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Sunil Chopra named Kellogg interim dean Details on page 7

Citi’s Ajay Banga joins MasterCard

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

VOL 15, No. 775

July 10, 2009

50¢

Periodical Postage

MUMBAI SEA-LINK MARVEL OF ENGG.

Shyam Saran

‘India not under pressure to curb emissions’ Details on page 7

Details on page 40

Prachi Makkar

President’s Award for NJ student Details on page 6

Farah Pandith overwhelmed by India response

Clinton India visit in second week of July

Details on page 8

Details on page 7

Separate India Desk at White House

US slaps sanctions on four Pak terrorists

Details on page 9

Akshay Kumar reveals his real self

Details on page 8

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 24-25 Classifieds --------------------- 44-47

Details on page 26

Community Post -------------- 10-19

INDIA POST SURVEY

Date Book -------------------------- 20 Edit Page --------------------------- 49

survey@indiapost.com

HealthScience Post --------- 42-43

This week’s question

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

Is Mumbai sea bridge worth celebration?

Immigration Post ------------- 35-39 Life Style ----------------------- 26-28

Last week’s result

Indo-US leadership programs are helpful?

YES 87%

NO 13%

MUMBAI: India's first sea-bridge--the Rs 1,600 crore Bandra-Worli sea-link--that will cut travel time was opened

by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the engineering marvel is to be named after Rajiv Gandhi, a proposal significantly made by NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

The 5.6 km state-of-the art cable-stayed bridge providing an alternative route to south Mumbai from the western suburbs became operational ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections due this year-end.

Philosophy ------------------------- 48

Details on page 6

Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 29-31

Publisherís Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate ------------------------ 21 TechBiz Post ------------------- 40-41

VISIT

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Publisher’s Diary

H

ere's the latest on America's losing battle against drug abuse. With new forms of addictions arising by the day, the profile of the drug pushers too is changing rapidly - these days they come wearing white coats with a M.D. attached to their names, and the drugs they push are unfortunately, perfectly legal.

Yes, I allude to the growing breed of doctors in this country who are unscrupulously prescribing pain killers and anti-depressants to vulnerable patients, especially the rich and famous, leading them to dependency and eventually overdosing and death.

It's pathetic to think of how celebrities are falling prey to these pain killers and anti-depressants - we have seen in recent times the death of Anna Nicole Smith and Heath Ledger and now Michael Jackson.

Prescription drug abuse is becoming a rage among school and college kids, suburban housewives, stressed out professionals and of course celebrities. People gulping down 50-60 prescription pills a day is becoming a common phenomenon across the country - what with some of the 'has been' celebs on day-time television attributing their youthfulness and rediscovery of life to various prescriptions drugs.

While I am not shocked at these celebs' dependency issues, what shocks me is the unscrupulousness of the medical fraternity that's prescribing these killer drugs in the guise of pain relief.

I understand that with demand comes the supply, but I also believe that with easy availability comes the need.

Isn't it time already for people in this country to wake up to this abuse? I mean, what on earth is wrong with these people? What is it about the collective psyche of so many Americans that makes them so emotionally debilitated that they find themselves clinging to self-destructive substances in one form or the other.

Who are these doctors with such scant moral and ethical standards and why aren't the legal and medical systems of the country taking cognizance of these excesses?

Why aren't lawmakers doing something about it, and why isn't there an outrage among the people?

Romesh K Japra

rkjapra@indiapost.com

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Bollywood Roped in Shatrughan Sinha's reluctant daughter Sonakshi has been roped into acting by a thoroughly impressed Salman Khan.

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Cover Story: Sea-bridge marvel India's first sea-bridge--the Rs 1,600 crore Bandra-Worli sea-link-- was inaugurated

by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Community: Illinois-India trade

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Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has pitched for an increased level of trade relations between Illinois and India.

Health: Pollution control US government to strengthen air pollution health standard to better protect people with respiratory illnesses.

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In praise of women "If men are from Mars, women are from heaven!" says Akshay Kumar while promoting his recent film Kambakkht Ishq.

TechBiz: Ajay Banga MasterCard has appointed Citigroup's Ajay Banga as President and Chief Operating Officer from August 31.

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Travel: Bhutan Bhutan is the Land of the Thunder Dragon where Gross National Happiness is more important than GNP.

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Mumbai sea-link marvel of engg.

MUMBAI: India's first seabridge--the Rs 1,600 crore BandraWorli sea-link--that will cut travel time was opened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the engineering marvel is to be named after Rajiv Gandhi, a proposal significantly made by NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

The 5.6 km state-of-the art cable-stayed bridge providing an alternative route to south Mumbai from the western suburbs became operational ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections due this year-end.

Pawar proposed naming the sea-link after the late premier and Sonia's husband after the formal inauguration and it was immediately accepted by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

It is planned to be called 'Rajiv Gandhi Setu.'

More than 10 years in the mak-

The bridge cut travel time by 80 per cent, bypassing 23 traffic signals that commuters have to endure otherwise

utes to 6-8-minutes.

Gandhi dedicated the sea-link to the nation after she said the UPA government aims to develop Mumbai as the best city in the world.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi inaugurating the Mumbai sea-link bridge on June 30

ing, the landmark bridge that will reduce traffic snarls will provide a free way through the sea, reducing travel time between the two points from the present 60-90-min-

"Our objective is to include Mumbai as the most elegant city in the world complete with all amenities," she said assuring Center's complete support to elimi-

nate all problems faced by the city.

The bridge, conceived in the late-1990s, has used steel wires equivalent to the circumference of the earth. the height of the cablestayed bridge is equal to a 43-storied building.

The project is part of the western freeway sea project to connect Borivalli and distant western suburbs to Nariman Point in south Mumbai. The eight-lane bridge would help considerably reduce congestion in the Mahim Causeway area, presently the only connection between south Mumbai and the central and western suburbs.

The Mahim Causeway has increasingly become bottleneckprone as it clocks around 1.25-lakh vehicles daily.

It takes nearly one hour to travel the 8-kilometre distance from Mahim to Worli presently.

The project commissioned by the Maharashtra State Road development Transport Corporation (MSRDC) and Maharashtra Government has been built by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC). .

The main span of the cablestayed portion of the Bandra-Worli sea link measuring 500 meters is

President’s Education Award for NJ student India Post News Service

NEW JERSEY: Prachi Makkar, an 8th grade student from Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School, New Jersey has received the President’s Education Award for academic excellence. Prachi received High Honor Rolls in all 4 quarters with a GPA of above 95, and a final GPA for the year of 97.

In her signed citation, President Barack Obama said that by earning this honor, Prachi has shown a deep personal commitment to educational excellence.

Commending Prachi for her hard work, the President further said, “Nothing is more important to our nation’s long-term success than educating our future leaders. Your commitment to learning will help you meet the educational and professional demands in your future and will help lead America to a better day.

I am confident that you will build on this achievement as you strive for even higher goals in the future. I wish you all the best for continued success in the years ahead.”

Prachi got her fifth Honor Roll on June 19, along with five other 8 th graders from among 128 students in the class.

She has now been selected to join the Magnate School of Union County in Scotch Plains, NJ for her 9th Grade, on the basis of her achievements in the performing arts.

Prachi Makkar, an 8th grade student from Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School, New Jersey has received the Presidentís Education Award

the largest in India superseding Vidyasagar Setu in Kolkata and shares the 20th spot with Thailand's Kanchanaphisek Bridge among the bridges with the longest span in the world.

The Sutong Bridge over the Yangtze River in China, opened June last year, has the largest span of any cable-stayed bridge at 1,088 meters. Hong Kong's Stonecutters Bridge has the second longest span at 1,018 meters and with 890

Both sides of the bridges are flanked by 50m conventional approach spans, which are not considered as the main span.

The Vidyasagar Setu has 457.2 m main span and it was so far the largest in India. The Naini Bridge over the Yamuna is also a cablestayed one.

The bridge is 63 times the height of Qutub Minar and has consumed 90,000 tonnes of cement, which would suffice to make five build-

The bridge is 63 times the height of Qutub Minar and has consumed 90,000 tonnes of cement, which would suffice to make five buildings of 10-storey each meter the Tatara Bridge in Japan is the third longest.

Main span is the distance between the suspension towers and is the most common way to rank cable-stayed bridges.

The 5.6-km-long sea link has two cable-stayed bridges- Bandra channel with 50m-250m-250m-50m pan arrangement and the Worli channel with 50m-50m-150m-50m-50m.

ings of 10-storey each, a Mumbai State Roadways Development Corporation official said.

France's Pont de Normandie Bridge with 856 m span is the fourth longest cable-stayed bridge in the world and the remaining six in the top-10 bracket are all in China. The Xupu Bridge in Shanghai with 590m is the tenth longest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

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India not under pressure to curb emissions: Shyam Saran SRIREKHA N. CHAKRAVARTY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: India is already doing much with respect to promoting sustainable development and developing renewable energy sources and therefore is not under pressure to clean up its act vis-a-vis climate change, according to Shyam Saran, Special Envoy to India's Prime Minister.

Speaking exclusively to India Post in New York recently, Saran, who was visiting from Mexico where he attended a meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) said, "China maybe under pressure certainly, but I am not certain that India is under any kind of pressure. I see no reason why India has to be defensive because we are already doing a great deal without anybody helping us at all."

Saran added, "It's another thing if people have a distorted image of what India is doing or not doing (with regard to environment) - that's a different matter, but it's not the reality. India is doing much more with respect to promoting sustainable development and with respect to putting in large amounts of precious resources into developing renewable energy sources. I don't think anybody can really fault India for not doing enough."

Asked why the polity of nations is not able to come up with a time frame for implementing solutions, despite the urgent need,

Saran admitted that the countries that first came together at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 have not achieved much in 17 years.

"We can't do without negotiations among countries to come up with a solution," he said. "It's not a question that can be answered by just one country‌ it is a question that needs to be posed to all the negotiators who are sitting and discussing."

India is doing much more with respect to promoting sustainable development and with respect to putting in large amounts of precious resources into developing renewable energy sources He however said, "I don't think it is a question of lack of urgency or lack of willingness to face up to the challenge and recognize that something drastic has to be done about this. But there are political realities, and there's the question of where the resources are going to come from. You look at the debate taking place in the US Congress with regard to what impact some of those measures will have in terms of existing sectors whether it is agriculture or

some other industries; these are issues which crop up in other countries as well. So you have to somehow balance the interests."

The negotiations between the countries are indeed about setting a time frame, he said. "In all fairness, there is far more awareness of this today in world public opinion than has been the case for a long time. Public opinion also has to influence government decisions; if public in the US or Europe is aware of climate change, the question is are they willing to put their money where their mouth is; are they willing to accept big taxes on gasoline, which are sure to bring down consumption? Politically it may not be possible. So even those who talk of climate change, when it actually comes to making sacrifices they are not ready to do so. It is not a problem with just the US or Europe, it is a problem in many countries including in India."

Asked if political compulsion was the one key factor for the delay in arriving at a consensus on curbing carbon footprints by respective countries, Saran reiterated, "These are intensely political negotiations. Governments have to have political will, which in turn is influenced by public opinion; so the more educated the public opinion is the greater the willingness on part of governments to take political risks. That is the reality in every country; it will not happen overnight, but all I can say is there is far greater

public awareness and far greater willingness on part of governments to really get down to serious business. After all the first convention was negotiated 17 years ago, not much happened in so many years. So the fact that we are actually getting down to doing some serious business now is some cause for encouragement."

Consulate Talk At a luncheon talk hosted by the Indian Consulate in New York

There was a huge stock of emissions collected over years due to industrialization of the developed world and it was unfair to ask emerging economies to cap their progress on June 25, Saran addressed an audience of media, academicians and environmentalists, touching upon his recent meeting in Mexico where he met with representatives of other countries and discussed how best to facilitate and successfully mobilize resources for dealing with environmental changes.

Saran stated that- mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology - must be looked at collectively in order to overcome cur-

rent challenges on the environmental front. Regarding India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, he emphasized India's continued efforts to limit climate change by implementing strategies which include solar energy, sustainable agriculture, and water conservation.

Dispelling misconceptions about India's position on Climate Change, Saran emphasized that although India was willing to take action on emissions it was starting on an unleveled playing field.

"Climate change is not because of current emissions of green house gases, but because of accumulation of these gases emitted by the industrialized countries over the last 100-150 years," he said. "Most carbon space in the world is occupied by the developed countries."

There was a huge stock of emissions collected over years due to industrialization of the developed world and it was unfair to ask emerging economies to cap their progress due to environmental needs, he said. Statistically, while the developed countries already have 600-700 cars per every 1000 people, in India, it is projected that by 2030, there would be an estimated 83 cars per 1000 people. Saran, said that by that statistic, India is a far cry away from contributing to global emission levels.

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Sunil Chopra named Kellogg interim dean Clinton India visit in 2nd week India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Indian American academic Sunil Chopra, currently the senior associate dean for curriculum and teaching at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, has been named interim dean of the school, Provost Daniel I. Linzer announced recently.

His new appointment will be effective September 1, 2009.

Chopra, who joined Kellogg in 1989, is also the IBM Distinguished Professor of Operations Management at Kellogg. His appointment as interim dean is effective September 1, 2009.

"Sunil brings a deep understanding of the school, an outstanding record of scholarship and significant administrative experience," Linzer said. "We will soon begin a national search for a successor to Dean Dipak Jain, who will step down September 1. I am confident that Kellogg will continue to flourish under Sunil's leadership as interim dean while we conduct the search."

Chopra's research and teaching

interests are in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management and network design. Besides several papers, he has co-authored the books Managing Business Process Flows and Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation. Both books are pub-

Chopra has been Senior Associate Dean for Curriculum and Teaching since August 2006. In that position, he is responsible for planning the curriculum, teaching needs and other student activities lished by Prentice Hall and are used at several of the top business schools to teach Operations Management and Supply Chain Management respectively. The Supply Chain Management book was awarded the best book of the year

for 2002 by the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE). He also has won several teaching awards at Kellogg.

"Kellogg has a strong commitment to excellence based on its culture of collaboration and innovation among its faculty, students, alumni and staff," Chopra said. "I look forward to building on this vibrant environment where we partner with our students to develop global leaders who make contributions of lasting significance and faculty continue to do path breaking research and develop new pedagogy."

Chopra has been Senior Associate Dean for Curriculum and Teaching since August 2006. In that position, he is responsible for planning the curriculum, teaching needs and other student activities for the FullTime, Part-Time and Executive MBA programs. Prior to coming to Kellogg, Chopra was an Assistant Professor at the Stern School of Business Administration at New York University. He has a PhD in Operations Research from SUNY Stony Brook.

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to visit India in the second half of this month, the State Department said here.

However, no dates have been announced yet, given that Clinton is yet to fully recover from the surgery of her right elbow, which she had fractured about two

weeks ago at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of State Department.

"I think you are aware the Secretary does plan to visit India sometime in the second half of July. I do not have any details right now to release on it," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in response to a question at his daily press briefing.-PTI

Liberhan Commission submits report to PM NEW DELHI: Seventeen years after it was set up, the Liberhan Commission probing the 1992 demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on Tuesday submitted its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Retd Justice M S Liberhan, heading the Commission which had got 48 extensions, submitted the report to the Prime Minister in presence of Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Set up within ten days of the

demolition of the historic mosque on December six, 1992, which triggered widespread communal violence leading to heavy loss of lives, the panel has become the country's longest serving Commission of Enquiry.

The Commission, mandated to inquire into the circumstances leading to the demolition of the Babri mosque was to submit its report by March 16, 1993 but sought repeated extensions to complete its probe.-PTI

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US slaps sanctions on four Pak terrorists WASHINGTON: The US has slapped sanctions on four Pakistani terrorists linked to the LeT and al-Qaeda, with one of them having links to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, for their involvement in terror attacks including Mumbai train bombings and Samjhauta Express blast.

The US Treasury Department imposed asset freeze on four designated terrorists Arif Qasmani, Fazeel-A-Tul Shaykh Abu Mohammed Ameen al-Peshawari, Mohammed Yahya Mujahid and Nasir Javaid.

"The designated individuals have provided direct support to al-Qaeda and the LeT and have facilitated terrorist attacks, including the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India," the Treasury Department said in a statement.

"The United States and the United Nations have both targeted these four individuals for supporting al-Qaeda and Lashkare Taiba," said Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Director Adam J Szubin.

Contending that threats to global security require a global response, Szubin said the US was supporting the UN Security Council to "cut these terrorist supporters off from the international financial system".

Al-Peshawari, Qasmani and Mujahid were added to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban

in June this year. .

All UN member states are obligated to freeze funds and assets of such individuals and entities and to impose other sanctions like travel ban and arms embargo.

The US implements its asset freeze by blocking all property and interests in property of the designees in the US or under control of US persons, the Treasury Department said.

Contending that threats to global security require a global response, Szubin said the US was supporting the UN Security Council to ‘cut these terrorist supporters off from the international financial system’ It said among the four designated as global terrorists, Qasmani was chief coordinator for LeT's dealings with other groups and provided support for terrorist operations of the outfit that masterminded last year's Mumbai terror attacks.

Qasmani has worked with LeT to facilitate terrorist attacks, including the July 2006 train bomb-

ing in Mumbai and the February 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing in Panipat.

"Qasmani conducted fundraising activities on behalf of LeT in 2005 and utilized money that he received from Dawood Ibrahim, an Indian crime figure and terrorist supporter, to facilitate the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai," it said.

Since 2001, Qasmani has also provided financial and other support and services to al-Qaeda, including facilitating the movement of its personnel in and out of Afghanistan and provision of supplies and weapons.

In return for his support, alQaeda provided Qasmani with operatives to support the Mumbai train bombing and that of the Samjhauta Express, a statement said. .

It said Al-Peshawari (Ameen alPeshawari) was providing assistance, including funding and recruits to the al-Qaeda network as of early 2008.

He provided funding and other resources to Taliban, including explosive vests and actively facilitated activities of anti-Coalition militants in Afghanistan by raising money in support of terrorist activities.

Al Peshawari also began a campaign to support militants in Pakistan and as of 2007, was responsible for recruiting suicide bombers and for acquisition of funds and equipment for militants in Afghanistan, the statement said.-PTI

Irfan to marry long-time friend Shivangi, a CA in Australia VADODARA: Indian pace star Irfan Pathan has decided to tie the nuptial knot with his longtime friend Shivangi Dev, a chartered accountant working in Australia.

Irfan, 24, met Shivangi, 22, in Canberra in 2003 when the Indian team was touring Australia and proposed to her when she was on a visit here three years back.

Shivangi, daughter of a diplomat now posted in Spain, promptly said "yes" when Irfan asked whether she will marry him, Irfan's father Mehbubkhan Pathan told PTI. "Miya bibi razi to kya karega Kazi" (if the boy and the girl are ready to tie the knot, what can anyone do), he said quickly adding the family has no objection to the marriage.

But Irfan will have to wait for

some time as the family is looking for a suitable for his elder

brother and team mate Yusuf Pathan, says his father.-PTI

Pandith overwhelmed with response from India WASHINGTON: Kashmir-born said.

Farah Pandith, appointed as the India has the world's second Special US Representative to largest Muslim population after Muslim world by the Obama ad- Indonesia. ministration, has said that she is Having done all her education overwhelmed with the response in Massachusetts, she went to from India over her new job.

Milton Academy, Smith College "I was actually very over- and then to the Fletcher School whelmed with the response in India... I really have to say it was ‘I was actually very overreally very special for whelmed with the response in me as somebody of Indian heritage," Pandith India... I really have to say it was told the State Department press corps at her really very special for me as maiden press confer- somebody of Indian heritage’ ence.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had last week ap- of Law and Diplomacy. pointed Pandith for this first-of"I have had experience workits-kind position in the US gov- ing in both the public and private ernment as part of President sector. I was vice president of inBarack Obama's effort to start a ternational business for a comnew beginning with the Muslim pany outside Boston and had a world and improve America's im- chance to really think about the international marketplace, so to age among Islamic nations.

"I was born in India and grew speak, from a lot of different perup in Massachusetts," Pandith spectives," she said.-PTI

Half of foreign students killed were Indians MELBOURNE: About 54 over- were cited as accidents and three seas students, nearly half of them as death from illness.

Indians, died of various causes in But an investigation by The Australia last year, but coroners Age has established the death were trying to suppress the de- toll is higher than 51 -- around 54 tails of the deaths, a leading daily -- with most coming from India, here reported.

Korea and China. Nearly half The report in 'The Age', which were Indians, the report said addcomes amid a series of racial at- ing, Indians were holding onetacks targeting Indian students in fifth of the total student visas at Australia, claimed the toll is higher that time. than the federal government has The government numbers admitted. showed no suicides, but the real State and territory coroners, under the National Coroners Information Sys- The report in 'The Age', which tem (NCIS), have refused comes amid a series of an application by the daily racial attacks targeting for data on deaths of overIndian students in Australia, seas students in the year to November 2008, the pa- claimed the toll is higher per said. than the federal A spokeswoman for Vic- government has admitted torian Coroner Jennifer Coate said the information would not be made public because figure is at least three, the daily it was not exhaustive. "The na- claimed. tionality and occupation of someIt also carried a story datelined one who has died is not required Rampura Phul in Punjab, detailto be automatically recorded," she ing the trauma of the family of said.

Mangat Garg, whose son Razat The refusal came after the died after being hit by a train on NCIS previously indicated that the the western fringes of Melbourne information would be made avail- on the Valentine's Day. able, the report said.

