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VOL 16, No. 842

October 29, 2010

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OBAMA TO SKIP AMRITSAR VISIT

NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama will not travel to Amritsar during his next month's visit to India due to "logistic" issues, informed sources said. Obama, who will arrive in Mumbai on November 6, will directly come to Delhi now after a day's stay in the commercial capital of the country. Earlier, he was to fly to Amritsar from Mumbai for a brief visit to the Golden Temple. Earlier, there was a plan for Obama to fly to Amritsar

from Mumbai next day, but the trip has been nixed due to 'logistic' issues and reasons of perception, well informed sources said. The sources said the White House security team, which visited India last month, was not in favor of Obama wearing the traditional scarf to cover his head during his visit to the Golden Temple. Details on page 6

Subra Suresh sworn in as chief of NSF Details on page 8

Shashi Tharoor shows wife around UN Details on page 9

Barack Obama popular in India: Poll Details on page 6

CG Tomar seeks support of community

PM to discuss visa concerns with Obama

Details on page 14

Details on page 6

42 terror camps active in PoK: Army Chief

Obama won't visit Pakistan this year

Details on page 8 Details on page 7

'ISI aided Mumbai attacks'

CONTENTS SOFT TARGET: The cleaned out display counters of New Sona Jewelers in Artesia, CA

Classifieds ------------------------- 47

Details on page 9

INDIA POST SURVEY survey@indiapost.com

Daylight robbery in Artesia jewelry store

Obama trying to please everybody? Last week’s result

India should play bigger role on world stage? NO 27%

Community Post -------------- 14-25 Date Book -------------------------- 46 Edit Page --------------------------- 49

JS BEDI India Post News Service

This week’s question

YES 73%

Bollywood ---------------------- 34-35

his queries he proceeded to exit the store. The door is electronically controlled and once the door opened to let him out, two more accomplices stormed in. Armed with hammers they smashed the 3/8 gauge tempered safety glass, picked up the jewelry trays and fled. They took off in a black sedan turning right into the alley at the Vitha end of the parking lot. The heist was over in less than a minute. The crooks appeared to be Hispanic. Details on page 8

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

HealthScience Post --------- 12-13 Horoscope ------------------------- 45 Immigration Post ------------- 42-44 Life Style ----------------------- 36-39 Philosophy ------------------------- 48 Publisherís Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate ------------------------ 28 TechBiz Post ------------------- 40-41 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 29-31

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s Election Day looms 'round the corner, the huge debate among political pundits is on: Why is the President leaving the country less than 48 hours after the elections, on his trip to India? Not so much the trip itself as the timing of the trip that seems to be worrying the people, especially Democrats, considering how crucial these mid terms polls have become for them as they face the possibility of losing the Senate to the Republicans. Despite President Obama's own aggressive campaigning in several states over the past few months, Democrats are bracing themselves for a disastrous result on Nov 2. With the economy continuing to drag taking more jobs with it, Republicans are hammering their way into the electorate's psyche with anti-Obama vitriol superbly aided in that effort by the Tea Party members. What perhaps the White House has not made any effort to highlight to the Americans is that the President's trip, which includes India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea, is precisely to address the issue of the country's economy by strengthening the US trade ties with other countries. They say the President does not seem to care what happens at the elections, but what he is probably trying to say is that foreign policy at this juncture is as important for America as are its domestic political upheavals. You would think the debate would stop at larger issues such as the elections and economy, but, well, no. The New York Times reports that the President, who was supposed to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar during his India visit, has cancelled it because he did not want to be perceived by those Americans who still doubt his religion, as a Muslim for wearing the requisite head scarf at the Golden Temple. I wouldn't blame the President if that is true considering how ignorant a majority of Americans are about other cultures. A Republican 'expert' joked, maybe the President could wear a Yankees baseball cap while at the temple - that way nobody's sentiments would be hurt. Politics, religion and diplomacy - not easy, huh?

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Item No. 1 Malaika Arora Khan, a 35-year-old mother of a seven-year-old son, and still the stuff of male fantasy.

Cover Story: Skip Amritsar US President Barack Obama will not travel to Amritsar during his next month's visit to India due to "logistic" issues.

Community: Seeking support

The new Consul General Mukta Tomar has begun her stint in Chicagoland seeking to strike a rapport with community.

Health Science: UCSF study New UCSF study on South Asians who account for a striking number - 60% - of the world's heart disease patients.

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Travel: Kanha National Park Situated in Madhya Pradesh, the picturesque Kanha National Park was the inspiration behind Kipling's Jungle Book.

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Obama to skip Amritsar visit NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama will not travel to Amritsar during his next month's visit to India due to "logistic" issues, informed sources said. Obama, who will arrive in Mumbai on November 6, will directly come to Delhi now after a day's stay in the commercial capital of the country. Earlier, he was to fly to Amritsar from Mumbai for a brief visit to the Golden Temple. Earlier, there was a plan for Obama to fly to Amritsar from Mumbai next day, but the trip has been nixed due to 'logistic' issues and reasons of perception, well informed sources said. The sources said the White House security team, which visited India last month, was not in favor of Obama wearing the traditional scarf to cover his head during his visit to the Golden Temple. The scarf, they felt, may convey an image of him appearing to be a Muslim, an impression the Obama team would like to avoid in view of past experiences. Right-wing critics in the US

were quick to seize on pictures of Obama dressed as a Somali elder on a visit to Africa in 2006 and tried to portray Obama, a Christian by faith but whose grandfather was Muslim, to be a closet Muslim who was under attack by

home to the Taj Mahal and a favorite destination of visiting dignitaries. But the Obamas were not very keen, specially as their daughters Malia and Sasha won't be coming to India with them, to visit the Taj Mahal by themselves.

SFJ regrets decision NEW YORK: Reacting to the President Obama's decision not to

After Amritsar dropped off the schedule, there was a possibility of the Obamas going to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal and a favorite destination of visiting dignitaries conservative America. After Amritsar dropped off the schedule, there was a possibility of the Obamas going to Agra,

With both Amritsar and Agra off his itinerary, US President Barack Obama's four-day visit to India will only be to Mumbai and

Obama popular in India: Poll WASHINGTON: When President Barack Obama travels to India next month, he will be visiting a country where both he and America are immensely popular along with its own leaders like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, according to an opinion poll. More than seven in ten Indians have confidence in Obama and about two-thirds express a favorable opinion of the United States, it said. Indians are also positive about their own country's role in world affairs and they are optimistic about its economic future, while they see Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan as greatest threats to the country, said the Pew Research Centre. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh receives extremely positive ratings (87 per cent favorable), as do Congress President Sonia Gandhi (87 per cent) and her son Rahul Gandhi (85 per cent). "Obama, who is scheduled to visit India and other Asian countries in November, is widely popular: 73 per cent express confidence that Obama will do the right thing in world affairs," the poll said. Pew said the US enjoys a largely positive image in India. Nearly two-thirds (66 per cent) express a favorable opinion of the US, although this is down from 76 per cent last year. By contrast,

New Delhi with 'business-like' meetings that will underscore the importance of the 'growing ties' and a 'strategic partnership'.

Barack Obama

According to Pew, a plurality of Indians characterize Lashkare-Taiba, the group blamed for the Mumbai attacks, as the greatest threat facing their country only 51 per cent rate Russia favorably, and even fewer feel this way about the EU (36 per cent) or China (34 per cent). While many publics around the world continue to believe the US acts unilaterally in world affairs, Indians see a more multilateral America, the survey said. More than eight in ten (83 per

cent) say the US takes the interests of countries like India into account when it makes foreign policy decisions -- the highest percentage among the 21 nations surveyed outside the US, it said. "This view has become increasingly common among Indians over the last eight years - in 2002, only 51 per cent said the US considered their interests," it said. Indians express confident views about their country's role in the international arena. Almost four in ten (38 per cent) think India is already one of the world's leading powers and roughly half (49 per cent) say it will be one eventually. Only eight per cent believe it will never be a major power, it said. According to Pew, a plurality of Indians characterize Lashkare-Taiba, the group blamed for the Mumbai attacks, as the greatest threat facing their country. "One-third name Pakistan as the greatest threat - and overwhelmingly Indians believe there is a link between these two threats: 58 per cent say the Pakistani government actively supports extremist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, while another 21 per cent think it at least tolerates them."And if these groups were to conduct another terrorist attack against India, most would support military action against them in Pakistan," the poll results said. -PTI

visit Golden Temple, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a human rights advocacy group backed by hundreds of Sikh Gurudwaras across North

America stated that cancellation of visit by President is not due to headscarf issue. "The President has shied away from speaking about and paying tribute to the thousands of innocent pilgrims who were murdered in Golden Temple by Indian Army in June 1984," it said. According to Attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ, President Obama is going to Mumbai a city of about 20 million populations to pay tribute to victims of terrorist attacks while ignoring Sikh victims of violence who had approached him ahead of his visit to Golden Temple. Attorney Pannun further added that President Obama's visit to Golden Temple would have given a tremendous push to key Sikh issues such as separate religious identity of Sikhs, massacre of Sikhs at Golden Temple by the Indian Army and his visit would have been seen around world as a gesture of support to suppressed religious minorities.

PM to take up with Obama concerns over US visa rules NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Indians. Manmohan Singh will raise with "Certainly, these issues will President Barack Obama next come up in discussions," the Exmonth concerns over the recent ternal Affairs Minister said. US decisions on visa rules and He, however, added that the outsourcing amid hopes that complementarities and commonthese would not affect the rapidly alities between India and the US growing bilateral ties. were "so decisive" that "different Stating this here, External Af- perceptions" on some issues fairs Minister S M Krishna also would not affect the ties. allayed apprehensions in the US over the Nuclear Liability law, asâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The nuclear deal (between serting that it would not affect interests of India and the US) was one of American companies but rather provide a the biggest things that haplevel-playing field to pened around which a numfirms from various countries. ber of issues are revolvingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The nuclear issue as also the growing Chinese assertiveness will also figThe US has lately tightened ure in the wide-ranging discus- visa rules for Indians and unveiled sions that Singh will have with policies that discourage Obama during his visit to India. outsourcing, a sector in which "The nuclear deal (between India is a huge beneficiary. India and the US) was one of the Asked whether growing Chibiggest things that happened nese assertiveness would also figaround which a number of issues ure in the talks between Singh and are revolving," Krishna told a Obama, Krishna said it would be group of journalists. one of the issues as China is "an Talking about Obama's visit important factor" in the global and the expected agenda of talks, matters. he said Indian IT companies have "We will exchange notes on expressed reservations over re- China to see what is their (US) apcent US decisions on outsourcing proach and what is our approach and tightening of visa rules for (on China)," he said. -PTI

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Top US diplomats discuss key deliverables NEW DELHI: Top US diplomats met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and discussed key deliverables of President Barack Obama's visit to India and bilateral and regional issues to advance Indo-US ties. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake met Krishna and "discussions centered on President Obama's upcoming visit, as well as regional and multilateral issues that advance the US-India bilateral relationship," a statement by the US Embassy said here. According to sources, Krishna conveyed India's concerns over recent US government moves to curb outsourcing and talked about easing of restrictions that bar US high-tech exports to India. Traveling here to give final shape to the agenda of Obama's India sojourn in the first week of November, Burns and Blake will zero in on the actual deliverables for the high profile trip during their meetings with senior officials including, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. The Burns-Blake visit, officials said is likely to be the last major top level visit of US officials to India before the Obama visit, sources said.

The visit comes as a quick follow up to the series of ministerial visits from India to the US in the last one month including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defense Minister A K Antony and Foreign Minister S M Krishna, all of whom met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Burns will also travel to Kolkata to meet West Bengal Governor and former national security ad-

viser M K Narayanan, who had played a key role in complex negotiations that led to the signing of the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal. While the dates of the trip has not been formally announced yet, Obama is expected to be in India from November 6 to 9, thus making it his longest overseas stay in a country as President of the United States.-PTI

US Under Secretary of State William Burns shakes hands with Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna prior to a meeting in New Delhi on October 21

Extremism 'existential threat' to Pak, not India: US WASHINGTON: Ahead of the US-Pak strategic dialogue here, the Obama Administration has said it has clearly told Pakistan that the "existential threat" to it is not India but extremism within its own borders. "We've made no secret of the fact that we've told Pakistan clearly that we believe that the existential threat to Pakistan is not India; the existential threat to Pakistan involves extremism within its own borders," State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters. His comments came ahead of the third round of strategic dialogue between the US and Pakistan here during which Islamabad is expected to raise concerns about India's role in Afghanistan. "We have seen some shifting of emphasis where Pakistan is, in fact, directing more of its effort

against these extremist elements, that potentially affect us, but fundamentally affect Pakistan and the government itself," Crowley said. That will continue to be an area of discussion between the United States and Pakistan, and also between the US and other countries in the region, Crowley said in response to a question at his daily news conference. Responding to another question, the State Department spokesman said there is no reason for Pakistan to fear from a relationship between Afghanistan and India. "What we're saying is that Afghanistan is going to have relations with neighboring countries. That means Afghanistan is going to have a relationship with Iran. Afghanistan is going to have a relationship with Pakistan. Afghanistan is going to have a relationship with India. Afghanistan

is going to have a relationship with other countries. This is the neighborhood that we're talking about," he said. "The real issue is, what is the texture and tone of those relations? We believe that there's a significant opportunity for cooperation, dialogue, trade, cultural exchanges, the kinds of things that countries have in this hemisphere with Mexico, Canada and other countries in our neighborhood," he argued. The US wants to encourage countries to have an effective dialogue with Afghanistan, cooperate where they can and play a constructive role where it is appropriate, Crowley said. "But ultimately, they have to build the kind of relationship with Afghanistan and their government and their people that is appropriate and sustainable."-PTI

Obama won't visit Pakistan this year WASHINGTON: US President military actions against militant Barack Obama will skip Pakistan groups sheltering in Pakistan's when he makes his first visit to tribal belt. India and East Asia next month as The Pakistani delegation was American officials sought told that continued presence of Islamabad's support for peace the terrorist safe havens in the talks with the Taliban and pressed country would undermine the USthe country to take firm military led international efforts against action against militant groups in extremism in Afghanistan and in restive north Waziristan. the region. The White House said the Identical messages were conPresident had committed to travel veyed to the delegation at the to Pakistan next year and was State Department, at the White looking forward to welcoming Pa- House when they met Obama and kistan President Asif Ali Zardari to Pakistan army chief Gen Kayani to Washington soon. when he met Defense Secretary Obama conveyed this to a vis- Gates and Chairman of the Joint iting high-level delegation from Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Pakistan, who are here to partici- Mullen at the Pentagon. pate in the US-Pak Strategic DiaOfficials familiar with the dislogue, the White House said in a cussions said that US conversastatement, scotching speculations tions with the Pakistani leaders that the President might make an reflected the Obama unannounced visit to Islamabad Administration's growing sense of and Kabul before touching down frustration about the continued in New Delhi. existence of these havens and "The President explained that their reluctance to take action he would not be stopping in Paki- against certain terrorist groups stan during his trip to Asia next like the Haqqani network. month, and committed to visiting "We definitely recognize that Pakistan in 2011", the statement there are safe havens in other said. parts of the region, including The visiting Pakistani delegation was led by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood During his meeting with the Qureshi and Army chief Pakistani delegation, Obama General Ashfaq Pervez stressed that Washington and Kayani. During his meeting Islamabad should move with the Pakistani delegation, Obama towards a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;true partnershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stressed that Washingbased on mutual respect ton and Islamabad should move towards a and common interest "true partnership" based on mutual respect and common interest. North Waziristan. And we will be "The President and the Paki- encouraging Pakistan to take stani delegation agreed on the steps there as well," State Departneed for regional stability and ment spokesman P J Crowley told cooperating towards a peaceful reporters. and stable outcome in AfghaniCrowley said Pakistan's role in stan", the statement said. the Afghan conflict was the highEarlier, in an attempt to simmer light of discussion. "We have asdown tensions flamed by recent sured Pakistan it has an appropriNATO air strikes into Pakistan, the ate role in resolving the situation US Defense Secretary Robert in Afghanistan." Gates called for better cross-bor"We do not want to see efforts der communication. by any entity to prevent political Gates also apologized for the reconciliation," he said referring accidental killings of three Paki- to efforts to woe Taliban to acstani troops by NATO forces sta- cept legitimacy of the Karzai govtioned in Afghanistan at a meet- ernment and the Afghan constiing with the Pakistan Army Chief tution in exchange for amnesty Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at Penta- and a political role. gon, Press Secretary Geoff Morrell "This is our fundamental stratsaid. egy and Pakistan has legitimate At the crucial strategic talks role to play in supporting this probetween the Pakistani delegation cess", Crowley said. and Defense and State DepartOn talks with Taliban, Crowley ment officials, Washington said these were at an early stage, but pressed Pakistan to take stronger were picking up momentum.-PTI

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Daylight robbery in Artesia jewelry store JS BEDI India Post News Service

ARTESIA, CA: To Ravi and Kewal, owners of New Sona Jewelers, it was just another day with business as usual. The afternoon tranquility was shattered by the sound of breaking glass At about 1pm a man walked in enquiring about jewelry cleaning. Once the sales clerk was done answering his queries he proceeded to exit the store. The door is electronically controlled and once the door opened to let him out, two more accomplices stormed in. Armed with hammers they smashed the 3/8 gauge tempered safety glass, picked up the jewelry trays and fled. They took off in a black sedan turning right into the alley at the Vitha end of the parking lot.

The exterior of the Store

The heist was over in less than a minute. The crooks appeared to be Hispanic. "We were in the back room

when we heard what appeared to be gunfire," said Kewal one of the owners. The business is family run and the owners and their

42 terror camps active in PoK, new ones added: Army Chief NEW DELHI: Anti-India terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan is intact and currently 42 terror camps, including new ones in Pakoccupied Kashmir, are being run, Army Chief Gen V K Singh disclosed here. Now even women are being trained to wage Pakistan's proxy war against India, he told PTI in an interview. Gen Singh said infiltration has gone up recently and around 600 terrorists are waiting at "launch pads" in PoK along the Line of Control and International Border to sneak into India. Pakistan has "invested heavily in the proxy war against India" and there has been "no substantial effort" by it to act against terror groups which operate from its soil and are used as a "strategic tool" by that country. "Currently, 42 terrorist training camps are located in Pakistan/ PoK. Inputs reveal that some new camps have also been established in PoK for undertaking terrorist training," he said. The Army Chief was responding when asked whether Pakistan has done something to dismantle anti-India terror infrastructure as has been promised by it repeatedly. "It is assessed that Pakistan will continue to foster terrorism against India and the terrorist infrastructure is likely to remain intact in the foreseeable future," he said. Gen Singh revealed that the terror outfits are maintaining a

number of officers, stores, transit accommodations and temporary training facilities at various locations in PoK. "Launch pads are used extensively for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir and are located all along the Line of Control and parts of International Border," he said, adding "As on date, approximately 600 terrorists are located

Noting that Pakistan perceives Kashmir as an "unfinished agenda", he said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;it is assessed that Pakistan will continue to foster terrorism against India and the terrorist infrastructure is likely to remain intact in the foreseeable futureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the launch pads, poised for infiltration in the near future." Talking about infiltration, he said it has recently gone up, with 10 incidents being recorded in June, six in July and 33 in August. Significantly, August witnessed the peak of stone-pelting incidents and other forms of agi-

tation in the Kashmir Valley, which also was being fuelled from across the border. . Gen Singh felt that about 20-25 infiltration attempts had succeeded, which is indicated by the fact that 12 to 15 terrorists were killed in the last 15-20 days. "This shows people have come from somewhere," he said. Noting that Pakistan perceives Kashmir as an "unfinished agenda", he said, "it is assessed that Pakistan will continue to foster terrorism against India and the terrorist infrastructure is likely to remain intact in the foreseeable future." On meeting the challenge, he said the Army has a "robust counter-infiltration strategy" which has yielded "excellent results". He said the Army's ability to detect and neutralise terrorists attempting to infiltrate or exfiltrate has increased with dynamic troop deployment, pro-active use of surveillance and monitoring devices and the anti-infiltration obstacle system. "Inputs also reveal use of terrorist tanzeem (groups) sponsored madrasas for religious indoctrination of new recruits," Gen Singh said. To a question on ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the recent months along the LoC and International Border, he said these are "generally in few specific areas and we are trying to ensure that these remain confined as also reduce altogether."-PTI

family were in the back room for lunch when the robbers struck. They made off with gold jewelry - primarily ear rings and bracelets - worth an estimated 250,000 dollars. This is the second jewelry store heist in Artesia in the past three months. The previous victim was Highglow Jewelers. There have been a spate of robberies and burglaries in Artesia in the past few months. A few years ago Sheila Jewelers was cleaned out at gunpoint. It is believed that the latest robbery was pulled off by a gang believed to be behind similar robberies in So Cal. Artesia is considered to be a soft target due to the virtual absence of effective policing. To confound matters, Artesia merchants are notorious for cutting

corners. Video cameras, if any, are insufficient and some don't work. There is nominal private security and the nearest police station is in Lakewood, about five miles away. The city of Artesia does not have its own police and comes under the jurisdiction of the Lakewood Station of the LA County Sheriff Deptt. The only visible police presence is a police car parked on Pioneer Blvd opposite Bhindi Jewelers. Here lies the key question. What will it take to awaken City Hall and Police from its slumber? Are they waiting for somebody to get killed before they get their act together? Thankfully, nobody was hurt in the robbery and the owners and the employees of New Sona Jewelers had a providential escape.

Subra Suresh sworn in as chief of National Science Foundation India Post News Service

lic and private investment in research and development to at least 3 percent of the gross domestic product. Suresh, 54, served as dean of the engineering school and as Vannevar Bush Professor of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A mechanical engineer who later became interested in materials science and biology, Suresh has done pioneering work studying the biomechanics of blood cells under the influence of diseases such as malaria. From 2000 to 2006, Suresh

NEW YORK: Subra Suresh was sworn in Oct 18 as the 13th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) by John Holdren, President Obama's science advisor. The ceremony took place in the Secretary of War Ceremonial Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. Suresh was nominated by President Obama to become the new NSF director on June 8, and was confirmed by the US Senate on Sept 30, for a six-year term. At the first ever White House Science Fair hosted by Presi- At the first ever White House dent Obama, which Science Fair hosted by Presikicked off Oct 18, the President acknowl- dent Obama, which kicked edged the presence of off Oct 18, the President acSubra Suresh on the knowledged the presence of occasion. "I welcome and con- Subra Suresh on the occasion gratulate Subra Suresh, who was sworn in this morning as the Director of the served as the head of the MIT DeNational Science Foundation, and partment of Materials Science and who's here with his family. We are Engineering. He joined MIT in very grateful to have Subra tak- 1993 as the R.P. Simmons Profesing this new task. He has been at sor of Materials Science and EnMIT and has been leading one of gineering and held joint faculty the top engineering programs in appointments in the Departments the country, and for him now to of Mechanical Engineering and be able to apply that to the Na- Biological Engineering, as well as tional Science Foundation is just the Division of Health Sciences and Technology. going to be outstanding." Suresh holds a bachelor's deNSF's budget for 2010 is $6.9 billion. The agency's budget re- gree from the Indian Institute of quest for 2011 is $7.4 billion, an 8- Technology in Madras, a master's percent increase over 2010, which degree from Iowa State Universupports the President's goal of sity, and earned his ScD from MIT increasing the nation's total pub- in 1981.

