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Vol.6 No. 37 January 11-17, 2014 60 Cents
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New York Edition
Gov Cuomo pushes infrastructure boost and tax cuts
Governor Andrew Cuomo giving his State of the State speech. With his favorability high and absent a strong opponent, he will easily get re-elected later this year.
Albany, NY: New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo pressed signature issues such as cutting taxes, and revitalizing worn infrastructure in a wide-ranging election-year speech in his annual State of the State address on Wednesday. With a projected budget surplus of $2 billion in fiscal year 2016-2017, Cuomo is pledging to cut taxes by $2.2 billion over the next three years. That will include a two-year freeze on property taxes worth $1 billion, and a cut in corporate taxes from 7.1 percent to 6.5 percent. On Tuesday, joined by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the governor identified the many ways New York would spend over $16 billion in federal disaster aid on projects like high-tech weather stations and seals for entrances to subway stations. Another new proposal is the states assumption of management responsibility for construction projects at JFK and La Guardia airports. Cuomo also pledged to introduce universal pre-kindergarten Continued on page 4
Uttam Khobragade, father of Devyani, at a protest in front of the US Consulate in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Renu Khator conferred PBD Samman award

New York: Renu Khator, Chancellor of the University of Houston System and President of the University of Houston, was among the 10 NRIs honored with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for enhancing Indias image abroad. The other Indian American in the awardees list at the PBD concluded Thursday in Delhi is Prof Parthasarathy Chiramel Pillai for his contribution in the field of science. Renu Khator, recently named deputy chair of the Dallas Federal Reserve branch for 2014, received the honor for her work in the field of education from Indias President Pranab Mukherjee. The honorees this included Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Ela Gandhi for her contribution in the field of public service and promoting ties between India and South Africa, where she is based.
Indicted and immunity granted, Devyani on way home

New Delhi/Washington: Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade who was formally indicted by a US grand jury and asked to leave the US, is on her way back home. According to a tweet by India's foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin: "Devyani Khobragade given G1 visa with full diplomatic immunity on 8 Jan 2014. Airborne on way back to India." Khobragade's handcuffing and strip search for alleged visa fraud had sparked protests in India and strong retaliatory actions by India. When she was arrested in New York Dec 12, she was India's deputy consul general in New York. She was later transferred to India's permanent mission at the UN to accord her full diplomatic immunity. On Thursday, the 39-year-old diplomat was formally indicted. However, prosecutors said that Khobragade had also been granted immunity. The US Government requested India to waive her immunity so she could be prosecuted. On Jan 9, India declined to do so and transferred her to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. The charges against her remain in place, however. The indictment adds new details about the case, including allegations that Khobragade and others attempted to silence and intimidate the victim and her family and lie to Indian authorities and courts. In a statement, the Indian external affairs ministry said that at the time of her departure for India, Khobragade reiterated her innocence on charges filed against her. She affirmed her gratitude to the Continued on page 4
See more PBD stories on pages 13-14.
Renu Khator, Chancellor of the University of Houston System, receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award from President Pranab Mukherjee.
The polar vortex this week sent temperatures plummeting as low as -37C in the Midwest, which is home to the Niagara Falls. The consequent freezing of the Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border was a rare sight.
US Affairs 9
Heritage 18
Controversy 25
Spiritual Awareness 30
excellence in journalism
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TRIBUTE
January 11-17, 2014
Our Beloved Bai ji You will always remain in our values
Smt Chandra Kunwar Mehta

(w/o Late Dr B.C. Mehta, Jodhpur) Heavenly Abode Dec 31, 2013 New York ********** K.K. Mehta, CPA (Son) Smt Chandra Mehta (Daughter in Law) Sanjeev & Dr Rajeev Mehta (Grandsons) & (Daughters & Sons in Law) Smt Vallabh - Dr SS Lodha, Smt Sushila - Dr Banshi Mehta Smt Chitra-Dashrath Dugar, Smt Prabha-Kanak Golia *****
With Sincere Condolences

The South Asian Times Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) Rajasthani Association of Jains in America (RAJA)
Prayers In Fond Memories of Pujya Bai ji

Sunday, February 2, 2014 9.30 AM Onward Followed by Swamivatslya (Lunch) at Jain Center of North America 43-11 Ithaca Street, Elmhurst NY 11373
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
January 11-17, 2014
New setbacks in Khobragade case as indictment extension refused

New Delhi extends retaliatory measures against U.S. embassy staff as possibility of negotiated solution fades
New York/New Delhi: The diplomatic crisis between India and the U.S. triggered by the Devyani Khobragade case has hit new setbacks, with an indictment extension refused by an American judge and new retaliatory India calls them reciprocal - measures taken against the American embassy in Delhi. Khobragade, deputy consul general in New York now moved to Permanent Mission of India to the UN, was arrested last month on accusations of submitting false visa documents with respect to her maid and of not paying the maid a minimum salary. The handcuffing and strip search of Khobragade by US marshals sparked protests in India and demands from New Delhi that all charges against her should be dropped and Washington apologize for ill-treatment to a senior Indian diplomat. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking for a settlement to be reached before Khobragade is indicted, which must happen within 30 days of her arrest Jan. 13 at the latest embassy staff members in New Delhi, including the sale of dutyfree alcohol to those who are not legally entitled to it. Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin has said the Khobragade case severely undermined relations between the two countries. Commenting on the case, Washington Post said ina an editorial, the intractable Khobragade case has revealed US-India cultural, political divide. The celebrated paper is critical mainly of India, The Indian government has compounded tensions with high-decibel rhetoric and a vindictive campaign against U.S. diplomats in New Delhi. Its bullying measures have ranged from the petty withdrawing the U.S. Embassys permit to import alcohol to the irresponsible removing security barricades from the street in front of the facility. Employees of embassy officials are being investigated for alleged offenses including working at American schools without proper paperwork.
A request by Khobragades attorney for Devyani indictment deadline to be extended has been refused because US prosecutor Preet Bharara said authorities have already outlined reasonable parameters for a plea that could resolve the case, to which the defendant has not responded.
Devyani's father Uttam Khobragade and sister Sharmishtha protest outside American Consulate in Mumbai on Tuesday.
after which it will be markedly more difficult to conduct plea negotiations and find a diplomatic resolution to the case. A request made by Khobragades attorney Daniel Arshack for the indictment deadline to be extended was refused on Wednesday by a federal judge. U.S. prosecutor Preet Bharara says an extension is not necessary,
since authorities have already outlined reasonable parameters for a plea that could resolve the case, to which the defendant has not responded. Over in Delhi, India has forced the US embassy in New Delhi to close down its commercial activities, including a popular social club, and has said all diplomat and embassy-staff vehicles in the
country will be subject to local laws. Were not hostile, this is an arrangement based on reciprocity, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said regarding the latest retaliatory measures. In the past week, Indian authorities have also claimed that they have discovered cases of tax and other legal violations by U.S.-
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy from LI won't seek another term

Mineola, NY: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a nationally known gun-control advocate who has been under treatment for lung cancer since June, said Wednesday that she will not run for re-election this year. McCarthy, a Mineola Democrat who turned 70 on Sunday, said she decided after struggling with health issues for the past four years that it was time to let someone new step up to the job after she finishes her ninth term in Congress. "Today, I am announcing I will not be seeking re-election," McCarthy said in an interview here with Newsday. For the past 17 years, McCarthy has built a public career on her gun-control work, but she said her legacy also is about strong bipartisan ties and the legislation she has passed on health, education, and finance.
Gov. Cuomo pledges a statewide infrastructure upgrade

Albany, NY: New York Citys inexcusable major airports will be rehabbed and the subway system storm-proofed in a statewide infrastructure upgrade, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday. "LaGuardia and JFK are inexcusable, frankly, that they have not been redeveloped to keep pace with the best international airports," Cuomo told Vice President Biden at the state Capitol. As part of a $16 billion postSandy push aimed at preventing future hurricane disasters, the governor said the state plans to plug more than 540 openings such as station entrances and tunnels in the subway system. The entire system will be retrofitted as part of a $5 billion overhaul, he said. We're going to do the most fundamental redesign of the subway system since it was created over 100 years ago, Cuomo said. To avoid fuel crises like the one following Sandy, Cuomo said there will be more generators available for gas stations as well as regional fuel reserves that can be tapped if tankers cant make it into New York. Ten "microgrids" will be created in different regions of the state to ensure there is a power supply if the main grids go down. In his annual State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo said that the upstate economy had improved, unemployment had fallen New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo delivering his annual State of the in every region and taxes State address on Jan. 8 for every New Yorker were down. Bill de Blasio, the Monday to "freeze" property taxes mayor of New York City, was in the for two years. In fact, Cuomo is proaudience, as was Nassau County posing an income-tax credit for homeowners to offset property-tax Executive Ed Mangano. Kicking off his re-election year, increases. To get the credit, homeCuomo proposed a $2 billion educa- owners would have to live in a tion bond act to be used to upgrade municipality that stays within the school technology and help fund state's 2 percent property-tax cap infrastructure for prekindergarten and takes steps to share or consoliprograms. But the borrowing plan, if date services with other jurisdicapproved by voters, still wouldn't tions. Cuomo also called for reducpay for operating costs to establish ing corporate and manufacturing taxes, and a tax credit for New York full-day prekindergarten programs. He reiterated a proposal unveiled City renters.
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
She was propelled into public life by the killing of her husband and wounding of her son by a gunman on the Long Island Rail Road 20 years ago.
January 11-17, 2014
TURN PAGE
Washington: President Barack Obama is expected to rein in spying on foreign leaders and is considering restricting National Security Agency access to Americans' phone records, according to people familiar with a White House review of the government's surveillance programs. Obama could unveil his highly anticipated decisions as early as next week. On Thursday, the president is expected to discuss his review with congressional lawmakers, while his top lawyer plans to
President Obama to curb NSA access AAP not a threat, says Modis right hand man to phone records
says Obama is still collecting information before making final decisions. Among the changes Obama is expected to announce is more oversight of the National Intelligence Priorities Framework, a classified document that ranks U.S. intelligence-gathering priorities and is used to make decisions on scrutiny of foreign leaders. A presidential review board has recommended increasing the number of policy officials who help establish those priorities, and that could result in limits on surveillance of allies. Lucknow: Amit Shah, the BJP's general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Thursday said there was no need to fear the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The fact that the BJP won 72 percent of the seats in the recently concluded assembly polls in four states was an indication that the party was gaining popularity across the country, Shah told reporters after wrapping up a three-day-visit to the state. Asked about the findings of a survey by an English daily in which 40 percent voters in metros chose AAP as their party of choice for the Lok Sabha polls, Shah said he saw no challenge as such, but added that the BJP did not take its political opponents lightly. On the RSS warning the BJP not to underestimate the AAP, Shah said he was not aware of any such advisory. Shah, a close aide of BJP's PM
meet with privacy groups. Representatives from tech companies are meeting with White House staff on Friday. The White House
Amit Shah, a close aide of Narendra Modi
Indicted by US court but granted immunity... Continued from page 1 Government of India and the people of India, as also the media, for their strong and sustained support during this period. She is pleased to be returning to her country, Khobragades lawyer Daniel Arshack said. Her head is held high. She knows she has done no wrong. Expressing joy at the turn of events, eminent attorney Ravi Batra issued a statement, "The grant of full immunity to Devyani by the Secretary of State John Kerry pre-indictment is a historic down-payment by these United States towards a continued path of shared dignity and warmth of the highest order with India. Meanwhile, the maid in question, Sangeeta Richard, will stay in the US for now under a temporary immigration status reserved for victims of human trafficking, her lawyers said. Gov Cuomo pushes infrastructure boost and tax... Continued from page 1 statewide, which is NYC Mayor Bill de Blasios pet project. He also disclosed his support for loosening restrictions on marijuana, saying he planned to use an executive action that would allow limited use of the drug by those with serious illnesses.
Washington: As part of his efforts to focus on income inequality and poverty in the country, President Barack Obama Thursday announced five "promise zones". "I will work with anybody who's willing to lay out some concrete ideas to create jobs, help more middle-class families find security in today's economy, and offer new ladders of opportunity for folks to climb into the middle class," reported Xinhua quoting Obama at an event in the White House. The five designated zones are located in San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Southeastern Kentucky and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. They would be eligible for tax breaks and other forms of federal support. Obama first announced the "promise zone" initiative in his State of the Union speech last year. He said then his administration planned "to partner with 20 of the hardest-hit towns in America to get these communities back on their feet. We' ll work with local leaders to target resources at public safety, and education, and housing". The initiative is part of Obama's plan to create a better bargain for the middle class by partnering with local communities and businesses to create jobs, increase economic security, expand educational opportunities, increase access to quality, affordable housing and improve public safety, according to the White House. Another 15 zones will be launched in the next three years.
Obama announces 'promise zones' to tackle poverty
candidate Narendra Modi, also said his party would contest all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh and would not go for alliances with any regional party. Asked about the possibility of Modi contesting from a constituency in Uttar Pradesh, he said the decision has to be taken by the party's parliamentary board and that nothing was final yet.
Letters to the Editor Praise for New Year Special

I would like to congratulate you for making Mayor Bill de Blasio as your Man of the Year. No one deserves it more than him. The New Year Special (Jan 4) issue was extremely classy. Your editorial team has done an extraordinary job. The front page with Bill's very impressive photo can be compared with New York Times style.
-Pam Kwatra
I just finished looking at The South India Times copy for the January 4 issue. I must compliment your entire staff for the relevant content, great presentation and the layout. Keep it up, the paper is an asset for our community. Best of luck for 2014.
-Bhupi Patel
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TRISTATE COMMUNITY
January 11-17, 2014
New Delhi: Career diplomat Hardeep Singh Puri, who recently retired as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Thursday joined BJP. Welcoming him in the party fold, BJP President Rajnath Singh said, "We look forward to utilizing his experience in the areas of Foreign, Security and Trade policies." A 1974-batch Indian Foreign Service Officer, Puri in his 39 years of service held several senior positions in the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence and held Ambassadorial assignments in London and Brasilia. In 2011 and 2012, as Permanent Representative at UN in New York, he led the Indian delegation to the Security Council. He also chaired its Counter-Terrorism Committee. Puri said he was delighted to for-
Former envoy to UN Hardeep Kris Singh sells stake in Philadelphia Inquirer Puri joins BJP
New York: Krishna Kris P. Singh, founder and CEO of New Jersey-based Holtec International, a manufacturer of equipment and systems for power plants, has sold his stake in Interstate General Media, the company that owns the Philadelphia Inquirer daily newspaper, the Inquirer reported Dec. 10. George E. Norcross III said his company, General American Holdings, bought out Singhs holdings, becoming majority owner of the newspaper, as he continues to battle in court over control of the company. Singh had been a Norcross ally in the ongoing dispute, according to media reports. Norcross now owns about 52 percent of Interstate General Media, which operates The Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com.
Kris Singh
Hardeep Puri
mally join the party which he had long admired for its strong sense of nationalism. He said he looked forward to doing party work and was ready to contribute in whatever manner the Party President and its senior leadership asked him to.
Norcross has been feuding with Lewis Katz and H.F. Gerry Lenfest, who control roughly 42 percent of the company. Their simmering dispute blew open in October when editor Bill Marimow was fired. Katz supported Marimow, while Norcross wanted him gone. A judge in November overturned the firing, rul-
ing that Katz, the former New Jersey Nets owner, had been cut out of the decision. Norcross has appealed. Lenfest said that neither Singh nor Norcross informed him of the sale before it was announced. The deal doesnt change the management structure, he pointed out. The managing partners are still Katz and Norcross and each has equal authority over IGMs major business decisions. That is still the case," Lenfest told the Inquirer Dec. 9. This wouldnt change any balance of power. Singhs son, Krishna P. Singh II, who led the familys involvement in the newspaper through its firm Tequesta Investment LLC and was a managing director of IGM, declined to comment, the Inquirer reported. Norcross did not reveal terms of the sale.
Washington, DC: The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center is opening its much-awaited, ground-breaking exhibition Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation in February. This first-of-its-kind Smithsonian Indian American Heritage Project exhibition chronicles the cultural, political and professional contributions of Indian immigrants and Indian-Americans to shaping US history. From workers who built some of the first railroads in the West to the creator of Hotmail, Beyond Bollywood explores the history of sub-continental Indian immigration to America. Included in the exhibition will be historical and contemporary images and several dozen artifacts, including those documenting histories of discrimination and resistance, those conveying daily experiences and those symbolizing achievements across the professions. Music and visual art works providing commentary on the Indian American experience will also form a critical component of the exhibition. Among the specific topics to be covered are: early (late 1800s-1900s) immigrant experiences, struggles for citizenship in the first half of the 20th century, professional contributions from the 1960s and beyond, organizing for labor rights, women's rights and labor rights and cultural contributions through food, music, dance and in the entertainment industry. Venue is the National Museum of Natural History, Second Floor, Special Exhibits Gallery, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The exhibition is free, open to the public and on view through March 1, 2015. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, readers can call 202-633-1000 or go to www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ After a one-year tenure at the Smithsonian, Beyond Bollywood will travel to 15 sites throughout the US, reaching Indian American communities and others closer to home.
Groundbreaking exhibition on Indian Americans to debut in Feb
New York: A path-breaking research by an Indian-American scientist suggests that a simple blood test may determine whether gene mutations associated with pancreatic cancer exist without the need of locating tumor tissue. The research takes into account tiny particles called 'exosomes' that are shed by cancer cells into the blood and contain the entire genetic blueprint of cancer cells. By decoding this genomic data and looking for deletions and mutations associated with cancer, we believe this discovery could be translated into a test that helps physicians detect cancer and treat patients, said Raghu Kalluri, chairman and professor in University of Texas' MD Anderson's department of cancer biology. "At present, there is no single blood test that can screen for all cancer-related DNA defects," added Kalluri. In many cases, current protocols require a tumor sample to determine whether gene mutations and deletions exist and therefore determine whether the tumor itself is cancerous or benign, said the study published in the Journal of Biolog-
Simple blood test may detect cancer: Indian-origin scientist

ical Chemistry. "To procure tumor tissue, one needs to know that a tumor exists and if so, is it accessible for sample collection or removal? Finally, there are always risks and significant costs associated with surgical procedures to acquire tumor tissue," informed Kalluri. The MD Anderson research team was surprised to learn that the person's entire double-stranded genomic DNA spanning all chromosomes can be found in exosomes, including those mutated chromosomes that cause various cancers. Furthermore, Kalluri and colleagues discovered that DNA derived from exosomes carried the same cancer-related genetic mutations compared to the cancer cells taken from tumor. We believe analysis of exosome DNA taken from blood samples may not only help determine the presence of a cancerous tumor somewhere in the body but also identify mutations without a need for tumor sample," added Kalluri. This would increase our abilities to detect cancer in an earlier stage and therefore increase our chances of effective treatment, he added.
New York: Renu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston, has been named deputy chair of the Dallas Federal Reserve branch for 2014. She has served on the Dallas Feds board since 2011. The Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., Dec. 13 made the University of Houston appointments for the 12 System chancellor Federal Reserve Banks Renu Khator nationwide. Each Federal Reserve Bank has a nine-member board, and every year the Fed's board of governors appoints three of the local directors and designates a chair and a deputy chair. Khator took the dual position of chancellor and president at UH in 2008, becoming the systems first woman chancellor, the universitys first foreign-born president and the first Indian American to head a comprehensive research university in the United States. Under Khators leadership, UH has experienced record-breaking research funding, enrollment and private support and was given Tier One University status by the Carnegie Foundation. Khator holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Kanpur and a master's degree and Ph.D. in political science from Purdue University. She is a noted scholar in the field of global environmental policy and has published numerous books and articles on the subject.
Khator named deputy chair of Dallas Federal Reserve Board
January 11-17, 2014
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
Suman Raghunathan
New York: The Board of Directors and staff of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) has announced that Suman Raghunathan will join as the organizations Executive Director on February 3, 2014. Raghunathan is a seasoned immigrant rights advocate with extensive experience on a range of issues addressed by SAALT, deep connections to South Asian communities, and relationships with key stakeholders. Through her work at organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Progressive States Network, and the New York Immigration Coalition, she has developed expertise on policy issues and implemented capacity-building and advocacy campaigns. She is also well-versed in leading non-profit organizations, having served first as Interim Executive Director and then as a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Chhaya Community Development Corporation, one of SAALT's close part-
Suman Raghunathan is new Exe Director of SAALT

