, but these drugs also block the synthesis of CoQ10, which further decreases levels in the body.

Double blind controlled trials have shown that CoQ10 improves symptoms, functional capacity and quality of life in patients with heart failure with no side effects. But until now, no trials have been statistically powered to address effects on

survival.

The study randomized 420 patients with severe heart failure to CoQ10 or placebo and followed them for 2 years.

The primary endpoint was time to first major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) which included unplanned hospitalization due to worsening of heart failure, cardiovascular death, urgent cardiac transplantation and mechanical circulatory support.

Participating centers were in Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, India, Malaysia and Australia.

CoQ10 halved the risk of MACE, with 29 (14 per cent) patients in the CoQ10 group reaching the primary endpoint compared to 55 (25 per cent) patients in the placebo group.

CoQ10 also halved the risk of dying from all causes, which occurred in 18 (9 per cent) patients in the CoQ10 group compared to 36 (17 per cent) patients in the placebo group.

CoQ10 treated patients had significantly lower cardiovascular mortality and lower occurrence of hospitalizations for heart failure.

"CoQ10 is the first medication to improve survival in chronic heart failure since ACE inhibitors and beta blockers more than a decade ago and should be added to standard heart failure therapy," Mortensen said.

"Other heart failure medications block rather than enhance cellular processes and may have side effects. Supplementation with CoQ10, which is a natural and safe substance, corrects a deficiency in the body and blocks the vicious metabolic cycle in chronic heart failure called the energy starved heart," he added. -PTI

New urine-based test to detect breast cancer WASHINGTON: Scientists have developed a new urine-based screening method to diagnose breast cancer and determine its severity even before it can be detected with a mammogram.

A Missouri University of Science and Technology researcher used a device called a P-scan, to detect the concentration of certain metabolites called pteredines in urine samples.

These biomarkers are present in the urine of all human beings, but abnormally high concentrations can signal the presence of cancer.

Dr Yinfa Ma, Curators' Teaching Professor of chemistry at Missouri S&T, believes the levels continue to rise as the cancer advances.

Ma has had good results in limited testing and is now expanding testing in a larger

study to prove that the technique works.

This study is part of the validation process required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to eventually make the P-Scan available in clinics across the country as an inexpensive, non-invasive test that could be used during routine physical examinations.

In April, Ma began a clinical trial with Mercy Breast Center and commercialization partner Emergence BioScreening of St Louis.

The study focuses on 300 breast cancer patients and a control group of 100 individuals who have been clinically tested and found to be free of cancer. He hopes to conclude the study within a year.

This is a blind study, which means that Ma doesn't know which samples he tests are those of cancer patients and which are from healthy individuals. -PTI

Frequent heartburn may predict cancer of throat WASHINGTON: Frequent heartburn is 631 patients from a large group of individuassociated with cancers of the throat and als enrolled in a population-based, casevocal cord among nonsmokers and non- control study in the greater Boston area. drinkers, a new study has warned.

Of the 631 participants, 468 had throat Heartburn is an uncomfortable warm and cancer and 163 had cancers of the vocal burning sensation in the chest, usually just cord. An additional 1,234 individuals behind the sternum (breastbone) that typi- matched for age and gender with no prior cally comes in waves. The condition is history of cancer were recruited using town medically known as pyrosis or acid indi- records to serve as controls for the study. gestion.

All participants "Previous studies completed a quesexamining gastric re- Gastric reflux, which causes tionnaire on their flux and cancers of frequent heartburn, is an history of heartthe head and neck burn, smoking and have generated independent risk factor for drinking habits, mixed results," said cancers of the pharynx family history of Scott M Langevin, (throat) and larynx (vocal cancer and postdoctoral resociodemographic search fellow at cord) information.

Brown University in Because some US. head and neck cancers are caused by in"Most of those studies had either few fection with human papillomavirus 16 (HPV numbers of cases or they were not adjusted 16), the researchers tested for the presence for confounding factors. of antigens to HPV 16 viral proteins in the "Ours is a large, population-based study blood of all participants. with robust parameters that strongly sugThe team found that among participants gests gastric reflux, which causes frequent who were neither heavy smokers nor heartburn, is an independent risk factor for heavy drinkers, a history of frequent heartcancers of the pharynx (throat) and larynx burn was linked to a 78 per cent increased (vocal cord)," Langevin said. risk for cancers of the throat and vocal Langevin and his colleagues identified cord. -PTI

Datebook

36 India Post

June7, 2013

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NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat Jun 8 • 7th Annual Kite & Color Festival

Fri Jun 7 • An Evening Of Indian Classical Music Indradeep Ghosh

Venue: Buena Vista CampGround, 775 Harding Highway, Buena, NJ 08310 Time: 11:00 am Contact: 856-293-1970

Venue: Tibet House, 22 W 15th St, NY 10011 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 917-626-1470

Sat, jun 8

Sun, Jun 9

• 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

Sun Jun 9 • 20 Great Human Values From Bhagavad Gita Ch. 13 Venue: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, 67 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042 Time: 4:30 pm Contact: 732-469-0799

• Tagore's Legacy in the 21st Century Venue: Producers Club, Grand Theatre, 358 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 Time: 1:00 pm Contact: 201-204-6980

Sat Jun 15 • 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, June 7 • Ramayana Venue: Mexican Heritage Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose, CA 95116 Time: 7pm Contact: 408-847-2717

Sun, Jun 9 • Shankar Ehsaan Loy Live Venue:Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Time: 7:00pm Contact: 404-502-8846

Sun, Jun 9 Fri, June 7 • Shubha Mudgal in Concert Venue: India Community Center, 525 Los Coches St, Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 408-934-1130

Sat, June 8 • Carry On Vaisakhi Venue: San Jose Civic Auditorium, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 209-604-2543

May 12th through June 9th • Salma Arastu's Spiritual paintings Venue: CSE Gallery (in the Compassion Building, first floor) 1146 University Avenue San Jose, CA 95126

Sat, June 22 • Elements - Crossing Boundaries

• Shankar Ehsaan Loy Live Concert In LA Venue: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Time: 6:00pm Contact: 404-502-8846

Fri, jun 21

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

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's

Venue: San Jose Airport Garden Hotel, 1740 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95112 Time: 6:00pm Contact: 408-507-5889

Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes

Fri, Jun 7

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

• Disco Deewane Nite !! Retro Bollywood Party

Sat, June 13

Venue: Ashiana banquet hall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 9:00 pm Contact: 404-246-3256

• Vibrations- Global Fusion Musical Experience Of A Life Time At Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall

ATLANTA Upcoming

Sat Jun 14 • Singing Sensation

Sun, Jun 23 • Anantha: Infinite

Sun, Jun 23

Venue: Sophia B. Clarke Theater, 1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 909-630-8558

Upcoming • J K Yog Satsang and Bal

• Meet and Greet With Kapil Dev and Aparna Sen

Venue: Woodside Performing Arts Center, 199 Churchill Ave, Woodside, CA 94062 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: 408-982-7266

Possibilities

ILLINOIS

Venue: Impact Conference Center, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 678-463-6613

• Shankar Ehsaan Loy Live Concert In Atlanta Venue: Cobb Energy Performing Art Center Center, 800 Galleria Pkwy SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 Time: 6:00pm Contact: 404-576-8909

A Week-end Retreat with Swami Brahmarupananda Venue: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall, 220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, Il 60604 Time: 6:30 pm Contact: 708-408-2488

Sun, Jun 23 • Evolution: A Kathak Journey Through Time Venue: Chabot College Performing Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545 Contact: 415-333-9000] Time: 1:00pm

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Krishan Sharma, (MD & JT editor of India Post) on top of Jaleori Pass (11,000ft)

KRISHAN SHARMA India Post News Service

A

friend of mine, Ravi Dhingra, who is also a profes sional photographer and teaches photography, sug gested that I accompany him to a Himalayan trip as part of photography lessons under "Camera Unlimited".

The bare mention of Himalayas tingled my nerves and I was ready to try and experience this journey with 15 people, all from different backgrounds. We left on a four nights, five days trip to Banjar Valley from Delhi on a Volvo bus.

Banjar is a beautiful valley in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. Our base, known as "Camp Himalayan," was run

by a couple Sumit and Jasmine. It is 35 km from Aut village located between Delhi and Manali highway. It was an exciting bus ride up to village Aut where we changed over to taxis for our camp which is at 6000ft.

After a brief rest and lunch with our first lesson of photography, we left for the three-hour trek to "Chaini Kothi," a 1500 yrs old temple at about 7000 ft. This location is also close to the great Himalayan National Park. The trekking was enhanced with a brief shower, beautiful clouds and sunshine playing hide and seek.

Cont’d on page 40

i i Koth Chain

Thirtan river at Gushaini Village

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June 7, 2013

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Banjar adventure Trekking, watching Himalayan peaks & enjoying local festivals

Base camp 'mother's lap' at camp Himalayan

assigned cottages located at the campsite.

The trek passes through sevDAY 2: It also started with leseral villages with small temples. We sons in photography and later we spent an hour having fun with our were taken to river Thirtan by lobrief knowledge of photography cal taxis hired by our guides. The and some rest at the base of the snow fed Thirtan river gushes its temple. Soon after our descent to way through rocks to drop into the base camp, we were greeted open area creating fountains of by the organizers and local youth mini falls with sounds of water working at the camp. There were playing different strokes of muhot cups of tea and snacks fol- sic. Thirtan River passes though lowed by bonfire and dinner in the hundreds of villages. We camped evening. Later, we all retired to our at village Gushaini which is about 30km from our campsite.

We crossed the river by single metal basket pulleys and later were made to experience swimming, fishing and diving in the river, of course using life jackets and tow ropes for safety.

It was indeed a lifetime experience to swim across the ice cold waters. Soon after our adventure in the river, we spent the day at a newly renovated typical Himachali mansion by the river, built by Sumit and his childhood friend Vijay.

Sumptuous lunch and drinks were served overlooking the river.

After couple of hours of rest, we witnessed the local annual festival at Banjar Village. Several idols of local gods were brought here by the villagers and prayers A local woman from Hirab Village were offered to them.

