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Friday, March 19, 2010 Vol. XL No.25 www.rediff.com (Nasdaq: REDF) $1 International Weekly Newspaper Chicago/Dallas Los Angeles NY/NJ/CT New York Toronto

PERIODICAL INDEX Letters to the Editor...... A2 People...... A4 Immigration...... A30 Business...... A24 Community...... A34 Magazine...... M1 Sports...... A32 Pages: 52+24=76 Friday, March 19, 2010 Vol. XL No.25 www.rediff.com (Nasdaq: REDF) NEW YORK EDITION $1 International Weekly Newspaper Chicago/Dallas Los Angeles NY/NJ/CT New York Toronto

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ADVERTISEMENT The International Weekly Newspaper founded in 1970. Member, Audit Bureau of Circulation A225 India Abroad March 19, 2010 INDIA ABROAD (ISSN 0046 8932) is published every Friday by India Abroad LETTERS Publications, Inc. 42 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10004. Annual subscription in United States: $32. Canada $26. India $32

INTERNATIONAL: By Regular Mail: South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Australia & Middle East: $90. By Airmail: South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Australia & Middle Condemn the killing of Sikhs in Pakistan East: $210 Periodical postage paid, New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: INDIA ABROAD, 42 Broadway 18th floor, New York, NY 10004 We, the members of the Indian Copyright (c) 2006, India Abroad Publications, Inc. Muslims Association in Sou- Ajit Balakrishnan thern California, strongly con- Chairman and Publisher demn the brutal killing of two Nikhil Lakshman innocent Sikhs, Jaspal Singh Editor-in-Chief and Mahan Singh, of Pakis- Rajeev Bhambri tan’s minority community Chief Operating Officer-US Media under the pretext of a jajiya tax Vasanth Sastry by ignorant and misguided Financial Controller people in Pakistan’s North THE EDITORIAL TEAM West Frontier Province. These Aziz Haniffa, Editor Arthur J Pais, Editor, Features murderers do not belong to Ajit Jain, Managing Editor, Canada Suman Guha Mozumder, Associate Managing Editor, US the civilized society we live in. George Joseph, P Rajendran, Deputy Managing Editors The people who did this bar- Dominic Xavier Creative Head Uttam Ghosh, Joint Creative Head baric killing in the name of Sumit Bhattacharya, Assistant Managing Editor, Newsgathering, India religion are actually harming Sanjay Sawant, Satish Bodas, Deputy Creative Directors Paresh Gandhi, Chief Photographer the good name of their religion Parimal Mehta, System Manager by totally misrepresenting a Production (New York): Dharmesh Chotalia, Production Supervisor. Harish Kathrani, David Richter peaceful religion that has

CONTACT EDITORIAL always promoted communal Call: 212-929-1727 harmony, kindness and mutu- Fax: 212-727-9730 E-mail: [email protected] al respect. Cold-blooded murder of THE BUSINESS TEAM DISPLAY ADVERTISING innocent civilians is a crime MUNISH SHARMA / REUTERS CONTACT THE DISPLAY ADVERTISING TEAM against humanity. No religious Protesters burn an effigy depicting the Taliban during a protest in Amritsar, Punjab, February 23 Toll free: 1-866-702-1950 Fax: 212-627-9503 tenet justifies such brutal E-mail:[email protected] behavior in the name of reli- Geeta Singh Sales Executive gion. We share the grief and sorrow of the families of the Pakistani people in general and the government in particu- Jitender Sharma Associate Sales Manager deceased and share their pain. lar should also condemn this crime in strong words and We ask the Pakistan government to adequately compen- express their sorrow and sympathy with the families of the CLASSIFIEDS WANT TO INSERT A CLASSIFIED/MATRIMONIAL AD? sate these families for their loss and make the utmost effort victims in the Pakistani/Indian newspapers to help promote Call: 1-800-822-3532 to protect the minority communities. harmony among all the people. Fax: 212-691-0873 E-mail: [email protected] Pakistan must catch these culprits and punish them to the Maqbool Kadri and Ganibhai Shaikh Shahnaz Sheikh Classified Manager fullest extent of the law, to set an example so that this type Indian Muslims Association, Sujatha Jilla Classified Assistant Manager Jim Gallentine Classified Representative of crime against the minorities is not repeated. We think the Norwalk, California

CHICAGO BRANCH TEAM Sunita Easwaran Advertising media consultant Toll Free: 800-514.8183 (Illinois) Call: 773-338-1118 treated badly in Bangladesh as seen in the media. CIRCULATION Face facts, India CONTACT THE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT Reservations have not worked. Call: 212-645-2369 I have rarely seen such maturity of judgment and penman- In Afghanistan, the newly elected government has reserved Fax: 212-627-9503 E-mail: [email protected] ship as Anu Balaji, a mere 19-year-old, showed. India Abroad 27 percent of all seats for women, and yet women are mis- Subscription toll free number: 1-877-INDIA-ABROAD (1-877-463- must be commended for publishing his letter (March 12). treated — as seen on television and in the media. Again, reser- 4222) Anjali S Maniam Associate Vice-President, Marketing & Special Events His observation that Indians by and large engage in denial vations have not worked.

THE INDIA BUSINESS TEAM while defending India’s many faults as a society and nation is In India when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister, Nikita Pai, Deputy Chief Manager. Call: 91-22-24449144, extension 320 absolutely accurate. To defend India, we do rationalize our women were still mistreated. Gandhi herself was ultimately

THE INDIA EDITORIAL TEAM problems. This is wrong. Let us confront the problems, among killed by her male bodyguards. In Pakistan, the woman prime Saisuresh Sivaswamy, Editorial Director them, over-population, pollution, poverty (failure to distribute minister Benazir Bhutto was killed by men. During Bhutto’s Sheela Bhatt, Editorial Director, News Ivan Crasto, Editor, Sports. Shishir Bhate, Editor, News & Business. wealth, now that wealth is being created thanks to the new reign as prime minister, women did not get a better deal in Vaihayasi Pande Daniel, Editor, Features economic policies initiated by recent governments), huge pol- Pakistan. Shobha Warrier Contributing Managing Editor Prithviraj Hegde, Associate Managing Editor, News. lution, poor public hygiene, poor work ethic and low efficien- In the US, where there are no quotas for woman and no Nandita Malik, Associate Managing Editor, Business Savera R Someshwar, Archana Masih, Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Deputy Managing cy overall. All this topped by arrogant complacency and many reservations for women in Congress, women are doing better Editors other faults too numerous to mention in a short letter. and enjoy more privileges than other nations. Rajesh Karkera, Joint Creative Head Onkar Singh, Indrani Mitra Roy, Ronjita Kulkarni, Assistant Managing Editors Confronting the problems and subjecting ourselves to mer- Therefore quotas for women or appointment of a female Seema Pant Deputy Chief Features Editor ciless but honest criticism will help us deal with our problems. prime minister, too, means little to nothing. N V Reuben, Art Director Uday Kuckian Joint Art Director What is more, a consensus could be arrived. India is behaving foolishly with its system of quotas and Prasanna D Zore, Vikash Nanjappa, Senior Associate Editors We can attain parity with the world’s best. Our great heroes reservations. The way to improve India is via education on A Ganesh Nadar, Contributing Senior Associate Editor Georgina Umdor, Deputy Entertainment Editor have shown how we can even surpass them in some notable morals, where both male and female children are taught to Harish Kotian, Krishna Kumar P, Patcy Nair Chief Correspondents cases. But what we have not done is attain success as a nation. respect each other. Men have to be educated to treat women Vipin Vijayan, Rajaneesh R, Associate Editors Sanaya Dalal, Senior Features Editor Until we do so, our official quest for a United Nations Security respectfully and women have to be taught that reverse dis- Sanchari Bhattacharya, Senior Assistant Editor Matthew Schneeberger, Principal Correspondent Council seat looks ludicrous. crimination and abuse of female-friendly laws to hurt inno- Nithya Ramani, Correspondent Sauri P Bhattacharya cent men is equally bad. Aslam Hunani, Mahipal Soni, Chief Operations Managers (Editorial) Ashish Narsale, Operations Manager (Editorial) Plano, Texas In politics, the pendulum in India swings from one extreme to another, instead of finding a decent solution to gender India Abroad Publications, Inc A subsidiary of Rediff.com India Ltd. inequalities. There is no system of checks and balances and Women’s bill means nothing many people abuse the laws made by foolish politicians and Ajit Balakrishnan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer which favor the so-called weaker gender. India is therefore a chaotic democracy. EDITORIAL & CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS Now 33 percent of all seats in India’s Parliament might be 42 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10004 reserved for women. Sundip Mundkur MAIN OFFICE: Call: 646-432-6000 But in Pakistan, where women are oppressed, 30 percent of Norwood, Massachusetts Fax: 212-627-9503 all seats have been reserved for women for many years. That

Web site: http://ia.rediff.com/index.html system of reservation did not work and women continue to be II oppressed. The proposed reservation for women in parliament is simply In Bangladesh, 15 percent of all seats have been reserved for women for many years, too, and yet women in general are Page A3 India Abroad March 19, 2010 LETTERS A3

Page A2 undemocratic. Elections should be free and fair and the electorate should be able to vote for someone who represents their values and needs, regardless of whether the can- didate is male or female. Women, like men, should earn the privilege of being elected by involving them- selves in public life through social activism on behalf of the poor and the downtrodden. We have seen women get elected all the time. In these cases, women show in their campaign that they are thoroughly up on the issues affecting the people. While you are allowed to engage in a battle of the sexes, to allot certain constituencies to women amounts to State oppression. A lot of women them- selves do not like the idea. The argument that women are more sincere than men has been proven false. We are familiar with some women politicians in India who know the art of oppression and domination very well. Nehemiah Thompson South Plainfield, New Jersey

III The Indian National Overseas Congress applauds the United Progressive Alliance government for pass- ing the bill reserving 33 percent of the seats for women. This is a historic development, for this bill is permanently transformative, ensuring India’s devel- opment and its tall image as a thriving progressive democracy. The UPA government even secured opposition sup- B MATHUR/ REUTERS port when this long overdue bill was passed. Earlier, Women activists of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party at a protest against the government for the women's reservation bill in front of this bill was sadly treated like a political leper, and left parliament in New Delhi, March 9 to itself for 22 years. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi have once again made the always has a good chance of making it good when both peo- permission required to organize such an effort? How about founders of India proud. They also reminded us that their ple come from similar backgrounds although very few chil- calling in the police for crowd control? India’s high officials political party is most effective in nation building, since it dren from this generation will agree with that view. Having have to first learn these concepts. They are still in stuck in also acknowledges and enlists women citizens in building studied the same subjects in class does not necessarily a pre-Independence mode of thinking. the nation. We are grateful to all, both women and men, mean that you have a lot in common. Politicians go around the country saying what a great from across the political spectrum, who came together in I agree with George Kuttickal of Los Angeles (Letters, country India is. They should revise that to say what a great an unprecedented way. February 19) in this regard. I have observed a lot of these country India was. They messed it all up with their com- Jai Hind. marriages and I see that a marriage where there is genuine bined greed and ineptitude. If food isn’t in people’s belly, For Indian National Overseas Congress respect for the other culture is the marriage that is going to what is the use of bragging about superfluous moon mis- S Malhotra make it. Respect and caring for your spouse’s culture is an sions or having aircraft carriers? Just to scare off Pakistan? George Abraham important part of a multicultural marriage. Be it a girl or a Sonia Gandhi, who practically runs the country, has no Dr Najma Sultana boy, whoever marries an Indian needs to accept and respect time to pay attention to these lowly matters. Flushing, New York the culture he or she has married into because your spouse I had high hopes of Manmohan Singh. But no more. Not is part of that culture. Unless there is such mutual respect, after the Copenhagen Summit, from which he fled, dis- the marriage and, consequently, the children, will be the gracing himself and the country. Now he says the Indian victims. If there is no tolerance for other cultures then it is economy will grow 9.25 percent annually for the next 25 Bollywood needs some cred better that the couple does not enter into such a union. No years. If that happens, he deserves a Nobel Prize. I watched the Oscar awards ceremony the other night. other reason will carry the marriage through. Kalyan Dutta-Choudhury Bollywood strives to outperform Hollywood in just about In multicultural marriages, problems get magnified, and Berkeley, California every department — except when it comes to talent and every problem faced is blamed on cultural differences. Chance to Win awards. Unless both parties are tolerant of the other culture, these Bollywood award shows are just a family outing for some marriages and their children will suffer. Correction well-known stars, producers and musicians — all intended Sitaraman Subramanian The article headlined $1,000 to promote their own movies and stars. There is no public by e-mail 'He's a person who can curiosity about who will be the victor as everyone gets a tro- literally do everything' phy for just showing up. Year after year, the same stars or (India Abroad Magazine, Talent familiar faces get awards. What a contrast with the Oscar March 12) mentioned Competition awards, where performance, and not politics, is appreciat- A callous disregard for life Venki Ramachandran. ed. Some virtually unknown person can expect to be nomi- It seems that anytime you want to reduce the number of It should have been Venki film, art, nated and win an award, strictly based on performance. poor people in an Indian village, all you have to do is Ramakrishnan. The error writing, modeling Can Bollywood strive for such credibility? announce a free food giveaway and sit tight. The poor will is regretted. Jagdish Sidhpura come in hordes and lives, including those of children, will www.talentzito.com Columbus, Georgia be lost in the ensuing hurry. The person or persons responsible for such crimes should be summarily execut- ed. Respect makes marriage last It sounds cruel and apathetic. But that is what is hap- 1st & Business Class Airline Tickets With globalization, educational institutions and working pening over and over again all over India. What callous SAVE UP TO 70% OFF places have become meeting grounds for people of different disregard for human lives can permit a situation that has India, Europe, Middle East, DELHI - $3695, BOMBAY - $3795 cultures. And this ultimately leads to interracial marriages. people being stampeded to death over food? Africa, Canada & USA MADRAS - $3995 Let us face it, interfaith, intercaste and interracial mar- You have to wonder if there exist any rules and regula- No Economy 1.877.744.8444 Serious Inquiries Only riages are here to stay; there is no going back. A marriage tion to feed a massive number of people at one place. Isn’t Class Ticket Please! www.firstclasstickets.com A4 Akon in Mumbai

PEOPLE

India Abroad March 19, 2010

inger Akon received a traditional Indian wel- Scome from Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor during a press meet in Mumbai March 9. Akon, the R&B star respon- sible for hits like Locked Up and Smack That, was on a three-day visit to India’s entertainment capital last week to compose and record a song for Shah Rukh’s upcom- ing film Ra.One. Composer duo Vishal-SShekar also con- tributed to the song. Akon said he was a big fan of King Khan’s work, and explained Shah Rukh Khan, left, Akon, that the two had met earlier in and Kareena Kapoor New York. ‘Shah Rukh is a great friend, and he always PRADEEP BANDEKAR wanted me to be part of a movie,’ Akon said, adding that he plans to some day perform in India. ‘We are likely to do a concert here. Hopefully, we will get the opportunity,’ he said. For his part, Shah Rukh called Akon ing two for Indian composer A R Rahman and one for a very ‘gracious’ person. The event concluded with Akon per- India’s presence Resul Pookutty. And let’s not forget Smile Pinki, the forming his hit song Smack That, at SRK’s behest. 37-minute short film directed by Megan Mylan and shot entirely in Uttar Pradesh, which won the best doc- muted at Oscars umentary (short form). This year the March 7 Academy Awards ceremony was almost entirely devoid nlike last year, the Indian presence at the of an Indian connection. Rahman’s song from the film Academy Awards ceremony was hardly notice- Couples Retreat was not selected for the final list of Arjun U able. In the 2009 show of Hollywood’s biggest nominees and American director Gregg Helvey’s Kavi Rampal annual awards, Danny Boyle’s rags-to-riches story a short film about child labor in India, lost out in the Slumdog Millionaire took home eight awards, includ- short film (live action)’ category. Next year, then! Bolly stars in American Raising a toast Empire?

s another Hollywood project recruiting cast Imembers from the Indian film fraternity? Reports say American Empire, set to release in February 2011, could feature four Indian stars: John Abraham (Dhoom), Arjun Rampal (Rock On!!, pictured below), Ashmit Patel (Banaras) and Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire). Shooting for the film, which is being called a ‘dark comedy’, has started in MOHAMMED JAFFER/SNAPSINDIA Florida. Andy Armstrong Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, left, shares a light moment with delegates who (Planet of the Apes) will attended an event held in his honor at the Rubin Museum of Arts in Manhattan, March 10. direct the film. India Abroad March 19, 2010 PEOPLE A5

First Lady Michelle Obama donates her 2009 Inaugural Ball Mukesh, gown to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American LN in World’s History in Washington, March 9. Top 5 Richest Right, Prabal Gurung

or the first time ever, two Indians appear in the top five of Forbes F magazine’s annual ‘world’s richest’ list. Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, worth $29 billion, comes in at number four. With $28.7 bil- lion, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal fol- lows him at number five. Mexican tele- com tycoon Carlos Slim, with $53.5 bil- lion has unseated Microsoft founder Bill Gates, $53 billion, at the top of the list. At number three is legendary investor Warren Buffet, with $47 billion. Four more Indians feature in the top 50:

JASON REED/REUTERS

Indra, Sonia, Chanda in Michelle Asian women power list wears Gurung epsiCo CEO and Chairperson Indra Nooyi, Congress party President Mukesh Ambani PSonia Gandhi and ICICI Bank n January, up-and-coming Nepali ARKO DATTA/REUTERS Managing Director and CEO Chanda designer Prabal Gurung, an alum- Kochhar feature on a list of Asia’s top Inus of the New Delhi-based ‘power women’ recently published by National Institute of Fashion Lakshmi CNN. The article, which commemorates Technology, said he would prefer to Mittal the 100th International Women’s Day dress United States First Lady March 8, analyzes ‘the key women who Michelle Obama over any other global are shaping Asia’s political and economic icon or celebrity. His dream came true landscape’. Nooyi, the Chennai-born less than a few months later, when leader of one of the world’s largest food Michelle wore a Prabal creation at the and beverage corporations, finished num- Smithsonian March 9. Incidentally, ber two, behind Chinese paper industry Michelle was there to celebrate the titan Zhang Yin, who’s reportedly worth donation of her Jason Wu inaugura- over $3 billion. As for Nooyi, CNN notes tion gown to the museum´s First that she ‘lords over some 185,000 corpo- Ladies Collection. She reportedly rate minions in close to 200 countries’, donned a silk knee-length dress from and that her ‘hard-as-nails leadership Prabal’s spring 2010 collection. It’s and her sense of fun (a one-time lead gui- not the first time Michelle has tapped tarist in an all-girls rock band, she still the subcontinent for its fashion. performs regularly at corporate func- During her husband’s first state din- tions) has earned her spots on many ‘best ner, thrown in honor of Indian Prime leader’ lists in the US’. Following Nooyi, at Minister Manmohan Singh last number three is the Italian-born presi- November, Michelle wore a gold PUNIT PARANJPE/REUTERS dent of India’s largest political party. Sonia Gandhi evening gown by Mumbai-born THIERRY ROGE/REUTERS ‘Converted Indian Sonia Gandhi’s story designer Naeem Khan. Gurung, con- Wipro chairman Aziz Premji (28th, $17 reads like a soap opera,’ says the article. Singapore’s government-owned invest- sidered a rising star in the world of billion), Reliance Communications head The final Indian on the list, fifth placed ment company Temasek, Bangladesh high fashion, has recently dressed Anil Ambani (36th, $13.7 billion), broth- Chandra Kochhar, is the head of India’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (6), Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore, ers and Essar Group chiefs Shashi and second largest bank. Others on the list are Hyundai chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eeun among others. Ravi Ruia (40th, $13 billion) and Jindal Ho Ching (4), wife of Singapore Prime (7), and Indonesia’s Finance Minister Sri Group non-executive chair Savitri Jindal Minister Lee Hsien Loong and CEO of Indrawati (8). (44th, $12.2 billion). A6 US SPECIAL/SOROS FELLOWS India Abroad March 19, 2010 New Americans, and fighters for a better world

