IndiaPost_09-07-2012 by Ghanshyam Bisht

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Sikhs: A distant thunder from Wisconsin Details on page 16

Pranab to address global meet in NY

VOL 18, No. 938

September 7, 2012

50¢

Periodical Postage

PM FOR NEW WAYS OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Hindu Mandirs meet creates 'better bonds' Details on page 8

Tells NAM to take stand on Syria

Details on page 20

Bhai Avtar Singh

Biz sentiment in US better than Europe: Infosys

Elderly Sikh beaten up for carrying kirpan

Details on page 22 Details on page 10

Growth sacrifice inevitable to rein in prices: RBI

Anti-Obama film by IndianAmerican

Details on page 20 Details on page 7

Yahoo fires bureau chief for Romney remark

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 22-23 Classifieds ------------------------- 51

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

Can NAM have a strong role in world? Last week’s result

India Day events in US are more impressive? YES 73%

NO 27%

DEFIANT DIALOGUE: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a meeting with supreme Leader of Iran

Community Post -------------- 10-21

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran on August 29

Date Book -------------------------- 50

TEHRAN: Strongly pitching for coordinated global actions against international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the Non-Aligned Movement to take a lead in this and also take a stand based on "universally accepted principles" on Syria. Observing that the existing problems cannot be solved effectively without a greater voice for developing countries on issues such as global trade, finance and investment, he sought new instruments of global governance as

the current ones "have proved inadequate in dealing with the economic and political crises of our present." Voicing India's opposition to "external intervention" in Syria, Singh, while addressing the leaders and other representatives from over 50 NAM countries who are here for a two-day Summit, made a pointed reference to the situation in the West Asian region, particularly Syria, currently afflicted by a civil war between troops loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad and the rebels.

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

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Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 38-40 Horoscope ------------------------- 33 Immigration Post ------------- 44-47 Life Style ----------------------- 36-37 Philosophy ------------------------- 52 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 48-49 TechBiz Post ------------------- 41-43 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 30-32

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ndia-born Dinesh D'Souza, whose name is generally preceded by titles such as 'conservative scholar' and 'public intellectual', is your every day go-to guy for the media for comments on all things Christian, evangelical and well, Republican. His opinions, predictable and clichéd at best, suit the media which typically tries to find a balance between liberal, mainstream and conservative commentators. And so, that is where his name has been - in op-ed columns, TV debates and soundbytes. Recently, however, D'Souza has emerged to claim more than his share of 15minutes of fame by making a controversial documentary on (or should we say, against) President Obama - essentially an extreme right wing conservative rant that degenerates into a B-grade conspiracy theory - that portrays Obama as living his father's anti-colonist dream. The documentary titled '2016: Obama's America', which D'Souza made along with Schindler's List co-producer Gerald Moren, practically went unnoticed when it was first released in July this year. However, a wider release in August suddenly saw the documentary grossing over $9 million, making it the 17th highest grossing political documentary in almost three decades. Box office takings notwithstanding, D'Souza is not a popular man today. And to their credit, even some avowed conservatives have distanced themselves from him and his documentary, with one of them calling him moronic. D'Souza eminently competes here with the likes of Glenn Beck and gives Michael Moore a run for his money on conspiracy theories. One reviewer said the film: "… is a sleepy dud, a polemic that, like D'Souza himself, is at once both outrageous and deeply boring." A New York Times opinionator called the film "… a long and elaborately produced campaign ad." And that precisely is my own conspiracy theory which suggests the timing of the wider release coincides with the Republican National Convention, and is perhaps guided and manipulated by political strategists. What with Governors Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley headlining the RNC Convention and now D'Souza going ballistic in his documentary, looks like there are more high profile conservative anti-Obama voices being heard from among the Indian American community than those of his supporters. Is our community in sync with this, I wonder. Romesh K Japra

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Southern hottie Ileana D'Cruz, the southern hottie, is very much impressed by the performance of Ranbir Kapoor in "Barfi".

Cover Story: NAM summit Speaking at the NAM summit, PM sought new instruments of global governance as the current ones have failed.

Community: Sikh beaten Avtar Singh (72), a gas station owner was brutally beaten by his neighbor, Edward Koscovski in Paterson, NJ.

Health: Regulating weight Researchers have claimed that vaccines and antibiotics may someday be used as a way to regulate weight gain.

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Life Style: India film festival A year-long film festival, planned in conjunction with Queens College, will reflect South Asia in all its diversity.

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Travel: Khajuraho The beautiful temples of Khajuraho are believed to have been built by the mighty Chandela rulers in 9th and 10th century.

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PM for new ways of global governance Tells NAM to take stand on Syria

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with other Heads of State/Government and the Heads of Delegations at the XVI Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, in Tehran, Iran on August 30

TEHRAN: Strongly pitching for coordinated global actions against international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the NonAligned Movement to take a lead in this and also take a stand based on "universally accepted principles" on Syria. Observing that the existing problems cannot be solved effectively without a greater voice for developing countries on issues

are here for a two-day Summit, made a pointed reference to the situation in the West Asian region, particularly Syria, currently afflicted by a civil war between troops loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad and the rebels. "The West Asian and North African region is undergoing profound change. As the world's largest democracy, India supports popular aspirations for a democratic and pluralistic order. Nevertheless, such transformations

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the XVI Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, in Tehran, Iran on August 30

such as global trade, finance and investment, he sought new instruments of global governance as the current ones "have proved inadequate in dealing with the economic and political crises of our present." Voicing India's opposition to "external intervention" in Syria, Singh, while addressing the leaders and other representatives from over 50 NAM countries who

cannot be prompted by external intervention, which exacerbate the suffering of ordinary citizens. "The deteriorating situation in Syria is a matter of particular concern. Our Movement should take a stand on the issue in keeping with universally accepted principles," he said while urging all parties to recommit themselves to resolving the crisis peacefully through a Syrian-led inclusive

political process that can meet the legitimate aspirations of all Syrian citizens. Underlining the need for new instruments of global governance to confront cross-cutting and transnational challenges through coordinated global actions, Singh said these include international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the menace of maritime piracy, the growing threat to cyber security and the growing challenge of pursuing ecologically sustainable development. "Our Movement should take the lead in building global governance structures that are representative, credible and effective. It is my sincere hope that the Movement can agree on action to reform institutions such as the United Nations Security Council, the World Bank and the IMF," said Singh to the audience which included UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Paki-

He said that developing countries can be drivers of global growth and that international financial institutions should, therefore, be encouraged to fund infrastructure development in the developing world in innovative ways

stan President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and others. He said that developing countries can be drivers of global growth and that international financial institutions should, therefore, be encouraged to fund infrastructure development in the developing world in innovative ways. "We should also urge that the current economic crisis should not lead to a dilution of development assistance flows from the

but the collective voice and reasoned interventions of our Movement commanded respect and credibility. That voice should again find true expression on a variety of issues." The Prime Minister said that while NAM comes together on the international stage, it is equally important for it to collaborate among themselves in tackling problems and developing solutions that are best suited to the Movement's own circumstances.

Manmohan Singh with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina

developed world," he said. Noting that the Non-Aligned Movement has always championed the cause of the Palestinian people, Singh said, "Today, we should renew our pledge to support an early resolution of the Palestinian question, so that the long suffering people of Palestine can live in peace and dignity in a state of their own." He underlined that in the past, "individually we may have had little economic and military clout

Noting that developing world was rich in renewable sources of energy like solar power, he said, "We should use our financial and intellectual resources to develop renewable energy technologies that get less attention in the industrialized world where the resource base is different. "Adoption of these technologies will also enable us to contribute to preservation of the environment. We can learn from each other in this effort."-PTI

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PM meets Khamenei, Ahmadinejad TEHRAN: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during which they discussed Tehran's controversial nuclear program, Afghanistan, tense situation in Syria and other key bilateral issues, including boosting of trade and economic ties. Singh, who is here to attend 16th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement, met the President for nearly an hour and raised the issue of highly-tilted bilateral trade relations in favor of Iran and sought more access for Indian goods, including wheat and other items, government sources said. The two leaders also discussed the nuclear issue and India expressed hope on the progress of P5+1 dialogue, the sources said. "The Prime Minister hoped that recent negotiations will yield positive results in the interest of peace in the region," they said.

tach to strengthening the bilateral relations. They agreed that there was great potential in strengthening economic relations and economic

Agreeing on the need for regular economic consultations for development of Afghanistan, they also emphasized the need for international cooperation to effectively combat the scourge of terrorism cooperation. "The Prime Minister raised the issue of the need for Iran to import more from India to address the trade imbalance. In this regard resumption of exports of Indian

trilateral and bilateral cooperation on Chabahar port, which could serve as an important port of trade and transit for Afghanistan and Central Asia. In a special gesture, the Iranian President also hosted a banquet after the meetings for Singh, the lone leader in the NAM Summit to get this honor. A dinner for all the other participating leaders will be hosted by Iran tomorrow. In a rare meeting with a nonMuslim dignitary, Ayatollah Khamenei held discussions with Singh, with the former appreciating the progress made by India in recent years. During their exchanges on international and regional issues, Singh and Ahmadinejad discussed developments in Afghanistan, Syria and West Asia in general, the sources said. Agreeing on the need for regular economic consultations for development of Afghanistan, they also emphasized the need for international cooperation to effec-

Manmohan Singh leads Indian delagation during a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran

Both leaders reviewed the state of bilateral relations and the importance that both countries at-

wheat to Tehran was stressed by the Prime Minister," sources said. They also agreed to "facilitate

tively combat the scourge of terrorism which poses a great threat to peace and security in the re-

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being welcomed by the President of Iran, Mehmoud Ahmadinejad, before a meeting, on the sidelines of the XVI NonAligned Movement (NAM) Summit, in Tehran, Iran on August 29

gion, they said. The Prime Minister also conveyed to the President his best wishes to Iran on assuming NAM chair. The two leaders also exchanged views on NAM, particularly in the context of the importance of the movement in addressing concerns to the membership. During his 40-minute meeting with the Supreme leader, the two discussed situation in Afghanistan and Syria. "It was felt that there was a need for regular consultations between two countries," they said. India will set up a cultural centre in Iran. During the meeting, Singh thanked the Iranian government for its consent to open the

centre. Highlighting the close relations of cultural and religion between people of two countries which made a good basis for future cooperation, the Iranian supreme leader said the people of Iran have a positive outlook towards India. Asserting that it was important and valuable for Iran to have a stable and powerful India, Khamenei believed that religious diversity of India should not harm India's national unity. They also agreed on the need to do more to advance bilateral relations including in the development of infrastructure projects which have a long-term impact.PTI

UNSC past its expiry date, says Khamenei in blistering attack TEHRAN: Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei berated the UN Security Council as a "flagrant form of dictatorship" while terming the US and its Western allies as "bullies" trying to monopolize nuclear fuel production, as he asserted Tehran's right to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The Iranian supreme leader, who enjoys almost absolute power in the country, was addressing the leaders and delegates from over 50 countries participating in the 16th NonAligned Summit here. Contending that the control room of the world should not be managed by the "dictatorial will of a few Western countries", he sought establishment of a

participatory system for managing international affairs, one that is "global and democratic". "The UN Security Council has an illogical, unjust and completely undemocratic structure and mechanism. This is a flagrant form of dictatorship, which is antiquated and obsolete and whose expiry date has passed," he told an audience which also included UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon. Without mincing words, Khamenei added, "It is through abusing this improper mechanism that America and its accomplices have managed to disguise their bullying as noble concepts and impose it on the world. "They protect the interests of the West in the name of 'human

rights'. They interfere militarily in other countries in the name of 'democracy'". He alleged that torture and as-

Speaking on the contentious nuclear issue, he said that those who stockpile their 'anti-human' weapons in their arsenals do not have the right to declare themselves as standard-bearers of global security

sassination are permissible and completely ignored if they are carried out by "America, the Zionists and their puppets". Speaking on the contentious nuclear issue, he said that those who stockpile their 'anti-human' weapons in their arsenals do not have the right to declare themselves as standard-bearers of global security. He said Iran considers the use of nuclear, chemical and similar weapons as a "great and unforgivable sin" and has even proposed the idea of "Middle East free of nuclear weapons." "This does not mean forgoing our right to peaceful use of nuclear power and production of nuclear fuel. On the basis of international laws, peaceful use of

nuclear energy is a right of every country. All should be able to employ this wholesome source of energy for various vital uses for the benefit of their country and people, without having to depend on others for exercising this right," Khamenei said on nuclear energy. Khamenei stressed that Iran has never been after nuclear weapons and that it will never give up the right of its people to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He, however, said international peace and security are among the critical issues of today's world and the elimination of catastrophic weapons of mass destruction is an urgent necessity and a universal demand.-PTI

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Indians in Iran raise their concerns with PM TEHRAN: Representatives of the Indian community in Iran raised issues of property rights, work permits and recognition of marriages during their interaction with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his much awaited visit here. The Indian community representatives said that though Indians were the oldest expatriate community in Iran, unfortunately due to various reasons, the strength of the community has come down tremendously as the "new generation faces problems, face difficulties to work and many families have left for good". One of the main problems that were raised was the issue of property rights which is not given to the Indian community. "One is always at grave risk of his/her investment, peace of mind and long term security if they are unable to register the property in their own name," a petition given to the Prime Minister said. The issue of resident permit status was also raised under which Indian nationals are issued permits only for one year and ac-

cordingly need to renew them every year. Issuance or waiver of work permits, inheritance and estate duty, issuance of commercial card and registration of companies were also the issues raised in the

recognized. On his part Prime Minister Singh assured to look into the matter. He also announced a Rs 2 crore grant to the only Kendriya Vidyalaya here and a grant of Rs 20 lakh to an Indian school in

TEHRAN: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fondly remembered Mahatma Gandhi and first Indian premier Jawaharlal Nehru in his first-ever interaction with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here. Official sources privy to the 40minute meeting between the two said that Khamenei told Singh that he was deeply impressed by Gandhiji's brilliance and illuminating visage. The 73-year-old Iranian leader, who holds near-absolute power, also recalled Gandhiji's "heroic struggle" starting from his days in South Africa and leadership of the Indian freedom movement. Khamenei also spoke of

Nehru's beliefs which he said flowed from Gandhiji's struggle, a source said. The Iranian leader said these beliefs led Nehru to help create the Non-Aligned Movement. Khamenei also spoke of his own visit to India in 1981 and his meetings with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the then External Affairs Minister Narasimha Rao. Prime Minister Singh responded by expressing his appreciation for Iran's supreme leader's views. The meeting between the two leaders assumes significance since Khamenei rarely meets leaders of non-Islamic countries. -PTI

Yahoo fires bureau chief for Romney/blacks remark Prime Minister Manmohan Singh interacting with representatives of Indian community on the sidelines of the XVI NAM Summit in Tehran

petition. On the issue of recognition of marriages, the petition said that Indian-origin Iranians are facing very serious problems as despite all certification and legalization, their marriage certificates are not

Zahidan. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who was also present on the occasion said he will come back in November and follow up on the problems being faced by the Indian community. -PTI

Anti-Obama film by IndianAmerican making waves WASHINGTON: As the Presidential race in the US nears D-Day, an anti-Obama documentary made by an Indian-American has suddenly become a surprise box office hit and a must watch for Republican delegates trooping to storm-drenched Tampa. The film '2016: Obama's America', which claims death and dismemberment of the US if Barack Obama wins a second term in the November 6 elections, has over the past week grossed about USD 6.5 million, jumping to the seventh spot in top 10 movies of the nation. Based on Mumbai-born director Dinesh D'Souza's New York Times bestseller book, 'The Roots of Obama's Rage', the documentary claims Obama inherited a leftwing world view from his father and if re-elected he would turn to socialism and bankrupt the nation. "After a very successful run in limited release, 2016 Obama's America expanded to 1,091 locations and earned USD 6.5 million this weekend," reported Box Of-

Khamenei remembers GandhiNehru in meeting with PM

fice Mojo, the most comprehensive box office database on the Internet. After its phenomenal success, the movie is now being expanded to 1,800 theaters across the country. "This is one of the best week-

ends ever for a political documentary, and only falls behind the first few frames for Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 (which this movie is clearly mimicking in its pre-election release pattern)," Box Office

Mojo said. "2016 has now earned USD 9.35 million, which makes it the highest-grossing conservative documentary ever ahead of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (USD 7.7 million). "It also already ranks sixth alltime among political docs behind four Michael Moore movies and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, and it could pass a few of these movies if it's able to maintain this momentum after this week's Republican National Convention," it said. Living a true American dream, Mumbai-born Dinesh moved to the US to attend Dartmouth University on a Rotary Scholarship. Following graduation he went to work in the Reagan White House as a policy analyst. Dinesh has been a fellow of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University and the American Enterprise Institute. His other titles include the popular 'What's So Great About Christianity', 'Letters to a Young Conservative', and 'The End of Racism'.-PTI

NEW YORK: Yahoo News fired its Washington bureau chief, less than 24 hours after he was caught on an open microphone saying that Mitt Romney and his wife, at the Republican convention in Florida while a hurricane was approaching Louisiana, were "happy to have a party with black people drowning." Company spokeswoman Anne Espiritu said that David Chalian's remark was inappropriate and does not represent Yahoo's views. "We have already reached out to the Romney campaign, and we apologize to Mitt Romney, his staff, their supporters and anyone who was offended," she said. Chalian made the remark during a hot-mic moment before Yahoo began its live coverage of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. Yahoo is streaming coverage in association with ABC News. The website Newsbusters posted a copy of the video and the audio. The video showed Ann and Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, while the audio picked up background conversation, not all of it intelligible, about the Republican convention taking place as Hurricane Isaac was about to hit the Louisiana coast. Someone makes a remark,

"they're not concerned at all." In a clearer voice, Chalian says, "they are happy to have a party with black people drowning." Chalian said that he was "profoundly sorry for making an inappropriate and thoughtless joke." "I was commenting on the challenge of staging a convention during a hurricane and about campaign optics," he said. "I have

David Chalian

apologized to the Romney campaign, and I want to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to governor and Mrs. Romney." Rescuers in boats and trucks plucked a handful of people who became stranded by floodwaters in thinly populated areas of southeast Louisiana during the storm. But only one death had been reported as the hurricane plodded across the state, that of a man who authorities said had gone to help friends move a vehicle from under a tree and fell after climbing 18 feet up it. -AP

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Hindu Mandirs Conference creates 'better bonds' The editor of Hinduism Today, a prominent Hindu magazine, Paramacharya Paliniswami extolled the tolerance of Hindu Dharma when he told the audience that, "Hindus are intolerant of one thing; we can't tolerate intolerance." Sadhvi Bhagawati said that, "Dharma is not like fossils or ancient archeological remains, Dharma is not history, it's alive it is in the present." Swami Nikhilanand of Radhamadhav Dham, Austin, shared his thoughts on the educational curriculum for mandirs and also his Kirtan. Sanatan Dharma Scholarship Winners Tejas Dave, Shivam Dave with Sarirka Persaud and Gyan Mehta India Post News Service

SAN JOSE, CA: Over 350 delegates representing over 102 Mandirs (Temples) and Hindu organizations, from across the world attended the seventh annual Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference (HMEC), from August 17 through 18 in San Jose, CA. The Seventh HMEC was hosted by the Fremont Temple and 22 other co-hosts temples from around the Bay Area in California. Participants came from all across the United States, Canada, India, Trinidad and New Zealand. Addressing the participants by video-conference, Swami Dayananda Saraswati said, "This get-together is bound to create better bonds and good networking among the people connected to the Hindu Mandirs in America." The conference was a result of over ten months of preparation by a national team and an enthusiastic host team in the Bay Area led by Dr. Umesh Shukla, Dr. Romesh Japra and Rajesh Verma. The program consisting of over 25 sessions and 100 speakers and moderators was meticulously prepared by a national program committee led by Sant Gupta and Govind

Pasumarthi. "I would like to commend HMEC for conducting perhaps the best seminar of its type that I have ever attended," said Robert Arnett, author of IndiaUnveiled. "Speakers provided a wealth of information on a wide array of subjects that were both informative and useful. But what impressed me the most was the spirit of unity and harmony that prevailed throughout the entire conference. Everyone seemed keen on supporting each other's goals, rather than the usual in-fighting and personal agendas found at most conferences. I actually was sad to see the conference come to an end, and know that I left having made several friends for life." Spiritual Guidance A record fifteen sadhus and sadhvis (initiated monks) attended the gathering. The conference was inaugurated by Swamini Svatmavidyananda Ji who effortlessly weaved humor into her speech calling Hindu Dharma the Universal Dharma. She said, "it (Hindu Dharma) is there in every heart, regardless of whether we went to Sunday school, Balavihar, or whatever, it is there."

Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati speaks as Tulsi Gabbard listens with attention

Temples and Temple Administration Mandir issues were at the forefront of the discussion. Swami Mukundananda of J.K. Yog, emphasized the mission of mandirs, "It is important to educate about

During this time the youth discussed what it meant to be Hindu and American and how others see us and our identities. "We have an identity. We are 100% Hindu and 100% American. They are not mutually exclusive." This successful youth session ended with group summaries of what it means to maintain our combined identity spiritual greatness and Vedic knowledge. It's mandir's responsibility to instill pride." HAF's Sunil Shukla charged the temples to be more relevant to the Hindu community and to all communities, whereas, Senthilanathaswami urged the temple trustees to resist contention amongst themselves. A special topic covered legal liabilities that can impact mandir executives and how to ensure that the executives are protected. Fred Stella, representing the Self Realization Fellowship emphasized the virtues of saatvik, organic food and advocated for better treatment of cows, saying, "Mandirs should take the opportunity to have relationships with local organic farms and educate the community on treatment of cows." There was a special emphasis on the role of priests at the conference. Pt. Murali Bhattar, the

HMEC 2012 at the Hindu Mela Parade, on Aug 19

chief priest from Minnesota Hindu Temple, wowed the audience with his techno-savvy presentation and live demo of Vedic chants from his iPad. Pt. Ram Hardowar, Surya Narayan Mandir, NY, stressed that the priests should not be viewed as merely religious leaders but as community leaders. He also announced his temple as the host of the 2013 Hindu Mandir Priest's Conference. Swami Vidyadhishananda, from the Self Enquiry Life Fellowship, presented ten years of research that led to collection and preservation of spectacular, extremely rare pictures of pauranic mandirs. The presentation was unique because it connected the temples to the puranas and ancient Hindu history. Stephan Knapp urged the executives to envision temples' "content architecture" beyond "empty rituals" and cited his newly published book "Spreading Vedic Traditions Through Temples" as a reference handbook for this process. Role of Youth Members from Coalition of Hindu Youth (CHY) and CHERISH

(Fremont Temple Hindu Youth group) played a prominent role in organizing the conference. The youth session's topic was "Igniting the flame within - redefining the Hindu-American youth identity". This session comprised three portions: Q&A with Sadhvi Bhagawati, a break-out discussion session, and a creative hour done by the local youth. During this time the youth discussed what it meant to be Hindu and American and how others see us and our identities. "We have an identity. We are 100% Hindu and 100% American. They are not mutually exclusive." This successful youth session ended with group summaries of what it means to maintain our combined identity, and a presentation of each group's discussion and resolutions. The California youth then showcased the different activities and insights of their mandir youth group. Mihir Meghani of Hindu American Foundation urged the temples to involve the younger generation in the leadership positions in temples and Hindu organizations. Meghani charged the temples to become "centers of activism, not just centers of rituals." Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 9

Senthinataswami from Hinduism Today speaks on Spiritual Temple Leadership

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September 7, 2012

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Hindu Mandirs Conference creates 'better bonds' Cont’d from page 8

Swami Vidyadhishananda drew applause when he told the mandir executives that the, "Youth participation in mandirs should go beyond 'organizing the shoes' - a deeper involvement is needed." Youth representative and graduate student in Sanskrit, Varun Khanna explained how Sanskrit language and Samskriti (culture) are inseparable. Advocacy The Seventh HMEC presented

can Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) spoke about the defamation and denigration of Hindu culture, customs, symbols and images in mass media and art. Speaking of Hindu hate group Dot-busters, Shah said, "We are going to connect the dots, but we're going to connect them in such a way that they spell 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha (those who protect dharma are protected by it)." The very first, born and practicing Hindu, contesting to be member of US Congress, Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, shared her in-

spirational life story and received a standing ovation. Gabbard said that, "I am looking forward to taking the oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita." Community activism is not merely limited to political advocacy.

