US Affairs 10

Diaspora 21

Humor 28

Spiritual Awareness 30

NEW YORK EDITION

Vol.4 No.49 March 31-April 6, 2012 60 Cents
Srilata Zaheer named Dean of Minnesota varsitys B-School Obamas healthcare law hangs in balance US Affairs, Page 11

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Jay Sean opens up about filling a unique niche Harvard India Conference, Page 20

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It's nappy time for B-Towns glamorous moms Bollywood, Page 27

BRICS soft on Syria, Iran; seeks larger play in global economy

Growing at fast clip, India can fuel global economy

Boston: Bringing together over 600 people, including students, academics and professionals, the 9th annual Harvard India Conference generated a buzz in the academic and professional circles in Boston last weekend. The theme of the 2-day conference held at the Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School was, India The next frontier. Eminent leaders from the government, business, non-profit, media and entertainment sectors engaged in vibrant discussions about the opportunities and challenges that India faces. The conference saw an exciting and influential set of names from corporate honcho Bharat Desai, Dean of Harvard Business Continued on page 4 SATimes special coverage of Harvard meet on pages 16-20.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Heads of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa in New Delhi. New Delhi: The five emerging BRICS economies added a strong political note to their economic agenda at the Delhi summit on Thursday, joining hands against the West's policies on Iran and Syria. They also signalled displeasure towards the West's management of the global economy. The grouping - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - warned against military action by the West to end the unrest in Syria or by Israel in the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. "We agreed a lasting solution in Syria Continued on page 4

The keynote address by Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Hardeep Puri, at the Harvard India Conference last week, was one of the highlights of the conference.

Leaked letter exposes gaps in Indian forces war-fighting capability

New Delhi: The row between the Indian government and the army chief got nastier with Defence Minister A.K. Antony calling as "anti-national" leaking of V.K. Singh's letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over gaps in the force's war-fighting capabilities and noting that an Intelligence Bureau probe had been ordered into the matter. Gen. Singh too termed the leak of his top secret letter to the PM as "high treason" and calling for "punishing ruthlessly" the guilty in the episode. of Singh's move of forwarding to the CBI a letter from Trinamool Congress MP Ambica Banerjee alleging corruption in defense deals by serving 3 Corps commander Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag. "We want to find the truth. We will go to any extent to find the truth. We will go to the root. We cannot spare them (the culprits)," Antony said. In his letter to Manmohan Singh, V.K. Singh had pointed to a shortage of arms and ammunition in the armed forces and quesContinued on page 4

Tibet on fire: Is the world paying heed?

New Delhi: A young Buddhist monk has become the latest to set himself on fire in southwest China, taking his own life to protest Beijing's rule, a rights group and exiles said Thursday. The 20-year-old monk, named Sherab, burned himself to death on Wednesday in his home town in Sichuan province's Aba county, London-based Free Tibet and exiled monks living in India said. He was the 30th Tibetan known to have set himself alight in China since a young monk self-immolated in March 2011 at the Kirti monastery sparking dramatic protests in Sichuan, which has a large population of ethnic Tibetans. For more than a year the deadly protests have swept the Tibetan plateau, waves of

Indian army chief V.K. Singh wrote the letter to the PM. However, Antony indirectly questioned the timing

Jamphel Yeshi self-immolated in Delhi March 26, enraging Tibetans all over world. people burning themselves alive in a widening challenge to Chinese rule. Continued on page 4

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March 31-April 6, 2012

Now Open Day for distressed NRIs

By Jinal Shah/SATimes New York: Come April, the Indian embassy in New York will hold an Open Day for addressing the grievances of Indian nationals in distress. The initiative, announced by Amb. Prabhu Dayal, Consul General of India here, on Wednesday will be implemented in all the Indian consulates in US. The primary mission of this initiative is to try to resolve the problems of Indian expatriates on priority basis. Vice Consul (Passport, visa) Subashish Sinha will preside the meeting for two hours every Thursday. Any issue that comes under the purview of the consulate from passport to detentions, from labor issues to domestic violence will be addressed on the Open Day. "This initiative is for NRIs and not Indian Americans (holding US passport) since the latter can approach US authority for their grievances and needs, but the NRIs have their grievances too. As part of our public relations outreach and in extension of our endeavors to reach out to the community Open Day will be held every Thursday 2-4 pm, said Amb. Dayal. The external affairs minister is really keen on starting this initiative globally in all Indian missions. He initiated Passport Adalats; Open Day is in furtherance of this policy. Interestingly, this initiative comes after the recent Norway custody row where Indian Ministry

Upendra Chivukula to run for US Congress

New York: Upendra percent of the vote, but quit in Chivukula, an Indian Ameri2007 when he was elected govercan member of the New Jernor. sey state assembly, plans to "If you look at the Congress, run for US Congress with the there's a 10 percent approval rathope of unseating Republiing," Chivukula, 61, an electrical can Leonard Lance, who is engineer who moved to the US seeking a third term. from India when he was 24, was Chivukula, a 10-year asquoted as saying by nj.com sembly veteran who chairs Chivukula said he wants to run the Telecommunications and "given all the debacles that hapUtilities Committee, is the pened last year because of the NJ Assemblyman state's first and only Indianstalemates in Congress and the Upendra Chivukula American lawmaker. He is lack of focus on how we can come also a former mayor and councilman in out of this recession and create jobs." Franklin Township. "With my background I think I can contribute Though others have tried, so far only two In- to having some discussion and making a difdian Americans have served in the US House of ference," he said. Representatives to date. Dalip Singh Saund Chivukula said he does not know if anyone was the first Asian immigrant to be elected to else is seeking the Democratic nomination to Congress in 1956 from California. He was re- run against Lance. elected to a 2nd and 3rd term, winning over 60 If he wins the nomination, he faces an uphill percent the votes. battle in the November election as the 7th DisLouisiana governor Bobby Jindal was the trict, once competitive, got more friendly for second Indian American elected to Congress in Republicans after a state commission redrew 2004. He secured re-election in 2006 with 88 congressional district lines in December last.

Consul General Prabhu Dayal .

of External Affairs (MEA) first promised to bring back children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, who had lost custody and later retracted from it citing marital issues. This incident raised many questions on the operating principles of the ministry. When asked whether the Norway case prompted the need for such services, Dayal said, I am not in a position to tell that. However there are other situations where Indians are in distress and a wide range of issues. Dayal also announced that the passport services at the embassy will be outsourced just like the Visa, OCI and PIO services starting April 16 this year. He mentioned space constraint as the reason behind outsourcing the services. Due to lack of space we are outsourcing the passport services to VFS global. It will be uniformly implemented across all Indian consulates in US.

Dr. Sudhir Parikh honored by the Knights of Malta

Narayana Murthy among Fortune's 12 'greatest entrepreneurs'

New York: Fortune magazine has named Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy among the 12 "greatest entrepreneurs of our time" alongside Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. The list is topped by Infosys co-founder N.R. Jobs, whom Fortune Narayana Murthy calls "our generation's quintessential entrepreneur. Visionary. Inspiring. Brilliant. Mercurial" while Gates is second for turning "concepts into companies" and changing the "face of business". "The outsourcer" Murthy, who has been ranked tenth, "proved that India could compete with the world by taking on the software development work that had long been the province of the West," the US magazine said. The "visionary founder" of Infosys, has built "one of the largest companies in India, helping to transform that economy and put it on the world stage", it noted citing his lesson that an organization starting from scratch must coalesce around a team of people with an enduring value system. "As one of six co-founders of Infosys and the CEO for 21 years, Murthy helped spark the outsourcing revolution that has brought billions of dollars in wealth into the Indian economy and transformed his country into the world's back office," the magazine said.

INOC, USA Executive Committee reconstituted

New York: George Abraham, the founding General Secretary of Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC) USA, has been appointed as the new President for the term 2012-13. The appointment was made by Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of All India Congress Committee (AICC) New Delhi at the recommendation of INOC members led by its National Vice President Shudh Prakash Singh. Mr. Abraham succeeds Dr. Surinder Malhotra who has been the President for the last 12 years and will now be Chairman Emeritus. Mr. Shudh Jasuja, Vice President of INOC, has been promoted as the Senior Vice President. Chakot Radhakrishnan and Dr. Nagender Rao Mandavaram are appointed Vice Presidents. Kanwal Sra will be the new Treasurer. The other Executive Committee members include Dr. Najma Sultana, Kalathil Varghese, Pam Kwatra, Mohinder Singh Gilzian, Karamjit Singh Dhariwal and Phuman Singh.

Dr. Sudhir Parikh, flanked by Prince Peter of Lemessos, and Princess Alexandra, after being nominated Knight of Ecumenical Order of the Knights of Malta at a ceremony in Philadelphia. New York: Padma Shri and Ellis Island Medal recipient Dr. Sudhir M. Parikh has been nominated as Knight of the Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of the Knights of Malta. The Knighthood ceremony was held on March 17 at the La Salle University in Philadelphia, according to a notification issued by Malta-based Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of the Knights. Dr. Parikh was honored in recognition of his philanthropic contributions that have enabled the Ecumenical Order to undertake humanitarian aid projects.

INOC USAs new National Executive Committee members (from left): Karam Singh Dhaliwal, Phuman Singh, Najma Sultana, Mohinder Singh Gilzian, George Abraham (President), Shudh Parkash Singh (Senior Vice President), Kanwal Sra (Treasurer) and Kalathil Varughese.

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BRICS story Continued from page 1 and Iran can only be found through dialogue," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. The annual meeting also unveiled plans for a BRICS development bank and pressed western countries to cede more voting share in the IMF by this year. The BRICS countries, which constitute 43% of the world's population and over 18% of its GDP, had decided to add more political content to their interactions at their China summit last year. In the Delhi round, Singh and President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, President Hu Jintao of China and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa discussed around 20 subjects of mutual interest. The Delhi declaration warned of the "disastrous consequences" of allowing the Iran stand-off to escalate into a conflict and stressed that the bloodshed in Syria be resolved peacefully. "The situation concerning Iran cannot be allowed to escalate into conflict, the disastrous consequences of which will be in no one's interest. Iran has a crucial role to play for the peaceful development and prosperity of a region of high political and economic relevance," the declaration said. Be it Syria or Iran, the grouping wanted to exert its collective weight to have a greater say in world affairs and on issues having a bearing on all of them. "In future, the BRICS agenda will be a step-by-step transformation of this forum into a strong and powerful organization," Medvedev said. Besides moving forward on the BRICS bank - seen as a possible counterweight to multilateral lenders such as the World Bank - the grouping signed two framework agreements to facilitate inter-banking cooperation Growing at fast clip story Continued from page 1 School Nitin Nohria, to Permanent Representative of India to the UN Hardeep Puri. Prashant Bhushan, a core committee Consultant - Media Alliances Bhrigu Pankaj Prashar C: 516.303.4002 Bhrigu@TheSouthAsianTimes.info member of India Against Corruption, shared his views on the tension between political accountability and autonomy in India. The Conference also showcased a preview of the 3D version of the iconic Sholay for the first time in America Leaked letter story Continued from page 1 tioned the Indian Army's fighting capability. According to reports, Singh's letter, written March 12, states that army tanks have run out of ammunition. The letter emphasizes the need to bridge the shortcomings and bring the army to a fighting level. The leakage of the letter has shocked the nation, with the political clamor seeking the immediate sacking of the army chief, who retires on May 31, increasing by the day. Political parties demanded he be sacked following reports that he had sought a CBI probe on graft allegations against a serving officer based on a letter written by the Trinamool Congress MP. Tibet on fire story Continued from page 1 The series of suicide-protests are unprecedented. They have embarrassed Beijing and are testing Chinese policies across the Tibetan plateau. The fire has spread to India, Jamphel Yeshi, 27, died after setting himself on fire in New Delhi on March 26 to protest against Chinese President Hu Jintao's India visit. He burned himself in front of hundreds of people, during the protest largely by Tibetans, and shocking images of Yeshi on fire angered Tibetan exiles in India but also those around the world. Yeshi left a letter urging his fellow Tibetans to fight for their rights. "The fact that Tibetan people are setting themselves on fire in this 21st century is to let the world know about their suffering," the letter stated. Beijing sees Tibetans self-immolations as part of a decades-long campaign by the Dalai Lama to carve Tibet away from China. Photographs: Gunjesh Desai/ masalajunction.com. Xitij Joshi/xitijphoto.com Photo Journalist: Parveen/Bhanu Seth Chief Cartoonist: Mahendra P. Shah Art and Design: Vladimir Tomovski Bhagwati Multimedia, Rahul Sahota Web Editor: B.B.Chopra News Service: HT Media Ltd. IANS Newswire Services Printing: Five Star Printing, NY Richner Publications Contacts Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Subscribe@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Advertisements Advertise@TheSouthAsianTimes.info P : 516.390.7847 F : 516.465.1343

March 31-April 6, 2012

Dalai Lama wins $1.7 Million Templeton Prize

Washington: The Dalai Lama has won the Templeton Prize for exceptional contribution to "affirming life's spiritual dimension by spreading his message of compassion worldwide". Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, the exiled leader of six million Tibetan Buddhists, a philosopher-scientist, an author, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, received the honor Thursday, the Christian Science Monitor reported. The Prize is a monetary award of about $1.7 million. The award has been given to other high-profile religious leaders in the past, such as Mother Teresa and the Rev. Billy Graham. In its announcement of the award, the foundation noted how the Dalai Lama has focused on the connections between the investigative traditions of science and Buddhism "as a way to better understand and advance what both disciplines might offer the world".

SAT and ACT to tighten rules after cheating scandal in Long Island
New York: Stung by a cheating scandal involving dozens of Long Island high school students, the SAT and ACT college entrance exams will now require students to provide a photograph when they sign up for the exams, and officials will check those images against the identification the students present when they take the test. The new rules were part of a broad set of changes announced last week in the aftermath of the cheating cases, in which highscoring students used fake IDs to take the SAT or ACT for other students. The revelations had proved embarrassing for the testing services, on which virtually every American college relies in making admissions decisions. The changes will be applied nationwide, and will take effect in the fall, said Kathleen M. Rice, the district attorney in Nassau County. Her office charged 20 teenagers from five high schools last fall; 5 of the students were accused of taking tests for others and 15 were accused of paying them $500 to $3,600 to take the tests. Ms. Rice said up to 50 students might have been involved. The changes, Ms. Rice said, send a message to students who might consider cheating. They will be caught, and they will be held accountable, she said. The old system did not ensure that. The photograph that students will be required to upload, or mail in, will be printed on their admission tickets and the roster at the test center. That will allow test proctors to compare the photo with the identification presented on test day, as well as with the students actual face.

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March 31-April 6, 2012

NY Governors office honors Shabana Azmi for commitment to arts

New York: New York State Governor Andrew Cuomos Office for Motion Picture and Television Development honored Indian actor and activist Shabana Azmi with a proclamation March 23 for her commitment to the arts and contributions to New York Citys film industry. Hosted by the Indo-American Arts Council, the event kicked off the 12th annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), held from May 23 to 27 at Tribeca Cinemas in Manhattan. Azmi, who is an advisory board member of the festival, said we have proven ourselves as a legitimate and successful festival year after year, and the fact that we are still struggling to find sustained funding is surprising. "Shabana Azmi's talent has garnered international acclaim, helping to shape the Indian film industry and build awareness of Indian cinema in North America," said New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development Executive Director Pat Kaufman. "We applaud the NYIFF for honoring Azmi's achievements, both on and off screen, and are pleased to celebrate her success, especially as we prepare to host the Indo-American Arts Council's 12th Annual New York Indian Film Festival in lower Manhattan this spring." "Shabana has been a friend and Advisory Board member of the IAAC since its inception, using her talent, activism and energy to help NYIFF stay the course of true, Independent and Diaspora cinema, said Indo-American Arts Council Founder and Executive Director

A guest, Roger Sengupta of USIN Celebrations, actor and activist Shabana Azmi, Aroon Shivdasani of NYIFF and Pat Kaufman of NY Governors Office (Photo: Vijay Shah of Freelance US Media) Aroon Shivdasani. We are thrilled India and applaud her Proclamation to toast her Padma Bhushan from from the State of New York!"

Women Tabla players take musical tradition of India to new heights

Share and Care to celebrate 30th anniversary

Street children of Ahmedabad slums to perform
Paramus, NJ: Share and Care Foundation (SCF) announced their kickoff program to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Foundation. Ekatva will be performed at 3:30 pm on Sunday, May 20th 2012 at Memorial Auditorium of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Ekatva (Oneness), produced by Manav Sadhana, is a journey of 16 children from the slums of Ahmedabad, Gujarat to the Spirit of Oneness. The heartwarming musical dance-drama is choreographed by world renowned Mallika Sarabhais Darpana Dance Academy. Ekatva children eight boys and eight girls, despite the huge challenges of their slum lives, have worked very hard for the past two years to create a 90 minute dance-drama with the message of love, peace and oneness. The Ekatva Tour takes the children across India, the

A still from Ekatva UK and the USA. Manav Sadhna, located in the Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad was started some 20 years ago by dedicated, young professionals who chose to give up their good life in America to serve the disadvantaged in India. They have spawned some 40 plus projects to benefit the under-served.

Students of Taalim School of Indian Music By Ashok Ojha/SA Times Edison, NJ: Breaking the traditional barriers that discouraged women from becoming Tabla players and confining their art to classical dancing, the students of Edison based Taalim School of Indian Music, mostly young women, mesmerized an audience of music lovers at a church in Highland Park, NJ. It is very difficult to enroll girls in our Tabla classes in India, said Tabla Guru Pandit Divyang Vakil, founder of the school, who especially flew from Ahmedabad to attend the concert. My students have taken the Indian musical tradition to a different level, he said proudly. Associated with strength and aggressive nature of musical resonance, Tabla has primarily been considered a male-dominated instrument. Historically, the art was generally passed on to male members of the family, comments the schools website. However, an increasing number of female aspirants are pursuing their interest in Tabla and several of them are breaking the barriers across the globe. Taalim School of Indian Music is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, said Sejal Kukadia, one of the faculty members and a disciple of Pandit Divyang Vakil. Sejal performed with confidence while encouraging her fellow musicians on the stage. An accomplished Tabla player she authored Tabla Taalim, a study in North Indian Percussion. Her work covers all facets of Tabla, from the ancestral lineage of Gharanas to the rules of composition. Another artist who impressed the audience with her Table performance was a native of South Korea, Jin Won, an acclaimed Kathak dancer and Tabla player. Jin lived in India for 15 years and has performed internationally. A graceful performer she accompanied Sejal in creating a lyrical band of temperamental music during the show. In addition to dancing and playing Tabla, Jin has been credited with being the first Korean to write a Tabla textbook.

NYU Professor Viral Acharya receives prestigious French prize

New York: On March 16, Viral Acharya, C.V. Starr Professor of Economics, received the inaugural 2011 Banque de France-Toulouse School of Economics Junior Prize in Monetary Economics and Finance in Paris, France. Acharya received the Junior Prize, awarded by a jury of nine members from academia and central banking, to two leading economists, one affiliated with a European-based institution and one with an institution based outside of Europe, in the fields of monetary economics and finance under the age of 40. I am delighted and honored to be considered suitable for such a prestigious award from such a distinguished Jury, from a pool I am sure of many equally deserving candidates, and along with Klaus Toulouse School of Economics mentioned the NYU Stern books on the financial crisis co-authored by Acharya, Restoring Financial Stability and Regulating Wall Street, as well as his co-authored book on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Guaranteed to Fail. Receiving the Prize, Acharya explained his ongoing research, which is to understand why and how financial sector regulation gets captured by myopic government agendas and what could be done to mitigate this problem. Acharya conjectured that helping understand government balancesheets and making public finance more transparent could be one of the most important contributions academics could make to finance and markets in the future.