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ARTHUR J PAIS maintain a sustainable enterprise, and those skills I get from an MBA September 11 last year, Namdev program.” MEDICAL MD Shahani, a retired businessman Morocco-born Shahani says she who was to be deported about 10 has inherited much of her fighting years ago and who served eight spirit from her parents, who & VETERINARY months in an American jail, called migrated from Casablanca, Moroc- his daughter Aarti to tell her of a co, to Queens, New York and start- DEGREE letter he had received from ed a wholesale electronic goods Homeland Security. ‘Doll, the let- business. Her father’s brother PROGRAMS ter says ‘report for the oath cere- joined the business too. mony,’’ she remembers hearing “I learned work ethics and hon- him say, his voice quivering. esty from my parents, especially my Making World-Class Physicians & “I cried for a long time,” says father,” says Shahani. Aarti Shahani, one of the winners She knows some will point out to Veterinarians Today, For Tomorrow’s World of the 2010 Paul and Daisy Soros her father’s felony. In 1998, her Q Programs to meet the needs of HIGH SCHOOL and Fellowship for New Americans. father and uncle pleaded guilty to “The campaign to keep my dad in money laundering. The govern- COLLEGE GRADUATES. the United States spanned half my ment agreed to sentence them con- Q More than a half a century old well-recognized and established life, [and] ended in victory,” adds secutively rather than simultane- European medical and veterinary universities. the 30-year-old Harvard student. ously, so that one of them could run Q Programs recognized by National Committee on Medical But her personal fight also led the family business, she says. “My Education and Accreditation and US Department of Education. her to join likeminded people in uncle went to prison first.” fighting potential deportees, “I am looking at the whole pic- Q 100% financial aid is available. The US government provides devise a Deportation 101 program ture,” she adds. “He cut a few cor- subsidized loans to qualified students in our programs. to train activists and social work- ners like many of us do and he paid Q Approved by New York Medical Education Board for clinical ers in directing the immigrants to Aarti Shahani a price for it. He is extremely training in the state of New York. (A state with a high number lawyers, and teach a course on remorseful for that.” of residency positions.) immigration at New York University. In the process of Even the judge who presided over the criminal case, fighting for her father’s rights, she has become one of the Shahani wrote in an article over a decade ago, ‘said they Q Medical and veterinary clinical clerkships/training in the USA. more prominent immigrant-friendly academics and have paid an exorbitant price in the infinite scheme of Q Smaller class size with traditional European tutorial style education. activists in America. She also founded a nationally recog- things for a nonviolent crime committed by men in their Q Program offers opportunity to earn dual degrees - nized organization, Families for Freedom. late 50s or early 60s as their first offense.’ MD Ph.D., MD MBA, MD MSHA, MD MPHA, etc. Shahani, pursuing a dual masters degree in public poli- Q Much safer campus environment, compared to many campuses cy and business at the Harvard Kennedy School — all in Page A8 the cause of fighting for in the USA, allowing to retain and strengthen cultural identities. immigrant rights, a Q English language curriculum matches to major American medical process triggered by her and veterinary schools. 61-year-old father’s Study Medicine in the Philippines Q An excellent opportunity for hands-on participation for extensive imminent deportation. training and experience. “With a business deg- ree, I can run any organi- Q Alumni holding very good positions all over the USA. zation and campaign ASIA effectively,” she says. ”I Programs When it comes to medical & veterinary education, am an aggressive cam- our programs set standards for excellence. paigner, as my colleagues With cooperation from European universities, and my own family know. 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continues. “Where is the American belief in rehabilitation of people? Are the immi- Amazing stories, Crusader for American justice grants sent back to satisfy the need for security many people feel after 9/11? What Page A6 India, where he hadn’t lived for nearly four purpose is served by sending low-crime and a most decades felons back home? Families are destroyed “Thousands of families like mine face the “After the criminal justice system had because of these deportations. This is cer- removal of a loved one for a low-level con- treated him so badly,” Shahani says, “the tainly not American justice.” prestigious viction day after day,” she says. “We expect- immigration system was imposing a sec- “Our Constitution protects all persons ed my uncle out eight months later, but ond, surprise punishment.” against double jeopardy,” she says, adding fellowship because of an administrative error, he spent Over the last decade, thousands of immi- that because of the intervention of sympa- nearly two years [in jail].” grants who have committed minor felonies thetic lawyers and human rights groups child of survivors of the Cambodian On the day of her uncle’s release, her or have admitted to bigger crimes because some people including her father have ‘killing fields’ was born in a refugee father called. Amid sobs, he said: ‘They they have not had good lawyers, have been overcome deportation orders. “Yet there are Acamp in Thailand to parents who the took him.’ deported, she points out. thousands there who are helpless.” Khmer Rouge forced, as strangers, to Immigration authorities had transferred “This is double jeopardy, and it was a ‘The legal system denied my uncle’s very marry each other. Resettled with her fami- her uncle into federal jail to deport him to double jeopardy in my uncle’s case,” she humanity through a technicality,’ she has ly in Texas when she was 2, the young written. ‘They recast lifelong exile as a woman won admission to Smith College, “civil” process, not a criminal sanction. It and graduated cum laude. She documents, A Mexican immigrant is taken to a processing center by Immigration was 100 percent legal. I began reading in her film New Year Baby, her uncovering and Customs Enforcement fugitive anything I could get my hands on to of the hidden family history … operations officers in Santa Ana, understand immigration law. I stopped A social crusader of Indian origin fights California, September 13, 2007 going to school so I could help pay bills for the immigrants to be deported back to and fight for my uncle. Still, in June 2000, their countries following the plight of her he was shipped out.’ uncle and father… Her father is diabetic, couldn’t walk on A 23-year-old, who spent the first 10 his right leg, and had lost all his teeth 10 years of his life with his grandparents in years ago. She imagined him as a strong extreme poverty in China, arrives in the man who left India when he was 15 to sup- United States with virtually no knowledge port his 10 siblings and parents, who as a of English, attends high school and migrant worker in Lebanon couldn’t Stanford University, and is now training to return home to bury his own father, and be a neurosurgeon at the Stanford Medical who got in trouble with the law because he School. He and a Stanford classmate was trying to pay the family’s bills. organized and led a nonprofit organization “I was mortally afraid he would die that facilitated the transfer to Ethiopia without dignity,” she adds. Even as she medical resources worth $2 million… was looking for the best legal advice, she These high achievers are among the 30 was invited to speak alongside national finalists in the 11th annual competition for policy leaders at a New York Bar the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Association panel on harsh deportation Americans, established in 1997 by entre- preneur Paul Soros — who like his brother, LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS Page A15 international business tycoon George Soros, fled communist Hungary in the mid 1940s — and his wife Daisy Soros as a char- itable trust of $75 million to support grad- ‘The immigration system is broken’ uate study by New Americans: Immigrants and children of immigrants. The 30 Soros Fellows of 2010 were cho- AARTI SHAHANI viewing Latino community members targeted by raids, court sen from 900 applicants from 360 under- officers newly facing a bloated immigrant docket, and the mili- graduate and 141 graduate institutions. The immigration system is broken, not just because our gover- tant proponents of attrition strategies against (illegal) immi- Of the 293 Soros Fellowship alumni, nance structures are failing, but also because our policy debates grants. In Phoenix — the epicenter of a national trend towards there are authors of 48 books, holders of 39 do not reflect the economic and social realities of 21st Century fusing civil immigration and criminal law enforcement — I patents, four composers, and 61 clerkships America. I plan to fix this problem by launching a new venture secured interviews with Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Representative for federal judges, with 10 clerking at the — a non-partisan think tank or independent media outlet — Russell Pearce. They detailed on the record how state monies US Supreme Court. Among the immigrants that produces top-quality, holistic reporting on cross-cutting were being poured into immigrant street raids. of Indian origin who became Soros Fellows immigration issues; that markets to diverse news consumers; My subsequent policy report had immediate impact on are Sachin H Jain, co-editor of The Soul of and that convenes the dishwasher, the entrepreneur, the priest, Washington. I was able to show how the Department of a Doctor: Harvard Medical Students Face the sheriff, the US lawmaker, and even the foreign head of state Homeland Security is increasing deportation capacity by shift- Life and Death (Algonquin Books, 2006) to invent domestic and transnational solutions. ing immigration enforcement from federal civil officers to local and Sujit Raman, who in 2002 became I discovered my passion for media in the process of working as criminal law enforcement. This devolution was wrought with Maryland’s assistant US attorney. a community organizer. When Families for Freedom was just mismanagement and extra-legal practices. I documented how ‘In light of the controversy over immigra- starting, a famous actor cut us a check to fly a dozen New Homeland Security’s premiere pilot project was concentrated tion, we believe the Fellows’ life histories Yorkers down to Louisiana. Their loved ones were being held in south of the Mason Dixon Line. The report landed into the and the Fellowship program itself are the nation’s largest immigrant prison. Upon arrival, we discov- Congressional Record, gripped like a weapon by one representa- newsworthy,’ Dr Warren Ilchman, director ered that a 34-year-old detainee died at the facility days earlier. tive during a heated hearing on racial profiling. of the fellowship program, said in a state- Thirty witnesses alleged foul play. We took their story to a jour- I also took the findings to reporters around the country. I ment. ‘They represent an important win- nalist at National Public Radio. Over the next year, I became a found myself more empathetic than angry at those whose cover- dow on very important phenomena in con- critical source for the journalist, connecting him to deportees age of Homeland Security activities was factually incorrect. temporary American life and one that is at across the country and educating him on the detention industry. Journalists on the immigration beat typically cannot penetrate present highly contested.’ I was surprised by how much his final exposé educated me. I the security information bubble and get government data The Soros Fellowships are comparable in always assumed a journalist’s job was to mangle facts into a pre- beyond the standard press release. All are increasingly too competitiveness to the Rhodes and determined narrative that confirmed listeners’ biases. But the pressed for time to do deep reporting. With the media in crisis – Marshall scholarships. They may be used at NPR reporter taught me how, by documenting new sources and journalists laid off, advertising sales and revenue down – it’s not any degree-granting graduate program in data, solid reporting can teach even the ‘experts’. surprising that the Constitutional ramifications of fusing civil any field in America. The two-year awards I had a chance to be an investigator in 2007. A dear mentor and criminal law is getting lost on the public. provide cash grants of up to $50,000 and hired me to write a report on a federal program that was turning tuition support of up to $40,000. local cops into deportation agents. I traveled the country, inter- Excerpted from Aarti Shahani’s fellowship contest essay — Arthur J Pais India Abroad March 19, 2010 US SPECIAL/SOROS FELLOWS A9 Merging profit, philanthropy and public health

ARTHUR J PAIS University. My mother took night published stories on his concerns and classes to earn her computer sci- research, but Shah says it will take years Naman Shah can talk at length on life lessons he has ence degrees. Work moved us to develop the prototypes, lab and field learned from his parents and how they have influenced him between Charlotte, Boulder, Tuc- test them and eventually market them. in medical research and social entrepreneurship. But he son, and Raleigh. We never ate out, “They should be low-cost and yet effi- remembers most how his mother would collect coupons to the library and parks were our cient and make the company money, so buy family supplies, chat with relatives in India on the entertainment, and savings were that we could develop more low cost weekends and save money for unforeseen contingencies. also used to call relatives on products,” he adds. “Growing up in an immigrant family provided me with an Saturday mornings. Calling India The first idea for his team of volun- ethic of responsibility and I carry that idea wherever I go,” was not anywhere as inexpensive teers was to tackle the challenge of pro- says Shah, 25, over the phone from his vacation in the two decades ago as it is today,” viding clean water. Central American country of Belize. One of the 30 Soros Shah says. “We designed a water purifier with and Daisy Fellows this year, he is visiting a friend but he is When he counts his blessings, he ultraviolet light-emitting diodes for also thinking of starting some social program. thinks of the security his parents rural and emerging markets,” he contin- “My father worked an assembly line before getting his eventually achieved, “and the free- ues. Last year, he recruited 15 volunteers master’s in mechanical engineering from West Virginia dom that it gave me to take my own from universities including Stanford risks in planning my career and the and added two projects: An inexpensive various projects I have started.” imaging cytometer (which counts cells) Shah, 25, is a third-year for hematology applications and an MD/PhD candidate in the Medical automated test for malaria which ‘I shunned the Scientist Training Program at the exploits the optical properties of the University of North Carolina at parasite. Chapel Hill. He also received a He has been concerned, he says, how usual laboratory BSPH from UNC-Chapel Hill, Americans devote billions of dollars to graduating from the department of research every year but while many environmental sciences and engi- advances emerge from the research, research’ neering with highest honors and Naman Shah access to them is often limited. And that distinction in public service. He concern led him to establish University NAMAN SHAH was a North Carolina Leadership Fellow and an IBM of North Carolina chapter of Universities Allied for Watson scholar as an undergraduate. He has Essential Medicines. It seeks to improve access to medi- My strongest sense of accomplishment in public submitted/published 10 articles in peer-reviewed journals, cines in disadvantaged populations by reforming technolo- health has come from generating evidence and trans- received 19 competitive research grants totaling $52,000 gy transfer, especially license terms for health innovations forming it into action. During college I researched the and maintains a malaria blog. developed with public funding, he says. surveillance of genetic markers for malaria drug He also serves as a laboratory director at the Student “I promoted dialogue between diverse groups by organiz- resistance. After creating a novel assay to measure the Health Action Coalition in Chapel Hill, America’s oldest ing discussion panels, arranging lectures, and canvassing genetic mutations, I traveled twice to Cambodia with student-run clinic. top researchers,” he told the Soros selection committee. the US Naval Medical Unit to train local malaria staff During his first year of medical school, he says, he real- How does he plan to use his education to build a stimu- who now routinely perform the test. My work not only ized he could combine his ideas for inventions in health lating and satisfying career? combined basic molecular discoveries with epidemiol- with the engineering skills of close friends including Saket “I wish to use my epidemiological training to create inno- ogy, but our finding of variable drug resistance in dif- Vora and start a social business. He incorporated VeerLabs vations in disease surveillance, improve existing systems, ferent areas of the country allowed the government to LLC, a research firm, to provide an administrative and and build robust institutions which can sustain control and enact sub-national treatment guidelines which incor- financial vehicle for undertaking projects. research efforts,” he says. “I want to provide strong leader- porated less expensive therapies. Several business and city publications in Durham have ship in public health.” Rather than entering graduate school after complet- ing my bachelor’s degree, I sought a trial by fire expe- rience in the midst of the largest health effort in A patient is comforted in human history with the National Polio Surveillance the only hospital in Pailin, Project of the World Health Organization. in western Cambodia Responsible for case surveillance and supplementary January 28. Bordering immunization activities in a rural district in India, my Thailand, this former Khmer Rouge stronghold charge covered a population of approximately and dusty gem mining 700,000. While there, I learned management skills town is now better known through coordinating over 600 vaccinators and organ- for a malarial parasite that izing village, industry, and sub-district meetings to is worrying health experts maintain community engagement. The polio eradica- in the region. Studies and tion campaign was particularly instructive due to the research show breadth and depth of data collection, its routine analy- artemisinin-based sis, and its effectiveness in translating data into therapies -- currently the impact. most effective treatment against malaria -- are The past two years I shunned the usual laboratory taking longer to cure some research performed in medical school to collaborate of the patients with the Ministry of Health in India. Working closely with them and other partners to monitor malaria drug resistance, I gained valuable exposure to international health cooperation. I conducted the first meta-analy- sis of drug resistant malaria in India using 30 years of data from 404 studies with 18,095 patients. My results provided the evidence base for changing the national malaria drug policy in late 2008.

Excerpted from Naman Shah’s fellowship contest essay

DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS A10 US SPECIAL/SOROS FELLOWS India Abroad March 19, 2010

The notion of the Expert Patient devel- oped primarily at Stanford, and later Saving lives, millions at a time adapted by the British National Health Service, revolves around the concept that center, Prabhakar says, has screened at by virtue of personal experience, patients least 7,500 people and provided compre- can and often know more about their ill- hensive care services for over 185 patients, ness than physicians do. “Patient leader- with broad community-based education ship and input, based on their experiences programs for the population of 25,000. of dealing with the disease on a daily basis, In his fellowship contest essay, essay he is important for developing a strong self- points out how he has collaborated with management program that is acceptable patients, providers, and institutions to and feasible for patients,” he says. “Often, develop a number of internationally dis- patients can develop unique ways of man- tributed manuals, primers, and action aging their illness, particularly through plans for improving sickle developing unique documentation mecha- cell care in the US, particu- nisms for recording the course of their ill- larly in rural areas, while ness (patient journals), developing dietary pioneering a national action and exercise strategies to reduce pain and plan and sickle cell clinical discomfort via trial and error, and develop- guidebook for the Indian ing strategies for maintaining strong rela- Health Service to ensure tionships with their healthcare providers to care for Native American receive timely and appropriate care. This patients. patient expertise, developed over the “Studying in the United course their illness, needs to be tapped. Kingdom and working in Programs for arthritis, diabetes, and gener- India helped me to develop al pain management have already been an Expert Patient Program developed and have achieved great suc- for sickle cell disease cess.” Hari Prabhakar at a screening camp for sickle cell disease in a tribal area in Tamil Nadu patients in the US to help Many patients, he says, “have extensive empower patients to better experience in advocating for better care for ARTHUR J PAIS tal with severe sickle cell self-manage their illness,” he sickle cell disease, and one has even written crises. says. “Through continued a book about her experiences living with With just about $25, Hari Prabhakar start- “The doctors could do lit- engagement with institu- sickle cell disease! The program, therefore, ed the Tribal India Health Foundation four tle, and I was stunned to tions like the Indian Health is based on a curriculum that is being years ago while he was majoring in public see that sickle cell disease was as devastat- Service, the Agency for Healthcare developed by these expert patients. Once health studies at Johns Hopkins. Even as ing a public health issue in India as it was Research and Quality, state health depart- the curriculum is completed, it will be he continued as a top grade student, he in America,” he remembers. “After securing ments, and patient advocacy groups, I added onto an existing self-management raised $30,000 for the project and sent medications, vaccines, and screening remain thrilled to use my experiences in curriculum developed by Stanford, and the equipment and medicines worth $50,000 equipment, I founded the Sickle Cell India to improve care for sickle cell patients Sickle Cell Expert Patient Program, taught to the tribals in Tamil Nadu. Disease Center at the Gudalur Tribal in America. by our expert patients, will gradually be Now a first-year student at Harvard Hospital in 2005, with the goal of jointly The role of self-management in chronic introduced to participating sickle cell pro- Medical School, Prabhakar, 25, has improving sickle cell care internationally.” disease is a matter of great importance, grams throughout the country.” received his MScPH from the London The Gudalur center collaborates with a particularly for sickle cell disease, where His mantra, he says, is the same as that of School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine number of American advocacy groups and empowerment of patients to deal with a Johns Hopkins School of Public Health: as a Marshall Scholar of 2007. Last year, he institutional partners like the University of debilitating illness on a daily basis is critical Protecting health and saving lives, millions also earned an MSc in international health Illinois Sickle Cell Center. The Gudalur to enhancing quality of life.” at a time. management from the Imperial College in London. At Johns Hopkins, he initiated the populations in India, after reading of TIHF/GAH Sickle Cell Disease Center. As their devastating health status, my inter- the center’s operations director, he devel- ‘I have developed a powerful est was piqued. To neglect the tribes of oped screening, treatment, and education India much like the Native Americans, programs for sickle cell patients and fami- was to forget their invaluable contribu- lies, the Daisy and Paul Soros New identity as an Indian American’ tions, and denying them access to health- American fellowship committee pointed care was clearly a violation of the right to out in declaring him as one of the 30 schol- HARI PRABHAKAR identity by infusing my activities with welfare. ars for this year . His work at the center and Indian and American elements. At Johns At Johns Hopkins, I realized that I with the foundation has led to publications Growing up in a South Indian family in Hopkins, for example, I founded Hopkins could use my public health education to in journals like The National Medical America, I have developed a powerful Kranti, an Indian American fusion a cap- serve indigenous populations, guided by Journal of India, the American Journal of identity as an Indian American through pella group that has continued success- an Indian American mentor, Dr Hematology, and the Indian Health Service making an active effort to use my Indian fully to perform over the past 7 years. Santosham, who worked in India and Primary Care Provider. heritage and experiences for the benefit However, the influence of India on my with Native Americans. I thus designed a Currently he is working on evaluating of the United States. My childhood sum- identity and activities as a New American project to optimize indigenous healthcare “the efficacy of plant and vegetable-based mer trips to India, as the only child, were was strongest in the summer of 2003, systems, received $16,500 in research fel- extracts endemic in rural areas for the catalyzed by my mother’s initiatives to which was the last trip that my mother lowships, and by 2004, after a treacher- management of sickle cell disease,” ensure that I kept in touch with my fami- told me she could afford. (I was going to ous ride into the heavily-forested Prabhakar says. His work, he adds, has ly, a majority of who were in Chennai, college, and hence the money could be Dharmapuri district of India, I was con- found attention in America too with those while also appreciating the diversity, used for my education, she said). ducting assessments at Dr Regi’s tribal working with sickle cell anemia. vibrancy, and wisdom of the subconti- On a hot summer day in South India, I hospital. During my village visits, the He arranges electives in India for Ameri- nent. Indeed, these summer journeys was flipping through a stack of Reader’s tribals invited me inside their spotless can medical students to learn about deliv- with my mother set the stage for me, as a Digest, when I spotted a cover page enti- thatch huts and graciously offered me a ering health care in resource-poor settings. New American, to combine the educa- tled “Sittilingi’s Good Doctors.” The arti- steamy cup of black tea. I could not imag- After hearing of the problems of sickle tional resources of the United States, cle was on a doctor couple, Drs Regi and ine how such people could be shunned on cell disease in the Nilgiri tribal district of along with my Indian experiences, to Lalitha George, who had built a tribal basis of their classification as “tribals.” Tamil Nadu, he initiated a project to mon- make a defined impact in America and hospital in the impoverished tribal area itor the management of sickle cell patients. internationally. of Tamil Nadu. While I had never heard Excerpted from Hari Prabhakar’s He would often see sisters Lakshmi and As a New American, I celebrate my of tribal (indigenous and forest-dwelling) fellowship contest essay Chitra, who came every week to the hospi- India Abroad March 19, 2010 A11 A12 US SPECIAL/SOROS FELLOWS India Abroad March 19, 2010

