Friday, December 21 2012 | Vol. 31, No. 51
Indo American erican News
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www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX
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All I Want for Christmas.....
Brightly colored packages tied up with satin ribbons with your name on it under the Christmas tree? Does Christmas get any better? Probably not. We posed the above question to several children and judging by their lightning quick responses, they’ve been thinking about this for a while. Let’s hope their parents are reading this! • Natasha Patel, 16, would like a car for Christmas. • Jeet Walia, 13, would like a dog, a couple of video games (Halo 4, Assassins Creed 3), a new headset and a Roxio game capture card • Sonit Nayyar , 9, would like a bike, Wii games and a pogo stick • Siddhanta Patil, 10, would like lots of books while his younger brother, Vedant Patil, 6, would like a magic wand from Santa so he can get anything he wants. • When Japraj Singh, 11, was asked this question, he replied right Isha Buddharaju away that he celebrates Sikhmas, not Christmas. Aashna Shah • Isha Buddharaju, 12, says she’d like more TV time and less home work. Since that’s unlikely to happen, she’s ready to settle for a mini laptop • Aashna Shah, 16, would like a trip to India while her brother Ak shay Shah, 14, would like Santa to replace his iPod that was stolen a week ago. • Deeksha Madala, 16, would like a chocolate Labrador puppy as she has always wanted one since they bring so much happiness in our lives while her sister Keerthi, 14, would like snow in Houston for Christmas. All of us at Indo American News wish our readers and advertisers that Sonit Nayyar Santa Claus aaye apke dwaar aur laye Khushiyon ka Bhandaar for the Akshay Shah 2013. year 2013
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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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December 21, 2012
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
December 21, 2012
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Christmas Time, But 2013 is Around the Corner! My New Year Resolution is ... BY MANU SHAH HOUSTON: Christmas isn’t even over and the kids still want their presents (see page 1) but some people already are thinking way ahead about the New Year and the resolutions they swear they will keep. Indo American News touched base with a broad mix of people – seniors, children, men and women to find out what their New Year Resolution is and how much hope they placed on sticking to their keeping them. Rajiv Bhavsar, President of ICC, Houston, says that his resolution for 2013 is to listen more to his heart than his mind and to make positive changes in his life as there is always scope to better one’s life. Himesh Gandhi, Sugar Land Councilmember, has decided to spend more time with his family, friends and his dog Dinky, in the year 2013. Veena Kaul, founder of Save a Mother, Houston Chapter, says that losing weight has been her ongoing, lifelong resolution but one of her resolutions this year is that she will not make any resolutions about weight. Another resolution is that she will not congratulate any women on their pregnancy unless she is sure that they are pregnant and not fat. She will also read those books she bought two years earlier, improve an old skill, maybe bridge and take up dancing. Puneet Friebott’s NYR is to enjoy the wonders of life more. She feels that life is too short and would like to live every moment! Anuja and Milind Patil, software engineers, would like to spend 25 hours a day, 8 days a
for 6 organizations, do 3 Auction paintings, free of charge, for three different Charitable organizations in 2013. Kusum Sharma, Founder of the Natraj School of Dance and creative muse behind the Ram Leela production, would like to continue the advancement of Bharatiya culture and arts among children, raise money for a charitable hospital in Uttar Pradesh for the poor and spend quality time with family and friends. Even if these resolutions fly out of the window after a few weeks or months, it’s still a step in the right direction which is making a positive change in the coming months. Good luck to y’all.
Kusum Sharma
Puneet Friebott
Ekta Taneja (left) with her daughter Devika
olutions. He would like to teach Art to100 kids Every Week by the end of year 2013, sponsor 2 poor students for the full year in India through any wellknown Organization, create Magazine covers
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week and 366 days a year on their kids so they can get all the help they need to succeed. Ekta Taneja, Montessori teacher and herbalist, has a few NYR’s. She will eat healthier, try to get more organized and learn to enjoy life as it comes. Ekta’s daughter, Devika will
work for good grades and a higher GPA and will try and keep her room cleaner. Pushpa Shenoy, Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, would like to continue the healthy lifestyle she adopted last year, make more friends and think positively. Neil Sen, artist, has several res-
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COMMUNITY
December 21, 2012
Keshav Smriti Holds Prayer Meeting to Honor Sandy Hook Victims
Acharya Surya Narayan quoted verses from the Bhagvad Gita during a prayer meeting at the Keshav Smriti this past Sunday, December 16.
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: It was hastily arranged as many of the familiar names of local Hindu leaders fanned out to their friends and acquaintances. But between the calls that Sharad Amin, Girish Desai and Vijay Pallod made, about 30 people turned up on Sunday, December 16 at the Keshav Smriti – the meeting hall in a donated space of Star Pipe Products on Westpark and Eldridge – to offer their prayers to the countless others around the world for those who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre this past Friday. Amin, the current president of the Hindus
of Greater Houston, opened up to express deep sadness and condemnation adding that this had happened too many times in recent years. “These are our neighborhoods, these are our children. The leaders must do what is right,” he said, “We need meaningful discussion on gun laws.” The prayer was led by Surya Narayan, the pandit from the Arya Samaj, with the Gayatri Mantra followed by his reading selected verses from the Gita, along with appropriate translations that could shed some deeper meaning into why the events that had occurred. “This is not just an individual crime, it is a social problem combined with
unlimited freedom,” he said. “As the fam- porter added that this offered a rallying point ily system breaks down, these events will for Hindus in America to show the power of ahinsa (non-violence), a central tenet of spiral onwards.” Raj Bhavsar, the President of the India Hinduism and demand changes in gun laws Culture Center offered his own words on from our political leaders. consolation to the parents and friends of the victims. “America is violent. We can only pray and plea for an end to the reign of tyranny and ask to strengthen the hand of those who come in peace,” he added. Two elderly men from the Sanathan Shiv Shakti Mandir sang a bhajan in Gujarati. “This bhajan says it all,” said one of them. Venkat from SEWA International added his prayer and remembered the teacher Victoria Soto who gave her life to protect her young Victims of the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in students. A re- Newtown, Connecticut.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
December 21, 2012
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Chinmaya Mission Holds Third Successful Youth Camp
BY OM CHITALE HOUSTON: Two weeks ago, more than 50 Chinmaya Mission youth, ranging from high school juniors to young professionals in their late 20s, came to Houston to spend their Thanksgiving break a bit unconventionally. For the 3rd straight year, CHYK (Chinmaya Yuvakendra) Houston hosted a National spiritual retreat for the youth titled “The Fast Five – Speeding to Salavation”. Acharya Vivekji, from Niagra Falls, brought his unique perspective and vibrant personality to Houston as the esteemed teacher for the camp. Vivekji grew up in the West, and this similarity to most of the students afforded a comfortable atmosphere and engaging dialogue throughout the weekend. Vivekji, in his typical Canadian accent and ever-proper grammar, noted that “an effec-
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tive retreat must involve things one doesn’t normally get to do.” Then, one feels that one is a part of a special experience and approaches the day more carefully, scrutinizing every experience and confirming views only after a thorough screening process. This concept lent itself perfectly to the study of Sadhana Pancakam, the selected text for the camp. This scripture cannot be bound by one style of metaphor; it isn’t limited to type of experience; and it certainly lends itself to any era and to any seeker. So, in our retreat, it only made sense that Vivekji referenced a famous rap lyric, “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” to help us understand that we should appreciate everything in life as a gift, and that when we start getting attached to our possession, we have “mo problems.” It only made sense that we woke up at 6 every morning – over our Thanksgiving break- to play football and soccer and ultimate Frisbee and wake our bodies up so we can more effectively wake up our minds. It only made sense that we walked around the courtyard outside the Chinmaya Smrti Hall for 30 minutes at a snail’s pace, foot over foot, so we could learn to appreciate the beauty around us and, rather than speeding from
one point to another, just be. is alive. It may look different- it may maniRetreats are meant to be fun and enjoy- fest itself in a rap or in a mock debate or able. A mock debate, sports, multilingual over a game of basketball- but it is alive. Antaksari, and other events ensured that this For more information, visit http://chykone was plenty of fun. But the mark of a tru- west.com or call Raghuveer Akula 512-653ly special spiritual retreat is how effectively 3036. the teachings carry on into our daily lives. Swami Mitrananda, the head of All India CHYK , always emphasizes one thought“make this a movement, Cavalier IT, Inc., a leading IT Consulting and rather than Outsourcing company, is now hiring for their a singular event that Houston office an in house IT recruiter who has gets washed extensive experience in campus hiring, training and away.” delivery model. If the increase in atOffer includes competitive base salary plus tendance of attractive commissions, excellent career growth our weekly opportunities and medical Insurance coverage. discussion group is any indication, Contact: Vipin Kumar, Director, Houston Office then I am Phone : 713-882-6090 confident that Email : vipin@cavalieritinc.com the movement moves on. The spirit www.cavalieritinc.com
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December 21, 2012
COMMUNITY
Dr Ambika Nair, Co-founder and Chief Consultant of Santhigram Ayurvedic Company, Receives “Namam Award” EDISON, NJ: Dr. Ambika Nair, the cofounder and Chief Consultant of Santhigram Ayurvedic company received the 2012 “Namam Award.” Dr. Nair is a renowned Holistic medicine practitioner with over 25 years experience. She specializes in Ayurveda, Alternative medicine, Holistic therapies, to treat a number of chronic conditions which otherwise have limited side-effect-free therapeutic options in conventional system of medicine. Dr. Nair holds graduate and post-graduate degrees and a number of diplomas in various fields of Holistic Medicine including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Bach Flower Remedies, Siddha, Naturopathy and Yoga. She is a certified Holistic Practitioner in the United States. She is also a spiritual healer and a disciple of His Holiness Navajyothi Shri Karunakara Guru of Santhigiri Ashram, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. She has previously won many awards, including “Pride of the Country” award by Society of Industry and Business achievements, New Delhi, “Women of the Year 2012-13 Award” from National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), USA and has served as the physician to the former President of India, Dr. K.R. Narayanan. Namam is a well known social organization in the US, particularly in the tri-state area and it reaches out to the community through its various cultural and outreach activities and is headed by its President Mr. Madhavan Nair. Speaking at the occasion Dr. Nair noted that the award has special significance in her life, for it honors Ayurveda in the USA. And she felt humbled to receive the recognition on behalf Ayurveda, Ayurvedic practitioners and the supporters of Ayurveda.” Speaking at the occasion Assemblyman and Dy. Speaker of New Jersey Assembly Mr. Upendra Chivukula lauded the services rendered by Dr. Nair to the society. Dr. Nair’s commitment to promote holistic therapies worldwide has been the inspiration behind Santhigram Ayurvedic Company launch its operations internationally, after its successful operations in India for over a decade. The company originally expanded operations to UK, seven years back, by launching two Centers in London. The success story of the UK Centers, encouraged Santhigram group to launch its
Ayurveda Wellness business in the United States. As of today the company has established five Ayurvedic Centers in the United States, 3 in New Jersey, 1 in New York and 1 in Houston, Texas. In the first quarter of 2013 the company is launching its first wellness center in Chicago, IL and an additional center in Queens, NY. Ayurveda, the knowledge of life and longevity, is the oldest, most comprehensive scientific discipline, a comprehensive health care system that was preached, practiced and documented in the ancient times by omniscient sages. This knowledge was revealed to them in their spiritual pursuits. Closely associated with the Indian philosophy, the origin of this system can be traced to the “Vedas” ( 1200 BC ), one of the earliest discovered codified scriptures which deals with all aspects of the universe. The basic philosophy of Ayurveda is to make people aware of their life style, diet, exercise and mental activities to achieve a perfect balance in mind, body and the soul. Literally, it focuses on uninterrupted physical, mental and spiritual happiness and fulfillment. So, Ayurveda focuses on absolute perfect health and not disease. On the other hand, the modern medicine stresses only on the body and neglects the mind, senses and the soul. Any infirmity in the mind, senses and soul leads to illness in the Ayurvedic definition. Ayurvedic Panchakarma Therapy has methods to remove toxins from body and rejuvenate the body and mind. These procedures improve the physical and mental activity measurably. While modern medicine prescribes medicines which focus on maladies, Ayurveda focuses its main attention on holistic health, its insistence on keeping the mind and spirit strong by orbiting the inherent vital strength with herbal remedies and natural invigorating methods. Dr. Nair has enriched the practice of Ayurveda with her exceptional clinical skills and untiring commitment to her patients. Recognition by NAMAM for her outstanding contribution to society, only reinforces her commitment to promote the vision of Santhigram group, “to propagate the goodness of Ayurveda worldwide.” Santhigram Ayurvedic Company is an ISO certified provider of Ayurvedic services worldwide and specializes in “Kerala specific Ayurvedic Panchakarma Therapies.”
