Top Stories
V O I C E
O F
I N D I A N S
W O R L D W I D E
India Post www.indiapost.com
Viswanathan Anand
Anand World Chess Champ fifth time Details on page 5
Ravi tells judge 'ready to begin prison term' Details on page 9
Indian company opens facility in S. Carolina
BID TO MALIGN INDIA ON IRAN
NEW YORK • WASHINGTON D.C. • CHICAGO • ATLANTA • CALIFORNIA
VOL 17, No. 925
June 8, 2012
50¢
Periodical Postage
Amb Nirupama Rao decries attempts
WASHINGTON: India has said that there is an attempt to paint it in negative color on the issue of importing oil from Iran, arguing that it needs enormous energy for its 1.2 billion people. "Somehow there has been, sorry to say this, some attempt, I don't know for whatever reasons, to paint India in very negative colors," Indian Ambassador to the US
Nirupama Rao told a select audience here at the Atlantic Council - a think-tank - while responding to questions on importing Iranian oil. Rao asserted that India has been transparent on this issue with international partners given its enormous energy security needs. Details on page 5
Dr. Tushar B. Patel
Tushar Patel named on key Health post Details on page 9
BJP promies Swiss account names if voted Details on page 9
New York OK's Sikh turbans for train drivers
Details on page 10 Details on page 10
Gupta case: Stacks of email bore jurors Details on page 10
Indians sweep Geographic Bee contest
CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 34-35 Classifieds ------------------------- 48
Details on page 11
Community Post -------------- 12-19 Date Book -------------------------- 47
INDIA POST SURVEY
Edit Page --------------------------- 50 HealthScience Post --------- 40-43
survey@indiapost.com
Horoscope ------------------------- 28
This week’s question
Immigration Post ------------- 36-39
India, China rivals in Myanmar?
Life Style ----------------------- 24-27 Philosophy ------------------------- 49
Last week’s result
Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4
US superpower status suffered after NATO summit? YES 56%
NO 44%
Real Estate -------------------- 44-46
DEMOCRACY ICONS: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, at Yangon, in Myanmar on May 29. (Details on page 6)
TechBiz Post ------------------- 20-22 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 29-31
Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”
2
India Post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
India Post
3
4
India Post
India Post www.indiapost.com
The Weekly Newspaper Serving Indians Worldwide
Romesh & Sunita Japra Publishers Subhash C Japra Co-Publisher Vikram Paul President Krishan Sharma Mg Director & Joint Editor Ranjana Sodhi Managing Editor Vinod Dhawan Senior Editor Naresh Sodhi General Manager Ghanshyam Bisht Supervisor Graphics SAN FRANCISCO & SILICON VALLEY Vijay Thapar CPRO & Advertising Sonia Sidhu Management Analyst Radhika Jhamb Correspondent Sudesh Kumari Correspondent Deepa Japra Youth Post Correspondent Rama Mehra Advertising Bhumi Bhutani Health Science Correspondent Jaya Gautam Correspondent Sujata Singh Correspondent Sirisha Chandraraju Correspondent Isha Patnaik Correspondent Raaj D. Photo Journalist Srinivas Mangipudi Photo Journalist LOS ANGELES Mrs Shashi Trivedi Bureau Chief J S Bedi PR & Marketing Mrs Prem Kishore Sr Correspondent Greg Heffernan Correspondent Ms Bobby Sharma Correspondent Babeeta Kaur Dhillon Correspondent Pavan Kaur Bhatia Correspondent CHICAGO Ramesh Soparawala Resident Editor A Q Siddiqui Correspondent ST. LOUIS Ashwin Patel Correspondent NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY Pinky Kaur Bureau Chief Srirekha N. Chakravarty Correspondent Nikita Japra Correspondent Sukhvinder Saini Circulation ATLANTA Sanjay Saggere Bureau Chief FLORIDA B K Madnani CANADA Firdaus Ali Correspondent BOSTON Gope Gidwani Bureau Chief
June 8, 2012
IndiaNewsweekly Post Mission Statement To empower the Indian Diaspora and make their voice strong and effective in countries of their adoption. RJ Media conglomerate offers a credible, professional and complete package of news, opinion, entertainment, networking and information.
Publisher’s Diary
T
alk of collateral damage… not of the hundreds of civilian deaths in the war in Afghanistan or the drone attacks in Pakistan, but about the sentencing of a Pakistani doctor to 33 years in prison for treason, apparently for assisting the CIA in tracking down Osama bin Laden. Shakil Afridi, a man of redoubtable reputation, has become the face of all that has turned ugly between the US and Pakistan in recent years. There's no greater irony than the fact that Pakistan, a key ally in the war on Al Qaeda - the country upon which the US has showered billions in military and developmental aid - punishes one of its own for helping the US in killing Osama bin Laden. So okay, over the last decade, for every billion in dollars that the US has given to Pakistan, the beleaguered haven of terrorists has let its own soldiers die in the war thus saving what would otherwise have been the lives of American soldiers. Whatever that deal may have been, Pakistan never really admitted to promising to deliver Osama bin Laden to the US. So if the US found and killed bin Laden in the backyard of a Pakistani military base, it was not theirs to take blame. But as a face saving move, Pakistani authorities arrest Afridi and have him sentenced to 33 years in prison. Piqued by this, the US immediately announced it was cutting $330 million (a 100 million for each of the years of sentencing) from its aid to Pakistan. While that may be so, when continued drone attacks by the US in Pakistan are killing civilians, the Pakistani government decided it should at least be compensated with money. So it makes a demand that the $250 'fee' paid for every US truck that passes through Pakistan into Afghanistan be raised to $5,000. Somewhere in all this, Afridi's fate hangs in balance. Last week, a US Congresswoman said that Afridi be given asylum and US citizenship. Well, if that happens, at least the doctor won't be complaining. Because that would be one collateral benefit you can't beat.
Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com
DETROIT Ashok B Jain, M D Bureau Chief Gurminder Singh SAN DIEGO Neelu Bhardwaj Bureau Chief SACRAMENTO Madan Sharma Bureau Chief Janak Sidhra Correspondent Upen Shukla Correspondent
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
CENTRAL VALLEY (CA) Dr Ram Saini Bureau Chief Sheila Rogers Correspondent
E-SUBSCRIPTION: Vikram Paul Tel: 510-789-7520 Extn: 208; E-mail: subscribe@indiapost.com
YUBA CITY (CA) Satnam Tatla Correspondent CAROLINAS Nalini Raja Patel Correspondent INDIA Vinod Dhawan Senior Editor & Bureau Chief Tripti Parule Correspondent NEW DELHI Vinod Kumar Khatana Graphics Madan Bangari Graphics PUNJAB Shiv Japra Bureau Chief Anil Kanwar Senior Correspondent/ Marketing DOABA, PUNJAB Romesh Kaura Correspondent HYDERABAD M Sagar Kumar Bureau Chief MUMBAI Nidhi Soparawala Correspondent Frank Fernandes Correspondent Vaidehi Patel Correspondent Hema Trivedi Marketing Diana Gabriel Marketing India Post (ISSN-1064-3868) is published weekly for $30 for 52 issues yearly by India Post, 1900 Mowry Ave # 201 Fremont, CA 94538. Periodicals postage paid at Norwalk, CA and additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the corporate headquarters: 1900 Mowry Ave # 201 Fremont, CA 94538 Copyright © 1994 Indamec, Inc. DISCLAIMER India Post assumes all advertisers to be reliable and responsible for all liability for their claimers
INFO-CENTER 1900 Mowry Ave # 201 Fremont, CA 94538 Tel: 510-797-7799, Fax: 510-790-2806; E-mail: info@indiapost.com
HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: In love with Lavani After proving herself in Bollywood, National Award winner Vidya Balan now wants to try her luck in Marathi films.
34
Cover Story: Maligning India Ambassador Nirupama Rao has decried attempts to paint India in negative color on the issue of importing oil from Iran.
Community: Gujarat model Congressman Joe Walsh says Gujarat is a role model for getting out of the economic morass that India has been facing.
Immigration: Deportation threat Attorneys are scrambling to find a way to prevent the deportation of a woman adopted from India as a 3-month-old baby.
1
12 36
Classifieds: Tel: 510-938-8668; E-mail:classifieds@indiapost.com Graphics Inquiry: Tel: 510-936-9490; E-mail: ghanshyam@indiapost.com For Editorial: Sonia Sidhu Tel: 510-797-7799; E-mail: sonia@indiapost.com
For advertisement rates call the office nearest to you: SAN FRANCISCO & SILICON VALLEY 1900 Mowry Ave # 201 Fremont, CA 94538 Tel: 510-938-8667 e-mail: nareshsodhi@gmail.com
LOS ANGELES 12908 Indian Lane Norwalk, CA 90650 Fax: 562-947-0632 Tel: 562-441-5511, shashi19@yahoo.com Tel: 562-929-4213, kimi@indiapost.com
CHICAGO
2543 W Devon Ave Chicago IL 60659 Tel: 773-973-7394; Fax: 773-973-7396; Email: sramesh@aol.com
NEW YORK Tel: 212-944-1931, Fax: 732-969-3735 Tel: 908-338-3752 (Marketing) Tel: 732-283-4939 (Editorial) E-mail: indiapost2000@yahoo.com
NEW JERSEY 21 Longfellow st., Carteret, NJ 07008 Tel: 732-969-1114; Fax: 732-969-3735 E-mail: indiapost2000@yahoo.com
BOSTON Tel: 617-298-9200; Fax: 617-298-1104 GOPE; E-mail: ggidwani@aol.com
ATLANTA 67 Peach Tree Dr., Ste. 102, Buckhead Atlanta, GA 30309 Tel: 404-425-3021 E-mail: sanjay@eBolo.com FLORIDA 8401 West Sample Road 30, Coral Springs, Florida - 33065 TORONTO, CANADA Tel/Fax: 416-744-8610
DELHI Jin Kushal Suri Complex, 3rd Floor, 230-A, Masjid Moth, (NDSE Part-II) New Delhi - 110049 Tel: 11-46142940, 26257769 Fax: 11-46142969 E-mail:delhi@indiapost.com
Life Style: Indians at Cannes Bollywood celebrities like Aishwarya Rai, Freida Pinto, Sonam Kapoor made their presence felt at Cannes Film Festival.
Techbiz: Anshu’s inheritance As he took over as Deutsche Bank's coCEO, Anshu Jain has inherited a myriad of court cases involving compensation.
24 20
MUMBAI
• Fernandes Mansion
Tam Taloa, Bassien (W) Mumbai Tel: 09619 330159
• Hema Trivedi
7 Crescent Chambers, Tamarind Land, Fort Mumbai 400023 Tel: 93223 44471
• Diana Gabriel
Tel: 98200 28348
For editorial, contact: editor@indiapost.com or call 510-797-7799
Travel: Ooty There is something special about Ooty. The lush vegetation and the lavenderblue mountains offer a promise of peace.
29
Cover/Top Stories
June 8, 2012
India Post
5
www.indiapost.com
Bid to malign India on Iran Amb Nirupama Rao decries attempts WASHINGTON: India has said that there is an attempt to paint it in negative color on the issue of importing oil from Iran, arguing that it needs enormous energy for its 1.2 billion people. "Somehow there has been, sorry to say this, some attempt, I don't know for whatever reasons, to paint India in very negative colors," Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao told a select audience here at the Atlantic Council - a think-tank - while responding to questions on importing Iranian oil. Rao asserted that India has been transparent on this issue
with international partners given its enormous energy security needs. There is no attempt by India, as is being alleged in certain quarters, to "camouflage payment" of its oil imports from Iran, she argued. "India has been extremely upfront and has been able to engage in a very frank dialogue with all our partners on this issue," Rao said. "There are energy security needs for India, but we understand there are certain constraints about importing oil from Iran. We are certainly cognizant of those
‘There are energy security needs for India, but we understand there are certain constraints about importing oil from Iran. We are certainly cognizant of those realities’ realities. Obviously the amount of oil, we import from Iran has come down," she said. "We are a net oil importing
Iran India's important source of oil: Krishna NEW DELHI: In the backdrop energy resources that were reliHe also briefed Krishna on the of US pressure to reduce oil im- able. recent discussions between Iran ports from Iran, India has said "Iran is an important neighbor and the P5+1 in Baghdad on unilateral sanctions should not and crucial trade partner for In- Tehran's nuclear program. impact upon its "legitimate trade dia, and also a major source of our "India has always held that the interests" with the Persian nation. energy supplies," Krishna said, nuclear issue should be resolved After talks with visiting Iranian adding the Persian nation was through peaceful diplomacy and Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, also a gateway for India to Cen- the framework of the IAEA proExternal Affairs Minister S M tral Asia. . India and Iran share an vides the best forum to address Krishna made it clear that Iran remained India's important source for oil given the growing domestic demand for crude. Asked about the US sanctions on Iran and its affect on trade, Krishna said India has always abided by the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (L) and Indian Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna the Iran issue. attend a joint press conference in New Delhi on May 31 "As far as other sanctions, those decided unilaterally or re- interest in the stability of Central the technical aspects of the isgionally, we are aware of such Asia and the Gulf, Krishna said, sue," Krishna said. On the importance of NAM, measures. In a globalize world, adding that he and Salehi also disthese actions can have an impact cussed threats the two nations Salehi underlined the need for a on the markets," he said. faced from terrorism and extrem- voice for developing nations to speak for justice, fairness and "Our commercial entities take ism. these into account. Such measures Salehi is in India as a Special equal sharing of management of should not impact on legitimate Envoy of Iranian President world affairs. Asked about allegations trade interests," Krishna said. Mahmoud Ahmedinijad to extend Salehi underlined that Iran has an invitation to Prime Minister against Iran in connection with been a reliable partner for India Manmohan Singh to attend the the attack on an Israeli diplomat on matters of energy security and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) here in February, Salehi refuted will continue to be so. Summit to be held in Tehran in them and said that Iran need not bother itself on such charges. He also urged India to look at August.
country. About 75 per cent of our oil is imported. Iran has been one of our traditional suppliers and many of our refineries are catered to process Iranian crude. But the circumstances today have become more and more difficult for any country to import crude from Iran," she said. "We are also cognizant of US concerns, and have remained closely engaged on the Iranian issue. Crude imports from Iran have a steadily declining share in India's total oil imports - dropping from a level of over 16 per cent in 2008-09 to almost 10 per cent in 2011-12, and these are expected
to decline further in 2012-13," Rao said. In her remarks, Rao said India believes that while Iran has rights to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, it must simultaneously and rigorously fulfill the treaty obligations which it has acceded to. "We have consistently maintained that Iran must cooperate with the IAEA to address and resolve all outstanding issues that continue to raise doubts in the minds of the international community. India has scrupulously adhered to the multilateral sanctions against Iran as mandated by the United Nations," she said. -PTI
Anand beats Gelfand to win World Championship MOSCOW: Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand showed immense resilience to beat challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel in a tense rapid chess tie-breaker to win the World Championship crown for the fifth time and fourth in a row here. Anand won the second game and drew the other three to win
It was high tension drama that almost made the Moscow weather look like an Indian summer inside the Tretyakov Gallery. Heated discussions on the chess board, topsy-turvy games and above all the intensity of the battle made everyone forget that the champion and the challenger had been playing 12-classical games over the
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with World chess champion Viswanathan Anand (R) of India and Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand (C) during their meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow on May 31
the title at the State Tretyakov Gallery here. Luck played a major part in the final game, favoring the Indian chess wizard when it mattered the most. After a 6-6 deadlock in the 12 Classical games, the rapid finale ended 2.5-1.5 in Anand's favor making him the world chess champion five times in all and four times in a row since 2007. The victory also meant that the 'King of Chess' will keep the crown till 2014, when the next World Championship will be held.
past three weeks. The hallmark of Anand's success was his speed. Often, Gelfand was seen down to his last few seconds when Anand still had a few minutes left on his clock. Gelfand played white in game one and got nothing out of the opening. In fact, an inaccuracy by the Israeli gave Anand a huge advantage as the game progressed out of a Semi-Slav defense but it was Anand's chance to go wrong if the battle had to unfold the way it did.-PTI
6
Top Stories
India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
India to provide $500mn line of credit to Myanmar NAY PYI TAW: India announced it will provide a 500 million-dollar line of credit to Myanmar as the two countries signed 12 agreements on a range of sectors, including air services, beginning a "new journey" of bilateral cooperation. On the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Myanmar in quarter of a century, Manmohan Singh held "broad-ranging" discussions with Myanmar President Thein Sein on a road map for bilateral cooperation and said New Delhi was committed to Myanmar's economic development. A Memorandum of Understanding for India's 500 million dollar credit line was signed between Export-Import Bank of India and Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank. The line of credit was agreed upon in October last year when the Myanmar President had visited New Delhi. The two countries also signed an air services agreement and an MoU on establishment of a joint trade and investment forum and setting up of border trade centers across the border of India and Myanmar. The Prime Minister told Thein Sein that connectivity remains a major thrust area in India-
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the President of Myanmar Thein Sein at the delegation level talks at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on May 28
Myanmar relations while capacity-building in Myanmar was a major priority for India's development assistance to this country. India pledged to double the training slots of Myanmarese personnel in India. "We have embarked on a new journey of bilateral cooperation", Singh told Thein Sein, adding "we are committed to strengthening our economic and development partnership." Singh told President Sein that
India was ready to share with Myanmar its experience of Parliamentary democracy and "we wish you all success in your nationbuilding efforts and changes you are bringing about," according to MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin. The MoU relating to India-Myanmar Border Area Development envisages Indian assistance to set up schools, community areas and health centers across the border. India has successfully tried
this model of development in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and is going to replicate it for Myanmar, Indian officials said. The agreement on border area development has important implications for security concerns of India as economic prosperity in those areas is expected to address the issue of insurgency. Myanmar shares a 1640-km border with four northeastern Indian states - Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh
- whose insurgents often take shelter across the border. The agreement on much-talked about passenger bus service between Imphal and Mandalay, Myanmar's second larges city, could not be signed as Myanmar Cabinet is yet to clear it, sources said. Among 12 agreements signed here are those between Calcutta University and Dagon University in Yangon on cooperation in research, an MoU on setting up Myanmar Institute of Information Technology, establishment of Advance Centre for Agriculture Research and Education in Nay Pyi Taw, setting up border 'haats' and a bio park in Nay Pyi Taw, on cooperation between Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses and Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS and between Indian Council of World Affairs and MISIS. The signing of the agreements cap wide ranging and extensive talks between the Prime Minister and President Thein Sein. Earlier, Singh, who is accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur and External Affairs S M Krishna, was given a ceremonial reception at the Presidential Palace.-PTI
PM invites Suu Kyi to visit India YANGON: In the highest-level contact between India and Aung San Suu Kyi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with Myanmar's democracy icon here and invited her to visit his country which has a "long-standing association" with her.
Singh, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Myanmar in 25 years, and Suu Kyi held discussions for 45 minutes. Accepting in principle the invite to visit India, 66-year-old Suu Kyi, Myanmar's opposition leader, said "I hope I will be able to take
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at Yangon, in Myanmar on May 29
up the invitation not before too long". Emerging from the meeting at Sedonia Hotel, where she called on Singh by sticking to protocol, Suu Kyi, clad in a violet "longyi" (sarong) and flip-fop, recalled her family's association with the Nehru family and said "her parents were great admirers of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and other Indian leaders but we were particularly close to Panditji, as I was taught to call him from a very young age". The Prime Minister, during the joint media interaction with Suu Kyi, said "I have handed over to her an invitation letter from Mrs Sonia Gandhi to deliver the next Jawaharlal Nehru memorial lecture which is a very prestigious lecture". The UPA Chairperson "has written an invitation letter to Madam (Suu Kyi) to do us the honor to deliver this lecture", Singh said. The Prime Minister paid rich compliments to Suu Kyi, saying her "struggle and her determination has inspired millions of people" all over the world. "We in India are very proud of the very long-standing association with her (Suu Kyi) and the members of her family."
Singh said he has conveyed to her "our very best wishes for the success of the noble endeavor in which she and her colleagues are engaged", a reference to Suu Kyi's struggle for pushing Myanmar to fuller democracy. Suu Kyi, who has strong personal ties with New Delhi where she studied in Convent of Jesus and Mary School and Lady Sriram College in early 1960s when her mother was Burma's envoy to In-
laureate pointed out. The Singh-Suu Kyi meeting was the highest-level contact between India and the democracy icon of Myanmar. None of the top Indian leaders, including former President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vice President Hamid Ansari, had in the past been able to meet Suu Kyi during their visits to Myanmar. In order to meet Prime Minister Singh, Suu Kyi pushed back her
The Prime Minister, during the joint media interaction with Suu Kyi, said ‘I have handed over to her an invitation letter from Mrs Sonia Gandhi to deliver the next Jawaharlal Nehru memorial lecture which is a very prestigious lecture’ dia, said the two countries "have been particularly close over the years not just because of our geographical proximity but because we have shared deep ties of friendship for many, many long years" and the struggle for independence. "The struggle for India's independence took place at the same time as the struggle for Burma's independence," the 1990 Nobel
proposed departure for Bangkok to attend a World Economic Forum meeting in her first visit abroad in 24 years. Singh said "it has been a great honor, a great privilege" to interact with Suu Kyi and added India hopes that she "will play a defining role" in the national reconciliation and political reforms launched by Myanmar President Thein Sein. -PTI
Top Stories
June 8, 2012
India Post
7
www.indiapost.com
PM meets Myanmar President in landmark visit NAY PYI TAW: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with Myanmar President Thein Sein as India suggested the two countries should work out a joint strategy to tackle terrorism and insurgency along their border and enhance security cooperation. Singh, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Myanmar in 25 years since Rajiv Gandhi's trip in December 1987, held restricted talks with Sein before the two leaders led their respective delegations for discussions on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues. Wearing flip-flops and a "longyi", the traditional Myanmarese sarong, President Sein warmly shook hands with Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur soon after the two dignitaries reached the Palace. Ahead of the Prime Minister's talks with President Sein, Krishna said both India and Myanmar are facing terrorism and insurgency and hence "it is necessary that both of us work out a joint strategy as to how to
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being welcomed by Myanmar President Thein Sein at the Official Welcome Ceremony, at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on May 28
meet with these terror elements". "Also, there are insurgents on either side. So, I think we have to work out an understanding to
tackle it. We have an understanding with Myanmar, we have been cooperating with Myanmar and it is necessary to deepen this coop-
eration", he said. Krishna stressed on the economic content of India's relationship with Myanmar saying "this
too is equally important. Myanmar is a developing country like India. They have come out of some problems internally and now they seem to be settling down and it is about time for them to devote time and to launch a developmental agenda, I think people of Myanmar need India's assistance and India would be willing to assist them". Krishna's remarks came in the backdrop of Myanmar government signing a ceasefire with Naga insurgent group NSCN (K) and India expressing happiness over the development. Indian conglomerate Essar Group is building the port on 70,000 square meters (753,000 sq ft) of landfill in Sittwe's centre where the port will accommodate ships from Kolkata, a 539-km journey across Bay of Bengal and handle up to 500,000 tonnes a year. From Sittwe, ships will sail up the Kaladan River to the town of Paletwa, where Essar will build a second and a smaller port. A 122-km highway will connect Paletwa to Mizoram. -PTI
PM for closer economic, political Indian corporate honchos meet Myanmar President ties with Myanmar YANGON: Wrapping up his three-day visit to "critical partner" Myanmar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pitched for closer economic and political ties and said the two countries should upgrade their cooperation to a "comprehensive energy partnership" on an equal footing. Underlining the historical links between the two countries, Singh said, "we again have an opportu-
He said India and Myanmar needs to work with each other and with other countries in the region to build prosperity, promote openness of thought and facilitate trade and movement of goods, people and ideas. "Myanmar is a critical partner in India's Look East policy and is perfectly situated to play the role of an economic bridge between India and China and between
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the Think-tanks, Intellectuals and Business Community on India and Myanmar: A Partnership for Progress and Regional Development, at Yangon, in Myanmar on May 29
nity to work as equal partners to revive the ancient links between our two countries and rediscover the immense possibilities of cooperation that exist".
South and South-East Asia," he said in his address to the thinktanks, intellectuals and business community here. "We should work together to
create a regional economy that can become a hub for trade, investment and communication in the region," he said. Noting that Indian industry was keen to invest in Myanmar, where Chinese investment runs into billions of dollars, Singh said that in order to exploit the full potential of economic relationship, "we need to facilitate trade and investment". He added that bilateral banking arrangements need to be established to ease financial transactions and expressed his happiness that United Bank of India is in the process of opening its representative office in Myanmar. Prime Minister said the energy sector is an area of great potential for cooperation. "There is a long historical association between the oil sectors of our two countries going back to the days of Burmah Shell. "India's known oil reserves in its Northeast and the adjacent region of north and western Myanmar belong to the same geological terrain. "We should upgrade our cooperation to a comprehensive energy partnership, which would include sharing of Indian expertise and capacity-building," he said. -PTI
NAY PYI TAW: As Myanmar Myanmar economy, including heads for an economic resurgence natural gas and telecom, and inwith the global economic sanc- vited Indian private sector to intions dissipating following sur- vest in his country. prising political reforms, Indian Mittal said he requested the corporate honchos met President President to allow international Thein Sein here during which he roaming facility across Myanmar invited investments from India in as a first step to attract investa range of sectors. ments in telecom sector. At the government level talks According to Mittal, as headed by Prime Minister Myanmar was moving down the Manmohan Singh and President path of political reform and movSein, the two countries set a tar- ing towards opening up its get of doubling bilateral trade from USD 1.4 billion in another three The President explained the years. Emerging from the opportunities that would be over an hour long meet- available in almost all ing with President Sein, Sunil Bharti Mittal, sectors of Myanmar group CEO of Bharti economy, including natural Enterprises and a member of the 22-member gas and telecom, and inIndian business delegation here, said Myanmar, vited Indian private sector with a population of six to invest in his country crore and untapped resources, offered huge opportunities to Indian compa- economy, "this is the right time nies as Myanmarese economy is for Indian companies" to explore opening up. the potential of this country. He told Indian journalists covWhile acknowledging that ering the Prime Minister's historic China had entered Myanmar in a visit, that the President explained big way and much before India, the opportunities that would be Mittal said he did not think "India available in almost all sectors of has missed the bus".-PTI
8
Top Stories
India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Myanmar moving closer to India as it opens up NAY PYI TAW: There appears to be a consensus across Myanmar's government headed by President Thein Sein and opposition Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy that the country needs to move closer to India at it travels down the path of political and economic reforms. Government officials and a leader of NLD, when contacted in Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw built by China and in Yangon, said "now that we are on the path of political reforms, we need greater interaction with India, one of the world's biggest democracy where the political system has its own checks and balances." There is appreciation in Myanmar that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his first visit to this country, has struck a balance in its approach between the two sides, said the officials and the NLD leader requesting anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on record. They point out that Singh had, during his speeches at different fora, commended President Sein, a former military general, for initiating dramatic political reforms including release of political prisoners, easing of media censorship and allowing NLD to contest and win parliament by-elections. At the same time, the Prime Minister paid rich compliments to
democracy icon Suu Kyi for her struggle and determination for ushering in democracy and hoped she would play a defining role in Myanmar's movement towards fuller democratic order. He also described her as an "old friend of India".
