IAN11162012e-newspaper

Friday, November 16 2012 | Vol. 31, No. 46

Indo American erican News

www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX

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Houston Diwali Mela Spectacular!

More than 8000 people attended the first ever Dusshera Mela held at Constellation Field in Sugar Land on November 4.

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November 16, 2012

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

November 16, 2012

The Stage Show Never Stopped at this Huge Diwali Mela

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA SUGAR LAND: Whew! What a month this has been, unlike any other that area desis have seen since they first started to settle in Space City and its exploding suburbs. For the first time Diwali has become a back-to-back, large event-filled phenomenon that really gave these past 30 days the feel of a desi Holiday Season.

The thirty days started with the navaratri celebrations at different venues around town and then went into high gear with a Ram Leela performance at The Wortham Center (see IAN dated Nov. 2, 2012) followed by a Grand Deepavali Celebration at the Sri Meenakshi Temple; another Ram Leela at the Cullen Auditorium and a first ever Dusserah Mela the next weekend (see IAN dated Nov. 9, 2012).

The Dussehra Mela was a precursor to the mela that unfolded this past weekend as it was also held at the same venue and brought in as many people who witnessed a religious revival and a spectacular fireworks display followed by a garba to a live band on the concourse.

This year’s Diwali season culminated with not just one, but two large events, both in the far southwest suburbs on two consecutive days this past weekend.

There was of course the traditional BAPS Swami Narayan Temple Diwali festivities which included fireworks on Sunday, November 11. But the Diwali Mela at the new Constellation Field ballpark in Sugar Land on Saturday, November 10 blew away everyone’s expectations on attendance, which was easily over 8,000 if you could believe the blinking “Event Sold Out” signs on the approach road to the stadium.

There were disappointed people no doubt who waited too long to decide on coming, many who came to see if they could sneak in (they couldn’t) and some who did get in around 11pm after most of the show and the fireworks were over and just before the dandia raas garba was about to begin on the field around the massive 80foot long stage.

The Diwali Mela was a production of the Music Masala Radio team led by the effervescent entertainer Sunil Thakkar who has become a household name in the Bayou City not only for his warmth but his ability to con-

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Diwali Mela 2012 was the first ever event in Houston to have 8000+ tickets sold out one week in advance.

Photos: AMA Photography by Aisha Khan

nect with people at all levels and disarm them with his charm. With the same organization that Masala Radio produces the Holi Mela in the Spring, they went out on a limb to get the huge ballpark for the Diwali Mela, with the support of their major sponsors Zee TV and Tara Energy.

Zee took a large role in creating the event and was prominently conspicuous with their orange booth on the concourse where a sales team handed out white goodie bags and introduced them to a new promotional 30-second video that Zee would broadcast for free over the Diwali holidays. The line to record the spot in a soundproof booth went across the aisle. Zee’s national marketing manager Vibha Chopra was on hand to thank the crowd in person on stage.

And the crowd was not disap-

This event was a big success because someone up there wanted it to happen. Lakshmiji blessed the Diwali Mela.

At 4.30pm, it looked like it was going to rain. But in 30 minutes, the dark clouds disappeared as if the Gods cleared the sky.

Instead of the rain, they showered their blessings upon us.

- Sunil Thakkar pointed by the stream of performances that they saw on stage which included cultural folk dances, a fashion show featuring clothing from Sari Sapne boutique, the India Culture Center and India House Miss Diwali 2012 contest (see page 4), songs by Indian Idol Bhoomi Trivedi (sponsored by the Red Oak Hospital), Aling Hakka’s fire dancers and even the Music Masala dancers, led, of course by a prancing Sunil T himself!

Many local personalities, politicians, charities and event spon-

sors also had a chance to come on stage and extend their holiday greetings, including the management of Constellation Field which has seen three desi (if you include the Pakistan Mela) events roll through their facility this year. With seating sold out, another 500 people were allowed onto sit on the lawn in front of the stage.

The Mela would not have been complete without the booths that lined every nick and cranny of the concourse level featuring food from many local desi restaurants, gifts, handicrafts, clothing, services and local desi organizations all of which beckoned the throngs that crowded the aisles and competed for foot space, a bit like being in Saddar Bazaar in Old Delhi. The covered aisles boomed with the sounds from the stage show, a consequence of the acoustics better suited for baseball commentary than for music, and the loud chatter of mela goers who came dressed in their ethnic finery.

But what would the mela be without a commemoration to the religious aspect of the occasion?

With the stage leading the way, people lit up the 2,000 small LED diyas that were handed out while coming through the gates and participated in singing aarti. A short time later, the moment that many young and old waited for came when the first rocket left a yellow streak going up the air and exploded in a starburst, followed by many more, ending in a crescendo of booming, multi-colored

sunflowers, to the “oohs!” and “aahhs” of the excited crowd.

And then came the still tireless hundreds who descended onto the field around the stage to dance the dandia raas garba, going round in a wide circle till they literally turned off the field lights and closed the gates. For them, as for those who came, this year’s Diwali Mela, the second after an absence of five years, was just the right antidote to hectic everyday lives.

See Collage on page 14, 15 Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $40 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036, tel: 713789-6397, fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@ yahoo.com.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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COMMUNITY

November 16, 2012

Another First, the Miss Diwali Contest, Fascinates Mela Goers

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: It was quite a rush for the nine young women who strode onto the stage at the Diwali Mela (see page 3) in front of the largest crowd they had probably ever performed before. The women had already been scrutinized by the panel of judges in three initial rounds for their beauty, intellect and talent (see IAN dated Nov. 9, 2012), but this round was the final one to earn the first ever Miss Diwali 2012 crown.

The pageant was organized by the India Culture Center and India House under the guidance of ICC Director Jasmeeta Singh, a trained classical dancer and choreographer and India House Chair Hari Kewalramani, a retired engineer and Hindi poet. They had pulled together the pageant three weeks before the Mela, training and coaxing the contestants - Monica Sirigiri. Natasha Naik, Priyanka Golani, Mona Deo, Amarpreet Kaur, Amita Batra, Rima Patel and Ashley Abraham - to give their best and getting the judges to give their valuable opinions.

The judges for the final round were Tanaz Chaudhury, a former beauty contestant and owner of MABY jeans who sponsored the Western round; Narmeen Lakhani, another former beauty contestant and publisher of SBR magazine; Amritha Nambiar, a Bombayite who has conducted dance classes

There were four rounds of competition. The first round started off with a Ganesha and Diya dance opening act. In the Ethnic round, the girls represented different states of India; in the Western round they modeled MABY jeans; in the Bridal/Celebration round they showed off their looks in clothes sponsored by Sari Sapne Boutique

Miss Diwali 2012 winner, Monica Sirigiri (center) with ICC and India House Miss Diwali Pageant Chair, choreographer and a director Jasmeeta Singh (left) and Director of Development for Interfaith Ministries, Kent Loftin . Interfaith Ministries is the grand sponsor of Miss Diwali Pageant 2012.

at the Institute Fine Arts; Khuram Virani, a Tara Energy sponsor and Vijay Chopra, a Zee TV representative.

So while the music pumped up and the crowd watched with eager fascination, the nine contestants went through four rounds of competition. They started off with a Ganesha and Diya dance open-

ICC booth at Diwali Mela 2012

ing act. In the Ethnic round, the girls represented different states of India; in the Western round they modeled MABY jeans; in the Bridal/Celebration round they showed off their looks in clothes sponsored by Sari Sapne Boutique and in the Question & Answer round the five finalists gave their responses to some pointed questions.

After the results were all in, each girl went away a winner in one category, while Monica Sirigiri came away with the title and the crown as Miss Diwali 2012 and a check for $500. The first runner up was Rima Patel who won $300 and the second runner up who also won Miss. Colossal Eyes, was Ankita Mehta, won $200. Natasha Naik won as Miss Vivacious; Priyanka Golani was Miss Photogenic; Amarpreet Kaur was Miss Glamorous; Mona Deo was Miss. Congeniality; Amita Batra was Miss Beautiful Lips and Ashley Abraham was Miss Glowing Skin.

This first of a kind event for Houston was brought through the leadership of ICC President Rajiv Bhavsar and India House President Jugal Malani

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Opening act, Ganesh dance and Western Round Dancers’ coordiantor: Sunanda Nair

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COMMUNITY Politics in USA and India As an student of politics in USA and India I have made some interesting observations.

Both are proud democracies but at local levels democracy is practiced in a more effective way in USA. Also there is lot more intra party democracy in USA. Big money plays a significant role in both countries, in a transparent open fashion in USA, while it is mainly unaccounted money in India. In USA, the educated and wealthier classes vote in higher percentage while in India it is the poorer and less educated

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

who vote in higher percentage. Both have political dynasties ,but in India they are a lot more suffocating. Religion and castes play a dominant role in India while in USA it is the race card.

Even the major parties in the two countries are comparable. Republicans and BJP, Democrats and Indian National congress.

Republicans and BJP are both right to the center parties. Republicans core votes are from Evangelical white Christians while BJP gets its from Hindu fundamentalists.

Both Democrats and Congress are populist

left to the center parties with their core supporters from minorities.

Both countries face tremendous challenges and urgently require far sighted and able politicians who will rise above narrow political agenda and work with the opposition for the betterment of the nation.

- Jay K Raman BAPS Dazzling Diwali Mela 2012 This was one of the best Diwali Melas I have seen in more than 20 years. The entire evening was a sublime divine experience.

