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CONTENTS

Indian times

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news M odi’s mode l may not work... news P akistan tro ops kill tw o jawans.. news C . orn

ered Asara m denies re news D marks... iesel, LP

G hike on anvil...

NEWS Ille gal migran ts return to In 19a dia from U TECHNOL K...

OGY Wind ows 8 sale 21a telev s reach 60 m...

Ision ‘B a li k a V 22a adhu didn’t Food & W struggle...’ ine Dhok la Pizza re 23a Travel cipe...

Queen of hill station s: Ooty...

16a

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BOLLYWO ..

1 2 . le No 8b IEW Tab V E R P IE terview... in MOV n a s s a H mal 10b OD Ka O W Y to Big B...

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W e c Y L fa a m BOL h s d Kari Ash an .’ 19b y strength.. m Bollywood is ll a b the 20b ‘Swinging

come... to t e Sports y is t ys bes ... b Gerrard sa

hould avoid 22 s u o y Sports s m le b ro p e ien Dental hyg health

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INDIAN TIMES

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Melbourne Office

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Muslim panchayat bans use of cellphones by girls

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fter the khaps in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim community panchayat in Rajasthan banned girls from using cellphones and also from dancing and singing at weddings, ostensibly in an effort to prevent incidents like Delhi gang rape.

Boys and girls have also been prohibited from marJanuary 2013 Edition

rying someone against the wish of their family members or someone from a different community, panchayat members said.

The restrictions have been imposed on the Muslim community members at Salumbar town in Udaipur district, some 400 km from Jaipur, by the Anjuman Muslim Panchayat, a minority

community council.

“We have decided to ban the girls from carrying and using cellphones. The decision was taken with a view that cellphones are spoiling girls,” panchayat secretary Habibur Rahman told reporters.

He said that a slew of measures has been taken to ensure safety of girls belonging to the community in the area.

“The girls would not be allowed to dance and sing during wedding functions. A couple cannot get married against the wishes of their family members,” said the panchayat secretary.

He added that punitive action will be taken against girls who are found ignoring the panchayat edicts.

“If a couple runs away from

house to get married, they will be ostracised and a cash fine of Rs 51,000 will be imposed on them. Fine of Rs 51,000 has also been decided for those who marry someone from a different community,” said the secretary.

He added that panchayat decisions have been communicated to all members of the community in the town. www.indian-times.com.au

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Why Modi’s Gujarat growth model might not work across India

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urning a single Indian state with a long tradition of entrepreneurship

and a solid political majority into an investor-friendly economic powerhouse is one thing.

Replicating that experience across a diverse country of 1.2 billion would be a tougher pros-

pect for Narendra Modi, whose leadership of booming Gujarat has led to his being touted as a potential candidate to become the next prime minister.

While Modi wins praise even from critics for cutting red tape and making government more responsive and predictable, many ingredients for Gujarat’s run of growth were in place well before he took office in 2001.

“It is like an icing on cake sort of thing. You have a nice cake and Modi has done a lot of good icing,” said Rakesh Chaudhary, director of Pratibha Group, a textile manufacturer in Palsana on the outskirts of the Gujarat city of Surat.

Industry in Gujarat is helped by a long coastline and plenty of barren land that is easy to turn over to factory use.

The power that comes from a long-standing and heavy majority for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state also gives Modi an advantage that he would not enjoy on a national stage marked by fractious coalition politics.

Despite a controversial past Modi is accused by critics of not doing enough to stop or of even quietly encouraging religious riots in 2002 that saw as many

as 2,000 killed, most of them Muslims - he has established a reputation as an economic reformer in part by building on the strengths of Gujarat and marketing them heavily.

Modi’s marketing savvy, aided by the Washington lobbying and public affairs firm APCO Worldwide, will be on display at the biennial “Vibrant Gujarat Summit” that begins on Friday.

Initiated by Modi in 2003 to attract investment after the violence and an earthquake in 2001, the event is attended by thousands of corporate officials who pledge billions in investment, although in reality only a fraction has seen the light of day. Of 12.4 trillion rupees ($225 billion) in investment proposed at the 2009 event, just 8.5 percent had been spent as of November 2011, according to state government data.

“Under Modi’s regime, there has been significant improvement in infrastructure growth, significant improvement in industrialisation, as well as agriculture,” said Jahangir Aziz, senior Asia economist at JPMorgan. “But what has been overplayed is initial conditions were actually pretty decent in Gujarat.”

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Pak troops kill two jawans, behead, mutilate one of them

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n Indian soldier was beheaded and another killed by Pakistani troops after they crossed over into Indian territory in the Mendhar sector of Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday, in a grim reminder of the brutality perpetrated during the 1999 Kargil conflict which can make peace making even more difficult.

The “border action team” of the Pakistani Army took advantage of the thick fog in the thickly-forested mountainous region to sneak 500 to 600 metres across the Line of Control (loC) before they were driven back after a fierce gun-battle and even close-quarter combat with Indian troops that went on for over 30 minutes shortly before

January 2013 Edition

noon on Tuesday.

The incursion and ceasefire violation seemed to be a diversionary manoeuvre to push infiltrators into J&K, as has been the earlier practice of Pakistani Army. However, it met with adequate fire-power from the Indian troops who, tipped off by the Intelligence Bureau, were fully alert to thwart any nefarious design.

After the gun battle, the bodies of Lance-Naiks Hemraj and Sudhakar Singh, part of an “area domination patrol” of the 13 Rajputana Rifles, were found. One of them was badly “mutilated”. Although the Army did not give more details of the barbarism, sources said the retreating Pakistani soldiers had

chopped off the “head” of one of the Indian soldiers and taken it back with them.

An outraged Indian Army dubbed the crime “yet another grave provocation” by the Pakistan Army, and said that it would be “taken up sternly through official channels”. Given the gravity of the situation, PM Manmohan Singh, who was in Kochi in the afternoon, was briefed over the phone.

“We condemn the provocative action. The government will take up the incident with the Pakistan government. We expect Islamabad to honour the ceasefire agreement (which came into force in November 2003) strictly,” said the defence ministry.

Predictably, the Pakistan military denied its troops had crossed over into India or indulged in a ceasefire violation on Tuesday.

“It looks like Indian propaganda to divert world attention from the raid conducted by Indian troops on one of our posts on Sunday, in which one of our soldiers was killed,” it said.

But the decapitation of the Indian soldier on Tuesday evoked memories of the barbaric way in which during the 1999 Kargil conflict Captain Saurabh Kalia was tortured by his Pakistani captors who later handed over his badly mutilated body to India. Kalia’s father is still fighting to get Pakistan to punish the soldiers who were responsible for his son’s brutal torture.

The defeat in Kargil did not chasten the Pakistani security establishment into mending its ways and stop violating the Geneva Convention which lays down how captured soldiers should be treated. In February, 2000, infamous Pakistani terrorist and al-Qaida member Ilyas Kashmiri had led a raid on the Indian Army’s “Ashok Listening Post” in the Nowshera sector to kill seven Indian soldiers.

Even then, Kashmiri had taken back to Pakistan the head of a 24year-old Indian jawan, Bhausaheb Maruti Talekar of the 17 Maratha Light Infantry, as a trophy to brandish. He is believed to have been

honoured by General Pervez Musharraf himself at a ceremony later.

On Tuesday, the defence ministry said the director-general of military operations (DGMO), Lt-General Vinod Bhatia, had already taken up the issue “directly” with his Pakistani counterpart.

With the PM landing back in New Delhi later on Tuesday, the ministry of external affairs is likely to summon a top Pakistani official on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest over the matter.

Sources said Army chief General Bikram Singh also briefed national security advisor Shivshankar Menon on the “significant escalation” in ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army in recent days. “Pakistan Army is regularly giving covering fire to help terrorists infiltrate into J&K, especially in the Rajouri, Uri and Keran sectors.

If there were 61 such violations in 2011, as many as 120 have been recorded in the last one year,” said an official.

India has already denied Pakistan’s earlier allegation on Sunday, holding that it was actually Pakistani soldiers who opened “unprovoked heavy machinegun and mortar fire on Indian post in the Uri sector”. Indian troops had just responded to it “in a calibrated manner”. The external affairs ministry also asked Pakistan to ensure that the “sanctity of the LoC is maintained”.

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Photo source: deccanchronicle

Cornered Asaram denies rape remarks, then offers apology

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lammed for his comments on the Delhi gang rape victim, Ahmedabad-based godman Asaram Bapu on Tuesday dished out a range of confused responses - from denial of his remarks that she should have called the rapists her brothers to offering to apologize.

Obviously worried about the erosion of his holy man tag to that of an old man with little regard for women, Asaram, confronted by Times Now, first said the statements published should not be attributed

day. He also denied making remarks against the media earlier in the day. “Why will I call the media barking dogs?

If you listen to the recordings of my satsang for half an hour, everything will be clear,” he told the TV channel. He said the “barking dogs” remark was intended for someone else.

In another sermon on Mon-

day, Asaram said Nirbhaya shared the blame for her gang rape. “Only 5-6 people are not the culprits. The victim-daughter is as guilty as her rapists...she should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop. This would have saved her dignity and life. Can one hand clap? I don’t think so,”

to him.

“How can I blame the girl (Nirbhaya) for the rape? I am not that cruel,” he said. “If I have done something wrong, I will apologize a thousand times.”

Addressing a gathering in Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan on Sunday, Asaram had said that the victim should have addressed the rapists as brothers and pleaded with them to spare her.

“My comments were taken out of context,” the Ahmedabad-based guru said on Tues-

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he had said.

He was widely criticized for the comments. Fazed by that, he lashed out on Tuesday against his detractors allegedly calling the media ‘barking dogs’. “First one dog barked. Then another dog barked. Soon all the dogs in the neighbourhood started barking,” he said.

F

rom later this month, marriage registration in southwest Delhi will require couples to take an oath—that they will never go for sex determination of their children. This will be attached to the marriage certificate too.

The district advisory committee came up with this initiative to prevent female foeticide. At a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Vikas Anand on Wednesday, the committee also decided to make it mandatory for all pregnant women to submit address and ID proof at the time of hospital registration so that all births could be recorded accurately.

The measure came on a day when activists raised the slogan of “meri shakti meri beti”. Southwest district was the focus as it had recorded the lowest sex ratio of 836:1,000 in the 2011 census.

Activists and community workers from Centre for Social Research shared their experiences with foeticide. Activist Ranjana Kumari of CSR said, “Social realities are changing and parents will

have to understand that the girls are now the breadwinners, career women and equals in families. Unless people give them their rightful place, violence against women will only grow.”

Citing the findings of a survey conducted last year in Vasant Vihar, CSR observed that people seemed to be open about their preference for boys. They justified it by saying that a son was essential for maintenance and retention of property. Most people were unaware of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act. Findings in Vasant Kunj revealed most were not aware of the laws related to sex determination and cited dowry, preserving familial legacy and safety of girl child as issues that led to foeticide.

Southwest district has 167 registered government and private clinics providing ultrasound facility, and NGOs working on the ground say there are many others that function illegally. But state action on the ground has been mostly lax with a few phases of activism. In the last five years, for instance, there has been a steady decline in inspections.

In 2007-08, inspections of clinics in southwest district stood at 246; it was 251 in 2008-09; 276 in 2009-10; 116 in 2010-11; 72 in 2011-12; and 47 in 2012-13. Data shows that in five years, only 23 licences of institutions have been cancelled and 22 of these happened in 2011. Admitting need for action against culprits, Anand stressed need for dedicated project officers and statistical teams to regularly monitor the sex ratio. www.indian-times.com.au

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or the Owaisi family, the arrest of Akbaruddin is a case of history repeating itself because the young MIM MLA from Chandrayanigutta is not the first person from the Owaisi family to have been arrested for making inflammatory speeches. Akbaruddin’s grandfather, Maulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi, had ended up in Chanchalguda Jail for more than 11 months for making similar inflammatory speeches about 56 years ago.

Abdul Wahed was arrested on March 14, 1958, under orders issued by the Hyderabad police a day earlier under section 3 (1) read with sub-section (2) of the Preventive Detention Act, 1950.

The police booked Abdul Wahed Owaisi for “Rousing or attempting to rouse communal passions and creating or attempting to create panic, resentment or hatred in the minds of the Muslims against the State and the non-Muslims as disclosed by his speeches made by him in public meetings” on 5th, 12th, 23rd and 24th October 1957, 15th November 1957 and January 9, 1958.

Abdul Wahed Owaisi was incarcerated for 11 months in Chanchalguda Jail. At the time of the arrest, Owaisi was the president of the MIM which he had inherited from Qasim Rizvi

Photo source: PTI

Hate speech not new for Owaisi clan F

in 1957 when the latter migrated to Pakistan.

MIM was first founded in 1927 by a group of Islamists of Hyderabad as a socio-religious organisation. Later it was transformed into religio-political outfit

by Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung and Qasim Rizvi. After the death of Jung, Rizvi became the president of MIM and raised the infamous ‘Razakars’ .

After integration of Nizam state into the Indian union on Septem-

ber 17, 1948 MIM was banned and Razvi was jailed. He was released only on an undertaking to migrate to Pakistan within fortyeight hours of his release.

Upon taking the reins of MIM on September 18, 1957, Abdul

Wahed Owaisi transformed it into AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen ) and started propagating the hatred among the public which eventually led to his arrest.

Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, father of Akbaruddin Owaisi, challenged the detention of his father under PD Act in the Andhra Pradesh high court on June 20, 1958. The case came before the bench of Justice PC Reddy and Justice J Kumarayya on August 1, 1958. Upholding the detention of M A W Owaisi, the court dismissed the petition stating there was no infringement of the right vouchsafed by the constitution under Article 22 (5) in the detention . After the death of Abdul Wahed Owaisi, Salahuddin became the president of the party in 1976.

Before quitting active politics, he made his son Asaduddin a Lok Sabha member and second son Akbaruddin an MLA. In the aftermath of the disappearance of the Nizam state and subsequent ban, Abdul Wahed Owaisi had to make great efforts to revive the Muslim organisation. Hence, the inflammatory speeches, say analysts. Now, several decades later, Akbaruddin resorted to the same tactics in the backdrop of the Telangana movement, to which the MIM is opposed.

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Family feud behind PIO lottery winner’s death

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he annals of US lottery history is filled with a litany of bad luck -- winners who blew their jackpot and went broke after poor decisions and lousy investments. Urooj Khan never got that far; he died, possibly murdered by someone’s greed, even before he got to collect his winnings.

Khan, an India-born owner of a three-store dry cleaning franchise in Chicago, had won $1 million in an Illinois state scratch-off lottery a few days before he keeled over and collapsed at midnight

last July after eating a meal of keema (ground beef), according to his wife Shabana Ansari. She called 911, and the medical examiner’s office later declared his death to be from natural causes after finding no trauma to his body, and toxicology reports showed no unusual substances in his blood.

The likely cause of death was said to be arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which covers heart attacks, stroke or ruptured aneurysms. There was no autopsy.

Not so fast, an unnamed relative complained to authorities a few weeks later, demanding a closer scrutiny of Khan’s death, amid rumors of family squabbles over Khan’s estate. Khan was already a wealthy man before he died, and the $425,000 lottery winnings (which Khan had opted to take in a one-time lumpsum payout after taxes) would have added to his estate, which, because he had left no will, would under local law be divided between Shabana Ansari, his second wife, and Jasmine, his 17-year old daughter from an earlier marriage.

The local county medical examiner then re-opened the case and retested fluid samples that had been taken from Khan’s body, including

tests for cyanide and strychnine. When the final toxicology results came back in late November, they showed a lethal level of cyanide, leading to the opening of a homicide investigation.

Khan, authorities now, say may have been killed, although they do not immediately link the death to the lottery. They plan to exhume Khan’s body within the next two weeks as part of the investigation.

Authorities have meanwhile extensively questioned Khan’s wife, whose family is from Hyderabad, and also executed a search warrant at the home he had shared with her. But in television interviews she has said she loved her husband, has nothing to hide and would be happy if the investigation yielded the truth. “I want the truth to come out in the investigation, the sooner the better,” she told ABC. “Who could be that person who hurt him?” She also said she did not demand the re-opening of the case and has no idea who did.

“It has been an incredibly hard time,” she added, saying she was struggling to keep his dry cleaning business going. “We went from being the happiest the day we got the check. It was the best sleep I’ve had. And then the next day, everything was gone.”

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Up again: diesel, LPG price hike on anvil

race for higher fuel bills as the government frontloads fiscal reforms and trying to build consensus for raising diesel, cooking gas and kerosene prices—fuels it controls—to reduce subsidy bill and manage deficit.

As first reported on January 5, the oil ministry has proposed several options for all the three fuels. These have been drawn up in response to a report by a panel under former bureaucrat Vijay Kelkar, tasked by the finance ministry to suggest ways for fiscal consolidation. The options essentially are about raising prices to bring them on a par with current market rate.