This festival also Cont’d from page 39

Snow capped mountains seen from camp site

IT WAS INDEED A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE TO SWIM ACROSS THE ICE COLD WATERS. SOON AFTER OUR ADVENTURE IN THE RIVER, WE SPENT THE DAY AT A NEWLY RENOVATED TYPICAL HIMACHALI MANSION BY THE RIVER, BUILT BY SUMIT AND HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND VIJAY. SUMPTUOUS LUNCH AND DRINKS WERE SERVED OVERLOOKING THE RIVER

serves as meeting place for local boys and girls hoping to get married. Local sweets and several household items are brought here for exchange and sale. Locals also perform cultural shows during this week long festival.

Funfare and food attracts hordes of people from nearby villages.

DAY 3: Soon after the morning classes, we were taken by taxis to "Jalori Pass" at 11000ft. Ascending the heights and being part of the Himalayan landscape is a thrilling experience. From Jalori Pass one can have the most spectacular view of the snow capped Banjar mountain ranges.

We were there for couple of hours and came down to 7000ft to ascend further 3km to village Hirab.

River crossing by rope buckets across the river

Cont’d on page 41

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June 7, 2013

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Banjar adventure Trekking, watching Himalayan peaks & enjoying local festivals Camp Himalayan also offers guests a well-furnished resident's lounge.

Room Amenities The tents and cottages at Camp Himalayan are comfortable and spacious. Rooms are divided into the following categories: Luxury Tent, Camp Cottage, and Family Camp Cottage. The Camp Cottages are made in traditional hill style, out of high quality compressed bamboo, corrugated jute sheets, and wood. In-room amenities include an attached washroom with hot/cold water.

Dining Camp Himalayan serves a wide variety of delicious and wholesome dishes from its efficient and

Meadows by Hirab Village Cont’d from page 40

We were greeted here by the hospitality of village youth Sunil, who offered us hot cups of tea and biscuits. The final evening ended with bonfire and sumptuous dinner.

The Himalayas offer the best trekking experience to anybody who wants to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, valleys, rivers, snow capped mountains and meeting with the simple local people and their culture. I recommend this trip to anybody looking for adventure in mountains.

Camp Himalayan Overview A stay at Camp Himalayan near Kullu is an unforgettable experience, one that you will treasure for a lifetime. Offering a variety of outdoor and cultural activities, Camp Himalayan gives you the opportunity to truly blend with the moun-

tain lifestyle, breathe deep the fresh air, and glory in nature's majesty. Along with comfortable accommodation, the camp provides delightful food along with warm and courteous service. Camp Himalayan promotes walking holidays and responsible Himalayan village tourism.

Camp Himalayan is located near the Village Bhiyar in the BanjarTirthan Valley in Kullu, and is approximately 57 km from the Bhuntar Airport (near Kullu), 200 km from the Gaggal Airport in Kangra Valley (near Dharamshala), and about 225 km from the Kalka Railway Station.

Hotel Facilities Camp Himalayan offers a variety of outdoor activities to its guests, such as: visit to Bhiyar Village, visit to Shoja Village, visit to Chaini Kothi, bird watching, nature walks, hiking/trekking (to such destinations as Sirloskar Lake, Raghupur Fort, Great Himalayan National Park, many others), rock climbing, river crossing, trout fishing, yoga and meditation, drive to Jalori Pass, early morning walk to Shringha Rishi Temple, and many more activities.

By any chartered Volvo Bus/ Train to ChandigarhTaxi/ Car/ By Air to Kullu and taxi to Camp Himalayan. By car/ bus form Delhi it is 14hrs and 21/2 hrs to the Camp.

Contact "The Travel Addresses" comCamp Himalayan dining hall and cottages pany that arranges these kind of adventure trips. Ph No hygienic kitchen. Food is served 09811864063, email in the dining hall. traveladdresses@gmail.com.

How to reach

42

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Travel & Hospitality Post

June 7, 2013

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Two Assamese mountaineers scale Everest

Manish Deka

GUWAHATI: Two mountaineers from Assam scaled the Mount Everest within a span of a week, Assam Mountaineering Association has said.

Manish Deka, a resident of Hatigorh Chariali here, became the second climber from the state to reach the top of the Himalayas after another city youth, Tarun

Saikia achieved the feat on May 18, a spokesman of Assam Mountaineering Association said here.

The news about Deka was conveyed to his family members by team leader L Surjit Singh.

Both Deka and Saikia are a part of the first North East Indian Everest Expedition, sponsored by the North East Council and Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association, and the expedition was flagged off by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 25.

Along with Deka and Saikia, four other climbers - N Chingkheinganba, A Robert and N Bidyapati of Manipur and David Zohmang of Mizoram - also scaled the Everest during the expedition.

The first expedition to the Everest from Assam had begun in 1969 when two Assamese moun-

Tarun Saikia

taineers - Rohini Kumar Bhuyan and Atanu Prasad Baruah - attempted to scale the tallest peak but were unsuccessful.

Another mountaineer from Assam, Pranoy Bordoloi had attempted to reach the Everest in May last year but had to return from 4,500 feet away from the top due to inclement weather. -PTI

No more Everest, says oldest to climb highest peak KATHMANDU: The oldest person to climb the world's highest mountain says he's heading for the hills.

Yuichiro Miura, who reached the top of Mount Everest at the age of 80, says that he will not attempt any more climbs of the world's highest peak, even as his one-year-older rival was at Everest's base camp attempting to regain his title as the oldest to conquer the mountain.

"I think three times is enough," Miura, a Japanese former extreme skier, told reporters in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital.

"At this point I could not think of anything but rest."

A brief improvement in weather conditions allowed Miura to leave Everest on a helicopter, three days after he scaled the mountain's 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak.

The aircraft picked up Miura at Camp 2 and flew him to the base camp and then to Kathmandu. He had initially planned to leave the mountain earlier but poor visibil-

ity and bad weather conditions forced the cancellation of the helicopter flight.

Nepalese climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, 81, was still at Everest preparing to attempt to scale the peak. He held the record for oldest

Yuichiro Miura

to reach the top for five years until Miura snatched the title.

"I hope his success is good news. I wish him best of luck," Miura said in Japanese, with his son Gota, 43, who reached the top of Everest with his father, serving as his interpreter.

Miura, however, insisted that Sherchan back up any claim of scaling Everest's peak with clear photographs of the climber showing his face at the summit. -AP

Hemkund Sahib reopens for pilgrims GOPESHWAR: Devotees took a holy dip in the glacial lake at Sri Hemkund Sahib as the Sikh shrine, surrounded by snow-clad Himalayan peaks, in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district reopened after an 8-month winter break.

Thousands of pilgrims, inc l u d i n g Uttarakhand Minority Commission chief N S Bindra, took a ritual bath in the lake before paying obeisance at the gurudwara.

Situated at a height of 15,500-ft near the famous Badrinath shrine and surrounded by seven mountain peaks, Hemkund Sahib can be

reached only after a 20-km trek from Gobindghat on RishikeshBadrinath highway.

Devoted to Guru Gobind Singh, the shrine finds mention in Dasam

Granth, a piece of work believed to have been narrated by the tenth Sikh Guru. It is closed for eight months in October due to snowbound conditions. -PTI

Travel & Hospitality Post

June 7, 2013

India Post

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J-K govt to unveil tourism package SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government plans to unveil a comprehensive tourism package in an effort to increase the footfall of foreign visitors to the state this season.

"A comprehensive tourism package will be unveiled by the Government to organize short summer and winter tours for over-

The roadshows were organized as Business Tourism Initiative to encourage Saudis to choose the state as a major tourist destination.

seas visitors," Minister of state for Tourism and culture Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo said.

This was stated by the minister while interacting with various Saudi, Middle East and Foreign Tour Operators and delegates during Roadshows at Jeddah, Riyadh and Damaam in Saudi Arabia, an official spokesman said here.

The spokesman said the roadshows were organized as Business Tourism Initiative to encourage Saudis to choose the state as a major tourist destination.

Highlighting the advantages that Jammu and Kashmir holds in tourism sector for visitors from Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, the minister said the state

Indians now booking flights, hotels online NEW DELHI: Indian travelers are becoming more Internet savvy with a growing trend showing them increasingly booking flights and hotel rooms online.

A high 67 per cent of Indian leisure travelers prefer to travel by

air rather than rail or road, while 83 per cent of them prepare their own travel itinerary instead of depending on travel agents or tour operators, a survey by major online travel company Yatra.com said.

With a whopping four-fifth of travelers planning their own holi-

day itinerary, Sharat Dhall, the company's president, said, "A new trend picking up among Indian travelers is that of buying hotel rooms online. It will become a significant trend in the next two years."

Many of the travelers are already buying airline tickets online.

However, high air fares due to the recent decision to allow additional charges for preferential seats, meals, baggage and other services could hit the high demand for air travel, especially on domestic sec-

tors, he said.

Dhall pointed out that those preferring rail or road as their mode of travel were still in a significant number as air travel has become expensive.

While Ladakh was the most preferred destination within India, it was Thailand on the international holiday map.

"Our sales show that almost 50 per cent of those going abroad for vacations prefer Thailand. Major reasons for this are visa-on-arrival, cheap hotel and flight options, good shopping and a favorable exchange rate," Dhall said.

Regarding choice of hotels, he said the most preferred ones were three and four-star properties.

"Star-rating of hotels is a key criteria for Indian travelers."

Interestingly, umbrella was one of the things among the top four must-haves during holidays. The other items were camera, sunglasses and a food guide.

Among those surveyed, half of them were aged between 30- 40 years and 25 per cent above the age of 40. -AP

IUPUI anthropologist's planned trip draws interest BLOOMINGTON, Ind.: An anthropologist at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is drawing interest from media worldwide for his expedition in July to Australia to study how some 1,000-year-old coins ended up on a remote beach there.

Ian McIntosh tells The HeraldTimes he has been contacted by reporters from Britain, Holland, South Africa, Ireland, Pakistan and elsewhere about the coins, which could show Europeans arrived in Australia earlier than believed.

