IndiaPost_07-01-2011 by Ghanshyam Bisht

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Nirupama Rao to be Ambassador to United States Details on page 6

VOL 16, No. 877

July 1, 2011

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CONSUL GEN. DENIES MAID'S ALLEGATIONS

SRIREKHA CHAKRAVARTY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: India's Consul General in New York Ambassador Prabhu Dayal has become the second high ranking Indian diplomat from the same consulate to face a lawsuit by a former live-in housekeeper for alleged slave-driving, forced labor, under-paid long working hours and poor living quarters among other things.

Peter Burleigh named interim US envoy to India Details on page 6

Ambassador Dayal has denied all allegations as malicious and mischievous, while his attorney Ravi Batra has called the 'absconding' maid a "fraudster" trying to pull off a "Get rich quick" scheme. Last year, Neena Malhotra who was Consul for Press and Women related issues at the New York Consulate, faced a similar lawsuit filed by her former maid. Details on page 5 Viswanathan Rajaraman

Kundra, Katyal quit key Admn positions

NJ neurosurgeon, wife die in plane crash

Details on page 7

Mumbai-born's humble upma wins $100,000

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 24-25 Classifieds ------------------------- 47 Community Post -------------- 12-18

Details on page 27

Date Book -------------------------- 28 Edit Page --------------------------- 49

INDIA POST SURVEY

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Horoscope ------------------------- 23

This week’s question

Immigration Post ------------- 35-37

Do you think Amb Prabhu Dayal is guilty?

Life Style ----------------------- 26-27 Philosophy ------------------------- 48

Last week’s result

Publisherís Diary ------------------ 4

Did HSBC lure Indians to defy law? YES 67%

NO 33%

Real Estate -------------------- 38-39

SPECTACUYOGA: Over 8,000 enthusiasts joined Yoga in New Yorkís Times Square as part of the celebrations of the arrival of summer on the yearís longest dayñJune 2. Pic Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia. (Details on page 9)

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

TechBiz Post ------------------- 20-22 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 29-34

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ecent incidents in New York involving India's diplomatic corps who have got into legal hassles - seemingly for no fault of theirs - have given rise to some sticky issues, diplomatic immunity being the most debated one among them. In May, Krittika Biswas, the daughter of a vice consul at the Indian Consulate in New York was wrongfully arrested from her school on suspicion that she had sent hate mail to two of her teachers. On June 20, Consul General Prabhu Dayal was slapped with a lawsuit alleging forced labor filed by his former domestic aide. Both instances are pretty serious and have understandably evoked intense media attention considering they involve a diplomat or a family member of a diplomat that brings the respective governments of the two countries into play. Unfortunately in both cases diplomatic immunity does not seem to apply since in Krittika's case she happens to be a family member of a consular officer while in Dayal's case, it happens to be a private matter and not one involving his work. While Krittika's claims of harassment by the NYPD officers as a violation of her rights hold water even if she was not a diplomat's daughter, sadly for Dayal, a slew of bad precedents of foreign diplomats mistreating their domestic workers brought from their home country, make it difficult to disprove allegations of forced labor - that come with an added tag of 'slavery' - in a country like the US. Irrespective of the merits or demerits of these cases, it would seem that the US State Department has largely been unresponsive to 'protests' from the Indian government to the treatment meted out to its diplomatic corps in the US. Last year, there was furor in India when the Indian Ambassador in Washington DC was frisked at an airport despite making the security staff aware of her diplomatic status. For all the "warm" and "strengthening" ties between the US and India, India's diplomats in this country seem to be fending for themselves - indicating what could be an innate condescension on part of the US or the helplessness of India to prevail.

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Yes, it's true Aishwarya Rai is in the family way, says her father-in-law and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

Cover Story: Slave-driving India's Consul General in New York Ambassador Prabhu Dayal faces a lawsuit by a former maid for alleged slave-driving.

Community: Hinduism Summit

A Hinduism Summit held in Virginia brought to attention the issues faced by Hindus and provided practical solutions.

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Travel: Dhanaulti The lush greenery comprising soaring trees makes the Dhanaulti station look like a painting created by the Almighty.

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Consul General denies maid's allegations SRIREKHA CHAKRAVARTY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: India's Consul General in New York Ambassador Prabhu Dayal has become the second high ranking Indian diplomat from the same consulate to

tions and decent pay. "I filed the complaint because I want to be paid for all the labor I provided." The lawsuit further says the Dayals "subjected her to approximately a year of forced labor and psychological coercion in their household, culminating in an in-

tached bathroom, a television and a telephone, that Bharadwaj lived in while she worked there as his maid. Dayal's attorney Batra said that Bharadwaj had been a happy domestic aide, living it up in a studio apartment in the former Astor

March 2003 to July 2004; then she worked for him in Morocco where he was India's Ambassador to that nation from July 2004 to July 2008, and went on India-home leave for a month during October 2005. Then, she insisted upon joining him in New York six months after

speaks volumes of the trust bestowed upon her, which she betrayed selfishlyâ&#x20AC;Ś" If the case comes to trial - as against being settled out of court - Dayal would have to face due process since his diplomatic immunity does not cover matters of

Consul General Prabhu Dayal showing the media around the fifth floor apartment of the Consulate building where his former housekeeper used to stay. Pic Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia

face a lawsuit by a former live-in housekeeper for alleged slavedriving, forced labor, under-paid long working hours and poor living quarters among other things. Ambassador Dayal has denied all allegations as malicious and mischievous, while his attorney Ravi Batra has called the 'absconding' maid a "fraudster" trying to pull off a "Get rich quick" scheme. Last year, Neena Malhotra who was Consul for Press and Women related issues at the New York Consulate, faced a similar lawsuit filed by her former maid. In the Consul General's case, his former maid Santosh Bharadwaj, 45, surfaced almost a year-and-half after she disappeared sometime in January 2010, to file the lawsuit through the New York Legal Aid Society, June 20, in a Manhattan Federal Court, against Dayal, his wife Chandni and daughter Akansha, alleging that she was made to work in slave-like conditions, 15 hours a day, seven days a week for just $300 a month. Bharadwaj also alleged in the lawsuit that she was made to live in a storage closet; and that her passport had been confiscated by the Consul General. "The Dayals did not treat me fairly," said Bhardwaj, who claimed she was lured from India to New York to be a maid with promises of good working condi-

cident of sexual harassment." "The Dayals kept Ms. Bhardwaj isolated and led her to believe they had complete control over her," her lawyer, Legal Aid attorney Hollis Pfitsch said according to a New York daily that first published the story. In January, Bhardwaj repeatedly implored Dayal for money her husband needed for an operation back in India, according to the lawsuit. Dayal, it is alleged, finally said he'd give her the money if she'd massage his legs, which she considered as sexual harassment. It was after that incident the maid allegedly escaped from her 5th floor apartment in the Consulate building. Dayal said that he had informed the Indian government soon after Bharadwaj's disappearance and the government promptly cancelled her passport. He said she left because he had prevented her from working outside part time, which would have been illegal due to her visa restrictions. Quashing allegations that the maid was not paid well, Dayal said she had in fact saved up a good amount of money from her wages or else how would she have sustained herself in New York for the past year and half after quitting her job with him. The day after news of the lawsuit broke out, Dayal showed the media around the fifth floor wellfurnished apartment with an at-

Mansion off Fifth Ave, "apparently crazed about illegally cashing in on America's need for domestic help." He said Bharadwaj wanted to moonlight for more money, in violation of her contract, her American visa, and her India-issued "official" "white" passport which is issued to service and administrative staff of consular posts.

In January, Bhardwaj repeatedly implored Dayal for money her husband needed for an operation back in India, according to the lawsuit. Dayal, it is alleged, finally said he'd give her the money if she'd massage his legs, which she considered as sexual harassment "Consul General Dayal did not permit such illegality nor turn a blind eye to violation of American law," Batra said. Batra said Bharadwaj was so happy with Consul General Prabhu Dayal and his family that she repeatedly wanted to work for him. She worked for him in India from

he had assumed his duties in New York on September 6, 2008, and came to New York on February 23, 2009. She then abandoned her employment on January 28, 2010, Batra said. According to Batra the apartment that Bharadwaj used to occupy in the Consulate building was in fact a guest bedroom where the Dayals' personal guests normally stay. Batra further said Bharadwaj was paid $400-a-week as it was contractually based upon $10-anhour, less normal applicable taxes etc. "That she was paid her salary, with necessary holdback for social security, income taxes is beyond dispute and documented with payments, as desired by her, as she did not maintain a bank account in New York," Batra said. "Payment was made via remittances to her two accounts in India, payment for medical and dental bills of hers, payment for her airline expense, payments in cash to her for pocket money here in New York." "She has betrayed the trust of the Dayal family, India, and the United States, with her illegal abandonment of employment in favor of illegal higher pay from illegal employers," Batra further stated. "That she alone of the approximately 70 Consulate staff had the key to the Consul General's apartment on the fourth floor, aside from the Dayal family,

private nature. Neena Malhotra's case Another Indian diplomat Neena Malhotra, who is currently posted in New Delhi after she completed her three-year tenure at the Consulate in New York, faced a similar situation when her maid "run away" from their official residence on the Upper West Side, just one day before Malhotra was to leave New York. The maid filed the lawsuit against Malhotra almost a year later. Interestingly, Malhotra's former domestic help Shanti Gurung too had claimed in her lawsuit that the diplomat ordered her to give daily massages. Gurung claimed that she was tricked by the Malhotras to go with them to New York from India in 2006 at age 17. She claimed she was made to sleep on the floor of the apartment and forced to work almost 16 hours a day for more than three years by Malhotra and her husband, Jogesh. The lawsuit also alleged that Gurung was paid only $120 during her entire service. An internal inquiry into the affair by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs cleared Malhotra of any wrongdoing. However, pending the lawsuit, Malhotra has not been able to take up a foreign posting, and her husband, who works for a USbased software firm, has also not been able to travel to the US since, it is learnt.

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Peter Burleigh named interim US Ambassador to India India Post News Service

NEW YORK: American career diplomat Peter Burleigh will serve as interim Ambassador to India till a replacement for outgoing US Ambassador Timothy Roemer is named. This is the second time that Ambassador Burleigh would be serving as acting Ambassador to India. He had earlier filled in an interim position as Charge d'Affaires of the US Mission in India for just about a couple of months before Ambassador Timothy Roemer took over in 2009. Interestingly, Ambassador Burleigh, who is no stranger to that part of the world, is proficient in speaking Hindi, Bengali, Nepali and Sinhalese. Ambassador Burleigh is a distinguished career US Foreign Service officer who served as Ambassador and Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations before he retired after 33 years of service in August 2000. Prior to his UN post, he served as

the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives (1995-1997). Ambassador Burleigh held a number of senior positions at the

Ambassador Burleigh is a distinguished career US Foreign Service officer who served as Ambassador and Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations before he retired after 33 years of service in August 2000 State Department and also served in United States embassies in Nepal and Bahrain. Ambassador Burleigh received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University, served in the

Peace Corps (1963-1965) in Nepal, doing community development work in the far west of that country, and spent a year on a Fulbright scholarship in Nepal. Since January, 2004, he has been living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Miami from 2004-08. Besides teaching courses in World Affairs and International Organizations in the professional master's degree program in international administration (MAIA), he also lectured at the university on such topics as Asian religions (Hinduism and Buddhism) and humanitarian intervention in world crises, e.g. Darfur. He is a member of the Asia Society, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and the American Foreign Service Association. In October 2000, he was awarded the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Medal and in December 2000, he was designated for a Presidential Distinguished Service Award by President Clinton.

Absconding weight-loss doctor faces fraud charges India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Criminal charges alleging that Dr. Gautam Gupta, owner of a chain of medically supervised weight-loss clinics in Chicago, defrauded both a private health insurance company and the Illinois Medicaid program of nearly $25 million were filed mid-June, according to federal authorities. Attempts to locate and apprehend Dr. Gupta have thus far been unsuccessful. As such, he is now the subject of a nationwide manhunt which is being coordinated by the Chicago FBI. Robert D. Grant, Special Agentin-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement along with Hiram Grau, Director of the Illinois State Police and Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent-inCharge of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Dr. Gupta, who owns and operates the Nutrition Clinic, with locations in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Naperville, Rockford and South Beloit, was charged with one count each of Mail Fraud, Health Care Fraud and Conspiracy, all of which are felony offenses, in a criminal complaint filed in US Dis-

Dr. Gautam Gupta

The Feds have put out Dr. Gupta's description as a white/male of Indian descent, 57 years of age, 5'5" tall, 160 pounds, graying black hair which is sometimes worn in a ponytail, and brown eyes trict Court in Springfield. The complaint alleges that Dr.

Gupta, or his staff acting at his direction, submitted claims to both the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance Company and the Illinois Medicaid program for unnecessary procedures or procedures which were never performed. The complaint indicates that, during the period of June 2001 through January of 2010, the Nutrition Clinic was paid nearly $25 million for claims submitted on behalf of clinic patients. The Feds have put out Dr. Gupta's description as a white/male of Indian descent, 57 years of age, 5'5" tall, 160 pounds, graying black hair which is sometimes worn in a ponytail, and brown eyes, whose last known address was 1660 North Mulford Road in Rockford. Anyone recognizing Dr. Gupta or having any information about his current whereabouts is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 4216700. This case was investigated jointly by the Chicago FBI, the Illinois State Police-Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau, and the HHS-OIG. If convicted of the charges filed against him, Dr. Gupta faces a possible sentence of up to 35 years' incarceration.

Feds charge six for smuggling aliens from India, Brazil India Post News Service

Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. ICE HSI agents intercepted the co-conspirators' cell phone calls, and used confidential sources of information and other means to make the arrests. Agents learned that the defendants charged their smuggled customers from $13,000 to more than $25,000, depending on the route the customer used and whether the customer paid in advance or in installments after arriving in the United States. Many of the customers of the alien smuggling scheme were young women from Brazil, most of whom agreed to repay part of their smuggling debt after arriving in

NEW JERSEY: Federal authorities in New Jersey charged six individuals with international alien smuggling conspiracy for bringing into the United States hundreds of illegal aliens from India and Brazil via Mexico and the Caribbean, according to an official release. The six alleged members of the international alien smuggling scheme were charged in federal court June 14, following an investigation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). While five are in custody, one of the accused remains at large. ‘This investigation has shown "This investigation has shown the callous the callous disregard for hudisregard for human life exhibited by people tak- man life exhibited by people ing advantage of others taking advantage of others for for profit," said Peter T. Edge, special agent in profit,’ said Peter T. Edge, charge of ICE HSI in Newark. "Those who special agent in charge of ICE engage in such acts will HSI in Newark’ be held accountable." According to court documents, from January 2008 the US by working as dancers in through June 2011, the defendants strip clubs in Newark and elseconspired with each other and oth- where. Some women who fell beers to bring aliens into the US ille- hind on their debt repayment were gally as part of an elaborate for- urged to consider engaging in profit smuggling scheme that in- prostitution to earn extra money. The defendants induced cusvolved co-conspirators in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas and tomers to pay by threatening to elsewhere. As s part of the scheme, harm family members, and by obthe defendants arranged, facilitated taining the title to property the and monitored the travel of cus- customers owned in their home tomers along two primary smug- countries. The defendants also ingling routes - the first of which in- structed customers who were cluded travel through Central caught crossing the border illegally America and across the interna- to concoct false asylum claims and tional border between Mexico and falsely report that they would be the US. The second route included abused or face other danger if imtravel through St. Maarten, the US mediately deported.

Nirupama Rao to be Ambassador to US NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has been appointed as the next Ambassador to the United States, an assignment she will take up after superannuation next month-end. Sources said Rao's appointment to succeed Meera Shankar as the US Ambassador has been cleared by the government and a formal announcement is expected soon. The 1973-batch IFS officer assumed the office of the Foreign Secretary on August one, 2009, becoming the second woman to

head the Indian Foreign Secretary after Chokila Iyer. She was to retire in December last year at the age of 60 but was given an extension till July-end when the government fixed a twoyear term for the post of Foreign Secretary. Rao has served in various key positions and had been India's envoy to various countries, including China and Sri Lanka. She was also the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry. She had earlier served in Washington as a junior diplomat. -PTI

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Leading NJ neurosurgeon, wife Kundra, Katyal quit key Administration posts die in plane crash India Post News Service

NEW JERSEY: Leading New Jersey neurosurgeon Viswanathan Rajaraman and his wife Mary, also a doctor, were killed June 19 when their single-engine plane crashed into an Ohio cornfield and burst into flames shortly after takeoff. The Franklin Lakes, NJ couple was apparently returning home from their daughter's Law School graduation. Viswanathan Rajaraman, 54, who was piloting the 2008 Cirrus SR22 aircraft, and Mary J. Sundaram, his 50-year-old wife and the only passenger, were attempting to take off from Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus when the incident happened just before 9 a.m. that day, NJ.Com cited Ohio State Highway Patrol. Rajaraman was one of the top doctors in New Jersey, specializing in brain and spine cancer. NJ.Com said his loss was mourned by staff at Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was cochief of neuro-oncology at the hospital's cancer center. "Dr. Rajaraman treated countless cancer patients and saved lives daily," Robert C. Garrett, the hospital's president and CEO, was quoted by NJ.Com. "He offered

patients innovative surgical techniques and exceeded medical, social, and emotional expectations. Our hearts go out to his family, his patients and our team who will miss him tremendously." The doctor, known to colleagues as Vishy, was also the head of neuro-oncology at Valley

Kaavya Viswanathan, the couple's daughter, now 24, made news in 2006 as a Harvard undergraduate when she published the novel ‘How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life,’ a story she wrote in high school. The book made the New York Times bestsellers list Hospital in Ridgewood, the North Jersey Brain and Spine Center. He was a clinical assistant professor at University Hospital in Newark, organized an annual neurooncology symposium and was involved in educating

neurosurgeons in the developing world. Sundaram was reportedly also a physician, but stopped practicing to raise the couple's daughter, Kaavya Viswanathan. Originally from Madras, India, the Rajaraman family moved from Chennai, India to the UK before settling in the US in the mid-1990s. It may be recalled - although not relevant - that Kaavya Viswanathan, the couple's daughter, now 24, made news in 2006 as a Harvard undergraduate when she published the novel "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life," a story she wrote in high school. The book made the New York Times bestsellers list. But shortly after publication of the book, she was accused of plagiarism and copies of her book were pulled from stores and destroyed by her publisher, which canceled her contract. She recently graduated from Georgetown University's law school, according to The Columbus Dispatch, which also reported that her parents had visited her before arriving in Columbus. The Federal Aviation Administration reportedly sent investigators to the scene, but the National Transportation Safety Board will be heading up the probe.

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Two Indian Americans holding key posts in the Obama White House have quit to pursue other interests. Vivek Kundra, the US Chief Information Officer at the White House for the past two and a half years, has quit the Administration post to serve a joint fellowship this fall at Harvard University. Kundra will split his time between the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Kundra's departure from the Obama Administration is the second such of an Indian American holding a key post in the White House - earlier in June Neal

Vivek Kundra

BOLLYWOOD FANS: Fans cheers as they wait to catch a glimpse of Bollywood movie stars outside a hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on June 22, ahead of the 2011 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards. The IIFA Awards are dubbed as the ëBollywood Oscars,í which will be hosted for the first time in North America. The awards show is expected to attract about 40,000 visitors to Toronto and around 700 million television viewers across the world

Katyal, the Principal Deputy Solicitor General, who has been serving as Acting Solicitor General since Elena Kagan was appointed by President Obama to the Supreme Court. Kundra's move At Harvard, Kundra would be carrying out independent research at the Berkman Center, besides collaborating with the Center in its research activities in the areas of cloud computing, open data, and open government. At the Shorenstein Center, Kundra's research will focus on the implications of digital media and technology on governance. "We are excited to welcome Vivek Kundra to Harvard," said Alex Jones, director of the Shorenstein Center. "His extensive background in information technology, strategy and government operations will provide a valuable new lens through which to examine many of the important issues that the Center is committed to exploring." "We are delighted that Vivek

Kundra will be joining the Berkman Center community," said Urs Gasser, executive director of the Berkman Center. "We look forward to working closely with him on cutting edge issues where the complexities of cloud computing intersect with law, institutions, and data." Kundra was appointed as the United States Chief Information Officer by President Obama in March 2009. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Kundra served in Mayor Fenty's cabinet as the CTO for the District of Columbia and Governor Kaine's cabinet as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has also served in leadership roles in the private sector. "Our government and its citizens are invariably connected through a vast and complex technology infrastructure rife with opportunities as well as risks," said Kundra. "The work that I dedicated myself to while serving as the Federal CIO in cutting w a s t e , strengtheni n g cybersecurity, and building an open and transparent government through technology - will also drive my research interests on both the national and international levels at the Shorenstein Center and the Berkman Center at Harvard." Katyal's move A former Georgetown law professor, Katyal has been serving as Acting Solicitor General soon after Kagan left the post, leading a Supreme Court advocacy team that is staffed with widely experienced and highly regarded attorneys, according to a political blogger. Katyal apparently could have remained as the principal deputy Solicitor General, but has opted to leave the post and to seek to join a law firm, with the aim of beginning an appellate practice there. Katyal has informed Attorney General Eric Holder of his plan to end his service when the Court concludes the work of October Term 2010, by the end of June.

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DoJ urged to act on bias attack Feds seize $15m from fugitive Jain's Swiss bank account on Sikh New Yorker India Post News Service

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Sikh American Advocacy group United Sikhs, has taken up with the Department of Justice and the New York Police Department for swift action in the case of a bias crime against Jiwan Singh, who was attacked on a New York subway train recently. On Memorial Day, Jiwan Singh was attacked on the "A" train by a perpetrator who accused him of being the brother of Osama Bin Laden, and then proceeded to violently attack him, knocking out several teeth. The United Sikhs legal team in New York has contacted the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, the DOJ Community Relations Service, the New York Police Department, and will be reaching out to the US Attorney in New York to ensure that a proper investigation is being conducted and that swift action is being taken in response to this atrocious crime. Senior Staff Attorney for the group, Hansdeep Singh, stated that "we have seen a disturbing increase in the demonizing of certain minority communities - from events like the Peter King Hearings to current Immigration policies. We have seen the continuation of racial and religious profiling of communities with distinc-

tive religious dress at airports. Sikhs are continually subject to multiple levels of mandatory screening where others are not. And we have seen the continued perpetuation of stereotypes through media and now even Government Representatives that aim to mislead the general public into equating the wearing of the turban with extremism/ terrorism. If

The attack on Jiwan Singh was the second bias attack on his family; his son was the victim of a violent attack back in January 2009, when he was stabbed in the eye with a broken bottle and suffered the loss of sight in one eye these trends continue, the Sikh, Muslim, and South Asian communities will only see more bigotry and violence perpetrated upon them." Attorney Singh called on both the community and the government to act. "Together, we need to work tirelessly to educate others and to prevent these heinous

acts from occurring in the future. Those committing or encouraging crimes of hate and bias need to be held accountable for their actions." Incidentally, the attack on Jiwan Singh was the second bias attack on his family; his son was the victim of a violent attack back in January 2009, when he was stabbed in the eye with a broken bottle and suffered the loss of sight in one eye. According to United Sikhs, in recent months, the Sikh community has been victim to at least 5 attacks that are currently being prosecuted or investigated as hate crimes. In March, 2 elderly Sikh gentlemen were gunned down while taking their daily walk together in Sacramento, California. Other violent attacks against Sikhs have occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada and Atlanta, Georgia. United Sikhs has asked the Sikh American community across the nation to be on the alert and report any incidences of hate or bias motivated threats or violence. The organization also urged law enforcement and lawmakers to ensure that thorough investigations are conducted to identify the perpetrator of the latest crime, while emphasizing the need for trainings and ongoing dialogues in order to raise awareness about who Sikhs are.

