SAT January 2014 by South Asia Times

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CELEBRATING 11th YEAR OF PUBLICATION

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South Asia Times Vol.11 I No. 6 I JANUARY 2014 I FREE s o u t hasiatimes.com.au Editor: Neeraj Nanda

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Will the stolen dancing Shiva at National Gallery of Australia go back home? Read story on pageS 8

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GUEST EDITORIAL

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3 Indian students attacked by street gang - quickly forgotten

Cr. Tim Singh Laurence

by media

By Cr. Tim Singh Laurence*

elbourne: Sections of the Melbourne media and the Federal Government seem soft on crime when it comes to the plight of the three Cambridge College students from India that were attack by a gang of nine in Melbourne. After some initial coverage of the pre NYE attack where Manrajwinder was left in an induced coma the media lost interest. After 7 days in a coma Manrajwinder slowly began to respond to his brother's familiar voice. Manrajwinder has since undergone surgery for his brain injury and his broken jaw. His path to full recovery looks like a long and hard one. Aside from serious brain injuries and a broken jaw Manrajwinder was also now placed in a visa limbo. The ABC covered in depth the visa limbo and financial plight of Manrajwinder Singh. The worry for Manrajwinder's family was compounded by the failure of the Minister for Immigration to intervene and address the visa uncertainty outlined so well by his brother Yadwinder on ABC TV and radio national. The ABC also highlighted the fact that International students were double disadvantaged as victims of crime. All victims of crime face the uncertainly of a system that can take months to pay for out pocket expenses. For international students a serious injury can prevent them from studying and this can lead to them being in breach of their study visa. It is in the community interest that such students recover fully and return to work and study - so that they can tell family back in India of the good treatment they have received. I also met with Amaninder Singh and Arun Kumar who were part of the group of three friends that were attacked that night. It was also a concern that Mr Arun Kumar who was also attacked felt forced to go back to work with headache. He felt pressured to study and work due to his student Visa conditions. They told me that Cambridge College had not contacted them. This seems an oversight from a student welfare perspective. And the student who rang police should be acknowledged for such actions. Amaninder Singh told me that the police arrived in 7 minutes and the ambulance in 25 minutes. Such prompt action by victims and the authorities saves lives in these types of attacks. The Premier of Victoria and the Prime Minister have both missed the chance to praise Amaninder Singh's actions. Talking to Amaninder Singh and Arun Kumar as they recounted that night it was clear to me that both of them are lucky to not also be in Manrajwinder's more serious situation. The Australian

media has reported that State prosecutor stated in court that Indians and other vulnerable groups were targeted. This comment generated much comment in India but we did not see any outpouring of online angst in the Australian media. Perhaps that is because we have become numb to high levels of assaults in certain suburbs. Statistics from Victoria police show us that in locations like Melbourne City Council area where Manrajwinder Singh, Amaninder Singh and Arun Kumar were attacked the general population are 6 times more likely to be attacked than many eastern suburbs. When we hear of yet another attack on international students in Melbourne City Council area the media must almost feel like switching off. In fact mainstream media outlets did more stories about a man urinating between trains than the serious attack on Manrajwinder and his college mates. These mainstream media apathy was matched by the Federal Liberal Government. When the Federal Liberals finally broke their silence about street violence, with an article by PM Abbott in the NSW-based Telegraph, there was no mention of the plight of Victorian-based Manrajwinder. Manrajwinder's battled on as he faced two major surgeries. First for his brain injury and then for his broken jaw. Manrajwinder sailed through a sea of ongoing pain but still he failed to register on the Prime Minister's radar. The Premier was also silent. Giving the Federal Liberal party an injection of humanity may be medically impossible but there are many things that local, state and Federal governments

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can do to reduce attacks against Indians and other vulnerable groups being targeted by street gangs. The obvious things are more multicultural and multi lingual police and youth workers to work with both young victims and at-risk-youth to detect, divert and disrupt street gangs. Thousands of youth are falling out of work and education in Melbourne and the system and the community are losing them to crime. In many suburbs we see high youth unemployment and high assault levels. As jobs contract in Melbourne's manufacturing belt in the northern suburbs where Manrajwinder and his brother Yadwinder live assaults have recently grown by 15%. A community policing model has not been applied in Melbourne. We still too often see a cultural divide between our youth and our police force. The us-and-them culture is a breeding ground for street gangs, distrust of authority and a sub-culture of violence. Too many young migrants and children of migrants never see a person from their own community in a police uniform. A more diverse force is needed to with engage with diverse groups and to offer alternative role models. Cross cultural training is a poor solution compared to having a diverse police force and a diverse range of youth workers out in the field. Town planning can also play a role in reducing attacks on international students and others. Perhaps it is time to stop locating so many international students in our most dangerous and alcohol soaked municipality, the Melbourne City Council. College owners locate colleges in Melbourne due to the massive car parking discounts offered to them by Melbourne City Council. This is clearly a case of poor town planning compounding risk for international students. In this recent case all three students attended Cambridge College in little Collins Street in Melbourne CBD. In Canada and the US they provide better safety as housing is often on campus and education facilities are often in smaller cities. Melbourne's suburbs and regional Victoria offer a safer environment for international students than Melbourne CBD. Jamming in so many international students into Los Vegas would also produce the tragic outcomes we have seen over the last 6 years in Melbourne CBD. The Prime Minster has highlighted binge drinking as a problem. When will we learn that a night club precinct that attracts a binge culture of drinking and criminal elements is not the best location to concentrate international students? * Cr Tim Singh Laurence is former Mayor of Darebin and a Councillor there. He can be called at 0456 417 087 or emailed at - campaign.kitchen@gmail.com.

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Math Minds: Coaching maths through self-discovery By our reporter “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” - Albert Einstein

athematics is the abstract study of topics such as quantity (numbers), structure, space, and change. There are a range of views among mathematicians and philosophers as to the exact scope and definition of mathematics. But for common people it is plus, minus, dividing etc. etc. And for students in a school it is a subject that needs attention and understanding for a better future because it is used throughout the world as an essential tool in many fields, including natural science, engineering, medicine, finance and the social sciences. This makes it essential that a growing child should have the necessary subjective and objective tools to understand mathematics as a basic need by exploration leading to logical thinking. It is here that ‘Math Minds’, Box Hill Learning Centre comes into the picture. Math Minds specialises in Maths, and currently offers Maths coaching for students from Year 4 through to Year 10. It is a Program is an individualised coaching program. Pushpita who runs the Centre talking to SAT said, “Our aim is to encourage and inspire children to explore mathematics that leads to analytical and logical thinking.” “We make them

think and understand the fundamentals. We want to plug the gaps in mathematical knowledge of a child by making them love the subject, “she says. So why is mathematics so important, I asked her? Her reply –“Mathematics is fundamental to life and an approach to logical thinking.” Math Minds, is committed to developing a Number Sense in young people. Not through rote learning, or repetitive maths practice, but through understanding the fundamentals and concepts. It believes that increased engagement will ultimately raise academic achievement. “We are coaches, not tutors,” says Pushpita. At Math Minds the aim to encourage self-discovery through self-motivating educational exercises and rewards. The progress is self-paced, with the student working towards goals and achievement standards. Fundamental concepts are made clear before moving to the next level. The focus is on making sure the concept is understood, before the child can learn to apply it. According to the Australian Financial Review (Dec.12, 2012), “..., the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) found that Australian year four students perform below those in most developed countries, ranking 25th in science, and considerably below 18 countries. Australia ranked 18th in maths.” It is this that ‘Math Minds’ wants to plug and push up Australia into a top international math ranking.

‘Math Minds’ recognises that there are many learning styles (visual, auditory, written, and kinaesthetic) and they use a combination of guided practice, manipulatives, and engaging math & logic games. They use the latest technology with iPads, and Chrome books. The specialised softwares are user friendly and a learning child starts

exploring and learning finally. Pushpita says, “Maths is like a building. If you have a weak foundation it will crumble”. For detailed information about ‘Math Minds’ and its courses go to www. mathminds.com.au or call (03) 8822 3030 or Email at pushpita.math@mathminds. com.au. —SAT News Service

Name the Melbourne Zoo’s new baby elephant By our community reporter

elbourne: The Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith announced the opening of the naming competition for Melbourne Zoo’s new baby elephant. Since being born on 8 December, Melbourne Zoo keepers have spent time observing his behaviour and interactions to come up with some suggestions for suitable names. Those suggestions were sent to the Thai Consulate to be matched against possible names for boys. Keepers then shortlisted their three favourite Thai names from the list. The naming competition is now open to Zoo Members, where they will be able to vote for their favourite of the three names via the Zoo website. The three Thai names are:

4Sai which means Banyan Tree 4Man Jai which means confident 4Look Nam which means that he likes water. One of the voters for the winning name will be drawn at random and declared the naming competition winner. Mr Smith said the new baby elephant had captured the hearts and minds of all Victorians since he was born in December. “The zoo has been extremely popular over summer with more than 138,600 visitors coming through the Zoo gates,” Mr Smith said. “Meeting this beautiful baby elephant has certainly been a highlight for many of these visitors.” “As well as new exhibits such as Lemur Island, Melbourne Zoo has beenextremely popular these summer holidays.” Zoo Members will be able to vote at www. zoo.org.au/baby-elephant www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

Math Minds, is committed to developing a Number Sense in young people. Not through rote learning, or repetitive maths practice, but through understanding the fundamentals and concepts.

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Victoria Police v Indian community Cricket match By our community reporter

elbourne: Victoria Police will again this year clash with the Indigos Cricket Team (representing the Indian community) in a cricket match on Monday 27 January at the Sunshine Heights Cricket Club, Glengala Road Sunshine. Victoria Police and the Indian Community Cricket Team wants the community to support this event. The coin toss by Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp is at 12pm and the game starts at 12.15pm. On Monday Jan 27thLast year the Victoria Police played representatives from the Indian Community “Indigos Cricket Team” for the inaugural Community Cricket Game. In 2012 & 2013 the game was played in Melbourne on Australia Day to coincide with India’s Republic Day and was won by the Indigos Cricket Team. Indigos Cricket Club was conceptualized in 2006 by a few senior players, with the intention of getting the Indian sub continent community involved in sport in Melbourne. The love of

cricket runs in the blood of this community which includes people from Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bangladesh backgrounds. Part of the initial goal was to make the community the majority of which were students feel at home in Melbourne and at the same time create a platform for budding players of Indian sub continent descent game at a competitive level. There are about 15,000

Indian students currently studying in Melbourne. Many of these students come to Melbourne with little or no contacts within our community. The Indigos Cricket Club has been established to assist newly arrived students assimilate into our culture through their association. January 26th has a dual meaning for the AustralianIndian community who also celebrate the day as the

India’s Republic Day.This day India adopted its new constitution and became a republic. In what has become an annual event, members of the Indian community playing from different clubs in Mercantile Cricket Association will take on members of the Victoria Police in a friendly 20/20 bash. Police members playing in the team will be represented from Caroline

Indigos Cricket Club was conceptualized in 2006 by a few senior players, with the intention of getting the Indian sub continent community involved in sport in Melbourne. The love of cricket runs in the blood of this community Springs, Melbourne West, Transit Police and supported by members of the (VPCC) Victoria Police Cricket Club. Among the police members will be ex-Victorian cricket player Senior Constable Rob Bartlett. —SAT News Service

‘Hope’ @ WU Short Film Competition! By News Desk

elbourne: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), in association with Western Union,has announced ‘hope’ as the 2014 theme for the 2014 Western Union Short Film competition. The annual competition supports and encourages the careers of young filmmakers from India and Australia, and fosters industry ties between the two countries. Entrants will be judged by a panel of film industry leaders from India and Australia, including film directors Paul Cox and Nikhil Advani who will choose one Indian and one Australian winner. Announcing the 2014

competition, Western Union Marketing Manager, Monika Khanna said, “It is with great pleasure Western Union will officially be hosting the Western Union Short Film competition as part of the IFFM in 2014. It affirms our continued commitment to associate the Western Union brand with Bollywood.” “There’s a great brand fit with the theme of ‘hope’ as this year Western Union has touched over 64 million lives across more than 200 countries bringing hope and support to those who are apart, ”she said. IFFM 2014 Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said, “Every year we are thrilled with the wonderful fresh ideas coming from aspiring film makers from Australia and India.

This year, with the topic of ‘ hope’ we are excited to see what great films the competition will inspire.” The two winning films will be screened at the IFFM. The winning Indian filmmaker will travel to Melbourne as a guest of IFFM, where they will meet Australian and Indian filmmakers, and the Australian winner will travel to Mumbai, the home of Bollywood. Jehan Ratnatunga the 2013 Australian winner is grateful for the opportunities the competition has given him. “Not only was my film watched by Indian film makers that are otherwise hard to reach – especially from Australia, but since winning the award I have secured development funding from Film Victoria and established a YouTube channel with 80,000 + subscribers

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and over 300,000 views a month.“ The 2014 IFFM takes place in April and May 2014, presenting a broad, curated program of films ranging from Bollywood to art house and the sub continent, along with a series of master classes presented by some of India’s finest filmmakers and industry leaders. The Western Union Short Film Competition is open for entries from Indian and Australian filmmakers. To be eligible entrants must submit a film of no more than ten minutes duration which references the 2014 theme, ‘hope’. Closing date for applications is February 28. For more information or to download an application form, go to www.iffm.com.au —SAT News Service

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Will the stolen dancing Shiva at National Gallery of Australia go back home? By our correspondent

elbourne: Will a thousand years old dancing Natraja (Shiva) bronze statue stolen from a Tamilnadu temple by an Indian-American art dealer and now on display at the National Gallery of Australia go back home? The antique was stolen from a Tamilnadu temple and the art dealer is in Indian custody and facing charges. The old 11-12 th century Bronze Natraja sculpture was stolen from a temple in Tamilnadu, India in 2008 and then smuggled to the United States was bought by the Canberra based National Gallery of Australia (NGA), in the same year from Subhash Kapoor owned Gallery , New York. Subash Kapoor is under arrest and facing criminal charges in India. The $5 million bronze, which is still on display at the entry to the gallery's Indian Gallery, was the first item cited in the New York Supreme Court in December last year where the long-time shop manager for Kapoor pleaded guilty to six counts of trading in stolen property worth $US35 million ($38.8m). “Aaron Freedman, 41, admitted creating fake documentation and arranging shipping for antiquities stolen from India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Cambodia and other countries. He admitted creating false collecting history documents and liaising with buyers, including Canberra's NGA. The gallery's bronze Shiva Nataraja was the first item cited in the court documents, which revealed it was "owned by the Central Government of India" after being stolen from Sivan Temple in Ariyalur District of Tamil Nadu, southern India. The theft took place between January and November 2006, after which the Shiva was shipped to New York. The metre-high figure of Shiva surrounded by a ring of fire was then shipped to the NGA in October 2007. It is not yet known whether the statue was looted to order or whether the gallery bought it after it had been acquired by

The old 11-12 th century Bronze Natraja sculpture was stolen from a temple in Tamilnadu, India in 2008 and then smuggled to the United States was bought by the Canberra based National Gallery of Australia (NGA), in the same year from Subhash Kapoor owned Gallery , New York. Subash Kapoor is under arrest and facing criminal charges in India.

