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Geithner to visit India later this month Details on page 10

Dr. S. Rajan re-elected to UN commission

VOL 17, No. 927

June 22, 2012

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Periodical Postage

NEW MOMENTUM IN INDO-U.S. TIES Our values & interests are converging: Clinton

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Srikanth Srinivasan

Indian named on US Court of Appeals Details on page 10

8 Indo-US projects get awards Details on page 11

Community welcomes Dr Manan Trivedi

‘Evidence against Gupta devastating’

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Indian who killed family was ‘illegal’

Cap on US H-1B Visa reached Details on page 41

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CONTENTS

A ghazal era ends with Mehdi Hassan

Bollywood ---------------------- 24-25 Classifieds ------------------------- 47 Community Post -------------- 12-20 Date Book -------------------------- 46

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

Indian politics harming ties with US? Last week’s result

Should India support US Navy move on China?

YES 53%

NO 47%

TRUE FRIENDS: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shakes hands with India’s Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna during a press conference following the US-India Strategic Dialogue at the State Department in Washington

WASHINGTON: After holding three rounds of strategic dialogues, India and US have said their ties now have entered a phase of maturity in which there is no longer need for dramatic breakthroughs that was seen earlier.

The Strategic Dialogue that has taken place with the US in the last three years has been extremely beneficial to India, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters during a joint press availability with US Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, where both the top leaders co-chaired the third India-US Strategic Dialogue.

"If I am to list some of the most important areas where we have moved ahead at the third Strategic Dialogue, I would unhesitatingly single out higher education, science and technology, innovation, women's empowerment and clean energy," he said.

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HealthScience Post --------- 36-39 Horoscope ------------------------- 35 Immigration Post ------------- 40-43 India ---------------------------------- 34 Life Style ----------------------- 26-28 Philosophy ------------------------- 48 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 44-45 TechBiz Post ------------------- 21-23 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 29-31

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t's a mere coincidence that this year sees the Presidential election in both the US and in India, and as can be seen by those interested in both elections, the race is on, on a make or break footing. That similarity apart, there is a huge difference though - while the American election is about gaining executive powers to run the most powerful country in the world, the Indian Presidential election - which has come to be more raucous and contentious than any election anywhere - is simply about anointing a figure head with ceremonial functions and to toe the line of the executive.

You would think it's a quiet, dignified process where a worthy, senior leader is chosen as a consensus candidate by all political parties. Nah, not so simple in India. For the last several weeks, every single political party that has a stake in the ruling government of the country has been flexing its bargaining muscles to extend support to the Presidential candidate nominated by the Congress Party.

The suspense, the speculation and perhaps the horse trading between the stake holders to appoint a successor to Pratibha Patil, the current President of India has grown to ridiculous proportions. As the alliance partners of the ruling government realized the extent of power each had to wield over the Congress and its leader Sonia Gandhi, names of potential candidates have wildly swung from current finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, former Speaker of the House Somnath Chatterjee, former President APJ Abdul Kalam to - hold your breath the sitting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh!

Here's the unfortunate irony of Indian politics. These parties, which are part of the ruling coalition, are bandying the names of the two most senior leaders with key executive powers - the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister - to be moved to that of a non-executive position of President.

The belittling of the dignity of the Presidential office and that of the Prime Minister for that matter, notwithstanding, the shenanigans here are clearly between the two most powerful women in Indian politics today - Sonia Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee. Power does corrupt, even women power.

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: 'Uff' moment At the IIFA Rocks in Singapore Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra brought the roof down with their performance.

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Cover Story: Strategic dialogue After holding three rounds of strategic dialogues, India and US have said their ties now have entered a phase of maturity.

Community: Reception to Trivedi Dr Manan Trivedi, candidate for US Congress, visited Chicago and met the Indian American community at a reception.

Immigration: No to VIPs The US has said that VIPs visiting the country will have to go through the immigration procedures like everyone else.

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Life Style: Indian hulk Ajay Devgn’s super fit body in the film Bol Bachchan has earned him a new nick name - The Indian Hulk!

Techbiz: Drugs production Brazil has expressed interest in collaboration with Indian companies for joint production of drugs for fighting HIV/AIDS.

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Travel: Palace on Wheels Palace on Wheels comprises coaches which were the personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of princely states.

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3rd Strategic Dialogue

June 22, 2012

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New momentum in Indo-US ties Our values & interests are converging: Clinton WASHINGTON: After holding three rounds of strategic dialogues, India and US have said their ties now have entered a phase of maturity in which there is no longer need for dramatic breakthroughs that was seen earlier.

The Strategic Dialogue that has taken place with the US in the last three years has been extremely beneficial to India, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters during a joint press availability with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, where both the top leaders co-chaired the third IndiaUS Strategic Dialogue.

"If I am to list some of the most important areas where we have moved ahead at the third Strategic Dialogue, I would unhesitatingly single out higher education, science and technology, innovation, women's empow-

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co-chairing the 3rd round of India-US Strategic Dialogue on June 13

vides a new momentum for IndiaUS global strategic partnership, Krishna said.

"We go from strength to strength," Clinton said, adding, "We have evidence to prove that our relationship is deepening and broadening."

Clinton said India and the US have a strong foundation of

Sam Pitroda (R), Advisor to the Prime Minister of India for Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, speaks with Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren

erment and clean energy," he said.

The shared interests and convergence views on a range of regional and global issues that really were evident in the talks, pro-

friendship and cooperation.

"But today, we are seeing something new. The strategic fundamentals of our relationship are pushing our two countries' inter-

ests into closer convergence. By strategic fundamentals, I mean not just our shared democratic values, but also our economic imperatives and our diplomatic and security priorities," she said.

"For example in order to grow and prosper in today's world, both the US and India need an open, free, fair and transparent global economic system. We both seek security and stability in South Asia and the Asia-Pacific. And we both see the importance of a coordinated international response to violent extremism and other shared global challenges," she said.

"What does this mean for our partnership? Well, today there is less need for dramatic breakthroughs that marked earlier phases in our relationship, but more need for steady, focused cooperation, aimed at working through our differences and advancing the interests and values we share.

This kind of daily, weekly, monthly collaboration may not always be glamorous, but it is strategically significant, and that is, after all, what this dialogue is all about," Clinton noted.

Krishna said the discussions demonstrated yet again their

shared interests and convergent views on a range of regional and global issues.

Responding to questions, Clinton acknowledged that as like any other relationship this too has had its ups and downs.

"I would be never in a position to say we don't have differences.

How could two great nations with

she said.

"But there's no doubt that our values and our interests are converging, that we have a view of this relationship that is in keeping with the perspectives and histories that bring us together in the 21st century, where we are finding so much more common ground that we are working on

Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao attends the US-India Strategic Dialogue at the State Department in Washington

our histories and our political systems, these raucous, you know, incredibly pluralistic democracies, not have differences? That would be quite odd if that were the case,"

together. So I'm very positive about our relationship, and we will continue to work through the differences as they arise," Clinton said. -PTI

Krishna assures level playing field to US companies WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pushed the need to advance negotiations on bilateral investment treaty, as her Indian counterpart S M Krishna assured Americans that India would provide a level playing field and total transparency to those interested in investing in the country.

"We have assured everyone who would be interested in making investments in India that there is going to be a level playing field and there will be total

transparency.

And with these two parameters being ensured, I'm sure that a number of companies from outside India would be willing to participate in this great developmental journey that India is setting on," Krishna told reporters at a joint news conference at the conclusion of the third India-US Strategic Dialogue between the two countries.

Responding to questions, Krishna said he is conscious of the fact that there is a degree of skepticism regarding the prevailing senti-

ment of business and economic content of India-US relationship.

"I have listed some of our pressing concerns in my speech earlier.

I have also been sensitized to the concerns articulated by US business," he said.

"In times of vulnerability and uncertainty for the global economy, expression of such views are not unusual. However, the Indian economy will restore investors' confidence and regain the growth momentum," the minister said.

Having great confidence in the future of India-US economic partnership, Krishna said their ties of trade, investment and innovation are growing in both directions.

"Our defense and high-technology trade is ever-expanding. Indian plans to invest more than a trillion dollars on infrastructure development in the coming five years will provide enormous business opportunities which the US companies can consider exploiting. Openness and growth in the US economy will also support

stronger economic ties," he said.

Clinton said on the economic front, the two countries reviewed the progress that they have made together and acknowledged that there is still more room for growth, investment and business ties.

"We need to advance negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, further reduce barriers to trade and investment in our two countries, create more hospitable environments for companies to do business," Clinton said. -PTI

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India emphasizes defense tech transfer WASHINGTON: India has emphasized on defense technology transfer, co-development and coproduction with the US in the expanding defense ties between the two countries.

"The Secretary (of State) and I support the growing emphasis on defense technology transfer and co-development and co-production in our expanding defense relationship," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters at a joint news conference with Hillary Clinton.

Clinton and Krishna briefed reporters on the outcome of the third India US Strategic Dialogue that was held at the Foggy Bot-

tom headquarters of the State Department.

According to a fact sheet issued by the State Department, the US and India continue to develop their defense partnership through military sales and joint research, coproduction and co-development.

With more than USD 9 billion in sales over the last decade and another USD 10 billion in the pipeline, US defense sales to India will create hundreds of US jobs, it said.

Through defense sales, the US and India will have the largest C17 transport fleets in the world, strengthening their ability to deliver humanitarian assistance across the region and facilitating

India’s Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna laughs with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a press conference following the US-India Strategic Dialogue at the State Department in Washington

Nod to trilateral consultations with Afghanistan WASHINGTON: India and US have agreed to a formal trilateral consultations with Afghanistan to explore opportunities to promote the war-torn country's development, including in areas such as agriculture, mining, energy, capacity building and infrastructure.

"We agreed to move forward with a formal trilateral consultation among our three nations (India, Afghanistan and US)," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a joint news conference with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna at the end of the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue here.

Later in a joint statement the two leaders said: "They intend to explore opportunities to work together to promote Afghanistan's development, including in areas such as mining, agriculture, energy, capacity building and infrastructure."

Later this month, India for the first time is hosting an interna-

tional investor's meet on Afghanistan in New Delhi.

"We very much appreciate India's commitment to help build a better future for the Afghan

Krishna said while India's role has always been very constructive, Afghanistan falls in its larger neighborhood, with which it has civilizational, historical and trade connections and cultural ties people: helping them with more than USD 2 billion for development; supporting the New Silk

Road Initiative; hosting the investment conference; providing security, training and support," Clinton told reporters.

"I am very pleased that Afghanistan is getting this kind of encouragement and tangible support because it's in everyone's interests that Afghanistan be as secure and stable as possible," she said.

Krishna said while India's role has always been very constructive, Afghanistan falls in its larger neighborhood, with which it has civilizational, historical and trade connections and cultural ties.

During the talks, India also raised the issue of elimination of terror safe havens in Pakistan.

"They reiterated that success in Afghanistan and regional and global security require elimination of safe havens and infrastructure for terrorism and violent extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan," said the joint statement. -PTI

Westinghouse signs MoU for N-plants in India WASHINGTON: US firm Westinghouse Electric and the NPCIL have signed a preliminary pact for an Early Works Agreement (EWA) for installation of the first 1,000 MW American nuclear reactor in India under the historic 2008 Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

The announcement of the signing of the MoU, which represents a significant milestone towards the realization of the IndoUS nuclear deal, coincided with the third Indo-US Strategic Dialogue headed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External

Affairs Minister S M Krishna.

The MoU with the Nuclear Power Company of India Limited (NPCIL) related to negotiating an EWA supporting future construction of 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors at the Mithivirdi site in Bhavnagar district in Gujarat. The EWA will include preliminary licensing and site development work.

"This (MoU) is a significant step towards fulfillment of our landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement," Hillary said at a joint news conference with

Krishna.

Referring to the signing of the MoU, Clinton, however, said there is still lot of work to be done including understanding the implications of the civil nuclear liability law. US nuclear companies have voiced reservations at some provisions of the liability legislation.

Clinton said the MoU committed both sides to work towards the preliminary licensing and site development work needed to begin construction of new reactors in Gujarat. -PTI

their continued roles in United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world, it said.

In 2011 the United States participated in 56 cooperative events across all services with India - more than New Delhi has with any other country. These include the Malabar, Shatrujeet, and Yudh Abhayas exercises.

In support of the United States' commitment to accounting for all Americans missing from past conflicts, India has agreed to resume US missions to recover service member remains in India. There are an estimated 400 unaccounted for

US service members in Northeast India, primarily as a result of WWII aircraft crashes.

"I have informed Secretary Clinton of our willingness to receive a team of officials to visit India for the search and recovery of the remains of the MIAs from World War II," Krishna told reporters.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, to the India-US Strategic Dialogue, Clinton said the militaries of the two countries are participating in joint exercises and are increasingly cooperating to combat piracy, patrol vital sea lanes, and protect freedom of navigation. -PTI

'Speculations over civil N-deal put at rest' WASHINGTON: The MoU The announcement in this reinked between US firm gard was made by Clinton at the Westinghouse Electric and the inaugural session of the India-US NPCIL for an Early Works Agree- Strategic Dialogue. ment (EWA) for installation of the "Westinghouse and India's first American nuclear reactor in Nuclear Power Corporation have India should put to rest all specu- signed an agreement committing lations related to the implementa- both sides to work toward the pretion of the 2008 Indo-US civil liminary licensing and site develnuclear deal, External Affairs Minister S M ‘I think this should put to rest Krishna said here.

"I think this should some of the interpretations put to rest some of the interpretations and and some of the confusion some of the confusion that were prevailing in the that were prevailing in the immediate after- immediate aftermath after we math after we signed the signed the nuclear accord’ nuclear accord.

But I am glad that nuclear commerce is now begin- opment work needed to begin ning to expand itself and we hope construction of new reactors in more Indian and American compa- Gujarat," she said. nies will be involved in the course "There is still a lot of work to be of the coming months," Krishna done, including understanding the told reporters at a joint news con- implications of nuclear liability legference with Secretary of State islation, but this is a significant Hillary Clinton following conclu- step toward the fulfillment of our sion of the strategic dialogue which landmark civil nuclear cooperation was co-chaired by them. agreement," Clinton said.-PTI

June 22, 2012

3rd Strategic Dialogue

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US understands India's oil dependence on Iran WASHINGTON: Iran has been an important source of fulfilling India's oil requirements and United States "fully understands" it, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said here two days after his American counterpart issued waiver to India from Iranian Sanctions Act. "They (US) fully understand India's position that we are looking for our energy support from wherever we have been getting our crude oil supplies. Iran has been one of the important sources of fulfilling India's oil requirements," Krishna told reporters at a news conference.

"Even though it is coming down because of international situations, we are looking at other countries like Saudi Arabia to look into our energy needs," Krishna said.

Krishna emphasized that India takes decision taking into consideration its domestic energy requirements.

Earlier at a separate joint news conference with Krishna at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, Clinton said the two leaders worked

‘We recognize the important energy needs that India has, and we're working with India not only to ensure stable oil markets, but to do more to open up other sources of energy for India,’ Clinton said through some of the issues that they have fielded in common because of the concerns about Iran's continuing search for a nuclear weapon.

"India has made it clear that, you know, Iran, like all countries, must live up to their international obligations. And as I reported to Congress, India has taken steps to diversify its sources of imported crude by reducing purchases of Iranian oil," she said.

"We recognize the important energy needs that India has, and we're working with India not only to ensure stable oil markets, but to do more to open up other sources of energy for India," Clinton said.

During the Strategic Dialogue while Clinton updated Krishna on the P-5 plus one talks with Iran, the External Affairs Minister conveyed to the Secretary of State, India's vital interest in settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue.

"There are six million Indians who live in this region, which is also of particular importance to our economy," he said.-PTI

US for India opening multibrand retail to FDI WASHINGTON: The US has pitched for India opening up its lucrative multi-brand retail for foreign investors, an issue the UPA government had deferred for lack of consensus among its coalition partners.

In her remarks at the India-US Strategic Dialogue, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasized the need for a hospitable bilateral investment environment.

"We look forward to working to advance negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty, to further reduce barriers to trade and investment in areas like multi-brand retail, and to create hospitable environments for each of our companies to do business in the other's country," she said.

The UPA government's decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in the sector has been put on hold due to opposition from its allies including Trinamool Congress.

The government has already allowed 100 per cent FDI in singlebrand retail.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has started wider consultations with stakeholders, including farmers, consumers and the food processing industry on the issue.

India's multi-brand retail seg-

ment, estimated at USD 600 billion, is dominated by small kirana (mom & pop) shops. The Opposition fears that allowing global retailers in multi-brand retail would lead to job losses in the unorganized sector.

US-based Walmart and France's Carrefour are among the global retail giants that are keen on entering the Indian market.

Noting that bilateral trade and investment may exceed USD 100 billion this year, Clinton said that there is a lot of room for further growth.

India and the United States, she said, are committed to not only expanding their bilateral relationship but also to furthering the work "we do regionally and globally".-PTI

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath with the Secretary, U.S. Health and Human Services, Ms. Kathleen Sebelius, at their meeting in the framework of India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue, in Washington DC on June 12

Let's work together for New Silk Road: Clinton WASHINGTON: Observing "We hope the conference later that India and US are co-operating this month in New Delhi will galin South and East Asia, US Secre- vanize more international investtary of State Hillary Clinton has ment," she said. sought India's active role in accom"Both the United States and plishing her ambitious goal of the India have signed strategic partNew Silk Road linking South and nership agreements with AfghaniCentral Asia with South East Asia. stan to demonstrate our enduring "Together, we must continue commitment, and I hope we can laying the groundwork for the move toward a formal trilateral long-term vision of a New Silk consultation among our three naRoad that connects markets, businesses and consumers from ‘Both the United States and the Caspian to the India have signed strategic Ganges and beyond," Clinton said in her re- partnership agreements with marks to the opening of Afghanistan to demonstrate the third India-US Strategic Dialogue, which our enduring commitment’ she co-chaired with the External Affairs Minister S M tions," she said.

Krishna.

"The United States continues Before the kick-off of the stra- to support India's Look East tegic dialogue, the two leaders Policy. Both our countries have had a bilateral meeting at the State significant stakes in the future of Department, which lasted for the dynamic Asia-Pacific region, nearly an hour, against the sched- and we need to expand our work, uled time of 30 minutes. both bilaterally and through mulAs a result the Strategic Dialogue tilateral institutions, such as the started nearly half an hour late.

East Asia Summit and ASEAN Clinton said US welcomes Regional Forum, to work to build India's contributions toward a regional architecture that will building a stable, secure and pros- boost economic growth, settle perous Afghanistan, including its disputes peacefully, and uphold more than USD 2 billion in assis- universal rights and norms," she tance. said. -PTI

Clinton pats India for cutting Iranian oil import WASHINGTON: US Secretary "India has taken steps to diof State Hillary Clinton has versity its sources of imported complimented India for the re- crude by reducing dependence on duced dependence on Iranian oil Iranian oil, fact that I officially resaying "habits of cooperation are ported to our Congress. paying off" to deny Iran's nuclear "US recognizes India's growambitions. ing energy needs and we are "On the critical security chal- working together to ensure not lenge of Iran's nuclear program, only stable oil markets but addiyou can see habits of cooperation tional areas of cooperation to help paying off," Clinton said ahead of the 3rd US-India Strategic Dia- ‘US appreciates that India has made it clear it underlogue being.

Addressing the me- stands the importance of dia, Clinton added, "US denying Iran a nuclear appreciates that India has made it clear it un- weapon and supports efforts derstands the impor- to ensure Iran's compliance tance of denying Iran a with international obligations’ nuclear weapon and supports efforts to ensure Iran's compliance with inter- India attain greater energy secunational obligations". rity," she said.

The comments came a day afCrude imports from Iran have a ter US exempted India and six steadily declining share in India's other countries from tough new total oil imports - dropping from a financial sanctions on Iran's oil level of over 16 per cent in 2008trade citing significant reduction 09 to almost 10 per cent in 2011in imports of Iranian oil by them.

12.-PTI

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India will restore investor confidence, regain growth: Krishna WASHINGTON: Seeking to abate skepticism over the current business environment in India, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has claimed India will restore investor confidence and regain economic momentum.

He took up the case of Indian businesses and raised their pressing issues while speaking on the eve of the crucial India-US Strategic Dialogue.

"For our businesses, too, there are pressing issues: Whether it is the worsening environment for mobility of professionals, the protectionist sentiments against the global supply chain in services industry, the refusal to even consider a Social Security Agreement that affects the lives of 300,000 non-immigrant Indian professionals in the United States, the unresolved market access issues, or, the persisting presence of India in the Super 301 Priority Watch List and the US Department of Labor's list," Krishna said.

Krishna's remarks came at the end of the day-long annual gala of the US India Business Council

From (L-R) Harold "Terry" McGraw III, Immediate Past Chairman of USIBC, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Michael Froman, US Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Affairs, Ambassador Nirupama Rao, and Ajay Banga, Chairman at USIBC, at the USIBC 37th Anniversary Leadership Summit on June 12

"I also have great confidence in the future of India-US economic partnership. I know that this is a time when a degree of skepticism has entered into the sentiment of the business on both sides. I am aware of the concerns of the US

‘For our businesses, too, there are pressing issues: Whether it is the worsening environment for mobility of professionals, the protectionist sentiments against the global supply chain in services industry, the refusal to even consider a Social Security Agreement’ (USIBC) wherein American corporate leadership, think tanks expressed skepticism over the current business environment in India and lamented that economic reforms are not taking place.

businesses; USIBC has been forceful in articulating them!" the External Affairs Minister said in his address to the annual USIBC event.

"It is, in part, natural, if not in-

evitable, that as our economic engagement grows; the range of issues that we face will also expand.

"But, it is also true, that as our inter-dependence deepens, it becomes even more important to address the issues with a sense of urgency and purpose," he said.

"The progress that we have made gives us the confidence to deal with the challenges in our relationship.

Our trade in goods and services has reached a milestone by crossing 100 billion US dollars last year. India has been one of the fastest growing destinations for US exports," he said and acknowledged that the US remains a major source of investment in India.

Indian companies, too, have established presence in at least 40 states in the US, with a significant

Policy flip-flops hampering India's progress: USIBC WASHINGTON: Cautioning that a weakened India will be bad for the world, new Chairman of industry body USIBC Ajay Banga has said policy flip-flops and unpredictable business climate are hampering the country's progress and scaring away foreign investors.

"Of late, we see the disturbing flip-flops on policy and increasing signs of an absence of a predictable investment and business climate.

"These factors and some others are hampering India's progress and growth and scaring away foreign investment," said Banga, who is also President and CEO of MasterCard "Together, if we don't solve

these problems, they will fester and multiply over time, not just to the detriment of India but with ramifications for our increasingly interconnected, global economies," Banga said.

He warned that a weakened India is not only bad for India, it's bad for the world.

"Just think of the consequences - geopolitical, economic and otherwise - if we fall short.

Make no mistake - the world needs a strong, stable, and prosperous India," he said.

Later, at a press conference, Banga said the issue is that there are going to be bumps along the way.

"They are caused by the political circumstances...What worries me is that along the way those

bumps, if they pick up a degree of convincing investors overseas that the predictability of the Indian business environment is changing under their feet that would be complicated," he added.

He said one of the things that makes American investors very comfortable about India is its legal and judicial system and the fact that there is a predictability.

But, Banga added, "When you start changing the rules on taxation...When you change retroactively, you are asking businessmen who have invested money in the country with a certain business model to say, 'oops I can't deal with this.' You can't deal with something that was not there when you were in." -PTI

part of their investments going into the manufacturing sector, and generating more than 80 per cent of their employment locally from the United States Krishna said.

Responding to the criticism of the American businesses, Krishna tried to negate their skepticism.

"Questions have been raised about economic policy and com-

mitment to implement reforms.

Doubts have been expressed whether the story of Incredible India will remain credible!" he said.

"These sentiments are not new.

Over the past two decades of extraordinary change in the Indian economy, there have been periods when the growth seemed to lose its steam and the agenda of reform seemed to slow.

"But, time and again, our economy rebounded with new vigor, on the strength of strong fundamentals, and supported by sound policies and prudent economic management," Krishna said.

"In an era of global inter-dependence, not everything is within the powers of national governments. But we are confident that we will restore investor confidence and regain economic momentum and growth," Krishna said.

Acknowledging that this is a time of vulnerability and uncertainty in the global economy and also a phase of challenges and opportunities for the two economies, Krishna said in India, there are evident concerns about economic parameters.-PTI

'US has enormous stake in India as global power' WASHINGTON: Noting that US President Barack Obama views India as one of his top foreign policy priorities, a senior White House official has said that the United States has enormous stake in New Delhi's emergence as a global power.

"President Obama is committed to forging a long term truly global partnership with India, recognizing India's increasing role as a 21st

power. India is of course world's largest democracy and soon to be perhaps the most populous country. Its economy is growing at a rate that envies the industrialized nations and has the potential to be a significant driver of global economic growth," he said reflecting the views of the White House on India ahead of the third IndiaUS Strategic Dialogue.

India's participation, he said, is important for India's participation, he said, meeting increasing global challenges, be it the is important for meeting challenges facing now in the global economy, increasing global chalfuture of trade and clilenges, be it the challenges mate, infrastructure or fighting the war against facing now in the global terrorism. economy, future of trade Commenting on the India-US economic reand climate, infrastructure lationship, Froman said in many ways the bilatcentury power. President Obama eral economic relationship was the views India as one of his top for- driver of the political relationship. eign policy priorities and one of While there has been significant the important bilateral relation- improvement in the bilateral trade ships," Michael Froman, Deputy and economic relationship, there National Security Advisor on in- is much more that can be done, he ternational economic affairs, said said. in his address to the US India Busi"As strategic partners, it is imness Council (USIBC). portant that we be open and frank "We have enormous stake in about how best to go about that," India's emergence as a global Froman said.-PTI

June 22, 2012

3rd Strategic Dialogue

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Beware of bogus education, says Clinton WASHINGTON: As India and the United States pledge to deepen their co-operation in the field of education through a slew of innovative measures, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has cautioned against "bogus" education.

"I think we have to be very thoughtful about how to make the most of these efforts, because, to be very frank, some of what passes for distance learning and computerized instructions is really bogus," Clinton said in her address to the opening session of India-US Higher Education Dialogue.

"It doesn't add up. It doesn't make a difference. Some of it is brilliant and effective. How do we begin separating the wheat from the chaff? How do we have standards that move us in the right direction and don't leave open a broad field for the exploitation of students because we don't have the right standards and expectations in place?" she asked.

Clinton was referring to the online availability of teaching materials and long-distance education.

Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the US Department of State on June 12 during the opening session of the India-US Higher Education Dialogue. Others in the picture are from L-R: Ambassador Nirupama Rao,Tara D. Sonenshine, Under Secretary Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Robert Blake, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian, and US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell

Addressing educationist and officials from both countries, Clinton hoped that they would discuss ways to make the world's best teaching materials available to ev-

eryone, no matter where they live or how much money they have.

Referring to the talked about cloud computing by her Indian counterpart, Clinton stressed on

India seeks further access to Headley, Rana WASHINGTON: India has "With respect to informationsought further access to LeT op- sharing it is our policy and pracerative David Headley and his tice to share information, and we accomplice Tahawwur Rana cur- do that. I'm not going to go into rently in US jail, with External Af- details because we think our cofairs Minister S M Krishna asking operation on intelligence-sharing, Washington to help bring to jus- on homeland security issues, on tice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"India's interest in further access to Headley and Rana, in accordance with our legal procedures, for the investigations into the David Headley and Tahawwur Rana Mumbai terror attack of November 2008, was raised," Krishna counter-terrorism has gotten to a told reporters at a joint news con- new level," she said. ference with Secretary of State "It is very important to both of Hillary Clinton after the Strategic our countries. But it's also imporDialogue which was co-chaired tant that, you know, we support by them. the work that is done by our proIn response to a question on fessionals and our experts in proPakistani-American Headley (51) tecting both of our countries, and and Pakistani-Canadian Rana (50), I think we are satisfied that that is Clinton said the two countries are occurring," Clinton said. sharing information related to terLater at a separate news conrorism and other related issues. ference, Krishna said terrorism

has been one of the main subjects of his discussions with Clinton.

"She understands India's concerns and how India has become a victim over a period of time of terrorist attacks coming across from Pakistan," Krishna said, adding that the United States fully understands India's position.

Headley has pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism charges, including his involvement in the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives.

Last year, Rana was also convicted of providing material support to the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.

However, he was acquitted of conspiring to provide material support to the conspiracies to bomb public places in Mumbai.

The issue of Headley and Rana has not only been taken up by Krishna with Clinton during his talks, Union Home Secretary R K Singh specifically took up the issue with his American counterparts during the talks here.-PTI

the need to use modern technology in order to bring to the doorstep or to the screen of students who would otherwise not have the opportunity.

"All that is available today.

And this new technology makes it possible to revolutionize higher education, even in some of the world's poorest places," she said.

"The United States is investing nearly USD two billion in the creation of open educational resources, and India has also made impressive progress on its own," Clinton said.

"If our students are going to solve global challenges, they need to understand those global challenges.

Now, US institutions in particular are seeking to broaden their curricula and provide more opportunities for their students and scholars to gain international experience," she said.

"Thanks to support from both governments, we're exchanging more students and scholars through the Fulbright-Nehru program than ever before. Today, I hope you'll explore ways to increase partnerships in fields like food and water security, climate change, sustainable energy, and public health. These are areas that are ripe for new ideas," Clinton said. -PTI

Sibal plans 'Connect to India' initiative in US WASHINGTON: Union Human The minister made these reResources and Development marks at the opening session of Minister Kapil Sibal proposed to the India-US Higher Education launch a "Connect to India" ini- Dialogue which he co-chaired tiative to attract more American along with Secretary of State students to study in India.

Hillary Clinton.

US already has a similar "PassAs "Passport to India" program port to India" program for facili- of the US, Clinton announced that tating US students to go to India seven companies have agreed to for studies. support internship to service "While the world is coming to- linked projects for 225 American gether through technology, we must learn to appreciate, manage and ‘While the world is coming preserve our diversity together through technolthrough education and ogy, we must learn to aplearning by experience.

No country on this preciate, manage and planet is more diverse preserve our diversity than India. through education and I am sure that global learning by experience’ students would understand and learn about management of diversity in India students over the next three years. far better than elsewhere in the "American students would world," Sibal said. soon be doing cutting edge re"Towards this end, I propose, search with Microsoft in Bangato launch a "Connect to India" ini- lore, developing new energy sotiative that will make available lutions at Honeywell in AP opportunities for students that (Andhra Pradesh), and working will make available opportunities on several projects with local for students in the US to spend NGOs," Clinton said. some time in our quality instituThe Secretary of State lauded tions for learning about our life, Indian government for sending society, culture, economy polity junior faculty for post-doctoral and business," Sibal said. research. -PTI

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June 22, 2012

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Obama nominates Indian-American 'Saeed still waging hate on US Court of Appeals from Pakistan' WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has nominated Indian-American Srikanth Srinivasan to a key judiciary position and termed him as a trailblazer.

According to the White House, Srinivasan has been nominated to serve on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit along with Caitlin Halligan.

"Caitlin Halligan and Sri Srinivasan are dedicated public servants who will bring their tremendous experience, intellect, and integrity to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit," Obama said.

"This important court is often called the Nation's second-highest court, and it stands more than a quarter vacant. Srinivasan will be a trailblazer and, like Halligan, will serve the court with distinction and excellence," he said.

Born in Chandigarh and brought up in Kansas, Srinivasan

is the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the US. "He is a highly-respected appellate advocate who has spent a distinguished career litigating

He was an associate at the law firm of OMelveny & Myers LLP in Washington, DC, from 1998 until 2002. In 2002, he returned to the Solicitor General's Office as an Assistant, representing the US in litigation before the Supreme Court before the US Supreme Court and the US Courts of Appeals, both on behalf of the United States and in private practice," the

White House said.

Srinivasan began his legal career by serving as a law clerk for Judge J Harvie Wilkinson on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit from 1995 to 1996.

He then spent a year as a Bristow Fellow in the Office of the Solicitor General before clerking for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor during the Supreme Court's 1997-98 term.

He was an associate at the law firm of OMelveny & Myers LLP in Washington, DC, from 1998 until 2002. In 2002, he returned to the Solicitor General's Office as an Assistant, representing the US in litigation before the Supreme Court.

In 2007, Srinivasan became a partner with OMelveny & Myers LLP. In 2011, he was named the Chair of the firms Appellate Practice Group. He was named as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General in August 2011. -PTI

Geithner to visit India later this month WASHINGTON: Aiming to further expand the bilateral economic engagement, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would travel to India later this month for the third annual meet of the USIndia Economic & Financial Partnership.

Geithner would be in New Delhi on June 27 and would travel to Mumbai on June 28. He will hold meetings with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

In Mumbai, he would meet the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Duvvuri Subbarao and the business leaders from a variety of industries.

"The US-India Economic and Financial Partnership has served as a platform for greater cooperation on economic issues of importance to both nations," the Treasury De-

partment said in a statement.

"Both countries recognize the importance of expanding bilateral economic engagement, noting the rapid growth of US-India eco-

Partnership activities over the last three years have focused on three broad areas - macroeconomic policy, the financial sector, and infrastructure financing, the Treasury said nomic ties and the increasing range of global macroeconomic and financial issues on which the

United States and India cooperate," it said.

Partnership activities over the last three years have focused on three broad areas - macroeconomic policy, the financial sector, and infrastructure financing, the Treasury said.

Cabinet-level meetings, alternately held in the US and India, have been led by Geithner and Mukherjee.

"Working group meetings held throughout the year have advanced discussions on specific economic areas.

"In addition to discussing these activities, Secretary Geithner will also discuss issues related to illicit finance, including the implementation of international sanctions," the statement said. -PTI

Dr. S. Rajan re-elected to UN commission India Post News Service

UNITED NATIONS: Dr. S. Rajan, India's candidate to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) has been re-elected to the Commission for a five-year term from 2012-17. At a meeting of the State Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the first round he obtained 112 of the 161 valid votes cast. The election was keenly contested in the

Asia-Pacific group with eight candidates in the fray for five seats.

An eminent scientist, Dr. Rajan is presently working with the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, a premier organization situated in Goa, India. He has been a member of the Commission since June, 2007. He brings with him extensive expertise in matters relating to marine geophysical surveys and related issues and has been deeply involved in the implementation of the pro-

gram on Delineation of Outer Limits of Continental Shelf. He has also taken keen interest in developing national and international collaborative programs including in Polar Sciences and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP).

Dr. Rajan has to his credit several technical and professional papers which have been published in various journals, relating to Marine Geology, Geophysics, Geodynamics, Geo-magnetics, Oceanography, and Hydrography.

WASHINGTON: India's foreign minister has said the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks is still using Pakistan for a "hate India campaign."

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said that the peace process between the South Asian rival nations would continue but that Pakistan has to help "checkmate" terrorist groups for relations to be normalized. Krishna will visit Pakistan next month.

He said India only has to look on Pakistani television to see that militant leader Hafiz Mohammad Saeed remains free.

"Assurances have been given to India by the leadership of Pakistan that Pakistan territory is not going to be used for anti-India activities," Krishna said after at-

tending high-level US-India talks in Washington.

"But we know for a fact and have evidence and we can see it on Pakistani TV that the brains behind the Mumbai attack, led by Hafiz Saeed, goes scot-free in Pakistan, still carrying on a hate India campaign."

"This does not connect very well with a nation's intention if it was to extend the hand of friendship to normalize relations," Krishna said.

The Pakistan-based Lashkar-eTaiba group Saeed founded is blamed for the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, the worst terror attack suffered by India.

Pakistan has resisted Indian demands to do more against Saeed, saying there isn't sufficient evidence.-AP

'Consider Kairi's case on humanitarian grounds' WASHINGTON: External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has said the issue of Indian-American Kairi Shepherd, who is facing the prospect of forcibly being sent back to her country of birth, was raised with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"I put it across to Secretary Clinton that the United States would have to look at it from the humanitarian point of view," Krishna said.

"On issues like this, I think specific assurances are not given, but they have taken note of Government of India concerns that this be addressed on humanitarian basis," he told reporters at a news conference in response to a question on Kairi, for whom immi-

gration authorities have initiated deportation proceedings.

Shepherd, 30, was adopted by an Utah woman when she was just three months old. As luck would have it, her mother died of cancer when she was eight. At 17, she was arrested and convicted of felony check forgery to fuel a drug habit.

She now faces the prospect of being deported to India, with a local court refusing to intervene in a federal government's deportation move on the ground that she is a "criminal alien".

Shepherd has termed deportation as a "death sentence" for her.

"Hence they should look at it from humanitarian point of view. I am sure, she would certainly look into it," Krishna said. -PTI

Walmart tightens anti-corruption practices in India NEW YORK/NEW DELHI: USbased Walmart Stores Inc has said it is tightening anti-corruption practices in India, amidst reports of US lawmakers asking the retail giant to review its operations in the country along with those in four other nations.

"This (anti-corruption measures) is part of the previously announced worldwide review of our anti-corruption program that we initiated in March of 2011 including the global review that the company is conducting of its policies, practices, and controls for FCPA compliance," a Bharti

Walmart spokesperson said in a statement.

Bharti Walmart is a 50:50 joint venture between Walmart Stores Inc and Bharti Enterprises that operates wholesale stores in India.

The spokesperson further said the initiative includes developing and implementing recommendations for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) training, anti-corruption safeguards, and internal controls.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the US bars bribes to officials of foreign governments.-PTI

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8 Indo-US projects get Obama-Singh awards India Post News Service

WASHINGTON: In a milestone in the educational partnership between India and the United States, a joint working group of India and USA selected eight (8) institutional partnership projects for the first Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative awards.

The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration and build partnerships between American and Indian institutions of higher education.

Each project will receive an award of approximately $250,000 that can be utilized over the three year grant period, with the aim of encouraging mutual understanding, educational reform, and economic growth, as well as the development of junior faculty at Indian and American institutions of higher learning.

The following are the eight institutional partnership projects: Indian-led partnerships: 1. Mahatma Gandhi University - Project Title: An Interdisciplinary and Community Oriented Approach toward Sustainable Development Partner Institutions: Brown University, Duke University and Plymouth State University 2. Banaras Hindu University Project Title: Paradigm Shift in Energy Scenario for the 21st Cen-

tury toward Renewable Energy Sources required for both India and the U.S. Partner Institution: University of Pittsburgh 3. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur - Project Title: International Program for Sustainable Infrastructure Development.

Partner Institution: Virginia Tech University 4. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi - Project Title: Resource

The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration and build partnerships between American and Indian institutions of higher education.

Each project will receive an award of approximately $250,000 Building for Ecosystem and Human Health Risk Assessment with Special reference to Microbial Contamination Partner Institution: Drexel University U.S.-led partnerships: 5. Rutgers, The State Univer-

sity of New Jersey - Project Title: Capitalizing on the Demographic Dividend: Enhancing Talent Development Capacity for India and the U.S. in the 21st Century.

Partner Institution: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai 6. University of Montana Project Title: Impacts of Climate Change and Changes in SocioEconomic Structure on Traditional Agriculture and the Development of Sustainable Communities among Indigenous Populations Partner Institution: Bangalore University 7. Cornell University - Project Title: Implementing Reformed Curriculum in Emerging areas of Agriculture and Food Security in Two State Agricultural Universities of India.

Partner Institutions: University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut 8. University of Michigan Project Title: The Joint Development of a Master's Degree in Education for Health Professions Faculty in the United States and India Partner Institution: Maharashtra University of the Health Sciences.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama had announced the

Obama-Singh Initiative in November 2009 as an affirmation of their commitment to building an enhanced India-U.S. partnership in education. Each government pledged $5 million for this endeavor, for a total of $10 million.

To implement this initiative, the Governments of India and the United States established a binational Obama-Singh Initiative joint working group (JWG). The JWG provides the final approval

The first ObamaSingh Initiative grant competition elicited great interest; many meritorious proposals were received from a wide range of institutions. The first RFP was announced in July 2011, with a November deadline for all grants awarded through the Obama-Singh Initiative. The JWG will allocate the $10 million over the course of a five year period awarding 8-10 university partnership grants annually. Grants to universities will be approximately $250,000 for activities to take

place over a maximum of 36 months.

The first Obama-Singh Initiative grant competition elicited great interest; many meritorious proposals were received from a wide range of institutions. The first RFP was announced in July 2011, with a November 2011 deadline.

The U.S. Government entered into an agreement with the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) to post the RFP announcement for U.S. institutions of higher education and administer grants to lead U.S. institutions whose university partnership programs are selected by the JWG. India's University Grants Commission posted the RFP announcement for lead Indian institutions and will draw on the Government of India's $5 million commitment to administer grants to the Indian institutions whose proposals are selected by the JWG. This year, the thematic areas stipulated for proposal consideration included: Agricultural Sciences and Food Security; Energy; Sustainable Development; Climate Change; Environmental Studies; Education and Educational Reform; Public Health; Community Development and Innovation.

The next request for proposals for the Obama-Singh Initiative grants will be announced in July 2012.

Evidence against Gupta devastating: Prosecution NEW YORK: The prosecutors have told a US jury that there is "overwhelming" and "devastating" evidence of insider trading against former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta but the defense argued there is no "beef in the case" as the hearing in one of the Wall Street's biggest scandal wrapped up.

The prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments in the high-profile insider trading trial of Gupta in Manhattan federal court and the case will now go to the jury, which will get instructions on the law from presiding judge Jed Rakoff.

The group of eight women and four men will then begin its deliberations on the fate of Gupta, one of corporate America's most successful Indian-Americans and the most high-profile Wall Street executive fighting criminal charges in the government's crackdown on insider trading.

Using graphics, emails, phone records and wiretaps,

federal prosecutor Richard Tarlowe summarized for the jury charges and evidence that 63year-old Gupta "violated his duty" as a Goldman and Proctor and Gamble board member to tip nowjailed hedge fund founder Raj

The prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments in the highprofile insider trading trial of Gupta in Manhattan federal court and the case will now go to the jury, which will get instructions from the judge Rajaratnam.

"Gupta abused his position as a corporate insider by providing secret company information to his longtime business partner and friend Raj Rajaratnam, so

Rajaratnam could use that information to buy and sell stocks before the investing public," Tarlowe said in an aggressive tone.

"By doing so, Gupta enabled Rajaratnam to make millions of dollars," he said.

"Time and time again Gupta betrayed that trust and violated that duty by using the secret information to help Rajaratnam cash in on it," Tarlowe said. "The evidence against Gupta is overwhelming and devastating."

Tarlowe said in his summation that Gupta was a "secret pipeline" to Rajaratnam, and "evidence shows that Gupta tipped (off) Rajaratnam periodically in anticipation of receiving multiple benefits in return."

Gupta has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy and five counts of securities fraud. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Gupta's lawyer Gary Naftalis, speaking softly and slowly, blamed the government of presenting to the jury an "illusion" even though it had no direct evi-

dence against his client.

"With all the power and majesty of the United States government, they found no real, hard, direct evidence," Naftalis said.

"They didn't find any because it didn't happen... As they say in

Naftalis said the government in its desperation to build its case presented stacks of documents and "parade of meaningless witnesses" but it is "indisputable" that Gupta did not buy or sell even a single share that old commercial, where's the beef in this case?

"We have had no real firsthand knowledge of the crimes alleged to have been committed here."

Naftalis said the government in its desperation to build its case presented stacks of documents and "parade of meaningless witnesses" but it is "indisputable" that Gupta did not buy or sell even a single share of Goldman Sachs and Proctor and Gamble.

"No cash changed hands here. No dishonest dimes ended up in Gupta's pocket," Naftalis said during his nearly three hours of closing arguments.

"If you put in a lot of paper, you give the illusion that you might have something more than you actually have - an illusion of making something out of nothing," Naftalis argued.

"That is a gambit that can bamboozle people into thinking something was proven when it wasn't," Naftalis added.

Naftalis urged the jury to give Gupta a not-guilty verdict if they have even the slightest doubt that he committed any crime.

"For Gupta, this is the case in which whatever you decide here will mark whatever future he has left," Naftalis said in a low tone. -PTI

Desi News

Schaumburg Art of Living raises funds RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The nine month old Art of Living Center in Schaumburg (a north side suburb of Chicago) may not and cannot rival the 381 acre spread of the North Carolina Ashram but so far as the devotion, enthusiasm and commitment on the part of volunteers and workers are concerned, it cannot be dwarfed in comparison.

This was quite in evidence recently when the local outfit of this global organization with headquarters in India, organized a live music concert with India famed artist Sachin Limaye at its Schaumburg facility to raise funds and create awareness about its various programs now and in the near future.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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nity. Iftekhar Shareef, Ranjit Ganguly briefly spoke about Dr Manan Trivedi.

A son of immigrants from India, Manan Trivedi was born and raised with his brother in Fleetwood, Berks County. His par-

HARISH RAO

Dada Vaswani charms Chicagoans Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Dada J. P. Vaswani, head of Sadhu Vaswani Mission, Pune, India was in Chicago recently and delivered a spiritual discourse on how to "Slow Down Your Pace" followed by an interactive question answer session at the Marriott in Oak Brook, a southwest Chicago suburb.

The program included one hour of Bhajans sung by a renowned singer from London, Dr. Harish Wadhwani. There was also an exhibition of photographs of Sadhu T.L. Vaswani as well as Pujya Dada.

Details on page 19

reer that took him to the front lines of the war in Iraq. Now, he's a primary care physician in the region, board certified in internal medicine.

Manan Trivedi is known for his passion for community service. As a young boy, he won a national

Manan Trivedi is known for his passion for community service. As a young boy, he won a national contest for launching a healthy eating initiative. In college, he received a community service award for his work with HIV/AIDS patients

Indian women knit blankets for veterans

Details on page 16

June 22, 2012

Chicago community welcomes Dr Manan Trivedi

Details on page 14

AUGUSTA: A nine-member Augusta, Georgia, area Hindu women's group, who knit and crochet together fortnightly in one of their homes, have delivered handmade blankets to wheel-chair bound veterans.

Nine knitters delivered 25 blankets to patients at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. The women, mostly from the Hindu Temple Society of Augusta, began knitting together more than a year ago. "Do whatever you can with your hands God has given you.

Do it as long as you are healthy," said Sheela Prakash, of Martinez.

Primary opponent endorses Ricky Gill

Iftekhar Shareef honors Manan Trivedi

A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Dr. Manan Trivedi, candidate for United States Congress from Pennsylvania's 6th District, visited Chicago recently and met the Chicago Indian American community at a reception hosted by members of Federation of India Associations (FIA).

Newly elect FIA President Ajay Agnihotri, Trustees Iftekhar Shareef, Babu Patel, Ranjit Ganguly and VP Keerthi Kumar Ravoori were among the hosts on behalf of FIA for the event. Raja Krishnamoorthi joined as special guest. Harendra Mangrola, President Indo American Democratic Organization (IADO) read an endorsement on behalf of IADO for Dr Manan Trivedi.

Keerthi Kumar inaugurated the event and introduced Dr Manan Trivedi to Chicago Indian commu-

ents worked at the old Red Cheek apple juice factory. He attended public schools and graduated from Fleetwood High School. He went on to college and medical school before embarking on a naval ca-

contest for launching a healthy eating initiative. In college, he received a community service award for his work with HIV/AIDS patients.

Cont’d on page 17

Manan Trivedi with his admirers (L to R) Iftekhar Shareef, Manan Trivedi, Raja Krishna Moorthy, Harendra Mangrola and Keerthi Ravoori

Spectacular 4th of July planned in NJ India Post News Service

EDISON, NJ: A group of New Jersey based Indian American entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners have decided to organize a spectacular show to commemorate the Independence Day of United States on 4th of July in Edison, NJ. "This is our way to demonstrate our love for America", said

Sam Khan, an engineer by profession who made the unity of the South Asian community his mission. "South Asians are proud of their culture and we want to prove that we deeply believe in the American values of equality and liberty", said Khan, who is contesting for a seat in the county government as a Freeholder.

Though Khan belongs to the Republican Party, community

comes first to him. "It doesn't matter which party we belong to - we are Americans of South Asian origin. We share a common heritage and share a common culture. We must unite to protect our interests and claim our rightful place in the American society."

At a recent meeting of the executive committee of 'South Asian Community Outreach', a community organization founded by

Khan, dedicated young volunteers agreed to showcase cultural performances from India and other parts of Asia. According to the unanimously approved proposal the celebration will be held at the Municipal Park in Edison Township, which boasts to be the home of largest number of people of Asian origin.

Cont’d on page 13

June 22, 2012

Community Across America

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Rajiv Malhotra on 'Being Different' at Balaji Temple ANU DARBHA

CHICAGO: The Cultural Committee of Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, Aurora, a southwest suburb of Chicago, organized two lectures by Rajiv Malhotra based on his books "Being Different" and "Breaking India" as part of it 26th Anniversary celebrations.

The lectures were hosted at the Balaji Temple auditorium in Aurora on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3. Dr. Raja Yalavarthi, Chairman of the Balaji Temple and Dr.Vijayalakshmi Susarla cultural committee Co-chair, welcomed the speaker and attendees.

The lectures were enthusiastically received by the attendees and on Sunday the lecture time had to be extended by almost three hours to accommodate all the questions from the audience.

Rajiv Malhotra has written several books that have raised many questions about Hinduism in the minds of Hindus and non-Hindus alike who are trying to understand the depth of this vast spiritual tradition.

After extensive research about the tradition of Hindu Dharma and how it is different from other faiths, Rajiv Malhotra has tried to empower the Hindu faith followers with knowledge and information about these differences and their understanding, thus leveling the field in a

ences that inter-faith dialogue can become a source of threat to us.

When we are informed about the differences, and demand that dialogue must proceed from a position of mutual respect... then, what is the threat? One of the most important points that arise from the discussion of different faiths and

In one of his interviews Rajiv Malhotra stated that Dharmic faiths are irreconcilably different from Abrahamic faiths in some fundamental ways. It is only when we remain ignorant of the differences that inter-faith dialogue can become a source of threat

Rajiv Malhotra at Balaji Temple

discussion of differing faiths.

Rajiv Malhotra's work is an attempt to reverse the gaze upon the West through the lens of Indian categories. This process is traditionally called purva paksha, and it is an exhaustive attempt to understand and compare the differing views through diligent argument and discussion. The concept of 'purva paksha' encourages you to delve deeper into the understanding of all differing views before you conclude the study and

Spectacular 4th of July planned in NJ Cont’d from page 12

"Shopkeepers and vendors from all parts of New Jersey will participate in this extravaganza", said Atma Singh, President of 4th of July Celebration Committee and a Jersey City based businessowner and president of Indian Congress Party, USA. "We have invited varieties of stall owners to sell Indian artifacts, jewelry, food and entertainment stuff. A number of social and cultural organizations will also attend the celebration.

"We are going to erect a big stage for performers to present entertaining programs", said Sarvesh Dharayan, Executive VicePresident of SACO and an IT professional who plays leading part in organizing community events in Central New Jersey.

Dharayan said that groups of musicians and dancers have been invited to perform and entertain the audience. "We are expecting about ten thousand people to attend this celebration", said Shrujal Parikh, who brought his contacts from the Federation of Indian Association, the apex body which

guages and in doing so they have created a very superficial interpretation of a much deeper and comprehensive spiritual tradition.

He urged the Dharma followers to develop a deeper understanding of many such Sanskrit words that have been misinterpreted as a result of translation into another

organizes spectacular celebration of India's Independence Day in New York City.

According to its founder Sam Khan, South Asian Community Outreach, a not-for-profit organization aims at creating awareness about the cultural, social, political

"We have invited varieties of stall owners to sell Indian artifacts, jewelry, food and entertainment stuff. A number of social and cultural organizations will also attend the celebration” status of people of South Asian origin. "SACO strives towards building a wider platform to provide a strong voice for their constitutional rights, responsibilities and duties of South Asian-American people who have made USA their country of residence and livelihood", he said.

reach a decision.

In one of his interviews Rajiv Malhotra stated that Dharmic faiths are irreconcilably different from Abrahamic faiths in some fundamental ways. It is only when we remain ignorant of the differ-

their interactions, according to Rajiv Malhotra, is that "Tolerance Isn't Good Enough - Mutual Respect is what is really needed in Interfaith Relations today" Another important aspect discussed by Rajiv Malhotra in his lecture was to bring cognizance of the fact that many Sanskrit words related to Dharmic philosophy are not translatable into other lan-

language and lost their true meaning in this process. This exercise of studying the true meaning of these Sanskrit words will assist immensely in the journey of selfdiscovery and relationship with dharma in daily life.

After completion of the presentations Sri Rajiv Malhotra was honored by temple trustee Dr. Prabhu Garla.

Flushing temple to hold Sai Sandhya India Post News Service

School Auditorium, 80-51, 261st Street, Queens.