For diesel, the options are to raise the price by Rs 1.50 per litre plus taxes every month between January and March.

Thereafter, it could be raised

by Re 1 plus taxes every month till its pump price equals market rate. The alternative, or a politically more workable proposal, suggests raising the price by 60 paise per litre every month till the gap between subsidized and market prices are wiped out.

Diesel is the main fuel for transportation and farming sectors. Any increase in the fuel’s price has a cascading effect on the cost of daily living. A sharp rise in its price can shock the economy and stoke public anger. That’s why the government may opt for the soft option of a

partial float by setting a fixed subsidy—say Rs 5 a litre. Under this system, the fuel’s pump price would be raised if the market rate rises beyond the fixed subsidy.

Similarly, the government is

more likely to opt for the option of raising the price of cooking gas by Rs 65-Rs 100 per cylinder now, along with a higher annual cap of nine cylinders, and leave the remaining subsidy to be tackled post budget when

its global prices start climbing down. Even in UPA-1, the government’s effort to wipeout subsidy by raising price by Rs 5 per cylinder every month had to be abandoned under political pressure.

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Delhi chill harshest and longest in 40 years

W

hen was the last time winter in Delhi was as harsh and as long as this? This bonerattling spell that began on New Year’s Eve hasn’t had a parallel since 1973 — the year since when continuous daily temperature records could be accessed and analysed.

For nine straight days since December 31, the capital hasn’t seen temperatures rise above 16 degrees Celsius and the minimum has remained below 6 degrees.

Taking these two temperature

January 2013 Edition

limits as cutoff, no other unbroken spell of biting chill — both minimum and maximum temperatures staying this low — had sustained for as long as this, it was found.

The closest Delhi came to such a prolonged period of severe cold was a six-day spell that began on January 4, 2011. While there have been longer periods of either the maximum temperature staying below 16 degrees or the minimum not rising beyond 6 degrees, the double whammy of cold days and freezing

nights — as seen in the past nine days — was unmatched in the period studied.

The data, recorded at Delhi’s Safdarjung station, was obtained from the US government’s National Climatic Data Center, which collates data from stations across the world. Temperatures in December and Jaunary were taken into account, as these are the coldest months of the year.

“The main reason for such a long period of extreme cold was continuous incursion of cold air from north,” said IMD director-general L S Rathore.

“It is unusual for both the maxima and minima to be this low for so long.” Rathore said presence of fog during most of these days contributed to day temperatures remaining low due to the dimming effect of sunlight reaching the ground. Both day and night temperatures are likely to rise in the coming days as a western disturbance enters north India from Pakistan.

While it is common for the minimum temperature to stay below 6 degrees during December-January, ‘cold day’ conditions — that is, day temperatures staying much below normal — are uncommon.

According to temperature records since 1973, the longest

spell of below-16 degree temperatures was for 10 days in Jan 2003. In this period, there were only four winters (December-January) when the total number of below-16 de-

gree days was 10 or more. By contrast, there were as many as 33 ‘coldest nights’ (minimum below 6 degree C) out of the 62 days in the 1996-97 winter.

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Race 2: The action-thriller sequel we’ve all been waiting for

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t’s back! Race 2 is an upcoming Bollywood action thriller film, directed by AbbasMustan and produced under the Tips Music Films banner. It is the sequel to the 2008 hit film, Race, and stars an ensemble cast that includes Anil Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan reprising their roles as Robert D’Costa and Ranveer Singh from the previous film, while Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ameesha Patel are new additions to the cast. Bipasha Basu will reprise her role of Sonia in a special appearance.

After the success of Race (2008), Ramesh Taurani registered Race 2 as a title and Abbas-Mustan said that they would go ahead with a sequel “if we get a script in place which is even better than the original.” The screenplay was written

by Shiraz Ahmed who also wrote Race. Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor were the first to sign on to the film in November 2009 and were reported to be the only returning cast members from the first film.

In June 2010, John Abraham was signed on to play the antagonist and Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra were approached to co-star opposite Khan and Abraham respectively. However, Kapoor turned down the role as she didn’t want her pairing with Khan to get repetitive and Chopra opted out due to scheduling conflicts and was subsequently replaced

23 January 2012 in Mumbai. However, Deepika dropped out within six days of filming because the film was always being rescheduled.

The film’s producer Ramesh Taurani released a statement to the media deeming Padukone’s behavior as “unethical, unprofessional and unacceptable”. Also, it was reported that Nargis Fakhri was offered the role to replace Kapoor, although it has been rumoured that she declined the offer, thus, avoiding any controversies regarding her and Kapoor. However, Deepika Padukone and Taurani agreed on a settlement after much negotiation and the filming continued as planned. Jacqueline Fernan-

dez, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone joined the cast in May at Istanbul for the third schedule.

On 7 October 2012, shooting for the film was completed.

In regards to the music, IBN Live gave the soundtrack four stars of five saying, “Race 2’s soundtrack is racy to the core. In a nutshell, the album is bound to be a hit. Let’s just hope the movie is as good as the soundtrack is!”

Shresht Poddar, of Score Magazine, gave the album three out of five stars saying, “Personally, as a standalone album with no biases, it is enjoyable but it could have done with better lyrics. The tracks are foot-tapping and they

would appeal to the masses. But if you compare it to Race, the album undoubtedly falls flat.” Goku, of IndiBeats! included the album in the ‘average’ category commenting that “No doubt Pritam has worked on the album well, there is a fair deal of DJing done, but something is amiss and hence the album is worth a hear, nothing more.”

Of course, no one knows the hype of the film more than producer Ramesh Taurani. “The expectations from Race 2 are humongous and we plan to make it bigger and better than the first part,” Taurani said.

Race 2 is scheduled to release on 25th January 2013.

There’s an Indian connection in four films with 36 Oscar nominations

ndia is making its presence felt at the Oscars with four of the films with the highest number of nominations having a connection to the country, and Chennai-based classical Carnatic music vocalist Jayashri Ramnath being nominated for writing the Tamil song ‘Pi’s Lullaby’ for director Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’.

Ramnath, known on the concert circuit as Bombay Jayashri, shares the nomination for ‘Best Original Song’ with Canadian music director Mychael Danna, who has also been nominated for ‘Best Original Score’ for the same movie. Writing the song was easy, said the singer. “What I wrote is something every mother has on her lips when she cuddles her child,” said Jayashri about the short song that uses simple words to show a mother’s affection for her child.

Large parts of Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’ and Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, which are up against each other for the 2013 Academy Award for Best Picture, were shot in India. The announcements were made in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Steven Spielberg’s American civil war saga ‘Lincoln’, which leads the pack with 12 nomina-

January 2013 Edition

Photo source: PTI

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by Padukone. In December 2010, Sonakshi Sinha was cast as a replacement for Kapoor. Chitrangda Singh was approached for a role opposite Anil Kapoor in May 2011 but eventually dropped out for unspecified reasons. Ameesha Patel and Mallika Sherawat were considered for that same role but it ultimately went to Patel.

The film’s shooting was set to begin on 5 October 2011 but was postponed to accommodate Deepika Padukone’s dates causing scheduling conflicts with Sonakshi Sinha. Sinha’s dates conflicted with her filming schedule for Dabangg 2 (2012), forcing her to drop out. In October 2011, Jacqueline Fernandez who had opted out Krrish 3 & Raaz 3 was cast as a replacement for Sinha. Shortly afterwards, it was announced that Bipasha Basu would be reprising her role as Sonia in a cameo appearance, and continuing to be Khan’s girlfriend. The movie’s plot will revolve around her murder.

Despite rumours suggesting that Basu will be sharing screen space with ex-boyfriend John Abraham for the first time after their breakup, Abraham denied this.

The film’s first shooting schedule began on 5 November 2011 in Mumbai for 15 days, wrapping up on 20 November. Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt was in talks to join the cast of the film, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. The second schedule commenced on

tions, including best director, actor and supporting actress, comes from the RelianceDreamWorks stable. A very pleased Anil Ambani said, “We are incredibly proud to have

partnered with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in the making of ‘Lincoln’. I congratulate them and the great cast and crew for the 12 Oscar nominations.”

‘Life of Pi’, which received 11

nominations, has an almost entirely Indian cast, led by Sooraj Sharma, and is set in Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) till it shifts to the churning seas.

In Chandigarh’s crowded

Manimajra market, shopkeepers were thrilled to hear that Bigelow’s film is in the running for five Academy Awards. Last year, Manimajra was camouflaged to look like Abbotabad in Pakistan for the film which chronicles the last days of Osama bin Laden. Storefronts were given Urdu signs, autorickshaws were painted with Pakistani registration plates, and a number of shopkeepers got walk-on parts.

Though his name isn’t on the list, Bollywood actor Anupam Kher is thrilled because the film in which he plays a doctor, ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ has got eight nominations. “I am proud that I can share the excitement with the spectacular cast and crew of ‘Silver Linings Playbook’,” Kher said.

India has had its time in the arc lights at the Oscars in the past with Bhanu Athaiya sharing an award for costume design for ‘Gandhi’ in 1982, and Satyajit Ray being given an honorary award in 1992. Till date, though, 2008 remains India’s finest moment at the Oscars with music director and composer A R Rahman, sound engineer Resul Pookutty and lyricist Gulzar receiving awards for the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

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Maoist tactics evoke memories of Bosnian war film

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n an action reminiscent of a scene from Oscarwinning Bosnian war film “No Man’s Land”, Naxalites in Latehar district of Jharkhand put the body of a critically injured and incapacitated jawan over a landmine following a fierce battle between the Maoists and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday morning. On Tuesday evening, security forces along with local villagers found the jawan’s body deep in Karmatiya jungles. However, as soon as the body was picked up, the mine exploded, killing three villagers and blasting the jawan to smithereens.

The death toll of forces in the encounter has now risen to 10, including a jawan from Jharkhand Jaguars. However, a senior CRPF official, alluding to the landmine blast, put the figures rather tragically.

“We can confirm the death of 10 jawans. However, we have found only nine bodies so far,” he said.

The film No Man’s Land had ended with an injured Bosnian soldier lying on the mine while still alive with no hope of rescue. Bosnian Serbs had put his body over a landmine while he was unconscious.

January 2013 Edition

Sources said, in all probability the jawan bled to death while lying on the mine adding that even if he had gained consciousness and tried to move, he would have died.

Following the blasts, the forces retreated and the combing operation was restarted with reinforcements.

On the trail of senior CPI (Maoist) leader Arvindji, around 300 soldiers from CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguars were combing Karmatiya forests when they were ambushed by a contingent of around 200 Maoists — led by a woman — who were firing at them from hill top. The forces had taken the only narrow path that cut through the jungle and then opened into a plain with hills surrounding it. That the Maoists were in Army fatigues confounded matters. About 600 Maoists are suspected to be hiding in the jungles moving between Bihar and Jharkhand.

The government, however, is not perturbed by the deaths as the operation is part of a “fight-to-finish” war to flush out Maoists from Latehar and Chhattisgarh’s Sukma districts.

“Maoists have been considerably weakened as is evident

from constantly decreasing incidents of Naxal violence (from 2,258 in 2009 to 1,412 in

2012). This is the season (before the onset of monsoons) to strike and we want to consid-

erably weaken them through continuous offensive,” said a home ministry official.

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Sukhbir will succeed me: Parkash Badal

Photo source: PTI

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eteran Akali leader and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has named his son Sukhbir Singh Badal as his successor.

To a question by reporters on who would succeed him once he retires from active politics, the 85year-old CM said: “It will be Sukhbir. Not because he is my son but because he is a capable leader and good manager. He has followed the path of maintaining communal harmony in the state, keeping the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians together. In addition to ensuring communal harmony, Sukhbir has brought about development, which has been his forte.”

Sukhbir Badal, 47, is at present the deputy chief minister and president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The party created history early last year when it beat anti-incumbency and returned to power.

Sukhbir’s “election management” - including his wily ticket distribution and making development the poll plank rather than religious issues on which Akalis have fought elections for ages - is being seen as the turning point in SAD’s fortunes.

“I was reluctant to become the chief minister for the fifth time after the last assembly poll but it was the decision of the party to anoint me. The decision to retire

me would also have to be that of the party. No individual can tell me when to retire,” CM Badal said.

The CM had ribbed Bikram Majithia, senior minister in his Cabinet and brother-in-law of Sukhbir, saying “Majithia got power on a platter, without much hard work, and now he wants to wrest control.” Badal, however, clarified on Tuesday that his statement, made in front of a packed audience at the Punjab Pravasi Sammelan in Phagwara, was “taken out of context.”

“I have got into the habit of speaking my heart out without hesitation. I said it in a lighter vein.

Majithia had managed the NRI meet commendably and I even congratulated him later at Amritsar. I picked Majithia to head the Youth Akali Dal,” Badal said.

The succession issue had earlier rocked the Badals when, in October 2010, Parkash Singh Badal’s nephew (son of his elder brother Gurdas Badal) Manpreet Badal revolted and quit SAD. Manpreet formed his own party and said, drawing a parallel with the Drona-Arjuna-Eklavya tale from the Mahabharata: “My taya (Parkash Badal) is like Drona. I was asked to give my thumb like Eklavya.”

Death sentence can’t stop rapes: Nandita Das

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ocial activist and actress Nandita Das believes that death sentence cannot act as a deterrence against a crime like rape.

“I don’t believe that death sentence is a solution to stop this because the conviction rate in our country is so low,” the 43-yearold said at an award ceremony.

Recently the gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi, who died of her injuries in a Singapore hospital, shocked everyone and triggered nationwide protests demanding new law for the culprits of such crimes.

“Despite all that has been happening, there are still reports of such crimes (rapes) still happening,” she said.

Nandita said there are other ways that should instead be adopted.

“In other countries such reports have been filed which state that death sentence has not lowered the graph of such crimes. In fact, the countries where such crimes happen less, they don’t even have any such thing as death sentence. Such criminals should instead be brought to speedy trial, social humiliation and other such things,” she suggested.

Nandita is aghast at current statements by many that hold women responsible for rapes.

“This accusation that some people have been flinging these

days that these crimes and rapes happen because girls wear skirts and other such clothes is utter nonsense. If this was true, then no village woman would be raped,” said Nandita who in “Bawandar” played the role of Bhanwari Devi, a low-caste woman from a village in Rajasthan who was allegedly gang-raped in 1992.

Claiming an example from her piece of work, Nandita said, “I made film ‘Bawandar’ on Bhanwari Devi. Even her face used to be covered, this (rape) should not have happened with her then.”

“We hear of a three-year-old girl being raped. Was she found in some nightclub? We should not shame ourselves by giving such excuses,” she added.

in the UK if they can show they have been continuously resident in the UK for 14 years or longer or on the basis that their removal would contravene their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). However, continuous residence alone is not sufficient to be granted leave. Other factors, such as age, strength of connections to the UK, personal history, domestic circumstances, previous criminal record, and compassionate circumstances will also be considered.”

India has been named along with Pakistan, China, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Brazil and Iran as the main sources of illegal immigration to Britain. These countries made up for 61 per cent of all illegal immigrants caught in Britain in 2010, with India and Nigeria accounting for most of those who were apprehended.

What the report does not mention is how many of the 863,000 illegal migrants that it says are living in the UK are students. This is a contentious area because critics of the coalition government claim it is counting students among overall immigrants. Foreign non-European students became controversial because under the previous

Labour government thousands came to Britain with the intention of settling in the country rather than studying.

However, a crackdown on illegal colleges and students appears to be working and government ministers acknowledge that only a tiny proportion of students really overstay their visas or settle down illegally. So, critics say, continuing to include students in overall immigration numbers is a political exercise to show that government policies are working.

It would have been helpful if the study had included figures for the numbers of non-EU citizens who came to the UK on student visas and stayed back illegally. Apparently, the government is working on disaggregating student figures.

The New Year began badly for the government on the issue of foreign students when Indian-born businessman Lord Karan Bilimoria clashed with immigration minister Mark Harper on a BBC programme on immigration. Bilimoria’s basic argument was that the UK government was sending out the wrong signals and risked putting off genuine foreign students by placing a “crude immigration cap” (of cutting net immigration to below 100,000).

Photo source: PTI

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Photo source: PTI

Thousands of illegal Indian migrants returned to India from UK

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ccording to a 2012 UK Home Office report, India is among 10 countries that are the main sources of illegal immigration to Britain. The report, which uses the term ‘irregular’ rather than ‘illegal’, says that 5,895 Indian nationals were ordered to leave the UK in 2010,

January 2013 Edition

the year the current coalition government took control.

Many more returned than were ordered out. The figure for those illegal Indian immigrants who went back voluntarily for good without telling home office authorities in 2010 was 7,135. However, in the same year nearly 1,800 illegal im-

migrants (of all nationalities) were allowed to stay back, with their immigration status regularized, because they had been in the UK for more than 14 years.