Kapoor” says a story in The Australian. According to The Australian, “The gallery also confirmed it had approached the Indian High Commission "to discuss avenues for restitution" in relation to the artefact. Responding to SAT queries, Mr. Tarun Kumar, Indian High Commission, Canberra said, “The matter is under investigation in India and Australia is cooperating with India on the issue as per request from India” “Because of the investigation we cannot comment beyond this point”, he said. Under the terms of UNESCO's movable Cultural

Heritage treaty to which Australia and India are signatories, all items found stolen will need to be returned. But India has to make that request. The NGA posted a media release on 13 June, 2013 on its website which admits of buying 21 works of art from Art of the Past collected between 2002 and 2011:13 sculptures (2 of which are in 2 parts) from South Asia,1 sculpture from Southeast Asia, 1 painting and 6 photographs. “These acquisitions have been funded through a combination of Government allocation and private donations”, it says. A report in ‘The Hindu’ (Canberra Gallery response

cold comfort for Nataraja, April 21, 2013) said: “The Tamil Nadu Police Department’s efforts to retrieve the 1000-year-old Nataraja sculpture that was allegedly sold to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, has hit a new stumbling block, with the Gallery seemingly reluctant to extend its cooperation in the major effort to fight antiquities-related crimes. Although a letter rogatory was sent six months ago and officers of the Tamil Nadu Police spoke directly to Australian authorities, the Gallery had not shared any information or extended any help, informed police sources said.” ‘The Hindu’ report

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further reveals, “Last year, police investigations had unravelled the involvement of an international network in the theft of 18 ancient bronze sculptures from two temples in Suthamali and Sripuranthan in Tamil Nadu. The trail led to Subhash Chandra Kapoor, a U.S.based antiquities dealer, who was identified as the brain behind the clever operation. Kapoor was arrested in Germany and extradited to India in July 2012; currently he is lodged in a Chennai prison.” Recently, joint investigation by The Weekend Australian and The Los Angeles Times uncovered copies of invoices indicating that the NGA went on a $3.8 million buying spree, acquiring six pieces between 2005 and 2008 from the alleged smuggling mastermind Subhash Kapoor (The Australian June 8, 2013).

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Melbourne Durbar

By Desi Oz

Cinema experience!

ndian DVD and CD sales have been on the decline over the years. But recent information indicates the pace of decline is taking dangerous proportions. A typical pirated DVD (latest movie) costs around between 3 to 5 dollars. If a retailer gets $ 5 for a DVD it is considered good. The wholesale price for a pirated DVD (new movie) is between $ 1.50 and $ 2.00. The margin for a retailer is not much. Old and classic Bollywood movie DVDs have few buyers. Forget an ‘original’ DVD

because it is too expensive. Only the true believers (middle aged and senior citizens) sometimes grab Bollywood classics. In fact, you may not get the movie you are after. This age group is not good in information technology and hence cannot use the internet to download their choicest movies. There are notable exceptions where they watch lots of stuff on You Tube. For the desi youngsters downloading is easy. So, why would they buy a movie DVD? Well, the prints on the net are always not good and

Police clearance

ometimes bizarre chain of events can be hilarious but serious. Take this situation. An Indian man (Australian citizen) applied for ‘spouse visa’ for his wife living in India. The Australian High Commission, New Delhi asked him (the hubby) to furnish a ‘police clearance’ from India for himself. But India refused it on the ground it could not give a ‘police clearance’ for an Australian citizen. Disappointed the man once

back in Melbourne (without his wife and son) tried to apply at the VFS (outsourced company of Indian Consulate) for a ‘police clearance’ but refused to accept the application saying he was an Australian citizen. One wonders why on Earth an Australian citizen should get a ‘police clearance’ for his wife’s ‘spouse visa’. Obviously, she must have got her ‘police clearance’. Lastly, the Australian citizen when he migrated from India gave his ‘police clearance’.

Sad but true

29-year -old Punjabi boy is suspected to have recently taken his own life in Clayton South. He came to Australia as a student in 2006 and got his Permanent Residency in 2011. His cousin interviewed on SBS Punjabi says it looks he took his own life but the police are investigating. He worked as a cab driver while getting educated. He was

stressed up and mentally down but physically well, says his cousin. Friends tried to consul him but he would not listen. His cousin feels if anybody is stressed up he/she be taken seriously and helped. Free professional, anonymous support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week across Victoria is available. Online counselling is available at www.suicideline.org,au or call 1300 651 251.

disappointment is not far away. Few Bollywood stuff is released in Australia on the big screen. Dhoom-3 made it but Dedh Ishkiya did not. On top of that some suburbs are too far from cinema houses. It takes lots of time to drive and then one may not get parking. But many still go to cinemas to watch the latest blockbuster. The big screen experience is no doubt exceptional and enjoyable. One wonders why more Indian movies can’t be released. Is the Australian market too small? Or, technology has taken its toll?

79,000 traffic offences

olice detected more than 79,000 traffic offences across Victoria this summer (15 Nov.2013 to 5 Jan., 2014) as part of a twomonth blitz of Victoria’s roads. The campaign encouraged drivers to stay safe or stay off the roads during the traditionally high-risk holiday period. More than one million road users were breath tested and a further 7206 were drug tested during the 52-day campaign. According to the Victoria Police it impounded 475 vehicles and detected: • 2371 drink drivers (compared with 2863 last year) • 723 drug affected drivers (compared with 396 last year) • 27,467 speeding motorists (compared with 24,709 last year) • 1974 disqualified and suspended drivers (compared with 2045 last year) • 7526 unregistered vehicles (compared with 6559 last year) • 3378 seatbelt offences (compared with 3299 last year) • 5458 mobile phone offences (compared with 6077 last year) Sadly, five people lost their lives on Victoria’s roads during the Christmas road toll period. This was five less than during the same period last year, says the Victoria Police.

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India: AAP and the ideology warriors By Aditya Nigam

f ideology-warriors had their way, they would rather have Narendra Modi as the next prime minister than have their ideological purity compromised. Soon after AAP’s victory, many secularists rushed to declare, on Facebook and elsewhere, that they do not and will not partake of the AAP euphoria. ‘What is their stand on communalism?’ they asked indignantly. Some other friends insisted that Muslims need an assurance about AAP’s position on communalism and it should clarify its stand if it wanted the Muslim vote. So what do the ideology warriors want? Just when the political agenda for the elections has decisively changed, throwing the BJP into a complete quandary, upsetting its strategic plans, they want the old familiar, secular/ communal divide back in place, opening up the political field once more to the same HinduMuslim polarization that we are so used to. The secular/ communal divide has been the millstone around our neck, preventing any other issue from being brought into public debate at election time and effectively preventing the emergence of any new force or formation. And let there be no mistake that in a communal polarization of Hindus and Muslims, secular forces will always, in the on-going drama of secular masochism, have to deposit themselves tied hand and foot, into the Congress party’s dungeon. The Amit Shahs will have a field day, creating one Muzaffarnagar after another, and erstwhile secular mascots like Mulayam Singh Yadav will vie with them in further entrenching the Hindu-Muslim divide. In all of this, the Congress will present itself as the saviour of Muslims. The Congress, the BJP, the imaginary ‘third front’ – all have been able players and winners in this game. For the first time in decades, an election was fought in Delhi and will perhaps be fought in the rest of the country

where the key issues have decisively changed. If politics is above all, about agenda setting, then the initiative has been snatched away from the hands of the Congress-BJP combine. The agenda has been set against their wishes. Suddenly Modi is at a loss for words, he and his party no longer seem to have any credibility left. His only plank was a ‘Congressfree India’ and now his speech has begun to sound ever more hollow. Even the RSS has had to sit up and take notice. But the secular/ communal divide is only one of the axes along which demands are being made on AAP to ‘clarify’ its stand. There are others who want AAP to state its position clearly on the class divide, on workers’ rights, on Kashmir’s azadi, on nuclear energy and so on. During the debate on the vote of confidence motion in the Delhi Assembly, the BJP leader Harsh Vardhan raked up AAP leader Prashant Bhushan’s statement (made quite some

time ago) where Bhushan had expressed himself in favour of a referendum in Kashmir. Harsh Vardhan dared Kejriwal to defend his comrade. Kejriwal, the quintessential ‘postideological’ aam aadmi, refused to take the bait, much to the consternation of the ideology warriors. His speech was a brief – almost Gandhian – intervention that simply thanked everyone who spoke, for their constructive and nonconstructive suggestions, and then went back to the set of issues that his government wants to take up. He concluded the speech with the brilliant one liner: “I am not here to ask you to vote for my government; vote if you agree with our practical programme.” It rattled the radicals no end. He should have, according to these ideologues/ ideologists, come out ‘boldly’ and taken a stand. It is not an inconsequential matter that both the BJP and the radicals want AAP to go

the same way. One can understand why Harsh Vardhan and BJP want Kejriwal to come out with their ‘ideological position’. For they know that between them, communalism and the Kashmir issue can achieve a polarization that will be entirely to BJP’s benefit. Once again the familiar divides will appear and once again, fire-spitting rhetoric will take centre-stage. Empty words will spew forth at high decibel levels and the concrete everyday matters that are now on top of the agenda will once again be brushed under the carpet. But what about the radicals? Why do they want this scenario to be resurrected? The answer is simple: they have no stakes in anything except their own ‘purity’. The demand essentially is that the AAP should be what ‘we’ always wanted to be, but could never be and never can. For the simple reason that ideologywarriors are good critics and nothing else. Rest assured that if Kejriwal and

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AAP were to follow their advice, they too would be reduced to the position occupied by such critics – that of mere spectators. In saying this, I am not for a moment suggesting that AAP and Kejriwal should therefore just go with the flow of things. There are two very serious issues involved here that have to do with what I shall term the ‘dialectic of efficacy’ – one of these has to do with the logic of mass politics and the other with the logic of the party-form, both which call for a brief discussion. First, the logic of mass politics. For a political formation that seeks to play a transformative role in any sense, it is of critical importance that it take the people along. For AAP to succumb to the demands of ideology and to ‘state its position’ in a ‘clearcut’ fashion would be to reduce itself to complete ineffectivity, for the masses of people who are flocking towards it today are doing so precisely because its appeal is limited to ‘corruption’ – which in the language of the street is the code for loot and plunder with the active connivance of the government. For the person on the street, this covers virtually everything that life is about. But the word is capacious enough to allow other meanings to be filled in as well, and that allows middle class people too, in large numbers to flock to it. Many of these people who come to it on this agenda and prioritize this agenda over others, could actually be with the BJP or the Congress if faultlines were drawn differently and other matters were to come to the fore (as for instance in a secular/ communal polarization). Their coming to AAP does nothing to change all that. It is only the specific manner of formulation of the agenda that draws them to AAP. Start re-arranging them according to the demands of the ideology-warriors and they will start returning to their old grooves. If the transformative agenda has to be pushed and the new experiment in democratic politics is to fulfill its minimum promise of redrawing and re-

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ordering the limits of what ordinary people experience as the political, then the current momentum must be maintained. The most important part of this experiment is the fact that rank outsiders who speak the language of ordinary people have now taken charge, however temporarily. The beginnings of a new political culture are already becoming visible. For the first time in my memory, a government has openly challenged the might of the two biggest corporate houses – Tatas and Reliance – by demanding that they submit to a CAG audit or face a cancellation of their license. For the first time, the water tanker mafia that had close connections with the major political parties, has been taken on. This is unprecedented in a country where communist parties have ruled some states, in one case for three and a half decades continuously without taking on the really powerful. You don’t have to declare that you are radical and anti-capitalist to be able to take such daring steps; all you need – and the AAP government has shown this – is the guts to stand by the interests of ordinary people. If this momentum has to be maintained, the government and Arvind Kejriwal will do well to leave rhetorical posturing

to the ideology warriors and concentrate as they have been, on doing rather than saying. In the present context, it is of utmost importance that this process go forward, for that alone will initiate a process of change in thinking as far as ordinary people are concerned. New and different ways of doing things initiate different ways of thinking. As Lenin said, it is in moments of actual political turmoil that people learn in months, what they would in years in ordinary times. But all this is not to say simply that all is well. These are also dangerous times for AAP. It stands at the point where the headiness of its successes combined with the inexperience of its ministers in Delhi, and its leadership more generally, can easily lead it astray. This brings us to the second issue, the logic of the party-form. There will be pressures to compromise in a myriad ways, as there will be attempts to trap the leaders in situations where they, despite themselves, become embroiled in problematic decisions. It is also clear that within AAP, there are elements whose instinct is to take the more conservative position that goes with the so-called ‘national mainstream’ in matters like national security and nuclear energy. They

will try and steer the party in that direction. I have long maintained in various articles and comments on Kafila and elsewhere that, at the root of our political miseries is the specific creation of the last century and a half – the political party. In the spate of contemporary movements across the globe – from the anti-corruption movement in India to the Occupy Wall Street movement in the USA to the indignados and across countries of the Arab world, it is the political parties that have been the target of attack. Political parties have been identified as being responsible for the hijacking of the democratic impulse and for the transformation of democracy to an arrangement in which the rule of capital is entrenched through what all the movements refer to as corruption, thievery and fraud. This is not an isolated phenomenon in India. Political parties perform, on behalf of the state, the aggregative function of reconciling diverse interests and most often in a way that is favourable to capital and the more powerful interests. In countries like ours they are also entrusted with the ‘responsibility’ of ‘national security’ – of rooting out ‘antinational’ forces. There is therefore, always a pressure on

southSouth asia times 11 Asia Times all political parties to mainstream themselves and become part of the ruling nationalist consensus. It is not surprising then that both the Congress and the BJP while attacking Prashant Bhushan and AAP on the Kashmir issue, underlined that AAP is no longer a movement engaged in activism or an NGO, but a political party proper. CPI (M) too, added to the criticism by stating that army deployment is a matter for government to decide, not the public. Clearly, across the political spectrum, all parties are rattled by this new creature that insists on retaining elements of a movement-in-struggle – an identity that is meant to be dropped when you grow up and become a political party. All these pressures will begin to tell on the party in different ways and resisting them will not be easy. At the moment, AAP embodies something that is a party and yet not one. And yet, it has been pitchforked into a position that demands increasingly that it become a full-fledged party. I am not very hopeful that it will be able to resist such demands for a very long time. However, if there is one lesson that the twentieth century experience must teach us, then in my view it is that we must learn

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If this momentum has to be maintained, the government and Arvind Kejriwal will do well to leave rhetorical posturing to the ideology warriors and concentrate as they have been, on doing rather than saying. not to invest in political organizations as long term formations. If the current experience continues through the next election and is able to transform political discourse in some significant fashion, enabling fresh thinking on democracy and politics, it will have laid the ground for a longer term change in political culture as well. If AAP were to suddenly disappear after that into thin air, it will have nevertheless have played its historic role. Source: Kafila