ners. She received her undergraduate degree in international relations from Brown University and has a Master's in Nonprofit Management from Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy in New York City. "Suman has the optimal combination of skills, experience, and ability to connect to people that will deepen SAALT's social change mission and expand our reach. She is a passionate advocate who is sure to identify and implement strategic and innovative opportunities to amplify the voices of South Asians in the United States," said Nitasha Sawhney, Co-Chair of the SAALT Board of Directors. "I am thrilled and humbled by the opportunity to lead such an influential, communitycentered, and vital organization as SAALT," said Raghunathan. "As a daughter of Indian immigrants who has been anchored in the immigrant rights movement, I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of South Asians playing a critical role to work towards inclusive and responsible public policies in our nation on issues ranging from civil rights and xenophobia to health access and gender equity. I look forward to working with SAALT's committed staff to forge coalitions across ethnic, racial and class lines, and strengthen the leadership of South Asian organizations and individuals around the country." Deepa Iyer, SAALT's outgoing Executive Director, will remain in her position through January 2014, and then transition to serving as a strategic advisor in a consultancy role. "I am so pleased to welcome Suman as she steps into the role of Executive Director at SAALT," said Iyer. "SAALT has been a labor of love for me for over ten years, and I am fully invested in supporting Suman, and our staff and Board members, during this transition and beyond."
New York: Limca Book of Records (India's equivalent of Guinness World Records) honored acclaimed filmmaker Rohit Gupta for his award-winning feature film Life! Camera! Action... for setting two national records. The new record set is for the first full-length motion picture shot by just a two-member crew; these being producer/director Rohit Gupta & Ravi Kumar R and the first film to release on Facebook. Since its release Life! Camera! Action... has received wide critical acclaim, earning over seventy international accolades in various categories including the prestigious Top Nine Most Popular and Board of Directors' Special Awards, 28th Goldie Film Awards (USA), Orson Welles Award-California International Film Awards, Royal Reel Award-Canada International Film Festival, Grand Jury Award-Oregon Film Awards (USA), Best Feature Film-IFFPIE (Official World Peace Film Festival) (Indonesia) and many others around
Limca Book of Records honors filmmaker Rohit Gupta

neering, medicine or architecture, the film celebrates the strength of the central character to challenge the rules regardless of the consequences. Rohit's journey and the process of his work is widely considered a major source of inspiration to aspiring filmmakers, students of cinema and youth at large the world over. Gupta has co-written, produced, directed, edited, written lyrics, shared credits in music and photography, marketed, branded and distributed his work. New York-based Gupta is an MBA graduate and an alumni of the New York Film Academy. He first forayed into films with a four-minute American suspense-thriller film Another Day Another Life, which also received tremendous acclaim from around the world including an Official Selection at Cannes in 2009. He is currently working on the post-production of his highly anticipated upcoming American comedy feature titled Midnight Delight, due for release in 2014.
Rohit Gupta
the world. This inspiring ninety-minute quasi-autobiographical family drama features the struggle of the protagonist Reina - played by award winning actress Dipti Mehta - who sets off on a career in filmmaking against parental consent. Running the risk of being disowned for going against the norm of pursuing a future in engi-
New York: New York Citys Mayor Bill de Blasio, in one of his first actions on taking office, has appointed a South Asian in his City Hall press office. Mahen Gunaratna is one of 7 appointees the Mayors office announced Jan. 7. Gunaratna will serve as director of research and media analysis. He most recently served as an aide to Mayor de Blasios mayoral campaign, handling communications and research. Before that, he was communications director for New Mexico and Arizona in the Obama for America
NYC Mayor appoints Mahen Gunaratna to media team

campaign organization where he was the Presidents regional spokesman for the Southwest. Gunaratna has held a number of congressional and campaign roles, including communications director to U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-FL, research director to the U.S. Senate campaign of Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-GA, and as press secretary to Rep. Meek. He was also a research associate at Nesbitt Research LLC. Born in New York, Gunaratna is a graduate of Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Dr Akshat Jain led the young physicians wing at the Global Healthcare Summit 2014 held in Ahmedabad. He presented his findings at the prestigious forum, leading the way for strong legislations supporting pediatric care in the country. The focus was preventive care and his presentation in Obesity and Iron deficiency anemia found a good audience and a lot of attention. Close to 500 physicians from world over attended the summit.
New York: PanIIT USA, the alumni body in the US of the Indian Institutes of Technology, announced Jan 6 that Shailesh J. Mehta and Arjun Sen will assume the post of chairman and president, respectively, for 2014-15. Mehta is managing general partner of Granite Hill Capital Partners and a former chairman, CEO and founding team member of Providian Financial Corp. He also was a general partner at mutual funds company Invesco and operating general partner of WestBridge Capital and served as president and chief operating officer of Capital Holdings, which was the 10th largest insurance firm in the U.S. The Indian American executive also was executive vice president of Key Corp (formerly AmeriTrust)
PanIIT USA names Chairman, President for 2014-15

and served on the boards of numerous companies. Mehta established the Shailesh J. Mehta and Kalpa S. Mehta Charitable Foundation, which has awarded millions of dollars to recipients including the Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management at IIT-Bombay, the Asian Art Museum, the American India Foundation, Case Western Reserve University, California State University at East Bay and U.C.-Berkeley. The IITs are renowned for producing some of the best global corporate leaders, academicians, technologists and entrepreneurs, Mehta said in a statement. I attended the (PanIIT) Houston conference and was impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers who delivered a world class conference that all of us alum-
ni will be proud of. It gives me confidence that working with such a dedicated group we can make a significant difference. Sen is president and Founder of ZenMango, a consulting company whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and sports figures. Before ZenMango, he was a vice president of marketing for Papa Johns International and chair of the governors small business council in Colorado. Our energetic and passionate alumni takes pride in giving back, Sen said in a statement. Going forward, I see many opportunities to enhance our brand and provide value to our members. There are more than 60,000 IIT alumni in the U.S., of which more than half are actively involved with PanIIT, the group said.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
January 11-17, 2014
New York: Over 20 Indian-origin youths are among Forbes magazine's annual list of the world's "brightest young stars" under the age of 30 from diverse fields like finance, media, sports and education, described by the publication as "prodigies reinventing the world right now." The Forbes third annual '30 Under 30' list comprises young achievers in 15 different fields and includes icons like pop singers Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift, founder and CEO of the short-form blogging platform Tumblr David Karp, tennis player Maria Sharapova and Pakistani girls' rights activist Malala Yousafzai. "This is an exhilarating time to be young and ambitious. Never before has youth been such an advantage. These founders and funders, brand builders and do-gooders aren't waiting around for a proper career bump up the establishment ladder. Their ambitions are
23 Indian-origin youths in Forbes list of 'brightest young stars'

way bigger -- and perfectly suited to the dynamic, entrepreneurial, and impatient digital world they grew up in," Forbes said. The list of 450 young achievers includes 23 men and women who are of Indian-origin and are doing exemplary work like founding learning centers in India, or establishing a software company that helps teachers track classroom behavior, working as vice president at an American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida and owner of an exclusive chocolate boutique. The young turks in the field of finance include Ganesh Betanabhatla, 28, who is the Managing director at investment firm Talara Capital. Rushabh Doshi, 29, is a trader at financial firm DW Investment Management, who specializes in high-yield and distressed debt. Chaitanya Mehra, 28, is the portfolio manager at investment firm Och-Ziff Capital Management. Neil Mehta, 29, is the founder of investment firm Greenoaks Capital, where he manages some USD 600 million, investing in industries ranging from ecommerce to insurance. Sahil Lavingia, 21, is the founder and CEO of Gumroad, a web tool that lets creators quickly and easily sell digital products online. Among the list of social entrepreneurs is 29year-old Karan Chopra who co-founded, GADCO, which is Ghana's largest producer of rice. Krishna Ramkumar, 28, is the co-founder of Avanti, a group of learning centers in Mumbai, Delhi, Kanpur and Chennai that provides 750 bright, low-income high school students with science and math education. Ajaita Shah, 29, founded India-based Frontier Markets which brings clean energy to families at the base of the pyramid. Kavita Shukla, 29, invented and patented FreshPaper'a low-cost, compostable paper infused with edible organic spices that keeps produce fresh two to four times longer, while still in high school. Making a mark in the field of sports is 28year-old Megha Parekh, who is Vice president at American football team Jacksonville Jaguars. Amir Rao, 29, is a studio director at Supergiant Games and is co-creator of the action role-playing video game Bastion, which has sold over 2.2 million copies since 2011 and won multiple awards. In the science category, Divya Nag, 22, is a leading name having co-founded, Stem Cell Theranostics and StartX Med. Raghu Chivukula, 29, is Resident Physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Surbhi Sarna, 28, was inspired to found nVision Medical when at age 13, Sarna suffered from ovarian cysts that were so painful they made her faint. Since doctors couldn't tell her if they were cancerous, a young Sarna vowed to create a technology to detect ovarian cancer quickly and early, Forbes said. Sam Chaudhary, 27, co-founded ClassDojo, a software company that helps teachers track classroom behavior. Sayamindu Dasgupta, 29, is a PhD student at MIT Media Lab and is vital to the Lifelong Kindergarten Research Group's Scratch project, which enables kids to programme their own games, animated stories, and art and share them with millions of other children around the world. Pranav Yadav, 28, is the CEO of NeuroInsight, a neuromarketing firm that has developed a patented brain-mapping technology to investigate and improve the quality of TV commercials, programming and platforms. Eesha Khare, 18, won the Young Scientist Award at the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Forbes said her invention could pave the way to a cell phone that can be fully charged in just seconds. Aditi Malhotra, 28, is the founder of Tache Artisan Chocolate boutique.
Washington, DC: It has taken India almost a quarter of a century to open a cultural centre in Washington. The hurdles have been finally cleared and New Delhi will very soon be able to showcase its "soft power" in the world's most powerful nation, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) president Karan Singh said. Apart from the US, India will also open a cultural center in Paris. Karan Singh, a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, said he had first proposed a
India to showcase its soft power in US, France: Karan Singh

cultural cell in the US in 1989. "I had moved in a proposal for a cultural center when I was the ambassador to the US in 1989. It is only now that we have finally managed to buy a property there thanks to (former Indian ambassador to the US) Nirupama Rao. She has been really helpful," says Karan Singh. "We have also bought a nice property in Paris. One would think we should have done these things earlier, but it was only in 2013 that we managed to clinch a good deal," he added, saying that India would now be able to effectively project its soft power - power to attract other countries and people through its multi-faceted and multi-dimensional culture. With the new additions, ICCR will have 40 cultural centers spread across the globe in cities like London Moscow, Berlin, Johannesburg, Tehran, Cairo, Beijing, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Astana, Tashkent, Seoul, Suva (Fiji) and Phoenix (Mauritius).
New York: Elle magazine has spurred a backlash for how it featured Indian American actress, writer and producer Mindy Kaling. After the four covers of The Women in TV Issue were released on Monday, critics quickly pointed out that the actress is pictured in a black-and-white close-up on her cover, while Zooey Deschanel, Amy Poehler and Allison Williams all white are seen in color, almost-full-length shots on their covers. The difference, bloggers speculated, is that Kaling isnt as thin as the other honorees. The Mindy Project creator and actress turned to Twitter to defuse the controversy. I love my @ELLEmagazine cover, she wrote. It made me feel glamorous & cool. And, if anyone wants to see more of my body, go on thirteen dates with me. Elle, meanwhile, complimented Kaling in a statement addressing the cover controversy. Mindy looks sexy, beautiful and chic, the magazine said. We think it is a striking and sophisticated cover, and are thrilled to celebrate her in our Women in TV Issue.
Mindy Kaling on Elle cover, courts controversy
The Elle cover featuring Mindy Kaling
January 11-17, 2014
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
New York: Pop/R&B singer-songwriter Shilpa Narayan has partnered with MySpace to exclusively premiere music video for her single, "Renegade." Set in the Mojave Desert with breathtaking views, the upbeat and progressive song channels an innate rebellion that lives in all of us. In the video, Shilpa and her cohorts literally break free of their colorless world and into a world of color after overthrowing a repressive sherrif. Shilpa sings "So call me a deserter, discard me like a traitor, I don't follow convention, but isn't that the point now, I am my own dictator." As a way of empowering women, Shilpa leads this revolution of pursuing one's true passion. Shilpa so far has opened up for several rappers including Waka Flaka, Wale, Culture Shock and also performed at the Apollo, Times Square Diwali (150,000 people), NY Fashion Week, clubs around NYC/Atlanta and more. She's been featured by The Voice's Carson Daly, AOL Music, ArtistDirect, UrbanAsian, All Voices, Channel One News, and many more and has over 1 million hits on her youtube channel and associated videos to date.
Shilpa Narayans music video premieres on MySpace
Shilpa Narayan
Mumbai: Bollywood's 'jhakaas' star Anil Kapoor and 'desi girl' Priyanka Chopra will set out on a three-day tour to Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and New York, starting Jan 13, with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) management to create a buzz about the 15th edition of the awards extravaganza. This year, the IIFA awards will take place in Tampa Bay, Florida. Together, they plan to make the right noises about the upcoming edition of the IIFA awards, which will happen for the first time in the US April 24-26. Both Anil and Priyanka have an international connect. While Anil is popular for his act in the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" and TV show "24", Priyanka launched her career as a singer with her first single "In my city" in the US. "We are very excited to bring IIFA to Tampa Bay. With the support of representatives of Visit Tampa, we have been able to conceptualize and actualize an incredible event. There will be music, dance and a whole lot of spice. We're looking forward to giving our fans and new audiences the ex-
Anil, Priyanka to tour US to spread IIFA buzz

perience of a lifetime," Priyanka said in a statement. Anil, who recently gave Indian television a desi version of the American series "24", said: "As a friend of IIFA, I am delighted as IIFA makes its debut in the USA through Tampa Bay." "We commit to give our audience an opportunity to witness one of the finest celebrations of culture and cinema," he added. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is busy gearing up for the event. "This tour is just the beginning of a very exciting journey. Our entire region is enthusiastically preparing to welcome tens of thousands of visitors to our destination, and we look forward to serving as great hosts to the biggest and best IIFA awards in history," said Santiago Corrada, president and CEO, Visit Tampa Bay.
New Delhi:There is major support among the Indian American community for BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, while a growing number also support Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party (AAP), says Indian American Mohan L. Jain from Chicago. Jain is a delegate at the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the world's largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin that began here Tuesday. "We want a strong leader to come (to power in India). There has been enough of dynastic politics.. Others should be given a chance to rule.. Modi has very strong support among the Indian American community." Asked what he felt about the giantkiller AAP, which decimated the ruling Congress in the Delhi assembly elections and has formed government, Jain said: "The AAP phenomenon is very good.. It is good to give a jolt. It is good for India and for the whole country." A growing number also support Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party. Jain said he met Kejriwal a few years ago when the latter was in Chicago to give a talk, and has also met AAP leader Prashant Bhushan. "I have met Anna Hazare too. They have a lot of supporters in the US," said Jain who is trustee and founding president of India Development Coalition of America (IDCA) that works with NGOs to help eradicate poverty in India. Jain's organization works with grassroots NGOs in the fields of education, healthcare, water and liveli-
'Major support for Narendra Modi among Indian Americans'
Narendra Modi
hood in many states, including Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. Jain, who migrated to the US 42 years ago, said his son left his job in the US to form an NGO in India. According to him, the "foundation of the pyramid of India", or the people who live in villages have been ignored by the Indian government. "In 2015, it will be 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India (from South Africa), We have not achieved the India of Gandhi's dreams. We have not done enough for the people who sustain our lives." "The foundation of the pyramid of India is getting weak. We need to strengthen the foundations.. The people who live in villages, they are the life givers. We have to take care of them," Jain said. "We have lost our values. ..Our values will tell us we are all one, we should work together to solve our problems.. We welcome all the people who want to work for India," said
Jain, adding that if the government had done its work in the past 65 years for poverty alleviation and education, then organizations like his would not need to have to come to work in India. "We are doing the work in India which the government of India has not done for 65 years," he said. "We are telling Indians in the US to come and work for India," he added. According to Jain, there is a groundswell of support in India too for Modi, more than for Kejriwal. He said an autodriver he spoke to said while he had voted for Kejriwal in the Delhi elections and during the April-May Lok Sabha elections, his vote would be for the BJP. "We are not against (Congress vice president) Rahul Gandhi, we have had enough of dynastic rule.. Whatever work he has done has been for the family, for the party, not for India.. If he had taken up a position of responsibility and done something concrete he would have proved something."
New York: An Indian-American physician will pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that he and his clinics violated federal laws by billing a government insurance program for vein injections and physician office visits performed by unqualified personnel. Florida-based Ravi Sharma agreed to pay the amount to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act, the justice department announced on Monday. As part of the settlement, Sharma entered into a three- year integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agreement requires Sharma to attend training courses provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and provides for an independent external review of his federal health care program coding and billing procedures. "Vein injections and other invasive procedures should be performed by appropriately qualified personnel," said Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Division Stuart Delery.
Indian-American doctor to pay $400K to resolve fraud case
"We will not tolerate those who put patients' health at risk for their personal gain and convenience." Between 2009 and 2010, Sharma owned and operated clinics, including a weight loss facility, in the Tampa area. He allegedly sent text messages to his office manager instructing her to perform varicose vein injections on patients when he was not in the office. The government alleges that when Sharma was in the office, he performed unnecessary vein injections and unnecessary ultrasound imaging procedures associated with those vein injections. At his weight loss clinic, unqualified personnel met with patients of the clinic, but Sharma billed those visits as physician office visits to Medicare. The allegations covered by the settlement were originally raised in a lawsuit filed by Patti Lovell, the former office manager for Sharma, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government for the submission of false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. Lovell will receive $72,000.
Washington, DC: Taking cue from Barack Obama's successful campaigning strategy, the Overseas Friends of BJP has decided to create an army of Indian-American volunteers to call their friends and
Indian-Americans to garner support for BJP on phone
relatives back home seeking their support for Narendra Modi in the next Lok Sabha polls. "Each volunteer is expected to make at least 200 calls," president of OFBJP Chandrakant Patel said.
US AFFAIRS
January 11-17, 2014
Washington: President Barack Obama lacked belief in his administration's policy toward the war in Afghanistan and was skeptical it would even succeed, his former defense secretary, Robert Gates, writes in a memoir to be published next week. Gates, who served as Pentagon chief from 2006 to 2011 under Obama and his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, mixes strong praise with scathing criticism for Obama and his administration, the Los Angeles Times reported. Obama doubted his own policy after he decided to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan early in his first term, Gates wrote. The president became skeptical if not outright convinced it would fail, a stance that Gates says led him to consider resigning in September 2009. According to the Washington Post, Gates wrote that Obama "doesn't consider the war to be his. For him, it's all about getting out." "I never doubted Obama's support for the troops, only his support for
Former Defense Secretary Gates criticizes Obama in memoir

their mission," Gates writes in Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War. Reacting to the comments reported in Gates' book, the White House National Security Council said, "Deliberations over our policy on Afghanistan have been widely reported on over the years, and it is well known that the president has been committed to achieving the mission of disrupting, dismantling and defeating al Qaeda, while also ensuring that we have a clear plan for winding down the war, which will end this year." Obama "deeply appreciates" Gates' service as defense secretary, NSC spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement, and "welcomes differences of view among his national security team, which broaden his options and enhance our policies." In one example of those differences, Gates called Obamas decision to order the Bin Laden raid, despite doubts about whether the Al Qaeda founder was at the compound in Abbottabad, one of the most
U.S. President Barack Obama lacked belief in his administration's policy toward the war in Afghanistan and was skeptical it would even succeed, his former defense secretary, Robert Gates, writes in his memoir.
courageous decisions I had ever witnessed in the White House. Gates had favored using heavy bombers to obliterate the compound. The option was less risky because it did not involve putting troops on the ground, but might have left doubts
about whether Bin Laden was in fact killed. After Obama was elected in 2008 to succeed Bush, Gates agreed to the new president's request that he remain as defense secretary, becoming the first Pentagon chief to serve presidents of different parties.
Gates describes Obama as "a man of personal integrity" and says later in his memoir that "Obama was right" in his decisions regarding Afghanistan. But Obama was uncomfortable with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan he inherited from the Bush administration and distrustful of the military that was providing him options, Gates writes. According to the Post's account of the book, the different world views of Obama and Gates "produced a rift, that at least for Gates, became personally wounding and impossible to repair." The Post said Gates acknowledges in his book that he did not confront Obama over the president's determination that the White House control all aspects of national security policy. "His White House was by far the most centralized and controlling in national security of any I had seen since Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger ruled the roost," Gates writes.
Analysis
Yellen to head Fed from Feb 1