Though temples in general organize cultural and religious events, not many of them are promoted by the devotees themselves. Here is such an event-a

FLUSHING, NY: Shri Shirdi Saibaba Temple, situated on Robinson Street in the Flushing section of Queens in New York, is organizing a daylong cultural event on June 23. The event comprises two segments: one, Sarvam Sai Mayam - a Kuchipudi Dance Ballet depicting the Saibaba's life story in eight different scenes; the other being a musical concert that includes bhajans and Bollywood and other devotional songs.

The temple as well as its volunteers and other devotees have been working on this cultural extravaganza for the last several weeks. The first segment is performed by Padma Shri Dr Sobha Naidu, the famous exponent of Kuchipudi dance, and her troupe consisting of more than 40 artists. The other is done Sri Shirdi Sai Baba at Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, mainly by Dr Radhika Flushing, New York.

Chopra, a well known artist who excels in bhajans and de- fact acknowledged by the temple officials. "We are grateful to the votional songs.

The venue of the event - at volunteers and other devotees of which the chief guest is Consul this temple that are playing a maGeneral of India in New York jor role in staging this event. DevoPrabhu Dayal - will be Public tees may have taken the initiative School 115, Glen Oaks Public in organizing temple-related activi-

ties in other temples. But this is probably the first of its kind for a Baba temple here in the US," said temple trustee Shiva Haran at a news conference organized in the run-up to the event. "The temple appreciates their efforts and con-

The temple as well as its volunteers and other devotees have been working on this cultural extravaganza for the last several weeks. The first segment is performed by Padma Shri Dr Sobha Naidu, the famous exponent of Kuchipudi dance, and her troupe consisting of more than 40 artists tributions."

Dr Naidu herself is excited about the program; a ballet titled "Sarvam Sai Mayam", and said she is looking forward to the occasion.

Cont’d on page 17

Community Across America

14 India Post

June 22, 2012

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Schaumburg Art of Living raises funds

Members of the audience seen participating in the program

RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The nine month old Art of Living Center in Schaumburg (a north side suburb of Chicago) may not and cannot rival the 381 acre spread of the North Carolina Ashram but so far as the devotion, enthusiasm and commitment on the part of volunteers and workers are concerned, it cannot be dwarfed in comparison.

This was quite in evidence recently when the local outfit of this global organization with headquar-

Chicago elites and the media representatives, was a huge success in that it helped raise a fairly good amount for the North Carolina Ashram and some of the activities being pursued locally. Besides, it helped in creating huge awareness of the need for spiritual awakening and happiness under Guruji's guidance and following Art of Living principles.

Sachin Limaye with his accompanying artists on tabla, rhythm and keyboard mesmerized a small but very enthusiastic crowd with rendering one after the other of bhajans (devotional songs) and

Sachin Limaye and his group of artists

singing. Many were so enamored that they started dancing back side of the hall initially which later on engulfed the entire hall. His Gujarati bhajan on Shree Nathaji was well received and so also his renderings of devotional songs praising Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. His Shiva kirtan saw mem-

Earlier, Patricia Montella, an ardent follower of Art of Living organization, gave a video presentation of the North Carolina Ashram with its top scenic view, various facilities including great accommodation, modern kitchen and meditation hall. She then exhorted those present to come out

breathtaking views in all directions. A gigantic meditation hall, conference center with a full kitchen, classrooms and some 400 apartments are already there.

In addition to the core offerings, the International Center also plans to host a Naturopathy Wellness Spa that will help restore

Sachin was outstanding in his performance and striking a happy rapport with the audience most of whom kept clapping during his singing. Many were so enamored that they started dancing back side of the hall initially which later on engulfed the entire hall ters in India, organized a live music concert with India famed artist Sachin Limaye at its Schaumburg facility to raise funds and create awareness about its various programs now and in the near future.

The near three hours program attended by a few hundred devotees of Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shanker,

kirtan intermixed with ghazals.

Shaila Khedker, a local artist, charmed with her melodious voice singing an erstwhile Bollywood number - Tu Malik Tere Bande.

Sachin was outstanding in his performance and striking a happy rapport with the audience most of whom kept clapping during his

Art of Living volunteers with singer Sachin Limaye

bers of the audience dancing till the end.

Another highlight was the announcement made by Katherine Thorat, Air India Sales Chief Chicago, giving two round trip tickets to the organization as a goodwill gesture.

She exhorted those attending the concert to patronize he national air career as it has a direct flight from Chicago to New Delhi with easy connections to nine different cities in India. Besides, she touted excellent inflight service and serving Indian cuisine to meet the religious requirements of all flying Air India. The two tickets were instantly sold after a spirited bidding for $3500. Anju Sharma conducted the ticket raffle successfully.

with donations to see the timely fruition of Ashram and its various existing and programmed facilities.

Her goading and exhortation brought out favorable response with even schoolchildren donating their weekly-monthly allowances for this good cause. The collection topped $20,000, a good figure by any standard.

The Art of Living organization has bought a magnificent piece of property just outside of Boone, NC ((It's only 3 hours from Knoxville!).

The new ashram is located at Heavenly Valley, which was once the ashram for the TM movement.

It is truly an amazing place with buildings already being there, but requiring some maintenance to get them back to their true glory. It is at the top of a mountain with

balance and reawaken the body's natural healing mechanisms.

These treatments will complement the yoga and meditation techniques as part of a comprehensive approach to healthy living. Sri Sri has announced that Guru Purnima will be held this summer. Once rehabilitated, the new ashram will be the largest Art of Living facility in the world.

Dhrieta Sikora emceed the event. Nita Virani said that the Schaumburg facility will conduct Art of Living courses from June 18-21, July 10-13 and August 1012 at its Schaumburg facility. She also announced celebrating Guru Purnima on July 4. Vinesh Virani helped successfully conducting the entire program and proposed a vote of thanks.

Community Across America

June 22, 2012

India Post 15

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Yesudas mesmerizes 600 plus attendees

Yesudas at the concert India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) recently organized classical music concert by Dr. K J Yesudas, a program sponsored by Dr. Geetha Krishnan of K & G group.

Gana Gandharvan (Dasettan) Padmabhushan Yesudas, a renowned singer, started the concert with a varnam composed by Patnam Subramanyam Iyer in Thodi Raaga, Era Napai. He continued with songs and kirtans in different languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam. His renditions covered a wide range of ragas including Kalyani, Desh, Shankarabharanam, Kapi and Sindhu Bhairavi.

The tradition of singing raga Hamsadwani was replaced by a composition in raga Rukmambari, which many of us heard for the first time. He took efforts to explain the raga which differs from Hamsadwani by just one swara, the rishabha.

The rendition clearly highlighted the beauty of the jeevaswara of that raga. This was followed by Saint Sri Tyagaraja's composition 'Balakanakamaya', followed by the superb rendition of raga Shankarabharanam with the Taniaavartanam.

The intensity was lightened up in-between with devara naamas like 'Guruvina Gulama' by Purandaradasa, one of the later compositions by R.N. Jayagopal 'Enu Vara Bedali Naanu' and 'Krishna Nee Begane Baaro' by Vysarayaru which brought him much fame.

The concert also included the soothing composition by Ootukudu Venkata Subbayyar 'Alaipayuthey' in Kaanada raaga and couple of Hindi film hits by popular demand like 'Jab Deep Jale Aana' from Chitchor and the

Yesudas with his orchestra team

famous 'Aye na balam, Ka Karoon Sajni' from Swami took the audience to yesteryears and tugged at their heart. The Maestro also presented 'Harivarasanam' the

Sabarimalai.

The concert concluded with an audience request 'Brochevarevarura' composed by Mysore Vasudevachar in Kamas

He continued with songs and kirtans in different languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam. His renditions covered a wide range of ragas including Kalyani, Desh, Shankarabharanam, Kapi and Sindhu Bhairavi popular composition by Kumbamgudi Kulathur Iyer in praise of Lord Ayyappa which is the version played every night at

raga and Mangalam 'Pavamana'.

Violinist Jay Shankara Balan complimented the master vocalist beautifully and played won-

derful alapanas in many ragas.

The `thaniavartanam' by the Mridangam artist Guru Shikamani Sruti Laya Sudhakara Swara Sadhana Ratna Sri Nandakumar Shankaranaryanan and Ghatam artist Balaji Chandran brought out subtle and complicated rhythmic variations.

It was a memorable day to local artist Hariharan Ravi, a vocalist and multi instrument talented youth who accompanied on Tambura and was blessed by Dr. Yesudas.

Prior to beginning of classical singing and throughout the concert Sri Yesudas engaged in bits and pieces of expressions with the audience sharing his feelings about religion, God and life in general. Quoting the message of

Sri Naryana Guru's … "One caste, one religion and One God for all humanity", Yesudas reminded that all religions basically teach the same thing - live a righteous life and love your neighbor.

The organizers under the leadership of Fine Arts committee Chair Mrs. Rupa Acharya had done a wonderful job finishing everything on time. Everything moved flawlessly in this sold-out concert attended by about 680 people.

The temple president, Dr. Gopal Srinivasan, gave the vote of thanks. Everyone in the audience had a smile on their face and a song on their lips as they went home after enjoying a beautiful and enchanting evening.

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Community Across America

16 India Post

June 22, 2012

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Indian women knit blankets for veterans HARISH RAO

AUGUSTA: A nine-member Augusta, Georgia, area Hindu women's group, who knit and crochet together fortnightly in one of their homes, have delivered handmade blankets to wheel-chair bound veterans.

Nine knitters delivered 25 blankets to patients at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. The women, mostly from the

male patients of an area nursing home.

Organizer Susan Gopal was inspired to form the group after watching a television special about women in Washington state who worked together to knit for students in their area. The local group meets at Gopal's house for knitting, crocheting and tea.

After observing the nursing home pa-

Organizer Susan Gopal was inspired to form the group after watching a television special about women in Washington state who worked together to knit for students in their area. The local group meets at Gopal's house for knitting, crocheting and tea Hindu Temple Society of Augusta, began knitting together more than a year ago. "Do whatever you can with your hands God has given you. Do it as long as you are healthy," said Sheela Prakash, of Martinez.

The same group, meeting over a year for serving the community, also knitted scarves and hats for donating to local elementary schoolchildren. They are also planning to give knitting lessons to the fe-

tients' needs, the women made plans to knit hats and scarves. They would like to return to hold knitting lessons with female patients at the nursing home.

Most of the wool is secondhand from textile mills in North Carolina and Virginia, which Gopal's husband comes across through business. In addition, worshippers at the temple have given wool and monetary donations.

Alexander Scott kisses Chhanda Banerjee after receiving a blanket at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home.

As the women visited with the veterans, World War II veteran Russell Callaway, 87, wrapped himself in a black-and-white striped knit blanket. A blanket usually takes

about 20-hours of work. Susan Gopal is the organizer, while Sheela Prakash, Kamla Shah and Kshama Shah are among the members of this knitting group.

Bike across country to fight AIDS Dr Austin Prabhu installed RAMESH SOPARAWALA

CHICAGO: A second generation Indian American youth from Illinois, Sameehan Patel will joint eighteen others to bike across the country for a cause - 2012 Ride Against AIDS. The bike ride will begin June 18 from West Coast and run 4000 miles across the country according to Jitu turned Jay Patel, Sameehan's father.

In a talk to this paper he said, "My son will be riding a bike 3,915 miles for 67 days from San Francisco, California to Boston, Massachusetts on behalf of Face Aids.

"The main reason that Face Aids resonated with him so strongly was its focus on global equity. When he was a freshman in college my niece Kriza in India died due to swine flu when she was ten. It was devastating because she didn't get the care she needed. Knowing that his efforts, both physical and monetary, are going to a cause that gives aid to those who can't manage, fuels him to finish the ride," Jay added He will be riding with 19 other students who represent just a fraction of the Face Aids network of students and leaders in global health across the US who organize their peers to fundraise for

Partners In Health - Rwanda, educate others about health issues, and advocate for change. Face Aids students have already raised $2.5 million dollars for Partners In Health. In Rwanda, Face Aids provides socio-economic empowerment programs to over 35 chapters of Rwandan youth.

there grows a tree of discrimination.

Jay Patel said, "The branches of stigma and discrimination spread far and wide, and have a profound impact on those who live with the disorder. When I take a glimpse into this world of stigma, I hear stories of fear, rejection, and depression. By biking across the US, he will be riding through 19 states, hearing stories and presenting my own story to Sameehan Patel everyone from Rotary on his bike clubs to local radio stations; he will offer a new perspective of HIV/AIDS. He bikes to make a difference. He bikes to cut down the tree of discrimination that is rooted in stigma."

He made a fervent appeal to the community at large to extend support to Sameehan and 19 others in their bid to raise funds. " Sameehan's personal In the US alone, there are cur- goal is to raise at least $5,000 to rently over 1 million people living fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic and with HIV and approximately 50,000 promote global health equity. Any newly infected adults each year. donation, large or small, would be Why, then, does everyone know greatly appreciated. Face Aids is a person living with cancer, heart a 501(c) 3 organization and your disease, or diabetes, but few donation is tax deductible, "he people have a personal connec- said. tion to someone living with HIV/ A check can be made out to AIDS? The answer is quite simple: "FACE AIDS" with "Sameehan those with HIV/AIDS face stigma. Patel" in the memo line to P.O. Box From this inherent seed of stigma, 46, Palo Alto, CA 94302.

as Lion's Governor HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Dr. Austin Prabhu, a veteran Lion leader and community activist in Chicagoland, was installed as a District Governor for District 1-A, Mother District of Lionism for the second time. This ceremony was held at the Aviana Banquet Hall, Palos Hills. Past International Director Daniel O'Reilly installed Dr. Austin as Governor.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Austin told the Lions present that "there is nothing impossible in this world if we place our acts together and work as a team. Great achievers like Neil Armstrong, John F. Kennedy had the same motto Nothing is impossible in life. They did not achieve their goals by themselves; a strong team of hard workers made this happen. Dr.

Austin's theme for the coming Lionistic year is "Nothing is Impossible, Keep Lionism Alive."

Dave Hansen was installed as a Vice District Governor by Governor Wes Salsbury and Catherine Rondinelli was installed as the Trustee for the Lions of Illinois Foundation by Mike Smigielski.

Immediate Past District Governor Steve Anon was the emcee for the program.

Governor Wes gave away certificates and awards for outgoing cabinet members and thanked them for their hard work during his year. Megan Leott, a student from Ohio sang national songs and entertained the gathering with her sweet voice accompanied by Soloman on the organ.

June 22, 2012

Community Across America

India Post 17

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Talk on corruption in India and Flushing temple to hold Sai Sandhya its impact on economy SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Global Hindu Heritage Foundation hosted a talk on Corruption in India and its effects on Indian Economy by M.R. Venkatesh, at Manav Seva Mandir Bensenville, a northwest suburb of Chicago on Sunday June 10.

Venkatesh is one of the front ranking Indians waging war against prevalent corruption in India. Prasad Yalamanchi introduced Venkatesh and said he is a prolific writer and good orator besides being a concerned Indian.

He described Venkatesh as a person imbued with a mission of fighting against corruption, especially rampant in the public service and bureaucracy in India.

In his address Venkatesh divulged that Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Gurumurthy and Dr.Vaidyanathan had uncovered the clever illicit scheme of 'Participatory Notes' used by Indian politicians to deposit looted funds at tax free havens such as Cayman Islands and then bring back to India as legal money without paying a single rupee of tax.

Venkatesh is part of 'Action Committee Against India's Corruption', set up by Dr. Swamy.

Venkatesh averred that Infant mortality along with the death of mother at infant birth is highest in India. India has no adequate facility to help baby births in many parts.

He lamented that without indulging in corruption one cannot do any business with government offices.

His recent book on India's corruption and its disastrous consequences, 'Sense, Sensex and Sentiments' deals with this problem.

Prof Vaidyanathan was among the first to tackle this problem. He said he objected to the use of the word black-money. Today the terminology is Red Money. Explaining he said, "A sum of money, which I do not show and pay tax is Black money. When you pay 1000 to a narcotic, without any record, it is not black, but red money. The problem is Red money,

which has no source, it is illicit."

Now what is Hawala? India is the capital of Hawala. We have border with Nepal, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Hawala is used by various people for various purposes. Hawala is a very efficient system.

Dubai is the major source.

Hawala runs absolutely on trust and therefore has been existing for thousands of years. Everything runs on trust. The instrument is called Parchi - a note or Hundi.

In Philippines, Thailand, China etc also similar system exists. An estimated 500 million to 1.5 trillion rupees are allegedly outside the country. We need to build infrastructure and we have enough

Indian people is pathetic. They have given up about the country as being impossible to reform. So they are also a part of the problem.

He praised the work of Baba Ramdev, and Sri Sri, who are taking the matter to the people and keeping it alive. The other person who is actively working against corruption is Subramanyam Swamy along with eminent people like Kalyan Sundaram. Existing laws are adequate to deal with people like A. Raja. Swamy interpreted the existing law in trying to punish them.

M.R. Venkatesh is a Chartered Accountant and addresses business concerns relating to eco-

As a physician, he has treated the poor and uninsured in the inner city.

Raja Krishnamoorthi said that Indians are doing well in all fields

Cont’d from page 13

"This has always enriched me as a person and gave me incredible experience," she said in re-

Sarvan Sai Mayam-Dr Sobha Naidu.

and is coordinating the whole effort with the association of more than 40 artists to make the ballet a memorable one.

The event will be the first of Dr

He talked about a great patriot of the preindependence era, Mr. Babu Genu with respect and lamented that such a great man was ignored by the then Indian leaders. Babu Genu insisted that political Independence should run parallel with political independence. He passed away at the early age of 25 money for that if India brings back all these illicit as well as Red money.

He talked about a great patriot of the pre-independence era, Mr. Babu Genu with respect and lamented that such a great man was ignored by the then Indian leaders. Babu Genu insisted that political Independence should run parallel with political independence. He passed away at the early age of 25. He has a road named after him in Delhi.

He said that during 1960- 65 we consumed 415 gms per day per capita. As against it now it is 438 gms. In 1880 the British took almost complete control of India.

They recommended that everyone should be given 500 gms. Millions of tons of foodgrains are rotting in the warehouses of India. The level of despondence among the

nomic policies, international trade and business strategies. He has been in active practice since 1993 as partner of GSV Associates, Chartered Accountants, Chennai.

He also is a commentator on international trade and economic affairs. He is a regular contributor to various publications in India.

M. R. Venkatesh wrote "A Handbook on Anti-dumping," which was released by the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001. He has authored a monograph on Capital Account Convertibility, which was published in July 2006 and another one on inflation, which was published in 2007. In addition he wrote a book titled, "Global Imbalances and the impending Dollar crisis," which was published in September 2007 in Chennai.

Chicago community welcomes Dr Manan Trivedi Cont’d from page 12

Dr Radhika Chopra.

in United States. It is time an Indian joins the US Congress and Dr Manan Trivedi is the right person.

Dr Manan Trivedi thanked Chicago Indian community for meeting him at a short notice. He spoke about issues he is keeping on his

agenda as Congressman.

Healthcare, education, jobs and economy are key issues for him.

Earlier, Iftekhar Shareef presented a Tricolor Khandwa to honor Dr Trivedi according to Indian tradition.

marks sought by the temple.

The exponent of Kuchipudi, a dance form that originated in Andhra Pradesh, performed this kind of ballets on the Saibaba charitra at many places across India, including Shirdi, where the Saibaba samadhi is situated. The Shirdi Samsthan declared the day she performed the ballet as the "Kuchipudi Day." The performance was widely appreciated.

"I feel extremely happy to perform this ballet again," she said in her brief remarks. "I sincerely appreciate the efforts by the organizers to make this a big event."

Aside from a handful of volunteers and devotees, Lakshmi Babu of Germantown, Maryland, played an important part in bringing the Kuchipudi exponent to the June 23 event. She runs the Kuchipudi Dance Academy in Germantown,

Naidu's series of programs being held this summer across the US. Dr Chopra, a widely popular and accomplished singer, is not only known in India but also in such countries as the UK and Pakistan

"I feel extremely happy to perform this ballet again," she said in her brief remarks. "I sincerely appreciate the efforts by the organizers” as well as Southeast Asia and East Asia. She enthralled the audiences with her melodious voice and soulstirring bhajans and songs. Dr Chopra sings with equal ease in both Hindi and Urdu.

18 India Post

Community Across America

June 22, 2012

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Praise for Helena Kaushik College for Women

L to R: Prof. Surendra Kaushik, Richard L. Ottinger, William A. Verdone, Consul General Prabhu Dayal, Chandini Dayal and James Wood.

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Mamta Sharma, chairperson of National Commission for Women, Government of India, showered praise on the stellar role played by Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women's Post Graduate College in Rajasthan in empowering rural women.

Addressing a gala fundraiser here on June 8, organized by the Helena Kaushik Education Foundation, which supports the college from the United States, in Queens, New York, Mrs. Mamta Sharma said the college is doing a great service of providing higher education to poor students from all segments of society. She said that she had visited the college in January 2012 and addressed a Seminar on Women's Empowerment sponsored by the National Commission for Women.

More than 300 graduates with bachelor of education degree from the college have taken teaching positions in villages educating the underprivileged sections of the society in government and private schools. Equal number of additional graduates with B.A., B.Sc., M.A. and M.Sc. have become teachers in schools and lectures in colleges. Some 80 to 90 percent of 1,100 graduates are using their education to work outside the home and contributing to the economy.

Students at the college come from several villages representing all social, economic and religious groups; OBC, SC/ST and Minorities comprise more than 75 percent of the student body.

The college located on a sprawling 30-acre campus has so far produced over 1100 women graduates since its inception in 1999 and over 85 percent of the were from minority and most backward community.

Praising the vision of its

founder Dr. Surendra Kaushik, who was awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012 in Jaipur for his untiring efforts and funds to set up the college in a backward area of Rajasthan, She said NRIs and PIOs should emulate people like Dr. Kaushik in giving back to their motherland.

Prabhu Dayal, Consul General of India in New York, said Dr. Kaushik's love and affection to India transformed into a highlyrespected educational institution with all modern facilities and the

member of the US House of Representatives where he served for 16 years and was chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment said the Peace Corps was set by the former President so that Americans can share their skills, wealth and knowledge with less-fortunate nations and the college has several parallels to the Peace Corps.

The US is the land of philanthropists both as a government and individuals. He had visited the college in January 2002 when he sponsored the first international research seminar there on renewable energy.

L to R: Prof. Surendra Kaushik, Richard L. Ottinger, Kamlakar Sharma, Mamta Sharma and Prabhu Dayal

Government of India bestowed the highest overseas India award on him for his service of providing education to rural India. "He is a shining example of an NRI giving back his wealth, skills and knowledge to his fellow citizens back home and we are proud of his achievements."

Richard L. Ottinger, Dean Emeritus, Pace University Law School, Pace Energy and Climate Center, and one of the founders of Peace Corps with President John F Kennedy, director of Peace Corps in Latin America and former

He had also addressed an energy conference in Delhi organized by Dr. R.K. Pachauri who went on to win the Nobel prize as head of the UN Inter-government Panel on Climate (IPC) when the other half of the Nobel went to former Vice President Al Gore.

James Wood, an eminent investment banker and former vice president of the Bank of New York, William A. Verdone, and Prof. Rosario Girasa, Professor of Law at the Lubin School of Business, Pace University - all members of the board of Helena

L-R: Mamta Sharma, Prabhu Dayal and Prof. Surendra Kaushik.

(Pics: Helena Kaushik Educational Foundation)

Kaushik Education Foundation spoke on the contribution of the College and Prof. Kaushik to the Indian community. All board members have visited the college and addressed students and faculty.

James and Twink Wood were impressed with smart and determined students.

Prof. Girasa was in fact present at the inaugural function of the college on 4 August 1999 and saw the hopeful eyes of young girls in the audience. Confirming their impressions, the college has a record of 95 to 100 percent success in university examinations from 2002 to 2012 compared with

Students pay about 10 percent of the total cost and the foundation in America subsidizes to the tune of 90 percent. He profusely thanked Americans who support the foundation and the college, Government of India a national average of around 40 percent.

Joseph Constantino, director of IT Services for the Helena Kaushik Education Foundation prepared and presented a 6minute slide show in the beginning and a 6-minute video of the college before remarks by the dignitaries and honored guests.

Dr. Surendra Kaushik, proposing the vote of thanks said the college was modeled on Peace Corps ideology and run on nonprofit basis to empower women in one of the backward locations

of India. Several of the graduates are now gainfully employed in Air Force, Police, corporate sector, education, and their lives were totally transformed thanks to the almost free education provided by the college.

Students pay about 10 percent of the total cost and the foundation in America subsidizes to the tune of 90 percent. He profusely thanked Americans who support the foundation and the college, Government of India, Government of Rajasthan, friends and family for their generosity and help in making this project of women's empowerment through higher education sustainable.

Even the United Nations formed UN Women only in 2010 to focus on women's empowerment whereas the college was formed 13 years ago with the noble mission of eradicating illiteracy and poverty and to prepare women to move up in positions of authority-the real achievement of empowerment.

The college was the only educational institution in the 70 miles radius when it started in 1999 and more than 60 percent of the graduates have taken to teaching. This movement is transforming the villages with women college graduates. The college has an Olympic type sports arena, hostel, cafeteria and modern laboratories.

Mrs. Kaushik, on whom the college has been named, was disabled from a stroke in 1991 and Prof. Kaushik has been taking care of her at home for the last 22 years. The love of his wife, the love of his motherland and the love of his adopted country and the values of the two countries are best practiced by and sustain Prof. Kaushik, according to Prof.

Lodha who comes from Udaipur, Rajasthan, and teaches at Southern Connecticut University in New Haven.

Community Across America

June 22, 2012

India Post 19

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Dada Vaswani charms Chicagoans

A section of audience at Sadhu Vaswani meet in Oakbrook. (Pics Asian Media USA)

Bhajan in progress at Sadhu Vaswani meet in Oakbrook Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Dada J. P. Vaswani, head of Sadhu Vaswani Mission, Pune, India was in Chicago recently and delivered a spiritual discourse on how to "Slow Down Your Pace" followed by an interactive question answer session at the Marriott in Oak Brook, a southwest Chicago suburb.

The program included one hour of Bhajans sung by a renowned singer from London, Dr. Harish Wadhwani. There was also an exhibition of photographs of Sadhu T.L. Vaswani as well as Pujya Dada.

Mrs. Sushma Advani, President of Sindhi Association of Chicago, welcomed Dada who was then honored by Oakbrook Village Trustee, Village Manager, Assistant Village Manager, Village Clerk Charlott, and a past Trustee Moin Saiyed. Richard Allison presented

Sadhu Dada Vaswani

Board to hire Hindi, Bengali interpreters

The program included one hour of Bhajans sung by a renowned singer from London, Dr. Harish Wadhwani.