October 29, 2010

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Indian delegates speak at UNGA

Shashi Tharoor MP speaking on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to the third committee

Mehboob Beg MP speaking on "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of UN and on the Strengthening of the role of the Organization"

DR Raja MP speaking to the second committee on "Group of Countries in Special Situation" at the 65th session of UNGA on NY on 18 Oct. Pics Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia

Shanta Kumar MP speaking on Sports for Peace and Development on Agenda item II

Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed MP speaking on" International Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Outer Space"

Vidya Charan Shukla MP speaking on"Microcredit"

K.C.Venugopal MP speaking on "the rule of Law at the National and International level

'ISI aided Mumbai attacks' LONDON: The ISI was heavily involved in preparations for the Mumbai terror attacks, according to classified Indian government documents obtained by 'The Guardian'. The newspaper said that a 109-page report into the interrogation of key suspect David Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist arrested last year and detained in the US, makes detailed claims of ISI support for the attacks. "Under questioning, Headley described dozens of meetings between officers of the main Pakistani military intelligence service, the ISI, and senior militants from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group responsible for the Mumbai attacks", the report said. Headley reportedly claimed that a key motivation for the ISI in aiding the attacks was to bolster militant organizations with strong links to the Pakistani state and security establishment who were being marginalized by more extreme radical groups. "Headley, who undertook surveillance of the targets in Mumbai for the operation, claims that at least two of his missions were partly paid for by the ISI and that he regularly reported to the spy agency. However, the documents suggest that supervision of the militants by the ISI was often chaotic and that the most senior officers of the agency may have been unaware at least of the scale and ambition of the operation before it was launched", the report said. According to the report, European and

American security services now feared that LeT was moving from what has been a largely regional agenda focused on Jammu and Kashmir to a global agenda involving strikes against the west or western interests. "The documents suggest the fierce internal argument within the organization over its strategic direction is being won by hardliners", the report added. Headley reportedly described how "a

The aim of the agency was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;controlling further split in the Kashmir-based outfits, providing them a sense of achievement and shifting the theatre of violence from the domestic soil of Pakistan to Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; debate had begun among the terrorist outfits" and "a clash of ideology" leading to "splits". "The aggression and commitment to jihad shown by several splinter groups in Afghanistan influenced many committed fighters to leave [LeT]," Headley is quoted as having said. "I understand this compelled the LeT to consider a spectacular terrorist strike in India".

Headley, who changed his name from Daood Gilani, reportedly told the investigators that the ISI hoped the Mumbai attack would slow or stop growing "integration" between groups active in Jammu and Kashmir, with whom the agency had maintained a long relationship, and "Taliban-based outfits" in Pakistan and Afghanistan which were a threat to the Pakistani state. "The ISI had no ambiguity in understanding the necessity to strike India," Headley is reported to have said. The aim of the agency was "controlling further split in the Kashmir-based outfits, providing them a sense of achievement and shifting the theatre of violence from the domestic soil of Pakistan to India". According to the report, Headley described meeting once with a "Colonel Kamran" from the military intelligence service and having a series of meetings with a "Major Iqbal" and a "Major Sameer Ali". A fellow conspirator was handled by a Colonel Shah, he claimed. Headley also alleged that he was given USD 25,000 by his ISI handler to finance one of eight surveillance missions in India. "However, Headley describes the ISI director general, Lt General Shuja Pasha, visiting a key senior militant from LeT in prison after the attacks in a bid "to understand" the operation, implying that, as many western security agencies suspect, the top ranks of the agency were unaware of at least the scale of the planned strike", the report said. -PTI

Shashi Tharoor takes his bride Sunanda Pushkar around the UN where he served earlier as Under Secretary General

'Al Qaeda, Haqqani network hit hard in US strikes' LOS ANGELES: The stepped up pace of CIA attacks in Pakistan "is taking a serious toll" on Al Qaeda's operational capabilities, CIA Director Leon E Panetta has said. "The basis for that increased pace is intelligence, whether and also just the threat streams we're getting on potential attacks in Europe", the CIA chief was quoted as saying by the 'Los Angeles Times'. The agency has also moved up "more hardware" to the region because of which it has been able to ramp up the pace of these operations, Panetta said apparently hinting that the US may have moved advanced killer drones to bases in Pakistan. But, the CIA chief said it was unclear whether operations in Pakistan had thwarted potential threat against Europe. Panetta did not specifically mentioned missile strikes by unmanned drones in Pakistan because the US government does not officially own up the program. But it is well known that the drones are main tool that the agency uses to target militants in that country. For the first time, Panetta said that CIA was going after the Haqqani network, a Al Qaeda linked faction of the Taliban, which US media has said has closed ties to the Pakistani military intelligence.-PTI

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Amartya Sen comes down heavily on India's Myanmar policy WASHINGTON: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has rapped India over its Myanmar policy, saying the country "completely abdicated" its responsibility on morality after getting a "bit of power" and pleaded for global scrutiny of the November 7 general elections under the military junta. Sen, a vocal critic of the ruling military regime in Myanmar, termed the policies of India, China and Thailand with regard to Burma as "exceptionally crude and valuationally gross". India's policy on Burma "is partly in imitation of China, which is increasingly dominated by much narrower national concerns than those that moved Gandhi, Nehru and Tagore," Sen, who spent part of his childhood in Myanmar, said in his keynote address to a conference on Myanmar at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University. "When our power to influence the world was zero, we spent our time lecturing the world on morality. And when we get a bit of power, although not as much as China, then we completely abdicated that responsibility," 76-yearold Sen said. Highly critical of India for host-

ing the Myanmarese military leadership in New Delhi, he said: I have to say that as a loyal Indian citizen, it breaks my heart to see the prime minister of my democratic country -- and one of the most humane and sympathetic political leaders in the world -engage in welcoming the butchers from Myanmar and to be pho-

Amartya Sen

tographed in a state of cordial proximity." Sen said he is also concerned that public discussion in India on the Burmese situation has been near absent. "This is not because of any government restriction on such discussion," he added. "The problem arises rather with

the change in the political climate of India in which narrowly defined national interest? What is taken to be national interest? gets much loyalty and in this India's past propensity to lecture the world on global political morality is seen as a sad... of Nehruvian era," Sen rued. The Noble laureate called for the immediate launch of a United Nations investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by the junta, which is being pushed by a number of western countries including the United States, Britain and France. The main reason for holding the elections by the military junta, he said, is to "whitewash the entire world and alleged that they are not serious in making any changes in Burma." "Nothing perhaps is more important right now as the day of the phony electoral event approaches than global public discussion of the real nature of the forthcoming electoral fraud," he said. "The expressions of pious hope that things can change after the election are totally contrary to reasoned analysis about what's going on in Burma," Sen said. PTI

Top Chinese official to visit India to repair strained ties BEIJING: As China geared up to send a high-powered delegation to India to put the strained ties back on track, a state-run daily has cautioned that the two countries should be on guard against efforts by elements from within and outside to derail ties. Zhou Yongkang, ranked ninth in the hierarchy of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), will be visiting New Delhi towards the end of this month to hold talks with top Indian officials, officials said here. The visit by Zhou, member the influential Politburo Standing Committee in-charge of political, legal and legislative agenda, has set off speculation that China is making efforts to warm up to India and to repair the damage caused by a host of issues, especially the denial of visa to Lt Gen B S Jaswal on the ground that he headed troops in Jammu and Kashmir, which China regards as disputed. After the incident, India had put on hold all the defense ex-

changes between the two countries. Zhou's visit is more or less confirmed but the dates are under finalization, an official here said.

The visit by Zhou, member the influential Politburo Standing Committee in-charge of political, legal and legislative agenda, has set off speculation that China is making efforts to warm up to India and to repair the damage caused by a host of issues His visit is being seen as a precursor to the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the next few months. An article carried by the official China Daily, titled 'China, In-

dia made for each other' says both nations should be on guard against elements trying to foment problems. "Of course, there are still some unresolved differences between the two countries, from border disputes left over by history to competition in energy, resources and markets, and some trade frictions and investment limitations set by India on Chinese enterprises," the article written by Du Youkang, Director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University said. It said India has always harbored a grudge against China's "normal engagement" with other South Asian countries and noted that the 1962 border conflict that interrupted healthy development of bilateral relations, and that their mutual trust is still to be restored to the highest level. "Some ill-intentioned elements are making use of some or all of these problems to create trouble and confusion," it said.-PTI

China should respect India's sensitivities: Krishna NEW DELHI: Making it clear strain on the bilateral ties, he said that bilateral defence exchanges Beijing looks at things from a "difwill remain suspended, India has ferent perspective" and hoped asked China to respect its sensi- that "they will go along the Intivities on issues like Jammu and dian perspective". Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh To a question on China issuso that the relationship could be ing stapled visas to those hailing developed further. from J and K, he said New Delhi Against the backdrop of cer- has made it clear to Beijing that it tain recent Chinese actions that was not acceptable and that there amount to questioning Jammu was need to be sensitive to each and Kashmir's integration with other's concerns to build relaIndia, External Affairs Minister S tions. M Krishna hoped that Beijing "We have conveyed to them would maintain "neutrality" on the (China) that we do not accept the affairs related to the state as it has stapled visas and we are not goalways done. ing to accept these," Krishna said He said the issue of Chinese about the Chinese refusal to isassertiveness in the region re- sue visas to people from J and K cently will be one of the issues of on their passports, an action discussion between Prime Minis- which amounts to questioning the ter Manmohan Singh and US state's integration with India. President Barack Obama during Noting that China also exthe latter's visit here next month. pected India to be sensitive to its Krishna made it clear that de- issues, he said New Delhi will be fence exchanges with China, which were put on hold in July after a Lt General was disallowed permission to visit that country because he was serving in Jammu and Kashmir, will remain suspended. "We expect China to be sensitive to our core concerns. That is how relaS M Krishna tionships are built, relations are nurtured. So we are asking China to respect our Krishna made it clear that sensitivities like on defence exchanges with Arunachal Pradesh and other issues," he China, which were put on hold said during an interacin July after a Lt General was tion with a group of disallowed permission to visit journalists here. China denied perthat country because he was mission to Northern Army Commander Lt serving in Jammu and KashGen B S Jaswal to visit mir, will remain suspended. that country on an official trip as he was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We expect China to be serving in J and K, an sensitive to our core concernsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; action which an upset India saw as questioning the country's sovereignty so "without compromising our and suspended defence ex- national stand in respect of borchanges. ders and stapled visas". "China has always maintained Asked to comment on the neutrality as far as Jammu and growing Chinese assertiveness, Kashmir is concerned. So we hope Krishna said it is a power in the they will continue to maintain that region and will make "overtures". position," Krishna said India also is a power and will also He asserted Jammu and Kash- make overtures but that "does not mir is an integral part of India, by necessarily mean that we are in virtue of its accession and what conflict". has happened over the last 60 Krishna said India has "good, years during which a number of working relationship" with China elections were held in a demo- even though there are "some outcratic and transparent manner. standing issues" like border disDisagreeing that China's shift pute for whose resolution mechain position on J and K had put nisms are in place. -PTI

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Headley's wives did not provide specific information: US WASHINGTON: The US has admitted that two of the three wives of LeT terrorist David Headley had multiple conversations with its officials in 2007 and 2008 about his radical connections but could not provide any specific information to India about time and place of terror attacks. "In the contacts that we had with his spouses, there was no specific information as to who he was associated with or what they were planning to do," State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters at his daily news conference. Crowley's remarks came after Indian officials in New Delhi asked why Headley's name was not shared by the US with India. "We want to ask a simple question - did they share the name? If not, why did they not share the name," an Indian official said, adding such a step could have resulted in his arrest. 50-year-old Headley, who was arrested in the Chicago in October last year, has admitted his involvement in Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 which claimed 166 lives. Crowley said his response was based in the context of two meetings that the State Department officials had with one of Headley's spouses in late 2007 and early 2008.

"She did provide us some information. We followed up on that information and provided it to relevant agencies across the US government," he said. Responding to reporters' questions, Crowley insisted that the US authorities followed up with the information provided by Headley's wives. "Did we follow up? The answer

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The fact is that while we had information and concerns, it did not detail a time or a place of the attack,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Crowley said. The State Department spokesman said the co-operation with India post-Mumbai has increased tremendously is yes. Have -- did we share information with our security partners, including India, you know, prior to the Mumbai attacks? The answer is yes," he insisted. "We have cooperated with India, you know, since then. You know, I think (US) Ambassador (to India, Tim) Roemer, put out an extensive statement in Delhi over the

weekend that highlighted both our cooperation with India, prior to and after," he said. "Needless to say, I will just say that going back over some of the information they provided to us, there was concern expressed by both spouses; at the same time, the information was not specific. I think everyone should understand that, if we did have specific information on this, we would have absolutely provided it to the Indian government, you know, beforehand. "The fact is that while we had information and concerns, it did not detail a time or a place of the attack," Crowley said. The State Department spokesman said the co-operation with India postMumbai has increased tremendously. "We have an extensive dialogue with India. As we build a strategic partnership with India and security is one of those areas, our cooperation with India has expanded," Crowley said. "We continue to cooperate extensively with Indian officials. We were doing so prior to the Mumbai attacks. We have done so since the Mumbai attacks. Security is an area of significant dialogue between our law-enforcement and intelligence agencies and those of the Indian government," he said.-PTI

'No blacklisting of defense firms without notice' NEW DELHI: To prevent derailment of armed forces acquisitions and to uphold principles of natural justice, India has decided to provide opportunity to defense firms named in shady under-dealings before blacklisting and keeping them out of future contracts. The decision comes in the wake of legal advice to the Defense Ministry with regard to a couple of artillery gun manufacturers named in police cases of corruption against former Ordnance Factories Board chief Sudip Ghosh, leading to the delay in purchase of much-needed howitzers for the Army. "Basically, the High Court has held that merely on FIR we cannot blacklist. We have to provide an opportunity and then take a decision. This process is going on. Some procurements have been put on hold," a top Defense Ministry official said here. A decision on blacklisting cannot be taken "until and unless we give notice and consider their re-

plies", as ordered by a high court in one of the cases relating to a 'barred' company, he said. Admitting that Bofors scandal in the late 1980s had tied the Defense Ministry's hands from procuring guns to strengthen the Army's artillery capabilities in the last two decades, the official said, "artillery has been one of the problem areas, one of the voids...that stares you in the face. "But after a long time now, trials for two of the four artillery guns that Indian Army requires are going on," he said. India will buy 145 of the 155mm/ 39calibre Ultralight Howitzers M777 from the US under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route for an estimated USD 650 million for which trials are currently in progress. In a multi-vendor situation, India is looking at procuring 180 of 155mm/52calibre wheeled selfpropelled guns. "Hopefully we will be able to get these. The Ultralight Howitzers is through

the FMS route and the other is a multi-vendor situation," he said. Asked about the delays in purchasing the artillery guns, he said, "We have many of the companies for artillery guns involved in some case or the other." To a query on the prudence of 'blacklisting' firms in all future deals, he said it was India's way of announcing to the defense firms that they "cannot fiddle with Indian laws, rules, regulations and processes." The Defense Ministry had in May last year 'blacklisted' seven firms and put on hold all deals with them. Foreign companies Israeli Military Industries, Singapore Technologies, BVT Poland and Media Architects of Singapore; and Indian firms T S Kishan and Company, R K Machine Tools and H Y T Engineering Company were among those who had come under the scanner in the CBI-registered corruption case against Ghosh.-PTI

Indian racially assaulted in UK for trying to save woman LONDON: A 21 year-old Indian shop assistant was physically and racially attacked by a group of five men leaving him with a broken jaw after he tried to stop them from misbehaving with a young woman in Edinburgh in the UK, in what police described as "an appalling assault." Pankaj Rawat, who was working with a city clothes shop, was beaten up on Waverley Bridge by the thugs calling him an 'Indian b******', 'Edinburgh Evening News' reported. He was walking home after a night out when he intervened to protect the woman, aged around 20, it said, adding the Indian faced a volley of racial abuse before being punched to the ground and hit repeatedly by the attackers. "I'd been out for a friend's party at Mood and was walking back to my home in Tollcross with another friend. As we were crossing Waverley Bridge, I saw two Scottish men shouting at a woman. One of them was pushing her and trying to kiss her, and she was shouting for help," Rawat was quoted as saying by the paper. "I told them to leave her alone or I would call the police. The man

who was pushing the woman came over to me and asked where I was from. I told him I was from India and he started shouting 'b***** Indian b******' at me," he said. Rawat said he told the man that he did not want any problems, but he could not do that to a woman. "He kept making racial comments then he punched me on the side of the cheek. He punched me a second time and I fell to the ground." "The other man with him came over and both of them started kicking me on the face as I was on the ground. Another three men also stood around me so my friend couldn't see what was happening," he said. Rawat, who moved from India to Edinburgh 18 months ago, was rushed to hospital, where he had a metal plate fitted to his fractured jaw, the report said. After the incident, Rawat lost his job after his bosses were unable to give him four weeks' off to recover from his injuries. Police have sought help in tracing the five men, who fled after the assault at around 3.40 am local time.-PTI

Indian student's murder: Aus court charges teenager MELBOURNE: An Australian Garg's workmates told police court has charged a teenager about an incident early last year with the murder of Indian stu- in which the student was threatdent Nitin Garg and heard that ened and pursued by a stranger. the victim was threatened and He said the stranger had gone chased on at least two other oc- to the restaurant in April or May casions before his death. looking for Garg. A 16-year-old boy, whose name The defense lawyer said the has not been disclosed due to le- first assault in 2009 had involved gal reasons, appeared in a a knife, and the stranger's return Melbourne children's court and to the restaurant some months was charged with one count of murder. The boy's defense Garg, 21, was stabbed as he lawyer told the court walked through Cruickshank the charges will be contested at a committal Park, in Melbourne's west, on hearing early next year. his way to work at a Yarraville Garg, 21, was stabbed as he walked Hungry Jack's outlet after through Cruickshank 9.30 pm on January 2 Park, in Melbourne's west, on his way to work at a Yarraville Hungry Jack's later was relevant to the case. outlet after 9.30 pm on January 2. The prosecution opposed the After the stabbing, Garg stag- cross-examination of that witness, gered to the fast food outlet, at saying the evidence could be covthe corner of Somerville and ered by other witnesses and the Geelong roads, and died a short police informant. time later. The magistrate said she would He was not robbed and his be- be unable to make a decision on longings were left scattered in the which witnesses would be compark where he was killed. pelled to testify and adjourned the The prosecutor said one of case until next week. -PTI

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Family seeks home for state hospital patient

LOGANSPORT, Ind.: In his mind, 44-year-old Bryan Lagle is an attorney. ``He tells me to take his credit card, and, 'Just go buy yourself something,''' said Lagle's sister, Amy Gilbert, an Anderson native who now lives in Logansport. In reality, Lagle is one of the 254 psychiatric patients who must soon relocate from Logansport State Hospital, and Gilbert is concerned about where he will end up. ``It's indicative of those who live near here and have family members who are patients,'' state Sen. Randy Head, a Logansport Republican, said of Gilbert's situation. ``For these families, this is a nightmare.'' The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced this summer that it would be downsizing two of six state psychiatric facilities in an effort to place patients who would benefit from community living situations in more suitable arrangements. -AP

GOP tries to seize opportunity with Stupak gone CHEBOYGAN, Mich.: Tea party activists rejoiced when Rep. Bart Stupak decided against seeking reelection after helping rescue President Barack Obama's health care plan. Now one of their own hopes is to exact the ultimate revenge by winning Stupak's seat. Michigan vast 1st District, which reaches across 600 miles of woodsy northlands, is usually an afterthought on the national political scene. But with the seat open for the first time in 18 years and control of the House at stake, Democrats and Republicans and outside interest groups are pouring in money and flooding the airwaves. -AP

3 Gillette teens ill after smoking powder

GILLETTE, Wyo.: Three Campbell County teens have been hospitalized after smoking a substance that police believe may be a fertilizer they bought on the Internet. The Gillette News-Record reports that a 15-year-old girl was rushed to Campbell County Memorial Hospital after smoking a cigarette laced with the substance and complaining of nausea. The girl is a student at Campbell County High School. Two teenage boys were hospitalized earlier after smoking the substance near the Campbell County High School North Campus. -AP

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October 29, 2010

Okla. health dept. offices cleared due to mold OKLAHOMA CITY: About 100 employees of the state Health Department have had to vacate their office space because of mold issues. -AP

Heart disease study at UCSF focuses on South Asians KAVITA ARORA India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO: South Asians represent a quarter of the world's population and are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. Given this, South Asians account for a striking number - 60% - of the world's heart disease patients. Investigators at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Northwestern University are conducting a new study sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to better understand the causes of heart disease in South Asians. The study is called Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) and its purpose is to identify new and emerging risk factors that may guide future treatments to prevent or cure heart disease in South Asians. Alka M. Kanaya, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, at the University of California in San Francisco told India Post, "We are trying to figure out what causes the phenomenon that South Asians have a higher risk of heart disease. We know that South

We know that South Asians may have four times the risk of heart disease than other ethnic groups, but we don't know why they are at a higher risk Asians may have four times the risk of heart disease than other ethnic groups, but we don't know why they are at a higher risk. Very few studies have been done in large enough South Asian groups following them over time. We hope that the MASALA

study will shed light on novel risk factors to prevent heart disease in South Asians." As a physician researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Kanaya and her team focus on research to understand heart disease among South

Asians. In 2006-2007, Dr. Kanaya recruited 150 Asian Indians from the Bay Area and compared their risk factors to that of four major U.S. ethnic groups. The results of that study were that despite having higher educational attainment and low overall body weight, Asian Indians had higher rates of diabetes and early measures of atherosclerosis (thickening of arteries) than Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Chinese Americans. As a result of the pilot study, Dr. Kanaya received a larger grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a cohort of South Asian Americans the study will follow over years to better understand unique cultural, biological, lifestyle, and genetic factors that contribute to heart disease among South Asians. The strength of the MASALA study is that it is linked to a large U.S. study of four different ethnic groups-the MESA study. The South Asians in MASALA will be compared to Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Chinese Americans in the MESA study to see if South Asians are truly different in risk of disease than other ethnic groups. Cont’d on page 13

Teen copes with cancer through art, poetry ST. CLOUD, Minn.: Kate Stewart ran when she learned her leukemia returned last April. She was finishing her ninthgrade year at Technical High School, and already had beaten back the disease once. Now she had to do it again. ``I cried and ran all the way to my friend's house,'' Kate said recently while she sat in the teen room at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. She had just been released after living at the hospital almost nonstop since spring while doctors pounded the cancer into remission with toxic chemotherapy in preparation for a bone-marrow transplant. She was allowed a short respite at Ronald McDonald House in September before being readmit-

ted for what is expected to be months of isolation and hospitalization while doctors manage the life-saving transplant. Anger, sickness, stress, loneliness and sadness have dominated her emotions.

and dreams of a future. "I always hated art,'' Kate said, surrounded by drawings and murals she created. ``I wasn't good at it. I sucked. Then you're stuck in your room, and you think of a lot of things.''