By Vatsal Srivastava
QE. The dollar index, a weighted average of the n Feb 1, Janet dollar against six other Yellen will find major currencies, has been herself occupying inching higher this week the seat of the most powreflecting the currency erful central banker in the market traders' pricing in world. Having served as "a hawkish Yellen". the vice chairwoman of Meanwhile, the bond the Fed's board of govermarket is reacting in the nors, she has played an opposite manner with 10instrumental part in impleyear bond yields dropping menting the Federal from their year-end highs Reserve's accommodative suggesting bond traders monetary policy measstill feel that the Fed will Janet Yellen becomes the first ures via its Quantitative have to back out from its woman to head the Federal Easing (QE) measures. aggressive stance on taperReserve in its 100-year history. But as the American ing most probably due to economy heals, the Fed intends to wind weak data releases on the housing market down its stimulus program. On Dec 18, the and the jobless claims front. Fed announced a reduction in its monthly The equity market, whose performance purchases of treasury- and mortgage- can be gauged by the broad-based S&P 500 backed securities by $10 billion to $75 bil- index, will also most likely show volatile lion a month. The minutes of that meeting moves as these FOMC minutes are will be released during the US trading ses- released. At 1842, the S&P 500 is trading at sion. (The Federal Open Market a near all-time high. However, much of this Committee, or FOMC, issues minutes of its rally has been attributed to multiple expanmeetings with a lag. The minutes of the sion and not earnings growth. previous meeting are reported three weeks Margin stock buying is once again at the after the meeting.) pre-crisis levels of 2006-07. Although equiBen Bernanke's influence will be limited ty strategists welcome the talk of US taperto just one more Fed meeting and thus it ing on the back of consecutive quarters of becomes crucial to understand where the above 3 percent GDP growth, only time other voting members stood on their will tell whether the momentum in equities appetite to taper, and more importantly at can be maintained as liquidity is squeezed what pace they would prefer to scale back out the system going forward in 2014. in the Federal Reserve's bond buying proAs of now, we know that Yellen did in gram. fact vote in favour of tapering. Stanley The markets have traded sideways so far Fischer, former governor of the Bank of this year as their is no consensus on Israel and Bernanke's Ph.D. advisor at MIT, whether Yellen would stick to her well- has been nominated for the post of vice known dovish stance or whether the chairman to replace Yellen. If his nominaimproving economic conditions will lead to tion is accepted, yet another hawk would be faster-than-expected scaling back of the added to the board of governors.
Washington: The share of Americans who identify themselves as Republicans is at the lowest the party has seen in over 25 years, according to a new poll. Instead, more and more people consider themselves independents. On average, 42% of the public said they were independents last year, according to a Gallup Poll published Wednesday. The rate is the highest for the party since the organization began polling citizens 25 years ago. Support of the Republican party simultaneously fell to 25%, the lowest number from the same time period. GOP identification peaked in 2004 at 34% when former President George W. Bush won a second term in office. But then it fell, mostly
Fewer call themselves Republicans, Independents numbers up
during his final years as the countrys leader. Participation in the Democratic party31%didnt change from the past four years but is below its 36% recording when Americans first elected President Obama in 2008. Last November, half of the country believed Republicans would have more influence over the country in 2014, according to a CNN/ORC International poll. Only 42% of the public said President Obama would wield greater influence. The presidents credibility took a hit last year among his administrations mishandling of the health care website rollout and leaks about the National Security Agencys spying program. He received alltime low approval ratings.
Washington: Get a gym body without going to the gym by sprinkling a powder on your food. Significantly slim your thighs and buttocks using an almondscented cream. Lose up to one pound a day with just two drops under the tongue. Such claims were too good to be true, according to the Federal Trade Commission. On Tuesday, the commission charged four companies with deceptively marketing weight-loss products, asserting they made unfounded promises that consumers could shed pounds simply by using their food additives, skin creams and other dietary supplements. The four companies
4 weight-loss firms charged with fraud

The case is part of a broader crackdown on companies that the government says peddle fad weight-loss products. Linda Goldstein, the chairwoman of the advertising and marketing division at the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, said the settlements made clear that the commission would accept only double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to document the medical effectiveness of diet regimes. The commission is also proposing new guidance for media outlets to help them catch potentially fraudulent claims. The F.T.C. said it would urge media companies not to accept advertisements that make dubious weightloss claims.
Sensa Products, LOccitane, HCG Diet Direct and LeanSpa will pay a total $34 million to refund consumers.
Sensa Products, LOccitane, HCG Diet Direct and LeanSpa will collectively pay $34 million to refund consumers. They neither admitted nor denied fault in the case.
10
January 11-17, 2014
INDIA
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): India has joined the select league of space-faring nations with indigenous cryogenic engine technology, successfully launching its rocket - endearingly called the naughty boy for its earlier waywardness - that put a communication satellite in orbit. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed it "yet another important step". The successful launch of India's heavier rocket - the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-D5 (GSLV-D5) - not only means the indigenous cryogenic engine has performed well but would also pave way for sizeable savings for the country in future launch costs. It also opens up a window to earn foreign exchange from launching heavier foreign satellites. The communication satellite will be used for telemedicine and tele-education services. The Indian space scientists' toil of around two decades in conceiving the more efficient cryogenic engine technology, which provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant, spending around Rs.400 crore has come to fruition with the delivery of the GSAT-14 in the outer space.
India rockets into select club of spacefarers

of an orange flame, breaking away from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. Around 17 minutes into the space flight, the 49.13-metre tall, 414.75-tonne GSLVD5 rocket slung the 1,982-kg GSAT-14 in the intended orbit. Manmohan Singh described it as "yet another important step that the country has taken in the area of science and technology". The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was to launch this rocket last August but aborted the blast-off just hours before the deadline as fuel started leaking from its second stage or engine. ISRO's scientists at the mission control center were visibly happy with Sunday's blast-off. They back-slapped and hugged one another. ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishan said: "The Indian cryogenic engine and stage performed as predicted and as expected for the mission and injected GSAT-14 in its intended orbit. We have paid back all our debts to the country." The launch success is sweet for the Indian space fraternity as it comes after successful launch of Mars Orbiter last year.
India to soon look for contracts: ISRO chief

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): The Indian space agency will confidently look for heavy satellite carriage contracts from foreign parties after it successfully launches one more Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket, its chief said. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K. Radhakrishnan also said the space agency is working with its American counterpart for development of a satellite. "(After) Flying one more GSLV, we will be in a position to declare the rocket as commercially operational," Radhakrishnan told reporters after the launch. He said in another 12 months, the next GSLV rocket will be ready for a mission.
The successful launch of India's heavier rocket - the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-D5 (GSLV-D5) is a milestone
At precisely 4.18 p.m., GSLV-D5 rocket with a deep roar rose into the sky on a tail
Good times are coming soon: Modi
Narendra Modi at PBD-2014
New Delhi: The BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said the prime minister's statement that there is no need to despair and good times lie ahead would certainly come true in the next few months - referring to the general elections. Modi, during his speech at the 12 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the largest gathering of Indian diaspora in the world, drew loud applause and laughter from the packed audience at the Vigyan Bhavan when he said: "We may have to wait a few months, but I sincerely feel that good times are coming." Modi, who got a round of applause before he got up to speak and while he was being introduced, said: "The prime minister had said a good thing during his speech here that there is no need to despair and good times are due
to come". He paused for the laughter and clapping to subside, and smilingly added: "I don't need to say anything more... we may have to wait a few months, five or six. But I sincerely feel that good times are coming." Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who spoke next, in a veiled rejoinder said that better days are sure to come as the government has laid a strong foundation with the steps it has taken through Right to Education and Right to Information.Sangma, of the Congress, who spoke as many people in the audience began to leave after hearing Modi, said: "Better days will come as strong foundations have been laid, leading to visible transformative changes in the country... Indians are becoming more assertive, which is a positive thing."
New Delh: AAP leader Prashant Bhushan's reported call for a referendum on army deployment in Kashmir created a storm, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal quickly distancing his party from the purported statement. Bhushan, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, himself clarified that his views had been twisted and that any reference to a referendum should not be construed as a plebiscite on Jammu and Kashmir's merger with India. "The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) is of the view that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Needless to say I share this view," he said in a statement here. He was not present at the press conference at the party office here where party leaders Kumar Vishwas and Dilip Pandey issued the statement.
AAP disagrees with Bhushan on Kashmir
AAP leader Prashant Bhushan
"Any reference to referendum shouldn't be misconstrued to mean plebiscite on Kashmir's relationship with India," the statement added.
Ghaziabad: Thirteen people, including national convener of the Hindu Raksha Dal Bhupendra Tomar alias Pinky Chaudhary, were arrested for an attack on the AAP office in this Uttar Pradesh town bordering New Delhi, police officials said. Tomar is believed to have led the protest and vandalization at the AAP office in Kaushambi in Ghaziabad. He surrendered at the Indirapuram police station.
13 arrested for attacking AAP office
"We are against the statement made by Prashant Bhushan (on army deployment in the Kashmir Valley), and will not tolerate such statements," Tomar said. "I have committed no crime. The police came to my party office and I surrendered," he told reporters at the police station. Police also arrested 12 other people accused of attacking the AAP office.
As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mounted a fierce attack on Bhushan and the Congress and CPI-M too made critical comments, Kejriwal said the AAP did not agree with the referendum call. "Deployment of army (in the Kashmir Valley) is a matter of internal security. There is no question of having a referendum on it." Kejriwal, however, added: "The feelings of the local people should be taken into account, otherwise it will be a threat to democracy. But our party is not in favour of any referendum." Vishwas said that the party "totally opposes" referendum on the Kashmir issue.
INDIA
January 11-17, 2014
11
War of words over Muzaffarnagar riot victims
More than 60 people were killed following Hindu-Muslim violence in Muzaffarnagar in September last year
Lucknow: A war of words broke out between political parties after Delhi Police claimed that a Pakistan-backed terrorist outfit allegedly scouted for recruits among the riot victims in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP, the Congress and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party sparred after police sources said they had stumbled upon evidence about a visit to refugee camps in Muzaffarnagar by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) activists. Delhi Police were not categorical about the alleged recruitment effort. But police sources said that the LeT did try to rope in youths in the camps housing victims of the September riots in Muzaffarnagar. Delhi Police said they were look-
ing for some LeT operatives after arresting two men from Mewat in Haryana who admitted to visiting Deoband and Muzaffarnagar. "This is a very serious matter that imperils the internal security of the country," Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said. "What is even more a matter of concern is that security agencies in the state and in New Delhi do not seem to be in tandem with the findings," he added. Added BJP national president Rajnath Singh: "The issue should be probed and taken very seriously." More than 60 people were killed and thousands fled their homes following Hindu-Muslim violence in Muzaffarnagar in September.
New Delhi: Priyanka Vadra, sister of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, attended a meeting of senior party leaders at his house, triggering speculation of her greater involvement in the party ahead of the general elections. The meeting at Rahul Gandhi's 12 Tughlak Lane residence was held as the party is making preparations for the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting later this month. There were speculations that Rahul Gandhi could be declared the party's prime ministerial candidate at the meeting. Party sources said several members of the Congress election coordination committee, including party president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel, union minister Jairam Ramesh, general secretaries Madhusudan Mistry and Janardan Dwivedi and media department incharge Ajay Maken, were also present at the meeting. It was not clear if Rahul Gandhi was present. Looking after the constituencies of her brother (Amethi) and mother (Rae Bareli), Priyanka Vadra, who is considered charismatic by the party rank and file, is a year
Priyanka in Congress meeting, bigger role ahead?
Priyanka Vadra, sister of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi
younger to her brother and will turn 42 on Jan 12. Her presence at the meeting created a buzz in party circles, with many speculating whether she would take an active role in the campaign for the Lok Sabha elec-
tions to be held in April-May. The party, however, downplayed Priyanka's presence at the meeting. Dwivedi told reporters that Priyanka Vadra was a member of an important political family.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement that he will not seek a third term could effectively result in a Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi contest in this year's Lok Sabha elections, analysts said and noted that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would also make its presence felt in the polls through its rising star, Arvind Kejriwal. The prime minister's remarks at his press conference Friday that he will give "the baton" to a new PM after 2014 elections has set the stage for Congress leaders expressing their desire to see the party vice president Rahul Gandhi in the chair after Manmohan Singh. The prime minister had also stated that Gandhi had "outstanding credentials" to be the prime ministerial candidate. Though suggestions have been made in the past by Congress members about projecting Gandhi, 43, as the prime ministerial candidate, the party has not taken a firm decision on the issue. All that it has stated is that the prime ministerial candidate will be declared at an "opportune time". Party sources said that those pushing for declaration of a prime ministerial candidate feel it will present voters with a clear choice. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially declared Gujarat Chief Minister
Modi vs Rahul in 2014, but Kejriwal a rising star
In a recent survey, 44 percent of urban voters are to vote for AAP candidates in general elections
Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate and suggestions have started coming from within the AAP for projecting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as the prime ministerial candidate, though Kejriwal has declared he is not going to contest the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress had projected Manmohan Singh as prime ministerial candidate in 2009 and the decision is reckoned as a factor that contributed to party's improved performance over its tally in 2004 Lok elections. Congress sources said that those pressing for declaring Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate feel that the step will galvanise the party
workers and inject momentum in the party's poll campaign. There is also a feeling that projection of Gandhi, who publicly slammed a proposed ordinance on convicted lawmakers, will help the party distance itself from perceived failures of Manmohan Singh government on issues of price rise and corruption. A session of the All India Congress Committee is being held here Jan 17 and there is growing speculation that Gandhi could be declared prime ministerial candidate at the meet. On his part, Rahul Gandhi has been taking a more active stance on issues after the party's drubbing in the assembly polls last month. He sought to take political credit for government's push for the passage of Lokpal bill and clearly articulated his economic vision at an event organised by a business chamber. He also held a meeting of party chief ministers to deliberate on the issue of price rise. Party sources said there was also a view in the party that projecting Gandhi as PM candidate at this stage may not be the best strategy due to the nature of challenge before the Congress. This section feels that Congress prospect do not appear to be very bright and a sharp downslide in performance could affect Gandhi's long-term political prospects.
Surrender to musical evenings at Jaipur lit fest

Jaipur: Evenings at the upcoming Jaipur Literature Festival will be audiovisual treat for music lovers as they will be treated to Africa's traditional nomadic melodies along with Rajasthani folk, Indie-pop and classical jazz. "The Musical Stage", on the sidelines of the five-day literary event, will begin here from Jan 17 and will be hosting musical wizards from around the globe. Grammy Award winner Tinariwen -- a band of Tuareg musicians from northern Mali in Africa, Rajasthani folk artists, composer-singer Karsh Kale, Indian electronic band Midival Punditz will bring evenings alive after a heavy day of literati debates and discussions. The musical sidelight is scheduled for four days from Jan 17. On the opening day, giving a glimpse of sophisticated rhythms of India, will be Jaipur Kawa Brass band who have given many international performances with their riotous trumpets, clarinets and loud, clattering drums. Other performances include Rajasthani folk music and dance, Delhi-based band Ska Vengers, sarangi player Suhail and the Sufi gospel project. The festival is also hosting two Nobel Prize winners, Amartya Sen and Harold Varmus, Order of the British Empire (OBE) awardee Mary Beard and teacher of classics at Cambridge University and Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri. British writer Samantha Shannon, actor Irrfan Khan and boxer Mary Kom will also address sessions. The Jaipur Literature Festival is an annual event, billed as the world's largest free literary festival. The first of these festivals began on a small scale as part of the Jaipur Heritage International Festival in 2006.
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January 11-17, 2014
INDIA
New Delhi: India will introduce the e-migrate electronic emigration process from April to enhance transparency and make the movement of people across the border easier, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs Secretary Prem Narain has said. "We are targeting to introduce the e-migrate project in April. It will make the emigration process much easier and enhance transparency," Narain said on the sidelines of the 12th annual diaspora convention - the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). According to the secretary, emigrate process would provide a complete and comprehensive electronic platform linking all the
India's emigration process to go electronic by April

stakeholders with minimum human intervention. The e-migrate system will convert all routine processes like application submission, document verification and other approvals to the electronic mode. Information related to migrants and agents as well as data related to their country of travel and residence will be provided at one place. Narain said the new process would significantly improve the quality of services being provided by the Indian emigration authorities. The government has contracted Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for implementing the project. The new process aims to estab-
We are targeting to introduce the e-migrate project in April, said the government
lish interfaces among key stakeholders to help reduce corruption and irregular migration and help authorities easily check irregularities. Under the new system integrated modules will be developed on key stakeholders like recruiting agents, emigration clearance, immigration control and complaint management. Narain said the Indian government is working on several fronts to make movement of people across the borders easier. He pointed out that the government has issued nearly 1.5 million Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards to the people of Indian origin across the world.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court ruling that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) can look into the accounts of the private telecom firms because exchequer revenue is involved in it, may open a Pandora's box and lead to similar demands for other sectors, although that may not be the intent or spirit behind the judgment, analysts and industry associations fear. "As far as audit through CAG is concerned, we believe the CAG was constituted to be answerable to parliament only in respect of businesses which are owned by the government," said Sidharth Birla, president of industry lobby FICCI. "Therefore, to my mind, there is no place for CAG interfering into a private company's books," Birla said. The Delhi High Court ruled that the CAG can look into the receipts of the private telecom firms as they have revenue sharing arrangements with the government. Ankita Somani, research analyst at Angel Broking, said the judgment could have wider impact on other sectors as all companies' revenues are linked to the Consolidated Fund. Companies and individuals contribute to the Consolidated Fund of India by paying in the form of taxes and royalties. Any under-reporting will result in a loss of revenue to the
CAG audit of telecos may open Pandora's box
By Syed Rahman
Indian Muslims, AAP and a lost opportunity