NEW YORK: Federal authorities in California seized nearly $15 million from a Swiss bank account belonging to Shailesh Kumar "Sam" Jain, a fugitive who fled the country following his indictment three years ago for selling millions of dollars worth of counterfeit antivirus software over the internet. The seizure June 9, of $14.8 million from an investment account in Switzerland is the latest federal enforcement action involving the former Bay Area man. Jain, 41, was initially indicted in March 2008 by a grand jury in San Jose, California, for trafficking in counterfeit goods, wire fraud and mail fraud following a probe by US Immigration and

Munde scotches exit rumor; vows to remain in BJP Shailesh Kumar Jain

MUMBAI: Scotching rumors of his attempts to join Congress, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde has said he would continue to remain in the party. "Neither was Congress in contact with me nor was I in touch with Congress. There is no question of me joining Congress," the BJP's deputy leader in Lok Sabha told reporters after arriving from Delhi. "I have brought lakhs of workers into BJP fold and molded them. I was in BJP, am in BJP and will be in BJP. People have now realized the worth of those who tried to corner me," he said. Munde said he would undertake a statewide tour and communicate with party workers. "I will inspire them because they are in anguish. All BJP workers will now come together and strengthen the party in the state," he said. "It is also not true that (while

in Delhi), I met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Neither did I meet Ahmed Patel (political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi). I have never met

Gopinath Munde

Patel in my life. Some people tried to defame me by spreading these rumors," he said. Munde, who was sulking for over a fortnight after his supporter was sidelined for the post

of Pune BJP chief and party chief Nitin Gadkari's loyalist was brought in, said, "I think the real face of those who tried to malign me has been exposed to people of Maharashtra." "I have never sought any post from the party leadership," Munde said when asked about reports that he had demanded that he be made in-charge of state affairs. To the insinuation in media about his old friend and Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh scuttling his 'entry' into Congress, Munde said it was wrong to attribute any malice "between 6th floor and 12th floor". (While Munde's house is on 12th floor of Poorna building in Worli sea face area, Deshmukh stays on the 6th floor of the same building). "We are old friends and I don't believe any of these reports," he said. "Neither will Deshmukh harm me, nor will I damage him," he added. -PTI

Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). That case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. In March 2010, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York filed a civil complaint alleging that Jain and others had transferred millions of dollars from their scheme into a Swiss bank account. Those funds were forfeited to the United States and the forfeiture was completed on May 31, after the Swiss government wire transferred the funds to the US Treasury in compliance with a federal seizure warrant issued in the Southern District of New York. The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York also indicted Jain on domestic and international money laundering charges in May 2010.

ICE HIS's criminal investigation into Jain began in 2007 after the agency received information he was selling counterfeit Symantec antivirus software on various Internet websites. According to the seizure warrant, Jain lured potential customers to his websites by "spamming", sending unsolicited emails to prospective Symantec customers, and by automatically "redirecting" potential Symantec customers to fraudulent websites. After customers provided their credit card information to purchase what they believed were authentic Symantec products, Jain fulfilled the orders by shipping counterfeit software from a facility in Ohio. To hide the proceeds from his criminal activities, Jain established shell corporations here and overseas and opened bank and investment accounts in the United States, Uruguay and Switzerland. "As this seizure makes clear, intellectual property thieves should be aware that law enforcement will use every available tool to keep them from profiting from the theft of others' products, creativity, and ideas," said ICE Director John Morton. "HIS's investigative work in this case is very much ongoing and we're continuing our efforts to locate this fugitive so he can be brought to justice for his crimes. We're also hopeful some of his ill-gotten gains will soon go to compensate the legitimate software maker that lost millions as a result of this scheme." Last month's action marks the second significant monetary forfeiture in this case. In April 2008, the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California obtained a warrant for the seizure of more than $650,000 in funds from two East Coast investment accounts that held proceeds from Jain's illegal Internet sales. Jain, who surrendered to ICE HSI agents in San Jose, CA, in May 2008, has been a fugitive since January 2009 when he failed to appear for two scheduled hearings related to his case in US District Court in San Jose. HSI agents are continuing efforts to locate him so he can be extradited to the United States to face the current charges.

July 1, 2011

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8000 create Yoga spectacle in Times Square

All pics Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia India Post News Service

n estimated 8,000 yoga enthusiasts participated in what has come to be part of New York's eclectic culture, Yoga in Times Square, June 21. First organized nine years ago with merely two participants, the Times Square Yoga held on the first day of summer had 5,000 people from 31 countries pre-registering this year. The Times Square Alliance and Local 802 FM celebrated the arrival of the summer on the first day of the season, with Solstice in Times Square, a dawn-till-dusk celebration of the Summer Solstice on the year's longest day. The day featured free yoga in the heart of Times Square with small-scale musical performances by Local 802, the largest union of professional musicians in the world. The day kicked off with "Mind Over Madness" yoga from 7am8am on Military Island (intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets). Scores of yoga enthusiasts descended on Times Square, lead by Levitate Yoga owner Connie Chan and Summer Solstice event co-creator Douglass Stewart, in a search for tranquility and transcendence at the center of New York's most frenetic and commercial space. Participation was free and open to all, so passersby joined in the fun to watch this great Karmic battle between peace of mind and urban madness. The celebration continued until 8pm with live musicians sponsored by Local 802 performing throughout the Times Square area.

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Obama orders faster withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan WASHINGTON: Declaring that US had largely achieved its goals in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama has ordered withdrawal of his troops from there starting this year, with 30,000 leaving initially, a process that would continue until the Afghans take over the security in 2014. The withdrawals will see a first group of 10,000 American soldiers brought home from Afghanistan this year and another 23,000 by the end of September 2012, two months before voters decide whether to give Obama a second term. In a prime-time address to the nation from the White House, Obama said that America was starting the drawdown from a position of strength, asserting that al-Qaeda was under "more pressure" than at any time since 9/11. "Together with the Pakistanis, we have taken out more than half of al-Qaeda's leadership. And thanks to our intelligence professionals and Special Forces, we killed Osama bin Laden, the only leader that al-Qaeda had ever known," he said in his 13-minute address that sounded like a campaign speech. "This is the beginning - but not the end - of our effort to wind down this war. We will have to do the hard work of keeping the gains that we have made, while we draw-

down our forces and transition responsibility for security to the Afghan government," he said. "By 2014, this process of transition will be complete, and the Afghan people will be responsible for their own security."

He said after the initial reduction, American troops will continue coming home at a steady pace as Afghan security forces move into the lead. ‘Our mission will change from combat to support. By 2014, this process of transition will be complete’ He said after the initial reduction, American troops will continue coming home at a steady pace as Afghan security forces move into the lead. "Our mission will change from combat to support. By 2014, this process of transition will be complete, and the Afghan people will

be responsible for their own security," Obama said. He had sent 30,000 surge troops to Afghanistan in December 2009 plus 3,000 support soldiers in a bid to reverse the Taliban's momentum in the country. Nevertheless, about 68,000 US troops will remain in Afghanistan. Obama said nearly ten years ago, America suffered the "worst attack" on its shores since Pearl Harbor. "This mass murder was planned by Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan, and signaled a new threat to our security - one in which the targets were no longer soldiers on a battlefield, but innocent men, women and children going about their daily lives," he said. "In the days that followed, our nation was united as we struck at al-Qaeda and routed the Taliban in Afghanistan. Then, our focus shifted. A second war was launched in Iraq, and we spent enormous blood and treasure to support a new government there. By the time I took office, the war in Afghanistan had entered its seventh year," he added. Obama said al-Qaeda's leaders had escaped into Pakistan and were plotting new attacks, while the Taliban had regrouped and

We are ready to face bullets for Lokpal Bill: Hazare PUNE/BHOPAL: Anna Hazare has said he was not afraid of death and dared the government to fire bullets in the event of his going on fast to press for a strong Lokpal bill. "Anna is not afraid of death. They can fire bullets and not just use lathis to repress our agitation and the people of this country will decide whether India has a democratic rule or a dictatorship," Hazare told reporters. The anti-corruption crusader said this in Pune when asked to comment on Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh's remarks on his plans to go on a fast from August 16. Digvijay Singh however denied saying that the social activist would be given a treatment similar to yoga guru Ramdev if he goes on fast unto death. "I am surprised and pained at reports in the newspapers which quoted me as saying that the treatment given to Ramdev would also be meted out to Anna Hazare," the

Congress General Secretary told PTI in Bhopal. Singh said that during his interaction with reporters in

Anna Hazare

Jabalpur what he said was that the Congress had nothing to do with the manner in which either Hazare or Ramdev will be treated. He said Congress had nothing

to do with how the two were treated as it is always decided by the local administration after assessing the prevailing situation at that moment. The outspoken leader maintained that if there was a need for holding a fast, the younger activists of civil society like Arvind Kejriwal or Prashant Bhushan should do it instead of Hazare. Hazare, who was on his way to his native village Ralegaon in Ahmednagar district, also wondered whether the present Congress party was the same that had links with Mahatma Gandhi and leaders like Kamraj. Asserting that to protest is the democratic right of every citizen, Hazare said, "Congress seems determined to crush our agitation for a strong Lokpal. But it should be remembered now that it is not just Anna Hazare but the entire country that is supporting this agitation and the people will teach them a lesson". -PTI

gone on the offensive. He said that America's efforts must also address terrorist safehavens in Pakistan.

kill us: they cannot elude us, nor escape the justice they deserve," he added. "We will work with the Paki-

President Barack Obama delivers a televised address from the East Room of the White House in Washington on June 22, on his plan to drawdown US troops in Afghanistan

"For there should be no doubt that so long as I am President, the United States will never tolerate a safe-haven for those who aim to

stani government to root out the cancer of violent extremism, and we will insist that it keep its commitments," he said. -PTI

Karzai welcomes Obama's troop withdrawal plan KABUL: Afghan President troops sent as part of a "surge" Hamid Karzai has welcomed as a announced in late 2009 and de"good step" the prospect of signed to reverse the Taliban in10,000 American troops withdraw- surgency would depart by next ing from his country by the end summer. of the year and another 23,000 by Obama sought to convince next summer. Americans that "the tide of war is Karzai, whose relations with receding" and that while there the West have plummeted since he was anointed leader after US-led troops invaded Karzai also congratulated his Afghanistan in late 2001 own nation ‘on this step toand brought down the Taliban, spoke just wards defending its own soil, hours after President Barack Obama's an- through its own people’ nouncement. "Today we welcome the announcement by the presi- were tough times ahead in Afdent of the United States," Karzai ghanistan, "the light of a secure told reporters. peace can be seen in the dis"We term it as a good step in tance." their favor, and in favor of AfThe Taliban, the main militant ghanistan and we support it." group in an insurgency which has Karzai also congratulated his lasted nearly 10 years, dismissed own nation "on this step towards Obama's comments as only "a defending its own soil, through symbolic step." its own people". Although the US supports Obama said 10,000 troops Karzai's government, relations would leave Afghanistan by the between the two sides are freend of the year and all 33,000 quently thorny. -AFP

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Indian magician gets top honor from US society NEW DELHI: Climbing a rope suspended in air or conjuring up a tree out of his hat is mere child's play for ace magician Gopinath Muthukad who has won this year's International Merlin Award, or the magicians' Oscar. The master illusionist and stunt performer is the second Indian to be chosen to receive the Merlin Award for outstanding contributions to magic in 2011 conferred by the US-based International Magicians Society. Previously, P C Sorkar Jr had received the award. "The award is equivalent to the Oscars and am elated for the recognition by the magic fraternity. It will definitely add to the popularity of the art and attract more young people to pick it up," Muthukad, who ventured into the world of magic at the age of 10 and has not looked back since, told PTI. The Kerala-based magician heads a Magic Academy in Thiruvanthapuram, which runs certificate courses recognized by the University of Kerala and boasts of high-profile students like superstar Mohanlal among others. Over the past 35 years Muthukad has also organized a series of global magic conventions and campaigns across the country. However, the illusionist says his motto is "Magic with a mission." "I want to work towards the cause of social upliftment. We

Gopinath Muthukad

conduct shows to promote national integration and fight against social evils like alcoholism, tobacco and terrorism," says Muthukad who in the year 2010 under the Ministry of Defense had organized special shows for Army personnel across the country for two months. . In India while traditional magicians and street tricks are going strong, in western countries they

rely more on sophisticated machinery and high tech gadgets to mesmerize audiences with their stunts and tricks. "In the end magic is all about presentation because there are only a total of 13 tricks which individual performers mix and combine to create new illusions," says Muthukad. "Houdini, David Copperfield, Franz Harary and Criss Angel are fairly well known globally. All of them use sophisticated gadgetry and expensive equipments. Even I had performed the fire escape trick invented by Houdini, but it requires sustained and rigorous practice," says the Indian magician. Harry Houdini is considered a legend in magic and noted for his sensational escape acts. Muthukad who was introduced into the world of magic by his cousin says he later went on to train under masters like R K Malayath, Vazakunnam Namboodiri, P C Sorkar Junior, K Lal and Podderman from Holland. "I was so much in love with magic that as a child I was once duped by a snake charmer who showed me a trick that later turned out to be fake," reminisces Muthukad with a chuckle. The 47-year-old illusionist is scheduled to receive the Merlin award in the national capital on June 23 from Tony Hassini, President of the 27,000 member strong International Magicians' Society. Magicians from across the world are expected to perform here. -PTI

INDO-PAK TALKS: Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao (L) holds talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir (R) during a meeting at The Pakistan Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on June 23

No anti-India activities from our soil: Myanmar NAY PYI TAW: Myanmar has given "firm assurances" to India that its territory will not be used for anti-India activities, as their foreign ministers held a series of "positive and constructive" meetings with focus on cooperation in security, energy and agriculture. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is on a three day visit to the country to talk and understand the "priorities and thinking" of the recently formed civilian government, held bilateral talks with the country's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin. On the issue of security cooperation, sources said Myanmar has reiterated its "firm assur-

India has in principle agreed to modernize the children's hospital in Yangon by supplying the latest modern equipments besides others. Talks are also on building a state of the art general hospital in Sittwe with Indian help, sources said. Extending a helping hand to the cyclone prone Myanmar, India handed over 10 modern and disaster-proof rice silos built at a cost of USD 2 million to preserve grains during natural calamities. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, on a three day visit to the country, inaugurated the silos, having a combined capacity of 5,000 tonne storage build with

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna along with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao during bilateral talks with his Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin in Nay Pyi Taw on June 21

ances" that the country's territory will not be allowed to be used for any anti-India activities. Security cooperation has been a major part of India- Myanmar relations because of the long border that it shares with four Northeast states. Many insurgent groups operating in the area are known to take advantage of the thick jungles along the border in Myanmar to take refuge. Krishna also called on Vice President U Tin Aung Myint Oo besides holding meeting with the country's Minister for Electric Power. "The talks were excellent, positive, constructive and forward looking," a member of the Indian delegation said when asked about the bilateral meetings held. While the meetings were a bid to foster strategic and economic ties between the two neighbors, sources said a number of issues with regard to cooperation in the field of health and agriculture were also discussed. . India also congratulated Myanmar for successful elections held in the country which saw the formation of the first civilian government in years.

the assistance of India. While cooperation in the agriculture field is an ongoing phenomenon, sources said a team from the Ministry of Agriculture led by India's leading agricultural scientist M S Swaminthan would soon be visiting Myanmar to understand the country's needs and the possible help that can be extended. India has already agreed to provide a grant of USD 10 million for procurement of agricultural tools besides providing 100 computers to the Central Land Records, as requested by Myanmar. Sources said discussions are also on setting up an Agricultural Research Centre in Yezin, near to the capital. Meanwhile, India has agreed to send a team from the Archaeological Survey of India to render its services in restoration of 11th century Ananda temple in Bagan in Mandalay region. On the economic sides, both countries expressed happiness on the rapid growth of trade but noted that there is also a large untapped market, sources said. PTI

Desi News Physician's touch transforms Indian village SURENDRA ULLAL

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Saraswati Puja & Essay Competition at Riverside Mandir Details on page 17

July 1, 2011

Hinduism Summit highlights issues and unique solutions

Details on page 13

2011 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee kicks off India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The 2011 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee began its 10 city tour this past weekend with the first two events in Los Angeles and Bay Area. With a huge turnout this year as well, the bee attracted some top talent as well as young and new spellers that competed for the coveted prizes and titles. "This event is being recognized as the essential platform to get your first experience and also meet and interact with veteran spellers," said Rahul Walia, Founder - South Asian Spelling Bee. Details on page 14

John Trivedi bags family hotelier award JYOTINDRA PATEL

Lighting Oil lamp (L to R) 13 year old volunteer Maitreyee, speakers Kalyana Raman, Bhavna, Shilpa & Maya

S Kalyana Raman speaking

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America. Shilpa Kudtarkar of Spiritual Science Research Foundation (SSRF) shared the importance of spiritual practice and healing measures to successfully overcome the issues faced by the Hindu community, as she explained how these issues have an underlying spiritual component. She talked of SSRF's research on dowsing and biofeedback machines that showed the positive or negative vibrations emitted by people; power of prayers; and healing ability of saints' handwriting.

NEW YORK: A Hinduism Summit held June 18 by the Forum for Hindu Awakening (FHA) and Durga Mandir of Virginia brought to attention the issues faced by Hindus in America and provided unique, practical solutions to the Hindu community. Maya Jairam, a native of Fort Collins, Colorado, opened the presentations with a firsthand account of growing up in America and embracing Hindu spirituality. Coming from a non-religious childhood and being used to a nonvegetarian diet, she said she found answers to her spiritual

quest in Hinduism's spiritual science and a vegetarian, Hindu way of life. Dr. S. Kalyanaraman, a Hindu

books and higher academia. He called for united protests, as they have been effective in stopping such misrepresentation. He also

Coming from a non-religious childhood and being used to a nonvegetarian diet, she said she found answers to her spiritual quest in Hinduism's spiritual science and a vegetarian, Hindu way of life activist who had come from Chennai, India, brought to light the inaccurate and negative depiction of Hinduism in school text-

proposed erecting a museum as a reminder of the contributions of the Hindu community in America, to gain a voice for Hindus in

Speakers (L to R) Maya, Shilpa, Kalyana Raman and Bhavna

ContĂd on page 15

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Chicago physician's touch transforms Indian village SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: A remote and relatively unknown village of Maharashtra - Sangola -has turned into a model for hundreds of thousands of villages in India thanks to a sort of Midas touch applied by a physician and a group of volunteers that wrought a total transformation in all areas of human activity. Dr. Sanjeevani Kelkar a well known physician and social activist and seven other activists founded Mata Balak Utkarsha Pratisthana ( MBUP) in Sangola near Solapur nearly three decades ago with a view to create and encourage women's self esteem, self-reliance and through it societal welfare as a whole. Inspired by a community activist Nanaji, this group has wrought wonders and Chicagonas had a glimpse of this change when Dr Sanjeevani paid a visit to the city and decided to make a presentation to a group of Indian Americans here. Sangola is also known for computer education. The "Sangola College Sangola & Vidnyan Mahavidyalaya Sangola" are famous institutions for computer education. Students from districts like Kolhapur, Solapur. Sangli and Satara come to Sangola for getting graduate and post graduate degrees in computer science programs. MBUP, Dr. Sanjeevani said, is a transformational movement generated for the rural society by women of drought prone region of Sangola. Their activities include women uplift, education and health awareness, child development and much more. She added that as their contacts with rural women improved and after witnessing more incidents of violence against women, they formed another institution

Group of Indian Americans listening to Dr. Kelkar

under the name of "Anyaya Nivaran Samiti" (a committee for eradication of injustice against women.) The objective of this committee was to provide counseling, legal support and shelter to the suffering women and to fight against social injustice against women in general. This initiative triggered further projects in the areas of "Motherchild empowerment, especially education and health programs. Today, she said, MBUP has grown to become a vital part of the lives of the people living in the rural areas around Sangola. Along with this vital program other issues like developing the self-worth of women, health awareness, economic development, habit of saving and fight for justice were also addressed. Since the improvement of economic condition is more important than anything else, counseling facility un-

der 'Maitrini" was set up for generation of income through starting small businesses like producing juices, pickles, leather works, flour mills among others. In time a higher elementary school was opened up. Aggressive pursuit of both economic and

Dr Sanjeevani Kelkar

than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 69%. Along came yet another milestone of economic betterment by the opening of a local branch of NABARD Bank giving further impetus for the growth of small busi-

Since the improvement of economic condition is more important than anything else, counseling facility under 'Maitrini" was set up for generation of income through starting small businesses like producing juices, pickles, leather works, flour mills among others educational activities improved the general conditions of the people especially making Sangola a better than average educated villages. Now Sangola has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher

nesses and industries, notably weaving of woolen articles, pomegranate juice extraction, etc. There is much more to do and Dr. Kelkar observed there is need for raising capital of about three lakhs

(300,000) every year for the next three years, besides investment of about Rs forty lakhs for infrastructure, either through the local and federal government or through private investments. Dr. Kelkar and her family have been residents of Sangola for generations, especially her father. Her son and daughter-in-law are settled there and have medical practices in Sangola. In spite of more lucrative opportunities available in larger cities, they are steadfast in their dedication to serve their native village and people. Indeed an admirable trait of character. If any individual or institution is willing to assist the village in their developmental activities, please contact Mata Balak Utkarsha Pratishthan, Deshpande Lane, Opp. Kelkar Hospital, Sangola, Solapur 413 307, or call 91-2187-220741 or visit matabalak@yahoo.com

Deloitte21 grant to Pratham for girls education India Post News Service

WASHINGTON, DC: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) announced a grant of $250,000.00 to Pratham USA as part of the Deloitte21 challenge. Deloitte21 is a Deloitte global initiative aimed at helping underserved young people acquire the education and skills needed to thrive in the 21st-century economy. Punit Renjen, Chairman of Deloitte LLP in the United States, and Sangita Karra, VP of Development of Pratham USA, accepted a certificate representing this grant at the 2011 Deloitte World Meetings at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC. Presiding at the ceremony, Ainar

Aijala, Chief Corporate Development Officer of DTTL, commented, "It is said that if you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you

Pratham USA's new achievement centers will enable hundreds of underprivileged young women to acquire secondary school certifications and develop vo-

Pratham USA's new achievement centers will enable hundreds of underprivileged young women to acquire secondary school certifications and develop vocational skills to help them be self-sufficient and gain employment when they return to their local villages educate a nation" quoting Ghanaian scholar Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey.

cational skills to help them be self-sufficient and gain employment when they return to their local villages.

The first residential centers will open in July 2011. The students will receive training that emphasizes technology, leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity, and problem solving. They will also receive assistance in looking for jobs and will be encouraged to start their own enterprises. Finally, the students will also learn how to impart their skills to others so they can help improve the livelihoods of those in their local villages. Pratham, which means "first" in Sanskrit was founded in the slums of Mumbai in 1994 with UNICEF support. Today, Pratham's direct urban programs, including preschools, community libraries and remedial learning programs reach hundreds of thousands of children every year.

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2011 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee kicks off

LA Winners: (From L to R) Rahul Walia, Founder of the South Asian Spelling Bee with First Runner Up Samruddhi Hande of San Diego, CA; Regional Champ Shruti Amin of Murrieta, CA and Second Runner Up Mashad Arora of Brownsville, TX India Post News Service

In LA, Shruti Amin from Murrieta, CA was the regional champ and Samruddhi Hande from San Diego, CA was the first runner up while Mashad Arora from Brownsville, TX came in at third place. Laurel Daring, assistant vice president of Diverse Markets, MetLife, said, "We congratulate all of the children who participated in the Los Angeles and Bay Area events. As the title sponsor of the Spelling Bee for the third consecutive year, we are pleased with the growing number of families who take part in the competition. It was a great opportunity for

Bay Area Winners: (From L to R) Second Runner Up Surya Auroprem of San Jose, CA; Regional Champ Akshayraj Aitha of Dublin, CA and First Runner Up Swapnil Garg of Sunnyvale CA with Rahul Walia, Founder of the South Asian Spelling Bee.

children to showcase their talent and for parents to start

from Dublin, CA was the regional champ and Swapnil Garg

Children up to 14 years of age are eligible to participate and the contest saw spellers of even 6 years of age compete and make it past a few rounds. The top two winners plus one parent each from every city will be given an all expenses paid trip to New Jersey on August 12 for the finals planning for the rising costs of education." In Bay Area, Akshayraj Aitha

from Sunnyvale, CA was first runner up while Surya Auroprem, from San Jose, CA

was second runner up. The winners received cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200 respectively. Children up to 14 years of age are eligible to participate and the contest saw spellers of even 6 years of age compete and make it past a few rounds. There are 8 more cities on the anvil and for more information and to register your child, please visit www.southasianspellingbee.com. The top two winners plus one parent each from every city will be given an all expenses paid trip to New Jersey on August 12 for the finals.