The report describes the socalled 14-year-rule: “Irregular migrants can apply for leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain

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Politicians, officials clean up Rs 101 crore meant for poor

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oiled by a rash of corruption charges, the Maharashtra government appears to be headed for deeper trouble. An investigation has unearthed the involvement of thousands of officials and politicians in a decade-old fraud, in which Rs 101 crore of public funds were siphoned off and disbursed to 1.49 lakh bogus beneficiaries.

Of the numerous recipients of the dole meant for the destitute, the probe found, 19,367 were long dead and 25,484 missing. The investigation, though incriminating, has placed the government in a quandary. The Bombay high court last month gave the state four weeks to decide on the request for filing of chargesheet against current medical education minister Vijay Kumar Gavit.

Gavit, as the then chairman of a committee in-charge of selecting dole beneficiaries, is accused of having played a role in a part of the fraud many years ago. If the government agrees to the chargesheet against Gavit, officials pointed out, it will have to do the same against the 13,732 state employees and 7,519 politicians allegedly involved in the scam.

The exposure of the fraud, incidentally, began with another court order. About a decade ago, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay HC had asked the state to investigate charges of irregu-

larities in the implementation of a scheme for the destitute, National Senior Citizens’ Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi Landless Labour Assistance Scheme.

The ensuing probe found that, in Nandurbar district, 637 ineligible people were given financial assistance of Rs 4.04 lakh.

In the wake of this, the government issued two orders. On March 4, 2002, then social justice secretary Suresh Kumar asked the Nashik divisional commissioner to initiate criminal proceedings against those involved in the fraud. And, on July 19, 2002, then chief secretary V Rangnathan directed all divisional commissioners to conduct a high-level probe into the implementation of the schemes.

Following Suresh Kumar’s directive, the Nandurbar collector lodged a complaint against Gavit, who was the chairman of the committee tasked with picking beneficiaries, and 50 officials, who processed the beneficiaries’ application forms.

Separately, in their findings, the divisional commissioners across the state confirmed rampant irregularities in the selection of dole recipients. The largest number of sham beneficiaries— 97,221—were found in Aurangabad; they were allegedly picked by 1,618 government employees and 1,567 politicians. Next in the fraud list came Amravati

(21,039 bogus recipients, picked by 1,912 officials and 812 politicians), Konkan (12,657 sham recipients, chosen by 377 officials and 486 politicians), and finally Pune (2,405 bogus recipients, selected by 833 officials and 231 politicians).

In all, the divisional commissioners reported, the state lost Rs 101 crore in the fraud. Of this, Rs 8.9 crore was disbursed in the Konkan region, Rs 90 lakh in Nashik region, Rs 1.47 crore in Pune, Rs 14.8 crore in Nagpur, Rs 10.8 crore in Amavati and Rs 63.7 crore in Aurangabad region.

In the Konkan region, it was discovered that six bogus beneficiaries were given assistance in Khetwadi area, which was then represented by senior Congress leader Bhai Jagtap. Similarly, 14 recipients were found in Nagpada area, then represented by Syed Ahmad, who is now the Jharkhand governor; 50 beneficiaries were identified in Dharavi, which was represented by women and child welfare minister Varsha Gaikwad.

Industries minister Narayan Rane argued that politicians cannot be blamed for the systemic embezzlement since they have a limited role to play in the implementation of the schemes. “All the proposals are processed at the lower level and finally approved by the Tehsildar. As a formality, they are brought be-

fore the committee headed by an elected representative,” Rane said.

This seems to be the latest in a long line of schemes meant to benefit the poor that has been hijacked by netas and babus.

No amount of welfare-minded schemes initiated at the top will help people at the bottom of the

pyramid if the benefits get channelised outside midway. Strict action must be taken in this case and the government must ensure benefits really trickle down to the intended recipients. It’s unfortunate that there is some remedial action in such cases only when the judiciary %steps in or there is exposure by the media.

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THX launches Ultra-High Definition Television certification

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Vs that carry the THX badge will be able to upscale existing HD content to ultra-high definition standards.

THX, the entertainment technology and product certification company founded

by Star Wars creator George Lucas, has launched the THX 4K Certification program to ensure that the latest generation of ultra-high-definition television sets will meet consumers’ ultra high expectations.

As the small handful of ultrahigh-definition televisions already available on the open

consumer market from Sony, LG and Samsung each have a price tag of roughly $20,000, the technology is not yet commonplace. What’s more, there is currently very little native content available for these massive 80-inch displays and so each company that produces UHD TVs also builds in technology that will rescale existing HD programming and movies to UHD standards.

The THX certification process makes certain that the latest displays with this technology not only meet industry 4K performance guidelines but can

the first TV to receive THX certification. Due to go on sale this summer, the TV will be called the ICC Purios when it comes to market. “With consumers today demanding more immersive and compelling home entertainment experiences, the industry has moved beyond HDTVs toward even higher resolution displays that offer a whole new level of entertainment realism in the home,” said Peter Vasay, vice president of technology operations at THX Ltd. “Our new THX 4K Certification process ensures that content viewed on a THX Certified Ultra HD display meets the most exacting video standards achievable in a consumer television today.

Each display we evaluate must pass a stringent battery of tests to guarantee it can accurately reproduce the original HD

image, in precisely the colors, tones and resolution intended.”

Ultra-high definition TVs were one of the big hits at 2012’s CES. Originally called 4K TVs, because with a resolution of 4096x2160 pixels they have four times as many active pixels as existing high-definition televisions, in October the Consumer Electronics Industry announced that the technology had been officially renamed Ultra-High Definition and laid out a set of industry guidelines that manufacturers would have to follow if they wished to advertise their TVs as such. Minimum performance attributes include display resolution of at least eight million active pixels, with at least 3,840 horizontally and at least 2,160 vertically and an aspect ratio of width to height of 16:9.

present lowly high-definition content in full UHD resolution while remaining true to the original HD master image in terms of color and proportion.

THX Certified displays are put through 600 different tests and will also feature a new setting, the THX 4K Movie Mode, which delivers the best possible pre-calibrated video settings for viewing Ultra HD and reconstructed HD movies right out-of-the box.

As such, the new 60-inch Sharp LC-60HQ10, unveiled at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show has become

Google ignores India, Apple picks pace

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t a time when Apple is ramping up its India operations, the company’s main competitor in smartphone and tablet industry, Google, is missing in action. In the last two years, Google has launched six Nexus smartphones and tablets with its hardware partners but only one such device has made its way to India.

Nexus devices, which run unmodified version of Google’s mobile operating software, are considered best in their class and are primary competitors for iPhones and iPads. “If I have to buy an Android smartphone now, I will go for Nexus 4. At its price ($299 for basic model) it is an incredible value for money. But even 50 days after it was made available in the US, it is yet to reach India,” says Gaurav Shukla, the editor of a blog called androidOS.in.

“It is a big issue for smartphone enthusiasts here because only Nexus devices provide ‘pure’ Android experience,” he adds.

Only one Nexus in India India is an Android country.

“In Q3, 2012 around 3.8 million smartphones were shipped in the country. Of these, 3.01 million, which is over 70% of the market, were powered by Android,” says

January 2013 Edition

Manasi Yadav, a market analyst with IDC. But Android’s success in the country seems despite Google and not because of it. Even Nexus S, the only Nexus device to launch in India, debuted here eight months after its global launch. Recently Motorola, after being acquired by Google, shut down its business in India.

Google or its hardware partners evade the questions on the availability of Nexus devices in India.

“We’re interested in making our products and services available as widely as possible, but we have nothing to announce at this time,” a Google spokesperson said..

Sources in the industry say the non-availability of Nexus devices in India has to do with the synergy, or the lack of it, between Google and its hardware partners. Another reason is that companies like Asus and Samsung have their own devices in the market and they tend to be cautious with Nexus devices even though they partner with Google for the programme.

Take the example of Galaxy Nexus. In a bid to make amends for late Nexus S launch, Samsung wanted to bring this device to India as soon as possible. “The plans were afoot to launch Galaxy

Nexus in Indian in December 2011, within weeks of the global launch,” an industry insider said.

But then the launch was delayed. It became January. Several weeks later the launch was scrapped because the company wanted to focus on its upcoming phones like Galaxy Note.

The case of Nexus 7 has been even more curios. When Nexus 7 launched in July in the US, Asus officials in India said the product would arrive here in early October. Sources say the statement did not go down well with Google executives taking care of Android in Asia Pacific region.

Nexus 7 launch was then delayed. On November 7, Nexus 7 magically appeared on the websites of a retail company that runs several electronics stores in India. Asus executives confirmed the tablet had been launched but Google officials looked surprised by the news.

But after a few days, Nexus 7 disappeared from the market.

Sources within Asus said the limited availability for a few days happened because of a mistake. “The tablet is not launched yet. We are talking to Google about it and will jointly bring it to the market soon,” said a senior Asus executive.

Nearly two months later, there is still no sign of Nexus 7 in India.

Nexus 4, the latest ‘pure’ Android phone from Google, seems to be going the same way. In early Novemb when it was launched globally, a senior LG executive in India said the device will come here before the end of the month.

The company later clarified the person was misquoted.

While Android remains popular, the non availability of Nexus devices does damage the brand. “There is a lot of demand for Nexus devices, especially among technologysavvy consumers and smartphone enthusiasts. But when devices get delayed, it forces people to select other high-end smartphones that are readily available in the market,” says Manasi.

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Photo source: PTI

Samsung’s plan to ‘beat’ RIM in enterprise space

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amsung Electronics, the global leader in consumer smartphones, is planning two major thrusts in 2013: bulking up mobile content and moving faster into the corporate market dominated by Research in Motion.

The South Korean electronics company is investing in de-

vices that enterprise users like corporations will endorse, with a higher level of security and reliability than general users need. In doing so, Samsung is capitalizing on doubts about the longevity of the BlackBerry as its Canadian maker struggles to revive growth.

Samsung’s corporate mar-

ket ambitions have advanced as the Galaxy SIII, its popular flagship smartphone, won the requisite security certifications from companies, said Kevin Packingham, chief product officer for Samsung Mobile USA. As RIM prepares to launch its next-generation BlackBerry 10 this quarter, the company’s fu-

ture remains shaky. Corporate technology officers have begun to explore other smartphones, such as those by Apple or Samsung.

“The enterprise space has suddenly become wide open.

The RIM problems certainly fueled a lot of what the CIOs are going through, which is they want to get away from a lot of the proprietary solutions,” Packingham said in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. “They want something that integrates what they are doing with their IT systems. Samsung is investing in that area.”

“It’s been a focus for a long time but the products have evolved now that we can really take advantage of that,” he added. “We knew we had to build more tech devices to successfully enter the enterprise market. What really turned that needle was that we had the power of the GS3.”

Samsung in 2012 overtook Apple as the world’s largest maker of smartphones, with a vastly larger selection of cellphones that attacked different price points and proved popular in emerging markets.

German business software maker SAP provides employees with Samsung’s Galaxy S III, the larger Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Tab, SAP Chief Information Officer Oliver Bussmann said in an interview.

Windows 8 sales reach 60 million

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espite fears that the touch interface would intimidate users, Microsoft’s latest operating system sold 20 million licenses over the 2012 holiday season alone.

According to the company’s CFO and CMO for Windows Tammi Reller, Microsoft has sold 60 million software licenses for itslatest operating system, Windows 8, since its launch in October. This puts initial sales in line with the launch of Windows 7 (which saw sales of 40 million over its first two months following release) and could be seen as proof that despite what some in the industry have said, including Microsoft’s own hardware partners, the operating system and its dual touch and type interfaces is not scaring away potential customers.

The company’s CEO Steve Ballmer has also announced that a further 10,000 apps were added to the Windows 8 app store over the past month and that downloads to date have already hit 100,000.

Speaking at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Ballmer revealed the figures as part

January 2013 Edition

“The one clear trend in enterprise is the shift away from one device to multiple devices,” said Bussman, who makes 10 devices available to SAP employees for official use. The list includes Apple’s iPhone and iPad, Nokia Lumia and RIM’s Blackberry.

“Because of the fragmentation of the Android software, we decided to go with just one Android company and we went with Samsung,” he added.

Now, the Korean hardware specialist is beefing up its software - an area in which it has lagged arch-enemy Apple, which revolutionized the mobile phone from 2007 with its content-rich, developer-led iPhone ecosystem.

Packingham sees an area ripe for innovation - combining the mobile phone with Samsung’s strength, the TV, which has barely evolved in the past decade.

Still, the U.S.-based executive remained cagey about Samsung’s plans for content and enterprise.

“You are going to see from content services, we’ll start to integrate what’s happening on the big screen, what’s happening on the tablet,” he said.

“We know now that people like to explore content that they are watching on TV while they have a tablet in their lap, and that’s going to be a big theme for this year.” of a stage-managed stunt which saw him gatecrash the event’s keynote speech, which was being given by Qualcomm’s CEO Paul Jacobs. Ballmer and Jacobs also took the opportunity to discuss Microsoft devices that run with Qualcomm chips and revealed that Windows Phone sales were five times higher during the Christmas holiday period than they had been at the same period in 2011.

Although billed as the world’s most important technology show, Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook, arguably the world’s most important technology companies, never attend CES. This year Microsoft officially joined this list of absentees, having announced last year that 2012 would be the company’s final appearance and final keynote speech at the event.

However, despite its absence, Microsoft and Windows 8 technology is one of the main focuses of the event with everything from tabletop computers from Lenovo and 3M, tablets from Asus and Acer and convertible notebook computers from a host of manufacturers being launched that take full advantage of Microsoft’s latest operating system in order to combine touch and gesture controls with more traditional forms of input such as typing and track pads.

www.indian-times.com.au

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News

indiantimes

Making New Year’s Resolutions Count

I

f you’re like most people, you’ve probably experienced the sudden burst of motivation that comes in early January, as holiday indulgences make their way to the waistline and New Year’s resolutions force a new look at the figure we see in the mirror.

“This is the year,” so the resolution goes, “that I vow to lose ten pounds and keep it off.” Other common variations include goals to get back to one’s “true” weight, to fit into a size ten, etc.

And worthy resolutions they are. Sadly, New Year’s resolutions are notoriously short-lived, if not completely forgotten by February. The trick to making resolutions work is to follow the same steps required to make any goal work, as follows:

1. Choose the Right Resolution For all too many resolutions, failure is virtually assured at the offset because the resolutions are not made with serious intent and deliberation. The first trick is to choose the right resolution, for the right reasons.

Give some thought to what you really want and why you want it. What direct benefits do you hope to receive? Is a weight-loss resolution meant to improve your self-esteem? Attractiveness? Vitality? Longevity? Identifying the “why” helps you avoid setting goals for the wrong reasons.

Next, decide how difficult to make your resolution. Aiming high generally makes people try harder. Optimal performance comes from goals that are difficult, but not so difficult that we

don’t believe they can be accomplished.

Finally, be specific about your resolution and make it official.

Being specific means phrasing the goal in words that make it obvious whether or not the goal has been completed, by a specific date. A resolution “to lose 15 pounds by April 30th” is much more effective than the ambiguously phrased goal “to lose weight.”

Once you’ve decided on the wording, formally commit. At a minimum, write the goal down on paper. For even more commitment, look yourself in the mirror and state the goal out loud. This may sound corny, but it works. The important thing to remember that a resolution is fundamentally a commitment to yourself. Make the commitment formal. The more ceremonious, the better.

2. Create a Plan Most resolutions fail because people stop once they’ve made the resolution. It is crucial to harness New Year’s temporary motivation into something that will carry you through an extended period of required effort.

Upon clarifying the exact goal that you are setting, next create a plan for how you intend to accomplish your goal. With any reasonably good plan, you are fairly likely to make significant progress or actually accomplish your goal. Without a plan, you are very unlikely to succeed.

The key to constructing a

good plan is to identify the exact steps that you will take toward accomplishing your goal, and assigning due dates to those steps. Coming up with a comprehensive list of steps is not easy for everyone. If you encounter difficulty, the solution is to get help, such as hiring a personal trainer or using this site, which helps people through the planning process by first asking people to identify all of the obstacles that stand between them and their desired goal. Once the obstacles have been identified, it is fairly easy for anybody to generate a comprehensive to-do list for accomplishing the goal.

3. Stay on Track With a good plan in hand, making significant progress toward your goal may require very little discipline for those who live strictly by daily planners and love nothing more than checking off items on our to-do lists.

But for those of us who can use a little help with staying on top of details, the answer, once again, is to seek outside help.

The idea is to find some external thing that keeps you motivated, such as a personal fitness trainer or myGoals.com’s email task reminders.

4. Remain Flexible and Keep on Going A recent realization among goal-setting experts is the need to continually modify our approach—sometimes even changing or abandoning a goal

altogether. The reason for this is that circumstances beyond our control frequently crop up at the most unexpected and inconvenient times. We can also expect our short-term and long-term priorities to change. So long as we build flexibility into our expectations, we can simply adjust things as we go.

It’s therefore best to periodically reevaluate our goals and plans, perhaps once per quarter for a year-long goal such as a New Year’s resolution. First, make certain that the goal itself still exactly reflects what you want to do. If it’s not, adjust it.