ARTHUR J PAIS “I am never afraid of looking into failure Water – and power – to the people and learn from it,” says Zahir Dossa, whose irrigation project in Sudan did not take off. That did not prevent him from starting a tion, from national ideals, and of humani- cooperative in Morocco. And all the while, tarianism, from my father’s experience, that he studied at the Massachusetts Institute of I have pursued international development Technology, getting top grades. by developing an irrigation enterprise in Dossa, 23, is studying for both a MEng in Sudan and Morocco, creating a toolkit to electrical engineering and computer sci- value communities in development initia- ence and a PhD in urban studies and plan- tives, and designing a new curriculum for ning. He had previously received two BS international development practitioners at degrees at MIT, majoring in electrical engi- MIT,’ he writes in fundraising letters and essays. As an undergraduate, Dossa and a fellow student designed Selsabila, which was going to be a self-sustaining nonprofit sell- ing and distributing treadle irrigation pumps to low-income farmers in Sudan, allowing them to triple their food produc- tion. Their work has appeared in articles in Popular Mechanics and on BBC World Radio. The business received fellowships, grants and awards, including the Davis Peace Prize for $10,000. “I still wonder why we are still waiting for the project to take off,” he says. “I have to study why some NGOs take off and some Zahir Dossa, with the cap, in Sudan during a treadle pump demonstration are stalled.” During his first year in the PhD program, information and fostering consumer-pro- initiative to conduct feasibility studies for he conducted a study on the Argan oil sec- ducer relationships. large-scale, community-owned wind farms tor in Morocco to understand the impact ‘Sample organizations include Save beginning with Pakistan and Morocco,’ he cooperatives had on community develop- TheChildren.org, Kiva.org, and Prosper.com has written. In these enterprises, commu- ment compared to private enterprises. — all of which harness social capital and nities earn a significant level of income Cooperatives harvest the seed from the embrace transparency to improve perform- from an equity stake in the wind farm val- Argan tree, which grows only in southwest ance,’ he has argued. ‘I hypothesize that the ued by the land they lease for the wind Morocco, and sell the oil for its cosmetic increase in transparency and profitability farm to be constructed on, political sup- and culinary uses. of these strategies will lead to a higher level port they can garner, and benefits from His involvement in a cooperative and his of accountability within the cooperative — low-interest loans and carbon-rebate pro- study of others showed him that they per- thereby overcoming previous challenges grams, he notes. formed better than private enterprises. But noted in the literature and succeeding as While America benefits from a legacy of with low wages to members, failure to fully development strategies.’ innovation and entrepreneurship, Dossa — Zahir Dossa involve them in running the cooperatives At MIT, he has developed an Excel-based who also finds many cooperatives in India and with the local elite calling the shots, the toolkit that enables communities to for- inspiring — knows in many developing neering and computer science along with cooperative business doesn’t yield optimum mulate business plans, visualize financial countries cooperatives have to overcome management. The Gates Foundation fund- results, he argues. projections, and develop strategies for many hurdles. ed his undergraduate work. He also points out there are successful raising capital. ‘Using this toolkit, and in “I believe many of these problems can be “From my childhood my dad [Mahebub for-profit and nonprofit organizations that collaboration with Oxfam International solved,” he asserts, “by getting low-income Dossa] and my mom [Rosmin] have been use technological advances to eliminate and the Community Innovators Lab at people to work collectively in order to com- inspirations and instilled in me the impor- intermediaries and benefit from sharing MIT, I developed Power to the People — an pete with large-scale enterprises.” tance of giving back to communities, espe- cially those I am new to,” he says. “My mother has been extremely supportive of a result of aid. Cooperatives in particular all my initiatives over the years and has encourage shared ownership among always wanted to help underserved popula- ‘I have walked by shipping crates members and local asset generation — tions herself, including a girls orphanage in important benefits that other enterprise India and teaching English classes in the forms do not offer. Although cooperatives Badakshan area, Northern Pakistan, that some people call homes’ have recently begun to be promoted for Tajikistan, Afghanistan.” their advantages over other organization- His family comes from Gujarat but his ZAHIR DOSA tiatives, my long-term goal is to establish al forms, there is a lack of research on parents spent decades in Tanzania and had a development agency focusing on com- strategies that lead to successful coopera- to flee the country when it was seized by I have walked by shipping crates that munity development1 in Africa by offer- tives in terms of community develop- nationalist and socialist fervor, he says. some people call homes and I have drunk ing technical assistance, loans, and ment. Moreover, cooperatives often fail to “As my father constantly reminds me, murky brown liquid that some people call investments to community-driven enter- lift people out of destitution due to a lack being a part of this legacy is a privilege that water. I have heard the cries of animals prises, and cooperatives in particular… of accountability, low wages, and difficul- he did not have when growing up and that that owners do not have the money to Africa remains the poorest inhabited ty to compete in high-end markets. many others still do not have,” Dossa feed and seen the captivity of a woman continent despite the large amount of for- The essence of being a New American muses. He immigrated to America in 1997 who cannot escape her apartment due to eign aid it receives. Roughly $50 billion resides in the opportunity to realize any from Canada, but his father’s journey began a lack of accessibility. I have first-hand of aid is provided each year to Africa yet dream with the intent of benefiting socie- years before, when Tanzania seized all of knowledge of the challenges behind the continent is in a more dire economic ty. My notion has been shaped by the his family’s possessions during the nation- implementing international development condition now than it was 40 years ago. I spirit of innovation that is inherent in alization process in 1970, Dossa says. projects and I have a driving desire to am a strong proponent in supporting the America and by a humanitarian perspec- The years of intense struggle his family understand why some succeed and many creation and growth of community enter- tive that I have embraced from my father. faced — first in Canada and then in fail, because I have experienced the prises as opposed to supplying foreign aid America — “stimulate my passion for inter- repercussions of those that fail. To due to the increase in poverty, corruption, Excerpted from Zahir Dossa’s fellowship national development,” he adds. address the setbacks in development ini- and income disparities that often occur as contest essay ‘It is therefore through the lens of innova- India Abroad March 19, 2010 A13 A14 US SPECIAL/SOROS FELLOWS India Abroad March 19, 2010

lenges of providing satisfactory health care in overstressed environments with limited A healer and community leader resources. ‘More recently, my authorship of Senator Johnny Isakson’s “death panel” A woman listens to President Barack Obama deliver amendment and the ensuing controversy remarks on health insurance reform at the St Charles High School in St Louis, Missouri, March 10 has revealed the public’s distrust of health-care decisions that appear to come from bureaucrats rather than health pro- fessionals and families,’ he wrote in a scholarship application. ‘While “politics as usual” has had a significant effect on the discussion, I recognize that garnering support of the measure from key physi- cian and patient groups would have miti- gated the criticism.’ What would he do with his medical degree, and the education he has had in Georgia and Oxford? “A healer who is also a community leader,” he asserts. A medical degree from Harvard Medical School will allow him to study the issues and test solutions while serving at the front lines of care, he has said. Through extended study at the Kennedy School of Government or Harvard Business School, he would hone his skills JIM YOUNG/REUTERS Deep Shah and establish strong relationships with leaders in other sectors essential to improv- ARTHUR J PAIS vate health insurance plan for the working on Medicare reimbursements for public ing the state of American medicine. He says poor. hospitals, Shah says he felt frustrated as he would like to be “a healer and a commu- Every October, Deep Shah’s two sisters tie He says he made use of a public policy fel- policy analysts ‘cited a laundry list of data nity leader and work towards overcoming bright orange and red strings around his lowship in Washington, DC to gain a deep- points to justify a cost-shifting scheme.’ the obstacles to delivering better health wrist, says the Rhodes Scholar who is now er understanding of the American political But he also felt happy as a local doctor on care in the United States and abroad a first year student at Harvard Medical system and the role that physicians can the front lines of medicine spoke in opposi- through the avenues of public policy and School. “While the threads dangle for only serve in it. During a Congressional hearing tion to the changes and explained the chal- medicine.” a few days, their meaning remains with me throughout the year,” he asserts. The ancient tradition of Raksha Bandhan, he says, conveys a simple mes- strengthen my abilities to assess health- sage: “No matter the distance between us, I care issues from the bedside and legisla- am always connected to my family and the ‘Patients appreciate doctors ture. communities that have shaped me.” Serving others as a physician has always As one of the 30 newly declared New been one of my goals in life. While attend- American fellows, Shah, 24, who was born who heal with an awareness ing the University of Georgia, my per- and raised in Georgia, says that while the spective on medicine broadened beyond legacy of Indian culture including celebrat- science and patient care to consider the ing community influences his daily life, he of the greater issues’ functions of government and markets in is also aware of the resources invested in delivering care. Through my master’s individual development in America. He has program at the University of Oxford, I been striving from his early years to strive enhanced my understanding of the US health-care system by to a balance between the two traditions. DEEP SHAH comparing it with those of other industrialized nations. Seeking “I hope to advance patient care as a physi- to find associations between “high-value” spending and health cian leader who recognizes the role of both “Necesito hacer pi-pi!” As 6-year-old José Mendoza said these outcomes, my thesis compares the effects of primary care pay- communities and individuals,” he adds.He words, his mother explained that her son needed to use the bath- ment systems in the United States and United Kingdom. My has been an over achiever for years. He room ten times a day. Dr Carlos, my preceptor at a medical clin- work experiences in the political arena have demonstrated the completed undergraduate degrees in biolo- ic in La Carpio, Costa Rica, calmly ordered a urine sample that absence of physician leadership in confronting systematic chal- gy and international affairs at the confirmed our suspicion — juvenile diabetes. While diagnosing lenges. University of Georgia, where he graduated José was easy, explaining to Ms Mendoza the nature and cost of I first observed the need for a medical background in crafting summa cum laude and election to Phi Beta his condition proved difficult. Tears streamed down her cheeks health-care policies through an internship at the Greater New Kappa. The Georgia General Assembly as we described the affliction and its necessary treatment. York Hospital Association. I arrived just days after Governor named him as the 2008 Georgia Fortunately, we could offer a plan tailored to her needs: George Pataki unveiled a budget plan that would slash health- Outstanding Scholar. He was the com- Registering with a local program that provided free medication care funding. Over the month-long crisis that followed, I mencement speaker and a recipient of the and health education to children and their families. noticed that no practicing physicians attended the meetings. Truman, Robert C Byrd, and National Walking the Mendozas home after their visit, I sensed that Often, this conspicuous lack of input from health-care profes- Merit scholarships. As a Rhodes Scholar, he what they appreciated most about Dr Carlos was not his medical sionals led to misguided business decisions rather than patient- completed an MSc in comparative social expertise. They valued his ability to relate to their circumstances oriented solutions. I recall one CEO arguing to maintain a port- policy, with a focus on health care, at and provide an adequate solution. Caring for José required a folio of technology services instead of implementing a set of Oxford. physician who was not only a skilled medical practitioner but community prevention programs for Queens’ immigrant popu- Stories about his achievements have been also one deeply connected to his community. In my clinical expe- lation. His presentation included dozens of statistics but failed published in many newspapers and maga- riences as a medical student, I have discovered that patients to contextualize them within the unique health-care needs of his zines. They tell the readers how Shah con- appreciate doctors who heal with an awareness of the greater international patient demographic. Limited clinical experience ducted research on Parkinson’s disease — issues in society and medicine. I plan to serve as both a doctor and a narrow perspective prevented him from approaching the that netted him two jointly-authored publi- and a community leader, overcoming the obstacles to delivering situation with a community-minded caretaker’s point of view. cations — in monkeys. He has also worked better health care in the United States and abroad as a physician as project manager with the Governor’s policymaker. Through the support of the Soros Fellowship, I will Excerpted from Deep Shah’s fellowship contest essay Office in Georgia to design a low-cost pri- India Abroad March 19, 2010 US SPECIAL/SOROS FELLOWS A15

Ernest Sass, 52, winces as he is A doctor and a gentleman attended to by Girish Bobby Kapur at the Ben Taub General ARTHUR J PAIS had to use his mental resources to succeed Hospital in Houston, as a student. Texas July 27, 2009. Like many Indian parents, Amit Jain’s par- “I was very good in math when I was Houston, the ents encouraged his vision and backed him studying in Ambala,” he says. “But since I fourth-largest to the hilt — and much more. He also got did not know much English when I arrived American city, is a the blessings and encouragement of his in America, and could not the solutions to case study in the grandfather A K Jain, an attorney in math problems, I could not understand on extremes of the US health-care system. Punjab. many occasions the problems too. I fell It boasts the “My grandpa often quotes an Urdu say- behind. But I persisted. My parents too had immense medical ing, Ba Adab, Ba Naseeb; Bey Adab, Bey full faith in me. As my English improved center that offers Naseeb,” says Amit Jain, a second-year MD over the next few months, my math score top-notch care at its student at Johns Hopkins who is one of the also improved.” 13 hospitals, but also He adds: “As I was getting acclimatized to has a higher ratio of life in a small city in America, I was also uninsured patients discovering many things about myself. It than any major was here that I learned the power of perse- US city: About 30 percent. verance. I knew early on that perseverance pays.” He describes himself as a people person. And that meant he was not going to be intimidated by his new milieu. “A smile on your face and respect for oth- JESSICA RINALDI/REUTERS ers takes you a long way in making new friends,” he says. “Of course, many times it was a leap of faith but I always approached ‘Helping the patient requires people with an open mind, and I think that was partly responsible why I made many friends a few months after our arrival in understanding the person’ America.” Jain graduated magna cum laude in bio- engineering from the University of AMIT JAIN California at Berkeley in 2008 at 19 with elections to both Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Upon finishing college, I was very fortunate to be offered the chance to study medi- Amit Jain Beta Pi. At Berkeley, the university publica- cine at Johns Hopkins. Here I am surrounded by very bright peers and multitude of tion and a few journals reported that Dr fantastic opportunities. Over the last year, something I have noticed is that helping 30 New American fellows for this year. “It Sanjay Kumar and he invented a novel the patient requires understanding the person beneath the gown. And that is no easy means with respect comes luck, without method of examining tumor behavior in a task since within each lies a reservoir of vast complexities. I find it fascinating to respect comes nothing. And I think the three dimensional micro-environment and observe as the complexities unfold. I am learning to appreciate what William Osler, word respect here means both respect for published his award-winning work in one of the greatest physicians of all time, meant, when he said: ‘It is more important people around you, and respect for your Biomaterials. to know the kind of patient who has a disease, than the kind of disease a patient has.’ dreams and for the duty to achieve them. I At Johns Hopkins he is working with Dr Overall, I find that I have had an extraordinarily fortunate life. Last ten years have hold this most dearly to my heart.” Paul Sponseller, studying implant-related been full of many proud moments: Learning English, delivering high school valedic- He grew up amidst many adults in a joint fractures and spinal deformity correction torian speech, climbing Mt Shasta, magna cum laude from Berkeley, training at family in Ambala, his home till he was 11 in children. Hopkins and recently running the Baltimore marathon. Now I think I finally under- when he migrated to America with his par- Recently Jain told one of his mentors at stand why my parents decided to emigrate from India — to provide me and my broth- ents. His grandfather had his office in the Johns Hopkins about the New American er the promise that this land offers: The unparalleled freedom to pursue exactly what house; his father Sunil Jain, an electrical fellowship. “He said, ‘Getting the award is we want. There are a lot of people on this earth who pray everyday that they were as engineer, ran a company that made parts the easy part’,” Jain recalls. “The hard part blessed as I am. for scientific instruments, and his uncle is living up to it.” and aunt, primary care physicians, ran a Jain says with the encouragement and small community-based clinic. His mother blessings he has received from many people only to the person concerned but also to “But I also know, watching many physi- Sapna Jain is a teacher who has specialized especially his grandfather, he feels excited humanity. I believe the best way to show cians and my own mentors here at Johns in attending to children with special needs. that he would be fulfilling their faith in the gratitude is by doing good deeds and Hopkins that medicine is also built on ide- ‘So my playgrounds as a child included him. living a life of ethics, and helping the peo- alism, and there are many people who look local farms, a law office, a manufacturing “Some people, I guess, forget the privi- ple around you.” at it as a noble choice. If I remember those shop and a community hospital,’ Amit Jain leges they have had, and how family mem- Being a doctor for him, then, is a calling. thoughts I would be living up to the stan- writes in an essay. He and his brother grew bers and friends helped them be what they He is aware of many issues of ethics raised dards set by parents, and my beloved up in Sacramento, California, where Amit are,” he continues. “To do so is a loss not about doctors and the medical industry. grandfather.”