Viral Acharya receiving the prize Adam of the University of Mannheim (other Junior Prize recipient) and Bengt Holmstrom of MIT (the Senior Prize recipient), one of the most influential economists of our times," said Acharya. Presenting the Junior Prize to Acharya, Jean Tirole from the

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

Rajat Gupta wins a key ruling, loses on wiretaps

information that might help his case, but lost a bid to suppress wiretap evidence. US District Judge Jed Rakoff Tuesday ordered the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to turn over memos and notes on interviews of 44 witnesses relating to insider trading charges against Gupta to prosecutors for review. Rakoff, who is presiding over both Guptas criminal case and a parallel suit brought by the SEC said that if prosecutors find evidence that can be used to exonerate Gupta, it must be turned over to the defence team. In a separate filing, prosecutors disclosed additional details about their case against Gupta, who is accused of passing tips to Galleon Group co-founder Raj Rajaratnam about earnings at Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble Co., where Gupta was also a director. Gupta has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial May 21. Rajaratnam, who was convicted last May and is serving an 11-year prison term. Prosecutors also said Guptas friendship and business relationship with Rajaratnam may have motivated him to pass tips to the hedge fund manager. After Gupta lost money in an investment with Rajaratnam, prosecutors said he continued to pass on inside information, hoping to recoup some or all of his losses. Rakoff ruled that the government could use wiretapped conversations at Guptas trial, for the same reason that US District Judge Richard Holwell allowed their use in Rajaratnams trial last year. Gupta offers no arguments different from the arguments Judge Holwell considered in the Rajaratnam case, Rakoff said. He argues instead that Judge Holwells conclusions are in error. The court disagrees. Insider trading cannot often be detected, let along successfully prosecuted, without the aid of wiretaps, he added.

Rajat Gupta New York: Goldman Sachs Groups indicted former director Rajat Gupta has won a court order requiring prosecutors to share

Hindus want Diwali holiday in all 64 SUNY campuses

New Jersey: Hindus are asking for declaring Hindu festival of Diwali as a holiday in all the 64 State University of New York (SUNY) campuses. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada said that in view of considerable number of Hindu students and faculty in SUNY campuses, it would be a step in the right direction for SUNY. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that SUNY should accommodate the religious needs of Hindu students and faculty and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali. We did not want our students to be penalized or put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, class work, etc., by taking a day-off to observe Diwali. No one should be penalized for practicing their religion, Zed added. Rajan Zed urged SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and Board of Trustees Chairman H. Carl McCall to seriously look into declaring Diwali as a SUNY-wide holiday. Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make SUNY students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

New York Daily News launches online section for Indian-Americans

New York: A steadily growing Indian-American population in the New York area has prompted a leading city-based newspaper to launch an editorial section on its website with features on Indian politics, cricket and US-India relations, catering exclusively to the South Asian community. The New York Daily News is the largest and most widely-read newspaper in the New York City metropolitan area. Its website NYDailyNews.com, the fifth largest newspaper website in the US, has unveiled a new Desi News section, which will feature content from Indian politics, entertainment, cricket to news on US-India relations from leading international publishers for the South Asian community in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as well as across the country. The New York metropolitan area has seen a growing interest in news from an American perspective about India, Bangladesh and the surrounding Pan-Asian areas as that community thrives throughout New York and New Jersey, as well as across the country, said Steve Lynas, Senior Vice President of Daily News Digital. NYDailyNews. com has recognized the need to provide interesting content to this growing, sophisticated, and educated Asian-Indian audience. The Daily News has partnered with NewsCred, a platform that connects brands and publishers with the worlds leading journalism. The Desi News section will utilize NewsCreds SmartPress technology to deliver customized content on various Indian topics and content.The New York Daily News was founded in 1919 and has won 10 Pulitzer Prize Awards for excellence in journalism.Americas leading daily the New York Times had last year launched a blog India Ink, which features India-specific news and commentary.

Edison student wins Eagle Scout award

New Jersey: Kishan Bhatt, a student at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, N.J., received his Eagle Scout award recently after completing a service project. The Eagle Scout award is the top honor in Boy Scouting. Bhatt led a team of 64 volunteers and raised $2,500 to build a garden at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Edison, The Star-Ledger reported. The garden has several types of flowering plants including boxwood, juniper, lilac and day lilies, as well as a rock border and a stone path.It is in memory of Principal Daniel Donnelly who died in 2010. Bhatt was reportedly inspired by the words his former principal had penned in his eighth-grade yearbook: "As you go through your education, continue to do great things."

Indian American Forum honors outstanding women at gala

Long Island, NY: Indian American Forum Inc organized Womens Achievement Gala on March 22 at Stuart Thomas Manor in Farmingdale, Long Island. A large number of successful, whos who of South Asian community showed up to witness some of the highly successful and equally beautiful ladies come on stage to accept Outstanding Womens Achievement Awards. One of the leading community leaders and most vocal voice of community, Indu Jaiswal Chairperson of Indian American Forum Inc. was the brain behind these awards. Being first of its kind awards for the South Asian Women, these awards were initiated for the first time under Indu Jaiswals guidance. The Gala was hosted as part of Womens History Month Celebration honoring the Women of Long Island for their achievements spoke about the importance of women at the event, Todays women are playing several roles of being a professional, housewife, a mother, a sister and of course a true friend. Across the globe, we have numerous examples of women currently holding highest positions in all aspects of business environment including but not limiting to healthcare, media, politics, corporate and finance. Jaiswal congratulated all the honorees and applauded the hard work, dedication and commitment of the coordinators of the Indian American Forum and its board members. The Indian American Forum Inc. recognizes the contributions made by distinguished members of the Indian American community in the Tristate area. The dedication, fortitude and compassion of their distinguished members have been an inspiration to our community.

(From left) Indu Jaiswal with honorees Sangeet Sharma, a guest (Jaya Bahadkar), Lavin Melwani, Chanbir Kaur, Satya Pradeep, and Manmeet Lamba and contributions. The honorees for the event were: Manmeet Lamba for Community Services; Lavina Melwani for being Outstanding Journalist; Sangeet Sharma for Business Entrepreneurship; Chanbir Kaur Vice President, Community National Bank; Satya Pradeep Classical Bharat Natyam Dance Instructor Jaiswal, the Chairperson of the Indian American Forum,

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March 31-April 6, 2012

6 MIT scientists address EmTech India in Bangalore

Washington, DC: Six outstanding scientists and researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including two Indian Americans, participated in the fourth emerging technologies conference of MIT Technology Review's EmTech India in Bangalore. The conference saw over 500 innovators getting an insight into the work being done in digital transformation; network designs in the social world and the innovation ecosystem and how it can impact society. Three MIT scientists, George Westerman, MIT Centre for Digital Business; Marie-Jose Montpetit, MIT Research Lab of Electronics; and Shiladitya Sengupta, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology delivered keynote addresses on the first day. On day 2, Brian Anthony, MIT's Engineering in Manufacturing Program, Rahul Sarpeshkar, MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Joseph Paradiso, MIT Media Laboratory spoke on concepts and interplay between medical imaging, manufacturing inspection and video analytics; energy efficient systems in biology, engineering and medicine and the emerging nervous system of ubiquitous sensing. The US-based Director of GE's global research Mark M Little, who leads a team of nearly 3000 GE researchers working with GE business ranging from aviation to energy and healthcare to electronics, delivered the inaugural address. For a nation of a billion cricket fans, the organizers--MIT's Technology Review--have appropriately dedicated a session to 'Technology in Cricket'. Here Siddharth Khullar, a doctoral candidate in imaging science from Rochester Institute of Technology, MIT Media Lab along with College of Engineering Pune student Chinmaya Joshi come face to face to show case some of the new advances that hope to take away all the controversies and appeals in the field of international cricket. Twenty innovators from Technology Review's India TR35 list of technologists under the age of 35 also presented their innovations at the Emerging Technologies conference.

India takes up visa rejection issue with US

New Delhi: India Monday expressed concern over the rise in rejection of US visa to its professionals, and asked American authorities not to resort to such protectionist tendencies. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma took up the visa rejection issue during his meeting with US Commerce Secretary John Bryson here. "All issues of concern from both the sides were raised, particularly from our side the movement of professionals," Sharma told reporters after the bilateral meeting. Bryson, accompanied by representatives from 16 US infrastructure firms and senior government officials, is on a six-day official visit to India. This is Bryson's first visit to India as commerce secretary. Sharma said India was concerned over the high rejection of visa application by the US authorities.

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma with US Commerce Secretary John Bryson in New Delhi
"There have been concerns over the high rate of rejection. Last year visas declined by 28 percent. We had a very frank discussion, including some of the issues on which US has concerns," Sharma said. The commerce and industry minister said India was concerned over the rejection of visas in both H1B and L1 categories. H1B is work permit for temporary workers, while L1 visa refers to intra-company transfer. It allows companies to relocate qualified employees to US offices. Rate of rejection of visa application of Indian professional in L1 category rose to 28 percent in 2011 as compared to 2.8 percent in 2008. There was a sharp increase in rejection in H1B category as well.

Educational failure threatens US global leadership, says report

Washington, DC: The failure of the United States to educate its students leaves them unprepared to compete and threatens the country's ability to thrive in a global economy and maintain its leadership role, says a report by a leading think tank. "Educational failure puts the United States' future economic prosperity, global position, and physical safety at risk," warns an Independent Task Force report on US Education Reform and National Security, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a leading think tank. The United States "will not be able to keep pace - much less lead globally unless it moves to fix the problems it has allowed to fester for too long," argues the Task Force, chaired by Joel I. Klein, former head of New York City public schools, and Condoleezza Rice, former US secretary of state. The report notes that while the United States invests more in K-12 (Kindergarten to class 12) public education than many other developed countries, its students are ill prepared to compete with their global peers. The lack of preparedness poses threats on five national security fronts: economic growth and competitiveness, physical safety, intellectual property, US global awareness, and US unity and cohesion, says the report. Too many young people are not employable in an increasingly high-skilled and global economy, and too many are not qualified to join the military because they are physically unfit, have criminal records, or have an inadequate level of education. "Human capital will determine power in the current century, and the failure to produce that capital will undermine America's security," the report states. "Large, undereducated swaths of the population damage the ability of the United States to physically defend itself, protect its secure information, conduct diplomacy, and grow its economy."

New paradigm tour to visit 10 North American cities

To focus on Veda and Ramayana as blueprints of entire universe
New York: A team of leading scientists, artists and business leaders will tour 10 North American cities this spring, delivering a series of cutting-edge presentations entitled A New Paradigm: Veda, Consciousness, The Ramayana, and the Self. The tour includes visits to San Diego, San Francisco, Vancouver, Fairfield--Iowa, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. The event will explore the meeting point of science and spirituality by presenting pioneering research that reveals the Veda and the Ramayana as blueprints of our body and the entire universe. Extensive research on these breakthrough discoveries has also documented collective benefits for society, including the potential for creating world peace. The event will feature a live video presentation of a 1,000 Vedic Pandits in Fairfield, Iowa, chanting the Veda. Media icon, Oprah Winfrey, visited Fairfield, Iowa and nearby Maharishi Vedic City last fall and reported on her experiences in her latest broadcast March 25.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

Yale University brings Hindi debating to America

Washington, DC: Students from America's top universities like Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia are all set for a debate on the theme of "Higher education is not worth it" -- in Hindi! The fourth edition of the Yale Hindi Debate that has grown into a national event since its start in 2008 as an internal Yale competition will have two rounds; a preliminary on March 30 and the final one on the Yale University campus on April 6. A platform for students to debate issues of social, economic, and political relevance, the debate also witnesses participation of students and faculty from Pennsylvania, New York, Cornell, Wellesley, California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Welseyan, and Texas universities. The annual Yale Hindi Debate was conceptualized and founded by Nikhil Sud, a 2006 graduate of St. Columba's School in New Delhi and a 2010 graduate of Yale College who is now studying at the Yale Law School, regarded as the top law school in

On trade mission, Secretary Bryson focuses on U.S.-Indian business partnerships

Washington, DC: U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson led his 16-business trade delegation to Jaipur on March 28 to see first-hand the vast business opportunities available in Indias rapidly expanding infrastructure sector and to promote bilateral cooperation on innovation, a key theme of U.S.-Indian relations. Bryson is the first U.S. Commerce Secretary to visit Jaipur. Secretary Bryson and the delegation met with senior Rajasthan state government officials and business leaders to explore how U.S. technology and products can support Rajasthans infrastructure development goals. Bryson said he is confident that trade between the U.S. and Rajasthan will grow substantially as a result of this mission. Together, we can bring unprecedented growth inclusive growth to areas and groups that may not have benefited in the past, said Bryson. I believe we have reached a point where we must expand our partnership to include more regions throughout India especially fast-growing areas like Jaipur and Rajasthan to help further broaden and deepen our trade and investment relationship." He also gave remarks before a group of Rajasthan industry representatives, where he discussed trade and investment opportunities that benefit both the United States and India. Bryson said the bilateral investment relationship between the U.S. and India is stronger than ever. U.S. direct investment in India is now over $27 billion across a wide range of sectors including services, manufacturing, information and technology. At the same time, India is a fast-growing source of foreign direct investment into the United States. Indian companies employ tens of thousands of American workers in professional, technical, and scientific services as well as other industries. Bryson welcomed this development. America has world-class universities, cutting-edge R&D, deep supply chains, a strong patent system, and a talented workforce. The 16 U.S. businesses with me can connect Rajasthans businesses with the tools to meet their growing infrastructure needs, said Bryson. Earlier in the day, Bryson and the delegation toured Jaipur Foot and Mahindra World City, Jaipur, to learn how they can partner with Indian companies to provide their equipment, services and technologies to help the region achieve its development goals. At Jaipur Foot, a manufacturer of a polymer-based prosthetic device for below-the-knee amputations, Bryson spotlighted the partnership between the two countries in successfully applying innovative technologies for prosthesis manufacturing. U.S. research institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Commerce Secretary John Bryson

(MIT) and Stanford University are assisting in the commercialization of some of the technologies. At Mahindra World City, senior Mahindra Group officials gave a tour and outlined the many opportunities for U.S. and Indian companies to collaborate on infrastructure projects. Mahindra World City, a joint economic venture between Mahindra and the government of Rajasthan, is planned as an integrated business city spread over 3,000 acres. Same night, Secretary Bryson traveled to Mumbai for the final leg of the trade mission. On March 29, he toured the Mumbai International Airport and meet with airport management. Also that day, Bryson delivered remarks about the growing importance of the U.S.-India bilateral investment relationship before the Confederation of Indian Industry and the newly-formed U.S.-India Investors Forum. On Friday, the Secretary announced the inauguration of the Executive Committee members of the VISIT USA Committee India (VUSACOM), which is a group started with support of the U.S. Commercial Service that aims to promote travel by Indian citizens to the U.S. Secretary Brysons trade mission to India began March 25 in New Delhi and wrapped up Friday, March 30, in Mumbai.

the US. He was encouraged and guided by Seema Khurana, senior lector for Hindi and South Asian Studies at Yale University. The Yale Hindi Debate has truly emerged as one of the most significant efforts of the Yale India Initiative and the growth of South Asian studies in the US. This is reflected in the remarkable diversity of the participants. Debaters are not only native Hindi speakers. There are also a striking number of non-native heritage speakers, and nonnative non-heritage speakers. Topics from past years include (translations): "Patriotism is No Longer Relevant" (2009), "Religion is More Divisive than Unifying" (2010), and "Marriage is a Dying Institution" (2011).

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

Canadian Sikhs show solidarity with Rajoana

Washington, DC: Over 5,000 Canadian Sikhs gathered at Parliament Hill in Ottawa to show solidarity with Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is on death row in India for the 1995 assassination of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. The Kesari Nishan Rally was held Wednesday to implore Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to leverage Canada's position in the world and its relationship with India to seek a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in India, according to US based community group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which co-organiZed the rally. A memorandum was also handed over to members of parliament asking Government of Canada to intervene on behalf of Canadian Sikhs and impress upon India to follow a 2008 UN Resolution and abolish the death penalty, it said. Several members of the Canadian Parliament attended the rally and joined Sikhs in demanding that India abolish the death penalty, SFJ said. "As Canadian Sikhs we are united in our opposition to India's ongoing use of the death penalty despite ongoing international pressure including UN resolution 62-149," SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said.Following the Canadian tradition of respect for the sanctity of human life, Canadian Sikhs strongly oppose the use of the outdated and barbaric death penalty, he said. The rally was organized by Sikh for Justice (SFJ), Ontario Gurudwara and Sikh Council (OGSC) and Ontario Gurudwara Committee (OGC). The execution of Rajoana, scheduled for Saturday, has since been stayed by the Indian government.

Srilata Zaheer named Dean of University of Minnesotas B-School

Washington, DC: Dr. Srilata A. Zaheer was named dean of the University of Minnesotas Carlson School of Management Mar. 8, according to an announcement by the universitys Provost Karen Hanson. Dean-designate Zaheer is a rare combination of someone who is renowned for her insights on international business, highly regarded for her understanding of the global and local businesses that drive the Minnesota economy, and acutely aware of the needs of the Carlson School as it continues to educate the worlds current and future business leaders, Hanson said in a press release. Zaheers work as interim dean during the past nine months, which included strengthening business partnerships, developing innovative business and research practices, and a commitment to diversity, makes her appointment consistent with university president Eric W. Kalers other recent appointments, and with the Carlson Schools mission, added Hanson. Zaheer, the Elmer L. Andersen Chair in Global Corporate Social Responsibility, joined the Carlson School in 1991 and most recently

Srilata Zaheer held the position of associate dean of faculty and research prior to her appointment to interim dean in June 2011. She earned a Ph.D. in international management from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a masters in business from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. Zaheer, whose research has centered around the risks faced by multinational corporations and on the impact of technology on international location and organization, has won several international awards for her research, including the Eldridge Haynes Award for the best interdisciplinary work in international management. The Indian American professor was named a 2007 Fellow of the Academy of International Business, the highest honor in the field and was a consulting editor of the Journal of International Business Studies. She is a founding member of the International Academic Council of the Indian School of Business, set up by McKinsey, Kellogg, and Wharton in Hyderabad. Zaheer also served as co-director of the Center for Integrative Leadership at the University of Minnesota.

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US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

Perspective From Texas to Dakota, oil and gas industry is vastly increasing production, reversing two decades of decline.