Resolutions The seventh HMEC unanimously passed the following four resolutions: 1. Expressing condolence for the victims and the families of attack on the Sikh Gurudwara in Wisconsin. 2. Condemning the persecution of Hindus in Northeastern India, especially Assam due to the demographic change in the Assam population resulting from illegal immigration from Bangladesh. 3. Urging the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate the condition of Hindu temples and forcible abduction and conversion of Hindus in Pakistan. 4. Expressing support for the purification of Yamuna River in India - a river considered holy by Hindus that is now infused with sewage.

Publications and Announcement Paramacharya Paliniswami announced availability of the booklet, "Visiting Hindu Temple - A Beginner's Guide" at the conference. HMEC announced publication and availability of "The Hindu Prayer Book - For Patients,

HMEC Initiative Updates Sanjay Mehta, Jt. General Secretary of VHPA, updated the participants on the ongoing HMEC projects and announced upcoming activities. Hindu Women's Network, the Bal Vihar Network and Hindu Mandir Priest's Network all held their

Youth Session at HMEC 2012

an excellent opportunity for Hindu community leaders to present their activities and thoughts advocacy of issues pertinent to the Hindu community. Dr. Rahul Jindal of Walter Reed Hospital spoke of the success of HMEC blood donation drive in which 77 temples participated, whereas, a booth at the conference enrolled bone marrow donors. Other featured Seva (Service) projects included Supporta-Child (SAC), SNSOS and Ekal Vidyalaya. Ajay Shah, representing Ameri-

Caregivers, and Chaplains." This book will fulfill a unique void and help hospital counselors and families in grief. Recognizing the importance of Hindu Chaplains in the community, HAF and HMEC sought to formalize the education of Hindu Chaplains via a newly announced initiative called Hindu American Chaplaincy Program. Sanatana Dharma National Scholarship was announced at the conference. This scholarship will be awarded to students ranging from elementary school to college. The next volume of Samskar book is planned to be released in 2013.

conferences this year. HAVAN, a network of Hindu retirees, announced upcoming conferences at the Cincinnati Hindu Temple and Shakti Mandir of Atlanta. Conclusion The concluding program started with a special candle light tribute to the victims of violence at the Sikh Gurudwara in Wisconsin. Gurudwaras from the Bay Area participated in the concluding program and addressed the audience. The

WASHINGTON: US Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have joined the bipartisan group of Senators in calling for the Justice Department to allow for the collection and tracking of hate crimes committed against Sikh Americans. The letter comes following the August 5th tragedy in which alleged white supremacist Wade Michael Page killed six people and wounded four others at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. "This tragic shooting is the latest hate crime committed against Sikhs in the United States," the Senators wrote to Attorney Gen-

eral Eric Holder. "Until we have a more comprehensive understanding of the number and type of hate crimes committed against Sikhs, our law enforcement agencies will

The Justice Department, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), tracks crimes committed against Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, athe-

‘Until we have a more comprehensive understanding of the number and type of hate crimes committed against Sikhs, our law enforcement agencies will not be able to allocate the appropriate level of personnel and other resources to prevent and respond to these crimes’ not be able to allocate the appropriate level of personnel and other resources to prevent and respond to these crimes."

ists, as well as those with "other religion" or "multiple religions," but does not currently track crimes against Sikhs.

HMEC & VHPA The vision of HMEC is to be the network of Hindu organizations for effective leadership generation to generation in North America. Representatives from Hindu temples meet to deliberate and solve issues collectively. This conference provides a great opportunity to all of us to learn from each other and ultimately grow as one community.

Youth Session at HMEC 2012: Varun Khanna speaks passionately on Sanskrit, Sanskriti & Dharma as Swami Vidyadhishananda Ji, Robert Arnett and Dr. Hiranya Gowda listen closely

cultural program depicting Hindu spiritual dances and a skit on the Hindu life enthralled the audience. Dr. Romesh Japra, convener of the seventh HMEC, thanked the Mandir Executives for their participation. The HMEC concluded with a special invitation by Shree Ashok Singhal, Patron and Past President of VHP Global, to the Mandir Executives to participate in the Kumbha Mela, the largest Hindu gathering to be held in Prayag in 2013. Dr. Nachiketa Tiwari invited everyone for 2014

Senators seek better hate crime monitoring India Post News Service

World Hindu Congress in Delhi.

Approximately 500,000 Sikhs live in the US, including a large Sikh community in New Jersey that has been estimated to include 25,000 members. Led by US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the letter was signed by Senators Lautenberg, Menendez, Scott P. Brown (RMA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Richard J. Durbin (DIL), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Al Franken (D-MN), Chris Coons (DDE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), John F. Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (DCA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America (VHPA), founded in 1970 and incorporated in the state of New York in 1974, is an independent, nonprofit, tax- exempt and volunteer-based charitable organization serving the needs of Hindu community in USA. It aims to build a dynamic and vibrant Hindu society rooted in the eternal values of Dharma and inspired by the lofty ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, i.e. the entire creation is one family.

Study India Program deadline extended India Post News Service

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has announced extension of deadline to September 10, 2012 for receiving applicants for the program called "Study India Program" (SIP) for overseas Indian youth. "Study India Program" is open to Diaspora youth in the age group of 18-26 years. It is open to PIOs/ OCIs from all over the world (NRIs (Non-resident Indian are not eligible to apply). The short term course of 4 weeks (September 25, 2012 to October 23, 2012) is to familiarize themselves with art, culture, history and social and economic development of India.

Desi News Indian villages lack healthcare facilities: Dr Raj RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: "If I were to generalize my observation based on my visits to villages in six districts of Gujarat, I would not be off the mark asserting that India needs creating big awareness about diabetes, hypertension and basic sanitation to combat health care challenges in rural areas," said Dr Raj Patel, President, Young Physicians section of Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO). "Educating people in rural areas about the impact of hypertension, diabetes and dental problems is the first step in addressing the problems posed by these diseases and lack of adequate sanitation. Details on page 12

St Louis Iskcon celebrates Janmastami ASHWIN PATEL

ST LOUIS: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) celebrated Krishna Janmashtami, appearance day of Lord Krishna, at its facility in St Louis with great pomp, devotion and enthusiasm on August 9. A bigger event was planned at the Mahatma Gandhi Center in Ballwin on Saturday, August 18 starting 4pm. Both the events were well attended and successful Janmashtami is deemed most auspicious occasion by Krishna devotees and Viashnavas when the Lord descended about five thousand years ago.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

Sikhs: A distant thunder from Wisconsin Details on page 16

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September 7, 2012

Elderly Sikh beaten up for carrying kirpan India Post News Service

PATERSON, NJ: Avtar Singh (72), a gas station owner and one of the founding members of Glen Rock Gurdwara in New Jersey, was brutally beaten by his neighbor, Edward Koscovski, who owns a

â&#x20AC;&#x153;He grabbed my Kirpan and threw it at his attendant. The attendant removed the Kirpan from the (cover) and hid the cover in a room inside. He also snatched my phone and put it out of sight" car business in Paterson (New Jersey) and shares a common driveway with Avtar Singh. On July 26, Avtar Singh went to Edward Koscovski's shop to request

Bhai Avtar Singh, 72 year old man, founding member of the Glenrock Gurdwara in New Jersey

him to move his truck that was parked blocking the entrance of Avtar Singh's gas station. The request turned into an altercation in which Avtar Singh was brutally assaulted. "I kept on yelling that please let me go but nothing moved Edward from hitting me. When I turned around using all my strength, Edward smashed my

face, broke my teeth and kept punching me in the stomach. He grabbed my Kirpan and threw it at his attendant. The attendant removed the Kirpan from the (cover) and hid the cover in a room inside. He also snatched my phone and put it out of sight" said Avtar Singh, who suffered injuries to his face and stomach.

Upon arrival at the scene, the police arrested the 72 year old Avtar Singh and charged him with possession of a weapon (Kirpan). He was questioned before anyone attended to his injuries and then taken to hospital and was handcuffed to the hospital bed during his stay there. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 13

Details on page 14

Pak community celebrates I-Day

Navreet Kaur is delegate at Democratic Convention SURENDRA ULLAL

Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Celebration of Pakistan's official Independence Day on Sunday August 14 was postponed to Saturday, Aug 25 due to Ramadan. It was the 24th annual Parade which was also dubbed as Taste of Pakistan festival. The parade stepped off from Devon and Damen Saturday 12:30 noon, and ended at 2 pm. Weather God smiled on the Parade participants who flocked in large numbers. The streets of Devon were crowded with families screaming in pride "Pakistan Zindabad!" and "Happy Independence Day!" Men, women, and children all were dressed in their traditional white outfits with a green shawl. Details on page 15

Navreet Kaur

CHICAGO: The forthcoming Presidential election in USA appears to be heading for a strong showdown as incumbent Barack Obama is enjoying a slight lead over his Republican rival Mitt Romney. Indian American community is agog with pulls and support from both the camps and it is in this context it is interesting to note a Sikh woman Navreet Kaur Heneghan will be a delegate to the Democratic Convention on September 6 at Charlotte in North Carolina. Navreet will be representing Dupage County Democrats Dist. She was elected during the March elections as a delegate for the Convention. She is a lawyer by Profession and went to Kent Law College in Chicago for her degree.

She has three beautiful children. Her husband Chris Heneghan is City Inspector. Music is her passion. She played violin all her life.

Navreet will be representing Dupage County Democrats Dist. She was elected during the March elections as a delegate for the Convention She was selected to be on Junior Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Navreet is daughter of community activists Thakar Basati and Rajinder Kaur Basati.

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India Post 11

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Eid celebration at Indian Consulate

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Prominent members of the Indian American community gathered at the Consulate General of India office in New York City to greet each other on the occasion of Eid, which is celebrated all over the world as an auspicious day after the month of fasting - a ritual meant for purification of the soul, developing self control and taking people closer to God. With these festivities, the Consulate General of India in New York continued its tradition of celebrating the diversity of Indian culture. Supported by Juned Qazi, a promising young entrepreneur and New York based community leader, the celebration reflected a rare combination of social and cultural integration. An added attraction of the evening was the enchanting Ghazal singing by Sudhir Narayan, a well known singer of Agra Gharana. Qazi recently came to limelight af-

ter he hosted a reception in New Jersey in honor of Digvijay Singh, a spokesman of India's ruling Congress Party and a former chief minister of the state of Madhya Pradesh. "Eid is a festival of friendship, fun and

currently prevailed in the world, the Consul-General hoped that the people of Indian Diaspora would work towards strengthening harmony and peace in the world. He introduced singer Sudhir Narayan as a talented artist whose singing represented

With these festivities, the Consulate General of India in New York continued its tradition of celebrating the diversity of Indian culture. Supported by Juned Qazi, a promising young entrepreneur and New York based community leader, the celebration reflected a rare combination of social and cultural integration peace. People belonging to diverse faith and religions should ignore their differences and greet each other with love and happiness", commented Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, Consul-General of India in New York. Regretting that an atmosphere of suspicion

love and friendship among people and lived to the true message of peace and harmony. Trained under the able guidance of Late Ustad Shabbir Ahmed Khan of Agra Gharana, Sudhir Narayan entertained the audience with songs that celebrated beauty,

love, luster, happiness and good times. He sang a wide range of traditional and folk songs that made the evening even more enjoyable. Successfully engaging his audience in a series of romantic songs Narayan described the gestures of lovers and their beloved. He also sang poems of many popular traditions, such as, Amir Khusroo, Sufi and folk traditions. Prominent Indian American professionals and business owners of tri-state area, who belonged to different faiths of India, attended the event. Dr. Anita Soni, a singer of high caliber, also recited poems and ghazals on the occasion. Nazma Sultana, a leading community leader and executive committee member of Indian National Overseas Congress, congratulated Qazi for his efforts to create friendship and harmony in the community. She said that time had come to pass on the leadership to the youth led by Juned Qazi. Her feelings were echoed by many.

INOC adopts a new constitution India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The Executive Committee of the new team of Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC) adopted a new constitution on its August 26 meeting held at Shahi Durbar at Floral Pak, New York.

nization in a democratic and responsive manner," he added. A copy of the draft constitution was presented to Mr. Oscar Fernandes at the inaugural meeting in New York on 25 July and an endorsement of it by Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman of Foreign Affairs

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finally, we have a structure and a transparent framework to conduct the business of the organization in a democratic and responsive manner," he added "It is indeed a historic day for the Indian National Overseas Congress and its faithful followers in US" said George Abraham, President of INOC (I). "We have been waiting for this day for quite a long time. Finally, we have a structure and a transparent framework to conduct the business of the orga-

Department of AICC has been received by George Abraham, the President. . Mr. Harbachan Singh presented a copy of the constitution to the President and briefed the meeting on the highlights of the document. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 13

Indian National Overseas Congress (I), USA executive committee after adopting new constitution

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Indian villages lack healthcare facilities: Dr Raj

Dr Raj meets villagers and Sevak coordinator- Left to Right: Bahadursinh Dangar (Coordinator West Zone) Pramod Solanki (Sevak-Bhadrod village), Dr. Raj Patel and Sr Dangar

RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: "If I were to generalize my observation based on my visits to villages in six districts of

in rural areas," said Dr Raj Patel, President, Young Physicians section of Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO). "Educating people in rural areas about the impact of hyperten-

State of affairs at a medical dispensary

Gujarat, I would not be off the mark asserting that India needs creating big awareness about diabetes, hypertension and basic sanitation to combat health care challenges

sion, diabetes and dental problems is the first step in addressing the problems posed by these diseases and lack of adequate sanitation. The next step would be to provide

Bal Mandir- a rudimentary facility for children

facility for primary care and creation of mechanism for regular supply of drugs. It was not uncommon for villagers to trek miles to get even primary health care and compounding this was the

"Educating people in rural areas about the impact of hypertension, diabetes and dental problems is the first step in addressing the problems posed by these diseases and lack of adequate sanitation. The next step would be to provide facility for primary care and creation of mechanism for regular supply of drugsâ&#x20AC;? Herculean task of getting medicine," he said. Dr Raj had been on the second lap of his visit to Gujarat last month as part of SEVAK project

Sevak taking vital signs of a patient

Lack of sewage facilities

initiated by the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). He met a number of health care professionals, government officers, NGO workers and villagers. He had first hand feel

bagged number of recognitions and awards besides involving himself with number of extra curricular activities besides the AAPI - SEVAK project. "Many villagers whom I met

SEVAK vaccinating a villager

about the health care needs of the people as well as absence of adequate health care facilities in villages. Dr Raj is only 27 and has

and had examined were not aware that they suffered from hypertension or diabetes.

A medical clinic, (right) A medical store

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 13

September 7, 2012

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Indian villages lack healthcare facilities: Dr Raj Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 12

Most would not realize that they badly needed a network of reasonably good sanitation. Many villages did not have primary health care center and if there was one, it would not have qualified health care personnel all the time. The medical stores dispensing medicines were far and few and probably none of them dispensed medicine 24 hours," he said. The lack of organized delivery of health care and poor availability of preventive health care would not sum up the entire problem. It would be a blessing if a village is assured of clean drinking water. The cooking media and kitchen also left much to be desired. "I have come across scores of residences where the use of traditional Chula is common for cooking. This generated lot of smoke and that could account for ailments associated with lungs. I strongly feel that the villagers should be educated switch to portable Chula," Raj said. It is not that the government is totally inactive or neglecting to address the healthcare needs of the villages. It does organized immunization drive and the people take advantage of it when-

ever and wherever it is available. "Sadly however, immunization though available, does not cover all those who need it," Raj said. Another problem is not only for the people in villages but even for those in cities. There are medical clinics and hospitals in towns and cities, and people from distant villages do go there when the problem gets severe. "But these hospitals are crowded and provide only acute care.

sonnel who would primary address three basic problems that rural people face: 1) Creating awareness about the disease and preventive measures needed to meet it 2) Creation of primacy health care centers which could be even sort of mobile clinics going from villages to villages 3) Ensuring adequate supply of drugs and impressing upon the patients their regular use.

The lack of organized delivery of health care and poor availability of preventive health care would not sum up the entire problem. It would be a blessing if a village is assured of clean drinking water These facilities are not well staffed or adequately financed or even well equipped for vision screening or preventive care. Life style modification education is not available. Indian villagers work hard in the farms and lose wages when they travel to another town for care. They need local preventive health care and screening for common diseases such as diabetes and hypertension," he observed. Dr Raj strongly advocated creation of a pool of medical per-

This along with addressing the need for better sanitationtoilets, smoke free kitchens, cleaner roads, etc. would go a long way in creating basic frame work for healthier villages. Raj said that he has amassed a great deal of data and would have one more follow up visit coming December to Gujarat. He would like meeting NGOs and government officials and share his findings with them to devise measures for improvements. Granted that the government

INOC adopts a new constitution Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 11

Mr. Shudh Prakash Singh, senior Vice-President, moving the motion for a vote, lauded the efforts of the constitutional committee headed by Mr. Harbachan Singh for the hard work and dedication that produced a very comprehensive document that will pave the way for structured development and growth in the days ahead. Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, a senior leader and Executive Committee member, seconded the motion and urged everyone to look forward and create a viable and strong organization. Mr. Phuman Singh (EC Member), Mr. Kalathil Varghese (EC Member and Kerala Chapter President), Mr. Kawal Sra (Treasurer) and Mr. Karamjit Dhaliwal (EC Member) also spoke positively on the occasion and noted the significance of what has been accomplished on this day. Mr. Chakot Radhakrishnan, Vice-President sent in a message apologizing for his absence while supporting the constitution and placing his vote fully in the 'Yes' column.

Mr. Mahesh Saladi (President, Andhra Pradesh Chapter), Mr. Juned Qazi (Madhya Pradesh Chapter), Mr. Zinda Singh (New Delhi Chapter), Mr. Prasad Khambhapaty (chairman, PR Committee), Mr. Rajender Dichpally (former Youth President), Ms Malini Shah (President-Diamond Council) were observers at the historic meeting and lauded the ef-

of conduct of their respective business are also described. Membership enrollment rules and procedures are included and there are provisions for weighted voting. Annual audit reports shall be required to be submitted to the Annual General Meeting. For a more effective and efficient administration and communication, Chapters would be cre-

The Constitution lays down the roles and terms of the Board of Trustees, the National Council and the Board of Directors and the positions held are subject to term limits as described forts of the new committee for enacting the constitution so promptly and pledged their support. The Constitution lays down the roles and terms of the Board of Trustees, the National Council and the Board of Directors and the positions held are subject to term limits as described. Modalities of the meetings, frequency and rules

ated at state levels in the USA on the basis of states in India. Chapters would also be established on the basis of important topics or fields such as, the youth wing, the women's wing and commerce and trade council. Each Chapter would be headed by a Chapter President and each Chapter would be regulated by an Agreement with the National Council.

Chula or a kitchen oven with poor ventilation.

at the local and even at Federal level lacks resources and also a will to address these problems by itself, it is up to NGOs and private parties to step in and col-

laborate with the government in creating infra-structure for healthier India since India still lives in villages. I will study the problem in this light," he said.

Elderly Sikh beaten up for carrying kirpan

Site where the incident took place in Paterson, New Jersey Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 10

He was then taken to the police station and jailed till his family members filed his bail application. The Kirpan is one of the five essentials of Sikh faith that is carried by initiated Sikhs at all times. United Sikhs has contacted the Civil Rights Division and the Community Relations Service Division in the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the State of New Jersey Attorney

General's office for investigation and is following up on Avtar Singh's case. It will also follow up with the Paterson police regarding the questionable behavior of the police officer who arrested Avtar Singh. Although this incident occurred prior to the Wisconsin tragedy, it reinforces the lack of cultural sensitivity training within law enforcement agencies, especially regarding the Sikh articles of faith.

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St Louis Iskcon celebrates Janmastami ASHWIN PATEL

Iskcon Temple in St Louis

meticulous offerings of food, flowers and auspicious elements with very specific glorification prayers to the previous spiritual masters and the Lord. Each worship is invariably interlaced with congregational chanting of the Holy Name which produces transcendental

Janmashtami Puja

at the Mahatma Gandhi Center in Ballwin on Saturday, August 18 starting 4pm. Both the events were well attended and successful Janmashtami is deemed most auspicious occasion by Krishna devotees and Viashnavas when the Lord descended about five thousand years ago to get rid of evil, protect his devotees and re-establish the religious system. Krishna, which means all attractive, is the most opulent Supreme Person who excels in possession of beauty, strength, intelligence, fame, riches and renunciation. The center in St. Louis is located at 3926 Lindell Boulevard. The building, over 100 years old, is an excellent facility which has humbly served as home for the temple deities and is a fantastic place for regular worship. The daily schedule includes multiple and

vibrations that help purify our hearts and remind us of the Holy presence in ourselves. Every Sunday evening the temple hosts the signature Krishna-Fest program which is

Decorated idols

free and open to everyone. The event starts at 4:30 pm with deity worship and ecstatic chanting of the Holy Name in the background. Accompanied with musical instruments like kartalas and mrdanga, the earnest calling of the devotees to their Lord reaches a crescendo

The center regularly makes arrangements for visitors who offer expert guidance on wide-ranging topics like work-life balances, conflict resolution, fear and anger management, positive relationships, group meditation etc immersing everyone in the nectar of sound vibration. Dancing in jubilation to these transcendental musical notes, one is guaranteed elevation to the natural spiritual position, becoming oblivious of

Arati

material existence. This unique way of engaging all senses into the service of Lord is very typical of ISKCON's every event. The acoustic feast is then succeeded by an hour long philosophical discourse from ancient and timeless Vedic scriptures such

Bhakti Yoga Club events at Washington University giving an opportunity and accessibility to the aspiring intellects to explore Vedic wisdom and culture. In addition, there are weekly Bhakti-Vriksha programs in various homes which help facilitate a

Janmashtami Puja

as the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. The Saint Louis ISKCON center participates in community outreach programs and is a member of St. Louis interfaith organization. It hosts weekly

systematic and structured study of scriptures while establishing deep friendships along the way. On Sunday evenings, the Krishna-Balaram school offers classes to youth and children, assisting to cultivate wholesome character and conduct in the next generation. The center regularly makes arrangements for visitors who offer expert guidance on wideranging topics like work-life balances, conflict resolution, fear and anger management, positive relationships, group meditation etc. To continue to propagate this essential divine mission with a 100 year old building, the temple management team has initiated a series of capital renovation projects to maintain and improve its facilities and is actively seeking generous sponsors.

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Jain Festival of Peace & Forgiveness held in NJ India Post News Service

NEW JERSEY: Paryushan is an occasion for inner transformation; a priceless opportunity to set aside one's attachments and aversions, to behold the virtue of forgiveness in one's heart and to make rapid advances on the path of liberation. The first-ever Paryushan Parva Celebration (Festival of Peace and Forgiveness) in America with the well known spiri-

To take eight days off work; to spend eight days away from home; to immerse oneself in eight days of spiritual pursuit - is unthinkable in the United States unless it was propelled by an intense yearning for liberation and divine inspiration. In an atmosphere conducive to spiritual upliftment, seekers from all across US & Canada gathered in New Jersey, revelled with fervour and participated enthusiastically in the cel-

'Shant Sudharas' offers unique teachings on the twelve contemplations including the impermanence of the material world and aims to instil the virtues of detachment and dispassion tual master Gurudev Shri Rakeshbhai Jhaveri took place in New Jersey between August 14 and 22. Over 800 aspirants celebrated the full 8-day Jain festival of peace and forgiveness with Gurudev Shri Rakeshbhai Jhaveri who had come specially from India for this Festival of Forgiveness.