Page A8 laws. Crusader for American justice ‘From there I jumped into a legislative campaign,’ she recalled in an article. ‘I wrote advocacy materials and coor- Without being lawyers, we helped pen federal legislation tool in teaching elected leaders what their constituents dinated Hill visits; mooched photocopies and supplies and moved a Bronx congressman to introduce it,’ she has really need.’ from my day job as a legal secretary. We were making written. ‘The Child Citizen Protection Act permits immi- How will the fellowship help her? progress, winning over politicians on both sides of the aisle. gration judges to weigh the best interests of US citizen ‘Our media is searching for new models to sustain deep Then September 11th happened. The campaign collapsed children before deporting their parents. We got 30 reporting — the backbone of any true democracy,’ she told with the Towers.’ House sponsors for our bill. An acclaimed novelist ran an the selection committee.’ With support from the Paul and But she would not give up. A year later, she founded op-ed in The New York Times supporting our work. An Daisy Soros Fellowship, and with my MPP and MBA in Families for Freedom with Dominicans from Washington op-ed in The Washington Post soon followed. New York hand, I will be able to reframe the immigration debate Heights and Jamaicans from Brooklyn. City Council passed a near-unanimous resolution for the around human rights; and bring new media products to a ‘Four years ago our local group had a national victory: bill. While it hasn’t passed yet, it’s been a phenomenal market in search of sustainability.’ A16 EYE ON PAKISTAN India Abroad March 19, 2010 ‘A serious mistake to believe that the Lashkar is only India’s problem’ AZIZ HANIFFA

Representative Gary Ackerman, New York Democrat, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South Asia, last week accused the Pakistan military of continuing to tolerate and pander to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which car- ried out the November 26, 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai. He said the outfit was a dire threat to the United States too and had been attacking US forces in Afghanistan. Ackerman, who had convened a hearing of his subcom- mittee for a discussion titled ‘Bad Company: Lashkar-e- Tayiba and the growing ambition of Islamist militancy in Pakistan,’ warned: “While US attention has focused prima- rily on Al Qaeda and the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and other violent Islamist extremist groups in Pakistan have been growing in both capability and ambition.” “As was demonstrated in the horrific Mumbai attack, the Al Qaeda model of perpetrating highly visible, mass casu- alty attacks appears to have migrated, with enormous potential consequences for the United States,” he said. Ackerman recalled how with a team of 10 well-armed terrorists, a carefully coordinated plan, and a team of con- trollers back in Pakistan, the Lashkar in three days killed 173 people, wounded 308 others in Mumbai. Ackerman, a former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, and one of the most senior members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, asserted that the US needs to take the threat seriously. ARKO DATTA/ REUTERS “It is a deadly serious group of fanatics. They are well The Taj Mahal hotel during the siege of Mumbai, which was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba financed, ambitious, and most disturbingly, both tolerated by, and connected to, the Pakistani military,” he said. “The same Pakistani military to which we are selling advanced arms, the same Pakistani military that objected villages throughout Pakistan.” numerous mass casualty attacks throughout India. But the so bitterly to legislation this Congress passed to provide a Ackerman alleged that “there is no reason to doubt that idea that this group can be appeased on the subject of massive $7.5 billion-plus in American assistance to their Pakistan’s military is likely paying compensation to the Kashmir is dangerous nonsense,” he said. country because our accompanying language suggested families of the terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks,” and He asserted that Lashkar’s “true goal is not Kashmir, it is that Pakistan’s military should be answerable to a demo- added, “These are our allies in the war on terror.” India. And it is not shy about announcing its intention to cratically elected government,” he emphasized. He acknowledged that the operational funding for the establish an Islamic State in all of South Asia. Neither does Ackerman explained that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which Lashkar came from charitable fundraising amongst the it hide or try to play down its declaration of war against all means ‘the army of the righteous’ or ‘the army of the pure’ general population in Pakistan, but also depended heavily Hindus and Jews, who they insist are enemies of Islam.” was “set up with help from the Pakistani military as a proxy on contributions by Pakistani businessmen living abroad “This group of savages needs to be crushed,” he declared. weapon for use in Kashmir.” and other wealthy individuals from the Persian Gulf. “Not in a month, not in a year. Not when the situation sta- He said that after 9/11, Pakistan officially banned the “These are also our allies in the war on terror,” he said. bilizes in Afghanistan and not when things are under con- Lashkar, but the “reality is that it maintains a clear public Ackerman scoffed at the temptation to think that the trol in Pakistan. It is imperative that this group is crushed presence — and a vast recruiting network — by providing Lashkar is really India’s problem. now… today and everyday going forward. We are not doing extremely useful charitable and social services to millions “While it is true that the primary area of operations for it, and we’re not effectively leading a global effort to do it. of impoverished people of Pakistan. Public estimates sug- the Lashkar has historically been the Kashmir valley and And we are going to regret this mistake. We are going to gest the Lashkar operates some 2,000 offices in towns and the Jammu region, it has also undertaken repeated and regret it bitterly.” Headley’s arrest changed the way the US views Lashkar, says former CIA analyst

AZIZ HANIFFA to the gravity of the international threat Ilyas Kashmiri, was the operational com- and seek not only to undermine India but posed by Pakistan’s failure to crack down mander behind the Mumbai attacks.” also attack any countries they view as The arrest and findings from the investiga- on terrorist groups, including those that She acknowledged that while the allega- threatening Muslim populations,” she said. tion of Chicago-based Pakistani-American have primarily targeted India.” tions do not specify that serving officials Curtis said that even after the 2001 Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Coleman She said US officials “had previously were involved in the attacks, they revealed attack on the Indian parliament, “US offi- Headley has awakened American officials viewed the outfit solely through an Indo- that the Pakistani army’s past support and cials viewed the Lashkar and the Jaish-e- to the gravity of the threat from that outfit, Pakistan lens rather than as an urgent continued facilitation of Lashkar con- Muhammad as less threatening to US said Lisa Curtis, the Central Intelligence international threat.” The Headley investi- tributed to the group’s growth. interests, despite links between these Agency’s former South Asia analyst. gations, she added, “appear to be changing But regardless of whether the Pakistanis groups and international terrorism.” Appearing before the House Foreign the way the US government views the had control of the group that carried out She said the revelations from the Affairs Subcommittee on South Asia, Curtis Lashkar.” the Mumbai attacks, they were now Headley investigations that “the Lashkar said Headley’s arrest in the United States in The Headley case also proved the proxim- responsible for taking actions that seek to in coordination with the Harakat-ul- October 2009 “provided a major break- ity of the Pakistani military to the Lashkar. ensure that Lashkar and its affiliates are Jihadi-Islami planned to attack the US through in the Mumbai attack probe and “A retired Pakistani army major, Abdul incapable of conducting additional embassy and the Indian high commission shed fresh light on the operations and Rehman Hashim Syed, was Headley’s han- attacks, she said. in Bangladesh in 2009 should help con- objectives of the Lashkar.” dler, and a former commander with “Lashkar leaders themselves view the vince US officials that Lashkar wants to hit “The findings have awakened US officials Pakistan’s elite Special Services Group, group as part of a global jihad movement US targets.” India Abroad March 19, 2010 EYE ON PAKISTAN A17 Lashkar could surpass Al Qaeda as the number one terror network, says scholar AZIZ HANIFFA Laying out a list of concerns for the US, he said, “If our counter-insurgency fails in Afghanistan, there should be little Professor Marvin Weinbaum, scholar-in-res- doubt that Lashkar will establish a major idence at the Middle East Institute, told presence alongside the Taliban.” Congress last week that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba He noted that while “drone attacks and could surpass or replace Al Qaeda as the Pakistan’s raids have apparently disrupt- number one terror network worldwide and ed Al Qaeda and also eliminated some threaten American and Western interests, leaders, Lashkar’s activities have been and not just India as originally conceived by minimally disrupted.” its sponsor — Pakistan’s Inter Services He said Lashkar “appears to be draw- Intelligence. ing strength from a deepening hyper- “The Lashkar has evolved from being a gov- nationalism that has taken hold at all lev- ernment-sponsored Pakistani jihadi group els of society in Pakistan. Fed by conspir- dedicated to an insurgency in Indian acy theories, India and the US are impli- Kashmir into a terrorist organization with cated in plots to breakup Pakistan and regional and global ambitions and reach,” he seize its nuclear weapons.” told the House Foreign Affairs He said the case is “easily made that Subcommittee on South Asia. Lashkar can provide an important tool Consequently, he faulted Washington’s for the Pakistan military’s ability to focus on homeland security and Al Qaeda as respond to Indian aggression or for help- failing “to take into full account of the pres- ing the country to secure a sphere of ence of other organizations capable of sur- influence when, as expected, American passing or replacing Al Qaeda as a terrorist and coalition forces’ strategies will have threat worldwide.” failed in Afghanistan.” Weinbaum told lawmakers that Lashkar “is Weinbaum also argued that its “organi- MOHSIN RAZA/ REUTERS probably the leading candidate for such a Police escort Hafiz Saeed, founder, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, as he leaves a Lahore court, May 5, 2009 zational infrastructure, network in the role” because it was “the largest militant net- Islamic world, and access to funds for work in Pakistan, and exceeds Al Qaeda in its stepping up acts of terrorism against capacity for recruiting and fundraising across the Islamic sands across the country with his fiery sermons. His Pakistan make it attractive to many groups that seek to step world. Unlike Al Qaeda, Lashkar has strong societal roots, inflammatory remarks would be expected to land him up acts of terrorism against the Pakistani State.” and enjoys the protection of the institutions of a State.” among the hundreds of disappeared political activists in He said it should not be forgotten that Hafiz Saeed “is He said that until 2002, Lashkar “had the full backing of the country, but although he has been periodically arrested, believed to have many sympathizers within the Pakistani the Pakistan military for its operations in Kashmir. When his house detentions have been cosmetic.” scientific community, especially in the nuclear and missile the Pakistan government curtailed assistance to insurgents “In reciprocation, the Lashkar has refrained from fields, by virtue of having spent decades indoctrinating the after a United States-brokered ceasefire that year, the involvement in attacks against the Pakistani army and youth of Pakistan while [as] a professor in one of the coun- organization, with the knowledge of the ISI, shifted most of against Pakistani civilians,” he said. “The Tehriq-e-Taliban, try’s top engineering universities.” its training camps and militant operations to the western Pakistan’s principal insurgent group, has accused the Thus, Weinbaum said, it couldn’t be dismissed that “were border with Afghanistan.” Lashkar of being too soft on the state of Pakistan. Other Pakistan to become seriously destabilized, Lashkar’s repu- He told the lawmakers that “despite the government offi- extremist groups are also skeptical of its linkages with the tation for charity, piety and patriotism, together with its cial ban, Pakistan’s ISI continued to consider the organiza- ISI.” close ties to senior officers of the Pakistani military and tion as an asset... The ISI is believed to continue to share Weinbaum said the current leadership in Pakistan “may intelligence establishment, would make it a potential vehi- intelligence and provide protection to Lashkar. It is a meas- recognize better than any previous one the danger that cle to transform the Pakistani society into a Sharia State ure of the impunity with which it is allowed to operate in these groups pose. But the organization’s deep penetration similar to Afghanistan in the 1990s.” Pakistan that the authorities have been unwilling to con- of the country’s social fabric makes any attempts to rein it “The US would then be faced in Pakistan with the jihadi- tain its chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, who attracts thou- in impossible without the military’s full commitment.” dominated State that it has most to fear,” he added. Only option is to take out Lashkar unilaterally: Ashley Tellis

AZIZ HANIFFA tions, said there is no denying that the out- ism, not end it. They seek to modulate it in Tellis said that despite the innumerable fit “has become the spearhead of the order that its actions do not embarrass the provocations “posed by Lashkar’s actions, Former Bush administration official Ashley Pakistani military’s campaign against India. Pakistani State or provoke a major Indo- Prime Minister Singh has yet made another J Tellis has told Congress that since all of This campaign no longer consists of Pakistan war.” attempt to restart the dialogue with the Obama administration’s efforts to sup- fomenting insurgencies with India as was Tellis said it is imperative “that the United Pakistan. But by all accounts this dialogue is press the Lashkar-e-Tayiba have failed, the the case in the 1990s.” States recognize Pakistan’s deep invest- unlikely to be fruitful in the near-term for only alternative left for the United States is He said the Pakistani military and the ments in Lashkar and cease to refer to want of a suitable partner in Pakistan.” to maybe take out the outfit unilaterally Inter Services Intelligence’s strategy had Lashkar as if it were an independent actor Tellis said it was also important to qualify because of the dire threat it poses. “moved from exploiting domestic discon- whose actions are intended to embarrass the common analysis of Lashkar. “While we Tellis, senior associate, Carnegie tent to unleashing terrorism, which is aid- the Pakistani State.” think of it as a Frankenstein monster, I don’t Endowment for International Peace, who ing groups whose only purpose of existence He said that to President Obama’s “credit” think Pakistan thinks so,” he said. was among several experts who appeared is to engage in indiscriminate attacks he had said that Pakistan has to target He argued that it must not be forgotten before the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee against civilians throughout the length and Lashkar if the US-Pakistan strategic rela- that “Lashkar has been very careful not to on South Asia, told the lawmakers, “We will breadth of the Indian land mass.” tionship is to be sustained. But he pointed attack State interests of Pakistan — to have to increasingly consider the very He pointed out that the tight organiza- out that thus far, the Pakistani State “has maintain its links with key institutions like unpalatable possibility that we might have tional linkages “between Lashkar and been unresponsive to the President’s the Pakistani intelligence services.” to target the Lashkar and its operatives Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence persist entreaties to suppress Lashkar.” “And, so this idea that somehow this is an unilaterally as part of our efforts in to this day.” He said that the US had escaped the prob- organization that is going to turn back and Pakistan and Afghanistan.” He said the Pakistani army and the ISI lem till now largely because Indian Prime bite the Pakistani State — that urgency is Tellis, who was specifically addressing “have certain objectives with respect to Minister Manmohan Singh has shown for- certainly not shared by key institutions in Lashkar’s impact on India-Pakistan rela- Lashkar — they seek to modulate its terror- bearance in his response to Pakistan. Pakistan.” A18 US NEWS India Abroad March 19, 2010 Rights organizations to fight FBI’s ‘anti-Muslim’ tactics

GEORGE JOSEPH the findings. We will also approach the federal government to make The American Civil Liberties Union changes in the guidelines for the FBI,” of Northern California has joined Dubal said. with the Asian Law Caucus and the “We filed the request because we San Francisco Bay Guardian to needed hard proof to request policy fight what they call the Federal changes from the government,” she Bureau of Investigation’s tactics tar- noted. geting the Muslim community. Dubal said recently more people They filed a Freedom of Infor- came forward against the FBI actions mation Act request demanding and the organizations felt it was their records in connection with the FBI’s duty to fight harassment and profil- investigation of the community. ing. Though the groups have asked for The groups sought records related information about activities in to domestic intelligence practices, Northern California only, the ensuing including the use of informants and decision could be effective nationally. infiltrators (such as those reported- Despite official overtures, including ly used in gyms, community centers a recent statement by Attorney and mosques), the FBI Junior Agent General Eric Holder that ‘the tension Program’s recruitment of Muslim that arises between the Muslim and Arab American children, and American community and the FBI is the investigations of Muslim lead- unacceptable,’ many Muslim religious ers. and cultural organizations question “Muslim Americans play an the intent and effectiveness of FBI important role in domestic intelli- activities in their environment. gence investigations. That is why we “If the federal government is going want to examine the policies and to spend taxpayer dollars on a ques- investigative practices that are DAMIR SAGOLJ/ REUTERS tionable enforcement action, the pub- intrusive to our communities and A veiled Muslim girl joins anti-war protesters in front of the state capitol before marching toward the 2008 Republican lic has the right to know the details of National Convention in St Paul, Minnesota, September 1, 2008 that ultimately could be dangerous how it was implemented,” said Tim for our country as a whole,” said Redmond of the San Francisco Bay Veena Dubal, staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus. including those that target children and have a potential Guardian. “According to reports, the FBI has engaged in a deliber- chilling effect on free speech and religious practices.” The ACLU-NC has requested expedited processing ate plan to infiltrate Muslim communities through the use Dubal said the FBI is acting as per the guidelines set up because of the urgency of this issue to members of several of informants and covert actions. Tensions are especially during the Bush administration. It was not changed under northern California communities. high between the FBI and Muslim groups following the President Barack Obama despite his commitment for “We are seeking expedited processing because there is death of imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah, a Detroit cleric transparency and opposition to racial profiling. urgency to inform the public concerning federal govern- who was killed under questionable circumstances during “We seek to review the records to know if laws of the land ment activity. Initial reports have caused widespread anxi- an FBI raid in October 2009,” said Julia Harumi Mass, are violated,” Dubal said. ety in Muslim communities and raised widespread con- ACLU-NC staff attorney. The FBI has one month to reply. It can deny the request cerns about the federal government’s misconduct, includ- “When there are repeated and widespread reports that saying that the information is related to national security. If ing racial and religious profiling and violations of the con- the FBI is building a dragnet that is detrimental to the lives it refuses, the groups can appeal to the concerned authori- stitutional rights of United States residents in northern of innocent Americans, civil rights organizations must step ties. If the appeal is denied, they can approach the court. California.” If expedited processing is granted, the FOIA in,” she said. “The first step is to see all the records regard- The court will call for files and review it in camera. request will be processed “as soon as practicable,” and prior ing the planning and implementation of any such program, “If the FBI gives information, we will review and publish to the agency’s large backlog of less urgent requests. Columbia to launch center in Mumbai SUMAN GUHA MOZUMDER journalists during a press conference will also launch Studio-X, the architecture institute is well placed to help scale announcing the launch. school’s global network of leadership labo- up strategies that have demonstrated suc- The Columbia University last week The center will provide a base for schools ratories for collaborative exhibitions and cess. announced the launch of the latest and departments of the university that are public dialogue about the future of the Bajpai, a member of the United Nations Columbia Global Center for South Asia in keen to expand current academic pro- built environment. Millennium Project on the Millennium Mumbai to deepen its global perspective grams or inaugurate new ones in South ‘Studio-X Mumbai will occupy a loft-like Development Goals, the internationally and expand knowledge about the country Asia, he said. space in a heritage building near Victoria agreed goals to reduce extreme poverty, and the region. Officials said that unlike other American Terminal and will join the growing net- disease, and hunger by the year 2015, said Nirupam Bajpai, senior development schools that are keen on setting up branch- work of Columbia architecture labs in the center would focus initially on rural advisor at Columbia’s Earth Institute and es in India, Columbia would not award Beijing, Amman, Rio-de Janeiro, Moscow development, and later embrace issues director of the South Asia program, will undergraduate or graduate degrees to stu- and other dynamic world cities,’ an official such as public health and public educa- head the center, to be officially launched in dents in India. said. tion, especially at the primary school level. Mumbai later this month. ‘The focus is on establishing a new, inter- Bollinger added that Columbia’s multi- Bollinger said the center will help The Ivy League school launched the first active network of partnerships abroad and disciplinary Earth Institute will play an Columbia to work with other countries, two such centers in Beijing and Amman collaborations across traditional academic early leading role at the Mumbai center by institutions, universities and governments last year. It is also set to open a Europe disciplines to address complex global chal- launching an initiative to create network of around the world. “We are not going to be global center in Paris this month. lenges by bringing together scholars, stu- top scientists, economists and thought there just to show our expertise but what is ‘India clearly has been one of the most dents, public officials, private enterprise leaders who can provide policy recommen- equally important fort us is to be able to dynamic societies on the planet and there- and innovators from many fields,’ said dations and address the region’s urgent learn. We think our research agendas will fore it is a place we need to know more Kenneth Prewitt, vice president, Columbia development challenges. change as people begin to see the world about. We have things to contribute. But Global Centers and Carnegie professor of Bajpai, who left Harvard to join differently and our students find out about we start primarily from a position that we Public Affairs. Columbia’s Earth Instituted, said that with different things that they should know and need to learn more about the country,’ Columbia’s Graduate School of more than 15 years of work in India advis- opportunities that they can make use of,” Columbia president Lee Bollinger told Architecture, Planning and Preservation, ing political leaders and policy makers, the he said. India Abroad March 19, 2010 A19 SHAWN TRAVEL INC 1.877.240.4081 TRAVEL ABROAD INC 212.704.2043 212-867-5555 MAJOR CONSOLIDATOR FOR AIRLINES Email: [email protected] 1-877-867-4544 WWW.SHAWNTRAVEL.COM Lowest Seasonal Fares to Indian Sub-Continent. O/W R/T O/W R/T SPECIAL BUSINESS CLASS AMRITSAR 619 919 JO’BURG 569 759 Limited time offer -RUSH RUSH RUSH- UPTO 40 TO 60% OFF BOMBAY 459 749 NAIROBI 579 785 WE HAVE UMRAH FARES AND PACKAGES AVA. 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imes have changed. You should also forget the past and move on,’ Sonia ‘TGandhi, the Congress party presi- dent, told senior Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav two days after scoring a huge political victory by forcing her Congress party to back the women’s bill that will reserve 33 percent seats for women in the Lok Sabha — the lower House of India’s parliament — and state assemblies. Yadav ferociously opposes the bill despite a major- ity of his party men including its leader, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, favor- ing it. Yadav is not alone. The country is divided over the bill, which — if and when it becomes an act — will also bring in a provi- sion for rotating the Lok Sabha constituen- cies reserved for women in every election, thus ensuring that within three elections, all of India would have chosen from an all- woman fray at least once. The bill, if it becomes an act, will mean 181 seats in the Lok Sabha will be reserved for women. Add to that the constitutionally mandated reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and it will mean less than 250 seats will be of the gen- eral category. Gandhi has already celebrated the passing of the bill in the Rajya Sabha — the upper House of India’s parliament — and has been lauded by some for standing up for the 500 million women of India. But her party has REUTERS been criticized for adopting some tough Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav , second from right, and Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, third from right, during a protest outside the methods inside Rajya Sabha against unruly parliament in New Delhi, March 8. Two political parties withdrew support for India's ruling Congress party to protest a controversial bill reserving one-third of seats for women, possibly weakening the government's capacity to pass laws members. The Trinamool Congress party, a Congress party ally in the federal govern- ment, has strongly opposed the use of ‘muscle power’ in the course, electoral politics is the driving force. Indian assemblies and in the Lok Sabha, Muslims are Rajya Sabha. Seven members opposed to the bill who were “Sonia Gandhi appears to be playing for larger and long under-represented. They allege they are likely to be mar- disrupting the proceedings of the House were physically term stakes,” says political analyst Neerja Chowdhury, “and ginalized further. The OBCs, who have had a fair share of removed from the House before the bill came up for voting the move is not bereft of political calculations. With 2014 power for the last few years, will find it curtailed after 33 March 9. being billed as Rahul Gandhi’s election, the Congress party percent of the constituencies go to women. The clear divide in India over the bill runs deep. One class seems to be moving towards creating a new umbrella “India has seen 15 Lok Sabhas so far. Out of some 7,000 believes India is on the move and that economic growth alliance of the middle class/upper castes, minorities, Dalits. Members of Parliament, only 14 Muslim women and 471 will be steady and sturdy. In this new, developing India, And just as the party is targeting the youth in an increas- Muslim men have been elected in the last six decades,” women are now getting education like never before and ingly young country, so also it sees women as an important Asaduddin Owaisi, Lok Sabha lawmaker and leader of the they need to be accommodated at all levels by the men, and support base.” All India Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen, told India Abroad. the society. Since equal women’s participation in lawmak- While more and more young voters are rallying behind “The parliament has elected so far 542 women and out of ing bodies has not happened naturally, the affirmative Rahul, Congress party leaders think Sonia will gain huge them only 14 Muslim MPs is a miserably low figure. I have action to correct the anomaly is necessary. Gandhi, her son credibility of 50 percent of Indian voters — women — with no doubt that if 33 percent seats are reserved for women, Rahul and a section of their party and the urban media the reservation bill. Sonia herself sees ‘Rajiv Gandhi’s Muslim women stand no chance of getting tickets from seem to have bought this theory. dream’ in the bill. The way she moved the bill despite the political parties, and their representation will be nil in the The Congress party succeeded in selling this idea, thanks challenges in the Rajya Sabha proved that her commitment future. If the women’s bill becomes an act, India will be to the support of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and was deeper than many of her opponents thought. The electing a Hindu Lok Sabha.” the Left parties, which helped them pass the bill in the United Progressive Alliance coalition that she heads as He said from 11 states, not a single Muslim MP is being Rajya Sabha with a majority. chairman was shaken up, but she didn’t back down. elected. Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have Some politicians see the dilution of the caste and com- Women activists and many liberals are supporting the bill 128 seats, but Owaisi is the only Muslim MP from the three munal cards behind this move. Some see it as empower- it because it surely creates more space for women. Also, states in the Lok Sabha. ment of women that will lead to change in the character of reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assem- “We are perplexed,” Owaisi continued. “Why this bill? In debate and policies. Others see it as a threat to national blies is a natural corollary to the successful reservation 2009, Muslims voted for the Congress party to make sure integration because many more will ask for reservation, experiment of women in village-level panchayats and dis- that [BJP leader] L K Advani doesn’t become prime min- ensuring a permanently divided country. The Muslims and trict-level local bodies since the last 15 years. ister. We kept the BJP away from power. But, the alliance the Other Backward Classes are in no mood to settle with- However, the women’s bill has divided parties and gener- out getting some kind of reservation for themselves too. Of ated tremendous anger amongst Muslims and the OBCs. In Page A21 India Abroad March 19, 2010 INDIA SPECIAL/WOMEN’S RESERVATION BILL A21