Next, go through your plan and identify any portions that aren’t working well, even if it simply means giving yourself more time to complete a particular task or milestone. Keep in mind that missed due dates do not necessarily indicate a problem with your performance; it might simply mean that your plan was too aggressive, or that your environment has changed in some unexpected fashion. Either way, simply adjust your plan and continue onward.

Finally, the flip-side of setting difficult resolutions is that you must remember to acknowledge partial success. Losing 15 pounds is cause for celebration, even if your original goal was to lose 20 pounds. If you are just one step closer to your goal, then you are better off than before you began. Pat yourself on the back and keep on going.

National AIDS body to test and record prevalence of HIV-2

T

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Digital and print copies available.

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January 2013 Edition

he National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) has established a testing facility to confirm and record the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-2 (HIV-2) in India.

Pune-based National Aids Research Institute (NARI) will soon train staff from 13 laboratories to perform an advancedtest to detect the relatively less prevalent HIV-2 virus. In the past few years, doctors have identified an increasing number of HIV-2 infections, necessitating the need for a testing facility to confirm these cases.

At present, laboratories send the samples to the HIV national

reference laboratory that performs a rapid test, which can only determine whether the patient is suffering from HIV-2 or HIV-1 plus HIV-2.

Mumbai’s JJ Hospital has reported 290 cases.

“Right now, we cannot confirm whether these patients are clear cases of HIV-2 infections. With the advance test in place, we will be able to clearly distinguish these cases as HIV-2 or HIV-1 plus HIV-2 and then decide on what treatment to administer,” said Dr Aruna Shankar, National Reference Laboratory, National Institute of Immunohamotogoly, which has received around 311 samples from western India.

Dr Alka Deshpande, former director, centre of excellence of HIV, JJ hospital, said Mumbai was the first to identify these cases and seems to be a pocket of HIV-2 infections.

“Testing the patient for HIV-2 is a must, as it will help the doctor give specific medication. This is because the drugs administered to patients suffering from HIV-1 will not work in case of patients with HIV-2,” Dr Om Shrivastav, infectious disease specialist, Jaslok hospital said.

According to Dr Arun Risbud, scientist F, NARI the prevalence of HIV-2 of all the HIV positive samples tested at NARI not more than 5%.

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TELEVISION

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‘Balika Vadhu’: Didn’t struggle enough - Shashank Soni and Shashank candidly admits: “I am the worst actor in ‘Balika...’ with the best role.”

VideoPhotoGallery Playing the male lead in ‘Balika Vadhu’ was no less than a miracle for Shashank Vyas.

But the actor does not believe in taking any more pressure.

“I can’t work if I take pressure or tension. I need to have an empty

divorced him and tied the knot with Shiv, played by Siddharth Shukla.

“I have played so many different roles through my character which is why I feel that it is the best,” the 26-year-old said.

The youngster doesn’t believe in making future plans and said: “I don’t want to ruin my present by thinking about the future. Life is

The youngster doesn’t believe in making future plans and said: “I don’t want to ruin my present by thinking about the future. Life is being kind to me Photo source: PTI

at the moment. If we try to look too much into the

P

laying the male lead in ‘Balika Vadhu’ was no less than a miracle for Shashank Vyas who feels he didn’t struggle enough to bag

such a big project in the first go. “’Balika Vadhu’ was like a miracle to me. When I got the role, I was scared as I had not struggled enough... so it was

pressurising me in the beginning,” he told IANS. The cast of the shows boasts of well-known names like Surekha Sikri, Smita Bansal and Anup

future, things look blurred.” mind to be able to act well,” said Shashank who plays protagonist Anandi’s husband Jagdish in the show.

The recent twist in ‘Balika Vadhu’, about child marriage, shows that Anandi (Pratyusha Banerjee) has moved on after her first husband Jagdish dumped her and married Gauri. She

being kind to me at the moment.

If we try to look too much into the future, things look blurred.”

He had played a small part in the movie “Tees Maar Khan”, but medium doesn’t matter to him as long as the work is good.

“It is all about the work. I will act in the same way in films as well as shows,” he said.

Photo source: PTI

Photo source: PTI

6 winner Sunmeet RK to resolve differences with KBC Kaur Sawhney credits Radha in Madhubala victory to daughters

N

autanki Telefilms’ and Bag Films’ daily Madhubala-Ek Ishq Ek Junoon on Colors’ is churning out some high voltage drama lately and the upcoming episodes are expected to take the drama a notch higher on the show.

According to some reliable sources we hear that RK (Vivain Dsena) will finally resolve all the problems with his mother Radhaji (Shama Deshpande).

January 2013 Edition

Sources inform that after overhearing RK’s conversation with Deepali ( Seema Mishra) Madhu ( Drashti Dhami) will be left heartbroken, she will confront RK and will tell him that he has no right to test anyone. She will also tell him that his father was not a bad man; he just felt weak before the situations and committed suicide. Madhu will not stop here she will go ahead and question his hatred towards his

mother Radhaji. She will tell him that Radhaji wanted to give RK a father’s love and that is the reason she got re-married after his father’s death. After hearing all this RK will go through an emotional turmoil and will for the first time ever on the show address Radhaji as his mother.

The show will also take an interesting turn when Padmini will shoot Balraj (Raj Zutshi).

When contacted, Vivian Dsena but he remained unavailable.

T

he first woman to win Rs. 5 crore on gameshow Kaun Banega Crorepati 6, Sunmeet Kaur Sawhney says she owes her jackpot to her teenage daughters who urged her to go to the show as they couldn’t, since they’re both under 18.

“My daughters coaxed me to participate in the show. They would research at least two topics on the internet every day, and help me prepare while I was

going about my daily chores like cooking and arranging the house. I prepared seriously for two-and-half months, all thanks to them. My background as a tuition teacher also helped me a lot,” says the 37-year-old Mumbai-based homemaker, who did not go to college.

Her best moment on the show? “When my husband did the Bhangra with Amitji (host Amitabh Bachchan),” she says.

www.indian-times.com.au

22a

Food & Wine

indiantimes

Delicious recipe Dhoklamixed pizzadal recipe Ingredients

• 1 cup of moong dal or Green gram dal • 1 cup of urad dal or blackgram dal • ½ a cup of rice • 2 tablespoon salt • 1 tablespoon oil

• •

2 tablespoon of curd 2 tablespoon of tomato pulp • Shredded onions, cabbage and capsicum • 100 grams of paneer

Here's how you can go about making Dhokla Pizza :

Dhokla, a traditional Indian delicacy, which is either steamed or microwaved, makes for an excellent snack. On the other hand pizza, loaded with cheese and flour, is often written off as an unhealthy snack.

But what if you combine the two? What if we told you that by combining them, you could have the best of both worlds?

So, here we are with a dhokla pizza recipe. Sounds yum? It tastes yum too. With the healthy benefits of Indian pulses such as green gram dal and blackgram dal, it is one dish you can relish as a main course or snack. All set? Here is the recipe: 1. Keep dal and rice soaked in water overnight.

2. In the morning, grind the mixture of rice and dal into a thick paste.

3. Add curd to the dal mixture and let it ferment for a few hours (minimum 2 hours).

4. Now pour the fermented mixture into a shallow vessel greased with a wee bit of butter. Top it with cabbage, capsicum, onions and panner.

5. Bake it at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or you can also steam it in a pressure cooker. Your dhokla pizza is ready to be served!

ALCOHOL’S DAMAGING EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN

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ifficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, impaired memory: Clearly, alcohol affects the brain. Some of these impairments are detectable after only one or two drinks and quickly resolve when drinking stops. On the other hand, a person who drinks heavily over a long period of time may have brain deficits that persist well after he or she achieves sobriety.

Exactly how alcohol affects the brain and the likelihood of reversing the impact of heavy drinking on the brain remain hot topics in alcohol research today.

January 2013 Edition

We do know that heavy drinking may have extensive and far– reaching effects on the brain, ranging from simple “slips” in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions that require lifetime custodial care. And even moderate drinking leads to short– term impairment, as shown by extensive research on the impact of drinking on driving.

A number of factors influence how and to what extent alcohol affects the brain, including how much and how often a person drinks; the age at which he or she first began drinking, and how long he or she has been drinking;

the person’s age, level of education, gender, genetic background, and family history of alcoholism; whether he or she is at risk as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure; and his or her general health status.

This Alcohol Alert reviews some common disorders associated with alcohol–related brain damage and the people at greatest risk for impairment. It looks at traditional as well as emerging therapies for the treatment and prevention of alcohol–related disorders and includes a brief look at the high–tech tools that are helping scientists to better under-

stand the effects of alcohol on the brain.

Alcohol can produce detectable impairments in memory after only a few drinks and, as the amount of alcohol increases, so does the degree of impairment. Large quantities of alcohol, especially when consumed quickly and on an empty stomach, can produce a blackout, or an interval of time for which the intoxicated person cannot recall key details of events, or even entire events.

Blackouts are much more common among social drinkers than previously assumed and should be viewed as a potential consequence of acute intoxication regardless of age or whether the drinker is clinically dependent on alcohol. White and colleagues surveyed 772 college undergraduates about their experiences with blackouts and asked, “Have you ever awoken after a night of drinking not able to remember things that you did or places that you went?” Of the students who had ever consumed alcohol, 51 percent reported blacking out at some point in their lives, and 40 percent reported experiencing a blackout in the year before the survey. Of those who reported drinking in the 2 weeks before the survey, 9.4 percent said they blacked out during that time. The students reported learning later that they had participated in a wide range of potentially dangerous events they could not remember, including vandalism, unprotected sex, and driving.

Drinkers who experience blackouts typically drink too much and too quickly, which causes their

blood alcohol levels to rise very rapidly. College students may be at particular risk for experiencing a blackout, as an alarming number of college students engage in binge drinking. Binge drinking, for a typical adult, is defined as consuming five or more drinks in about 2 hours for men, or four or more drinks for women.

Equal numbers of men and women reported experiencing blackouts, despite the fact that the men drank significantly more often and more heavily than the women. This outcome suggests that regardless of the amount of alcohol consumption, females—a group infrequently studied in the literature on blackouts—are at greater risk than males for experiencing blackouts. A woman’s tendency to black out more easily probably results from differences in how men and women metabolize alcohol. Females also may be more susceptible than males to milder forms of alcohol–induced memory impairments, even when men and women consume comparable amounts of alcohol.

www.indian-times.com.au

travel

indiantimes

23a

Queen of hill stations: Ooty

Ooty, short for Ootacamund (an anglicized name for Udhagamandalam), is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India.

The name Udhagamandalam is derived from the TODA word “othakal-mund” which means “house in mountains”. Ooty stands at 7,347 feet above sea level in the Nilgiri mountain range. It was founded in the 19th century by the British, and served as the summer headquarters of the Madras Presidency.As a civilization, it is one of the most ancient in the world with a distinguished culture.

Ooty Culture and Tradition

O

oty or Ootacamund is always frequented by a hoard of tourists from different cultures and religious backgrounds that adds to the diversity of this picture perfect quaint hill station situated in Tamil Nadu.

The cultural and traditional medley of Ooty is enriched by unique features that are defined by its own traditional heritage and historical expressions.

Ooty is essentially recognized as one of the premier hill station resorts in India enveloped with mystical blue hazed mountains transforming the region into an exuberant paradise. This hill station is adorned with unsurpassed natural beauty in addition to the scenic splendor of the Ooty Lake that reflects the unmatched simplicity and serenity of the culture and tradition of the local inhabitants of Ooty.

Dining In Ooty

W

ho can resist the famous buns and cakes from Ooty? Who can turn away from home-made chocolate and fudge? Ooty is a chocoholic’s paradise. Walk into any half decent store or bakery, and walk away with some white chocolate, a slab of strawberry chocolate, a dollop of bitter chocolate or a crunchy nut and fruit chocolate. Your best bet is the Ooty bakery – it has some delicious treats on offer, and you won’t return empty handed. Ooty has a variety of cuisines on offer. If you’re in the mood for Chinese, then make your way either to Wang’s kitchen or Shinkow’s Chinese Restaurant. For a more Indian affair try out the Tandoori Mahal, and dig into the Chettinad Chicken Pepper, a city specialty. Other good places to dine at include Nilgiri Woodlands Hotel and the luxurious Fernhill Palace.

For a strictly vegetarian platter, make your way to Hotel Dasaprakash, known for its exquisite South Indian delicacies and unlimited Thalis.

Important Festivals

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haipoosam in Elk Hill Murugan Temple (February), Bookkapuram Mariamman Annual Festival (February), Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival (April), Coonoor Mariamman Temple Festival (April), Boat Races and Boat Pageantry in Ooty (May), Flower show in Ooty (May) and Fruit show in Coonoor (May). In summer, regular cultural programmes, fashion parade, flower and fruit shows are arranged. During summer festival Boat races, Boat pageantry, dog show etc., add more festivity to the celebration. All these are jointly organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. There is also a Tea and Tourism Festival Ooty in January.

Tourist Places In Ooty

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otanical Garden is one of the best tourist attraction places which attract the tourist from all over the world. This garden was laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale and is spread over 22 hectares ascending the slopes on the hill at an elevation of 2,400 meters above Main Sea Level. From just behind the central Bus Stand (also near the Railway station) the famous Ooty Lake stretches, in an irregular ‘L’ shape, for about 2.75 kms in length and varying distances in width(100m – 140m). Rose Park is situated in the heart of Ooty town and it is located less than a km from Charring Cross at Vijayanagaram, the rose garden is laid on 10 acres of land. This garden has been beautifully laid out in terraces with rose tunnels, pergolas and bowers with rose creepers.

Ooty is a destination that can be visited all through the year. Summers are quite pleasant, winters are cool, and monsoons are beautiful. However, the best time for visiting Ooty is from October to June.

Ooty is very attractive in all seasons, Winters can be chilly with ice forming. Flower shows during February - March attract many tourists. Ooty celebrates New Year, especially in hotels, with great enthusiasm and cultural shows. The place can be visited all through the year keeping off the heavy rainy days in monsoon.

January 2013 Edition

www.indian-times.com.au

Indian Times: Annual Dinner & Get Together On 12th December 2012 at Cinnamon Club

Kaushalya, Kusum, Ashwarya and Veera

Mona, Riya, Divya and Rajiv

Cinnamon Club

Indian Times staff with others

Latha Gandhi, Krishna Arora and Mr. Gandhi

Vikas Wadhwa, Prakash Raniga with his staff and Nalin Sharda

Ramya from Aust Migration with Bharat

Raman, Sukhbir and Raj

Raj and Hardev

Mr. Vasan and Acting Consul Mr. Raj Kumar

Mr. Vasan, Mr. Raj Kumar receiving bouquet from Paul Chief Editor of Indian Times

Paul and Mr. Raj Kumar

Mouth-watering dinner by Cinnamon Club

Dinner is served

Nawal, Dr. Kumar and staff from Jeeva Health with Dr. Shaji

VFS, Telegu Association, NRISA, Malyali Association, VMC, Kannada Association and Fiji Association

Vimal, Kamal Vinod, Dr. Shaji, Mr. Chary and Mr. Srinivasan

LEBA Ethnic Media Team

Harpal Singh (Imperial College) and wife Rupinder Kaur with Waves Consultancy team Jasdeep, Harman, and Amreen

Paul with Prakash Raniga from RRR Lawyers

Indian Consulate staff Isha Sharma, Kala and others

Indian Times staff with others

Dinesh Kumar, Alok, Aakaash and Siddhartha

Swati from Aust Migration with Sai

Swami with Wife from Darshan Driving School

President of FIAV Mr. Vasan with Shivali Chatley from Chatleyz Heights

Pummi addressing to all guests

Mr. Vasan President of FIAV

Mr. Srini from VMC

Mr. Chary Chigurala with Mr. Vasan

All guests at Cinnamon Club

Nawal Moudgil

Sumit Chaudhry from VFS with his wife and Pummi

Srishti, Seema, Prakash, Divya and Rajiv

Event photographed by AG Photography

Call us on  13000 22225 Monthly Magazine

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January 2013

17B CHItRANGADA SINGH Starring in Bollywood crime film ‘Inkaar’...

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Bollywood

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Maestros all set to rock the small screen

Photo source: amazonraw

Imran denies being approached for Kaminey 2

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rabhu Deva who is set to appear on ‘Bigg Boss’ finale to promote ABCD will shake a leg with Salman Khan, while Emraan Hashmi who has never before met the star firsthand, is all set to appear on the show too.

Prabhu Deva made his foray into Bollywood as a director for Salman Khan’s Wanted. The film was a success at the box office and it strengthened the choreographer-turned-director’s

footings in tinsel town. No wonder that Prabhu will make Salman dance once again to his tunes.

And this time on the actor’s telly show Bigg Boss for its finale episode.