Kyi now wants is to "anchor the political reforms and take them forward". He declined to answer when asked if this meant making more compromises with the nominallycivilian government after she had climbed down on the wording of
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, the President of Myanmar Thein Sein and the first lady with the artists at the cultural programe, during the dinner banquet, at Presidential Palace, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
Myanmarese officials and a NLD leader interpret Singh's remarks as a message that both sides in Myanmar should work together in a spirit of give and take to take forward the political reforms. The NLD leader said what Suu
the oath-taking by NLD lawmakers earlier this month on the issue of "respecting" the 2008 constitution that guarantees a decisive role of the army in law-making. The officials and NLD make it clear better that relations with India do not mean Myanmar is mov-
Liberalization is contentious, rarely painless: PM YANGON: Faced with roadblocks in pushing the reform agenda at home, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here that the path of economic liberalization is "contentious and rarely painless". In his address to think tanks, intellectuals and business community, Singh said that while pursing the economic reforms, special measures should be taken to help disadvantage people. "The path of economic reform is often contentious and rarely painless. In the process of opening up, special measures need to be taken to help disadvantaged sections of society who are not yet empowered to benefit from the fruits of growth and globalization," he said. Singh emphasized the need for economic development without threatening environment or the delicate ecological balance. At home, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government is up
ing out of China's deep embrace built over two decades and it is just a question of leveraging the advantages by having good relations with its two giant neighbors. China forayed into Myanmar two decades back and entrenched itself in Myanmarese economy in
against tough challenge of pushing the economic reforms agenda in the face of opposition from its key allies. The pending reforms include FDI in retail, deregulation of diesel and cooking gas prices, and taxation policy changes. Referring to bilateral economic ties, the Prime Minister said: "Myanmar is a critical partner in India's 'Look East' policy and is perfectly situated to play the role of an economic bridge between India and China and between South and South-East Asia." Singh said India and Myanmar should work together to create a regional economy that can become a hub for trade, investment and communication in the region. "Better communication is the best way of promoting economic integration and there is much we can do to revive and build arteries of communication," he added. Singh informed that Myanmar government has invited India to
a big way investing in its energy and infrastructure sectors in a big way but some of the projects like a dam and a grid taking electricity to China has also created deep resentment among the people of Myanmar. Last year, Myanmar govern-
ment had suspended work on 3.2 billion dollar dam project and just ten days ago one of the posters at street protests in Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest town, read "we want our electricity back and not to go to China". It is in the context of acute power shortage in much of Myanmar, where only an estimated 13 per cent of six crore population has access to electricity that Singh and President Sein had during their meeting wanted early completion of two hydropower projects being executed by India. India has loosened its purse string announcing 500 million dollar credit line for Myanmar's infrastructure and agriculture and five million dollars for development of areas in Myanmar close to border with northeastern India. The two sides also noted with considerable significance Singh's suggestion for a new regional economic architecture in involving India, China and Myanmar which can play the role of an "economic bridge" between the two major economies and South and South East Asia. Such an architecture could make the regional economy a hub of trade, investment and communication, Singh said in Yangon during an interaction with a Myanmarese think-tank and business leaders. -PTI
Myanmar to give visa-onarrival to Indian biz men
is aimed at boosting trade relations, Indian business persons will get visa for 70 days on arrival and a fee of USD 50 will be charged, sources told PTI here. Another category for which visa will be given on arrival to Indian nationals is 'Entry visa' and the criteria will be meetings, events etc, the sources said. Under this criteria, visa will be given for 28 days for a fee of USD 40, they said citing the decision conveyed to the Indian government. Indians can also avail 24-hour visa-on-arrival for transit. Myanmar already has visaPrime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting the Indian community at the Indian on-arrival scheme community reception, at Yangon, in Myanmar for tourists.-PTI
assist in the development of two areas contiguous to our border, namely the Naga Self Administered Zone of the Sagaing Region and the Chin State. "We hope to implement small development projects that have been success-
NEW DELHI: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concluded his three-day trip, Myanmar announced its decision to grant visa-on-arrival to Indian business persons and certain other categories of visitors. As per the surprise move that
Top Stories
June 8, 2012
India Post
9
www.indiapost.com
Tushar Patel named on key Health post India Post News Service
WASHINGTON: On May 16, Dr. Tushar B. Patel was appointed as the Chief of Quality Management for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Health Service Division, Central Office, in Washington, DC. Dr. Patel has been serving as the Quality Management expert since December 2008 in Health Services Division in Washington, DC. Prior to his assignment in Washington, DC in 2008, Dr. Patel served as a Health Administrator at Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix, New Jersey for more than 15 years. Besides serving as a public servant in Federal Government, Dr. Patel has dedicated his time to serve his own community to provide health education and disease awareness and medical screening for disease prevention and early intervention via health fairs in South Asians throughout New Jersey. The patients are given disease screening, education and counseling on taking pro-active approach to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, various types of cancers and eye abnormalities to prevent blindness by detection of diabetic ret-
inopathy and glaucoma. Dr. Patel has been involved in various local and state level community organizations for the past 15 years where he dedicates his time and expertise in medical and non-medical volunteer work. He dedicate his services and leadership to various non-profit organi-
In his new appointment as a Chief of Quality Management Branch, Dr. Patel will be responsible to overlook Quality and Risk management Programs for the Federal Bureau of Prisons zations to include President of Indian Health Camp of New Jersey (IHCNJ), provides free health screening and disease prevention and awareness fairs in New Jersey. To date, IHCNJ provided medical, dental, eye and cancer screening and awareness counseling via health fairs to more than 5,000 un-
insured or underinsured people throughout the state since 1999. Due to his selfless dedicated volunteer service and champion leadership skills, Dr. Patel was requested to provide his expertise in various non-profit, cultural, civic, educational and political organizations in New Jersey. Currently, he is serving as a Secretary of Indo-American Cultural Foundation of Central Jersey and GOPIO-NJ Chapter, Vice-President of Indian National Overseas Congress and a core member of AIANA and event Committee Head for 2012 World Gujarati Conference, Chaalo Gujarat. Dr. Patel also served in the local community homeowner's association as a Vice-President. He also served in the South Brunswick Township Board of Health as a medical expert. His new appointment as a Chief of Quality Management Branch, Dr. Patel will be responsible to overlook Quality and Risk management Programs for the Federal Bureau of Prisons Health Care System in 117 facilities to include six medical centers. Dr. Patel will be the first Indian American appointed in this capacity. This is a proud moment for the IndianAmericans in the United States.
BJP to release list of Swiss account holders if voted to power WASHINGTON: Bharatiya Janata Party would make public the names of 800 Indian account holders in Swiss Banks if it comes into power in the 2014 general elections, senior party leader Yashwant Sinha has said. "Of course, we will do. Of course, we will do," Sinha told a small audience at an event organized by a recently formed Washington-based Indian American think-tank Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS). "Will you disclose (the list of 800 people) after coming to power?" Sinha was asked by a member from the audience as he was hitting hard at the UPA government for not disclosing these names some two years after the HSBC Bank submitted it to them, saying it lacks the necessary will power to do so. "You are aware of that famous case when HSBC disclosed the names of 800 Indian account holders in Swiss Bank and these names have been with the Government of
India for the last two years. They say that the double taxation avoidance agreement prevents them from disclosing this," Sinha said. This is hardly a taxation issue, he said, adding the BJP will like to punish them for breaking India's rules and laws.
Sinha is currently on a three-day visit to Washington to hold meetings with the think-tank, members of the Indian Diaspora, Congressmen and officials of the Obama Administration "The question is why you haven't been able to prosecute them in two years. Disclose 10 names, 20 names, but how does all these 800 names remain a secret for two years. That is where
there is some mystery. We do not know what that is. We have to come into power (to know about it)," he said. Sinha is currently on a threeday visit to Washington to hold meetings with the think-tank, members of the Indian Diaspora, Congressmen and officials of the Obama Administration. "I am here representing BJP and India," he said at the event where he accused the Union Government of not taking necessary measures to bring back the black money stacked abroad to the country. "Whatever Indian money is lying abroad, that has to be pelleted out. I entirely agree with you, if you are strict with all these tax havens - Caymen Island, Mauritius, St Kitts - what is the status of these small little countries. India can deal with them from a position of strength and tell them this far and no further. Or we redo international transparency laws," he said, adding G-20 is working on it.-PTI
Ravi tells judge 'ready to begin prison term' NEW YORK: A day after he the jail term. made his first public apology for "I believed then and I believe spying on his homosexual room- now that a custodial term had to mate, Indian student Dharun Ravi be imposed," McClure said. appeared in a New Jersey court to Berman said while he believes tell a judge he will begin his 30- Ravi's action were wrong, they day prison sentence and is waiv- were not motivated by hate. ing his right not to be punished "I'll stand on my belief that his twice for the same crime. conduct was wrong," the judge Ravi was handed down a said. "But I don't believe it was month-long prison sentence after hate-motivated. I can't find it in me he was convicted on hate crime and to remand this gentlemen to a state bias intimidation charges for spy- prison that houses such people ing on his gay roommate Tyler convicted of murder, robbery and Clementi's sexual encounter with rape," he said. another man in his Rutgers dorm room in September 2010. The India-born 20 year old appeared in state Superior Court in New Brunswick and told Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman he is ready to report to the Middlesex County Correctional Facility. Ravi's lawyer Steven Altman would work out details of when and how he surrenders. Ravi had earlier apologized publicly for the first time for his "insensitive and Dharun Ravi immature" actions for spying on Clementi with a webcam. Days later, Clementi had com- The prosecution has mitted suicide. appealed against his 30Ravi remained silent throughout the 42-minute day sentence, saying it is hearing in court, answering too lenient and is deonly 'yes' and 'no' to questions about whether he un- manding a longer prison derstands the consequences term of about five years. of heading to jail before he is Ravi was not required to required to. The prosecution has ap- begin his jail term till the pealed against his 30-day appeal was ruled upon sentence, saying it is too lenient and is demanding a but he said he wants to longer prison term of about finish the sentence as five years. Ravi was not resoon as possible since ‘it quired to begin his jail term till the appeal was ruled upon is the only way I can go but he said he wants to fin- on with my life’ ish the sentence as soon as possible since "it is the only way I can go on with my life." After a three-week trial in According to the New Jersey March, Ravi was convicted on 15 Star Ledger, attorney Joseph counts of hate crime and bias inBenedict asked Ravi if he under- timidation charges. He was senstood that if his own appeal against tenced to 30 days in jail, three years his sentence is successful, he probation, 300 hours of community would have already served jail he service and ordered to pay a fine may not be required to serve. of more than USD 10,000. "Yes," said Ravi, who wore a Ravi would begin his commudark suit and salmon-colored shirt nity service when he gets out of and tie. Clementi's parents Joseph jail and would start paying the and Jane were not in the courtroom. mandated fines on August 1. Ravi was accompanied by his parIn his apology statement, Ravi ents and friends. said he regretted his "stupid and First Assistant Prosecutor Julia childish" choices when he set up McClure told the judge she be- the webcam and then invited other lieved Ravi deserved a five year friends to view Clementi kissing prison term but acknowledged that another man on two occasions in it was up to the judge to decide September 2010. -PTI
Top Stories
10 India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Indian company opens new facility in S. Carolina WASHINGTON: An Indian BPO company has announced to invest USD 4.25 million in South Carolina for setting up its first facility in the US, promising to cre-
said. The center, with a capacity of 300 seats, is expected to serve the company's US-based clients. "We are thrilled that WNS has
Governor Nikki Haley
ate 750 jobs in the state governed by Indian-American Nikki Haley. Haley termed the announcement by Mumbai-headquartered WNS Global Services of opening its new delivery center located in Columbia, South Carolina, as a "big win" for her state. "WNS's decision to launch its first US delivery center in our state signifies a big win for the State of South Carolina," she
selected our state for their first US-based delivery facility, and celebrate the investments and the new jobs WNS will create through this center," Haley said. "By providing a businessfriendly environment and keeping the costs of doing business low, our state has great opportunities to attract major job-creating investments like this one," she said. Keshav Murugesh, group CEO
of WNS, said this new center will enable them to partner more closely with US-based clients and offer services that are strategic and higher-end in nature. WNS has more than 23,000 employees at 25 centers worldwide. It has more than 200 global clients. "The plan over time is to bring up to 750 people. It could be doing health care, finance and accounting, call center for travel and leisure. We've had interest from all of those perspectives," Ron Strout, head of the Americas for the company, was quoted as saying by the local Post and Courier daily in Columbia. The Columbia Center is expected to be fully operational in two years' time. Sending US jobs overseas to other countries, a common practice over the past decade is becoming more expensive as salaries rise in other countries, including India, Jon Hurley, a WNS senior vice president, said. As a result, WNS, which has a growing US customer base, thinks it can do business more efficiently in the US, said. "The balance (of outsourcing) is frankly shifting" back to the US, Hurley said. -PTI
Bikram Singh takes charge as new Army Chief NEW DELHI: Gen Bikram Singh, a veteran infantry officer, has taken over as the 25th Chief of the Indian Army succeeding Gen V K Singh whose 26-month tenure was mired in controversies. 59-year-old Gen Bikram Singh will have a tenure of two years and three months in the top post. Prior to his appointment as Army Chief, Gen Bikram Singh was commanding the Kolkata-based Eastern Army Command. He has held several important appointments in counter insurgency areas as the Corps Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps and Akhnoor-based 10 Division as Major General. The officer, better known as 'Bikki' to his friends, was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry regiment on March 31, 1972 after attending the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA). At the IMA, he held the appointment of battalion cadet adjutant and was awarded the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles gold medal for
General Bikram Singh taking charge as the new Chief of the Army Staff from Gen. V.K. Singh in New Delhi on May 31
'tactics and leadership' and the Shriganesh Trophy. He was awarded the 'Commando Dagger' and the 'Best in Tactics' trophy during his young officers' course at Infantry School. He also served as an instructor at the Commando Wing of the
Infantry School in Belgaum. The officer was the face of the Army during the Kargil war when he was serving in the Military Operations Directorate here and used to brief the media about the progress in operations to drive out enemy troops from Indian territory.-PTI
New York OK's Sikh turbans for train drivers NEW YORK: New York's mass transit system will allow Sikh and Muslim employees to wear religious headgear after settlement of a federal lawsuit alleging discrimination against workers from those faiths. The Sikh Coalition announced victory in the legal battle against the Metropolitan Transport Authority, saying "Sikh and Muslim workers may now wear their religious headdress freely - as they were allowed to do so before 9/11 - without fear of segregation or discipline." The MTA allegedly discriminated against Sikhs and Muslims in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, forcing those who wore their religious headgear to remain out of public view or to wear an MTA corporate logo.
Under the settlement, which finds no fault or liability, the only requirement now will be for headgear to be in the MTA's standard blue color. "I am relieved that the policy of branding or segregating Sikh or Muslim workers is coming to an end," said plaintiff Sat Hari Singh, also known as Kevin Harrington, a Sikh train operator. "The MTA honored me for driving my train in reverse away from the towers on 9/11 and leading passengers to safety. They called me a 'hero of 9/11.' I didn't have a corporate logo on my turban on 9/11. This policy made no sense. It was driven by fear. I'm glad it has come to an end." In a statement, the MTA said its rules had been "reasonable" and "never animated by religious or ethnic bias." -AFP
Stacks of emails, records could bore jurors: Gupta trial judge NEW YORK: A US judge pre"The notion that the jury is siding over former Goldman Sachs going to peruse carefully several director Rajat Gupta's insider trad- thousand documents shows a ing trial has admonished the pros- naiveté," Rakoff chided. ecution and defense lawyers for "We need to find a way to inundating the jury with telephone sharpen the presentation on both logs, emails and boardroom min- sides and get it more focused," utes as evidence, saying such he added. bulky presentation could bore The sidebars and cumbersome them. presentation of the various docu63-year-old Gupta's trial, now ments as evidence and use of corinto its second week, has been porate jargon by the lawyers has marked with the defense and pros- led some members of the jury on a ecution presenting stacks of few occasions to yawn, fidget documents, including emails, minutes of ‘The notion that the jury is boardroom meetings, telephone logs, corpo- going to peruse carefully rate governance guide- several thousand doculines, trading records and stock quotes as ments shows a naiveté,’ evidence to the jury. Rakoff chided. Sidebars by the lawyers, when they discuss ‘We need to find a way to with the judge objec- sharpen the presentation tions raised by the other on both sides’ side out of the jury's earshot, too have slowed down the proceedings in and look around the courtroom. the trial. A couple of jurors even closed US District Judge Jed Rakoff their eyes, as if taking a quick nap, told the prosecution and defense while the lawyers discussed certeam to "sharpen" their presenta- tain nitty gritties in private with tion of evidence to avoid boredom the judge during sidebars. for the jurors. Ambani email as evidence "Counsels, I am in awe of our Earlier, federal prosecutors had jury because they have managed wanted to include as evidence an to remain attentive even though email in which convicted hedge the vast bulk of the day could be fund founder Raj Rajaratnam described as Mr Witness, I show wanted former Goldman Sachs diyou document X, Mr Witness, I rector Rajat Gupta to ask Indian show you document Y. Let's put it industrialist Mukesh Ambani if his up on the screen," Rakoff told the company Reliance Industries was lawyers while the jury took a mid planning to "aggressively" get afternoon break. into the solar business.
Top Stories
June 8, 2012
India Post
11
www.indiapost.com
How Nooyi gave up cricket for baseball! NEW DELHI: PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi was raised on cricket and played the game during her college days in India and after moving to the US threw herself into a somewhat similar bat-andball sport baseball to keep alive her interest. This is among several interesting facts mentioned in "Taking People With You: The Only Way to Make Big Things Happen", the latest book of David Novak, chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, a Fortune 500 company that runs a few of the world's most popular fast food brands KFC and Pizza Hut. Delving on how necessary it is to create company cultures that drive success, he says many a times, one has to figure out "how to be you in a way that broadens your appeal and impact versus training people off or unnecessarily clashing with company culture". He says Nooyi "really struggled" with this when she first came to the US early in her career. "There were many times that I
felt like a fish out of water, times that I really said to myself, 'do I even fit in?'," Novak quotes Nooyi as telling him. But rather than completely changing herself, Indra found ways to adapt that felt comfortable to her. "One such way was to do with her lifelong love of cricket. No one in this country (the US) followed the game, but they did follow baseball, another bat-and-ball sport. So she threw herself into baseball and into the local team, the New York Yankees, reading everything she could on the subject until she could comfortably talk about it," Novak writes in his book, published by Penguin. "Once I did that I could then say, 'I really like this game and I like the Yankees as opposed to pretending'," Novak quotes her as saying. According to Novak, Nooyi could have learned about football or taken up golf in order to better fit in with her American colleagues, but that wouldn't have suited her personality or her interests.-PTI
Senator calls for stripping Pakistan of all US aid WASHINGTON: As the outrage in the US over sentencing of a Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA trace Osama bin Laden grows, a key Senator has called for stripping Pakistan of all the American aid. Senator Rand Paul announced that he will introduce legislations in the Senate to strip Pakistan of all the US aid and to grant the Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi US citizenship for his help in hunting down bin Laden. "Pakistan must understand that they are choosing the wrong side. They accuse Dr. Afridi of working against Pakistan, but he was simply helping the US capture the head of al-Qaeda. Surely Pakistan is not linking their interests with those of an international terrorist organization,"
Senator Rand Paul, said. Paul, in a statement, said that his bills will have two purposes. The first bill will strip Pakistan of all foreign aid until Afridi's recent 33-year prison sentence is overturned and he is allowed to leave Pakistan. The second bill would grant him US citizenship for his efforts. "Foreign aid has been an abysmal failure precisely for this reason - we give the aid to governments who then turn and work against our national interest. That must end," Paul said. Paul's bills will be introduced as stand-alone legislation when the Senate returns next week and he has announced his intention to secure votes as soon as possible on this "important" issue. PTI
Indian-Americans sweep National Geographic Bee WASHINGTON: Indian-Ameri- swering as "Regensburg". Nagvekar said that he started can students have swept the pres"It was a guess, a 50-50 preparing for the geography bee tigious National Geographic Bee, chance. It just happened to be a in fourth grade and has gone to bagging the top four positions of good guess" Nagvekar said after the state bee every year, placing this year's tough national compe- the competition. higher each time. tition, where US President Barack US President Barack Obama "I think it's very important for Obama played a quizmaster. asked one question this year via people to know more about the Rahul Nagvekar (14) from Texas video, quizzing the young con- world. That helps with world conbagged the first position, by beat- tenders on their knowledge of re- flict. It helps people understand ing 13-year-old Vansh Jain from cent events. others better. It helps people unWisconsin at the finals of the anObama asked which Asian capi- derstand why problems happen nual competition. Both are class tal city on the Han River hosted a and how to solve them," eighth students. gathering of world leaders in Nagvekar said. The third and fourth positions March for a Nuclear Security Fifty-four state and territory went to Varun Mahadevan from Summit. The answer to which was winners took part in the preliminary San Francisco and rounds of the 2012 Raghav Ranga from National Geographic Arizona respectively. Bee on May 22. Nagvekar has The top 10 finishwon a USD 25,000 ers in the preliminary college scholarship, rounds met in the filifetime membership nal round, which was in the National Geomoderated by "Jeopgraphic Society and ardy!" host Alex a trip for two to the Trebek. Galapagos on an exThe six other finalpedition aboard the ists, who each won National Geographic USD 500, were AnEndeavour. thony Stoner of LouiSecond prize winsiana, Adam Rusak of ner, Jain received Maryland, Karthik USD 15,000 college Karnik of MassachuRahul Nagvekar, a 14-year-old from Texas, is congratulated by scholarship. setts, Gopi host Alex Trebek at the 2012 National Geographic Bee 13-year-old sevRamanathan of Minenth-grader nesota, Neelam Mahadevan, who took third place, "Seoul". Sandhu of New Hampshire and got USD 10,000 college scholarObama said that studying ge- Anthony Cheng of Utah. ship, while 14-year-old eighth- ography is "about more than just As the name indicates three of grader Ranga, who bagged fourth memorising places on a map"." It's them are Indian Americans. place, took USD 1,000, an official about understanding the comThe National Geographic Bee release said. plexity of our world, appreciating is an annual geography contest The winning question was: the diversity of cultures that exist sponsored by the National Geo"Name the Bavarian city located across continents and in the end, graphic Society. The bee, held on the Danube River that was the it's about using all that knowledge every year since 1989, is open to legislative seat of the Holy Roman to help bridge divides and bring students in the fourth through Empire from 1663 to 1806?", which people together," the US President eighth grade in participating Nagvekar won by correctly an- said. American schools. -PTI
Desi News Punjabi Youth Graduation & Scholarship Awards RAJ MAGO
CHICAGO: The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) has slated its twelfth annual "Punjabi Youth Graduation and Scholarships Awards Night" on Sunday, June 10, 5 pm at Viceroy of India Banquet Hall in Lombard, a southwest suburb of Chicago. Arvind Singh, co-founder President and C.E.O. of Utopia Inc., will be the keynote speaker. PCS scholarships will be awarded and all Punjabi class of 2012 graduates will be honored. The celebrations will include keynote address, recognition awards, scholarships, cake cutting ceremony, DJ music, dancing, networking, and delicious Indian cuisine. The participants of "Rangla Punjab 2012," a PCS Annual Vaisakhi cultural program, will also receive their appreciation awards. The party is free for the graduates and Rangla Punjab participants. "The purpose of this program is to promote higher education among our next generation. Our children need appreciation, encouragement, and professional guidance," said Dr. Amarjit Singh, PCS Chairperson. PCS $1000 and $750 scholarships will be awarded to the selected applicants, The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a notfor-profit community organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, healthy life style and sports, education, and good citizenship in the metropolitan Chicago area.
Hindu prayers in Ceres & Riverbank councils India Post News Service
C
eres and Riverbank city councils in California will have their first Hindu invocations on June 11 since these were incorporated in 1918 and 1922 respectively. Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, will deliver invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before these city councils. After Sanskrit delivery, he then will read the English translation of the prayers. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages. Zed will recite from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and BhagavadGita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He plans to start and end the prayer with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.
COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA
Oak Tree shopping festival a big success Details on page 16
12 India Post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
Gujarat -a role model, says George Walsh RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service
CHICAGO: US Congressman Joe Walsh said here that India and more specifically Gujarat, should serve as role model for getting out
Dr Bharat Barai welcoming Congressman George Walsh
of the economic morass that the country has been passing through for the past few years. He said that an economy that is facing less governmental controls and the one that encourages private enterprises, especially small and medium, levels would turn the corner, and a shining example is that provided by the State of Gujarat in the Indian
Union. Gujarat, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, has notched tremendous all round gains not only on the economy front but in other spheres of activities like education, health care and social
ing to Indian news media and a group of his Indian American supporters. Dr Bharat Barai, a prominent Indian community activist, asserted that Modi had not asked for visa and would never would
would like to see Modi cut to size by nefarious means. The event held at Mysore Woodland Restaurant in Chicago was hosted by Indian National Coalition and group of Indian American activists in Chi-
George Walsh with a group of Indian American supporters
harmony. Modi is a role model for him, Walsh said adding that he would renew his bid to get the Stare Department review its stance of denying visa to Modi. "To suggest that Modi should be re-applying is simply outrageous. He should be invited honorably and not be asked to apply. Two wrongs would never make one right", he said here talk-
do so, and to say or suggest anything that is contrary to this, is like spreading a canard against a person who has already been wronged by corruption driven elements in India. The vote bank politics has been a bane in Indian politics and it is the forces behind this type of political thinking who joining hands with corrupt elements
cago land. The group has been seeking support from Congressman George Walsh who had earlier sought clarification from the US State Department for shutting door on Modi when a good number of others committing crimes against humanity were merrily coming to this country and are still welcomed here. Cont’d on page 15
FIA to host India Day festivities on grand scale K RAJDA
CHICAGO: With the auspicious lighting of the lamp, the 'Asli' Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Chicago has announced hosting grand celebrations of India Day in August this year keeping up its three decades old tradition. FIA held a 'kick-off' event at the North Shore Banquet Hall here to list a series of festive events starting with flag hoisting on Wednesday August 15 and culminating with a grand Parade on Saturday August 7 on Devon Avenue Chicago. In between
L to R: Keerthi Ravoori, Ajay Agnihotri, Satish Gabhwala, Iftekhar Shareef and Ms Vandana Jhingan
there will be a dinner Banquet on August 16 at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Ajai Agnihotri, the newly elect
FIA President welcomed the guests and announced the three major FIA events. Amidst applause of approval, Agnihotri announced that Iftekhar Shareef will serve as the
Parade Chairman this year who, he added, brings wealth of experience in hosting some of the finest parades in Chicago. Cont’d on page 14
June 8, 2012
Community Across America
India Post 13
www.indiapost.com
Temple, community center construction begins
Singing of Sita Rama Kalyanam by Rama Viswanathan and group. Pics courtesy Pradeep Reddy
RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service
CARBONDALE: Hindu Temple and Community center of Southern Illinois (HTCSSI) a nonprofit organization, has commenced construction of temple and community center. Last year the ground was identified for the temple behind the University Mall and ground breaking ceremony was performed in April of 2011. Since then the committee has worked to get needed permits and other requirements and just recently obtained all
Priest performing Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony during Rama Navmi celebrations at Carbondale
needed permissions from local and federal agencies involved. Ground work has commenced to prepare the land for the construction of temple. HTCSSI has undertaken this grand project to build a temple and community center which when completed will have a built up area of around 8000 sq. foot and a ground area of 3.5 acres. The temple will also have a pond in front of the temple conforming to Hindu temples in India. Idols will be done in India and will be installed once the building is completed. According to Pradeep Reddy,
Commencing construction / ground work
Prabhu Dayal praises the role of QMA India Post News Service
NEW YORK: The fortieth anniversary of Queen Museum of Art (QMA); commemoration of 10 years of service of Tom Finkelpearl as its executive director and honoring eminent personalities were part of a grand gala celebrations held at the QMA recently. Brian Selznick, author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck; Target - corporate philanthropist to the arts; and QMA's Board President Gretchen Werwaiss, were honored by Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall. Indian Consul General Prabhu Dayal, New York Public Advocate Bill de Blasio; Member of New York State Assembly David K. Weprin, Managing Director of US Tennis Association (USTA) Daniel Zausner, President (NYC Market) of TD Bank Peter M. Meyer and Jeffrey Rosenstock of Queens College besides a large number of distinguished guests attended the gala. Speakers praised the sterling leadership of Finkelpearl in taking QMA to the hearts of New Yorkers that includes people from every conceivable ethnic race and region of the world.
Malini Shah, advisory committee member of QMA, Prerana Reddy and Director of Public Events of QMA coordinated the event under the leadership of Debra Wimpfheimer, director of strategic partnerships.
Plans are underway for a stunning facility that will engage diverse communities and make the Queens Museum into a model for the urban, American museum of the future. The $65 million project, ex-
Malini Shah, Jeffrey Rosenstock, Prabhu Dayal and Helen Marshall.