There was also an exhibition of photographs of Sadhu T.L. Vaswani as well as Pujya Dada "Moment of Calm" DVD, which was played. Vote of Thanks was given by Prakash Jotwani Dada Vaswani (born Jashan

Indian American Night on June 24 India Post News Service

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The Board of Elections in the City of New York has an urgent need to hire at least 100 Bengali and 200 Hindi interpreters for the Election Day. "It is important that we get as many people as possible to assign to designated poll sites on June 26. When the Board started this process, we explained that it would be heavily dependent on the ability of the groups to recruit workers for Election Day. We urge you to ensure your community gets the assistance it needs this coming election, and elections thereafter," said Rachel Knipel, Coordinator of Language Assistance Programs of the Board of Elections.

According to John Albert, founder of Taking Our Seat, it's imperative that many South Asians participate in the election duty and help serve as interpreters. The Board has planned several outreach programs in the City especially in Queens and Bronx.

a certificate and memento as well as the Keys to the Village of Oak Brook'.

Gopal Lalmalani, Village President of Oak Brook introduced

NEW YORK: Indian American Forum has announced holding Fourteenth India American Night on Sunday June 24 at Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, Parking Field 6 & 6A. The function will start at 6 pm.

This program is part of the 2012 summer concert series sponsored

by Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums.

India American Night is a showcase of Classical Indian music and folk dances from all regions of India. Nassau County Executive Edward P Mangano and other elected officials will preside over the show.

Each year IAF brings in new and exciting program to

Eisenhower Park.

In past years world renowned groups like Janavak trained by Mallika Sarabhai and other local talents presented spectacular performances. Fashion shows and cultural programs have also been organized by local talent.

There will be exciting additional programs like kite festival, yoga workshops etc. from 2.00pm to 6.00pm. Following respected members of the community will receive Nassau County Awards: Mr Jasbir Chopra, CEO Indus American Bank; Dr Sukhvinder Ranu, President India Association of Long Island; Dr Sunil Mehra, President AAPI QLI; Mr Sher Singh Madra, Nargis Dutt Foundation and Mrs. Neeta Bhasin, CEO ASB Communications.

Pahalraj Vaswani,) is a spiritual leader and head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission. Dada has a very enviable record as an academician and a spiritual teacher. An excellent speaker, he has mesmerized a huge number of listeners at global meets, including the British House of Commons, the Global Forum of Spiritual Leaders in Oxford, the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago and the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations in New York The objectives of this mission are to spread the message of brotherhood, unity and harmony and promote cultural harmony and spiritual development of the society at large.

The local chapter of Sadhu Vaswani Center, Chicago meets on first and third Sunday of every month at Hari Om Mandir in Medinah.

Akanksha opens four new schools in Mumbai India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The Akanksha Foundation, an educational non-profit organization credited with creating the charter school system in India through public-private partnerships, has announced the opening of four news schools in Mumbai this month. The four schools are: Laxmi Nagar, Bandra; Mahalaxmi MPS, Mahalaxmi; Wadibunder, Mazagaon; Nutwar Nagar, Jogeshwari.

Each new location will house one lower kindergarten classroom, which will educate 30 students and employ two teachers. There will be a total of 120 new students and eight new teachers. "As part of our commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) last year, The Akanksha Foundation pledged that it would open six new schools by 2015, for a total of 15 fully-operating schools," says Vandana Goyal, the organization's Chief Executive Officer.

"We are well ahead of our goal, and we are looking forward to reporting our progress at CGI this September."

Last year, The Akanksha Foundation was recognized as 'NGO of the Year' for The India NGO Awards, co sponsored by The Resource Alliance and The Rockefeller Foundation.

Community/California

20 India Post

June 22, 2012

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Primary opponent endorses Ricky Gill represent the 9th District in Congress. It is critical that we send a conservative voice to Washington to address the fundamental challenges we face, from our out-of-control regulatory regime to our growing national debt. Now is the time for conservatives to stick together and work hard to ensure vic-

India Post News Service

LODI, CA: Congressional candidate Ricky Gill has announced that he has earned the endorsement of Republican primary opponent John McDonald, who called Gill "the best candidate to represent the 9th District

"We had our differences in the primary, but I believe Ricky Gill is the best candidate to represent the 9th District in Congress. It is critical that we send a conservative voice to Washington to address the fundamental challenges we face, from our out-of-control regulatory regime to our growing national debt. Now is the time for conservatives to stick together and work hard to ensure victory in November� tory in November. That's why I am endorsing Ricky for U.S. Congress and offering my support to his general election campaign."

Gill earned 39 percent of the vote in the June 5th open primary election to advance

in Congress."

McDonald, a high technology executive and resident of Mountain House, made the following statement on his endorsement: "We had our differences in the primary, but I believe Ricky Gill is the best candidate to

Readers Write... www.indiapost.com

R

ecently, a Yoga Convention was held in Bali, Indonesia. It is the only Island in the Indonesian archipelago where almost 100 percent of the denizens practice Hindu religion with their own version of rites, rituals and festivities. Many farmers at Jatiluwih village, Tabanan, about 12.5 miles from Denpasar, go to their rice fields bringing offerings, as part of the pre-harvest thanksgiving ceremony, locally known as Mesaba.

It reminds of the festival of Bisu in most parts of the south of India and Baisakhi in the north, especially in Punjab and Haryana and possibly in many parts of UP, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal.

In Bali, The main rituals are held in the afternoon at the Subak temple in Bedugul. All of the Subak members flocked to the temple and performed the rituals led by three pemangku (priests), who prayed and sanctified all the offerings. In the rituals, the farmers cut some of their rice paddy to cook tipat (boiled rice wrapped in a woven palm leaf pouch).

The tipat is then used for the rituals on the day of harvesting.

Guru Dolog, a prominent figure in the village, said that the ceremony was only one part of many other rituals that had to be done by the Subak farmers. "There are many others rituals in order to give thanks for all God's blessings."

Bali is one of the 17,000 islands of Indonesia. For people who are soaked in the Western lifestyle, a

Ricky Gill

to a November runoff against incumbent Rep. Jerry McNerney. Together, Gill and McDonald earned 51.4 percent of the primary vote to McNerney's 48.6 percent.

"I'm honored to have earned John McDonald's endorsement," said Gill. "John and I agree that, in this critical election year,

we must stand together to defeat Jerry McNerney and make a fresh start in Washington. I look forward to working with John and all conservatives in the 9th District to mount a strong general election campaign centered on jobs, education, and commonsense government."

An American experience of Balinese people visit to this spiritual and happy go lucky society is like entering into the twilight zone. The island is famous for being a "spiritually elevated" place with some of the world's most happy and smiling inhabitants.

In Bali the idea of community is one of their most important themes. Within a particular village, all men are required to join what is called a "Banjar", essentially the Balinese equivalent of a community organization.

The Banjar meets weekly to discuss and decide on issues that impact everyone in the village; such as when to fix a road, rebuild a side-walk or whether or not to allow a bar to open. The men of the village take their Banjar responsibilities very seriously and any men that neglect their Banjar duties are fined.

The villagers are heavily involved in their communities. They all work together to organize and perform in local, traditional dance performances, which take place often on a daily basis. They help one another out in times of need. The community also comes together in times of ritual and celebration.

In Balinese Hinduism, the highest honor that a person can receive is to have a cremation ceremony. When it comes time for this elaborate and beautiful ceremony, the entire community will come together to assist with the building of the cremation tower and to celebrate the life of passage of the deceased. Balinese life very much takes place in the streets.

The happy Balinese are seen

D i s c l a i m e r

: -

I n d i a

P o s t

d o e s

out walking, talking to one another, welcoming tourists. You see men and women alike bringing their sacred offerings to their temples, multiple times a day; all to honor and appease the deities in order to bring blessings upon their village, and the citizens within the village.

Community is everything in Bali.

Here in what the US would consider a "Third World Country" no one is seen sleeping on the streets or pan-handling. In much of Third and even Second and First world countries there is ample and visible homelessness. So how is it that on this island of nearly four million people one cannot see this? The answer is the "family compound".

In Bali, everyone lives in what they call a "family compound".

The oldest brother is the head of the compound, the wives then follow their husbands to their family compounds, and then the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and grandchildren all live together, all working together to support the family compound and its members.

So you see, it would be really difficult to become homeless in Bali, because even if a member of the family finds themselves jobless or down and out, because they live in the family compound, they are supported by the rest of the family. Yet another example of the joint family system in India continues to thrive in most of the villages.

They remain in the family compound, as the family elders to impart their wisdom on to the grandchildren, and they are very much involved with the day to day functions of the famn o t

e n d o r s e

o p i n i o n s

ily unit: cooking meals, making offerings, contributing to any family artisanship (for instance mask-making, puppet-making, etc). This has just become somewhat of a norm in our society and that many people do it out of necessity, and certainly not out of any lack of love.

When we see this very distinct society that has found a much more humane way to take care of their elders, through the family compound, it simply seems barbaric what our society has developed in the way that it has.

Another aspect of Balinese society that really stands out is their devotion; their devotion to Earth and Spirit equally. When Hinduism came to Indonesia from India, as early as the first century, it was mixed with the animist religions that already existed on the Indonesian archipelago, forming a unique brand of Hinduism, which today remains only on the island of Bali.

Animism is found in some parts of the South, especially Kerala and some part of Karnataka, especially South and North Kanara districts.

It encompasses the belief that there is no separation between the spiritual and physical worlds, and that spirits exist not only in humans, but also in all other animals, plants and all other parts of nature.

The Balinese people very much live off the land, and because of this belief that we, the Earth and everything on it, are all part of Spirit, they have a deep respect and reverence for all parts of Nature. Being an agrarian society, with rice being the most important crop, e x p r e s s e d

i n

t h e

the Balinese take special care to nurture their fields. They understand that if they disrespect the land, that it will cause everything and everyone to be out of balance.

For that reason they spend painstaking amounts of time and energy to honor their deities, the gods of the sky, the gods of the rice, etc, by making beautiful little baskets of offerings.

To walk about Bali is to see hundreds of offerings, everywhere. You will see them on cars, in front of storefronts, in restaurants, at temple gates, and on sidewalks. When is the last time any of us went outside and thanked the land for providing us with our food and water? What does our society do to stay in balance with Earth and Spirit? Perhaps we may learn great lessons from this. It is intriguing how native societies all over the world, thousands of miles apart, have developed very similar rituals and ways of living that honor the Spirits around them, the Spirits of Earth and Sky. Hindus in India need to develop their cultural and religious relations like people of Bali that they had overlooked for centuries.

Fortunately in recent years, whether from cultural point of view or business, hundreds of families from India as well as from the U.S. have begun journeying to this land of pure Hindu way living.

Madhu Patel Founding President, NRI Press Club

l e t t e r s .

Tech News Murthy, Premji anguished over policy paralysis NEW DELHI: Amid growing perceptions of policy paralysis, top industry leaders have come down heavily on the current state of affairs in the economy, saying that India's image seems to have taken a hit.

Top business leader N R Narayana Murthy, co-founder of home-grown global IT giant Infosys, has said, "Over the past 3-4 months, India's image seems to have suffered. As an Indian, I feel very sad that we have come to this state."

Another IT major Wipro's Chairman Azim Premji has said that "we are working without a leader as a country. If we do not change, we would be down for years."

The comments from the two leaders come amid warning from the global agency Standard and Poor's that India risks losing its 'investment grade' rating due to "slowing GDP growth and political roadblocks to economic policy making".-PTI

NSE financial literacy initiative with India Post PATIALA: The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has started a financial literacy initiative in partnership with India Post, to take the equity cult to small towns and cities of India.

As a part of the agreement, NSE is putting up large-sized screens at more than 50 post offices in the country, including one at Patiala head post office.

The screens will carry messages from both NSE and India Post, to increase awareness in people on safe investing and investor friendly products, to empower them financially.

The screen at the Patiala head post office was inaugurated by senior officials from NSE and India post. -PTI

TechBiz 21 India Post

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June 22, 2012

S&T Motors to launch Hyosung GT 250R MUMBAI: South Korean superbike maker S&T Motors, which entered into a partnership with Pune-based DS Kulkarni Group to distribute its Hyosung bikes in the country, sees sales from India matching its overall global sales of 50,000 two-wheelers in the next 3-5 years.

Launching the Hyosung GT 250R at Rs 2.75 lakh (ex-showroom) in New Delhi, S&T Motors is currently finalizing its India strategy with its partner DSK Group. To begin with, the plan is to bring in two more big bikes GV 250 and GV 650 later in the year which will be assembled locally and the company will aggressively localize its overall portfolio of 5-6 bikes with over 90% local content and bring the price down to almost half.

Brazil keen to tie up with India for HIV drugs production BRASILIA: Brazil has expressed interest in collaboration with Indian companies for joint production of essential drugs for fighting diseases like HIV/AIDS, India's Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said here.

"Brazil expressed keen interest in collaboration with India in joint production of essential drugs for fighting HIV Aids, malaria, etc," Sharma, who is leading a delegation of top pharma companies for promotion of bilateral relations here, said.

During the ministerial dialogue, the two countries have agreed to set up a working group for strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the area of the pharmaceuticals and life sciences, he said.

He discussed wide range of issues related to pharma industries and the two countries also identified areas for investment opportunities.

Sharma also invited the Brazilian investment in the recently launched National Infrastructure and Manufacturing Special Economic Zone as well as in the food processing industries.

"Both sides agreed that infrastructure was one area in which a lot of opportunities existed on both sides for the companies to participate in," he said.

Among other issues, the two countries stressed the importance of re-launching India-Brazil CEOs Forum, a decision taken in March 2012.

They also agreed that the proposed meeting of the two Cochairs of CEOs Forum would be a positive step in taking this initiative forward.

India sought for an early meet-

plurilateral and multilateral context was also discussed during the Ministerial Dialogue and both sides expressed satisfaction at the increased level of India's cooperation, it said.

(INMETRO) of Brazil was also signed for scientific and technological cooperation, it added.

The purpose of the MoU was to provide a framework for the exchange of scientific and techno-

Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma in a bilateral meeting with his counterpart the Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Brazil, Fernando Pimentel, in Brasilia, Brazil on June 11

ing of the existing joint working group in hydrocarbon sector to move this area of bilateral cooperation on faster track, according to an official release.

The cooperation in the

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the National Institute of Metrology

logical knowledge services and the enhancement of scientific and technical capabilities of the two sides in the areas of chemistry, physics, and engineering measurement sciences. -PTI

India, Brazil set trade target of $ 15 bn by 2015 RIO DE JANEIRO: India has sought investments from Brazil, mainly in the infrastructure sector for which it needs USD 1 trillion over the next five years, as the two countries set bilateral trade target of USD 15 billion by 2015.

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, on a 4-day visit to Brazil, said businessmen of both the countries can cooperate in sectors like agriculture,

textiles, IT, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals.

"Huge opportunities are available in both the countries.

Currently the bilateral trade is at USD 10 billion. Both the sides have fixed the target of USD 15 billion by 2015. Trade is increasing but huge potential is there to further boost it," Sharma said here at a function.

He sought investments from Brazil in setting up of the National

Manufacturing and Investment Zones (NMIZs).

The government is taking several steps to increase the share of the manufacturing sector in the GDP to at least 25 per cent by 2020 from 16 per cent at present. For this, a new National Manufacturing Policy (NMP) was announced recently, which envisages setting up of NMIZs. They will be mega industrial zones with world-class supporting

infrastructure. The government is offering a host of incentives and a liberalized labor and environment norms to promote these zones.

Sharma, who is leading a Ficci business delegation here, said that entrepreneurs of India and Barzil can also come together in other areas of infrastructure like ports, airports and railways.

"India is expected to absorb about USD 1 trillion investments in the infrastructure sector in the

next five years. Brazilian companies should participate in it," he said.

Besides, industry chambers, the minister met his Brazilian counterpart Fernando Pimentel in Brasilia and discussed ways to increase economic cooperation.

Ficci President R V Kanoria said education is one of the important sectors for both the countries for increasing engagement.-PTI

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June 22, 2012

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India, Finland sign social security agreement NEW DELHI: India and Finland have signed a comprehensive social security agreement that will relieve their workers from double taxation while working in each other's country.

Under the agreement, India workers on short term contracts of up to five years will not be required to make any social security contribution in Finland provided they continue to make social security payments India.

The relief will be available to Indian workers even if an Indian company sends its employees to Finland from a third country. Officials said similar relaxation will be provided to Finnish citizens working in India.

Currently about 5,000 Indians are living in Finland most of whom are working as professionals and self-employed.

The pact was signed here by Atul Tiwari, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, and Finland's ambassador Terhi Hakala.

Officials said Indian workers will be entitled to transfer their social security benefit if they relocate to India after the completion of their service in Finland.

India has already signed similar agreements with Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Denmark, Czech Republic, South Korea and Norway.-PTI

FM urged to raise excise duty on diesel cars NEW DELHI: Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy has written to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee demanding a hike in excise duty on diesel cars to make up for subsidized fuel being used in vehicles.

Reddy last week wrote to Mukherjee saying the huge Rs 30.25 a liter difference in price of petrol and diesel had led to abnormal growth of sale of diesel cars.

Sources said the letter pointed out that while a liter of petrol in Delhi costs Rs 71.16 a liter, the price of a liter of diesel is Rs 40.91.

Besides, there was a Rs 12.72 a

liter differential in rate of excise duty on the two fuels - petrol attracting an excise duty of Rs 14.78 per liter while diesel being charged at just Rs 2.06 a liter.

Together with the Rs 12.53 a liter subsidy on diesel, the differential between petrol and diesel comes to Rs 25.75 a liter, Reddy wrote.

Considering a mileage of 18 per liter for small diesel cars and 12 a liter for medium-sized cars, the benefit extended to these cars works out to Rs 1.70 lakh per small car and Rs 2.55 lakh per car of medium size. -PTI

Hiring a private jumbo aircraft to be a reality in India NEW DELHI: Hiring the world's biggest planes like Airbus 380 or Boeing 747 Jumbo will soon become a reality in India.

UK-based air charter broker company Air Partner has joined hands with InterGlobe Established Private Limited (THE ESTD) - a subsidiary of InterGlobe Enterprises - to launch a range of private aviation products from small aircraft to su-

"We would be providing commercial jet services, which charters airliners with 20 to 500 seats to move group of any size", he said claiming, "the company could even provide the world's biggest aircraft -- Airbus 380 or Boeing 747 Jumbo -- if the customer is ready to pay and the plane

dustry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. It has 20 offices in 17 countries.

In India, the company would be providing its on-demand charter and unique pre-paid JetCard scheme giving customers a flexible pricing and travel options.

Speaking on the occasion President and CEO of T H E

per Jumbos.

Announcing the strategic partnership, Mark Briffa, CEO Air Partner said "THE ESTD is an ideal partner, with strong brand, reliability, knowledge and understanding of India's corporate and luxury travel sector. This partnership gives Air Partner a great platform from which we can launch services and products into a growing and lucrative market".

is available".

Terming the country's Rs 135 million air charter market as 'fragmented' Briffa said, "As the number of players in this sector are numbered. Air Partner is ready to provide its services with highest level of professionalism and to customer's satisfaction".

Headquartered in London, Air Partner is a leading air charter company providing its services to in-

ESTD, which offers a portfolio of lifestyle products to high net worths and corporate clients, said "THE ESTD and Air Partner will enable us to meet the demand for the private air charter in the most effective and efficient way, customers will have access to the broadest range of aviation services and operators backed by logistical excellence, value for money and dependability." -PTI

Indian economy to grow 6.9 pc: World Bank NEW DELHI: The Indian economy will grow by 6.9 per cent in this financial year (2012-13) notwithstanding problems like policy uncertainties, fiscal deficit and inflation, the World Bank projected while cautioning that developing nations will have to face tougher times.

"India will see growth (measured at factor cost) increasing to 6.9, 7.2 and 7.4 per cent in fiscal years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 201415, respectively," the World Bank said in the report titled 'Global Economic Prospects' .

Referring to developments in 2011, the multi-lateral lending agency said that growth in India was particularly weak due to monetary policy, stalled reforms and electricity shortages. These factors, along with fiscal and inflation concerns, cut into investment activity, it added.

India's economic growth rate in 2011-12 slipped to a nine-year low of 6.5 per cent. The economy had expanded by 8.4 per cent in the preceding two years.

For the current fiscal, the government has pegged growth at 7.6 per cent. Considering global uncertainties and domestic woes, this growth rate could be tall order for the country.

According to the World Bank, developing nations should prepare for a long period of volatility in the global economy by re-emphasizing on medium term development strategies "Growth in South Asia slowed to 7.1 per cent in 2011, from 8.6 per cent in 2010, as headwinds from the Euro Area crisis caused a steep deceleration in exports and a reversal of portfolio inflows," the

report said.

Meanwhile, the global economy is expected to expand 2.5 per cent this year.

According to the World Bank, developing nations should prepare for a long period of volatility in the global economy by re-emphasizing on medium term development strategies.

"Developing country growth will slow to a relatively weak 5.3 per cent in 2012, before strengthening somewhat to 5.9 per cent in 2013 and six per cent in 2014," it said.

"Growth in high-income countries will also be weak, 1.4, 1.9 and 2.3 per cent for 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, with GDP in the Euro Area declining 0.3 per cent in 2012.

Overall, global GDP is projected to rise 2.5, 3 and 3.31 per cent for the same period," the report noted.

However, the World Bank pointed out that if the situation in Europe deteriorate sharply, no developing region would be spared.-PTI

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June 22, 2012

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Economy will return to growth path: Chidambaram AHMEDABAD: The Government has rejected the downgrading warning by rating agency Standard & Poor's and the comments made by industrialist Azim Premji on policy paralysis and exuded confidence that the economy would revert to high growth path after overcoming "difficulties and challenges".

Reacting to S&P's threat of downgrading India, Home Minister P Chidambaram said "we tend to overreact to rating agency reports. Some of these rating agencies have poor record in the past.

I do not think we should take the ratings seriously."

Chidambaram said the economic challenges before the country today "is nowhere near to the challenge we faced in 1991 or the Asian (currency) crisis of 1997."

He said the UPA government has put India on the path of high growth.

"We are absolutely confident that we will return to high growth path," the Home Minister added.

On Wipro Chairman Premji's comments on "lack" of governance, Chidambaram said those were his views and claimed the

P Chidambaram

present UPA government was "strong and decisive".

"Azim Premji has a view... But we have a strong government, there is a Prime Minister in-

Yahoo! joins hands with CNBC for content sharing NEW YORK: Yahoo! has said it has joined hands with media company CNBC for a content partnership to produce financial stories and videos with an aim to widen its audience base.

"CNBC has become the premier content source for Yahoo Finance in the US, providing investors with even greater access to its signature in-depth reporting, marquee interviews and real-time financial news and analysis as part of the site's broad and robust set of content," the two companies said in a joint statement.

The tie-up would give Yahoo! greater access to CNBC.com's stories and videos on its homepage, finance site and other areas across its network.

The videos which would be jointly produced by both the companies would feature market coverage to profiles of the best minds in business and be available this fall.

Together the companies will reach 40 million online audiences per month in the US, twice as big

as the next competitor.

"Partnering with CNBC will allow Yahoo Finance to expand its offerings instantly and enhance its position as the most viewed and utilized finance site in the world," Yahoo! Interim CEO Ross Levinsohn said.

Meanwhile, CNBC which reached 100 million households in US, would receive contribution

from Yahoo! journalists for its business day programming.

"With CNBC taking a central role on the biggest business news site in the world, we now have the ability to provide real-time news, analysis and information to a larger audience and offer unmatched advertising solutions for marketers looking for access across multiple platforms." CNBC President and CEO Mark Hoffman said. -PTI

charge", he added.

Stating that the government has taken several steps to rev-up the economy in a difficult situation, Chidambaram said "it is clearly a result of strong and decisive government. All this has happened because of them."

He said the government is "open to suggestions of having a stronger and decisive government".

Admitting that inflation was high in the country, Chidambaram said it was due to high international crude oil prices and the resultant effect it had on the current account deficit.

"There is an unacceptably high level of inflation. All of us know why there is high inflation. During NDA regime, crude oil prices were on an average of USD 20 per barrel. During UPA rule, there was an average of USD 80 barrel. Today, the average price is over USD 100 per barrel. It is around USD 110," Chidambaram said. -PTI

India in new initiative to 'connect' to Central Asia BISHKEK: India has unveiled its 'Connect Central Asia' policy that envisages augmenting of political, economic and people-topeople contacts with the energyrich Central Asian nations.

The policy was unveiled by Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed, who said the program is aimed at establishing deeper links through both bilateral and collective initiatives.

He also laid out a plan of linking the five Central Asian states with India through tele-education and tele-medicine initiatives, in a project devised on the lines of the Pan-Africa e-network that India initiated jointly with the African Union.

Inaugurating the first IndiaCentral Asia dialogue in the Kyrgyz capital, Ahamed said both sides are working to establish a Central Asian e-network with its hub in India.

He also evinced India's interest in helping set up a Central Asia University in Bishkek that will focus on education in areas like IT, management, and cultural exchanges including philosophy and languages.

Ahamed said India and Central Asia were connected by civilization bonds and also highlighted the growing friendly relations among the peoples of the two regions.-PTI

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Naina Re: Dangerous Ishq 2 Pani Da Rang: Vicky Donor 3 Chokra Jawaan: Ishaqzaade 4 Mar Jayian (Sad): Vicky Donor 5 Jannatein Kahan: Jannat 2 6 Pareshaan: Ishaqzaade 24

India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 22, 2012

7

Dhadhang Dhang : Rowdy Rathore

8

Aa Re Pritam Pyare : Rowdy Rathore

9 Duaa: Shanghai 10 Morcha: Shanghai

A

t the IIFA Rocks, a fashion and musical night which is part of the 13th Interna tional Indian Film Academy Weekend and awards in Singapore, Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra literally brought the roof down with their awesome performance on the song "Uff" from their upcoming film Teri Meri Kahaani.

Apart from the musical night, the runway lit up with gorgeous models walking the ramp for various designers, adding glamour to the entire show.

Designers Varun Bahl, Masaba Gupta and Suneet Verma showcased their collections with star showstoppers.

Following Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra's power packed performance, was Punjabi singer Mika Singh, who performed on songs like "Chinta ta ta", "Pungi", "Jugni", Dhinka Chika and "Subah hone na de".

