Indiapost 10 03 2014 e paper by Ghanshyam Bisht

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Modi at UNGA

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You are the future, Modi tells youth at Central Park Details on page 8

Obama hosts private dinner for Modi

Grants life-long visa to PIOs

KEM CHO? President Barack Obama welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the dinner hosted in his honor at the White House, in Washington DC on September 30. (Details on page 11)

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 30-31

ENTHRALLING SPEECH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures during his address to the large number of Indian Americans gathered at Madison Square Garden in New York on September 28. (Right) An aerial view of the stadium

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SUDHIR VYAS

NEW YORK: The man who was denied entry into the United States almost 12 years ago, on Sunday walked in triumphantly with a standing ovation, with over 50 elected officials including Governors, Senators and Congressmen standing in attendance and millions of Indians settled in the United States and all over the world cheering every word that he uttered during his almost 80 minutes speech,

inspiring every Indian in the packed Madison Square Garden in New York. Thousands of others viewed the event from the famous Times Square and other locations through the length and breadth of the United States. It looked that no one else but the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can charm his audience wherever he goes.

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s universal dress codes go, you don't turn up at a rock concert wearing a kurta-pyjama with a bright blue bandhgala jacket. But that's Narendra Modi's style, which I would call, intrepid and uninhibited. And yet, I am not referring to only his sense of dressing. It's the way he does things. Apart from what he "officially" came to achieve, be it the UN address, the Obama Summit, the bilateral meets on the sidelines, the desi community meet, the American CEO meet, the CFR address - his predecessors have more or less done all that and some, in the past - but all of that apart, what struck me as the Modi chutzpah was his appearance at the Central Park to address a rock concert crowd of over 60,000 New York youth. He took just seven minutes on stage before what was arguably the world's next generation audience that not only knows how to rock at concerts but also is aware and conscious of the politics of climate and hygienic living in the third world nations. And that's no easy demographic to impress. Interrupting Jay-Z, Beyonce and Hugh Jackman, to hold the Sunday morning crowd to rapt attention takes oodles of charisma and a self assurance that proclaims loud and clear that "I know what I am talking about", if not, "I know what I am doing here." So during his various meetings he spoke of terrorism, climate change, sustainable development, and with the American President about shared technology, security cooperation, technological collaborations, trade tangles, visa sops, and a model partnership. But, for me, those seven minutes that Modi spent in Central Park saluting the torch bearers of the future and expressing his unmitigated faith in the universality of young mindsets, concerns and beliefs were those that were spent the best during his visit to the US. Without sounding like one of those thousands of unabashed Modi adulators in our community, I do want to give the man his due not only for his vision in knowing where the future is, but his uncanny way of reaching out to it. There is definitely, hope.

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Kapil in a film, at last Kapil Sharma of 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' fame will be seen romancing Elli Avram in his first film

Cover Story: Modi magic Narendra Modi charmed everyone during his speech, inspiring every Indian in the packed Madison Square Garden

Community: Kuo endorsed FIA Chairman Dr Romesh Japra has endorsed the candidature of Mr. Peter Kuo, who is contesting from Santa Clara

Sikhs’ appeal Sikh-Americans have requested Modi to remove the hurdles faced by them in applying for visas or renewal of passports

Life style: Garba greetings A Gujarati Garba dance performance kickstarted the grand rockstar-like reception of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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PM Modi at Madison Square Garden

Modi magic at Madison Grants life-long visa to PIOs SUDHIR VYAS

faction that everything went really well and as planned. Dr Barai said that the demand for coming to the event was so huge that even a three time bigger facility could have been filled to capacity. Kudos to Modi and kudos to the Foundation for job well done. As one Indian commented after the event, `Modi came'. `He saw' and `He conquered'. How true

People seen going to Madison Square Garden

uttered during his almost 80 minutes speech, inspiring every Indian in the packed Madison Square Garden in New York. Thousands of others viewed the event from the famous Times Square and other locations through the length and breadth of the United States. It looked that no one else but the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can charm his audience wherever he goes. The Indian American Community Foundation, an organization set up to oversee the New York event, did a remarkable job in that it tried to accommodate as many viewers as possible but the capacity constraint limited the attendance to 20,000. Dr Bharat Barai and Dr Kiran Patel among others who primed the Foundation expressed huge satis-

it could be when at every step the crowd rose into a thunderous applause and supported every demand that he asked from them. An orator that he is, Modi played to the galleries and won the heart of everyone present.

However there was one lady in a crowd of almost 18,200 who was not very impressed or so it seemed, when she dosed off as Modi continued his oratory. That woman was none else but his own senior cabinet minister and that too from external affairs ministry Sushma Swaraj. As if fulfilling the long standing demands of the Indian Diaspora, the Prime Minister, said he was so overwhelmed with the love and affection that was showered on him that it was his turn to return the generosity. "As a thank you gift, I announce that the People of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders will get lifelong visas". And the whole arena erupted. "Happy?" he asked as the crowd cheered his announcement with chants of "Modi, Modi". "Wait there is more to come", he said smilingly. Then he went on to announce, "NRIs staying in India for long had to visit the police station for verification but henceforth there is no need for them to do that anymore." Modi said under a new scheme which is to follow soon the government will merge the PIO and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes for the Diaspora. He also said the Indian missions in the US would grant long term visas to US citizens and US tourists would get

A Muslim family attending the event

visa on arrival in India. "With your help and guidance we want to build India of your dream". The Prime Minister said "we are obliged to Mahatma Gandhi for his effort to gain independence and it is time we repay his deeds. In 2019 we will be celebrating his 150th anniversary. Gandhiji gave us independence and now we must all make a determination that

ters settled outside to return and start the struggle for a newer and better India" Modi said. "I am a small man and come from a humble background that is why I like to do big things for small people", Modi said adding "India was once known as a world of snake charmers and black magicians, but now the magic that its people have woven "with the

A demonstrator being scolded for ill-informed protest

on his anniversary we will present to him a clean India, free of dirt and corruption." Similarly he said it was his dream that by the year 2022, when we will be celebrating our 75th year of Independence, I want to see each and every Indian owns a house and "with your support and effort we can achieve this." Will you support me, as asked and the Indian community agreed in unison. Modi also announced that every year we celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January. This year it will be celebrated in Gujarat as it signifies the 100th year of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India. (Gandhi returned in 1915 to start the Independence struggle) and as he returned from South Africa, I also want my brothers and sis-

(computer) mouse" in the IT sphere has won accolade throughout the world. As if presenting a report card of his roughly five months in office, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the need to do away with old obsolete laws which were of no use in the present day scenario, the cleansing of the River Ganges, his favorite `Jan dhan scheme 'whereby every family is to have a bank account. He said under this scheme the people have so far invested over Rs. 15 million in banks. He called upon Indians settled here as well as everywhere in the world to be his partner in changing the fortunes of India and "let us create an India of your dreams", he said. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 9

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Shun terrorism, then talk, Modi tells Pak SUDHIR VYAS

NEW YORK: Taking a dig at Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked: Raising issues in this forum is not the way to make progress towards resolving issues. In his first-ever address to the World Body, the Prime Minister, dressed in black Tuxedo suit, said: our future is linked closely with our neighbors. That is why since my inauguration and day one when I assumed office we have extended our hands of friendship with our neighbors, I am prepared to engage in serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism. It is also up to Pakistan to create the right atmosphere and come forward for bilateral talks. It is the responsibility of Pakistan to create an environment con-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York on September 27

ducive for a dialogue. India needs a peaceful atmosphere for her own success. India has faced terrorism for decades. Now the world real-

izes that is a global problem. Sea, Space and Cyber space...these links that used to join us have now become conflict

points. Why is it that despite having a wonderful platform like UN we have had to have the various G platforms. When we talk about good terrorism and bad terrorism, it raises a serious question and raises doubt about our intentions to fight terrorism. . The Prime Minister forcefully raised the issue of terrorism, and said no country in the world was today safe from it. He condemned the use of terms such as "good terrorism" and "bad terrorism" and said some countries were still harboring terrorists and using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. He emphasized the need for an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on Global Terrorism, saying it is a matter that has been pending for long. Come let us work towards peace. Why is it that we need G-

highlighted the need to re-energize the process of UN peacekeeping, and said countries which contribute their military personnel for such operations need to have greater say in decision-making. He said the 70th year of the United Nations should be an opportunity to reflect on what all has been achieved, and to prepare a roadmap for the future. He called for Universities and youth to be involved in this process of transformation. He said the 21st century had its own set of challenges, and the United Nations needs to reflect contemporary realities. Modi, who himself is yoga exponent mooted a plan before the World Body saying, "Let us work towards adopting an International day of Yoga". We will turn 70 next year. We have to ask ourselves do we wait till we turn 80? No. The

Indian-Americans hail Modi's UNGA speech UNITED NATIONS: IndianAmericans from across the US hailed the maiden speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with some saying that the speech reflects that India has arrived on the world stage with a strong voice. "This is once in a life time opportunity. India has arrived on the world stage," said Chandrakant Patel, president, Overseas Friends of BJP and chairman of the Indian American Community Foundation. A large number of IndianAmericans were seen seated in the visitors' gallery to watch Modi's maiden speech. The visitors' gallery of the United Nations which is generally empty, that too on a Saturday, was more than half full, before Modi started delivering his speech. Because of unprecedented security, not many people were able to come inside the UN to listen to his speech. Simultaneously, several hundred people had gathered outside the United Nations with placards and banners 'America Loves Modi' to welcome Modi in the United States. People in at least eight bus loads from New York and New Jersey left their homes early in the morning to attend the 'Modi welcome rally' outside the UN. "After a long time, India has got such a leader. No one in the

past has evoked such an excitement as has the Prime Minister," said Satya Shaw, a successful entrepreneur, who flew in from Florida for the event. "There were many people standing outside to come to the visitors' gallery, but were not able to come due to security reasons," said a disappointed Manish

the US, Canada and Britain," the official said on condition of anonymity. "We wanted to have a grand welcome to our Prime Minister. It is very unfortunate that a statesman like him was denied a US visa. He has a huge following here in the US," said Narayan Kataria, one of the Indian-American Intellectual Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting UNGA Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 27

Modi being welcomed in New York

Kumar, who could not watch Modi speak from the visitor's gallery. "I watched it on my smart phone, through UN webcast," he said: UN officials said there was quite unusual traffic on their UN webcast feed during the Modi speech. "Naturally, the traffic was highest from India, but it was quite unusual from even countries like

Forum, which organised the welcome rally in front of the UN. "The young and vibrant Indian voice of 1.2 billion Indians, enriched by a well-rooted democracy complete with loyal opposition, spoke today through Modi India's durable message of peace free of terror, and growth for all," said eminent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra. -PTI

platforms despite the UN? Let's mold ourselves according to the need of the hour and work together towards peace. We need to make comprehensive efforts to fight against terrorism. We have to give full strength to UN Peacekeeping. "At the United Nations General Assembly no single nation or group of nations can decide the fate of the world", he said adding, "the world is evolving at fast pace in 21st century, it becomes important for us to change with time and emphasize on new ideas. It is therefore important to expand the UN Security Council." The Prime Minister, called for urgent reform and rejuvenation of the United Nations, as it enters its 70th year of existence. Modi urged all member nations to deliver on the commitment of UN reform. He said institutions which reflect the compulsions of the 20th century risk irrelevance. He also

next year can be an opportunity. Yoga can help fight climate change. We should work towards an International Day of Yoga. Let us fulfill promise to reform the UN Security Council by 2015. Next year can be an ideal opportunity for this. We cannot develop alone. The world must prosper together. The Prime Minister referred to the emergence of several groups of countries with the prefix "G" and said that we must move towards as "G-all" and see how the UN can be made more effective. The fact that billions of people are without basic sanitation, drinking water and electricity highlights how much needs to be done in an organized way at the global level. The Prime Minister highlighted India as a country that stands for universal justice, dignity, opportunity and prosperity. He said conversation with nature was inherent in India's "philosophy.

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You are the future, Modi tells Pays tributes at 9/11 youth at Central Park Memorial NEW YORK: Using an unusual platform of a rock concert, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked "can do" attitude of youth to change India and the world while

English, Modi also read out a Sanskrit scripture calling for "peace in the world" and greeted the largely American crowd with a "Namaste" amid cheers and claps.

Modi addressing the Global Citizen Festival, at Central Park, in New York on September 27

addressing a thousands-strong crowd which gathered for "Global Citizen Festival" in Central Park here. After a seven-minute speech in

Amid performances by various singers, Modi was introduced to the crowd by actor Hugh Jackman as someone who started as a "tea salesman" and went on to become

Chief Minister of Gujarat and then Prime Minister of India with a huge mandate. Addressing the crowd, Modi also sent his "Namaste" to those watching the concert on "TVs, laptops, tablets and phones". Modi said he was delighted to be among the youth in an open park and not inside a closed conference room. "Because you are the future. What you do today, will decide our tomorrow. I feel a current of hope in this park. Among you, I feel confident about the future," he said. Hailing the Global Citizen movement to end poverty and provide education and basic sanitation to all, Modi said, "Some believe that the world changes with the wisdom of the old. I think that the idealism, innovation, energy and 'can do' attitude of the youth is even more powerful." "That is my hope for India too (for) 800 million youth joining hands to transform our nation," he added. Modi said he decided to come to the festival to extend his support and to express his belief that youth of India can join them in this global effort. -PTI

Modi wins hearts of US lawmakers NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only won the hearts of NRIs here but also of nearly 40 top US lawmakers who described his words as "inspirational and visionary". During his speech at the Madison Square Garden, attended by nearly 40 top lawmakers, the Congressmen immediately connected with Modi when he said he was a small man who reached here "selling tea" but intended to do "big things for small people". Many described him as "charismatic" figure, while others felt he was "destined to transform the nation". His views on minimum governance also went quite well with the lawmakers. "I see now why the people of India elected him," said Congressman Henry C 'Hank' Johnson from Georgia said. "He has got a vision. He has a plan to make it happen. Prime Minister Modi just swarmed this place like a rockstar," said Congressman Pete Olson from Texas. Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the current House of Representatives, described Modi's speech as inspirational and visionary. "Today the Indian-American

community was celebrating. I look forward to continuing to work together to reinvigorate the US-India relationship," he said.

US and India, which is a bond based on shared democratic values and a focus on mutual prosperity and security," said Gabbard,

Modi greeted with a garland by Member of House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard during a meeting in New York September 28

"It was great to hear his message of peace and friendship at his address to an energized crowd at New York's renowned Madison Square Garden," said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. "Modi's visit marks a significant positive step toward growing the relationship between the

who also called on the Prime Minister at his hotel. The discussion was largely related to her own interest in India. Gabbard presented to the Prime Minister a Gita, which she said had taken oath when she was sworn in to the US House of Representative.-PTI

SUDHIR VYAS

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes at the 9/11 memorial, also known as Ground Zero, where the twin towers of World Trade Centre destroyed by September 11, 2001 terrorist attack stood. Dressed in a half-sleeved white Modi kurta

terrorism of which it has been a major victim. Modi's visit to the memorial of the 2001 terror attack by al-Qaeda, when they crashed two hijacked passenger jets into the iconic World Trade Centre, is seen as a significant gesture of support by

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to the victims of terror at the 9/ 11 Memorial, in New York on September 27

and churidars and a grey shawl thrown on his left shoulder, Modi walked to the grey granite memorial and stood solemnly before it with folded hands. He then placed one by one several yellow roses on the memorial slabs with names of more than 3,000 victims of the attack, including many Indian-Americans, etched on it. After that he entered the 9/11 Museum. Modi's visit to the 9/11 memorial is seen as symbolic of India's resolve to fight

India to the war on terror. Followed by the visit to the memorial, the Prime Minister visited the museum that displays artifacts associated with the events while presenting stories of loss and recovery. Names of nine Indian victims inscribed on the panels of the 9/11 memorial are Ganesh K Ladkat, Anil Shivhari Umarkar, Sushil S Solanki, Alok Kumar Mehta, Shekhar Kumar, Alok Agarwal, Jayesh Shantilal Shah, Yudhvir S Jain and Hashmukh C Parmar.

100 Bohra Muslims among attendees at MSG NEW YORK: A group of over large scale. 100 Bohra Muslims were among While, the organizers required the gathering of Indian-American USD1.5 million to organize the Diaspora to hear Prime Minister event, they raised nearly USD 2 Narendra Modi at the Madison Square here. The representatives of the minority community, dressed in traditional white clothes and a skull cap, were among the various sections of the India American SociMembers of the Bohra community singing the Indian national anthem ety who have come from across the nation. million and the extra money will This is for the first time the be donated to a charity, Bharat event, which is being sponsored Barai, President of the Indian by various Indian-American asso- American community Foundation, ciations, is organized by at such a said. -PTI

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PM talks 'strong SAARC' with Rajapaksa, Hasina & Koirala NEW YORK: Furthering his 'neighborhood first' policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Bangladesh and Nepal and Sri Lankan President and discussed matters of common concern, including terrorism, while affirming his commitment to make SAARC a strong regional block. During the meetings, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala congratulated Modi on his first UN speech and promised full support for his initiative of having an International Yoga Day. Modi reaffirmed his commitment to make the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) a strong regional block. The three leaders also said that they were looking forward to Modi's visit to their respective countries, including for the SAARC summit in Nepal later this year. Modi told Koirala that he was looking forward to visit Nepal and said he would like to go to Janakpur and Lumbini, the birthplaces of Sita and Lord Buddha, respectively. The Prime Minister also enquired about the status of bilateral projects he had announced during his Nepal trip. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that Modi in his meetings with

President of Srilanka Mahinda Rajapaksa meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New York on September 27

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina, in New York on September 27

the three neighboring leaders discussed various other issues of common concerns for SAARC block and reiterated his commitment to 'neighbors first' policy. The South Asian leaders congratulated India on its recent Mars orbiter mission and said they were

looking forward to progress on SAARC satellite mission announced by Modi earlier. After his nearly 30-minutelong meeting, Rajapaksa told PTI, "The meeting was cordial and good. We talked about various issues." -PTI

Timing to meet Hurriyat leaders 'not totally right' NEW YORK: Pakistan has admitted that the timing of its High Commissioner's meeting with the Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi ahead of the Foreign Secretarylevel talks was "perhaps not totally right". India called off the Foreign Secretary-level talks, which were to be held in Islamabad on August 25, after Abdul Basit met Hurriyat leaders ahead of the parleys. Pointing out that while meetings between Pakistani diplomats and Hurriyat leaders had been a "regular practice for the last 30 years and there was nothing new in it", Pakistan's National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz said: "In this case perhaps, the timing was not totally right because the substantial discussion on Kashmir was yet to start." The FS-level meeting on August 25 was to declare the agenda (of bilateral talks), he said.

Aziz said had the request from India about not holding meeting with Hurriyat leaders ahead of the FS-level meeting come a little earlier "probably it could have been considered." However, in this case the "message came at a time when one Hurriyat leader was already in

Pakistan's High Commission (in New Delhi)," he told Headlines Today news channel. Aziz also welcomed Prime Minister Modi's statement at the UN General Assembly on the need for resumption of dialogue between the two countries as "encouraging". -PTI

FIA Chairman Dr Romesh Japra & Chandru Bhambhra with PM Narendra Modi

Modi magic at Madison Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 5

"I also take this opportunity to tell Indians that we must work together and invite others to India so that we can fulfill my dream of `make in India' instead of `made in India'. "We have the knowhow, the resources and the objectives clear but we just need to put that into action. If we utilize the youth power to their fullest capacity then no power in the world can stop us from reaching the top", he said. For that I have set up a website -mygov.in. You can log on and see the opportunities that are available, write about the difficulties you face and I assure that I will look into it and resolve it to your satisfaction. Modi also hailed the success of Mars Orbiter Mission 'Mangalyaan' and called it a testament of India's talent. He said, "In Ahmedabad, one spends Rs ten to travel one kilometer in a rickshaw. We traveled a distance of 65 crore kilometers to Mars, and spent Rs. seven per kilometer. This is the talent that we Indians have", he quipped amidst thunderous applause. Recognizing the fact that the mission was completely indigenous, the Prime Minister added, "India is the first nation to have reached Mars in its first attempt." He also joked about India-U.S. relations being carried out on the red planet, saying, "America and India are also talking on Mars... the U.S. reached on September 22 and India on September 24." The Prime Minister also hailed the cost-effectiveness of the Mars mission. "Our Mars budget was smaller than the budget of a Hollywood film," he said. He said good governance should be of easy ways for the people, to fulfill their needs in an easy, lucid way. "We are fortunate that India is blessed with democracy, demographic dividend, and demand. We have a vibrant and thriving democracy, and healthy demographic dividend with an army of youth ready to deliver anything, anywhere and a demand wherein the entire world has its sight on the huge market for development in India. No other country in the world can afford such a luxury", he said. Modi said, "India is the youngest nation in the world and also the country with an ancient civilization. He said 65 percent of the people are under the age of 35 and with the IT ability of Indians there is no need for such a country to turn back and look back. It is im-

portant to recognize our strengths and mobilize them to go forward fast". As if touting President Obama, who is known for taking vacations at the drop of a hat, the Prime Minister said, "ever since I took over the reins of power in May I have not taken 15 minute vacation so far". Winning elections is not for sitting on a seat but a responsibility, he said. "I will not do anything to make you lower your head. The government you have chosen will not leave anything out," he said to loud cheers from the gathering. Lauding Indian expatriates residing in the United States, the Prime Minister said India's status and respect has risen in the eyes of the

A non desi selling Indian flag

world because of their hard work and the efforts put in by you all. "I am fortunate that my countrymen, who are staying here thousands of miles away from their country, have raised the status and respect of India. Reaching out to the Indian-American community, Modi said: "It is you who have played a major role in shaping a positive image of the country, not just in America, but also those people who are from other nations residing in the U.S. and in different parts of the world." "The 21st century is the century of India", I do not say that but the world says it. "Let me take this opportunity that I will leave no stone unturned to achieve this goal. You all have a lot of expectations from me and my government but I can say that I will work to fulfill these expectations" he told the crowd. While the venue was filled to capacity with people of all shades, the organizers had also organized an entertainment to keep up the tempo. There were traditional Gujarati dance, couple of fusion dances and legendary singer Kavita Krishnamurthy also enthralled the audience till Modi took over to arouse the passions of all Indians gathered at the historic venue in New York.