McIntosh says the coins may

have washed up from a shipwreck.

He says they also may have been used as gifts from seafarers to aboriginal people in exchange for food, water or shelter. He says whatever the case, the mystery of how the coins got to the northern shores of Australia is worth investigating. -AP

has improved all indices to meet the requirement of foreign visitors in the State.

Giving a detailed insight into creation of high-end infrastructure development in tourism sector in the state, the Minister said the government will make all out concerted efforts to increase overseas footfall, especially from countries the Middle East, in the coming season.

"We are planning to organize various familiarization tours and operators from Middle East are in-

vited to be part of the contingents," he said.

Correlating the similarities between Saudi and state's heritage and culture, the Minister said the visitors from Saudi Arabia will also have a taste of great cuisine and recipes that J-K state offers.

"The travelers to J-K will relish the Persian influence on our traditional food. They will also like the various hand-made items that our state has distinguished itself in the world over," he added. -PTI

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In Brief ND chamber officials support immigration reform BISMARCK, N.D.: Chamber of commerce officials in North Dakota are lobbying in support of federal immigration reform.

The Greater North Dakota Chamber says the U.S. is not producing enough workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, and needs to look globally.

Immigration reform would put 11 million people living in the country illegally on a path to citizenship. Greater North Dakota Chamber President Andy Peterson says those people need to be brought into the legal economy so they can pay taxes, get a better education and contribute to economic growth. -AP

Cannes: 'The Immigrant' stirs emotional response CANNES, France: James Gray's sincere melodrama ``The Immigrant'' has divided the Cannes Film Festival not for its politics or its audaciousness, but for its sentimentality.

Gray's 1920s Ellis Island tale, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Marion Cotillard, has been called the most divisive film at this year's Cannes, where it premiered in competition. He made it, he says, aspiring to ``the absolute commitment to the emotion of the moment.'' ``It's very unhip, by the way, to do that,'' Gray said in an interview at a hotel on the Croisette. ``There is no postmodern irony, which I'm sure is totally infuriating to some.

What lasts is what we're talking about. What lasts is extending our sympathies. That, to me, is what lasts.''

Cotillard stars as a Polish immigrant who arrives at New York's Ellis Island (shot on location) in 1921 with her sister. After her sister is sent to the infirmary, Cotillard's character is taken in by a pimp (Phoenix), who puts her to work in his cabaret show.

Predictions for ``The Immigrant,'' which the Weinstein Co. will release at an unknown date, have ranged from Oscar glory to awards afterthought. In Gray's classical, handsomely photographed approach, inspired by Puccini's ``Suor Angelica'' opera, critics have either gone with its intimate story of American passage, or they haven't.Gray, whose films include ``We Own the Night'' and ``Little Odessa,'' has become accustomed to dividing audiences.-AP

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June 7, 2013

H-1B & L-1 visa provisions: Workable or unworkable -II Details on page 45

Judge rules Arizona sheriff's office profiles Latinos PHOENIX: A federal judge has ruled that the office of America's self-proclaimed toughest sheriff systematically singled out Latinos in its trademark immigration patrols, marking the first finding by a court that the agency racially profiles people.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Murray Snow in Phoenix backs up years of allegations from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's critics who say his officers violate the constitutional rights of Latinos in relying on race in their immigration enforcement.

Snow, whose ruling came more than eight months after a sevenday, non-jury trial, also ruled Arpaio's deputies unreasonably prolonged the detentions of people who were pulled over.

The ruling marks a thorough repudiation of the immigration patrols that made Arpaio a national political figure, and it represents a victory for those who pushed the lawsuit. ``For too long the sheriff has been victimizing the people he's meant to serve with his discriminatory policy,'' said Cecillia D.

Wang, director of the ACLU Immigrants' Right Project. ``Today we're seeing justice for everyone in the county.''

Monetary damages weren't

Arpaio, said Snow set a hearing for June 14 where he will hear from the two sides on how to make sure the orders in the ruling are carried out.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

sought in the lawsuit but rather a declaration that Arpaio's office engages in racial profiling and an order that requires it to make policy changes.

Stanley Young, the lead lawyer who argued the case against

The sheriff, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, won't face jail time as a result of the ruling.

Tim Casey, Arapio's lead attorney in the case, said an appeal was planned in the next 30 days. ``In the meantime, we will meet

with the court and comply with the letter and spirit of the order,'' he said.

A small group of Latinos alleged in their lawsuit that Arpaio's deputies pulled over some vehicles only to make immigration status checks. The group asked Snow to issue injunctions barring the sheriff's office from discriminatory policing and the judge ruled that more remedies could be ordered in the future.

The group also accused the sheriff of ordering some immigration patrols not based on reports of crime but rather on letters and emails from Arizonans who complained about people with dark skin congregating in an area or speaking Spanish. The group's attorneys noted Arpaio sent thank-you notes to some who wrote the complaints.

The sheriff said his deputies only stop people when they think a crime has been committed and that he wasn't the person who picked the location of the patrols.

His lawyers said there was nothing wrong with the thank-you notes.

Cont'd on Page 46

SAALT concerned over new immigration bill WASHINGTON: A South Asian rights group has expressed serious concerns over certain provisions of the comprehensive immigration reform bill that will pave a pathway to citizenship to some 11 million undocumented immigrants, including more than 260,000 Indians.

"We are concerned with several pieces of this bill that must be addressed in order to truly reform the system in a meaningful way that addresses the needs and concerns of immigrants in ours and many other communities," said Deepa Iyer, executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

Iyer, who recently had represented SAALT at a White House

meeting on immigration reform chaired by US President Barack Obama, pointed out that there are numerous pieces in the bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee that require improvement in order to truly benefit South Asians.

"For example, the undocumented pathway to citizenship is ridden with barriers and restrictions, including the cut-off date and the lack of access to certain benefits," A statement from the group said.

"Additionally, the bill fails to extend immigration benefits to same-sex partners, places limitations on family categories by eliminating the option of citizens bringing over their siblings or adult

married children over the age of 30 on that basis alone, eliminates the diversity visa program, and fails to alleviate many of the concerns

The undocumented pathway to citizenship is ridden with barriers and restrictions, including the cut-off date and the lack of access to certain benefits facing H1-B workers and their spouses," it said.

"Finally, the harsh and ineffective enforcement measures at the

border and interior as well as in the workplace and the lack of meaningful prohibitions on profiling are of great concern to South Asian communities as well as all immigrants," the statement said.

At the same time, Iyer acknowledged that the bill will improve the lives of South Asians and all immigrants.

"We are hopeful that given the commitment of Congress and President Obama to immigration reform, as well as the momentum and activism of immigrant communities, we will be able to improve many of these provisions moving forward," said Manar Waheed, SAALT's Policy director. -PTI

Immigration Post

June 7, 2013

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H-1B & L-1 visa provisions: Workable or unworkable -II GARY ENDELMAN & CYRUS D. MEHTA

Continued from last week BSEOIMA goes beyond the L1 Visa Reform Act of 2004 which allowed outplacement of L-1B workers so long as the L1 beneficiary remained under the direction and control of the petitioner. Here, even if this was the case, such secondment would be limited to an affiliate, subsidiary or parent of the L1 petitioner.

All L employers who place L1s at third party sites are now subject to a displacement obligation of 90 days before and after the L petition was filed. For a new office L, the L beneficiary could not have been the beneficiary of 2 or more L petitions in the immediately 2 preceding years.

For the first time, BSEOIMA introduces an explicit provision for L investigations that can be based on anonymous sources. In addition, DOL shall conduct annual L compliance audits for each em-

While these provisions against dependent employers are designed to put certain industries out of business that rely on H-1B and L workers, BSEOIMA introduces the concept of "intending immigrant" which does provide some respite.

If an employer has an H-1B or L employee who is an "intending immigrant," that worker is not counted in the employer's dependency or "super dependency" calculation.

With respect to not counting an alien from the dependent calculation who is the subject of the labor certification, the employer has to qualify first as a "covered employer" who is an employer of an alien, which during the one year period that the employer filed a labor certification application for such alien, has filed I-140 petitions for not less than 90% of the total labor certifications filed during that one year period.

However, labor certification ap-

An amendment might be proposed during the markup phase to remove the "intending immigrant" concept, and so every attempt must be made to preserve this concept in BSEOIMA, so as to give dependent employers some chance to legitimately do business in the US. ployer with more than 100 employees if more than 15% are in L status. Non-compliance with new L restrictions can lead to fines up to $2000 per violation and a 1 year debarment + an obligation to make the employee whole through payment of lost wages and benefits.

A willful misrepresentation of a material fact on an L petition can result in $10,000 fine and 2 year debarment. The DHS Inspector General must prepare a report on fraud and abuse in Blanket L program within six months of enactment. The opponents of immigration have long sought to impose on the L-1 visa many of the same straightjacket restrictions that have suffocated the H-1B. Now it seems they have a major victory.

plications pending for longer than 1 year may be treated for the calculation as if the employer filed an I-140 petition.

The purpose of this "covered employer" definition is to probably ensure that employers do not file labor certifications without pursuing permanent residency on behalf of their employees. In reality, most employers who take the trouble to file labor certifications will go ahead and file the I-140 petition within the 180 day expiration period.

It is clear that Professor Ron Hira, a critic of the H-1B and L visa program, was engaging in sophistry in his testimony before the Senate committee when he said that it would be easy for employ-

ers to avoid becoming dependent employers through paper pushing!!

The question is what happens

to the "covered employer" status if an I-140 petition (among the 90%) gets denied based on an ability to pay issue or a 3 year degree issue. All that the definition of "covered employer" requires is that the I-140s have been filed for no less than 90 percent of the aliens for whom a labor certification was filed during the 1 year period.

With respect to not counting an alien who is the beneficiary of a pending or approved I-140 petition from the dependency calculation, the employer does not have to establish that it is a "covered employer." A pending or approved I-140 petition on behalf of a foreign national will remove that person from the employer's dependency calculation.