Queens Museum of Art is also planning for a modern and contemporary Indian art exhibition after the reopening and from August 11 to October 7, 2012 will feature the South Asian Women's Creative Collective (SAWCC) 15th Anniversary exhibition curated by Jaishri Abichandani, artist/ founder of SAWCC.
pected to be completed by the end of 2013, includes a new 220 foot long illuminated glass facade and entry plaza on the Grand Central Parkways side of the building, a new entrance and expanded outdoor space on the Flushing Meadows Corona Park side of the building, and a generous sky-lit atrium in between.
president HTCSSI, the construc- near past SIU had over 400 stution is likely to be completed by dents from India. The organizaDecember and the temple will tion was founded in 2010 with the open to public by end of Decem- goal of developing a temple in ber 2012 or by January 1st, 2013. Carbondale, as the closest Hindu "We are in the beginning stages temple was over 120 miles away in of the process of sponsoring visa St. Louis. to a priest from India," he said. The committee members of Members of the community, Reddy HTCSSI are President Pradeep added, do not have a specified Reddy, Vice President Naresh place of worship. "Once every Patel, Secretary Padma month or other month, we meet in different people's houses to have Design work for the temple worship," he said. is done by Thad Heckman, Design work for the Architect of Design Works temple is done by Thad Heckman, Architect of from Carbondale with Dr. Design Works from Sanjeev Kumar, Chair of Carbondale with Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Chair of Department of civil engiDepartment of civil en- neering at SIU, assisting in gineering at SIU, assistthe project ing in the project. As with all temples, this project is also in need of donors Chandrashekar, Treasurer and the committee has requested Subhash Sharma, Cultural Secreanyone interested in donating to tary Vardendra Panchamukhi, do so by contacting the commit- Member At-Large Sushil tee members or by donating at the Tibrewala and Student Representemple website www.sitemple.com. tative Arjun Shekar Sadahalli Further details and updates can be Reddy said that a special menfound at the website. tion should go to Dr. Sanjeev Carbondale is home to South- Kumar, head of civil engineering ern Illinois University (SIU) and at Southern Illinois University over 200 students from India are (SIU), who has put in a lot of efcurrently studying there in addi- fort to get the project started with tion to over 100 families living in all the guidance regarding archiand around Carbondale. In the tecture and site work.
Community Across America
14 India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Lively Kavi Sammelan by UP Association RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service
CHICAGO: The Uttar Pradesh Association of Greater Chicago (UPA), one of the oldest organizations of Indian Americans in Chicagoland, lived up to its reputation of promoting Indian culture and language thru organizing literary events like Kavi Sammelan (gathering of poets) that it held recently at Rathi Auditorium at Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont. Three front ranking poets from India - Gajendra Solanki, Sanjay Jhala and Dr Sarita Sharma - were invited to participate in this annual event, a feature of the Association for over two decades. Deemed Hasya Ras poets of repute, all three were up to the mark entertaining the 200 plus members and guests, many non-Hindi speaking, for over three hours. The start was a bit insipid with one person comedian style jokes from Solanki but things began to liven up when Dr Sarita started with a devotional prayer to Goddess Saraswati and followed it up with a series of sensitive rendering of four line (Muktaks) and poems, her own creations. Gajendra Solanki did not lag behind and also came out with his original poems Sanjiv Jhala was equally inspiring and interesting with light jokes and recital of poems. The near three hours of rendering took one back to India and age old Indian customs and thinking about
Sanjay Jhala, Gajendra Solanki and Dr Sarita Sharma
mother, father, friends, family ties, basic values and places where one was brought up. It was a grand affair despite the fact that all the three were a bit tired after their across the country tour, presenting stage performances in other cities. Earlier, founder president of the association Prof. Ghanshyam
Prof Ghanshyam Pandey, founder president UP Association, welcoming guests
Pandey introduced poets in his own inimitable style. Both the Pandeys spoke in Hindi and that was an admirable effort with Dr Subhash concluding his speech with a Muktak of his own. Introducing the three eminent poets from India, he said that Gajendra Solanki has three poetic collections to his credit and has
Prof Subhash Pandey, Member Trustee Board, introducing Hindi poets from India
Pandey welcomed the guests and former president and member of the Board of Trustees Dr Subhash
Audience giving standing ovation to Hindi poets from India
nationally and is acclaimed across the country contributing her original creations to many a literary publication. Hailing from Ghaziabad in UP, one of her masterpieces was Teri Mira Ban Jaoo. Sanjay Jhala is an official at the Civil Supplies Division of the Rajasthan government and has bagged many laurels for his con-
Ms Usha Kiran, wife of former Ambassador Ashok Attri, honored at the Kavi Sammelan. Pics courtesy Asian Media USA
been on the Advisory Committee of Indian Film Censor Board. Dr Sarita Sharma has performed inter-
tribution as a poet to Hindi literature, including one from President Pratibha Patil.
The outgoing President Sujata Sharma was emotional, thanking all those who helped her in the discharge of her duties as president for the past two years. She too extended welcome to all those present and the Kavi guests from India. The consensus was that she did a great job as president for two years. The incoming president Ravi Aurora and his new team of committee members were introduced by Dr Pandey. Besides the youthful Ravi Aurora as president, others are Rani Trivedi Vice President, Meera Varma Treasurer, Taruna Gupta Secretary, Deepak Shukla, Umesh Tiwari, Gauri Shankar Srivastav, Seema Varma and Vibha Sharma - Members at Large. All the poets were honored with recognition plaques and shawl. Ms Usha Kiran Attri, wife of former Indian Consul General Attri in Chicago, was a welcome presence at the event and she honored poetess Dr Sujata Sharma.
FIA to host India Day festivities on grand scale Cont’d from page 12
Iftekhar Shareef, FIA Trustee Chair, in his remarks, praised the patriotic devotion of FIA umbrella organizations in stepping up enthusiastically to honor India's Independence through the series of events in August 2012. Shareef further announced that he will work actively to secure the attendance of stars from Bollywood including Aftab Shivdasani, Pankaj Udhas and others in consideration. The gala banquet FIA in conjunction with Drishti Arts will feature a musical extravaganza to be performed by a troupe that will uniquely honor India's Independence with their patriotic music and songs augmented with rich colorful backdrops. He mentioned that Ranjit Ganguly will head the Flag Hoisting committee while Ravi Harsoor will be the chairman for the gala banquet. Illinois prominent Democratic
candidate and former Deputy Illinois Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi in his remarks characterized FIA as his family with which he said he shares a special bond. Krishnamoorthi thanked the leaders of FIA for lending valuable as-
Chandrakant (C.K.) Patel, ExOfficio/Chairman of AAHOA who flew-in from Atlanta said that he considers Chicago as his second home and takes great pride in attending the major events hosted by FIA. He said that fragmentation in
who emceed the afternoon's 'kickoff' event thanked the team of community leaders and dignitaries for attending the event and coming together in unity to lend a fillip to the forthcoming events hosted by FIA.
The FIA Group
sistance during his campaign for the U.S.Congress and Illinois Comptroller. He said he faced a temporary political set-back and that is a part of political life. He vowed to stage a comeback.
the community is counter-productive and therefore, FIA should strive to foster a strong sense of unity and promote the bonds of unity among the Indian Americans. FIA Secretary Minhaj Akhtar
Earlier, Satish 'Sunny' Gabhawala, past president of FIA applauded the dedicated efforts of FIA leadership circle who continues to strive to bring such great laurels to FIA through its meaning-
ful programs and events. Satish Gabhawala said that he will work enthusiastically to bring laurels to FIA's national events. Vandana Jhingan, FIA VP in her remarks emphasized on the unity factor and stressed on working together for greater good of the community. She also proposed that FIA host a national Garba program in the future. Sohan Joshi, FIA Trustee stepped-in to announce that NFIA will host it's National Convention in Chicago in October and urged the fellow FIA leaders to make the convention a grand success. Some of the prominent FIA figures present included Kanti Patel, Babu Patel, Sohan Joshi, Bhailal Patel, Sitaram Patel, Ranjit Ganguly, Sher Mohammed Rajput, Vandana Jhingan, Devendra Patel, Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, Minhaj Akhtar, Sanhita Agnihotri, Hina Trivedi and Amy Mehta.
June 8, 2012
Community Across America
India Post 15
www.indiapost.com
Dandamudi selected for exchange program with China ASHWIN PATEL
ST LOUIS: A young Indian American attorney, who was earlier appointed to serve on the Administrative Hearing Commission for a six-year term by Governor Jay Nixon, has been selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) as a delegate to Mainland China and Taiwan for a 14-day political exchange program beginning June 15.
Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State. "ACYPL has the unique mission of providing select young leaders with an opportunity to travel internationally and engage first hand in public diplomacy," said ACYPL Chief Executive Officer Linda Rotunno. "Our delegates have access to key leaders in the places they visit. They engage in dia-
United States Department of State and other regional experts before flying to Beijing. The program will provide the delegates opportunities to travel within China and Taiwan and to interact with key national and local
"I am honored to have been selected to participate in this ACYPL exchange to China and Taiwan," said Dandamudi. "This will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the current political and social dynamics there and help the people better understand the United States" He will join eight other young political and policy leaders from across the United States to study China and Taiwan's political systems, engage in dialogue on international issues, and forge professional relationships and friendships. The program is arranged by ACYPL and made possible by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and
logue on sensitive issues, gain a unique perspective on politics and its relations with the US, and, most importantly, forge professional relationships and friendships that can last a lifetime." Commissioner Dandamudi will join other delegates, each between the age of 25 and 40, in Washington, DC for briefings by the
India scholarship scheme for Diaspora children India Post News Service
I
ndia's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has announced a scheme of "Scholarship Program for Diaspora Children (SPDC)" for 2012-13. Following are highlights of the scheme: • 100 scholarships for undergraduate courses in several disciplines; Engineering and Technology/Architecture, Humanities/ Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management including Hotel Management, Journalism, Agriculture/ Animal Husbandry, Science, Law etc. • Program is open to "Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)/Non Resident Indians (NRIs). Those already studying in India on a self financing basis or under any other arrangement
are not eligible for this scholarship scheme. • Admissible amount of scholarship would be 75% of the Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) which includes Tuition and Hostel fees and other institutional charges or up to US $ 4,000 (US dollars Four thousand) per annum, whichever is less. Details including terms and conditions of the scheme along with application format is available at www.edcilindia.co.in Last date for applying is June 10, 2012 Query(s) if any, may be made directly to: The Project Manager (SPDC), Placement & Secondment Division, EDCIL India Ltd, EDCIL House, 18A Sector 16A, Noida 201301, India. Phone: 00-91-120-2512001 (Ext: 431), Fax: 00-91-120-2515485, Email: moia@edcil.co.in .
Gujarat -a role model, says George Walsh Cont’d from page 12
Congressman Walsh said that the US is driven in a wrong direction of late and the need of the time was less and less intrusion from the government. Gujarat under Modi's leadership has shown a way and US should learn a lesson or tow from this, he said. Shridhar Damle, a community activist, quipped it is not Modi who needs coming to America. Rather it is America who needs Modi come over here. Vasant Pandav, yet another activist, said that US companies have committed to invest billions of dollars in Gujarat and that spoke volume of the economic policies pursued by the Modi government. Earlier, Shree Chandak welcomed the guests and introduced the Congressman to the Media. Satish Gabhawala of AAHOA extended whole hearted support to Congressman observing that whenever "we
needed your help, you were there to be supporting us." Prem Lalvani, one of the organizers of National Indian Coalition explained the philosophy behind the recently set up forum while prominent Indian Americans who attended the event and spoke highly of the Congressman Joe Walsh included Jitendra Digvenkar, Prasad Yelamanchi, Amrit Mittal, Vasudev, Brij Sharma. Vandana Jhingan, the newly elect Vice President of the Federation of Indian Associations, was a co-host to the event that was well attended by Media representatives. In response to a question about his visiting India and Gujarat, Congressman Walsh said that he would be more than willing to go to India and Gujarat, if invited. Shree Chandak elegantly conducted the meet to the satisfaction of all. Brij Sharma proposed a vote of thanks.
S. Dandamudi
leaders, business representatives, and civic and community groups. "I am honored to have been selected to participate in this ACYPL exchange to China and Taiwan," said Dandamudi. "This will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the current political and social dynamics there and help the people better understand the United States." Recognized by the US Congress as a pre-
eminent catalyst for introducing rising political leaders and policy makers to international affairs and to each other, ACYPL is a bi-partisan, not-for-profit international exchange organization based in Washington, DC. Since its founding in 1966, ACYPL has, with generous support from the US Department of State, corporations, foundations and individuals, conducted programs and exchanges with 100 countries, producing a global network of over 7,500 alumni. Former ACYPL participants include over 40 sitting members of the US Congress, six sitting US governors and ambassadors, cabinet ministers and parliamentarians around the globe. Dandamudi earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois (UrbanaChampaign) in History and a Master of Arts from the American University (Washington, DC) in International Affairs. Upon graduation from Washington University School of Law (St. Louis) in 2001, Commissioner Dandamudi served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri where he represented several professional licensing boards, including the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. In February 2006, after a brief period of solo practice, Commissioner Dandamudi accepted the position of General Counsel with Healing Arts. He served in this position until March 2010 when he was sworn in as a Commissioner to the Administrative Hearing Commission.
Community Across America
16 India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Oak Tree shopping festival a big success where from 30% to an unprecedented 70% on clothes, jewelry, fashion along with a unique promotion on food - a Restaurant Weekend with varied specials for the multitude of shoppers. Res-
Jigar (Vishal Singh) of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya and Pratigya (Pooja Gor) of Mann Ki Awaaz - Pratigya along with Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac officially opening the festival to the public by doing a ribbon cutting ceremony. Pic Joe Brady India Post News Service
ISELIN, NJ: The first-of-its kind annual Oak Tree Shopping Festival that took place over the Memorial Day weekend (May 26 & May 27) in the heart of the original 'Little India' in Iselin NJ, was a huge success with throngs of shoppers coming in from all over the Eastern Seaboard and beyond to avail all the special discounts and hobnob with their favorite celebrities. Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac along with Jigar (Vishal Singh) of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya and Pratigya (Pooja Gor) of Mann
Ki Awaaz - Pratigya officially opened the festival to the public by coming out for a ribbon cutting ceremony. "We always work with downtown businesses to help them succeed. We congratulate Star Plus, Verizon, Touchdown Media and the merchants participating in the Oak Tree Shopping Festival," he said. The celebrities were at hand to shop at their favorite stores and Meet & Greet screaming fans. The festival also had a surprise visit from popular Canadian singer Raghav. Developed by Touchdown Media Inc. in conjunction with Star
India Plus and Life OK, the event was organized to boost local business and bring all that Oak Tree has to offer to the forefront and once again establish it as the pre-
nity, i.e. our viewers. It is also our way of expressing gratitude to the small business advertisers who have brought tremendous value to the general entertainment space with their support. We have been
Celebrities Jigar (Vishal Singh), Pratigya (Pooja Gor) and Canadian singer Raghav walking down the 'India Square' on Oak Tree Road. Pic Sonia Luzunaris
taurants offered free eats with the loyalty card and salons offered free services. "The festival helped in boosting sales, bringing in new faces
an integral part of such events in other countries and are pleased to nurture the growth of this new initiative in the US", says Rajan Singh, Executive Vice President International Business. "My whole family has been so excited about this event ever since we heard about it. The deals, the shopping, the excitement have made it worth our trip. For the first time I could walk freely with my children on the road without worrying about cars. Overall an extremely well managed event," said Rohan Lal Gupta who drove in especially from Columbus, OH for this 2-day extravaganza.
Rahul Walia, Founder of the Oak Tree Shopping Festival and CEO, Touchdown Media Inc. and Rajan Singh, Executive Vice President - International Business with their respective teams and celebrities Jigar (Vishal Singh), Pratigya (Pooja Gor) and Canadian singer Raghav. Pic Sonia Luzunaris
Shoppers signing the Festival Speak Poster
mier South Asian shopping destination. Verizon FiOS was the Associate Sponsor for the event. "Unlike a carnival, this event was created to bring value to consumers as well as merchants on this bustling strip. The idea was to have a weekend of great shopping without any distractions. We are very encouraged by the fantastic response we've received from the community and hope to be able to do this annually," said Rahul Walia, Founder of the Oak Tree Shopping Festival and CEO, Touchdown Media Inc. Featuring deep discounts and special deals at Oak Tree Road's finest shops and restaurants, the festival drew in families from the East Coast and beyond. Merchants offered discounts any-
and spreading the word about our street," said Rahul Nayar of Sona Jewelers, which was packed with people on both days. Well-known restaurateur, Dilip Mehta of the Dimple and Khasiyat chain said, " This has been a great effort and I always appreciate somebody's effort and will support it every year." "Business was better than before and we should make this an annual event so everyone can make a plan to visit our street, said Jitendru Gadoya, the owner of Kiran Boutique and Hakoba sarees. "We are proud to be a part of the launch of what we expect will become an annual event. This event reiterates Star Network's commitment to the local commu-
A young shopper ready with her bag
June 8, 2012
Community Across America
India Post 17
www.indiapost.com
NY Tamil Sangam honors Aishwarya Rajinikanth India Post News Service
NEW YORK: New York Tamil Sangam, oldest of its kind in North America, last week honored Aishwarya Rajinikanth Dhanush, daughter of Super Star Rajinikanth at a function held at Queens Museum of Art, Flushing, Queens. She was in New York to attend the New York Indian Film Festival. Aishwarya Rajnikanth
posed and sang in the movie 3. President of New York Tamil Sangam Dr Prakash M Swamy who praised the humbleness and creativity of Aishwarya presented an award "Pride of Tamil Nadu" to her. She is also an acknowledged Bharathanatyam dancer and has won Tamil Nadu Government's highest state award - Kalai Ma Mani. Vijayakumar, secretary of NYTS
The film 3 gained high anticipation world wide prior to release after the song "Why This Kolaveri Di" from its soundtrack, composed by her cousin Anirudh Ravichander, went viral and became an internet phenomenon Dhanush's latest directorial venture 3 (Three) that became famous for 'Why this Kolaveri Di' song was screened for the first time in New York metro area at the New York Indian Film Festival at Tribeca Cinema, Manhattan on May 26. Aishwarya is the elder daughter of Super Star of Indian cinema Rajnikanth and wife of national award winning actor Dhanush who shot into world fame with his Why this Kolaveri Di song that he com-
and Gayathri Murali Rajan, treasurer, honored the guests and other dignitaries. Prerna Reddy, Director of Special Events of Queens Museum of Art and Malini Shah, member, QMA Advisory Board were present on the occasion. Aishwarya is a film director, singer and a classical dancer. She made her feature film debut with 3 (2012) starring her husband Dhanush. She had worked as a playback singer too. She was a
judge on Star Vijay's reality dance competition Jodi Number One in its third season alongside actors Sangeetha and Jeeva. She became a playback singer after singing a song in the film Whistle alongside Silambarasan, that was then followed by another stint in playback singing with the song "Un Mela Aasadhan" in the film Aayirathil Oruvan, for which she also worked as an assistant director. The film 3 gained high anticipation world wide prior to release after the song "Why This Kolaveri Di" from its soundtrack, composed by her cousin Anirudh Ravichander, went viral and became an internet phenomenon. She appeared alongside the lead cast and composer in the making of the video. Aishwarya received the highest state award of Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu. In 2012, she won the Newsmaker of the Year Award at the JFA Women Achievers Awards. She and Dhanush are blessed with two children - Linga Raja, Yatra Raja. Aishwarya's directorial debut, 3 starring Dhanush and Shruti Haasan has completed a 50-day run. The Kolaveri di song in 3 went on to become a chartbuster and
Chinese-American Council honors Sushma Thukral India Post News Service
NEW YORK: The ChineseAmerican Parent-Student Council of New York City honored Sushma Thukral, a community activist and leader of the Democratic Party of Flushing recently. As part of the Mother's Day and Outstanding Honorees' celebrations that coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Council, Prof. Yen Shia Chou, president of the Council, presented the award to Thukral and praised her services to the community. Thukral, born in Punjab and immigrated to the US in 1992, owns Asian Foods in Flushing giving employment to dozens of poor and indigent women who can't get a job due to lack of proficiency in English. An outspoken advocate of South Asian community and a mother of three including a son who serves in the US Army, Thukral earned her success with sheer hard work by overcoming all odds. She is a firm believer that as a woman and mother, she can overcome adversity with faith, hard
work and love for sharing what she has been blessed with by others. She is an active member of the Democratic Club of Flushing, Queens. Dr. Uma Mysorekar, president of Hindu Temple Society of North America spoke on the significance of mother in Hinduism and Sakthi worship unique to the religion that propagates peace and love to hu-
manity. Harini Bangera, Chairperson of Outreach of Democratic Club of Flushing, Dr Nita Jain, community activist, Dilip Chauhan, South Asian Coordinator to Grace Meng Congressional Campaign and Indira Narasimharaja, committee member of Ganesha temple in Flushing participated in the award ceremony.
Dilip Chauhan, Harini Bangera, Dr. Uma Mysorekar, Sushma Thukral and Prof. Yen Shia Chou
according to Dhanush and Aishwarya, the film is a success despite contradictory reports surfacing. The movie 3 was featured in the New York Indian Film Festival. Congratulations messages have been
and discos in Tokyo, Japan were reported soon after release, and a viral video of Japanese women dancing to it spread soon afterwards. Police officers in India used versions of the song and its title to combat road rage and encour-
Janaki Murthy, Gayathri Murali Rajan, Aishwarya,Vijayakumar and Malini Shah at the NYTS event
pouring in for the power couple and they could not be happier. Dhanush who was supposed to attend the festival with Aishwarya is busy shooting for his Bollywood debut, 'Raanjhana' directed by Aanand L Rai of 'Tanu Weds Manu' fame. Upon release, the hashtag Kolaveri topped the Indian trends in Twitter on the evening of 21 November 2011. Within a week of the official release of the video, it received more than 3.5 million views on YouTube, more than 1 million shares on Facebook, while trending in India on Twitter the whole time. The song is also a hit among non-Tamils, apparently due to the Tanglish lyrics. By 30 November 2011 it had more than 10,500,000 YouTube views. By the start of 2012, it had crossed 30 million You Tube views. The song and versions of it account for more than 50 million of You Tube's total views. The song became the top downloaded song on mobile with 210,000 downloads within the first 18 days of release. On 24 Nov 2011, this song became the first Tamil film song to premier on MTV India. Its rapid spread to nightclubs
age bike riders to wear helmets. The popularity of the song was also reported by international media like BBC and Time magazine, who attributed its major crossover world appeal to its universal theme, catchy tune and unique lyrics. Top business schools like Indian Institutes of Management conducted studies to figure out the popularity of this song. The song has inspired flash mobs in Chennai, Mumbai and Auckland, New Zealand. The song was performed live by Dhanush in his first-ever live performance at the 2011 Big Star Entertainment Awards. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited Dhanush for the dinner party along with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in his New Delhi residence. The two major political parties Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress - used variants of the song in their campaigns for 2012 assembly elections. 'Kolaveri Di' echoed at Beating The Retreat ceremony which is a part of Republic day celebrations in India in New Delhi.
18 India Post
Community Across America
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
College confers doctorate on Doha Bank CEO India Post News Service
CHESTERTOWN, MD: Chennai-born R. Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank, Qatar has been conferred with Doctor of Laws honorary degree for his contribution to international banking and finance by Washington College at its 229th Commencement
Nordberg, Chair, Board of Governors presided over the graduation ceremony. In the past, Washington College had honored American Presidents George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry .S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George H.W. Bush; Nobel Laureates James Watson, C. N.
Seetharaman said “the world once operated like a series of islands but, today there is near total economic interdependence - a result of dramatic technological and communications innovations. If the world of yesterday was a group of islands, today it is like Facebook. One open, transparent network and we are all content providers across this network" ceremony in the State of Maryland. The degree was presented to him by Dr. Mitchell B. Reiss, President of the College in the presence of Board of Governors, faculty, staff and hundred of young graduates at a colorful ceremony. Along with Seetharaman, Ms. Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of New York Tribeca Film Festival with Robert De Niro and well-known television and feature production executive and Dr. James C. Rees, eminent historian also received honorary doctorates. Dr. Edward P.
Yang, Glenn Seaborg and Mario Molina; and historians David McCullough and Stephen Ambrose for their contributions to the Society. As head of the largest private commercial bank in the State of Qatar, Seetharaman transformed Doha Bank into a faster growing bank in the Middle East by implementing new technology and striving for globalization. Keenly interested in environmental issues, Doha Bank Group's corporate policies endorse reduction of green-
house gas emissions and he initiated a series of seminars educating business leaders about global warming, climate change and importance of environmentally sustainable business practices earning him twice the Middle East CEO of the Year award, the College said in its recognition. In his address to graduating students, Seetharaman said “ the world once operated like a series of islands but, today there is near total economic interdependence - a result of dramatic technological and communications innovations. If the world of yesterday was a group of islands, today it is like Facebook. One open, transparent network and we are all content providers across this network." Seetharaman inspired the youth to scale up great heights. He said "As a banker, I not only use social network to facilitate capital flows, but to push for reforms and social responsibility. But the generation of graduates we are here to celebrate today students of today will be the key for assured growth and change in the world. Your minds are wired to this new global order that rewards interdependence and innovation. The future strength of the world will rely on your ability to successfully harness these networks and share new ideas and economic possibilities. I urge each of
you today to prioritize innovation and creativity in whatever paths you may follow. As you look to your future, look from a perspec-
nance principles of life which later transforms into ethics and global governance in corporate scenario," he said. "I was born into
tive of confidence and opportunity. There is much to do and together we can forge the future path of this nation and our world." "From the place where I come from we are taught 'Mata-pitaguru-deivam' that articulates the importance of parents and teachers in one's life. Parents lay the foundation for the self-gover-
an economically poor but intellectually rich family. I ran for eight kilometers in thirty minutes to write my school final exam in my village when the bus did not come and when my cycle got punctured and that taught me uncontrollable circumstances and challenges can be overcome with sheer determination."
Sikh community salutes soldiers on Memorial Day THAKAR S BASATI
CHICAGO: American Sikh Community participated in remembering the soldiers on Memorial Day who served in various forms in World Wars and other wars America was involved in. In Chicago, on May 26, the
and they were impressed to see the contribution of Sikhs in World Wars. People cheered when Sikhs passed by them waving flags of American and Sikh Khanda flags. Picnic was organized at Buchingham Fountain following
Mayor of Hoffman Estates William Mcleod with members of Sikh community
community members participated with a float filled with memorabilia from World Wars pictures and quotes from World leaders. People were lined up in thousands to greet
the parade with food catered by famous Punjabi cook KK Pamma. Many families showed up with children to be proud of their heritage. "American Sikh community re-
members and honors today veterans of wars; where a small community disproportionately made a large sacrifice for liberty and freedom to the free world," said S Sarwan Singh, main organizer of the American Sikh community.
diers were killed and 109,045 were wounded for the freedom of Britain and the world during shell fire with no protection but the Turban, the Symbol of their faith." "We that live on can never forget those comrades who in giving
American Sikh community with Mayor of Schaumburg Al Larson
General Sir Frank Messervy (The Sikh Regiment in the Second World War) said; "In the last two World War 83,005 turbans wearing Sikh sol-
their lives gave so much that are good to the story of the Sikh Regiment. No living glory can transcend that of their supreme sacrifice, may they rest in peace." Said
S. Mukand Singh Dhaliwal, World War 2 Veteran. On May 28, American Sikh Community participated in Memorial Day Events organized by Village of Hoffman Estates and Village of Schaumburg, Illinois together. According to one of the organizers Sikhs participation was double than last year. A 30 minute movie was shown inside the auditorium after the Salute ceremony to fallen Soldiers. Ten minutes of that movie were dedicated to Sikhs of World Wars. People clapped when the saw the contribution of Sikhs in uniforms. Mayor of Hoffman Estates William Mcleod was happy to see some familiar faces in audience. He has been to Palatine Gurdwara Sahib on numerous occasions. President of Village of Schaumburg Al Larson lauded the involvement of Sikhs in remembering the Heroes of Wars. Athena Saldahna, Senior from JB Connant High School gave an energetic speech about sacrifices of soldiers and their families.