The emotional frustration was compounded by serious side effects from the aggressive medical treatments. ``Kate has had some drama,'' her mother, Candy Stewart-James, said. ``August was a busy month'' At times, they cascade together on the Kimball teen. Kate, a self-described sports nut, turned to art and poetry therapies to help her cope. It is an unexpected outlet for her emotions as she navigates cancer and the teenage world of friends and boys

Art therapies help children cope with the stress of fighting a disease and staying in the hospital, said Melissa Turgeon, a childfamily life specialist and art therapist at the hospital. Such therapies give patients ownership of their illnesses and treatments, she said.

Kate first battled the disease in sixth grade. She thought she beat it once, and then she was thrust into a fight once again. The emotional frustration was compounded by serious side effects from the aggressive medical treatments. ``Kate has had some drama,'' her mother, Candy Stewart-James, said. ``August was a busy month.'' Chemotherapy caused congestive heart failure, anxiety, lung problems, an infection in her lymph nodes that forced two surgeries and strokelike symptoms resulting from the toxins traveling to her brain. All the setbacks worried Kate's medical team. That's when Melissa Turgeon, an art therapist and childfamily specialist at the hospital, started working with the Kate. -AP

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Aging Va psychiatric hospital takes new approach STAUNTON, Va.: His pure, high voice reached high; his hands rose as if conducting a chorus: ``Imagine all the people, sharing all the world,'' the Western State Hospital resident sang to the afternoon music class in the Stribling building, ``You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.'' A silent young man smiled. A woman's hands danced like birds. Western State has carved out space for a new kind of treatment in an aging facility designed to house passive patients rather than accommodate residents on the move. In the aging hospital buildings, staff try to run ``treatment malls,'' which are like mini-high schools. Residents go from class to class, with 90 options ranging from anger management to music. In each, besides the official subject, residents learn other lessons about getting along with people, expressing themselves, dealing with stress. The facility is not ideal. The narrow, winding passage to the music room, for instance, is hard for those in wheelchairs to manage. Bathroom space is limited; old sleeping areas don't always make good spaces for learning life skills.

But several hundred yards away, the state plans a new hospital, specially designed for treatment malls. The state appropriated $110 million for the work. Staunton has pledged $15 million, as part of deal which gave it 278 acres of the tract on which the current hospital stands a site city officials hope, but aren't sure they can, sell without a loss.

The walls of the building and its unbreakable windows will provide the security that fences and patrolling hospital security officers now provide The site work on the new hospital is done, and before long contractors will start digging out the basement and doing some of the basic mechanical work. ``By next fall, they say the walls will be up,'' said John D. Beghtol, director of community services. It will be a hospital unlike most. Instead of the several separate

buildings dotting Western's current campus the rolling, wooded tract the city of Staunton hopes will become a multi-use development there will be one roughly triangular building. It will enclose a two-thirds-acre courtyard, and contain hallways of classrooms the treatment malls and rooms for residents. They will be rooms unlike other state hospitals because each will house just one resident, with a private bathroom. The walls of the building and its unbreakable windows will provide the security that fences and patrolling hospital security officers now provide. ``It's that balancing, security and freedom, safety and freedom,'' Beghtol said. Security is an issue because roughly half of Western's 260 residents come from jails. Most of the rest came involuntarily, under court orders that found they posed a threat to themselves or to others. Freedom is an issue, not only because residents have the same rights as everyone else, but because residents need to move no more waiting on a ward for someone to come and offer a supposed cure, Beghtol said.

``We say, this is your job: To get better and get out of this place,'' he said. Roughly 95 percent of Western residents do precisely that job in the treatment malls on any given week day. Besides them, some 600 area residents work at the hospital, a major employer in the region. While the site of the current hospital could become a new economic

motor for the region, the new Western is already having a huge impact, said Bill Hamilton, Staunton's economic development director. ``It's the biggest construction project in the city's history,'' he said. The new hospital is due to open by the start of 2013, but could be 80 percent completed by next year. At that point in the project, the city's $15 million is due. -AP

Teen copes with cancer through art, poetry Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 12

A participant in the pilot study said, "The study enlightened me about my body and lifestyle, and allowed me to make meaningful changes with confidence. All my questions were answered while recognizing my Indo-American background with its unique dietary and health challenges. It may well be the kind of medical care you may not get anywhere, at any price!" The MASALA study is being conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area and greater Chicago area on a random sample of 900 South

Asians. To be able to participate in this study, you must receive an invitational letter in the mail at your home. If your household has been selected to participate, please call the MASALA Research team in your area to check if any member of your family is eligible to participate. Look for your invitational letter in the mail and don't pass up your opportunity to participate if your household has been selected. More information about the study can be found at www.masalastudy.org. Kavita Arora is Anchor & CoProducer of Sitaarre TV

Desi News Share & Care gala raises $650,000 India Post News Service

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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AIF Bay Area Gala raises 1.26 million

October 29, 2010

Details on page 22

CG Tomar seeks support of community and media

Details on page 16

Sai Baba Punyatithi at Chicago Mandir S SURUBOTLA

Indian Malaysians join Chicago Club dinner MOHAMMED GHOUSE

Indian media representatives listening to Ms Mukta in Chicago

RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: She came, she saw and she won the hearts of many. The newly arrived Indian Consul General Ms Mukta Tomar has begun her stint in Chicagoland as the head of the Indian Consulate with a little difference - seeking to strike a rapport with community activists, media and the community members at large. With her effusive manner she succeeded in winning plaudits from them all. She invited ethnic Indian media representatives on Tuesday October 19 at her office in Chicago Downtown, and said that "you are the true Ambassadors of India as we Consul Generals come and go but you are here for long and for ever. I look forward to your continued support and am amenable to all constructive suggestions." Present on the occasion were

editors and correspondents from Sikh TV, TV Asia, Malayali Sangman, to Gujarati Divya Bhaskar Sandesh and Akila to English print media - India Tribune, India Post, Indian Reporter, Desi Talk, Hi India, NRI Today and Asian Media USA. The consen-

Indian CG Ms. Mukta Tomar addressing the Indian media at the Consulate. On her left is Consul Vishwas Sakpal.

the Indian community across the world makes to the betterment of the society they live in, Tomar said that members of the Indian community here also are a great source of pride for all of us because of their efforts in contributing to the welfare of the society while retain-

The friction arises when the rules for passport, visa, PIO Card or OCI are not followed in letter. "But we will definitely try to make things as simple as possible and also be very amiable to all visiting the Consulate," she said

sus among the media representatives was that the CG Office should be more responsive to the people as well as to the media that serves as a link between the community and government offices. Praising the contributions that

ing their cultural ties and heritage. CG Tomar said the Indian Consulate office has been streamlined and the officers as well as the staff are working hard even doing "over-time." But, she said, she would see to it that there is "ser-

FIA group with CG Tomar. (Pic Asia Media USA / Mohammed Ghouse)

vice with a smile". The friction arises when the rules for passport, visa, PIO Card or OCI are not followed in letter. "But we will definitely try to make things as simple as possible and also be very amiable to all visiting the Consulate," she said. Accepting a suggestion from media, she said that she would welcome periodic meet the press sessions for a healthy exchange of ideas on substantive issues. The Chicago Consulate was established in 1976 and currently there are 26 persons working at the Consulate, 15 of whom who are locals and 11 individuals directly from India, Consul Bishwas Sakpal pointed out. In her brief speech at the end of nearly two-hour media meet, Ms Tomar thanked all present and observed that it would be her effort to get the community at large involved in cementing political and economic ties between India and USA. She felt that the forthcoming visit of President Obama would be a historic milestone in the Indo-US relationship. Earlier in the day, a group of FIA (Federation of Indian Associations) leaders met Ms Tomar at the Consulate. The meeting was sought by the FIA Trustees and other active workers and one of their uppermost concerns was the alleged mishandling of Consulate affairs by previous Consul General Ashok Attri. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 17

Community Across America

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NY Life unveils Bharat Yatra VIII documentary India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Continuing with its unique South Asian outreach initiated eight years ago, New York Life Insurance Company conducted its Bharat Yatra for the eighth consecutive year this year, taking 14 students who won an essay competition on a two-week trip to Rajasthan, India. At a lively event held at the New York Life Building in Manhattan Oct 18, attended by senior company executives, a documentary on the trip and the insights gained by the students - Bharat Yatra VIIIThe Eternal Spirit of India - was released and the participant students were felicitated. In order to travel to India with the Bharat Yatra group, the students had to submit an essay on

since it was initiated, said, "Our purpose is served even if one of the students in the group goes back to do something for India." Deputy Consul General of India Ajay Gondane said on the occasion that beyond the colors and people of India, it was the unique

through the Bharat Yatra program. Secondly, he said, "When you hear these students speak of their experiences and future objectives, we know our future is in good hands." On the part of the students, as each of them briefly summarized

The grassroots up trip through Rajasthan took them from Mandwa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Pokhran, Jodhpur, Pushkar to Jaipur the topic "What role I can play to eradicate hunger in India". The trip not only gave them a different perspective on contemporary India but also exposed them to its challenges and issues in the pursuit of socially inclusive development. Ashwin Verma, Corporate Vice President-(Asian Indian Market) who has been leading the yatra

spirit of the country that the government of India wants everybody to engage with. And for anyone who engages with India either to give back or to invest, the munificence of India in turn will give them a hundred times more. Mark Pfaff, Executive VP in charge of US Life Insurance said one gets a feel of the company's commitment to the community

their experience on the trip, it was obvious they had gained a whole new perspective on India. Going from being "confused, torn and hyphenated", the students found support in each other to understand their unique position as heirs to a civilization that is thousands of years old and as citizens of one of the most modern and youngest of civilizations.

Senior VP Michael Gordon who gave away the awards to the students said he was so impressed by the whole program that he felt proud and humbled. The students who went on the yatra included: Akshita Verma, a junior at the University of California studying for a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and molecular biology; Aria Srinivasan, a sophomore at Drexel University in Philadelphia majoring in Business & Political Science; Bharat Kumar, a fourth year medical student at Saba University School of Medicine and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania; Esha Khurana, a sophomore at Northwestern in the Honors Program for Medical Education; Jasdeep Cheema, a junior at Seton Hall University majoring in biochemistry and chemical engineering; Kiran Sarabu, a recent graduate from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics; Monika Pathak, a graduate from Queens College with a degree in Applied Mathematics; Nilay Suresh Shah, a University of Illinois graduate with concentrations in Neuroscience and history and currently a stu-

dent at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine; Priyanka Venkatesh, a senior at Stanford University studying Human Biology and Violin Performance; Punal Bhavsar, a graduate of University of California with a degree in Environmental Science; Rucha Desai, aFordham University graduate in International Studies and currently working for Senator Gillibrand as a Constituent Liaison; Rupak Basu, a senior at University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in biology; Sadaf Omar, a senior at Lehman College studying Political Science and English; and Shivani Sheth, a junior attending Temple University in Philadelphia. The grassroots up trip through Rajasthan took them from Mandwa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Pokhran, Jodhpur, Pushkar to Jaipur, during which they visited and interacted with the people at the world famous Jaipur Foot and Limb institution, Mathura Das Mathur hospital, Asha Ka Jharna School for physically challenged children, Nimba Nimandi Leper Ashram, Anubandh Home for the Aged, and Badhir Vidhyalaya, a school for the hearing and speaking impaired in Ajmer.

Children's Hope gala raises $250,000 India Post News Service

NEW YORK: What could be better than visiting Mumbai in the company of a Bollywood celebrity? Mumbai and filmmaker Karan Johar came to Manhattan for An Evening in Mumbai, Children's Hope India Gala, held Oct 10 at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan. The evening attracted over 500 supporters and raised approximately $250,000 for health and education projects in India. The chief guests were Dr. Indu Shahani, Sheriff of Mumbai, Consul General of India, Prabhu Dayal and his wife Chandini Dayal. All the guests walked down a red carpet to a virtual Mumbai recreated in the Grand Hyatt. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 17

Author Suketu Mehta receiving Sprit of Mumbai award from Karan Johar at a Fund raiser for ChildrenĂs Hope India Gala "An Evening in Mumbai" in NYC

Producer Director Mira Nair receiving Sprit of Mumbai award from Karan Johar (Pics: Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)

Aroon Shivdasani receiving Sprit of Mumbai award from Karan Johar

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Share & Care gala raises $650,000 India Post News Service

NEW JERSEY: Philanthropic values and entertainment went hand in hand at Share & Care Foundation's (SCF) 28th annual fund-raising gala, where "Salaam India", a play performed by the reputed troupe of Lushin Dubey from Delhi enthralled the audiences. More than 1200 supporters filled the State Theater in New Brunswick, NJ, helping SCF raise $650,000 despite what the SCF management committee calls persistent tough economic conditions. All proceeds from the event will go towards funding women's empowerment; "Educate to Graduate" - a signature program focusing on skilled education for youth; and basic healthcare and livelihood challenges of rural India. The event was hosted by members of SCF's youth wing Young Professional Committee (YPC). Dr. Purvi Parikh, Shimul Shah and Deepa Gandhi played a significant role in conducting the event. They organizers said the SCF's programs empower brilliant stu-

dents in India who have received over 75% marks in 12th grade, acquired admissions in science stream but family income cannot afford the college tuition fees. The average cost to educate one student covering tuition, lodging, boarding and supplies is $1,000. SCF supports the students until they graduate with a commitment to maintain good grades throughout the studies. Share & Care currently supports over 350 students and its goal is to enroll 1000 by the end of 2011. Among the guests present at the event were Congressman

Ambassador Dayal urged the audience to continue supporting SCF. "Both India and America have given everyone a lot and it is our responsibility to encourage and support an organization like SCF

Frank Pallone Jr. and Consul General Prabhu Dayal. Ambassador Dayal urged the audience to continue supporting SCF. "Both India and America have given everyone a lot and it is our responsibility to encourage and support an organization like SCF which believes in creating opportunities," he said. Congressman Pallone who has in the past visited projects funded by SCF applauded the hard work of SCF volunteers. "SCF has helped numerous rural villages, but there are many more that they want to reach out to and it is up to

you to help them achieve that goal." Dayal also presented the Awards to SCF's Gold and Platinum donors and sponsors and honored Dr. Sudhir Parikh a member of the SCF Advisory Board. SCF also held a fundraising event in Harleysville, PA on Oct 10 where more than 250 supporters attended. SCF was formed in 1982 with a mission to enhance the quality of lives of underprivileged women and children by supporting programs in the fields of primary healthcare and education.

Vibrant colors and dances mark Navaratri Mahotsav ASIAN MEDIA USA

CHICAGO: A premiere ethnic Gujarati organization in Chicagoland, Gujarat Cultural Association (GCA) kept up its date with the Navaratri Mahotsav. Attendance by hundreds of Gujarati families and Indians dressed in vibrant and colorful Indian attire made the event a grand success. The festivities starting around 8 pm lasted till midnight. The first half of the event was Garba and the second was Dandia. There were many sections of both which gave everyone an opportunity to participate. There were also bleachers available for those who wanted to

Young ladies ready for Raas

The festivities starting around 8 pm lasted till midnight. The first half of the event was Garba and the second was Dandia. There were many sections of both which gave everyone an opportunity to participate Kids dressed up for Garba

Gujarati Cultural Association office bearers and guests at the Raas Garba event

take a break or just watch the dancing. The event concluded with aarti that was conducted by the sponsors. Prasad was distributed to everyone present. The acclaimed Bansari Group gave terrific music support for the night. The group is run by singers Indravadan Tripathi and Jignesh Pathak and drummer Mahesh Patel. It is a family affair as Jignesh's wife, the talented Mrudula Pathak, adds the feminine voice to the male ensemble. Jignesh and Mrudula's children help out as well. GCA is one of the oldest Indian organizations in the area. It

was founded in 1973 and has over 400 families as members. Its current President is Girish Patel while Kanti Patel is chairman, Shaurin Mehta secretary, Dinesh Patel treasurer and Geeta Bhatt Cultural coordinator. Chairman Kanti Patel reflected on the 25 years that the organization has been hosting Navaratri celebrations for the community. He recognized the importance of people coming together to celebrate the religious tradition. He aims to unite the 8-9 active Gujarati associations in the area next year to hold a weekend of combined Navaratri celebrations.

October 29, 2010

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Children's Hope gala raises $250,000 Cont’d from page 15

They stopped to get their portraits taken at the R.K. Studios in front of a giant image of the Gateway of India, before acquiring bargains in everything from jewelry to crafts to candy at Chor Bazaar. The cocktail area was transformed into Chowpatty, with all the spicy delights from frankies to chaat papri. The giant cutouts of Bollywood films and of Mumbai landmarks coupled with the creative table décor made the evening in Mumbai a sparkling one. Dr. Dina Pahlajani, president of Children's Hope India, spoke evocatively about the work done by Children's Hope India and a powerful photo presentation of children in the 25 projects in different cities made it all come alive. The Sheriff of Mumbai talked about the challenges and the positive transformation in the city, with a population of young people ready for change and civic commitment. The prestigious Lotus Award

Dr.Valavnur Subramanian (left), Dr. Indu Shahani (Sheriff of Mumbai) and Madhu Vuppuluri received the Lotus Award at a Fund raising event for Childrenís Hope India Gala in NYC

was presented to two honorees: Dr. Valavanur Subramanian, Chairman, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital and to Madhu Vuppuluri, President and CEO of Essar Americas Inc. The Making a Difference Award acknowledged

CG Tomar seeks support of community and media Cont’d from page 14

The FIA had the grouse that there was a systematic effort on the part of Attri to sidetrack this august body for "personal" reasons and that this needed to end with the change in stewardship at the Consulate. According to FIA sources, the other matters of concern to the community were also brought to the attention of the new CG. One related to the issuance of passports to Indians here who have overstayed or have not renewed their passports because they lost them. The Indian Consulate takes a stiff stand seeking documents about their status and would not entertain their renewal applications. Hassles about OCI cards, redemption fees for not surrendering the passports, and at time rough handling by the staff of outsourced agency Travasia also figured into the discussion. Ms Tomar told this paper that she listened to their views as essentially the meet was to know each other for healthy interaction. The FIA group consisted of Iftekhar Shareef, Sohan Joshi, Sunny Gabhawala, Keerthi Ravoori, Sohan Joshi, Kanti Patel, Prahlad Patil, Ranjit Ganguly and Babu Patel. It was brought to the attention of the CG Tomar that FIA

celebrates national events like Republic Day and India Day with quite pomp and dignity besides entertaining prominent political, economic and social celebrities from India. It is a link between the community and the concerned Indian authorities here and back home in

The FIA had the grouse that there was a systematic effort on the part of Attri to sidetrack this august body for "personal" reasons and that this needed to end with the change in stewardship at the Consulate India, the group pointed out. Ms. Mukta Dutta Tomar commenced her career at the Indian Consulate here in August 2010. Prior to this, she served as Deputy High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh besides serving at Indian Embassies across the world including in cities such as Paris, Yangon, Kathmandu and Madrid.

the selfless work of Mark Templer, Director of Hope Foundation, Hope Worldwide. The award was

The Spirit of Mumbai awards, which were sponsored by Telebrands International, honored three New Yorkers whose work and passions embody the energy and can-do spirit of Mumbai: Suketu Mehta, author of 'Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found'; Mira Nair, noted filmmaker whose first film 'Salaam Bombay' embodied the city's ethos; and Aroon Shivdasani

sponsored by HSBC Private Bank. The Spirit of Mumbai awards, which were sponsored by Telebrands International, honored three New Yorkers whose work and passions embody the energy and can-do spirit of Mumbai: Suketu Mehta, author of 'Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found'; Mira Nair, noted filmmaker whose first film 'Salaam Bombay' embodied the city's ethos; and Aroon Shivdasani, President of the Indo-American Arts Council which brings the magic of Indian art and culture to New Yorkers. Children's Hope India is a volunteer organization of Indian women professionals in New York that has been raising funds for children's health and education since 1992. It supports over 25 projects across several major cities in India reaching out to over 20,000 children per year.

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Sai Baba Punyatithi at Chicago Mandir Sikhs hold awareness forum for law enforcement agencies S SURUBOTLA

CHICAGO: Shri Sai Baba Punyatithi - 92nd MahaSamadhi day - was observed at Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir Chicago in Aurora on auspicious Vijaya Dasami - Dussehra with utmost devotion. This also happened to be the ninth day in the ninth month of Islamic calendar Baba left his mortal coil October 15, 1918. Two years before this, in 1916, Baba gave an indication of his passing away. On Vijaya Dasami day Baba got into wild rage in the evening when people were returning from 'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or limits of the village). Taking off his head-dress, kafni and langota etc, he tore them and threw them in the Dhuni, the Eternal Fire. Fed by this offering, the fire began to burn brighter and Baba shone still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with his burning red eyes shouted - "You fellows, now have a look and decide finally whether I am a Moslem or a Hindu." Everybody was trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba. After some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly near him and succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round his waist and said -"Baba, what is all this? Today is the Seemollanghan, i.e., Dussehra Holiday." Baba striking the ground with his satka said "This is my Seemollanghan (crossing the border)." Navratri Puja/Maha Samadhi celebrations started at the mandir on October 8. Sai Baba was worshipped as Mother Goddess each day during Navaratri in the from

India Post News Service

Devotees participating in Sai Baba Palki at Aurora during his Mahasamadhi day

of Brahmi, Maheshwari, Gayatri, Vaishnavi, Bala Tripura Sundari, Lalita Trpura Sundari, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati and Chamundi.

Navratri Puja/Maha Samadhi celebrations started at the mandir on October 8. Sai Baba was worshipped as Mother Goddess each day during Navaratri Havan was performed in the morning followed by Samoohika Sahasra Naama Kumkuma archana in the evenings. On the Maha Samadhi/Sri Sai Baba's Punyaththi day, the morning program started with Kakada Aarati followed by Shakti Havan. After Purnahuti,

devotees got the rare opportunity to go up to the altar and offer the 'Jal' at the holy feet of Baba as a part of Astotra Kalasa Abhishek along with their family members. Baba was decorated with all the gaiety fit for the Master of the Universe and Archana was performed. The session concluded with Madhyahna Aarati followed by distribution of Teerth Prasad and Maha Prasad. The evening session started with Sri Satcharitra parayan followed by Dhoop Arati, Palki Seva, Bhiksha Jholi and Seemollanghan. Baba was taken around the Mandir premises in the majestic Palki decorated with flower garlands amidst joyful singing of bhajans and dancing. Bhiksha Jholi was organized during the Palki Seva. Jholi is a cloth bag that is usually hung from the shoulder by those who go for begging in India. It is a well known fact that Shri Sai Baba lived on alms collected from five houses daily in Shirdi. The program concluded with Shej Aarati and Maha Prasad.

NEW YORK: Continuing the series of town hall meetings that are part of the Sikh Awareness initiative in North Carolina, United Sikhs partnered with The United States Attorney's office to host a forum on Sikh Identity and Cultural Awareness Diversity Training for several law enforcement agencies on Sept 29. The forum took place as a result of extensive discussions with the Sikh community, providing a platform to outline some common issues and concerns faced by Sikh community members due to their unique identity. This forum not only educated law enforcement staff but also allowed for an opportunity to collaborate and share ideas regarding community outreach, education and empowerment. The meeting was coordinated by US Attorney, Anne M. Tompkins and District Program Manager, Frederick E. Hudson. In addition, it was attended by 10 representatives from different law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), Mecklenburg County Sheriff, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Anne Tomkins highlighted the importance of such forums in fostering community engagement.

