IndiaPost_11-05-2010 by Ghanshyam Bisht

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Dr Ami Bera

'People now have a viable alternative’ Details on page 31

VOL 16, No. 843

November 5, 2010

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OBAMA VISIT FOCUS ON ECONOMIC TIES

WASHINGTON: The economic dimension of the IndoUS ties would be the focus of President Barack Obama's India visit next week as the administration considers it as the most important emerging economic bilateral relationship, the White House said here. "This (India) really is one of the most important emerging economic relationships for the United States, both

multilaterally and bilaterally. We work very closely with India in the context of the G-20," Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman told reporters at a special briefing on India. "And the G-20 was really all about bringing countries like India to the table on global economic issues," he said. Details on page 5

Shabana Azmi

Amazing Shabana thriller raises funds Details on page 30

Amartya Sen honored by Pratham Details on page 35

Yale to help train Indian VCs, deans Details on page 7

Democratic Forum launched in Alameda Details on page 29

Indian e-voting researcher wins US award

See pages 15-28,49-50

Details on page 8

Indian company Venky's buys EPL side

CONTENTS GARLANDS OF AMITY: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak wear garlands at the launch of a district dubbed ìLittle Indiaî in Kuala Lumpur on October 27 and (right) Members of Malaysiaís ethnic Indian community listening to Dr Manmohan Singhís speech. (Details on page 8)

Details on page 14

Bollywood ---------------------- 52-53 Classifieds ------------------------- 59 Community Post -------------- 29-41 Date Book -------------------------- 58

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Edit Page --------------------------- 61

High xenophobic rhetoric in campaigns

This week’s question

Should the US be held accountable for Headley? Last week’s result

Obama trying to please everybody? YES 47%

NO 53%

ndia Post News Service

HealthScience Post --------- 10-12 Horoscope ------------------------- 14

Leading Together (SAALT), on Oct 27. With the midterm elections round the corner, SAALT's report, 'From Macacas to Turban Toppers: The Rise in Xenophobic and Racist Rhetoric in American Political Discourse', documents intolerant remarks made by elected officials and those running for office.

Immigration Post ------------- 56-57

Details on page 7

Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 46-48

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Life Style ----------------------- 42-43 Philosophy ------------------------- 60 Publisherís Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate ------------------------ 13 TechBiz Post ------------------- 54-55

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November 5, 2010

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November 5, 2010

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thought this country was still reeling under severe economic depression; jobless numbers are climbing, people are still losing homes in foreclosures, state and federal funds have been cut for vital school and hospital programs, social security benefits against inflation have been frozen, people in general are hard up for money and well… you get the point I am trying to make about how economically gloomy the general outlook in the country is. And why am I reiterating this point? Because of the crazy amounts of money that have been spent by candidates this election cycle - $4 billion. Yes, four billion dollars, and these are just mid-term elections, not even the general elections. Coming towards the tail end of campaigning - which generally is when it gets the loudest and most visible - a Washington Post report of a Center for Responsive Politics' estimate shows record-breaking spending this election cycle between candidates, parties and outside interest groups. The CRP data shows that House and Senate candidates themselves have reported raising $1.7 billion; the political parties, about $1.1 billion; and outside interest groups, $400 million. What rankles is some of the candidates who have been most vociferous about representing the poor middle class who are struggling to put food on their table, are the ones who could afford to spend hundreds of millions of their own money on campaigning. Another clear pattern indicated by the CPR is some of the biggest donations have come from Wall Street, medical and insurance firms, energy conglomerates and other corporations. No prizes for guessing who these big checks have gone to - the Republicans of course. So let's see how many seats are on the ballot now - all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives; 37 of the 100 US Senate seats; 38 state and territorial governorships, several state legislature seats and other local administrations. Whoever occupies these seats after Election Day (Nov 2) they would not be poorer for those $4 billion, but for that matter, the electorate would not be any richer for having voted for them.

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Mystery lady Ranbir was spotted with a mystery girl, neglecting his friends and showering her with lots of affection.

Cover Story: Economy focus The economic dimension of the Indo-US ties would be the focus of President Barack Obama's India visit next week.

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The itinerary

Obama to stress significance of US-India partnership SRIREKHA CHAKRAVARTY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: President Barack Obama will leave Friday, Nov 5 on his maiden visit to India. The fact that the President will spend three days in India, the longest single foreign visit of his presidency so far, the fact that this follows the first state visit of the Obama presidency by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year, the fact that India is the first stop on a trip to four major Asian Democratic partners - all of that underscores the significance and the potential of US-India partnership. Day 1 in Mumbai Reaching Mumbai on Nov 6, first event that the President will do will be a statement at the Taj Hotel where he's staying, to commemorate the Mumbai terrorist attacks. The Taj, where the President is staying, was a centerpiece of the terrorist attacks in November 2008 in Mumbai. The President, who wanted to take the time to pay his respects to the victims who lost their lives and to sign the guest book there, will also make some brief remarks to an assembled group of people who are connected to those attacks. From that event at the Taj Hotel he'll visit the Gandhi Museum. The example of Gandhi is one that has inspired Americans, inspired African Americans, including Dr. King, and it's very personally important to the President and he is

apparently looking forward to visiting the Gandhi Museum to underscore the shared experiences and shared values between India and the US. From the Gandhi museum, the President's entourage will move on to a business summit that the US-India Business Council has put together.

groups of business people, a group of Indian entrepreneurs who are importing US technology and applying them to the Indian marketplace, and a group of US CEOs, major CEOs, who will have a dialogue with the President about doing business in India and what can be done to expand it. He'll then give a speech to the US-

A carriage owner waits for customers outside the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on October 28. President Barack Obama will be staying at the landmark hotel, which was the focus of the deadly terror attacks in 2008

The President will participate in three events at the business summit. The first is a roundtable with entrepreneurs. The second is a roundtable with some US CEOs where they'll be able to discuss the challenges and opportunities around doing business in India. That day in Mumbai, the President will meet with various

India Business Council-CII-FICCI business summit in Mumbai and talk about the economic relationship and the potential that it has. The speech the President will give that day is kind of the centerpiece of the day, again, focusing this day on the US-India economic relationship, the enormous potential for both countries to ex-

pand growth and opportunity for Americans through that relationship. Day 2 in Mumbai The second day has a number of events that are focused on the future partnership that the US is trying to build with India - a relationship that the US believes is going to be indispensable to shap-

The Taj, where the President is staying, was a centerpiece of the terrorist attacks in November 2008 in Mumbai. The President, will pay his respects to the victims who lost their lives and will sign the guest book there, and make some brief remarks to an assembled group of people connected to those attacks ing the 21st century. The President will begin the day by visiting a local school in Mumbai. Being the festive day of Diwali that day, the President will participate in celebrations around the Diwali holiday at the school that morning. Then he'll go to a town hall with university students, and at

that town hall he will, again, have the opportunity to talk about the future, speaking to young people about the future partnership that the US is trying to build as the two countries take their relationship to a new level. On the margins of that town hall, there will be a couple of roundtable events that will focus on particular areas of partnership that the US and India are pursuing. One is on agriculture and food security. America's partnership with India has been strong having had tremendous success in helping list some of India's people out of poverty through agricultural innovation. The President sees this as an opportunity to talk about that partnership, and also its potential to service our broader food security initiatives in places like Africa, as well as continuing to advance our bilateral cooperation with India. Secondly, furthering his commitment to open government to advance democracy around the world, the President will highlight some of the successful innovations that India has as the world's largest democracy in terms of the ways in which it uses technology and innovation to empower its citizens and civil society. The President's main public event that day is the town hall, which is its own event there in Mumbai. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 6

Obama visit focus on economic ties WASHINGTON: The economic dimension of the Indo-US ties would be the focus of President Barack Obama's India visit next week as the administration considers it as the most important emerging economic bilateral relationship, the White House said here. "This (India) really is one of the most important emerging economic relationships for the United States, both multilaterally and bilaterally. We work very closely with India in the context of the G20," Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman told reporters at a special briefing on India. "And the G-20 was really all about bringing countries like India to the table on global economic issues," he said. He said with 1.2 billion people and an economy expected to grow at 8 per cent over several years,

the US sees India as a potentially very important market for US exports. The US exports have already quadrupled over the last seven years to about USD 17 billion, and service exports have tripled to about USD 10 billion a year. "Indian companies are the second-fastest growing investors in the US and they are creating -they now support about 57,000 jobs here in the US. So it's a great market for US exports. It's a good source of investment for the US. "There are a lot of jobs in the United States tied to both of those things, and that's the reason why the President will be there focusing, on the first day on the economic and commercial relationship," Froman said. In Mumbai, he said, the President will meet various groups of business people -- a group of In-

An employee arranges US president Barack Obama T-shirts for display at a clothing store in Mumbai on October 28

dian entrepreneurs who are importing US technology and applying them to the Indian marketplace, and a group of US CEOs, who will have a dialogue with the president about doing business in India and what can be done to expand it.

"He'll then give a speech to this US-India Business Council, CII business summit in Mumbai and talk about the economic relationship and the potential that it has," he said. Froman, however, said there's no official business delegation

with the President and they would be in India in their own capacity. There will be a meeting in Delhi of US-India CEO Forum, which are a group of CEOs from the US and India who get together regularly and work on projects to strengthen economic cooperation. The major focus of that day will be his message on economics, on increasing exports, supporting jobs back here, and including highlighting some commercial deals that we hope to have consummated by that time. Responding to questions on outsourcing, Froman said one of the major themes that the President is likely to emphasize is that, while that is part of the relationship, India is also a tremendous, potential market, for US exports and a source of investment back in the US. -PTI

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Why Golden Temple is not on the President's itinerary stops to potentially visit including the Golden Temple. "We looked at a broad range in India and so I don't want to kind of get into litigating out places that we're not visiting beyond saying that we usually try to incorporate a cultural stop, cultural outreach into our trips. He (President Obama) has very much enjoyed in the past his opportunity to pay respects to the vast diversity of cultures around the world. In India, you have one of the most dynamic and tolerant and diverse societies in the world and we want to pay tribute to that. And I think that's particularly why, for

SRIREKHA CHAKRAVARTY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: President Obama will not be visiting the Golden Temple, the Sikh holy shrine in Amritsar owing to a very packed three-day schedule in Mumbai and Delhi, and not for any other reason, Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication, told reporters on Oct 27. News reports a couple of weeks ago had suggested that President Obama had cancelled his visit to the Sikh temple because he was likely to be perceived by his detractors back home, as a Muslim since Sikh tradition requires that a scarf be worn to cover the head while inside the temple. Responding to a question if that was the reason for dropping Amritsar from the President's India itinerary, Rhodes, who has been leading the trip planning and has known this trip at every stage of its development, said, "It's (India) a big country where we'd like to do a lot of things. It's an extraordinary country and we can never do as many events as we'd like to do. We send advance teams to far more places than we're ever going to visit." "The schedule that we ended up (with) is the schedule that best advances the purposes and interests of the trip. We've got a very

packed three days in Mumbai and Delhi that speak to those priorities that reach out to the Indian people as well," he further explained. "So we arrived at the schedule we arrived at because we thought it was the best way to have a successful trip. We've visited multiple religious sites - mosques, churches, synagogues - on foreign travel. We'll do so on this trip, probably in Indonesia. So I think that the decision we made was driven by, again, the interests of

time, how to best advance our common interests with India in these three days. And, unfortunately, we're not going to be able to get to get to every place we advanced." Rhodes said that when the trip planners really crunched it Mumbai and Delhi - with a very packed official program, the schedule they arrived at for those two cities filled up the time successfully. At the planning stage, Rhodes said, they had looked at different

Obama to stress significance of US-India partnership Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 5

Moving on to Delhi Moving on to Delhi from Mumbai, the first event that the President will do in Delhi is a cultural stop. He's going to visit Humayan's tomb, which is one of the great cultural marvels in New Delhi. The President felt it was important to give the rich civilization that India has to pay tribute to that through this stop. And then that night, the President and First Lady Michelle Obama will have a private dinner with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan. The President has had a very close personal relationship with Prime Minister Singh from his first meeting in London at the G20. As much as any leader in the world, Prime Minister Singh is somebody who has had a close intellectual connection with the President on a range of issues surrounding economic growth and development, so President Obama is very much

looking forward to this opportunity to have a private dinner with the Prime Minister. Day 2 in Delhi Then the next day in New Delhi is the official program. It will begin with a wreath-laying at Gandhi's Samadhi at Rajghat, another opportunity for the President to pay respects to that huge historical figure in India's as well as world history. Then the President will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Singh. And they'll have a press conference after that bilateral meeting. Throughout the day, the President could have a number of meetings with other Indian officials. And then the main event of this day is the President's address to the Indian parliament that afternoon. The President has been invited by the Indians to speak before their Parliament, and, here he will address the broad range of issues on which the US and India cooperate - political, secu-

rity and economic - and the alignment the US has with the Indians on a number of issues. And then that night is the state dinner. The President will meet with President Pratibha Patil before that dinner, and then he and the First Lady will attend the state dinner. President Obama and the First Lady will spend the night in New Delhi before leaving for Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday, Nov 9. The First Lady's schedule First Lady Michelle Obama will be accompanying President Obama on most events both in Mumbai and Delhi such as the Mumbai town hall, the Diwali celebration and other cultural stops. She is also expected to do a couple of independent events related to education and the empowerment of women and girls. Being their school year, First children, Sasha and Malia, are not joining the President and the First Lady.

instance, we wanted to have an event where we could celebrate in some fashion Diwali with Indian young people, and why we wanted to ensure that we had a culture stop in Delhi, in this instance visiting a tomb that has served as a precursor to the Taj Mahal and speaks to the huge the enormously impressive civilization that India has had over many centuries." Responding to whether the Golden Temple could fit into a future visit, Rhodes said, "Certainly we wouldn't rule out any visit in the future. And, hopefully, we'll be able to return to India."

CPI-M wants 'assurance' from US on terror issue NEW DELHI: With claims and two of the three wives of Headley, counter-claims by the US and In- "to avoid a line of investigation dia on the David Headley case, that could lead to evidence of its the CPI-M has asked the govern- key ally Pakistan's involvement in ment to seek a "categorical assur- these attacks which Pakistan's ISI ance" from Washington that it vociferously denies". would not tolerate terrorism Referring to the recent against India emanating from its Wikileaks documents on the Iraq soil when President Barack Obama war, the senior CPI-M leader said is here. history has once again demon"The Obama administration strated that US imperialism acts must be made to come clean on only in accordance with its interthis issue and give India a cat- ests. "A leopard never changes egorical assurance that it will dem- its spots. onstrate zero tolerance to terror"US imperialism must be made ism in India and take action to answer for such gross abuses against those who plot against India from its soil," Politburo member Sitaram Yechury has â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It must be noted that the decision to arrest Headley (by said. According to him, the US) was taken only after he India "must raise with shifted his attention from the US president the issue of David Headley India to Europe and not who confessed his in- on the grounds of his volvement in the involvement in 26/11â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mumbai terror attack of 26/11". In an editorial in the forthcom- of human rights and worst inciing issue of party organ 'People's dents of war crimes in modern Democracy', Yechury said it has times," he said. now been shown that Headley He pointed out that the four was working as a double agent lakh leaked official documents had for both al Qaeda through the detailed the deaths of over "1.10 Lashkar-e-Taiba and US intelli- lakh innocent civilians in Iraq, gence agencies while he received pushing the number of such murtraining at terrorist camps in Paki- ders up exponentially". stan. "When President Obama "It must be noted that the de- comes visiting us shortly, India cision to arrest Headley (by the must also raise these issues and US) was taken only after he remind him of the unanimous resoshifted his attention from India to lution of the Parliament which had Europe and not on the grounds disapproved (not condemned, as of his involvement in 26/11," he the Left had demanded) US milisaid, adding that Headley has tary invasion in Iraq," Yechury pleaded guilty to all 12 terror said. charges under a plea bargain. He said all "excuses" justifyQuoting reports, Yechury said ing US war against Iraq have been the US did not follow up on sev- "proved to be false and unteneral warnings, including those by able" by the documents. -PTI

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High xenophobic rhetoric in campaigns India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Racist and xenophobic comments made by elected officials and political candidates have contributed to negative public opinions and policies, according to a report released by Washington DC area-based, nonprofit organization, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), on Oct 27. With the midterm elections round the corner, SAALT's report, 'From Macacas to Turban Toppers: The Rise in Xenophobic and Racist Rhetoric in American Political Discourse', documents intolerant remarks made by elected officials and those running for office. According to the report, since September 11, there has been an unprecedented rise in xenophobic statements that have specifically targeted South Asians, Arab Americans, Muslims, and Sikhs. "Racist rhetoric cannot be characterized as ignorant, funny or inconsequential. It has far-

reaching impact - such as contributing to a sense of alienation and isolation on the part of affected communities to shaping negative public opinion and harmful policies," said Deepa Iyer, Executive

Since September 11, there has been an unprecedented rise in xenophobic statements that have specifically targeted South Asians, Arab Americans, Muslims, and Sikhs Director of SAALT. According to the report, since 9/11, South Asians, Muslims and Sikhs have been perceived as threats to national security; as political liabilities; as outsiders or foreigners; and, as unsuitable for

Obama to visit Pakistan in 2011 India Post News Service

Both President Obama and President Zardari acknowledged that more work needed to be done to address the direct threat to the two countries posed by terrorist groups in Pakistan. Belying reports of distrust on the Afghanistan front, the two are stated to have agreed that the US and Pakistan have worked hard to build an atmosphere of trust and

NEW YORK: Even as President Barack Obama is readying to pack his bags for his three-day India trip he called Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari to convey his intent to visit Pakistan in 2011. In a telephone call on Oct 26, President Obama not only conveyed his intention to visit Pakistan next year, but also welcomed President Zardari to visit the US Both President Obama and in the coming year. President Zardari acknowlPresident Obama edged that more work called President Zardari to consult with him on needed to be done to address the progress made dur- the direct threat to the two ing the recent US-Paki- countries posed by terrorist stan Strategic Dialogue, and to reinforce groups in Pakistan America's commitment to partner with Pakistan on eco- cooperation, and committed to nomic, development, and gover- ongoing efforts to build a stronger, strategic, and more collabonance priorities. A White House statement says rative US-Pakistan relationship. President Obama further emthe two Presidents also discussed the progress that the US phasized the United States' comand Pakistan have made towards mitment and support for democstrengthening bilateral relations racy and transparency in Pakistan. within the past two years. Presi- He also acknowledged Pakistan's dent Obama particularly high- economic difficulties, and encourlighted the commitment of both aged President Zardari to work to Secretary Clinton and Foreign pass key economic reforms, such Minister Qureshi to the US-Paki- as tax reform and containing energy subsidies. stan Strategic Dialogue.

political office. Among many incidents, the report documents and analyzes political ads about outsourcing, statements targeting a South Asian candidate's accent or "funny-sounding" last name, and stances that support profiling and surveillance of certain communities. It also presents a special spotlight on comments related to the Park 51 cultural center ('Ground Zero mosque') and Islamophobia. "The details in this report are extremely helpful not only to the South Asian community but to the rest of the country as well," said Hilary Shelton, Director, Washington Bureau of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), one of the speakers at the briefing. Shelton compared the experiences of Muslims, South Asians, Arab Americans and Sikhs to those of African Americans, who have also been dehumanized and marginalized by a racist political climate. Reflecting on the current cli-

mate of Islamophobia, lawyer, commentator and founder of themuslimguy.com, Arsalan Iftikhar, noted that, 'Muslim' has become the accepted slur in America. "Race, xenophobia, big-

Shelton compared the experiences of Muslims, South Asians, Arab Americans and Sikhs to those of African Americans, who have also been dehumanized otry have now become a permanent political wedge issue in America," he said. The report also notes that even though a high number of South Asians are running for office this year, including several

congressional candidates and one gubernatorial candidate, these individuals have to face additional hurdles when their loyalty, patriotism and "American-ness" have been questioned. Calling for a return to civility in the public sphere, the report identifies individual and collective strategies that can help enrich the country's political and civic life. "We urge elected officials, candidates and community members to take action. For example, policymakers and political candidates should condemn racist and xenophobic rhetoric, and political parties should adopt no-tolerance policies. In addition, community members should hold accountable those who make such remarks," said Priya Murthy, Policy Director at SAALT, and primary author of the report. The report includes tips to empower community members to respond to such statements on their own, by providing resources and tools to engage in civic and political activities.

Yale to help train VCs, deans NEW DELHI: Two of the country's prestigious institutes have joined hands with Yale University for an academic leadership program exposing vice- chancellors and deans to best practices of institutional management in the US. The partnership of IIT-Kanpur and IIM-Kozikhode with Yale is part of the knowledge initiative launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama during Singh's visit to the US in November 2009. The partnership is aimed at advancing the cause of higher education in the country and "addressing the problem of leadership vacuum" in higher education sector, said Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal. The initiative was launched with the singing of an MoU between president of Yale University Richard Levin, director of IIM Kozhikode Debashish Chatterjee and director of IIT Kanpur Sanjay Dhande in the presence of Sibal. The partnership will take effect from January 2011, with provision for two new centers of excellence for academic leadership at IIMKozhikode and at IIT-Kanpur. The partnership will begin with a term of five years. Levin said the program would be launched on a modest scale in the initial phase with the training of 30 to 40 vice chancellors at their campus.

Yale has also been working closely with China on similar efforts to advance higher education reforms in that country. Levin, on the occasion, praised the government's efforts in introducing the Foreign Universities Bill but said Yale had no plans to set up campus in India. He also supported efforts for bringing in reforms in the higher education sector. "The combination of opening to foreign universities, creating innovation universities, reforming the accreditation... all of these I think will help for

talent advance in higher education sector in India. I am very supportive of Mr Sibal's vision and I hope he is successful in his legislative agenda," he said. He felt allowing foreign institutes to operate in the country would ultimately benefit students. "It will drive competition and competition drives creative change and creative change will benefit students," he said. Sibal expressed confidence that the country will certainly attract top class universities if not global brands like Yale and Harvard. -PTI

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PM lauds Indian Diaspora's contribution to Malaysia

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (C) with his wife Gursharan Kaur (CR) applauds the performance of Indian dancers along with his Malaysia counterpart Najib Razak (2L) and his wife Rosmah Mansor (R) at the launch of a district dubbed ĂŹLittle IndiaĂŽ in Kuala Lumpur on October 27

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has applauded the Indian Diaspora in Malaysia for its contribution to the economic, political and cultural fabric of this country while preserving their Indian roots and culture. "This is not an easy task but you (the Diaspora) have successfully done so," he told more than 500 members of the ethnic Indian community here at the packed ballroom of Renaissance hotel. The gathering included S

cementing their strong ties. India-Malaysia ties have grown substantially in the last five years, he said, adding the two Prime Ministerial visits showed "sincere common vision" to take the relationship to greater heights. Singh said Malaysia had transformed itself into a modern, democratic country and provided a "unique developmental model" for the entire developing world. He urged the Malaysians to invest in India, noting that the Indian economy with the GDP of

Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, at the Indian Community Reception, hosted in their honour, by the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur

Subramaniam, Malaysian Human Resources Minister and leader of the largest ethnic Indian political party 'Malaysian Indian Congress', apart from business leaders and corporate heads of Indian ethnicity. Singh said that his counterpart Najib Razak's visit to India in January this year and his own trip here now showed the two countries were serious and sincere about

one trillion dollar was expected to grow at nine to ten per cent. "I invite you to make full use of investment opportunities in India in the best possible manner as you can," Singh said, a day after the two countries inked a trade-opening Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) which will come into effect from July 2011. The Prime Minister said that

with cultural and social links to India, the Malaysian Indian business community had a unique bridge to foster economic linkages between the two countries. He also lauded the efforts of the Malaysian Indians to preserve their Indian culture and said this had prompted India to open the India Cultural Centre here recently. (More) PTI JB KIM AKJ Referring to the constant demands of Malaysian Indians for setting up education quota for the Diaspora, Singh said the government was considering ways and means to address these demands. He announced a Rs five-crore top up to the Indian Scholarship Trust Fund, which was set up by late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946 to assist Malaysian-Indian students. The corpus of the fund will now become Rs 8.5 crore. Singh also announced 20 scholarships for Malaysian students to study traditional system of medicine in India. The two announcements brought loud cheers in the ballroom decorated resplendently with the Indian tricolor silken cloth. Later, the guests lined up in an orderly manner to greet Singh and his wife. During his three-day visit to Malaysia, besides witnessing the signing of a slew of memoranda of understanding between the two countries, Singh and his counterpart Razak announced the completion of the historic CECA, which will be signed by the Trade and Commerce Ministers of the two sides in January 2011. -PTI

Indian e-voting researcher wins US award India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Indian E-voting researcher Hari Krishna Prasad Vemuru, who was recently released on bail after being imprisoned for his security work in India, has been conferred the Pioneer Award by the US-based Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Vemuru is one of the four individuals who will be honored with the award this year at a San Francisco ceremony on Nov 8. The other award recipients include transparency activist Steven Aftergood; public domain scholar James Boyle; and legal blogger Pamela Jones and the website Groklaw. "These winners have all worked tirelessly to give critical insight and context to the tough questions that arise in our evolving digital world," said EFF Executive Director Shari Steele. "We need strong advocates, educators, and researchers like these to protect our digital rights, and we're proud to honor these four Pioneer Award winners for their important contributions." Hari Krishna Prasad Vemuru is a security researcher in India who recently revealed security flaws in India's paperless electronic voting machines. He has endured jail time, repeated interrogations, and ongoing political harassment to protect an anonymous source that enabled

Hari Krishna Prasad Vemuru

him to conduct the first independent security review of India's electronic voting system. Prasad spent a year trying to convince election officials in India to complete such a review, but they insisted that the government-made machines were "perfect" and "tamperproof". Instead of blindly accepting the government's claims, Prasad's international team discovered serious flaws that could alter national election results. Months of hot debate have produced a growing consensus that India's electronic voting machines should be scrapped, and Prasad hopes to help his country build a transparent and verifiable voting system. Steven Aftergood directs the Federation of American Scientists

(FAS) Project on Government Secrecy, which works to reduce the scope of official secrecy and to promote public access to government information. He writes and edits Secrecy News, an email newsletter and blog that reports on new developments in secrecy and disclosure policy. Secrecy News also provides direct public access to various official records that have been suppressed, withdrawn, or that are simply hard to find. In 1997, Aftergood was the plaintiff in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency that successfully led to the declassification and publication of the total intelligence budget for the first time in 50 years. James Boyle is William Neal Reynolds Professor of Law and cofounder of the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke Law School. Professor Boyle is recognized for his exceptional scholarship on the "second enclosure movement" - the worldwide expansion of intellectual property rights and its threat to the rich public domain of cultural and scientific materials that the Internet might otherwise make available. An original board member of Creative Commons and co-founder of Science Commons, Professor Boyle has worked for over 20 years as both an academic and institution builder to celebrate and protect the values of cultural and scientific openness. When Pamela Jones created Groklaw in 2003, she envisioned a new kind of participatory journalism and distributed discovery - a place where programmers and engineers could educate lawyers on technology relevant to legal cases of significance to the Free and Open Source community, and where technologists could learn about how the legal system works. Groklaw quickly became an essential resource for understanding such important legal debates as the SCOLinux lawsuits, the European Union antitrust case against Microsoft, and whether software should qualify for patent protection. Awarded every year since 1992, EFF's Pioneer Awards recognize leaders who are extending freedom and innovation on the electronic frontier. Past honorees include World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, security expert Bruce Schneier, and the Mozilla Foundation and its chairman Mitchell Baker, among many others. Pioneer Award candidates are nominated by the public.