Community/California
June 8, 2012
India Post 19
www.indiapost.com
Ustad of Sarod charms with his views JAYA GAUTAM India Post News Service
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, world famous Sarod maestro recently visited San Francisco. At the Consulate General of India office with the Consul General N. Parthasarathi, he charmed listeners with his softspoken views on music and life. He also talked about Samaagam, his concerto for sarod and orchestra, the first of its kind in the world. Collaborating with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Samaagam is his interpretation of Indian classical music, crossing cultures, boundaries and classical traditions to forge a new musical
sound. Talking about music today, he said, "We build castles with these seven notes. Unfortunately, today, instead of tapasya (striving for perfection through self-discipline) to understand music, people are doing tapasya of shortcuts in life." He said it is important to learn music to understand music, not just as a means to pro-
Ustad Amjad Ali with Consul General N. Parthasarathi
duce albums or shows. He also said that 'music is food for the soul'
and not 'food for the stomach'. As a sixth generation musician
of the Bangash lineage and son of Haafiz Ali Khan of Gwalior, Ustad Amjad Ali, often called the finest living sarod musician of his generation, is the first Indian melody soloist to lecture at Stanford University. He is also the first lecturer there to teach music as a way of life. Ustad Amjad Ali said he looks forward to visiting, performing and teaching more often in the Bay Area. Classical music aficionados and newbies alike can look forward to a solo concert on June 1 and Samaagam, his Sarod Concerto being performed with the Stanford Philharmonia Orchestra, on June 2, both at the Dinkelspiel Auditorium in Stanford CA.
TCWF to honor health education leaders emony in San Francisco. In recog- the state, particularly in primary nition of their efforts to mentor care and allied health professions, LOS ANGELES, CA: On June and inspire students, increase ac- as well as a lack of racial and eth12, three dedicated leaders in cess to higher education and bet- nic diversity in the health workforce. health education will be honored ter serve the health and well-being of "Ensuring a diverse health by The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) as the 2012 Cham- California's underserved and dis- workforce requires commitment pions of Health Professions Diver- advantaged communities, each and perseverance of leaders at all sity for their successful efforts to honoree will each receive a cash levels of both our education and health care systems," said Cristina improve the health and wellness award of $25,000. "The honorees have dedicated M. Regalado, TCWF vice presiof California's most underserved their careers to helping California's dent of programs. communities. Lawrence "Hy" Doyle of the underrepresented minority stu- Lawrence "Hy" Doyle, Ed.D. For more David Geffen School of Medicine dents join the health workforce than three at University of California, Los and improving health access decades, Angeles, provides skills and op- and outcomes in underserved Lawrence portunities for disadvantaged stu- communities." said Diana M. "Hy" Doyle dents to enter and succeed in BontĂĄ, TCWF president and chief executive officer. "The has used medical school. his experPeter Manoleas is an educator Foundation is proud to honor tise in develat the School of Social Welfare at these leaders at our tenth conoping stuthe University of California, Ber- secutive awards ceremony and dent testkeley, mental health clinician in share this milestone with them." As one of the only Califortaking abiliOakland and health policy leader ties and with a focus on ensuring access nia foundations making grants in this area, TCWF has Lawrence "Hy" Doyle, learning to mental health services. skills to imAngela Minniefield recently awarded more than $45 million opportunities for became vice president of strate- to increase the diversity of the prove gic advancement at Charles R. health workforce through a vari- underrepresented minority stuDrew University of Medicine and ety of approaches, including re- dents to succeed in higher education. He is currently the executive director of the Program "The honorees have dedicated their careers to in Medical Education (PRIME) at the David Geffen School of helping California's underrepresented minority at University of Calistudents join the health workforce and improving Medicine fornia, Los Angeles (UCLA). health access and outcomes in underserved UCLA PRIME is a five-year dual-degree program which communities." said Diana M. BontĂĄ, TCWF works to develop the leaderpresident and chief executive officer ship skills of medical students committed to improving Science in Los Angeles and previ- search, scholarship and loan re- healthcare in medically ously directed programs to in- payment programs and leadership underserved communities. Doyle also provides guidance to crease the diversity of the health recognition. A number of factors have con- disadvantaged students through professions at the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Devel- tributed to the Foundation's de- UCLA's Summer Medical and cade-long commitment to increas- Dental Program and the UCLA opment in Sacramento. On June 12, TCWF will honor ing California's health workforce Hispanic Center of Excellence. "Remarkably often, students these three leaders at its tenth an- and its diversity. Research from nual "Champions of Health Pro- the Foundation confirms serious whose numbers weren't that good, fessions Diversity Award" cer- health worker shortages across but have personal significant exIndia Post News Service
perience are the ones who truly relate to patients," Doyle said. "That's the goal of the PRIME program, to develop leaders for underserved and disadvantaged communities in California." Peter Manoleas, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. As a social work clinician, educator, consultant and administrator with a focus on mental health and substance abuse issues, Peter Manoleas has dedicated his career to ensuring that underserved communities of color have access to mental health services. Since 1983, Manoleas has been a lecturer and field work consultant at the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. He also maintains a private clinical practice based in Oakland and has served for more than 25 years on the board of directors for La ClĂnica de La Raza, one of the largest communitybased clinics in the state committed to providing culturally appropriate, high-quality care. "To be involved in a diversified workforce, we must practice cultural humilPeter Manoleas, ity," said M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Manoleas. "We cannot be experts on everyone, so we need to continue to learn from our patients." Angela L. Minniefield, M.P.A. Angela Minniefield worked for 20 years in state government advancing policies and programs that increase the number of
underrepresented students in health professions. Minniefield recently became the vice president of strategic advancement at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She preAngela L. Minniefield, viously M.P.A held several leadership positions at the state Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, including deputy director of the Healthcare Workforce Development Division. "Not only is increasing access to higher education imperative in developing and diversifying California's health workforce," said Minniefield, "there is also a direct relationship between one's educational background and his or her own health status." The California Wellness Foundation is a private independent foundation created in 1992 with a mission to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention. The Foundation prioritizes eight issues for funding: diversity in the health professions, environmental health, healthy aging, mental health, teenage pregnancy prevention, violence prevention, women's health and work and health. It also responds to timely issues and special projects outside the funding priorities. Since its founding in 1992, TCWF has awarded 6,544 grants totaling more than $815 million.
Tech News I-T dept attaches 30 a/cs of KFA for non-payment NEW DELHI: The income tax department has attached over two dozen accounts of Kingfisher Airlines for non-payment of tax dues to the tune of about Rs 270 crore. "Around 30-40 accounts of the cash-strapped airlines were attached two weeks back. The tax due is of around Rs 270 crore from financial year 2009-10 onwards," an income tax official said. Meanwhile in a statement, Kingfisher Airlines said, "the IT department attached two of our bank accounts on May 24 which was not in accordance with the Speaking order of the Honorable IT Appellate tribunal during the hearing. "Subsequently, in a written order of May 25, the tribunal set aside the entire demand made by the IT assessing officer. -PTI
Court rejects Facebook plea to drop its name NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has dismissed the plea of Facebook India for dropping its name from a suit against it and other social networking websites for allegedly hosting objectionable contents. Administrative Civil Judge (ACJ) Parveen Singh rejected Facebook India’s plea and posted the matter for further hearing on June 4. The company had argued that it is not responsible for the contents appearing on website facebook.com. Facebook India had said it does not control or operate the servers that host the website, which are located in the United States.-PTI
Google warns million users about July 9
G
oogle has warned that hun dreds of thousands of internet users may be unable to access the web on July 9 if they do not get rid of malicious software, also known as malware, from their computers. Google has been alerting users to the threat of DNSChanger with the message "your computer appears to be infected" on machines infected by the software. The company had successfully alerted a million users last summer to a different type of malware. This time the method has been repeated with Google showing a special message appearing at the top of the Google search results page for users with affected devices.
TechBiz 20 India Post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
Facebook may launch smartphone in 2013
F
acebook could launch its own smartphone as soon as next year. According to a report in the New York Times, employees and engineers of the company have claimed that the company has hired more than half a dozen former Apple software and hardware engineers who worked on the iPhone, and one who worked on the iPad. The report also had an employee say that this is Facebook's third attempt at building a smartphone. Earlier in 2012, Facebook was reported to have been working on a smartphone, a project which was cancelled after several difficulties.
Anshu Jain inherits subprime crisis claims on Deutche Bank BERLIN: As he took over as Deutsche Bank's co-CEO, Anshu Jain has inherited a myriad of court cases involving compensation claims running into millions of dollars and fraud charges against the lender for its role in the US subprime mortgage crisis, says a report. The largest German bank is facing numerous charges of defrauding its customers and contributing to the US housing market bubble by marketing complex mortgage and financial products that concealed the risks involved. Deutsche Bank under the leadership of its out-going Chairman Josef Ackermann was one of the driving forces behind the subprime mortgage lending, which led to a sharp growth in US home ownership between 2004 and 2006. Several global financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, lowered the lending standards and promoted the marketing of highrisk products well aware that their borrowers could not afford them and they could cause huge losses for investors in mortgage securities, according to a TV report. How Deutsche Bank will deal with the compensation claims from its clients, who made heavy losses
Deutsche Bank's co-CEO, Anshu Jain
when the housing bubble burst in 2007, will be a major test for the bank's new leadership, it said. Jain is expected to inform the
him and his co-CEO Juergen Fitschen at the annual shareholders' meeting in Frankfurt. Critics say Jain has a share of
Several global financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, lowered the lending standards and promoted the marketing of highrisk products well aware that their borrowers could not afford them bank's shareholders about its strategy when Ackermann formally hands over its leadership to
responsibility as major decisions on US sub-prime mortgage investments would have been taken in
consultation with the Londonbased Corporate and Investment Banking division, which he headed until now. So far, Deutsche Bank was convicted only in very few cases and most of the legal suits against the bank were settled by paying millions of dollars in out-of-court settlements, the report said. A long list of petitioners ranged from the US Justice Department and two supervisory authorities to a number of insurances and pension funds, several German regional banks and hundreds of former home-owners who feel cheated by the bank. The multi-billion-dollar subprime lending business was based on massive allocation of mortgage credits. Risky and less risky mortgages were bundled together in large units and they were marketed as bonds around the world. Many of these bonds were also bundled together in much larger units and sold as Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) to investors for hundreds of millions of dollars. Cont’d on page 21
Spyware virus hits Iran, ME countries JERUSALEM: An unprecedented "cyber espionage worm" considered the most sophisticated spyware virus yet unleashed, attributed to a "state player", has hit Iran and other Middle Eastern countries with the possible goal of foiling Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Security experts discovered the new data-stealing virus dubbed Flame which they say has lurked inside thousands of computers across the Middle East for as long as five years as part of a sophisticated cyber warfare campaign. Russia-based Internet security company Kaspersky Lab that uncovered the virus 'Flame' said it is designed to collect and delete sensitive information. Kaspersky, one of the world's biggest producers of anti-virus
softwares, said the bug had infected computers in Iran, the West Bank, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Flame is "actively being used as a cyber weapon attacking enti-
licious program exceed those of all other cyber menaces known to date," the statement said. The Internet security company also said that Flame contained a specific element that was used in
Kaspersky's chief malware expert Vitaly Kamluk told the BBC that more than 600 specific targets had been hit by Flame, including computers owned by individuals, businesses, academic institutions and government systems ties in several countries," Kaspersky said in a statement, describing its purpose as "cyber espionage". "The complexity and functionality of the newly discovered ma-
the Stuxnet worm and which had not been seen in any other malware since. On its blog, Kaspersky called Flame a "sophisticated attack toolkit," adding that it was much
more complex than Duqu, the vehicle used to deliver Stuxnet. The Stuxnet bug, discovered in June 2010, targeted primarily Iranian computers. Iran admitted that the worm had damaged centrifuges operating at an uranium enrichment facility at Nantaz. Kaspersky's chief malware expert Vitaly Kamluk told the BBC that more than 600 specific targets had been hit by Flame, including computers owned by individuals, businesses, academic institutions and government systems. Kamluk said he believed the malware had been operating at least since August 2010, and probably earlier, adding that there was "no doubt" that it was developed by a "state actor". Cont’d on page 22
TechBiz Post
June 8, 2012
India Post
21
www.indiapost.com
Yunus worried over Grameen Bank's future DHAKA: Bangladesh's Nobel Laureate and micro credit pioneer Muhammad Yunus has said he was apprehensive of a government takeover of the Grameen Bank he founded 30 years ago, and was concerned its future might be
bank would be taken over by the Bangladesh government though it "runs with its own fund without borrowing any money from the government or from any donor agency". "I believe without doubt that
Nobel prize winner Muhammad Yunus
"endangered". In a statement issued in Bangla, the 71-year-old Nobel peace prize winner expressed fears that the
Grameen Bank's future will be endangered if the government raises its role in the bank by changing its legal structure," Yunus said.
The statement came as a government-constituted commission went into a review of the bank's operations to recommend its future role. Yunus had resigned from the Grameen Bank last year following a protracted dispute with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. "I am now extremely worried about the possibility of Grameen Bank being taken into government control. I fear even to anticipate the course that Grameen Bank will take if it is made a government institution. Advise the government to abandon the plan (of taking over Grameen) if the fears that gripped my mind is also generated in your mind," he said, expressing worry over the possibility of the institution being taken into government control. On May 16, the government constituted a panel to identify Grameen Bank's institutional strengths, weaknesses and constraints and recommend measures to ensure the accountability of management. -PTI
Anshu Jain inherits subprime crisis claims on Deutche Bank Cont’d from page 21
Deutsche Bank was one of the major players in the CDO market. In 2006 and 2007 alone, several investment banks, including Deutsche Bank, placed CDOs worth more than a trillion dollars on the market, according to the report. The German lender is also in the line of fire for betting on a drop in the value of the mortgage-backed securities it sold and making huge profits through the Credit Default Swaps (CDS), which covered the risks of these packets, it said. The bank is reported to have developed a CDS business worth five billion euros within a period of two years. The US Senate Permanent Select Committee on Investigations, which in 2011 analyzed Deutsche Bank as a case study for investment banking involvement in the mortgage bubble, found that even as the CDO market was collapsing in 2007 and its top global CDO trade was shrinking, Deutsche Bank continued to churn out bad CDO products to its investors as new packets. One of the packets investigated by the committee was ironically named Gemstone VII. The investigators found that
the CDO packet was comprised of mortgage credits the bank treated as "worthless". The bank was aware that the value of the credits will drop, but still sold to its customers. The committee charged that Deutsche Bank was deliberately transferring to customers financial risks of assets from its own possession.
Deutsche Bank is more deeply involved in the crisis than many other financial institutions as it figures in all stages of the chain of distribution Deutsche Bank is also accused of aggressively pursuing foreclosure -- taking possession of a property under its ownership when a buyer fails in timely mortgage payments. It had earned the nickname "Slumlord" in Los Angeles after hundreds of home-owners were evicted from their houses, leaving several streets with rows of empty houses in different parts of the
city. The housing bubble, which peaked in mid-2006, began to burst after hundreds of heavily-indebted home owners defaulted on repaying their mortgages, triggering a sharp fall in house prices in 2007. Mortgage-backed securities valued billions of dollars became worthless and this unleashed a chain-reaction, which brought down a number of investment banks, including Lehman Brothers and precipitated the global financial crisis in 2008. Deutsche Bank emerged largely unscathed from the sub-prime crisis, especially because its New York-based investment banker Greg Lippmann had already in 2006 predicted a housing bubble burst and described a large part of the mortgage-based securities as "trash," the report said. He also speculated on the subprime market crash and earned around 1.5 billion dollars for Deutsche Bank through CDS, according to the report. However, Deutsche Bank is more deeply involved in the crisis than many other financial institutions as it figures in all stages of the chain of distribution. This makes the bank very vulnerable to the charges against it, the report said. -PTI
Re fall will not last very long: PM
ONBOARD PM'S SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: Dismissing any comparison with the 1991 external debt crisis, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the fall of rupee is a matter of concern but was confident it will not last very long. He said the rupee depreciation was taking place against the backdrop of the global economic problems and the Euro zone debt crisis and expressed optimism that solutions will emerge at the G-20 Summit in Mexico next month. "The sharp fall of rupee is a matter of concern. But I don't think we are anywhere near the 1991 situation. The fall of rupee is taking place against the backdrop of global economic problems and the Euro zone debt crisis. "This is a phenomenon which is not going to last very long," he told reporters while returning after a three-day visit to Myanmar. In 1991, India faced its worst external debt crisis and was forced to pledge gold abroad to redeem loans with the IMF.
The Prime Minister, who will be attending the G-20 Summit next month, said global economic problems and the Euro zone crisis will be solved. "In next month's G-20 meeting
"The sharp fall of rupee is a matter of concern. But I don't think we are anywhere near the 1991 situation. The fall of rupee is taking place against the backdrop of global economic problems and the Euro zone debt crisis� in Mexico hopefully some credible solution will emerge," he said. The Prime Minister said the prevailing economic situation was hurting emerging economies like India and South Africa. -PTI
22
India Post
TechBiz Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Vodafone notice: Govt says 'no cause of action' NEW DELHI: The Indian government has replied to the arbitration notice of British telecom major Vodafone in the tax dispute case saying that the notice was premature and there was no cause of action. "We have replied to Vodafone that there is no cause of action because no law has been amended ... There is no cause of action. It is premature on behalf of Vodafone,"
a top finance ministry official said. The Dutch subsidiary of Vodafone had last month served a notice on the Indian government invoking BIPA between India and the Netherlands and threatened international arbitration in the tax case. The government then set up the IMG to firm up India's respond to the notice given by the telecom giant in the tax case. The group, which is headed by Finance Sec-
retary R S Gujral, include representatives of ministries of external affairs, telecom, law and revenue. The finance ministry officials had then said that tax dispute does not come under the purview of Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA). "Taxation does not come under BIPA. Money for deal came from over 20 companies (which are subsidiaries of Vodafone)," finance
alty and interest. The UK-based telecom major had acquired Hutchison's stake in Hutchison Essar Ltd for USD 11.2 billion in 2007. The tax dispute arose as Vodafone did not deduct tax (TDS) while making payment to Hutchison. Vodafone had earlier won the tax case in the Supreme Court which overturned the judgment of the Bombay High Court which was against the company. Finance ministry offiFinance Minister cial had already questioned the decision of the Pranab Mukherjee British telecom major to said that the Ininvoke India-Nethercome Tax Departlands investment protection treaty, saying the ment will not remulti billion dollar deal open cases where was signed in Cayman Isassessment prolands. Earlier in the day, Ficeedings had nance Minister Pranab been finalized Mukherjee said that the before April 1 Income Tax Department will not re-open cases ministry officials had said. where assessment proceedings The issue pertains to the had been finalized before April 1, amendment in Income Tax Act 2012, thereby providing comfort to with retrospective effect, which worried foreign investors. would bring Vodafone-type deals "I gave a commitment in Parliaunder the tax net. ment with regard to retrospective The amendments to the I-T Act, amendments that CBDT (Central which were approved by Parlia- Board of Direct Taxes) will issue a ment, would neutralize the victory policy circular to clarify that in cases of Vodafone in the tax case and where assessment proceedings the company, according to esti- have become final before first day mates, would be liable to pay of April 2012... such cases shall not about Rs 20,300 crore as tax, pen- be reopened," he had said. -PTI
Aiyar blames Pak for delay in visa liberalization NEW DELHI: Holding Pakistan responsible for delay in implementation of the liberalized visa regime, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has said relaxation in norms was essential for improving trade relations between the two neighbors. "I feel Pakistan is responsible (for failure to ink the liberalized visa regime)," he told reporters when asked about the reasons for India and Pakistan failing to sign the much-anticipated agreement
for visa liberalization. Pakistan, Aiyar said, has suggested that such an agreement should be signed by ministers and not at the secretary level. Recently, at the Home Secretary level meeting between India and Pakistan, both the sides failed to ink the pact and merely agreed to do it at an early date after Islamabad insisted on political participation. Aiyar was speaking at a Ficci
function on India-Pakistan relationship. "Lot of interaction between India and Pakistan businessmen has to take place. We must facilitate it through a visa regime. Unfortunately although some progress was made there...(but) was hold up on political grounds," he said, adding, "I am hoping, we will overcome this". Aiyar also said trade should be backed up with mutual investments between the countries. -PTI
Spyware virus hits Iran, ME countries Cont’d from page 21
Israel has described Iran's nuclear program an "existential threat", vowing to use all "options on the table" to foil it. Symantec, another Internet security firm, was quoted by daily Ha'aretz as saying on its blog that the bug's code was on par with
that of Stuxnet and Duqu, which it described as "arguably the two most complex pieces of malware we have analyzed to date." It also said that certain file names in Flame were identical to those described in a hacking incident in April involving the Iranian oil ministry. The worm had been operating
discreetly for at least two years and was likely written by "an organized, well-funded group of people working to a clear set of directives," the firm stressed. Symantec said the virus had also been found in computers in Hungary, Austria, Russia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. -PTI
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
India Post 23
24
“
B
ollywood celebrities made their presence felt at the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival. Among the Bollywood divas who walked the Cannes red carpet this year were: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan With her head held high and the glow of motherhood radiating in every direction and smacking in the face all those who had been having a good ol time commenting on her weight, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan walked the
India Post
www.indiapost.com
Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan walked the red carpet at Cannes in a blue Elie Saab creation, non-skinny and carefree. She still rules Bollywood and she knows it very well
June 8, 2012 Angelina Jolie's footsteps, Freida chose the thigh-high slit road to make her fashion statement. Her lime green Atelier Versace gown showed off her slender leg perfectly.
”
BOLLY BABES AT CANNES red carpet at Cannes in a blue Elie Saab creation, non-skinny and carefree. She still rules Bollywood and she knows it very well. Considering her previous appearances at Cannes, some of which have been downright hideous, who would have thought 2012 would be the year when the Indian beauty finally got it right.
Speaking about the film festival, she said: "Cannes this year is very special for me; it is my 10th year with L'Oréal Paris and my 11th year at the Cannes film festival and most importantly I'm here with my daughter making it incredibly special. "The festival is only getting better each year and I have the L'Oréal Paris team to help me with my hair and makeup." Freida Pinto The Slumdog Millionnaire star was seen on the red carpet multiple times frolicking with Jane Fonda and other Hollywood biggies. Following
Mallika Sherawat The bold and the beautiful lady was spotted twice on the Cannes red carpet, both times in nude-colored gowns. Yes, it is nude but don't take it too literally as the diva seems to be going for a style makeover. The gown she chose this year is a far cry from the black number she wore last year. The Ali Mahdavi creation, that was literally stitched on to her body, with the little hoodie could only be described as subdued and conservative and the sweat patches as a major fashion faux pas. Cont’d on page 26
June 8, 2012
India Post
25
www.indiapost.com
Gattu, Circus & Shala bag most awards
India Post News Service
NEW YORK: After five days of red carpet screenings, industry panels, and networking parties, the 12th
Kashyap's Gangs Of Wasseypur, which received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by an awards ceremony and closing night reception, sponsored by Wells Fargo. Over fifty Indian features, documentaries and short films were screened at the Tribeca Cinemas
attracted high profile celebrities and guests. The winners of the NYIFF 2012 Jury Awards are: • One-minute Cell Phone Film Award - Love Lost by Caroline Cantone, NYU student • Audience Choice Award, presented by Mela's Pooja Kohli -
won the Oscar for Best Doc) • Best Screenplay, presented by author Suketu Mehta - Avinash Deshpande for Shala
dian Circus • Best Director, presented by director Anurag Kashyap - Sujay Dahake for Shala
Over fifty Indian features, documentaries and short films were screened at the Tribeca Cinemas and NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Presented by the IndoAmerican Arts Council (IAAC), the Festival opened with the world premiere red carpet screening of Bedabrata Pain's Chittagong
Indian-American actor Manu Narayan
annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) ended on a high note with the U.S. premiere of Anurag India Post News Service
Bollywood's original hero Akshay Kumar makes his longawaited return after seven years to the action movie arena with this summer's big release Rowdy Rathore. Rowdy Rathore is a modern reworking of the Telugu film Vikramarkudu, and features an allstar Bollywood cast comprising Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha, who returns to the screen after Dabangg. The film is directed by renowned Tamil choreographer and actor Prabhu Deva (Wanted, Shakti - The Power) and also features the considerable talents of producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, famed for his directing credits on cutting-edge films Black, Devdas and Saawariya. The film marks Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first foray into the action genre. Akshay Kumar returns to dazzling form in this all-action blockbuster, as he plays two very dif-
and NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Presented by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), the Festival opened with the world premiere red carpet screening of Bedabrata Pain's Chittagong at the iconic Paris Theater. The longest-running and most prestigious showcase of Indian films in the U.S., the Festival
Let's Be Out, The Sun Is Shining by Bornilla Chatterjee • Best Short Film Award, presented by director Bedabrata Pain - Bombay Snow by Chinmay Dalvi • Best Documentary, presented by UB Group Brand Ambassador and former Miss India Pooja Batra - Saving Face by Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (also
Bedabrata Pain, left, director and producer of the film “Chittagong”
• Best Young Actor Award, presented by director Prashant Nair Mohammad Samad for Gattu • Best Actress, presented by director Dev Benegal - Tannishtha Chatterjee for Dekh Indian Circus • Best Actor, presented by director Aishwarya.R.Dhanush Nawazuddin Siddiqui for Dekh In-
• Best Film, presented by Rahul Baig of Wells Fargo - Gattu by Rajan Khosa • Special Contribution to Indian Cinema Award presented to actor/ director Rituparno Ghosh • Lifetime Achievement Award presented to director Shyam Benegal
Akshay Kumar gets 'rowdy' ferent and intriguing characters. The film is enhanced by lighthearted moments of comedy, thrilling action sequences and a little sprinkling of romance to set things off. Rowdy Rathore showcases Akshay Kumar's acting talents
to acts of daredevilry. Shiva's life is turned upside down when one day a young girl turns up and claims to be his daughter. Stunned by the revelation, he soon uncovers a dark and disturbing story behind her claim. It turns out that
In a gripping tale of mystery, deception and revenge, the story is told through the eyes of lead character Shiva (Akshay Kumar), who is a small-time thief addicted to acts of daredevilry
A scene from ‘Rowdy Rathore’
and versatility as an actor, and guarantees an exciting summer film for the whole family. In a gripping tale of mystery, deception and revenge, the story is told through the eyes of lead character Shiva (Akshay Kumar), who is a small-time thief addicted
the girl is the daughter of IPS Police Officer Vikram Singh Rathore, who happens to be Shiva's twin brother. When the two meet, and Vikram is murdered in front of Shiva, the latter must assume his identity and work undercover to bring his killers to justice.
26
India Post
June 8, 2012 www.indiapost.com
Bolly babes at Cannes
Sonam Kapoor Sonam has not been whacked by the lucky stick as far as acting skills are concerned but when it comes to fashion, she knows exactly what she is doing. The actress
everyone's cup of tea, Sonam made it work, being the classy fashionista she is. Kalki Koechlin She is no conventional beauty. She's quirky and crazy and people love her for it, but Kalki Koechlin at Cannes seems
has emerged as somewhat of a fashion icon in Bollywood. Last year, she walked the carpet in a gorgeous white gown and nobody was complaining. This year, she decided to make her fashion statement in a black and white Naem Khan creation. Though a black dress with giant white spots is not
to have been a bit of a failure. First she was seen in a drab allbeige full length gown with only a black neck piece and Anurag Kashyap as accessories. Then, she turned up on the red carpet in a pretty tulle half-sari that she ruined with something in her hair that looked downright strange.
Cont’d from page 24
June 8, 2012
India Post
27
www.indiapost.com
Miss India-Canada to be crowned Aug 18 was selected amongst the Top 10 in the world. Also, Rishma Malik, Miss India-Canada 1996 starred in Deepa Mehta's "Bollywood Hollywood" movie. Sangeeta Virmani, Miss IndiaCanada 2003, met President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. Last year, Parul Sharma, Miss India-Canada 2004, sang the Ca-
India Post News Service
TORONTO: The 22nd Annual Miss India-Canada event will be held on Saturday, August 18 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Toronto. The Miss India-Canada event has become very popular and a well-known event in Canada. With the continuous support from the business community and the positive feedback from contestants and their parents, the Miss India-Canada event continues to grow by leaps and bounds each year. The show is supported by: Euphoria by Calvin Klein, OM Financial, Dream Party Decor, and Bigen Speedy Hair Colour, to name a few. The prestigious title carries with it numerous prizes courtesy of show sponsors. Included are a cash scholarship of $1,000; round trip ticket to India; hotel accommodation; cell phone; laptop, jewellery set and many more prizes. Several prizes will also be presented to the runners-up. The Miss India-Canada Event is unique in many ways. Contestants are judged on their Indian Costume, Evening Gown, Talent, and their ability to speak in public.
nadian and US national anthems before a sold out Toronto Raptors NBA basketball game. The reigning Miss India-Canada, Akhina Mooken is currently pursuing a degree and diploma in early childhood education at Ryerson University. She recently visited India where she gave her time to help underprivileged children and various charitable organizations.