A source says, `Prabhu and Remo D’Souza will appear on Sallu’s show to promote their upcoming dance film. Prabhu will shake a leg with Salman on some tracks from Wanted and will also be seen teaching the

actor a few tricky steps.` Emraan Hashmi has often been tagged as the new age Salman Khan. And the actor, who has never before met the star firsthand, is all set to appear on the Bigg Boss finale.

A source says, `Emraan is aware of the constant comparison between him and Salman. Both are heroes for the masses. He is very thrilled to be sharing screen space with Salman.`

R

ecent reports claimed that Imran Khan will be replacing Shahid Kapoor in the sequel of Kaminey.

Imran Khan was completely taken aback on reading this news. While he is very fond of Vishal Bhardwaj as a director and has loved working with him

in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, Imran never had any discussion on the sequel of Kaminey.

Imran Khan strongly denies the news and adds, “There has been no discussion at all with Vishal sir on Kaminey 2. Having said that, I would love to work with Vishal sir once again after Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.”

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January 2013 Edition

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astrology

6b

indiantimes

Monthly Astrology - JANUARY 2013 Aries – Mesha

You may have to face problems in your home-front and in respect of propertymatters. Health problems of the family members may also cause you some concern. There might be loss of property and you may have forced change of residence. You may become tense, worried and pessimistic during this time. Dealing in land, buildings, building construction materials and agricultural implements could fetch you good returns.

Taurus – Vrushabha

You may suffer from skin diseases and feel nervous. Your sources of earning may get squeezed whereas you may not be able to control excessive expenditures. You may associate yourself with lower-class people for which your near and dear ones might feel concerned. By exercising willforce you must try to change your outlook.

If you cannot change your behaviourpatterns, your popularity will be on the wane and people will start distancing themselves from you.

Gemini – Mithuna

You will be fortunate in respect of romantic liaisons You will form new relationships and make new deals. Journeys to distant places and contacts/ collaborations with foreigners will be fruitful. You will be moving in high circles and become more influential. You will have new acquisitions and precious adornments which will increase your satisfaction. You will have a pleasant and tranquil time to relax and enjoy the luxury and comforts of life. You

may have some costly acquisitions which will increase your satisfaction and raise your social status. All your efforts during the period will bear fruit and contribute to your progress.

Cancer – Kataka

You may be benefited by receiving a windfall quite unexpectedly. You will form new friendships and will become very popular in your friends’ circle. Some of your ambitions may be realized and you may have new acquisitions that will add to your comfort. You will lead a prosperous and happy family- life; there could be a celebration in the family. The performance of your children will instill a sense of pride and joy in your mind. You may spend a lot for having some renovations done to your house-building.

Leo – Simha

You will have a joyful home-life as your children will make you happy by their successes in academic pursuits and extra-curricular activities. You yourself can receive some acclaim and become distinguished by securing a lucrative promotion or some recognition in academic pursuits. Your earnings will increase considerably but you should avoid speculations for preventing possibility of losses; although you can opt for starting a new venture. You will become very popular in society in general and more so among the circle of your friends.

Virgo – Kanya

You will have a pleasant time to enjoy the luxury and comforts of life. You may have some costly acquisitions which will increase your satisfaction and raise your social status. All your efforts during the period will bear fruit and contribute to your progress. You will receive favours from your superiors and secure betterment in career. Your family-life will be joyous and comfortable with all its members becoming very loving and caring. There could be a happy celebration in the family.

You may spend money for renovating the interiors of your house by decorations and procuring attractive furniture while the exteriors may have a face-lift too.

Libra – Tula

You will be very fortunate and will receive special favours from the authorities. You will be successful in all your endeavours and rise to a powerful and lucrative position. Some of your cherished desires will be fulfilled and you may have new acquisitions. Your family-life will be happy with comfortable surroundings and socially you will gain more popularity. Your relationships with relatives and friends will become more cordial. You will be a centre of attraction in social gatherings.

Scorpio – Vruschika

You may have wasteful expenditures leading to financial difficulties. You should proper care about your health and you should also avoid speculations. Journeys during this period is far less to be fruitful excepting in the direction of north. Be

cautious and go slow. In professional sphere, you may have to overcome some obstacles and impediments; as some of your superiors may become openly enimical and try to block your prospects.

Instead of becoming argumentative you should become more diplomatic and tactful by developing a compromising nature.

Sagittarius – Dhanu

This position will make you a busy person.

You will have some of your writings published or have correspondences with many people. A number of short journeys you may also have. You will spend a good part of your time in informal studies and also enjoy sports activities., a little bit of a restless period, with increased amount of traveling, fatigue and change of places, and high expenses, there could be some smaller health complications too such as intermittent head or eye pains or excessive acidity and stomach disorders; beware of false allegations as some people jealous of you could make false allegations, if parents are living this is bit problematic month for the father too.

Towards the end month the situation will gradually improve.

Capricorn – Makara

You may have problems either with your business or marriage partner and the health of your spouse may make you anxious. Romantic liaisons if any could take a bad turn and you may become a victim of slander and disrepute. You may be emotionally disturbed and may not be in good health. Journeys in connection with profession may not bear fruit excepting in the direction of east.

Readers please note that the below predictions are given according to North Indian tradition of Hindu Vedic Astrological methods, using your Lagna as the base.

For securing new deals the period is not favorable. You should try to avoid quarrels and confrontations by being diplomatic.

Aquarius – Kumbha

You will become very courageous and will conquer your enemies. You will be victorious in conflicts. By putting forward your endeavours in a proper manner and by facing situations with confidence, you will make excellent progress in your professional sphere and will have boosted earnings. You will receive favours from authorities and form new relationships.

You will become very popular in your circle of acquaintances and your social status will be considerably improved.

Pisces - Meena

This is not a favorable position. You should take proper care of your health and you should also remain careful while driving as you will be prone to sustain injuries which can even make you bed-ridden.

You should also keep a close check as fire can cause some havoc during this period. The health of your children may cause you some concern. You should try to overcome your argumentative tendency as this would otherwise lead you to have conflicts at your workplace. You should do better by staying away from any speculative investments for keeping your financial position in a stable condition If you wish to know the difference between Eastern & Western Astrology you are invited to visit http://jyotisha.00it.com/Difference.htm

Monthly Predictions for January - 2013 By Lakshman Abeykoon - Noble Park, VIC 3174 - Phone (03) 9548 1613 - http://jyotisha.00it.com

Journeying Beyond Love And Hate

N

o sooner than the Absolute, pure awareness, manifests itself in the realm of space-time, it brings along its essence, love.

As fragrance is the inseparable essence of a sweet-smelling flower, love is intrinsic to Being.

Love as essence of existence, being and pure awareness is whole, uncompounded and infinite. However, the dilemma of manifestation is the emergence of duality; the moment love en-

January 2013 Edition

ters the realm of space-time, the possibility of its becoming fragmented and finite is inevitable.

Firstly, the world of spacetime is inundated with relatives and is person or object centric – the same object or being may be liked by one but disliked by another. Secondly, there exists a wide range of perception from mild to intense: You can love someone mildly, moderately or intensely. Thirdly, there

subsists an opposite of everything – love and hate, good and evil, light and darkness. Every aspect has its opposite.

The expression of love is the need of being rather than of mind. In order to sustain ourselves, however, we function through mind frequently.

The mind is always flooded with preferences, beliefs, prejudices, biases, judgements and these form the rational or irrational basis and palpable

reason for doing things in a certain way. They are assorted colours of thoughts that form the basis of action.

Contrary to pure awareness, the mind is never whole; it is fragmented and divided. This is so because the very nature of mind is to choose. While choosing it supposedly accepts the best and rejects the worst.

In making choices, divisions are created. We fragment love, too, so long as we choose and prefer. Love then becomes finite, subject to reason, condition or expectation. Someone’s appearance may cause you to love that person. A parent loves a child for his obedience, a teacher loves a student for his discipline or dedication; you may love a neighbour because he is cordial. But all these reasons and conditions are finite and subject to change. What if appearance gets altered?

What if the child disobeys the parent? What if the student does not perform well? What if the neighbour is less cordial or even rude? With all these happening and affecting the object or person you think you love, love itself becomes ephemeral.

We start dithering between extending and withdrawing love, and so experience pleasure or pain according to the altered

characteristics or changes in our perceptions.

This incessant experience of pleasure and pain keeps destabilising us and cause distress as love is compromised to relativity. Love could even turn to hate. Our day to day experiences are brimming with such happenings. Is there a way out?

One way out is to accept love and hate as two sides of the same coin. At the phenomenal level love and hate appear to be opposites but at the root it’s the same energy in both.

They are essentially one. But the mind remains at the phenomenal level and is unable to sense deeper to see the whole.

It finds it difficult to accept opposites together. It is helpless against its own nature of choosing between opposites.

However, a more unswerving way is to transcend the cycle of highs and lows of love and hate to find that which lies beyond.

This can be done by dissolving the mind itself.

Once the mind is dissolved, what was hitherto obscure now emerges. So, go beyond choices and conditions that constitute your reasons for accepting and loving. Go for the pure and unconditional that’s beyond love and hate. That’s your true nature.

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TABLE NO. 21

Director: Aditya Datt Starring:

Rajeev Khandelwal, Tena Desai, Paresh Rawal

Films like KAHAANI, TALAASH, also most films helmed by AbbasMustan had this uncharacteristic quality of keeping the spectator on tenterhooks till the last frame. A taut thriller demands that the spectator stay vigilant, is all eyes and ears as the story unfolds, becomes a participant while the mind games are being played by the characters on screen... TABLE NO. 21, directed by Aditya Datt, which sets the ball rolling in 2013, truly symbolizes a riveting thriller.

It’s not just the premise that grabs your attention, but TABLE NO. 21 stands out because it doesn’t borrow the formulaic template, nor does it rely on the predictable twists and turns or caricaturist characters to enthrall the spectator. It’s clever, engaging and carries a message that hits you like a ton of bricks. Importantly, it’s a well crafted thriller that delivers more than what it promised in its

January 2013 Edition

attention-grabbing promos.

Vivaan [Rajeev Khandelwal] and Siya [Tena Desae] win a fully-paidfor vacation to Fiji. Once there, they are invited to dine at a plush resort, making their wedding anniversary truly special. The owner of the resort -- the suave Mr. Khan [Paresh Rawal] -- offers them to partake in a reality game show.

The prize money? A staggering Rs 21 crores.

Eight questions. Honest and straightforward answers. Not quitting the game show till the eight questions are answered... Vivaan and Siya grab the opportunity instantaneously. But the game is not as uncomplicated as they think.

Vivaan and Siya feel trapped as the game advances, but they can’t quit it midway. The mystery deepens... Who’s Mr. Khan? Why is he playing this game? Or is he playing with their lives?

While the basic premise of TA-

BLE NO. 21 is fascinating, intriguing enough for a suspense thriller setup, the screenwriting packages a series of realistic sequences and episodes that catch you unaware.

What starts off as a love story gradually transforms into serious stuff and the suspense and drama plays on your mind even after you’ve made an exit from the dark auditorium. A slick thriller, the film makes you uneasy [towards the conclusion] due to the stark reality it portrays and that, in my opinion, is one of the triumphs of the film.

Director Aditya Datt pulls off the innovative concept with élan, as the game as well as the back stories leave you gasping for breath.

You might draw parallels with some Hollywood movies, but the message it drives home and the way it terminates makes the viewer in you satiated. While one is itching to describe a few sequences and unravel the course of the film during the penultimate stages, it would be unfair on my part to spill the beans.

The beauty of the film will be to watch it without knowing anything and absorbing it like a sponge, since it’s a film about characters and conflict with a big revelation.

I’d like to make a special mention of its writing [story-screenplay: Shantanu Ray and Sheershak Anand; additional screenplay and dialogue: Abhijeet Deshpande], which leaves no scope for loopholes. In fact, like I pointed at the very outset, the writing demands

that you stay alert and attentive, else you might lose chunks in the plot. The sole deterrent is its slow pacing in its first hour.

Paresh Rawal gets another author-backed role after OMG - OH MY GOD and though you may label it grey or black on the basis of what you may have witnessed in its promos, the actor sees to it that the character doesn’t get stereotypical or hackneyed thanks to his faultless acting abilities. His character changes colors rapidly, like a chameleon changes colors, taking the film to its peak towards the closing stages.

Rajeev Khandelwal’s choice of movies is worth applauding. The actor cannot be accused of getting repetitive since his choice of

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movies has been as diverse as chalk and cheese. The talented actor portrays a complex character in this film and I must add, he gets the part spot-on. A persuasive screen presence and effortless acting consistently makes this character work and how! Tena Desae is a revelation. Extremely photogenic, the character must have been a challenge of sorts for the actress and Tena handles it most courageously and confidently, getting into the skin of her character.

On the whole, TABLE NO. 21 is a commendable movie-going experience. If you are an extremely choosy moviegoer who watches select first-rate films a year, make sure TABLE NO. 21 is included on your listing.

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All actors have be come b u s i ne s s me n : K a m al Haasan

He has a filmography of 150 and enjoys superstar status but actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan says he is a dissatisfied man. He wants to learn and achieve more on the creative front and also wants his movie business to flourish.

“If I have the sense of satisfaction, I won’t be working or giving this interview. There is a lot more to learn and I am a dissatisfied man. I am happy, but not content,” Kamal told in an interview.

“I came as a technician first and by default I became an actor. But I am happy and not complaining,” he added.

The multi-faceted star, who is a National Award winner as well as a Padma Shri awardee, is afraid of losing his zeal to perform.

“Achievements are decided by people and I think necessity is the mother of invention. I live by the necessity, but somebody will call it as invention or achievement. What scares me most is when I lose the need to perform with the excitement of any creativity. If it happens, I will live with it too. I will find something else,” he said.

He started as a child artist in 1960, and established himself with movies like “Moondram Pirai”, “Saagar”, “Sadma” and “Pushpak”.

Currently he is looking forward to the release of his next Tamil film “Vishwaroopam”, which will release as “Vishwaroop” in Hindi. Directed by Kamal, the film is coming out Jan 11 and the cast includes Shekhar Kapur and Rahul Bose.

Kamal, whose daughter Shruthi too is in showbiz, rues how almost all actors across the board have become “businessmen”.

“Most stars are businessmen. The moment you become a star, you are talking about money and fame. It’s not about the content or artists’ skill any more. Always the collection matters. The numbers have now increased to match along with the population,” he said.

Having said that, he admits that if “Vishwaroopam” doesn’t cross Rs.150 crore, then it’s a failure for him.

“If this film doesn’t cross Rs.150 crore, then it is a failure for me. I would call it a weak attempt if it doesn’t. It has to cross Rs.150 crore, and we really hope that we cross in the first week itself,” said Kamal, who has made lavish films like “Hey Ram” and “Dasavatharam”.

“It’s the most costly project and ambitious too by virtue of what we have tried to achieve and the ambition was realised because of the technicians. I have the best team working with me,” he said.

At 58, he still feels he is a part of the competition.

“I feel the competition all the time. Well, I have competitors in various ages - from 18 to 65, I have competitors,” he conceded.

The star culture is different in Bollywood and the southern film industry, he admits.

“Yes, it is different. People are the same. The love is unanimously the same,” he said, adding that fans in the south show their love by “building a temple”v, while in Mumbai “we have some religious rituals”.

“Pooja happened when Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) was unwell. They don’t make a big fuss about it because not all the actors here are politicians. There (south) politics and cinema are very closely related and that’s why you feel the difference.”

‘Vishwaroopam’ is an upcoming Tamil-Hindi bilingual Indian spy thriller film written, directed and co-produced by Kamal Haasan that features himself in the lead role. The film also has Rahul Bose, Andrea Jeremiah and Jaideep Ahlawat in supporting roles. The soundtrack is composed by ShankarEhsaan-Loy, with lyrics by Vairamuthu and Kamal Haasan for the Tamil and Javed Akhtar for the Hindi versions respectively.

The film was shot with the same cast in both languages simultaneously, and is titled in Hindi as ‘Vishwaroop.’

It is the first Indian film, and second world film ever to be equipped with Auro 3D sound format.

January 2013 Edition

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SHRI SOHAN LAL CHATLEY (22/10/1949 - 14/01/2006) “GOD has created eyes to look ONLY forward in life, even not on sides as there are lots of wayside attractions and temptations, so always look forward in life”

by SL Chatley SMT. ANITA CHATLEY

The embodiment of Love, Compassion and Perfection treads no more on those wordly pastures, but his presence still consecrates our lives and his invisible hand blesses us from the heaven above. We will always remember your loving care and devotion for us.

“We all miss you”

Manoj Chatley, Sahil Chatley,Shikha Bhandari, CL Chatley, Kamal Chatley,Vijay Dhir, Ashish Sareen, Mohit Bhandari , Armaan Chatley, Afreen Chatley and Payal Chatley.