Australian Police suggested In February, under question- that the hospitality management ing in Parliament, the government student had committed suicide said 51 overseas students died but the family is alleging murder in that year, with 34 dying of "un- and is not satisfied with the inknown" causes. Fourteen cases vestigation, the report said. -PTI

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Etihad flying to Indian cities from Chicago Sept 2 RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: One of the youngest international air careers, Etihad, though a toddler compared to other global airliners, has not only started ”running” relatively fast but now is posed for “flying” jet speed, establishing more and more connections across the world.

Its relatively recent entry into the US market, coming to New York in 2006, is now taking deeper roots with its decision to start flying to O’Hare in Chicago non stop from Abu Dhabi three days a week from September 2 and daily from October this year. The air career has near global connections from Abu Dhabi to other destinations in Europe, Indian sub continent and plans going to Australia too soon.

Robin Middleton, Regional General Manager, said that Chicago is the third largest market flying to Middle East after New York and Washington DC and has a large Arab American population. “But we would confine to serve only one segment of the population and will

cater to all the communities- In- stan. dians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi The new service will enand those seeking to fly to Far hance commercial and cultural East and Australia,” he told ties not only between Abu news media here.

Dhabi and Chicago, but also For Indians, the airline will between UAE and US, providhave connecing a daily tions to flight for busiMumbai, New ness and leiD e l h i , sure travelers, Chennai, he added.

Cochin and Etihad will opTruvandrum. erate three “We shall be cabin Air Bus adding a few aircraft configmore- Kolkata, ured to seat Ahmedabad 240 passena n d gers – 12 first Hyderabad,” class, 28 busihe said in a reness class and ply to ques200 economy. tion. The inInitially it flight meal will will fly on also be acWe d n e s d a y , cording to the Friday and tastes and reSunday but ligious pracfrom October 1, tices of the it will be flaypassengers, ing everyday.

Janet River, Start up Station and it would Its flight EY Manager, introducing Middleton serve Halal 151 will depart to media meat and strict Abu Dhabi at vegetarian food too. It will be 10-20 a.m., and arrive Chicago connected to Islamabad, at 4-40 p.m. Its return flight will Karachi and Peshawar in Paki- leave Chicago at 8-30 p.m. and

NRI dies of swine flu in Kerala KOCHI: A 52-year-old NRI, who was suspected to have contracted swine flu, died shortly after he was admitted to a hospital in Kerala's Kollam district, a Health official said here.

The throat swabs of Stanley Pelis, who arrived in Kerala two weeks ago from UK, have been sent to the National Institute of Communicable diseases, New Delhi.

If confirmed, he would be the first victim of the flu in the country.

Pelis, hailing from Kollam, was admitted to Holy Cross Hospital at Kottiyam in the district with high fever and breathlessness at around 7 p.m. last night and passed away at 9 p.m., Dr K Shylaja, Medical Director, told PTI. Meanwhile, two passengers who arrived at the Kochi airport from US and Ireland this morning

have been quarantined with suspected symptoms of the flu.

The two passengers are -- a 33year-old man from Pathnamthitta, who arrived from Ireland and a 20year-old Keralite woman from US. They have been admitted to the Aluva taluk hospital, hospital sources said.

Till now, four persons have tested positive for the flu in Kerala, she said.-PTI

BBC says Mumbai LeT cell helped 26/11attackers LONDON: Pakistan-based terrorist leaders who conveyed precise police positions to the 26/11 attackers may have been guided

by LeT spotters on the ground in Mumbai rather than by live television coverage, a BBC investigative report claimed.

The report, shown on BBC Television, said that leaders of the ten terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26 were directing events minute-by-minute on mobile phones, routing all calls over the internet.

The BBC Newsnight correspondent, Richard Watson, who carried out the investigation said

"it is astonishingly clear from these calls that the terrorist leaders, said to be in Pakistan, knew every move the police were making as the hostage crisis unfolded."

They had spotters on the ground who were feeding back information to their leaders about the police movements," Watson said

But these instructions seem remarkably precise for that. "I know the kind of live-shots used in these situations and they would be unlikely to yield that kind of detail. It is far more likely that they had spotters on the ground who were feeding back information to their leaders about the police movements," Watson said.

If this is true, then it means a LeT cell in Mumbai played a crucial role in the attacks which is still undiscovered, Watson wrote, admitting that the possibility of local Muslim involvement would be politically damaging for India.-PTI

will reach Abu Dhabi next day 8-55 p.m.

Etihad, a national career of United Arab Emirates, was established in 2003 by a Royal decree and currently operates 42 aircraft. It is adding 11 new aircraft in 2009 and plans expanding its fleet by 100 in a couple of years.

The airline hopes to achieve a target of over 70 destinations by 2010.

R o b i n Middleton pointed out that it was voted the “World’s Leading First Class” service by a Robin Middleton, Regional GM, addressing media London based organization. Its guest frequent huge margin, he said. Its occuflyer program received “four pancy rate is high, around 75 Freddie” awards in April from a per cent rain or shine.

US based Inside Flyer magaJanet River, Station Start-up zine. The airline carried six mil- Manager, welcomed the media lion passengers in 2008 and members and introduced Robin with the momentum building, Middleton. The media meet was hope to exceed this number by followed by lunch.

Separate India Desk at White House WASHINGTON: Implementing nership that is going to be in the the commitment of US President interest of both countries. That Barack Obama to deepen Indo-US simply reflects our commitment strategic ties, the White House and interests in strengthening has carved out a separate India what we already feel is a good reDesk at its National Security lationship that can be furthered Council (NSC). deepened,” Hammer said.

India is only the second counThe spokesman said Russia is try after Russia to be handled the only other country which has separately by a Senior Director at an exclusive Senior Director at the the National Security Council, thus indicating the significance ‘It reflects our commitment to try being attached to New and develop a strategic partnerDelhi by the Obama ship that is going to be in the Administration, which interest of both countries. That is keen to take the ties simply reflects our commitment between the two naand interests in strengthening tions to a new level. ”We have recently what we already feel is a good done a slight restruc- relationship that can be furthered turing of the National deepened,’ Hammer said Security Council whereby Donald Camp has been appointed to be NSC. “That is the only other exthe Senior Director exclusively for ample we have,” he said. . “This India, because we want to put fo- is coming out of the President’s cus on that relationship,” NSC interest based on a very good respokesman Mike Hammer told lationship he is developing with PTI. Prime Minister (Manmohan) ”This is rather unusual,” he Singh. And of course, the Presisaid. dent very much looks forward to “It reflects our commitment to welcome him at the White House try and develop a strategic part- in the Fall,” Hammer said.-PTI

Desi News Temple expansion project: what after split vote?

India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Hindu Temple of Greater (HTGC) Chicago in Lemont held a semi annual general body meeting last week to resolve the burning issue of relocation of Paravati temple or expansion of the Ganesh-ShivaDurga (GSD) complex at the temple premise. The general body was split in that life members were not inclined to reconsider the resolution passed last year that sanctioned GSD reconstruction.

Details on page 12

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

10 India Post

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So Cal welcomes Punjabi University VC Dr Jaspal Singh Details on page 16

July 10, 2009

EAST-COAST

Gov Quinn for stronger IllinoisIndia business ties

Devotees celebrate festival of Rathyatra BHAILAL PATEL

CHICAGO: International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Chicago kept up its tradition by celebrating Jagannath Rathyatra festival with quite pomp and dignitary this year too.

The weak economy did not seem any dampening factor and over one thousand enthusiastic devotees participated in this festival of Chariot pulling, chanting Hare Krishna Mantra and dancing on the street from 6600 North Western Avenue to 3100 North California Avenue where they ended up at Croatian Cultural .

L to R Mohan Rao Dandmudi, Gov Pat Quinn, Ashok Kumar Attri and Ram Thukaram

RAMESH SOPARAWALA & INDER MOHAN SINGH India Post News Service

Details on page 14

Xavier School of Medicine graduation

CHICAGO: Illinois Governor Pat Quinn pitched for an increased level of trade relations not only

Details on page 15

tem.

Addressing a meeting of US India Business Forum 2009, organized by US India Chamber of Commerce for Mid West at the Kellogg school of Management in Chicago Downtown, he praised

India for its relative performance of Indian economy in the face of global economic problems and observed that both the countries should harness "entrepreneurial energy for mutual benefit."

Cont’d on page 11

Dorothy Brown eyes Cook County Board Presidency MOHAMMAD GHOUSE

India Post News Service

The Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba celebrated its 2009 Graduation on June 6 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The 2009 class comprised 72 graduates, the largest in Xavier University's five-year history. The speakers of the event were Chancellor Dr. J.G. Bhat, Chairman Edwin Casey, President Ravishankar Bhooplapur, and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. B.L. Stalnaker.

between Illinois and India but also between USA and India saying that the world's oldest and the world's largest democracies have good number of things in common like enormous entrepreneurial energy and independent judicial sys-

Indian Consul General Ashok Kumar Attri addressing US India Business Forum meet in Chicago. Sitting L-R: Mohan Rao Dandmudi, Gov. Pat Quinn. Chairman Ram Thukaram

CHICAGO: Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown, a Democrat, has announced she would run for Cook County Board President in 2010.

Besides a great number of her Indian American supporters who seemed enthused over her decision to seek the highest position in Cook County, her candidacy is endorsed by African American Clergy leaders representing over 300 churches in Cook County also.

The endorsement from the

Besides a great number of her Indian American supporters who seemed enthused over her decision to seek the highest position in Cook County, her candidacy is endorsed by African American Clergy

Clergy leaders was announced during a press meet at South Loop Chicago Hotel on June 30.

She said that one of the motivating factors is to save tax payers' money thru streamlining administration and finding innovative solutions to the problems facing the county. She indicated that she would reverse the sales tax hike that the Current President Tod Strogger introduced last year.

Cont’d on page 11

Cook County Clerk Dorothy Brown

July 10, 2009

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Gov Quinn for stronger Illinois-India business ties Cont’d from page 10

In this context he suggested that the State of Illinois and India should institutionalize regular annual visits both ways in alternate years and added that he will work to realize this idea. He also felt that like in the case of Japan, a Mid West USA-India forum could be developed later for this alternate annual interaction.

Welcoming the opportunity to address the US India Business Forum 2009, he referred to the book "The World is Flat" by Tom Friedman and said that "in the globalize economy, we are all neighbors." He indicated that his administration will be aggressive and progressive in international trade and will try to keep overseas trade offices functioning. He believed in keeping the Illinois economy open as protectionism was not the right path to tackle the economic slowdown.

He also emphasized that "sustainability" should be the watchword in activities and cooperation in all sectors including in the sectors being discussed in the US India Business Forum 2009 of USICC for Mid West, namely, aviation, retail and telecommunications. Technologies and processes should be made environment friendly and environment and water experts and businessmen should interconnect. Emphasizing his strong commitment to environment and water management, he felt there is scope of cooperation between Illinois and India in these areas. As an example, he added that due to his emphasis on diverse uses of soybean like in producing plastics and fuel, besides food, he has been nicknamed "Mr. Soybean" by his supporters.

Gov. Quinn emphasized the importance of state of the art telecommunication to address the issue of terrorism as well as dur-

A section of the audience.

was an ideal governor and he was sure that Indo-Illinois business ties would be strengthened under his administration.

Indian Consul General Ashok Kumar Attri earlier paid handsome tribute to the governor saying "your State maintains a resident office in New Delhi and has sent a number of business delegations to India in the recent years. The upswing in trade and investments both ways has been not only an outcome of these efforts but also an indicator of the complimentarily and strong future of our economic ties."

Attri further added that "your deep interest in careful and scientific harnessing of water resources and environment friendly new and efficient energy technologies also have strong relevance to Indian focus on these areas. I look forward to working with both the Government and the private sector of Illinois to further consolidate our ties across the board."

Attri also complemented the leadership of USICC for organizing this Forum and for choosing three very relevant themes for the

Another area of possible greater cooperation with India according to Gov. Quinn was with institutions of higher learning as Illinois has many great universities like the University of Illinois, and interaction among experts in water management, environment, and infrastructure development etc. can be strengthened ing natural disasters like the ice storm in southern Illinois last winter when the emergency management did a great job using the best communication system.

Another area of possible greater cooperation with India according to Gov. Quinn was with institutions of higher learning as Illinois has many great universities like the University of Illinois, and interaction among experts in water management, environment, and infrastructure development etc. can be strengthened."

Mohan Rao Dandmudi, vice president of the Chambers, introduced Governor Pat Quinn to the 100 plus members of the audience. Many of the participants represented American companies. Mohan Rao in his brief introduction, said that he has known the governor for the past many years and he would not be wrong if he says that the" governor is a role model for many other elected office bearers in the country". He

three panels, specially to Illinois and Midwest, which have strong sectors of aviation, retail and telecom.

In the aviation field, he observed that India is today perhaps the largest growing aviation story in the face of a global shrinkage of this sector, which naturally gives unprecedented opportunity to not only aircraft manufacturers like Chicago headquartered Boeing, but also to all the linked industries like airport construction or modernization, avionics upgradation and management of infrastructure, operations and services in aviation sector.

In the retail sector, he pointed out, important advances are taking place in India and upgradation of distribution chain operations, cold chain operations and its management have strong opportunities. India is focusing on post harvest technologies and distribution infrastructure of the processed foodstuff as well as management of the same.

Telecom opportunities in India are immense in the world. Citing some figures, he said that cell phone connections have reached a huge proportion of 400 millions and the market is still growing at a breathtaking speed of 10 to 12 million new cell phones connections every month. For the next several years, this growth is expected to continue and a host of opportunities are beaconing everyone involved in any aspect of telecom sector, he added.

Even in this difficult global economic scenario, Indian economy has retained its buoyancy. Indian economy registered a growth of 6.7% last fiscal year which ended this March. Our stock market remains

strong. Indian banks are in the pink of health. Foreign Direct Investment in April stood at $ 2.34 billion, nearly 20% higher than last year, a sign of strong confidence in Indian economy. Overall FDI last year was $ 27.30 billion - significantly higher than previous year.

Ram Thukaram Chairman of the six years old US India Chambers of Commerce Mid West, talked about the consistent efforts made by his organization in promoting bilateral trade relation between Illinois- Mid West region and India over the past few years and hinted that the need of the time is to go national slowly.

Cont’d on page 13

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Temple expansion project: what after split vote?

India Post News Service

Hindu temple of Greater Chicago

CHICAGO: Hindu Temple of Greater (HTGC) Chicago in Lemont held a semi annual general body meeting last week to resolve the burning issue of relocation of Paravati temple or expansion of the Ganesh-Shiva-Durga (GSD) complex at the temple premise.

The general body was split in that life members were not inclined to reconsider the resolution passed last year that sanctioned GSD reconstruction. The Patron members however, voted against the relocation saying that it was sacrilegious and against the Shastras.

Dr L Bhima Reddy, president, said that this was in line with the religious belief that wanted Shiva Ganpati and Paravati in certain position at the temple. The other group of eight trustees - Dr Asuthosh Gupta, Dr Vemury Subrahmanyam, Krishniah Revluri, Pramila Reddy, Subramanian Veerabahu, Latha Bakne, Dr Sudha Rao and Sukanya Reddy- however, had felt otherwise and they wanted relocation or GSD expansion to continue. The controversy proliferated into a long drawn legal battle with a group of ex-

ecutive members seeking to halt the relocation and expansion while the other group sticking to the original plan of relocation approved by General Body in 2008.

The Court had asked the parties to resolve

The Court had asked the parties to resolve amicably the dispute last month, but apparently there was no resolution. Jonathan T. Linnemeyer, an attorney for the group of eight trustees, said that the court has not dismissed the law suit filed against the HTGC President L. Bhima Reddy and Secretary Dr Bansi Sharma for alleged violation of bylaws amicably the dispute last month, but apparently there was no resolution. Jonathan T. Linnemeyer, an attorney for the group of eight

trustees, said that the court has not dismissed the law suit filed against the HTGC President L. Bhima Reddy and Secretary Dr Bansi Sharma for alleged violation of bylaws, the Temple Constitution and the Illinois Not for Profit Corporation Act. The lawsuit alleged that the President and Secretary acted inconsistent with the direction of the Temple Board of Trustees by halting the GSD (Ganesh Shiva Durga) Expansion Project as approved by the temple members and board of trustees in 2008.

HTGC had semi annual General Body meeting on June 29 at the Temple premises, and according to Dr Vemury Subrahmanyam, a Trustee and a former president, the meeting did not seek to put any restriction on the GSD Expansion project. This, according to him, means that the previous resolution pertaining to GSD Expansion passed by General Body last year stays. Dr Bhima Reddy, President, said there was split vote in that the Patron members wanted to halt the relocation. The question asked is what next after the sharp division among members?

Community leader Amrit Kaur passes away India Post News Service

WASHINGTON: Amrit Kaur, the pillar of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and who contributed tremendously for the entire community in America, died Sunday, June 14 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was the current president of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and many Interfaith leaders prayed for her.

She was diagnosed with lung cancer on June 2 at Fairfax Hospital but the disease was at a very advanced stage. She was transferred to Johns Hopkins to be treated by the best experts in the cancer field. But cancer had spread and she died within days. This has shocked her family, all her colleagues at Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and the interfaith community in Washington.

Amrit Kaur became the President of InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington last year when this body, representing 11 world religions and various judicatories, elected her as the president for a two-year term.

Amrit Kaur was educated in Delhi and Chandigarh, India. She came to the USA in 1975 and retired as a banker. She has been associated with Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF), a Sikh house of worship and an active Sikh organization based in Washington. She has served in various capacities as President, Executive Director since GGSF's inception in 1985 and was currently serving as Secretary of GGSF. GGSF was led by her in many different areas. She played a significant role in all programs of this

Amrit Kaur along with GGSF members

organization whether speaking on various issues facing the Sikh community or organizing social programs. She also helped in organizing Sikh participation in the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago and also worked on various issues affecting the Sikh com-

Amrit Kaur with religious leaders at the Interfaith Concert

Peace Prize and had several lawmakers and Academicians from U.S.A, Canada, U.K. and India write supporting letters for this nomination to Nobel prize committee in Norway. She was also active in Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) and had

Amrit Kaur became the President of InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington last year when this body, representing 11 world religions and various judicatories, elected her as the president for a two-year term Amrit Kaur welcoming audience

munity after 9/11.

She had represented the Sikh faith in InterFaith Conference for about 20 years. She was First VicePresident from 2006-2008. On behalf of GGSF, she led a worldwide effort in 1992 to get Bhagat Puran Singh nominated to the Nobel

played role in organizing events at the Capitol Hill and the White House. In 1990, she also co-wrote the Sikh perspective on environment for the United Nations Environment Program and submitted hymns to be included in the Environmental Sabbath booklet pub-

lished by the United Nations.

Dr Rajwant Singh said, "This loss is tremendous and her absence in the Sikh affairs in American is a major setback. May Waheguru give her soul an everlasting peace. It was a pleasure to work with Amrit Kaur closely on a daily basis from last two decades on Sikh issues through Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and SCORE and on other critical issues facing the American society. She was dedicated to Sikhism and she had deep commitment to work for the betterment of the Sikh community. Her contributions are limitless and she has left an inspirational legacy."

He added, "There are not too many women Sikh leaders and it was such a joy to have a Sikh woman represent us to the wider community. She was elevated to be the Interfaith Conference's president representing so many religious jurisdictions. Her life reflected the true self-less sewa. I sincerely hope that other Sikh women would follow suit."

Bhai Gurdarshan Singh, Granthi of GGSF, said, "She was a humble servant of the Guru and she always

was ready to help anyone. I have benefited immensely by her advice and her guidance. May Wahguru be with her."

Sarabjit Singh Sidhu, President of GGSF, said, "This loss is shocking and it will take a long time to fill this gap created by demise. We must always remember that our end is going to come one day and we must live our lives in a dedicated manner just as she did. She maintained a high standard in personal conduct and always remained positive. She would not involve herself in any petty things and was focused in serving others."

She had been very active at the IFC from the last two decades and had been on the Board of this organization. She had said in February, "I am deeply honored to be serving as President of InterFaith Conference. The principles of IFC are very much similar to what my faith Sikhism stands for. In this global village we are all intertwined with each other and can not survive in ivory towers. The very core principles of my faith teach me to stand for social justice, nurture understanding and build a just and harmonious society. The more we believe in ourselves, our faith, the more likely we are to respect other faiths and build bridges across and find a common platform to work together for the betterment of humanity."

She is survived by her mother, Daljit Kaur, and five brothers and their families. Her mother remarked that 'she might have lived few more years but I am satisfied that she had worked for Sikhi with complete dedication and I witnessed that day and night. May Waheguru be gracious upon her soul!"

July 10, 2009

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Gov Quinn for stronger Illinois-India business ties Cont’d from page 11

The Chamber would like to expand to neighboring states like Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan and other places and then slowly get national. He also mentioned that his executive committee planned opening an office in Chicago downtown manned by qualified staff, including a Secretary.

He said that funding was a problem as with many such organizations and that it is up to the community to support an agency like US India Chambers of Commerce.

He indicated that a golf outing, as was done in previous years, is planned this summer too.

In a talk to India Post, he said that the organization like this thrived more on one-to-one relationship and that this would mean that a smaller number of participants with an interest in serious business relationship would be a better way of promoting business ties rather

than aiming for large conferences.

Present on the occasion among other office bearers was Rajeev Ranjan who proposed a vote of thanks at the end. Among panelists in the aviation discussion were Raj Siddhu of American Airlines

He said that funding was a problem as with many such organizations and that it is up to the community to support an agency like US India Chambers of Commerce and Sam Khaja of Jet Airways.

The retail panel was moderated by Aradhana Goel while panelists were Gaurav Bhuvan, L.N. Balaji and Gunjan Bagla. Emily Brinkmoller was the coordinator.