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Hoodwinked, jobless, and back By K. S. Harikrishnan

HIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, Jan 8 2014 (IPS) Ashik Rehman, 47, worked as a labourer in the southern Indian state of Kerala. He left for Saudi Arabia two years ago, hoping to earn enough to buy a house in his native place. Now he is back and staring at a bleak future. Rehman was promised a shop salesman’s job by his travel agent. But after he landed in the Saudi capital Riyadh, he was sent to work at a construction site as a sweeper. His sponsor did not take legal measures to correct his work permit. “I was treated like a slave there. I was not given proper food, leave or salary,” he told IPS. To make things worse, Saudi Arabia enforced a naturalisation rule called Nitaqat, forcing Rehman to return to his hometown Kozhikode in Kerala last October. He has not found a job yet. The Nitaqat law, announced in 2011, makes it mandatory for all private firms to recruit at least 10 percent Saudi nationals in their labour force. For expatriates who do not have proper job or visa documents, the law entails punitive measures such as arrest or deportation. With 2.8 million Indians making up the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, the law has hit those who have been in the kingdom without proper work documents. “Many sponsors are evasive when it comes to giving legal status to workers. Because of the disinterest of my sponsor, I had to return. Now I am living in a rented house and trying to figure out how to earn my living,” Rehman told IPS. According to Indian government estimates, 134,000 workers have returned due to implementation of the new Nitaqat policy. “Travel agents make things more difficult for hapless migrant workers,” Jamaludeen, who has also returned, told IPS. “They fabricate jobs and employers who don’t exist. Before the migrants can figure out they have been hoodwinked, they find themselves in farmhouses in remote areas and unknown

Workers returning to Kerala from the Gulf. Credit: K.S. Harikrishnan/IPS. agricultural fields in the deserts.” The reverse migration of undocumented workers from Saudi Arabia has prompted the returnees to demand that the Indian government implement a comprehensive rehabilitation package for expatriates. “Since the Gulf War of 1990-1991, we have been hearing false promises of rehabilitation packages,” said S. Ahmed, chairman of the NRI Coordination Council. He said the government had done little to help expatriates who had to return because of the Nitaqat rule. The Council demanded that all non-resident families that return from Saudi Arabia be included in a comprehensive health insurance project. The effects of Nitaqat are showing up in many ways in India particularly in sectors dependent on Gulf money. These include a slowdown in construction work, in the real estate business, in motor vehicle sales and dwindling wages of daily workers. This is particularly true of Kerala because, of the 2.8 million Indians in Saudi Arabia, one million are from this state. After the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia is the most favoured destination for the state’s migrant population. Dr. Sree Nair, a Keralabased migration researcher, said the government should make sure that the

returnees are rehabilitated and resettled in their homeland. “Return migrants do not attract much attention from the government. But Nitaqat has brought about a situation where the void in government planning on migration and a remittancedependent economy has become evident,” she told IPS. “The services for returnees are inadequate. Not just financial assistance but proper guidance on possible areas of utilising their skills in domestic or foreign labour markets should also be provided. Most returnees are not looking for freebies from the government but for an appropriate re-entry into job markets,” she told IPS. Kerala is the only state in the country which has announced rehabilitation measures for returnees, including interest-free loans and services to help them find jobs in other Gulf countries. Abu Ali, who gives legal aid to foreign workers in Jeddah, said there were many foreigners, including Indians, who were declared to be absconding by their sponsors as the latter wanted to avoid making final settlements. “Many migrants may have been working there for more than 10 years, but there is no legal forum to challenge sponsors who cheat,” he told IPS. K.U. Iqbal, a Riyadh–

based reporter of Malayalam News, a sister publication of Arab News, told IPS over the phone that 1.3 million Indian workers, who initially did not have proper documents, had regularised their work permits and completed other legalities. “The majority of Indians corrected their documents. It is said that a few migrants did not apply for legal status. They will face consequences if caught by the authorities,” he said. A group of returnees told IPS that unskilled workers, part-time office workers and school teachers have been particularly badly hit by the Nitaqat rule. Sharafudeen, who hails from Malappuram, said teachers without proper documents have been granted a reprieve by the Ministry of Education. “But many small shops and restaurants, which used to regularly hire workers without documents, have been closed throughout the Kingdom.” Labour inspectors swooped down on thousands of illegal workers in a series of raids across the Kingdom after the amnesty period for expatriates to legalise their work status expired. Shameem Ahmed, general manager of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants, quoted Indian government officials in Riyadh to say that many

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According to the World Bank, India is the top beneficiary of remittances from Saudi Arabia with 8.4 billion dollars received in 2012. But many of the people behind those remittances now find that life has changed – for the worse. workers were unwilling to go back to India as they were wary of being unemployed and increasing the financial burden on their families. “Many workers have not been reporting for work for fear of arrest and deportation. Numerous construction companies that were largely dependent on the illegal workforce have suspended their projects altogether. Housing unit prices are set to increase dramatically due to the shortage of workers,” said Shameem Ahmed. According to the World Bank, India is the top beneficiary of remittances from Saudi Arabia with 8.4 billion dollars received in 2012. But many of the people behind those remittances now find that life has changed – for the worse.

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Afghans want justice before elections By Giuliano Battiston

ABUL, Jan 7 2014 (IPS) - Will we get justice? That is the question many Afghans are asking as their war-ravaged country heads for presidential polls in April. For, the list of candidates includes several warlords who have been accused of heinous crimes and who are yet to be brought to justice. “The upcoming presidential election is crucial in determining whether Afghanistan will have a future as a rightsrespecting country or whether abuses and impunity will continue,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). According to the international body, those in the presidential race include “former military and militia commanders implicated in serious rights abuses, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.” HRW posed 17 questions on the country’s most pressing human rights issues to 11 presidential candidates. The questionnaire was publicly endorsed by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) at a meeting in Kabul in December that called upon the government

to implement transitional justice and hold those responsible for rights violations and war crimes accountable. Some members of the Upper House of the Afghan Parliament have called for removing the names of war criminals from the list of presidential candidates. According to the local news agency Pajhwok, Balqis Roshan, a woman senator from Farah province, said: “The nation’s blood is dropping from the beards and neckties of some people on the list. They should not be running.” But many other senators fiercely opposed the proposal, and called it a conspiracy against the democratic process. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan was overthrown in 2001, and elections were held in 2004, bringing President Hamid Karzai to power. For most Afghans, however, past crimes remain a big issue. In Afghanistan, 90 percent of the population consider themselves victims of war; they’ve suffered abuse and atrocities, either directly or indirectly. “How can we achieve peace without taking this into account?” asked Aziz Rafiee, executive

director of the Afghan Civil Society Forum Organisation. “If justice is sacrificed simply for the sake of a ceasefire, it will not be real peace. It will be a very, very fragile peace,” he told IPS. A 2005 survey by AIHRC, based on in-depth interviews and focus groups with thousands of people, showed that 94 percent of people consider justice for past crimes either “very important” (75.9 percent) or “important” (18.5 percent). These findings as well as those emerging from more recent opinion polls show that the majority of Afghanistan’s 30 million people not only want accountability for human rights violations and war crimes but also consider justice a necessary condition for peace. Hundreds of people had gathered in central Kabul for a demonstration organised by the Social Association of Afghan Justice Seekers (SAAJS) to mark National Victims Day, a day after International Human Rights Day Dec. 10. They criticised the Afghan government as well as the international community for lack of commitment to promoting accountability for past and present crimes. They cited

the November 2013 Report on Preliminary Examination Activities, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s office found that “war crimes and crimes against humanity were and continue to be committed in Afghanistan.” Raz Mohammad Dalili, a well-known civil society activist and director of Sanayee Development Organisation, says the cause of violence in Afghanistan is injustice, rooted in a culture of impunity and lack of ways for citizens to make their demands heard. “If I commit a crime today and nobody stops me, how can I even consider accusing someone for past crimes? In the last 12 years, many crimes have been committed, but many of those who committed them are in power and in key positions. “We know who they are – they are the so-called warlords, but how can we bring them to justice?” Most Afghans believe that ignoring the cries for justice would increase the causes of insecurity, conflict and violence, he said, but very few think the government or the international community will actually live up to their expectations. Naim Nazari, executive coordinator of the Civil Society and Human Rights Network, told IPS, “The problem is criminals have important positions in the government and

Afghans want justice before they see a new President in Kabul. Photo: Giuliano Battiston/IPS.

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in institutions. The international community did not and does not have the political will to implement a process through which to prosecute them.” The common view here is that after the Taliban’s fall, the international community opted to seek short-term stability by backing political and military leaders with a shady past instead of promoting a genuine social reconciliation process based on people’s expectations and demands for justice. “America and the international community provided power to the wrong people, to those who committed the worst crimes,” said Mir Ahmad Joyenda, former parliamentarian and now deputy director for communication and advocacy at the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, an independent research organisation based in Kabul. “The Afghan people’s demand for justice was underestimated while the power and consensus of warlords was overestimated,” Joyenda told IPS. “In 2003, Lakhdar Brahimi (at that time the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan) had warned that justice should not be sacrificed for peace. Today we have neither peace nor justice. The international community is guilty of having supported criminals and warlords,” he said.

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The right note hits Taliban

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Jan 15 2014 (IPS) - For many years they could not sing, dance or play their favourite instruments. The performing artists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northern Pakistan lost their voice as the Taliban carried out terror attacks and banned music, calling it un-Islamic. But after tentative advances in recent months, the Pakistani province is alive with the sound of music once again.

By Ashfaq Yusufzai

fter the resumption of open sales of music, and the occasional theatre performance, music is now back in business in full swing – in many if not all areas. The big change has come in the months following elections in May 2013. “The past five years have been very difficult for musicians because of Taliban militants. Now we are heaving a sigh of relief as acts of terror have gone down,” singer Gul Pana told IPS. The region’s Pakhtun people were traditionally fond of music. But from 2008 to 2013 musicians faced a hard time as the province was under the rule of the anti-Taliban Awami National Party (ANP), and militants carried out explosions and suicide strikes. The Taliban stopped musicians from holding programmes. With the Taliban’s influence waning in the region and the new provincial government actively encouraging artists since it came to power, music is making a comeback. “Thanks to a new government, the majority of singers and instrumentalists have returned to work,” said Pana, who is a student at the University of Peshawar, but is busy performing at concerts and marriages and doing playback songs in films. Swat, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was once known for its singers and dancers. The scenic, mountainous region has many streams and rivers that were used as a backdrop for film songs. But the area ran out of artists from 2007 to 2010 because of the punishments handed out by the Taliban. In January 2009, Taliban militants killed well-known dancer Shabana in Swat, sending a chill down the

spine of the performing arts fraternity. Many fled or quit their profession altogether to avoid being targeted by the Taliban. But music can be heard in the hills and valleys of Swat today. The Taliban were evicted from Swat through a military operation in 2010. “We are back. Every night, there are musical functions that provide entertainment to locals as well as enthusiasts from the rest of the country,” said Muhammad Suleiman, a harmonium player in Swat. Suleiman says his two dancer daughters were the only breadwinners in his 12-member family but, during Taliban rule, it became hard to have two square meals a day. His 18-year-old daughter Noreen Begum said, “Now we are again receiving offers to perform at marriage ceremonies.” She said dancing had always been a passion for her. “I enjoy music and dance. And with what I earn, my two brothers can continue their studies in school,” she said. Musical performances are also back in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa. After cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) party came to power at the head of a coalition in the province, the music scene has undergone a transformation. “People invite us to perform at private programmes and pay us well. Pakhtuns are traditionally fond of music and shower money on performers to show their appreciation,” Shah Sawar, a budding crooner, told IPS. Sawar, 25, says he recently performed in front of Imran Khan and won praise from him. “It was encouraging to get a pat on the back from Imran Khan.” Nishtar Hall, the sole theatre in Peshawar, has sprung back to life and from tentative beginnings and now hosts musical functions almost every day. “We get calls from sponsors every day. Besides local artists, singers from other parts of the country also perform here,” Karam Khan, an official at the governmentrun Nishtar Hall, told IPS. Every function at the 600seat hall draws hundreds of enthusiasts who flock

to the venue well before the commencement of a programme, he said. “Gone are the days when Nishtar Hall used to remain shut due to the Taliban’s threats. The situation is back to normal and cultural activities have gained momentum,” Karam Khan said. Mashooq Sultan, a yesteryear diva, is also happy with Imran Khan’s party. “He has proved to be a blessing for more than 10,000 performers who had virtually been jobless before this party came to power. It had become difficult for me to provide for my family because there were few musical functions. We appreciate Imran for making the law and order situation better,” she said. “The last six months have been very good for us. We have performed at Nishtar Hall and at private functions,” Sultan, who claims to have sung 5,000 songs on TV and radio, told IPS. The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) near the Afghan border is still teeming with militants, depriving people there of dance and music. Some parts of Khyber

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Thanks to a new government, the majority of singers and instrumentalists have returned to work,” said Pana, who is a student at the University of Peshawar, but is busy performing at concerts and marriages and doing playback songs in films. Pakhtunkhwa where the Taliban still has influence can feel the restrictions on music even now. But Sultan says music cannot be stopped in this part of the world. “Marriages and other festive ceremonies are considered incomplete without music and the Taliban cannot ban it forever.”