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Indian company Venky's buys EPL side LONDON: Indian poultry firm Venky's Limited is set to take over English Premier League (EPL) side Blackburn Rovers with the deal likely to be completed next month, the club said. Venky''s, the flagship company of Pune-based Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group, will be the first Indian firm to own an English Premier League club. The company, which specialises in poultry farming and pharmaceuticals, has held several meetings with the Rovers and the Premier League. The Indian company will pay around ÂŁ46 million (Rs 320 crore) Reacting to media reports that her firm will spend just five million pounds in the January window which would be much lesser than other top EPL clubs, Venky's chairperson Anuradha Desai pledged to invest "much more" in the summer to make sure that Rovers are competitive at the top of the Premier League. The five million pounds pledged for the January transfer window is just the start and much

more would be spent next summer to make Blackburn Rovers a top team in the English Premier League, the club's prospective Indian buyers Venky's has promised. "Initially there will be 5 million

Reacting to media reports that her firm will spend just five million pounds in the January window which would be much lesser than other top EPL clubs, Venky's chairperson Anuradha Desai pledged to invest "much more" in the summer to make sure that Rovers are competitive at the top of the Premier League pounds put in straightaway to buy players but of course if we have to do more then we will. There will then be much more investment and

we have devised a spending strategy already for the next three years that will see the manager given significant funds to buy players," she said. "I am not promising that we will be a top four team but I can promise we will try. And that is what we will aim for. We are committed to improving the performance of the team and when the situation is right there will be investment," she was quoted as saying by 'Lancashire Telegraph'. By buying the EPL side based in Blackburn, Lancashire, she hopes to capitalize on the craze of English Premier League in India and try to create "a whole nation of Rovers fans". "There is a new generation of boys aged between 10 and 17 in India that are football mad but lots of them support Chelsea. I believe at this time we can make the market for football in India grow. Having Indian owners in EPL will create a lot of interest and I think we can try to create a whole nation of Blackburn Rovers fans," she said.

CWG: IT raids on 50 premises NEW DELHI: Investigators probing the Commonwealth Games scam spread the dragnet with 300 Income Tax sleuths carrying out simultaneous nationwide raids on 50 premises of four contractors who executed some Games-related works. As the multi-agency investigations into alleged financial irregularities in the conduct of the games continued, the Central Vigilance Commission was probing a complaint related to alleged amassing of Rs 200 crore by a top CWG official, believed to be a close associate of Organizing Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi. In reply to an RTI query filed by PTI, the CVC, which is looking into 22 complaints of financial irregularities in different Games-related projects, said that it is probing the complaint against V K Gautam, former Chief Operating Officers (COO). Gautam was not available for comments. Official sources said the simultaneous raids in various cities, which began early morning, were

centered on four main contractors roped in by the CWG OC for landscaping and beautification works of the Games venues among other works. The sources said over 50 premises spread across Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Jamshedpur, Kolkata and National Capital Region (NCR) were the focus of the raiding teams and that a large number of documents including those pertaining to contracts and subcontracts awarded in connection with the Games were seized. They said the contractors, who are under the scanner of the I-T Department, were involved in landscaping, beautification of venues, changing of street lamps, laying field tracks and also in the business of sports equipment and gear. The raids came a day after CWG OC Director General V K Verma was grilled for 10 hours by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here. The sources said the tax return details of previous years filed by these firms were also being examined by the department.-PTI

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37 women at Michigan sorority house report illness

ANN ARBOR, Mich.: Health officials are trying to determine what caused 37 women to become sick at a University of Michigan sorority house in Ann Arbor. The Detroit Free Press reported that the Washtenaw County Public Health Department is looking into whether a norovirus was behind the illnesses at the Delta house. Ann Arbor assistant fire chief Greg Hollingsworth said women at the house had eaten together and later reported nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Three were hospitalized. Officials want to know what the woman ate leading up to the weekend's illnesses. County Environmental Health supervisor Kristen Schweighoefer said the sorority shared meals. -AP

Brevard County woman positive for West Nile virus MELBOURNE, Fla.: Residents in Brevard County are being alerted to take extra precautions against mosquitoes after a woman was hospitalized with the West Nile virus. The Brevard County Health Department says the 48-year-old woman was in intensive care after experiencing a high fever, severe headaches and disorientation. She reportedly worked on a chicken farm in the Cocoa area. Across Brevard County, sentinel chicken flocks have tested positive for the virus. Physicians have been advised to be vigilant for West Nile symptoms among patients. Residents are cautioned to avoid mosquitoes and wear insect repellant. -AP

1 new case of West Nile virus in Miss.

JACKSON, Miss.: Health officials say one new case of West Nile virus has been reported in Mississippi, bringing the state total to seven so far this year. The Mississippi Department of Health said in a news release that the new case occurred in Tallahatchie County. So far this year, there have been three positive cases reported in Leflore County, and one each in Coahoma, Calhoun, Scott and Tallahatchie counties. Symptoms of West Nile virus may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness or swollen lymph nodes. -AP

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November 5, 2010

US House candidates debate health care law RIVERTON, Wyo.: Republican U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis and Democratic challenger David Wendt disagreed on health care and federal spending during their first and only debate. -AP

Community avails of free diabetes screening in NY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Nearly 200 community members in Richmond Hill, New York attended a Diabetes Screening Event, organized by United Sikhs at The Sikh Cultural Society recently. Participants in the event received screenings to check their height, weight, Body Mass Index, as well as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels and also received information on diabetes prevention and management from healthcare providers. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 171 million have diabetes, and they predict the number to more than double by 2030. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that nearly 500,000 - one in every eight adults - is diagnosed with diabetes in the city alone. Very little information exists about the rate of diabetes in the South Asian population and which factors contribute to its onset.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that nearly 500,000 one in every eight adults - is diagnosed with diabetes in the city alone "We have been conducting health fairs and bringing health services to the community for a number of years, and we now see a real need for health education within the community, so we are focusing on programs that fulfill these needs," said Rucha Kavathe,

who coordinates health projects for the organization. "United Sikhs is bringing to the community new programs that focus on educating the community about diabetes management, and link them to services they need to lead healthy lives."

In addition to receiving screenings at the event, attendees also filled out a survey detailing their knowledge about diabetes and its risks, diet, nutrition, physical activity, and sources of health information. The survey data are an important contribution to a scant body of knowledge on diabetes and its prevalence in the South Asian community. The data was gathered as part of Project RICE (Reaching Immigrants through Community Empowerment), in collaboration with Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center (PRC) at the New York University School of Medicine, supported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As part of its growing health initiatives, United Sikhs is conducting Diabetes Education classes for the community in Richmond Hill, NY. This 6 week program focuses on providing tools that will assist in understanding and managing diabetes for people who have or know someone who has diabetes.

Free women's health and wellness fair ASSEMBLYMEMBER TONY MENDOZA

reast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women and one of the deadliest cancers of all. It is an epidemic that will strike one out of 15 California women. This year, approximately 5,000 California women will die of breast cancer and nearly 22,000 new women will be diagnosed with the disease. However, breast cancer numbers have been declining since the early 1990s. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. Unfortunately, only half of California's women have had a breast exam within the past two years. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a good time to remind women about the importance of regular health screenings. Breast exams, glucose and hyperten-

sion check-ups are advisable on a yearly basis; especially for anyone with a family history of diabetes and cancer. And everyone should have dental exams annually and eye exams every other year. For this reason, I am joining forces with health care providers during a free Women's Health and Wellness Fair on Friday, Novem-

health screenings, glucose and blood pressure screenings, pregnancy tests, ultra sounds, sexually transmitted disease and vision exams provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Whittier Health Center); Birth Choice; Southern California University of Health Sciences, California Family Health Council;

'I invite you to start an awareness campaign in your church, workplace, school or civil group to encourage other women to join my Women's Health and Wellness Fair. I invite you to make an appointment for a check-up' ber 5th. Women of all ages are encouraged to attend my event to be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Norwalk Corporate Plaza, 12501 E. Imperial Highway in Norwalk. The free health screenings and educational information will be on a wide range of topics that include breast health, diabetes, hypertension,

Planned Parenthood; California Family Health Council; Alta Med Health Services; Grandparents as Parents, Health Net and Artesia Lion's Club. By getting the right health services, screenings, and treatments, California women are taking steps to increase the chance of living a longer, healthier life. Age, health

and family history, lifestyle choices (i.e. what you eat, how active you are, whether you smoke), and other important factors impact what and how often you need services and screenings. Again, please join me at my Women's Health and Wellness Fair on Friday, November 5th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join me in protecting yourselves, your wives, mothers, grandmothers and other family members from all the various chronic diseases. I invite you to start an awareness campaign in your church, workplace, school or civil group to encourage other women to join my Women's Health and Wellness Fair. I invite you to make an appointment for a checkup or health screening with local doctors and non profit-organizations. It's time to take charge of your health! Schedule an appointment with your health care provider to discuss what preventive health services you need and when you need them.

November 5, 2010

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Paul lambasts health care, financial overhauls LEXINGTON, Ky.: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul attacked Democratic opponent Jack Conway by linking him to President Barack Obama, who he called a ``disaster'' for the country, during a nationally televised debate. Conway hit back by citing Paul's suggestions of imposing a $2,000 Medicare deductible on seniors and a national sales tax to replace the federal income tax. Their final debate in a bitterly fought Kentucky campaign lacked the fireworks of a prior exchange when Paul angrily confronted Conway about a TV ad that included an anonymous accusation that he worshipped a god called ``Aqua Buddha'' during college and that he was a member of a secret campus society that mocked Christians. With the election just a week away, the two rivals were questioned on a series of issues during the hour-long debate at the studios of Kentucky Educational Television. Paul pressed his tea party-backed message of limited government and restrained spending, and said the health care and financial regulation overhauls pushed by Obama will stifle job creation at a time of high unemployment. He slammed the president's economic stimulus package and health care overhaul. Paul, a Bowling Green eye doctor, railed

against rising deficits under Obama's presidency, and tied Conway to the Democratic president who was rejected by Kentucky voters in 2008. ``You wanted President Obama,'' Paul told Conway. ``He's a disaster for our country. He's bankrupting us.'' Paul warned that the health care overhaul ``is going to be worse than we can even imagine.''

Paul pressed his tea partybacked message of limited government and restrained spending, and said the health care and financial regulation overhauls pushed by Obama will stifle job creation Conway, who supports the health care law, acknowledged it's not perfect but said he wants to fix it. He defended the landmark law for providing first-time coverage for some 654,000 Kentuckians, and said it will keep young adults on their parents' health plans longer. Conway described himself as ``a different type of Democrat,'' noting that he supports offering tax incentives to spur privatesector job growth. -AP

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Community volunteers help promote immunisation ANGELA WALKER

MORADABAD, India: Baby boy Zulfikar Ahmed became seriously ill during the communal riots in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. "It was a very dangerous time," his mother Munni says. "He was three-months-old and he had a sudden, very high fever. He had severe loose motions. "I cleaned him with cold water, but I realized that his legs could not stand. They were very soft," she recalls, her eyes welling with tears as she recalls that time 30 years ago. "After the curfew lifted after six days, I took him to the doctor and the doctor said, 'He has polio.'" Her husband, who earned only a few rupees a day pulling a rickshaw, saved what he could for Zulfikar's treatment, often sacrificing the money the family would have used to pay for food. But

despite medication, therapy and an eventual operation, nothing could help heal their son. "I didn't know immunisation could save my child," she says sadly. Immunisation is one of the simplest, most cost-effective, health interventions. UNICEF, with funds from the IKEA Social Initiative, is working to implement a 10-Point Child Friendly Agenda, which includes immunisation as a key priority, in the mohallas, or slums, of Moradabad. "It's a great example of humanrights based, integrated programming," said Nupur Pande, Project Officer in the UNICEF office of Uttar Pradesh. UP is India's most populous state with 183 million inhabitants. An estimated 30 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. "We are not developing any new structures, but we are building the capacity of service provid-

ers, like health care workers, and empowering people in the slums to demand for better services," she says. "We are bridging the gap, but it's a slow process." Today, Munni, has become a volunteer "change agent" in her

Ayesha, shakes her head sadly as her mother-in-law speaks, drawing her white veil more closely around her downturned head. 'What we have suffered, they should not suffer,' she whispers softly immediate community. She and four other women work together to map the families in their neighbourhood, identifying babies that need to be immunised, mothers who need prenatal care and

Art therapy program helps cancer patients ST. CLOUD, Minn.: When Sally Thayer was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she picked up a paintbrush. ``It would allow me not to think about breast cancer for a while ... and allow me to express my anger there's a lot of anger involved in cancer and allow me to express my pain,'' she said. The 58-year-old part-time bookkeeper from St. Cloud dealt with her roller coaster of emotions by expressing them through art as part of the art therapy program at the Coborn Cancer Center. A wide assortment of supplies are provided at the 90-minute group sessions on Thursdays at CentraCare Health Plaza. No art experience is necessary, according to Katie Kinzer, a master's level art therapist who guides the cancer patients and their caregivers in the creative process. ``Sometimes people shy away because they think they're not artists, but it's really just a time for people to come and reflect, and learn a new art skill or coping skill ... and to create selfawareness in a relaxing environment,'' Kinzer said. Thayer underwent a partial mastectomy. The cancer had spread into her lymph nodes, so her treatment included chemotherapy and radiation. She was often at Coborn Cancer Center daily, she said, with several appointments a day.

``A lot of things raced through my head disbelief, terror, a lot of fear and panic the things that you would think of when you're diagnosed with something disastrous, like cancer,'' said Thayer, whose mother had breast cancer. Art therapy helps cancer patients and caregivers record their thoughts and feelings in a ``visual journal,'' according to Kinzer, and

Art therapy helps cancer patients and caregivers record their thoughts and feelings in a ``visual journal,'' according to Kinzer, and it is a way to manage pain, depression it is a way to manage pain, depression, anxiety and stress while making new friends in a supportive environment. ``My husband, my church and my friends were very supportive, but as supportive as they were, they couldn't possibly understand (what I was going through), and that's where art therapy comes in,'' Thayer said. Coborn Cancer Center began offering the art therapy for free in September; before, a nominal fee was requested of participants to help support the program. About

half a dozen usually attend the weekly art therapy sessions, according to Kinzer. ``We just decided we wanted to pilot this provide it every week and have it free - as a service to the patients,'' said Kinzer, who primarily works at Clara's House, which deals with children and adolescents with mental health and chemical dependency issues. `À lot of emotions go along with cancer, as you can imagine. People are kind of looking in the face of death at least that's what they've told me and really healing through art is what I'm kind of providing.'' Linda Schreifels has made paintings, clay models, plaster masks and collages in the art therapy program. The 65-year-old from St. Cloud was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2007. `Ì was angry at myself for not having the test done sooner than when I did the colonoscopy,'' Schreifels said. ``Several of my uncles died from cancer, and my mother actually did; she died from colon cancer.'' And in December, for the first time in the program's history, participants will exhibit their artworks, probably at the Coborn Cancer Center. `Ìt takes your mind off everything no matter whether you have cancer or other issues in your life. It's basically time when you can totally relax,'' Schreifels said of art therapy. -AP

children who should be in school. "Generally the families that are left are the most resistant. They need a lot of convincing." They don't understand the reason why their child gets fever or may not be aware of vaccines or know the long-term, positive benefits," says Pande. "Volunteers go into their communities and identify families with small children, hold regular discussions to educate them and connect them to the government services available." Ayesha Parveen, Zulfikar's wife who herself contracted polio when she was two-years-old, is now six months pregnant with her own child. Munni makes sure she receives her folic acid supplements and other prenatal healthcare services. "We are able to teach our children so they will have healthy families," she explains. "If this awareness existed when I was raising my children, then this wouldn't have happened to my son."

Ayesha, shakes her head sadly as her mother-in-law speaks, drawing her white veil more closely around her downturned head. "What we have suffered, they should not suffer," she whispers softly. Moradabad has some of the worst immunisation rates in the country at 14.39 per cent and often inadequate health services. Children are exposed to poor hygiene and sanitation facilities in the slum areas. Dry latrines, where human excreta is removed manually in baskets, are still used by 60 to 70 per cent of the city. Poor hygiene increases the risk of transmission of polio. "It is critical for every child under five years of age to take Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) each time it is offered," said Lieven Desomer, chief of UNICEF India's Polio Prevention Program. "We want all families to ensure their children are protected."

Ill. firefighters wear pink for cancer PEKIN, Ill.: Pekin firefighters have added a new hue to their uniform to raise awareness for cancer. It's voluntary, but the majority of the department's 52 firefighters are wearing pink shirts instead of their usual navy ones during October, which is breast cancer awareness month. ``Based on the statistics, I think it's safe to say we've all been affected or will be affected someday by breast cancer, whether it's a mother, grandmother, aunt, wife, sister, daughter or family friend,'' said firefighter Trent Reeise, who came up with the idea to wear pink in October. His 88-year-old grandmother is a 36-year survivor of breast cancer but recently learned her disease has returned. ``Ironically, after we got the ball rolling with this, we found out she has breast cancer again,'' Reeise said. ``My mother is very religious about being checked because the disease is strong in our family.'' Firefighter Dan Heisel likes the idea of wearing the pink shirts because he also has been affected by the disease. ``My mom, Ann Heisel, is a breast cancer survivor,'' he said. ``She didn't make much of a big deal about it at the time, but it is a big deal. Anything we can do to help the cause is a good thing.'' The Firefighters Local 524 presented a check for $524 recently to Stu Regnier, coordinator for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

``This is our first year, but we're hoping to make it an annual thing, and we hope to do a bigger fundraiser next year,'' Reeise said. Regnier, who has been involved with the Komen Foundation for 20 years, said firefighters aren't typically a group that thinks to support breast cancer awareness, but he wasn't surprised when they called with the idea. ``It never ceases to amaze me the people who are willing to reach

'Based on the statistics, I think it's safe to say we've all been affected or will be affected someday by breast cancer, whether it's a mother, grandmother, aunt, wife, sister, daughter or family friend' out and help conquer this disease from all walks of life,'' he said. ``Virtually every week someone walks into our office with an idea of how to help. Small donations, large donations - it all helps.'' The pink shirts, which have the fire department logo and a pink ribbon on the front and ``Pekin Fire and Rescue'' on the back, were not purchased with city funds. They were paid for out of a foreign fire tax fund called the Two Percent Fund. -AP

Realty Tidbits

DDA to take Rs 90 crore from Emaar MGF

NEW DELHI: In a set back to real estate giant Emaar MGF, the builder of Commonwealth Games(CWG) village, the Delhi High Court has allowed the DDA to encash Rs 90 crore, which was deposited by the company as bank guarantee, for not completing the project on time. In an interim order, Justice Vipin Sanghi said that "the pay order for Rs 90 crore may be encashed (by the DDA)." The Court passed the order on a petition filed by the company seeking to restrain DDA from seizing the bank guarantees of Rs 183 crore as damages for not completing the project on time. -PTI

Raymond pact with workers over land dev THANE: Ending a ten-month long imbroglio, textile major, Raymond, has entered into an agreement with its workers which allows the company to commercially exploit its over 100-acre plant here for real estate development. Raymond will be paying a compensation of Rs 302 crore over a period of three years and its workers would get Rs 18- 21-lakh each, Maharashtra Government's Principal Secretary (Labor), Kavita Gupta, said here. The truce also paves the way for the textile major to formally foray into the lucrative real estate market. However, it is not known whether Raymond would be going alone or take some developer onboard to develop the land in the Mumbai suburb, where prices are skyrocketing. -PTI

Sahara Prime IPO after market improves MUMBAI: Sahara India Group will wait for market conditions to turn favorable for the real estate sector before taking its realty arm public, Chairman Subrata Roy said here. Sahara's real estate company, Sahara Prime City Ltd (SPCL), has been mulling an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to raise funds from the capital market for quite some time now. The company had filed a DRHP with market regulator Sebi last October but did not go ahead with the IPO due to the bearish conditions. "The market is not good for real estate sector at this moment. So we are not taking much interest in this (proposed IPO)," Roy told PTI on the sidelines of an event here. -PTI

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Real estate developers turn to Pak, Bangladesh for cement

handrasekaran said many developers have put their projects on hold, but those with delivery commitments had to procure cement at higher prices. He said they were left with no other option but to import cement from neighbouring countries to reduce costs and any builder planning to do so would immediately look at Pakistan and Bangladesh, as some of the cement is of good quality. -PTI

November 5, 2010

Tata Housing forays into Chennai; to invest Rs 1,500-2,000 cr CHENNAI: Aiming at a panIndia presence, real estate developer Tata Housing Development Company, a division of the USD 70.8 billion Tata Group, announced its foray into this southern metropolis with investment plans of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 crore. "We would like to announce the first landmark development in Chennai -- Crescent Lake Homes. It is our first project in Chennai and part of integrated development...," the Mumbai -based company's Managing Director and CEO Brotin Banerjee told reporters here. The company would invest around Rs 650-Rs 700 crore for developing 2,200 housing units -960 apartments, including one, two and three bedrooms in the first phase --, he said adding, the ground breaking ceremony would happen in another two-three months. The first phase will be completed by 24 months and in the second phase the company proposed to build row type villas, three and four bedroom apartments. The project would come up in

the industrial corridor of Oragadam situated about 45 kms from here. "It is a developing area with lot of MNCs present in the locality ...," he said. "This is a four year project and

The company would invest around Rs 650Rs 700 crore for developing 2,200 housing units -- 960 apartments, including one, two and three bedrooms in the first phase. the entire housing apartments will have 2,200 units," he said. The project coming up on a 25 acre site would be subjected to the Indian Green Building Council conditions and would be of ground plus 18 floors apartments. It would have a school, party hall, primary health centre and recreational facilities. "The cost (of housing) ranges between Rs 14 lakh to Rs 35 lakhs,"

HDIL Leisure to set up hotels in Mumbai & Kakinada MUMBAI: HDIL Leisure, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HDIL, plans to set up hotels in Versova in Mumbai and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, a top company official said. Currently, the company is executing its first hotel project in Mumbai at Juhu. The hotel with around 250-rooms would be operated by the Hilton group under the brand Conrad. "We have almost completed all the necessary procedures, including the funding for this project and expect to begin operations within 36-months. We are now exploring opportunities of setting up new hotels in Kakinada and Versova in Mumbai," HDIL Leisure's Chief Executive Officer Romel Bhog told PTI here. Apart from its Juhu project, the

company is already in the process of acquiring a majority stake in a 90-room budget hotel in Hyderabad, which has gone into soft launch and is operational since November 2009. "We have our land-banks in these two places (Kakinada and Versova). We want to capitalize on the residential and commercial projects developed by HDIL by developing business hotels near our real estate projects," he said. The company plans to own, develop and manage a variety of hotels, residential and mixed-use projects as well as fine-dining restaurants across the country, he said. It would, however, not manage "our new proposed hotels, which would be based on the fine-dining concept," he said. -PTI

Managing Director and CEO Brotin Banerjee

he said. Asked about future expansion plans, Banerjee said they were keen on setting up a few more projects comprising of value homes and luxury homes in Chennai for which it would invest Rs 1,350 crores approximately. Houses in the upcoming projects would be in the range of Rs six lakh - Rs 35 lakh and it will be very much in Chennai and outskirts. The company has also planned to approach the Tamil Nadu Government for setting up projects under PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode, he said. It had already inked an agreement with the Assam Government for construct-

ing value homes. He said they have also planned for a couple of residential projects in Hyderabad and added that their first phase of handing over the residential apartments in their tallest residential towers in Bangalore (which has ground plus 35 floors) would begin next month. The company, which has projects in various cities, including Mumbai, Pune, last year has constructed a total area of 1.23 million square feet and sold 2.83 million square feet, he said. They have also planned to focus on Tier-II and III cities as part of making a pan-India presence, he added. -PTI

Horoscope

India Post

November 5, 2010

www.indiapost.com

by Pandit Parashar

Nov 5 - Nov 12

hances of finding a dream job keep improving. Some of you will launch a major project in association with some friends or colleagues. You have some more easy money coming from unexpected source. Spouse will need to make some change in diet and keep an eye on health.

ost of the things will start to happen the way you want. favorable planets in angle will make you feel confident and lucky again. You will be in touch with a learned person to clear some confusions. Financially it will take few more weeks when actually you will start to see the real money.

here will be some con fusion and you may have to change your plans on the last minute. Issues related to career and finances will cause concerns. You may have no choice but to accept a less paying offer. You will be working hard to dispose off some property also.

upiter in first will give the un derstanding and you will try to settle some pending headaches. Lack of confidence will only delay the inevitable, so be aggressive. You will study some useful material to improve your prospects. People connected with service industry will benefit.

enalty will be severe if you give in easily, do not underestimate the opponents and try to delay as much as possible. Saturn's entry into house of finances will be very tricky for next couple of years and people prone to litigation should be extra careful with their clients.

ou will almost finalize to get out of an stressful situation and accept the loss. Advice from an expert will show you the easier way out without getting hurt. Soon you will be leaving on an long distance trip. Money wise you will stay comfortable but will be paying extra attention to health.

here will be major changes in career soon. Some of you will be offered a very lucrative position in a nice environment. You will twist some facts and save lots of money in long term. Idea of going on an overseas trip will continue to occupy your mind. Deal will close and you will have lots of money in the bank.

lanets in eleventh will cause big sensation in life. Suddenly you will be full of energy. Opportunities will keep knocking at your door one after another. You will visit a holy place and have special prayers performed. There is a big chunk of money on its way to you.

areer related issues will finally get resolved. Wait will be over and the opportunity you had been working on for long time, will be in your hands in black and white. You will be meeting old friends and attend couple of parties. Do not neglect the health issues.