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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY Unique Srimad Bhagavata Mahotsava
December 21, 2012
in Namadwaar This Holiday Season
MANVEL, TX: Global Organization for Divinity will organize a grand celebration of Bhagavata Dharma from Dec 21 to 28 in the form of an 8-day Srimad Bhagavata Mahotsava at Houston Namadwaar Prayer House located at 3642 Bailey Ave, Manvel TX 77578. Bhagavata dharma is the path of celebrating the Lord through kirtanam (songs) and shravanam (listening to His stories), and this Utsav will have plenty of both to satisfy all devotees. The celebration will begin on the afternoon of Friday, Dec 21 with welcoming of the deities (Lord Krishna and Radha) and commencement of Srimad Bhagavata parayanam – Sanskrit reading of the text of Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana (18000 slokas) which will go on every day through the remaining 7 days parallelly alongside the other Utsav activities. From Dec 22 onwards, celebrations will go on throughout the day, every day. Each day will start with prabodhanam (waking up the Lord) at about 5:45am, and will be followed by the singing of Tiruppavai; unchavritti (offering of rice by householders to a bhaagavata); procession of the Lord in a palanquin to the singing of compositions by great saints such as Sri Bhadrachala Ramadas, Sri Purandara Das, Sri Thyagaraja and others; pooja and neivedyam offering to the deities; singing of Ashtapathis (Sri Jayadeva’s Gita Govindam) and end with dolotsavam (lulling the Lord to sleep) at around 10 PM. From Dec 21 to Dec 27, Sri Ramanujamji, disciple of His Holiness Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, will discourse on
Srimad Bhagavatam at Sri Meenakshi Temple (Kalyana Mandapam), Pearland, TX. The discourse will start at 6:30pm on all the days, except Saturday, Dec 22, when it will be held at 2:30pm. On Sunday, Dec 23 (Vaikunta Ekadasi) and on Wednesday, Dec 26, Divyanama Sankirtan (where devotees will sing and dance around the Lord) will be conducted at Namadwaar at 9:30pm. On Thursday, Dec 27, a grand Radha Kalyanam will be performed with the singing of marriage kirtans and the Kalyana ashtapathi, and the Divine Couple will be wedded amidst joyous festivities. The Utsav will come to close during the forenoon of Dec 28 with the completion of Srimad Bhagavata parayanam, avabrutha snaanam (final ceremonial bath of the Lord), and Anjaneya utsav. Devotees from all around the USA including Atlanta, Dallas, California, Chicago, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Seattle and Virginia will visit the Houston area for the Mahotsava. Devotees in Houston are all welcome to be a part of this unique celebration. Global Organization for Divinity, an organization established under the guidance of His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, is involved in several spiritual and social activities in the Houston area. The Houston Namadwaar prayer house was established by the organization in February 2010, as a place where the Divine Name and specifically the “Hare Rama…Hare Krishna…” Mahamantra is constantly chanted. For more information call 281-402-6585, email houston.god@godivinity.org or visitwww.godivinity.org.
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COMMUNITY
December 21, 2012
Reliance Group’s Bigflix and Big Magic International Enter The U.S. Through Alliance with Dish
MUMBAI / NEW YORK / ENGLEWOOD, CO: Reliance Entertainment Digital’s Indian movieon-demand service, Bigflix, and Reliance Broadcast Network’s variety entertainment channel, Big Magic International, announced their tie up with DISH, the leading international pay-TV provider in the United States. This association is targeted at the burgeoning South Asian diaspora in the U.S., offering DISH customers a variety of BIGFLIX movies and handpicked properties from Big Magic International. Bigflix provides DISH customers with more than 1000 online movies in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and more. Users can login to www.bigflix.com with their My DISH credentials to view the movies instantly. Bigflix offers the latest releases, timeless classics, dramas, romances, thrillers and action films, with plans to add up to 30 popular movie titles per month. The programming on Big Magic International ensures varied appeal with an eclectic mix of daily sitcoms, socio-mytho programs, crime shows, and dramas handpicked from Big Magic India. The core USP of the channel is three fresh, 30-minute updates each day with the latest news from the Indian capital markets, coming straight from Bloomberg TV India. Subscribers of DISH’s Hindi Mega programming package can enjoy this excellent entertainment package, tailored to suit their preferences, at no additional fee. Bigflix and Big Magic International are also available as an add-on for $5 per month. Commenting on the tie up, Manish Agarwal, CEO, Reliance Entertainment Digital said: “There is a huge dearth of a South Asian movies-on-demand destination in the U.S. DISH is one of the largest entertainment providers in the U.S. and the right partner for us to reach South Asians and showcase Bigflix’s extensive Indian movie catalogue. I am certain that through this association South Asians now shall be able to catch up on their favorite Indian movies at a click of
a button.” Speaking on the announcement, Tarun Katial, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. said: “Backed by the success that Big Magic International has seen in Canada, we are excited to enter the United States. We are confident that the channel will resonate well with audiences, while offering an effective platform to marketers. We are progressing as planned, with our international expansion and growth strategy and look forward to continuing to deliver value to all our stakeholders.” Speaking about the partnership, Andy LeCuyer, Vice President of programming at DISH, said: “We are pleased to offer Bigflix and Big Magic International. DISH is a leader in delivering TV channels from across India to those in the U.S. seeking news and entertainment from their home country, and the addition of this channel demonstrates our continued commitment to serve South Asian communities.” About Bigflix Bigflix is India’s Leading online movie-on-demand service. With Bigflix, users can stream an impressive catalogue of more than 1000 handpicked movies across various genres like action, comedy, drama and romance. It is a true Indian movie portal catering to as many as 10 languages apart from Hindi. Bigflix can be attributed as a user’s personal blockbuster theatre because it allows them to consume premium movies on demand for a subscription fee simply by visiting www. bigflix.com. What’s more, users get an ad free experience. The unique service is targeted to the South Asian diaspora settled across the globe.
Channels - Prime, Love, Spark and the first international Punjabi Channel Spark Punjabi; Big Magic– positioned as India’s only variety entertainment Channel for the Hindi Heartland; Big Productions – the television content production division of the Company caters to the creative needs of the Indian television landscape; Big Street – acquires and markets long term premium out of home inventory. The Company also distributes Bloomberg TV India, India’s premier business news channel as part of its television bouquet. For more information, visit www.reliancebroadcast.com
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About DISH DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), through its subsidiary DISH Network L.L.C., provides approximately 14.061 million satellite TV customers, as of June 30, 2012, with the highest quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value, including HD Free for Life. Subscribers enjoy the largest high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and awardwinning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation’s subsidiary, Blockbuster L.L.C., delivers family entertainment to millions of customers around the world. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 200 company. For more information, Visit www.dish.com.
About Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. Reliance Broadcast Network Limited is a multi-media entertainment conglomerate with play across radio, television, intellectual properties and out of home. It is a part of the Reliance Group and specializes in creating and executing integrated media solutions for brands. It houses the following verticals: 92.7 BIG FM – India’s largest FM Network with 45 stations, reaching over 4 crore Indians each week; BIG CBS – A joint venture with CBS Studios International with 4
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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
10 December 21, 2012
COMMUNITY
FIS HCC Distinguished Lecture Series: Religious Diversity and Social Harmony in India
HOUSTON: FIS in partnership with Houston Community College (HCC) presented a thought provoking lecture in.HCC-Alief campus auditorium on the subject of “Religious Diversity and Social Harmony in India” by a noted Indologist and former Associate Professor of Delhi University, This was the first joint program presented under the Distinguished Lecture Series after a partnership agreement was signed on November 14. Dr. Bharat Gupt stated that in ancient India, the religious diversity was ensured by the non-theocratic
nature of the state which offered equal protection and rights to all subjects. The king had his religion but the State did not. The state had its rules of governance called Raj dharma (rules of governance). India,thus before Islamic rule, was a Raj-dharma centered country. With Islamic rule, came the State Religion versus People’s Religions. The British continued the divide. They standardized the moral and personal codes for major religions,Christianity, Islam and all other Indic Religions and they ap-
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From left: Dr. Vikas Jhingran, Surender Talwar, Parul Fernandes, Dr. R. Nagaswamy, former Director of Archeology, Tamil Nadu and former Vice-Chancellor of Kanchipuram University, Key Note Speaker Dr. Bharat Gupt, former Professor of Delhi University, Krishna Vavilala ( Founder- Chairman, FIS) , Meera Kapur; Dr. Rajender Aparasu and Vatsa Kumar ( Secretary, FIS)
pointed all-India courts to enforce them. This was a Euro-Christian approach, not the traditional Indian vision and its community based implementation. Nehru,continued with the British model. Further, an attempt was made by him to marginalize religion in social sphere and make it a personal affair. Anything related to religion like religious-education, upkeep of shrines, maintenance of pilgrimages, sacred sites, funeral grounds was supposed to be shunned as a responsibility of the State under the ideals of making India a secular state. Nehru and his colleagues also made another disastrous addition to the social polity of India. They divided the Indian population into majority and minority on religious and linguistic grounds. Prof. Gupt pointed out that, whereas the so called minori-
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ties were given rights to preach and teach their religion, the Hindu majority was deprived of religious education and cultural promotion as a hall mark of secular state. This absurd presumption enshrined in the Indian Constitution, that religious and cultural education and the rights ensuing from them, can be given to sections of people who will be defined by their numbers. This has landed up India in an abysmal social disparity and heartburn. Over the years, further classification of Indians according their erstwhile caste status (in the ancient classification that has been defunct for centuries) and the policy of providing quotas to them in educational institutions, jobs and welfare programs has promoted the ugliest kind of vote bank and caste politics that is taking the nation away from modernity to stark medieval times. It is unfortunate both that erstwhile Marxists, liberal American Democrats and even Christian Republicans, support this division of Indian people made according to colonial anthropology. They are pushing them away from progress.
