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Dr Santhosh K Seelan
Indian scientist inducted into elite group Details on page 9
India Minister invited for Chicago meet
VOL 19, No. 1030
June 13, 2014
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INDIA, U.S. IN TALKS BEFORE SUMMIT
NEW DELHI: Ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama in September, the two countries will engage in a series of "high- pace" engagements starting from a trilateral with Japan here on June 23 and 24. Apart from working on setting up dates for the IndoUS strategic dialogue between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her American counterpart John Kerry before the Modi-Obama meet, the two sides are also in the process to hold talks in key areas including defense, eco-
nomic and trade. Obama was among the first foreign leaders to call up Modi and congratulate him on his "emphatic election victory". During the call, Obama had invited Modi to visit the US. The call was the first high-level contact between Modi and the US leadership ever since 2005 when the Gujarat chief minister had been denied a US visa over the 2002 riots in the state. Details on page 5
Details on page 18
Pranab Mukherjee
Modi govt to push growth, create jobs Details on page 5
All Ministers to submit property details to PM Details on page 6
US wants to partner Modi govt: Biswal Details on page 10
Indian architect to pay thousands to settle lawsuit
Chatwal's sentencing moved to Oct
Details on page 9
Details on page 9
Extradited Indian claims insanity in US murder trial
CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 52
Details on page 9
Community Post -------------- 16-26 Date Book -------------------------- 50
INDIA POST SURVEY
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survey@indiapost.com
HealthScience Post --------- 32-35
This week’s question
Horoscope ------------------------- 51 Immigration Post ------------- 44-46
Will ties with China take precedence over US?
Life Style ----------------------- 48-49 Philosophy ------------------------- 53
Last week’s result
Modi ministry will deliver on promises? YES 73%
NO 27%
NEW BEGINNING: Special Envoy of Chinese President and Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Prime Minister Narendra
Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4
Modi in New Delhi on June 9. He was the first foreign dignitary to engage with the new government demonstrating China's keenness to do business with India. (Details on page 8)
Real Estate ------------------------ 38 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-15 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43
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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Vidya's Jasoosi One of the most talented actresses Vidya Balan has donned various avatars in her upcoming film 'Bobby Jasoos'.
Cover Story: Talks before summit Ahead of a meeting between Modi and Obama, the two countries will engage in a series of "high- pace" engagements
Community: Big blow Mourning the death of Union Minister Gopinath Munde, Indian Americans feel it could be a big blow to Modi Ministry
Harder line Tea party activists seized control of the Texas Republican Convention, winning a harder line on immigration
Life style: Kashi for 'Moksha' In the labyrinthine lanes of Kashi stands a structure at corner of its busiest crossing, where rooms are reserved for death.
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Govt surveillance Vodafone Group PLC has published a report on government surveillance of its subscribers in 29 countries
Kailash Mansarovar Mount Kailash is a 22,028 ft high peak in the western Tibetan plateau known for being the abode of Shiva
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India, US in talks before summit NEW DELHI: Ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama in September, the two countries will engage in a series of "high- pace" engagements starting from a trilateral with Japan here on June 23 and 24. Apart from working on setting up dates for the Indo-US strategic dialogue between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her American counterpart John Kerry before the Modi-Obama meet, the two sides are also in the process to hold talks in key areas including defense, economic and trade.
Obama was among the first foreign leaders to call up Modi and congratulate him on his "emphatic election victory". During the call, Obama had invited Modi to visit the US. The call was the first high-level contact between Modi and the US leadership ever since 2005 when the Gujarat chief minister had been denied a US visa over the 2002 riots in the state. It is learnt that India has decided to move beyond the turbulence triggered by the arrest of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in December last and move on the "cooperative process",
as per the directions from Modi and Swaraj. Khobragade was subsequently released on a bond in a visa fraud case.
It is learnt that India has decided to move beyond the turbulence triggered by the arrest of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in December last and move on the "cooperative process", as per the directions from Modi and Swaraj While the economic and trade forum will be co-chaired by the
Modi govt promises to push growth, create jobs NEW DELHI: Outlining its agenda for five years, the government announced a slew of measures to push growth and create jobs, which will include encouraging investment and creating a predictable, transparent and fair environment. Addressing the first joint sitting of Parliament after the recent Lok Sabha elections, President Pranab Mukherjee said the Narendra Modi government will initiate a series of social, healthcare and infrastructure pro-
resurgent India regaining the admiration and respect of the international community," Mukherjee said in his 55-minute address. "Brimming with hope and expectation, they want quick results. With three 'D's of democracy, demography and demand on our side, ... we must rise to the occasion to fulfill these great expectations. In 60 months from now, we should be able to say with confidence and pride that we have done it," he said. Noting that the country is
President Pranab Mukherjee addresses the joint session of Parliament in New Delhi on June 9
grams while asserting that there will be 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism and extremism, besides violence against women. He said the government will revive 'Brand India', riding on its strengths of five 'T's - tradition, talent, tourism, trade and technology - and will pursue foreign policy on the basis of "enlightened nationalism" and mutually beneficial relationships. "The people of India have given a clear mandate. They want to see a vibrant, dynamic and prosperous India. They want to see a
passing through an "extremely difficult phase" on the economic front, the President said that GDP growth has been less than five per cent, tax collection has declined and inflation continues to be at an "unacceptable" level. "Thus, putting the Indian economy back on track is paramount for my government. We will work together to usher our economy into high growth path, rein in inflation, reignite the investment cycle, accelerate job creation and restore the confidence of the domestic as well as international
Commerce Minister, the defense dialogue, which is pending for two years, may also take place before or after Modi's visit to the US in
community in our economy," he said. In this context, he said the government will create a policy environment which is "predictable, transparent and fair". The government will embark on rationalization and simplification of the tax regime to make it "non-adversarial and conducive to investment, enterprise and growth," the President said. Observing that the government will make every effort to introduce GST while addressing the concerns of the states, he said "reforms will be undertaken to enhance the ease of doing business." "My government will follow a policy of encouraging investments, including through FDI, which will be allowed in sectors that help create jobs and assets," Mukherjee said. Government will also strategically promote labor-intensive manufacturing and expand job opportunities by promoting tourism and agro-based industries, he said, adding that employment exchanges would be transformed into Career Centers connecting youth with job opportunities through the use of technology, counseling and training. Government will set up world class investment and industrial regions, particularly along the Dedicated Freight Corridors and Industrial Corridors spanning the country while encouraging domestic industry to innovate and collaborate internationally, he said. "It will strive to move towards a single-window system of clearances both at the Centre and at the states through a hub-andspoke model," the President said.-PTI
September. With a "clear signal" from the
US that it wants to move on with the new Indian leadership on strengthening strategic cooperation, India has decided to move beyond the Khobragade incident. However, it is understood that India is pursuing with the US the "serious issues" regarding immunity and other privileges created by the incident to prevent "recurrence" of such events. During the upcoming India-USJapan trilateral, issues of connectivity in South Asia including an economic corridor and humanitarian and disaster response are expected to be in focus.-PTI
Govt to reform defense procurement: Prez NEW DELHI: The Government promised that it will overhaul the defense procurement system to increase efficiency and encourage domestic military industrial base against the backdrop of long delays in acquisitions and scams such as the VVIP chopper deal. Addressing the first joint sitting of Parliament after the recent Lok Sabha elections, President Pranab Mukherjee said the government will introduce new policies including liberalized FDI in defense to strengthen and develop a strong indigenous defense industrial base. "Recognizing the importance of coastal security, my government will set up a National Maritime Authority. "My Government will carry out reforms in defense procurement to increase efficiency and economy. It will encourage domestic industry, including the private sector;
to have a larger share in design and production of defense equipment," Mukherjee said. Defense procurement system has been hit hard by delays and scams in the recent years allegedly due to lack of transparency and complicated long procedures. Several acquisition plans such as the 126 combat aircraft, the 197 light chopper and 145 artillery howitzer deals have been hit by long delays in the recent past during the UPA regime. The President said the government "will introduce policies to strengthen technology transfer, including through liberalized FDI in defense production". Different ministries of the government have already initiated steps to increase the existing 26 per cent cap in FDI in defense and it is likely to be allowed up to 100 per cent on case to case basis.PTI
Modi Govt will get back black money NEW DELHI: Expressing India's determination to deal with the menace of black money, President Pranab Mukherjee said the Narendra Modi government will engage with foreign countries to bring back the illgotten money stashed abroad. "My government is determined to rid the country of the scourge of corruption and the menace of black money. As a first step in this direction, the government has already constituted a SIT to unearth black
money stashed abroad. "This will be followed up vigorously by proactively engaging with foreign governments," Mukherjee said in his address to Parliament outlining the priorities of the new government. On its first day in office, the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted a special investigative team to unearth illicit money, including in the case involving Hasan Ali.-PTI
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Green nod for defense projects on priority: Govt NEW DELHI: Environment clearance of national security and defense projects will be taken up on a priority basis and given sanction, the government said here while announcing that the Navy's ambitious Project Seabird in Karwar has been approved. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar also said that on the lines of recently announced online process of submission of applications for environmental clearance, the ministry will initiate a similar process online for "forest clearance" from August 1. "There is Project Seabird in Karwar. For defense, it is a very significant project....Mumbai is a target as well....An alternative is required and that is why it is a very ambitious and a project of very strategic importance. That too was pending. We have sanctioned it," he told reporters at Indian Women's Press Corps here. Project Seabird (Karwar Naval Base) will be one of the larger naval bases of India and will be com-
pleted in two phases. It will house various warships including India's largest warship and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. Noting that environment was not a "one-way traffic", the minister said that he has decided to
Noting that environment was not a "one-way traffic", the minister said that he has decided to give priority to pending defense projects as he thought that if country was secure, then environment will be secure give priority to pending defense projects as he thought that if country was secure, then environment will be secure and people will be safe.
All Ministers to submit property details to PM NEW DELHI: All ministers in the Narendra Modi government will have to submit details of their assets, liabilities and business interests to the Prime Minister within two months. They have also been directed to sever all connections, short of
civil servants to act in any way that would conflict with their duties and responsibilities. It also asks the minister to "ensure that his family members do not start or participate in business concerns engaged in supplying of goods or services to the government and there should be total prohiIt also asks the minister to bition on employment of spouse and depen"ensure that his family dents with a foreign members do not start or mission". The details to be participate in business disclosed by the Minconcerns engaged in ister will consist of particulars of all immovsupplying of goods or serable property and the vices to the government total approximate value of shares and debendivesting themselves of owner- tures, cash holdings and jewellery ship, with the conduct and man- of himself and family members. agement of any business in Such a statement of assets and which they had interests before liabilities could be in respect of being appointed minister. the financial year for which the This was stated in the Code income tax return has already been of Conduct for Ministers re-is- filed by the Minister. sued by the Home Ministry after As per the Code of Conduct, the new government took after taking office and so long as charge. he remains in office, the Minister The Code, whose observance shall furnish annually by the 31st will be monitored by the Prime August to the Prime Minister a Minister, also asked ministers to declaration regarding his assets uphold the political impartiality and liabilities for the previous fiof civil services and not ask the nancial year.-PTI
"That is why I gave priority to them and started seeing files and many of them I have approved as well," he said. Giving examples of other such pending projects which his ministry is taking up on a priority basis, the minister said that if one goes beyond Andamans, there is a Coco Island which is under Myanmar's occupation but most of the infrastructure there is of China. "Just in front of that island, there is our Narcondum Island. One radar station has to be established on that island in which 810 employees will be stationed. There is no other thing which will create disturbance in the natural environment there.... "....And if China is sitting in front and is doing something and we can't even monitor, the country cannot run like that. So these kinds of project which are of importance to country's security, we have started clearing on a priority basis," Javadekar said.-PTI
Bhutan preparing to welcome Modi THIMPHU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to choose Bhutan for his first foreign visit has been hailed here as historic and authorities are leaving no stone unturned to welcome him to further cement the already strong bilateral ties. The visit scheduled on June 15 to 16 will provide an opportunity to discuss bilateral issues and further strengthen Indo-Bhutan relations. "We're honored to have him choose Bhutan as the first country he's visiting after assuming office. This is a historic visit, the entire world is watching, not just the SAARC region, and we're extremely happy, we're proud," said Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. "It speaks volumes about the importance he attaches to the region, but more significantly to the importance he attaches to the friendship between our two great countries," Tobgay was quoted as saying by the local newspaper, Kuensel. The 11th Five Year Plan, the ongoing hydropower projects and the Economic Stimulus Plan will also be discussed in the meeting. -PTI
Cong: Don't be arrogant, implement promises NEW DELHI: The Congress tore into the agenda outlined by President Pranab Mukherjee in his address saying it is repackaging of work done by UPA and asked the Narendra Modi government to implement the promises
Mallikarjun Kharge
Asking the government not to have "arrogance" because of its big mandate in the Lok Sabha election, Kharge said it should deliver as "only announcements will not work". Asking the government to shun arrogance, Kharge said BJP got only about 31 per cent of the total votes. "What is the percentage of your (BJP) votes (in the Lok Sabha elections?) You have got only 31.32 per cent votes... It shows that about 69 per cent of electorate are against your ideology," he said. Rebutting criticism about Congress having only 44 members in the Lok Sabha, Kharge referred to the Mahabharata epic underlining that Pandavas emerged victorious despite the Kauravas having more numbers. "Kaurav ka kitna bhi sankhya ho ...Pandav ney haare...," he said. Listing out various welfare programs, including Food Security Act brought out by the UPA government, Kharge wondered why BJP was still asking what has been done in the last 65 years. Congress brought green revolution and in Gujarat it was not Modi but Congress which brought about white revolution, he said. "As you have come in large numbers, you should serve the people and not just make tall claims," he noted. He warned that if the govern-
made without trumpeting and "arrogance". Congress, which has been reduced to 44 members in the Lok Sabha, told the government it will keep on the pressure to ensure implementation of people-oriented programs irrespective of the small number of members it has in the House. In this context, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge invoked Mahabharata and said though Pandavas were few in number as compared to Kauravas, still they could not be defeated. Amid thumping of desks, including by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Kharge expressed confidence that the party will bounce back to power and NDA should not think that it will continue to be in power forever. "Nothing new has been Speaking on the said...we need to put the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, record straight. Modi only which he supported, repackages what is already Kharge commented point by point on the done...All these things have new government's been repackaged in the agenda and highlighted achievements of the name of Modi," Kharge said previous UPA government over the last ten years. ment misled people on develop"Nothing new has been mental issues, "they (people) will said...we need to put the record not forgive you". straight. Modi only repackages Referring to media reports that what is already done...All these BJP-ruled Rajasthan has changed things have been repackaged in labor laws to bring in more investthe name of Modi," Kharge said ments, Kharge said BJP is in fain his 45-minute speech which vor of the rich and not the poor. was appreciated by Sonia Gandhi Kharge's remark drew sharp as well as Rahul Gandhi. reaction from the Treasury Kharge said BJP is good at benches with Arjun Meghwal, BJP marketing things and emphasized member from Rajasthan, demandthat talks alone would not help in ing that it should be removed from filling the stomach of poor people. the records.-PTI
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India, China to inject new impetus in eco ties NEW DELHI: India and China have decided to inject new momentum in their economic ties with both countries pushing for exploring "untapped opportunities" including setting up of industrial parks to take the bilateral trade beyond existing USD 65 billion annually. In their meeting, External Af-
and removing hurdles to spur the trade activities. "There was also a fairly long discussion on economic issues. These included specific projects, trajectory of economic ties, potential for tapping opportunities as well as the hurdles being faced in pursuing enhanced economic cooperation," Spokesperson in the
China is India's biggest trading partner with two-way trade standing close to USD 65 billion, according to official figure but trade deficit in favor of China continued to mount at about USD 40 billion. The bilateral trade also declined by 1.5 per cent fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi deliberated extensively on economic engagement between the two countries and agreed to intensify business and trade relations. Both the leaders discussed deepening of engagement in specific sectors as well as projects
Ministry of External Affairs said. Joint Secretary in-charge of China in the External Affairs Ministry Gautam Bambawale said possibility of investment by Chinese firms in diverse areas were discussed in the meeting. He said Swaraj talked about investment by Chinese firms through industrial parks.
Asked whether India's ballooning trade deficit with China was raised by Swaraj, Bambawale only said both the leaders agreed to expand economic ties. China is India's biggest trading partner with two-way trade standing close to USD 65 billion, according to official figure but trade deficit in favor of China continued to mount at about USD 40 billion. The bilateral trade also declined by 1.5 per cent, registering a downward trend for the second consecutive year in 2013. India has consistently been raising the issue of increasing trade deficit and seeking greater market access in China to bridge the gap. India has been maintaining that one way to reduce the imbalance is to open up Chinese markets to IT-enabled services, cotton textiles and home furnishings and also in pharmaceuticals. The MEA Spokesperson said Wang told Swaraj that China welcomes India's development and was ready to engage with the new government. -PTI
Wang trip of great significance: China BEIJING: China has said Foreign Minister Wang Yi's just concluded visit to India is of "great significance" and sent out a message that Chinese leaders pay high attention to bilateral ties and their mutual interests far outweigh disputes. "From this visit, we know that Sino-India relation is now in a new age of gearing up," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here. "I believe that Foreign Minister's visit sent the following messages, that is, Chinese leaders pay attention to growing relations with India, common interests between the two countries far outweigh disputes. "...we are natural partners rather than rivals and the Chinese and Indian dream integrate with each other, so we should build closer development partnership with each other," she said. "Indian leaders also responded positively," Hua said, pointing to the observations by Mukherjee that the two countries which had a combined population of 2.6 billion people make the most magnificence map in the human civilization. Modi said that Wang brought important messages from President Xi Jinping to chart a new course for the development of India and the two sides should maintain development, cement practical cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, so as to maintain
peace and tranquility in the border areas, Hua stated. "Therefore, we believe that Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India at this time is of great significance. We expect to make joint efforts with India to bring our amicable and friendly relations with India to a new high," she said. "We believe that the development of Sino-India relations are
"As there is good momentum in the bilateral relations, China and India can put aside their differences on such thorny issues as border disputes to make sure they will not hinder the partnership and friendship not only in the benefits of the two people but will also help peace, stability and development of the region and beyond," she said.
Partners not rivals: Media Official Chinese media has said China and India are strategic partners and not rivals and they should put aside differences on thorny issues like border dispute
and carry forward with the good momentum in bilateral ties, Some of the Chinese analysts also called on the two countries to resolve the boundary row taking advantage of the historic opportunity of having strong leaderships at their helm. "As there is good momentum in the bilateral relations, China and India can put aside their differences on such thorny issues as border disputes to make sure they will not hinder the partnership and friendship between the two countries," state-run Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi. Such an approach will be conducive to the world and regional peace and stability, it said in the commentary titled "China India strategic partners not rivals". Referring to Premier Li Keqiang's decision to choose India to be the first foreign destination after he took over the post last year as well Wang's current visit to establish contacts with Narendra Modi government, it said both countries witnessed the most frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries in nearly 60 years. This is because they are clear know that mutual benefits and common development can only be achieved through building a strategic cooperative partnership, instead of rivalry, it said.-PTI
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, ahead of their meeting in New Delhi on June 8
Chinese minister calls on Modi NEW DELHI: Special Envoy of the Chinese President and Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and conveyed his government's keenness to engage with the new Indian dispensation to strengthen cooperation in key areas. A day after he held three-hourlong talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj, Wang called on Modi at the Race Course Road office here. During the call, the External Affairs Minister was also present. Sent here by Chinese President Xi Jinping as his Special Envoy to meet with new leadership, Wang is also understood to have conveyed China's support for the development of India. At a press conference later, Wang said he felt the winds of change in the new government and that the international community has high expectations of the new dispensation. He was confident that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that both India and China relations would achieve greater progress and
modernization. Wang Yi emphasized that there were more commonalities than differences and greater cooperation than competitiveness between the two countries. Wang had also called on President Pranab Mukherjee. Wang said that Modi had told him of the visit of seventh century CE Chinese Buddhist traveler Zuan Zhang to Gujarat, and that they have agreed to launch a Zuan Zhang cultural exchange program. He also admitted that India was one of the priorities in China's foreign policy and that if China too was a priority for India, then the relations between the two countries would grow faster than ever. He said that as India had the Look East policy, China, too, is looking to the west. Wang pointed to the complementary nature of Chinese and Indian economies. He said that China was strong in infrastructure and manufacturing, while India's strengths were in software and services, and if the two countries came together then they could dominate world economy.
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Extradited Indian claims insanity in US murder trial CHICAGO: An Indian-origin man, extradited from India to face trial in the US for a 2008 triple murder in which he is accused of stabbing his wife 59 times, has claimed insanity as his trial began in the American state of Michigan. Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu, 46, fatally stabbed his wife 59 times before waiting for his 12-and 14year-old children to come home from school, ambushing them in the front hallway and killing each with one slash of the knife in 2008. Seven men and seven women, selected as jurors to hear the case in an Oakland County Circuit courtroom, listened as Assistant Prosecutor Tricia Dare in her opening statement laid out a morning "that began like any other" in the Nerusu home. Only Lakshminivasa, she said, had been up the night before on the Internet, researching "human anatomy, human dissection and airline schedules." "The man who was supposed to love them, care for them and protect them was the same man who brought their young lives to an horrific end," she was quoted as saying by Detroit Free Press.