Ubaidur
The Delhi High Court ruled that the CAG can look into the receipts of the private telecom firms
exchequer. The catch, of course, warn experts, is that if one were to go by this argument, the CAG should get authority to audit the accounts of any company. "Telecom companies like other companies are already being audited by independent auditors. So, CAG will be doing the same thing," Somani said. She said the CAG audit would not have any substantial impact on the revenues to the government. However, some analysts argue that the judgment need not be seen as an interference in the functioning of the private telecom firms. Moreover, they clarify, the CAG's access to the private telecom firms' accounts will be limited. The government auditors are not given access or authorised to comment on expenditure and other dealings of the telecom companies. In its ruling, the Delhi High Court has clearly said the "audit has to be only an audit pertaining to the
receipts and no more". The government auditor is not given access or allowed to look into expenditure and other dealings of the private telecom firms. "CAG has power to audit all the receipts which go into the consolidated funds of India," said Gaurang Kanth, an advocate who represented the CAG in the high court. But others do not entirely agree. "The main reason CAG has been asked to look into the revenue portion only is that there were allegations that the telecom operators were understating revenues so that they can save money which otherwise they have to give out as licence and various other fees," Rishi Tejpal, research analyst with technology research and advisory firm Gartner, said. Private telecom companies are required to pay three to eight percent of their revenue as spectrum usage charges, depending on how much spectrum they use.
any Muslims in Delhi are very happy with the arrival of Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the political scene. But Muslims, who always had a representation in the Sheila Dikshit cabinet, are disappointed that there is no Muslim in Kejriwal's cabinet. Muslims themselves are to be blamed for this. Prior to and during the Delhi elections, Kejriwal left no stone unturned to court Muslims and their leaders. But neither Muslim groups nor Muslims supported him the way other segments of the population did. When he met Maulana Tauqir Raza, the firebrand Muslim leader from Bareilly, he was bitterly criticized by the media and his critics. He however defended his meeting and sought to justify seeking support of the Muslim clerics and other Muslims. Days before the election, Kejriwal met the amir of a top Muslim group in Delhi. Kejriwal announced later that the Muslim organization was ready to back the AAP. But amazingly, the same day this group announced its support for two Congress candidates. Almost every other Muslim
The AAP promises to work on all burning issues. Let's give it a chance
group did the same. There is no doubt that Muslims are feeling left out due to their leadership's lack of ability to see what was destined to come. Even now there are many so-called Muslim intellectuals who continue to doubt the AAP. Muslims were reluctant to join the Anna Hazare movement because of its closeness to Saffron parties. After coming out of the Anna fold, Kejriwal has portrayed himself as the champion of Aam Aadmi. But so far his crusade has been directed mainly against corruption in the government and to some extent poverty. The AAP is yet to clarify its position on issues like secularism, reservation and communal riots. It is also not clear yet whether the AAP's rise will hit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the
Congress more. The rise of the AAP seems to be a triumph for secularism and Indianness. Muslim groups that have a huge influence over the Indian Muslim community shouldn't ask him to speak out on contentious issues like riots and communalism. There are common issues for all Indians, and Kejriwal and his AAP are trying to bring the whole nation together. Ordinary Muslims have the same issues and problems confronting them in their daily lives like ordinary Hindus, Sikhs and Christians. Poverty, illiteracy, corruption and lack of employment avenues are common concerns. The AAP promises to work on all these issues. Let's give it a chance. (Syed Ubaidur Rahman is the author of 'Understanding the Muslim Leadership in India')
12TH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2014
January 11-17, 2014
13
Indian states seek diaspora investment Growth slowdown challenge will be overcome: President
India honors 10 diaspora members for enhancing image abroad
New Delhi: India's economic growth slowdown is temporary and the country has the ability to overcome the challenge, President Pranab Mukherjee said. "We have the ability to overcome the temporary downtrend," Mukherjee said in his valedictory speech at the 12th edition of the annual meeting here of the Indian diaspora, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The president pointed out that India has registered a sustained high growth in the past decade -- lower only than China among the world's major economies. India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to be around 5 percent in the financial year ending March 2014. This is sharply down from the nearly 8 percent growth registered in the previous eight years. The president honored 10 prominent members of the Indian diaspora from various parts of the world, including Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Ela Gandhi with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. Ela Gandhi, who is based in South Africa, was honored for her contributions in the field of public services, enhancing India's image and promoting ties between India and South Africa. Other awardees included Bahrainbased businessman Kurian Verghese, Canada-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Vasdev Chanchlani and Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Ela Gandhi France-based edureceiving the award from the president cationist Bikas Africa. She received her B.A.degree Chandra Sanyal. at the former Natal University and Two people whose names were later received a B.A. in social sciincluded in the list did not attend the ence with honors from UNISA. event, while the Ramakrishna Following graduation, she worked Mission's Fiji unit was honoured for as a social worker with the Verulam its community service and philan- Child and Family Welfare Society thropic activities and enhancing for 15 years and the Durban Indian India's prestige abroad. Child and Family Welfare Society Gandhi, who was a member of for five years. Parliament in South Africa from Her political affiliations include 1994-2004, was placed under house the Natal Indian Congress, which arrest in 1943 for five years during she served as vice president, the that country's freedom struggle. United Democratic Front, Descom Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Crisis Network, and Inanda Support Mahatma Gandhi, is a peace Committee. activist. She was conferred the After serving in parliament, Padma Bhushan award from Gandhi developed a 24-hour proGovernment of India in 2007. gram against domestic violence, Gandhi was born in South Africa founded the Gandhi Development to Manilal Gandhi and grew up in Trust, serves as a member of the an ashram of the Phoenix Religious Affairs Committee, and Settlement near Durban, South oversees a monthly newspaper.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi, Kerala CM Oommen Chandy and Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma at PBD 2014.
New Delhi: Several states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Kerala and Punjab, showcased investment opportunities and urged the Indian diaspora to play a role in the growth and development of their respective states. In separate presentations at the 12th edition of the annual diaspora meet - Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) - here, chief ministers, ministers and senior officials of different states highlighted the need for overseas investments. Addressing a separate session, Bihar Industry Minister Renu Kumari said her state needed help from the diaspora to accelerate the development process. She said that with a view to having industrial development and promotion in the state, the Industrial Promotion Policy 2011 has been
successfully implemented. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also made a strong pitch for diaspora investment. Rajasthan highlighted its large mineral deposits, market access, trained manpower, lower costs, availability of land, peaceful law and order and industrial relations, offers huge advantages in comparison to other states. Punjab officials, while pitching for diaspora investment, said: "Robust infrastructure, attractive policy package for industries, making Punjab the easiest place to do business, abundant talent and skills, competitive operating costs with superior quality of life, prosperous economy and an affluent consumer base, leading agricultural state, large industrial base, access to large markets and excellent industrial and labour relations."
14
January 11-17, 2014
12TH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2014
New Delhi: Our economic fundamentals remain strong. Our savings and investment rates are still over 30 per cent of our GDP and the entrepreneurial spirit in India is very much alive and kicking, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while addressing the Indian diaspora in New Delhi. The Prime Minister also tried to dispel the environment of pessimism. There is a perception in some quarters outside India that the country is losing its momentum of the past decade. This is also amplified by the political contests here in India, which are inevitably louder in the election season that is now on the horizon. I wish to assure you that there is no reason to despair about our present or worry about our future, he mentioned. He also urged the Diaspora to remain engaged in the future of this country with confidence and optimism.
No reason to despair, Manmohan tells diaspora

Singh highlighted various decisions taken to accelerate the implementation of mega infrastructure projects, reform tax administration, improve fiscal management, liberalize foreign direct investments and rationalize the system for allocation and utilization of natural resources. With greater political support, we could have legislated deeper reform measures for example, in the financial and insurance sector. However, our decisions are already beginning to make an impact and India is re-emerging as an attractive investment destination. I am confident you will see the evidence clearly in the next few months, he said. The Prime Minister mentioned that one of the key priorities of the Government is to provide open, transparent, accountable and clean government. The Right to Information, the Lokpal legislation, the Government Procurement Bill, changes in the systems for the allocation of natural resources and empowering law enforcement and audit agencies are some of the steps the Government has taken. The task is complicated because we have to overhaul entrenched practices and systems while respecting the federal nature of our polity. Strengthening governance is an ongoing process and we can never say that we have done enough, but I am confident that we are moving in the right direction, he informed. He also assured the non-residents of continuous support and assistance in promoting their links with India in every possible way. We have also recently launched the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana to provide social security to Indian workers abroad. The Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in Delhi will be completed this year. We also intend to start a scheme
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Minister of Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi during the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014' in New Delhi.
to assist state governments in establishing Pravasi Bharatiya
Bhawans, the Prime Minister informed.
Reunion Island Indians connect with 'Mother India'
Delegates during the inaugural session of 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014'
New Delhi: French is their mother tongue and they have been born and lived for four generations far away from India, but a thirst to know more about the land where their forefathers came from draws them to India regularly. Armoudom Lena, an orthodontist from Reunion Islan, is heading the Indian delegation at the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Reunion Island is a small French island in the Indian Ocean, near Mauritius. The Indian-origin population comprises 45 percent of the people on the island that has a population of over 837,000 inhabitants. "We are the most important Indian community in France," Lena said. Lena, who has come with her son and other Indian members, said the visit to PBD is aimed to help strengthen links with
"Mother India". "We want the young people to strengthen links with Mother India and our country of adoption. We want to share our experiences from abroad." "France is a country of human rights and we have good education. I think we can share our experiences," said Lena, adding that they are also keen to find out about investing in India. "There are many people who can invest in India in fields like environment and recycling of water," said Lena, a fourth generation Indian. Among the problems Lena said she faces while in India is language, as they are French speaking with halting knowledge of English. The other is of passports for Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), she said.
New Delhi: Making a strong pitch for greater connectivity with the diaspora youth, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said partnerships between young Indians in the country and those residing overseas in industry and social sectors would create jobs and bring prosperity. He was speaking after inuagarating the 12th edition of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD), India's flagship annual event to connect with its diaspora spread across the globe, which kicked off on Tuesday with special focus on "engagement with the youth". Referring to the opportunities for growth and development that India's growing economy presents today, he said "the interactions should foster greater connectivity between Indian and diaspora youth, which should eventually result in economic cooperation leading to the creation of wealth, livelihoods and prosperity." Ravi said that in this age of globalisation, there are greater trade and business links between nations. "Indian youth and their diaspora counterparts should come together in developing strong networks, which would lead to partnerships in trade, industry, entrepreneurship and social work," he said. "This will lead to the creation of wealth and employ-
Govt reaches out to diaspora youth
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi with NRI delegates
ment, which will benefit the masses at large. Our goal should be to build a strong global connect of youth for this purpose," he said. This year's theme is "Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations" and this is the first time that the Youth PBD is being held on the first day of event. "It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of our working population is between the age group of 18-35 years and are contributing immensely to the growth and development of our great country India," Ravi said.
New Delhi: India is the place where there is real democracy, highlighted by the stupendous performance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that swept aside the ruling Congress to form the government in Delhi, Indian-origin British entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria said here. Addressing a session on soft power at the ongoing Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the largest gathering of Indian diaspora in the world, Bilimoria said Britain may have its Magna Carta on democratic reform and Westminster, "but this (India) is where the real democracy is". "This is where the real democracy is, where a party can start from
India is where real democracy is: Bilimoria on AAP

AAP was formed in November 2012. Bilimoria, the owner of Cobra beer, also said Indians vote much more than in Britain. He said evidence of India's soft power could be seen in the 10,000 Indian restaurants in Britain and with Indian cuisine becoming a favorite food in the country. However, he said the Indian foreign service needs to be strengthened from the 600 at present to push ahead with public diplomacy. Bilimoria said Indians are excelling in many fields in Britain and gaining in prominence. He said he was hopeful of seeing an Indian becoming prime minister of Britain in his life time.
Indian-origin British entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria
nothing and in one year win a state election," said Bilimoria, to loud applause from the audience. Bilimoria's reference was to the AAP, which won the Dec 4 Delhi elections to oust the Congress after 15 years of uninterrupted rule. The
LENS EYE
January 11-17, 2014
15
As record cold temperatures gripped much of America this week, here are some winter snapshots from here and everywhere.
Girls react to the frigid waters of Pontiac Bay during the 12th Annual Polar Bear Plunge, Jan. 1, 2014, at Matthews Beach Park in Seattle, Wash. About 300 people Bulgarian men perform the traditional Bulgarian "Horo" dance in the icy water participated in the first Polar Bear Plunge in 2003; since then, attendance has to celebrate the Epiphany Day and the Iordanoff day, in Kalofer, Bulgaria, Jan. 6 nearly reached 1,000.
The polar vortex pushed subzero temperature in the midwest, with the chill flowing to the east and south. Here are two snapshots from St Louis, Missouri, Lawrence, Kan.
People enjoy camel-sledding during a culture event in Xi Ujimqin Qi, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 5.
A leopard walks on snow at Dachigam National Park in Srinagar, Jan.5. Visitors tour in the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 5. The 30th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival opened here on Sunday night. Harbin's ice and snow tourism industry has developed for 50 years since 1963.
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January 11-17, 2014
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
fter a gap of seven years, Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit is back to woo moviegoers with "Dedh Ishqiya". The film, not a regular masala film, has loads of entertaining elements, including the actress' never-seen-before avatar. The weekend also has another love story, "Yaariyan", hitting the screens. Even though the film is a sequel to 2010 "Ishqiya", it is apparently different in its treatment and subject. Although director Abhishek Chaubey dropped Vidya Balan, seen in the original, he has retained Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin for the
part two. Huma Qureshi joins them in the cast. Naseeruddin and Arshad will reprise their roles of Khalujaan and Babban respectively from the original. Made on a budget of approximately Rs.15 crore, the women-centric hinterland drama has been jointly produced by Raman Maroo of Shemaroo Entertainment and Vishal Bharadwaj, who has also co-scripted the film. For those looking for teenage, candyfloss romance, debutante director Divya Khosla's "Yaariyan" may satiate their appetite. "Yaariyan" features Miss India 2011 Rakul Preet Singh, TV show "Humse Hai Life" actor Himansh Kohli, Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria and Serah Singh. Produced by T-Series, the music for the film has been composed by Pritam, Mithoon, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Arko Pravo Mukherjee and Anupam Amod.
Madhuri Dixit with Naseeruddin Shah in Dedh Ishqiya
Telugu actor Uday Kiran ends life
A
'Dhoom: 3 crosses Rs.500 crore
s.100 crore seems like a forgotten figure! "Dhoom:3", the latest instalment of Bollywood's successful action adventure franchise, has grossed Rs.501.35 crore ($83.56 million) worldwide since its release Dec 20 last year. "'Dhoom:3' continues to create history at both the Indian and overseas box office. It is now officially the first Indian film to cross Rs.500 crore worldwide," read the statement. According to the breakup of the gross box office collections, in India, the action adventure movie, starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra, has grossed Rs.351.29 crore, while in the overseas market, it has collected Rs.150.06 crore ($25.01 million). The collection totals Rs.501.35 crore. The movie, directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and produced by Aditya Chopra, is yet to open in international territories like Germany, Peru, Romania, Japan, Russia and Turkey.
A scene from Dhoom 3
pparently depressed over not getting films, young Telugu actor Uday Kiran committed suicide by hanging himself here Sunday night, police said. Kiran, 33, is survived by his wife Vishita. Kiran, who acted in 19 films including three Tamil movies, ended his life in his flat at Srinagar colony around midnight. He was alone in the flat. Vishita, who had gone out for a family party, rushed to the flat after he did not respond to her mobile phone calls. Kiran was depressed over not getting any new film since February last year. Born Jan 26, 1980, Kiran began his film career with Telugu film "Chitram", a romanticdrama in 2000. He had a meteoric rise in the industry as the first movie directed by Teja proved a hit. This was followed by "Nuvvu Neenu" and "Manasantha Nuvve", which were also huge success. The charming hero with romantic image began to be called 'hat-trick hero'. In 2001, he bagged Filmfare best actor award and achieved the
distinction of being the youngest to bag the honor. Kiran's last Telugu film was
Uday Kiran
"Jai Sriram" released last year. It was sequel to his earlier movie "Sriram". Several Telugu film personalities expressed shock over Kiran's suicide. Those who rushed to the actor's house include actor Srikant and director Teja. "Not just Uday Kiran, any actor will get into depression if nobody is signing him," said Teja, who described him as a soft-spoken actor.
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
January 11-17, 2014
17
Mumbai court has postponed till Jan 21 the hearing in the 2002 accident case involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan after the prosecution sought time to appeal against the retrial order in the Bombay High Court. The grounds for the fresh trial was that Salman Khan was not given opportunity to examine witnesses in the context of the enhanced charges of culpable homicide under Indian Penal Code Section 304(2) slapped on him midway during the trial. Earlier, the actor was tried by a magistrate court for the lesser offence of causing death by negligence which attracts jail of up to two years. After examining 17 witnesses, the magistrate court held that the higher charge of culpable homicide was made out against Salman Khan and referred it to the sessions court. The high-profile case dates back to Sep 28, 2002 when a SUV Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly driven by Salman Khan ran over some pavement dwellers in Bandra west, killing one and injuring four.
Versatile Nawazuddin now wants fee hike
ctor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, known for roles in films "Kahaani", "Talaash" and "Gangs of Wasseypur, says he wants his fee to be increased now. "I want to hike my price because that should happen with each actor. It's just a wish which is unfulfilled. So far I don't know when this will happen. But I am certain things will change for me," said Nawazuddin. After facing many obstacles, the 39-yearold feels happy that he is being approached for lead roles. "I had lot of hurdles in my journey. People used to feel that with the kind of looks I have, I can't pull off a lead role. So, it took too long to remove that tag. Now, the kind of roles that I am getting, I am playing lead in all of them. I am thankful to the industry for accepting me," he said. He says the most difficult job is to choose the right script. "There are lots of things to be considered before signing a film. Even people try to offer you lot of money to be part of their film but if you are after money then your career will come to an end within two years. It's my duty
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui
to sign good films for which I am known for," he said. Nawazuddin is currently busy promoting his film "Miss Lovely", which is slated for Jan 18 release.
eacting to Naseeruddin Shah's criticism of Farhan Akhtar's performance in "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" (BMB) calling it "fake", actress Shabana Azmi and Prasoon Joshi, writer of the film, said the veteran actor is entitled to his opinion but they feel that Farhan was outstanding in the biopic. Shabana, who is Farhan's Naseeruddin Shah said Farhan Akhtar's perstepmother, has worked extenformance in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was "fake" sively with Naseer in some of the most influential films of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Indian cinema such as "Masoom". She desisted from comment, Prasoon was said: "Farhan was outstanding in forthright in expressing his feelings on 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. His perform- the issue. He said: "I respect Naseer ance gave me gooseflesh. He has raised saab and he's entitled to his opinion. the bar for what actors should demand But I don't agree with his opinion on from them while portraying real-life BMB. I've written the film. It has characters. Naseer is entitled to his inspired and connected with people all opinion. But most Indians don't agree across the world. It was not meant to be with him." While the film's director a documentary or a niche film."
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January 11-17, 2014
HERITAGE
Designed on the lines of Bath city in England to resemble two concentric circles -- creating the Inner Circle, the Middle Circle and the Outer Circle and seven radial roads - the two-storey semi-circular structure is divided into blocks.
New Delhi: Built by the British in 1933, Connaught Place, the Indian capital's crescent-shaped central business district that had fallen on bad days, has now been restored to its pristine glory, complete with a fresh coat of white paint, brighter signposts, a landscaped central fountain lawn and better access roads. The long-delayed renovation work, that seemed to drag on and on and left the much-loved shopping, eating and commercial plaza out of bounds for shoppers and inconvenienced those who work there, is finally over. Regular visitors are ecstatic that CP, as it has been popularly called, particularly by the young, can now once again become their favorite haunt. "I was born in Delhi and for me it was 'The' place for rendezvous. Be it meeting with friends, hanging out or shopping...it was always like a second home," Deepshikha Bhalla, 37, a homemaker, said. "With the renovation work on, the entire place looked dusty, like a war-ravaged landscape. The buildings were shabby. But now it has got back its lost glory," she added. Once known as Delhi's downtown, Connaught Place was subjected to many physical assaults in the name of revamping the prime commercial area. It started with the initial digging for Delhi Metro in 2003 and then for the 2010 Commonwealth Games came what was euphemistically termed a "beautification drive". In reality, it was anything but that - roads were in a perpetual
state of being dug up, parking spaces were removed and walls were covered with scaffolding. After missing several deadlines, the ordeal is finally over, and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has re-launched a refurbished CP. This is part of NDMC's centenary celebrations that will also include a shopping carnival, a food festival and a concert. Sixty-three-year-old Harjeet Mann is extremely happy with the new-look CP and the bright white painted buildings and lights to welcome him. "It is a very dear place to me. I used to come here with my wife and we used to walk around, eat and shop. In the evenings it looks beautiful, especially in winter," Mann, a businessman, told IANS. Designed on the lines of Bath city in England to resemble two concentric circles -- creating the Inner Circle, the Middle Circle and the Outer Circle and seven radial roads - the two-storey semi-circular structure, divided into blocks, was designed by Robert Tor Russell and W.H. Nicholls and was named after the Prince Arthur, the 1st Duke of Connaught, the third son of Queen Victoria. Built in classical, Georgian style, it was the largest such in India at that time and even today is a premier hangout destination of the capital. "You cannot think of Delhi if you don't have CP. It is the heart of the capital," said Shreya Sen, a college student who hails from Bangalore.
Once known as Delhi's downtown, Connaught Place was dug up for Delhi Metro in 2003 and then underwent "beautification drive" for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Now finally, the renovation is complete.
The name CP is so much stuck in the psyche of Delhiites that attempts to rename it Rajiv Chowk, after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, failed to take off. Paul Hughes, a tourist from Britain, was charmed by the place. "It looks nice and the happiness around the place is infectious, though there are spots where things still need to be cleaned up," said Hughes and pointed to perennial paan (betel) stains, the blight of Indian cities, on the walls. Neelam Kapoor, manager of Tilak Hosiery in B Block, was also content with the improvement. "Earlier, the road outside was dug up and parking was a problem. Now the road has become good and lights have been put up. People can come easily and business has become better," said Kapoor. While visitors are happy with the beautification, others are upset at the "hurried job". "The quality of work done is pathetic. Many tiles that have been laid are coming off," Jitender Arora of Oriental Fruits Mart, a seven-decade-old shop, said. Charanjeet Singh, manager of Wenger's - a popular bakery established in 1926 that once had a tony restaurant on the first floor concurred, saying: "Public urinals are not cleaned. With so many people thronging the area, there should be better crowd management. Nabhi Kumar Jain, founder of Jain Book Depot in C Block, said, "Only the Inner Circle is looking good. They have completely neglected the Middle Circle and Outer Circle. But homemaker Bhalla said that at least some effort had been made to make the area look beautiful. "I won't say it has the charm of our time, but I would say it looks beautiful and fresh," he said.
OP-ED
January 11-17, 2014
19
Manmohan: Making way for Rahul?