'9 Eleven' wins best film award India Post News Service
The show is focused on Indian arts and culture and at the same time blending into the Canadian mosaic. Some of the past winners Kamal Sidhu, Ruby Bhatia, Gita
pers in Canada, India, and other countries. The winner of the first Miss India-Canada pageant, Kamal Sidhu, starred in the lead role with Jackie Shroff in "Aar Ya Paar".
Included are a cash scholarship of $1,000; round trip ticket to India; hotel accommodation; cell phone; laptop, jewellery set and many more prizes. Several prizes will also be presented to the runners-up Bali, Rishma Malik, Poonam Chhibber, Melissa Bhagat and Komila (Kim) Jagtiani - have appeared on the covers of many leading magazines and newspa-
Moreover, Miss India-Canada 2001, Neelam Verma, was crowned Miss Canadian Universe. She represented Canada in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico and
NEW YORK: The Peoples Film Festival (TPFF) announced '9 Eleven' as winner of 'Best Feature Film' Award at its 2012 Ceremony. This is the first Bollywood film to win this prestigious Award. Written and Directed by Manan Singh Katohora, '9 Eleven' portrays the life of 11 people who belong to different walks of life. Though each individual has achieved a measure of success in their individual lives, their darkest secrets come out in the open when all of them are given some time for introspection, when they meet each other in a bizarre twist of events. They realize that their lives
are inter-woven and this literally shakes up their... peaceful lives. Terrorized to the core by an unknown entity in an unfamiliar place, each individual is petrified and is hesitant to talk or take each other into confidence for one simple reason... The Fear of the Unknown! Manan Singh Katohora is the Winner of 2012 Rising Star Award for his feature film '9 Eleven'. The Canada International Film Festival has firmly established itself among the top film festivals in Canada. Held each year in the beautiful and cosmopolitan city of Vancouver, British Columbia, the festival brings the very best of World Cinema to Canada from over 90 countries around the world.
Horoscope
28 India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar
JUNE 08TH - JUNE 14TH (March 21 to April 20)
(November 23 to December 22)
M
P
oney wise you will continue to do well. You may buy some fine quality items for personal use. You will benefit from an influential person or large organisation. You will spend more money on children also this week. Try to do more investigation before you make any big commitment.
lanets in sixth will definitely help those seeking for a change in career. Some one lot younger in age will give some useful advice and lead. A relationship recently started will continue to grow stronger. If appearing for a highly competitive exam this week, you will clear it easily. (December 22 to January 19)
(April 21 to May 20)
You may put your needs aside in order to fulfill obligations towards some close family members. Things will be calm at work and you will earn appreciation from boss on fine work you are doing right now. Concentration of planets in fifth will give birth to a great idea in your mind and quickly you will start working on it.
Y
ou will stay cheerful and make good use of extra time on hands. You will give final shape to a short pleasure trip with family. Try to look beyond immediate when taking any decisions about career and do not to conclusions. You will also do some cleaning in or around your property. Money wise you will stay comfortable and a stocks transaction can get you some extra money.
(January 20 to February 18)
T
hings will happen with slight delay. Property deal can also final ize during the week. Some of you may change one of your vehicle with a newer model. You will come across a very energetic person at the party and learn some thing new from him. Family will be leaving on a trip soon.
(May 21 to June 20)
I
t will be another expensive week but money will go on good reason and towards an upcoming trip to a nice place never visited before. business will pick up all of a sudden. You will be full of energy and accomplish a lot this week. Some old clients will call after long gap. You will keep exploring new opportunities and continue working on a great idea that can take you to financial freedom.
(February 19 to March 20)
S
ome of you will be getting ready for an upcoming big move. Your communication skills will come handy in having a tricky situation resolved with a government office or another large organisation. You will plan some thing exciting with the children for near future. Do not hesitate to call an old friend who was very helpful at one time.
(June 21 to July 22)
C
oncentration of planets in house of gains is helpful. Still there are good chances of some kind of financial jackpot. No hard in trying your hands at lottery. Value of your stocks recently purchased will appreciate a lot. Cut down on spicy food or red meat for time being. You will start to experience the benefit of change in career that took place recently. You may take a short trip with family this week. (July 23 to August 22)
Y
ou may have to answer some legal query this week. Money may go on some minor repairs to one of your vehicle. You will benefit from some one tall and receive good lead. You will be seriously exploring into a new venture. Changes in career are imminent. Boss will put additional pressure with no help. (August 23 to September 22)
M
oney will go towards an upcoming long distance trip. You will be working extra hours to meet the pressure of deadline. You will succeed in your attempts to make some extra money. An old friend will call to invite you to a small party. Do not buy any old property for investment purpose for the time being. (September 23 to October 22)
L
uck is definitely on your side though the results will be slight less than expectations. Some of you will be getting ready for an upcoming long distance trip. Do not hesitate and try playing lottery this week. You may be spending money towards upgrading your existing home or on another property recently purchased. People in business will definitely experience better sales. (October 23 to November 22)
S
tick to your guns and the results will be better than expectations. Money wise things will be better from now and on. Contract you were waiting for, will be finally offered to you on better terms. Lots of people will benefit from your expertise this week. People in business will have more foot traffic and make new clients.
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
Abhishek's charisma will be at an all time high
H
e was born into the most powerful and prestigious family in Bollywood and has the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife. Abhishek Bachchan entered the Bollywood rungs a decade back with JP Dutta's Refugee. Although the film didn't do well at the box office, Abhishek got noticed. But, much like his father Amitabh Bachchan, he failed to get the cash register ringing at the box-office with his initial handful of movies. Born February 5, 1976, Abhishek belongs to the sun sign Aquarius with ruling number 5. The planet Mercury governs this number and those born under it are shrewd, mentally alert, industrious, diplomatic, and intuitive and have sharp business acumen and a scientific temper. He is active, quick and agile, both physically and
mentally. He is self-motivated and has the ability to take his plans to their logical conclusion. He is deeply entrenched in family life and will try to spend much time with his baby girl. Everything he does is characterized by speed, efficiency and determination. He has a broad and tolerant view of life and always acts in the spirit of comradeship. In 2012, all his qualities come to the fore post January. His charisma will be at an all time high. He makes a good impression on others and people love to have him around. By constantly being active he can tire himself out and may have to deal with stress-related issues. His generosity will help many a lives and those who receive help will appreciate his kindness. Do things on a grand scale in 2012!
29 India post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
T
here is something special about Ooty. The lush vegetation and the lavender-blue sheen of the mountains offer a promise of a summer of peace Couched amidst gorgeous Blue Mountains of southern India, there is something special about the erstwhile British township. Year after year, it draws tourists, adventure enthusiasts, honeymooners and the film industry like bees to nectar. Sure, many wise travelers believe that Ooty is a dumpyard, a degraded, over-rated hill station, and so on. Nevertheless, the wiser ones will see how Ooty can soothe strung-up nerves and become the backdrop for a wondrous holiday. Ooty nestles in an amphitheatre created by four majestic hills - Doddabetta, Snowdon, Elk Hill and Club Hill. These hills are part of the Nilgiri (blue mountains) ranges that are really the meeting point for the Western and the Eastern Ghats. But why the 'blue' mountains? One would naturally wonder at the name. Do rest assured, when the lavender-blue flowers of the famous Strobilanthes cover the hills in floral profusion, it would be time to stop wondering, for it is these funnel-shaped blossoms that are the reason for the name. Although signboards all around scream and beg to make people call this 36-sq-km hill resort Udhagamandalam, their pleas fell on deaf ears. Ooty will always be Ooty to everyone. As the blaze of the afternoon sun gives way to a nippy evening, one can make one's way towards the nearby lake. This part of Ooty was once a huge bog with a west-flowing stream. In 1824, the lower part of the stream was converted into a lake. Though the lake seems ordinary enough, what really gets the tourists all excited is the warmth and buzz of activity in the vicinity. There is a boathouse where rowboats and motorboats can be hired. A Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation venture, it remains open from 8 am to 6 pm. Cont’d on page 30
Cont’d on page 30
30
India Post
Travel & Hospitality Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Ooty: Amphitheatre created by four majestic hills Cont’d from page 29
Sitting at the edge of the lake and watching the sun dipping down to herald darkness, is a soothing experience. The beautiful Botanical Gardens are, in a word, Ooty's milestone. Reaching the sprawling maze of greens and blooms, up northeast of the township, one's first thought is of the incredible influence of British rule in India. And these images, reminiscent of the Raj, were all over Ooty. Not surprising, considering that the hill resort as we know it now was founded by the British, in the early 1800s, to serve as the Madras Government's summer headquarters. The Botanical Gardens of Ooty, established in 1847, are much like the typical, manicured and planned gardens one sees so often. But the real beauty of the place is its plants - an amazingly diverse array with trees, shrubs and herbs of a mind-boggling number of species. And the flowers were really something to write home about. Was it the altitude - Ooty nestles at 2240 m above sea level and the rarefied air, or the lack of polluted air that gave these flow-
Panoramic view of Ooty
to find anywhere else. A summer of peace and uncluttered, cool days is what the Nilgiris offer, with their resonant echoes of a rich and tangible Dravidian culture. Best Time to Visit: June to September and October to December Tourist attractions All along the hill slopes in the Nilgiri Mountains you will find that omnipresent, glossy, stout bush with fragrant white or pink flowers and a melodious name camellia (Camellia thea). Tea, brought to the Nilgiris in the 1860s, is amongst India's most prominent plantation crops, what with the country being the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of black tea. This is perhaps why the slopes of the Nilgiris, all round
The Government Botanical Garden.
ers an added shine and gloss? They smile from everywhere as one ambles about the lovely, spreadout profusion. The fossil tree trunk that one sees here is believed to be 20 million years old! The eucalyptuses are quite a part of the Ooty landscape. They even fuel a small oil industry, so it is common to find eucalyptus oil in the shops at Ooty. These tall, lanky trees seem much at home on the slopes around. Many a traveler may feel that Ooty and the Nilgiris lack the awe, mystique and drama of the Himalayas. One can only feel sorry for the cynical traveler who fails to catch the pulse of Ooty's charm. More so the Nilgiris. For the lush green serenity of these southern hills of India would be difficult
cate and tedious. There are minor variations depending on the kind of tea being produced. The delicacy of the job of picking 'two leaves and a bud' is perhaps testified by the fact that pickers are always women or children. And so, it is the camellia bushes, with their sheen and gloss that green the Blue Mountains, providing raw material for a huge industry and employment for many in the land of the Strobilanthes. Excursions: Ooty has the singular distinction of having many places around that are worthy of a visit, or sometimes even a halt. Heading east from the southeast of Ooty will take one to Coonoor and Wellington, two very beauti-
rious, en route to Avalanche from Ooty is India's largest radio telescope. So also the Hindustan Photo Films in the Wenlock Downs, the only factory of its kind in India, manufacturing sensitized photographic materials. The narrow trail: This is a journey nobody should miss. A journey where you jostle with unimaginable crowds and squeeze into tiny coaches, a journey where you feel you can actually reach out and touch the elusive Nilgiris. It starts at Mettupalayam, 46 km southeast of Ooty, where you board the Blue Mountain Express that gets pushed by an engine instead of being pulled! When you hear frequent references to the Ooty mountain train,
For the lush green serenity of these southern hills of India would be difficult to find anywhere else. A summer of peace and uncluttered, cool days is what the Nilgiris offer, with their resonant echoes of a rich and tangible Dravidian culture Ooty, Coonoor and the like, seem to have tea bushes almost like second skin. Processed tender leaves and leaf buds compose the tea of commerce. This agro-industry flourishes on the hillsides of the Nilgiris and experts say that tea growing at a higher elevation would have a flavor superior to that growing at lower heights. This flavor and distinctive character of the popular beverage is from essential oils and alkaloids present in the plant. But then, all this is after a long manufacturing process that is carried out in industrial units on the plantation itself or nearby. From harvesting to curing, rolling and fermentation, to drying and grading, the process is deli-
ful townships. Coonoor, though small, has much to boast of - Sim's Park, Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose and generally pretty landscape. Wellington, of course, is a typical army township, clean and smart. Coonoor may easily charm one enough to stay longer, with its lush, tea bush slopes and attractive British houses. Avalanche, Upper Bhavani, Mukurti and Pykara are all places that are near Ooty and must be seen for their scenery. The reservoirs at Avalanche and Upper Bhavani are excellent waters for angling with the rainbow trout in particular abundance. All these places have an attractive mixed landscape of forests, shola-grasslands and tea-filled slopes. Finally, for the scientifically cu-
ranges. There is that deep-voiced Nilgiri langur (Presbytis johnii) with its shiny black body and yellow-brown crown. The Nilgiri langur happens to be one of the five langur species found in India and Sri Lanka. These langurs are often found in the sholas, which are amongst their favorite haunts. It's in the sholas that you can also see the lion-tailed macaque. The shy, timid and hard-to-spot Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) also has its home in these blue mountains. This animal has pride of place in being the only wild goat to inhabit any region south of the Himalayas. It has a short coat, dark yellow brown in color, and prefers to inhabit craggy regions above forest level.
Ooty Lake
you would somehow conjure up Lilliputian images of people sitting in orderly, storybook fashion. That's sure mistake, for this small train of the Nilgiris couldn't be more full, with human forms oozing from every pore! And if you still harbor rosy images, try clambering on from Coonoor where it stops en route to Mettupalayam. This is a precious travel tip. But once you're on, it's heaven. The overpowering Nilgiri landscape has the ability to make you oblivious of the human ocean around you and the greenery is bliss. It's a memorable 4-5-hour journey, so don't miss it for anything. The region is a treasure of wildlife, with some animals even native to these southern mountain
The Nilgiris are home to a great variety of carnivorous animals like tigers, panthers, jackals and hyenas. Elephants, wildcats, civet cats, giant squirrels and mongoose are also part of Nilgiri fauna. The Nilgiri marten, nightjar, hill mynah, and golden oriole are some of the region's avifauna. In essence, this range of mountains harbors a massive diversity of animal life. Transportation: Coimbatore, 105 km from Ooty, is the nearest airport. Indian Airlines has flights to Coimbatore from Bangalore, Cochin and Chennai. The Blue Mountain Express to Ooty is from Mettupalayam (47 km). All the important towns of Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka are connected to Ooty by road.
June 8, 2012
Travel & Hospitality Post
India Post
31
www.indiapost.com
'No compromise on environment conservation' SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said a well planned strategy was required to boost tourism without compromising with the conservation of environment. "Various modules are available to focus simultaneously on both these important areas", Omar said interacting with a group of 31 India Forest Service (IFS) Probationers here. Replying to the IFS Probationers questions on the development of tourism and conservation of environment, the Chief Minister said, the aggressive marketing of tourism by Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh has badly affected the aspect of environment there. "A balanced approach has to be put in place to develop and
market tourism without compromising on the issue of environment importance", he said, adding, the challenge in Jammu and Kashmir is in the area of creating a befitting infrastructure for tourists. "We have underlined strict adherence to environment preserva-
the chances of environment degradation due to infrastructure development", he said. The Chief Minister said the constructions at tourist places in the past have been haphazard and there is now a ban on any construction in tourist places like
"Generation of a forest takes decades. We have concentrated on rejuvenation of the depleted forests under CAMPA and under various State and Centrally sponsored schemes", the chief minister said tion and protection pre-requisite for infrastructure development in the tourist areas. The monitoring by courts has also narrowed down
Pahalgam. The group of IFS Probationers - first in the last 30 years - are on a study tour of the state to get ap-
Indians now willing to explore newer destinations NEW DELHI: Instead of traveling to many destinations during a trip, Indian travelers now want to spend more time at one spot or country where they head to unexplored places. "Indian leisure travelers are now willing to explore newer destinations. They now tend to go to unexplored places in South East Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China, and Sri Lanka. Apart from these countries, they want to go to unchartered territories of South Africa and the UK," said Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing head Expedia India. The Nielsen India Outbound Monitor and Pacific Asia Travel Association study has verified this trend, he said, adding that due to this business traffic from India, they are moving more towards these countries. Rather than covering more destinations in one trip abroad, Indians are now spending more time
on one destination country, he said, adding that they now look for an experience more than just a holiday. Apart from this, Indians now tend to plan their trips or holidays coinciding with international
According to a survey conducted by Expedia, nearly 40 per cent of Indians have paid for excess baggage while traveling events like F1 Grand Prix, shopping festivals or other cultural events like Tomatina and others. "Bollywood has always created an everlasting impact on Indian psyche and destinations well used have given a great push to Indian
tourists to the particular destinations. A decade earlier, Yash Chopra's movies created a huge demand for Switzerland, and a similar success has been witnessed by 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' in creating the demand for Spain," Ahluwalia said. This strategy is now being exploited by tourism boards of various countries. Another noticeable trend is that Indian travelers end up paying extra expenses on excess baggage. According to a survey conducted by Expedia, nearly 40 per cent of Indians have paid for excess baggage while traveling. More than 60 per cent of the surveyed respondents said they had not even used all the items that they had carried with them. Apart from having to pay extra baggage fee, it becomes difficult for travelers to carry their own baggage and they also end up paying for portage, which is expensive outside. -PTI
praisal of forest management measures and strategies in place to conserve forest wealth and the environment. Replying to another question, Omar said timber smuggling during the time of militancy has damaged the forest wealth of the state. "Generation of a forest takes decades. We have concentrated on rejuvenation of the depleted forests under CAMPA and under various State and Centrally sponsored schemes", the chief minister said. Stating stringent laws were in force to curb smuggling of timber and illegal felling of trees, Omar said, "The Forest Department is strictly enforcing these laws". The Chief Minister said the state Forest Department has identified pastures for grazing of cattle of migratory population. "Measures are in place to maintain these pastures," he said adding that cattle grazing in the mountains is being allowed in a wellplanned and disciplined manner. In reply to a question about manufacturing of bats and supply of timber, Omar said, the timber industry and afforestation can thrive side-by-side under a balanced ap-
proach towards both. "Using of willow for manufacture of bats and supply of timber for construction purposes should keep pace with the afforestation and conservation process", he said, adding, the state government is allowing import of timber to relieve the pressure on the local plantation. On the conservation of Dal Lake and rehabilitation of Dal dwellers, the Chief Minister said a comprehensive plan has been put in place to address both the issues. He said the aspect of dependence of Dal dwellers on the lake is being taken care of in the overall rehabilitation policy for these families. Omar said reaching out to the people and making them feel that you are one among them creates a lasting impression in society. "There are scores of such examples of officers who served in the state in various capacities and imprinted praiseworthy and lasting impression in the minds of people for the sincere service they rendered", he said and asked the probationers to make this approach the standard of service delivery. -PTI
If You are looking For the BEST & the MOST AUTHENTIC VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT IN TOWNCome to One and Only One Place
Publicly Acclaimed Top Vegetarian Restaurant Serving NORTH INDIAN • SOUTH INDIAN • GUJARATI • JAIN DISHES
TASTE OUR 30 PLUSE MOUTH WATERING DISHES ONCE YOU COME TO US YOU WILL NOT ELSEWHERE THAT IS OUR GUARANTEE
2508 W. Devon Ave.Chicago, IL 60659
Tel:(773) 274-5800 Fax: (773) 262-4465 E-mail: aryabhavan@aol.com www.aryabhavan.com
CATERING IS OUR SPECIALITY
IPL boosts tourist inflow to Dharamsala www.indiapost.com DHARAMSALA: Thanks to the IPL, there has been a manifold increase in the inflow of tourist to Dharamsala making it one of the top destinations for travelers to north India. IPL's three versions has marketed the beauty of the Kangra valley in Himachal Pradesh and the snow range of the Dhouladhars to boost the tourist inflow to Dharamsala, sources here said. The inflow of foreign visitors to the city was already high due to Dharamsala being the seat of Tibetan religious leader Dalai Lama,
but it too suddenly increased because of IPL's worldwide telecast putting on show its surroundings. Enquiries from various tour operators in the area from mid-May revealed that all hotels in the area were jam-packed. The increasing traffic jams with visitor vehicles on the Dharamsala-McLeodganj road is also a testimony to the fact, the sources said. Even in lower Dharamsala, which is the administrative capital of the area, most hotels were already booked.
Besides the IPL marketing, the Indian rush is also on because of vacations in schools in the plains. The tourism department spokesperson here said that with both domestic and foreign tourists visiting the state round the year, Himachal Pradesh registered a record growth in tourist arrivals in 2010. An estimated 1.32 crore tourists visited Himachal Pradesh in 2010 as against 1.14 crore in 2009, an increase of 16.38 per cent, according to data prepared by the department. -PTI
32
June 8, 2012
India Post www.indiapost.com
Serving to P erf ection Perf erfection SOUTH INDIAN CUISINE
SEEMA WORLD TRAVEL, INC.
SCHAUMBURG EXCLUSIVE LUNCH BUFFET 7 DAYS AWEEK
One of the Oldest Travel Agencies in St. Louis
Competitive Rates & Confirmed Seats for All Major Airlines DEVON LOCATION STRICTLY VEGETARIAN CHICAGO:
SCHAUMBURG:
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11:30 AM TO 10:00 PM WASHINGTON D.C.:
2543 W. DEVON AVENUE
730 SCHAUMBURG RD.
1329 UNIVERSITY BLVD. EAST
CHICAGO IL 60659
SCHAUMBURG IL60194
TACOMA PARK MD 20783
(773) 338-2152
(847) 884 9510
(301) 434-1531
ENJOY SPECIAL NON-VEG ITEMS AT SCHAUMBURG
New York (Hicksville)
10635 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132
Tel: (314) 423-9990 or (800) 55 SEEMA Fax: (314) 423-0391
AIRWING TRAVELS INC. Est. 1991
Tel: (516) 931 4600
Toll Free: (866) 532 3413
New Jersey (Iselin)
Tel: (732) 658 5450
Lowest Fares / Confirmed Seats to INDIA & Other Destinations Worldwide Save upto 40% on First and Business Class OPEN 7 DAYS - Call or Email : AIRWINGTRAVELS@GMAIL.COM
NEWS on your desktop www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
India Post 33 www.indiapost.com
SKY WORLD TRAVEL 1-888-695-0005
CONSOLIDATORS (INTL. & DOMESTIC) : 3HWHUVRQ 6WH &KLFDJR ,/
SPECIAL LOW FARES TO BOMBAY, DELHI, MADRAS, CALCUTTA, DHAKA, KARACHI, LAHORE etc. Tel: 773-728-9071 773-315-8597
E-mail us at: skyworldtravels@hotmail.com
FOR ALL YOUR
MATCHLESS EXPRESS TOURS 2600 W. Peterson Ave., Suite 105 Chicago IL 60659 Experienced Travel Consultants Pasport and Visa Services available * Confirmed seats (Even in High season) * Low Airfares * Courteous Service 2240-42 West Devon Chicago IL 60659 Ph# 773-338-4080 Fax# 773-338-4088
Call and Contact
Tel. (773) 338 6260
TRAVEL NEEDS INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC AIR INDIA AND ALL OTHER MAJOR AIRLINES. PACKAGE DEAL TAJ TOUR-SOTC
CALL:
Sita Ram Patel @ 847-568-0535
TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS
1 Naina Re: Dangerous Ishq 2 Pani Da Rang: Vicky Donor 3 Chokra Jawaan: Ishaqzaade 4 Mar Jayian (Sad): Vicky Donor 5 Jannatein Kahan: Jannat 2 6 Pareshaan: Ishaqzaade 34
India Post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
7
Dhadhang Dhang : Rowdy Rathore
8
Aa Re Pritam Pyare : Rowdy Rathore
9 Duaa: Shanghai 10 Morcha: Shanghai
A
fter proving herself in Hindi films, National Award winner Vidya Balan now wants to try her luck in Marathi films. "I want to do Marathi films. There is some great work happening in Marathi cinema. Marathi movies are doing well," she said during the promotional event of "Ferrari ki Sawaari." Vidya, who is not a trained dancer, always wanted to do a Lavani dance and was more than happy to do a Lavani item number in "Ferrari ki Sawaari". In a complete red sari, Vidya sizzled on stage as she performed the item number for the audience. On public demand, she was asked to repeat the performance. "I always had a dream to do a Lavani. But I thought Lavani is done only in Marathi films but I was amazed when I got a call from Chopra productions. I was more than happy to do this Lavani. I really drove my choreographer Standley nuts while filming this song," she said. The actress claims she has not received any adverse comment for this song. "I haven't come across any criticism yet for this song. I got a call from someone who said that I reminded them of some authentic Lavani dancers."
FEUD FORGOTTEN F
ilmmaker Karan Johar celebrated his 40th birthday party at Hotel Taj Lands End in Bandra, Mumbai on May 25th. Among the VIP guests at the grand party were actress Priyanka Chopra, with whom the director-producer was rumoured to be conducting a feud. But all seems to have been forgiven. Apparently, Karan Johar reportedly offered Priyanka Chopra an olive branch in the form of an invite to his party. Priyanka, who was at her brother's graduation in Switzerland, reached the birthday late at night, rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of the Bollywood Industry. Among the other A-list guests were Priyanka's Don co-star, Shah Rukh Khan, and wife Gauri. Other celebrities were Manish Malhotra, Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Randeep Hooda, Imran Khan, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Hrithik Roshan, Kajol Devgan, Tanisha Mukherji, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, Anil Kapoor, Suzanne Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Asin Thottumkal, Raveena Tandon etc.
Bollywood
June 8, 2012
India Post
35
www.indiapost.com
NOT 'WANTED' S
hahid Kapoor has denied reports that he is starring in "Wanted" sequel supposedly being planned by choreographer-director Prabhu
Deva. "I don't think anyone can replace Salman Khan. I think because me and Prabhu Sir have been meeting up to do a film together and he is choreographing IIFA ( International Indian Film Academy awards) ...people are jumping to conclusions," the 31-yearold said. "We have not decided anything yet, what we will do or when. But yes, we are very keen to work with each other. But these are all rumours, I have not said yes to anything," he added. Directed by Prabhu Deva, "Wanted" was a remake of Puri Jagannadh's Telugu hit "Pokiri," starring Mahesh Babu. Shahid is currently busy promoting his forthcoming film "Teri Meri Kahaani" co-starring Priyanka Chopra.
DIRTY BENGALI B B ollywood's item girl Rakhi Sawant is all set to star in the Bengali remake of The Dirty Picture and she says she will outperform National Award winner Vidya Balan. Rakhi will play a sex siren in the untitled film to be directed by Bengali actress-turned-politician Shatabdi Roy and she says her film will set more tongues wagging than the original. "The film is based on the life of an item girl and it is only befitting that I take on the role as I am the original item girl of Bollywood. I admire Vidya a lot. I think she is a great actress and she did a great job in the film. But now it is my turn and I will do a better ooh lala than her. After this film I am hoping that everyone will chant only my name," Rakhi said. Besides numerous item songs and TV shows, Bollywood's item girl Rakhi Sawant has also done small parts in films like Main Hoon Na, Mumbai Xpress, Dil Bole Hadippa and she says she is excited about her first film as a full fledged actress. "I have only done item songs and short roles in films. This will be the first time that I will be doing a full fledged film with dialogues, song and dance," she says.
eside proving her talent as an actress, Kangana Ranaut is making a mark in the fashion world too. The actress has set a trend with the different looks and designer clothes she adorns at events and functions. In fact, young gals are aping her style and religiously follow her fashion sense in trendy and film magazines. Director Milan Luthria, who worked with Kangs in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, describes her as someone versatile and creative."My nickname for Kangana is chameleon," the director laughs. He adds, "She looks radically different with each look she tries looks stunning. In addition, she's extremely well prepared and knowledgeable about fashion. Plus she has a unique sex appeal that has given her a different identity altogether. Last but not the least, Kangana has a very fine bone structure making her face a photographer's delight." Talking about Ouatim, Luthria recalls, "I distinctly remember her walking into my office with a complete bound folder of each and every look she planned to have in the film. And she was spot-on. What's more, Kangana is deceptively professional. She'll party hard with all the crew but will be the first to report on set."