"Your verdict should be nothing short of three counts of firstdegree murder," the Assistant Prosecutor said. Lakshminivasa, a computer scientist with a master's degree in mathematics, insists he was insane at the time of the killings and is expected to take the witness
Lakshminivasa, a computer scientist with a master's degree in mathematics, insists he was insane at the time of the killings and is expected to take the witness stand in his own defense stand in his own defense. Lakshminivasa's attorney Lawrence Kaluzny, said his client, unemployed, was collapsing under financial woes and constant pressure from his wife to support the family.
"He said, 'I had to be insane to kill my family, whom I loved'," Kaluzny said. Lakshminivasa, Kaluzny told the jury, "blacked out" during the killings and has little recollection of what happened. When Tejasvi Nerusu, 14, came through the door that October afternoon in 2008, an honors student fresh off the school bus, her father waited until she took her shoes off and deposited her backpack. He then slit her throat with a single swipe, Dare told the jury. Forty minutes after he killed his daughter, Lakshminivasa ambushed his 12-year-old son, Siva Kumar, as he, too, arrived home. He slashed his son's throat before the boy could get his second shoe off, leaving him dead in the entry of the family's house in the Wexford complex in Novi, she said. The children's mother, stabbed 59 times, lay dead nearby on the floor. Following the killings, Lakshminivasa fled to Hyderabad, but was arrested in 2013 and extradited back to Michigan to face murder charges. -PTI
Indian scientist inducted into elite group WASHINGTON: An eminent sultant and with India's remote Indian-American space scientist sensing program for 17 years. has been inducted into an elite Seelan has won nationwide recgroup of professors by the Uni- ognition and a nomination for a versity of North Dakota for his National Mineral Award in India contribution in the field of space and has authored or co-authored research. more than 150 articles, conference Dr Santhosh K Seelan of the papers, technical reports, books, Department of Space Studies at book chapters and abstracts. the University of North Dakota (UND) was inducted recently into the A native of Cuddallore in elite group of Chester Tamil Nadu and an alumnus Fritz Distinguished Proof Annamalai University, Dr fessors by the academic institution for lifetime Seelan currently is chair of contribution in the field space studies and holds the of space research. A native of positions of director of the Cuddallore in Tamil North Dakota Space Nadu and an alumnus of Grant Consortium Annamalai University, Dr Seelan currently is chair of "This recognition came as a big space studies and holds the posi- surprise to me, and it is indeed a tions of director of the North Da- great honor! I am thankful to all kota Space Grant Consortium and those who were involved in the director of North Dakota National nomination and selection process. Aeronautics and Space Adminis- The University of North Dakota tration (NASA) EPSCoR (Experi- is a great place to work - the facmental Program to Stimulate Com- ulty, staff, and students contribpetitive Research). ute to each other's success, and I Prior to joining UND, Seelan love every minute of it here," worked as a land information con- Seelan said. -PTI
Indian architect to pay Chatwal's sentencing moved to October thousands to settle lawsuit
NEW YORK: Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal's sentencing on charges of illegally donating thousands of dollars to political campaigns in the US has been delayed till October. US District Judge I Leo Glasser granted the request made by Chatwal's lawyer Jonathan Sack earlier this week, seeking "adjournment of the sentencing" from July 31, and scheduled the sentencing on October 23. Chatwal, 70, a Padma Bhushan awardee and major fundraiser for former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act by making more than USD 180,000 in federal campaign donations to three candidates through straw donors who were reimbursed and to witness tampering. Chatwal is free on a USD 750,000 bail and has surrendered his passport. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 25 years but under the plea deal with the government, Chatwal could be sentenced to a little more than five years and may have to pay USD
500,000 in fines. He also agreed to forfeit USD one million to the US. In a submission before Glasser, Sack had requested that the sentencing be adjourned from July to around October 23, citing the
Sant Singh Chatwal
need for more time to gather relevant information for Chatwal's pre-sentence report and sentencing submissions on his behalf. Sack said Chatwal has lived in India, Ethiopia as well as the US and "gathering information about his background and substantial activities in these locations has proven time- consuming." The alternative date in Octo-
ber was also agreeable to federal prosecutors. According to court filings, from 2007 to 2011 Chatwal used his employees, business associates and contractors who performed work on his hotels to solicit campaign contributions on Chatwal's behalf in support of various candidates for federal office and political action committees, collect these contributions, and pay reimbursements for these contributions. Chatwal and his associates induced straw donors to make the campaign contributions, promising them that they would be reimbursed. A straw donor is someone who illegally uses someone else's money to make campaign contributions in his or her own name. Chatwal orchestrated a scheme to make approximately USD 188,000 in campaign contributions to three candidates for federal office via straw donors and he often arranged for the straw donors to be reimbursed through his associates, ultimately paying for the reimbursed contributions with funds belonging to Chatwal or one of Chatwal's companies. -PTI
NEW YORK: An Indian-American architect has been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in compensation and penalty to settle a civil rights lawsuit, which alleged that a rental building designed by him and his firm had apartments inaccessible for persons with disabilities. Avinash Malhotra and his firm Avinash Malhotra Architects settled the federal civil rights lawsuit filed in 2013 under which he and his firm would retain an accessibility expert. The expert will review and advise them on each of their new design projects, train employees on the requirements of the federal housing regulations and allocate USD 45,000 to compensate people who had been affected by the inaccessible features of the building. Malhotra would also pay a USD 35,000 civil penalty to the federal government. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said the lawsuit alleged that Malhotra and his firm designed a 650-unit rental building in Lower Manhattan that violated the ac-
cessible design and construction provisions of the federal Fair Housing Act, which require that new multi-family housing complexes include certain features accessible to persons with disabilities. The building had multiple in-
Avinash Malhotra
accessible features, including insufficient space in bathrooms and kitchens for people in wheelchairs, high thresholds interfering with accessible routes, sinks, ranges, outlets and mailboxes not fully usable by people in wheelchairs and protruding objects not detectable by canes used by people with visual impairments.PTI
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US wants to partner Modi govt: Biswal NEW DELHI: The US has said it wants to partner the Narendra Modi government in meeting the hopes and aspirations of Indians who have given it a resounding mandate even as the two sides were working closely to finalize a date for a meeting between Modi and American President Barack Obama. This was conveyed by US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal during her meetings with senior foreign Ministry officials including Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh. "We are having some wonderful meetings and consultations with Government
of India. We are committed to US-India relationship. This is an opportunity for us to hear the priorities and the opportunities that the new government is seeking in terms of their desire for this relationship," she told reporters. Biswal said the US President has invited Modi for a meeting and that the two governments are working out mutually convenient dates for the meet. Biswal held talks with her Indian counterpart, the Joint Secretary in-charge of America division in MEA Vikram Doraiswami. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Biswal was ac-
companied by United State's interim Ambassador to India, Kathleen Stephens, who arrived here a few days ago. Stressing that US is committed to USIndia relationship, Biswal said Modi government has received a resounding mandate and people have voted with hope and aspirations and "US wants to partner with India in meeting those hopes and aspirations." "We look forward to working together in the months and the years ahead. So this is an opportunity for us to hear from the government on their agenda and their priorities," she said.-PTI
Nisha Biswal, U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs addressed the press after meetings in New Delhi
NARENDRA YOGI India Post News Service
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arendra Modi is said to have lived the life of a monk in the Himalayas during the 1970s. This photo is possibly of his time in a Swami Vivekananda ashram in Almora in the foothills of the Himalayas. According to Richard Broome, a Transcendental Meditation teacher, who sent us this photograph, Modi is thought to have learned Transcendental Meditation and to have met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of TM. In 1992 Modi is said to have been among a political delegation from India that Maharishi invited to MERU, Holland to meet with him. Modi was allegedly already practicing TM at that time. After the visit, Maharishi is said to have commented that Modi would some day bring about some very good changes.
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India can reprocess spent fuel from Kudankulam MOSCOW: India can reprocess its spent fuel from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) as it has its own facility with highly qualified staff, Russia said here. "Spent fuel is important to India and it has its own facility with a highly qualified staff. We don't have the responsibility of the spent fuel from the Kudankulam plant and India can reprocess its spent fuel or even store it," Anzhelika Khaperskaya, Chief Manager of Spent Nuclear Fuel System Creation of Rosatom. She was responding to a question on whether Russia will reprocess India's spent fuel from the KKNPP units. The country is constructing a facility under which it will take spent fuel from 14 other countries, extract vital elements from it to use it for its Fast Breeder Reactors and other purposes. She added that as far as India was concerned, India was not on its agenda in this project.
"Under the existing agreement, India has to take care of its spent fuel. If India wants Russia to reprocess its spent fuel then there has to be a separate agreement
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
under which modalities have to be specified," she said. Under its three-stage nuclear program, India too requires spent fuel and considers it as a vital fuel
No plans to withdraw Priyanka's privileges NEW DELHI: The government has no plans to withdraw exemption given to Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra from normal security checks at airports when they travel together. "Security is given to any individual on the basis of threat per-
for its Fast Breeder Reactors. While the talks of Indo-US nuclear deal were on, the issue of spent fuel was very a major irritant.
Special Protection Group protectee, is exempted from normal security check at airports. While her husband Vadra has to undergo frisking at airports if he travels alone, he is exempted from normal security checks when he travels with Priyanka or any other SPG protectee. After media reports suggested that the government was contemplating to withdraw the privileges given to Vadra, Priyanka wrote a letter to SPG chief Durga Prasad and asked him to remove the exemption given to her and her family from normal security checks at airports. "We have no plans as of now to review the facilities given to SPG protectees and those who travel with SPG Priyanka and her husband Robert Vadra protectees. "A high-powered ception and members of the committee headed by Union Gandhi family continue to be un- Home Secretary periodically reder high degree of threat. Ensur- views security of individuals on ing security to such people, agen- the basis of threat perception. Secies have to follow certain proto- curity to anyone is given as per col which cannot be changed just the decision of the committee on like that," a senior official said. the basis of threat perception," the As of now Priyanka, being a official said. was better to -PTI
While India insisted on maintaining its right to reprocess the spent fuel, the US was not willing as it thought the spent fuel could be used for defense purposes. -PTI
Indian-US couple arrested for healthcare fraud WASHINGTON: An IndianAmerican couple in the US has been arrested on the charges of crafting the doctors' reports themselves and photocopying real physicians' signatures onto the documents. Nita Patel and Kirtish Patel, both 51 and from Rockaway in New Jersey, face maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine. The couple, owner and operator of Biosound Medical Services and Heart Solutions of Parsippany, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, US Attorney Paul J Fishman's office said. Arrested from their residence in New Jersey, they were released on a USD 100,000 unsecured bond, with travel restricted to New Jersey unless given prior approval by pretrial services. They have been asked to surrender their passports. In their complaint, prosecutors alleged that about half of diagnostic reports generated by Biosound in the past two years had a photocopied signature from a reading physician when no physician had actually seen, reviewed or interpreted the results. -PTI
Kashmiri Pandits welcome Modi rehabilitation plan JAMMU: Several organiza"Special efforts will be made to tions representing Kashmiri ensure that Kashmiri Pandits rePandits have welcomed the turn to the land of their ancestors President's address and the with full dignity, security and asCenter's commitment in it to en- sured livelihood," the President sure their return to their ancestors' said while outlining the agenda of land and called for a dialogue with the Narendra Modi government the community before the formu- for the next five years. lation of any plan in that regard. Hhere is an urgent need to unPanun Kashmir, which is advo- dertake confidence-building meacating the carving out of a homeland with Union Territory status Panun Kashmir, which is for Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir Valley, said it advocating the carving out will "wait and watch". of a homeland with Union All Party Migrant Coordination Commit- Territory status for Kashmiri tee (APMCC) chairman Vinod Pandit said, "We Pandits in Kashmir Valley, welcome the Centre's said it will "wait and watch" move on return of the community to the land of their ancestors in Kashmir with sures before formulation of any full dignity, security and assured plan for their return and rehabililivelihood. tation, Pandit said. "But, there is a need to set up Jammu and Kashmir Vichar an apex committee of Kashmiri Manch leader RL Bhat called for Pandits at the central level to hold holding dialogue with the commudiscussions with the community nity leadership on such a move over the plan of rehabilitation while expressing happiness over ahead of its implementation." the statement. The organizations have been "Centre should hold talks. fighting for lakhs of people of the They should spell out the broader community who fled Kashmir Val- contours of the plan. Community ley in 1990 upon the eruption of should know what is happening," the militancy. Bhat said. -PTI
Govt to address problems of Indians working in Gulf NEW DELHI: The Government "We will make a mechanism so has promised to bring a mecha- that workers get relief. We do not nism to address various issues want people from India to face difrelating to Indians working in the ficulties abroad. It is a beginning Persian Gulf countries which are and I will invite MPs from other home to over seven million people states as well. Today's meeting from India. was successful," Swaraj, who is External Affairs Minister also Minister for Overseas Indian Sushma Swaraj held consultations Affairs, said. with MPs from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana "We will make a mechanism as part of a consultative process to take the so that workers get relief. views of the elected We do not want people representatives from from India to face the states from where people often go to Gulf difficulties abroad countries for greener pastures. She said 17 MPs from the two "I have taken this initiative of states attended the meeting. inviting MPs from the states, from Minister of State for External where people go to the Gulf coun- Affairs V K Singh said a number tries, to know what kind of com- of positive suggestions came up plaints they receive and what in- in the meeting and the governformation they have. We started ment would work on them to see the process by holding discus- how the existing system can be sions with MPs from Andhra and improved. Telangana as maximum number of "We will see how to make people go from these two states," things better for our people who Swaraj said. are working abroad," he said. -PTI
Tech News Maharashtra to shut down 44 toll plazas MUMBAI: In an important decision ahead of the Assembly polls, Maharashtra Government has announced closure of 44 toll plazas, a move that comes in the backdrop of protests over levy of road tax in the State. The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, while replying to a debate on the Budget in the Legislative Assembly. He also holds finance portfolio. Pawar said 34 toll plazas on roads constructed by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and ten of Public Works Department (PWD) will be shut down shortly. The contractors operating them will be compensated for which a sum of Rs 306 crore has been earmarked, he said. There are 166 toll plazas in the State. He said the Central Government will be requested to scrap toll on National Highways. The decision comes on a day when a public protest was organized in Kolhapur against the toll collection policy.-PTI
RBI simplifies norms for opening bank account MUMBAI: A bank account can be opened with just one address proof, permanent or local, says an RBI decision that will help migrant workers and employees with transferable jobs who at present face cumbersome procedure to access banking services. "Henceforth, customers may submit only one documentary proof of address (either current or permanent) while opening a bank account or while undergoing periodic updation," the Reserve Bank (RBI) said in a notification. "In case the address mentioned as per 'proof of address undergoes a change, fresh proof of address may be submitted to the branch within a period of six months," it said. RBI was receiving representations and references from various quarters, including migrant workers, transferred employees about the problems faced by them in submitting a proof of address while opening a bank account, the notification said. In cases where customer is not able to furnish local proof of address, the bank may take a declaration of the local address on which all correspondence will be made by the bank with the customer, it said. -PTI
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Vodafone publishes report on govt surveillance in 29 countries NEW YORK: Wireless carrier Vodafone Group PLC is performing a tricky balancing maneuver by publishing a report on government surveillance of its subscribers in 29 countries - a release that reveals more than first meets the eye. In the report, Vodafone, which has unparalleled global reach for a cellphone company, said six countries have demanded direct access to its network. That cuts Vodafone's employees out of the surveillance process, removing one of the hurdles that can curb government overreach. Vodafone would not say which countries have established these direct links. But in an exhaustively researched appendix to the report, the U.K.-based company sheds light on the legal frameworks that surround government interception in the 29 countries. The appendix reveals that six countries - Albania, Egypt, Hungary, Ireland, Qatar and Turkey - have provisions that allow authorities to request unfettered access. In two other countries, India and the U.K., legal provisions are unclear as to whether government officials are allowed to have direct access, according to the report.
The report is remarkable not so much for what it reveals about the extent of law enforcement and intelligence agency surveillance, but for the comparisons it enables across countries. The report also highlights six countries for which
phone companies. Wiretapping of phones and accessing of call records for law-enforcement purposes is a decadesold and accepted practice even in the most open democracies. With backing from courts, police can
Vodafone was unable to disclose any statistics on warrants from the government or other requests: Romania, Qatar, Egypt, India, South Africa and Turkey. By contrast, Vodafone's report is almost superfluous for some Western European countries, like Germany, where the government already publishes statistics on how many requests it sends
request cooperation from phone companies to access communications. But in developing countries like Congo, Ghana and Lesotho, Vodafone doesn't have the capability to support wiretapping, since governments haven't requested it. By making its report public, together with a disclosure of re-
quests for information, Vodafone is entering the international debate about balancing the rights of privacy against security. Rather than being stuck with responsibility and backlash when citizens realize their data has been scooped up without their knowledge, Vodafone decided it was time to push for a debate. Vodafone's report comes one year after former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden revealed that U.S. and other countries' intelligence agencies indiscriminately gather and store huge amounts of data from phone calls and Internet communications. ``Companies are recognizing they have a responsibility to disclose government access,'' Daniel Castro, senior analyst for the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington. ``This is new.'' Vodafone's report is also seen by some as an effort to turn the page on the company's embarrassing role in the protests that toppled Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak in 2011. As the protests raged, the government forced Vodafone to bombard its Egyptian subscribers with propaganda text messages. -AP
Mumbai gets its first Metro MUMBAI: The wait of Mumbaikars for metro services in the city came to an end when Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan flagged off the first service from Versova station in the western suburb. The service was launched by Chavan along with ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani at 10.10 AM. State Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and local MPs Kirit Somaiya, Poonam Mahajan and Gajanan Kirtikar were also present at the launch. With the launch, Mumbai becomes the fourth city in the country to have metro rail operations,
besides Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore.
The new mode of transport is expected to provide the much-
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan flagged off the first service of Metro from Versova Station in the western suburb on June 8
needed relief to the commuters in the bustling metropolis where the overburdened suburban railways ferries 70 lakh people every day. The introduction of metro services will revolutionize the commuting of Mumbaikars, Chavan said after the launch, which came after a delay of three-and-a-half years from the scheduled time. "This project was conceptualized in 2006. It had faced several challenges during execution mainly because it is an elevated corridor. It definitely has taken time, but finally we have launched the services.-PTI
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Modi for focus on 'skill, scale & speed' NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the country needs to focus on imparting skills to its young population in order to compete with China, apart from bringing revolutionary changes in agriculture and energy sectors.
He said that the country needs to exploit the demographic dividend as 65 per cent of population was below 35 years of age. "For this skill development needs to be a priority area," he said. Referring to skills such as teaching, nursing and paramedics,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing the book titled "Getting India Back on Track" 'An Action Agenda for Reform' by Bibek Debroy (left) and Ashley Tellis (extreme right) of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in New Delhi on June 8. Union Minister for Finance, Arun Jaitley is also seen.