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Collective fight needed to tackle terrorism: Modi NEW YORK: Rejecting any distinction between good and bad terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a collective fight to effectively tackle the global menace. "There is no good terrorist or bad terrorist," Modi said while addressing the Council for Foreign Relations here. "There is a need to take the challenge of terrorism seriously. It's sad that many countries could

not earlier understand the ugly face of terrorism which is enemy of humanity," he said. The Prime Minister, who dwelt at length on the threat posed by terrorism, said it cannot be measured on the scale of political plus and minus. "The world will have to speak in one voice against terrorism," he stressed. In his address, Modi reaffirmed that India wants to build

friendly relations with all its neighbors. He said that all the SAARC leaders had been invited for his swearing in ceremony. Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir floods which had left behind a trail of death and devastation, he said there was tremendous loss also in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) and he had expressed India's readiness to extend help to those affected across the border.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the Council on Foreign Relations, in New York on September 29

On India's stand on the WTO pact, the Prime Minister asserted that agreement on food security and trade facilitation will have to go hand-in-hand. "We want to take our economy ahead on the three pillars of agriculture, manufacturing and services," Modi said. He said in its very first budget, his government took initiatives on foreign direct investment. "We want private investment

in our railways," he said, adding that trillions and trillions of dollars are required for the modernization of this vital sector. On his ambitious plan to clean the Ganga River, Modi said, "We are conscious about the environment and are making efforts to clean the Ganga." He said India has a guiding philosophy inspired by Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. "We believe in non-violence," he added. -PTI

'Modi should grant voting rights to Indian Diaspora' NEW YORK: Overseas wing of the BJP in the US has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider granting voting rights to non-resident Indians (NRIs) besides opening more consulates to facilitate the Diaspora community. "NRIs should be granted voting rights. This can be done either by mail or by voting in the respective nearest consulate," a memorandum submitted to Modi in a meeting with Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) delegation said. "Indian Diaspora should be provided facility in US at Indian consulates to enroll them for UIDAI card (Aadhar card)," it said. The delegation led by OFBJP president Chandrakant Patel sought to open more consulates in the US, new direct flights to India from various US cities, easing the process to apply for visa or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card besides allowing OCI card holders to buy up to 20 acres of land, and security for the prop-

erty owned by NRIs. "One of the most important requirements of the Indian Diaspora is to facilitate an easy transportation of the bodies of deceased of Indian origin people back to India. The current procedures are very cumbersome and costly. These procedures should be relaxed, made simple, low cost, and time sensitive," the memorandum added. The delegation said that Indian consulate offices in the US should be service oriented with a sincere and courteous attitude to serve the community with respect to passport and visa services. "However, in several instances we had faced unnecessary hurdles in the past and were treated unprofessionally by the consulate staff. "Aged people were made to wait for hours and days in some cases. Often, people do not get their phones answered or calls returned," it said while seeking mobile visa camps in US. -PTI

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Obama hosts private dinner for Modi WASHINGTON: Ahead of their Summit talks, US President Barack Obama hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the two leaders sought to reinvigorate bilateral ties. The Prime Minister, who arrived at the Andrew Airforce Base, was received by William Burns, Deputy Secretary of State and other senior officials. From there, Modi left for the Blair house, the American President's guest house where he will be staying during his Washington trip. Later, he drove to the White House from the Blair guest house for the dinner. "Kem Cho," asked Obama when he welcomed Modi, who replied, "Thank you very much, President." The dinner, with limited guests from each side in the Blue Room of the White House had a delectable spread of dishes, but the main guest only had warm water as he was observing Navratri fasts. However, First Lady Michelle Obama did not attend the dinner as she was traveling. "The Prime Minister did not have anything except for warm water," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akabruddin said. Later, Modi said he had a won-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the private dinner hosted by President Barack Obama, in his honor, at the White House, in Washington DC on September 30

derful meeting with Obama during which they talked about a wide range of issues. "Obama & I share a vision for a partnership in which our nations work together for the benefit of the entire humankind," the Prime Minister tweeted. On the issues of discussion during the 90-minute dinner meeting, Akabruddin said discussions were largely on knowing each other and sharing the initial experiences after they took over. They shared anecdotes to connect with each other, he said while describing the dinner meeting as a "very successful interaction".

'Kem Cho,' Obama to Modi

"They did not get to discuss any of the substantive issues. This was a very cordial and comforting conversation where each of them were trying to understand others' perspective and they did not get into very substantive discussion which will follow tomorrow," he added. They agreed to take up more substantive issue tomorrow - both in restrictive format and in delegation level talks - but in general the thinking was that there was a lot of goodwill between India and the US for each other, he said. "There was a feeling that they should try and focus on some big things that they can achieve in a finite time period in the next few years," the Spokesperson said. "There was also a feeling that India-US relationship was among the most important relationships in the world today. And therefore, it was incumbent upon both of them to work towards strengthening and deepening this relationship," he said. The Prime Minister was asked to outline his vision of what were the issues he faced so far and how he was working on it, the Spokes-

Modi keeps away from exquisite food at dinner WASHINGTON: A spread comprising of compressed avacados, crisped halibut, safron Basmati rice and salmon were part of the menu for dinner that US President Barack Obama hosted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had only warm water due to his fast. Though there was a plate put in front of the Prime Minister as per the protocol, he only had warm water and asked rest of the guests not to feel embarrassed and continue with their normal dinner, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. person said. "Remarkably some of those things the Prime Minister mentioned seemed to have resonance with President Obama, because he said he had similar concerns when he came in power. Giving example of how the two

The dinner was attended by limited number of guests from each side. While from the US, Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of State William Burns, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, USAID's Rajiv Shah were among the nine guests, Indian delegation had External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Indian Ambassador here S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh among others. The dinner also had mango creme brulee for the guests. -PTI leaders connected, he said Prime Minister told Obama that when he came to Delhi he found that the technological infrastructure in the Indian capital was not even as good as Gujarat to which the US President said he had a similar experience.-PTI

A new agenda in Indo-US ties: Modi & Obama Barack Obama welcomes Narendra Modi, at the dinner hosted in his honor, at the White House

WASHINGTON: "Kem Cho" - this is how US President Barack Obama welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarati at the doorstep of the White House, ahead of the rare private dinner hosted in his honor. "Thank you very much, President", Modi responded as the two leaders shook hands and walked inside. "Kem cho", which means

'how are you', is a common greeting among Gujaratis. As Obama hosted Modi for dinner, the local Indian- Americans celebrated the ModiObama meeting by organizing a cultural event and performing "Garba" dance in front of the White House. Set in an informal ambiance, the dinner was the first opportunity for both the leaders to interact with each other.-PTI

WASHINGTON: Terming the Indo-US relationship as "robust, reliable and enduring", Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama said the true potential of the ties was yet to be fully realized and the advent of a new government in India was a natural opportunity to broaden and deepen the ties. For the first time, writing a joint editorial, the Indian Prime Minister and the American President said it was time to set a "new agenda" and with a reinvigorated level of ambition and greater confidence

both the countries can go beyond modest and conventional goals. "This will be an agenda that enables us to find mutually rewarding ways to expand our collaboration in trade, investment and technology that harmonize with India's ambitious development agenda, while sustaining the United States as the global engine of growth," they said in the editorial published in the Washington Post. They said as global partners, they are committed to enhancing our homeland security by sharing intelligence, through counter-terror-

ism and law-enforcement cooperation, while we jointly work to maintain freedom of navigation and lawful commerce across the seas. The two leaders said that "today our partnership is robust, reliable and enduring, and it is expanding. Our relationship involves more bilateral collaboration than ever before - not just at the federal level but also at the state and local levels, between our two militaries, private sectors and civil society. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 12

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Clintons meets Modi; laud PM's Ganga initiative NEW YORK: Showering effusive praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former US President Bill Clinton said no one else

meeting with Modi, who was also accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Hillary and Swaraj warmly

PM Narendra Modi and the Union Minister for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Sushma Swaraj meeting the former US President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, in New York on Sept 29

before him had "knowledge and votes" to build a national economy, as the Clinton couple met the Indian leader here. Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton had a 45-minute long

hugged each other. Both the Prime Minister and Swaraj also greeted the Clintons on becoming new grandparents. Chelsea, the daughter of Bill and former Secretary of State

Modi pays floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

Modi's reception reflects deep cultural ties: WH

WASHINGTON: Like in New York, frenzied Indian-American crowds followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on the last day of his five-day visit to the US. Waving Indian flags and chanting 'Modi, Modi', scores of Indian-Americans greeted him as he arrived at the Dupont Circle where the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had inaugurated the statue on September 16, 2000. The Prime Minister offered floral tributes at the statue and spent around 15 minutes at the site just outside the Indian Embassy on Massachussets Avenue. He also interacted with the Indian-Americans who were waiting there from early morning to catch a glimpse of him. Though their numbers were not anywhere near what was seen in New York, the clamor was alike. Many of those who gathered hailed Modi as a great leader who has removed the negativity of the last ten years and brought in positive vibes.-PTI

WASHINGTON: The "rockstar" treatment given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the prestigious Madison Square Garden by some 20,000 Indian-American people is reflective of the "deep cultural ties" between the two countries, the White House has said. "I think the strong turnout at that event and the enthusiastic reaction highlights the deep cultural ties that exist between the United States and India; that there are so many immigrants from India to the United States that are now interwoven into communities all across the countries," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. He was responding to questions about the historic turnout of some 20,000 Indian Diaspora who had turned up from various parts of the country to attend the reception for Modi at the prestigious MSG in New York City on Sunday. "I think that just highlights one other way in which the relationship between our two countries is so important," Earnest said.-PTI

Hillary, gave birth to daughter Charlotte last week. "(I) am thrilled. No 1 had the knowledge and voted before you to build a national economy," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted Bill Clinton as conveying to Modi. Known for their love for India, Bill and Hillary discussed IndoUS engagements and the priorities of the new government in this regard. The meeting comes in the backdrop of reports that Hillary may contest the US Presidential elections in 2016. Clinton also lauded Modi for his initiative to clean Ganga River. "Thank you 4 undertaking cleaning of Ganga. It is a sacred project and smart approach," the former American President told the Prime Minister. "Your efforts at cleaning the Ganga will send a message to others in Asia," Akbaruddin tweeted Hillary as conveying to Modi. PTI

Modi gifts Obama Gita, Martin L. King's memorabilia WASHINGTON: Keeping in mind the two people US President Barack Obama admired most, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally chose gifts for him which included a 'Gita by Gandhi' in Khadi cover and audio-video clips from the 1959 India visit of Martin Luther King. "The Prime Minister has brought several gifts. At the personal level, he has brought a special edition of Gita by Gandhi Ji. This is Gandhi Ji's interpretation of Gita. The book was published many years ago," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. "The Prime Minister had specifically ordered a special edition of the book and copies of it were specially done up with a certain getup as Khadi on its cover...these were prepared in Delhi and were brought and were handed over to the President. "Also, he has given some other personal gifts. He is aware that President Obama has great regard for Martin Luther King and there is a Gandhi link between President Obama, the King and the Prime Minister, so he (Modi) had looked up and asked All India Radio to provide a recording of Martin Luther King's speech which he gave in India in 1959 when he visited India. In addition, there are some other memorabilia of Martin Luther King.-PTI

India & US proclaim 'Chalein Saath Saath WASHINGTON: As Prime weapons of mass destruction, and Minister Narendra Modi reached remain committed to reducing the the White House for the private salience of nuclear weapons, dinner hosted by President while promoting universal, verifiBarack Obama, India and the US able, and non-discriminatory issued a vision statement nuclear disarmament," it said. "Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Asserting that the US and InTogether We Go" that called for a dia will have a transformative rejoint endeavor for prosperity and lationship as trusted partners in peace. the 21st century, the White House "As leaders of two great demo- said, "Our partnership will be a cratic nations with diverse tradi- model for the rest of the world". tions and faiths, we share a vision for a partnership in which the United States and India work together, not just for the benefit of both our nations, but for the benefit of the world," the White House said in a statement. The vision statement said that US-India strategic partnerModi meeting the US Secretary of State John Kerry at the White House ship is a joint endeavor for prosperity and peace, and through intense "Acknowledging that the two consultations, joint exercises and countries have vastly different shared technology, their security histories, but both our founders cooperation will make the region sought to guarantee freedoms and world safe and secure. that allow our citizens to deter"Together, we will combat ter- mine their own destiny and purrorist threats and keep our home- sue their personal aspirations. lands and citizens safe from at"Our strategic partnership rests tacks, while we respond expedi- on our shared mission to provide tiously to humanitarian disasters equal opportunity for our people and crises. through democracy and freedom," "We will prevent the spread of said the White House.-PTI

A new agenda in Indo-US ties: Modi & Obama Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 11

"Indeed, so much has happened that, in 2000, then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee could declare that we are natural allies." The two leaders said the true potential of the relationship between the two countries has yet to be fully realized though it has been robust, reliable and enduring. "Still, the true potential of our relationship has yet to be fully realized. The advent of a new government in India is a natural opportunity to broaden and deepen our relationship. "With a reinvigorated level of ambition and greater confidence, we can go beyond modest and conventional goals. It is time to

set a new agenda, one that realizes concrete benefits for our citizens," Modi and Obama said. Talking about the existing cooperation, they said "our militaries conduct joint exercises in air, on land and at sea, and our space programs engage in unprecedented areas of cooperation, leading us from Earth to Mars." They lauded the role being played by the "vibrant" Indian American community saying it has been a living bridge between the two nations. Both the leaders said they will discuss ways to enhance cooperation in trade, science and technology and government-to-government level to help improve the quality, reliability and availability of basic services in India.-PTI

More Modi stories on pages 48-49

Tech News 5 Indian-Americans in Forbes list of US' richest NEW YORK: Five IndianAmericans have been named among the 400 richest people in the US by Forbes, a list topped by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates for the 21st year in a row with a net worth of USD 81 billion. Founder of outsourcing firm Syntel Bharat Desai, entrepreneur John Kapoor, Symphony Technology founder Romesh Wadhwani, Silicon Valley angel investor Kavitark Ram Shriram and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla are among 'The Richest People In America 2014' list by Forbes. Forbes said 2014 was another record year for American wealth, when the aggregate net worth of the richest 400 Americans was USD 2.29 trillion, up USD 270 billion from a year ago. "Thanks to a buoyant stock market the richest people in the US just keep getting richer," Forbes said. Gates is the richest American for the 21st year in a row, with a net worth of US 81 billion. The Microsoft chairman's stake in the software company he cofounded accounts for just under 20 per cent of his total net worth. His friend Warren Buffett, chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, occupies the number two spot on the 400, a rank he has held since 2001 with a net worth of USD 67 billion.-PTI

Microsoft to set up data center in India NEW DELHI: Microsoft has said it will offer commercial cloud services from local data centers in India by 2015 as the tech giant gears for competition for the estimated USD 2 trillion domestic market opportunity from rival firms like Google and IBM. The US-headquartered firm said it will set up 3 data centers in three cities in India by the end of 2015. "Last year, our cloud business in India grew over 100 per cent. Buoyed by that success we have now decided to offer cloud services from local data centers. This will help us make global infrastructure and make that available to local data centers," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said here. It is Nadella's first India visit after assuming the top job at Microsoft. The company's third CEO, after Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, added that cloud computing services in India is a USD 2 trillion market opportunity.-PTI

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at Talent India 2014 Conference in New Delhi on September 30. Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani is also seen

Modi woos American corporates; promises tax stability NEW YORK: Making a strong pitch to attract investments into India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured top American corporate honchos of tax stability and friendlier business environment in the country. Modi held meetings with a galaxy of American corporate executives, including those from Boeing, PepsiCo, Google, KKR and General Electric. Bullish on the potential of the Indian markets, the corporates have expressed keenness to strengthen their engagements with India especially at a time when the new government is rolling out various initiatives such as 'Make in India' campaign. "It is my conviction that tax stability is essential for confidence building," Modi told American CEOs. His assertion comes at a time when some multinationals are caught in legal wrangles over tax matters in the country. Wooing the corporates, Modi said he wants to convert the Supreme Court judgment on coal allocation into an "opportunity to move forward and clean up the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a breakfast meeting with the CEOs, in New York on September 29

past". The observation comes amid concerns that the ruling could negatively impact investor sentiments and overall business climate. During his meetings with captains of corporate America, the Prime Minister also pitched for big-ticket investments to develop India's infrastructure and create more jobs and enhance the quality of life. Reflecting the bullishness about

India, US conglomerate General Electric's CEO Jeff Immelt described the country as a great place to invest in and said it is looking to make more investments there. After meeting Modi, he said, "GE is a long term investor in India. We look forward to more in the future". Describing Modi as a "charismatic leader", Goldman Sachs chief Lloyd Blankfein said the financial services major was eager

American corporates keen on India opportunities NEW YORK: Bullish on opportunities in India, top US corporates, including Boeing, IBM and BlackRock have expressed their keenness to strengthen engagements with the country during their meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who promised a friendlier business environment. They have expressed interest to participate in diverse initiatives including those related to smart cities. Defense major Boeing's CEO James McNerney said that the company wants to accelerate its engagement with India. During the meeting with the Prime Minister, technology major IBM's CEO Virginia Rometty evinced interest to participate in the government's new initiatives related to smart cities and

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with PepsiCos Indian American chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi after a breakfast meeting in New York, US on September 29

digital India. Reflecting optimism over opportunities in the country, world's largest asset manager Blackrock's CEO

Laurence Flik conveyed to Modi that it would host a global investors meet in India next year. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 16

to participate in India's growth story. American corporates, including technology major IBM, have expressed interest to participate in diverse initiatives of the Indian government including those pertaining to smart cities. Defense major Boeing's CEO James McNerney said that the company wants to accelerate its engagement with India. During the meeting with the Prime Minister, technology major IBM's CEO Virginia Rometty evinced interest to participate in the government's new initiatives related to smart cities and digital India. Reflecting optimism over opportunities in the country, world's largest asset manager Blackrock's CEO Laurence Flik conveyed to Modi that it would host a global investors meet in India next year. After meeting Modi, India-origin Indra Nooyi, who is PepsiCo's chief, said, "He answers questions brilliantly and is very focused on improving India. So, we are thrilled to be working with him". Another India-origin CEO Ajay Banga, who is at the helm of Mastercard, said the Prime Minister was a good listener and that he believed that Modi can execute plans like the way he did in Gujarat. Among others, the Prime Minister held meetings with private equity giant KKR's CEO Henry Kravis.-PTI

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Govt focused on boosting economy: Modi NEW YORK: Asserting that trade and commerce leads international relations in today's age, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the Indian-American community here that his government is determined to put the economy on an upward trajectory by focusing on key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and services. "In today's world, it is trade and commerce that leads international relations and drives the economies," Modi said at a dinner hosted in his honor by Indian Ambassador to the US, S Jaishankar. Modi, after having addressed nearly 20,000 people of the Indian community at a rock-star style event in Madison Square Garden, spoke briefly to the select gathering of eminent men and women and underscored his government's focus and efforts to move forward on development and make India a magnet of investment. "Our entire focus is on the growth of economic activity, on how to grow the economy be it agriculture, manufacturing or ser-

vices," he said. "I believe that for a healthy economy, one-third agriculture, one-third manufacturing, onethird services sector - if all these grow simultaneously then even if

"Our endeavor is that tourism should grow. I believe that terrorism divides and tourism unites," he said to a rousing applause by the audience as he said that when tourism grows, then everyone from the "autorickshaw walah, taxi walah and chaiwala" earns. one of the sectors faces a decline, the country's economy will not be immensely impacted." He, however, said that if the economy rests wholly on any one

of the sectors, it will not be able to bear the brunt of even slight disruptions. His government is focused on the manufacturing sector. In manufacturing sector there needs to be creation of small jobs. "Our effort is that India should progress and develop in all three sectors," he said adding that in the services sector tourism has a huge scope. "In today's age one sector that has the most potential for growth is tourism. It is estimated that three trillion dollars worth of business lies in the tourism sector," he said, adding that India has not taken advantage of the huge potential that tourism holds and has not even scratched the surface in achieving its potential in the tourism sector. "Our endeavor is that tourism should grow. I believe that terrorism divides and tourism unites," he said to a rousing applause by the audience as he said that when tourism grows, then everyone from the "autorickshaw walah, taxi walah and chaiwala" earns. -PTI

India a profitable place to do biz: Official NEW YORK: Asserting that foreign funds are very bullish on investment opportunities in India, a senior government official said here the country was a profitable place to do business and would soon become an easier place for business. "India has been ranked 134th on World Bank list of ease of doing business and Prime Minister

Narendra Modi has said he wants to bring it up to at least 50," Manoj Joshi, Joint Secretary in Finance Ministry, told a group of US investors here. Speaking at India Investor Round-table organized by BNY Mellon and BSE, Joshi said that steps are being taken to improve India's ranking. "It is a profitable place to do

business, although not an easy place. So, government has given it top priority to make it an easier place to do business," he said, adding that "steps are being taken at various levels including at individual private sector project levels, on bank NPA front, on land acquisition and at state levels," he said. According to him, government also needs to increase its spending on infrastructure, for which is needs to cut subsidies and lower many other expenditure. "We have also taken steps for further liberalization of FDI regime and many changes are being made in financial markets to allow foreign investors to directly participate in our markets. The revival of corporate bond market is also a key focus area," Joshi said. He also noted that there are also efforts to bring in reforms in public sector banking space to address concerns like NPAs. Global rating agency S&P has raised India's outlook to stable from negative after two-years, but has retained the rating at 'BBB-'. The agency also said that the rating could be raised if the economy reverts to a real per capita GDP trend growth of 5.5 per cent per year. -PTI

Boeing keen on greater engagement

Chairman and CEO of The Boeing Company W. James McNerney meeting 1Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New York on September 29

NEW YORK: Defence major Boeing has proposed greater business engagement with India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised the US companies to provide friendlier business environment in the country. In a one-on-one meeting with Modi, Boeing CEO James McNerney said that the company wants to accelerate its engagement with India.