Page A20 the government turning into minor- ity or ending with a wafer-thin of Congress party and the BJP [over majority of three members is also the women’s bill] is absolutely shock- real. Within the Congress party and ing. India is heading for the tyranny of the BJP, some sections are against the majority.” the bill but their dissent has no Immediately after the Rajya Sabha effect because the parties issued victory, Sonia gave many interviews to whips making it compulsory for television channels, which identified members to vote for the bill. Under her with the bill. The media started the anti-defection law, if members calling it ‘Sonia’s bill’ —a huge success don’t vote as per the whip they lose for the Congress party and Sonia. membership of the House they rep- In one of the media interactions, she resent. Now, the naysayers are on was asked that there are many asking overdrive to prevent the bill coming for OBC quota, minority quota within to the Lok Sabha. the 33 percent reservation for women. The bill is considered to be social- ‘Do you feel the bill needs re-look- ly and politically revolutionary, ing?’ Sonia replied. ‘To those who ask because it will create space for some such questions, I would say this: Who 2,000 women in corridors of power is going to prevent you from giving in the states and in New Delhi. The seats to Muslim women, OBC women spiral effect will be manifold, in the 33 percent? Who is going to because the step is in sync with the prevent them from doing it? Right?’ reservation for women already in Wrong, say Muslim leaders even place in local self bodies in villages from her party. Like all mainstream and in municipal corporations like political parties, the Congress party is Mumbai. The impact of 33 percent infamous for not giving enough space B MATHUR/ REUTERS reservation and rotation of two- to the Muslim leadership. Women activists of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shout slogans after being detained by police three Lok Sabha constituencies “There are genuine concerns during a protest against the ruling government for the women's reservation bill in front of parliament in New Delhi, March 9 every election will be so enormous amongst Muslims,” Kamal Farooqui, that many party leaders are private- chairman, Minority Commission of ly unsure of their own stand. New Delhi and member, All India As a result, there are different pro- Muslim Personal Law Board, told posals floating amongst political India Abroad. “This is regenerating of parties. Some leaders are asking for centuries old Brahminical order in increase of 33 percent seats from the India. Who are supporting the bill? current Lok Sabha strength of 545 The upper caste leaders of the CPM seats. Some social scientists have [Communist Party of India-Marxist], floated an alternative proposal to the BJP and the Congress party! the bill. They want the Election Muslims will have to forget political Commission to ensure that political space for the coming 15 years now. parties not only give one-third of Better, we concentrate on education their tickets to women, but that and education only to develop our these tickets are spread out over all community’s dreams.” constituencies. But, Indian politi- Zafrul Islam, editor, Milli Gazette, cians will never allow the EC to have told India Abroad, “This is just not any kind of real control over them. acceptable to us. The Congress party In effect, the passing of the cannot take us for granted. This bill women’s bill has severely damaged will be revoked if passed. Muslims will the Muslim community’s relations initiate a historic movement to force with the Congress party and has pit- the Congress party to reverse it.” ted women rights against the rights More than Muslims, OBC leaders of OBC men and women — the like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu largest block of Indian voters. Prasad Yadav are opposing the bill and Before Sonia Gandhi puts her have successfully delayed it from being weight behind the women’s bill once put up for voting in the Lok Sabha. again to push it through the Lok They first asked for quota within Sabha, she will have to cajole these quota, or for 20 percent reservation two important voters’ blocks. instead of 33 percent. The bill will now be moved in the VIJAY MATHUR/ REUTERS “It has even been proposed that Women supporters of India's ruling Congress party before the women's reservation bill was presented in Lok Sabha. Then, it will go to more three constituencies be clubbed the upper House of the parliament on International Women's Day in New Delhi, March 8 than half the state assemblies together and each be represented by where, it will need two-thirds three people,” said Rajya Sabha mem- majority. Once the President’s ber Sharad Joshi, who cast the lone dissenting vote against drastically reduce interest of voters and, eventually, voting assent is acquired, it will go to the delimitation commission the bill (the others opposing it walked out). percentages. for the identification of the 33 percent seats that will first Opponents of the bill like Sharad Yadav say that such “I would not like women’s rights to be given by destroying get reserved. reservation will benefit only educated, urban women or democracy,” said Joshi. In the Rajya Sabha, the government could use marshals women who have the support of powerful politicians or He said the Shwetkari Mahila Sangathan championed to throw out seven MPs. But in the Lok Sabha more than political families. Also leaders like Lalu Prasad and the cause of women by asking for all-women panchayats 50 members will be opposing the bill. Even though the Mulayam Singh Yadav feel the bill is the Congress party’s but the bill in the present form is not proper as it will not majority in today’s Lok Sabha wants the women’s reserva- and the BJP’s ploy to decimate regional parties. The caste- lead to empowerment of women but destroy democracy tion bill to radically change the Indian politics, it will not be based parties don’t have women leadership within their because inexperienced men and women will be coming to possible to throw out unruly lawmakers. setup. Even regional parties led by strong women leaders parliament in every election — there will be no incentive Perhaps that’s why, Sharad Joshi said, “The bill is dead.” like Mayawati and J Jayalalithaa do not have a strong sec- for politicians to nurse the constituency due to rotation sys- Many others agree, because they think this bill will not pass ond cadre of women leaders to fill up the new space that is tem. “Women’s reservations? Yes, yes, yes, yes. The rotation without the government risking its neck. being created. It will be difficult for these parties to keep up of the constitutions and their selection by lottery system? A senior woman editor said, “This bill has created such with mainstream parties and even to keep one family’s hold No, no, no,” he said. controversy that even if it is passed in the Lok Sabha, one over the entire party. The naysayers also believe that Numerically speaking, the government does have major- will have to wait for time to pass by to correctly judge if it’s women candidates if inexperienced and new to politics will ity in the Lok Sabha also to pass the bill. But, the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s historic achievement or historic blunder.” March 8, the Ghaziabad police issued a look-out notice for A Trouble brews for Indian godmen another self-styled ‘godman’. Anup Kumar Sahai alias Swamiji is 22 Last week proved to be hard for some of India’s ‘godmen’. wanted for the alleged abduction of a 27-year-old woman devotee. Topping the list was self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda, who It is suspected that he might have fled abroad and notices in this is embroiled in a sex and land scandal. His troubles began after a regard have been sent to airport authorities in Delhi, Mumbai, south Indian news channel aired a sensational video of a man Kolkata and Chennai, the police said. Sahai is also absconding. appearing to be Nithyananda with two women. Close on the heels Meanwhile, the Delhi high court also dismissed a plea by ‘god- of the video, the Karnataka government ordered a probe into land man’ Shiv Murat Dwivedi, accused of running a prostitution rack- held by him at Bidadi, 24.5 miles from Bangalore. Nithyananda is et, that the case against him be transferred to the Delhi police THE WEEK now on the run. crime branch and extended his police custody. THAT WAS India Abroad March 19, 2010 This will be the first time Modi will meet Ruchika molestation case Indian prime minister to get any investigation agency probing the riots. hearing adjourned till April 15 World Statesman award March 10, a Chandigarh court adjourned The Appeal of Conscience Foundation Women win permanent the hearing of the Ruchika Girhotra will felicitate Indian Prime Minister commission in defense battle molestation case, which involves former Dr Manmohan Singh with its World The Delhi high court March 11 asked the Haryana director general of police Statesman Award for the year 2010. The Gujarat riots: Narendra Modi Indian government to allow permanent S P S Rathore till April 15 on the plea that award will be presented in September in summoned for questioning commission to women officers in the his lawyer was still recovering from an Washington. Among the past recipients of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has armed forces. The court was ruling on assault on him last month. Rathore’s this prestigious award are British Prime been summoned by India’s Supreme an appeal filed by a group of 20 women lawyer-wife Abha told the court that his Minister Gordon Brown, French President Court-appointed Special Investigation officers who have demanded that counsel N D Sharma was still recovering Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Team to appear before it March 21 for women in the armed forces too must get from the assault on him outside the court Angela Merkel and Brazilian President questioning about the riots in the state in permanent positions like men. Under the last month. Rathore was punched and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. 2002. The summon follows a petition by existing system, women officers must stabbed thrice with a blunt instrument by Zakia Jaffrey, widow of late Congress party retire after 14 years of service and have no a student. Sharma also sustained injuries Scribe who threw shoe at Member of Parliament Ehsan Jaffrey, who scope for extension. Also, the women in the attack and both had to be hospital- Chidambaram assaulted was burnt alive in the Gulbarg Society officers were not entitled to pension and ized. Rathore has three cases pending Jarnail Singh, the journalist who massacre in Ahmedabad during the riots. other benefits. against him in court. threw a shoe at Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram last year, was assaulted outside a Delhi court Over 60 killed in ashram stampede in UP, utensils to them. March 10, allegedly by supporters of Mayawati dithers on compensation “We will pay a compensation of Rs. 2.5 lakh (about $5,500) to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar. Singh the families of each of those killed and Rs 50,000 to those inured said he had gone to witness the court Six days after she expressed her government’s inability to give any in the tragedy,” Mayawati said March 10. proceedings in the 1984 riots case monetary relief to victims of one of the worst stampedes in the The announcement came as an afterthought to Mayawati’s earlier with a witness in the case. state, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati finally relented. The stand that on account of an acute financial crunch, the state was March 4 stampede at Bhakti Dham ashram, run by godman not in a position to shell out monetary relief to the victims. The Indian scholarships Kripaluji Maharaj, left 63 dead and 64 injured. Thousands of devo- same day, three persons, including the manager of the ashram were for Diaspora tees were drawn to the ashram to join a feast thrown by him to arrested. No action was initiated against the ashram founder or the India has announced scholarships mark his wife’s death anniversary. He had promised to distribute local administration. for the Indian diaspora for under- graduate studies in India during 2010-11. The undergraduate courses include engineering, architecture, technology, humanities, liberal arts, Onlookers at the site of the stampede in Uttar Pradesh, March 4 commerce, management, journalism, hotel management, agriculture, ani- mal husbandry, science and law. NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin will only be eligible if their total fami- ly income does not exceed $2,250. Dozen Indian Idol aspirants injured at audition Over a dozen people were injured on March 9 when thousands of boys and girls rushed into the audition venue of music reality show Indian Idol, causing a stampede. The organ- izers had apparently expected a crowd of 2,000 but around 40,000 turned up. Indian ministers nominated Chatwal for Padma award Two Indian federal ministers and a prominent US Congressman recom- mended US hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal for the prestigious Padma awards, the government told the Rajya Sabha March 10. The recom- mendations came from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, member of US Congress Joseph Crowley and Dalis Adler —staff asso- ciate, sub-committee on the Middle East and South Asia under the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Minister of State for Home

JITENDRA PRAKASH/REUTERS Page A23 India Abroad March 19, 2010 THE WEEK THAT WAS A23

Page A22 The vanishing pugmark

Mullappally Ramachandran told the House in reply to a query that as per Padma awards rules, nominations are open to all. Chatwal’s selec- tion for the Padma award had sparked a controversy. Pune was on terror radar: Indian government The Indian government acknowledged that it had intelligence inputs to indicate that Pune was vulnerable to terror attacks. The police had also issued security guidelines last year to major commercial establish- ments, including the German Bakery. A blast in the popular bakery in Pune February 13 killed 17 people. In a reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken said, ‘The suspected main targets in Pune were put under protection. However, due to limi- tation of manpower, it was not possible to bring all public places under security cover.’ Lifer for two HuJI militants A Delhi court March 10 sentenced a Bangladeshi national and his Kashmiri associate belonging to banned terrorist organization Harkat- Ul-Jihad-al-Islami to life imprisonment for possessing explosives and waging war against the country. The judge sentenced Md Amin Wani, a Jammu and Kashmir resident, and Lutfur Rahman, the Bangladeshi national, to life imprisonment, saying they did not deserve capital punishment as the case was not the rarest of rare. The duo were nabbed in Delhi in 2007 and wanted to disrupt the Republic Day function. Husain surrenders Indian passport Artist M F Husain surrendered his passport earlier this week, as India doesn’t entertain dual citizenship and he has accepted Qatari cit- PARTH SANYAL/REUTERS izenship. Husain went into exile after a hate campaign against him in A tiger pugmark on the fringes of a forest during a tiger census at the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, in West Bengal. The present census was taken after 2006 when the population of tigers could not be ascertained, while in 2002 the number of tigers was claimed as 246. This year the census is focusing on DNA identification rather than pugmark counting, a senior forest official said. Sunderban’s hostile terrain is a major hurdle to When the Std XII board examinations began March 10, Naina, studying in the CEC stream at St accurate counting. Mary’s Junior College, Hyderabad, perhaps became the youngest student to be allowed to sit for the examination. She is just 9 years and 11 months old.

2006 over his controversial paintings. The Telangana state, the police said. A day later, at Indian government called Husain the ‘pride of a meeting of political leaders from the India’ and promised security after he was Rayalaseema region, held to discuss the stand granted Qatari citizenship, but the artist was- to be taken before the Srikrishna Commission n’t convinced. on the issue of bifurcation of the state, Senior Congress party leader J C Diwakar Reddy Final arguments in Mumbai shocked every one by suggesting that terror trial begin Rayalaseema should be a part of Telangana The 26/11 Mumbai terror attack trial rather than Andhra. entered a critical phase March 9 with the start of the final arguments. The arguments are India to create database likely to take days, after which the trial will to check terror funding reach the stage of the final judgment, almost The Indian government has decided to set 10 months since it started. The prosecution up a centralized database to check terror faces a tough challenge trying to nail the funding by integrating intelligence from secu- prime accused, Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias rity agencies. The database will act as a ‘ready Kasab, who has denied all charges against reckoner’ for law enforcement agencies to him. check illegal routing of money meant to fur- ther organized crime and anti-national activi- Congress party leader Sajjan ties. The data bank will be created by the Kumar gets bail in 1984 riots case Financial Intelligence Unit-India — a central Congress party leader Sajjan Kumar, who national agency responsible for receiving, pro- has been chargesheeted along with others for cessing, analyzing and disseminating informa- his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots tion relating to suspect financial transactions. cases, appeared before a Delhi court March 10 and was granted bail. The court fixed the mat- Indian population register ter for further proceedings March 30. creation from April 1 The process to create a national population Another Osmania University register with personal details of the 1.03 bil- student dies for Telangana lion Indians will begin April 1 and run simul- The Telangana agitation returned to haunt taneously with Census 2011. It will be one of Osmania University after a chemical engi- the biggest exercises in the world to count, neering student committed suicide for the identify and issue ID-cards to people. Indian separate state cause on March 9. Meegada Sai Home Minister P Chidambaram has called it Kumar Yadav, a second year BTech student, ‘the biggest exercise since humankind came was found hanging in his hostel room. A sui- into existence,’ and cautioned India’s border cide note, purportedly written by him, said he districts to be vigilant while enrolling people. SNAPSINDIA was ending his life in support for a separate 2009 The India Abroad Person of the OF

THE Year awards

Starshine,Starshine, Abroad gala honors MAGAZINE community India Abroad India achievers March 19, 2010 THE

PERSON PERSON YEAR The International solidaritysolidarity Weekly Newspaper

SONNY MEHTA MADHULIKA SIKKA Award for Lifetime Publisher's Special Award Achievement for Excellence

RAJU NARISETTI ABHIJAT JOSHI Publisher's Special Award Publisher's Special Award for Excellence for Excellence

SREEDHAR MENON SUDHA ACHARYA Award for Lifetime Service to Gopal Raju Award for the Community Community Service

VENKATRAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN India Abroad Person of The Year 2009 PRIYAMVADA NATARAJAN KAVYA SHIVASHANKAR Face of the Future Award Youth Achiever Award

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The award winners; from left, Washington Post Managing Editor Raju Narisetti, Yale University Professor Priyamvada Natarajan, Alfred A Knopf’s Publisher and Editor-in- Chief Sonny Mehta, community activist Sudha Acharya, Nobel Laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, philanthropist Sreedhar Menon, NPR Morning Edition Executive Producer Madhulika Sikka and Bollywood scriptwriter and Otterbein College Nine Awards, Professor Abhijat Joshi All Winners The Indian-American community emerged victorious at the India Abroad Person of the Year awards gala, reports Matthew Schneeberger. Photographs: Paresh Gandhi