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Contemporary Political Ferment: Aam Aadmi Party By Ram Puniyani

he spectacular performance of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi Assembly elections (November 2013) has changed the perceptions and anticipations about the forthcoming general elections to be held in 2014. It has also led to rethink about the equations of electoral politics in general. While BJP emerged as the single largest party and could have staked claim to form the Government, it refrained from that. AAP, after an initial hesitation, went in for opinion taking exercise, and decided to cross the obstacles of being a bit short of majority and formed the Government. Before we go to the scenario created by the results of the elections and AAP’s forming the Government, let’s have a bit of the peep into the circumstances which led to emergence of AAP. The anti-corruption movement launched by Arvind Kejrival with Anna Hazare as the face of the movement, was a spectacle, which shook the system. It was strongly supported by all and sundry, from the Khaps, to the MBAIT middle class to builders and traders amongst others. It had the solid backing of RSS in the major process of mobilization of the people. The upsurge came to challenge the very parliamentary system, and it was touch and go for survival of the Parliament, which survived this pressure from the Anna-Kejrival led movement. Bringing in of the Lokpal bill to curb corruption was at the centre of the movement. The future trajectory of this was interesting as there was a clear emergence of two streams from the movement. One was the stream, which wanted to target only Congress, as articulated by Kiran Bedi and the other was the one led by Kejrival, which broadened the target to corruption all around. The latter stream led to formation of AAP and its deciding to begin it journey from Delhi Assembly elections. It took up the ‘municipal issues’ bijli,

pani, (electricity, water) in particular and went whole hog to drill the point in Delhi. AAP wore its sincerity on its sleeves and was able to reach to the Aam Aadmi, in the jhuggi jhopdi’s (pavements, slums), addressing their pain and anguish about the rampant corruption at all the levels. The result was that the section of Delhi citizens unhappy due to the rising prices, and other problems of daily living shifted from supporting Congress to AAP. AAP could marginally erode the BJP-RSS base as well. Its main base was from the traditional Congress supporters. It is quite likely that many people who might have wanted to vote for them did not do so, as it was AAP’s first foray into elections. With their victory the message is clear that AAP is being seen as the major alternative to present dominant parties. This is also testified by the huge avalanche of those wanting to become members of AAP and also volunteering to work for this party. Meanwhile so far, the electoral script was dominated by Narendra Modi, who through the sustained propaganda of ‘development of Gujarat’ built up an image of a strong leader who has delivered results in Gujarat, rose to be the Prime Ministerial aspirant, backed by BJP and its parent

RSS. Modi had more or less succeeded in putting his role in Gujarat carnage under the carpet; this exercise of his has been aided by the partial presentation of facts of Gujarat by SIT and upheld by Metropolitan magistrate. Through carefully constructed public meetings and helpful media, Modi started gaining momentum as the potential victor in the next elections. The careful management of social media was on one side projecting him in the illuminating light, on the other side TeamModi-BJP-RSS was targeting Congress and Rahul Gandhi with full blast. The proposal for the tall statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, run for unity and other events were the add-ons for Modi’s electoral campaign. AAP’s emergence and the realization that it may not be a mere ‘one go’ phenomenon, the strategists in Nagpur head office, RSS top brass and Modi’ team have changed the strategy. Now their major fire is directed against AAP. Social media and other word of mouth propaganda is going full barrel against Kejrival, Prashant Bhushan, Yogenra Yadav and Company. Prashant Bhushan’s balanced statement that the opinion of people of Kashmir should be taken about the army deployment in Kashmir, met with a hostile response. AAP office was ransacked

by Hindu Raksha Sena, whom AAP blames to be the outfit of RSS-BJP. Kejrival himself disassociated with that statement is another matter at present. The threat being perceived by the secular democratic forces, that Modi’s becoming the Prime Minister will herald the era of fascism seems to have been blunted partly at the moment due to the unprecedented response being received by AAP. How much of this is true, one is not sure. There are multiple factors working on both the sides. RSS-BJP-Modi is not going to keep quiet about the rising perceptions and image of AAP. The big Corporate see their interests with Modi coming to power, as he has kept the coffers of public money and facilities open for them, as no one else can do. The media controlled by them is also currently partly favorable to AAP. In 1998, when BJP reemerged as a single largest party, the opportunist political formations came to support it on various grounds. Mercifully, Modi was not there. Mercifully his right hand man Amit Shah was not there, then. Mercifully BJP did not have too much of a lead and had to accommodate the wishes of its allies, while pushing forward the agenda of RSSHindu Nation. This time around if Modi emerges as a single largest formation, equations will be different as now BJP has the background experience of having ruled once; Modi will have different tricks up his sleeve. While so far escaping the arm of law, he is the one who had a role in Gujarat carnage, there have been fake encounters in his state, there has been a case of snooping on a young girl and now there is an attempt to implicate the human rights defenders like Teesta Setalvad and others. So Modi is different. BJP under him will be more assertive, in case they manage to come to power. What is the politics of AAP? The politics of parties is judged by their actions and by their pronouncements, manifestos. There is not too much of writing by AAP on its politics, it does

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have a vision document of sorts. It emerged out of anti corruption movement. The movement was based merely on the symptom of the deeper disease of social-economic-political system. The underlying disease of the system has not been addressed. The parties, which are for social change, for the agenda of the downtrodden and deprived have generally emerged from the longing to have a better system, have a theory. Indian National Congress had the need to engage with the British colonialism and articulated nascent Indian Nationalism; Bhagat Singh aspired for socialist state (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association). Ambedkar began with Independent Labor party as he identified the depressed classes with workers, and went on to lay the foundation for Republicanism, Republican Party of India. Muslims elite dreamt of Muslim state and had Muslim League while section of Hindu elite wanted Hindu Nation so had Hindu Mahasabha and RSS. Various socialist parties have also emerged in the recent times. AAP seems to be a different experiment. As AAP itself is a party in making, its leadership may be thinking that its ideology will emerge, through movement and through introspection. Though so far on the issues like Kashmir it has snubbed its own leader for expressing something, which expresses an ideology related to the type of Nation state we want. On Education its proposed policy is parochial. On most of the serious issues its vision document is silent. The task of party building seems be very promising and challenging both. The major question is can it overcome its superficial approach and apply itself and stick its neck out on contentious issues related to economic policy, national policy, social and gender justice. There are lots of expectations in the air, time alone will tell as to which side the party marches overcoming the initial hiccups and enjoying the immunity of ‘honeymoon period’ at the same time. —Plural India

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photo feature

Dosa Plaza grand opening on 4 January 2014

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Dosa Plaza opens with a bang in Dandenong

By our community reporter

elbourne: The restaurant was full of community guests, political leaders and activists and the proud people who are behind the international vegetarian chain ‘Dosa Plaza’, 10 Princess Highway, Dandenong. The occasion was ‘Dosa Plaza’s ‘first franchisee opening shop here. It’s 100 % vegetarian – Indian fast Food Chain. It’s entry into Australia is being hailed as a big event with more than 50 original varieties of dosas, 27 of which are trademark dosas in India. In addition to dosa, the company also has other alluring dishes in its Indian menu. The franchisee which has already made its presence felt in India, UAE and America was opened here by Labour MP Hon. Lee Tarlamis, who is State member of Victorian Parliament for South-Eastern Metropolitan. He cut the ribbon to open the outlet. Addressing the gathering he welcomed the Dosa Plaza to Dandenong and wished them all the best for their hard work in setting up the food outlet. Others who addressed those gathered were Mr. Manoj Sethi, Mr. Ravichandran Raghupathy, Mrs Neelema Mongia, Manoj Kumar and Tim Singh. Mrs. Mongia pledged to give the best and tasty vegetarian Dosas and other delicacies to the customers. Councillors Tim Singh (Darebin) and Intaj Khan (Wyndham) were also present to express their support to the new enterprise. Those behind the Dosa Plaza present were Mr. Ganapathy Nadar, Mr. Iswaran Ratnam and Mr. Nirmal Kumar, Indian Consulate graced the occasion. Ms Manika Jain, Indian Consul General, Melbourne in a message to Mr. Ravi Ragupathy and Mr. Ganapathy wished the outlet all the best and success in business. A large number of guests from the community, small businesses and families were then treated to the delicacies of the Dosa Plaza. Mouth watering vegetarian food was served with many varieties of Dosas. Everyone enjoyed the vegetarian food and praised its taste. There was a feeling that most of them were likely to come back with their families and enjoy the Dosa Plaza food again.

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Dosa Plaza was incorporated in 1998 and since its inception had understood the importance of being a Franchising Company. The first Dosa Plaza outlet was opened in Vashi, Navi Mumbai and today the company has established itself across10 states in India and is spearing speedily into the international market. The company's strategy is clearly franchise-oriented and has valued its franchisee partners as its own team. Dosa Plaza's strong business operating model were laid out to support and nurture franchisee outlets. The company strongly intends to open 10-15 outlets every year simultaneously covering new areas. Dosa Plaza's success has been a joint effort of its enthusiastic team and its enterprising partners. We work on one-to-one basis with each of our partner so as to support each ones' success. The company invests hugely on the upbringing of each of its outlets. Dosa Plaza is on a constant lookout for mutually beneficial partnerships. You can become an entrepreneur and own your own business at Dosa Plaza. If you are passionate about customer service, love south Indian cuisines - greet one of the most profitable franchising opportunities at Dosa Plaza. One can join the Join Dosa Plaza and be a part of growing India's single most popular south Indian cuisine. Embrace a successful business model and reap constant profit. Benefit from committed and customized support from business setup to business promotion. (See photo feature on pg 20)

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south asia 24 South Asia Timestimes

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Sangeet Sandhya Open forum for music lovers – classical, semi-classical & film music

Saturday 1/02/14 - Saugoto Ghosh, Piano Recital Saturday 5/04/14 - Pooja Gupta, Classical Vocal Saturday 7/06/14 - Parag Kaole, Violin Recital Saturday 2/08/14 - Madhuri Kamtikar, Vocal Saturday 4/10/14 - Nicholas Buﬀ (Hindustani Instrumental ) and Sridhar Chari (Carnatic Flute) Recitals Saturday 6/12/14 - Neeraj Sharma, Piano and Harmonica Recital

Swar Sandhya Open forum for music lovers; Karaoke – Popular Indian Music Bring your own music, perform and enjoy

Saturday 4/1/14 Saturday 3/5/14 Saturday 6/9/14

Saturday 1/3/14 Saturday 5/7/14 Saturday 1/11/14

Venue: Waverly Meadows Primary School, Columbia Drive, Wheelers Hill

Time: 8.00pm

Free Entry, with ample parking, Free tea, coﬀee and biscuits Contact: Phone- 0402 074 278 or 0407 559 113 email- sangeetswarsandhya@gmail.com www.facebook.com/sangeetsandhya

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j a n u a r y

southSouth asia times 25 Asia Times

2 0 1 4

MELODY & RHYTHAM

Indian musical instruments By Murali Kumar (Indian classical musician, Artistic Director â&#x20AC;&#x201C; RaagaSudha School of Carnatic Music) www.raagasudha.com.au

tring instruments are musical instruments that have a number of strings that are tuned to suit the style of music; and music is produced from the vibration of the strings by plucking or bowing. Popular string instruments are violin, guitar, sitar, sarod, sarangi, veena, viola, cello. In the first part of a multi-part series last month,I wrote about the violin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the most popular string instrument not just in Indian music, but throughout the world. In Hindustani classical music the bowed-string instrument that is most popular is the sarangi. The sarangi (like the violin) resembles the human voice very closely, and can imitate various ornamentations and embellishments produced by the human voice in Indian classical music. The sarangi is used in Hindustani music to accompany vocal music as well as a solo instrument. It is also an essential part of the orchestra accompanying the classical kathak dance. The word sarangi is widely believed to mean "a hundred colours"

indicating its adaptability to a wide range of musical styles, and its ability to produce a large palette of tonal colour and emotional nuance. In the words of the world-renowned violin maestro Yehudi Menuhin: "The sarangi remains not only the authentic and original Indian bowed stringed instrument but the one which expresses the very soul of Indian feeling and thought." The sarangi entered the world of Hindustani music during the eighteenth centuryas the preferred melodic accompaniment for singers. It was the most popular north Indian instrument during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries at a time when other contemporary instruments such as the sitar and sarod were relatively rare. The sarangi was (and still is) used to accompany dance music, in particular kathak dance. There are three main melody strings in the sarangi, and several sympathetic vibrating strings below. The uniqueness of the sarangi in comparison to other stringed instruments is that it does not have any frets nor a fingerboard; the strings are effectively floating in air. The musician, who is seated, holds the instrument against his / her left shoulder in a vertical position and plays with thebow held in an underhand grip in the right hand.

The sarangi (like the violin) resembles the human voice very closely, and can imitate various ornamentations and embellishments produced by the human voice in Indian classical music. The fingernails and cuticles of the left hand are pressed against the strings to sound specific pitches. The sarangi is believed to be a very difficult instrument to learn and master. Perhaps as a result of the difficulty factor, in Hindustani music today, the sarangi has largely been replaced by the harmonium as the preferred melodic accompaniment instrument. (To be continued...) (The writer is a renowned violinist, and Founder & Artistic Director of Raaga Sudha School of Carnatic Music, Melbourne)

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South Asia Times south asia 26 SOUTH ASIA South Asia Timestimes

Entertainment

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Dedh Ishqiya: Enjoyable sequel

Starring - Arshad Warsi Naseeruddin Shah Madhuri Dixit Huma Qureshi Vijay Raaz Shraddha Kapoor Bhuvan Arora Ravi Gosain; Directed by Abhishek Chaubey; Lyrics Gulzar and Music by Vishal Bhardawaj. Mumbai: Only a few days ago, I was in a deep discussion about standards of film criticism with a colleague. I had commented specifically on how Western critics rarely feel the need to touch upon the technical aspects of the films in their reviews- preferring to dive straight into storytelling and tonal analysis. Indian reviewers consider it their duty to analyze each department, from the sound design, costumes to editing and lyrics. These check boxes can be attributed largely to the fact that most Indian films do not get the basics right. Storytelling, as we have painfully learned, is often secondary priority- once the acting and cinematography/choreography are critiqued and shredded.

edh Ishqiya, a sequel to Abhishek Chaubey's fiercely genrebending Ishqiya, is one of those rare efforts that compiles us to dive directly into the intricacies of plot, characters and the philosophy behind the advent of thrill-a-moment comic thrillers. Because we can afford to. Every other technical department is handled with precision; including the hinterlandish production design, dust blown color palette and considerable cinematic homage. Once we take this remarkable achievement for granted, as we do with most VB productions, we must carve our way through thick poetic layers of jugalbandi, sher shayaris, Urdu literature (a total of 'dedh' non-Urdu lines in the film) and Madhuri Dixit Nene's arched eyebrows. As Babban (Warsi) and

Khalujan (Shah) continue ransacking their delightfully thuggish ways through a random assortment of gangs and damsels, determined not to repeat their 'mistakes' from part 1 (mirroring the filmmakers' intentions), it is hard not to notice that Chaubey and Bharadwaj are trying to pull off a magic trick themselves. Of course, everyone’s identity remains a mystery, with the usual double-triplecross climax in store. We have learned this from Vidya Balan in its predecessor; and there is hence bound to be much deceit on the storytelling front. The important skill lies in how these loose ends are made to look like an illusion under the garb of lust(er) and authenticity, which is where Chaubey's assured direction comes to the fore. These flaws are impossible to discuss without giving away spoilers, so let's just say that the filmmakers manage

to dress some gaping wounds with entertainment, entertainment and plenty of individually brilliant scenesnot least the 'Mexican' standoffs, the 'court of Shayars' competition and some consistent crackling chemistry between Arshad Warsi and…Nasseruddin Shah. There is massive subtext and much is lost in translation between Muniya (Huma Qureshi ; candidly spunky as usual) and Begum Para (Madhuri; still in Devdas mode), and one wishes the director had been braver to go the whole hog. His tendency to shift focus from the lives of one character to another for extended periods of screen time in the first half casts shadows over the whereabouts of the rest of the quirky gang; much of which is very important, knowing that the second half will be full of double jeopardy and revelations. Bharadwaj's dialogue,

constructed delicately with peals of poetry and melancholy, could be lost on many; but you can still sense the beauty of his words, thanks to flawless hat tips by Jaan Mohammed (the inimitable Raaz in another hilarious 'Delhi Belly' avatar) and Ifthekkar (Shah, in his most effective contemporary role) as imposters vying for Begum Para's hand. One look at Shah's puppylove eyes and it is almost easy to shut out the only surface flaw of this film- forgettable music. Bharadwaj, for once, doesn’t score where he is arguably at his alternative best; and I personally missed the hilarious opportunistic Accordion pieces- especially his delightful placement of these strands- that lit up most of Ishqiya and the unforgettable single 'Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji'. This, and Madhuri's mild performance- it would be nice to see her in the