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

ou will be tempted to grab the offer. Additional work will be assigned to you. Spouse will be little shaky but will make a courageous move. You will spend lots of time with political leaders and participate actively. A child doing poorly, will improve drastically.

ou will spend money on legal matters. Be careful when dealing with a government agency. Concentration of planets helps people connected with high tech industry. Offer will come with more money and lots of incentives. You will be start the process to obtain a big loan.

t last the business will pick up suddenly, renewing hopes one more time. this is the right time to accept and start new job. Ignore the person trying to give useless ideas and trying to create rift in the family. You will be finally recognized for the hard work done in the past.

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

India Post 15 November 5, 2010 November 5, 2010

www.indiapost.com India Post

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SURENDRA ULLAL & RAMESH SOPARAWALA

iwali or Deepavali is one of the most auspicious and popular celebrations for Indians, or people of Sanatana Dharmic tradition like, Buddists, Jains and Sikhs in India and settled across the world for decades, and in some cases, in Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka for centuries. It is one of the most popular festivals and observed in almost all parts of India. People wakes up to show the brilliance of Diwali as every home would be lit by deepaks or lamps, indicating how the name Deepavali came to be known as festival of light. Among the many historical evidences as well as legends woven around this joyous holiday is Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile in

Diwali is here but...

Where is the Diwali mood? The consenus emerges that the Diwali mood and spirit is lacking in US but in India as a whole, it is quite intact and celebrations are galore. Most agree that the coming year for US economy would not be exciing while India could continue its upward march

Panchavati living with the tribals, who were known in Ramayana as Vanaras or Va- Naras and Rakshasas (those who did not observe rituals like Yaga or Yajna). Diwali also has other legends woven around it like attainment of Keval Pad or Moksha by Mahavira Jina; realization of the noble path by Gauama Buddha and commemoration of the return of Guru Har Gobind Ji, and 52 Hindu kings, who were imprisoned by

Mogul Emperor, Jehangir. There are other legends that associate the worship of Lakshmi on this day. The one is associated with King Bali, who gives away his entire kingdom to a learned Brahmin, Vamana. This legend relates to the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the person of Vamana, a dwarf to eliminate the demon king Bali, who had defeated Indra, celestial king and occupied his kingdom. With a view to return the Kingdom to its rightful owner, Vishnu in disguise of Vamana. The festival is celebrated by Bali's subjects to welcome him by lightings their homes and decorating their homes. So in Kerala, and parts of coastal Karnataka and Tamil Nadu this is known as Bali Padyami or Bishu, first day of harvesting and peasants' bringing home the paddy to partake with family In order to make a brief report of the views of people of Indian origin or heritage now living in many cities of the U.S., India Post took a survey to gather their opinion about the joy of celebration of Diwali this year compared to the last. We also asked a select few in Chicago land and Indiana how the Diaspora projects the Indian economic and political conditions. The consenus emerges that the Diwali mood and spirit is lacking in US but in India as a whole, it is quite intact and celebrations are galore. Most agree that the

coming year for US economy would not be exciing while India could continue its upward march. All however, agree that Indo-US relations are heading for still better days in the coming Vikram Samvant.

Ajit Gandhi A financial professional and a community activist, Ajit Gandhi feels that the Diwali spirit is lacking in USA as well as in India for different reasons. In this country, the culprit is bad economy that has dampened the people's mood in general and the Indian community could not be an exception. "We find that our temples and socio- religious places organize celebrations and a good number of our community members flock there. They all cherish hopes for the better days ahead and are en-

thused by economic upswing in India," he said In India, the Diwali celebrations have been slowly eroded by the lack of basic religious fervor or spiritual undertone. "The moment Diwali gets round the corner, many - especially well to do class of people - conjure up running away to vacation places. The age old spirit of celebrating with the family friends or mingling with others is getting lost," he observed Gandhi was not optimistic about economic recovery here during the coming Vikram Samvant year. "Far from it. I wish the economy does not slide down further," he said. India presents a different scenario. "The mood is upbeat but I doubt there could be a significant upswing there too as the worldwide recession is likely to have its impact there as well," he added He was very upbeat about Indo-US relations in the coming year observing that President Obama has realized the importance of India as a strategic partner. He also has appointed many an Indian at relatively high positions in his administration sending signals to India and Indians that he is their friend and well wisher. His upcoming visit would cement ties further, he said. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 16

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Where is the Diwali mood? Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d fom page 15

Anil Shah A leading businessman who owns International currency trading business in downtown Chicago, World Money Exchange Inc, Anil Shah is of the opinion that the mood of the people will not be diminished this year compared to the last in as much as Diwali all the time has special significance for Indians around the world. He is also confident that as our tradition is taking firmer roots in the USA and this would not cut down celebrations this year too. In India the economic recession or depression is not having as much impact on business and hence, there is no reason to feel that there would be a low key celebrations this year. This would be all the more so for Gujarat where

the progress under Narendra Modi's leadership is eycatching. Business in Gujarat is thriving under the leadership of Chief Minis-

ter Narendra Modi. If the recent elections in Gujarat are any indication, Narendra Modi has proved his universal appeal

with the entire population, irrespective of caste and religion and he has become perhaps the most popular chief minister in Gujarat's history after Indian independence. A good number of Indian Americans hail from Gujarat and they are busienssmen too and Diwali as well as Lakshi Pujan would be celebrated with traditonal fanfare, he said. Anil Shah added that the very name Diwali conjures up Indian people, especially Hindus that includes Jain, Buddhist and Sikhs with the stories and legends woven behind it. More popular episode in South India is the celebration of Naraka Chaturdashi next day commemorating the killing of demon king Narakasura by Lord Krishna's Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 18

India Post November 5, 2010

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Happy Diwali

India Post November 5, 2010

India Post

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Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d fom page 16

wife, Satyabhama, who as the belief goes, herself was the demons's mother. Yet another story closely related to this festival is that of Govardhan Puja. With this incident of prevailing upon the villagers not to offer prayers to Lord Indra, but rather concentrate on protecting their cattle, villagers attracted the wrath of Indra, who as the lord of elements began inundating the villages with heavy rain and floods. As a result Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill and enabled them to seek shelter under the Hill. In summary he said Diwali is that time of the year, when Hindus celebrate with feasts, but importantly spend time in prayers and visiting temples and trying to spiritually elevate them as they teach their children about Diwali directly or indirectly inspiring them to observe it and keep up and traditions.

Bharat Barai, MD A prominent hematologist and a front ranking Indian community activist, is of the opinion that, "the recession in the U.S. has global effect. But 90% of Indian economy is based on domestic consumption. India's growth rate is 8% to 9% and there is no adverse impact significantly. However there appears to be some impact by high rate of inflation, especially in the food and energy sectors, which may deteriorate further. There could be some dampening of the sentiment here but celebrations in India would be as usual." He says that as far as Indo-US relations are concerned, especially on the political front, these are basically dictated by events occurring outside both countries. One is the largest democracy and the other oldest democracy. Both are multi religious and multi ethnic and both are victims of terrorism and are hated by radical Islamic extremists. Both have common self-interest and have equal opportunity to improve upon high-tech defense items. India needs these high-tech items and U.S. may feel more comfortable to sell to a country like India for a variety of reasons. He stressed that India must speed up domestic energy prod-

ucts in the nuclear field. Rapid construction of nuclear plants and research to convert thorium into uranium should be the priority. We must make fullest use of solar energy and tidal wave energy. India is gifted by both these natural en-

then for Presdient. He said that Diwali galore is all aroudn the world and no matter the state of economy, the celebratiosn would be there. "There might be some dampneing but the basic spirit will be intact," he said. Talking about

In the United States, with increasing Indian population, Diwali is assuming significant importance year after year. Diwali was first celebrated in the White House in 2003 and was given official status by the United States Congress in 2007 ergy in abundance. "We are also rich in natural gas. Reliance groups are developing Krishna/ Kaveri basins for a huge deposit of gas found there. In the Gulf of

November 5, 2010

Diwali festivities elsehwere in the world, he observed that in New zeeland Diwali is celebrated publicly among many of the South Asian diaspora cultural groups.

Dr. Dayal Meshri Drawing from his close experience with U.S. as well as Indian economy, Dr. Dayal Mesri,a scientist starting his own research based company in Oklhaoma, asserted that U.S. economy in general will be better this year. Indians have not been affected like local people. Indian economy is booming, so

Where is the Diwali mood? Cambatta huge deposit of petroleum was found. Rajasthan also is ripe with a number of finds and Russian technologists are helping to explore further in many potential places like Rajasthan. "Sadly, Indian policy is based on appeasement of Arabs. Unless Indian policy makers realize this danger and begin re-tracking the right course the country will suffer. "Finally whichever political party is ruling the country, they better make decisions based on the needs of the people to develop faster and enjoy the fruits of science and technology; rather than being influenced by vote banks to protect their power base. "Diwali is celebrated in various parts of the world, particularly those with large populations of Indians. With more and more Indians now migrating to various parts of the world, the number of countries where Diwali / Deepavali is celebrated is gradually increasing. While in some countries it is celebrated mainly by Indian expatriates, in others it has become part of the general local culture. In the United States, with increasing Indian population, Diwali is assuming greater significance year after year. Diwali and its spirit will keep flourishing in the U.S. as the community will expand and economically and politically will become more visible and influential, "he concluded. Balwinder Singh A prominent Indian busienssman on Devon Avenue in Chicago, Balwidner Singh is active in the political field. It is no gainsaying the fact that he was one of the first Indian Ameericna businessmen backing Barack Obama for Senate and

There are main public festivals in Auckland and Wellington, with other events around the country becoming more popular and visible. In many Arab countries of Middle East, especially in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Aden Hindus privately hold this functtion. In the United States, with increasing Indian population, Diwali is assuming significant importance year after year. Diwali was first celebrated in the White House in 2003 and was given official status by the United States Congress in 2007. Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend

Diwali at the White House in 2009. Indians in the US celebrate Diwali in different parts of the US, just as in India. The Diwali Mela in Cowboys Stadium boasted an attendance of 100,000 people in 2009. In 2009, San Antonio became the first U.S. city to sponsor an official Diwali celebration including a fireworks display and 5000 people in attendance. In large cities like Chicago, New Jersey, Houston, Texas and San Jose in California, Diwali is celebrated with tens of thousands Indians, especially Gujaratis participating and enjoying the Ras Garba.

Diwali will be hot both in India and U.S. Perhaps Indian Americans will celebrate this Diwali in a better way. "As we see the U.S. economic and political conditions, more and more young people are participating in social and political activities and we saw many local and State offices being occupied by Indian Americans. Similarly Obama Administration appointed more than 20 promising Indians in senior positions at the White House. Many Indian American young executives are now sitting on the Board of large reputed business undertakings and are made CEOs. This automatically exposes our presence in the social and political milieu and has made Indian Americans more respectable. Celebration of Diwali with families and friends kindles our inspiration to understand and then get to learn more about Hindu Dharma, a spiritual tradition that is the most ancient and most tolerant. Throughout history, seldom there have been incidences of Hindu kings invading other countries, except within the territory of Bharat from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir and Assam to Dwarka. When the battles were fought rules of warfare were observed without giving any opportunity for soldiers to plunder and pillage the cities and villages and violate the honor or women, children and elderly. This was so until the first invasion came from Mongols. Once the Islamic invasion began it was nothing but the story of killing, rape and murder in millions. Perhaps, if the records of this woeful period had been kept one could infer that no other country could claim more bloodshed and killings than India, i.e. Bharat.

Rehashing the events of history further, he narrated that India welcomed and sustained all kinds of people who sought her refuge. From the first plight of Jews after they were driven away from their motherland by Nebuchadnezzar, and then Parsees when they flew from Iran by Islamic persecution. Then came the invasions from Huns, Kushanas, Arabs, Mongols and then Moguls before the English took over the country. Indian people suffered these savageries of human assaults and also natural calamities and obviously developed great sense of tolerance and endurance. This obviously became a part of their culture and character. But they did not perish, but continue to grow from strength to strength, now numbering nearly a billion! This is after hundreds of millions killed through millennia by the invaders, who finally settled in the fertile land of Bharat. Do Indians need anything more to be proud of? No other people or history has repeated this valor or nobility. What would have happened, if only there had been resistance, revengeful killings and counter attacks? Hindus would have been counted among the devils on horseback. But Hindus outshine in their virtues, character and endurance, and also never diminished their dignity. Indians are once again on the drivers' seat and lead the world in numerous fields of excellence. India is the only country that can claim to be the most ancient, most tolerant and most enduringly virtuous. Let every Indian, irrespective of his or her intellectual or religious persuasion be proud of this magnificent achievement, seldom repeated in the history

Harendra Mangrolia Heading a succesful business in the construction field in Chicago, Harendra Mangrolia feels that in view of the mobility of Indians who spread across allmost all parts of the World, especially, US, UK, Europe, many African countries, Middle East and Far East, celebration of Diwali has become a universal phenomena. More people other than Indians, especially Hindus are now aware of Diwali than ever before. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

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Where is the Diwali mood? Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 18

He explained that in Brittain Hindus and Sikhs celebrate Diwali with great enthusiasm and in most ways very similarly to as in India. They light lamps or candles in their homes.People also give each other sweets and different communities get-together to celebrate the festival. In US and UK places where large number of Gujaratis are settled mostly the festival is celebrated under their leadership. Where Hindu community in general is large all Hindus get together to celebrate Diwali, just as it is held in Chicago's Hindu Temple at Lemont. But all Hindu temples hold this celebration with great reverence to Goddess Laxmi, the patron deity of Diwali, as the goddes of wealth. About Indo-US relations, he felt that though in the beginning, President Obama was not very enthusiastic about Indo-US relations, he is however coming to realize the importance of India in world affairs and in realization of which, is going to India soon, which hopefully

is expected to be catalytic for building a strategic economic and political relationship. Mangrolia felt that the US economy is now slowly coming out of recession and that "We could reasonably expect an economic upswing in coming year and this expectation itself is a great morale booster for all of us, livening up the Diwali mood."

Iftekhar Shareef Buoyed by the enthusiasm after meeting with President Obama

during his visit to Chicago, Iftekhaar Shareef, former FIA president and a businessman, hoped that he would come to Hyderabad during his forthcoming tour to India in November.

ing up; lesser foreclosures compared to 2009, even in residential sector foreclosures have been substantially low. He however cautioned that we should be more patient for a complete recovery

Prevalent mood this year was certainly much better than last year as retail and hotel-motel industry is picking up; lesser foreclosures compared to 2009, even in residential sector foreclosures have been substantially low Comparing the enjoyment of the last year celebration to that of this Diwali, he said he would have a better Diwali in USA this year because it is now officially declared that the recession was over, and that the country was moving forward with the great leadership of President Barack Obama as his team added 3 million new jobs in less than one year. According to Shareef, prevalent mood this year was certainly much better than last year as retail and hotel-motel industry is pick-

from recession. He agreed that coming year will be the harbinger of better things because of many factors, especially as the IT sector is slowly coming back, wireless is becoming the way to go in future business. "We will see wireless technology taking over in all kinds and aspects of business, including medicine, communication, science and other technology." He projected that Indian economy just like last year will improve by 7% GDP, especially with surplus rain-fall around Gangetic valley in north and Krishna and Godavari in South, which were filled up to capacity. This means the agricultural sector will show a positive growth, which is very important for the people of India. He added that auto industry has shown a very positive trend in mid sized cars like Maruti, Tatas, Honda and Toyotas. Of course the high end cars like Jaguar, BMW's, Audi, Volkswagen and even Rolls Royce are being used by upper class sector. Lajpat Madan One of the oldest jewelers in Chicagoland, now having his store in Schaumburg, Lajpat Madan said that the Indian community is becoming more vibrant socially, and participating widely in the political process of the U.S. With its clout increasing Indian community has been able o establish its distinct identity. Therefore many religious and social events have been celebrated, among them Diwali which is among the more popular. Indians have become more vocal and are creating awareness of their culture and traditions with their American brethren and obviously the attraction and celebration of Diwali is becoming more and more popular year after year. He said that the sluggish growth of U.S. economy had not impeded the enthusiasm of Indian community in celebrating Diwali. Because of booming Indian economy there is rather upsurge in Diwali festivities and its buoyancy has increased this year, ac-

cording to the reports from his friends and relatives. In fact even the threat of terrorist attack has diminished the spirit of Diwali.. He emphasized that the booming economy and consequent improvement in the infrastructure and growing middle class and steady expansion of the middle class by convergence of the poor into it is changing the social and economic landscape in India. India has a long way to go but according to pundits India is likely to catch up with China, if not in GNP but percentage of growth. He attributed this upswing to the entrepreneurship of the people and dynamism of private sector. India is politically stable, despite infighting among the political parties. Only the slight cause for disturbance is the hostility of neighboring countries, especially Pakistan and China. He thought there is no possibility of derailing the growth of Indian economy and predicted a growth rate of conservative 8.5% this year and this will continue for many more years to come. Obama administration has hopefully come to realize the importance of strategic partnership with India as its dominance has begun to wane. As European Union has begun to work with the policy of mutual adjustment, India and China are getting stronger. U.S. should move with cautious consensus and build strategic partnership with emerging global powers, like India

Mafat Patel Often described as uncrowned King of Devon Avenue (India Town in Chicago) Mafat Patel said that Diwali mood this year is virtually extinct. "Tell me where is Diwali for the past two years. This year is worse and I am not sure if the next year will be significantly better although we hope that things would change," he quipped, Citing debacle in the housing sector, he said that a house that was priced $1,5 million a couple of years ago had no buyers even at $450,000 now. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 22

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PATEL BROTHERS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA ILLINOISHEAD QUARTERS: 2610 W. DEVON AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60659 T: 773-262-7777/773-764-1857 F: 773-764-7941 873 E. SCHAUMBURG ROAD SCHAUMBURG IL 60193 T: 847-524-1111 F: 847-524-1558 INDIANA PATEL BROTHERS 4150 FAFAYETTE RD, SUTIE F&G INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46254 T. 317-293-8345 F: 317-293-8395 KENTUCKY PATEL BROTHERS 1830, HURSTBOURNE PKWY LOUISVILLE, KY 40220 T: 502-499-9791 F: 502-499-9216 GEORGIA PATEL BROTHERS 1711, CHURCH STREET DECATURE, GA 30033 T: 404-296-2696 F: 404-296-2698 MISSISSIPPI PATEL CASH & CARRY 6800 W. OLD CANTON RD SUITE 102 RIGDELAND, MS 39157 T. 601-952-0332 PATEL BROTHERS 1999 HWY 80 WEST SUITE 15 JACKSON, MS 39204 T: 601-353-6611 F: 601-353-0420

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November 5, 2010

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India Post

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November 5, 2010

Where is the Diwali mood? Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 8

In India, in sharp contract, people are excited and celebrate Diwali in the usual happy and gay mood. The economy is booming as reflected in the share prices which nearly doubled in the past one year. "But for heavy inflationary pressures, people all around India would really be having excellent Diwali festivities. We sometimes envy them," he said. Mafat Patel was not very sanguine about the coming year. He felt that there was small chance that the economy could revive the way the people want in coming Vikram Samvant year. This is largely because of unimaginative economy strategy followed by the government. The emphasis should be on creation of jobs and flow of money from banking sector to the trading and manufacturing areas. This is not happening and till that time we cannot expect any noticeable change in the economic scene. India again offers a sharp contrast. There is surge in activity everywhere. If the government controls inflation, the people at large would reap the benefits of economic boom Mafatbhai was very upbeat about improvement in Indo-US relations in coming year. "We are two large democracies and face common problem of terrorism. President Barack Obama is slowly recognizing the importance of India as a strategic partner and his upcoming visit would give a further boost to bilateral relations," he observed.

taken several actions to put it in order and there are already signs of rebounding. Naren observed that Obama's visit to India is indicative of significant new and more meaningful partnership, just as President Bush foresaw a dynamic change in positive direction. Views of the White House on Indo-US relations are taking off with a more vigorous approach to all outstanding issues. Perhaps, along with the rest of the world, US is realizing the potential of India and the need to further strengthen it. A harbinger of a new partnership between two of the leading democratic republics of the world! As far as Indian Americans, he said Indian business community never looked back and they are marching ahead. "I think they are unaffected, especially because of their lifestyle and perception about frugal money management, based on commonsense driven fiscal responsibility. He projected that both here and back home Diwali will be celebrated in greater exuberance. Both economy and the spirit of business community is keeping pace with the positive trend. Whereas India's growth is unhindered, US, he emphasized will be back on the saddle.

for us and there are things, which do not work. May be due to uncertain economic conditions there is an air of despair in the U.S. But as far as Indian community is concerned, many of them are professionals and successful businesspersons. Many have begun with political ambitions and strive for the progress of the community through political influence. "In good time or bad, Indian Americans have tried to live frugally, without being ostentatious, or spend what they do not have. I am sure it is our secret that has made our community what it is - highly successful, educated and exhibiting potential to endure in business, profession and preserving our values and culture in America." He asserted that one cannot live in negativity. Hope is the link for life and progress. "We must dream for higher achievement. We have shown that there is no substitute for hard work. Self effort and Grace of God are two unfailing instruments for success. We must dream. Dream reasonably and strive. If you have faith and perseverance to reach the goal and have trust with your Maker, you are going to be better in every step of your way. We are children of one father, in whatever name you call him, adore him or challenge him. Father always loves his children." According to Niranjan Shah life is celebration. We human beings celebrate in different ways and manners. Diwali is one of such occasion, when you celebrate, pray, play and dream for better things to come.

try to turn around given the federal deficit and trade deficit. As far as India is concerned politically it looks stable although BJP may gain power. It is a sad commentary on the fact that in spite of all the foreign money pouring in the country, it has not filtered through to poor people and the money is not spent building infrastructure unlike what is done in China. The corruption still plays a major role in this matter and is a big obstacle to further progress. It is an impediment to India becoming world super power and competing against China.