The historical Alexander Hamilton US Custom House in downtown Manhattan, in New York City's financial district, was the perfect venue

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t is a singular example that illus- trates the trajectory of the Indian-American community during the past few decades. India-born structural biologist IVenkatraman Ramakrishnan says that in the 1970s, while he worked on his PhD in physics at Ohio University, he and the few other desis in the small town of Athens, Ohio, considered India Abroad, then a fledgling community publication, a lifeline to South Asia. Not only did India Abroad offer news about India and Indians, it also provided pre- cious details about Indian grocers, restaurants, and even potential spouses. Most importantly, in a country where Indians had hardly yet made their mark, the weekly newspaper was a welcome reminder of home. Fittingly, India Abroad, which this year celebrates its 40th year of publish- ing, honored Ramakrishnan as its Person of the Year 2009, for winning the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He accepted his award March 5, at the seventh annual India Abroad Person of the Year awards ceremony. The event was held at the magnificent and histori- cal Alexander Hamilton US Custom House in downtown Manhattan, in New York City’s financial district, a stone’s throw from the famed Wall Street Bull. The grand 103-year-old building, a From left, Professor Padma Desai, Sonny Mehta, popular site for Hollywood film settings, actor Madhur Jaffrey and writer Suketu Mehta after was the perfect venue for the star-stud- publishing legend Sonny Mehta was awarded the ded ceremony; its main rotunda — the India Abroad Award for Lifetime Achievement ultra-high ceiling of which is decorated with larger-than-life murals — was lit by Jindal (2005), PepsiCo Chairperson and a combination of six Roman pillar-style CEO Indra Nooyi (2006), acclaimed film- torches, and added the ideal ambience maker Mira Nair (2007), and Fareed for the three-hour ceremony, which saw Zakaria, Newsweek International Editor leaders of Indian-origin from the fields and host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS of politics, business, public service, edu- (2008). cation, media, and the arts. Though the naming of the India Abroad “Every year I come to the India Person of the Year rounded off the event, Abroad Person of the Year, because it’s nine awards were presented in seven cate- such an important event,” said Madhur gories. Jaffrey, actor and noted food writer. “It’s After a pre-event cocktail hour, which fea- amazing to see the gains, year-by-year, tured drinks and appetizers and red-carpet made by Indians here in America.” interviews, the awards gala began with This year, for many in attendance, the Columbia University Journalism School identity of the Person of the Year was Professor Sreenath Sreenivasan serving as never in question. Not after they spotted the Master of Ceremonies, handling the Dr Ramakrishnan, the quiet, thoughtful microphone with signature wit and charm looking man in the simple blue kurta, as for the sixth time in seven years. He even he stood a few steps apart from other chided his father, former Indian diplomat high profile guests during the pre-event and rediff.com columnist T P Sreenivasan, cocktail hour. He was, after all, just the for talking too much! seventh Indian or person of Indian ori- Washington Post Managing Editor Raju Narisetti, right, accepts the India Abroad Publisher's Special Award for After Sree’s introduction, India Abroad gin to have so been honored with a Excellence from India Abroad Publisher and rediff.com CEO Ajit Balakrishnan Publisher and rediff.com Founder and CEO Nobel Prize. Ajit Balakrishnan spoke about how things But Venki, as he is known, generally have changed for the Indian-American disdains media attention, avoids the limelight and is weary Venki joined the elite group of former winners, which community during the 40 years India Abroad has been in of mixing science with nationalism. In his eloquent and includes Iowa state legislator Swati Dandekar (2002), existence, and how the India Abroad Person of the Year passionate acceptance speech, he acknowledged that he has Indicorps co-founder Sonal Shah (2003), captain of the sil- awards have evolved from one category in 2002 to seven now become a public face and an aspirational figure for ver medal-winning United States gymnastic team at the this year. Indians everywhere, and explained how he is gradually Athens Olympics Mohini Bhardwaj (2004), then US reconnecting with the country of his birth. Congressman and current Louisiana Governor Bobby M4

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India Abroad Youth Achiever 2009 Kavya Shivashankar, left, receives her award from Ohio state Representative Jay Goyal and Neal Simon of the University of Antigua. Kavya won the Scripps National Spelling Bee last year

NPR Morning Edition Executive Producer Madhulika Sikka speaks after receiving the India Abroad Publisher's Special Award for Excellence

Executive Director Sudha Acharya, for the decade-old SACSS’s support and empowerment Nine Awards, of South Asian immigrants in America. In the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, SACSS, working on a shoe-string budget, helped relatives All Winners of South Asian victims piece their lives back together, particularly by providing free immigra- tion counseling. It has since expanded its array of M3 services to the community. At an event graced by so many successful community figures, Acharya The first award, the India Abroad Youth reminded the crowd that a full 33 percent of Achiever, was presented to Kavya Shivashankar, South Asians in New York state are without who last year continued the community’s domi- health insurance, and that even as a model minor- nance as America’s spelling champions by cor- ity, Indians in America must continue to uplift rectly spelling ‘Laodicean’ to win the Scripps their lot. National Spelling Bee 2009. Kavya, 13, gave a Dr Priyamvada Natarajan, professor of astrono- touching acceptance speech, cheered on by her my and physics at Yale University, was named the family, particularly younger sister Vanya, herself a India Abroad Face of the Future, an award that budding spelling star. Kavya spoke to her peers, recognizes the potential for glittering future and advised them that with discipline, hard work achievements. It is easy to predict future success and dedication, any goal can be achieved. It was, for Natarajan, as she has already achieved so in many ways, the same success mantra the much, having earned a Guggenheim Fellowship Indian-American community has lived — and in 2009 and discovered the theoretical upper succeeded — by. limit to black holes in 2008. Mathematician Dr She also gave a few pointers on how to improve Manjul Bhargava, the youngest full professor at one’s spelling, like focusing on etymological Princeton University and who last year was methods over rote memorization! named the inaugural India Abroad Face of the The India Abroad Gopal Raju Award for Future, was on hand to present Natarajan with Community Service 2009 went to the South Asian Council for Social Services and its M5

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her award, along with Vonage Chief Marketing Officer Jamie Haenggi. Vonage were the present- ing sponsors for the event. The India Abroad Award for Lifetime Service to the Community was then presented to invest- ment banker, community bedrock and philan- thropist Sreedhar Menon, who took a leaf out of last year’s lifetime achievement award winner Zubin Mehta’s book and noted Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliance on the cricket field. With the event reaching its midpoint, Sreenivasan directed the nearly 250 guests’ atten- tion to dinner and dessert. Above the tinkle of sil- verware meeting plates and wine glasses clinking in convivial cheers, conversation was heard from the likes of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, Ambassadors Prabhu Dayal and Manjeev Singh Puri, The Huffington Post Managing Editor Jai Singh, CNBC Managing Editor Nik Deogun, lawyer Vanita Gupta, who on April 1 takes over as deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, Philanthropist Sreedhar Menon, right, receives the India Abroad Award for Lifetime Service to the Community from India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Manjeev Singh The Last Airbender actor Aasif Mandvi, and Puri, center, and Vijay Dandapani, President & COO, Apple Core Hotels M6

The team from the South Asian Council for Community Services with its Executive Director Sudha Acharya (with the trophy), New Jersey Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, second from right in the back- ground, and Sam Bhatia of Continental Airlines, right in the background . SACCS and Acharya were awarded the India Abroad Gopal Raju Award for Community Service

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Dr Priyamvada Natarajan, left, accepts the India Abroad Face of the Future Award from Princeton University Professor Manjul Bhargava, center, as Vonage Chief Marketing Officer Jamie Haenggi applauds

was presented to Lahiri’s publisher Ajai Singh ‘Sonny’ Mehta, a titan in the world of books and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Alfred A Knopf. Fittingly, writer Suketu Mehta — whose book on Mumbai, Maximum City, was edited by Sonny Mehta — and Madhur Jaffrey presented the award to Mehta, whose wife, writer Gita Mehta, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s elder sister, was present. Despite being ill, Mehta graced the event, and received a rousing, standing ovation when he was called to the stage. In his moving speech, he noted, “I could not have become a publisher if I had not been raised and educated in India. India gave me my love of books and my obsession with reading. When we were young reading was our most important form of recreation. But when I see the proliferation of book- shops, book fairs, and literary festivals in India today, and when I read the extraordi- nary work coming from the sub-continent Nine Awards,All every year, I am reassured that books are as important to Indians now as they were in the past, and I am confident that the future Winners of the book is safe.” Given the battery of successful authors and bestselling books attached to his name, M5 when it came time for a congratulatory mes- sage for Mehta, there was no dearth of oncologist Dr Dattatreyudu Nori, among others. options. Still, the crowd was amazed when, After the lavish dinner, the invitees learned that for the via a video address, former President Bill first time there would be more than one winner of the India Clinton congratulated India Abroad on 40 Abroad Publisher’s Special Award for Excellence. Owing to years of publishing and congratulated the community’s unprecedented gains this past year, the Mehta, who published Clinton’s bestselling move to give three awards was necessary, Sreenivasan memoir, My Life, and all the other winners. explained. But the event had still not reached the Balakrishnan took to the stage to present the India grand finale, the presentation of the India Abroad Publisher’s Special Awards for Excellence to NPR Abroad Person of the Year Award. Morning Edition Executive Producer Madhulika Sikka, Fareed Zakaria, India Abroad Person of The Washington Post Managing Editor Raju Narisetti, and the Year 2008, announced the winner via a Otterbein College Professor Abhijat Joshi, best known as Abhijat Joshi, who co-wrote Bollywood hits 3 Idiots and Lage Raho Munna Bhai, said he video message, and congratulated the co-writer of Bollywood blockbusters 3 Idiots and Lage accepted the India Abroad Publisher's Special Award for Excellence on behalf of the Venkatraman Ramakrishnan with charac- Raho Munna Bhai. All three gave acceptance speeches world’s unsung screenwriters teristic eloquence. Scientific achievements marked by wit and grace. like Ramakrishnan’s, he said, represent the Sikka said she chose journalism because it satisfied her of the Indian business daily Mint, asked all Indian- highest level of human knowledge. curiosity and served a purpose to the community. She also American journalists to consider somehow contributing Again, in what was a reflection of the community’s spoke of the importance of the news-gathering industry, their expertise to the growing Indian media industry. unwritten laws of conduct, Ramakrishnan’s extraordinary and asked the crowd to remember that, “Good news mat- Joshi mixed humor and seriousness when he said he was speech was marked by astounding humility. He lauded ters.” surprised to be awarded and thanked India Abroad for Indian scientists, and recalled how warmly he had been Then, via video, Madhulika’s co-workers Steve Inskeep honoring a screenwriter, explaining that members of his greeted during his recent trips to the country. and Renee Montagne, the familiar voices of NPR Morning profession have been categorically and chronically ignored. “I was also struck by how bright Indian students are. Edition, congratulated their executive producer, and In the past, the Publisher’s Special Award has been won How they’re second to none,” he said, adding how over the warned India Abroad that finding Sikka’s successor for the by the likes of astronaut Sunita Williams (2006), who years, he has begun to rediscover his roots as an Indian. next year would be difficult. memorably greeted the awards ceremony from space, and It’s a cliche: You can take an Indian out of India, but not Narisetti spoke of his optimism for the future of India, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jhumpa Lahiri (2008). India out of an Indian. Then again, what is a cliche, if not and, citing his own experiences as former founding editor Next, the India Abroad Award for Lifetime Achievement an oft-repeated truth. „

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M7 FROM THE PUBLISHER PERSON THE YEAR 2009 India Abroad March 19, 2010 ‘What a rich diversity of talent Indian Americans bring to life in America!’

Ajit Balakrishnan Publisher, India Abroad

ake a look at the picture on the screen; some of you who are long-time, loyal readers of India Abroad will recognize T that as the very first issue of our paper. That was in 1970, nearly 40 years ago. When you look at the contents you will recognize how much some things have changed in one way and how they remain the same in other ways. For example, that was the year that the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty was signed by 43 countries, but notably not by India. And, you will remember that event started a long period of estrange- ment between India and the United States, which was turned around completely recently, again hinging on the nuclear issue. 1970 was also when the north tower of the World Trade Center was completed and thus could claim to be the tallest building in the world. And 40 years later, not far from where I stand today and speak to you, a reconstruction effort is going on that same site. 1970 was also the year that the US and world economy was starting to recover from the 1969 recession, and a similar effort is underway as I speak. India Abroad has been reporting and analyzing and interpret- ing the tumultuous events of the past four decades, the first three decades under the able guidance of its founder Gopal Raju and the last ten years under ours. The India Abroad Person of the Year Award is now in its eighth year and a glance at the winners over these years will tell you how far India and America and the relationships between our two countries has evolved and how rich and diverse is the talent that Indian Americans bring to this country. Swati Dandekar, who was the first winner, was an Iowa state representative; Sonal Shah, who was the next winner, was a social activist and has, as we predicted, gone on to bigger things in government; Mohini Bhardwaj, who won the following year, completed the unbroken run of women award winners. It took Bobby Jindal to break that run of women awardees but women returned in the following two years: Indra Nooyi, the PepsiCo chief, in 2007 followed by Mira Nair, the filmmaker, in 2008. Fareed Zakaria, the journalist, was the winner last year. See what a rich diversity of talent Indian Americans bring to life in America: Social activists, political leaders, business lead- ers, and creative professionals like filmmakers and novelists and journalists! Who will be the winners this year? What talents will they showcase? What new directions will they get us to think in their acceptance speeches? I, for one, can’t wait to hear. Thank you for coming today, and enjoy the evening. „

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‘This journey has shown me how to set a goal,and achieve it’

Kavya Shivashankar 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion India Abroad Youth Achiever Award

’d like to start off thanking India Abroad for distinguish- ing me as one of the young achievers of 2009 and for pre- Isenting me with this Young Achiever Award. It is a great honor to be the recipient of such a prestigious award. I’m also thankful for all the encouragement I received from the Indian community. It is great to know that I had so many people cheering me on. I really couldn’t have done this without all blessings and words of encouragement that I received from numerous peo- ple. However, I would not be here if it were not for the sup- port of my family. Preparing for the Bee has certainly brought me much closer to my family. My dad was my coach and my mom and my sister were my greatest sources of encouragement. Thanks, mom, thanks, dad, and thank you, Vanya. Many people are under the misconception that spelling is all about memory. That is wrong. My method of preparation involves studying group words and etymological patterns. It was certainly not memorizing. By following this method, I greatly developed my vocabulary and expanded my knowl- edge of words. However, there’s so much more that I’ve learned. This journey has shown me how to set a goal — and achieve it through dedication, discipline and hard work. I’ve also learned how to stay composed under pressure, and these are all skills I am certain I will use throughout my life. I would like to end with a message to my peers: It is always important to follow your dreams. To achieve any goal, how- ever, it takes a lot of hard work, time and effort, and you must be willing to put in all the perseverance and time that it takes. But, no matter what, it is always very important to keep your head held high, be humble, and have confidence in yourselves. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the night. „

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M9 WINNER-SPEAK PERSON THE YEAR 2009 India Abroad March 19, 2010 ‘The success I had with government-subsidized education convinced me to give back to India’ Sreedhar Menon Community leader, philanthropist India Abroad Award for Lifetime Service to the Community

hank you, Sreenath, thank you, India ily government-subsidized education con- Abroad, and, thank you, my nomina- vinced me without any doubt that it is time Ttors, whoever they are. I am deeply for me to give back to India, my country of humbled that I am standing at the same origin. podium where the legendary Zubin Mehta Secondly, on my visit to Sai Baba’s Center in stood and accepted an award last year. I am Whitefield, Bangalore, about 12 years ago, I no comparison to Zubin. However, I want to saw an inscription for that day right at the start on a similar note as he started. Being entrance which read: ‘Hands that give are from Bombay, he said then that Sachin holier than lips that pray.’ Let me repeat it: Tendulkar made 160 runs against New ‘Hands that give are holier than lips that pray.’ Zealand that day! New Zealand ko mar I have remembered that sentence every day dala! The same Sachin Tendulkar made 200 since then and I will remember it every day in runs in a one-day match last month and cre- the future too. ated world history and a record. Sachin ne All along, I was focused on ‘education and South Africa ko bhi mar dala! The India research’ as a preferred area, for giving back Abroad awards event seems to be a good to India, because I thought that education omen for the country’s national sport! and research on contemporary India and the I am delighted and honored to accept this challenging issues facing India will have a award with all the humility. I would like to lasting impact and influence on the Indian dedicate it to my beloved dad, the late economic planners. The famous free market Velayudha Menon, who literally struggled economist Professor Jagdish Bhagwati also very hard to provide me with six years of had some influence in the direction I was tak- college education in Kerala from 1953 to ing: Jagdish was one of the advisors to the 1959. government of India when economic reforms When Nikhil Lakshman, editor-in-chief were initiated in 1991. of India Abroad, sent me an e-mail seven It is with that objective in mind that I took weeks ago when I was on vacation in India, the lead in establishing the Jagdish Bhagwati informing me that India Abroad would like Chair in Indian Political Economy at to present this award this year to me, I was Columbia University and the Chair at the shocked and surprised. As Sree knows well, Center for the Advanced Study of India at the I shy away from any recognition for any University of Pennsylvania, the first and fore- philanthropic work I do or contributions I most research institution on challenging make. It is my daughter Jyoti, sitting here,, issues facing the country. It may not be out of who told me that I must accept this award place to mention here that last month, the to set an example for her to emulate and as government of India made a contribution of a role model for others. $2 million to the Center for the Advanced I would like to share with you two factors Study of India at UPenn to undertake an aca- that influenced me most in doing some- demic and institutional research on thing for the benefit of the community at ‘Migration out of India.’ It speaks volumes for large: PARESH GANDHI the credibility of the CASI as a research insti- Firstly, it is the six years of college education I got in India that led to a master’s degree tution. in economics at a pittance of the cost — I am embarrassed to tell the audience here that the There is a lot more to be done. It is my intent to do whatever I can for the cause of India college education fee did not cost more than Rs 15 per month, less than $4 per year, where- and the profile of India on the international scene. as it cost me a whopping $55,000 a year to provide a similar master’s degree education Once again, thank you, India Abroad, for this award, which I will treasure with pride. I program to my daughter in New York City. The success I had in my career with that heav- wish you every success. „

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‘The community has come of age and with that come its issues and problems’ Sudha Acharya Executive Director, South Asian Council for Social Services

India Abroad Gopal Raju Award for Community Service

hank you very much. This is indeed a great honor and all of us at SACSS T [South Asians Council for Social Services], the staff, the board and all the volunteers are thrilled and excited about this award, and are grateful for this recognition. And this will ener- gize us further to serve our community. This especially is very meaningful to me because I knew Mr Gopal Raju well. I am very happy to be recognized in this fashion. It is our tenth anniversary this year and the last ten years have brought a multitude of experiences and emotions. Sometimes it was heartbreaking as when we were working with the families of 9/11 victims, challenging when the needy in our community needed services and benefits and we had to really try very hard to get those to them. And when parents were at risk of losing their children to foster care, we supported them with parent skills training so they could have a healthy and nourishing environment in their houses for their children. Sometimes it is humorous when teaching English to parents, but it has always been very satisfying and energizing and enriching. We salute our clients today who make this experience very satisfying for us. They are the underserved that Sree talked about, the taxi drivers, the restaurant workers, the construction workers, the domestic workers, you know those. And these people work very hard, sometimes they have two jobs and still make very little money. They don’t have health care because they cannot afford it. You know that only one-third of South Asians in New York have health insurance. Let’s say a person earns $1,700 a month. How can they afford health insurance when a comprehensive policy for a single person is $750? Anything that costs less is not useful at all. And then priority for it is not important at all. And they only go to hospitals and doc- tors when it is a very severe emergency. It is these people that we help. Think about those people who do not have jobs. This is the section of the community that needs help — and SACSS is happy to help them. The community has come of age and a whole generation has aged — I am not talking about myself — and with that come its own issues and problems. Our elderly are, quite often, lonely and isolated and depressed. We support them with support groups and connect them to services that are available to them. You know, these are the people we need to help and the com- munity should be helping them. These are our own. Let’s help them. Thank you, India Abroad, for recognizing this need, and thank you for recognizing SACSS with this incredible honor. „ GUNJESH DESAI