By Amulya Ganguli he only occasion when the prime minister perked up during his otherwise somewhat insipid press conference was when he castigated Narendra Modi in uncharacteristically abrasive terms, thereby giving the latter a taste of his own bitter medicine. While doing so, Manmohan Singh virtually recalled the description by media personnel of the Gujarat chief minister as a "mass murderer" for his role during the 2002 riots. The prime minister's biting observation - that if being "strong" meant "presiding over the mass massacre of innocent citizens", it wasn't the kind of strength which he wanted - was yet another example of his combativeness. The context of Manmohan Singh's comment was a question on the perception of him as a weak PM. It is evident that it is an image which disturbs him more than anything else. It may be recalled that when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, L.K. Advani, used to raise this question of weakness before the 2009 general election, the prime minister responded by saying that he was not someone who cowered in a corner, as Advani did, while the saffron cadres demolished a protected monu-
Manmohan Singh in a rare press conference before general elections 2014 in New Delhi
ment. Following the jeering criticism, Advani had refrained from levelling the accusation again. Now, faced with the latest invective against its poster-boy, the BJP rolled out its big guns - Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad and others - to return the prime minister's fire. Jaitley's view is that Manmohan Singh lowered the dignity of the prime minister's office by saying that it will be "disastrous" for the country if Modi becomes the prime minister. The BJP claims that such accusations are pointless
when Modi has been exonerated by the judiciary. But, what the BJP misses is that the war of words is not a legal, but a political skirmish, and that Modi may have hidden his tracks well enough to mislead the courts. In any event, the Congress appears to have decided to reiterate its "maut ki saudagar" (merchant of death) taunt which it directed at Modi before the 2007 Gujarat assembly elections. What the latest exchanges have done is to liven up the poll campaign because the belief till now
has been that the Congress is wary of reviving the riots issue lest it consolidates the Hindu vote behind Modi. However, it is possible that the erosion which he faces of his support base by the Aam Admi Party (AAP) has persuaded the Congress to take on the BJP's prime ministerial candidate more aggressively. Apart from the prime minister's unusual show of spirit, he stuck to the beaten path with anodyne, even evasive, answers. His claim, for instance, that it was the government's first term between 2004
and 2009 which saw most of the corruption cases was erroneous considering that the former telecom minister Andimuthu Raja's arrest and the Commonwealth Games scam erupted from 2010 onwards. Similarly, his assertion that everything was being done to unearth the factors behind socalled Coalgate skirted the truth considering that a minister had to resign following his overseeing of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) inquiry report on the coal block allocations for mining. If the sharp dig at Modi had not been the high point of the press conference, then the prime minister's virtual announcement of his retirement would have made the headlines. Considering that he had left his options open for another term while speaking to the media while returning from South Africa at the end of the BRICS summit in March, it is obvious that something has happened in the intervening period to make him change his mind. It is possible that the continuing taint of sleaze and high prices have persuaded the prime minister that his time is up. His praise, therefore, of Rahul Gandhi's "outstanding credentials" paves the way for the next generation in the Congress.
The spectacular acceptance of AAP as an alternative political force has been sufficiently displayed by the people
By Sudip Mazumdar gale of change has started sweeping across India. It has brought palpable hope. Millions, pushed beyond the periphery and treated with indifference by the Congress, BJP and smaller lookalike parties, are rejoicing. That slight-looking man, Arvind Kejriwal, the like of which has not appeared on the Indian political scene for a long time, has set on a
path where ordinary Indians feel they would have a say in creating their own future. No more business as usual in politics. But not everyone is happy. In an ugly show of churlishness, former BJP president Nitin Gadkari made an unsubstantiated allegation saying a deal has been brokered between AAP and Congress by an industrialist in a five-star hotel, even as other leaders of his party squirmed in unease.
Some in the media were also not happy. Several anchors and socalled experts grudgingly referred to Aam Aadmi Party's rise and skeptically droned mainly one concern: how long can the Kejriwal government survive? They failed to feel the vibrancy of the public mood and see the beginnings of a seachange in every aspect of Indian politics. Why? The established political parties had turned politics into commerce and Indian democracy their fiefdom. For many, politics is a family business. Two-thirds of Indian MPs are from political families and all MPs under the age of 30 are hereditary. The pattern is repeated in state assemblies. According to one study, Congress central ministers owned on an average Rs.100 million worth of assets in just two years after they assumed office in 2009. BJP leaders don't want to fall behind. According to non-profit Association for Democratic Reforms, in BJP-ruled
AAP represents emerging trends in Indian democracy

Madhya Pradesh, 141 legislators who re-contested in November saw a jump of over 240 percent in their assets from an average Rs.17.1 million to Rs.58.7 million in last five years. Also in Madhya Pradesh, Sanjay Pathak, a Congress candidate, increased his assets from Rs.341.7 million in 2008 to Rs 1.213 billion, an increase of over Rs.870 million, in five years. These political parties and their dynastic leaderships veered far away from the ideals of participatory democracy (swaraj) that Mahatma Gandhi propounded when India gained independence. Instead of dismantling colonial traditions and practices in legislature, bureaucracy and judiciary, where repressive hierarchy was strictly maintained by the British, politicians in independent India became the new masters. Elections legitimized the tyranny of the elected few. Evidently, the gap between the ruler and the ruled grew. The aver-
age politician generally treated people with contempt; they were needed only for votes. They failed to read the mind of the ordinary Indians, not to talk about their yearnings, since power and privileges had blinded them. Their hubris prompted them to dismiss AAP as upstarts. Shiela Dikshit even said: "Kejriwal, who?" But the people are desperate for change. Kejriwal and his AAP colleagues felt their suffering with empathy, understood the pervading hopelessness and tapped into the smouldering popular anger. The spectacular acceptance of AAP as an alternative political force has been sufficiently displayed by the people. The AAP's conduct even in victory is sober, realistic and dignified. Kejriwal sang a song of universal brotherhood, extended a hand of cooperation to his rivals and critics, reminded his colleagues to be humble, and reiterated their sole task of serving the people.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
20
January 11-17, 2014
DIASPORA
New Delhi: India and Saudi Arabia Thursday inked a "landmark" agreement for protection of the rights of domestic Indian workers in the kingdom as visiting Saudi Arabian Labor Minister Adel bin Mohammed Fakeih said a committee of senior officials from both sides would be set up to look into any possible future difficulties. The Agreement on Labor Cooperation for Domestic Service Workers Recruitment was inked by Indian Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Fakeih here. Ravi thanked the Saudi minister for "adopting a humanitarian approach" while adopting the Nitaqat work policy. He said the domestic workers protection agreement would help streamline the labor market. "This would go a long way in protecting the interests of Indian workers," he said. The agreement was conceptualized in April last year during Ravi's visit to the kingdom. Some of the main features of the agreement, according to an official statement, are: It protects the rights of both the employers and domestic workers and regulates the contractual relation between them, ensures authenticity and implementation of the employment contract, takes measures against recruitment agencies who violate laws and establishes a mechanism to provide 24 hours
India, Saudi Arabia ink landmark pact to protect domestic workers
'Domestic violence rampant among Indian community in Canada'

New Delhi: Violence against women, wife battery, honor killings and even female feticide among the Indian diaspora in Canada are a cause of worry, say Indo-Canadian delegates at a diaspora meet here. They added that they strive to help the Indian immigrants get assimilated into the mainstream. Molly Banerjei, a businesswoman from Toronto, said, "Domestic violence is rampant among the Indian community." The view was shared by two other woman delegates from Toronto -- Gursharan Kaur Kandra, president and CEO, Canadian International Academic Services, and Priti Lamba, vice president of Association of Women of India in Canada (AWIC). According to Banerjei: "Everything that happens in India, happens there - the people carry the same baggage to Canada... A woman is not treated as equal and subject to physical and emotional abuse." Female feticide is prevalent in Canada among the Indian community and it is made easier as sex determination of the unborn fetus and abortion are legal. Banerjei said she would be reading a paper on the subject in Jawaharlal Nehru University. Honor killings are prevalent in the Punjabi and Tamil community, she said. Indians comprise more than a million of Canada's 33 million people, which is a sizeable number, said Banerjei, who is a member of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin - Canada. According to her, the reason why Indians continue to practice such evils is because of the policy of multiculturalism that Canada follows. "It is a wonderful policy, which says wherever you come from you are allowed to keep your culture... Canada is a mosaic of cultures with different backgrounds. "But the flip side is the Indians feel they can continue with the abuse of women, and other evils. Women who are bankers, independent professionals face daily abuse at the hands of their husbands. The numbers go unreported as there is fear if the woman reports abuse the police will take immediate action. The woman will also get ostracized by society and be shunned in temples, gurudwaras." GOPIO-Canada has set up a help desk to aid women facing domestic violence. "But they don't come forward to complain," she added.
Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Adel bin Mohammed Fakeih, Minister of Labor of Saudi Arabia at the signing of agreement in New Delhi on January 2, 2014
assistance to the domestic sector workers. A standard employment contract would be finalized that would provide minimum wages, working hours, paid holidays and dispute settlement mechanism, the state Fakeih, while emphasizing the "deep historic relations binding both countries", said the "position of bilateral labor and economic relations is excellent and look forward to enhance it." Of the around 500,000 domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, mostly working as maids, helpers, drivers and cleaners, around 10 percent are women. There are 2.8 million Indian workers in Saudi Arabia and Indians form the largest expatriate community in the kingdom.
Dubai: A 33-year-old Indian tailor has won two luxury cars and 100,000 dirhams in a raffle here. Fasaludheen KuttiFasaludheen Kuttipalakkal seen speaking palakkal from Kerala was the winner of the This year, he decided to buy the rafInfiniti Mega Raffle on the second fle ticket alone and had a strong gut day of the Dubai Shopping Festival feeling that he would take away the 2014, organizers of the festival said. grand prize. "In my heart, I knew that Kuttipalakkal had been trying his I am going to win this time. I was luck at the raffle for the past 10 years thrilled when I received the call. There could not be a better start to without success. The good luck was brought to him the New Year," Kuttipalakkal said. He wants to give away one part of apparently by his baby, who is only three days old. He has won two In- the cash prize to help his needy finiti top models - QX60 and G25 - friends and family members back besides a cash prize of 100,000 home and wants to put another chunk dirhams. Kuttipalakkal has been liv- towards the construction of his house ing in Dubai for 10 years and used to in Kerala. He has not yet decided buy the raffle ticket with his friends. what he wants to do with the cars.
Indian tailor wins luxury cars, 100,000 dirhams in Dubai raffle
Malayalam newspapers outnumber other dailies in Qatar

Dubai: With the launch of the Doha edition of the Malayala Manorama, Malayalam papers outnumber other dailies in the Gulf nation of Qatar. The launch of the Kerala-headquartered century-old vernacular daily Wednesday has taken the number of Malayalam newspapers published in Qatar to five, The Peninsula reported Thursday. The other Malayalam dailies that already have Doha editions are Madhyamam, Chandrika, Thejas and Varthamanam. The Malayali community forms the majority of the around 500,000-strong Indian expatriate population in Qatar. There are four Arabic and three English newspapers published in the country.
India-born educationist named for top British honor

London: Asha Khemka, an Indiaborn educationist in Britain, has been named for the highest British civilian award for women for her services to education. Khemka, principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, has been named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Years Honors List for 2014. Khemka was named for the Order of the British Empire in 2008 and has been running the college since 2006. Under Khemka's leadership, West Nottinghamshire College has become one of the most successful colleges in Britain. Rooted in the communities of Nottinghamshire, it also has a national footprint and is the largest college provider of apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds in the country. In 2008, Khemka founded the Inspire and Achieve Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the
Asha Khemka
lives of young people who have been disenchanted and disengaged with any form of education and training. Within the last five years her charity has helped hundreds of young people get their lives back on track. She is the second woman of Indian origin to be awarded this honor since it was instituted in 1917, the first being Maharani Lakshmi Devi who received the honor in 1931. Queen Elizabeth will confer the honor at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2014.
SUBCONTINENT
January 11-17, 2014
21
Dhaka: After the people of Bangladesh reelected Sheikh Hasina's Awami League for another term with an overwhelming majority in violence-marred polling in the general elections, the prime minister thanked the voters while ordering a crackdown on the ongoing violence in the country. "The opposition tried all means to stop people from going to poll centres... they enforced blockades, hartals, and bombed and attacked people and poll centres. Still people turned up to voting centres and cast their vote," said Hasina at a press conference here while thanking people for their participation in the parliamentary polls. "The polling officials, even though a presiding officer was killed, attended their duties at all the polling centres," she added. Hasina's Awami League (AL) party won 104 seats of the 147 contested in the elections. Having already won 127 seats uncontested, the party has 231 seats, gaining a clear three-fourths majority in the Bangladeshi parliament - Jatiyo Sangshad.
Hasina thanks people, orders crack down on violence
The people of Bangladesh re-elected Sheikh Hasina's Awami League
Hasina, during the press conference at the prime minister's official residence - Gono
Bhaban, also ordered the enforcement agencies, army and administration to take stern
action to stop post-poll violence and save people's lives. "At any cost, lives and properties of people have to be saved, peace ensured and postpoll violence stopped," she said while urging the international community for assistance in continuing the country's democratic process. As Bangladesh elections were marred by widespread violence, opposition boycott and low turnout, Hasina, said: "I am satisfied with the fact that people managed to cast their votes." Hasina, whose father, Bangabandhu Mujibur Rehman, and the entire family were wiped out in an August 1975 army coup, also said: "Trial for war crimes will go on and verdicts of the trial will be executed." Earlier, the Election Commission announced the final results of 139 seats out of the 147 contested in the elections, bdnews24.com reported. Re-polling will be held in the remaining eight constituencies since balloting was suspended at many centres due to violence.
Dhaka: A Hindu temple was vandalized and set afire in central Bangladesh, as post poll attacks on the minority community continue unabated. A portion of the Kali Temple in Netrakona district was gutted when unidentified persons set fire to it early this morning, a top police official said. Locals managed to douse the fire after 45 minutes, The Daily Star newspaper reported quoting Delwar Hossain, the district's additional superintendent of police. The incident came a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to arrest all those
Hindu temple vandalized in Bangladesh

involved in the recent attacks on the minority community. Attacks were launched on houses and businesses of Hindus in several districts including Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat and Jessore since Bangladesh went to polls on January 5. Meanwhile, police arrested a Jamaat-e-Islami leader from northern Bogra district for his alleged involvement with sabotage in different areas. Superintendent of police Mojammel Haque said they also arrested 11 Jamaat activists from the district on charges of antinational activities.
Islamabad: After examining former president Pervez Musharraf's medical report, a special court in Pakistan granted the former army strongman exemption from appearing in the treason trial for two days. The special court constituted for the treason trial of the former army chief adjourned the hearing, exempting him from appearing in the court. The court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab, added that it would announce a ruling in relation to the medical report. Earlier, Musharraf's medical report was submitted in the court.
Two-day court exemption for 'sick' Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf is suffering from nine medical conditions
It evaluates certain tests carried out to measure his overall health after he failed to attend the hearing of the treason case against him. Meanwhile, addressing the court, Musharraf's lawyers said they did not have his medical certificate. Moreover, no one appeared from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), where Musharraf was rushed Jan 2 after he complained of heart problems on the way to the court. Former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf is suffering from nine medical conditions, a media report said.
Colombo: A top US diplomat was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka's warravaged north to hold talks with local officials over alleged war crimes during the last phase of the civil war against the LTTE. The US Ambassador-at-Large at the Office of Global Criminal Justice, Stephen J Rapp, who arrived here on a week-long visit, was to spend two days in the north holding talks with officials and leaders. This is Rapp's second visit to the island and comes ahead of another US-moved resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in March. US officials said Rapp aims to meet government officials, political and civil society leaders to discuss issues focusing on Sri Lanka's justice, accountability and reconciliation issues.
US envoy to visit north Sri Lanka over war crimes
Two US-moved similar resolutions at the UNHRC and backed by India were adopted at the UNHRC for two years running in 2012 and 2013. Both resolutions called for expeditious action from Colombo to achieve reconciliation with the Tamil minority. Sri Lanka has also come under international pressure to institute a war crimes inquiry into the last stages of the military battle with the LTTE in 2009. Western nations have been pressing Lanka to account for thousands of civilians suspected of being killed in the final months of the quartercentury war. According to a UN report, 40,000 civilians may have died in the last few months of the fighting between the government forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels fighting for a homeland for ethnic minority Tamils.
Stephen J Rapp, US Ambassador-at-Large at the Office of Global Criminal Justice
Sri Lanka has resisted such calls, claiming that the island's own mechanisms were sufficient to deal with what is being seen as a domestic issue. British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Lanka's north in November last year and met members of the Tamil community, becoming the first foreign head of state since 1948 to do so.
Kathmandu: India has made clear that it was not responsible for the chronic shortage of energy in the Himalayan country at a time when officials here are struggling to control outages. However, India said it will help reducing power shortage in Nepal and some concrete steps have been taken. According to media reports in Nepal, load shedding has increased since India ignored its commitment and did not grant permission to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for upgrading transmission lines in Indian territory. NEA, which is the only state agency that generates and distributes power in the country, said normally the power demand in Nepal goes up to 100 MW during the dry season as compared to the
Not responsible for Nepal's energy crisis: India
wet season. The drop-off in electricity generation owing to the decreasing water level in rivers has been blamed for the extended rolling blackout. Outages during the winter last year had gone up to 16 hours a day. To meet the power requirements, Nepal had reached several understandings with India on importing power from various cross border junctions. "Change of conductors in Kushaha (Nepal)-Kataiya (India) 132 KV Cross-Border Transmission line was one of the medium term measures to improve power situation in Nepal identified by an India- Nepal Joint Team of Technical experts in November 2011," the Indian Embassy here said in a statement.
22
January 11-17, 2014
INTERNATIONAL
Wa s h i n g t o n : Iran will have to commit itself to the 2012 Geneva Communique to take part in the January peace conference on Syria, the White House has said. The Geneva Communique of last year calls for cessation of violence in Syria Iran has said it is ready to play a 'constructive' role in the Geneva II conference where rebels are fighting to oust the regime of Bashar moon began sending out invitations al-Assad. Tehran is the main ally of to the Geneva II meeting. Iran is not among the first round Damascus. Iran has said it is ready to play a of nations on the list, which was "constructive" role in the Geneva II approved by the representatives of conference if invited. The meeting, US and of Russia with UN officials scheduled Jan 22, is aimed at ending at a meeting held Dec 20. According to Marie Harf, the Syrian conflict. The purpose of Geneva II is to spokesperson for the State move forward on the principles laid Department, Secretary of State John out in the Geneva Communique, Kerry will discuss with Russian White House spokesperson Jay officials to decide Iran's role in the conference. Carney said. Even if Iran is to attend the con"Obviously you cannot participate constructively if you do not buy into ference at a lower level, it would those principles and publicly say need to demonstrate "an interest and a willingness" to play a constructive so," he added. UN Secretary General Ban Ki- role in the process.
US asks Iran to accept Geneva Communique
Cairo: The trial of Egypt's ousted Islamist president on charges of inciting the murder of protesters was adjourned until next month, after security officials said heavy fog grounded the helicopter meant to bring Mohamed Morsi to court. Two defense lawyers in the case of Morsi, 13 leading Muslim Brotherhood members and an Islamist accused the government of trying to keep the toppled president out of the public eye ahead of a coming constitutional referendum. They also said authorities denied Morsi visits from his family and his defense team. "The decision was inspired by the political circumstances_ which require that he doesn't appear,'' defense lawyer Osama el-Helw said. Morsi's "appearance will inspire his supporters.'' The hearing was to be Morsi's second court appearance since his ouster in a popularly-backed military coup on July 3. In his first appearance, he insisted he was still the country's legitimate president and challenged the legitimacy of the court, regularly interrupting the judges and prosecutors. Morsi is held in a high security prison in Borg el-Arab, just out-
Morsi's trial to resume on Feb 1
Egypt's ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi
side of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, requiring him to be flown in for each of the court appearances in the outskirts of Cairo. Under Egyptian law, a defendant in a criminal trial must be in court for hearings to proceed. Interior minister Mohammed Ibrahim told the private television station CBC that a helicopter due to transport Morsi had been ready, but thick fog prevented the helicopter from taking off. Morsi's hearing came less than a week before Egyptians are scheduled to start voting in a nation-
wide referendum on a new constitution that would replace the 2012 charter drafted under Morsi's government if approved. About 680,000 Egyptians living abroad started voting on the new charter. The charges against Morsi and the 14 others stem from violence outside the presidential palace when his supporters attacked a sitin protesting his rule. The clashes killed at least 10 people and critics said the violence showed the Brotherhood's reliance on a private militia to defend his powers.
North Korea to hold parliamentary elections in March