The meeting followed a power-packed breakfast meet Modi. With nearly USD 87-billion annual turnover globally, Boeing is a major player in Indian defence and aerospace sectors. Its engagement with India is nearly 70 years-long and Boeing jets are one of the mainstays of the country's domestic and intercontinental commercial fleets.

Goldman Sachs eager to participate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs during a meeting in New York on September 29

NEW YORK: Financial services giant Goldman Sachs has said it is eager to participate in India's growth story, as its CEO Lloyd Blankfein met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described him as a "charismatic leader". After meeting Modi here, Blanfein told PTI, "We discussed India. We are enthusiastic about

the changes and the reforms in India and we are anxious to do our part in making India a better place. "The meeting was very good. He is a very charismatic leader." US-based Goldman Sachs, with a global turnover of nearly USD 35 billion, has a significant presence in India as well.-PTI

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BlackRock to host global investors meet in India

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock Laurence Douglas Fink meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New York on September 29

NEW YORK: World's largest asset manager Blackrock will host a global investors meet in India next year, CEO Laurence Flik conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With total asset under management of over USD 4 trillion, USbased BlackRock has investments in over 100 countries and offices in 30 countries including India. The BlackRock CEO called on

the Indian Prime Minister here and expressed his keen interest in expanding engagements with India. "In response to PM @narendramodi call for investment, Black Rock to host global investors meet in India, early 2015," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted. In India, BlackRock also operates a mutual fund, among other activities.-PTI

Reliance to launch India-focused funds abroad

'More than half of US unlikely to do business in India'

NEW YORK: Enthused by growing interest of institutional investors abroad including in the US for investing in the Indian markets, top fund house Reliance Capital Asset Management Company (RCAM) has said it will consider launching more India-focused funds in foreign markets. RCAM, which is part of Anil Ambani-led business conglomerate Reliance Group's financial services arm Reliance Capital, recently launched two India funds in Japan - one for equity and the other for debt markets. "As an asset management company, we clearly see that with a long term track record that we have and with a strong research capability, we want to give an access to a lot of different markets globally to invest in India," RCAM's CEO Sundeep Sikka said here. "Recently, we launched two schemes in Japan and we will explore other opportunities also. We are certainly seeing more money coming into India," Sikka told PTI in an interview here. Sikka was here to participate in the India Investment Forum held in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit.

NEW YORK: More than half of infrastructure. executives in the US are less likely "52 per cent investors from the to do business in India because US don't invest in India only beof infrastructure issues, according cause of poor infrastructure facilito a new study. ties. Both nations rank first as InThe study was conducted by vestment destination," the report APCO, a global communication, said. stakeholder engagement and busiThe study pointed relationship ness strategy firm, in close asso- health checker against the negaciation with the Alliance for US tive pointers that can hamper the India Business (AUSIB). evolution of trade. The study found that it highlights the fact that leaders in both na- "52 per cent investors from tions wish to evolve from diplomatic stand- the US don't invest in India still and breed friendly only because of poor infraties with each other motivated by the economic structure facilities. Both benefits and political nations rank first as Investstability. Noting that business ment destination" Executives in both countries see huge opportunities as far as economic growth "Major concerns are Visa reis concerned, the survey said most strictions, Chinese grip on market US executives see India as top and Outsourcing challenges. Exdestination for investment and 70 ecutives are willing to settle in the per cent US traders acknowledge other country if stability is prothat the economic relations are vided in the long-run based on headed in right direction. ethical backing and lower tariffs Ninety five per cent of Indian and taxation," the report added. executives want India to focus on PTI

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TechBiz Post

October 3, 2014

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46% users in India spend 6 hrs on Internet daily NEW DELHI: Indicating the growing importance of Internet in the country, a survey has revealed that 46 per cent of users in India spend 6 hours or more a day actively using the Internet whereas 82 per cent admit to the fear of missing out when not connected. "In India, not only did 46 per cent of respondents spend 6 hours or more a day actively using the Internet (in comparison to 29 per cent globally), but an alarming 82 per cent of respondents admit to the 'fear of missing out' (FOMO) when not connected (the highest globally)," Tata Communications said in its 'Connected World II' report.

The report captures responses from 9,417 Internet users across six emerging and developed countries - France, Germany, India (2,117), Singapore, the US, and the UK . The report said more than half of surveyed Indian Internet users (56 per cent) admit they can't survive more than five hours without Internet connectivity. "Although surveyed Indian men spend more time on the Internet than surveyed Indian women, it is Indian women (21 per cent) who outdo men (16 per cent) in feeling anxious or lost when not connected to the Internet," it said. The study further discloses that tablets

and smartphones are rapidly replacing television as the preferred screen as nearly twice as many surveyed Indians (43 per cent) are willing to give up television for the Internet, compared to Americans (17 per cent) and Europeans (22 per cent) respondents. "The Internet has truly changed the way we function. As technologies evolve and adapt, there is a huge potential for the Internet to affect different aspects of life, economy and society," Tata Communications' Nextgen Business Chief Marketing Officer and CEO Julie Woods-Moss said. The impact of the Internet on global economies is phenomenal. About 2.5 billion people are connected to the Internet today, that's a third of the world's population. By 2020, the number of connected devices is expected to rise to 26 billion. Tata Communications said 61 per cent of Indian respondents believe that 'everyone owns the Internet', compared to 70 per cent globally with 21 per cent rightly pointing out that each individual country owns their Internet when compared to 16 per cent globally. The study also reveals that Asian respondents appear to be the most 'Internet dependent' with less than half of surveyed Singaporeans and Indians capable of lasting up to 12 hours without Internet access compared to 86 per cent of German, 77 per cent of French, 75 per cent of US and 70 per cent of UK respondents. Respondents from Asia and those from the USA and Europe are distinctly different in their vision of the most inspirational opportunity that the Internet will deliver in the future. "32 per cent of surveyed Singaporeans and 27 per cent of surveyed Indians pick smart cities as their preferred choice for what the Internet will enable in the future," it added. -PTI

American corporates keen on India opportunities Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 13

After meeting Modi, India-origin Indra Nooyi, who is PepsiCo's chief, said, "he answers questions brilliantly and is very focused on improving India. So, we are thrilled to be working with him". Another India-origin CEO Ajay Banga, who is at the helm of Mastercard, said the Prime Minister was a good listener and that he believed that Modi can execute plans like the way he did in Gujarat. Noting that he had an excellent meeting with Modi, GE chief Jeff Immelt said the India is a great country and place to invest. Hosting a breakfast for 11 CEOs, Modi said India is open-minded and wants the change, which is "not one-sided". The Prime Minister also held meetings with six other top American corporate executives including KKR CEO Henry Kravis and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein. -PTI

October 3, 2014

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Desi News MAFS celebrates 22nd fundraising dinner HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Metropolitan Asian Family Services' (MAFS) celebrated its 22nd Annual fundraising dinner which was full of excitement, entertainment and award ceremony on September 13 at India House, Schaumburg, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The event's success was underlined with the raising of $80,000 to finance various activities undertaken by MAFS like social services benefit assistance programs such as Public Benefit Assistance, Immigration Assistance, Lunch programs and others which are either not funded or inadequately funded. Details on page 20

SLAM team rocks Chicago with spectacular show Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: One of the topmost Bollywood shows "Slammed" Chicago last week. The huge response with 9000 flocking to the Sears Center on Friday September 26 was an indication it was a big, history setting hit. The SLAM concert was a spectacular live stage show with mind blowing music and dance routines that kept the audience spellbound for the entire duration of the show. King Khan along with Abhishek Bachchan, Farah Khan, Deepika Padukone, Malaika Arora Khan, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, Vivaan Shah and singer Kanika Kapoor took their fans on a magical journey of Bollywood hits which were professionally choreographed for this concert tour. Details on page 22

BHU alumni meet raises $21000 for projects SURENDRA ULLAL

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

18 India Post

Eye Clinic at Midwest Swaminarayan Temple

October 3, 2014

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Details on page 26

Dr Japra endorses Peter Kuo as candidate from Santa Clara India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: FIA Chairman Dr Romesh Japra, in a statement issued here, has emphasized that there is need to ensure that our representatives in Sacramento are responsive to our feedback and reflective of our needs. In this context he found Mr. Peter Kuo, candidate from Santa Clara and immigrant from Taiwan, would be the right representative. He said he is "proud" to endorse Mr Kuo. The statement by Dr Japra said, "I'm excited to share and discuss with you the importance of the upcoming District 10 State Senator election. SD10 is a district ranging from Eastern Santa Clara County (Milpitas and Santa Clara), all the way up Alameda Country to Castro Valley. SD10 has the largest percentage of Asian-Americans of any CA State Senate district, and is home to one of the largest populations of Indo-Americans. It is time we ensure that our voice is heard in Sacramento. "I do not write this article from a partisan perspective - I am a Democrat through and through and have voted as such for years. This election is more than about

Dr Japra with Peter Kuo

right versus left. My focus has now become to assuring that our representatives in Sacramento are responsive to our feedback and reflective of our needs. With that, I'm very proud to endorse Mr. Peter Kuo, candidate from Santa Clara and immigrant from Taiwan. "Being an entrepreneur, Peter

has the first hand business sense to recognize the failing policies of Sacramento and the need to create a friendlier environment for businesses in California. Our population is growing fast and we need jobs to keep up. Peter is focused on uniting people, not dividing them.

"While staying true to his core values, Peter will be a strong advocate for listening to both sides of the political aisle before moving forward on issues and legislation. He will bring a much needed pro-business mindset to Sacramento, where he will also focus on meaningful immigration, public safety, and educational reform. I'm proud to stand with Peter Kuo. "As Indian-Americans, we must recognize the great success of our recent elections in India. If one half of a billion residents of India voted, we absolutely must improve our voter turnout in California. I want for all residents of California to be truly represented and Peter is just the right person to do it. "My friends, it is time to send people to Sacramento that will listen to the voters at home. It's time to elect Peter Kuo, State Senator from District 10. Please visit his website immediately and help him with donations or your volunteerism at www.kuoforsenate.com. Absentee ballots will be out very soon, be sure to mark Peter Kuo for State Senate District 10!" he concluded.

4 get Mahtama Gandhi award at HAF fundraiser India Post News Service

MILPITAS, CA: The Hindu American Foundation held its annual Northern California Awareness and Fundraising Gala Sept. 21 at the India Community Center here which drew a diverse crowd of more than 600 people. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is an advocacy organization for the Hindu American community. The Foundation educates the public about Hinduism, speaks out about issues affecting Hindus worldwide, and builds bridges with institutions and individuals whose work aligns with

Nina Duvuluri, Miss America 2014

HAF's objectives. HAF focuses on human and civil rights, public policy, media, academia, and interfaith relations. Through its advocacy efforts, HAF seeks to cul-

Dr. Barbara McGraw, Girish Shah, Iftekhar Hai, Mervyn Danker

tivate leaders and empower future generations of Hindu Americans. In attendance were several local government officials, including city council members, May-

ors and other elected representatives from Fremont, Cupertino and San Jose. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

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Shah Rukh & team Slam it up in Mother of all Concerts SAN JOSE: The artists of the biggest Bollywood extravaganza 'SLAM! The Tour' performed at SAP Center in San Jose, CA on September 28. Shah Rukh Khan, Farah Khan, Deepika Padukone, Malaika Arora Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, Vivaan Shah and singer Kanika Kapoor set the stage on fire with their enthralling performances in front of the live audience. Shah Rukh Khan along with Bollywood A-listers mesmerized

Shah Rukh Khan entered the show in his larger than life style on aerial cable and danced on his famous numbers Chammak Challo, Kaali Kaali Aankhe, Suraj Hua Maddham and Don. He made a grand entry and looked amazingly a heartthrob standing on the pole in his attire. He gave an energetic performance for soulful songs from his movies. The highlight of the mostawaited show was when Shah Rukh played a game with audience and a couple from the crowd won a luxury Harley Davidson bike. "I

the thousands of South Asians through their scintillating performance in Silicon Valley. The opening act of the evening was Vivaan's performance on the SLAM track by Ram Sampath followed by Deepika's performances on Titli from Chennai Express. Deepika also danced on her new song Lovely by Kanika Kapoor from Happy New Year, Angrezi Beat, Nagada.

have come to San Jose after ten years. A lot of things have changed here. But, one thing has not changed - the love and affection from its people," SRK told the audience that mainly comprised people from South Asian origin. Abhishek entered from the crowd and asked the thrilled audience to stand up and he rapped the song Ek main aur ek tu hai and then performed on Kajrare, Maa

India Post News Service

Da Ladla, Desi Girl and for numbers from Happy New Year. Farah and Boman performed on a special medley on which they made every one laugh with their conversation about how Boman wanted to be a lead actor in Farah's movie. This special comedic stage by Farah and Boman had the audience in stitches. Malaika performed on the song Devil from Kick and Sonu Sood joined her on Munni Badnam Hui later. Shah Rukh and Deepika's chemistry in the romantic number Satrangi Re was never seen before in front of the live audience. Baby

After a fire staging performance by the crew that included rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh in the early part of the tour at New Jersey, Houston and DC, the team had came across a setback. Apparently, Honey Singh suffered an injury and missed the San Jose concert. But SRK with his whole Happy New Year band filled the void created by Yo Yo's exit from the tour and enthralled the crowd by their comic act. The highlight of the show was when the whole SLAM team performed the Indiawaale song with a twist in lyric to "SanJosewaale" as

Doll fame Kanika also performed on Jugni with English dance duo Suleman Mirza and Madhu Singh of Signature group.

a tribute to the Bay area fans. SRK certainly delivered his promise to his many fans, the SLAM! The Tour shows have been a huge success.

Get ready for SEF Dandia with Style & for a cause India Post News Service

SANTA CLARA: The roaring cheers of thousands of people as the beat of their dance permeates every last bit of space. Resonant voices singing to the rhythm of the reverberating drums. The eyecatching grandeur of the vibrantcolored dresses. The culmination of these elements results in the beautiful symphony that is Sankara Eye Foundation's Dandia which will be held tenth year in a

row at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Oct 4, 10 and 11th. Sold-out since its inception 9 years ago in the Bay Area, the SEF Dandias honor the rich cultural heritage of India. Traditionally, Dandias are celebrated during the 10 days of Navaratri - a celebration to worship the Divine Mother Durga. SEF Dandias are not only a link to fascinating ethnic festivities, but also a guaranteed night of fun with friends and family, and an opportunity to interact with countless new

people. Furthermore, simply by attending this event, you can help propel Sankara Eye Foundation to further successes on the path to achieving its mission. Established in California, SEF is a non-profit organization that has been working for the past fifteen years for the cause of eradicating curable blindness in India. Driven by the truly inspirational mission of "Vision 20/20 by the year 2020," Sankara has established 8 community hospitals as

well as 2 city hospitals, soon to inaugurate their ninth community hospital in Uttar Pradesh, and in the process of launching their tenth hospital in the state of Rajasthan. By far the most unique and remarkable characteristic of SEF is that they provide free eye care for those unable to afford it - those members of the rural poor, and this accounts for 80 percent which is approximately 145,000 people per year - of the surgeries performed

at their hospitals. Their tireless efforts have enabled over a million people to receive the gift of vision, utterly free of cost. But none of this would have been possible without the generosity and support of SEF's donors. Join our cause and share in the joy of bringing light to someone's eyes. Come s at the Santa Clara Convention center on Oct 4, 10 and 11th, where SEF will be presenting its grand Dandias, tenth year in a row.

Community Across America

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MAFS celebrates 22nd fundraising dinner HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Metropolitan Asian Family Services' (MAFS) celebrated its 22nd Annual fundraising dinner which was full of excitement, entertainment and

Choodaman Pathak of Radhey Shyam Temple and was followed by Ganesh Vandana dance performance by students of Mudra Dance Academy.

MAFS team with Naperville Adult Day Care seniors

award ceremony on September 13 at India House, Schaumburg, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The event's success was underlined with the raising of $80,000 to finance various activities undertaken by MAFS like social ser-

Prominent dignitaries in attendance were Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President, Paul Vallas, Democratic Lt. Governor Candidate, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India, Chicago, Rep. Michelle Mussman, Gayle A.

and business supporters including large excited seniors, and their families. Paul Vallas congratulated MAFS staff for doing an amazing job for the seniors of the South Asian and East European communities. He emphasized the importance of keeping seniors safe at home through Illinois Community Care Program. He stated that Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois and his team are fully committed to maintaining funding for this valuable program which keeps seniors in their homes away from nursing homes. Toni Preckwinkle commended MAFS team for providing comprehensive and integrated services to the immigrant community for over two decades. She recognized MAFS staff for enrolling uninsured consumers into Obamacare Insurance program and providing access to medical care. Preckwinkle listed various programs offered by Cook County and encouraged the community to avail these services. Preckwinkle was impressed to see a pool of dedicated staff that work

Prominent State and local dignitaries at MAFS Gala Dinner evening

vices benefit assistance programs such as Public Benefit Assistance, Immigration Assistance, Lunch programs and others which are either not funded or inadequately funded. The celebration started with traditional lamp lightning ceremony performed by Pt.

Smolinski, Roselle Mayor, Rodney S. Craig, Hanover Park Mayor, Dr. Hemlata Bakane, President of IAMA, Sonia Bhagwakar from IDOA, Sher Mohammad Rajput, Indo American Center Board Member, Anees Chaudhary, President, Alumni Association of Greater Chicago, other community leaders

tirelessly to serve not only the Cook County but also Urban and other Metropolitan counties of Chicago. Michelle Mussman, also congratulated MAFS family for doing an amazing job for the community and assured her support in continuing these programs.

Prashant Kumar in the middle with Prinbyprina models

Shree Gurusamy, Social Service Specialist, gave a brief overview of MAFS programs and left a few

eyes moist through her heartbreaking stories about clients. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 23

Four get Mahtama Gandhi award at HAF fundraiser Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 18

reaching Brown's desk. Mahatma Gandhi awards for 2014 were awarded to Dr. Barabara McGraw, Professor, Social Ethics, Law, and Public Life School of Liberal Arts and School of Economics and Business Administration, Mr. Girish Shah, board member of the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council, Mr. Iftekhar Hai, founding member of United Muslims of America and Mr.Mervyn Danker, American Jewish Committee for the Advancement of Religious Pluralism. The evening also featured a number of speakers, including Miss America 2014 Nina Duvuluri, the first ever Indian American (and second Asian American) to be chosen as Miss America and the first to perform a Bollywood dance on the Miss America stage, who gave a keynote address on her spiritual journey and the im-

This was HAF's 11th annual fundraiser and as before, it was a combination of outstanding food, rousing speakers, and a feeling of common purpose revolving around the work of the organization. Mihir Meghani, M.D, Co-founder of HAF thanked the donor circles and long time supporters. He urged the guests to open their hearts and wallets to the organization. As he pointed out, HAF's peer organizations such as the American Jewish Council and the Council on American Islamic Relations spend far more on advocacy, which enables them to influence policies. He made a quick reference to HAF'Ss work on SB 1057. Ensuring a fair and accurate representation of Hinduism is school textbooks and university classrooms is one arm of HAF's advocacy in academia. HAF has educated Americans at large The evening also featured a about various aspects number of speakers, includof Hindu belief and practice in the context of re- ing Miss America 2014 Nina ligious liberty. Reaching Duvuluri, the first ever Indian out to and developing relationships with vari- American Miss America ous faith and interfaith groups has always been a part of HAF's advocacy efforts. portance of culture and our roots. Nina spoke on how she was The Foundation has worked with many groups on common issues raised in a close knit diverse comsuch as religious liberty and hate munity, learning the human values and sentiments from her family, speech, said Meghani. Samir Kalra welcomed State religion and traditions. She added, Senate Majority Leader Ellen "I support the work HAF does Corbett and presented her the because there are many organizaFriend of Community Award. "We tions that care about Hinduism, are extremely grateful to Senate but HAF cares about Hindus." Majority Leader Corbett for spear- Davuluri, an ardent devotee of heading SCR 32 and SCR 93, which Satya Sai Baba, spoke on how she will go a long way to raising aware- used to explain her Hindu identity ness and understanding about the to friends and classmates. Her Hindu American community and Hindu identity was also an isolating experience, said Davuluri. our beliefs." Ellen Corbett while addressing "When all my friends were going the large gathering said, "I am to church on Wednesdays and honored to represent the 10th Sundays, I felt left out," and reState Senate District, which has called her spiritual trip to constituents from many diverse Puttaparthi, India. Mihir Meghani, Co-founder of backgrounds, including a significant number of Hindu Americans". HAF said gala had raised $330,000, Corbett said the passage of SB one-third of the organization's an1057 would be her "top priority" nual budget. This year's gala was for the legislative year, and noted HAF's largest ever, he noted. HAF is hosting another gala in that the bill had almost unanimous support as it passed through both Tampa, Fla., Nov. 7 and in Houshouses of the legislature before ton, Texas, Nov. 15.