"If India has to compete with China, the focus should be on skill, scale and speed," Modi said after launching the book 'Getting India Back on track - an action agenda for reform' at a function here.
he said good teachers were one of the biggest needs of society, but rued that there were very few good teachers available. "Can India become an exporter of good teachers who would cap-
ture the imagination of an entire generation globally," the Prime Minister asked. Modi cited the three colors of the national flag while speaking on the need to develop key sectors for overall growth of the country. Beginning with green, he said India needs to bring about a second green revolution focusing on increased agro-productivity, value addition, agro technology, and decentralization of warehousing. Modi said a white revolution must focus on increasing milk productivity and developing a support system for ensuring cattle health. "Saffron color represents energy - and we need a saffron revolution that focuses on renewable energy sources such as solar energy to meet India's growing energy demand," he added. He said, in infrastructure, the focus needs to shift from highways to "i-ways", and optical fiber networks. "Cities in the past were built on river-banks. They are now built along highways. But in future, they will be built based on availability of optical-fiber networks and next-generation infrastructure," he added. -PTI
Jaitley seeks support of states for GST roll-out NEW DELHI: Expressing government's commitment to push growth, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said the Centre and states need to work together to roll out GST, address supply side bottlenecks and take strict steps to check hoarding and black marketing to tame inflation. Addressing the pre-budget consultative meeting of state Finance Ministers, he also underlined the need to break the vicious cycle of high inflation and high interest rates. "Mandate of 2014 clearly spells out that economic growth cannot be compromised at any cost and is sine qua non to reap the benefits of the demographic dividend," he said, adding that there is a need to "round off corners" towards GST implementation. Finance Minister of several states demanded that the Centre address issues pertaining to compensation on account of revenue loss following roll-out of GST, which is being touted as the most
significant indirect tax reform. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Gujarat Finance Minister Saurabh Patel said: "Most of the states have said that employment and infrastructure should be given priority and how to increase rev-
"States must complement each other in managing the economy and fiscal policy, which is the essence of cooperative federalism. In doing so (we) must act like a team." enue of the states." Jaitley during his address to state FMs said: "States must complement each other in managing the economy and fiscal policy,
which is the essence of cooperative federalism. In doing so (we) must act like a team." He said that while aiming for high growth, fiscal discipline should not be compromised, he added. He also emphasized the need for states to address supply side bottlenecks to manage inflation. Retail inflation has touched a three-year high of 8.59 per cent in April, and the WPI inflation was 5.7 per cent. Jaitley in his speech in the threehour long meeting said: "Long inflationary trends have adversely impacted the food and nutritional security of the common man. We are committed to breaking this vicious cycle of high inflation and high interest rates." He further said that slowdown in economic growth, coupled with high inflationary pressure, poses a challenge to the country's economy, which has crawled at sub-5 per cent in the recent years..-PTI
Will break vicious cycle of high inflation-interest rate: FM NEW DELHI: Committing to economy, which has crawled at break the vicious cycle of high in- sub 5 per cent in the recent years. flation and high interest rate, "...there have been states regIndia's Finance Minister Arun istering much robust growth. This Jaitley has made a case for put- is clearly a case of sum being less ting in place strict measures and special courts to stop hoarding and black marketing, in addition to reviewing the commodity laws. "Long inflationary trends have adversely impacted the food and nutri- Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (right) with Arvind Mayaram, Finance Secretary tional security of the common man. We are committed to break- than its parts and needs to be ading this vicious cycle of high in- dressed through our concerted flation and high interest rates," he efforts. said during a pre-Budget meeting "Mandate of 2014 clearly spells with state finance ministers. out that economic growth cannot He further said that slowdown be compromised at any cost and in economic growth coupled with is sine qua non to reap the benhigh inflationary pressure poses efits of the demographic divia challenge to the country's dend," Jaitely said. -PTI
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India Inc has strongest hiring plans for 3 months NEW DELHI: Bolstered by improving business sentiments, Indian employers have the strongest hiring plans worldwide for the next three months as they are expected to embark on "vigorous" recruitment activities, says a report. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey also said that hiring activities are picking up in some sectors on the hopes of
across the globe are reported by employers in India, Taiwan, Turkey, New Zealand and Singapore. The weakest-and only negativethird-quarter forecasts are reported by employers in Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands," the report said. As per the findings by HR services firm Manpower, employers in the public administration and
"business sentiment turning positive in anticipation of a stable government coming to the helm". Going by the findings of the survey of 5,389 employers, they anticipate a vigorous hiring pace for July-September period. The hiring outlook is projected at 46 per cent higher over last year. "The strongest hiring plans
education followed by wholesale & retail trade sectors have the most optimistic hiring plans. Their net employment outlook for the next three months is pegged to grow at 53 per cent and 49 per cent respectively. "With the Indian business environment showing signs of improvement, companies are back in
hiring mode. Opportunities for job seekers are expected to grow even stronger as emphasis is placed on improving business growth and employment generation," ManpowerGroup India Group Managing Director A G Rao said. Positive hiring trends are expected in all the geographical regions, with employers in the North and South reporting strongest outlook. "The strongest labor market is expected in the North where the outlook stands at +53 per cent... Bullish hiring intentions are also evident in Outlooks of +48 per cent and +46 per cent for the South and the West, respectively," the report said. In the East, employers anticipate prosperous hiring activity with an Outlook of +31 per cent. Besides, employers across the country are also expecting to see increase in payrolls during third quarter this year, the report said. Meanwhile, staffing levels are expected to increase in 37 of the 42 countries and territories, compared with 38 of 42 in the second quarter. Globally, other than India, the strongest hiring plans are reported by employers in Taiwan, Turkey, New Zealand and Singapore.-PTI
China top Dubai trading partner, India 2nd DUBAI: Continuing the upward trend, Dubai's foreign trade grew in the first quarter (Q1) of 2014 with India trailing China as the second largest trading partner of the emirates city. In Q1 2014, Dubai's foreign trade amounted to dirham 323 billion, of which 201.4 billion were imports, 26.5 billion exports and 94.4 billion re-exports. Direct trade contributed 61 per cent of total foreign trade, valued at dirham 196.5 billion, while free zones contributed 38per cent, amounting to 122 billion, and the customs warehouses made up 1 per cent with a value of 4.3 billion. China topped the list of Dubai's trading partners in the first quarter of 2014, with a trading value of dirham 38.5 billion, compared to 30.3 billion in the first quarter of 2013, reflecting a growth rate of 27 per cent.
China-Dubai trade constitutes 12 per cent of the Emirates overall foreign trade, keeping pace with the salient boom in China's trade, surpassing other economic forces in the volume of foreign trade. India came in second with an 8
per cent of Dubai's total foreign trade, equivalent to dirham 26.3 billion. The US followed in the third place with 20.1 billion, that is 6 per cent of the total foreign trade vol-
ume. The fourth place was equally shared by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, each at dirham 13.2 billion, a 4 per cent share of the total for each. "The recorded foreign trade during the first quarter of 2014 portrays Dubai's capability of adapting to all changes within the international trade variables; which is attributed to the wide array of markets covered by Dubai foreign trade, spanning the majority of international commodities from across the whole world," Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs said. He said the city has continued to maintain its capacity towards expansion and trade growth due to flexible commercial environment, which boosts the position of Dubai as global and regional premier trading hub. -PTI
ZTE plans to open handset R&D centre in India SHANGHAI: Betting big on the burgeoning affordable handset market in India, Chinese telecom major ZTE has said it plans to set up a new R&D centre dedicated to mobile phones. The firm will also launch six new smartphones this year to tap the multi-billion dollar opportunity in India. ZTE will price the smartphones between Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 catering to entry, mid and high-end segments. "Depending on the local carrier, we would launch six devices in India, both 3G and 4G from entry level to high end category," Adam Zeng, Chief Experience Officer, ZTE Mobile Devices told PTI. For India, ZTE is adopting a hybrid market strategy by selling handsets in collaboration with the telecom operator and through open market channels. The company is in talks with 4G operators for handset bundling deals in the near future, but declined to name them. "We are very optimistic about potential of 4G in India and plan to launch a range of affordable phones to drive the ecosystem," Zeng said on the sidelines of ZTE Mobile conference here.
According to ZTE Corp Head of Device Strategy Lv Qian Hao, "In the next three years, we would be among top five brand vendors of handsets in India." The company would also double its marketing and branding expenditure this year. ZTE, which is China's second largest telecom gear maker, is also planning to set up a new handset
R&D centre in India on the lines of its Shanghai facility. However, the Chinese firm declined to share any timeline or the planned investments on the project. "ZTE sees huge potential of handset business growth in India and is thinking long-term in terms of dedicated handset R&D centre for India," he said. The firm, which has 18 R&D centers across China, US and Europe, spends 10 per cent of its revenue from handsets on R&D.-PTI
Singapore, Canada, Germany new education hotspots NEW DELHI: Singapore, Canada, Germany are among the new destinations weaning away Indian students from traditional education hotspots like the US and the UK on the back of advantages in terms of lower fees and living expenses, an Assocham study has found. "There are many reasons for this changing trend such as fees and living expenses, global exposure and cultural experiences and internship and placement opportunities". "It is also because of a decline of Indian students going to the UK and the US with the UK tightening visa rules and the US job market experiencing a slowdown," the study noted. According to the study, there has been a significant rise of 15-
20 per cent in the number of students traveling abroad in new destinations for higher education. Other countries like Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and Ireland are also in Indian students' consideration list. The study observes that Indian students are looking at countries where education is considerably cheaper and parttime jobs are easier to secure. For design and fashion, the most desired destinations by Indian students are Italy and France. For hospitality management, students prefer countries like Switzerland and Australia, the study found. As per the study, more than 85,000 Indians went abroad in 2005 and the number shot up to 2.9 lakh in 2013. -PTI
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'India, South Africa agreements Himachal to celebrate paying dividends' 2014 as 'Silk Year' JOHANNESBURG: The partnership in BRICS and bilateral agreements between India and South Africa are starting to deliver dividends, the convener of the ruling African National Congress' business forum has said. Daryl Swanepoel, convener of the African National Congress Progressive Business Forum, was one of the speakers at a meeting in Johannesburg hosted by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to encourage investment and joint ventures between the two countries. "We must recognize that we have only started to scratch the surface of the potential that exists," Swanepoel said as he highlighted some of the achievements in the 20 years since Nelson Mandela first brought democracy to the South African population. "The focus now moves to how can we improve trade flow between the two countries," Swanepoel said, as he listed the steps needed for this. The steps mentioned by him included the need to improve mar-
ket access conditions; trade reforms that make doing business between the two countries easier and more efficient; and expanding the India-Southern African Customs Union Preferential Trade Agreement towards a comprehen-
Daryl Swanepoel, convener of the African National Congress Progressive Business Forum, was one of the speakers at a meeting hosted by Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan sive economic co-operation agreement incorporating services and investments. "We need to look at how to strengthen strategic partnerships across core industries such as Healthcare, Energy and Infrastructure and invest in sectors that facilitate knowledge and skills transfer," Swanepoel said.
"The Progressive Business Forum has a well-established, warm and growing relationship with the Confederation of Indian Industry, who have been most helpful to us over the last three years that we have in the spirit of our partnership in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) been promoting trade and industry between our two countries," he said. Swanepoel said that South Africa's export markets had changed considerably over the past 20 years. "New markets have emerged, while the share of exports to some traditional markets, such as United Kingdom, Japan and Europe, has declined. India is now South Africa's fifth-largest export destination, having overtaken both the United Kingdom and Switzerland," he noted. "Bilateral trade between India and South Africa has increased by 31 per cent to USD 7.6 billion in the just ended financial year, against USD 5. 8 billion in the same period last fiscal," he pointed out.-PTI
SHIMLA: The Himachal "The government is making Pradesh government has decided earnest efforts to bring the unit out to celebrate 2014 as 'Silk Year' to of the red and has stepped up commemorate the golden jubilee measures to give boost to of the state's lone silk mill. economy of local people by imThe process to set up a silk mill parting training and encourage at Bodh in Nurpur area of Kangra their greater participation in silk district was started in 1963 and it processing," an official spokeswas commissioned on June 9, 1964 when "The government is making Kangra district was part of Punjab. earnest efforts to bring Kangra was merged the unit out of the red and with Himachal Pradesh on November 1, 1966, has stepped up measures and three years later, to give boost to economy the control of the unit was handed over to the of local people Himachal Pradesh Mineral and Industrial Development Corporation man said. (HPMIDC). The unit has achieved its all The state government plans to time high production last year and revive the silk industry, and the for the past eight months, it is beHimachal Pradesh General Indus- ing projected aggressively not tries Corporation Limited (HPGIC), only in Himachal Pradesh but also which later took up the operation in neighboring states to make of the mill, has decided to add more people aware about the quality of varieties, launch innovative plans the fabric and attractive designer and make great offers to convert it products under the brand name of into a profit-making unit. "Himachali Silk". -PTI
Desi News Madonna school's 36th production of Ramayana VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service
SAN JOSE: Ramayana, world's most widely read classic, tells the story of Prince Ram, who, banished from his kingdom, leaves with his true love Sita and brother Lakshman to find a new home. The trio embarks upon an uncertain journey to save the world from the clutches of 10 headed demon Raavana. Mount Madonna school marked their 36th Annual production "Ramayana" from June 6-8 in San Jose's Mexican Heritage theater. The show featured a cast of some 200 student actors, ages 3 to 18, accompanied by a choir and adult musicians. It is a story of love, adventure, separation and an eventual joyous reunion, in an ancient allegory of the battle of good and evil. The show was filled with exciting action, spectacular costuming, family humor and original, live music. Details on page 24
FIA Kick Off event and Consular Expo draw large crowd A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service
CHICAGO: The large turnout of Indian community of Chicago at Indo American Center near Devon Ave on June 8 was unprecedented. They were there for the combined event of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Kick off ceremony and Chicago Indian Consulate Expo. The crowd was more than the capacity of the venue. Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, President FIA, one of the oldest community organizations, formally announced the Kick Off event agenda for the upcoming India Independence Day Celebrations in Chicago for August 15. Details on page 19
NY Gujarati Samaj to host Cultural Festival NEELA PANDYA
NEW YORK: Gujarati Samaj of New York will be hosting a Cultural Festival of Gujarat to mark the celebration of its 40th Anniversary. The announcement was made at a high profile event held at Indian Consulate in New York that was attended by over 120 VIPs, members and guests from Tri-State area. Details on page 20
COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA
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MAFS celebrates Asian Heritage Month with gala dinner Details on page 23
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Community mourns death of mass leader Gopinath Munde SURENDRA ULLAL
CHICAGO: Mourning the sudden death of Union Minister Gopinath Munde in a car accident recently, Indian Americans across Chicagoland felt that this could be a big blow to the nascent Modi Ministry in New Delhi. Munde had catapulted himself to a relative high position in the Government and ruling BJP not by political maneuvering but by hard grassroots work and assiduously trying to root out corruption. He was also involved in co-operative power politics in Maharashtra, his Karmabhoomi. He had successfully fought the power entrenched Congress goliath and was about to make positive changes in rural areas of not only Maharashtra but the entire country. His sudden departure has left a void difficult to fill. Many in the community here and back home in India feel that an independent probe into the car accident needs to be conducted to ensure that no foul play was involved. Sohan Joshi, a community activist and the president of National Federation of Indian Associations, joined scores of Indian Americans in mourning the shocking and sudden death of Shri Munde. In a talk to this paper, Joshi said that Munde had carved out a place for himself with the Indians across the country thru his selfless services and caring for the downtrodden in society. Though he was from Maharashtra he was equally well known and loved by people in other States of Indian Union. "We are all saddened here and pray to God Almighty for resting
India to bear Mundeji's loss and carry forward his unfinished task in lifting Maharashtra and India to a new high," he said. Joshi said he was sure that PM Narendra Modi will not waver from his pre-election crusade Paying tributes to Gopinath Munde about cleansing the administration as far as possible and to Chicago for a Health Summit in taking active steps to end endemic November. "Dr Harsh Vardhan corruption. People like Gopinath has accepted our invitation. We Munde would have been a great also expect Modiji to make it pos-
NFIA PrĂŠsident Sohan Joshi
Jitendra Diganvker
help but then "we need to move forward," he said. He further said that on behalf of NFIA he has sent congratula-
Joshi said he was sure that PM Narendra Modi will not waver from his pre-election crusade about cleansing the administration as far as possible and taking active steps to end endemic corruption. People like Munde would have been a great help. his soul in Peace. We also pray to Almighty that He gives strength to all the nation building forces in
tory messages to PM Modi and Union Health Minister Dr Harvardhan who is invited to come
Pradyna (Sister of late BJP leader, Pramod Mahajan) and three daughters one of whom, Pankaja Munde, is an MLA from Parli in Maharashtra's Beed district. Eldest daughter Pankaja Munde Palwe performed the last rites as top political leaders from all over the country attended the funeral. Munde was a leader of the masses with a pleasant disposition. He was architect of BJP's growth along with his brother-inlaw late Pramod Mahajan in Maharashtra. He was one of the key architects of the recent unprecedented victory of BJP in the parliamentary elections in Maharashtra. OFBJP-USA said it prays that his soul rests in peace and God bestows strength to his surviving family in their hour of crisis.
Ajit Gandhi
sible to come to Chicago in September this year," he mentioned.
OFBJP USA offers condolences CHICAGO: Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) - USA has expressed grief at the sudden and tragic demise of BJP's leader from Maharashtra, Gopinath Munde. "It is a great loss for the nation, BJP, and Maharashtra as the void created by his departure cannot be easily filled. The loss would be irreparable," Jitendra Diganvker, an OFBJP activist said. Mundeji is survived by his wife
Shridhar Damle
Was it an accident? Ajit Gandhi, a community activist from Naperville in Illinois poses a question with hundreds others in Maharashtra: "Was the shocking death of Shri Gopinath Munde, the Union Minister for Rural Development, the outcome of a car accident or a "planned move" by some interested groups to oust him from the political scene?" Hundreds and hundreds of people attending his funeral in Maharashtra sought a CBI probe into his death, on the suspicion that it was not an accident. Cont’d on page 19
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India Minister invited for Chicago Health Summit KISHORE MEHTA & HARISH RAO
CHICAGO: The Association of Tamil Nadu Medical Graduates Charitable Foundation (ATMG USA), Chicago, USA has announced organizing a Health Summit on November 7 & 8 in Chicago. This two day Health Summit would facilitate transfer of technology, exchange programs and development of an International Institute of Public Health in India. National Federation of Indian
tation and congratulatory messages to PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Health Dr Harsh Vardhan to come to Chicago through Dr Vijay Prabhakar, ATMG Executive director and our advisor," he said Dr Vijay G Prabhakar, Executive Director of ATMG , USA along with M Logith, Executive Director of HemRam Eco Consultancies of Chennai invited the Union Minis-
Dr Vijay Prabhakar (left) and M Logith flanking Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan
Associations (NFI) is also an active participant in this summit, according to Sohan Joshi, President NFIA. "In fact, we have sent invi-
ter of Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan, to deliver the keynote address at the US-India Health Summit in Chicago. He is invited also to preside over the Indian American Medical Association (IL) USA's 34th Annual Banquet to be held on November 8 in Chicago. Prominent health care organizations, universities and Federal Government officials are expected to participate in the US - India Health Summit. US Congressman Danny K Davis and US Secretary of Health and Human Services will also participate. Dr Vijay Prabhakar presented a congratulatory message plaque from US Congressman Danny Davis to Dr Harsh Vardhan at their recent meeting in New Delhi. M Logith India's coordinator of the US - India Health Summit 2014 also presented a congratulatory message plaque from NFIA, USA to Dr Harsh Vardhan at the same meeting. Accepting the invitation and congratulatory messages, Dr Harsh Vardhan, laid stress on strengthening the health care system in India from the primary health care centers to establishing institutes of excellence in each state.
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FIA Kick Off event and Consular Expo draw large crowd A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service
CHICAGO: The large turnout of Indian community of Chicago at Indo American Center near Devon Ave on June 8 was unprecedented. They were there for the combined event of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Kick off ceremony and Chicago Indian Consulate Expo. The crowd was more than the capacity of the venue. Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, President FIA, one of the oldest community organizations, formally announced the Kick Off event agenda for the upcoming India Independence Day Celebrations in Chicago for August 15. The event started with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony and for a change it was done by a spiritual guru from India, Swami Pavitranandaji from Chandod Gujarat. He has been criss crossing USA and is on the third lap of journey in Chicago. He was joined by CG Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Iftekhar Shareef and Alderman Debra Silverstein. All senior FIA members and trustees namely Bhailal Patel, Babu Bhai Patel, Ranjit Ganguly, Kanti Patel, Sohan Joshi, Rajput Sher Mohammed joined the ceremony. Amidst applauds Keerthi announced that FIA will resume the "Taste of India Festival" event at Warren Park this year that will conclude the three day celebrations beginning with flag hosting at downtown and India Parade on
passport office to his community outreach programs in Chicago. He hailed him as a man in community
related services. Speaking about functioning of Chicago consulate, Dr Ausaf said that his office has 'open house' events for community from time to time where people can just walk in and discuss the service related issues. "We want this office to be a model consulate that caters to the needs of our community", he said. Dr Ausaf also explained the emergency services of his office. For medical emergencies a service can be requested on weekends too, he
said. Later, Keerthi Kumar requested Dr Bharat Barai, a prominent community leader and senior trustee of FIA to share his views as he recently attended the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Dr Bharat Barai, a close friend of the PM, acknowledged that it was an honor as he was ushered to the front row along with wife for the ceremony. Cont’d on page 20
Community mourns death of mass leader Gopinath Munde Cont’d from page 16 Lamp lighting ceremony by Pavotranandaji for FIA Kick Off event at Indo American Cente
Lamp lighting joined by others
Speakers: Trustee Chair Iftekhar Shareef and FIA President Keerthi Ravoori
Devon Ave. Keerthi also introduced FIA trustees and old members. He thanked the chief guests of the event, Indian Consul General Dr Ausaf Sayeed and Alderman of 50th ward Debra Silverstein and Senator Ira Silverstein. Both were later presented flower bouquet for a formal welcome. Iftekhar Shareef introduced ICG Dr Ausaf Sayeed tracking his achievements from Hyderabad
service. The Indian Consul General, Dr Ausaf Sayeed spoke in detail
about his office's outreach programs for the Indian community in Midwest. He clarified that Consulate Expo was not meant for issuing visa in a camp but for visa and other related information purposes only. He introduced his team of staff working at Chicago consulate and said his team was ready to provide all necessary information to community for obtaining Indian visa, OCI, NRI services, renewal of passports and
Speakers: Former President Dr Bharat Barai and Indian CG Dr. Ausuf Sayeed
Pawar, highlighting the endemic corruption, connections with gangsters and social injustice meted out to the weak and downtrodden. He was at ease with commoners, would listen to their problems and was happy to eat with them at their dwellings. Congress leaders used their control over cooperative sugar factories as power centers in Maharashtra, to create domination in vote bank politics in local elections, co operative banks in districts, in schools and colleges - in short create their own Nawabi suba or monopoly. Munde offered
Rising from a relatively low rung of the ladder, Gopinathji Munde literally symbolized a true bottoms-up phenomenon. His biggest achievement can be said to be the challenge he posed to the strongman of Maharashtra Sharad Pawar. In the end, he finished Pawar's power in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Alas, he did not live to enjoy that victory. He came from the so-called OBC and yet became a star within BJP. He was guided by Vasantraao Bhagwat of the RSS/BJP combine. His other big contribution was to change the Congress leaders used their image of the BJP which was known to be party control over cooperative of the Brahmans & sugar factories as power Baniyas, that too in the urban areas. He took centers in Maharashtra, to BJP deep in the country create domination in vote and to so many castes bank politics in local elec& communities. No doubt, he was very am- tions and co operative banks bitious. He did achieve the post of Deputy CM, won the a good alternative to people and LS election handsomely, became farmers, thereby making a big dent a Central Cabinet minister and was in the nefarious game of corrupt on the way to become CM of elements by running successfully Maharashtra in 4 months. and profitably co operative sugar The outpouring at his funeral factories. Later, other BJP leaders was so strong that not only the followed his lead and set the same Congress party leaders had to run pattern and path away but even some of the BJP In a short observation, he added "this is my view as a politinetaas, too. Shridhar Damle commented not cal researcher, not as a BJP peras a BJP sympathizer and worker son. Matter of fact I informed BJP but as a political researcher that leaders that if you come to power, Gopinath Munde was a mass I will be in opposition for the simple leader. BJP pracharak Vasantrao reason that power corrupts. It is Bhagwat groomed him along with better that sympathizers like me other activists from various ne- draw attention of BJP to their misglected castes like Wadhawane, takes and unfold corruption at any place rather than the power grab Phudkar, Dange etc. Munde did a whirlwind cam- motive which could be motivating paign, especially against Sharad anti-BJP opposition parties."