Pyongyang: North Korea says it will elect members of its rubber-stamp parliament in March, which could provide a glimpse into any changes in the country's power elite after the execution of leader Kim Jong-un's uncle. North Korea usually holds parliamentary elections every five years and the polls are largely a formality because candidates are believed to be hand-picked by the ruling Workers' Party. But this year's polls will be the first since Kim took power after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in late 2011. Kim executed his uncle Jang Song Thaek on treason charges last month. Analysts say Kim will use the elections to replace aging legislators with younger politicians loyal to him. State media said the elections will be on March 9.
Ramallah: US Secretary of State John Kerry proposed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the return of 80,000 Palestinian refugees to Israel, a well-informed Palestinian official said. Kerry's proposal on the return of Palestinian refugees was part of his ideas presented to the Palestinian side to reach a framework peace agreement, Xinhua quoted a senior official of the Palestinian government as saying. "Kerry's proposal on the return of refugees is the same proposal offered by former US president Bill Clinton during Camp David peace talks held in the United States in 2000," said the official. He added that during their meetings, Abbas wants to increase the number of Palestinian refugees returning to Israel to 200,000, and
Kerry proposes return of Palestinian refugees to Israel
US Secretary of State John Kerry
the demand is still under discussion with Kerry. As for the issue of Jerusalem, the official said, "Kerry's recent ideas focus on handing over parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinian National Authority and that Jordan will have the jurisdiction
on holy sites and places in the city." However, Israel still refuses to recognize east Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state, and insists that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Israel, according to the official.
Beirut: Syrian rebels have seized control of a hospital in the northern city of Aleppo that was used as a base for the area by their al-Qaida rivals, activists said. The capture of the hospital was a boost for the rebels, who only the day before saw 20 of their fighters killed in an al-Qaida suicide car bombing in the northern city of Darkoush, said the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It also underscores the intensity of the rebel infighting that has raged for days between Syrian rebels and their one-time allies, fighters from the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Also in Aleppo, the observatory said a series of government airstrikes in two rebel-held suburbs late on Tuesday night killed 19 people. There were no further details. The government in Damascus did not comment on the bombings. The two main rebel camps in Syria fighting against President Bashar Assad's troops a chaotic array of rebel brigades and the al-Qaida-linked group turned
Syria rebels seize al-Qaida base in Aleppo
their guns on each other last Friday. The clashes have since become the most serious rebel infighting since the uprising against Assad began in March 2011. The rebel-on-rebel fighting began after tensions, which had simmered for months, erupted into the open after reports that the al-Qaida fighters had tortured and killed a popular doctor. It has since spread from the northern province of Aleppo to nearby Idlib and to the province of Raqqa. At least 300 people have been killed in the infighting, said Rami Abdurrahman, the head of the observatory. The clashes add another layer of complexity to the Syrian conflict, less than three weeks ahead of a planned international peace conference to try to resolve the civil war. Syrian rebels seized the hospital in Aleppo's Qadi Askar quarter that the al-Qaida fighters had overrun months ago and used as their main compound or base for the area, said the observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground.
BUSINESS
January 11-17, 2014
23
US Senate advances unemployment benefits extension bill

Washington: The US Senate has voted to advance the unemployment benefits extension bill, clearing procedural hurdle for the legislation.In a 60-37 vote, the Democratic-controlled Senate passed a motion to begin debate on the bill, which would provide a three-month extension of the benefits program. An estimated 1.3 million unemployed Americans saw their benefits lapse when the program expired on Dec 28. The benefits came from the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, enacted under the Bush administration in 2008 to provide supplementary relief for the long-term unemployed who have exhausted standard state benefits. Extending jobless benefits is part of a larger message of economic fairness the White House and Democrats seek to highlight in the new year.
New Delhi: India's growth level this fiscal will probably remain at 5 percent as in last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. "In the nine years since 2004, we averaged a healthy growth rate of 7.9 percent," he said here while addressing the inaugural session of the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual gathering of people of Indian origin. "There has no doubt been a slowdown in the recent past, and we will probably end this year at the same level as last year with 5 percent growth." Manmohan Singh said a number of international and domestic factors have contributed to this situation. "Despite these challenges, our economic fundamentals are strong. Our
India's growth level may stay at 5 percent: PM

savings and investment rates are still over 30 percent of the GDP and the entrepreneurial spirit in India is very much alive," he stated. He urged Indians abroad to stay positive despite questions about the future of the Indian economy and concerns about social challenges. "There is a perception in some quarters outside India that the country is losing its momentum of the past decade. This is also amplified by the political contestations here in India, which are inevitably louder in the election season," the prime minister said. "I want to assure you that there is no reason to despair about our present or worry about our future." While lamenting that the government could not legislate deeper reform measures in the financial and insurance sectors due to lack of greater political support, Manmohan Singh said the decisions that have been made were already beginning to make an impact and India was reemerging as an attractive investment decision. "I am confident you will see the evidence clearly in the next few months," he asserted. Manmohan Singh said that India's economic growth has not only accelerated but has also become socially more inclusive and regionally more balanced. "Our poverty levels are declining at faster rates; agricultural growth has accelerated; and real rural wages have increased three times since 2004," he said.
Manmohan Singh at the inaugural session of the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi
Mumbai: Indian equities emerged as the best performer among the major emerging economies with a return of nearly 10 percent for a key index on the back of the close to $20 billion foreign fund inflow into the $1.1 trillion market. Returns on India's major stocks have beaten equities in BRICS partner countries Brazil, Russia and China. The performance of the 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was also among the best globally. The two widely tracked indices of the Indian equities markets - Sensex and Nifty - scaled a new peaks in 2013. The Sensex rose to a record high of 21,483.74 points, while Nifty touched a new peak of 6,415.25 points Dec 9, a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept three out of four key state elections. The Indian equities markets are among the best performers globally for the second consecutive year. The benchmark Sensex had gained 26
Indian stocks among best performers in 2013
The Sensex scaled a new peak in 2013
percent in 2012 on the back of a $24.6 billion inflow of foreign funds. Data with the regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), showed, in 2013, overseas investors pumped in $19.9 billion in Indian equities markets, the
biggest inflow in Asia after Japan. Analysts and experts say the Indian markets would remain bullish for the third successive year in 2014 as well on improved economic outlook and if a stable government was formed after the general election.
New York: Oil prices went up this week as traders expected the extremely cold weather in the US will boost demand of the fuel. The National Weather Service said in an advisory that the northern and central parts of the US will expect the coldest temperatures in about two decades this week, with some 140 million people to be impacted. Combined with gusty winds, the temperatures came in "life- threatening wind chill values as low as 60 degrees below zero ( Fahrenheit or minus 51 degrees Celsius)" in some areas. Crude prices were boosted by the cold waves in the US, as the consumption of heating oil is
Oil prices rise due to US cold snap
expected to surge. Oil prices were also supported by encouraging German job data. German unemployment fell for the first time in five months, with the number of people out of work in Germany decreasing by 15,000 to 2.965 million in December, the Nuremberg-based Federal Labor Agency said Tuesday. US international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $34.3 billion in November from the revised $39.3 billion in October. The trade deficit shrank more than forecast in November as oil imports dropped to the lowest level in three years and exports rose to a record.
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January 11-17, 2014
SPORTS
London: Michael Schumacher's condition is stable but remains critical nine days after the German suffered brain injuries in a skiing accident in France. "The clinical state of Michael Schumacher is stable as he's under permanent care and treatment," Grenoble hospital said in a statement. "However, the medical team in charge stresses that it continues to assess his situation as critical." The statement appears to be at least in part a response to comments made by a friend of Schumacher at the end of last week, the former F1 driver Philippe Sttreiff, who said that "Michael's life is not in danger any more" based on something told him by a mutual friend of his and Schumacher's, Dr Gerard Saillant. Schumacher's agent Sabine Kehm spoke out when asked about after Sttreiff's comments, reinforcing that the seven-times world champion was still in a critical condition.
Schumacher's condition 'remains critical'

London: Three years before his ski accident, Formula One legend Michael Schumacher had made a will of distributing his 750 million pounds (over $1 billion) cash, cars and property empire among his wife and two children. According to Daily Mail, in 2010, the seven-time Formula One World Champion admitted that he had made a will for the first time, telling a German magazine: "Yes, I have made my testament because I am a family man. "But it is less about Formula One but because of the things that can happen in everyday life."
Schumacher's will names family as beneficiaries
Michael Schumacher is battling for his life after suffering severe internal bleeding on the skull
The medical team and the German's management repeated their call to respect his privacy and said they would not send any more statements nor hold any news conference until further notice. "The patient's privacy requires
that we do not disclose any details about his treatment and that's why we do not plan any news conference nor written statements for now," said the medical team and Schumacher's management. While Schumacher is battling for his life after suffering severe
internal bleeding on the skull, French authorities are investigating the accident that took place in the Alps resort of Meribel. He has undergone two emergency operations and has been in a medically induced coma since the accident.
Seoul: India's successful women's doubles badminton pair Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa started the New Year on a winning note as they entered the second round of the $600,000 Korea Open Super Series here. The 2011 World Championship bronze medalists made short work of New Zealand pair Anna Rankin and Madeleine Stapleton by
Jwala-Ashwini start 2014 on winning note

defeating them 21-10, 21-7 in only 19 minutes at the S.K. Handball Stadium. However, they have a tough task ahead of them as they take on local third seeds and World No.7 pair Ye Na Jang and So Young Kim Thursday in their first ever clash. Ashwini also made a superb start with Tarun Kona in mixed doubles, notching up a straight games win over Germans Johannes Schoettler and Johanna Goliszewski. The Indian pair, who train in Bangalore under coach Tom John, won 22-20, 21-17 in 34 minutes and will face another German combine -- seventh seeds Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels -- in Round 2. However, Indian singles shuttlers had to suffer disappointing first round losses.
New Delhi: Indian women referees, having broken through the glass ceiling in yet another field, are going through a tough time in convincing soccer officials - and even players - that they are as good as their male counterparts in this demanding business. In a long list of FIFA women referees, there are only two Indians: Maria Rebello, 42, on the referees roster and Uvena Fernandes, 32, an assistant referee. And more Indian women are forcing their way into the field to supervise men's matches since there is no organized women's football in the country. It was no surprise that Chennai girls Ruba Devi and Basanti and Bengal's Kanika Burman and Monica Jana were the latest to qualify as Class II national referees and aim to follow the much celebrated Goan girls. In India, luckily for the women referees, they have the full support of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The last month's U-19 women's nationals in Cuttack was manned by an army of all-women referees for the first time. Former India captain Rebello, who is now a regular in the Goa pro-league, said the nationals in Cuttack were a pathbreaking tournament for women referees. Can they handle men's matches? "Why not," said Maria. Having officiated in the Goa men's pro-league, she knows things can be a bit bad. "Things can get a bit nasty in Goa where football is a way of life. But I feel women have the ability to keep things under control. I have been verbally abused by players and fans and I also give it back to them," Rebello said. Like Rebellow, fellow Goan, Fernandes, who is an officer with the Indian Air Force (IAF), also represented India
India's women referees take on tough challenges
Young female referee Kanika Burman in action during a soccer league match in Kolkata before she shifted to refereeing in 2003 and has never looked back since then. Burman's moment of test came on the last day of 2013 as she officiated in a league match between East Bengal and Railway FC. Never before scenes were witnessed at the East Bengal ground in Kolkata as the media rushed for Burman's bytes moments after she blew the final whistle. She was intimidated by East Bengal's South Sudan import James Moga but kept her poise. But success for Burman comes at a cost. She loses a day's salary every time she takes leave to officiate in a match."In 2013, I lost a month's salary because I was refereeing in the women's U-19 nationals in Cuttack and the subjunior boys tournament in Kalyani. It is tough to make ends meet when I lose a day's salary," Burman said.
New Delhi: Demanding that late hockey legend Dhyan Chand be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, former players and several fans of the game marched up to the Prime Minister's Office to submit a memorandum requesting that the process be expedited. Dhyan Chand's son and former hockey player Ashok Kumar led the rally which featured several yesteryear stars such as Zafar Iqbal, Dinesh Chopra, Rajesh Chauhan and former coach Harendra Singh. The march started from the Barakhamba Road and went up till PMO where noted hockey historian K Arumugam and Kumar submitted the memoLate hockey legend Dhyan Chand randum. Dhyan Chand. The clamor for Dhyan Chand to legend be conferred with the highest Government of India has already civilian honor has grown consid- declared his birthday as Annual erably after retired cricket icon Sports Day when the sporting Sachin Tendulkar became the first excellence award such as Arjuna sportsperson to be bestowed the and Dronacharya are given away by the President of India," the honor. "We, a volunteer based NGO, memorandum submitted to the Hockey Citizen Group, appeal PM read. Dhyan Chand's name and urge to confer top civilian has already been recommended by award Bharat Ratna to hockey the Sports Ministry for the honor.
Ex-players demand Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand
The controversial US House Resolution 417, if passed, would declare that Gujarat government has not adequately pursued justice for the victims of religious violence in 2002 and commend the U.S. government for exercising its authority in 2005 to deny a US visa to Narendra Modi on the grounds of religious freedom violations. George Abraham sent us an op ed criticizing Indian community organizations like the Hindu American Foundation for opposing 417 that is purported to protect the rights and freedom of religious minorities in India. Suhag Shukla of HAF sent us a spirited response.
CONTROVERSY
January 11-17, 2014
25
Oh what a tangled web we weave... The curious case of H. Res. 417

By Suhag Shukla Executive Director, Hindu American Foundation r. George Abraham had headed the Indian National Overseas Congress (I) USA, the American arm of India's ruling party. Hes also the spokesperson for NRIs for a Secular and Harmonious India (NRI SAHI). Hes a leader at both the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America and Indian Christian Forum. He is also a founding member of Indian American Coalition for Pluralism (IACP). What do most of these organizations have in common besides Mr. Abraham? Most are not legal corporations. Most do not have active websites. And all are affiliated with a web-portal calling itself Coalition Against Genocide (CAG). The CAG spokesperson is Shaikh Ubaid, whos also a founder of the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and a leader of the IACP with George Abraham. IAMC, according a federal registry, hired a DC lobbying firm to push H. Res. 417. But is it really only IAMC? Or is it CAG? Or is it some of CAGs 50+ other, mostly interbred affiliate organizations? To invoke Sir Walter Scott, Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive! In contrast, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is a Guidestar recognized non-profit with a fulltime staff of eight, physical office in Washington DC, diverse Board, Executive Council, and national membership, and a decade long track record of civil and human rights advocacy. HAFs work speaks for itself -- through its reports, policy briefs, official testimonies, public statements, and website; through coverage by major media around the globe; and through the praise of academics, interfaith partners, and this nations policy leaders. HAF has taken a stance against H. Res. 417 because the resolution selectively highlights violence in a way that portrays members of Indias majority as the only perpetrators. Indeed, inter-religious violence is a tragedy that must be prevented. But there has never been a single theme to such violence, and no one religious community should be subject to blanket culpability. If we are going to condemn anything, condemn all violence and more
By George Abraham Past President, Indian National Overseas Congress (I), USA
Cultural organizations or Trojan Horses?

National Indian American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI) to promote Modis candidacy for PM of India. Kumar is probably in violation of the US ethics rules as he used the House seal and circulated a flyer that indicated Modi would address the meeting via video link. The incident brought shame and disrepute to our community. It is not an isolated incident and NIAPPI is not the first non-profit organization that engaged in this sort of activity. Many such organizations are founded to promote cultural or religious activities. To an average Indian American, these are noble objectives and for which they would volunteer their time, efforts and resources to promote the heritage and culture of India in a faraway land. However, some of these organizations seem to be have dubious aims. The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) that lobbies to promote Indias interest in the US has generally done a credible job promoting bilateral relations. But their recent intervention on behalf of BJP and Modi exposes their narrow hidden agenda. USINPAC states that they have successfully led a grassroots lobbying efforts in Washington DC to stop the HR 417 from going to the House Floor for a vote so that US Congress does not intentionally or unintentionally influence the outcome of Indias upcoming elections. Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is said to promote and protect the Hindu philosophy and way of life in US. But lately it has become the lightening rod for the Hindutva agenda. Ardent supporters of the separation of church and state in US often aligning them with ACLU to fight any Christian symbolism, yet they are supportive of RSS supremacist agenda. Dr. Raja Swamy, of the Coalition Against Genocide, said, HAF and its ilk are rooted in supremacist and majoritarian ideologies. They pay lip service to caste oppression issues and pluralism but have a monoculture and elitist view of the Indian soci-
he innocuous sounding U.S. House Resolution 417 that calls for reaffirming the need to protect the rights and freedom of the religious minorities while praising Indias rich religious diversity and commitment to tolerance and equality has managed to ruffle many feathers. Emotions were flying high over the move by the US lawmakers with some national and local Indian organizations active on the Capitol Hill in lobbying for various causes back in India. In particular, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) are at loggerheads over this resolution that may not bode well for the larger interest of India. The tussle might imperil Indias image as well as damage national interests among US legislators. Amid charges and counter-charges, let us examine the veracity of these charges as well as the propriety of actions undertaken by some of these organizations on behalf of the community and for the sake of India. Recently, a Narendra Modi supporter and Chicago-based entrepreneur Shalabh Shalli Kumar tried to hijack a Republican Party event to woo Indian Americans to the GOP. In response, many organizations and individuals like Juned Qazi, of the Indian National Overseas Congress(I) USA, complained to Republican lawmakers that the GOP was going against its own fundamental principles and traditions of tolerance and dignity by hosting and promoting such an event. The GOP leaders woke up and learned of the nefarious design by Mr. Kumar under the aegis of the
ety. Does HAF truly share the values both these countries are founded upon, freedom, liberty and justice for all. The guest list of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), that hosts the annual India Day Parade in New York, often includes some vehemently anti-Congress leaders from India. This year, one of the invitees was openly promoting BJP. The stealth agenda of such organizations is to promote the BJP and Modi. Such overt political activity by cultural organizations might be in direct violation of their own by-laws, putting their tax-exempt status at risk. Another disturbing aspect is the notion that we could maneuver through the political process using money power to achieve any narrow political objectives from some of the largely unsuspecting political leaders in this country. Just look at Shalli Kumars action! Two top members of a US Congress constituted commission on religious freedom have expressed sadness over the nomination of Modi as BJPs PM candidate, terming him as the poster boy of Indias failure to punish the violent. It was another son of Gujarat, Mahatma Gandhi, who once offered a broad, tolerant vision for the country and its multi-religious society, wrote Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon in an op-ed to CNN. Indeed, Gujarats High Court rapped Modi for inaction and ordered compensation for religious structures that suffered damage during the riots in that state. In 2005, the US State Department agreed with US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and others and revoked Modis visa. To these organizations acting as Trojan Horses on behalf of Modi, I ask: would they support, for example, a Chris Christie candidacy for Presidency if he were to show the same inaction as Modi did in 2002 and not protect the lives and properties of Indians living in New Jersey?
importantly, condemn the votebanking, economics, history, and misunderstanding that fuels it. Hypocritical resolutions that hide these horrible realities only create more tensions. But theres an even larger issue with HR 417. Congressmen Keith Ellison and Joseph Pitts ask of India what they would never ask America -- to create separate, religious minority tribunals to conduct trials and appeals. Perhaps, as spokesperson of NRI SAHI, Mr. Abraham could shed light on how separate religious courts are secular? And as an American, whether he would advocate for the same here for the rest of us nonChristians? Certainly, Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs in the US have been targets of profiling, discrimination, religious hatred, and violence. HAF doesnt just tout civil rights, we are at the forefront -- opposing the Defense of Marriage Act; advocating for the inclusion of antiHindu, anti-Sikh, and anti-Arab hate crimes among data collected by the FBI; and speaking out against the unconstitutional surveillance of mosques by the NYPD. So while HAF is heavily engaged in the American public square where we all live, Mr. Abraham and his friends at CAG obsess over Indian politics or try to firebomb progressive groups like HAF. HAFs human rights work plays out internationally. We routinely work with Pakistani Ahmadiyyas and Bangladeshi Christians to improve the plight of religious minorities throughout South Asia. Where equality and human rights are threatened in India, HAF speaks out as well -- expressing grave concern with the widely panned Communalism Prevention Bill of 2011, which violates every notion of equality under the law, separation of powers, innocent until proven guilty, and secularism, while unfairly demonizing Indias religious majority; and criticizing the Indian Supreme Court's decision to uphold Section 377 of IPC, which criminalizes consensual homosexual conduct. The only Trojan Horse on the Hill is HR 417. As a non-partisan, prodemocracy, pro-secularism, propluralism American advocacy group, HAF has no stance on Indias upcoming elections. But HAF will continue to advocate that US foreign policy play fair and respect Indias democracy and democratically elected leadership. May the candidate who can rise above corruption and secure equality, dignity, and safety for all Indians, irrespective of caste, culture, or creed, win.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
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January 11-17, 2014
LIFESTYLE
New Delhi: Indian women are impressed by men who are technology-savvy and those who are active on online social networking platforms, according to a study by a matrimonial website. Shaadi.com conducted a study to understand the influence of lifestyle and technology on women looking for a partner. In this study, women were asked about things they notice in their prospective partner. Interestingly, women seem to notice the technology men choose. As much as 48.4 percent of the respondents said that they notice gadgets, especially their phones and phone accessories, 27.1 percent said they notice watches and the remaining respondents went for a man's shoes. According to 28.3 percent of the
Tech-savvy men impress Indian women: Study