"Smaller forums such as this are more effective in generating a dialogue and planting seeds of knowledge. Local relationship building is one of the most effective ways to make communities safer and vibrant," she said. The 90 minute meeting started with a training video, followed by a presentation on Sikh identity (Kakaars), and civil rights advo-

‘Smaller forums such as this are more effective in generating a dialogue and planting seeds of knowledge. Local relationship building is one of the most effective ways to make communities safer and vibrant’ cacy issues such as hate crimes, school bullying, racial profiling, and mistaken identity. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Daniel Bailey noted that the training video was very effective in educating him about Sikhs and requested additional copies of the video. He also offered to work with the community to show the video to his department including to law enforcement staff in county courts. Cont’d on page 21

Architecture for Tibet's orphanage project breaks ground India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Architecture for Tibet, a New York City-based non-profit organization founded by Brooklyn architect John Ullman, has commenced work on a long-awaited major project: a new Academic Center for the Manjushree Orphanage, located in Tawang, Northeast India, just across the southernmost Himalayan range that divides India from Tibet. "Construction broke ground this summer, and the work will be carried out swiftly," says Ullman. "I know the site circumstances first-hand, and the hard working construction team I am afforded. This is not a small building project, and raising the funds to finish construction will be challenging in these tough and troubled times, but I will never give up on the project for these kids - my brothers and sisters -- and the results will have a lasting impact." Architecture for Tibet's efforts will not only provide a modern, world-class educational environment in Tawang, but will spark new hopes within the hearts and minds of the local people of this remote Himalayan land, as the structure will be a

strong statement of positive development and humanity. To support its lofty goals, AFT will host an Awareness Raiser -- an early evening reception and project presentation, with the hope of generating much-needed funds -- on November 10th at Golden Bridge Yoga's beautiful space in Soho. Manjushree is in Arunachal Pradesh, an isolated state in northeast India, which

benefited other parts of the Tibetan Diaspora. In the region's Tawang Valley, Lama Thupten Phuntsok, a young Buddhist monk, has been exhibiting an abundance of good will by directing the Manjushree Orphanage and Free School to assist the area's needy children. With the aid of a nurturing atmosphere and a modern education, these young people can flourish

Architecture for Tibet's efforts will not only provide a modern, world-class educational environment in Tawang, but will spark new hopes within the hearts and minds of the local people of this remote Himalayan land, as the structure will be a strong statement of positive development and humanity has been a restricted area since the 1962 Sino-India conflict. As a consequence, aid is severely limited -- and today, the locals still live out of bounds to foreign aid groups. The warm-hearted tribal people of the region are essentially disconnected from the global networks of support that have emerged in recent years and have

and become Tawang's future leaders. Ullman, who volunteered at the orphanage in March 2007, teaching basic engineering to the older students, formed AFT to support Manjushree and raise funding for an Academic Center he designed based on the wishes of Lama Thupten. The children presently make due with in-

adequate facilities, but in partnership with the orphanage, this unique capital project can be carried out. "We are pleased to have learned of Lama Thupten Phuntsok's great commitment to the well-being and education of the needy children of this remote region, and that John Ullman's assistance and guidance will bring a suitable learning environment to strengthen the institution's curriculum," says Lobsang Nyandak Zayul, Representative to the Dalai Lama. "By providing excellent teaching facilities, the difficulties Manjushree's teachers face will be lessened, and subsequently life for these children will clearly be greatly enhanced. John Ullman's commitment to the project is absolutely genuine." Lama Thupten Phuntsok says that with the establishment of the Academic Center, the children of Manjushree "will have a suitable place to hone their academic skills. The children will be taught in warm rooms, as the building is designed keeping in mind the region's harsh climate. The children will also experience a quiet library, which will provide the silence they will need for concentration."

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Indian community members meet AG Lisa Madigan MOHAMMAED GHOUSE

NAPERVILLE: Members of Indian American community in Naperville led by Sreenivas Katragadda and Sainath Reddivar met and greeted Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan as part of Gandhi Jayanti Celebrations in this south west Chicago suburb. The event took place at India Harvest Restaurant in Naperville. During her short and busy visit, Madigan addressed the commu-

Tristate Telugu Association and Velu Palani, CEO of DB Professionals. Other important attendees were the Mayor of Naperville George Pradel, Corinne Pierog and Democratic Candidate for Illinois State Senate District 28. Sreenivas Katragadda welcomed the attendees. Introducing Madigan to Indian community, Reddivari said, "Madigan needs

Lisa Madigan (center) with South Asian community members

nity and spoke about social, economic and political issues. Briefly dwelling on her vision of introducing various reforms in the State and highlighting the importance of democratic traditions, she observed that "the importance of Gandhi's efforts for democracy were obvious when I volunteered as a high school teacher in South Africa during the apartheid period." She touched upon other challenges that community faces such as protection from sex offenders and online predators, consumer protection, protecting taxpayers, making healthcare more affordable and creating employment. She concluded by urging the community to get registered and vote for the right candidate. Attended by over 50 prominent community members, the day started with social hour and was followed by 'meet and greet Madigan'. Outstanding members of the community present included Varghese Palamalayil, president, Midwest Malayalee Association of America, Anil Deshpande, president, Vidyaranya Kannada Kuta, Dr. Nagabhushanam Koneru, president, Sri Sai Samsthan of USA, Prem Sharma, co-founder of Apna Ghar, Raj Surti, vice-president of Alcatel-Lucent in Naperville, Ashwin Janakiram, president of Network of Indian Professionals, Chicago chapter and president-elect of Indian American Bar Association, Jagadish Kanuru, president of

no introduction. She has been a steadfast friend and supporter of Indian community since her days as Illinois Senator in the late 90s." The event concluded with vote of thanks by Srilaya Kudaravalli, MS in Clinical Psychology in Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Student dedicates birthday in service of Akshya Patra India Post News Service

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ: Madhumita Parmar a Junior at the Academy of Allied Health Sciences, Scotch Plains recently organized, performed and raised funds for The Akshaya Patra Foundation, one of the world's largest NGO run midday school meal programs that feeds over 1.2 million children in over 8,260 schools through 19 kitchens in

Madhumita, a versatile, singer, dancer and saxophonist decided to celebrate her 16th birthday in a very special way by organizing a fundraising event with the help of her parents and her grandmother eight states in India every day. Madhumita, a versatile, singer, dancer and saxophonist decided to celebrate her 16th birthday in a very special way by organizing a fundraising event with the help of her parents and her grandmother. Upon her recent visit to the Akshaya Patra kitchens in Jaipur,

India, Madhu was deeply touched as she witnessed the whole hearted dedication of its staff as they prepared hot nutritious meals and served the underprivileged children in the area. Madhu decided to be part of this great mission. Akshaya Patra is a public-private partnership and combines good management, innovative

technology and smart engineering to deliver school lunches at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts of the world. It costs $31.50 to feed a child daily for the entire school year.With an average government subsidy of 63 percent, $11.50 feeds a child for an entire year. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 21

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Community Across America Indian Malaysians join Chicago Club dinner

October 29, 2010

www.indiapost.com

MOHAMMED GHOUSE

CHICAGO: The 2010 gala dinner hosted by the Malaysian Chicago Club (MCC) on October 9 at Jumbo House Buffet turned out to be a grand and unique affair. Imagine an event where various vibrant cultures of the largest continent in the world Asia, come together - from Kuchipudi to Karaoke, Kabuki to Kathakali, Feng Shui to Taiko drumming. In such a cultural extravaganza, bright and glitzy items were staged. The events were compered by Yogan Ponnusamy, vice president, MCC and Yin Kean, one of the founding members and past president of MCC. Ponnusamy said that the purpose of the evening was to promote social activities within the Malaysian community here in Chicago, including, working with Americans and Asians from other countries in sharing different cultures and activities. "This is our Annual Gala with performances from Malay Kompang, Chinese Shao Lin Kung Fu and the Indian Bharat Natyam dances, showing the cultures in Malaysia made up of three races, Malays, Chinese and Indians."

Guests at MCC Gala Dinner

The program had raffle presentations, cultural dance performances of China and India and appearances by the Consul Generals of Indonesia and China. It was attended by Gene Lee, Director of Asian American affairs with Mayor Daley, Consul General Beeny Bahanadewa from Indonesia, Tan Sri Roger Bertelson, USA rep. to Malaysia and Monir Choudhry, representative from Embassy of Bangladesh. The cultural program was a fusion of various Asian traditional

The program had raffle presentations, cultural dance performances of China and India and appearances by the Consul Generals of Indonesia and China

Yogan Ponnusamy, vice president, addressing the meet.

dance performances which included Pranavakaram or dance offering, an introductory item in Bharat Natyam repertoire which was choreographed by Vanitha Veeravalli from The Bharatam Group. The item in praise of Lord Ganesha was presented by Avni Dave, Anjaney Maley, Tanvi Kulkarni, Neha Narayan and Satvika Veeravalli. Kannan Varugindra's Krishna's arrival was presented by Annu Mutholam, Sapna Sibu, Maryann Manaparambil and Sutikshna

Veeravalli. Azhagu Deivam on Lord Muruga was presented by Ankitha Nathan, Shreya Narayan, Sathvika Ashok Kumar and Umayal Roja Swarnam. Tillana was presented by Annu Mutholam, Maryann Manaparambil, Sutikshna Veeravalli and Satvika Veeravalli. Chinese Shao Lin Kung Fu was another big attraction of the evening. This martial art shows strength, self-defense, confidence and athletic ability meshed among many styles.

Credit checks affect job chances of many India Post News Service

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public Commission meeting here to hear testimony from representatives of various stakeholder groups as well as social scientists and the Federal Trade Commission on the growing use of credit histories as selection criteria in employment.

"High unemployment has forced an increasing number of people to enter or re-enter the job market," said EEOC Chair Jacqueline A. Berrien. "As a result, an ever increasing number of job applicants and workers are being exposed to employment screening tools, such as credit checks, that could unfairly exclude them from job opportunities. Today's discussion provided im-

portant input into our agency's work to ensure that the workplace is made free of all barriers to equal opportunity." The Commission heard from a diverse set of experts. Chi Chi Wu of the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) expressed grave concerns that the use of credit histories is mushrooming at the time of economic instability for many Americans, noting that the use of credit histories "create[s] a fundamental 'Catch-22' for job applicants," especially during this pe-

employment context can have a disparate impact on a range of protected groups, including people of color, women, and people with disabilities. While the use of credit checks as employment screens increases, Crawford cited studies that show credit history is a poor predictor of job performance. Additionally, she pointed out that many credit reports are riddled with errors or incomplete information, a view that was echoed by Wu of the NCLC, making whatever predictive value they might

Chi Chi Wu of the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) expressed grave concerns that the use of credit histories is mushrooming at the time of economic instability for many Americans riod of high unemployment and high foreclosures, both of which have a negative impact on credit." She observed, "You can't re-establish your credit if you can't get a job, and you can't get a job if you've got bad credit." This view was echoed by several of the witnesses. Sarah Crawford of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Dr. Avis JonesDeWeever from the National Council of Negro Women explained that the use of credit histories in the

have even less reliable. Representatives from the business community-Michael Eastman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Christine V. Walters of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and Pamela Quigley Devata of the law firm Seyfarth Shaw, LLP-told the Commission that the use of credit histories is permissible by law, limited in scope, and predictive in certain situations of reliability. Walters of SHRM said that "13 percent of organizations conduct

credit checks on all job candidates … [and] another 47 percent … consider credit history … for select jobs," but for those employers, "credit histories are but one piece of the puzzle." It is the experience of SHRM member companies that very few utilize credit histories for every single job opening. Devata asserted that the use of credit histories is driven, in part, by the need for background information on potential employees in a current environment when it is difficult to obtain any but the most basic information in job references. However, Dr. Michael Aamodt, an industrial psychologist, said that although there is considerable research that supports the use of credit scores in making consumer decisions, there is little research exploring the implications of using credit checks in the employment context. Given the potential for discriminatory exclusion, he concluded that it would be wise to use an applicant's credit history only within the context of a thorough background check. This meeting was one of several throughout the year that examines barriers to employment and their potential adverse impact on protected groups. The EEOC enforces the nation's laws against employment discrimination.

October 29, 2010

Community Across America

India Post 21

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Student dedicates birthday in service of Akshya Patra Cont’d from page 19

This meal gives these children an incentive to come to school, stay in school and provides them with the necessary nutrients they need to develop their cognitive abilities and focus on learning. The organization sources its food stocks from local markets, thereby reducing costs associated with transportation and food spoilage while supporting the local economy. When Madhu returned to the US she told her parents that she did not want a traditional sweet 16 birthday party. Instead she chose to bring new meaning to her art that she has passionately pursued for many years by dedicating this special milestone for a special cause. Accompanied by live orchestra from India along with guru and mother Suba Ramesh Parmar of Shubanjali School of Performing Arts, Madhu enthralled the audience with her mesmerizing Bharatanatyam performance. The audience gave a standing ovation to her solo performance that lasted for over two hours. The program was attended by 300 community members including NJ General Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula. All the attendees commended her for her commitment to service at such a young age. Madhu, single handedly raised close to $8,781 in funds from her truly sweet 16 birthday dance performance. This amount will help feed 870 under-served children daily for an entire school year. Madhu is very deeply committed to community service and has won several awards, the most recent being the Tamil Nadu Foundation's Youth Award for Excellence in Community Service. In

previous years Madhu has dedicated her programs for various noteworthy causes. Madhumita aspires to become a neurologist and wishes to combine arts and science to heal her patients. In a short time, the Akshaya Patra Foundation has grown to become the largest, and certainly the most innovative, school lunch program in the world. It is a great example of what can be accomplished when the public sector, private sector and the civic society collaborate - a cost effective, scalable solution with high quality service delivery. After reaching its goal of feeding one million children each

Shah discusses India with Michelle Obama A former official of Federation of Indian Association (FIA) Sunil Shah had a chance to talk to the First Lady Ms Michelle Obama at the Standard Club, downtown Chicago and they discussed President Obama's India trip. Shah has invited her to one of the Indian events being organized by local ethnic Indian bodies and her reaction was said to be quite favorable. The event was a fundraiser campaign for Illinois Congressional candidates, Bill Foster, Debbie Halvorson and Daniel Seals. The First Lady led the event that the Democratic Congressional Committee hosted.

Sikhs hold awareness forum for law enforcement agencies Cont’d from page 18

When Madhu returned to the US she told her parents that she did not want a traditional sweet 16 birthday party school day, Akshaya Patra's next milestone is to serve 5 million children daily by 2020 and for this, the organization needs several Madhumitas to come forward and be the catalysts to help reach its ambitious goal.

Amandeep Singh, School Outreach Coordinator for United Sikhs, was encouraged by the gathering in the Forum and stated, "Having several law enforcement agencies in one room gave us an effective collaborative platform for community awareness and outreach". United Sikhs' team raised several issues including those faced by community members at DMV offices, schools, courthouses and airports. Travel experiences and TSA surveys were shared with Sandra Holding, Assistant Federal Security Director for Charlotte Airport. The Sikh advocacy group said it would continue working

with these people and groups. Earlier last month, United Sikhs hosted a focus group session with US Department of Justice (DOJ).

‘Having several law enforcement agencies in one room gave us an effective collaborative platform for community awareness and outreach’ The session was attended by Fred Hudson from the US Attorney's office and Walter Atkinson from the DOJ Community Relations Services

(CRS) department. In addition, eight United Sikhs volunteers from the North and South Carolina area were in attendance. Several collaborative action items and next steps were identified to address key community needs with respect to school education, hate crimes, diversity training, and media relations. Following the meeting, Atkinson said, "The focus group session was great. We were able to have meaningful discussions on the issues, identify solutions, and outline a few strategies for implementation. Fred and I were able to explain the jurisdiction of our respective agencies and what partnership role we can play to help the Sikhs community."

22 India Post

Community/California

October 29, 2010

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AIF Bay Area Gala raises 1.26 million KAVITA ARORA India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The American Indian Foundation (AIF) hosted the 2010 West Coast Awards and Fundraising Gala, Bow Ties and Bangles, on Saturday, October 9, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. The evening attracted over 500 guests including Fortune 500 CEOs as well as other leaders from corporations such as venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, government officials such as the Honorable Consul General of India, Susmita Thomas, media and entertainment. The evening included a cocktail reception, dinner banquet, an awards ceremony followed by dazzling entertainment and dancing. The Gala raised approximately $1.26 million. "Along with big donors, we have young children who share their birthday collections and young entrepreneurs who give us their newly minted money. It's important that we give during these times, because even though we are going through tough times, the economically underprivileged are going through an even tougher time," Lata Krishnan, AIF Vice Chair, told India Post. AIF honored Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Systems, Inc. with the Corporate Leadership Award. "With Adobe Youth Voices our goal is to reach kids growing up today who are unable to compete in the 21st century. We are always trying to find new ways to help underprivileged kids. With AIF, this is our fifth year and we are proud to be part of the Digital Equalizer program. We started working with AIF because

Clinton Fellows Chris Turillo, Bijal Shah, Kristen Anderson, Jessica Sawhney

press themselves and gives them freedom. One of our students recently won an honorable mention in an international film festival, but the biggest impact is that it allows youth to express themselves." AIF honored Chong Moon Lee, Chairman, AmBex Venture Group and Chairman, Nara Bank, with the Philanthropic Leadership Award. Lee, a native of Korea, a TiE charter member and philanthropist, talked about his struggle and ups and downs when he started his career in the US twenty-five years ago and ended with the statement that "life has not been too bad." He thanked AIF for the award and for the ability to serve those in need. Faiz Ali Faiz, a delightful and confident 17-year-old who has been working with AIF since he was in the seventh grade talked about how AIF has helped and supported his academic development. "I learned Microsoft Word, then animation, and now with Adobe Youth Voices, I've worked with media and computer editing. AIF has given me a lot of experi-

ever get. Thank you very much for this." Ethan Veneklasen, Executive Director West Coast, AIF gave Faiz a surprise with a Dell Computer from Dell and Adobe Software. Another part of the AIF program, the Clinton Fellowships en-

Faiz Ali Faiz, a delightful and confident 17-year-old who has been working with AIF since he was in the seventh grade talked about how AIF has helped and supported his academic development able young American professionals to serve for 10 months with various Indian NGOs. Fellows provide technical and intellectual resources to assist their NGOs in

Ethan Veneklasen & Faiz Ali Faiz

Krishnan told India Post, "this year we have 25 fellows. Our goal is to send 100 fellows to India each year." When asked about the requirements of participating in the Clinton Fellowship Program, Lata Krishnan said, "we are looking for at least college grads, some experience and an interest in development, either health or education, and a willingness to learn and be flexible. It's not a vacation. It's a tough 10 months and they are ambassadors of the work that they do." This year, AIF's William J. Clinton Fellowship winners are Chris Turillo, Bijal Shah, Krishten Anderson, and Jessica Sawhney. Kristen Anderson, from the volunteer program who lived and worked in India for 10 months, said, "Working at an education NGO, my most strenuous day was not as bad as a child's day in India. I saw that Ramya worked harder and longer days than me. She got up at 3 am to deliver milk to 30 families. She worked hard and she studied hard and always had a smile on her face." Another

Fundraising Committee Sridhar Iyengar, Sanjay Subhedar, Vinod Dham, Ash Lilani, Diaz Nesamoney, and Ajay Shah; Gala Chair Lata Krishnan awarding the committee

it is one of the best philanthropic organizations in India based out of the US. The relationship has gone really well," Mr. Narayen told India Post. When asked about Adobe's achievements, Narayen told India Post that "it allows kids to ex-

ence and confidence. I've been selected and I'm right here in front of you." Faiz said, "Most of the students in India don't even have computers. AIF has given me a lot and is giving to everyone. This is the best opportunity I can

meeting goals, while developing into young leaders with an informed commitment to leaving positive change in India. Since 2001, AIF has sent approximately 300 fellows to over 115 Indian NGOs. This is the 10th year of the Fellowship in India. Lata

AIF youth from the volunteer program, Sandeep Chahal, said, "I have had the opportunity to see the work of the AIF. It is one of the most effective organizations. It's not about you, it's about everyone else." Lata Krishnan, Vice Chair, AIF,

and CFO, Shah Capital Partners, talked about some of the challenges and achievements with AIF. Krishnan told India Post that "it's a tough fundraising year for both individuals and corporations. Still, we have been able to sustain the program. This year we had a delegation from the White House visit a Digital Equalizer School in Delhi and we are bringing assessment into the program. I'm very excited that young professionals are getting involved in New York and San Francisco, our leading chapters. It's important that kids raised here become involved in global philanthropy," Lata Krishnan reflected. Gala Committee members Mona Shah, Renuka Pullat, Archana Sanghi, Geetika Shukla, Nina Panu, Prameela Bartholomeusz, Shanti Mathan, Priya Vij and Kavita Tankha left no stone unturned in the quality of entertainment, food, and ambiance. AIF's Fundraising Committee members, Sridar Iyengar, Sanjay Subhedar, Vinod Dham, Ash Lilani, Diaz Nesamoney and Ajay Shah met their total fundraising goal of approximately a little over $1.25 million for AIF. Ajay Shah was the leading fundraiser for the evening. The program included a raffle showcase and a live silent auction, followed by cocktail hour and the banquet. Bay Area's leading Standup Comedienne, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan was the Master of Ceremonies. Tatva Dance Company and S&S Dance Company presented a montage of Bollywood and Hollywood Dances through the decades, directed by Beverly Zeiss, Artistic Director, Red Haute and Co. The delectable dinner was prepared under the direction of Executive Chef Anish Potdar of Amber India Restaurant in San Francisco and DJ Salim kept the crowd dancing the night away. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 24

October 29, 2010

Community/California

India Post 23

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Sikhs serve Langar to 500 in Downtown Phoenix DR. JASWANT SINGH SACHDEV

PHOENIX, AZ: Arranged by Gurdwara Sahib, Guru Nanak Dwara of Phoenix, Arizona, the local Sikhs served Langar to five hundred members of Inter-faith community on the evening of October 14. This was the fifth year since Sikh Community, under the auspicious of Guru Nanak Dwara has been performing this Seva for the interfaith in order to disseminate awareness about Sikh faith and Sikh identity. The program was held in Heritage square, downtown Phoenix, at 7th street and Monroe. People belonging to different faiths took part in attending the event. As always, the Langar was prepared and donated free by three Indian restaurants owned by Sikhs members. Those who donated Langar included Harjit Singh Sodhi of Indian Delhi Palace, Sarabjit Singh Pappu of India Oven and Rana Singh Sodhi of Guru Palace. Deliciously prepared, the items included Saag aaloo, Curry, and Naan as well as Salad and bottled water. Several members from Sikh Community including American

Sikhs and Indian Sikhs arrived and were at hand to set up the langar and serve. When the general members started arriving they were requested to take their shoes off. The shoes were kept at the shoearea specifically cordoned off in accordance with the prevalent traditions in Indian Gurdwaras where Sikh children issued tickets and took care of them. The Americans were then asked to sit in rows or Pangats, if they could, and Langar was served in a traditional Sikh way by Sikh volunteers. Those of

The Americans were then asked to sit in rows or Pangats, if they could, and Langar was served in a traditional Sikh way by Sikh volunteers

who could not do so, tables and chairs were made available for them. Sikh members have been fairly active in Inter-faith events. It has, in fact, been a tradition for the local Sikhs to serve Langar in this larger gathering of the Phoenix interfaith community once a year. Prior to serving the Langar, the Chairman of Board of Directors of interfaith group informed the general audience about the Sikh faith and their unique tradition of Langar and

its significance. Once the Langar had been served, several groups of 6-8 people were formed one member from each faith to talk about their faiths and discuss their similarities. The program finished at 8 PM. Those who joined truly enjoyed the Langar and learned about Sikh faith, Sikh identity and their unique tradition of Langar. At the end everybody thanked Sikhs for their selfless service and hoped to have the same event once again come next year.