Madhu Patel bereaved

ebration and festivities. Nearly half the participants were young men and women, under the age of forty. Many observed an 8-day fast while others restricting to eating only once or twice a day. The festivities began every morning with a glorious Snatra Puja (a celebration of the birth of Tirthankar Bhagwan). Soul-stir-

ring devotional singing brought tears in the eyes of the listeners, filled their hearts with emotion, enhanced their feeling of surrender and drew them closer to the Divine. Each day, aspirants gathered eagerly to listen to the inspirational, motivational, hearttouching and spiritually enriching discourses by Pujyashri Gurudev. One evening, residents of US presented a poignant drama based on the life of 'Dhanna Shalibhadra' - an inspiring saga of renunciation and salvation. The 8-day celebration culminated in Samvatsari - an

occasion of intense practice of atonement and forgiveness leading to immense internal purification. On this auspicious day, people seek forgiveness from everyone they may have hurt knowingly or unknowingly by thoughts, words or actions, by saying "Michhami Dukkadam". Based on Upadhyay Shri Vinayvijayji Maharaj's splendid composition, 'Shant Sudharas', Pujyashri Gurudev expounded on the four virtues - Maitri (Amity), Pramod (Appreciation), Karuna (Compassion) and Madhyasthata

(Equanimity) - and presented valuable lessons on how to apply them when interacting with others to create loving relationships. 'Shant Sudharas' offers unique teachings on the twelve contemplations including the impermanence of the material world and aims to instil the virtues of detachment and dispassion. Revealing the true nature of material world and exposing its worthlessness and hollowness, giving spiritual seekers valuable guidance to seek real and permanent soul bliss within themselves.

Pak community celebrates Independence Day

Jashubhai O Patel

CHICAGO: Madhu Patel, founding president of NRI Press Club in Chicago lost his elder brother Jashubhai O Patel, 75, here after a prolonged bout of illness. Jashubhai, a locomotive engineer from Gujarat in India had migrated to this country in the seventies. He had an amiable character with lot of friends and connections. He was involved in socioreligious activities and organizations and played an important role in founding of Swaminarayan Temple in Wheeling, a north west suburb of Chicago. He will be sorely missed by many friends and family members. Agnisanskar/Funeral services were held on Saturday August 25 at Buhemian National Cemetery (Foster at Pulaski) Chicago, attended by hundreds of mourning family members, relatives and friends.

Illinois Secretary of State addressing the gathering. Asian Media USA

outfits with a green shawl. Among the first line of people to walk in the parade were Grand Marshall Akhter Ali (Business leader and community activist) Chief Guest Congresswoman 9th Dist Jan Schakowsky, Guest of

Crowd at Pakistan Day Parade

Pakistani American Judge Pamela Leeming, First elected Arab American Judge Bill Haddad, MWRD Commissioners Frank Avila, Mariyana Spropolous, Chicago Park dist Comm Rouhy Shalabi, City of Chicago Human

The program on stage began with prayer, the American national anthem and then the Pakistan national anthem. After the national anthems ceremony the floats slowly sailed thru Honor: IL Sec. of State Jesse White, Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, Appelete Court Judge Jesse Reyes, First elected

Relations Comm Mona Noreaga, Parade Chairman Raja Yaqub. Twenty colorful floats rolled down the streets of Devon Ave

while children and youth performed dances. The program on stage began with prayer, the American national anthem and then the Pakistan national anthem. After the national anthems ceremony the floats slowly sailed thru. Raja M. Yaqub Chairperson for Independence Day Parade said that despite corrupt politicians and military dictators having ruled Pakistan, we must have hopes and will never be disheartened. "Pakistan stands for unity and love of humanity, pluralism, and equality. Pakistan is a nation of people who resolutely persevere, no matter what obstacles come in the way," he said. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 18

16 India Post

Community/California

September 7, 2012

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Sikhs: A distant thunder from Wisconsin RAS SIDDIQUI

n August 10th this scribe took the opportunity to attend a vigil in Sacramento at the footsteps of the California State Capitol building to remember the Sikh victims of a recent shooting in Wisconsin. Only the brave had ventured out that day as the mercury had already touched 105 degrees a few hours earlier than the 7:30 start time. But several hundred were not deterred. Sikhs in their traditional attire, many with long beards and turbans, along with the colorful clothes of the women and children congregated to pay their respects to the victims gunned down at a Gurudwara (Sikh Temple/Place of worship) in Oak Creek near Milwaukee.

From the oldest members of the community to young children, they were there to both ask questions and to seek answers since this is not the first time that Sikhs have been targeted in post 9/11 America. And the question always remains on everyone's mind each time something happens to Sikhs: Was this a case of mistaken identity? Or in other words was the person or persons doing the shooting actually wanting to target Muslims and made a mistake? And if the answer to that is "Yes", is that still any excuse? Like the rest of America, SikhAmericans, many with origins in the state of Punjab in India were horrified at what they saw on their

TV screens on 9/11/2001. Soon after, a tall individual with brown skin and wearing something resembling a turban on his head was identified as the man behind the worst attack that the US has had to face since Pearl Harbor. Understandably, Americans of all colors, races, ethnicities and origins were mad as hell and they vented their anger at anyone that remotely resembled their new en-

since 9/11 and Osama is dead. So why are the Sikhs still suffering for something they had no part in? That was one question amongst others that was on the minds of the people who attended this vigil in Sacramento and many others like it all over North America. And they were not just the people wearing turbans and the traditional Punjabi Shalwar Kameez. Many were in T-shirts, shorts and base-

It has now been over a decade since 9/11 and Osama is dead. So why are the Sikhs still suffering for something they had no part in? That was one question amongst others that was on the minds of the people emy. And the Sikhs unfortunately fit that description because they are brown skinned, often tall and are required by their religious tradition to wear a turban, to conceal their long uncut hair within it. It has now been over a decade

ball caps and people of many races and religions. South-Asians (Indians, Pakistanis along with others) especially Sikhs who have now made the whole world their home were in majority here. Sikhs have been in California for over a century now. Their history has been one of struggle and success here. Their Diaspora expanded everywhere since the partition of British India in the year 1947 during which the Punjab was divided and suffered the most violence. They are often in a minority wherever they live outside Indian Punjab. They look different and stand out as instructed by their Gurus due to their turbans. Otherwise like over 1/3rds of the over 6 billion people on this planet they have brown skin! Local attorney and activist Amar Shergill from the Sikh American Political Action Committee was addressing the audience when this scribe arrived. He reminded everyone that this kind of violence can happen to any religious group. It could be a de-

ranged, evil unbalanced person in our own community. He said that some of his own relatives lived in Wisconsin and were late that day to the temple where the shooting occurred. He said that they were turned back by law enforcement from entering the Gurudwara so they asked some in the neighborhood what was going on. The neighbor said that "There was a shooting at the mosque." "Imagine. That is a neighbor from the community who thinks that they live next to a mosque! " He said that the problem is not unique to temples, mosques, mandirs or churches and it highlights the challenges for the community. "We know that ignorance leads to violence, and we have to do a better job at battling that ignorance." He said that last year we had gathered here to highlight the murder of two Sikh grandfathers in nearby Elk Grove and that attack still remains unsolved. He said that in the Sacramento area, the Sikh community has done a lot of outreach work since then, but it is still not enough. "As long as children are being bullied, it is not enough. As long as elders are being attacked, it is not enough. As lives are being lost, it is not enough." He said that we all still need to do a better job representing ourselves and not just Sikhs but South-Asians. "Do your neighbors know who you are?" He said that the solution is within our reach and starting tomorrow you should introduce yourselves to your neighbors to dispel ignorance about our community. He also stressed the need for participation in the American political process. "Do something!" "Make a difference. Stop ignorance. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 18

September 7, 2012

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115th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi JS BEDI

Rajinder Ranu

he Battle of Saragarhi was fought during the Tirah Campaign on September 12, 1897 between twenty-one Sikhs of the 4th Battalion (then 36th Sikhs) of the Sikh Regiment of British India, defending an army post, and 15 to 20 thousand Afghan and Orakzai tribesmen in a last stand. The battle occurred in the NorthWest Frontier Province, now a part of Pakistan and located in the wild Pakistan -Afghanistan border. The contingent of the twentyone Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh. They all chose to fight to the death. Sikh military personnel and Sikh civilians commemorate the battle every year on 12 September, as Saragarhi Day. Saragarhi is a small village in the border district of Kohat, situated on the Samana Range, Pakistan. In August 1897, five companies of the 36th Sikhs under Lt. Col. John Haughton were sent to the North West Frontier Providence, stationed at Samana Hills, Kurag, Sangar, Sahtop Dhar and Saragarhi. Pashtuns attacked British personnel from time to time. Thus a series of forts, originally constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, were consolidated. Two of the forts were Fort Lockhart, and Fort Gulistan situated a few miles apart. Due to the forts not being visible to each other, Saragarhi was created midway, as a communication post. The Saragarhi post, situated on a rocky ridge, consisted of a small block house with loop-holed ramparts and a signaling tower. A general uprising by the Afghans began there in 1897, and from 27 August-11 September, many efforts by Pashtuns to capture the Forts were thwarted by 36th Sikh regiment. On September 12, 1897, 15 to 20,000 Pashtuns attacked the signaling post at Saragarhi, so that communication would be lost be-

The remains of Saragarhi Fort after the battle.

tween the two forts. Details of the Battle of Saraghari are considered fairly accurate, due to Signalman Gurmukh Singh signaling events to Fort Lockhart as they occurred. Around 9.00am, around 15 to 20,000 Afghans reached the signaling post at Saragarhi. Signalman Gurmukh Singh signals to Col. Haughton in Fort Lockhart, that they are under attack. Colonel Haughton states he cannot send help to Saragarhi. The soldiers decide to fight to the last to prevent the enemy reaching the forts. Bhagwan Singh is the first killed and Lal Singh is seriously wounded.

to 20,000 Pashtuns attacking Saraghari. The leaders of the Afghan forces reportedly make promises to the soldiers to entice them to surrender. Reportedly two determined attempts are made to rush the open gate, but are unsuccessful. In an act of outstanding bravery, Ishar Singh orders his men to fall back into the inner layer, whilst he remains to fight. However, this is breached and all but one of the defending soldiers are killed, along with many of the Pashtuns. Signalman Gurmukh Singh, who communicated the battle with Col. Haughton, was the last Sikh defender. He communicates his last

A memorial to the martyrs erected by the British

about 180 killed and many more wounded during the battle against the 21 Sikh soldiers, but some 800 to 900 bodies are said to have been seen around the ruined post when the relief party arrived. All the 21 Sikhs were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award of that time, which an Indian soldier could receive by the hands of the British crown. The names of the 21 recipients of the gallantry award are: Havildar Ishar Singh (regimental number 165); Naik Lal Singh (332) Lance Naik Chanda Singh (546); Sepoy Sundar Singh (1321); Sepoy Ram Singh (287); Sepoy Uttar Singh (492); Sepoy Sahib Singh (182) Sepoy Hira Singh (359); Sepoy

Dr Rajinder Singh is the grandson of Sepoy Nand Singh. According to him Hav Ishar Singh's grandson is apparently a Nihang Singh living in the Patiala area. Apart from that little or nothing is known about other descendants Soldiers of the 36th Sikhs stand on the wall of the ruined building of Saragarhi which was burnt by Pathan tribesmen. The Pathans poured into the breach made by a few men dislodging stones causing the wall to collapse. The collapsed corner can be seen on the left of the picture.

Soldiers Lal Singh and Jiwa Singh reportedly carry the dead body of Bhagwan Singh back to the inner layer of the post. The battle rages fiercely and despite ferocious resistance by the Sikhs, the enemy break a portion of the wall of the picket. Colonel Haughton signals that he has estimated between 15,000

message to Haughtonâ&#x20AC;Ś "This is my last signal. Picking up gun to fight." He is said to have killed over 20 Afghans. As he lay dying he was said to have yelled the Sikh war cry "Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal" repeatedly. This information came from Afghan sources. The Afghans later claimed

Daya Singh (687); Sepoy Jivan Singh (760); Sepoy Bhola Singh (791); Sepoy Narayan Singh (834); Sepoy Gurmukh Singh (814); Sepoy Jivan Singh (871); Sepoy Gurmukh Singh (1733); Sepoy Ram Singh (163); Sepoy Bhagwan Singh (1257); Sepoy Bhagwan Singh (1265); Sepoy Buta Singh (1556); Sepoy Jivan Singh (1651); Sepoy Nand Singh (1221). The battle has been compared to the Battle of Thermopylae, where a small Greek force faced a

large Persian army of Xerxes (480 BC). It is important to note that during the Battle of Saragarhi, the British did not manage to get a relief unit there until after the 21 had fought to their deaths. At Thermopylae too, the 300 Spartans also stayed after their lines had been breached, to fight to their deaths. Saragarhi, in comparison is a greater feat of bravery considering the odds - one Sikh to over a thousand tribals. Unfortunately, human memory is short and today nothing is known about their descendants, an outright disgrace. Tracing their descendants should not be difficult as113 years is but a flash of time where history is concerned. Surely there must be a home in the state of Punjab in India where a Sikh family proudly displays a picture of their Great-Great Grandfather Havaldar Ishar Singh. However India Post was able to reach Dr Rajinder Singh Ranu, Prof. Plant Pathology at Colorado State University. Dr Rajinder Singh is the grandson of Sepoy Nand Singh. According to him Hav Ishar Singh's grandson is apparently a Nihang Singh living in the Patiala area. Apart from that little or nothing is known about other descendants. The Sikhs have not forgotten. Commemorative gurudwaras (Sikh Temples) were constructed in the cities of Amritsar, Ferozpur and Saragarhi where services are held every year on Sept 12. Every year the Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army organizes a memorial service to remember these fallen heroes. Known as Saragarhi Day, the Indian Army pays solemn tribute to the twenty one lonely heroes who made the supreme sacrifice on that wind swept outpost 115 years ago. The pictures are original taken back then after the relief forces arrived. The memorial still exists.

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September 7, 2012

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Sikhs: A distant thunder from Wisconsin Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 16

Stop violence." He ended his speech with: "May God bless us all and may God Bless the United States of America." The next speaker Harjit Kaur Grewal from the Sikh Coalition spoke her heart out and brought some to tears. She said that she has already attended too many vigils like this one, including one for her own brother who was shot to death while delivering a pizza in the town of Vallejo. She spoke out against the hate and violence which is consuming the lives of our brothers and sisters. She added that we continue to pray that their souls rest in peace and that for her this comes with added responsibility. "I was reminded of this responsibility earlier this week." She said that she was praying at the local Gurudwara and a little Sikh girl came up to her and said the she has seen her (Harjit) do her work (mourning) and that when she grows up will she have to do the same kind of work? She added that the work we need is to create awareness of religious tolerance so that our brothers and sisters aren't shot. And she hoped that little girl that came up to her would not have to do this when she grew up. She said that if the truth be told we have failed that little girl. She added that we cannot afford to be inactive. We can write articles and talk to our neighbors (amongst other things) to spread awareness and counter hate. We can explain what we are all about. "You can be the next person who stops discrimination," she said. "At school you can stand up to those who are bullies." "The next time a mosque is burned down, a synagogue is vandalized or a Sikh is attacked, we should stand together." A number of other speakers used the opportunity to speak their minds but space constraints limit this report. Muslim civil

rights activist Basim Elkarra said since 9/11 the Sikh community has borne the brunt of hate crimes. Parabhjeet Kaur Dhanda thanked everyone for taking the time out to come here today. She said that it was important that we show unity in times of distress. "Sikhism is a humanitarian religion which believes in one God and peace for all," she added. "It is important that we take a stand against hate and violence together. Not as a separate community but as one strong community." She said that we all call America our home and want the best for this country. Linda Ng of the OCA organization also made a strong speech against hate crimes. "Any attack on the Sikh community is an attack on America," she said. She asked for a fund to be established to help the families

She said that she has already attended too many vigils like this one, including one for her own brother who was shot to death of this hate crime in Wisconsin. Darshan Mundy from the Sacramento Sikh Temple added his words of wisdom on this solemn occasion. In conclusion there is plenty of blame that can go around for this sad incident and we can start with Osama Bin Laden as the main culprit. But we now need to look further and deeper. Nobody can really always protect us from a person with mental problems and a gun. But the targeting and victimization of the Sikh community in particular should be a matter of concern for all Americans. We all need to help to stop violence or the distant thunder like this one from Wisconsin will put more lives in jeopardy.

Ricky Gill speaks at GOP Convention India Post News Service

LODI, CA: Congressional candidate Ricky Gill delivered the following remarks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida: "My name is Ricky Gill, and I am humbled to stand before you today as a Republican nominee for Congress - and a proud son of California's San Joaquin Valley. "My parents immigrated to the Valley from India and Africa with only their love for each other, a strong work ethic, and the enduring desire to pursue their American Dream. "We all work hard in the Valley, and we're proud to live there. But today we face crippling unemployment and foreclosureseven the bankruptcy of Stockton, our larg-

est city. Young people leave - or drop out of school to help their families make ends meet. Our friends and neighbors are suffering. "But the Valley is a cautionary tale of failed policies, not false ambitions. No one in this country dreams of dependency; no one hopes for mediocrity. We are ready again to seize the measure of our ambitions - not because the government says we can, but because we believe we can. 'We need a new generation of leadership to chart the path - to fight for policies that create jobs, rather than red tape - and to help small businesses succeed, rather than helping green energy companies fail. 'Like you, we Valley folks are tough, independent, and faithful - and we are ready to rebuild our American Dream.'

AB1964 passes California Senate

India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: AB1964, the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, was approved on August 27 by an overwhelming 32 to 4 vote in the California Senate. The bill now moves back to the California Assembly for a concurrence vote and the Governor's desk during the next month. If enacted, the bill will promote equal

employment opportunity for all Californians, regardless of religion, and prevent job discrimination against Sikhs and other religious minorities. The Sikh Coalition said it is grateful to the California Sikh community, multiple organizational partners, and numerous California legislators, especially Assembly Member Mariko Yamada and her staff, for moving this bill forward.

Pak community celebrates Independence Day

Jamba Juice and Money Dart floats Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 15

Consul General of Pakistan, St Louis USAAzfar Malik and Zaheer Pervaiz Khan, Consul General of Pakistan, Chicago, had their mes-

sages read out to the public. The upshot of the message was that Pakistani community members must continue to improve Pakistan's image as truly modern, dynamic, progressive

and democratic Islamic state that is open to have close friendly relations with all nations of the world on the basis of equality, sovereign integrity, principles of justice and mutual respect for

each other. Governor Pat Quinn, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Senator Mark Kirk couldn't make it to the celebration; however they sent letters to congratulate the Pakistani community.

About 2,000 people attended the Mela. Delicious assortment of Pakistani food was served. Also present were many different varieties of stalls of shops to browse from.

Horoscope

September 7, 2012

India Post 19

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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar

SEPTEMBER 07TH - SEPTEMBER 13TH (November 23 to December 22)

(March 21 to April 20)

xpect some more favorable developments in career this week. Strong Jupiter in second will make you lucky in all money matters so do not hesitate and take your chances. You may take family to a nice place for dinner. Some of you may purchase another new vehicle. Mind will be full of some bright ideas and you will work on them.

ome one at work will try to make things little difficult but will not succeed. People involved in research and developing some product will see final breakthrough. You may have some special prayers done at your place this weekend. Some one in the family will be getting ready to move away for a good purpose.

(April 21 to May 20)

(December 22 to January 19)

ind will be slight restless but you will quickly regain controls over your emotions. Money wise you will continue to be comfortable. Trading in stocks will be profitable this week. It will be another favorable week for people working as brokers. Spouse may not keep well and need to visit the physician for check up.

ou will definitely lay your hands on some real easy money this week. Any changes at work this week will benefit you in terms of money as well as stress level. You will plan a short trip with children to a real nice place. You may meet an interesting personality during the course of a business trip this week. (January 20 to February 18)

(May 21 to June 20)

ou will spend an evening with some important and famous people. There will be noticeable progress in ongoing overseas projects. Some of you will be getting ready to move to another place with lots of greenery around. Boss will discuss an important project and organize the right team to work with you. bank balance will grow.

trong Venus and Moon in second is a sure sign of some easy money. Keep trying your hands at lottery. Some of you will be seriously looking for a big change in career and make few phone calls and send out emails. Do not be double minded and have no doubts as what your intuitions tells you is correct. Success is only couple weeks away.

(February 19 to March 20)

(June 21 to July 22)

ou will gain an edge over your opponents. Planets are very favor able to make a switch in career. New place will be close to home and less stressful. You are going to enjoy an evening with close family and friends. Loan application will finally get approved with minor changes in terms. Keep trying your hands at lottery.

t will not be any less than some kind of financial jackpot. Opportunity will come on a silver platter and you will quickly jump onto it. Spouse will completely support your ideas and plans. Do not sign any contract in a hurry and read the fine lines or end up getting too many junk mails. You will enjoy an evening with close friends.

(July 23 to August 22)

ou are definitely on the rolls. Confidence level will be at the peak. Strong Sun in the first will help you achieve goals without any difficulty. Some of you will start looking for better opportunity and may try even distant places or out of state. A clear victory possible in ongoing legal matter. You will be surrounded by admirers at the party.

(August 23 to September 22)

ome one at work may try to put blame on you for things you never did or were not involved in. It will be better to be bold and face things rather than dodging the issue. Expenses will not leave you alone and you may need to replace some electric items in the house. You may call a trustworthy person and seek his advice.

(September 23 to October 22)

oos will be on your side and pay attention to your request. Some of you may start going for walk or join a club to improve health. Certainly no harm in enjoying the company of a new associate but maintain some distance. People in business will sign a big contract with new partners. There will be some last minute changes in travel plan. (October 23 to November 22)

ome cracks will start opening in a relation or in business partnership. Take second opinion and then only make up your mind about what your next step should be. Some of you may buy another vehicle for a family member. Money wise you will continue to well and may make some money through stocks or other speculations also.

Good rapport with seniors will help Dhoni

ahendra Singh Dhoni, the frequent history maker was born on July 7, 1981. He has already proved with his very own distinct style that he is one of the most successful captains of the cricket world. Fondly known as Mahi, he has been the best subject for the faculties of management institutes when it comes to describing 'leadership skills'. Cool, calm and composed, MS Dhoni is exactly what the Indian Cricket team needed to take their game to the next level. The months ahead will be peaceful and serene for Dhoni and he will see many good things happening for him on the personal front. Professionally too, Mahi will continue to impress with his drive and determination. The time ahead looks bright and beautiful on all fronts for this cricketing sensation. Dhoni will be able to maintain good rapport with superiors which will be very beneficial in the long run. Loss of position is indicated during this period. His mind will be full of innovative and creative thoughts, but he should not apply them without realizing the pros and cons of the situations. He should give more attention to domestic life. Travel is on Dhoni's cards and would be very rewarding. There are chances of ill health of Dhoni's family members. Mahi married Sakshi Rawat 2010 after dating this pretty girl for a while. Cancerian Mahi is quite emotional and he expects a lot from all his relationships.