BAPS, you clearly have re-defined what Diwali is all about. It is about celebrating our new year, dressing-up, going to the temple for God’s blessings, meeting friends and family, exchanging greetings and sweets, having a dinner with family and friends, and experiencing the true spirit of Indian culture, heritage, wisdom, and tradition. You displayed this on the backdrop of your temple, an image which will be imprinted in my mind for years to come. Your stage set-up was spectacular and the sound system was splendid and crystal clear. Taking us through the history of Majestic India with children’s skits, stage shows,

dialog, music, sound effect, laser beams, props, and fireworks, all choreographed in such a manner, the entire one-hour show flew by my eyes, it what seemed like, in just a few minutes. Yet, it has left a lifelong memory in my heart. Toward the finale, when you had the continuous laser show, accenting the fireworks behind and on top of temple pinnacles, I felt like I was in a spaceship racing through the heavily skies, like the fire sparkles, reaching out to the almighty, who has blessed us with so much.

- Dr. Nik Nikam Indo American News

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COMMUNITY

November 16, 2012

“Xpressions Threading and Spa Now Open in Katy

finished. The body’s natural processes can dull facial skin. Your skin constantly sloughs off dead cells. These cells can clog pores and give the skin an aged look.

Daily exposure to the sun and other elements also take a toll on the skin. Facials are believed by many to fix these common skin problems temporarily. Exfoliation, with astringents, masks or peels, can reach deep into the skin’s upper layer to strip away dead skin cells and reveal newer cells underneath. Our skin specialists at Xpressions will pamper your skin during facials.”said Najia Khan.

Please contact skin expert Najia Khan for skin consultation and facial appointments. Najia Khan specializes in body treatment wraps as well. Dead sea chamomile mud masque, chocolate velvet wrap, and chamomile and marine algae wraps are some of the wraps offered by Najia Khan at Xpressions.

BY VIPIN KUMAR KATY: “Xpressions Threading and Spa” is a recent edition to Katy. Ever since its inauguration, Xpressions has created a buzz in the beauty world of Katy. It is very conveniently located at 937 South Mason Road, Katy, TX 77450 next to Bombay Bazar and Udipi Café offering one stop solution to the lady of the house. What better testimony than hearing a customer, “I had come to buy grocery and good I stepped in and got my eyebrows done. My brows never looked better”.

Najia Khan, the owner of Xpessions, is a New York trained skin specialist and body wrap expert who has recently moved to Katy bringing with her expertise and experience to serve the clients of Katy, Richmond and West Houston.

Xpessions is open all 7 days of the week from 10am to 8pm. It boasts of its nice, clean and relaxing atmosphere. The services offered at Xpressions are threading, waxing, facial, body wrap, reflexology, bridal packages, haircut & blow dry, detoxification, ionic foot bath, muscle alignment, and henna.

“Facial is primarily a way to improve the look of the skin. There’s really no downside. People who have had facials often report feeling relaxed after the treatment has

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Vedant Patil: 2012 Texas State Chess Champion

BY MANU SHAH HOUSTON: Being pitted against 14 other brilliant chess players didn’t faze 6 year old Vedant Patil one bit. To the delight of his parents, he calmly checkmated his way to become the 2012 Texas State Chess Champion in the Kindergarten Grade Level Vedant’s parents got an inkling of their son’s potential when he would total their shopping bill before they reached the checkout

counter. He was only four years old. They put him in chess classes held at the Meenakshi Temple where he showed extraordinary promise. To ensure that Vedant’s chess potential was fully realized, the Patils put him under the tutelage of chess coaches John Hendrick and Brad Sawyer.

Vedant’s father says that Vedant has the knack of being able to concentrate on a chess game for two hours at a stretch but take him

away from the chessboard and he is as restless as any active and boisterous six year old.

When not giving his mind a workout, Vedant enjoys swimming and oth-

Vedant with his family

er outdoor sports like soccer.

Vedant has an older brother – Siddhant. Both his parents are in the software field.

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COMMUNITY

Houston Soldier Remembered as Compassionate, Caring Man

Born in St. Paul, Minn., Memon began his military career in 2001 as an infantryman in the Marine Corps. During that career, he was deployed to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Was in Marines, Army In 2007, after completing his Marine Corps service, Memon joined the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq. At the time of his death, the soldier was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) from Fort Bragg, N.C. Jim said Memon could have a tough exterior, but inside he was incredibly compassionate and thoughtful.

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and his mother, Shazia Memon.

Then one was given to each of his sons. Jim turned toward the older boy, who sat in his aunt’s lap. As he knelt down on one knee, the captain’s expression suddenly softened. He put the flag in the young child’s hands, still holding it himself. He looked into his eyes and began to whisper.

This flag was from everyone in the country, he told him, from everyone who loved his father.

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over any crowd with the stories he loved to tell,” Jim wrote in a eulogy he delivered during a service for Memon at Fort Bragg. “He always had something to say, and where that might get old on a long road trip, it was exactly what made him so good at his job, and what you miss when he’s gone.”

He added that he felt it was important for people to tell Memon’s sons, Humayun and 1-year-old Mikhail, as well as his soon-tobe born daughter, Victoria - who will never know him - how special their father was.

“It’s important for us to tell them what kind of man he was,” Jim said.

During the funeral, an Islamic prayer was performed in both English and Arabic for Memon, who was Muslim.

After the service, a motorcycle escort of police officers and Patriot Guard Riders accompanied Memon’s body to the Houston National Cemetery, where his casket was carried by his fellow soldiers, including members of his unit. Taps was performed, as well as a rifle salute by a Marine Corps honor guard.

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BY ANITA HASSAN HOUSTON (Houston Chronicle): The Army officer stood stoically, jaw clenched, while he held a folded American flag in his hands. In just seconds, he would present the flag to the 4-year-old son of Army Staff Sgt. Kashif M. Memon of Houston, a member of his battalion, who was killed last month in the war in Afghanistan.

Friday morning, more than 50 friends, family and fellow soldiers attended 31-year-old Memon’s funeral, at which he was remembered as a caring and kind man.

Memon was one of two soldiers who died on Oct. 25 in the Khas Uruzgan District of the Oruzgan Province, in what may have been an insider attack by Afghan police or military against coalition forces. Memon was in Afghanistan as a civil affairs soldier, in the role of a liaison between his military unit and the war zone’s civilian residents.

“He was such a great man and such an important part of our team,” said the Army captain, who goes by Jim, during the funeral.

Jim requested his last name not be used because he will soon be deployed back to the same unit.

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November 16, 2012

A flag, and a whisper Memon’s family members were presented with folded American flags. One was presented to his wife, Christina Louise Tompkins,

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

November 16, 2012

Infosys Founder N.R. Narayana Murthy Wins Hoover Medal

(Indiawest) Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy has been awarded this year’s Hoover Medal, an honor whose previous recipients include former U.S. presidents Herbert Hoover, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter, and former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam, who received the award in 2008. An engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Murthy is the 70th recipient since the medal’s inception. The Hoover Medal was established in 1930 to recognize “great, unselfish, non-technical services by engineers to humanity.”

Murthy was honored in part for establishing a foundation that supports improvements in healthcare, social rehabilitation, rural uplift and education, following his founding of Infosys, an Indian information technology company that has innovated in business consulting and engineering services in more than 30 countries.

Murthy accepted the award Oct. 23 at the Global Humanitarian Technology Conference in Seattle, Wash. Representing the Hoover Medal Board were vice chairman Prof. P. Somasundaran of Columbia University and IEEE president Dr. Gordon W. Day. Murthy, who founded Infosys in 1981, pioneered a global delivery model that became a cornerstone

N.R. Narayan Murthy (center) accepts the 2012 Hoover Medal and certificate Oct. 23 from Hoover Medal board members Columbia University Prof. P. Somasundaran (left) and IEEE president Dr. Gordon W. Day.

of India’s achievements in IT outsourcing. Infosys was the first Indian listed IT firm to hit the $1 billion revenue mark.

Founded in 1996, the Infosys Foundation supports healthcare, social rehabilitation, education and culture in India. Among the foundation’s accomplishments are a hospital serving the poor and supplying medicine to patients suffering from cancer, occupational training for destitute women, relief efforts for those affected by natural disasters and building libraries and school facilities.

The Infosys Science Foundation, created in 2009, promotes science research in India. The Infosys Science Award provides grants to outstanding researchers and Infosys

fellowships to support Ph.D. programs at many Indian universities and expose graduate students to real-time projects at Infosys.

The Economist ranked Murthy in the top ten of the 10 most-admired global business leaders in 2005 and he led the Economic Times’ list of India’s most powerful CEOs for three consecutive years.

His awards include the CNBC Asia Pacific Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, IEEE honorary membership in 2010, India’s Padma Vibhushan in 2008, the Legion d’honneur from France in 2008 and the Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from the Queen of England in 2007.

Murthy received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Mysore and an M.S. in technology from the Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur.

He is currently chairman emeritus of Bangalore-based Infosys Ltd. The Hoover Medal is administered by a board representing five engineering organizations: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

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Annual General Body meeting of India Culture Center will be held on Sunday December 9, 2012 at 11 AM at 8888 West Bellfort ( INDIA HOUSE ) Houston, Texas 77031.

Agenda:

1. President’s Remarks 2. Annual Report 3. Treasurer Report 4. Elections for Board of Directors ( 8 positions for 2 year term )

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The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi

For Ashram Advertising in IAN Gandhi Invites Untouchable Family to

The story thus far….Gandhi went to Rajkot and Porbandar to meet his relatives and then went on to Shantiniketan. There Gandhi met poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore for the first time, as well as C. F. Andrews. Andrews, who came to India as an Anglican priest in 1904, was one of the very few people respected both within Indian nationalist circles and official British ones. A close friend of Gandhi, Tagore and other eminent Indians of the time, Andrews never ceased to champion the Indian cause for independence and, in a broader sense, the cause of all the downtrodden.