Community/California

24 India Post

October 29, 2010

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Wedding Store 24 - a unique concept

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LOS ANGELES: Wedding Store 24 originated as the first bridal boutique and event planning retail store situated in the heart of Little India. Created initially to serve as an outlet for both the Indian community and for the vast, eclectic array of Southern California population, Wedding Store 24 stands as the only true locale which provides the client with a one-stop shop opportunity to Envision their special event, Enlist the services of any/all vendors needed to facilitate that special occasion, and Ensure that their dream ceremony comes to life. Wedding Store 24 symbolizes a culmination of several years dedicated toward the wedding and floral industry. With a genuine commitment for establishing a most reputable business that strives to enhance the entire wedding experience for brides and grooms, and simultaneously facilitating an easier, more sound and direct relationship be-

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Being held on the week of Diwali (Saturday October 30), a most joyful and celebratory of days for the Indian community, Wedding Store 24 is certain to withstand and endure throughout the test of time tween vendors and clients, Wedding Store 24 offers that and so much more-all the while embracing a traditional background with a modern flare. As a testament of passion, hard work, and utmost devotion for success in a turmoil filled time, drowned with economic and financial woes, the Grand opening for Wedding Store 24 embodies the true nature for which all cultures and this great country is driven toward. Being held on the week of Diwali (Saturday October 30), a most joyful and celebratory of days for the Indian community, Wedding Store 24 is certain to withstand and endure throughout the test of time, serving as a beacon by which all others are driven toward and preserving that timeless tradition of matrimonial bliss for all brides and grooms. Wedding Store 24 expects to exceed all expectations and go as far as your imagination will take you. Come share "the first day of the rest of your life" with some of the finest vendors in all of LA, alongside City of Artesia Mayor, Tony Lima in Pioneer Plaza at 18516 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA, the heart of little India.

Community/California

October 29, 2010

India Post 25

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Harry Sidhu endorsed Tagore's 150th birth anniversary by Police officers celebrated in California

India Post News Service

ANAHEIM, CA: Police Officers across North Orange County have announced their endorsement of businessman and Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Harry Sidhu in the run-off election for Orange County Supervisor. "Placentia Police Officers are pleased to endorse Harry Sidhu's election for the Office of 4th District Supervisor," said Placentia Police Officer and POA President Randy McWilliams. "Harry Sidhu has a strong record of supporting public safety on the Anaheim City Council. Fullerton Police Officers believe he will bring this same commitment to the Orange County Board of Supervisors," declared Fullerton Police Officer and POA President Barry Coffman. "La Habra Police Officers commend Harry Sidhu for his public safety leadership. He has our strong support," said La Habra Police Officer and POA President Jim Tigner.

"Harry Sidhu has worked tirelessly to put the safety of our city's residents above all else," stated Anaheim Police Officer and POA President Kerry Condon. "The working men and women of the Anaheim Police Officers Association are deeply appreciative of Harry's efforts and support. We take great pride in endorsing his election to the Office of County Supervisor." "I am humbled to receive the support of the men and women who risk their lives very day to keep our families, neighborhoods and schools safe," said Sidhu. "This election, voters have a clear choice on the issue of public safety," continued Sidhu. "My opponent is a criminal defense lawyer who recently cast the deciding vote AGAINST a county ordinance that would have stopped marijuana shops from being located in unincorporated residential areas of Orange County. As our next Supervisor, I will bring a much tougher crime fighting approach to the County Board."

AIF Bay Area Gala raises 1.26 million

Shantanu Narayen and Lata Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 22

AIF, based in New York and California in the US and New Delhi and Bangalore in India is the largest US based Diaspora philanthropy organization focused on India. Overall, AIF has benefited more than 1 million people by investing in and partnering with over 115 Indian

NGOs to bring scalable and sustainable programs. AIF has eight chapters in major metropolitan areas in the US along with five core programs, Digital Equalizer (DE), Learning and Migration Program (LAMP), MarketAligned Skills Training (MAST), and Rickshaw Singh. Kavita Arora is Anchor & Co-Producer of Sitaarre TV

ASM A. AWAL

LOS ANGELES, CA: The 150th birth anniversary of the "Viswa Kavi" Rabindranath Tagore (18611941), the architect of Bengali literature was celebrated from September 24 to October 3 at different venues of Southern California. Tagore was a famous poet, an artist, philosopher and above all a great teacher. He was awarded Nobel Prize in Literature for 'Gitanjali' in 1913. The Festival started with the photographic exhibition of Tagore's life at Loyola Marymount University and the opening speech of Dr. Pratapaditya Pal, Art Historian and Padma Sri awardee. Discussion on Tagore took place at the Gujarati celebration of Tagore's legacy at CSU Long Beach which was sponsored by Yadunandan Center. The film festival was celebrated at Korn Hall, UCLA. Talks on Rabindranath's influence on Satyajit Ray were discussed by Prof. Dilip Basu and others. A screening of documentary on the Viswa Kavi by Satyajit Ray was included. The play 'Kabuliwala' was staged in Gujarati at the Jain Center of Buena Park. Remarkable performances were held from at Loyola Marymount University and CSU Long Beach. Tagore's works including music, dance and exploring his relationship with Mahatma Gandhi were presented at De Neve Auditorium UCLA. Saturday October 2nd was the busiest day of this festival. The day started with the conference to assess the great poet's contemporary global relevance at the Hilton Hall. The most memorable performance of the day was at St. Robert's Hall Loyola Marymount University. In the first part of the program, Rabindra Sangeet singers Sapratik Das, Jayati Ghosh, Pubali Mukherjee and Averee Chaury presented popular Rabindra Sangeets like "Jodi tor

Chandalika dance drama

dak shunay keu na ashey tobay akla chalo ray". It was also the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. While recollecting the memories of Gandhi-Tagore personal relationship, the speakers referred to different occasions of their personal correspondences and

Organizers of the Festival

meetings including Gandhiji's visit to Shantiniketan. The common area of their thoughts, principles and works on human cause were similar though their style of expression were different. The speakers cherished that Rabindranath believed in acquiring strength and self-confidence in the struggle of human life which he exposed in his writings while Gandhi called for acquiring strength by peace and unity among people irrespective of caste, color, religion and language for common goal of human rights. In the last part of the program the renowned dance drama

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Chandalika of Tagore was staged through dances and songs by Anita Mallick, Sagarika Roy, Kobita Chatterjee, Prosanta Chatterjee and other artists. It was a wonderful performance. The parts played by the young girl in the role of Prakrithi (Chandalika), her mother and also the Buddhist Monk were appreciated. In the drama, it appeared that a real picture of the then Indian social happenings were exposed where it was taught that "All men are equal in the eye of God" and "Love among human beings is more powerful than anything else." Sunday 3rd October, the final day of the festival included talks and recitations by Prof. Fakrul Alam of Dhaka University, performances by Averee Chowdhury and "Gitanjali" verses in English translation arranged for piano by Walter Arlen. Rabindra Sangeet and variety performances by distinguished artists at Murphy Hall and Marsee Hall were the closing program of the festival. Avadesh and Uma Agarwal Navin and Pratima Doshi were the grand sponsors and UCLA, Loyola Marymount University, California State University of Long Beach, Shah Foundation and Yadunandan Center were the institutional co-sponsors of this great festival.

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26 India Post

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Realty Tidbits

Sunteck announces luxury residential tower

Real Estate

unteck Realty, one of Mumbai's premium based real estate developer, has announced the launch of a brand new luxury residential tower - Signia High. Located in the heart of Borivali (East), the highly acclaimed Signia High project is set to redefine high end living for the residents of western suburbs. Signia High is an exclusive and unique edifice comprising of 96 lavishly planned apartments and sky villas which are incomparable in beauty and elegance. The high end lifestyle amenities and world class designs offer all the essentials of gracious living and selfcontained luxury for the residents.

Peninsula to develop coastal township

eninsula Land Ltd., an Indian real- estate developer backed by Franklin Templeton Investments, and Samira Habitats, a Mumbai builder, will develop a coastal township near the city to tap demand from the nation's wealthy. Peninsula and Samira will build the township in Alibaug, about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Mumbai. Three fourths of the project will consist of luxury residential villas and condominiums, the companies said in a joint statement. Demand for luxury apartments in India is rising as record overseas fund inflows drive Indian stocks to a 2 1/2 year high boosting the ranks of the affluent in Asia's third-biggest economy.

Premium residential project at Dahisar

eading realty player, the MAN Group, has said that it has launched its premium residential project near the Dahisar checknaka, called MAN Opus. The project that comprises 23-storied six towers along with separate parking facilities for each is expected to set a new benchmark in privileged living, a press release issued here stated. The project is located on the Western Express Highway near suburban Dahisar check naka. It is also in very close proximity to Dahisar and suburban Mira Road railway stations (3-kilometres each) and within the range of 25minutes from the domestic and international airports.

28 India Post

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October 29, 2010

Ajmera to invest $130 million in Bahrain

ahrain Bay Development BSC, the $2.5 bn landmark waterfront community on the north shore of Manama, has announced that its Indian Third Party Developer, the Ajmera Mayfair consortium, intends to invest up to $130 million in residential development within Bahrain Bay. "The Ajmera Mayfair Group are making great progress on their ambitious project, which will form an important part of Bahrain Bay when it is completed.

Commercial realty heading towards renewed growth A

s negative factors impact ing the commercial realty segment fade away, it could well be an indication that the sector is set for renewed growth. If we consider that fewer negative factors implies a positive scenario, then, the commercial real estate sector in the country could well be on the verge of a comeback. It is widely believed that 2010 will be the year, when commercial real estate bounces back. According to various reports by global property consultants, the segment had ended 2009 with a 29 per cent decline in space absorption, as compared to the previous year (2008). The total absorption of commercial space across major Indian cities stood at 26.3 million sq ft in 2009, as against 37 million sq ft in 2008. This dip was primarily because of a conservative leasing approach, adopted by the IT/ITeS sector. This sector accounts for a major-

ity of the commercial office space taken up (estimated at 60 per cent), in the country. This year (2010) has been different, wherein the decline has slowed to almost zero and new projects have been announced. The outlook, for 2010, is posi-

dian corporates had been cautious about their expansion plans, in 2009, because of the recession and also because of falling office space rentals. Most micro-markets across the country witnessed 1525 per cent decline in rentals in 2009, as compared to 2008. How-

‘Corporates, too, are realising this. This is the right time to buy or lease property, as rentals and capital values are still at their lowest,’ maintains Puri tive. The gradual economic recovery has meant that the demand for office space has increased in the second half of 2010, say experts. Across India, about 4.6 million sq ft of pre-commitments for space, due to be absorbed over 20102011, have been logged. Industry experts add that In-

ever, in 2010, we are witnessing stabilisation and in some locations, even an upward movement. The last quarter (Q3) has seen rentals stabilising, except in a few locations where there is a perceived oversupply. Though 2009 saw a drop in expected supply, major cities re-

corded 51.8 million sq ft of new office space supply and it is expected that the figures, in 2010, will be better. With corporates once again beginning to lease large spaces, this new supply is expected to be absorbed, by Q2, 2011. "Clients are starting to talk positive," says commercial real estate consultant, Prashant Puri. Industry experts see a revival of rentals across all markets in the second half of 2010. "Corporates, too, are realising this. This is the right time to buy or lease property, as rentals and capital values are still at their lowest," maintains Puri. On the developer's side, the positive news is that stalled commercial and office projects are being restarted. "2009 was a tenant's market. In 2010, things have started to turn around. By all indications, by the end of 2010, commercial real estate should bounce back," concludes Puri.

'Slum Free India' scheme gets final shape

PA-II's ambitious program to make the nation slumfree within five years is all set to take off as the housing and urban poverty alleviation ministry has finalised the scheme, and has now sent it to finance ministry for approval. Last year, the government had announced the launch of Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) aimed at making cities slum-free, addressing the problems of slumdwellers and urban poor in a de-

finitive and holistic manner. With the sanctioned budget of Rs 1,270 crore for the current fiscal, the ministry has given final shape to other crucial aspects like financing pattern, contribution of the Centre, states and the model for PPP. Prior to unveiling the scheme, the ministry had asked the state government to chalk out an action plan for slum-free cities, and sanctioned Rs 120 crore for it. Besides,

PE firms focusing on realty again

ith the country's real estate sector starting to look up post downturn, and equity markets scaling new highs, private equity (PE) firms have begun focusing on the property turf yet again. These days they are cherrypicking home and office space assets only. Industry estimates suggests India Inc saw over 150 major deals in the first half of 2010. Of this, a little over 10% were in the real estate sector

alone. The current period has also seen a distinct rise in domestic real estate private equity funds, vis-avis mainly offshore real estate private equity capital in 2006 - early 2008. Real estate consultancy firm, Jones Lang LaSalle chairman & country head Anuj Puri, told ET: "The PE firms expect a return of 20-25 % post tax - which is nearly the same as what they were before the downturn.

slum-free city planning, the states were asked to frame legislation to accord property rights to slumdwellers, and also formulate detailed project reports for the release of funds. The ministry has re-drafted the RAY scheme to focus on upgrading slums, redevelopment, rehabilitation and constructing new houses after factoring in the views of concerned stakeholders, states and the expert committee, which

is headed by Deepak Parekh. The ministry constituted the expert panel to estimate "reliable" urban slumpopulation. As per the committee's findings, around 93.06 million people will live in slums in cities by next year. Faced with funds crunch, the ministry has sought supports of banks, other financial institutions and the real estate sector to use its interest subsidy scheme for construction of houses for urban poor.

ituated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the picturesque Kanha National Park was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's unforgettable classic Jungle Book. The romance of the Kanha National Park has not reduced over time - it is still as beautiful. If one were to point to the middle of India, chances are he will pick out the forests of the Banjar and the Halon valley, the two forming the western and eastern halves of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, which have long been famous for their wide diversity of wildlife. The park was created in 1955 by a special law and, since then, it has dedicated itself to preserving a variety of animal species. Many endangered species have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Coun-

try' is the ideal home for both predator and prey. By far the most striking features of this region are the open grassy meadows, where sighting blackbuck, swamp deer, sambhar and chital is common. And, if one can transcend into time, a barefoot Mowgli would perhaps come padding along the dusty trail, for this is the land of Kipling's Jungle Book.

29 India Post

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Kanha National Park

Inspiration behind Kipling's classic Jungle Book

Cont’d on page 30

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US campaigner in rare autumn Everest summit KATHMANDU: An American polar explorer and four Nepalese guides have become the first mountaineers in four years, to summit Mount Everest during the autumn climbing season, Nepal's government has said. Eric Larsen and his team took advantage of a brief lull in the weather to push for the summit of the world's highest peak on October 15, the tourism ministry said. The successful climb means Larsen has now reached the North and South Poles and Mount

Everest in a single calendar year, a goal he set himself in 2009 with the aim of raising awareness of the impact of global warming. "We made it. The Sherpas and I did it. It's hard to believe," he said from the summit in an audio clip posted on his website, www.ericlarsenexplore.com. There are two climbing seasons for Everest, but most mountaineers favor the spring, when weather conditions on the 8,848metre (29,028-foot) Himalayan peak tend to be more favorable.

Larsen said the group had taken advantage of a three-day window of good weather for their ascent, but he described the weather conditions on their way down the mountain as "brutal" and said he had barely slept in four days. Tourism ministry spokesman Laxman Bhattarai said there were just two expeditions on Everest this season. The other, a Japanese climber attempting a solo ascent, was forced to abandon his attempt due to bad weather. Around 3,000 people have

climbed Everest, which straddles Nepal and China, since it was first conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Some 250 people made it to the summit from the more popular south side in Nepal during this year's spring climbing season, which begins in late April and ends in late May, mountaineering officials have said. -AFP

Mount Everest

Kanha National Park: Inspiration behind Kipling's classic Jungle Book

Cont’d from page 29

Best time to visit: April to June and November to January. The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are hot and humid with a maximum and minimum temperature of 40.6°C and 23.9°C. Winters are pleasant with an average maximum and minimum temperature of 23.9°C and 11.1°C, respectively. The annual average rainfall is 152 cm. The park is closed from July to mid-November during monsoon. Tourist attractions The main wildlife attractions in the park are tiger, bison, gaur, sambhar, chital, barasingha, barking deer, black deer, black buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, pea fowl, hare, monkey, mongoose, tiger, and leopard.

The bird species in the park include storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, partridges, quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, papihas, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly catchers. However, if one animal species were to represent Kanha, it would probably be the barasingha, or the swamp deer. The barasinghas at Kanha are unique, being the hard ground variety, which populate the large open tracts of grass amidst the forests of teak and bamboo. Twenty years ago, the barasingha was faced with extinction but some desperate measures including the fencing-off of some animals helped save them and

again the air in Kanha bugles with their rutting calls. The open meadows during the

However, if one animal species were to represent Kanha, it would probably be the barasingha, or the swamp deer. The barasinghas at Kanha are unique, being the hard ground variety, which populate the large open tracts of grass amidst the forests of teak and bamboo cold winter months are usually teeming with barasinghas and

there is plenty of tiger activity around the fringes. A female with two small cubs would circle around at least two or three times during the day and the swamp deer would go berserk, their husky alarm calls ringing through the jungle. Far from being the cunning, smart aleck, portrayed in Disney's adaptation of the Jungle Book, the real "Sher Khan" is true blueblooded royalty. There is a museum at Kanha depicting attributes and activities of the park and tribal culture. It is closed every Wednesday. Places around: Near Kanha National Park is Bamni Dadar visited by every tourist who comes to the national park. This place is also known as the sunset point. The Kanha National Park is at it scenic best at this point. The sunset from this spot is mesmerizing.

The eminent natural splendor of the park comes to the fore here. The grazing sambhar, barking deer, gaurs, and other animals make the ambience magical. How to reach Air - Nagpur (266 km) is the nearest airport. It is connected by Indian Airlines flights with Mumbai. Rail -Jabalpur (175 km) is the convenient railhead to visit Kanha. Road - Kanha National Park is connected by road with Jabalpur (175 km), Khajuraho (445 km), Nagpur (266 km), Mukki (25 km), and Raipur (219 km). Local transport - The Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) operates a jeep service for visitors to go around in the park. Booking can be made through the Manager, MPSTDC, Log Huts, Kisli.

October 29, 2010

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Tourism hit hard by monsoons in Uttarakhand DEHRA DUN: The tourism sector in Uttarakhand which bore the brunt of the heavy rains during the monsoon, is yet to recover from the loss incurred during that period. S P Kochar, President of Uttarakhand Hotel Association, said that the rains had caused huge losses to the hotel industry in the state. The occupancy rate has fallen sharply from 80 per cent to 10-20 per cent in most of the hotels, he said. The Chardham yatra, the mainstay of Garhwal's economy, has also come to a halt due to

heavy landslides in the region. Roads continue to remain blocked there. Hotels in Uttarakashi district, therefore, have been hit hard by the disruption of the yatra this season. "We are not getting any fresh booking," said a hotelier from Uttarkashi. The tourist rush has also been hit badly at hill resorts of Mussoorie and Nainital. The rafting circuit comprising nearly 109 companies, which operate between the 70-km stretch of Devprayag and Muni-Ki-Reti, has

failed to take off mainly due to differences between the government and companies over licensing issue. Most of the trekking activities have also been affected especially due to avalanches in the higher reaches. The occupancy rate in the state-run tourist rest houses and forest rest houses has also come down drastically. Adding to the woes, the monsoon may delay the reopening of Corbett and Rajaji national parks this season as repair work will take a longer time than expected. -PTI

75,000 foreign tourist arrivals during Games NEW DELHI: Over 75,000 foreign tourists arrived in the national capital during the Commonwealth Games, almost 25 per cent short of the projected figure by the Government earlier. According to the Tourism Ministry's data, the foreign tourist arrivals at Delhi airport during October 1 to 14 stood at 75,606. The ministry had earlier projected that about one lakh foreign tourists would visit the capital during the Games.

"The bad publicity coupled with security threat perception before the Games affected the arrivals of tourists," sources in the ministry said. On an average about 5,000 to 6,000 foreign tourists arrived daily at Delhi airport during the Games. While 7,527 foreign tourists landed at Delhi airport on October 2, maximum during the Games, the arrivals decreased to 4,520 on October 5, according to the data. -PTI

AirAsia to launch direct Bangkok, Kolkata, Delhi flights KOLKATA: Low-cost carrier AirAsia has said it will begin direct flights to Kolkata and Delhi from Bangkok from December 1 with low introductory fares. The airline offered a one way fare of Rs 2,500 inclusive of tax between Bangkok and Kolkata and Rs 4,500 one-way inclusive of tax between Bangkok and Delhi. The flights will be operated by the Airbus A-320 offering all first class at a very low fare, AirAsia

CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said. He hoped that the airline will achieve 80 to 85 per cent PLF. The airline will operate daily flights between Bangkok and Kolkata and between Bangkok and Delhi on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, The airline already operates flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kolkata thrice a week. To a question, he said that the airline planned to operate flights

from Phuket to Kolkata and Mumbai next. Bijleveld said that over six lakh people from India visited Thailand in 2009 contributing over 16 billion Baht to the Thai economy. Quoting details provided by Thai Tourism Authority, he said that statistics during January to August 2010 showed an increase of 20 per cent in visitors from India compared to last year. -PTI

Govt sanctions 114 infrastructure projects for JK SRINAGAR: The Central government has sanctioned over 110 infrastructure development projects in Jammu and Kashmir for promotion of tourism industry, hit hard by over two decade long militancy in the state, officials said here. "As many as 114 infrastructure development projects at a cost of nearly Rs 260 crore have been sanctioned by the Union ministry of tourism from 2002 to March 2010 for the promotion of tourism in the state," they said. Out of 114 projects sanctioned by the Central ministry, they said 27 projects have been prioritized by the ministry for sanction during 2010-11 at a cost of Rs 116.58 crore. Three mega projects - one each for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have been identified for sanction

during 2010-2011, they said, adding Rs 50 crore have been sanctioned for the project in Kashmir

Out of 114 projects sanctioned by the Central ministry, they said 27 projects have been prioritized by the ministry for sanction during 2010-11 at a cost of Rs 116.58 crore and Rs 25 crore each would be utilized in the projects for Jammu and Ladakh regions. The tourism industry in the val-

ley was hit hard by over two-decade long turmoil. However, the tourism sector witnessed growth after 2002 when militancy began to decline. But the tourist season over the last three years has been continuously marred by unrest that has seen the valley shut for three consecutive summers. The tourists fled the valley at the peak of the season in 2008 following the Amarnath land row agitation and again shunned the breathtaking tourist destinations here the following year when the death of two women in Shopian district of south Kashmir brought the locals on the streets. The valley again witnessed near empty hotels for last four months as widespread protests over killing of civilians brought the entire valley to a standstill. -PTI

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Saude Bazi: Aakrosh (New) 2 Dil Kashi: A Flat

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October 29, 2010

Tumse Kya Kehna: Dus Tola

Pagal Anukan : Robot

5 Cry Cry: Jhootha Hi Sahi 6 Tujhe Bhula Diya: Anjaana Anjaani

alaika Arora Khan is not an actor, never mind the odd itsy-bitsy role in the odd forgettable film. Yet she has lasted in the film industry for over a decade. "I'm pretty much peripheral in terms of Bollywood, but yet in a way, because of the family I am married into, and my songs, I am Bollywood," she says. She is, rather, Bollywood's Shakira of item numbers, the Item No. 1. A 35-year-old mother of a sevenyear-old son, and still the stuff of male fantasy: when she teases a small town in Uttar Pradesh to distraction as Munni in Dabangg, the front-benchers and multiplex janta both go wild. She is also, by the way, the producer of Dabangg but Malaika will forgive you for letting that fact slip. "With me it's always the songsâ&#x20AC;Ś it's for my item numbers that I'll be part of this country's cinema library." It all started on top of a train. The year was 1998 and the film Mani Ratnam's Dil Se. Malaika did the Chhaiyya Chhaiyya with Shah Rukh Khan and we all know how that turned out.