October 3, 2014

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WomenNow organizing first India Day celebrations India Post News Service

SAN JOSE: WomenNow, in partnership with Zee TV, will bring to the Bay Area the first India Day 2014 celebrations at Santana Row in the heart of Silicon Valley. The event was championed by San Jose City Councilmember Ash Kalra and is co-sponsored by Yupptv, Travelopod, Bears for Humanity, UST Global and Ultimate Lounge Building Kids. In-

The day-long festivities will showcase a series of ethnic presentations from diverse Indian traditions. There will be classical dances, instrumental as well as vocal performances, haute couture presentations

dia Day will be celebrated from 12 noon through 7 pm on October 4. This is a free for all event. The day-long festivities will showcase a series of ethnic presentations from diverse Indian traditions. There will be classical dances, instrumental as well as vocal performances, haute couture presentations, stand up comics, and the much awaited Ms WomenNow Pageant. Creating opportunities for hundreds of Bay areans who could potentially become brand ambassadors of multinationals. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 22

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SLAM team rocks Chicago with spectacular show Asian Media USA

Shah Rukh Khan Performing

Patel and Bhavesh Patel deserve huge credit for smoothly executing this magnificent show. Sahil and LA TAN show busi-

SLAM team

found their reward even paying high priced tickets ranging from $59 to $5000 (VVIP). The organizers were very pleased with the audience response to this grand show. Produced by Front stage Media FZ-LLC and International promoter Balaji Entertainment Inc, this event was organized by Babubhai Patel, Bhavesh Patel from Sahil and Nick Patel and Mayur Patel from L.A. TAN. Organizers Nick

Organizers Babubhai Patel, Mayur Patel, Bhavesh Patel (addressing gathering) and Nick Patel with national promoters

of Saahil, said that it could be because of much bigger group with more musicians and sophisticated equipment including State of the Art stage decoration with flickering rotating colorful coordination hypnotizing laser light system to augment the performance impact. Nick Patel added the "meaning of SLAM is Sound, Light, Action and Movie also Seduce, Love, Amaze, Mesmerize" .It was a collective effort of Bhavesh Patel, Babu Patel CEO of Shahil, Mayur and Nick Patel, CEO of L.A. Tan. The Chicago show was the 4th concert of their United States and Canada trip. From start to finish it was out of the world experience, creating great excitement among the audience. Deepika, a versatile dancer and a seasoned actress

Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan with performers

ness pioneers organized the show. Explaining the reasons for success in show business, Bhavesh CEO

Rita Shah, Shah Rukh Khan and Sunil Shah

captured everyone's heart with her graceful dance moves. This was followed by Abhishek Bachchan's entrance which was another class act. He interacted with the audience and showed his Chicago spirit, by wearing a BEARS jersey under his costume. The crowd went wild at this point. Next came the one and only Shah Rukh Khan, who came flying on a rope from the audience area. It was truly spectacular. Boman Irani and Farah Khan provided lot of laughs with their comedy routine and dance moves. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 25

WomenNow organizing first India Day celebrations Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 21

Classical dance forms representing Indian traditions from across the country will include invocations, Ras Lila from Manipur, Giddha and Bhangra from Punjab, Garba and Dandiya from Gujarat,

Kathak from the Lucknow Gharana, Ghumar and Jhumar from Rajasthan, Kathakali from Kerala, and contemporary fusion dance. The dance performances will be presented by the leading professional dance organizations in the Bay Area, including the following: Chanddam, Gurus, X3 Productions, Dhol Rhythms, Chandreyee Mukherjee and Company and Ameya Groups Dance Company

and Tarana Dance Company. Performers will mingle with the audience members to discuss their art forms. Music will be presented by Priya Gandhi, Raunak, Sarthak and Harjeet Mehendi. The cultural bonanza will also

showcase cooking demonstrations by Amber India restaurant. Gifts and prizes will be awarded for on-the-spot competitions and participation. Traditional henna artists will demonstrate their art. Fashion show will be presented by leading Bay Area designers include Aateka Sultana ,Vama Designs, Celebrations Jewelery, Chona Pike and CBazar.

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MAFS celebrates 22nd fundraising dinner Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 20

Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director stated how MAFS is providing full array of services to the community and especially elderly through shared vision and collaborated services. Narrating her journey of pains Mrs. Kumar recognized efforts of her dedicated board, committed bilingual staff, and able management. Mrs. Kumar also encouraged community to join hands in supporting and strengthening the agency in catering to the needs of immigrant community by donating their time and dime. Dr. Firdaus Jafri, President MAFS has welcomed all for graceful evening and commended efforts of MAFS team and more particularly silent donors and doers Mr. Prashant Kumar and Mr. Pramod Kumar. CG Dr. Ausaf Sayeed commended MAFS team for doing extraordinary job in serving and caring for elderly and other immigrant population of Chicagoland. He appreciated Mrs. Kumar for providing intricate planning, dedication and determination to MAFS. He said that it is a time for women

empowerment and Mrs. Santosh Kumar and Dr Jafri are true example of it. He also lauded Mr. Pramod Kumar for providing critical support to MAFS and said

They surprised everyone by showcasing India's rich culture, dresses and dances. Haute and prĂŞt collection by Prinbyprina impressed everyone, with beautiful

Attendees at event

here the story is the other way around: Behind every successful woman there's a successful man. The celebration started with "Customs of India" presented by Naperville Adult Day Care seniors.

models have scorching the ramp with their traditional and modern dresses. Qawali by Dhingra Group and Bollywood Fusion Dance by Soorya Dance Academy captured

audience interest and received their appreciation. Zaheer Abbas of Sa Re Ga Ma fame and versatile singer Uma Karia enchanted everyone with their mellifluent voices. They made young and old dance to their modern and Indian class i c a l Bollywood melodies. The event also had multiple raffle draw items and had many excited winner adding fun to the evening. The event was emceed by Beena Patel, MAFS Board member and Neelam Desai, Manager MAFS Naperville who kept everyone engaged with their witty, and informational remarks. The celebration also had awards which were given in the following categories - "Making a

Difference in the World" award was given to CG Dr. Ausaf Sayeed; "Lifetime Achievement Award" to Shashi Singh, longtime supporter of MAFS; "Manager of the Year Award" to Bhavnamati Patel, Manager MAFS Vernon Hills; "Media Award" to Vandana Jhingan, Bureau Chief TV Asia. "Best Supervisor of the Year" Awards were given to Pinesh Sheth, MAFS Niles, Shilpa Doshi, MAFS Naperville, Fatima Borjanoviv, MAFS Chicago. "Adult Day Care" Award was given to Mukesh Panchal, LPN MAFS Naperville; Cook of the Year Awards were given to Dhyabhai Patel, MAFS Chicago, Pratibha Purohit, MAFS Naperville. "Support Service" Awards were given to Nazia Aslam, and Imran Muhammad, MAFS Chicago. "10 Years Home Care Aid" Award was given to Nila Sura, "Driver of the Year" Awards were given to Ramesh Surti and Rajendra Patel and "Public Benefit Award" was given to Connie Dogaru. The evening concluded with vote of thanks presented by Rakesh Asthana, Board Member MAFS.

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FIA-Chicago hosts Farewell for Dy CG Gangte ABDUL SIDDIQUI

CHICAGO: Federation of Indian Associations [FIA] hosted a Dinner Reception to bid ceremonious farewell to Deputy Consul

last week. The event was brought to life with the soulful rendition of ghazals and sangeet by one of

Iftekhar Shareef, FIA's reigning leader who co-hosted the Farewell Reception welcomed the cross-section of guests and underscored

FIA host team - Keerthi Ravoori, Iftekhar Shareef and others with Dy CG Gangte (seen addressing the meet)

General N.J. Gangte at Bristol Palace Banquets in Mount Prospects, a northwest suburb of Chicago,

India's leading classical vocalists, Sandip Bhattacharjee and highly talented Sushmita Mukherjee.

FIA's long history and tradition to acknowledge dignitaries, consular officers, ministers and other elected

officials from India and the US. He commended N.J. Gangte for his stellar services to the Midwest region in his capacity as Deputy CG Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, FIA President, mentioned that Gangte addressed the issues faced by the Indian Diaspora in Midwest. He specifically pointed out the hosting of "Consular Expo" that touched upon the gnawing concerns pertaining to the issuance of passports, visas and other related consular services. Later, Shareef and Keerthi Kumar presented a colorful shawl

to Gangte and flower bouquets to Pandit Sandip Bhattacharjee and Sushmita Mukherjee. To add to the celebrations, in full military-like honors, Side Raiding, Co-host of the reception with his vintage rifle marched in front of the guests and offered a stiff military salute to the dignitaries and guests alike. Dy CG Gangte thanked FIA and its leaders for according him a heartfelt farewell and he added that he will always carry the fond memories of serving in this great city of Chicago.

IACS Business & Entrepreneurial meet a big success DAVE VASUDEVAN

CHICAGO: A Chicagoland based no profit organization; the Indo American Community Services (IACS) held a Business and Entrepreneurial conference on Friday, September 19 at the Hotel Marriott in Naperville, a southwest suburb of Chicago. The Event gave opportunities for a variety of Indian-American entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas, gain feedback, receive advice and explore potential funding opportunities from top inves-

team members who lead this event, said "These panelists gave the new entrepreneurs specific advice based on their companies to expand and appeal to consumers as well as what it takes to be successful in entrepreneurship." The Conference featured a Networking and Startup Expo in which three other startup companies including Hifi Kids, Emotiplush, and AWST were represented through booths and presented their ideas in a more informal way to potential investors. This also provided

L-R Vik Mehta, Darpan Munjal, Sundaram Nagarajan, Arun Bhatia and Kunal Chopra

tors, business executives and advisors. The conference also allowed entrepreneurs to create strategic relationships with advisors within their industry aiding in the progression of their companies The Conference began with three select start up organizations presenting their plans to the panel of experts. The three startup companies included Fitness Cubed, Mart Mobi, and Turbo Appeal. The experienced panelists included Darpan Munjal, CoFounder of Fashionaria, Kunal Chopra, Senior Associate at Techstars, Sundaram Nagarajan, Executive Vice President at Illinois Tool Works, and Arun Bhatia, Senior Associate at Illinois Ventures. Vik Mehta, one of the Executive

a key networking opportunity for experienced professionals and new entrepreneurs to connect. The final segment of the conference consisted of presentations by various panelists including Kunal Chopra, Darpan Munjal, Arman Ghosh, Co-Founder of GrowthPanda and Ashish Rangnekar; CEO of BenchProp.Balu Kadiyala another Executive team member said "The panelists discussed their experiences and steps they took to become successful in their fields. This was extremely influential for the professionals just starting their career as it gave them helpful tips from experts on how to succeed and what to expect." Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 25

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BHU alumni meet raises $21000 for projects SURENDRA ULLAL

The start of the BHUA Meet in Lisle

CHICAGO: The IIT BHU Global Alumni Association recently held its fourth Global Alumni Meet at the Sheraton Lisle Hotel in Lisle, a south west suburb of Chicago The theme for the Meet was "The IIT BHU Journey of Excellence Continues...". Over 200 people attended the Meet. At the opening, a lamp lighting ceremony was held with the portrait of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of BHU. An inspiring video sharing his amazing life story was shown to the audience. At the meet, alumni deliberated on ways to give back to alma mater and raised over $21,000 to support various projects at IIT BHU including student scholarships. Prof. Rajeev Sangal, Director of IIT BHU and Acting Vice-Chancellor of BHU was the Chief Guest. Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Railways and IIT BHU Alumnus gave a Keynote address. Dr. Sarvajna Dwivedi, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Pearl Therapeutics, Inc., an IIT BHU

Alumnus was also a Keynote speaker. Video messages from former BHU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Panjab Singh and Campus Diaries were shared. Two panels on "Excellence in Education" and "Excellence in Entrepreneurship" discussed lot of interesting ideas to propel the IIT BHU to new heights. There were lighter moments with "Fond Memo-

Indian Minister Manoj Sinha being honored

ries of BHU" and "Tribute to Teachers". The Meet concluded with an entertainment program after dinner. Manoj Sinha and Prof. S. N. Upadhyay were conferred 2014 IIT BHU Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Nine alumni were conferred the 2014 IIT BHU Distinguished Alumnus Award. The 5th IIT BHU Global Meet will be held in the San Francisco

BHUA members with guests

LOUNDON, Virginia: Members of Indian community at large in Loudoun County (Virginia) are upset over anti-Hindi graffiti and acts of vandalism that they have been facing for the past few months by some anti social and hate groups in the area. The local police are investigating a series of vandalism cases, some of which contain discriminatory language against Hindus. The Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman said there have been several other reports of vandalism in the county since July in Ashburn - in the areas of Northstar Boulevard at Amberg

Grove Terrace, Morning Walk Drive at Winter Haven Drive, and Ryan Road at Forest Manor Drive. "It's disappointing to see this," Chapman said. "It's a lack of understanding of cultural diversity and it is something we have to really understand and embrace. We're taking this incident very, very seriously and we're going to look into all aspects of it." The Brambleton Homeowners Association is offering a $500 reward for information on who is responsible for the vandalism. Sheriff Micheal Chapman. has assured that his office will strive to continuously improve safety and law enforcement services to all members of our community

through the Step Up Strategy of improved service, technology, efficiency and professionalism. In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Christian-Buddhist-Jewish leaders have come out to the support of Hindus of Loudoun County (Virginia) who face anti-Hindu vandalism in the last three months. Hindus, Reverend Richard L. Smith, a United Church of Christ pastor in Nevada, in a statement, said: It is especially sad to see such expressions of hatred coming from the home state of Thomas Jefferson, who so ardently believed in religious liberty. We are all diminished by it, even as we are enriched by interfaith acceptance and cooperation. Cont’d on page 27

tween the Institute, alumni, students, faculty, and staff. The IBGAA raises funds to execute alumni projects to benefit the Institute, students, faculty, and staff. It also endeavors to enhance the IIT BHU brand globally.

SLAM team rocks Chicago with spectacular show Cont’d from page 22

Religious leaders condemn Virginia vandalism IP News Bureau

Bay Area in 2016. The IIT BHU Global Alumni Association (IBGAA) was established in 2008. It is a 501 (c) (3) charitable and educational organization registered in New Jersey. Its mission is to act as a link be-

Sizzling Malaika Khan and handsome hunk Sonu Sood took to the stage next and performed an electrifying dance number which thrilled the audience. Every star in their dance routine was accompanied by backup dancers, who did an amazing job and made the show very colorful. Shah Rukh Khan selected a very special couple from the audience which was totally unexpected, because he saw the gentleman wearing an attractive white tuxedo which caught his attention. Chicago community leader Sunil Shah and his beautiful wife Rita Shah were the lucky couple selected to come on stage to interact with Shah Rukh Khan. They got to sing, dance and talk with him on stage for nearly 7 minutes

making it the most memorable moment of their lives. The couple was given a signed photograph of King Khan, a bike helmet and a brand new Harley Davidson motorbike. Audience was impressed with their dressing style and their spontaneous inner actions on stage. King Khan is his speech repeatedly thanked his good friends Nick Patel and Bhavesh Patel for making this event possible. He commended them for bringing the SLAM tour to the windy city. Their efforts truly paid off and brought a memorable concert to our city. Audience will never forget this concert experience in their life. "I am blessed to get a lot of love and support from people around the world. This is our way of giving this love back and thanking you all,' said Shah Rukh Khan.

IACS Business & Entrepreneurial meet a big success Cont’d from page 24

"IACS is proud to partner with Microsoft to give selected top there startups a $60.000 worth of Microsoft Software and Azure Cloud services to help kick start their companies. And also awarded them with $2,000 worth of Accounting, Tax and Consulting services

compliments of Chawla & Associates," said Sreenivas Katragadda President of IACS. The IACS Conference provided a unique opportunity to budding entrepreneurs to present their ideas to a panel of experienced professionals and aided in building of their network and kick starting of their companies.

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Eye Clinic at Midwest Swaminarayan Temple ARVIND THAKKAR

ITASCA: Midwest Swaminarayan Temple is a pioneer in organizing many charitable activities but the culmination of all of them is the Eye Clinic that runs twice a month and offers free glasses on top of examinations. This eye clinic was started about four years ago with a generous donation of $ 20,000 by devotee Jayantibhai (Jay) Patel. It helped in buying a set of eye equipments. The clinic provides free eye examinations, identifies any eye problems, writes prescription for glasses and if necessary, provides free glasses. More than 400 patients have benefited by this service and over 150 patients have been provided with both single vision and bifocal glasses. The temple management provides all the facilities and the cost of the clinic. It ran on September 14 and also on September 28. Each time 8 to 10 patients are taken care of and on an average four pairs of glasses are provided each time. Most important portion of an eye clinic facility is the services of optometrist doctors. Grishma Patel, O.D., a young optometrist gladly provided her time and talents for this service. Initially, the clinic was arranged once a month.

Looking at the number of patients, Neal Thakrar, O.D., another young optometrist, consented to provide his valuable services. So, now the clinic is held twice a month.

free monthly health clinics since last eleven years. The clinic services include doctors' consultation, laboratory tests, and free generic medications. More than

L-R Grishma Patel, O.D., Patient Harish Rao, Coordinator Ashwinbhai Majmudar, Coordinator Arvindbhai Thakkar and Volunteer Nisargi Thakkar

Ashwinbhai Majmudar and Nisargi Thakkar, two devoted volunteers, provided their services free. On top of these volunteers, the well known eye surgeon of Chicago area, Parag Majmudar, M.D., provides free specialized services when referred to by the optometrists of the clinic. The temple has been providing

2,200 patients have taken advantage of this facility so far. The temple clinic welcomes patients without health insurance, visitors, patients in between jobs and needy seniors. The temple provided hundreds of boxes of food packets for the program Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) for distribution to the

children in Zambia. Later the temple helped collect and ship four hundred boxes of used clothes in collaboration with an institution named "Sahiyaru Abhiyan" for

distribution to tribal population near Ambaji in Gujarat. Midwest Swaminarayan temple is providing free eye clinic services to the needy itself.

L-R Coordinator Ashwinbhai Majmudar, Neal Thakkar, O.D., Patient Mamsa Dolly, Volunteer Nisargi Thakkar and Coordinator Arvindbhai Thakkar

Indonesia festival to honor goddess Saraswati

Cow sanctuary set up in Pennsylvania NEELA PANDYA

BANGOR, PA: Known as Lakshmi Cow Sanctuary, Bangor in Pennsylvania may be the first place in the country to have a shelter for nurturing cows. Spread in 42 acres, it currently has 16 cows and each has been given names. The tagline for the sanctuary is "Promoting Love and Compassion

dried cow dung patties for use in some Hindu ceremonies, reports suggest. Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, commended efforts of the Sanctuary to provide protection to cows, which were held sacred by Hindus and were considered the seat

ence for a variety of reasons, the principal being that it provides us with milk and milk derivatives which are health giving. "They are aghnya (not slayable) and we need this concept to get across not only USA but globally and principally in India," he said. Rajan stressed

Statue of Goddess Saraswati at Indonesian embassy

heartland Ubud, this Festival's mission is "to create a world class BALI, Indonesia: The 11th festival that celebrates extraordiUbud Writers & Readers Festival, nary stories and amplifies brave Southeast Asia's renowned liter- voices; tackles global issues and ary and cultural event, bring held big ideas". The Emfrom October 1bassy of Indo5 in Bali, Indonesia in Washnesia, will honor ington DC Hindu goddess (USA) last year Saraswati. raised a 10-foot About 150 statue of god"literary stars" dess Saraswati from over 25 on a public countries are space on Masparticipating in sachusetts Avthis Festival, enue NW, about whose objecBali promotion a mile away tive talks about the "spirit of cross-cultural under- from White House. Indonesia has the largest Musstanding". Project of a not-for-profit foun- lim population than any other dation first conceived by its co- country in the world; where Musfounder Janet DeNeefe, held an- lims form about 88% of the popunually in Bali's artistic and cultural lation and Hindus about 3%. India Post News Service

Lakshmi Cow Sanctuary

for All". It seeks to "rescue" cows and provides safe and nurturing haven and a free and loving environment to them. Many people celebrate their special events here by feeding cows and find sanctuary a "deeply inner-transformative experience". The sanctuary also sells organic

of many deities. Also referred as "Mother Cow", this divine animal was venerated from an early period by Hindus worldwide. Madhu Patel president of NRI Press Club in Chicago, said that from time immemorial as far as Indians are concerned, they have been holding the cow in rever-

the need of more such cow sanctuaries world over to provide caring shelters for cows Dr. Sankar Sastri, a former Dean of engineering in New York City College of Technology, is the founder-president of this Sanctuary located about 70 miles from New York City.

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Shubrah, Syna collections at Boston Fashion Week NEELA PANDYA

BOSTON: Shubhra Designs Talking about the upcoming friend is 'diamonds'. My ultimate and Syna's Collection are joining show Shubhra said "My twenty dream is to bring some unique hands to present a fashion show during Boston fashion Week. S h u b h r a Bhattacharya Chandra, veteran fashion designer and founder of Shubhra Designs, has been successfully showing collections for Boston Fashion Week for Shubhra B. Chandra Twinkle Morbia Jharna Madan the last few years. She has worked in the past for sev- year design career has been all eral large US brands (e.g. Limited, about understanding the customer and what she Victoria's Secret catalog, Sigrid Olsen and wants to wear. MakTalbots). Her forte is ing her look unique while adhering to my recycling Indian saris design principals, to make western speform my sustainable cial occasion dresses and eveningwear for business today. My designs are all about women and men. recycling Indian hand Twinkle Morbia woven silk and cotton Gautam, Jewelry defabrics and creating signer and owner of fashions in western Syna's Collection is silhouettes. I have making her debut in been doing a show for Boston Fashion week. Boston Fashion Week Just over a year ago, every year since I Syna's Collection started Shubrah.com. 'designer jewelry hub' I want to thank my was brought to life by friends at Tantric for this highly motivated giving us the space and creative designer for the show and all This collaborative the student models effort will showcase the 'Fall & Festive Collecfor walking the ramp for BFW." tion' of both Designers. Twinkle Morbia Shubrah & Syna's Fall Gautam said she Collection Show will be on October 11at Tantric Indian Bis- found that jewelry always stands tro, Stuart Street, Boston from 3 pm out in any outfit. "After all, it is well known that a woman's best to 5 pm

Religious leaders condemn Virginia vandalism Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 25

Jikai' Phil Bryan, well-known Buddhist leader, stressed: It is absolutely unbelievable and deeply saddening to note that something like this can happen in my country. All right thinking people should strongly condemn such behavior and come to the defense of our wonderful Hindu neighbors. ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Jewish Rabbi in California and Nevada, pointed out: Vandalism against our peace-loving Hindu brothers and sisters in Ashburn, Virginia is incredibly thoughtless and unAmerican. Religion tells us to love and help our neighbors. We need to support the Hindu community

of Virginia and stop the hate-filled graffiti. Welcoming the support of these diverse religious leaders Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged other faith communities in Loudoun County to come forward to express their support to the Hindu neighbors and thus spread the message of peace, love and harmony at grassroots level. Indian Americans have made lot of contributions to the society at large to the nation building, including the Loudoun County and the community there should stand in solidarity with the Hindu brothers and sisters at such a time, Zed added.

pieces of costume jewelry into the world that would bridge the gap between precious and Fashion Jewelry with a focus on high quality craftsmanship and design," she said. Talking about the collaboration, coordinator Madan Jharna said "I am excited to be a part of this esteemed team. It is my first show too under the Boston Fashion Week umbrella. I think the collaboration between Shubhra and Twinkle is just fantastic. Both designers complement each other

and together we will put up a memorable show.