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

925-833-7170

website: www.parashar.com

Tech News FB co-founder Moskovitz on share selling spree NEW YORK: Facebook cofounder Dustin Moskovitz has sold another 450,000 shares of the social networking major, reducing his holding to just 6.15 million of Class A stock, which have lesser voting rights than Class B stock. Moskovitz has been selling Facebook stock at the rate of 150,000 per tranche since August 17 and has offloaded 1.8 million shares till August 29. He had 7.5 million Class A stock as on August 17. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Moskovitz sold 450,000 class A stock during August 27 and August 29 in a price range of USD 19.19 to USD 19.26. -PTI

FinMin to allow Indian investment in Pakistan soon NEW DELHI: After allowing Pakistani businessmen to invest in India, the government will soon permit domestic entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities in the neighboring country. Commerce Secretary S R Rao said the Finance Ministry will soon notify guidelines allowing investment in Pakistan by Indian companies and individuals through semi-automatic route. The move comes ahead of the Commerce Secretary level talks between the countries that are likely to take place in the second week of the next month. "The Ministry of Finance will soon notify along with RBI the rules for making outbound investments in Pakistan through the semi-automatic route. -PTI

TechBiz 20 India Post

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September 7, 2012

HC moved against TN Govt's cable TV biz MADURAI: A petition has been filed in the Madras High Court Bench here seeking to restrain the Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd from making any further expansion or investment on its cable TV business. The Federation of Consumer Organizations of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry (FEDCOT) also sought a direction to the government to implement the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that the state governments should continue to remain in the enforcement domain as regards the Provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) act 1995. -PTI

Pranab to address global Indian business meet in NY NEW YORK: President Pranab Mukherjee is expected to address business leaders and members of the Indian Diaspora at a global meet here next month that will focus on building sustainable growth models for India and issues impacting world economy. The 'Global Indian Business Meet 2012' will be held from September 20 to 23 and will see participation from business leaders, entrepreneurs, knowledge experts and investors of Indian-origin from around the world. Mukherjee will address the meet, which will include speakers such as Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake and Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations Sam Pitroda, a statement issued by GIBM said. A host of Indian cabinet ministers and political leaders like Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay, Minister Of Corporate Affairs Veerappa Moily, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Nitin Gadkari will join

President Pranab Mukherjee

prominent Indian-Americans like Harvard Business School professor Tarun Khanna and US Attorney for the Southern District of

The event would bring together global Indian leaders to discuss "issues impacting the global business and how to channelise their exper-

Ten eminent Indian-origin achievers from different countries and seven business, entertainment, ecology and professional leaders from India would also be felicitated at the three-day event New York Preet Bharara to discuss economic and investment issues related to India.

tise in chartering new avenues of investment, entrepreneurship and building sustainable growth mod-

els for India," GIBM 2012 Convener Kanchan Banerjee said. The meet is being organized by New Global Indian (NGI) Foundation in partnership with trade bodies like FICCI, PHD Chamber and NASSCOM. The theme for the meet is 'Doing Business in Challenging Times - the Indian Way: Global Networking for Entrepreneurship and Inclusive Growth'. Ten eminent Indian-origin achievers from different countries and seven business, entertainment, ecology and professional leaders from India would also be felicitated at the three-day event. "With this event, we aim to bring the global Indians closer to each other and more importantly promoting initiatives that bring them closer home in contributing, facilitating and participating in the Indian growth story," NGI Mumbai Managing Editor/Trustee Ujjwal Chowdhury said. The agenda of the meet would be divided into five summits focusing on leaders, entrepreneurship, investment, business and partnership. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 22

Growth sacrifice inevitable to rein in prices: Subbarao NEW YORK: As India seeks to control high inflation, RBI Governor D Subbarao has said a little sacrifice in growth is "inevitable" amid efforts to bring down prices to acceptable levels. Subbarao said criticism is often directed towards the central bank that even though it has raised interest rates and runs a tight monetary policy, inflation is still "high and persistent" and growth has been hurt. The RBI's response to the criticism is that "some sacrifice of growth in inevitable, a necessary price we have to pay to bring down inflation. But that sacrifice of growth is only in the short term. "In the medium term, a low and stable inflation is a necessary precondition for securing India's

growth prospects," Subbarao said during a lecture at Asia Society on

Noting that inflation was down from 11 per cent in 2010 to below seven per cent in July this year, Subbarao said inflation could have been much higher if RBI had not run a tight policy Duvvuri Subbarao (right), Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and Hamid Biglari, Vice Chairman of Citicorp and member of the Asia Society Board of Trustees, during an interactive session at the Asia society in New York.

'India in a Globalizing World Some Policy Dilemmas', here.

Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index stood at 6.87 per cent in July, declining from 7.25 per cent in June. It is still however much above RBI's comfort level of 5-6 per cent. Noting that inflation was down from 11 per cent in 2010 to below seven per cent in July this year, Subbarao said inflation could have been much higher if RBI had not run a tight policy. The challenge for the RBI is to ensure inflation is reined in without hurting growth, he said. "In order to support growth, we need to keep interest rates low but in order to rein in inflation we have to keep interest rates high. The challenge is how do we manage growth-inflation trade off," he said. -PTI

TechBiz Post

September 7, 2012

India Post

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High investment potential in Indian infra sector HOUSTON: India's ambitious USD 1 trillion investment target in infrastructure in the next five years offers immense opportunities for the US firms here, a top Indian diplomat has said. "Besides innovation and advanced technology, India's priority to invest in modernizing its infrastructure sector - over USD 1 trillion in the next five years, also opens opportunities for US firms in Houston to invest and harness opportunities for collaboration in this sector", Ambassador Arun Singh said. Singh, who is the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Indian Embassy in Washington, was speaking at an event under the banner "United In Excellence" organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Greater Houston (IACCGH) here. Most of this investment is expected to come through Public Private Partnerships, he said.

Ambassador Arun K. Singh addressing the audience Parvathaneni Harish, Consul General of India in Houston hosted a luncheon reception in honor of Ambassador Arun K. Singh, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Washington, DC on 25 August. Which was attended by Congressmen Ted Poe And Pete Olsen, Lt. Governor of Texas David Dewhurst and Indian Community leaders. The annual gala and awards banquet of the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston.

"I would encourage the businesses in Houston not to miss the immense business potential inherent in India's commitment to build its entire infrastructure," Singh said.

Among dignitaries who attended the meeting included US Republican Sheila Jackson Lee, newly appointed Consul General of Houston, P Harish, Chancellor and President University of Hous-

Large infra debts making Indian banks riskier than peers NEW DELHI: A steep rise in debt levels of large business houses like Lanco, Adani, GVK, Vedanta and GMR groups in the past five years has led to a much higher 'borrower concentration risk' at Indian banks, as compared to their other Asian and emerging market peers. Infrastructure major Lanco group has witnessed the steepest rise in its debt level in the past five years, followed by Adani, GVK group, Vedanta and GMR, as per an analysis of debt levels of top 10 corporate groups in the country by global financial services giant Credit Suisse. While Lanco's group debt has grown at an annual rate of 76 per cent in the past five financial years, the rise has been 74 per cent for Adani, 65 per cent for GVK, 58 per cent for Vedanta and 55 per cent for GMR group. The combined debt of the top 10 groups grew over five times in last five years, from Rs 99,300 crore to Rs 5,39,500 crore, at a compounded annual growth rate of 40 per cent. In comparison, the total banking system loans grew by just 20 per cent annually during this period. Among others in the top-ten groups, Jaypee group's debt has grown at an annual rate of 41 per cent, Videocon's by 34 per cent, Essar group's by 31 per cent, Anil Ambani-led Reliance group's by 27 per cent and JSW group's by 25 per cent during this period, Credit Suisse said. In terms of total debt for FY12, Essar group tops the list with Rs 93,800 crore, followed by Vedanta (Rs 93,500 crore), Reliance (Rs 86,700 crore), Adani (Rs 69,500 crore), Jaypee (Rs 45,400 crore), JSW (Rs 40,200 crore), GMR (Rs 32,900 crore), Lanco (Rs 29,300 crore), Videocon (Rs 27,300 crore) and GVK (Rs 21,000 crore). Credit Suisse said that the aggregate debt

of these ten groups accounts for about 13 per cent of total bank loans and a whopping 98 per cent of the entire banking system net worth. "Therefore, surprisingly now in terms of concentration risk, Indian banks rank higher than most of their Asian and BRIC counterparts," it added. The report said a strong loan growth of Indian banking system in past five years is increasingly being driven by a select few corporate groups. "Given the high leverage, poor profitability and pressure from lenders most of these

ton Renu Khator and Harris County Judge Edward Emmett. Appreciating the key role of IACCGH in bringing the two countries together, Ambassador Singh said the Chamber initiatives has impacted the overall atmosphere of the India-US relationship in an extremely positive way. "Going beyond all this, I feel the strongest element in our partnership is the people-to-people

Google launches new initiative for mobile Internet users NEW DELHI: Internet giant Google has launched a new initiative to help businesses reach out to over 70 million mobile Internet users in the country. Under the 'Let's talk Mo' initiative', Google will help businesses create mobile sites for free, Google said in its official blogpost. According to Nielsen Informate Insights for smartphone users 2012 study, Indian

site," Google India Country Head Marketing Nikhil Rungta said. Businesses will be able to see how their sites look on a smartphone using the GoMoMeter tool and get personalized recommendations for creating a more userfriendly experience. The site also provides information on current mobile trends, best practices, case studies and various other resources to help busi-

Google is giving Indian businesses two options. One, create a mobile optimized site for free and second test how user friendly is your existing mobile site," Google India Country Head Marketing Nikhil Rungta said

The combined debt of the top 10 groups grew over five times in last five years, from Rs 99,300 crore to Rs 5,39,500 crore, at a compounded annual growth rate of 40 per cent debt heavy groups have initiated plans to divest some of their assets. However, given that most domestic infrastructure developers are already over-geared, demand for these assets may be limited," Credit Suisse said. Each of these groups alone account for 1?2 per cent of total banking system loans, the report said, while noting that all banks appear to have high exposure to the same few groups. "With the economic slowdown and a downturn in these sectors, multiple assets of each group appear stressed and financials of these groups are stretched," the report said. -PTI

dimension", he said. It was recalled that there are now nearly 3 million Indian Americans in the US and around 1,00,000 Indian students in US Universities contribute USD 3 billion annually as tuition fees. There are also 60,000 Indian origin doctors in US. Besides 40 per cent of all hotel rooms are owned and managed by Indian Americans. -PTI

smartphone users are spending over 157 minutes daily on the mobile web (89 per cent of them are searching for information). The user-experience is, however, not optimized for the mobile screens as most Indian websites are still designed for the PC experience, it added. "That's why, Google is giving Indian businesses two options. One, create a mobile optimized site for free and second test how user friendly is your existing mobile

nesses develop a successful mobile presence. "The dedicated website (http:// www.letstalkmo.com/in/d/) will provide all the tools and resources that businesses need to have a presence on the mobile platform," Rungta said. With more and more people using their mobile phones to explore the web, it makes sense for businesses to have a website optimized for mobile sooner than later, he added. -PTI

India Post

TechBiz Post

September 7, 2012

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Biz sentiment in US better than Europe: Infosys

BANGALORE: Business sentiment in the US is better than Europe on account of the dynamic nature of its economy, Infosys Executive Co-Chairman Kris Gopalakrishnan has said. "They (US) have adjusted. I would say that they have recovered also to some extent. Growth rate has picked up to 2 to 2.5 per cent. Whereas Europe is still trying to figure out solutions. The growth rate is close to zero at this

Gopalakrishnan added that discretionary spending is coming back in US and Europe, "besides we are winning deals in India." On the financial services sector, he said a slew of new regulations will create more IT work associated at implementation level which may probably trigger a wave of investments point. So, the business sentiment in the US is better than Europe because it is a dynamic economy," Gopalakrishnan told reporters here on the sidelines of Confederation of Indian Industry event. However, making investments in Europe was not a bad decision for

Exuding confidence: S. Gopalakrishnan (right), President-Designate - CII, Executive Vice-Chairman, Infosys Ltd, and L. Krishnan, Chairman, CII Karnataka, at a press conference in Bangalore.

Indian companies. "India is proactively investing in Europe. Europe is not bad for India. If I remember last quarter, Europe grew faster than the company average, I think 18-19 per cent," he said. Gopalakrishnan added that discretionary spending is coming back in US and Europe, "besides we are winning deals in India." On the financial services sector, he said a slew of new regulations will create more IT work associated at implementation level which may probably trigger a wave of investments. Talking about the sentiments of IT clients in the midst of global slowdown, Gopalakrishnan said they are getting used to 'slow growth' period which will continue probably for next two to three years. "I don't see global economy accelerating for the next two to three years. In this environment, the fo-

Pranab to address global Indian business meet in NY Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 20

Modi, who has been denied a visa by the US, is slated to address the global business meet through video conferencing. Modi was first denied a visa in 2005 by the US against the backdrop of the 2002 post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat in which 1,200 people, most of them Muslims, were killed. An email from a media coordinator for the business meet told PTI that Modi will address the event from India through video conferencing. The US had in April this year said there is no change in its policy to deny visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister. "Our position on the visa issue hasn't changed at all," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland

had said in response to questions on the letter written by Congressman Joe Walsh to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, that the US Government reverse its 2005 decision not to issue US visa to Modi. "If we do respond, it'll be along familiar lines," Nuland had said. The US had said that it could not issue Modi a diplomatic visa because of its Immigration and Nationality Act which states that "any foreign government official responsible for serious violation of religious freedom is ineligible for a visa." Modi is expected to address the meet's India Business Summit where he would join Chief Ministers and other state ministers in presenting "the cases of their provinces as preferred destinations for investment, their policies and incentives, their focus areas/sectors." -PTI

cus on efficiency cost will continue and some IT companies will invest for the future and will support discretionary spend which may be in smaller chunks," Gopalakrishnan said. IT companies expect a period of muted growth and industry body NASSCOM had forecasted 11-14 per cent growth which is lower than last year, he said. "So, the expectation is that the industry has to go through a period of slow growth," he said. Gopalakrishnan said he was optimistic that the situation will improve and the growth rate will pick up. Having completed the restructuring process, Infosys is seeing higher growth rate for many of its new initiatives, but they are on smaller base, he said. "The base will start having an impact on overall growth rate over a three to five year period," he added. -PTI

60 pc Indian cos struggling to protect data NEW DELHI: About 60 per cent Indian businesses are struggling to protect and effectively manage their databases, which make up 51 per cent of an organization's total value, a survey has said. According to the survey by IT security solutions provider Symantec, corporate data in Indian companies is expected to grow 67 per cent in the next 12 months. "However, with information spiraling rapidly, 60 per cent Indian businesses are struggling to effectively manage and protect their digital information, which makes up 51 per cent of an organization's total value,," the survey added. The findings are part of a global survey comprising business and IT executives at 4,506 companies in 36 countries. -PTI

September 7, 2012

TechBiz Post

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Judge refuses to delay NY case for Google appeal NEW YORK: The federal judge presiding over challenges to Google Inc.'s plans to create the world's largest digital library has refused to delay the 7-year-old case while Google appeals his decision to grant authors class certification. US Circuit Judge Denny Chin's order was put in the court file in Manhattan, where he ruled in May that class action was "more efficient and effective" than requiring thousands of authors to sue individually. The Mountain View-California-based Google appealed the class-certification ruling and asked to delay all proceedings until the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals rules. Chin said a delay was unwarranted, especially since it would hold the case up for a year or more. "The merits would have to be reached at some point in any event, and there simply is no good reason to delay matters further," the judge wrote. He also said he found it surprising that Google argued it would be unfair to decide the merits of the case while authors were deciding whether to opt out of the class, especially "in light of Google's fervent opposition to class certification." Chin has scheduled oral argument for October on requests by lawyers that he decide issues without a jury. Google already has scanned more than 20 million books for the project. The Au-

thors Guild had requested class certification, saying it was impractical and expensive for each author to sue Google over similar claims. The Authors Guild has asked in court papers that the class be awarded USD 750 in damages for each copyrighted book Google copied. It has argued that Google

He found it surprising that Google argued it would be unfair to decide the merits of the case while authors were deciding whether to opt out of the class, especially "in light of Google's fervent opposition to class certification was not making "fair use" of copyright material by offering snippets of works in its online library. Lawyers for Google did not immediately respond to a message for comment. The company that operates the world's largest Internet search engine has defended its online library plans, saying it is fully compliant with copyright law. -AP

Citigroup to pay USD 590 mn to settle investor suit NEW YORK: Citigroup has agreed to pay USD 590 million to settle a suit by investors who accused the bank of misleading them on its subprime mortgage-based security losses in 2007-2008. The agreement settled the four-year-old class-action suit that arose from the collapse of the US real estate market, which savaged the bank's share price in part due to its heavy losses on collateralized debt obligations. Investors who bought Citigroup shares between February 2007 and April 2008 accused the company of hiding its exposure to the CDO market, so they took heavy losses when it became public and the bank's shares plummeted in value. Citigroup denied the charges, but said it was agreeing to settle the lawsuit to avoid any more legal costs. "This settlement is a significant step toward resolving our exposure to claims arising from the period of the financial crisis," Citigroup said in a statement. "Citi is fundamentally a different company today than at the beginning of the financial crisis. Citi has overhauled risk management, reduced risk exposures and, through our core businesses in Citicorp, we are focused on the basics of banking, leveraging our unique presence throughout the emerging and developed markets to serve our clients and the real economy." The suit said Citigroup masked losses

on its holdings of CDOs in 2006 and 2007 as the property market was collapsing. That helped keep its share price high, above USD 47 in October 2007, before it plunged to below USD 2.00 in early 2009 after some USD 50 billion in asset writedowns. The settlement only covered a subset of the group of investors who originally sued. The suit previously included investors

Citigroup denied the charges, but said it was agreeing to settle the lawsuit to avoid any more legal costs. "This settlement is a significant step toward resolving our exposure to claims arising from the period of the financial crisisâ&#x20AC;? claiming losses between January 2004 and January 2009, but the claims outside those included in the settlement were dismissed by the judge. New York law firm Kirby McInerney LLP, which represented investors in the suit, called the settlement "a significant recovery relating to the subprime/ credit crisis." -AFP

India Post News Service

FLUSHING, NY: Cinema constitutes the most vibrant mirror of South Asian societies. "Representing South Asia on Film," a year-long festival, from September 12, 2012 to April 25, 2013, planned in conjunction with Queens College's Year of India program, will reflect South Asia in all its diversity. Beginning with the "eastern western" Sholay (Flames)-the top Hindi blockbuster of all time-the schedule will include screenings of 16 titles that explore different classes and cultures, as well as three panel discussions in which scholars, filmmakers, and Queens College faculty and students will discuss topics raised by the series. All events in the festival-which is free and open to the public-will take place at the Godwin-Ternbach Museum. "Indian film is a highly influential cultural phenomenon, meaningful not only to Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, but also to Middle Eastern, Southeast Asian, African, and Eastern European audiences," notes Satadru Sen, who teaches a course at the college on South Asian film. "It is a primary medium for connecting

India Post

people in the large South Asian Diaspora in the United States and Canada to their worlds of origin." Godwin-Ternbach Director Amy

www.indiapost.com tion. "Despite the popular appeal of Bollywood, the virtuosity and sophistication of Indian filmmaking as a whole are less known or ap-

September 7, 2012

serve to correct that gap." Therefore, "Representing South Asia on Film" showcases Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam titles,

YEAR-LONG FESTIVAL OF INDIAN FILMS Winter, like Sen a member of the committee that organized the festival, hopes that it will attract new fans to works that deserve atten-

Satadru Sen, and Amy Winter - in collaboration with Queens College's Kupferberg Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, the program is co-sponsored by the Departments of History, Economics, Media Studies, and Classical, Middle Eastern and

preciated, except by cinephiles and specialists in South Asian culture. We hope that the depth and breadth of this programming will

Director Satyajit Ray on set

offbeat and independent films, commercial movies, the Indian new wave known as Parallel Cinema, and shorts, as well as better-known Bollywood productions. All were selected on the basis of their historical and cultural significance, critical reception, and artistic excellence. The lineup highlights themes that have concerned South Asian directors and audiences over the years - gender, political rights, urbanization, and identity and cosmopolitanism in rapidly changing societies - and draws attention to distinctive aspects of the work of specific directors and actors, such as Satyajit Ray, Mani Ratnam, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi. Major funding for the film festival has been provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Friends of the Godwin-Ternbach Museum. Curated by the Year of India Film Committee - Serinity Young,

Asian Languages and Cultures. All screenings and panels will take place on Wednesdays, at 4:30 pm, in the Godwin-Ternbach Museum, 405 Klapper Hall, unless oth-

Major funding for the film festival has been provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Friends of the Godwin-Ternbach Museum erwise indicated. A brochure with the full schedule and details of the films and panels will be available online at the GTM's website. Parallel with the film festival, in celebration of the reopening of the GTM after a two-year renovation, is a special exhibition of Swiss abstract artist H.A. Sigg. Scene from the film Devdas

September 7, 2012

India Post

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'Grandpa' lists 'Indian Origins of Ancient Civilizations'

Sudhir Parikh with book

PRAKASH WAGHMARE

he well-known columnist, author and speaker Mr Niranjan Shah has come out with a new book titled "Indian Origins of Ancient Civilizations". For several years Mr Shah, has been known to his readers as 'Grandpa' who dispensed forgotten history of India through his popular weekly column 'A letter From

a sort of crystallization of those columns and reflects his pain stick-

Book released

ing research and hard work. There is bibliography of 120

There is wealth of information in this book, which will make any Indian proud of their scientifically based and technologically advanced ancient past Grandpa' which appeared in "India Tribune" newspaper. This book is

books and articles from around the world for this slim book of only 140

Ashton Kutcher in India for Steve Jobs biopic

Ashton Kutcher shooting in Delhi

ollywood actor Ashton Kutcher, who is playing the role of late Apple great Steve Jobs in a biopic, has been spotted shooting for the movie in the bylanes of old Delhi. A picture that shows the actor outside the famous Jama Masjid mosque was shared by fans on Facebook. According to a report published in The Hindustan Times the

34-year-old actor has already shot at the Safdarjung tomb (August 28) and in Vrindavan (August 29). Ashton, who is staying at the famous Claridges Hotel in the capital, will reportedly also shoot in Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. Steve Jobs, who died of cancer in October 2011, made a journey of self-discovery to India 35 years ago. While the exact dates are unknown, it's accepted that he spent

between one and three months here sometime between 1974 and 1976. His Indian adventures included roaming the streets of the capital in a lungi, being swindled by a fake holy man near Nainital and falling victim to the dreaded Delhi belly. The movie, titled Jobs: Get Inspired, is being directed by indie filmmaker Joshua Michael Stern and will release later this year.

pages. In the book, this scholar of Vedantic studies and pre-Christian era, has extensively drawn on these sources to prove his various points. In all honesty, I do take exception to the fact that, at times, the book appears to be a collection of Quotations. Mr. Shah, a practicing engineer of several decades, has used his analytical mind to weave different references, rather than his own narration, to avoid any conflict I guess, to stack before us insurmountable evidence of 'Indian Origins of World Civilizations'. There is wealth of information in this book, which will make any Indian proud of their scientifically based and technologically advanced ancient past. The book spells out how Egyptians, Sumerians, Greek, Chinese, and Americans, among others have sprouted out of Indian cradle. There is lot more to 'History of India and

its Civilization' than what is dished out by some dogmatic, biased western academicians in the name of 'World History' where everything, began more or less with them and their advances. This book has been printed in bigger-than-average letter size for the benefit of all ages. The language is fluid and simple to understand, in spite of its complex subject. This book can be recommended to any one, and especially to our second generation, who wants to know India's real heritage. Padmashri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Swami Viditatmanand of 'Arsh Vidya Gurukulam' and Goswami Indirabetiji have all lent their hand recently in releasing this book. NY State Senator Thomas Libous, last month, presented a special 'Proclamation' honoring Mr. Niranjan Shah for this 'historic' book.

Book Review

India Post

September 7, 2012 www.indiapost.com

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Desipina & Co, a fusion arts company focusing in film and theatre, dedicated to promoting cross-pollinations of artistic, political and cultural dialogues - in conjunction with Ma-Yi Writers Lab, will present a workshop of Lonely Leela, a new play by Rehana Lew Mirza (TCG Future Leader Fellow, Lark/IAAC Playwright in Residence).

Lonely Leela, a modern-day 'Alice in Wonderland' The play is an "Alice in Wonderland" inspired multi-media, puppet adventure where malicious codes and white knight

bloggers meet in a shifting world of everything's at your fingertips but you can't quite find what you're looking for. Lonely Leela

will run for four performances, all at 7pm, from Wednesday, September 5 to Saturday, September 8 at HERE (145 6th Avenue, enter on Dominick, 1 block south of Spring Street) in Manhattan. Directed by Robert Ross Parker (co-Artistic Director of the Obie

(Crane Story). Lonely Leela is produced by Ying Le for Desipina & Co. and has a design team that includes Jason Simms (set), Jake Witlen (video and lighting), Spica Wobbe (puppets), Ien DeNio (sound and music), Dax Valdes (choreogra-

The play is an "Alice in Wonderland" inspired multi-media, puppet adventure where malicious codes and white knight bloggers meet in a shifting world of everything's at your fingertips but you can't quite find what you're looking for Award-winning Vampire Cowboys), Lonely Leela features a cast that includes: Quinlan Corbett (Your Boyfriend May Be Imaginary), Andrew Guilarte (Invasion), Anna Kull (Milk), Maria-Christina Oliveras (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Matt Park (We In Silence Hear A Whisper), Lipica Shah (Dov & Ali), and David Shih

pher), Jenny Fisher (costumes) and stage management by John Nehlich. This production is a part of the Sublet Series@HERE. HERE's curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support. Lonely Leela is an Equity approved showcase.