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M11 WINNER-SPEAK PERSON THE YEAR 2009 India Abroad March 19, 2010 ‘I am grateful for the existence of the universe’

Priyamvada Natarajan Professor, departments of astronomy, and physics; director of graduate studies, department of astronomy, Yale University

India Abroad Face of the Future Award

t’s a real pleasure and privilege to be honored by India Abroad, and I’d like to thank all of you for Ibeing here. I feel very privileged to have been able to follow the beat of my own drum and do exactly what I pleased viz-a-viz what I wanted to study and my choice of profession. I absolutely love what I do, and I am thrilled to be recognized and awarded. These are wonderfully nice icings on the cake. I would like to thank my parents and family — who could not be here tonight as they are in Delhi — who have been very supportive; who have been by my side from a very young age when I wanted to study physics. I’d also like to thank all my teachers and everybody who made a big difference along the way — my pro- fessors at MIT and Cambridge and, in particular, my thesis advisor. And thanks to a lot of my wonderful colleagues in cosmology who have kept me up by challenging and pushing me intellectually. Last, but not the least, I am grateful for the exis- tence of the universe, and for giving us, in particular people like me, a chance to unravel its mysteries and be spellbound. Thank you very much, I am very hon- ored. „

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TThe venue for the awards ceremony at the National Museum of the American Indian, a stone’s throw from the famed Wall Street Bull in New York City's financial district

Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan shares a quiet moment with his younger sister Dr Lalita Ramakrishnan, Jamie Haenggi, second from left, Leesa Eichberger, Carolyn Klein and Balachandran Venkatraman at the Vonage table a respected researcher on TB

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PERSON THE YEAR 2009 India Abroad March 19, 2010 amongStars us Reshma Saujani, right, who is running for Congress Snapshots from the celeb-studded India Abroad from New York Person of the Year awards gala. Photographs: Paresh Gandhi, Gunjesh Desai, P Rajendran, Vaihayasi P Daniel

Actor Madhur Jaffrey, left, her husband, violinist Sanford Allen, Gita and Sonny Mehta share a laugh

Nik Deogun, Managing Editor, CNBC, left, with Preet Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Vanita Gupta, the first winner of the India Abroad Publisher’s Special Award for Excellence in 2004, with NPR’s Debra Delman and Madhulika Sikka. April 1, Vanita will take over as deputy legal director, American Civil Liberties Union

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Aroon Shivdasani, left, executive director, Indo-American Arts Council, with Chandini Dayal

Ohio state Representative Jay Goyal, right, with Shweta Reddy

Salman Ahmed, guitar player for the Pakistani rock band Junoon, shows what he thinks of the event

Stars among us Writer Tania James (Atlas of Unknowns), right, with Vivek Maru

New Jersey Hotelier Sant Assemblyman Chatwal, right, with Upendra Chivukula, community activist left, with oncologist Swadesh Chatterjee, Dr Dattatreyudu winner of the first Nori, right, and Dr India Abroad Award Subhadra Nori for Community Service

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Award-winning script-writer Abhijat Joshi with wife Shuba; right: Kavya Shivashankar

Sherally Munshi; MTV's Nusrat Durrani; Ken Chen, Executive Director, Asian American Writers' Ajit Jain, Managing Editor, India Abroad, Canada, second from right, with from left, Deepak Workshop; and tabla artiste Suphala Ruparell, Aditya Jha and Ramesh Chotai

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Mike Tauber and Pamela Singh, authors of Blended Nation, a photographic record of mixed race America

Nayan Chanda, left, editor, YaleGlobal Online and Dr Devesh Kapur, Director, Center for Advanced Study of India

India Abroad Publisher and Rediff.com Chairman Ajit Balakrishnan in conversation with Washington Post Managing Megan Mylan, right, the Oscar-winning director of the documentary Smile Pinki, with her friend Michael Chin Editor Raju Narisetti Washington Post reporter Shankar Vedantam, right, author Writer Gita Mehta, Orissa Chief of The Hidden Brain, Minister Naveen Patnaik's elder sister How Our Unconscious and Sonny Mehta's wife, right, cheers Minds Elect Presidents, Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan's Control Markets, Wage speech Wars, and Save Our Lives, with Dr Priyamvada Natarajan, right

Former Indian diplomat and rediff.com columnist T P Sreenivasan, right, with his son Sreenath Sreenivasan

Writer Rakesh Satyal, Reverend Winnie Verghese, filmmaker Ro Rao

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M17 IMAGES, MEMORIES PERSON THE YEAR 2009 India Abroad March 19, 2010 Stars among us

From left, Chicago and New York restaurateur Rohini De (Vermillion/At Vermillion) with husband Sajal Kohli, writer Suketu Mehta and Rajan Shah, co-founder, South Asians in Media and Marketing Association

Paul Steiger, Editor-in-Chief, president and chief executive, ProPublica, and former managing editor, Kris Kolluri, right, chief of the New Jersey school board, with Reshma Saujani, who is The Wall Street Journal, left, with Raju Narisetti, who once reported to him running for Congress from New York

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Neal Simon, second from right, Vito Barbiera, left, and Par Prem Kumar, right, at the American University of Antigua table

Arvind Panagariya, Bhagwati Professor of Economics at Columbia University, with Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, India's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, and Namrita Puri

Sreenath Sreenivasan Sam Bhatia of Continental Airlines, center, with introduces Ambassador his guests Ramu Damodaran, Deputy Director at the Vijay Dandapani, second from left, United Nations, and President and COO, Apple Core then Indian Prime Hotels, with wife Kamini, second from Minister P V Narasimha right, and guests Rao's private secretary (1991 to 1994), as Aziz Haniffa, Editor, India Abroad, right, and Ambassador T P Sreenivasan look on

Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, right, his sister Dr Lalita Ramakrishnan, center, and his wife Vera Rosenberry

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Madhulika Sikka ‘A newspaper that Executive Producer, NPR Morning Edition brings us together as a India Abroad Publisher’s Special Award for Excellence community:A community ’d like to thank publisher Ajit your neighborhood; whether it’s your Balakrishnan and India Abroad for town, city, country or your state, it is Ithis marvelous distinction. I have to something that you want to know about, of Indians,Indian Americans, tell you I have a lot of credibility with my and it’s something that you can support. ladies in my book club, following on the So I hope you’ll think about that when heels of Jhumpa Lahiri. So thank you for you are renewing your subscription to Indians abroad’ that. India Abroad or The New York Times or, We were brought here this evening by a perhaps pledging to NPR, the news mat- newspaper and I’d like you to think about ters — and that’s what brought us all that for a moment. At a time when my together this evening. profession is much maligned — unfairly, I I’ve been privileged to cover amazing think — and is going through probably its events in my lifetime and my career and worst economic crisis, what brings us I’m one of the lucky ones in this profes- together here this evening is a journalis- sion. But, of course, on the shoulders of tic enterprise. A newspaper that brings us many. I could not have gotten here where together as a community: A community I am without the love and support of of Indians, Indian Americans, and many people, both professionally and Indians abroad. It informs, engages, personally, who have nurtured me. I have enlightens and connects us as members had some superb bosses who have helped of a particular group. And that’s pretty me grow. I’d like to thank Tom Bettag, much why I got into journalism. who was my executive producer at ABC When I was growing up in London, News, who taught me how to be a great decades ago, I was a bit of a news junkie. producer and how to be a great executive My father and I would tussle for the producer. His benevolent dictatorship paper every morning. And actually, today, has really worked for me as an executive decades later, when I go visit him, he producer. I’d also like to thank my cur- makes sure my newspaper needs are rent boss, Ellen McDonnell, at NPR, who taken care of in the morning. has taught me the value of getting to yes. I was enamored of the places I could My father, of course, who encouraged me see, growing up, watching the BBC. The and my interest in current affairs from an idea that I could be taken to some place early age. My siblings, my brother who is — new place, new people — was an amaz- in London, and my sisters who came here ing thing. And I thought, ‘Hey, I want to today from London, tolerated my lifelong do that.’ Now, as many of you in our pro- obsession with the news from a very, very fession know, those of us who are here early age. My daughters, Priya and Maya, tonight, it wasn’t what our people did. who are not here this evening, and my And in our circle of family and friends, it wonderful husband Jim, who is. It’s not was really an unorthodox path to follow. been easy for them having a news-mom We didn’t know anyone in the news busi- and news-wife in the house, but it’s pret- ness, there was no one who looked like us ty much all they’ve known, and they have on the television. There was no one who endured with tolerance and good spirit had names like ours on the radio or in the when that other pull has pulled on me: byline… But I really wanted to pursue it The pull of the news. because I thought it was a profession that And a final thank you to my mother, I thought would satisfy my curiosity and who is no longer with us, but whose pres- it would serve some useful purpose in a ence is with us every day. She left larger community. And I’ve been lucky Lyallpur right before Partition at the age enough to do that. of 8 and she grew up in Delhi. At the age And at a time when our profession real- of 18, she married a stranger and moved ly is challenged, I would like to challenge abroad, first to East Pakistan and then you all. I challenge you to think about London, where she lived for 42 years how you use news, how vital it is to you until she died in 2005. Truly the life, every day. When something happens, you replicated by millions, of an Indian want to know about it. You turn on your abroad. I doubt that she could have fore- radio, your television, your news Web seen that her journey would end here — source, you make sure you have a paper. for me at least — but I hope she would And I challenge you to live a day without have been proud to be here tonight that. amongst so many Indians abroad. Thank Whether it’s your local community, you. „

PARESH GANDHI Brought to you by:

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M20 WINNER-SPEAK PERSON THE YEAR 2009 India Abroad March 19, 2010 ‘There will always be a high price to pay for some if they speak out’

efore I start, Sree has thanked a lot of people today also being honored today, Jay Singh of Huffington Post, abroad remember: Which is no matter but it would be remiss on our part to not thank Sree Aziz Haniffa and Arthur Pais of India Abroad, Nayan what our passports say, we can contribute to journalism not Bfor doing such a wonderful job tonight. Chanda, formerly of the Far Eastern Economic Review, just in our adopted home but also back home in India. When I was first told about this honor, I had two reac- Stephanie Mehta, the executive editor of Fortune maga- Three years ago I helped start a small paper in India tions. The first was to noticed that previous India Abroad zine, and many other journalists of Indian origin, who have called Mint, in part because it is great fun to start some- award winners in various categories have been such leg- become role models, whether they want to be or not, and thing new but also because I believed that a country of 1.2 ends as Indra Nooyi of Pepsi, astronaut Sunita Williams, who have in various ways given their time and energy to billion people would embrace an honest, intelligent and Jhumpa Lahari, Zubin Mehta, Mira Nair and especially always be there for young, aspiring journalists, especially lucid newspaper and Web site. When I launched Mint in Fareed Zakaria — and feeling like surely they must have Indians abroad. February 2007, it was the fifth national business newspa- made a mistake in their selection. This award also underscores for me personally something per. While some of what Mint is today remains based on my But when they insisted there was no mistake, then the that I hope all of us and the next generation of Indians ideas, a year after I left India to come back home to the US, second reaction — equally panicky — was to feel like this Mint is now India’s second-largest English language busi- must truly be the signal that my career and life is all going ness newspaper in terms of readership and, by many inde- to be downhill after tonight’s honor. For, when you are 43 pendent measures, one of India’s top media brands, known and in the business that I am in when everybody seems to Raju Narisetti for its quality. All this happened with a near 100 percent seriously believe newspapers are dying, you feel like after team of Indian journalists — most recruited from within Managing Editor, The Washington Post 20 years at it, you are barely keeping your head above India by me — who have once and for all put to rest the water, let alone doing work that is award worthy! myth that you can’t start and sustain an honest, intelligent But, seriously, I am humbled to be here to receive this India Abroad Publisher’s Special and clear newspaper and Web site in India. And along the award. Award for Excellence way some of them, print editors such as India Abroad has a special place in my heart. Sukumar Ranganathan, Niranjan When I was at the Times School of Journalism Rajadhyaksha, Priya Ramani, Tamal in India, back in 1989, there was an informal Bandyopadyay, Anil Padmanabhan and understanding between the school’s head and Mitra Kalita, and online editors such as my first journalism teacher Professor Thomas Durga Raghunath, have taught me much Oommen and Mr Gopal Raju, the then publish- about what it takes to consistently practise er of India Abroad, that one of the school’s stu- what I preach in the Indian context, in print dents would end up with an internship in New and online. York. But, unfortunately for me, the year I grad- We all know that India doesn’t like to be uated from the Times School was the year India told what to do but Mint is living proof that Abroad decided it didn’t want any Times School Indians will embrace new ideas that are root- students. But after having dreamt about that ed in ethics and intelligent analysis. opportunity all year, I was determined to come Finally, I would like to dedicate this Award to the US and a year later ended up applying to to my 72-year-old father, Innaiah Narisetti, a a bunch of schools here. It took 21 years but I retired editor who has just been released on am glad India Abroad is finally willing to have bail after spending several days in jail in me with them. Thank you very much. Warangal, India. His crime: His name was About 10 years ago, when I was a reporter in associated with the publication of a Telugu New York for The Wall Street Journal, I got a book that contained the writings of Salman letter from an Indian student in Dearborn, Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen. A judge decid- Michigan. She said she was glad I was at WSJ ed without any hearing that the book offends because she was able to point to me and con- some communities and ordered the arrest vince her parents that journalism was a good and imprisonment of my father, among oth- career for her. I told her that if she loves it, she ers. absolutely must become a journalist. Sitting here tonight or at The Washington It was my first formal realization that whether Post, it is easy to forget why some of us actu- we like it or not, by virtue of where we have ally got into this profession in the first place come from — India — and where we worked — and that there will always be a high price to in my case WSJ back then — we were role mod- pay for some if they speak out or exercise els for Indians abroad. their right to freedom of speech. My father, by Fast forward to 2010 and now the e-mails his actions, reminds me of that constantly from Indian students come with impressive and I owe my convictions to him and to my clips, loads of internships, often simply asking mother, Komala Venigalla. And I wouldn’t be for jobs that they think — and know —they able to act on my convictions all these years deserve. but for the support of Kim, Leila and Zola. The credit for this shift goes in part to Sree I want to once again thank India Abroad and SAJA, the South Asian Journalists for saying — through this award — that not Association, as well as to many in this audience only what I did matters but also how I did it — my friend Nikhil Deogun, the managing edi- that mattered more. „ tor of CNBC, Madhulika Sikka of NPR, who is GUNJESH DESAI

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PARESH GANDHI

orgive me for all my mistakes because I’m the bhavai tradition. The greatest Gujarati ‘I accept this utterly overwhelmed. writer is perhaps Asait Thakar who was a great F Our wise and witty host Sree mentioned bhavai writer, and for centuries those people a syndrome called what? GFS? Gala Fatigue were known as bhavaiyas… You know, very dis- Syndrome? I’m not suffering from that at all. paragingly. So it is beautiful when people from award on behalf of Screenwriters don’t suffer from that because the popular tradition are brought into the folds they aren’t invited to these galas. So much so of something so serious and academic. It’s just that, at the moment, I’m suffering from GIS, beautiful. Beautiful. which is the Great Imposter Syndrome. Because Thank you very much, India Abroad. There all the unsung when I see so many people of such skill and sub- are people I thank every day of my life — my stance, I can’t believe that a screenwriter is senior colleagues and collaborators Vidhu Vinod being honored. Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani; my parents who are Screenwriters do not get this kind of recogni- ten thousand miles away in India; my wife and screenwriters’ tion. Today Arthur [J Pais, India Abroad Editor, my daughter who are sitting here; Otterbein Features] took me to the Strand bookshop — a College, my college that has given me a quarter very fine bookshop — and I went to the section off every year so that I can write seven to eight of film drama and could not find one biography months a year… But today, I reserve my highest of a screenwriter — not even Cesare Zavattini, thanks for India Abroad — all of you who have who wrote The Bicycle Thief. I was looking remembered a screenwriter for this honor. Abhijat Joshi specifically for that biography — Shoe Shine. I I remember a line from Hamlet where Hamlet was thinking just how incredibly lucky I am to tells someone from the nobility to treat the play- Screenwriter be standing here, facing you ladies and gentle- ers well. He says that ‘let them be used well men, and feeling humbled and thankful to India because they are the abstract and brief chroni- Abroad for bestowing this honor. cles of the time…’ India Abroad Publisher's Special Award I come from Gujarat, and just as screenwriters So thank you for honoring somebody like me. usually do not get this kind of an honor, once I accept this award on behalf of all the unsung for Excellence upon a time that was the lot of the playwrights… screenwriters. Thank you. „

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Sonny Mehta Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Alfred A Knopf India Abroad Award for Lifetime Achievement

hank you, ladies and gentlemen. It’s an honor to be here tonight, to accept this award, and to fol- Tlow in the footsteps of such distinguished past recipients. My stock in trade has always been the written rather than the spoken word, so you’ll have to forgive me for making my remarks here so brief. Let me begin by saying this evening means a great deal to me, because it gives me the opportunity to publicly and sincerely thank all the writers who have become a part of my life, both personally and profes- sionally. Many of them are highly acclaimed and widely read; some, alas, have not yet found the read- erships they so rightly deserve. But regardless of their appearance on any bestseller list or their selection for any award, these writers are a true inspiration. I would not be standing here tonight if it weren’t for the worlds they create, the magic they conjure, and the stories they tell. In title, I may be the head of a publishing house with a rich and storied past. In reality, I oversee a remarkable stable of extraordinarily gifted writers. Over the years, a tremendous amount of attention and enthusiasm has been showered on these writers, and very often it has reflected onto me as well. I’m grateful to be surrounded by such a generous group of writers, and consider myself fortunate indeed to be their publisher. But I could not have become a publisher if I had not been raised and educated in India. India gave me my love of books and my obsession with reading. When we were young, reading was our most important form of recreation. But when I see the proliferation of bookshops, book fairs and literary festivals in India today, and when I read the extraordinary work com- ing from the subcontinent every year, I am reassured that books are as important to Indians now as they ‘India gave me my were in the past, and I am confident that the future of the book is safe. So, once again, thank you for this special evening which I view as a tribute to books as much as a trib- ute to myself. love of books and my Thank you, Sree, for your kind words. And thank you, India Abroad, for this distinguished award. „ obsession with reading’

PARESH GANDHI

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M23 WINNER-SPEAK PERSON THE YEAR 2009 India Abroad March 19, 2010 ‘One can acquire foreign clothes and even foreign accents,but the nostalgia for the country of our birth never goes away’ Venkatraman Ramakrishnan Nobel Prize for Chemistry, 2009

India Abroad Person of the Year 2009

feel deeply honored to receive this award from India Abroad, especially in light of the truly distinguished Ipeople who received it in past years. My predeces- sors are well known figures who have been the subjects of admiration and indeed adulation by the Indian com- munity for years. In contrast, there is scarcely anyone in this room who had heard of me before October 7 of last year. So I am grateful, not least because it is a reflection of one of the strengths of the Indian community — a respect for science and scholarship even if these careers do not lead to great riches, power or public influence. I came to America in 1971 at the age of 19, only a year after India Abroad was started. Strict geographical quotas on immigration were only lifted in the mid- 1960s, so when I arrived, there were few Indians in the United States. Those who were here were mainly grad- uate students or professional people. My first five years were spent in Ohio University, in the small town of Athens, Ohio. We Indians in Athens would band together periodically to try and recreate a little of the homeland we all missed in different ways. India Abroad provided us a much-needed connection with the land we had left behind. There was little real news about the Indian-American community in those days because there wasn’t much of one. Rather, India Abroad kept us informed about events back home, in India. To be hon- est, we had other ulterior motives for reading India Abroad. Before the Internet, it was the only source of information we all longed for: Where to get cheap tick- ets to India; where to buy Indian groceries; or get Indian clothes or movies; and for some of us perhaps the most important thing of all — where to find a suit- able spouse. How different it is now, when complex issues that affect the Indian-American community or relations between India and the West are discussed and debated in every issue. Over the years, I have to confess that I gradually stopped thinking of India as home. The long distance to India, coupled with the move of my parents and sister here meant I only visited India three times in the 28 years I lived in the USA. I realized my life and career lay here. I married Vera when I was still in graduate school,