During his short stay at Santiniketan Gandhi heard the sad news that Gokhale had passed away. He immediately left forPoona, with C. F. Andrews accompanying him up to Burdwan.

Andrews asked Gandhi whether India would ever experience satyagraha, and when.

“It is difficult to say,” replied Gandhi. “For one year I am to do nothing. Gokhale made me promise that I would travel in India for one year to gain experience, and that I would express no opinion until I had finished this period of probation. So I do not think there will be any occasion for satyagraha for five years.”

After attending the shraddha ceremonies for Gokhale, Gandhi met the leaders of the Servants of India Society. Out of respect for Gokhale he would have joined the Society, but there was opposition from some members. Gandhi visited Rangoon, in Burma, for a short period and on his return he went to Hardwar during the time of the Kumbha Mela.

About 1.7 million people attended the festival. Volunteer corps from different organizations had gone to Hardwar to be of service to the big crowds that thronged the riverbanks. Gandhi was invited to join the Phoenix party to help the volunteers. Gandhi was deeply disappointed at the many happenings and shortcomings at the great religious fair. There was corruption, cheating and many other unsocial activities. Scant care was taken about sanitary arrangements. All this saddened Gandhi.

He thought a great deal about the problem of how to improve the Indian character.

In May 1915 an ashram was established in a village near Ahmedabad. The city was an ancient centre of handloom weaving and Gandhi thought the place was suited for the revival of the cottage industry of hand- weaving.

Gandhi named the new institution Satyagraha Ashram.

“Our creed is devotion to truth, and our business is the search for and insist on truth,” he said.

A simple uniform style of clothing was worn by all who worked

“And then Gandhi came. He was like a powerful current of fresh air that made us stretch ourselves and take deep breaths, like a beam of light that pierced the darkness and removed the scales from our eyes, like a whirlwind that upset many things, but most of all the working of people’s minds.”

— Jawaharlal Nehru together in a common kitchen as all strove to live as one family.

“If you want to serve the people, it is essential to observe the vows of truth, ahimsa, celibacy, non-stealing, non-possession, and control of the palate,” Gandhi told inhabitants of the ashram.

One day Gandhi informed the ashram dwellers that he had received a request from an ‘untouchable’ family to move in. He said he had responded favorably. This created quite a stir. Even Kasturbai had her misgivings. Gandhi’s mind was made up, however, and The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi is brought to you courtesy Mahatma Gandhi Library. www.gandhilibrary.org there could be no objection from anyone in the ashram. But the patrons of the ashram did not like the idea and they stopped funding the ashram.

The ashram was suddenly faced with an acute financial crisis, but help came from an unexpected source. A rich man came to the ashram and gave Gandhi Rs. 13,000 and urged him to continue running the ashram.

In February 1916, Gandhi was invited to speak at the laying of the foundation-stone of the Banaras Hindu University. The Viceroy and many of the most important people of India were there. Gandhi, clad in a Kathiawadi long coat and a turban, rose to speak. The police arrangements, and also the pomp and luxury around him, hurt him deeply. Turning to the audience he said, “I want to think audibly and speak without reservation.”

His first words froze the audience.

“It is a matter of deep humiliation and shame for us,” he said, “that I am compelled this evening

under the shadow of this great college, in this sacred city, to address my countrymen in a language that is foreign to me.”

It was a bombshell. Nobody had ever dared to speak against the English language. The British officers, then friends, and the important Indians who had gathered there were furious.

But Gandhi went on, “His Highness the Maharaja who presided yesterday over our deliberations spoke about the poverty of India.

But what did we witness? A most gorgeous show, an exhibition of jewelry...”

Gandhi gave a long speech that covered many topics. His was outspoken in his criticism.

Annie Besant, who was one of the organizers of the function, was horrified and urged Gandhi to sit down. But Gandhi went on.

Some people went red with rage, but others listened to Gandhi with great interest.

“Here at last is a man telling the truth,” they thought. “He is the man to raise India from the mire.”

They applauded him and shouted joyfully. Gandhi turned to them and said, “No amount of speeches will ever make us fit for self-government. It is only our conduct that will make us deserve it.”

Gandhi told them that they take up the work of self-government.

Finally, Gandhi, the man who had supported the British in their war efforts, said, “If I found it necessary for the salvation of India that the English should retire, that they should be driven out, I would not hesitate to declare that they would have to go, and I hope I would be prepared to die in defense of that belief.”

The people were amazed at Gandhi’s frankness. It was Gandhi’s first great political speech in India. Years later, Jawaharlal Nehru described what the coming of Gandhi meant to the Indian people.

“We seemed to be helpless in the grip of some all powerful monster; our limbs were paralysed, our minds deadened. What could we do? How could we pull India out of this quagmire of poverty and defeatism which sucked her in... And then Gandhi came.

He was like a powerful current of fresh air that made us stretch ourselves and take deep breaths, like a beam of light that pierced the darkness and removed the scales from our eyes, like a whirlwind that upset many things, but most of all the working of people’s minds,” said Nehru.

Several conferences demanding home rule were held in India during the latter half of 1916.

They marked a new wave of political life under the leadership of Tilak, Mrs. Besant, and Jinnah.

— To be Continued

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

November 16, 2012

Grand Diwali Celebration at Hindu Temple of The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS: The Second Annual Diwali Mela (Fair) of one of the newest temples in the Greater Houston area, The Hindu Temple of The Woodlands, was a grand success. The event was held from 11am to 7pm on Saturday, November 10.

Over 2500 people enjoyed the Mela. This was more than twice the number expected. It included Hindus from all parts of the Greater Houston area as well as neighbors and friends from the broader community.

The cultural programming was specifically around engaging families from our community and groups around Houston. Students from young children to adults from various dance and music schools performed to the delight of overflowing audiences. The Brides of India show included teenagers dressed according to the customs of many different regions and ethnic backgrounds and was a great crowd-pleaser. Attendees were amazed to know that eight full hours of entertainment were provided. To have such a continuous, well planned and well executed performance within the Indian community was historic.

The Annadanam (food) program engaged volunteers, their friends and families. This group which works so well together on a weekly basis really out-did themselves. They provided Pani-Puri,

Dancers who participated in the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands Diwali Program Cultural Program 2012.

Chole-Bhatura, Idlies and Dosas with Sambhar, Potato Patties with Chole and tasty garnishes, Indian ice cream, carrot halwa, gulab jamon, cotton candy and much more, all at reasonable prices. Visitors enjoyed delicious food, hospitality and exceptional service second to none due to the dedication of the volunteers.

Many of the non-Hindus attending appreciated having the opportunity to have a tour of the temple.

This included about ten adults and children from Norway who emailed the host of their appreciation. Meanwhile others enjoyed the delicious food, the cultural performances and the seasonably warm weather.

The temple youth club, together with instrumental support from

Sanskriti, the local provider of children’s religious education which works closely with the temple, organized engaging games for the kids. Youths also worked sideby-side with adult organizers and volunteers during the event.

The visiting vendors also provided a variety of jewelry, Indian clothing and handicrafts available.

There was vendor space both in the temple and under tents but the space was at a premium due to the interest. Also playing a significant part were the corporate sponsors: BEST (Business and Engineering Solutions Team-Anjali & Girish Ranade), Vedas Medical Spa (Chaitali Nagrani, M.D.) and Sanskriti-The Woodlands.

Everyone, from the coordinators of the event to the volunteers to the

Goddess Lakshmi in Finesh Alankaran at the first Diwali celebration with Goddess Lakshmi installed in the temple.

attendees to the vendors, helped to make the Diwali Mela one to be remembered. Next year’s team will have to set their goals even higher because of this year’s success.

Sanjay Joshi, the HTW President

13

and Mela coordinator expressed his gratitude to all the team members and volunteers and their families for their time, passion, and volunteerism during many hours of meticulous planning and flawless execution on the day of the event. It was truly a team effort that made this possible.

The temple will celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 18.

Hindu Temple of The Woodlands is located at 7601 S Forest Gate (at Woodlands Parkway), The Woodlands, TX 77382. It is a non-profit, (501)(c)(3) organization which provides opportunities for Hindus to maintain their cultural identity while also providing educational and other services to the broader community as well as to Hindus.

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EDITORIAL

November 16, 2012

A Diwali Wishlist

For those who may recall Diwali as it was celebrated four or five decades ago, an important ingredient was a box of good matches, and it was always the same brand:- SHIP. Made by the Western India Match Company (WIMCO), a part of Swedish Match Company then, this British linked tobacco product company had a near monopoly on manufacturing and selling matchsticks in pre-Independence India which carried forward for almost 30-40 years by virtue of some really complicated laws which enabled this and other companies to continue with their dominant positions even in a free India.

So, if it was condensed milk for good home made sweets in an era when Amul had still not arrived, it had to be Nestle’s. Likewise, for vanaspati in an era when the benefits of desi ghee (if available) were being frowned on, then it was Dalda.

In short, Diwali in those days, whichever way you looked, was not so much about shopping with choice, but more about taking what was available and doing the best with them. Something like Indian politics.

Sure, things appear to have changed now, but for the real things in life, do we really have a choice in India, or is it all so much of an illusion? And not just politics or consumer goods as well as other beads and baubles, but the realities of life in a free and democratic India?

One thing we learnt over the last few decades of India’s independence was this - fair and free competition always provided a benefit to the people, unmatched by any kind of regulation or mandate.

Those of you who are lucky enough to be on the PMO twitter distribution, would have got these two Diwali messages from Shri Manmohan Singh, “GREETINGS: I hope that the festival of lights this year will mark the beginning of a new phase of optimism for each one of our people,” and “GREETINGS: I wish the people peace, prosperity and a very happy Deepawali on this auspicious day.” Sounds more like an order, an edict, a declaration from way above. Not realising that the people of India are optimistic about India, it’s the present government that most of them have serious worries about.