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St Louis golf tournament helps Sawerra ASHWIN PATEL

Rajjev Shah & Rajesh Vora

Sunny Desai presenting Trophy to Nand Kodvani

Junior Champion Sean Vashi receiving trophy from Rajeev Shah

ST LOUIS: A two-day St. Louis Asian Open Golf Tournament was held in St. Louis, MO on September 20 and 21 at the Gateway National Golf Course. St. Louis has been hosting this tournament for the last 16 years. Rajiv Shah is the Tournament Director and he commented "We had a record breaking participation with 144 golfers playing. We couldn't have asked better weather, perfect temperatures and clear skies! We thank God for this, and hope to have the same luck for the years to come." Overall winner for this tournament was Nand Kodvani and Sean Vashi became the junior champion. The Charity Golf event this year will benefit Saweraa, a volunteer-based organization founded in St. Louis in 2003. Its mission is to serve women of South Asian descent who are victims of domestic violence. It extends support, education and empowerment to them.

Masala FM picks up listeners in 40 countries PRAKASH M SWAMY

NEW YORK: US based Masala FM with a tag line of Unlimited music anywhere anytime is a 24X7 Online Cloud Radio headquartered in Hollywood, California. It has picked up listeners in over 40 countries. It aims at spreading the joy of unlimited music to its listeners anywhere, anytime across the globe. "We at Masala FM believe that music has no language and no boundaries. We strive to unite people of varied communities through the universal language, The Music. The right blend of Masala makes a magically delicious dish." "So is our focus, which is to play the

right choice of handpicked songs, to serve a feast to our listener's ears. Masala FM team is full of Young & Energetic and Creative personalities. Our programs are designed in such the way that it satisfies all age groups and infotain the people across the globe," said Rofina, the CEO of the station. Masala FM has achieved the distinction of becoming the first online cloud radio with live video streaming and RJ's across the globe. It has handpicked songs and variety of programs with unique concepts. The movie review by Ravi Nag, Masala Chai with Chelli by Bangalorebased humorist Chelli Srinivasan and story based on love by Idhaya Gopi and play list by Chikki are most favored by NRIs.

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Tu Meri : Bang Bang 2 Samjhawan : Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania 3 Tere Ho Ke Rahenge : Raja Natwarlal 4 Yaar Naa Miley : Kick 30 India Post

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lli Avram, who made her debut in Bollywood with Mickey Virus last year, has now bagged her second film and it is with the famous director duo Abbas-Mustan. The film in question is said to star Kapil Sharma, who initially was supposed to make his debut in Bollywood with Yash Raj Film's Bank Chor. The comedian who is currently hosting the show 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' will be seen romancing this half Greek, half Swedish model. In fact, we hear that the makers decided to sign her for her exotic looks. Elli gained fame with her much popular stint in Bigg Boss Season 7 and became one of Salman Khan's favorites during the show. The actress even played the host for the grand launch of Bigg Boss Season 8 that happened with much fanfare.

After playing Olympic boxing champ, MC Mary Kom, actor Priyanka Chopra is being widely regarded as the top choice for biopics. However, the 31-year-old, who is also being considered to play the role of top cop Kiran Bedi in a film based on Bedi's life, says that she won't be a part of a sport biopic in the future. "People have this habit of generalizing ... after one film, they think I should do all sportsrelated biopics. I don't see myself playing a role in a sports biopic at all," she says. Asked why she has taken this decision, PeeCee shares, "Not that I didn't like doing a sportsperson's biopic, but I like doing different things - playing different characters, doing interesting roles.â&#x20AC;?

October 3, 2014 5 Aata Majha Satakli : Singham Returns 6 Galliyan : Ek Villain 7 Fanny Re : Finding Fanny 8 Sawaan Aaya Hai : Creature 3D 9 Hangover : Kick 10 Aaj Phir: Hate Story 2

ricketer Virat Kohli has again become a regular at Anushka Sharma's Andheri home. The game is still on but this time the twosome is following a different set of rules. When the cricketer was in the city this January, he had parked himself at Anushka's flat. Virat, the co-owner of FC Goa, the Goa franchise of the football series Indian Super League (ISL), was in Mumbai for the tournaments but is not staying with Anushka. Sources say that the cricketer is fed up of stories suggesting that his poor form in the recent England series was due to Anushka's presence. "He visits but does not stay over. He drops by for a couple of hours and leaves," says a source. Also, Virat does not want to field any questions, even remotely connected to Anushka.

Bollywood

October 3, 2014

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hahid Kapoor's "Haider" with Vishal Bhardwaj is ready to come out, but that is not enough for the actor. His wish is that the filmmaker should make "Kaminey 2" with him. While reports are doing the round that Shahid is, in fact, already a part of "Kaminey 2", the actor said: "I would be very happy if 'Kaminey 2' happens." Released in 2009, "Kaminey" starred Shahid in a double role and he won accolades for his performance from all quarters. "I had an amazing experience with Vishal sir working on 'Kaminey' and now 'Haider'. I just hope he casts me in his next film and I hope that this film is 'Kaminey 2'," the 33year-old said on the sets of reality show "Cine Stars Ki Khoj".

fter delivering many hits in her career, Katrina Kaif says she is lucky that most of her films have performed well at the box office. Katrina, 31, who has given many successful films including 'Dhoom 3', 'Ek Tha Tiger', 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' and 'Raajneeti', said box-office numbers do matter to her. "Box office success does matter to me. Everyone wants their films to do well. Because you have worked hard. As an actress one craves for that acceptance. I am super fortunate that I have not seen the other side. "My films mostly have done well at the box office and I have a lot of gratitude and happiness. I just hope that continues with my next film too. When your film doesn't do well after so much of hardwork there is a heartbreak and it's not a good feeling," Katrina said. Often touted as the number one actress in the industry, Katrina says she considers herself lucky that the audience have accepted her.

ra is hop C i t rn ee is ea arin e P h t s u hh o w s), touc ld, b o t u s r o h a aug g ab from e ye thre . Talkin oney (l mostly t s u be j atus lot of m ou earn ight ncial st a Y ly, m r kful king dorse). ree ina n a f a a c t m h n n d ds. T I am urre (to e woo bran olly ut her c r says, " brands f B o r r e o to be 12 y ab r e ac ave num m u happ ough, th that I h se fo u m i o x h s en ma s. ya on i ing g the she say ts to bu reas n e i ant s h r t n " a ), do ly w nk l y n w i l a e l h e t e a r h i nc .S . d. I I am e. I woo ements t I think ell (fina ury cars thre n s w r u x eri, w o b o ne ndh ee lu r r e n t l y end ure, m doing r A s h t n t eryo i o v u s t n a c n E n I I e . w . od tm I am them, dy o cars a p a r v e r y g o i hai s. to lrea s t l o v e d m a e e r t i i u t n d is rah e nf nee l l . " I j u e co es in a r to buy) se bana nt. h Pari s e ende nt liv sw p w," pai a a e o y s f l d n w l t a e use ly in r r e n ouse (I oh b hers a ho who cu eti t inancial h e y e n u i h t r, ar ef to b at P t for acto to b T h e y b u d g e aying th I want . s , "M me, money) s a y s fun of g I am not sure, but es akin m a k o n l y m ." I think I am endorsing is py ( s h e ery hap the maximum number of v I am

brands. Thankfully, due to them, I am doing well (financially),"

Â&#x201E; Health

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Mechanized human hand developed WASHINGTON: Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have developed a mechanized human hand that will help facilitate movement and restore the gripping capability of hands following nerve damage. The device, tested in cadaver hands, is one of the first instruments created that could improve the transmission of mechanical forces and movement inside the body, the research done by engineers at Oregon State University said. The new mechanism is a passive technology using a basic pulley that when implanted within a person's hand will allow more natural grasping function with less use of muscle energy. "This technology is definitely going to work and it will merge artificial mechanisms with biological hand function," said Ravi Balasubramanian, an expert in robotics, biomechanics and human control systems, and assistant professor at the Oregon State University. The new research shows how the mechanism developed for this problem can produce more natural and adaptive flexion of the fingers in grasping. -PTI

Â&#x201E; Govt plans 'disease days' to spread awareness NEW DELHI: The government is planning to designate special 'days' for various diseases to promote awareness and enable engagement with the public on their preventive and curative aspects, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said. "A specific day in a year will be dedicated to awareness-building on a particular disease. For instance, November 7 will be observed as National Cancer Awareness Day, apart from February 4, which is already marked as World Cancer Day. "We will use such occasions to communicate with citizens on how to deal with that disease at the prevention and curative levels, the importance of timely check-ups and other matters," Vardhan said. Thus, the government is planning to mark special days for diabetes, anaemia, hypertension, blindness, deafness, malnutrition, obesity, mental conditions and issues related to infant and maternal mortality, a Health Ministry release said here. -PTI

Health Science

Skin renders Sun's UV radiation harmless Details on Page 35

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Yoga, meditation can train your brain to control computers better WASHINGTON: People who practice yoga and meditation can better use their brains to control a computer, a new study has found. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that people who practice yoga and meditation long term learn to control a computer with their minds faster and better than people with little or no yoga or meditation experience. The findings could have major implications for treatments of people who are paralyzed or have neurodegenerative diseases. The study involved a total of 36 participants. One group of 12 had at least one year of experience in yoga or meditation at least two times per week for one hour. The second group included 24 healthy participants who had little or no yoga or meditation experience. Both groups were new to systems using the brain to control a computer. Both groups participated in three, two-hour experiments over four weeks in which they wore a high tech, non-invasive cap over the scalp that picked up brain activity.

The participants were asked to move a computer cursor across the screen by imaging left or right hand movements. The participants with yoga or meditation experience were twice

puter interface but very little attention to the brain side," said lead researcher Bin He, a biomedical engineering professor in the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering.

as likely to complete the braincomputer interface task by the end of 30 trials and learned three times faster than their counterparts for the left-right cursor movement experiments. "In recent years, there has been a lot of attention on improving the computer side of the brain-com-

"This comprehensive study shows for the first time that looking closer at the brain side may provide a valuable tool for reducing obstacles for brain-computer interface success in early stages," He said. Researchers have been increasingly focused on finding

Doctors conduct corneal transplants in J-K SRINAGAR: Doctors working as volunteers with a Sikh sect have conducted the first-ever corneal transplants in Jammu and Kashmir. "The two corneal transplant surgeries were performed at SKIMS, Bemina here," said Director, eye bank of 'Dera Sacha Sauda', Dr Aditya Insan, who along with doctors from SKIMS performed the surgeries. A 55-year-old woman with spontaneous failure of cornea and another 35-year-old lady with bilateral Corneal Clouding

were operated upon successfully, he said. He said doctors from SKIMS were also briefed about the latest techniques and methods of conducting corneal transplant surgeries.

It was agreed that in future Dera Sacha Sauda Eye Bank will provide every possible support to the SKIMS doctors, he said. -PTI

ways to help physically disabled individuals who are paralyzed, have lost limbs, or suffer from diseases such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or cerebral palsy. In these cases, brain function remains intact, but these people have to find a way to bypass muscular control to move a wheelchair or control an artificial limb. He gained international attention last year when members of his research team were able to demonstrate flying a robot with only their minds. However, they found that not everyone can easily learn to control a computer with their brains. Many people are unsuccessful in controlling the computer after multiple attempts. A consistent and reliable electroencephalography (EEG) brain signal may depend on an undistracted mind and sustained attention. Meditators have shown more distinctive EEG patterns than untrained participants, which may explain their success, researchers said. The research is published in Technology. -PTI

Healthcare limping back to normal in J&K SRINAGAR: As Kashmir Valley battles the aftermath of the worst-ever floods in more than a century, healthcare is limping back to normal as most of the major hospitals have been cleaned of the slush and restoration work is going apace. The major government-run hospitals like SMHS Hospital, Lala Ded Maternity Hospital, SKIMS Medical College Hospital Bemina, Bone and Joints Hospital and the lone children's hospital - G B Pant - had suspended operations after being flooded. These hospitals suffered huge damages, both to infrastructure and equipment, and even as temporary arrangements were put in place, normal functioning would take a while to resume.

While SKIMS Bemina, SMHS and GB Pant Hospital remained inundated till the end of last week and were being cleaned, Bone and

These hospitals suffered huge damages, both to infrastructure and equipment, and even as temporary arrangements were put in place, normal functioning would take a while Joints Hospital was made operational last week after being cleaned and sanitized. Cont'd on Page 35

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Manufacturers promise quality & healthcare access MUMBAI: Pledging its support to providing "quality healthcare and accessible medicines" to all, the Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) has said the sector needs a "supportive" atmosphere with collaboration between the government and different stakeholders. OPPI, which represents research-driven

"This welcome move tells us we are being heard. We are still trying to understand the precise impact of this order on our member companies" pharma companies in India, has continued its advocacy for an environment that allows innovation in medicine. "India needs a supportive ecosystem that balances the need for innovation with the necessity for more accessible medicines. OPPI remains committed to partnering with government to help fulfill the dream of quality healthcare for all,"

OPPI Director General Ranjana Smetacek said at its 48th annual general meeting held here. Commenting on government's decision to withdraw guidelines that gave NPPA the power to fix prices of drugs in certain circumstances in public interest, Smetacek said, "We appreciate government's decision to withdraw the guidelines on fixation/ revision of prices of scheduled and nonscheduled formulations under Para 19 of the DPCO 2013." "This welcome move tells us we are being heard. We are still trying to understand the precise impact of this order on our member companies," she added. "We now have a government with a decisive mandate to fulfill its promises of good governance, transparency in policy making and a corruption-free pro-growth agenda. The pharmaceutical industry is ready and eager to join hands with the new Government to address the complex challenge of access to quality and affordable healthcare for all the people of our country," OPPI President Shailesh Ayyangar said. The first ever OPPI Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Nihchal H Israni, Chairman, Blue Cross Laboratories Ltd, recognizing his contribution to the Indian pharmaceutical industry for over six decades. -PTI

Weight loss surgery may not curb depression LONDON: Bariatric surgery is not a magic wand to curb depression, say scientists who found that not all obese people feel better after undergoing weight loss surgery. While most severely obese people experience much better spirits once they shed weight through a diet, lifestyle changes or medical intervention, this is unfortunately not true for everyone, said Valentina Ivezaj and Carlos Grilo of the Yale University School of Medicine in the US. Ivezaj and Grilo set out to investigate how prone bariatric patients are to still experiencing depressive symptoms, and especially if such symptoms increase markedly or not at all, after post-surgery. Their study is the first to examine patients with discernible worsening depressive symptoms six and 12 months following gastric bypass surgery. Self-reported questionnaires were completed by 107 patients with extreme obesity before they underwent gastric bypass surgery, and then again six and 12 months after the procedure. They were asked to reflect on their levels of depression, possible eating disorders, their self-esteem and general social functioning. Of the 107 participants, 94 were women and 13 were men, 73 were white and 24 had completed college. Consistent with previous research, Ivezaj and Grilo observed that most people who

had undergone this procedure were in much better spirits. In fact, most patients reported experiencing a normal and improved mood at six and 12 months after surgery. However, in some cases negative mood changes started to creep in between six and 12 months after the operation, with 3.7 per cent of patients reporting that they felt discernibly more depressed 12 months postsurgery. Between six and 12 months after the op-

eration, however, even more patients (13.1 per cent) reported increases in depressive symptoms. These changes went hand-inhand with significantly lower levels of selfesteem and social functioning. "The majority of patients whose mood had worsened discernibly experienced these mood changes between six and 12 months post-surgery, suggesting this may be a critical period for early detection and intervention, as needed," said Ivezaj.-PTI

Risk of oesophageal cancer decreases with height WASHINGTON: Taller individuals are less likely to develop oesophageal cancer and its precursor, Barrett's oesophagus, according to a new study. "Individuals in the lowest quartile of height (under 5 feet 7 inches for men and 5 feet 2 inches for women) were roughly twice as likely as individuals in the highest quartile of height (taller than 6 feet for men and 5 feet 5 inches for women) to have Barrett's oesophagus or esophageal cancer," said Aaron P Thrift, lead study author from the Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in US. "Interestingly, the relationship between height and oesophageal cancer is opposite from many other cancers including colorectal, prostate and breast - where greater height is associated with an increased risk," said Thrift. Researchers conducted a large pooled analysis using data from 14 populationbased epidemiologic studies within the International Barrett's and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium (BEACON), including 1,000 cases of esophageal cancer and twice as many cases of Barrett's oesophagus, and twice as many controls. The researchers conducted multiple analyses, including using Mendelian ran-

domization (which incorporates genetic information with traditional approaches) to overcome issues of confounding and bias. The results from all analyses consistently demonstrated an inverse association between height and Barrett's oesophagus or esophageal cancer. There were no differences in these estimates based on sex, age, education, smoking, GERD symptoms or body mass index. Adjusting for abdominal obesity yielded similar results. "The identification of risk factors, such

as height, will allow us to create more sophisticated and accurate methods to quantify patient risk, which will hopefully be used in the future to decide who should undergo endoscopic screening for these conditions," added Thrift. -PTI

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Modified vitamin D may treat pancreatic cancer WASHINGTON: A synthetic derivative of vitamin D can collapse the barrier of cells shielding pancreatic tumors, making the seemingly impenetrable cancer susceptible to therapeutic drugs, scientists say. "While the success of this drug in humans with pancreatic cancer is still unclear, the findings in animal studies were strong, raising hope that ongoing clinical trials will give people with this terrible disease hope for a truly new type of therapy," said Ronald Evans, director of Salk Institute's Gene Expression Laboratory and senior author of the new paper. Evans and colleagues knew that the ability of the pancreatic tumor to communicate with nearby cells - called the tumor microenvironment - is key to its

growth. Tumor cells send out signals that make the microenvironment inflamed and dense; this "living

shield" around a tumor not only helps the cancer grow, but blocks the access of immune cells and chemotherapeutic drugs.

From left to right, Professor Ronald Evans, Mira Sherman, Ruth Yu, Ann Atkins, Tiffany Tseng, and Michael Downes. Credit: Salk Institute

'Lung flute' to help patients breathe easier NEW YORK: A hand-held respiratory device called 'lung flute' can help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improve their symptoms

and health status in COPD patients, decreasing the impact of the disease on patients and improving their quality of life," said Sanjay Sethi, principal author of the study and professor and chief, division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine in the Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The Lung Flute allows patients to clear lung mucus The device is simply by blowing into the hand-held respiratory device. approved by the and health, a new study, led by an Food and Drug Administration Indian-origin researcher has (FDA) to treat COPD and other found. lung diseases characterized by Usually caused by smoking, retained secretions and congesCOPD, which includes chronic tion. bronchitis and emphysema, is the Sethi's colleagues are now third leading cause of death in the studying the Lung Flute for use US. in improving symptoms in The Lung Flute, manufactured asthma. The device is also beby Medical Acoustics in Buffalo, ing investigated for diagnostic uses sound waves to break up use in tuberculosis and lung mucus in the lungs. cancer. The device allows patients to The study followed 69 paclear lung mucus simply by blow- tients with COPD for six months; ing into it, which produces a low it was conducted at the Veterfrequency acoustic wave. ans Affairs Western New York In a 26-week study, research- Healthcare System by researchers found that patients using the ers at the UB medical school. Lung Flute experience less diffiPatients answered the Chronic culty breathing and less cough- COPD Questionnaire, which asing and sputum production than sesses changes in COPD sympa control group, which saw no toms and the St George's Respichange in COPD symptoms. ratory Questionnaire, which mea"This study confirms that the sures quality of life. Lung Flute improves symptoms On both questionnaires, pa-

tients using the Lung Flute reported significant improvements. In addition, the Body-Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise Capacity (BODE) score was measured repeatedly in the study. "As the disease worsens, the BODE index goes up as it did in the control group. But for patients using the Lung Flute, the BODE index stayed flat," Sethi said. Sethi added that the study points to a potential decrease in exacerbations, flare-ups of respiratory symptoms, as a result of using the Lung Flute. Researchers are planning

Sanjay Sethi

longer-term studies that will focus specifically on how the device affects exacerbations, a key part of what makes COPD patients sicker and leads to health care utilization. The study is published in Clinical and Translational Medicine. -PTI

"There was evidence that the activation of the microenvironment was theoretically reversible, but nobody knew exactly what was responsible for the activation, making it hard to turn off," said Salk postdoctoral research fellow Mara Sherman, first author of the new paper. Sherman, Evans and their collaborators focused their attention on one component of this wall: pancreatic stellate cells, which usually respond to small injuries by briefly switching to an activated state, spurring new cell growth. In the case of cancer, however, the stellate cells near a tumor - in response to signals from the tumor - are constantly turned on. This chronic activation of the stellate cells provides the tumor cells with extra growth factors and therefore helps them proliferate, but also forms a wall-like barrier around the tumor that protects it from chemotherapeutics and other cancer-fighting drugs. Evans' group had earlier discovered that stellate cells in the liver could be inactivated by a

chemically modified form of vitamin D. They wondered whether the same could hold true in the pancreas. They examined the differences between activated and inactivated stellate cells in the pancreas and found that activated stellate cells near a tumor had high levels of the vitamin D receptor. When the researchers then added modified vitamin D to activated stellate cells the cells quickly reverted back to a healthy, inactivated state, stopping production of signals that spur growth and inflammation. Systematic analysis of vitamin D analogues allowed the team to discover a modified form of vitamin D that is more stable, resilient and effective in vitro. To see whether this new vitamin D-like compound could halt the growth of a tumor, Evans and the team next studied its effectiveness in mice. The researchers found that combining the drug with existing chemotherapeutics gave a 50 per cent increase in lifespan compared to chemotherapy alone. -PTI

Veterans Affairs Secretary says agency will regain trust CINCINNATI: U.S. Veterans vice organizations. Affairs Secretary Robert ``We think he is already makMcDonald has said that the ing strides to improve the VA agency plagued by long veterans' medical system by doing that, and waits for health care and other we are looking forward to seeing problems is on the road to im- the results after his first 90 days,'' provement and committed to win- said Steven Wilson, spokesman ning back veterans' trust. for the national DAV, which is ``We know we have to work based in northern Kentucky. harder to earn that trust back one McDonald, who said he had veteran at a time,'' McDonald told been on the job 59 days as of Satreporters at the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati. The former Army ranger and longtime executive of Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble Co. talked with reporters at the facility after meetU.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Sec. Bob McDonalds ing with VA emspeaks to the media as Cincinnati VA Medical Center ployees and talkDir. Linda Smith listens in Cincinnati. McDonald toured ing with pathe Cincinnati VA Medical Center and met with staffers tients. He said he and greeted veterans. continually stresses to employees and pa- urday, said what he has heard so tients the urgent need for all of far in his travels to facilities hasn't them to provide feedback needed been surprising. to fix the problems. He said the problems - includA spokesman for Disabled ing long wait times and cases of American Veterans said in a tele- falsified records - have been wellphone interview that McDonald documented and are being adalso has been reaching out to that dressed as quickly as possible. group and to other veterans' ser- AP

October 3, 2014

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Skin renders Sun's UV radiation harmless LONDON: Researchers have worked out how the pigment of our skin manages to protect the body from the Sun's dangerous UV rays, a finding that can pave the way for better protection against skin cancer. The skin pigment converts the Ultraviolet (UV) radiation into heat through a rapid chemical reaction that shoots protons from

the molecules of the pigment. In a new study, the team from Lund University in Sweden, working with colleagues in France and Italy, have studied pigment in the skin and its building blocks. Pigment in both skin and hair comprises two different types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin.