HSS youth drive to keep cities clean SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh (HSS) jointly with Lake County Balagokulam conducted "Adopt a Highway" Nagar Sewa project in Buffalo Grove. They cleaned up the trash along Aptakiscic Road from Route 83, Long Grove to Prairie Road in Buffalo Geove. A total of 31 dedicated volunteers (23 sevaks; 5 sevikas, 2 kishores, 1 kishoree) took on the clean-up project on Sunday June 19. Volunteers started gathering at 9:30 am and began with a brief overview and a safety talk. Then they divided into groups to start the Sewa work. They collected bottles, cans, papers and other general trash along the road. This is a part of the wider program undertaken by the members of Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh, Ekal Vidyalay, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), Art of Living, SEWA Chapter of Chicago, BAPSSwaminarayan Mandir and Global Hindu Heritage Foundation under one umbrella to

preserve and promote Hindu culture while serving the community they live in. Jaswant Soni of HSS, Lake County Shaka said. "It is a gesture by the youth to express their gratitude and their way of giv-

way Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh - HSS Balagokulam. The HSS has committed to volunteer to keep the roadside area clean for at least one more year and with the option to renew the

The HSS has committed to volunteer to keep the roadside area clean for at least one more year and with the option to renew the agreement. "On this Father's day, I am inspired by my granddaughter to come today to keep our roads clean," said the Chairman of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, Parasad Yalamanchi ing back to the community. HSS Balagokulam partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation to keep our roadside clean. This commitment is prominently displayed by a sign saying, "Adopt-a-High-

agreement. "On this Father's day, I am inspired by my granddaughter to come today to keep our roads clean," said the Chairman of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, Parasad Yalamanchi.

One of the missions of Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America is to serve the community. Amar Upadhyay, Secretary of VHPA said, "I came to serve to keep America beautiful." Sewa International representative Ram Kalangari proudly stated, "I want to support any organization that serves the community as a whole." Aditya Deshpande, one of the youth volunteers told us. "This is my special time with my dad." Ashok Shah of BAPS remarked "We are very happy to be part of this volunteering effort, and to be part of your team." Dr. Shyam Sheth of VHPA, Chicago said, "I am glad to be part of the Adopt a Highway Nagar-Sewa project, we need to do more projects like this and involve more community members". Kruti Patel thanked everyone for coming and taking part in the Sewa project. Everyone had a rewarding experience knowing that they had all come together to serve the community.

Community Across America

July 1, 2011

India Post 15

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Hinduism Summit highlights issues and unique solutions ContĂd from page 12

Bhavna Shinde Hurley, Hinduism Education Coordinator of Durga Mandir and Spokesperson of FHA, drew attention to various issues facing Hindus that are not commonly known, such as Hindu youth increasingly converting out of Hinduism, and trivialization of Hindu deities in American entertainment, art and advertising industries. Shinde said that Hinduism education that emphasizes the unique science of Hinduism is naturally attracting scientific minded youth of today. For example, she said, the red dot

Bhavna Shinde Hurley speaking

Conch blowing 12 year Old volunteer Afolabi

ism. Dr. S. Kalyanaraman was awarded the Vishwa Hindu Ratna for his research on the roots of Hindu (Sarasvati) civilization and efforts to stop the destruction of Rama Sethu (bridge built by Lord Rama's monkey army between India and Srilanka.)

Dr. S. Kalyanaraman was awarded the Vishwa Hindu Ratna for his research on the roots of Hindu (Sarasvati) civilization

The Summit received a positive response, as several attendees expressed interest in learning about Hinduism's spiritual science and imparting it to their children, and in working together on issues faced by Hindus in America.

C O O K C O U N TY TAX SALE N O TIC E:

Shilpa Kudtarkar speaking

(vermillion mark) worn on the forehead increases concentration, while the sacrificial fire (Agnihotra) can neutralize nuclear radiation.

sentation of Hinduism, conversion or denigration. The Summit commenced and concluded in the tradition of Hinduism, with auspicious

Are your 2009 property taxes paid? To make sure your taxes from Tax Year 2009 are paid: Visit cookcountytreasurer.com and have your 14-digit Property Index Number Call 312-443-5100 for information in English, Polish and Spanish and have your 14-digit Property Index Number The electronic auction of delinquent property taxes starts July 19, 2011 and ends July 22, 2011. You should pay your delinquent property taxes by July 13, 2011 to avoid having your taxes sold.

Maya Jairam peaking

Appreciating the varied causes that Hindu organizations are looking after, she appealed to everyone to come together whenever the Hindu community faces some issue, be it misrepre-

conch blowing, lighting of the wick lamp and Vedic recitations. The various speakers and Sant Gupta, former President of Durga Mandir, were honored for their service to the cause of Hindu-

Office of the Cook County Treasurer

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John Trivedi bags family hotelier award JYOTINDRA PATEL

LAS VEGAS: Chicago businessman and hotelier John Trivedi has earned the title of "2011 Family Hotelier of the Year" in the third annual Procter & Gamble (P&G) Professional "Family Hotelier of the Year" award competition, presented in conjunction with the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) last week. The announcement of the award came during the AAHOA Convention in Las Vegas. Trivedi was initially selected as a finalist and then received the highest number of online votes when the finalists were posted online at www.pgpro.com/aahoa. The finalists were rated and ranked by a team of P&G Professional executives and AAHOA members based on the nominee's family involvement, outstanding business and community service, and the creativity and sincerity of the nomination. Once the finalists were determined, the grand-prize winner was chosen based on results of the two-week online voting period in combination with judges scores. P&G Professional is the awayfrom-home division of Procter & Gamble, serving the foodservice,

building cleaning and mainte- America, P&G Professional. nance, hospitality and conve- "Even more, they show an unwanience stores industries. The company partnered with "These hoteliers deliver a level A A H O A , of excellence and enthusiasm which repre- that surpass the average," says sents more than 10,000 Alan Tomblin, sales manager members own- of North America, P&G Profesing more than sional. "Even more, they show 20,000 hotels that total $128 an unwavering dedication to billion in prop- their families, their employees erty value, to and their communities that sets create the "Family Hote- them apart from the rest. As a lier of the Year" company that has a passion for award. The helping businesses succeed, program celebrates the we celebrate John Trivedi values central to a successful family business. vering dedication to their families, The grand prize includes their employees and their commu$5,000 for a three-day, two-night trip for four to the 2011 AAHOA Annual Convention and Trade Show, a commemorative plaque and a $5,000 in prize money. "These hoteliers deliver a level of excellence and enthusiasm that surpass the average," says Alan Tomblin, sales manager of North

nities that sets them apart from the rest. As a company that has a

John Trivedi

passion for helping businesses succeed, we celebrate John

Trivedi and all of the award finalists for their accomplishments." Grand prize winner Trivedi is a resident of Chicago and the owner of his family's four local Chicago/O'Hare Airport hotels. In addition to employing upwards of 120 local residents, he is involved in helping his community and is one on the board of directors, for organizations within his community. He participates in community fundraising activities like local marathons, and volunteering with organizations that help feed the hungry. In addition to local initiatives, Trivedi also is dedicated to helping needy back in India. "Owning a successful business isn't just about the bottom line, it's also about supporting those who have helped make that success a reality - your family, employees and community," says Trivedi.

Birmingham Museum exhibiting Hindu deities RAJAN ZED

One of the exhibits at Birmingham Museum

BIRMINGHAM: Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) in Birmingham, Alabama, is presenting various Hindu deities in an exhibition "Faces of India" through October two. It reportedly includes 23 sculptures in bronze and stone from the second through 18th centuries, including a 16th century image of Shiva Nataraja, dancing Ganesha, Narasimha, etc. Related events include a yoga program, classical Indian music, lecture on sacred arts and spiritual rituals of India, classical Indian films, dance and music from India, etc. BMA's mission offers provision of an "unparalleled cultural and educational experience" and its collection includes over 24,000 pieces of European, Asian, American, African, Native American, and Pre-Columbian art dated from an-

cient to contemporary. Founded in 1951; Thomas L. Hamby is its Board of Trustees Chairman, Gail

It reportedly includes 23 sculptures in bronze and stone from the second through 18th centuries, including a 16th century image of Shiva Nataraja, dancing Ganesha, Narasimha, etc

C. Andrews is the Director, while Jeannine A. O'Grody is Chief Curator.

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Saraswati Puja & Essay Competition at Riverside Mandir VICTORIA TRUVER

Pt. Shukavak Dasa gives cash award to Ilora Naik

Raj Wanchoo (left) gives cash award to prize winner Akul Gupta (center) while mom looks on proudly

RIVERSIDE: Sunday, graduates sat in rows in front of Saraswati Devi in Riverside's Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir for the annual Saraswati Puja / Graduation Day / Father's Day Celebration. Students who graduated from a school, received a diploma, or completed a class of study and had their arangetra were invited to participate. Head Priest Dr. Shukavak Dasa led the pooja and gave step-by-step instructions to the 50 participants while an audience of 200 family members and friends proudly looked on. One week earlier, students from first grade through college participated in the annual essay competition. Questions based on the grade levels of the children were given to each student at the beginning of the con-

Students of all ages sat for Saraswati Puja

test. One hour was given to answer the essays and students were cautioned to pay attention to neatness as well as essay content. At the conclusion of the Saraswati Puja the contest winners were announced and cash prizes were awarded. For elementary school level Rithvik Gupta took first place and Akul Gupta second. In the middle school category first place was given to Vaibhavi Shah and second to Swarna Das. Ilora Naik took first place in the college/high school division with Saumya Shah and Prathyusha Desari tied for second. Mandir President Bhoodev Tiwari said "Our youth are our future" and agreed that these programs as well as the upcoming summer school are important since they involve Mandir's youth.

Sisters sit together and perform puja

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California woman arrested for 'microwaving' baby SACRAMENTO, CA: A California woman has been arrested for allegedly microwaving her six-week-old daughter to death, shocking even the most seasoned police detectives who conducted a threemonth investigation to determine such a rare cause of death. "We had never seen a crime this unique and disturbing," Sgt. Norm Leong of the Sacramento County Police Department told ABC News. Fire officials responded to the residence of Ka Yang, 29, on March 17. A relative who had returned home called the department after noticing burns on baby Mirabelle Thao-Lo. Yang initially told fire authorities she suffered a seizure and had dropped her daughter, who died at the scene, according

to officials. "It was clear the child was burned but the source was mysterious," Sgt. Leong said. An autopsy conducted by the Sacramento County coroner found the child had

baby's clothing," he added. Detectives thought something was peculiar and spent the next three months investigating the case. "Early on, we did speculate it was possible the baby had been

After the research, it became clear that Mirabelle's injuries were consistent with the kind of burns caused from being placed in a microwave, officials said. Yang was arrested without incident and is being held in Sacramento County Jail deep tissue burns, although the source of the burns remained unclear. "The burns were not typical of fire or acid injuries and there was damage to the

put in the microwave," Leong said. Detectives turned to Google and found three similar cases involving newborns being placed in microwaves in Ohio, Texas and Virginia.

They studied the cases and met with medical professionals, forensic specialists and government agencies. After the research, it became clear that Mirabelle's injuries were consistent with the kind of burns caused from being placed in a microwave, officials said. Yang was arrested without incident and is being held in Sacramento County Jail. Yang was alone in the home with Mirabelle at the time of the incident, Sgt. Leong said, although a relative was outside doing yard work. The baby's father lived with the family but was not home at the time of the incident, police said. Police said they've been unable to pinpoint a motive and declined to say whether Yang was cooperating. -Courtesy ABC News Radio

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Murder of Ahmadis in Pak should concern America

n June 14th the IndoAsian News Service reported that Pakistani terrorists have issued a "HitList" of prominent businessmen who are Ahmadi Muslims, saying those who 'misguide' the Muslims would be punished with death. For the past week, radical Muslims have been distributing pamphlets in the Punjab city of Faisalabad calling for "target killings" of prominent Ahmadis. The pamphlets state that the act of killing an Ahmadi made an individual a "holy warrior" and whoever became one

"would also be blessed by the Holy Prophet [Muhammad] on the Day of Judgment." Translated from Urdu, one pamphlet in English reads in part: "O Muslim brothers! There are some people among us who are misguiding us and their punishment is death." Another pamphlet asked if there was anybody who had the courage to "teach the Ahmadis a lesson." A year ago last May 28th, several Pakistani Taliban armed with machine-guns, grenades and suicide vests attacked two Ahmadi Mosques in Lahore during Friday Prayers, killing 86 wor-

shippers and wounding more than 100. One terrorist was captured by the Ahmadis themselves and turned over to the police, but authorities say they no longer have the suspect in custody and have no idea where he is now. The ongoing tragedy of the persecution and murder of nonviolent, peaceful Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere by Islamist fanatics is highlighted by the equally ongoing tragedy of indifference and even tacit support from mainstream Muslims across the globe. This is further exacerbated by the apathy and ignorance of Americans and other Westerners who may not consider it "their problem" but whose sons and daughters in the military are in harm's way in Afghanistan and Iraq; it is they who will suffer the consequences of this "problem" along with thousands of innocent civilians. Muslims who are familiar with the situation of Ahmadis may say it's not right to attack and kill them, but in the same breath many of these same Muslims will declare that Ahmadis are non-Muslims or worse -- heretics deserving to be killed. And as history clearly shows, when any group is marginalized and denied their rights and protection under the law, there is a predictable escalation from intolerance to demonization, followed by vigilantism, mob violence and state-sanctioned persecution and murder. This is exactly what has happened in Pakistan since 1974 when Islamic clerics and their political minions demanded and

were given a Constitutional Amendment declaring Ahmadis non-Muslims. Anti-blasphemy laws promulgated under British rule in the 19th century (originally designed to prevent inter-religious hatespeech and violence) were recodified in the mid-1980s to make the practice and propagation of Islam by Ahmadis a crime punishable by fines, imprisonment and even death. These revamped Blasphemy laws quickly became the means by which Ahmadis, specifically, along with Shias, Christians, Hindus and others were targeted for persecution and murder by mainstream Sunni Muslims. It is this government-sanctioned lawlessness and acceptance of hatred, bigotry and intolerance against Ahmadi Muslims and other religious minorities in Pakistan that encourages Muslim extremists' violent and deadly attacks. This state of fear and chaos affects all minorities in Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of scores of Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Shias, Ahmadis and others every year. These deaths usually go unpunished and are often lauded and celebrated by the mainstream society, as was the case when the Governor of the Punjab, Salman Taseer, was gunned down by his own bodyguard in January of this year. His killer was showered with roses and cheered by massive crowds outside the courthouse where he was arraigned. This is symptomatic of a deeplyrooted spiritual and moral cancer that is slowly but surely destroying Pakistan from the inside out.

Where then in the hearts of these tens of millions of Pakistani Muslims are the basic human qualities of compassion, conscience, decency and justice? The silence of the majority is easily explained: most mainstream Sunni Muslims are either sympathetic to the politics and methods of the Taliban and similar fanatics or they are understandably afraid of meeting the same fate at the hands of such terrorists as do the Ahmadis, Christians and other minorities. (Indonesia is fast becoming a second Pakistan in that regard for exactly the same reasons, as similar acts of murder and injustice are perpetrated almost daily by Islamist radicals against religious minorities in that country; Hindus, Christians and Ahmadi Muslims being the main victims.) For all those people who don't think it's their problem to combat religious extremism in a land halfway around the world, even though its victims may be members of their own religion, I would ask them to step back in time 75 years to Germany in the mid-1930s and replace "Ahmadis" with "Jews," "Sunnis" with "Christians" and "Taliban" with "Nazis." Is your level of moral apathy and detachment still the same? One would hope not! A World War costing the lives of more than 60 million people reminds us of the tragic consequences of moral cowardice and judicial inaction. Imam Shamshad A. Nasir Chino, CA

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Tech News Pranab for citizenfriendly govt accounting system NEW DELHI: With civil society mounting pressure for transparency in governance, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has called for a government accounting system that enables citizens and social activists to assess performance of public service delivery. "In this age of awareness and information revolution, an average citizen and a social activist wants information to assess the financial health and performance of governments in delivering public services and development schemes...," he said at a CAG function here. Mukherjee, who is the chairman of the joint committee of government and civil society on drafting of the contentious LokPal Bill, said that there is a scope for improving the content and quality of the existing accounting system. -PTI

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July 1, 2011

Chevrolets Battery Electric vehicles being showcased during a demo program in New Delhi.

India, US to fast track bilateral investment treaty dialogue

India to get Nerpa Akula-II N-sub this year MOSCOW: India would receive its first new generation Nerpa Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine, which is undergoing sea trials in Russia, by the end of this year, a top Russian official has said. "The Nerpa will be handed over to the Indian Navy on lease by the end of this year," Director of Federal Service for MilitaryTechnical Cooperation (FSVTS) Mikhail Dmitriyev was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. "Currently the submarine is undergoing sea trials, where the Indian crew is checking the functioning of its all systems and mechanism and are honing their skill for operating the vessel," said the official dealing in foreign military cooperation.-PTI

India seeks tech cooperation with Poland on coal NEW DELHI: The Indian government has said it has sought technical cooperation from the government of Poland in the field of coal and lignite mining and also asked companies from the European country to invest in India. Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, who met Poland Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, also discussed the scope for technical cooperation between both nations, particularly on manufacturing of underground mining machinery, an official statement said. "Further, extraction of coalbed methane... environmental issues of coal mining were also discussed. -PTI

Beating the traffic in true New York style, India's Minister of Commerce Anand Sharma preferred to walk it out to attend the US-India Business Council (USIBC) CEOs meet on June 21. (pic Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)

WASHINGTON: India and the United States have agreed to fasttrack technical negotiations for early conclusion of a Bilateral Investment Agreement during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk. "We agreed to re-invigorate the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) and make it more robust and effective in resolving bilateral commercial issues, while maintaining the political leadership of the process," Sharma told Indian reporters after the meeting. "The two sides also agreed to fast-track the technical negotia-

tions for an early conclusion of the India-US Bilateral Investment Agreement," Sharma said, adding

in India. Reaffirming that the TPF is the premier dialogue for addressing

"The two sides also agreed to fast-track the technical negotiations for an early conclusion of the India-US Bilateral Investment Agreement," Sharma said, adding there would be two rounds of negotiations before the next meeting of the ministerial level TPF, expected to be held in October, 2011 there would be two rounds of negotiations before the next meeting of the ministerial level TPF, expected to be held in October, 2011,

trade and investment issues between the two countries, a separate USTR statement said the two agreed that the TPF should be

strengthened to better facilitate resolution of outstanding issues of concern and looked forward to a constructive meeting of the TPF later this year. "The booming bilateral trade and investment flows between the United States and India support tens of thousands of critical jobs in both countries and we know that will only grow significantly in the coming years," Kirk said. "However, to continue and grow our successes, both India and the United States must take concrete steps to resolve longstanding market access and investment concerns," he said. ContĂd on page 21

Willing to offer F-35 to India: Lockheed LE BOURGET, Paris: After India rejected its F-16 fighter jets, US defense major Lockheed Martin has said it is willing to offer its latest fifth generation multi-role F35 stealth planes if the US government approves it. "The decision has to be taken by the (US) government. There has not been any discussion between us and the Indian Government," Lockheed's Martin Director of Communications of F-35 Michael J Rein told PTI here, saying his firm is willing to rejoin

the bid for the USD 11 billion fighter jet deal for procurement of 126 Medium-Multi Role Combat

along with another US firm Boeing's offer of F/A-18 Super Hornet from the race for procure-

The proposal to allow sale of F-35 stealth fighter has brightened the prospects of Lockheed Martin returning to the race for the deal, a top official of an Aerospace firm attending the Paris Air Show said Aircraft. The Indian Government had rejected Lockheed's offer of F-16

ment of the jets. Rein said the offer of F-35 stealth fighter to India has been

mentioned in a draft Senate Bill and it was up to the US Government to take it forward. The proposal to allow sale of F-35 stealth fighter has brightened the prospects of Lockheed Martin returning to the race for the deal, a top official of an Aerospace firm attending the Paris Air Show said. Both Boeing and Lockheed Martin had been aggressively biding for the anticipated USD 11 billion deal. ContĂd on page 21

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Raytheon in talks with India IndiGo confirms order for 180 aircraft over NATGRID project LE BOURGET, Paris: American defense major Raytheon has said it was in talks with Indian government to offer its expertise for setting up the Rs 1,200-crore National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) project that will facilitate robust information-sharing among law enforcement agencies to combat terror threat. Raytheon India President William L Blair said the company held several rounds of talks with the Chief Executive Officer of NATGRID Raghu Raman and other top officials of the Home Ministry to offer its expertise for the ambitious project on the lines of the similar infrastructure in Counter-Terrorism Centre in the US. The US support for the project was also offered during a meeting of US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi late last month. "We are working directly with the NATGRID CEO and the whole NATGRID team. There is a mandate to go forward and relevant information has been shared to the requirements that have been set. There has been a government-togovernment dialogue also on this,"

Blair told PTI here at the Paris Air Show. He said the US government is one of Raytheon's biggest customers as the company is involved in setting up of cyber intelligence network for America's CounterTerrorism Centre and other similar infrastructures.

The NATGRID is being set up to facilitate robust information-sharing by security agencies and law enforcement agencies to combat terror threat at home and abroad "What we have done in US National Counter-Terrorism Centre might be relevant to India's NATGRID. One of Raytheon's biggest customers is US government. They know our strength. We are ready to offer our technology to India in this area," Blair

said, noting that the company will offer India the best technology which is in use. The Home Ministry has set the ball rolling for establishing the Rs 1,200-crore ambitious project after getting approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) earlier this month for first and second phases of the NATGRID, which is expected to be operational by January 2013. The NATGRID is being set up to facilitate robust informationsharing by security agencies and law enforcement agencies to combat terror threat at home and abroad. Blair said if Raytheon is involved in the project, it will tie up with an Indian IT company for developing various cyber support solutions. "Companies that are meeting the requirement set by the Indian government are Wipro, TCS, HCL, Mahindra Satyam and Infosys," he said, refusing to share any more details about the possible partner in the venture. The NATGRID will have access to about 21 categories of database like railway and air travel, income tax, bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records. -PTI

India, US to fast track bilateral investment treaty dialogue ContĂd from page 20

Describing his meeting with Kirk as productive, Sharma said the talks covered the entire range of issues in bilateral trade and commercial engagement. Sharma apprised Kirk of various policy approaches being taken by India to sustain its high GDP growth and the opportunities it offered for US businesses to develop partnerships with the Indian private sector. Sharma mentioned infrastruc-

ture, agriculture and agro processing, food processing, cold chain logistics and manufacture of electronic devices, including chip design, as areas with bilateral cooperative possibilities. He also raised issues of importance for the Indian industry in their business operations in the United States. The minister said the US welcomed the unilateral action taken by India in reducing tariffs on a number of products, including raw pistachios, cranberry products,

seedless raisins, processed foods, medical equipment, fertilizers, chemicals and heavy machinery. The USTR also appreciated India's efforts toward increased cooperation in services and on improving the investment environment, he said. According to the USTR, the two leaders recognized the challenges that remain in the ongoing discussions with regard to the Doha Round, but expressed their commitment to exploring options for productive next steps. -PTI

Willing to offer F-35 to India: Lockheed ContĂd from page 20

Rein, who is here to as part of Lockheed Martin's delegation to Paris Air Show, was replying to a question on reports that the US defense major will offer its F-35 jets to India to rejoin the race for the MMRCA contract, billed as one of the largest in recent times world-

wide. Lockheed Martin had offered the F16IN Super Viper to India which was rejected by the Indian government along with Boeing's F18 Super Horne and Russian MiG. India has shortlisted two European contenders, French Dassault Rafale and European Eurofighter for procuring 126 Medium-

Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in April. However, another executive, not wished to be named, said it would be difficult for Lockheed Martin to rejoin the competition as Indian government has already completed the shortlisting exercise. -PTI

This file computer image provided by Airbus shows a A320neo jet. Airbus said the IndiGo order is "the biggest order in aviation history."

LE BOURGET, Paris: In one of the largest aircraft orders in global aviation history, Indian budget carrier Indigo has confirmed that it would buy 180 Airbus single-aisle A320 planes. IndiGo, which had signed an MoU with the major European aircraft manufacturer this January, made a firm commitment to purchase 150 A320neo and 30 A320 aircraft at the airshow here. "Our order with Airbus will further establish IndiGo as a leading carrier in the Indian market, and one that continues to offer low fares and high service. Our existing order for 100 A320s and the order announced today will help meet India's growing flying market, in the most cost efficient and environmentally responsible way possible," Aditya Ghosh, president of the airliner, said in a statement. While, Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders said: "This record order for our A320neo will enable IndiGo to achieve the maximum benefit from India's projected

strong passenger traffic growth over the coming years. Today's agreement is clear endorsement of our A320neo." The order makes IndiGo one of the launch customers of the next generation A320neo planes. Engine selection will be announced by the airline later. IngiGo had earlier ordered 100 A320s in June 2005. Out of that order, 44 aircraft have already been delivered. Over 7,000 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and more than 4,700 delivered to more than 330 customers and operators worldwide. The A320neo has over 95 per cent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometers) more range or two tonnes more payload. The A320neo, available from 2015, incorporates new more efficient engines and large wing tip devices called 'Sharklets' delivering fuel savings of 15 per cent. -PTI

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India, Myanmar discuss Google now supports five more Kaladan transit project

Indian languages

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna along with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao during bilateral talks with his Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin in Nay Pyi Taw.