Ms. SHIVALI CHATLEY Chatley Heights Pty Ltd Chatley Heights victoria Pty Ltd Chatleyz Educational & Student support Services Australia SL Chatley Store S.L Chatley Family Trust

Email: info@cesssa.com January 2013 Edition

M: 0416 423 424, 0433 132 642 www.cesssa.com www.indian-times.com.au

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Picture source: india-forums

Akshay asks fans to suggest title for his next

Amitabh Bachchan

itabh Bachchan Am to e tic no es su is t ur Co e Suprem to be Rs 8.11 crore. Even before the assessment’s completion, he withdrew the revised returns. Post that, when the Assessing Officer determined Big B’s income at Rs 56.41 crore, Big B was issued a notice under Section 147 of the IT Act seeking to reopen the assessment proceedings for the year 2002-03.

Ranbir to dance with mom Neetu at Screen Awards

S

tar performances at various award functions have become common place. Now joining the bandwagon is Ranbir Kapoor. However, the said performance for the 19th Annual Colors Screen Awards will feature the actor grooving alongside his mother Neetu Kapoor.

The two represent the Kapoor family’s film legacy that spans

January 2013 Edition

eight decades. While Ranbir will perform a medley picturised on various actors from the Kapoor clan, including grandfather Raj Kapoor and grand-uncle Shammi Kapoor, Neetu will join him for the track ‘Parda Hai Parda’ from Amar Akbar Anthony. Incidentally, the original song was shot with her and Ranbir’s father Rishi Kapoor.

While his performance will be

the key attraction of the evening, the function will also feature several other acts by other prominent film industry members. Shah Rukh Khan and his filmmaker friend Karan Johar will be the key hosts joined by Deepika Padukone, Ayushmann Khurana and Vidya Balan. Apart from them, Ranveer Singh will also feature as one of the main performers.

Akshay Kumar

H

e may be one of the most successful action stars in Bollywood, but Akshay Kumar has always kept it real for his fans. Now we hear that Akshay, who is busy with his next film which is a remake of the Tamil film Thuppakki, has called on his fans to help with the title of the film.

Posting on facebook about the film, Akshay said, “Started shooting my first film in the New Year, the Hindi remake of Thuppakki! Would love to get your good wishes today.”

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

by dismissing the appeal filed by the IT Commissioner who had reopened the actor’s assessment proceedings for the year 2002-03.

In the month of October 2002, Amitabh had filed returns declaring his income to be Rs. 14.99 crore for 2002-03. Then, on, March 31’ 03, he filed revised returns declaring his total income for that year

Picture source: bharatstudent

A

cting on a petition from the Income Tax department which stated that Amitabh Bachchan owes Rs. 1.66 crores in taxes for his show Kaun Banega Crorepati for the year 2002-03, the Supreme Court today issued a notice to the star. Readers may recall that in July 2012, the Bombay High Court had granted relief to Big B

While thanking his fans for the immense support and commenting on the title of the film, Akshay said, “Thanks guys for all your good wishes & enthusiasm for the film. Needed a suggestion from you all. What should we call the Hindi remake of Thuppakki? For those who don’t know, Thuppakki means a gun in Tamil and is an action thriller.”

The remake of the film which is being directed by A. R. Murugadoss features Akshay playing an Army captain alongside Sonakshi Sinha.

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Bollywood

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Eventograph photographs from latest B-Town Events

Aditi Rao, Mukesh Bhatt and Randeep Hooda at Murder 3 First Look Launch

Murder 3 First Look Launch

Pankaj Kapoor at MKBKM Press Conference

Deepika Padukone at Zee Cine Awards 2013 January 2013 Edition

Aditi Rao and Randeep Hooda at Murder 3 First Look Launch

Anushka Sharma and Imran Khan at MKBKM Press Conference

Sonali Bendre at Zee Cine Awards 2013

Vishal Bharadwaj at MKBKM Press Conference

Shreya Ghoshal at Zee Cine Awards 2013

Esha Gupta at Zee Cine Awards 2013

Ranbir Kapoor at Zee Cine Awards 2013 www.indian-times.com.au

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Eventograph photographs from latest B-Town Events

Dabboo Ratnani with wife Manisha at Dabboo Calendar Launch 2013

Geeta Basra at Dabboo Calendar Launch 2013

Vidya Balan at Dabboo Calendar Launch 2013

Neeraj Sridhar at Children Festival Opening Ceremony

Rakhi Sawant at Children Festival Opening Ceremony

Rajeev Khandelwal at Table No 21 Success PM

Table No 21 cast at Table No 21 Success PM

Chitrangada Singh at Inkaar Promotion

Sangram Singh and Payal Rohatgi at Inkaar Promotion

Arjun Rampal, Chitrangada Singh and Sudhir Mishra at Inkaar Promotion

Sameer Kochhar at Inkaar Promotion

January 2013 Edition

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Bollywood

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Juhi has a different story to tell about her Pakistan visit

Shahid’s token of friendship to Aalim Hakim

Shahid Kapoor

N

Shahid recently and saw the speakers on his iPod and he loved them.

They are not easily available in India and Sasha had purchased them in New York. He asked a friend to buy them during his visit to the US. Aalim was pleasantly surprised and is now seen carrying them everywhere.` The hair stylist says, `It was very sweet of Shahid. I really love them!`

Picture source: india-forums

ow this is what buddies are for! Shahid Kapoor recently gifted his close friend hair stylist Aalim Hakim a pair of snazzy speakers from New York.

It was when Aalim spotted the speakers with Shahid that he enquired about them. The actor then decided to gift a new pair to Aalim and went all the way to his Versova salon to hand them over.

A source says, `Aalim met

Picture source: social dhabba

Juhi Chawla

Varun to team up with Dad

E

kta Kapoor is bringing father-son duo David Dhawan and Varun together for a new project the Hindi remake of Telugu hit “Kandireega”.

“I am doing a film with Balaji Motion Pictures, for which work has already begun,” Varun told in an interview, without revealing any more about the project.

A teaser of the new movie was floated online Monday.

It featured an actor with back to the camera, and holding a

January 2013 Edition

poster reading: “Mafia Don Kidnaps Girl!”.

“The film is a remake of Telugu film ‘Kandireega’,” Girish Johar, head of acquisition and distribution, Balaji Motion Pictures, told in an interview.

“We are remaking it with Varun under his father’s shadow,” added Johar.

Varun made his Bollywood debut in Karan Johar’s “Student Of The Year”, released in 2012. He earned rave reviews for his fluid expressions and flexible dancing ability.

B

ollywood actress Juhi Chawla was sceptical about visiting Pakistan to meet her relatives, but upon her return she says she has had a pleasant and memorable trip.

“Back in Mumbai from Karachi.

To be honest, I was wary of going to Pakistan, but it turned out a nice memorable trip,” Juhi tweeted.

Of her experience, she added: “Two worlds co-exist in Karachi.

A normal city with traffic, bustling markets and malls. And quite another on the outskirts. It was a

private, short and pleasant stay.

Loved being with my cousins and nieces.”

The actress along with her husband Jai Mehta went to Karachi to attend a family wedding. She says they walked around with a security man.

“We had an armed security at all times that we left the house. Important people have them there. A reminder of the undercurrent of violence,” she posted.

Juhi says several people across the border were happy to

see her - a mark that Bollywood is indeed popular there “Pakistani people enjoy Hindi movies. They’ve watched them all, and were so pleasantly surprised and happy to see me there. As I said my goodbyes, the cook says ‘Salman (Khan) bhai ko mera salaam kehna (Give my regards to Salman bhai)’.

The helper says, ‘Please bring Shah Rukh Khan here’, the maid enquires, ‘Will you be meeting Aamir (Khan)?’ I couldn’t help but laugh. They were so sweet,” Juhi wrote.

Rajnikanth on hunger strike The imposition of service tax on actors will induce tax evasion and create black money, said leading actors, directors, theatre owners and others here who are on hunger-strike demanding the tax be scrapped.

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth too joined the day-long protest fast Monday.

A certain section of the showbiz industry, including producers, exhibitors and distributors, has already been exempted from paying the tax.

Now members belonging to various film industry associations are on hunger strike demanding that actors, producers and choreographers too be exempt from 12.36 percent service tax.

“The government is coming out with several schemes to bring

out black money. If taxes are increased, then black money would flourish. There should be strong law to punish tax evaders,” said Rajinikanth.

Echoing similar view, actor Satyaraj said the government should focus on bringing back the unaccounted money stashed away.

According to actor Radha Ravi, the union finance minister should consider their demand as he knows Tamil and the industry.

Referring to the 2014 general elections, Ravi said: “Only if the government meets our demand now, they can meet us one-andhalf-year later.”

“There is a common perception that film actors are affluent and lead a well-off life but that may not be the case. There have been times when many companies in-

volved in showbiz industry end up paying Rs.60 crore to Rs.70 crore when the entire turnover is Rs.25 crore,” R. Sarathkumar, president of South Indian Film Artistes Association, told in an interview.

“It is also difficult for small artists to pay because once you enter into an agreement, irrespective of whether the film or the serial is completed, you have to pay the service tax. Our demand is just like producers, exhibitors and theatre-owners, why not the entire industry be exempted from service tax,” he added.

Besides Rajinikanth, other leading lights of Tamil movie industry on hunger-strike are - Vijay, Prabhu, Satyaraj, Bhagyaraj, Sarathkumar, Radhikaa Sarathkumar, director K.S. Ravikumar and others.

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bollywood music Music Matru Ki Bijlee Review : Ka Mandola Music of Vishal Bhardwaj’s films may or may not turn out to be hugely popular amongst the masses (Omkara and Kaminey were huge, 7 Khoon Maaf wasn’t) but one thing is for sure that there is always immense curiosity to check out what he has to offer. There is one plain and simple reason behind it; he doesn’t follow a set path and aims at surprising audience as well as himself in each and every outing of his. This is what makes the music of Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola special as well since along with Gulzar, he promises an entertaining, yet different score.

The album kick-starts with ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ with a brilliant play of instruments that catches your attention there and then. While the lyrics carry a good dose of with, it’s Sukhwinder Singh’s rendition which makes it all the more exciting. This one is a complete package affair as one gets to sense a Haryanvi touch to the overall composition as well as arrangements that not just lend a good authenticity to the play of affairs but also bring in good entertainment value. Ranjit Barot chips in as well for this riotous outing which has the ‘antara’ taking forward the good work of the ‘mukhda’ and ensures good pace and fun.

Vishal Bhardwaj gets into the zone with ‘Khamakha’ where he also comes behind the mike. It is always a pleasure to hear what he has to sing and ‘Khamakha’ is no different. Right from the days of his lesser heard work in Betaabi to such beautiful melodic outings in Kaminey where he has brought his vocal cords into play, Vishal NighmHe makes it has always Sonu delivered.

count this time around as well as a result of which ‘Khamakha’, which has Prem Dehati chipping in as well along with some good chorus into play, turns out to be the kind of song that can be played at leisure and in a repeat mode.

Fun returns to the proceedings with ‘Oye Boy Charlie’ which has a unique combination of Rekha Bhardwaj, Shankar Mahadevan and Mohit Chauhan coming together. Though one wonders what made Gulzar come up with lyrics like ‘Tu Meri Timbaktu Hai’, all of that is diminished once Rekha comes into an Asha Bhosle mode with Vishal coming up with the kind of composition that reminds one of Lakshmikant-Pyaarelal’s work. While Shankar is good once again, it is particularly surprising to see Mohit Chauhan letting his hair down, albeit in his own style yet again, as a result of which ‘Oye Boy Charlie’ turns out to be a highlight song.

With everything going right for the album so far, one just wishes that rest of the album follows a good route as well and continues to bring something interesting for the listener. Since this is a song heavy album, one just wishes that there is no slip whatsoever. ‘Lootnewale’ turns out to be a song which has a situational appeal to it and doesn’t really bring with the kind of flavour that would make one play it on a loop. A song with a revolutionary touch to it, this Sukhwinder Singh and Master Saleem song (also appearing in a ‘reprise version’) is vociferous and makes one wonder about the situation it is placed in.

Prem Dehati gets into an out and out Haryanvi mode with this

celebratory ‘band baaja’ number which gives one an impression of being recorded in the middle of a procession itself. Of course, this 90 seconds piece is a studio work and while it may be of some relevance in the film’s narrative, as a standalone number it doesn’t have in it to make you revisit it.

Quintessential Vishal returns though with ‘Badal Uthiya’ which has a folk flavour to it and would be liked by those who like their music to be different from the routine Bollywood scores. As is the flavour of the film itself, this song too is set in the land of Haryana and carries the local flavour. Rekha Bhardwaj does well in this serene outing that is far detached from what is used to hearing in a Hindi film score. To re-emphasize on the impact, there is a ‘reprise’ version of the song as well with Prem Dehati taking

charge.

Matru along with Mandola, i.e.

Pankaj Kapur and Imran Khan come behind the mike for ‘Chaar Dina Ki’, a fun number where the duo seems to be taking on a female protagonist. A barely two number piece, it makes one wish that it was a tad longer so that Pankaj and Imran were heard for some more time. However it is Prem Dehati who comes on the scene immediately which makes one wish that at least Imran gets to exercise his vocal muscles for a film’s song on some other day. Reason being that Pankaj Kapur still gets that opportunity with a minute long piece which starts and ends before one says ‘Chor Police’.

There is a surprise in store, not a ‘grab-me’ kind though, with an African track ‘Nomvule’ arriving next.

Right through the promotion of Ma-

Contact: 13000 22225, 0433 676 636

www.indian-times.com.au

Latest Latest Top Top Ten Ten Music MOVIES #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10

Dabangg 2 Table No. 21 Khiladi 786 Talaash Rajdhani Express Dehradun Diary Jab Tak Hai Jaan Son of Sardaar Cigarette Ki Tarah 1920 - Evil Returns

January 2013 Edition

Arbaaz Khan Aaditya Datt Ashish R Mohan Reema Kagti Ashok Kohli Hanif Sheikh Yash Chopra

Ashwani Dhir Akashaditya Lama Bhushan Patel

tru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola one has come across African characters in quite a few frames. Now with a dedicated song by Africa Umoja, one only wonders aloud about their relevance in the film.

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola starts off quite well with a definite chartbuster (the title song) followed by a fun number ‘Oye Boy Charlie’ and a soothing melody ‘Khamakha’ thrown in. However, beyond that the six songs that follow either lend an indifferent feel or turn out to be barely situational, hence belying the high expectations one had from the score. With the music release happening quite close to the film, there would have to be some quick and aggressive promotion to allow Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola make the kind of mark that would hold true to Vishal Bhardwaj’s stature as a composer.

Latest Top Ten Music #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10

Heer Jee Le Zaraa Challa

Muskaanein Jhooti Hai

Jab Tak Hai Jaan Talaash

Jab Tak Hai Jaan 1920 - Evil Returns Jab Tak Hai Jaan Talaash

Laakh Duniya Kahe

Dabangg 2 Dabangg 2 Talaash

Apnaa Mujhe Tu Lagaa

Jiya Re

LSTCK Theme Dagabaaz Re Fevicol Se

Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana

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16b LOCAL News

indiantimes

Australia’s most popular summer holiday hotspots Most popular Australian holiday destinations for the Xmas & New Year break:

A

n Australian summer holiday might conjure up images of coastal bliss but it was capital cities that had the highest number of hotel bookings over the Christmas and New Year break, according to hotel bookings via leading travel and lifestyle site lastminute.com.

au. Queensland was the only exception with the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast relegating Brisbane to third spot.

Nationwide, Sydney – with its spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations and iconic beaches – took out the crown as the country’s most popular

destination, with arch rival Melbourne coming in second place. Not to be left out, the Sunshine State took out the remaining three positions in Australia’s top five holiday spots with the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

According to lastminute.com.

au General Manager, Kirsty Labruniy, while January might signal the start of the working year, there are still plenty of opportunities to squeeze in a getaway and make the most of the summer months.

“While many of us head back to work in January, it’s easy to forget that there’s still two months of summer to enjoy. If you didn’t go on holidays over Christmas – or even if you did - taking an extra leave day and indulging in a three day weekend or even just making the most of the Australia Day long weekend is the perfect way to beat the January blues.”

“Travellers in late January and February still get the summer weather in all its glory but are also rewarded with hot hotel deals due to greater availability plus less crowds in popular holiday hotspots. Sounds like a win-win situation to me,” “Summer is also the perfect time to play tourist in your own city. Make a trip to an outdoor cinema, hit the water with a cruise or go kayaking, kick off 2013 with a bang and go skydiving or book that restaurant you’ve always wanted to go to,” said Kirsty.

New South Wales 1. Sydney 2. Byron Bay 3. Coffs Harbour 4. South Coast 5. Central Coast Victoria 1. Melbourne 2. Apollo Bay 3. Torquay 4. Lakes Entrance 5. Cowes Queensland 1. Gold Coast 2. Sunshine Coast 3. Brisbane 4. Cairns 5. Fraser Coast South Australia 1. Adelaide 2. Port Lincoln 3. Mount Gambier 4. Victor Harbor 5. Rowland Flat Western Australia 1. Perth 2. Margaret River 3. Albany 4. Broome 5. Bunbury Tasmania 1. Hobart 2. Launceston & Tamar Valley 3. Strahan 4. Cradle Mountain 5. Port Arthur

Australia casts strategic Indian Rajesh Chopra passes away in unfortunate accident gaze to Indonesia, India

A

ustralia enters 2013 reconsidering its place in a strategically shifting world.