STYLE ICON
In Brief Hundreds turn out to protest Ala. immigration law MONTGOMERY, Ala.: Hundreds of people gathered at the Alabama state Capitol to protest the recent passage and signing of a bill that makes some changes to Alabama's tough law targeting illegal immigration. The Montgomery Advertiser reports that the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice led the march from the Capitol to the governor's mansion. Groups from all over the state made the drive to Montgomery for the march. State Sen. Hank Sanders, a Democrat from Selma, spoke to the crowd about the need for unity in what he said is a fight for freedom. Organizers said they didn't expect the march to change the law. They said they wanted to raise awareness of the law and the reasons they oppose it. -AP
Mexican man gets 10 years for re-entering US TUCSON, Ariz.: A Mexican man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his conviction for illegal re-entering the United States after deportation. Benjamin Lopez-Patino, 45, had pleaded guilty to the charge in March and was sentenced in federal court in Tucson. He was convicted of the same charge in 2003 and was sentenced to eight years in prison. In the latest case, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested LopezPatino in September near the village of Crow Hang on the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation. -AP
Immigration fingerprint program now statewide DENVER: A program that automatically checks the immigration status of all jail inmates in Colorado quietly went into effect recently following years of opposition and fears it could lead to deportation for otherwise minor offenses or ensnare crime victims. The Department of Homeland Security's ``Secure Communities'' program took effect across all 64 Colorado counties. Under the program, sheriff's departments and jail officials submit fingerprints of all inmates taken at the time of booking to federal officials for a check of immigration status. Cont’d on page 37
Immigration 36
India Post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
ACLU files appeal brief in Neb. immigration case FREMONT, Neb.: Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union are arguing that the city of Fremont overstepped its authority with an immigration ordinance that requires potential renters to prove their citizenship status. Details on page 38
Woman adopted as baby faces deportation to India DENVER: Attorneys are scrambling to find a way to prevent the deportation of a woman who was adopted from an orphanage in India as a 3-month-old baby following a determination by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that she is in the country illegally. Kairi Abha Shepherd's adoptive mother died when she was 8-yearsold, never having filed citizenship paperwork, her attorney Alan L. Smith of Salt Lake City said. The Denver-based appellate court earlier this month upheld an immigration court's ruling that Shepherd, now 30, is too old to qualify for automatic citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 that applies to children from foreign countries who are adopted by Americans. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began efforts to deport Shepherd in 2007 after she was jailed in Salt Lake City for probation violation of a 2004 guilty plea to a felony charge of forgery. ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said Shepherd's conviction was an aggravated felony, making her an immigration enforcement priority.
Kairi Abha Shepherd
Their options include appealing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the Indian government to deny travel documents, or asking a state court judge to allow Shepherd to withdraw her felony guilty plea Shepherd has no family or contacts in India. ``I think she took a geography class in high school where she learned about India,'' Smith said. ``She doesn't speak the language, she has no connection whatsoever. She's American through and through.''
In a statement issued through Smith, Shepherd said she suffers from multiple sclerosis and has other health issues. ``The deportation order which may force me to part from my physicians, family, and friends here, could be a death sentence to me,'' she said.
Smith and other attorneys are donating their time to reverse Shepherd's deportation order and help her gain legal status, he said. Their options include appealing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the Indian government to deny travel documents, or asking a state court judge to allow Shepherd to withdraw her felony guilty plea. Smith said Shepherd had assumed she was a U.S. citizen at the time she pleaded guilty to a felony, not knowing it would end up getting her deported. Officials at the Consulate General of India in San Francisco did not immediately return messages. A 2008 Salt Lake City Tribune column described Shepherd's mother, Erlene Shepherd, as someone who would try to save the world, pay 50 cents a day to sponsor a dozen children around the world and take in every lost pet she found. Smith said Erlene Shepherd adopted three children from the United States, three from Thailand, and two from India, including a boy who died before Kairi Shepherd was adopted as a baby. Cont’d on page 39
HR 4970 an assault on battered immigrants MYRIAM JAIDI
T
his will get people killed," my colleague and I agreed while we reviewed the "Immigration Provisions" of HR 4970, the bill introduced in the House in April, ostensibly to "reauthorize" the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) originally promulgated in 1994 and reauthorized and strengthened since its original passing. The Immigration Provisions found in Title VIII of HR 4970, however, will effectively dismantle VAWA as we know it in the immigration context, place people in danger, set up a system that will likely violate the United States' treaty obligations, and reverse decades of progress in the nation's understanding of domestic violence and the pernicious ways in which an abuser can exercise power and control in do-
mestic relationships. of abusive relationships - such Overall, HR 4970 undermines as trafficker to trafficking victim, the central goals of VAWA: pro- criminal to crime victim. Men tecting victims of domestic vio- and women come to us for help lence and other in our capacity crimes and as- Thus, the person of immigration sisting law en- seeking status is, lawyers - it is imforcement with portant to recogthe protection of until the end of the nize that alvictims, and the process, until the though the law is investigation and called the Viogreen card has prosecution of lence Against crimes. If passed, been delivered, Women Act, it it would also pull subject to the will of helps all victims VAWA relief out regardless of of the paradigm the sponsoring whether they are governing all United States citizen male or female, other forms of and we have humanitarian relief in the immigra- seen many cases of men being tion context. abused either in marital relationThe risks run high and tem- ships or other contexts. pers hot in the context of doClients who come to us have mestic violence or other types been traumatized and are deeply
fearful of further abuse and retaliation from their abuser for their daring to seek help and to escape the abuser. They fear that the fact of submitting an application will lead to discovery and place them in grave danger. And they are fearful of law enforcement and concerned that instead of being protected for coming forward, they will be removed from the United States, perhaps sent back to a place where abusers or their family members will have free reign to harm them. Congress recognized a long time ago that immigrants are a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to relationship dynamics because they are at a disadvantage - their ability to obtain a green card requires sponsorship. Cont’d on page 38
Immigration Post
June 8, 2012
India Post
37
www.indiapost.com
Obama birth certificate OK by Arizona official PHOENIX: Arizona's secretary of state has said that Hawaii's official verification of President Barack Obama's birth records meets necessary requirements, meaning the president's name will appear on Arizona's ballot in the fall. The inquiry launched recently by Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett gave official weight to a long-simmering political controversy generated by those who say that Obama was not born in the U.S. and therefore is ineligible to hold the nation's highest office. The Obama administration attempted a year ago to dismiss the conflict by releasing his longform birth certificate showing that he was born in Hawaii. But skeptics maintained their stance and eventually Bennett announced he would seek further verification at the request of numerous voters who contacted his office, even saying he was prepared to leave Obama's name off the state's ballot in November. Bennett, a Republican, said in a written statement that Hawaii officials ``have complied with the request, and I consider the matter closed.'' Bennett's office says Obama's name will appear on Arizona's November ballot as long as he wins his party's nomination and all paperwork is properly completed.
Obama campaign spokesman Mahen Gunaratna noted that Bennett also is Arizona campaign co-chair for Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney. Gunaratna said Bennett's inquiry will have no bearing on the election, ``But it does present an opportunity for Mitt Romney to finally rise to the occasion and denounce the extreme voices in his
Hawaii State Registrar Alvin Onaka sent the document confirming the information on Obama's birth certificate, such as the Honolulu hospital where he was born and the names and ages of his parents party.'' The Romney campaign responded saying the candidate has made his stance on the issue clear. ``I think the citizenship test has been passed,'' Romney said to CNBC in April, a statement relayed to The Associated Press by his campaign. ``I believe the president was born in the United States. And there are real reasons to get this guy out of office.''
Hawaii State Registrar Alvin Onaka sent the document confirming the information on Obama's birth certificate, such as the Honolulu hospital where he was born and the names and ages of his parents. Hawaii officials have repeatedly verified Obama's citizenship as skeptics have maintained that the president was born in Kenya, his father's home country. State and federal courts also have rejected lawsuits over the issue. The verification process was the subject of three months of back and forth, with Hawaii officials initially saying Bennett had to show why he needed the information as part of ordinary business. Other Arizona officials over the last year have raised questions about Obama's birth certificate. Last year, the state Legislature passed a bill that would have required presidential candidates to prove their citizenship before their names could appear on the state's ballot. The proposal was vetoed by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, who called the measure ``a bridge too far.'' Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America, had a volunteer posse launch an investigation into the issue, saying
Immigration fingerprint program now statewide Cont’d from page 36
Denver, Arapahoe and El Paso counties began participating in the program in February. Since then, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has identified about 5,000 illegal immigrants in Colorado, nearly 800 of whom were then deported or left the country voluntarily. Of those now out of the country, 230 had been convicted of serious crimes such as murder and sexual assault, according to Homeland Security statistics. Secure Communities has been implemented in 46 states, as well as in parts of Alabama, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Maine has yet to implement the program, according to ICE. The program has raised concerns among civil rights and immigrant rights advocates, including the Colorado American Civil Liberties Union, which said it documented three cases in Garfield County where women were detained by ICE after calling police to report domestic violence. The ACLU said the women were reported to ICE under a 2006
state law that requires law enforcement agencies to report suspected illegal immigrants to federal authorities. Virginia Urtusuastegui, 30, a housekeeper from Glenwood Springs, said she spent 13 days in detention last summer on an immigration violation after she
She was arrested on a false reporting charge when she refused to cooperate with police for fear her husband would be arrested called police for help during a violent dispute with her husband. She was arrested on a false reporting charge when she refused to cooperate with police for fear her husband would be arrested. She said she was released after her paperwork for a work visa was approved. ``To tell you the truth, I'm horrified of police,'' Urtusuastegui
said in Spanish. Not every illegal immigrant reported to ICE will end up in deportation proceedings, said Washington-based ICE spokeswoman Nicole Navas. Once ICE learns someone is in the country illegally, agents and ICE prosecutors examine the case and determine if that person falls under their priorities for deportation, which include those who pose a threat to national security, multiple immigration violators, and convicted criminals. There also are provisions to protect victims of domestic violence and other crimes, Navas said. -AP
President Barack Obama
in March there was reason to believe Obama's long-form birth certificate is a computer-generated forgery. Arpaio, known for his hardline stance on illegal immigration, said the information given to Bennett's office doesn't dispel his suspicions. He vowed to continue his posse's investigation until Hawaii officials provide microfilm of the original birth certificate or the original document itself. Earlier this spring, Bennett's office made a change that requires candidates to complete a new form asking eligibility questions, in-
cluding whether they are naturalborn U.S. citizens. In the past, political parties drafted their own certification documents that Arizona officials say didn't consistently address the issue of qualifications. Democrat state Rep. Chad Campbell, Arizona's House minority leader, called on Bennett to step down as co-chair of the Romney campaign, saying if he doesn't, then he should resign as secretary of state. Bennett declined through a spokesman to comment on Campbell's appeal. -AP
38
Immigration Post
India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
HR 4970 an assault on battered immigrants Cont’d from page 36
Thus, the person seeking status is, until the end of the process, until the green card has been delivered, subject to the will of the sponsoring United States citizen (USC) or lawful permanent resident (LPR). Congress created the self-petitioning process "so that the battered alien can seek status independent of the abuser." - Paul Virtue, Acting Executive Associate Administrator, Non-Disclosure and Other Prohibitions Relating to Battered Aliens: IIRIRA § 384 (May 5, 1997). Given the draconian provisions of the bill, discussed below, the drafters of HR 4970 appear to be operating on the unfounded assumption that fraud is rampant in the VAWA self-petition context. This has not been our collective experience at CDMA nor have we heard anecdotally that fraudulent self-petitions have been routinely approved. To the contrary, our experience shows that the VAWA Unit at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center (VSC) is extremely well trained and carefully adjudicates VAWA self-petitions, issuing requests for evidence and/ or notices of intent to deny in cases where an applicant has not provided sufficient proof of eligibility and denying cases where applicants ultimately are unable to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that they are eligible for deferred action under the law. HR 4970 changes all aspects of a VAWA self petition, taking this form of affirmative relief out of the paradigm governing other forms of affirmative, humanitarian-based forms of relief, and converting the process into a trial of the VAWA self-petitioner. Title VIII of HR 4970 jettisons the long-standing standard of
proof in VAWA self-petitions. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) does not provide for a standard of proof for VAWA selfpetitions, therefore pursuant to Matter of Chawathe, 25 I&N Dec. 369 (AAO 2010) a VAWA self-petitioner "must prove by a preponderance of evidence that he or she is eligible for the benefit sought." In assessing whether an applicant has met this burden, INA § 204(a)(1)(J) provides that in adjudicating a self-petition, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "shall consider any credible evidence relevant to the petition" and DHS has discretion to determine what evidence is credible and how much weight to give the evidence. Moreover, the rules governing the process provide that a petition may not be denied solely on the basis of information provided by the abuser or a member of the abuser's family living in the same household as the victim. See 8 USC § 1367(a). Any derogatory information must be independently corroborated. Also, violations of the confidentiality provisions can result in disciplinary action or civil penalties up to $5,000. See 8 USC § 1367(c). Congress set the standard of proof as it did, precluded dependence on information provided by the abuser, and created strict confidentiality standards based on the established need to protect applicants from being located by an abuser or subjected to retaliation and further abuse. People do in fact get hurt and even killed in these situations. Because of that fact, the protections for applicants under VAWA, especially the confidentiality protections as promulgated in 1996, have been crucial to the central goals of VAWA and therefore strengthened with each subse-
quent reauthorization of VAWA to date (2005 and 2011). HR 4970 would impose a "clear and convincing" evidence standard and dismantle the confidentiality provisions, replacing them with a perverse situation in which power over the application submitted by a battered spouse is effectively handed back to the abuser. The clear and convincing evidence standard is a very high standard, far above the default preponderance of the evidence standard applicable to most immi-
The bill's use of the term "the accused" in reference to the abuser is completely inappropriate and highlights the fact that the bill shifts the inquiry from a victimcentered assessment of eligibility to a trial of the victim gration petitions, whether business or family based. Even individuals in removal proceedings attempting to show that a mandatory ground of denial of an application for relief do not apply to them, carry only the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the grounds do not apply. 8 C.F.R. § 1240.8(d). Thus a battered spouse faces a higher standard of proof in an affirmative application process under HR 4970 than an individual in removal proceedings attempting to overcome evidence that he has committed a particularly serious crime or presents a danger to the security of the United States! Moreover, the protections of ap-
Judge dismisses charges ACLU files appeal brief in against immigration agent Neb. immigration case SAN DIEGO: A federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against an immigration agent who ran a stop sign three years ago while on duty in San Diego County, killing three women. U-T San Diego says the judge ruled that federal law enforcement officers accused of crimes while onduty have immunity from prosecution under federal law. Cole Dotson had been charged with three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. According to the California Highway Patrol, Dotson was driving his government car at speeds over 100 mph while following a suspected methamphetamine smuggler when he slammed into a van driven by 41-year-old Sandra Garcia. Garcia and two passengers were killed and two children were injured. A prosecutor says a decision on whether to appeal the decision will be made later. -AP
FREMONT, Neb.: Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union are arguing that the city of Fremont overstepped its authority with an immigration ordinance that requires potential renters to prove their citizenship status. The Fremont Tribune reports that the lawyers have submitted their opening brief to the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The lawyers are trying to overturn part of an ordinance that was upheld by a federal judge. U.S. District Court Judge Laurie Smith Camp rejected part of the law that would have banned the harboring of illegal immigrants and allowed city officials to revoke the rental licenses of illegal immigrants. But she let stand another part requires potential renters to establish their citizenship or legal status and pay $5 for the renter's license. -AP
plicants for asylum are not granted to VAWA self-petitioners under HR 4970. HR 4970 provides that upon filing, a VAWAcase will be transferred to a local service center for adjudication and that an officer "shall conduct an in-person interview of the alien who filed the petition" and "may also gather other evidence and interview other witnesses, including the accused United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, if they consent to be interviewed." The government and the advocacy community have learned over decades how important confidentiality is to victim safety. As recognized by the White House in a recent blog, "the risks of serious injury and homicide increase when a victim is taking steps to leave an abusive relationship," a central basis for the confidentiality provisions of VAWA. Confidentiality is a long-standing, crucial component of humanitarian forms of relief. For example, in the asylum context, confidentiality is paramount and it is unthinkable to ask the abuser for input on the persecution of the asylum applicant. Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 208.6 provides that Information contained in or pertaining to any asylum application, records pertaining to any credible fear determination conducted pursuant to § 208.30, and records pertaining to any reasonable fear determination conducted pursuant to § 208.31, shall not be disclosed without the written consent of the applicant, except as permitted by this section or at the discretion of the Attorney General. In the asylum context, confidentiality is considered breached when information contained in an asylum application is disclosed to a third party such that the third party can "link the identity of the applicant to: (1) the fact that the applicant has applied for asylum; (2) specific facts or allegations pertaining to the individual asylum claim contained in an asylum application; or (3) facts or allegations that are sufficient to give rise to a reasonable inference that the applicant has applied for asylum." Joseph E. Langlois, Director, Asylum Division, Office of Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations, USCIS Interoffice Memorandum, Fact Sheet on Confidentiality (June 15, 2005). That is a significant protective regime founded on a compelling logic: "Public disclosure of asylumrelated information may subject the claimant to retaliatory measures by government authorities or nonstate actors in the event that the claimant is repatriated, or endanger the security of the claimant's family members who may still be resid-
ing in the country of origin." Id. The rationale behind the VAWA confidentiality provisions are similarly rooted and make sense in the context of the significant risks faced by battered individuals and the purpose of VAWA: to allow battered immigrants "to leave their batterers without fearing deportation." Violence Against Women Act of 1993: Summary and Purpose, H.R. Rep. No. 103-395, at 25 (1993). Congress developed the existing confidentiality measures to protect victims of domestic violence from being tracked down by their abusers for retaliation and continued abuse. These provisions are crucial to breaking the cycle of power and control that is the crux of domestic violence, and essential to bringing immigrant victims out of the shadows. Experience bears out the fact that whether or not the petitioning individual lives with his or her abuser the possibility that the abuser will be contacted about the application puts the individual in danger. Clearly, HR 4970 makes a mockery of the important protections and undermines them by providing that "all credible evidence submitted by an accused [USC or LPR] . . . shall be considered." HR 4970 strongly implies that the abuser has to be given notice of the application, as the only way an investigation may be done is if the abuser is contacted and asked to participate. This should simply not be allowed. People will be killed as a result of a measure like this. The bill's use of the term "the accused" in reference to the abuser is completely inappropriate and highlights the fact that the bill shifts the inquiry from a victim-centered assessment of eligibility to a trial of the victim, shockingly taking a defensive stance in favor of the abuser, with the presumption being that the applicant is lying. Other fora already exist in which "the accused" can have his or her day in court such as divorce court, criminal court, family court, or civil court. Disputes between individuals can be weighed in all of these fora. But the self-petition process should not be a trial and is not intended to be adversarial. Furthermore, as noted above, there is extensive documentation of the fact that victims are afraid to come forward and press charges against their abusers specifically because they fear retaliation meted upon them or their children and other loved ones. Another deeply troubling aspect of the bill is the proposed dismantling of the VAWA Unit at the USCIS Vermont Service Center. Cont’d on page 39
Immigration Post
June 8, 2012
India Post
39
www.indiapost.com
Woman adopted as baby faces deportation to India Cont’d from page 36
A widow and single mother to seven children, Erlene Shepherd died in 1991 of breast cancer, never having filed the proper paperwork for Kairi Shepherd, her youngest child. Kairi Shepherd went to live with one of her adoptive siblings, a sister, until she was 14, and then an adoptive brother until she graduated from high school, Smith said. A sibling told the Tribune that their mother had filed the proper paperwork for her other children. Messages left for Shepherd's siblings by The Associated Press were not immediately returned. Shepherd worked at odd jobs, in grocery stores and in fast food. In 2003, authorities in two Utah counties charged her with crimes including felony forgery for falsifying checks to pay for a drug habit. She pleaded guilty in March 2004 in Salt Lake County to a misdemeanor charge of attempted forgery and was sentenced to 68 days in jail, probation, and ordered to pay a $750 fine. In May of that year, she pleaded guilty to forgery, in a separate case, to a thirddegree felony in Ogden, Utah. Misdemeanor charges of theft and receiving stolen property were dropped.
She was ordered to pay $300 in restitution, plus $1,055 in court fees, and placed on probation and received a five year suspended prison sentence. Smith said she has repaid most of the money, with part of that debt suspended while her immigration case is pending. After her felony conviction she
“She's got herself in a fix because of her behavior, but on the other hand, the world has dealt her a bad hand with people, which a child should be able to count on,'' Smith said went in and out of jail for failing to comply with probation, which included completing drug treatment programs, not using drugs and not associating with those who use drugs. It was during one of those stays in jail in October 2007 that she came to the attention of ICE agents at the Salt Lake County Adult De-
tention Complex. She told the Tribune she spent most of 2008 in ICE detention and she is now out of ICE custody and awaiting the outcome of her deportation order issued in February 2010. Smith said Shepherd is currently unable to work and is relying on the help of friends to live. Smith wouldn't disclose too much about her living situation but said she is not in hiding. ``She's got herself in a fix because of her behavior, but on the other hand, the world has dealt her a bad hand with people, which a child should be able to count on,'' Smith said. ``Adults, government, adoption agencies... She fell between the cracks.'' Congress passed a law granting automatic citizenship to foreign adopted children, but it applied to those who were under 18 on February, 27, 2001, when it took effect. Shepherd, born on April 1, 1982, is 11 months too old to qualify, the courts ruled in declaring her an ``alien.'' ``There are thousands of people who were internationally adopted and aren't U.S. citizens,'' said Chuck Johnson, spokesman for the Washington-based National Council For Adoption.-AP
HR 4970 an assault on battered immigrants Cont’d from page 38
The VAWA Unit has amassed 12 years of specialized experience in adjudicating VAWA self-petitions and officers there receive extensive training on how to assess applications, uncover fraud, and properly determine an applicant's eligibility under the law. Dismantling this unit in favor of local adjudication would be a huge waste of money and undermine the purpose of VAWA. HR 4970 adds other obstacles to the process by requiring a stay of adjudication "if an investigation or prosecution is pending" and directing the adjudicating officer to consider the fact that "no investigation has been undertaken or if a prosecutor's office has not commenced a prosecution after the matter was referred to it . . . ." No acknowledgement is made of the legion reasons why a case might not be prosecuted even after it commenced, including prosecutorial discretion, limited resources, a victim being threatened by the abuser that his or her cooperation will lead to retaliation by the abuser, or a combination of factors. In the U visa context, a prosecutor will sometimes decide not to issue the required U visa certi-
fication to the victim who needs it to apply for a U visa, if there is to be a trial in a criminal case, until the trial is completed. This is done for various reasons, the central one being so that the defense cannot use the fact of the certification to impeach the victim's testimony or to ensure cooperation of the witness at trial. However, the key distinction is that in one case the prosecutor is exercising her discretion whereas in the other, the prosecutor's discretion does not come into play in a meaningful way. HR 4970 makes the decision for the prosecutor - and stalls a case if a prosecution ensues or paints a case with a negative brush if a prosecutor decides not to proceed. Another highly disturbing component of the bill is the mandated denial of a petition and expedited removal of an applicant "upon receiving any evidence of any material misrepresentation on a petition . . . ." The evidence need not be credible. The misrepresentation need not be knowing or willful. Thus a simple mistake of fact on the part of the applicant leads to draconian results including not only denial of the petition, but being processed for expedited removal and
being barred from eligibility for any other form of relief. This provision could potentially come into direct conflict with the United States's treaty obligations, such as those imposed by Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture, which prohibits the United States from returning an alien to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing that the individual would be subjected to torture. This bill effectively represents throwing decades of research and aggregated knowledge about domestic violence out the window and constitutes an abuser's dream codified and approved by the federal government. And no wonder. The Huffington Post discovered one of the driving forces behind HR 4970 is the head of a mail order bride service. A federal jury awarded one of the brides her company matched with an abusive American husband $434,000 after a trial. The verdict was affirmed upon appeal by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Go figure. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com
PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law
Former Assistant State s Attorney
Civil & Criminal Litigation Felonies, Misdemeanors, Inc DUI 1 Personal Injury, Business, Divorce etc. 1 Property Tax for Commercial Properties 1 1
http://www.proy-singh.com
2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 204, Tel: 773-381-1820 Chicago, IL 60659
Health
Line
Warning against contact with Arkansas River TOPEKA, Kan: Kansas health officials continue to warn people to avoid contact with the Arkansas River from central Wichita south to the Oklahoma boarder. The state Department of Health and Environment first issued the warning because of elevated levels of bacteria in the water discovered by routine sampling. Later, KDHE said a leak was discovered at a pump station at Wichita's main wastewater treatment plant. Crews were working to repair the leak and determine how much untreated wastewater entered the river. The department says its warning continues for the portion of the river that starts at the bridge over the river for East Lincoln Street and that people should also keep their pets from having contact with the river. -AP
Brown dedicates new aquatics & fitness center PROVIDENCE, R.I.: Brown University has formally dedicated its new $46-million aquatics and fitness center. The 84,000-square-foot facility includes an aquatics center with a 56-meter pool for varsity and recreational use and a seating area that can accommodate 800. It also has a fitness center for students, faculty a staff, a strength and conditioning center for varsity athletes and sports teams and three exercise studios. The university broke ground in May of 2010 and opened the facility to students and others last month. Outgoing President Ruth Simmons calls it an ``exceptional complex.'' -AP
Team uses CPR, AED to save asst coach SALTILLO, Miss.: When an assistant youth baseball coach's heart stopped during picture day for his 11-year-old grandson's recreational team, a whole team of adults rallied around to save him. Quick CPR and a defibrillator saved Charlie England's life and brain, authorities told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. ``Brain damage can start occurring after only two to three minutes,'' said Dr. Karl Crossen, a cardiologist. ``Had more time passed before he got help, his situation might be very different.'' Cont’d on page 42
Health Science 40
India Post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
Getting a smoker's lung is better than none LONDON: Patients who need new lungs are better off getting donated organs from smokers than none at all, even though they probably won't live as long as those who get a lung transplant from a nonsmoker, a new study says. Details on page 43
Health insurance refunds on the way PHOENIX: Arizona consumers and businesses reportedly can expect to collect more than $36 million in refunds this summer from health-insurance companies under new provisions of the nation's health-care law. A report from the Washington, D.C.-based Consumers Union shows that people who have purchased individual health-insurance plans will get $24.4 million in refund checks or credits to future premiums. Insurers also will refund $9.3 million to employers with smallgroup plans of fewer than 50 people and an additional $2.9 million to companies with larger plans of more than 50 people. The Affordable Care Act requires health-insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care or efforts to improve the quality of health care for consumers and small businesses. For large businesses, that threshold increases to 85 percent spent on medical care
or health-quality initiatives. The new ``medical-loss ratio'' standards, which took effect Jan. 1, 2011, are meant to provide relief to consumers and businesses and prevent insurance companies from keeping a significant portion of customers' premiums for salaries, brokers' fees, profit and other ad-
rate increases. ``The MLR (medical-loss ratio) is starting to work for consumers by holding down those rate hikes and bringing consumers more value for their money,'' said Sondra Roberto, a Consumers Union staff attorney. The Consumers Union report
The Affordable Care Act requires healthinsurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care or efforts to improve the quality of health care for consumers and small businesses ministrative costs. The first round of rebates, based on insurers' spending for 2011, must be sent to customers by Aug. 1, according to The Arizona Republic. Representatives for Consumers Union said the report shows that the health-care law's rules are beginning to pay dividends for consumers both in rebates and lower
showed that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona expects to rebate $8.7 million to more than 77,000 individual policyholders. UnitedHealthcare's Golden Rule Insurance will refund nearly $8.7 million to more than 30,000 policyholders. Aetna Life, Mega and Humana also expect to refund consumers. Small businesses can expect
some relief, with Blue Cross Blue Shield anticipating refunds of about $3.2 million to more than 3,700 small businesses. Humana, Aetna and Trustmark Life Insurance Co. each expect to refund at least $1 million to small-group plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield representatives said the Consumers Union's report accurately reflects its anticipated rebates to policyholders. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Arizona's largest health insurer as measured by premiums, paid $2.8 billion in medical claims last year. The Consumers Union report suggested that the medical-loss ratio requirements are moderating rate increases. It said Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona sought rate changes last year that ranged from a 3 percent increase to a 2.9 percent decrease. But Blue Cross Blue Shield officials said the company's rate increases reflected a downward trend in customers' use of medical services and likely was an outgrowth of the economy. -AP
California smog threatens oldest trees SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, California: The California forest that is home to the biggest and oldest living things on earth, the giant Sequoia redwoods, also suffers a dubious distinction. It has the worst air pollution of any national park in the U.S. ``Ozone levels here are comparable to urban settings such as LA,'' said Emily Schrepf of the nonprofit advocacy group the National Park Conservation Association. ``It's just not right.'' Signs in visitor centers warn guests when it's not safe to hike. The government employment website warns job applicants that the workplace is unhealthy. And park workers are briefed every year on the lung and heart damage the pollution can cause. Although weakened trees are more susceptible to drought and pests, the long-term impact on the pines and on the giant redwoods that have been around for 3,000 years and more is unclear.