7 Mere Bina: Crook 8 Luk Chup Jaana: Action Replayy 9 Tuhi Mere Hum Naava: Knock Out 10 Maula Maula: Allah Ke Bandey

Brand new look

I I

n a statement that can hardly qualify as modest, Bipasha Basu has said that it is she who made `being sexy' a trend in Bollywood - a trend that many of her contemporaries followed. "When I entered the film industry, I was called the `unconventional one'. I was the one who showed that being sexy was fine, and other actors eventually followed the trend. The dusky complexion also became a hit, thanks to me. I have carved a niche for myself, and people now take me seriously. "The actor, who was recently part of Salman Khan's Being Human Show in Mumbai with other actors such as Katrina Kaif, Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, says, "It was a fabulous show. It was a great opportunity to meet everyone and work towards a noble cause."

So, is she friends with all of them? "Friend' is a very strong term. To be honest, everyone can't be a friend, but it is great to cordially meet one other once a while." While she hopes Aakrosh works magic at the box office, Bips is also excited about her forthcoming film, Players. "I'm looking forward to all the action I'll be part of, in the film," she says. She is also making sure she spends plenty of time with boyfriend John Abraham who joined her for Durga Puja in Kolkata.

rrfan Khan's reputation for versatility is well known in the film industry. He is one of the few actors who has essayed a wide range of characters, both dark and romantic, with equal panache. And in "Knock Out", where he plays the role of a street-smart investment banker, the target of a nameless foe (Sanjay Dutt) who turns his world upside down, Irrfan has gone a step further by getting himself a brand new look. It's suave, sexy and "very metrosexual" as the actor chooses to describe it. "My role is that of a flamboyant guy and it needed me to sport a metrosexual look. Hence, I got myself a different hairstyle and consequently, a new look. I must say I'm really looking different and I feel it's made a huge difference to my role. Had I stuck to my regular look, I think it wouldn't have made the same impact on my character," says the actor. He adds that though the producers initially weren't keen on him changing his look, they eventually ended up loving what they saw. Flamboyant and Irrfan? That's got to be something new for his fans, isn't it?

Bollywood

October 29, 2010

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ith the BCCI's decision to scrap the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab IPL teams, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty have both been flung into a professional chasm. The off-screen sports career both Bollywood actresses invested so heavily in seems to be crashing, while their on-screen careers have been lim-

ited to guest appearances of late. But, whether this development in the IPL saga will propel the actresses back to home front remains to be seen. Preity's last release was the Salman Khan starrer "Heroes" in 2008. After that, she's only been spotted in two guest appearances in "Main Aur Mrs Khanna" and "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi". Even her

Bizarre stunts B ollywood stars don't just have their own TV shows, they also make special appearances on popular daily and weekly shows - giving their to be-released films publicity and the channel, extra TRPs. And the channels don't mind pulling bizarre stunts to do so. Remember how Ranbir Kapoor got married to Canada-based contestant Rini Chandra on "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar", while he was promoting "Anjaana Anjaani"? Weeks later, Ranbir's mother Neetu Kapoor performed the mooh dikhai rasam for her so-called bahu when she and Rishi appeared on the same show! Rini had said, "Ever since the first promo aired, I've been receiving messages non-stop. I don't know how to react! But the experience has been memorable." Akshay Kumar, who had also appeared in "Sasural Genda Phool" as Sachin Tichkule to promote "Khatta Meetha", was recently seen doing stunts for the grand finale of "Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega". And with films flooding theatres, appearances of stars on TV too have multiplied. Looks like the small screen is offering much more on its platter than the big screen, and for much less money too. But will it be a case of more for less, or a Bollywood overkill?

upcoming movie with Shiney Ahuja "Har Pal" has been awaiting release for a while. The case is almost the same for Shilpa Shetty, who hasn't had a release since "Life In Aâ&#x20AC;Ś Metro" in 2007. Though both have upcoming releases in 2010, these are movies that were shot in 2007! Now, because of the sabbatical, it may get a bit difficult for the

actresses to get back to the screen. Says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "Today everyone wants fresh pairings. Even SRK works with Anushka, Salman with Asin. So, anyway, the thrust is on younger, fresh faces. Shilpa got married to UK-based businessman Raj Kundra, and got into a variety of businesses. Adman Prahlad Kakar thinks that

Preity still has a long way to go in tinsel town. He says, "Fact is, Shilpa wasn't getting roles during this time. Preity is still viable. She may not be a spring chicken, but with the kind of roles that are being written these days, she'll be good for more serious and mature roles for similar scripts. She still has a career here."

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SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: After a series of extremely successful dance programs, including Kalidas' classic work Kumar Sambhav, Sufi Kathak, Raj Nartaki and Rang Rangili Holi among others, Anila Sinha Foundation (ASF) presented a unique program in contemporary Kathak choreography called "6th Element" based on the effect of global warming. Co hosted by the University of Chicago International House and partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council the event was held at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Significantly, it was on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who had a Go-Green concept even during mid thirties and forties. The keynote speaker was Dr. Kathleen Morrison, Director of the Center for International studies and professor of Archeology and Anthropology. The program took the audience through the journey starting from the creation of mankind as Adam and Eve on the planet "Earth"

October 29, 2010

to the current state which is highly technical, and functions at a very fast pace. This has resulted in global warming affecting all mankind - the acute drought and unforeseen heavy rains, frequent earthquakes and tremors, the melting of Arctic ice with rising air temperature resulting from deforestation. The choreography of this production was skillfully done in contemporary Kathak style by Ms Kiran Chouhan, ASF's artistic director and a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj. The artists of ASF Dance Company did an excellent job in overall coordination and presentation. These included Gurmeet Marhas, Medha Bhargaw, Nisha

SPECTACULAR SIXTH ELEMENT Choksi, Charu Jain, Alekya Eyunni, Deepa Devasena. The two male dancers Kamal Gupta and Raj Deshmukh, although new, carried out their role with extreme grace. The program started with the creation of planet Earth and introducing the caveman. Subsequently humans were introduced to "Fire" and it's utility. They learned to live together in villages. Then came the vagaries of modern inventions, city dwelling, growing technology, fast life, deforestation and the effects of all these. This production was a clear massage regarding the effects of global warming so that the mankind takes appropriate and fast steps to counter these before the whole planet is destroyed along with those who live on it.

ASF artists presenting Sixth Element dance Ăą a warning against global warming

This program was a unique production and very effective in giving out the massage of the effects of global warming. The sound and light effects done in India were masterfully coordinated with the actions. It was truly an innovative production.

Shabana dazzles in one-woman show ASIAN MEDIA USA

CHICAGO: On Sunday, October 17, hundreds of theater patrons filled up the auditorium of the Northshore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, a north side suburb of Chicago, to witness a powerful and thought-provoking play, Broken Images starring the legendary Shabana Azmi. The show was presented by Vachikam showcasing the talents of Indian artists Shabana Azmi and Girish Karnad, described as one of the "finest contemporary writers." Alyque Padamsee directed the play and Raell Padamsee produced it. The play examines the complex reality

Shabana not only plays the live Manjula but she also plays the mysterious televised image. The image's true identity is unknown to the audience

of bestselling novelist Manjula Sharma by revealing her mystifying relationship with her physically handicapped younger sister, Malini. The dazzling Shabana plays both roles. It is her first one-woman show. Shabana not only plays the live Manjula but she also plays the mysterious televised image. The image's true identity is unknown to the audience; they do not know if it is Manjula's suppressed conscience, an overactive imagination that aims to expose the hidden uncertainty, or if it is her deceased sister. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 37

Shabana Azmi performing in play Broken Image

October 29, 2010

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Bel Air Festival brings Bollywood to Westwood URMI PATEL

LOS ANGELES: The 2010 Third Annual hopes to reach out to the South Asian InBel-Air Film Festival (BAFF) recently pre- dian community, particularly to support sented 35 world premieres and 12 Los An- their increasing presence in the entertaingeles (L.A.) premieres at the James Bridges ment industry. Theater at the Univer99 is a Hindi film disity of California, Los rected by first time filmAngeles. This indepenmakers Raj Nidimoru dent film festival is recand Krishna DK. The ognized for its internafilm stars Kunal Khemu tional flare; featuring (as Sachin) and Cyrus films from several counBroacha (as Zaramund) tries at one event. Brian as the two main charAustin Green, currently acters who are scam arton "Desperate Houseists running into conwives" and well-known stant bad luck; Sachin's for his role as "David love interest is Soha Ali Silver" on "Beverly Khan (sister of Saif Ali Hills, 90210", was honKhan) and Boman Irani ored with the festival's is the gambler who best actor award for owes everyone money. "Turning Japanese," a The film is set in 99 is a Hindi film dishort film having its L.A. 1999 and showcases all premiere at the festival. rected by first time the events that hapOther winners included filmmakers Raj pened during that time, Kathy Najimy and Mark mainly revolving Nidimoru and Krishna Rydell, who received the around the controverLegendary Filmmaker DK. The film stars Kunal sial India-South Africa Awards; and Salaam Khemu (as Sachin) and cricket betting scandal. Remi, who received the Cyrus Broacha (as Unlike other Hindi Best Music in Film films, 99 offers a differZaramund) as the two Award. ent spin on the tradiEach night focused main characters who tional configuration of on one theme, including are scam artists running Indian films. This film a Film and Panel Lounge favors a kind of natunight, British night, and into constant bad luck ralism; both in its comiComedy night. This cal motif, which is charyear marked a first for the international film acter-based rather than slapstick, and even festival. Sunday, October 17th was the first in its cinematography. The movie received Indian Bollywood night at the Bel Air Film positive reviews from both American and Festival. On this night, the festival fea- Indian press. Look for this funny and entured, 99, a People Production. BAFF tertaining Hindi film now out on DVD.

Far East's ‘Free Wired’ is great fun GRACE TAN & MAGDA MARCELLA

ar East Movement's debut album, "Free Wired," (released on October 12, 2010) is a hip and energetic club-goer's dream. Formed out of the diverse L.A. club culture, "Free Wired" is filled with heavy bass and rap beats, with a sprinkling of European-inspired techno and themes. The lyrics - typically dance club ("pop bottles," "VIP…drinks on me") - are carried by fast-paced, catchy beats that are perfect for a night of dancing at your favorite clubs. With its trance-like beat and featured artist's Dev's sexy voice, the ubiquitous and addictive radio hit "Like a G6" definitely delivers. Its sly reference to the G8 reinforces Far East Movement's diverse influ-

ences, as well as their fan base. A few other tracks are equally catchy, especially the slower, more melodic tracks with singing like "Rocketeer" and "Fighting for Air." The beat driven tracks are strong as well, providing dancers and choreographers with something to pump in their studios with tracks like "So What?" and "Girls on the Dance Floor." "Dance Like Michael Jackson" pays homage to the late King of Pop, both in the lyrics, and sound. The album also impressively features a few big ticket names including Keri Hilson and Snoop Dogg. Bottom line: "Free Wired" is a fun and enjoyable ride. You will want to crank it up to get hyped before going out.

Shabana dazzles in one-woman show Cont’d from page 36

The image, which acts as a confessor, inquisitor and psychologist, is a prerecording and presented Shabana with her greatest acting challenge so far. Shabana was required to film the 44-minute scene in one flawless shot. Furthermore, the image is having a conversation with Shabana's character on stage which makes the timing crucial. The standing ovation and never-ending praise for the performance demonstrated that the legendary Shabana mastered the difficult roles and outdid herself. After the performance, Tushar Parikh presented Shabana Azmi with a bouquet of roses on behalf of Vachikam and the Chicago audience. Ketki Parikh, Founder and President of Vachikam, spoke about the dedicated company and the raving show. Dr. Aparna Dharwadker, a professor of English and theater and drama at the University of Wisconsin, shed scholastic light on Girish Karnad's work. She has had the op-

The audience at Broken Images show (Pics Asian Media USA)

portunity to work with the playwright personally when she wrote an introduction for his collected works. She also addressed the issue of languages that the play brought up and started the intimate Ques-

tion & Answer session with Shabana Azmi in which the legend took questions from the audience. Afterwards, Shabana Azmi met with the ecstatic audience members in the foyer.

Vachikam president Ketki Parikh addressing the patrons

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Euphoria concert in Bay Area

Indian director on Doha festival jury India Post News Service

India Post News Service

HAYWARD, CA: DDHHOOOOMM!! Does the beat sound familiar? "Dhoom Pichak Dhoom" is the chart-busting song from Euphoria, India's leading rock band, slated to perform in the Bay Area on November 20 (Chabot College Theater, Hayward). Lovers of Indian rock music are in for a delectable treat. Dr. Palash Sen and his band will enthrall the audience with their unique blend of music compositions ranging from the foot-tapping hits of "Dhoom Pichak Dhoom" to the soulful melodies of "Maaeri". The timeless music evokes the vivid imagery of a natural landscape, of a moving train, of a woman applying vermilion to her forehead, of village dwellers in a celebratory atmosphere, of life itself. Audi-

ence members risk being led down nostalgia lane to the wistful era of giddy college romance and carefree youthful living. Euphoria blazed the trail with their signature blend of North Indian classical and folk music with modern Western rock music. It was seminal to establishing a rock culture amongst the Indian masses. Their songs were and continue to be a refreshing departure from the well entrenched Indian classical and film music. Euphoria effortlessly mixes the notes from the sitar and the tabla with those from an electric guitar and drums. Lush vocal harmonies complete the landscape - transporting the listener to another world. Euphoria most recently composed the official anthem of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The band is led by the multifaceted Dr.Palash Sen. A pediatrician by learning, a musician in practice, he performs the vocals and is the raison d'ĂŞtre for the band. He is a visionary in the annals of Indian rock music and has collaborated with leading titans in the Indian music industry. He lends his celebrity status to raise awareness to societal woes such as the tragedy of teen suicides. Euphoria, having played to sold out audiences at concerts the world over, is at last scheduled to dazzle in its first ever Bay Area concert. The evening will feature best-sellers from six highly successful music albums and offer a sneak preview to their forthcoming album. All proceeds benefit projects supported by Association for India's Development (AID).

Mahatama Gandhi's Birthday Celebration at City Hall, Montreal, Canada

Two previously unannounced Indian films Rakht Charitra by Ramgopal Verma and Vikramaditya Motwane's Udaan will also have their Qatar premiere at the festival and one new title, Champs Elysees Je t'aime, has been added to the Arab Short Film Competition. Yosra said: "I'm honored to be the first Jury President of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, and I want to thank my fellow jurors Salma, Nick, Danis and Bhavna for joining me. It's a great privilege for me to work with them and I hope that together, we can fulfill the expectations of the filmmakers, and can contribute towards highlighting the Arab Cinema and

DOHA, Qatar: Indian Director Bhavna Talwar (Dharm) has been announced as a jury member of the 2nd annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival's jury. The Festival runs October 26 - 30. She along with three others, under the direction of newly appointed President Egyptian actress Yosra, will choose the winners of the Festival's Arab Film Competition: Best Arab Film and Best Arab Filmmaker (who will each receive monetary awards of US $100,000). Yosra replaces previously announced Jury President Hany Abu-Assad who has had to step back from his role due to a delay in production with his latest film, The Courier, currently shooting on location in Louisiana. Yosra will be joined by four other outstanding and diverse members of the film industry who comprise the inaugural jury prolific Academy Award nominated actress, producer and director Salma Hayek Pinault (Frida, Ugly Betty), English actor, writer, and director Nick Moran (Lock, Stock, and Bhavna Talwar Two Smoking Barrels), Indian director Bhavna Talwar (Dharm) and Bhavna Talwar, the reBosnian screenwriter and nowned and critically acfilm director of the Academy Award winning No claimed National Award Man's Land, Danis winning director, is amongst Tanovic. Bhavna Talwar, the re- the new breed of Indian nowned and critically ac- directors, blending Indian claimed National Award storytelling and sensitivity with winning director, is amongst the new breed of Western technique and style Indian directors, blending Indian storytelling and sensitiv- further encouraging the talent ity with Western technique and from the region." DFI Executive Director style. A Gucci Group Award Nominee at Venice, Bhavna's debut Amanda Palmer said: "We are defilm, Dharm, has received raving lighted Yosra is joining us in Doha reviews from critics and the me- as our first Jury President for dia alike, and was chosen as the DTFF's first Arab Film Competiclosing film at the World Cinema tion. Yosra supported us imSection at the Cannes Film Festi- mensely in our first year as a festival, and in our second year it's val 2007. Additionally, the festival has an honor to welcome this cinalso added seven more feature ematic icon to preside over an infilms to its program - including ternational jury. This jury, Salma Andrew Lau's Legend of the Fist: Hayek Pinault, Nick Moran, Danis The Return of Chen Zhen, John Tanovic, and Bhavna Talwar, truly Curran's Stone starring Robert De understand and reflect Doha's misNiro and Edward Norton, Machete sion to support new talent in the starring Jessica Alba, Danny region, they have the right sensiTrejo and Don Johnson, Casino bilities, perspectives and expertise, Jack starring Kevin Spacey and a and we're looking forward to introspecial IMAX presentation of ducing them to a new generation of talent here in the Middle East." Paranormal Activity 2.

October 29, 2010

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Twin delight for Munna Bhai

ollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and his wife Manyata Dutt became proud parents of a boy and girl. Manyata delivered the babies, a boy and a girl, at the

Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai. Manyata was recently seen at the 'Mata Ki Chowki', function held in the Dutt household, telling those gathered that the twins

WEDDING BELLS

were all set to put their small feet into the world. Sanjay has a daughter named Trisha from his first marriage to late actress Richa Sharma. Trishala lives in the US and has just received her graduation certificate. The 51-year-old actor in one of his recent interviews said things started looking up ever since Manyata had come into his life. Congratulatory messages have started pouring in from the film fraternity for the new arrivals. Amisha Patel, who is a close friend of both Sanjay and Manyata tweeted about the birth of the twins. "At the hospital. Maanayata just delivered. One boy one girl. Congrats to Sanju n maana. Sooo happy for them. Babies n mom both safe," Ameesha wrote on the microblogging site. "Congrats duttsanjay and Manyataa on ur twins..soooo happy (sic)" tweeted Shilpa Shetty.

Pandit Jasraj to perform in San Francisco India Post News Service

LOS ALTOS, CA: The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Art of Living Foundation, an international non-profit that offers stress reduction, meditation and selfdevelopmental programs will host world-renowned classical vocalist and octogenarian Pandit Jasraj for a concert in the SF Bay Area on Saturday November 6. In this rare public appearance,

Pandit Jasraj will lead the concert, Timeless Rhythms allowing classical music lovers, the spirituallyminded and those who enjoy Indian culture to soak in the beauty of the music. The event will take place at the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College from 5:30pm -8:30 pm. Proceeds from the concert will support the Foundation's "StressFree, Violence-Free Society" campaign and the YES! (Youth Empowerment Seminar) program to

support two local schools in the Bay area. Conducted by International Association for Human Values (IAHV), YES! gives students the tools they need to deal with stress, violence, peer pressure, anger and depression - a huge challenge faced by school going children in the US. Pandit Jasraj is a national treasure of India and is a recipient of numerous accolades including Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honor. He has been honored not only by two Presidents of India but also the Harvard University Art Museum amongst others. His soulful voice traverses effortlessly over three octaves putting him in touch with the music of the infinite. Listeners may hear the whisper of the unknown, the stillness of unheard sound in his voice, filling the audience with a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to witness the past, present and future of Indian musical tradition. The event also marks the celebration of legend Jasraj's 80th birthday. Accompanying Pandit Jasraj will be Tripti Mukherjee, Hindustani classical vocalist, Pritam Bhattacharya, Hindustani classical vocalist, Pandit Samir Chatterjee, acclaimed Tabla player, and Vasu Sundarraj, Hindustani classical vocalist.

The American pop star singer, Katy Perry and her comedian fiance, Russell Brand all set to wed in Jaipur, India. They have also rubbished rumors which stated that they are already ĂŤhusband and wifeĂ, after Russell Brand was spotted with a wedding band on his left third finger.