US fuels self-reliance dream

By Clifford Krauss and Eric Lipton he desolate stretch of West Texas desert known as the Permian Basin is still the lonely domain of scurrying roadrunners by day and howling coyotes by night. But the roar of scores of new oil rigs and the distinctive acrid fumes of drilling equipment are unmistakable signs that crude is gushing again. And not just here. Across the country, the oil and gas industry is vastly increasing production, reversing two decades of decline. Using new technology and spurred by rising oil prices since the mid-2000s, the industry is extracting millions of barrels more a week, from the deepest waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the prairies of North Dakota. At the same time, Americans are pumping significantly less gasoline. While that is partly a result of the recession and higher gasoline prices, people are also driving fewer miles and replacing older cars with more fuel-efficient vehicles at a greater clip, federal data show. Taken together, the increasing production and declining consumption have unexpectedly brought the United States markedly closer to a goal that has tantalized presidents since Richard Nixon: independence from foreign energy sources, a milestone that could reconfigure American foreign policy, the economy and more. In 2011, the country imported just 45 percent of the liquid fuels it used, down from a record high of 60 percent in 2005. "There is no question that many national security policy makers will believe they have much more flexibility and will think about the world differently if the United States is importing a lot less oil," said Michael A. Levi, an energy and environmental senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "For decades, consumption rose, production fell and imports increased, and now every one of those trends is going

the other way." How the country made this turnabout is a story of industryfriendly policies started by President Bush and largely continued by President Obama many over the objections of environmental advocates - as well as technological advances that have allowed the extraction of oil and gas once considered too difficult

Africa, the political standoff with Iran and rising demand from a recovering world economy all are contributing to the current spike in global oil prices, offsetting the impact of the increased domestic supply. But the domestic trends are unmistakable. Not only has the US reduced oil imports from members of the Organization of

Americans are now pumping significantly less gasoline. While that is partly a result of the recession and higher gasoline prices, people are also driving fewer miles and replacing older cars with more fuel-efficient vehicles at a greater clip
and too expensive to reach. But mainly it is a story of the complex economics of energy, which sometimes seems to operate by its own rules of supply and demand. With gasoline prices now approaching record highs and politicians mud-wrestling about the causes and solutions, the effects of the longer-term rise in production can be difficult to see. Simple economics suggests that if the nation is producing more energy, prices should be falling. But crude oil - and gasoline and diesel made from it - are global commodities whose prices are affected by factors around the world. Supply disruptions in the Petroleum Exporting Countries by more than 20% in the last three years, it has become a net exporter of refined petroleum products like gasoline for the first time since the Truman presidency. The natural gas industry, which less than a decade ago feared running out of domestic gas, is suddenly dealing with a glut so vast that import facilities are applying for licenses to export gas to Europe and Asia. National oil production, which declined steadily to 4.95 million barrels a day in 2008 from 9.6 million in 1970, has risen over the last four years to nearly 5.7 million barrels a day. The Energy Department projects that daily

output could reach nearly seven million barrels by 2020. Some experts think it could eventually hit 10 million barrels - which would put the US in the same league as Saudi Arabia. This surge is hardly without consequences. Some areas of intense drilling activity, including northeastern Utah and central Wyoming, have experienced air quality problems. The drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which uses highly pressurized water, sand and chemical lubricants that help force more oil and gas from rock formations, has also been blamed for wastewater problems. Wildlife experts also warn that expanded drilling is threatening habitats of rare or endangered species. Greater energy independence is "a prize that has long been eyed by oil insiders and policy strategists that can bring many economic and national security benefits," said Jay Hakes, a senior official at the Energy Department during the Clinton administration. "But we will have to work through the environmental issues, which are a definite challenge." The increased production of fossil fuels is a far cry from the energy plans President Obama articulated as a candidate in 2008. Then, he promoted policies to help combat global warming, including vast investments in renewable energy and a cap-andtrade system for carbon emissions that would have discouraged the use of fossil fuels. More recently, with gasoline prices rising and another election looming, Obama has struck a different chord. He has opened new federal lands and waters to drilling, trumpeted increases in oil and gas production and deemphasized the challenges of climate change. The foundation is laid For as long as roughnecks have worked the Permian Basin - made famous during World War II as the fuel pump that powered the Allies - they have mostly focused

on relatively shallow zones of easily accessible, oil-soaked sandstone and silt. But after 80 years of pumping, those regions were running dry. So in 2003, Jim Henry, a West Texas oilman, tried a bold experiment. Borrowing an idea from a fellow engineer, his team at Henry Petroleum drilled deep into a hard limestone formation using a refinement of fracking. By blasting millions of gallons of water into the limestone, they created tiny fissures that allowed oil to break free, a technique that had previously been successful in extracting gas from shale. The test produced 150 barrels of oil a day, three times more than normal. "We knew we had the biggest discovery in over 50 years in the Permian Basin," Mr. Henry recalled. The measures primed the pump for the burst in drilling that began once oil prices started rising sharply in 2005 and 2006. With the world economy humming and China, India and other developing nations posting astonishing growth - demand for oil began outpacing the easily accessible supplies. An American oil boom The last time the Permian Basin oil fields enjoyed a boom - nearly three decades ago - Rolls-Royce opened a showroom in the desert, Champagne was poured from cowboy boots, and the local airport could not accommodate all the Learjets taking off for Las Vegas on weekends. A turn toward efficiency As Americans replace their older cars - they have bought an average of 1.25 million new cars and light trucks a month this year - new technologies mean they usually end up with a more efficient vehicle, even if they buy a model of similar size and power. Longer-term social and economic factors are also reducing miles driven - like the rise in Internet shopping and telecommuting and the tendency of baby boomers to drive less as they age.

US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info

11

March 31-April 6, 2012

Airlines captain gives mid-air scare to passengers

Washington: Passengers in an American airliner had to wrestle an off-duty pilot to the floor when he started running around the packed jet shouting -- "We're all going down - say your prayers". The Las Vegas-bound 135passenger Airbus A320 plane of JetBlue Airways from New York was diverted and forced into an emergency landing in a Texas city. The CEO of JetBlue Airways said Wednesday he has known the captain of the flight that made an emergency landing Tuesday for "a long time" -- and that the man has always been a "consummate professional", the CNN reported. According to the Sun, Captain Clayton Osborn had been locked out of the cockpit by a co-pilot concerned about his erratic behavior when he left to use the bathroom. After his outburst, a flight attendant appealed for help. Passengers leapt out of their seats and grabbed the captain before pinning him to the floor for 15 minutes. Before being restrained, Osborn shouted about "bombs" and "Al-Qaeda", the British daily Sun reported. Airline JetBlue later described the incident as a "medical situation involving the captain". The pilot was removed and taken to a medical facility, it said. "We're still investigating," said Lydia Maese, an FBI spokeswoman.

Supreme Court may cut Insurance Mandate from healthcare law

Washington: Liberal justices on the US Supreme Court have shown their willingness to throw out key parts of President Obama's health care law if their conservative colleagues strike down its mandate that Americans get medical insurance or pay a fine. Several on the court appeared to accept the Obama administration's argument that at least two key insurance changes are so intertwined with the "individual mandate" that those couldn't withstand its removal -- requiring insurers to cover people regardless of existing medical problems and limiting how much can be charged in premiums based on a person's age or health. But It wasn't clear from Wednesday's oral arguments if other, less crucial pieces of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act might stand even if the insurance-purchase mandate is ruled unconstitutional. The mandate, which would subject non-participants to a fine, is the most disputed piece of the 2010 law. In their questions Wednesday, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer took issue with Paul Clement, the lawyer representing 26 states seeking to have the law struck down in its entirety. "What's wrong with leaving this in the hands of those who should be fixing this?" asked Sotomayor, an Obama nominee to the court, referring to Congress. Chief Justice John Roberts also spoke about parts of the law that "have nothing to do with any of the things we are" talking about. This was the third and last day of the Supreme Courts historic hearing on the constitutionality of Obama's signature healthcare reform, which greatly expands Americans' access to health insurance. The courts verdict is expected in June in the thick of election campaign for the November 2012 presidential and Congressional elections.

An artists view of the Supreme Court hearing of the challenge to the Obamacare case. His closest rival, Rick Santorum, Republicans have vowed to repeal the law if they come to power with appeared outside the court after the front-runner Republican presi- Monday's hearing to say that dential candidate Mitt Romney call- "Obamacare" should be the central ing it an "unfolding disaster for the issue of the forthcoming election American economy". campaign.

Earth's deepest spot is desolate, lunar-like: Cameron

Washington: The Mariana Trench's Challenger Deepthe deepest point on Earthlooks as bleak and barren as the moon, according to James Cameron, who successfully returned Monday from the first solo dive to the ocean abyss, reported the National Geographic. The explorer and filmmaker's "vertical torpedo" sub broke the surface of the western Pacific, some 200 miles southwest of Guam. After a descent that took roughly two and a half hours, Cameron spent about three hours conducting the first manned scientific exploration of Challenger Deep. For his return trip, Cameron experienced a faster-than-expected, roughly 70-minute ascent, which he described as a "heckuva ride." The expedition was designed so that Cameron could spend up to six hours collecting samples and video at the bottom of the trench. But his mission was cut short due in part to a hydraulic fluid leak that coated the window of the sub's "pilot sphere," obscuring his view. "I lost hydraulics toward the latter part of dive, and I was unable to use the manipulator arm," Cameron said later at a press conference. Considering the daunting task of sending humans into the deep, such technical glitches are to be expected, Cameron emphasized: "It's a prototype vehicle, so it's gonna take time to iron out the bugs. And although he wasn't able to capture as many samples on this first dive as science teams might have been hoping for, "that just means I gotta go back and get some more," said Cameron, also a National Geographic Society explorer-in-residence.

Titanic and Avatar filmmaker James Cameron emerging from his custom-designed submersible, the Deepsea Challenger, after the expedition.

Two hate crimes?

Iraqi immigrants in Calif. town Black teenagers alleged killer still at large Washington: The death of been that he was doing exactly that: Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black defending against an assault by fear the worst in a killing
El Cajon, Calif.: A 32-year-old woman from Iraq who was found severely beaten next to a threatening note saying "go back to your country" died on Saturday. Hanif Mohebi, the director of the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said "The family is in shock. They're still trying to deal with what happened." Alawadi, a mother of five, had been hospitalized since her 17-year-old daughter found her unconscious Wednesday in the family's house in El Cajon, police Lt. Steve Shakowski said. The daughter, Fatima Al Himidi, told KUSI-TV her mother had been beaten on the head repeatedly with a tire iron, and that the note said "go back to your country, you terrorist." Police said the family had found a similar note earlier this month but did not report it to authorities. Al Himidi told KGTV-TV her mother dismissed the first note, found outside the home, as a child's prank. Alawadi used to wear the traditional hijab, a head scarf. The police caution against jumping to conclusions, saying they are still trying to determine whether she was targeted because of her religion or ethnicity, calling that just one possibility. At this point, we are not calling it a hate crime, said Lt. Mark Coit of the El Cajon police. We havent made that determination. We are calling it an isolated incident, because we dont have any evidence of anything similar going on at this point. Whatever the police eventually determine, the crime has shattered the sense of security for Iraqi immigrants in El Cajon, exposing cultural tensions and distrust that have often simmered just below the surface since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

teenager shot in Florida last Martin. In his version of events, month, has riveted the nation and Martin knocked him down, then stradcaptured much of the online condled him and pounded his head on the versation in recent weeks. ground. He did not have an opportuniPoster at a hoodies But why didnt the Sanford, Fla., ty to retreat, he told police. march in support of police arrest George Zimmerman This does not mean Zimmerman is Trayvon Martin after he shot Trayvon Martin Feb. innocent, of course. Since the shooting 26? The investigator, Chris Serino, was uncon- other evidence has come to light, such as the vinced by Zimmermans assertion that he resorted assertion by Martins girl friend that during a cell to deadly force in self-defense, according to ABC phone call he told her he was being followed and News. But his superiors were apparently uncon- was trying to escape. The Sanford police could vinced by Serinos reasoning. They did not take have botched their initial investigation. Zimmerman into custody because of two words: According to CBS News, police interviewed six probable cause. witnesses in the days following the attack. The Sanford police said this is why they did Nobody said they had seen the beginning of the not arrest Zimmerman: they did not have probable altercation. None said they saw the shot that cause to believe that he had broken the law, ended it. Martins family has asserted that race writes legal analyst Dave Kopel. overlies the case and that if the situation had been Florida Stand Your Ground law would have reversed, and a black teen had pulled the trigger, been legally irrelevant to this determination, the teen would have been arrested that night. according to Kopel. Florida has other statutes that They made this point in a brief appearance allow the use of force against a criminal attack, as Tuesday at a forum organized by congressional do virtually all states. Zimmermans story has Democrats on racial profiling and hate crimes

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India TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

BRICS sign two currency pacts, to set up joint bank

New Delhi: The BRICS grouping of five emerging economic powerhouses - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - Thursday signed two pacts to spur trade in their local currencies and agreed on a joint working group to set up a development bank that will raise their economic weight globally. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and South African President Jacob Zuma concluded their fourth BRICS summit by renewing the pitch for reforming global governance and closer coordination on global issues. The development banks of the five countries signed a master agreement on extending credit facilities in the local currency and the BRICS multilateral letter of credit confirmation facility agreement in the presence of their leaders at the Taj Palace Hotel here. tions among BRICS nations, and thereby help reducing the transaction costs of intra-BRICS trade. The confirmation facility pact envisages confirmation of lines of credit on receipt of a request from the exporter, the exporter's bank or the importer's bank. The pacts are expected to scale up intra-BRICS trade which has been growing at the rate of 28 percent over the last few years, but at $230 billion, it remains much below the potential of the five economic powerhouses. BRICS has set a target of $500 billion by 2015. The pacts were finalized after a meeting of trade ministers of the five countries Wednesday. In an important step that promises to integrate the BRICS economies closely, the five countries considered the possibility of setting up a new development bank. The bank is being envisaged to mobilize "resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, to supplement the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development", said the BRICS' Delhi Declaration. The leaders directed their finance ministers "to examine the feasibility and viability of such an initiative, set up a joint working group for further study, and report back to us by the next summit", said the declaration. The BRICS report on synergies and complementarities between the economies of the five countries, a reference guide for promoting trade and investment, was also released in the presence of the leaders. The report has been prepared by a multinational group of experts led by Kaushik Basu, chief economic adviser to the Indian finance ministry.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa signed two pacts to spur trade and agreed to set up a development bank to raise their economic weight globally. The participating banks include Economic Affairs of Russia, China the Export Import Bank of India, Development Bank and Banco Nacional de Development Bank of South Desenvolimento Economico e Africa. Social (BNDES) of Brazil, State The master agreement is aimed Corporation Bank for at reducing the demand for fully Development and Foreign convertible currencies for transac-

BRICS Summit - Facts at a glance

he theme of the summit is "BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity." A factfile on BRICS: * BRICS comprises five major emerging economies of the world - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. * BRICS traces its origin to the BRIC acronym coined by

Goldman Sachs economist Jim O' Neill in a paper entitled "The World Needs Better Economic BRICs," based an economic modeling exercise to forecast global economic trends over the next half century. O' Neill predicted that Brazil, Russia, India and China will become major economic powers over the next few decades. He had little

inkling it will evolve into an influential multilateral grouping. * From BRIC to BRICS: BRIC became BRICS after South Africa, Africa's economic powerhouse, was invited to attend the third BRICS Summit in Sanya on April 14, 2011. * BRICS accounts for 26 per cent of the world's land-

mass and 42 per cent of the global population, including India and China, two of the world's most populous countries. * BRICS accounts for 40 percent of global GDP ($18.486 trillion) and its proportion is rapidly increasing. Goldman Sachs predicts that "BRIC can become collectively bigger than the G-7 (the

top industrial powers) by 2035". BRICS countries have accounted for over 50 per cent global economic growth in the last decade. * The first BRICS summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia (2009), followed by Brasilia (2010), Sanya, China (2011). New Delhi hosts the 4th BRICS summit March 29, 2012.

Treat leak of letter as high treason: army chief

New Delhi: Rejecting allegations that he had leaked his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an "outraged" army chief General V.K. Singh Thursday said the leak should be treated as "high treason." A statement by the army chief said he was "outraged" that the letter, about the shortage of arms and ammunition in the forces, had been leaked. The source of the leak should be found and punished ruthlessly, V.K. Singh said. "This is an outrage! Official communication with the PM (prime minister), RM (Raksha Mantri or Defence Minister) or anybody for that matter is a privileged information," the army chief said. "The leaking of letter should be be treated as high

All three chiefs enjoy government's confidence: Antony

New Delhi: Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Thursday the chiefs of the three armed forces "enjoyed the confidence" of the government and that there was no embarrassment for him over the recent controversies relating to army chief General V.K. Singh. "All the three defence chief enjoy the government's confidence. All the three defence chiefs are working today," Antony said at a press conference at the venue of the DefExpo defence exposition here. He was asked if army chief Gen. V.K. Singh still enjoyed the trust of the government considering that there were a series of controversies relating to him that had caused much embarrassment. "I am comfortable, and I

Army chief General V.K. Singh. treason. This cynical approach to tar my reputation should be stopped. The source of leak has to be found and dealt with ruthlessly," he said in a statement. Gen. Singh, in his letter to Manmohan Singh, has pointed out a shortage of arms and ammunition in the armed forces. According to reports, the letter, which was written March 12, 2012, states that army tanks have run out of ammunition. The letter emphasises the need to bridge the shortcomings and bring the army to a fighting level.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony. am not in an embarrassing Singh to leakage of his situation," he said, when letter or him forwarding a asked if the army chief's letter from a Trinamool recent actions had Congress MP alleging corruption in defence deals impinged on his authority. Antony said that he will under Dimapur-based 3 not talk of his "personal corps commander Lt. Gen. feelings" on the rows, Dalbir Singh Suhag to the Bureau of beginning with date of birth Central of Gen. Investigation (CBI).

India TheSouthAsianTimes.info

13

March 31-April 6, 2012

Shirdi temple: new trustees appointed

Rajoana hanging stayed, welcomed by Punjab leaders

New Delhi/Chandigarh: The central government stayed the hanging of Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana for the Aug 31, 1995 assassination of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. The execution was scheduled for Saturday. The development was revealed by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal in New Delhi after their meeting with President Pratibha Patil to whom they submitted a petition seeking mercy for Rajoana. The union ministry of home affairs (MHA), in a letter to Punjab's home secretary Wednesday (March 28), stated that the execution of Rajoana is stayed till the apex court's order on the appeal is received or the president decides on the mercy petition for Rajoana filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). "As per the procedure regarding petitions of mercy in death sentence cases, the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana is stayed till the order of the Supreme Court in the matter of Criminal Appeal No. 2277/2011 and 1464/2011 or till the order of the President of India on the said mercy petition, whichever is later," said MHA's joint secretary (judicial) J.L. Chugh said. The Badal father-son duo had told reporters that they have a letter from the central government stay-

The Shirdi temple. Shirdi (Maharashtra): Moving swiftly to meet a court deadline, the Maharashtra government has appointed a new board of trustees for the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) to replace the old set, sacked earlier this month, an official said. The government move to appoint the new board came to stick to the Bombay High Court deadline of March 28 for forming the new body. Veteran Congress member Jayant Sasane, who was chairman in the outgoing board, has made a comeback to the post for another three years, besides two other trustees who have been retained in the 17strong SSST board. The other trustees include Vice Chairman Ghanshyam Shelar, state cabinet minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil as well as Surendra Kharde, Rajendra Pipada, Snehalata Kolhe, Ajit Kadam, Patingrao Shelke, Minnath Pandey, Namdeo Gunjal, Sumitra Kote, Suresh Wadhwa and Vilas Kute. The other three names are likely to be announced shortly, an official from the SSST said. On March 13, the Bombay High Court's Aurangabad Bench sacked the 18 members of the Shirdi-based SSST, jolting the ruling CongressNationalist Congress Party controlled body. The division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice T.V. Nalawade had also warned that unless the government appointed a new committee within 15 days, the court would hand over the SSST management to court-appointed administrators, sending shockwaves in the ruling Democratic Front coalition. The court order came in a public suit filed by social activist Sandeep Kulkarni, who alleged that the SSST managing committee misappropriated funds worth Rs.2 billion, among other things.

Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana is charged with the assassination of Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995. ing the hanging of Rajoana, convicted and sentenced to death by a Chandigarh court. The central government's move comes after a tense build-up in Punjab in the last few days culminating into a bandh (shutdown) across the state Wednesday called by radical Sikh organisations. Chief Minister Badal welcomed the decision to stay Rajoana's execution. "We welcome the decision. We are committed to maintaining peace and law and order at all costs," he said. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh also welcomed the move. "This will go a long way in maintaining peace in the state," Amarinder Singh said in Chandigarh. The stay on Rajoana's execution came on a day when Punjab saw a shutdown to protest the scheduled hanging. The bandh affected life in most parts of Punjab but the man facing death remained defiant. A court in Chandigarh Tuesday directed that the BKI terrorist be hanged Saturday, for the high-profile assassination that took place some two years after a bloody decade-long Sikh separatist campaign was crushed in 1993 after the loss of some 25,000 lives. In New York, Human Rights Watch urged the Indian government not to hang Rajoana, saying it was opposed in principle to capital punishment.

Bangalore costliest Indian city to live in: Survey

Bangalore: Glitzy tech capital Bangalore just earned a new sobriquet - the costliest Indian city. An analysis of the Reserve Bank of India's Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that Bangalore is a couple of notches higher than the all-India cost-of-living average, with financial capital Mumbai just a shade behind. The CPI is a measure of a standard basket of items, including food, clothing and transport, across cities. In the price race, Delhi is comfortably placed very low in the table, deriving its cushion from the subsidies galore it receives from the Centre . Take, for instance, LPG cylinders, which is a must-have in middle-class families .