Gauhar Khan, a model-turned-actress also showcased her item numbers like "Jhalla" and "Chokra Jawan" from "Ishaqzaade".

Shafqat Amanat Ali followed the gang with his popular songs like "Mora saiyyan", "Tum mile", "Bin tere" and "Mitwa".

Putting an end to a fun filled night was an energetic performance by music composer duo VishalShekhar. They sang numbers like "Sheila ki jawaani", "Chammak challo", and "Bharat mata ki jai"

T

he industry was abuzz with rumors that Kareena Kapoor is sleepless over Bipasha's closeness to her beau Saif Ali Khan on the sets of 'Race 2'. However, latest media reports reveals that Kareena has laughed-off the rumors by saying that insecurity is an emotion that has no place in her life.

She further said that her trips to Turkey, where Saif is currently busy shooting for 'Race 2', are because she intends to spend some quality time with her would-be-hubby. She also said, "I encourage Saif to please work with everybody. He is free to work with whoever he wants to, it is not my concern. Even I am free to work with whoever I want, Saif never interferes. My career will always be the way it is. Work is my passion. Both Saif and I are very urban and contemporary in our thoughts.

We have our own space, he does his own thing. We don`t even discuss work and I don`t think Saif has ever asked me which film I am doing. He probably gets to know from the newspapers and magazines (laughs). If I am in a meeting, he doesn`t even ask me who I had a meeting with. He is the most supportive man I could have asked for."

FREE COUPLE

June 22, 2012

Bollywood

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BESHARAM RANBIR

R

anbir Kapoor is undoubtedly a ladies man and every Bollywood actress wants to work with him. According to reports, Ranbir will be romancing Priyanka Chopra's cousin Parineeti Chopra in the movie called Besharam.

The movie is expected to go on floors in October and will be directed by Abhinav Kashyap. Abhinav Kashyap directed the superhit Dabangg but due to some personal issues Arbaaz Khan dropped him from the sequel.

The makers of Besharam wanted a talented fresh face opposite Ranbir Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra suited the role completely.

Surely, Ranbir and Parineeti would burn the screen together with their powerful performances.

June 29 is the D-Day E

sha Deol, the daughter of veteran actors Hema Malini and Dharmendra, will tie the knot with her fiancĂŠ Bharat Takhtani on June 29 in a temple in Mumbai. Esha has been dating Bandrabased businessman Bharat Takhtani for quite some time.

The ring ceremony, which took place at Hema`s bungalow in Juhu on February 12, was a private affair and was attended by close family members and some friends.

"We are very happy and excited. The preparations have started.

The wedding will take place on June 29 in a temple. We wanted to have the wedding in a temple," Hema Malini told reporters.

The wedding is likely to be a private affair, while, the reception will take place at a suburban five star hotel.

"The reception will take place on June 30 at a five star hotel. We just want best wishes and love from everyone," Hema said.

A lot of people from the film industry and politics are expected to attend the wedding reception.

READY FOR RETURN

A

ishwarya Rai, who had hung her working boots for a while in or der to enjoy her motherhood, is said to be ready to re-enter films.

A source close to Ash informed that the actress is ready to resume her acting career. In fact, Aishwarya is currently reading scripts. After this, she will be meeting the filmmakers to sign up the shortlisted movies.

Aishwarya gave birth to her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan on November 16, 2011. Since then, she almost cut herself off from the world. Ash had reportedly turned a full time mommy and also, didn't prefer to keep a nanny or borrow a helping hand to take care of the baby. She did it all for Aaradhya.

In fact, it was also believed that the actress has made filmmakers and producers wait in a queue, who were desperate to get Ash for their films. Fortunately, now it looks like the long wait of the filmmakers is over.

Eight-tier-human tower on a rooftop India Post News Service

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June 22, 2012 movie, shocked the entire unit by lifting a very heavy traditional akhada equipment for a particular scene! The equipment known as the 'ballam' weighs around 50 kilos and is used by real pehelwans in traditional desi akhadas to train and work out.

One particular scene required the

NEW INDIAN HULK - AJAY DEVGN India Post News Service

F

ather's Day is upon us and Bollywood duo Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan (a new dad himself) are rocking the US film industry site Rotten Tomatoes with their new title song from the upcoming comedy Bol Bachchan. This summer's biggest Bollywood comedy Bol Bachchan hits theaters worldwide on Friday, July 6.

Devgn insisted on using the real 'ballam' as he wanted the shot to look perfect. And with a strong and fit physique like his, he managed to lift the very heavy equipment and the superstar pulled the shot off with much ease and perfection in true Hulk style!

Lion king Ajay Devgn is one actor who is known in the industry for his super fit body. And this time around the actor's strength

has earned him a new nick name - The Indian Hulk!

The actor, who plays a pehelwan in Rohit Shetty's

actor to lift the 50 kilo 'ballam' like an actual pehelwan. Director Rohit Shetty had kept a lighter 'ballam' which weighed much lesser than the original one ready for the shot.

However, Devgn insisted on using the real 'ballam' as he wanted the shot to look perfect. And with a strong and fit physique like his, he managed to lift the very heavy equipment and the superstar pulled the shot off with much ease and perfection in true Hulk style!

NEW YORK: One of the world's most unusual and spectacular team endeavors - the Spanish region of Catalonia's 300-year-old tradition of building multi-storey human towers called castells - will make its New York City debut on Wednesday, June 20 at 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar & Penthouse Lounge, when the 150-member Castellers de

No ladders, cranes or nets involved. The performance, which will also include the building of several smaller towers on 230 Fifth's palmpunctuated roof deck, will inaugurate a series of free public castell buildings Vilafranca will attempt a new world record by building the first eight-level castell ever assembled on a rooftop.

No ladders, cranes or nets involved. The performance, which will also include the building of several smaller towers on 230 Fifth's palm-punctuated roof deck, will inaugurate a series of free public castell buildings throughout New York City from June 20 to 24 in honor of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center complex.

Each tower will be an exercise in concentration, strength and balance as the barefooted participants form successively smaller tiers - resembling a human wedding cake - by climbing up the bodies of each layer to mount the shoulders of the previous tier until the tower is topped a by single nine-year-old child. An almost balletic, decidedly athletic and heart-stopping feat orchestrated to the melodies of a quartet playing Catalonian music.

Cont’d on page 28

June 22, 2012

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An era of ghazal singing comes to an end NEW DELHI: Calling him an "Emperor" of ghazals, the music fraternity in India and Pakistan mourned the death of legendary singer Mehdi Hassan, saying an era of ghazal singing has come to an end.

As condolences and moving tributes poured in, ghazal aficionados said the demise of the India-born Pakistani ghazal maestro was a huge loss to the world of music and left a void that can never be filled. Hassan was also described as the "uncrowned king " of ghazals.

Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, who once called Hassan the 'voice of God', said a singer like him is born once in a millennium. "It is my bad luck that I could not sing with him when he was healthy. Now I can only regret. With his demise the music fraternity has lost a great and legendary singer," she said.

Singer Talat Aziz, who trained under Hassan, said, there will never be another Mehdi Hassan.

"I was his 'shagird', I spent a lot of time with him. For me he was a star.

I don't have words to describe his loss. He was a great asset to the world of ghazal," he added.

Sami said, "He has been an inspiration to anyone who has anything to do with music. He created an institution called Mehdi Hassan."

"An era of ghazal singing has come to an end. His ghazals were not complicated and could be understood even by a layman... He was the uncrowned king of ghazal," Grammy winning musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt told PTI.

The voice, who made many music lovers and lovers to find an expression of their heart's stories, is gone. RIP." "RIP Mehdi Hassan saab, huge loss to the world of music... your voice is immortal though," tweeted Shankar Mahadevan. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that with his Mehdi Hassan's death, India and Pakistan

Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, who once called Hassan the 'voice of God', said a singer like him is born once in a millennium.

"It is my bad luck that I could not sing with him when he was healthy�

Mehdi Hassan

Pakistani Sufi singer Abida Parveen said Hassan was legendary and that such people come only once in a while.

"I remember him saying I can

see 'sur'. We should celebrate him across India and Pakistan because he was an asset to both the countries," she said.

Another Pakistani singer Adnan

Several artistes took to Twitter to express their condolences.

Actor Anupam Kher tweeted, "Very saddened to hear about my favorite ghazal Singer Mehdi Hassan's demise. As a student I had gate crashed into Pak Embassy to listen to him. RIP." Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar posted, "Emperor of ghazals no more. RIP Mehdi Hassan. You will be missed sorely!"

Singer Shreya Ghoshal said, "Mehdi Hassan sa'ab is no more.

lost their true cultural ambassador.

"Hassan leaves behind a rich legacy and a treasure trove of beautiful melodies behind. With his death, we have lost a true cultural ambassador of India and Pakistan," she said.

"The music lovers of West Bengal pay heart-felt condolence and pray to Allah to provide enough strength to the family members and close associates of the legendary singer to bear this irreparable loss," she added.

28

India Post

June 22, 2012 www.indiapost.com

Kareena to join the Pataudis at Lords T

he Kareena Kapoor-Saif Ali Khan wedding isn't hap pening before October but the actress is already a part of the royal Pataudi family, it seems.

Kareena will accompany Saif, his mom Sharmila Tagore and sisters Soha and Sabah Ali Khan to a special sit-down dinner in London to be held to honor Saif's late father, cricket legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

The dinner is being organized at the prestigious Lord's cricket ground by the Marylebone Cricket Club - popularly known as the MCC. The gala will be hosted at the club's famous Long Room on September 22, the day when Tiger Pataudi passed away due to lung infection last year.

The wedding date of Saif and Kareena is said to be October 16 -

at least that's what Saif's sister Soha Ali Khan tweeted a while back. Kareena, however, has been close to the family for quite awhile now.

Ever since she started dating Saif around four years back, she

The dinner is being organized at the prestigious Lord's cricket ground by the Marylebone Cricket Club - popularly known as the MCC. The gala will be hosted at the club's famous Long Room on September 22, the day when Tiger Pataudi passed away due to lung infection last year has been attending various family functions of the Pataudi family.

The relationship between the MCC and the Nawabs of Pataudi goes back to the time of Pataudi

Eight-tier-human tower on a rooftop Cont’d from page 26

The series of performances will be the first by any castell team in New York City and only the second time a team has appeared anywhere in the United States.

The Castellers de Vilafranca, considered Spain's best, have been planning for years to build in the Big Apple as a means of introducing to the U.S. the activity UNESCO has recognized as among the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Their trip coincides with an official visit by President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas. The Castellers de Vilfranca will perform in Central Park and Battery Park for the Make Music NY Festival on June 21. They will also build at the United Nations on June 22 and are scheduling other venues in the city including Times Square and Brooklyn Bridge. In addition, the team will participate

senior, Iftikar Ali Khan Pataudi, led India at the Lords in the Test 193233 series.

Later, MAK Pataudi, or Tiger as he was known to the cricketing world, famously captained India at the Lords in 1967. The MCC commissioned

in the presentation of the documentary about their passion as practiced in Catalonia, Chile and India on June 22 at Goldcrest Studios Theater in the West Village.

The Human Tower is directed by Ram Devineni and Cano Rojas and distributed by Goldcrest.

They will also build at the United Nations on June 22 and are scheduling other venues in the city including Times Square The record-breaking roof building of a human tower by the Castellers de Vilfranca at 230 Fifth will take place at 8:15 p.m. on June 20, with several different towers created by the team between 8:20 and 10.

The Pataudi trophy in 2007.

Meanwhile, Saif is busy with the post-production work of his forthcoming co-production, Cocktail, a film in which he co-stars with Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty. He will take out time to be at the prestigious dinner.

Kareena is currently wrapping up Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine. She recently shot an item number for the film, titled Halkat jawaani.

Aniika brings Indian designers to US online India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Closing the bridge for fashion forward fashionistas looking for limited edition Indian inspired products straight from a new India, Aniika launches their online bazaar! Aniika is a curated online 'Inspired bazaar' that provides U.S consumers the opportunity to shop for limited-edition lifestyle products directly from the best emerging Indian design talent. Aniika seeks to showcase an India that is moored in tradition but alive to a contemporary, global aesthetic.

"We have created a niche against other online Indian stores by presenting the next generation of designers, who get the opportunity to showcase their limited-edition contemporary Indian creations. These designers are the future of India's design industry" says Meghana Rao, and Shamim T, Founders of Aniika.com.

They take great pride in providing a platform for emerging independent Indian designers that enables them to think big and believe in themselves as entrepreneurs.

Rao further states that "Aniika

aims to break pre-conceived notions about Indian design by presenting emerging designers who create high quality contemporary Indian lifestyle products. Further-

more, buyers on Aniika will enjoy the curation of a retail store along with the luxury of buying directly from an Independent Indian designer".

Aniika (pronounced as A-neeka) means 'beautiful' in Sanskrit; in Hebrew, Finnish, Dutch, Latin and Greek it most commonly means 'grace'. Likewise, Aniika aims to introduce to the world beautiful products that gracefully combine new Indian design with a global sensibility. The online bazaar currently ships only to the United States and showcases designers who create jewelry, accessories and home dĂŠcor. Aniika carries fashion forward items such as cotton zari stoles, jute cushion covers, jewelry made from leaves dipped in silver and much more.

As Indian fashion and Indian inspired trends continue making waves worldwide, Aniika aims to provide these unique lifestyle products to the doorsteps of those that can't take the trip to India.

www.indiapost.com

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P

alace on Wheels comprises passenger coaches which were originally meant to be the personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India. These coaches were not being used by the Indian Railways, after Independence, in normal passenger trains on account of their very rich and traditional interiors.

The name "Palace-on-Wheels" (POW) was derived from its royal back-ground of the coaches and the concept was first introduced in 1982. A new meter gauge air conditioned Palace-on-Wheels was introduced in 1990 which had 13 saloons, two restaurant-cum-kitchen cars, one bar cum lounge and four service cars.

In order to further increase the amenities on the train

pur, Kishangarh, Kota, Sirohi, and Udaipur.

The decor of each saloon highlights the cultural ethos of the state, represented through the use of furniture, handicrafts, paintings and furnishings. The ceiling in the lounge is of particular interest. Each coupe is different but the overall ambience of the decor of the saloons has been taken care of to provide continuity.

Each saloon has cream yellow color on its exterior walls and bears the Coat of Arms (logo) of the erstwhile princely states, along with the name.

Interior Layout: Each saloon has four coupes (sleeping rooms) with attached toilet. In every saloon, there is one saloon captain valet and one attendant to look after the personal needs of its tourists. Each saloon has a minipantry properly equipped to provide ready tea/coffee and snacks.

The name "Palace-on-Wheels" (POW) was derived from its royal background of the coaches and the concept was first introduced in 1982. A new meter gauge air conditioned Palace-on-Wheels was introduced in 1990 which had 13 saloons, two restaurant-cumkitchen cars, one bar cum lounge and four service cars and due to over all gauge conversion in the state, a new broad gauge Palace-on-Wheels has been constructed. and has been running since 1995. Its 14 saloons are inter-connected, the interior matching the aesthetics of the royal states. The train also has a well appointed lounge, library, bar and dining cars.

In the past 20 years of operations, the Palace-on-Wheels has been rated as one of the best ten luxurious rail journeys in the world.

Saloons: The names of the saloons are based on the princely states of Rajasthan - Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Dholpur, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhalawar, Jodh-

Places to See: The 7 Nights weekly tour on this Maharaja Train departs from Delhi every Wednesday evening (from Sept to April) and you may book them for minimum four nights also.

Day 1 - Wednesday Departure 6.00 pm Delhi: You will be treated like a Maharaja & Maharani and will be welcomed by garlanding, Tikka, turban and a glass of wine. The Capital city of modern India is known for its rich valorous and exotic history.

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June 22, 2012

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India Post

Aqua zorbing at India Gate in Delhi NEW DELHI: Visiting the India Gate from this month-end will be more fun as one can enjoy aqua zorbing - floating on water in a transparent plastic ball.

Delhi Tourism, which collaborated with a private operator to kickstart aqua zorbing at the lake at Purana Quila last September, is all set to launch the adventure sport at India Gate.

"Currently we are offering only boating activities at India Gate, so zorbing will be a remarkable addition to the water sports activities.

"Moreover, being in the heart of the city, India Gate attracts more visitors. Since it will be visible from the road side, more people will be able to enjoy the fun," Manish Chatrath, chairman of Delhi Tourism, told PTI. Zorbing at Purana Quila attracts more than 50 visitors on weekdays and the number touches 100 on weekends.

"We have been getting good response for zorbing at Purana Quila lake so we are in a spree of expanding our operators at India Gate as well. We have got a green signal from Delhi Tourism. We will open it for tourists probably by late June," zorbing operator Rajeeb Gogoi said.

In zorbing, one is made to enter into a deflated plastic ball through a zipper and then it is filled with air. Once the ball is inflated, it is zipped up, and the ball enclosing

June 22, 2012

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the person is pushed in the water.

A rope is attached to the ball, which a trained staff holds on to, for pulling it back to the shore when the time is up.

Apart from being an adventure sport, zorbing is a good activity for the fitness freaks as well. "As one attempts to rotate the ball, he or she exerts pressure and tries to maintain balance.

"It involves the similar physical activi-

ties required for games like badminton or lawn tennis. If you do zorbing for 15 minutes, it is equivalent to jogging for half an hour," Gogoi said.

"It looks easy during demonstration but once you jump into it then you realize the rush of adrenaline you feel.

Crawling, running, walking, bouncing and falling again...It is a huge fun," said Piyali Chatterjee after the end of a zorbing session. -PTI

Karnataka Tourism attracts Rs 35,000 cr investment BANGALORE: The Karnataka Government has said the tourism sector has attracted Rs 35,000 crore investment in the ongoing Global Investors Meet.

Addressing a session organized as part of GIM 2012 here, Tourism Department Principle Secretary Latha Krishna Rau said a lot of investors were showing keen interest in investing at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

"Hyatt Hotels and Resorts is setting up a five-star hotel at Hampi. Orange County, Somateeram and Windflower are setting up resorts around heritage spots like Pattadakal, Aihole, Belur, Bijapur, Jog, Mysore and Anekal," she said.

Investors also have shown interest in providing tourism related facilities at Pattadakal and Bijapur. The sector has attracted Rs 35,000 crore investment proposals, she said.

Latha said the department was focusing more on promoting tourism in Tier II and III cities to set up facilities for tourists.

"Whatever Expression of Interest or MoUs we have signed is not for just for setting up facilities in Bangalore. We have moved away from the state capital and are promoting tourism in Tier II and Tier III cities for setting up facilities for tourists," she said.

In addition, land has been offered for tourism projects at various places like Hampi, Pattadakal, Aihole, Belur, Bijapur, Jog, Mysore and Anekal, Latha said.

The department also is offering investors provide water sports facilities on 2,000 acres of water bodies, Latha said.

She said Karnataka ranks fourth among states as a popular tourist destination. Tour-

ist inflow has increased by 236 per cent from 25.2 million in 2005 to 84.6 million in 2011, she added.

As much as 63 per cent increase is anticipated in foreign exchange earnings from USD 104.1 million in 2010 to USD 169.5 million in 2020, Latha said.

Moreover, government is offering many

"Whatever Expression of Interest or MoUs we have signed is not for just for setting up facilities in Bangalore. We have moved away from the state capital and are promoting tourism in Tier II and Tier III cities for setting up facilities for tourists," she said. In addition, land has been offered for tourism projects at various places incentives for investors to promote tourism development, Latha said, adding as many as 100 locations have been identified to implement liberalized land policy for tourism projects.

Government had also granted 50 per cent and 75 per cent on stamp duty exemption for investments below and above USD 10 million, she said. -PTI

Among best ten luxurious rail journeys of the world Cont’d from page 29

Once the fabled city of the heroes of the Mahabharata, it was ruled by the Rajputs before they were displaced by foreign invaders. The tour starts in the evening with a ceremonial welcome aboard the Palace on Wheels at Safdarjung New Delhi. You will be

Hawa Mahal Palace of wind followed by the amazing Jantar Mantar-Astronomical Observatory which will be explored at leisure.

Visit the home of erstwhile rulers. The city palace is now a museum of full royal splendor. Jaipur also offers a great shopping experience since the city is the country's capital as far as handi-

Jaipur also offers a great shopping experience since the city is the country's capital as far as handicrafts are concerned. This includes a very extensive range introduced to your fellow travelers. Feel free to explore your new palace, and acquaint yourself with its various facilities. Relax with a drink at the bar. Dinner will be served on board in its two restaurants.

Day 2 - Thursday Arrival 3.45 am Departure 11.30 pm Jaipur: Your tour begins at the

crafts are concerned. This includes a very extensive range. The city is also known as a major international center of cutting and polishing of gems and stones. Also, Jaipur is known all over the world for hand block printing on textiles. Lunch at Amber Fort. Soon after reaching Amber, you can enjoy the festively decorated elephant for a ride up to the fort.

After lunch visit to Amber Fort; the best example of splendid fusion of Rajput and Mugal styles of architecture.

The hall of victory Jai Mandir has a stunning ceiling adorned with mirror work on an inlaid panel.

Return back to train by bus to freshen up. After rest awhile, enjoy sumptuous dinner in one of the best hotels of Jaipur. Return to Palace on Wheels.

New arrangement from this season:

1. Lunch venue at famous Amber Fort.

2. Jaipur by Night.

3. Visit to Albert Hall.

4. Dinner, Bar-be-que, Folk Dance at 5 star hotel Jai Mahal, an old palace of Rajput rulers.

Travel & Hospitality Post

June 22, 2012

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Jashn-e-Kashmir organized in Srinagar would be taken for promoting and preserving the rich traditions, values and culture of the state.

Wani, addressing the participants, said the program has already been organized in Leh, Kargil and now it is being conducted here and finally would cul-

City hosts Jashn-e-Kashmir.

SRINAGAR: Aimed at promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, youth workshop 'Jashn-e-Kashmir' was organized at SKICC auditorium on the banks of Dal lake here.

Students of 30 schools of the Valley performed "colorful folk items" at the workshop, jointly organized by union ministries of culture and home affairs, an official spokesman said.

Youths would be given training for a fortnight period, before the final selection of best performers of all the regions in Delhi later this month, the spokesman said.

The winners would be taken to Mumbai, Ajmer and abroad.

State tourism minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, who alongwith minister of state for tourism Nasir Aslam Wani inaugurated the workshop, assured that all necessary steps

2012 as compared to 26.02 lakh for the corresponding period last year, an increase of 7.8 per cent.

However, less number of foreigners availed Visa on Arrival (VoA) scheme in May this year as compared to the last year, according to the Tourism Ministry data.

A total number of 812 VOAs were issued in May as against 865 VoAs during the same period last year, registering a decline of 6.1 per cent.

However, on the whole during January-May 2012, a total number of 5857 VoAs were issued as com-

tions and circuits in Gujarat for one year, the statement added.

The packages will be made available through its network of

Under the tie-up, Cox & Kings will create market and operate these tour packages for various destinations and circuits in Gujarat for one year offices, franchisees and other consumer touch points, it said, adding the company has also been

Tourism department records reveal that around 8 lakh pilgrims who can afford chopper service visit Vrindavan each year, Srivastava said.

Efforts are also being made to provide helicopter service on the route for medical emergencies, he said, adding that sev-

ited (PHHL), Anil Srivastava, along with senior officials of state tourism department inspected three proposed locations for helipads at Vrindavan.

eral hospitals of Delhi and NCR have been contacted to provide immediate medical attention to any patient brought from Mathura and Agra. -PTI

minate in Jammu.

However, he said the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has already taken many initiatives in conducting cultural programs for promotion of the culture. -PTI

pared to 5004 VoAs during corresponding period of 2011 registering a positive growth of 17 per cent.

As a step to attract more foreign tourists to India, government had launched the Visa on Arrival scheme in January 2010 for citizens of five countries - Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore - visiting India for tourism purposes.

The scheme was extended for six more countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011. -PTI

Gujarat in marketing tie-up with Cox & Kings NEW DELHI: Gujarat Tourism says it has entered into a marketing tie-up with travel services provider Cox & Kings to promote the state in India.

The tie-up is for a period of one year and Cox & Kings will be the official marketing partner for Gujarat Tourism, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd (TCGL) said in a statement.

"As our marketing partner we believe that they (Cox & Kings) have the expertise and reach to promote Gujarat as a destination in the Indian domestic market," TCGL Managing Director Sanjay Kaul said.

Under the tie-up, Cox & Kings will create market and operate these tour packages for various destina-

MATHURA: The Union government with the support of Uttar Pradesh tourism department is planning to connect Delhi with neighboring cities like Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan through chopper services to boost tourism.

CMD of state-run helicopter firm Pawan Hans Helicopter Lim-

Youths would be given training for a fortnight period, before the final selection of best performers of all the regions in Delhi

'Incredible India' attracts 3.72 lakh foreigners NEW DELHI: Continuing with the growth trajectory, Incredible India campaign attracted 3.72 lakh foreigners in May this year as against 3.55 lakh during the same period last year, registering a growth of 4.6 per cent.

The foreign exchange earnings (FEE) from tourism also witnessed more than 10 per cent growth in May. The FEE in May were Rs 5562 crore as compared to Rs 5047 crore in May 2011 and Rs 4358 crore in May 2010.

There were total 28.05 lakh foreign tourists during January-May

Chopper service on DelhiMathura-Agra route

mandated for promoting the state via media and provide consumers the facility to book online on its website.

Commenting on the tie-up, Cox & Kings Vice President, (Bharat Deko) Yusuf Poonawala said: "We promote different destinations in India and have the expertise to project the untapped tourism potential of Gujarat.

Gujarat has been promoting itself as a tourist destination in the past few years and have even roped in Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador.

The state boasts of a number of tourist spots, including the world famous Gir Forest and the Sabarmati Ashram. -PTI

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June 22, 2012

Jagan to stay in jail, CBI seeks permission for narco test HYDERABAD: YSR Congress Chief Jaganmohan Reddy will remain in jail for two more weeks with a CBI court today extending his judicial remand till June 25 in a disproportionate assets case even as the agency sought permission to carry out a lie detection test on him.

The court order comes a day before the crucial bypoll to 18 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh for which Jagan's plea to be released on bail for campaign was rejected earlier by the court. The arrest of 39-year-old Jagan on May 27 became the dominant issue during campaigning with his mother and YSR Congress party's honorary president Y S Vijaya Lakshmi spearheading the canvassing. -PTI

Electronic fund transfers to become free NEW DELHI: In a move that would bring relief to bank customers, the government has asked the Reserve Bank to work out a framework under which funds could be transferred electronically free of charge from one account to the other.