On this Diwali, truth is that many of us are more positive about the country than ever before, but the only thing that can mess up matters are the monopolies (in the name of governmen, liberalisation and reform) sought to be thrust on us from above. In the midst of all this positive good news, the only fly in the ointment is the capability of our legacy mai-baap sarkar to snatch defeat from the hands of victory, and that’s why Diwali and the reference to defeat of monopolies of all sorts is so important.

On this Diwali, most importantly, we would like to see the symbols of a monopoly sarkar be taken down. Either voluntarily, or by way of process, but they need to go. Feel free to add to this list.

Just like we can buy matchsticks of any brand for Diwali. Or milk. Or cooking mediums.

Veeresh Malik in Times of India

Every Reason to Rejoice

BY PRITISH NANDY When I was growing up I heard my father talk about the India he grew up in, where everyone celebrated everything. Hindus went to Eid celebrations and ate the wonderful sweets that were then the highlight of Eid get togethers, not the elaborate meat spreads of today. Muslims actively participated in Durga Puja and many of them were idol makers. Both Hindus and Muslims celebrated Christmas and New Year, joining Calcutta’s tiny Christian population, many of them Anglo Indians, for midnight mass at St Paul’s Cathedral. There were Sikhs and Buddhists, Chinese, Baghdadi Jews and Armenians who celebrated every festival, not just their own. Calcutta was an exciting melting pot of many cultures, many faiths.

My generation saw a sea change.

After the post-Partition riots, Hindus became more Hindus. Muslims, more Muslims. Every riot drew them further apart, into two distinct vote banks. Seeing them gain politically by asserting their religious identity, others joined the fray. The smaller, more vulnerable communities, like the Anglo-Indians, Jews and Armenians, slowly disappeared overseas leaving behind their wonderful heritage. After the 1962 war, many Chinese families, who were heart broken when their neighbours began to question their loyalty, moved to other cities. The anti-Sikh riots of 1984 made even the Sikhs who were a happy go lucky lot sink into their own identity politics. Slowly the collective self of India began to split. The Mandal Commission made things worse.

Caste became the new weapon to fight every real or imaginary historical wrong.

I watched this metamorphosis, even participated in it. Endless debates over what divides us became the main discourse of the nation. It threw up a new set of political leaders.

It also managed to divide the intelligentsia, split the media, alter syllabi, make us think differently about most things around us. Inter-caste or intercommunity marriages, so common in my youth, began to attract undue attention and even occasional hostility.

People began to notice stuff they had

A new consumerism has brought us all together.

There are more iftaar parties every year, many of them thrown by non Muslims. Bigger and bigger blockbuster movies release in Diwali or Eid. Everyone heads to Goa in Christmas and New Year.

Everyone buys gold during Dhanteras. Everyone waits for Dussera sales. And yes, everyone is celebrating everything once again. not noticed before, particularly when it transgressed identity fault lines. We, who voted for the best candidates, began to choose candidates by religion and caste. Even the composition of the national cricket and football teams came into question while states and regions fought over representation.

The politics of religion, caste, region, language became so dominant that we began to be identified not by who we were but where we came from, what language we spoke, who we worshipped and who our forefathers were.

In the process, India began to fall apart. We were so busy fighting for our own specific demands to remember that nation building was the first, most urgent task. Within less than forty years of chucking out the British, we were already talking about new uprisings and insurgency.

Many among us felt lost and lonely, outsiders in our own country. This made them terribly angry. Anger led to violence. Some were even ready to separate from the idea of India itself.

But slowly things are changing again. Strangely, a new generation fired by new aspirations and a new

(seemingly vulgar) consumerism is fuelling that change. At the heart of this change is, again, celebration. We are celebrating more and more every year. Pujas are multiplying. New festivals are being dug out of obscurity.

Every community is finding new excuses to celebrate. So Durga Puja is no more exclusive to Kolkata. It’s huge in Mumbai too. Every occasion is an opportunity to sell new dreams, new products. While brands may be agnostic, the market is not. Every festival outgrows the community which celebrates it and becomes a larger business opportunity.

Holidays have increased. So has buying, gifting, partying. A new consumerism has brought us all together.

There are more iftaar parties every year, many of them thrown by non Muslims. Bigger and bigger blockbuster movies release in Diwali or Eid. Everyone heads to Goa in Christmas and New Year. Everyone buys gold during Dhanteras. Everyone waits for Dussera sales. And yes, everyone is celebrating everything once again. What politics divided, malls, multiplexes and brands seem to have brought together, with a new reason to rejoice. ToI Pritish Nandy writes, paints, makes movies and occasionally, when he wins an election, sits in Parliament.

He has been writing for The Times of India for over 26 years.

Reader Feedback

Mr Nandy, I think you got it wrong on many counts a) The glorious days (aha!) was not so glorious, even in Calcutta (as it was known then). We had famines, we had riots, we had many other social evils. You know this quite well b) Forget spritualism, as some of the respondends are alluding to.

Gross comsumerism can not bring people together and create a homogeneous society. (Marriages do!). You only are united in spending, but divided in every other aspect. c) What about the growing divide betwee rich and poor? As compared to your childhood, how does it feel to grow up in a modest family today? With other being far richer?

Pashupati, Bangalore

Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI MANAGING EDITOR: MANASI GOKHALE ADVERTISING & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN CORRESPONDENTS HOUSTON: MANU SHAH, CHETNA SAMAL CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR, INDIA: RAJ KANWAR ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

November 16, 2012

This Vivekananda from West Texas Ran for His Own Principles

BY MANU SHAH HOUSTON: Scrolling down the list of candidates running in the recent statewide elections, one name – an recognizable famous Hindu name jumped out of the rest: Vivekananda Wall who ran as a Libertarian for Railroad Commissioner.

Curiously, it was a name that hadn’t been seen on any yard signs dotting the sides of roads, there were no television spots and coverage in the papers was almost little to none.

So while he wasn’t running as a Hindu in this race, or making much about his famous Hindu name, Vivekananda or Vik, as he is known by most, said he ran for the principles he believed in, much like the philosophy of the great Swami he was named for.

A practicing physician for 30 plus years, Wall’s maternal grandparents are originally from Uttar Pradesh but moved to Trinidad where his mother was born and raised. His father hails from Nebraska. His mother was greatly influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and consequently named her son after the

great philosopher. Wall, who lives in Odessa, Texas, is married to Cynthia, a psychologist and has three children.

He is also on the Board of a global charity organization, Trees for Life.

Wall has been a supporting member of the Libertarian party for the last ten years but decided to run for the office of Railroad Commission to make a political statement about the need for openness by the Government.

The Libertarian Party, according to Wall, espouses the philosophy of our Founding Fathers, in terms of minimal interference by the Government in people’s lives, a smaller and a more transparent government.

The most important industry in Texas is the oil industry which is regu-

19

lated by the Texas Railroad Commission. According to Wall, the public has a right to know what the members of the Board are doing. His stance on the controversial issue of fracking, a drilling process that has environmentalists up in arms, is that it is a necessary technology for the US to adopt and if it is not used would make us totally dependent on foreign oil, which would only further bankrupt us. He however concurred about the need to make fracking totally safe by means of intense scientific research.

Unlike most politicians, Wall was startlingly honest about his chances of winning the election. He didn’t hold out too much hope for a victory as he was running against Democrat Dale Henry and Republican Christi Craddick who, according to him, have enormous political clout. He also hasn’t spent any money on campaigning and has reached out to voters only through Facebook, Dallas Morning News and word of mouth so that he won’t be beholden to any interest groups. Not surprisingly, during the November 6 elections, Wall lost to Craddick, coming in way behind Henry.

Diwali Wishes from Tulsi Gabbard: First Hindu Elected to Congress Newly elected Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard wishes everyone a Happy Diwali (festival of the lights).

This festival holds extra meaning to her as the first Hindu ever elected to Congress. Here’s the transcript for her video message on Diwali: As you know, Diwali is not a fun holiday; but it also represents the victory of truth over untruth, of righteousness over wrong. While this is the time of celebration, this deeper meaning of Diwali could not come at a more appropriate time.

As we put the campaigns and election year behind us, it’s time now for all of us to come together, setting aside our differences and find ways to work together, towards the greater

and common good.

It’s an opportunity to remember that true happiness and true success comes through being of service to others and not just living for yourself.

I personally have faced a variety of challenges in my life whether in the desert of Iraq, in the halls of Washington DC, or along a very tough

campaign trail. The one constant for me that has guided me always is this understanding doing my best to be of service to others. I know that by keeping this at the forefront of all that I do, I will not be led astray.

The lighting of the lamps on Diwali continues the longstanding tradition of celebration and reflection on the year that is behind us and to pray for the year coming ahead. Please know that as you rejoice and reflect with your families and your community, I send you the warmest aloha, look forward to serve you in Congress, and whish you a very happy Diwali.

Namaste.

To watch a video, visit www.indoamerican-news.com

Vibha Houston Dream Mile 2012

HOUSTON: Vibha Houston successfully organized its fourth Dream Mile 5K/10K annual run on Saturday November 3 at Lost Creek Park, Sugar Land. The event serves as one of Vibha Houston’s many fundraisers that benefit underprivileged children in India and US. More than 250 runners and 40 volunteers participated in the event making it the biggest Dream Mile Vibha Houston has organized till date. The Dream Mile is the annual flagship event of Vibha and is today organized in eight different cities in US. Preparation of the event started at 4am in the morning, when Vibha volunteers started assembling in the Lost Creek Park pavilion. The event requires meticulous planning because of the numerous activities including race course coning, water booth and registration table preparation, chip

timing and award distributions, that all need to be completed in time. The race also involves more than 18 Sugar Land police officers who patrol key intersections to ensure that runners are safe while running on the road.