women, Twitter and Facebook are important mediums to analyze social presence, behavior and psychology of potential partners. Commenting on the survey results, Gourav Rakshit, chief operating officer, Shaadi.com, said: "The study indicates that the Indian woman is now going beyond the conventional partner preferences. Previously, the emphasis in matchmaking for a girl was a well-settled man. "Today people give a lot of importance to compatibility," he
said in a statement. As many as 45.6 percent of the women surveyed said that they would prefer men who are active on Twitter as they are perceived as knowledgeable and wellinformed, while 26.1 percent of women said they would prefer men who are active on Facebook as they are perceived as trustworthy and reliable. When asked what annoys them the most, 36.5 percent of the women said they don't like men who are obsessed with taking photos of the food to update their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Around 34.2 percent of those surveyed are annoyed by men who stare at the TV screen while talking and 29.3 percent of them aren't impressed by those who constantly look at the phone during a conversation.
Los Angeles: Actress-designer Nicole Richie has been named one of the best dressed female personalities of 2013, thanks to her multifarious looks in the year gone by. From her customized Topshop look at the Met Gala to flaunting New York-based Indian designer Naeem Khan's creations at the Golden Globes, she created waves with her red carpet looks, reports femalefirst.co.uk. In January last year, she walked the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards and looked perfect in a powder blue Naeem Khan gown and retro curls finishing the look. Another standout moment was the Roberto Cavalli white long sleeve gown, with a deep v and black strips, which she wore to the Elton John AIDS foundation Oscar party. Of course, her custom Topshop gown with her white hair to this years punk-themed Met Gala was
Best dressed female 2013: Nicole Richie
always going to be remembered, and most recently her Alberta Ferretti top and striped satin skirt, which she wore to the Annual Baby2Baby Gala.
London: Whether you are trying to control alcohol consumption or forcing yourself every morning to jog, apps like iBeer and Zombies Run 2 can motivate you. Here's some fun apps to help you to focus on fitness, reports dailystar.co.uk: * iPint on iOS and iBeer on Android: If your friends are gulping down beer at parties, you can also join them with this virtual beer. The apps are available on phones that have mobile operating systems like Android and iOS. The best part is it won't cost you anything and you'll be hangover free in the morning. * Embarrassing Bodies My Health Checker: Before working on a healthier lifestyle, see what poor
Let apps motivate you to get better physique
Foodie Trail
Old Delhi's bawarchis keep alive Mughlai culinary magic

By Mohd Asim Khan New Delhi: When we talk of the food at an upscale restaurant we invariably talk of the chef behind it. But despite most of us finding the array of food available in Delhi's old quarters lip-smacking, few of us remember the 'bawarchis', or the traditional cooks, behind the culinary magic. Purani Dilli, as the area is known, is still home to some of the indigenous Mughal-era bawarchis and many dishes' origins can be traced to this place. Despite that, the Old Delhi cooks remain anonymous to food lovers as their toque and apron-wearing counterparts in five-star hotels and expensive fine dining restaurants hog all the limelight. No fancy oven, no proper kitchen, the bawarchis of Old Delhi are seemingly caught in a time warp and usually cook on the roadside using the traditional wood fuel. Although some of them have started using gas stoves, paucity of LPG cylinders makes them use firewood very often. They cook only on order. Mohalla Qabristan near Turkman Gate is house to some of the oldest bawarchi families of Old Delhi. However, it is not easy to trace their origins as even the oldest among the cooks can't recall as to how many generations have already gone in the profession of cooking food. But they have been around for a few centuries, for sure. Yameen. Over the years, different variations of qorma have been thrown up such as white qorma and green qorma. Similarly, while taftaan, rumali roti and paratha are common, disco roti, maina and bulbul rotis are little known. It is difficult to trace the origin of these variations. "I don't know who invented these dishes but they are quite popular now. We prepare these items only on order. But please don't ask me about their recipes. I won't tell you," says Mohamed Saleem, 60, another bawarchi. "We charge Rs.200 per kg each for cooking qorma and biryani. The spices, firewood, and other material have to be provided by the customer," Saleem revealed. Despite their efforts to keep their recipes secret and confine the art to the family, there have been new entrants in the business. But this does not worry the old timers much as each of them has a set bunch of loyalists who always come to them whenever they need to get special food cooked. The newcomers include the vendors who sell haleem and biryani at the roadside at several places in the walled city. "There are a lot of people nowadays who are cooking food. But they are newcomers and our customers always come to us for our unique taste," Zaamin, an old bawarchi at Rodgran near Lal Kuan, said with confidence.
shape you're in with this app. Apple users can check out eyes, heart, lungs and body mass index. * Zombies Run 2: The app can be downloaded by Apple, Android and Windows phone users. But it will cost them 1.99 pounds, 2.19 pounds and 1.49 pounds respectively. But it will help to shed some kg. The phone app makes your morning jog a little more exciting. The story starts with you crash landing in the middle of a pack of zombies. As you listen to your playlists, a voice tells you the zombies are right behind you and its up to you to save the civilization. Your phones GPS tracks your speed and if youre not fast enough youll be eaten up by monsters.
New York: Sweating out at a gym shouldn't prevent you from looking chic. Ditch the T-shirts in dull colors and make way for bright ones. You can also try different sizes of tops. Huffingtonpost.com gives more options to jazz up your workout wardrobe: * It is the perfect time to wear short shorts. * Jazz up your look with a bright headband. * Try the crop top trend if you
Ideas to spice up workout wear
haven't. * Wear bright colored tops. * Don't be afraid to match your pants to your sneakers. * When in doubt, wear black as it looks classic and also makes you look slimmer.
"I learnt this art from my father, and he from his father. That is all I know," Mohammed Yameen, 70, said as he intently peels an onion. At some distance his sons - he has five and all are in the same profession - are busy with different chores. Yameen never cared to send any of them to school. The only thing in the world that these bawarchis care about is their recipes and spices. They guard their recipes with their lives - one of the reasons they seldom keep people from outside their family as apprentices. And in case they have to do for some reason, they keep the apprentices away from the spices they use. This, they think, is essential to survive in the profession and maintain their exclusive taste. "Sab masalo ka hi to khel hai (The trick lies in the spices)," says Haji Basheer of Sheedu Nihari Shop - one of the oldest such in Delhi - and a relative of
SELF HELP
January 11-17, 2014
27
ant to add interesting taste, texture and depth to your cooking? Think mushrooms. Most varieties are available year-round. A lot of cooks underestimate mushrooms, thinking of just a few common varieties, says James Parker, a produce buyer for Whole Foods Market. But mushrooms are incredibly versatile. From earthy and nutty to buttery and even fruity, mushrooms can add a wide array of flavors to dishes. To get the most out of mushrooms, use them quickly so they remain firm and blemish-free. Refrigerate them in a paper bag or container that allows cool air to circulate and make sure theyre not too dry or damp. When ready to cook, clean mushrooms with a damp cloth or rinse briefly and dry with a towel. This handy guide can help you experiment with different flavors and textures: Cultivated White button -- mild and versatile. Cremini -- firm and flavorful. Portobello -- rich and meaty. Oyster -- mild and sweet. Shiitake -- savory & satisfying.
How to make hearty winter dishes without meat W
Wild Chanterelle -- nutty and delicate. Morel -- intense and earthy. Porcini -- robust and woodsy. White Truffle -- delicate and aromatic. Black Truffle -- fragrant and flavorful. Want to give a few kinds of mushrooms a try at once? Try this recipe from Whole Foods Market for Mushroom and Gruyere Quiche, which serves 6-8 people: Mushroom and Gruyere Quiche Ingredients 1/4 pound cremini mushrooms, cut into quarters or eighths, depending on size 1/4 pound portobello mushroom caps, diced 1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and discarded, cut into quarters 1/2 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 frozen 9-inch pie crust, thawed 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 eggs and salt 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 4 ounces gruyre cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)
Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss mushrooms with onion, olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for about 15 minutes, or until cooked and firm. Remove from oven and set aside. Prick pie shell all over with a fork. Pre-bake shell for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Whisk together heavy cream and eggs with 1 tablespoon thyme, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine roasted mushrooms, onion, gruyere and remaining thyme. Spread mixture in the bottom of the pie shell evenly. Pour cream-egg mixture over the mushroom mixture, ensuring the mushroom mixture is covered. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm or at room
n todays tumultuous economic times, extra income is not just a luxury, but a necessary safety net, according to many financial experts. Relying solely on a single employer to make ends meet is a surefire way to end up struggling, as so many Americans do, warns Kimberly Palmer, senior money editor for U.S. News & World Report and author of the new book The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life (AMACOM). Being your own boss, part of the time, can be a fulfilling way to overcome job insecurity. But do you have what it takes? Whether ones passion is baking cupcakes or designing logos, Palmer discovered when researching her book that there are certain qualities that successful entrepreneurs tend to have in common: They know exactly what motivates them, and it often starts with a big loss or other major event in their lives. They choose entrepreneurial pursuits that line up with longstanding interests, and skills. They minimize their expenses in both their professional and personal lives, while finding ways to
Secrets of generating a second income
invest in their venture. They rely heavily on online communities of similarly minded people. They actively promote their brands through social media and other grass-roots marketing efforts. They master time management strategies that enable them to maintain full-time jobs along with their side ventures (and the rest of their lives). They find ways to be resilient in the face of inevitable setbacks. As their businesses grow, they support other small shops and start-ups by outsourcing tasks, which further enhances their own businesses. And they often find other ways to give back. They derive a deep sense of financial security and fulfillment from their businesses, far beyond money. More information about The Economy of You can be found at www.byKimberlyPalmer.com.
Get your family to eat healthier snacks

he New Year is the perfect time to evaluate what you feed your family, and make positive steps toward more wholesome meals. Snack time in particular is when a lot of great parents serve up some not-so-great offerings. Here are a few ways to make sure youre providing your family with some crucial vitamins and minerals during snack time:
New technologies helping more seniors age-in-place

early 90 percent of people 50 years old and up want to remain at home as long as possible, according to a recent AARP study. If you have an aging parent or grandparent, having a discussion about his or her alternatives is important. But remember, it can be a sensitive subject, especially when he or she has lived in the same place for a long time. So before broaching the issue, be sure you understand all the options that might allow for aging-in-place at home. If youre considering an assisted living facility for a loved one, make sure you look at new technologies first to see if you can help he or she remain independent, secure and connected from the comfort of home, says Walt Podsiedlak, Health and Wellness Sales Manager at Linear LLC, a leading provider of wired and wireless security technology for seniors. This starts by discussing the greatest challenges your loved one faces, such as mobility, personal care and meals, and determining what kind of technology or service addresses those specific needs. One of the most widely used technologies by individuals aging-inplace are personal emergency reporting systems (PERS), that can
Vitamin C Vitamin C is important for strengthening immunity. Whenever kids gather in large groups, such as in the classroom, at after-school, activities, or on the monkey bars, germs have a tendency to travel. But a regular dose of vitamin C can help keep kids cold and flu-free. With that in mind, hydrate kids with orange juice or lemonade instead of soda. For snacks, try kiwi, citrus fruits and slices of bell pepper. Calcium Its almost impossible to cut out all sweets and treats, particularly when kids are involved! So rather than saying no to something delicious, ensure the sweet treats you serve your family offer some nutritional benefit.
For example, Snack Pack pudding cups contain as much calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk (30 percent of your needed daily value) and are 60120 calories per serving, which wont break the calorie bank. With more than 20 flavors, including sugar-free and fat-free varieties, kids won`t get bored, so its easy to keep lunch or snack time fresh. Protein Protein is tricky because there are so many foods that contain a good dosage of protein, but arent necessarily the most healthful options. Limit sources of protein that are high in saturated fats, which can raise cholesterol and contribute to obesity. Instead, opt for healthful snacks like unsalted nuts and seeds. A trail mix is a satisfying way to up your kids protein intake, and is a great on-the-go option.
send for help in an emergency, amongst other functions. PERS devices have made significant leaps since TV commercials first popularized them in the 1980s. For example, new systems like the Linear PERS4200 console still connect a wrist or necklace pendant to a central monitoring station for push-button emergency reporting, but useful new features have also been added. Here are some features to look for and consider when picking the right PERS technology: Temperature sensors can provide alerts to update central stations of hazardous conditions. An activity timer can be programmed to send a signal if a preset amount of time elapses before either an activity transmitter is triggered or the consoles home button is pressed. Audible reminder messages can be set on a recurring schedule to highlight doctors visits, when medication should be taken or even social activities. Some consoles can serve as speaker phones, allowing for convenient communication.
Take note of the range between a transmitter and a console. For example, if your mom likes to garden, be sure the range of the PERS is wide enough to include the yard. Transmitters can be wristbands, pendants, belt attachments or even appear as jewelry. Discuss what would serve your loved one most conveniently. Consider the battery life of the transmitter and if its waterproof. As for cost, users should expect to pay an installation fee, and a monthly PERS monitoring charge. PERS device repair and replacement policies should also be considered. More information can be found at www.LinearCorp.com. (StatePoint)
28
January 11-17, 2014
HUMOR
Funny Bone by Nury Vittachi
n these busy times, we all have so many things on our minds that we constantly mislay our important possessions, such as keys, phones and railway trains. Well, trains maybe not so often. But such was the case at a Sri Lanka rail yard recently when a staff member misplaced his train. His colleagues said they hadn't seen it. So he called his bosses. Horrified, bosses ordered staff to phone everyone they could think of to ask possibly the most embarrassing question ever. "Er, I'm calling from Sri Lanka Railways. Just wondering if anybody has seen a train? It's a big, heavy metal thing with lots of wheels." The humiliating calls eventually paid off. An unscheduled "ghost train" had been spotted heading for the city center, 12 km away. Leaping into a fast vehicle, staff members managed to catch up, and then pounced on board to halt it. I know what you're thinking. Didn't you just see this in a Hollywood movie? Yes, this is the exact plot of Unstoppable, the only difference being that in real life there was no incidental music and the heroes did not get hugged by gorgeous female movie stars when they climbed off the train. Or maybe they did. You never know in Sri Lanka.
Ghost joyriders leave me totally unspooked
But here's where it gets interesting. You'd have thought the brakes had been left off, right? But technicians said no, the engine had been switched on, indicating that the ghost train had had a ghost train driver. Then reporters found a 1913 newspaper about a
ghost train mysteriously leaving the same station, on the same track 100 years earlier on the same day, at the same time. As a result the most believable theory now is that a ghost train driver visits that particular line and steals a train once a century. This is so convincing that I'll bet on it, and if I'm wrong, I'll pay you CASH. (Just come and
see me in 100 years' time with full documentation.) The same week, there was a viral video going around about a driverless car speeding along a highway in the US state of Utah. Cops eventually worked out that a motorist in a car crash had left his seat, thinking the car was going to blow up, but it merely proceeded on its merry way for several miles. A CNN report noted that the "ghost" car "drove better than most Utah drivers." I remember some years ago reporting about a "ghost train" going by itself on a 45 kilometer journey starting in Bogor, Indonesia. The empty drivers' cabin was locked from the inside. At the time, railway officials sneered at the "ghost train driver" theory as ridiculous superstition, preferring the theory that a Hindu god had materialized, gone for a drive, and then dematerialized. Much more scientific, one has to agree. Personally, I usually don't believe in ghosts, preferring the theory that "dumb" inanimate objects, such as trains, rocks and members of nationalist political parties occasionally manifest signs that make other people mistake them for thinking, breathing, sentient beings. But of course they don't really have any sort of innate intelligence. Well, some of the rocks, maybe.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
by Mahendra Shah
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
ASTROLOGY
January 11-17, 2014
29
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: January 11-17, 2014
ARIES : You need a careful planning and will have to chalk out new strategies at professional front. Parental guidance in your decision would immensely help. Your brilliant ideas would help in bringing financial gains. Love life brings immense romantic pleasure. A cheerful state of mind brings mental peace. Great time for perfect family vacation to an exciting destination. Investing residentially is one thing you can rely on. Your highly developed intuition would act as a guide to lead in a positive direction. TAURUS: Pending proposals will get implemented with the help of seniors. The company of family friends will keep you in a happy & relaxed mood. You seem to know exactly what people need and want from you, but dont try to be too lavish in your spending. Romantic vibrations from someone unknown would lift your spirits taking imaginations to scaling heights. Mental alertness would enable to solve a tricky problem. Take a trip, as there is some place waiting for you. Deals on commercial property can tend to be at full boom. Turning thoughts towards love and fun would immensely benefit. GEMINI: Subordinates/co-workers would be very helpful. Believe it or not someone in the family is watching you closely and considers you a role model. An improvement in monetary position makes it convenient to purchase essential items. You are likely to get a new friendship opportunity in the evening. A pleasure trip gives the muchneeded tonic to health. You will discover travel destinations that are unique and magical. Time to spend money on your homely accommodations. Adhering to your priorities would be gainful in the long term. CANCER: Good week for implementing new plans and ventures. A week when misunderstandings at family front are sorted out with ease. A promising week to earn profits in real estate and financial transactions. Traveling proves a blessing in disguise by bringing a love in your life. Good time to divert attention to spirituality to enhance mental toughness. Travel opportunities full of challenges are often the beginning of great enterprises. Investment on overseas property has to be considered seriously. Changing attitude and prioritising things would help in managing everything. LEO: Auspicious week to start a new venture. An important development at personal front brings jubilation for entire family. Long-term investment would enable to make substantial gains. You enjoy a memorable time with partner to cement the lovely bond. A beneficial week to work on things that will improve your health. Dreaming of traveling is good, but if possible than plan a trip. You might be purchasing a refrigerator or any other gadget for your house. You find yourself having a desire to do something creative. VIRGO: Traveling brings new overseas business opportunities. Dont forget to spend quality time in the company of family friends you care. You are likely to make good money, but the rise in expenses could make it difficult to save. New romance that some of you are going to experience would take the worries off mind. Cutting down the number of parties and pleasure jaunts would help in keeping in good mood. A trip that is unconventional and adventurous will be favourable enjoy every minute of it. A good week to make some investment on kitchen items. Your convictions give you the courage to stand up for justice, values and priorities. LIBRA: Professional attitude at work brings success. A happy time in the company of friends and relatives as they do many favours to you. Financial hassles will be eased out with the help of your friends. You will be attracted to someone special. Your confidence and energy will be high in this week. Take some time to travel with your spouse for romance and seduction. Purchasing of electrical appliances can be done. You try to take some time to pursue hobbies to keep yourself busy. SCORPIO : Learn from past mistakes and keep long-term interest in mind at professional front. Shopping with family members will be highly pleasurable and exciting. Speculations are likely to bring monetary profits. Your charm & generosity bring new romantic opportunities for you. If possible try to make your life a tree, giving shade to others while personally enduring the scorching heat. Success would bring unlimited joy. Spiritual vacation is a quest for life, plan it and enjoy it with your family. Time to make investments on farmlands. You find yourself in search of creative pursuits to make life joyous and fulfilling. SAGITTARIUS: Your efforts to put yourself in a strong position at workplace are not likely to materialise. Enjoying the company of close relatives will brighten your evening. Certain important plans will be executed, bringing fresh financial gains. Warm romantic thoughts occupy mind. A week when smile will perpetually be on your face and strangers will seem familiar. You can make your vacation extra special by planning it with your family and friends. A good deal for residential property is ahead. You learn a lesson from negative experiences and get on with life. CAPRICORN: Hard work & dedication would win the trust of seniors at work. If possible share the company of close relatives who understand your feelings and needs. Hard work of previous days brings good fortune enabling to fulfill monetary promises. Dont give into unnecessary demands of romantic partner. Positive outlook impresses those around you besides keeping you fit & fine. Traveling on your own, with a friend or with the whole family will be exciting and comfortable too. Your girlfriends desire for an apartment might lead to its destination. Group activity is likely to bring a lot of happiness. AQUARIUS: Seniors colleagues are likely to lend a helping hand. You will be at the limelight in a social gathering provided you attend. Monetary position is likely to improve later in the week. Love life brightens your week. Your energy level will be high. Better to channelize it in a positive direction. Vacation full of beauty and history as well as exciting is waiting for you. Your investment plans are at full boom and you might succeed in them. Your relations with friends will be full of warmth, sharing and caring. PISCES: Mental clarity would remove past business confusions. You will be the star of attraction of familys gettogether. You succeed in making some extra cash on playing your cards well. Your wit & charm would help in catching the attention of opposite sex. Charity work undertaken will bring mental peace & comfort. Your journey might be affected when you begin to yearn for your work. Time to plan a gift for your parents may be their dream home. Some of you plan to go on an adventure to broaden horizons.
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 [email protected]; www.premastrologer.com
Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