Facebook offers Rs 1.34 cr package to Indian student

Allahabad: Social networking giant Facebook has hired an engineering student here for a fat annual pay package of Rs 1.34 crore, one of the biggest offers made to alumnus of any technical institution of the country. According to P Chakravarti, Director of the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), a B.Tech student from the institute, who has requested that his name be withheld for "security reasons", received a letter on March 27 from Facebook confirming his appointment and the annual pay package on offer was stated to be USD 262,500 (around Rs 1.34 crore). Interestingly, the MNNIT Director said the recruitment process began with a mail from Facebook "in October last year which was followed by nine rounds of telephonic interviews" before he was finally selected for the plush job which would require the student, who hails

My father was offered bribe: HD Kumaraswamy

New Delhi: In another shocking revelation in the ongoing defense procurement controversy, HD Kumaraswamy, son of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda said that his father was offered a bribe for defense deals, according to Times Now. "When father was prime minister, middlemen approached me with a bribe offer. Middlemen tried to approach my father through me for defense deals." In an interview to a national daily 'The Hindu', army chief General VK Singh claimed that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore by an equipment lobbyist for clearing the purchase of 600 substandard vehicles.The CPI is a measure of a standard basket of items, including food, clothing and transport, across cities. In the price race, Delhi is comfortably placed very low in the table, deriving its cushion from the subsidies galore it receives from the Centre . Take, for instance, LPG cylinders, which is a must-have in middle-class families .

HD Kumaraswamy, son of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.

from Kanpur, to move to Menlo Park in California after finishing his software engineering course at the institute. "Many students from our institute have bagged lucrative jobs. We have knowledge of at least 30 of our alumni getting selected with packages of more than Rs 10 lakh from companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe etc", Chakravarti said. "However, this one has been unprecedented and we are sure that no other student from any of the other institutions in the city or the more than two dozen National Institutes of Technology across the country has so far been offered such an awesome pay package", he added.

14

Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

BJP has nearly all of Congress's sins

By Amulya Ganguli here does not appear to be much hope for the BJP to emerge as a major challenger to the Congress in 2014, although the latter is now much weaker than it was at the time of the last general election. It isn't only that no front-runner has appeared in the saffron outfit in the leadership tussles between L.K. Advani, Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, the latest developments in Karnataka and Gujarat confirm that where lust for power is concerned, the BJP has become a mirror-image of the party it loves to hate - the Congress. Arguably, this fall from grace of an organization claiming to harbor spiritual-minded Rambhakts devotees of the Hindu deity - was inevitable considering that its rise was based on the pseudo-religious plank of temple building and

minority-baiting. Since there was no ideological inspiration other than the flaunting of a provocative Hindu agenda and demonizing of Muslims and Christians, it was only to be expected that the BJP would comprise elements, not all of whom could be regarded as true representatives of virtuous conduct. Nowhere has this evidence of degeneration been more evident than in Karnataka, which first saw the BJP members being accused of corruption - B.S. Yeddyurappa and the Bellary brothers - and then, after their eviction from office following a Lokayukta verdict, continuing to find ways and means of regaining their lost authority. Hence, Yeddyurappa was first dragged kicking and screaming from the chief minister's post and now the same spectacle may be witnessed if and when his successor, Sadananda Gowda, is asked by

the BJP "high command" - as in the much-maligned Congress - to make way for his predecessor. The only difference between the two parties is that the BJP top brass, unlike its Congress counterpart, is a house divided and, therefore, far more vulnerable to pressure tactics by groups wielding the caste - Yeddyurappa belongs to the Lingayats who constitute 18 percent of the electorate - or the party's standard communal card. The fractures in the BJP's top echelons of power are the result of an inability to find a suitable replacement for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the last and only moderate in the saffron brotherhood who had some understanding of India's multi-cultural polity. Others, notably Advani and Modi, have been trying to re-mould themselves in Vajpayee's image but without success because of their deeply-hued saffron past - the

The fractures in the BJP's top echelons of power are the result of an inability to find a suitable replacement for Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had some understanding of India's multi-cultural polity. breaking of the Babri masjid in scripture is evidently motivated by Advani's presence in 1992 and the reasons other than an emphasis on communal riots in Modi's Gujarat spiritual knowledge. As the BJP further exposes its in 2002. If the Congress is guilty of narrow-minded agenda, its organiminority appeasement, the BJP can zational fault lines have also been be charged with offering a gratu- highlighted with the latest conitous affront to the minorities. If the tretemps over the Rajya Sabha BJP is genuinely interested in nominations which have dented the teaching the sacred texts, it can credibility of the party president, choose passages from all the major Nitin Gadkari, more than that of his faiths, as India's pluralism unknown candidate, the Londondemands. But singling out a Hindu based Anshuman Mishra.

Norway kids puzzle: 10 questions in custody row

By Namita Bhandare f you've been following the twists and turns in the hairpin saga known as the Norway kids custody case, then you're probably as dizzy I am. It's been quite a ride. Yes, Anurup Bhattacharya concealed facts about his troubled marriage. Yes, revelations about his wife's so-called psychological issues seem belated. Yes, he has lost sympathy and credibility by his constant flip-flops (in the latest version he has denied any marital rift though his wife, Sagarika says he has been 'torturing' her). There's been an incredible level of blame-gaming: Media for going 'overboard' and the ministry of external affairs for not exercising due diligence. But leave aside the flagellation for a minute and just consider the following: 1. Was removal of the children, including a breast-fed baby, justified even if one of the parents had psychological issues? Would not treatment, counseling or a similar remedial step have been a more judicious course of action? Many mothers suffer from

postpartum depression, for instance. Should their babies be taken away from them? 2. Assuming there was marital discord, what prevented one of the parents from assuming guardianship? Surely there are enough successful single parents in India and Norway who are bringing up stable children. 3. It is now being said that the elder child, a three-year-old boy, had started showing 'characteristics of autism'. In that case, Child Protection Services (CPS) should have organized medical, social and psychological support to the struggling family. How does taking the child away from his parents and placing him in foster care help? 4. Taking away the children until they turn 18 is extreme under any circumstances. If CPS was so concerned about their welfare they could have taken the children into temporary care and provided the family with support until things improved. 5. Much of the confusion could have been avoided had CPS been more transparent in providing reasons for removing the children. Even now, CPS has not bothered to provide a rea-

son and Gunnar Toresen, its head, has only said that the children 'needed more' than they were getting. 6. Criticism of CPS' motives, including its lack of cultural sensitivity, remain valid. An English welfare worker investigating the case lists various 'faults' including the fact that the father spent too much time commuting to and from work because he did not have a car. 7. Interestingly, CPS lost the first round of court hearings when a local court ruled that there was no situation that warranted placing the children in an emergency shelter and they could continue living at home. CPS then appealed against that decision and won in a subsequent round of court hearings. 8. CPS faces the severest criticism from Norwegian citizens themselves. CPS "in order to have work, want children and they attack anybody who is vulnerable," says Marianne Haslev Skanland, a professor emeritus in Bergen, Norway on her website. She talks of the child protection 'industry' where foster 'parents' are paid handsomely to look after the children

Tragically, behind the melodrama and the chest-beating, there is only one concern: the fate of two young Indian children caught up in the sort of ugly tangle that only adults could weave.
placed in their care. According to Norway's Statistics Bureau, last year 'placement services' were provided to 12,492 children, an inordinately high number for a country with a population of five million. 9. Despite the ugliness of the Bhattacharya family brawl and a family spat that is a personal matter, the children remain Indian citizens. Nothing has changed that. What then is the obligation of the Indian government to ensure that its citizens return home? 10. The Norway kids case has been marked by high emotion and drama ever since the story broke in India three months ago. Then, the story was marked by ear-splitting nationalism. Now, tinged with embarrassment, both government and media seem to have washed its hands off on the grounds that this is a personal, family problem. We've let the pendulum swing to the other extreme. Tragically, behind the melodrama and the chest-beating, there is only one concern: the fate of two young Indian children caught up in the sort of ugly tangle that only adults could weave.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.

Festival TheSouthAsianTimes.info

15

March 31-April 6, 2012

Holi celebrated with fanfare in NYC

New York: How do you Spring? was the theme of this years Holi H ai event hosted by NYC Bhangra and media sponsors including Zees ZING channel, Jus Punjabi, Sahara One and The South Asian Times. The vibrant and colorful Indian festival was a free event at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, in New York City and was filled with an entire afternoon of family fun, including stage performances, henna artists, an abundance of food and of course, lots of bhangra music and dancing. The audience was ecstatic with energy as they learned about Holi and about the joy of bhangra music and dance. This is the third year that Megha Kalia and her NYC Bhangra organization hosted this annual celebration of the arrival of spring. This years theme broadened the scope of performances to reflect the diversity and rich cultures that are represented in New York City and to express the various forms by which people celebrate the coming of the spring season. The Holi Hai celebration went on all afternoon and performances included a classical array of dances from Orissa to Tamil Nadu, as well as a host of fusion and singing acts to reflect the various cultures and diversity that are present in the New York area. The Fully Focused Dance Group blended techniques of hip hop with bhangra to show how universal dance can be. Nekia of Fully Focused says, Its a fusion of culture. My dance students were able to become more knowledgeable about dance, she added, experiencing Bhangra taught them something I couldnt. Other groups performed various dance styles such as Bharatnatyam, Bollywood, Odissi, belly dance and Kathak. Besides dances, singers Nishi and the Nights and Vicky Kohli entertained the crowd with festive favorites and original compositions . The highlight of the show was the Bhangra interactive session led by Megha Kalia that had the crowd dancing to the beats of the Dhol and punjabi remixes by DJ Guru. Other highlights were performances by the NYC Bhangra dance troupe and the children of Sitarrey, NYC Bhangras dance school located in Jersey City. Megha Kalia, founder and a teacher at NYC Bhangra explains what bhangra means to her. The first step to learn in bhangra is to smile. Bhangra naturally energizes your body with its movement and you cant help but feel uplifted and smile as it infuses you with positive energy and for those around you. For more, visit www.nycbhangra.com.

Families enjoying festivities Megha Kalia leading a Bhangra class with the Dhol. (Photos: Murray Head)

Supriya Kalia welcoming attendees with Holi Tikka.

People dancing to Bhangra music

Everyone should incorporate Bhangra in day to day life say Megha Kalia and Guneet Khurana of NYC Bhangra

Bringing Indian culture to US

Megha Kalia leading a Bhangra class along with Guneet Khurana New York: Megha Kalia started NYC Bhangra in 2007 with the sole concept of promoting Bhangra in the tri-state area. Since then NYC Bhangra has successfully showcased Bhangra & Gidda performances at over 300 events organized by non-profit organizations, government agencies, corporate offices and private clients on the east coast. Their long list of achievements includes performances at events hosted by leading organizations including Americas Got Talent, United Nations, City Hall, New York Times Travel Show, NYC Dance Parade, and SONY Entertainment Television. Mumbai born Kalia spent early schooling years there but has traveled extensively in India for tourism, education and work. Besides Mumbai, she lived in the northern (Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh) and Southern (Bangalore, Chennai) parts of India, and 16 countries around the world. As a result I have been exposed to diverse cultures, which has inculcated in me a sense of appreciation and responsibility for our culture. Guneet Khurana, Artistic Director at Sitarrey Performing Arts Center, hails from Ludhiana and she moved to New York in March 2007 to pursue her passion in learning Modern Dance. While Kalia received formal training in Bhangra from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar & Mansa, Punjab, Khurana did her Bachelors in Arts with majors in Dance and carried on to complete her Masters in Indian Classical Dance in first grade from one of the few renowned universities in North India. She worked as a dance teacher in India for two years prior to coming to US and here she undertook a four year diploma course in Modern Dances from Peridance Capezio Dance Center, NY. I have always been attracted towards Bhangra because I feel Bhangra is all about celebration of life. It is as much an emotion as it is a skill to master. One cannot just learn Bhangra, one has to feel it. Bhangra is a way of life. To Bhangra is to be optimistic, happy, to treasure the small pleasures of life, respect people. All these lead to produce positive energies that will help one to achieve what they wish for, says Kalia. The duo runs two setups NYC Bhangra and Sitarrey to train Indians and non-Indians alike in music and dance and through that not only inculcate a sense of appreciation for Indian culture but at the same time help them develop high self-confidence and a positive outlook in life. Sitarrey, performing arts studio for the whole family, was started with the idea of bringing families together. At Sitarrey we offer instrumental (Sitar, guitar, harmonium, tabla), vocal (Indian classical) and dance (bhangra, gidda, bollywood) classes for all age groups (2 years and above). We currently have over 100 students enrolled in various classes, says Khurana.

16 MARCH 31-APRIL 6, 2012

The 9th annual Harvard India Conference deliberated on India- The Next Frontier last weekend at the Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School in Boston. The South Asian Team was there to cover the event.

How India can keep growing fast and fuel global economy

ringing together over 600 people, including students, academics and professionals, the 9th annual Harvard India Conference generated a buzz in the academic and professional community in Boston this weekend. The two-day conference, at the Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School is one of the largest student-run conferences of its kind in the US. The theme for this years conference, India The next frontier, allowed leaders from the fields of policy and business to debate on what is required for India to continue on its growth trajectory and fuel the global economy. The Conference saw an exciting and influential set of names from corporate honcho Bharat Desai, Dean of Harvard Business School Nitin Nohria, to Permanent Representative of India to the UN and Chair of Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee Hardeep Puri. The Conference also showcased a preview of the 3D version of the iconic Sholay for the first time in America. Eminent leaders from the government, business, non-profit, media and entertainment sectors engaged in vibrant discussions about the opportunities and challenges that India faces. The first day witnessed intense debates on policy questions on essential services such as education, health and political accountability, that affect the growth of the Indian economy. Prashant Bhushan, a core com-

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Hardeep Puri, was the Keynote Speaker at the conference. He is seen on stage with Prof. Tarun Khanna of Harvard Business School.

Dean of Harvard Business School Nitin Nohria (left) and Syntel chief Bharat Desai discussed the role of global Indians.

mittee member of India Against Corruption, shared his views on the tension between political accountability and autonomy in India. Questioned on the efficacy of the proposed Jan Lokpal bill, Prashant said, The Jan Lokpal is not a silver bullet for solving corruption but it is a good start. However, the current proposed bill has no teeth and covers only a fraction of bureaucrats. In his conversation with Prof. Lant Pritchett, Nachiket Mor, Chairman of the ICICI foundation, brought about an interesting dimension to public service in his address to students. He stated, We need to redefine public service its not only non-profits and government anymore The Private Sector creates opportunities for learning, then solutions can be brought to scale. When questioned on how India should learn to avoid crisis, he stated, Crisis can be good its the point at which change happens.

The education panel, put together by student organizer Vishnu Kartik, brought in perspectives on the new challenges facing Indian education. Chittaranjan Kaul emphasized the importance of contextualization of education through community participation. A startling insight into the strong correlation between tertiary education and GDP outcomes was presented by Karan Khemka, the head of Parthenons Mumbai office. The second day at HBS started with a discussion on the role of global Indians with Dean Nitin Nohria and Syntel chairman Bharat Desai. Sharing their inspiring personal success stories, both highlighted the role that global Indians have played in strengthening Brand India globally. Rejecting the common wisdom that you need to build strong skill sets before becoming an entrepreneur Bharat Desai said, The more you wait, the more you become risk averse. Take the plunge now.

The entrepreneurship panel at HBS, moderated by Prof. Shikhar Ghosh, drew a large number of young, budding entrepreneurs who were looking to India to start their journey. A few words of wisdom from the first generation entrepreneur panelists were much appreciated. "Fail fast, fail early and be agile", was what Prashant Choksey, Cofounder of Mumbai Angels, had to say when questioned on the principles of successful entrepreneurship. The media panel comprised first generation media entrepreneurs who talked about the challenges of establishing business in creative industries. One of the challenges around financing in this space as articulated by Yashwant Deshmukh, the CEO of CV Voter, was, The problem with venture capital in India, is that venture capitalists dont venture, highlighting the risk aversion to invest in creative fields. Another draw in the conference

was the social enterprise panel on skill development in India that was supported by the America India Foundation. The panel examined new opportunities that were opening up in India that youth could be trained for and find employment in. Rick Desai, a young social entrepreneur, talked about McDonalds in India requiring Gujarati speaking call centre operators. Poonam Ahluwalia, President and Founder of YES, said ensuring job satisfaction and happiness was key to the success of skill building programs. Bollywood also made its presence strongly felt at the conference, thanks to the efforts of student organizer Rohin Aggarwal. Ritesh Sidhwani, Abhinay Deo and Samir Patel led a lively discussion on the new age of entertainment in India. The entertainment panel focused on the role of technology in Indian film industry and growth in visual effects and 3D. Sasha Sippy also held a special screening of the 3D version of Sholay for the students. International R&B singer Jay Sean shared his success story and how he has used the Indian Singer brand to his advantage. The conference was supported by the Tata group and Monsanto. TV Asia and The South Asian Times were the media partners to the conference. You can catch the highlights of the conference on twitter (#hic 2012) and on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ HarvardIndiaConference).

Prashant Bhushan urges public to engage in politics in India

By Vikas Girdhar he 2012 Harvard India Conference kicked off Saturday with the panel discussion on Political Accountability to stimulate debate among speakers to come later and attendees. The panel theme focused on examining the challenges and opportunities in India to promote an effective model of democracy and the role of civil society and the government in this process. Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India and renowned social activist Prashant Bhushan spoke extensively about his advocacy in support of the Lokpal Bill as part of his anti-corruption efforts. The Lokpal Bill, a kind of anti-corruption crusade led by the renowned Anna Hazare, was a major topic of discussion for panelists. Bhushan explained that an adapted Lokpal would include three significant elements: that it would be independent of the government, empowered across the board and accountable in all aspects to ensure that it is shielded from potential corruption. But, the Lokpal Bill is not a silver bullet, warned Bhushan, adding that it aims to create a democracy unlike any other in the

Supreme Court of India advocate and anti-graft activist Prashant Bhushan at the conference. world. Every institution can fail if there is no public engagement. The public needs to be active and aware. Even so, the Lokpal is not going to solve the problem [entirely]. He reasoned in an interview with The South Asian Times that the Lokpals limits are based on corruption as a whole being so

complex and on many different levels that it would need more than just one radical bill. We cant say what will happen. We are not likely to see the Lokpal but we feel it is necessary for helping corruption. So far, accountability has been granted only to the government; only the government can make complaints to the Supreme Court. The Lokpal is an attempt by citizens to hold accountable public figures who abuse their power. There is a certain tension between accountability and freedom of action. Officials feel that excessive accountability is stifling creativity and freedom of action. Corruption has been fueled by arbitrary discretion. Bhushan expressed the urgency of the issue facing India. People have no power to decide issues on policies. How do you put pressure on the government if you want to get a legislation passed? This sentiment echoed throughout the conference room. During the question and answer session, one attendee even ventured to question why those elected officials who dont seem to care much for the views of the public are elected by that same public in the first place?

Bhushan understood the relative uneasiness his criticism of the Indian governments role created in the room and defended his position. I have spent half of my life as a public interest activist. We need to focus on the rise of participated democracy. The people themselves need to be active. The elected government officials should not be pushing their views down peoples throatsthe same people that elected them. Giving an example of the mining sector, he said that growth was directly proportional to the rate of corruption present in the sector. As soon as corruption became an issue, it threw off the earlier rapid rate of growth in the sector. Bhushan made it a point to stress the importance of accountability rightfully directed at the government. He had obviously struck a chord with the audience; he was thronged by people after the panel discussion. He said that the same theories can be applied to the personalities of individuals that later translate to a whole. If there is no price to pay for corruption, they become corrupt. I strongly believe that character is a product of the political accountability created by the institution.

17 MARCH 31-APRIL 6, 2012

Scene and heard at the conference

The enthusiastic audience members often sought out the speakers. Fireside chat between Nachiket Mor and Prof. Lant Prichett

The popular singer Jay Sean smilingly obliged the throngs of people wanting his autographs, or pictures taken with him.

Some of the key student organisers of the conference. Below SATimes team Smita, Arjit, Vikas and Namit with Amb. Hardeep Puri.

The New Age of Entertainment panel : Samir Patil, Ritesh Sidhwani, Abhinay Deo and Prof. Mukti Khaire.

Photos: HIC and The SATimes

Harnessing Indias Demographic Dividend panel: Dr Venkat Srinivasan, Rick Desai, Poonam Ahluwalia, Dr Sanjay Sinho, and Jacqueline Bhabha

The conference brought together over 600 people, including students, academics and professionals, generating a buzz in the academic and professional community in Boston.