Sunil Shah An ebullient Sunil Shah, a highly successful Life/Healh/Investment Insurance broker in Chicago, said that he was there in India recently and found India's economy is booming, unlike anything he had known before. "It has become the most preferred destination for foreign direct investment," he said The World Bank has projected in its global development finance report that Indian economy will grow at 8% in 2010

He said that President Obama, despite earlier lackluster enthusiasm about its growth, has now taken several actions to put it in order and there are already signs of rebounding

Naren Patel A well known leader as well as a successful business man heading MedStar Laboratorty, is upbeat about continuing industrial/business growth in India. In spite of many constrains with U.S. economy Naren is clearly an optimist of US economic condition and feels that economy will rebound. He said that President Obama, despite earlier lackluster enthusiasm about its growth, has now

Niranjan Shah A front ranking community leader and a prominent businessman heading highly prestigious engineering company Globetrotters Engineering Coprporaiton, in Chicago talked sagaciously adding a spiritual dimension to the celebraion. He said that it is human nature to look at the past. However, recalling the famous words of Oman Khayyam, he said Yesterday has become the past, tomorrow is not born, but we only have today and we should enjoy it and celebrate the moment. We should live in Today. He suggested that in life there are things which work sometime

We worship the Goddess of Wealth. In Hindu view of life, "wealth constitutes one of the four important elements for a happy life- Dharma (Virtue), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Sexual Desire), Moksha (Liberation)." Sharad Parikh A practicing general and vascular surgeon in private practice for 35 yrs and an active member of Indian community in St .Louis, Dr Sharad Parikh, said that the overall joy and the celebrations of Diwali are somewhat dampened this year and the mood is somber overall given the economic recession in this country. It is anticipated that it is going to take a long time for this coun-

which would make it the fastest growing economy in the world for the first time, surpassing China which is projected to grow at 7.7% rate. "We have witnessed better performance in infrastructure, social sector and finance sector compared to 2009. Stock market is buoyant, real estate business is thriving," he said Diwali, the festival of lights, has truly lightened up the dampened spirit of common people and gives them excuse to forget their woes, at least for a while and join in the festivities with gay abandon. Let the lights of Diwali light up the hearths of the hungry and hearts of the lonely. Let the festive air blow from the

lowliest huts of India to the domes of the White House and let the true spirit of Diwali (which signifies the victory of light over darkness ) and the truth over dishonesty pervade everywhere irrespective of caste, creed, colour and social status.

Thakkar Basati A well known real estate broker in Chicago land and a Sikh commmunity activist, Thakkar Basati observed that he was preparing to go to India and hoped to enjoy Diwali in its kaleidoscopic splendor as however rooted to his local culture, the gaiety of a festival in its birth land has its distinct flavor. He agreed with majority of Indian Americans that the prevalent mood in the light of compared to last year was better.Will the coming year be harbinger of better things? He hoped that as the economic and political situations are showing signs of improvement, the ambience does look better. He mused that we had seen enough tragedy so it was high time that we are on the threshold to see light at the end of tunnel. For Sikhs, Diwali is particularly important because it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, and by his urging 52 other Hindu princes in the custody of Mogul Emperor Jahangir from the Gwalior Fort in 1619. The Sikhs celebrated the return of Guru Har Gobind by lighting the Golden Temple and this tradition continues today. Answering the question about his outlook on Indian economic and political conditions he clearly saw more stability as the older, greedy and corrupt leadership giving way to new blood which is not only more dynamic but also equipped for global competition. His only hope was that the young generation would deliver a deathblow to the rampant corruption, as is evident from the instances of Commonwealth Games.

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India Post November 5, 2010

India Post

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November 5, 2010

Inspiring conference of Hindu Mandir Executives India Post News Service

HOUSTON, TX: From the smallest Hindu temple in Houston, located in an apartment complex where many refugees from Nepal reside, to the only temple for Goddess Meenakshi in the West, to the beautiful white marble BAPS temple, many local Hindus came and joined with Hindus involved as executives and active volunteers of over 90 Hindu Mandirs (Temples) from various parts of the US and Canada this past weekend. This took place in northern Houston at the fifth annual Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference (HMEC) from October 22-24. As one of the speakers with a military background, Shri Harnek Singh from Austin Gurudwara said from the podium, "The entire event went so smooth from beginning to end that it was like a military drill." Delegates are already looking forward to next year's conference in the Ohio area which will be hosted by several temples from the upper mid-west. Addressing the conference by video, Swami Dayananda Saraswati of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam (AVG), emphasized that the Hindu Mandirs need to work together to stand up to external forces trying to interfere with their activities and goals. He suggested several concrete steps by which to do this which were accepted by the conference. Other prominent speakers included Swami Tattvavidananda

L-R: Krishna Maheshwari, Prem Dixit, Keya Bhatt, Samir Asthana, Preya Dave, Hirsh Shukla, Tejas Dave, Priya Ramachandra, Bhakti Mehta

throughout the year. Vishal Agarwal, a scholar from Minnesota and Jignesh Patel of BAPS-Houston both were inspiring as they spoke of ways to involve the younger generation in Mandirs, including establishment of Youth Clubs for teenagers for whom traditional classes no longer appeal. The conference was enhanced by the participation both of large organizations like Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Arya Samaj, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, ISKCON, and Kauai's Hindu Monastery as well as small to large multi-cam-

Participants

Saraswati of AVG, and Swami Nikhilanand of Barsana Dham, who appreciated that "HMEC is helping to foster a spirit of fellowship and cooperation amongst the Hindu religious leadership in America." Paramacharya Palaniswami of Hinduism Today spoke about using Festivals to inform others about Hindu traditions. A special gift to all attendees was a CD of ready-to-publish layouts for various festivals

pus Hindu temples from throughout North America. A feature of the program, for the first time, was a Gala night to which all local Hindus were invited, not only those who are temple executives. This included a delicious meal and talks by Krishna Maheshwari, a secondgeneration Hindu; and Gaurangbhai Nanavaty who is the respected Acharya of the local Chinmaya Mission-Houston,

who provided some very practical guidance. A special award was given to Ramesh Bhutada, a businessman who devotes much of his time and resources to community work, including donations to NGOs involved in health, education and youth activities. There were extraordinary dances by Rathna Kumar's Anjali Center of Dance and a very colorful and energetic folk dance by the young men of BAPS. Girish Naik, representing Hindus of Greater Houston which

Swami Dayananda Saraswati of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam (AVG), emphasized that the Hindu Mandirs need to work together to stand up to external forces trying to interfere with their activities and goals organized the Gala night, relinquished his time so that the Jiv Jago group from ISKON-Houston could take the stage and present their bhajans and devotional dances in which the audience joyfully joined. The national and local volunteers from VHPA and host Mandirs had worked shoulder to shoulder for over nine months to organize the conference. Dr. Umesh Shukla, the convener of the conference, remarked that "with the 5th HMEC we have reached a milestone in es-

tablishing co-operation among the Hindu Mandirs and Hindu organizations to nourish and sustain Hindu Dharma in North America." The attendees, many of who had been involved in the earlier conferences were in agreement that the fifth conference was one of the best. They were appreciative of the many local volunteers, both youth and adults, who worked hard behind the scenes, helping with food, airport transportation, "goody" bags and more. Nirav Patel, a young volunteer, said afterward "Not only I had fun volunteering in different

Canada. Delegates ranged in ages from teenagers to those in their eighty's and also came from a variety of ethnic and career backgrounds. As conference host, Dr. Sharma Tadepalli extended on behalf of the six host temples and the other 19 participating Texas mandirs a "Texas-size" welcome. Sri Meenakshi Temple which had accepted the hosting of this year's conference was joined by VPSS-Houston, Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, Hindu Temple of The Woodlands, Dallas/Fort Worth Temple, and Barsana Dham. As a

Attendees

departments, but I also learned more about Hinduism and I also learned the importance of time management." Due to massive efforts by many volunteers, there were more than 250 delegates from nearly 100 temples and Hindu organizations. The temples and Hindu organizations represented included those from as far away as Hawaii and California, Massachusetts and Florida, as well as from

'by-product' of hosting the conference, Texas Mandirs, of which 25 participated, have become more united and able to work cooperatively, benefiting all. One of the aims of the HMEC is to assist in the development of networks and relationships between Mandir executives so that a cohesive and focused HinduAmerican community is created with Mandirs as its nucleus. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 26

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India Post November 5, 2010

India Post

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November 5, 2010

Inspiring conference of Hindu Mandir Executives Cont’d from page 24

The participants were focused on developing programs to provide leadership to nourish, protect and sustain Hindu Dharma in North America. There was also an emphasis on service to the broader community through blood drives, health fairs, school supply donations and tutoring projects. A special feature of this year's program was the inclusion of more young people and more women and topics of special interest to those groups. Preya Dave, one of the youth leaders, stated that "after hearing speakers and having our own youth sessions, I was empowered and ready to be the change in our Hindu Community." Another youth participant, Hirsh Shukla appreciated the "opportunity to connect with fellow Hindu youth." And because the action

following a conference makes it worthwhile, it was encouraging to have Keya Bhatt commenting that she is "looking forward to implementing the action items from this HMEC with (her) fellow youth leaders." Samir Asthana, a young lawyer who has attended several HMECs, stated that "the landscape of the Hindu community in America is slowly evolving and refining itself thanks in large part to the work accomplished at, and through, HMEC." One comment made in the youth session really went to the heart of the matter: "The needs of upcoming youth should be understood; temples and youth organizations need one another. Neither one can isolate one from the other." Abhinav Suraiya, recent University of Texas graduate, stated that the "topic

about his "personal involvement in the development of the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands." HMEC organizers did not hesitate to include possibly controversial topics in the various sessions.

There was also an emphasis on service to the broader community through blood drives, health fairs, school supply donations and tutoring projects that most grasped my interest was the importance of youth involvement in Hindu communities and temples." He continued that attending HMEC helped him think

Sahna Reddy, a University of Texas student, stated that the topics included ones such as "the proper definition of a Hindu and the portrayal of Hinduism in schools and the public media. It is important for Hindus of all ages to think about these topics as they will shape the future growth and development of Hinduism here in America." Another topic discussed at the

conference was the contribution to better inter-group understanding throughout the US by the inclusion of main-stream Americans in celebrations of festivals. A good example of this is the community-wide Janmashtami celebration sponsored by "Hindus of Greater Houston" for the past 20 years. Other examples of festivals as celebrated throughout the US were presented. Displays from several suppliers of books (including VHPA) and temple software management systems, as well as by local organizations contributed to the benefits offered to the delegates. Several out-of-towners also enjoyed visits to Sri Meenakshi Temple and BAPS Mandir. An example of collaboration is the cooperative effort just beginning through which temples can combine their orders for various supplies and temple needs for better prices and convenience. Likewise, insurance programs providing medical coverage for priests and staff of various temples might be possible in the near future.

TV program on Hindu thought & culture SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Telecasting a Tamil TV program on Hindu culture from Chennai for nearly six years by now, Kumari Krishnan, the organizer, said in a telephonic talk with this paper that that she had been running this program with the purpose of creating awareness about this age old philosophy and thought. She said that they had broadcast more than 1500 such programs (of 30 minutes each). Their organization had approached over 1000 temples in Tamilnadu, created awareness among them and the people in that circle. "We have telecast their views and the temple's involvement in social and religious activities. We have conducted 20 debates with great minds like Jeyandra Saraswathi Swamigal, Rama Gopalan (Hindu Munnani), Shiva Shankar Baba, L.Ganesan (B.J.P.), R.B.V.S. Maniyan (V.H.P.) and many others on Hindu culture in open auditoriums with the public along with question and answer sessions." "We have also telecast talks of Acharyas like Jeyandra Saraswathi Swamigal, Dayanandha Saraswathi Swamigal, Shiva Shankar Baba and other great spiritual personalities. We have been conducting spiritual quiz competitions about

Hindu culture for the past 16 years in which about 1000 students from 30 schools take part every year. We are also publishing a Hindu awareness magazine (monthly) for the past 2 ½ years." She said that TV being an efficient and effective method of communication to reach the community at large "we have decided to start 24-hour Hinduism channel in all Indian languages." The first step of the same is our "Dharisana" a 24 hour Hindu

She said that TV being an efficient and effective method of communication to reach the community at large ‘we have decided to start 24-hour Hinduism channel in all Indian languages’ channel in Tamil. "We are working on it and the channel will start broadcasting in about 6 months," she announced. She urged all Hindus and supporters to participate in launching the "Dharisana TV" and become a part of it. For further details and participation, please contact: Kumari Krishnan Call 9840439025, 04424794928 or vishwadharisanam@gmail.com , www.vishwadharisanam.com

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Lakshmi Pooja L

akshmi was the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and took refuge in the ocean of milk when the gods were sent into exile. Lakshmi was reborn during the Churning of the Ocean. As soon as the gods saw Lakshmi, they all fell in love with her beauty. Shiva claimed Lakshmi as his wife, but since he had already taken the Moon, her hand was given to Vishnu, whom Lakshmi herself preferred. Lakshmi is the goddess of light,

which the kalash is placed. Then offer haldi, kumkum, and flowers to the water that is to be used for the puja. Invoke the river goddesses to be part of this water. Invoke goddess: Lakshmi by reciting the Vedic mantras addressed to her. One can also recite the mantras mentioned in the Puranas or simply take some flowers in your hands, close your eyes, and think of goddess Lakshmi being showered with gold coins by two elephants standing on either

beauty, good fortune and wealth. While Laxmi is generally worshiped to achieve success, she does not reside long with anyone who is lazy or desire her only as wealth. Steps of Lakshmi Pooja Spread a new cloth on a raised platform: Place a handful of grains in the center and, on this, place a kalash (pitcher) made of gold, silver, copper, or terracotta. Fill threefourth of the kalash with water and place a betel nut, a flower, a coin, and some rice grains in it. Arrange five kinds of leaves or mango leaves in the kalash . Place a small dish on the kalash and fill it with rice grains. Draw a lotus with turmeric powder ( haldi ) over the rice grains and place the idol of goddess Lakshmi over it, along with coins. Place the idol of Ganesha: In front of the kalash, on the right (South-West direction), place the idol of Ganesha. Also place ink and books related to your business or occupation on the platform. Light a lamp and begin the puja by offering haldi, kumkum, and flowers to the platform on

side of Her and chant Her name. Then offer the flowers to the idol. Place the idol of Lakshmi: Place the idol of Lakshmi in a plate and bathe it with water, panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee or clarified butter, honey, and sugar) and then with water containing some gold ornament or a pearl. Wipe the idol clean and place it back on the kalash. Alternately, you can just sprinkle water and panchamrit on the idol with a flower. Offerings: Offer sandal paste, saffron paste, perfume ( itr ), haldi, kumkum, abeer, and gulal to the goddess. Offer a garland of cotton beads to the goddess. Offer flowers, especially the marigold flowers and leaves of Bel (wood apple tree). Light an incense stick and dhoop. Make an offering of sweets, coconut, fruits, and tambul. Make an offering of puffed rice and batasha. Pour some puffed rice, batasha, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds over the idol. Safe where you keep money and jewelry; Worship this safe as a symbol of Lord Kuber.

Deepavali The clear blue sky, The scent of flowers, The colours of Rangoli, And the sound of crackers. The gifts and sweets from dear ones, And the getting of their love, The light of the candles below, And the dazzling fireworks up above. Lighting lamps at our homes, Making the less fortunate smile, Putting on new apparels, Show our friends some style. Paying respects to the gods, And decorating for them the thali, This is what the occasion is all about, This is the spirit of Deepavali.

India Post November 5, 2010

Happy Diwali It's the "Festival of Lights" today, It's again the day of Diwali, It's time to dress up folks, It's time to adorn the thali. It's the occasion to throng the temples, Pray to the Gods and give them offerings, It's an opportunity to entreat the deities, To bless us all and rid us of sufferings. It's the day to light the diyas, Ignite the rockets and burst crackers, But it's also the time to be safe, From the fireworks and all the sparklers. It's the season to pay a visit, To all our friends and relations, To hand them over sweets and presents, Diwali is our splendid chance. But while you spend a time of joy, Don't think it's merriment all the way, Out there wait many of those, For whom it's no time to be gay. Denied of laughter and smiles for days, They know not what it is to enjoy, Can you not share something you have, Can you not bring them a little joy? When you can make someone else smile When you can be someone's ally That's when you can yourself be glad That's when you'll have a HAPPY DIWALI!

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India Post November 5, 2010

Desi News

Amazing Shabana thriller raises funds for Sahara URMI PATEL

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

'People now have a viable alternative to Lungren' Details on page 31

29 India Post LOS ANGELES: Through the astounding one-woman performance of Shabana Azmi; renowned leading Indian actress of parallel cinema, demonstrating both realism and naturalism in her work; South Asian Helpline & Referral Agency (SAHARA) was able to raise a substantial amount of donations to continue offering culturally sensitive support services to the South Asian Indian community who are victims of domestic violence and deal with other mental health issues.

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November 5, 2010

Democratic Forum launched to bring community together

Details on page 30

12-day Navratri Raas Garba in Riverside VICTORIA TRUVER

RIVERSIDE: Riverside's Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir was gaily decorated with for the annual Navratri Raas Garba. Colorful lights had been strung across the ceiling and bright saris draped and hung for a fantastic effect. The event lasted twelve days and the largest number of exuberant devotees attended on the weekends when over 1200 were present for the festivities. Age was no barrier when it came to dancing in the circle around the Goddess Amba. Children barely able to walk danced just as enthusiastically as seniors. Details on page 34

Vote for Krishnan as CNN hero of year India Post News Service

(L to R): Yogi Chugh, Congressman Pete Stark, Robin Torello, Joe Johal & Dr. Romesh Japra

Congressman Pete Stark with Dr. Romesh Japra

KAVITA ARORA India Post News Service

FREMONT: Over 250 people gathered on a rainy afternoon on October 24 as Dr. Romesh and Sunita Japra graciously opened their home to launch the Indian American Democratic Forum of Alameda County (IADFAC) in Fremont. "The main charter for the IADFAC is to bring our community together, a group where 90% people in the people in our County are democrats. The first objective for us is to get members and as many people involved. We need to look at the organizational structure, its bylaws, and create a powerhouse. Our scope is outreach, voter registration, have a speaker series, internships, candidate recruitment, and a fundraising plan. It's a grass roots operation. It's your group, so you should get involved," Joe Johal said, as he en-

Dr. Japra, urged the group to become members, register to vote, vote, and encourage others to vote." Dr. Japra also urged leaders in other counties to become actively involved ergized the audience. The South Asian demographic in Alameda County has grown over the years. There are approximately 53,798 Asian Indians, of which there are 34,032 Asian Indians in Fremont, 8,187 in Union City, 5,178 in Hayward. Individually our community leaders have done very well but we need to organize our-

selves and become a unified voice. The main charter for this group is to bring the people together," said Joe Johal. Dr. Japra, urged the group to become members, register to vote, vote, and encourage others to vote." Dr. Japra also urged leaders in other counties to become actively involved.

Details on page 34 A view of the audience

"If we don't have the youngsters, referring to the population between age 18 to 30, our efforts will be wasted. The youth are our resource. I think what you are doing here today is giving the young people a place to focus. We have the largest group, a wonderful school, an excellent group of educated kid, and with most likely all going to college. We should be proud of what this community has brought to us," remarked Congressman Pete Stark, referring to the South Asian community in Alameda County. IADFAC's primary interest is to further the goals of the Democratic Party," Congressman Stark told India Post. Yogi Chugh, Chair of the Tri-City Democratic Forum, said in his personal capacity, that "tonight is about the community, moving along the democratic philosophies and making sure that we are good democrats." Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 30

30 India Post

Community Across America

November 5, 2010

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Amazing Shabana thriller raises funds for Sahara URMI PATEL

LOS ANGELES: Through the astounding one-woman performance of Shabana Azmi; renowned leading Indian actress of parallel cinema, demonstrating both realism and naturalism in her work; South Asian Helpline & Referral Agency (SAHARA) was able to raise a substantial amount of donations to continue offering culturally sensitive support services to the South Asian Indian community who are victims of domestic violence and deal with other mental health issues. On Sunday, October 24, over 300 guests gathered into the Aratani/Japanese American Theatre near Downtown Los Angeles to experience this amazing psychological thriller. For the first time, three theatre legends - actress Shabana Azmi, writer Girish Karnad, and director Alyque Padamsee - came together to create the play Broken Images. The most fascinating part of the play is that the talented actress Shabana Azmi plays a double roletwo facets of the same character. With the help of theatrical technology, the audience was in awe

as they witnessed two Shabana Azmis on the stage at the same time. The interaction between the two Shabana Azmis was timely and precious. The play has Shabana Azmi portraying the character Manjula

Manjula begins questioning whether she has betrayed her own language and identity by opting for the global audience by writing in English. This question increasingly haunts her until her own "image" without warning appears and

script, I said the play is so dramatic and challenging". "The play reveals itself as it unwinds. In that sense, it's a complete thriller because it takes the audience on a roller coaster ride and keeps them guessing who the villain is and

Sharma, a very successful Hindi short-story writer. She suddenly becomes wealthy and internationally famous by writing a best seller in English, which is not her native tongue. The plot unfolds when

becomes her confessor, psychologist, and inquisitor. It is through the presence of the other Shabana Azmi that the truth is revealed. Shabana Azmi stated, "The minute I finished reading the

who the victim is till the end". Writer Girish Karnad, makes a successful effort in demonstrating how a woman's heart and mind work with and against each other. SAHARA's Nirupa Sejal Parmar and President Rekha Bajarai presented awards to Shabana Azmi, as well as others who have played a pivotal role in promoting this event as well as financially sup-

Democratic Forum launched to bring community together Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 29

Alameda County Democratic Party Chair Robin Torello told India Post, "Alameda County is the largest democratic party by percentage. We also have more people registering as absentees. There is still time for you to take an active role. You can do a lot of things from now to election day such as driving people to the polls and talking to your neighbors to work together to get good democratic candidates elected." Dr. Harmesh Kumar and Madan

Arora are already gearing up to start a group in Contra Costa County. This event was followed by a

fundraiser to re-elect Bill Harrison to the Fremont City Council. Kavita Arora is Anchor & CoProducer of Sitaarre TV

porting the efforts of this nonprofit agency. Ms. Azmi was surprised to receive flowers from one of her dearest fans, NBC Heroes actor Sendhil Ramamurthy. Audience also had the chance to view SAHARA's new marketing campaign, including their new video discussing the various programs under the umbrella of SAHARA. Throughout the evening patrons participated in a silent auction, and at the close of the event, the items bid on were sold; including exotic saris, trips, wine tasting events, tickets to see popular TV show tapings, art works, and other gift baskets. Deepak and Nandini Chopra also graciously sponsored an invitation only V.I.P. cocktail hour prior to the show and buffet dinner immediately after the show. SAHARA raised around $250K from Sunday night's event. SAHARA extended a special thanks to Dr. Vinod & Jayashree Jivrajka and Dr. Mehar Tabatabai and Qaiser Madad for each donating 50K..