India must now follow a model based on the tenets of its ancient Vedantic vision of ishaa vasyam idam sarvam, All is Divine and imbued by it. Hence all (humans, living beings and the earth), are equal in worth and value and shall be given equal opportunity free from the baggage of history and diversities of moral laws applicable to earlier eras. India should enforce a common civil code, affirmative action based on concessions to economically poor, irrespective of religion, caste or creed and rights that are earned by social obligations or dharma. It should look to a 21 century reform in religious matters. Basic education of all religions should be given to all from primary school to university level and full cultural diversity be patronized by the State. Dr. Vikas Jhingran welcomed the guests, Parul Fernandes, FIS Vice-Chair introduced the speaker, Surender Talwar compered the program. Krishna Vavilala, FIS Chair presented a Plaque of Appreciation to Prof. Dr. Bharat Gupt. The program ended with a Q&A session and Vote of Thanks by FIS Secretary,Vatsa Kumar.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
KTRK Television, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is looking for an INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER. The ideal candidate must have at least 5 years of Investigative experience focusing on Government Waste and Corruption. Prior experience developing and maintaining sources, conducting and overseeing hidden-camera and surveillance operations preferred. The successful candidate will be a creative story teller, good communicator with strong writing skills and extensive computer reporting skills as well as being an aggressive reporter while working within a team environment. Solid news judgment and an understanding of the open records and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process is necessary. This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class organization and live in a fun and affordable city. Candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file. Please Reference Job ID: 82611BR on all materials submitted. Interested applicants should include cover letter and references when they apply and send nonreturnable Beta, VHS or DVD of recent work to the attention of Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. No phone calls please, and no third parties. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
December 21, 2012
11
IAPAC Welcome Consul General P. Harish and Staff
BY ROY JOSEPH HOUSTON: On November 17, IAPAC (Indo-American Political Action Committee) Board welcomed the new Consul General, Honorable P. Harish, his wife Nandita, and his Staff for a meet and greet at the Mayuri Restaurant. Consul General P. Harish introduced his staff to IAPAC Board members and their family; he emphasized the importance of a healthy working relationship between his office and Consul General P. Harish with IAPAC Board members and CG Staff IAPAC. He thanked the - Create opportunities for Indo Board for welcoming him and his ciation for the CG’s office a Clock memento in the shape of the map Americans to work as political family to the IAPAC lunch. Sanjay Rao, in his capacity as of Texas was presented to Consul interns and to get elected to local, state or federal public office. IAPAC President welcomed ev- General P. Harish. - Keep Indo American comKarun Sreerama ,IAPAC Board eryone and opened the floor for an open dialogue between IAPAC member took the lead to organize munity abreast of any legislative changes that will affect them. this event. board members and GC staff. - To facilitate better understandIAPAC is the political voice of In his acceptance speech, the new President of IAPAC, Sujeeth the Indo American community in ing between USA and India by encouraging local members of Draksharam said he was humbled the Greater Houston area. the House of Representatives and Additionally, IAPAC: by the trust and confidence of his - Promotes and encourages polit- Senate to visit India. fellow members to be elected as - To network with other Indo President of IAPAC, and with this ical activities and increases polititrust comes a responsibility, and cal awareness in the Indo-Ameri- American Political organizations in other major American cities that he will do his best to live up to can community. - Encourage Indo Americans to which would enable us to be an the expectations of the members. He went on to say that, the ini- become citizens and register to active participant in the federal election process. tiatives of IAPAC were not just vote. - To encourage, assist and fafor the current generation of IndoFor more information about Americans; but also for the future cilitate a public forum debate with political candidates whereby our IAPAC, visit www.iapacgh.org. generations to come. As a token of IAPAC’s appre- concerns can be heard.
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The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi
INDIA
Gandhi Leads Boycott of 1920 Prince of Wales’ Visit to India
The story thus far…During the latter part of 1920 Gandhi advocated a triple boycott. He wanted an absolute boycott of the Government and all government institutions, including schools, colleges, and courts. If the people were free of these they could easily have their own schools, colleges, and courts, and the power of the British would collapse at once. There was much laughter and ridicule from the moderates and the supporters of British rule. But Gandhi paid no attention. Gandhi’s activities made the British government nervous and panicky. They issued a warning that anyone who overstepped the bounds of law would be arrested and imprisoned. Gandhi thought that this warning was a victory for the campaign. He issued instructions, which the people were to follow if he were arrested. On December 26, the Congress session was held in Nagpur. Though there were signs of opposition to Gandhi’s policies, his resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority. The adoption of the new program at Nagpur was the signal to start the mass movement. Gandhi felt that the complete boycott of all government organizations would give a chance to the Congress to set up a parallel organization, a State within a State which would lead India to Swaraj. The Duke of Connaught was sent to India in 1921 to try to pacify the Indians. He came to open the four legislatures in the country which had been introduced as a result of the reforms announced by the King. His coming and going passed off without any material change in the attitude of Indians towards Britain. Gandhi traveled far and wide, propagating the ideals of nonviolence and noncooperation. Day by day the Indians were getting more and more excited over carrying out Gandhi’s program. Many students left their institutions, many officers resigned their posts. The boycott movement gained momentum. As the people’s morale grew, the morale of the government went down. Repression started. Gandhi advised the people to have patience, and he insisted on nonviolence. He saw the weaknesses of Indians and he urged them to improve. He wanted social reforms and constructive work to be intensively followed. It was announced that the Prince of Wales was to visit India. Functions were arranged at many places to enable him to meet his loyal subjects. Gandhi was indignant when he read the announcement in the newspapers. “Do the British think we are children?” he said. “Do they believe that parades for the Prince
will make us forget atrocities in the Punjab or the perpetual delay in granting us Home Rule?” On Gandhi’s advice the Congress declared that all parades, receptions, and celebrations in honor of the Prince were to be strictly boycotted. “We have no grudge against His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” said Gandhi, “but our ideas are against him as a symbol of oppression. We can show the world that such noncooperation is just the reverse of the European doctrine of the sword. Let us act in accordance with the holy prophets of old. Noncooperation without violence is the battle of the brave.” Fearing that there would be disThe Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi is brought to you courtesy Mahatma Gandhi Library. www.gandhilibrary.org order when the Prince of Wales visited various places, the government began severe acts of suppression. Thousands of people were arrested. The Indian people were so agitated that in city after city bonfires burned and the bonfires were made with foreign cloth, especially British cloth. On November 17, 1921, the Prince of Wales landed in Bombay. Loyal stooges of Britain went to greet the royal visitor. Those who were observing nonviolent noncooperation did not stop them. However, religious and political hatreds fanned the flames. Riots started, many were killed, much property was destroyed. There was panic in the city. Gandhi was in Bombay, and he rushed to the scene of disorder to stop the rioting. Order was finally restored. “Every man has the right to his religion and his own political opinion. Satyagraha will never succeed until man understands that,” Gandhi announced bitterly. In other cities the boycott of the Prince’s visit was peaceful. As the unfortunate Prince of Wales visited city after city, he- was greeted
with empty streets. Not a shop was open. The people remained behind closed doors and drawn curtains. This infuriated the British and they called upon the government of India to act. Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal, and other leaders were arrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Yet the determined courage of the people did not abate. They were ready to suffer any penalty for the cause of Home Rule. Demands had been made to Gandhi that he should start a mass movement for the attainment of Swaraj. Gandhi decided to act. Preparations were made to start satyagraha in Bardoli. But Gandhi had to stop the campaign suddenly because of what had happened ill Bombay and other places. In Chauri Chaura, near Gorakhpur in U.P., some policemen fired on a crowd which was holding a demonstration against the government. This annoyed the demonstrators so much that they became very violent. They chased the police. The police took refuge in the city hall. The angry mob surrounded the hall and set it on fire. Some policemen were burned to death. Others, trying to escape, were killed by the furious mob outside. Gandhi was very upset. He thought that it was clear that the people were still not prepared for satyagraha. He stopped the intended satyagraha at Bardoli. His co-workers did not agree with him, but he was adamant. He wanted his followers to start constructive programs. Many Indians were sorry for Gandhi’s action. They thought that Swaraj was now within their reach and the movement should therefore continue. The Government was playing a waiting game. Instead of thanking Gandhi for stopping the mass movement, they arrested him on charges of inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch and sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment. He was removed to Yeravda Central Jail in Poona. In prison Gandhi settled down to a regime of spinning, writing, and meditation. The people were disappointed and the government tightened its hold. Almost all the leaders were put in jail. Then, in 1924, Gandhi fell ill. He was suffering from appendicitis and was in great pain. The government was alarmed. What would happen if Gandhi died in prison? An urgent operation was arranged, and Gandhi agreed. The operation was successful, but his recovery was very slow. The government thought it best to release him, so he was set free. He went to Juhu, near Bombay, to — To be Continued recover.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
INDIA
December 21, 2012
Indian MPs Now Get Rs. 10 Million to Spend at their Discretion
BY RAJ KANWAR IAN INDIA CORRESPONDENT The Indian Federal government has once again succumbed to the relentless pressure by parliamentarians across the entire political divide and allowed them the discretion of allocating one crore rupees (10 million) out of their local area development (MPLAD) funds without any let and hindrance to any registered trust or society of their choice. The MPs are currently paid five crore rupees (50 million) during their respective terms. Thus the permission now given to them to utilize one fifth of their entire fund on their personal whims and fancy is open to corruption. As it is, there have been disparaging reports in the past of these funds being grossly misused in connivance with the implementing agencies which are generally official entities of state governments and the district administrations under them. Earlier, the ministry of program implementation and statistics that is responsible for overseeing the execution of such works had permitted the MPs to allocate only 25 lakhs rupees (2.5 million) for this purpose. MPs considered this amount of 2.5 million simply too petty and demanded that it be raised to one crore rupees (10 million). Procuring of perks, freebies and goodies for themselves is the only one issue on which all these MPs belonging to diverse and antagonistic parties invariably join hands. In this instance, Bahujan Samaj Party’s MP Vijay Bahadur Singh had submitted a representation to the implementing ministry demanding that this amount to be spent at the MPs’ absolute discretion be raised to one crore rupees (10 million) with only one restriction that proper accounts were maintain and that the work done was of high quality. One hundred and fifteen MPs signed this