Issues close to home have stabilised and, increasingly, considerations further from Australia are being written off as a lost cause.

Australia’s peacekeeping commitment to East Timor has ended, with that country now charting an independent and, for the medium future at least, stable course. East Timor’s relations with its giant and once problematic neighbour, Indonesia, are now so positive that it has been mooted that East Timor’s defence forces might start training with Indonesia’s army.

Australia’s peacekeeping commitment to the Solomon Islands will also end this year, bringing to a close engagement in what was once referred to as the “arc of in-

January 2013 Edition

Indian Times wish to pass on the deepest sympathies to the Chopra family and also wish that Mr. Rajesh Chopra’s soul rest in peace.

stability”.

Plus, 2013 will also see the draw down of Australian forces in Afghanistan ahead of direct involvement ending in 2014. As with Iraq, the principle purpose of Australia’s involvement was to demonstrate its loyalty as an ally of the United States. The alternatives rationales were always overwhelmingly rhetorical.

The US has more recently shifted its principle focus of concern to the Asia-Pacific sphere, coincidentally the part of the world in which Australia resides and does most of its business. China’s economic rise has been a boon for Australia’s resources export economy, but its highly questionable assertion of sovereignty in the South China Sea has been of increasing concern.

T

hirty-two year old Indian Rajesh Chopra, met with an accident on Saturday 5th January in Western Australia.

Rajesh was killed on the spot in this unfortunate incident.

The accident happened near Little McPhee crossing, 130 km south of town Kununurra and 230 km north of Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of WA. Rajesh, wife Meenu and their 18-month old daughter Aiesha were driving home from Darwin after spending their New Year holidays in Sydney. They were only two hours away from their home in Halls Creek, when the car veered off the highway and rolled over.

Wife Meenu bravely took herself and her daughter out of the car and ran around for ten minutes

on the Great Northern Highway, searching for help as she could not free Rajesh from the car. A passing truck driver finally informed the Police and Ambulance about the accident and waited with them for almost two hours till help arrived, but by then it was too late for Rajesh.

Rajesh came to Australia in 2007 with lots of dreams and aspirations. He completed his Master’s degree in Accounting from LaTrobe University, and then got his PR soon after his marriage in 2010. Rajesh had been struggling to find a job in his field, when he finally got offered the Senior Accounts Officer Role with Shire of Halls Creek - a local government in WA in a smalll town of 1200 people. He also started his CPA course, and had plans to finish the

course in two years and then move back to Victoria.

Family members in Victoria took the responsibility of co-ordinating all the formalities required in this situation and are very thankful to Raj’s employer, Shire of Halls Creek, especially Andrea Nunan, Deputy CEO of Shire who ensured that Raj’s family were well looked after. Musa Mono and Kyle Cameron from the Shire also provided invaluable support to Raj’s family during their difficult time in Kununurra.

Raj and Meenu were loved by all the locals, even though it was for a short period of four months. “They became part of the small family of Halls Creek,” said Andrea.

Raj’s body is being sent to Delhi this week for his last rites.

www.indian-times.com.au

Bollywood

indiantimes

17b

Chitrangada and Arjun: Inkaar

I

nkaar is an upcoming crimeromance film, directed by Sudhir Mishra and produced

by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.

The film is being produced under the Tipping Point Films banner, starring Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh in the lead roles, and supported by Vipin Sharma

and Asheesh Kapoor. The film is scheduled to release on 18 January.

At one of India’s leading ad agencies, the battle for the top job between Rahul (Arjun Rampal), a venerated advertising CEO, and Maya (Chitrangada Singh) his ambitious protégé

takes a dramatic turn when she files a sexual harassment complaint against him. Now its the job of the committee set up by the agency to hear both sides of the story and work through the layers of lies and accusations to find out who’s really telling the truth and who’s lying. The stakes are

high because only one of them will walk away with their reputation intact and get the top job.

Will the committee really be able to uncover the truth? How will the agency deal with the dilemma of choosing between its two most talented people?

The plot and genre is quite different to other films in the cinema at the moment, and sees the return of Arjun Rampal to the big screen after a long break.

Time will tell as to whether or not the viewers will take a liking to the film.

In other news, Arjun Rampal’s posh nightclub LAP in Delhi is being threatened with closure.

With the current national chant of safety-for-women hitting the Capital’s night spots the hardest, Arjun’s elite club finds itself in a corner.

With closure-time considerably reduced, the actor-entrepreneur is now flying to Delhi to meet the relevant ministers to sort out the matter.

Sounding deeply frazzled Arjun says, “We’ve been badly hit.

I’m not going to pretend about that. We’ve been asked to shut the club very early each night.

So basically when our regular

visitors are ready to visit our club we have to shut down. Even on New Year’s Eve we were asked to close the club at 1.30 pm. It’s ridiculous.”

Arjun feels it’s time for a serious pow-wow with the powers-thatbe in the Capital. “I’m flying down to Delhi for discussions with the relevant Ministries and ministers.

I want to convince them that night clubs are not a den of vice. They are certainly not responsible for the rapes on the streets. Are they suggesting that the people who visit LAP go out and violate women? We run a club for members only. Our clientele is composed of top models, writers, entrepreneurs, sports persons and actors. I can assure the Delhi government none of them has rape or crime on his mind.”

Arjun is worried about the night-club business in India coming to a grinding halt because of misguided moral policing.

“Rapes can’t stop on the streets by shutting down recreational places. I think the government is barking up the wrong tree.”

Undeterred Arjun now has plans of a LAP outlet in Mumbai, followed by one in Singapore and then Dubai.

CENTRAL EQUITY – Developer of Victoria’s media release Best Apartments 2 Years Running!

F

or the second year running, Central Equity has been received the prestigious HIA Victorian Apartment Project of the Year Award, presented by the Housing Industry of Australia (Victoria).

This award follows on from the Company’s win in the same category in 2011 for the landmark Southbank One apartment tower.

The Housing Industry Association is Australia’s largest residential building industry association.

Mr. Gil King, HIA Regional Executive Director Victoria, stated “Central Equity Limited has been awarded one of the housing industry’s highest recognitions, as HIA Victorian Apartment Project of the Year for the second year in a row. Judged by industry professionals, the awards acknowledge the talent of designers, builders and building companies who plan and construct quality new housing and apartments, renovations and outdoor projects”.

Located on the corner of Queen Street and A’Beckett Street in a prestigious corner of the Melbourne CBD, the winning tower – City Tempo Apartments features high quality fixtures and fittings, contemporary design

to sample high-rise living and inspecand the latest in apartment technology. The tions can be easily arranged through the 29 level tower has attracted residents who value location above all else but who refuse developer (see contact details below).

Central Equity currently has a range of to compromise on quality and style. fantastic inner-city apartments available Central Equity is very pleased to have for sale and are open 7 days a week. Enbeen the winner of this prestigious award for quire now to arrange your appointment. both 2011 and 2012. An Australian owned business, the Company prides itself on For information on Central Equity’s new range of brand new Melbourne being the pioneer of inner-city Melbourne apartments and Landed property, contact living. They continually strive to develop Central Equity at www.centralequity. apartment buildings that mix space efficient com.au or call 1800 44 55 20, mobile designs, the best quality finishes and close 0401 990 904 (Tanmay Shah). proximity to transport, shopping and employment and education.

Central Equity has developed over 8,500 apartments and 2,200 blocks of land in Melbourne and completed close to $4 Billion of successful projects with a further $1 Billion in the pipeline. The company is so confident in their product they have kept a number of apartments aside for client inspections. A visit to these Senior Central Equity Staff including Directors Dennis Wilson (center) and Eddie Kutner (far right) happily accepting the award. apartments is a great way

Residents’ Exclusive Rooftop Lounge

January 2013 Edition

Breathtaking outdoor rooftop BBQ area

City Tempo, Winner of 2012 HIA Victorian Apartment Project of the Year. Located cnr of Queen and A’Beckett St, Melbourne CBD.

Clean contemporary design and modern finishes feature throughout.

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18b

Bollywood

indiantimes

Imran finds Pankaj Kapoor scary

Picture source: bookmyshow

Pankaj Kapoor

‘Table No 21’ surprises everyone at the box office

T

he start of the New Year has been rather busy at the box office. As many as four Bollywood films released in the first week of 2013. While three of the films did not make any impact at the BO, Table No 21 managed to surprise everyone with more than decent collections.

The Rajeev Khandelwal starrer has managed to collect around Rs 4 crore in its opening weekend.

The other films Rajdhani Express stands at around Rs 1 crore and Dehradun diaries earned less than Rs 50 lakh in its first weekend.

On the other hand, Dabangg 2 is all set to surpass the collections of Dabangg and the collections after the third weekend are around Rs 148 crore (Dabangg was around Rs 149 crore).

Trade analyst Amod Mehra

states, `The general norm of the first week of a new year being bad continued. All the films were disappointing barring Table No 21, which was average. The publicity was not as exciting as it should have been. On the other hand Dabangg 2 is on its way out.` Atul Mohan, trade expert says, `I think Table No 21 has suffered due to the cold wave that has hit the country and also because of the ongoing cricket matches between India and Pakistan. The collections could have been better. The film got critical acclaim but did not convert into footfalls.

Rajdhani Express got derailed on day one while no one read Dehradun Diaries and Meri Shadi Karado was nothing to talk about.

Now all eyes are on Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola and Race 2 to give the trade its first hits of 2013.`

Picture source: oneindia

Will Ash and Karishma have a face-off?

Picture source: filmfirstlook

A

ctor Imran Khan, who is sharing celluloid space with Pankaj Kapoor for the first time in “Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola”, says working with the veteran actor can be unnerving.

“Pankaj-ji is a fantastic actor, but working with him is very scary,” Imran said here Saturday during a promotional event for his film.

“As soon as the director says ‘action’, he explodes as a bomb and the actor who is standing in front of him has to be ready to take whatever he is going to do, because if you are not ready, then the whole scene may get spoilt. So, you have to be alert and have to be on your toes. It is scary,” he added.

In “Matru...”, Imran and Pankaj will be seen playing the characters Matru and Mandola, respectively. The film, releasing Jan 11, also features actress Anushka Sharma.

Many relate Imran with the romantic avatar he has displayed on screen through films like “Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na”, “I Hate Luv Storys” and “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu”, but he says in real life, he isn’t so at all.

“I am not romantic at all. I can’t do this - buying gifts, giving roses and all that. I feel that if you are serious about a relationship, it is more than just that and all these things (gifting) is just for showing off,” said Imran.

Post “Matru...”, Imran will be seen in “Mumbai Talkies” and “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Again”.

T

he popular saying goes: let the sleeping dogs lie. But looks like an upcoming awards gala in Dubai could send tongues wagging yet again! According to sources, there is a high probability that Karisma Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan could come face to face while accepting their respective trophies at the event.

Given their connection to Ab-

January 2013 Edition

hishek Bachchan, sources indicate that sparks could fly when the whole world is watching. An industry insider says, `Things will definitely heat up at the awards ceremony in March. They both will be receiving awards for their achievements in Bollywood.` In fact, there is a high chance that Lolo and Ash will have to share their award with each other.

The source adds, `Ever since Ash got married to Karisma’s ex Abhishek, they have avoided each other in public. Let’s see who beats a hasty retreat this time!` Anu Ranjan, the founder of the awards show refuses to comment on the matter. All she says is, `I can’t reveal anything right now as it will kill the fun of the show.`

Balaji wins court case of The Dirty Picture title

P

ost the phenomenal success of Balaji Motion Pictures’ The Dirty Picture which starred Vidya Balan as Silk, a south based production house Akshaya Productions tried to cash in on the popularity of the film by announcing a Kannada film called Dirty PictureSilk Sakath Hot Maga.

Needless to say when Ekta

Kapoor came to know of this, she immediately took legal action against Akshaya Productions dragging them to court. In a landmark order, Balaji has now won the case in the Court which stated that the title was strictly Balaji’s property and Akshaya Productions couldn’t use any title remotely similar to The Dirty Picture.

www.indian-times.com.au

sports

indiantimes

19b

Swinging the ball is my strength: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

T

hree years ago, a 19year-old boy had dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for a golden duck in the Ranji Trophy final. It was the first time somebody had dismissed the Master Blaster for a golden duck in first-class cricket.

The lad had always dreamt of sharing the dressing room with the maestro one day. Unfortunately, when young Bhuvnesh-

war Kumar was picked to play for India, Tendulkar had already announced his retirement from ODIs. The UP pacer can still do as Tendulkar will continue playing Test cricket, but Bhuvneshwar is not thinking too far ahead.

Last 15 days have been great for this Meerut lad. He bowled a dream spell in his first Twenty20 match against Pakistan; then

Sunday, 6 January 2013

V MELBOURNE RENEGADES

MCG

picked up the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez off his first ball in ODI cricket.

India may have lost the series 1-2 to Pakistan but Bhuvneshwar emerged with his reputation enhanced and he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“It would have been nice to share dressing room with him (Sachin). He is a legend. I am happy with the way things have

gone so far. It would have been nice had we won the series but we all gave our best.

I just want to continue in the same way. It (England) will be a new series and a fresh challenge. I am confident we will do well,” Bhuvneshwar said.

There’s always pressure and expectations when India play Pakistan but words of wisdom from his captain helped Bhuvneshwar calm his nerves. “He (Dhoni) told me to consider it just like another game and I did the same.

It was great to claim a wicket in my first over and that gave me confidence. When I got two more, my confidence grew further and that helped me in the ODIs as well,” he said.

Bhuvi, as he is fondly called by his teammates, had a great start to the new season when he smashed a brilliant 128 against North Zone to guide Central Zone to Duleep Trophy final.

“Batting comes naturally to me, though I have also worked hard on it during India A’s tour of New Zealand with (Lalchand) Rajput sir. He told me that I could be a good all-rounder. I am working on all aspects of my game,” he said.

Former cricketers maintain that Bhuvneshwar’s real challenge will be bowling on flat tracks as the pitches provided for Pakistan series suited his style. Bhuvi,

though, is unfazed about this.

“I have bowled on flat tracks in the last five years at domestic level. Swinging the ball is my strength. I am not bothered about speed as I am not an express bowler. This has brought me success, so I don’t want to change anything.

I am, however, looking to improve as a cricketer,” he said.

Bhuvi has been consistent performer for UP for the last four years. At 22, he has already played 46 first-class matches since making his debut in 2007.

“It has helped me a lot. I have matured as a cricketer in the last five years.

We play in different conditions against different opponents. It’s a challenge to perform consistently. The competition is immense at the domestic level and you can’t afford to relax,” said Bhuvneshwar.

His brilliant performance in the domestic circuit earned him the spot in the India ‘A’ squad for the West Indies and New Zealand tours. “The conditions were totally different in the West Indies and New Zealand.

It was a great experience for a youngster like me. It gave me a chance to look at my game closely and also focus on what areas I needed to work on. It helped me when the new season started,” he said.

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20b

sports

indiantimes

F

ormer India skipper Rahul Dravid believes MS Dhoni, while still the best man to lead the country in Tests, needs to change the way he captains if he is to turn around India’s fortunes. Acknowledging the team’s poor run and the fact that the captain is under “enormous pressure”, Dravid wrote in his column for a website.

“What it (a turnaround) will require from him (Dhoni) is a change in the way he captains, a recognition that he can’t do everything all the time, and the willingness to ask for and accept help.”

Dravid believes there are no alternatives to Dhoni as Test captain, so he must give up the captaincy in T20s and pick and choose ODI assignments. “There’s a lot of talk of split captaincy these days. It won’t be a bad model for India to adopt, if only to keep Dhoni fresh as Test captain,” Dravid wrote.

“Dhoni has got to recognize that he can’t continue to captain and play all the time, because it is making him stale. The pressure of international cricket is huge — it lends itself to a lot of fatigue — and Dhoni has been in the job a long time now.

“To start with, Dhoni could easily give up the India T20 and Chennai Super Kings captaincies . He should certainly play ODIs and T20s for India, because he is

invaluable to the side. Giving up a couple of captaincy roles might give him more time in the main India job and the freshness to keep doing it. “It would also give India an opportunity to perhaps give someone like (Virat) Kohli a chance to be T20 captain, break him into the job and see how he goes. There is another option for Dhoni as well, which he has resorted to in the past: to miss the odd ODI series and prepare himself for the big competitions.”

Dravid also says Dhoni must change his captaincy style to suit the changing requirements of the team. “He must also recognize that he needs to change a very successful leadership style — almost change direction — because the team is changing. “ Dravid suggests that unlike in the past, when he had experienced batsmen and bowlers to aid his “instinct” and “gut feel”, Dhoni must adopt a more hands-on approach to the Test captaincy.