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'People now have a viable alternative to Lungren' SIDDHARTH NAG

FREMONT: The 3rd Congressional District has voted Republican the past few cycles, and probably was expected by many to do so again this time around for Dan Lungren. Yet, on the eve of Election Day, Democrat Dr Ami Bera finds himself in one of the most closely contested and exciting races in the country. In an interview, Dr Bera was asked what has made this race so competitive. In his reply, Dr Bera said, "One, this is a district that has been trending Democratic. Second, we've pulled out a tremendous campaign built from the grassroots built up by people who live here our neighbors, our friends, folks who are looking for something different - and we've done this through hundreds of house parties and coffee conversations, and today that's manifest with a volunteer organization that's made up of over 3,400 volunteers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That builds a tremendous base. Those are people who are making phone calls and knocking on doors, and contributing to the race. That's given us the resources necessary to run this race. The people here are starved for something other than Dan Lungren, which they're demonstrating by their voting. They've been voting against Lungren in increasing numbers, and now they have a viable alternative. All this adds up to a long day on November 2nd for Dan Lungren. Q: You speak about being closely aligned to the interests and aspirations of the 3rd District. Tell us what the voters are looking for

voters in Sacramento are starting to see the influence of out-of-state money by outside interest groups to fund commercials against you, most prominently by the Karl Rove-linked group "American Crossroads." Can you talk a little about the effect this kind of outside money is having in this race? Dr Bera: It's unfortunate that Dan Lungren and the U.S. Supreme Court supported the Citizens United case that has allowed outside entities to pour money into a race. We're not going to lose because of Karl Rove, but this is the dark side of American politics today - that an organization that's funded by big oil companies can come in when their allies in Congress like Dan Lungren are losing, and pour money in, in order to protect their investment. It's almost like legalized corruption, in a way. If you look at Dan Lungren's contributions, he's received hundreds of thousands of dollars from big oil companies, from natural gas companies, from insurance companies, and these are same organizations that are pouring money into protecting his campaign. At the end of the day, I think the voters in this district know that Karl Rove is not going to represent them, and that Dan Lungren is not going to represent them. I have faith in the voters who live here. Q: As you're a practicing physician and medical school educator, you have insight into health care today unlike most politicians. Why is health care reform so crucial for broad-based economic re-

They're concerned first and foremost about jobs. If they can't pay their mortgage, if they can't pay their bills, they're rightfully worried. And Dan Lungren's been absent there in their congressman. Dr Bera: They're looking for someone who's engaged and listening to their concerns, and Dan Lungren has never done that. And they're concerned first and foremost about jobs. If they can't pay their mortgage, if they can't pay their bills, they're rightfully worried. And Dan Lungren's been absent there. I think we've offered an alternative through our hard work, through these conversations, and that's the best way to make your case - by actually demonstrating how you're going to lead. And we're going to lead by listening, and then having the courage to take forward tough ideas. Q: Because of the national attention your race is garnering,

covery and job creation? Dr Bera: As a doctor, I have to look at the world through the eyes of a physician taking care of patients. Health care is about patients. It can't be about profits, can't be about protecting the health insurance industry that makes billions of dollars. It can't be about protecting a pharmaceutical industry that's protecting its profits. It has to be about taking care of patients. I'm always going to view the world as a doctor. Q: Yet one of the criticisms being leveled against you by these outside interest groups is that the recently passed health reform package is bad for the economy and therefore your plan is bad for 3rd District. Is this a fair accusa-

tion? Dr Bera: It's not a fair accusation - in fact, it's an outright lie. If Dan Lungren had any integrity he'd actually point out that it was inaccurate. I've always said that this health care legislation doesn't go far enough in addressing the cost of health care, and making sure that health care is affordable for

community, and our campaign office and the people who volunteer with us reflect this district. Q: Can you comment on the role and potential for Indian-American candidates in future? Dr Bera: My advice to anyone, as I'm doing, is to run to represent all Americans and all those in your community. You're running to rep-

SPECIAL INTERVIEW I decided to run because the people of the 3rd Congressional district deserve real representation, and they deserve a congressman who's engaged in their lives and is fighting for them Americans. This is not a perfect bill. This is a bill that doesn't lower the cost of care. This is a bill that doesn't address the for-profit insurance industry, and we need to make them accountable to the American people. I would clearly state that Karl Rove's ad is misleading and false. Q: Readers of India Post have been treated to an exciting election season filled with dynamic Indian-American candidates for statehouse and Congressional offices. Can you tell us a little bit about why you decided to run for Congress? Dr Bera: I decided to run because the people of the 3rd Congressional district deserve real representation, and they deserve a congressman who's engaged in their lives and is fighting for them. They don't have that in Dan Lungren, and they do have that in Ami Bera. Q: How have you found the response by the Indian-American community to your run for Congress? Dr Bera: I think the IndianAmerican community is excited, I think they've been supportive. The younger generation of IndianAmericans is feeling inspired. People are working on the campaign. And this is a chance to give back to America. Q: Yet still, you've also gotten a very enthused response by a broad-spectrum of individuals in the district, and, really, across the region. As you said, that's reflected in your volunteer base, in your campaign staffâ&#x20AC;Ś Dr Bera: Absolutely, the majority of our support is broad-based

Dr Ami Bera

resent the people who are going to vote for you. You can't run a campaign just on one ethnic group or another ethnic group. You're representing all Americans if you're running for Congress. If you're running for city council, run to represent the people who live in your city. That's the best way to approach this, and that's what we've done. Q: What's going to win this for you on Election Day? Dr Bera: What's going to win this election are the over 3,400 volunteers tireless working on this campaign, talking to their friends and neighbors, making phone calls - we've now made over 400,000 phone calls and door knocks.

We're going to make sure we get people out there to vote, and we're going to let them know that there's a clear choice in this election: Ami Bera, who's going to represent them, or Dan Lungren, who's going to go on a full-on vacation. Q: How have you found your experience running for Congress? Dr Bera: It's been a privilege to run. I've had thousands of conversations with folks. In many ways, it's similar [to practicing medicine] because you're also listening to people's hopes, their dreams like you do with your patients. As a candidate for Congress, I've had that privilege of listening to thousands of folks and listening to their hopes, dreams, and concerns. To find myself at this stage of a Congressional campaign, neck & neck with a career politician like Dan Lungren, I think it's great. This has been a wonderful experience, and unlike anything I've had the privilege of doing. Q: Any last word for our readers? Dr Bera: As we go into these last crucial days, knowing that Karl Rove and his corporate buddies are trying to buy this race, we're going to run a grassroots race to the end; and, for our Indian-American community, and for your readers, now is time to engage in this race, if they have not already done so. And there are many ways to engage. They can volunteer on the campaign. They can call their friends and family that live in the Sacramento region and make sure they vote. And, finally, they can donate - which can be done through our website www.beraforcongress.com. The first step is supporting those candidates they believe in.

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SAN/Satrang hold Townhall 12-day Navratri Raas Garba in Riverside and Procession VICTORIA TRUVER

India Post News Service

ARTESIA, CA: On October 16 for National Coming Out Day, South Asian Network (SAN) and Satrang joined together to put on our first ever community town hall followed

by a festive street procession to raise the visibility of South Asian Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex Queer and Questioning (LGBTIQQ) persons along Pioneer Boulevard, the heart of "Little India." Around eighty community members gath-

ered at Artesia-Cerritos United Methodist Church to attend this historic event. Satrang is a social, cultural and support organization providing a safe space to empower and advocate for the rights of the South Asian LGBTIQ community in Southern California through education, networking, and outreach. South Asian Network (SAN) is community based, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health, empowerment and solidarity of the South Asian community in Southern California. This was the third consecutive time these organizations collaborated to highlight the South Asian LGBTIQQ community for National Coming Out day. The afternoon started out with creating an empowering atmosphere for the attendees, which included South Asian elderly folks, parents of LGBTIQQ community members, Satrang/SAN Board and Staff, Allies and community members of Satrang. Videos created by Trikone (A South Asian LGBTIQQ support Org. in San Francisco) were screened chronicling the lives of South Asian Lesbian Gays and Transgender folks, followed by an informative skit highlighting issues faced by LGBTIQQ Community. A panel of professionals, who work towards equality including, marriage, immigration, benefits, legal, etc shared updates on these areas with the attendees.

Vote for Krishnan as CNN hero of year India Post News Service

arayanan Krishnan, all of 29 years old now, does what he was professionally trained to do as a chef. Feed people. Only Krishnan does not do this in the swanky confines of a 5-star hotel. Every day, he wakes up at 4 am, cooks a simple hot meal and then, along with his team, loads it in a van and travels about 200 km feeding the homeless in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Krishnan feeds, often with his hands, almost 400 destitute people every day. And for those who need it, he provides a free haircut too. According to CNN, eight years ago, this award-winning chef with a five-star hotel chain was all set to go to Switzerland for a high-profile posting. On a visit to a Madurai temple, he came across a homeless, old man eating his own human waste. That stark sight changed Krishnan's life. Much to the dismay of his par-

Narayanan Krishnan

ents, CNN says, Krishnan abandoned his career plans and decided to spend his life and his pro-

fessional training in looking after those who could not care for themselves. He has provided more than 1.2 million hot meals through his nonprofit organization Akshaya Trust, and now hopes to extend this to shelter for the homeless too. Krishnan is the only Indian in a list of 10 heroes that CNN has picked worldwide to honour. One of them will be chosen CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public through an online poll. If many Indians get together to vote for this inspiring man, he can win by a long mile. If Krishnan wins he will get $100,000 in addition to the $25,000 that he gets for being shortlisted for the Top 10. Akshaya Trust needs all the monetary support it can get to build on Krishnan's dream. Let's help him get there. Vote for Krishnan here If clicking on the above link does not work, please copy this : http:// heroes.cnn.com/vote.aspx and paste it in your browser address

seniors. Babies were held in their dancing mother's arms enjoying their first Raas Garba. The music was provided by Lakhiya Musical Group on weekdays and Vallabh Bhai Ladwa on weekends. On the last day the contest for best-dressed and best-performance was held. The broad categories were from ages one to ten and ten and up. The Mandir was an amazing room filled with color as everyone came dressed in their finest. Every year one can hear the same refrain. "I wish the Garba was longer. Why does it have to end?"

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City of Fort Collins' spotlight on Hinduism India Post News Service

NEW YORK: In a groundbreaking motion this month, the City of Fort Collins, Colorado's Human Relations Commission is hosting an educational program about Hinduism. This unique event will commence with Vedic recitations and lighting of an auspicious oil lamp by the Mayor of Fort Collins. The event, called "Culture Classroom: Spotlight on Hinduism," will be held on Diwali day (November 5) at City Hall Council Chambers. This event will be organized by the Forum for Hindu Awakening (FHA), a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in the USA. Details on page 36

Enchanting spectacle from 'Dances of India'

Pratham's New York gala raises $1.7 million SRIREKHA CHAKRAVARTY India Post News Service

NEW YORK: At a big-ticket fundraiser held at New York City's Pierre Hotel, recently, Pratham USA honored Nobel laureate and Bharat Ratna recipient Amartya Sen with the second annual Pratham USA Award for Outstanding Service in Education. The gala also raised through auctions and pledges $1.7 million towards primary education of underprivileged children in India. Addressing the more than 500 guests gathered on the occasion, Arvind Sanger, Chairman, Pratham

Saxton further said education stands as the singular answer for all these challenges. "And as we talk of education, we cannot talk without including India," he said. In support of Pratham's fundraising efforts, Saxton exhorted the gathering with a cryptic: "It is not really giving until it hurts." On primary education in India, Amartya Sen said that even when

ASHWIN PATEL

ST. LOUIS: The St. Louis community was treated to an enchanting spectacle of dances as Missouri's premier Indian dance company, Dances of India, held its 33 rd Annual Premier Performance at Washington University's Edison Theatre on Oct. 8-9. Asha Prem is the Artistic Director of the company. The feature presentation was The Songs of Scheherezade-an original production, based on the tales of the Arabian Nights. The company presented magical, and often humorous, spins on the tales of Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sinbad. Details on page 38

UPAC sparkles in Diwali lights & delights ASIAN MEDIA USA

CHICAGO: Earthen lamps, exciting gifts, scrumptious sweets all around and candles are some of the essentials lightning up Diwali and one such event which had this aroma of India in Chicagoland was the Diwali celebration by the Uttar Pradesh Association of greater Chicago (UPAC). Held at Ashyana Banquets in Downers Grove, a south west Chicago suburb, on Sunday, October 24, the event, compered by Sujata Sharma, president UPAC had a start with the singing of American National Anthem followed by Indian National Anthem. It was attended by over 300 members and guests. Details on page 40

New York University President John Sexton speaking at 2010 Pratham Gala in NYC. Pics Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia

Pratham†Tri State†Gala in the Pierre Hotel in New York

the schools are not good statistically, they are having a great impact on the kids they teach. And referring to the Pratham logo of a smiling yellow faced blackboard, Sen said, "Blackboards do smile and make a difference in people's lives." Rukmini Banerjee, one of Pratham India directors made a presentation on Pratham's work

and talked about the resourcefulness of its team and volunteers in managing against systemic challenges. Pratham's direct urban programs, including pre-schools, community libraries and remedial learning programs reach hundreds of thousands of children every year. Cont’d on page 37

Amartya Sen commends India's resilience Nobel Laureate Prof Amartya Sen being honored by the Chairman† Pratham Arvind Sanger

USA, said India is a country of have's and have not's and the reason one should look for giving to education in that country is that 35% of world consumers are going to be from India in the near future and unless they are educated they will not be able to become a part of the global economy. Sanger said Pratham, with its innovative tools, is becoming a role model for NGOs around the world involved in education. Making a case for the significance of education reform, New York University President John Saxton said there's a terrible challenge even in the most educated systems in the world. There was 'thought' deficiency even in the most advanced countries like the US, he said adding that the attention span of Americans was diminishing as people sought immediate gratification as against thinking long term as a society. "Our discourse has come down slogans," he bemoaned. "The world is miniaturizing which leads us to the question: How do we as humankind react to this miniaturization? Do we see it as a clash of cultures or see tremendous opportunities?"

In a media interaction prior to the gala event, Amartya Sen Professor of Economics and Philosophy, at Harvard University spoke about his contribution to education, philosophy & economics and India's resilience through the economic downturn. Excerpts: On his contribution to Education My own contribution to education is very small, though I have been writing about it since the 1960s; so I am committed to it and feel delighted when I see things move in the same direction mainly on the basis of the efforts of others who have done a lot of work. When I had a small opportunity - when I got the Nobel - I was able to use the money for starting two trusts, one in India, and one in Bangladesh; the Indian one is particularly concerned with delivering elementary education and elementary healthcare and the Bangladesh one is about gender inequality. So these are issues in which I feel committed. Whatever I tried to do I have done, but on the basis of my own effort I don't think there has been a great achievement.

Now there is greater commitment on the part of government with regard to primary education. When I was writing about it in the '60s, '70s, '80s, and even the '90s the commitment was very, very

especially Presidency College in Calcutta - we had great teachers, one of them Kapish Mazumdar was very committed to basic education, which is Pratham's commitment. In fact

Nobel Laureate Prof Amartya Sen speaking at 2010 Pratham Tri State†Gala

weak indeed. So I am glad that things have not only moved in the direction that I not only approve but could be proud of as happening in my country. On whether he has a role model I don't think there's any role model, but many people have inspired me. My teachers in India

he died last week. It was very tragic for me, he was my last surviving teacher. There was also Dasgupta who was teaching in Benares; I saw a lot of him. And then there were my teachers in Cambridge. But were any of them my role models? Cont’d on page 37

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Jalaram Mandir, Hemant electrify Navaratri celebration ASIAN MEDIA USA

Some participants in Raas and Garba. Pics Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: The Jalaram Mandir Board of Trustees, members of executive committee and volunteers organized and hosted colorful Raas Garba festivity on the occasion of Navaratri on October 22 at Harper College's spacious gymnasium from 8 pm till about 1 am. It was attended by over 1,500 individuals. This annual holy event is celebrated in honor of Goddess Durga. This evening also happened to be "Sharad Purnima", a full moon night. The college gymnasium was transformed into a huge dance floor to accommodate hundreds of bare feet moving in to thunderous drumbeats in swirling circles around deity "Durga". The drums, cymbals and all sort of instruments coming together accompanied the melodious voice of eminent Indian music director and singer Hemant Chauhan. His group included lead female vocal singer Darshana Thakkar, Ritesh Upadhyay on Dhol, Vajubhai Parmar on Manjira, and Shailesh Thakkar on keyboard and Bhavesh Thakkar on Octopad. Hemantbhai along with his troops traveled all the way from India to execute music for this special occasion. "Music for Navaratri festival has to keep balance between devotion and entertainment" said

Hemantbhai. "We Gujaratis, who are main participants in this festivity, have Garba in out blood" said lead female vocalist singer Darshana Thakker. There was overwhelming

Music for Navaratri festival has to keep balance between devotion and entertainment" said Hemantbhai. We Gujaratis, who are main participants in this festivity, have Garba in out bloodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; said lead female vocalist singer Darshana Thakker. There was overwhelming participation from predominantly young audience of about 1500 which enjoyed the memorable evening participation from predominantly young audience of about 1500 which enjoyed the memorable evening. Many in the audience, especially ladies and children wore very colorful and dazzling traditional dresses for this special juncture with appropriately matching

Arati at Jalarma Mandir after Navratri Garba

ornaments and extravagant hairstyles. Dina Modi, a community activist said, "we all love the whole atmosphere of colors, the clothes and of course, the music and then there is always the fun of dressing up". She added that western dress is replaced by Lehega-choli, matching jewelry and foot wear. "Some prefer to wear traditional outfit while others go for modern look" she mentioned. When asked main purpose of organizing such event, Chirayu Parikh president of executive board, said "it promotes Indian culture to new generation who are born here" The program started with the offering of prayer and was followed by mesmerizing rhythmic conventional Garba music with equally energetic participation by the audience of traditional whirling dance around Mataji's heavenly symbolic presence turned into a shrine adorned with flowers and decorations. After the brief break and Arati, the festive music of Dandia-Raas commenced with again enthusiastic participation by audience which lasted till early hours of the morning. Board of Trustees and executive committee members and volunteers' good planning and durable work were evidenced by excellent security safety and parking arrangements. Sponsors and

City of Fort Collins' spotlight on Hinduism India Post News Service

Awakening (FHA), a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in the USA. Hinduism is often misunderstood due to misconceptions, such as 'Hindus worship many gods', 'Hinduism propagates the caste system', 'Hinduism gives an inferior status to women', 'Hindu rituals are superstition', and so on. The presentations and the exhibits at the Spotlight on Hinduism aim to dispel such misconceptions by promoting an understanding about the unique spiritual science underlying Hindu concepts and practices. They will highlight

Hinduism's inherent value in addressing and providing solutions to worldwide problems like the environmental crisis, religious intolerance, terrorism, crime and immorality. The Spotlight on Hinduism will provide attendees with ample opportunity for clarification and discussion with speakers on questions they might have on the subtle science and spiritual practices of Hinduism. For example, what is the significance of the red dot worn by Hindu women or the benefits of vegetarianism vs. nonvegetarianism, etc.

vendors participated by displaying their banners and advertisements through live slide show on a big screen. About 15 raffle prizes were distributed during the event, which included first prize of two free tickets for a cruise vacation to a lucky winner donated by Mafat Patel (Patel brothers) and many other sponsors. Prizes were also distributed for different categories including best dressed couple,

Hemant Chauhan singing at Jalaram Mandir

best individual and combined performance by a duo and individual male and female etc. With divine blessing from Jalarambapa and Mataji combined with devotional hard work and enthusiastic support and participation by the community, the event was a grand success.

Gujarati Bhavai coming to Chicago SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: After successful shows in Brazil, Central America, twelve renowned artists from Gujarat, India will perform Gujarati acrobatic folk dance called Bhavai in Chicago. Vishwa Gujarati Samaj is the local host and is supported by the Indian Consulate, Chicago. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is a sponsor from India. ICCR is promoting Gujarati arts, culture and heritage in honor of Golden Jubilee of Gujarat. The Chicagoland show is slated at Manav Seva Mandir, Bensenville, Illinois, on Saturday, November 13, at 8:00 p.m. According to Vishwa Gujarati Samaj USA President Naren Patel, the Gujarati community is very excited and is eagerly waiting the Dhamakedar Program Bhavai shows here. The purpose of bringing Bhavai is to bring life into theatre and the theatre to life. It is the best of the best show. The artists are going all over the world and Chicagoans are lucky to have a first hand feel of Bhavai. Patel said the VGS office bearers and supporters like Mafat Patel, Dinesh Gandhi and Beena Patel are work-

ing hard to make the program a grand success. This program is not profit motivated but aimed at promoting Gujarati arts and culture. Patel further said, "This is the kind performance that people will remember for years to come. If you were born in Gujarat, India, you must have seen these kind of performances. They say laughter is a good medicine for better health and we assure you a healthy dose of laughter." 'Ranglo' is the nickname of the

main character of Bhavai which is a very ancient folk theatre, The tickets are only $10 because this is a Government Sponsored Program from ICCR, New Delhi and Indian Consulate of Chicago. Tickets are available at Sahil, Al Mansoor Video on Devon, Manav Seva Mandir, and Patel Brothers Schaumburg location only.

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Pratham's New York gala Manavi's Silent March salutes raises $1.7 million domestic violence survivors India Post News Service

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 35

In 2007, with the support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Pratham launched the Read India campaign, an innovative, low-cost effort to reach the 100 million children in India who cannot read, write or do basic math. With the continued support of the Hewlett Foundation in 2010, the

Read India campaign has entered its second phase, focusing its attention at the village level and teaching more advanced learning skills. Pratham's Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) evaluates India's status of education through direct testing of over 700,000 children in 16,000 villages across India.

Amartya Sen commends India's resilience Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 35

No. I had something to learn from them and something not to really take from them. I think that's the way for all of us, we don't try to model ourselves into somebody else. It's just what we learn from them and where do we go from there. Am I grateful to what I have learnt from them? Yes, tremendously. In seeking answers to inner and out worlds, do economics and philosophy overlap? The fact that I work with economics and philosophy does not mean that I work on the intersection of the two. I work on the union of the two together. Most of my work on philosophy has nothing to do with economics and pretty much most of my work in economics has nothing to do with philosophy. There are philosophical issues in economics. It depends on how the mind functions and one of the areas which I have tried to work on is how our minds function, the nature of rationality, evaluation of ethics in our life, and of course on the inner world and outer world. When we think of philosophy the impact of the outer world is very important on our mind. My last work is called 'The Idea of Justice'

- it's about the outer world and not just the world of your imagination. So I think the idea of inner world and outer world is somewhat exaggerated. I think everything is partly inner and partly outer. On how India handled the economic downturn I think the Indians handled the economic downturn better than the Americans and Europeans. I am not often patriotic but there is some reason to be happy about (the way India handled it). First of all, India did not create the crisis; it was primarily created by America, and secondarily by Europe. Europe is going completely crazy - Britain is cutting 30 percent of public expenditure now, which is totally pointless at this time when it is not really needed; there is no inflationary danger, the danger is unemployment, and this is the time for support by the State. And that's the role that Indian policymakers have rightly chosen. I am a critic of Indian policymakers, I would like them to pay more attention to inequality than they do, (but) on the other hand as far as crisis management is concerned, there is no question in my mind that India has handled it much better than Europe and better than America too.

NEW JERSEY: Manavi held its sixth annual Silent March on Oct 23 in Jersey City. Manavi began conducting the Silent March in 2005 as a way of saluting South Asian survivors of violence appropriately during October which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year also marks 25 years for the organization, which began as the first South Asian Women's organization in the US dedicated to working to end violence against South Asian women. This year Manavi marched on Newark Avenue in the busy South Asian business district in Jersey City, which attracts a large number of members from the community. Around 25 people, including Manavi staff members, volunteers, and community members, marched with signs such as "You have the right to live safely in your own home" and "There is no excuse for domestic violence". Manavi volunteers handed out flyers detailing Manavi's services, including two employment workshops that will be offered as a part of the Manavi's new Economic Empowerment program. In response to the high volume of calls

from Jersey City, Manavi plans to launch a Jersey City program in collaboration with Hudson County Rape Crisis Center. Many passersby stopped to read signs and placards which spoke about violence against South Asian women. Signs were made in various South Asian languages such as Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and Urdu in order to reach deeper into the community. Passersby showed their support by stopping to inquire about the march. This event helped in engaging the South Asian community in coming together in solidarity to

tackle the often ignored issue of violence against women. Support and cooperation from the community coupled with the enthusiasm of the marchers gave way to making this a memorable event. Manavi is a New Jersey based women's rights organization committed to ending all forms of violence and exploitation against South Asian women living in the US. Established in 1985, Manavi was the first organization to specifically provide services for South Asian women (those descending from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).

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Enchanting spectacle from Bollywood-fame Devang Patel rocks Chicago 'Dances of India' ASIAN MEDIA USA

ASHWIN PATEL

Poonam Sheevam and Trisha Bhat played the roles of Scheherezade and the king, respectively. Both are dancers of exquisite grace

Edison Theatre on Oct. 8-9. Asha Prem is the Artistic Director of the company. The feature presentation was The Songs of Scheherezade-an original production, based on the tales of the Arabian Nights. The

company presented magical, and often humorous, spins on the tales of Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sinbad. Poonam Sheevam and Trisha Bhat played the roles of Scheherezade and the king, respectively. Both are dancers of exquisite grace. Poonam's dance was touched with an acrobatic flair, while Trisha played her masculine role convincingly. The sets, crafted by Ila Mehta, were elegantly executed. A glittering green square of material was used to show Ali Baba's cave, while simple netting against the scrim gave the exotic illusion of a ship of yesteryear. Ali Baba's thieves hid in cloth barrels, a particularly delightful scene. In addition to The Songs of Scheherezade, guest artists Sanjay Shantaram from Bangalore, India, and Patrick Suzeau from Lawrence University, Kansas, performed. Mr. Shantaram performed vibrant, graceful Kuchipudi on Oct. 8 when he also performed the standard dance-upon-a-brass plate with a passionate joie-de-vivre. On Oct. 9, he performed Bharata Natyam, including a splendid devotional song on Rama and a joyous Thillana about Hanuman. His range of expressions are extraordinary. Mr. Suzeau, a professional modern dancer, performed a trio of heartfelt pieces of tightly controlled grace, in a style which fused elements of Odissi and modern. The children's matinee on Oct. 8th was also a delightful performance. This was not your ordinary children's performance where kids, quite simply, do what they want. These children had been rigorously trained, and it showed. Many group dances had more than ten performers; one particularly awe-inspiring dance was based on the adavus of Bharata Natyam. Twelve young girls performed this piece, which had been choreographed so cleverly, it offered surprises to the audience at every moment, as girls shifted in-and-out of elegantly constructed patterns.