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NY Gujarati Samaj to host Cultural Festival NEELA PANDYA
NEW YORK: Gujarati Samaj of New York will be hosting a Cultural Festival of Gujarat to mark the celebration of its 40th Anniversary. The announcement was made at a high profile event held at Indian Consulate in New York that was attended by over 120 VIPs, members and guests from Tri-State area. Attendees observed silence in memory of late Gopinath Munde, a member of the Modi ministry, who died in an accident last week. NY Consul General Dyaneshwar Mulay inaugurated the launch with traditional lamp ceremony with committee members, chanting of Shlokas by Chamunda Swami. The three-day celebrations, it was announced, will be held on August on 8, 9 and 10 in St. Anthony's Conference Center in Melville, New York. It will be a mega event showcasing the rich history, culture and heritage of State of Gujarat in India, birth state of global icon Mahatma
CGI Mulay addressing the gathering
Ratan Tata and Dhirubhai Ambani and the recently elected Prime Minister of India, Narendrabhai
Shakuntal Arts, Kamlesh Patel Dance, Dayro by Sairam Dave & Group, Women Seminar by Kajal
Key members of Gujarati Samaj of New York: From left Jatin Upadhyaya, Anil Patel, Minesh Patel, Harshad Patel, Bharati Desai, Divyesh Tripathi, Dilip Chauhan, Chandrakant Patel and Kirit Patel
Gandhi, Iron man Sardar Patel, religious gurus including Pramukh Swami, business leaders
Modi among others. It will show case Garbo from Gujarati Samaj, Bhavai by
Ganesh Vandana by Tosha Patel
Fashion Show by Sringar group, Archan Trivedi for drama, Bhanubhai Vora of Swarkinnary group from Bombay, Sanjay Oza and Party, Sahitya lecture, Auction Of Arts and Award ceremony. CG Mulay congratulated Samaj founders, past and present President, committee members and member families on their unprecedented success in building the Samaj over last four decades. He expressed the need to market India better especially to the mainstream. He asked every member to invite mainstream people to events and educate them about richness of India and Indian culture. He wondered why
India still does not have a permanent seat at Security Council. He shared the Consulate initiative to host a series of events on India's diversity of various states, and also on a series of events with top guest speakers where mainstream is invited and informed about India and Indian community. He urged the community members to bring American friends to the Consulate while attending events. He shared his convictions that India and USA are best partners to build the global economy. And every NRI should help making that happen. Cont’d on page 23
FIA Kick Off event and Consular Expo draw large crowd
Oza, Group Bhajans by Hari Bharwad, comedy by Jagdish Trivedi, concert by Mauli Dave,
A section of the audience Cont’d from page 19
A section of the audience
And what he felt, he expressed it repeating a comment he made to India Post resident editor Ramesh Soparawala when he asked his reaction for BJP victory in recent polls. Dr Barai said, "I felt it was
like finally India won freedom from the British power and we have our own national government." Dr Barai also recalled his association with Indo-American Center and FIA. Minhaj Akhtar gave a vote of thanks on behalf of FIA.
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Chicago Region FBI Chief visits gurdwara RAJINDER MAGO
PALATINE: Chicago Region's Special Agent in Charge, Robert J. Holley, paid a visit to Sikh Gurdwara in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago on May 30. The purpose of the visit was to meet
ety president Mrs Jasbir Kaur Saluja, board members and community leaders and given a tour of the facilities. Jay and Jas Singh presented him a bouquet of flowers. He was treated to an informa-
Holley in conversation with SRS members about Hate crime and other issues
Robert Holley addressing members and guests at Sikh Religious Society in Palatine
and greet, and was organized at the behest of Sikh Religious Society (SRS) in Palatine. Holley was welcomed by soci-
tional presentation about Sikhs. Holley explained his job responsibilities and the working structure of his staff and various
departments, and emphasized his personal passion about the security of citizens. Holley's past experience and expertise happens to be international counter terrorism. A free flowing dialogue during Q&A session ensued where curbing the prevalent hate crimes
against Sikhs and mitigation of safety and security concerns, and how to complain were discussed. Holley sat on the floor to observe the Sikh worship congregation. He listened to the keertan (Sikh hymns) and was invited to address the Gurdwara congregation. He also partook of "Langar".
Robert Holley began his career as a Special Agent with the FBI in 1995. Prior to that Holley served nine years in the US Army as an infantry officer. He was appointed as the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of investigations Chicago Field Division in November 2013.
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St Louis Bal Vihar celebrates annual day ASHWIN PATEL & RAJ IYER
Bal Vihar volunteers, teachers and organizers
ST LOUIS: Bal Vihar of St. Louis, a modern version of yesteryears' of Gurukul, celebrated its Annual Day last month. This event wrapped up 22 successful years of Bal Vihar's existence. The Annual Day was also a special occasion for 11 senior youths who completed their Bal Vihar journey. These students served as teachers during their last year guiding their younger community. These students are now ready for the next level of journey that leads them towards leveraging the skills they acquired during these last few years.
they have learned this school year. It was amazing to see with what ease the children have been able to pick up new bhajans and some challenging postures as they progressed through the years. The Center for Indian Cultural Education - Bal Vihar of St. Louis, a non-profit organization, since its inception in 1992 has been serving the Metro St. Louis Indian community. The primary focus of this organization is to provide Indian cultural education to students age 518, its application and integration with the global multicultural and multifaceted society.
Bal Vihar students doing Yoga
Over last 20+ years Bal Vihar has helped groom a breed of multicultural global leaders of next generation that have been shaped by the best of the cultures from east and west. These youngsters understand the need and value of the cultural values that have been instilled in them through the rigorous program. Students are also taught discipline, tolerance and devotion in their daily routine. The ultimate goal is "to throw the light of cultural knowledge on every child, to make every child an outstanding citizen and to spread the song of peace and harmony around the world."
Students singing bhajans
This day was preceded by Graduation Day for two groups of students on May 4. Two dozen students graduated from regular Bal Vihar into Youth Group. These students are ready to move to the next level where they will be engaged in a lot of community and inter-faith activities. Youths also assist the teachers and younger students in regular classrooms. May 4 was also an opportunity for each class to showcase special Bhajans and Yoga postures
Young kids presenting of an entertainment program
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MAFS celebrates Asian Heritage Month with gala dinner obstacles and challenges in the United States that led her to establish a MAFS organization for the immigrant community. She urged the community to come forward and take active part in this charitable cause of giving back to those in need. Mrs Kumar thanked Mr Kumar and other collaborative services such as Metro Family Clinic, Metro Home Health and
Asian Media USA
CHICAGO: It was cross-border love and harmony that marked Metropolitan Asian Family Services' Asian Heritage Month and mini fundraising gala dinner on May 31 at Naperville Senior Center in Naperville, a Southside suburb of Chicago. The hall was packed with prominent dignitaries including local elected officials, Board Members of MAFS, volunteers, work force, senior members from various centers, and guests. The celebration started with lamp lightening ceremony which was performed by Swami Parmeshanandaji from Bharat Sevashram Sangha of Aurora, along with Board Members of MAFS and other prominent dignitaries present. Dr Firdaus Jafri, President MAFS, welcomed guests. She praised Mrs Santosh Kumar and staff efforts to deliver solutions and to bring much needed social services to the community. Keynote speaker Dorothy Miaso, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of America, informed the crowd, how Mrs Kumar's philanthropic nature helped Literacy Volunteers of America with her time, skills and resources 25 years ago as Vista Volunteer. Miaso was impressed with MAFS & UMAS' number of services and congratulated Mrs Kumar, Board members and staff for providing such quality social service to its population. She said that MAFS plays a pivotal role to navigate the tangled web of service delivery system. She summed up with the 'power of one' quote
Lamp lightening ceremony performed by Swami Parmeshanandaji from Bharat Sevashram Sangha of Aurora, IL
and praised Mrs Kumar for providing all needed services to the community all these years. Chief Guest Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India in Chicago, was very impressed with the number of social services provided by MAFS to the immigrant population of India and its neighboring countries. George Pradel, Napverille Mayor congratulated
the MAFS team for doing great work for the immigrant population in Naperville. Krishna Bansal, Chairman of the Indian Community Outreach Mayor's Office City of Naperville, congratulated MAFS team for providing much needed services to the community. Speaking to over 300 guests, Mrs Kumar pointed out her initial
Seniors and MAFS staff members enjoying Bollywood songs sung by Swar Sarita
Cont’d on page 25
NY Gujarati Samaj to host Cultural Festival Cont’d from page 20
Medley Dance group seniors with Mrs Santosh and Mr Kumar and George Pradel, Napverille Mayor
Universal Family Services for supporting and nurturing MAFS to provide core integrated services. Naren Patel, Vice president of MAFS, congratulated the MAFS team for serving the needy in the Chicagoland Area and extended his full support to this charitable cause.
2400 families representing some of the most successful and affluent Gujarati Americans of Tri-state area. It showcased "Garavi Gujarat," a film on Gujarat's riches and unfolded the video on CFG. The website was inaugurated by the Consul General. As of today the Samaj life membership has reached over 2400. Over last 39 years the Samaj has conducted several activities to promote Gujarati and Indian religions and culture in New York area to community persons from all generations. In 1985, the Samaj acquired its own 12,000 sqft center located in Fresh Meadows, Queens, New York. The Center can accommodate up to 700 people.
R. D. Patel, Chairman of Board of Trustees said, "We are excited to present this mega event to the community to thank our predecessors who brought the Samaj reach this far. This institution has been the cornerstone for our community to continue to share our culture with generations over last 40 years and I promise to continue to build with help from each Trustee of the Board in coming years". Harshad Patel, President of Gujarati Samaj of New York said, "I am fortunate to be the President in this historic year, and look forward to host an event of international standards with help from Dilip Chauhan, Minesh Patel and Bhupendra Over last 39 years the Samaj Patel, along with day to day contribution from has conducted several my able committee mem- activities to promote Gujarati bers, Jatin Upadhyay, Chandrakant Patel, and Indian religions and Chimanbhai Patel, Anil culture in New York area to Patel, Kiritbhai Patel community persons from all and Divyesh Tripathi, to make this dream come generations. true. I urge each of the community people of Indian oriAttendees will enjoy traditional gin to join us, and business com- Gujarati food, famous Gujarati munity to help with support to movies like Jigar ane ami, Akhand make it a grand success". Saubhagyavati and Mahendi Rang Bharti Desai, Program manager Lagyo. Various booths will decoand host of Gujarati Samaj of New rate the exhibition at the event with York and launch event, said, "It book stalls and handicrafts. Samaj has been a pleasant experience for has announced a raffle draw for a me to host and organize multiple BMW car for the attendees. events at the Samaj in last few deTop Government officials, pubcades. It has helped me creatively lic persons, business and commuto contribute in making each pro- nity leaders, young professionals, gram a success. After having achievers and VVIPs are expected worked with several Presidents at to attend the mega event over 3the Samaj, now I look forward to days to be attended by 5,000 per handling this mega event and take day. the events presented by the Samaj Dr Navin Mehta, Trustee and to the next level in organizational major supporter of Samaj, thanked excellence". the attendees and community in The Samaj established in 1974 helping the Samaj in the last 39 has now membership of more than years.
24 India Post
Community Across America
June 13, 2014
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Madonna school's 36th production of Ramayana
VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service
SAN JOSE: Ramayana, world's most widely read classic, tells the story of Prince Ram, who, banished from his kingdom, leaves with his true love Sita and brother Lakshman to find a new home. The trio embarks upon an uncertain journey to save the world from the clutches of 10 headed demon Raavana. Mount Madonna school marked their 36th Annual production "Ramayana" from June 6-8 in San Jose's Mexican Heritage theater. The show featured a cast of some 200 student actors, ages 3
to 18, accompanied by a choir and adult musicians. It is a story of love, adventure, separation and an eventual joyous reunion, in an ancient allegory of the battle of good and evil. The show was filled with exciting action, spectacular costuming, family humor and original, live music. Speaking about the introduction of the play, Leigh Ann Clifton, Media and Public Relations officer, Mount Madonna School, says, "Ramayana was introduced by Baba Hari Dass in 1972. But in 1979, the school commenced a production with the students and other children making up the cast". Cont’d on page 26
Community Across America
June 13, 2014
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Sikhs participate in Memorial Day parades RAJINDER SINGH MAGO
CHICAGO: Sikh American community members of Chicago participated in the Memorial Day Parade on May 24 with a float, flags, posters, banners and a walking unit to honor and commemorate Sikh's contributions in World Wars. The banners featured photos and quotations which highlight the contributions of Sikh soldiers to the success of the Allied Troops during World War I and II. This was the third year that the community has participated in this annual parade. Sikh Soldiers who gallantly fought and sacrificed their lives for the success of the Allies in World Wars I & II were part of BritishIndia Army. They bravely fought for the allies in France, Belgium, Italy, Israel and many other battle fronts. In the two world wars, 83,005 Sikh soldiers died and 109,045 were wounded while fighting for the Allied forces. The two hour long parade organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events stepped off at noon. There were more than 150 contingents in the parade.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Lieutenant Colonel Tammy Duckworth the Iraq war veteran, former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Congresswoman of Illinois' 8th Congressional District were the parade's grand marshals. The Chicago Sikhs also participated in another Memorial Day Parade in Itasca, Illinois. The parade started from Bryn Mawr and Catalpa streets and ended at the Itasca train station. Sikh martial art "Gatka" was demonstrated and Sikhs served bottled water to hundreds of spectators. The Chicago Sikh community also participated in Memorial Day Observance Ceremonies at Hoffman Estates Veterans Memorial Cemetery Site and at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg Illinois. A special memorial address was given by 1st. Lt. David M. Murphy, Pillars of The ceremonies ended with a picnic in the garden decorated with posters of Sikh Soldiers from world wars I & II. Memorial Day has a rich history. It began shortly after the Civil
Sikh participants in Downtown Memorial Day Parade
MAFS celebrates Asian Heritage Month with gala dinner Cont’d from page 23
Ms Dorothy Miaso was honored with the Community and Educational Impact Award and Ausaf Sayeed was recognized with the Public Service Award. Pooja and Radha Thakkar mesmerized everyone with their Bollywood dance performances. Meeti Vyas touched everyone's heart with her mellifluous voice. The seniors of the Chicago Adult Day Care performed a very entertaining and engaging skit named Atut Shraddha. Seniors from the Niles location presented "Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki". Naperville seniors fascinated everyone with "Medley Dance", a performance on yesteryear Bollywood songs. Chalte Chalte, another classical Bollywood dance, was performed by the Naperville and Carol Stream se-
niors. Bipinchandra Sanghavi, a Carol Stream senior, left few eyes dry with his songs. Surendra Brahmbhatt, a Niles senior, surprised everyone with his magic show! However, the greatest attraction of the evening was Shyam E Bahaar - A Musical Show by Swar Sarita, music group from Bombay, India. The singers were Samsuddin Vaghela, Madhuri Goswami and Kunal Mahant who were accompanied by musicians, Jayesh Raval and Pankaj Raval. They enthralled everyone with pulsating Bollywood numbers and also mesmerized all with a variety of nostalgic, old songs. The celebration culminated with Vote of Thanks by Ms Beena Patel, Secretary, MAFS. It was compeered by Neelam Desai, Naperville Manager and Jahnavi Bavisi, Niles Manager.
Sikhs with Schaumburg Mayor and officials
War ended when General John Logan proclaimed that the 30th
day of May be designated for the purpose of decorating the graves
of soldiers who died. It was first observed on May 30.
Community Across America
26 India Post
June 13, 2014
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Madonna school's 36th production of Ramayana
Readers Write... www.indiapost.com
Swami Rama Tirtha's vision of India
T
his is to thank you and your editorial team for providing a nice title, "Rama Tirtha's vision coming alive". I hope this article makes India Post come alive! Whatever Swami Rama Tirtha said always came true. He was a very great Siddha (perfect/supreme being). It is said, the sun may not rise next day but the words of a perfect being never fail. All this may seem impossible but we all know that the sun always comes up when darkness is so thick it is hard to believe that the sun will ever rise. Swami Rama Tirtha knew that India would struggle to create a sense of unity among various sects. That is why he wrote, "The Divide and Conquer policy of the rulers widens the
gulf between Hindus and Mohammedans, and again between the different sects of Hindus. If India is to be saved, whether spiritually,
Swami Rama Tirtha
politically, socially or in any way, it is to be saved through the kind
of culture which removes discord and difference, which knocks at the head of caste-division, which deals a deathblow to jealousy and laziness. These are to be eradicated from India if we wish that she should stand up, live again, hold its own against other nations and be a source of blessing to England, to America, and to the whole world." (quoted in my book, Building a Noble World) Your esteemed newspaper can make a big difference in creating the right atmosphere for such a transformation. Sooner or later, India's PM and his cabinet ministers as well as others should realize what Raman Maharshi once said, "Whatever is destined not to happen will not happen, try how hard you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen, do what you may to stop it." Shiv Jhavar Chicago, IL.
Disclaimer :- India Post does not endorse opinions expressed in the letters.
Cont’d from page 24
The play has grown to be the widely anticipated annual school event of the year in which the entire school participates. Every child at Mount Madonna School is required to participate in the annual production, either as on-stage performers, musicians or backstage support staff. Bringing Ramayana to life each year is a labor of love for the crew as well, with hundreds of faculty, staff, parents and volunteers contributing in myriad ways, says Leigh. Behind the dazzling costumes, heartfelt performances and col-
orful staging are the quiet coproducers Anurag White and Nicole Tervalon. The 2014 show was directed by Erika Rosendale and Trevor Forry, both alumni of MMS. Both have engaged in recent years as assistants to longtime MMS performing Arts director Sampad Martin Kachuck. They may be less visible but they are absolutely essential to the successful staging of this great epic year after year. A rich performing arts tradition and integrated arts curriculum make MMS performances outstanding. Mount Madonna school Ramayana is a must see show in Bay area.
Inspirational talk by Brahma Kumar Charles Hogg MILPITAS, CA: Brahma Kumaris Silicon Valley Center, Milpitas will hold an evening of Inspirational Talk by Raj Yogi Brahma Kumar, Brother Charles Hogg, on "A Future Without Fear" on Saturday, July 5 from 6pm-9pm at Jain Center Auditorium, 722 S. Main Street, Milpitas, Ca. Brother Charlie is the National Coordinator of Brahma Kumaris Raj Yoga Centers in Australia, has written several books and has spoken at forums, seminars, retreats and workshops in more than 60 countries. Program consists of light dinner (6pm to 6:45pm only), live entertainment, talk by Brother Charlie, followed by Guided Meditation. Admission is free but, RSVP is required for better planning. Email at rsvp@bksiliconvalley.org.