Sasha Sippy (inset) held a special screening of the 3D version of the iconic film Sholay for the students.

18 MARCH 31-APRIL 6, 2012

The keynote address by Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, was the highlight of the conference.

India is a promising economy and democracy: Amb. Puri

By Smita Bhooplapur ndias presence as a promising nation for growth in economy, technology, education and media has gained prominence in the past quarter century. To reflect on this change, Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and Chairperson of the Security Council Committee on Counter Terrorism, gave his keynote address at the Harvard India Conference in Boston. Speaking to an audience of about 200 people in the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Puri fittingly took inspiration from President Kennedys words. Quoting Kennedys words Leadership and learning are indispensible, Puri commented that both notions should go hand in hand and leadership divorced from learning is where the problem starts for any government. Speaking of the conference theme, India: The next frontier, Puri stated, I genuinely believe that as the worlds largest democracy, our future and its trajectory will be moving ahead positively, not only because we will slowly but surely become the worlds second largest economy but also because we are a country which has successfully transformed from a colonial economy of 190 years. We have a good story to tell. We have transformed into a vibrant secular economy which, in terms of mainstream global values, has a lot to put on the table." Puri strongly espoused the need and the identity of India as a democracy. "Any theme on India as the next frontier will have to start with the acknowledgement that India is a democracy, and will always continue to be a democracy, even if it means a few percentage points of GDP growth less." According to an analysis of Indias GDP growth by a banker, if Indias governance decisions are made right, the GDP will grow by 10 percent. However, if the governance is botched up, the GDP growth will dip to about 7-8 percent annually. "Now, to me, I think the strength of our democracy is such that we have no option but to also get the governance right. We will have to go down the path of inclusive growth, because unless we can carry all segments of our population with us, the process of economic growth and democracy on which it is centered, will not be able to deliver the outcomes that we are seeking."

Hardeep Singh Puri, Indias Ambassador to the UN. Puri added: "I have absolutely no doubt that we will grow at 7.5 to 8% at least in the coming few years, starting this year." His address was one of the highlights of the two-day event. Ambassador Puri joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974 and has enjoyed a long, distinguished diplomatic career. He has extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, external affairs and trade-related issues. He has served at the Ambassadorial level in London, to the UN in Geneva, Brazil and has held his current position as Indias PR to UN in New York since 2009.

A captivated audience listened in pin-drop silence to his excellent oration and his pertinent points regarding India as a potential economic and democratic power. Puri opined that reform and growth are the key imperatives for every democracy. His view is that instead of short-term, lucrative reforms that foreign investors in India propose for maximized return on investment, India deserves long term reforms that contribute toward sustainable growth. For example, raising agricultural productivity where increased subsidies are properly targeted is one way for sustained growth. Puri also touched on Indo-US relations. In response to a swirling question as to what India is doing to reciprocate for Americas effort to help it, he pointed out: * According to Americas own estimates, India's decision to pur-

chase C-17 transport aircraft created 23,000 jobs in the US. * A study put the value of FDI from India to the US at $20 billion over a five year period ending 2009. * A recent NASCOM study noted that India has created over 280,000 IT jobs in the US out of which 200,000 jobs are held by US Nationals. "But the relationship in terms of technology, the area of innovation, the creation of knowledgebased society etc., is by far our most important relationship," said Puri, summing up the balanced efforts from both democracies to help each other. To substantiate the growing strength of India-US bilateral relations, he stated that as opposed to the general sentiment that the two countries do not see eye-to-eye, India and US have a high convergence rate when voting for issues at the UN and the General Assembly.

Amb. Puris tete--tte with SATimes

ollowing his address, Ambassador Puri, who was The South Asian Times Person of the Year in 2010, shared some of his insights in an exclusive interview with SA Times.

SATimes: Youve been Indias Ambassador to the UN for over three years now. India enjoys a rising profile in world affairs now. There is talk of India as an emerging power Ambassador Puri: I dont buy into the thought that India is an emerging power. We are a proud country and we a have a civilization ethos. He feels we should avoid the tendency to address India as an emerging power, but recognize that India, an 8000year-old civilization, emerged a long time ago. Secondly, Indias rising profile has got nothing to do with my being the Ambassador to the UN. India is a great profile in and of itself. I happen to be here at an interesting point in time where we have a vibrant economy, democracy and good relations growing with the US. I would like to add, however, no matter what the global challenges are, there is no solution without India. For example, in the area of global climate change, Indias presence is a crucial contribution to the G-20 summit. I think the acknowledgement of Indias capacity and ability to contribute is there now.

SATimes: When we say India is a future superpower Puri: I dont know about superpower, the super part is very subjective. There is only one country with $15 trillion economy, and that is United States, followed by China with $5 trillion and then follow several other countries. My view of India is that we will become the worlds third largest economy, worlds greatest democracy, with population of over 1.2 billion, and have capacity to use our democratic processes to correct our problems. For example, corruption is not India-specific but endemic all over the world. We have the capacity to solve that through social mobilization, through the press and the courts, which make India stand apart. SATimes: What have been the plus points in Indias diplomatic efforts in a world turning multipolar? Puri : We have always believed in a multipolar world because, if you look at it, India's policy has been that of non alignment. Non-alignment means that you dont get involved with either of the power blocks that existed after World War II. But, the fact is that it is no longer a multipolar world in that sense -- with the demise of the Soviet Union, in some ways, it became a unipolar world. If you analyze it now, it is no longer unipolar even in that sense. It is political and economic

power diffused together. The US is by far the leading country in the world. We have excellent relations with them. We have collaboration in science and technology, to build knowledge based society. We equally have substantial relations with China, excellent relations with Brazil and the larger Asia Pacific construct. To that extent, our foreign policy is evenly spread." SATimes: Tying the UN and this conference at Harvard, how would you see India being more open to public diplomacy? Puri: I have no doubt that we need to do more public diplomacy. But be careful. In the good old days, when it was ruled by the kings, diplomacy was conducted by an emissary who travelled for three months to reach the other country to present gifts. Then we established resident missions on which the embassies and governments would collaborate. Now we dont need to do that. You guys are all connected on Facebook. So, opinion is formed on social media. The situation may be, which I may be trying to project India in a certain way, but you already have formed your opinions. Some of it is good and some not so good. If you have a major explosion of information, information by itself does not make sense, facts must be given a perspective also. In social media, what worries me is that it is instant and impressionable.

Public policy is about educated choices and not about populist choices. SATimes: For the youth inspired to pursue public diplomacy and public affairs, what advice would you have? Puri: Absolutely, I would encourage you. You guys are lucky. When I passed out from Delhi University, we had a choice of two-three private sector companies, or as a university lecturer or you could join the government. So lets face it, many in my generation joined the government not just because they wanted to join for public service but that was the only employer. I got into Hindustan Lever, chucked it, came to a teaching job and joined the government. This is my 39th year (in foreign service), I have enjoyed myself immensely. I was born in 1952, I joined University in 1968 and got my first degree in 1971. It was a young country then. A lot of people today have many more choices: you can educate yourself, you can work as you go along and decide what you like to do. SATimes: After you complete your tenure at the UN, what are your future plans? Puri: I wanted to retire, I should have retired already. The government asked me to stay on so I have agreed to stay on till March of next year. After that, I will reinvent myself.

19 MARCH 31-APRIL 6, 2012

Talking to SATimes, Desai stressed the importance of adapting to the changing world and making the most of what it offers as it changes.

Bharat Desai talks adaptability and drive en route to a billion

By Vikas Girdhar

unday mornings panel discussion at the Harvard India Conference was an aweinspiring account of a self-made billionaires beliefs and the story of his success. In this Fireside Chat, Syntel Chairman and Founder Bharat Desai, 59, discussed everything, from the mindset he had going into creating a billion-dollar company to what he learned as a result of being able to succeed globally. Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria led the discussion by asking many thought-provoking and rapid-fire questions that probed into the depths of the CEOs mind. Syntel is a global provider of integrated IT and Knowledge Process services that employs 20,000 people and has a market capitalization of $2 billion; Desais own self worth currently is $1.4 Billion. The audience was intrigued by how early Desai learned to take responsibility. He recounted the story of his move from his birthplace of Kenya to India, along with his mother and younger brother and sister. He was 11 at the time; his brother was nine and his sister, four. Ill never forget the day, May 14, 1964, said Desai, as he recalled the day he realized he would have to be more than just a pre-adolescent child. The family was aboard a

Syntel Chairman and Founder Bharat Desai refugee ship and the wait for their luggage had become painstakingly long. As his mother kept tabs on his younger siblings, Bharat undertook the task of waiting hours for their luggage, making sure it was in order, and finally bringing what the family had left with and clung to. I learned how to supply for my family at a very early age, said Desai. It would carry over for the rest of his life. Thats when I first dealt with challenges and knew I had the ability to move through them. The greatest challenge for me after that was getting into a good school. The most important thing I learned after I got in was through interacting with my peers. 90 percent of what I learned in IT was interacting with peers. Syntels rise to global prominence began in 1980 with the young mans drive to fulfill his desire for becoming an entrepreneur and overcoming obstacles by him and his wife. I always knew Id want to be an entrepreneur. We [my wife and I] started Syntel out of our kitchen with $2000 while we were in graduate school. We started as an IT staffing companywe dealt with staffing, solutions and outsourcing. Money was a motivator and good decisions helped create opportunity. The big moment was when I wondered whats my edge? How can I leapfrog the competition to seize that opportunity? Desai then told the story of the

most challenging time for his young company. In 1992, a link became available for Syntel to India through satellite. The bandwidth available for that link was a very low 9.6 k. Desai and his wife realized that tapping into this bandwidth and being able to create connections with companies that relied on Syntel would be an incredible way to capitalize on the opportunity and build credibility. Of course, that depended on connection speed and the Desais persistence, which all translated into riskespecially since they had committed to companies and given their word that deadlines for connection and upholding would be met. It worked out in the end, teaching the couple a big lesson. We were so close to failing. Thats when we realized that in order to move up the food chain, you need to take risks. In 1992, it was clear that the next level was possible if we took the risk. You need to keep looking ahead. I dont have any regrets. While speaking with The South Asian Times, Desai stressed the importance of being able to adapt to the changing world and making the most of what it offers as it changes. For example, technology access everywhere and social media have huge potential. This is the future. We are in an industry that is changing. Technology is no longer available

only for companies; its in all hands. Companies must leverage the power of social media. Thats the way that a small company will be able to blow up into a global force, said Desai. Desai, who also runs SPrayas, a volunteer-driven program that is dedicated to educating underprivileged children, was particularly optimistic in his assessment of Indias economic future. Indias biggest edge is its demographic dividend. As an outsourcing country, it will continue to grow. In light of all the discussion about his success, Desai recommended the prioritizing of ones daily activities and ultimately trusting ones gut. Keep perspective. Find time for things that are important to you. Thats exactly what he did to make time for yoga, which he does for an hour daily. I believe that you dont need experience to do a start-up. You just have to jump right in. Choose a path youre passionate about, dont be defensive about your decisions and you will do well. During question hour, those in audience sought Desais advice on best business strategies. He referred to his own life experiences and encouraged them to trust their own morals and drive to succeed. Coming from one of the most successful Indians ever, his words will stay in the mind of his audience.

Future of healthcare technologies in India

By Smita Bhooplapur

n light of the burgeoning need for healthcare worldwide, services and technology in the sector are growing in demand steadily. To understand and improve healthcare in India, three panelists came together with Harvard School of Public Health Associate Professor Ashish Jha to discuss the future of Indian healthcare. Jha said in his opening statement that it is becoming noticeable that the most innovative ideas in healthcare are not coming from the US and Western Europe, but from countries like India. Yet, Indias health care sector is not receiving the funds and the attention that it needs to progress. In 2010, the US spent twice as much on healthcare than Indias GDP, Jha added. Not enough money is being invested in healthcare the government invests only a fraction of the budget in healthcare, said Nachiket Mor, Chair of Sughavazhvu Healthcare who was also formerly the Chair of ICICI

Healthcare in India panelists Nachiket Mor, Mahesh Uberoi, Dr Om Manchanda adn K. Sujatha Rao. Foundation in India. Compared to the US and countries like Spain, India is still very far in terms of the amount it receives per capita for healthcare. Mor pointed out that the legal format in India allows physicians to use alternative and traditional forms of medicine, which adds an extra dimension to the complicated health care delivery system. He suggested that a combination of process technology and innovation could give more options while staying within the budget. Sujatha Rao, former secretary of Indian Ministry of Health, said, The private sector is heavily incentivized to bring in new technology and innovative practices but, we did not set in regulations and rules of the game [in advance] to develop consistency. Hence, regulation is weak and we need to put in more effort in reinforcement. Rao added that there are 666 districts in India out of which in 333 districts, the private sector of healthcare is not able to penetrate. The main reason is the lack of funds, proper sanitation and paying capacity of residents. The other 333 districts are spoilt for choice on healthcare providers. Then, there is still a dearth of medical specialists in India. There is a shortage of radiologists in India and surgeries and emergency health care is being impaired by this, said Mahesh Uberoi, an IIT Madras and Syracuse University graduate and Co-Founder of My Personal Health Record Express (MphRx),

a company specializing in transporting, storing and retrieving patient health records, including radiological images. On a similar note, Dr. Om Manchanda, chief executive of Dr Lal PathLabs, commented that there are a thousand pathology labs in India, but many are run by technicians instead of pathologists -another grave indication of the shortage of pathologists. Panelists predicted technology to significantly make a difference in the quality and range of healthcare services. Mor said India needs parsimonious innovation to expand and improve the sector. Varun Anand, technology program manager at MphRx with Uberoi, added that going forward, innovation should be in India. Technology implementation and testing is more beneficial in India before it reaches export markets because it is braced for high performance in lower infrastructure. Hence, implementation becomes easier when products/technologies progress from a lower to higher infrastructure.

20 MARCH 31-APRIL 6, 2012

Jay Sean opens up about filling a unique niche

Make the most of social media; create your own hype and give people something different to talk aboutis the success mantra of the famed singer.
By Vikas Girdhar

ith anxious audience members eyes fixated on the doorway entrance, Jay Sean, his assistant Thara Prashad and Kapil Sharma of Tata Sons strolled in and took their seats. The famed Britain-based R&B singer of Indian origin had the stage on the afternoon of the second day of the Harvard India Conference to discuss his brand sustenance and rise to fame in the biggest entertainment market in the world. Sean explained how he got $80 for his first show, which was casual, local and far from mainstream. He was eager to perform and would try to do so on any medium, even in fashion shows. It is through these relatively small bookings that Sean (real name Kamaljit Singh Jhooti) says he began to realize their power. I took music more seriously when I realized what booking could do. I had to first polish everything clothes, brand, imagebecause I always believed that quality would be worth paying for. Younger kids fell for it immediately and thats when I realized I had become a rolemodel. And because I was not singing Indian songs or singing in

Famed singer Jay Sean at the conference session with him.

Punjabi, I basically became the only one of my kind doing something unique. I realized I would be filling a unique niche. Sean also touched on the cultural barriers he had to break in predominantly non-Indian markets and countries. Indians are everywhereeverywhere! Now, when people would talk about me or write about me, it would be Indian singer Jay Sean which gave a misconception. Sure, Im Indian, but why couldnt it just besinger? It also gave off the

idea that I was going to be singing Indian songs. I was trying to establish myself by singing English songs. Seans rapid rise to global fame came at an opportune time for the changing industry. The internet plays a significant role today in establishing artistes fame and getting them discovered, especially through supersites such as YouTube. Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber was discovered the same way. Online, I was basically able to tour the world without ever having

to leave anywhere. Thats how I took it to the next level. At the time, I was signed with Virgin Records but they had no idea about my market or my potential. Thats when Sean took matters into his own hands and made the song Ride It all on his own. Cash Money Records saw Ride It online and saw how many views and hits it was getting. They started wondering, who is this guy? That is when they met with me. Sean later told The South Asian Times that hitting No. 1 on the Billboard charts for his 2009 hit song, Down was his biggest success to date and his biggest challenge in achieving something so surreal was the building and sustenance of his brand and image. He maintains that his fans have made it possible for him to stick around in the industry as an icon. Ive been so lucky to be around for 10 years because everything has become so disposable. True fans support you no matter what, thats the key. If you have genuine fans, longevity is there for life. Take U2. You dont hear much of their stuff on the radio anymore but do you think theyre not selling out shows? They have such a dedicated fan

base. Fans are the only thing that ever keeps us going. During the QA session Sean was asked how he has maintained his image and what advice he can offer. Make the most of social media, thats very important today. Create your own hype and give people something different to talk about. Its been a beautiful thing for me to be able to break all these barriers. That drives me and Im going to continue to do that. Hes well on his way. In the very near future, Sean will be given full charge of his own subsidiary of Cash Money Records, Royal Money. Thats a huge, massive deal for me, even Sean marveled. As he wrapped up his discussion, he was surrounded by people asking for autographs, pictures and personalized video tributes. He remained unfazed, obliging one all with the flash of his wide smile. As those around Sean had to finally be escorted out by conference organizers, Kapil Sharma went over to Thara Parshad to give her a message. He was great; unbelievable, Sharma said in reference to Seans visit. Judging from their reactions, the audience would have to be in full agreement.

Looking East through the Northeast

he Look East Policy: Look East Through The Northeast panel featured Leichombam Erendro Singh, a World Bank Fellow at Harvard University, Pradyot Deb Burman, Chairman and Editor, The Northeast Today Magazine, and Binalakshmi Nepram, Writer-Activist, Founder, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network. The Manipur International Center, a research and advocacy group based in Boston that promotes peace and development initiatives in Manipur and the Northeast, sponsored the panel. Connecting India to South East Asia is the North Eastern Region of India (NER). While the regions strategic location and untapped natural resources suggest abundant potential for India, insurgency and conflict in the region are some of Indias biggest challenges today. How can India confront these challenges and realize existing opportunities? That was the backdrop of the panel discussion. Erendro Singh, after giving a brief background on Indias Look East Policy and its dramatic increase in the volume of trade with other Asian economies, argued that although the countrys economy has picked up significant momentum since the lib-

Panelists Binalakshmi Nepram, Erendro Singh and Pradyot Deb Burman. eralization, the NER has benefitted 1990s as an attempt by India to little spillover effects from this strengthen its relationship with economic surge because of reasons ASEAN members. Indeed, Indialike the regions landlocked nature. ASEAN trade has been increasing in He argued that in spite of Indias recent years, constituting 10% of 10% earmark spending the abysmal Indias global trade in 2011. She state of infrastructure in the region argued that the policy needs reremains one of the most difficult examination, since there has been a binding constraints. He empha- stagnation in the region for the last sized a big push spending to break four decades. Challenges such as the infrastructural handicap of the ethnic tensions, extortion, economic region rather than marginal spend- blockades, bandhs, large military ing that may fail to hit the impact presence, and armed insurgency furhorizon. Erendro also called for a ther compound the problem in the broad restructuring, redefinition, region. and greater empowerment of the Emphasizing the relevance of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region Vision 2020 Northeastern Region (MDoNER). document, she pointed to strengths Binalakshmi Nepram described of the region that include the large the Look East Policy of the early natural resources, mineral deposits,

and tremendous hydropower potential. She also spoke about the prospects of tourism, handicrafts, agro-based industries, and a relatively literate population in the region. She reiterated the importance of including womens involvement in economic development planning and activities, and gave the example of Ema Keithel, or the womens only market in Manipur, as an effective economic, social, and political empowerment model. Doing so she drew parallels between the women led markets in Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand and that of Manipur and some other parts of Northeast India. Emphasizing that such similarities between the NER and Southeast Asia can be harnessed for a more meaningful economic cooperation under the Look East Policy, Binalakshmi pointed out that these critical aspects are missing both in the document North Eastern Region Vision 2020, and Look East Policy planning and implementation. The final speaker of the panel, Pradyot Deb Burman, stated that it is not industrialization that should be the way for Northeast India. He spoke about the need for self-sufficiency efforts, for example in foodgrains sector. He mentioned that the Northeast can be the food bowl

of the East. He also pointed out the misaligned incentive structure created for manufacturing industries in the Northeast. He brought up an example of some factories infiltrating his state of Tripura that provides poor quality jobs, and deeply disturb the local economy. He decried the regions inability to attract better job producing, environment protecting, and income generating ventures. According to him Look East Policy is flawed and the Northeast India 2020 is an incomplete document as it did not consult the actual stakeholders in the region. He also pointed out that some of the high potential businesses in the Northeast include tourism, hospitality industry, power generation, and cited the Indias Milk Revolution as a workable model that incorporated collective planning and involvement of local communities. The Look East Policy panel was well received by a very engaging group of scholars, professionals, bureaucrats, media, and entrepreneurs from the US, India, and elsewhere.

Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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March 31-April 6, 2012

Indian student jailed in Australia in visa scam

Melbourne: A Perth-based Indian student will spend 14 months in jail for his involvement in a scam to falsify English test scores to get Australian visas. Rajesh Kumar, 31, faced ten charges for his part in fraudulently altering the International English Testing System (IELTS) scores at Perth's Curtin University between November 2009 and June 2010. A Perth District Court sentenced Rajesh Kumar on Monday after he pleaded guilty for changing the outcomes of IELTS test apparently to get permanent residence in Australia. Nine other persons have already been jailed in a scam to increase the IELTS scores to get permanent residence in Australia. The list residence in Australia. Rajesh Kumar was found guilty of taking a total of $32,000 from three IELTS candidates applying for Australian visas. He kept $14,000 for himself while giving remainder to an intermediary Pritesh Shah. The latter paid some of this bribe to Kok Keith Low who would then falsify the score at Curtin University's IELTS test centre. The former Indian student had earlier paid $5,000 to Shah to get his own IELTS score changed to enable him to apply for an Australian visa. A former Indian national (and Kok Low's flatmate) Abdul Kader was sentenced for 18 months of imprisonment on 15 counts while Pritesh Shah has been handed a one year's sentence.

Manmohan hopes for amicable solution in NRI kids custody row

Seoul: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday hoped for an amicable and good solution to the custody crisis over two Indian children in Norwegian foster care. The welfare of the children and the interests of the parents should be taken care of, Manmohan Singh told his Norwegian counterpart Jens Stoltenberg at a pull-aside meeting on the sidelines of the March 26-27 Nuclear Safety Summit here. Pointing to the deep family ties that were part of Indian tradition, Manmohan Singh hoped for an outcome that would be positive, taking into account the interest of the law, the children and their parents, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told Indian journalists accompanying the prime minister. Abhigyan, 3, and Aishwarya, 1, children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya living in Norways Stavanger, were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) last May on the ground that they were not looked after properly by their parents.

includes Kok Keith Low, a Curtin University English Language Centre employee who would be behind the bars for two years for playing the key role in falsifying the scores for various, mostly, Indian students. Anyone achieving a score of a minimum 7.0 in four IELTS components gets extra points in the skilled points test to get permanent

Mother faces trial in Britain for suicide attempt

London: An Indian woman is facing trial in Britain for allegedly trying to kill her child and attempt suicide by jumping before a train. The Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Radhika Sharma, 35, jumped in front of a locomotive as horrified commuters looked on at one of London's busiest stations. The driver slammed on the brakes but was powerless to stop and the pair disappeared from view, the Daily Mail reported. Both, however, escaped uninjured as the engine passed harmlessly overhead and its wheels hit neither of them, it added. The incident occurred last year. Sharma, of Forest Gate, east London, denies attempt to murder and two counts of child cruelty or neglect.

Indian-run New Zealand firm designs UAV for cloud seeding

Hyderabad: An Indian-promoted aviation company in New Zealand is developing what it claims to be the world's first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for cloud seeding. Auckland-based Apeiron Aerospace, an innovative aerospace company focused on delivering technology to the global UAV sector, has designed a tactical UAV system for cloud seeding as the existing process involving manned aircraft endangers the lives of pilots. "There is a need for UAVs for cloud seeding. It is a question of pilot's life. It becomes very difficult to control the aircraft in high turbulence," said Sanjeev Rao, director, Apeiron Aerospace. The firm floated by him last year exhibited its model at India Aviation 2012 here recently. Apeiron, which has tied up with Bangalorebased Krishi Air Private Limited, feels there is a market for such UAVs in India. "Manned aircraft are being used for cloud seeding. The pilot has to agree to go into the clouds which is very dangerous. Usually they don't want to go," he said.

Rao said the design exhibited at the air show was a robust one. The UAV can fly into the cloud, do the seeding and fly out. The design was prepared six months ago, but a prototype is expected to be ready in another six to eight months. It will then be flight tested.

Now, NRIs in Oman must get their documents attested by MEA in India
Muscat: The Indian Embassy in Oman has advised all its citizens in the country to get their documents attested/apostilled by the ministry of external affairs, New Delhi. "This has become mandatory now that both Republic of India and the Sultanate of Oman are member states of the Apostille Convention (1961)," the Gulf News quoted a statement issued by the mission. The indicative list of documents issued in India which are required to be apostilled include birth/death/marriage certificates, driving licenses, Affidavits, Power of Attorney, documents and educational documents like degree, diploma, matriculation and secondary level certificates, etc. However, the documents already attested by authorities in India/ Embassy of India Muscat are not required to be apostilled again. The ministry of external affairs, India is the nodal ministry for consular legalization and Apostille of documents for use abroad.

Top 100 Indian graduates in Malaysia to get full scholarships for pursuing higher studies
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian President worship for the Indian community Najib Tun Razak has announced that since 2009. the government has decided to give "The Cabinet had just approved full scholarships to the top 100 Indian the construction of six new Tamil graduates who achieve first-class honprimary schools. I am happy to ors, to help them pursue post-graduate share with you that the government studies at local universities. will build two new four-storey "These top students can now pursue buildings for the recently-approved post-graduate degrees at public uniTamil primary school in Taman Malaysian versities should they decide to do so," Petaling Jaya Section 1," he said. President Najib Razak said. He added that the "The school will be named after forTun Razak announcement was to keep the prommer MIC president, the late Tan Sri ise he made at the launch of the 1Malaysia V Manickavasagam," he added. Razak also Indian Student Movement (1MISM) last year. said that the government had kept all its promAccording to The Star, the students will ises made in 2009 to Malaysians, including receive RM15,000 each through the the Indian community. 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) "We will not make empty promises to the Foundation. Razak said that the government Indian community just to win some votes. I had allocated some RM440mil to build new will not do anything to compromise the future schools and some RM80mil to build houses of of the nation," he said.

New-look Malabar Gold targets $6 bn turnover by 2015

Dubai: Aiming to be third largest jewelry retail chain in the world with a $6 billion turnover by 2015, Kerala-based Malabar Gold & Diamonds (formerly Malabar Gold) plans to expand its retail footprint across the world at a $700 million outlay and also increase its jewelry production units to 10 from the current four, said a top company official. As a part of the expansion game plan, the group has come out with a new name, brand logo and a tag line - "Celebrate the Beauty of Life" and will be positioned as the "Champions of Contemporary Tradition." Announcing the group's expansion plan and the rebranding exercise, chairman M.P. Ahamed told reporters here: "Malabar Gold & Diamonds, in its endeavor to become the world's leading retailer in value appreciating gift articles, is undergoing a brand transformation to blend with its future business vision." The group will be investing about $100 million to roll out more than 20 retail outlets in 2012 itself, thereby taking the number of stores to 84 from the current 64 spread across India and in the Middle East. "The group sales is around Rs.12,000 crore ($2.4 billion). In India we will be opening outlets in Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and other states," said group executive director K.P.Abdul Salam. According to him, the group will also open outlets in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Europe, US and Canada.

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Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

China celebrates Pakistan army chief to meet senior US commanders Tibet liberation
Islamabad: Pakistan's army chief was to hold his first meeting with senior US commanders to discuss American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at two Afghan border posts last year. The attack, which the US has said was an accident and Pakistan claimed was deliberate, severely strained the already troubled relations between the two allies. Both sides have said they want to repair ties and move forward, but have made little progress. Pakistan retaliated for the November airstrikes by kicking the US out of a base used by American drones and closing its border to supplies meant for NATO troops in Afghanistan.

The US is eager to get the supplies moving again because it has had to spend much more money shipping goods by an alternative route that runs through Central Asia. The supply line through Pakistan will also be key to trucking out equipment as the U.S. seeks to withdraw most of its combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

We will not abide by UNHRC resolution: Sri Lanka

China claims that it liberated Tibet in 1959 from dark ages. Beijing: Grappling to deal with recurring suicides by Tibetans at home and abroad calling for the return of the Dalai Lama, China celebrated the Liberation of Tibet, marking 53 years of Communist rule in the Himalayan region. "I want to point out that today is the Liberation Day of hundreds of thousands of serfs in Tibet," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing here when asked about China's reaction to calls from the Tibetan government-in-exile to resume talks with Dalai Lama. China claims that it liberated Tibet in 1959 from dark ages where people lived as serfs in conditions resembling medieval slavery under the theocratic rule and brought prosperity to its people. The day was marked with celebrations in Lhasa, the provincial capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, (TAR). In a televised address to mark the occasion, Padma Choling, Chairman of TAR said continuous attempts by the Dalai Lama and the so-called Tibetan government-inexile to restore Tibet's feudal serfdom and split the autonomous region from China will never succeed. China has held few rounds of talks in the past with Dalai Lama representatives but the dialogue has not made any headway even after the Tibetan spiritual leader's repeated assertions that he regarded Tibet was part of China and wants to look for a solution within the broader parameters of autonomy. Colombo: Sri Lanka has made it clear that it will not abide by the UNHRC resolution that censured it over its human rights record and said it would only implement "feasible" recommendations of its own panel that probed the three-decade-long bloody civil war. "We had taken a decision not to abide by the resolution irrespective of the result", external affairs minister G.L. Peiris told reporters. We would treat it as an interference in the sovereignty of the country, he said. He said the countries that voted for Sri Lanka and abstained at voting had valued the country's principled stand. Peiris said the resolution would not cause economic sanctions on Sri Lanka. "This is no Security

Sri Lanka said it would only implement "feasible" recommendations of its own panel. Council (UN) decision". Answering a question, Peiris said that Sri Lanka felt that no reply is needed to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Singh had explained the Indian stance in voting against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, irrigation minister Nimal Siripala de Silva the government was not ready to implement all the recommendations as suggested by US-led anti-Sri Lankan lobby at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva recently. "We would implement only what we accept and consider feasible," the Island quoted Silva as saying. He said the government was not bound to reply to India or any other nation in this regard. He said the government has decided to continue the process of implementing the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) without the participation of the opposition or holding a referendum on it.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Taliban warned members of parliament against restoration of the supply line for NATO troops in Afghanistan and said they would target MPs and their leaders if they recommended restoration of supplies. Pakistan suspended supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan in November 2011 after the US fighter jets and helicopters raided two Pakistani posts and killed 24 soldiers. "If the parliament opened the land route for NATO troops, we will target members of the parliament and their party leaders," Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said. "We are aware that the proAmerican parliamentarians have started efforts to legalize a route to NATO forces," the TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan said. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has recommended to the government condi-

Pakistan Taliban warns MPs against NATO supply

tional restoration of the supply line for NATO troops with the imposition of tax on NATO supply trucks. Officials say that nearly 70 percent of supplies are transported for some 150,000 US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan via Pakistan. Pakistan's Communication Minister Arbab Alamgir said that NATO containers have badly affected the country's road infrastructure in the northwest and southwest, which had main border points with Afghanistan. He also said he would recommend to the government to demand compensation for damage caused to the roads. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that the parliament will take a decision on NATO supply and he will not accept any pressure on the issue. Islamic parties have also opposed restoration of the NATO supply line and said they will

protest in Islamabad against any possible decision on restoration of supplies. A leader of Jamiat Ulema-eIslam party, Maulana Fazl-urRahman, Sunday told a public meeting of thousands of his supporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar that the nation will stand against the NATO supplies. The TTP spokesman said in a statement that the parliamentarians should know that they "would not be safe" if they favor restoration supplies for NATO forces. He also asked the drivers not to carry supplies for NATO troops. Taliban militants had routinely been attacking and torching NATO trucks until after Pakistan cut off the line. The US has already struck a deal with Russia and several Central Asian states for an alternate supply route in view of attacks on NATO trucks in Pakistan.

Safety of Pakistans nukes worries Obama

Seoul: US president Barack Obama voiced concern over safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, saying the world cannot allow non-state actors and terrorists to get their hands on the nuclear weapons and end up destroying cities. "We can't afford to have nonstate actors and terrorists to get their hands on nuclear weapons that would end up destroying our cities or harming our citizens ," Obama told reporters alongside Pakistani prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani before the two leaders held private talks on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit here. "There have been times in the last several months where those relations have experienced strains," Obama said. Obama said it was important for the both countries to have candid and open talks. Obama said he expects Pakistan's review of bilateral ties will result in a "balanced approach that respects Pakistan's sovereignty but also respects our concerns with respect to our national security and needs to battle terrorists who have targeted us in the past".

International TheSouthAsianTimes.info

23

March 31-April 6, 2012

Hope for peace soars, Syria accepts Annan plan

North Korea snubs Obama over satellite launch

London: In a snub to US President Barack Obama over his appeal to North Korea about its satellite-launch plan in April, Pyongyang vowed to go ahead with its plan, reported The Telegraph. Obama and various other world leaders arrived in the South Korean capital to participate in a two-day nuclear security summit, which concluded Tuesday, to discuss ways to combat nuclear terrorism. North Korea's plan to launch a long-range rocket next month overshadowed the 53-nation summit which focused on the threat of uranium and other nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists. Obama has devoted much of his three-day South Korean visit to its wayward neighbor, repeatedly denouncing the rocket launch while emphasizing the US is not hostile to North Koreans. Pyongyang responded by saying it would go ahead with what it calls a peaceful satellite launch, saying every nation had this right, and called on Obama to drop his "confrontational mindset", reported the British daily. "The US head of state said he had no hostile intention towards us," reported the official KCNA news agency citing a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman as saying. "But if that remark is genuine, he should abandon the confrontational mindset that tries to block us, and should have the courage to admit that we have as much right to launch our satellite as other countries do," it added. The US, Japan, South Korea and many other countries believe the launch would in fact be a long-range missile test, banned under UN resolutions and breaching US-North Korean deal to freeze nuclear activities.

The Syrian government has written to the Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan accepting his six-point plan. Beijing: Syria has accepted a proposal crafted by Kofi Annan that aims to end bloodshed in the strifehit country, but the United NationsArab League envoy has cautioned implementation is key to peace. Monitors say over 9,100 people have been killed in Syria over the past year as president Bashar alAssad's regime cracks down on protests, and the plan urges a UNsupervised halt to fighting, bringing hopes the violence will end. "The Syrian government has written to the Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan accepting his six-point plan, endorsed by the UNSC," Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said in a statement. "Annan views this as an important initial step that could bring an end to the violence and the bloodshed, provide aid to the suffering, and create an environment conducive to a political dialogue that would fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," he said. Annan is currently in Beijing on a trip aimed at shoring up support for his six-point plan, which also calls for a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire and access to all areas affected by the fighting in Syria.

N-talks with world powers on April 13: Iran

Tehran: Long-stalled talks between Iran and world powers are to be revived on April 13 at a place yet to be agreed, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying by official media. Salehi announced the date as he welcomed visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tehran for a two-day visit focusing on Iran's nuclear programme and bilateral ties, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. "The venue will be announced in coming days," IRNA quoted Salehi as saying. Salehi added that Iran considered Istanbul -- the location of the previous round of talks, which collapsed in January 2011 -- the "best place" but that options were still being discussed. Iran's principal nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, would announce any agreement on where the talks will take place, Salehi said.

Need world free of N-weapons: Manmohan

Seoul: The best guarantee for nuclear safety is a world free of nuclear weapons, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, calling for a multilateral framework for achieving this. He also announced a contribution of $1 million to the IAEA's Nuclear Security Fund for 2012-13. "The best guarantee for nuclear security is a world free from nuclear weapons," Manmohan Singh said while addressing the plenary of the Nuclear Security Summit here. "Attaining the goal of a nuclear weapon-free world will require commitments embedded in an agreed multilateral framework involving all states possessing nuclear weapons. This should include measures to reduce nuclear dangers by reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in security doctrines and by increasing universal restraints on the first use of nuclear weapons," Manmohan Singh added. He noted in this context that former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had put forward an action plan for global nuclear disarmament in a time-bound framework almost 25 years ago and that this "remains the most comprehensive and elaborate proposal to achieve this objective". tional global nuclear security architecture. I am happy to announce that India will contribute 1 million US dollars to the IAEA's Nuclear Security Fund for the years 2012-13. India will also participate in the Agency's 2013 international coordinating conference of various nuclear security activities, including the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and the Global Partnership. According to Manmohan Singh, nuclear terrorism will remain a potent threat as long as there are terrorists seeking to gain access to nuclear material and technologies for malicious purposes. "India is acutely conscious of this threat. Our resolution at the General Assembly on measures to deny terrorists access to weapons of mass destruction has been adopted by consensus since 2002."

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ar the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. Pointing to India's track record in guarding sensitive technologies, Manmohan Singh described as "the next logical step" the country's membership of nuclear clubs like the NSG and MTCR. "India has never been a source of proliferation of sensitive technologies and we are determined to further strengthen our export control systems to keep them on par with the highest international standards. We have already adhered to the guidelines of the NSG and MTCR. As a like-minded country with the ability and willingness to promote global non-proliferation objectives, we believe that the next logical step is India's membership of the four export control regimes," he said. (The other two are the Australia Group and the Wassennar Arrangement.) Manmohan Singh also said India supported the early commencement of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. While nuclear security was primarily a national responsibility, "there are benefits to be gained by supplementing responsible national actions through sustained and effective international cooperation," the prime minister said, adding: "The IAEA has a central role in strengthening the interna-

Gilani, Obama hold talks in Seoul

Seoul: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met US President Barack Obama in the highest-level talk held between the two sides since the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a NATO raid last year, reported Online News Agency. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the (March 26-27) Nuclear Security Summit in the South Korean capital. Stating that the Pakistani government wants to work together with the US for a stable Afghanistan, Gilani said he appreciated Obama expressing respect for Pakistan's sovereignty. Gilani said the Pakistani parlia-

Pak Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met US President Barack Obama. ment would decide the dimensions of Islamabad's future relationship with Washington.

24

Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

World Bank approves funding for India's agri-project

Washington: The World Bank has approved a $109 million funding for the Rajasthan Agricultural Competitiveness Project in India to enhance agricultural productivity through sustainable and efficient use of water resources.The project is expected to increase agricultural productivity and farmer incomes through efficient water management, crop management, improved agricultural technology, farmer organizations and market innovations in some 20 selected areas in Rajasthan.The initiative will benefit some 155,000 smallholder farmers, the Washington-based World Bank said in a statement. "The agricultural sector needs an end-to-end approach ranging from water management to better agricultural practices and marketing," said Roberto Zagha, World Bank country director for India. The project will be financed by a credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessionary lending arm.

Iran oil: 12 countries face US sanctions

Washington: The US will decide by the end of June whether to impose sanctions on 12 countries, including India and China, with regard to their purchase of crude oil from Iran, an official said. It is by the end of June the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton will make a determination on the sanctions, State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland told reporters. The United States is in conversation with these 12 countries on ways and means to avoid the American sanctions against them, she said. "We are still working with all of these countries and trying to do what we can to help them to reduce their dependence on Iranian oil. As you know, we have 180 days under this legislation, which takes us into the end of June," Nuland told reporters. "We have 180 days in the legislation to make a determination

Oil falls below $107 a barrel

Singapore: Oil prices fell to below $107 a barrel in Asia after a report showed a larger-thanexpected jump in U.S. crude supplies, suggesting demand remains weak. Benchmark oil for May delivery was down 63 cents to $106.70 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract was up 30 cents to settle at $107.33 per barrel in New York. Brent crude for May delivery was down 63 cents at $124.91 per barrel in London. The American Petroleum Institute said that crude inventories rose 3.6 million barrels last week while analysts surveyed by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos., had predicted an increase of 2.8 million barrels.