NAY PYI TAW: India and Myanmar discussed issues related to the implementation of the ambitious Kaladan multi-modal trade transit project that envisages creating an alternate route to India's landlocked northeastern areas. The USD 110 million project came up for discussion during talks between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin here. The project was signed in 2008 laid out plans to a construct a road link connecting Mizoram to Sittwe and Kaleutwa in Myanmar, among other things, as part of an aim to create an alternate transit and transport route. The multi-crore project, when implemented will take off pressure from the lone trade route to Northeast states through West Bengal. Besides discussing ways to in-

crease the connectivity, India and Myanmar also took a review of the Kaladan project, sources said. The project was to be entirely funded by India with the Inland Waterways Authority of India appointed as project development consultant. Through the project, India and Myanmar also hope to use the increased connectivity to increase trade between their territories. On the issues of Indian investment in the country, sources said viable sectors are being identified that will be mutually beneficial for both countries. India is the thirteenth largest investor with an investment estimated at USD 189 million in five projects. "A lot more can be done on the trade and economy front. We like to see more border trade happening between the two countries," a source said. -PTI

WASHINGTON: Internet search engine giant Google today included five more Indian languages -- Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu -- in its translation services, thus increasing its reach to another 500 million population. "Beginning today, you can explore the linguistic diversity of the Indian sub-continent with Google translate, which now supports five new experimental alpha languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu," said Ashish Venugopal, research scientist at Google. Google already supports translation services in Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and Punjabi. With this Google now supports translations in nine Indian languages. "In India and Bangladesh alone, more than 500 million people speak these five languages. Since 2009, we've launched a total of 11 alpha languages, bringing the current number of languages supported by Google Translate to 63," he wrote in a Google Blog. Venugopal said one can expect translations for these new alpha languages to be less fluent and include many more untranslated words than some of the more mature languages -- like Spanish or Chinese -- which have much more of the web content that powers its statistical machine translation approach. "Despite these challenges, we release alpha languages when we

The Indian map on Google's satellite image service.

believe that they help people better access the multilingual web. If you notice incorrect or missing translations for any of our languages, please correct us; we enjoy learning from our mistakes and your feedback helps us graduate

put method for those of you without Indian language keyboards," he said. He hoped that the launch of these new alpha languages will help one better understand the Indic (Indo-Aryan languages) web

Google already supports translation services in Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and Punjabi. With this Google now supports translations in nine Indian languages new languages from alpha status," the Google research scientist said. "Since these languages each have their own unique scripts, we have enabled a transliterated in-

and encourage the publication of new content in Indic languages, taking Google five alpha steps closer to a web without language barriers. -PTI

Air India to get Rs 1200 crore as additional equity NEW DELHI: Ailing Air India is likely to get an additional equity infusion of Rs 1,200 crore with a Group of Ministers (GoM) deciding to bring a proposal on the issue soon. "The GoM will bring a proposal to release Rs 1,200 crore of equity and place it before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs within a short time-frame", Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said after a 90minute meeting of the ministerial group headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. At the first meeting of the GoM, it was also decided to set up a committee to examine the turnaround and financial restructuring plans of Air India and submit its report within six weeks to the GoM for a review, he said. This committee would also examine the plan to restructure its massive debt of Rs 40,000 crore, sources said. A Committee of Secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary A K Seth, would be established to look into the financial claims submitted by Air India to the government for carrying out VVIP flights and evacua-

tion of people from various countries in the recent past, Ravi said. The CoS would have Secretaries of Economic Affairs, Expenditure, Civil Aviation, Financial Services and representatives of the Planning Commission. The decisions were taken in view of the precarious financial situation of the national

dia CMD Arvind Jadhav. A cabinet note on operationalising Air India's proposed subsidiaries for ground handling and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) will be circulated within twoweeks, Ravi said. Once the GoM approves the airline's turnaround and financial restructuring plan, the

Air India is saddled with a debt of about Rs 40,000 crore, of which Rs 18,000 crore are working capital loans taken from a consortium of banks and the remaining amount of loans is towards payment of new aircraft ordered carrier and expeditious steps need to save it from a virtual bankruptcy. Besides Mukherjee and Ravi, the meeting was attended among others by Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Cabinet Secretary A K Seth, Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi and Air In-

proposal to infuse further equity would be placed before the CCEA for releasing the third tranche, he said. The government has already set aside a provision of Rs 1,200 crore in the budget for infusing equity in Air India in this financial year. Till now, it has injected Rs 1,200 crore and Rs 800 crore in two tranches in

2009-10, raising the national carrier's equity base to Rs 2,145 crore. The turnaround plan includes equity infusion, conversion of short-term loans to long-term ones, reduction of interest rates, operationalisation of MRO and Ground Handling subsidiaries and resolving integration and merger issues. The bankers' consortium, approached by the airline for debt restructuring, had in April supported the turnaround plan with certain conditions. The airline had then set a target for enhancing revenues by Rs 5,000 crore and slash costs by Rs 4,000 crore per annum as part of this plan. Air India is saddled with a debt of about Rs 40,000 crore, of which Rs 18,000 crore are working capital loans taken from a consortium of banks and the remaining amount of loans is towards payment of new aircraft ordered. SBI Caps and Deloitte were mandated by a consortium of nearly 10 lenders to thrash out a turnaround strategy for the ailing national carrier. The plan has been submitted to the Reserve Bank of India for approval. -PTI

Horoscope

July 1, 2011

India Post 23

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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar JULY 1ST - JULY 7TH ARIES (MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20)

TAURUS (APRIL 21 TO MAY 20)

ittle efforts will bring large gains. You will act more matured and speak wisely. People will benefit from your advice. You will continue to make progress in legal matters but final settlement is still little away. You will get to spend some quality and fun time with family and friends. Avoid too much spicy food.

eople prone to blood pressure problems should watch out as heat can add up to the problem. Try to stay calm and avoid making any impulsive move in career. A smooth switch is few weeks away. You may buy some fine quality item for the house. There is no harm in trying your hands at lottery. Mail you write will get instant reply.

GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20)

CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22)

here will be some major developments in on going legal matters and it looks the settlement is only few weeks away. Do not be nervous and keep working on your plans as changes in career are imminent. You may have some guests at your place this week. Property deal should also finalize soon. Stay away from stocks and bonds.

ome one may try to play with your emotions and try to come too close. Negotiations will continue about making a smooth switch to another company. Be firm and stick to your earlier plans. Mind will be more relaxed and developments will keep you happy. Some of you will be getting ready to relocate. Stocks will bring in extra money.

LEO (JULY 23 TO AUGUST 22)

ou will sign an important contract this week. read the fine lines and have few tricky clause changed before you finalize it. Business will pick up all of a sudden. Some of your actions will make you more popular in social circle. Speculation and playing lottery will be profitable. Property deal will close very soon.

VIRGO (AUGUST 23 TO SEPTEMBER 22)

ou will have to face few road blocks before the job gets finally done. Planets will try to create utter confusions and panic in your mind but stick to original ideas and theory. Avoid falling for too good to be true schemes. Spouse may not agree on all your plans, it will be better to listen to spouse.

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 TO OCTOBER 22)

SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 TO NOVEMBER 22)

ou will need more for your project. Business partner may loose patience and offer to get out of partnership even. Trip will be relaxing for all. You may change your mind about going out of your way to help some one. Some of you will be moving to another location soon. Money wise you will stay very comfortable.

onfidence level will be on peak. Expect some fortunate developments in career this week. You may take a short pleasure trip with family to a really nice but crowded place. Money wise you will continue to do meet you commitments. Jupiter in seventh will bring bachelors close to some one highly compatible person.

SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 22)

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 19)

hings will continue to improve in life and you will not have to compromise any more. Chance of addition of another member in the family becomes strong. Boss will take your advice and take proper action. You will make good use of time on hands and do some cleaning in and around your house and relax too.

unt for an appropriate house will continue. Business meetings will go very well and you will get the contract. Trip will be relaxing. You will benefit from some one lot younger than you in age. Money long overdue will show up during the week. You may visit a holy place with family and participate in special prayers.

AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 TO FEBRUARY 18)

PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 TO MARCH 20)

egotiations and interviews will continue with a well known company. You will take a short trip to a real warm area. You will meet all financial commitments on time and still have lot left in the bank. Continue working on your business plans and keep looking for right partners. You will receive call from an old friend.

Pandit Parashar, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

ou may visit an old friend or relative with family this week. You will need to be firm on phone if you want to get the job done. You may buy some art or antique piece for the house. Idea of taking a trip overseas will continue to occupy your mind. You will be making final payments on couple of old debts this week.

925-833-7170 website: www.parashar.com

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Humko Pyaar Hua : Ready 2 Tere Bin Jiya Na Jaye : Love Express 3 Kutta : Pyar Ka Punchnama Shor In The City 4 Hare Jhande Ke Shehzaade : A Strange Love Story

India Post

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July 1, 2011

5 Khoya Kya : Kashmakash 6 Khwab (Rock) : Kucch Luv Jaisaa 7

Zindagi : Shaitan

8 Ishq Da Keeda : Bheja Fry 2 9 Bhaag D.K Bose, Aandhi Aayi : Delhi Belly 10 O Yaara : Shaitan

Yash Raj FAVORITE!

ishwarya Rai is in the family way, says her father-in-law and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan. "News news news!! I am going to become a grandfather ... aishwarya expecting... so happy and thrilled, (sic)" Amitabh posted on his Twitter account. "I am extremely thrilled and, feel so happy. It's true, Ash is pregnant and we are all set to welcome the new member to our family," said Big B. Ever since Amitabh posted the message on the micro blogging site, congratulatory messages have started pouring in. Aishwarya, 37, and Abhishek, 35, were married in 2007 and as soon as they tied the knot, the rumors of Aishwarya getting pregnant have been making the news. And finally she is expecting. "Yes, it is true," Ash's spokesperson said confirming the news.

arisma Kapoor is going to make a grand comeback with Vikram Bhatt's "Dangerous Ishq". It will the most challenging role for the actress so far as she will portray five roles in five different lifetimes spanning a whole gamut of India's mythological and historical events right from the time of Mirabai to the partition of India, Indira Gandhi's assassination and the modern political scenario. Well, Karisma will be seen opposite five different male leads and she will also indulge in heavy duty action sequences for the flick. Karisma is doing intense research for her characters and is also taking training for the action stunts. Director Vikram Bhatt confirms these reports saying, "Yes, Karisma's character will go back into four different eras and lifetimes, plus there's a role in present times. So, it's actually a total of five roles. The story opens in 1498 and then moves through various eras to contemporary times." "Karisma has always been a very hard-working and capable actress. But in terms of challenges posed to her performing abilities, I feel there have been not too many golden opportunities. I feel this is the right time for Karisma to do 'Dangerous Ishq'. It takes her to a new level as an actor," he added.

ut of Anushka Sharma's four films so far, three of them has been under the Yash Rajbanner. Well, we guess she is the favorite lady of the Yash Raj camp. Rubisshing all rumors about her signing a secret long-term contract with Yash Raj Productions, the actress say, she has no limitations as such and is free to work with anybody. She believes that it is purely because of her talent that Aditya Chopra is offering her roles and she feels lucky to work with Bollywood biggies at such an early stage of her career. Well, very soon, we will get a lot more from her as she is currently shooting opposite Ranveer Singh for her upcoming movie Ladies V/s Ricky Bahl. Rumors of her link up with Ranveer Singh never seem to cease. Anushka says it has become a fashion to link up co-stars and she does not lead her life according to what people say!

July 1, 2011

Bollywood

India Post

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SHAITAN BAHU A

nurag Kashyap and Kalki Koechlin made their first appearance post-marriage in Delhi. The question at the press conference most addressed to Anurag was, "Toh bataiye, real life mein kitni shaitan hain Kalki?" Anurag's answers were a variation of, "Uff, bilkul evil." Finally, Kalki said, "I'm white but I have a black heart," and giggled into Anurag's shoulder. Another common one was, "How has it been after marriage?" Anurag's replies were again a variation on, "Jab se shaadi hui hai woh ghar mein chaar din rahi hai. Pehle Latur mein thi, shooting for (Dibakar Banerjee's) "Shanghai", and now we're traveling for "Shaitan", and then she'll leave to promote "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". Main to tab se wait hi kar raha hoon." Kalki cuddled up into him and said, "You've been waiting for me all your life." Anurag's pet peeve was that since the marriage, they've been "romancing each other on Skype for a month." Kalki mentioned that Anurag wasn't romantic and sweet to her at all when they started seeing each other. "He wasâ&#x20AC;Ś Ugh!" she said, "I don't know why I felt anything for him then. I think I just felt sorry for him!"

Arbaaz's 'strength'

Wedding next year

areena can thank Salman for adjusting his dates for "Bodyguard" so that she could join Saif in London for a holiday. Rubbishing rumors of a rift between Saif and Kareena, sources close to the actress say she has made up her mind to tie the knot with Saif next year. A source close to the couple says that both feel this is the right time to take the plunge. "Saif is absolutely comfortable with Kareena's family. Kareena has also finally found a comfort level with Saif's children. This was the biggest stumbling block in the marriage," says a source. Says Kareena's close friend, "Saif has been keen to marry Bebo for ages now. He wanted to make it official soon after he met and fell in love with her. But the couple agreed that such an early marriage would affect her career negatively. But Kareena is now at a stage where her marital status would make no difference to her career." Stories about a rift in their relationship have shocked Kareena and Saif "deeply". Says Kareena's close friend, "Bebo told us that there can never be any issues between them because they are devoted to building a life together. Whether people like it or not, Bebo and Saif are in this relationship for keeps."

will be a part of Dabangg 2 in some way or the other - be it a role in the film or in its productionâ&#x20AC;? Malaika Arora Khan says there's no trouble in her marriage. In fact, she is looking forward to Dabangg 2 with hubby. Malaika Arora Khan aka Munni, who ruled many hearts with her hit item number in the Salman Khan starrer Dabangg, is excited about Dabangg 2. Will the actor be a part of the upcoming flick too? "Yes, I will be a part of it in some way," she says, adding that her role in the making of the film is to be Arbaaz's (hubby actor-producer Arbaaz Khan) "strength". The two were recently in news for rumors of having split after being married to each other for 12 years. "We have been together for a long time. There are always ups and downs in a relationship, but it's very hurtful to hear such rumors. We usually don't react to such rumors, but this time we felt the need to speak," says Malaika. The actor was last seen judging a reality dance show, on television. Will we see her doing some other reality show, anytime soon? "Yes, you will see me on television again by the end of this year," says Malaika.

haranams, Queens-based Carnatic jazz band, won the Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs contest on June 17 to become the best music band of New York City. Charanams was the one and only Indian band featured in this fierce New York music contest that started off with 524 submissions from bands of all genre. About 8 to 10 bands from each borough, selected by a panel of judges, performed live at The Jerome L. Greene Performing Space in New York in five borough-wide contests in various dates. Charanams, which was among 9 bands selected from Queens, won the borough-round of the contest in March this year and represented Queens in the final round of contest on June 17.

The Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs featured the top 5 bands of New York City - Charanams

India Post

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July 1, 2011

BEST MUSIC BAND OF NEW YORK

(Queens), The Soulfolk Experience (Brooklyn), Finotee (Bronx), Joan Caddell & the Midnight Choir (Staten Island) and Andy Suzuki & the Method (Manhattan) The Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs featured the top 5 bands of New York City - Charanams (Queens), The Soulfolk Experience (Brooklyn), Finotee (Bronx), Joan Caddell & the Midnight Choir (Staten Island) and Andy Suzuki & the Method (Manhattan). The bands performed for inhouse audience of over 300 music lovers and a panel of 5 musician-judges. The live webcast of the event was also watched by thousands of fans world over. Charanams performed "The Mystic Earth" and "The Hudson Ride", two original compositions of Nivedita ShivRaj, that blew away the in-house audience and all the judges, to win this prestigious honor. The judges were unanimous in their appreciation of the band's performance and the quality of its style of music. Hosted by Terrance McKnight of

‘Charanams’ wins the Battle of Boroughs WQXR and WNYC Radios, the Battle of the Boroughs music contest was organized by WNYC Radio and The Greene Space in partnership with the City Parks Foundation SummerStage. Charanams, created by Queensbased musician Nivedita ShivRaj, presents unique world music by bringing together the best of Carnatic (South Indian classical) and jazz styles of music. Cont’d on page 27

July 1, 2011

India Post

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Mumbai-born's humble upma wins $100,000 India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Celebrity New York chef of Indian origin Floyd Cardoz walked away with $100,000 in prize money after winning the popular 'Top Chef Masters' contest June 16, on Bravo TV. And the dish that brought him sweet success was the quintessential Indian savory: Upma. The former Executive Chef/Partner of Tabla in New York City and soon-to-be Executive Chef/Partner of a new Danny Meyer restaurant North End Grill clinched the Top Chef Masters title wowing the judges with, among other dishes, a deceptively simple upma, the South Indian breakfast dish made of semolina (with the chef's twist adding mushrooms). Cardoz's prize money as well as an addi-

tional $10,000 he won in an earlier challenge Cardoz was the executive chef of Tabla, will go toward the Young Scientist Cancer a groundbreaking restaurant serving Indian Research Fund in memory of his father, who died of cancer. His father, apparently, didn't want the Mumbai-born Cardoz to be a chef - he trained to be a biochemist but ultimately found his calling was in the kitchen. "I didn't pick myself to win," he said in his exit interview on the show. "I'm shocked. Winning means a lot to me and my family because my family has The winning dish Floyd Cardoz always sacrificed our family life for me to do what I do." Cardoz beat Mary Sue Milliken of Los food. Despite being touted as one of New Angeles' Border Grill and Traci Des Jardins York's best, Tabla could not sustain itself of San Francisco's Jardiniere. and closed last year, after being in business

Best music band of NY Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 26

The award-winning Carnatic musician Nivedita ShivRaj is proficient in both vocal music and veena, a multi-stringed instrument of South India. Nivedita ShivRaj is also the Artistic Director of RagaChitra Foundation, an Institution for Indian performing arts. She has presented music concerts and workshops in prestigious venues such as the Gracie Mansion of The Mayor of New York City, The Arbor Festival at Queens Botanical Garden, The Indian Consulate in New York, Queens Library, The Rubin Museum of Art and The Weill Music Institute at The Carnegie Hall. Nivedita ShivRaj is also an active panelist in Queens Council on the Arts and the artistic director of "RagaChitram" Television Show, an exclusive program for Indian classical music and dance. "This is the first time classical Indian music has won the hearts of music fans over other genres in a music contest," says Nivedita ShivRaj. "I am honored and humbled by the appreciation and support of my fans." Nivedita ShivRaj has also released "Veena Vibrations," a music album for transcendental meditation based on Carnatic music, the first of its kind in the USA.

Samyuktha ShivRaj, the daughter of Nivedita ShivRaj, performs vocals in Charanams, while Marcus Cummins plays the saxophone and Jason Goldstein plays the guitar and bass. The band has a unique blend of percussion with cajon and frame drums by Tripp Dudley and tabla by Advait Shah. The band performs original compositions of Nivedita ShivRaj besides traditional Carnatic compositions. As the winner of the Battle of the Boroughs, Charanams will perform an exclusive concert at the Summerstage concert series this year and will also perform a concert at The Greene Space Theater. In addition to thousands of Indian music lovers in various parts of the United States, numerous fans of the band in India, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada and other countries watched the webcast of Charanams performance in the contest. The videos of Charanams performances in the contest may be seen at: www.Charanams.com. Compositions of Nivedita ShivRaj are also available at: www.NiveditaShivRaj.com. Nivedita ShivRaj and Charanams band will be presenting a special concert at the Brooklyn Museum on July 2nd at 8 p.m. as a part of its exhibition "Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior" (June 24 - October 2, 2011).

for 12 years. Cardoz began his career in Mumbai, where he attended culinary school and interned at Taj Mahal Intercontinental Hotel. He then went to Switzerland to study hotel management after which he moved to New York where he worked under Chef Gray Kunz of the venerable Lespinasse. During his seven years at the world-renowned restaurant, he rose from Chef de Partie to Executive Sous Chef. In 2006, Cardoz wrote his first cookbook, 'One Spice, Two Spice'. In 2009, he launched a line of meals for online grocer Fresh Direct. He is also the consulting chef for El Verano Taqueria located at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. Outside his kitchens, Cardoz also won the 'Humanitarian Award of the Year Award' from Share Our Strength in 2007.

Datebook

India Post

July 1, 2011

www.indiapost.com

NEW YORK

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Sun July 3 • Satsang and Gnan Vidhi in New York Venue: Discover Permanent Happiness, Through Spritual Science, Queens College (Kupferberg Center), 65-30 Kissena Blvd,Flushing, New York Time: 9am to 8:30pm Contact: (718)631-0443

Sat July 9 • Ustad ghulam ali live in concert Venue: Hindu Temple Auditorium, 143-09 Holly avenue, Flushing, New York Time: 8pm Contact: 917-855-2057

Sun July 3

NEW JERSEY

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Upcoming

• Red White & You

Sat July 2

Thurs July 7

Venue: Cresendo, 222,W.Ontario, Chicago, Illinois Time: 9pm Contact: 773-490-0975

• BasementBollywood. Night

• Devotion to Our Lady of Good

Venue: Fire N Ice, 583 Fords Ave, Fords, NJ Time: 9pm Contact: (732) 734-1364

Health (Vailankanni)

• 2011 Western Regional Family & Youth Conference

Venue: St James the Apostle Catholic Church, 34700 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, California Time: 7pm to 9pm Contact: 408-506-4474

Venue: St. Thomas Orthodox Church of Los Angeles, 14121 Coteau Dr., Whittier, CA Time: 4pm Contact: 714-342-5196

• South Asian Summer Theater Festival

Mon July 4

Sat July 9

Venue: Crossroads Theater, 7 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, New Jersey Contact: 732-750-1546

• Apna Punjab Annual Picnic:

BarBeCue, Indian Food & Lot's of Fun & Game.

