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Vol. 4 | No. 17 | August 13-19, 2011 | 60 Cents TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Nassau County  to Indian American Sant Rajinder Singh Bonds of love: celebrate India Day who took an A off US to grace Veggie Fest Raksha Bandhan on August 15 credit rating    in Chicago is on Aug 14

Tristate Community, National Community,   Veggie Fest, Festival,   Page 3 Page 8 Page 15 Page 16  Domestic demand will help India CG to ring Nasdaq London Sikhs lead tide over US financial crisis: Pranab closing bell on India    Day, Aug 15 fightback against riots US Stocks recover Thursday on small   New York: Ambassador Prabhu but positive economic signs       Dayal, Consul General of India in New Delhi: India will be able to Meanwhile, in Delhi, Mukherjee New York, will be presiding over tide over the nancial crisis ema- said during a discussion in the Ra- The NASDAQ Stock Market Clos- nating from a probable US double jya Sabha, “It is too premature to say ing Bell ceremony on India’s 65th dip recession and downgrade of its what will be the nal shape of the US Independence Day on August 15. sovereign debt rating as the Indian downgrade. But there is no doubt that This event is being held as part of economy’s growth was driven by our IT industry may be affected. India’s Independence Day celebra- domestic demand, Finance Minister Pranab Continued on page 4 tions. India con- Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday. tinues to be an Meanwhile, US stocks, recovered important and some lost ground on Thursday after promising coun- wild swings earlier in the week fol- try on its way lowing better than expected jobs data to becoming a Sikhs gather outside the gurdwara in Southall, south London, and some strong corporate earnings. global power- to protect the area from looters on August 10. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial house. Average rose 4.4 % to 11191 by the CG Continued London: The res which have serves as the focal point for local end of the day. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on page 4 raged in London’s worst rioting for worshipers, who make up 23 per- decades have forged a sense of com- cent of the area’s population, ac- munity rarely seen in the British cap- cording to the 2001 census. Celebrating India’s Presidency of UNSC ital, with Sikhs in the western bor- Sunny Bangea, 23, said he was To celebrate India’s Presidency of the UN Security Council, India’s Permanent ough of Southall leading the way. prepared “to ght re with re” to Hundreds of turbaned men gath- protect the temple and surrounding Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri hosted a reception at the General ered outside their gurdwara to de- community. “A lot of stupid things Assembly Building in New York attended by top diplomats, lawmakers and Indian fend the west London borough on happened here,” he said. “On Mon-   community leaders, alongside the opening of a ‘Humanitas - Images of India’ Tuesday after rumors circulated on day night, gangs tried to set the exhibition by award winning US photographer Fredric Roberts. social networking website Twitter temple on re, but there was no that it was next on the looters’ hit damage. Since then, we look after list, new agency AFP said. the temple 24 hours a day.” Men sporting traditional garb Although centred around the including the kirpan, led chants temple, the operation extended to as others patrolled the area by all members of the community, one car and motorcycle looking out of Bangea’s friends explained. for the looters who have ter- “It’s the local area, we have to rorized the city since Saturday. help, even if it’s the pub across the Amarjit Singh Dhillon, an ad- street,” he said. viserto the hastily-convened gurd- Community defense groups have wara com mittee, said that the op- sprung up across the capital since eration was “not about vigilantes, unprecedented rioting and looting just self-defense”. began late Saturday after a protest “My house can be rebuilt…but against the death of a man in a po- In the picture from L to R are: Justice Knipel, Adm. Justice Hinds-Radix, Federal District Judge George Daniels, this is a place of worship, it is for lice shooting turned violent. Fredric Roberts, Amb. Vijay Nambiar,, A/SG UN Women Lakshmi Puri, President of the UNSC and India’s everybody,” he said, adding that he Increased police numbers ap- Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri, Ranju Batra, Surrogate Judge Gigante, Ravi Batra, Justice would be ashamed of himself if he peared to have quelled the disorder, Schneier, Congressman Greg Meeks, Sen. Huntley, Justice Milton Tingling, Justice Aliotta, NY Senate Leader John L. Sampson, Neal Batra, Prof. John Humbach (hidden) and Pace University President Stephen Friedman. didn’t protect it. but the Southall Sikh community Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, continued to maintain their vigil as Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia.  the biggest Sikh temple in Europe, night fell Wednesday.

Tristate Community 3

TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 13-19, 2011 Nassau county to celebrate India Day on Aug 15 Mineola, NY: For second year run- Island Inc, Long Island Gujarati the India Day program & Deputy tributions to the community, they ning, Nassau County Executive Cultural Society, National Indo- Director, Nassau County Office of are Smt Rajinder Kaur (Women Em- Hon. Edward P Mangano is holding American Associations for Senior Economic Development. It is the powerment), Dr Vasundhra Kala- a function to celebrate India’s Inde- Citizens and Rotary Club of first time ever that over 10 Indian pusudi (Senior Citizens) and Vibhuti pendence Day. Together with the Hicksville South. American organizations have come Jha (Community Integration). National Federation of Indian Amer- Dignitaries invited to attend the on one stage to celebrate any event. Refreshments are being sponsorod ican Associations (NFIA), the cere- event include President of Guyana NFIA is delighted to co-host Inde- by Rajbhog and Rasraj restaurants mony on August 15 morning will be Bharrat Jagdeo, India’s Ambassador pendence Day of India celebration of Hicksville. Community leader held at the prestigious Theodore to the UN, Hardeep S. Puri, Con- in Nassau county with Office of Champak Parikh will perform the Roosevelt Executive and Legislative sulate General of India in New York, County Executive Ed Mangano, flag-hoisting ceremony in tradition- Building in Mineola. Hosting organ- Amb. Parabhu Dayal and senior said Lal Motwani, President of al style. Renowned attorney Jas izations are: Association of Indians elected officials of Nassau County. NFIA. Mayall will be the emcee of the in America-NY, India Association of Besides celebrating India Day in NFIA will be presenting to Hon. event. Long Island, Rajasthan Association Long Island, bringing the communi- Mangano a special memento remi- of North America, Kerala Center, ty together is another prime goal of niscent of the freedom struggle of Theodore Roosevelt International Punjabi Society, Indi- County Executive Hon. Ed India. Building in Mineola housing an American Forum, Indian Ameri- Mangano, said Kamlesh Mehta, At the event, three Indian Ameri- Nassau County Executive and can Malayalee Association of Long Chair, Coordination Committee of cans will be honored for their con- Legislative offices. Sex ed compulsory Pomp and show at IALI’s IndiaFest for public middle Melville, NY: The India Associ- ation of Long Island (IALI) or- and high schools ganized the 20th IndiaFest at Huntington Hilton Hotel here on New York: Sex education classes will be required last Sunday with great pomp and in all of the city's public middle and high schools show. An overwhelming 9,000 this school year for the first time in almost two people took part in the day long decades, officials revealed Tuesday. festivities at Long Island's The new mandate calls for schools to devote a largest showcase of India's cul- course to the birds and the bees in sixth or seventh ture, spotlighting a nation that is grade - and again in ninth or tenth grade - starting now a powerhouse economy. In- the second semester of the upcoming school year. diaFest also celebrates the Indi- The policy shift means that students as young as With his melodious voice, an-American communities liv- Kamlesh Mehta, Gobind Munjal, IALI President, Nassau 11 will be taught everything from the risks of un- actor Manu Narayan ing in the metropolitan area. County Executive Ed Mangano, Jon Kaiman, Supervisor, protected sex to issues surrounding pregnancy enthralled the audience. IndiaFest 2011 had one of the TowTown of North Hempstead, and Joe Galanti, Asstt. Comptroller, and puberty. High schoolers will receive pointers biggest displays of Arts & New York State, during Pledge of Allegiance. were also set up to provide in- on the proper way to use a condom, officials said. Crafts, Designer Clothes & Jew- of purely Indian ethnic and fu- singers Riti and Vishal Bhalla, formation on diabetes and high "In high schools, an oral description of how to elry, Floor Shows and Dances, sion outfits using a breathtaking and Nipun Marwah. Everybody blood pressure with doctors and use a condom will be given," a Department of Ed- Various types of Delicious Food variety of Indian fabrics which also enjoyed the excellent Dance nurses on hand and available. ucation official said. "If students want a demon- and Decoration, Henna & Mehn- kept the audience spellbound. Performance by Bolly Arts. Besides community leaders, stration, one can be given in the health resource di, Raffle, Games and Entertain- For the western segment, the Not to be missed were the the invited dignitaries included room." ment for the children, in other models wore their hair with great continuous variety on stage of Hon. Tony Avella, NY State Sen-Sen- Parents will have the right to keep their children words something for people of looking unique hats. Indian classical and contempo- ator, Hon. Ed Mangano, Nassau out of lessons on birth-control methods, officials all ages. Special Appearance by Manu rary dances from Kathak to County Executive and Hon. Jon said. Renowned Fashion Designer, Narayan, lead actor of hit Broad- Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam to Kaiman, Supervisor, Town of There will also be lessons on skills such as how Gujarat born Sushma Patel from way show "Bombay Dreams" Odissi, pop to bhangra. North Hempstead. to resist a partner's sexual advances when a stu- Atlanta, presented a fashion drove the young crowd crazy. Over 40 booths with a large The welcome remarks were dent is not ready and how to avoid abusive rela- show with heavily embroidered Manu’s melodious voice en- variety of Indian merchandise made by IALI President Gobind tionships. and sequined colorful creations thralled the audience as did were set up. Nutrition Booths Munjal. "We must be committed to ensuring that both middle school and high school students are ex- posed to this valuable information so they can learn to keep themselves safe before, and when, Rival India Day parade in they decide to have sex," Chancellor Dennis Wal- cott said in an email to colleagues. NJ also this Sunday Up to now, all middle and high schools have Edison, NJ: After a year of wrangling OakTree Indian Business Association conducted a one-semester state-mandated health between two rival organizations laying (OTIBA) from using its Edison parade education course that did not require sex ed in- claim to hold the annual India Day Parade permit. struction. in New Jersey, both are holding their own To rival IBA wallas one Bollywood While some schools have taught sex education parade to celebrate India’s 65th Inde- star, Kangana Ranaut, for their 7th pa- for years, others have ignored it entirely. A city pendence Day this Sunday afternoon, al- rade, OTIBA is bringing three—Soha Ali Education Department survey this spring found beit on different routes. Khan (Grand Marshal), Kunal Khemu approximately 64% of middle schools and 38% of A Supreme Court Judge denied a request and Southie Shriya Saran (chief guests). high schools already used the recommended sex by the Iselin-based Indian Business As- They were behind the 2004 parade in Soha Ali Khan will be the Grand ed curriculum. sociation to prevent the Edison-based New Jersey. Marshal of the parade in Edison 4 National Community

August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffoo AAuugguusst1133 --1199,2200 1111 Vedic scholars discuss a multitude of aspects of India’s caste system Piscataway, NJ: On July 31, 2011, Varna for the social evils associated paper setting forth Hindu perspec- World Association For Vedic with a social system that is a grossly tives on Jati / Varna / Kula. Studies (WAVES) concluded a well- corrupted distortion of Jati / Varna. The reactions of youth partici- attended three-day conference on "Well, if people have completely pants at the conference were of Varna, Jati and Kula (Caste) that discarded the genuine Varna-order, appreciation for the forum and featured prominent scholars world- and instead rolled out an unjust and readiness for engagement. "I am wide and robust youth participation corrupted order then it’s utterly very grateful for this opportunity to from high school, college and grad- unreasonable to slander the genuine learn so much about my culture", uate school students, including Varna-order," was the view of said Kshama Desai of Youth for members of Gayatri Pariwar, HSC Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, Sewa. “It was fantastic to see Hindu and Youth for Sewa. The scholars founder of All World Gayatri youth brainstorming the values of from various institutions and with Pariwar, as quoted by Sanjay their tradition in such a constructive diverse backgrounds presented his- Saxena at the conference. way", said Sashi Kejriwal, President torical, anthropological, social, and Third, there was consensus that it of WAVES. spiritual aspects of the caste system is inimical to Hindu interests for Ravi Jaishankar, Secretary of the in India. Dr. Pranav Pandya at the podium, Dr. Madan Lal Goel (center) others, including Hindu organiza- HSC (Hindu Students Council) The catalyst for the conference and Sanjay Saxena (left) tions not based in India, to conflate National Body, eloquently was the Hindu American of caste. They expressed a yearning of resolutions reflecting several of Jati / Varna with racism or crimes expressed the need for the commu- Foundation report denouncing the to learn more about Hinduism from the key points emerging from the against humanity—this is a matter nity to provide support to his gener- caste system. WAVES held this con- authentic sources and appreciation conference presentations. for Indians to solve as an internal ation to carry forward the Hindu tra- ference to provide a forum for for the original jati / varna system, In particular, it was agreed that social issue under the sovereign dition. scholars and religious leaders to which many felt had continuing rel- jati / varna in their original form power of India and one in which A series of presentations were present a diversity of views on the evance in modern times. were beneficial for the psycho-spiri- much progress has been made by made highlighting the ways in caste system from an Indic / Hindu Dr. Pandya, in his inaugural tual development of the individual the Indian government, the demo- which the original and practical con- perspective “as that perspective address, remarked, "The origin and and for social harmony and prosper- cratic / legal institutions of India cepts of Varna and Jati can be inte- often goes unheard in discussions on purpose of Varna-Ashram-Dharma ity. In fact, several participants on and the grassroots efforts of many grated with modern social, econom- caste and we felt that these voices (the core foundation of Indian civi- the conference panel on Western Hindu organizations and acharyas. ic, political, and spiritual lives were missing from the HAF report lization) is rooted in the main pur- Perspectives on Varna, Jati and The resolutions adopted by the throughout the world. Projects are and deserved to be highlighted in pose of life, which is to achieve Kula, including Jeffrey Armstrong WAVES conference will be sepa- likely to evolve to critically evaluate the caste discourse,” according to Self-enlightenment and perfection, and Krishna Kirti Das (Christopher rately published, along with confer- useful elements of the system for the press release. for which the Varna-order provided Shannon), strongly advocated for ence proceedings and a detailed the benefit of society. The conference was co-sponsored the choice of a suitable path and the incorporation by All World Gayatri Pariwar and support system for a thriving social of Jati / Varna inaugurated by Dr. Pranav Pandya, fabric and personal life attainments, principles into Head, All World Gayatri Pariwar including social upliftment and modern Western and Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti material development as desirable society. University. Other prominent speak- side effects." Second, it was ers at the conference included Dr. Pandya further noted that, agreed that the Swami Tattvavidananda represent- "Had Varna-order been imposed negative social ing Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and the upon the society by brute force, then practices of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, Dr. it would not have survived the test untouchability Subramanian Swamy, Dr. R. of time in a highly decentralized, and the like Vaidyanathan, Rajiv Malhotra, Dr. diverse, pluralistic and autonomous- result from a MG Prasad, Dr. Madan Lal Goel, ly distributed society that India has degenerated and Suresh Chauhanke, Chairman and represented through the ages." distorted social Managing Director of Sudarshan The conference drew nearly 100 system that can- TV and Prof. Ved Nanda. In addi- participants over the course of the not be equated tion, several students participating weekend, sparking lively and with Jati / Varna in the youth forum made presenta- provocative discussions. At thethe and that it is tions reflecting unique Hindu- conclusion of the conference, many unfair to con- American perspectives on the topic of the attendees voted to adopt a set demn Jati /