joint letter and even threatened to forego the entire fund if they were not permitted to make use of these funds at their discretion. Thus the ministry found itself helpless in resisting this extortionist demand by 115 MPs who included luminaries such like SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, PL Punia of Congress, Supriya Sule of NCP, Shatabdi Roy of Trinamool Congress, A Owaisi of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Rajeev Ranjan Singh of Janata Dal (United), Francisco Sardinha and other worthies. Interestingly, on issues of their common personal benefits the MPs with different feathers did not even once hesitate in flocking together. Jagdeep Chhokar, a founder member of the Association of Democratic Reforms, called this “a gross misuse of public money and will lead to misappropriation of funds. Even otherwise, the MPLAD scheme had raised many fears and misgivings and more often than not it is being flagrantly misused. In India, the nexus and bonhomie between the politician and the bureaucrat is well known. Thus now giving MPs an absolute discretion in spending one crore rupees (10 million) will lead to much more abuse. The
restriction that the MP is not allowed to apportion more than 50 lakhs rupees (5 million) to a single trust or society is just meaningless; what stops the MP from constituting as many trusts or societies in the names of their family members or henchmen. And who will keep an eye on the accounts of expenditure or even quality of the work supposed to have been undertaken? There are 552 members of the Lok Sabha and 250 of the Rajya Sabha. The grand total of the amount thus available to 802 parliamentarians will be staggering 802 x one crore = 8.2 billion rupees. This controversial scheme was first introduced in 1993-94 and the amount then allowed was five lakh rupees (five hundred thousand). The amount was raised to one crore rupees (10 million), the very next year. Again, the amount to be spent at MPs’ discretion was increased to two crore rupees (20 million) in year 1998-99. Once again this amount was raised two and a half times in 2011 when it became five crore rupees (50 million). Even though the MPs have a recommendatory role under this scheme,
13
but in practice it is the MP i.e. the piper who calls the tune. There is a story about an American Congressman and an Indian MP. Once an Indian MP went as part of a parliamentary delegation to Washington DC; he was invited by a Congressman to his home for dinner. The host and the guest soon started chatting like old buddies, helped by generous pouring of single malt. The host took the visiting MP to a big window in his living room; pointing out to a bridge across the street, the Congressman said gleefully TEN PER CENT. After a few months the same Congressman visited Delhi and his Indian MP buddy invited him to his palatial house for dinner. After a few drinks, the host took the American guest to a French window and asked the visitor to look yonder beyond at that bridge. The American looked hard but could not find any bridge. “I cannot see any bridge,” said the American. The host smiled and said, HUNDRED PER CENT. Even though, the story may be apocryphal, it nevertheless explains the magnitude of corruption that has corroded the entire framework of the Indian political system. By merely raising the discretionary limit in MPLAD to one crore rupees, the government has virtually institutionalized corruption. No wonder then that every single MP, with perhaps few exceptions, becomes a crorepati or more even in his first term. Raj Kanwar is our India Correspondent based in Dehra Dun. He can be reached at rkanwar_in@yahoo.co.uk
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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
14 December 21, 2012 Vidya Balan Marries Siddharth Roy Kapur
Vidya Balan and Siddharth Roy Kapur at their wedding ceremony in Bandra, Mumbai
MUMBAI (Bollywoodhungama): Vidya Balan, the girl who made many a hearts go Ooh La La, has now broken a million hearts of her male fans as she tied the knot early this morning to Siddharth Roy Kapur (MD- Disney UTV Studios). Even though there was speculation that the wedding would take place at a famous South Indian temple in Chembur, it’s believed that the wedding actually took place at Green Mile bungalow in Bandra. The wedding was a closely guarded affair with only close friends and family members in attendance.
ENTERTAINMENT
SONY MAX Brings the World Television Premiere of Raaz 3
NEW YORK, NY: Sony Entertainment Network brings a world television premiere of Raaz 3 on SONY MAX. The movie will debut Sunday, December 23, at 3pm ET & 9pm ET. The story revolves around Shanaya (Bipasha Basu), an actress that loves the lime light, glamour, and fame. A fading movie diva, Shanaya turns to Black Magic to thwart an upstart young starlet Sanjana (Esha Gupta) on her way to usurp the position Shanaya once held. Sanjana ruthlessly turns against the girl, using her lover Aditya (Emraan Hashmi), a man who owes her his career, as a pawn. Soon enough, Aditya also leaves Shanaya for Sanjana, and Shanaya sees her career fading away and she slowly becomes crazy. She begins to turn to black magic and makes it her goal in life to destroy Sanjana and get back the man she loves, Aditya. She seeks help of her uncle Agoo Dada (Zeeshan Khalid), a tantric who helps her practice black magic and calls
upon an evil entity, Taradutt to torture and haunt Sanjana. Raaz 3 is a thriller directed by Vikam Bhatt, and produced by Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt. Be sure to catch Bipasha Basu’s full-bodied gutsy performance in this blockbuster only on Sony MAX Sunday, December 23 at 3pm ET & 9pm ET.
About Sony Entertainment Television Asia: Since its launch on the Indian subcontinent in 1995, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has enjoyed rapid success, leading to the establishment of European, North American and African feeds known as SET Asia. SET and SET Asia are now available in over 150 countries. The channels offer their viewers a distinctive blend of entertainment programs twenty four hours a day, including, soap operas, dramas, sitcoms, concerts, movies, and game shows. Besides SET Asia, SET also has three other leading channels: MAX, India’s #1 premier movies and special events channel, SAB, the only dedicated comedy channel and Aath, the only dedicated Bengali Movie channel. For more information, visit www.setasia.tv
Pandit Ravi Shankar Composed Music for Saare Jahan Se Achcha
BY SUBHASH K JHA (Bollywoodhungama) Not too many know this. But the music for India’s favourite patriotic song ‘Saare Jahan Se Achcha’ is composed by (late) Pandit Ravi Shankar! Says Gulzar Saab, “Of course ‘Saare Jahan Se Achcha’, which every Indian in every part of the world hums, is composed by (late) Pandit Ravi Shankar. It was composed by him when he was associated with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA). And incidentally, the signature tune for IPTA was also composed by Panditji. He was all around us, literally. He also composed the legendary signature tunes for All India Radio and Doordarshan. And if you listen carefully to the signature tune of Doordarshan (lampooned by Hrithik Roshan in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara) you’ll see it ‘s actually the same tune as ‘Saare Jahan Se Achcha’.” Exults Gulzar, “Panditji’s talent was as deep and wide as the sky. The Sitar meant Ravi Shankar and Ravi Shankar meant the Sitar. He became a metaphor for the Sitar. When someone learnt to play Sitar, we said, ‘He’s becoming a Ravi Shankar’. I am lucky to have worked with him when he composed music for my film Meera. When I offered it to him, he said he will listen to the script when he was in India next and then decide. But I offered to fly down to New York for a day. I went to New York and he agreed. I actually got to travel with Panditji while we did the songs of Meera because there was limited time to do the entire music score. He was doing concert tours. I volunteered to travel with him, so we could get the music for Meera ready. Panditji was young at heart and had boundless energy. He was honest and very sincere. These qualities remained with him till the end. Years later, there was a programme in Agra where he asked me to come and introduce him on stage. I was honoured by his faith in me. I flew down to Agra to do the needful. To remain at that skytouching peak for decades was not a small thing. Panditji was part of my growing up years. He will remain a part of my life forever. We remained connected till the end.” INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
December 21, 2012
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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16 December 21, 2012
COMMUNITY
Meera Sachdeva Sentenced: Doctor Gets 20 Years in Mississippi Cancer Center Fraud
JACKSON, MS (Huffington Post): A federal judge on Friday sentenced a doctor to 20 years in prison and ordered her to repay nearly $8.2 million for fraud at a former Mississippi cancer center she ran. U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III said he was “appalled” at how Dr. Meera Sachdeva treated patients at a vulnerable time of their lives. Syringes were re-used and different patients’ chemotherapy drugs were drawn from the same bag at Rose Cancer Center in the small town of Summit, Jordan said. He said prosecutors were unable to prove drugs were watered down, as they originally believed. “It’s a very small thing to send this woman to jail for the next 20 years when you compare it to the damage she has done,” Jordan said from the bench. Sachdeva, 50, declined to speak in court Friday. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and shackled around her waist and at her ankles, she showed little emotion and did not turn to look at several former patients or their families who were in the courtroom. Sachdeva founded Rose Cancer Center in Summit in 2005. She pleaded guilty July 13 to one count of health care fraud and two counts of making false statements. Prosecutors said she submitted claims for chemotherapy services that were supposedly given while she was out of the country. Jordan also sentenced two others in the case Friday. The clinic’s office manager, Brittany McCoskey, 26, of Monticello, was sentenced to 13 months in prison and ordered to help pay $55,069 in restitution. She previously
“I know what I did was wrong, and if I could change all of this I would,” McCoskey said, her voice rising as she sobbed. Jordan told McCoskey: “I’m not persuaded by the fact that, `Somebody told me to do it.’” Monica Weeks, 40, of Madison, handled the clinic’s billing from her Ridgeland firm, Medical Billing Group. Jordan sentenced her to three months’ house arrest and three years’ probation and ordered her to help pay $19,550 in Sachdeva founded Rose Cancer Center in Summit in 2005. restitution. She pleaded She pleaded guilty July 13 to one count of health care guilty to conspiracy July fraud and two counts of making false statements. 13. “I’m truly sorry for the pleaded guilty May 17 to making false state- mistakes I made, and I promise nothing like this will ever happen again,” Weeks told the ments. McCoskey said Friday she knew about a judge. Attorneys said dozens of people submitbone marrow biopsy being done by a phlebotomist, whose job is collecting blood. The ted letters of support for Weeks. “Some of the letters said that she did nothbiopsy should’ve been done by a doctor. McCoskey said she knew it was wrong but ing wrong,” Jordan said. “I disagree with she didn’t report it to authorities because, that.” The judge said that although Weeks volshe said, “I was afraid of losing my job.” Prosecutors said McCoskey blocked nurs- untarily contacted authorities when she es from calling ambulances for patients who suspected wrongdoing at the clinic, she was needed emergency care, and sent away a involved in more than $19,000 of fraudulent technician who went to the clinic to repair billing. Relatives of two former Rose Cancer an important piece of medical equipment. Clinic patients testified Friday. They said she also falsified records. MADRAS N PAVILIO T & DAAWA CATERING
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Rosetta Chairs of Metairie, La., said her older sister, Gloria Chairs, was treated there despite being wrongly diagnosed with cancer. Rosetta Chairs said she believes the treatments contributed to her sister’s death earlier this year at age 49. Ernest Whittington, a Baptist minister from Liberty, Miss., said his wife of 61 years, Bettie, survived breast cancer but later developed bone cancer and was treated at Rose Cancer Clinic. He said she grew extremely ill while being treated at the clinic, and he believes it was because of the medicine she was given there. She died in August 2011. “She was my helpmate all those years,” Whittington said. “I lost my right arm when I lost her.” Civil lawsuits have also been filed against Sachdeva in state court. The Mississippi Health Department closed Rose Cancer Clinic in July 2011 because of “unsafe infection control practices” after 11 patients were hospitalized with the same bacterial infection. The scare led officials to test nearly 300 cancer patients for infections such as HIV. The department has said none of the patients tested had blood-borne viral infections related to the clinic’s care. However, a civil lawsuit claims at least one patient died about the time the clinic was shut down from HIV he contracted there. Sachdeva, a naturalized citizen from India, has been held without bond since her arrest in August 2011 because she’s considered a flight risk. Prosecutors say she had considerable assets, including bank accounts in her native country, despite the seizure of about $6 million.