• Arangetram - Emily Johnston

Mon July 18 • Bhasshic 2011 (Free 10-Day Summer Hindi Camp) Venue: Chinmaya Mission Chicago - Yamunotri Campus, 30877 N. Fairfield Road, Grayslake, Illinois Time: 9am to 5pm Contact: 847-537-4710

Sat July 9

Sat July 30

Sat Aug 27

• Surtarang Music Competition

• Asian American Fair 2011

Venue: Naperville Community Concert Center, 104 E. Benton Ave., Naperville,Illinois Time: 11am to 4pm Contact: 630-355-5468

Venue: Garden State Exhibit & convention center, 50 atrium Drive.somerset, New Jersey Time: 11am to 9pm Contact: 347-513-8526

WASHINGTON DC

Upcoming

Venue: Central Park Lake Elizabeth, 40000 Paseo Padre Pkwy Fremont CA Time: 11am to 5pm Contact: 510-415-2368

Wed July 8 • Sapane, Soorile Sapane - Tribute To Mukesh Venue: Mayuri Indian Cuisine, 2232 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, California Time: 7:30pm to 11pm Contact: 408-735-9025

Mon July 4

Thurs July 9

• Rathyatra, Festival of India

• Shaan Live-in-concert with

Venue: National Mall (in front of Air & Space Museum), Washington, DC Time: 10:30am to 9pm Contact: 301-299-2100

Aishwarya and Sadab

Fri July 22 • Manish Sood presents "INTENSE" starring Atif Aslam and Sunidhi Chouhan Live Venue: DAR Constitution, 1776 D Street, NW Washington, Washington Time: 7:30pm Contact: 703-629-9623

Mon Aug 22 • Shri Krishna Janamastami Venue: Hare Krishan Temple, 10310 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, Maryland Time: 4:30am Contact: 301-299-2100

Venue: San jose center for the performing arts, 255,Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California Time: 7:30pm Contact: 408-792-4111

Fri July 10 • Yuva Bharati Presents Mohini

Attam Recital By Sunanda Nair Venue: Cubberley Theater, 4000,Middle Field Road, Pal Alto, California Time: 4pm Contact: 650-565 - 8859

Sat July 16 • Exploring Yoga's Spiritual and Religious Roots Venue: Yoga Mandala Studio, 2807 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 Time: 2pm to 4pm Contact: 408-464-8715

Venue: Albert & Janet Schultz Theater, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, California Contact: 408-871-5959

Sum July 17 • Indian Cruise to Mexico from Long Beach Venue: Carnival Splendor, 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, California Time: 4:30pm Contact: 858-925-7806

Fri July 22 • Into The Bollywoods Venue: Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, California Time: 8:30pm Contact: 310-876-2513

Mon Aug 1 • Yogalicious! Venue: Art of Living Center Los Angeles, 948 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, California Time: 6:30pm to 9pm Contact: 310-820-9429

Fri Aug 5 • David Maldonado's "Noche de Pasion" - 100 Years of the Spanish Guitar Venue: Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd., East, Hollywood, California Time: 8:30pm to 10pm Contact: 619-723-5407

29 India Post

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July 1, 2011

Situated amidst misty and dreamy surroundings, in the Garhwal Hills, is the pictorial town of Dhanaulti. The lush greenery, comprising soaring trees of deodar, rhododendron and oak, makes the hill station look like a painting created by Almighty himself

ituated amidst misty and dreamy surroundings, in the Garhwal Hills, is the pictorial town of Dhanaulti. The lush greenery, comprising soaring trees of deodar, rhododendron and oak, makes the hill station look like a painting created by Almighty himself. The serenity and solitude in which Dhanaulti Hills abound serve as one of the major attractions of the travel and tourism industry of the state. The pleasant weather of the hill resort, which boasts of cool breezes, warm sunlight and moderate temperatures, adds to its lure. The hills surrounding it offer amazing views of their sun-capped peaks, cov-

ered amidst hazy mist. In short, if you want to take a break from the mundane life, Dhanaulti Hills of Uttaranchal is just the place for you! Tourist Attractions Sarkunda Devi: Sarkunda Devi Temple is situated at a distance of hardly 7 km from Dhanaulti town. For reaching the temple, one has to undertake a trek of around 2 km. However the magnificent views one can see from up there, makes the climb worth it. Barehipani and Joranda Falls: Barehipani and Joranda Falls are counted amongst the most popular attractions of Dhanaulti. The height of the former is around 400 m, while the latter comes cascading

down from an altitude of 150 m. Chanderi: Chanderi town, located on the hills, is known for having excellent monuments based on Rajput and Sultanate architectural styles. Amongst the most splendid monuments in Chanderi are Koshak Mahal, the Badal Mahal, Victory Arch, Jama Masjid and ancient Jain temples. Dashavatar Temple: Dashavatar Temple, belonging to the time of the Gupta Empire, is the earliest known Panchyatan temple in North India. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple boasts of terraced basement, adorned with skillfully sculpted panels. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 31

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

July 1, 2011

www.indiapost.com

Rs 350 crore for tourism projects in J&K SRINAGAR: The Centre has sanctioned nearly Rs 350 crore for development of 35 projects including a mega circuit and laser show in Srinagar's Dal Lake as part of its financial assistance to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. "The Centre has committed development of 35 more tourism projects of Rs 180 crore to the State. Under these projects besides development of new tourism spots, up-gradation of infrastructure at existing tourism places would get priority," state Tourism

of the state for marketing it on a large canvass at national and international level. He said unique tourism attractions being developed at tourism spots would ensure that visiting tourists would not get bored. Instead they would witness different attractions and extend their holidays. A water centre is being developed at Mansabal Lake in Ganderbal district and from next year no motorboat would be allowed to drive in Dal Lake, the min-

A water centre is being developed at Mansabal Lake in Ganderbal district and from next year no motorboat would be allowed to drive in Dal Lake, the minister said. He said this year Heli skiing events have been organized at Gulmarg and Pahalgam Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said at a function here. The Minister said Union Tourism Ministry has also approved mega circuits for Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, each costing Rs 50 crore for promotion of pilgrim tourism. To attract more tourists to the Valley, a laser show in Dal Lake would be organized for which Rs 12 crore have been approved by the Centre, the minister said. Jora said the state government with financial assistance from the Centre has taken several measures to promote the tourism potential

ister said. Exploitation of adventure tourism is receiving focused attention of the Government, he said adding that after completion of the 2nd phase of KangdooriMarrishoulder chair left in famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir this year an international skiing event would be organized there. He said this year Heli skiing events have been organized at Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The Minister said an Everest Marathon event would be held

during August in Leh. A rafting championship would be organized in September this year, Jora said, adding that a national level Adventure tour operator's convention would also be held at Srinagar to promote adventure tourism potential of the state. The Minister said to provide skill training under tourism sector to the youth, hospitality certificate course would be introduced in six ITIs of the state, three each at Kashmir and Jammu. Besides, the skill training under 'hunar sey-rozgar' would be provided to 2000 to 3000 youth of

the State during this year, he said. He said food craft centre Jammu would be upgraded to the level of hotel management institute while in Leh food craft centre hotel management courses would be introduced this year. Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani said promotion of golf tourism is also priority of the Government and in this direction concerted efforts are being made to develop golf infrastructure in the state. He said efforts of the Government is to maintain its courses at International standards for global marketing.

Broad gauge rail line demanded for Kangra DHARAMSALA: The Kangra valley railway track which plays a crucial role in the economy of Himachal Pradesh should be converted into broad gauge line, according to local BJP MP. "The track should be converted into a

'Incredible India' attracted 3.69 lakh foreigners in May NEW DELHI: Continuing the growth trajectory, Incredible India campaign attracted more foreign tourists in May this year than last year. 3.69 lakh foreign tourists visited the country during the May 2011 as compared to 3.45 lakh in May 2010 and 3.05 lakh in May 2009, according to Tourism Ministry data. Foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) registered

Demands to convert this historic rail section into a broad gauge line have continuously been ignored by the Central government, Shushant alleged. "I have submitted a memorandum to the state Governor demanding the conversionâ&#x20AC;? broad gauge line so as to promote tourism in the area," BJP MP from Kangra Rajan Shushant has said. "It will provide an opportunity to those who want to explore Lahoul Spiti and Ladakh as this is the only railway line in India which runs so near to the snow line of

Wani said a golf tournament of Asian countries would be organized in Kashmir for which, necessary preparations are being made. In near future International golf tournament will also be organized in the State, he said. Giving details of development of new golf courses, the minister said the Pahalgam Golf Course has been completed while upgradation of Gulmarg Golf Course is being completed this year. He said first phase 9-hole Sidhra golf course has been completed and second phase 9-hole of this course would be completed this financial year. -PTI

the Himalayas," he said. Demands to convert this historic rail section into a broad gauge line have continuously been ignored by the Central government, Shushant alleged. "I have submitted a memorandum to the state Governor demanding the conversion

of the track into broad gauge," he said adding that "the railway line should be further extended up to Tibet border." The 181-km-long railway line links Pathankot with Jogindernagar and was started by the British in 1929 linking the towns of Kangra with Mandi district. -PTI

a growth of 7 per cent in May 2011 over May 2010. FTAs during the January-May 2011 were 25.23 lakh with a growth of 11.5 per cent as compared to the FTAs of 22.63 lakh with a growth of 9.5 per cent during January-May 2010 over the corresponding period of 2009. India's Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) during the month of May were Rs 5,047 crore as compared to Rs 4,358 crore in May 2010 and Rs 3,249 crore in May 2009. -PTI

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July 1, 2011

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Dhanaulti: Serenity, solitude & pleasant weather

Coastal air service soon in Kerala: Ravi

Cont’d from page 29

On the doorway of the sanctum sanctorum one finds the carvings of Ganga and Yamuna. The side-walls have three carved panels depicting Vaishnava mythology. Deogarh Fort: Deogarh Fort is one of the most popular edifices in the area and dates back to the 16th century. The fort comprises a number of striking palaces, ornamented with frescoes, and impressive Jain temples. Jain Temples: There are as many as 31 Jain temples situated inside the Kanali Fort, on the Dhanaulti Hills. The place served

Union Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi

Pradhanpat: Pradhanpat hill is known for its exquisite beauty and a gushing waterfall, which seems

cascading down with all its force. Accommodation: Though there are not too many accommodation options in Dhanaulti, there is no dearth of accommodation places either. Apart from the hotels,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi has said coastal air services would be launched soon to connect important cities of Kerala. Kerala had recently demanded that the Centre launch such services, connecting Kochi, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore, considering the tourism potential and also increasing travel demands in the region. Ravi also supported the state government's plan to launch air

shuttle service connecting high range districts Idukki and Waynad, an official press release said here. A state government memorandum had also demanded financial aid to set up small airports in Kerala and to reduce ticket fare of various airlines, including Air India, which operate services to Gulf region. Ravi said his ministry would soon convene a meeting of state government representatives and airline company officials to find a solution in the issue, the release said. -PTI

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Pradhanpat hill is known for its exquisite beauty and a gushing waterfall, which seems cascading down with all its force

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Snorkeling needs to be Kerala Vaidyashala exits day spa JV regulated: Bhujbal MUMBAI: Unauthorized snorkeling along the Maharashtra coast needs to be checked as it could put the lives of tourists at risk, state tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said. "Illegal snorkeling can put the lives of tourists at risk," Bhujbal said, adding that his department was planning to make Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) the recommending body for allowing private snorkeling facilities, so that this popular underwater sport can be regulated. The need of the hour was to curb the risks involved and develop the sport at international standards, he said. Illegal snorkeling is rampant in Malawan and other parts of

Konkan, he said. Maharashtra Maritime Board had expressed willingness to impart snorkeling training. The Board was also ready to start scuba diving course in the MTDC premises, the minister said. Talking about tourism in Konkan, he said that there was a proposal to permit houseboats at Tarkarli and Aronda. Permission had been sought to build jetties at Ganpati Pule, Guhagar, Murud, Harnai, Hareshwar, Tarkarli, Devbagh, and Murud-Janjira, he said. The minister said he had asked the maritime board to undertake desilting in Tarkarli and Ganpatipule, so that high-speed boats can operate in the creek area. -PTI

Dera-Ki-Gali, first ecotourism spot in J&K JAMMU: Set amid dense woods in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, Dera-Ki-Gali is being developed as the first eco-tourism spot by the forest department in the state. "Dera-ki-Gali woodland is being developed as the first eco-tourism project in the state by the forest department. It is the first step towards showcasing the scenic beauty and heritage of the area," Minister for Forests Mian Altaf said here. Altaf, who inaugurated a 'tourism mela' at the proposed eco-tourism spot, said "Dera-Ki-Gali has great potential for attracting a large number of tourists as besides being accessible from both Kashmir and Jammu regions, it has great historical importance for being located on the Mughal road and having prestigious Baba Gulam Shah Badshah University in its vicinity". The Minister said many such spots along the upcoming Mughal road will attract tourists from across the world and open new avenues for the socio-economic growth of the local people.

Under the project, involving a cost of Rs 2.40 crore, adequate tourism infrastructure is being created to attract nature lovers to enjoy the scenic landscape of the area known for its rich biodiversity and natural habitats, he said. So far, Rs 1.40 crore has been spent on creation of infrastructure

The Minister said many such spots along the upcoming Mughal road will attract tourists from across the world and development of spots, Altaf said. The Minister said the government was keen to exploit the huge tourism potential of Poonch and Rajouri by developing tourism spots in the twin border districts, particularly those located along the Mughal road. -PTI

MUMBAI: Leading ayurveda spa operator Kerala Vaidyashala has said it sold its entire stake in Birla Kerala Vaidyashala to its partner, Birla Wellness, as part of a strategy to to exit the day spa segment that it pioneered in the country. Kerala Vaidyashala, which formed a partnership with Yash Birla group-promoted Birla Wellness in December, 2008, has also decided to invest around Rs 50 crore in health tourism and the stay spa segment while completely exiting the day spa segment, company promoter Harshajeet Kuroop said. The JV, in which Kerala Vaidyashala had a 49 per cent stake and the Birlas the rest, has been operating 32 day spas in major cit-

Air Canada may resume daily flight to India

TORONTO: Air Canada, the flag carrier and the country's largest airline is considering starting daily flights to India by the end of the year, reports said. There are two obstacles: first a shortage of planes ("China is using up all our fleet!") and second, a fear that demand won't be consistent enough through the year to make the routes (likely non-stop to Toronto from Delhi and Mumbai) viable, 'Globe and Mail' reported. Canadian tourism in India is picking up - there were no fewer than 20 separate Canadian tourism events held in India last year to entice the industry, with Niagara Falls the number one draw. But tourists come in the relatively short season, December through March, before the temperatures head above 30C. India has only a half-dozen airlines with 350 planes serving the country, compared to more than 1,100 aircraft in use by China's many airlines. -PTI

ies, including 11 in Mumbai. While most of the spas are standalone, it runs one at the Collate Apollo Hospital. Before the JV with the Birlas, Kerala Vaidyashala had opened the country's first ayurvedic day spa, where only out patients are treated, in Mumbai in 1997, Kuroop said. Normally, ayurvedic spas admit people, as medication and massage therapies are time-consuming and demand strict dietary controls. Such spas are called stay spas. Elaborating on his future plans, Kuroop said his focus will be health tourism, mostly based in Kerala, which includes building health food and regular nutritious food outlets under the label of Malabar Koast, which opened its

first outlet in Mumbai recently. That apart, it will also start naturopathy and yoga centers with residential facilities. Kuroop's upcoming projects include a semi-luxury, 27-bed wellness resort in Kerala's backwater capital of Alappuzha, a luxury stay spa with 22 cottages and rooms near Kochi and a highend luxury resort at Kozhikode with 40 cottages. Kuroop also has plans to set up ayurvedic specialty hospitals and wellness centers in Kerala and Rajasthan. All these projects will together involve an investment of around Rs 50 crore, he said, adding he will pump in 50 per cent of this and the rest will be arranged from private equity players. -PTI

Maximum Filipinos availed Visa scheme in May NEW DELHI: Filipinos were the largest group of tourists who availed the Visa-on-Arrival scheme to visit India in May this year followed by Japanese. A total number of 865 Visa-onArrival (VoAs) were issued out of which 206 tourists from Philippines and 177 from Japan availed the facility in May, according to Tourism Ministry data. However, only one tourist from Laos and four each from Luxembourg and Myanmar availed the VoA facility extended by the government to woo more foreign tourists. Tourists from Singapore (149), Indonesia (122), New Zealand (121), Finland (57), Cambodia (18) and Vietnam (6) also availed the VoA facility. As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government had launched the Visa on Arrival scheme from January 2010 for citizens of five countries - Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. The scheme was extended for the citizens of six more countries Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam,

Philippines, Laos and Myanmar from January 2011. The number of VoAs issued in April 2011 were 1,234. During the period January-May 2011, a total number of 5,004 VoAs were issued.

As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government had launched the Visa on Arrival scheme from January 2010 for citizens of five countries Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes During January-May 2011, the maximum number of VoAs were issued at Delhi airport (2766), followed by Mumbai (1166), Chennai (825) and Kolkata (247). -PTI

Tenzing, Hillary monuments unveiled on Everest Day KATHMANDU: Nepal observed the International Everest Day by unveiling the pictures of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey, the first persons to scale Mt Everest in a park here. It was the 58th anniversary of the conquest of Everest, the highest peak in the world (8848 meter) by Hillary and Tenzing.

Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi unveiled the monuments of Hillary and Tenzing in International Mountaineering Memorial Park situated in Kakani hill station, 35 km west of Kathmandu amidst a program. The monuments include pictures of the legendary mountain-

eers and a stone inscription of their brief introduction and contributions. Joshi said that the memorial park will be developed as one of the popular tourist destinations in Nepal to promote tourism. Hillary and Tenzing have helped to popularize Nepal in international arena, he pointed out.

The mountaineering park was established to honor international mountaineers and their contribution to mountain tourism, Jimba Jangbu Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association said. The park will serve as a popular picnic spot, mountaineering training centre and study centre, he added.

A climbing wall and trekking trail have been built in the area to promote trekking and mountaineering. Since 1953 nearly 4,000 climbers have scaled the Everest for 5,700 times. In t h i s s p r i n g o n l y 4 2 8 people have scaled the Everest from both Tibetan and Nepalese side. -PTI

In Brief Bill seeks in-state tuition for illegal immigrants PHILADELPHIA: Proposed legislation would allow undocumented immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at Pennsylvania colleges if they meet strict residency requirements. State Democratic Rep. Tony Payton Jr. says the DREAM Act offers equality and opportunity to deserving teens who are here illegally through no fault of their own. Payton introduced the bill at a news conference in Philadelphia. It requires students to have graduated from a Pennsylvania high school and their parents to have paid state income taxes for the past three years. About a dozen other states offer tuition benefits to undocumented college students, many of whom were brought to America as children. Similar federal legislation has repeatedly failed in Congress. Critics say it amounts to amnesty and would encourage more foreigners to sneak into the US -AP

Campaign on immigration victim relief BOSTON: Law enforcement and community groups in Boston are learning about options to help immigrants who are victims of human trafficking and other violence. Officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began a two-day session that's part of a national campaign. The agency's Boston director, Denis Riordan, says the federal government allows for 5,000 special visas a year to help protect victims of human trafficking, but only around 300 were issued last year. -AP

Judge grills Ind. attorney over immigration law INDIANAPOLIS: A federal judge has grilled an attorney for the state of Indiana about the state's new immigration law, peppering her with questions about how police would enforce the law. U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker heard oral arguments on a request by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the National Immigration Law Center for a preliminary injunction blocking the law. She said she would rule on the matter before the law takes effect July 1. ACLU attorney Ken Falk told Barker the law gives police sweeping arrest powers against immigrants who haven't committed any crime. -AP

Immigration 35

India Post

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July 1, 2011

NC lawmakers want businesses to check immigration RALEIGH, N.C.: The Republican-led General Assembly passed legislation that will require cities, counties and businesses to check the immigration status of new hires. Details on page 36

Student visa program: New rules but same problems JACKSON, Miss.: The State Department is publicly acknowledging that one of its most popular exchange programs leaves foreign college students vulnerable to exploitation, but it's unclear if new regulations the agency is pushing will do enough to stop the abuses. The revised rules aim to shift more responsibility onto the 53 entities the department designates official sponsors in the J-1 Summer Work Travel Program. Historically, many sponsors have farmed out those duties to third-party contractors, making the sponsors ``mere purveyors of J-1 visas,'' according to the State Department's proposed new rules published this spring in the Federal Register. Federal auditors have criticized the department for years for depending on sponsors, some of whom make millions of dollars off J-1 students, to oversee the program and investigate complaints. Yet the new regulations would require little or no direct oversight by State Department employees, leaving sponsors free to continue policing themselves and their partners. The changes are to take effect

July 15, too late for thousands of students already in the country for another season of cleaning hotel rooms, waiting tables and working checkout counters. Students visiting under J-1 visas make ideal victims since they are here temporarily and may not know how to seek help. An Associated Press investigation

blamed lack of oversight by the sponsors, and expressed confidence the changes will help clean up the program, partly by requiring sponsors to verify that students have jobs and that the employers are legitimate. A review of the new regulations shows they have few teeth, however. While the changes spell

While the State Department acknowledged that housing and living conditions have been a problem, there's nothing in the new regulations that addresses oversight of those issues published six months ago found that many participants paid thousands of dollars to come to the U.S., only to learn the jobs they were promised didn't exist. Some had to share beds in crowded houses or apartments, charged so much for lodging and transportation that they took home no pay. Others turned to the sex industry, while some sought help from homeless shelters. In posting the proposed new rules, State Department officials detailed problems that largely mirrored the AP's findings, then

out how sponsors are to vet third-party brokers and how often they are to touch base with visiting students, the rules are vague on how vigorously the State Department will check to verify those duties are done. The proposed rules call for sponsors to compile reports, including background checks, on overseas brokers who put students in touch with them, and to submit those reports to U.S. consulates. The department also will conduct a spot check of the biggest sponsors.

But the agency has just a handful of employees who keep track of this and other foreign exchange programs, which handle more than 300,000 participants, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that plans to publish a report on the program. While the State Department acknowledged that housing and living conditions have been a problem, there's nothing in the new regulations that addresses oversight of those issues. The revised policies also contain no mention of penalties if sponsors are found lacking. State Department spokesman John Fleming said rules already on the books allow sanctions ranging from written reprimands to revocation of sponsors' designations. But the department also acknowledged that no Summer Work Travel sponsor has ever been removed from the program for its treatment of students, despite years of complaints of exploitation and deplorable living and working conditions, according to documents obtained by the AP. And only a few sponsors have ever been reprimanded, according to the State Department. -AP

Immigration news around the States CYRUS D. MEHTA

variety of harsh enforce ment measures have gained ground in several states: Alabama. Alabama's Governor Robert Bentley signed a new bill, HB 56 ("Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act"), which requires employers doing business with Alabama to use E-Verify, beginning in 2012, and ties it to state economic incentives. The employer's business license may be suspended if it fails to comply. The law states that Alabama "finds that illegal immigration is causing economic hardship and lawlessness in this state and that illegal immigration is encouraged

when public agencies within this state provide public benefits without verifying immigration status." The law therefore includes a number of other enforcement provisions,

than terrorize the state's Latino community." He said the only possible end result of HB 56 becoming law "is a permanent, largely Latino underclass in Alabama that would

The law â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;is designed to do nothing more than terrorize the state's Latino community.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He said the only possible end result of HB 56 becoming law "is a permanent, largely Latino underclass in Alabama such as requiring public schools to determine the citizenship and immigration status of students enrolling. Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said the law "is designed to do nothing more

be driven even further into the shadows of society." The text of HB 56 is available at http://e-lobbyist.com/gaits/AL/ HB56. Arizona. On May 26, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court in Chamber of

Commerce v. Whiting upheld the Legal Arizona Workers Act, requiring all Arizona employers to use E-Verify and suspending or revoking the licenses of employers who knowingly or intentionally hire unauthorized workers. Numerous civil liberties organizations joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in challenging the law. At issue in this decision was whether the federal employment sanctions regime under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) preempted states like Arizona from enacting similar immigration-related legislation that would sanction employers who hire unauthorized workers. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 37

Immigration Post

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July 1, 2011

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NC lawmakers want businesses SC illegal immigration bill heads to governor to check immigration RALEIGH, N.C.: The Republican-led General Assembly passed legislation that will require cities, counties and businesses to check the immigration status of new hires. The House voted 67-45 to require employers and local governments to use the federal government's E-Verify records system to prevent illegal immigrants from landing jobs. The legislation makes exceptions for companies that employ fewer than 25 workers or use seasonal workers. Gov. Beverly Perdue will decide whether to accept the measure or veto it. North Carolina's state government, universities and community colleges have used for the federal system for five years. ``This is just common sense legislation that our people want. We need to pass it and get it into law,'' said Majority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake. Bill sponsor Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow, said he was disappointed that the measure would only affect about 20 percent of the state's businesses since the rest

are small firms with fewer than 25 workers. He said he'll push to include small businesses in the requirement to check for illegal immigrants since ``they're the ones employing them.'' The legislation allows people to anonymously report their sus-

Employers have been prohibited for a quarter-century from hiring illegal immigrants, but enforcement has been spotty picions that a company is employing an illegal worker. Filing a false complaint is a misdemeanor, but prosecution is not required. The state Labor Department would investigate complaints and would have the power to force companies to turn over records related recruitment, hiring, or termination policies as

part of an investigation. Employers have been prohibited for a quarter-century from hiring illegal immigrants, but enforcement has been spotty. Federal contractors and subcontractors were required to use E-verify beginning in 2009, but there is no national law requiring other companies use it. North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia are among 16 states that require some use of EVerify before hiring, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that states could require employers to use E-Verify. The North Carolina measure phases in the requirement over two years. Companies with 500 or more employees will be required to check immigration status from October 2012, while companies that employ 25 or more workers become required in July 2013. Supporters said keeping people illegally in the country from taking jobs will free up positions for legal residents. But Rep. Glen Bradley, RFranklin, said since the measure does not require businesses to check the immigration status of current employees, and company owners who know they have illegal immigrants on their payroll could exploit them because they would find it hard to leave for a better job. `Ìt almost creates a kind of slavery,'' Bradley said. Opponents said allowing people to remain anonymous when reporting suspicions could burden employers. `Àll you have to do is if you have a competitor and you want to frustrate his operation ... all up and down the commercial chain here, people can file false complaints, they don't have to identify themselves and as a result you're going to have people running around looking for alleged violations that don't exist,'' said Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham. `Àt the end of the day, you have form over substance.'' -AP

COLUMBIA, SC: A bill that requires police in South Carolina to check suspects' immigration status and mandates that all businesses check their hires through a federal online system has received final legislative approval. The House voted 69-43 to agree with the Senate's changes and send the bill to Gov. Nikki Haley, whose spokesman confirmed she will sign it. House Speaker Bobby Harrell noted South Carolina is the latest in a string of states to place similar requirements on law enforcement. ``If Washington refuses to effectively support our law enforcement officers by enforcing immigration laws, it is left up to the states to stand up and do what is right,'' said Harrell, RCharleston. ``That is exactly what South Carolina did by making sure our officers have the enforcement tools they need during this time of federal indecision.'' The bill expands on a 2008 South Carolina law which at the time was considered one of the nation's toughest crackdowns on illegal immigration. It requires officers to call federal immigration officials if they suspect someone is in the country illegally. The question must follow an arrest or traffic stop for something else. The measure bars officers from holding someone solely on that suspicion. Opponents argue the bill will encourage racial profiling and lead to lawsuits. Beyond the possibility of lawsuits by civil rights groups, the measure allows residents to sue local governments that bar or restrict officers from complying. ``We're setting up another avenue for racial profiling,'' said Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston. ``We're going to have situations of hard-working Americans of a certain color ... pulled over for no reason but they're brown. That's wrong.'' The bill also makes it a felony for someone to make fake photo IDs for illegal residents _ punishable by a $25,000 fine and five years in prison _ and creates a new law enforcement unit within the Department of Public Safety to enforce state immigration laws. Legislators' budget plan for 2011-12 designates $1.3 million toward the unit. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing to block similar laws in Arizona, Utah, Indiana, and Georgia. It is planning to sue in Alabama and will sue in South Carolina too, should it become law,

said Andre Segura, an ACLU attorney in New York. `Ìt's a definite throwback to the pre-civil rights era,'' he said. `Ìt really strikes at the heart of American values and makes these states into `show-me-your-papers' states.'' He said a provision of South Carolina's law that makes it a felony for illegal immigrants to allow themselves to be transported is particularly harsh, by punishing people who could be the victims of trafficking. `Ìt impacts people who are incredibly vulnerable,'' he said. Changes added last week by the Senate, meant to bring the state's 2008 law in line with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a separate Arizona law, were opposed by the state's small business chamber and tea party groups. The amendment removed businesses' ability to use state drivers' licenses to check workers' citizenship, requiring all businesses to use the E-verify system.