Dorothy Brown eyes Cook County Board Presidency Cont’d from page 10

"This is the right time to run for the position of Cook County Board President with a proven track record of saving taxpayers' money. We need a leader who will step up and get our fiscal house in order. We won't get that with politics as usual and we won't get it by infighting. The time is now to bring people together to address our great budget problems.

With so many people struggling through tough economic times and facing inadequate health coverage, how could we look them in the eye and tell them we have wasted their money and they have to pay more," she said Brown came out against the current sales tax increase level passed by the Board. Brown said, "We can't keep making taxpayers pay for the failed leadership. We need new ideas, not just new taxes."

Dorothy Brown has been a consistent friend of Indian American community and she has diversified her administration thru giving due importance to different ethnic minority communities. It is this quality that has endeared her to Indian Americans who have by and large, welcomed her announcement to run for the Board President. She is expected to get very strong support for her move from the community.

Brown claims a strong record of reform and sound management of tax dollars in the Clerk's Office that she heads at present. On her

watch, $187.5 million in tax money was saved by improving fee and fine collections. The practice of awarding "no bid" contracts was stopped.

The office collected $21.5 million from "deadbeat defendants" who hadn't paid their court fees.

While serving as the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Brown has also dedicated herself to advocating for women, including supporting a new domestic violence court house with specially trained judges and support services for victims of abuse. She also touts

Brown came out against the current sales tax increase level passed by the Board.

Brown said, "We can't keep making taxpayers pay for the failed leadership. We need new ideas, not just new taxes both teen dating and adult domestic violence programs, to educate citizens about the dangers of domestic violence and successful methods to prevent it. Brown is also dedicated to improving public education and helping children succeed. She created a scholarship program to encourage and assist Cook County public education students to attend college.

A Certified Public Account (CPA), Brown has also an MBA and a law degree under her belt.

Civil suit against drunk police officer ASHWIN PATEL

ST. LOUIS: The parents of four young people from India who died in a wrong-way road accident last month have decided to sue the driver of the other vehicle- Christine Miller, a police

Anitha Veerapaneni

1:45 a.m. on March 21 killing four passengers- all were students from India in the other car. They died instantly.

The students dead are identified as Anusha Anumolu, 23,

Priya Muppavarapu

Satya S Chinta

officer -- for wrongful death seek- Priya Darshini Muppavarapu, 22, ing unspecified amount in dam- Anitha Lakshmi Veerapaneni, 23, ages.

The lawsuit filed in St. Louis County against 41year-old Christine Miller says the driver was reported drinking heavily at a bar near the police station before driving her 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse eastbound in the westAnusha Anumolu Nitesh bound lane of Dougherty Ferry Road when she struck a vehicle turning west onto and Satya S. Chinta, 25. Yet anDougherty Ferry from Des Peres. other victim Nitesh Adusumilli, The collision occurred at about 27. is severely injured.

A chemical test of her blood taken at 4:35 a.m. revealed a blood/alcohol content of .169 percent - double the level for what is considered legally drunk, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Miller is accused of criminal negligence, the result of her allegedly driving while intoxicated and causing the deaths of four persons and severely injuring another.

The suit also accuses O'Leary's Restaurant and Bar of serving her alcohol past the point of intoxication and failing to stop her from driving that night.

Miller was charged earlier that killed four people and injured another, with four felony counts of

Christihe Miller

involuntary manslaughter and a single felony count of assault in the second degree.

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Devotees celebrate festival of Rathyatra BHAILAL PATEL

CHICAGO: International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Chicago kept up its tradition by celebrating Jagannath Rathyatra festival with quite pomp and dignitary this year too.

The weak economy did not seem any dampening factor and over one thousand enthusiastic devotees participated in this festival of Chariot pulling, chanting Hare Krishna Mantra and dancing on the street from 6600 North Western Avenue to 3100 North California Avenue where they ended up at Croatian Cultural center for a further grand celebration.

The near four hours of celebration never had a dull moment as the ISKCON management had chalked out program nicely that would cater to the taste, demand and devotion of those attending the Yatra and subsequent program.

The highlights of the program were many but a drama on Krishna Is My Friend was found really captivating. The Gurukul students from Florida performed this play to the utter delight of those present.

There was singing of devotional songs and religious discourse by Ramapad Swami of NY, Jaytirtha Swami and Chandramauli Swami.

Radhanath Swami had come from Mumbai. The theme was Glory of Rathyatra festival.

Devotional songs were rendered beautifully by Soul Connection, a local organization. They sang Jagannath Ashtakam. Many Devon Avenue businessmen par-

Devotees in Chicago ISKCON Rathyatra

ticipated in the celebration.

Sri Jagannath Society of Greater Chicago (SJSGC) also conducted Rathyatra on June 27 in Aurora, a Chicago suburb. This was its fourth Rathyatra.

SJSGC has been organizing the Rathyatra every year since 2006 with tradition akin to the great Puri Rath Yatra. As per the legend and the tradition, the Rathyatra is now followed by over 200 cities around the world spanning geographic regions from Sydney to California, Moscow to Lagos and Malayasia to Cambodia.

Devotees believe that the Lord of the Universe (Jagannath), true to His name, comes out from the sanctum sanctorum every year to give darshan to his devotees by traveling the path to His aunt's place, the Gundicha

SJSG Rathyatra in Aurora

temple. Thousands of devotees pull the chariot with devotion and joy and take it to his resting place where the Lord stays for nine days

Devotional songs were rendered beautifully

by Soul Connection, a local organization.

They sang Jagannath Ashtakam. Many Devon Avenue businessmen participated in the celebration and returns through a similar celebration called the Bahuda Yatra.

During the stay at the Gundicha temple throngs of people take a

glimpse of the Lord and feel fulfilled with utter joy and happiness.

Bharat Sevashram Sangh, a no profit socio - religious body also in Aurora, also celebrated the Rathyatra festival. The function was attended by Ashok Kumar Attri, Consul General of India, Mrs. Usha Kiran Attri, and Purnatma Nandji of the Ashram and office bearers of the Society.

Neelamadhab Nanda organized the function with the help of other volunteers. The program started with worship to the three deities, Lord Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabhadra and Sister Devi Subhadra.

After the initial puja the three lords were taken to the chariot.

Attri was personally involved in taking the Lord to the chariot and he also performed the chhera pamhara (cleansing of the chariot and the path by a broom); a tradi-

Education dept not checking bias-based harassment India Post News Service

NEW YORK: At an energetic Manhattan press conference, the Sikh Coalition and four other advocacy organizations released a Report Card and white paper showing that the New York City Department of Education (DOE) is falling short on its duty to protect public school students from biasbased harassment and bullying.

The Report Card, produced by the Sikh Coalition, the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), assesses the DOE's progress in enforcing Chancellor's Regulation A-832, which was issued last September at the urging of the Sikh Coalition and our allies, to address student-to-student bias-based harassment. Based on a survey of more than 1,100 students and educators in the city's public schools, the Report Card demonstrates that the Regulation is not being fully implemented.

Among the Report Card's key findings: • 76% of students do not know they can report bias-based harassment anonymously by emailing respectforall@schools.nyc.gov.

• In 90% of reported incidents of biasbased harassment to school officials, the school did not properly follow the

Regulation's protocol for investigation and follow-up.

• 80% of students have not attended a training or presentation to discourage harassment.

"We are concerned that the Chancellor's

Regulation is a promise that is not being fulfilled, a piece of paper that is having little impact on city schools," said Sonny Singh, a Community Organizer for the Sikh Coalition. "While the Regulation was a strong step in the right direction, it is not yet being fully implemented and not yet making a difference for the average Sikh, immigrant or

gay student."

Full of energy and passion, dozens of Sikh students from Richmond Hill rode on a bus into lower Manhattan to attend the press conference in front of DOE headquarters.

Gurnam Singh, an 8th grader, stated at the press conference, "I have experienced harassment from the day I started at M.S. 72 because I'm a different religion than others…

I would love it if the DOE would listen to people like me more often instead of ignoring me."

In between speakers from Queens and Brooklyn schools and organizations such as the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), and Make the Road NY, Sikh youth spontaneously led the crowd in chants like, "What do we want? Safe schools!

When do we want them? Now!"

tion performed by the King of Puri and followed elsewhere by giving the honor to the most important person in the gathering. After the Lord and His siblings were seated on the chariot it was pulled by hundreds of gathering devotees with chanting of Jai Jagannath and Hari Bol accompanied by beatings of mridangam, blowing of the conch, and ululation by the ladies.

After a devotional journey the Lords came back to their abodes and rested for the day.

There was sumptuous food at the end of the journey for all the devotees which included several families from far off Bhutan. The Yatra was generously funded by sponsors like Patel Brothers, State Bank of India, Professional Mortgage Solutions, Inc, Pramukh Travels, iBusiness Inc and many generous devotees and participants.

Free medical clinics at Vedanta Society HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Vivekanand Vedanta Society, a no profit body in Illinois, will be conducting free health clinic at its Homer Glenn facility in Chicagoland offering certain medical services at no cost to participants.

The clinic for July and August will be twice a month while that for September will be only once a month. Again in October and December there will be two dates for those who would like to use the services offered by the clinic. The free services include general health screening, blood pressure / sugar check, free medical consultation for certain medical problems, diagnostic guidance, advice about the line of treatment, dietary advice and guidance for referral besides preventive health care.

The Vedanta Society offers these services thru the voluntary help rendered by qualified medical practitioners and it is for the benefit of society at large and those visiting the facility. However, the Society is not liable or responsible in any way for the services or the advice offered. Besides, the clinics would not be offering comprehensive medical care.

The clinics for the month of July will be on July 5 and 12. In August, it will be on August 2 and 16, in September it will be on 13. The dates for October are 4 and 18. In December, the clinics are slated on December 6 and 20.

Community Across America Xavier School of Medicine celebrates 2009 Graduation

India Post 15

July 10, 2009

www.indiapost.com

India Post News Service

The Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba celebrated its 2009 Graduation on June 6 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The 2009 class comprised 72 graduates, the largest in Xavier University's five-year history. The speakers of the event were Chancellor Dr. J.G. Bhat, Chairman Edwin Casey, President Ravishankar Bhooplapur, and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. B.L. Stalnaker.

Graduates were addressed on key issues affecting our society, responsibility of providing exceptional medical care, and furthering the legacy of our University. Xavier University's Alumni Association consists of over 200 graduates, half of whom are applying or are currently in Residency programs throughout the United States.

Xavier University prides itself by the motto "Cultivating Great minds for Primary Education." Founded in 2004, Xavier University is a provider of medical education

SCORE backs AG's call for vigilance on hate crime India Post News Service

WASHINGTON: US Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., appeared before a Senate committee to speak about the importance of vigorous hate crimes legislation, which may help ensure that all Americans may live without fear of violence on account of a protected basis. In doing so, Attorney General Holder reminded the committee members - and all Americans - about the pernicious and wide-ranging effects of hate crimes on our society.

He said, "Hate crimes victimize not only individuals, but entire communities. Perpetrators of hate crimes seek to deny the humanity that we all share, regardless of the color of our skin, the God to whom we pray, or whom we choose to love."

(For details logon to: indiapost.com)

MAFS to host two seminars for seniors HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Metropolitan Asian Family Services (MAFS), an Illinois based no profit body largely serving Asian Americans seniors at four different locations in Chicagoland, has slated two important seminars for seniors this month.

The first seminar is on July 15 at 9015 Milwaukee Avenue in Niles and the topic is Medication Management and Safety, Fall Prevention. The three hours seminar starts at 11 am and it is free.

The second seminar on the same subject with a small difference will be held at 700 N Court in Palatine. The subject is medication management and safety, insomnia. The timing is between 11 am and 1 pm.

offering a Doctor of Medicine degree program. Located in Aruba, Dutch West Indies, The School of Medicine places students

into clinical rotations and residencies throughout the United States.

As Xavier University continues to grow

and strive for excellence, it looks forward to expanding its Alumni base and increasing its Graduating class for 2010.

16

Community Across America

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Desi News Be the Cause sponsors Blazin' Hope concert MELISA ACOBA

W

alk into any Hollywood nightclub on a Saturday night, and you're bound to encounter the same scene: intimidating bouncers, indifferent ticketsellers, revelers lost in an intoxicated haze. Not so when volunteer-run nonprofit, Be the Cause, took over the Knitting Factory on June 6 for its third annual Blazin' Hope concert and charity fundraiser.

Event chair, Kristeen Singh, said "Blazin' Hope brings together socially-conscious artists, charity and volunteerism. Our goal is to inspire all those involved and attending to make a different in their lives and their communities."

Details on page 18

Work begins on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor JS BEDI India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: Work on the Nanak Ghat Marg in Ferozepur, Punjab, which will connect Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib and Dera Baba Nanak Chunki, has begun with great enthusiasm. President Harpal Singh Bhullar of Vishav Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society, Sohan Singh Ji and Jagjeet Singh Bhullar who have just returned from Pakistan, shared with the public the news of the Kartarpur Passage.

WEST-COAST

So Cal welcomes Punjabi University VC Dr Jaspal Singh

Dr A S Marwah, Dr Jasbir Singh Maan, Dr Jaspal Singh and Dr A S Chawla

JS BEDI India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala was given a hearty welcome on his visit to So Cal. He was accompanied by Dr A S Chawla, Head and Dean of the Punjabi University School of Management Studies.

On June 27 Dr Amarjit Singh Marwah hosted a dinner reception at his ranch in Malibu to welcome the visiting luminaries. The event was attended by leading community members. Welcoming the guests Dr Marwah spoke about Dr Jaspal Singh's background,

achievements and contributions in his capacity as a diplomat and as an educator.

In his address Dr Jaspal Singh spoke about his university. He also

L to R Dr Jasbir Singh Maan, Dr Hakam Singh, Dr A S Marwah, Mrs Marwah, Dr Jaspal Singh

after a language - the other being Hebrew University.

Punjabi University Patiala has ambitious plans for modernization and also new scholarship pro-

On the development front Dr Jaspal Singh spoke of the Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan project. This state of the art complex is being built at a cost of over 1.25 crore rupees and contributions from NRIs will be gratefully accepted briefed the guests on his efforts to promote the Punjabi language.

Punjabi University Patiala is one of the only two universities named

grams. On the development front Dr Jaspal Singh spoke of the Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan project.

This state of the art complex is

being built at a cost of over 1.25 crore rupees and contributions from NRIs will be gratefully accepted. Likewise the University has also launched a program to computerize and digitize over half a million books including over 800 rare manuscripts. The library modernization project is estimated at a cost of over 1.7 crore rupees and contributions are welcome.

On the scholarship front Punjabi University has launched its Golden Hearts Scheme. Under this scheme the University calls upon NRIs to sponsor a child from a poor family from 10th grade and put him through engineering college.

Cont’d on page 17

Radhe Krishna bhajans by Barsana Baba

Details on page 18

Rajashree leads new renaissance at Bikram Yoga GREGHEFFERNAN

LOS ANGELES: Although Bikram Choudhury has become a household word in the world of yoga, Rajashree Choudhaury, his wife of 14 years and vice president of his company, has emerged as a leading voice in the benefits of yoga as not only a prime motivator for physical health, but for mental and spiritual health as well.

Born in Kolkata, India in 1965, Rajashree Choudhury started her yoga training at the urging of her parents at age four. She was a fivetime winner of the All-India Yoga Championship from 1979 to 1983.

Details on page 19

India Post News Service

SUNNYVALE: Sunnyvale Hindu Temple & Community Center conducted a program of Unforgettable Bhajans on Saturday June 27 in its auditorium. The program was arranged by Paul and Ashu Singla.

The bhajans were presented by Baba Brajraj Sharan Ji Maharaj who is from Barsana which is birth place of Shri Radha Rani. The devotees enjoyed melodious bhajans of Shri Radhe Krishna. The program concluded with Preetibhoj.

The event was dedicated to preserve and glorify the Braj Bhoomi and Yamuna River. The program also presented a case for

a devoted student of Shri Ramesh Babaji, a well known saint and scholar who has resided in Barsana for over 55 years.

The bhajans were presented by Baba Brajraj Sharan Ji Maharaj who is from Barsana which is birth place of Shri Radha Rani. The devotees enjoyed melodious bhajans of Shri Radhe Krishna uplifting of the Braj Bhoomi and River Yamuna.

Baba Brajraj Sharan Maharaj is

Babashri's lifetime goal has been to bring Braj Dham back to its original state. As a student of Shri

Ramesh Babaji, Baba Braj Raj Sharan Ji has taken it upon himself to spread message about the alarming state of Braj Dham.

His main purpose to come here was, • To provide soul healing satsang and sankritan to devotees • To spread awareness by providing information and facts about Braj.

• To inspire devotees to do Braj Dham Seva.

• To unite devotees to come together to serve Braj Cont’d on page 18

Community Across America

July 10, 2009

India Post 17

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'My India' - An Israeli's Discovery of India JS BEDI India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: On February 7, Israeli Etan Doronne began a year long solitary backpack journey

through rural India. Some of the villages he visited had never had a foreign visitor let alone an opportunity to build a friendship

with one. Today Etan shares this life changing experience with audiences throughout the United States.

In his words: "At first I couldn't pin point this treasure of Indian people. It was so natural, simple and all around me.

It took months to actually put it into words: It was love. And pure love. Compassionate love with looking for no compensation and no judgment: no faults or blames and so no tension hence no anger and so no revenge nor violence.

And to imagine it would be all found here, in remote rural, simple villages: the tolerance of a stranger/ foreigner and the universal love of a human."

He describes the experience as falling like an alien into a village that had never experienced a friendship with a foreigner and be accepted as if you've been waited for: When running into a stranger on the street, who never saw him and probably won't see him again, and being invited into a home, sitting with his family and have Chai and food.

When you come dressed and equipped as a rich person, relative to locals, yet he wasn't given a chance

Etan Doronne

to pay for nothing, even for himself, he was treated to everything.

"Then you know you've reached home" he says peacefully.

And when this repeated in the next village or town and in the one following and in the one after he felt 'immersed in a sauna of true peace and love' as he describes it.

Gradually his fears, manifested as worry, suspicion and reacted as anger, hatred, revenge, psychosomatic symptoms, faded away and gave way to true peace and freedom of mind.

Coming back to the USA, he felt like this great secret he witnessed must be shared with others who suffer the same, "I could tell by the attitude and priorities. People were wrapped up with empowering the exact things that stir them

away from happiness." he recalls.

The aim of My India, the program he set, is to encourage people to travel this way, to explore this life changing experience. To introduce them to this other reality and have it influence ours no less then the other way around. He is now giving presentation talks in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

"Hollywood, through the film industry, is a major player in worlds culture, opinions, lifestyle, trends and most any aspect of our lives." he says "This is a place that can really make a difference in mainstream. It is eventually up to private people. I believe it is a good place to start. On the other hand I will go anywhere I will be invited to."

He believes this is for any one.

"Whether you had already traveled to India's most busy tourist attractions, bought a commercial

concludes "My India aim is to let you see another India, the way the untouched India looks like." He plans to help people travel this way and very small groups for tours to different villages, so not to overwhelm and harm the traditional way of life there. The next one is planned for this coming February 2010.

Etan Doronne is a graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Art, and has worked both in education and the corporate world.

In 1989 he took his first independent trip. Since then he has traveled to Egypt, Tanzania, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Britain, France, Spain, USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Nepal and India.

Etan's current projects include

package deal or joined in a large group organized tour or you had never traveled India before, he

creating eco-awareness workshops for communities, schools and businesses.

So Cal welcomes Punjabi University VC Dr Jaspal Singh Cont’d from page 16

Every year they expect to give almost six hundred such scholarships.

On June 28, Dr and Mrs Jasbir Singh Maan were the gracious hosts at their home in Fullerton.

Like the previous evening, Dr Maan's reception was attended by leading luminaries and community leaders. Dr Jasbir Singh Maan welcomed the guests and introduced the visiting dignitaries.

Dr Jaspal Singh spoke on current issues including Punjabi University's development plans.

He also emphasized the importance of preserving the Punjabi language. Dr Hakam Singh had questions pertaining to religious issues and Dr Jaspal Singh addressed those concerns.

Both events, Dr Marwah's and Dr Jasbir Singh Maan's, brought together the cream of the community. There was good food, an open bar and above all, extremely gracious hospitality.

A former Indian diplomat, Dr Jaspal Singh occupied the coveted position of Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, on December 11, 2007. During his stint as India's High Commissioner to Mozambique and Swaziland, Dr Jaspal Singh played a stellar role in identifying newer areas of cooperation for enhancing the scope and vistas of understanding between India and his host countries.

After securing his Master's degree in Political Science and Diploma in Foreign Affairs in 1975 from Aligarh Muslim University, he did his Doctorate from Panjab University, Chandigarh on the topic "The Concept of State as Reflected in Sikh Scriptures and Historical Writings" in 1989.

He has a total 25 years of teaching experience in Khalsa College, Dev Nagar, University of Delhi, which includes a seven-year stint as Principal of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, University of Delhi.

Dr Jaspal Singh has authored

Dr Jaspal Singh with Gurdwara Walnut committee members

During his stint as India's High Commissioner to Mozambique and Swaziland, Dr Jaspal Singh played a stellar role in identifying newer areas of cooperation

well-acclaimed books including, Raj da Sikh Sankalp, Sikh Dharam te Rajniti, and Sri Guru Granth Sahib: Sadivi Prerna Sarot, besides over 200 scholarly articles on Sikh history, religion and on issues of national and international politics.

Dr Jaspal Singh has been bestowed with a lot many fellowships, awards and honors by various national and international institutions including Best Prose Award by Punjabi Academy, Delhi,

Vismad Naad Fellowship by International Gurmat Institute, Nishane-Khalsa presented at Anandpur Sahib during Tercentenary Celebrations, 1999, Punjabi Parchar Parsar Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion of Punjabi Language and Culture by Punjabi Academy. He has also remained General-Secretary of DSGMC, Founder Member of Punjabi Academy, Delhi, Member, Board for Centre for Dalits and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Chairman, Guru Harkrishan Public School, New Delhi.