June 13, 2014
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India Post 27
TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS
1 Mast Magan: 2 States 2 Locha-E-Ulfat: 2 States 3 Party With The Bhoothnath: Bhoothnath Returns 4 Whistle Baja: Heropanti 28 India Post
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June 13, 2014
5 Galliyan: Ek Villian 6 Raat Bhar: Heropanti 7 Dard Dilo Ko: The Xpose 8 Fugly Fugly Kya Hai: Fugly 9
Baby Doll: Ragini MMS 2
10 Caller Tune: Humshakals
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riyanka Chopra is facing weighty issue. The actress has lost 20 kg in just 20 days to get back into shape for Zoya Akhtar's 'Dil Dhadakne Do'. Priyanka gained weight for Mary Kom biopic and no sooner Mary Kom biopic wrapped up, she has to begin Zoya Akhtar's 'Dil Dhadakne Do' and with no time left in hand, Priyanka had to shed 7 kg in just 20 days. Priyanka had grown a muscular body for Mary Kom biopic and trainer
O
ne of the most talented actresses Vidya Balan has donned various avatars in her upcoming film 'Bobby Jasoos'. And one of her looks is allegedly designed to look like Ekta Kapoor's mother Shobha Kapoor. Quoting a source, a Mid-Day report says that in one of the scenes Vidya is playing the role of a television show producer named Makhila Kapoor. In the scene, the actress is wearing attire that is similar to Shobha Kapoor's. She will also wear a big bindi, dark lipstick, some jewellery on her wrist and many strands of rudraksha around her neck. Also since Vidya is close to Ekta and Shobha Kapoor, it was easy to impersonate the latter and enact her mannerisms. The movie will see Vidya playing the role of a beggar, an astrologer, a peon, a college student and a TV producer. Well we sure hope the movie is as exciting as it sounds.
The movie will see Vidya playing the role of a beggar, an astrologer, a peon, a college student and a TV producer
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ndo-Canadian adult film star Sunny Leone is happy for getting noticed but is not sure if she has made her mark in Bollywood. "I have done only three films. I still have to work hard. I want more and more people to watch and enjoy my films. It is a steady process. I think one should work hard and prove oneself in dancing, acting and bringing in ticket sales (box office)," she said. Sunny is happy with the audience response to 'Ragini MMS 2'. "I wasn't expecting the film to do this well. I thank my fans for watching the film. I wonder how can one film change things," she added.
Jharna Sanghvi had been training Priyanka to get into the shape for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Mary Kom' for over an year. According to Jharna, only a true boxer can lose this much weight in such a short period of time but with no time left in hand, they have to follow a tough regime including a strict controlled diet. Mary Kom biopic is a great challenge for Piggy Chops as she had not only to build up a boxer body but at the same time, she had to undergo an image makeover to look like the boxer.
Bollywood
June 13, 2014
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S A
kshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha are optimistic about their third outing, 'Holiday -A Soldier Is Never Off Duty'. The duo, whose pairing has always worked at the box office, also share a good rapport. Says Akshay, "Sonakshi is extremely professional. I know many heroines who reach the set at 7am, but do not step out of their vanity vans before 11am. They seem to take the word 'vanity' rather seriously. Sonakshi, on the other hand, values the producer's money." The actress also admires her co-star's professionalism. Says she, "He never misuses his stardom and values other people's time." Akshay asks, "Have you ever seen me angry?" She adds, "Ah, yes, I have learnt to keep my cool from him." Akshay says Sonakshi is a spontaneous actress. "She switches from a frivolous mood on the set to a serious scene in front of the camera with ease. I have to prepare a lot before I get into the character," he e x plains.
wedish-Iranian actress Maryam Zakaria, who's acted in films like Agent Vinod and Grand Masti, says, "I travel a lot for work, and I love it because it's a lot of fun, but sometimes I wish I could stay in a city for a bit longer. I am always just passing through. I am so fascinated by Jaipur, and I would love to stay here one extra day to look around, go to the Amber fort and the Hawa Mahal, see the beautiful palaces, but I don't have the time." And while Jaipurites are losing their mind over how hot it is, Maryam enjoyed the heat while she was there. She said, "When I landed in Jaipur, I immediately posted a picture on Instagram about the temperature. I know people complain about the heat, but I grew up in a cold place, so I enjoy it." Jaipur isn't the only part of Rajasthan she's familiar with, though.
B
ollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez is all set to open a restaurant in Sri Lanka. The former Sri Lankan has often expressed her desire to go back to her roots and this looks like her first step towards it. Excited about her new project, Jacqueline stated that she always had this in mind but could not take time off to set it up. We also hear that the actress will personally look into the design and interiors of the hotel. Jacqueline will launch this restaurant by mid-June. Jacqueline Fernandez will soon be seen in 'Kick' with Salman Khan post which she will be playing a double role in Arjun Rampal, Ranbir Kapoor starrer 'Roy'.
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US health regulator inspects Divis Lab facility NEW DELHI: Drug firm Divis Laboratories' facility near Visakhapatnam has been inspected by the US drug regulator early this month for its "custom manufactured product". The Unit II at village Chippada near Visakhapatnam has had an inspection by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) with no major observations, Divis Laboratories said in a filing to BSE. "The audit concluded with one observation primarily about further improvement of existing procedure. The purpose of this inspection was for custom manufactured product," it added. Divis undertakes custom manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and advanced intermediates.-PTI
„ Sex ratio in Haryana improves to 881 CHANDIGARH: In a positive sign, Haryana's skewed sex-ratio has improved to 881 from 875 last year on the back of measures taken by the health department, the state government said. In the last one year, the sex ratio has improved in 12 districts of the state including the five districts of Ambala, Kaithal, Panchkula, Panipat and Mewat, where it has improved to more than 900, the spokesman said. "The slew of promotional-cumpunitive measures taken by the Health department have paid rich dividends," the spokesman said, attributing credit to the pro-active policies adopted by the state's health department. The various steps taken by the health department to improve female sex ratio include improving health facilities on one side, and punishing those found involved in female feticide or sex determination of the unborn child, the spokesman added. The Health Department has cancelled registration of 37 illegal gender detection centers and sealed ultrasound machines of 38 centers between April, 2013 and March, 2014, the spokesman said. Besides, seven doctors have been convicted under the PNDCT Act and their names removed from the register of Haryana State Medical Council for five years. In the last two months, 22 FIRs have been registered for the violation of the PC and PNDCT Act 1994. -PTI
Health Science
Arizona judge rules pot can be used for PTSD Details on Page 34
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New app measures parents' stress, gives advice WASHINGTON: Researchers have developed a smartphone app paired with sensors to detect stress in parents and offer advice to help them cope in real time. Computer scientists at Microsoft Research and the University of California, San Diego have developed the system that delivers research-based strategies to help decrease stress in parents during emotionally charged interactions with their children. The system, called ParentGuardian, was initially tested on a small group of parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The system is the first to detect stress and present interventions in real-time. It combines a sensor worn on the wrist with a smart phone and tablet, and a server to analyze data from the sensor. The interventions are based on Parenting Behavioral Therapy, which has been shown to be effective in addressing the needs of children with ADHD and their parents. The therapy teaches parents the skills they need to work on
and has been shown to have long-term effects for both parent and child. It has been shown to improve self-control and self-awareness in children and reduce parental stress. But sticking with the therapy is difficult, especially during
over 3 months to design ParentGuardian. Parents used the prototype at home for 14 days and wore the stress monitors every day between 6 pm and 10 pm - a time of peak stress when they were juggling homework, making dinner and assisting their children's other activities.
times of the day that are particularly stressful. Parent Guardian was designed to identify these stressful moments and remind parents of these strategies, which they sometimes forget in the heat of the moment. Pina worked with 10 parents
Overall, parents reported that the app was very helpful, giving it an average rating of 5.1 on a scale of 1 to 7. ParentGuardian combines four different pieces. The first is the stress sensor, the second is the phone, which reminds parents of effective strategies and
also transmits data from the sensor to a backend server, where the sensor data is analyzed to detect when the parent is stressed. Finally, a tablet serves as a second medium to remind parents of useful interventions. The wrist sensor measures electrical activity on the user's skin. When users experience positive or negative feelings, they secrete very small quantities of sweat, which changes the amount of electricity their skin conducts. The sweat is not visible to the naked eye, but is enough to change the amount of electricity conducted by the skin, which is used for stress detection. Users also self-reported when they were feeling stress throughout the day as a form ground truth. Researchers then compared the data from the sensors with the users' self-reports about stress to train a machine learning algorithm to detect the stress events in real-time. All users in the study had children with ADHD and eight out of the 10 parents were mothers. PTI
Chinese woman arrested for beating doc, nurse BEIJING: A 45-year-old Chinese woman has been arrested for leading enraged family members of a cancer patient to beat a female doctor and a pregnant nurse, in the latest hospital attack that has shocked the nation. Police in Changsha, capital of Hunan, said that the woman surnamed Ouyang had been arrested for her role in the assault. Victims of the violence were a female doctor and a nurse five months into pregnancy. Their hospital, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, said the doctor suffered bruises and concussion, and the nurse reported signs of
threatened miscarriage. Police said Ouyang and other relatives of a lung cancer patient beat the doctor and the nurse because they were dissatisfied with
tor to kneel before the body for several minutes, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Police said Ouyang was unemployed but did not reveal identi-
China has seen a spate of attacks on medical staff in recent years amid strained patient-doctor relations. Chinese patients often accuse doctors of rushing consultations and prescribing excessive medicines the emergency treatment. After the patient died, Ouyang also forced the 29-year- old doc-
ties of other attackers. The nurse said one attacker claimed to be a civil servant.
China has seen a spate of attacks on medical staff in recent years amid strained patientdoctor relations. Chinese patients often accuse doctors of rushing consultations and prescribing excessive medicines, while doctors have complained about overwork, low pay and being frequently misunderstood. In October 2013, a man stabbed a doctor to death and wounded two others at a hospital in the eastern city of Wenling in eastern Zhejiang Province. The man later confessed he was angry with the results of a previous nasal surgery. -PTI
June 13, 2014
Health Science Post
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Kids with divorced parents more likely to be obese LONDON: Divorce may be linked to higher risk of obesity among kids involved, and boys may be especially prone to excess weight gain, a new research has warned. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, were based on a sample of more than 3,000 pupils attending 127 schools across Norway. School nurses measured the height, weight, and waist circumference of the children whose average age was 8, to gauge
general overweight, as defined by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), and (abdominal) obesity, as defined by a waist to height ratio of 0.5 or more. The results were stratified by gender and parents' marital status - married, never married, to include co-habiting, single and separated, and divorced - taking account of influential factors, such as the mother's educational attainment, ethnic origin and area of residence. Around one in five (19 per cent) of the children were overweight or obese according to the IOTF definition, while just under one in 10 (8.9 per cent) were (abdominally) obese.
Overall, significantly more of the 1,537 girls were overweight or obese than the 1,629 boys, but there were no differences in the prevalence of (abdominal) obesity. More of the children whose parents were categorized as divorced were overweight or obese than those whose parents remained married. They were 54 per cent more likely to be overweight/obese and 89 per cent more likely to be (abdominally) obese. Children whose parents had never married had a similar prevalence of overweight and obesity to those with married parents. These differences were generally larger for boys whose parents were divorced. They were 63 per cent more likely to be generally overweight/obese than boys whose parents were married. And they were 104 per cent more likely to be abdominally obese. The authors cautioned that the design of their study does not provide a basis for establishing cause and effect. Furthermore, they were unable to glean how long parents had been divorced, nor were they able to include lifestyle factors such as the children's normal diet and exercise regime. Possible explanations for the link could include less time spent on domestic tasks such as cooking; an over-reliance on unhealthier convenience foods and ready meals; and lower household income. The emotional fall-out of a divorce and resulting stress generated by disruptions in the parent-child relationship, ongoing conflict between the exes, moving home and the need to create new social networks, might also explain the findings, the authors suggest. -PTI
Iraqi cured of heart ailment in rare operation NEW DELHI: An Iraqi national with a dwarf-like condition successfully underwent heart surgery at a city hospital in what the doctors claimed is a rare instance of its kind. Doctors said that the 46-year-old Hussein Ali Radhi suffers from Achondroplasia, a genetic disorder which he acquired due to his mother's excessive consumption of chewing gum during her pregnancy. The presence of Thalidomide in the chewing gums caused Hussein to develop the genetic problem, also known as the Seal Syndrome, doctors said. "Considering his small body size, it was a challenge to reach his coronary artery. Usually angiography is done from right femoral artery that is in right groin or radial artery in the right wrist," said Dr Viveka Kumar, Director-Cardiac Cath Labs and senior consultant, Interventional Cardiology
and Electrophysiology at Max Hospital, where Hussein underwent treatment. Hussein's upper body structure is normal, but his legs are small, rendering him unable to walk. His arms are also shorter (half) than the normal arm length, depending on the height of the person. Even his legs are one-third the size for a normal adult. Hussein had started feeling angina and breathlessness due to exertion. He consulted many doctors in Iraq but, due to his structural abnormality, they could not perform an angiography on him as the coronary artery was inaccessible. He then turned to India and admitted himself at the super specialty hospital in Saket on May 31. After diagnosis, doctors there found that his two arteries were blocked, leading to the pain and breathlessness. Since his arms were very small, the arteries were bent and tortuous, they said. -PTI
Ninth surgery for Indian baby in Dubai DUBAI: A six-month-old Indian baby is months before she was readmitted to the fighting for her life at a hospital here after hospital on May 24. being operated nine times for multiple com"The intestinal infection recurred and it plications due to her premature birth. affected her liver," Sheerain said. She has Safa, weighing only 580 grams, was born been operated on twice and had her third three months premature to Sheerain and surgery. Nasir Khan, through a C-section surgery "She was unconscious but is now awake on November 2, 2013, Gulf News reported. and stable. The doctors said she will be in During her second week, baby Safa un- hospital in an incubator for observation for derwent a heart surgery along with an in- six weeks," said Sheerain. jection treatment for her eyes after blindDuring the sixth month of her pregnancy, ness became a possibility. She then suffered an intestinal infection a few months after being born. "She had six surgeries during her first six months. They had to give her injections for her eyes and she had laser surgery. She also had another surgery to remove her left hernia and four other surgeries for her intestines," said Sheerain. With at least one more Baby Safa, weighing only 580 grams, was born three months scheduled surgery, the Indian premature to Sheerain and Nasir Khan, through a C-section surgery couple's hospital bills have surpassed USD 1,27,433 and will only continue to increase in the next Sheerain suffered from high blood pressure few months. and was told by her gynecologist that she Finally she was released from hospital needed to undergo an emergency C-secon March 23, Safa was taken home for two tion to deliver the baby prematurely. -PTI
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Arizona judge rules pot can Creighton appeals order favoring deaf student be used for PTSD PHOENIX: A court ruling has added post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of debilitating conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment. State Department of Health Services Director Will Humble has until July 9 to accept, modify or reject an administrative law judge's ruling that PTSD sufferers are eligible for a medical marijuana registration card. Humble said that he would study the order before making a decision. The Arizona Cannabis Nurses
Association appealed Humble's denial last December to classify PTSD as an ailment that could be treated with pot. Humble said he initially denied the group's petition, citing a lack of scientific evidence showing marijuana helps patients with the disorder. Judge Thomas Shedden, how-
ever, said in his opinion that there was substantial evidence that those with PTSD receive a ``palliative benefit from marijuana use.'' Shedden said medical professionals often rely on patients' input for when making off-label prescriptions. Ricardo Pereyda was among those who testified at the hearing on how marijuana can help with post-traumatic stress. The Iraq War veteran said prescription drugs for his anger, depression and other issues only gave him adverse side effects. It wasn't un-
til he started using cannabis in 2010 that he felt happier and more focused. Pereyda said he doesn't understand why Humble would take a month to make a decision. ``What is it that you need to wait and see before that day that you haven't seen in the past four days? Get it done. People are dy-
ing. And that's not just veterans,'' Pereyda said. Having a medical marijuana card would also let veterans and other PTSD victims feel protected legally while seeking treatment. ``What if I got caught with an ounce or something like that? Under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, I would have had a card and it would have been perfectly legal,'' Pereyda said. If Humble rejects the judge's ruling, the group can appeal to the Maricopa County Superior Court. Eleven states currently approve medicinal marijuana for treating PTSD. In April, veterans lobbied lawmakers to pay for a clinical study at the University of Arizona that looks at the health benefits of medical marijuana. Advocates say that pot needs to be studied to learn how it might be able to remedy post-traumatic stress disorder. They say legislation that would have enabled the state to use part of the fund it receives from sales of medical-marijuana permits was unfairly killed in the legislature. The University of Arizona received approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct long-delayed marijuana research that has been in the works for more than two decades. The approval was an important milestone for the project, but it still needs money from the state of Arizona to carry out the research, along with approval from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. -AP
Employees will pay some health insurance savings BATON ROUGE, La.: About a third of the savings identified by a private analyst looking for ways to cut down costs in state government are tied to changes to health insurance used by about 230,000 state workers, retirees and their families. Susan West, head of the state Office of Group Benefits, told The Advocate that the $1 billion savings figure over the next five years should not alarm members. She said savings won't harm their access to health care. ``It's a delicate balancing act between plan design and rates,'' West said. Alvarez and Marsal, the New York City-based firm that the
Jindal administration hired for $5 million, allocated about $1 billion
The $1 billion savings figure over the next five years should not alarm members. She said savings won't harm their access to health care. of the $2.7 billion in needed savings to the plan. Policy changes could include
preauthorization for hospital stays and imaging, as well as a priority on generic drugs. The savings are also keyed to pushing lower-cost health insurance options with higher deductibles and medical savings accounts. ``It's possible there will be some future premium increases,'' West said. ``It's going to depend on our claims and actuarial projections.'' Retired State Employees Association Executive Director Frank Jobert said he is considering asking the retiree board for guidance on whether to seek legal advice over some of the changes going into effect this year. -AP
OMAHA, Neb.: Creighton University is appealing a federal judge's ruling requiring it to provide a deaf student with special equipment and interpreters to allow him to finish his last two years of medical school. U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp ruled in December that Creighton University's medical school must accommodate Michael Argenyi's disability. Last month, the judge ordered the Omaha University to pay nearly $500,000 in Argenyi's legal fees.
Argenyi said the system was inadequate, and one doctor determined it actually reduced Argenyi's ability to understand his professors. Argenyi took out more than $110,000 in loans to pay for the assistance himself, but said he was forced to take a leave of absence in his third year when the university refused to allow him to have an interpreter to interact with clinical patients - even if he paid for it himself. He sued in 2009, and a federal jury last year found that the pri-
An attorney for the private Jesuit college has filed notice of the school's appeal. Argenyi was accepted to Creighton's medical school in 2008 after disclosing that he was hearing-impaired and requesting accommodations for his disability to allow him to follow lectures and communicate with patients. But Creighton's medical school refused to provide Argenyi with a system that transcribes spoken words into text on a computer screen and a cued speech interpreter that Argenyi had used as an undergraduate student, earning a 3.87 GPA. Instead, Creighton used a microphone system that emitted frequencies to be picked up by Argenyi's cochlear implants.
vate Jesuit school had discriminated against him. Following the judge's ruling, Argenyi re-enrolled at Creighton to finish his final years of medical school. He is slated to resume his studies July 2, his attorney, Mary Vargas, said. ``He remains, as always, focused on his studies and on pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor and serving the deaf community,'' Vargas said. ``He hopes, in time, that Creighton will be proud to have him as a student.'' The school will provide Argenyi with the captioning equipment and interpreters when he resumes his studies this summer while the school's appeal is pending, Creighton attorney Scott P. Moore said. -AP
Texas GOP endorses 'reparative therapy' for gays FORT WORTH, Texas: The Texas Republican Party now endorses so-called ``reparative therapy'' for gays under a new platform given final approval at its annual convention. Roughly 7,000 delegates ratified the platform without debating their party's stance on homosexuality on the convention floor. They instead argued for five hours over immigration and medical marijuana before adjourning. Gay conservatives had lined up
to speak against the therapy language that had been added earlier. But they never got a chance to address delegates because a parliamentary motion to approve the full platform was called first. An influential tea party group called Texas Eagle Forum had urged the party to support psychological treatments that seek to turn gay people straight. Such therapies are banned for minors in New Jersey and California. -AP
June 13, 2014
Health Science Post
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On-off switch to burn stored fat found WASHINGTON: Scientists have identified a molecular pathway that controls the conversion of unhealthy white fat into energy-burning beige fat. Researchers led by the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also found that a protein, Grb10, serves as the on-off switch for mTORC1 signaling and the "beigeing" of fat. Grb10 is stimulated by cold stress, which causes the body to burn energy, research-
ers said. "We know that if we want to keep our body lean, we have to get rid of extra nutrients in the body, which means burning more energy," said senior author Feng Liu, professor of pharmacology at the UT Health Science Center and director of the Metabolic Syndrome Research Center at Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South
University, in Changsha, China. "Understanding how beigeing is controlled is so very important because if we can improve energy expenditure, we can reduce obesity," Liu said. Adipose (fat) tissues, which include white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue, are important regulators of metabolism. Having too much white adipose tissue and not burning it off through exercise or other energy expenditure is associated with obesity and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. "Normally when we eat something, we store it in white fat. For the extra food we eat, it is better to release it, not store it," said co-author Lily Dong, professor of cellular and structural biology at the UT Health Science Center. "So finding a way to turn the white fat into beige and burn the energy that normally we store would have high therapeutic potential for the treatment of obesity and its related diseases. Dr Liu has identified the pathway to do this," Dong said. The mTORC1 pathway is also involved in ageing, cardiovascular disease and cancer, so identifying the regulator of this pathway, Grb10, should be very informative for researching other fields, Liu said. The study is published in the journal Cell Metabolism. -PTI
Lexington couple sentenced in starvation death LEXINGTON, Ky.: A Lexington couple has been sentenced for abuse and neglect in the death of their disabled adult son from starvation and dehydration. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Jerry Lakes was sentenced to 20 years and Peggy Joyce Whitlock was sentenced to 10 years in Fayette Circuit Court. Gerald Lee Lakes was 24 when he was found dead last March in a Lexington motel room where the family lived. Investigators testified that Jerry Lakes gambled with thousands of dollars in Social Security payments that were meant to support Lakes and the couple's other children. Police said an adult daughter was fed and cared for, but the two sons who survived subsisted mostly on chocolate milk. Police said both men were under 100 pounds when they were discovered and weren't able to stand without support. Investigators testified that Gerald Lakes could not feed himself and was completely dependent on others for his care. Disability money was deposited into a
bank account at the beginning of each month and Jerry Lakes was the only person with access to it. He first told investigators the $4,000 a month went to pay debts but later said he might be ``gambling it all away.'' Detectives found evidence that Lakes spent thousands of dollars in an Indiana casino.