There is a possibility that an amendment might be proposed during the markup phase to remove the "intending immigrant" concept, and so every attempt must be made to preserve this concept in BSEOIMA, so as to give dependent employers some chance to legitimately do business in the US. H-4 spouses will be able to apply for work authorization, but only if the spouse is a national of a country that permits reciprocal employment. While H-4 spouses who are Indian nationals will benefit from this provision (as Indians have been most affected under the EB-2 and EB-3 backlogs), it is worth noting that India does not currently provide employment authorization to spouses of those

who hold an Indian employment visa.

However, unlike the US with many nonimmigrant visa categories that authorize work, there is only one temporary employment visa category in India. The Indian employment visa does not parallel the H1B visa in any way. It is difficult to understand why this proviso has been inserted in the bill when spouses of L-1 visa holders (as well as E and J-1 visas) can seek employment authorization without regard to whether the spouse's country permits reciprocal employment.

Regardless of a few bad actors, there has been an unjustified anti-

India sentiment in immigration policy for a few years. This is the genesis behind all the adverse provisions against H-1B dependent employers in BSEOIMA, who otherwise try very hard to comply with the existing complex rules in place.

This sentiment was reflected in the Neufeld memo that was specifically aimed against IT consulting, along with the jaundiced way that Indian equivalent degrees have been viewed by the USCIS. Then, even after an H-1B petition is approved, upon responding to a lengthy RFE and FDNS site visit, the visa applicant is delayed at the US consular post in India (although BSEOIMA brings back visa revalidation in the US for certain work visa categories).

Cont'd on Page 46

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Judge rules Arizona sheriff's office profiles Latinos Cont'd from Page 44

Young, the group's lawyer, said he was still reading the decision but noted it contained ``very detailed findings of discriminatory intent and effect.''

Casey said that MCSO's position ``is that it has never used race and will never use race in its lawenforcement decisions.'' He added the sheriff's office relied on ``bad training'' from the U.S. Immigration

ing immigration enforcement in 2006 amid Arizona voter frustration with the state's role as the nation's busiest illegal entryway.

Snow wrote that ``in the absence of further facts that would give rise to reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a violation of either federal criminal law or applicable state law is occurring,'' Arpaio's office now is enjoined from enforcing its policy ``on checking the immigration status of

Known for jailing inmates in tents and making prisoners wear pink underwear, Arpaio started doing immigration enforcement in 2006 amid Arizona voter frustration with the state's role as the nation's busiest illegal entryway. and Customs Enforcement.

Arpaio, who turns 81 next month, was elected in November to his sixth consecutive term as sheriff in Arizona's most populous county.

Known for jailing inmates in tents and making prisoners wear pink underwear, Arpaio started do-

people detained without state charges, using Hispanic ancestry or race as any factor in making law enforcement decisions pertaining to whether a person is authorized to be in the country, and unconstitutionally lengthening stops.''

Snow added ``the evidence introduced at trial establishes that,

in the past, the MCSO has aggressively protected its right to engage in immigration and immigration-related enforcement operations even when it had no accurate legal basis for doing so.''

The trial that ended Aug. 2 focused on Latinos who were stopped during both routine traffic patrols and special immigration patrols known as ``sweeps.''

During the sweeps, deputies flood an area of a city - in some cases, heavily Latino areas - over several days to seek out traffic violators and arrest other offenders.

Immigrants who were in the country illegally accounted for 57 percent of the 1,500 people arrested in the 20 sweeps conducted by his office since January 2008, according to figures provided by Arpaio's office.

At trial, plaintiffs' lawyers drew testimony from witnesses who broke down in tears as they described encounters with authorities, saying they were pulled over because they were Hispanic and officers wanted to check their immigration status, not because

they had committed an infraction.

The sheriff's attorneys disputed such characterizations, typically working to show that officers had probable cause to stop the drivers based on a traffic violation.

Plaintiffs' lawyers also presented statistics to show Latinos are more likely to be stopped on days of immigration patrols and showed emails containing offensive jokes about people of Mexican heritage that were circulated

prompted patrols with a discriminatory motive.

The ruling used Arpaio's own words in interviews, news conferences and press releases against him as he trumpeted his efforts in cracking down on immigrants. When it came to making traffic stops, Arpaio said in 2007 that deputies are not bound by state laws in finding a reason to stop immigrants. ``Ours is an operation,

Plaintiffs' lawyers drew testimony from witnesses who broke down in tears as they described encounters with authorities, saying they were pulled over because they were Hispanic among sheriff's department employees, including a supervisor in Arpaio's immigrant smuggling squad.

Defense lawyers disputed the statistical findings and said officers who circulated offensive jokes were disciplined. They also denied the complaint letters

whether it's the state law or the federal, to go after illegals, not the crime first, that they happen to be illegals,'' the ruling quoted Arpaio as saying. ``My program, my philosophy is a pure program.

You go after illegals. I'm not afraid to say that. And you go after them and you lock them up.'' -AP

H-1B & L-1 visa provisions: Workable or unworkable -II Cont'd from Page 44

All this happened only since 2009 when all along before that there was no issue of H-1B workers being placed legitimately at third party sites, which is indeed how the business model works to the benefit of US businesses and consumers.

Clearly, the success of the Indian IT global model has led to a backlash in the same way that Japanese car makers were viewed

IT providers most directly harmed by this legislative vendetta have always supplied at prices that American business and its consumers could afford.

What has gone unnoticed by the so-called Gang of 8 in the Senate is the fact that the ability of American companies to maintain their competitive edge has been due in no small measure, to the very Indian IT global model that BESEOIMA seeks to destroy.

One can also recall Senator

What has gone unnoticed by the so-called Gang of 8 in the Senate is the fact that the ability of American companies to maintain their competitive edge has been due in no small measure, to the very Indian IT global model that BESEOIMA seeks to destroy. in the late 1980s. The IT global giants along with the smaller IT firms have been "tainted" by the same brush. There is no doubt that corporations in the US and the western world rely on Indian IT, which keeps them competitive.

Spurred on by Senators Durbin and Grassley, the architects of BSEOIMA have unwittingly prepared the way for a massive dislocation of the American economy which will no longer be able to benefit from the steady supply of world class talent that the Indian

Schumer's infamous slip of tongue when he referred to Indian IT companies as "chop shops" instead of job shops at the time Congress outrageously raised the filing fees for certain L1 and H-1B employers (to fund a couple of drones on the Mexican border), as if job shops is not enough of a pejorative. Senator Durbin also falsely insinuated that highly regarded employees of companies like Infosys pay to come to the US. These sentiments will now be-

come part of the law, and it is not hard to guess the senators who have inspired these provisions, further supported by the diatribe of Professor Ron Hira, who spew outrageous falsehoods in the guise of academic scholarship. Perhaps, one can look at the other side of the picture and find out how the H-1B visa program has benefited the US and even creates jobs.

It is unfair to assume that an employer who depends on H-1B workers in engaging in fraud. Interestingly, under BSEOIMA even "non-Indian non-dependent nonfraudulent employers" will need to go through more bureaucratic red tape, and will have to actually offer the job to a qualified US worker (unlike a PERM where all that happens is that the application is not filed) before being able to file the H-1B petition.

The provisions that were previously enacted to target dependent employers in 1998 have now been expanded to cover all employers.

Unfortunately, the H-1B provisions, in an otherwise good Senate immigration bill, reflect a complete lack of understanding of the role of globalization and free trade in services during the second decade of the 21st century, which can benefit the US, India and the world.

We need to draw attention to this fact in the hope that these discriminatory provisions against Indian IT, which are also inconsistent

soring STEM advanced degree with principles of free trade and in violation of GATS, can be elimistudents on an F-1 visa for a green card without even having nated. to go through the labor certificaIndeed, BSEOIMA has extion process. tended the additional recruitment BSEOIMA also allows F-1 stuattestations that have only applied dents to have dual intent, and so to dependent employers to all employers, along with artificially forctheir desire to obtain green cards will no longer ing employers impede their to pay higher Not all employers ability to obtain than market wages for H- can rely on PhDs and an F-1 visa at a 1B workers. students in the US who US consular BSEOIMA post overseas.

PhDs, regardseems to give graduate with STEM less of whether more emphasis advanced degrees. got the deon green card They will need to rely they gree from a US sponsorship institution or rather than on the H-1B visa and prolonging the to some extent on the not, can also avail of this fast temporary visa track green card status of for- L-1B visa and they do not eign national also need to have their PhDs in a workers. To some extent, this is a STEM field. good thing. By allowing foreign nationals to obtain green cards, it Still, not all employers can rely on PhDs and students in the US gives them mobility and to not be who graduate with STEM adbound to one employer for many vanced degrees. They will need years. to rely on the H-1B visa and to There is also a good provision some extent on the L-1B visa, and that allows an H-1B who has been terminated to be accorded a grace BSEOIMA will clearly not quell the demand of US companies for IT period of 60 days and an applicaservices and expertise through tion to extend, change or adjust consulting companies. status during that period shall be deemed to have been lawful H-1B status while that application was pending. Indeed, many employers * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted may be able to avoid the H-1B proat 212-425-0555 or cess altogether by directly sponinfo@cyrusmehta.com

Immigration Post

June 7, 2013

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Key senators tightly control immigration debate WASHINGTON: A sweeping immigration reform bill is now headed to the Senate floor largely due to the efforts of eight Democratic and Republican senators who wrote the measure and managed to keep firm control over the debate.

The so-called Gang of Eight managed to derail dozens of proposals put forth by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that threatened to violate the delicate trade-offs made by the bill's authors.

The gang - the four Republicans and four Democrats who forged the immigration plan - held together ``amazingly well under the circumstances,'' said one member of the Judiciary Committee who was not part of the group. ``It's a very complex bill,'' added Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican.

The legislation that now goes to the Senate floor creates a 13year road to citizenship for the estimated 11.5 million immigrants living in the United States unlawfully, establishes a new program to allow low-skilled workers into the country and sharply expands the number of visas for highly skilled workers.

It also mandates a costly new effort to secure U.S. borders against future illegal crossings and remakes the existing system for legal immigration.