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contemporary world again- form quibbles in what is otherwise a largely enjoyable sequel to an original character-caper style of filmmaking. For VB loyalists, it will be heartening to see that his legacy is in good hands. If they’re brutally honest in their assessment, even they will concede that the Master and his Protégé are still almost-Auteurs, and their efforts lack narrative consistency, relying too much on parts of the whole. Chaubey seems to be bridging that gap, but life outside Ishqiya territory beckons for a better idea of his evolution. While their scene construction is second to none, and we can’t complain about little gems like 'Bhayankar Chilled Beer' signs in a village or a deserted station called 'Bap'what is wrong in striving for more? —Rahul Desai aka Reel Reptile, Upperstall

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entertainment

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southSouth asia times 27 Asia Times

Vidyut Jammwal & Kangna Ranaut hottest veges

By News Desk

ydney : The competition to be named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity of 2013 was fierce. Early leaders Jacqueline Fernandez and Shahid Kapoor as well as Amitabh Bachchan, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor and Vidya Balan put up a real fight. But now, after thousands of votes were cast to help PETA India choose the winners, the results are in, and Bullett Raja hottie Vidyut Jammwal and Krrish 3 star Kangana Ranaut have taken top honours. "Bollywood stars are truly shining for animals by choosing to go meat-free, and Vidyut's six-pack abs and Kangana's beauty are proof that a great way to get a killer body and looks is by not eating animals", says PETA Australia Director of Campaigns Jason Baker. "All of PETA India's nominees are winners for animals because they do not eat them." Jammwal recently appeared in a PETA India ad promoting the health benefits of vegetarian foods. "I believe that everybody should be vegetarian because it has a lot of benefits", he says. "Being a vegetarian keeps you agile, keeps you on your toes and doesn't make you feel lazy. I personally believe that being vegetarian is the way because I have

felt the changes – I have seen myself evolve as a human being, mentally as well as physically." And Ranaut, who recently went vegetarian, says, "We must not eat other animals. Besides, vegetarian organic food is far more healthy minus all the toxins". In addition to causing animal suffering on a massive scale, eating meat has been conclusively linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer

and obesity. And a United Nations report concluded that a global shift towards a plant-based diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change. Winners were chosen based on several factors, including vote count. For more information on going vegetarian and to order your free vegetarian/vegan starter kit, please visit PETA. org.au. —SAT News Service

Your Community Marriage Celebrant • • • • • • •

Marriage registration Notice of intended marriage Overseas Registration Marriage - Notice Special services to overseas students Assist passport applications, overseas visa Interpreting, translating and Secretarial services

For Information contact N.R. Wickiramasingham. CMC JP. Mobile: 0404 059 231 Phone: (03) 9794 7942 Fax: (03) 9794 0414 Email: wickiram@hotmail.com 34 James Street, Dandenong, Victoria 3175 Authorised by the Commenwealth of Australia Reg: A4978

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south asia 28 South Asia Timestimes

recipe

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Australian chestnuts for Asian-inspired cooking this Autumn A By News Desk

favoured ingredient in many Asian dishes, Australians are set to be inspired by the subtly sweet and versatile chestnut this Autumn, with the Australian season kicking off in March. “There are so many more ways to enjoy chestnuts than simply roasting them. Australians with Asian backgrounds consume twice as many chestnuts as those with a European background, so

it’s no surprise that chestnuts are a great addition to many Asian dishes, such as stir-fried noodles and fresh spring rolls,” says Jane Casey, chestnut grower and Chestnuts Australia spokesperson. “Preparing and cooking chestnuts is an easy, no fuss process. Many Australians don’t realise that even the pellicle, which is the soft inner shell of the chestnut, can be left on and eaten; adding another layer of flavour and texture to a dish. “Once cooked, chestnuts’ creamywhite flesh is similar in texture to a baked

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potato; soft and crumbly. The sweet, nutty, yet subtle flavour of chestnuts can be used in a variety of both savoury and sweet dishes. “To show home-cooks how to enjoy this versatile nut at home, Australian chestnut growers have created four new, simple Asian-inspired recipes. Early season nuts are perfect for these new recipes, which show how easy it is to include the pellicle when cooking with chestnuts,” says Casey.

Chestnuts Australia has created four new ways to enjoy chestnuts with these delicious Asian-inspired recipes: 4Chestnut, Pear and Orange Powerballs 4Chestnut and Chicken Spring Rolls 4Chestnut and Chocolate Mousse with Chestnut Toffee Shards “Adding boiled and diced chestnuts alongside fresh vegetables and chicken adds another layer of flavour and texture to a simple spring roll dish. And the chestnut, chocolate and toffee combination creates a delicious, nutty dessert,” Casey says. “Chestnuts can also be enjoyed roasted, boiled or pureed and can be used in an array of dishes,” she adds. Unlike other nuts, chestnuts are low in calories and cholesterol free. Low in GI, chestnuts are digested slowly; keeping the body satisfied for longer. They are also a great source of vitamins C, B1 and B2 and are gluten free. When selecting chestnuts, look for nuts that feel heavy for their size, with undamaged, firm shells. To avoid chestnuts drying out, store in an airtight container, paper bag or perforated plastic bag in the crisper compartment of the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Chestnuts are harvested once the nuts have fallen from the tree. The early season nuts fall at the beginning of March and continue to fall until the end of the season in May. Chestnuts are available from supermarkets and independent grocers in the fresh produce section. Other chestnut products that can be enjoyed all year around include frozen peeled chestnuts, chestnut puree, meal and flour; all available from speciality food stores. Believed to be brought into Australia by migrants during the Gold Rush of the 1850s, chestnuts have been grown in Australia for more than 150 years. Today, the industry is characterised by a large number of small, family-owned farms, with approximately 300 growers producing 1500 tonnes of chestnuts per year. Chestnuts are ideally grown in areas that are hot in summer and cold in winter. Australia’s chestnut farms are situated in areas such as North East Victoria; the Dandenongs outside Melbourne; Batlow and The Southern Tablelands in New South Wales; the Adelaide Hills in South Australia; and Manjimup in Western Australia. More information on chestnuts is available at www.chestnutsaustralia.com.au. Follow @chestnutsaustralia on Instagram. Source: Australian Chestnuts

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recipe

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southSouth asia times 29 Asia Times

CHESTNUT, PEAR AND ORANGE POWERBALLS Makes 36 balls

Ingredients

500g fresh chestnuts 1 tbs honey

Method

1. Place chestnuts in a medium saucepan with about 1 litre of water, so the chestnuts are fully submerged. Bring to the boil, and boil for 1 hour, topping up water if required. Drain and cool in cold water. When cool enough to handle, open and scoop each nut out. 2. Place chestnuts in a mortar and pestle or food processor, and grind until smooth. 3. Add the honey, vegetable oil, orange juice, pear, cinnamon and 1tbs of the white sesame seeds. Process or ground until well combined. 4. Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls, and coat the additional black and white sesame seeds. 4 2 tbs vegetable oil 4 Juice of 1 orange 4 100g dried pear, roughly chopped 4 1 tsp ground cinnamon 4 ¼ tsp sea salt 4 1 tbs white sesame seeds Additional black and white sesame seeds to coat Recipe by: Chestnuts Australia

CHESTNUT AND CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH CHESTNUT TOFFEE SHARDS Serves 4

Ingredients 4 4 4 4 4

Chestnut Puree 400g fresh chestnuts 1 cup milk ¼ cup sugar 1 cup water

Method

4 Chestnut Puree 4 Chestnut and Chocolate Mousse 1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Carefully cut a small X shape into the side of each chestnut. Boil the chestnuts for 20 minutes. Drain and using a small paring knife remove shell and skin. 2. Place 250g of the shelled, roughly chopped chestnuts into a small saucepan along with milk, sugar and 1 cup of water and boil for 15-20 minutes, or until the chestnuts are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated. Place in a food

processor, and blend until smooth. Set aside to cool. (The remaining chopped chestnuts will be used for the toffee). 4 200g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped 4 2 eggs, at room temperature, separated 4 2 tbs caster sugar 4 200ml thickened cream 4 4 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 Toffee Shards 4 ¼ cup caster sugar 4 2 tsp water 4 Whipped cream, to serve

Mousse

3. Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of simmering water (making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Stir for 5 minutes or until the chocolate has completely melted and is smooth. 4. Remove bowl from the heat and set aside for 3 minutes to cool

slightly. Add the egg yolks and stir until well combined. 5. In a separate medium size clean bowl, place the cream, 150g of the chestnut puree* and vanilla extract. Whisk until soft peaks form. 6. Use electric beaters to beat the egg whites in a large, clean dry bowl until soft peaks begin to form. Gradually add the caster sugar, 1 tsp at a time, beating well between each addition, until the sugar dissolves. 7. Fold the chocolate mixture into the chestnut cream mixture, until well combined. 8. Add approximately ¼ cup of egg whites to the chocolate cream mixture and stir thoroughly to loosen the mixture. Fold the remaining egg whites gently into the chocolate cream mixture until evenly combined. 9. Spoon the mousse mixture into four serving glasses or dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 3 hours, or until chilled.

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Toffee Shards 10. Chop the remaining chestnuts into small chunks and place on a sheet of baking paper, clumped together. Place sugar and 2 teaspoons of water in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring, for 3 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to mediumhigh and bring to the boil. Boil, without stirring, brushing down the side of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water for 10 minutes or until golden. Pour over the chestnuts and set aside to set.

To serve

11. Top each mousse with whipped cream and break off a bit of chestnut toffee shard. Note: There will be some chestnut puree leftover, try it stirred through Greek yoghurt for breakfast. Recipe by: Chestnuts Australia

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”sI D;n se kl ho r*xn² yh ivXv;s b!¹;ne do))

jo n soc;² ho j;t; hw² nhI' h;rte vIr k.I)

-Xy;ml sumn² jmxedpur² .;rt sCcI koixx² p[itfl aCz;² b;te' %¹;s bt;ne do))

kl a;yeg;² bIt; kl .I² nhI' iksI pr vx apn;) apne vx me' vtRm;n bs² yh a;.;s kr;ne do))

ijtne k;\$e imle sumn ko² b!¹tI hw ¬tnI %¹uxbU

%¹ud k; pircy s'`Wo| se² yh Ehs;s kr;ne do))

m;nv duãkmo| kI smI=;

-aimt;. is‹h c*h;n ®p[Itm®

sUypR . [ ; c'{m; Jyoit se a;loikt yh vs‹/ u r;²

ik‹tu Vyq; ic‹t; imQy; se hm mnujo‹ k; údy .r;)

pxu bne s>y a*r hm as>y m;nv x]u m;nvt; k;² aCz;”R g”R ”‹s;n bn; py;Ry vStu d;nvt; k;)

injRnt; k; a;.;s ilye kws; yh b!¹t; a‹/k;r²

/rtI ivSmOt a;k;x cikt hw de% dnujt; k; a;k;r)

/r,I/r k; f, @ol ¬#; jwse p;po‹ k; .r; `@¹;²

ab cl; fU$ne p[ly smy m;nv ivn;x ke ink$ %@¹;)

he devpu] m;nv apne p;po‹ k; pXc;t;p kro²

apnI apnI krnI k; fl .ugto apn; ivn;x ab Svy' kro)

¬s i]pur;rI kI g‹g; ko tumne apm;int a;j iky;²

Ky; ivSfo$k prm;,u se ter; bc;v ho p;Eg;²

/rtI m;\ ko du% ddR .r; xUlo‹ se guiMft t;j idy;)

b;\$g e ; icq@¹o‹ m‹e Ky; tU %ud icq@¹o‹ m‹e b\$ j;Eg;)

phle .I kiv kI rcn; me‹ tuZko .ivãy kI Zlk imlI²

”s a‹/k;r k; .;n hua; a*r terI so”R a;\% %ulI)

h;\ a;\% %ulI pr h; m;nv pl .r m‹e ifr vh b‹d hué²

a*r koé besh;ro‹ k; sh;r; bn kr

vh hu”R b‹d² tm fwl gy; terI dugiR t SvCzNd hu”)R

r;jn - nekidlI se .u%mrI

dUsro‹ ke k;m a; p;Eg;)

a*r bIm;iryo‹ ko im$; kr ny; s;l sb ke ilE m‹glmy ho j;Eg;))

pr a;j p[ly k; yh a‹/@¹ tere `m‹@ ko to@¹g e ;² %ud $kr; kr c¯;no‹ se m;nv apn; sr fo@¹g e ;)

sidyo‹ se fwle ”s tm ko c‹{m; sUyR ab lIleg ‹ ²e

n$r;j Svy‹ ifr h;q b!¹; /rtI k; hl;hl pI leg ‹ )e mnup] u oÚ kho iv/;t; se² .Ulo‹ ko =m; kr‹g e e ve²

inm;R, sOiã$ k; ho ifr se /rtI ko ny; kreg ‹ e ve)

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j a n u a r y

southSouth asia times 31 Asia Times

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Ek qI m;y;³³³³³³ÚÚÚ á.;g-5â -ivjy kum;r hwdr;b;d