These suggestions were made

by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in his address at a meeting with chief executives of the public sector banks, which among others, was also attended

by RBI Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty.

At present, banks charge between Rs 5 to Rs 55 for electronic transfer of funds from account of one bank to another through National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).

"I would also urge upon Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to proactively work on this front and

to see that all electronic banking transactions should be possible without any charges being levied," Mukherjee had said yesterday.

Cost free electronic transaction

duce cash movement and cash transaction, a senior official of a public sector bank said.

For outward transactions under RTGS mechanism, banks charge Rs

and Rs 25.

Citing example of Oriental Bank of Commerce, which has waived all charges for electronic transactions up to Rs 1 lakh, Mukherjee had said, "I am confident that all the public sector banks would fol-

Farmers should be able to buy their agricultural inputs by using their KCCcum-debit cards at point of sale machines Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee

would encourage customers to use this medium for inter-bank as well as intra-bank fund transfer across the country.

The move would also help re-

30 for electronic transfer of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 55 for amounts above Rs 5 lakh.

On the other hand, under NEFT the charges range between Rs 5

low this excellent initiative."

The Department of Financial Services is working on the implementation of an action plan to bring the country's banking payment structure at par with global

standards.

"Public sector banks must promote electronic mode of transactions over other modes. They should examine the possibility of making NEFT transactions up to Rs 1 lakh free of charges, as has been done by Oriental Bank of Commerce," Mukherjee had said.

He also told the bank chiefs that the use of debit cards to the point of sale without any transaction charges at least for micro and small transactions should be their next objective.

Farmers should be able to buy their agricultural inputs by using their KCC-cum-debit cards at point of sale machines, without the use of cash, he said.

Also, all fair price shops should be similarly covered.

"I would request all stakeholders to work in this direction so that use of cash could become less important," he added. -PTI

Nilon's introduces new range of pickles, murabbas bitter gourd, seasoned with delectable spices, Nilon's Karela Pickle is a combination of health and taste. With its refreshing and slushy treat, the humble bitter gourd stands taller than ever. Chef's recommendation: Karela Paranthe served hot with plain dahi or dal.

Jackfruit Pickle: Nilon's new kid on the block - Jack fruit Pickle has

HEMA TRIVEDI India Post News Service

MUMBAI: Nilon's, the largest producer and marketer of pickles worldwide, has announced launching of a new range of healthy pickles.

Besides Amla Pickle, Sweet Mango Chutney and Mango Murabba, Nilon's also launched some never-before seen flavors like Carrot Pickle, Kharek (dry dates) Pickle, and Carrot Chilli Pickle.

Carrot Pickle: Whether to relish its vibrant red color with eyes or feast upon its spicy and crunchy taste - the Nilon's Carrot Pickle, enriched with spices, will surely leave you in splits and make you literally lick your fingers clean.

Amla Murabba: A combination of nutrients and taste, Nilon's Amla Murabba is perfect for the health-conscious foodies. The tranquilizing Murabba is designed to rejuvenate and boost immunity, besides working as coolant for the body and strengthening the heart.

Mango Chutney: Primed from fresh-ripe mango chunks, this Indian relish is oozing with highamounts of serotonin - a natural anti-depressant. Lay it on sand-

to strengthen a strong relationship with our customers. At Nilon's, we are continuously adding more to the existing range to make our offering wholesome to cater to a wider consumer segment. The new range of pickles is good to taste and healthy as well."

Nilon's Enterprises Private Limited was founded way back in 1962

Mango Chutney: Primed from fresh-ripe mango chunks, this Indian relish is oozing with high-amounts of serotonin - a natural anti-depressant. Lay it on sandwiches, or use it with chicken or meat Rajheev Agrawal with his products

wiches, or use it with chicken or meat, the lip-smacking Nilon's Mango Chutney is very versatile.

Kharek Pickle: The aroma and pleasant taste of this savory and flavored pickle, is a combination of different tastes and a good source of carbohydrate, fiber, and potassium, too.

Mango Murabba: Call it an hors d'oeuvre, main course or a dessert, this sumptuous vaguely crispy and sweet-sour pickle, has its matchless taste results from a

time-honored combination of raw mangoes, sugar, and spices - cooling and moist by nature.

Carrot Chilli Pickle: Ignite your taste buds with the conspicuous mishmash of juicy chunks of carrot and crisp green chillies. Versatility to spice up diverse cuisines, the Nilon's Green Chilli Pickle's natural hot taste and remarkable freshness should catch gourmet's ultimate fantasy.

Karela Pickle: The unmistakable bitterness of the super-nutritious

a delicious taste and is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. Produced from meticulously chosen raw jackfruit and flavored with spices, the fresh taste of this fivestar summer pickle would turn out to be a pick of the day.

The range is available in 100 gms, 400 gms packs with guaranteed taste, premium quality and excellent product Hygiene'.

Rajheev Agrawal, Director & CEO, Nilon's said, "Through our new product offerings, we effort

by Suresh B. Sanghavi as a cottage industry. From a humble beginning, Nilon's has today become the largest producer of Pickles, Tooty-Fruity and Roasted Vermicelli in India. Managed by a professional and dynamic team, Nilon's is now among the fastest growing processed food company in India. Nilon's wide range of quality products includes Pickles, Papads, Tooty-Fruity, Sauces, Vermicelli, Macaroni, Tomato Ketchup and Jams.

Horoscope

June 22, 2012

India Post 35

www.indiapost.com

Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

JUNE 22TH - JUNE 28TH (November 23 to December 22)

(March 21 to April 20)

Y

D

ou will spend time and money on planning an upcoming big event.

You may invite an old trusted friend for lunch and to discuss some important issues. You may dispose off recently purchased stocks and pocket the profit. People trying for another job will be called for second interview. Cut down on your caffeine intake.

o not ignore the signs and go for the sure thing only. Some one in the family will be going away for few days. You will meet all financial commitments on time and still have some leftover. Keep an eye on the incoming mail, there is a pleasant surprise in it. You may arrange a small get together at your place.

(April 21 to May 20)

(December 22 to January 19)

D

o not rush to conclusions but look at all facts and figures will a calm and rational mind before you take that important decision.

You may sign and send out some important papers in a hurry. Change you are looking for in career is just around the corner. Money will come but will not stay for long.

E

xpect some major and dramatic changes in life. You may be offered the dream opportunity but at a far off land. Spouse will fully support all decisions you make this week. You may receive a big check in mail or a transfer to your account. You may go slightly out of your way to help a needy person.

(January 20 to February 18)

(May 21 to June 20)

Y

ou will have many reasons to celebrate this week. You will enjoy the company of friends recently made. Money will go on changing some expensive gadget in the house. Deal you had been working on will finally go through. You will plan a short pleasure trip with the family to a real nice and exciting place.

H

urdles will not slow you down. You will be more determined and the results will amaze people around. The new idea you are working on will be a super hit the moment it gets launched. You may be seriously thinking of going on a long distance trip. You will make good use of extra time on hand and help spouse clean up the house.

(February 19 to March 20) (June 21 to July 22)

Y

ou may recover some lost valuable item in the house. Project will start moving at full speed in the right direction. Boss will give you additional help. You may need to see a dentist for recent problem with teeth. You will also hear from a close relative living in another state this week. Additional Money will come but disappear very fast.

You will continue to look for another bigger and better place to move.

C

hances of hitting some kind of jackpot still strong. You may travel to a nice and warm area to attend to some important business. People You helped in the past will be hard to locate when you need them this week. Spouse will feel little exhausted and need to see a doctor. Children will give some good news.

(July 23 to August 22)

T

his week will bring an end to lots of uncertainty and You will start to see the light at the end of tunnel. Let the past go other wise you will keep feeling hurt internally. Trip to a warm area will change your mood and mind. You may get rid of one of your subordinate and start looking for a better person.

(August 23 to September 22)

S

ome will go out of his way to help you get out of a tricky situation. Application will finally get approved and everybody at home will be excited. You may also receive a refund in the mail. You will meet many old friends at the party. Some of you will be getting ready to go on an important trip in near future.

(September 23 to October 22)

Y

ou may have to spend money on legal matters. You will be very close to finalizing the deal. People will try to cause some disturbance but will not succeed. You may still be looking for right partners to share your ideas and join your project. You may call an old trusted person to seek his advice and direction.

(October 23 to November 22)

N

ot only morale victory but large financial gains possible out of a litigation. You may have few guests at your place this week.

Relationship will keep getting stronger and final commitment is weeks away. You will be invited to an important conference. Child will be accepted to college of his choice.

Hrithik Roshan is blessed with a long career

H

rithik Roshan (born 10th January 1974) is a Capricorn. He is having Kumbh-Aquarius lagan and Cancer-Kark (moon) rashi. A person born under this rashi is of beautiful personality, influential, cordial, intelligent, generous, independent, always eager to make new friends, businessman, hard worker, highly ambitious and will be successful with hard work only.

Lord of the lagan/ascendant is well placed in fifth house. Lord of second house is in twelfth house, which indicates that there will be mismanagement of funds and some problem in family life. Third house is the house of Mars. This makes that houses more effective. Third house also represents sports, physical activities and bravery.

In Hrithik Roshan we can see special charm of physical strength which is missing in mostly all the stars. Hrithik has a blend of flexibility and masculine body. All this has been provided by Mars. Mars in third house has made the person do more dynamic and challenging roles. Fourth house lord is sitting in his favorite house i.e twelfth house. This has given him all the comforts and a good married life.

Pandit Parashar, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

But there is one point worth mentioning that in the twelfth house Jupiter is sitting with Venus. Jupiter is deblated (neech rashi) and is sitting with his enemy (Venus). So there will be instances where he has to face problems regarding disgrace due to sexual activities involved with other actress/women. So Hrithik will have to be very careful regarding his relations with other women/actresses.

Lord of karma, Mars, is sitting in third house. This shows that he has a long career.

925-833-7170

website: www.parashar.com

Health

Line

Legion post grapples with new smoking ban

PORTAGE, Ind.: Indiana's new law banning smoking in public places is forcing a northwestern Indiana American Legion post to weigh the health benefits against the potential for lost revenue.

Cmdr. Bruce Thorn said he believes Portage American Legion Post 260 is in a no-win situation as it prepares for the new law, which takes effect July 1.

The statewide smoking ban signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels in March exempts Indiana's bars, casinos, retail tobacco shops and private clubs, such as veterans and fraternal organizations. That leaves the American Legion post to decide itself whether to make its facility smoke-free. -AP

US delays decision on first drug to prevent HIV WASHINGTON: Drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc. says federal health regulators have delayed a decision on whether to approve its drug Truvada as the first pill that prevents HIV infection.

Gilead Sciences said the Food and Drug Administration will take an additional three months to review its drug application, after the California company submitted additional materials to the agency earlier this month.

In May, a panel of experts recommended approval of the daily pill Truvada for healthy people who are at high risk of contracting HIV. The group's vote is nonbinding, but the FDA often follows its advice. Gilead says it submitted updated details on its safety materials for patients and doctors using Truvada. -AP

More test positive in NH hepatitis investigation EXETER, N.H.: New Hampshire health officials say four more cases of hepatitis involving patients at Exeter Hospital have been identified in addition to10 others spotted earlier.

The Department of Health and Human Services says four more patients match the strain of hepatitis C recently diagnosed in 10 people who had been treated at the hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Lab, bringing the total number of related cases to 14. Of the 14, one is an Exeter Hospital employee. All 14 individuals have been notified. -AP

Health Science 36

India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 22, 2012

India shares highest preterm birth burden NEW DEHLI: Nearly 24%, or one in four children born prematurely across the globe in 2010 were from India. India recorded the highest number of births of preemies, or babies born before time, at 35.19 lakh children in 2010.

Details on page 39

US wants 9/11 health program to include 50 cancers NEW YORK: First responders and residents who were stricken with cancer after being exposed to the toxic ash that exploded over Manhattan when the World Trade Center collapsed would qualify for free treatment of the disease and potentially hefty compensation payments under a rule proposed by federal health officials.

After months of study, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said in an administrative filing that it favored a major expansion of an existing $4.3 billion 9/11 health program to include people with 50 types of cancer, covering 14 broad categories of the disease.

People with any of the cancers on the list could qualify for treatments and payments as long as they and their doctors make a plausible case that the disease was connected to the caustic dust.

The decision followed years of emotional lobbying by construction workers, firefighters, police officers, office cleaners, and many

other people who fell ill in the decade after the terror attack, and were sure it had something to do with the many days they spent toiling in the gray soot. ``It's amazing,'' said Ernie Vallebuona, a former New York City police detective who retired after being diagnosed with lym-

doctors, union officials and community advocates recommended that cancer be added to the list of covered conditions. Previously, the aid effort has only covered people with mostly less-serious ailments, including asthma, acid reflux disease and chronic sinus irritation.

The decision on whether to add

While stories about first responders struck by cancer are common, there is still little scientific evidence of elevated cancer rates connected to either the trade center dust or other toxins at the ground zero recovery site phoma in 2004. ``It's nice to have the federal government recognize that your cancer was caused by ground zero. It's something we've always known. I'm just ecstatic that we are finally being recognized. You almost felt like you were being brushed aside.''

NIOSH, which oversees the 9/ 11 health program, acted after an advisory committee made up of

cancer to that list is a difficult one, and there are still substantial questions about how the program will function.

While stories about first responders struck by cancer are common, there is still little scientific evidence of elevated cancer rates connected to either the trade center dust or other toxins at the ground zero recovery site.

Cancer experts also say that it usually takes many years for an environmental exposure to lead to a cancer case, due to the slow, undetectable development of many types of the disease. That means that many of the people falling ill with cancer now, or in the past 10 years, are unlikely to have gotten it as a result of the attacks.

Questions about whether the dust truly caused cancer was one of the reasons why Congress did not include it in the initial list of covered illnesses.

But some occupational health experts have expressed concern about the presence of carcinogens in the ash and soot, and the advisory panel said it believed there were enough toxins to create a risk.

NIOSH director Dr. John Howard said in a statement that the agency had embraced all of the recommendations of the advisory panel, which had urged inclusion of a majority of the most common forms of cancer.

Cont’d on page 39

Ambani hospital launches robotic surgery MUMBAI: The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute has launched a robotic surgical system which helps overcoming the limitations of the conventional keyhole or laparoscopic surgery.

The newly launched system helps surgeons achieve greater surgical precision, improved dexterity and superior control while performing operations, the hospital said in a statement in Mumbai The surgery, called da Vinci Robotic Surgery, was launched at an event at the hospital in Mumbai by Dr Suresh Advani, an oncologist with the Jaslok

Hospital.

The newly launched system helps surgeons achieve greater surgical precision, improved dexterity and superior control while

performing operations, the hospital said in a statement in Mumbai.

The robot allows a surgeon's hand movements to be filtered and translated into precise micro-

movements of tiny instruments, it said, adding the precision translates into smaller incisions, less blood loss and faster recovery time. -PTI

June 22, 2012

Health Science Post

India Post

37

www.indiapost.com

Cancer survivors celebrate beating disease CHENNAI: Mathura Natarajan, 23, was at the Adyar Cancer Institute recently with her mother, to celebrate what she calls her "rebirth" and "second chance at life". This was the 11th successive year that she was attending the Cancer Survivors Day function at the hospital and, with 200 other survivors, took the opportunity to thank the doctors who saved her life and promise to spread awareness on the importance of early detection and treatment of the disease.

tent, but it may have only been a week since the cancer set in," said Mathura's mother Uma, who worked as a superintendent with the CB-CID in the city. Mathura was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or blood cancer.

Mathura, then just 10 years old, spent the next two years dealing with blood tests, chemotherapy, blood transfusions and radiation, each process more painful than the previous. "In the beginning I felt like my life had nearly ended. I could not eat out, go

'I didn't tell her it was blood cancer for nearly 20 days after the diagnosis. To be strong for her, I did not cry in front of her even once during tests, diagnosis or watching her suffer the pain of chemo or radiation' Mathura began developing small sores around her eyes and tongue in April, 1999.

The sores soon began leaving bloodstains and she had bouts of vomiting. When her parents rushed her to the Child's Trust Hospital, the blood tests confirmed their worst fears.

"The doctors said the white blood cells count had already dropped to a large ex-

out with family or friends or just live a normal life," she says.

Two years later, she had won the battle with cancer, but problems persisted. "I had missed two years of school.

My mother made me write my Class 8 and Class 10 exams privately and I passed both," says the resident of West Mambalam. Eleven years later, she is

now a teacher at Chennai Champs, an international school, and works with special children.

Other child cancer survivors are not so lucky because several schools refuse to readmit them once they recover from the disease.

Mathura says the doctors at Adyar Cancer Institute especially, Dr Shanta and Dr Sagar, are her gods, because they gave her life. She believes that if it wasn't for the Adyar Cancer Institute team and her family's support, she would not have been alive today.

"I didn't tell her it was blood cancer for nearly 20 days after the diagnosis. To be strong for her, I did not cry in front of her even once during tests, diagnosis or watching her suffer the pain of chemo or radiation," says Uma. Cancer survivors made it a point to remind each other that they are ambassadors for cancer treatment. "After being a mother to an autistic child and working with such children, I knew that I c o u l d f i g h t b r e a s t c a n c e r, " s a i d Ramamani Ravi, who was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 1997. Many survivors have even joined the support group at the centre to help counsel new patients.

Uma hopes she can be a beacon of hope to families with children afflicted with the disease like two-year-old Sushanth, who was diagnosed with ALL only a month ago. -PTI

TIP OF THE WEEK Beat bladder infections with blueberries

E

ating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers at New Jersey's Rutgers University. That's because blueberries are loaded with tannins, plant compounds that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can't get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers University .

38

Health Science Post

India Post

June 22, 2012

www.indiapost.com

Health Awareness Program held in Long Island India Post News Service

NEW YORK: GOPIO Health Council has held successful diabetes awareness seminars in Sunnyvale, Silicon Valley and White Plains, New York. These have paved the way for additional diabetes and heart disease awareness workshops to be held in the future. These will be co-sponsored

by GOPIO Health Council and local GOPIO Chapters.

The latest seminar titled "A Health Awareness Program" held in Long Island, New York on June 10 was a resounding success attended by 90 plus PIOs and community leaders. The session was co-sponsored by GOPIO Long Island Chapter in collaboration with the India Association of Long Island and AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin).

Moderated by GOPIO Health Council Chair Sangeeta Ahuja, the panel of health expert speakers included Dr Sunil Mehra, MD Director of ICU and Pulmonary Medicine; Dr Prem Goel, MD Cardiologist and Internal Medicine; and Rita Batheja, Registered Dietitian and Founder of Indian American Dietetic Association.

The drivers for this initiative are the startling statistics that indicate that People of Indian Origin (PIO) are at a higher risk to develop diabetes and heart disease than their fellow Americans.

Amongst the 3 million Asian Indians in the USA, 1 in 5 has diabetes, and 1 in 3 has pre-diabetes!

The US-PIOs have a significantly higher risk of heart diseases, particularly heart attack rates that are estimated to be 1.5 4 times greater than the white American population. Important health problems faced by this USPIO community are: cardiovascular diseases - particularly heart attacks, diabetes, hypertension and

Seminar organizers with speakers, from L to R: Novo Nordisk Representative, Dr. Dhayan Naik, Lori Hardy, Sangeeta Ahuja, Usha Bhagirath, Dr. Seema Rathi, Dr. Rehan Ahmad

metabolic syndrome.

According to Sangeeta Ahuja, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Chair GOPIOHealth Council, "Diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting in high blood glucose. 85-95% of all diabetics are Type 2, which is the most common form and is often diagnosed in adults over 45.

The awareness is very low everywhere in the world, and less than half the people with diabetes are diagnosed. It is a silent killer with hidden symptoms.

It can remain undetected and diagnosis is often made due to associated complication or incidentally through abnormal blood sugar test. With rise in obesity and sedentary life style Type 2 is increasingly being diagnosed in children and young adults."

GOPIO Health Council's campaign to raise awareness of these "silent killer" diseases was kicked off in 2010 with a pilot seminar in Queens, New York in partnership with the Kerala Center.

This was followed by a firstof-a-kind Health Summit co-sponsored by the New York Tri-State Chapters and covered a broad set of Health related topics including

alternative wellness therapies. In 2012, this GOPIO Health Initiative is going on the road, directly to the PIO community near their home-fronts in the form of locally sponsored seminars.

The first seminar in this GOPIO Health Awareness series, focused on Diabetes, and was held this

The US-PIOs have a significantly higher risk of heart diseases, particularly heart attack rates that are estimated to be 1.5 - 4 times greater than the white American population spring on April 14, 2012 at the Sunnyvale Temple in the Silicon Valley, California.

Sangeeta Ahuja put together an outstanding team of speakers for this program that included Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Clinical NeuroPsychologist and Dr. Karim Hussain a Cardiologist. This program was organized by Mr. Jeevan

Zutshi, GOPIO Area CoordinatorWestern Region, Mr. Ajay Jain Bhutoria, President: GOPIO Silicon Valley and Mr. Raj Bhanot from Sunnyvale Hindu Temple.

"The speakers provided practical information in this interactive session", said Ritu Maheshwari who attended the program at the Sunnyvale Temple. "We have been organizing such health awareness programs in this region for the past three years and they are very well received" said Jeevan Zutshi.

The second GOPIO Health seminar was held on April 24, 2012 at the Royal Palace restaurant hosted by Mr. Jagdish Mittar, the establishment owner in support of the Hindu Temple community.

With standing room only capacity, attended by over 80 PIOs from Westchester, Connecticut and Northern New Jersey, this event was a resounding success!

The panel of speakers moderated by Sangeeta Ahuja included Dr. Dhayan Naik, Dr. Rehan Ahmad, Dr. Ramesh Naik, and Dr. Seema Rathi. The Diabetic and Heart Healthy diet choice recommendations at this session were put to practical test following the talk by the dinner menu offerings

enjoyed and appreciated by all who attended.

Medical demographics show that Indians have an increased genetic susceptibility to diabetes.

If left uncontrolled it is a major cause of premature death, blindness, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, amputation, kidney failure and dialysis.

Most experts on South Asian Health mention that the US risk assessment tools underestimate the risk for Asian Indians. Lower cutoffs and stricter goals are required for treatment and prevention of these diseases for Asian Indians.

"There is reduced quality of life due to depression, social isolation and a huge financial burden.

Without timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, complications and morbidity from Diabetes rises significantly, since it can remain undetected for a long time," says Sangeeta Ahuja. Hence an aggressive approach is needed to test among Indians and to promote awareness about this disease.

The good news studies indicate that 80% of Type 2 is preventable by healthy dietary intake, maintaining a healthy weight. Increased physical activity and improving living environment so that one can manage stress, 5-7 % weight loss, intake of a healthy diet.

Exercise and medication if needed can prevent or delay preDiabetes from progressing to Diabetes. GOPIO-Health is committed to help promote this objective through its focus on increasing awareness about Diabetes, Cardiac health and Stress management amongst the PIO community all over the world.

The Health Council is looking for qualified speakers, collaborating organizations and sponsors in all major cities of the world to bring the awareness programs to the PIO community.

Fruits and vegetables may help smokers quit

E

ating fruits and veg etables may help some people quit smoking, a new study suggests.

In the study, smokers who ate the most fruit and vegetables were three times more likely to be tobacco-free for at least 30 days than those who ate the least amount of fruits and vegetables, the researchers said.

The results held even after the researcher's took into account factors that could influence people's likelihood of successfully staying away from smoking, including the participants' age, gender, race/

ethnicity, education, household income and how frequently they exercised, drank heavily or used illicit drugs.

The study also found that smokers with higher fruit and vegetable consumption smoked fewer cigarettes per day, waited longer to smoke their first cigarette of the day and scored lower on a commonly-used test of nicotine dependence.

"We may have identified a new tool that can help people quit smoking," said study researcher Jeffrey P. Haibach, a graduate research assistant at the University of Buffalo.

However, the study showed an association, and not a cause-effect link. More research is needed

to confirm the findings, and identify the possible mechanisms that could explain how eating fruits and

vegetables may help smokers quit.

Haibach and colleagues surveyed 1,000 smokers ages 25 and older in the United States in telephone interviews. Fourteen months later, participants were contacted again, and asked if they had abstained from tobacco use during the previous month.

To be included in the study, participants had to have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, and have been currently smoking daily or on some days at the study's start.

Several explanations for the findings are possible: people who consume a lot of fruits and veg-

etables may be less nicotine dependent, or may have a decreased desire to smoke, the researchers said.

Fruits and vegetables are also high in fiber, which may give people a sense of satiety or fullness so that they feel less of a need to smoke. Smokers sometimes confuse hunger with an urge to smoke, Haibach said.

And unlike some foods which are known to enhance the taste of tobacco, such as meats, caffeinated beverages and alcohol, fruits and vegetables may actually worsen the taste of cigarettes, Haibach said.

June 22, 2012

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India shares highest preterm birth burden NEW DEHLI: Nearly 24%, or one in four children born prematurely across the globe in 2010 were from India. India recorded the highest number of births of preemies, or babies born before time, at 35.19 lakh children in 2010.

Almost 13% of all children born in India were born too soon, while China ranked second, says a Lancet study.

However, China's preterm birth rate was 7.8% of the global count, with 11.72 lakh children born preterm. Besides, China recorded 23 lakh fewer preterm births than India.

Preterm birth (before 37 weeks gestation) remains the single biggest cause of neonatal death worldwide and is now the second most common cause of death among under-five children, and is responsible for 1.1 million deaths every year.

Save the Children, which led the team producing the estimates for the World Health Organization published the report "Born Too Soon", which says preterm birth rate dropped in only three countries over past 20 years.

The study says nearly 15 million babies

were born prematurely in 2010 - more than one in 10 of all births.

Sixty percent of these premature babies were born in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, but this is not just a problem of the poorest nations: the USA (517,000 preterm births) and Brazil (279,300) ranked among

The report says prematurity is the leading cause of newborn deaths, and now the second leading cause of death after pneumonia children under-five years. It pointed out that globally, 1.5 crore babies are born too soon every year. Over 10 lakh children died due to complications of pre-term birth the top 10 countries with the highest number of premature births in 2010.

Worse still, over the past 20 years, preterm birth rates have decreased in only three countries, says the first ever nationallevel estimates.

Only Croatia, Ecuador, and Estonia accounted for the preterm birth rate dip between 1990 and 2010, while it remained stable (less

US wants 9/11 health program to include 50 cancers Cont’d from page 36

``We recognize how personal the issue of cancer and all of the health conditions related to the World Trade Center tragedy are to 9/11 responders, survivors and their loved ones,'' Howard said.

The expansion proposal isn't final yet.