Dr. Pranav Pandya, head of the All World Gayatri Pariwar, visited Long Island, NY on August 1, 2011. During his visit he gave an informative and enlightening lecture about the comings of 2012 and importance of values in children, at St. Anthony’s High School Auditorium in South Huntington, NY. Dr. Pandya received proclamation of Suffolk County. (L to R): Andrew Raia New York State Assemblyman, Angie Carpenter, Suffolk County Treasurer, Sunita Gupta and Dr. Pranav Pandya (Picture by Pranav Mistry) 6 Tristate Community

August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info Indian Business District in Iselin, NJ is now ‘India Square’ Iselin, Woodbridge: On a busy block neighborhood was a time- Assemblyman Craig Coughlin Sunday of August 7, a week ly gift to the Indian American and Woodbridge Township before the celebrations of community of New Jersey. Councilman James Major sup- India’s Independence Day, Paying rich tributes to the ported the Mayor in his decision shoppers and motorists smiled business owners of the area, to call the area as ‘India as they stopped to see a new Mayor McCormac said that Square.’Both of them spoke sign, ‘India Square’ at the inter- Woodbridge Township greatly highly about the entrepreneurial section of Middlesex Avenue benefited due to the growth of spirit of the Indian American and Oak Tree Road in Iselin, Indian owned businesses along community. NJ. NJ. Oak Tree Road. “We could see Earlier during the day, the Thanks to Mayor John the economic turn around of the Mayor inaugurated a Cricket McCormac of Woodbridge area because of the success of Field at Kennedy Park in Iselin. Mayor McCormac of Woodbridge Township (fourth from right) seen Township, who unveiled the Indian businesses.” The event was organized by with (from right) IBA president Chandrakant Patel, Nayan Parikh, street sign to inaugurate ‘India Echoing the sentiments of the Woodbridge Wellness President of Society of Indo American Engineers and Architects and Square’, renaming of the two- Mayor New Jersey Committee. HR Shah, Chairman, TV Asia at the inauguration. Arangetram for seva GOPIO-CT to host a four day By Nupur Joshi educate herself on Hinduism film festival Sept 15 by attending camps and other New York: On July 30, programs at AVG and is a New York: GOPIO-CT, The screening of the light and 2011, thirteen-year-old graduate of Balvihar where Connecticut Chapter of the entertaining “O Maria” , the Shreya Bhatt completed her she received an in-depth edu- Global Organization of People story about a family estate Bharatnatyam arangetram at cation about Indian culture of Indian Origin will open itsts held for generations now the Scottish Rite Cathedral in and history. Shreya practices 2011 Film Festival at the Avonvon being sought after by big Allentown, PA. Swami Hindu morals on a regular Theater in Stamford, business for commercial use. Viditatmananda, disciple of basis. In fact, because seva is Connecticut on September 15 An animated version of the Shri Swami Dayananda such a significant aspect of at 7.30pm. with a screening of Indian epic “Ramayana, thethe Saraswati, made a special trip being a Hindu, Shreya asked the internationally acclaimed story of Rama”. will show at from the Arsha Vidya for the members of the audi- film “West is West.” This the Community Theater of Gurukulam (AVG) in ence to donate directly to sequel to the well received film Fairfield at 2pm on Saylorsburg, PA to attend AIM for Seva, a project start- “East is East” has already won September 18. The festival Shreya’s arangetram and ed by Shri Swami Dayananda many awards and is scheduled closes at the theater in the A poster of ‘I am Kalam’ to be bless her. Shreya Bhatt requested Saraswati to educate children to release in North America in Westport Town hall with an screened at the film fest Shreya performed splendid- guests to donate to AIM for suffering from poverty, the next few months. The fes-fes- 8pm screening of “Teen ly with agility that is largely Seva, a nonprofit instead of instead of presenting her with tival continues at the Theater at the Westport Behenein” a powerful story about three due to rigorous practice and presenting her gifts monetary gifts or checks to Town Hall on Friday September 16, at 8pm teenage sisters who want to commit suicide training under her Guru Smt. formances around the world. congratulate her for her with the screening of “Nauka Dubi”. TheThe because their parents cannot afford a dowry to Firuzi Desai of Vedanta Shreya is not only an accomplishment. In this way, story by the renowned Rabindra Nath Tagore get them married. Dance Academy. Desai, a accomplished Indian classical Shreya serves to be an inspi- is about a husband who wonderful dancer herself, has dancer but also a trophy-win- ration for other youth mem- goes home with the been trained by her Nritya ning soccer player and per- bers of our community to do wrong bride when a Kala Guru Neela Raval in forming pianist. Along with seva in their own ways. She storm causes the boats Surat, India and has repre- nurturing these talents, is the epitome of versatility carrying two separate sented India in dance per- Shreya also takes time out to and generosity. wedding parties, to cap- size.size. The Hindu Temple Society of On September 17, “I“I North America arranged a success- am Kalam” will bebe ful health fair open to all members screened. It is about a of the temple and surrounding very young boy who communities on August 7. wants an education but Attendees underwent general has no choice but to earn check-ups as well as heart check- a living to help his fami- up and blood tests. They were also ly. An unlikely friend- provided with access to over 20 ship develops between healthcare providers including the boy and a young physicians specializing in areas prince who lives in the such as gynecology, dental hygiene palace close to the boys and podiatry, among others. place of work. This Attendees were also given the 7.30pm screening is fol- opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A session towards the end of the event. In the lowed by a 9.30pm picture, electro-cardiogram test being administered to an attendee (Photo: Xitij Joshi) National Community 7

TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffoo AAuugguusst1133 --1199,2200 1111 India will get more US drops charges prominence at Harvard against Rajat Gupta New Delhi: Harvard alumni Washington, DC: The US Securities and in India will join hands with Exchange Commission has agreed to drop an the growing Indian student administrative action against Rajat Gupta, for- community to make India mer Indian American director of Goldman the professional, academic Sachs Group Inc. In return, he has agreed to and cultural focus at withdraw a lawsuit claiming the regulatory America's premier Ivy proceeding violated his constitutional rights. League university that is "Mr. Gupta is very pleased that as a result of celebrating 375 years of its his lawsuit the SEC has dismissed its adminis- existence, alumni heads trative proceeding and he will no longer be said. singled out for disparate treatment," Gary Harvard University, Naftalis, his lawyer, said in a statement. "Mr. which boasts of high profile Gupta's lawsuit against the SEC has achieved names such as union minis- all of the relief he sought." ters Kapil Sibal and P. The SEC started an administrative proceed- Chidambaram, held a first ing in Washington March 1, claiming Gupta of its kind interactive event passed inside information to Galleon Group in the Indian capital where LLC co-founder Raj Rajaratnam about alumni members rubbed A reunion of Indian students group at the Harvard Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble Co. shoulders with current stu- University recently took place in New Delhi (PG), where Gupta was also on the board. Rajat Gupta, former director of Goldman dents and newly-admitteded Students Group. the Harvard Students and According to an agreement filed Thursday Sachs in return agreed to withdraw students. The event saw participa- community before," said in federal court in Manhattan, the SEC will lawsuit against SEC Around 100 people, tion from around 100 stu- Meenakshi Datta Ghosh, file any future complaint against Gupta in that alleges Gupta told Rajaratnam about quarterly including undergraduate dents from various disci- president of the Harvard court, where it would be heard by US District earnings of Goldman Sachs and Procter & and graduate students and plines yet finding some- Club of India. Judge Jed Rakoff. Gamble. alumni from 12 Harvard thing common among them. "The number of students "The staff is fully committed to the case and Gupta sued in the Manhattan court March schools came together over The disciplines were as is significant. Since this will proceed as appropriate," John Nester, an 18, claiming the agency violated his rights by the weekend for the reunion diverse as law, social entre- was the first time Indian SEC spokesman, said in an e- mail. In the pursuing an administrative action rather than a by the Harvard India preneurship, business andand students from Harvard met administrative proceeding, the SEC claimed lawsuit in federal court, where Gupta would Students Group. The US academics, among others. in India, there was also a Gupta gave Rajaratnam information about have more procedural protections, including varsity celebrates 375 years Over 100,000 Indian stu- direct engagement between Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s $5 billion invest- the right to have the case considered by a jury of its existence. dents are currently studying the alumni and the current ment in Goldman Sachs. The agency also and the use of federal rules of evidence. "The Harvard India in universities across the students," said Wahi, who Students Group is the first United States. The number feels the reception brought ever university-wise stu- is expected to rise because them at the threshold of an dents group for the Harvard of considerable increase in important moment in the students in India in the long student visa applications history of Harvard-India history of the university. from the country. relations with "India This is also the first time we "The Harvard Club of increasingly becoming the had a welcome reception in India seeks to promote academic, professional, and India for newly admitted national and global public cultural focus at Harvard." students to Harvard where policy discourse, including The event was organized the students were intro- proactive dialogue with the by the Harvard India duced to a host of issues," central and state govern- Students Group, the said Namita Wahi, president ments. We have never host- Harvard Club of India and of the Harvard India ed an event of this kind for the South Asia Initiative. 3 Indians sentenced for smuggling drugs into US Washington, DC: Three smugglers from $2.6 million in cash -- landed in a Wells India are among a group of five busted in Fargo account for Spring Dragon what has been dubbed 'Operation Liquid Sourcing, a nutritional company owned Dragon', one of the biggest ephedrine by Forest Grove entrepreneur Verlyn rings operated out of the US by a Craig Payton. Mexican drug cartel. He transferred $7.2 million to five busi- The arrests shut down a pipeline that nesses in India, primarily Nutramed moved the precursor chemical from India Biotech, owned by Subhash Naithani of to the US to Mexico, much of it in liquid Noida, India. form and labelled "green tea extract", Arrested at a Las Vegas trade show in according to Oregonlive.com. November 2009 in a sting operation, all Government prosecutors estimate the five men pleaded guilty in exchange for shipments helped the cartel put between reduced punishment. $20 million and $38 million of meth on US District Judge Anna J. Brown in the street -- most of it in the US. Portland, Oregon Thursday sentenced 40- Most of the money was traced to year-old ephedrine broker Naithani to 4 Antonio Gonzalez, a US customs broker 1/2 years in prison. The others were sen- with homes on both sides of the border. tenced earlier this year. Agents found that much of the money Sachin Sharma, 35 also got 4 1/2 years flowed out of Gonzalez's accounts to in prison. Manoj Kovummal got a four- banks in Oregon and India. year term. Court records show that more than $5 The Indian businessmen will be deport- million in wire transfers -- along with ed after serving their sentences. 8 National Community

August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info Deven Sharma – The Indian American who downgraded US New York: On 5 August Standard the world. This downgrade came last four years, comments made & Poor's, led by Jharkhand-born as shock to the government and by US lawmakers have changed to Deven Sharma, struck off the investors around the world. appreciation from strong criti- 'AAA' rating of the U.S. to AA+, Deven Sharma was named pres- cism. considered the Gold standard in ident of Standard & Poor's, the Sharma holds a bachelor's the world of finance, for the first leading credit ratings company degree from the Birla Institute of time since 1914. The 57-year old and a division of The McGraw- Technology in India, a master's Sharma was suddenly in the spot- Hill Companies in 2007. Sharma degree from the University of light after something that was in joined Standard & Poor's in 2006 Wisconsin and a doctoral degree the air for a few months but which as executive vice president, in Business Management from appeared more like a distant pos- Investment Services and Global Ohio State University. He is chair- sibility: The U.S. country rating Sales. Before joining Standard & man of the Board of Directors for was downgraded. This was decid- Poor's, he was executive vice CRISIL, a Standard & Poor's ed after several conferences president, Global Strategy at The company and India's leading rat- between top officials in the McGraw-Hill Companies for five ings, research, risk and policy Obama administration and years. advisory company. Sharma's team of number-crunch- Over the last four years as the Sharma is a member of the ers.ers. head of one of the foremost rating Council on Foreign Relations and Credit rating firm Standard & agencies in the world, Sharma has the International Advisory Board Poor's is headed by India-born Deven Sharma, President, Standard & Poor’s faced several US Congressional of the British-American Business Deven Sharma. S&P officials told ment that the ratings major's ana- the US no longer deserves to be grillings but has negotiated most Council and serves on the Asia Barack Obama's treasury depart- lysts have come to a decision that among the best rated countries in of them. He admitted that over thethe Society Business Council. Rajan Natarajan named deputy Indian American couple evade secretary of state in Maryland taxes, gave out drugs illegally Washington, DC: A leading grow." Washington, DC: An Indian-American ly deposited money from the clinics in Indian American entrepre- Natarajan also "has signifi- couple who operated weight-loss clinics in cheques just below the $10,000 threshold neur, Rajan Natarajan has cant experience in the tech- Indiana faces federal drug and tax evasion that triggers banking monitors, and didn't been named deputy secretary nology sector and is used to charges for allegedly providing prescription report all the income from the clinics, of state for policy and exter- thinking out-of-the box to weight-loss drugs to patients without per- cheating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nal affairs in Maryland state. deliver innovative solutions, forming physicals and not paying some out of $750,000 from 2005 to 2008. Natarajan, 51, was commercialization of tech- $750,000 in taxes. Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of $6.3 appointed to this highest nologies and business devel- Rakesh Anand, 55, and Meena Anand, 51, million from the couple as proceeds of the administrative office held by opment," he said. owners of Doctors Weight Loss Centres in enterprise, including $700,000 in cash any Indian American to date Born in Pudukkottai dis- suburban Lansing, Orland Park, and seized from the couple's home in Tinley in the state by Democratic trict, Tamil Nadu, Natarajan Merrillville in Indiana, were charged in a Park in a May 2010 raid and $3.6 million in Maryland Governor Martin came to the US in 1989 to 35-count indictment handed down Thursday bank and brokerage accounts that have been O'Malley. Rajan Natarajan pursue post-doctoral by a federal grand jury in Hammond, frozen. Natarajan's responsibilities diplomatic relationships. research at the Michigan Indiana, the Chicago Tribune reported. Rakesh Anand is charged with conspiracy include representing the "Rajan brings a wealth of State University after com- Federal prosecutors alleged the Anands to distribute controlled substances, illegally governor or secretary of corporate business and pleting his doctoral degree in hired a physician and had him prescribe the structuring monetary transactions, money state at designated public industry experience to my bioscience at the University amphetamine-based prescription drugs laundering, conspiracy to defraud the IRS and community outreach administration," said of Madras. phendimetrazine and phentermine to and tax fraud. events, advising the secre- O'Malley, noting "he has After completing his MBA patients at their clinics without reviewing Meena Anand, who managed the locations tary on external affairs, plan- spent much of his profes- in 1999 at Michigan, he their medical histories, performing physi- in Lansing and Orland Park, faces the same ning and strategies, fostering sional life in the corporate became a technology entre- cals or follow-up care. charges except distributing controlled and promoting international world, helping companies preneur and business leader. They also allege the Anands systematical-- substances. Lady GaGa coming soon on American Airlines offers vacation 'India's most desirable' package sweepstakes New York: Lady GaGa will soon has the one of the world's most Fort Worth, TX: Beginning this Star Service – a personal one-on- enough AAdvantage miles for two be seen in an Indian television popular star being featured on her month, American Airlines cus- one airport assistance program – roundtrip First Class flight awards show. The American Pop diva, show soon. tomers can register for a chance to to 11 airports so that anyone can to one of the 14 airports where best known for her style statement, The singer expressed keen inter- win a "Five Star Vacation" "travel like a star" (paparazzi not American offers Five Star will feature on Simi Selects India's est about India and its culture and through the American Airlines included) to a total of 14 airports Service; Five Star Service for two Most Desirable. The star anchor said she was keen to travel to India Five Star Vacation Package worldwide. at the airport; and a $5,000 gift had been tight-lipped about shoot- in the future. Sweepstakes. Through September 30, 2011, card to be applied toward a five ing with the iconic singer till the Simi's earlier show Rendezvous Once reserved for celebrities customers can register at night stay at a five-star hotel, din- shooting had been wrapped up. With Simi Garewal had featured and VIPs traveling between New www.aa.com/fivestarpromo for ner at a five-star restaurant and Simi had been in touch with international names like Jackie York, Los Angeles and Miami, the chance to win a Five Star private car service to and from the Gaga's agents to get her on her Chan, Imran Khan and the late American has expanded its Five Vacation Package that includes airport. guest list for a while and finally Benazir Bhutto. Hindus protest screening of Sita Sings the Blues in San Jose San Jose, CA: On Saturday, August 6, a deity revered by Hindus for her chastity. Area Hindus, including the Sunnyvale Hindu around 100 local Hindus and volunteers of In a press release the protesting Hindu Temple have protested in writing or by call- Hindu organizations such as Forum for groups said that they found almost every ing the museum. Hindu Awakening, Hindu Swayam Sevak scene of the film ‘Sita Sings the Blues’ deni- The movie is about Sita, the Hindu Sangh, Friends of India Society grating, “as it draws irreverent parallels Goddess from the epic "The Ramayana", International, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of between animator Nina Paley’s failed mar- who accompanies Lord Rama on a 14 year America and Hindu Yuva gathered in front riage and the sacred relationship between exile in forest. Sita is abducted by Ravana, of the San Jose Museum of Art to protest the Hindus’ revered deities Rama and Sita.” the ruler of Lanka. This movie tells the story screening of film ‘Sita Sings the Blues.’ The Over 13,000 Hindus worldwide have of Rama and Sita, along-with a biographical film was being shown at a nearby theatre as The protestors in front of San Jose joined Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s online account of the director's relationship with her apart of an exhibition on Hinduism and Sita, Museum of Art protest campaign. Several San Francisco Bay husband. US Affairs 9

TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffoo AAuugguusst1133 --1199,2200 1111

Financial turmoil sadly Post-credit downgrade, reminiscent of 2008 crisis Fed to keep interest New York: Stocks are plummeting. rates low until 2013 The economy is slowing. Washington: Painting a much mid-2013 as a way to continue to Politicians are scrambling to find gloomier picture of the economy, prop up the recovery. solutions but cannot agree on any-any- the US central bank has indicated The Fed has kept the central thing. Are we in for a repeat of the it would take no new steps to bank's key tool to spur the econo- financial crisis of 2008. Is talk of stimulate the economy other than my near zero since 2008, but has double dip recession for real. to keep interest rates low for at long been ambiguous on its future Many economists and market least two years. timeframe, saying it would keep experts say the risks are lower The Federal Reserve's much- the federal funds rate near zero for today because the financial system awaited statement on the economy an "extended period." overall is healthier and there are Tuesday sent the Wall Street into a The central bank acknowledged fewer hidden problems. But they spin as traders did what the New that economic growth in the don't rule out a quick downward York Times described as "a double United States is "considerably spiral if politicians in the US and in take" on the announcement to see slower" than expected. That marks Europe can't calm investors by the stocks climb, then drop, then a change from prior statements, addressing fundamental financial rocket again. (But on Wednesday when the Fed had said the recov- threats. they were down again). ery was chugging along at a The core problem, as it was three Meeting after the historic down- "moderate pace," CNN said. years ago, is too much debt that three heart-stopping declines in the lower. Bank of America and grade of America's top notch AAA The Fed also acknowledged that borrowers are having a hard time last five trading days -- including Citigroup each lost more than 10 credit rating, the central bank also the job market has recently deteri- repaying -- but this time it is gov- Wednesday's 4.6 percent drop in percent of their market value, in surprised Wall Street with a "con- orated, consumer spending has ernment debt rather than consumer the Dow Jones industrial average, part because of the worries over- siderably slower" reading on the flattened out and the housing sec- debt. which closed down 519 points at seas. The bigger concern of many economy, and a bold statement tor remains depressed. A growing lack of confidence is 10,719.94. By points, it was the financiers and government officials that the Fed stands ready to enact But it indicated it is considering perhaps the most troubling similar- ninth-steepest decline for the mar- was signs of stress Wednesday in further stimulus measures if need- a "range of policy tools available ity to 2008 and the biggest worry. ket. The S&P 500 finished the day European credit markets, which are ed, CNN said. The Fed indicated it to promote a stronger economic Most of the attention so far has down 4.4 percent and the Nasdaq essential to financing the day-to- plans to keep "exceptionally low" recovery," and "is prepared to been focused on volatility in composite index down 4.1 percent. day operations of banks and com- interest rates in place until at least employ these tools as appropriate. stocks, with investors spooked by Financial stocks led the market panies there. Republicans name anti-taxers Statue of Liberty to close for a year to super committee on debt New York: After the 9/11 attacks, 2009. Officials said the work, which Washington: President Barack would trigger painful automatic the federal government closed the is expected to take a year, could not Obama's Republican critics in reductions of $1.2 trillion to programs Statue of Liberty National begin sooner because they did not Congress named Wednesday tax-hike cherished by both sides. Monument, the symbol of a nation’s finish the planning and arrange the foes including a "Tea Party" ally to a Those possible cuts to military and dreams and one of the city’s best- financing until a few months ago. new "super committee" where the health care programs were designed known and most-visited tourist And, they added, they did not next bitter US debt battles will play to compel a compromise, which attractions. Allowing people inside want the statue to be closed on the out.As with Democratic choices would need majority approval on the would be unsafe, the National Park 125th anniversary of its dedication announced late Tuesday, the picks committee and would enjoy fast-track Service said, because rescuers might on Oct. 28. So they will shut it down reflected a need for expertise in tax, consideration by the whole congress. not be able to get them out in an the next day. trade, and health care programs, as McConnell appointed Republican emergency. Three years later, the David Luchsinger, the superinten- well as sharp partisan elbows with the Senators Jon Kyl, Pat Toomey, and base, the pedestal and the observa- dent of the monument and of Ellis Climb inside the statue will be campaign to the November 2012 Rob Portman to the panel, while tion deck were reopened after $6.7 Island for the National Park Service, shut from Oct 29 for its renova- elections heating up. Republican Boehner named Republican million in improvements to fire and said that the vast majority of visitors tion, but Liberty Island will leaders focused on their party's priori- Representatives Dave Camp and Fred security systems. In 2009, the crown do not bother with the climb inside remain open enabling visitors to ties -- deep cuts to the social safety Upton to the panel, with Jeb — and the 146 narrow steps to it — the statue. “They’re going to get the continue to throng NY’NY’s iconic net and opposition to tax hikes sought Hensarling as a co-chairman. reopened on the Fourth of July. exact same experience” while the monument. by Obama -- but avoided language All six Republican nominees have Now the statue is closing again. statue is closed, he said, because explicitly dooming a compromise signed a pledge, crafted by the fierce- Interior Secretary Ken Salazar vation for additional safety Liberty Island will remain open before the committee even meets. ly anti-tax Americans for Tax Reform says it needs a $27.25 million reno- improvements that he promised in while the work is going on. "The two parties have fundamental pressure group to vote against and differences about government and its oppose tax increases. Fed planning to rent out proper role in our society," said But Republican leaders did not Republican House Speaker John explicitly shut the door to some sort Boehner, who called the committee of bargain on tax reform -- even foreclosed properties an "opportunity" for a spirited debate. though key party members have said Washington: The Obama adminis- and Urban Development and the "We cannot dig ourselves out of this in the past that any revenue increase tration has started soliciting ideas on Treasury Department are jointly situation by nibbling around the must be offset by reductions else- turning the federal government’s requesting ideas for sales, partner- edges," said Republican Senate where. The majority leader of the US inventory of foreclosed houses into ship ventures or other strategies that Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate, Harry Reid, has announced rental properties that could be man- would help to unload some 250,000 who urged the panel to "put the inter- three appointees to the congressional aged by private enterprises or sold properties owned by Fannie Mae, ests of all Americans ahead of any super committee. They are: Senator in bulk. The goal, the administration Freddie Mac and the Federal one political party." Patty Murray to co-chair the Joint said, is to stabilize neighborhoods Housing Administration. Those promote private investment in local The 12-member panel, created by a Select Committee on Deficit where large supplies of empty, fore- properties account for about half of housing markets and support neigh- recent law to stave off a US debt Reduction, Max Baucus, the chair- closed properties have hurt property all properties that have been fore- borhood and home price stability,” default, must find a compromise for man of the Senate finance committee, values. The effort is also to clear the closed upon and are still awaiting he said in a statement announcing reining in runaway US budget deficits and John Kerry. nation’s balance sheet of real estate resale nationwide. the new program. by at least $1.2 trillion dollars over Recent public opinion polls show holdings that, because they have Greater flexibility in disposing of While home prices have remain ten years -- a tall order in polarized Americans worry far more about over been difficult to sell individually, the houses will have other benefits depressed since the 2008 financial Washington. 9 percent unemployment than the have hung over the housing market as well, Timothy F. Geithner, the crisis, rental prices have not come If the committee fails to make for- deficit, and largely favor Obama's call and stunted sales of existing homes Treasury secretary, said. “Exploring down. More than 10 million house- mal recommendations by late for raising taxes on the rich and and new construction. new options for selling these fore- holds — or one-quarter of all renters November, or Congress fails to wealthy corporations in tandem with The Federal Housing Finance closed properties will help expand — currently pay more than half their approve them by late December, that spending cuts. Agency, the Department of Housing access to affordable rental housing, income for housing, a record level. 10 Op Ed

AAuugguusst1133 --1199,, 22001111 TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffoo US ratings, hot potatoes & India story By Gautam Chikermane the second-highest after China — what we previously believed", ac- has unleashed a dynamism and cording to S&P, and as a result is arket sentiment is one cash in the system without the ac- now in the same bracket as China thing, real problems companying increase in supply of and Japan (both AA-) and Spain, Mquite another. So, when goods and services. The result: a Kuwait and Slovenia (AA), bad leaders of the world — the very high inflation rate. politics is affecting India in a dif- rich G7, the upcoming G20 or any This is a very nice "problem" to ferent way. other nation — think about what to have. Because of high economic India needs to take advantage of do when the world's most powerful growth, a country attracts capital the uncertainty that has infected the economy loses its Triple-A rating from across the world. This capital, globe since October 2008 and at- (extremely strong capacity to meet when invested in businesses or tract as much capital into the coun- financial commitments), they need even real estate, creates jobs and try as possible by opening up bank- to grapple with three hot potatoes. ensures the accompanying prosper- ing, retail, insurance, pensions, India, in particular. ity through secondary and tertiary mining and so on. Instead, the gov- The first is finance. When the US employment. But sudden growth ernment has been frozen into polit- falls a notch to AA+ (very strong spurts need equally strong and im- ical submission by one scam after capacity to meet financial commit- mediate solutions for managing another, leading to a perception that ments, with the '+' indicating a rel- shortages in food, transport, goods we're going nowhere. This is clear- atively better score than other AA), India needs to take advantage of the uncertainty that has infected the and services. This is particularly ly an exaggeration. it will ideally have to pay a higher globe since October 2008 and attract as much capital into the country important for countries like India Instead of wondering about the interest rate on its sovereign paper. as possible by opening up banking, retail, insurance, pensions, that is running on domestic con- Sensex and pandering to markets, As a result, other countries too mining and so on. sumption boom — driven by the the Indian leadership needs to pull will have to pay a higher return on to hurt India very much — the Re- most of the developed world is growth — and not merely exports its political act together and get their sovereign debt as well. This serve Bank of India has already fighting a contraction or recession like China. moving on reforms. The world is has an impact on corporate borrow- raised policy rates to levels that are and a strange phenomenon where But to do that, we come to the crumbling around us, and we will ing, and companies too will have to far higher its global rating. And the close-to-zero interest rates are not third hot potato — politics. While be hurt, of course. But if we focus bear a higher cost when selling reason is domestic: inflation. enough for companies to borrow, the Obama administration is under on job creation, build real bonds. Which brings us to the second the case in India is the reverse. pressure of being "less stable, less economies and serve real people, The US downgrade is not going hot potato — economics. While Excessive economic growth — effective and less predictable than markets will come around. Religion, peace and radicalism By Asghar Ali Engineer the ‘other’? Does one who hates the life unless I identified myself with ‘other’ love his own people? The an- the whole of mankind, and that I hat happened recently in swers are not as simple as we would could not do unless I took part in pol- Norway has not only like to believe.Religion can be what itics. …You cannot divide social, Wshocked the world, it has we want it to be. There are instances economic and purely religious work also raised an important question. of religion being used for peace and into watertight compartments”. Is- Does religion stand for peace or mur- also for spreading hate. There have lamic thinker Iqbal, by no means a der? One thing is certain: after 9/11 been many deeply religious people narrow-minded Islamist, also said only Islam is being blamed for vio- who devoted their lives to the cause that if religion were separated from lence, war and ‘jihad’. of peace. Foremost among them in politics, only changezi (cruelty) Now it is obvious that such ex- our own times were Gandhi and Mar- would be left in it. tremists who go on a killing spree are tin Luther King Jr. Gandhi stood for Divine truth is manifest in differ- found in all religious traditions, even non-violence and so interpreted his ent ways in different religious tradi- in highly developed nations. It is not religious tradition as well as other tions. The truth of one religion can- only ‘backward Arabs’ or ‘fanatical traditions like Christianity and Islam not conflict with the truth of another. pressed either descriptively in lan- The Quran also says that Allah has Islamists’ who kill. Even Christians to establish peace. The Quran calls it ‘wahdat al-deen’ guage or symbolically. Those who created diversity; we must accept di- from highly developed and demo- Similarly, a Vietnamese Buddhist i.e. unity of religion; Maulana Abul hold strong convictions express it versity as a divine gift. The Norway cratic nations can kill innocent peo- monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, firmly Kalam Azad devoted one whole vol- more through action. The truth is killer was angry at multiculturalism, ple without remorse. Many people stood for peace in the face of horrible ume to the nature of the subject. Dara more a quest than a settled issue. and many Europeans are not so en- would readily blame religion for acts of violence committed by Amer- Shikoh also dealt with it in Majma’ul In a streak of Buddhism, non-at- thusiastic about immigration and such killings, but the reality is more ica in Vietnam. We often condemn Bahrayn (‘Co-mingling of Two tachment to ideas plays an important multiculturalism. This creates nar- complex. Religion is a tool which those who use religion for killing Oceans’) and points to some striking role. Thus one of the principles of row-mindedness and anger and can can be used for both establishing others as fundamentalists but inter- similarities. ‘engaged’ Buddhism is not to be idol- explode in a violent form through an peace as well as for waging war. estingly those who use religion for The nature of divine truth is com- atrous about or bound to any doc- individual or a group. The only rem- Much depends on the individual or a peace too make very hard use of reli- plex. It must be understood more in trine, theory or ideology. All systems edy is to accept diversity and multi- group with a certain ideology. Obvi- gion and are, in that sense, no less action than thought. The truth is of thought are, according to this prin- culturalism as part of the divine plot ously, all religious individuals do not fundamentalist. more than empirical fact; it lies more ciple, only guiding means and not ab- for creation, as the Quran argues. kill nor do all groups embrace far- Interestingly, Gandhi also rejected in values. It may be a combination of solute truths. Also human life is more (The writer is an Islamic scholar right ideologies. Is then peace more a complete public-private split, stat- fact and value or at times only value, precious than an ideology or a doc- who also heads the Centre for Study integral to religion or the hatred of ing “I could not be leading a religious mainly a spiritual one. It may be ex- trine. of Society & Secularism, Mumbai.)