The race started at 7:30am with 250 runners crossing the starting line amid loud cheers from the crowd.

The 10K overall winners were May Pini (Female) and Paul Dodsworth (Male). Overall 5K winners were Nikita Prasad (Female) and Daryle Ryan (Male). Awards were also given to both male and female winners of the age categories: below 17, 18-25, 26-35, 36-50, and 51+. The event also included a 2K fun walk which started at 9:30am and was attended by Vibha volunteers and patrons.

For many volunteers like Kartikay Khator, a software developer with Chevron, this was the his first Vibha

event where he volunteered. “I want to congratulate Vibha for such a successful event. I had a lot of fun and sure others did too”, he said.

Similar experience was recounted by many other volunteers who participated for the first time. After the event, event leads Loveleen Saxena and Dinesh Ramachandran thanked all the volunteers for their hard work and also acknowledged Vibha’s patrons for supporting Vibha.

Vibha is a non-profit, non-religious and non-political organization with the mission to educate, empower and enable every individual who wishes to make a positive difference in the life of underprivileged children.

These funds are directed towards supporting projects for underprivileged kids in US and India.

For more information, visit www. vibha.org

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Consul General P. Harish’s Message on the Occasion of Diwali

I extend my warm greetings and best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Deepawali to the Indian Community in Texas and other states of USA served by the Consulate General of India, Houston.

Deepawali is a harbinger of peace, joy, and prosperity and is an occasion to strengthen the bonds of friendship and goodwill between us. The festival inspires us to fight darkness and ignorance and usher in light and wisdom.

May Deepawali bring progress and prosperity to all.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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COMMUNITY

November 16, 2012

Diwali Exhibition by Abiya Motif’s and Parinaz

Parinaz consider them- also thrilled to have Henna Frenzy selves blessed to be as- on their team. The talented team of sociated with an amaz- Henna Frenzy not only shares its creingly supportive group ativity with wonderful henna designs of people. Kashif Khan but also makes the henna paste and has been providing his cones themselves and dear friends, no photography services for matter how hard you try; the cones are photoshoots and shows. not for sale. What’s a fashion show Kashif’s photography is without great music? DJ RJ provided pure magic and his com- the foot tapping music that had the pany Impressions Pho- models sashaying down the ramp tography definitely leaves modeling the suits. DJ RJ can also be a lasting impression on the contacted for providing the music for viewer’s mind and heart. any occasion.

Glamorous Make Up by So, if you’re looking for that perfect Tooba Khan enhances the dress for a wedding or party, there’s natural beauty of women, only one place to check out – Abiya’s as she understands that Motif’s and Parinaz. Great designs, sometimes a little change custom orders and alterations are now Rabhas Collection by Abiya Motif’s. in how you look on the just one phone call away.

Photo: Kashif Khan outside can make your For an in house screening of the personality shine from the outfits, call Abiya Motif’s at 832HOUSTON: Raised in the lush inside. Abiya Motif’s and Parinaz are 629-0116. green valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, ndo an IIn designer Meenakshi Malhotra shares Amersic New with the world, authentic Kashmiri Diwigahtlis IA IIN Del AM IND designs with a touch of Punjab. From CONGRATULTEATIONS NTOPDOF THIA RA. One E WORLD Breaks ON unstitched suits to designer wear, she Barriers offers both quality and style at Abiya 2011 Motif’s. Ashuman Garg of Parinaz boutique shares similar interest in Subscribe to designing authentic North Indian outfits. The collaboration brings you quality products with in-house alteraToday tions.

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What sets the team apart from the other clothing vendors in town is its Name: ____________________________________ “bringing the boutique” to your service. If you have a schedule so packed Phone: ____________________________________ that you barely have time to breathe, let alone shop for the right outfit, Address:___________________________________ then the team of Abiya Motif’s will __________________________________________ schedule an appointment with you and bring the boutique to you. They Number of Years: 1 3 (Circle One) $40 $100 give you the option of shopping in the comfort of your own home.

Credit Card: Master Card / Visa (Circle One) On Sunday, November 4, the dyYour Signature: namic duo organized an exhibition _________________________________________ to showcase their unique designs.

Exp Date: ___/___ 3 digit code:______ _______________ For the first time, guests and vendors were invited without being asked for Do cut and mail to: 7457 Harwin Dr, Ste 262, Houston, TX 77036 (OR) Scan and E-mail to: anything in return. With the resoundIndoamericannews@yahoo.com • Call us at 713-789-6397 ing success of this exhibition, plans • Call us to sign up for E-mail Blast are afoot to put together a bigger Indo-American News is community oriented.

We thank you for your subscription & support. exhibition in the coming year.

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We keep Houston working.

Thank you for your support.

Houston Community College thanks all the members of the community that recognized the importance of higher education and the role of HCC. Together, we can continue to strengthen our city and keep Houston working.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM Indo American News EE thank you ad.indd 1

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Sulekha.com Launches ‘Pantheon’

CHENNAI: Sulekha.com, India’s leading digital marketplace for local needs, recently announced the launch of Pantheon, an exclusive showcase for high-end luxury homes valued between Rs. 1 and 25 crore in India.

Pantheon is targeted to reach the very niche but growing HNI (High Net Worth Individuals) segment in India and NRIs abroad constituting about 2 million households through multiple channels such as Web, Mobile (iPad) and Print.

A first-of-its-kind online and mobile (iPad) showcase for high-end luxury homes across India valued between Rs. 1 and 25 crore, precisely targeting over 2 million HNIs in India and NRIs abroad

Multiple touchpoints: Sulekha.com will take Pantheon to its audience through the following channels –

Interesting data on HNI’s in India

pantheon.sulekha.com: An online showcase featuring high-end luxury properties in a clutter-free, easily navigable, rich imagery website designed to suit multiple access devices like Android Tablets & iPad apart from the standard PC’s and laptops iPad App: Sulekha.com has also released a Pantheon iPad app that can be downloaded for free by both HNIs in India and NRIs abroad. It will showcase the properties using stunning visuals, compelling interactivity and dynamic alerts e-Magazine: The Pantheon emagazine, with quarterly updates and insights on the luxury home segment, will be exclusively available for free download on Magzter, an iPad and Android magazine app used by 1.75 million HNI and NRI subscribers in US, UK and India Print Version: Sulekha.com will also showcase premium properties in a glossy print magazine which will be delivered to its target audience free of cost e-Mailer: The PDF version of the Pantheon e-magazine will be emailed to HNIs across India and Sulekha. com’s NRI visitors in the US, Canada and other parts of the world Commenting on the launch, Param Parameswaran, Chairman of Sulekha.com, said, “There is a strong market need for high-end luxury

• India is in the ‘top 12 league’ of countries which have the highest number of rich people, with 1.62 lakh households • India’s HNI population grew at 21% in 2010 • Net worth of ultra rich households in India is expected to surge five-fold from $1.2 trillion in 201112 to $5.78 trillion by 2016-17 • In 2010-11 India had 57 dollar billionaires, being next only to the US and China in the number of billionaires • Real estate investments amount to about 40% of HNI spend • The luxury housing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 28% during 2011-2013.

Sources: Merrill Lynch-Capgemini World Wealth Report; Joint report by CRISIL and Kotak Wealth; Forbes; Other industry reports

homes and a tremendous opportunity for growth in this niche segment.

However, there is no single source for HNIs which provides distilled information on high value properties.

By virtue of its exclusivity, Pantheon will be a compelling proposition for both buyers and sellers in the high value property market.”

Speaking about the market opportunity, Satya Prabhakar, CEO of Sulekha.com, said, “As India arrives and as premium properties zoom in both selection and value, we have seen surging demand from HNIs in

India and NRIs abroad for evaluating and buying high value properties ranging from Rs. 1 to 25 crore. Pantheon is designed to be the one-stop destination for all such high-end, exclusive lifestyle homes and properties. We have designed it for the Web and Mobile (iPad) and Print platforms in an integrated, visually spectacular manner that gives our estimated 2 million crème de la crème audience a clutter-free way to browse and buy.”

Pantheon has been launched with over 100 listings across 7 cities in India – Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi/ NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune. The listings include individual houses, villas, apartments, flats, condos, farmhouses, beachhouses & new and upcoming projects.

For more information, visit http:// pantheon.sulekha.com/default.aspx.

About Sulekha.com: Sulekha.com is India’s leading ‘Digital Marketplace’, a need-based site with a strong focus on local needs on the Home, Business and Entertainment fronts.

Sulekha.com started with blogging in early 2000 and today has a diverse set of offerings – Classifieds, Yellow Pages, Local Search, e-commerce, Blogging and much more. As per the latest comScore ranking, Sulekha. com is the fifth largest Indian Internet site (in terms of visitors). Sulekha. com recently won the award for the Best Multi-Utility Website at IAMAI’s annual India Digital Awards (2011).

Sulekha has 14 offices across India (including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai) and 3 offices in New York, Toronto and Austin. The corporate office is in Chennai and the company has more than 1,300 employees across India. Sulekha has 75,000+ businesses listed and offers services across 50+ cities.

For more information, visit www. sulekha.com.

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JAI SRIMANNARAYANA!

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INDIA

November 16, 2012

Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray Critical

MUMBAI (Hindustan Times) The health condition of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray turned “very critical” late Wednesday night and he was put on life-support system.

Thackeray, 86, is in a “very critical” condition and he is on life support system, doctors treating the Sena leader told PTI. “We are hopeful.

You be hopeful.

Let’s pray.”

This is what Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav said to people who assembled outside the ailing Shiv Sena patriarch’s residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra late Wednesday night.