Beneath the surface lie dozens of difficult political bargains meant to balance the interests of members of the self-appointed Gang of Eight and various constituencies now welded into a coalition for the bill.

Fixing the precise standards for certifying that the U.S.-Mexican border is secure enough to permit

The lawmakers themselves discussed a small number in meetings held either in the office of Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, or John McCain, an Arizona Republican.

The results of last November's presidential election - in which President Barack Obama won about 70 percent of the Hispanic

The results of last November's presidential election - in which President Barack Obama won about 70 percent of the Hispanic vote led some Republican lawmakers to support immigration reform out of concern the party was eroding support among an increasingly influential voting demographic. other features of the bill to take effect was one. Setting the requirements, and rights, for those illegally in the country who will apply for ``registered provisional immigrant status'' was another.

Only four of the eight senators, two from each political party, are on the Judiciary Committee, but aides to all met privately in advance to review roughly 300 proposed amendments. Officials said there were few disagreements among the staff about which would have violated the basic bipartisan agreement and thus needed to be fended off at all costs.

vote - led some Republican lawmakers to support immigration reform out of concern the party was eroding support among an increasingly influential voting demographic. At the same time, the party's conservative base has backed tough measures cracking down on immigrants living in the country unlawfully.

But even though immigration legislation is a top second-term priority for Obama, the White House was held at arms' length in the efforts to draft the immigration legislation. Administration officials were consulted about the feasibility of quickly establishing a

Leahy disappointed on gay, bi-national couples MONTPELIER, Vt.: Sen. Patrick Leahy has said he was disappointed he was unsuccessful in his bid to amend immigration reform legislation to protect same-sex couples in which one of the partners is foreign-born.

Activists on the issue, including a Vermont man whose Brazilian partner has been barred from visiting the United States, said they were outraged.

Speaking at a news conference, Leahy, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Republicans made it clear they would scuttle a comprehensive immigration reform bill approved by the committee rather than include provisions to help bi-national, same-sex couples. ``It's hard for me to look at two couples in Vermont, both legally married, (and) say to one, `We can help you with your immigration problems,' but to the other one, `Sorry, the law requires us to discriminate against you.' But the

Republicans made very clear that they would defeat the whole immigration bill if that amendment

Patrick Leahy

was in there,'' Leahy said.

Steve Rawls, spokesman for Immigration Equality, a Washington-based group that has been pushing the issue, had high praise for Leahy but the opposite for other Democrats. ``We expected Republican op-

position, but we also expected other Democrats to stand with Senator Leahy and pledge their support for our families,'' Rawls said. ``And the fact they didn't was just disgraceful.''

He said other Democratic committee members, Sens. Charles Schumer of New York, Diane Feinstein of California, Richard Durbin of Illinois and Al Franken of Minnesota each urged Leahy to withdraw his amendment. ``To see senator after senator tell Chairman Leahy they did not want him to offer his amendment for a vote was a betrayal of the promises and pledges that many of those senators had made to our families,'' Rawls said.

The praise for Leahy and anger at the others was shared by Michael Upton, a South Herobased psychiatrist who said he has to leave the country to see the man he wants to marry, Jandui Cavalcante of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. -AP

nationwide biometric system to track immigrants, for example, but were not invited to the meetings.

It was only by accident that the public might have learned of the gang's power.

Speaking into a microphone that he evidently did not realize would pick up his voice, Schumer asked an aide during one vote, ``Do our Republicans have a pass on this one?''

In fact, for days, the two Republican Gang of Eight members on the Judiciary Committee, Sens.

Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, wound up opposing changes they might otherwise have supported - far more often than was the case with the Democrats, Schumer and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Among them were numerous attempts by other Republicans to toughen border security requirements before legalization can begin or to otherwise make provisional legal status harder to obtain.

Still other proposals were re-

shaped to meet the conditions of the Gang of Eight, including one

by Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and John Cornyn of Texas, one the Democratic committee chairman, the other the Senate's secondranking Republican.

They wanted to change a provision providing $1.5 billion to deploy ``additional fencing in high-risk border sectors,'' proposing instead that the money go to ``fencing, infrastructure and technology.'' Officials said that ran afoul of the wishes of Sen. Marco Rubio, a member of the Gang of Eight, who had made construction of the fence a priority.

In the end, a compromise emerged, with $1 billion to be spent exclusively on fencing and $500 million available for that purpose or other infrastructure or technology.

In addition to Rubio, the gang members not on the Judiciary Committee are McCain and Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado.-AP

Migration exhibit comes to Alpena in June ALPENA, Mich.: Travel and the freedoms associated with it are the subjects of a Smithsonian exhibition coming in June and July to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Heritage Center in Alpena. ``Journey Stories'' will be on display from June 1 to July 26. The exhibit shows the ways mobility evolved in the United States from covered wagons to one of the most mobile in the world, and how transportation has fostered its growth here. It uses the experiences of affected people to express the hopes of fresh starts, the grim realities of forced migrations, individual journeys and the thrills of traveling, according to The Alpena News. ``The sanctuary will have a volunteer docent in the exhibit at all times,'' Stephanie Gandulla, media and outreach coordinator, told the newspaper. ``The exhibition will also have an iPad for people to tell their own `Journey stories' and upload them to the Smithsonian website.''

The exhibit is focused on immigration, migration, innovation and freedoms associated with travel.

It features accounts of immigrants, fortune hunters, homesteaders, employment seekers, Africans and Native Americans forced to move, and the dangers and fun on the open road.

Photos and documents are used to tell the stories of transportation in the U.S. ``We're very excited to be able to bring this exhibit to Alpena,'' Gandulla said. ``We were lucky to

get one of the grants to bring this nationwide traveling Smithsonian exhibition to the sanctuary.''

A grant from the Michigan Humanities Council helped bring the exhibit to Alpena. It requires that high school students help gather oral histories from area residents as part of the project.

Related activities will take place throughout the community.

Among them is one at the Alpena County Public Library called ``Alpena Stories,'' highlighting the early timber and maritime industries that brought thousands of immigrants to northeast Michigan. -AP

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PREM KISHORE

I

nspired by a photograph in Los Angeles County Museum Arts current exhi bition Unveiling Femininity in Indian Painting and Photography (Two Nautch Girls on a Bed by William Hooper 1870), famed dancer, choreographer, Viji Prakash paid a magnificent tribute to the Devadasi heritage - Indian women dancers of the temple. Their art form is the basis for today's BharataNatyam - the classical dance of Southern India. The Los Angeles County Museum of Arts' Southern Asian Art Council, sponsored the production by Prakash's ensemble - the Shakti Dance Company.

The 1,500 year old narrative of the Devadasi (female servant of the Gods) is a riveting one, spanning centuries of misrep-

PIcs Surendra Prakash

resentation, complex interpretations and a history of veiled secrecy. Viji Prakash in her daring, unconventional, engrossing interpretation of the lives of Devadasis says," though the story of the Devadasis in this production is fictional, I feel I have not strayed away from representing who they really were: master artists, true devotees of dance and repositories of our Indian Culture."

The compelling, deeply humane and intriguing history of South Indian classical dance and the Devadasi, consort of the Immortal, puts Viji Prakash's full range of craftsmanship on display.

Viji Prakash

Cont’d on page 50

June 7, 2013

June 7, 2013

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'Indian Americans will find my story exotic' ASHIM CHOUDHURY has attracted some notice with his recent novel 'The Sergeant's Son' published

by Rupa. Here he takes some time off to answer questions e-mailed to him by India Post wherein he talks candidly about the making of the novel, his career with UN, his hobby of painting and future plans: India Post: Tell us about your background and your journey into writing?

Ashim Choudhury: I'm an out-of-work journalist, doing consultancies, writing, editing. In my spare time I also paint particularly when I'm traveling to the hills. I've worked as a public Information officer with the UN for several years, was also there at the UN Missions in Liberia and Sudan. If all goes well I might go back to Africa with one of the UN Missions. I hope to write a book on my African experience some day.

IP: What prompted you to write a story about 'The Sergeant's Son' AC: My father was in the air force. The story of my childhood was something deeply embedded in my psyche. Memories of childhood were something I cherished and held close to my heart. As a child I did dream of being a journalist. The idea of writing a book came in 1977. I was also in the Air Force then, undergoing my training. I would spend a lot of time in the library reading as I could hardly relate with the fellow recruits around me. After I finished reading a book by Dom Moraes; it was an autobiography. I told myself," The story of my own life would be much interesting." That's when the idea of writing this book first ger-

minated. But it was not until twenty years money. And then we have this culture later, three years after I had quit Air force deeply ingrained in us, 'Baap mochi to beta and a year after I had quit a bhi mochi.' The dynasty regular job in journalism that syndrome in our polity is I began to write. I was with also a reflection of this. the UNDP in India then.

IP: Would you sympathies IP: So the story is autobiowith the Blacks and migraphical? norities in America?

AC: 'Yes' and 'No'. I'll say AC: Well 'The Sergeant's it's largely inspired by my own life. But it's Son', in a way, is about class struggle. Yes it not an authentic autobiography. also touches upon the issue of color disIP: Does the novel have any parallel to crimination. Kalu is acutely conscious of your own childhood? his dark complexion. It gives him an inferiAC: As I have already said it's largely ority complex. The novel sympathizes with drawn from my own childhood. Kalu, the the underdog, deals with little unfulfilled main protagonist, is me to a large extent. So, dreams and ambitions. Talking of Blacks and yes, there is a parallel to my childhood. minorities in America I am reminded of that IP: How do you think your novel will ap- book, 'To kill a Mockingbird' The Sergeant's peal to Indian Americans?

Son has certain parallels to that famous AC: Why just Indian-Americans? I think book. it should universally appeal to a lot of people I guess much has changed now. A few from the English speaking world. They will years could you have ever thought of a find it exotic in a way. The book is a por- Black American President? But yes there's trayal of a bygone era in India. Most Indian a lot of discrimination in the world. Discrimireaders in their fifties and sixties will be able WHY JUST INDIAN-AMERICANS? I to connect with their own lives. The book THINK IT SHOULD UNIVERSALLY has its own resonance APPEAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM even today.