September 7, 2012

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India Post 27

Datebook

India Post

September 7, 2012

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NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

Upcoming

Wed Sept 5 to Sat Sept 8 • Performances of Lonely Leela Venue: Dorothy B. Williams Theatre, 145 Sixth Ave. (enter on Dominick Street, one block south of Spring) New York Time: 7pm Contact: 212-352-3101

Sun Sept 9 • 108 Kundi Gayatri Maha Yagna Venue: St. Anthony’s High School Ground, 275 Wolf Hill Road, South Huntington, NY Time: 2pm to 5pm Contact: 631-940-0959

Sun Sept 23

Thurs Sept 6 • Art of Living Course Venue: Unitarian Universalist Church, 401 Kings Hwy N, Cherry Hill, NJ Time: 7:30pm Contact: 732-668-8937

ILLINOIS

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Fri Sept 14

Sat Sept 8

• Shreya Ghoshal Live in Concert

• Devotion-An Indian Dance Performance

Venue: Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400, North River Road, Rosemont, IL Time: 8pm Contact: 773-764-7576

Sat Sept 08

Fri Sept 1

• Job Fair

• The Raghu Dixit Project

Venue: Hyatt Regency Princeton, 102 Carnegie Princeton, NJ Time: 9:00pm Contact: 732-666-4627

Venue: The Meadows, 2950 W Golf Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL Time: 7pm Contact: 815-404-3473

Sat Sept 22

• Dulhan Expro 2012

Sun Sept 23

Venue: Hyatt Regency Long Island, 1717 Motor Pkwy, Huppauge, NY Time: 2am Contact: 732-754-1894

Venue: Fire N Ice- NJ, 583 Ford Ave Fords, NJ Time: 8pm Contact: 732-417-1999

• Viva La Music Latina!

• Grand Traditional Kuchipudi Performance By Sri Kishore Mosalikanti and Smt. Padmavani Mosalikanti Venue: DVeluchamy Auditorium, Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, Aurora, IL Time: 5pm Contact: 630-844-2254

WASHINGTON DC

Upcoming Sat Sept 8 • Grand Onam Celebrations Venue: Littleton High School Auditorium, 56 King Street, Littleton, MA Time: 12pm Contact: 978-367-8975

Sat Sept 15 • Just Duets

Venue: Pacific Cultural Center, 1307 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Time: 6:30pm Contact: 928-713-7132

Thurs Sep 13 • Dinner with Artist Spb & Chitra Venue: Ananda Bhawan, 920 E Arques Ave, Sunnyvale, CA Time: 8pm Contact: 510-796-5252

Upcoming Sun Sept 9 • Bridal Show & All Occasion Showcase: Long Beach, CA Venue: Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA Time: 11am Contact: 509-487-3040

Fri Sept 14 • Utsav- UCarnival Los Anglels Venue: Holiday Inn- La Mirada, 14299, Firestone blvd, La Mirada, CA Time: 2pm Contact: 510-578-8728

Sun Sept 23 Sat Sept 15 • Kids Ganesha Puja Shiva Murugan Temple Venue: Concord Shiva Murugan Temple, 1803 2nd St., Concord, CA Time: 10am Contact: 484-727-8424

Sat Sept 15 • Dominican University of California Presents: Artist Reception Venue: 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, California 94901 Time: 2:30pm to 4:30pm Contact: 415-482-2453

Sun Sept 16 • A Special Dinner, DJ and Dance with Popular Playback Singers

Venue: The Hall, 125 Prospect St, Framingham Time: 7pm Contact: 978-621-8030

Venue: Bombay Garden Reataurant, 5995 Mowry Ave, Newark, CA Time: 8:30pm Contact: 510-744-6945

Fri Oct 19

Sat Sept 22

• Pujari Celebrates Durga Puja

• Saaral

Venue: Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill Road, Lilburn Time: 8pm Contact: 678-242-9578

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Venue: Chabot College Auditorium, 25555, Hesparian Blvd, Hayward, CA Time: 5:30pm Contact: 408-537-3458

• Sarangi & Sitar Jugalbandi (A Rare Dialogue of Evening Ragas) Venue: Yoga House, 11 West State Street, Pasadena, CA Time: 8pm Contact: 310-753-3303

Thurs Sept 27 • Ballet Folklorico De Mexico Venue: Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-325-4466

Fri Oct 19 • Royal Drummers and Dancers of Burundi Venue: Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-325-4466

Fri Nov 2 • Spirituals to Funk Venue: Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-322-9862 Highlights: Dr John And 5-time Grammy award winners Blind boys of Alabama.

www.indiapost.com

September 7, 2012

hajuraho is located in the forested plains of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in the region known as Bundelkhand. The place is at a considerable distance from most cities and town centers of the state. The art of Khajuraho attracts numerous visitors to it. The climate of Khajuraho is of extreme type. The summers are hot with the mercury climbing up to 47Â°C. On the other hand, winters can be very cold with temperature dipping down to 4Â°C. The monsoon starts from the month of July and lasts until September. The annual average rainfall is 114 cm. The erotic art of Khajuraho sees visitors pouring in all through the year. History: The art of Khajuraho has a long history. It is also world renowned. The beautiful temples that dot the town of Khajuraho are believed to have been built by the mighty Chandela rulers in 9th and 10th century AD. The engravings on these temples are highly sensual and erotic and much has already been discussed their symbolic importance. Tantricism and the Shakti cult, where the pancha makaras (five tenets), namely, matsya (fish), madira (wine), maithun (sexual activity), mamsa (meat), and mudra (gesture) were to release the human spirit from the bondage of the flesh, have been described as the possible explanations for the sculptural sensuality of Khajuraho. Out of 85 temples, only 20 have survived the ravages of time. Made of sandstone blocks fitted together, the temples are aligned east-west. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 31

30 India Post

Travel & Hospitality Post

September 7, 2012

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Need to have monitoring mechanism for tourism AGRA: Industry body CII has stressed on the need to have a monitoring mechanism at the level of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for the tourism sector in order to drive the industry's growth on a priority basis. The CII National Committee on Tourism, which represents different sectors of the tourism industry, during its deliberations here also stated that India needs to target new markets including China and Russia and further develop traditional markets of Germany, France, Italy and the UK. "Change is driven down from the top. The economic importance of tourism can be suitably communicated if a monitoring mechanism is set up at the PMO," the committee told reporters here. This will ensure that this industry's growth is driven on a priority basis by central and state government departments, it added. The suggestion, along with a host of other ideas, will be submitted as a white paper to the inter-

ministerial co-ordination committee for tourism sector under the chairmanship of the principal secretary to the Prime Minster, Pulok Chatterjee. "The industry's task is to project to the powers to be on the

"Change is driven down from the top. The economic importance of tourism can be suitably communicated if a monitoring mechanism is set up at the PMO," the committee told reporters here key role the tourism sector plays. We will present the deliberations ... collective ideas to the committee formed in the PM's office," CII National Committee on Tourism Chairman Nakul Anand said.

Anand, who is also the ITC Ltd Executive Director, added that the tourism sector has a powerful message to deliver and how it is a key engine in the economic growth of the country. The committee cochairman and Le Passage to India Managing Director Arjun Sharma, said that the country's tourism infrastructure must be benchmarked to China. "Our infrastructure planning and implementation must be done accordingly to ensure that the global tourist finds Indian tourism infrastructure of the same if not of superior quality than that in China," Sharma said. The other issues on which deliberations were held included repositioning of tourism industry in India and specific recommendations on addressing tourism bottlenecks in Agra. Other members of the committee includes IATO President Subash Goyal, WTTC Secretary General Sujit Banerjee and Domestic Tour Operators President Subash Verma. -PTI

Govt against curbs on hotel construction near forests NEW DELHI: Tourism Ministry has advocated for relaxation of rules which disallows construction work within a 10 km radius of protected forests. "Tourism Secretary is trying hard to correct the anomaly as it encompasses the hotel industry. Adherence to the stipulation would keep tourists away from such destinations because of problems of commuting long distances," Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said here. As per the Environment Protection Act, no construction work can be carried within 10 km radius of protected forests. For any type of construction, a no objection certificate from the National Board for Wildlife or the revenue department is mandatory. Inaugurating 'The Great Domestic Tourism Bazaar 2012', organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Sahai said, "The tourism industry needs to motivate the domestic travelers to extend their stays and explore places beyond their cho-

sen destination." He asked FICCI to sensitize and motivate states to build budget hotels on properties owned by the government and bring tourism development on their political and economic agenda.

He asked FICCI to sensitize and motivate states to build budget hotels on properties owned by the government and bring tourism development on their political and economic agenda "The Federation should advise the states that growth of domestic travel will boost revenues and create jobs and have a multiplier effect on the economy," the minister said. -PTI

Travel & Hospitality Post

September 7, 2012

India Post

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Khajuraho: Highly sensual & erotic temple engravings Cont’d from page 29

For convenience, these may be divided into western, eastern, and southern groups of temples. Tourist attractions: Architecturally, the temples of Khajuraho India reveal the art of Khajuraho. They follow a three or five-part floor plan. The larger temples have an ardhamandapa (porch), then a mandapa (hall) leading to a mahamandapa

ture. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is also the largest of Khajuraho's temples. The Lakshmana Temple is one of the oldest and finest of the western group of temples. The temple is rather big with four other shrines attached to it. Although the general norm in other temples is three bands of sculpture, this temple has only two. Recurrent themes are battles, hunting, and women. The temple of Devi Jagdamba is considered by many to be one

Lakshmana temple at Khajuraho, a panchayatana temple. Two of the four secondary shrines can be seen.

(main hall) from where an aunterale (vestibule) led into the Garbha Griha (sanctum) containing the devta (god) or devi (goddess). An enclosed pradakshinapathar (corridor or verandah) runs around this sanctum. In the smaller temples, the second and the last feature were omitted. Each component of the temple was topped by pyramid-shaped towers leading in ascending order like a series of mountain peaks to the soaring shikhara (tower). The ornate vertical elements are balanced by horizontal bands of sculpture running round the temple; superb in execution and seeming to grow out of the temple itself, they merge beautifully with the overall design. Western Group of Temples: The Kandariya Mahadeo is considered the most evolved example of central Indian temple architec-

of the most erotic temples of Khajuraho. The temple houses Khajuraho's most talked-about image, mithuna, and the sensuously carved figures. It is not clear until today as to which deity this temple is dedicated.

dedicated to goddesses Kali. This is the only temple in Khajuraho India that is built in granite. The name chaunsat (sixty-four) comes from the cells of 64 attendants of Goddess Kali. Goddess Kali herself was the 65th one. Other important temples in the western group are the temples of Lakshmi and Varaha, Mahadev, Chitragupta, Parvati, and Matangesvara. Eastern Group of Temples: The temple of Parsvanath is the largest of the Jain temples in Khajuraho India and the finest. The temple was originally dedicated to Adinath and latter to Parsvanath. It is the finest example of the sensitive art without any sexual motifs. Near this temple is the temple of Adinath with fine carvings. The temple is quite similar to the Hindu temples of Khajuraho. Shantinath is the youngest of all the temples in Khajuraho India. Though it looks like the most other temples in Khajuraho, it is just a century old. The temple has a four and a half meter statue of Adinath. Mostly in ruins now, the temple of Ghantai has fine columns and chains and bells, with a figure of a Jain goddess on a garuda. One of the oldest temples in Khajuraho is the temple of Brahma and Hanuman. The temple is built mostly of granite and sandstone. Actually, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Nearby is a Hanuman temple reputed to have the earliest in-

Tourism projects to be showcased at Emerging Kerala THIRUVANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Tourism Department will showcase a host of projects at the state's global investor meet 'Emerging Kerala' to be held in Kochi next month. Latching on to its tourism policy that ensures hassle-free clearance to investment proposals, Kerala Tourism would be looking for big-ticket foreign investments during the global connect initiative, a release by the state's Tourism Department said. Identified as one of the key sectors to propel 'God's own country's' economic growth, tourism would be high on the agenda when investors across continents come down to the three-day event, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 12, it said. The state government has unveiled a policy that would upgrade tourism infrastructure and involve people's participation in a bigger scale, Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar said in the release. The projects looking for steam from the private sector include a state-of-the-art hotel at the upcoming world-class Edu Health

City at Panakkad and a boat club at Thirurangadi, both in Malappuram district, adventure sports arena at Vagamon, a mist valley resort and spa and a Spice Valley Resort at hirange Idukki. An underwater aquarium at Arookutty in coastal Alappuzha also being planned, besides a marine leisure island at Dharmadom in Kannur and a botanical garden & forest lodge at Nelliampathy in Palakkad district, the release said. Since infrastructure development is a priority area, the Department would prepare plans for major destinations in association with related departments, Kumar said. The state's Tourism Policy targetted an annual growth of 15 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals and seven per cent in domestic arrivals. In numbers, it would be 3 million foreign and 18 million domestic tourists by 2021. In 2011, 7.32 lakh foreign tourists visited Kerala as against 6.59 lakh the previous year, registering an 11.18 per cent growth. The domestic tourist arrivals to the state were around 93.8 lakh in 2011 visa-vis 85.9 lakh (9.15 per cent growth) in 2010. -PTI

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The temple of Vishvanath and Nandi celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati. The way women have been depicted in this temple draw the most attention. From traditional images of women fondling babies and writing letters, they are seen also as the most provocative of images. Chaunsat Yogini is the oldest of the surviving temples of Khajuraho. T h i s temple is

Khajuraho Devi Jagadambi temple

scription dating back to AD 922 on a 2½ -m statue. Two other notable temples are Javari and Vamana temple. The Southern Group: There are only two temples in the southern group of temples. The Duladeo is somewhat new and built in a time when the creativity of Khajuraho was well down its peak. The temple has wooden structures that take away its authenticity somewhat. How to reach: Khajuraho is airlinked with Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi. The nearest railheads are Harpalpur (94 km) and Mahoba (63 km). Khajuraho is connected with Panna, Satna, Chattarpur, Jabalpur, Mahoba, Bhopal, Gwalior, and Indore by road.

Fax: (773) 262-4465 E-mail: aryabhavan@aol.com www.aryabhavan.com

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6 Thats All I Really Wanna Do: TMK 7 Dhadang Dhang: Rowdy Rathore 8 Aa Re Pritam Pyaare:

ipasha Basu has been in the film industry for a very long time, and she feels that an actor's live a very sad life. "An actor's life is very sad. The biggest of superstars in our country fade away after some time and are remembered only when they die. But what to do? It is very vulnerable, very sad, but that is the way it is. Nothing is permanent in their life," Bipasha said. She added, "Once you achieve success, you just want to work, you don't want to be forgotten. It is an emotion that every actor worldwide, male or female, goes through." Bipasha's upcoming film Raaz 3 is a sequel to the hit film Raaz: The mystery continues. The film also stars Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta. She feels that people want to know everything about an actor's life and that's the reason why films like 'The Dirty Picture', 'Heroine' and 'Raaz3' are made. The 33 year old plays an actress whose career is on the downhill. She also mentions, people and media shouldn't forget the fact that actors are human too, and need some private space.

leana D'Cruz, the southern hottie, is very much impressed by the performance of Ranbir Kapoor in the movie "Barfi". But she is not at all worried by getting overshadowed by Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in the Anurag Basu film. She says she was ready to act in the film as she had complete trust in the work and skills of the director of the movie Anurag Basu. Ileana was heard saying, in the beginning, she was nervous to be a part of "Barfi" as the flick is very much different from the films she has done in the past. But as a debut movie in Bollywood, Ileana is confident about her performance. In Tollywood Ileana generally is seen doing glamorous roles, but for the Hindi film industry she wants to showcase her acting skills. Well, Ranbir Kapoor is an infamous ladies man, so was Ileana D'Cruz at any point of time wary about it? A daring babe, Ileana replies that men can't scare her at all, so she was absolutely cool while acting opposite Junior RK. She smilingly comments, her dear daddy is very intimidating, so nothing else can scare her. At least no other man can. But Ileana thinks Ranbir is a brilliant star, and his performance has blown her away totally! Even in "Barfi" the diva is seen locking lips with Ranbir. So how many marks will Ileana give Ranbir as a kisser? She says she concentrated only on the emotion, so it was not such a proper kiss, and therefore can't say about the kiss.

Rowdy Rathore 9 Chinta Ta Ta Chita Chita: Rowdy Rathore 10 Jiya Tu Bihar Ke Lala: Gangs Of Wasseypur

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September 7, 2012

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TRUE OR W

FALSE?

e all know how being 'tipsy' can complicate life for us, don't we? After getting drunk, actress Raima Sen went berserk and tweeted saying she will be marrying her best friend Varun Thapar. Only in the morning did she realize the blunder she had made and quickly tweeted that she was only joking! Raima, who had been to a party along with few of her friends in Kolkata was in high spirits when she tweeted, "I am getting married to Varun Thapar. Varun is my best friend." The pretty actress then posted five pictures of her along with Varun, including one where Varun got down on his knees. The next day, Raima woke up to some worried calls by family and well wishers and that's when she realized what she had done! So to lessen the damage caused, she tweeted, "Last nite was a joke and I'm not getting married (sic)." Meanwhile, the inside story is that Raima Sen is very serious about her relationship with Varun!

FOLLY IN PARIS

o puffiness under the eyes or receding hairline as Sanjay Dutt shot for KS Ravikumar's Saamy Sanjay Dutt recently returned from Germany where he underwent a knee surgery. Reportedly, the actor also got a few cosmetic treatments done to get rid of the under eye bags. Shooting for the remake of Tamil hit Saamy at Ramoji Rao Film City, Hyderabad, he looked younger and fresher with no signs of the under eye puffiness he had been sporting of late. Interestingly, with an all new look, the actor seems to have adopted a fresh new approach to his work as well. An eyewitness said, "Sanjay reported on the sets at 9 am. He looked fresh and energetic. He was seen having a lengthy discussion with director KS Ravi Kumar about his character of a rowdy cop." In fact, the actor who is rather kicked about his role has made various changes to his lifestyle. "He is off alcohol. This change in him will make a lot of difference to the filmmakers. Also, his knee injury is on the road to recovery and soon he will be filming some daredevil action sequences," said a friend of the actor.

angna Ranaut recently met with an accident. The actress was trying to show some action moves to her crew members right in the middle of a busy street in Paris, but her foolishness made her fall flat on her face. A source told a leading daily, "Kangna was fooling around the sets, showing off kicks learnt for her superhero film. One crew member challenged her to do a particular stunt. Though, Kangs wasn't in appropriate costume, she still tried it and fell down in the middle of the road. It was a bad fall and there was blood. The director and the crew got worried and called for a doctor." The source further added," However, Kangna who seemed in pain could not stop laughing at her own foolishness. Then the entire crew started laughing too. The film's director Vikas Bahl gave strict instructions to Kangs not to fool around on the sets anymore and she apologized for her childish behavior and immediately returned to her shoot."

NEW LOOK

Health

Line

Ga. eliminates waiting list for HIV/ AIDS drugs ATLANTA: Poor and uninsured people in Georgia who need medication to treat HIV and AIDS will no longer need to be placed on a waiting list. Public Health Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald said that the state has eliminated a waiting list that had grown as a poor economy caused people to lose their jobs and health insurance and because of more aggressive HIV testing. Created in July 2010, the waiting list for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program grew to more than 1,600 people, at one point becoming the largest such list in the country. ``The reduction of our wait list to zero is a remarkable accomplishment, especially considering where we were in 2011,'' Fitzgerald said. -AP

Hawaii Health Connector gets $62M grant HONOLULU: Hawaii's health insurance exchange has received a nearly $62-million federal grant. The funds come from the Department of Health and Human Services. Hawaii was the first state in the nation to declare its intent to set up a state-certified health insurance exchange to help carry out President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Millions of uninsured Americans will be able to buy private coverage through these online supermarkets starting in 2014. The Hawaii Health Connector says statewide community outreach is under way to share information about the launch of the Hawaii's health insurance exchange. -AP

Boise police deal with more mental health calls BOISE, Idaho: Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson says Idaho's lack of help for people needing mental health care has resulted in police being called more often. The Idaho Statesman reports that over the past two years, police in Boise have responded to 13,000 mental health-related calls, ranging from welfare checks to attempted suicides and overdoses. Boise Bench Patrol Officer Gary Wiggins, a 20-year veteran, says responding to mental health-related calls is a daily occurrence. He says police spend so much time helping people find services that officers do more social interventions than crime-fighting. -AP

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NY: 13 West Nile virus infections reported so far ALBANY, NY: Health officials say there have been 13 human cases of West Nile virus infection in New York so far this year, including the deaths of two older people. They also say there have been no confirmed cases of another mosquito-borne ailment: eastern equine encephalitis. -AP

Manipulating gut flora could help tackle obesity LONDON: Researchers including one of Indian origin have claimed that vaccines and antibiotics may someday join caloric restriction or bariatric surgery as a way to regulate weight gain. Bacteria in the intestine play a crucial role in digestion. They provide enzymes necessary for the uptake of many nutrients, synthesize certain vitamins and boost absorption of energy from food. Fifty years ago, farmers learned that by tweaking the microbial mix in their livestock with low-dose oral antibiotics, they could accelerate weight gain. More recently, scientists found that mice raised in a germ-free environment, and thus lacking gut microbes, do not put on extra weight, even on a high-fat diet. In the new study, which focused on the interactions between diet, the bacteria that live in the bowel, and the immune system, a research team based at the University of Chicago was able to unravel some of the mechanisms that regulate this weight gain. They focused on the relation-

Fu suggested that the old adage "you are what you eat" needs to be modified to include "as processed by the microbial community of the distal gut and as regulated by the immune system" ship between the immune system, gut bacteria, digestion and obesity. They showed how weight gain requires not just caloric overload but also a delicate, adjustable - and transmissible - interplay be-

tween intestinal microbes and the immune response. "Diet-induced obesity depends not just on calories ingested but also on the host`s microbiome," the study`s senior

author Yang-Xin Fu said. "Host digestion is not completely efficient, but changes in the gut flora can raise or lower digestive efficiency," he said. Fu suggested that the old adage "you are what you eat" needs to be modified to include "as processed by the microbial community of the distal gut and as regulated by the immune system". To measure the effects of microbes and immunity, the researchers compared normal mice with mice that have a genetic defect that renders them unable to produce lymphotoxin, a molecule that helps to regulate interactions between the immune system and bacteria in the bowel. Mice lacking lymphotoxin, they found, do not gain extra weight, even after prolonged consumption of a high-fat diet. On a standard diet, both groups of mice maintained a steady weight. But after nine weeks on a high-fat diet, the normal mice increased their weight by one-third, most of it fat. Mice lacking lymphotoxin ate just as much, but did not gain weight. Cont’d on page 39

Circumcision pluses outweigh risks: Pediatricians CHICAGO: The nation's most influential pediatricians group says the health benefits of circumcision in newborn boys outweigh any risks and insurance companies should pay for it. In its latest policy statement on circumcision, a procedure that has been declining nationwide, the American Academy of Pediatrics moves closer to an endorsement but says the decision should be up to parents. ``It's not a verdict from on high,'' said policy co-author Dr. Andrew Freedman. ``There's not a onesize-fits-all-answer.'' But from a medical standpoint, circumcision's benefits in reducing risk of disease outweigh its small risks, said Freedman, a pediatric urologist in Los Angeles. Recent research bolstering evidence that circumcision reduces chances of infection with HIV and

other sexually spread diseases, urinary tract infections and penis cancer influenced the academy to update their 13-year-old policy. Their old stance said potential medical benefits were not sufficient to warrant recommending routinely circumcising newborn

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Convention has estimated circumcision costs range from about $200 to $600 nationwide. Coverage varies among insurers and several states have stopped Medicaid funding for circumcisions.