Under his patronage, Punjabi University has for the first time been declared as the "Best Sports University" of the country by winning the coveted Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy. Another distinction that has come University's way during his tenure is the bestowal of highest "A" grade by the UGC's National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), based on its excellent achievements in all areas.

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Be the Cause sponsors Blazin' Hope concert MELISA ACOBA

W

alk into any Hollywood nightclub on a Satur day night, and you're bound to encounter the same scene: intimidating bouncers, indifferent ticket-sellers, revelers lost in an intoxicated haze. Not so when volunteer-run nonprofit, Be the Cause, took over the Knitting Factory on June 6 for its third annual Blazin' Hope concert and charity fundraiser.

Event chair, Kristeen Singh, said "Blazin' Hope brings together socially-conscious artists, charity and volunteerism. Our goal is to inspire all those involved and attending to make a different in their lives and their communities."

The concert was just one service project coordinated by Be the Cause. Its mission is guided by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Executive Director, Sukh Chugh, was initially skeptical of being able to pull off a charity event inside a nightclub. He asked himself, "Could inspiration be generated, even at an event where participants seemed largely concerned with having fun and enjoying their favorite drinks?

The question largely came down

to whether we ourselves could see good in others, irrespective of their

Shyamala Moorty performs contemporary Indian dance

situation or their location."

Drawing over 300 guests, Blazin' Hope raised $4800 for Alternative Intervention Models (A.I.M.) and Corazon de Vida.

Both beneficiaries target at-risk youth in underserved communities, who are victims of violence, abandonment and an unjust juvenile system. Through the cultivation of artistic expression, A.I.M.

promotes healing and empowerment for these disadvantaged

Hip-hop artist, Mandeep Sethi, at Blazin' Hope

youth, while Corazon de Vida provides human and financial resources for over 750 children in orphanages throughout Baja, California.

Artists, whose styles ranged from hip-hop, spoken word, traditional Korean drumming and contemporary Indian dance, gave soulful, thought-provoking performances. Each conveyed the strength of the human spirit, in

spite of inequality and oppression, here and throughout the world.

Mandeep Sethi, a Los Angelesbased hip-hop artist, said, "Blazin' Hope aligned with the work I do with youth. I wanted to support the cause of uplifting youth here and in Mexico. It was a lot of fun performing, being able to build and share ideas and expand the artist community."

South Asian dance artist, Shyamala Moorty said, ‘I got involved because I am always interested in activist work and empowering people’ South Asian dance artist, Shyamala Moorty added, "I got involved because I am always interested in activist work and empowering people.

Whenever I can, I do that through the arts. I recently have been partnering with organizations that work with survivors of domes-

tic violence in the South Asian community. Performing at Blazin' Hope was also a way for me to give back…."

Before entering the club, guests were handed a whiteboard, on which they wrote how they would "be the change." Some of them read: "I will smile more to people"; "Erase color lines"; and "Get back in touch." In service to Blazin' Hope guests, Be the Cause volunteers sought to embody these ideas by creating an environment inside the Knitting Factory that likely overturned the expectations of some club goers.

Not only were guests treated to a show featuring great talent, they were surrounded by gifts in the form of kindness, inspiration and mindfulness. Yet, like any Hollywood party, they could not leave Blazin' Hope without some "swag": bags filled candy, tea and a card that read "Smile." Each bag had handwritten quotes by noteworthy personalities. Among them was this by Arthur Rubenstein: "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." Apparently when there is hope, celebration naturally follows anywhere, under any circumstance.

Work begins on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor JS BEDI India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: Work on the Nanak Ghat Marg in Ferozepur, Punjab, which will connect Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib and Dera Baba Nanak Chunki, has begun with great enthusiasm. President Harpal Singh Bhullar of Vishav Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society, Sohan Singh Ji and Jagjeet Singh Bhullar who have just returned from Pakistan, shared with the public the news of the Kartarpur Passage.

He stated that the MLA of District Narowal assigned Rs 55 lakh from his designated funds to start the filling of 50'ft wide and 4'ft high road from Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Kartarpur Sahib to Dera Baba Nanak Sahib. After completion of this part of the road work a bridge over the river Ravi will begin immediately. Harpal Singh Bhullar also shared that Sikh organizations will have two large assemblies on November 7 at Gurdwra Kartarpur Sahib. The assemblies will walk in a Nagar Kirtan on the Indian side of the barbered wire and will pray for a free passage to the other side.

Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is located in town by the same name Kartarpur in Pakistan. The near-

Harpal Singh Bhullar, Sohan Singh, Balwinder Singh Jhabal, and friends Standing on the Nanak Ghat Marg in progress.

est town on the Indian side of the border is Dera Baba Nanak [1km. from border] in district Gurdaspur.

spent eighteen years of his life here. At one time, Kartarpur Sahib was a major center for the Sikh

nects this small town to the rest of Pakistan through the 'Chak Amru Line' The original abode established

by Sri Guru Nanak was washed away by floods of the River Ravi and the present Gurudwara was established by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

When Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji departed for his heavenly abode, Hindus and Muslims disagreed on how to perform the last rites. The Hindus as per their tradition wanted to carry out a cremation while the Muslims wanted to carry out a burial. A samadh (Hindu tradition) lies in the Gurdwara and a grave (according to Muslim traditions) lies on the premises as a reminder of this discord.

The gurdwara is located next to a small village named Kothay Pind (village) on the West bank of the

Ravi River in Punjab, Pakistan. The Gurudwara at Kartarpur can be seen from another Gurudwara located across the border at the historical town of Dera Baba Nanak in India (It is not Dera, as so many people wrongly call it. Dehra is derived from the word Deh or body). Both sites are one of the holiest places in Sikhism located in the Majha region. There has been intense lobbying to open the corridor for Sikhs from India to visit the shrine without any hindrance or visa. It lies only 3 km from the border. Hopefully soon in the near future Sikhs will have free access to one of their holiest shrines.

TeriSikhi has collected over twenty million signatures from all over the world in favour of this project.To sign the petition log on to TeriSikhi.com.

He stated that the MLA of District Narowal assigned Rs 55 lakh from his designated funds to start the filling of 50'ft wide and 4'ft high road from Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Kartarpur Sahib to Dera Baba Nanak Sahib The shrine is located about 3 kms from the Indo-Pakistan border. The town holds special significance for the Sikhs as Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

population but after the partition, no habitation has been established here. There is a railway station (Darbar Sahib Kartarpur) that con-

The Gurdwara as seen from the Indian side of the border

Community Across America Rajashree leads new renaissance Sikh Youth Symposium held in Bakersfield at Bikram Yoga

India Post 19

July 10, 2009

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GREGHEFFERNAN

LOS ANGELES: Although Bikram Choudhury has become a household word in the world of yoga, Rajashree Choudhaury, his wife of 14 years and vice president of his company, has emerged as a leading voice in the benefits of yoga as not only a prime motivator for physical health, but for mental and spiritual health as well.

Born in Kolkata, India in 1965, Rajashree Choudhury started her yoga training at the urging of her parents at age four. She was a fivetime winner of the All-India Yoga Championship from 1979 to 1983.

After studying at Mahila Yoga Byam Kendra, Gosh's College of Physical Education and Yoga Training Institute, she received her Certification in Hatha Yoga Therapy for chronic diseases and disorders.

"You know when yoga was first growing here in the US it was more exclusive, and limited in its popularity," she says philosophically.

"One of the things I've noticed over the years now is that it's be-

in our minds. Not enough in the heart. In fact many diseases of the body come from improper thinking," emphasizes Rajashree, adding that medical bills are often reflective of not just physical health but mental health. "We learned in the East to simplify our lives so that we can experience the 'moment of life.' If you look around many of us are not enjoying what we have.

We are always worrying. For example, we may not feel we have enough financial security, or emotional security. 'What's the situation with my 401 K?' 'What's my boyfriend or my husband really thinking about me?' These are all often negative messages we're sending to ourselves. Yoga is not just exercise it is also a state of mind. A state of well being. We need to be in balance. This is a truly holistic approach," she says.

Rajashree also helped her husband, Bikram, create the highly successful Teacher Training program for Bikram Yoga after more than ten years of teaching yoga in

With over 15 years in the East and 25 years in the West, Rajashree's special focus has been on the emotional side of yoga and how yoga balances the energy of the human body and impacts not only disease, but also affects the body/mind/soul connection Rajashree

coming a family program. Parents and children are part of the program. And I think this is great."

With over 15 years in the East and 25 years in the West, Rajashree's special focus has been on the emotional side of yoga and how yoga balances the energy of the human body and impacts not only disease, but also affects the body/mind/soul connection which constitutes vibrant health. Bikram Yoga is unique among yoga programs because it is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (40.5°C) with a humidity of 40%.

Classes are guided by specific dialogue including 26 postures and two breathing exercises. Classes last approximately 90-minutes. But whether you practice Yoga using Bikram's patented techniques or join a class, everyone seems to agree the benefits to one's quality of life are remarkable.

"We often spend too much time

the United States. She conducts seminars on yoga and personal development worldwide. She also teaches her highly-acclaimed Pregnancy Yoga Classes and she has appeared on many national television programs in the United States and abroad doing seminars worldwide promoting the countless benefits of yoga.

Among her many pet projects are Karma Is Action (Formerly KarmaforKids), a yoga-based fundraiser devoted to alleviating the suffering of children with lifethreatening illnesses. She's also committed to "cleaning up" environmental causes, which may lead to these diseases, and the annual International Yoga Asana Championships, now in its seventh year.

In conjunction with the championships she has founded the USA Yoga Federation, a non-profit organization formed to facilitate her goal of yoga ultimately being

accepted as an Olympic Sport.

Most recently her mission is to help women in crisis of all ages and nationalities. She has created the Labanya Foundation: a World Wide Women's Welfare charity organization. Through all her impressive work though, she still

Winners India Post News Service

Rajashree Choudhaury

sometimes thinks back fondly to her early days in mother India.

"We learn to accept from childhood in India certain things…that resources are limited, for instance, so in some ways we learn to get by with less. But we also look for ways to improve. India's culture also teaches you to learn emotionally how to deal with life so as not to cause stress in our body. This is very much why Yoga flourished in India," she says, pointing out that America does not have a tradition of meditative exercise like the East does and consequently health statistics bear this out.

"If you look at healthcare in America so many people are dependent on Medicare, or anything to do with medicine or the drug industry. If you're sick then that means you have to depend on some biochemical way to make you healthy. For many people their health care is Medicare. It says a lot about our philosophy of life," she states, underscoring that several years ago the exercises used in Yoga, like other physical fitness, emphasized looking good, but now that is not the most important issue.

"Feeling good is equally important, so exercise is now based on both mind and body, feeling good and looking good. What is emotion? It means 'energy in motion.'

Energy that we have in ourselves.

Some of us have low energy; some have high energy. The very balanced person is able to deal with life. People with low energy are often very emotionally weak."

(For details logon to: indiapost.com)

BAKERSFIELD, CA: Wilson Rd Gurdwara Sahib hosted Annual Sikh Youth Symposium on Saturday, June 21. All the local level winners competed for the First position in all five groups between the ages of 6 to 22. Youngest participant was 4 year old Asneh Singh.

Winner in First group was Monique Kaur, Second group Manjot Kaur, Third group Robin Kaur, Fourth group Harman Kaur

and fifth group Gurvijay Singh.

Moderator for the Fifth group was Devinder Singh Bains of Taft Chevy. This group discussed the Sikh holocaust of 1984. Sardar Resham Singh explained the unfortunate circumstances of that time.

Dr Manbir Singh, local Convener, moderated the regional level symposium. The winners will attend the national level symposium in Detroit- MI last week end of July.

Devinder Singh and Dr Manbir Singh

Radhe Krishna bhajans

by Barsana Baba Cont’d from page 16

Currently Braj Dham, and its many components including sacred mountains, forests, ponds and Yamuna River are in a pathetic state, and deteriorating at an alarming pace. Every Shri Krishna devotee should be concerned about the condition of Braj Dham, yet very few are even aware of the devastation that has and is taking place each day.

Over the last two years Braj Raj Sharan has visited many prominent saints in the Vaishnava community, and has traveled across India and the US to spread his message. Shri Krishna devotees have shown a genuine concern for the current state of Braj Dham. The following projects have been

started by Shri Krishna devotees inspired by Babashri's word: • Stopping the illegal mining and blasting of the sacred mountains of Braj

Braj Raj Sharan has visited many prominent saints in the Vaishnava community, and has traveled across India and the US to spread his message • Planting trees on the hills of Braj • Opening of a goshalla for sick, abandoned, and old cows • Cleansing, preservation and rejuvenation of the Yamuna River

Datebook

20 India Post

July 10, 2009

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NEW YORK Upcoming

WASHINGTON DC Upcoming

Thurs July 9

Fri July 10

• Amma - Evening, Devi Bhava program

• Ganga : Folk Music and Dance

Venue: Manhattan Center, 311 W. 34th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues), New York Time: 10am Contact: 212.714.5445

Venue: Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Virginia, WDC Time: 7:30pm Contact: 703-629-3853

Mon July 13

Sat July 11

• India Heritage Camp for Kids

• Jazz-Raga - Synthesis

Venue: PrepMate Learning Center, Flushing, New York Time: 8:30am Contact: (718) 661 4505

Venue: Sapphire Restaurant, 13308 Laurel Bowie Road, Baltimore, Maryland Time: 9pm to 11:30pm Contact: (301) 490 - 0555

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ONGOING

ï Sahaja Yoga Meditation

ï Raja Yoga Meditation Course

Venue: For date, time & venue visit: www.bayyoga.org or www.sahajayoga.org Contact: 1-877-642-6074 Highlights: Sahaja Yoga is a simple method of meditation discovered.

Venue: visit www.bklosangeles.com Contact: 323-933-2808

Friday ï Nithya Yoga Venue: Vedic Temple 9720 Central Ave., Montclair CA 91763 Time: 10am to 11am (Weekday), 8:20am to 9:30am Contact: 909-625-1400

Upcoming

• Metlife South Asian Spelling Bee 2009

Sat July 18

Venue: IBM LEARNING CENTER, 20 Old Post Road, Armonk, New York Contact: 914-499-2000

• Vibha DC Spelling Bee 2009

Sat July 11

Venue: ChesterBrook Academy, 46100 Woodshire Drive, Sterling, Virginia Time: 10am

ï 4th S S Bajwa Memorial Golf Tournament

• Punjabi Nights

ILLINOIS Upcoming

Venue: Kemia Bar?, 630 9th Ave, New York Contact: (212) 582-3200?

NEW JERSEY Upcoming

Sun July 12 • Ekal Musical Evening

Thurs July 9 • Slumdog Comedy Tour 2009 Venue: The Stress Factory, 375 George St, New Brunswick, NJ Time: 7:30pm Contact: 732-545-4242

Venue: Forest View Center, 2121 S Goebbert Rd, Arlington Heights, IL Time: Dinner-5pm, Show Time-6:30pm Contact: 847-226-4929 Ticket: $20 Highlgihts: Indian Geet, Gazal and Bhjajan, performed by Mahabharata fame artists Sushil Baweja, Ashok Pandey's and group.

Sun July 12 • Bharatanatyam Dance Festival

Wed July 15

Venue: Sri Venkateswara Temple Auditorium, 780 Old Farm Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey Time: 3pm Contact: 732-819-0773

• Medication Management and Safety: Fall Prevention

Fri July 17

Venue: 9015, Milwaukee Ave Niles, IL 60714 Time: 11am to 1pm

Venue: Ramada Inn, 999 US Highway 1, North Brunswick, New Jersey Time: 8pm Contact: 732-921-0294

• Medication Management and Safety: Insomnia Venue: 700 N. Court, Palatine, IL 60067 Time: 11am to 1pm

VEDIC DHARMA SAMAJ

HINDU TEMPLE & CULTURAL CENTER 3676 Delaware Drive, Fremont, CA, 94538 www.fremonttemple.org Tel:

(510) 659-0655

Weekly Services Open M-F 8:30 AM-1PM, 4 PM-8 PM, Sat & Sun 8:30 AM to 8 PM DAILY AARATI 9 AM MORNINGS AND 7:30 PM EVENINGS. Sunday Services: 11am to 1pm, Aarti at 1:15pm followed by Prasad & Pritibhoj EARLY MORNING Bhajans by Khanna, Surendra @ 10 AM DATE

PRITIBHOJ (1:30 PM - 3:00 PM)

BHAJAN GROUP (11 AM - 11:45 AM)

Venue: Industry Hills Golf Course, One Industry Hill Pky, Industry, CA 91744 Time: Shot Gun start at 12:30pm Contact: Bobby Kang 323-228-3085

PRAVACHAN (12 PM - 1PM)

ANIKA & PARVEEN JOSHI

NEHAL RAVEL TRIVEDI

SHASTRI JI

07/12/09

MONISH & SAPNA SHARMA

BHARTI JOSHI

GAYATRI PARIWAR

07/19/09

NEERU & HEMANT SHARMA

DR PRABHA BHATNAGAR

MATA SHATRUPA JI

07/26/09

MOHIT & AARTI GUPTA

SWAMI PARMANAND

GAYTRI PARIWAR

UPCOMING TEMPLE EVENTS

ABHISHEKA: MON: 6:30 PM SHIVJI, FRI: 6:30

YOGA CLASS: MON.-FRI. 7 TO 8 AM SAT. 8 TO 9 AM GEETA CLASS: SAT. 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM Gayatri Mantra Every Saturday - 11 AM - To 12 PM Contact: Naresh Sethi (For Jagrata). TEL: 510-825-1927, 510-487-2544

Mata Ka Jaagran on 7-11-09 at 7 pm to -10 pm Janamashtmi celebration on 8-8-09 from 6pm to 12 Midnight

PM LAKSHAMIJI, SAT: 10 AM BALAJI, SUN: 6:30 PM GANESHJI & NAVAGRAHA

SUNDAY, 1:15 PM FREE CONSULTATION WITH DR. PAWAN CHADHA AND DR. MRS. NOOTAN CHADHA

IN THE NEW YEAR BECOME: TEMPLE TRUSTEE - $1501, LIFE MEMBER - $ 501, YEARLY MEMBER - $ 101

REGULAR PROGRAMS & POOJAS & RITUALS: FOR ALL INFO CALL TEMPLE ADMINISTRATOR AT: (510) 659-0655. SASHTRIJI: (510) 490-8979, BHUSHAN KUMAR JI - 510-862-5834 GOVIND SRINIVASAN: (510) 226-6479 WEDNESDAYS: RAMAYAN KATHA (KISHIKINDHA KAND) BY SHASTRIJI. SUNDAYS AFTER AARTI FREE CONSULTATION WITH DR. PAWAN CHADHA SUNDER KAND KA PATH EVERY 3RD SATURDAY AT 10 AM TO 12 NOON. CALL TEMPLE (510)569-0655 (HANUMAN CHALISA) EVERY TUESDAY 7:30 PM AARATI FOLLOWED BY PRASAD AND PRITIBHOJ. SENIOR CITIZENS MEET WEDNESDAYS 10AM TO 1PM BHAJANS & DISCOURSES. For sponsoring Pritibhoj Anita Kapoor, Contact: 510-659-0655 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.FREMONTTEMPLE.ORG AND VISIT GALLERY

Mon-Sat ï Yoga Classes Venue: Fremont Hindu Temple, 3676 Delaware, Dr Fremont Time: 6:30 am to 7:30 am Contact: 510-659-0655

Upcoming • Ohlone for Kids (and Teens) Summer Enrichment Program

Venue: La Mirada Performing Arts Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, CA 90638 Time: 6pm Contact: Pankaj Patel (909) 806-9222, Pravin Patel (909) 418-1981 Tickets: Tickets - $15 and $25 Highlights: $1000 Grand Prize

Venue: Ohlone College, 43600 Mission Blvd. in Fremont, Contact: www.ohloneforkids.com

Sum July 12

Venue: Smith Center Amphitheatre at Ohlone College, 43600 Mission Blvd. Fremont, CA 94539 Time: 8:30pm Contact: 510.659.6031 or www.smithcenterpresents.com Ticket: $20-$25; Add dinner for $10 Highlights: Sweet Charity is a tender, poignant and consistently funny look at the adventures of a dance hostess who always gives her heart and her dreams to the wrong man. Songs include "Hey Big Spender," "Rich Man's Frug," "I'm Brass Band," and "The Rhythm of Life." Watch a great musical under the stars!