“Bala saheb has strong will power. We’ll come out from the problem. Don’t trust rumours. Make peace,” Uddhav, accompanied by son Aditya, said.

As the news spread, several party workers assembled outside his residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra, where security has been stepped up.

Speaking outside the residence, Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said, “Doctors are trying their level best (to stabilise Thackeray’s condition) and conducting some tests on him.”

MNS chief Raj Thackeray and close family members have reached Matoshree, where the

Sena leader resides with his son Uddhav. A number of Shiv Sena MPs, legislators and senior leaders are also at Thackeray’s residence.

Police have set up barricades near Matoshree to streamline the flow of crowds.

Thackeray, who is ailing for sometime, continues to be under constant medical supervision.

A team of doctors stationed inside the house with nursing staff has been taking care of the Sena patriarch, who is having breathing problems.

Last month, he could not attend his party’s annual Dussehra rally in Mumbai, but addressed it through a video recorded message.

Several leaders, including former President Pratibha Patil, have visited Thackeray’s residence over the past few days to enquire about his health.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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Running on Empty Cylinders

BY S. CHANDRASEKHAR

AND VIJAY LAXMI PANDEY

(Mint) In September, the Union government decided to slash the subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and capped the number of subsidized LPG cylinders at six cylinders per annum per household.

Additional cylinders will be available to consumers at the market rate notified by oil marketing companies. The rationale behind this was to reduce the subsidy bill of the government and prevent diversion of cylinders from residential use to commercial use. This decision was followed by a further increase in the price of cylinders by Rs11.42 in October to compensate the dealers. Yet, in this debate two important issues have slipped under the radar.

First, will the increase in prices retard the considerable progress in reducing consumption of solid (dirty) fuel in urban India? Data from National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) survey of consumption expenditure documents considerable progress in the reduction of consumption of solid fuel in urban areas. The proportion of urban households using LPG increased in urban India from 29.5% in 1993-94 to 59% in 200405 and further to 66.2% in 2009-10.

The per capita consumption of LPG increased from 0.88kg in 1993-94 to 1.6kg in 2004-05 and further to 1.9kg per month in 2009-10. Correspondingly, the per capita consumption of kerosene decreased from 1.42 litres per month to 0.62 litres and further to 0.47 litres over this period. It is reasonable to state that the increase in LPG consumption has been at the expense of kerosene and this is hailed as a welcome development.

Are there foreseeable adverse effects of moving to market-based pricing? Yes, since over 30% of urban households are not using clean fuel

and are possibly heavily reliant on firewood and wood chips. It is an empirical fact that households use multiple fuels and they do indeed switch across various types of energy: electricity, LPG, firewood and chips and kerosene. In the event of a price rise, poorer households, in particular, could switch to unclean fuel or switch back to kerosene, which is also subsidized. It should be borne in mind that kerosene does rank below LPG and electricity in the energy ladder.

Use of unclean fuels is sought to be decreased, under the Millennium Development Goals, since they cause indoor air pollution. Second, is the cap of six cylinders per household

Limiting LPG subsidy may contain the government’s fiscal problem but it will increase the use of ‘dirty’ fuels.

justifiable? If not, can one arrive at a cap on number of subsidized cylinders in an objective manner?

Some insights can be gleaned from NSSO’s survey of consumer expenditure conducted over the period July 2009-June 2010.

Given that the cap on subsidized LPG is at the household level, in the discussion that follows, the estimates presented are at the level of the household and not per person.

The estimated number of households in urban India increased from 56.9 million to 68.1 million over 2004-05 and 2009-10. Despite this increase, the total number of households not reporting use of LPG declined only

marginally from 23.4 million to 23 million. In every income or consumption decile the estimated number of households using LPG did increase.

The average consumption of LPG per household increased from 7kg in 2004-05 to 7.7kg in 2009-10. If we exclude those not reporting any consumption of LPG then the average consumption per household is unchanged: it was 11.8kg in 2004-05 and 11.7kg in 2009-10. Given these numbers, can NSSO data inform the debate on where to set the cap on number of subsidized cylinders? In the media it has been reported that Congress-ruled state governments will offer nine subsidized cylinders every year..

There are two additional related issues. First, whether using a bank account to transfer subsidies in the form of cash is a feasible option given that nearly 42% of households do not have a bank account. Second, do poorer households have the ability to pay the full price of LPG upfront and then go to the bank for reimbursement? And specifically, in the context of availing LPG subsidy, the compelling reasons for introduction of the bank branch as an additional layer is not clear. Common sense suggests that the administrative cost incurred by getting individuals to claim their reimbursement via the banking system will be much larger than if the government transferred subsidy to the companies directly for the prescribed number of cylinders.

Finally, in the context of setting the urban poverty line it should be noted that successive expert groups on poverty have never examined the implications of slashing of subsidies and the move to market-based pricing.

This is despite the fact that the share of fuel bill in monthly consumption expenditure has steadily increased in the last two decades.

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THEME: THANKSGIVING

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ACROSS 1. Necklace feature, 6. *He moved Thanksgiving Day to extend holiday shopping season, 9. Hurries or moves fast, 13. Swahili, Zulu and other languages, 14. Bard’s “before”, 15. X-ray generator, 16. The dish ran away with this, 17. Swedish shag rug, 18. Second most-populous country, 19. *Presidential offering to a turkey, 21. *He designated last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day, 23. Creme de cassis plus wine, 24.

Every which way, 25. Water tester, 28. Relative of a gull, 30. Sans clothes, as a social practice, 35. Humming noises, 37. Gives a helping hand, 39. Lecterns, 40. Left behind by a mosquito, 41. Found under a bowl or dish, 43. Done to an iPod, 44. It’s good, according to Gordon Gekko, 46. *Most put this up around Thanksgiving time, 47. Kill, as in

dragon, 48. Paid close attention, 50.

Possesses, 52. Fleur-de-___, 53. Any time now, 55. Gymnast’s goal, 57. *Seafood at first Thanksgiving, 61. *It also celebrates Thanksgiving, but on different day than U.S., 64. Plural of #58 Down, 65. Dance-around-thepole month, 67. Game outcome, 69.

Active or lively, 70. Proof of age, pl., 71. Bay window, 72. Egg yellow, 73.

Army bed, 74. Kidney-related DOWN 1. *It airs Thanksgiving Day football and 60 Minutes, 2. Nomadic people of northern Scandinavia, 3.

Dwarf buffalo, 4. Baby carrier?, 5.

Presidential debate analyst, e.g., 6.

Little girl in “Charlotte’s Web”, 7.

Sometimes used to describe humor, 8. Camelot to King Arthur, e.g., 9.

Zn, 10. ____-European language, 11.

Jack and Jill went to fetch this, 12.

Diagnostic test, 15. Make a connection, 20. Companion of Artemis, 22.

Charge carrier, 24. Metal support for logs in fireplace, 25. *Good place to check turkey temperature, 26.

Grossly unconventional, 27. Roast host, 29. Heavy Metal band Quiet ____, 31. Sleep in a convenient place, 32. Tennyson’s poem, e.g., 33. Red Sea peninsula, 34. *Thanksgiving Parade host, 36. Lose one’s coat, 38.

Multitude, 42. Woman who talks too much, Yiddish, 45. “Cease and ______”, 49. They said their “I ___”, 51. Metal detector, e.g., 54. Relating to ohms, 56. Mother-of-pearl, 57.

All-in-One Printer button, 58. Threelayer cookie, 59. Game show “Let’s Make a ____”, 60. *Turkey is cut with a carving knife and ____, 61. Benign lump, 62. Knock off or get rid of, 63. Domain or field, 66. Commotion or fuss, 68. Architectural add-on

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SPORTS November 16, 2012

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India to be a Leading Oil Consumer by 2025

BY UTPAL BHASKAR (Mint) India, China and West Asian nations will account for 60% of the world’s energy demand by 2035, when the price of imported crude oil will be $215 a barrel in nominal terms, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projected in its World Energy Outlook 2012 report.

By 2025, India will also be the world’s second largest consumer of coal after China, playing a major role in international energy pricing, it said.

“Growth in oil consumption in emerging economies, particularly for transport in China, India and the Middle East, more than outweighs reduced demand in the OECD (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), pushing oil use steadily higher in the New Policies Scenario,” the world’s premier energy monitor said in its report. “Oil demand reaches 99.7 mb/d (million barrels per day) in 2035, up from 87.4 mb/d in 2011, and the average IEA crude oil import price rises to $125/barrel (in year2011 dollars) in 2035 (over $215/ barrel in nominal terms).”

The average price of crude oil in the Indian energy basket on 9 November was $106.09.

The US will become the world’s largest oil producer by around 2020, overtaking Saudi Arabia and becoming a net oil exporter by 2030, IEA added.

“This accelerates the switch in direction of international oil trade towards Asia, putting a focus on the security of the strategic routes that bring Middle East oil to Asian markets,” the report said.

Signalling a resurgence of OPEC’s importance on the global energy stage and the projected importance of warravaged Iraq, IEA said, “Output from OPEC countries rises, particularly after 2020, bringing the OPEC share in global production from its current

IEA’s keenness to have India, , the world’s fourth-largest energy-consuming nation, as a member.

India’s entry into IEA is likely to boost global energy security and increase the Paris-based agency’s international leverage in its dealings with the OPEC, and comes after China indicated its intention to enter the 28-member IEA grouping. However, to become a member, India will have to meet the eligibility criteria, including maintaining emergency oil reserves equivalent to at least 90 days

IEA projects that oil production from Iraq will reach around 6 mb/d by 2020 and 8 mb/d by 2035, making it a key supplier to Asia and earning around $5 trillion in revenue from oil exports by then.