Nurse sentenced to 34 years to life for assaults SANTA ANA, Calif.: An Orange County nurse has been sentenced to 34 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting three male patients. The Orange County Register reports that 49-year-old Richard Alan Nolan must also register as a sex offender. Nolan was found guilty last year of counts including forcible oral copulation and

sexual battery on an institutionalized victim. Prosecutors say Nolan assaulted one patient who was sedated and restrained in a hospital bed and another patient who was asleep and restrained in 2009. Authorities say he assaulted a third man in 2010 while acting as a doctor performing a medical exam. Nolan was arrested in 2010. -AP

Healthcare limping back to normal in J&K Cont'd from Page 32

The maternity services at Lala Ded, where cleaning process is going on, was shifted to Bone and Joints Hospital. The ground floors of the most of the major hospitals were completely submerged in the floodwaters causing massive damage to some of the modern and start-ofthe-art equipment including MRI system, X-ray machines, ECG machines and Color Doppler. "There has been a huge damage in most of these hospitals, but we are trying our best to restore the services as soon as possible so that patients do not suffer," Princi-

The Kashmir Valley which was hit by one of floods in more than a century.

pal, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Rafiq Ahmad Pampoori, who looks after the associated hospitals of the medical college, told PTI. Pampoori said the Bone and Joints Hospital was made functional and Out-Patient Department (OPD) services at GB Pant and SMHS hospitals were restored by shifting them to the higher floors of the buildings. The principal said the hospital has procured an X-Ray machine and the labora-

tory has been shifted to the second floor. "We are cleaning the equipment. Most of the machines have been damaged beyond repair and we need to replace them. Some are being repaired and will be made operational soon," he said. Pampoori said the In-Patient Department (IPD) services at most of the hospitals may be resumed soon. "The services at LD would be made functional soon. The process is going on and we want to resume the services at all the hospitals very soon," he said. The hospital staff, police personnel and volunteers are busy cleaning the hospital complexes, while Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) is disposing off the waste, including spoilt hospital items like medicines, disposables and beddings besides fumigating these complexes. For the fortnight since the floods hit the hospitals, as many as 5,77,595 patients reported to the OPDs in district hospitals across the Valley and the worst-ever 34,577 of them were admitted, officials said. These hospitals also conducted 1,435 major surgeries, they said. The state government says it is assessing the loss in these hospitals and would take all necessary steps to restore them. "What we had achieved in the last 10 years, was washed away by the floods in 10 days," state Health Minister Taj Mohiuddin said, adding government would do everything it can so that people do not suffer. -PTI

Eumelanin makes us develop a suntan and gives color to brown and black hair, whereas those with red hair and pale skin instead have high levels of pheomelanin. "We found that eumelanin converts harmful UV radiation into heat with almost 100 per cent efficiency. The chemical reaction is incredibly quick, taking less than a thousandth of a billionth of a second," said Villy Sundstrom, Professor of Chemistry at Lund University.

What happens in detail in the chemical reaction is that a hydrogen ion - a proton is ejected from the pigment at the same moment the UV light reaches the pigment molecule. The chain of events could be likened to the melanin getting rid of the energy of the UV light by very quickly shooting a proton projectile. This projectile in turn gives off energy

to the surrounding membrane tissue in the form of heat. It has therefore converted dangerous UV energy into harmless heat. "In this way, the pigment disarms the energy in the UV light and prevents it causing harmful chemical reactions," said Sundstrom. Eumelanin is considered to be the pigment that protects against UV radiation while pheomelanin is believed to cause skin cancer in some way, which explains why people with red hair are more likely to develop malignant melanoma. However, researchers have not previously been aware of what chemical reactions UV light causes in the pigment. There has therefore also been a lack of knowledge of the pigment processes that lead to protection against or development of cancer. "By understanding how the body naturally protects itself against UV light, we can develop better sun protection products based on the same principles. This would provide better protection against skin cancer," said Sundstrom. The idea is also in the long run to find treatment methods and substances that replace natural pigment for those with defective production of eumelanin. -PTI

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Bollywood singer Kavita Krishnamurthy

NEW YORK: A Gujarati Garba dance performance kickstarted the grand rockstar-like reception of Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted by Indian-Americans here, as thousands-strong crowd shouted 'Har Har Modi' among other slogans. Hosted by Indian-origin news anchor Hari Sreenivasan and Miss America Nina Davuluri, the event at the Madison Square Garden started by Gujarati folk dance by a group of 16 girls, while they were joined by five boys for another performance. As the show progressed in the run-up to Modi's arrival, famous singer Kavita Krishnamurthy and her violin maestro husband L Subramaniam enthralled the crowd with their performances. An artist painted a huge portrait of Modi on the stage while the duo's performances were on. A photographic collage of eminent Indian-Americans were shown. Also images of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Swami Vivekananda and Satyajit Ray were shown.

In league of Presley, Jackson, Madonna Modi joined a long but exclusive list of international singers and film stars among others who have spoken at the iconic Madison Square Garden here in the US. Also known as MSG or simply 'The Garden', Madison Square Garden is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Midtown Manhattan. Placed between 7th and 8th Avenues from 31st to 33rd Streets, it is situated atop Pennsylvania Station. The venue has played host to the who's who of the entertainment industry - from the evergreen band 'Beatles' and Elvis Presley to pop king Michael Jackson and Madonna to basketball games. Modi is perhaps the first international delegate from a country to speak at this venue, which opened on Feb-

ruary 11, 1968. It is considered to be the oldest and most active major sporting facility in the New York City metropolitan area. The Garden is used for professional basketball and ice hockey, as well as boxing, concerts, ice shows, circuses, and other forms of sports and entertainment. It is close to other midtown Manhattan landmarks, including the Empire State Building. MSG is home to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. Madison Square Garden is stated to be one of the ten most expensive stadium venues ever built. -PTI Miss America Nina Davuluri

A painter reacts as he creates a portrait of Narendra Modi

L Subramaniam

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It was a very emotional moment: Kavita NEW YORK: For Bollywood singer Kavita Krishnamurthy, performing at the famous Madison Square Garden amid loud cheers for Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the most emotional moments in her life. "Modi is an iconic leader in whom I believe a lot. Today I am very proud to be an Indian. It was a very emotional moment for me," the noted singer, who performed with her violin maestro husband L Subramaniam and son, told PTI. Krishnamurthy performed the 'Vaishnava Jan To', which is one

Bollywood singer Kavita Krishnamurthy

of the most popular Hindu bhajans written in Gujarati language in the 15th century by poet Narsinh Mehta. The bhajan was among Mahatma Gandhi's daily prayers. Krishnamurty also performed the famous "I love my India" song evoking patriotic fervor among the 20,000odd India-Americans present at the packed Madison Square Garden where Modi delivered an over anhour-long speech. -PTI

3 old men chasing beauty

he poster of Akshay Kumar's poster for 'The Shaukeens' has been released. The film, out on November 7th is a remake of Basu Chatterjee's 1982 comedy 'Shaukeen' and is directed by Abhishek Sharma of Tere Bin Laden fame. The feel-good adventure film follows three middle-aged men played by Annu Kapoor, Piyush Mishra and Anupam Kher, who venture on a trip to Bangkok, where they meet the sizzling hot Lisa Haydon. The posters are colorful, bright and beach-inspired with Lisa taking centre stage on one poster. Also arousing curiosity amongst film goers is the creative motion poster, in which we can hear voices and see visuals of

three sets of dentures. There is an Akshay stunt in the movie inspired by the cartoon duo 'Tom and Jerry'. Akshay was inspired to do this stunt whilst watching 'Tom and Jerry' with his kids.

NEW DELHI: HomeShop18 has said it has partnered with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra to launch a designer line of sarees as the e-commerce firm eyes festival season demand and growing trend for premium labels in small towns and cities. Sarees contribute to more than 25 per cent of the entire lifestyle range at HomeShop18 and the partnership with a film celebrity will further boost its brand presence. Besides, the firm also aims to tap the growing interest for premium apparel from small cities like Dhanbad, Gulbarga, Gaya, Gorakhpur, etc. "We are adding to the festive

cheer with our partnership with Shilpa Shetty Kundra for SSK line of designer sarees. It offers our customers a premium collection at affordable prices," HomeShop18 CEO Sundeep Malhotra told PTI. The firm sees this partnership as an opportunity to grow its popular apparel category by over 50 per cent, he added. HomeShop18 with its strong logistics, warehouse network and doorstep delivery to more than 3,000 cities is all geared up for the festival season, Malhotra said. The firm launched India's first 24 hour home shopping TV channel in 2008, while it ventured into online shopping in 2011 and introduced mobile shopping in 2013. -PTI

US media takes note of Modi's HomeShop18 partners 'rock-star' reception Shilpa Shetty for sarees NEW YORK: The "high-profile" public reception that Narendra Modi received before a packed Madison Square Garden appeared prominently in American media, which so far had given scant coverage to the Prime Minister's US visit. The maiden US visit of Modi as Prime Minister was hardly taken note of by mainstream American media so far, till he addressed nearly 20,000 people of the Indian community at the event in Madison Square Garden in New York. "Madison Square Garden thundered with applause as thousands rose to their feet and chanted the name of an unlikely celebrity: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi," The Wall Street Journal reported. "The grand reception, filled with dance and Bollywood tunes, was a reflection of the mood among much of the Indian-American community that sees Mr Modi as a once-in-a-generation leader who can at last fix the entrenched problems that have held India back while other Asian nations have sped ahead," the daily wrote.

The Los Angeles Times wrote in its news report: "India's Prime Minister gets rock-star reception in New York". "Madison Square Garden often hosts cultural icons such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Bono, but on Sunday the storied arena offered rock-star treatment to a political personality: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made the case for a resurgent

to a 2008-era Barack Obama. Quite a number of American media organizations had sent in their reporters to cover the Madison Square Garden event. The New York Times said: "Mr Modi addressed a wildly enthusiastic audience that was largely made up of Indian Americans." "Mr Modi is here to sell a New India, with himself as the man who can be trusted to deliver the prom-

India to nearly 20,000 hugely enthusiastic supporters," the daily wrote. It said it was the highest-profile public appearance in the West for a leader whose reform-minded charisma has drawn comparisons

ise. But it remains to be see whether he is willing or able to bridge India's wide differences with the US on tax policies, climate change, outsourcing, intellectual property rights and other issues," the daily said. -PTI

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reathtaking vistas, intriguing history, an abundance of tradition, color, and enchantment - this is Kutch, the perfect host for anyone's next vacation. Remote and strange could best sum up the Kutch experience. And yet, the region remains unsurpassed in terms of beauty, exuberance, and color that no one with a taste for adventure, excitement, and the exotic would like to miss. Lying in the westernmost part of Gujarat, Kutch becomes an island where during the monsoon months the Gulf of Kutch is separated from the Kathiawar Peninsula. To the north also, Kutch gets separated from the Sindh region of Pakistan by the great Rann of Kutch. The Kutch area is the home of the last remaining population of khur (Asiatic wild ass) in India. There is also a large bird population, particularly of the large flamingos. Both are protected in the 5,000 km Little Rann Sanctuary, which is approached from Dhangadhra; one has to get permission to enter from the sanctuary superintendent's office in Dhangadhra. Best time to visit: Being in the arid area of the country, the climate of the Kutch region is extreme: hot during summer and very cold during winter. Summer is rather severe in the entire state of Gujarat. The amount of rainfall is very little and during the rainy season also the area experiences scanty rain. As winters are comparatively bearable and pleasant, the best time to visit this place would be between November and March. Woolens in sufficient numbers are required during the winter months. History: Founded only recently in 1548, Bhuj is the central town of Kutch. It was set up when Khengarij I of the Rao dynasty of Kutch shifted his capital from the town of Anjar. Due to its proximity to the sea, which facilitated trade, a lot of cultural interaction took place. Even today, the city of Bhuj presents exciting amalgams of the Orient and the Occident, especially in terms of architecture. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 41

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KUTCH

Unsurpassed in beauty, exuberance & color Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 40

TOURISTATTRACTIONS The picturesque town of Bhuj has a dramatic setting. Located rather low, it is basically an amphitheatre of hills dominated by the Bhuja Hill that rises to a height of 160 m at one end and is in itself a landmark - being flat on top and surmounted by the fortifications of a hill fort. This strategically located fort served the purpose of sighting enemies and alerting defense. An old wall surrounds the city (also made for security reasons). Interestingly, till recently,

the city gates were locked each night from dusk to dawn but now entry into Bhuj can be made at any time of the day as the city is always welcoming. Then there is the quaint Kutch Museum - the oldest in Gujarat. Regarded as one of the best. This museum has an excellent collec-

tion. Founded in 1877 by Sir James Ferguson, who was Governor of Bombay under the British Raj, the museum was earlier referred to as the Ferguson Museum. This unassuming edifice has been divided into two floors containing a picture gallery, an anthropological section, an archeological section, textiles, weapons, musical instruments, a shipping section, and even stuffed animals. The piece de resistance here is the celestial elephant Airawat made of wood. Yet another that warrants attention is the cannon that was presented by Tipu Sultan to the

Kutch rulers in exchange for some horses of the region that are known for their swiftness and vitality.

Walking through the maze of winding streets takes visitors to the exquisite Aaina Mahal (palace of mirrors). It was the palace of the erstwhile Maharao of Bhuj, but it has now been converted into a museum. Members of the royal family now live in the Old Palace behind it. Presenting a fascinating amalgam of Indian and Dutch styles of architecture, the Aaina Mahal is definitely worth a visit. The walls of the main hall are covered with mirrors all around, and except for a narrow strip used for walking, the entire space has been beautifully utilized to form a pleasure pool. Fountains are placed in such a manner that they cast their spray in an intricate variety of patterns. Lit by candles and cooled by the gentle ripples of the pool waters, the Maharao and his retinue sat in the space left in the middle as they sought refuge from the glaring heat of the sun. It was here that Maharao Shri

Lakhpatji often sat to compose poetry and watch musical performances. It was under his patronage that the classical arts flourished. The Aaina Mahal also con-

even dating back to 1849. Facing the Aaina Mahal is the City Palace, the lovely architectural gem of Bhuj designed by a Scottish architect called

tains exquisite specimens of intricately cared embroidered panels, lithographs, cutglass, 18th-century paintings and clocks, one

McClelland. While most of it is closed to visitors, the Durbar Hall remains open. A look around reveals a marked European influence with sculptures and carvings typifying the amalgam arts of Bhuj. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 42

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Goa tourism expects to gain from Modi's US trip PANAJI: Tourism industry in Goa is of the view that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing visit to the USA, coupled with the Central policy of granting visa on arrival, will go a long way in attracting more Americans to the coastal state in the upcoming tourist season.

states, including Goa, will help in attracting tourists from the USA. "Currently we have a visa-onarrival facility for nine countries, and we will be adding 16 more countries to it. The USA has been included in the list," Parulekar said. He said that citizens from countries like Japan and Korea, besides

"There is already a buzz about India in the USA over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. There are lot of Americans who would like to come to Goa but are discouraged due to the prolonged process to get visa," State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said here. The minister said that Central government's announcement to introduce visa-on-arrival in six

various European countries will also get visa on arrival facility, tentatively beginning from November, in Goa. "A tourist can get down at airport, produce his passport, fill a form and get the visa on the spot," Parulekar said. The Union government has also decided to introduce group visas in some destinations like Goa, wherein more than ten tour-

Airports with spas, art galleries in future NEW DELHI: Use of smartphones to plan and book flights, travel to remote destinations and airports with spas and art galleries - these could be features of future air travel. These are among a series of findings of leading travel company Lonely Planet, which has tied up with International Air Transport Association (IATA) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of commercial air travel. According to Lonely Planet's team of travel experts, holiday makers are set to demand more 'unplugged travel' and secret escapes as the fast pace of modern life continues to grow and air travel becoming "part of everyday life". With forecasts that 6.6 billion passengers will fly worldwide by 2032, growing 4.4 per cent annually from 2014, IATA chief Tony

Tyler said, "100 years after the first passenger flew on a scheduled flight, the predictions from Lonely Planet clearly show that millions more people are set to enjoy the opportunity to travel and particularly travel by air, as the world becomes a smaller and more accessible place than ever before." Among the other predictions of the Lonely Planet are 'green travel' hitting the new generation of travelers big time, competition among airlines improving flying experience, faster and cheaper flights making travelers take advantage of global calendar of events. Travelers can now plan their travels from the comfort of their laptop, exploring on Google Streetview before seeing it for real, according to the travel company's findings. -PTI

ists arriving together can avail a single visa. "The group visa would be given on the condition that they (tourists) will have to be certified by local surety like the Indian tour agency. The group will have to exit the country from the place where they have arrived. They cannot go to some other airport and leave the country. They also will have to exit together," the minister said. He said that the state tourism industry is expecting 15 per cent growth in footfalls for this season, beginning from October. "The first chartered flight operated by SITA Group would arrive on October 15 from Ukraine. Last year we had 1,123 chartered flights arriving in Goa but this year we have a target of 1,400 flights," Parulekar said. The minister said that he was also anticipating rise in cruise ships. "Last year, 75 cruise ships had touched Goa's port, which would be increased this year," he said, adding that a cruise terminal is planned at Mormugao Port Trust which will bring in more than 200 cruises annually. -PTI

Indians traveling more on longer duration trips MUMBAI: Off-season discounts have led to Indians traveling more frequently since there is a 25 per cent growth in foreign trips during the past three to five years and almost 30 per cent on the domestic circuit, according to a survey report. "While 25 per cent respondents have increased the frequency of their foreign trips during the past three to five years, almost 30 per cent have done so on the domestic circuit," a ICICI Lombard Travel Trends 2014 survey report released here said. While off-season discounts drive this behavior for 39 per cent international travelers, unplanned trips are the key reason behind more frequent domestic tours for 57 per cent of respondents, the report said. "Rise in disposable income (63 per cent) and discounts (49 per cent) drives longer duration stay on both domestic and international circuits," it said.-PTI

KUTCH Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 41

The most outstanding and marvelous monuments that would delight all visitors to Bhuj are the royal cenotaphs popularly known as chhatris. SPECIAL HANDICRAFTS The villages of the Kutch region specialize in a different form of handicraft, and it would be easy to spend a week visiting some of them using Bhuj as a base. Due to their proximity to the Pakistan border, you will require a permit signed by the Bhuj District Collector to visit the villages north of Bhuj. The map issued by the Bhuj tourist office lists the villages one can visit with or without permission. Some of the more important villages (and the crafts they specialize in) include Bhujjodi (wool and cotton weaving), Padhar and Dhaneti (Ahir embroidery), Dhamanka (block printing), Lilpur (embroidery) and Anjar (nutcrackers, block printing, and tie and dye). Near the Dattatreya Temple at Kaladoongar (the black hills), which overlooks the spectacular Rann, one can spot some rare species of white foxes that would delight wildlife lovers. These beautiful, frisky animals staying in the wild respond to the call of the temple priest as he beats a steel plate yelling "langa" to suggest that food has been laid out for them. Lying close to the beach near Bhuj is the Vijay Vilas Palace that was the summer retreat of the Maharaos of Kutch. Crowned by elegant chhatris (cenotaphs), this sandstone-hued edifice was built in the 1930s. A flight of steps leads up to the grandest of chhatris that stands on a lofty platform. This is the place where fifteen veeranganas (brave women) who belonged to the court of Maharao Lakhpat committed jauhar (self-immolation) after his death. What is surprising to learn is that none of these women were his wedded queens but only his loyal companions. Adept in music and dancing, these veeranganas entertained royal guests and, when required, even served as spies in the courts of political rivals. FAIRS & FESTIVALS: From the first day of the Kutch Fair, the air is charged with festivity as Bhuj reverberates with a thousand colors. Enthralling op-

portunities are offered to visit the surrounding areas - even to the interiors of Kutch to give visitors a glimpse of the simple lifestyle of the tribals there. The artistic creativity of the people residing in the area called Bhuga can be seen at every corner - how they use vegetable colors to create wonderful designs on the walls, and further decorate them with mirrors and beads. All attention is, however, focused on the fair grounds at Bhuj that resound with festivity and music. Besides all this are the plethora of cultural programs organized by the tourism department that carry on late into the night. It is really an opportunity to learn of the variety of dances that Gujarat has to offer - ranging from brisk acrobatic movements to a single fast beat ending in formation of different kinds of pyramids. On the last day of the fair that coincides with the Shivaratri festi-

val, a grand fair is also organized at Dhang where local people, dressed in colorful, traditional costumes, congregate to pay homage at the shrine to Mekan Dada, which incidentally, or rather curiously, has a Shivalinga on its premises. A little away, in an open field, much excitement prevails where competitions are organized-camel, horse, and bullock races and the much-loved kushti (wrestling) bouts. How to reach: There are two options to get into Kutch, the headquarters of the region-either by road or by air from Ahmedabad. But to enjoy the grand spectacle of territories wild and primordial, the former option would be better for the visitors. Air - Bhuj, the main town of Kutch has daily flights from Bombay, which take about 40 minutes to reach. Rail - Kutch Express is available from Bombay via Ahmedabad up to Gandhinagar. From here, one can reach this destination by road. Road - State transport buses are available from Ahmedabad.