ï The Full Moon Celebration of Guru Poorinima Venue: 24250 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 Time: 7am to 9am Highlights: Healthy Love Energy Breakfast Free of Charge

ï Sri Sri Rukmani Dwarkantha 40th Anniversary

Thurs July 9 to Sat July 11 & Thurs July 16 to Sat July 18 • Ohlone College Summerfest Presents: Sweet Charity

Venue: 3764 Watseka Ave, West Los Ange Time: 4pm to 7pm Contact: 213-923-1584

Fri July 10

Sat July 18

Venue: Hilton Hotel, 333 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA Time: 9pm Contact: 415-260-9920

• A Cooking Demonstration and Tasting Venue: Peninsula Center Library, 701, Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 Time: 1pm Contact: 310-377-9584 ext. 601

Thurs July 16 • Dreaming of India: A Cultural Block Party Venue: Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles Time: 6:30pm to 9:30pm Contact: 323-937-4230

Sun July 19 Venue: Heritage forum Theatre, 201 E Broadway Ave, Anaheim, California Time: 7:30pm Contact: 864-650-4969

• Chinmaya Mission's Five Powers to Empower Venue: Chinmaya Kasi Center, 899 South Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, California Contact: 562-547-4857

Fri July 24 • Sindhi Sammelan 2009

TO PARTICIPATE IN TEMPLE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES CONTACT: 510-659-0655

Venue: East Bay Hindu Temple, 595 School Street, Pittsburg, Time: 7:30 pm Contact: Temple-925-252-0551

Mon June 29 to Mon Aug 6

Mon July 20 GIRI JI MAHARAJ

ï Mata Ka Jagrata

ï Fogana 2009: Raas, Garba & Folk Dance Competition

• The Great Indian Laughter Nite 2009 07/05/09

First Saturday of the Month

Sat July 11

Thur July 16 to Sat July 18

Wed July 29

• Matri 2009

ONGOING

1st Wed of every month

Sun July 12

Thur July 23

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Venue: The Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles Contact: (714) 879-4271

Sun July 26

• Dance in The Sky

Sun July 12 • Guru Poornima Special Bhajan Venue: Sunnyvale Hindu Temple, 420-450 Persian Drive, Sunnyvale,CA Time: 3:30pm to 5:30pm Contact: 408-734-4554 Highlights: 3Oms, 108 Names, Bhajans (Devotional Singing), Aarthi, Vibuthi distribution, Prayers, Conelusion.

Wed July 15 • Slumdog Comedy Tour Venue: Rooster T. Feathers, 157 W. El Camindo Real, Sunnyvale, California Time: 8pm Contact: 201-679-2859

Fri July 17 • Ishika Seth presents: "It Will Explode"..an evening of dance, music & art Venue: NOH Space, 2840 Mariposa St., (between Florida and Alabama Streets), San Francisco, California Time: 8pm to 9:30pm Contact: 510-573-2076

Sun July 19 • The 2009 Metlife South Asian Spelling Bee Venue: Chabot College, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward,CA Contact: (848) 248-4139

Mon July 20 • Chhandam Summer Youth Camp

• My India: A free guided talk & slide presentation by Etan Doronne

Venue: Mission Dance and Performing Arts, 42968 Osgood Rd, Fremont, California Contact: 415-333-9013

Venue: Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585, Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA Time: 3pm to 5pm Contact: 310-659-1733

Fri July 24 • Youth Empowerment Seminar

Sat Aug 1

Venue: Intel Corporation, Prairie City Rd, Folsom, CA Contact: 916-934-6389

• My India: A free guided talk & slide presentation by Etan Doronne

Sat July 25

Venue: Fairview Branch Library, 2101, Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA Time: 1pm Contact: 310-450-0443

Venue: Marcus Residence, 1471 Hollidale Ct, Los Altos, California, Contact: 408-332-6813

• Sahaj Samadhi Meditation Course

Realty Tidbits

Investors again pumping funds into real estate

NEW DELHI: Investors are gradually making their way back into the real estate sector with high networth individuals (HNIs) and domestic funds are putting money mainly into office and retail spaces.

"Many HNIs and funds are now returning, looking at only commercial properties to take advantage of the falling rates. The returns for such properties are as high as 1213 per cent compared to 3-4 per cent in residential projects," said Farook Mahmood, Chairman of Bangalore-based advisory Silverline Group Inc. For example, a Hyderabad investor with Rs300 crore is scouting for commercial properties in Bangalore, he added.

Real Estate Q

Tax credit can be used as additional down payment

21 India Post

www.indiapost.com

July 10, 2009

Home equity lenders may block refinance HOLDEN LEWIS

MSRDC finds it tough to insure sea link MUMBAI: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), could encounter problems while purchasing insurance protection for the BandraWorli sea link.

For one, the terror pool-a virtual fund created by Indian insurers to meet any terror claims after 9/11-limits the total terror cover for the structure to Rs500-crore against its construction cost of Rs1,600-crore.Also, a standard property insurance cover does not include design risks in the event of, say, a cable snapping or a girder collapsing. MSRDC will also have to bear a high premium if it chooses to buy protection against pollution liability in the event of, say, a section of the bridge giving way. The corporation is to take a decision on covering these risks.

Maytas to partner with Rel Infra for metro project HYDERABAD: Maytas Infrastructure is proposing to rope in Anil Ambani's Reliance Infra as a partner in the Rs12,200-crore metro rail project.

K Ramalingam, the governmentappointed Chairman of Maytas Infrastructure is said to have requested Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSRajasekhar Reddy to keep Maytas in the project, at least as a minority partner. Getting Reliance to join the consortium, which has IL&FS, Ital Thai and Nava Bharat as the other partners, will help the Hyderabadbased Maytas take the project forward, is the line of thinking.

Maytas had to achieve financial closure for the Rs 12,000 crore project by March 18.

ualified, first-time home buyers using a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgage now can apply the $8,000 federal tax credit toward their down payments, the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced.

Currently, borrowers applying for an FHA-insured mortgage are required to issue minimum down payments of 3.5 percent.

A

s homeowners try to refi nance their mortgages at lower rates, their home equity lenders are telling them, "Not so fast."

Home equity lenders are throwing roadblocks in front of their clients who want to refinance their primary mortgages. In some cases, they delay refinances for a month or more; in other cases, they block homeowners from refinancing altogether -- all because of something called "resubordination."

"It can completely blow a refi out of the water," says Christopher

keep the second mortgage in place -- either a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. Before the refi can happen, the home equity lender has to agree to let the second mortgage remain where it is -- in second position -- instead of moving up in line and becoming the primary mortgage. That agreement is a resubordination.

Think of the situation as a restroom queue at a concert. Your name is Primary, and you're at the front of the line. Behind you is someone named Equity. Then your friend Refi runs up and needs to go -- really bad. You ask Equity if it's OK if In some cases, they delay Refi takes your place. refinances for a month or more; If Equity denies permission, or takes too in other cases, they block long to grant it, there can be messy consehomeowners from refinancing quences. altogether -- all because A bank's refusal to of something called resubordinate can be costly to the home‘resubordination’ owner. Caleb Shaffer has two mortgages on Cruise, senior loan officer for his duplex in Oakland, Calif. Both GOTeHomeLoans.com in loans are with SunTrust. A credit Bethesda, Md. union offered to refinance the priResubordination comes into mary mortgage at a lower rate, savplay when a homeowner wants to ing roughly $250 to $300 a month. refinance a primary mortgage and Shaffer says he couldn't go

through with the refinance be- gages (of $500,000 and $100,000) cause SunTrust refused to was to avoid getting a jumbo resubordinate the second mort- loan, with its higher rate. gage. (SunTrust has received $5 A SunTrust spokesman denies billion in TARP funds from the fed- that there's a policy requiring boreral government, or $34.13 for ev- rowers to refinance with ery working American.)

SunTrust. "While I can't comment Shaffer says he was told that on specific individual relationhe could refinance with SunTrust, but Before the refi can happen, not with another lender. "They're say- the home equity lender has to ing their policy is agree to let the second they don't subordi- mortgage remain where nate unless it's within the family of it is -- in second position -SunTrust," he says. instead of moving up in SunTrust offered line and becoming the to combine his two mortgages and refi- primary mortgage nance them into one loan. But if the loans were com- ships, in general, we do consider bined, he would end up with a resubordinations of second liens higher-rate jumbo mortgage, with on a case-by-case basis taking into much higher monthly payments. account numerous factors," The point of getting two mort- spokesman Hugh Suhr says.

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w w w. i n d i a p o s t . c o m

22 India Post

July 10, 2009

Horoscope

July 10, 2009

India Post

23

www.indiapost.com

ARIES Mar 21-Apr 20 Mind may stay little restless and some uncertainty could develop in career.

Money will trickle in. You may call few close friends and try to compare the progress. Money wise you will continue to meet your commitments on time and keep unnecessary expenses under strict control. You may receive a nice proposal for your marriageable child.

LEO Jul 23-Aug 22

July 10 to July 16

You will be under lots of pressure at work, but soon you will reap rich rewards. Boss is keeping an eye on your performance so keep doing the good work. Some one with gray hair will give useful tips and tell you how to cope with hurdles. You may take some loss and sign a contract in a hurry. You will be in demand at the get together.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23-Dec 22 You will be tired of stale life and take some drastic actions. Results will be almost instant and astonishing. Will make everybody at home happy. Dispose off money making stocks and wait for another week to buy them back.

TAURUS Apr 21-May 20 Be little careful when it comes to actual spending and do not stretch your limits at all. Health will improve and the recent changes will put energy back. Running around and other modes of communications will bring desired results. You will also hear from a very old friend this week.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sept 22 You may still have to face slight hurdles but the work will get done. Opportunity will open new doors. Be careful with money this time and advice other family member to follow the guidelines too. You will learn a lot from some one lot younger in age. An important meeting you have been working on for quite some time will go very well.

CAPRICORN Dec 23-Jan 19 Meeting will be short but you will have a golden opportunity to gain valuable wisdom and pointers. You may be tempted to take the offer against everybody's will. Some one will make a futile attempt to hurt you but will not succeed. Fast recovery from minor illness also indicated. Money will come but disappear very fast.

GEMINI May 21-Jun 20 You will change your earlier plans to accommodate an important issue. Diplomacy and polite approach will get many things done. You will also start some important paperwork but wait to send it. Hold your temptations and do not become a victim to a shady character. Business will keep improving gradually.

LIBRA Sept 23-Oct 22 Bad move on your part and lead to you a financial crises, so do your calculations twice and take advice from experienced people first. You will be working with a kind of immature person. There will be lots of excitement in the family about an upcoming move.

A child may continue to give hard time.

Talking may not help much.

AQUARIUS Jan 20-Feb 18 Don't be hesitant to seek help before things gets out of controls. Its time to start planning for long term rather than immediate gains. You will be going on an entertaining trip. Spouse may complain of some aches and pains in the body. Things will stabilize at work and new associates will be cooperative.

Boss will make recommendation.

CANCER Jun 21-Jul 22 There is no point in dodging issues, it will be better to meet the challenges head on. Help you need, will not come cheap either but will be worth it. Money from insurance company will come now. You may gain from a female from different culture. Concentrate while behind the wheels. You will be taking a trip to costal area.

SCORPIO Oct 23-Nov 22 Do not fall for any too good to be true scheme. Chances of getting involved in a scam are very strong. For some this could be the beginning of an exciting relationship. Competition will reduce and you will have new clients.

Sitting and waiting for things to happen will not help, if you take initiative now the world is yours.

PISCES Feb 19-Mar 20 You will make all financial commitment and still have some leftover. Running around will not go waste and you may finally make up your mind to acquire more education to improve your prospects in this challenging world. You will have few visitors for a day this week. Invitation for the party will also come via email.

6 Manmohini Morey - Yuvvraaj

1 Guzarish - Ghajini

7 Husn Hai - Wafaa

2 Haule Haule - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

8 Jaane Kyun Singers - Dostana

3 Tere Naina - CC@C

9 Sapnon Se Bhare Naina - Luck By

4 Bekha - Ghajini

Chance

5 Kaisa Ye Raaz Hai - Raaz

24

India Post

www.indiapost.com

July 10, 2009

10 Tu Ne Re - Victory

S

hatrughan Sinha's daughter Sonakshi, who had initially refused to do Arbaaz Khan's first production opposite Salman Khan, is now on board.

As Sonakshi wanted to pursue a career in fashion designing, she had turned down the film opposite Salman.

However, little did she know that Salman's not going to take a 'no' for an answer. A source said, "Salman was impressed when he saw Sonakshi walk the ramp during a fashion week. After the show, Salman immediately went

Convincing Sonakshi

up to her and asked her to star opposite him in Arbaaz's film. Sonakshi, who wasn't sure about a career in films, did not immediately take up the offer. But Salman saw a lot of potential in her and convinced her to lose 10 kgs.

Sonakshi hit the gym, maintained a balanced diet and played water sports. Consequently, she lost 30 kgs." Once Salman saw how stunning Sonakshi looked in her new slim avatar, he refused to give up. He kept pursuing Sonakshi and her parents, Shatrughan and Poonam (who, incidentally, are very fond of Salman) until they finally relented.

Bollywood

July 10, 2009

India Post

www.indiapost.com

W

hile the entire world is raving about Katrina Kaif's performance in 'New York', she is finding it hard to convince boyfriend Salman Khan to watch the film. It is not only 'New York' but Salman Khan ignores every film of Kat and has watched none of her films till date.

Says a close friend of Katrina, "It really puzzles and hurts her. It isn't as if he doesn't watch any films. He does. But when it comes to Katrina he suffers from a mental block."

The over-possessive boyfriend doesn't like the idea of watching Katrina coming close to any of her co-stars. In fact, he objects even if Katrina wears slightest of revealing clothes.

But Katrina is the opposite; she makes sure that she does not miss any of Salman's film.

Katrina is trying her best to convince Salman to watch 'New York' but cannot as Salman Khan cannot stand John Abraham at all.

I

t's a well-known fact in the film industry that Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu can't see eye to eye. Almost similar is the case with John Abraham and Salman Khan. But the film New York has done something unusual in these Bollywood relationships.

This film has brought Katrina Kaif and John Abraham so close to each other that the grapevine has been abuzz with rumours of an affair between them.

Both are all praise for each other, and say that they had a gala time while shooting together for the Yash Raj film directed by Kabir Khan.

As expected, there was no love lost between John's New York co-star and his long-standing girlfriend Bipasha Basu.

So will John play the peacemaker between his two leading ladies?

Asked during an interview this is what Dostana's hot dude had to say, "I am not here to play the role of a mediator. Bipasha is a grown up, mature wom an. So is Katrina Kaif. They are both experienced enough to sort out their own issues. I was there to play the character assigned to me in the film and not to act as a mediator between Katrina and Bipasha."

S

lumdog sizzler Freida Pinto is Ash's competitor now! Reports say a big brand that has Ash as its international brand ambassador and Sonam as the Indian brand face is now signing Freida Pinto as one of their international models.

Inside reports suggest that since Freida will also be representing the same brand hence she shall be walking the red carpet at all major international film festivals next year, giving Aishwarya company.

Freida, who has bagged films with Hollywood biggies is also expected to be on the jury of some of the biggest film festivals in 2010.

R

ani Mukerji has not been seen on the big screen for quite a while now. And she is set to surprise her fans with her new look in Yash Raj Films' Dil Bole Hadippa. Rani will play a sardar complete with a beard and a turban.

In the romantic comedy, set in Punjab, the actress essays the role of a girl who has to don the garb of a man to fulfil her dreams. For her role, ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra has designed the traditional kurta-pyjama and teamed it up with sports shoes to give a manly touch to Rani's looks in the movie.

For the rest of the film, Rani's looks have been styled by Mike Stringer, who was responsible for Hrithik Roshan's multiple disguises in Dhoom 2.

25

26

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July 10, 2009 Actor Akshay Kumar with Ken Naz. President, Eros International, at a press conference in New York to promote Kambakkht Ishq -Pic Srirekha

SRIREKHA N. CHAKRAVARTY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: "If men are from Mars," says Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, "women are

from heaven!" The slight variation on the old adage comes from the actor who plays, as he himself puts it, a "male chauvinist pig" in his latest release Kambakkht Ishq that released in theaters world-

wide on July 3.

Akshay, who was vacationing with his family in Puerto Rico, flew down to New York last week specially to promote the film for Eros International that's distributing it

worldwide.

Addressing an audience at the Park Central Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, that comprised more fans than the media, Akshay said at the very outset, "Kambakkht

Ishq is a fun and entertaining movie you can watch with your family. It's a typical Bollywood movie, so don't think about logic… leave your brains at home when you go to the theater!"

More elaborately, he said, it was a perfect Indian 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' kind of film. "It's a good Indian story about the battle of the sexes. The Hollywood aspect was a requirement of the script and not forced."

The character he portrays in Kambaakkht Ishq does not however, take away from Akshay's personal belief that women are stronger and more capable than

‘It's a good Indian story about the battle of the sexes.

The Hollywood aspect was a requirement of the script and not forced’ men in many aspects. "I don't identify myself with this character at all," he says "I believe that women are much stronger. I live with my mom, sister, wife, niece, and get to work with beautiful women in the movies… I am surrounded by women all the time and I admire them. I do believe that men are from Mars and women are from heaven."

Cont’d on page 28

July 10, 2009

www.indiapost.com

India Post 27

UP TO 4 BEDROOMS + DEN WITH 4 BATHS FROM THE LOW $600,000 S !

28

India Post

July 10, 2009 www.indiapost.com

F

or his fans, Michael was the musical god. He was a mes senger of music who transcended boundaries. Once called 'the most famous man on the planet', Michael was not just a genius but a magnetic persona.

He was a man who revolutionised entertainment in a never-before way. Right from his performances as a part of the 'Jackson five' as a five-year old, Michael's genius was there to be seen. He was so involved in music and rhythm that he soon ceased to be just an extraordinary singer, and achieved unscalable heights that other artists could only dream of. The hat, a single glove, white socks and black loafers, his gravity defying dance - Michael's aura was so captivating that he became a kind of property that everyone wanted to own. His albums and on-stage performances were the spreaders of Western Culture in all pockets of the globe, and his music reverberated everywhere. His influence to music and the world was so immense and multi-dimensional that it is

Cont’d from page 26

Akshay plays a Hollywood stuntman with scant respect for marriage as an institution and Kareena Kapoor plays a super model who does not believe in love -- that is until they fall in love with each other.

Shot extensively at Hollywood's Universal Studios, Kambakkht Ishq boasts of being the first Indian film to have an impressive Hollywood cast of actors Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards and Brandon Routh.

Akshay said he believes it's always good to bring different cultures together and the success of the Kambakht Ishq would pretty much determine future Holly-

MJ- end of an era ABHISHEK MUKHERJEE

white face achieved through plastic surgery became a most weird form of his old self, and made him look alien-like, which along with his dazzling attire and inconceivable self-invented dance styles, was like witnessing some kind of magic. Although always under

he could never keep his public life stable. In magnitude he was such a big star that he could not live up to the responsibilities and precautions that are fundamental to keep his public image under check.

Before his highly anticipated third solo album after 'Thriller' in

The insanity, however, became a feature of him in his off-stage public life. His line of work had so consumed him that he couldn't mature in the other facets of life

even said Elvis Presley, the man who could be called Michael's predecessor in some ways, couldn't match his popularity.

Michael was mysterious. His

public eye, his psyche could never be fathomed.

He lived in a rarified world which he could only identify with.

A perfectionist, he was never totally satisfied with his feats in the entertainment world and always re-invented himself. He was so obsessed about his profession that

1982, which still stands as the best selling album in History, a Guinness World Record, Michael's face began to grow paler. It was rumoured that he had bleached his face to have achieved this, which he clarified to have been because of disease vitiligo, makeup and stage lighting among other reasons.

wood collaborations for Bollywood. "If this film goes well there might be more collaborations, otherwise it will be back to square one," he said with a touch of humor.

As in all his movies, Akshay has performed all the stunts in

those stunts."

But then he loves the derringdo, which is what makes him do it. "I get the opportunity to jump off buildings, swing from cables, do exciting stuff… I enjoy doing it and get paid for it… what more can I ask for?" says the actor who

for sheer luck."

For Akshay who used to put up posters of Sylvester Stallone on his bedroom walls (along with

Michael Jackson

Kambakkht MCP Kambakkht Ishq himself despite the many apprehensions of the studios in Hollywood.

"There were no special effects at all, I did all the stunts myself," he informed. "I had to undergo a test at Universal, as it was required under the law here, to prove my ability to perform all

recently had a near-death experience when during the shooting of his next film 'Blue', he hurt himself and began bleeding while swimming 150 feet under the sea with some 40 sharks. "They had to get me out before the blood attracted the sharks, it was dangerous and I wouldn't be here but those of Sridevi and Bruce Springsteen) long years ago when he used to live in Thailand, working with Stallone in Kambakkht Ishq was the realization of a dream. "I worked with Sridevi whom I used to admire and now I have worked with Stallone. Dreams, I believe come true when you just believe in them and not talk about them.

And now I think I should put up

In the '90's his face had grown milky white- a stark contrast from the lovely dark boy he was in 'Off the Wall' and 'Thriller'. Needless to say, he faced criticism from many quarters, but a deeper gauge into his mindset would convey to us that it never involved any racist connotation. Michael, with his face wanted to become a seemingly supernatural star, someone who could catch everyone's imagination. His plastic surgeries went awry and disfigured his face a little more than he would have liked, but in the end he achieved what he wanted - he became a numinous ghost who could defy all human logic. His persona on stage was indeed paranormal to the point of insanity.

The insanity, however, became a feature of him in his off-stage public life. His line of work had so consumed him that he couldn't mature in the other facets of life. His bizarre behaviour noted by the intolerant American media, earned him the nickname 'Wacko Jacko'.

(For details logon to www.indiapost.com)

more posters in my room."

So what kind of on-the-set conversations did he share with the original Rambo? "What could we have talked about? He told me about his bones broken in the line of his work and I talked about my own broken back… he talked about his doctors and I told him about my Ayurvedic doctor. He got interested in the herbs, etc. that I was using and we also talked about Thailand where he worked in two films and I used to work there too… that's all, we didn't speak about body building at all," he said eliciting much laughter.

Charming the audience with his simple wit and self-effacing humor, the actor threw in the sentiment of the doting Indian son for good measure when he said that his formula for success in life lay at the feet of his parents.

One of the biggest Bollywood releases this year, Kambakkht Ishq opened on 100 screens in the US and 2000 screens worldwide, according to Ken Naz, President of Eros International North America.

Travel Brief 'Caravan' and 'heliport tourism' planned NEW DELHI: As part of its efforts to boost the sector, the Tourism Ministry has decided to announce policy initiatives for promotion of innovative program like 'caravan' and 'heliport tourism' in its 100-day agenda.