``If this is happening in a national park that isn't even close to an urban area, what do you think is happening in your backyard?'' said Annie Esperanza, a park scientist who has studied air quality there for 30 years. It's a problem in a handful of the nation's 52 parks that are moni-
land that is home to California's two busiest north-south trucking highways, diesel freight train corridors, food processing plants and tens of thousands of diesel tractors. Smog is created when the sun's rays hit pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds that are in motor ve-
While forest fires create some pollution, most comes from the San Joaquin Valley, the expanse of farmland that is home to California's two busiest north-south trucking highways, diesel freight train corridors tored constantly for ozone, including Joshua Tree National Park in California's Mojave Desert and North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But none is as severe as Sequoia and its neighbor, Kings Canyon. While forest fires create some pollution, most comes from the San Joaquin Valley, the expanse of farm-
hicle exhaust, solvents, pesticides, gasoline vapors and decaying dairy manure. ``There is no simple answer to ozone pollution,'' said Thomas Cahill, a researcher at the University of California, Davis who studies air problem in Sequoia and across California. Breathing ozone at high levels
for even a short time can blister the lungs like UV rays blisters skin, scientists agree. The problem in quantifying exposure levels, however, is that some people suffer pulmonary damage at lower doses than others. The only way to improve air in the park is to improve the San Joaquin air basin, something that so far has proved elusive given the myriad sources of pollution. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars spent to retrofit diesel engines and replace gasoline lawnmowers with electric ones, residents pay a federal fine for the region's failure to meet even minimal EPA ozone limits. ``We don't create a disproportionate amount of pollution; it's just that we have these natural challenges so that the pollution we do create can take literally weeks or months to clean out. It just builds up over time,'' said Jaime Holt, spokeswoman for the valley air district. -AP
June 8, 2012
Health Science Post
India Post
41
www.indiapost.com
WHO raises alarm over tobacco industry's tactics India Post News Service
NEW DELHI: On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, WHO urged governments to beware of the tobacco industry's interference in tobacco control program. As countries move to meet their obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the tobacco industry is becoming more aggressive in its attempts to undermine the treaty by acting against the policies contained in it. The industry is targeting the youth through increased advertising budgets in several countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region. One in ten school students are offered free samples of tobacco products. The tobacco industry has sued central and local governments over the pictorial warnings on cigarette packets claiming that they infringe on the industry's rights to use their legally-registered brands and freedom of speech. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey shows that health warnings are effective and a large number of tobacco users noticed the warnings and thought of quitting. Similarly, lawsuits have been filed against smoke-free laws against the Ministries of Health. The apex courts later rejected these contentions and upheld the regulations.
"Governments must protect people's health from tobacco use and be vigilant about the tobacco industry's interference in tobacco control measures" said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. "WHO will enhance its support to government initiatives to fight the tobacco industry" he added. India and Indonesia are among the top ten tobacco leaf producers in the world. In addition the Region is one of the largest
producers of smokeless tobacco products. Ninety percent of global smokeless tobacco users live in the region. Sale of smokeless tobacco products in India increased by over 25% between 2005 and 2010. Ten out of 11 Member States in WHO's South-East Asia Region are party to WHO FCTC and nine counties have adopted comprehensive tobacco control legislations. Many countries have established smoke-
free public places and banned cigarette advertisements. Sale of tobacco to minors is prohibited in most Member States. Global Tobacco Surveillance has been implemented in ten Member States and nationwide Global Adult Tobacco Surveys have been conducted in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Thailand. Nepal recently prohibited smoking and chewing tobacco in public places, mandated graphic health warnings and provisions for health funds from tobacco taxation. Thailand has declared all public places 100% smoke-free and banned display of cigarette packs at sale counters. Eight cities were declared smoke-free in Indonesia in spite of the strong influence of the tobacco industry. Though tobacco and tobacco products are in the sensitive list in South-Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA), the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) aims to eliminate tariff barriers within the Region including tobacco. Tobacco companies in the Region are taking advantage of these liberal cross-border trade areas to the best of their advantage. WHO is urging governments to protect public health from the tobacco industry's interference. Nongovernmental groups and academia must monitor and denounce this interference and the community must remain vigilant.
TIP OF THE WEEK Wash away pain injuries with water
W
hether it's your feet, your knees or your shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New York 's Manhattan College , say you could kick-start your recovery in one week just by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues. "Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints' lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine," adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. "And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain." One caveat: Be sure to measure your drinking glasses to find out how large they really are before you start sipping, she says. Today's juice glasses often hold more than 12 ounces, which means five servings could be enough to meet your daily goal.
42
India Post
Health Science Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Tobacco kills 6 million people each year SHOBHA SHUKLA
T
obacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world today. Yet it kills nearly 6 million people each year, which includes some 600,000 non-smokers who die due to exposure to second-hand smoke. In 2004, children accounted for 31% of these deaths. Almost half of the world's children (through no fault of theirs) regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke which is said to carry more than 4,000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful, and more than 50 are known to cause cancer. Tobacco is one of the greatest risk factors for Non Communicable Diseases which are responsible for 63% of all deaths globally. Also 50% of all deaths from lung disease are linked to tobacco. Civil society activists along with The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Health (the Union), are happy to note that 174 countries, representing 87.4% of the world's population, are now parties to the world's first public health treaty -the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) treaty, and are legally obligated to pass, implement and enforce tobacco control legislation. As a result 59 countries are now monitoring tobacco use; 42 countries mandate pictorial health warnings; and 27 countries have raised tobacco taxes to more than 75% of the retail price. Yet, a lot more needs to be done in the high burden low/middle income countries to curb the epidemic of tobacco. India is the second largest producer as well as consumer of tobacco. Every year 1 million deaths occur in our country due to tobacco related diseases, where 34.6% adults are tobacco users. Although only 14% adults are smokers as compared to 26% smokeless tobacco users, the number of cigarettes sold in the country is increasing. According to the latest available data, domestic consumption of cigarettes in 2011-12 has increased by 4.19% over the previous year. It is no surprise that almost 40% of tuberculosis deaths in the country are associated with smoking. Moreover flavoured, scented forms of chewing tobacco are very popular across all segments of society and taking a heavy toll by way of oral cancer and other diseases of the mouth. Despite good anti-tobacco laws in place, their implementation still remains a problem. According to the global adult tobacco survey 2010, China holds the dubious distinction of having the maximum number of male smokers at 52.9%, it being as high as 63% in the 45-64 years age
group. Dr Yan Lin, Director of The Union China Office laments that, "At the national level there is no tobacco control legislation. But right now the Union, supported by the Bloomberg philanthropy, is supporting 14 tobacco control projects, most of which focus on support for the government for smoke free legislation to protect non smokers by promoting smoke free public and work places. In some big cities this law has already been approved by the people's congress." Dr Lin is however happy that, "the Ministry of Health will launch a Tobacco Control Ministry Report in Beijing, which for the first time will document how harmful smoking is for people's health. The Ministry will also issue the pictorial warnings showing the different diseases caused by tobacco smoke, and also advocate for protecting children and other people from tobacco smoke and second hand smoke. This will be a great achievement."
ies. Also, more than 20 Mayors have joined an alliance to expand smoke free policies, advocate for FCTC ratification and adopt other tobacco control provisions through legislation and regulation. Irina Berezhnova, Director of The Union Russia Office informs that, "There are nearly 43 million tobacco consumers in the Russian Federation, where smoking takes the lives of 330 to 400 thousand
4.8% of the world's smokers (57 million) reside in Indonesia, making it the third highest consumer of tobacco. Smoking kills at least 200,000 people annually. Indonesia has the world's highest percentage of young smokers and it is estimated that about a million children under the age of 16 smoke 4.8% of the world's smokers (57 million) reside in Indonesia, making it the third highest consumer of tobacco. Smoking kills at least 200,000 people annually. Indonesia has the world's highest percentage of young smokers and it is estimated that about a million children under the age of 16 smoke and onethird of the Indonesian children try smoking before the age of 10. More than 97 million non smokers are regularly exposed to second hand smoke, including 70% of all children under the age of 15. Dr Tara Singh Bam, Technical Advisor, Tobacco Control in Indonesia and Nepal, said that, "It is perfectly legal for a child of any age to buy and smoke cigarettes in Indonesia. Although nearly half of the population lives on less than USD 2 a day some surveys show that Indonesian poor households spend about 22% of their monthly income on tobacco. In Indonesia, healthcare costs attributed to tobacco-related illnesses amount to 1.2 billion USD each year. Indonesia has yet to sign the FCTC. However at the provincial level, 100% smoke-free policy is being implemented in 10 cities (including Jakarta and Bali) and is in progress in 20 other cit-
people every year. Although smoking is higher amongst males at 60.2%, female smoking has been noticeably growing in the last 15 years and now stands at 21.7 % which is the second highest prevalence in the world after Poland. Teenage smoking is very high with 30.1% boys and 24.4% girls smoking in the age group 13-15 years." "The current Federal Law on Smoking Restrictions allows for specially designated smoking areas which makes smoking possible in all public places. There is no enforcement and no penalties for breaching the law. Tobacco advertising is restricted in print media to first and last page, and all forms of tobacco promo-
tion and sponsorship are allowed. Cigarettes are very cheap in Russia because of exceptionally low tobacco taxes. However, in 2011, the Ministry of Finance decided to increase the share of the excise tax in retail price which may increase by 50%. Also, the Ministry of Health has issued a decree mandating new graphic health warnings on all cigarette packs with effect from May 11, 2013 which will cover 50% of the backside of each pack, with 30% of the front having a single bold text warning that tobacco kills. In August the Ministry of Health and Social Development publicly presented the draft of anti tobacco legislation "On Protection of Health of Citizens against Harmful Effects of Tobacco Consumption" addressing all FCTC requirements. This has been submitted to the government on 20th May 2012." Latin-American countries too have a high a prevalence of smokers ranging from 15% to 40%. Just to name some countries the prevalence in Brazil is around 17%, Mexico 20%, Argentina 27%, and Chile 40%. Mirta Molinar, Regional Coordinator, Tobacco Control in Latin America informed that, "The promotion, sponsorship and advertising tactics used by the tobacco industry are increasing the consumption more quickly. Many countries in this region have comprehensive legislation for effective tobacco control measures such as increasing tobacco taxes (Mexico), having 100%
smoke free environment in work places and enclosed public places (Argentina declared the whole country smoke free last year), banning advertising/sponsorship/ promotion, (Brazil banned retail display of tobacco products), and printing health messages and pictorial warnings on cigarettes packs. Other good examples are Costa Rica, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru. However, all these measures will have to be implemented together, as much as possible, to have a greater impact on the population." Dr Ehsan Latif, Director of Tobacco Control agrees that "Pakistan has good anti smoking laws but they are loosely implemented. Tobacco control takes a backseat in front of security and poverty problems. Bangladesh is setting up task forces, which regularly go out and inspect different places. But there are problems relating to infrastructure and implementation still has its challenges. The government must have proper infrastructure for regular implementation similar to having food inspectors, anti smuggling teams, so that it becomes incorporated in the existing set up rather than developing parallel structures just to control smoking in public areas or to monitor industry advertising." It is clear that governments across the world are slowly gearing up to find lasting solutions to curb the menace of tobacco which is not only a public health priority but is also directly connected to the economy of a nation and social justice of its populace. Still many challenges remain to be overcome as rightly pointed out be the Union - less than 11% of the population is covered by comprehensive national smoke-free laws; no low-income country yet mandates the required pictorial health warnings covering at least 50% of the front and back of tobacco packages; 46% of the world's population lives in countries that still permit free distribution of tobacco products; and awareness about the health hazards of tobacco use is low in several high burden countries.
Team uses CPR, AED to save asst coach Cont’d from page 40
England collapsed while the Mooreville Troopers were being photographed May 3 at the W.K. Webb Sportsplex in Saltillo. ``He was blue when he hit the ground,'' said coach Ryan Lovvorn. Pharmacist Shonda Willis and nurse Shonda Clayton, who have sons on the team, immediately
started CPR. Parent Lisa Franks called 911. Lovvorn and assistant Tommy Sudduth, a Tupelo firefighter, took turns at CPR. So did nurses Heather Bowen, Greg Parham and Jimmy Little, who had been watching their children at neighboring fields. ``There's no one hero here,'' Sudduth said. Susan Martin, a Saltillo High School teacher who was taking
team photographs, ran to find an automated external defibrillator. Earlier that day, she said, she'd been a hall monitor during state tests. ``I spent four hours staring at the AED on the wall,'' she said. ``I knew if we had one at school, they had to have one here.'' England said, ``I woke up in the ambulance, and didn't know where I was or what had happened.'' -AP
June 8, 2012
Health Science Post
India Post
43
www.indiapost.com
New approach for hard-to-treat hypertension WASHINGTON: Despite an arsenal of drugs, millions of people can't get their blood pressure down to safe levels. Now, in a high-stakes experiment at dozens of U.S. hospitals, scientists are testing a dramatically different approach for the toughest to treat patients, by burning away some overactive nerves deep in the body that can fuel rising blood pressure. To attempt an invasive treatment a catheter is threaded through blood vessels in the groin up to the kidneys reflects doctors' frustration with a disease that too often is underrated because people with it don't look or feel sick until a lot of damage has been done. Pharmaceutical therapies have been the cornerstone of medicine for nearly a century, offering convenient, noninvasive treatment for countless diseases. But when it comes to some of the most stubborn chronic conditions, including diabetes, obesity and hypertension, medications too often aren't enough. Researchers increasingly are trying medical devices and minimally invasive surgeries to help, such as stomach-shrinking tech-
niques that improve obesity-caused diabetes and the new hypertension experiment. ``I think we have to hit on all cylinders if we're going to take on these very important diseases,'' said Dr. Steven Nissen, chair of the Cleveland Clinic's department of cardiology. ``There are many examples where
"If people live long enough, the vast majority are going to have hypertension,'' says Dr. Michael Mussolino of the National Institutes of Health's cardiovascular division. Only about half of patients have their hypertension under control. Most need multiple drugs to treat it this convergence is taking place, where you push the drugs as far as you can, but when they can't go any further, you step in with more invasive approaches.'' Cardiologists' interest in the nerve-zapping procedure also reflects how severe the burden of hypertension is poised to become, with many middle-aged baby boomers already affected. ``People are living longer with hypertension, and the disease tends to get worse as
Getting a smoker's lung is better than none LONDON: Patients who need new lungs are better off getting donated organs from smokers than none at all, even though they probably won't live as long as those who get a lung transplant from a nonsmoker, a new study says. Researchers say patients will survive longer if they are willing to accept lungs from anyone, including smokers. In Britain, that's a key issue, for about 40 percent of donated lungs come from people who have previously smoked. Yet in recent years, several cases of British patients dying after getting lungs from smokers have sparked calls for the policy to be overhauled. Doctors behind the new study said changing the U.K. transplant system would be wrong and lead to a spike in the number of people dying while waiting for donated lungs. ``That could deny patients the opportunity to get help,'' said Dr. James Neuberger, associate medical director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and one of the study's authors. Neuberger and colleagues analyzed information from the U.K. Transplant Registry and the Office of National Statistics on the survival rates of 2,181 adult British patients waiting for lung transplants between 1999 and 2010. About 2 in 5 of those transplants came from smokers. They found that patients who got lungs from smokers were about 46 percent more likely to die within three years after getting the replacement lungs compared to patients who got the organs from non-smokers. But they had a 21 percent lower chance of dying versus people who were still on the waiting list. The research was published online in the journal, Lancet.
you get older,'' said Dr. Suzanne Oparil, a hypertension specialist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. ``The complications pile on later.'' If deadening kidney nerves sounds like a strange way to attack hypertension, consider that nerves in the body's ``fight or
In the U.S., doctors also use lungs from smokers, although Dr. Norman Edelman, the chief medical officer for the American Lung Association, didn't have any data on how often that happens. The U.S. and the U.K. have similar overall smoking rates of about 20 percent. Some experts said it wasn't realistic to expect organ donor systems to refuse lungs from smokers because the demand is such that nearly every usable lung is transplanted. The key issues in lung transplants involve the size of the lung and the donor's blood type, which must match the recipients.
They found that patients who got lungs from smokers were about 46 percent more likely to die within three years after getting the replacement lungs compared to patients who got the organs from non-smokers ``There is rarely an `ideal' organ available,'' He said most organs have defects based on factors like underlying disease or the age and circumstances of the donor's death. ``A smoker donor is really just one more factor to consider,'' he said in an email. In the U.K., advocates have called for patients to be given more information about organ donors before accepting a transplant. In 2010, the family of a 28-year-old woman with cystic fibrosis lodged a complaint when she died a year after getting lungs from someone who had smoked for three decades. -AP
flight'' system play a role in signaling kidney functions, which in turn help regulate blood pressure, such as by relaxing or tightening key arteries. ``If there was a snake in the room, all of our blood pressures would go up, appropriately so,'' explained interventional cardiologist Dr. Manesh Patel of Duke University, one of more than 60 medical centers around the country studying Medtronic Inc.'s nerve-zapping procedure. But sometimes those nerves stay switched on when they shouldn't be, something today's medications can't address. The hope is that destroying a small number of the nerves could calm an overactive system, relaxing arteries and lowering blood pressure. ``Interrupting that signal makes physiologic sense,'' Patel said.
Some 78 million people in America, about 1 in 3 adults, have high blood pressure, meaning readings of 140 over 90 or higher. An additional 27 million people will have it by 2030, says a grim forecast from the American Heart Association. That's because the population is getting fatter and older. In fact, about half of Americans in their 50s have high blood pressure but by age 75, three-fourths do. ``If people live long enough, the vast majority are going to have hypertension,'' says Dr. Michael Mussolino of the National Institutes of Health's cardiovascular division. Only about half of patients have their hypertension under control. Most need multiple drugs to treat it. Some 10 percent, more than 7 million people like Ezzell, have the resistant hypertension that is the initial target of the nerve-zapping procedure people with high blood pressure despite three or more different kinds of medications. Renal denervation, the procedure being promoted by Minneapolis-based Medtronic and other companies, has its roots in primitive nerve-severing operations performed in the 1950s, which often lowered blood pressure but at the expense of permanently injuring patients. Only in recent years have researchers revisited the technique, after companies developed easy-to-use catheters that can beam radiofrequency waves to burn away specific nerves without damaging the surrounding blood vessel. -AP
Realty Tidbits „ Flow of funds in the realty sector dries up BANGALORE: Real estate firm which are already reeling under low property sales, has been impacted further with dismal corporate earning leading to drying up of fund for builders," says Knight Frank, property consultancy firm. "The year 2011 witnessed a phenomenon of high property prices, high interest rate and low sales. Funding avenues like IPOs, QIP and FDI, which were harnessed in the earlier years dried up," says the Knight Frank in a recent report. Around 21 realty companies have raised Rs 21306 crore through IPO and FPO since 2005. Of this 68% was raised alone in 2007; post the opening up of FDI in real estate sector. "As a leveraged balance sheet was strained amidst slowing sales, developers resorted to selling land, TDR and non-core assets and some even resorted to pledging promoter equity. Private Equity (PE) and HNI money also salvaged the position of the industry," mentioned the report. Further, the funding avenues exploited earlier seem to have dried-up. For instance, between Q1 FY10 and Q3 FY12, FDI in real estate declined by a drastic 92% and its share in total FDI shrunk from 16.83% to 1.94%.
„ Soon, star ratings for roads in Gujarat
Real Estate 44
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012
GHAZIABAD: Purchasing a dream home in Ghaziabad is likely to turn costlier with the district authorities planning to increase the circle rates soon. At a meeting headed by District Magistrate Aparna Upadhyay on May 17, district authorities decided to hike the circle rates to cover the gap between circle price and market value, Assistant Commissioner Stamp K P Yadav said. Following this, the registrars and tehsildars prepared a revised list which proposes a 10 per cent to 40 per cent increase in circle rates, he added.
House price downturn accelerating
T
he world's housing markets moved clearly down during the year to the first quarter of 2012, according to the Global Property Guide's latest house price indices survey. House prices fell in 24 countries, of the 36 countries for which quarterly house
In nominal terms only 16 countries experienced house price falls during the year, while 20 countries recorded house price rises. But the Global Property Guide's statistical presentation uses price changes after inflation, giving a more realistic picture price statistics are available, and rose in only 12 countries. Over the year to Q1 2012, Delhi house prices skyrocketed by 24.41%, though during the last quarter, they fell 0.07%. Some other Indian cities like Chennai and
N
ow roads in Gujarat will have star ratings! Under a World Bank project, 40 different corridors of state highways, covering a total distance of 1,600 kilometers, will be studied, evaluated and rated under various safety parameters. "Under this project, existing state highways have been selected. These highways will be inspected for 56 different safety parameters like road use, road accidents and casualties, traffic flow, quality of intersections, signage, road-side inventory, pedestrian crossings, etc. Based on these parameters, ratings will be assigned to different corridors. These starratings, from one to five stars, will indicate the safety of the corridor," Abhishek Tiwari, project manager of Indian Road Survey & Management Pvt Ltd (IRSM), told The Indian Express. IRSM, a joint-venture of Australian Road Research Board and Chennai-based Taisei Group, has been selected by the World Bank to conduct a road assessment program.
India Post
Ghaziabad admin may hike circle rates
Bulgaria is among those European countries, where positive changes in the momentum of the housing markets were so feeble, that they hardly signal a recovery, according to the Global Property Guide.
Kolkata saw house price falls yearon-year, according to NHB Residex. During the latest quarter the downturn appears to have accelerated, with house price falls in 26 countries, and house price gains in only 10. In nominal terms only 16 countries experienced house price falls during the year, while 20 countries recorded house price rises. But the
Global Property Guide's statistical presentation uses price changes after inflation, giving a more realistic picture than the more upbeat nominal figures usually preferred by real estate agents. Faster-paced deterioration in European housing markets Ireland's price-declines have been, over the duration of the crisis, catastrophic. It is disheartening to see more agony, yet the pic-
ture really is alarming. House prices fell 18.95% year-on-year, contrasting with a decline of 'only' 13.12% during the same period last year. Furthermore, house prices were down 5.19% during the latest quarter. Tough credit conditions, an oversupply of housing, and weak domestic demand have weighed down the Irish residential property market. Cont’d on page 45
Why NRIs should invest in Indian realty
I
ndian real estate market is one of the most lucrative sectors for Non-Resident Indians to invest their foreign money. Moreover, this trend will continue for more 4-5 years as the consumption story of Indian real Estate market is not going to get over in near future leading to immense commercial growth prospects that in turn increase the demand for real estate. Although Indian Realty market is facing downfall, it is not correct to say that all cities are experiencing the same situation. It has been observed that some of the cities in India always have good chances of investment and these cities even in worst circumstances would be able to provide good investment returns. One more factor that attracts NRIs to invest in India is the bigger geographical area. Unfortunately, NRIs put their money into
property prevailing in big cities and metros, but they should be informed appropriately about the outskirts of the big cities and even about the tier-2 cities that offer a great deal of real estate investment in present scenario. Not only this, but the recent
issues with liaison services in real estate industry, but once these intermediary services will improve more and more foreign investors would be lured to purchase property in India in lieu of high returns. Foreign investment is also a
The foreign investors seem to be the ray of hope. With more and more NRIs investing in small and even big commercial properties in India, the real estate market will soon see a huge intensification significant depreciation in the value of rupees in respect of dollar/pound/euro has given a profitable chance to the NRIs to clandestine their foreign earned money into some good investment plans. However, quite a few times NRI investors face some
good sign of growth for Indian Real Estate market as well. In this current state of affairs when the Indian Realty market is experiencing a huge downfall, the foreign investors seem to be the ray of hope. With more and more NRIs investing in small and even big
commercial properties in India, the real estate market will soon see a huge intensification. It has been observed from past trends that around 70% of foreign investment has been done in residential sector, but according to the Indian developers there are various commercial investment opportunities also existing for the foreign investors who wish to set up a business in India. However, it has been told by the real estate experts that present time when foreign currency is in appreciation, it is an encouraging time for NRIs to make some good investment in realty market in India. Office plots, residential spaces and even apartments are easily available for NRIs. Indian property developers also have a notion that the downfall of realty market in India is the result of the global meltdown and depreciation of rupee.
Real Estate Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Sahara to build new city near Dhaka NEW DELHI: Diversified group Sahara India has announced it would develop a new city near Dhaka called 'Notun Dhaka' and has signed an agreement with the Bangladesh government to invest in housing sector of neighboring nation. A Sahara Group firm signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works of Bangladesh Government to invest in the development of housing industry in that country, the company said in a statement. With this MoU, the Sahara Group has forayed into the housing and infrastructure sector of Bangladesh. Going ahead, the group also has plans to invest in power and healthcare. The MoU was signed by Sahara India Chairman and Managing Worker Subrata Roy Sahara and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Nurul Huda at Dhaka in the presence of Abdul Mannan Khan, the state minister for Housing & Public Works. Sahara Group's Bangladesh unit Sahara Matribhumi Unnayan Corporation would develop a new city near Dhaka 'Notun Dhaka (New Dhaka)' and build affordable housing for low income groups with housing finance support for majority applicants. "I am extremely proud to extend our business interests in Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh and its people have provided us a wonderful support and this in effect will help us to contribute towards the development of Bangladesh," Roy said in a statement. Sahara would also conceptual-
Saharasri Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker & Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar in a meeting with Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina during his visit to Dhaka.
ize, design and plan various integrated satellite townships under the Ministry of Housing & Public Works of Bangladesh government. Roy had met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss about the intended projects and
about availability of housing finance and to remove the difference in tax rates between listed and unlisted companies in Bangladesh. He also demanded that a classification of a section be created
“The Government of Bangladesh and its people have provided us a wonderful support and this in effect will help us to contribute towards the development of Bangladesh� further opportunities in Bangladesh, the statement said. Sahara plans are to build integrated and satellite townships, which will be heavily intensive on infrastructure unlike regional real estate projects. Roy has urged the Bangladesh government to ease conditions
midway between housing and infrastructure so that the taxation policy is relooked at in Bangladesh. Sahara India is engaged in various businesses in multiple sectors including financial services, housing, media, cinema production, hospitality, sports among others. -PTI
T
deteriorating asset quality, rising provisioning costs, increased loan restructuring and also the unease that gross non- performing assets might rise. The sector is also foreseeing a disturbing trend given the outstanding loan figures. Moreover, out of the total loans recoverable from the banking sector, real estate sector accounts for the largest portion. As per the figures presented in the Lok Sabha, banks have to recover a whopping Rs 6,83,597 crore from the real estate sector alone and the gross NPA figures as on March 2011 stood at Rs 11,553 crore. In terms of the exposure, ICICI Bank has to recover Rs 79,956 crore, which is almost 43% of its outstanding loan book. Axis Bank has to recover realty loans worth Rs 45,932 crore, nearly 36% of its
outstanding loan book. Similarly, HDFC bank has to recover Rs 23,618 crore. Moreover, the grave exposure to real estate loans comes at a time when the Reserve Bank of India has been increasing the risk weightage for lending to the real estate sector. The risk weightage currently stands at 125%. On the other hand for PSUs, real estate sector amounts for the largest share of the overall gross advances. Public sector banks have to recover nearly Rs 5,18,766 crore of realty loans as on December 2011. Country's largest bank, State Bank of India has to recover Rs 1, 32,580 crore from the real estate sector, Bank of India has to recover Rs 20,702 crore whereas IDBI Bank has to recover around Rs 35,864 crore.