The rule will be open for public comment for several weeks, or up to two months, before being finalized. It will still be open to revisions, or even outright abandonment, during that time.

U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Peter King, three New York lawmakers who helped create the law creating the health program, then lobbied hard for its expansion, said in a joint statement that they were ``thrilled,'' and confident the change would go through as planned. ``As we have all seen with our own eyes again and again, cancer incidence among responders and survivors is a tragic fact, and we must continue to do everything we can to provide the help that those who are sick need and deserve,'' they said.

There has been some concern that adding cancer to the list of covered conditions could put a severe financial strain on the program's limited resources. Congress capped funding for the program at $1.55 billion for treatment and $2.78 billion for compensation payments. Those amounts will remain unchanged even if many people file for benefits.

Some 60,000 people have already enrolled in 9/11 health programs for those who lived or worked within the disaster zone. Up to 25,000 more could still join before the program closes.

Even before the proposal to add cancer, it is unclear whether the amount of money allocated would be enough to cover the

than 0.5% annual change) in 14 countries.

Save The Children India CEO Thomas Chandy said that many factors such as early marriage and pregnancy, inadequate nutritional intake by pregnant women and lack of adequate health interventions were among other reasons that contributed to

compensation claims. Sheila Birnbaum, the special master overseeing applications for compensation, has said she might have to prorate payments based on the number of people who apply.

Backers of the program are already talking about getting more funding, and also extending the program, which is set to expire in 4 1/2 years. ``Next, we need to start working to extend the Victims Compensation Fund past its current end point in 2016 in order to en-

There has been some concern that adding cancer to the list of covered conditions could put a severe financial strain on the program's limited resources. Congress capped funding for the program at $1.55 billion sure that responders and survivors who develop these cancers after that will be able to receive compensation,'' said the joint statement by Maloney, Nadler and King.

Noah Kushlefsky, an attorney who represents about 3,800 people who plan to enroll in the program, said he was confident Congress will eventually extend the program. ``This is a huge victory on many levels. This gives them much needed health care. It gives them much needed financial assistance ... I think that it means a lot emotionally as well,'' he said. ``These folks needed to know that everybody recognized what they did, and what they are going through.'' -AP

such a high rate of pre-term pregnancy, exposing both mother and baby to risk.

The average rate in 65 countries increased from 7.5% in 1990 (total preterm births 2 million) to 8.6% in 2010 (total preterm births 2.2 million).

On the contrary, the USA had an average annual increase of 0.7%. Joy Lawn from Save the Children in South Africa concluded "The countries with the fastest increases include many European countries. Urgent attention is needed to better understand and reduce these rates of preterm birth. At the same time we are very clear what can be done to save the lives of babies born preterm and urgent action to provide feasible, lifesaving care in African and South Asian

countries would result in rapid decreases in deaths."

Nils-Halvdan Morken from Norway's University of Bergen said, "In the USA, the Institute of Medicine estimated that preterm birth costs the country at least $26.2 billion a year or $51,600 per preterm infant.

This group of infants accounts for 12% of US live births per year, but their care consumes close to 60% (or $6 billion) of total spending on initial neonatal care. The expenses are clearly related to gestational age; an infant born at 38 weeks incurs a 10th of the expense of one born at 35 weeks ($441 vs. $4,733). Therefore, even a modest reduction in preterm birth would lead to substantially reduced costs."

The report says prematurity is the leading cause of newborn deaths, and now the second leading cause of death after pneumonia children under-five years. It pointed out that globally, 1.5 crore babies are born too soon every year.

Over 10 lakh children died due to complications of pre-term birth. Many of those who survived faced a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems.

Christopher Howson, vice-president for global programs at the March of Dimes Foundation (MODF) in Washington, said the issue of pre-term births is under-recognized, under-valued, undercounted and underfunded. -PTI

In Brief Texas GOP OKs lenient platform on immigration FORT WORTH, Texas: The Texas Republican Convention has approved a party platform on immigration conceding that mass deportation of illegal immigrants isn't practical and calling for ``common ground'' to develop more-realistic strategies.

Many of the more than 6,000 delegates assembled in Fort Worth had objected to the platform, complaining it was ``ambiguous at best, liberal at worst.''

But supporters said the language allows Texas to lead the nation on immigration solutions, rather than simply listing problems generated by it.

The platform sanctions a national temporary worker program to bring foreigners to America when jobs are available.

A series of motions to replace the proposed platform with the state GOP's more-traditional, hardline stances against illegal immigration all failed. -AP

Feds seize 32K rounds of ammo in Arizona NOGALES, Ariz.: Federal authorities say they have seized more than 32,000 rounds of ammunition from a stash house at the southern Arizona border.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations acted on information they developed about a stash house in south Nogales.

Agents say they discovered a large cache of ammunition that they suspect was being staged to smuggle into Mexico. -AP

Immigrant activists plan more campaign protests LOS ANGELES: Illegal immigrant student activists are planning protests at more Obama campaign offices to pressure him to stop deportations, as students in Denver ended a six-day hunger strike that closed the president's campaign office there.

The National Immigrant Youth Alliance in Los Angeles said that the national protests will be similar to the one in Denver, where two students agreed to end their occupation after hearing others were taking up the cause.

Alliance organizer Dominic Powell said protests would start this week but declined to say where. -AP

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New UK visa curbs on foreign spouses LONDON: Only those British nationals or residents with an annual income of at least Rs 16 lakhs will be able to bring spouses from the Indian sub-continent and other countries outside the European Union from July 9, the government announced.

Details on page 42

VIPs will have to undergo immigration procedures, says US WASHINGTON: Nearly two months after Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan was detained at a New York airport, the US has said that the VIPs visiting the country will have to go through the immigration procedures like everyone else unless they have diplomatic exemption.

"For VIP arrivals, unless they have some type of, say, diplomatic visa or exemption, everyone would go through the same type of process. We don't want it to be seen as a hassle," John Wagner, Executive Director of US Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations, Admissibility and Passenger Programs, said.

"We want people to understand the importance of it, and we are keeping people safe, and it's, we want people to have the confidence that it's safe and secure to come here, and part of those processes is to ensure that," he told reporters here.

"So we do ask for the public's patience in helping us help them and make sure all those requirements are met," Wagner said when asked about the inconvenience

John Wagner, Executive Director of US Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations, Admissibility and Passenger Programs

On April 13, Shahrukh Khan was detained at a New York airport for over two hours by immigration officials after he arrived from India in a private plane to address students at Yale University Indian film stars or former Presidents faced at US airports.

Wagner said the US is in dis-

cussions with a lot of different governments to smoothen travel.

However, he said, it works on a

reciprocal basis and some level of agreement on background checks that each country will do. "So it's a matter of whether we can reach agreement with those countries and they're willing and able to do those - the types of checks, and we can negotiate a threshold for qualifying our participation in that," Wagner said.

On April 13, Shahrukh Khan was detained at a New York airport for over two hours by immigration officials after he arrived from India in a private plane to address students at Yale University. Though later US authorities expressed "profound" apology in a letter to the Indian mission in US on the incident.

Former President AP J Abdul Kalam was twice subjected to frisking at New York's JFK Airport

by US security officials who even took his jacket and shoes to check for explosives. India's former ambassador to the US Meera Shanker was pulled from an airport security line and patted down by a security agent in Mississippi in December 2010. -PTI

Halt US decline by welcoming skilled immigrants CYRUS D. MEHTA

I

n recent times, there has been a confluence of diverse events, if stitched together, make immigration reform a virtual no brainer even if we have yet to come out of the economic doldrums. Indeed, immigration reform in favor of skilled immigration, even if it is piecemeal and not comprehensive, can stimulate our economy in unimaginable ways.

First, the Census Bureau has officially indicated that white births are no longer a majority in the US. Non-Hispanic whites accounted for 49.6 percent of all births in the 12-month period ending last July. This is not something to be alarmed about; rather it is cause for celebration.

The population in the US is now multi-ethnic and represents the diverse nations of the world. In our hyper-connected world, Americans who can adapt and interact with others across national

boundaries can gain more benefit, bringing about further innovation, ideas and the understanding of other cultures.

Of course, critics of increased immigration will bemoan this fact and blame it on the 1965 Immigration Act, which abolished the na-

to the country in immeasurable ways. They have also forged closer ties between the US and their country of origin.

The symbiotic relationship between Silicon Valley and Bangalore is one such example. While it has become a national obsession to

In our hyper-connected world, Americans who can adapt and interact with others across national boundaries can gain more benefit, bringing about further innovation tional origin quota system and opened up immigration to people from all countries. But such fear is driven more by xenophobia than anything else.

It is the 1965 Immigration Act, which has brought diversity into the US. Those who have come to the US regardless of their country of origin have clearly contributed

comment about America's declining superpower status, one way for it to continue to remain a superpower and be respected as well as admired is to foster a multi-ethnic population that represents all the countries of the world. Even the rest of the world will sit more comfortably with a multi-ethnic superpower than a superpower that fa-

vors one group over all others.

Second, we are on the cusp of what The Economist has called The Third Industrial Revolution.

New advances in manufacturing will soon make the factory as we now know it obsolete. As manufacturing is going digital, especially with the advent of 3D Printer, we will no longer need long lines of factory workers.

A product can be designed on a computer and "printed" on a 3D printer, which will have the potential of rendering supply chains obsolete.

Also, the factory of the future will run on its own devoid of workers in oily overalls, and as The Economist presciently notes, "[m]ost jobs will not be on the factory floor but in the offices nearby, which will be full of designers, engineers, IT specialists, logistics experts, marketing staff and other professionals.

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Cap on US H-1B Visa reached WASHINGTON: For the first time in several years, the Congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B work visas, the most sought after

by Indian professionals in the US, has reached its cap.

"USCIS announced that it has received a sufficient number of H1B petitions to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2013. June 11 was the final receipt date for new H-1B specialty occupation petitions requesting an employment start date in FY 2013," an official statement said.

In the past few years, it either crossed over to next year or the cap was reached later in the year.

It is noteworthy that the cap has been reached mid-year in particular during the recent economic crisis.

In the statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) said it will consider properly filed cases as received on the date that it physically received the petition;

In the past few years, it either crossed over to next year or the cap was reached later in the year. It is noteworthy that the cap has been reached mid-year not the date that the petition was postmarked.

USCIS will reject cap-subject petitions for new H-1B specialty occupation workers if they arrive

Ex-Indian Army officer, who killed family, stayed illegally tained by a unit of Rashtriya Rifles led by Major Singh and his body was found floating in the Jhelum River in March 1996.

The case of suspected custodial killing of Andrabi in which Major Singh is a prime accused, is pending before a court in Srinagar for a decade after the High Court had ordered registration of a murder case in this regard.

Haley did not say whether US Avtar Singh

WASHINGTON: An ex-Indian army officer, who killed his wife, two children and himself in their home, was illegally staying in the US and a deportation procedure was ongoing against him, federal immigration officers have said.

"Avtar Singh was arrested by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for unlawful presence in the United States in July 2007, and subsequently placed in removal proceedings," Lori Haley, spokesperson of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Western Region, California, said.

"At the time of his death, HSI was continuing to investigate his case," Lori told PTI. On June 9, Singh killed himself along with his wife and two children in his home in Selma, California. His 17-year-old son, who was also shot, is critical. Singh, a 47year-old fugitive, was wanted in the killing of prominent Kashmiri lawyer Jaleel Andrabi in India.

Andrabi, 42, was allegedly de-

On June 9, Singh killed himself along with his wife and two children in his home in Selma, California.

His 17-year-old son, who was also shot, is critical officials knew of Singh's alleged crimes in India. Journalist Zahid Rafiq, wrote in an article in The Christian Science Reporter that he discovered Singh last year to be living in Selma, where he ran his own trucking company.

"I wanted to interview this man, who was notorious back home after a judicial inquiry accused him of murdering a prominent human rights activist," he wrote. About two months ago, Singh called the Selma County Police to complain that the media would not leave him alone. "I was that reporter," he wrote. -PTI

after June 11, 2012 and seek an employment start date in FY 2013, it said.

As of June 7, USCIS had already received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the "advanced degree" exemption.

USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap, it said.

In addition, petitions filed on behalf of current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap will not be counted toward the FY 2013 H-1B cap.

As such, USCIS will continue to accept and process these petitions to extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the US; change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers; allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position. -PTI

PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D.

Chicago suburb rejects immigrant detention center

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

CRETE, Ill.: A Chicago suburb has rejected a plan to build a federal immigrant detention center in the community, putting a stop to a project that generated months of protests by residents and immigrant rights activists.

Village trustees in Crete, 35 miles south of Chicago, voted unanimously to block the project, said Crete President Michael Einhorn, who had hoped the center would bring hundreds of jobs to the community of about 8,000 people.

The move followed a failed attempt last month by Illinois lawmakers to block the detention center.

Federal immigration officials had promoted the proposed facility as a new, more humane place to hold low-risk illegal immigrants slated for deportation. But residents worried that the center would depress their property values and pose a security threat. ``There hasn't been community support for a while,'' village trustee Daniel Bachert told the Chicago Tribune.

Activists even penned legislation that would have prohibited any privately-run detention centers in Illinois. It sailed through the Illinois Senate but failed in the House. Still, it appears that objections to the site were widespread. ``Crete is a wonderful small town with antique shops, small businesses and Balmoral racetrack,'' said U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., in a statement.

Cont’d on page 42

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2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 204, Tel: 773-381-1820 Chicago, IL 60659

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Ariz. sheriff's lawyers respond New UK visa curbs on to federal suit foreign spouses PHOENIX: Attorneys for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio have asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit that claims his office discriminated against Latinos in the sheriff's trademark immigration patrols and had a culture of disregard for basic constitutional rights.

The motion by Arpaio's attorneys came nearly a month after the U.S. Justice Department filed a suit accusing Arpaio's office of racially profiling Latinos and punishing Hispanic jail inmates for speaking Spanish.

Arpaio is also accused of launching some immigration patrols based on citizen letters that complained about people with dark skin congregating in a given area or speaking Spanish but never reported an actual crime.

The sheriff has denied allegations of systematic discriminatory policing. He has called the lawsuit a politically motivated attack by the Obama administration intended to gain favor with Latino voters, and insisted that the Justice Department provide facts to

prove its allegations.

In their filing in U.S. District Court in Phoenix, Arpaio's lawyers said the Justice Department failed to back its claims with ``sufficient statistical evidence.''

In the past few years, it either crossed over to next year or the cap was reached later in the year. It is noteworthy that the cap has been reached mid-year Department of Justice officials said in a December letter to Arpaio that it provided those details to his office.

The lawsuit came after settlement talks were called off in April when the sheriff refused to agree to a court-appointed monitor who would help enforce an agreement.

The sheriff's office said allowing a

court monitor would mean every policy decision would have to be cleared through an observer and would nullify his authority.

The Justice Department is seeking an agreement requiring the sheriff's office to train officers in how to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops and reach out to Latinos to assure them the department is there to also protect them.

Arpaio has launched 20 immigration patrols known as ``sweeps'' since January 2008.

During the patrols, deputies flood an area of a city in some cases, heavily Latino areas over several days to seek out traffic violators and arrest other offenders.

Arpaio hasn't launched a sweep in eight months. Critics say he has backed away from the sweeps because his lawyers have told him they make it more difficult to defend him in court. The sheriff disputes that he has suspended the sweeps and promised to launch one at some point in the future.-AP

Chidambaram inaugurates modern immigration project NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has inaugurated a modern immigration and visa registration project office aimed at bringing complete data of foreigners under one platform.

Chidambaram, during the event here, said the project "will help in bringing more efficiency in immigration, visa and online registration of foreigners, security and other services".

The minister also stressed on the need for capacity building and periodic training and constant upgradation of software and hardware equipment to maintain quality of the project, an official statement of the Home Ministry said.

The project envisages facilitation services to the travelers, including online application forms, 24X7 online channel, phone support for grievance redressal and e-mail/SMS support for dissemination of information, application status and feedback.

Upon activation, the project called 'Immigration Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT)' will result in "online registration of foreigners at the time of grant of visa and automated updation of the particulars of the foreigners at entry and exit points".

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram

Upon activation, the project called 'Immigration Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT)' will result in "online registration of foreigners” Other salient features of the project are authentication of traveler's identity at the Missions, Immigration Check Posts and Foreigners Registration Offices through use of document scanners and biometrics, availability of

a centralized system for sharing information across the agencies concerned about foreign travelers, improved tracking of foreigners by integrating and sharing information captured during visa issuance.

It will also help in software aided passenger profiling for identifying risky travelers at Missions, ICPs and FRROs, and generation of automated alerts about overstay and failure to register with concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or FRO. Besides the other benefits are convergence and integration with other initiatives such as e-passports, e-migration and crime and criminal tracking network for expeditious and informed decision making.

The new system has already been implemented and operationalised at 60 Indian Missions such as in the UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Finland and Estonia among others.

Remaining missions, according to the statement, would be covered during financial years 201213 and 2013-14. -PTI

LONDON: Only those British nationals or residents with an annual income of at least Rs 16 lakhs will be able to bring spouses from the Indian sub-continent and other countries outside the European Union from July 9, the government announced.

The new restrictions are part of the David Cameron government's efforts to reduce migration from outside the EU. The curbs on nonEU spouses are also intended to clamp down on bogus marriages and family visas, with migrants ending up on benefits from the taxpayer.

Home secretary Theresa May said: "Like the rest of the immigration system, family visas have not been regulated properly for years." "There have been sham marriages, people have been allowed to come to Britain without being able to speak English and there haven't been rules in place to stop people becoming a burden on the welfare state," she said.

"We're changing all of that. Our plans mean the thousands of people who wish to bring their foreign spouses, partners and dependants to live with them here in Britain will have to have sufficient financial independence to be able to support them without becoming a burden to the taxpayer," she added.

On the controversial issue of foreign criminals being prevented from deportation on human rights grounds, May said she would be seeking the backing of Parliament for new guidelines for the courts spelling out how they should apply the European Convention on Human Rights in such cases. Be-

"There have been sham marriages, people have been allowed to come to Britain without being able to speak English and there haven't been rules in place to stop people becoming a burden” sides the income threshold, other curbs include a longer period, from two to five years, before the nonEU spouse can be granted permanent settlement.

Sponsor of a non-EU spouse, will have to earn at least 18,600 pounds (nearly Rs 16 lakhs) a year and if they have a child the threshold will rise to 22,400 pounds, rising by 2,400 pounds for each additional child. -PTI

Chicago suburb rejects immigrant detention center Cont’d from page 41

“A prison would have changed that image forever.''

Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked Crete as a potential site for the facility last year, Einhorn said. The plan was to hire a private company called Corrections Corporation of America to build and operate a medium-security facility to house more than 700 immigrants awaiting deportation. ``Up into the very end, I think everybody including myself was on the fence about this one,'' Einhorn told the Tribune.

The idea of a private company running such a facility also triggered criticism from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which says such companies try to maintain high levels of incarceration to increase profits.

In one memorable protest, activists marched for 35 miles from Chicago to the site in Crete. Protesters also flooded village council meetings.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which organized many of the rallies, applauded the village for listening to the protesters. ``These voices have spoken loudly and clearly that we do not

The plan was to hire a private company called Corrections Corporation of America to build and operate a mediumsecurity facility to house more than 700 immigrants want a new immigration detention center in Crete, that breaking up immigrant families is wrong, and that companies like CCA that profit from detaining people are not welcome in our communities,'' the group said. -AP

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Halt US decline by welcoming skilled immigrants Cont’d from page 40

The manufacturing jobs of the future will require more skills.

Many dull, repetitive tasks will become obsolete: you no longer need riveters when a product has no rivets." The US needs to attract these new skilled professionals who will run the factories of the future.

Third, a new report, Not Coming to America: Why The US Is Falling Behind In the Global Race for Talent, reveals how foreign countries are reshaping their immigration policies to boost their economy while the US remains mired in an obsolete and broken immigration system.

The US is thus losing talent to other countries. The report, which has been issued by Partnership For A New American Economy, headed by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, identifies three major risks if it does not reform its immigration laws: a shortage of workers in innovation industries, a shortage of young workers and slow rates of business startup and job creation.

US companies are hungry for jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), but these jobs are hard to find among native US workers. The report also explores the more business friendly immigration policies of Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Singapore and the United Kingdom in attracting talented immigrants and entrepreneurs.

For instance, New Zealand has a rather broad welcoming policy for foreign entrepreneurs. There is no specific job creation or minimum capital requirement, and after two years of self employment "beneficial to New Zealand," the entrepreneur can apply for permanent residency.

This fortuitous alignment of the stars bodes well for reform of our immigration system, which is not just creaky and obsolete but completely broken. The US has no special visa category that would encourage entrepreneurs to start innovative businesses and become permanent residents.

The H-1B visa, which US companies rely on to bring in foreign skilled employees, especially in the STEM fields, is hobbled by a 65,000 annual cap, and the numbers under the FY2013 cap are expected to be reached many months ahead of the start of the next fiscal year, October 1, 2012!

Even the employment-based immigration system has broken down even though there is no national origin quota. If you are born in China and India, and have been sponsored by an employer through the onerous labor certification process, it can take several years, even decades, before you get permanent residence.

One wonders how the US has an immigration system dominated by quotas, which also micromanages the employer and foreign national worker, when it espouses free market capitalism.

Such a system is more reminiscent

of one that could have been designed by communist apparatchiks in the former Soviet Union.

In order to unleash economic growth, it is essential to allow foreign nationals easy access into the US so that they can implement their ideas, create companies and employ more Americans. In a recessionary economy, we need

If you are born in China and India, and have been sponsored by an employer through the onerous labor certification process, it can take several years, even decades, before you get permanent residence more entrepreneurs to set up businesses and create jobs, and immigrants may have a greater propensity to engage in entrepreneurial activities.

There may be a ray of hope. In a rare bipartisan move, freshman senators Marco Rubio (R-FA), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan,) and Mark Warner (D-Va) have introduced Startup Act 2.0, which includes immigration-related provisions to attain the following objectives: • Creates a new STEM visa so that U.S.-educated foreign stu-

Ariz. gov. orders training ahead of court decision PHOENIX: Arizona's governor has ordered a state board to redistribute a training video on the state's controversial immigration law to all law enforcement agencies.

The move comes ahead of an expected ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court this month on the law, which was signed by Gov. Jan Brewer in 2010.

Brewer said in a statement that she wants to make sure officers are prepared if the court upholds the law.

Parts of the law blocked from taking effect include a provision requiring police to question people's immigration status while enforcing other laws if there's a reasonable suspicion they're in the country illegally.

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board's video outlines factors that constitute

reasonable suspicion that someone is in the country illegally, including language, demeanor and foreign-vehicle registration.

It also includes types of identification that should immediately end an officer's suspicions about immigration status.

The case was argued before the high court in April, and a ruling is expected by the end of June.

Based partly on skeptical questions posed by justices during the hearing, legal experts expect that the court likely will uphold Arizona's requirement that police check the immigration status of people they stop for other reasons; that provision was put on hold by a judge in July 2010 and hasn't yet been enforced. Less controversial parts of the law were allowed to take effect.

A decision in favor of Arizona could clear the way for other

states to enforce immigrationcheck requirements and create an opening for states to take a larger role in immigration enforcement after mostly staying out of it for decades and letting the federal government handle it alone.

Five others states Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah have enacted similar laws. -AP

dents, who graduate with a master's or Ph.D. in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, can receive a green card and stay in this country where their talent and ideas can fuel growth and create American jobs; • Creates an Entrepreneur's Visa for legal immigrants, so they can remain in the United States, launch businesses and create jobs; • Eliminates the per-country caps for employment-based immigrant visas - which hinder U.S. employers from recruiting the toptier talent they need to grow While the chances of this bill passing in the current partisan political climate, prior the 2012 Presidential elections remain remote, one can still be surprised. After all, immigration ought to cut across partisan lines, and our elected representatives need to enact sound immigration proposals for the good of the country and the world.

Although it would be ideal to comprehensively reform our immigration system, which would include providing a path to legalization for the millions of undocumented immigrants, small but meaningful initiatives such as Startup 2.0 could still be passed in the mean time.

In the event that Startup Act 2.0 goes nowhere, there is still

scope within our existing system to encourage skilled and entrepreneur immigration if only our immigration bureaucrats interpret existing immigration visa categories generously rather than in a mean spirited and niggardly manner.

For instance, the intra-company transferee L-1A visa ought to remain a viable option for an entrepreneur to establish a branch or subsidiary of a foreign business in the US. Yet, in recent times, L1A petitions get turned down wholesale on the ground that a small startup entity can never support a person in an executive or managerial capacity.

This is nonsense and bureaucratic gobbledygook, as Congress never intended that small businesses could not support entrepreneur executives or managers. Sad to say, we happen to be in double whammy mode of no good legislation, along with bureaucrats reading out existing visa categories out of the law. The writing is on the wall, and unless we want to perversely see America spiral into decline, it is time to act fast and enact sound immigration reform. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Realty Tidbits

Ghatkopar Metro line hits another hurdle

Real Estate

E

ven as authorities claim that all major land acquisition hurdles related to the city's first Metro have been cleared, the already-delayed Versova-AndheriGhatkopar line is facing yet another land-related block.

The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) - the Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium constructing the Metro - is having trouble negotiating with the owners of Emco Timber Mart in Andheri near Nataraj studio to temporarily acquire a portion of the latter's land for launching girders for the Metro.

Around two months ago, the consortium had requested the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to intervene in the matter and convince the owners of Emco to temporarily part with a portion of their

DLF launches fire station in Gurgaon

GURGAON: Real estate developer DLF has launched a fire station at one of its projects here, Cyber City, with three fire tenders, a DLF official said.

The fire-fighting equipment will be used for the projects being developed by DLF, S K Dheri, Head of Fire Safety at DLF said, adding that this will be the first private fire station in India.

The hydraulic platforms - two of 90 m height and one 60 m - are the latest and the most sophisticated equipment which has been imported from Finland, Dheri said.

44

India Post

June 22, 2012

www.indiapost.com

Green Tree Homes announces first project CHENNAI: Real estate developer Green Tree Homes has announced the inauguration of "Green Athens", the first project of the company's Rs 500 crore investment plan, in the city.

"Earlier this year, we had announced our investment plans of Rs 500 crore in the next three years. This is the first leg of that plan. We hope to complete bookings (for this project) within the next few months..." Green Tree Homes and Ventures Director Dinesh Ethiraj said in a statement. -PTI

Home staging key to selling I TAMARA E. HOLMES

f you want potential buyers to choose your property over that of the competition, home staging -- the act of making a home look visually appealing to buyers -- can make your house stand out from the crowd.