India Post 43

October 3, 2014

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In Brief Protest against immigration at British port DOVER, UK: British far-right groups demonstrated against immigrants entering the country from France, in a protest at the southern English port of Dover. Draped in British and English flags, demonstrators objected to migrants who cross the English Channel from the French port of Calais, where many fleeing instability in the Middle East and Africa have long gathered in makeshift camps. Some protesters held up signs saying "Support our truckers, secure our borders", while others displayed the banners of the British far-right groups National Front and East Kent English Patriots. Truck drivers who move freight over the crossing have demanded stricter border controls, saying that they are unfairly penalized if migrants stowaway on their vehicles. The president of the British National Party (BNP) Nick Griffin, who attended the protest, said drivers had asked him to act to stop their trucks being "broken into by illegal immigrants". "They are desperate to get into Britain and stop at nothing," Griffin said. "The British government has got to get a grip on our borders and shut out these illegal immigrants." Lorry driver Philip Hanley, 44, said he was protesting on behalf of truckers, but that he did not support the far-right groups who had attended the protest. -AFP

Â&#x201E; Fourth immigrant takes church sanctuary TUCSON, Ariz.: A Tucson man facing deportation has taken sanctuary in a church. Francisco Perez Cordova is the fourth immigrant who has moved into a church in Arizona this year. Immigration officials typically do not arrest people in churches, although there is no policy against it. Perez Cordova moved into St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church this week. Another Tucson woman, Rosa Robles Loreto, has been living at Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson for more than a month. Immigration advocates say Perez Cordova and Robles Loreto are good community members with no criminal records who should be granted leniency. The church sanctuary movement began in Tucson in the 1980s and has been revived this year with the four people in Arizona and one man in Portland. -AP

Immigration 44 India Post

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October 3, 2014

EB-5 'unavailable' for investors born in China Details on page 46

Sikh-Americans team urges Modi to resolve their passport problem NEW YORK: A delegation of Sikh-Americans has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove the hurdles faced by them while applying for visas or renewal of passports, particularly by those who had applied for political asylum in 1980s. "The NRI Sikh community feels alienated as Indian Emb a s s i e s refuse them visas or do not renew their passports depriving them to visit their families and take care of their investment in India because they applied for political asylums during the turbulent times in Punjab," a 29member delegation of the SikhAmerican community said in a memorandum to the Prime Min-

ister. "We are hopeful that the Prime Minister would consider our request," said Jasdip Jesse Singh, who led the delegation. The hour-long meeting discussed various other issues

tioned in the memorandum will be resolved," Singh said. The memorandum states that NRI Sikhs are still being punished for applying for political asylum in order to legalize their status three decades ago.

Sikh Americans with Narendra Modi

faced by the Sikh community. "It was a historical visit as NRI Sikh delegation met any visiting PM from India after decades. Modi has renewed faith and hope in the NRI Sikh community that there issues as men-

"We request you to address the pressing issue in near future so that NRI Sikhs can also feel welcome in the process of building a new powerful India under your leadership," the memorandum said. The Sikh-American

community also raised the issue of 1984 Sikh riots and the Sikh farmers in Gujarat. The delegation congratulated the Prime Minister on the formation of the new Government, and the initiatives taken by the new Government. The Prime Minister recalled the sacrifices made by the Sikh community for India. He also spoke about the "Make in India" initiative launched by him this week. Some members of the delegation expressed concern over the spread of drug abuse among youth in Punjab. The Prime Minister shared their concern and said the Government would study the issue carefully and attempt to work out a solution. PTI

Governor signs bill on lawyers for immigrant kids SACRAMENTO, Calif.: Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill to fund lawyers for unac-

$3 million to qualified nonprofit organizations to help represent the children in deportation pro-

A family of immigrants arrives from Honduras to a shelter for undocumented immigrants in Tenosique, Mexico.

companied minors in immigration proceedings following a surge in the arrival of Central American children on the border. The legislation appropriates

ceedings. Nearly 60,000 unaccompanied children from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have arrived on the U.S.-Mexico border in the last fiscal year, many flee-

ing gang threats and violence. Federal government data shows more than 4,600 of the children have been sent to live with sponsors in California. State Senator Ricardo Lara, chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, welcomed the signing of the bill into law. ``Deportation for some of these kids is tantamount to a virtual death sentence so it's important that they have access to the adequate legal representation,'' Lara said in a statement. Immigrant advocates have been ramping up efforts to recruit more volunteer lawyers to take on the children's cases, noting most unaccompanied minors don't have attorneys. Brown also signed legislation to clarify the role of state courts in making findings to let unaccompanied minors apply for a

federal government program that awards green cards to abused and abandoned children.

Gov. Jerry Brown

Some of the children who recently arrived on the border will apply for special immigrant juvenile status, while others may seek asylum. -AP

Immigration Post

October 3, 2014

India Post 45

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Help wanted: Free lawyers for immigrant children LOS ANGELES: Most of the nearly 60,000 Central American children who have arrived on the U.S.-Mexico border in the last year still don't have lawyers to represent them in immigration court, and advocates are scrambling to train volunteer attorneys to help cope with the massive caseload. With the number of unaccompanied immigrant children more than doubling this past fiscal year, the need for attorneys has surged, and it has been exacerbated by the

to get them trained, we've got to get them matched to that child,'' said Reid Trautz, director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association's practice and professionalism center. ``It just takes time.'' Last month, Vice President Joe Biden urged lawyers to increase efforts to take on the children's cases. Since then, the cities of San Francisco and New York have each announced plans to allocate roughly $2 million to help provide

An unidentified Guatemalan woman is seen inside a dormitory in the Artesia Family Residential Centre, a federal detention facility for undocumented immigrant mothers and children in Artesia, NM.

immigration courts' decision to fast-track children's cases, holding initial hearings within a few weeks instead of months. Immigrants can have counsel in immigration courts, but lawyers are not guaranteed or provided at government expense. Having an attorney can make a big difference: While almost half of children with attorneys were allowed to remain in the country, only 10 percent of those without representation were allowed to stay, according to an analysis of cases through June by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Efforts are underway from White Plains, New York, to New Orleans to train attorneys at private law firms on the country's Byzantine immigration laws and how to work with traumatized, Spanish-speaking children, many of whom are fleeing violence - a far cry from the corporate clients most deal with on a daily basis. ``We're doing pretty well on finding willing lawyers. We've got

more lawyers for unaccompanied minors. California has appropriated $3 million toward the effort. About 800 immigration lawyers have signed up to volunteer on the cases, the immigration lawyers association said. So have many other attorneys without any background in immigration law. They are being trained and paired with experienced immi-

nied children in Miami. Immigrant advocates say the efforts are working, but not as quickly as desired. Nonprofit organizations have been boosting staff, but there aren't enough experienced immigration lawyers to take on the cases or to mentor volunteers. Nor is there enough long-term funding for cases that can take more than a year to resolve, they said. ``It is very much a triage situation, and it is very, very frustrating because you know when someone calls and you turn them away, it is very unlikely they'll find counsel,'' said Judy London, directing attorney of the immigrants' rights project at Los Angelesbased Public Counsel. Some children will apply for green cards under a federal program for abused and abandoned children, while others who came fleeing violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala are seeking asylum. One of the biggest challenges for volunteer lawyers is getting clients to open up about their lives when they have been beaten, raped or seen friends and family killed. Three of the 30 children whose cases are being handled by Public Counsel have a history of suicide attempts or risk of suicide, London said. Most children are not going to feel comfortable walking into a fancy law firm and would probably run from the building, she said, unless an attorney meets the child outside and walks jointly through the door.

Some children will apply for green cards under a federal program for abused and abandoned children, while others who came fleeing violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala are seeking asylum. gration practitioners, who serve as mentors. ``We've had tax lawyers do this, corporate lawyers, real estate _ anybody can do it,'' said Ricardo Martinez-Cid, president of the Cuban American Bar Association, which started a program earlier this year to represent unaccompa-

Jack Ross, an attorney in Southern California, said he met with a 16-year-old client four times before he told his full story. The boy, who arrived in the country two years ago, fled years of violence from his father and a police department that refused to protect him, he said.

``It's some of the most compelling legal work you can do, because the stakes are so high,'' said Ross, who represents hospitals and care providers in negligence claims and contract disputes. ``You become so emotionally invested in the client, their well-being is really at the forefront of everything, and that doesn't happen a lot in law.'' Before the recent influx of unaccompanied children, only about half were represented, said Wendy Young, president of Kids in Need of Defense, a nonprofit that pairs volunteer lawyers with children. She could not say how many children now have lawyers, but said certainly fewer than before. Advocates have sued to demand the government provide the children with attorneys at the government's expense. The lawsuit is pending before a judge in Seattle.

They say children with representation are more likely to attend their court hearings. This week, the Homeland Security Department acknowledged that tens of thousands of young families caught on the border failed to meet with federal immigration agents as instructed. A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement said she could not say whether they attended court hearings on their cases. At a recent immigration court hearing in Los Angeles, most of the 19 children whose cases were scheduled showed up. Seven had attorneys. Others were accompanied by a relative, as the judge reviewed their names and ages. Their guardians were given a handout with a list of low-cost legal service providers and told to return in December with a lawyer. -AP

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Immigration Post

46 India Post

October 3, 2014

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EB-5 'unavailable' for investors born in China

t an immigration law con ference sponsored by the American Immigration Lawyers Association on August 23, 2014, Charles Oppenheim of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that effective immediately, the employment-based fifth preference category (EB-5) is "unavailable" for investors born in China. Visa numbers will become available again when the new federal fiscal year starts on October 1, 2014. The practical implications of this announcement are quite minimal for Chinese investors who are on track to complete the immigrant

CYRUS D. MEHTA

an EB-5 investor or project developer, contact your Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers attorney for more detailed advice. DOS changes fees for visa and citizenship services Effective September 6, 2014, the Department of State is amending the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services for certain nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, certain immigrant visa application processing and special visa services fees, and certain citizenship services fees. Included are two categories of petition-based nonimmigrant visas and the tiered ap-

Long-term implications for EB-5 investors from China are more consequential. Mr. Oppenheim advised that in the spring of 2015, DOS will probably establish a cut-off date for EB-5 China, meaning that the category will "retrogress." visa process within the next few months. EB-5 applicants from China who have already been scheduled for their initial immigrant visa interviews in August and September 2014 will still attend and may be issued visas. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will still accept I-485 applications to adjust status for EB-5 applicants in the United States. Long-term implications for EB5 investors from China are more consequential. Mr. Oppenheim advised that in the spring of 2015, DOS will probably establish a cutoff date for EB-5 China, meaning that the category will "retrogress." Mr. Oppenheim estimated that the initial backlog will be about two years. Based on the number of I526 EB-5 petitions currently pending at USCIS (approximately 10,300), the current I-526 approval rate of 77%, and the speed and rate of adjudication (13 to 16 months), predictions are that the EB-5 cutoff date for China may quickly increase to three years, given the substantial number of cases already in process. The DOS announcement does not affect EB-5 investors from other countries. These developments are expected to significantly affect the EB-5 program as a whole, given that investors from China make up more than 80% of all EB-5 cases. Investors from China will have to wait longer to obtain their visas. The delays will also affect U.S. developers who rely on EB-5 money in their projects. If you are

plication processing fees for immigrant visas. The interim final rule also amends the security surcharge for immigrant visa services and the fees for certain immigrant visa services. Lastly, the rule raises the application processing fee for renunciation of U.S. citizenship and lowers the hourly consular officer time charge. The Department of State said it is adjusting the fees in light of the findings of a recent Cost of Service study to ensure that the fees for consular services better align with the costs of providing those services. Some of the changes include: • The processing fee for E treaty trader and treaty investor visa applications will decrease from $270 to $205. • The processing fee for an employment-based visa application (based on an approved I-140 alien worker or I-526 alien entrepreneur petition) will decrease from $405 to $345. • Other immigrant visa application fees (including for I-360 selfpetitioners, special immigrant visa applicants, and all others) will decrease from $220 to $205. • Certain qualifying Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa applicants are statutorily exempt from paying any visa-related fees. • The Immigrant Visa Security Surcharge, paid by all applicants except those who are statutorily exempted from paying fees, will increase from $75 to $100. • The fee for processing an application for waiver of the twoyear residence requirement for J-1

exchange visitors will decrease from $215 to $120. • The affidavit of support fee will increase from $88 to $120. • The fee for processing renunciation of U.S. citizenship requests will increase from $450 to $2,350. • Comments on the interim final rule, which was published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2014, are due by October 21, 2014. DOS makes 'significant progress' in bringing visa processing back online and clearing backlogs The Department of State (DOS) announced that it has made "significant progress" in bringing back online the Consular Consolidated Database (CCD), used to print and approve visas and passports. The system had crashed in July 2014 and has continued to experience outages, resulting in processing backlogs. DOS said it has caught up with issuances for most of the worldwide backlog of nonimmigrant visa cases and is working to bring the CCD back to full operational capacity. "We continue to prioritize immigrant visas, adoption cases, and emergency nonimmigrant visa cases. We are printing visas for these cases and all cases with very few delays," a DOS statement noted. For information on specific cases, the agency advises checking with the embassy or consulate where the person will apply or has scheduled an interview. DOS noted that the problems

Certain qualifying Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa applicants are statutorily exempt from paying any visa-related fees started shortly after a software update on July 20, 2014, although the agency has not been able to identify a "root cause." DOS said current efforts are focused on bringing the system back to normal operations. Once that has been accomplished, DOS will investigate the cause, and the agency also has been working with Oracle and Microsoft to implement system changes aimed at optimizing performance and addressing ongoing issues. DOS is also bringing additional servers online to increase capacity and response time. DOS

noted that it has experienced minor outages in the past, but not of this magnitude. The agency says visa applicants should "expect delays as we process pending cases," but that it remains able "to quickly process emergency cases to completion." DOS estimates that visa issuances may be delayed 10 to 14 days until the system is restored to full functionality and pending applications are printed. DOS says it understands the importance to international students and exchange visitors, their families, and their U.S. host institutions of timely visa issuance to

begin your program after the start date on your Form I-20 (F and M visas) or Form DS 2019 (J visas)." Regarding the diversity visa (DV) program, the agency noted that immigrant visa processing, including diversity visas, "continues and remains a high priority. The Department expects to have used all numbers for DV-2014 when the program year ends on September 30, 2014." Some individuals would like to have their passports returned before their U.S. visas are printed. DOS said it is working with posts around the world to develop procedures to manage these requests.

We will make every effort to ensure timely visa issuance," DOS said. The agency added that in situations where a student won't be able to arrive at school on time, "[s]tudents should contact their educational institution's Designated School Official facilitate travel and to ensure that all students and exchange visitors may begin their programs on time. "We are committed to issuing visas to all qualified students and exchange visitors. Student and exchange visitor visa applicants should submit their applications well in advance of expected travel dates. We will make every effort to ensure timely visa issuance," DOS said. The agency added that in situations where a student won't be able to arrive at school on time, "[s]tudents should contact their educational institution's Designated School Official (F and M visas) or designated U.S. sponsor's Responsible Officer (J visas) and discuss with them what arrangements they can provide for you to

Each embassy and consulate will post contact information on its website for applicants with questions about the status of their cases. DOS noted that those traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, and those whose previously issued visas remain valid, are not affected. DOS routinely advises visa applicants to make appointments well in advance of planned travel, and not to book travel until they have their printed visas in hand. DOS said it plans to upgrade the CCD again to a newer version of the Oracle commercial database software by the end of 2014. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Bollen sought immunity in visa program lawsuit SIOUX FALLS, S.D.: The former director of a troubled immigration program which granted green cards to foreign citizens who invested in South Dakota sought an immunity deal from a lawsuit alleging he acted without authority in recruiting Asian investors. The state is defending a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by a California company, Darley International, which had an agreement to recruit investors in China for South Dakota projects. The lawsuit is in arbitration in Califor-

nia, and the arbitrator has imposed a gag order so the parties can't discuss it. Attorney correspondence shows Joop Bollen twice sought immunity in the arbitration proceedings, the Argus Leader reported. Bollen headed the EB-5 immigration program for the state before it was privatized in 2009 and turned it over to a company he had founded and for which he served as president. He has refused to speak publicly about the controversy. -AP

Datebook

October 3, 2014

NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

Upcoming

Upcoming Fri, Oct 10 • Bollywood Musical Diwali Dhamaka Dinner Party Venue: Akbar Restaurant-NJ, 21 Cortlandt Street, Edison, NJ 08837 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 908-217-4864

Sat, Oct

• A Tribute To Rd Burman Venue: Colden Center Auditorium, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NJ 11367 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 347-653-1309

Sat, Oct 18

• Kali Puja and Deepavali 2014 Celebrations Venue: Manalapan Englisghtown Middle School, 155 Millhurst Rd, Manalapan Township, NJ 07726 Time : 02:00 pm Contact: 732-547-2809

Sat, Oct 11 • A Tribute To Rd Burman Venue: Colden Center Auditorium, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 347-653-1309

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Sat, Oct 4 • Raas-Garba With Jayshree Gohil & Group

Fri, Oct 3 • Dandiya Night 2014 By Sewa International USA Bayarea

Venue: Bren Events Center, 100 Mesa Rd,

Venue: Centerville Junior High School,

Irvine, CA 92617

37720 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, CA

Contact: 951-318-7375

Time: 8:15 pm. Contact: 510-364-6095

Sun, Oct 19 • Heart Hackers Live In Concert Venue: LYork College, 94-20 Guy R, Brewer Blvd Jamaica, NY 11451 Time : 06:00 pm Contact: 718-610-9799

Sat, Oct 25 • Annual Halloween Costume Party Venue: Pranna, 79 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 Time : 9:00 pm

India Post 47

Sat, Oct 4 • Vibha Dandia 2014 37720 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536

Sun, Oct 5 • KHALNAYAK - Bollywood Broadway Musical

Timet: 7:30 pm

Venue: Carrington Hall, 1201 Brewster

Contact: 408-997-9992

Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062

Venue: Centerville Junior High School,

Time: 5:00 pm

Sat, Oct 11 • Raas-Garba With Bhavana Patel and Ghelani Group Venue: Anaheim Convention Center(Hall C), 800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802 Time: 08:00 pm Contact: 951-318-7375

Sun, Oct 26 • Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago Organizes Fall IL 60491 Time :11:00 am to 3:00 pm Contact: (708) 301-9062

Sun, Nov 16 • Red Carpet Wedding Show Venue: Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles, 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los AnTime :04:00 pm Contact: 562-366-3649

ATLANTA Upcoming Fri, Oct 17 • Raas Garba Night Venue: Ashiana Impact Banquet Hall, Global Mall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, Ga 30071 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 404-246-3256

Banquet

Venue: 14630 S. Lemont road Homer Glen

geles, CA 90028

Contact: 408-329-7040

Sat, Oct 04 • Navaratri Mela - 2014 Venue: Independence High School, 86 School Dr, Alpharetta, GA 30009 Contact: 404-786-7860 Time: 8:45 pm

Sat, Oct 6 • Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam Venue: Norcross High School, 5300 Spalding Dr, Norcross, GA 30092 Time: 9:00 am Contact: 404-916-9899

ILLINOIS Upcoming • J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of Month Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Top Stories

48 India Post

October 3, 2014

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Modi meets Netanyahu, discusses defense cooperation NEW YORK: In a rare meeting bilateral trade stands at approxi- ister made a pitch for skill sharing on the sidelines of the UN Gen- mately USD six billion. in areas like IT and water manageeral Assembly, Prime Minister "Apart from these, there were ment." Narendra Modi met Israeli coun- discussions on matters relating to According to diplomatic offiterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and how Israel perceives develop- cials, the meeting on the sidelines discussed a wide range of issues ments in the region, that is West of the UN was rare and has not including defense cooperation Asia. Also, Israeli Prime Minister happened in the last one decade. and the situation created by the explained their views and vision The last time the Prime MinisIslamic State (IS) in West Asia. on talks that are happening be- ters of the two countries met was During the 30-minute meeting, tween Iran and P5 Plus 1," the ten years ago when Ariel Sharon Netanyahu invited Modi to visit Spokesperson said. had come to India. The two leadIsrael at an early date. Asked if there was a discus- ers discussed the developments Netanyahu recalled that Modi sion on defense deals, he said, in the West Asia region. had come to Israel in his earlier capacity as Chief Minister but he now hopes that he could visit as Prime Minister, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson S y e d Akbaruddin said. He said Prime Minister Modi has taken note of the inviPrime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prime Minister Benjamin tation and this Netanyahu in New York on September 28 would be discussed further through diplomatic channels. "Yes there was a discussion in During the meeting, Modi, who The Spokesperson said the terms of defense ties and the had met a Jewish group earlier, two leaders discussed ways to Prime Minister explained that his also mentioned that there was no enhance economic cooperation new vision of 'Make in India' was discrimination against the commuand Israel offered expertise in wa- a priority. nity in India. The Prime Minister ter management and other agricul"He also explained that right was accompanied by External Aftural-related areas. now in defense sector Israel or fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and India and Israel have a very any other country can invest up other senior officials during the robust relationship and currently to 49 per cent. And the Prime Min- meeting. -PTI

Modi invites NJ Governor to visit India NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to visit India with a trade mission. Modi extended the invitation to Christie when the latter called

on him at the New York Palace hotel where the Prime Minister is staying for attending the annual session of the UN General Assembly. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 49

Narendra Modi in a meeting with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Modi gifts Indian tea to US CEOs NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted famous Indian tea to the captains of 11 large American corporations. The signature gift box containing three famous teas of India Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri was presented by the Prime Minister after he hosted a breakfast meeting for them. Those present at the breakfast meeting were Indian-origin PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Citigroup chief Michael Corbat, Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, Cargill's President and CEO David W MacLennan, Caterpillar's Douglas Oberhelman, AES' Andres Gluski, Merck's Kenneth Frazier, Co-founder and CoCEO of Carlyle Group David Rubenstein, Hospira's Michael Ball and Warburg Pincus' Charles Kaye.-PTI

Modi invites IndianAmerican business leaders NEW YORK: A stable business environment and investment in human resources are some of the issues highlighted by a group of Indian-American corporate leaders during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who invited them to come to India and teach business and entrepreneurship. In the over one hour-long meeting at a hotel where Modi is staying, the distinguished IndianAmericans discussed with him ways to enhance their contribution in human resource development and research activities. The group of around 10 top Indian-Americans including Chairman and CEO of Symphony Technology group Romesh Wadhwani, Cognizant CEO Francisco D'Souza, President and CEO of Adobe System Shantanu Narayen, President, University of President Houston Renu Khator, Harvard Business school Dean

Nitin Nohria, CEO Harman International Inc Dinesh Paliwal, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's Developer Division S Somasegar and President of Carneig Mellon University Subra Suresh. Official sources said they were very upbeat about opportunities for growth in India and made various suggestions about possible avenues for consideration. They also spoke about usual requirements for stable business environment and need for investing in human resources in India. Emphasising on his ambitious 'Make in India' as well as the 'My Govt Digital Platform' projects, Modi spoke about the importance he places on the digital initiatives and innovations as well as research. He invited them to come to India and teach during their vacations.-PTI

Modi meets NYC mayor, discusses city policing NEW YORK: With an eye on ment in big cities and at big events his pet project of rejuvenation of like Kumbh mela were also disurban spaces, Prime Minister cussed to understand the pracNarendra Modi had a meeting with tices adopted by the New York New York Mayor Bill de Blasio city government. during which the issues related to Discussions were focused on large cities, especially common matters related to public housing, threats of terror, policing, public he said, adding that New York City housing and crowd management is planning to build some half a in the events like "Kumbh mela" million houses in 10 years. were discussed. The meeting, which was Prime Minister's first official engagement after arriving here, was also aimed at understanding how the New York police metamorphosed after the 9/11 terror attacks in which over 3,000 people were killed and landmark twin towers of World Trade Center were destroyed. "The Prime Modi meeting the Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio, in New York on September 26 Minister wanted to understand what are the issues that he faces, In his meeting with the New because he is extremely keen on York Mayor, discussion also fotrying to rejuvenate our urban cused on issues related to steps spaces too," spokesperson in taken to improve the quality of life Ministry of External Affairs Syed in New York and in this regard the Akbaruddin told reporters here anti- smoking laws in both the and added that crowd manage- countries also figured.-PTI

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Nikki Haley meets Modi, discusses economy NEW YORK: Indian American Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed issues related to economic development of her state in sectors including automotive, IT and aerospace. Modi is the first foreign leader that Haley has met after becoming the Governor of the State in 2011. She is seeking re-election in November. According to the Governor's Office, she discussed a range of issues with Modi, which included automotive, information technology and aerospace economic development; and workforce training in high schools.