“He led on instinct and gut feel, and it worked brilliantly for him.

Now Dhoni is captaining a team with young guys, who need more communication and guidance.

One of the criticisms directed at Dhoni has been that there is very little communication about plans and roles either.

“He is not one for bowling plans and bowlers’ meetings. When you

Acknowledging the team’s poor run and the fact that the captain is under “enormous pressure”, Dravid feels that while Dhoni is still the best man to lead the country in Tests, he needs to change the way he captains if he is to turn around India’s fortunes, starting by giving up the T20 captaincy.

have senior bowlers like Zaheer, Kumble and Harbhajan, the captain need not worry about all that because the bowlers know what to do. The younger bowlers coming in now, like Ashwin and Ojha, need to know what the plan is... they need to discuss strategy and planning well before they go on to the field.”

Given the series of overseas tours in the coming years, Dravid says, “I don’t think anybody ex-

pects him (Dhoni) to have great success in the immediate future.

People recognize that this is a period of transition and that there are going to be tough days. What they need to know, though, is that the way forward has been clearly mapped. If Dhoni wants to lead India, the job is going to demand a lot more energy and involvement.

He is the man for it at the moment, if he can find that second wind.”

On why there are no alterna-

Picture source: sim.in

Dhoni should give up IPL, T20 captaincy: Rahul Dravid

tives for Dhoni as Test skipper, Dravid says, “At one point we felt Gautam Gambhir could take over the job...yet what goes against him today is the fact that he has not scored too many Test runs in the last three years, and he averages under 32. Virat Kohli is the only other alternative leader, and he ticks the box of being an automatic selection in all three formats. Yet I believe it’s a little early for him.”

Gerrard says best yet to come in landmark season

L

iverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes he has yet to find his best form in a season already littered with statistical highlights for the star midfielder.

Gerrard has been on the field for every minute of Liverpool’s 21 Premier League games so far his season, scoring four goals. Three of those goals have come in the 32-year-old England captain’s last five league appearances, a sign that he thinks his performances are coming up to scratch.

“I’ve had mixed experiences this season,” Gerrard told Liverpool FC magazine. “I’ve passed some unbelievable landmarks for club and country, getting to the 600-games mark and winning my 100th cap for England.

“But with the slow start we made and being where we have in the league it’s been a bit mixed for me. There’s my form as well.

I’ve played well in some games but I’ve been disappointed with myself in others and I’m not happy with my tally at the moment.

“People’s opinions, perceptions and the way they judge you changes when you get a goal.

“I think my performances are getting closer to where I want them to be so if I can add goals to those performances then maybe people will start saying the old Steven Gerrard is back.”

January 2013 Edition

During the past couple of seasons Gerrard has found himself operating in a deeper role, with Jonjo Shelvey and Jordan Henderson taking up more attacking positions. But he insisted he had no problems with manager Brendan Rodgers’ tactics.

“I don’t think the manager’s asked me to do anything different in terms of the way he wants to me to perform,” Gerrard said, “But because of certain injuries, situations that have happened to the team and formations that we’ve played, I’ve naturally played a little bit deeper.

“I’ve maybe gone into protection mode rather than playing the old Gerrard way with the shackles off and going for the jugular.

When you’re one of the experienced players in the team, the team’s more important than yourself and maybe I’ve sacrificed myself in certain games and tried to protect by playing deeper and be a controller with Joe (Allen).

“But now that Lucas (Leiva) is back he gives me the licence to get forward a lot more so hopefully I can add some goals to my performances. I’ve got the buzz that the team’s improving and it’s going to get better. I’m confident that come the end of the season I will be satisfied with myself and the team because I do believe we can finish really strong.”

www.indian-times.com.au

health

indiantimes

Dr. C.R.S. Kumar Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints (Deformity). It can affect any joint, but specifically common in smaller joints and the lining of joints or lining of internal organs will get inflamed. Women are more susceptible than men, often starts between ages 25 and 55.

Rheumatoid arthritis in Ayurveda is called as “Ama vata”. In Ayurvedic Medicine there is very detailed description about the disease process (etio-pathology) and its treatment methods. The treatment methods include internal medication such as herbal preparations as well as external treatments such as abhyanga (Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatment), swedam (fomentation) etc. In Ayurveda it is mentioned as, “Sa Kashtaha Sarvarogaanaam yadaa prakupito Bhavet | Hastha paada shiro gulpha trika jaanu uru sandhishu || Karoti sarujam shopham yatra doshaha prapadyate | Sa desho rujate atyatham vyaviddha iva vrishchkaihi ||“ This means “the disease Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis) is a chronic disease, if it becomes chronic the joints (Snadhi) of hands (Hastha), legs (Paada), ankle and elbow joint (Gulpha), Low back (Trika), Knee joint (Jaanu) and Hip joint (Uru) will get inflamed and painful. Moreover, the pain resembles the pain of “scorpion sting”.

According to Modern medicine the exact cause is not yet known, whereas, according to Ayurveda the

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RHEUMATOID ARTHIRITS (RA): AYURVEDA

cause is well explained. The disease is mainly due to the formation of “AMA”. It will not only affect the joints but also spreads all over the body through srotas (Channels) and obstructs the channels which in turn reduce the flow of nourishment to the body tissues. Due to which the immune levels and appetite reduce in the body. The main reasons for the formation of AMA in the body are, consumption of opposite foods, persevered foods, food items cooked one day before, poor digestive fire, sedentary life styles and imbalance in the DOSHAS (Humors).

According to Modern Medicine, in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually inflamed in a symmetrical pattern (both sides of the body affected). The small joints of both the hands and wrists are often involved.

Simple tasks of daily living, such as turning door knobs and opening jars,

can become difficult during flares.

Also during flares, joints frequently become red, swollen, painful, and tender. This occurs because the lining tissue of the joint (synovium) becomes inflamed, resulting in the production of excessive joint fluid (synovial fluid).

The synovium also thickens with inflammation (synovitis).

The small joints of the feet are the commonly involved parts in the body; especially the muscle and joint stiffness are usually most notable in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Chronic inflammation can cause damage to body tissues, including cartilage and bone. This leads to a loss of cartilage and erosion and weakness of the bones as well as the muscles, resulting in joint deformity, destruction, and loss of function.

According to Ayurveda the signs and symptoms include such as,

Manya prishta kati jaanu trika sandheenvikunchayan | Sashabdaha srastagaatrashcha aamavaataha sauchyate || “ This means the joints of neck (manya) , back (prishta) , hip (kati) , knee (jaanu), sacral region (trika) and other joints get inflamed. The joint movements are often accompanied with sounds. This disease which also makes body weak is known as amavata . Systemic symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis Include, Angamarda aruchi trishna aalasyam gouravam jwaraha | Apaakaha shoonataangaanam amavatasya laxanam || This means “the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are 1. Body pain (angamarda) 2. Distaste to food (aruchi) 3. Thirst. (trishna) 4. Malaise. (aalasya) 5. Fever. (jwara)

6. Indigestion. (apaaka) 7. Weakness (shoonata) Ayurvedic treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis involves both external and internal medicines. The main treatment is done to reduce the AMA by stimulating the digestive fire. Appetizers and carminatives mentioned in Ayurveda as well as Vata pacifying drugs are highly essential in reducing the pain and intensity of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The external treatments such as abhyanga with rooksha swedam are highly beneficial.

Ayurvedic tips for the prevention. · Avoid curds, fish, milk, urad dal, jaggery, and constipating food. · Consume horse gram, ginger, bitter gourd, drum sticks. · Remove the sprouts (which will be present inside garlic cloves) of garlic by splitting, Soak these garlic in buttermilk over night. Next day morning wash the garlic with plain water. ground this garlic to thin paste.

Consume 1/2 tea spoon of this paste with warm water every day morning in empty stomach. · Always use hot water to bathe and to drink. · Avoid cold breeze. · Do not consume opposite foods. · Empty bowels regularly. · Do not control natural urges. · Avoid late nights and afternoon naps.

You may ask your personal query to Dr Kumar via Email drkumar@jeevahealth.com.au or by phone 0402 282 745/ 03 9440 5091 or 02 6156 0618 regarding any of your health problems. You will be offered authentic Ayurvedic information and an opinion, as to what best can be done pertaining to your ailment.

Y

es, you can put off with that sex talk until your baby reaches a certain age but someday, as a a parent, you’ll have to face the question, “But mom, where does a baby come from”.

Here’s how to answer your child’s sex queries without without much difficulty Understsand his/her question: Exactly understand what your child is actually asking you. It may happen that your child wants to know something else and you’re answering a completely different question. Asking a question or two before you provide answers will help you know whether your child already knows something about it and whether what he/ she knows is right. You’ll be surprised to know that he/she has already learnt some information from his/her friends or siblings.

January 2013 Edition

Photo source: PTI Photo source: PTI

How to talk to your kids about sex

Use the right kind of language: Children have wonderful grasping power and if you tend to use language that’s inappropriate for your child’s age, he/she might grasp it and talk in a similar language to his/her friends when talking about the issue. Use a language that is extremely decent and easy to understand so that your child isn’t confused or shocked knowing what you’ve just said.

Shhh... it’s a secret: Your child is likely to tell his friends what he/she has learned from you . So see to it that you make your child understand that he/she should not share this information with anyone without your permission and that if he/ she does so, it won’t really make you happy. This is in case you have divulged detailed information about you and your spouse. Do not agonize over it as this is the way most kids learn about sex.

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health

indiantimes

S

ugary soft drinks cause depression, according to a new study.

Researchers found four cans of pop a day raises the risk of the mental illness by 30 per cent respectively.

And the danger was greatest for those who opted for ‘diet’ versions of the products.

However, people who drink four cups of coffee a day are about 10 per cent less likely to develop depression than those who never touch the beverage.

Dr Honglei Chen, of the National Institutes of Health in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, U.S, said: ‘Our research suggests cutting out or down on sweetened diet drinks or replacing them with unsweetened coffee may naturally help lower your depression risk.

‘More research is needed to confirm these findings and people with depression should continue to take depression medications prescribed by their doctors.’

His researchers monitored 263,925 people’s consumption of pop, tea, fruit punch and coffee between 1995 and 1996 and ten years later asked them whether they had been diagnosed with depression since 2000.

A total of 11,311 depression diagnoses were made among the participants who were aged 50 to 71 at the outset. Dr Chen, whose findings are due to be presented at an American Academy of Neurology conference in San Diego next month, said: ‘Sweetened beverages, coffee and tea are commonly consumed worldwide and have important physical and may have important mental - health consequences.’

Unsweetened coffee could lower the risk of depression As well as rotting teeth the over-consumption of sugar has been linked to depression, poor memory formation and learning disorders in animal experiments.

Each regular can of cola contains eight teaspoons of sugar.

Consumption of soft drinks in the UK has more than doubled since 1985 - from 10 gallons per person a year to more than 25 gallons - and has been linked to the rise in obesity and diabetes.

The drinks also seem to increase the risk of heart disease, liver failure and hypertension.

In children, soft drinks have been linked to addict-like cravings, as well as increasing their appetite for junk food.

Countries such as Denmark and France are introducing soft-

Photo source: PTI

Sugary soft drinks may raise risk of depression - with diet versions causing the most

• Four cans of pop a day raised depression risk 30% • But drinking four cups of coffee decreased risk by 10% drink taxes in an attempt to cut consumption.

In the U.S., around 100 medical and consumer organisations are

now calling on the SurgeonGeneral to investigate the health effects of soda and other sugary drinks.

Last year we swallowed 14,585 million litres of soft drinks - an increase of more than four per cent in 12 months.

Dental hygiene problems you should avoid

G

ood dental health not only makes your appearance pleasing but it also affects your overall health.

Many people associate poor den-

January 2013 Edition

tal health with tooth loss or cavity problems. Stephen D’souza - Dental Practitioner and Student, Mumbai, says bacteria present in the mouth can lead to serious

health problems like diabetes and respiratory problems.

Today, we list a few of these health problems caused by the body-mouth connection...

Bad dental or oral health can lead to periodontal or gum disease. It is a condition that starts out as gingivitis, which causes red, swollen and bleeding gums.

When not treated it can become more severe, and can destroy both the gum tissue and the bones that support the teeth.

Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart. This is caused by bacteria present in the mouth. The bacteria enter in your bloodstream through minor gum disease or cut in your gums.

When untreated, the bacteria that causes Periodontitis and is present in the mouth, can cause various types of heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke.

Bad dental health not only affects your heart, but it also affects brain. Poor dental hygiene is connected to the narrowing and blocking of brain arteries. When the arteries of the brain are affected by the bacteria, it can lead to memory loss or dementia.

The relationship between diabetes and poor dental health is the strongest. The irritation that starts in the mouth weakens the body’s ability to control blood sugar. People with diabetes have trouble processing sugar because of a lack of insulin, the hormone that converts sugar into energy.

A recent study conducted by

the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology stated that women with bad dental health or any gum disease can take a long time to become pregnant. The best way, to avert this consequence is by preventing gum disease through brushing and flossing.

Women with gum disease are twice as likely to have pregnancy related complications. The complications are low birth weights and premature babies. This is because the chemical that induces labor is present in oral bacteria.

As the gum problem increases the level of this chemical increases, leading to pregnancy complications.

Recent studies have found a link between poor dental health and certain types of cancer. It includes head, neck, esophagus and lung cancer. The risk of developing these types of cancer is due to poor brushing habits, tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease may make pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worse, possibly by increasing the amount of bacteria in the lungs.

Studies have found a link between obesity and gum problems.

It appears that periodontitis develops more quickly in the presence of higher body fat.

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How obesity causes chronic diseases

O

besity is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. It is a major contributor to chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke, particularly when obesity manifests itself as fat around the abdominal area.

While obesity can be mea-

sured in a variety of ways, measuring your waist circumference is a good guide. Lower thresholds for waist circumference have been recommended for Asian populations by the World Health Organization due to recent research findings. Therefore, those at increased risk for developing chronic disease in-

clude: Asian women with a waist circumference of more than 31 inches/78.7cm.

Asian men with a waist circumference of more than 35 inches/88.9cm.

There are many ways in which obesity and chronic diseases are linked. Ultimately, eating too much food or the wrong types of food, and leading a sedentary lifestyle is a deadly combination.

When you eat food, it is either metabolized by the body through exercise or stored as fat.

If you eat an excess of food (more than your body can burn off), then it is more often than not stored as fat. Fat around the abdominal area is considered to be dangerous fat, especially when it sits in and around the abdominal muscles of this area; it is called visceral fat. Visceral fat drains into blood vessels that lead to the heart, and surrounds vital organs. This can cause cardiovascular disease, and may lead to heart attack or stroke.

Obesity also tends to be associated with eating the wrong types of fats. Fats that are considered “wrong fats� are those that are saturated fats (like those found in ghee, butter, cream, and fried food) and trans fats, found in deep fried food.

These fats are generally associ-

ated with foods that are packed with calories, thereby contributing to weight gain and chronic diseases that follows.

These fats are also instrumental in raising cholesterol in the blood stream. This cholesterol is stored in the vital blood vessels leading to the heart, blocking blood flow, which can result in heart attack or stroke.

Another chronic disease that may be caused by obesity is Type II diabetes. When the hu-

man body has too much fat in its reserves, it decreases the storage of sugars. This in turn can trigger Type II diabetes, which would otherwise be a preventable disease.

Obesity is one of the more controllable risk indicators for chronic diseases. By eating better, eating smaller portions and exercising more often, one can reduce their level of obesity and their chance of contracting a chronic disease.

Too much TV can give your kid cancer

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January 2013 Edition

I

f youngsters get daily exercise, the increasing hours sat watching TV, playing computer games or surfing the internet could put them at a much higher risk of getting cancer in adult life, experts have warned.

Doctors fear that long spells of inactivity while glued to a screen may lead to childhood obesity and the associated health dangers, and now they are calling on parents to restrict the amount of time kids watch telly or play computer games to less than two hours a day and delay the age they start allowing toddlers to become viewers.

Experts have long been concerned about inactive children and obesity, but the World Cancer Research Fund has issued a fresh warning over kids who exercise and still turn to games and the TV, the Mirror reported. According to the charity’s head of health information Kate Mendoza, people often assume

sedentary behaviour is the same as physical inactivity, but someone can do the recommended amount of daily physical activity and still be sedentary.

Mendoza said that children may well get plenty of physical activity at school through sports or playing but if they spend a lot of time sitting down at home they might develop habits which could increase their risk of diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes in the future, and by reducing their sedentary time children will lessen their chances of becoming obese.

According to figures from research agency Childwise, children spent an average of 5.9 hours a day in front of the TV, a games console or a computer last year. The internet helped boost that figure. A decade ago 21 per cent of kids had never been online, but today that number is down to just 1 percent.

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