From a medical standpoint, circumcision's benefits in reducing risk of disease outweigh its small risks, said Freedman, a pediatric urologist in Los Angeles boys. The new one says, ``The benefits of newborn male circumcision justify access to this procedure for those families who choose it.'' The academy also says pain relief stronger than a sugarcoated pacifier is essential, usually an injection to numb the area.

The new policy was published online in Pediatrics. It comes amid ongoing debate over whether circumcision is medically necessary or a cosmetic procedure that critics say amounts to genital mutilation. Activists favoring a circumcision ban made headway in put-

ting it to a vote last year in San Francisco but a judge later knocked the measure off the city ballot, ruling that regulating medical procedures is up to the state, not city officials. In Germany, Jewish and Muslim leaders have protested a regional court ruling in June that said circumcision amounts to bodily harm. Meantime, a recent study projected that declining U.S. circumcision rates could add more than $4 billion in health care costs in coming years because of increased illness and infections. Circumcision involves removing foreskin at the tip of the penis. The procedure can reduce germs that can grow underneath the foreskin, and complications, including bleeding and infection, are rare, the academy says. Cont’d on page 38

September 7, 2012

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'Just one alcoholic drink a day may up the risk of cancer'

LONDON: Binge drinkers are not the only ones who need to worry about the health implications of alcohol as even light drinking increases the cancer risk significantly, a new study has claimed. According to the study led by researchers from the University of Milan, just one alcoholic drink a day may increase the risk of cancer, adding light drinking is estimated to be responsible for 34,000 deaths a year worldwide. Until now, almost all the evidence has come from studies that focused on people drinking moderate or large amounts of alcohol, or binge drinkers, and not those who drink less. The research based on more than 150,000 men and women shows that light drinking increases the likelihood of cancer of

the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus and breast. One drink a day increased the risk of cancer of the oesophagus by almost a third, according to the study being reported in the Annals of Oncology, which analyzed data from more than 200 research projects, the 'Independent' reported. Low alcohol intake increased

risk are of great public health relevance," they said. Evidence suggests that drinking in moderation may decrease the risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes and dementia, leading many to believe a glass of wine a day is good for you. But the damaging effects of drinking are well known. An estimated 2.2 million deaths a year

Evidence suggests that drinking in moderation may decrease the risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes and dementia, leading many to believe a glass of wine a day is good for you. But the damaging effects of drinking are well known the risk of oral cavity and pharynx cancer by 17 per cent, and breast cancer in women by 5 per cent. "Alcohol increases the risk of cancer even at low doses," say the researchers. "Given the high proportion of light drinkers in the population, and the high prevalence of these tumors, especially of breast cancer, even small increases in cancer

worldwide are linked to alcohol, according to the report, and 3.6 per cent of all cancers are attributable to drinking alcohol. The study defined light drinking as up to one drink a day or 12.5 grams or less of ethanol. Data on 92,000 light drinkers and 60,000 non-drinkers was used to calculate the overall cancer risk. -PTI

Micronutrients could improve sperm quality in older men WASHINGTON: Healthy intake of micronutrients such as vitamin C, E, folate and zinc could improve the sperm DNA quality significantly in older men, a new study has claimed. The study led by scientists from the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, however, found that in younger men a higher intake of micronutrients did not improve the sperm DNA. An analysis of 80 healthy male volunteers between 22 and 80 years of age, found that men older than 44 who consumed the most vitamin C had 20 per cent less sperm DNA damage compared to men older than 44 who consumed the least vitamin C. The same was true for vitamin E, zinc, and folate. "It appears that consuming more micronutrients such as vitamin C, E, folate and zinc helps turn back the clock for older men. We found that men 44 and older who consumed at least the recommended dietary allowance of certain micronutrients had sperm with a similar amount of DNA damage as the sperm of younger men," said Andy Wyrobek of Berkeley Lab's Life

Sciences Division. "This means that men who are at increased risk of sperm DNA damage because of advancing age can do something about it. They can make sure they get enough vitamins and micronutrients in their diets or through supplements," added Wyrobek.

Although the scientists found a clear and strong link between higher vitamin intake and improved sperm DNA quality in older men, they don't know whether this link extends to male fertility Although the scientists found a clear and strong link between higher vitamin intake and improved sperm DNA quality in older men, they don't know whether this link extends to male fertility and the health of offspring. The report was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. -PTI

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Simple keyhole surgery can Health official predicts problems if AL vote fails halve heart attack risk

octors have said that a one-hour operation that could halve the risk of heart attacks in patients with high blood pressure could be available from next year. In trails patients undergoing the keyhole procedure saw their blood pressure drop by a fifth within six months - enough to halve the risk of a heart attack or stroke. A follow-up after 18-months showed no reversal of the condition. The trials proved so successful that some clinics have already made it available privately, and researchers expect the treatment to be made available to tens of thousands of British patients on the NHS. The procedure severed the nerves, which connect the kidneys to the brain and carry signals to control blood pressure. Doctors say the operation, which costs just 6,000 pounds, could offer a lasting solution for tens of thousands of British patients whose high blood pressure cannot be controlled by conventional drugs. Although people who undergo the procedure still have to take medication to keep their condition in check, it brings about a drop in blood pressure, which drugs alone have failed to provide.

Further trials will establish whether the technique, known as renal denervation, could also help patients whose bodies will not tolerate conventional blood pressure drugs. In a study, which involved more than 100 patients across 11 countries, researchers found that the 20 per cent reduction in patients' blood pressure was still main-

Doctors correct the fault by threading a wire through the renal artery until it reaches the kidneys, where it lets off a burst of heat to burn the nerves and disable them tained a year and a half after the procedure, with no major side effects reported. "We are encouraged to see that renal denervation shows substantial and sustained blood pressure reduction in treatment resistant patients," the Telegraph quoted Dr Murray Esler of Saarland University Hospital in Germany as saying. "We know the renal nerves play a crucial role in blood pres-

sure elevation and this study shows those nerves can be targeted with renal denervation without major side effects," Dr Esler added. The new procedure, first trialed at Barts and the London NHS trust in 2009, involves severing malfunctioning nerves around the kidneys. The nerves send signals to the brain that tell it that blood pressure is too low, causing the brain to increase it to dangerously high levels. Doctors correct the fault by threading a wire through the renal artery until it reaches the kidneys, where it lets off a burst of heat to burn the nerves and disable them. Although the operation is moderately painful, it does not require a general anaesthetic and patients can generally leave hospital on the same day. Charities have so far funded a small number of procedures for patients in severe need, but doctors involved in the trial said they will lobby NHS commissioning boards to make it available to a limited number of treatment-resistant patients next year. Findings from the study were presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich.

Circumcision pluses outweigh risks: Pediatricians Cont'd from page 36

Despite the U.S. decline, about half of baby boys nationwide still undergo circumcision, or roughly 1 million each year. The country's overall rate is much higher than in other developed nations, but U.S. rates vary by region and are higher in areas where it is a cultural or religious tradition, including among Jews and Muslims. Psychologist Ronald Goldman, director of an anti-circumcision group, the Circumcision Resource Center, said studies show circumcision causes loss of sexual satisfaction - a claim the academy said is not supported by the research it reviewed - and can be psychologically harming. Goldman contends medical studies showing benefits are flawed and that the academy's new position is ``out of step'' with medical groups in other developed countries. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

took part in the research review that led to the new policy and has endorsed it. Circumcisions in hospitals are typically performed by obstetricians or pediatricians.

Coyne said she and her husband ultimately decided against circumcision, because she didn't want her baby to have what she considers cosmetic surgery without being able to consent The CDC also participated in the review, and will consider the academy's updated policy in preparing its own recommendations, a CDC spokesman said. The agency has a fact sheet summarizing circumcision's

potential health benefits and risks but no formal guidelines. The American Medical Association and American Academy of Family Physicians have neutral policies similar to the pediatrics academy's previous position. Philadelphia social worker Shannon Coyne examined medical research on circumcision before her son was born last September and had a tough time making a decision. She learned that a relative's boy needed reconstructive surgery after a botched circumcision, and that another's son who wasn't circumcised developed urinary infections. Coyne said she and her husband ultimately decided against circumcision, because she didn't want her baby to have what she considers cosmetic surgery without being able to consent. Her advice to other parents is ``just make an informed decision. Do your research, be openminded.'' -AP

MONTGOMERY,Ala.:Alabama's chief public health official says Medicaid will be in deep trouble if voters do not approve a Sept. 18 referendum to take more than $437 million from a state trust fund and use it to prevent huge cuts in spending on state programs for three years. The constitutional amendment, if approved by voters, would take $145.8 million a year for three years out of the Alabama Trust Fund to help balance the budget during a time when tax collections are expected to see little growth. Some critics say the Alabama Trust Fund was initially set up more than 30 years ago to prevent state officials from raiding oil and gas revenue every time the state has a funding crisis. State Health Officer Don Williamson, who is temporarily overseeing funding for Alabama's health care program for the poor, said without receiving money from the trust fund the Medicaid program would be $100 million in the red. He said this could jeopardize programs that provide medicine for poor patients, reduce payments for doctors who treat Medicaid patients, send more poor patients to emergency rooms and eliminate optional Medicaid programs such as providing life-saving dialysis treatment. ``These are life threatening choices,'' Williamson said. Williamson told The Associated Press that the funding crisis is real and could have a profound effect on health care for Alabama residents, particularly children and the poor. He said failing to fund Medicaid at an appropriate level would affect more than just Medicaid patients. He said some hospitals would face shutting down because they depend on Medicaid money. ``Further cuts would endanger our ability to protect the health of Alabama residents,'' Williamson said. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican, said he's optimistic the referendum will pass ``despite all of the doom and gloom talk.'' He said the Medicaid funding problem is just another part of difficult financial time for state government.'' ``It's the most difficult time since the Great Depression,'' the governor said. ``I'm going to trust that it will pass, but if it doesn't pass, we'll get through this.'' Bentley said he's asked his department heads to look for ways to find additional revenue. Opponents say the crisis can be solved without raiding the

state's savings. ``We're going to offer a solution. We're going to come up with it,'' said House Minority Leader Craig Ford of Gadsden. He said Democrats were still crafting a solution and would announce it several days after the Sept. 18 vote if the referendum is defeated. Ford voted for the proposed constitutional amendment in the House in May because he said he always supports letting the people vote on issues. But he said he feels it's a temporary fix to get the Republican majority past the next legislative elections in 2014. ``Instead of doing the job they were elected to do, the Republicans in the Alabama Legislature passed the buck to the voters with this constitutional amendment,'' he said. Williamson said part of the problem is that Medicaid is a contact with the federal government, and if the state doesn't

"Instead of doing the job they were elected to do, the Republicans in the Alabama Legislature passed the buck to the voters with this constitutional amendment,'' he said provide the services it has agreed to provide it risks losing its federal funding. He said benefits in Alabama have already been stripped down as far as possible without violating the state's contract with the federal government. He said it's not just rural hospitals or charity hospitals that would be harmed by a loss of Medicaid funding. ``Sixty-four percent of the funding for Children's Hospital comes from Medicaid,'' Williamson said, referring to the highly respected Birmingham hospital that has treated youngsters from around the world. An opponent of the referendum, Greenville businessman and former Republican candidate for Governor Tim James, said the fund was set up by his father, former Gov. Fob James, to give the state a permanent savings account, ``Every time we get into a tight place we go into that cookie jar. If we do that every time, we aren't going to have any cookies left,'' James said. -AP

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Alzheimer's drug fails study but flashes potential INDIANAPOLIS:AnAlzheimer's treatment from Eli Lilly and Co. failed to slow memory decline in two separate patient studies, but the drug did show some potential to help in mild cases of the mind-robbing condition that is notoriously difficult to treat. The Indianapolis drugmaker's announcement could be a step toward a long-awaited breakthrough in the fight against the disease. But researchers not tied to the studies and Eli Lilly itself cautioned against overreacting to the initial results. Lilly said that its treatment, solanezumab, failed to slow the rate of cognitive decline, which involves a person's ability to remember things, in two late-stage studies of about 1,000 patients each. But when data from the trials were combined, scientists saw a statistically significant slowing of that rate in the bigger population. They also saw a statistically significant result when they examined a subgroup of patients with mild cases of Alzheimer's disease. The studies focused on

patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's cases. Lilly officials would not discuss details of the results and said that they plan to talk with regulators about the next steps for the drug, which has yet to receive Food and Drug Administration approval. Full results from the studies will be presented at two scientific conferences in October. It's unclear how the FDA will view the results, given that the drug missed its main goals. William H Thies, chief medical and scientific officer for the Alzheimer's Association, which was not involved in Lilly's research, said the statistical significance of the combined results is important. `Ìf that can be replicated, that is a major finding,'' he said. `Ìt's the first time we've been able to change the course of Alzheimer's disease or any part of Alzheimer's disease in people.'' But because the drug missed its main goals, Thies said the drug `ìsn't going to the (FDA) tomorrow to be approved for sale.'' If you look through ``rose-col-

ored glasses'' at the results, there may be a sign of potential benefit on cognitive tests, said Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. But it is not clear whether that is enough to make a real difference clinically in how patients do, he said.

Lilly's announcement comes two years after the drugmaker stopped developing another potential treatment, semagacestat, after patients taking the drug wound up faring worse The key will be details the company will present later on brain imaging and other tests, he said. ``The danger would be an overinterpretation of a small finding or a subtle effect,'' said Petersen, who heads a safety monitoring panel for two companies working on a different Alzheimer's treatment.

Manipulating gut flora could help tackle obesity Cont'd from page 36

The high-fat diet triggered changes in gut microbes for both groups. The normal mice had a substantial increase in a class of bacteria (Erysopelotrichi) previously associated with obesity and related health problems. Mice that lacked lymphotoxin were unable to clear segmented filamentous bacteria, which has previously been found to induce certain immune responses in the gut. The role of gut microbes was confirmed when the researchers transplanted bowel contents from the study mice to normal mice raised in a germ-free environment - and thus lacking their own microbiome. Mice who received commensal bacteria from donors that made lymphotoxin gained weight rapidly. Those that got the bacteria from mice lacking lymphotoxin gained much less weight for about three weeks, until their own intact immune system began to normalize their bacterial mix. When housed together, the mice performed their own microbial transplants. Mice are coprophagic; they eat each other`s droppings. In this way, the authors note, mice housed together "colonize one another with their own microbial communities." After weeks together, even mice with the immune defect began to gain weight. They also were able to reduce the presence of segmented filamentous bacteria in their stool. Moving from normal chow to the highfat diet initiated a series of related changes,

the authors found. First, it altered the balance of microbes in the digestive system. These changes in the microbiome altered the immune response, which then introduced further changes to the intestinal microbial community. These changes "provide inertia for the obese state," the authors said, facilitating more efficient use of scarce food resources.

Mice who received commensal bacteria from donors that made lymphotoxin gained weight rapidly. Those that got the bacteria from mice lacking lymphotoxin gained much less weight for about three weeks "Our results suggest that it may be possible to learn how to regulate these microbes in ways that could help prevent diseases associated with obesity," Vaibhav Upadhyay, first author of the study, said. "We now think we could inhibit the negative side effects of obesity by regulating the microbiota and perhaps manipulating the immune response," he said. The study has been published in the journal Nature Immunology. -Courtesy Znews.india.com

About 35 million people worldwide have dementia, a term for brain disorders that affect memory, judgment and other mental functions. Alzheimer's is the most common type. In the United States, more than 5 million people have Alzheimer's, which is the country's sixth-leading cause of death. Many Alzheimer's patients typically live four to eight years after diagnosis, as the disease gradually erodes their memory and ability to think or perform simple tasks. Current Alzheimer's treatments only temporarily ease symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and agitation. They don't slow, stop or reverse mental decline. Drugmakers have tried and failed for years to develop successful treatments for the disease, and patients and doctors are anxious for something that can slow the disease's progression. Analysts have said such a treatment, if approved, could be worth billions of dollars in sales. Earlier this month, Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson said they

would end development of an intravenous version of their potential Alzheimer's treatment, bapineuzumab, after two latestage studies showed it worked no better than a placebo in patients with mild-to-moderate cases. The companies are still studying an injectable version of the drug. Lilly's announcement comes two years after the drugmaker stopped developing another potential treatment, semagacestat, after patients taking the drug wound up faring worse than those on a placebo. Scientists say the search for a better Alzheimer's treatment presents several problems. To start, the brain is the most complex organ in the body and the one that researchers know the least about. Biological triggers behind disease development remain largely unproven, although certain factors like age increase the risk of getting it. Scientists believe changes in the brain of a person with Alzheimer's begin several years before the patient shows symptoms of the disease. -AP

In Brief State bars benefits for deferred-status immigrants JACKSON, Mississippi: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is ordering state agencies not to provide public benefits to immigrants receiving deferred deportation status from the federal government - an order that reinforces current state law. Legislators, meanwhile, held a lengthy public hearing about whether Mississippi should enact a new law allowing law officers to check people's immigration status during traffic stops or other encounters, similar to laws in Arizona and Alabama. Bryant, a Republican, issued an executive order hours before a legislative committee met. He has received support from tea party groups for years by saying he wants to tighten immigration enforcement because he believes the federal government has done a poor job. -AP

Jamaican convicted in sham marriage case WICHITA, Kan.: A federal jury has convicted a Jamaican woman of entering into a ``sham marriage'' with a Kansas soldier so she could get legal immigration status. Tw e n t y - e i g h t - y e a r - o l d Shannakay Hunter could get up to five years imprisonment on each count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud and lying to the government. The current New York resident is likely to get far less under sentencing guidelines. The government contends her 2010 marriage to former Fort Riley soldier Joshua Priest was a fake arrangement to give her a green card and him $1,500 in extra monthly benefits for married soldiers. -AP

ICE agents find six grenades in Rio Rico home NOGALES,Ariz.: Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have found six hand grenades in a Rio Rico home while serving a search warrant that also led to the discovery of 2,400 pounds of marijuana. ICE spokeswoman Amber Cargile tells the Nogales International that a state police bomb squad was called to the home after the grenades were discovered. Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies evacuated nearby homes while the bomb squad entered the house and investigated the grenade discovery. Four of the grenades were found to be inert and two were live smoke grenades. -AP

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September 7, 2012

New US immigration program can help farm workers TULARE, California: Much of the attention on a new U.S. immigration program has focused on the hundreds of thousands of students who are in the country illegally and now have the chance at work permits and deferred deportation. But just as many young workers, especially farm workers, could benefit as well. ``The stereotype about the young people who are eligible is that they're college students and academic superstars that speak English perfectly. And that is, of course, not true for all of them,'' said Ed Kissam, a labor policy researcher. One may be 23-year-old Juan Carlos Martin, who was smuggled through a U.S. border checkpoint from Mexico in a car at age 13. He had hoped for an education and career, but he started working full time after school after an accident incapacitated his father. In a California animal laboratory, he cleaned and fed dozens of cows. Martin was surprised to learn that he may be eligible for the new federal program aimed at young illegal immigrants. Agricultural

workers like him say a work permit and the benefits that come with it could open doors previously closed, leading to better paying jobs, improved working conditions and benefits and a path to higher education. ``This would change my whole life,'' Martin said. ``I came to this

gration Policy Institute shows. To be eligible, immigrants must prove they arrived in the United States before they turned 16, were younger than 31 as of June 15, have been living in the country at least five years, are in school or graduated and have not been convicted of certain crimes. The pro-

Two-thirds of farm workers are foreign-born Mexicans, the majority without legal status, and many are young. More than half are under the age of 31, according to the National Agricultural Workers Survey country with the goal of studying and getting ahead. But you really can't do it without a work permit, a Social Security number and a drivers' license.'' The program does not grant legal residency or a path to citizenship. More than half of the 1 million young illegal immigrants eligible for the program are in the labor force, mostly working in low-wage industries, an analysis by the Mi-

gram is also open to individuals who haven't graduated high school, as long as they enroll in an adult education program, vocational training or even English language instruction. Despite the possibilities, workers and advocates say farm workers and others who are out of school could face significant hurdles when applying: a lack of information about the program, limited English skills, little access to

legal advice and limited access to adult school to fulfill the program's education requirement. Two-thirds of farm workers are foreign-born Mexicans, the majority without legal status, and many are young. More than half are under the age of 31, according to the National Agricultural Workers Survey. Data from the survey shows that at least 54,000 farm workers could qualify for the program. Jaime Hernandez, 23, who picks strawberries in California for $8 per hour, found out about the program from a friend and is hoping to apply. Hernandez, who crossed the Arizona desert with his parents at age 11, dropped out of high school to work in the fields and help his family. If he is granted a work permit, he plans to get a better-paying job and go back to school to become a lawyer or a radio engineer. ``I'm afraid, I don't have the money to pay for a lawyer, and I don't know if I am guaranteed acceptance or if I will be rejected,'' Hernandez said. ``But still, it's worth it ... I'm not giving up.'' Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 43

Arizona's nonsensical and mean-spirited order CYRUS D. MEHTA

n August 15, 2012, the day that the Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs (DACA) took effect, thousands of young undocumented people lined up at legal assistance clinics with hope and joy. They got to know whether they were eligible to file an application under DACA, and by filing an application, their deportation would be deferred and they would also obtain employment authorization. It was extremely gratifying to be an immigration attorney that day volunteering at a DACA legal assistance clinic organized by the New York Immigration Coalition, among others. I could see in the twinkle in the eyes of each potential youth applicant when told that he or she could file under DACA. That twinkle revealed a whole new world of opportunity opening up.

The sky seemed to be the limit, which before the June 15, 2012 announcement was simply unimaginable. I could not help broadcast this tweet, @cyrusmehta.com: To see hope and joy in the faces of 100s lining up at pro bono

der that evening. According to the executive order, since deferred action does not confer lawful status or lawful presence, the alien granted employment authorization under DACA continues to be unlawfully present, and thus cannot avail of benefits in Arizona, includ-

Non-citizens who have demonstrated extenuating circumstances, such as medical emergencies or who have lost parents, have been granted deferred action #DACA clinic of #NYIC+ #AILA NY makes being an #immigration attorney gratifying As I was basking in the glow of that day and returning home on the New York subway, I saw on my Twitter feed that Governor Brewer of Arizona passed a mean spirited and hateful executive or-

ing a driver's license. I love Twitter because I can instantly express my thoughts, and hopefully there is an audience. These were my new tweets, quite different from the prior exuberant one, in reaction to the horror of Brewer's executive order: Brewer's executive order is un-

lawful & amp; wicked - there are many who are allowed to remain without lawful status. When is she being sued? #DACA Brewer's mean spirited exec order against granting #DACA applicants AZ driver's licenses will help Obama in elections, http:// bit.ly/N4LE8E I write this blog to expand on my recent impetuous tweets. First, deferred action has existed for several decades. Many have been granted deferred action, including John Lennon. Prior the announcement of DACA, non-citizens who have demonstrated extenuating circumstances, such as medical emergencies or who have lost parents, have been granted deferred action. In recent times, battered spouses, crime victims and widows/ers of US citizens have also been granted deferred action. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 43

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Mass. college offers illegal immigrant scholarship BOSTON: A small private liberal arts college in western Massachusetts has announced the establishment of a scholarship fund dedicated to helping illegal immigrants get degrees. The scholarship will provide more than $25,000 each year to help an illegal immigrant pay for the $43,000-plus tuition at Hampshire College in Amherst. At current funding levels, the endowment will help support one student's studies at the college every four years, said college spokeswoman Elaine Thomas. A professor was inspired to create the fund following a student's senior project on the Development, Relief, Education for Alien Minors act, which would allow some illegal immigrants to achieve U.S. citizenship by getting college degrees or by serving in the military. The legislation has yet to pass in Congress. Hampshire alumni, graduating students, parents and other donors have given more than $300,000 since the spring to fund the scholarship and an endowment to sustain it. There are an estimated 65,000 illegal immigrants who graduate from American high schools each year. Of those, an estimated 5 to 10 percent apply for college. No state or federal laws prohibit the admission of illegal immigrants into U.S. colleges, but schools have varying admission policies. Many states treat illegal immi-

grants as international students, charging them hefty out-of-state tuition regardless of whether they were raised in the state. Only California, New Mexico and Texas allow illegal immigrants to receive state financial aid, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Illinois has a privately-funded scholarship endowment for these stu-

Eva Millona, the executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Coalition, said this is the first instance where she has heard of a Massachusetts college or university offering a specific scholarship to illegal immigrants dents, according to the group. There are also some private scholarships that openly welcome illegal immigrant applicants and others get financial help from meritbased scholarships. Margaret Cerullo, the sociology professor who spearheaded the scholarship, has called the barriers blocking illegal immigrants' access to a college education a ``social injustice.''