42% up towards 50% by 2035.

IEA projects that oil production from Iraq will reach around 6 mb/d by 2020 and 8 mb/d by 2035, making it a key supplier to Asia and earning around $5 trillion in revenue from oil exports by then.

“India will and can be one of the beneficiaries of oil imports from Iraq and play an important role in Iraq’s infrastructure development,” said Fatih Birol, IEA chief economist, in a phone interview from Paris.

On the importance of the world’s two major economies for the global coal market, IEA said, “The policy decisions carrying the most weight for the global coal balance will be taken in Beijing and New Delhi—China and India account for almost threequarters of projected non-OECD coal demand growth (OECD coal use declines).”

This comes in the backdrop of India’s coal shortage with the stateowned Coal India Ltd (CIL) having mined only 431 million tonnes (mt) in 2010-11 against a target of 461.5 mt.

Coal demand in India is expected to

grow from 649 mt per annum (mtpa) now to 730 mtpa in 2016-17. The availability of local coal is estimated at 550 mt in 2016-17. India’s demand for imported coal is growing and stands at an annual 137 mt.

To maintain its relevance, IEA wants India and China to become its members, as the share of OECD countries in world’s energy demand will come down from the present levels of two-third of the world’s demand to one-third by 2035.

“The relevance of IEA will be challenged if we are not able to find co-operation or even partners in terms of members of IEA. The centre of gravity of global energy system is shifting to (the) East. It is the ultimate call for China and India to become a part of our organization. Our ultimate goal is to have them as members,” said Birol.

IEA has been trying to get large energy consuming nations, including India, China and Russia, which are not OECD members, to act in concert to counter supply disruptions.

Mint on 19 October reported on

of net imports and the membership of OECD. With concerns being raised on energy initiatives affecting water availability, IEA also projected an increase in water consumption by 85% by 2035. “Water needs for energy production are set to grow at twice the rate of energy demand…

We estimate that water withdrawals for energy production in 2010 were 583 billion cubic metres (bcm). Of that, water consumption—the volume withdrawn but not returned to its source—was 66 bcm,” it said.

Kesoram Industries to Raise Rs.500 Crore to Reduce Debt

BY MANISH BASU KOLKATA (Mint): The B.K. Birla Group-controlled Kesoram Industries Ltd will raise Rs.500 crore by selling stocks to shareholders, which analysts say is aimed at raising promoter holdings from 27% while reducing its debt.

The cement and tyre maker said in a regulatory filing on Monday that it will use Rs.375 crore from the proceeds of the rights issue to repay debt and use the rest as working capital. The repayment will reduce its debt-equity ratio from 4.27 to less than three, according to analysts. With Rs.453 crore stuck in a stalled project in Orissa, the company is paying around Rs.450 crore a year in interest. At the end of September, the company was indebted to the tune of Rs.4,815 crore. The lenders to be repaid include State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank Ltd, IndusInd Bank Ltd, Punjab National Bank and South Indian Bank Ltd. Kesoram was looking to expand the tyre manufacturing capacity of its factory in Balasore in Orissa, but the project was halted by a public

interest litigation alleging violation of environmental laws, the company disclosed in its rights issue prospectus. Kesoram had initially proposed to invest Rs.668 crore at its Balasore factory. The company declined to comment.

In view of its current financial woes, it is unlikely that investors would subscribe to the rights issue, said Kolkata-based equity analysts, who did not want to be named. “It appears that while the intention is to improve the debt-equity ratio, the promoters are also looking to raise their stake,” one of them said. In fiscal 2012, Kesoram posted a net loss of Rs.380 crore on a revenue of Rs.6,005 crore. Its loss from operations declined significantly by a tax credit of Rs.330.5 crore.

The company’s stock fell 0.96% in a flat market to Rs.139.05 on BSE Ltd. Kesoram, which produces 7.5 million tonnes of cement a year, has put on hold capacity-expansion plans. Even so, the company in its 2012 annual general meeting obtained shareholders’ approval to raise its borrowing limit from Rs.4,000 crore to Rs.6,000 crore.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

28

DIASPORA

November 16, 2012

Britain Honors Indian Princess, WW II Fallen Spy: Noor Inayat Khan

LONDON (Daily Mail): A beautiful Indian princess, she sacrificed her life for Britain as a wartime secret agent.

With astonishing courage, Noor Inayat Khan evaded the Gestapo before being betrayed, tortured and, after refusing to reveal any information, executed at Dachau concentration camp.

Her last word as the firing squad raised their weapons on September 13, 1944, was ‘liberté’.

Noor Inayat Khan wartime heroine who had a statue to her unveiled by the Princess Royal in London.

The bronze bust commemorating Britain’s only female Muslim war heroine is the first stand-alone memorial to an Asian woman in the UK. It stands in Gordon Square near the house where Noor lived and from where she left on her last mission, unable to tell her mother she might never return.

Princess Anne said stories such as Noor’s are ‘remarkable in their own right’ but have a real connection to make with the modern age through their ‘multi-cultural aspect’.

She hoped the statue will ‘remind people to ask: Who was she? Why is she here? And what can we achieve in her memory?’

Noor was part of an elite band of women in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the first woman radio operator to be flown into occupied France to aid the Resistance.

Born in Moscow to an Indian father and an American mother, Noor was a descendant of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler of Mysore. The family lived in London, moving to Paris when Noor was six.

She studied the harp, gained a degree in child psychology and wrote children’s stories.

When Paris fell to the Nazis in 1940, she returned to London and volunteered for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.

Recruited by the SOE in 1942, she was sent to Paris in June 1943 with the codename Madeleine.

Many members of the network were soon arrested, but Noor chose to remain in France, trying to send messages back to London while avoiding capture.

That October she was betrayed by a

Noor had a degree in child psychology, played sitar, and wrote short stories for children.

Noor completed the wireless operator’s course although she was unable to hold the Morse key properly because of severe chilblains.

Princess Anne unveiled the statue of Noon Inayat Khan, which was made by London artist Karen Newman.

Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan (left) was the eldest of four children. Her siblings included Vilayat (born 1916), Hidayat (born 1917), and Khairun-Nisa (born 1919). Her father, Hazrat Inayat Khan lived in Europe as a musician and a teacher of Sufism. Her mother, Ora Meena Ray Baker (Ameena Begum), was an American from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Frenchwoman and arrested by the Gestapo. She was kept in chains and in solitary confinement. Her captors kicked and interrogated her but she revealed nothing.

Noor was one of only three women in the SOE to be awarded the medal. The other two – Violette Szabo and Odette Hallowes – have been more widely known and celebrated until now.

Campaigners spent years raising £60,000 for Noor’s statue, by London-based artist Karen Newman, from public donations and enlisted the support of politicians including David Cameron, who said it was ‘impossible not to be moved’ by her bravery.

Shrabani Basu who wrote a biography of Noor in 2006 called ‘Spy Princess’ and spearheaded the campaign to get her formally recognised, said: ‘I realised how much Noor’s story had touched ordinary people, especially the young.

Noor’s brother Hidayat Inayat Khan, 95, was unable to travel from his home in The Hague, Netherlands, to attend the ceremony due to old age.

Her cousin Mahmood Khan Youskine, 84, who spent holidays with her in France as a child, did make it and said: ‘I remember her as a very refined girl who believed in freedom as a spiritual condition.

‘Sometimes it can take time to gain clarity on the past, but I appreciate it enormously that she is now being given recognition in the heart of London.’

Veterans of both the SOE and WAAF including Irene Warner, 91, who trained with Noor, were among the 300 throng. She remembered her as ‘quiet and shy but very nice’ and said she ‘certainly deserves recognition’.

After the unveiling, a bugler played the Last Post before a minute’s silence was observed. A film of her life is planned for release next year on the centenary of her birth.

The book on Noor by Shrabani Basu is being turned into a movie starring Katrina Kaif.

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November 16, 2012

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Diageo Buys Control of India’s Biggest Liquor Company

BY VIKAS BAJAJ NEW DELHI (NYT): Diageo, the world’s largest spirits maker, said Friday that it would buy a controlling stake in India’s biggest liquor company for $2 billion, a move that gives it a bigger foothold in this fastgrowing market.

Acquiring the Indian company, United Spirits, will make it possible for Diageo, which is based in London, to meet its goal of getting half of its revenue from emerging markets years ahead of its 2015 target. About 40 percent of sales come from such markets now. United Spirits, which is based in Bangalore, had revenue of 182 billion rupees ($3.3 billion) in the 12 months ending in March, which is about 20 percent of Diageo’s sales for the 12 months that ended in June.

Analysts said the deal would give Diageo access to the most extensive liquor operation in India at a time when its citizens are increasingly consuming more alcohol. Many consumers are also choosing higher-priced spirits rather than beer and traditional Indian alcohol made from coconuts and sugar cane. Diageo’s Johnnie Walker whiskey has long been one of the preferred brands of middle-class and wealthy Indians.

“The Indian liquor market is growing at the fastest pace globally in the liquor segment,” said A.K. Prabhakar, a senior vice president for equity research at AnandRathi Financial Services in Mumbai. “A foreign investor in United Spirits will add brand and variety. For the long-term investor it is a great buy.”

For United Spirits’ biggest shareholder, the flamboyant millionaire Vijay Mallya, the deal provides a deep-pocketed partner who can invest in the business, which has run up a large debt in recent years, and also provide him with much-needed cash that he can use to repay the other loans that he and his holding company have amassed in recent years to pay for various acquisitions and to start an ill-fated airline.

The acquisition will be structured in two stages: Diageo will first acquire a 27.4 percent stake in United Spirits in two transactions and later make an open offer to all public shareholders for another 26 percent as required

by Indian securities regulations. The agreement comes after several weeks of negotiations and four years after the

The Indian businessman Vijay Mallya is the largest shareholder in the company, United Spirits. Photo: Carl De Souza/Agence France-Presse

companies last discussed a deal.