Participants at Garba Ras at Vaishnav Samaj

CHICAGO: On Saturday, October 23, the Vaishnav Samaj of Midwest (VSM) presented singing sensation and comedian Devang Patel and a night filled with Garba and Raas. This was the first time such an event was held in Chicago and it attracted over 3000 at the Forest View Education Center. All proceeds for the event went to the Shreeji Dwar Haveli located in Addison. Devang Patel and his nine-man orchestra gave a scintillating performance to the ecstatic crowd.

with the non-stop dancing that lasted for hours with participants ranging from youth to seniors. The event also included prizes for the best female and male dancers for Garba and Raas as well as best dressed couple. Sheetal Dhanani, founder of Tarana Kathak Dance Academy and Toral Chowdhary of Nrutya Kala Shree Dance Academy, acted as the judges. The Best Male Garba Dancer award was given to Chirag Soni; the title of Best Female Garba Dancer was awarded to Devarshi

Dress Competition at Vaishnav Samaj Garba. Pics Asian Media USA

The band included Parth Thakkar on keyboard, Nandan Purohit on guitar, Shirin Viyas on drums, Katul Panchul on the Dhol and also Jay Chavada, Suchitaben, Chika Kharsami, and Pappu Varma. The event was truly one of a kind and incomparable to anything Chicago has ever seen. The event organizers Rajesh Shah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of VSM, Dr. Umang Patel, President of VSM, and Prashant Sheth, Chairman of the Public Relations committee, did a fantastic job putting together the event. The tremendous energy of the packed auditorium was evident

Bhavsar. The best Raas dancers were Sujai Patel and Sonali Patel. The best-dressed couple was Mehul Kala and Dhrumi Kala. There were various booths at the event ranging from designer attire and jewelry to dish services, banking products and even best selling books on success! An event with this energy could only happen with team work. The team consisted of Dr. Umang Patel and Paragi Patel, Ms. Bhavna Modi of Manpasand Inc, Rajesh Shah, Kamlesh Shah of Indusa Inc and key sponsors National Republic Bank, Air Tours Inc, Raj Jewels and Bombay Bazaar.

Garba at Devang Patel concert hosted by Vaishnav Samaj

Community Across America

November 5, 2010

India Post 39

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Rare opportunity to meet Himalayan Siddha Masters India Post News Service

NEW YORK: As part of their World Peace Tour, Himalayan Siddha Masters, Mahayogi Pilot Baba and Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, will be visiting the US and will be available for public darshans January 22-23, 2011 at the New York Hilton and January 29-30, 2011 at

the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. These Darshans are planned in accordance with the spiritual masters' belief that inner peace at the level of the individual will contribute to world peace. Also, that peace is achieved through the cultivation of a circle of love and peace emanating from those who have achieved inner peace.

IAC celebrates Navratri with fanfare NISHA SUTARIA

Participants at IAC Navratri celebrations

CHICAGO: Over eight days taining the traditions. Additionconcluding October 21, the Indo ally, they discussed their role in American Center (IAC) celebrated passing this culture along to the Navratri, an Indian festival, next generation, thus encouraging through the IAC Seniors' Program. an important bond between the Each day, at least 80 members in older and newer generations in the the community attended; some South Asian community. days, the Center's Main Hall was This year brought a new addipacked with 150 people. tion to Navratri festivities: the SeEvery year, the IAC puts forth niors' Fashion Show. This segment great effort to encourage IAC cli- showcased a collection of differents and community members to ent styles, from traditional to modparticipate in several traditional ern, among women and men. "It's celebrations, including Eid, an opportunity to do something Baisakhi, Navratri, Diwali and Christmas, regardless of cultural and religious differences. "It doesn't matter where they have come from. Now, they are all under one umbrella - the IAC. They miss their families, especially during the holiday seasons, so they feel, 'why not find friends among one another and celebrate these times together?'" explained Seniors' Program Coordinator, Gita Chawla. During the Navratri celebration at the IAC, attendSeniors doing Garba at IAC Navratri ees participated in dancing celebrations to the traditional forms of Garba, Raas and Sonedo, eating traditional food, storytelling for fun while feeling special," said and other festivities. They dis- Sunitha Doma, IAC Benefits Cocussed the importance of Navratri, ordinator. including the ways in which the The IAC looks forward to its holiday has evolved over the years Diwali festival on November 4 and and how it is important for them to welcomes members in the commuembrace the changes while main- nity to join the celebration.

At the Darshans, Yogmata and Pilot Baba will offer instruction on meditation. Specific topics to be addressed include releasing the sense of having been wronged, anxieties, self-doubts, and fears that hinder the attainment of stillness and clarity. Ancient Himalayan self-realized masters, such as Hari Baba, from whom both Pilot Baba and Yogmata have a certain and direct lineage, have preserved sacred teachings on specific methods of breathing and relaxation. These are taught as a means of spiritual purification as well as a means of relieving the biological and mental stresses of everyday life. Pilot Baba and Yogmata have dedicated their lives to using these teaching for purpose of allowing others to achieve self-realization and to foster peace. Both masters have achieved the highest level of enlightenment known as Samadhi through a rig-

orous religious training that includes years of ascetic practice in the caves of the Himalayan Mountains. There are very few individuals in the world who have achieved this state and make themselves available outside of the Himalayas to share their teachings. Although Samadhi is not ordinarily performed in public, Pilot Baba and Yogmata are two among a very limited number of Siddha Masters that have done so for hundreds of thousands of seekers. This is done to inspire as well as share the love, peace, and wisdom that can be attained through the practice. Pilot Baba was born into a royal family in the eastern state of Bihar, India where Buddha attained Enlightenment. When he was 23, he joined the Indian Air Force. After retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, he traveled to the Himalayan Mountains to become a disciple of Hari Babaji. Pilot Baba is known

widely as a living Buddha, and is supported as such. An award winning documentary film about the Kumbh Mela, an Indian spiritual festival, "Shortcut to Nirvana," shows him along with His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessing visitors. Yogmata has performed Samadhi at India's sacred locations as well as at the Kumbh Mela, a sacred event that occurs only once every 144 years. Her appearance was reported on by CNN, BBC, The Japan Times, and The Times of India. Her teachings have been recognized and commended by Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, past president of Nepal. In 2007, the largest spiritual Austerities Association in India, Juna Akhara, bestowed on her the title "Mahamandaleshwar" (The Supreme Master of the Universe). In July 2009 the Dalai Lama wrote the introductory note to her book, A Himalayan Master's Simple Way to Realization.

40 India Post

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November 5, 2010

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UPAC sparkles in Diwali lights & delights ASIAN MEDIA USA

Committee members of the UP Association at their annual Diwali celebrations. Pic Asian Media USA

them. It was attended by over 300 members and guests. Addressing the audience, Sharma welcomed all and thanked executive committee for hosting this event. She then explained the importance of Diya and Diwali. Dr. Ganshyam Pandey, Chairman, Board of Trustees UPAC, said that the UP Association was established in 1991 and was inaugurated by the governor of Bihar, Dr A. R. Kidwai. "The main objective of the Association is to maintain and perpetuate the cultural heritage and literary aspects of Uttar

Pradesh. To achieve these objectives UPAC has been organizing three programs every year. It organizes Holi and Diwali and hosts a "Kavi Sammelan," to keep ourselves abreast of the current literary activities going on in India," he said. However, the greatest attraction of the evening was cultural program that started with Vedic chants of India. A dance on the Vedic "Sarva Mangalam Bhavatu" was performed by Vasudha Pandey. It was followed by a Bollywood song "All is well" by Neil Gupta, Abhinav Gupta and Veda Kotagiri. A very ex-

citing dance, "I Hate Love Stories," was performed by Harshal Gupta, Adi Attavane, Rohit Banerjee, Naman Mishra, Raj Gautam. The other attraction of the evening was melodious songs by Bhupender Singh, who sent the audience dizzy with ever popular Bollywood old and new hit numbers. A fashion show consisting of twelve participants scorched the fashion barometer of the city with their haute and prĂŞt collection. The event concluded with vote of thanks by Ravi Aurora, Vice-President, UPAC, and was followed by dinner.

Book on Punjab's tree heritage released India Post News Service

NEW YORK: To mark the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 (IYB-10), Preneet Kaur, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, on Oct 21, inaugurated at the Indian Consulate in New York an exhibition of photographs from the book "Tryst with trees-Punjab's Sacred Heritage" by D S Jaspal. The exhibition, which was organized by the Indian Consulate in New York in collaboration with the Sikh Art and Film Foundation, attracted a large gathering of nature

lovers and environmentalists from New York. Also present were the Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, Hardeep Puri; former Member of Parliament, Sardar Tarlochan Singh; and President of the Sikh Art and Film Foundation, Teji Bindra. Preneet Kaur later released a copy of the coffee table book which has been printed by Thomson Press, India. Tryst With Trees - Punjab's Sacred Heritage, highlights a unique feature of the Sikh religion - the naming of sacred shrines named after species of trees. In his book Jaspal, a senior civil servant of Punjab, has documented more than 58 sacred and historical Sikh shrines in India and Pakistan named after 19 species of trees such as Gurudwara Tahli Sahib; Gurudwara Imli Sahib; Gurudwara Ber Sahib; Gurudwara Amb Sahib; Gurudwara Pipli Sahib; Gurudwara Nim Sahib etc. Although love and respect for nature are common to every religious faith, the naming of sacred shrines after trees is unique to the Sikh religion. Through some very striking pictures, the book depicts the sanctity in which devotees respect trees, and the central role of nature in religious preaching

and practices. The book includes a description of the botanical features of the tree with its health status as well as the relationship between the tree and the historical and religious background of the shrine. In a larger context, Tryst tries to explore the profound impact of nature and the environment on the spiritual, social and cultural evolution of Sikhism. Describing Jaspal's book as "a work of unique environmental significance" Preneet Kaur said that "love and respect for nature are a part of India's spiritual and cultural tradition and even to this day trees, plants,

leaves form a part of every sacred ceremony or auspicious occasion." The eminent Pakistani documentary film maker, Dr. Farooq Beg of Serendip Productions, Islamabad, is producing a documentary on Tryst with Trees - proof that nature and environment are bonding factors of civilization. Speaking on the occasion, Jaspal hoped that his work would "send a strong and positive message not only for peace and religious harmony, but also for nature and the environment and, in particular, of the relevance of religion in promoting conservation efforts worldwide."

AARP driver safety class in Hindi SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: Sponsored by and to take place at the Hari Om Mandir in Medinah, a northwest suburb of Chicago, AARP Driver Safety Program this time will be conducted in Hindi for the benefit of members of Indian community not proficient in English. The class will be held at the Mandir for seven days. Under the Illinois State law, those above 55 - whether AARP members or not - may qualify for worthwhile multi-year auto insurance discount by completing this course. Studies have shown that

fewer fatal and injury-causing crashes and fewer violations occur among drivers who have taken this nationally-recognized course. It is a two-day, class-room setting course; participants must attend both classes. Upon completion of the course, each attendee is awarded a certificate. All participants must pre-register: the cost of the course is $14 (AARP members get a $2 discount). For more information, please contact the volunteer course instructor, Om Johari, phone: 847-985-6677

November 5, 2010

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USDA settles with Native American farmers WASHINGTON: Native American farmers and ranchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have announced an historic agreement to settle a nationwide class action lawsuit (Keepseagle v. Vilsack) that alleged discrimination in USDA's farm loan program dating back to 1981. The agreement brings to an

farmers and ranchers, as well as enhanced delivery of technical assistance to Native American borrowers, the creation of suboffices on tribal lands, a systematic review of the farm loan program rules to improve accessibility to Native Americans and other measures designed to improve the provision of farm loan

Under the agreement, which was unveiled in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. before Judge Emmet Sullivan, USDA will pay $680 million in damages to thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers and forgive up to $80 million worth of outstanding farm loan debt end 11 years of litigation, and marks the beginning of what is expected to be a new partnership between USDA and the Native American community. Under the agreement, which was unveiled in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. before Judge Emmet Sullivan, USDA will pay $680 million in damages to thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers and forgive up to $80 million worth of outstanding farm loan debt. The settlement also provides for a host of initiatives that will improve USDA's farm loan services for Native Americans. Those initiatives include the creation of a Native American Farmer and Rancher Council, where top USDA officials and Native American advocates will collaborate to make USDA's programs more accessible for Native Americans

services to Native Americans. "This settlement marks a major turning point in the important relationship between Native Americans, our Nation's first farmers and ranchers, and the USDA," says lead plaintiffs' attorney Joseph M. Sellers, a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, in Washington, D.C. "After three decades, Native American farmers and ranchers will receive the justice they deserve, and the USDA has committed to improving the farm loan system in ways that will aid Native Americans for generations to come." The Keepseagle action was filed nearly 11 years ago, on the eve of Thanksgiving, 1999. The Plaintiffs alleged that Native American farmers and ranchers were denied the same opportunities as white farmers to obtain low-interest rate loans from

Ashok Vyas honored at seniors' event India Post News Service

NEW YORK: On the occasion of its 20th conference and 11th annual meeting, the National IndoAmerican Association for Senior Citizens (NIAASC) is honoring noted Indian American journalist and program director with ITV, Ashok Vyas, for his contributions to the community. Vyas is to be honored during the NIAASC conference at the Indian American Kerala Center in New York along with Rajnikant Shah from Indo-American Senior Citizen Center of New York and Milan, an ongoing seniors program in New Hyde Park, NY. Vyas has been associated with

International Television Broadcasting Inc. (ITV) NY since 1999. At ITV, where his presentation of News in Hindi is appreciated as a committed offering, he wears various hats like writer, cameraman, host, editor and director for TV Productions. In addition to being a poet and program director with ITV, he is also a practicing Hindu Priest. The NIAASC is a well established seniors' organization working towards creating awareness of Indo-American senior issues and needs; providing information on issues and services pertaining to Indo-American seniors; and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels on those issues.

USDA. Congress has charged the USDA with serving as the "lender of last resort" for family farmers who can't obtain credit from commercial banks. According to an expert report prepared by a former USDA economist, Native Americans suffered actual economic losses amounting to $776 million between 1981 and 2007 as a result of receiving less than their fair share of credit opportunities from the USDA. The settlement was greeted with relief and jubilation by the lead plaintiffs Marilyn and George Keepseagle, who have ranched for decades in Fort Yates, N.D., near Bismarck, N.D. "We have been waiting nearly three decades for this day to come," said Marilyn Keepseagle. "This settlement will help thousands of Native Americans who are still farming and ranching. But more important, through this settlement we will leave to our children and grandchildren a farm loan system far more responsive to our community than the system we inherited from our parents." The settlement has three major components that are expected to become effective in early 2011. First, it provides a payment of $680 million in damages to class members for the economic losses they suffered due to the denial of loans or loan servicing by the USDA. Second, the USDA will forgive up to $80 million in debt currently held by class members who succeed in obtaining damages. Once the Court gives preliminary approval to the agree-

ment, the USDA will establish a moratorium on foreclosures, debt accelerations and debt offsets not already referred to the Treasury Department. The moratorium will last until the debt relief process has concluded and class members' debt has been forgiven. After the debt relief is provided, USDA will engage in a

siveness to Native American farmers and ranchers, including through the creation of the Native American Farmer and Rancher Council, a new federal advisory committee. "While the damage awards and debt relief are vital elements of this settlement, the Native American Farmer and Rancher

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This settlement will help thousands of Native Americans who are still farming and ranching. But more important, through this settlement we will leave to our children and grandchildren a farm loan system far more responsive to our community than the system we inherited from our parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; round of loan servicing for all class members who are delinquent on any outstanding USDA farm loan debt. Third, the settlement agreement provides for changes to USDA's farm loan program to improve the delivery and respon-

Council will help ensure that the reforms to USDA's programs are lasting and that USDA honors the civil rights of Native Americans for years to come," said Plaintiffs' co-counsel David Frantz, partner, Conlon, Frantz & Phelan.- Agencies

India Post

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November 5, 2010

tive categories for awards in Best Short Film and Best Documentary, followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers. The celebrations then moved to the New York Public Library where a grand gala ended the Festival. India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur, who was to be chief guest at the gala, could not make it to the event due to a family emergency. She however, complimented the Sikh Art and Film Foundation for their excellent accomplishment in achieving their mission and raising awareness about Sikhism in a video message. Her participation and encouragement was evident in her presence during the first two days of the event. At the event Tarlochan Singh, Member of Parliament, awarded Raj Babbar for his contribution in Vision. Padamshree honoree Vikramjit Sahney was awarded by Indian Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, for his contribution in Leadership. Arpana Caur was awarded for her contribution in Art by the Consul General of India, Ambassador Prabhu Dayal.

Raj Babbar, Tejinder SIngh Bindra and Michael Singh at the premiere

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The 7th Annual Sikh Film Festival and Heritage gala was a high point on the Indian American cultural scene in New York City with festivities and celebration spanning over 3 days, Oct 21-23. People from all walks of life from all over the US and abroad participated in the grand event and left with the experience of enriched knowledge through films. The Festival started with D S Jaspal's eye opening photographic exhibition at the Indian Consulate titled - "Tryst with Trees". The exhibition was of sacred Sikh shrines commemorated by the names of trees. A feature session on the second day followed the glitterati of celebrities walking the red carpet. The session showcased three films - a premiere of Vikas Khanna's "Holy Kitchens - A true business"; the premiere of "Harvest of Grief"; and "The Rebel Queen". At the Q&A session with the filmmakers after the movies Vikas Khanna said his movie "is the work of love and made not only to increase knowledge about Sikhism but as a message to his mother about his love for Amritsar - his birthplace." For Amrita Basu and Rekha Basu it was voicing their mother, Rasil Basu's message to the world through the "Harvest of Grief". Both reiterated the deepening experience that transformed them completely while making the movie and also moved the government to look

Arpana Caur and Ajay Banga in front of Arpana's "Sachcha Sauda"

into the plight of farmers in Punjab more seriously. Tejinder Singh Bindra, President of The Sikh Art and Film Foundation, took this in-

models posing as her existed. Applauding the filmmakers on the occasion, actor/producer/parliamentarian Raj Babbar said "I must congratulate all the filmmakers for their

Sukhbir performing at the Gala while the audience moves to his beat

stance to stress how a "picture equals a thousand words" and can influence decisions towards the benefit of a community. The biggest challenge for Michael Singh, the filmmaker of "The Rebel Queen", was to work on a film about Maharani Jindan, of whom no visuals apart from portraits of

choice of subjects and the courage they have exhibited in making these films." The after party that followed quickly lightened the solemn mood of the audience with the beat of throbbing music, dance and entertainment. The concluding day was a completely sold out event that showcased films in competi-

A live auction saw immense excitement and participation from the guests. Ajay Banga, CEO of MasterCard, won the bid to Arpana Caur's "Sachcha Sauda" at $16,000 and faithfully paid for it with his MasterCard The esteemed panel of judges comprised Amrita Basu, Rekha Basu, Dr. Balbinder S. Bhogal, Aseem Chhabra, Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany, Robert Lupone, Vicki Mabray, IJ Singh and Safina Uberoi. The coveted Best Documentary award went to "Khanabadosh" while "Nothing Is Impossible" won the Best Short Film award. The judges, however, made a special mention to "Riding the Tiger" under the category of shorts. A live auction later saw immense excitement and participation from the guests. Ajay Banga, CEO of MasterCard, won the bid to Arpana Caur's "Sachcha Sauda" at $16,000 and faithfully paid for it with his MasterCard. A cricket bat signed by the Indian cricket team was auctioned for $11,500, half the proceeds of which went to the charity 'Khushi'. The Prince of Bhangra, Sukhbir's performance at the gala shook the dance floor that saw the tapping feet of Sikhs and Americans all the same.

November 5, 2010

India Post

www.indiapost.com

Anupam Kher to launch acting studio in New York India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Acclaimed actor Anupam Kher has announced the upcoming launch of his acting studio, 'Actor Prepares' in New York, in association with the Chairman and CEO of TV ASIA, H R Shah. The actor who is known not only for his Bollywood roles but also for movies like You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Lust, Caution, and Bend It Like Beckham, has just wrapped filming on the Canadian film, Breakaway, and was in New Jersey recently to make the announcement. Actor Prepares was set up five years ago in Mumbai and is India's most sought after acting school and has its base in Mumbai, the center of the world's largest cinema industry. It is the only acting school to be initiated and run by a professional actor; one who has worked with names like Oscar-winning directors Ang Lee and Woody Allen. The proposed New York school will be the second overseas chapter of Actor Prepares to open outside of India after the one in London in 2008.

Kher has spent considerable time scouting the best acting schools in the world, studying their curricula. Each student receives individual guidance and counseling throughout the program from Kher himself. Anupam Kher says, "Acting is

TV Asia is North America's first 24/7 television channel for the South Asian community. The network was founded in April, 1993, by legendary Indian movie star

Actor Prepares was set up five years ago in Mumbai and is India's most sought after acting school and has its base in Mumbai, the center of the world's largest cinema industry

Anupam Kher

a craft which is universal and can be taught, learned and perfected. It is a craft that has now transcended regional and national barriers as reflected in productions with global themes and locales in an era of crossover films. This school will not be Bollywood-centric; it will train actors to perform anywhere."

Amitabh Bachchan. In 1997, entrepreneur and community leader H R Shah took over TV ASIA. Shah says of the joint venture with Kher: "The Bollywood industry is growing faster than Hollywood. India and Indians have been influenced by Bollywood entertainment for the past 100 years. That is why it is today the largest pro-

ducer of films in the world. "There are a lot of talented Indian American actors in North America who have no platform to promote their talent. Actor Prepares will educate to graduate and provide the perfect opportunity to this pool of talent which will learn the craft from one of the most famous stage and film actors today. Actor Prepares will help them gain a foothold not just in Bollywood, but in Hollywood." Shah adds: "The concept is in line with TV Asia's own philosophy, home away from home, to promote our culture and education through the medium of film and television. To that end, we will promote Actor Prepares and its centers in various cities across North America on the channel." Several international filmmakers

have visited Actor Prepares in Mumbai and have been extremely impressed by the ambience, facilities and the quality of its students. Among them were the Oscar-winning British director Danny Boyle who said, "I never knew that such an acting school measuring up to international standards existed in Mumbai." Director Shekhar Kapur says, "Actor Prepares is providing a much-needed service in the creation of fresh young talent of a very high caliber, which is much needed for the fastest growing media and entertainment business in the world. Some of the actors I have seen there are truly international class." The official launch of Actor Prepares in New York will take place in the next few weeks.

'Paa' brings the 3rd National Award for Amiatbh Bachchan

Krishna Beura to Rock Bay Area KAVITA ARORA India Post News service

MILPITAS: SB Entertainment, Instant Karma, & Sitaarre TV proudly presents Diwali Dhamaka Ball 2010 with Bollywood singer Krishna Beura at the India Community Center (ICC) in Milpitas on Friday, November 12, at 8:30 P.M. Krishna is a rising star with hit songs such as Maula Mere Lele Meri Jaan (Chak De India), Rabba (Musafir), Mein Jahan Rahoon (Duet with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from Namaste London), and Chaska Chaska (Badmash Company, a Yash Raj Film). Krishna Beura is one of the most talented playback upcoming singers today and a power-packed live performer with an excellent vocal range. He has already been featured in over 35 films. He sings in 22 languages and his specialty is in Hindi and Punjabi. In 2008, Krishna won the New Musical Sensation Male by Stardust Awards. When asked about how he got his start, Krishna said he sent a demo tape to Sanjay Dutt with cover versions of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's songs. Sanjay liked his singing style and Krishna was offered four movies and this is how his career started. "I've been singing from my childhood and I always wanted to be a singer. My

Krishna is a rising star with hit songs such as Maula Mere Lele Meri Jaan (Chak De India), Rabba (Musafir), Mein Jahan Rahoon (Duet with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from Namaste London), and Chaska Chaska (Badmash Company, a Yash Raj Film) dad was in the Indian Air Force and I wanted to join the Air Force to become a fighter pilot, but then I thought singing is what I want to do. I had an ambition to fly high, but now I sing high and I'm quite happy about what I do today," Krishna told India Post. "I've been listening to my guru and idolized the way Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sahib sings. That's how I got the knack of singing high

notes," said Krishna. When asked about a dream come true, Krishna said, "I wanted to sing for Shah Rukh Khan and I sent out a thought in the air, it multiplied and in a week's time, I was called in by Yash Raj Studios to record 'Maula Mere Lele Meri Jaan.' I even got two awards for this song," exclaimed Krishna. Kavita Arora is Anchor & CoProducer of Sitaarre TV

President Pratibha Patil presents the Best Actor Award to Amitabh Bachchan

he 57 National Film Awards brought a bit of disappoint ment for Bollywood as the Malayalam film 'Kutty Srank' bagged the Best Film Award. However, the Bachchan family seemed to enjoy the moment as Big B won the third national award, this time for his performance in R Balki's 'Paa'. Paa also won the Best Make Up, Best Hindi Film awards and the Best Supporting Actress award for Arundhati Nag. 3 Idiots was awarded Best Film providing wholesome entertainment. Amit Trivedi won the Best Music award for Dev D. Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey won special

jury recognition along with a Malayalam film, Pazhassi Raja and Mammooty starrer Kutty Srank.