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ADVICE
December 21, 2012
Scared of Failure? Conquer Your Fear
BY PRAKASH IYER The story goes that while visiting a little Himalayan kingdom, the master decided to visit the temple there. As he walked in with his local guide through the temple gates, he saw two large, ferocious dogs chained to the iron grills at the entrance. Their tongues were wagging, the saliva was dripping. And they were barking non-stop. Just the kind of sight that could instil fear in anybody’s mind! “Don’t worry, master!” said the helpful guide. “I know they look really scary. But the chains are very strong, and there is no way the dogs can break free!” The master continued to walk through the long courtyard, towards the main temple. Even as he tried to concentrate on the temple’s history that the guide was narrating, he kept looking back at those dogs. And his ears seemed to be echoing with the noise of their barking. And as he looked back one more time, he could not believe what he saw. The dogs had broken free from their chains, and were running towards him. Instantly the master started to run too. Directly towards the dogs! Yes, he began to run – not away from the dogs, but towards them! And guess what happened? The dogs were so surprised to see the master running towards them that they quietly turned and went back towards the gate! Think of those ferocious dogs as symbolising the biggest fears in your life. What do we all tend to do? We tend to run away from our fears. And hope that they will go away. May be a good idea to take a leaf from the monk’s book and run towards your fears. Confront your fears – nay, embrace them – and you will find that you will conquer your fears! Many of us go through our lives with a constant fear of failure. So we live a life of unfulfilled potential. Break the cycle. Face your fear. Scared of water? Join swimming classes! Scared of public speaking? Grab every opportunity to address
“Someone said that FEAR is really an acronym - and it stands for ’False Expectations Appearing Real”
a gathering. Afraid you might fail in your dream entrepreneurial venture? Well, give it a shot, get started. Never mind the outcome – one thing is guaranteed. The fear will vanish. Someone once said that FEAR is really an acronym – and it stands for ‘False Expectations Appearing Real’. And once you understand that, you could take a big step towards achieving your dreams. Think of your fears as a wall ahead of you. Your success and happiness lie on the other side of that wall. And yet, what do we do? We run away from the wall, away from our dreams. To find success, you need to get to the wall, and scale it. And as you get to the wall – to your fear – you will discover that it was no wall really, just a little hedge that you can easily jump over! Cricket fans will probably remember the Lord’s Test between India and England in 1990. Replying to England’s first inning score of 653 for four declared, India were 430 for 9, when the last man walked out to
join Kapil Dev. India needed 24 runs to avoid the follow on. With just one wicket left. The pressure was on. Tension, fear, anxiety filled the air. And how did Kapil Dev respond? He hit four sixes in a row, and knocked off those 24 runs needed to avoid the follow on. Just like that! That’s the way
The story of the Zen master and the dogs in the temple has often been told and the message is that it can and has changed lives. to deal with your fears. Run towards them. Or as Kapil paaji would advise you, hit them for a six.
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This New Year, Resolve to Get More Sleep
(StatePoint) There are many popular New Year’s resolutions that quickly come and go: eating healthy, losing weight, managing stress and saving money. In 2013, why not focus on one health change you’ll enjoy sticking to... getting more sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average American sleeps about six hours and 55 minutes per night during the week, and 15 percent of adults sleep less than six hours per night. “Lack of sleep can take a significant toll on your overall health and interfere with some of your daily activities,” said Dr. Michael Thorpy, director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Almost everybody has trouble sleeping now and then, but many Americans experience significant problems getting to sleep or con-
tinually wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep. Such problems may be clinical symptoms of insomnia. According to the National Sleep Foundation, if you have trouble falling asleep at night or staying asleep, or you wake up in the morning feeling unrefreshed, you may be suffering from insomnia. Insomnia can affect people in different ways. Some sufferers have trouble initially getting to sleep, while others wake up in the middle of the night and have difficulty falling back asleep. To help you get better sleep this year, Dr. Thorpy suggests these simple tips: • Set and stick to a sleep schedule. Establish a regular bedtime and wake time. • Set aside time at night to “wind down.” Spend some quiet time before bedtime. Such activities as watching TV, using the computer or work-
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ing right before bedtime, or in the bedroom, can make it harder to fall asleep. • Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed. • Exercise regularly. Just don’t exercise rigorously near bedtime and check with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen. • Don’t clock-watch. If you awaken in the middle of the night and stay in bed, don’t lie there staring at the clock. And don’t watch TV or use your laptop or cell phone, because these technologies stimulate the brain, making it tougher to fall back to sleep. If these tips don’t help, speak with your healthcare professional to help determine if you are suffering from insomnia and require treatment. For more information regarding insomnia, visit www.sleepfoundation.org.
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EDITORIAL
December 21, 2012
The Right Model
Our Commentary this week (right) from columnist Tavleen Singh talks about the pro-business Gujarat model and how it may be able to take India from near poverty to prosperity for all people. It is this vision that even the Republican candidate Mitt Romney talked about and lost. Contrast this with the paternalistic model fostered by the Congress in India and Barack Obama’s Democratic party in the U.S. I hope in the state elections underway in Gujarat, the people vote for the Modi model that has worked so well for the state. Unfortunately across India and the U.S. it is easy for people mired in poverty to seek a handout rather han a hand up. Pramod Kulkarni
Cracking Down on Rapists The brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in Delhi on Sunday is another grim reminder of how unsafe the capital is for women. Raped and battered by at least five drunken men, the physiotherapy student is now battling for life in hospital. The horrific incident draws attention once again to the disturbing phenomenon of crimes against women and weak enforcement of law and order. No doubt, Delhi has acquired notoriety in this respect. But the ignominy isn’t confined to the capital alone. Cities across the country have repeatedly witnessed such violent crimes. The primary reasons for the perpetrators’ brazen fearlessness include the low conviction rate for sexual crimes, absence of police reforms and a tardy judicial process. While Delhi’s conviction rate of 41.5% in rape cases is in itself far from satisfactory, it is considerably higher than the all-India figure of 26.4%. To end this culture of impunity, political parties must go beyond rhetoric in Parliament and prod law-enforcing agencies into taking strict action. The latter must, in turn, prioritise crimes against women. Law-enforcing agencies need to factor in that women are equal citizens of the country playing an increasing role in public life, and expand their capabilities accordingly. Police can identify high crime zones within cities and beef up security in those areas. CCTVs and decoys on buses or other vulnerable spots can be effective deterrents. Fast-track courts can be instituted to try serious crimes against women, while beat policing combined with neighbourhood watch groups can be used to combat street harassment of women. And an example needs to be made of the Delhi rapists, which will send out the unmistakable message that the law is willing and able to crack down hard on criminals. Parliament on Tuesday expressed shock and outrage over the barbaric gangrape of a girl inside a moving bus in south Delhi with strong demands being made for capital punishment to perpetrators of such heinous crimes. Women members in both Houses were in the forefront in expressing shock and anguish over the incident, voicing concern over the safety of the fair sex in Delhi. Cinestar- turned-MP Jaya Bachchan even broke down while speaking on the issue in the Upper House. Times of India
Why Gujarat Model is Right for India BY TAVLEEN SINGH Let me begin with a confession. Despite this election in Gujarat being a rehearsal for the 2014 general election, I did not personally cover the campaign. Overwhelming commitments related to promoting my new book made travel impossible, so I was forced to rely on dispatches sent by comrades in other newspapers. I noticed that most of them remain as unforgiving of Narendra Modi as they are forgiving of Rajiv Gandhi for the same crime. Before sitting down to write this piece, I also trawled the Internet to see what the main players had to say in their campaign speeches. The Internet makes it quite easy to cover election campaigns from a distance. After spending two whole days doing my research I discovered that the two men who we hear will be our main contenders for prime minister in 2014 said very different things. Modi talked of development and progress and the future of Gujarat and his achievements in this regard. Rahul Gandhi dwelled on the past. He said his hero was Mahatma Gandhi and explained why through a family bedtime story. He based his admiration of the Mahatma on a story he had heard from his childhood. His great-grandfather was in jail during the freedom movement when Gandhiji spent a night in the Nehru family home in Allahabad. But, instead of sleeping in the comfortable bed made up for him in an Anand Bhawan guest room he chose to sleep on the cold floor because he knew that Jawaharlal Nehru would be sleeping on a cold floor in his cell. If there was a purpose to this tale, I missed it. Did Gandhiji sleep on the floor every time one of his comrades spent a night in a jail cell? Or did he sleep on the floor because he liked to? When Rahul was not telling family bedtime stories, he was attacking Gujarat’s chief minister for not caring for the `common man’. He was backed up in this line of attack by his mother. She wandered through the campaign telling people that Modi was ‘antipoor’ and had squandered the money `we sent from Delhi’ on helping rich businessmen. When is someone going to explain to Sonia Gandhi that it
While socialist West Bengal chased away the Tata Nano, pro-business Gujarat embraced it. If the BJP wants to win the 2014 election, it needs to speak out clearly against a vision of India in which we teach people to become a nation of beggars in the name of removing poverty. is not her money and neither is it largesse from the central government? When is someone going to explain to her that if Gujarat was an independent country it would be a lot richer than it is as an Indian state? But, I digress from a much more important point. And, this is that I found the Gandhi family campaign in Gujarat very interesting because of a deepening conviction that in 2014, voters are going to face a choice between an old vision of India and a new one. The old vision that the Congress Party bases its entire political ideology on is that of a paternalistic state that takes full responsibility for `the poor’. The problem is that for this vision to remain relevant we will need poor people to remain poor, illiterate and cursed by divisions of caste and creed forever. In pursuance of this vision, Sonia Gandhi’s National Advisory Council has spent thousands of crore rupees in the past few years on welfare schemes that serve mostly to make people believe that if they remain poor they
will be entitled to guaranteed employment, cheap food, cheap homes, free electricity and other such things forever and ever. In my opinion, this is a horrible vision of India’s future and it saddens me to see that it is shared by not just every leftist political party in the country but even by the BJP’s senior leaders in Delhi. Modi has a different vision of India’s future and has articulated it whenever he has been given a chance. I heard him speak of it at an India Today conclave two years ago and give you a précis here. He said that if India was to ever find its rightful place in the world then it must first decide where it wanted to go. Then it must decide what it needed to do to get there and, most importantly, it must decide how ordinary people could be made to believe in the journey and the goal. Unfortunately for Modi, he has so many enemies inside his own party that nobody in BJP headquarters has helped him promote his vision for India other than by saying, sotto voce from time to time, that the BJP believes in the ‘Gujarat model’. If the BJP wants to win the 2014 election, it needs to explain what the Gujarat model is and it needs to speak out clearly against a vision of India in which we teach people to become a nation of beggars in the name of removing poverty. India badly needs a new vision. The old one has failed. Indian Express
Reader Feedback
A cursory look across congress leadership draws a near-blank to match on the qualities of a national leader to lead the country through the present internal socio-economic and external power & trade equations. A repeat on BJP also yields the same result, except for Modi for his honest selfless nationalism and a state level vision, albeit fraught with old-fashioned jingoism (may be because of his radical background & strings still holding him captive) and a knack to take names. Yet he is the most suited, only if he enlarges his state-level vision to suit pan- Indian requirements. Ramesh Chandra