I remember a lady, THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD. the wife of a Sergeant THEY WILL FIND IT EXOTIC IN A WAY. telling me. 'My son read it and said, 'Ma this THE BOOK IS A PORTRAYAL OF A book talks of the same things that you also talk BYGONE ERA IN INDIA. MOST about.' The boy was INDIAN READERS IN THEIR FIFTIES drawing parallels between his own mother AND SIXTIES WILL BE ABLE TO and Basanti in the CONNECT WITH THEIR OWN LIVES. novel. I think that was a great compliment. For an airman's son today to see clear parallels nation works at several layers. Visit Delhi's with his own life - I think that an achieve- bungalow zone then go to one of the lowment. end areas like Mongolpuri or Shahadra and IP: How would you describe your book? you'll know what I'm talking about. In the AC: It's not a typical novel with a plot. bungalow zone the municipal corporation You can call it a social-reality family saga works like clockwork, in other areas it that depicts the angst of a little boy who is doesn't. The Maoist upsurge you are seetalented and wants to become an artist. The ing in swathes of India is partly a result of story is told from the boy's point of view. It that discrimination. If I was a Muslim living is a portrayal of lower-middle class life in in America, I guess I could have answered the India of the sixties and seventies. The your question better. reality has not changed for millions of poor IP: How was the experience of getting your children in India who may be talented but first book published? cannot follow their dreams for want of AC: Not a very pleasant one, I would

say. Publishers often tend to treat you with disdain. Getting someone to review your manuscript seriously is not an easy task unless you are famous. My manuscript was first given to one publishing house who I kept chasing and chasing and was finally told, 'Sorry, we've misplaced it!' This kind of a thing happens all the time, particularly when you are a beginner.

IP: Any interesting anecdote that you would like to share?

AC: There was this editor - looking after the publishing arm of a news organization where I worked. I thought this was my opportunity. When I took the manuscript to her she said, 'What's this about?' I told her it was about my own life. 'Why would anyone be interested to read about your life?' she asked. I had no plausible answer. She immediately handed me back the manuscript!

IP: And now‌Have you tasted success‌?

How has the response been so far?

AC: This is another grey area. There are no clear systems in place to find out how

your book is selling. The publishers don't tell you. Honestly, I don't know how the book is selling. Maybe I'll know after I get my first batch of royalty! But the reviews have been very encouraging. And, more importantly, feedback from ordinary people.

IP: Is there a sequel to the book. For instance, how the life of the protagonist shaped up?

A lot of people have asked me this question. Yes, a sequel is coming, on what happens to Kalu after he joins the Air Force. It's hilarious! I'm also working on a book of short stories.

Mallika finds India regressive

B Mallika Sherawat

labbermouth Mallika Sherawat, known to shoot off her mouth, has this time around embarrassed India on a global platform. In an interview with Variety Magazine in Cannes, Mallika terms India, regressive & depressing.

Talking to Variety's Steve Gaydos, the 36-year-old Indian actress, who divides her time between India and Los Angeles, was highly critical of her country, particularly for women. "I made a conscious decision to di-

vide my time between Los Angeles and India," she said.

"So when I enjoy the social freedom in America and go back to India, which is so regressive for women, it's depressing. As an independent woman, it's really depressing."

And if that wasn't enough, the second half of the interview has the actress shooting off lie after lie. Lie Number 1: Mallika claims she was the first Indian actress to kiss on screen. Err no Miss Sherawat.

Way back in 1933 Devika Rani & Himanshu Rai shared this intimate lip lock in the film Karma. Lie Number 2: Sherawat says she was the first to wear a bikini on the big screen. Have your forgotten about Sharmila Tagore, Zeenat Aman & Dimple Kapadia?

Celebrities back home aren't amused by Mallika's sweeping statements. A cheap publicity stunt or just a case of being a motormouth!

50 India Post

June 7, 2013 www.indiapost.com

Divine Dancers Viji Prakash's mesmerizing story of Devadasis Cont’d from page 48

It compels us to a new understanding of our divided minds about Devadasis.

Viji Prakash hones her art to perfection with her distinctive style of technique, emotion and storytelling - as she delineates the stunning role of the temple dancers in the history of the art.

She meticulously researched the collective memory of the Devadasis and presented a startling commentary on a woman's status in the temple and beyond framed by colonialism and the changing times. She uses every tool, chanting, movement, dialogue, drama, and music, the visceral spectacle of dazzling costumes and jewelry, and brilliantly trained dancers.

Viji Prakash and her daughter, the acclaimed dancer, choreographer Mythili Prakash - have a unique gift of creativity and imagi-

picted the joy and exhilaration of the lives of Devadasis in a suite of dances from the BharataNatyam repertoire which included the Alarippu, Varnam, Padams and more. They reconstructed the legacy of the Devadasis through scenes expressing the passion, love, honor and responsibility of these temple dancers in touching portraits.

The suite of BharataNatyam dance pieces were held together with rich pauses of drama, bhava (emotion), and clever dialogue for the elaboration of the Devadasi story. Viji Prakash re-interprets and conjures the life and times of the Devadasis with psychological detail, weaving the memories of two older Devadasis - Amma and Akka (Kay Talwar and Ambujam Panchanathan). These two Devadasis infused a deep sense of nostalgia and remembrance in the quiet dignity of their roles.

The younger Devadasis -

Viji Prakash hones her art to perfection with her distinctive style of technique, emotion and storytelling - as she delineates the stunning role of the temple dancers in the history of the art.She meticulously researched the collective memory of the Devadasis nation. They collaborated through an inspiring dance form to reveal the lives of the Devadasis. Skilled dancers from the Shakti School of Dance de-

Anuradha Kishore Ganpati and Kiran Bhalla - were sparkling, and saucy with a winsome freshness in their interactions and responses to each other and to Amma and

Mythili Prakash

Akka who became one of the most famous and respected Devadasis.

The two- hour dance drama unfolds in three parts; the initiation into temple dancing; the dances performed in the temple as an offering to the divine; the removal of the dance and dancer from the temple by the British and reformists; and Shiva as the "formless divine potential" who makes possible the heroic continuation of the dance and dancer.

The scenes are emotionally real and powerful as we see through their eyes the young dancers - the first day when they were initiated and stepped on rice paddy being blessed by their gurus. Choreographers Viji Prakash and Mythili Prakash opened our eyes to see the profound connection that dance had with Devadasis. They traced through movement and music, the wisdom, brightly faceted

guished portrayal of the conflict, cruelty and dishonor brought on the Devadasis.

Dance in a sacred space was considered profane, and the children of the Devadasis illegitimate.

Kay Talwar writes "As long as dance was a hereditary profession the Devadasi had a well-defined and important role in society. For 65 years the argument was fought in official circles until the death knell was struck with the passage of the 1947 Madras Devadasi Prevention of Dedication Act. The Devadasi era in the temples was drawing to a close."

The story of the Devadasi ends triumphantly with revivalists ensuring that the ancient tradition would not be obliterated and today the dance - BharataNatyam a vibrant art form is alive and resonates around the globe.

The closeness of the music and the dance was a tremendous success. Vocals, flute, saxaphone, tabla, harmonium and even a drumset offered a wide range of rhythms and melodies that swept the audience into a glorious realm of classical music.

All praise to the artists. Arjun Narayanan (mridangam) and the four singers Bhairavi Dhandapani, Davita Dutta, Siri Sruthi Sarva, Anupama Tadanki and Pallavi Mynampati (flute).

Two brilliant members of the Aditya Prakash Ensemble Jake

lives of the temple dancers. We see young children dedicated to the dance tradition, trained in the Scriptures and being inspired by the Devadasis yearning for the Divine.

Their mentors joyously shared their gifts of music, dance and yoga, chanting prayers, initiating young dancers in diverse arts using their privileges of patronage The story of the Devadasi and wealth for nurturends triumphantly with reing beauty, spreading education and gifting vivalists ensuring that the their followers with ancient tradition would not blessings. Always with hearts full of love and be obliterated devotion to the Divine.

The scenes depictJamieson (drums, Cajon, ing the British colonialists and re- Doumbek) Neelamjit Dhillon formers as well as Christian mis- (tabla, saxophone) astonished us sionaries who arrived in the nine- by incorporating dazzling musical teenth century and dismissed the imagery and an underlying inDevadasis as ill reputed women tense jazz harmonic structure into with a murky past was an an- the program.

June 7, 2013

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Perspective

June 7, 2013

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Time to end discrimination in welfare matters

P

ublic assistance is part of welfare. It includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California), General Assistance, Food Stamps, In-home services, and other miscellaneous benefits.

Americans view the welfare state as a European concept. It does not sit well with their ideals of small government, personal freedom and individual responsibility.

America lags behind Europe in the size of its welfare payments, the comprehensiveness of its coverage and also the spirit in which welfare is given.

While European administrators try to maximize coverage and minimize the stigma of receiving welfare, in America an efficient welfare case worker is one who can keep the "chiselers" off the roll. The principle of less eligibility is that welfare payments should be much less than what the worker would earn by working full time at minimum wage.

This principle keeps the welfare recipients always on tenterhooks.

The SSI program was launched in the year 1974. It was primarily meant for those low paid workers who, even after working for nearly ten years and more, did not get enough in Social Security payments to live on. SSI was meant to supplement their Income. In the year 1974 the recipients were mostly white Americans and some immigrants from Europe. As some stigma was attached to receiving SSI, many retirees preferred to make do with their Social Security payments.

The program worked very well. However Jane Ross, director of Income Securities Issues in the federal government, reported that SSI remained a program at high risk. It was exposed to fraud, waste, and abuse. It relied on individuals' own reports of their Income and resources. She also mentioned administrative weaknesses.

HARIKRISHNA MAJMUNDAR

The fears of Jane Ross proved real - because of the weaknesses in the program, it is suspected that many immigrants from developing countries commit fraud to gain SSI. Seniors from India in particular are really trapped.