11th January, 2014 Ruled planet: Moon Ruled by no:2 Traits in you:Being number 2, you are a person with high confidence, imagination and the one who is always ready to help others. Anyone can trust you blindly as you are very balanced person in nature. Though you are reserved personality, but when it comes to do some task, you are independent and complete your work with full determination and honesty. Health this year: You are likely to fulfill your dream to attain a sound physique. However to achieve this it is very essential for you to be a fitness freak. Keep in mind that besides physical health you must make efforts to enhance your mental toughness. You should maintain a distance from negative emotions. Finance this year: Monetary position is likely to improve as you get some commission and dividends this year. Proper planning would be utmost important to invest the money to bring good returns. Remember the phrase 'money attracts money'. Only thing needed on your part is to use it your fetching good returns. Career this year: Your leadership qualities and your high ideals, will take you to the ladder of success this year. Your imagination, coupled with hard work, will bring you fame and recognition in your field. You have the ability to take quick decisions and give the lead to your colleagues. Your bosses will notice your this ability, and you will be appreciated for your leadership qualities. Romance this year: This year beware, as someone might flatter you in love. Therefore maintain a distance from them. There are indications that they will try to take advantage of you. Maintain distance, as far as possible, to avoid them. Lucky month: July, October, November and January Lucky colors: Green, lavender, cream and white. 12th January, 2014 Ruled planet:Jupiter Ruled by no:3 Traits in you: Being number 3, you are confident, ambitious and independent person who loves to work with optimistic attitude. You are a born leader, and you are always appreciated for your work, whether it is at home or work place. Your efforts are always sincere and thats why you are able to balance your personal and professional life very smoothly. Health this year: Persons suffering from heart problems will have to be extra careful this year. Make sure that you don't take any unnecessary tension, as this might create problem in your physical health. At the same time avoid fatty, spicy & junk food to live healthy life. Finance this year: A safely executed investment plan would be monetary beneficial this year. You just need to look at all the aspects before executing them. Don't run after lucrative incentives. Look at the past performance of the company before investing. Negligence on your part might put investment in jeopardy. Career this year: With your creative ideas and hard work, you will be able to achieve honour and position in the year ahead of you. People will depend on you to sort out minor differences between colleagues. Romance this year: Your pleasing personality will catch the attraction of the opposite sex this year. Some of you might take your special relationship to the next level, i.e. marriage. Lucky month: August, September, November, February Lucky colors: Pink, Mauve, violet and purple. 13th January, 2014 Ruled planet:Uranus Ruled by no:4 Traits in you: Being number 4, you are a person who likes to take responsibilty and do your work with full dedication and honesty. You are a very down to earth person with religious beliefs. This year you might plan to go for a piligrimage. Sometimes you become bossy, jealous or stubborn, which you should avoid to lead a happy life with smiling people around you. Health this year: Avoid being anxious, as it might harm your health. Due to lot of work, your health might face some pyhsical problem. Just relax and do some meditation. Keep stress far away as it effects both physically and mentally. Otherwise there are no major health issues sen this year. Finance this year: This year you are likely to make a proper utilisation of your money. This would help in bringing safe returns besides enhancing your reputation in society. However, before giving a final node, consider all pros & cons to avoid disappointment later on. Career this year: The coming year will bring you success and prosperity in your respective fields. With yor methodical approach to life, you will reach to high positions in your career. You will not only attain fame and recognition, but the year ahead, will be full of activities, keeping you busy professionally. Romance this year: In matters of love, a very good year for lovers. They will be having a very happy time as they will enjoy each other's company most of the year. At the same time use the opportunity to strengthen the romantic bond. Lucky month: June, October, January and April Lucky colors: Electric blue and grey. 14th January, 2014 Ruled planet: Sun Ruled by no: 5 Traits in you: Being number 5, you are very strong headed person with friendly nature and practical thoughts. You inspire others to do their work with full dedication and perfection. You have an ability to make many friends and the best is that you are known as a very loyal friend to all your friends. Health this year: A very promising year to achieve mental peace by making yoga a part of life. Keep in mind that it helps in raising your energy levels and improves blood circulation, digestive system and respiratory functions. It is good for both - soul and mind. Finance this year: Sudden unexpected expenses could force to take a loan this year. You need to borrow the money according to your paying capacity. If possible, look for activities that are not very expensive yet highly entertaining to keep yourself busy. Career this year: Those of you in business, will attain success in your new projects and plans, which you will undertake, this year. You will find the cooperation of your colleagues in finishing your task on time. Romance this year: Your charming personality, will draw many friends towards you. You will be the centre of attraction at many social gatherings. In matters of love, you will have to be careful, while choosing the right life partner. Lucky month: July, September, November and March Lucky colors: Light grey, pearl grey, turquoise, white. 15th January, 2014 Ruled planet:Venus Ruled by no: 6 Traits in you: Being number 6, you are lover of simplicity and originality. You are always there to help others. You are an ambitious person, who always climb the stairs of success in whatever work you take in hand. You are very out-spoken in nature and good at solving other's problem. The best quality in you is that you have an ability to laugh at yourself and make others smile. Health this year: If possible, pay a little attention to follow the path of spirituality. As this will help in handling stress and emotional wellbeing of yourself and others. At the same time a peaceful mind would bring a different kind of enjoyment to you, which is a need of a hour. Finance this year: Lucrative incentives offered by reputed companies for investment would attract you many times this year. However you need to invest only after checking all the details. Don't run after incentives only look at the flip side to make your capital safe. Career this year: Your intelligence and sharp memory, will bring you success in your professional pursuits, in the year ahead of you. You will gain high positions and earn lots of money too. Romance this year: Your family will be of utmost importance to you, in the coming year. You can expect to receive love and affection from them. In love, make some serious efforts to keep love fresh like precious things. Romantic evening with partner for a candlelight dinner would make a perfect beginning. Lucky month: July, September and November Lucky colors: All shades of blue and pink. 16th January, 2014 Ruled planet: Neptune Ruled by no:7 Traits in you: Being number 7, you are an intelligent, independent and kind hearted person. You know how to play with words. Using your this quality you will easily impress people around you. Your supportive nature makes you famous in your group. justice. You love to be a leader in a group and can easily sense positive and negative energies coming from the people around you. This year you might go for a foreign trip, which would be both pleasurable and rewarding. Health this year: You tend to get depressed, when you get too engrossed in one subject. So, try to keep yourself busy, with various activities, instead of concentrating on one subject or work. A very successful year for persons suffering from digestive problem. There are indications that you will find a remedy for your ailment. Finance this year: Chances of earning handsome monetary returns are high this year, as you utilise your part-time to open a link associate of a good concern. Your part-time work will help you devote your full time as you begin to reap rich dividends. Career this year: You will be cautious and alert in taking decisions. In the coming year, you will be able to take wise decisions, both in your professional as well as your domestic front. Romance this year: Your good-humoured nature, will draw many friends towards you, and you will have a good social life in the year ahead of you. The world would appear beautiful and a place to live as you experience falling in love this year. Lucky month: June, September, December and March Lucky colors: All shades of green, white and yellow. 17th January, 2014 Ruled planet: Saturn Ruled by no: 8 Traits in you: Being number 8, you are a person who loves challenges in life and always come out as a winner which ever task you take in hand. You are very practical, systematic and friendly person who is always there to help needy people. You determination and sincerity at work will fetch you both good finances and respect in society. Although you don't like anyone assisting you, but when you do any mistakes, you accept them easily and learn not to repeat it again. Health this year: You are likely to notice an improvement in health this year, as you get rid from negative thinking. At the same time you must unnecessarily refuse to worry about your health. This would not help you anyways, but even stop you from enjoying your good health to the fullest. Finance this year: An improved financial position will make it convenient for you to make important purchases this year. However avoid taking crucial decision regarding investment in the first half of the year. Later in the year you will see good returns through your investments. Career this year: Coupled with your organizing capacity, you will be able to achieve success in your professional field, in the coming year. Your inborn urge for knowledge, will allow you to go deep into the study of different subjects. You will leave no stone unturned to achieve success in whatever project you undertake. You are likely to get support from an influential person in professional matters. Romance this year: This year you are likely to give someone else more importance than yourself, as you will experience falling in love. This would begin your romantic journey as you prepare yourself to bathe in the sea of love. Lucky month: August, December and February Lucky colors: Black, dark blue and purple.
30
January 11-17, 2014
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
This article has been selected and reprinted from Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharajs book, Spiritual Pearls for Enlightened Living, an inspirational collection of stories from the worlds great wisdom traditions.
Learn to let go and be free

Suddenly, he heard the owner coming home. He knew that if he did not get his hand out of the jar, he would be caught. But he was so intent upon trying to get the money out that he would not give up. The result was that the man came in, caught him, and had him arrested. We too are like the thief in the story. Desires cause us to be caught with our hand in the jar. Desires keep us bound to this world. It is only by letting go of the things of Then we will find the joy of freedom. What kind of joy did the thief have in his pursuit of the money? Instead he ended up a prisoner in the jail. We too are like prisoners in the jail of this physical world. We spend all our time going after things that will not give us happiness. Whatever material gains we have in the world can lead us to more bondage if we are attached to them. For example, if we want a buy it, and then to clean and repair everything. Before we know it, the house that was supposed to bring us pleasure has made us a slave to it. We no longer have time for our family, our children, or pursuits that will give us more fulfillment. We spend all our time going after things that may not give us true and lasting happiness. Similarly, we may want to buy a computer to keep up with the latest technology. We then find ourselves more elaborate computer. Next, we find the computer that was supposed to save us time is taking up all our time. We end up spending hours learning to use the computer. We spend hours exploring the Internet. The e-mail system that was supposed to make communications faster is taking more and more of our time. Suddenly, we find fifty people e-mailing us daily and they expect an instantaneous response. If we do not respond right away they accuse us of being nonresponsive and indifferent. Soon, we are spending hours on the computer. We have become slaves to our possessions. How can we end our bondage? We need to let go and be free. When we can let go of our desires for impermanent gains, we can be free. Then, our soul can experience the love and beauty that God has to offer. True happiness comes when we connect with the source of joy within usour soul and God. To do so, we must turn our attention from the worldly enticements and listen to our soul. Beautiful melodies of God are playing within us all the time. Light and love are shining within us. By turning our attention from the world, we are releasing our hold on the coins that keep our hand stuck in the jar. By letting go, we are gaining eternal freedom. By sitting in meditation, free from all worldly desires and attachments, we can let go and find ourselves free to soar back to God.
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

nce upon a time, there was a man who lived alone. He kept his money in a special jar so that no one could steal it. One day, while the man was out farming his land, a thief broke into his house. Looking for something to steal, he came across a heavy stone jar. He could barely jiggle it to hear the coins inside. He could not lift the jar. So the man stuck his hand in the jar to take out the money. His hand fit perfectly into the jar. The man grabbed as much money as he could, holding it in his fist. But when he tried to pull out his hand, it would not come out. He tried his hardest to pull out his hand, but the fist made his hand wider. While holding the money, he could not get it through the neck of the jar. He let go of the money and his hand was freed to come out of the jar. But he was intent upon having the money, so he tried again and again. Each time he enclosed the coins in his fist, his hand was too wide to be removed from the jar.
How can we end our bondage? We need to let go and be free. When we can let go of our desires for impermanent gains, we can be free.
this world that we can be free. We need to stop clutching for whatever binds us as prisoners of our desires so we can enjoy true freedom. We need to stop clutching and let go. big house, we have to work longer hours to pay for its mortgage. Then we need to fill it up with more and more furniture. That will take more time to work to pay for it, shop to working harder to buy all the right software and equipment to make it work. Soon we realize that we are not happy with a simple computer. We want to upgrade to a faster and
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

rue friends are those who stand by you always. They will sacrifice themselves for you, and are people on whom you can always rely. True friends listen to your problems and share your burdens. Truly, if we have even one real friend in life, we are lucky. If we think about our childhood friends, how many are still with us now? Have we parted ways already? Perhaps they have moved away, or we have lost contact with them. Let us consider our close friends today. Can we imagine that they, too, will one day be parted from us just as those friends from our childhood are gone? Even if we have one close friend, or even a few, they can only be with us up to our last breath, or their last breath. They can only remain with us in this life and cannot help us in the moment of our greatest needthe time of death. In this connection, there is an interesting story from the Hindu scriptures. There was a learned pundit who was the personal minister of King Prikshat. Each day the minister would read out the scriptures to the king. The particular scripture
Finding a true friend

said that whoever hears the scriptures will receive spiritual liberation and enlightenment. Month after month, the king listened to the scriptures read by the minister. However, he did not attain liberation. One day, the king sat down and thought, Here I amlistening to these scriptures every day, and I am not yet spiritually liberated. The scriptures say that whoever listens to these holy writings will receive salvation once and for all, but I have not. Therefore, the king called the minister and said, Look here. I have heard these scriptures so many times and have not attained liberation. I will give you one more chance to read these scriptures to me from end to end. If I am not liberated after that, you will be put to death. Trembling in his shoes, the minister began the task of re-reading the scriptures to the king. By the sixth day he was nearing the end of the scriptures, and the king was not satisfied. Fearing that on the seventh day he would be put to death, the minister sat down in his home and started to cry. Why are you so sad? asked his daughter when she saw him. The ministered explained the situation to her, The scriptures say that whoever reads them will be liberated. However, I know that the king is not liberated, nor am I liberated. Therefore, tomorrow, I will be put to death. The daughter was wise and had an idea. Do not worry, she said. Tomorrow I will speak to the king. On the following day, the ministers daughter asked for an audience with the king. Why have you come? he questioned her. She told him, I have come to reply to the question that you have asked of my father. But to do this, you and I must go together to the wilderness. The king was perplexed, but agreed to go along with her plan. The girl then sent for her father. She brought along two ropes and when they reached the wilderness she tied the king to one tree and her father to another tree. Both were then bound, hand and foot. The king was wondering what all this meant when the girl asked, Father, can you kindly unbind the king over there? The minister replied, I am already bound! How can I free him? The girl asked, Your Majesty, will you kindly unbind my father? The king replied, Foolish girl, dont you see that I am bound? How can a bound man unbind another? That is all she wanted to hear and said, Then how can you expect my father, who is not free himself, to liberate you spiritually? The king himself had answered the dilemma in which he had placed the minister. With that understanding, the king spared the life of the minister. At the time of death, we all depart by ourselves. No friends of this world can help us. They can sit by our bedside and hold our hand, but they can neither protect us from death nor accompany us. Knowing this, we still put our reliance on people of this world. Looking back at the friendships we have had in our lives, how many of them led us closer to God, and how many of them have taken us away from God? What kind of friend should we look for then? To be truly awakened spiritually, we should seek the friendship of the Lord. We have only a set number of breaths to reunite our soul with God. Let us do everything possible to attain that goal. The best way to reach the Lord is through meditation, sweet remembrance, and selfless service. These activities safeguard us from being pulled away by distractions of the world. If we do these things, then we will be ready at the time of our death. Having mastered the art of rising above body-consciousness (by meditating daily on the inner Light and Sound of God) , we will know what awaits us in the Beyond. Befriending God makes our spirit soar. Waves of divine love make our soul rise to the eye-focus where we see tremendous Light. Is there any love or friendship of the world that can bring us to the eye-focus and make us rise above physical bodyconsciousness? Only the love of the Lord can make us wide awakenot only in this world, but wide awake into the Beyond.
January 11-17, 2014
January 11-17, 2014

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The South Asian Times

New York Edition

Gov Cuomo pushes infrastructure boost and tax cuts

Renu Khator conferred PBD Samman award

Indicted and immunity granted, Devyani on way home

See more PBD stories on pages 13-14.

January 11-17, 2014

Our Beloved Bai ji You will always remain in our values

Smt Chandra Kunwar Mehta

With Sincere Condolences

Prayers In Fond Memories of Pujya Bai ji

January 11-17, 2014

New setbacks in Khobragade case as indictment extension refused

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy from LI won't seek another term

Gov. Cuomo pledges a statewide infrastructure upgrade

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy

January 11-17, 2014

Amit Shah, a close aide of Narendra Modi

Obama announces 'promise zones' to tackle poverty

Letters to the Editor Praise for New Year Special

January 11-17, 2014

Groundbreaking exhibition on Indian Americans to debut in Feb

Simple blood test may detect cancer: Indian-origin scientist

Khator named deputy chair of Dallas Federal Reserve Board

January 11-17, 2014

Suman Raghunathan is new Exe Director of SAALT

Limca Book of Records honors filmmaker Rohit Gupta

NYC Mayor appoints Mahen Gunaratna to media team

PanIIT USA names Chairman, President for 2014-15

January 11-17, 2014

23 Indian-origin youths in Forbes list of 'brightest young stars'

India to showcase its soft power in US, France: Karan Singh

Mindy Kaling on Elle cover, courts controversy

The Elle cover featuring Mindy Kaling

January 11-17, 2014

Shilpa Narayans music video premieres on MySpace

Anil, Priyanka to tour US to spread IIFA buzz

'Major support for Narendra Modi among Indian Americans'

Indian-American doctor to pay $400K to resolve fraud case

Indian-Americans to garner support for BJP on phone

January 11-17, 2014

Former Defense Secretary Gates criticizes Obama in memoir

Yellen to head Fed from Feb 1

Fewer call themselves Republicans, Independents numbers up

4 weight-loss firms charged with fraud

January 11-17, 2014

India rockets into select club of spacefarers

India to soon look for contracts: ISRO chief

Good times are coming soon: Modi

Narendra Modi at PBD-2014

AAP disagrees with Bhushan on Kashmir

AAP leader Prashant Bhushan

13 arrested for attacking AAP office

January 11-17, 2014

War of words over Muzaffarnagar riot victims

Priyanka in Congress meeting, bigger role ahead?

Priyanka Vadra, sister of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi

Modi vs Rahul in 2014, but Kejriwal a rising star

Surrender to musical evenings at Jaipur lit fest

January 11-17, 2014