Police said an adult daughter was fed and cared for, but the two sons who survived subsisted mostly on chocolate milk. Police said both men were under 100 pounds when they were discovered According to testimony, when asked how she thought her son had died, Whitlock told detectives, ``He didn't have enough to eat.'' -AP
Tax hike on tobacco products proposed NEW DELHI: A 10 per cent increase in cigarette prices will lead to almost 3 per cent decrease in consumption and 7 per cent increase in government revenues, according to study by Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). Key findings from PHFI study on "An Empirical Study of India's Fiscal Policies against Tobacco: A State Level Analysis" was released by Union Health Secretary Luv Verma. The study highlighted that a 10 per cent increase in bidi prices will lead to almost 5 per cent decrease in consumption and 4 per cent increase in government revenues. Further, it found that cigarette excise can be increased by 370 per cent of present level, leading to a 54 per cent decline in consumption and 115 per cent increase in revenue while bidi excise can be increased by 100 per cent of present level, leading to a 40 per cent decline in consumption and 22 per cent increase in revenue. The study also found that in India, so far, taxes have not been used effectively to reduce tobacco consumption. "The current tax rates of tobacco products are not only low but the tax structure of tobacco products are complex and tax
governance poor. As a result, tobacco taxes and prices have not deterred tobacco consumption. "Bidi, which is largely consumed by people, is least taxed. Significant potential exists in India to hike taxes rates in India to reduce tobacco consumption and mop up revenue to the government which is presently fiscally-challenged," said Dr Sakthivel
Selvaraj, Senior Public Health Specialist, Economics and Financing, PHFI. "According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, tobacco use is the second largest risk factor for death.-PTI
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Realty Tidbits
NBCC offers new housing projects NEW DELHI: The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) is offering new housing projects across the country in the coming months besides working on plans to redevelop as "green complexes" three government colonies in the Capital. The NBCC) also announced a net profit of Rs 257 crore for 201314, an increase of 24 per cent over that of 2012-13. Addressing a press Conference here, CMD of NBCC Anoop Kumar Mittal said that housing projects for general public are underway in Gurgaon, Khekra (near Delhi), Patna and Kochi. He said new projects would be also launched in Ghaziabad, Kolkata and second phase of the project in Alwar. Mittal said that while houses in Patna are expected to be ready in six months the project in Gurgaon may take one-and-a- half to two years for completion. -PTI
Realty firm to pay Rs 8L for 'unfair practice' NEW DELHI: A Delhi-based real estate firm has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay over Rs 8 lakh to a senior citizen for its "unfair trade practice" of taking the booking amount and not providing him with a flat. The New Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed Intime Promoters Ltd to refund the booking deposit of Rs 4 lakh with 12 per cent interest, and awarded South Delhi resident Raj Kumar Baid Rs 35,000 as compensation and Rs 21,000 as litigation charges. The forum said it appears that the promoter "collected money from various consumers whereas the project in question was neither sanctioned by competent authority nor any construction activities had started at the site till filing of the complaint..." -PTI
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Draw of lots for allotment of low-cost houses NEW DELHI: The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) has conducted draw of lots for allotment of low-cost houses in the city for industrial workers under the 2nd Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme, 2007. Two computerized draws were held with DSIIDC Managing Director Amit Yadav saying, "The first draw was held for allotment of specific flat numbers to 144 applicants who were found eligible after verification. These flats are of five different types and are available in the Bawana and Narela Industrial Areas. -PTI
William Lyon Homes' Coyote Creek invites homebuyers India Post News Service
MILPITAS, CA: Get ready to stop commuting and start living with two great opportunities to own at Coyote Creek in Milpitas. The Rows and The Courts present attached new home designs that have proven so popular, new phases have repeatedly been released to meet buyer demand. According to a press release issued by the company, offering new homeownership at an attainable price, Coyote Creek by William Lyon Homes is one of the bestselling communities in Milpitas. It says, you can visit and see for yourself the wonderful combination of floorplan livability with great interior features and a convenient location adjacent to one of the Cisco Campuses. Prospective homebuyers are also encouraged to log onto www.LyonCoyoteCreek.com and Like the community on Facebook. "Life is too short for long commutes. At Coyote Creek, residents get to spend more quality time with friends and family enjoying their new home instead of being on the road," said Kathy Floyd, Director of Sales for William Lyon Homes. "This is a special opportunity for a great South Bay address near Highway 237 and light rail transportation for business travel from San Jose to Sunnyvale." Priced from the low $600,000s, Coyote Creek's one, two and three-level modern home designs offer bright interiors, gracious
gathering areas, chef's kitchens, contemporary bathrooms and a host of in-demand features. Buyers also appreciate having brandnew construction backed by a solid builder warranty and the reputation of an award-winning homebuilder. Seven stylish town home and flat designs at The Courts range from approximately 1,223 to 1,978 square feet of space, with up to 4
the fitness room. Other amenities will include a clubroom, outdoor barbecue and outdoor covered living room, plus a fire-pit lounge area. The fully equipped kitchen will offer residents a great setting for special events that can also be transformed into a studio for yoga classes and other fun activities. The clubhouse will also have public restrooms with a shower. Ani-
bedrooms plus a den and 3.5 bathrooms. The seven town home designs at The Rows neighborhood range from approximately 1,258 to 1,788 square feet, with up to 3 bedrooms plus a den and up to 3.5 bathrooms. With so many new home options to choose from, homebuyers can make great use of Coyote Creek's innovative HomeStart tool at the Sales Gallery to help match the right floorplan to their individual needs. HomeStart also allows them to view floorplans that are not featured as a model residence. According to the release, Coyote Creek homebuyers can look forward to a lifestyle that focuses on a healthy mind, body and soul. The resort clubhouse will offer residents a private, convenient facility to exercise, socialize and relax, whether it's lounging by the swimming pool or working out in
mal lovers will even have access to the pet spa, where the family dog can get washed and pampered. The community is within walking distance to Cerano Park's half basketball court and tennis court, where neighbors can participate in a friendly pick-up game or doubles match. Commuters can take advantage of easy access to light rail transportation at the nearby Milpitas Park and Ride station, where they can leave the car behind and travel to major Silicon Valley employers like Google. There is even a stop at the Great Mall® for a weekend afternoon of shopping. Close proximity to I-680, I-880 and Highway 237 is another benefit for homeowners who travel for business to the Bay Area and downtown San Jose. Close to home, residents who love the great outdoors can unwind with hikes or mountain bike rides along the
adjacent Coyote Creek Trail. The statement says, "Brokers will receive a $10,000 Flat Referral Fee per closing. A broker must bring client on first visit to register for broker referral fee. Buyers cannot be registered online prior to first visit. Broker referral fee to be paid at the close of escrow." It matters who your builder is, and William Lyon Homes means it when they say that they put themselves into their homes. They build each and every home as if it were their own and have earned a solid track record for constructing quality homes backed by a solid customer service program since 1954. Learn more by visiting www.lyonhomes.com for updated information on William Lyon Homes' new neighborhoods. The Resmark Companies is William Lyon Homes' partner in developing Coyote Creek. Founded in 1995, Resmark is a leading national private equity firm focused on real estate and powered by core foundational discipline and focus. A fully integrated real estate investment group, The Resmark Companies' divisions-Resmark Land and Housing, Resmark Apartment Living and Resmark Shopping Centers-finance, acquire, develop and manage real estate in California and the Western United States and other select major metropolitan markets nationwide. Giving directions, the statement says, "To visit the Coyote Creek Sales Gallery from San Jose via 880, exit E. Tasman Drive and proceed west. Turn right on McCarthy Blvd., left on Technology Drive, left again Murphy Ranch Road, then right on Coyote Creek Way and follow the signs. The Sales Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please call 408-4326021 or visit LyonCoyoteCreek.com. In the end it says, prices are effective as of the date of publication. Pricing is approximate and is subject to change without prior notice.
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T
he holy Mount Kailash is situated in the western Tibetan plateau of the northernmost re gion of the Himalayas. Also referred to as Mount Meru and Kang Rinpoche, or snow jewel, Mount Kailash is a 22,028 ft high peak known for being the abode of Shiva. Hindus perform a 'parikrama' or walk around the 32-mile (48 km) circumference of Mount Kailash, an act that is believed to wipe away all sins. Four holy rivers originate from Mount Kailash: the Indus, the Brahamputra, the Karnali and the Sutlej. Travel 18 miles southeast of Kailash, and you arrive at the placid blue circular Lake Mansarovar, also known as Tso Rinpoche or 'precious lake' in Tibetan. Bathing in the freezing cold water of the lake which is said to contain miraculous powers is considered to be of massive spiritual benefit. Kailash Peak has been the center of devotion from ancient times for the Devas, Danavas, Yakshas, Kinners, Vidyadharas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, yogis, Munis, Siddhas, Tapees and humans. A lot of pilgrims visit Kailash-Mansarovar every year. Kailash-Mansavrover today belongs to China and Tibet. Therefore, only a few pilgrims can visit Kailash-Mansarovar with the permission of Chinese authorities. Kailash is difficult to access. Pilgrims have to cross
www.indiapost.com many mountain ranges to reach there. There are various routes to reach Kailash from India. One route goes from Ladakh region of Kashmir; the second route passes through Gangotri towards Nailang Ghat; the third route is from Badrinath via Man Ghat; the fourth route goes via Niti Ghat which is in North- East direction of Joshi Math; the fifth route goes via Almora, Dharchula, Gabyang and Lipu Ghat and the sixth route goes from Nepal towards KailashMansarovar. KAILASH PARIKRAMA A distance of 48 km is to be covered to complete Kailash Parikrama. Parikrama starts from Darchen which is situated at the feet of Kailash Mountain. If we go west from Darchen, we pass Sersuna, Nandi Cavas, a flag pole called "'Tarbo'. Next stopover from Sersuna is Nyanari Gompa. West side of Kailash peak is visible from here. A little ahead of Nyanari Gompa is Desphu Gompa, on the banks of Lha-chu River. It is located at 16,400 ft above sea level. Full
June 13, 2014 view of Kailash Peak is visible from here. This is the most beautiful view on Earth. Snow-clad Kailash Mountain looks as if Lord Shiva himself is standing there covered with holy ashes. Perfectly symmetric Kailash peak looks like a white swayambhu shivlinga. Here sight of Kailash peak gives indescribable divine
Darchen
bliss. Pilgrims bow down innumerable times to the said abode of Lord Shiva. This snowclad peak of Kailash is known as Himratna. The next destination of Parikarma is Dolma-la-pass, at 2000 ft. Immediately below this, there is Gaurikhud. Gaurikund is a lake of about one kilometer circumference. It is covered with ice all the time. Devoted pilgrims break the layer of ice and have a holy dip in the cold water.
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Chhattisgarh aims to be biggest eco-tourism hub RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) is aiming to put the tribal-dominated state on the country's tourism map as the biggest eco-tourism hub by highlighting its exquisite natural beauty and varied flora and fauna.
Ajay Chandrakar
The Board has created a blueprint for future tourism which looks to establish Chhattisgarh as an eco-tourism destination with greater participation of local communities thereby helping to counter the menace of Naxalism in the disturbed zone. "Chhattisgarh which has 44 per cent of forest cover is a boon for eco-tourism. Thus enhanced tourism by ways of earmarked tourism plans will enable us to develop tourism in the state in a neverseen-before magnitude," CTB's Managing Director Santosh Kumar Mishra told PTI. "Our aim is to develop Chhattisgarh as India's biggest eco-tourism hub. With our future venture, we seek to see greater participation of the local commu-
Indian tourist inflow to Australia rises by 13% MELBOURNE: Indian tourists inflow to Australia has increased by over 13 per cent for the first four months of 2014 as compared to the same period last year. There were 17,000 visitors from India during April in Australia this year alone, over 1000 more visitors from the previous month, according to the data released by the Tourism Australia. The total number of Indian visitors from January to April in 2014 stood at 60,800. The latest figures (January-April) show an increase of 13.6 per cent for the same period previous year. However, Chinese tourists con-
dollars annually. According to the projections of Tourism Australia's India 2020 Strategic Plan released two years ago, India would be the second fastest growing market contributing between 1.9 and 2.3 billion Australian dollars annually. For the last two years, Tourism Australia has been marketing Australia as a tourists destination through its 'There's nothing like Australia' campaign in some major cities including Delhi and Mumbai. Apart from this, New South Wales also kicked off a specially designed 'Jhappi Time' campaign for the market of Indian tourists
tinue to dominate a large portion of Australian international Tourism sector by showing 14 per cent growth and recording over 328,000 visitors during the first four months. India is currently the 11th biggest tourists market for Australia contributing over USD 867 million
this year. The campaign is aimed to build the state reputation as the key destination for Indian travelers in Australia and is expected to enhance tourism from India, currently worth an estimated USD 183 million a year to the New South Wales economy. -PTI
nity that will be the most focused tool to counter Naxalism," he said. The Board has recently got Rs 113.5 crore project prioritisation from Union Ministry of tourism. "A major chunk of this amount will be used in eco tourism projects," he said. Initially focus will be on Gangrel Dam, considered the largest water body in the state and promoting Sirpur-Kodar-RaipurTandula as an ecotourism circuit, he said. Besides, archaeological sites of Sirpur and at Bhoramdeo, popularly known as Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh, will also be developed along with focus on rural tourism and promotion of fairs and festivals, Mishra said. State's Tourism and Culture
Minister Ajay Chandrakar said Chhattisgarh is a vibrant state which now looks forward towards developing tourism as one of its richest assets. He said the Board would prioritize and also promote the state's
rich and diverse tribal culture along with unexplored tourism circuits. Chhattisgarh bagged the National Tourism Award 2012-13 for the publication of best tourism literature. -PTI
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Kailash Mansarovar Legendry abode of Shiva and source of 4 major rivers Cont’d from page 40
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra takes normally 28 days. Of these 28 days, 11 days yatra is on Indian side and rest of the yatra is on the Chinese side. The trekking starts on 4th day on the Indian side. The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited makes arrangements to provide accommodation, transportation and food on the Indian side of the Yatra. The Chinese authorities provide accommodation, logistics and other arrangements on the Chinese side. MANSAROVAR LAKE Lake Manasarovar lies at 4,590 meters (15,060 ft) above mean sea level, a relatively high elevation for a large freshwater lake on the mostly saline lake-studded Tibetan Plateau. It is relatively round in shape with the circumference of 88 kilometers (55 miles). Its depth reaches a maximum of 90 m (300 ft) and its surface
Mansarovar Lake
River, and the Karnali River (Ghaghara), an important tributary of the Ganges River. During winter, the lake water freezes to solid ice. Tibetan people cross the lake without any fear by walking across or on yak.
the mind of Lord Brahma after which it manifested on Earth. IN HINDUISM As per Hindu theology, Lake Mansarovar is a personification of purity, and one who drinks water
from India, the most famous of which is the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra which takes place every year. Pilgrims come to take ceremonial baths in the cleansing waters of the lake. The region was closed to pil-
is an important element in the symbology of the subcontinent, representing wisdom and beauty.
grims following the Chinese Invasion of Tibet. No foreigners were allowed between 1951 and 1980. After the 1980s it has again become a part of the Indian pilgrim trail. The lake, in Hindu religious belief, is also supposed to be the summer abode of the Hamsa goose. Considered to be sacred, the Hamsa
HOW TO REACH The nearest railhead is at Lucknow. Lucknow is well connected with regular passenger and express train services with all major cities in India. One can take a taxi and travel to Nepalgunj before starting the trek to Kailash Mansarovar.
Mount Kailash
area is 320 square kilometers (120 sq miles). It is connected to nearby Lake Rakshastal by the natural Ganga Chhu channel. Manasarovar is near the source of the Sutlej River which is the easternmost large tributary of the Indus. Nearby are the sources of the Brahmaputra River, the Indus
ETYMOLOGY The word "Manasarovara" originates from Sanskrit, which is a combination of the words "Manas" "sarovara." Manas meaning mind and sarovara meaning lake. According to Hindu religion, the lake was first created in
from the lake will go to the Abode of Lord Shiva after death. He is believed to be cleansed of all his sins committed over even a hundred lifetimes. Bathing in the Mansarovar and drinking its water is believed to cleanse all sins. Pilgrimage tours are organized regularly, especially
Rakshas Tal
RAKSHAS TAL Next to Mansarovar, there is another lake called Rakshas Tal. It is spread over an area of 225 sq. km. Here demon king Ravana worshipped Ashutosh Shambhu, that is why it is called Rakshas Tal or Ravanhrid. There are two beautiful islands within Rakshas Tal. A narrow hill separates Mansarovar and Rakshas Tal. A small river called Ganga-Chu joins both the lakes. There are eight Buddha Gompas situated on the banks of Mansarovar. There is a vast plane called Barkha on the north side of Mansarovar. Darchen is on the North side of Barkha. Kailash Parikrama starts from Darchen.
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NZ tourism aims at double digit growth from India MUMBAI: New Zealand, which saw 29,936 tourists from India in 2013, is expecting a double digit growth from the sub-continent for the next three years. "India is among the top 10 largest source markets for New Zealand with regards to tourist arrivals. Our CY 2013 performance
son' or timing of arrivals from India. "We receive a large number of Indian tourists during MarchJune, which is conventionally the off or low tourist season in New Zealand. This makes India an important market in assisting with year round sustainability of the New Zealand tourism industry,"
from India is very positive with total arrivals at 29,936," Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager South and South East Asia Mischa Mannix-Opie told PTI here. "With New Zealand co-hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015, it will create awareness and make our country a preferred destination for Indian travelers in the upcoming months," she said. New Zealand is expecting a double digit growth from the Indian market for the next three years, she added. What makes India an important market for New Zealand is the 'sea-
Mannix-Opie said. In India, New Zealand mainly targets people who are not just aware of New Zealand but seriously consider the country as one of their preferred holiday destinations, she said. The India market has two peaks of visitation to New Zealand, the young adventurers market (age group- 18-29 years) who tend to travel from October-December (with the honeymoon market being a subset of this segment) and the families market (age group over 30 years) peaks over AprilJune quarter. This makes the India market
very attractive to the New Zealand tourism industry particularly during the low season of the latter quarter, Mannix-Opie said. "Our research reveals that there are approximately 3.7 million active considerers of New Zealand in India mainly from cities like Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore," she added. New Zealand's largest international markets for tourism are Australia, China and the US. She further stated that India has been identified by Tourism New Zealand as one of three "emerging markets" where increased investment is needed to build demand and secure a strong long-term position for the tourism industry. The New Zealand government had announced additional funding for Tourism New Zealand's work to increase the value of visitor arrivals to the economy. "From July 1, 2013, Tourism New Zealand tripled its budget investment to NZD 3.5 million and expects to invest similar levels or higher over the next three years," she said. Indian visitors, she said, prefer taking the road less traveled and explore the country on their own. Tourism New Zealand aspires to reach its goal of USD 41 billion value by 2025, with the objective of increasing the value of international visitors to the country, she added. -PTI
Gulf Air to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation to flyer NEW DELHI: Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air has been directed to pay compensation of 20 lakh to an Indian passenger by a District Consumer Forum here after he was denied the boarding pass at the airport here to travel to Qatar in 2008 despite having valid documents and lost his job. Terming it as a case for "punitive" compensation, New Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed the Directors of the Airline to compensate for the harassment caused to
Hem Kumar who lost his job in Doha as he was not allowed to board the flight on the ground that his visa did not permit him to reenter the country. "Opposite Party (Gulf Air), by
its imperfect handling of the passengers with valid documents, have caused loss of his job directly and caused unparallel agony and harassment to complainant,"
the forum said, while giving Kumar the maximum monetary relief of Rs 20 lakh that a district forum can award. "In our view their casual attitude deserves condemnation and it is a case for punitive compensation.... In view of the monetary limit of Rs 20 lakh which this forum can award as compensation, we award it to Kumar and direct the airline to pay the same," a bench presided by Justice C K Chaturvedi said. While awarding the amount of compensation, the forum noted that such an amount cannot adequately compensate the loss of job, as it was just 8-10 months of his salary in Doha where he was employed. -PTI
Cruise into history in southern Maryland SOLOMONS, Md.: Two hundred years ago this month, a dramatic naval battle was fought on the Patuxent River in southern Maryland. And now you can take a boat cruise with a historian to the exact spot. ``Just the idea of ... this huge British fleet, all these gigantic sails, to imagine that sailing up the Patuxent River, it's just incredible,''
9; and Sept. 6. You'll be accompanied on your cruise by one of two War of 1812 experts and authors, Ralph Eshelman or Don Shomette. Each cruise also includes a light dinner, and tickets are $50 per person. The museum is offering daylong lighthouse cruises of the Chesapeake Bay. ``Anyone who loves light-
says Sherrod Sturrock, deputy director of the Calvert Marine Museum. The museum, about 60 miles south of Washington in Calvert County, is offering cruises on the bugeye Wm. B. Tennison to the scene of the Battle of St. Leonard Creek, which was part of the War of 1812. It was the largest naval engagement to ever happen in Maryland, and the museum includes artifacts from the battle that were found on the bottom of the river. The special evening cruises will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on four Saturdays: June 14; July 19; Aug.