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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
OPINION
December 21, 2012
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Child Rearing: Don’t Harbor Grudge Against Children
BY VAIDYA VISWANATHAN (The Hindu) The place was a city in the U.S. The seven-year-old boy had exceeded his normal quota of throwing tantrums that day, and his dad lost his patience and thrashed the child. The boy did not cry. He slowly withdrew from the scene and shied away from his mother, who attempted to cajole him. After an hour, the State police officers knocked at the door of the house. The little boy gleefully rushed from inside the house to the door. Obviously, he had alerted the police on whose grilling, the dad was arrested for child abuse. After a few days in detention, the dad managed to extricate himself from the clutches of the law. He did not question his maverick son why he had taken to the extreme step of roping in the police, nor did he counsel him. Neither dad nor mom now dares to scold the son, let alone beat him up. The son forgot the storm that he had created unwittingly and slowly dissolved in his daily life. Twenty months later, the family travelled to India on vacation. After collecting their baggage from the conveyor in Chennai airport and loading it on a trolley, the dad did something unbelievable. He slapped his son with all his might and challenged him, “Now, call the police and
complain of child abuse. Let me see.” The son was completely shocked, puzzled, disoriented and dazed. Tears started flowing down his cheeks in a torrent, as the hapless crowd in the vicinity looked on. … This was a happy-go-lucky family living in India, comprising the
husband, the wife, a 10-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. The son was bright in his studies but was full of pranks and bubbling with energy. It was the time when cassette taperecorders morphed the sale of gramophone players. The father proudly brought home a newly bought taperecorder and displayed to his wife its various features. The inquisitive son keenly watched his dad in action. Some time later, as father and mother were engrossed in a serious family discussion, the son stealthily walked up to the taperecorder and activated the ‘record’ function. After six months, dad travelled 200 km to his brother’s town carrying with him the taperecorder, just to demonstrate the cute wonder to his brother. As he switched on the player, the mellifluous voice of SPB, Suseela, Jesudas and Janaki permeated the house and his brother’s family was thrilled. Abruptly, the music stopped and a conversation emanated out of the machine. The elder brother was talking ill of his younger brother, while a lady voice ridiculed the attitude of the brother’s wife. The conversation stopped and music resumed. But by that time, the damage had already been done and sparks flew. The elder
brother realised that his son must have meddled with the cassette player. Embarrassed, he headed back home. His son had just returned from school. Thrilled with securing the top grade in his class and blissful on seeing his dad return from a trip, the boy ran to him. But dad was no in mood to embrace his son. With all the energy that he could muster, he smacked his son on the backside of the head. The son fainted and never recovered. His mental faculties were irreversibly hampered. These are real-life incidents, narrated by friends long ago but which remain etched in my mind, not for the
mistakes committed by the children but for the storage of revengeful thoughts in adult minds. Children are bound to commit mistakes. They disobey you in the morning before going to school and return home in the evening completely forgetting their morning sins. How can one take revenge against such innocent children? Recall that famous and touching poem “Toys” by Coventry Patmore. The poet concludes that when we (adults) bid goodbye to our lives, God would feel sorry for our childishness. Then what can one talk of the childishness of children!
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OPINION
December 21, 2012
LEARN TO DRIVE TODAY!
When Women Drive Economic Growth BY MELANNE S. VERVEER & ROBERT O. BLAKE (The Hindu) Greater regional economic integration is essential to enhanced economic growth and prosperity in South and Central Asia. To encourage this integration, the United States is actively supporting efforts by governments, private sector partners, and regional institutions to enhance trade and market linkages throughout the region and beyond. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s vision of the New Silk Road prioritises this economic connectivity as essential to regional prosperity. We know with certainty that no effort to support regional economic integration or to achieve economic growth and prosperity will succeed without the full and equal participation of half the population — namely women.
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larly women entrepreneurs, is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. Data from the World Bank and other institutions show that women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises drive economic growth and create jobs. This is true in the U.S. and it is true around the world. And women who are successful in business are also empowered to be leaders in their communities and countries. Take the example of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who started her professional career as a trainee in beer brewing at Carlton & United Beverages in 1974. In 1978, she founded Biocon India in collaboration with Biocon Biochemicals Limited with Rs.10,000. She initially faced many problems, as banks were hesitant to loan to her because she was a woman and also
Women confront discriminatory laws and practices, including a lack of property rights. And while these barriers are common to both men and women, women often face additional and unique challenges of managing domestic responsibilities along with their business obligations. Given the overwhelming evidence in support of women in driving economic growth, we cannot afford to ignore these barriers. Instead, we must actively seek to overcome them by developing innovative policies and brokering partnerships across sectors and national borders to harness this underutilised potential for growth. The U.S. is playing an active role in this endeavour. At this week’s South Asia Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium, participants will identify key obstacles to women’s access to resources, markets, and networks. They will then develop an action plan to advance women’s awareness of their rights and build capacity and leadership skills necessary to grow their businesses. Following the symposium, the action plan developed in Dhaka will be used to identify additional investments aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship throughout the region and contribute to regional economic growth, peace, and stability. This is an exciting time in SouthAsia with a young and dynamic Access to markets and credit, training, mentors and technology is still a workforce enjoying major challenge to women entrepreneurs. The picture is of instant foods ever-expanding opmanufacturer Indu Jain at her unit in Bangalore. portunities to engage the global economy To support this goal, from Decem- because biotechnology was such a and improve the quality of life. We ber 8-11 we will host the regional new field at the time. She persevered, truly cannot afford to squander the South Asia Women’s Entrepreneur- however, and grew her company into economic potential that women repship Symposium in Dhaka, Ban- a powerhouse. Gender aside, she is resent if we want to improve prospergladesh. The symposium will bring now respected as one of the most suc- ity for all — men and women, girls together over 100 key policymakers, cessful businesspeople in India. and boys. We must invest in girls’ women entrepreneurs, civil society Women’s success in entrepreneur- education to ensure that they have organisations, and private sector ship in many countries is often hin- an equal opportunity to succeed in companies from 11 countries in the dered by barriers that undermine their the workforce. We must continue to region to work on concrete actions ability to start or to expand their busi- confront social, cultural, and political to expand women’s economic par- ness. Access to markets and credit barriers to women’s full inclusion ticipation. is still a major challenge to women in our economies. In doing so, we What data shows entrepreneurs today, as is access to embrace the fullest potential for our Investing in women, and particu- training, mentors, and technology. societies and future.
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MAH CHOLE DI DAL (Slit Urad and Split Chana Dal) For Punjabis, dal (lentils) of any type is a must with most meals. A favorite at most Punjabi dhabbas (roadside stalls) is Dal Makhani (Butter Lentils) which is usually made of the black Urad dal, known among Punjabis as Mah. This dal has become the basic one that most Indian restaurants worldwide make and the dish is now widely made throughout India. But to get to the heart of a true Punjabi, there is a dal that is a clear winner – Mah Chole di Dal. It is a mixture of split urad dal (with the black skin on) and yellow chana or chola dal (without the skin) and the dish has a technicolor look when the dals float in a brown curry. For the authentic taste, most Punjabis eat it with homemade roti or tandoori roti (some people prefer rice) and a good slice of raw red onion to bring out the full flavor of the meal! For even more gusto, try eating it on a charpai (jute string cot) sitting outside in the garden!!
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Ingredients: • Split urad and split chana dal in equal portions of one cup each • Four cups water • 1 tbspn - Peeled and diced fresh adrak (ginger) • Peeled and diced fresh lasan (garlic) – to your taste • Lal mirch (red pepper); namak (salt); haldi (turmeric) – to your taste • 2 tbspn - Olive oil • 1 tspn – garam masala • If you prefer, you can use powdered ginger and garlic Directions: • Place the chana dal and water in a pot on the stove and bring to boil for 15 minutes • Pour in the urad dal
• Add the ginger, garlic, and spices • Bring to boil, if needed add more water. Let the dal mix well, the grains of urad and chana dal should not appear separated but the dish should not appear too thick. The grains should be soft but not mushy.. • When ready, add the olive oil and then the garam masala Some people prefer to make the dal in a pressure cooker. If you do, then mix the two dals and spices and bring the pressure cooker to one whistle and turn off the stove. Open the cooker after 20 minutes and then bring the dal to boil again to mix the ingredients well and repeat steps 4 and 5 above.
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What India Watched: 2012 YouTube Rewind BY GOPAL SATHE (Mint) YouTube remains one of the largest video-sharing sites in India, and according to information released by Google on Tuesday, it was the most popular search term in the “entertainment” category in the country in 2012. And its success is still built around the ability for content to go “viral”, like last year’s Why This Kolaveri and this year’s Gangnam Style. Interestingly, according to Rajan Anandan, vice-president and managing director—sales and operations, Google India, there is a general trend towards premium content in India, compared to user generated content (UGC) elsewhere. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday, Anandan said, “Globally, 72 hours of video are being uploaded to YouTube every minute, and one out of every three Indians viewing YouTube is doing it from their mobile phone or tablet. What we’re seeing is that there is a strong demand for premium content, TV catch-up and movies, while in the other markets the interest is driven by quirky UGC.” To meet this interest, Google has also worked with content owners to encourage such content to be available to users for free on YouTube, and this also helps the content owners to earn revenue through advertising which could otherwise have been lost to piracy. Anandan said, “There are over 10,000 Indian movies and 500,000 Indian songs available on YouTube from all parts of the country, and this is going to keep growing.” Given that DVR (digital video recorder) services are largely non-
Honey Singh’s ‘Brown Rang’ is the most watched video in India
Entertainment remains the most popular category on YouTube in India with premium content also growing existent in India (except for some costly options), it also makes sense that YouTube has become a prime source of catch-up television in India. TV shows such as Bade Acche Laggte Hai, Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah and Devon Ke Dev… Mahadev are uploaded by the channels a couple of days after they air on television, allowing viewers to watch or rewatch episodes at their convenience. This format also allows people to watch shows without ads interrupting the story. Users can also create “channels”, which are collections of their uploaded videos. Content owners— such as T-Series, Eros Entertainment and Sony Music India— have some of the most popular channels, with the T-Series official channel being the most subscribed to channel from India, with 690,780 subscribers and
651,415,390 video views. The overall top trending videos from India also showed a strong inclination towards local content— while the record-making Gangnam Style video is indeed the second most watched video in India—the first being Brown Rang by Honey Singh—it’s the only foreign video. All the other popular videos in India are for songs, and seven of the top 10 videos are for songs that come from movies. While sports content is also popular (the Olympics had the ninth most popular channel in India), it clearly doesn’t hold a candle to the entertainment category, much like last year. Overall, YouTube India seems a far more generic destination compared to global YouTube viewership trends, though the high prevalence of premium content such as television shows and even full movies being put up by the studios and channels show that there is definitely demand for digital distribution of content, and that a service like Netflix or Hulu would find a largely untapped market in India.