The US says it is in talks with the rest of the 12 countries including India, China, Turkey and South Korea in significantly reducing oil import from Iran. one way or the other. So we're continuing to work with them in the intervening period," Nuland said responding to questions on the time line of the determinations against these 12 countries. In all 23 countries import oil from Iran, last week, the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, had announced that 11 of these nations - mostly those from Europe and Japan - have been exempted from the Iranian sanctions act because of the significant reduction in oil import from Iran. The US says it is in talks with the rest of the 12 countries including India, China, Turkey and South Korea in this regard.

Kingfisher suspends flights, asks staff to stay home

New Delhi: Kingfisher Airlines has suspended operations to several cities as per a new holding plan and asked the staff to stay home till the time it manages fresh funding. "We are in a 'holding' pattern right now and are waiting for various decisions from the government and our Consortium of Bankers on FDI (foreign direct investment) policy, working capital funding, etc. "All of these will have a major impact on the staffing decisions we will have to make," Kingfisher said in a statement, responding to speculations that the airline was going to lay off a large number of its staff. The airline said it had taken care to ensure that part of "our core intermetro schedule is retained, while connectivity is maintained to many cities where we are the sole operator". The airline claimed that it had started the summer schedule with about 120 daily flights and 20 dedicated aircraft. The airline's international operations have already been suspended after the International Transport Association barred the carrier from its inter-airline clearing house and billing and settlement plan accounts

Wall Street takes breather after Fed-fueled rally

New York: US stocks retreated in choppy session and ended modestly after major indexes jumped to 2012 highs in a central bankfueled rally. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 43.90 points, or 0.33 percent, at 13,197.73. The Standard & Poor's 500 was down 3.99 points, or 0.28 percent, to 1,412.52. The Nasdaq Composite Index dipped 2.22 points, or 0.07 percent, to 3,120.35, Xinhua reported. Investors seemed to find little reason to push the market a step higher, given the strong rally in the previous session fuelled by remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke saying the central bank would bolster the economy if the recovery weakened. Meanwhile, data showed a rocky start for the housing market, with home prices falling for the fifth month in a row to the lowest level since early 2003.

Kingfisher has a debt of Rs.7,057.08 crore. March 9 on account of non-payment of dues - a move akin to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) removing a commercial bank from its currency clearing system. The government last week said it will not come to the private airline's rescue if legal action is taken against it following the aviation regulator's report on the carrier's operational capability and flight safety. The aviation watchdog, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, had earlier threatened to cancel the flying permit saying the airline was not maintaining schedules. Kingfisher has a debt of Rs.7,057.08 crore. Its net loss widened to Rs.444.27 crore for the quarter ended Dec 31, 2011, from Rs.253.69 crore in the OctoberDecember quarter in the last fiscal.

The data showed a rocky start for the housing market, with home prices falling for the fifth month in a row.

Stem cell segment in India to touch $8-bn mark

Hyderabad: Lack of legislation and awareness coupled with quality and ethical Issues has been deterrent to the growth of stem cell therapy sector in India, where the bio-tech market is expected to achieve a market size of USD 8 billion by 2015, according to a report by the Yes bank. Special provisions such as 10-year tax benefits, duty exemptions, fast tracking the approval process by giving it a status of orphan drug (as done in the US) are some measures which could be very helpful to become leaders in this sector, the report 'Stem Cells--an emerging Bio-sector' suggested. "The legislation for this sector still is at the draft stage. A regulatory framework governing the sector, instead of the guidelines existing at present is essential for the proper growth of stem cell research and applications in India. There are also no guidelines regarding pricing which results in certain unproven injections being sold for around Rs 80,000," the report said. Several companies are taking advantage of the lack of laws governing the stem cell segment and advertise their therapies and clinical trials as ICMR approved. However, given the multi-tiered system of registration and approvals recommended in the ICMR's guidelines, some of these are based on fraudulent or exaggerated claims. Further, there are also ethical worries on the side-effects of such treatment, it further said. In India, there are very few players in the stem cell sector and these are all in very nascent stages and industry consolidation with global players entering into the market through mergers and acquisition route could propel industry growth, it opined.

Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info

25

March 31-April 6, 2012

Sachin available for entire IPL: Mumbai Indians

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar will be available to play the entire duration of the upcoming Indian Premier League after returning from London where he has gone for a medical consultation for a toe injury, the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise team spokesman said. "I can categorically say Sachin Tendulkar (captain of Mumbai Indians) is available for the entire duration of the IPL. He has gone to London just for consultation (about his toe injury) and is scheduled to be back on March 31. There is no question of any surgery," the spokesperson said. "He will also be there for the opening ceremony (on April 2) at Chennai and for the opening encounter (on April 4 against defending champions Chennai Super Kings)," the spokesman added. The MI clarification came after it was learnt from a source in "Yes, Sachin Tendulkar has gone to London for consultation about his toe injury. He has been playing with this injury for long. It is not sure when he will return as even a surgery may be needed to correct it," the BCCI source said earlier. The Indian Premier League is all set to commence on April 4 in Chennai, where Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians, last year's runner-up will take on Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings at the M A Chidambaram Stadium. Tendulkar, who notched up his 100th international ton in the recently-concluded Asia Cup, did not attend the BCCI-organised felicitation function of the retired batsman Rahul Dravid last evening at a hotel near his residence, as he had already left for England. The toe injury is a decade-old but it came back to haunt him and upset his plans to play the ODI series in England last September after a not-too-successful run in the four-Test series that preceded it. The senior cricketer was withdrawn from the team sheet before the first ODI, which was washed out. And then the BCCI issued a statement, saying that Tendulkar had been ruled out of the series "due to a toe injury". Tendulkar had consulted a specialist in London after suffering the injury and was advised four weeks' rest. He came back to play the Test rubber against the West Indies at home after missing the Champions League Twenty 20, which was won by Mumbai Indians under the stand-in-skipper Harbhajan Singh. But after playing the Test series against the Windies, Tendulkar again opted to rest for the ODI series.

Sachin Tendulkar has gone to London for consultation about his toe injury. the Cricket Board that the return of gery might be needed to put a the champion batsman, after his question mark on his participation consultation in London with a spe- for the entire duration of the cialist, was uncertain as even a sur- Twenty20 League.

Major challenge looms large for Tiger Woods

Former teammates hail Dravid 'The Wall'

Mumbai: "I had made a pact with myself that I would not cry at any of the functions organized for me over the last three weeks, but I think today that's been tested to the limit," said Rahul Dravid, voice choking with emotion during the felicitation ceremony organized for him by BCCI. Tributes flowed just like Dravid's strokeplay during his halcyon years (between 2002 and 2006) as former teammates Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni waxed eloquent about the WALL. The only surprising omissions in the guest list that included Indian cricket's who's who, both past and present, were Sachin Tendulkar, with whom Dravid had shared most century partnerships and has scored most runs, and India's first World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev. Probably, both had prior commitments. BCCI President N Srinivasan was indisposed due to ill health but sent a recorded message and called Dravid one of India's most selfless cricketers. "Cricket's given me some of my most unbelievable experiences," Dravid said, trying hard to stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks. "I've experienced some unbelievable victories and some crushing defeats. been possible." The man responsible for many a glorious overseas Indian triumph also thanked the BCCI for making Indian cricket the force that it is today. "When I started in 1996, Indian cricketers were treated much like second class citizens. We always toured England in the first half of their summer and were made to play on some of the smaller county grounds. Indian cricketers have changed that but the BCCI has played its role in making us the big boys of international cricket." Dravid, who was vice-captain to Sourav Ganguly for almost five years, also paid his former captain rich tributes. "We've been captain and vice-captain for more than five years and the relationship is almost like a husband and wife. We've had out ups and downs, but I think we've both come out of it with flying colours." Ganguly, on his part called Dravid as one of greatest No. 3 batsmen overseas that the world has ever produced, but rated his innings of 180 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001 as his best. Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who made his Test debut under Dravid's captaincy in 2005, said, "Dravid is someone who walked through obstacles and not around them."

Tiger Woods. Orlando: Now that Tiger Woods has ended his 30-month victory drought on the PGA Tour, the question turns to whether the former world number one can win again where it really counts - in a major championship, starting with the Masters. Asked where his 72nd PGA Tour victory ranked, Woods said: "It's not like winning a major championship or anything, but it certainly feels really good." Woods has long judged other players by whether or not they have won a major, and with 14 to his name he knows all about what it takes to succeed in the ultimate tests for a golfer. But now Woods, who has not triumphed at one of golf's four majors since the 2008 US Open, has to prove it all again. Sunday's win at Bay Hill was an important step for Woods as it ended a once-unthinkable barren spell and proved that he has the mental fortitude to keep his cool on a Sunday afternoon and make it over the finish line. After battling injuries, swing changes and the difficulty of coping with mediocre results, let alone the mental strain of a marriage breakdown and the accompanying negative publicity, "getting it done" mattered for Woods. Gusty and unpredictable winds, coupled with fast greens that proved tough for many players at Bay Hill, seemed unable to faze Woods, who shot four consecutive sub-par rounds in a tournament for the first time since the 2010 Masters.

A tearful adieu: The BCCI organized a felicitation ceremony for Rahul Dravid in Mumbai. What I've learnt through them is that tough times do pass and we can endure and we can survive. Playing for India humbled me and made me appreciate what I did for so long," Dravid said amidst rapturous applause. Calling himself lucky to be at the "right place at the right time", Dravid went on to salute the backroom boys of Indian cricket. "I want to thank the groundsmen, scorers, umpires and people who work in honorary positions just to help organize a game of cricket and set the stage for us to perform, because without them these hundreds and these achievements wouldn't have

Bhupathi-Bopanna reach semis at Miami

Miami: Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna scraped past third seeds Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic to enter the men's doubles semi-finals at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis here. The sixth-seeded Indian duo beat Frenchman Llodra and Serbia's Zimonjic 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 in the quarter-finals. They next play either Lukasz Kubot and Janko Tipsarevic or second seeds Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi. Bhupathi and Bopanna will be eying their second final of the season after winning the Dubai Duty Free Championships this month. The 37-year-old Bhupathi has reached the final here thrice in four years with different partners. He won his maiden title last year with countryman Leander Paes, who is now playing alongside Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic.

26

Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

Sitting for long hours kills you fast

London: Sitting for 11 hours or more in everyday life increases our chances of dying within three years, irrespective of whether we are physically active or not, an Australian study has found. According to the study by University of Sydney, the people who remained sedentary for half day had a 40 percent increased risk, even when physical activity and weight was taken into account, the Daily Mail reported. "These results have important public health implications. That morning walk or trip to the gym is still necessary but it's also important to avoid prolonged sitting," according to study leader Hidde van der Ploeg. "Our results suggest the time people spend sitting at home, work and in traffic should be reduced by standing or walking more." The results showed physical activity was still beneficial -- inactive people who sat the most had double the risk of dying within three years than the active people who sat least. Among the physically inactive

Never think about your past with anger

London: People remembering their past with negative memories are more likely to fall ill, suggests a study. According to the University of Granada's study, people's attitude to the past, present and future influenced the perception they had of their health as well as their quality of life, the Daily Mail reported. Those who looked back in anger found it harder to make an effort in their daily tasks and were also more likely to perceive pain. Co-author Cristian Oyanadel, said: "We have observed that when people are negative about past events in their life, they also have a pessimist or fatalistic attitude towards current events. "This generates greater problems in their relationships and these people present worse quality of life indicators." The researchers assessed 50 people -- 25 women and 25 men aged between 20 and 70 -- from a randomized sample, using questionnaires and time orientation tests. The findings were published in the journal Universitas Psychologica.

group, those who sat the most had nearly one-third higher chance of dying than those who sat least. The research was commissioned by the Cardiovascular Research Network and supported by the National Heart Foundation Australia's NSW Division. Heart Foundation CEO Tony Thirlwell said being inactive was a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for over 17 million deaths a year worldwide. "Watching TV, using computers and electronic games can involve sitting for long periods and have become a big part of leisure time," he said. "But we know that people who spend less time on these things have better health than those who spend too much time on them."

China has 7 million lottery addicts

Beijing: A study in China has revealed that of the country's over 200 million lottery players, seven million are lottery addicts. The survey has been conducted by Lottery Investigation Centre of China, People's Daily reported. According to the Beijing Times, most of these lottery addicts, who cannot help buying lotteries, are young people aged between 18 to 45. They have high school or college degrees and have a low monthly income of 1,500 to 3,000 yuan (upto $474). These people feel they are inferior in social and economic position, said Chen Haiping, a doctor in psychology at Beijing Normal University. The survey has also revealed that men are more easily addicted to lottery than women. According to Zhu Weiguo, commissioner of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, the government should resolve lottery addiction by using

lottery fund. It is also viable for lottery agencies to set up a rescue fund to cope with lottery addiction as well as carry out related follow-up investigation by using the bonuses abandoned by lottery players, Zhu added.

Ultimate Bollywood TheSouthAsianTimes.info

27

March 31- April 6, 2012

It's nappy time for B-Town moms 'Avatar 2' not delayed t's a role you haven't seen them in. Away from the limelight, life is all about changing diapers and as no release date fixed' nurturing their little ones for Bollywood's glamour
girls like Aishwarya Rai, Lara Dutta and Celina Jaitly who have just stepped into motherhood. Celina gave birth to twin boys in Dubai, and the mother and children are doing well healthwise, according to the actress' husband, hotelier Peter Haag. They have named their twins Winston and Viraaj. Lara delivered a baby girl in January and she has been spending time with her bundle of joy, named Sara. However, she is already back to reading scripts. "Back to hearing scripts and making decisions. Exciting things to look forward to! On another note, nothing smells better than a Johnson's Baby," Lara wrote on Twitter last month. The actress-producer, married to tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi, was extremely excited about her pregnancy; her face had a glow every time she stepped out confidently with her baby bump. Actress Aishwarya Rai, who chose to keep away from the shutterbugs during her pregnancy, is also busy doting upon her daughter, born in November 2011. The four-month-old daughter, said to have been named Aaradhya, is keeping Aishwarya occupied and work has taken a backseat for the actress. The former beauty queen has visibly put on post-pregnancy weight and would have to shed it off before she gets back to the cameras. Her husband, Abhishek Bachchan, says she is happy playing mom for now and would only return to work when she feels like it. "When she wants to come back is completely her decision...as and when she decides, when she sees a

Producer Jon Landau.

scar-winning producer Jon Landau has rejected rumors about delay of "Avatar 2", saying there is no question of delay as a date for its release was never set. In India to oversee the 3D release of "Titanic", Jon said, " 'Avatar 2' has not been delayed. We never set a date for it to delay it. We are in very early stages of pre-production and we want to put all the pieces together before we formally announce a date."

Jon is James Cameron's partner in producing both "Titanic" and "Avatar". And like the first, the next two sequels of "Avatar" will also push the technological frontiers of filmmaking and viewing. Both the films will be shot on an increased frame rate giving the audience a perceptible difference in quality of images. Though Hollywood experimented with a faster frame rate in the 1970s, the technology could not gain traction.

Actor Aishwarya Rai, who chose to keep away from the shutterbugs during her pregnancy, is also busy doting upon her daughter. script she is inspired by - the decision is entirely hers. Currently she is very happy doing what she is doing," Abhishek said recently. Other B-Town actresses who became moms recently include Sonali Kulkarni and Rituparna Sengupta. While Sonali is married to corporate figure Nachiket Pantvaidya, Bengali actress Rituparna who already had a son with childhood sweetheart Sanjay Chakrabarty gave birth to their daughter in July last year. Shilpa Shetty, married to London-based Raj Kundra, is preparing for her D-day. She announced her pregnancy on Twitter in December 2011, calling it the "most beautiful phase" of her life.

Balan's Kahaani caught in plagiarism row

ujoy Ghoshs latest film Kahaani, which has raked good response from critics and audience alike, has been caught in a plagiarism row. The climax of the Vidya Balan starrer bears stark resemblance with Angelina Jolies Taking Lives. Although, the plot of the two films is different, the surprise element in the climax of the former seems to be hugely inspired by the latter. Kahaani talks about the struggle of a pregnant woman in search of her missing husband (thought to be Indraneil Sengupta) in Kolkata a city thats unknown to her. In the film, Vidya is helped by a junior police officer and as the film unfolds, big guns from the IB department get involved in the case. Finally, when Vidya comes face to face with Indraneil, they get into an altercation and he pushes back Vidya, only to get stabbed by the lady with her hairpin. She, then, removes her prosthetic pregnant belly, shoots him and disappears

Rani-Aditya make it official?

The climax of the Vidya Balan-starrer bears stark resemblance with Angelina Jolies Taking Lives. before the cops arrive. In the end, it is revealed that Vidya was the widow of IB officer Arup Basu, a colleague of Indraneil, who was killed in the poison-gas attack, accelerated by Indraneil. The striking similarities between the climaxes of the two films have once again stirred the debate of plagiarism in Bollywood. Kahaani and Taking Lives end in a similar fashion, when in the Angelina Jolie starrer, a heavily pregnant Angelina is choked and stabbed by a pair of scissors by Ethen Hawks in her belly. An unharmed Angelina stabs Ethen in the heart with the same scissors. As he lies dying, the FBI profiler, too, removes her prosthetic pregnant belly, and tells him the past seven months have been a carefully planned trap.

Rani Mukherjee with beau Aditya Chopra.

'Kolaveri Di' crosses 50 million hits

'

Kolaveri Di' has crossed 50 million hits on YouTube, revealing that music lovers have yet to get over southern superstar Dhanush's unusual song. Sony Music gives credit to social networking sites for its phenomenal success. "It's amazing to see 'Kolaveri Di' escalate to such a phenomenal success. Our simple attempt of uploading a song has turned it into an historic recall. People have appreciated and danced to the tunes of this song not just in the south but all over the globe," Shridhar

Subramaniam, president India and Middle East Sony Music Entertainment said. "Remixes, different versions and flash mobs prove that 'Kolaveri Di' is highly appreciated," he added. Thanks to its peppy, catchy tune and bilingual lyrics, the song went viral when it was launched on the internet Nov 16 and got more than a million hits within a day of its release. Subramaniam credits social networking sites for the phenomenon success of the song launched by them.

ani Mukherjee was recently spotted celebrating her birthday with beau Aditya Chopra in London, reports Mumbai Mirror. A source from Yash Raj Films told the tabloid, For the past few years, Rani and Adi have been celebrating their birthdays and all important occasions together. With Adi currently stationed in London to look into his fathers directorial venture with Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, Rani decided to take a break from shooting for Anurag Kashyaps

Aaiya and flew down to London to celebrate her birthday on March 21 with Adi. Not only this, she also visited the sets of Yash Chopra's yetuntitled movie. Rani, Adi, Yash Chopra and SRK went for dinner and spent some quality time together, according to the tabloid. Rani also visited the sets of Yash Chopras yet-untitled film. He seems to have given his nod to the relationship, and rumour is that the couple will tie the knot this year, the source was quoted by the tabloid.

28

Humor TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

Humor with Melvin Durai

s youve probably heard, Google plans to introduce eyeglasses that will have a computerized lens, allowing you to view all kinds of information, as well as entertainment, while you do various tasks. You could, for example, be meeting your girlfriends father for the first time, telling him all about your passion for hunting and the eight-point buck you shot during your trip to Montana, while glancing at the display on your lens and reading something useful from the Internet, such as Ten ways to impress your girlfriends father. Meanwhile, your girlfriend is also wearing glasses and doing some reading of her own: Ten ways to keep your vegetarian dad from killing your boyfriend. Her father is also reading something: Ten ways to dispose of a body. Yes, the Google glasses will be handy, not just for looking up important information but also for keeping yourself entertained. Dont be surprised if you go to your church or temple one day and find that half the worshipers are wearing glasses. In the middle of the service, someone might blurt out, What a beautiful goal! And someone else might respond, Dont tell me youre following Obamas speech too!