áipzle aûo' me‹ a;pne p!¹; ik m;y; a*r a.y Ek dUsre se Py;r krte qe pr'tu m;y; apne pirv;r kI ijMmed;iryo' ke k;r, x;dI ke ilye twy;r nhI' qI) ¬sne dUsrI jgh n*krI kr lI a*r ve dono' Ek dUsre se se k.I-k.I imlte rhe) ”/r inr;x ho kr² a.y k.I-k.I xr;b .I pIne lg;) ¬skI p!¹;é sm;Pt ho gyI a*r vh apnI prI=; me' p;s ho gy;) ixvr;i] ke idn ifr ve m'idr ke p;s imle a*r m;y; ne a.y ko Ek i@Bb; idy; ijsme' ¬ske ilye l@(@U a*r icv@¹; q;) a.y ke pUzne pr ik vh kb tk ¬ske ilye %;ne k; i@Bb; l;tI rhegI² m;y; ne v;yd; iky; ik vh hr ixvr;i] ko Ees; i@Bb; l;tI rhegI) a.y ne kuz nhI' kh; a*r bCco' ke s;q b;\$ kr ¬se %;ne lg;) lIijye a;ge kI kh;nI pi!¹y-e - sMp;dkâ

m;y; ne /Ire se mer; h;q pk@¹ kr kh;² a.y Ek %br hw tuMhe' bt;nI hw)® mw'ne kh; ®bt;ao)® m;y; ne bCco'' ko vh;\ se h$;ne kI gj¹R se ¬Nhe' %elne .ej idy; a*r ¬sne mer; h;q pk@¹;² bhut kskr pk@¹;² m;no ¬se zU$ j;ne k; @r ho² ifr ¬sne merI aor bhut Py;r se bhut ghrI nj¹r se de%te huE kh;² ®a.y merI x;dI ty ho gyI a;j)® mw' av;k rh gy; jwse muZ pr ibjlI a; igrI ho) mw' ajIb sI a;\%o'' se m;y; ko de%ne lg;) m;y; ne kh; de%o² ®hmne soc; q; ik hm Ek dUsre se x;dI nhI'' kre'ge t;ik hm;r;

p[em bc; rhe) a*r muZe ”s x;dI ke ilye h;\ krnI p@¹I) mw' x;dI nhI'' krn; c;htI qI² k.I .I nhI'' a*r iksI se .I nhI''² yh b;t tum j;nte ho) leikn muZe pirv;r ke ilE yh x;dI krnI p@e¹gI)® mw' cupc;p q;) bhut ajIb s; ahs;s ho rh; q;) idm;g¹ a*r idl dono'' hv; me' twr se rhe qe) jo hmne ty iky; q; vh #Ik .I q; ik hm dono'' Ek dUsre se x;dI nhI'' kre'ge t;ik hm;r; p[em bc; rhe hmex; hI² leikn m;y; kI x;dI iksI a*r se² yh mw' shn nhI'' kr p; rh; q;) mw'ne m;y; se guSse me' pUz;² ®yh Ky; b;t hué² jb x;dI hI krnI qI to muZse kr

letI² mw' to twy;r hI q;À m;y; ne x;''t Svr me' kh;² ®a.y² tum smZ nhI'' rhe ho² hm dono'' kI s;m;ijk piriSqit alg-alg hw) mw' to %u¹x ho j;tI tumse x;dI krke² leikn tum k.I .I %ux nhI'' rh p;te)® mw' .@¹k kr bol;² ®a*r ab jo x;dI tum kr rhI ho² ¬sse tum %u¹x hoÀ® m;y; ne bhut x;''t Svr me' mer; h;q pk@¹ kr kh;² ®a.y² mere ilE tumse behtr koé a*r pu¨W nhI'') .gv;n ixv kI k¹sm) mw' yh x;dI apnI %u¹xI ke ilE nhI'' kr rhI hU\) mw' yh x;dI ispRÐ apne pirv;r ke ilE kr rhI hU\) tum mere s;q k.I .I %ux nhI'' rh skte qe) qo@¹I der

kI %u¹xI rhtI a*r ifr ij¹NdgI .r k; ic@¹ic@¹;pn) tuMh;re ilE hm;r; p[em ispRÐ¹ boZ bnkr rh j;t; a*r hr bItte huE =, ke s;q tum %¹Tm hote j;te) mw' yh nhI'' c;htI hU\) mw' c;htI hU\ ik tum ij¹Nd; rho a*r %ux rho) tum bhut aCze ”''s;n ho) ”s duiny; ko² tuMh;rI jårt hw) mw' tuMhe' jIte huE de%n; c;htI hU\)® pt; nhI'' m;y; kI b;to'' me' Ky; q;² mw' x;''t ho gy;) mw'ne /Ire se kh;² ®pr m;y;² hm;r; Py;rÚ ¬sk; Ky;À® m;y; ne kh;² ®Py;r k.I nhI'' mrt; a.y) vh to hmex; hI ij''¹d; rheg;) hm;r; Py;r k.I %¹Tm nhI'' hog;)® áÞmx"â

s'i=Pt sm;c;r

vI³sI³é³ ihNdI prI=;-2013 ke pir,;m

¾ivK$oryn si$Rif¹ke$ a;Žf¹ Ejukexn¾ kI sn( 2013 kI ihNdI prI=; ke pir,;m `oiWt kr idye gye hw') ”s prI=; me' inMnili%t iv´;iqRyo' ne 80 p[itxt y; ¬sse ai/k

a'k p[;Pt ikye hw' - 1³ tuW;r goyl á50Ö50â 2³ ”nko tq; aNy s.I iv´;iqRyo' ko ijNho'ne ihNdI ivWy ait.v c*/rI á46Ö50â 3³ s*My; k;kiry; á44Ö50â ke s;q sn( 2013 kI vI³sI³é³ ihNdI prI=; ¬ÊI,R 4³ pLlvI aror; á41Ö50â 5³ Åuit sonI á40Ö50â kI hw² ihNdI-puãp ko aor se bhut-bhut b/;é)

ihNdI ke ivÃ;n² p[of¹esr mwg[egr k; deh;vs;n

kwiMb[j ivXviv´;ly me' 33 vWo| tk ihNdI k; a?y;pn krne v;le 84 vWIRy² p[of¹esr ron;L@ S$ua$R mwg[egr k; 19 agSt² 2013 ko deh;vs;n ho gy;) ¬Nho'ne a'tr;Rã$Îy Str pr ihNdI-ix=; ke =e] me' mhTvpU,R k;yR iky; hw) a;ŽS$êily; kI r;j/;nI kwnbr; me' iSqt² ¾a;ŽS$êilyn nexnl yuinvisR$I¾ me' ihNdI-¬dUR p!¹;E j;ne k; .I ÅIg,ex iky; q;) ¬Nho'ne ihNdI-a\g[ej¹I xBdkoxo'² Vy;kr, tq; 19vI' tq; 20vI'

xt;BdI ke ihNdI s;ihTy ke b;re me' puStke' il%I') @;ŽK$re$ kI ¬p;i/ ke ilye² ¬Nho'ne b[j-.;W; pr xo/-k;yR iky; q;) ¬nkI ¾d a;ŽKsf¹o@R ”'gilx ihNdI i@KxnrI¾ a;j .I ihNdI iv´;iqRyo' tq; anuv;dko' Ã;r; p[yog j; rhI hw) ihNdI-puãp ke sMp;dk k; ¬nse sMPkR tb hua; jb idnex jI a;ŽS$^eily; me' h;é-SkUl kI k=;ao' ke ilye ihNdI k; p;#(yv[Ðm twy;r kr rhe qe)

imlte hI p[of¹esr mwg[egr ne ¬Nhe' c'd brd;é rict pOQvI r;j r;so kI inMn p'iKty;\ sun;yI' ® c;r h;q² c*bIs gj¹² a'gul aã# p[m;n) t; èpr suLt;n hw² mt cUko c*h;n))® ¬ske pXc;t k;f¹I rock s;ihTy-cc;R hué) p[of¹esr mwg[egr ke in/n se ihNdI ne Ek b@¹; ivÃ;n² xo/kt;R tq; kuxl a?y;pk %o idy; hw)

m;ŽrIxs ke ihNdI le%k² ai.mNyu ant ¾s;ihTy ak;demI¾ Ã;r; sMm;int

m;ŽrIxs ke p[isõ ihNdI le%k² ai.mNyu ant ko s;ihTy ak;demI ne .;rtIy s;ihTy m'e yogd;n ke ilye ¾a;nrerI f¹eloixp¾ p[d;n ikye j;ne kI òW,; kI hw) ”ske phle yh sMm;n vI³Es³n;”p;Žl² leaop;L@ sedr s'òr² p[o• é³ pe$ôivc celixv² p[o• @winyl Ec³ ”'gLs a;id ko idy; j; cuk;

hw) ai.mNyu ant jI gt pc;s vWo| se ihNdI ko vwiXvk phc;n idl;ne ke ilye p[y;srt rhe hw') ¬Nho'ne ihNdI ix=,² r'gm'c² ihNdI p[k;xn a;id ké =e]o' me' k;m iky; hw) ¬nkI p[mu% rcn;E\ hw' ¬pNy;s -¾l;l psIn;¾² ¾lhro' kI be$I¾² ¾Ek bI`; Py;r¾²

if¹LmI kl;k;r² f¹;å%¹ xe% kI ac;nk m*t

23 idsMbr² 2013 ko dubé me' údy-git ¨k j;ne ke k;r,² 65 vWIRy² if¹LmI kl;k;r² f¹;å%¹ xe%¹ kI ac;nk m*t ho gyI) ve Ek m'je huE kl;k;r a*r Ek aCze VyiKt qe) ¬Nho'ne tIs se ai/k ihNdI if¹Lmo' me'² ké n;$ko' v $elIivj¹n n;i$k;ao' tq; aNy k;yRv[Ðmo' me' k;m iky; q;) ¬Nho'ne ké p[isõ if¹Lm indeRxko'² jwse² sTyjIt re² muj¹F¹fr alI² úiWkex mu%jIR a*r ketn meht;

mhTvpU,R itiqy;\

1 jnvrI ánv-vWR k; a;rM.² sTyeN{ bos jy'tIâ² 5 jnvrI águ¨ goiv'd is'h jy'tIâ² 10 jnvrI áivXv² ihNdI-idvsâ² 12 jnvrI áSv;mI ivvek;n'd jy'tI² r;ã$Îy yuv; idvs.;rtâ² 13 jnvrI ám;Ì-isK%â² 14 jnvrI ámkr s'Þ;'it Ö po'glâ² 23 jnvrI ánet;jI su.;W c'{ bos jy'tIâ² 26 jnvrI áa;ŽS$êily;idvsÖ.;rtIy g,t'] idvsâ² 30 jnvrI ámh;Tm; g;'/I kI pu<y itiqâ² 4 f¹rvrI ábs't-p'cmIâ² 14 f¹rvrI áse'$ vwleN$;”n idvsâ² 15 f¹rvrI áinv;R,Öpirinv;v;R,-idvs-buõÖjwnâ² 28 f¹rvrI ámh;ixvr;i]â)

sUcn;E\

1³ Svr s'?y; áxinv;r² 4 jnvrIâ² s'gIt s'?y; áxinv;r² 1 f¹rvrIâ² Sq;n - vevlIR me@oj¹ p[;”mrI SkUl² 11 kUliMby; @^;”v² ×IlsR ihl² ivK$oiry; ámeLve s‹d.R-71 jI-11â

¾g;'/I bole qe¾ a;id) kivt; s'g[h - ¾kwK$s ke d;\t¾² ¾gulmohr %*l ¬#;¾ a;id) ¬nkI ké rcn;ao' k; anuv;d a\g[ej¹I tq; p[¹Ð;'sIsI a;id .;W;ao' me' ho cuk; hw)

a;id ke s;q .I k;m iky; q;) ¬nkI mu:y if¹Lme' qI' - ¬mr;v j;n² grm hv;² cXme' bd(dUr² l;h*r² x'`;é² nUrI² yh jv;nI hw idv;nI² xtr'j ke i%l;@¹I² b;j¹;r² iksI se n khn; a;id) ¬nkI a'itm if¹Lm qI -¾KLb 60¾) ¾l;h*r¾ if¹Lm me' ai.ny ke ilye ¬Nhe' sn( 2010 me' r;ã$^Iy purSk;r iml; q;) ¬nk; mu:y yogd;n ¾sm;n;'tr

isnem;¾ me' q;) xb;n; a;j¹mI ke s;q iky; hua; ¬nk; n;$k² ¾tuMh;rI amOt;¾ .I k;f¹I p[isõ hua; q;) $elIivj¹n pr ¾jIn; ”sI k; n;m hw¾ sIiryl kI p[qm ê'%l; ko .I ¬Nho'ne hI p[Stut iky; q;) xe%¹ f¹;å%¹ kI m*t se ihNdI if¹Lm jgt ne Ek m'j; hua; kl;k;r v Ek mhTvpU,R VyiKtTv %o idy; hw)

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2³ s;ihTy-s'?y; - apne log² apnI b;te' áxinv;r² 18 jnvrIâ Sq;n - b;Žlivn mIi$'g åm² b;Žlivn áBalwynâ l;”b[erI² 336 ×;”$h;ŽsR áWhitehorseâ ro@² b;Žlivn ámeLve s‹d.R-46 é-8â) smy - x;m ke 7³30 bje se 10³30 bje tk) p[vex in"xuLk hw) ai/k j;nk;rI ke ilE¾ p[of¹esr niln x;rd; áé-mel" nalinsharda@gmail.com f¹on" á0402â 108 512â aqv; hirhr Z; áé-mel" hariharjha2007@gmail.com f¹on" á03â 9555 4924â se sMpkR kIijye 3³ ¾b;Ps Sv;mIn;r;y, s'Sq;¾ p[Stut krtI hw -

4³ ¾”Sk;Žn¾ Ã;r; a;yoijt ¾rq-y;]; ¬Tsv¾ árivv;r 9 f¹rvrIâ inTy;n'd ]yodxI ábu/v;r² 12 f¹rvrIâ Sq;n - hre kOã, m'idr² 197 @w'Ks (Danks) S$^I$² alb$R p;kR² ivK$oiry; -3206 ai/k j;nk;rI ke ily f¹on kre' - á03â9699 5122 aqv; inMn vebs;”$ de%e' www.harekrishnamelbourne.com.au

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¾hm tum¾ inb'/-p[ityoigt;

l@¹ke v l@¹kI Ek sm;n hote hw'