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India’s Real Estate Developers Predict New Construction Boom BY NEHA THIRANI (NYT) The sight of a construction crane looming on the horizon has become ubiquitous in most large cities across India – and may become even more so in the near future. The introduction of large foreign retailers like Wal-Mart into the country is eagerly awaited by many industrialists, particularly in the real estate sector, where builders and developers hope to benefit from an increased demand for retail spaces. Commercial real estate prices in India have already risen sharply in big cities in recent years, and there is a dearth of quality retail spaces available for rent, so analysts expect a boom in construction if foreign multibrand retailers enter the market. That looks likely: On Wednesday, India’s Lok Sabha, or lower house of Parliament, voted against a measure forbidding foreign multibrand retailers from entering India. The upper house of Parliament also voted against the measure on Friday, cementing support for new retailers. State governments have the option to ban big foreign retailers from their state, and their entry into the country comes with several conditions, but builders are already getting excited. “Foreignretailersaremostwelcome by the builders community,” said Anand Gupta, the general secretary of the Builders’Association of India and managing director and chairman of the Choudhary & Choudhary Group, a construction company working primarily in Mumbai and Pune. “There is a lack of financial support from the government for real estate,” he said, and an entry of foreign companies “will help financially and boost the demand for commercial establishments and shopping centers.” While foreign retailers are allowed to procure land in India, as long as they build their own stores on it,
Prashanth Vishwanathan for The New York TimesA construction site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in this Feb. 28, 2012, file photo.
they are not allowed to buy and sell undeveloped land, and they face other regulations on development set by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Therefore, most retailers prefer to lease properties. “The rental model tends to work out better for profitability,” said Subhasis Roy, the national director for retail agency at Knight Frank India, a real estate company. In Indian cities with more than a million people, which big foreign retailers are confined to, analysts predict a marked increase in demand for commercial real estate, warehousing and office space. “In the short term there will be a spurt in demand as retailers set up test stores,” said Harvesp Mehta, director for real estate at Motilal Oswal Private Equity Advisors. “Developers in cities like Mumbai do not have sufficient demand coming in, so it will bode well for them if there are new entrants to the market.” Whether this will translate into sustained demand in the long term depends on whether these companies are able to overcome infrastructural hurdles and fare well in the Indian market, he said.
The paucity of quality rental spaces for the retail sector in the cities where multibrand foreign retailers are expected to enter the market could trigger demand for new projects. “In India, per capita mall space among the top seven metro cities is presently estimated at less than one square foot, with the United States and Europe average being 20 to 40 times that,” said Roy. While there are several malls in the works, most won’t be finished for three to four years, he said. However, some say a large increase in retail rents does not seem viable, with the prices of real estate in India’s biggest metropolitan areas already being unaffordable to many. “There is only a marginal jump in pricing possible, beyond which it will become a barrier to entry,” said Pankaj Renjhen, managing director for retail services at Jones Lang LaSalle India. “While it is difficult to compare India to other markets because the industry is structured differently, prime locations in India are some of the most expensive in the world.” In premium malls that house international brands, like the Palladium in Mumbai, the DLF Emporio in Gurgaon or Select Citywalk in New
Delhi, rentals vary from 350 to 600 rupees ($6.44 to $11) per square foot per month depending on the location, the brand and other variables, he said. Mehta said, “If the prices go up anymore from here they will kill demand the way they did in the residential real estate market. I’m sure McDonald’s would like to have a store in every corner in a city as populated as Mumbai, but they have been forced to slow down the process of opening stores because the rentals are crazy.” Indian retail space may be getting more expensive, but it is still lower than prime retail space in some other big cities. In Manhattan, for example, retail rents on Fifth Avenue below 49th street averaged $875 per square foot a year, or $72.92 per square foot a month, according to a report from Cushman and Wakefield. However, for companies in the
Indian retail market, rental costs are a higher percentage of their turnover. While rentals are typically 3 percent of the turnover of retail companies internationally, they are well over 10 percent of turnover in India, said Roy. International brands will have to come in with realistic expectations about where they can set up shop, analysts said. “No quality real estate will be readily available. They will have to build it from scratch and even then it will lack the surrounding infrastructure like connectivity, parking space, water and electricity,” said Renjhen. “International brands cannot come in expecting the same quality of real estate that they are used to in Europe or America. Here, a high-end luxury retailer will have to be okay being next door to a neighborhood chemist.”
RBI Keeps Key Rates Unchanged MUMBAI (The Hindu): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday kept all key policy rates and reserve ratios unchanged in a monetary policy review , but said its focus now shifts towards spurring growth that has taken a hit in recent months. “In view of inflation pressures ebbing, monetary policy has to increasingly shift focus and respond to the threats to growth from this point onward,” the Central bank said. “Overall, recent inflation patterns and projections provide a basis for reinforcing our October guidance about policy easing in the fourth quarter. However, risks to inflation remain and accordingly, even as the policy emphasis shifts towards growth, the policy stance will remain sensitive to these risks.” Accordingly, the bank rate remains unchanged at 9 per cent, the repurchase (repo) rate at 8 per
cent, reverse repo rate at 7 per cent, the cash reserve ratio at 4.25 per cent and statutory liquidity ratio at 23 per cent. In the second quarter review of monetary policy on Oct 30, the RBI had lowered the CRR by 0.25 per cent, but had kept unchanged the repo and reverse repo rates, which determine lending and borrowing rates by commercial banks. As per latest data released last week, the annual rate of inflation based on wholesale price index declined to a 10—month low of 7.24 per cent in November against 7.45 per cent in the previous month, according to the government data released last week But the growth in the country’s gross domestic product in the second quarter of this fiscal at 5.3 per cent was marginally lower than the 5.5 per cent logged during the first quarter — which has been a matter of concern for all stakeholders.
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Delhi Gang Rape Case Evokes Rage Across India NEW DELHI (HT): The bus driver, who along with six others, allegedly gang raped a 23-year-old girl on Sunday night, was on Tuesday remanded to five days in police custody by a Delhi court. Ram Singh, who was the first person to be arrested on Monday night, was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal who allowed the plea of Delhi Police for his custodial interrogation for facilitating the arrest of three other accused who are absconding. The accused refused to undergo Test Identification Parade (TIP), the criminal procedure in which the alleged offender is brought before witnesses and victims for identification. Out of the seven accused, four have already been arrested. The Delhi Police told the magistrate that the other three arrested culprits, Ram Singh’s brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor and Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller, will be produced in court on Wednesday. While seeking the remand of the driver, the police said his custodial interrogation was needed to recover the clothes of accused, mobile phones and ATM cards of the victim and her male friend. Further, “we need his remand as three more accused are to be arrested who hail from Rajasthan, UP and Bihar and we have to take Ram Singh to these places,” police said. Allowing the plea, the court said, “Since the accused is required for apprehending other co-accused and also for the identification of clothes and recovery of the ATM card and mobile phones of the complainant. “Accused Ram Singh is remanded to five days of police custody. Accused be produced on December 23.” Two days after a paramedical student was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus, Delhi Police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the case with the arrest of four people and said it will seek a fast-track trial for speedy punishment. The condition of the victim continued to be critical but “better than yesterday’s”, doctors said. Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar told a press conference that the driver of the chartered bus, which was not legally permitted to run on normal routes, his brother and two more people have been arrested,
Indian protesters demand capital punishment for rapists in a candlelight vigil in New Delhi after the brutal gang rape of a 23-yearold student on a bus in New Delhi. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images
while a massive manhunt has been launched to nab the remaining two accused. Ram Singh, the driver of the bus, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor and Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller, were on a “joy ride” on Sunday night when they crossed Munirka bus stop where the paramedic student and her male friend were waiting for a bus to Dwarka. “Ram Singh shouted that the bus was going to Dwarka and asked the couple to get into it. Once the bus started moving, they started misbehaving with the girl. Her male friend who, protested and tried to save the girl, was severely beaten up. The girl also tried hard to protect him,” Kumar said. But she was raped by Singh and other occupants of the vehicle which was being driven by Mukesh at the time of the incident. The duo were then brutally assaulted and dumped near Mahipalpur flyover, he said. While Singh, Sharma and Gupta were arrested from the capital, Mukhesh was nabbed from Rajasthan and has been brought to the capital, the Commissioner said, while terming the incident as “most reprehensible”. The bus was located in Sector 3 of R K Puram last evening and was impounded immediately. “The driver cleaned the bus but forensic examination revealed this was the bus in which the incident took place. The duo were dumped from the front gate of the bus,” the Police Commissioner said.