Prior to 1999 under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, the government of India did not permit remission of funds abroad. This restriction created many difficulties for Indian students studying abroad, and other young people in service or business. However, it proved a blessing in disguise for Indian seniors seeking public assistance. Most of them had enough provision for retirement in India. They could keep their Indian resources resource intact, even increase them through interest and rent, and still avail themselves of public assistance without qualms of conscience or fear of breaking the law.

From 1988 to 1999 there was a provision in the welfare rules allowing people to reduce resources that put them over the eligibility limits for public assistance. Some seniors with foresight took the advantage of this provision and got rid of their excess resources. Others thought that since the government of India did not permit remittance abroad, what was the point of reducing resources in India?

Danger of fraud Before 1980 the danger of fraud was at a minimum.

America had a system of identification by assigning Social Security numbers. Moreover the recipients had American habits and culture.

A very few people know that, beginning in the year 1974, the Federal Supreme Court endorsed discrimination in the matter of welfare, between American citizens and immigrants, as well between different categories of immigrants.

The honorable judges observed, "In particular the fact that Congress has provided some welfare benefits for citizens does not require it to provide like benefits for all aliens.

The decision to share that bounty with our guests may take into account the character of the relationship between the alien and this country. Congress may decide that as the alien's tie grows stronger, so does the strength of his claim to an equal share of that munificence." (Mathews v Diaz: see http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/426/67/case.html) This was a very important caveat. It would take a great deal of time for immigrants from developing countries with economies based on scarcity - to imbibe a culture in which people refuse to take what is not due to them. Moreover these countries had no system of assigning Social Security Numbers to their residents. Nor was their banking system highly developed. Typically, the wife would not know the income and resources of her husband. There is no transparency in developing countries.

Benefits for immigrants Knowing full well this fact and with the endorsement of the Supreme Court to deny welfare to other than American citizens, it is not clear why welfare benefits were extended to immigrants at all.

Perhaps the law makers may have thought that senior immigrants who migrate to his country did so to help take care of their sons and daughters and grandchildren, so their children could focus on their work - a system that has benefited this country immensely.

After 1980, lots of elderly immigrants were encouraged to migrate to this country. There are no quota restrictions.

Harikrishna Majmundar

After some confusion the welfare department issued clear instructions to the social security case workers not to deny SSI to those who had resources in India above the prescribed limits, because this money was not available to them in America. The seniors on welfare were very happy.

During the decade of 1990-2000, there was a surge in the land and house prices in India, service pensions of retirees and rate of interest in the savings of seniors. The middle class of India became very well provided for.

The ominous period started from 22nd August 1996. The Clinton reforms excluded immigrants from public assistance until they became "qualified aliens," that is, until they acquired American Citizenship or worked for ten years and earned forty quarters, thus qualifying for Social Security.

In the year 1999, The Foster Care Independence Act and SI 01150.0007 Transfer of Resources by spend down, put a penalty of maximum 3 years for transferring resources for less than a fair market value. But because the government of India had not then relaxed the remittance rules, Indian seniors on public assistance who had resources in India ignored this provision.

Late in the same year Foreign Exchange Regulation Act was replaced by Foreign Exchange Management Act and by 2003 all restrictions on transfer of remittance abroad were removed.

However, in 2003 the welfare department had not caught up with the change. They continued to ignore resources in India, and most Indian seniors took advantage of the welfare rules, whether knowingly or not. This Catch-22 Situation may ruin the remaining years of most seniors from India on public assistance.

You could say that this is one of the administrative weaknesses that Jane Ross found fault with, weaknesses that made fraud very easy to practice.

In order to avoid delay in giving public assistance welfare case workers are given absolute power. There is no coordination or attempt to give the same type of treatment

to all claimants or recipients of welfare. The policy that one encounters can vary based on the case workers assigned.

In the same office, if a senior has a house in India, one case worker asks him to sell it, bring the sale proceeds here and spend them to bring his resources within the prescribed maximum for eligibility. Another case worker ignores the house. If this situation can arise in a single office, you can imagine the situation across multiple offices in this state and in others.

Welfare rules harsh Case workers now make far more critical decisions. The welfare rules are very harsh and full of complications and are ambiguous. A lot of case workers feel that many claimants do not merit public assistance. They are frustrated.

They are too busy, with a long line seniors waiting. They have no time to ask leading questions and elicit the facts.

There are periodical reviews where the case workers ask questions orally. The claimant nods to inconvenient questions. The review is sent to the claimant, requiring him to point out if there is any mistake, along with a toothless threat of prosecution for perjury. The claimant sighs in relief when it is over: between reviews he is safe.

In other cases, the claim is accepted at first. Payments are made for months and years. Subsequently the claimant is asked to repay. He is informed that if he is not at fault the recovery (repayment) may be waived but only if it would result in his inability to get food and shelter.

The case workers are aware that they are not in a position to find out whether the claimant's report of his income and resources is correct. Instead of asking a supervisor how to deal with the case, the case workers take the path of least resistance, throwing responsibility on the claimant.

And there is no provision of an ombudsman - that is, a liaison officer.

From 1996 on, entitlement changed to eligibility. Discrimination is still banned under more statutes, but, albeit without conscious intention, it is practiced on a large scale in welfare matters. People on welfare are second class citizens.

Beggars are not choosers. The welfare claimants are not beggars; they are recipients of a well-established system, but they are reduced to the level of beggars because they cannot challenge the arbitrary actions of the case workers.

Fraud cannot be tolerated and those who commit it can no longer escape punishment. But the utter neglect of the welfare program by those who are responsible for executing it is sad to see.

Sizable minority The 2010 census shows there is a population of 2.8 million Asian Indians. The Asian Indian seniors have come mostly after 1980 and out of the total American seniors of 40 million the Asian Indian seniors may be around 36,000.

Not all of them are on welfare. None of them are qualified aliens. Some of them have declared their global income and resources. But still it is a sizable minority.

Beginning in 2013 it appears there will be some serious attempts to reduce if not to completely eliminate fraud.

The best way to rectify the situation is to persuade all seniors to undertake voluntary disclosure going forward.

Sporadic attempts to expose individual seniors' past actions would take years, and cause undue suffering - as well as expense.

The longevity revolution means that many people will live into their 100s, so many seniors will be affected for years by decisions made now. In order to enable them to live peacefully, some workable system should be established for the benefit of both the US treasury and the Asian seniors on public assistance.

Ex-president Clinton is reported to have once said "There is nothing wrong in America which cannot be fixed by what is right in America."

There is a hope that appropriate action will be taken this year.

Harikrishna Majmundar is President South Asian Senior Services

Philosophy

June 7, 2013

India Post 53

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis COLIN DRAKE

T

his exchange highlights the problem of living with a mind that has insufficient constructive work to keep it content, for as I say on page 10 of Beyond The Separate Self: For most of us much of our waking time is spent in obsessive thinking about 'ourselves' and our relationships with other people.

This is especially true when we are not working, using our minds in a productive activity; or when we are not relaxing in such a way that engages the mind such as reading a book, playing a game or watching a screen.

For the mind is akin to an onboard-computer which is a wonderful tool for problem-solving, information storing, retrieval and processing, and evaluating the data provided by our senses.

However, when it is not fully utilized it tends to search for other problems to solve, and if these are not presently available it tends to speculate about the future, delve into the past, or imagine in the present, creating non-existent problems which it then tries to solve!

Most people tend to identify with their mind, rather than seeing it as a tool, which creates myriad problems. This causes everything to be seen through the filter of the mind: its opinions, judgements, and self-interest.

When this happens we cease to WAYNE AUSTIN

T

he one basic difference between a person who Real izes and one who doesn't, is that the former Sees that there is nothing to do. The person, who does not Realize, thinks he must do something in order to be Home.

Any path that teaches that one must do something, such as lessons, in order to Realize, is teaching egoist principles. All doing is of the ego. Ego is mind. Mind is ego. It is the mind that tells you who you are.

Many people are mindless, some are in mental institutions, and some are Teachers, Masters, Guides, etc. The people in institutions are there, usually, because of some trauma, wherein they lose their identification.

The help they get is in the form of strengthening the ego. Medicine attempts to bring them back into the world "as defined by medicine." That world, is the world most people see and think is real.

Masters and Teachers are also mindless, but it is a mindlessness brought about through Realization, not trauma. One famous example is Jesus.

Regardless of whether or not Jesus existed, the story of Jesus

see things as they really are which lessens our ability to relate to the world in a natural healthy way.

Imagine the problems it would cause if your computer decided that it was 'you' and coloured all the information it retrieved from the internet with its own arbitrary opinions and judgements.

In this case you would be unable to rely on any of this information, and if you did then any

into silence when the task in question is completed. However, this is not the case for most of us who flip-flop between being 'awake', identified with pure Awareness, and being asleep identified as a separate object in a universe of such.

In this latter state the unoccupied mind will naturally 'speculate about the future, delve into the past, or imagine in the present, creating non-existent problems

overcomes the problem of the mind being "the devil's playground" and instead turns it into "The Absolute's instrument".

One of the best ways to do this is to help facilitate the 'awakening' of others, when one has flipped to being 'awake', which in turn keeps one 'awake' whilst this activity is occurring. Another beautiful win-win!!

So I would urge you all to take

Aiding others to 'awaken' strengthens one's 'awakening' If one can discover a useful activity which satisfies the mind whilst also tending to facilitate 'awakening' and staying 'awake' then this is the ultimate win-win scenario!

None gets bound by one's possessions; it is the mental slavery to our possessions which shackles us.

-Swami Chinmayananda

Colin Drake

decisions made using this would be liable to be faulty.

Now it is easy to see that this identification with the mind is greatly exacerbated by having nothing (useful) for the mind to do, unless one is completely 'awake' when this misidentification is not present.

In this case it is possible to live with a silent mind until it is required to solve a problem, plan something or engage in communication with those around us. As such it is in 'working mode' and relapses back

which it then tries to solve'.