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times. India Newswire 11

TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 13-19, 2011 Modi acts against Rahul's new role to impact second top cop UP strategy New Delhi: According to media New Delhi: Under not so happy senior MP. reports, Gujarat chief minister circumstances, Congress general But there is no dearth of Narendra Modi has cleared secretary Rahul Gandhi has been claimants for this position. chargesheet against Deputy catapulted into a national role, and Besides, the state PCC chief Rita Inspector General (DIG) of this would certainly take away a Bahuguna Joshi and the long Gujarat police Rahul Sharma. big chunk of his ‘mindspace and standing leader of the legislative Sharma allegedly violated serv- timespace’ that is currently wing Pramod Tiwari, Union min- ice conditions and passed on focused on Uttar Pradesh and the isters Salman Khurshid, information to Nanavati affairs of the youth and students’ Sriprakash Jaiswal and even the Commission probing Godhra wing of the party. young Jitin Prasada from the riots. Sharma told SIT that phone “In Uttar Pradesh, he faces the young brigade all fancy their calls collected in Naroda Patia biggest challenge to his skills as a chances for this post. case were destroyed. politician and vote catcher within The question of strategy in On August 8, the Modi govern- the next 10 months, and the odds terms of pre-poll and post-poll ment had suspended Sanjiv Bhatt , are certainly stacked against him,” combinations is very critical as the controversial IPS officer for said a senior UP politician who the party quite clearly does not Gujarat chief minister not reporting to work for nearly has been a witness to the trials and have the wherewithal to emerge as Narendra Modi. 10 months. tribulations of the party over the the ruling party on its own. Its Bhatt had taken on the govern- Hindus to vent their anger. The last two decades. Rahul Gandhi is projected as strategy to going alone worked ment when he first went public on apex court is yet to take this affi- By common consensus within India's future Prime Minister. well in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls chief minister Narendra Modi's davit on record. senior party leaders, the problems president Sonia Gandhi and her when it surprised everyone by role in the Godhra riots of 2002 in Reports also said that Bhatt in in the state that is currently ruled son firm in their traditional parlia- winning 21 seats. an affidavit filed before the his PIL has also included emails by Mayawati’s BSP on the mentary strongholds, but we do “But that was a different setting, Supreme Court. Bhatt stated in the that allegedly show how the state strength of an alliance among the not have a state leader who can as the party was seen as the win- affidavit that he was present in the government was sharing informa- dalits, and the upper castes fall in match either Mayawati or ner at the national level, with a meeting on February 27, 2002 at tion with the lawyers of some of thee categories; leadership, strate- Mulayam Singh. Besides, the clear leadership and pre-as well as the CM's house after the Godhra those accused in the riots through gy and organization. party has always been loath to post poll strategy. All these ele- train-burning, where he heard RSS ideologue Gurumurthy “Our national leadership comes project anyone as the chief minis- ments are lacking at the state Modi telling top officials to allow Swaminathan. from UP, with both the Congress terial candidate,” said another level,” the MP added. Sangay succeeds Dalai Lama Hazare team satisfied as political head of Tibetans with fasting venue

New Delhi: With Harvard scholar Lobsang Sangay suc- ceeding him as the political head of Tibetans, the Dalai Lama today said he always believed political and religious institutions must be separated from each other. The 76-year-old Tibetan spiri- tual leader said that he always said that religious and political institutions should function separately but was himself dis- charging both the roles as the situation necessitated it. "Now I feel I am committed to what I have been saying all these years,"he said addressing the fourth annual lecture of Anna Hazare will begin the indefinite fast against Lokpal Bill in National Commission for New Delhi from August 16. Minorities here. New Delhi: The Anna Hazare team protest against the Lokpal Bill sub- The Dalai Lama said that he expressed satisfaction over the ject to permission from the land Dr. Lobsang Sangay with His Holiness the Dalai Lam a.a. had served as political head of venue offered to them by police for owning agency. the Tibetan government for 60 immense corruption in China, I Asked why the Tibetans need- holding the indefinite fast against Kejriwal said there was no going years during tough times and think OK because they are non- ed to elect a Prime Minister of Lokpal Bill even as they denied any back on the demands raised by now had the right to claim believers, they believe in power the government-in-exile if they going back on their stand on the leg- them. retirement from this responsi- and money. are only seeking autonomy islation. "We are not ready to compromise bility being a senior Buddhist "But look at India. This within China, the Dalai Lama The core committee of the Hazare with anyone till our demands are monk. nation is more or less a reli- made it clear that they have team met here in New Delhi. The met. The deadlock continues. We The spiritual leader, who gious minded nation. Every "never formally used" the terms meeting was attended by Hazare and are open for any dialogue but there described himself as a "son of Indian worships in the morning like "exile government" or others including, activist Arvind is no invitation from the government India", expressed concern over but in the mean time is this cor- Prime Minister. Kejriwal. yet," he said. corruption in the country say- ruption. I say there is no third Sangay, who succeeded the "We are satisfied with the venue His comments came when asked ing it was a "disgrace" espe- way. Either remain believer, Dalai Lama as political head provided by Delhi Police. It is at a about activist Swami Agnivesh's cially as India is a religious God fearing or if you really was sworn in at function in good location. Core committee is comments that the Hazare team was country. want corruption, then carry cor- Dharamashala presided by the chalking out the plan on how to go "very very flexible" on issues like "This is not criticism but I am ruption as a non-believer," he Dalai Lama and attended by about the fast," he told reporters. inclusion of Prime Minister or high- concerned. Corruption by reli- said, adding, "Corruption by 5,000 Tibetans, including com- Delhi Police offered Jai Prakash er judiciary under ambit of the gious minded persons is really religious minded people is real- munity leaders settled outside Narain Park adjacent to Firoz Shah ombudsman but the sticking point is disgrace. When I hear of ly a disgrace." Tibet and India. Kotla Ground as the venue for his bringing lower bureaucracy in it. 12 IndiaN ewswire

August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info UP, Punjab ban 'Aarakshan' Chandigarh: After Uttar Pradesh, "The main theme of the movie is Chairman Safai Karamchari Board, the Punjab government has also about commercialization of educa- Punjab and Vijay Danav, chairman, imposed a ban on the release of film- tion followed by several objection- Scheduled Caste Welfare Board and maker Prakash Jha's controversial able dialogues against people from a member of the Punjab Scheduled Hindi film Aarakshan' (Reservation) backward communities. There is no Caste Commission. in the state following apprehensions discussion on reservation in its sec- Meanwhile, filmmaker Jha has that some scenes and dialogues may ond half. We have asked the censor agreed to make "appropriate" alter- trigger trouble. board to make necessary changes in ations in his film "Aarakshan", The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP gov- it," National Commission for themed on caste-based reservations, ernment said the ban will remain in Scheduled Castes Chairman P L after facing protests. "Reservation is force till screening committee con- Punia said. a sensitive issue but we have kept stituted by the state previews the The Punjab government has con- that in mind. Political reasons could movie and submits its report. stituted a seven-member committee be behind the ban on the film. I will The decision to ban the Amitabh consisting of Samir Kumar, IAS, make appropriate cuts in the film as Bachchan-Saif Ali Khan starrer was Secretary home, Raj Kumar Atihai, per suggestions," Jha told reporters. taken after receiving intelligence reports that 'Aarakhshan' has certain Congress seeks to prevent scenes/dialogues which may inflame Policemen stand near the banner of the film 'Aarakshan' in Mumbai. the passion of some communities in Filmmaker Prakash Jha has agreed to make "appropriate" alterations Punjab, an official spokesman said. in his film 'Aarakshan.' Parliament stalling The Mayawati government had create law and order problem in the tion by a high level official commit- banned the film in UP for two state. The decision to ban the film tee set up by the Bahujan Samaj months on the grounds that it could was taken following a recommenda- Party (BSP) government.

The Indian Parliament. New Delhi: With a combative The meeting voiced concern opposition disrupting parliament over repeated disruptions of par- over alleged irregularities in the liament by an aggressive opposi- Commonwealth Games prepara- tion which is trying to pin down tions and a host of other issues, the government over various Prime Minister Manmohan issues, including the Singh held a strategy meeting Comptroller and Auditor with his senior party colleagues General (CAG) report on alleged to find a way to ensure the irregularities in the conduct of smooth functioning of the mon- the Commonwealth Games. soon session of parliament. The opposition has contended The meeting of the Congress that the CAG report blamed the core group, which was held in Prime Minister's Office and the absence of party chief Sonia Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Gandhi who is recuperating Dikshit for the alleged irregular- from a surgery in the US, was ities in the 2010 Games. attended by Finance Minister The meeting also discussed the Pranab Mukherjee, Home legislative agenda and explored Minister P. Chidambaram, ways to ensure the passage of at Defense Minister A.K. Antony least some of around 30 bills and Political Secretary to the which are said to be pending Congress president Ahmed even if the opposition failed to Patel. cooperate fully. UPA caught off guard in Lok Sabha New Delhi: Opposition caught Laws) Amendment Bill, 2009. the government on the wrong foot He drew the attention of Karuna in the Lok Sabha on August 10 Shukla, who was in the Chair, when its members pointed out saying "not even one cabinet min- that no cabinet minister was pres- ister is present when an important ent in the House during a debate discussion is taking place".At that on a bill to amend State Bank of time, only minister of state for India Act. finance Namo Narain Meena was The point of order was raised by present on behalf of the govern- BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain when ment. BJP members were soon on his party colleague Nishikant their feet and Dubey said he Dubey was speaking on the State would not speak till some cabinet Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks minister is present. India Newswire 13

TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 13-19, 2011 Patil rejects mercy plea of Rajiv's killers 'No mercy for Afzal Guru' New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil has commuting Nalini's sentence to life New Delhi: Nearly five years after rejected the clemency petitions of three imprisonment. Afzal Guru filed for clemency, the killers of Rajiv Gandhi whose death sen- The trio, charged with criminal con- home ministry has asked President tences were confirmed by the Supreme spiracy and execution of the suicide Pratibha Patil to reject the plea of the Court in 2000. The apex court had sen- attack plot, had filed mercy petition prime accused in the 2001 tenced members of the banned Liberation before the President after confirmation Parliament attack. Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) Murugan, of sentence by the apex court. The move is expected to end the Santhan, Perarivalan and Nalini to death The Home Ministry had sent its opin- BJP’s scathing criticism of the in 1999 for the assassination of the former ion on June 21, 2005 which was called Congress-led coalition for the delay Prime Minister in Sriperumbudur on May back for review on February 23, 2011 in Guru’s hanging. The case has 21, 1991. and was re-submitted to the President on been illustrated as a symbol of what Parliament attack convict A Rasthrapati Bhavan spokesperson March 8 this year. it says is the Congress’s soft Afzal Guru. said the clemency petitions of all three Earlier, in May, the President had approach on terrorism. time that Patil had rejected mercy Nalini, one of the three accused were turned down by the rejected mercy petitions of Devinder Pal Minister of state for home pleas. Her predecessor, APJ Abdul LTTE members who killed President last week. Singh Bhullar of Punjab and Mahendra Mullappally Ramachandran told the Kalam, had reluctantly rejected the Rajiv Gandhi. The apex court had confirmed the death Nath Das of Assam following the recom- Rajya Sabha that Afzal’s mercy plea mercy plea of Bengal resident sentence of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan while mendations from the Union Home Ministry. was submitted to the president’s sec- Dhananjoy Chatterjee, who had retariat on July 27. Officials con- raped and killed a young girl. firmed that home minister P In the last four years, Rashtrapati No Reddys in Karnataka ministry: Gowda Chidambaram had backed lieu- Bhavan has only processed the New Delhi/Bangalore: The new ministers again as they have been Karunakara handled revenue port- tenant-governor Tejinder Khanna’s mercy petitions when the recom- Karnataka ministry will not have a indicted in the illegal mining scam folio and Sriramulu held the health view, rejecting the mercy petition. mendation was to commute death to deputy chief minister nor will the by the Lokayukta (ombudsman). ministry. A Delhi court had on December life imprisonment. More than a mining barons, the two Reddy "I am not the only one to take Gowda, who defeated former 18, 2002 sentenced Guru, and two dozen cases — where the home min- brothers, find a berth, Chief decisions on all these things. All the rural development minister others to death. Subsequently, SAR istry has recommended rejection of Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda directions given by the central lead- Jagadish Shettar to become BJP's Geelani, a DU college lecturer, was the mercy plea — are pending with said. ership will be carried out," he said second chief minister in Karnataka, acquitted and Shaukat Hussain Guru, the president’s secretariat. The Bharatiya Janata Party cen- on his visit to New Delhi after said all differences with him Afzal’s cousin, was let off after 10 Chidambaram — who devised a tral leadership was not in favor of becoming chief minister Aug 4 suc- (Shettar) would be sorted out. years in jail. The ministry’s move system to take up pleas in the order creating a deputy chief minister's ceeding scam-hit B.S. He said he had handled differ- may not mean that Guru will be they came — had punctured the post in Karnataka as it was not Yeddyurappa. ences within the party when he hanged immediately. The President BJP-Sena campaign linking the there in any BJP-rule state, Gowda Besides the two Reddy brothers, headed the Karnataka unit for four recently rejected mercy pleas of DPS delay in Guru's hanging to his reli- told reporters in New Delhi. the Lokayukta has also named their years. Like he had sorted out the Bhullar for planting a bomb outside gion, reminding them that mercy He also ruled out making the close associate B. Sriramulu. differences then, now also "all the Youth Congress office in 1993 pleas of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins Reddy brothers - G. Janardhana Janardhana was tourism minister in issues will be resolved", Gowda and Mahendra Nath Das for killing a and convicts in terrorist cases, too, Reddy and G. Karunakara Reddy - the Yeddyurappa cabinet while asserted. man. These two cases were the first were pending. 14 Diaspora