-ijimx; modI ák=; 12â BlwkbnR keN{ ivK$oiryn SKUl a;Žf¹ lw'Gvejej¹

á”s inb'/ ko p[ityoigt; me' iÃtIy purSk;r iml; q;- sMp;dkâ

a;j ke yug me' l@¹ke v l@¹kI kI tuln; kI j;ye to dono' me' k;f¹I sm;nt; de%ne ko imltI hw) mere ivc;r se l@¹ke v l@¹iky;\ Ek sm;n hote hw') hm;r; dex Ek as;Mp[d;iyk dex hw) ”s dex me' alg-alg /mR² j;it ke log rhte hw') p[Tyek VyiKt ko lokt'] ke m;?ym se apnI trh se jIne k; pUr; hk¹ hw) ”s dex me'² a;j hr Ek VyiKt Svt']t;pUvRk jI rh; hw a*r hr ”'s;n apnI jårto' ko pUr; kr skt; hw) a;j l@¹ke -l@¹kI Ek sm;n hw' pr'tu Ek smy q; jb l@¹ikyo' ko hIn dOiã$ se de%; j;t; q; a*r pirv;r me' l@¹kI k; pwd; hon; bdik¹SmtI kI inx;nI m;n; j;t; q;) ¬ske ilye S]I ko doWI #hr;y; j;t; q;) l@¹kI ke pwd; hote hI ¬se m;r idy; j;t; q;) dU/ me' @ubo kr m;r idy; j;t; q;) EesI kurIity;\ sm;j me' p[cilt qI) EesI kurIityo' ke iv¨õ kuz logo' ne a;v;j¹ ¬#;yI a*r ¬Nhe' b'd krne ke ilye s'`WR iky;) r;j; r;m mohn r;y ne ¾dU/pItI¾ krne ke irv;j¹ ko b'd krv;y;) ¬sI trh sm;j me' Ek a*r kup[q; p[cilt qI) vh qI - stI p[q;) pit ke mrne ke b;d ¬skI pTnI .I ¬ske s;q stI hotI qI) ”s kup[q; ko .I r;j; r;m mohn r;y ne b'd krv; idy;) a;j sm;j me' Ek a*r b;t p[cilt hw) vh yh ik l@¹k; jo k;m kre² ¬se ¬ict a*r l@¹kI jo k;m kre² ¬se anuict m;n; j;t; hw) Ky; l@¹kI ko jIne k; hk¹ nhI' hwÀ Ky; ¬se a;ge b!¹ne k; ai/k;r nhI' hwÀ Ky; vh jIvn me' aCze k;yR krke apn; n;m nhI' km; sktI hwÀ h;\² ¬se .I pUre ai/k;r hw') ¬se .I apnI r;h pr a;ge b!¹ne k; pUr; hk¹ hw) a;j smy bdl cuk; hw) dex k; svoRCc pd r;ã$^pit k; m;n; j;t; hw) ¬s pr .I mihl; ne apn; Sq;n bn; ily; hw) ÅImtI ”'idr; g;'/I ne p[/;nm']I ke pd pr bw# kr Ek ny; ”ith;s rc; hw) a'tir= m'e j;ne v;lI svRp[qm .;rtIy mihl; kLpn; c;vl; qI') kuz smy pUvR² sunIt; ivilyMs .I a'tir= me' k¹rIb 30-40 idn rh kr v;ps a;yI' qI' a*r ”ith;s me' apn; n;m r*xn iky;) ijs trh l@¹ke ¬Cc pd pr j;te hw'² ¬sI p[k;r l@¹iky;\ .I ¬Cc pdo' pr a;ge b!¹ rhI hw') ¬Cc pdo' ko h;isl krne ke ilye l@¹ikyo' me' bhut hI Sp/;R de%ne ko iml rhI hw) a;j b@¹e se b@¹e ivXviv´;lyo' me' tq; bo@R kI aNy xw=i,k prI=;ao' me' l@¹ikyo' ne p[qm n'br h;isl krke Ek nye smy k; a;g¹;j¹ kr idy; hw) ab hm yh kh skte hw' ik l@¹iky;\ l@¹ko' se km nhI' hw'² biLk Ek k¹dm a;ge hw') a;j l@¹iky;\ p[git ke pq pr a;ge b!¹ne lgI hw') Ek smy Ees; a;yeg; ik hr pd pr l@¹iky;\ a;ge b!¹e'gI a*r dex ko Ek nyI idx; id%;E\gI) a;j dex ko ivk;s kI j¹årt hw) net; log dex ko a;ge b!¹;ne k; jo spn; de% rhe hw'² ¬sme' l@¹ikyo' kI xiKt x;iml hone se dex k; ivk;s bhut jLd hone kI hm a;x; krte hw' a*r dex jLdI se a;ge b!¹e-yhI hm;rI k;mn; hw)

ab h\sne kI b;rI hw if¹LmI ai.net; a*r indeRxk

if¹Lm indeRxk áai.net; seâ - tuMhe' s* mI$r kI è\c;é se ¾iSvim'g-pUl¾ me' kUdn; hw) ai.net; áindeRxk seâ - leikn muZ twrn; nhI' a;t; hw) mw' @Ub j;¬\g;) indeRxk áai.net; seâ - prex;n Kyo' hote ho) ¾iSvim'gpUl¾ me' p;nI nhI' hw)

south asia 32 South Asia Timestimes

quick community guide Radio GUIDE

SUNDAY Hindi...............9 am to 10 am – 93.1 FM Urdu............. 10 am to 11 am – 93.1 FM Tamil.......... .11 am to 12 pm – 93.1 FM Hindi............. 8 pm to 10 pm – 88.3 FM Singhalese.... 8 pm to 11 pm –97.7 FM MONDA Y Hindi................ 3 Pm to 4 pm – 93.1 FM Bengali........... 4 pm to 5 pm – 93.1 FM Hindi............... .6 pm to 8 pm – 88.3 FM Indian (Fiji).............. .6 pm to 8 pm 88.3 Punjabi......1 1 am to 12 noon 92.3 FM TUESDAY Hindi............... Hindi................. WEDNESDAY Hindi................. Hindi...................... Punjabi........ Hindi................

6 am to 8 am – 97.7 FM 2 pm to 4 pm – 97.7 FM

.6 am to 8 am – 97.7 FM 12 to 1 pm – 93.1 FM 11 am to 12 pm - 92.3 FM .8 pm to 9 pm – 97.7 FM

THURSDAY Hindi........... Tamil................ Sinhalese..... Punjabi.........

5.30 am to 7 am – 97.7 FM 8 pm to 9 pm – 92.3 FM 1 1 pm to 3 am –92.3 FM 9 pm to 10 pm – 93.1 FM

FRIDAY Indian..............

.8 am to 9 am – 88.3 FM

SATURDAY Sinhalese........ 7 am to 8 am – 92.3 FM T amil............... 12-12.30 pm – 88.3 FM Indian............... 5 am to 6 am - 92.3 FM Punjabi..................... 12-2 am – 92.3 FM Indian............ 9 pm to 10 pm – 92.3 FM Punjabi............................. 11 pm to 1 am 24/7 Radio stations Indian Link Radio (Subscription) 18000 15 8 47 Radio Santa Banta (Internet) Santabanta.com.au Radio Jhankar 88.6 FM; Every Thursday; 8 to 10 pm; Contact: 94668900 or 0411247320 or 9404 2111

South Asian websiteS India TEHELKA – www.tehelka.com OUTLOOK – www.outlookindia.com FRONTLINE- www.flonnet.com THE HINDU: www.hinduonnet.com TIMES OF INDIA: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com HINDUSTAN TIMES: www.hindustantimes.com Pakistan DAWN: www.dawn.com THE FRIDAY TIMES: www.thefridaytimes.com THE NEWS INTERENATIONAL: www.thenews.com.pk

community

www.ekantipur.com/en THE RISING NEPAL: www.nepalnews.com.np

PLACES OF WORSHIP HINDU Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple 57 Boundary Rd, Carrum Downs, Melbourne, Vic 3201, Ph: 03 9782 0878; Fax: 03 9782 0001 Website: www.hsvshivavishnu.org.au Sri Vakratunda Vinayaka Temple 1292 - 1294, The Mountain Highway, The Basin, Vic 3154, Ph: 03 9792 1835 Melbourne Murugan Temple 17-19 Knight Ave., Sunshine VIC 3020 Ph: 03 9310 9026 Durga Temple (Durga Bhajan Mandali) Neales Road, Rockbank, Vic 3335 Ph: 03 9747 1628 or Mobile: 0401 333 738 Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Temple 197 Danks Street, Middle Park Vic 3206 Ph: (03) 9699 5122 Email: 100237.354@compuserve.com Hare Krishna New Nandagram Rural Community Oak Hill, Dean’s Marsh Rd., Bambra VIC 3241, Ph: (052) 887383 Fax: (052) 887309 Kundrathu Kumaran Temple 139 Gray Court, ROCKBANK Victoria 3335 Ph: 03-9747 1135 or M: 0450 979 023 http://www.kumarantemple.org.au/ SIKH BLACKBURN Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 127 Whitehorse Road, Blackburn VICTORIA 3130, Ph: (03) 9894 1800 CRAIGIEBURN Sri Guru Singh Sabha 344 Hume Highway, Craigieburn VICTORIA 3164 (see map), Ph: (03) 9305 6511 KEYSBOROUGH Gurdwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib 198 -206 Perry Road, Keysborough VICTORIA 3073 (see map) LYNBROOK Nanaksar Taath, 430 Evans Road, Lynbrook VICTORIA 3975, (03) 9799 1081 HOPPERS CROSSING Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 417 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing VICTORIA 3029, Ph: (03) 9749 2639 WERRIBEE Gurdwara Sahib Werribee 560 Davis Road, Tarneit VICTORIA 3029 PH: (03) 8015 4707

Sri Lanka DAILY MIRROR: www.dailymirror.lk DAILY NEWS: www.dailynews.lk THE ISLAND: www.island.lk

SHEPPARTON Gurdwara Sahib Shepparton 240 Doyles Road, Shepparton VICTORIA 3603 PH: (03) 5821 9309

Nepal THE HIMALAYAN TIMES: www.thehimalayantimes.com KANTIPUR NATIONAL DAILY:

JAIN Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh Inc 3 Rice Street, Moorabbin, Vic - 3189, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9555 2439

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info@melbournejainsangh.org http://www.melbournejainsangh.org MUSLIM Melbourne West Mosque 66-68 Jeffcott Street, Melbourne Ph: 03 9328 2067 Broadmeadows Mosque 45-55 King Street, Broadmeadows Ph 03 9359 0054 Islamic Call Society 19 Michael Street, Brunswick Ph: 03 9387 7100 Islamic Centre of Australia 660 Sydney Road, Brunswick Ph 03 9385 8423 Australian Islamic Cultural Centre 46-48 Mason Street, Campbellfield Ph: 03 9309 7605 Coburg ISNA Mosque 995 Sydney Road, Coburg North Coburg Mosque (Fatih Mosque) 31 Nicholson Street, Coburg Ph 03 9386 5324 Deer Park Mosque 283 Station Road, Deer Park Ph 03 9310 8811 United Migrant Muslim Assn. 72 George Road, Doncaster Ph 03 9842 6491, Footscray West Mosque 294 Essex Street, Footscray Glenroy Musala 1st Floor, 92 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy Heidelberg Mosque Corner Lloyd & Elloits Streets, West Heidelberg Islamic College of Victoria (Mosque) 201 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing Ph 03 9369 6010 Huntingdale Mosque 320-324 Huntingdale Road, Huntingdale Ph 03 9543 8037 Al Nur Mosque 34-36 Studley Street, Maidstone Meadow Heights Mosque Hudson Circuit, Meadow Heights Springvale Mosque 68 Garnworthy Street, Springvale

EMERGENCY CONTACTS EMERGENCY CONTACTS Police, Fire & Abulance ........................ 000 Victoria State Emergency Service (SES)....................................... 132 500 Traffic hazards and freeway conditions.......................... 13 11 70 Gas escape........................................... 132 771 Poisons information........................ 13 11 26 Maternal and Child Line................ 13 22 29 Parentline........................................... 13 22 89 Kids Help Line......................... 1800 551 800 Lifeline (provides confidential telephone counselling)................. 13 11 14 Suicide Help Line.................... 1300 651 251 Animal Emergencies.................. 9224 2222

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HIGH COMMISSION FOR PAKISTAN,CANBERRA 4 Timbarra Crescent, O’Malley ACT 2606 (Australia), Tel: 61-2-62901676, 61-2-62901676, 62902769, 62901879 & 62901031, Fax: 61-262901073 Email: parepcanberra@internode. on.net, Postal Address: PO Box 684, Mawson ACT 2607 (Australia)

Sri Lanka Consulate 32A Brunswick Street ,Walkerville 5081 Melbourne , Phone: 9898-6760, 9248-1228 Email: rodney@techno.net.au

Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra 43, Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, ACT-2606 Canberra, Australia, Ph: (61-2) 6290-0511, (612) 6290-0522, (61-2)6290-0533 (Auto hunting). Fax : (61-2) 6290-0544 E-Mail :hoc@bhcanberra.com Consulate of Nepal, Melbourne Email: cyonzon@nepalconsulate.net.au Level 7, 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Ph: (03) 9650 8338 Email: info@nepalconsulate.net.au SBS1 – Daily NDTV News - 11 am - Monday to Saturday. (From New Delhi, India).

TV News/programs Hindi News Urdu news SBS1 - PTV News – 9.30 am - Every Sunday – (From Pakistan). Readymades Roshan’s Fashions 68-71 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9792 5688 Raj Rani Creations 83-A Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Ph: (03) 9794 9398 Heritage India 54-56 Foster Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175, Ph: (03) 9791 9227 Site: heritageindia.net.au

DVDs, Music CDs & Film Stuff Baba Home Entertainment 52C Foster St., Dandenong 3175, (03) 97067252 Essence of India 76 Foster St., Dandenong 3175 (03) 87744853; 0413707685 Accountants & Loans Deepak & Associates Suite 4 & 6, Bldg.6, Hamilton Place, Mont Waverley 3149, (03) 9807 5992; 0402459174; 0411733737

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quick community guide

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contd from previous page All Banking Needs Rakesh Raizada Commonwealth Bank (Indian Banking) Ground Floor, 378 Burwood Highway Burwood East 3151 Mobile: 0434470095 Email: rakesh.raizada@cba.com.au Immigration iVisa Consulting Level 5, 45 William St. Melb. Mobile: 0409504094 www.ivisaconsulting.com.au 1st Migration PL, Suite 110, Level 1, 672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122 Travel Agents Gaura Travels 1300 FLY INDIA or 1300 359 463 info@gauratravel.com.au Supa Cheap Travel 381 Burwood Road, Hawthorn 3122 Ph: (03) 98194656; Mobile: 0420201155 info@supacheaptravel.com.au www.supacheaptravel.com.au Mann Travel 329 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 info@manntravel.com.au www.manntravel.com.au Travel House 284 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168 Ph: (03) 95435123, Mobile: 0425803071 mail@travelhouse.com.au Solicitors/Barristors Vernon Da Gama & Associates 28 Fromer St. Beltleigh 3204 Ph: (03) 95038046; Fax: (03) 95038047 Mobile: 0401407280/042193100 Email: vernondagama@msn.com

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South Asia Times

ociinfo.inau@vfshelpline.com CONSULAR SERVICES (Passport, Visa, OCI, PIO & Miscellaneous) Please note that all these consular services are handled by VFS Global (Indian Passport and Visa Service Centre) The Consulate General of India in Melbourne will continue to provide to residents of Victoria and Tasmania the following consular services, for which applications would have to be lodged directly with the Consulate: Miscellaneous OCI Services â&#x20AC;˘ Miscellaneous Consular Services (such as attestation of documents, transfer of visas from old to new passport, affidavits, birth certificates, life certificates, certificate required to transport ashes or mortal remains to India etc) IMPORTANT: The Consulate does not accept credit cards, EFTPOS, personal cheques or company cheques. Please send only money orders or bank cheques with applications sent through the post. Cash payments are accepted only at the counter. WORKING HOURS General Working Hours 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, Consular Working Hours 09.30 am to 12.30 pm Monday to Friday, (except on public holidays observed by the consulate) International Students International Student Care Service (ISCS) www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/iscs Ph: 1800 056 449 Emergency Services Police, Fire, Ambulance............................000 Crime Stoppers......................1800 333 000 Property st Property PL, Suite 110, Level 1,672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Vic 3122

INDIAN CONSULATE (MELBOURNE) Address : 344, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia , P.O. Box No: 33247 Domain LPO Vic 3004 General phone: +61-3- 96827836 Fax No: + 61-3- 96968251 Web site: www.cgimelb.org PHONE NUMBERS Phone Number for General Consular Enquiries(operational only during Consular Working Hours i.e. 0930 hrs to 1230 hrs, Monday to Friday) For PCC and PCC and Driving License Verification enquiries 03- 96825800 02 8223 9908/ 1900 969 969 Email ID for General Consular Enquiries consular@cgimelb.org Visa enquiries: visainfo.inau@vfshelpline.com Passport/Police Clearance Certificate/ Driving License Enquiries passportinfo. inau@vfshelpline.com, OCI/PIO Enquiries

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Business

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G20 maps out its plans to support developing countries under Australia’s 2014 presidency By News Desk

elbourne: Officials from member countries, guests and a number of international organisations met in Sydney on 16 and 17 December last year to discuss the way ahead for the G20’s development agenda in 2014. The Development Working Group (DWG) has an emphasis on ensuring developing and low income countries can contribute to, and benefit from, approaches taken by the G20 to promote stronger economic

growth, employment outcomes and resilience, says a G20 media release. The purpose of the first meeting of the DWG under Australia’s G20 presidency was to lay the foundations for the coming year by agreeing on the priority areas of work to be pursued. The DWG supported Australia’s proposal for a focus in 2014 on practical actions to help developing countries, particularly low income countries, to: 4encourage private sector investment in infrastructure

4maximise domestic revenues 4improve access to financial services and benefit from reduced costs of transferring remittances home. The DWG discussed how the G20 might best support the UN-led post-2015 development agenda.Food security and human resource development will also be on the DWG’s forward agenda. Australia will host two further DWG meetings next year in preparation for the G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane on November 15-16, 2014.