``For a lot of us, access to higher education is a deep principle,'' Cerullo said in a statement last month. Thomas said Hampshire College hopes to grow the size of the endowment to be able to help more immigrants. She would not identify the student who has received the award for the school year beginning this fall, citing federal education privacy rules. Justin Draeger, the president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, praised states, schools and scholarship funds that recognize this population of students didn't come to the country by choice. Most were illegally brought to the country as young children or infants. ``There are a lot of kids who are U.S. citizens who have barriers to higher education,'' he said. ``These students have these barriers and more.'' Both the University of California Berkeley and University of California Los Angeles have offered scholarships specifically for illegal immigrants. Eva Millona, the executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Coalition, said this is the first instance where she has heard of a Massachusetts college or university offering a specific scholarship to illegal immigrants. ``We're thrilled to hear this and we commend them for this generous effort,'' she said.-AP

700 illegal Indians deported from UK LONDON: In a major operation to tackle visa abuse, Britain has deported nearly 700 Indians, including those who arrived here on student visas and overstayed or breached their visa conditions, official sources said here. The Indians were part of over 2,000 foreign nationals who were living in London illegally. Others removed from the UK under a drive called Operation Mayapple were from countries including Pakistan, Brazil, Bangladesh and China. Officials said that the UK Border Agency launched the operation in May to crack down on students and other migrants staying in the UK longer than permitted. Roughly two thirds were persuaded to leave voluntarily, with one third being removed by force. "Of the 2,000 London cases, roughly a third were from India. Significant numbers of illegal migrants from Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Bangladesh and Brazil

have also returned home as a result of the campaign," the Home Office said. Britain's e-Borders system means that officials can now check which people have left the coun-

More than 700 overstayers had to be forcibly removed following raids on businesses and residential premises in London, having refused to leave voluntarily try and this information, along with other intelligence, is then used to contact those who breach the terms of their visas. More than 400 London 'overstayers' were persuaded to leave the country after being con-

tacted to inform them that they have no right to remain and must make arrangements to leave. A further 800 left of their own accord and 58 overstayers left the capital under the Assisted Voluntary Return scheme, which is operated by Refugee Action. More than 700 overstayers had to be forcibly removed following raids on businesses and residential premises in London, having refused to leave voluntarily. Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "We are working to ensure we identify anybody who has overstayed their visa and encourage them to leave the country voluntarily. Those tempted to overstay should be aware of the serious consequences. If you choose not to go you will be arrested, detained and removed." Anyone who fails to leave before their visa expires faces a ban on re-entry to the UK, the Home Office added. -PTI

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Romney adviser leading immigration lawsuit WASHINGTON: An informal adviser to Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney is representing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees suing the Obama administration over its plan to stop deporting many young illegal immigrants and grant them work permits. Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, filed the lawsuit on behalf of 10 ICE employees in federal court in Dallas. The 22-page filing contends that the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals plan violates federal law and forces ICE employees to break the law by not arresting certain illegal immigrants. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and ICE Director John Morton are named as defendants. ``It places ICE agents in an untenable position where their political superiors are ordering them to violate federal law,'' Kobach said. ``If they follow federal law, they will be disciplined by their superiors.'' Kobach, who also advised border state Arizona lawmakers on the state's controversial immigration bill, said he is representing the employees as a private lawyer and not in his capacity as a Kansas state official. He wrote in the lawsuit that ICE

agents have been ordered not to arrest illegal immigrants who claim to be eligible for the administration's new deportation policy. Kobach also was a delegate to the platform committee for next week's Republican National Convention. In June, Napolitano and President Barack Obama said that some

Department officials have not said how many people might be eligible under the program, though the Pew Hispanic Center and others have estimated that about 1.7 million people could be covered illegal immigrants could avoid deportation and be granted a work permit for up to two years. Under the program, immigrants have to prove that they arrived in the United States before they turned 16, have been in the country for at least five years, are 30 or younger, are in school or have graduated or

have served in the military may be eligible. They cannot have a criminal record or otherwise be considered a threat to public safety or national security. Matt Chandler, a Homeland Security spokesman, said the department uses prosecutorial discretion to focus its efforts on arresting and deporting criminal immigrants, and the newest policy is in line with that effort. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services started accepting applications for the program on Aug. 15. Immigrants have to pay a $465 paperwork fee for the program. Department officials have not said how many people might be eligible under the program, though the Pew Hispanic Center and others have estimated that about 1.7 million people could be covered. An internal department document obtained by The Associated Press shows that the government estimated receiving about 1.04 million applications in the program's first year, with about 890,000 being immediately eligible. The document estimated that the program could cost between $467.7 million and $585.4 million. The department anticipated collecting about $484.2 million in fees. -AP

Bill would limit immigrant detentions in jails SACRAMENTO, Calif.: Lawmakers have sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would protect illegal immigrants who commit minor infractions from deportation. AB1081, known as the Trust Act, would allow California to opt out of some parts of the federal Secure Communities program. That program requires local law enforcement officers to check the fingerprints of people they arrest against a federal immigration database and hold those who are in the country illegally. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, said the policy wastes resources and drives a wedge between immigrants and law enforcement agencies. ``Victims of crime, including domestic violence, are fearful of risking separation from their families and deportation,'' he said. Several GOP lawmakers spoke against the bill, saying it would take away an important tool for ridding California of law-breakers. ``This has become the be-kindto-criminals Legislature,'' said As-

semblyman Jim Nielson, R-Gerber. AB1081 passed the Assembly on a party line, 44-23 vote after a lengthy debate. As the debate became more heated, Ammiano said some of the bill's Republican opponents had

Supporters argue that the Secure Communities program targets otherwise lawabiding immigrants who commit minor traffic infractions, sell food without a permit or are arrested on misdemeanors ``been in the sun too long building that silly fence,'' drawing a reprimand from Democratic house leadership. The Trust Act would prevent local law enforcement officers from detaining arrestees for possible deportation unless the suspect had been charged with a serious

or violent felony. The bill has been dubbed ``antiArizona'' legislation, a reference to that state's immigrant identification law. Supporters argue that the Secure Communities program targets otherwise law-abiding immigrants who commit minor traffic infractions, sell food without a permit or are arrested on misdemeanors charges but never convicted. The federal government has deported tens of thousands of people under the Secure Communities program, with the majority coming from California. Since 2009, California law enforcement officials have turned over about 80,000 illegal immigrants for deportation; fewer than half had committed a serious or violent felony. Trust Act advocates have long expected Gov. Jerry Brown, who previously served as California's attorney general, to present the biggest hurdle to the bill's passage. The Democratic governor has not taken a position on the legislation, according to spokesman Gareth Lacy. -AP

ICE chief of staff accused of sexual misconduct WASHINGTON: At least three employees at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have made serious complaints alleging inappropriate sexual behavior by a senior Obama administration political appointee and longtime aide to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, according to court records and a letter describing the claims submitted to a congressional oversight committee. The complaints are related to a sexual discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed in May by a senior ICE agent. They accuse Suzanne Barr, the agency's chief of staff, of sexually inappropriate behavior toward employees. Barr is on leave while the allegations are being investigated, a spokesman for the agency said. Barr is accused of telling a male subordinate he was ``sexy'' during an office party and asking a personal question about his anatomy. She is separately accused of offering to perform a sex act with a male subordinate while on business travel in Bogota, Colombia. She is also accused of calling a male subordinate from her hotel room and offering to perform a sex act. The names of two of the employees were censored in affidavits reviewed by the AP.

There were 10 sexual harassment claims filed with ICE in 2011, a significant increase over the two cases filed in each of the previous two years, according to equal employment data from the agency There were no prior complaints about Barr, according to a homeland security official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. Barr was one of Napolitano's first appointments after she became secretary in 2009. ICE would not say whether the agency's director, John Morton, witnessed any inappropriate behavior by Barr in the three years he's worked with her. Morton traveled with Barr 65 times between May 2009 and February 2012, according to documents obtained by the AP under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. Two employees came forward with their complaints after New York's most senior ICE agent filed a sexual discrimination and retalia-

tion lawsuit. James T. Hayes Jr., described a ``frat house'' atmosphere at ICE designed to humiliate male employees under Barr's leadership. Hayes, who filed the complaint in May, is asking for more than $4 million that would cover compensation he believes he is owed for relocation expenses and financial losses associated with his transfer as well as the full salary and benefits he would have earned until he was eligible to retire.

ICE Director John Morton

Hayes' lawyer, Morris Fischer of Silver Spring, Md., has declined to comment. The Justice Department is seeking to dismiss Hayes' lawsuit on the basis that he did not state a claim for retaliation. There were 10 sexual harassment claims filed with ICE in 2011, a significant increase over the two cases filed in each of the previous two years, according to equal employment data from the agency. DHS said none of the cases were substantiated. Also in 2011, Morton issued an anti-fraternization policy that said supervisors were not to have sexual or romantic relationships with subordinates. Any such relationships, the policy said, should be immediately reported. Brian Hale, an ICE spokesman, said the agency has a ``zero tolerance sexual harassment policy'' and that all such allegations are promptly investigated. Despite the complaints, 24 senior ICE agents across the country sent Morton a letter of support that alluded to media reports of Hayes' case. Barr went on leave after the New York Post reported a story on Hayes' complaint earlier this month. The additional employees came forward with their allegations around the same time. Barr, a 1995 graduate of University of Arizona, began working for Napolitano in 2004 when Napolitano was governor of Arizona. Before that, Barr worked for Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl. -AP

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September 7, 2012

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Arizona's nonsensical and mean-spirited order Cont’d from page 40

There are other non-citizens who may not have lawful status but are allowed to remain in the US. These include people who are presently in removal proceedings. Even those who have been ordered removed, such as through the grant of withholding of removal (based on persecution in their home countries), can remain in the US and obtain work authorization. Moreover, due to a quirky split in jurisdiction involving arriving aliens between Immigration Court and USCIS, arriving aliens cannot file defensive adjustment applications in Immigration Court, but have to file them with the USCIS while an Immigration Judge can still order them removed. If the adjustment application is approved, they can become lawful permanent residents despite the removal order. How will Brewer's executive order be able to differentiate between each of these categories of people who have been allowed to remain in the US? Second, the grant of deferred action stops the accrual of unlawful presence. However, unlawful presence is different from unlawful status. Governor Brewer's executive order does not seem to understand the difference. Unlawful presence is relevant, according to the USCIS DACA guidance, only with respect to determining whether one is inadmissible under the 3 and 10 year bars. Unlawful presence has nothing to do with status or the ability to remain in the US. There are situations when one may not be in lawful status and yet not be accruing unlawful presence since they are in a "period of stay authorized by the Attorney General." A classic example is someone who entered lawfully as a tourist, fell in love with a US citizen and married him. She filed an adjustment of status application based on the US citizen spouse's green card sponsorship. She is allowed to remain in the US while waiting for the green card, although her underlying tourist visa has expired. Such a person may not be in lawful status but is in a "period of stay authorized by the Attorney General" and is also not accruing unlawful presence. Governor Brewer's executive order does not seem to have grasped any of these distinctions. Third, in Arizona v. USA, the Supreme Court acknowledged the federal government's role in exercising prosecutorial discretion. As noted in a prior blog (http:// blog.cyrusmehta.com/ 2012_06_01_archive.html) I wrote with Gary Endelman, Justice Kennedy writing for the majority in that decision noted:

A principal feature of the removal system is the broad discretion exercised by immigration officials…... Federal officials, as an initial matter, must decide whether it makes sense to pursue removal at all. If removal proceedings commence, aliens may seek asylum and other discretionary relief allowing them to remain in the country or at least to leave without formal removal…. Discretion in the enforcement of immigration law embraces immediate human concerns. Unauthorized workers trying to support their families, for example, likely pose less danger than alien smugglers or aliens who commit a serious crime. The equities of an individual case may turn on many factors, in-

The GOP may see more Latino voters flee by the November elections, and the future of the party without support from Hispanics and minorities looks grim cluding whether the alien has children born in the United States, long ties to the community, or a record of distinguished military service. Some discretionary decisions involve policy choices that bear on this Nation's international relations. Returning an alien to his own country may be deemed inappropriate even where he has committed a removable offense or fails to meet the criteria for admission. The foreign state maybe mired in civil war, complicit in political persecution, or enduring conditions that create a real risk that the alien or his family will be harmed upon return. The dynamic nature of relations with other countries requires the Executive Branch to ensure that enforcement policies are consistent with this Nation's foreign policy with respect to these and other realities. Arizona v. USA, supra, Slip Op. at pages 4-5. Although the Supreme Court struck down all of the other provisions of Arizona's SB 1070, it narrowly upheld 2(B), the "show me your papers" law, which requires state officers to make "a reasonable attempt….to determine the immigration status" of any person they stop, detain, or arrest on some other legitimate basis if "reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien and is unlawfully present in the United States." Section 2(B) further provides that "[a]ny person who is arrested shall have the person's im-

migration status determined before the person is released." The Supreme Court upheld the provision, for now, since it had not taken effect, but cautioned that a person's detention under an Arizona provision cannot be prolonged because the state cannot readily determine this person's immigration status. Governor Brewer, through her executive order, has perhaps unwittingly opened up another challenge to 2(B). By not recognizing that a grant of deferred action to remain lawfully and work in the US, it will be disregarded by Arizona's law enforcement personnel, such as by the notorious Sheriff Joe, and his troopers, when he stops a non-citizen for jay walking and suspects that a person is unlawfully present in the US. Even if this DREAMer shows Sheriff Joe an employment authorization that was issued through a DACA filing, it could be disregarded and the person's detention could be needlessly prolonged even though the federal government has allowed this person to lawfully remain in the US and no longer considers him unlawfully present for purposes of the 3 or 10 year bar. Finally, it remains to be seen whether Brewer's executive order will be politically viable. The GOP may see more Latino voters flee by the November elections, and the future of the party without support from Hispanics and minorities looks grim. Moreover, the granting of status to undocumented youth under the proposed DREAM Act, with promise to do well and contribute to the US, has broad support among the American people. Governor Brewer will likely find herself on the wrong side of history, only to be relegated forever in its garbage heap. This article originally appeared on the Insightful Immigration Blog on August 16, 2012, http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/ 2012/08/nightmare-in-arizonahow-governor.html * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

CO gets immigration data to verify voter status DENVER: Colorado has finalized an agreement with federal officials to access an immigration database to verify whether noncitizens are on voting rolls, Secretary of State Scott Gessler has said. The federal database contains information about immigrants who are in the country legally and eligible to receive government benefits, but are not citizens. The agreement, which was expected, comes a week after Gessler sent letters to nearly 4,000 registered voters last week who he suspects are ineligible to vote because they once showed non-citizen documents, like a green card, when applying for a driver's license. They later appeared on voter rolls, Gessler has said. The letters ask people to either voluntarily withdraw their registration or verify their status. Gessler said the database will help verify whether those immigrants have since become citizens. ``My office is focused on protecting Colorado elections and we'll continue to work with these individuals to preserve their voter registration or help them withdraw if they're wrongly listed on the rolls,'' Gessler said in a statement.

Florida already has access to the federal database. Critics of Gessler's plan worry it could disenfranchise eligible voters. Like Florida's agreement, Colorado officials must use an alien registration number, as opposed to using only person's last name, to run a citizenship check through database.

The federal database contains information about immigrants who are in the country legally and eligible to receive government benefits, but are not citizens Gessler spokesman Rich Coolidge said election officials will use the database to go through the nearly 4,000 names that received letters to verify their status. Gessler's office said there will be hearings for people who don't respond to letters before officials take any action on their registration.-AP

New US immigration program can help farm workers Cont’d from page 40

For eligible workers who have never filled out an application and speak little English, applying is intimidating, said UFW Foundation's Richard Gorman. ``Our hope is that once they have papers, once you take away the fear of deportation, that will encourage workers to stand up for themselves and for others in their own workplaces, to form a union or complain to their boss when there is a problem.'' Some farmers are worried the program could cut into their workforce. One group of growers, the Nisei Farmers League, is discouraging farm workers from applying, worried workers or their families could be deported once their addresses are given to the

federal government. Another worry: Because the application for work authorization asks for all previously used Social Security identification numbers, the information could lead the government to track down agricultural employers who hired the illegal workers and subject them to audits or sanctions, said the league's president, Manuel Cunha. ``There is no safe haven at the end of the day,'' Cunha said. Federal immigration officials have said they won't use information from the applications for immigration enforcement against workers. Officials declined to comment on whether information provided by applicants would be used to prosecute or audit employers.-AP

Realty Tidbits

Real estate firm gifts plots to cricket team

HYDERABAD: Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and other cricketers, who were members of the squad that won the first T20 World Cup in 2007, have received land as gift from a citybased real estate firm. Suchirindia Infratech (P) Limited presented the plot registered gift deed documents to the players of the first-ever Twenty20 World Cup winning team here. The players, who received the documents included Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Sreesanth, Joginder Sharma, Piyush Chawla and former India spinner S L Venkatapathi Raju and coach Lalchand Rajput. The documents will soon be sent to the remaining players of the World Cup squad, who could not attend the function, company officials said. Speaking on the occasion, Dhoni and Rajput thanked the company’s CEO Y Kiron for the gesture. -PTI

Housing prices to go up in Noida Extension NEW DELHI: Real estate developers expect home prices to rise by at least 25 per cent in Noida Extension as the government's approval to Greater Noida master plan has paved the way for start of construction, which was stalled for over a year in the area. The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has given its nod for master plan, which was made mandatory by a court order in October 2011 for any construction activity in Noida Extension-- a newly proposed residential hub in the NCR. About 2.5 lakh homes have already been launched, of which about 1.5 lakh were sold even before construction work stopped about a year ago on farmers protest. "The housing demand in Noida Extension is going to be very high after NCRPB approval, while supply is very weak. Prices are bound to increase because of various factors such as hike in compensation to farmers and rising input cost," Amrapali Chairman and Managing Director Anil Sharma told PTI. Sharma said the prices would go up by about 25 per cent. "Prices were Rs 2,100-2,200 a sq ft in this region last year. Now we expect the same to go up to about Rs 2,600 per sq ft". -PTI

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September 7, 2012

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Mumbai consumers form 'FORAM' to fight VAT bombshell

eeking to fight the vexed VAT issue on flats in Maharashtra, a consumer group called FORAM - Flat Owners' Rights protection Action committee in Maharashtra - has been formed with consumer interest groups coming together. FORAM will mobilize public opinion against the VAT on flats sold between 2006 and 2010 which has come like a bolt from the blue, said Atul Puranik, convener of the new platform. "As it is, the common man is burdened with a series of taxes and a homer buyer has to pay even much more in terms of service tax, stamp duty and registration and now the VAT," Puranik, who is associated with the Council for Fair Business Practices, pointed out and called for an immediate end to VAT on housing sector. Puranik said there is no justification for levying taxes on the material used in housing since all these items are subjected to sales tax. VAT, actually, amounts to

double taxation, he said. Chandrashekhar Soman, another convener of FORAM, said, "We will mobilize public opinion against it all over Maharashtra with district level committees VAT and appeal to the government to scrap the tax altogether for flat

asked why should there be VAT on immovable property. He pointed out that there was a lot of confusion on the percentage of VAT to be levied and "even the government officials come up with different figures". Chandrashekhar Soman also

"My fundamental question is: why should there be VAT on immovable property? VAT should totally be scrapped be it 1% as applicable from April 1, 2010 or the high rate of 5% from 2006 to 2010" buyers." "This is just the beginning," he said and expressed the hope that people a cross section will join in the movement. Asserting that FORAM will raise voice on behalf of the common man, Mr Soman said there was no justification for VAT on property because buyers pay stamp duty and service tax. He

heads the Consumer Rights Protection Forum of Shiv Sena at Panvel. FORAM received support from elected representatives like Mr. Vivek Patil, MLA from Uran. Many consumer rights activists and advocates promised to lend a helping hand to the anti-VAT drive. "I was shocked to read about the Maharashtra Government's

announcement to charge VAT at a high rate of 5% on flats and other properties bought from 2006 to 2010," said Mr Patil commenting that: "I strongly feel it is very, very exorbitant." "Several people who chose to buy flats in Raigad district because of the price advantage as compared to Mumbai and its suburbs have approached me with this new VAT issue. "My fundamental question is: why should there be VAT on immovable property? VAT should totally be scrapped be it 1% as applicable from April 1, 2010 or the high rate of 5% from 2006 to 2010," Patil said. Echoing similar views, Mr Patil pointed out that the common man is being "crushed" by the government policies both by the central and state governments. "The uncontrolled increase in prices of essential items like food, electricity and petroleum products, along with taxes on everything that we buy had made the life miserable for many," he said.

Builders' body threatens Maharashtra builders to pass on VAT to buyers to stop work PUNE: The Builders' Association of India (BAI), Maharashtra branch, has threatened to stop construction work if the state government does not withdraw its decision to levy 5% value added tax (VAT) on constructions completed between June 2006 and March 2010. BAI state branch chairman Manoj Potekar said that the Maharashtra sales tax department's order directing developers and builders to deposit the VAT on flats sold between June 2006 and March 2010 before August 31 is unjust and impractical. "The total amount which the developers will have to deposit, along with interest and penalty, will run into crores of rupees. It will be cumbersome to recover this amount from customers who have now settled into their dwellings," Potekar said. He said it is a serious miscon-

ception that developers have recovered, but not deposited with the state, the VAT which the state is now demanding. "As the issue was sub-judice we have not recovered the tax. We have instead ob-

"The total amount which the developers will have to deposit, along with interest and penalty, will run into crores of rupees” tained undertakings from customers that they will pay up if the court verdict validates the state's decision to charge 5% VAT on constructions between 2006 and 2010," he said.

MUMBAI: Builders and developers in Maharashtra say that they would pass on the liability of paying value added tax (VAT) imposed by the state government with retrospective effect, to the respective buyers. "The VAT will finally have to be borne by the customers… along with expenses of registration and stamp duty," industry body CREDAI's secretary and chairman of Amit Enterprises, Kishor Pate, said. The government intends to levy a VAT of 5 per cent on constructions made between 2006 and 2010, which is resulting in an additional tax liability on flats, shops and bungalows sold by developers between June 20, 2006, and March 31, 2010. CREDAI and other bodies had moved the Bombay High Court seeking relief in the matter but their plea was dismissed. The case is

now pending in the Supreme Court. "Earlier, VAT was proposed to be at 5 per cent but was lowered to 1 per cent, and has now been fixed at 5 per cent after all. This

"The VAT will finally have to be borne by the customers… along with expenses of registration and stamp duty" industry body CREDAI's secretary Kishor Pate, said will have an obvious negative effect on buyers, because developers are bound to pass the added cost on to them," consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle head for strategic consulting Subhankar Mitra said in a statement.