AAuugguusst1133 --1199,2200 1111 TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffoo Killing of wife by husband stuns 103 Indians died in Indo-Canadian community Australian attacks: Vancouver: The daylight murder tragedy.'' of a young Indo-Canadian woman Raminder Dosanjh, community Vayalar Ravi by her husband in the city suburb activist and wife of former New Delhi: As many as of Surrey last week has shamed Canadian health minister Ujjal 103 Indians were killed or and shocked the community which Dosanjh, said the killing of this injured in attacks in is trying to come terms with the lat- young woman by her husband is “a Australia last year and est case of family violence. black mark on our whole Indo- steps have been taken to Twenty-four-old Ravinder Canadian community.'''' prevent such assaults, Bhangu was stabbed to death last Dosanjh, who formed the India Overseas Indian Affairs Thursday by her 26-year-old hus- Mahila Association in Canada in Minister Vayalar Ravi told band Manmeet Singh while she 1973, said the brutal murder is the Lok Sabha Wednesday.. was at work at the weekly Ravinder Bhangu was stabbed symptomatic of “a mind-set among 'It has been conveyed to English/Punjabi Sach Di Awaaz in to death while at work men who think women are their the Australian government Surrey on the outskirts of retire school psychologist Balwant property. They can do whatever that it was the responsibility Indian students protest the racism Vancouver. Sanghera told media. they want with their women.'' of the Australian authorities motivated attacks The victim, who came to Canada Sanghera said since the multiple She said, 'Our volunteers always to ensure the well being and marches, saying attacks on them from the Rajpura area of Punjab in murders of wives by their husbands tell women: don't hide your family security of all Indians in Australia,' were motivated by racism and were 2009, had been staying with her four years ago community leaders problems and remain quiet. Please Ravi told the Lok Sabha. not being sufficiently addressed by after marital problems with her and activists have been offering speak up and don't risk your life for In 2009, 52 Indians either lost the Australian government. husband. counseling to people facing family anything. If you don't get along their lives or were injured in There are over 600,000 interna- The murder comes four years problems. with your husband, go your own Australia in attacks on them, while tional students from over 100 after a spate killings of four wives 'Quite a few organizations are way.'' 11 such incidents were reported in countries pursuing university or by their Punjabi husbands within a helping couples cope with marital As the community comes to 2008, the minister said. vocational studies in Australia. couple of months stunned the huge tensions. But this case shows that terms with the murder and adverse The attacks resulted in a diplo- In 2009, there were over 150,000 Indo-Canadian community. this is not helping. We are puzzled media publicity, the husband of the matic row, as India blamed racism Indian students enrolled to under- 'Frankly, we are embarrassed as a that our people have no problem victim has been charged with first- for the targeting of Indians, espe- take an Australian qualification and community. This tragedy has solving skills.'' degree murder. cially students. The Australian India was the second top-source revived our old fears. The worst He was angry that despite all Called the Southall of Canada, authorities said they were also tak- country for Australia's international part is that this happened in broad their counseling 'people are still Surrey is home to the largest con- ing steps to curb the attacks. education industry. After the series daylight in an office. We are in a keeping their problems to them- centration of the Indian community On many occasions, Indian stu- of attacks on Indians, many stu- shock,'' community leader and selves and the result is this in this country. dents have taken out protests dents returned home.

who can drive the marketing thrust Indian woman named NRI businessman offers rural of Indian and multinational compa- students scholarships nies eying the booming rural mar- Australia's 2011 young ket. "Students with rural upbringing Thiruvananthapuram : An Oman- 50 percent scholarship to one stu- are better positioned to feel the based Keralite businessman will dent each from Indian states who pulse of the rural consumer. Our executive offer scholarship for rural students has completed his/her schooling in training will make them effective Melbourne: A 35-year-old Indian, from across the country to do a post- rural schools. Four students will be marketers who can relate to the rural Preeti Bajaj, has been named one graduate course in management at offered 25 percent scholarship and ambiance and this emerging eco- of the Australian Financial the Asian School of Business (ASB) ten students 10 percent in a bid to nomic segment more effectively," Review's Young Executives of the here. George M. Thomas incidental- discover and nurture rural talent. said Rajeev. year 2011. ly is the patron of the ASB and is These scholarships are being offered The ASB has now moved to its The annual BOSS Young doing this to give a boost to the by George M. Thomas Foundation," own swanky 16-acre full-fledged Executives of the Year Awards are industry's rural thrust. Thomas told reporters here Friday. eco-friendly residential campus run by the prestigious AFR maga- The annual intake would be 240 ASB director S.Rajeev, who has designed by a Singapore architectur- zine in association with global tal- seats and the fees for the two-year mentored Indian and Silicon Valley al firm, located near the state's pre- ent management consultancy program is Rs 6.50 lakh. start-ups, is overseeing the initiative mier IT destination, the Technopark Development Dimensions "Besides free laptops, we will give to develop management graduates campus. International. Preeti Bajaj The awards, now in their seventh She currently works as regional Indian diaspora in Netherlands to year, recognise the achievements of manager of an Australian property aspiring future leaders and is said firm, Brookfield Multiplex hold first annual meet to identify six young Australians Services. The Hague: Representatives of the Indian diaspora various Indian diaspora organizations are expected to par- with the skills, talent and drive She leads a team providing facili- organizations in the Netherlands will meet in The Hague ticipate in the conference, said Wahid Saleh, spokesper- needed to make a successful future ty management, predominantly for Sep 25 for the first Dutch edition of the annual diaspora son of the conference. The conference also aims to leader. government departments. conference, EuAsiaNews reported. increase participation and visibility of the Indian diaspora Bajaj, a Delhi University student, She said building a business was The theme of the day-long meeting is 'Indian Diaspora in the Dutch social, cultural and political spectrum, was among the six winners this her most satisfying experience, as in Netherlands: Achievements, Contributions & besides broadening and deepening the ties with India in year who were tracked down on the prior to her current role, she Challenges.' The conference aims to enhance mutual various fields. It aims to work as a catalyst to further the basis of an analysis of how they worked as a managing director of a understanding and strengthen relations between various cause of economic and cultural cooperation between perform compared to more senior software company, Vision sections of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands. India and the Netherlands. The organizers previously con- executives. Software. At least 400 participants, most of them representing ducted the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-Europe in 2009. Veggie Fest 15

TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 13-19, 2011 Sant Rajinder Singh to speak at Veggie Fest in Chicagoland The annual two-day event is sponsored and hosted by the Science of Spirituality Meditation Center, Naperville, Ill., to educate the public on the benefits of vegetarian lifestyle.

n August 13–14, His Holiness Sant Rajinder Sant Rajinder Singh Ji OSingh Ji Maharaj will be Maharaj will be delivering the keynote speaker at the sixth his first keynote talk, annual Veggie Fest, a huge vege- "Ignite the Spark of the tarian food festival in Naperville, Divine" on Saturday, IL held on the grounds of the August 13 at 2:30pm. Veggie Fest is offering a Vegetarian Challenge, a new initiative to help Science of Spirituality Meditation Following the talk, his new you go vegetarian for seven days. Center, 4S 175 Naperville Rd., book, Spark of the Divine, Naperville, IL 60653. Twenty- will be released and made experience of vegetarianism fun, service of educating and sharing five thousand people are expected available for purchase. easy and delicious. the benefits of the vegetarian to attend. The spiritual Master will The first 2000 people who sign lifestyle with others. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj give his second keynote, up for the Vegetarian Challenge This is their way of giving is respected by the international "Health Secrets: Vegetarian Diet & Meditation," on will receive a free goodie bag. back. Veggie Fest is a fun, family community of spiritual leaders as Sunday, August 14 at 2:30pm. Afterwards, he will For more info visit www.veg- event where everyone can one of the great spiritual Masters personally sign books of those whose names will be giefest chicago.org. explore new ideas while having a of our time. Three of his books chosen in a drawing. Veggie Fest is sponsored and great day. are Barnes and Noble bestsellers. hosted by the Science of He has taught his meditation Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Rich History of Vegetarianism in Spirituality Meditation Center as For complete program details, technique to millions of people will be delivering his first India." part of the Center's mission to visit www.veggiefestchicago.org all over the world through medi- keynote talk, "Ignite the Spark of Jonathan Kruger, Veggie Fest provide a needed community or call 630.955.1200. tation seminars, conferences, the Divine" on Saturday, August coordinator says, “In just six books, CDs, DVDs, magazine 13 at 2:30pm. Following the talk, years, Veggie Fest has become articles and through appearances his new book, Spark of the one of the largest vegetarian food on television, radio and Internet Divine, will be released and made festivals in the country. Some of broadcasts. available for purchase. the best chefs from around the In our day-to-day lives, we The spiritual Master will give country are coming to do food interact with many different kinds his second keynote, "Health demos. We have live music all of people. Rarely do we come in Secrets: Vegetarian Diet & day, over 100 vendor booths, an contact with someone who truly Meditation," on Sunday, August extensive children's program and sees beyond our outward appear- 14 at 2:30pm. Afterwards, he will an incredible international food ances and can recognize us at the personally sign books of those court.” level of our true selves, the level whose names will be chosen in a If you're curious about vegetar- of the soul. drawing. ianism, Veggie Fest is offering a Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, Veggie Fest is also honored this Vegetarian Challenge, a new ini- an internationally renowned spiri- year to present the Consul tiative to help you go vegetarian tual Master and bestselling General of India in Chicago, for seven days. Visit the author, is such a being. Mukta Dutta Tomar, as guest Vegetarian Challenge booth for a He says, “The soul’s power has speaker. On Saturday, August 13 complete support package with been forgotten. at 4:30pm she will talk on, "The recipes and tips to make your Veggie Fest is a fun family event The mind, the senses, the body and the pulls of the physical world have placed the soul in a state of forgetfulness from which we must awaken.” “When we look at life through the consciousness of the empow- ered soul, we begin to live in a gentler manner and start respect- ing all forms of life. This is one of the reasons that many people who are in touch with their soul turn to a vegetarian diet. They feel that God has provided enough food in the form of plants to sustain them and it is not nec- essary to take the life of any of The event will have live music all day, over 100 vendor booths, an In six years, Veggie Fest has become one of the largest vegetarian food the Lord’s creatures for food.” extensive children's program and an international food court festivals in the country 16 Festival Festival 17

August13 -19,20 11 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TheSouthAsianTimes.info August13 -19,20 11 Rakhi celebration: Nuggets from history Rani Karnavati and Emperor Alexander The Great and Humayun he story of Rani Kar- King Puru navati and Emperor he oldest reference to THumayun is the most the festival of rakhi significant evidence in the Tgoes back to 300 B.C. history. During the medieval at the time when Alexander era, Rajputs were fighting invaded India. It is said that Muslim invasions. the great conqueror, King Rakhi at that time meant a Alexander of Macedonia spiritual binding and protec- was shaken by the fury of tion of sisters was foremost. the Indian king Puru in his When Rani Karnawati the first attempt. Upset by this, widowed queen of the king Alexander's wife, who had of Chittaud or realized that heard of the Rakhi festival, she could in no way defend approached King Puru. King the invasion of the Sultan of Rani Karnavati was widow of King of Chittaud, Puru accepted her as his sis- Rakhi is a promise of unconditional care, love and protection from the brother eRakhi: With changing times, now rakhis are even sent electronically. Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she Rajasthan ter and when the opportunity sent a rakhi to Emperor Hu- The Emperor touched by his troops without wasting came during the war, he re- King Puru accepted rakhi from Raksha Bandhan: Bonds of love mayun. the gesture started off with any time. frained from Alexander. King Alexander's wife aksha Bandhan is that one Avani Avittam Significance their heads. They carry it to a pond Lord Krishna King Bali and Goddess festival that is celebrated Upakramam means the beginning. or any other water body and im- R across the country irrespec- On this day the Yajurvedis begin to merse it. Women keep fast on this and Draupadi Lakshmi tive of religion, caste and commu- read Yajur Veda for next six months. day and pray for the well being of n order to protect the good people, he demon king Mahabali was a great nity. The day is auspicious because as per their sons. Lord Krishna killed the evil King devotee of lord Vishnu. Because of his With its origins lying deep in his- Indian mythology Lord Vishnu was The festival is of importance to the Shishupal. Krishna was hurt during immense devotion, Vishnu took up the tory, Raksha Bandhan has a special incarnated as Lord Hayagriva,the farmers as it signifies the beginning I T the war and left with bleeding finger. task of protecting Bali's kingdom leaving his place in our hearts. Taught right from lord of knowledge, the one who re- of the sowing season for wheat and Seeing this, Draupadi had torn a strip normal place in Vaikunth. Goddess Lakshmi - childhood – that the silk thread sis- stored the Vedas to Brahma. barley. They worship Goddess Bhag- of cloth from her sari and tied around the wife of Lord Vishnu - became sad because ters tied on to the brother's wrist was wati and seek blessings for a good his wrist to stop the bleeding. Lord Kr- of this as she wanted Lord Vishnu along with a bond of protection. Kajari Purnima crop. ishna, realizing her affections and con- her. So she went to Bali and disguised as a Rakhi is the sacred thread that is Kajari Purnima falls on the same cern about him, declared himself Brahmin woman took refuge in his palace. On tied by the sister for the well being day as Raksha Bandhan that is on the Narial Purnima bounded by her sisterly love. He prom- Shravana Purnima, she tied Rakhi on King of the brother and the brother on the Shravan Purnima. This festival is This festival is important for those ised her to repay this debt whenever Bali's wrist. Goddess Lakshmi revealed who she other hand blesses her and promises mainly celebrated in the Central who depend on sea for their life.On she need in future. Many years later, is and why she is there. The king, touched by to protect and honor her forever. The India that includes Madhya Pradesh, this day the Sea God, Varun is wor- when the pandavas lost Draupadi in the her and Lord Vishnu's good will and affection festival of Raksha Bandhan is cele- Chattisgarh and part of Uttar shiped. Coconuts are offered to the game of dice and Kauravas were re- towards him and his family, Bali requested Lord brated on the full moon day (Shra- Pradesh. Since this festival falls at Sea God thus the name Narial purn- moving her saari, Krishna helped her Vishnu to accompany her to Vaikunth. Then on van Poornima) of the Shravan month the end of the monsoon season, it is ima or the coconut full moon. divinely elongating the saari so that Krishna came to Draupadi’s rescue when this festival also came to be known as Baleva Festival also known as Balev after King of the Hindu calendar. of great importance to the farmers. It is the time of retreating mon- they could not remove it. Pandavas lost her to Kauravas in game of dice as Bali Raja's devotion to the Lord Vishnu. Bali’s devotion to Lord Vishnu Rabindranath Tagore popularized Sisters tie rakhi and wish well-being of the brother On the ninth day after Shravana soon. It is festival time for the people the rakhi tradition by tying rakhis to shaa bandhan itself ranges from a Avani Avittam Rituals Amavasya, the preparations of the of the coastal areas. his Muslim brothers. The action, es- colored cotton string to exquisitely On this day, a Mahasankalpam or a Kajari festival start. This ninth day For the fishermen it is the begin- pecially during the troubled times of decorated balls of various sizes and vow is taken for atonement of all our is called Kajari Navami. The rituals ning of the new fishing season. Dur- the Independence struggle, helped materials such as fluffy cotton, 'zari' sins in the past year. are performed by the ladies blessed ing the monsoon the seas are more Breaking free this festive weekend unite the disparaging religions to- paper, tinsel, beads and so on. The Brahmins take a holy dip and with a son. The rituals continue till violent. The fishermen don't wade gether in a bond of brotherhood. Some parts of India also reserve wear a new holy thread called Ya- the Kajri Purnima or the full moon into seas during this time. Shravan In India families will be holidaying away from home The main force of thought behind Rakshaa Bandhan day importance jnopavit or Janeyu. day. On the Shravan Shukla Purnima signifies the end of mon- the Rakhi is a promise of uncondi- for the sacred thread changing cere- The first step is a 'prayashchita', a Navami, women go to fields and soon. Fishermen decorate their New Delhi: Where will you be this wanted it to be different. So I decided their near and dear in picturesque lo- tional care, love and protection from mony when the young brahmin boys prayer to atone the sins. It says, "For bring earth in the leaf cups. Leaf or boats, paint it new and put flags. Raksha Bandhan? Basking in the sun to gift my sister a perfect family hol- cations," said Pai, COO, leisure the brother. Over the years, Raksha discard the old one and don a new the removal of all my sins and barley is sown in it and kept in a dark They then carry decorated coconuts on a beach in Pattaya, ambling down iday. Festivities should not force you travel, outbound. Bandhan has grown out of the sib- one ritualistically. However, on rak- thereby to secure a divine blessing room where no sunlight or fresh air to the sea. It is kind of a community the mall in Shimla or maybe shop- to follow certain regimes. They, in According to Sabina Chopra, co- ling relationship and has extended to shaa bandhan it is the emotions and for qualifying myself to perform reaches. gathering there. They celebrate to- ping in Jaipur with the family... It's fact, should inspire you to spend founder and executive vice president brethren of any sort. which are important. The rakshaa the essential duties of Brahmanas as The place where this leaf cup is gether, sing and dance together. In the perfect getaway time for many good quality time with your family. (operations) of Yatra , the number of In North India, the occasion is bandhan ceremony performed is the prescribed in the vedas and smritis kept and the surrounding walls are the end they worship the Sea God with the first extended weekend of This is what we are doing this year," travelers goes up by 50 per cent dur- popularly called Rakhi or Raksha symbolic everlasting bond between and adopted by the really good in cleaned and washed with mud and and offer coconut. The decorated co- the year combining the festival cele- said Jaivir. ing long weekends and business dou- Bandhan. brothers and sisters that reinforces their conduct I put on this cow dung. The place then is deco- conuts are thrown in the water with brating sibling love with Independ- Travel lovers look for long week- bles. In ancient times a woman tied a ties between them even across c onti- Yagnopavita". rated patterns made by rice solu- prayers of a plentiful fish catch. ence Day. ends at the beginning of the year it- "Various hotels are promoting spe- 'rakshaa' on her husband's wrist to nents, and it is the one which has the When the thread is worn another tion.The motifs are generally the Unlike other festivals like Diwali, self. This year, the monsoon break is cial packages for this extended week- protect him from evil. Gradually this most importance on this auspicious mantra is recited which means -"I house hold articles and activities. Why Coconut? where most people would like to stay from Aug 13-15, which includes Rak- end. In fact, the traffic on Yatra has changed; she tied a 'rakshaa' on her day. put on the sacred thread which is Figures of a house, a child in cradle, A coconut has three eyes. It is said at home, Raksha Bandhan presents sha Bandhan and Independence Day. risen by 50 per cent in the last couple brother's right wrist, to protect him highly pure, is inseparable from a mongoose and a woman with a to represent Lord Shiva, the three few obstacles. And several families, "This is the first extended weekend of days," she said. from evil influence and those factors Avani Avittam / Upakramam God, is capable of prolonging life pitcher are mandatory figures. This eyed God. Coconut is considered to complete with sister and brother, are this monsoon season and therefore it "The most popular destinations which may taint his character and to Avani Avittam or Upakramam or and is the foremost in the accom- art of drawing with the rice solution be an auspicious offering to Gods. A planning the quick escape from the has attracted a lot of attention in from Delhi are places like Jaipur, strengthen the bond of sibling love Avani Attam is a ritual followed by plishment of a Brahmana. May such on mud washed floor is called coconut is broken in front of the humdrum of daily life. terms of holiday bookings," Keyur Shimla and Manali as they are drive between them. On the occasion of the Brahmins who read Yajurveda. It pure Yagnopavita bring strength and Navami. And then the cup is wor- deities before taking up a new ven- Travel portals have witnessed Joshi, COO and co-founder of travel down to destinations. Rakshaa Bandhan she visits her is most commonly celebrated in dignity. shiped. ture to seek blessings and on suc- tremendous surge in booking for the portal MakeMyTrip , said. In the western region, destinations brother's home and performs his southern states of Tamil Nadu and While removing the old thread, the The worship is repeated for seven cessful completion for thanks giving. first long weekend this monsoon and Thomas Cook's Madhav Pai points such as Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar Travel portals have seen a surge in booking for exotic escapes as well as 'pujan' by applying kumkum and rice Kerela, and states of Orissa and Ma- mantra means -"I throw away the days till the full moon day. The Coconut is important for all religious everyone is smiling. to the changing face of Indian festiv- and Goa are most in demand," she nearby hotspots grains on his forehead. In return the harashtra. It falls on the Shravan broken dirty old thread, may the new evening of the full moon day has the occasions. Thus coconut is consid- Aamit Jaivir, 33, for instance, is off ities. added. brother gives her a gift and vows to Purnima that is the same day as Rak- one bring on long life and Brah- final ritual. The women move out in ered to be an ideal offering to the Sea to Thailand along with his family and han in Pattaya, Thailand, along with "We have always celebrated Rak- "Families now wish to spend the People are also targeting interna- protect her too. The 'rakhadi' for rak- sha Bandhan. mana's brilliance.” procession carrying the leaf cups on God as well. would be celebrating Raksha Band- his sister and parents. sha Bandhan at home but this year we moments of joy and festivities with tionaldestinations.