So it is very beneficial to have a useful activity for the mind to carry out, to prevent this counterproductive speculation. For this speculation, and wallowing in the past, reinforces the sense of a 'separate I', making the periods of 'awakening' shorter and more infrequent. Moreover, if one can discover a useful activity which satisfies the mind whilst also tending to facilitate 'awakening' and staying 'awake' then this is the ultimate win-win scenario! For it

the Bodhisattva Vow which is to aid all beings to 'awaken' by any means that you can, which also strengthens one's own 'awakening'.

This activity is endless and contains a seemingly infinite number of 'skilful means' to be discovered and utilized, giving the mind plenty of scope to be of genuine use and attain fulfillment.

Colin Drake is a non-duality teacher based in Australia. His articles, poems, or books can be found at http://www.lulu.com/ spotlight/ColinDrake

is accurate, for the most part, in its description of a mindless person. He was both in this world, and not in this world. He was able to see what was going on in this world, and also to see it as illusionary.

Buddha is another famous example. He sat under a tree, doing nothing until he Realized. Real-

searching "It," is here. The moment you start grasping, you are searching for "It" again.

The moment you stop trying, there "It" is. It asks only that you be It, and to be It, you cannot get It. :) This is the "whole" of the end of the search.

Those who Realize Peace

able to explain it.

It can be pointed to, but that is the best we can do. It is "outside" the realm of experience.

We call it an "essential experience" because we can find no other words, but it is not an experience in the accepted sense of the word.

But what we are speaking

You don't have to do something in order to be Home Realization cannot be understood, because it is not of the mind. The moment you stop searching "It," is here. The moment you start grasping, you are searching for "It" again ization is seeing the mind at work, and in the Seeing one Sees Truth.

One cannot See or Realize Truth, by doing things. It is the ego that thinks it must do something in order to get something. But there is nothing to get in the sense of grasping or understanding.

Realization cannot be understood, because it is not of the mind. The moment you stop

(God, That, Nirvana, etc.) through whatever means, never forget it. It can be a one-time flash brought about by almost anything - meditation, significant emotional event, drugs, spiritual practice, or it can be a gradual dawning, but one thing is clear to the one who has had this "essential experience," try as they might, they will never be

about is "something" that does not happen to "you," per se. Of course when the mind hears this it asks, "Well, if it doesn't happen to me, who the hell does it happens to?" and this question reveals the limits of the mind.

Excerpted from First There Is A Mountain. Wayne Austin is a non-dualist Teacher living in Northern California.

"Enlightenment is a destructive process. It has nothing to do with becoming better or being happier.

-Adyashanti

The world is full of Buddhas but they're sleeping.

-Mooji

Without the projection of the mind, the world cannot exist. That world that appears to you in your dreams at night is just as unreal as the world that appears to you when you are awake.

-Jac O'Keefe

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.

-Alan Watts

"Fufillment has nothing to do with circumstances."

-Gangaji

"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you."

-David Foster Wallace

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Reading Beijing's 'Blue Book' on India RANA DIVYANK CHAUDHARY

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uch attention is riveted on the way in which India-China relations are shaping up in the aftermath of the PLA's incursion into Ladakh. The incident would probably not have stood out had the new Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, not already chosen New Delhi to be his first destination abroad. Even as the joint statement by Premier Li and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was being put out, the internet became abuzz with news on the first Chinese 'Blue Book' on India containing accounts on its defense planning and growing power.

What is the Blue Book and what does one specifically focused on India have to say? What do its contents signify with particular regard to the current developments in India-China diplomacy and bilateral engagement? Even as the full document, which is in Chinese language, gets interpreted, how should New Delhi be reading it?

Know thy neighbour The Blue Book is typically a

clusion in the document hardly raises any eyebrows. China's strategic relationship with Pakistan presents an unchanging zero-sum game for India. The common cause of posing a two-front challenge to New Delhi and keeping India's great power aspirations contained within the subcontinent has been pivotal to the Beijing-Islamabad entente since its inception.

The report follows up with an account of India's defense modernization and weapons acquisitions in recent years. This, combined with a hike in defense spending, increase in troop levels on the Indian borders, and expansion in the order of battle, is taken to indicate long term changes in New Delhi's military strategy and planning.

More importantly, India's growing maritime interests have been highlighted as the new threat on China's horizons. These are reflected in the Indian naval deployments in joint exercises, long range operations on the high seas, and indigenous development of platforms of naval power projection which include two aircraft carriers and two nuclear ballistic missile

As an official project, the report introduces all areas of potential conflict between India and China in moderate tones. Interpreting such documents to complete India's China puzzle has to account for the perceptions and misperceptions characterizing bilateral relations and the role of information and disinformation in sustaining them special report published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), China's premier think tank, which discusses and analyses subjects important to Chinese interests. The first such report on India makes note of some of the well established facts about national politics, New Delhi's foreign and defense policy, its relations with neighbors, and the measures being taken at various levels for advancing and securing Indian interests in the region and beyond.

It lays out Indian perception of the South Asian security environment and how New Delhi is dealing with the multiplicity of external and internal threats to national security. The belief that India is preparing to fight a limited twofront war with Pakistan and China is common wisdom and so its in-

submarines with plans to construct more.

The many political scandals currently harassing the UPA government has also been found particularly noteworthy. Internal political crisis is seen as the foremost challenge India must tackle to tide over the difficulties of pursuing a consistent and rational foreign policy and exercise strong diplomacy. Therefore, India's relations with its neighbors and the peace process with Pakistan are both seen in continuance of the 'Gujral doctrine' of offering unilateral aid and reassurances to South Asian neighbors to enhance mutual trust and cooperation.

The fine print The Blue Book has not yet been discussed in the Chinese press or media nor is the complete report,

whether in Chinese or translated, available on the internet. But, it has been crafted primarily for a Chinese audience. It is significant that the report does not discuss in great detail China's territorial claims on Arunachal Pradesh, Sino-Indian border disputes, or the activities of Tibetan refugees under the Dalai Lama's leadership in India.

As an official project, the report introduces all areas of potential conflict between India and China in moderate tones. Interpreting such documents to complete India's China puzzle has to account for the perceptions and misperceptions characterizing bilateral relations and the role of information and disinformation in sustaining them.

Depicting Pakistan as the 'real threat' from the Indian point of view is not only an incomplete assessment but also implies that it should remain so. The pursuit of the 'Gujral doctrine' takes a long term perspective on prioritizing the peace process and is not contingent on short term concessions.

The concerted defense revamp is intended to eliminate India's decades-old policy atrophy on meeting China halfway in terms of strategic planning, capabilities, and battle preparedness. The possibility of India fighting and winning a two-front war which may escalate into a nuclear exchange is also incredulous. Yet, surely, planning and equipping for that eventuality bolsters India's two-front strategic deterrence and nipping the bogey of simultaneous east-west theatres in the bud.

Security and inter-state stability in South Asia is not threatened by an arms race as much as it is by a vacillating balance of power wherein India has yet to gain a decisive edge and all-round parity. Failing to highlight unresolved issues in a manner which would convey serious intent to clear past deadlocks would seem disappointing from a policy research point of view.

On the other hand, this would do little to further a positive image of India and mutual concerns in China's public domain which its authors have promised in interviews. But to take a leaf out of the Blue Book, India will stand better advised to set its house in order before true balance and confidence can harmonies the relationship.

The writer is Research Intern, CRP, IPCS

Fixing the 'Fixed'

A

dministration by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or by the Government of India is like a rotting edifice. You put a finger anywhere and it starts crumbling.

The Manmohan Singh government must be grateful that the finger has turned away from it and is now focusing on corruption in sports administration. Or is it a command performance by the Delhi police to turn attention away from the ruins of UPA II? The zeal with which the Delhi Police is going after big guns in BCCI looks like it is hoping to reap some rewards from this enterprise.

BCCI has some strange bedfellows. Belonging to different political parties they are fully engaged in polemics in Parliament. One wonders if this is for real or just a faรงade. Because the big guns straddle both the BCCI as well as government.

Look for instance at Arun Jaitley. He is Vice-President of BCCI as well as BJP Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Rajeev Shukla is Congress Minister for Parliamentary Affairs as well as Chairman of IPL which is now in the throes of a fixing/betting controversy. The bon homie with which these two and others with feet in both camps manage cricket shows they have a finger in the pie even though they are now acting as if they are aghast at the developments.

Together with some cricketers and bookies, BCCI President N. Srinivasan's son-in-law Chennai Super Kings CEO Gurunath Meiyappan has been arrested for alleged involvement in betting.

The arrests opened a Pandora's Box and Srinivasan is under tremendous pressure to step down on moral grounds but he has remained defiant so far. This is quite in keeping with the tradition set by ruling party politicians caught in wrongdoing but refusing to quit.

Suggestions are being made that the government should take over the administration of BCCI or at least that of the IPL. As if government of India, shown up as mother of all corruptions, is the panacea of all ills. How can it even act as a judge when its own have been found with their hands to the till?

It is very touching to note the concern of the Sports Minister Jitendra Singh who is reported to have said, "There is a need for good governance, cleansing of sports and brining transparency in the working of sports federations." Indeed! This is the same sports ministry under whose watch the Commonwealth games swindle took place. Now if the prescription trotted out by the minister is administered to his very own government, what will be the outcome? Perhaps the government itself could do with some good governance, cleansing of the politics and bringing in transparency. Sports suffers from the same malady as the government because it is the same politicians running the government as well as sports.

By refusing to quit, the BCCI chief has done incalculable harm to his own team, Chennai Super Kings. In the final match played in Kolkata, the team could not put up its best display as the players seemed to be under pressure for developments originating outside the field. A general impression prevails that CSK is the favored child of IPL because of its connection to the BCCI chief.

The victory of Mumbai Indians in the final match of IPL also sounds hollow. In a fair game, without undue pressure on CSK, they would have found it much tougher to win. Thus the viewer has been robbed of a witnessing a fair contest.

What characterizes the political and the corporate world in India today is not merely corruption. It is the brazenness after they have been found out. It is their belief that they can get away with it. That the police, the judiciary or the media won't be able to sustain this probe and as is often the case, they will go scot free because even though the law is there, it is never implemented. Also, they have the best brains in their employ to circumvent the law.

June 7, 2013

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56 India Post

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June 7, 2013