3 Idiots was awarded Best Film providing wholesome entertainment. Amit Trivedi won the Best Music award for Dev D The entire Bachchan family was present at the occasion and all were seen at their cheerful best. Check out Big B, Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek and Aishwarya along with Sweta at the occasionâ&#x20AC;Ś.

November 5, 2010

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November 5, 2010

Riya Travel & Tours set for further expansion Hippopotamus with Pumpkin Tad Motoyama India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Zoo's annual Boo at the Zoo, presented by Nestlé, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30 and 31. For this festive event, the Zoo is transformed into themed areas for trick-or-treaters. Families can visit the Creepy Creature Encounter in the Winnick Family Children's Zoo, Pumpkin Patch Place at Eucalyptus Grove and Halloween Down Under in Australia. Boo at the Zoo features amazing pumpkin-carving demonstrations, face painting and trick-or-treating throughout the Zoo. Don't miss entertaining Halloween performances and the chance to get up close with spiders, bugs and snakes at the Creepy Creature Encounter. See Zoo animals including the harbor seals, giant otters, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and more Stomp 'n Chomp pumpkin treats on both days. This year, the L.A. Zoo is offering a dollar off the price of admission for children ages two through 12 that come to Boo at the Zoo in a costume. Boo at the Zoo is sponsored by Nestlé and supported by Farmers Insurance Group® and FedEx®.

Launching of NY Office. Chairman George Thampy is seen cutting the ribbon in the presence of Benson Samuel, VP/Director USA, Thomas Mathai, Director and members of the management staff of USA and guests.

RAMESH SOPARAWALA

CHICAGO: With over three decades of experience under the belt, Riya Travel and Tours is now set for further expansion of its operations not only in India but abroad as well. Benson Samuel, Vice President of the group looking after US operations of the company with its presence in Dallas, Philadelphia and New York, said it would soon be going to Toronto and then to others cities like Chicago in Midwest. In a talk to India Post, he said that the company had its New York office launched recently close on

heels of its branching out to Philadelphia after coming for the first time in US with a presence in Dallas. He said

It is not only Tours that Riya is focusing on. It has catered and is taking care of a large number of travelers individually also that the Riya group wants to cater to growing Indo-US travel business in a very professional manner. It has al-

ready 40 plus offices in as many cite in India and has presence in Saudi Arabia too. It has conducted a good number of Tours to and from India and US besides taking group of travelers to Europe as well. It is not only Tours that Riya is focusing on. It has catered and is taking care of a large number of travelers individually also. It is a wholesaler and has tie up with major airlines, and "with over 1000 professionals to assist the traveling public it offers expert guidance and attention to detail giving you optimum value for their money. Samuel feels that the global eco-

nomic conditions have not made any dent in their operations as the increasing traffic to and from India coupled with "the service with smile" approach of Riya staff has more than offset any loss that many would feel or have felt. "In fact, we are looking forward to a further expansion of our activities in coming years and we are gearing ourselves to meet this challenge," he said What started off in 1980 as an enterprising travel group has kicked off to be one of India's leading travel organizations today. Its travel portal is dedicated to help travelers not only plan out but also book exciting trips and much more. Its mission as an organization is to create inspiring and meaningful experiences that connect people and places together.

We offer customized holidays to

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"Airline ticketing being our core activity is what we have gained many praises for. The epitome of high quality services and timely deliveries has won Riya recognition and laurels from various quarters. We have been presented with numerous awards and accolades from the airline fraternity year after years," he said with a degree of pride and humility. Spearheaded by G.M.J Thampy, the company with an extensive network of branches across the country is set to become a billion dollar global travel service provider. Riya Travel & Tours is accredited by IATA (International Air Transport Association) and is a member of TAAI (Travel Agents Association of India), TAFI (Travel Agents Federation of India) and IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators.

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SITA customizes to serve growing NRI market India Post News Service

ENCINO, CA: Since he purchased SITA World Tours in 1982 and became Chairman/CEO, Roger Mahil has seen every twist, turn and trend in the travel industry. The company has grown exponentially and now includes a wide array of tours and travel products to exotic locations worldwide including Africa, Australia, China/Asia, India, New Zealand and South America. The firm has enjoyed the support of a broad based clientele and today has offices in Los Angeles (Encino), Houston, Chicago, New York, Vancouver and Toronto. Although SITA is considered a general market luxury tour operator, the growing demand from Indian families residing in US for travel packages designed specifically to suit their tastes and needs has caught the attention of Mr. Mahil who was born in India. According to Mr. Mahil, "SITA enjoys a strong reputation in India and word has spread to Indian families living in the U.S. that SITA provides an excellent product at a very good value." Research shows that Indians residing in the US are interested in the rapidly growing success of the Indian economy and the changes that success has brought about. Improved conditions and employment opportunities have created a desire on the part of many to visit India and introduce American-born children to the relatives, customs, treasures and foods of their homeland. This growing demand has led SITA World Tours to continue

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considering Americans of Indian descent as a special niche in the travel market. SITA has developed travel programs of interest to those who not only wish to visit India, but who also have their sites set on exotic world travel.

Improved conditions and employment opportunities have created a desire on the part of many to visit India and introduce American-born children to the relatives, customs, treasures and foods of their homeland Because Indian families often enjoy traveling in groups with family and friends, SITA has inaugurated a Family and Friends program designed around customized itineraries that can accommodate the special needs and interests of travelers. Groups can arrange for

unique and exciting extras that make the experience special in every way. According to Anshuman Khanna, SITA Sales Executive, "We understand what the Indian tourist expects in luxury travel…right down to the right food-even the right blend of yogurt." SITA representatives seek out the best Indian as well as vegetarian restaurants at every stop in the itinerary. One SITA tour director has even been known to cook special Indian dishes for his guests under the auspices of the hotel kitchen. SITA has been in business since 1933 and has evolved successfully by staying in touch with the needs of its clients. According to Mr. Mahil, "SITA is totally customer-oriented in everything we do. Our mission is to go above and beyond on every aspect of the travel experience. Customization has become a very important factor in delivering customer satisfaction. We understand the travel needs and desires of Americans of Indian descent. We look forward to serving this rapidly growing market."

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IFC to help develop Buddhist sites in India NEW DELHI: With the aim of attracting private investment in tourism sector, the government has signed an MoU with International Finance Cooperation (IFC) for development of an integrated Buddhist circuit in the country. The Tourism Ministry is hopeful that the agreement with IFC, a member of the World Bank group, will help provide the much needed boost for development of tourism infrastructure at Buddhist sites in the country. "We expect certain investments in the sector from private sector and that is why we have undertaken the step," said Tourism Minister Kumari Selja after the MoU was inked by IFC Vice-President for business advisory services Rachel Kyte and Tourism Joint Secretary Anand Kumar. The Buddhist circuit is an iconic travel experience for about 400 million Buddhists across the world. Selja said "this is part of our goal of inclusive growth of UPA government, because this will bring in private sector investment in a proper and planned way which will generate employment." On cooperation with IFC, Selja said "This is for the first time we are doing it. They (IFC) have done this in other parts of the world. "There are Buddhist sites scattered around South and South-East Asia. The cities of Kushinagar, Patna, Nalanda, Rajgir, Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Vaishali in India are part

of the circuit." However, poor quality of services hampers the tourists' experiences in the sector. Selja said that while investment will allow development of better facilities in the sector which will help attract domestic and international tourists, it will also ensure involvement of local people in the process.

The Buddhist circuit is an iconic travel experience for about 400 million Buddhists across the world. Selja said "this is part of our goal of inclusive growth of UPA government "There will be more employment opportunities which will change their quality of life as well," she said. Kyte said, "Cooperation between national and state level actors in both public and private sectors is critical. A program like this could be game changer in bringing all stakeholders together around a common vision." IFC South Asia Director Thomas Davenport said the program leverages skills and global practices across the institution "to help realize high potential for lasting development impact in states that need it. -PTI

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahaani: Anjaana Anjaani 2 Tere Mast Mast Do Nain: Dabangg 3

Pee Loon: Once Upon A Time in Mumbai

India Post

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November 5, 2010

Hairat: Anjaana Anjaani

5 Mera Jeena Hai Kya: Aashayein 6 Tujhe Bhula Diya: Anjaana Anjaani 7 Chori Kiya Re Jiya: Dabangg 8 Man Lafanga: Lafangey Parindey 9 Naav: Udaan (New)

anbir Kapoor is again hitting the headlines and this time the reason is bit mysterious. The guy can't even think of enjoy ing with friends alone because the eyes of 'paparazzi' are always on him. Ranbir was reportedly spotted with a mystery girl at Olive in Bandra post midnight. He was seen getting closer to her. The tall girl with a stylish black and gold dress looked like a foreigner. Ranbir was noticed neglecting his friends and showering his girl with lots of affection. Well, his intimacy can be termed like a 'cakekiss' because only thick cake was separating their mouths from each other. The girl was about to cut a piece of cake put on the table but Ranbir took a piece and put it in her mouth. Stealing the eyes of all, he put his mouth at one end of the cake and pushed the other part to her mouth. They could take their eyes off each other since that lovely 'cake-kiss' moment. Ranbir was also seen leaving the venue with the mystery girl.

10 Desh Mera: Peepli Live

New boyfriend

hough her relationship with Kunal Khemu is in the open and has become official now, Soha says that she will take her own time to settle down with Khemu. Soha wants her brother Saif Ali Khan and sister (Saba Ali Khan) to tie the knot first. "I have my elders at home, my brother and sister. So, first it is their turn and then I follow." Soha said. The actress is the youngest of the siblings. According to reports, Soha is currently enjoying focusing on her career. She said, "I am doing all kind of cinema, for me it is not commercial or non-commercial. The script has to be good." The two love birds, Soha and Kunal are going very strong and are yet to get established in the industry.

ove is in the air for Katrina Kaif. There`s someone special who has caught her attention and is keeping her super busy these days. Well before you kill us for toying with your curiosity, let us tell you that Katrina`s current boyfriend goes by the name Czar and Kat met him on the sets of her film Tees Maar Khan. And now if it doesn't still ring a bell, Czar is Farah Khan`s two and a half year old son. The cute little fellow is smart enough to grab Kat`s attention. According to sources, Katrina is totally in love with Czar, who accompanies his filmmaker mom on the sets of Tees Maar Khan every now and then.

Bollywood

November 5, 2010

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nternational celebrities make way. Director Anees Bazmi says he's more than happy to have Bollywood's own sizzling stars - Sushmita Sen and Kangana Ranaut - to scorch the dance floor for a song in his forthcoming film 'No Problem'. "There was no time to get any international celebrity. Our film is complete. Our first trailer was out with 'Anjaana Anjaani'. We just decided to add an extra title song. And we felt we don't really need outside contributions. Sushmita and Kangna are fabulous dancers," Bazmi said. There were reports earlier that "No Problem" might see "Waka Waka" girl Shakira shake a leg. The number featuring Sushmita, the former Miss Universe, and Kangana, who isn't seen in many dance numbers, will be choreographed by Ahmed Khan. And the buzz is that the two divas will pull out all stops in front of the camera to outdo each other. The actors in the film -- Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Sunil Shetty are also expected to join the two ladies on the dance floor in "No Problem", which is set to release in December.

-town siren Mallika Sherawat is excited with her latest release 'Hisss' which coincided nearly with her birthday. But the film has failed to impress the critics who has not liked the 'nagin' act of the birthday girl to her expectations. However, Mallika who has turned 29, is busy tweeting her fans about the success of her movie 'Hisss'. Mallika's fans have appreciated her acting skills and her snake make-up in the movie, over Twitter, no matter how much criticism she has received from the critics. A Prayas Nayak tweeted to Mallika: "A film is going to be a hit by the audience point of view but not from the critics point of view, its a hit for ur fans, u do one thing mallika u just swallow all the critics? i loved the movie!" "Hi 2day in gorakhpur hiss all show is housefull i m get ticket 10:00 pm show by luck," remarked one of her fans who calls himself 'rishabh_rishi'. "Watched Hiss yesterday. It is good and your looks are heart touching and acting awesome," tweeted one of her fans who calls himself 'nagaprabhas'. Similarly there is one Neel Patel who posted that the tickets of 'Hisss' are not available in Lucknow, and the theatres are running with packed houses: "here in lucknow all cinemas are housefull not getting a single ticket to c u n ur mov.. " Surely, all these Tweets have provided the B-Town 'hot' actress a much needed relief as she has been continuously been pinched by her critics. Mallika who plays an 'icchadhari nagin' in the movie had to undergo through tough make-up sessions to give her the deadly 'serpent' look, reports said. The Bollywood beauty had to wear huge contact lenses that even cover the white of her eyes which made her eyes look like a deadly 'nagin'. She had to take out the lenses after every hour to let her eyes feel comfortable. The nagin costume that she wore in the movie was elaborate and she had to wear it for as long as 8-10 hours at a stretch.

Tech News Forex market intervention is a costly affair: Subbarao MUMBAI: In the face of suggestions by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that RBI could intervene in forex market to check rupee gaining strength, the central bank cautioned against pitfalls of such a move. On the back of a whopping USD 11.7 billion foreign fund inflows into the domestic stocks, the rupee has risen nearly 6 per cent since this September. "The biggest problem thrown up by capital flows is currency appreciation which erodes export competitiveness. Intervention in the forex market to prevent appreciation entails costs," RBI Governor D Subbarao said here. He was referring to increase in liquidity if the central bank intervenes in forex market by buying dollars. "If the resultant liquidity is left unsterilised, it fuels inflationary pressures. If resultant liquidity is sterilized, it puts upward pressure on interest rates which, apart from hurting competitiveness, also encourages further flows," Subbarao said at an ICRIER conference. -PTI

broadband access costs to be brought down BANGALORE: The government plans to take steps to bring down broadband access costs and is committed to connecting every single panchayat in the country with high- speed Internet in two years, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot said here. "The commitment of the government of India has been that by 2012, we will connect every single panchayat with high- speed broadband access," he said while speaking at the three- day Bangalore IT.Biz conference, an annual, statesponsored technology event. IT Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma spoke of the challenge of low broadband connectivity, coupled with high broadband costs, in rural areas. "It's of importance for the government to take the necessary steps to bring down the cost of broadband access as well as ensure functional connectivity up to the panchayat level," Sharma said. Pilot said that when the panchayats are connected with high-speed broadband, it would result in a paradigm shift in the interface between citizens and the state government, the Centre and local bodies in terms of quicker, faster and transparent delivery of services. -PTI

TechBiz 54 India Post

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Raising funds for infrastructure no problem: Pranab NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that raising funds for infrastructure development, targeted at Rs 41 lakh crore in the 12th Five-Year Plan, will not play havoc with the country's fiscal deficit as the economy is buoyant enough to take care of it. "The buoyancy we are witnessing in the economy... will help us in finding requisite funds for infrastructure without prejudice to the fiscal roadmap," Mukherjee said at a meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to the Finance Ministry.

November 5, 2010

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 55

Karnataka's IT exports to top Rs 90,000 crore this fiscal: CM BANGALORE: Karnataka is on course to achieve IT exports of Rs 90,000 crore in the current fiscal, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said here while announcing an investment promotion subsidy to give a push to semiconductor industry. Addressing 'Bangalore IT.Biz', an annual, state-sponsored technology event, he said the state registered IT exports worth Rs 38,000 crore in the first six months of the current fiscal. "We are confident of reaching Rs 90,000 crore IT exports (for the entire 2010-11)," Yeddyurappa said. In 2009-10, the state had recorded IT exports worth Rs 74,929 crore. Yeddyurappa said with a view to attract semiconductor businesses to tier II and III cities in the state, the government has taken an in-principle decision to extend an investment promotion subsidy to semiconductor units in Mysore, Mangalore and Hubli-Dharwad.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa

Yeddyurappa said with a view to attract semiconductor businesses to tier II and III cities in the state, the government has taken an in-principle decision to extend an investment promotion subsidy "Orders in this regard will soon be issued," he said. He said the government is

considering the inclusion of telecom in the proposed IT new policy being formulated, as mobile

telephony is bound to be the next growth engine for the rural economy. He said the proposed IT Investment Region (ITIR) project at Devanahally, on the outskirts of Bangalore, is expected to create four million jobs and attract investment worth Rs 1 lakh crore. The ITIR will be an integrated township catering to the IT and ITeS sectors, as well as electronic hardware manufacturing industry. Karnataka IT Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said the acquisition of 2,000 acres of land for the ITIR has begun and the process of securing the remaining 8,000 acres would start soon. "It's the biggest IT project undertaken anywhere in the country," Naidu said. Naidu also revealed that Karnataka and Israel are set to sign an MoU in the area of semiconductors. Naidu said the MoU is aimed at sharing of technology and cooperation on R&D between the two countries. -PTI

India-Malaysia CEOs forum for joint SEZs KUALA LUMPUR: The India-Malaysia CEO's Forum, which was set up here to boost two-way trade and investment, suggested joint development of SEZs and commercial townships besides creating an India Infrastructure Fund to meet the rising demands in that country. In a report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak here, the Forum also recommended reduction and elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade and investment and relaxing barriers for cross-border flow of capital. Promising to supplement the efforts of the respective governments to boost economic ties, the Forum suggested the two countries should identify and focus on other industries and sectors (including services) in addition to the already identified

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak

sectors where each country has a competitive advantage. "To jointly develop townships, SEZs and commercial development to meet the rising demands in In-

dia," the joint statement of the Forum said. It said the two sides should explore the creation of a dedicated India Infrastructure Fund.

The other recommendations included call on Malaysian companies to broaden their engagements/investments in roads, ports and power sectors in India, facilitating the movement of business people through reciprocal visa arrangement, reduction and elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade and investment. Resolution of issues relating to withholding taxes and the like, expediting of operations of banks of both Malaysia and India operating in each others' territories, relaxation of barriers to cross border investment, establishing parity in doing business in both the countries, simplification in work permit procedures and recognition of foreign firms for submission of Architectural and engineering plans for domestic approvals were among other recommendations. -PTI

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November 5, 2010

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RPower places $10bn power equipment order SHANGHAI, China: In the single largest equipment order by a power producer, India's Reliance Power has announced purchase of USD 10 billion (Rs 44,000 crore) worth boilers, turbines and generators from Shanghai Electric Corporation (SEC). RPower, which is also exploring a manufacturing joint venture with SEC, would use the equipment - to be supplied over a decade - for its proposed 30,000 MW capacity power plants. "This is a historic day for Reliance Power, for its shareholders, for its million customers," Reliance Power Chairman Anil Ambani said after signing the MoU with Shang-

hai Electric here. "The order includes 42 units of 660 MW each based on supercritical technology," the company said in a statement, while RPower executives separately noted that this was the single largest equipment purchase order. Shanghai Electric is already supplying equipment to Reliance Power's 4,000 MW Sasan Power project in Madhya Pradesh, and today's agreement would be for the power projects at Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Tilaiya (Jharkhand), Chitrangi (Madhya Pradesh) and other expansion projects. The financing for the equip-

ment has been tied up with Chinese banks such as Bank of China, China Development Bank and The Exim Bank of China, Reliance

This would be the sixth joint venture company after Bharat Forge Alstom, Larsen and Toubro, BHEL and Siemens for power equipment manufacturing Power said. Every project will be built in two phases, each phase consisting of six units of 660 MW coal-fired su-

'ArcelorMittal can't wriggle out of commitment' NEW DELHI: Warning the global steel leader ArcelorMittal against diluting its India commitment, Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh has said 24 million tonnes of its steel projects, for which mining concessions have been given, should be completed. "... Whatever commitment they made earlier, on the basis of which they have been given mining leases or were promised that they would be given mining leases, they should fulfill those promises. ..else withdrawal of mining leases could be a logical consequence," Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh told PTI. He was commenting on ArcelorMittal's announcement that it would pursue small projects in India now, instead of pushing the two mega 12 million tonnes in Orissa and Jharkhand at a total investment of Rs 1 lakh crore. ArcelorMittal CFO Aditya

Mittal has said the company plans small plants for faster execution and larger footprints. However, the company added that this would not mean shelving of the bigger projects and those would be taken up later.

Singh debunked the steel producers contention that bureaucracy, corruption and other procedural delays had impacted the project The world's largest steel producer had earlier proposed to set up Rs 1 lakh crore worth steel plants with annual production capacities of 12 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) each in Jharkhand

Raising funds for infrastructure no problem: Pranab Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 54

India's economic growth accelerated to 8.8 per cent in the first quarter of this fiscal, after a brief slowdown on account of the global financial crisis. The government had earlier announced an investment target of Rs 41 lakh crore for the infrastructure sector in the 12th Plan period, beginning 2012, more than double the envisaged spending under the ongoing 11th Plan. He said the ministry "...is committed to bring down the fiscal deficit to 4.1 per cent of GDP by 2012-13." The government's fiscal deficit targets went awry after it provided

a stimulus to domestic industry by cutting taxes and raising expenditure to tide over the global financial turmoil. The fiscal deficit doubled to over 6 per cent of the GDP in 2008-09 against the target of 3 per cent as per the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. The fiscal deficit further widened to over 6.5 per cent during 2009-10. After partially withdrawing the stimulus this year, the Finance Minister pegged the fiscal deficit at 5.5 per cent of the GDP in the current financial year. The government aims to reduce it further to 4.1 per cent by 2012-13. -PTI

and Orissa. Facing delays in two mineralrich states, ArcelorMittal had earlier this year announced setting up 6 MTPA unit in Karnataka at a cost of Rs 30,000 crore. Singh debunked the steel producers contention that bureaucracy, corruption and other procedural delays had impacted the project, saying that in any major greenfield project some time is taken and government is doing everything that it has committed to. However, Ministry sources said that real reason for the change in the Almeta's stance was due to its overspreading of resources for acquisition at a time when the slowdown in Europe was impacting its both top and bottom lines. Asked that ArcelorMittal Chairman and CEO L N Mittal had criticized the Indian government for red-tapism and corruption and had cited these for delays in launch of the projects, Singh said, "I think whatever difficulties they had in India initially were addressed." On regulatory bottlenecks and protests against land acquisition, he said the same were state subjects and Centre can act only as a facilitator. "There is some delay but that will take off. Mines leases are ultimately granted by state governments, land acquisition is done by the state government. Relief and rehabilitations is done through the state governments. Centre only acts as a facilitator," he said. Going ahead with the new strategy, the firm may also look at acquiring small units in India and was reportedly in such talks with at least a dozen firms. -PTI

per critical thermal power plants. Shanghai Electric said it will deliver the equipment at the rate of three to four units a year, starting 2011. Reliance Power may also tie up with the Shanghai Electric for setting up a manufacturing facility in India for power equipment. "We are doing studies and very soon we would take a final decision based on the due diligence for this (manufacturing unit)," SEC President Zheng Jianhua told reporters here. "The joint venture would look at, potentially, manufacturing (equipment) in India," Ambani said.