18 Diplomacy

August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri making his opening remarks at the reception marking Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General for UN Women, admiring a photograph, the opening of the exhibition ‘Humanitas - Images of India’ by Fredric Roberts (left) flanked by Amb. Puri, and Fredric Roberts. Marking India’s Presidency of UNSC by celebrating everyday Indians Ambassador Hardeep Puri, India's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, hosted a reception August 8 in the General Assembly building, at the opening of an exhibition 'Images of India' by an award-winning photographer. India has the prestige of presiding over the UN Security Council this month. 18 Diplomacy

August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri making his opening remarks at the reception marking Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General for UN Women, admiring a photograph, the opening of the exhibition ‘Humanitas - Images of India’ by Fredric Roberts (left) flanked by Amb. Puri, and Fredric Roberts. Marking India’s Presidency of UNSC by celebrating everyday Indians Ambassador Hardeep Puri, India's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, hosted a reception August 8 in the General Assembly building, at the opening of an exhibition 'Images of India' by an award-winning photographer. India has the prestige of presiding over the UN Security Council this month.

Photos: Xitij Joshi

Ranju and Ravi Batra, Federal Distt Judge George Daniels, Lakshmi Puri, Jamaica’s PR to UN Amb. Raymond, and Prof. John Humbach admiring a photograph by Fredric Roberts. Another lifelike photograph by Roberts Adm. Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix.

Lakhsmi Puri, PR Hardeep Puri, Ranju Batra, Surrogate Judge Gigante, Ravi Batra, Ravi Bhooplapur, Kamlesh Mehta, Amb. Puri, Dr J. Ganesh Bhat, Lakshmi Puri, Justice Schneier, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Sen. Huntley, Justice Tingling, Ranju and Ravi Batra, and businessmanJack Rosen. Justice Aliotta, NY Senate Democratic Leader Sen. John Sampson, Neal Batra. Diplomacy 19

TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 13-19, 2011 Celebrating India’s Presidency of Security Council

By Parveen Chopra

United Nations: To mark India’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Per- manent Representative to the UN, hosted a reception at the General Assembly complex here for the diplomatic corps, US lawmakers and prominent Indian community members to coincide with the opening of the exhibi- tion ‘Humanitas - Images of In- Neil Batra, Ranju Batra, Pakistan’s Deputy PR Raza Bashir Tarar, Rachel Knipel, Justice Knipel, Justice Deborah Dowling, dia’ by award winning US pho- Hardeep and Lakshmi Puri, NY Senate Leader John L. Sampson and Justice Schneier. tographer Fredric Roberts. and Ravi Batra. (Photos: Xitij Joshi/xitijphoto.com ) Amb. Puri told the august gath- show and said it was like “being work has the unintended value of ering that after he discovered recognized as a doctor by other serving as an archive of a cul- Roberts’ exquisite photographs doctors, and not merely parents ture. He has recently set up the of India, he’d promised to organ- blinded with pride”. Fredric Roberts Photography ize his show at the UN during In- Talking to the SATimes, Workshop for Indian students in dia’s month-long presidency of Roberts said the photographs on conjunction with Sanjhi, an the UNSC. Puri also recom- show were culled from what he Udaipur based NGO focused on mended him to the Indian gov- shot on his visits to Rajasthan in environmental issues. ernment, which honored Roberts 2003 and Gujarat in 2006. ‘Humanitas’ (Humanitas as Best Foreign Photographer for The Los Angeles based invest- means the development of hu- India earlier this year. ment banker turned photogra- man virtue in all its forms, to its Puri noted that most of his fel- pher said he had been travelling fullest extent) will remain on low Permanent Representatives on business to India since 1974 show at the UNGA till Aug 19, (PRs) of other countries were out but started taking photographs and from Sept 8 - Oct 1 at Sun- of New York on vacation (the since 2000. Others go to India daram Tagore Gallery in Ranju and Ravi Batra with Amb. Manjeev Singh Puri, India’s Deputy ones who attended included PRs looking for the poverty, the mis- Manhattan. PR to the UN. of Sri Lanka, Netherlands, South ery, but Roberts said he is en- Africa, Belgium and Jamaica). chanted by the majesty of India, So he invited to the rostrum em- particularly in its villages, in “The world is safer with India on UNSC” inent attorney Ravi Batra, who in people’s family, community and turn invited and introduced quite religious life. “These villagers Eminent Attorney RAVI BATRA on the central message of India's service a few judges and New York may not have money but they are on the Security Council. politicians. rich, because he who is happy fter nearly 20 years, India When asked to speak, Roberts with what he has is rich.” sits on the Security Council alluded to the fulsome praise by Yet, Roberts agreed that that Aand for the month of Au- Indians of his photographs in the India is vanishing--so his art- gust, presides over it. In those 20 years, India has not only become a "strategic partner" of the US but also "Incredible India!" That India has at this precious moment in his- tory Amb. Hardeep Puri as its Per- manent Representative seems to now be a benefit to not only India, but to the world itself as India's sys-sys- tem-rich maturity is on great display as the Arab Spring has turned into a troubled, and perhaps, bubbling, "Summer". Ravi Batra was called to the podium by Amb Puri. That Ambassador Puri, while pre- siding over the Security Council Security Council was Amb. Puri's follow through, great interpersonal during the normally "relaxed" desire to have a low-key event, relationships, great attention to de- month of August, happens to be which celebrated everyday Indians tail and especially, great value dealing with Syria while avoiding in India, captured by the affection- added to the discussion, subject, Ravi Batra, Justice Zweibel, PR Puri, Justices Schneier and Knipel. the then latent pitfalls of rushing ate lens of Fredric Roberts rather content, tone and outcome with into Libya when the Arab Spring than some high level event focusing greater consensus; but, always, in a was still a spring is awe-inspiring as on the UN or the Council. One low key manner, consistent with it makes the Council more power- would normally think that India and one used to wielding power, care- ful. The body of work during this her happy PR would have wanted a fully, for the greater good. Those ac- rotational presidency is being ap- "loud" self-congratulatory event; in- customed to power's proper use in- preciated beyond expectations with stead, it was a quiet, dignified, hap- timately know the infinite calibra- Amb. Puri's graduated and calibrat- py event focused on everyday cul- tions of power, and that in the cali- ed course of action gives the world ture, rich and tradition soaked rural bration itself, is power. community, including the Council, Indians; almost as if being on the The great American philosopher, more options, and hence, more Security Council on a permanent Mark Twain, if present at the power and more relevance. If there basis or its presidency is now to be Fredric Roberts exhibition, would is a central message of India's serv- expected naturally and is no big have declared to all present: Don't ice on the UNSC, it is that the world deal. Indeed, those present at the ex- ever expect India to crack walnuts is safer with India on it, as each cri- hibition seemed to think so. with the great seal of the SC, for it sis is better addressed and world ex- In the global community present is a real prince who preside s. As the pectations better calibrated. at the UN, it is now expected of In- majesty of America comes from its Dr Harbans Gulati, Dr Subhash Gulati, Vikas Dhall, Willie Rapfogel, What was unique about the cele- dia, because of her team led by PR everyday people, so is it true for In- and Kamlesh Mehta. bration of India's presidency of the Puri, to have great substance, great dia.dia. 20 Subcontinent

AAuugguusst11 33--1199,22 00111 TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffoo Pak wants new ties with Taliban kill 22 US Navy SEALs London: A majority of the US soldiers who perished in the shooting down of an India: Hina American chopper in Afghanistan were part Islamabad: Pakistani "We want to build trust, each other many times in the of the elite forces that killed Al Qaeda leader Foreign Minister Hina rather than to evaporate trust. past and whenever talks Osama bin Laden, a media report said. Rabbani Khar told parliament We want to build new foun- gained momentum they were Thirty-eight people, including 30 US spe- that Pakistan wants to build a dation of relationship with interrupted abruptly. cial forces troops and seven Afghan soldiers, new era of cooperation with India," she said in the She said "the uninterrupted were killed when their Chinook helicopter India. National Assembly, Xinhua and uninterruptible dialogue was brought down by Afghan insurgents in Khar traveled to New Delhi reported. Khar said the main means that we want meaning- Wardak province. The SEALs who died in the Taliban attack last month and held talks with purpose of her visit to India ful and result-oriented dia- Seven members of the Afghan National were not among the 23 who killed her Indian counterpart S.M. was to have an uninterrupted logue and for that both the Army, one dog handler, an interpreter and an Osama bin Laden Krishna, which were dialogue with New Delhi. She sides need to ensure con- unknown number of crew were also on board described as cordial. said both countries talked to ducive environment". the downed helicopter. recently returned to Afghanistan from their Of the 30 US troops who died, 22 were base in North Carolina. Navy SEALs from the elite Team Six unit However, they were members of the same Pak, US need each other: Haqqani that killed Osama May 2, the Daily Mail 120-strong SEAL Team Six and would have Islamabad: There is recog- of two Pakistanis by a CIA reported. trained alongside and been close friends with nition in both Pakistan and contractor - have led to a neg- Meanwhile, as NATO begins an operation those who carried out the Osama raid, the the US that the two countries ative image of the US among to recover the remains of the large hel icopter, Mail said. need each other even though people. "When the Americans an Afghan official said heavy fighting has It was not clear if the Taliban had deliber- there have been events that come into Pakistan in a mili- erupted in the area of the crash. ately targeted the helicopter as an act of have given rise to mutual tary fashion, unilaterally with Wardak provincial spokesman Shahidullah revenge. But its shooting down is bound to distrust, said Pakistan's guns blazing, essentially they Shahid said that a joint operation was taking be greeted in the Arab world as terrible Ambassador to the US are creating fear amongst the place in the Tangi Joy Zarin area of Sayd vengeance for the death of the Al Qaeda Husain Haqqani. populace which, instead of Abad district. leader, it noted. In an interview with Pakistan's Ambassador to the US looking upon them as friends, He said there were reports of Taliban casu- The attack is the deadliest single incident WTOP radio, the envoy Husain Haqqani. starts being suspicious," alties overnight, but had no additional infor- since the Afghan war began in 2001. Obama, also sought understanding of Islamabad's per- Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Haqqani mation. The SEALs who died in the crash who learned of the incident at Camp David, spective in the US. Haqqani said two incidents as saying in Washington. "There are enough were not among the 23 who killed Osama. issued a statement saying his thoughts and this year - a unilateral US action on Osama bin suspicions about the US in Pakistan already," According to intelligence officials, the prayers go out to the families of those who Laden's hideout in Abbottabad and the killing said Haqqani. SEALs who killed Osama in Pakistan had perished. Welfare of Lankan Nepal Maoists inked pact with Tamils must: Krishna Chinese NGO