Kerala: Investors’ paradise By a Correspondent

hiruvananthapuram: Known around the world as “God’s own country”, Kerala is adding another feather to its cap. The state is further bolstering its policy to create an investor friendly environment. In the pipeline is the Kerala Perspective Plan 2030, which is being drafted by the State’s Planning Board. This plan is aimed at attaining development parameters of high-income counties over a twodecade period. Core to this plan is the creation of a knowledge-based economy and productively using the significant amount of remittances by overseas Indians that it receives every year. With over 8 per cent growth rate, the southern Indian state of Kerala is growing faster than most economies around the world. Not just that, Kerala is perched at the top spot when one looks at the Human Development Indicators (HDI) of Indian states. Whether it is nutritional status of children, literacy levels or health of its population, the state has successfully harnessed and developed its human resource - one of the most critical ingredients for running a successful enterprise. Ask any entrepreneur or top management about the importance of quality talent and he can speak volumes about it.

In fact, it is among the Indian states that has led the adoption of e-governance initiatives. Kerala was the first state in the country to launch a district wide e-literacy programme. "Akshaya," piloted in Malappuram in 2002, is now the one of the largest known Internet Protocol (IP) based wireless networks in the world and is a model for how to achieve e-literacy in a short span among the rural population. Over the years, Kerala has built a highly dense network of science and technology institutes in the state and leads the country in the field of primary education. The state has approximately 130 engineering colleges. In recent times, the education opportunities have expanded to cover varied disciplines such as management and pharmaceuticals. This has resulted in abundant supply of quality manpower, which has been one of the principle reasons for heightened investor interest in the region. To simplify the process of investing in the region, the state government introduced the Single Window Clearance system, which stipulates a time-limit for clearance of projects. For large and medium scale industries, the time frame for clearance is 45 days and for small scale industrial projects, the time frame is 60 days. The state also has a number of industrial parks,

where the application is cleared (or rejected with reasons) within 30 days. Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has set up four Industrial Growth Centres (IGCs) in Kerala. Located in Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Alappuzha districts of Kerala, these centers have basic infrastructure facilities like roads, telecommunication, water supply, power and administrative buildings, in place. Faster government approvals are complemented by the fastest broadband connectivity and excellent port infrastructure. Kerala is the only place in India where both submarine cables SEA-ME-W3 and SAFE land. Soon, it will be host to the second place in the world with a 1Gbps bandwidth internet connection. The Start up Village in Kerala is the world’s largest technology incubator and was recently inaugurated by the Chief Minister. The state also offers excellent physical infrastructure. It houses India’s first and only International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam, Cochin. Besides this, the state has three international airports, with another international airport in the pipeline. The state government is now working towards incentivizing NRIs/ PIOs investment in the state by launching separate facilities for NRIs

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Over the years, Kerala has built a highly dense network of science and technology institutes in the state and leads the country in the field of primary education. The state has approximately 130 engineering colleges. who invest in the service, industry, consumer and electronics space. In addition, the National Development Corporation has listed out projects like two knowledge cities, a waterway to transport goods and clusters for traditional industries which could transform the future of the state. The state also offers schemes that guarantee security for investments of expatriates. Recently, the government has said that it will also support returnees if they start joint projects and businesses in the pattern of their businesses in the Gulf countries. Source: OIFC, Nov. 2013

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business

India’s corporate defaulters run away with billions, govt. banks write off loans

southSouth asia times 35 Asia Times

By a Correspondent

kes big news. But, not when it is craftily conducted by clever corporates. Corporate robbery of banks even carries a fashionable nametag called ‘non-performing asset’. It refers to loans that have gone sour and are not recoverable. Banks simply write them off. Unlike other categories of bank thieves who, if caught, face prosecution under a host of sections and sub- sections of the Indian Penal Code, big-time corporate bank robbers mostly go scot-free although several of them are even known to be habitual loan defaulters. Banks, mostly in the public sector, have restructured or written off loans worth over Rs 3 lakh crore to favour large loan defaulters in less than last two years of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. The scale and depth of the recent loan writeoffs and debt restructuring by banks have embarrassed even the Union finance minister, Reserve Bank of India (RBI ) and parliamentary standing committee on finance. Thanks to judicial protection received by those large corporate loan defaulters, stakeholders don’t even get to know the names of the concerned corporate promoters and their guarantors. The rise of Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) bank Non Performing Assetts (NPAs), led by SBI, has been phenomenal since the last financial year assuming almost a scandalous proportion seemingly vying with such mega scams as 2G and ‘Coalgate’ in terms of amounts involved and the number of highprofile business houses blowing up bank funds. According to Crisil, a top rating agency, banks’ gross NPAs this fiscal may grow by Rs 1 trillion to Rs 4 trillion in March, 2014. The amount is really big if compared with RBI’s estimate of gross bank NPAs since 2001 at Rs 6 trillion. Data collected by RBI over last one year blew the lid off what goes as banks’ loan classification. The gross bank NPAs was 3.3 per cent in March, this year. It rose to 3.7 per cent by the end of June. Crisil predicted it could grow to 4.4 per cent by March 2014 turning almost Rs 1 trillion worth bank credit as NPAs within such a short span. Gross NPAs of PSU banks have risen from Rs 71,080 crore as of March 2011 to Rs 1.55 lakh crore by the end of December 2012. Bulk of the NPAs was on account of only some 30 top loan defaulters, stated by Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram himself. Admittedly, a key reason behind the sudden spurt in bank NPAs is the economic slowdown. But, it would be nai¨ve

to believe that banks and large corporate borrowers did not notice the early warning. Yet, what was the government doing about it? Who are those 30 top loan defaulters? What are their business profiles? How could they access to such large bank funds despite the risk factors linked with their businesses in view of the current economic slowdown and their past loan repayment records? And, who are their guarantors? These are some of the questions long bugging stakeholders, including depositors and ordinary shareholders. They would like to have some convincing answers from those big NPA-hit banks or the government. Government banks are bleeding. Taxpayers’ money is being doled out to recapitalise these public sector banks. The depositors and general public are in the dark. Even the parliamentary standing committee on finance had expressed concern over the phenomenal rise in PSU banks’ NPAs in less than 18 months. Notably, the impression one gets from recent statements-to- strictures by the Finance Minister, financial services sector secretary Rajiv Takru and RBI deputy governor K C Chakrabarty on the alarming rise of PSU banks’ NPAs caused mainly by some three dozen large loan defaulters that they are helpless about the way the public funds are openly stolen or taken away by some smart corporate cookies. Takru wants banks to ‘act tough with wilful defaulters.’ Why are those banks not paying heed to the top finance ministry bureaucrat? Could it be because of some high-level political interference? Who are they? Contd. on pg 36 www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9095 6220, 0421 677 082

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Hrithik Roshan joins hands with ‘Exceed’ & ‘The Wild East Group’ to launch new clothing brand, ‘HRx - Push Your Extreme’

By News Desk

umbai: In a deal set to revolutionise the celebrity brand licensing space, Bollywood’s most stylish man Hrithik Roshan has tied-up with multi-platform entertainment management company Exceed and business development and brand extension agency, The Wild East Group, to launch an initiative pillared around fitness and fashion -‘HRx - Push Your Extreme’, representing India's first celebrity brand extension project of this stature and the establishment of an active and sports inspired casual wear market in India. Afsar Zaidi, Founder & Managing Director of Exceed, a company that began as a consolidated talent agency promoting the international profile of stars such as Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Bipasha Basu before diversifying into live event management, sports hospitality, licensing and merchandising, entertainment projects and creating business ventures for artists, together with Sid Shah of The Wild East Group. It’s focused on building new businesses for iconic brands such as Playboy, Times of India, Paul Frank, and Kolkata Knight Riders, conceptualised and launched Hrithik Roshan's active lifestyle apparel and casual wear brand HRx, which will be sold and manufactured exclusively by Myntra.com, a leading e-commerce platforms in India for fashion and lifestyle products. Signifying the exquisite-

ness, the brand logo is inspired by Hrithik Roshan’s initials ‘HR’ and ‘X’ implies the ‘extreme’ touch which has been given to the clothing range. HRx epitomises fashion, fitness and flair, which the stylish and suave HrithikRoshan is known for, across the globe. HRx together also represents an extreme state of mind that inspires one to be the best version of themselves. The lightweight product range includes comfortable casuals as well as leisure sportswear teamed with sports footwear for men. The products are made of premium fabrics crafted with a contemporary slim fit and dominated by vibrant colours. The model Exceed and The Wild East Group have conceptualised for HRx, has positioned it as the first celebrity brand extension in India, thought-through and built in the same way heritage brands are in Western Countries, where licensees will be appointed in different categories bringing in specific expertise. Cases include Jordan, Jay-Z who experience annual retail sales of $700 million USD, to Li-Ning, the second largest sports company in China and Britney Spears Fragrance which has had over $1 billion USD sales worldwide. Commenting on the launch of the brand, Hrithik Roshan said: “I always envisioned HRx to be a platform that could inspire people to bring out their best and to never give up. My team, Afsar Zaidi from Exceed and Sid Shah from The Wild East Group have taken my philosophy

and turned it into a brand." The planning and launch strategy for HRx reflected the findings of a market research report conducted by IMRB on 10,000 people across India and represented the general zeitgeist of the Indian consumer. Some of the macroeconomic trends the report unveiled included the fact that the Indian consumer placed growing importance on wellbeing and fitness and there was a need for quality products that encompass a true-to-message philosophy they could identify with. Speaking about the launch of HRx, Afsar Zaidi, Founder and Managing Director of Exceed, said: ‘We are thrilled to be pairing with Hrithik Roshan on the launch of his new clothing brand HRx. Exceed together with The Wild East Group have been at the forefront of driving forward the brand creation, strategy and development of Hrithik’s new brand and initiative, which will be centered around fitness and fashion. We have worked in partnership with Hrithik all the way through and all involved are

very happy with the end results. We have started off with the active and casual wear apparel market and HRx will be diversifying into other areas that lend to the Brand DNA and its motto of Push Your Extreme. The men’s apparel market size in India is estimated at circa $32 billion USD with the sports and active wear market size being circa $1.2 Billion USD, experiencing a year on year growth of circa 35%. Currently four international brands control 80% of the market share however HRx has the potential to tap a fast growing market segment, its unique selling point being its design and pricing to make the brand aspirational yet affordable for the masses. The HRx range has something to suit every taste, and combines film star chic with versatility and affordability. These are just some of the reasons why HRx has the potential to attain a market share.’ Bringing a combination of eclectic style and extreme passion, the HRx brand aims to reach out to the masses with the admirable objective

India’s corporate defaulters... Contd. from pg 35

It is a common knowledge that several of the top loan defaulters are builders and real estate developers, all boasting top political connections in Delhi. RBI deputy governor Chakrabarty’s frustration over the massive increase in bank NPAs is even more telling. At a recent bankers’ meet, he spoke about how banks sacrificed over Rs 1,00,000 crore by writing off ‘bad loans’ to corporates which, he said, was much higher than Finance Minister Chidambaram’s farm loan waiver in 2008 before Lok Sabha polls that invited

strong criticism by big industries and their apex bodies. What is preventing Chakrabarty, himself a former chairman of Punjab National Bank, from wielding his stick against the truant PSU bank management as a deputy governor of the country’s central bank? Why aren’t the government and RBI naming the defaulters and attaching all their assets along with their credit guarantors’? Bad loans are being recast like never before to save large corporate defaulters and bank themselves from public criticism in the name of corporate debt restructuring (CDR), mostly with retrospective effect, ignoring

its impracticability and risk factors in many cases. CDR is often misused to temporarily window- dress balance sheets by both banks and loan defaulters. According to a Ficci report banks have cumulatively recast loans to the tune of Rs2.5 trillion under the CDR exercise, mostly during the last few months. Last year, banks had restructured loans worth Rs 75,000 crore, almost double the 2011-12 figure. Bankers privately fear that a good chunk could turn unproductive. CDR provides relief to companies which are unable to repay existing loans by extending the payback period, reducing or partly

waiving the interest rate, giving a repayment holiday and the option to convert a part of loan into equity. During last April- June alone, PSU banks had restructured loans of someone dozen companies for a total amount of Rs 20,000 crore. How many of the PSU banks do proper diligence before sanctioning credit and how fewer of them approve CDR on merit? In the RBI deputy governor’s own admission, a majority of the write-offs involve big accounts, underscoring the need to hold the senior management, which clears the big loan proposals, accountable for its decisions. “Wrong appraisal is leading

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of inspiring people to be the very best that they can be, and to conquer new heights every day. To further extend the brand philosophy of HRx, plans are underway to spread awareness about fitness and well-being through a range of grass-root campaigning and synergies such as with schools, government bodies and other institutions. Afsar Zaidi added: “Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives will also be introduced, forging partnerships with various charitable institutions across India to ensure the HRx product range reaches individuals who reside in impoverished areas of the country.” HRx marks the second prominent initiative by Exceed in the merchandising and licensing space in India, the first being the model devised for India’s highest box office earner Krrish 3 in association with Dream Theatre. Ten different licensees were granted across various product categories, a first for any Indian film. —Report based on media release

to diversions, leading to overleverage, leading to fraud, leading to NPAs...they are all inter- related,” he said. Large bank NPAs in the last two years, the huge loan writeoffs and sudden spate of CDRs before the Lok Sabha election are far worse than occasional bank robbery. They rob depositors and shareholders of better return and the government of tax revenue to shield large corporates who have been traditionally running away with bank funds turning companies sick and throwing workers out of job, all with consent and connivance of bank management. Source: New Age, Dec. 4-18, 2013

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