houses anywhere, or likes being out on the water, would love this cruise,'' Sturrock says. ``It's just the coolest thing, because instead of having to drive long distances, you can get in a charter boat and in the course of a day you can see all of southern lighthouses in the bay, or the northern.'' The Northern Cruise, on June 28 and Aug. 2, takes passengers near five lighthouses and includes a stop on Kent Island. The Southern Cruise, on July 12 and Sept. 20, gets you close to four lighthouses and makes a stop on Smith Island. Tickets are $130 per person. -AP
In Brief Immigration agent shoots self in Pittsburgh office PITTSBURGH: The Allegheny County medical examiner's office says a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot himself at the agency's Pittsburgh field office. Pittsburgh police and the Federal Protective Service - an agency that polices federal buildings were also investigating the shooting of 43-year-old James McConaughy, of Beaver Falls. ICE spokeswoman Nicole Navas says investigators don't suspect foul play. The shooting took place shortly after 4 p.m. at the Department of Homeland Security building near the city's South Side. The immigration agency has offices within that building. Pittsburgh police declined to comment beyond confirming the shooting, with a spokeswoman saying they were deferring to Federal Protective Service officials, who in turn deferred to the police. An autopsy showed McConaughy died of a self-inflicted head wound. -AP
The Department of Homeland Security building on Pittsburgh's South Side also houses an office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
„ Man sentenced for immigrant smuggling HOUSTON: A 33-year-old man has been sentenced in Houston to eight years in prison for conspiring to transport immigrants who had entered the country illegally. U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon sentenced Lenyn Acosta of Mexico to 97 months in prison as the leader of a conspiracy involving hundreds of immigrants. The U.S. Attorney's office says Acosta and others organized the transportation and housing of immigrants passing through the Houston area. Harmon also noted in sentencing Acosta that he had sexually assaulted an immigrant he was harboring. Acosta is expected to be deported after serving his sentence. Two others involved were also sentenced to lesser prison terms. The investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations began in July 2012. -AP
Immigration 44 India Post
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Mental competency issues in immigration practice-II Details on page 45
Texas Republicans backs away from guest worker plan FORT WORTH, Texas: Tea party activists seized control of the Texas Republican Convention, winning a harder line on immigration in the official party platform and lifting firebrand U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz to an easy victory in a 2016 presidential straw poll. Following hours of often contentious debate and an especially raucous vote, the roughly 7,000 delegates torpedoed platform language approved at their convention just two years ago endorsing a guest-worker program for people in the country illegally. The so-called ``Texas Solution'' was meant to satisfy the needs of a booming Texas economy and was supposed to act as a model for comprehensive, federal immigration reform. It was also seen as a boon to the state's fast-growing Hispanic population - though opponents called it amnesty for lawbreakers. This time, the convention had appeared poised to pass a plank including a compromise removing a specific call for a guest-worker program but creating a work-permit plan that essentially did the same thing once the U.S.-Mexico border was fully ``secured.'' That initially passed, but then collapsed as the tea party flexed
its muscles - the latest sign that grass-roots activists have pushed the always conservative Texas GOP even further to the right. Delegate Jack M. Finger of San Antonio walked the floor with a hand-scrawled sign reading ``No!
ingless.'' Indeed, the hall was enveloped in applause when delegate Ivette Lozano, of Dallas, took a microphone to liken a softer immigration stance to negotiating with terrorists. The final vote results on the
Sen. Ted Cruz addressing delegates at the Texas GOP Convention in Fort Worth, Texas.
Not even a hint of amnesty!'' ``There is language that allows us to slide toward amnesty,'' Finger said of the plan that eventually was defeated. ``Guest worker, visa permit, all that puts us on a road to make our citizenship mean-
immigration plank were close enough that the convention called for a rare roll-call vote - but scrapping the 2012 language eventually was defeated decisively. Even before then, though, booing and shouting so marred the proceed-
ings that party chairman Steve Munisteri repeatedly pleaded for civility. Backers of the ``Texas Solution'' blamed the defeat on delegates who left before a final vote and parliamentary maneuvering by the other side. ``The people that hung around were the vocal minority of the party,'' said Brad Bailey, a Houston restaurateur credited with writing the guest worker language in 2012. ``I'll give them credit, they outworked us.'' Far less contentious, meanwhile, was support for possible future presidential candidate Cruz. The tea party darling spent two days working the convention and was often introduced as ``our next president'' and greeted by cries of ``Run, Ted! Run!'' In a keynote speech, he promised to lead a national conservative revolution unseen since the days of Ronald Reagan. The result was unequivocal, with delegates chanting ``Cruz! Cruz!'' before it was read. The senator took more than 43 percent of the vote and the next-closest finisher was conservative speaker and author Ben Carson, who won 12.2 percent. Cont'd on Page 45
Ariz. rushes supplies to site holding migrant kids PHOENIX: Arizona officials say they are rushing federal supplies to a makeshift holding center in the southern part of the state that's housing hundreds of migrant children and is running low on the basics. Gov. Jan Brewer's spokesman, Andrew Wilder, said that conditions at the holding center are so dire that federal officials have asked the state to immediately ship medical supplies to the center in Nogales. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security started flying immigrants to Arizona from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas last month after the number of
immigrants, including more than 48,000 children traveling on their own, overwhelmed the Border Patrol there.
were traveling within 15 days. A Homeland Security official told The Associated Press that about 700 children were sleeping
About 700 children were sleeping on plastic cots and about 2,000 mattresses have been ordered. Portable toilets and showers also have been brought to the holding center The immigrant children were flown from Texas, released in Arizona, and told to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office near where they
on plastic cots and about 2,000 mattresses have been ordered. Portable toilets and showers also have been brought to the holding center - a warehouse that has not
been used to house people in years. In addition, vendors are being contracted to provide nutritional meals, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, meanwhile, will provide counseling services and recreational activities. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no authorization to discuss the matter publicly, said the Nogales holding center opened for children because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had nowhere to turn. Cont'd on Page 46
Immigration Post
June 13, 2014
India Post 45
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Kerry calls for more special Afghan visas WASHINGTON: Secretary of State John Kerry has urged lawmakers to increase the number of special visas for Afghans who worked with the US government to avoid "stranding hundreds" as America withdraws. Congress set up a special immigrant visa program in 2009 to
ine threats and to speed their entry to this country." But it got bogged down in "unconscionably long processing times for applicants, including on background checks conducted by other US agencies," Kerry wrote. "Some deserving people were simply falling through the
John Kerry
"help Afghans whose work for the US government put them in danger of retaliation," Kerry wrote in an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times. It was modeled after a similar one for Iraqis and "was designed to identify people who faced genu-
cracks," he said, adding that was "unacceptable." Extra resources and staff were mobilized at the US Embassy in Kabul and since October 1, nearly 5,000 Afghans, mainly interpreters and their family members, have received visas allow-
ing them to emigrate to the United States. The numbers compare with 1,600 visas granted in the 12 previous months. In March and April alone, 1,000 visas were approved. But the system is now facing another problem as it will soon reach the limit of 3,000 set for the fiscal year that ends on September 30. "This leaves us in danger of stranding hundreds of deserving Afghans until a new batch of visas is approved for fiscal year 2015," Kerry wrote. "It's an outcome that will be dangerous for applicants -- and damaging to our national credibility the next time we have to rely on local knowledge." He called on Congress to pass new legislation this summer allowing more visas this year and next to ensure the United States is "keeping our word." "This is not a partisan issue. Nor is it a gift to Afghans. Rather, this effort fulfils the commitment to those who risked their lives working alongside Americans in Afghanistan," Kerry wrote. "We don't want to lose the hard-won momentum or put lives at risk." -AFP
Texas Republicans backs away from guest worker plan Cont'd from Page 44
Spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said that Cruz was ``deeply grateful for the tremendous support of Texas grass-roots activists who are leading the way to make D.C. listen.'' Fellow tea party-backed U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a native Texan who also addressed the convention, won 12.1 percent of the vote, followed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 11.7 percent. Perry isn't seeking re-election in November but sounded like he was mounting a second run for the
White House during a well-received convention speech. Ten other straw poll candidates won no more than 4 percent of the vote each. The battles over immigration were so heated they meant that the party approved the rest of its sweeping platform with virtually no debate - except a proposed endorsement for medical marijuana that was defeated. Supporters, however, claimed victory simply because the issue made it to the convention floor. ``I believe this is a party of personal liberty,'' said delegate David
Westbrook, who helped draft the proposed marijuana amendment. ``It means we have to be consistent on it.'' Avoiding a floor fight altogether was the removal from the latest party platform of long-standing language that ``homosexuality tears at the fabric of society.'' But delegates instead sanctioned language allowing Texans to seek voluntary counseling to ``cure'' being gay - in contrast to California and New Jersey, which have previously banned licensed professionals from providing such therapy to minors. -AP
Gov't won't say how many immigrants released in US WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is releasing inside the U.S. some immigrants who have crossed illegally into the country from Mexico. But how many remains a mystery because the government won't say. The Homeland Security Department last month started flying immigrants to Arizona from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas after the number of immigrants caught there overwhelmed the Border Patrol. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has said the immigrants are mostly families from Central America. They were flown from Texas, released in Arizona and told to report to an ICE office near where they were traveling within 15 days.
The administration will not say how many immigrants subsequently reported back after 15 days as directed. During one
The administration will not say how many immigrants subsequently reported back after 15 days as directed. During one weekend last month, as many as 400 people were flown to Arizona. weekend last month, as many as 400 people were flown to Arizona. -AP
PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law
Former Assistant StateÂ’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
Immigration Post
46 India Post
June 13, 2014
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Mental competency issues in immigration practice-II CYRUS D. MEHTA
Contd from last week
L
awyers must also consult ABA Model Rule 1.14, and its analog in a state bar ethics rule, which relates to representing a client with diminished mental capacity. Rule 1.14 instructs a lawyer to maintain a normal lawyer-client relationship as far as possible. Thus, to the extent that an impaired client is capable of making competent decisions, the lawyer must follow them. A lawyer may seek help from a family member or others in communicating with a client with a
plicant on a respirator to be able to apply for and obtain US citizenship, and sponsor a qualifying spouse through an I-130 petition, who in turn files his or her own adjustment application for lawful permanent residence. Rule 1.14 also allows a lawyer to take reasonably protective action when a client is at risk of harm by either consulting with individuals or entities, and in appropriate cases, seek the appointment of a guardian or guardian ad litem. The lawyer may be impliedly authorized to reveal information protected by rule 1.6, but only to the extent reasonably nec-
With respect to applying for naturalization, the law has developed favorably towards persons with disabilities. Applicants who are physically or developmentally disabled, or have mental impairment are exempt from the English as well as civics/history test. mental disorder, while at the same time taking into consideration whether the presence of others would affect the attorney-client privilege. This writer has represented clients for benefits applications, and has found it extremely useful to communicate with the client through trusted family members. A client with a mental disorder may have moments of lucidity, and it is important for the lawyer to ascertain how best to work with such a client through a professional diagnostician. At the benefits interview, counsel must insist that the USCIS generously provide accommodations for a client, including having the presence of a family member during the interview and to only ask the most basic questions, while relying on documentary evidence to determine eligibility for the immigration benefit. Note that 8 CFR 103.2(a) (2) allows a legal guardian to sign a form for a person with mental disabilities. With respect to applying for naturalization, the law has developed favorably towards persons with disabilities. Applicants who are physically or developmentally disabled, or have mental impairment are exempt from the English as well as civics/history test. Applicants may also seek a waiver of the oath requirement if they are unable to comprehend it. Designated representatives can complete the Form N-400, such as a guardian, surrogate, US citizen spouse, parent, son, daughter or sibling. It is potentially possible for a comatose ap-
essary to protect the client's interests. While resorting to the appointment of a guardian may appear to be an obvious step on behalf of one who is unable to comprehend the nature of the proceedings or consent to the representation, it may also be a traumatic and expensive process, and may undermine the autonomy that the client is required to have under Rule 1.14. The guiding principles, as much as possible, are that the cli-
ent determines the ends while the lawyer has control over the means. According to Comment 7 to Model rule 1.14, "In many circumstances, however, appointment of a legal representative may be more expensive or traumatic for the client than circumstances in fact require. Evaluation of such circumstances is a matter entrusted to the professional judgment of the lawyer. In considering alternatives, however, the lawyer should be aware of any law that requires the lawyer to advocate the least restrictive action on behalf of the client." To the extent that a client with mental disorders can provide informed consent, the lawyer's role is made that much easier. The challenge lies with a client who is unable to consent at all. Under these circumstances, should the lawyer still play an activist role and represent the client? Is counsel then always required to seek the appointment of a guardian? Or are there less restrictive alternatives such as seeking the assistance of family members in determining the client's best interests. If counsel has been appointed by an immigration judge, how relevant is the client's incapacity to consent if the lawyer believes it is still in the client's best interests to have a legal representative? 8 CFR 1292.1(a) (1) & (a) (4) state, without reference to consent, that attorneys are entitled to appear in removal hearings. An attorney can play a crucial
role on behalf of a client who is unable to consent. Indeed, if the goal is for the respondent to remain in the United States (but that may only be assumed if the client is unable to comprehend the nature of the immigration proceeding), the very fact that a respondent may have a mental disorder may prompt an immigration judge to consider granting asylum if the respondent will be removed to a country that is unable or unwilling to protect its citizens with mental disorders. An immigration judge may also grant cancellation of removal pursuant to INA section 240A(b) if
tion be in the client's best interest over being removed from the United States and being with close family members abroad? There is much work that needs to be done to develop standards and provide clearer guidance. In the meantime, the lawyer must grapple with emerging standards from the courts and EOIR, as well as interpret Rule 1.14 within the immigration context, although not all states have adopted this rule. While representing non-citizen clients with mental competency issues can pose additional challenges, obtaining a successful outcome for the client under dif-
An attorney can play a crucial role on behalf of a client who is unable to consent. Indeed, if the goal is for the respondent to remain in the United States the very fact that a respondent may have a mental disorder may prompt an immigration judge to consider granting asylum the documentation is able to demonstrate eligibility, such as 10 years of physical presence, good moral character and the qualifying relatives, who may be US citizens or permanent residents, are able to demonstrate exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. There may be times, especially with clients who cannot seek relief, to advocate for administrative closure of the case or even termination. Again, when the client is unable to consent, would administrative closure or termina-
ficult circumstances can be extremely rewarding to the immigration lawyer. "The test of our progress is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough to those who have little." Franklin D. Roosevelt Concluded * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com
Ariz. rushes supplies to site holding migrant kids Cont'd from Page 44
``They became so overwhelmed and haven't kept up with planning,'' the official said. ICE has said the immigrants were mostly families from Central America fleeing extreme poverty and violence. The Homeland Security official said the number of children at the warehouse was expected to double to around 1,400. The warehouse has a capacity of about 1,500. Federal authorities plan to use the Nogales facility as a way station, where the children will be vaccinated and checked medically. They will then be sent to facilities being set up in Ventura, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Homeland Security official said that the children would be moved out of the Nogales site
as soon as Health and Human Services finds places for them. But the official said: ``As quickly as we move them out, we get more. We believe this is just a start.'' The children being held in Nogales are 17 or younger. The official estimated three of every
four were at least 16. Wilder said reports from consulates that the Department of Homeland Security was stopping the program to fly migrant families to Arizona and then bus them to Phoenix were incorrect. Instead, the program that has shipped un-
Maria Eva Casco and her son Christian Casco of El Salvador, sit at at the Greyhound bus terminal, May 29, in Phoenix. Central American families arrested in Texas will continue to be flown to Arizona, and hundreds of unaccompanied minors a day are being shipped to a federal detention center in the southern part of the state, Gov. Jan Brewer’s spokesman says.
known thousands of adult migrants and their children to Arizona since last month shows no sign of stopping, he said. ``The adults, the adults with children, families - that continues unfettered and we have no idea where they are going,'' Wilder said. In a statement, Homeland Security officials said ``appropriate custody determinations will be made on a case by case basis'' for migrants apprehended in South Texas. Brewer sent an angry letter to President Barack Obama demanding that the program of dropping off families at bus stations in Phoenix stop immediately. She called the program dangerous and unconscionable, asked for details and demanded to know why state authorities weren't consulted or even informed. -AP
June 13, 2014
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48 India Post
VARANASI: In the labyrinthine lanes of Kashi, which is believed to be "older than history, older than tradition and older even than legend," stands a structure at the corner of its busiest crossing, where rooms are reserved for death. The two-storied hospice 'Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan' hosts the elderly who wish to spend their last days in the search for spiritual liberation. Shanti Devi, 85, lies wrapped in bed sheet in one of the 10 rooms of the temple-cum-building. Her corner room, lit with incense sticks, is next to a small temple inside the premises, which is most active at the time of dusk and dawn. Devi, who traveled all the way from Newada in Bihar, mostly chants mantras near her room's window. A priest, one appointed for every patient, comes regularly in her room to check in on her. Barely able to speak with her tooth-less mouth, Devi says, "I become restless with the passing of every hour. My family is here who are helping me gain moksha and I do not want to disappoint them. I know Kashi will take me inside her peacefully." Established by the Dalmiya Charitable Trust in 1958, the Bhawan does not charge anything from the people who come here for a purpose.