Googles Glasses: A glimpse into the future

wont be easy at first. Youll have to move your head to make choices, instead of using your fingers. Some people wont like it, but at least the church minister will be pleased that people are nodding during his sermon. My sermons must be getting better, he will say to his wife. There were about 10 people nodding today and only 20 nodding off. Since the glasses are being produced by Google, you can expect to see a lot of ads. Advertisers are always looking for eyeballs, and thanks to Googles innovation, your eyeballs will be so close to the display, Google will be able to measure how big they get when the Join PLO ad flashes in front of them, along with pictures of whom you can meet at Polish Ladies Online. With the GPS sensor and built-in camera, Google will be able to serve you the most

The Google glasses, expected to be priced between $250 and $600, will be like a smartphone one that you can wear and see through. They will have a built-in camera, as well as audio inputs and outputs. They will also come with a GPS (global positioning system) sensor, so that you will know, at any moment of the day, the approximate location of the person who stole your glasses. Controlling the menu on the glasses

relevant ads. For example, if youre sitting in a bar, drinking your fifth beer, you might see an ad for Penn State University. And if youre drinking your tenth beer, you might see an ad for Newt Gingrich for President. The built-in camera may eventually allow Google Maps to replace its static Street View with Real-Time Street View. If you want to see Main Street in Salisbury, Connecticut, for example, Google might be able to show you views from dozens of glasses on the street. You could take a virtual stroll with the towns most famous resident, Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, as she walks her dog down Main Street. Of course, while Real-Time Street View will probably be free, Google will make you pay a small fee for Real-Time Streep View.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

by Mahendra Shah
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tech Life

Angry Birds Space is coming to Windows Phone, says CEO

Helsinki: Rovio is working on getting its new Angry Birds Space game to Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform (WP7), its chief executive said putting Nokia and other Windows phones more on a par with the iPhone. "We are working towards getting Angry Birds Space to WP7," Rovio Chief Executive Mikael Hed said dismissing earlier media reports that the top gaming firm was dumping the platform. Hed, however, said the launch date was not set. Rovio's games are topping sales charts on all key platforms and reports that the gaming company was shying away from the Windows Phone was seen as a major blow to Nokia's strategy to shift to use it in all its smartphones. After Hed's comments to Reuters, Nokia shares were 0.6 per cent higher at 3.97 euros by 1516 GMT.

"We are working closely together with Nokia to bring our games to their platforms," Hed said. "Our mutual goal is to bring the best possible experience to our fans, including all fans using Windows Phone devices." The Finnish start-up behind the world's most downloaded mobile game has been valued at up to $9 billion little more than two years after it first launched Angry Birds for Apple's iPhone. The game has been downloaded more than 700 million times, and is the fastest-growing game on Facebook.

Astrology
TheSouthAsianTimes.info

29

March 31-April 6, 2012

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: March 31-April 6, 2012
Aries: This week you should cut down your expenses to ease financial constraints. Moneymaking ventures will not be as good as they appear. You are likely to be bothered with too much work and too many family obligations and it will cause mental stress. Try to relax as much as possible and go after recreation and entertainment. Travelling will promote new romance and additional knowledge. Taurus: This is a good week for making important decisions. You should work towards completing your projects and remember to take into confidence all those who are involved with you. You will be able to get along well with your colleagues. The best way to keep yourself happy and relaxed will be to get involved in new hobbies. Opportunities for new and exciting relationship will be yours if you go out and socialize. Be very careful about what you say in public. Gemini: This week financially you will be on a better footing. Investments in stock may not bring in desired results, but real estate matters look promising and can bring you handsome gains. Friends will seek your support and someone will even share a secret with you, make sure you keep it to yourself. Efficiency will be more important than creativity and try not to let any underlying discord ruin your mental peace. Travel will be important for strengthening ties. Cancer: Friends and near ones will provide financial support. However, you may be a bit reluctant and hesitant to accept it. This is the period of compensation and rewards and you will be appreciated for the good deeds you have done in the past. If you go out shopping, you will find it extremely difficult to control yourself from overspending. Driving too fast and getting involved in gossip will put you into trouble with elders in the family. Leo: Sudden speculative gains during this week may not be ruled out. Expenditures on the renovation or beautification of the house or on the other domestic requirements are likely to rise. This is a good period to work on creative hobbies and to purchase art items that will grow in value. Professionally your hard work will pay off, and you will be appreciated for your efforts, but try to keep your professional life completely separate from your personal one. Virgo: Although it will be a hectic and tiring week yet you will be extremely pleased with your achievements. Fresh business deals will bring in good financial gains. Emotionally things might be disturbing and someone close to your heart will disappoint you immensely, but you should follow your conscience and behave exactly the way you normally do. Your friends and coworkers will be grateful to you for the help that you extend to them. You will be generous and enjoy the pleasure of giving. Libra: Take time off to have fun with family members. You need to remember that life is short and you should enjoy each and every moment of it. You will make some new friends if you go out and socialize. You will have good opportunities to make major changes that will swing you in a position of leadership. Your unique and original ideas will be appreciated. Financial gains are certain, but speculation should be completely avoided. Scorpio: This week you will buy luxurious and exorbitantly expensive items for the spouse or beloved to attract more love and affection. Your income will increase, but so will your expenses. Investments put in the past will fetch returns. Past differences with colleagues if any will get sorted out. By doing what makes you happy, you will attract the right crowd. Everything that happens around you will bring you lot of fun. Opportunity for a new romance seems likely for those unattached. Sagittarius: This is a mixed period of gains and losses. On one side financially things will improve and on the other side some unexpected development on the work front may disturb your mental peace. Sudden romantic encounter will set your head spinning, but you should make sure that this doesnt distract you from your responsibilities. You will be in the mood to overspend, however if you dont control yourself you could have a severe financial constraint in the coming days. Capricorn: Funds may flow in through various sources to ease out your financial constraints. You may spend lavishly on your friends as well as your family members. Concentrate on your pending work. Someone with big plans and ideas will capture your attention but you should not make any financial commitments until you are sure you can keep to it. Business dealing with relatives or friends will definitely not be in your interest. You will enjoy the time you spend with children. Aquarius: This week dont force your opinion on others. Lectures and meeting that you attend will help you in building important professional contacts. Money gains from unexpected sources likely to boost up your spirits. Ignoring your spouse will only bring tensed moments at home. Avoid any arguments or confrontation. Travel and communication will be important but will not go as smoothly as expected. Focus your attention on domestic issues and look after the needs of others. Pisces: This week you should use your extra energy to finish pending jobs. Prevailing projects and plans will carry on in a smooth pace. Children may cause some dissatisfaction as they get distracted from their responsibilities. Be careful of your belongings while travelling. Foreign transactions expected to yield good returns. It would be better to control over your expenses and plan out the budget according to your sources and means. Spiritual gains for some will bring solace and mental peace.

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

March: 31 Number 4, planet Uranus and the moon will provide the impetus to your life to make it worth running. You should figure out the vital issues to utterly draft the full proof plan for a successful career. You should thank to your stars for placing the right-thinking individuals around you. They wisely turn the table and dig out best out of you. You are not able to define your happiness appropriately which other misunderstood as the sign of chesty and self important behavior. You need to evade such type of enemies. You are a useful tool for the society who not only donate money but also look for the needs of the needy people. Read the instruction manual properly to find out making the money option. At last your seriousness will put the things in or with minor adjustments create the right ambience. Creativity and intelligence will take you to places far away from your native place. June, August and May will be yielding. April 01: Directed by number 1, and the Sun, you are self-confident, commanding, distinguished, dogged and elegant person. You possess numerous in built talents and you can effortlessly make an impact on others with your devotion and uphill struggle, but it is essential for you to be in command of your propensity to govern and overspend. Your upcoming year sees you achieve from the civilizing financial system. Your economic condition will be enhanced with the help of novel ventures and tactics. Your savings will burgeon and give in good proceeds. Some of you are likely to tie the knot towards the closing stages of the year, while others would find love to keep them going. Offspring would win glory and make you feel swollen with pride. Swimmers and athletes would balance new heights in their professional career. Legitimate matters which are awaiting would finish pleasingly, rendering you mental liberation. Regular patients would require taking additional care of their health. Meditation and yoga would be of assistance enormously. July, November, February and March will prove extremely important. April 02: Guided by number 2 and the Moon, you are lively, smart, vigorous, liable, and efficient and an amicable person. You are by no means contented until you accomplish your imaginings. You can in fact do well with the given opportunities but you have to verify your propensity to act obstinate and fickle-minded at times. Your monetary condition will get better by new sources of income. New contracts will be exceedingly advantageous. Regular and productive journeys will be undertaken yielding you expected outcome. You are expected to purchase a new vehicle or make a property transaction during this phase. Visit to a sacred place or blessings from a pious person will be high on your agenda. Your extrovert temperament will work to your benefit as you achieve favors and profit from significant people. The months of October, November and March will yield wealth. April 03: Dominated by number 3 and the planet Jupiter, you are a realistic, active, business minded, luminous and a hopeful person. Youre accommodating and always ready to lend a hand and get pleasure from immense admiration in your friends circle, but you have to test your inclination to behave covetous and inflexible at times. You are advised not to believe others on imperative matters this year. You will not like to share private and reticent information. The ambiance at workplace will entail you to handle significant jobs with more accountability. A notable change in your life will be brought by an abrupt influence of a religious person. Your partner and family members will be helpful to your concerns and endow you with love and care. Journey to far places, may be overseas for some will get a hold of constructive proceeds. The months of May, July, November, January and April will be highly considerable. April 04: Lined by number 4 and the planet Uranus, you are kind, peace loving, handsome, logical, disciplined, inventive character and shy person in nature. You have power over a strong remembrance and an aptitude to electrify others with your smart and humorous conversation, but you necessitate curbing your trend to be profligate, irresponsible and temperamental at times. This promises to be a terrific year fetching richness and good luck. For women this is going to be a gratifying period as there will be new chances to enhance career expectations. Students are required to give attention to their studies and prepare for the coming year. Romance and new relations look probable for the unmarried. Elders and kids in the family will stipulate much of your consideration. Health of your spouse may cause apprehension and worry. The months of June, August, December, March and May will be noteworthy. April 05: Influenced by number 5 and the planet Mercury, you posses the qualities of being very intellectual, tactful, highly business oriented, cooperative, god fearing and kind benevolent person. You like good food, meeting compatible people and visiting remote lands. You have a good name in the community and people value you for what you are, but you need to limit your propensity towards impatience and over-exertion. All the way through it will be a time of victory and contentment; you should give credit to the support rendered by your family members. Due to your enhanced skills and talent you will also attain significance amongst your contemporaries. Regardless of chaotic schedule your health will reveal development that you might lay at workplace. Savings will give up attractive results. Romantic coalition grows with someone that you have furtively admired. The months of July, September, October, February and March will be action-packed. April 06: Governed by number 6 and the planet Venus, you possess the traits of being vigorous, sensible, disciplined, and logical and a liberal person. You are innovative and research oriented and can do a marvel with your wisdom, but you require checking your proclivity to behave intolerant, fanciful and envious at times. This year brings steady period of augmentation and riches with new confidence and fervor. Your self-assurance will be far above the ground. Investment will prove to be gratifying and long term speculation is also suggested Disputes imminent for a long time will be solved which will get you at ease. Blessing from a devout person will offer succor and consolation. You are advised to not get close to strangers who act more gracious and excuse those who come up to you for loans. Friends will be helpful but challenging. The months of August, September, October and May will bear out to be result oriented.

Before you consult...

i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, dont feel shy. Its his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.

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or email consult.gems@gmail.com A special offer for the readers of The South Asian Times

30

Spiritual Awareness TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 31-April 6, 2012

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

here are volumes of scriptures in all religions describing various ways of finding God. There are countless paths giving thousands of methods of meeting the Lord. But there is no way easier than looking into the eyes of the Master. If we read the writings of the three great Masters, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, and Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj, we find that they all speak of the Godintoxicated eyes of their own Masters. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji said of Hazur, Just as a drunkard feels restlessly agitated by looking at vintage splashing in a goblet, similarly, by looking into the cups of the deeply set eyes of the Master, the souls of the devotees soar high in ecstasy divine. Sant Darshan Singh Ji describes in this verse what transpires when one looks into the eyes of the Master: As the beauty of the Beloveds eye caught the light of mine, It became ever more ravishing and irresistible. And another verse is: When the flame flashes from the goblet, a ray of light will burst forth, But when my eyes meet the eyes of the Cupbearer, day will dawn. By looking into the eyes of the Master, we can read volumes more than what is contained in books. In the Masters eyes we find the story of love. We encounter the love of God pouring forth from them. We discover the tale of eternitythe story of the love of our soul and God. Our souls personal love story began when God wanted to love and separated souls from God. As Sant Darshan Singh Ji used to say, God was all alone. God was lonely and wanted to have some lovers to love God. Thus, God separated small drops of God, which are known as souls. These souls were sent down to inhabit the various regions God created. In this game created by God, souls were supposed to return directly to God after one lifetime. But the intricacies of Gods play became so complex that the souls ended up being trapped for lifetime upon lifetime in the various worlds. They became caught in the cycle of births and deaths. In this grand play, souls have been environed by the sheaths corresponding to each plane. In the causal plane, they wear a causal body and have a causal mind. In the astral plane, they are covered by an astral

body and an astral mind, and in the physical plane, they have a physical body and a physical mind. The soul has identified itself with the body and mind, and has forgotten itself and its Creator, its true Beloved. It has been led away by the temptations and enticements of the lower worlds of creation. God was eager for the souls to return to God, for God created them to love and to be loved by God. But the purpose for which they were made is only fulfilled when they turn to, love, and receive Gods love in its fullness. God is allconsciousness, all-knowing, and simultaneously aware of every soul created, whether it inhabits the form of a person, an animal, a plant, or a tiny blade of grass. God sees each soul caught up in the panorama of life and watches as the lower species of life are caught in mere survival. Each creature is trying to satisfy its physical needs for food, shelter, warmth, and safety. God also sees that the highest species of life, human beings, are caught up in trying to provide for their physical needs. But human beings have been given a facility which animals do not have. It is only in the human form that the soul can realize God. Thus, God has granted humanity a priceless boon in the hopes that it will recognize that it is a part of God. But instead of utilizing that gift, humans are engaged in the same activities as the lower formsmere survival. God watches as human beings spend their lives working to buy food, clothing, and pay for their shelter. God also observes that human beings have various pastimes which do not help in realizing God. Many people engage themselves in amassing possessions, wealth, or property. Others spend their time in acquiring name, fame, and power. Countless souls are lost in the worlds games. There are so many varieties of entertainment to occupy our attention. Two of the greatest distractions in modern times are television and movies. God is sitting within each of us and wants us to turn within, but we instead turn to television and movies and numerous other pastimes. For lifetimes we have been revolving on this merrygoround of births and deaths. God, in eagerness to bring souls back, had to take some action to speed up this painfully slow process. What God did was to send down representatives, some of Gods select and speciallyfavored souls, to bring the other lost souls back. God sends down saints and Masters. These souls are one with God. They speak Gods words. They act according to Gods will, and they radiate Gods love. When they come, they carry the fragrance of God with them. When the saints take birth in a human form to live amongst us in this world, they come to awaken humanity, in fact, all creation, to the true connection with God. They come to remind us that we are, in reality, soulpart of God. When the saints come they use various means to awaken humanity. Through books and literature and satsangs they give out the Truth. They

The eyes of the master

explain that we are soul, a part of God and that we can reach God within us. But more than that, they give those souls who awaken to their message an actual proof and experience of what they are saying. At some point in each persons life, he or she begins to question the mystery of life and death. When such a query arises, the person begins to pray to God for an answer. God, sitting within, is overjoyed that such a question is raised and then creates circumstances that lead such seeking souls to a place where they can find the answer. It may be that they pick joyed. Something inside awakens and unfolds. The soul sees a glimmer of hope. The soul is attracted to this lifenourishing presence of the Master. The soul feels the affinity between itself and the God power flowing through the Master. That affinity is of the soul with its Creator. That is why people want to sit in the presence of the Master for hours. They find it so soothing, so uplifting. The Master grants the seeker initiation, a contact with the Light and Sound of God within. By his own attention, the Master uplifts the soul. The soul currents start to withdraw

At some point in each persons life, he or she begins to question the mystery of life and death. When such a query arises, the person begins to pray to God for an answer. God, sitting within, creates circumstances that lead such seeking souls to a place where they can find the answer.
up a book by a Master, or they attend a satsang or meet someone who is in contact with a Master. Or the person may come into direct contact with the Master himself. The Master draws people by his spoken or written words. The seeker finds answers that make sense in the Masters discourses. The Master also attracts them by his divine radiation. Although the Master has the physical form of a man, the God Power flowing through him beautifies him to the point that souls feel a pull, an attraction. The soul recognizes the Oversoul working through the Master. The soul finds itself magnetically drawn to the saint. It is similar to bees seeking the honeyed nectar. Whenever we saw our Beloved Master Sant Kirpal Singh Ji or Sant Darshan Singh Ji moving about, we would find crowds of people rushing toward them, wanting their glance, wanting to be near them, wanting a touch of their hand. It sometimes became difficult for them to move. Sant Darshan Singh Ji used to describe what it was like, for example, in South America. The numbers of people would be so great that he used to say that when he left the crowd he would have to check whether his hands were still attached to his body! When a seeking soul finds a place where the answers to lifes mysteries start making sense, that soul is overfrom the entanglements of the body to the seat of the soul from where we can transcend the body and travel into the Beyond. The soul experiences inner Light and celestial Music. Through meditation, the soul becomes further absorbed in the Light and Sound and begins to rise above bodyconsciousness to soar into the Beyond. Our soul recognizes that it is not the body but the soul. It then speeds on its journey back to its Oversoul. We get so much pleasure and enjoyment from the company of a God-realized saint that we do not want to leave. When not in his presence, we feel restless. We find people standing for hours at the saints threshold or on a roadside, waiting for even a brief glimpse of him. Normally, people cannot even wait for more than a few minutes in line for a bus or to pay a cashier. But for the saints glance, they will wait for hours and will not leave until they see him. We find people sitting in a bhandara for twelve to fifteen hours, even through intense heat or bitter cold. Why? Their soul is meeting their longlost Beloved after eons. They feel that love passing through the Masters eyes and penetrating deeply into their own eyes. They feel the love passing from heart to heart and from soul to soul. The quickest way to meet the Lord is to gaze into the Masters eyes.

Deep love passes from his eyes to ours. Gods love is looking out at us through the Master s eyes. The Beloved Lord is conveying love for us through the Master. His eyes pour out sweet nectar. The sun may illumine the earth with its rays of light, but when the Master smiles, he illumines our souls with a greater Light, one which brings ecstasy and joy. His beauty is so charming, so captivating, that we want to look at him all the time. His voice has a charm and sweetness that thrills our hearts. Each soul experiences this love because God has created each one, and loves each one. Thus, each person who comes to him carries his or her own personal relationship with him. Each soul was created by God and each has his or her own long history of searching for God. The Masters job is to bring each soul back to God. Thus, we find the Masters smile enlivening lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of hearts. We find the prashad he gives uplifts countless souls. And his darshan shines like the eternal sun on all creation. We need not read hundreds of books to find God. We only need to look into the Masters eyes and find the beauty, love, and divinity there. Lost in his eyes, we communicate without words. There is nothing between us except pure love. If we are receptive, we experience this love. We will feel a lift, a thrill, a bliss. If our mind is cluttered with thoughts, we will not feel it. If we are intellectually thinking of our problems, or analyzing what is happening, or thinking ill of others, our mind is standing in the way of our own bliss. Even if we are clutching to have one blessing or another, we stand in the way of receiving the waves of love emanating from the Master. The radiation flowing from the Master is consistent and eternal. It flows nonstop. The moment we gaze into his eyes sweetly, lovingly, receptively, with no thoughts, we will experience it. Then love, pure and simple, will flow from one heart to another. We will be lost in ecstasy. We will feel uplifted. When we close our eyes we will find his radiant form before us. We will see him with open eyes or closed eyes. We will have him continuously within us. We become more and more absorbed in his radiant form. Once we reach that state, our work is done, for we merge in that form, and then travel with him to the higher planes until we arrive at our eternal home. The union of our soul with God begins with pure love, unalloyed, unchanging. It begins with the glance of God pouring through the Master that penetrates our heart and soul. And that is the simple way back to God. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.