"Buyers often have a difficult time envisioning how a property can be used," says Dan Keating, owner of Coast Home Staging, based in Long Beach, Calif.

"When they see a house that's beautifully staged, it's warm and inviting, and they perceive a much stronger value to that property."

That stronger perceived value often translates into a higher selling price. In a survey, real estate Web site HomeGain found that home staging resulted, on average, in a $1,780 price increase or a 586 percent return on investment.

"We've seen that the value home staging brings to the table is dramatic," says Keating. But sellers should understand four staging basics.

There are two different types of staging, depending on whether a home is occupied or vacant.

"Most of us have too much stuff in our homes," says Shell Brodnax, president of the Real Estate Stag-

ing Association, or RESA, a trade group in Valley Springs, Calif. One of the biggest tasks in staging an

number of books on bookshelves, paint rooms in neutral colors and remove artwork that may evoke

A few plants and freshly painted walls can also help buyers envision themselves living in the property, which can lead to a sale occupied home is reducing the clutter and depersonalizing the place. You'll want to reduce the

strong emotions, such as religious imagery or pictures of animals, Brodnax suggests.

Furniture may also be moved around in an occupied home.

"Sometimes it's just a matter of taking what you have in one room and moving it to another," Brodnax says. If you have a larger budget, you might want to tackle such tasks as changing the carpet or upgrading the countertops to make the home look more inviting.

A vacant home generally needs more work. "When buyers come in and look at a vacant home, all they look at are the problems -the cracks in the walls, the dirty piece of carpet," says Keating.

To remedy that, a few pieces of rented furniture can give potential buyers more to focus on than the house's flaws. A few plants and freshly painted walls can also help buyers envision themselves living in the property, which can lead to a sale.

Since every staging job is different, costs vary. For a consultation with a professional stager who will inspect your home and provide a list of suggestions, expect to pay about $350, says Barb Schwarz, founder of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, or IAHSP. Cont’d on page 45

Bank to pay $161,180 for housing discrimination India Post News Service

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced that Bank of America has agreed to pay up to $161,180 to settle allegations that one of the bank's San Jose, California branches refused to refinance the mortgage of an Irvine woman because she was on maternity leave.

HUD reached the agreement with Bank of America to resolve a Fair Housing Act complaint that had been filed by the Fair Housing Council of Orange County (FHCOC).

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination in mortgage lending and real estate-related transactions based on a person's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status and disability. Refusing to approve a mortgage loan or provide refinancing because a woman is pregnant or on family leave violates the Fair Housing Act's prohibition against sex and family status discrimination.

"The Fair Housing Act prohibits lenders from denying home loans to women because they are pregnant or on maternity leave," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "Today's settlement follows HUD actions involving other lenders across the

loan and supplied the necessary documents, the bank allegedly refused to process her application because she was on maternity leave.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that a bank agent told her that she would have to return to work full-time in order for her

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination in mortgage lending and real estate-related transactions based on a person's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status and disability country which we will continue until maternity leave discrimination is eliminated."

The woman told FHCOC, a non-profit fair housing organization funded by HUD, that in December 2009, a Bank of America agent offered her a 5% interest rate for a home refinance loan, with no costs or fees. But in January 2010, after she had applied for the

loan to be approved. Even after she informed the bank that she received the same rate of pay and benefits while on maternity leave, the bank would not process her application.

In March 2010, the bank finally approved the woman's application, but by that time the interest rate on her loan had increased to 5.25%, making each loan payment higher.

A Bank of America official said: "We regret our treatment of the applicant. We take our Fair Lending responsibilities very seriously and will work with HUD to ensure our customers on maternity leave are treated appropriately during the mortgage application process."

Under the terms of the Conciliation Agreement, Bank of America will pay $30,000 to the woman, $16,180 to her attorney, and $15,000 to FHCOC. The bank will also create a $100,000 Compensation Fund to pay damages to loan applicants or borrowers who may have been denied a loan, subjected to adverse loan terms, or had their loan applications delayed because they were pregnant or on maternity leave.

In addition, the bank is requiring all of its loan officers nationwide to complete annual fair lending training.

Anyone who believes that a bank has discriminated against them during the mortgage application process because they were pregnant or on maternity leave should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), 800-927-9275 (TTY).

Real Estate Post

June 22, 2012

India Post

45

www.indiapost.com

Sahara launches 10 township projects LUCKNOW: Sahara India has launched 10 integrated township projects across Tier-II and -III cities in the country spread over 900 acres. It has also launched a new affordable housing brand called Sahara Swapna City that will be built on smaller land parcels across 360 cities.

"There are some special issues around doing real estate. Land acquisition was a big issue, which took time.

Approvals also took time but we have finally got approvals for these projects," said Subrata Roy, chairman of Sahara India. The company has a land bank of around 27,000 acres across the country.

Each Sahara City Homes project will entail an investment of 500-600 crore while affordable homes projects will require close to 100-125 crore, which will be fi-

Subrata Roy

Homes will be launched in Pune, Aurangabad, Jodhpur, Gwalior, Bareilly, Solapur, Porbandar, Katni and Kashipur while one smaller project called Sahara Grace has been launched in

For the 10 new projects that were announced, all approvals are in place and construction has started. In many cities in West Bengal and others, these issues are yet to be sorted out nanced through customer advances and bank funding.

Affordable homes will be sold in the 5.5 lakh to 11 lakh price range. The nine integrated townships under the Sahara City

Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar. Seven integrated projects are already under construction in Lucknow, Jaipur, Indore, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Satna and Coimbatore.

"We will launch another 21 township and 37 affordable housing projects in FY 12-13," said Roy. Roy pointed out that there are issues around real estate projects that have delayed plans in the past. For the 10 new projects that were announced, all approvals are in place and construction has started. In many cities in West Bengal and others, these issues are yet to be sorted out.

Last month, Sahara had announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bangladesh government to develop a new city outside Dhaka and also build affordable housing in the country. It will also build integrated satellite townships in the country.

Sopan Baug is now a preferred destination Named after the fruit orchard located in the area, Sopan Baug is now a preferred destination for the elite population in Pune, who want to live a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Although a bit isolated from the main city, it is conveniently situated in close proximity to landmark areas like M G Road, Camp, Boat Club Road and Koregaon Park.

It is also accessible from B T Kawade Road and the Prince of Wales Drive. There are a number of good schools like The Army Public School, Bishops Camp and St. Vincent's among many others in the area. Several healthcare facilities and business hubs are also located in close proximity.

The area is still coming up to become a self sufficient location.

An attractive feature of the area is that it has a lot of greenery. Starting off with a society with a few bungalows, it has now got the status of an elite address with a number of buildings and plush homes and apartments that are offering high-end modern facilities and lifestyle amenities. One can feel relaxed due to the tranquil , unpol-

Road is located in close proximity . It is one of the best residential areas in Pune."

He adds, "Some changes can be made in order to further develop the area. A few road connections here and there can be constructed , for better connectivity; otherwise it is a very well developed area.

Paranjape Schemes (Construction ) Ltd has a project in the area.

La Cresta in Sopan Baug, offering 2 and 3 BHK boutique apartments, and provides all the modern amenities like swimming pool,

The area is still coming up to become a self sufficient location. An attractive feature of the area is that it has a lot of greenery landscaped gardens, clubhouse and gymnasium among many others .

Many of the buyers in the area are from Mumbai. As the race course is close to Sopan Baug, many Mumbaikars are finding the place very

Home staging key to selling Cont’d from page 44

Homeowners can do the work themselves, or they can pay the stager to make the changes. If furniture or other supplies need to be rented, the homeowner will also pay the rental fees.

Staging a vacant home will likely be more expensive than staging an occupied home since you're starting from scratch. "(Staging) a vacant home typically can cost less than 1 percent of the value of the house," says Keating.

"Occupied homes are typically way less than that because we're using as much of the homeowner's furnishings as possible."

Not only can staging help seal the deal when a buyer is inspecting a home, but it can also get that buyer to visit the home in the first place.

"Twenty years ago, people would drive by properties and read the paper and read ads and have to go look at them," says Brodnax.

"Now 90 percent are looking on the Internet before they even get

a Realtor to show them homes. So if you don't have amazing pictures of that property, people move that property to the 'I'm not even going to bother going to visit the home' list."

StagedHomes.com, a staging education company founded by Schwarz, offers an accreditation course; those who complete it get the ASP -- Accredited Staging Professional -- designation. Trade associations such as the IAHSP and the RESA can also be starting points for finding stagers in your area With social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook being used to post pictures of properties,

staging takes on a new urgency as a home's presentation has a lot more at stake and its ability to sell can often hinge on a photograph You want someone who has experience staging properties in your neighborhood to the market you're targeting, says Brodnax. A portfolio should include pictures of the stager's previous work, as well as photographs of any inventory the stager has available to put in your home.

StagedHomes.com, a staging education company founded by Schwarz, offers an accreditation course; those who complete it get the ASP -- Accredited Staging Professional -- designation. Trade associations such as the IAHSP and the RESA can also be starting points for finding stagers in your area.

Once you narrow your selection down to two or three stagers, interview them, hear what they propose to do to your home and listen to your gut. "Personality matters," says Schwarz. "You want a personality that fits with your personality."

Courtesy Bankrate.com

luted surroundings and wide-open spaces that can give a breather from the hectic system in the city.

Shashank Paranjape, MD, Paranjape Schemes (Construction) Ltd, says, "Sopan Baug is a great area with loads of greenery. M G

interesting. The area is rapidly growing and there has been an increase in the number of people living here. Another unique feature for the buyers is that they get a bungalow feel while living in an apartment in Sopan Baug.

46

Datebook

India Post

June 22, 2012

www.indiapost.com

NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat June 30

Sat June 23

• Javed Ali Live in Concert

• Kalai Vizha_2012

Venue: Colden Center, 6530 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY Time: 8pm Contact: 718-639-2881

Venue: The Theatre At RVCC, 188 Lamington RD, Somerville, NJ Time: 3:30pm Contact: 732-609-6453

Tues July 3 • Talavya at Joe’s Pub-Summer Heat tour Venue: Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St, New York Time: 9:30pm Contact: 201-467-4431

Fri June 29 • Konkani Sammelan 2012 Venue: New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ Time: 12am Contact: 781-325-8171

Wed July 11 • After Work Brazilian Cruise Party: Drink & Dane on the Hudson Venue: Pier 40, West Street, New York Time: 6:30pm Contact: 646-756-0016

ILLINOIS

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat June 23 • Shazia Manzoor Venue: Compernicus Theater, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL Time: 8:30pm Contact: 847-230-7977

Venue: Mantra Restaurant, 632 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA Time: 6:30pm Contact: 650-515-9961

Fri June 29

Venue: Tantrik, 800 Superior St, Chicago, IL Time: 9pm

• Raat Baaki: A night with DJ Akhtar & Surprise Celebrity All the way from Mumbai

Sat July 21

Venue: Avalon Night Club, 777 Lawrence Expressway, Santa Clara, CA Time: 8:30pm

• Tamil Summer Camp

Venue: Copernicus Theater, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL Time: 8:30pm Contact: 847-230-7977

Venue: VFW Post, 11 Henderson Road, Kendall Park, NJ Time: 1pm Contact: 732-800-2336

• Party for Desi Singles

• DJ Rekha- Live Bhangra

• Gurdas Maan- Live in Concert

WASHINGTON DC

Upcoming

Sat June 30

Venue: Andrew Haydon Park, 3169 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, CT Time: 11am Contact: 613-739-7028

Venue: Lake Elizabeth Park, 4000 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont, CA Time: 10am Contact: 510-713-2686

Sun July 1

Sun July 15

Venue: Massbay Community College, 50 Oakhand Street, Wellesley Hills, MA Time: 5pm Contact: 781-640-6060

• Straight Outta Chandigarh Venue: Normandie Casino- Showroom Nightclub, 1045 West Rosecrans Ave, Gardena, CA Time: 9:30pm Contact: 714-243-8246

• AAPI Annual Convention 2012

• Summer Picnic

• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2012 Grand Finale

Sat June 23

Thurs June 28

Sat July 14

Sat June 30

Venue: Smith Center Amphitheatre at Ohlone College, 43600 Mission Boulevard, Fremont Time: 8:30pm Contact: 510-659-6031 Highlights: Season Opener: Rockin' The Hill. Live club acts include: Lisa Marie Johnston, Monica Ramos, Erica Benton, Von von Lindenberg, Cosmic Machine, and Katie and the Horndogs.

Venue: Cal Statre University East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, Hayward, CA Time: 8:30pm Contact: 408-394-1501

• MSMF India Food Fest

Venue: Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria, 200 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta, GA Time: 4pm Contact: 678-380-5477

• Smith Center Presents: Summerfest 2012

• Fiji Festival

Sat June 23

• Grand Guru Purnima Sri Pada Puja: Amma Sri Karunamayi

Upcoming Fri & Sat June 22 & 23

Sun June 24

Tues July 3

Mon July 9

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

• Sevathon by India Community Center Venue: Baylands park, 969 Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, CA Time: 7pm

Venue: Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA Time: 10pm Contact: 630-990-2277

Thrus June 28 • 5th Annual India Trade Conference, "Innovation, Infrastructure, and Social Impact" Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Dr, Cerritos, CA 90703 Time: 8 am - 8 pm Contact: 1.949.480.9466 x300

Thurs Sept 27 • Ballet Folklorico De Mexico

Sun Aug 19

Venue: Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-325-4466

• India-Independence Day Celebration

Fri Nov 2

Venue: Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E Remington Dr., Sunnyvale, CA Time: 11am Contact: 408-431-3524

• Spirituals to Funk Venue: Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-322-9862

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June 22, 2012

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Philosophy

India Post

June 22, 2012

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis COLIN DRAKE

T

his appeared as 'Haiku of the Day' on an internet site: The following two quotes are offered as further exposition the first as a great new definition of love and the second as a 30 year favourite: "Love is 'no separation' and in consciousness, at rest as pure awareness, and in motion as the manifest universe, there is no separation. This consciousness in all modes is God, Allah, Brahman, The Void, The Tao ... call it what you will," - Colin Drake (A Light Unto Yourself p.39) "…the undivided mind is aware of experience as a unity, of the whole as itself, and that the whole nature of the mind and awareness is to be one with what it knows, suggests a state usually called love." - Alan Watts (The Wisdom of Insecurity p. 130).]

As you can see the writer describes 'Love is no separation' as a great new definition which made me ponder whether it is indeed a new way of describing love … especially considering the 30 year old quote he follows it with!

It also made me want to flesh out the idea to give it more substance. To achieve this we need to start by defining 'Love', which I am going to give as 'empathetic attraction' (for or to). Then its various names, associated with JEAN PAUL SARTRE

I

n the traditional view, we are seen as having a given nature that determines what we are and what our ultimate purpose or value is.

In the Existentialist view, we are thrown into existence first without a predetermined nature and only later do we construct our nature or essence through our actions.

The human situation is characterized by: 1. Facticity (throwness): We find ourselves existing in a world not of our own making and indifferent to our concerns. We are not the source of our existence, but find ourselves thrown into a world we don't control and didn't choose.

2. Anxiety: We are faced with the lack of any external source of value and determination. We are faced with the responsibility of choosing our own nature and values, and, in doing so, we must face the awesome responsibility of choosing human nature and values for all men in our free choices.

3. Despair: In seeing the contrast between the world we're thrown into and which we cannot control and the absolute free-

different types, will indicate its nature in terms of strength, commitment, attachment, etc.

This definition 'empathetic attraction' implies being attracted to, and thus wishing to be in the presence of, one with whom one empathises.

So that this means being attracted to someone with whom we can identify and so 'fully comprehend'. This gives the clue that to attain universal love (agape) we must be able to

another. From this follows that one would naturally treat others as oneself (or as one would wish to be treated by others) … which is itself a pretty good definition of brotherly (universal) love.

It could be argued that this (agape) is the 'coolest' form of love, but can this definition of love as 'no separation' be applied to all forms of love, especially the 'hottest' eros which is 'passionate and

must also be applicable to all forms in between.

At the experiential level once awakening has taken place then there is a deep feeling of not being separate from one's environment or any other being. In my case this has been accompanied by being 'in love with existence': The best way to describe the feeling that accompanies all of this is as being deeply in love with a

A great new definition: Love is 'no separation' At the experiential level once awakening has taken place then there is a deep feeling of not being separate from one's environment or any other being

Colin Drake

identify with everyone we encounter. To do this we must be able to view every person as of the same essence, pure awareness, and thus realize that there is essentially no difference between oneself and anyone else. In this case we can fully comprehend the essence of what it is to be human without needing to fully comprehend everyone's individual character traits.

This implies that there is no separation between oneself and

committed'? To consider this I can only rely on my two personal experiences of being deeply in love.

In both cases I longed to be with my beloved at all times … in a state of 'no separation', and was only happy when in her presence.

This is borne out by literature, drama, films and pop-culture all of which emphasise this aspect of 'love'. So if 'no separation' can be applied to the coolest and hottest forms of love I would argue that it

beloved who is always present, both within and without.

It was even accompanied by some of the physical symptoms I experienced the first time I fell deeply in love, a deep throbbing of the heart, queasiness of the stomach and an overall glow and sense of well-being. (C. Drake, Beyond the Separate Self, 2009, Halifax, p.183-184) So based on all of the above I posit that 'Love is no separation'.

dom we have to create ourselves, we must despair of any hope of external value or determination and restrict ourselves to what is under our own control.

Objections and Replies A. What is Freedom?

1. The problem: How can we be free if our bodies, our abilities, and our environment are determined?

selves, whatever we will.

B. What is Happiness?

1. The problem: How can man be happy in a world devoid of external significance and meaning?

2. The solution: The loss of external value allows us to get value from within ourselves, a value that is greater because it cannot be taken away by exter-

we must not let our action be determined by any of our particular desires or interests. We must act as any free agent would act, hence we must act as we would like other people to act. b. In order to be free ourselves, we must desire the freedom of other people. To treat another person merely as an

Our real self is beyond reach of external determination

Jean Paul Sartre

2. The solution: (a) Even though all these factors may be determined, we are more than simply these things. Our real self lies beyond the reach of external determination in virtue of its absolute individuality. (b) Our freedom is a freedom of synthesis: even though the many factors that go into making us and our experience are determined, we can arrange them as we like. We are free to make of them, and our-

Our freedom is a freedom of synthesis: even though the many factors that go into making us and our experience are determined, we can arrange them as we like nal forces.

C. How ought we to act?

1. The problem: If our only moral rule is to act authentically, to choose our own values instead of taking them from external sources, can't we really do anything we want, no matter how evil or selfish?

2. The solution: a. In choosing our own nature we must choose human nature for all humanity. In order to act freely,

object for my use is to make an object of myself. To be free I must respect the freedom of others. c. Our actions, while not governed by rules, are constrained by the choices we and others have made.

Philosophy of Sartre as summarized by David Banach The 107th birth anniversary of Jean Paul Sartre will be observed on June 21

I have put duality away. I have seen the two worlds are one.

-Rumi To arrive at being everything, desire to be nothing.

-St. John of the Cross Do your duty and leave the rest to heaven.

-Corneille Actions themselves form no bondage. Bondage is only the false belief,"I am the do-er."

-Ramana Maharshi Securities, certitudes and peace do not lead to discoveries.

-Carl Jung Sour, sweet, bitter, pungent. All must be tasted.

-A Chinese Proverb Things are not worth attending to, yet they have to be attended to.

-Lao Tzu Each one's destiny cannot be altered.

-Chuang Tzu We are what we think, having become what we thought.

-The Dhammapada We are like one in water crying out "I thirst!"

-Zen Master Hakuin

You Insure all your Valuables, all are replaceable except YOU! So Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

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June 22, 2012

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Questioning the VK Singh thesis on civil-military relations ALI AHMED

G

eneral VK Singh's perspective on civil-military relations needs interrogation for it can be expected to carry at least some subscription within the services. The general, now retired, outlined the perspective that in case civilian supremacy is not rooted in 'justice and fairness', it must be 'resisted'. A PTI report has him elaborating on the concept five days into retirement that military obedience was meant only for 'correct' orders.

The general is right in saying, "If the order is wrong, stand up and say that the order is wrong."

The assumption is that the level of understanding at the level at which the order is received is appropriate for arriving at a judgment if an order is 'wrong'. The military obligation is then to 'stand up' for what is 'right'. However, there are two problems with this assumption.

One is when an issue has a political and a strategic dimension.

While the military is entitled to determine the latter, it has its limitations in respect to the former. The second is what to do next. Is resistance the best recourse to take?

Military ethics are clear on this.

Where there is a disagreement with civilian authority, the military professional having tendered his military advice, can opt for being relieved of his responsibilities or resign. 'Shirking' or not following up with due energy and dispatch is one way of going slow on orders.

However, General Singh's advice to 'resist' - will find few supporters.

Can a military 'resist'? When can it do so? To General Singh, this can be done "if we are to protect the institutional integrity of the armed forces." The argument would imply that it is the responsibility of an institutional head to protect institutional integrity. This is necessary in order that the institution fulfils its social obligation effectively and efficiently. Failure to do so will open it up to abuse.

For instance, the manner in which the political and bureaucratic players have been allowed to interfere in the police function reflects poorly on the police leadership, and also contributes to the decline in law and order. The military cannot afford to go down the similar route. This would require the apex military leadership to take a 'stand', wherever appropriate and appropriately at that.

However, defining the threats and judging whether orders violate 'justice and fairness' is difficult. Take, for instance, the case of the Kargil War. The aim set by the political leadership was that

the intruders be evicted. The parameter set was that the Line of Control should not be crossed.

This parameter forced the army to take more casualties during the military operations than would have otherwise been the case. In fact, General VP Malik had admitted as much later. But, in the event, he went about the task without demur, even if with reservations.

Taking a counter-factual example, in case he had appreciated that this was not possible, does it

tionship, elaborated in his Armed Servants: Agency, Oversight and Civil-Military Relations (Harvard University Press, 2003), can help answer this. The principal in the democratic scheme is the civilian leadership.

It is authorized to set and approve the grand strategy. It has greater access to information since other instruments of power, such as the intelligence and the foreign service, are answerable to it. It has a better sense of how to integrate

India’s Defense Minister A K Antony with the then Army Chief Gen V. K. Singh

mean he could have 'resisted'? There would have been other steps that could have been taken, such as asking the political leadership to review the parameter. No self-respecting political leadership could conceivably have gone against military advice in such a case.

Assuming for the sake of argument, if the political leadership had

The military, being but an agent, is handicapped in judging the 'justice and fairness' of orders received. While fully empowered to vigorously present its case, it can only do so through established channels and to the extent that it is not insubordinate been adamant, despite its error, would that have justified resistance from the military leadership?

The general could have tendered his resignation, forcing the political head either to review the decision or get a new chief with a different plan.

Resorting to Peter Feaver's concept on 'principal-agent' rela-

the military instrument in the wider scheme of things.

The military, being but an agent, is handicapped in judging the 'justice and fairness' of orders received. While fully empowered to vigorously present its case, it can only do so through established channels and to the extent that it is not insubordinate.

These limits are a matter of judgment in which socialization has a role to play. Feaver concludes that the civilians have the 'right to be wrong' and will be held accountable by the democratic processes, and not by the military.

That VK Singh's version is contrary to the above argument perhaps explains some civil-military problems over the recent past. A leading military theorist, Srinath Raghavan ('Soldiers, Statesmen, and India's Security Policy', India Review, 11(2), 2012, pp. 116-133), suggests that the army virtually exercises veto on AFSPA and Siachen. The question is moot whether institutional integrity is being mistaken for national security.

Even though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent response on controversies in the military was that 'silence is golden', it is perhaps time the government too 'stood up' for its own 'right to be wrong'.

The writer is Assistant Professor, NMCPCR, Jamia Millia Islamia. Courtesy IPCS

India Post Growth decline

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here was a time when the Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi division of labor was lauded as the ideal arrangement she looking after policy and he in charge of execution.

That arrangement has fouled up today and is being blamed for all India's ills. The financial rating agency Standard & Poor's has cautioned that growth setbacks could make India the first BRIC economy to lose investment grade status. It has also pinpointed the main reason as "divided leadership" at the Centre. It says, "The division of roles between politically powerful Congress party president and an appointed Prime Minister has weakened the framework for making economic policy." The Cabinet is appointed largely by Sonia Gandhi and leaders of allied parties. "Hence the Prime Minister appears to have limited ability to influence his Cabinet colleagues and proceed with liberalization policies, which he favors and constantly advocates in his public speeches."

The warning by S&P is not surprising as everybody who matters has been expressing concern at the political gridlock. But the government's reaction has been to attack the rating agency as lacking transparency as, in its view, Spain continues to have investment grade rating despite teetering on the brink while India's position is much superior. An industry chamber president also supported the government saying the rating agency's track record was not flawless. Even granting the rating agency's motives, the state of India's poor growth is a cause for concern. Growth in industrial production was down to 0.1 percent in April. With slump in currency continuing, private investment drying up and GDP figures falling to 5.3 percent, the promise of India seems to be fading. There are crucial areas crying for government initiatives which are missing or stuck in coalition politics as for instance in multi-brand retail, pension, insurance, land acquisition, infrastructure project clearances, railway fares, oil pricing, fertilizer subsidies and the goods and services tax.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee displayed an arrogance in changing tax laws with retrospective effect which have harmed the investment climate. He claimed India is not a tax haven like Cayman Islands, Isle of Mann or Virgin Island. And he asked firms like Vodafone to either "pay tax here or you pay tax in your own country," which is all very well, but it has led to a confusing situation for the foreign investors. In interactions with the government they have blamed their lack of enthusiasm to invest in India to the uncertain tax regime and sought easier entry and exit norms. They are keen to know how provisions of GAAR (General Anti-Avoidance Rules) and retrospective tax amendments will operate and how friendly they will be to assesees.

Even the Indian industry is disheartened and angry. Wipro Chairman Azim Premji declared recently, "India is functioning without a leader and if we do not change, we will be down for years." Companies are seeking to cut corners to stay afloat, as rising input costs and costlier borrowings have forced firms to defer planned investments.

According to an analysis in the Economist of London, Indian voters do not seem to connect reform with progress. It says, "India's liberalizers over the past few decades, including Mr (Manmohan) Singh himself, have reformed by stealth. That now looks like a liability. No popular consensus exists in favor of change or tough decisions."

Indeed, even the opposition BJP is in no better position to advocate reforms as it is losing support to regional parties. The position doesn't look very bright even after 2014, the next general election, because even if the BJP wins, it will have to rely on the fickle smaller parties.

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