Besides, new policy guidelines would be announced for promotion of 'wellness tourism' in India, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja told reporters here.

She said new policy guidelines for promotion of caravan tourism and facilitating infrastructure for the project would be announced soon. "It will be developed as a niche tourism product."

Under the project, tourists will enjoy the countryside on a caravan -- a home on wheels complete with bed and attached bathroom.

The Government will formulate a policy to license such vehicles.

It can be rented at Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. "The project would be successful in places where there is good and well-maintained road network and restaurants," Selja said, adding, at present they are targeting on Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, the Western ghats and hilly areas to promote caravan tourism. Tourists can plan their overnight stay at places that have facilities for charging and replenishing water stock. -PTI

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29 India Post

B

hutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is no ordinary place. This is a country where buying cigarettes is illegal, where the rice is red and where chilies aren't just a seasoning but the entire dish. It's also a deeply Buddhist land, where men wear a tunic to work, where giant protective penises are painted on the walls of most houses, and where Gross National Happiness is deemed more important than Gross National Product.

Chaam, sacred masked dances, are annually performed during religious festivals

Tourism in Bhutan is also unique. Visitors famously have to pay a minimum of

July 10, 2009

Visitors famously have to pay a minimum of US$200 per day, making it one of the world's most expensive countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive, you don't have to travel in a group and you can arrange your own itinerary US$200 per day, making it one of the world's most expensive countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive, you don't have to travel in a group and you can arrange your own itinerary. What you won't find in Bhutan is backpacker-style independent travel. This is Nepal for the jet set.

First off there are the early Buddhist sites in the cultural heartland of Bumthang Dzongkhag and the undisturbed traditional Tibetan-style culture that sets Bhutan aside as the last remaining great Himalayan kingdom. Then there are the textiles, outrageous trekking as well as the stunning flora and fauna of Phobjika Valley. Trashigang is an interesting town and also useful for launching into a trip in Eastern Bhutan.

It was not until the leadership of the third king that Bhutan emerged from its medieval heritage of serfdom and seclusion.

Until the 1960s the country had no national currency, no telephones, no schools, no hospitals, no postal service and certainly no tourists. Development efforts have now produced all these - plus a national assembly, airport, roads and a national system of health care.

Despite the speed of modernization, Bhutan has maintained a policy of careful, controlled growth in an effort to preserve its national identity. The government has cautiously accepted tourism, TV and the internet and is set to embark on perhaps its biggest challenge - democracy.

Weather: Bhutan is at the same latitude as Miami and Cairo.

Cont’d on page 31

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CHANDIGARH: Foreign tourist arrivals in India declined by 10 to 17 per cent after the Mumbai attack and economic meltdown but have gradually picked up with May arrivals being almost the same as in the corresponding month last year, it was stated here.

Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said foreign tourist arrivals showed an upward trend after a decline of about 10.6-17.6 per cent during January-March 2009 as compared to the first three months in the previous year.

"There had been some effect after the Mumbai terror incident (on November 26 last) and due to global economic meltdown. However, things are looking better now. Foreign tourist arrivals have again started to pick up, with

2,95,124 of them visiting India in May, which was just 1.9 per cent less in comparison with tourist arrivals in May last year," Selja

On the next year's Commonwealth Games, Selja said there was a requirement of an estimated 40,000 rooms and added things were on track to meet the demand told reporters.

She said the government was also laying a lot of stress on giving a boost to domestic tourism,

JK to install chairlift at Gulmarg SRINAGAR: In an effort to attract more overseas visitors to Gulmarg hill resort, the Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to install an elevated ropeway from Kongdoori to Apharwat at a cost of Rs 9 crore.

"To explore fully the potential of this premier hill resort, work on the chairlift would be started next month," Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said during a visit to Gulmarg, 65km from here.

Terming Gulmarg as a treasuretrove for a traveler, Jora said it has the honor of being the world's highest lift-served ski resort providing a downhill ski run of over 5km from a height of 14000 feet in Apharwat range.

To achieve the target of attracting more overseas visitors at this destination, it is necessary to upgrade the tourist-related infrastructure here on par with international standards, he said.

The minister took stock of various ongoing developmental projects during his day-long tour of Asia's premier tourist resort and also inspected the upgradation work at Gulmarg golf course, which will be world's highest golf course after its upgardation by September this year.

He said in order to protect the environment of GulmargKungdoori corridor, forestation work will be taken up here at a cost of Rs one crore. -PTI

which was the backbone of the Indian tourism sector and added her ministry was planning to hold roadshows later this year at various places across the country to promote domestic tourism.

On the next year's Commonwealth Games, Selja said there was a requirement of an estimated 40,000 rooms and added things were on track to meet the demand.

"Out of the total requirement, about 11,000 additional rooms will be made available in Delhi and adjoining NCR areas of Haryana and UP. Further, various category of flats of the Delhi Development Authority, including those in Jasola and Vasant Kunj are being converted into 5,500 rooms of 3star category to be used for CWG2010 visitors," she said. -PTI

Hospitality sector hopes for better days NEW DELHI: The hospitality sector, hit hard by lower tourist footfalls in the wake of the global economic downturn, is looking forward to a series of concessions from the forthcoming Budget.

Travel and hospitality industry officials said their major expectations include reduction in luxury tax, tax holidays at key destinations and industrial hubs, loans at concessional interest rates, and granting of infrastructure status to the hotel segment for easy funding.

Carlson Hotels Executive VicePresident (South Asia) K B Kachru wants revival of the infrastructure

Travel and hospitality industry officials said their major expectations include reduction in luxury tax, tax holidays at key destinations status for the hotel industry which was withdrawn in 2001.

"This will facilitate taxation benefits on new hotel projects and make them more profitable," Kachru said, adding that a uniform luxury tax across all states, capped at 10 per cent, would be welcome.

Also, there should be "separate guidelines for project appraisals by banks and financial institutions," he said. The downslide in the sector can be gauged from the fact that the arrival of foreign tourists in India, according to Ministry of Tourism figures, during January-May this year dipped by 10.59 per cent to 21.27 lakh, from 23.79 lakh during the same period last year. -PTI

Travel & Hospitality Post

July 10, 2009

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Where Gross National Happiness is more important than GDP Cont’d from page 29

The climate varies widely depending on the elevation. In the southern border areas it is tropical; at the other extreme, in the high Himalayan regions, there is perpetual snow. Temperatures in the

for traveling throughout the country is autumn, from late September to late November, when skies are generally clear and the high mountain peaks rise to a vivid blue sky.

While the climate is best in autumn, in Bhutan an umbrella is usually never far from reach, and no

far south range from 15°C in winter (December to February) to 30°C in summer (June to August).

In Paro the range is from -5°C in January to 30°C in July, with 800mm of rain. In the high mountain regions the average temperature is 0°C in winter and may reach 10°C in summer, with an average of

matter when you go, there is likely to be rain periods.

Autumn is also the time of the popular Thimphu tsechu (dance festival) and heralds the arrival of the black-necked cranes to their wintering grounds in central and eastern Bhutan.

The winter is a good time for

Bhutan The winter is a good time for touring in western Bhutan, bird-watching in the south's subtropical jungles, and whitewater rafting. The days are usually sunny, cool and pleasant, but it's quite cold once the sun sets and you will need to pack warm clothing 350mm of rain.

When to go: Climate, and therefore season, is certainly a consideration when planning your trip to Bhutan, especially if you are trekking. However, Bhutan's altitude range, from subtropical valleys to alpine peaks, and its busy festival calendar means you can pretty much visit Bhutan at any time of the year to explore its attractions and witness colorful festivals.

The ideal time for trekking and

touring in western Bhutan, birdwatching in the south's subtropical jungles, and whitewater rafting. The days are usually sunny, cool and pleasant, but it's quite cold once the sun sets and you will need to pack warm clothing.

From December to February, there is often snow in the higher regions and occasional snow in Thimphu.

Spring, from March to May, is recognized as the second best time to visit Bhutan for touring and trekking.

A major factor in choosing a time to visit Bhutan, and one that may override considerations of weather patterns, is the festival schedule. These colorful events offer a first-hand glimpse of Bhutanese life and provide an opportunity to see the inside of the great dzongs. It's possible, and highly recommended, to work at least one festival into a tour or trek program.

Getting there & away: Unless you are an Indian national, the Department of Tourism (DOT) rules require that you either enter or exit Bhutan on a Druk Air flight.

This limits the overland option to traveling one direction by air and the other by land, perhaps visiting Darjeeling and Sikkim en route.

Border crossings: The two border crossings from India into Bhutan that are permitted to foreigners are at Phuentsholing, on the border with the Indian state of West Bengal, and at Samdrup Jongkhar, on the border with the state of Assam.

Airports & airlines: Bhutan has one airport, Paro and one airline, Druk Air. The schedule changes by season, but normally there are three flights per week from New Delhi (via Kathmandu) and a daily flight from Bangkok via Dhaka or Kolkata, depending on the day of the week. To allow for extra visitors to the Thimphu tsechu (festival) in October and the Paro tsechu in April, the airline usually provides extra flights.

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In Brief Deported activist seeks Mexican congressional seat CHICAGO: An immigration activist who sought sanctuary in a Chicago church for a year before she was deported to Mexico in 2007 is running for a seat in Mexico's Congress.

Elvira Arellano, who immigrated illegally to the U.S., defied a deportation order by living at Aldalberto United Methodist Church with her U.S. citizen son.

Arellano, who is running with the Democratic Revolutionary Party, would represent a district in Tijuana if elected July 5.

Arellano lives in the western state of Michoacan, but says she knows issues that families face in Tijuana. She cites her efforts there to make a shelter for migrants.

Since her deportation, Arellano has advocated for immigrant rights by traveling around the world and writing newspaper columns. -AP

Raid on Phoenix drop house nets 10 arrests PHOENIX: The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office raided a Phoenix drop house and took 10 illegal immigrants into custody.

Sheriff's officials executed a search warrant at an apartment after receiving a tip through the department's illegal immigration hotline.

Authorities believe one of the 10 adults arrested was a human smuggler.

They say federal and state charges are pending against the illegal immigrants.-AP

Agents arrest 65 in San Diego county gang bust SAN DIEGO: Immigration agents have arrested 65 people in San Diego County who have links to gangs or criminal records in a week-long bust.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Friday the arrests focused on weakening gangs in five cities across the county.

ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack says agents arrested 39 gang members and gang associates.

She says agents also arrested 26 immigrants with criminal records who were found during the operation, which involved local law enforcement.-AP

Immigration 35

India Post

July 10, 2009

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Immigrant smuggler gets 8 1/2 years McALLEN, Texas: A federal judge in Laredo has sentenced a Mexican man to 8 1/2 years in prison for smuggling illegal immigrants into the country and holding them captive until relatives paid additional ransom. -AP

Minority populations optimistic of achieving American Dream India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Minority populations are more optimistic than the general population that achievement of the American dream is still possible, according to The 2009 MetLife Study of the American Dream.

In what was the company's third annual study, 83 percent of Asian Americans believed that they will achieve the American dream in their lifetimes, as did 82 percent of African Americans and 89 percent of Hispanic Americans, compared to only two-thirds (66 percent) of Caucasians.

Minority groups are more optimistic that the US economy is headed in the right direction. They also believe in greater numbers than the overall population that the economy will be better in 2009 than it was in 2008, according to the study.

"We know that striving for the American dream is a universal ideal in the US," said Beth Hirschhorn, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of MetLife. "This

year's findings reveal that minority populations place even more importance on a successful career as a key component to achieving the dream."

The study found that Asian Americans view career success as a key component of the American dream. More than half of Asian Americans (53 percent) include career success in their top

component of financial stability.

As a result of the current economic climate, 68 percent of Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans and 63 percent of African Americans are more worried about losing their job over the next 12 months compared to 56 percent of the general public. The study found that 43 percent of Asian Americans believed they could

Asian Americans are also more likely than the general public to define "financial security" in terms of job security, with 37 percent of Asian Americans including a steady paycheck as an integral component of financial stability three definitions of the dream, compared to 44 percent of Hispanic Americans, 43 percent of African Americans and 29 percent of the public overall.

Asian Americans are also more likely than the general public to define "financial security" in terms of job security, with 37 percent of Asian Americans including a steady paycheck as an integral

meet their expenses for at least four months in the case of a job loss, compared with 29 percent overall.

Eight out of 10 Asian Americans feel that having a personal safety net is more important than last year and are planning to take steps toward creating their own personal safety nets as traditional safety nets, such as corporate and social, continue to erode.

"By working with a financial advisor to create their own personal safety net, one that protects them and their family from the unexpected and ultimately helps grow their wealth, Americans of all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds may be able to achieve the American dream sooner than they had hoped," said Joseph Jordan, senior vice president, national sales and marketing for MetLife's Individual Business.

Finally, the study found that Asian Americans would like more information about financial topics.

They are also more likely to say they are interested in financial guarantees such as those associated with life insurance and annuities, when evaluating their purchase decisions and companies they do business with.

From January 7-16, 2009, Strategy First Partners, in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, conducted 2,243 online surveys in the United States among the general population as part of The 2009 MetLife Study of the American Dream.

USCIS on the paradoxes of unlawful presence CYRUS D. MEHTA

T

he concept of unlawful presence, and the penal ties accompanying those who step into "unlawful presence" territory, was introduced in the Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA).

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued on May 6, 2009, a voluminous Memo consolidating all of its prior scattered guidance since IIRIRA's enactment on the complex issue of unlawful presence.

Written by senior USCIS officials Donald Neufeld, Acting Associate Director, Domestic Operations Directorate, Lori Scialabba, Associate Director, Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate and Pearl Chang, Acting Chief, Office of Policy and Strategy, this omnibus memo endeavors to provide a comprehensive overview of what constitutes unlawful pres-

ence, its exemptions, the esoteric distinctions between one who is not in lawful status but who is not yet accruing unlawful presence and the devilish dance between the 3 year, 10 year and permanent bars of inadmissibility.

In summary, IIRIRA introduced three grounds of inadmissibility.

section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II) imposes a more draconian 10 year bar to a non-citizen who is unlawfully present for a period of more than one year and departs the U.S. Finally, the most dreaded of all is section 212(a)(9)(C)(i), which imposes a permanent bar to one who has been unlawfully present for an

The memo confirms that one generally starts accruing unlawful presence after overstaying a date on the Form I-94 document, the document issued to an individual at the port of entry based on the underlying nonimmigrant visa Section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I) imposes a three year bar to a non-citizen who is unlawfully present for a period of 180 days and less than 1 year after departing the United States, although interestingly if such a person leaves under voluntary departure from an Immigration Judge, the 3 year bar pleasantly vanishes. Its companion,

aggregate period of more than 1 year, or who has been ordered removed, and who attempts to reenter the United States without being admitted.

The memo confirms that one generally starts accruing unlawful presence after overstaying a date on the Form I-94 document, the document issued to an individual

at the port of entry based on the underlying nonimmigrant visa.

The non-citizen, according to Section 212(a)(9)(B)(ii), is deemed to be unlawfully present after the expiration of a period of stay authorized by the Attorney General or who is present in the US without being admitted or paroled. Thus, one who is in violation of status, such as an H-1B worker who has been terminated from the job but has not left, and is within the date she is required to remain in the US on the I-94, has still not begun to accrue unlawful presence for purposes of triggering the bars, but is still out of status and imminently deportable. If she remains in the US more than 180 days after the expiration of the I-94 and departs, she will trigger the 3 year bar. If she remains in the US for over 1 year and leaves the US, she will trigger the 10 year bar.

ContĂ­d on page 37

36

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Fate of US-born kid of illegal immigrants unclear

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and counseling. ``It is highly unusual, totally unusual,'' Illescas Putzeys said. ``What I have been dealing with most of the time is trying to get children sent back to Guatemala to their families.''

The boy was born in Los Angeles in December 1995 to illegal immigrants a father from Guatemala

Among the court's options are keeping the boy in the only country he's ever known, living as a ward of the state, or sending him to his father in Guatemala and a mother from El Salvador. His mother later abandoned the family and her whereabouts are unknown, according to Rebeca Salmon, a lawyer hired by the boy's court-appointed guardian.

The boy's father, Edgar Ovidio Juares, 40, was arrested in June 2007 and deported to Guatemala last year, he told a lawyer in Guatemala.

In a recent phone interview with The Associated Press in a mix of Spanish and English, Juares was conflicted about his son's fate. He said he wanted to have his son in Guatemala with him but acknowledged the boy's quality of life would be better in the U.S. ``I don't want to lose contact with my son,'' he said. ``I want him here, but here it is hard to help him with the problems he has because we don't have much money.

“He said to me he doesn't want to come here,'' Juares said of his son.

Salmon asked the AP not to identify the boy to protect his privacy. The case is being handled in Gwinnett County Juvenile Court, and juvenile cases are sealed to protect the child.

Salmon said she was hired by the boy's court-appointed guardian who believes the state intends to ask the court to sent the boy to his father in Guatemala, which she does not believe is in the boy's best interest. The AP, seeking to hear the discussion about what is in the child's best interest, has filed a motion seeking to open the court proceedings to the media. -AP

80 gang members arrested in Texas sweep

“Rates subject to change with market”

Call: NEERAJ

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.: His mother left when he was very young. His illegal immigrant father was deported.

Now, a 13-year-old boy waits for a Georgia court to decide his fate. Among the court's options are keeping the boy in the only country he's ever known, living as a ward of the state, or sending him to his father in Guatemala.

It's a tangled case that defies easy solutions. The boy is a U.S. citizen who has never set foot in Guatemala and says he wants to stay in his native country. His father, a bus driver without regular work, says he would gladly take his child though he agrees the boy would be better off in the U.S. But the boy has a history of being rebellious and stubborn and has behavioral problems, which make him hard to place with a foster family.

Beatriz Illescas Putzeys, Guatemala's consul general in Atlanta, said that while she usually argues for family reunification, in this case she is prepared to argue that the boy should stay here because he is a U.S. citizen and would have access to better education

DALLAS: Federal immigration agents arrested dozens of gang members, including members of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha, during days-long sweeps throughout Texas.

Eighty street gang members were arrested during a five-day sweep through Houston, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi. Agents also arrested 52 gang members and 14 of their associates during a six-day operation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, U.S. Immigration officials said.

The joint operation between U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and federal, state and local law enforcement officers was part of a national initiative targeting transnational street gangs, said Gregory Palmore, an ICE spokesman.

The North Texas operation targeted foreign-born gang members and their associates. They in-

cluded people born in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Laos.

People without gang affiliations and U.S. citizens wanted on warrants and criminal violations also were arrested. ``Street gangs are responsible for a significant amount of crime

‘ICE uses all of the available law enforcement tools to dismantle violent street gangs’ nationally and locally,'' said John Chakwin Jr., special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Dallas.

The sweeps also nabbed 36 immigration status violators in Southeast Texas and 37 in the Dal-

las-Fort Worth area.

The Texas sweep netted gang members with ties to at least 20 street gangs, including Surenos Trece, Aryan Brotherhood, True Bud Smokers, Laotian Oriental Killer Boyz, Butter Bean Boys, Latin Kings, La Raza13, Black Disciples, Houstone, Tango Blast, Bloods and Crips. ``ICE uses all of the available law enforcement tools to dismantle violent street gangs,'' Robert P. Rutt, special agent in charge of the Office of Investigations in Houston, said in a news release.

Since it began in February 2005, Operation Community Shield has resulted in the arrests of more than13,000 gang members and gang associates linked to more than 900 different gangs, officials said. That includes more than 150 gang leaders. -AP

Immigration Post

July 10, 2009

India Post

37

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USCIS on the paradoxes of unlawful presence ContĂ­d from page 35

Similarly, a student in F-1 status who has dropped out of school will never accrue unlawful presence as his I-94 will indicated a term known as "Duration of Status" or "D/S." But this fellow will accrue unlawful presence, if say the USCIS has made an adverse determination on his status.

This might happen if he attempts to change to another status in an untimely manner - i.e., after he fell out of student status he took his chance to change to H-1B status and hoped to be excused but the USCIS did not oblige him.

If this school dropout remains in the US after the date of the denial making an adverse finding of his F-1 status, he will start accruing unlawful presence. Likewise, a Canadian citizen who enters the US as a visitor will likely not accrue unlawful presence even past 6 months unless the government makes an adverse finding on his status.

The Memo does make a few startling departures, though, from what the legal community earlier understood. For example, a minor does not start to accrue unlawful presence until after her 18th birth-

day. If she leaves the US prior to her 18th birthday, she will not trigger the 3 year bar. This kid, who say sneaks across the border from Mexico as a 14 year old, and leaves the US at the age of 16, will not trigger the 10 year bar as she was a minor all this while.

However, if she enters the US again illegally, at the age of 17, and remains in this country, and then at 21, marries a US citizen, she will not be able to adjust status in the US even though she might be subject to a special provision, section 245(i), which allows certain people who entered without inspection to apply for a green card in the US. Briefly, section 245(i) was enacted under the LIFE Act of 2000, which allowed persons who were in violation of their status if they were beneficiaries (directly or derivatively) of either a labor certification or an immigrant visa petition filed on or before April 30, 2001.

Such persons were grandfathered under 245(i), even though the provision sunset on April 30, 2001, and they are protected under 245(i) even if their parent was sponsored for a green card while they were minors. She will be subject to the worst bar of all, section 212(a)(9)(C), the permanent bar to

inadmissibility. The Memo argues that even though she was exempt as a minor from accruing unlawful presence, she only avoided the 3 and 10 year bars, but not the permanent bar. She will not be able to adjust in the US unless she lives outside the US for 10 years, and then applies for special permission to be admitted back into the US.