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Asked why the bus was not stopped by PCR vans, he said it was not practically possible to check every moving vehicle though it can be done theoretically. To a question, Kumar said while the boy was hit by an iron rod, the girl was punched badly in her stomach. Asked whether Delhi was becoming the ‘rape capital’, he said it was not so and refused to discuss rape incidents as a whole. “Let us discuss this incident. If we discuss it as a whole then I will say something which will be politically incorrect. You will twist and project it differently,” he said. To a question, he said the mobile phones of the victims were not used during the incident. Sources said police managed to get the CCTV footage of the bus from which they managed to zero in on the bus. The investigators also sent text messages to mobile phones of the victims which were snatched by the attackers to track them down. Kumar said Delhi Police will seek a fast-track trial for this case on a dayto-day basis so that the accused are punished as soon as possible. To a question, he said the maximum punishment for this crime was life sentence, but as far as the demands for death sentence for such crimes are concerned the Delhi Police will send a proposal in this regard to Government. The incident triggered outrage with students of Jawaharlal Nehru University staging a demonstration outside Vasant Kunj Police Station. The 23-year-old para-medical stu-
dent was raped and brutally assaulted by four men who also attacked her male friend and threw both of them out of the vehicle. Last night, Ram Singh, the driver of the bus in which the girl was raped, and his brother Yogesh were arrested. Singh and Yogesh are the first to be arrested, police said and added that Yogesh was driving the bus when Singh allegedly raped the girl along with others. The woman who was gang-raped and thrown off a moving bus in the capital is still critical and continues to be on ventilator support but can talk now, authorities at the Safdarjung Hospital said on Tuesday. “The patient is still critical, she is on ventilator support. But since today (Tuesday) morning she has started to speak to the doctor,” S.N. Makwana, press information officer at the hospital said. A senior doctor at the hospital, who is attending to the victim, added that no further surgeries were being planned as of now. “The patient is in critical condition and she is now trying to speak. As of now we are not planning for any surgery. We can say it is a grievous injury and her intestines are severely damaged,” another doctor said on condition of anonymity. The incident rocked both Houses
of Parliament on Tuesday where Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar by the Opposition. Leader across all political parties condemned the heinous crime. Speaking in Lok Sabha, leader of opposition and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj sought death penalty for perpetrators of rape. Speaker Meira Kumar too condemned the brutal incident. In the Rajya Sabha, Bahujan Samajwadi Party chief Mayawati demanded tough action against the rapists. The BJP demanded suspension of zero hour, and Rajya Sabha was adjourned for fifteen minutes following uproar over the incident. Ram Singh, driver of the bus was arrested on Monday night, 3-4 people have been detained and are being questioned by the police. Another accused has reportedly been arrested. The girl has severe genital, abdominal and head injuries. “We performed several life-saving procedures on her within an hour of her being brought to the hospital around 3am. Her injuries were severe and she has lost a lot of blood,” said a senior doctor at the hospital. The victim had reportedly lost nearly a litre of blood and had severe internal injuries.
“Hang Me, I’ve Done Heinous Act”: Delhi Rape Accused NEW DELHI (Outlook) Three other accused arrested for allegedly gangraping a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus here on Sunday night were produced before a Delhi court which sent two of them to four-day police custody while the third was sent to 14-day judicial custody. Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor and Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller have been sent for custodial interrogation while Mukesh, who was allegedly driving the bus when the crime was being committed, has been sent to Tihar Jail in judicial custody after he agreed to undergo test identification parade (TIP). Mukesh is the brother of another accused Ram Singh, who was remanded to five-day police custody after he refused to undergo TIP. Vinay and Pawan, however, have refused to undergo TIP, the criminal procedure in which the alleged of-
fender is brought before witnesses and victims for identification. After being produced before Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Namrita Aggarwal, the trio were sent to court of Metropolitan Magistrate Sandeep Garg for following the procedure for conducting the TIP. When the judge asked whether they would volunteer to undergo TIP and if not why, Vinay said, “he had beaten up the boy but did nothing with the girl” and went on to say “mujhe faansi de do (hang me)”, while Pawan told the court, “I do not want to undergo TIP as I have committed a heinous act”. Metropolitan Magistrate Garg also asked the police to move a fresh application for recording the confessional statement of the accused persons saying “what they have said in court is not on oath”. Out of the six accused, four have already been arrested.
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December 21, 2012
After the Worst Defeat, India Looks within for Answers
Captain M.S. Dhoni (left), coach Duncan Fletcher and veteran star Sachin Tendulkar must chart a way forward for the hapless Indian team.
BY SAMBIT BAL NEW DELHI (ESPNCricinfo): The time for fudging is over. In dealing India the kind of defeat that no one, including the most optimistic England fans, would have seen coming, England have bestowed on India a favour: all possible escape clauses have been removed. Indian cricket has no choice now but to look deep within and confront the magnitude of this failure. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a remarkable man in many ways. His ability to isolate himself, and by extension his younger team-mates, from the cacophony that surrounds Indian cricket, has helped him, for the most part, keep his balance and stay as the pivot of Indian cricket. Even at the worst times he has retained his composure around the team. He could be faulted on tactics, but to lead the Indian cricket team, you need a thick hide and nerves of steel. Dhoni was the leader India needed. But there is a thin line between insouciance and being blasé. Somewhere in the torrent of defeats, and in the scramble to make sense of them, this line has been obscured, and reason and perspective have been lost. It’s impossible to know what Dhoni really thinks of the defeats that have piled up under his watch in recent times, but if you went by his public posture, you’d think he
believes them to have been outside his control. So the 8-0 wasn’t because India lacked energy and fitness, or skills were waning with advancing age, or the players didn’t give themselves the best chance to prepare, or the fast bowlers had regressed and the spinners couldn’t spin the ball anymore. It was because their opponents laid out pitches that discriminated against India. After India had been bowled out inside 63 overs on the first day at Edgbaston, the Indian camp, which contained a coach with intimate knowledge of English conditions, let it be known that rarely had there been a pitch that afforded so much seam movement. And when the time came for India to return empty-handed from the World Twenty20, Dhoni reflected on the cruelty of the format. What, in the final analysis, had cost India a place in the semi-finals was a heavy defeat to Australia, which Dhoni, staggeringly, blamed on the wet ball. The external pressures make captaining India the toughest job in world cricket, and perhaps owning up to mistakes and shortcomings is much harder in an environment inflamed with passion, and one in which people are prone to exaggeration. But a feeling has grown that so cloistered has this Indian team become that it has started believing its
own excuses. Through its miserable run outside its own shores, a sense of indignation had been building up within the team: let them come to our backyard, we’ll show them. Series wins against West Indies and New Zealand at home kept this belief alive, but even in these contests, India failed to see the signs. West Indies stretched them in Delhi, and might have beaten them in Mumbai. Despite the 2-0 scoreline, even New Zealand ran India close: in the second Test, they were a wicket away from causing panic on the final day. England have left India with no place to hide. The last time before this that India lost a series at home, it was to one of the greatest teams of all time. Back then, India competed better. They got themselves into a position to win the Test in Chennai before the rain came, and in Nagpur, Australia were gifted a pitch that played to their strengths. England are a good team but not yet a great one. They are a resilient, spirited and committed group with some skilful bowlers, a couple of resolute top-order players, and one great batsman. They were hopeless against spin in three out of their last four Tests in the subcontinent before this series, and were outplayed at home by South Africa. But they ended up beating India, thoroughly and decisively, at their own game. Their spinners outbowled the Indian
ones by a ridiculous margin, their fast bowlers produced better reverse swing, their batsmen showed greater application and flair, and they had the superior wicketkeeper-batsman. The decline of the Indian Test team has perhaps been unstoppable, but the process has been exacerbated by denial. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were never going to be easily replaced, and the time has come for India to look beyond Sachin Tendulkar too, but the frightening thing is that they haven’t produced a world-class spinner since Harbhajan Singh. Every crisis can be an opportunity. Indian cricket can start by recognising the current one as such. Dhoni, as has become customary with him, sought to scale down the magnitude of this defeat by terming the 2007 World Cup a bigger disaster. Really? One bad day against the worst run in Test cricket spanning more than 12 months over three continents? In the absence of a better alternative, Dhoni could still be the man to lead India in the near future, but India can’t start rising until they accept how low they have sunk. For Indian cricket to renew itself, this defeat must hurt. It should rankle. And the way forward can only be forged with honesty, foresight, the humility to accept inadequacies, and courage to address them. Sambit Bal is the editor of ESPNCricinfo
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Even Saina at a Loss
LUCKNOW: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal is eyeing good performances at the World championship and the All England Championship next year while adding that since the international badminton calendar was very busy, it was very difficult for any player to be at peak form for long. Talking to the media, about the season so far, Saina said it’s been very hectic but she was looking forward to playing in the Korea and Malaysia Opens before the Worlds and AllEngland next year. When asked why she was unable to break the Chinese wall, she said: “They are ten, and I am alone.” She stressed on the development the world class structure in the country in order to compete with the Chinese might. On the occasion, Abhijit Sarkar of the Sahara Pariwar said, “Ms Nehwal has always brought laurels to the nation and we are proud to take our association with her a step forward.” On the occasion, she said, “It’s a great honour to be associated with Sahara which apart from being a huge business conglomerate has also done tremendously for the cause of promotion of sports. This has certainty boosted my confidence and I will be able to bring pride to the nation”. Star attraction and top seed Saina Nehwal may be a no-show second year running at the Syed Modi India Grand Prix Gold championship which begins on Wednesday. Last year, she had pulled out at the last moment citing fever. This time, fatigue may force her to withdraw from the most prestigious badminton event in India. “I will take a final call tomorrow,” she said on Tuesday. If she pulls out, she will lose out on some valuable BWF ranking points here. “But if she chooses to play, Saina is likely to have a cakewalk as the field here is bereft of any serious challenger.”
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December 21, 2012
Taliban Gunmen Kill 4 Female Govt Polio Workers in Pakistan
In this Sept. 13, 2012 photo, a Pakistani child displaced from tribal areas due to fighting receives a Polio vaccination at a clinic in Jalozai refugee camp, near Peshawar. Photo:AP
KARACHI (The Hindu): A senior health official says gunmen have killed four women working on a government polio vaccination campaign in the Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi. Sagher Ahmed, health minister for surrounding Sindh province, says the gunmen on Tuesday also wounded two men who were with the women. The Taliban have spoken out against polio vaccination in recent months, claiming the
health workers are acting as spies for the U.S. and the vaccine itself causes harm. Ahmed says the shootings took place in a Karachi area populated by ethnic Pashtuns. The Taliban are a Pashtun movement, and many militants are reported to be hiding in these communities in Karachi. On Monday, police said a gunman killed a volunteer for the World Health Organization’s anti-polio campaign in Karachi.
SOUTH ASIA “Kargil Weather May Have Killed Kalia” Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik NEW DELHI (TOI) : Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik on Friday said that he wasn’t sure whether the Indian Army’s Capt Saurabh Kalia “was killed by a Pakistani bullet, or the weather” during the Kargil conflict in 1999. “When the fight is going on the border, we really don’t know whether he was killed with a Pakistani bullet or he died because of the weather,” Malik told reporters here on arrival on a three-day visit. “I have not examined this case, it has just come to my notice very recently, but I will be very happy to see the father of the soldier, and shake hands and like to know what exactly happened,” he added. Capt Kalia was captured by the Pakistan army in 1999, during the Kargil conflict, and his brutally tortured and mutilated body was later handed over by Pakistan. Capt Kalia’s father NK Kalia recently moved the Supreme Court seeking its direction to the government to raise his son’s case at the International Court of Justice at the Captain Saurabh Kalia and his patrol team was captured by Pakistani army Hague. during the 1999 Kargil conflict, brutally Kalia has been pressing the defence min- tortured for several days before being istry, the army headquarters, external affairs killed. ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office for over a decade to exert pressure on Pakistan to punish those Pakistani soldiers who indulged in barbaric torture of his son and five other soldiers in violation of the Geneva Convention.
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