Changes added last week by the Senate, meant to bring the state's 2008 law in line with a recent US Supreme Court ruling on a separate Arizona law, were opposed by the state's small business chamber and tea party groups Talbert Black, state coordinator for the Campaign for Liberty, said he likes the idea of ensuring that people are in the state legally. ``But we're in this mess because the federal government hasn't enforced federal immigration law, so what's our answer? We want to give the federal government complete authority over who's hired in this state, and I think that's a bad idea,'' he said. The CEO of the small business chamber said the Republican leadership should be ashamed. ``We're burdening businesses with being the immigration police,'' said Frank Knapp, noting the changes were done on the Senate floor without a hearing. ``They've made a change to impact every business in this state no matter how small, whether they have Internet access or not, with no public debate.'' -AP

Immigration Post

July 1, 2011

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Utah Republicans repeal guest worker program SANDY, Utah: Delegates at the Republican state convention narrowly voted to call for the repeal of a law authorizing a guest worker program for illegal immigrants in Utah. The vote followed just 10 minutes of debate over a measure that passed the GOP-led Legislature and was signed in March by Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, the Deseret News of Salt Lake City reported. The 833-739 vote on House Bill 116 is a non-binding resolution, but supporters say it sends a message to the Republican lawmakers who voted for it. Utah County delegate Keri Witte who led the repeal effort said the guest worker program violates the U.S. Constitution and isn't in line with national and state party platforms. Utah County delegate Arturo Morales agreed, saying failure to repeal the bill would be ``the end

of the rule of law'' in the state. A number of state lawmakers showed up to personally defend their votes in favor of the legislation. And Attorney General Mark Shurtleff also spoke in support of the guest worker program, calling

‘This legislation is like most pieces of legislation. It isn't perfect,’ Lockhart said it ``the strongest crime-fighting tool'' he has. Utah House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, said lawmakers were already looking at changes to HB116, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. ``This legislation is like most

pieces of legislation. It isn't perfect,'' Lockhart said. ``We will probably address it in terms of amending it or strengthening it or clarifying it in the future.'' Former Utah Rep. Enid Mickelsen, who was convention chairwoman, said the close vote shows the state party is ``clearly very divided'' on the issue. She admonished the nearly 2,100 delegates to keep the debate civil. An attempt failed to amend the resolution to remove portions calling the bill unconstitutional and criticizing Republicans for backing legislation that violates state and national platforms. The guest worker program, passed as part of a package of immigration bills earlier this year, will allow illegal immigrants to live and work in Utah if they register with the state and pay a fee. -AP

Immigration news around the States Cont’d from page 35

Section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which was introduced by IRCA, prohibits the hiring or the continuing employment of unauthorized workers. Although IRCA preempted states from imposing criminal or civil sanctions on employers relating to the hiring of unauthorized workers, it created an exception with respect to "licensing and similar laws," which states could still regulate. The Supreme Court held that the Legal Arizona Workers Act fell within the "licensing and similar laws" exception of IRCA and rejected arguments that the law was not truly a licensing law or that it conflicted with IRCA. The Supreme Court decision will impact businesses that operate in Arizona and other states with similar laws. They will need to comply with a hodgepodge of employer compliance laws with respect to hiring workers. Furthermore, Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting will encourage other states to enact similar laws and to make E-Verify mandatory when hiring any worker, as Alabama has done. Because the Supreme Court's ruling is narrow and revolves around the "licensing and similar laws" exception, it is not clear whether the Court will uphold the constitutionality of broader state legislation, such as Arizona's SB 1070, whose most controversial provisions have thus far been found to be unconstitutional in the Ninth Circuit. The full decision in Chamber of Commerce v Whiting is available

at: http://www.supremecourt.gov/ opinions/10pdf/09-115.pdf. For a summary, see http:// www.lexisnexis.com/community/ litigationresourcecenter/blogs/ litigationblog/archive/2011/05/ 26/a-summary-of-the-supremecourt-s-ruling-on-the-legalarizona-workers-act.aspx . For a commentary of the Supreme Court's decision, See David Isaacson's blog "If Even the Chief Justice Can Misunderstand Immigration Law, How Can We Expect States to Enforce It Properly? Removal Orders and

The Supreme Court held that the Legal Arizona Workers Act fell within the ‘licensing and similar laws’ exception of IRCA Work Authorization" at http:// cyrusmehta.blogspot.com/2011/ 06/if-even-chief-justice-canmisunderstand.html. Massachusetts. An official speaking anonymously reported that the U.S. government plans to require Massachusetts to participate in the Secure Communities program. Governor Deval Patrick had refused to support it, although his administration had pledged to sign a Secure Communities agreement. The program includes name and fingerprint checks of offenders against federal immigration and criminal databases. It is now being piloted in 42 states. In a letter to U.S. Immigration and

Customs Enforcement dated June 3, 2011, Massachusetts' Public Safety Secretary Mary Heffernan said that Gov. Patrick would not sign a memorandum of agreement. The letter notes that only about one out of four of those removed from the U.S. since the inception of Boston's pilot participation in Secure Communities were convicted of a serious crime, and more than half of those removed were identified as "non-criminal." Ms. Heffernan said this was an indication that Secure Communities does not achieve the objective of focusing on the identification and removal of those convicted of serious criminal offenses. Ms. Heffernan said, "The Governor and I are dubious of the Commonwealth taking on the federal role of immigration enforcement. We are even more skeptical of the potential Secure Communities could have on the residents of the Commonwealth. The letter concludes, "We are reluctant to participate if the program is mandatory and unwilling to participate if it is voluntary." Other governors refusing to sign Secure Communities memoranda of agreement include Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, http:// on.wsj.com/jajwEi and Pat Quinn of Illinois, http://tinylink.in/J52. Ms. Heffernan's letter is available at http://altopolimigra.com/ documents/Acting-DirectorRapp-6.3.11.pdf. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law

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Civil & Criminal Litigation Felonies, Misdemeanors, Inc DUI 1 Personal Injury, Business, Divorce etc. 1 Property Tax for Commercial Properties 1 1

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Realty Tidbits

Â&#x201E; Bharti Realty to acquire land in Mumbai

Real Estate

harti Realty may be looking to acquire a land parcel in suburban Mumbai for around Rs 190 crore. The company is likely to purchase this land from Cabot India, erstwhile company United Carbon. It is a 27-acre parcel in ThaneBelapur road. It's just a little bit off Thane-Belapur road, almost into Navi-Mumbai. The valuation is touted in the range of Rs 150-190 crore. The valuation is being worked out at about Rs 7 crore per acre. Now, this deal will set the benchmark in that particular area because in that particular stretch there hasn't been too many deals in the recent past, reports CNBC-TV18. Some brokers say that it is a fair value, while some say it is little bit aggressive for the area. The divided opinion is because there haven't been too many deals in that area. Bharti Realty, for its part, has said that the company does not comment on market speculation. So, it remains unclear whether the Bharti will actually launch a residential project for that parcel or not. But it's quite likely because that's what several companies have done in that ThaneBelapur area as it actually gives a lot of volumes in terms of sales.

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Rate hike will affect real estate sector

he Reserve Bank's decision to raise key policy rates by 25 basis points is likely to have a negative impact on the real estate sector, so say industry insiders. Real estate developers, already reeling under the pressure of increasing input costs, feel that rate hike by RBI will help increase inflation rather than curbing it. Lalit Jain, national president, Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) said, "Rate hike will only give rise to inflation rather than curb it. Unless proper reforms are brought in housing, the result will be chaotic urbanization." M Raheja, chairman, Assocham real estate committee and CMD, Raheja Developers said, "As the cost of money goes up, the cost of construction and production will also go up. This will lead to further inflationary pressures." With financial institutions predicting further rate hikes in future, the developers are worried. Rising costs, drop in sales and difficulty in raising funds have led to increasing pressures on the sector. Sanjay Kabra, CFO, Sunil Mantri Realty said, "Industry is reeling from the double whammy of higher input costs and sluggish sales."

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July 1, 2011

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Govt may permit retail FDI in six metros

he government is likely to permit foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retailing only in the six big metros. The emerging consensus in the government is that the recommendation of the Department of Commerce & Industry to allow such stores in cities with over one million population is premature. The six metros in which FDI in multi-brand retailing will be permitted are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Red flags: How to spoil a home description MICHAEL ESTRIN

hen you sell a house in a buyer's market, a lot of things work against you. Your real estate listing shouldn't be one of those things. Find out what buyers and their agents typically see as a red flag in a listing and how to avoid them. Including photos in the listing should be a no-brainer, but sellers routinely list properties without pictures, and they do so to their detriment, says Don Tepper, a Realtor with Long & Foster in Burke, Va. "One red flag in many buyers' eyes is the lack of photos for a listing," Tepper says. "There can be some legitimate reasons for few (or no) photos in a listing: The sellers want privacy, or they have valuables they don't want in the photos. But many would-be buyers -- rightly or wrongly -- assume that there's something wrong." Tepper says it's a good idea to have about a dozen photos. But that number isn't a hard and fast rule. You want to convey a good sense of the property by ensuring the pictures match the description and showcase the features you highlighted. If the listing emphasizes a great view, it pays to have a photo of the view. In the last few years, buyers have had a crash course on buying distressed properties, whether short sales or foreclosures. But that experience hasn't always been good, and according to Karl J. Trommler, business development manager for PenFed Realty in Reston, Va., a big red flag is a distressed property listing without transaction details. "When the listing says it is a short sale, but does not address whether or not the lender has been informed and approved of the price, it can be a big red flag," says Trommler, who cautions against getting involved when the listing language refers to third-party approval, but fails to identify that party. Simply put, the more parties involved in the transaction, the more complicated. Short sellers who are

able to be upfront about the deal stand a far better chance of attracting the right buyer at the right time, Trommler says. A listing that claims to offer the very best property on the market might not do the seller any favors, says Ziad Najm, a broker at Cedar Real Estate in Mission Viejo, Calif. He cautions against outlandish and hyperbolic claims. "While creativity should be maximized to market a listing, these claims can be highly subjective

way to attract buyers, but if you go too low, there's a chance your strategy can backfire. When a seller's agent suggests such a strategy, the homeowner should be on guard. "Typically, multiple buyers will be attracted to the low asking price and eventually the sales price will climb close to market value as competing offers bid up the price," Najm says. "However, the strategy is not without risk in that some buyers will be alienated by a po-

While a lack of proper permits might mean a headache for a buyer, Clingenpeel reports that buyers of flipped homes sometimes find that the quality of the work done is "horrendous." So if you're selling a newly remodeled home, make sure to emphasize that the work was properly permitted and executed at a level any homeowner would be happy with and can be interpreted in many ways by different buyers," Najm says. "Some buyers may be turned off to begin with and some will inevitably be disappointed if the claim doesn't live up to their expectations." It's a fine line, but according Najm, sellers do well to stay away from superlative claims. So rather than describing the house as "the best," a more sensible strategy is to focus on adjectives that are flattering, but leave room for other opinions. A low price sounds like a great

tential bidding war." Even more worrisome is the possibility that a low price will attract unqualified buyers looking to snatch up a bargain. If that happens, the house won't sell at all, and the seller will have devalued the property with a low listing price. So if you're going to gamble on a low listing price, Najm says, "it's very important to have a solid knowledge of market conditions before using this kind of high-risk, high-reward strategy." Believe it or not, phrases such

as "newly remodeled" and "recently updated" can be red flags to some buyers because they could indicate that the seller is out to flip the house. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but sellers should work to highlight any improvements while being careful not to present the home as a flip, according to Vince Clingenpeel, whose Clingenpeel Properties in Falls Church, Va., inspects homes on behalf of buyers. "The biggest fear I have for buyers is the flip," Clingenpeel says. "In my experience, one out of 20 is properly executed with proper permits." While a lack of proper permits might mean a headache for a buyer, Clingenpeel reports that buyers of flipped homes sometimes find that the quality of the work done is "horrendous." So if you're selling a newly remodeled home, make sure to emphasize that the work was properly permitted and executed at a level any homeowner would be happy with. Selling a property "as is" isn't all that unusual, and it shouldn't be a deal breaker. But when you see the term in a listing -- especially these days -- it can be a reason for caution, says Diane Conaway, a San Diego broker with Re/Max United. These days, "as is" can mean "previous owners stole everything including the kitchen and bathrooms," Conaway says. "Our contract states 'as is' anyway, but some agents restate that in the listing, which is a disservice to their sellers." While listing a property's shortcomings has its drawbacks, Conaway believes it's better to include obvious improvements a buyer will want to make, rather than saying "as is." If it's clear that the house needs new carpet, Conaway says it's better to just say so because any serious buyer will likely use that as a negotiation point anyway. But if you list the property "as is," you could make the buyer think the worst. Courtesy bankrate.com

Real Estate

July 1, 2011

India Post 39

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Pune's onsite training model MPCB 'stop work' notice to India Bulls for other states

he Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (Credai), the apex body for private real estate developers in the country, is currently evaluating the possibility of replicating the onsite training model for construction workers, being implemented by its Pune chapter, to more states shortly. "At present, Credia's national skills development committee is studying the model and is in the process of doing certain modifications to it. We have already received enquires from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Mumbai for implementing the same," C Sekhar Reddy, vice-president, Credai India and president of Credai Andhra Pradesh said. Credai Pune, under the aegis of the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), provides onsite training to construction workers in plastering, masonry, plumbing, electrical works, tilelaying and other allied activities with a Rs 18-crore fund sanctioned by NSDC last year.

Reddy said lack of skilled labor was a cause for concern and the construction industry was currently facing a 30 per cent shortage of skilled workers. "Onsite training will bridge this gap," he

Reddy said lack of skilled labor was a cause for concern and the construction industry was currently facing a 30 per cent shortage of skilled workers. "Onsite training will bridge this gap," he said said. In onsite training, the training campus shifts to the construction site rather than the trainees shifting to a fixed campus. "It (onsite training) improves productivity and quality, besides providing an earn-while-youlearn' opportunity to the workers.

A certificate will be given to the worker who has passed the training, which will entitle him to a better pay," Reddy said. Reddy said recession, which was followed by the agitations for a separation Telangana statehood, dealt a blow to the real estate sector in Hyderabad, resulting in the sales plummeting by 25-30 per cent. "Since October 2010, the sector is doing well and we expect to witness sales of 18,000 units a year in Hyderabad, from 10,000 units until two years ago. This projected uptick will primarily be driven by the increase in employment opportunities in the city," he added. Meanwhile, Credia India, represents over 6,000 developers through 20 member associations across the country, announced Ashoka Developers and Builders managing director N Jaiveer Reddy as chairman of Credai Hyderabad, Manjeera Group chairman Yoganand Gajjala as its president and SMR Holdings chairman and managing director S Ram Reddy as general secretary.

Mafatlal sells Mumbai land to Piramal Realty

efying sluggish property sales, high interest rates and inflation, money continues to flow into big-ticket land deals in Mumbai. Mafatlal Industries have sold a 30,910 square meter parcel of land at Byculla in central Mumbai for Rs 605.80 crore to Gliders Buildcon LLP, a subsidiary of Piramal Realty. Earlier, Mafatlal had got shareholder nod for the sale. In 1913, the plot, which is half of the 14.5-acre leasehold property, was leased to Sassoon Spring & Weaving Company (now Mafatlal Industries) for 99 years by the Collectorate. The Government objected to the property sale and wanted the land back for expanding the Byculla Zoo, which is close-by. However, Mafatlal Industries managed to retain half the land by surrendering the rest to the State. There was buzz about the deal for some time and concerns were expressed how Mafatlal would overcome the issue. Khushru Jijina, managing director, Piramal Realty, said: "The land is a mere 15 minutes from the Victoria Terminus and 30 minutes from the Bandra Kurla Complex via the new bridge in Parel. As such, we find it ideally suited

for mixed-use development." Sanjay Dutt, chief executive officer (Business), Jones Lang Lasalle India, who brokered the deal, said: "The location lends itself well to mixed-use that could include hospitality, retail and residential components of over one million square feet in the heart of Mumbai." The deal was in favor of the

He flagged the fact that no land deal in Mumbai is bad, given the ability of developers to garner more FSI (floor space index, or the ratio of construction permissible in proportion to the land area) on one pretext or the other buyer with construction and land component less than Rs 12,000 a sq ft. Residential property rates hover between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 a sq ft in the area, said Anand Gupta of the Builders Association of India. Pankaj Kapoor, managing director, Liases Foras, a

property research and consultancy firm, said quoted prices at Byculla are not a benchmark for new projects when sales are not happening. The per sq ft rate of saleable area is about Rs 9,000 which, he said, was high as Rs 14,000-15,000 would be the price point that would sell in the locality. However, he flagged the fact that no land deal in Mumbai is bad, given the ability of developers to garner more FSI (floor space index, or the ratio of construction permissible in proportion to the land area) on one pretext or the other. "I would not be surprised if the current estimated FSI of 1.33 gets doubled," he said. Referring to the current market scene, he said the sale velocity (or percentage sold versus stock) was 1.57 a month on an inventory of 1.80 lakh units in launched projects. Assuming that the project is scheduled for completion in 36 months, it would take 63 months to liquidate the stock which, he said, would be over six lakh sq ft. One might be able to sell some units at Rs 20,000 or more but would not be able to offload over six lakh sq ft at that rate.

he Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) issued a stop-work order to Indiabulls Real Estate for starting construction work on its Elphinstone Mills property at Lower Parel without environment clearance. The notice, signed by board member secretary R Mopalwaar on June 17 directed Indiabulls to stop work "which was started in violation of the consent to establish granted to you and for non-compliance of directions issued on January 27, 2011â&#x20AC;Ś" It further warned that the board will have "no option than to take further stringent legal action against you, including filing of prosecution for violations of environmental law". Indiabulls purchased the eightacre mill land for Rs 441 crore from the National Textiles Corporation in 2005. "We have received a stopwork notice pertaining to the residential project (Sky Suites) from MPCB. There is no work happening on the site since the last few months as we are awaiting environmental clearance," a spokes-

person for Indiabulls, told Times of India. He added, "We have constructed only up to plinth level after receiving the commencement certificate for construction up to plinth level. The fact that no construction has happened above plinth level can be verified on the site." The spokesperson said the company would write to MPCB and certify that no construction has been done and the status quo has been maintained on the site since last year. Advocate Y P Singh, who pursued the matter on behalf of activist Santosh Daundkar, said MPCB should now take follow-up action to disconnect water and electric supply and then to take further legal steps for demolition, as in the case of Adarsh. Last December, MPCB had issued show-cause notices to 12 builders in the Worli-Parel belt for constructing huge residential and commercial buildings without requisite environmental clearances.

Fund hit realtors selling land banks S

luggish sales, poor perfor mance of the stock on the bourses and difficulty in raising money from banks and private equity (PE) players are forcing many real estate developers to turn to sell their land banks to raise funds to complete their projects. "A lot of real estate credit is lying unused by the banks and the banks are extremely cautious and selective in lending money to real estate players," Naveen Raheja, chairman and managing director (CMD), Raheja Developers, said. "Few players, who have good credibility and track records in terms of repayment of loans and overall past experience, are only

being lent money by the banks," Raheja added. As banks remain reluctant to lend to the realty sector large companies like DLF, Emaar MGF, Omaxe and HDIL, among others, that have huge debt portfolios are turning to sell their land banks to reduce their debt and raise money for their pending projects. DLF, the country's largest developer, sold land worth Rs 403 crore in Pune, Amritsar and New Gurgaon in the third quarter of 2010-11. It is planning to sell 12 million sq ft this fiscal to raise about Rs 7,000 crore. DLF said it will continue to sell land assets to raise money.

Health

Line

College rodeo goes on without smokeless tobacco

CASPER, Wyo.: A top rodeo official is lamenting the end of smokeless tobacco's sponsorship of the College National Finals Rodeo, but health officials are applauding the change. Through last year, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco had given hundreds of thousands of dollars to rodeo participants through scholarships. National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Commissioner Roger Walters says the association's events haven't been hurt, but in the long run, the end of the sponsorships will hurt students who earned the scholarships. -AP

Health Science 40

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July 1, 2011

Docs over-testing for cervical cancer virus WASHINGTON: Too many doctors are testing the wrong women, or using the wrong test, for a virus that causes cervical cancer. Details on page 43

Texas man lives for five weeks with beatless heart

Ky. health officials urge HIV testing FRANKFORT, Ky.: Free HIV tests are being offered at several locations in Kentucky. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services says routine testing and HIV prevention efforts can prevent transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. But the cabinet says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 20 percent of people with HIV don't know they're infected. Testing events are planned at several locations. For more information, contact Dennis Wheatley in the HIV/AIDS Branch at (502) 564-6539, ext. 3559, or the Northern Kentucky Health Department at (859) 341-4264. The CDC also offers a website that will find a nearby testing site at http:// www.hivtest.org . -AP

Schools below good vaccination levels CHICAGO: The number of Illinois public and private schools with immunization rates below a state-recommended level is rising. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends a 90 percent vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks of measles, mumps, rubella, polio and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis. The Chicago Tribune reported that about 200 Illinois schools last year were below that recommended level for at least one of those immunizations. And, an analysis of state data shows the number has grown. The newspaper reports the number of schools below the recommended level for polio has risen from 27 in 2003 to 122 last year. -AP

Making history: Doctors at the Texas Heart Institute operate on Mr Lewis

octors have implanted the world's first beatless heart into a living human being. Craig Lewis, a 55-year-old Texas man, lived for five weeks without a pulse. He died due to underlying disease - but doctors said the heart worked perfectly. The device is formed by intricately tying together two ventricular assist devices, replacing the entire heart. It whirls instead of pulses, spinning blood through the body in a continuous flow. 'I listened,' Mr Lewis's widow Linda told NPR. 'It was a hum, which was amazing.' She said she knew the procedure was risky. 'He wanted to live, and we didn't want to lose him,' she said.