For example, a minor does not start to accrue unlawful presence until after her 18th birthday. If she leaves the US prior to her 18th birthday, she will not trigger the 3 year bar Another major departure is the ability of certain people protected under 245(i) to be able to trump the permanent 212(a)(9)(C) bar in certain regions of the US. Both the Ninth and Tenth Circuits in Acosta v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 550 (9th Cir. 2008) and Padilla-Caldera v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1237 (10th Cir. 2005) respectively held that an adjustment application filed under 245(i) trumps the permanent bar under 212(a)(9)(C). Thus, our kid

H1B petitions: 20,000 vacancies still left WASHINGTON: Nearly three months after the US immigration agency started accepting petitions for the H-1B visas for highly-skilled foreign professionals, it is still looking for more than 20,000 applications to fill the Congressionally-mandated cap of 65,000.

Amid the economic downturn and protectionist provisions in the US stimulus package, the demand for the visas, which is mostly availed by Indian professionals, has slowed down.

The latest figures released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reveal that approximately 44,800 H-1B petitions have been received by it so far.

In the last few years, there was huge demand of H-1B visas, with the USCIS receiving several times the quota of 65,000 in the first few days itself. It had to resort to computerised lottery to determine the successful applicants.

But with current economic downturn and certain provisions in the economic stimulus package, the H-1B petitions to the USCIS centres are now coming in ones and twos.

This is in contrast to the last few years, when the US Postal Services had been making special arrangements for delivery of bundles of H-1B petitions.

The economic stimulus package prevents hiring of foreign workers by compa-

nies receiving federal aid money. .

However, officials at the USCIS said it is work back to normal. "This is what it used to be couple of years ago, before it turned out to be a great rush in the last few years," a USCIS official said.

The USCIS also said it would continue to receive applications for the advanced

The latest figures released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reveal that approximately 44,800 H-1B petitions have been received by it so far degree category, in which the cap is 20,000.

The USCIS had received about 20,000 H-1B petitions in the first few days itself, but it is still continuing to accept such applications, it said.

"USCIS will continue to accept both capsubject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn," it said. -PTI

in the above hypothetical would be able to adjust status in the US under section 245(i) if she lived in either Colorado (10th Circuit) or California (9th Circuit). The Memo now advises USCIS to disregard these decisions, and instead follow lower administrative precedents, see Matter of Brionis, 24 I&N Dec. 355 (BIA 2007), that have held the opposite, that the permanent bar under 212(a)(9)(C) trumps the ability to adjust status under section 245(i).

The USCIS derives such chutzpah from a Supreme Court decision, National Cable & Telecommunications Ass'n v. Brand X Internet Services, 545 U.S. 967 (2005), which allows agencies to offer an interpretation of a statute that may be different from a published circuit court precedent, but this may be done only where the underlying statute is ambiguous.

This overview does not attempt to cover all the vignettes of unlawful presence, as discussed in this weighty USCIS memo, and readers are urged to carefully read the various labyrinthine formulations on unlawful presence in its entirety.

One may stumble across other subtle paradoxes where the USCIS treats one who may be in a period

of stay authorized by the Attorney General, and thus not accruing unlawful presence, as not maintaining lawful status and subject to being arrested and thrown into removal proceedings. The example in the Memo is one who while on a B-2 tourist visa, and who lawfully entered the country in that status, marries a US citizen, and files an application to adjust status.

The filing of an adjustment of status application allows her to remain in the US, apply for temporary work and travel permission, even though the underlying B-2 visa has expired (and cannot even theoretically be extended once an adjustment application is filed). Intuitively, one would think that such a person, while waiting for her adjustment of status interview, which would result in the grant of permanent residency, would not in any way be vulnerable to an enforcement action.

Wrong, according to the Memo.

Such a person could still be placed in removal proceedings. Even though she is in a period of stay authorized by the Attorney General, she is no longer in lawful status! * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

38

India Post

Immigration Post

July 10, 2009

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Nebraska high court backs Guatemalan mom OMAHA, Neb.: A Nebraska court ruled in favor of a Guatemalan mother in a custody case that immigrant advocates say illustrates a nationwide problem.

The state Supreme Court said a lower court judge was wrong to terminate the parental rights of Maria Luis, who came to Grand Island in 2004 with two of her children, including one born around the time she entered the United States illegally. Luis was deported a year later after lying about her identity to authorities who were looking into the welfare of the two children. Her parental rights were later terminated by the judge.

Attorneys for the state had argued that Luis is an unfit parent.

For one, they said, she has ignored her daughter's health problems on multiple occasions. ``While we recognize and express concern over Maria's medical judgment, we disagree that such error in judgment warranted termination of her parental rights,'' Judge Michael McCormack wrote for the court. ``We have repeat-

edly said that the law does not require the perfection of a parent.''

The state also argued the children's American foster parents could give them a better life than they would have in Guatemala. But the court ruled it has never terminated a parent's custody based on

The high court has never considered whether state courts have jurisdiction over child custody disputes when a parent faces deportation financial or other grounds a stranger might provide.

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the state failed to prove that terminating Luis' rights was in the best interests of her children. But it also said that the state was right to involve itself in the case.

Attorneys for Luis had ar-

gued that the state didn't have jurisdiction because Nebraska authorities violated the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which provides that people arrested abroad should have access to their home country's consular officials.

The high court has never considered whether state courts have jurisdiction over child custody disputes when a parent faces deportation, McCormack wrote for the court. But other courts have deemed that child custody problems are within the state's authority, he added. ``We cannot conclude, simply because a party to this case faces deportation, that federal immigration laws pre-empt this state's authority to decide matters involving child custody,'' he wrote.

Luis' lawyers and other immigrant advocates have said the case shows what is increasingly happening across the country when state courts take action in child welfare cases that clash with federal immigration law. -AP

Charges separated in Iowa slaughterhouse case DES MOINES, Iowa: A federal judge granted a motion to sever immigration charges from financial charges against the former manager of a kosher slaughterhouse that was the site of a massive raid by immigration agents last year, ruling a united case would prejudice the jury.

US District Judge Linda Reade in Cedar Rapids issued the ruling

in the case against Agriprocessors Inc. and former company official Sholom Rubashkin.

Top managers and the Postville company were indicted months after 389 people were arrested in a May 12, 2008 immigration raid as part of an investigation that began in October 2007.

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Rubashkin had argued that presenting all 142 charges facing their clients at once would confuse a jury and make it difficult for the defendants to get a fair trial. ``The court finds that joiner of all 142 counts in a single proceeding would prevent a jury from making a reliable judgment about the guilt or innocence of Defendants Rubashkin and Agriprocessors,'' Reade wrote in her ruling ``the risk of prejudice ... is simply too high.''

Rubashkin attorney Guy Cook called the ruling a major victory for his client. Bob Teig, a spokesman for the US attorney's office in Cedar Rapids, declined comment.

The government filed the 142count indictment in May. It replaced a previous indictment, adding 70 counts of harboring and aiding and abetting the harboring of undocumented aliens for profit.

It consolidated previously filed charges against Agriprocessors, Rubashkin and three other former plant managers.

The new indictment also charged Rubashkin with conspiracy to commit document fraud, aiding and abetting document fraud, bank fraud, false statements and reports to a bank, money laundering and willful violation of order of secretary of agriculture. -AP

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July 10, 2009

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Obama says he's committed to immigration reform WASHINGTON: Launching a fresh effort toward a comprehensive immigration overhaul, President Barack Obama has said that a bipartisan bill on the ``sensitive and volatile political issue'' will be difficult but must get under way this year.

"It's going it require some heavy lifting,'' Obama said as he hosted a meeting of about 30 lawmakers whose views on immigration span the ideological spectrum. ``It's going to require a victory of practicality and common sense and good policy making over short-term politics. That's what I'm committed to doing as president.''

A sweeping immigration overhaul was a personal priority for Obama's Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, who was so confident of its chances that he once

told reporters, "I'll see you at the bill signing.''

But the bill collapsed in the Senate in 2007, mostly under the weight of criticism from conservatives who saw it as an amnesty measure for illegal immigrants that was publicly unpopular and politically untenable.

Much of the debate centered on how to deal with the roughly 12 million illegals already living in the United States.

Some believe Republicans are more motivated this time to get on board, as immigration helped energize turnout toward Obama and other Democrats in the 2008 election.

Among the attendees was Obama's opponent in the presidential election, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a highprofile supporter of immigration reform, a position that cost him sup-

port within his own party. But McCain rallied to win the Republican nomination for the presidency and Obama gave him special recognition for paying ``a significant po-

Much of the debate centered on how to deal with the roughly 12 million illegals already living in the United States litical cost for doing the right thing.'' ``There's not by any means consensus across the table,'' Obama said. ``What I am encouraged by is that after all the overheated rhetoric and the occasional demagoguery on all sides around this issue, we've got a responsible

set of leaders sitting around the table who want to actively get something done.''

Several lawmakers Democrats and Republicans said after the meeting that this year is the last chance to try again, perhaps for decades. ``We've got one more chance to do this,'' said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. ``If we fail this time around, no politician is going to take this up in a generation.''

Obama announced that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead a group of lawmakers on the issue from the House and Senate ``to start systematically working through'' the stickiest, most emotional questions.

One of those is whether a worker verification system is needed, such as a fraud-resistant, biometric card to catch employers who employ un-

documented workers.

Another is how or whether to create a path to citizenship for the 12 million illegal immigrants.

Still another tough issue is whether to expand guest worker programs. Business groups support it, but labor union leaders have joined together this time to oppose it. Unions have called for creation of an independent government commission to decide future immigration of temporary and permanent workers based on labor market needs.

But addressing reporters on the White House driveway, McCain said, "We don't need a commission.'' He said he would not support any bill without an expanded temporary guest worker program, and called on Obama to use his clout with organized labor to get them to ease their opposition. -AP

Tech News Unique Transaction Number to be introduced NEW DELHI: Income Tax assessees whose tax is deducted or collected at source will now have to quote a Unique Transaction Number (UTN) from next year.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) deferred its introduction saying the UTN "shall be kept in abeyance for the time being" as "implementation issues" had cropped up during this year's proposed introduction of the new code.

There are certain "implementation issues" involved in the entire exercise, and the system to accommodate the UTN-based tax payer base is not yet in place, official sources involved in the process said. -PTI

Jet, Sahara given last chance to resolve dispute MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has given Jet Airways and Sahara Group one last chance to amicably resolve a payment dispute over acquisition of Sahara Airlines by Jet, but if they squander this opportunity the court would step in with its ruling on July 15. Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud said both parties are being given a final chance to sit across the table and arrive at a consensus by July 15.

Earlier, the High Court had given an opportunity to both sides to settle their dispute, but Jet and Sahara have so far not been able to meet formally for thrashing out differences over the deal, although sources said talks between senior executives had failed to yield any solution. -PTI

India's exports continue to shrink for 8th month NEW DELHI: India's exports continued to fall like there was no bottom, dipping by 29.2 per cent in May, and raised hopes for sops in the budget in the absence of any sign of recovery.

Government data released showed that exports shrank for the eighth month in a row to USD 11.01 billion from USD 15.55 billion in May 2008 -- an indication that there was no demand in the recession-hit global economies.

Imports too dropped by 39.2 per cent for the fifth consecutive month to USD 16.21 billion in May, helping halve the trade deficit in the month to USD 5.20 billion. -PTI

TechBiz 40 India Post

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July 10, 2009

Petrol, diesel prices raised in India NEW DELHI: Departing from precedents, the government here bypassed the Cabinet to raise petrol prices by Rs 4 per liter and diesel rates

by Rs 2 a liter.

"The hike was necessitated because of rising international crude oil prices which have doubled to USD 70 a barrel since December," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters here. Deora only consulted the party leadership and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to decide on the hike. Usually, the fuel price revisions are referred to the Cabinet.

Parliament's Budget session is to begin tomorrow and clearly the government wanted to take a decision before that.

The weekly Cabinet meeting is scheduled for tomorrow. -PTI

Citi's Ajay Banga joins MasterCard as President and COO India Post News Service

NEW YORK: MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) announced June 19 it has appointed Ajay Banga President and Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Robert W. Selander, currently President and Chief Executive Officer. Selander will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer after Banga joins MasterCard on August 31.

Banga is currently Citigroup's Chief Executive Officer of Citi Asia Pacific, responsible for all of Citi's business lines in the region including credit cards and consumer banking, institutional banking, wealth management and alternative investments. He is also a member of the company's Senior Leadership and Executive Committees.

At MasterCard, Banga, 49, will be responsible for key business operations including customer relationships globally in international and US markets, products, services, marketing, technology and operations. The company's finance, human resources, and law and franchise integrity functions will continue to report to Selander.

"I am very pleased to have Ajay join our senior executive team and

partner with me to grow MasterCard's value to our customers, merchants, consumers and investors," said Selander. "Ajay's experience in diverse industries and diverse geographies will reinforce and strengthen our global competencies as electronic pay-

commerce," said Banga. "From its strong technology base to its local market expertise, MasterCard has many important resources in place to make life easier for consumers and payment systems more efficient for businesses and governments around the world. I look

Ajay Banga

At MasterCard, Banga, 49, will be responsible for key business operations including customer relationships globally in international and US markets, products, services, marketing, technology and operations

ments continue to accelerate worldwide. With his expertise and leadership," Selander said, "we hope to capture even more of the significant global payments opportunity."

"This is clearly a wonderful opportunity to join a company at the forefront of advancing global

forward to joining my new colleagues and continuing the success they have so well architected over the years," Banga stated.

Banga, who joined Citi in 1996 as Head of Marketing and Sales in India, quickly rose through the ranks to Head of Sales, Marketing and Business Development for

Europe, Middle East and Africa, based in Brussels, and was then appointed Division Executive, Consumer Bank for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, based in London. In 2000 he was appointed Business Head, CitiFinancial and U.S. Consumer Assets, and in 2002 became Executive Vice President, Global Consumer Group and President, Retail Banking North America.

He was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citi's Global Consumer Group International in 2005, which included all credit card and consumer banking operations outside North America.

He was appointed to his current position in 2008.

Prior to joining Citigroup, he spent 13 years with Nestle India and two years with PepsiCo. Banga serves on the Board of Directors of Kraft Foods Inc. He is also on the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society, has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York Hall of Science and was a Board member of the National Urban League.

He graduated with a BA in Economics Honors from Delhi University and is also a graduate of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

IACC panel discusses India's economic role in world India Post News Service

NEW YORK: India and its economic role in the world, in light of the opportunities presented by the global economic crisis were discussed at length at a round table panel discussion on Next Generation of Economic Reform in India held by India-America Chamber of Commerce (IACC) in New York City recently.

More than 50 senior business leaders attended the panel discussion, which was fueled by the recent election of the Congress Party to power with a near clear majority and a need for crucial economic reforms.

In his opening remarks, Rajiv Khanna, President of IACC told the audience that if there is any

country that is poised to take advantage of the current global economic crisis, it is India. India was relatively "unscratched" in the current crisis, and unlike most of the world, India's economy did not

Therefore, now is the time for India to emerge as the next economic super power, just as the United States emerged as an economic super power after the Second World War because it was rela-

A majority of the panelists believed that in the next five years, the Indian government should completely disinvest from all public sector enterprises ride on the coattails of American consumers, he said. "India has its own robust and rapidly growing consumer market. Indian electorate recently returned the Congress Party to power with a clear mandate to do rapid economic reforms.

tively unscratched by that war," he said. Khanna emphasized that there was absolutely no reason why all this could not be done in the next five years.

Among the panelists were Dr. Ajay K. Gondane, Deputy Consul

General of India in New York; Arvind Sanger, General Partner & Portfolio Manager, Geosphere Capital Management, LLC; Mitra Kalita, Deputy Global Economics Editor, The Wall Street Journal; Justin Fox, Editor-at-Large, Time Magazine; and Parag Saxena, Managing Partner, New Silk Route and Veda Capital.

The session covered three critical issues, disinvestment, education and infrastructure. A majority of the panelists believed that in the next five years, the Indian government should completely disinvest from all public sector enterprises, just as the UK rapidly disinvested from public sector enterprises under Margaret Thatcher.

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Indian economy to grow by 7.75 %, says Economic Survey NEW DELHI: The Economic Survey has projected the Indian economy to grow by 7.75 per cent during the current fiscal, if the US economy starts recovering by September and rain gods do not look the other way.

"If the US economy bottoms out by September, 2009, there could be good possibility for the Indian economy repeating its 200809 performance, 7+- 0.75 per cent in the fiscal 2009-10 (assuming a normal monsoon)," said the survey tabled in Parliament.

However, the pattern of growth in the current fiscal may be reversed. Unlike 2008-09, the growth may not be high in the first two quarters, but the last two quarters may result in improved growth, the survey said.

Last fiscal, the economy grew more than 7.5 per cent in the first two quarters, but the growth dwindled after US iconic financial firm Lehman Brothers collapsed. As a result, the last two quarters returned growth of just 5.8 per cent.

Indian economy grew by 6.7 per cent last fiscal, a decline of 2.1 per

cent from the average growth rate of 8.8 per cent in the previous five years, the survey said.

A number of projections have been made for the Indian economic growth for the current fiscal by many analysts, bodies, RBI and multi-lateral agencies.

The prescription coincides with government declaring disinvestment as one of its top most priorities for mobilization of resources, particularly, as it is free from the pressures of the Left parties These range from a low of 4.8 per cent by ICRIER, to a high of 6.5 to 7.5 per cent by ICRA. PSU disinvestment The survey said the government should sell a minimum 10 per cent stake in all unlisted public sector enterprises and "auction"

those that can't be revived, the Economic Survey said, while recommending a disinvestment target of Rs 25,000 crore annually.

"Revitalize the disinvestment program and plan to generate at least Rs 25,000 crore per year," said the Survey.

The prescription coincides with government declaring disinvestment as one of its top most priorities for mobilization of resources, particularly, as it is free from the pressures of the Left parties that had obstructed the process in the last five years.

Asking the government to sell a minimum of 10 per cent equity in all profit-making unlisted PSUs, it said: "Complete the process of selling 5-10 per cent equity in previously identified profit making non-Navratnas."

As regards the loss-making PSUs, the Survey said the government needs to "auction all loss making PSUs that cannot be revived. For those in which net worth is zero, allow negative bidding in the form of debtwrite off."-PTI

IACC panel discusses India's economic role in world Such disinvestment was necessary to clean up the current double digital budget deficit, which constrains many things that the government should be doing, and to free up the true entrepreneurial spirit of Indians.

Dr. Gondane expressed the dissenting view that disinvestment for the sake of disinvestment was not the right approach and there had to be a calibrated measured disinvestment to keep the adventurers out of the Indian market. On the other two issues also he emphasized the need for a measured calibrated approach and eloquently and vigorously defended the government's position on each issue.

A majority of the panel concluded that rapid education at all levels was the key to the development of India so that the demographic dividend does not become the demographic albatross. All avenues for investment into education, including but not limited to, private universities and foreign universities setting up campuses in India should be actively encouraged and with respect to the private universities and foreign university campuses, the government should limit its role to merely en-

suring that proper educational standards were maintained. Of course, schools and universities set up by the government should continue since there can never be enough schools and universities for a country as large and populated as India, the panel felt.

A majority of the panel concluded that rapid infrastructure development was the other key to the growth of the country as the next economic super power. India has already demonstrated its abil-

ity to make state-of-the-art airports with the prime examples being Bangalore and Hyderabad airports, and state-of-the-art roads. There is absolutely no reason why in the next five years, such airports and roads should not become the norm instead of the exception.

There was plenty of private capital willing to move into India to develop these infrastructure projects. The panel also emphasized the need for rapid development in the power sector.

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Obama says health care initiatives by year end

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama dismissed critics of his ambitious agenda as naysayers and vowed to have health care, energy and financial regulation initiatives in place by the end of the year. ``Then we have a whole other year after that,'' Obama told about 400 cheering top Democratic Party fundraisers.

Sounding confident and defiant before the party stalwarts, the president pointedly went after critics of his health care plan, many of whom assert that the system needs change but object to his proposal for public health insurance as an option to private insurance. -AP

„ More sex may help damaged sperm LONDON: For men with fertility problems, some doctors are prescribing a very conventional way to have a baby: more sex.

In a study of 118 Australian men with damaged sperm, doctors found that having sex every day for a week significantly reduced the amount of DNA damage in their patients' sperm. Previous studies have linked better sperm quality to higher pregnancy rates.

The research was announced at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam.

Dr. David Greening of Sydney IVF, a private fertility clinic in Australia, and colleagues looked at 118 men who had damaged sperm. -AP

„ Mass. Cardinal ends Caritas link to insurer BOSTON: Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley has ended a joint venture between a hospital system founded by the archdiocese and a Missouri-based health insurer, fearing it linked Catholic hospitals too closely to abortion providers.

O'Malley has been criticized for allowing Caritas Christi Health Care to partner with Centene Corp., which covers abortion services.

With the decision, Caritas will still provide health care to patients, including those covered by Centene though it won't provide services that violate Catholic teachings.

But the archdiocese won't be co-owner of an insurance venture with Centene. -AP

Health Science 42

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India Post

July 10, 2009

Missouri gets grant to study joint replacement COLUMBIA, Mo.: Surgery patients needing joint replacement could benefit from a University of Missouri research project that examines the use of living tissue instead of plastic and metal to replace damaged body parts. -AP

EPA proposes tougher clean air rule WASHINGTON: The Obama administration has proposed to strengthen a key air pollution health standard to better protect children and people with respiratory illnesses.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it wants to tighten the air quality requirement for nitrogen dioxide that is released from motor vehicles, coal burning power plants and factories.