If clinched, this would be the sixth joint venture company after Bharat Forge Alstom, Larsen and Toubro, BHEL and Siemens for power equipment manufacturing. Reliance Power plans to increase its generating capacity to 25,000 MW by 2015, from 600 megawatts at present. According to RPower website, coal for the Krishnapatnam power project in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh is planned to be imported from Indonesia. The project is "scheduled to come on-stream by September 2013, when the first unit is commissioned and the project is scheduled to be fully commissioned by October 2015." -PTI

ArcelorMittal assures Orissa on mega steel plant BHUBANESWAR: With the fate of two big ticket investments -- Posco's mega steel plant and Vedanta's refinery expansion projects hanging fire, the world's largest steel-maker ArcelorMittal has assured the Orissa government on its commitment to set up a Rs 40,000 crore mega steel plant. "ArcelorMittal will not withdraw from the state under any circumstances," Steel and Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty told reporters quoting company executives. The company's commitment was given to the state government by ArcelorMittal's Orissa project chief D S Arora and general manager (land and company affairs) L C Mohapatra to Mohanty here. ArcelorMittal will set up a 3 mtpa steel plant in Keonjhar dis-

trict in the first phase and add capacity up to 12 mtpa in other phases. It is, however, yet to submit a detailed project report (DPR) though it has signed MoU in 2006 to set up the 12 mtpa steel plant. Stating that the project required 7,753 acre for setting up the steel plant and township, the officials have said the land would be acquired from different villages. Notification for land acquisition has been made in seven villages. The officials informed the minister that the company has started corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the area under Patana tehsil in Keonjhar district. The company has so far trained 60 local youths in different trade who were working in different industries. -PTI

In Brief NY atty, aide, sentenced in visa fraud NEW YORK: A Long Islandbased attorney convicted of scamming illegal immigrants has been sentenced to five years in prison. Thomas Archer also was ordered to pay $309,500 in restitution to 234 former clients. He and an assistant were convicted in March of visa fraud and conspiracy. The aide, Rukhsana Rafique, was sentenced to 18 months. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn say Archer submitted false legalization applications for more than 230 illegal immigrants. Each client paid between $1,500 and $2,500 for the services, but every one was rejected by the Department of Homeland Security. -AP

Consul says immigrants don't trust Tucson police TUCSON, Ariz.: The Mexican consul in Tucson says Mexicans living in Arizona's second-largest city have lost trust in police and people are scared to report crimes for fear they might be turned over to immigration authorities. Juan Manuel Calderon Jaimes says for years Tucson police have inquired about the immigration status of people they stop, people in the car with them and people who report crimes. Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villasenor disputes that, saying his officers aren't doing anything differently than in past years. Villasenor says officers have a right to contact the Border Patrol if they come across a person whom they suspect is in the United States illegally. -AP

Immigrant vets face deportation despite service SAN FRANCISCO: Up to 8,000 non-citizens enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces every year and serve alongside American troops. If they die while serving, they are given citizenship and a military funeral. If they live and get in trouble with the law, they can get be ensnared by a 1996 immigration law that greatly expanded the list of crimes for which non-citizens can be deported. Now advocates of non-citizen servicemen and women are trying to change the rules. Attorneys are taking cases to court, arguing that an immigrant who serves in the Armed Forces should be considered a US national and protected from deportation. -AP

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November 5, 2010

Illegal immigrant guilty in western Pa. stabbing CANONSBURG, Pa.: An illegal Mexican immigrant has pleaded guilty in the stabbing death of his southwestern Pennsylvania neighbor in February, and will face deportation after he serves a 15to 30-year prison sentence. -AP

New guidance on inadmissibility based on medical grounds CYRUS D. MEHTA

ollowing an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to its technical instructions, the Department of State (DOS) has updated guidance in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) concerning medical grounds of inadmissibility and issued a corresponding cable to the field. The cable notes that the CDC updated the Technical Instructions for Physical or Mental Disorders with Associated Harmful Behavior and Substance Related Disorders (2010 MH TIs) effective June 1, 2010. Those instructions supersede all previous guidance on physical or mental disorders and substance related disorders. The major revisions in the 2010 MH TIs include changes to the methods of diagnosis of mental disorders and substance-related disorders, the definition and determination of remission, and the alcohol abuse evaluation. The DOS cable includes updates to 9 FAM resulting from this change to the technical instructions. The CDC's updated technical instructions for panel physicians are available at cdc.gov/ immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/ panel/mental-panel-technicalinstructions.html. The updated portion of the FAM is available at http://www.state.gov/documents/

organization/86936.pdf. ICE Approves Special Relief for Certain F-1 Haitian Students U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has approved special relief for certain F-1 Haitian students who have suffered severe economic hardship as result of the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti. This relief applies only to students who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 status on January 12, and

"We want to ensure that students from Haiti, who were here at the time of January's tragic events, are able to concentrate on their studies without the worry of financial burdens created by the devastation of the earthquake," said Louis Farrell, director of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. "These students have the full support of SEVP [the Student and Exchange Visitor Program] and designated school officials for

F-1 students granted employment authorization by means of the notice will be deemed to be engaged in a full course of study if they meet the minimum course load requirements specified in the notice enrolled in an institution that is certified by ICE's Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The suspension of certain regulatory requirements allows eligible Haitian F-1 students to obtain employment authorization, work an increased number of hours during the school term and, if necessary, reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 student status. F-1 students granted employment authorization by means of the notice will be deemed to be engaged in a full course of study if they meet the minimum course load requirements specified in the notice.

assistance." ICE manages SEVP and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. An ICE press release announcing the relief is available at aila.org/ content/default.aspx?bc=1016 %7C6715%7C12053%7C262 86%7C32985. New appointment service for visa applicants from Canada The U.S. Mission in Canada is transitioning to a new appointment service for applicants applying for a visa to come to the United States. As of September 1, 2010, all services, including calling for

information and scheduling an appointment, are being provided at no additional cost, with no requirement that applicants pay phone charges or use PIN numbers to access such services. Applicants should go to http:// www.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/ selfservice/ss_country_welcome to obtain information online or via telephone on how to start their application for a U.S. visa at a consular section in Canada. Beginning September 1, 2010, applicants must pay their machinereadable visa (MRV) fee before scheduling an appointment. If the applicant has paid the MRV fee before September 1, 2010, but has not scheduled an appointment, there is a grace period from September 1, 2010, until October 1, 2010 during which the applicant can still use the MRV fee for appointment scheduling. If the applicant does not schedule an appointment before October 1, 2010, he or she will have to pay the MRV fee again through the new service to schedule an appointment. The announcement and related links are available at http:// www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/ new_appointment_service.asp. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Court orders resentencing in Ark. immigration case LITTLE ROCK, Ark.: A federal appeals court ordered a new sentencing hearing for a man who pleaded guilty to keeping two dozen illegal immigrants in a pair of overcrowded homes while not paying them for their work or providing adequate food. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that a judge should not have allowed a sentence enhancement for Marcio De Oliveira, 43, on grounds the victims were unusually vulnerable. But the court denied the main thrust of De Oliveira's appeal, in which he sought to withdraw his guilty plea. De Oliveira was the target of an April 2009 four-count federal in-

dictment for allegedly harboring illegal immigrants. He pleaded guilty to two counts and was sentenced on Feb. 2 to four years and three months in federal prison. He was also fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution _ $2,000 to each of 25 workers. Two of the workers were in the country legally. De Oliveira argued that he fully intended to go to trial but claimed his attorney talked him out of it, against his better judgment, on the eve of the proceeding. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren granted prosecutors' requests for sentencing enhancements in three categories: the victims were at

substantial risk of bodily injury, the victims were unusually vulnerable and that De Oliveira had a role as a leader or organizer. The 8th Circuit found that Hendren should not have granted the vulnerable victim enhancement, which prosecutors argued was valid because the victims were afraid to complain to authorities as they were in the country illegally. The court found that the victims' status as vulnerable had already been factored into other elements of the sentencing. Days before the sentencing hearing, De Oliveira asked through a new attorney to withdraw his plea. Hendren denied the request

on grounds that De Oliveira failed to prove his claim that his prior attorney's work was deficient. Neither of De Oliveira's lawyers immediately returned phone calls seeking comment, nor did the U.S attorney's office. Christopher Plumlee, criminal division chief for the Western District U.S. attorney's office, said De Oliveira's sentence won't automatically be reduced. ``It (the loss of the enhancement) could represent anywhere from a 10month to 18-month swing on the sentencing guidelines. But the guidelines are not binding. The court is free to sentence him to up to 10 years in prison,'' Plumlee said. -AP

Immigration Post

November 5, 2010

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Mother, son deportation fight ends after 20 years AUSTIN, Texas: Valquires Geraldes' fear that she and her son, Wilson, would one day be deported from their Austin home to their native Brazil was no fleeting concern. It hung over her head more than 20 years. ``It was a nightmare,'' Geraldes said of their extraordinary legal case, which raised humanitarian concerns about 24-year-old Wilson Geraldes, who has severe autism, learning disabilities and limited communication skills. Now her anxiety has been lifted, Geraldes said. Late last month, an immigration judge in San Antonio terminated deportation proceedings for her and Wilson, their attorney Simon Azar-Farr of San Antonio said. Dismissal laid to rest legal proceedings tracing back to 1989, when immigration officials charged Geraldes and her son with entering the country two years earlier without inspection and, later, with not being in possession of a valid entry document, according to a 2008 document in the case. Geraldes said she wanted to shout for joy when she learned the news. ``I was about to (have to) leave this country, and I was horrified. This is like a dream come true,'' she said. Dismissal opened the door for the Geraldeses to apply for legal permanent residency. Azar-Farr said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services intends to approve their applications for what are commonly known as ``green cards,'' perhaps as soon as this month. Maria Elena Garcia-Upson, a spokeswoman for the immigration agency, said it does not comment on individual cases. Documents in the dismissed deportation proceedings are not publicly available, said Elaine Komis with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, another Department of Homeland Security agency that oversees the nation's immigration courts. Azar-Farr declined to comment in detail about the government's decision, saying only that the judge considered humanitarian

reasons surrounding Wilson Geraldes' severe autism. ``The government should be complimented for taking a serious and careful look at this case and its facts and exercising their discretion favorably,'' Azar-Farr said.

In May, the American-Statesman profiled the Geraldeses and their fight to stay in the U.S. Azar-Farr, who was not their original attorney, said Valquires Geraldes and her son never should have been placed in deportation proceedings. -AP

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November 5, 2010

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NEW YORK

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

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.

Sat Nov 13 • Music & Dance Festival Dipawali 2010 Venue: Vedic Heritage, 111 Jerusalem ave, Hempstead, New York, 11550 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: Nayan Kisnadwala - 516 240 6506

Sat Nov 13 • Shree Jalaram Mandir Presents - Bhajan Sandhya By Sri Shailendra Bhartti Venue: Shree Jalaram Mandir, 425 Illinois Blvd, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, 60169 Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Contact: Chirayu Parikh - 708-975-0076

NEW JERSEY

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Sat Nov 6

Wed Nov 3

• Dance Competition at Zee Diwali Mela NJ

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

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

Sun Nov 14 • Tropical Insipirations South Asian Wedding Expo 2010 Venue: Marriott Schamburg, 50 N Martingale Road, Schaumburg, Illinois, 60173 Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Contact: Dipak Patel 630-277-9273

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

Sun Nov 7 • Eating For Enlightenment: An Ayurvedic culinary experience Venue: Residence, 1506 Windsor Court, Denville, New Jersey, 07834 Time: 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm Contact: Purvi Patel - 973-563-2788

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 • Ravi Shankar's 90th Birthday Celebration Venue: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC Time: 8pm to 10pm Contact: (202) 785-9727

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

Sun Nov 14 • Harry Potter Quiz Venue: India Gate Restaurant, 2875 Lakeside Dr, Santa Clara, California, 95054 Time: 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm Contact: Amit Saxena, Santosh Mishra - 408728-3512

Every Sat (start from Sat Aug 8) • 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.

Wed Nov 3 to Sat Nov 6 ï 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

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.

Sat Nov 13 • PRATHAM LA USA

Sat Nov 20

Venue: Long Beach Terrace Theater. 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802 Time: 7:30 Pm Contact: Dipak Sarkar 951-688-0221, Dhiren Mehta 714-357-8927 Highlights: Bollywood Superstar and National Award Winner Alka Yagnik accompanied by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Sensation Raja Hassan.

• Encounters: New Moon on the Silk Road

Sat Nov 20

Venue: Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard & Buchanan Street, San Francisco, California, 94123 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: Afsaneh Art & Culture Society 415.488.0944

Venue: Laguna Hills Time: 3 pm to 6 pm Contact: Bharti Khatri (949)235-2960

Sat Nov 20 • Euphoria at Roobaroo 2010 Venue: Chabot College Theater, Hayward, California Time: 5pm to 8pm Contact: (415)320-8243

ï Ayurveda Seminar on Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure for Free

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NOTICE is hereby given that sealed competitive bids will be accepted in the office of the GSA-Purchasing Department, County of Alameda, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite 907, Oakland, CA 94612 NETWORKING/NORTH COUNTY BIDDERS CONFERENCE RFP #900723 for Employee Benefit Auditing Services, Tuesday, November 09, 2010, 10:00 a.m. ñ General Services Agency, 1401 Lakeside Drive, 11th Floor, Room 1107, Oakland, CA NETWORKING/SOUTH COUNTY BIDDERS CONFERENCERFP #900723 for Employee Benefit Auditing Services, Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 2:00 p.m. ñ Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Avenue, Chabot Room, Castro Valley, CA Responses Due by 2:00 pm on December 21, 2010 County Contact: Evelyn Benzon (510) 208-9622 or via e m a i l : evelyn.benzon@acgov.org Attendance at Networking Conference is Non-mandatory. Information regarding the above may be obtained at the Alameda County Current Contracting Opportunities Internet website at www.acgov.org. 11/5/10 CNS-1972887#

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Philosophy

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November 5, 2010

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rjuna is a perfect man, doing perfect deeds-a specimen of human individuality, no doubt-but Krishna has to be there with him. Not only has Krishna to be there with Arjuna, he has to be within Arjuna himself as a guiding intelligence. This charioteer of the Mahabharata context, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, driving, moving forward the vehicle of Arjuna is not only an external guide in the purely military and political fashion, but also an inner director, an intelligence that helps the very understanding of the person engaged in the action. The association of Krishna with Arjuna is the association of yoga with work. The Mahayogeshwara Sri Krishna is so-called because of his supreme attainment of atmatvaunifiedness in terms of selfhood, which is the highest yoga we can conceive of. "Through atmayoga I have demonstrated this great vision before you," says Sri Krishna in the Bhagavadgita. All yoga is finally atmayoga. It is the unitedness of the self with the spirit of all things. This is not necessarily implied in learning how to work perfectly. A good management expert-a director of a company-may be an expert in his line, but that would not suffice in the end when one faces

SANT JNANESHWAR

he basic error in the understanding of what-we-are is the fact that we think in terms of, the cognizer and the cognized object being something substantial and as having an autonomous existence. Such thinking - which the Guru firmly refuses to accept -totally ignores the basic attribute of phenomenal manifestation: that both the cognizer and the object cognized (both the worshipper and the object of worship, as the sage puts it) are only dualistic aspects of the noumenal functioning, that as such they are merely appearances without any self-nature, and that the totality of the manifestation is the objective expression of the subjectivity that is the noumenon, represented by the impersonal pronoun "I" that we all are. We are clearly given to understand that so long as the disciple considers himself a separate entity, there cannot be any question of his awakening. This would be simpler to accept if we consider "life" as merely a series of movements in consciousness - events to which we needlessly give a sense of volition and consider them as "our actions", and thereby become liable to bondage.

what they call the brass tacks of nature. The world contains many more secrets, unknown and inaccessible to the human mind, so that no one can be so entirely confident that nature has been mastered, or another person's mind has been understood. Neither of these is possible, finally, if yoga is absent or is not blended with this honesty and enthusiasm behind perfect work. Arjuna, the great perfected individual, cannot stand for a moment if Krishna is not there.

tation seen everywhere, within as well as without. This impulse to selftranscend is the secret working of a power which is not visible to ordinary eyes but which incessantly works everywhere. Winkless is the act of God. Sleepless is nature. Man may sleep, but nature does not sleep. We may take rest, but creation does not take rest. It is incessantly active towards the achievement of a great purpose that it has placed before itself-namely, the gathering of all its forces into a single-

to be properly kindled and kept up forever. Why is everything active in this world? Why are we active every moment, every day, day in and day out? Why is there coming and going of things? Why is there evolution and involution? These are the busy movements of creation as a whole in response to the master's callGod calling. Let Arjuna forget the presence of Sri Krishna-what would happen? This is exactly what has

Arjuna the perfect is nothing without Krishna Man may sleep, but nature does not sleep. We may take rest, but creation does not take

It is in vain to waste one's time considering which God to worship. Worship him in any form. It is the sincerity of devotion that matters. -Swami Tapovan Maharaj

rest. It is incessantly active towards the achievement of a great purpose

Swami Krishnananda

There is the tendency in everything to transcend itself. The dissatisfaction which everyone and everything feels in himself, herself or itself is the urge for a self-transcendence ingrained in all individuality throughout nature. We cannot stagnate in a given condition of our existence. There is growth and change and transmu-

ness of consciousness and action, meditation and work, which both blend into a single being in that perfect absoluteness which is called God Almighty. The more we love God, the more we feel restless within ourselves. It is a divine uneasiness which has to be there if the flame of that response to God's call has

happened to mankind today. In the arrogance of physical power and the false, vainglorious assurance of strength in money and material amenities, the Arjuna that is today's mankind has forgotten the very existence of that otherwise-real friend, the unknown Sri Krishna who is pervading in all places.

The biggest impediment to the apperception of what the Guru is and what we all are, as the Guru himself repeatedly says - is the difficulty of abandoning the concept of oneself as a factual entity. Whatever we may be doing -or not doing however kind, unselfish, pure and holy it may be (like worshipping the Guru), the necessary condition for the para-vritti would not be created so long as there is a belief that we

is apperceived directly and intuitively -without the intermediacy of the intellect - metanoesis may result as a sudden and instantaneous fact: if the receiving condition is suitable, the Guru's teaching becomes effective immediately; it has to be instantaneous, otherwise it can only be a concept in temporal consciousness. The Guru, by his persistent refusal to become an object of wor-

One may well wonder what metanoesis actually does, but such a query, in the circumstances, would be ill-conceived. This is exactly the sort of query that used to exasperate Nisargadatta Maharaj. He would then explain that enlightenment or awakening does not DO anything; it does not in any way "alter" our state: "I see the same things in the phenomenal manifestation that you do, but

Guru sees no difference between 'self' & 'other'

Sant Jnaneshwar

The biggest impediment to the apperception of what the Guru is -and what we all are, as the Guru himself repeatedly says - is the difficulty of abandoning the concept of oneself as a factual entity

"ourselves" are doing it. What needs to be abandoned is the concept that one is a liveer of life and a die-er of death, as a factual entity. All there is is "living", which is the appearance extended in space and measured in duration, of the objective manifestation of the subjective unmanifest that we are; and dying is its disappearance. When this teaching of the Guru

ship, demonstrates the teaching that what-I-am - consciousness has identified itself with "me", and it is this identification that has to fall of; it cannot be thrown off because no 'one' exists to throw it off! The approach, is essentially negative; any positive approach can only strengthen the very conditioning that demands positive action.

the seeing is different." Enlightenment merely discloses or exposes or reveals whatwe-are, and, what we have always been. Enlightenment is the mending of the dichotomy of the whole mind so that the division of the mind into subject and object no longer prevails. Excerpted from commentary on Amritanubhava by Ramesh S. Balsekar

Life is far beyond meaning, Life is beyond meaning and that's why it is so beautiful. -Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev To listen to some devout people, one would imagine that God never laughs. -Sri Aurobindo What is perishable is the pradhana (primary matter). What is immortal and imperishable is Hara (Brahman). Over both the perishable and the soul the One rules. By meditating on That, by uniting with That, by reflecting on That more and more, there is complete cessation from the illusion of the world. -Svetasvatara Upanishad The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy and all the arts can be called lower knowledge. The higher Is that which leads to Self-realization. - Mundaka Upanishad

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China-India: Return to robust relations? SWARAN SINGH

he week lasting 18-23 October witnessed three major events that promise to inject a positive enthusiasm in China-India relations. First, the release of Regional Economic Outlook 2010 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Jakarta underlined how, with their growth rates of 10.5 and 9.7 per cent respectively, China and India are clearly recognized today as the torchbearers of global economic recovery. The fact that China and India are located in the thriving AsiaPacific makes the Chindia phenomenon the most robust driver of what is being described as an impending transformation in global economy followed by the transformation in global political relations. Some sparks of this gradual but certain power shift were visible in the second event- the G20 finance

G20 summit of June 2009. These quotas in IMF shares and seats in the board of governors will be transferred to emerging economies like China and India. At the end of the Gyeongju meeting, the IMF Managing Director, Dominique Stauss-Kahn, said "This clearly [was] an IMF day in Asiaâ&#x20AC;Ś now the board represents the reality of the global economy." To recall, both China and India have been raising the issue of need for reforms in the UN and Bretton Woods institutions citing this as an issue of their credibility and efficacy in the face of the changed ground realities of the 21st century. The third event was nearer home. This was the 50th anniversary celebrations of New Delhi's premier strategic institute, the National Defense College. The participation of Prof. Shen Dingli, Executive Dean of the Institute of

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao

ministers' and central bank chiefs' meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea. In spite of media hype over 'currency wars' on which they only agreed to 'refrain from competitive devaluations' these financial leaders managed a breakthrough agreement on IMF reforms, efforts for which had been on for several years, if not decades. From initial reports, Europe has agreed to give up two of its six seats in the 24-member board of governors of IMF and also agreed to surrender five per cent of its voting rights. In the communiquĂŠ issued at the end of this meeting, it was agreed to shift a total quota of six per cent shares to emerging economies and this will be over and above the amount that was previously agreed at the Pittsburg

International Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai was highlighted in Indian media as a signal of India lifting the bar on visits by senior Chinese defense officials and strategists that New Delhi had imposed since July when China had declined to give visa to a senior Indian general. China's becoming the number two world economy in September had already brought a certain focus on China. Meanwhile, India now the fourth-largest economy in purchasing parity terms - is also growing at a rapid pace and has begun to receive rapidly expanding FDI. This sudden deluge has become a matter of concern in India. Indeed, World Bank World projections for 2011 believe that India's growth rates will outpace

the Chinese growth rate as early as 2011 while Morgan Stanley puts the date at 2013. The coming weeks will witness a slew of interactions between their leaders that perhaps augur well for China-India relations. Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh met his counterpart Wen Jiabao on the margins of the Fifth East Asia Summit in Hanoi, their first meeting since the controversy about the denial of visa to Gen. BS Jaswal had resulted in suspension of their defense exchanges. India has also since been concerned about reports on China's increasing investments and military presence in infrastructure and humanitarian relief projects in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. However, while leaving for his three-country tour - Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singh tried to strike a positive chord as he acknowledged India's conditional support to China's decision to supply nuclear reactors to Pakistan. Singh will be meeting President Hu during the G20 summit from 11-12 November in South Korea. In between, both Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy will be visiting New Delhi. Two important Chinese visitors are also expected to arrive in New Delhi sometime during the middle of November. These are Zhou Yongkang - China's security czar and the ninth-ranking member of the CPC's Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) and President Hu's envoy on sensitive issues like North Korea and Tibet - and Li Keqiang the seventh-ranking member of the PSC and expected successor to Premier Wen Jiabao in 2012. Also, Indian Foreign Minister, SM Krishna will meet his counterpart Yang Jeichi on the sidelines of the coming BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and trilateral RussiaIndia-China Foreign Ministers' meetings in Wuhan mid-November. Besides, the much-awaited meeting between their two Special Representatives on the boundary question is also expected anytime. And finally, their bilateral trade that had fallen from US$52 billion to US$45 billion last year is all set to now cross US$60 billion for this year. All these events together are likely to provide a positive spin to the complex and volatile Sino-Indian relationship which has become increasingly critical beyond just their bilateral policy prism. The writer is Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Courtesy IPCS

India Post Talking to Kashmiris A

three-member panel of interlocutors appointed by the Indian Government has been able to break some ice in Kashmir by talking to a cross-section of people, including some jailed militant leaders. Many extremist sections are boycotting the panel with hardline Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani calling the effort part of a 'dirty trick' to mislead United States President Barack Obama during his visit to India. Since Geelani is His (Pakistani) Master's Voice in Kashmir his thinking reveals the importance the neighboring country attaches to this visit and its need to raise temperatures to impress Obama about the "problem." The use of the expression "dirty trick" is like a confession of the methods Pakistan itself uses to achieve its ends. At the time of the last visit of a US President to India, Bill Clinton in the year 2000, a massacre of Sikh families by masked men was organized in Kashmir by Lashkar-e-Toiba (as confirmed by double agent Headley) and the blame was laid on Indian security forces. The design is the same this time too although means have changed to orchestrating stone-throwing to malign security forces. Activist Arundhati Roy has started echoing the radical voices in Kashmir valley and the other extreme, the BJP, has started calling for her arrest for sedition. Extremism of either variety is not going to be helpful in Kashmir. Arundhati has obviously not thought through the problem before raising her sharp voice for 'azadi.' What are the implications of what the radicals are demanding and Arundhati is supporting? If Kashmir was not part of India at the time of partition, was it part of Pakistan? And today, if Kashmir doesn't want to remain in India, would it like to go to Pakistan? A number of polls have established that the Kashmiris do not want to join Pakistan. The latest, by Chatham House of London, showed barely two percent support among people in the valley for joining Pakistan. And then Kashmir is not the valley alone, it is only one third of the state. The other two parts, Jammu and Ladakh, are totally for remaining within India. And they have nothing to do with the 'azadi' demand as well. Some sections in Kashmir who are demanding 'azadi' are doing so at the behest of Pakistan and many other sections merely want freedom from harassment by the security forces. It must be understood by people like Arundhati that the security forces are acting in the face of grave provocation. The Indian Army Chief has revealed that infiltration of militants from Pakistan has increased this year even as demands for withdrawal of security forces reach a crescendo. Even as bunkers are being demolished in the city of Srinagar instances of encounters with militants holed up in houses have gone up. It is all a matter of raising temperatures because if disturbances are not artificially created and the valley people return to their works, the security forces will also rest their weapons and peace might reign. This is a scenario that the masters across the borders dread. Politically the demand for secession from India is invalid. A small part of the state cannot be declared independent. Even if it were granted that, it would soon be gobbled up by Pakistan or China, neither of whom have any democratic credentials. True, Pakistan is party to the dispute because it has created the problem. No amount of violence planned and executed by its agents have solved the problem nor will it solve it in future. Pakistan needs to understand that. And yes, a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir must be held but before that, it should stop aiming its gun at India.

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