END OF EVIL: Crowds watch an effigy of demon king Ravana, stuffed with fire-crackers, burn on the grounds of Durgiana temple in Amritsar on October 17 in celebration of Dussehra

Tech News Cairn needs approval for selling stake NEW DELHI: Armed with a favorable legal opinion, state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp has upped the ante against Cairn Energy Plc, insisting that the UKbased firm needs its nod before stake sale to Vedanta Resources. ONGC, which partners Cairn Energy's India unit in all its three producing properties and most of its seven exploration acreage, also wants to vet mining giant Vedanta's technical competence before allowing it to take over operations, the state-owned firm said in a letter to Cairn Energy which was released to stock exchanges. -PTI

BSNL announces new schemes for festival season JAIPUR: BSNL Rajasthan Circle has announced new plans and schemes for ongoing festival season, including free SIM cards to its land line customers and new landline connections on zero installation charges. "BSNL land line customers will be given one pre-paid/post paid free mobile sim (CDMA/GSM) in the same number. All calls to the land line number from the SIM will be free. First Recharge coupon of Rs 31 will be required to activate the pre -paid SIM, which will be valid for six months," Rajasthan Circle-BSNL Chief General Manager A K Jain told in a press conference here. -PTI

J&K-PoK biz reaches Rs 300 crore SRINAGAR: The cross-border trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) has completed two years as the trade volume on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route reached nearly Rs 300 crore since October 2008. The trade between the divided parts of the state, which was flagged off by the governor N N Vohra, has grown in terms of volume, value and number of items exchanged through trade facilitation centre at Salamabad in Uri sector of Baramulla district over the past two years. Initially, products grown and manufactured in two parts of the state with value running in just few lakh rupees were exchanged through barter system by the traders but now the weekly trade has reached an average of Rs three crore, official sources said. -PTI

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October 29, 2010

CWG scam: ED closes in on top OC officials NEW DELHI: The ED is closing in on top officials of Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee in connection with alleged foreign exchange violations and are likely to summon them while the Games village builder Emaar- MGF also came under the scanner. As the multi-pronged probe into alleged corruption and financial irregularities in the Games scam gathered momentum, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) seized files relating to various construction works carried out by CPWD and DDA. Cracking the whip, the Government directed confiscation of the Rs.183 crore bank guarantee furnished by Emaar-MGF. -PTI

After Mahindra's $10m, Harvard gets $50m from Tata India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Harvard Business School has received a gift of $50 million from Tata Companies, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, and the Tata Education and Development Trust, philanthropic entities of India's Tata Group. The gift, the largest from an international donor in the School's 102-year history, will fund a new

Management Program -- one of three comprehensive leadership programs offered by HBS Executive Education -- in 1975. He received the School's highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, in 1995. "The Harvard Business School is the preeminent place to be exposed to the world's best thinking on management and leadership, and we are pleased that this gift

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who joined Tata and Dean Nohria for the announcement on the HBS campus, said Tata's generosity would have a global impact academic and residential building on the HBS campus in Boston for participants in the School's broad portfolio of Executive Education programs. The School hopes to break ground for the building, which will be named Tata Hall, next spring. Ratan Tata, the Chairman of Tata Sons Ltd. since 1991, attended the School's Advanced

will support the School's educational mission to mold the next generation of global business leaders," said Tata. President Drew Gilpin Faust added: "Ratan Tata knows firsthand the transformative educational opportunities offered through Harvard Business School's Executive Education programs. Thanks to this generous

Rattan Tata

gift, HBS will be able to expand its already robust offerings in Executive Education, deepening ties with leaders across the country and around the globe." Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria expressed deep appreciation for the Tata Group's extraordinary generosity. "This is an historic gift from a renowned organization revered for its significant economic, civic, and philanthropic impact. The Tata Group is widely respected for integrity and innovation, not just in India -where it produced both the first indigenous car and the $2,000 Tata

Nano automobile -- but in a variety of business lines across several continents, from cars to hotels and from tea to information technology," said Nohria. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who joined Tata and Dean Nohria for the announcement on the HBS campus, said Tata's generosity would have a global impact. "Mr. Tata's gift will create jobs right here in Boston, and the executives who study at HBS will go out into the world as ambassadors of our truly world-class city." Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 41

Ranjini Pillay wins business leadership award India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Ranjini Pillay, Chief Underwriting Officer, Risk Finance, Chartis Insurance is one of six recipients of the Asian Women In Business Leadership Award feted at the group's 15th anniversary gala held Oct 20 in New York. This annual event highlights the tremendous contributions of Asian women as entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. The awardees were selected from hundreds of candidates for their resounding success in the business world and commitment to helping the community. NYC Comptroller, John Liu; NYC Councilmember Margaret Chin; and NYS Assemblywoman Grace Meng attended the event as guest speakers. Born in Nigeria, Pillay grew up

in Italy and was educated in England, Italy and the US. She came to the US in 1984 to study at Co-

Ranjini Pillay

lumbia University, where she ultimately graduated with a Masters of International Affairs. With only

a brief stint at another company, Pillay came to AIG in 1986 where she has remained for the next 24 years, moving up the ladder in progressively more significant positions. In January this year Pillay was promoted to P&C Chief Underwriting Officer, Risk Finance. Asked what advice she would give to women, climbing the corporate ladder, she states, "Be confident in yourself - your abilities and your differences. You don't just need technical skill sets but also need to be sensitive to people, an important attribute to build a team. It is important to be passionate and to love what you do. My best day is when a CEO or a CFO of a company tells me about his business, talks to me about a problem and I go back to

the team and try to solve the problem. You also need a good sense of humor to carry you through the good days and the bad days and to work effectively with your team." Pillay has been involved with a variety of non-profit organizations, including Sakhi, Pratham, Asia Society and the New York South Asian Women's Leadership Forum. AWIB's Leadership Awards have received much critical acclaim, and despite the economic environment, is supported by over 25 corporate sponsors, which attests to their positive experience working with and investing in AWIB. Asian Women In Business is the only nonprofit organization in the country with the primary mission of assisting Asian women entrepreneurs.

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October 29, 2010

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Job visas only for highly skilled, wellpaid foreigners: Govt NEW DELHI: The Government has decided that only highlyskilled foreigners, drawing annual salary of over USD 25,000, would be given employment visas but has lifted the cap on the number of overseas workers that can be engaged in a project. In an order, the Home Ministry nullified a Labor Ministry circular that capped foreign workforce to one per cent of the total strength in a project, with a minimum of five and maximum of 20 people. The removal of the cap is expected to help power and steel projects, among others. "An employment visa is granted to a foreigner if the applicant is a highly skilled and/or qualified professional, who is being engaged or appointed by a company/organization/ industry/

undertaking in India on contract or employment basis," according to the Home Ministry guidelines.

However, this condition of annual floor limit on income will not apply to ethnic cooks, language teachers (other than English), staff working for the Embassy/High Commission concerned in India Besides, the ministry made it clear that employment visa shall not be granted for jobs for which

qualified Indians are available and also for routine, ordinary or secretarial/ clerical jobs. "The foreign national being sponsored for an employment visa in any sector should draw a salary in excess of USD 25,000 per annum," it said. However, this condition of annual floor limit on income will not apply to ethnic cooks, language teachers (other than English), staff working for the Embassy/High Commission concerned in India. The Labor Ministry had ordered that visa applications could be cleared by the Indian missions abroad at their level if the foreign national is skilled and qualified professional, technical experts, senior executives or in managerial positions and those kinds of skills which are not available in India. -PTI

Central panel seeks Jindal Power's reply on green violations NEW DELHI: Jindal Power Ltd will have to wait further to go ahead with its plans of setting up a 2,400 MW thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh with a central green panel seeking its reply on green violations at the site and objections raised by locals. A part of Jindal Group's steel and power empire owned by Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal, JPL had to halt work at the Rs 13,000 crore project in Raigarh after the Environment Ministry in June withdrew terms of reference (ToRs) citing violation of green norms. The private producer is understood to have gone ahead with the construction of the plant as well reducing the project size without taking any of the requisite environmental clearances at the site. As per the ToRs awarded in March, 2009, by the environment ministry, the total area earmarked

for the project was 1041 hectares, of which 350 hectares for the main plant area, 491 ha for ash dyke area, 100 ha for water reservoir and 100 ha for the staff colony. In September, the JPL in a review meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the ministry maintained that after the optimization of project area, the main plant area will be 115 ha, area for ash dyke will be 241 ha instead of 491 ha while there will be no staff colony. But this has not gone down well with a sub-committee set up by the EAC recently which was set up to look into impact of a large number of power plants being set up in Korba, Bilaspur, Raigarh and JangirChampa besides the steel plant and mining activities in these areas. The panel led by environmentalist CR Babu has asked the project proponent whether the area for the main plant area re-

duced from 350 hectares to 115 hectares for 2,400 MW power plant was sufficient. The panel noted that locals have been opposing the project alleging fake documents were submitted to get the clearance to the project which would have adverse impact on nearby crop and fertility. It also noted that the layout for 2,400 MW power plant does not have provision for fabrication and storage area and the coal handling area will be near the steel plant at a distance of 30 km from the power plant and asked the JPL to furnish details regarding area required for the purpose and status of land acquisition. It also took dim view of the fact that the layout of 1000 MW plant had been changed while the area meant for green belt has been encroached upon by reducing it from 122 ha to 85 ha due to proposed facilities for 2400 MW Phase-II. -PTI

After Mahindra's $10m, Harvard gets $50m from Tata Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 40

Tata incidentally equals his donation to Harvard Business School with a similar generous donation he had made to Cornell University in 2008. The Harvard donation comes two years after Tata's company donated $50 million to Cornell, which Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development Charles Phlegar said was the largest international donation in the

University's history. "It was a very big gift and very unique," Phlegar said, noting that Tata had previously made several other, smaller donations to Cornell. The money allowed for the establishment of scholarships for international students and supported agricultural and nutritional projects conducted by Cornell in India. A conglomerate founded in 1868, the Tata Group owns 28 publicly listed enterprises across seven business sectors that have

a combined market capitalization of $80 billion. Ratan Tata was named one of the 30 most respected CEOs in the world by Barron's magazine in 2007, the same year the Tata Group was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. In 2008 he was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People. He has received numerous honorary degrees as well as one of the Government of India's highest civilian awards, the Padma Vibhushan.

UK to cut 500,000 jobs under austerity plan LONDON: In the largest public spending reform since World War II, Britain has announced sweeping changes that are expected to nearly 500,000 public sector jobs losses and perceptions of Prime Minister David Cameron leading a government by thousand cuts. Outlining the 'slash and burn' measures in the House of Commons, Chancellor George Osborne said at least 83 billion pounds need to be saved during the term of the current parliament until 2015 so that along with tax rises, Britain's deficit of 156 billion pounds can be eradicated. Millions of people who were glued to their television screens soon realized that the jobs they were doing would soon be lost. "It is a hard road, but it leads to a better future," Osborne told lawmakers in a long anticipated statement to outline the coalition government's long-term fiscal plans. These included many Indianorigin professionals working at various levels of the economy in Britain, including universities whose funding has taken a major hit. Osborne said: "Today is the day when Britain steps back from the brink, when we confront the bills from a decade of debt. It is a hard road, but it leads to a better future." According to him, the reform plans would restore "sanity to our public finances and stability to our economy". Osborne did not announce cut in British aid to India, but said the Department for International Development will "change the way it delivers in order to achieve maxi-

mum impact with the aid the UK provides, and to further improve transparency and accountability." He, however, announced the closure of aid program in China and Russia so that aid could be focused where it was needed the most. A new Independent Commission on Aid Impact will assess all ODA spending to ensure best value for money and effectiveness in all programs, he said. Osborne' measures will lead to as many as 500,000 public sector jobs losses, severe cuts in welfare

These included many Indian-origin professionals working at various levels of the economy in Britain, including universities whose funding has taken a major hit and many government programs scrapped or suspended halted. In these days of austerity, he said even Queen Elizabeth will need to cut her costs, and announced that the royal household budget will be cut by 14 percent over four years under the plans. Many London-based diplomats in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will lose their jobs under a 24 per cent cut to the foreign ministry's budget. The BBC also took a hit with Osborne announcing that the corporation will henceforth bear all costs of the World Service, which was so far substantially funded by the Foreign Office. -PTI

In Brief Lawsuit challenges immigration enforcement ATLANTA: A potential classaction lawsuit has been filed in federal court in Atlanta over a government program that allows local authorities to enforce federal immigration law. Experts say the lawsuit, filed last week on behalf of three immigrants in Georgia, could be the first to directly challenge the legitimacy of the program, known as 287(g). The lawsuit names various county, state and federal officials and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief. The lawsuit alleges ICE has failed to train, supervise and otherwise oversee sheriff's deputies in Cobb County. It also claims ICE has improperly delegated its power to local authorities. -AP

New immigration measure in 2 Ga. counties ATLANTA: Federal immigration authorities have started sharing biometric information with authorities in two additional Georgia counties to help identify criminal immigrants. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the Homeland Security Department, began sharing the information with Hall and Whitfield counties. ICE says it is part of an initiative, called Secure Communities, which is already in effect in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Muscogee counties. The program allows arrestee fingerprint information to be checked against FBI criminal history records and biometrics-based immigration records kept by the Department of Homeland Security. -AP

Nevada's Angle says immigrant ads not about race LAS VEGAS: U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle says a series of anti-illegal immigrant ads linking rival Sen. Harry Reid to images of sullen, dark-skinned men and a map of Mexico are not anti-Hispanic. A video obtained by The Associated Press shows Angle defending the ads to Hispanic students in Las Vegas. She said she is “not sure” the advertisements feature Hispanics and assured them that the TV spots are about border security. Teacher Isaac Barron says the students were upset over the ads. Several pro-immigrant and Hispanic groups have denounced the spots as race-baiting attacks. -AP

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Tennessee immigrants' rights group presents awards NASHVILLE, Tenn.: The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee presented its Welcoming Tennessee award to Catholic Charities of Tennessee director Bill Sinclair. -AP

October 29, 2010

Home sweet home versus fragrances of new soil W DIVYA SWAMI ATTRI

e have recently shifted from Robbinsville to Princeton within New

Jersey. With all boxes emptied and cupboards filled I gave myself a pat on the back feeling delighted like kindergarteners just after clean-up time at school. It was not a new feat. In fact I worked with dexterity of a professional packer, for it was probably the twenty first house I was settling into within a span of a decade. These moves were spread across three continents and four countries and by now I had learned to pack and unpack the entire house within the shortest given notice and swiftness of an army command. With things quite in control, I settled in for a quieter moment of contemplation to enjoy the new

environs. No sooner than I could appreciate a few things of novelty, an inevitable question popped up and distracted my mind. Like jack in the magic box, it sprang up unexpectedly; and asked me - could we finally call it home?

don't come easy. At some point of time in our respective routes of transition, many immigrants like me have gone through this. As we go transplanting ourselves into a new soil, we seek an inherent desire for some

It was probably the twenty first house I was settling into within a span of a decade. These moves were spread across three continents and four countries and by now I had learned to pack and unpack the entire house within the shortest given notice With each move this question has sprung up in one form or the other and time and again, the answer has remained evasive, like an unsolved puzzle. For people belonging to the category of living in house on wheels, such answers

sort of permanency. Yet this time the calling was stronger, for after years of persistent changes; my heart yearned for more than a modicum of stability. As described beautifully by the author Willa Carther, "the universal

human yearning for something permanent, enduring, without a shadow of change," is what I longed for. Within minutes of engaging in this thought process, a plethora of related questions swarmed upon me. How would it be to live all your life in one place, where the steady pillars of permanence would keep you rooted. How would it feel to visit the grocery store or hair salon that your mother once went? To live in a place where the roads, parks and even trees become a larger part of your life, radiating familiarity and comfort beyond words? Ah! The life of a migrant! With a twinge in the heart, I relied on my imagination to seek answers and couldn't help feeling envious of people who had the prerogative to such stability! Cont’d on page 44

USCIS raises many fees, adds new ones CYRUS D. MEHTA

n a final rule effective Novem ber 23, 2010, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is making changes to its fee structure. Applications or petitions mailed, postmarked, or otherwise filed on or after November 23, 2010, must include the new fees. Among other things, USCIS is raising fees for most immigration benefits by a weighted average of 10 percent, establishing several new fees, and raising the premium processing service fee. An application to replace a green card will cost $365 instead of $290; an immigrant petition for alien worker will cost $580 instead of $475; and an application for employment authorization will cost $380 instead of $340. The premium processing fee will increase from $1,000 to $1,225. There will be a new fee for a civil surgeon designation of $615, and a new fee of $6,230 for an application for a regional center designa-

tion under the EB-5 immigrant investor pilot program. USCIS noted that most EB-5related comments the agency received in response to the proposed rule acknowledged the need for a regional center designation fee. The commenters expressed support for the fee, USCIS said,

Several commenters on the proposed rule expressed concern that USCIS would raise fees during a time when many employmentbased adjustment of status filers are experiencing long waits for their visas. USCIS attributed these long waits to visa retrogression in oversubscribed categories, noting

USCIS said that it confers with DOS monthly on pending visa demand, workload capabilities, and forecasting immigration trends while also noting the need for improvements in processing times, collaborative efforts, and regulatory development. USCIS said it "continues to strive for improved processing times, has committed to improved stakeholder communications with quarterly stakeholder meetings, and will pursue regulatory development when practical."

that some have attributed it to USCIS processing inefficiencies and questioned a fee hike in the face of such delays. Others have attributed the long waits to the mismanagement of the visa allocation and coordination process between USCIS and the Department of State (DOS), and noted that many numerically limited visa numbers have gone unused.

USCIS said the notion that processing inefficiencies contribute to the long wait for visas "appears unfounded," citing an average processing time of four months for an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485. "This timeframe meets the processing goal set forth in the 2008/2009 fee rule," USCIS said, adding that "[s]ignificant improvements have also been made in the visa coordination process between DOS and USCIS." USCIS said that it confers with DOS monthly on pending visa demand, workload capabilities, and forecasting immigration trends. For example, USCIS noted, if its analysis finds a period of low demand in a particular visa preference category, DOS is able to respond by advancing the priority dates rapidly to ensure that all allotted visas will be used in a particular fiscal year. Cont’d on page 44

Immigration Post

October 29, 2010

India Post

www.indiapost.com

Senate candidates spar on immigration FRESNO, Calif.: The two candidates for U.S. Senate staked out conflicting positions on the nation's immigration policy as they rallied voters in the Central Valley, which depends heavily on immigrant labor to bring in much of California's annual harvest. Republican challenger Carly Fiorina blamed Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer for casting the deciding vote to defeat a guestworker program in Congress three years ago. Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, said the nation needs a better guest-worker system to help farmers fill jobs in places like the Central Valley. ``When she cast that vote, she said that immigrants were a source of cheap labor that threatened the American worker. Barbara Boxer has been no friend of Fresno,'' Fiorina said during a campaign stop in the farm-oriented community 175 miles south of Sacra-

mento. ``She has been no friend of the Hispanic community and she has been no friend of the people of California.'' Boxer blamed Republicans in Congress for blocking compre-

Republican challenger Carly Fiorina blamed Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer for casting the deciding vote to defeat a guestworker program in Congress three years ago hensive reform, even though changes were backed by former Republican President George W. Bush. She said she will work to enact a program where illegal im-

migrants could eventually become U.S. citizens if she is elected to a fourth term. ``I'm fighting for comprehensive immigration reform,'' Boxer said after a campaign rally at an active retirement community in Lincoln, 30 miles northwest of the state capital. ``Of course we need border security, but we also need to make sure we have a plan so that people who work hard here...have a pathway to legality. And it would really boost our economy.'' Boxer noted that she is well ahead among Hispanic voters in polls conducted last month. That is evidence, she said, that Hispanic voters know she is fighting for their welfare. The Field Poll found 48 percent of likely Hispanic voters favored Boxer, compared with 29 percent for Fiorina. About a quarter are undecided. -AP

Home sweet home versus fragrances of new soil Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 42

For once uprooted from one's native place the chain of continuity is broken. We may re-establish ourselves quickly in the new land but the broken links will remain, albeit faded but discernible to ourselves. If I were the carver of the path of my life's journey, would I dare to explore any further then the cozy confines of my native place? Probably not. Would I ever regret not doing so? In the long run certainly! For getting the opportunities of experiencing the world outside the cozy cocoon has been a blessing in disguise. It has given me a wonderful chance to explore and understand God's beautiful creations and imaginations around the world.

I cannot simply ignore the quality of nourishment change has brought into our lives. Meandering along what life had to offer, from one bank to another, has been a journey full of enriching insights. The quaint villages of European countries to the new age cities of the US, to the oriental culture of the Middle East to the diversity of the Indian subcontinent , vividly opened up a plethora of hitherto unexplored sights and smells ,customs and religions, varied human interactions and myriad experiences. Without exploring these vistas, my perspective on life would have been myopic, and befriending change would have been nearly impossible. All these changes have taught me to embrace one simple fact; that change is the flow of life and one must accept it with open mind and

right attitude. It is 'the only' constant thing in this world. As author Henry David Thoreau writes "All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant". Where stability matters most is within us, inside our heart and mind. Once we are able to stabilize the internal forces then the external changes become secondary. As I was about to give a final verdict to my probing questions I hear a hurried voice, "Look here honey, you missed out emptying these boxes!" my husband called me from the garage. With the last remaining boxes finally emptied; I neatly fold and stack them in the storage pile instead of quashing them into the recycling bin. Gently reminding myself to be prepared, just in case the invitation to the next move arrives!

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

Former Assistant StateÂ&#x2019;s Attorney

Group pulls Labrador's ranking on immigration BOISE, Idaho: A national group that supports curbs on immigration and called Republican U.S. House hopeful Raul Labrador a ``true reformer'' has since pulled its ranking, citing an ineligible survey. Numbers USA reported that Labrador and his Democratic rival, U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, had

earned the ``true reformer'' label after filling out a survey on immigration, which has become a centerpiece of the race. NumbersUSA director of government relations Rosemary Jenks says Labrador's campaign provided answers to the survey through e-mail, but did not return a signed survey from the candi-

date after several requests. The group requires a signature to verify who filled out the survey. Labrador spokesman Phil Hardy says the campaign was not aware of the error and plans send in the signed survey to restore Labrador's ranking with the group. -AP

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Immigration Post

India Post

October 29, 2010

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USCIS raises many fees, adds new ones Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 42

"USCIS and DOS continue to consider ideas and options to further improve the visa coordination process between the two and reduce the occurrence of visa retrogression or future unused numbers," USCIS said. Some commenters also sug-

gested that USCIS recapture unused visa numbers from recent years as a way to reduce the backlog of pending adjustment of status cases. By recapturing these numbers, they suggested, visa priority cut-off dates would advance, allowing for many new filings and thereby increasing USCIS revenue

without a need to raise fees. USCIS noted, however, that the authority to recapture any unused visa numbers from previous years resides with Congress and is not available to USCIS as an administrative remedy. Moreover, increasing the number of filings concurrently increases the amount of work to be performed, thus consuming the fees generated. "Even if legally possible, this solution would not be practical," USCIS said. Due to the long wait for visa numbers in particular categories, several commenters disagreed with a fee hike because costs would rise for intending immigrants either seeking to maintain their status in the U.S. or receiving ongoing interim benefits while awaiting visa numbers. USCIS noted, however, that U.S. employers may not recoup the costs required to file for a nonimmigrant employee or his or her extension or change of status; thus, the costs are borne by the employer and not the intending immigrant seeking to maintain status. Furthermore, USCIS said, applicants for adjustment of status who request advance parole and employment authorization are exempt from payment of additional fees while their I-485s are pending. USCIS said it acknowledges that employment-based I-485 filers who filed under the old fee structure, before August 18, 2007, must continue to pay fees associated with interim benefits. USCIS noted that it has no control over DOS's allocation of visa numbers or the yearly visa numerical limits established by Congress, but said the agency is "sympathetic to those who have pending adjustment of status applications in categories experiencing extreme visa retrogression." To alleviate the burden, USCIS initiated a policy in June 2008 of a two-year validity period on employment authorization documents for these affected individuals, "effectively reducing ongoing costs for the benefit by an estimated 50 percent." USCIS said it is further adopting a policy whereby "those same affected individuals may receive an advance

parole document with a two-year validity period to further alleviate their filing burdens. The number of filers affected by FY 2007 visa retrogression continues to decline as visa numbers are allocated." One commenter suggested the creation of a variable fee structure depending on the wait for a visa number. USCIS said this would be impractical. A number of commenters re-

USCIS noted, however, that U.S. employers may not recoup the costs required to file for a nonimmigrant employee or his or her extension quested that USCIS offer multiyear employment authorization documents (Forms I-765) and travel documents (Forms I-131). Commenters cited the financial burden of submitting multiple applications for both services while their adjustment of status cases are pending. Some commenters also mentioned the administrative burden created when trying to time the filing of the documents so as not to produce instances of

overlapping validity. USCIS said it "has no interest in artificially limiting the validity periods of these documents," pointing out that in many instances, these validity periods are directly related to the length of the underlying status that created eligibility for the associated benefits. "For example, a permanent resident who remains outside the United States for more than one year may be questioned on his or her return based on the validity of his or her Permanent Resident Card, Form I551," USCIS noted. "If that individual applied for a reentry permit before departure from the foreign country, and the application is granted, then the one-year validity of the Form I-551 is extended to two years." USCIS noted that the current two-year validity of the reentry permit matches this period. Issuing it for a longer validity period "could create confusion and result in some permanent residents remaining abroad for too long and potentially jeopardizing their status. The validity period of a travel document or EAD is generally linked to the validity period of the relating immigration status."

* Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Ga. Rep. Marshall defends stimulus spending SAVANNAH, Ga.: Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall defended corporate bailouts and stimulus spending as necessary to prevent a ``second Great Depression,'' while his Republican rival insisted he supports tough immigration enforcement despite voting against a tax on their wages. Marshall of Macon faces GOP challenger Austin Scott of Ashburn in the Nov. 2 election for middle Georgia's 8th District, one of three congressional races featured in Atlanta debates broadcast statewide by Georgia Public Television. Scott hammered at Marshall's reputation as one of the most conservative House Democrats, saying he's voted for reckless spending in the form of bailouts, $787 billion in stimulus spending and raising the federal debt ceiling. ``You're simply not being honest when you say you're for a balanced budget,'' Scott said. ``The truth of the matter is you are a fiscal liberal.'' Marshall, who's seeking a fourth House term, cited studies by economists showing the

nation's economic woes would have only gotten worse if not for actions taken by Congress. ``Basically had we done nothing at all, we'd be in the second Great Depression,'' Marshall said. The Democrat pressed Scott on his 2006 vote in the Georgia Legislature against a bill to levy a 5 percent tax on illegal workers wiring money back to their home countries. Marshall's campaign has run TV ad quoting a snippet of Scott's floor speech on the wire tax in which he says: ``I've got a moral problem with that.'' ``You've explained it in different ways, but at one point you said that you believed immigration reform ... should be about protecting America, not punishing individuals,'' Marshall said. ``Could you explain what you mean by that?'' Scott said the Georgia measure would have unfairly required Western Union and other money transfer businesses to enforce immigration policies that should be tackled by the federal government. -AP

Horoscope

October 29, 2010

India Post 45

www.indiapost.com

by Pandit Parashar

Oct 29 - Nov 4

ry to think beyond immediate and seek outside opinion before launching any new project. Business will pick up slowly and you will make few new clients. For job seekers the offer will come from distant places only. You may attend a close friends birthday party this week. Value of your stocks will appreciate considerably.

t will be an expensive week. You will be full of energy and enjoy with family and friends and may also visit a holy place. Offers will keep coming but from distant places and you will keep ignoring them. You will be slowly working towards an upcoming trip also. Change of food habits will bring health issues under check.

ou will have a chance to make quick bucks. Idea of investing in a property will cross your mind and you will discuss it with spouse also. You will study some useful material to update your knowledge. Some one in the family will be making plans for a short trip to another state. Keep an eye on blood pressure and food quantity.

onfidence and energy level will be too high. Actions taken in the past will show result now. You will buy some valuable gifts for family. Mind will be relaxed and you may take an extra day off from work. It will be wise to dump profit making stocks and wait for another week. Some one important will call and seek advice.

ou will continue to receive advice from a learned person. Plans are great and will relieve you of lots of tension and extra hours in future. Its a very favorable week for job seekers too. Money invested in the past will start to yield profit now. You may invite few friends at your place. Stocks will bring extra money.

ou may have to sign few legal documents. Money will come but go out fast too. You will make few bold move in career. Some of you may make an offer on a huge deal. Buying any property at this point will be lucky. Get together will be nice as you will get to meet few old friends. You may be in touch with a government agency also.

here will be lots of confusion in mind and will be hard to take the right decision. Money wise looks like a very promising week when you will lay your hands on some extra cash. Do not ask boss for a change as change will not be satisfactory. You will get to spend some quality time with children and some close relatives.

ome one will make a very lucrative offer to start business in partnership. You will buy some nice items for the house and close family members. Too many bills coming in mail this week. You will be invited to a small get together. You will call overseas and enquire about an older family member who is not keeping well lately.

inancial juggling will re duce pressure. Boss may give additional work. There will be big improvement in ongoing overseas projects. You will take a firm stand on an important issue and the opponents will give up quickly. Some one will bring nice gifts for you and the family. A trip will be finalized after minor changes.

big reward or some kind of bonus will be announced by boss. Its a very favorable week for those seeking job or looking for a change. A friend will call to seek your advice. You will need to sign few legal documents also. Do not rush into any relationship and take your time before making any commitment.

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ou will take it easy and enjoy week with family and friends. Deal you were waiting for will be promised. Some of you may start a new venture in association with some like minded people. Pay attention to health issues minor or major. You will get to meet many old friends at the party. Gambling will be rewarding.

ight choice will save you from an ugly situation. Help and advice coming from a learned person. Big financial relief on its way and will become clearly visible now. You may take an extra day off from work to enjoy with family. Children will do better than before. Financial pressure and liabilities will reduce a lot.

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

Datebook

India Post

October 29, 2010

www.indiapost.com

NEW YORK

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

NEW JERSEY

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Fri Oct 29

Sat Oct 30

ï Masters of Indian Music

• Bharatam Dance Showcase 2010

Sat Oct 30

Fri Oct 29 & Sat Oct 30

Venue: Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd Street, NYC, New York Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 212-545-7536

Venue: Oswego East High School, 1525 Harvey Rd., Oswego, Illinois

• Deepotsav 2010

ï Ohlone College Theatre Department presents: A World Premiere of Edward Mast's: The Time Machine: Love Among the Eloi

Sun Nov 7 • Diwali Festival - Ramayan Dance Drama Venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Time: 2pm to 4pm Contact: 516-509-7265

Wed Nov 10 • Tenth Annual MIAAC Film Festival Venue: Paris Theatre, 4 W 58th St, NYC Contact: 212-594-3685

Venue: West Windsor Plainsboro High School NORTH, 90 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey Time: 3pm to 10pm Contact: 732-355-9844

Sat Nov 6 Time: 4pm to 7pm Contact: 630-922-3107

• Dance Competition at Zee Diwali Mela NJ

Sun Oct 31

Venue: Garden State Exhibit Center, 50 Atrium Drive, Somerset, New Jersey, 08873

• 2010 Bridal Expo at India House Banquets Venue: India House Banquets, 1521 W Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, Illinois Time: 8pm Contact: 630-895-5501

Venue: Smith Center at Ohlone College, 43600 Mission Boulevard, Fremont Time: 8pm Contact: (510) 659-6031

• Dr. Pantula Rama - Vocal Venue: Center for Employment Training, 701 Vine Street, San Jose, California Time: 3pm Contact: 408-252-5231

ï Ohlone College Community Band: Fall Concert Directed by Tony Clements

WASHINGTON DC

Upcoming Fri Oct 29 & Mon Nov 1 • Art of Living Yoga and Meditation course at Ashburn Venue: Mills Recreation Center, 43895 Grottoes Drive, Ashburn Village Community, Ashburn, Virginia, 20147 Time: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm Contact: Chitra Ramesh, 703-723-8181

Sun Nov 7

• Gurukul Classes for Children Venue: Sindhu Center, South California Time: 2pm to 4pm Contact: 818-541-1754 & 909-576-1114 Highlights: Children between the ages of 5 and 18. Children will be taught the Fundamentals of Hinduism, Prayers, Shlokas, Bhajans and Values of our culture.

Sat Oct 30 ï Diwali Mela (Festival of Light)

Sun Oct 31

Wed Nov 3

Time: 3:30 pm Contact: Jayesh Mehta, Phone: 732 7673 0118

Every Sat (start from Sat Aug 8)

Venue: Smith Center at Ohlone College, 43600 Mission Boulevard Fremont Time: 7:30pm Contact: 510-659-6031 Highlights: Entering its 33rd Year at Ohlone College, the Ohlone Community Band, directed by Tony Clements, presents the annual Fall Concert. This exciting symphonic band performs a salute to the 200th Anniversary of the birth of P.T. Barnum with Karl King's circus march "Barnum & Bailey's Favorite," as well as other circus and film favorites.

Sat Nov 13

Venue: Reseda high School Ground 18230Kittridge St., Reseda, CA 91335 Time: 4 pm to 10:30 pm Contact: Dinesh Lakhanpal - 818-207-6562 & Prikshat Bhatia - 949-439-0925 Highlights: Rath Yatra, Party after Diwali Mela, Raffle. Organized by Indian Cultural Center .

Sat Oct 30 & Sun Oct 31 • Fun At "Boo At The Zoo"! Venue: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA Time: 10am to 4pm Contact: 323-644-4200 Highlights: The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways.

Wed Nov 3 to Sat Nov 6 • 4th Annual Festival of Lights Red Carpet DIWALI Venue: Tanzore Restaurant & Special Events, 50 North La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA Time: 6pm to 11pm Contact: 818-512-8888

• Diwali Dhamaka - 2010 Venue: Thomas Hart Middle School, 4433 Willow Road, Pleasanton, California Time: 6pm Contact: 925-699-6159

• Ravi Shankar's 90th Birthday Celebration

Sat Nov 20

Venue: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC Time: 8pm to 10pm Contact: (202) 785-9727

Venue: Chabot College Theater, Hayward, California Time: 5pm to 8pm Contact: (415)320-8243

• Euphoria at Roobaroo 2010

Sat Nov 6 ï Concert by classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj Venue Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hill, CA Time: 5:30pm -8:30 pm. Contact: Satinder Grewal, 510-910-6995, satinder.grewal@artofliving.org Highlights: Fundraising concert for a stressfree, violence free society organized by The Art of Living Foundation

Classifieds

October 29, 2010

India Post 47

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MATRIMONIALS

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Philosophy

India Post

October 29, 2010

www.indiapost.com

Page Sponsored by Sahanis YOGI KRISHNA PREM

ealth, wealth, power, happiness, children, service of one's country, service of humanity, all these may be suggested as possible goals of life, but investigation will show that not one of them is capable of being the true goal. Health is clearly inadequate because in the end it is bound to vanish and even the healthiest man must lose his health before he dies. Wealth, it is true, can be retained right up till death but it must inevitably be left behind then. Moreover, the possession of great wealth brings at least as much anxiety as happiness and it is seldom that one comes across a rich man who is happy. The possession of power is no doubt an idea that fascinates many men, but a moment's reflection will suffice to show that it is something which is shared by fire, wind and all sorts of inanimate things while, if it is said that what is meant is consciously directed power, then it must be replied that mere possession of power is not the goal since it has been admitted that the power has to be directed to some other aim. Happiness is a thing which, the more it is sought after, the less it is obtained, and, moreover, he would

SUNYATA (ALFRED SORENSEN)

here is no higher or second Self to search for. You are the "highest" Self. You have only to give up the false idea you have about your Self. Both faith and reason tell you that you are neither the body nor its desires and fears, nor are you the mind with its fanciful ideas, nor the role society and prarabdba compel you to play, the person you are supposed to be. Give up the false, and the true will come into aware consciousness, or conscious awareness. You may say you want to know your Self. You are your Self, our Self, The Self. You cannot be anything but what you are. "To know God is to be God." Is "knowing" separate from "being"? Whatever you can know with your mind is of the mind, not of you, "the spirit." There can be intuitive, spontaneous, spiritual wisdom awareness and integral Grace awareness and tat twam asi ("that thou art"). About your Self, you can only truly say: "I am, I am - Awareness, Life Itself." As a persona, ego and body tool, you are being lived by Life, Self, God. It is the person you imagine your Self to be that suffers - not you. Dissolve it into awareness; it is merely a bundle of memories

be a poor sort of man who could set up his own happiness as a goal when all around him men were suffering. If the having of children is to constitute a goal, then what will be the goal of those children? More children? Again, some will say that service of one's country is the goal of life. But what is meant by a country? Is it the land or is it the people who live on that land? If the former then it is a dead material object and if the latter then it must

the service of humanity is a noble ideal and one which is far superior to any of those that have so far been mentioned but it is by no means entirely satisfactory. For one thing such an ideal is exemplified to a perfect degree in the lives of ants and bees whose whole lives are devoted entirely to the service of their communities. In spite of this, however, we do not feel that either ants or bees are exactly what we should consider ideal beings.

the cessation of sorrow by the destruction of desires and this state they have called the state of mukti or liberation. Freedom we must have as we cannot do anything that is worth doing without it. Man is bound by the fetters of desire, anger and delusion and until he has liberated himself from these bonds, he will be able to accomplish nothing. But when he is free; what then? It is clear that he will then be faced with the same problem, namely, the

Discovering the true aim of life Yogi Krishna Prem

Happiness is a thing which, the more it is sought after, the less it is obtained, and, moreover, he would be a poor sort of man who could set up his own happiness as a goal when all around him men were suffering

be admitted that all the people who live and will live on that land will certainly die and that, as all history shows us, in the end the nation itself will surely cease to exist and its name be known no more. Let us turn then to the service of humanity. and see if that will be any better. It is certainly true that

This exhausts our list but we must also discuss an ideal that has been set forth by some thinkers, the ideal of liberation (mukti). These thinkers, observing that the world is full of sorrows and that the cause of those sorrows is to be found in desire, have urged that the goal of life is to be found in

question of what it is to be the goal of his life. In the end, having exhausted all possibilities, we shall find ourselves forced to the conclusion that the goal of life must lie in establishing some sort of relationship with something that is beyond life.

and habits. From the awareness of the unreal to the awareness of the Real, there is a chasm, which you will easily cross, once you have mastered the art of pure awareness. Dare the existential leap into the Turiya [highest] realm and into the Self radiant, ego-free Sunya Plenum Void. Wu! Your direct, intuitive insight tells you that you "know" your

cannot be your Self, and what you are cannot be described. You can only know your Self by being your Self without any attempt at Self identification and Self description, as in Wuji's childhood. Once you are aware that you are nothing perceivable or conceivable, that whatever appears in the field of consciousness cannot be your Self, you will apply yourself to the eradication of

then complain. When you desire and fear, and identify your Self with your feeling and your mind, you create confusion, sorrow, bondage. When you act and "create" wisdom and Mahakaruna - in affectionate awareness - and remain unattached to your creation, the result is harmony and peace and your Self is graceful, contented at joyous ease and spontaneity,

Person you imagine yourself suffers, not you Nothing exists for you without You being there to experience its existence. (We always have our Self as company) Sunyata (Alfred Sorensen)

Self first. There is unconscious awareness, inherent wisdom and intuitive consciousness in the pre-I ego conscious state. Nothing exists for you without You being there to experience its existence. (We always have our Self as company). You imagine you do not know your Self, because you cannot describe the Self. You can always say, "I know that I am," and you will refute as untrue the statement, "I am not." But whatever can be described

all self identifications as the only way that can take you to a deeper or fuller realization of your Self, The Self. You literally progress in awakening into conscious awareness in your Self by affectionate awareness and affectionate detachment regarding things, events and egojies. You are aware that you are neither the body nor the mind, though aware of both. You create disharmony and

in Self-radiant Silence, wholly innerstanding. But whatever be the creation of your mind, in what way does it reflect on you? It is only your Selfidentification with the mind that makes you happy and unhappy in ego-consciousness. Sri Wuji equates or identifies ego with mind and asks, "The ego-ridden mind and the mind-ridden egoji, what is the difference?" The 110th birth anniversary of Sunyata falls on Oct 27

A Buddha teaches according to the tolerance of his students; Some he urges to refrain from sins, others to do good, Some to rely on dualism, other on non-dualism; And to some he teaches the profound, The terrifying, the practice of enlightenment, Whose essence is emptiness that is compassion -Nagarjuna You are primal awareness. Life is only primal awarenss. Between two thoughts or two perceptions you are. You know moments in your life when a thought completely disappears into silence, but still you are. -Jean Klein Long accustomed to contemplating compassion, I have forgotten all difference between myself and others. -Milarepa Life has no meaning in itself,but only in the meaning we give it. Like the clay in the artists hands, we may convert it into a divine form or merely into a vessel of temporary utility. -Lama Anagarika Govinda Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life. -Wayne Dyer

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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Hindutva versus Hinduism SARAL JHINGRAN

induism is the most difficult religion to define as it does not have a Book, a prophet or a common creed. Consequently, both its supporters and critics can take up any one of its various aspects and present a conception of it that is nowhere near the reality. This is exactly what is being done by the protagonists of Hindutva. First, let us take up the conception of Rama. They project Rama as the sole Deity of Hinduism, a symbol not only of Hinduism, but

The declaration that the spot at which Rama was born is determined by faith is stretching the meaning of faith. Here it should be remembered that the greatest difference between Hinduism and the Semitic religions is that, unlike the latter, Hinduism has no historical beginning. If tomorrow, it could be proved that there was no historical Jesus Christ, Christianity would be destroyed. But if it were proved that Krishna was not a historical person, it would not diminish the Gita's

The makeshift temple in Ayodhya

of nationalism. This is a fantastic assertion. Rama cannot be a symbol of nationalism, because religious faith and nationalism belong to two entirely different conceptual frameworks. Nationalism is a modern conception and is territorial and political in its connotation. Religious faith is a matter of heart, or soul if you wish, and is not related to territory or political sovereignty. More importantly, Rama could not be a symbol of Hinduism even, as the latter has so many gods, and Rama is but one of them, and that too a later entrant in the Hindu pantheon. If at all the votaries of Hindutva want to establish the historicity of Rama, they must depend on Valmiki's Ramayana; and there is no suggestion of Rama's divinity therein. It is in Tulsidas's Ramacharita Manas that Rama is declared divine. But this was written approximately one and a half millennia after Valmiki's Ramayana and cannot be cited to prove Rama's historicity. Second, granting that Rama is probably a historical figure in view of the depth of feelings for his story; also granting that Rama was born in Ayodhya, it is hard to believe that the exact spot of Rama's birth can be pinpointed with accuracy.

authenticity. The same holds true for Rama. Hinduism is Sanatan Dharma, marked by its content, attitudes and values, and not by its historicity. Thirdly, the Hindutva people have destroyed the conception of Rama which the Hindus have worshipped through the ages. Rama

If tomorrow, it could be proved that there was no historical Jesus Christ, Christianity would be destroyed. But if it were proved that Krishna was not a historical person, it would not diminish the Gita's authenticity is maryada purushottam, the embodiment of all Aryan virtues. An extreme dedication to duty, respect for elders, affection for juniors, compassion for all and peace (shanti) characterize him. He hardly ever gets angry and is unwilling to attack anybody unless absolutely necessary. His idols have traditionally portrayed Rama in shanta or abhaya mudra -

with the right hand raised in a gesture of blessing and a beatific smile on his face. Also, traditionally, Rama, like Krishna, is never worshipped alone but always with his consort. The Rama of Hindutva stands alone, with bow held aloft, ready for aggression. Both innovations go against the traditional conception of Rama. Fourthly, there is hardly anything common between traditional Hinduism and Hindutva. Traditional Hinduism worships many gods, and declares that all Gods are but different names of one Supreme Divine Reality. But the ideology of Hindutva seems to declare that there is but one God called Rama, who is the symbol of both Hindusim and Indian nationalism. The core of traditional Hinduism is religious toleration and even ahimsa which, though borrowed from heterodox sects, has been so internalized by Hinduism that it can be safely assumed as belonging to the core of Hinduism. In contrast, Hindutva's central message is aggression and destruction of enemies, real or imagined. Fifthly, Hindutva has distorted the meaning of religious symbols. The project of distributing trishuls is an example. That Shiva has been portrayed holding a trishul does not mean that every Hindu should carry one. Vishnu is portrayed as carrying four things in his handsshanka, chakra, gada, padma, Rama carries a bow and arrow, and Kali is supposed wear a garland of skulls. Does it mean that a Hindu should carry these things? The Hindutva people have randomly picked varied elements from all these traditions to project Hinduism as an aggressive religion, without learning about the intrinsic characters of their Gods. Rama is God of righteousness, compassion; Krishna of Vrindavan is a God of love; Krishna teaches one to do one's duty selflessly; and Shiva is declared Bholenath, a simple-hearted God who is easily appeased. None of this holds value for the Hindutva lot. Hindutva is an attempt at sanitizing Hinduism. The uniqueness of Hinduism lay in its extreme liberalness, toleration and vision of one Divine Reality residing in all. By trying to project Hinduism as a self-assertive, aggressive, and strictly monotheistic religion, Hindutva could destroy it. Courtesy Indian Express

India Post From rich to rich

arvard is one of the richest institutions in the world. And Ratan Tata is one of the world's richest businessmen. When Ratan Tata announces one of the largest donations ($ 50 million) to Harvard, it confirms a trend - money attracts money. It doesn't go where it is needed. If anything, the rich businessmen of the US should be donating to educational institutions in India, which are in great need of funds to set up the right kind of programs and provide facilities to students and teachers. Ratan Tata had last year donated $ 50 million to Cornell University, his alma mater. And he is not the only Indian in this process of the rich giving to rich. Anand Mahindra recently donated $10 million for a humanities centre at Harvard. Earlier this year, the family of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy gave $5.2 million to Harvard for creating the Murthy Classical Library of India. Indeed, several American universities have recently benefited from Indian philanthropy - Cornell, Penn, Stanford, Yale, just to name a few. As pointed out by political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta, endowing a single chair at a top American university costs between $7-15 million. "The intellectual return on that money, properly invested in India, will still be considerably higher. Just to dramatize the point, the total annual budget of India's leading institutions in the realm of culture, whether it is the Sahitya Akademi, or Lalit Kala Akademi, or Sangeet Natak Akademi, is close to what it takes to endow a single chair in the humanities in the US." It is argued in defense that these donations to US universities are for research on subjects related to India and involve giving scholarships to Indian students. Mehta says, "India must move from being a mere consumer of knowledge produced elsewhere to a producer of knowledge. And its self-image needs to be constituted by a confident free-flow of ideas internally. But ironically, just at the juncture at which Indian capital is ready to shape the world, India's sense of itself, its own history and past, its own problems, is even more likely to be shaped by knowledge produced elsewhere." It is agreed that donating in India is ridden with problems. The institutions are not only not autonomous, they are also subject to undue interference and political pressures. Most of them lack detailed plans for absorbing even small amounts of money and even fewer can provide accounting for how they use their money. Mehta says there is a danger we are letting this argument become a selffulfilling one. "The fact is that if resources were available, in the right kind of way talent can be attracted." The culture of the rich spending for the rich is much more widespread. Look at Bollywood, once the favorite of the masses. Now it caters to the upper classes alone making films for NRIs on subjects of interest to them. The protagonists are residents of New York, California or Sydney in Australia. They make enough money by catering to this class. Since money making is the main interest, it doesn't matter if the film fails at the box office as money is recovered through selling music rights and satellite rights. There is a big fuss over the alleged corruption in organizing the Commonwealth Games but notice how easily the large sums of money demanded by the organizing committee were sanctioned by the same very government which has now instituted the probe. Well, the same Cabinet of Manmohan Singh is reluctant to sanction funds for the hungry millions even as wheat rots in uncovered godowns. Or see how easily the MPs of the Indian Parliament approved big raise in salaries for themselves when high prices are hounding the common man!

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