Haley, who is planning to take a trade delegation to India in November also talked about the possible partnerships between South Carolina and India. "We had an exciting meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning. We look forward to building our partnership between South Carolina and India!" Haley wrote on the Facebook page soon after meeting Modi. The Prime Minister also tweeted about his meeting with Haley and invited her to India. Haley is the first woman to serve as Governor of South Carolina. At the age of 42, she is the youngest Governor in the US. She is one of two sitting Indian-

US efforts to court Modi ludicrous: Chinese media BEIJING: Terming US efforts to woo Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after denying him a visa as "quite ludicrous," an article in the Chinese state-run media said America plans to revitalize its relations with India to boost its China containment policy. "The hospitality Modi enjoys in the US this time stands in clear contrast with the fact that he was

the state-run Shanghai Institute of International Studies said. "Washington's differing attitudes before and after Modi was elected as prime minister are quite ludicrous. It should not be the way the world's No 1 power behaves diplomatically," the article in the newspaper known for its nationalistic views said. The opinion piece went on to add: "But indeed, it shows that the US' desire to hold itself out as "In terms of strategy and the benchmark of human rights and moralsecurity, there is still a gap ity in global governance. It also displays between India's objectives Washington's dissatisand those of the US" faction with India in the past few years." Hinting at the appardenied a visa by the US govern- ent differences in the goals of Inment in 2005", an article in the web dia and the US, it said, "In terms edition of the Global Times said. of strategy and security, there is "However, his latest visit still a gap between India's objechasn't gone smoothly either. tives and those of the US." Just ahead of Modi's US trip, a Suggesting that though there New York court issued summons were apprehensions in India reagainst him for his alleged role in garding "China's rise," it said, "In2002 communal riots in Gujarat, dia does not want to be part of casting a shadow over this visit." Washington's China containment the piece written by a scholar of policy." -PTI

Modi invites NJ Governor to visit India Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 48

Christie, a popular Republican politician and a 2016 presidential election aspirant, has accepted the invitation to visit India with a trade delegation sometime next year, said Andy Shenoy, director on the Board of United Nations

Development Corporation who played a major role in coordinating this important meeting. Modi and Christie held discussions on the hurricane Sandy's effect on business and life of people in New Jersey. The two leaders shared their thoughts on disaster management. -PTI

Narendra Modi meeting the Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley, in New York on September 28

American Governors in the US, the other being Republican Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. She is also one of the Republican Party's most promising rising stars. Haley is also the third person, who is not Euro-American to have been elected as governor of a Southern state, after Virginia's L Douglas Wilder and Louisiana's Jindal.-PTI

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Horoscope

October 3, 2014

India Post

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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar

October 3rd - October 9th, 2014 (March 21 to April 20)

roperty deal can finalize and will be beneficial. Your actions will be full of confidence and dedication. Hard work will not go waste and results will be almost instant. You may visit an old friend with family this week. You may be thinking of joining a health club to get back in shape. Things will keep getting better at work.

(April 21 to May 20)

achelors will finally find the right partner. Money will come in plenty and you will spend it wisely this time. You will continue to work on a bright idea and keep looking for ideal partners. Some of you may travel to a warmer area in connection with some business. You may also purchase some gold jewelry for spouse this week.

(May 21 to June 20)

uck continues to be on your side. Positive changes in career will bring confi dence back and you may feel like celebrating with family and friends. You will mean business when on phone and successfully resolve an issue causing headache. Health issue will come under control with home remedy. Your valuable advice will help a needy person.

(June 21 to July 22)

ou may be slightly nervous about an ongoing property deal. Family may not completely agree with your plans. You may spend some money on an upcoming trip also. One of your vehicle may need minor repairs or replacement. Suddenly you may develop taste for hot and spicy food. You may completely discard an old friend from your list.

(July 23 to August 22)

(November 23 to December 22)

trong Mars will bring opportunities nothing less than a jackpot. You will be full of energy and feel motivated. You may decide not going to a party on last minute. All financial speculations will pay off in a big way. Children will do better but may need some money. A tall and fair complexion person will be really helpful in career.

(August 23 to September 22)

enus will keep mind little restless but will help you overcome all problems big or small. You may spend most of your time away from your desk this week. Boss will agree on your ideas and plan. Spouse if working may get a raise or promotion. And of course expenses will not leave you alone. You will visit a holy place with spouse.

(September 23 to October 22)

oney wise it looks like a great week. Business will pick up all of a sudden and new contracts will start pouring in money in your pocket right away. Some one from a different caste and culture will be helpful. Tough and a systematic approach will clear many road blocks. You may also visit a holy place with family this week.

(October 23 to November 22)

e cautious unless you want some one to come after you with a law suit. Do not give more than required information to anyone this week. You may be spending extra hours at work trying to finish the project well before the deadline. You will gain friendship of an influential person. bank balance will continue to grow gradually.

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

ou may visit or call a government agency for some favor. Work will be done instantly. This is the perfect time to launch your project or take over a new business. Spouse may deliver the exciting news you had been waiting for. You may also get in touch with an old confidant for some advice and to seek direction.

(December 22 to January 19)

ry to look beyond immediate and plan things accordingly. You may give finalshape to a long distance trip. Money will come and will go on good reasons. Change of strategy will help you save a lot in long term. You will try to work extra hours in order to finish project well before deadline. Bank balance will grow.

(January 20 to February 18)

ou may buy some nice gifts for a sibling. There are strong chances for finding a very suitable match for a marriageable child.Careful planning will take you closer to your professional goals. You may be advised minor surgery to tackle an health issue. You will start to enjoy company of a new colleague.

(February 19 to March 20)

hings will be relaxing and normal at work. Money will come but will not stay for long. Planets will really help those looking for a job. You may spend an evening with some well known people.If appearing for any competitive exam, chances of passing in first shot are good. You will also overcome a temporary health issue with home remedy.

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Car for Sale 2006 LINCOLN TOWN CAR (Owned By Consulate General of India, Chicago) Condition: Very Good (Certified Dealer serviced) Model: Signature, Color: Black, Body Style: 4DR Sedan For Detailed description of the vehicle, please visit www.indianconsulate.com Sealed Tenders are invited from the interested buyers for the above Car, which may be mailed to the following address by October 6th, 2014 Head of Chancery, Consulate General of India, 455 N Cityfront Plaza, Suite 850, Chicago, IL 60611.

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Philosophy

October 3, 2014

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here come to us moments in life when about some things we need no proof from without. A little voice within us tells us, 'You are on the right track, move neither to your left nor right, but keep to the straight and narrow way.' There are moments in your life when you must act, even though you cannot carry your best friends with you. The 'still small voice' within you must always be the final arbiter when there is a conflict of duty. Having made a ceaseless effort to attain self-purification, I have developed some little capacity to hear correctly and clearly the 'still small voice within'. I shall lose my usefulness the moment I stifle the still small voice within. Penances with me are no mechanical acts. They are done in obedience to the inner voice. A person falsely claiming to act under divine inspiration or the promptings of the inner voice without having any such, will fare worse than the one falsely claiming to act under the authority of an earthly sovereign. Whereas the latter on being exposed will escape with injury to his body, the former may perish body and soul together. Charitable critics impute no fraud to me, but suggest that I am highly likely to be acting under JELALUDDIN RUMI

Moving Water When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. When actions come from another section, the feeling disappears. Don't let others lead you. They may be blind or, worse, vultures. Reach for the rope of God. And what is that? Putting aside self-will. Because of willfulness people sit in jail, the trapped bird's wings are tied, fish sizzle in the skillet. The anger of police is willfulness. You've seen a magistrate inflict visible punishment. Now see the invisible. If you could leave your selfishness, you would see how you've been torturing your soul. We are born and live inside black water in a well. How could we know what an open field of sunlight is? Don't insist on going where you think you want to go. Ask the way to the spring. Your living pieces will form a harmony. There is a moving palace that floats in the air with balconies and clear water flowing through, infinity everywhere, yet contained under a single tent. Light Breeze As regards feeling pain, like a

some hallucination. The result for me, even then, will not be far different from what it would be if I was laying a false claim. A humble seeker that I claim to be has need to be most cautious and, to preserve the balance of mind, he has to reduce himself to zero before God will guide him. Let me not labor this point. There is no question of hallucination. I have stated a simple sci-

you should obey, and if you will not parade God, I have no doubt you will parade something else which in the end will prove to be God, for, fortunately, there is no one and nothing else but God in this universe. It is not everyone claiming to act on the urge of the inner voice [who] has that urge. Like every other faculty, this faculty for listening to the still small noise within

person's claim to speak under the authority of the inner voice can be really sustained. Many may make the claim, but not all will be able to substantiate it. But it cannot and ought not to be suppressed for the sake of preventing false claimants. There is no danger whatsoever if many people could truthfully represent the inner voice. But, unfortunately, there is no remedy against hypocrisy. Virtue must not

Faculty for listening to 'inner voice' requires training Having made a ceaseless effort to attain selfpurification, I have developed some little ca-

Love is patient and kind. It isn't jealous and it doesn't sing its own praises, nor is it ever arrogant. - Bible

pacity to hear correctly and clearly the 'still small voice within'. I shall lose my usefulness Mahatma Gandhi

the moment I stifle the still small voice within.

entific truth, thus to be tested by all who have the will and the patience to acquire the necessary qualifications, which are again incredibly simple to understand and easy enough to acquire where there is determination. You have to believe no one but yourselves. You must try to listen to the inner voice, but if you will not have the expression "inner voice", you may use the expression "dictates of reason", which

requires previous effort and training, perhaps much greater than what is required for the acquisition of any other faculty, and even if out of thousands of claimants only a few succeed in establishing their claim, it is well worth running the risk of having and tolerating doubtful claimants. Nobody has to my knowledge questioned the possibility of the inner voice speaking to some, and it is a gain to the world even if one

be suppressed because many will feign it. Men have always been found throughout the world claiming to speak for the inner voice. But no harm has yet overtaken the world through their short-lived activities. Excerpted from quotations on 'Inner Voice' collected under 'The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi' on website mkgandhi.org. The 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi will be observed on Oct 2

hand cut in battle, consider the body a robe you wear. When you meet someone you love, do you kiss their clothes? Search out who's inside. Union with God is sweeter than body comforts. We have hands and feet different from these. Sometimes in dream we see them. That is not illusion. It's seeing truly. You do have a spirit body; don't dread

lim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen. Not any religion or cultural system. I am not from the East or the West, not out of the ocean or up from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not composed of elements at all. I do not exist, am not an entity in this world or in the next, did not descend from Adam and Eve or any origin story. My place is placeless,

truth of the soul. You have been interested in your shadow. Look instead directly at the sun. What can we know by just watching the time-and-space shapes of each other? Someone half awake in the night sees imaginary dangers; the morning star rises; the horizon grows defined; people become friends in a moving caravan. Night birds may think daybreak

Union with God is sweeter than body comforts Sometimes someone feels this truth so strongly that he or she can live in mountain solitude totally refreshed. The worried, heroic doings of men and women seem weary and futile to dervishes leaving the physical one. Sometimes someone feels this truth so strongly that he or she can live in mountain solitude totally refreshed. The worried, heroic doings of men and women seem weary and futile to dervishes enjoying the light breeze of spirit. Only Breath Not Christian or Jew or Mus-

a trace of the traceless. Neither body or soul. I belong to the beloved, have seen the two worlds as one and that one call to and know, first, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing human being. Not intrigued with evening What the material world values does not shine the same in the

Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven. - Rabindranath Tagore It is love alone that leads to right action. What brings order in the world is to love and let love do what it will. - Jiddu Krishnamurti God lends a helping hand to the man who tries hard. - Aeschylus I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of imagination - what the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth whether it existed before or not. - John Keats Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. - Robert Heinlein

Jelaluddin Rumi

a kind of darkness, because that's all they know. It's a fortunate bird who's not intrigued with evening, who flies in the sun we call Shams. From poems of Jelaluddin Rumi translated by Coleman Barks in 'Essential Rumi', 'Soul of Rumi' and 'The Glance'. The 707th birth anniversary of Rumi was observed on September 30.

The art of love is largely the art of persistence. - Albert Ellis Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

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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Afghanistan: New President & joint venture government RAJESHWARI KRISHNAMURTHY

n 21 September, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of Afghanistan declared Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as the winner of the country's presidential election that took place earlier this year, after a lengthy deal-making process with the other leading contender, Abdullah Abdullah. What does the creation of 'Chief Executive Officer' (CEO) mean for Afghanistan? Does the end of the political deadlock automatically spell good times for the country?

ister"), the President is committed to convoking a Loya Jirga for the purpose of debate on amending the Constitution and creating a post of executive prime minister." The text of the Agreement makes no explicit commitment towards the creation of a prime minister's post and/or a deadline to carry the said task out. The text only speaks of the president's commitment towards calling for a Loya Jirga meeting on amending the constitution, without specific mention of commitment towards the creation of the post itself. It is important to note The Election Process Deal-making An interesting trend that that nomenclature isn't the focus The 2014 Afghan presidential emerged over the course of the of the debate. The skepticism election - the first transfer of power electoral process was the blend- stems from the fact the post of the to a whole new leadership - was ing of Afghan cultural character- CEO will be created by a presidential decree - that isn't precariously prodifficult to revoke. longed and fraught Furthermore, the with several strong opIEC's decision to withposing stances and alhold voting statistics legations. After the did not go well with the tense flux and indeciAfghans - who had sion that followed the defied terrorist threats elections, which led to and turned up in large an UN-overlooked and numbers to cast their US-funded audit of the ballots. This is not unballots, the results founded, for they now were finally declared feel that their votes three months after the were of no conserun-off concluded. quence given how deThe IEC declared cisions on leadership Ashraf Ghani as the were taken by two oppresident-elect, and posing candidates who runner-up Abdullah co-opted each other Abdullah as the CEO Afghan president-elect Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and eliminated the pura post that was created pose of votes altoto facilitate powersharing and to end the electoral istics with the concept of democ- gether. As one Afghan police ofracy. Negotiations - an extremely ficer was quoted saying, the newlydeadlock. The IEC and the candidates prominent aspect of the Afghan formed government is a "joint vensimply announced the results culture - continually took place ture" between two politicians. without declaring the vote statis- between various players during tics. In fact, the deal-making be- various stages of the polls. This Looking Ahead In essence, this is essentially a tween Abdullah and Ghani that demonstrates to an extent the adtook months to finalize, ended on aptation of the concept of democ- hastily cobbled government the condition that the vote statis- racy into the pre-existing Afghan whose creation was extremely imsystem. portant for the moment, but one tics won't be made public. At present, the President is the that brings baggage of potential This does not bode well for a country that is on its path towards head of the government, and the instability for the immediate years. democracy after years of civil war constitution does not include Decision-making - especially on and strife. A decision on the lead- space for a prime ministerial post. issues of security and foreign ership was extremely pressing and According to the National Unity policy - will become a complicated the Sunday announcement comes Government Agreement, until such process given the likelihood of as a relief for the political stability time as the post of a prime minis- divergent interests and objectives of the country at the moment. ter will be created, the post of a of the two leaders. Furthermore, given the limited However, the means to reach that CEO (a role with the essence of an end was not ideal, and has poten- executive prime minister's post) maneuvering space both leaders tial to lead to problems in the fu- will be created to accommodate will enjoy, the likelihood of largeAbdullah Abdullah or his nominee scale changes seems bleak at the ture. moment. If this trajectory continThe decision for deal-making in the government. However, the Agreement, ues, the cracks may lead to instawas agreed upon and took place between the parties and the dec- states that "On the basis of Ar- bility, inactions and/or delays in laration of results were stalled and ticle 2 of the Joint Statement of 17 several matters, providing fertile delayed due to intransigence on Asad 1393 (August 8, 2014) and ground for non-state actors to the part of the contenders, thereby its attachment ("â&#x20AC;Śconvening of a make inroads. The writer is Research Officer making the candidates and not the Loya Jirga in two years to consider the post of an executive prime min- (IReS), IPCS IEC the real decision-makers. The deal-making between the candidates undermines the credibility and significance of the IEC - which emerged as a toothless tiger. It indicates the lack of authority on the IEC's part to ensure the writ of the state - in terms of election processes as mandated by the constitution of Afghan state - as it is supposed to do. This points towards the urgent need for reforms in the IEC and other state institutions - especially given how the 2015 parliamentary election is fast approaching.

India Post Modi Rock Star

he US visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been an unprecedented success, going by the enthusiasm generated among not only Indian Americans but also among US businessmen and lawmakers. Even White House was constrained to remark on the "rock-star" treatment given to Modi at the prestigious Madison Square Garden by some 20,000 Indian-American people as reflective of the "deep cultural ties" between the two countries. Obama greeted him with a 'Kem Cho," equivalent of 'How are you' in Gujarati. Later the Prime Minister tweeted that he and Obama "share a vision for a partnership in which our nations work together for the benefit of entire humankind." Wherever Modi went whether in New York or in Washington, he was followed by admiring crowds of Indian Americans. Even the elitist newspapers had to take notice of his popularity. Indeed his address at Madison Square Garden was a Rock Star performance where he not only touched the hearts of Indian Americans but even announced tangible gains for them on the visa front, an issue which had given lot of trouble to those wanting to visit India even if it was just to meet their families. It is a tribute to the background work done by his new government that he had the issues troubling Indian Americans on his fingertips as well as the solutions which he had equally quickly ordered. He likened the work of his government to Mahatma Gandhi's mission to secure freedom for India. The biggest success of Gandhi, he said, was not obtaining freedom. His biggest success was turning the freedom struggle into a people's movement. Everyone, doing whatever work, felt that he was contributing to the freedom of India. In the same way, Modi wanted development to become a people's movement. He felt that a government can only make schemes and pass laws. Without the people's co-operation these have no meaning. He had a dig at the previous government, which he said, had been boasting during the elections that they had passed this law and launched that scheme. As for himself, he said, he had vowed to scrap old laws one by one. Although development, with particular emphasis on skill development, was his theme, the maximum applause was reserved for his confession that he was a small man risen from selling tea, and that therefore he had the schemes for small people at his heart like building a toilet for each house. For a change, Modi spoke in English before the 60,000 young Americans assembled at the Central Park in New York. He left them with the message that the force was with the youth and he gave them the example of India where 65 percent of people were below 35. He reiterated the advantage India had of triple 'D's, that is, Democracy, Demographic Dividend and Demand. At the UN he referred to Nawaz Sharif's call for plebiscite in Kashmir. He said raising issues at this forum was not the way of solving disputes between two countries. And that talks cannot be held under the shadow of terrorism. Also, a proper atmosphere has to be created before talks can be held. In his meeting with 11 top chief executives of America, Modi promised a stable tax policy and an assertion that he wants to convert the Supreme Court ruling on coal block allocation into an opportunity to move forward and "clean up the past." He told the CEOs that the government is open to suggestions to speed up activity in Asia's third largest economy. Many of the CEOs came out impressed with the meetings and felt that time was ripe to invest in India. Apart from the ritual meeting with the Clintons, Modi charted a new path by meeting his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu the first time the heads of the two countries have met in 11 years. Israel invited India to be part of its national defense.

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