45
Global house price downturn accelerating Cont’d from page 44
Realty downturn hits banks by Rs. 7 lakh cr he Indian banks have been hit the worst with the downturn of the real estate sector. Even after restructuring the loans to the developers, they have a collective deficit of Rs. 7 lakh crore. With spiraling input costs & property prices, demand in the real estate sector has been on a steady downfall. Given the declining demand, it is unlikely that the real estate companies will be able to repay their bank loans, especially since banks are the only source of funds for the sector. According to the data presented recently in the Lok Sabha, banks have the largest exposure to real estate companies when it comes to recovering outstanding loans; almost 7 lakh crore of realty loans are still to be repaid. The banking sector is additionally facing concerns regarding
India Post
There was also an alarming increase in momentum of houseprice declines in Athens, Greece (11.68%); in Warsaw, Poland (10.94%); in Portugal (-10.45%); in Spain (-9%); in the Netherlands (6.05%); and in the Slovak Republic (-5.89%). All saw bigger houseprice declines this year than the previous year. Several countries whose housing markets were last year either in recovery or only just in downturn, saw a significant deterioration in their position, with house price falls during the year to end Q1 2012 in Finland (-2.05%), in Turkey (-2.32%), Sweden(-5.34%) and Riga, Latvia (5.83%). In other European countries, any positive changes in the momentum of the housing markets were so feeble, that they hardly signal a recovery. These countries include Kiev, Ukraine (-2.51%), Croatia (-2.45%), United Kingdom (-3.14%), Lithuania (-3.87%) and Bulgaria 6.21%). Some strong European markets do relieve the gloom. In Estonia house prices surged by 9.13% year-on-year, and in Austria house prices rose by 8.24% year-on-year. In fact the upsurge in these two countries' housing markets was so strong as to propel them into third and fourth place in the worldwide league table. Other strong housing markets over the past twelve months include Switzerland (+5.49%), Norway (+5.43%), Russia (+3.86%) and Iceland (+2.25%). The 'gainers' seem to be countries whose housing markets either never experienced the recent downturn (Austria, Switzerland, Norway), or are recovering (Estonia, Russia, Iceland). In Sao Paulo, house prices climbed by 18.70% in the year to Q1 2012, but the latest quarter saw a price-decline of 2.57%. Most Asian housing markets slowing In the Philippines (Makati Cen-
tral Business District), prime condominium prices rose by 7.34% during the year. But the figures possibly exaggerate the upsurge, because they are for Makati, the heart of the Philippines' business process outsourcing boom. In South Korea house prices were up 2.67% from a year earlier. Housing markets in the rest of Asia cooled over the year to Q1 2012, due to government measures implemented last year. House prices in Hong Kong were up a mere 0.19% on the year, after a rise of 19.80% the previous year. There were house price falls in Indonesia (-0.13%), Singaspore (1.36%), Tokyo, Japan (-2.64%) and Shanghai, China (-3.68%).
Some strong European markets do relieve the gloom. In Estonia house prices surged by 9.13% year-on-year, and in Austria house prices rose by 8.24% yearon-year US housing market making progress US house prices rose modestly to 0.48% year-on-year, with a quarterly rise of 0.55%, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) seasonally adjusted purchase-only house price index. In inflation-adjusted terms, US house prices were still down 2.27% from a year earlier. But this is a significant improvement from last year's 7.44% decline in house prices. Increased affordability and a somewhat smaller inventory of homes for sale are positively impacting house prices, says FHFA Principal Economist Andrew Leventis.
Real Estate Post
46 India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
NOC no more a must for property registration, sale
T
he harassment of obtaining a no ob jection certificate (NOC) from the UT Estate Office to get your property registered/ sold is finally over. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that the demand of an NOC by the Chandigarh Administration "before effecting sale of the free hold properties is not supported by the Act or the Rules". Ever since the Administration passed a circular on September 2, 2009, making it mandatory for the original owner of a property to get an NOC by the UT Estate Office, local residents/ property dealers were a harassed lot. They rued that when they were forced to get signatures from the original allottee years after the property transfer, the latter (original allottee) used to demand his "commission" for registration/ sale of property. A bench headed by Justice Hemant Gupta has put an end to this. "It shall be open to the prospective purchasers to obtain information in respect of any encumbrance under the Right to Information Act (RTI) as well. But the non-disclosure of information either under RTI or on the website of the UT will not create any equitable right in favor of the prospective
vendee," reads the order. The Bench also noticed that there are no rules or instructions in respect of updating the record of the Estate Office on the basis of the sale deeds executed. "It is open to the Administration to frame appropriate rules, which may regulate the procedure for updating its record, so that the prospective
When they were forced to get signatures from the original allottee years after the property transfer, the latter (original allottee) used to demand his "commission" for registration/ sale of property. A bench headed by Justice Hemant Gupta has put an end to this vendees and all interested persons are able to find out the status of the properties to the best possible manner," the Bench has held. In the concluding paragraph of the detailed judgment, the High Court has ruled that "for successful curbing of the malice of so-called power of attorney sales, it is high time that the Administration re-examines the Rules relating to claim of unearned increase. It is a matter of common knowl-
Multi-level parking must in future estates GURGAON: Learning from its experiences in different phases of Udyog Vihar in Gurgaon, the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) has decided to include the provision of creating multi-level parking in all its future industrial estates. Industry secretary Y S Malik said that inclusion of parking as a part of planned development of an industrial area will happen. "We understand the need and these will be kept in mind in case of all future Udyog Vihars across the state," he said while interacting with industrialists at PHD Chamber of Commerce last week. Industrialists from Gurgaon had raised the issue of lack of parking in Udyog Vihar and how this is causing major traffic problem in all the industrial zones in the city. There are such industrial areas in Gurgaon and none of them have a proper parking space. "The need for multi-level parking was felt long back. But the HSIIDC never put efforts to solve this problem. Now you have on road parking since the industrial houses don't have enough space inside to park vehicles. We need some retrofitting so that parking space can be created," said a representative of industrialists. Wrong and on-road parking has been one of the major causative factors of traffic jam in Udyog Vihar. This also reduces clearing
edge that the parties have to sell the properties maybe in need of money or to simply earn profit. Therefore, any encumbrance on the transfer of rights in an immovable property leads to unscrupulous means to avoid the provisions of law. Therefore, the Administration may re-examine the entire process of
capacity of inside roads resulting snarl on arterial roads during peak hours. Though the HSIIDC has earmarked three parking lots in phases IV and V of Udyog Vihar which can accommodate around 600 parking slots, industrialists said this is no solution to the ever growing problem. They said that the need is to go for multi-level parking as it is being done in commercial districts in the national capital. But industry department offi-
"The need for multilevel parking was felt long back. But the HSIIDC never put efforts to solve this problem� cials said that getting enough space for multi-level parking is a big problem in areas where industries have already come up. "We are considering all options to give some relief to industrialists, employees and visitors involving the plot owners. But there is a need to have comprehensive planning for parking in residential, commercial and industrial areas since there is phenomenal increase in the number of vehicles," said a government official.
unearned increase and adopt other means of increasing its revenue". The sub-registrar has been directed to record a finding if he refuses to register any power of attorney. "If such reasons are recorded, the aggrieved persons would have liberty to avail the remedies as available in law. There may be cases where in spite of bona fide enquiries, the sub-registrar is not able to make out whether the power of attorney is for consideration.
But if on the basis of such power of attorney, an instrument for sale is presented for registration, the sub-registrar will be competent to hold an enquiry at any subsequent stage into the nature of transaction and to return a finding that such power of attorney was for consideration and, therefore, cannot be made the basis for registration of an instrument unless the deficiency in such case was made good in accordance with law," the Bench ordered. The directions were issued in the wake of a petition filed by one Amritpal Singh. The petitioner had challenged the circular dated September 2, 2009, issued by the then UT Finance Secretary. The circular had read that "NOC will only be applied by the owner of the property as per the record of the Estate Office and the same will only be issued to him/ her". The petitioner had contended that a GPA holder is competent to make an application for conversion of land use and that there was no provision in the rules for making an NOC mandatory. The Administration, on the other hand, had contended that the demand for an NOC is a step to avoid and discourage any kind of irregular, illegal, fraudulent sale transactions.
Need to check corruption in real estate: CREDAI MUMBAI: The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI) has said there was a need for comprehensive reforms to check black money and corruption in the realty sector. "There is a need for all round reforms to end corruption and check black money in realty," CREDAI National President Lalit Kumar Jain told reporters here. He said that CREDAI has been advocating for single window system for project clearances to cut down time and chance for corruption. CREDAI has sought reforms in four key areas including administration, land, taxation and banking, which impact the real estate. "There has been a lot of talk on this, but no action. We too hate the system that labels us as crooks and breeders of black money. There is a need to realize that the various bottlenecks at government level at Centre and in several states are equally responsible for this menace," he said. He pointed out that the economic reforms initiated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 20 years ago saw the end of the License Raj, but there are still many controls on the real estate sector, he said. There are over 40 clearances that a developer is supposed to
get, which lead to human interaction with over 150 officials at various stages, he said, adding any delay at any stage obviously gives rise to 'greasing of palms' as the developer is always anxious to fin-
in is margins and rise in the cost for the customer," he said. He further said that the restricted land use and continued pressure on land availability is also one of the causes of high
“There is a need to realize that the various bottlenecks at government level at Centre and in several states are equally responsible for this menace," he said ish his project in time. "Real estate is a highly capital intensive industry and any delay would only add to the interest burden for developer who scrupulously tries to avoid it since the increased costs would lead to cut
costs of inputs and the resultant sale price. "Like any prudent businessman, we are also here to make profits, otherwise it simply does not make sense for us to be in business," Jain said.
Datebook
June 8, 2012
India Post 47
www.indiapost.com
NEW YORK
NEW JERSEY
Upcoming
Upcoming
Sat June 9
Sat June 9
• Vidyanjali 2012
• Sonu Niigaam Live In Concert
Venue: Manhattan Bridges High School, 525, West 50th Street, New York Time: 5pm Contact: 646-251-7463
Sun June 10 • An Evening with Pujya Morari Bapu- Akshaya Patra Foundation
Venue: Sun Bank Center, 81 Hamiton, Avenue, Trenton, NJ Time: 8pm Contact: 718-639-9200
Sat June 16 • Asian American Fair
Venue: Alfred Lerner Hall- Columbia University, 292, Brodway, 7th FL MC 2603, New York Time: 7pm Contact: 781-462-8454
Venue: Garden State Expo Center, 50 Atrium Dr, Somerset, NJ Time: 11am Contact: 732-2776687
Sun June 17
Tues June 19
• Annual Gala Dinner
• Gujarati Play
Venue: Leonard’s of Great Neck, 555 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, NY Time: 6pm Contact: 917-715-2883
Venue: Lenape High School, 235 Hartford Rd, Medford, NJ Time: 7:30pm Contact: 215-699-6501
ILLINOIS
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Upcoming
Upcoming
Upcoming Sat June 9
Sun June 10
Sat June 9
• Punjabi Youth Graduation Night
• Haasya Kavi Sammelan
Venue: Victory ofIndia Banquets, 233 East Roosevelt Road, Lombard, IL Time: 5pm Contact: 847-877-6566
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
• Match Made in Heaven: A Benefit for CureSonia
Venue: India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA Time: 7pm Contact: 510-358-6538
Venue: 3705 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA Time: 9pm to 2am Contact: matchmadeinheaven.eventbrite.com
Sat June 23
Sat June 16
Sun June 10 • Songs & Dances from Vibrant Gujarat
• Shazia Manzoor
• Dasavatharam
Venue: Compernicus Theater, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL Time: 8:30pm Contact: 847-230-7977
Venue: Mexican Heritage Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, CA Time: 3:30pm Contact: 408-238-8321
Sat July 21
Sun June 17
• Gurdas Maan- Live in Concert
• Natana Arpana - An offering of dance
Venue: Copernicus Theater, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL Time: 8:30pm Contact: 847-230-7977
WASHINGTON DC
Upcoming Fri June 8 • Sonu Nigam Live in Atlanta Venue: Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave Northeast, Atlanta Time: 8:30pm Contact: 404-718-0009
Fri June 08 • Paisa Paisa Live W/Manak E Venue: Brighton Beer Garden, 386 Market St, Boston, MA Time: 9:30pm Contact: 617-216-1492
Sat June 23 • MSMF India Food Fest Venue: Andrew Haydon Park, 3169 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, CT Time: 11am Contact: 613-739-7028
Venue: Cubberly Community Center Theater 4000 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 Time: 4pm Contact: 408-871-5959
Sun June 17 • San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Venue: Novellus Theater at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 701 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Time: 3pm & 8pm Contact: 408-871-5959
Sun June 17 • “We Were Together in Primordial Time” Painting by Salma Arastu Venue: 1187 Franklin Street at Geary San Francisco, CA Time: 2pm Contact: 415-776-458
Venue: Palace Theater, Stamford Time: 8pm Contact: 203-322-9862 Highlights: Gujarat, the Land the Legends: Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Vikram Sarabhai, Jamshedji Tata and visionary Dhirubhi Ambani go down in history. But, Gujarat also stands for its literary tradition in the form of folk songs, narratives and theater.
Sun June 17 • First unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Venue: 1187 Franklin Street at Geary San Fransisco, CA 94109 Time: 2:00pm Contact: 415-776-4580
Thurs Sept 27 • Ballet Folklorico De Mexico Venue: Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-325-4466
Fri Oct 19 • Royal Drummers and Dancers of Burundi Venue: Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-325-4466
Sat June 30
Thurs June 28
• Fiji Festival
• AAPI Annual Convention 2012
Venue: Cal Statre University East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, Hayward, CA Time: 8:30pm Contact: 408-394-1501
Venue: Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA Time: 10pm Contact: 630-990-2277
India Post
Classifieds
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
For Classifieds Ads Call NORTHERN CA (Sonia) Tel: 510-938-8668 sonia@indiapost.com SOUTHERN CA (Shashi Trivedi) Tel: 562-441-5511/ Fax: 562-947-0632 shashi19@yahoo.com CHICAGO (Ramesh Soparawala) Tel: 773-973-7394 / Fax: 773-973-7396 sramesh@aol.com NEW YORK (Pinky) Tel: 212-944-1931/ Fax: 212-944-1932 pinky@indiapost.com
www.indiapost.com
48
NEWS on your desktop www.indiapost.com
NOTIce is hereby given that sealed competitive bids will be accepted in the office of the GSA-Purchasing Department, County of Alameda, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite 907, Oakland, CA 94612 NETWORKING BIDDERS CONFERENCES for RFP #900938 Employment Services for Limited English Speaking CalWORKs, General Assistance and Refugee Participants South County Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 2:00 p.m. at Public Works Agency, Main Conference Room, 4825 Gleason Drive, Dublin, CA and North County Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at General Services Agency, Room 1107, 11th Floor, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA Responses Due by 2:00 pm on July 19, 2012 County Contact : Stefanie Taylor (510) 208-9610 or via email: stefanie.taylor@acgov.org Attendance at Networking Conference is Non-mandatory. Specifications regarding the above may be obtained at the Alameda County Current Contracting Opportunities Internet website at www.acgov.org. 6/8/12 CNS-2321619#
Philosophy
June 8, 2012
India Post
49
www.indiapost.com
Page Sponsored by Sahanis FRANKLIN MERRELL-WOLFF
T
here is a question in my mind but that the spiritual principles enunciated by the Liberated Sages of the past are eternal and are adequate for every inner need of man. I refer to figures such as Gautama Buddha, Shankara, Jesus, Lao-tzu and others of similar grade of spiritual insight. But the old forms of expression of these immortal men are no longer vital today except with a limited number who are themselves more or less liberated. The need is, as I see it, for a new vehicle of expression that will be convincing to the form of intellectual consciousness which dominates the world today, especially the Occident. It is this need which it seems to me you are supplying as no one else does and perhaps as no one else can. This is true because of your unquestioned dominance in the key-science of all physical sciences. Our need is in large part an effective language. I am not using the term "language" with its purely surface connotation of words, sentences, etc., but in the sense of a form adequate to carry significance to consciousness at its present stage of development. The poetic and imaginative forms of the Hindus were adequate in their setting, but they are not convincRUPERT SPIRA
Q
: On waking up after dreamless deep sleep, identification continues with the same set of bodily sensations. Does that mean identification still remains at a subtler level while in deep sleep? If so, does this tendency of identification continue even after the death of physical body? If so, this would imply that mind survives death? RUPERT SPIRA: Identification is always in the form of a thought. For instance, the primary identification is a thought that goes something like this: "I, Consciousness, am located in and as the sensation called 'the body.'" The only substance to that identification is the thought that thinks it, although it is further substantiated by feelings in the body. Consciousness itself is not actually implicated by this thought any more than a screen is implicated by an image that appears on it. Consciousness is always only 'experiencing' itself, in the sense of being itself, just as the screen is only ever being itself. The identifying thought is known as a 'thought' only to thought itself. It is only thought that says it is a 'thought.' Consciousness only knows 'it' as itself.
ing to our modern scientific field. Yet at present it is impossible to get anything like an adequate vehicle for the expression of significance without drawing upon the Sanskrit. This is for the reason that there are vast numbers of Sanskrit terms conveying shadings of meaning that are quite inexpressible in current English terms or in the forms of any European language. In my
Gautama Buddha and Shankara as a rational whole grounded in mystical profundity. I have no doubt that within mathematics lies the same underlying Wisdom which forms the common substance of all great Sages. Is it not possible, then, that somehow out of mathematics, or mathematics in combination with physical science we will find the
plar of this complemental mode that we see upon the Occidental horizon today. He views mathematics as the most external instead of the most internal mode of thought. At this point, I must confess that he irritates me. But none the less I find him creatively stimulating in a most profound sense and there is no doubt but that his consciousness is rooted well in the
Need for a new vehicle of expression for old Truths
Franklin Merrell-Wolff
The poetic and imaginative forms of the Hindus were adequate in their setting, but they are not convincing to our modern scientific field
opinion the one exception to this statement is found in the field of mathematics. As my own college studies centered on the domain of mathematic, especially in connection with it correlation with philosophy or metaphysics, I have had some realization of the profound mysticism which underlies the whole of mathematics and becomes especially marked in the field of the transfinite. It is literally true that it was through this antecedent training in mathematics that I was able to see the thought of men like
adequate language to express mystical profundity in a form which will command both the attention and respect of our present externally intellectualized public? It is my conviction that such is the case and that you have become in a peculiar way the focal point for such expression. I am not blind to the fact that there are other mystical modes which stand in a position that is complemental rather than consonant with the one you so well express. Count Keyserling, I should say, is the most prominent exem-
deeps of profundity. Between the currents which you and he represent there is a striking incompatibility. Now as I look back over known instances of mystical and metaphysical realization I find the continuance of these two modes quite persistent. Thus the Krishna of Indian tradition has much in common with Keyserling while the exquisite rational spirit of Shankara is a continuation of the same fundamental line you have expressed. Excerpted from a 1931 letter to Albert Einstein
The same is true of all sensations and perceptions. Only thought knows them as 'sensations' and 'perceptions.' Consciousness is too close to all experience, too intimately, utterly 'one with' all experience to know it as something other than itself. Only thought seemingly steps back from experience and labels one part of it 'thought' or 'mind,' another part 'sensation' or 'body' and another part 'perception' or
Now, having seen that the identification of Consciousness with anything other than itself never really happens, that is, it is only imagined to happen, let us consider deep sleep. We can look at deep sleep from two points of view: 1) from the perspective of the waking state, that is, 'on waking up,' and 2) from the point of view of experience itself. From the perspective of the
'memorizing-thought' refers, is utterly non-existent at the time of the memorizing thought. In other words, the only evidence, in the waking state, for the existence of an experience called 'deep sleep' comes in the form of a thought. That thought refers to a period of deep sleep that is not present at the time of the thought about it and can therefore never be verified. There-
Memory of deep sleep does not prove deep sleep
Rupert Spira
'world.' Without this 'stepping back' of thought, there is only the utter intimacy, directness and immediacy of Consciousness being itself. Experiencing is another name for this. However, thought can never really 'step back' or 'out of' experience itself. It seems to 'step back' or 'out of' from its own imaginary point of view.
The only evidence, in the waking state, for the existence of an experience called 'deep sleep' comes in the form of a thought waking state, deep sleep appears as a vague memory of a blank nothingness, which apparently lasts for an undetermined period of time. This memory, like all memories, comes in the form of a thought, which, like all thoughts, irrespective of whether they are about the past, present or future, take place 'now.' The 'deep sleep,' to which the
fore, the memory of deep sleep in the morning does not prove deep sleep. It proves nothing but itself. In fact, it doesn't even prove itself, because it (the thought to be proved) vanishes as soon as it appears. So truly, thought, be it in the form of memory or indeed any other form, indicates nothing but Consciousness.
Everything is emptiness. Everything else, accidental. Emptiness brings peace to your loving. Everything else, disease. In this world of trickery, emptiness is what your soul wants. -Rumi If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. -Matthew The one that you are looking for is the same one who is doing the looking. -St. Francis of Assisi Change is an illusion because we're always at the place where any future can take us. -Alan Watts Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and ugly in us but to hide our own emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. -Eric Hoffer Everything must be lost so that the soul can stand alone in unhampered nothingness. -Meister Eckhart We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. -Plato
You Insure all your Valuables, all are replaceable except YOU! So Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs
50
Edit Page
India Post
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
Pak Islamic militancy linked to State support RANA BANERJI
T
he timing of Moeed Yousuf's paper counseling against any deliberate accentuation of the civil-military divide in Pakistan is intriguing, especially when US-Pakistan relations are at an unprecedented nadir and domestic consternation in Pakistan over the `Memogate' affair has almost run its course. The National Assembly Speaker, Fehmida Mirza's ruling not to refer Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's disqualification by the Supreme Court on charges of contempt of court to the Election Commission confirms the Pakistan Peoples Party's intention to fight the higher Judiciary and the Army politically. Why should Yousuf be telling the US policy makers to tone down their new found love for `civilian democrats' now, especially since no one needed reminding when the US made its peace with military dictators, who repeatedly abrogated the democratic process, but continued to receive substantial US financial and military assistance to sustain geo-political and strategic compulsions of the Pakistani State? Responding to Bruce Riedel's article in The New York Times (A new Pakistan policyContainment, 14 October 2011), Yousuf concludes that any attempt to play civilian politicians against the Army would only strengthen the Islamic right wing and intensify anti-American feelings in Pakistan. He argues that this approach would not elicit sufficient `resonance' from the people in general, as they still tend to respect the Army, despite the fiasco of the Osama bin Laden episode last year. Civilian politicians in Pakistan have been discredited over charges of bad governance as the public remains more concerned with output, and less with the process of governance. Pitting civilians against military over issues of national security was not going to fetch any political mileage either for the Americans. The civilians in Pakistan's policy making elite are as much against US exhortations to 'do more' against 'terrorists' in North Waziristan as the Army. The recent Parliamentary review of foreign policy parameters was quite hawkish. There seems to be broad consensus on Afghanistan, Pakistan's position on Kashmir, the need to maintain China's position as its top ally, retain its nuclear ca-
pability and seek energy collaboration with Iran. No political party in Pakistan can afford to be caught asking the US for help to curb the Army's primacy. Instead, Yousuf suggests 'a wiser approach' of 'targeted interventions' in 'areas that lie at the heart of the civil-military divide and resonate more positively' with the people. Any transformation in the civil-military relationship would have to come from within, driven by organic institutional processes, 'which would ultimately squeeze the military's space for political maneuvering'. The rise of an independent media, increasing judicial activism and a more active Parliament are hopeful signs. Regional security assurances from the US to bring the
President Asif Ali Zardari
'forward movement' or 'transformational gains' to Pakistan vis-a vis India could help. Yousuf conveniently overlooks how the military has often held the civilian government hostage, to push its own agenda in Afghanistan or Kashmir, even as lingering introspection occasionally surfaces from the vestiges of a besieged liberal intelligentsia, sporadically questioning these miscalculations. As pointed out recently by his irrepressible compatriot, Kamran Shafi (Another rubbish USIP report, The Express Tribune, 25 May 2012), Yousuf does not ask why the Americans have kept on paying directly to `the Pakistani Deep State' without any accountability of this aid or its diversion to unauthorized `image building' ventures. Shafi also questions Yousuf's somewhat artificial distinction between `elected' and `democratic' governments and the differing popular expectations from them. Also, the labeling of Imran Khan's Tehrik-e-Insaaf as 'a genuinely
popular' party appears na誰ve and indicative of an urban bias. The USIP paper presents one more example perhaps, of what Ayesha Siddiqa describes as a `new effort to legitimize' the `political and religious right' through `a post-modernist scholars' narrative, which seeks to justify the alliance of an emerging urbanized middle class with militant neo-nationalist radicalism (Pakistan's modernity: Between the Military & Militancy, Economic & Political weekly, 17 December 2011). While traditional modernists in Pakistan of the 1960s & 1970s believed religion was essential for the State's identity, it should be followed in a more liberal form. This has changed now, as postmodernists are of the view that
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
radical elements should be allowed to pursue their agenda. This would eventually lead to a toning down of religious rhetoric and the society becoming more inclusive. This is a` dangerous brew' as evident from the impact of a more militant version of DeobandiWahabi Sunni Islam on the Barelvi Sufi influenced religious norms. The Barelvi clerics in Pakistan have increasingly come under pressure to regain lost ideological space by preaching a more militant discourse. In Pakistan's case, the rise in Islamic militancy remains directly linked to State support be it from the military or from civilian political leaders. Unless this nexus is consciously dismantled, the transformation through organic processes from within, as expected by Moeed Yousuf, is unlikely to occur anytime soon. The writer is Distinguished Fellow, IPCS & Special Secretary (Retd), Cabinet Secretariat
India Post Fragile region
I
ndia is an important neighbor of Myanmar. It has been ill at ease trying to decide between the repressive military government of the generals and the pro-democracy popular leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has spent 15 of the past 24 years in prison or under house arrest. First India gave all out support to Su Kyi, ignoring and boycotting the Generals, refusing to do business with them. China, the other important neighbor of Myanmar, took full advantage of this mistake, earned the goodwill of the Generals and bagged a large chunk of projects to fulfill their need for resources. China also had military aims, getting bases and airports to monitor activities, military or otherwise, over India. After some reflection, India changed its Myanmar policy to pragmatism and started wooing the Generals, this time ignoring Suu Kyi. The need was not only to counter China but also to manage the insurgents who were using Myanmar territory to wreak havoc in India's Northeast. India also needed Myanmar in its hunt for resources, just like China. India has to be very careful in dealing with Myanmar. There is a thin line between the military junta and Suu Kyi. India should not repeat mistakes of the past like totally backing Suu Kyi then totally backing junta. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Myanmar has opened up new opportunities. It is a correct move to keep both the junta as well as Suu Kyi under the radar. Myanmar is a very fragile region. While the military government is trying to open up, in a limited way, any unrest, economic or students' agitation can create chaos and the junta will find an excuse to crack down, once again. The Junta has been repressive but is changing due to international sanctions. Though the sanctions have been partially lifted, the Army can't be discounted. It still holds the state. Suu Kyi on the other hand is very upright and forthright in her aim to bring back democracy. However she lacks trained cadre and a party which can take over and control administration. Remember at this moment she has only 43 MPs, hardly sufficient to bring about a democratic revolution. She might win a majority if fresh elections are held today but that is a big 'if'. Also there are delicate ethnic issues like the rebel Karen tribes and other new demographic problems. India's initial mistake was sending in public sector undertakings for projects dealing in gas, energy etc. Just like the Indian government's dithering, there were lots of delays in decision making by the PSUs thus squandering an opportunity to make a mark in Myanmar. This resulted in China taking away most projects. India should make sure this does not happen again. Myanmar's potential is providing land route connectivity to South East Asia. The agreement for rail linkage and freight movement to the Asean region, along with the Imphal-Mandalay bus service must be speedily implemented. The $ 500 million line of credit and 12 pacts announced in Naypytaw are very encouraging. The private sector can be a potent tool for recasting bilateral relations. India must take advantage of potential in the IT sector, healthcare, services and infrastructure also. The main reason behind the softening up of the Generals is sometimes overlooked. It was the United States in the form of the Hillary Clinton visit which persuaded Suu Kyi to make up with the military government of President Thein Sein. The carrot of lifting of sanctions brought the Generals round and they have even cleared Suu Kyi's international visits. But the world, particularly India, must still tread softly on Myanmar because things can again go wrong if the Generals are pushed too hard.
June 8, 2012
www.indiapost.com
India Post 51
52 India Post
www.indiapost.com
June 8, 2012