Kathmandu: A controversial deal between a Nepal's ethnic politicians Tuesday.. Chinese organization and a UN agency to develop The controversy was triggered last month when the birthplace of the Buddha in southern Nepal, that the Chinese media reported that a Hong Kong- was repudiated by a top official, was actually the based organization, the Asia Pacific Exchange and outcome of a secret pact with the Himalayan repub- Cooperation Foundation, had signed a $3 billion lic's ruling Maoist party. deal with the UN Industrial Development Though the Maoists, the dominant party in the Organisation to develop Lumbini into a "Buddhist coalition government, are keeping mum about a Mecca", complete with an international airline and proposed $3 billion project to develop Lumbini, the rail tracks. The reports were rebutted by the then sacred garden city where the Buddha was born, cultural secretary of Nepal, Modraj Dotel, who said their own leaders agreed to the deal and also inked an agreement without the host country's presence it, according to information provided by the was invalid and that Nepal would not allow it to Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan, to take place. Graft case against Khaleda Zia Indian External Affairs Minister Dhaka: The anti-corruption offi- S.M. Krishna. cials in Bangladesh lodged a police New Delhi: Underlining that the ing internally displaced persons complaint against the country's main welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka is (IDPs), and to assist in the devel- opposition party leader Khaleda Zia of utmost importance, India opment of northern Sri Lanka," after she failed to reveal the source Thursday urged Sri Lanka to pur- Krishna said. of a portion of the money used in sue a lasting political settlement Alluding to questions raised buying a piece of land in Dhaka, that provides for harmonious co- about the conduct of the war by Xinhua reported. existence of all communities, the Sri Lankan troops, which has The Anti Corruption Commission including minorities, in the island- been scrutinized in a report by a (ACC) said the Zia Charitable Trust, nation. panel of experts set up by the UN which Khaleda Zia heads, did not Making a suo moto statement in secretary general and a documen- have any known source of income the Lok Sabha on "The Situation tary on Britain's Channel 4, for 12.6 million taka used for buy- in Sri Lanka", External Affairs Krishna said India has taken note ing the land. ($1 equals 70 taka). Minister S.M. Krishna called for a of these concerns, but stressed The trust bought the land in "just and fair" settlement of the that the focus remained on the January 2005 for 65.2 million taka. Sri Lankan political problem and welfare of the minority Tamils.. But the seller received 12.6 million immediate priority to the Tamils' "Presently, our focus should be taka more, an ACC official said Opposition leader Khaleda Zia. rehabilitation. on the welfare and well being of requesting anonymity. The trust since she is the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) "Our primary objective in all Tamils in Sri Lanka. Their reha- failed to show any valid source for trust," the official said adding the since Prime Minister Sheikh that we are doing in Sri Lanka is bilitation and rebuilding should be the money, the official added. case was filed in a Dhaka police sta- Hasina's Bangladesh Awami League to ensure the welfare and wellbe- of the highest and most immediate "We have accused Khaleda Zia tion. This is the first corruption case government took over the reigns of ing of Sri Lankan Tamils, includ- priority," Krishna said. along with five others in the case against the chairperson of the government in January 2009. International 21

TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffo AAuugguusst11 33--1199,22 001111 London calms down, riots spread ore than 500 people from the late afternoon onwards, Birmingham with reports of a gun were arrested after a breaking into upmarket shops and being fired, while there were Mfifth night of rioting setting a branch of the Miss reports of large groups of people spread from London to some of Selfridge clothing chain on fire. in West Bromwich town centre England's biggest cities, including As evening fell up to 200 youths and vehicles being set on fire.fire. Birmingham, Manchester, raided an off-license and other Scotland Yard confirmed a fire Nottingham, Bristol and Leicester.. shops in the main shopping involving a number of vehicles The Metropolitan police arrest- precinct of Salford, a couple of broke out on an industrial estate in ed 81 people on a much quieter miles to the west. Tottenham and its cause was night with 16,000 police officers The violence ebbed in being treated as unexplained. from forces around the country Manchester city centre around Some Londoners took to the deployed in the capital. midnight and police regained con- streets to defend their homes and Manchester, Birmingham and trol. Assistant Chief Constable stores, with a number of people Nottingham bore the brunt of the Garry Shewan of Greater standing guard outside a Sikh rioting and looting overnight, with Manchester police said temple in Southall. Another group trouble also erupting in Liverpool, Manchester and Salford had been marched through Enfield, in north Salford, West Bromwich, Sporadic violence broke out in various cities across Britain, although badly damaged. "These are pure London, aiming to deter looters. Wolverhampton, Bristol and London remained largely calm following a heavy police presence. and simple criminals running wild Businesses and shops across Gloucester. Violence began in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of a man by police. tonight," Shewan said. "They London had shut down early in a Prime Minister David Cameron police scour hundreds of hours of the punishment." have nothing to protest against. bid to avoid attack from the gangs was to chair another meeting of CCTV for evidence about those Central Manchester and Salford There has been no spark. This has of youths who ransacked build- the government's emergency responsible for the violence. He saw serious looting and disorder been senseless on a scale I have ings across the city over the previ- Cobra committee to discuss the warned the young people involved as gangs waged running battles never witnessed before in my ous days.The violence first erupt- continuing unrest. in the riots: "You will feel the full with police, ransacking dozens of career." ed in Tottenham, north London, Cameron pledged to speed up force of the law. And if you are shops. Shops including a branch of after a peaceful protest over the court procedures to deal with the old enough to commit these In Manchester groups of young Marks & Spencer and a hi-fi store fatal police shooting of Mark "many more" arrests expected as crimes, you are old enough to faceface people repeatedly evaded police were again targeted in Duggan, 29. China's aircraft carrier Syria uprising: begins sea trials US steps in Beijing: China's first aircraft carrier has set sail for sea trials, As it set sail, the Liaoning Provincial Maritime officials said, as concerns mounted about the country's rapid Safety Administration publicised a notice restrict- military buildup amid flaring regional disputes. ing navigation in waters off the Dalian coast, say- The refitted former Ukrainian carrier platform left its ship- ing that vessels are forbidden from travelling yard at Dalian Port in northeast China's Liaoning Province through an area of sea 13. 25 nautical miles wide this morning to set sail for its maiden sea trial, Xinhua news and 22 nautical miles long in the northern Yellow agency reported. Sea and Liaodong Bay from August 10 to 14. The agency said that the sea trials were in line with the Military enthusiasts and tourists flocked to country's program to rebuild the carrier. Beijing has spent Dalian to view the carrier before it set sail.sail. almost 10 years retrofitting the Ukrainian carrier Varvag. The carrier is being launched amid escalating Refitting work will continue after the vessel returns to the disputes between China and several ASEAN port, Xinhua said without specifying the duration of the sea countries over islands in South China Sea. trials. Defending the carrier Chinese officials have The carrier was originally built by the former Soviet pointed to India, US and several other countries Union, which failed to complete the ship's construction already having the aircraft carriers. before collapsing in 1991. Currently, China is the only nation among five The United States is moving toward issuing an explicit call for Syrian The still-unnamed aircraft carrier was bought from permanent members of the United Nations President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Ukraine, which disarmed it and removed its engines before Security Council that does not have an active- he international cries for the past few weeks, the sources selling it to China. service aircraft carrier, they say.say. Syria's government to said. Tend a bloody crackdown While international leaders on civilians could intensify as mull their next steps, heavy Armed Sikhs protect activist groups reported fresh gunfire, explosions and tanks onslaughts in several cities. permeated the eastern city of The United Nations Security Deir Ezzor, an activist group Southall gurdwara Council was expected to follow and a resident said. up on a statement last week that The conflict in Syria was London: Armed with swords and condemned the Syrian regime fueled five months ago when hockey sticks, over 700 Sikhs took for attacks on peaceful protest- Syrian forces swiftly sup- to the streets to protect the Guru ers and called for both sides to pressed protests in the southern Singh Sabha gurdwara in Southall end the violence. city of Daraa. Anti-government as the police in the UK were Meanwhile, the United States fervor caught on nationwide as stretched to maintain law and order is moving toward issuing an more protests were met with in London. Local vigilante groups explicit call for Syrian tougher crackdowns. were formed in various areas in President Bashar al-Assad to While activists blame govern- London to protect homes and busi- step down, U.S. government ment security forces for the vio- ness establishments that have been sources said. lence and casualties, the al- vandalized by rioters - mainly of The move is expected to be Assad regime has consistently Afro-Caribbean origin - in London announced in coming days after said "armed groups" are respon- over the past four days. These U.S. officials consult with the sible. include shops owned by business- United Nations Security The death toll had reached men of Indian origin in Harrow and Council, the sources said. They 2,417 -- including more than Ealing. Southall in west London has said the question of whether to 2,000 civilians, said the Local The Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Southall. a large population of Indian origin, call for al-Assad to step down Coordination Committees of which rallied together when, appre- wara appealed to the community for guard at different parts of the town, has been under discussion over Syria, a network of activists. hending violence, elders in the gurd- help. Groups of Sikh men stood keeping in touch via their mobiles. 22 Business

August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info New $3bn window for 'Stimulus if US crisis foreign investors in India begins to bite' New Delhi: The Securities and Exchange New Delhi: The Government will provide Board of India and the government have stimulus measures to absorb the impact of opened a fresh $3 billion (around Rs moderation in exports following a rating 14,000 crore) window for foreign investors downgrade of the US by Standard & to invest in debt instruments issued by Poor’s, Union Minister for Commerce and domestic infrastructure companies. Industry Anand Sharma said. The foreign investors, who comply with Reacting to the concerns, Sharma told know-your-customer (KYC) norms, would reporters on the sidelines of the launch of be eligible to invest through mutual funds, Assocham’s Africa manual, “Opportunities the finance ministry said. Unlimited”, that the current volatility in The new facility is in addition to a similar global markets seems to be a temporary benefit available to foreign investors to turbulence and that Indian exports should invest in the equities, which was grow more than 25 per cent in 2011-12. announced by finance minister Pranab Sharma, however, evaded any projections Mukherjee in the budget. Foreign investors can now invest up to $13 about exports in the current fiscal. Together, foreign investors can now billion (around Rs 58,000 crore) directly in India’s merchandise exports rose by 38 invest up to $13 billion (around Rs 58,000 Indian markets using the mutual fund per cent to $246 billion in the last fiscal. Union Minister for Commerce and crore) directly in Indian markets using the route. “We hope the figure will nearly double to Industry Anand Sharma. mutual fund route. Earlier, their investment rating downgrade and the sovereign debt $500 billion by 2014,” he said. US could prompt hard hit sectors in India was limited to foreign institutional problems in Europe, which has raised fears While the government will ensure that to call for another package by the govern- investors but the government expanded the of a slowdown in India and possible with- cost of credit to the industry is within man- ment to boost investments and demand,” ambit to bring about more stability in the drawal of funds by FIIs. ageable limits, Sharma assured that the sit- Dilip Modi Assocham president and flows as investment from retail investors Finance ministry officials said the move uation has not reached a stage for India to Managing Director, Spice Mobility Ltd told are seen to be more stable than portfolio, to expand the ambit of the window was become anxious. Express. ”We would need stimulus in often called hot money. taken following recommendations made by Industry has started a clamor for stimulus capacity building to revive investments and The move comes at a time when the glob- the country's top industrialists during their to deal with the fallout of the global finan- take forward the India growth story,” he al markets are nervous following the US meeting with Mukherjee on August 1. cial crisis. “A slow pace of recovery in the said. US rating: Mixed We have strong implications on India fundamentals: Pranab New Delhi: Indian equities mar- kets, which stemmed losses, were a sign of the economy's strong fundamentals, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said. "I would like to emphasis that some of the investment banks have upgraded India to market weight, that means the basic fun- damentals are strong and macro- economic recovery is moving in a positive direction," Mukherjee said referring to a report released Monday by investment banking firm Goldman Sachs. The 30-scrip benchmark of the India is the 14th largest creditor to the US, with an exposure of $40 billion. Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex, which fell over 550 points in early New Delhi: Even as policymakers, sheets to support their economies trade Tuesday, almost recovered Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. including those at the Reserve Bank and financial sectors once again. its losses in the afternoon before markets managing to pare its early The benchmark Japanese Nikkei of India (RBI), sought to downplay And in our opinion, most govern- closing with a 132.27 points or losses signified the resilience of closed 1.68 percent down at the impact of US debt ratings down- ments would promptly oblige," the 0.78 percent loss at 16,857.91 the Indian economy. In compari- 8,944.48 points, while the Chinese grade on domestic economy, experts agency said. points. son, Asian markets closed deep in Shanghai Composite index too differ on what's in store due to the "But some of them continue to The minister said the Indian the red. closed flat at 2,526.07 points. crises in the world's largest econo- bear the scars of recent downturn -- my. Take the case of crude oil. One the fiscal capacities of Japan, India, set of experts say fuel prices could Malaysia, Taiwan, and New Zealand Satyam to wind up US Depository Shares go up if investors move out of US have shrunk to pre-2008 levels. If a treasury markets to commodities, but renewed slowdown comes, it would Mumbai: After putting up a brave were certain data that were not the alleged investment of about others feel the prices may actually likely create deeper, more prolonged front for several quarters on its US available to the company follow- Rs1,232 crore made by the fall, since a further slowdown in the impact than last one." listing, Satyam Computer ing the fraud committed by the founder of Satyam B Ramalinga global economy can temper demand. Yet, leading merchant banker and Services has finally given up the earlier management. Raju. Standard and Poor's, which shook advisory Goldman Sachs actually idea of becoming SEC compliant. The non-availability of those Satyam has not been able to file the global financial markets with its upgraded India's equity markets, as The company has decided to wind numbers was pointed out by the the required documents with the decision to cut the US rating last it saw a turnaround in the medium- up its American Depository auditors while auditing the finan- SEC post September 2008 due to weekend, has said there will be no to-long term with lower commodity Shares (ADSs). This means the cials. Though the Indian regulator the financial irregularities identi- immediate impact of its action on the prices, better valuations of stocks company would completely with- was accepting the auditors’ com- fied for earlier years. Asia-Pacific region. and promise of pushing reforms. draw from the US bourses, includ- ments, the US regulator was not. Nayyar also claimed that the But it has, nevertheless, issued a "Given the recent developments ing the OTC platform on which it So we have decided to wind down SEC officials were willing to cautionary note. For one, India is the in the macro landscape, we are mov- is currently traded. the ADS programme,” Vineet work with the company to set the 14th largest creditor to the US, with ing India to a market weight neutral “We have decided that it is not Nayyar, Satyam’s chairman, said. records straight. an exposure of $40 billion. "The stance from underweight, which we possible for the company to Nayyar was pointing at a set of However, the company has adverse impact on Asia Pacific in have held for over a year," said a become current as per the US SEC numbers that were qualified by found that it would not be able to that scenario would likely require report from seven of Goldman Sachs (Securities and Exchange the auditors during the recent comply with the regulations of the governments to use their balance analysts. Commission) regulations. There review of the accounts including SEC. Sports 23

TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 13-19, 2011 Test series: India on edge against England Birmingham: As the third Test brings a sense of audacity along back in 1996, when his outlook began at Edgbaston, there was with him. His batting mates know towards his art was so different. mainly trepidation in the ranks. that he can be utterly destructive; Suresh Raina should take the No. 6 India know history is against them: his bowling foes realize that too. In spot, even though he didn't seem they have lost four out of their five theory, it changes the equation. too happy in the line of fire. Virat Tests here, the other one being a The good news is that Gautam Kohli has come as replacement for draw. Gambhir has recovered from his Yuvraj Singh but he didn't have a Worse, they have already slipped Lord's blow. Together, they offer great time either in West Indies; he from winning positions in the first solidity to the batting, which has will be happy just to soak it in. two Tests to look in disarray now; sorely been missing so far. With India's bigger concern will be their main bowling hope, Zaheer Rahul Dravid returning to No. 3 and their bowling. They will seriously Khan, has finally been ruled out. VVS Laxman to No. 5, India should consider going in with four seam- Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh finally hope to show their full ers, especially with Harbhajan have also been consigned to the prowess with the bat. Singh out of the equation. injured bay, giving the team a deso- Sachin Tendulkar will be more Virender Sehwag is the only sliver late look. comfortable too, sandwiched of hope: the maverick opener has Virender Sehwag is the only sliv- between the two Test protagonists. returned from a long layoff and er of hope: the maverick opener has He is the only Indian to have scored brings a sense of audacity along returned from a long layoff and a century here but that was way with him. Gavaskar, Shastri in Tiger Woods a contender at PGA! Georgia: British Open champion Darren Clarke trying to rebuild his golf swing and his private life fol- believes Tiger Woods can contend for PGA lowing the breakup of his marriage. line of controversy Championship, the year's final major, despite only He returned to the PGA Tour, after three months on recently coming back from a three-month injury layoff. the sidelines with leg injuries, at last week's WGC- Mumbai: Former India Woods practiced at the Atlanta Athletic Club, enjoying Bridgestone Invitational where he tied for 37th after dis- skippers Sunil Gavaskar a brief session on the range and the practice green playing erratic form. and Ravi Shastri have a before heading out on to the course with his good friend However, Northern Irishman Clarke believes Woods Rs3.6 crore annual con- Arjun Atwal of India. showed enough form last week in Akron, Ohio to indi- tract with the Board of There was surprisingly little attention paid to Woods cate he could be a genuine contender for the PGA Control for Cricket in by the fans, perhaps due to the low expectations sur- Championship. India (BCCI) that leads to rounding the former world number one, who has now "I thought his game last week in the first two rounds a conflict of interest in sunk to 30th in the rankings. was pretty good," said Clarke, who played alongside his their roles as commenta- Woods, who has claimed four PGA Championship good friend Woods for the first two days. "I thought he tors, news magazine titles, has struggled this year while battling injuries and hit an awful lot of really, really good golf shots. Outlook reveals in its upcoming edition. As India hurtle from one poor performance to another in Dravid to quit ODI and England, many questions have emerged over poor scheduling, fitness man- Twenty20 cricket agement and shoddy London: Hours after the surprise preparation for the big recall to the India One-Day squad, series. Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. Rahul Dravid announced his deci- However, the contract is Former skippers Bishan Singh sion to quit the shorter versions of holding back two of India's Bedi and Kapil Dev spoke to the game at the end of the series in prominent voices in the commen- Outlook and expressed concern. England. tators' box from airing their views "It's impossible for these guys to The highly dependable batsman freely about the board, such as its be unbiased! If the BCCI shifts its with three hundreds in the last five role in the cramped schedule, and position on the DRS, will these Tests in the West Indies and in the the impact of the Indian Premier two change their minds? Forget ongoing series in England, said he League (IPL) that could have left them, there's a greater problem was quitting the ODIs and the players drained, mentally and when an institution behaves like Twenty20s so that he could con- physically. this." The BCCI's Chief centrate on Test cricket. Outlook magazine has revealed Administrative Officer Ratnakar Dravid, 38, who has not played that Gavaskar and Shastri have Shetty refused to comment. A much one-day cricket in the last been signed up directly by the board official said part of the four years after being dumped by BCCI with the lucrative deal to be money it pays the duo is reim- the national selectors in the wake renewed annually. The contract bursed by broadcasters. The cost of a none-too-successful home allows the board to provide their of the IPL match production is series against Australia soon after Rahul Dravid. services to event broadcasters, borne by the BCCI, which does the disastrous 2003 World Cup the latest recall was totally unex- both the Test and ODI cricket, with who cannot refuse to employ not pay them anything extra for under his captaincy save for a brief pected. 10,765 runs in 339 one-dayers -- them or deny them their daily fee, doing commentary during the return for the 2009 Champions Dravid, like his teammate Sachin the seventh highest scorer in that the weekly says in its cover story.. league. Trophy in South Africa, admitted Tendulkar, has over 10,000 runs in format. 24 Ultimate Bollywood

AAuugguusst1133 --1199,2200 1111 TThheeSSoouutthhAAssiiaannTTiimmeess..iinnffoo Who says models can't act rom Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen to Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif - F- these top rung actresses have proved time and again that models can indeed act! Of course, there have been male models like John Abraham, Arjun Rampal, Sonu Sood, Dino Morea, Milind Soman, and Rahul Dev who made a successful transition from the ramp to the big screen. But the women outnumber them and have garnered more success in the glitzy and glamorous Hindi film industry. In the 1970s, Zeenat Aman shifted from the ramp to the silver screen, setting the trend for many young girls. Even Juhi Chawla followed in her footsteps and made it big in Bollywood. Here's a list of some of the present-day actresses, who made a name in the modeling world and are blazing a trail in the film industry. Aishwarya Rai: After being crowned Miss World in 1994, she worked in Tamil films, moved to Bollywood and earned Priyanka Chopra in the upcoming Don 2 Katrina Kaif in the hit number Sheila Ki A deglamorised Deepika Padukone in international fame through film projects and with SRK Jawani. Khelien Ham Jee Jaan Se appearances at prestigious events across the Khoon Maaf". She features in some of the dream debut in "Om Shanti Om" opposite way, thanks to projects like "Jism", "Raaz", shores. Counted among the world's most most awaited films - "RA.One", "Don 2” Shah Rukh Khan. Her subsequent report "Corporate", "No Entry", "Dhoom 2", beautiful women, Aishwarya has proved her and the remake of "Agneepath". card was average, with projects like "Race" and others. She is now going inter- acting mettle in films like "Taal", "Hum Dil Katrina Kaif: Starting as a model in "Bachna Ae Haseeno", "Chandni Chowk to national with Roland Joffe's "Singularity". De Chuke Sanam", "Devdas", "Guru" and London at the age of 14, with six back-to- China ", "Love Aaj Kal", "Housefull" and Neha Dhupia: Miss India Universe 2002, "Guzaarish". In 2009, she was given the back hits -- "Namastey London", "Apne", "Lafangey Parindey". She also turned Neha doesn't have a quintessential Padmi Shri for hercontribution to cinema. "Partner", "Welcome", "Race" and "Singh Is experimental with a de-glam role in Bollywood face and style, nor is her choice Priyanka Chopra: At 29, Priyanka is a Kinng" - this 'Sheila' girl proved her critics "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey". She will soon of films typically Bollywood. She has won former Miss World, has featured in over two wrong and followed up her success with be seen in Prakash Jha's "Aarakshan". praise for films like "Kyaa Kool Hai Hum", dozen films, is a National award winner and "Raajneeti" and more recently, "Zindagi Na Bipasha Basu: The dusky Bengali beauty, "Shootout at Lokhandwala", " Mithya", is now ready to break musical grounds Milegi Dobara". a former supermodel, has improved by leaps "Singh Is Kingg" and "Dasvidaniya". In her internationally. One of the most versatile Deepika Padukone: Daughter of bad- and bounds over a decade of her film jour- latest release "Dear Friend Hitler", Neha actresses, her work has been appreciated in minton champ, Prakash Padukone, Deepika ney. From "Ajnabee" in 2001 to the latest plays Eva Braun, the longtime companion films like "Fashion", "Dostana" and "Saat was a successful model when she had a "Dum Maaro Dum", she has come a long of Adolf Hitler. Hollywood blackout Aamir not the new in India? Munna Bhai he grapevine in B-town is flick and this is a baseless humour. Rise of the Planet of the that the Munna Bhai jodi - Vidhu Vinod Chopra doesn't begin Apes is yet to come to India. TSanjay Dutt and Arshad the casting for his films until he Warsi - has been replaced by Aamir completes his script. Besides, Aamir Khan and Sharman Joshi in the next Khan is not free for another two edition of the "Munna Bhai" fran- years." Quiz him about the promos chise. When we quizzed Vidhu of the third edition (which have Vinod Chopra's official representa- Sanjay and Arshad) that are on air, tive, he rubbished the rumours say- he clarified, "The promo with them ing, "We are not even ready with thethe was shot two years ago." script of the next "Munna Bhai" Aamir Khan. That girl…' my last film with elhi youngsters who hopped fourth weeks respectively.. theaters in the hopes of But, the memorandum expired on Kalki: Anurag Dcatching James Franco- June 30, and since then, the multi- Freida Pinto starrer Rise of the plexes are now demanding a 55% ilmmaker Anurag Kashyap said 'That Girl In Planet of the Apes, were left disap- share in the profits in the first week Yellow Boots' will be his last high-voltage pointed. The film, which is number of a film’s release, reducing the dis- Fintense film with newly-wed wife Kalki one on international charts and tributors’ share to 45% in the first Koechlin as such movies take a toll on their relation- opened to an estimated $54 million week, 37.5% in the second, 32.5% ship. in North America, didn’t make it to in the third and 25.5% in the fourth "I am very serious about it. I won't work with India’s multiplexes. The reason: weeks respectively, which is unac- Kalki again till the time I have a lighter romantic multiplex owners and distributors ceptable to producers. film for her. When we work on intense films, our are at loggerheads over the sharing “Multiplexes are not ready to pay relationship gets very intense," Anurag said in a of revenue, a problem that began 50% on foreign films’ revenue in the statement. back in 2009. first week to producers. So, tem- "It takes a toll on our personal interactions. Besides According to an MoU signed that porarily, all Hollywood studios are this, the chances of creative clashes are high while year, the revenue sharing between releasing their movies only in single working on the same project, and convincing the distributors and multiplexes was screens,” says Joginder Mahajan, a other becomes difficult at times," he said. 50:50 in the first week, which would leading Delhi-based distributor. "This stresses out our relation. So, we have decided then be reduced to 42.5%, 37.5% “The negotiations are on ... we’re to keep our relation safe by avoiding working togeth- and 30% in the second, third and waiting for a decision,” he adds. Kalki Koechlin. er," he added. Ultimate Bollywood 25

TThheessoouutthhaassiiaannttiimmeess..iinnffoo AAuugguusst1133 --1199,2200 1111

'...Planet Of The Apes' ape-solutely wonderful

very revolution has three expressions that give representa- Charlton Heston movie, which phases: rampant injustice, tion to the fact that his humanism will perhaps follow ROTPOTA, Egermination of revolt exceeds his superior intelligence, either immediately or after a few against it, and full-fledged revo- again unlike most humans. films. In essence though, this has lution usually led by someone. In terms of the Planet of The the humanism of "The Elephant "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes franchisee, it is similar to Man" and is the closest any film Apes" (ROTPOTA) chronicles the fourth film - "Conquest Of in the franchisee has come to the these stages, reminding us to be The Planet of the Apes". Those basic premise of the first film, grateful that animals perhaps can- following the film closely will revolution against injustice and not rise up against brutal humans see a foreshadowing of the first the stupidity of humans. who butcher them in the millions everyday even when they can eat other foods. Not married to Dev Caesar, a genetically modified ape who's been secretly raised by Patel: Pinto a scientist Will Rodman (James reida Pinto has rubbished we're not married. I can't even Franco), grows up with an intelli- reports that she has secretly imagine we'll be married in five gence exceeding human's. After Freida Pinto and James Franco in 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes.' married her ‘Slumdog years… OK, I'm saying no right being confined with other apes, expression in physical violence. though he could have gone over- F Millionaire’ co-actor Dev Patel, now; tomorrow I might surprise like the Buddha he witnesses Thus, the violence outside board, considering the potential insisting that she does not know you. Who knows?” injustice for the first time. He becomes a metaphor and a physi- the story presents, he exercises when she will get hitched to her She admitted that although her unifies other apes, and rises up cal representation of the violence restraint making ROTPOTA that boyfriend. British actor Patel met career has been on an upward tra- against the ruthless humans. inside and is a statement against much more enduring. her on the sets on Danny Boyle's jectory post ‘Slumdog’, Patel's Hollywood has a history of the rampant injustice that causes Frieda Pinto tries hard to imi- film and have been together ever career has been significantly qui- action films full of computer gen- it in the first place. tate the accent of a South since. “With [Slumdog eter.eter. erated imagery (CGI) but lacking External violence is thus American. Thankfully, she is Millionaire], we went through the “We have to deal with it and it basic imagination. ROTPOTA is shaped by internal conflict. Most meant only to be an eye-candy. same experience together and no hasn't been the easiest,” she said. surprisingly good in almost every filmmakers don't understand this James Franco, expectedly, is one will ever know - not even our “I literally did four films in 11 department making it one of the and though one does not need to good but the winner is CGI. All friends and family - what that was months and I hardly got to see most perfect commercial films know this to like an action film, the apes in the film exist only on like,” she said in an interview him. But we know these things ever. the disproportionate nature of the computer. But to get right so with the Sydney Morning Herald. are part and parcel of the relation- Action films are not simply the internal vs external violence many facial expressions makes When asked as Internet specu- ship - especially being in a rela- display of violence. They are makes for a far less satisfying all the difference in the film and lation has suggested - they have tionship with an actor,” she essentially about humanism and film. Director Rupert Wyatt brings the apes alive in the view- secretly married, she said, “No, added. feelings whose subjugation finds understands this perfectly and er's imagination. It is Caesar's With 'Pyaasa' West discovered Locarno Open Doors to auteur work in Bollywood highlight Indian films rench film critic Jean-Michel s many as 12 inde- Co-Production Lab is trying Frodon introduced Indian pendent filmmakers to assist the directors and Ffilmmaker Guru Dutt's 1957 Aare in the spotlight producers in finding co-pro- classic "Pyaasa" to the audience at at the 64th Locarno duction partners for select the 64th Locarno International Film International Film Festival. films - Ajay Raina's Festival as a dark film that helped From networking to meet- "Aharbal Falls", Natasha the West discover the auteur theory ing co-producers to having Mendonca's "Ajeeb - reflecting the director's personal access to Western audi- Aashiq", Partho Sen- creative vision - in Bollywood. ences, the event is providing Gupta's "Arunoday", Alka "Pyaasa", a cinematic master- them a platform to turn their Raghuram's "Burqa piece by the master craftsman, was scripts into movies at the Boxers", Sourav Sarangi's a satire on the social system. Open Doors section. "Char, The Island Within", Directed by Guru Dutt, the film that "What we are trying to do Satish Manwar's "Jat Directed by Guru Dutt, 'Pyaasa' was a satire on the is to provide access to inde- Panchayat", Anup Singh's boasts of flawless performances by The Open Doors Co- social system. pendent filmmakers to "Lasya", Sidharth Dutt and other cast, including Production Lab is trying to cooperation partners in Srinivasan's "Samaadhi", Waheeda Rehman, Mala Sinha and Rehman, "'Pyaasa' is a dark film that showed Guru assist the directors and pro- Western European and other Vasant Nath's "Sebastian was screened here as a part of Open Doors Dutt's specific style - use of close ups and ducers in finding countries. Wants To Remember", programme that put the spotlight on Indian even of songs not only as an entertaining co-production partners. movies. "With 'Pyaasa,' the West discovered interplay but also as a part of storytelling," he We have sort of pitching Shanker Raman's "The that there is auteur film inside Indian cinema. added.He also informed the audiences about exercises where they have Swiss Agency for Trapper's Snare", Lilium There is not only Satyajit Ray, but also others Guru Dutt's relationship with the film's lead an opportunity to present Development Cooperation, Leonard's "Thread" and inside Bollywood," Frodon told the audiences actress Waheeda Rehman and his wife Geeta the film," Martin Dahinden, said. Ashish Avikunthak's who came to watch the movie. Dutt. director general of the The ongoing Open Doors "Vidhvastha".