The South Asian Times excellence in journalism Vol.5 No. 49 March 30-April 5, 2013 60 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info Durban Summit delivers a BRICS Holi celebrated with development bank fun, frolic in India By Arvind Padmanabhan Indian Americans too enjoy Holi events, which will Durban: In a clear signal of their ascendance in the continue for couple of weeks more. geopolitical space, the lead- ers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa Wednesday gave their go- ahead to a BRICS bank, rivaling the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to address the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other BRICS development challenges of leaders during the summit in South Africa. Continued on page 4 (Full story on page 34) North Korea ratifies plan for rocket strike on US and S. Korea Film luminaries Shabana Azmi and Javed BJP stalwart L.K. Advani and Kamla Advani Akhtar doused in the Holi spirit celebrating Holi at their Delhi home. Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rati- fied a strike plan by the Strategic Rocket Force as US B-2 stealth bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula, the KCNA news agency reported Friday. "The time has come to set- tle accounts with the US imperialists in view of the prevailing situation," Xinhua quoted Kim Jong Un as say- ing after an urgent meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with the army generals. Continued on page 4 Holi in Beawer, Rajasthan, is a different hue altogether. New Delhi/New York: The festival of colours 'Holi Mubarak'. Holi was celebrated Wednesday across India Many visited temples and prayed to Lord Sri Sri’s non-violence movement to launch in NYC with enthusiasm and bonhomie. In the nation- Krishna. al capital, revelers were soaked in a riot of In Mumbai, the city and suburbs erupted in New York: To counteract all the violence we colors as they smeared 'gulal' (colored pow- colors as thousands poured out of their houses have witnessed in the US recently, Sri Sri der) on each other, distributed sweets and and building complexes since morning to play Ravi Shankar has launched ‘Nonviolence: danced to loud music. Rang Panchami (Holi). No Higher Calling’ movement. After events While youngsters armed with 'pichkaris' Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Mumbai on the West Coast and Chicago, the rave and (water guns) and balloons filled with colored Police and film and television stars urged peo- wave powered by the Art of Living water sprayed each other as well as passersby, ple to play a safe Holi. Foundation comes to New York on March 30 elders preferred to smear one another with In the tristate area, most big Holi events are afternoon when Sri Sri will launch it at the gulal as they hugged each other and wished this weekend. (see event listings on page 22). Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (47th St and 2nd Ave). “Nonviolence: No Higher Calling seeks to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the NonVio Entering the pulsating pulse of life Continued on page 4 event in Los Angeles early this week. Special Holi section pages 12-29. Diplomacy 7 Health 30 Fashion 35 Spiritual Awareness 38 excellence in journalism TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 30-April 5, 2013 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY March 30-April 5, 2013 3 Rajaratnam's brother pleads not guilty Protesters march against Wharton snub to Modi Washington, DC: About 200 Indian- to insider trading charges in US court Americans marched in protest against the controversial withdrawal of an invitation New York: Rengan Rajaratnam, younger to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi brother of jailed hedgefund manager Raj to speak at the Wharton India Economic Rajaratnam on Monday pleaded not guilty Forum. before a New York court to charges of con- Marching under the banner of a group spiring in an insider trading scheme to called Americans for Free Speech, they cheat on Wall Street and earn nearly $1.2 chanted: "We want Modi!" as the Forum million illegally. held its conference Saturday afternoon at Rengam Rajaratnam, 42 was produced the University of Pennsylvania Museum before the court a day after his arrest at the of Archaeology and Anthropology in John F Kennedy Airport on arrival from Philadelphia. Brazil. The march, followed by a series of 200 protestors from across the US gathered for the march Rajaratnam, was indicted last week by Rengan Rajaratnam speeches from guest speakers, was held the Federal Bureau of Investigation and US The indictments alleged that Rajaratnam across the street from the conference to the event, was quoted as saying. Securities and Exchange Commission conspired with his brother, Galleon founder which members of the press were denied Protesters held up signs that read "First (SEC) on charges of insider trading. Raj Rajaratnam, to trade on the basis of entrance, the Daily Pennsylvanian they came for the Hindus", "End A former portfolio manager at the hedge material, non-public information concern- reported. McCarthyism against Hindus", and "Stop fund management firm Galleon Group ing Clearwire Corp and Advanced Micro About 200 protesters from across the Academic Jihad", among others. Rengan Rajaratnam, voluntarily surren- Devices Inc (AMD) in 2008, earning nearly US gathered for the march with two buses One organizer shouted to the crowd that dered after returning from Brazil on $1.2 million in profits in the aggregate. from New Jersey and one from Queens, the march was as important as that of Sunday to clear his name, said his lawyer. In a separate complaint, SEC alleged that New York bringing people to the protest. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther "After reading about his indictment, Mr from 2006 to 2008, Rengan Rajaratnam During the march, a sign was posted King, Jr, the newspaper reported. Rajaratnam immediately volunteered to repeatedly received inside information outside the conference hall by the protest- People on stilts and a jazz band marched return from Brazil, where he had been liv- from his brother and reaped more than $3 ers that read: "In memory of Free Speech with the protesters to "push the excite- ing and working for the past year, in order million in illicit gains for himself and 1776-2013. Killed at Wharton by the ment", said musician Devon Taylor. to defend himself," the attorneys, David hedge funds that he managed at Galleon English Department." Bystanders watched as the crowd of pro- Tobin and Vinoo Varghese, said in the and Sedna Capital Management, a hedge The march is "carrying the funeral of testers slowly moved their way to statement. fund advisory firm that he co-founded. free speech", Narain Kataria, a speaker at Franklin Field. US lawmakers want hate crimes First UN International Day of Happiness celebrated Audio book of spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy against Sikhs, Hindus tracked released on the occasion quarters here on the eve of the first less truths full of encouragement, love Washington, DC: Over 100 member These included massacre at the Sikh UN International Day of Happiness. and goodness," Nobel Peace Laureate, of the US House of Representatives temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and The Audio Book "The Jewels of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said in a have asked the Federal Bureau of the murder of Hindu Senando Sen on Happiness" contains chapters read by video message. A special message Investigation (FBI) to track hate the New York City subway along with Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop from peace activist Ela Gandhi, grand- crimes against Sikhs, Hindus, and attacks across the US - underscore the Desmond Tutu, singer Roberta Flack, daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, and for- Arab-Americans as it does for other severity of the issue. Olympic champion Carl Lewis, musi- mer Member of Parliament in South communities. In fact, according to community sur- cian Michael Walden, actress Judith Africa, was also read out. The call came in a letter to FBI veys in New York City and the San Light and musician Boris The audio book is available on Advisory Policy Board signed among Francisco Bay Area, approximately 10 Grebenshikov. iTunes and audible.com and its pro- others by Joe Crowley, vice chair of percent of Sikh-Americans felt they The event was opened by Anwarul ceeds will go to charities for children the Democratic caucus, Ami Bera, the had already been a victim of a hate Sri Chinmoy Chowdhury, Special Advisor and worldwide: Nelson Mandela lone Indian American member of the crime. United Nations: An audio book con- Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Childrens Fund, Philani Nutrition and House and Tulsi Gabbard, the first Attacks on persons or property in taining poems and prose by Indian United Nations for many years. Development Project in South Africa Hindu American in the Congress. Michigan and elsewhere add urgency spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy was "These sweet gems of wisdom by and Mother Teresa's Missionaries of The board is expected to meet soon to these concerns, the lawmakers said. released at the United Nations head- my dear friend Sri Chinmoy are time- Charity. to review whether these categories The move is backed by the should be added to hate crimes forms American Jewish Committee, Anti- used by the FBI and department of Defamation League, Hindu American Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to perform at Nassau Coliseum justice. "These groups have all too Foundation, Indian American Forum often been the victim of violent and for Political Education, Sikh New York, NY: The Grand Finale Mega Concert of Ustad America and the Caribbean. Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will deadly attacks, and many are targeted Coalition, and South Asian Americans Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s 2013 World Tour will be held at commemorate 100 years of Bollywood for this one night with violence for reasons attackers Leading Together (SAALT) among Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY on Saturday, June 15th.