The pollutant is among those the EPA is required to examine periodically to determine that concentrations are at a level to ensure healthy air. Nitrogen dioxide can cause respiratory problems and is of special danger to children and people suffering from asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

The federal air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide, as it applies to health, has not been changed in 35 years.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement the proposal to tighten the requirement

reflects the latest scientific findings on what is needed to protect people's health. ``We're updating these standards to build on the latest scientific data and meet changing health protection needs,'' Jackson said.

She said the proposal, if adopted, would ``fill gaps in the current standard and provide important addi-

While the annual standard of a maximum 53 parts per million nitrogen dioxide concentration in the air would remain the same, the EPA wants to limit short-term concentrations - based on hour-long monitoring - to between 80 ppm and 100 ppm to provide added protection from short-term exposure. ``Current scientific evidence

The federal air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide, as it applies to health, has not been changed in 35 years tional protections where they are needed most.''

The EPA especially wants to assure that the federal requirement addresses health concerns from short term exposure of an hour or less. The proposal would maintain the current long-term concentration requirements, monitored over a year, but establish a new standard based on one-hour monitoring.

links short-term exposure, ranging from 23 minutes to 24 hours, with increased respiratory effects, especially in persons with asthma,'' the EPA statement said. These exposures, it said, often occur close to heavily traveled roadways and lead to increased visits to emergency rooms, hospital admissions and respiratory illnesses, particularly in children, the elderly and

asthmatics.

The EPA set its first air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide in 1971, establishing both a standard to protect health and a secondary standard to protect public welfare.

All parts of the country are well below the annual standard, but the short-term requirements need to be addressed, the agency said.

Under the ambient air quality rules, which cover a number of pollutants, the agency cannot take into account economic cost in establishing a federal standard, which is used to determine whether the air in a certain designated area is to be considered healthy. If an area has unhealthy air it risks the loss of federal highway funds and possibly other sanctions.

The EPA said it will accept public comment over the next 60 days on its nitrogen dioxide proposal and also plans to hold several hearings. It said it anticipates a final rule to be issued by January. -AP

Ayurveda, Homeopathy witness impressive growth NEW DELHI: With the rise in health problems under the category of lifestyle diseases, the alternate systems of medicines like Ayurveda, Homeopathy have witnessed impressive growth over the years with timetested methodologies and marketing techniques.

India's expertise in traditional treatments such as Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Unani are becoming increasingly popular as these have no side effects, according to industry chambers.

"The demand for Ayurvedic medicines has increased in the last five years to more than Rs 3,000 crore, as they have started marketing their products in a better manner and also conducted scientific trials to prove the permanent cure of some diseases" says Anoop Misra, Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, Fortis Group of Hospitals.

However, he adds, there is no alternative to Allopathy as far as emergency and cardiac medicines are concerned.

According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people use herbal medicines and in India more than 65 per cent people living in the

every year.

Amrit Kalsi, Senior Medical Officer, Delhi Government, says, "The demand for Homeopathic and Ayurvedic medicines has increased in the last few years and to cure chronic ailments such as respiratory diseases, fevers, skin diseases, viral infections, asthma

India's expertise in traditional treatments such as Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Unani are becoming increasingly popular as these have no side effects, according to industry chambers rural areas use Ayurveda and medical plants to meet their primary health care needs.

India has over 75 lakh qualified doctors, who according to Assocham, charge 'reasonable professional fees'.

There are over 400,000 registered homeopaths in the country currently, with approximately 13,000 more being added

and allergic disorders, people are choosing the traditional way of treatment before allopathic."

There were 28 homoeopathic dispensaries in Delhi in 1978 and the number now has gone up to 78. The number of patients taking homeopathic medicines has increased from around 800,000 patients in 1997 to 13,62,174 patients in 2006, she adds.

"Ayurveda is certainly gaining ground. People suffering from acute or chronic ailments, either go for strong pills or Ayurveda. For a disease like cancer, after some of point of time, people lose hope and then go for options like Ayurveda or homeopathy," Misra says.

An industry report say that by 2010, domestic homeopathy market is expected to more than double and touch the Rs 26 billion (Rs 2600 crore) size. It would continue to grow at between 2530 per cent against 13-15 per cent of pharmaceuticals industry as users of homeopathy are multiplying not only in India but also throughout the world.

"The demand for Ayurvedic medicine has also gradually improved for the rising number of lifestyle diseases like stress, migraine, asthma, obesity. But in cases like surgeries or emergency operations, there is no alternative," says Misra. -PTI

Health Science Post

July 10, 2009

India Post

43

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Surprising number of teens think they'll die young CHICAGO: A surprising number of teenagers - nearly 15 percent - think they're going to die young, leading many to drug use, suicide attempts and other unsafe behavior, new research suggests.

The study, based on a survey of more than 20,000 kids, challenges conventional wisdom that says teens engage in risky behavior because they think they're invulnerable to harm. Instead, a sizable number of teens may take chances ``because they feel hopeless and figure that not much is at stake,'' said study author Dr. Iris Borowsky, a researcher at the University of Minnesota.

That behavior threatens to turn their fatalism into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Over seven years, kids who thought they would die early were seven time more likely than optimistic kids to be subsequently diagnosed with AIDS. They also were more likely to attempt suicide and get in fights resulting in serious injuries.

Borowsky said the magnitude of kids with a negative outlook was eye-opening.

Adolescence is ``a time of great opportunity and for such a large minority of youth to feel like they don't have a long life ahead of them was surprising,'' she said.

The study suggests a new way doctors could detect kids likely to engage in unsafe behavior and potentially help prevent it, said Dr. Jonathan Klein, a University of

Fatalistic kids weren't more likely than others to die during the seven-year study; there were relatively few deaths Rochester adolescent health expert who was not involved in the research. ``Asking about this sense of fatalism is probably a pretty important component of one of the ways we can figure out who those kids at greater risk are,'' he said.

The study appears in the July issue of Pediatrics.

Scientists once widely believed

that teenagers take risks because they underestimate bad consequences and figure ``it can't happen to me,'' the study authors say.

The new research bolsters evidence refuting that thinking.

Cornell University professor Valerie Reyna said the new study presents ``an even stronger case against the invulnerability idea.'' ``It's extremely important to talk about how perception of risk influences risk-taking behavior,'' said Reyna, who has done similar research.

Fatalistic kids weren't more likely than others to die during the seven-year study; there were relatively few deaths, 94 out of more than 20,000 teens.

The researchers analyzed data from a nationally representative survey of kids in grades 7 to 12 who were interviewed three times between 1995 and 2002. Of 20,594 teens interviewed in the first round, 14.7 percent said they thought they had a good chance of dying before age 35. Subsequent interviews found these fatalistic kids engaged in more risky behavior than more optimistic kids. -AP

Doctors say more ovary transplants possible LONDON: Two new techniques to preserve and transplant ovaries might give women a better chance to fight their biological clocks and have children when they are older, doctors announced here.

In the past, scientists have performed ovarian transplants in women with cancer, since chemotherapy often causes infertility. Doctors typically take out patients' ovaries before the toxic treatment begins and then reimplant them later.

Because of the cost and uncertainties involved _ only a handful have been done successfully _ this was thought only worthwhile for women with serious diseases who had few options.

Now, recent advances to preserve ovaries and surgically implant them could make the procedure more widely available, helping women avoid fertility problems as they age. Many women are now delaying having a family until their 30s or 40s, when fertility problems become more common.

Women in their 20s or 30s could theoretically have an ovary removed and frozen, and then have it reimplanted years later when

they are ready to have children. ``We are in the middle of an infertility epidemic,'' said Dr. Sherman Silber, director of the St. Louis Infertility Center in Missouri, one of the experts behind the research. ``With these new techniques, we could dramatically expand our reproductive lifespan.''

The research was reported at a meeting of the European Society

Recent advances to preserve ovaries and surgically implant them could make the procedure more widely available of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam.

Silber and colleagues studied how many eggs were lost or preserved in fresh and frozen ovarian tissue of 15 young women before they had cancer treatment. The doctors found no difference in the number of eggs in fresh tissue and in ovaries frozen using a new ultra-fast technique. -AP

44

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Philosophy

48 India Post

July 10, 2009

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Solution to world crisis will come from West - not from India UG KRISHNAMURTI

W

hat is necessary for man is to free himself from the entire past of mankind, not only his individual past. That is to say, you have to free yourself from what every man before you has thought, felt and experienced -- then only is it possible for you to be yourself.

The whole purpose of my talking to people is to point out the uniqueness of every individual.

Culture or civilization or whatever you might call it has always tried to fit us into a framework.

Man is not man at all; I call him a 'unique animal' -- and man will remain a unique animal as long as he's burdened by the culture.

Nature, in its own way, throws out, from time to time, some flower, the end-product of human evolution. This cannot be used by the evolutionary process as a model for creating another one -- that is why I say this is the end-product of human evolution -- if it throws

Q: Although I have been meditating for a year and a half, I still have had no significant experiences. Is something wrong with me, or am I expecting too much?

Give up your expectations. Expectations are a great hindrance in meditation. Very often when subtle inner experiences take place, we are not immediately aware of them.

Even if nothing appears to be happening now, keep meditating and sooner or later you will experience something. Your good actions will never go waste.

In India there lived a very intelligent and well-respected man, who was the prime minister of a king. One day he thought to himself, "Why am I doing this work? I am doing it only for money. I should give it up and simply worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Then wealth will come to me."

The next day he resigned his position and went to live by a river. Every day he repeated the mantras to Lakshmi and worshipped her according to the Vedic tradition.

The Vedic rituals are very scientific. In ancient times, the sages used to worship the god of rain, and the result was that there were no droughts. In the same way, it

out one flower, that's it, you see.

Such a flower, you can put it in a museum and look at it -- that's all you can do.

You don't like what I'm saying, because it undermines the whole Indian culture and the psychological superstructure that has been built on the Freudian fraud. That is why the psychologists and reli-

UG: The crisis through which the world is passing has to throw up something [in order for the world] to save itself. I think it has to come, and it will come from the West -- I don't know from where, but India has no chance.

Q: Is the questioning genuine there in the West?

UG: It is very genuine. They

Man is not man at all; I call him a 'unique animal' -- and man will remain a unique animal as long as he's burdened by the culture gious people are against me -- they don't like what I'm saying -- that is their livelihood. The whole thing is finished: the whole religious and psychological business will be finished in the next ten or twenty years.

Q: Sir, what part has India to play in the present-day world crisis?

are questioning their values.

Now it is only at the stage of rebellion and reaction, but they want answers. They are very pragmatic people, they want answers; they are not satisfied with just promises.

So that seems to be the situation -- otherwise man is doomed,

you see. But man will not disappear; he will somehow survive. I am not preaching a theory of doom -- I am no prophet of doom. But I believe that it will come from the West. You see, it has to come from somewhere, and India will not be that country.

Q: You are quite sure?

UG: I am certain of that because half my life I've spent in the West -- first half in India, and now the second half in the West.

Q: How do you come to this conclusion? Don't you think that India has evolved some sort of a philosophy?

UG: I quoted a passage from Emerson. You see, he makes a statement, a very interesting statement, that if you want your neighbor to believe in God, let him see what God can make you like. There is no use talking about God as love, God as truth, God as this, God as that.

So, this is the most interesting thing: Let the world see what God can make you like. You have to set your house in order. If India's heritage cannot help it to put its own house in order, how do you think it can help the world?

The 91st birth anniversary of UG Krishnamurti will be observed on July 9.

Expectations are a great hindrance in meditation SWAMI MUKTANANDA

was believed that if someone worshiped the goddess of wealth, he would be rewarded with wealth.

Twelve years went by, and not only did the prime minister not receive anything, but he used up all his money and became a beggar.

Finally he thought, this is useless. No wealth is going to come to me. I will take sannyasa initia-

"I am here to see you," the woman said. "You invited me, and I have come."

"What are you talking about?" asked the monk. "I never invited you. I'm a monk!"

"Didn't you recite the hymns to Lakshmi for twelve years?"

"Yes." " "I am Lakshmi."

You have been accumulating karmas and impressions for many lifetimes. How can you hope to rid yourself of all of them by meditating for only a year and a half? tion arid become a monk.

So he went off and took initiation into monkhood. A few days later, he was sitting on top of a mountain, meditating. At the end of his meditation, he opened his eyes and saw a beautiful woman standing before him. She was shining as if made of gold. He was astounded by her beauty.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

The monk prostrated before her and said, "I worshiped you for so long, but you never came.

Why have you come now?"

"You had accumulated so many sins and so many karmas that your worship could not bear fruit. Finally, when you took sannyasa, all your sins were burned up and you became completely pure. That is why I have come to you now."

"But I no longer have any use for you," said the monk. "Still, I cannot leave you," Lakshmi said.

"You performed the worship, and now you have to experience its fruits."

"In that case," said the monk, "give me the wealth of knowledge."

Lakshmi agreed to do this. The monk became a store-house of knowledge and received the name Vidyaranya, which means "the forest of knowledge." He wrote a great book called the Panchadashi which is still studied by everyone who learns Sanskrit.

You never know what karmas are standing behind you. You have been accumulating karmas and impressions for many lifetimes. How can you hope to rid yourself of all of them by meditating for only a year and a half?

Keep meditating regularly and stay calm. Sooner or later, through the grace of the inner Shakti, everything will happen.

All happenings, great and small, are parables whereby God speaks. The art of life is to get the message.

- Malcolm Muggeridge The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

- Buddha If you could only keep quiet, clear of memories and expectations, you would be able to discern the beautiful pattern of events.

Its your restlessness that causes chaos.

-Nisargadatta Maharaj The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

-Marcel Proust There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond the highest, the very highest There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens.

This is the light that shines in your heart -Chandogya Upanishad There are only two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as if everything is.

- Albert Einstein Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete..

If you're alive, it isn't.

- Richard Bach

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Poppy policy: From eradication to support as medicine

T

he US has announced that it would withdraw its support for efforts to eradicate opium cultivation in Afghanistan.

Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, declared that eradication "didn't reduce the amount of money the Taliban got by one dollar." Shortly after the Taliban fell in 2001, the US-led international community in Afghanistan adopted eradication as part of their counter-narcotics policy in an attempt to curtail the opium crisis.

Since then, eradication policies have been inefficient and counterproductive in winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) has hailed the monumental move by the US to stop the failed policy of poppy crop eradication in Afghanistan, and it has called on the US, UK and the rest of the international community to back its Poppy for Medicine proposal in the war-torn country.

"Eradication provides the Taliban insurgency with an even more valuable currency than money, and that is loyalty," said Emmanuel Reinert, Executive Director of ICOS. "Farmers have turned against the US and ISAF military when their livelihoods were destroyed; with the US stopping its own eradication policies, the West has a real opportunity to turn the situation around and build trust with the Afghan people."

"This move by the US represents a 'historic shift' in its counternarcotics policy, yet it won't go far enough to alleviate the opium crisis in Afghanistan," said Reinert.

"In addition to ending poppy eradication programs, our Poppy for Medicine proposal is a crucial step to successfully cutting off Taliban supplies and provide sustainable and viable livelihoods to Afghan farmers."

After the US announcement, the UK government spoke out against the new stance by the US and vowed to continue its own eradication efforts.

"I would urge the UK and the entire international community to eliminate poppy crop eradication from their counter-narcotics policy in Afghanistan, and to support a truly viable alternative based on scientific study, namely, Poppy for Medicine," said Raymond Kendall, Former Secretary-General of Interpol and a Member of the ICOS Advisory Board.

The Council called on the US to implement its proposed Poppy for Medicine program to license the growing of the poppy crop in Afghanistan for localised, tightly

controlled production of morphine, currently unavailable to 80 percent of the world's population.

Since 2005, ICOS has conducted intense research on its Poppy for Medicine initiative. The proposal was endorsed by the European Parliament in October 2007, yet was rejected on several occasions by the Bush Administration since 2005.

"In the run up to the Afghan elections on August 20, the US's decision to reverse this failing counter-narcotic policy and open discussions about drug policy is an extremely timely one," Reinert said.

"The Poppy for Medicine program, if implemented, would function as a counter-insurgency initiative which would end Taliban funding through drugs trafficking and drive a wedge between insurgents and poppy farmers. Changing Afghanistan's counter-narcotics policy is a first bid to win back the hearts and minds of Afghanistan´s 2.4 million farmers currently dependent on illegal poppy cultivation," he added.

‘Eradication provides the Taliban insurgency with an even more valuable currency than money, and that is loyalty,’ said Emmanuel Reinert, Executive Director of ICOS "Following the planting season later this year, ICOS has recommended that poppy farmers be offered a one-harvest Reconciliation and Morphine Production Program, which would be a first step towards the implementation of a Poppy for Medicine initiative," said Reinert.

The Reconciliation and Morphine Production Program offers farmers the ability to sell their opium exclusively to the Afghan Government during one harvest in order to start producing an Afghan brand of morphine, which remains the gold standard of pain relief around the world.

The year after, farmers would receive a license to start legal production of poppy under a tightly controlled Poppy for Medicine scheme, which should build on successful experiences in India and Turkey that virtually eliminated the illegal production of opium in those countries.

According to the UNOCD World Drug Report 2009, "Highlights Links Between Drugs and Crime," Afghanistan currently provides 93 per cent of the world's illegal opium, most of which is refined into heroin and sold on the illicit drugs market. Drug-related crime on the streets of Europe is a common consequence, and can be tackled only at its root cause, in Afghanistan.

In 2008, the UNODC reported that the world's illegal opium production had doubled between 2005 and 2008 because of Afghanistan's record opium harvests. This was during a period of heavy international funding for poppy crop eradication programs throughout Afghanistan.

About poppy for medicine According to ICOS, Poppy for Medicine is a village-based economic solution to Afghanistan's opium problem. It is based on successful counter-narcotics interventions in India and Turkey since the 1960s and 1970s - both actively supported by the United States but is adapted to Afghanistan's specific culture and its security and development characteristics.

It links Afghanistan's two most valuable resources - poppy cultivation and strong local village control systems - through the controlled cultivation of poppy for the village-based production of morphine. Based on extensive on-theground research, ICOS has developed a Poppy for Medicine project model for Afghanistan as a means of bringing illegal poppy cultivation under control in an immediate yet sustainable manner.

It is the intention of ICOS to use this model as the basis for open and in-depth discussions with the US State Department in order to assess options for implementation, including the possibility of first implementing a oneharvest "1389AP Reconciliation and Morphine Production Program" before testing other elements of the proposal.

As an alternative to a Pilot Project, a one-harvest "1389AP Reconciliation and Morphine Production Program" could be investigated. After the planting season has concluded at the end of 2009, farmers could be offered a 'package deal', consisting of a combination of amnesty (until the next planting season) and the possibility to sell their entire opium harvest to the Afghan Government. This opium will be used in the first half of 2010 (the Afghan year 1389AP) to test the local in-village morphine production proposed under the Poppy for Medicine program.

Based on a release by the ICOS

India Post Separatist agenda

S

eparatist violence in Kashmir is an "industry" which keeps the separatist leaders and their supporters "gainfully" employed with foreign funds enriching their lifestyles. This was the view recently expressed by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Supporters of terrorists keep a supply of stones ready to provoke the security forces in order to keep the pot boiling. Even if the recent incidents of rape of two Shopian women and killing of two stone-throwing youths in Baramulla firing had not taken place, the separatists would have found some other reason or provoked another incident to keep the administration roiled. This is not to defend the administration's leaden-footed response to the genuine complaints of people on the street.

Not unexpectedly, on the eve of the Amarnath Yatra, temperatures are being raised once again in the Kashmir Valley region. The separatists remember the success they achieved in putting the valley on fire last year during these days and they are itching for an encore. A peaceful valley is not to the liking of some in the neighborhood and the financiers abroad of the trouble makers.

After the Mumbai attacks, there was severe international pressure on Pakistan to punish the masterminds. Though it jailed the perpetrators of the attacks for sometime, Pakistan has started releasing them or not proceeding against them. And to deflect the now waning international pressure, the Pakistan Premier keeps resorting to "Kashmir is the core issue" slogan whenever India voices concern over Islamabad not acting against Mumbai attackers.

After terrorist violence was put down in the valley with a heavy hand by the Army, the masterminds across the border decided to divert attention by organizing bomb blasts in various unsuspecting cities of India. When their agents were put out of action, the Pakistan based LeT let loose the brazen "invasion" of Mumbai on 26/11. Now that internal security of India has been strengthened and commandos are ready to go after such attackers in future, the Pak-sponsored terrorist organizations are quietly returning to expand bases in PakistanOccupied Kashmir to renew their provocative actions across into the valley. Coming at such a time the demands to withdraw security forces or to reduce their numbers in Kashmir cannot be entertained. Such is the dilemma posed to the new Kashmir government.

Apart from keeping the administration on tenterhooks, it is difficult to gauge the agenda of the separatist groups. Prof Badri Raina, who has studied this issue, posed the question that violent militancy having failed, why don't they try to work their separatist agenda through the democratic process?

During a visit to the valley, he has reported the following perceptions: --many separatist leaders feared that were they to participate in the democratic process, this would be seen as the final betrayal by armed militants, and threats to life would follow; --supposing that they did fight an election, sweep the polls, and form the government, there might be little they could in fact do subsequently to implement the separatist agenda; --that such a failure would tantamount to courting disaster at both ends, since with lost credibility they could neither hope to win again nor return to leading the separatist sentiment from outside the electoral process as they have been; --that such an eventuality could crucially lead to a drying up of funds that remain available to them from questionable sources.

"Their present placement, therefore, it was argued, suited them rather nicely, since they could hibernate comfortably or ratchet up tensions as and when it suited their mentors, alternately, both among the armed agencies of militants and agencies of the state at home."

50 India Post

July 10, 2009

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52 India Post

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