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Adarsh scam scares Kerala govt THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ricochets of Adarsh scam seem to have rocked the Kerala bureaucracy. The state revenue department has turned down a proposal by the Air Force Naval Housing Board (AFNHB), requesting land for coming up with a housing project for serving and retired Air Force and Navy personnel, citing that "it may lead to Adarsh-like scams". "The proposal may be turned down. The AFNHB is only a housing society which is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. When prime land is not available even for development purposes of the state, it need not be given for such purposes. An alternative site can be located but the government need not play the role of a middle-man for locating the land, as it may lead to Adarsh-like scams," said the

revenue department's note, accessed by the STOI. With this, fate of the ambitious project by the defense welfare organization is al-

off," a source said. Union minister of state for defense M M Pallam Raju had on May 31, 2007, written to the then chief minister V S Achuthanandan

The Muttathara land, ever since the revenue department decided to develop it for housing projects, was eyed by many governmental and semi-governmental organizations given its prime location and proximity to the airport most sealed. "With the department concerned putting such an objection on record, that too expressing apprehension of another Adarshlike scam, the housing project may not take

requesting to allot at least 10 acres of land at a suitable location for the AFNHB "to construct residential units, community facilities, sports complexes, etc., for retired Air Force and Navy personnel of your state".

Developers asked to start work on units 'immediately' GREATER NOIDA: The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has decided to not lose any more time and ordered developers to resume construction work in Noida Extension immediately. This direction comes as all pre-conditions to resume construction work in the area have been finally met. In a meeting with 25 major developers, Greater Noida Authority CEO Rama Raman directed them to resume all stalled construction work with "immediate effect." Raman also asked them to start paying their due installments for the period between October 21, 2011 and August 2012 so that the Authority can resume halted development work. The developers owe the Authority a total of about Rs 20,000 crore as installment for the land allotted to them in Noida Extension almost three years ago. How-

ever, as per the initial agreement, the entire amount is to be paid to the Authority in installments

The developers owe the Authority a total of about Rs 20,000 crore as installment for the land allotted to them in Noida Extension almost three years ago. However, as per the initial agreement, the entire amount is to be paid in installments spread over eight years. GNIDA has already collected nearly Rs 300 crore from the developers. However, following the

Allahabad high court order on October 21, 2011, directing developers and GNIDA to stop work in Noida Extension, most developers stopped paying the due installments. Developers owe the Authority around Rs 1,000 crore for the period between October 21, 2011 and now. However, the Authority has not given any deadline to the developers to pay up and has also assured them that no interest will be charged from them on the due installments. This respite of the 'zero period' will also be applicable to buyers regarding their installments due to the developers. In a meeting with homebuyers, Raman assured them that developers will not hike the rates for existing investors. The Authority has also decided to call a meeting with leading banks to assure them of the marketability of Noida Extension projects.

Expenses on company-leased flats not taxable NEW DELHI: In a ruling that has potentially far reaching implications for employees living in company-leased accommodation, the Delhi High Court has ruled that money spent on repairs and renovations of such residences is not a taxable perk. The verdict, delivered on August 17, comes 18 years after the income-tax department (I-T) issued a notice on Scott R Bayman, who was then the president and CEO of GE's India unit, for not including the value of taxable perks in his income for the financial year 1993-94. The ruling, if unchallenged in

the Supreme Court, implies those living in company-provided accommodation will not have to pay tax on expenses incurred by their employers on repair and renovation of their houses. In Bayman's case, this was a one-time expense but legal expert and chartered accountant Rakesh Gupta says it may also apply to annual expenses maintenance and renovation. "But there are reasonable restrictions in such matters. A person living in a house with a rent of Rs 25,000-30,000 cannot submit a renovation bill of Rs 2030 lakh and expect it to be passed," he says.

GE had spent Rs 50.6 lakh on repairs and renovation of the residence - 4, Panchsheel Marg, New Delhi - before Bayman moved in. The work involved electrical wiring, plumbing, AC ducting, security fencing and building a room for a security guard and was executed by Delhi-based interior designing firm Framework Interiors. Some furniture was also purchased. The assessing officer argued that these expenses incurred by GE would otherwise have been paid for by Bayman and therefore the perquisite value should be taxed.

Following this, the AFNHB put forward a proposal requesting the Kerala government to allot 10 acres from the 135 acres of land near Muttathara, close to the airport. Air Vice-Marshal K P Nairon June 14, 2012, wrote to the government that AFNHB was willing to pay for the land at prevailing government rates. The Muttathara land, ever since the revenue department decided to develop it for housing projects, was eyed by many governmental and semi-governmental organizations given its prime location and proximity to the airport. Though the Kerala government has already given parts of the 135acre plot to Indian Air Force, Border Security Force and Airports Authority of India, the babus developed cold feet in the case of AFNHB alone.

Balancing act for India in overhaul of archaic land law MUMBAI: More than a century after it was drawn up by British colonial rulers, India's land acquisition law is finally set for a revamp that promises to breathe life into scores of frozen industrial and infrastructure projects and help lift the sagging economy. That's the optimistic scenario. The reality is that the new law will make the cost of land much higher for businesses and is unlikely to put a stop to protests by millions of people determined to defend their livelihoods or get fair compensation for losing their land. The new bill will govern land acquisition by the government for itself and by private firms to provide public services. This will embrace a wide range of projects in sectors from power and telecommunications to transport and education. Among the major projects which have stalled awaiting the new legislation are 12-million-tonne steel plants planned by Posco and ArcelorMittal and a six-milliontonne steel plant of Tata Steel in Odisha, as well as Coal India's mine expansion in Chattisgarh. More than 80 highway projects are also running behind schedule. Despite the promise of greater transparency and better regula-

tion, corporate India is worried about cost. The new law may force them to pay four times the market price for land in rural areas and twice the market price in urban areas, and give displaced people

Among the major projects which have stalled awaiting the new legislation are 12-million-tonne steel plants planned by Posco and ArcelorMittal and a six-million-tonne steel plant of Tata Steel in Odisha, as well as Coal India's mine expansion in Chattisgarh homes, jobs, monthly stipends and even a share of their profits in some cases. Even if companies enter into private negotiations for land, they will be required to rehabilitate people if they acquire over 100 acres of rural land or 50 acres in urban areas.

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Govt cancels Jaypee's Agra inner ring road project LUCKNOW: After an initial thaw in relations between the Samajwadi Party and the JaypeeGroup, controversy appears to have returned to dog the developers of Yamuna Expressway. Tightening the noose around the group, the government has cancelled the contractual agreement entered into by the Jaypee Group and the UP government for constructing a 34-km inner ring road surrounding Agra. Sources said the cancellation was a result of the failure to meet some parts of the agreement. Following the meeting on the project, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the bidding process would be started again, adding that though the road would still be built on the PPP model, the Jaypee Group, should they want to build the road, will have

to participate in a fresh tendering process. In February 2010 when the BSP was in power, an agreement was signed between the Agra Development Authority and the

Authority has been made the nodal agency. The government sources also said that though the government would facilitate the acquisition of land for this road project, it

Sources said the cancellation was a result of the failure to meet some parts of the agreement. Following the meeting on the project, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the bidding process would be started again Jaypee Group to construct a 34-km ring road around Agra on the PPP model. With the SP government having cancelled that agreement, a new bid will now be made on the PPP mode for which the Agra Development

will not, once the bidding process starts, intervene directly in the land acquisition process. The chief minister also said the project would be given full support by the infra-

structure and housing departments. As part of the project proposal, the ring road will not be built on elevated tracks. Bids, officials added, would be invited from developers soon. Akhilesh also reiterated the need for better roads to ensure UP's progress. Adding that a strong network of roads could fasttrack development, he also said roads should allow smooth flow of traffic, facilitate businesses and lead to new job opportunities for unemployed youth. Reviewing a presentation on the Agra Inner Ring Road, Akhilesh said the state government was committed to improving the lot of the poor, weaker and all other sections of the society and would do all that was in its command to achieve this commitment.

Monorail project in for more delay MUMBAI: Even as the city's development authority hopes to complete the already delayed Wadala-Jacob Circle Monorail corridor by the end of next year, it is yet to secure space to set up the supporting infrastructure, such as sub-stations, staircases and fire-fighting rooms. The plots identified by the

is yet to respond with a definite answer. "We are expecting a positive reply from the BMC. We don't need to acquire any part of the land. We only need permission to use some of the land to set up sub-stations," said PRK Murthy, head of transport and communications, MMRDA.

"If we don't get hold of this land, we will have to redesign certain portions of the corridor. That will be time-consuming and may lead to more delay" Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to set up this infrastructure belong to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The MMRDA has been sending repeated requests to the civic body to allow it to undertake construction on the land, but the BMC

"If we don't get hold of this land, we will have to redesign certain portions of the corridor. That will be time-consuming and may lead to more delay," he said. The permission to start construction of the infrastructure is vital since the MMRDA may not be able to meet the revised dead-

line of completing the corridor by the end of next year if it does not come through. Once the BMC gives a goahead, the MMRDA will require at least three months to construct the required sub-stations and generator rooms. MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana recently wrote to BMC

Commissioner Sitaram Kunte, seeking permission to use the land required. The development authority requires land at seven places along the 11.3-km Wadala-Jacob Circle corridor. The development authority has demanded for a part of the Police Parade Ground at Naigaon, be-

sides land belonging to BMC's BEST undertaking at Parel-Sewri, patches of land at Lower Parel, Matunga and Dadar-Naigaon. The purposes listed are construction of auxiliary sub-stations, a diesel generator room, a foot over-bridge, staircases, escalators, lifts and a fire-fighting room. According to Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the Estates Department Chandrashekhar Chore, "Although these plots are owned by the BMC, some of them are currently occupied by other agencies. Plots owned and occupied by the civic agency have been given to MMRDA and it has been asked to seek permission from other agencies that are currently occupying the rest of the plots." The Wadala-Jacob Circle Monorail is being constructed as the second phase of the ChemburWadala-Jacob Circle corridor. The construction of the line had commenced nearly four years ago and was originally expected to be completed in 2011.

Big population shift to urban areas CHANDIAGRH: Indicating a big population shift to urban areas, Punjab has added at least 56 census towns, each with a minimum population of 5,000, to its list of cities during the past 10 years. The state has added at least four statutory towns to its list. These towns are run by local bodies such as municipal corporations/ committees. The total number of urban settlements in the statutory category has risen to 143. More importantly, there has been a decline in the rural population of cities like Jalandhar (-0.91) per cent, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (-3.36 per cent) and Mohali (4.03 per cent). Punjab is definitely the most

urbanized state in the North barring Delhi and Chandigarh (Union Territory). Of Punjab's total population of 27, 704,236, as many as 10,387,436 live in the urban areas. This works out to 37.49 per cent. The state's urban population is almost equal to the combined urb a n p o p u l a tion of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Dr Pramod Kumar, who is Director of the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), said: "The population shift indicates the changing life habits in the region. Where once five members of a family were engaged in agriculture earlier, just two do the job today.

This development, in fact, is a telling comment on the so-called progress made by the state". Mohali has emerged as the most sought-after urban settlement in the state as reflected in its growth rate of more than 90 per cent. The city's population rose from about 2,86,286 to 5,44,035 during this period. Seema Jain, Census Director, Punjab, said, "SBS Nagar has a changed demographic profile as its municipal limits have changed. Because of this the urbanization figure of 54 per cent appears high. Bathinda has witnessed a more than 42 per cent urbanization because of a massive improvement in infrastructure and new housing projects".

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

ife is intensity. Do you see the life within you does not slacken even for a moment? What slackens is your mind and your emotion - sometimes on, sometimes off. Watch the breath, does it ever slacken? If it slackens, it means death, isn't it? When I go on telling you in so many ways to be intense, I am just talking about you becoming like life. Right now, you have given too much significance to the thought and emotion that happens within you, not the life that is happening within you. Is your thought more significant than you being alive? The great French philosopher Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am." Most people believe that they exist only because they are thinking. No, because you exist you may think, or you may not think, isn't it? Your aliveness is far more fundamental and more significant than your thought and emotion. But you only listen to what your thought and emotion are saying. If you go by the process of your life, it is intense whether you are awake or asleep. Is the life within you slackening when you sleep? Otherwise you will not wake up tomorrow morning, if it slackens. No matter what you are doing, whether it is something that you SWAMI SIVANANDA

piritual knowledge is a matter of Guru-Parampara. It is handed down from Guru to his disciple. Gaudapadacharya imparted Self-knowledge to his disciple Govindacharya; Govindacharya to his disciple Sankaracharya; Sankaracharya to his disciple Suresvaracharya. Matsyendranath imparted knowledge to his disciple Gorakhnath; Gorakhnath to Nivrittinath; Nivrittinath to Jnanadeva. Totapuri imparted knowledge to Sri Ramakrishna, and Ramakrishna to Swami Vivekananda. It was Ashtavakra who molded the life of Raja Janaka. It was Gorakhnath who shaped the spiritual destiny of Raja Bhartrihari. It was Lord Krishna who made Arjuna and Uddhava get themselves established in the spiritual path when their minds were in an unsettled state. Initiation does not mean reciting a Mantra into another's ears. If Rama is influenced by the thoughts of Krishna, the former has got initiation already from the latter. If an aspirant treads the path of truth after studying the books written by a saint, and imbibes his teachings, that saint has already become his Guru. The Guru will find out by close

like or not, is your life slackening? No. It is only your mind that says, "I like this, so I will do it with passion. I don't like that, so I will not do it with passion." But your life is not like that, it is always intense. If you are constantly aware that all the other things are passing things and I am fundamentally life, you will remain intense. There is no other way because life does not know any other way to be. Life is always intense. It is only thought

then tomorrow your emotions tell you that this is the most horrible man and both seemed 100% true. So both your thought and emotion are tremendous instruments of deception. They can make you believe just about anything. Just look at your own beliefs none of them will stand any kind of investigation. If I ask you three questions, your whole belief system will collapse. But your mind will make you believe different

main a piece of life, you will very naturally reach your ultimate nature. It is not something that you have to strive for or struggle for. This is the reason I have always been saying - just maintain your intensity, the rest will happen. You do not have to look for the way to heaven. Just maintain your intensity. There is nobody who can either take this life to its ultimate nature or stop it. We can delay it or we can just allow it to go very

Life is intense; thought and emotion are deceptive

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

If you go by the process of your life, it is intense whether you are awake or asleep. Is the life within you slackening when you sleep? Otherwise you will not wake up tomorrow morning

and emotion, which is deceptive. When it comes to looking at the nature of your thought or your emotion for that matter, any number of times in your life, it has made you believe so many things and after little bit of time it makes you feel like a fool for what you believed yesterday. Today your emotions tell you that this is the most wonderful man,

things at different stages in your life and firmly believe that is true. So intensity means just going by the way of life. If you just exist here as life, pure life, it will naturally go to its ultimate nature. You are creating a huge hurdle in the process of life reaching its natural goal by becoming a thought, emotion, ideas, opinions, prejudices, anger, hatred and so many other things. If you just re-

quickly without any obstructions. This is all we can do. Any spiritual process is about allowing it to happen as quickly as possible. You do not have to call for gods to come and help you. If you can just exist here as life is, you will naturally be there. The 55th birth anniversary of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev will be observed on Sept 3

study of the aspirant his tastes, temperaments and capacity, and decide for him the most suitable path. If his heart is impure, the teacher will prescribe selfless service for a number of years. Then the Guru will find out for what particular path the student is fit and initiate him in that. Spiritual power is transmitted by the Guru to the proper disciple whom he considers fit for Sakti-

Krishna asks Arjuna to develop Vairagya and Abhyasa. He did not say to him, "I will give you Mukti now." Therefore, abandon the wrong notion that your Guru will give you Samadhi and Mukti. Strive, purify, meditate and realize. Guru-Kripa, grace of the Guru, is very necessary. That does not mean that the disciple should sit idle. He must do rigid Purushartha, spiritual practices. The whole work

the path and remove your doubts. Anubhava of Aparoksha kind or direct intuitive knowledge is left for your own experience. A hungry man will have to eat for himself. He who has a severe itching will have to scratch for himself. No doubt, Guru's blessings can do everything. How can one have his blessings? By pleasing the Guru. A Guru can be pleased

A Guru can be pleased by following his instructions

Swami Sivananda

Sanchara. The Guru can transform the disciple by a look, a touch, a thought or a word or willing. Sakti-Sanchara comes through Parampara. It is a hidden mystic science. It is handed down from the Guru to the disciple. Grace and Self-Effort Realization cannot come to you as a miracle done by your Guru. Lord Buddha, Lord Jesus, Rama Tirtha have all done Sadhana. Lord

Guru-Kripa, grace of the Guru, is very necessary. That does not mean that the disciple should sit idle. He must do rigid Purushartha, spiritual practices. The whole work must be done by the student must be done by the student. Nowadays, people want a drop of water from the Kamandalu of a Sannyasin and desire to enter into Samadhi immediately. They are not prepared to undergo any Sadhana for purification and Selfrealization. They want a magic pill to push them into Samadhi. If you have got such delusion, give it up immediately. Guru and Sastras can show you

with his disciple only if the latter carries out his spiritual instructions implicitly. Carefully follow, therefore, the instructions of the Guru. Act up to his instructions. Then only will you deserve his blessings, and then alone his blessings can do everything. The 125th birth anniversary of Swami Sivananda will be observed on September 8

This moment is the final destination. 'This' is as much God as it gets. -Florian Schlosser Time is the interval between two thoughts. So without thoughts, there is no time! -Richard Miller You learned your thoughts, beliefs and identity. Why then would you imagine you can't unlearn them? -Isira What you assume yourself to be doesn't exist. -Charlie Hayes Suffering seems real because we don't have a clear understanding of our true nature. Once our real self is pointed out, the suffering loses its grip. -John Wheeler Beyond right thinking and wrong thinking there is a field. I'll meet you there. -Rumi The world is as you are. -David Lynch

You Insure all your Valuables, all are replaceable except YOU! So Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

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India: Double speak on nuclear disarmament PR CHARI

all it unintended irony. But India's Foreign Minister and National Security Adviser using a forum to discuss the resurrected Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan and the Holy Grail of nuclear disarmament to emphasize India's devotion to nuclear deterrence is surely an oddity. What these officials said is worth quoting. SM Krishna, External Affairs Minister, said, "Nuclear weapons today are [an] integral part of our national security and will remain so, pending nondiscriminatory and global nuclear disarmament." And, the National Security Adviser, Shiv Shankar Menon, observed that India would be safer pursuing global nuclear disarmament, "but until we arrive at that happy state, we have no choice and a responsibility towards our own people, to have nuclear weapons to protect them from nuclear threats." These enunciations are in synch with India's overall nuclear disarmament policy to make hortatory statements on eliminating nuclear weapons, but proceeding quietly to strengthen its own nuclear arsenal and further refine its own missile capabilities. Nothing new, therefore, in these expressions of India's nuclear disarmament policy. Except for the further confession by the National Security Adviser that "On at least three occasions before 1998 other powers used the explicit or implicit threat of nuclear weapons to try and change India's behavior." He gave no further details. One is not privy to the Government's intelligence on these occasions. But information available in the public domain on the nuclear weapons-related crises involving India and Pakistan before their nuclear tests in 1998 can be reviewed. • A series of alarms and feverish diplomatic activity occurred over 1984-86 when Pakistan voiced suspicions that India was planning to attack its nuclear installations in Kahuta that housed its weapons program. India had strenuously denied having any such intentions, but the US felt impelled to persuade India to desist. An unintended effect of these maneuvers was that the US got committed to protecting Pakistan's nuclear program, which they had always opposed. • Shortly thereafter, a major crisis erupted in 1986-87 between India and Pakistan centering on India's massive Brasstacks exercise that was conducted along the

India-Pakistan border. Pakistan then made provocative counterdeployments, leading to a tinderbox situation where a minor skirmish could have triggered an allout war. Fortunately, this crisis was defused by good sense ultimately prevailing on both sides. During this episode Pakistan's controversial nuclear scientist, AQ Khan, had delivered a warning to India through an Indian journalist, Kuldip Nayyar, that Pakistan possessed nuclear weapons and would use them against India, if provoked. This warning was treated with skepticism in India, and was denied by Pakistan. Neither did it serve any purpose since

None of these crises, therefore, contained any credible "explicit or implicit threat of nuclear weapons to try and change India's behavior." Much lies in the eyes and ears of the beholder. But, having made such large assertions in public the National Security Adviser must clarify himself. Or is he only tilting at windmills in seeking to justify India's nuclear deterrent? And deride any effort by India to proceed unilaterally towards nuclear disarmament? These clever postures are a far cry from the Nehruvian era when India enjoyed a certain élan in the sphere of nuclear disarmament and the search for a safer world.

NSA Shiv Shankar Menon

the crisis had abated. • Again a huge uprising occurred in the Kashmir Valley in the early 1990s, triggered by perceived unfair elections held in 1989 that was further inflamed by extreme elements in Pakistan. That led to large-scale deployment of troops by India and counter-deployments

None of these crises, therefore, contained any credible "explicit or implicit threat of nuclear weapons to try and change India's behavior" by Pakistan. Beliefs that this crisis had a nuclear dimension are based on an ambiguous statement by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Yakub Khan, that "lightning is flashing in the skies" and a sensational story published in the New Yorker by the journalist Seymour Hersh in 1993 alleging that Pakistan had armed its aircraft with nuclear weapons that were placed on "strip alert."

India's highly publicized contribution in recent years to revive this élan is the Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan (1988), which has been resurrected to refurbish the besmirched image of the UPA Government. But India is not prepared to join the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and permanently eschew nuclear testing. Nor is it willing to cease manufacturing fissile materials for weapons purposes before the Fissile Materials Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) is negotiated, of which there is no sign. The final irony surely is that India fervently wishes to gain entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (MSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group. All of them are multinational export control regimes designed to ensure the non-proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction. In other words, India would not like more countries to acquire nuclear weapons, while supporting nuclear disarmament as a desirable end, and keeping its powder dry. We are like that only! The writer is Visiting Professor, IPCS

India Post Won't talk, won't act

s if other things in India were working, the BJP has chosen to shut down parliament too. Perhaps it thinks by so doing it will prove it is a better administrator than the present government. If by any stroke of luck, it is able to win power in 2014, does it think the Congress and other opponents will let it function? Won't they be tempted to adopt the same means that the BJP is attempting today? Perhaps the Congress also prefers this way of functioning. A debate in parliament would necessitate the government to display its sincerity and accountability which the Congress is not in a position to provide. Justifying his silence on the coal blocks scam, the Prime Minister has said it is better than a thousand answers. Silence is not a virtue in politics. It presupposes guilt. If indeed Manmohan Singh loves silence so much, he should retreat to a cave in the Himalayas. In politics you are answerable to the thousands who have elected you. Unfortunately Manmohan Singh is unaware of this fact because he has not been elected by the people. He has come by the side door, the Rajya Sabha, on the strength of his party's position in parliament. That is why he doesn't know what it is like to represent the people. He has no concern for the ordinary people because he has never talked to them. He has always functioned behind closed doors as a bureaucrat. How can the Prime Minister of a country of 1.2 billion people say that he won't respond to the people's demands which remain unattended because he doesn't know what to answer? The PM's remark would be valid if he could claim that actions speak louder than words. If he loves silence, at least he could make up by some action. What can you do with an 80 year old PM who neither talks nor acts. In the beginning, Indira Gandhi was also taunted as "goongi gudiya" in Parliament. But she showed she meant business with her actions. If indeed inaction was also a virtue, the PM would not be in the deep waters he is today. Evidence of scams like the CWG, 2 G, Coalgate shows that he has allowed lot of wrong action. The trick up the sleeves of the Congress has been blaming the coalition partners for all the wrongdoings. The 2G scam was blamed on the ally DMK, the inflation and agriculture mess on Sharad Pawar's NCP and so many of the so-called progressive measures being blocked on Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. It seems the BJP has found a chink in this strategy. This time the coal scandal is right up the PM's alley because he is in charge of that portfolio and the BJP wants to take the issue right up to the Prime Minister's Office. Whether it succeeds or not is not the issue. The question is, so what if the PM is also involved? Isn't the BJP involved in the scams in states ruled by its own? If today the Congress refuses to be accountable, will the BJP be accountable tomorrow? Is it accountable in Karnataka, where misdeeds of its succeeding CMs are coming to light? If the present strategy of obstruction has been concocted by the BJP's own octogenarian Lal Krishna Advani, then it is obvious the parliamentarians of both the parties are trying old tricks of a bygone era. The youth of today may not been enamored of either party and they may declare in the coming elections, "A plague on both your houses, and both your parties."

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