In the first stage of the deal, Diageo will buy shares totaling 19.3 percent of United Spirits from holding companies and trusts owned by Mallya, his family and his senior management. The remaining shares will come in the form of new stock issued by United Spirits. The companies said Mallya would remain chairman of United Spirits and his trusts and holding companies would retain nearly 15 percent of the company’s shares.

It was unclear on Friday exactly what the deal would mean for Mallya’s aviation business, Kingfisher Airlines, which suspended operations last month after protests by employees who had not been paid in months.

That dispute was recently settled, but the airline still has to convince regulators and banks that it is viable before it can fly again. Kapil Kaul, an aviation consultant, estimates that Mallya and other investors must pump more than $1 billion into Kingfisher to revive it.

Mallya has said he would not sell the “family silver” to keep the airline afloat, but he has also said he plans to present a “rehabilitation” plan to Indian regulators and banks. Kingfisher, which has never made money, has debts totaling about $2.5 billion.

In addition to the airline and United Spirits, Mallya also controls India’s largest beer brewer, a fertilizer company, a cricket team and a Formula One racing team.

On Friday, in a conference call with reporters, Mallya refused to say whether he would use proceeds from the sale of United Spirits to revive Kingfisher.

“We have multiple businesses and

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each business operates independently,” he said. “There is no crosscontamination. There has never been, there never will be.”

In United Spirits, Diageo will get several popular Indian liquor brands like McDowell’s, Bagpiper, Royal

Challenge and Antiquity, most of them whiskeys. India is the world’s largest market for that spirit but most of it is made from molasses, not grain.

In 2007, United Spirits acquired Whyte and Mackay, a Scottish distiller that makes brands like Dalmore and Isle of Jura for nearly 600 million pounds, or $960 million at current exchange rates. Analysts said Diageo might be forced to sell Whyte and Mackay to win approval for the deal from European competition regulators.

Analysts said the United Spirits deal was an acknowledgement that Diageo made a big mistake by selling an Indian whiskey business, Gilbey’s Green Label, during the recession in 2002 to focus on its international brands. Its chief competitor, Pernod Ricard, did not leave India and went on to reap big gains to become the

largest international spirits company in the country, said Jeremy Cunnington, an analyst at Euromonitor International in London.

“It was a strategic mistake that put them in this place,” he said, but added that Diageo had been smart to wait to buy United Spirits until Mallya was in a relatively weak negotiating position. “They played a good tactical game over the past three years,” Cunnington said. “They saw U.S.L.’s weak finances and played a waiting game.” Ivan M. Menezes, the chief operating officer of Diageo, declined to discuss the company’s 2002 exit from India during the conference call but said that the country would now become one of its largest markets.

“This will become Diageo’s No. 2 market after the United States,” he said. “This has the potential, in the long term, to become our largest market.”

Vivek Gambhir Takes Over as Godrej Consumer’s MD

BY SAPNA AGARWAL MUMBAI (Mint): Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) on Monday named Vivek Gambhir as the successor to managing director A. Mahendran.

Gambhir was the chief strategy officer of Godrej Industries Ltd and its associated companies. Mahendran has indicated that he would like to retire when his current term expires on 30 June 2013, to devote time to

Gambhir, who has been working as chief strategy officer of Godrej Industries, will succeed A. Mahendran

his family businesses.

Mahendran will continue to serve on GCPL’s board after his retirement.

Over the next eight months, Mahendran and Gambhir will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

“Over the last 18 years, Mahendran has provided tremendous leadership to the group in different roles.

As managing director of GCPL, he successfully guided the company through the merger with Godrej Sara

Gambhir, a former partner at Bain and Co. in India, joined the Godrej Group in 2009 and has since driven the mergers and acquisitions in the company. Photo: Hemant Mishra/Mint

Lee and our internationalization strategy. We are very appreciative that we will continue to benefit from his insights and experience as a member of the board,” said Adi Godrej, chairman of GCPL. Gambhir, a former partner at Bain and Co. in India, joined the Godrej Group in 2009 and has since driven the mergers and acquisitions in the company besides steering the group’s 10x10 vision and GCPL’s 3x3 strategy. He also oversees the finance, investor relations, legal and IT func-

tions for Godrej Industries.

Over the years, Gambhir has also worked closely with Nisa Godrej, chairman Adi Godrej’s younger daughter, and as the secretary of the Godrej Family Business Board. He also serves on the investment committee for Omnivore Capital, an agriculture technology-focused venture fund backed by the Godrej Group.

Gambhir is an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS (Computer Science) and BA (Economics) from Lafayette College.

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SPORTS

November 16, 2012

India’s Veterans All Set to Battle England

India’s veteran batsmen Virender Sehwag (left) and Sachin Tendulkar are in a confident mood.

BY ABHISHEK PUROHIT

MUMBAI (ESPN Cricinfo): Zaheer Khan exuded purpose and found his rhythm, Sachin Tendulkar’s back-foot punch made regular appearances and the India squad seemingly had a fairly satisfactory five hours of practice on day two of their three-day preparatory camp in Mumbai ahead of the England Test series. While the players had practised for a little more than an hour on Friday, today was their first proper workout as a Test side in the nine weeks since the New Zealand series.

Again, like on day one of the camp, all eyes were on Zaheer.

Whatever he does on the field is closely scrutinised, such has been his tendency to break down, combined with his importance to India’s Test side. Over the years, Zaheer has missed or pulled out during several big series due to injury. He had pulled up sore during Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener against Railways last week. On Friday, Zaheer had spent the majority of his time on the massage table. He eventually did bowl for a

while but was clearly not extending himself.

These days, it takes him an eternity to warm up. There is a pronounced cautiousness to his stretches and squats as if he is worried when something might snap somewhere in his body. Today, though, with the ball in hand he looked a different man. He started with a few gentle ones before increasing the speed of both his run-up and his deliveries. His focus seemed to be on targeting the angle across the right-hand batsmen. Though he was not unplayable, he tested the batsmen.

What was good to see was that he remained intense throughout his spell - and it wasn’t a short one.

Zaheer bowled for about forty minutes in the first session, and again for a similar period of time after the lunch interval.

Another key player who had been tentative on Friday, Tendulkar, also looked a different man today. He faced the three India fast bowlers - Zaheer, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav - with control, and without too many

problems. The leaves were confident, the straight pushes were firm and, soon, the trademark back-foot punches appeared. He stood on his toes to send a rising Ishant delivery through extra cover. He pressed far forward to drive him down the ground. When Ishant moved one in close to off stump, Tendulkar left it safely and nodded towards the bowler in appreciation.

Unlike yesterday when they had batted in the nets, the batsmen played today against proper fields.

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir started off, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara and Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh, and Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni.

M Vijay, the reserve opener, batted along with the bowlers, who were out in full strength today with Harbhajan Singh joining the squad. Harbhajan came out in the second session, and after a lengthy fielding drill that included slip catching, and bowled to his fellow bowlers.

Abhishek Purohit is an editorial assistant at ESPNcricinfo

Bhupathi, Bopanna Disband NEW DELHI: Rohan Bopanna has confirmed his partnership with American Rajeev Ram for the next ATP season, the move comes in the wake of Mahesh Bhupathi-Bopanna combine deciding to part ways.

While Bhupathi will be partnering Canadian Daniel Nestor, Bopanna will be seen pairing up with longtime friend Rajeev on the ATP circuit next year.

The duo has a combined experience of 17 years on the professional circuit.

“Rohan and Rajeev had decided a few months ago to combine forces to make what they believe an extremely formidable partnership, given their complementary styles of play and strong service games,” a release from Play Right, the firm which manages Bopanna, stated today.

Bopanna had a successful year with Bhupathi, which included two titles at Dubai and Paris and runner-up finish at the just-concluded seasonending London Masters.

He also attained his career-best ranking of eight in March this year.

“I played with Mahesh in 2012 with a special focus on preparing for the London Olympics and now that it’s over, I want to concentrate on the ATP circuit and I am eager to build a strong, sustainable partnership,” Bopanna said about his decision.

“Rajeev is a great player and given our individual strengths, and his command of the deuce court, I believe that we can complement each other very well on the court,” he added.

The duo had earlier made an appearance as a team at the Australian Open in 2008, where as an unseeded combination they proceeded to the

pre-quarters defeating higher ranked teams along the way.

With a career best doubles ranking of 33, Rajeev has maintained a fine balance between the singles and doubles circuits.

The 28-year-old, however, has limited his singles appearances in the last couple of years and is concentrating more on the doubles game.

Rajeev earlier this year in September won the St Petersburg Open along with Nenad Zimonjic.

“I am very excited to play with Rohan in 2013. He is not only one of the best doubles players in the world but also a good friend. It is a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to it,” Rajeev said.

With a total of 14 ATP doubles titles between them, Rohan and Rajeev are looking to recapture the magic in 2013.

“2012 has been a good season for both of us and we hope to continue the momentum into 2013. However, we really want to focus on one match at a time,” said Bopanna.

His new partner was, though, was in no mood to look too far ahead.

“Looking at the first month of the year, there are two big events in Chennai and the Australian Open so there is no need to look any further than that,” Rajeev pointed.

“We haven’t played together since Australia in 2008 so it has been a while. I just hope to continuously improve so that we can reach our full potential,” he added.

The newly-formed combination will open their campaign in 2013 at the Chennai Open, where Rajeev won the title in 2009 partnering Eric Butorac.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna decided to play with different partners in 2013 after the Indian duo suffered a defeat in the final of ATP Tour Finals.

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