Mr Lewis got the new heart after his wife approached Dr Billy Cohn and Dr OH 'Bud' Frazier at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston in March. He had been in a coma-like state. But with the new heart he was able to sit up and talk to his family be-

Wave of the future? Dr Billy Cohn and Dr OH ëBudí Frazier show off their new invention at a news conference

was worth it,' Mrs Lewis said. 'You never know how much time you have': Mrs Lewis said that though her husband died five weeks later of the underlying disease, the operation had been worth it The pair had already tested

'You never know how much time you have': Mrs Lewis said that though her husband died five weeks later of the underlying disease, the operation had been worth it fore his kidney and liver eroded. The family ultimately decided to turn the heart off to allow him to die humanely. 'You never know how much time you have but it

their invention, first on a calf named Abigail. 'If you listened to [Abigail's] chest with a stethoscope, you wouldn't hear a heartbeat,' Dr Cohn told ABC News.

She had no pulse, he said, and would be flat-lined on an EKG. 'By every metric we have to analyze patients, she's not living.' But, he said, instead she was happy and in good health. The doctors tested the device on a further 38 calves, and were thrilled with the results. Every animal has a pulsatile heart, Dr Cohn explained. The problem with existing artificial hearts is that to do the same job, they have to beat 100,000 times a day, 35million times a year. They wear out, he explained. With a car, you can change the oil and spark plugs - with an artificial heart, it is not so easy to keep the device going. Cont’d on page 42

Smart bandage which reveals healing

elbourne researchers have developed smart bandages that change color to reveal the state of the wound beneath. Their invention could reduce the $500 million cost of chronic wound care in Australia. "We hope that the dressing could lead to more rapid and effective treatment of chronic wounds such as leg ulcers, saving time and money, as well as improving patient well-being," says the lead inventor Louise van der Werff, a CSIRO materials scientist and Monash University PhD student. "We've created a fabric that

pect that, when incorporated into a bandage it will allow nurses to quickly identify healing problems such as infection or interruptions to the blood supply, which are typically accompanied by a local increase or decrease in temperature," she says. The new fibers indicate changes in wound So far the team has temperature (Photo: Louise van der Werff, CSIRO) created the fabric. changes color in response to tem- Within six months they'll have perature - showing changes of turned it into a bandage, and then less than 0.5 of a degree. We ex- they'll work with industry to trial

the new bandages. A manufacturer of bandages is supporting the research. Up to 3 per cent of Australians suffer from chronic wounds, costing the healthcare system more than $500 million each year. Reduced blood supply due to systemic diseases such as diabetes, or inflammation as a result of infection, can lead to significant delays in healing. "If problems are not quickly identified and treated," Louise says, "Wounds can persist for months or years resulting in a major reduction in quality of life. Cont’d on page 43

Health Science Post

July 1, 2011

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Bill would require review of Study affirms concussion dangers to young athletes Medicaid change BATON ROUGE, La.: Lawmakers are pushing for more oversight of Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to turn over much of Louisiana's Medicaid program to private insurance companies. The House unanimously backed a proposal that would require the so-called ``coordinated care networks'' to end on Dec. 31, 2014, unless they receive legislative reauthorization. It also would require detailed reporting to lawmakers about whether shifting Medicaid to a managed care program results in savings or increased claims rejections for patients. The coordinated care networks will change the way the state spends billions of Medicaid dollars, changing it largely to an insurance-based model. The combined state-federal program serves the poor, elderly and disabled. "I think it's important that in the process the Legislature maintain some oversight,'' said House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown. ``While I expect it's going to be a successful program, and I think

it's something we probably need to do for financial reasons, I think we need to be able to review it.'' The oversight measure heads back to the Senate for approval of House changes. Several lawmakers have said they expect Jindal to veto the proposal if it reaches

Currently, the state reimburses doctors, hospitals and other providers in the Medicaid program directly, giving a flat fee for each service rendered his desk, though the governor has not openly threatened such action. "We're watching the bill through the process,'' said Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin. The planned Medicaid changes have run into concerns from health providers and lawmakers. Jindal unveiled the plan more than two years ago, but it has yet

to begin. It is slated to start in the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1. Hundreds of thousands of low-income residents who get medical treatment through Medicaid, mostly children, would be steered into the managed care networks. The networks would be run by private companies that contract with the state and negotiate payments with health providers. The coordinated care networks are expected to take about two-thirds of the state's 1.2 million Medicaid recipients when fully phased in. Currently, the state reimburses doctors, hospitals and other providers in the Medicaid program directly, giving a flat fee for each service rendered. The Jindal administration said the new program would better coordinate care for Medicaid recipients, improve health outcomes by catching and treating chronic diseases earlier, and help rein in rising costs due to Medicaid fraud and overuse of expensive emergency room care. Many other states use a similar model. -AP

MINNEAPOLIS: A new study highlights the heightened danger to young athletes who suffer concussions and sustain new head blows before they've fully recovered. The study, published in Pediatrics, dug into the National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes, a database maintained by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, to focus on deaths from blunt trauma among players 21 and younger. Previous studies from the data focused on deaths from cardiovascular problems. A key finding, author Dr. Barry Maron said in an interview, was a worrisome number of prep football players who died of head and neck blows after they had already sustained concussions a few days to four weeks beforehand. Maron said it comes at a time of growing awareness about concussions, including the dangers of ``second-impact syndrome.'' The registry listed 1,827 sudden deaths among young athletes from 1980-2009. Four-

teen percent of them, or 261, were caused by trauma-related injuries. Trauma fatalities were most frequent in football at 148, including 17 high school players who died of head or neck injuries after they had already sustained concussions a

A key finding, author Dr. Barry Maron said in an interview, was a worrisome number of prep football players who died of head and neck blows few days to four weeks beforehand. In general, the authors wrote, trauma deaths among young athletes are relatively uncommon, and they're four times less common than cardiovascular deaths. The average has remained relatively constant around nine per year. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 42

India Post

Health Science Post

July 1, 2011

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NJ Dems oppose limits on out-of-state medical care TRENTON, NJ: As a legislative battle intensifies over making public workers in New Jersey pay sharply more for pension and health benefits, some Democrats are vowing to fight a provision deep inside the bill that limits access to out-of-state medical care. The proposal restricts use of out-of-state doctors and hospitals unless similar care isn't available in-state. There are some exceptions, like emergency care, and employees would have to be offered a plan that allowed unrestricted use of out-of-state care. That option would cost more on a plan that's already rising significantly from current levels. ``I'd like to see that whole section done away with entirely,'' said Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, of Paterson. ``That would be the right first step.'' Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage said the city's lawyers will contest the provision unless it's amended. Pou and Assemblywomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, of Trenton, said they'll challenge it when the bill is debated by an Assembly budget panel. And lawyer David Fox, who represents the Firefighter's Mutual Benevolent Association, said the union would file a lawsuit if the legislation is signed into law as is. ``There's no legitimate basis for it,'' Fox said of the limitation opponents want removed from the bill. ``If we can't do it politically, we'll do it legally or through the attorney general.'' The Senate Republican caucus exposed the clause when the bill was hastily printed and distributed last week. With Republican Gov. Chris Christie firmly behind the legislation, Republicans stand ready to vote for it. But they were

caught off-guard by the out-ofstate limitation, found near the end of the 120-page bill. The state teachers union then produced a scathing 30-second television ad accusing Senate President Stephen Sweeney, the bill sponsor, of ``doing the bidding'' for his mentor, South Jersey political boss George Norcross III. Norcross, as chairman of the Cooper Health System and Cooper University Hospital, could benefit financially from the provision, according to the ad. Norcross, who has been a Sweeney friend since childhood and helped with his political rise, denied the ad's allegation. Sweeney said the provision was inserted to create incentives for public workers to use in-state hospitals, which are struggling financially. ``The truth is that our state is home to nationally recognized hospitals and doctors that are just as good or better as those found anywhere else, and we should be doing everything we can to support them and keep our health care dollars closer to home,'' Sweeney said. This is the second time in recent months the SweeneyNorcross alliance has been questioned publicly over health care legislation. In April, The New York Times wrote about a Sweeneysponsored proposal barring new members from enrolling in the State Health Benefits Plan. Norcross owns a large health insurance brokerage that had been losing customers to the program Sweeney sought to rein in, according to the article, which analyzed state health plan records. The provision was dropped. Fox said of the in-state care incentive: ``We don't know if it en-

hances improperly somebody's interest.'' Watson Coleman called the issue of out-of-state care ``ridiculous.''

The pension and retirement health care systems are shy of their eventual liabilities by a combined $110 billion ``Why shouldn't everyone have access to the best care that's available?'' she asked. The legislation would change health and pension benefits for

the 500,000 public workers, including teachers, firefighters and police officers, and state, county and local employees, all of whom would see their out-of-pocket costs rise. They would be charged a portion of their health insurance premiums based on income and would be forced to make higher pension contributions. The retirement age would rise, from 62 to 65, for new hires, and retirees would see an end, at least temporarily, to automatic cost-ofliving increases. Retirees would continue to get free health care. The pension and retirement health care systems are shy of their eventual liabilities by a combined $110 billion. There is broad agreement on the need for higher pension con-

Study affirms concussion dangers to young athletes Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 41

``Nevertheless, these catastrophic events remain an important public health issue with a devastating effect on families, communities, and physicians,'' the study said. The study said most of the deaths were preventable and showed the importance of better equipment, better protocols for when injured athletes should return to action, and possible changes in blocking and tackling rules. Dr. Joel Brenner, incoming chairman of the Council on Sports, Medicine and Fitness of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the study contains important new information. ``It gives credence to everything we've been trying to do to make it safer for young athletes

out there with proper treatment of concussions,'' said Brenner, medical director of the sports medicine program at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va. Given recent moves across the country to bar athletes with concussions from playing until they've fully recovered, the study also hit home for Jon Almquist, head of the athletic training program for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. He said the 17 deaths were probably preventable. ``Maybe that catastrophic number can take a dip because of the changing awareness and changing concussion protocols,'' said Almquist, who chairs the secondary school athletic trainers committee of the National Athletic Trainers Association. -AP

tributions, and for the state to begin paying its share, to shore up the retirement system. There is less agreement over health care. Christie and the Democrats who lead the Legislature agree on the proposed reforms. However, the unions vehemently oppose the loss of collective bargaining over health care. Many Democrats agree. More union rallies are planned outside the Statehouse as the proposal is voted on in the Senate and gets its first public hearing in the Assembly. Days ago, Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell, of Bayonne, introduced a bill to adjust pension contributions identical to what Sweeney proposes without addressing health care costs. -AP

NM health officials issue smoke advisory SANTA FE, N.M.: New Mexico health and environment officials are warning residents in some parts of the state that air quality will continue to be affected by smoke from wildfires. They say smoke from a blaze burning north of Santa Fe will likely drift to the southeast. The amount of smoke will depend on how large the fire grows and how much smoke is produced during peak afternoon burning times. The fire has charred an estimated 3,000 acres. Fire officials are hoping more accurate mapping can be done overnight. Officials are also warning that northwest winds will carry smoke from the Wallow fire burning along the New Mexico-Arizona border into western New Mexico. Smoke from the fires can be particularly harmful to people who have asthma or lung or heart disease. -AP

Texas man lives for five weeks with beatless heart Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 40

The new device whirls instead of pulses - something that Mrs Lewis said her husband, who worked for the city of Houston maintaining its vast system of wastewater pumps, would have appreciated. The continuous flow it creates helps alleviate problems with artificial hearts such as clotting, thrombosis and bleeding.

It also provides more options for those in stages of advanced heart failure. Previously, patients with full heart failure had just two options: artificial heart, with all its limitations; or join the transplant list. Those with only the left side of the heart failing also has the help of left ventricular assist devices, such as the one keeping former Vice President Dick Cheney alive. The new device offers a third

option to those with full heart failure - and, designed to accommodate both sides, can also save those with right-side failure. Doctors hailed it was 'the wave of the future' and 'the logical next step'. It does raise a few psychological questions, however. 'Who knows where you will put your hand when you say the Pledge of Allegiance?' wondered Dr Cohn. Courtesy dailymail.co.uk

Health Science Post

July 1, 2011

India Post

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Docs over testing for cervical cancer virus WASHINGTON: Too many doctors are testing the wrong women, or using the wrong test, for a virus that causes cervical cancer. The days of one-size-fits-all screening for cervical cancer are long gone. How often to get a Pap smear and whether to be tested for the cancer-causing HPV virus at the same time now depend on your age and other circumstances. But a government study reports that a surprising number of doctors and clinics aren't following guidelines from major medical groups on how to perform HPV checks, suggesting a lot of women are getting unnecessary tests. That wastes money and could harm women who wind up getting extra medical care they didn't need, says Dr. Mona Saraiya of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who led the research. Even she wasn't protected from the confusion. Saraiya was stunned to get a bill showing that her own doctor had ordered testing for HPV strains not connected to cervical cancer. The findings, reported in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, show women have to be

savvy to ensure they're getting the right checkups enough, but not too much. ``It's extremely discouraging,'' says Debbie Saslow, gynecologic cancer director at the American Cancer Society, who's had to argue with her doctor against testing too often. ``We have not been able to get that message across.'' Cervical cancer grows so slowly that Pap smears which examine cells scraped from the cervix usually find it in time to treat, or even to prevent when precancerous cells are spotted and removed. For decades, Paps were the only way to screen for cervical cancer. Now doctors know that certain strains of HPV, the human papillomavirus, cause most cervical cancer. HPV testing isn't a replacement for the Pap. But it can provide extra information to help determine if a woman is at higher or lower risk and thus guide her ongoing care if it's used correctly. The new CDC study, part of a national survey of medical practices that included 600 providers of cervical cancer screening, examined how doctors are using it. The study found 60 percent of

doctors and clinics say they give a routine Pap-plus-HPV test to women who are too young for that combination. Guidelines stress that so-called co-testing is only for women 30 and older. If both tests are negative, they can wait three years before their next screening.

HPV testing isn't a replacement for the Pap. But it can provide extra information to help determine if a woman is at higher or lower risk and thus guide her ongoing care if it's used correctly Why the age limit? Saslow says HPV is nearly as common as the common cold, especially in younger women but their bodies usually clear the infection on their own and only a years-long infection is risky. Learning that a 20something has HPV increases the

Smart bandage which reveals healing

The fibers change color when exposed to heat Louise van der Werff in front of the equipment used to form and collect the temperature sensitive fibre (Photos: Lance Nichols, CSIRO) Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 40

And the average cost of treatment is over $25,000 per wound." The color-changing material the researchers have developed is in the form of a fiber, which may be woven or knitted into a loose textile product for incorporation into a wound dressing. It will allow both patients and clinicians to determine the temperature across the wound and surrounding tissue without using electronic equipment. They simply compare the color of the fibers with a calibrated chart.

This could lead to more timely, effective and relevant treatments by doctors and nurses and to limited self-diagnosis by patients allowing faster closure of the wounds. "Having the ability to collect a broader range of data on a wound's status will have a significant impact on the understanding of chronic wounds and how best to treat them," says Mr Robin Cranston, the leader of the joint research project. Louise van der Werff is one of 16 early-career scientists chosen to present their research to the public for the first time thanks to Fresh Science, a national program sponsored by the Australian Government. Courtesy Fresh Science, Australia

odds of more invasive testing that in turn can leave her cervix less able to handle pregnancy later in life. Younger women are supposed to get HPV testing only if a Pap signals a possible problem and doctors really need the extra information. Then there's the question of which test to use. Only a few socalled high-risk strains of HPV cause cervical cancer, the strains doctors are supposed to test for. Before scientists understood the different HPV types, a test already was on the market that detects strains that can cause genital warts, not cervical cancer. The CDC's Saraiya says there's no reason to use that old test because learning you have a probably transient warts-causing strain doesn't alter your care. Yet her study found 28 percent of doctors and clinics say they order tests for both the cancercausing and warts-causing strains, regardless of patient age. The study couldn't tell why, although Saraiya says some doctors don't know there's a difference and some order forms for the lab tests don't differentiate. An HPV test costs $80 to $100, on top of a $40 Pap. Saraiya says

labs can bill for two HPV tests when doctors order testing for both kinds of strains. So what does a woman need to know before her next checkup? The CDC has developed a consumer-friendly brochure to help women understand their options for cervical cancer screening: http://tinyurl.com/6g8de6v And guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that: Routine Paps start at age 21. Most women in their 20s get a Pap every two years. Women 30 and older wait three years between screenings if they've had a negative Pap and negative HPV test, or three consecutive clear Paps. If a Pap is inconclusive at any age, HPV testing may help rule out who needs further examination and who can just repeat a Pap in a year. Anyone who's been vaccinated against HPV, a relatively new vaccine, still must follow Pap screening guidelines for their age group. Higher-risk women, such as those with HIV or previous cervical abnormalities, need more frequent screening. -AP

Perspective

India Post

July 1, 2011

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Know India Program a hit with Diaspora youth M.K. PANDEY & LALITA JOSHI

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) organizes a Know India Program (KIP) for Indian Diaspora youth every year. The objective is familiarizing the Diaspora youth with the development and achievements made by the country and bringing them closer to the land of their ancestors. The Ministry held the 17th Know India Program (KIP) from 28th April to 18th May, 2011 in which 24 youth (17 girls and 7 boys) from seven countries (Fiji, France, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and USA) took part. The participants, in the age group of 18-26 years, are selected on the basis of nominations received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad. They are provided with full hospitality and are reimbursed 90% of their economy class airfare from their respective country to India and back. The content of the program broadly includes: (a) Presentations on the country, the constitution, political process etc. (b) Interaction with faculty and students at a prestigious University/College/Institute. (c) Presentation on the industrial development and visit to some Industries (d) Visit to a village to better understand the typical village life (e) Exposure to Indian media and film industry. (f) Interaction with NGOs and organizations dealing with women affairs. (g) Visit to places of historical importance/monuments. (h) Taking part in cultural programs (i) Exposure to yoga (j) Call on high dignitaries. The first leg of the 17th KIP in Delhi from 28th April to 3rd May covered a whole day interactive session in Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), visit to Gandhi Smriti, Delhi Metro, South Delhi Select City Mall,

Akshardham Temple, Multi State Cuisine in Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon, Haryana, session in studio of All India Radio, academic discussion in School of International Studies, African Centre, JNU and exposure of Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian Philosophy and Culture in Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi. The second leg of the program with Partner State of Punjab from 4th to 10th May, 2011, KIP participants visited Amritsar Golden Temple, Gobindgarh Fort, Wagah Border, Kapurthala, Rail Coach Factory, Hoshiyarpur Village, Bhakra Dam, Nangal, Kisan Haveli, exposure of folk music,

Dr. Ved Nanda, Director, International Legal Centre, Denver University, Colorado, USA was special invitee in the studio for special recording with KIP participants on the issue of connectivity of Youth Diaspora of Indian Origin with their ancestral motherland Anandpur Sahib, Gurudwara Shri Keshgarh Sahib, Khalsa Heritage Complex, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab Bhawan, Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake and meeting with H.E. Governor of Punjab. During third leg from 11th May to 18th May, KIP participants met Chief Election Commissioner and President of India including series of meetings, discussions and interactive sessions in Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). Chief Election Commissioner of India met with KIP participants and informed them about the role of Election Commission in conducting legislative and parliamentary elections in India, the biggest democracy in the world. Meeting with KIP youth, President Pratibha Patil highlighted the importance of connectivity of Diaspora youths

of Indian origin with their ancestral country. She that the variety, contrast and variation of art, culture, history, heritage, food, language, people and places of this country is multi dimensional and evoke interest of anyone of Indian origin visiting India. The President threw light on different aspect of emerging contemporary India. From 14th to 15th May, KIP participants visited Agra to see Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort including meeting with Respect Age International, NGO for old persons. KIP Participants visited other historical monuments and important places during 3rd leg of the program in and around Delhi. They visited Doordarshan Kendra, Delhi on 17th May for recording on youth Diaspora related issues where Director General, News addressed KIP participants about functioning of the News Department and its all India set-up. Dr. Ved Nanda, Director, International Legal Centre, Denver University, Colorado, USA was special invitee in the studio for special recording with KIP participants on the issue of connectivity of Youth Diaspora of Indian Origin with their ancestral motherland. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi met KIP participants at a function in Delhi where he informed them that KIP is a three-week orientation program conducted in partnership with one or two State Governments with a view to introduce India to them and promote awareness on different facets of Indian life and the progress made by the country in various fields e.g. economic, industrial, education, science & technology, communication & information technology and culture. He said this program provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views and to bond closely with contemporary India. The 18th KIP is proposed to be held between December 2011 and January 2012 with Goa as the Partner State. It will also synchronies with Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Impressions of participants in 17th KIP: Visiting Gandhi Smriti was surreal & very profound I learnt much more than of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and would swear were Chinese dumplings, or Kerala style Fish what I was expecting Courtesy the Indian Consulate of San Francisco, I was given a Curry and flaky Paratha; all of which fall under the banner

rare opportunity to see and experience so many of the of Indian cuisine. India's diversity is not just limited to things that make India the diverse, dynamic, vibrant, and cuisine or language and I really enjoyed seeing how India simply amazing place that it is. This opportunity has really is a land of many religions as we were able to visit allowed me to put my heritage into great perspective and I Akshardham, a Hindu Temple, the Jama Masjid, a mosque, would like to sincerely thank all parties involved for the and the Golden Temple of Amritsar, which belongs to the experience. Sikh faith. Needless to say our trip to Delhi, After returning to the United States, Agra, and Punjab was packed with I feel that one of the things that I appreamazing activities that ranged from a ciated the most during this trip was the visit to the state of the art Delhi Metro chance to interact and experience India to walking the grounds of that ultiwith other youth. Even though only mate symbol of love known as the Taj my father is from India, I still identify Mahal. strongly with my Indian heritage as it is One of our first destinations was this side of the family, the culture, and the Gandhi Smriti; sight of the assasthe traditions that I have grown up with. sination of Mahatma Gandhi. As an However, although I may identify Asian Studies major, the story of greatly with the Indian side of my famIndia's independence has always resoily, upon first glance those who meet nated with me, perhaps because of my me rarely recognize that I am half Inown background or maybe because it dian. Therefore, to be part of a program is filled with so many amazing stories like this and to have a chance to build EMILY PAULOSE, USA of perseverance. Nevertheless, perfriendships with other youth from varisonally seeing where Gandhi took his final steps was not ous backgrounds and countries with the common bond of only surreal but also very profound as this was the sight of heritage, has been a really rewarding and fulfilling experisuch a historical event. ence for me as I rarely get the chance to make such friendWe later moved on to Kingdom of Dreams, a destination ships under these pretences in my daily life. that showcased culture through the culinary traditions that I feel I have learned a great deal from all of the participants set each and every one of India's states apart. It is amazing of the 17th KIP and I will greatly miss the rapport and friendto see and taste dishes like Sikkim style Momos, which you ships that we had established during our time in India.

he 17th Know India Program (KIP) was an extraordinaire program, which allowed me to meet Indians from abroad and Indians from Bharat. Before joining this program, I was told it is a cultural program in order to show and discover the magnificence of India. After this program, I learnt much more than what I was expecting and met great persons, participants and organizers. Each visit in Delhi, Agra or in Punjab gives me the opportunity to see the diversity of India. I would prefer also to spend more time with local Indians or practice the work of Kisan (farmer) or even have a class of Hindi. The visit to Punjab was just amazing. The opportunity RANJIT GORAYA SINGH, to listen "Rehraas" in FRANCE Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) was a great moment of spirituality. And also the Heritage Walk in Amritsar allowed me to discover this old city and its history. The same experience was reiterated in Agra during our visit of Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal. Know India Program is an excellent and interesting program to bond Indian Diaspora with their Indian roots and should continue. I had the opportunity to come to India earlier too but then I stayed only with my related family and did not visit and meet others area of India. This program shows me the diversity of India, which I was used to reading in books alone.