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June 13, 2014
The trust bears all the expenses from the stay in the house, to all the rituals of the day, to the cremation after "the soul leaves the body." "This is a holy place, and charging money means we are into a business. We do not want to be labeled that way. Our Trust bears all the expenses from food to rituals because we believe in providing spiritual satisfaction," says 60year-old Bhairava Nath Shukla, the Bhawan's manager. "Not only India, but devotees from England, Japan and Mauritius have spent time in our shelter to understand the concept of Moksha, life and death," adds Shukla. Varanasi is famously known for being the 'religious capital of India' where thousands come for various spiritual purposes. Some come for the last rites, some to conduct their new born's' birth ceremony and some, to die peacefully. Cont'd on Page 49
June 13, 2014
India Post 49 www.indiapost.com
Modi new 'fashion icon' of American media WASHINGTON: Narendra Modi, who was unwelcome here only a few years ago, is now a "fashion icon" to the American media. After his stunning electoral triumph, three major US publications - Time, New York Times and the Washington Post - have lauded
the new Indian Prime Minister's dressing style from his "trademark Modi Kurta" to his tunic. The New York Times in an article titled 'A Leader Who Is What He Wears' says that "even by the standards of a world that has seen blogs devoted to Michelle Obama's dress sense, the pre-elec-
Narendra Modi
tion makeovers of Francois Hollande and Dilma Rousseff, and the canonization of Nelson Mandela's shirts, the image-craft of India's new prime minister, Narendra Modi - and its fashion fallout - has been something of a case study." Its says that even by "India's standards where leaders have perhaps understood the use of clothing as a communication device better and longer than any of their international peers...Modi stands out. Literally and strategically." The Washington Post also lauds Modi's dressing style, saying, "Move aside, Michelle Obama. The world has a new fashion icon. And no, it's not Vladimir Putin, despite his fitness regimen - it's India's new Prime Minister, Narendra Modi." "Narendra Modi is apparently the next big thing in Indian fashion," the Time magazine said in an article. "With his shortened tunic, or 'Modi Kurta,' Narendra Modi is becoming as celebrated for his style sense," it says. PTI
Beekeeper turns to bee removal, saves honeybees CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.: When Michelle Chastain found bees in her North Chattanooga home, she didn't call an exterminator. She called a beekeeper. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports Joshua Lachmann, of Fayetteville, Georgia, launched Southeast Bee Removal three years ago when the construction worker and beekeeper was looking for a new way to support his family. He sawed into the eave under Chastain's roof to vacuum up some 30,000 bees and remove the honeycomb. Lachmann said he will either keep the bees or give
or sell them to another beekeeper. Lachmann's work is not only good for his bottom line - he charges around $700 and does about 100 jobs per season - it's good for the environment. Honeybees, which pollinate about a third of our crops, are disappearing worldwide. -AP
Come to Kashi for ‘Moksha’ Cont'd from Page 48
"People who are about to die or are on death bed, and believe in 'moksha' come to this house for spiritual satisfaction. And Kashi is one such place where attaining Moksha is easy," says Shukla. "This spiritual house had been serving the old for the last 45 years," he says. Before being given a room, the priests assess the health and life expectancy of patients. If the patient fails to die within 15-20 days or so even after days of 'Yagya' and 'Tapasya', the stay is extended for few days. "In most of our cases, the patient attains moksha. Till now there have not been a single case where the patient had to go back," says the manager. For Shanti Devi "it will be unfortunate if at this age" she fails to attain Moksha. She still has 15 days left with her. Her family members feel that it is not the matter of "life or death, but that she must attain what she came for." "I want my mother to attain what she came for. I want her to end her journey peacefully no matter how much time she takes," says Devi's son. Nearly a half kilometer from the
Bhawan, on the banks of river Ganga, falls the primary and most sacred cremation ghat in Varanasi, Manikarnika Ghat. When the soul leaves the material body, it is tightly wrapped in a white cloth on a slim bamboo cot, as per Hindu tradition says a priest at the Ghat. About 32,000 bodies are cremated here every year, he points out. "Earlier women were not al-
Manikarnika Ghat
lowed here to see or participate in the cremation. But nowadays women are seen here," he says. Shukla feels that there is nothing "horrific" about the place. The house, instead, must be seen as "a road to heaven". "Most of the tourists come here because of the nature of the place. Because the uniqueness attracts them," he says. He feels that the process of 'Moksha' must be seen as "immortal soul changing bodies, similar to us changing clothes." -PTI
Datebook
50 India Post
NEW JERSEY Upcoming Sat, June 14 • 8th Annual Kite and Color Festival Venue: Buena Vista Camping Resort, 775 Harding Highway, Buena, NJ 08310 Time: 11:00 am Contact: 856-293-1970
Sun, June 15 • Classical Music Competition 2014 Venue: Colonia High School, 1200-1280 Lincoln Highway, Woodbridge Township, NJ 07067 Time: 9:30 am
Sat, June 21 • Swaranjali 2014 Venue: New Senior Center, 12 Halsey Reed Rd, Monroe Township, NJ 08831 Time : 05:00 pm Contact: 732-547-2809
NEW YORK Upcoming
June 13, 2014
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Upcoming
Upcoming
ILLINOIS Upcoming
Sat, Jun 21 • 17th Annual Event by Asavari
Sun, June 22 • Halo Ne Apna Malak Ma
Sat, Jun 14 • Desi Rock Star
Venue: Valimar Clubhouse, 166 Valimar Blvd, White Plains, NY 10603 Time: 03:00 pm Contact: 9149488969
Venue: Jain Temple, 722 South Main Street,
Venue: The Event Center, San Jose State
every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of
University, 290 S 7th St, San Jose,
Month
CA 95112
Chicago Satsang Information:
Time: 07:30 pm
J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda
Sat, July 12 • Devi Sri Prasad Live In
Contact: 510-677-2777
Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets,
Concert
Sun, Jun 22 •Halo Ne Apna Malak Ma
Sat, Jul 12 • Hema Malini as Durga Venue: Colden Center Auditorium, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Time : 8:00 pm Contact : 718-639-2881
Sat, Aug 9 • Kumar Sanu Live In Concert Venue: Colden Center, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Time: 08:00 pm Contact : 718-639-2881
Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 4:00 pm Contact: 408-646-0330
Venue: San Jose State University Event Center, 290 South 7th Street, San Jose, CA
• J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held
Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm
95192
Venue: Jain Temple, 722 South Main Street,
Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok
Time: 7 pm
Milpitas, CA 95035
@ 630-561-4807
Contact: 972-655-8849
Time: 4:30 pm
Website: www.jkyog.org
Sat, Jun 7 • Papon and The East India Company Venue: Chabot College Performing Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545 Time : 4:00 pm Contact: 408-892-9907
Sun, July 13 • Bombay Jayashree And Shubha Mudgal Live In Bay Area Venue: Sunnyvale Hindu temple, 450 Persian Dr, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Contact: 510-565-9518
July 26, 27, Aug 2, 3 • BATA-Cricbay Cup - Proceeds will go to Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) Venue: Fremont and Sunnyvale Cricket Ground Time: 9:00 am
Contact: 408-646-0330
ATLANTA
1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's
Upcoming Sat, Jun 14 • Aakriti - An Evening of Indian Classical Dance Venue: Joe Mack Wilson Auditorium,Southern Polytechnic State U, 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060 Time: 4:30 am
Sun, June 29 • Bollywood Dream Girl Hema Malini As Durga
Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org/bal-mukund
Venue: Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 Time: 6:30pm
Mondays and Fridays
Fri, Jul 11 • Tamil Kondattam
Where: Metropolitan Asian Family
Mega
Stars
Venue: Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30313 Time: 6:30 pm
• Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105
Horoscope
June 13, 2014
India Post
51
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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar
JUNE 13 TH - JUNE 19 TH , 2014 (March 21 to April 20)
F
inancial pressure will evaporate and you can expect growth from now and on. You may develop a taste for hot and spicy food. Luck is definitely on your side and this is the right time to approach the government agency to resolve an important issue. Planets are specially favorable for those in sales or connected with telecommunication industry.
(September 23 to October 22)
T
ry to think beyond immediate and go for the deal which give you less but for a longer duration. You may attend a big party this week with family. People in retail will benefit from favorable planets. some of you may need to deal with some legal paper work or process. It will be better to seek expert opinion before sending the reply.
(October 23 to November 22)
(April 21 to May 20)
Y
ou may start going to gym or for a walk in order to get back in shape. You will have more than one chance to make some extra money. Spouse will buy some very fine quality item for the house. You will also finish the project well before deadline and earn some appreciation from boss. You will take family out to a nice place for dinner.
D
o not go for the property that needs fixing and repairs. You may start the paper work to buy a running business. Money you need will become easily available when time comes. Spouse may feel little drained out because of extra running around. You may take a short trip to an interesting place with some old friends or close relatives.
(November 23 to December 22)
(May 21 to June 20)
C
hoices will be multiple but planets will help you go for the right one and the one with long term gains. Enjoy life with new friend but within certain parameters. Some of you may take over another business in partnership with some very like minded and already successful people. Let the past go other wise you will not be able to move forward.
O
ther side will make the commitment. A well known person with political connections will be helpful and get the job done. You will hit your professional goals with ease. People in business will see an upsurge in sales. New contract will come on easy terms and added incentives. You may start your research to buy another vehicle.
(June 21 to July 22)
S
ome of you will be taking a trip with family to another state. You may also set the date to move to another house. You will con tinue to receive more good news about a child. People in business will have better sales. Important project you are working on will open new doors. Some one from past will try to come back in your life again.
(December 22 to January 19)
T
ransiting planets in sixth will help those looking for a change in career. Strong planets will silence some one who has been creating obstacles in your path for past few months. Outcome in legal matters will be favorable only. You will be prone to loosing temper so watch out. You may replace or buy some electronic items for the kitchen.
(July 23 to August 22)
Y
our actions will be impulsive but will get the job done. Business meetings will go well and the other side may take some time to come back with the positive response. You may be getting ready for an upcoming big event in the family. Some of you may try to get out of a partnership also and start working on necessary paper work also.
(January 20 to February 18)
Y
ou continue to have the Midas touch. New association will be lucky. Some of you may launch another major project in asso ciation with some successful people. Property deal can also get finalized. Some of you will start making necessary arrangements to move to a beautiful location. Money wise you will continue to stay in safe zone.
(August 23 to September 22)
I
t will be an expensive week but the money will go on family and entertainment. Business will pick up all of a sudden. Bachelors will get introduced to another professional by a friend. Take second opinion when handling legal matters. Trip will be pleasant and relaxing. Some of you will start looking for another good opportunity.
PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com
(February 19 to March 20)
O
bstacles will be followed by easy solutions. Jupiter's transit in fifth will bring stability in career and remove all previous uncer tainty. You will take a trip with family to meet an old friend and attend a big get together. Listen to spouse as the idea is not bad. You may make final payment on an old debt or credit card.
510-886-4370 www.parashar.com
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Philosophy
June 13, 2014
India Post 53
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Page Sponsored by Sahanis Alan Watts
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ust as sight is something more than all things seen, the foundation or "ground" of our existence and our awareness cannot be understood in terms of things that are known. We are forced, therefore, to speak of it through myth-that is, through special metaphors, analogies, and images which say what it is like as distinct from what it is. At one extreme of its meaning, "myth" is fable, falsehood, or superstition. But at another, "myth" is a useful and fruitful image by which we make sense of life in somewhat the same way that we can explain electrical forces by comparing them with the behavior of water or air. Yet "myth," in this second sense, is not to be taken literally, just as electricity is not to be confused with air or water. Thus in using myth one must take care not to confuse image with fact, which would be like climbing up the signpost instead of following the road. Myth, then, is the form in which I try to answer when children ask me those fundamental metaphysical questions which come so readily to their minds: "Where did the world come from?" "Why did God make the world?" "Where was I before I was born?" "Where do people go when they die?" Again and again I have found that they John Blofeld
I
've been quite amazed at how far the interest in Asian reli gions and philosophy has gone here (in California) and that people are outwardly practicing different arts: Japanese Zen, Tibetan Nyingma, and so on. I see they're doing this with great sincerity. I used to think that the counterculture was a kind of fad, an amusing thing to do for a year or two, and that this would pass away like so many other fads. But I've found that I was quite wrong. This is a living thing. It expresses a very real desire on the part of people like you to find something to make life really have a meaning and be worth living. All of this has been deeply inspiring to me, all the more so as the reverse trend is taking place in Asia now. More and more Asians are being swallowed up by the pure, gross materialism which you people have been through, found wanting, and have abandoned. It may be another twenty to fifty years before the Asians, in their turn, go through that gross materialism and come up again with something worthwhile. By that time, in many Asian
seem to be satisfied with a simple and very ancient story, which goes something like this: "There was never a time when the world began, because it goes round and round like a circle, and there is no place on a circle where it begins. Look at my watch, which tells the time; it goes round, and so the world repeats itself again and again.
times when the world is, and times when it isn't, for if the world went on and on without rest for ever and ever, it would get horribly tired of itself. It comes and it goes. Now you see it; now you don't. So because it doesn't get tired of itself, it always comes back again after it disappears. It's like your breath: it goes in and out, in and
one but himself to play with. But he gets over this difficulty by pretending that he is not himself. This is his way of hiding from himself. He pretends that he is you and I and all the people in the world, all the animals, all the plants, all the rocks, and all the stars. In this way he has strange and wonderful adventures, some of which are terrible and frightening. But these are
Myth is a useful image to make sense of life
Alan Watts
When God plays hide and pretends that he is you and I, he does it so well that it takes him a long time to remember where and how he hid himself. But that's the whole fun of it-just what he wanted to do.
But just as the hour-hand of the watch goes up to twelve and down to six, so, too, there is day and night, waking and sleeping, living and dying, summer and winter. "You can't have any one of these without the other, because you wouldn't be able to know what black is unless you had seen it side-by-side with white, or white unless side-by-side with black. "In the same way, there are
out, and if you try to hold it in all the time you feel terrible. It's also like the game of hide-and-seek, because it's always fun to find new ways of hiding, and to seek for someone who doesn't always hide in the same place. Playing hide-and-seek "God also likes to play hideand-seek, but because there is nothing outside God, he has no
just like bad dreams, for when he wakes up they will disappear. "Now when God plays hide and pretends that he is you and I, he does it so well that it takes him a long time to remember where and how he hid himself. But that's the whole fun of it-just what he wanted to do. Excerpted from the book, 'On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are'
countries, especially the Communist ones, the old traditions will be dead: books will be burned, monks will be dead, teachers will be dead, and there will be no young ones to follow them. So it may very well be that fifty years from now Chinese, Tibetans and others will be coming here to California. It's not a joke; it's true; it can
ways, and some teaching fundamentally opposed ways, or so it appears to us. Should we simply accept this and say, "Well, good, this man follows the Indian path, that man follows the Sufi path, I follow the Zen path, and you follow the Tibetan path," and so on? Are we all contributing to the same spiritual development of human
I think not only our modern counter-culture, but maybe all the religious aspects of any kind of culture in this world since the beginning of time, all arise from one source. Throughout history and pre-history there have always been human beings who have felt that getting our daily bread and butter, producing our children, and
How often does a man ruin his disciples by remaining always with them! When men are once trained, it is essential that their leader leave them, for without his absence they cannot develop themselves. Plants always remain small under a big tree. - Swami Vivekananda Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you. The future will take care of itself...... - Paramahansa Yogananda No one and nothing outside of you can give you salvation, or free you from the misery. You have to light your own lamp. You have to know the miniature universe that you yourself are. - Banani Ray
Old traditions dying in Asia, being revived in US
Let each man take the path according to his capacity, understanding and temperament. His true guru will meet him along that path. - Sivananda Saraswati
The reverse trend is taking place in Asia now. More and more Asians are being swallowed up by the pure, gross materialism which you people have been through, found wanting, and have abandoned.
In times of tragedies, our duty is to lend a helping hand to those in grief and thus light lamps of kindness and compassion." - Amma Sri Mata Amritanandamayi
really happen-especially if some of you really give your lives to the terribly hard work of translating those texts from Sanskrit and Pali and Chinese and Tibetan into English so that they can be preserved. Here in California I suppose we have as many as a hundred different religions and sects, all teaching somewhat different
beings? Should we keep the paths separate, as they have sometimes been in the past? Or should we try to unite all of them, including the religions of the book-Judaism, Islam, and Christianity-on one hand, and the non-book religions-Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism-on the other? Is it possible to reconcile them or is it not?
John Blofeld
dying do not represent the whole of life. If there is not more in life than that, then we might just as well be dead, because life viewed from that perspective involves so many difficulties, troubles, boring moments and tragic moments, that it simply isn't worth living. Excerpted from a1978 lecture given at Far West Institute in San Francisco
Guru is not the goal. Anyone who establishes himself as a guru to be worshipped is not a guru. Guru is like a boat for crossing the river - Swami Rama of the Himalayas
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India-China bilateral under Narendra Modi SRIKANTH KONDAPALLI
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s the recently formed government in New Delhi is settling down, the domestic and external policies to be adopted are being worked out. While no specific blueprint is available, one can take the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) election manifesto, speeches of the BJP leaders during the election campaign, actions taken over the past two weeks, the President's address to the Joint Session of the parliament and the contextual aspects into considerations to reflect on the new government's policies. First, a common denominator among the aforementioned aspects is Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team's domestic rejuvenation agenda. President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the parliament outlines the new
Industrial Corridors," the new government needs Japan and the other countries. Japan, in the recent period, committed nearly $92 billion for the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and had also been exploring the Bangalore-Chennai sector. While clearances on land acquisition, environmental issues, and labor reforms have delayed the project, more thrust could be expected during Modi's visit to Tokyo next month. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in his meetings with the Indian officials during his recent visit, reiterated China's interest in setting up industrial zones in five states and Beijing's participation in railway projects. For Japan, China and the EU countries, the proposed diamond quadrilateral project of high speed
Minister of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China Wang Yi calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 9. Union Minister for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Sushma Swaraj is also seen
government's agenda for the next 60 months. A majority of the points in this address were taken verbatim from the BJP manifesto. These include enhancing the role of the manufacturing sector, improving infrastructure projects across the country and overall capacity buildup. It is clear, however, that for this to happen, the foreign policy front needs to be re-calibrated for the domestic agenda. For instance, China had become the global manufacturing hub thanks to its vigorous efforts over the past two decades of reform and opening policies and financial and technical assistance from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and the US. In this regard, if Modi's efforts are to transform India into a "globally competitive manufacturing hub powered by Skill, Scale and Speed," he needs active cooperation of all the countries mentioned above. Additionally, for setting up "world class investment and industrial regions, particularly along the Dedicated Freight Corridors and
trains, the Sagar Mala port project, substantially augmenting electricity generation capacity, the national solar mission, etc. are lucrative and mutually beneficial. Concerns on foreign investments closer to the security establishments of course, prevail in India; and so are antidumping duties on solar panels from China. There are several commonalities in the new government's path forward and that of China's. Both leaderships emphasize on nurturing innovation; urban mission programs; renewable sources of energy; among others. China's 12th Five Year Plan outlined these aspects, and both could learn from each other's experience. Second, several items on the Modi government's domestic agenda could provide for opportunities or even frictions with neighbors in the longer run. The BJP manifesto and the presidential address suggested to building worldclass infrastructure, including the "expansion of railways in hilly states and Northeast region, conservation of Himalayan ecology;
creating 50 tourist circuits and establishing a Central University of Himalayan Studies." While China itself had expanded its infrastructure projects towards its peripheries in Tibet and Xinjiang - often intruding into disputed territories between India and Pakistan in the Northern areas - it is suspicious of the dual-use aspects of these initiatives by India. Third, during the election campaign - such as at Pasighat in February this year when Modi chastised China for its "expansionist mindset" - and subsequently, it is clear that securing the borders will be among the priorities of the new government's agenda. This is reflected in the appointments of Gen. (Retd) VK Singh, and Kiran Rejiju, among others. The presidential address simply stated that the new government will "strengthen defense preparedness," but there was no mention of revising the nuclear doctrine as stated earlier by the BJP manifesto. Fourth, the BJP-led government clearly identified the Indian neighborhood as its foreign policy priority. It was reflected in the invitation to the South Asian neighbors to Prime Minister Modi's swearing-in ceremony, and in his choice of Thimphu for his maiden foreign visit. The presidential address also identified China, Japan, Russia, the US and the EU; but it is clear that India's relations with the US and Japan are poised to be on the upswing. Specifically on China, the address, while reiterating the "strategic and cooperative partnership" agreement of 2005, stated that the new government "will engage energetically" with Beijing. Fifth, the BJP manifesto and the presidential address clearly identified zero tolerance to internal disturbances, including terrorist incidents. While in the foreign policy domain, this issue is mainly directed towards Pakistan, there was also a mention during Foreign Minister Yi's visit to New Delhi that counter-terrorism efforts between India and China will be furthered. So far, although both India and China have acceded to the UN Security Council resolutions 1267, 1373 and 1540 on counter-terrorism, no effective coordination or cooperation exists between the two nations that identify this issue as number one security challenge. The writer is Professor in Chinese Studies, Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Courtesy IPCS
India Post China is willing
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here are possibilities of a new beginning with China. With the advent of the new Modi Government, China has been sending feelers of such a development. China had been offering co-operation on trade and infrastructure but a weak and cautious previous UPA government had been ignoring the overtures giving primacy to political differences on border and fearing adverse popular reaction to any rapprochement with China. Modi now has the mandate to go ahead and pluck this low hanging fruit. The early visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India is just such a possibility. The security fear discouraging deals with Chinese firms should no longer be a roadblock. India is in great need of infrastructure in roads, railways and some other fields where China can provide the expertise. Leaving the border issue aside to be discussed at the already appointed proper forums, India should accept Chinese help to build a modern India. Under Modi, India would be keen to narrow the vast trade deficit of $31 billion, even as the two countries close in on their goal of $100 billion bilateral trade by 2015. The talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister also focused on issues such as energy cooperation, Afghanistan and counter-terrorism, especially Jihadi terrorism, in the wake of a rise in attacks emanating from China's Xinjiang province. India had been complaining so far at the Chinese forays into neighboring countries providing them skill and finance in development projects. Instead of whining India can join in this bigger project with China of creating a developed South Asia. Mynamar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, apart from Pakistan, are already eager to have Chinese help in projects hanging fire in those countries. They look askance at India which they have been found frowning so far for accepting Chinese help. If India itself cannot help these neighboring South Asian countries, it should not grudge their seeking Chinese help because there is no alternative to development now in this region. So instead of standing by and protesting, India should join in the progress and development of this entire South Asian region. Modi made his intentions clear by inviting the political head of the Tibetan government in exile Lobsang Sangay at his swearingin ceremony. This was not to the liking of the Chinese government which sent a demarche to India protesting against the invitation. In keeping with his other bold moves Modi has shown that in international diplomacy also he will keep the interests of India foremost. While friendship with neighbors is paramount it will not come at the cost of India's national interest and dignity. The effusive reaction of the Chinese media and Chinese spokesperson on the outcome of Chinese Foreign Minister's India visit shows how China also prefers to play ball with a strong government and individual who knows his mind. The Chinese foreign minister admitted that India was one of the priorities in China's foreign policy and that if China too was a priority for India, then the relations between the two countries would grow faster than ever. Just as India's Look East policy, China, too, is looking to the west. Chinese leaders have been emphasizing this point that Chinese and Indian economies are complementary in nature. Wang said China was strong in infrastructure and manufacturing, while India's strengths were in software and services, and if the two countries came together then they could dominate world economy. With such positive vibes, and with an Indian leader in charge who has a soft corner for China, there is no reason to doubt that India and China will soon start co-operating in more and more areas, bilaterally as well as in international arena to bring the East back to its deserved place. What has made the world sit up and notice the importance of India is the way in which a clean and fair election was held to fulfill the people's aspirations.
June 13, 2014
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