Perspective

July 1, 2011

India Post

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Impressions of participants in 17th KIP: Chance to develop friendships across oceans

eople around the world are quick to question this idea of identity of NRIs or PIOs as it is commonly referred to. It may seem like a strange concept, growing up with a culture not of the country that you are born in, but anyone will tell you that the culture of India is so rich and colorful that you really don't need to be in India to be a part of it. Growing up in Durban, South Africa, my childhood was filled with stories about the great India from my grandparents. These were always accompanied by Indian food freshly prepared by too many aunts. India was always a part of my life and I was simply waiting for the opportunity to visit the land. I knew that Indians are obsessed with food but after visiting India, I now understand why! The exquisite range of dishes for each meal is a journey on its own which I thoroughly enjoyed. The 17th Know India Program has provided the perfect platform to my debut meeting with the country I had such high expectations off. I was far from disappointed. We were privileged to tour the state of Punjab as well as Delhi and Agra. Each day was meticulously planned to maximize our time there FATIMA PARUK, and give us a glimpse SOUTH AFRICA into the sights, sounds and magic of it all. It was interesting and informative to hold discussions with the chief elections commissioner, the various speakers at the Indian Institute of Public Administration and students from the Jawaharlal University in Delhi. We had the pleasure of enjoying classical music and dance at the Indian Council of Cultural Relations which was a fascinating event. The Indian landscape is a vast one and one can spend years to discover and explore it. I am glad to have gotten a glimpse of it and proud to have a place in it. The bond and good memories shared with other candidates on the program will forever be remembered and has provided us the chance to develop friendships across oceans. I will definitely keep my ties with India and hope to go back soon! Thank you to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, ICE, the officials in Punjab and all those involved for creating an unforgettable and enriching experience.

It was a life changing experience

Heritage sites revealed rich history

K Gandhi said: "be the change you want to see in the world" Today I sit here after the 17th Know India Program (KIP) and reflect on my experiences gained over the three weeks in what my parents and I consider "our motherland". I am grateful for this opportunity which the SARISHA DAYA, SOUTH AFRICA Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has provided to me and my fellow colleagues on the program. Learning of the country of my great grandfather's origin has given me a sense of belonging and has definitely changed my view on how much potential there is in the world to live a holistic lifestyle. A democratic country and a female President and a strong cultural and ethical base have proved to me that India is a country of endless possibilities. Being a country that is leading the world in technology and yet bullock carts are still seen on the roads, says to me that, no matter their differences, all people are seen as one. The unity in diversity has taken a giant step forward in India, religious tolerance this strong I have never witnessed before. The highlights of my excursion include the Punjab State and the Golden Temple. On this note I must thank the program management for adapting the program to include the zoo. This for me was the best experience as my studies in conservation management focuses hereon. There are people of Indian origin all over the world but India is the one country where we are not seen as tourists. This experience brought me closer to India and to the Indians in the rest of the world. I consider myself fortunate and glad we as the KIP17 group were able to spend time together and learn not only about India but each other's countries too and together. My overall experience has been a life changing one. I hope to be visiting India again soon. Thank you for teaching me that I am the change in the world!

The participants at Taj Mahal At Golden Temple

would like to take this opportunity to convey my grati tude to the Indian High Commission and the Ministry of Indian Overseas Affairs for organizing such an interactive and knowledgeable program for Diaspora youth. A hearty thanks also goes out to the two facilitators from ICE, who were very friendly and approachable and always there to assist the participants in every way possible. This was my first trip to India and it has been a great experience for exposure to the Indian economy, culture and history. India is an economic powerhouse and this is clearly depicted in the capacity it has for development in terms of its IT, engineering and related sectors. We had the opportunity to visit the Delhi Metro office, which in itself depicts the ingenuity of Indian development in terms of its IT, engineering and architecture. We also learnt a lot about the Indian economy through our interaction with the lecturers and professors at the Indian Institute of Public Policy. It was also enlightening to learn about the governance of India and other issue such as environment, trade and IT that were also brought to light. A visit to the Indian Cultural Center also highlighted the essence of the different cultures in India relative to different geographic areas within India and related cultural practices. Areas discussed also focused on the history of the Indian DIPIKA KUMARI, FIJI cinema and music, whereby we had a live performance by a classical singer. It was very interesting to see the cultural heritage sites and learn of their rich history. The places we visited were the Gandhi Smriti, Akshardham Temple, the Aurobindo Ashram, the Golden Temple, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Jamma Masjid, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Mahal and Fort . We also took the heritage morning walk in Amritsar, Punjab whereby we were taken to the area that has been designated as a tourist site and work will start soon to conserve these ancient structures to be used as a tourist attraction. A visit to the India Gate was also organized. We had the opportunity to taste diverse Indian cuisine. It was really intriguing to be at the Wagah (India-Pakistan) border to witness the exchange of the guards, as well as the Bhakra and Nangal dam. It was indeed a privilege to visit the Honorable President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil. We also met with the Governor of Chandigarh, the only planned city in India. It has been a very interesting and life enriching visit to India. The people are very warm and hospital and we were treated very well on all our visits.

India Post

Perspective

July 1, 2011

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Impressions of participants in 17th KIP: Akshardam temple is the most beautiful place

land where all religions find a home, rich heritage and with all the lights was magical. We also got to put our feet history and the world's largest democracy are just some in the holy water outside of the temple so we received our spectacular features of India, the land of my forefathers. blessings and persons sat on near the water meditating so There are no words to describe my thoughts and emotions peacefully. after completing these three weeks with my fellow PIOs but I can safely say that my life has changed for the better certain aspects of this trip have shaped my experience into after the past three weeks; this entire experience has a very memorable and life changing one. changed me as a person and my outlook Firstly, India is known for its dynamic on life and my culture. I was always historical sites and we had the opportuhappy to be of Indian descent but now I nity to visit some great monuments such am proud and honored and I think it is as the Gandhi Smriti on our first day in important for all PIOs to be exposed to Delhi where Gandhi spent his last day the birthplace of their ancestors as most and we actually saw where he was shot, do not even know much about their culhis last footsteps and his room and beture. longings. Also, visiting the Akshardam Being back at home, I look at the pictemple was one of the highlights for me tures and it is very hard to believe that I as it is the most beautiful place I have was a part of such a dynamic group of ever seen with intricate designs on the people chosen and that I was actually in wall and ceilings and the marble murtis India, it was all a dream and trying to rewere splendid and it was simply a work live all the stories for my family they are of perfection. all blown away. Also, to meet the other The India Gate was also a wonderful participants was a great pleasure and I place to see and how persons who died also learnt a little about their countries SASHA MAHARAJ, to save India are still given so much recand everyone has become like a family. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ognition and respect. Also, visiting the Many thanks to our coordinators Jama Masjid was a great experience as it is the largest Vandan and Pratima who became like our parents and did a mosque in India so it was great to see the different archi- fantastic job in ensuring our safety and good health and tecture as compared to the temples. In Punjab, the Sikh most importantly the Ministry for organizing such an iniGolden Temple in Amritsar was the highlight for me as I had tiative and giving me this opportunity because it has alheard a lot about it before and saw pictures so to see it in ways been my dream. But I would have probably never real was breathtaking and especially seeing it in the night visited India if it was not for this trip.

KIP helped in my search for self-discovery

n order to accept your present and shape your future, it Exploring Punjab was an incredible experience. Our exis imperative for one to discover one's roots and appreci- posure to Punjab began with a visit to the enchanting ate that culture. Being a person of Indian origin living in a Golden temple. We also visited Maharaja Ranjit Singh's foreign country leads one to constantly question one's Panorama, the Kapurthala rail coach factory, Bhakra dam belonging and rightful place in their respective nations. and had the great pleasure of interacting with people who Growing up in a family of mixed religious, personal, and were involved in agriculture. We concluded our visit to cultural opinions has placed me on a rollercoaster ride in Punjab with a visit to the Khalsa heritage complex which is the search to find myself and find my place in society. It is currently still under construction. my belief that many South African Indians including myUpon our return to Delhi, we visited Doordarshan TV self often feel as if we're estranged orphans taken from our where we appeared on a youth TV show and made many motherland and placed in the custody of friends with the local youth. How could another country. So too like any orphan we visit India and not visit the magnifichild, we yearn to visit our motherland if cent Taj Mahal in all its splendour. On only, once in our lifetime to experience our return from Agra, we visited Respect first-hand the authentic and ethnic India Age International Organisation, which through active participation with the lowe learnt was a non-government cal populous. organisation whose purpose was to help It is said that if you have travelled the the aged who no longer felt like their world then you have seen half the world, families needed them. This organisation and if you have visited only the Indian is indeed a vivid idea as they help both subcontinent, you have seen the whole the young and older people by allowworld! Being a participant on the 17th ing families who do not have living Know India Program has indeed helped grandparents to adopt a grandparent in my search of self-discovery. I think and allow these people to have active that my life can be divided into two parts, participation in many day to day acthe one is before trip to India, and the tivities. We were also given the esother one is after that trip. On the mornteemed privilege to have an audience ANNEREINE CANDICE LAZARUS, ing of the 18th May as my colleagues with the President of India and explore SOUTH AFRICA from Durban and I stepped out of the the presidential estate. Indira Gandhi International airport in My visit to India was a real eye Delhi, as I touched my hand to the ground in a symbolic opener. It has not only taught me things about India gesture to acknowledge my motherland, I felt an immediate itself but also about who I am as a South African Indian sense of returning home. and my role in ensuring that future generations underIndia is an incredibly diverse country. You need to travel stand their roots and aspire to also visit India. India is to India with no expectation but one thing for sure you can an extremely magical place which has much to offer the always expect a day-to-day incredible adventure. Our pro- world as well as act as an example to other countries and gram began in Delhi with an ice breaking session at the teach many of us that we are all equal and we should Indian Institute for Public Administration which laid the respect each other irrespective of religion, culture, cast or foundation for building many lifelong friendships between creed and that it is possible to celebrate differences rather the participants. Delhi is the epicentre of India. than argue them.

Proud to see different religions coexist peacefully My experience of the 17th Know India Program was extremely exciting and I know I will never forget it. I must firstly offer my thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Embassy of India in Peru for granting me this opportunity to explore and learn about my culture. One of the most emotionally satisfying experiences in India was caused by visiting Akshardham and Jama Masjid in Delhi as well as the Golden Temple in Punjab and seeing people of different religions attend these houses of worship and be respectful of each religion, regardless of what they believed in. I felt proud to know that in my country it is possible to see all different religions coexist peacefully. However, not only do religions coexist in India, but they are able to work harmoniously as is shown in our present Government where our President is Hindu, our Vice-President, Muslim, and our Prime Minister, Sikh. It has been truly wonderful to see the words "diversity and unity" in action and this is one of the reasons why I believe India has great potential, because it is tolerant and welcoming. In India, I got the chance to meet the Chief Election Commissioner and we were given the opportunity to have a question and answer session with him. As I plan to study AARTI DARYANANI, economics and poliSOUTH AFRICA tics, it was very interesting for me to have a conversation with a man who manages the largest elections in the world. He explained the voting system in India and then we were able to talk to him about different matters such as corruption in politics and apathy of young voters. Although we saw the different aspects of India including its beautiful architecture in Fatehpur Sikri and the Taj Mahal, what I will remember the most will definitely be the people I met. I feel lucky to have been given the chance to meet young Indians born abroad like me, and to have spent three weeks getting to know them and forming close friendships. I know that this trip would not have been as significant to me without them, as it was refreshing to experience India through young eyes and to feel that they were just like me in their ways, but at the same time so different depending on their heritage - be it from what part of India they come from or which country they live in. Additionally, the event managers were the most attentive chaperones we could wish for, and they knew how to make themselves be respected while also liked. This trip has set the bar high and I am more enthusiastic about visiting India in the future. However, I know that when I do, it will be measured against the highest of standards as this trip will dwell in my memory for years to come.

At the Rock Garden in Chandigarh

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Philosophy

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July 1, 2011

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young Sannyâsin went to a forest; there he meditated, worshipped, and practiced Yoga for a long time. After years of hard work and practice, he was one day sitting under a tree, when some dry leaves fell upon his head. He looked up and saw a crow and a crane fighting on the top of the tree, which made him very angry. He said, "What! Dare you throw these dry leaves upon my head!" As with these words he angrily glanced at them, a flash of fire went out of his head such was the Yogi's power and burnt the birds to ashes. He was very glad, almost overjoyed at this development of power he could burn the crow and the crane by a look. After a time he had to go to the town to beg his bread. He went, stood at a door, and said, "Mother, give me food." A voice came from inside the house, "Wait a little, my son." The young man thought, "You wretched woman, how dare you make me wait! You do not know my power yet." While he was thinking thus the voice came again: "Boy, don't be thinking too much of yourself. Here is neither crow nor crane." He was astonished; still he had to wait. At last the woman came, and he fell at her feet and said, "Mother, how did you know that?" She said, "My boy, I do not know your Yoga or your pracJEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU

Summary of 'Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men' ousseau discusses two types of inequality, natural or physical and ethical or political. Natural inequality involves differences between one man's physical strength and that of another - it is a product of nature. Rousseau is not concerned with this type of inequality and wishes to investigate moral inequality. He argues moral inequality is endemic to a civil society and relates to, and causes, differences in power and wealth. This type of inequality is established by convention. Rousseau appears to take a cynical view of civil society, where man has strayed from his "natural state" of isolation and consequent freedom to satisfy his individual needs and desires. For Rousseau, civil society is a trick perpetrated by the powerful on the weak in order to maintain their power or wealth. Rousseau examines man's physical and mental characteristics and

tices. I am a common everyday woman. I made you wait because my husband is ill, and I was nursing him. All my life I have struggled to do my duty. When I was unmarried, I did my duty to my parents; now that I am married, I do my duty to my husband; that is all the Yoga I practice. But by doing my duty I have become illumined; thus I could read your thoughts and know what you had

the man from whom I am going to learn? He is the incarnation of a demon, if he is anything." In the meantime this man looked up and said, "O Swami, did that lady send you here? Take a seat until I have done my business." The man went on with his work, and after he had finished he took his money and said to the Sannyasin, "Come sir, come to my home." On

the highest flights of the Vedanta. When the Vyadha finished his teaching, the Sannyasin felt astonished. He said, "Why are you in that body? With such knowledge as yours why are you in a Vyadha's body, and doing such filthy, ugly work?" "My son," replied the Vyadha, "no duty is ugly, no duty is impure. My birth placed me in these circumstances and environments.

Great power comes from doing one's duty ‘I neither know your Yoga, nor have I become a Sannyasin, nor did I go out of the world into a forest; nevertheless, all that you have heard and seen has come to me through the unattached doing of my duty’

Swami Vivekananda

done in the forest. "If you want to know something higher than this, go to the market of such and such a town where you will find a Vyâdha (The lowest class of people in India who used to live as hunters and butchers.) who will tell you something that you will be very glad to learn." The Sannyasin went to the town and in the market he saw a big fat Vyadha cutting meat with big knives, talking and bargaining with different people. The young man said, "Lord help me! Is this

reaching home the Vyadha gave him a seat, saying, "Wait here," and went into the house. He then washed his old father and mother, fed them, and did all he could to please them, after which he came to the Sannyasin and said, "Now, sir, you have come here to see me; what can I do for you?" The Sannyasin asked him a few questions about soul and about God, and the Vyadha gave him a lecture which forms a part of the Mahâbhârata, called the Vyâdha-Gitâ. It contains one of

In my boyhood I learnt the trade; I am unattached, and I try to do my duty well. I try to do my duty as a householder, and I try to do all I can to make my father and mother happy. I neither know your Yoga, nor have I become a Sannyasin, nor did I go out of the world into a forest; nevertheless, all that you have heard and seen has come to me through the unattached doing of the duty which belongs to my position." The 109th death anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is being observed on July 4

finds him to be an animal like any other, motivated by two key principles: pity and self-preservation. The only real attribute that separates him from the animals is his perfectibility, a quality that is vitally important in the process Rousseau goes on to describe. Man in the state of nature has few

and other skills. As men come into contact more frequently, small groups or societies start to form. As men start to live in groups, pity and self-preservation are replaced by amour propre, which drives men to compare themselves to others, and to need to dominate others in order to be happy.

various stages. Beginning with the trick played by the rich, he sees society as becoming more and more unequal, until its last stage, which is despotism, or the unjust rule of everyone by one man. This development is not inevitable, but it is extremely likely. As wealth becomes the standard

Invention of property is beginning of inequality Jean Jacques Rousseau

Beginning with the trick played by the rich, he sees society as becoming more and more unequal, until its last stage, which is despotism, or the unjust rule of everyone by one man

needs, no idea of good and evil, and little contact with other humans. Nevertheless, he is happy. However, man does not remain unchanged. The quality of perfectibility allows him to be shaped by, and to change in response to, his environment. Natural forces such as earthquakes and floods drive men into all parts of the globe, and force them to develop language

The invention of property and the division of labor represent the beginning of moral inequality. Property allows for the domination and exploitation of the poor by the rich. Initially, however, relations between rich and poor are dangerous and unstable, leading to a violent state of war. Rousseau's account of the operation of society focuses on its

by which men are compared, conflict and despotism become possible. For Rousseau, the worst kind of modern society is that in which money is the only measure of value. The 299th birth anniversary of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, one of the greatest figures of French Enlightenment, was observed on June 28.

Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves - or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth. -Ayn Rand Beauty is in the heart of the beholder. -H. G. Wells It's the most righteous, which of course is not the same thing as the most profitable. -Nikolai Gogol All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. -Leo Tolstoy Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it. -Fyodor Dostoevsky A good man can be stupid and still be good. But a bad man must have brains. -Maxim Gorky Everything you add to the truth subtracts from the truth. -Alexander Solzehnitsyn

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Is Pakistan's Hatf-9 a response to Cold Start? RUHEENEOG

uclear posturing is enabled by a country's operational intent which includes the contours of a doctrine, deployment abilities, command and control structures etc. It is this, rather than the mere acquisition of weapons capability that determines the state of geopolitical power dynamics. This article will look at Pakistan's nuclear posture in the wake of two recent developments: the Hatf-9 test in April 2011 and the construction of an unsafeguarded fourth reactor at Khushab. Towards the end of May this year, Newsweek ran exclusive images of the speedy construction of a fourth nuclear reactor at Khushab, Pakistan, following revelations made in an ISIS report. The speedy construction and operationalization of a fourth nuclear reactor at Khushab will lead to a significant increase in Pakistan's plutonium production capacity. Plutonium is a feasible component for smaller warheads because it makes lighter weapons than uranium. The Hatf-9 or Nasr missile system is an easily deployable, nuclearcapable tactical missile. The focus on plutonium, along with the recent missile test, might therefore suggest that Pakistan has developed miniaturized, low-yield nuclear warheads for battlefield use. Is Hatf-9 a response to India's 'non-policy' of Cold Start? Cold Start implies that by launching attacks that are characterized by fast mobility and limited battle force deployment, India should be able to wage an attack that is below Pakistan's nuclear threshold, provided that it is known. Pakistan is also at a comparative disadvantage because its conventional forces are not at par with those of India's. Conventionally, India can escalate the game of provocations to the extent that it intends by controlling the pace and quality of aggression and deter Pakistan from responding via nuclear means, since going nuclear would elicit a much larger geographic, economic and political price. Cold Start is thus meant to allow escalation dominance to work in India's favor. Hatf-9 therefore, speaks as much of Pakistan's desire to control escalation dominance as it does of closing the nuclear deterrence chasm created by Cold Start's limited war set-up, as Vipin Narang argues on Michael Krepon's blog at Arms Control Wonk. This makes for efficient nuclear posturing: Stone-walling

India's limited war options by threatening to use tactical nuclear weapons against Indian military forces, if they happen to encroach on Pakistani soil. This makes Cold Start nearly redundant because of the lowering of Pakistan's nuclear threshold. The problem with Pakistan's strategy is that it is contingent on the conviction that India will not resort to waging an all-out con-

Hatf-9 missile

The Hatf-9 can be read as Pakistan's belated answer to India's acquisition of the Russian 300-mm Smerch rocket launch system in 2005, which has a range of about 90km ventional war against Pakistan, or worse still, massive nuclear retaliation. The indication of tactical nuclear missile usage is a highly risky strategy because ironically, it signals an implicit faith in Indian self-control. Cold Start may be read as India's belief in nuclear restraint, but a situation that employs tactical nuclear missiles (first strike) will be answered with (massive) punitive nuclear retaliation, as promised by the Indian nuclear doctrine. What then, if all bets are off? Is it a placebo? Ambiguity works well as a strategy and the testing of a weapon does not have to be an actual deployment decision. The Hatf-9 test implies that Pakistan may have succeeded in creating miniaturized nuclear warheads. Doubts have however, been raised about the actual nuclear-capabil-

ity of this missile and whether it is in existence at all - the creation of miniaturized nuclear warheads requires high skill, and evidence of the possession, or the successful testing of these missiles could be staged. It has also been said that the Pakistani military is unlikely to introduce an untested weapon in a battle scenario. Both positions need closer examination. To answer the first claim, publicity photos of the test, conducted at an undisclosed location, have been revealed; to reject this as flimsy evidence would be foolhardy. Even if one were to question whether this test actually took place, it must be noted that many tests are simulation-based and do not require actual 'testing', to which smaller warheads are perfectly suited. The second claim underlines the difference between the utility of an object, and its usability. While the utility of the Hatf-9 has been dealt with, its usability throws up a number of issues. First, if push comes to shove, will Pakistan readily detonate a nuclear missile within its borders? Second, as Scott Sagan's vulnerability/invulnerability' paradox states, a tactical nuclear weapon will have to be in a constant state of readiness, creating problems of devolution of control. This in turn leads to questions about Pakistan's ability to control escalation dominance given the suspected Islamist infiltration of the Pakistani military and alleged split between the high command and lower cadre. In addition, the workings of the SPD, Pakistan's nuclear sentinel, are little known, generating further doubt about the safety of the country's nuclear arsenal. How can escalation dominance then be suitably monitored in an irrationality crisis, for example, or a loss of control? The persistence of the South Asian arms race Pakistan has consistently attempted to match India's conventional capabilities. The Hatf-9 can therefore also be read as Pakistan's belated answer to India's acquisition of the Russian 300-mm Smerch rocket launch system in 2005, which has a range of about 90km. The Pakistani acceleration of the arms race in South Asia could also be a strategy to guarantee US involvement and to perhaps reduce the sustained American pressure on Pakistan to combat radical elements on Pakistan's western front. The writer is Research Officer, IPCS

India Post Invisible BJP

t is a wonder that the BJP, which should have been the natural beneficiary of a campaign against the ruling party, is invisible in this crusade against corruption. The main opposition party is almost reluctant to oppose the corruption prevalent in the functioning of the Congress led UPA-II government. People fret that it has not taken advantage of this opportunity. Although belatedly it has announced plans of a long countrywide campaign against corruption, it is obvious their heart is not in it. If as a result of the present agitation, the conduits of bribes and cuts are closed and investigations are rife, what will they do in a future government? If the taps are going to run dry, what is there for a politician to look forward to? They shudder at the thought of being ministers who will be barred from putting their hands in the till! If the BJP had been in earnest about dealing with corruption, it would have set about putting its own house order. With their own credibility at stake, how can it launch a crusade against others? If there is to be no corruption in governance, how will the BJP Chief Minister in Karnataka survive? BS Yeddyurappa is unable, reluctant and in fact unwilling to act against the Reddy brothers in his ministry who are kings of illegal mining and feed the pockets of the present ministry. Will the BJP cut off the hands that are feeding it just in the name of corruption? There are rebel BJP MLAs to be won over for the ministry to survive. Who will pay the crores to buy their loyalty if action is taken against the Reddys? The BJP president said that what is happening in Karnataka is morally wrong but he won't recommend action against the Yeddy and Reddy clan. Narendra Modi, the BJP's governance role model in Gujarat, has made discrimination on religious grounds a policy of his government. And he is arrogant about it. Would the BJP take questions from an outraged civil society which is now in the forefront of the struggle for cleaning up governance? So timid has been the BJP about the current struggle against corruption that it has ceded its leadership to an assortment of Babas and NGOs. It is loath to openly question the daily harassment of people who have to grease palms to get what is the duty of police or bureaucracy to provide. But it is making noise behind Baba Ramdev and egging him on to take on the government. It is another story that the Baba has cut a sorry figure as a leader. The BJP is also not being welcomed by the crusading team of Anna Hazare and civil society members who say no politicians are welcome. However Ramdev is getting full support from the BJP. The party tried to ride on the Ramdev bandwagon criticisng the government for not negotiating with him on a law to curb black money. But in a letter to the Congress which elicited its views on the issue of Lokpal, it took a strictly constitutional position assailing the government for giving more importance to the views of "outside groups" rather than parties, MPs and Parliament in drafting legislation. The BJP has to answer why from 1998 to 2004 it did absolutely nothing to either curb corruption through a Lokpal Bill or bring back black money, although the Lokpal issue was very much on the agenda. Much like the Congress today, the BJP could not make up its mind whether or not to bring the Prime Minister within the purview of the proposed ombudsman.

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