Page M24 PARESH GANDHI Brought to you by:

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Page M23 and helped her raise our chil- dren Tanya and Raman. I Nobel Laureate Dr became an American citizen Venkatraman and became fully integrated Ramakrishnan, left, receives the India into American life. Given my Abroad Person of the particular circumstances at Year 2009 Award from work and home, I was no Vanita Gupta, soon to longer a part of the Indian- be deputy legal director American community, at the American Civil although I would occasionally Liberties Union, and go to music concerts or festi- Ambassador Prabhu vals. Dayal, India’s popular But as anyone who has heard consul general in New York the opening song in Raj Kapoor’s famous Shree 420 knows, one can acquire foreign clothes and even foreign accents, but the nostalgia for the country of our birth never goes away. That nostalgia must have had some effect. My step- daughter Tanya accepted me as her parent cheerfully even PARESH GANDHI though I was suddenly thrust into her life when she was only about 4 with my Indian roots. Since then, I have remarks. So when I went to India in years. The best thing my parents did for me years old. It says something of her accept- been to India almost every year. And what December, it was with some trepidation was simply to expect me to do my best. It is ance of me that over the years, she not only a pleasure that has been! The sheer vitality about what my reception would be. As it a pity that my mother, who encouraged me developed a fondness for India but did two and buzz of India is a joy to see. To see such turned out, I need not have worried. The to go into basic science, died two years ago. clinical internships there when she was a optimism amidst such dire poverty is warmth and affection I received from My sister Lalita tolerated me when we were medical student, and has now married a heartening. Even more heartening is the everyone I met was overwhelming and growing up and it is a miracle that she is British man with the typically British last fearless way in which advocates for the made me feel not merely accepted but still speaking to me and has actually joined name of Patel. My son Raman has gone to poor and exploited speak out to try and embraced as a returning native son. I also us here tonight. Of the two of us, she is cer- India several times as a professional musi- change policies, which is only possible in a understood first hand how I had inadver- tainly the more creative and original in her cian, as has his wife Melissa. So I like to country committed to democracy. I was tently become a source of pride and hope to science. think that while they are quintessentially also struck by how bright Indian students many in India simply by the fact that I had Finally, Vera, my wife and companion of American, what this actually means is that were second to none — the questions I got grown up and been educated there and 35 years, not only raised our family with lit- they represent echoes of other worlds, and after my talks were as hard and as percep- then gone on to do well internationally in tle help from me while she pursued her that I can take some credit for the fact that tive as any I have had at top universities in my field. The other recipients of this award own career as a children’s book writer and a little bit of India will be part of them. the US. have probably known the power of symbol- illustrator, but also followed me around the My connection with India changed dra- Some of you may be aware that shortly ism for a long time, but we scientists are US before finally moving to England with matically after I moved to England in 1999. after I was thrust into the public eye, a used to working quietly and in private in an me, all without complaining. Suddenly, India was no longer on the other simple plea from me to be left alone to endeavor that knows no national bound- I am grateful to her and my family for side of the world. It was even on the way to carry out my work and my pointing out aries. In our own rational way, we are often having encouraged me to follow my dreams other places. In 2002, when I was invited that it was a mistake to be too nationalistic deeply uncomfortable about thinking of even as they followed theirs, and to all the to give a talk in India, it was my first visit in about science resulted in vitriolic com- ourselves as symbols or sources of inspira- friends over the years who made the jour- almost 13 years, and my first chance to ments from some members of the Indian tion. ney worthwhile. meet and talk with Indian scientists. That public, including politicians, bloggers and I want to close by saying a few words of I again want to thank India Abroad for visit was the beginning of my reconnection others who felt offended by my frank thanks to those who have suffered me for this wonderful honor. „

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A STAR ALLIANCE MEMBER A24 New chapter to be written in US-India trade relations BUSINESS global issues “of mutual interest” would also figure in these talks India Abroad between Rao and her diplomatic March 19, 2010 counterpart Bill Burns. Also on the agenda for Rao was addressing the Director’s Forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center on the topic of ‘Two Democracies: Defining the Essence of Our Partnership.’ On Sharma’s agenda AZIZ HANIFFA Sharma, who was to meet with US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Minister of Commerce and Industry and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Anand Sharma, were in Washington, DC to Vilsack, was to sign with Kirk the co-chair bilateral trade forums to push India-US Trade Policy Framework for significant expansion of trade and for Cooperation on Trade and commerce between the United States Investment March 17. and India. The FCTI seeks to build on the While Rao was to meet senior Obama success of the Trade Policy Forum Administration officials and influential US between the two countries by lawmakers to discuss global and regional facilitating trade and investments issues, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and flows between Washington and Iran, Sharma was expected to be egged on New Delhi. by Washington to get India to carry the The India-US TPF was established B MATHUR/REUTERS CHRISTIAN HARTMANN/REUTERS developing countries to break an impasse Nirupama Rao Anand Sharma after Indian Prime Minister Dr in the World Trade organization’s Doha Manmohan Singh’s visit to the US in Development Round. nology areas.” two governments can facilitate trade in July 2005. The sixth meeting of the forum On Rao’s agenda The HTCG was constituted in 2002 to specific industry sectors. Their suggestions was held in New Delhi last October. On day one of her two-day visit, the for- provide a forum for discussing Indo- will provide substantive input for the bilat- The India-US Private Sector Advisory eign secretary was to co-chair the seventh American high-technology trade issues and eral government meetings that will occur Group — comprising prominent trade per- meeting — and the first after the advent of building the confidence necessary to facili- the following day.” sonalities from both countries — was also the Obama administration — of the India- tate trade in sensitive items. The US-India He said Rao would also pave the road for slated to meet March 17. The PSAG was US High Technology Cooperation Group Business Council was to host the industry the next round of Strategic Dialogue, which established in September 2007 to provide with Dennis F Hightower, deputy secretary dialogue in partnership with the is co-chaired by Secretary of State Hillary strategic recommendations and insights to of commerce. Confederation of Indian Industry and the Clinton and Indian External Affairs the TPF. Indian Embassy spokesman Rahul Federation of Indian Chambers of Minister S M Krishna, later this year, and Sharma was also slated to deliver an Chhabra said, “Both sides hope to consoli- Commerce and Industry. review the progress made on the revised address at The Brookings Institution on the date the progress made in the last five years Chhabra said, “During this meeting, US dialogue architecture established last year growing influence of emerging markets and move ahead to significantly expand and industry representatives will have an during Clinton’s visit to India. and India’s revitalized role in the world, bilateral trade in strategic and high-tech- opportunity to discuss ways in which the Chhabra acknowledged that regional and and another at the USIBC.

Citigroup, Pelosi elated over Young Global Leader Shamina Singh

AZIZ HANIFFA Kudos for Singh The World Economic Forum last week named former Clinton administration Singh’s employer Citigroup was elat- official, erstwhile Congressional staffer and longtime Democratic Party activist ed at the news. Vikram Pandit, CEO of Shamina Singh as one of its Young Global Leaders for 2010. Citigroup, said, ‘We are exceptionally Singh, 41, currently chief operating officer of Citigroup’s global community proud that Shamina has been honored relations, was among 197 YGLs selected from 72 countries and various sectors, for her leadership skills, professional ranging from business, civil society, social entrepreneurs, politics and govern- accomplishments and commitment to ment, arts and culture, academia and media. The annual honor recognizes and service. Like the WEF, we know that acknowledges up to 200 outstanding young leaders from around the world for global challenges require global solu- their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to tions and Shamina represents the best contribute to shaping the future of the world. ideals of the Young Global Leaders. I Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the YGLs 2010 were chosen by am confident that she will be a credit to a selection committee chaired by Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Citi and to the United States as a mem- Kingdom of Jordan and comprising eminent international media leaders. ber of the 2010 YGL class.’ Also on the list House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for Among the other Indians/Indian Americans who made the list were actress whom Singh served as a senior adviser and filmmaker Nandita Das; India’s youngest minister Agatha Sangma; Sangita in the late 1990s on issues such as the Singh, senior vice president and head of enterprise application services at Wipro budget, social security, health and Technologies; Anand Chandrasekeran, director, products at Openwave Systems employment, said, ‘Shamina is an out- Inc and Sanjay Gupta, senior vice president and advisor to the executive chair- standing leader who brought a wealth man at Abraxis BioScience. of experience and knowledge to my The list also included President Obama’s speechwriter Jon Favreau, Arizona office. She was a trusted and valuable representative Gabby Giffords, District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor advisor. I congratulate her on being Michelle Ree, Twitter co-founder and CEO Evan Williams and tennis superstar named to the WEF’s Young Global Roger Federer, Leaders Class of 2010.’

Shamina Singh Page A29 Thank You!

The Honored Awardees Gita Mehta Vera Rosenberry, Special Thanks Writer Raman Ramakrishnan Venkatraman Ramakrishnan Dr Ramakrishnan’s family Fareed Zakaria India Abroad Person of Upendra Chivukula India Abroad Person the Year New Jersey Assemblyman Saroj Menon, Jyoti Menon, of the Year 2008 Santosh Sekar Sonny Mehta Preet Bharara Mr Sreedhar Menon’s Paul Steiger Our thanks India Abroad Award for US Attorney for the Southern family Editor-in-Chief, president Lifetime Achievement District of and chief executive, to the New York Professor James Millward, ProPublica Madhulika Sikka Meera Sikka, Sujatha Vermani following for Raju Narisetti Suketu Mehta Madhulika Sikka’s family Kazuo Ishiguro Abhijat Joshi Writer Novelist making India Abroad Publisher’s Shuba, Anushka Joshi Award for Excellence Salman Ahmed Abhijat Joshi’s family Michael Ondaatje the India Abroad Musician Novelist Sreedhar Menon Sandhya, Mirle, Vanya Person of the Year India Abroad Award for Jai Singh Shivashankar Marcus Brachuli Lifetime Service to the Editor, The Huffington Post Kavya’s family Executive Editor, 2009 Community The Washington Post event a Nik Deogun Aditya Jha Sudha Acharya Managing Editor, CNBC Deepak Ruparell Renee Montagne, spectacular South Asian Council for Ramesh Chotai Steve Inskeep Community Services Jay Goyal Our guests from Canada NPR Morning Edition success India Abroad Gopal Raju Ohio Representative Award for Community Service Rajkumar Hirani Vanita Gupta Our Incredible Sponsors Director, 3 Idiots Priyamvada Natarajan India Abroad Publisher’s India Abroad Face of the Award for Excellence 2004 Jamie Haenggi, Sant Chatwal Future Award Leesa Eichberger, Hotelier Swadesh Chatterjee Carolyn Klein & Kavya Shivashankar India Abroad Award for Balachandran Venkatraman Stephanie Mehta India Abroad Youth Achievers Community Service 2006 Vonage Global Editor, Fortune Award Dr Navin Shah Cynthia Park, Liping Chow, Dr Lalita Ramakrishnan India Abroad Award for Yenting Chen, Michael Liu Scientist Grateful Thanks Community Service 2007 & Aravind Rajagopalan K&L Advertising Dr Tanya Kapka President Bill Clinton Manjul Bhargava Physician India Abroad Face of the Sam Bhatia/Alan Richards Future Award 2008 Continental Airlines Sukumar Ranganathan The Master of Ceremonies Editor, Mint Dino Teppara, Toby Chaudhri Neal Simon, Vito Barbiera Sreenath Sreenivasan India Abroad Gopal Raju & Par Prem Kumar S Mitra Kalita Professor and Dean of Award for Community Service American University of The Wall Street Journal Student Affairs, Journalism 2008 Antigua School, Columbia University Trey Moynihan Ambassador Vijay Dandapani Melissa Vasquez Placido D’Souza Apple Core Hotels The National Museum Guests of Honor Former diplomat of the American Indian H R Shah Ambassador Prabhu Dayal Ambassador T V Asia Jessica del Pilar India’s Consul General in T P Sreenivasan Executive Assistant New York Former diplomat, Adris Chakraborty to Dr Zakaria columnist Shafquat Chaudhry Ambassador Sudhir Vaishnav Ann Christopher Manjeev Singh Puri Ambassador Globosat Entertainment NPR India’s Deputy Permanent Ramu Damodaran (Sahara One & Filmi) Representative to the United Deputy Director, Sharaf Mowjood Nations The United Nations Rajeev Krishna Columbia School of Signs by Tomorrow Journalism Professor Padma Desai Dr Dattatreyudu Nori India Abroad Award for Oncologist Jonathan Cruz Lifetime Achievement, 2007 The Caterers for the Event Concept Inc Megan Mylan Madhur Jaffrey Oscar winner, Darshan Shah Actor Smile Pinki Ada Catering

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PERSON THE YEAR 2009 A26 BUSINESS India Abroad March 19, 2010

A: The benefits of Overseas Citizenship of India are: Multi-purpose, multiple-entry, lifelong visa for visiting In the Wonderland of Investments India whereas for a PIO cardholder, it is for 15 years. PIO cardholders are required to register with local police Q: I am a US citizen now, bought a residential property as authority for stay exceeding 180 days in India on any sin- a Green card holder in 1985 after getting Reserve Bank of gle visit, whereas an OCI can stay in India for any length of India clearance. Since then, we have demolished it and time. built flats, sold three and retained one. We had invested the Parity with NRIs in respect to all facilities in economic, profit in NABARD Bonds for three years and they have financial and educational fields, except in matters relating been redeemed. The amount is in the bank, now we would to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. like to bring that money to the US. This implies that an NRI does not have the right to pur- 1. I want to know if I can bring the entire sale proceeds. chase an agricultural land, but an OCI card holder has the The RBI website says I can repatriate only the cost of the right. I feel that this is an aberration. How can a person property. with foreign nationality have better rights than an Indian 2. To repatriate do I need only Form A2 and my accoun- citizen? tant’s letter. A N SANDEEP No separate documentation required for admission in 3. Do I need a no objection letter from the Income Tax colleges and institutions or for employment. department too? SHANBHAG SHANBHAG Facilities as available to children of NRIs for obtaining 4. Who are the authorized banks to do this transfer in admission to educational institutions in India, including Chennai? ant concerned. The other one has to be filled online and medical colleges, engineering colleges, institutes of tech- — S Lakshman then printed out with the system generated acknowledge- nology, institutes of management etc., under the general A: Without the details regarding when the flats were built ment number. Submission of both these documents is all category. and sold, we can only assume that the long-term capital that is needed to effect the remittance. gains from the sale were invested in NABARD bonds to Q: I am interested in NRI investments in India and also in save the long-term capital gains tax. In such a case, you can fixed deposits. However, I am worried about the repatria- indeed remit the sale value of the property — in this case tion laws of RBI that may change any time and compel me to Readers who wish to ask A N Shanbhag a question can this would comprise the cost of the property as well as the keep the money in India with no option of repatriation. fill in the following details and mail the coupon to: The maturity value of the bonds. Can you please address this concern and provide a Business Editor, India Abroad, 42, Broadway, 18th Floor, The procedure for the remittance process has been mod- response on the options and possibility of RBI regulation New York, NY 10004 ified from 1st July 2009 as follows. First, you would need to changes, etc.? Or fax it to 212-727 9730 provide the bank with a certificate from an Indian — Kedar Chartered Accountant. This certificate is to be provided in A: We appreciate your concern. However, note that over Your question: prescribed Form 15CB. You would also need to fill out Form the past years, the regulations related with remittance and 15CA. This form, also known as the ‘undertaking’, requires repatriation for NRIs have actually been liberalized steadi- the remitter to furnish certain specified details regarding ly. In fact, now a million dollars may be remitted from one’s the proposed remittance. The information to be furnished NRO account per year. Even for residents, the limits have in Form 15CA is to be filled using the information con- been steadily enhanced. Now, residents may invest / send tained in Form 15CB (certificate). Form 15CA has to be as gifts abroad up to $200,000 per annum. This limit was Name: then uploaded on www.tin-nsdl.com. The remitter will $25,000 some years ago. then take a print out of this filled up Form 15CA, which will India’s foreign exchange reserves are quite high and the Address: bear an acknowledgement number generated by the sys- country continues to attract more foreign investment, both tem, and sign it. portfolio as well as FDI. Therefore, there is no possibility The duly signed Form 15CA (undertaking) and Form whatsoever of the government compelling any investor to 15CB (certificate) have to be submitted to the bank, which keep the money locked in the country without any option will forward a copy of the certificate and undertaking to the for repatriation. A N Shanbhag is an investment consultant and author of In the Assessing Officer concerned. Q: India Government has announced dual citizenship for Wonderland of Investment; How to Convert a Taxpayer into a Once this is done, the funds may be remitted abroad. US citizens of Indian origin for Rs 12,500. I am US citizen Taxsaver; NRI Investment Guide. This article does not constitute Please note that though the procedure seems complicated now (born in India). What will be advantages and disadvan- tax or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisor before making at first glance, it basically amounts to filling out of two tages if I take this dual citizenship? any tax- or legally-related investment decisions. The authors may be contacted at [email protected] forms, one of which will be done by the chartered account- — Debu

Bombay bourse ing the recovery, the company said. the week Currently, the company’s revenue distribu- that was among world’s top 10 tion is 60 percent from North America, The Bombay Stock Exchange has 25 percent from Europe. emerged as one of the top 10 bourses glob- Cisco committed the country to 10,000 by 2010, from ally in terms of valuation of shares traded, Ramalinga Raju moves to Indian market over 3,000 employees then. with its market valuation nearly doubling to $1.31 trillion last year. The oldest Asian supreme court for bail Network-equipment maker Cisco Delhi is the best bourse saw its market capitalization surge Systems said last week it remains commit- city to live in India 93.3 percent in 2009, says a World Satyam Computers’ founder B ted to the Indian market and its plans to Federation of Exchanges report. The WFE Ramalinga Raju, the prime accused in a increase headcount to 10,000 is on track. New Delhi is the best Indian city to live is an association of 52 publicly-regulated multi-million scam, has moved the Indian ’With all the appropriate caveats, the glob- in, while steel city Jamshedpur ranks the stocks, futures and options exchanges. In supreme court for bail. Appealing against al econnomy is turning. We are deeply lowest in the Liveability Index 2010 pre- dollar terms, the BSE valuation skyrocket- an Andhra Pradesh high court order that committed (to India). We are completing pared jointly by Confederation of Indian ed nearly 102 percent in 2009. rejected his bail application, Raju claimed construction on two additional areas, Industry and the Institute for he was suffering from serious health prob- which can house as many as 3,000 more,’ Competitiveness. Mumbai comes second lems and was willing to accept any condi- Cisco Chief Executive Officer John in the list of 37 cities, mapped based on Global outsourcing tion the apex court laid down. In his appli- Chambers said at India Today conclave. parameters like living standards, socio- deals rising: Infosys cation, Raju said the investigation in the The total number of employees in India cultural environment, education, medical Satyam case had been completed, hence, is projected to rise to 10,000 from about standards and recreational possibilities. Infosys Technologies has seen a rise in there was no further need for his judicial 6,000 currently, he added. However, Delhi tops in education, safety and eco- outsourcing deals as all major markets are custody. He claimed his ill-health prevent- Chambers did not divulge the timeframe. nomic environment; is second in housing back on the recovery track. The company ed him from going through the volumi- In 2007, the company had announced that options, socio-cultural political environ- is planning to diversify its business world- nous charge sheet to prepare his defense. it would increase its headcount in ment; but lags in medical standards. wide. The United States and emerging markets such as India and China are lead- Page A29 India Abroad March 19, 2010 BUSINESS SPECIAL A27

Coimbatore — next to Tirupur, it was only natural that the city should evolve as the country’s garment manufacturing power- house. Initially, knitwear from Tirupur went to suppliers and exporters in Kolkata and Mumbai. But in the late 1970s, Italian garment importer Verona went directly to Tirupur to buy white T-shirts, and that was the beginning of the new Tirupur. In 1981, European retail chain C&A also came to the city. And in no time, other international stores followed. By 1985, the export turnover had reached Rs 150 million ($3.3 million). Over the next five years, it doubled up to Rs 3 billion ($66.1 million). Today, almost 80 percent of India’s cotton knitwear exports happen from Tirupur. There are 6,250 units involved in various textile industry opera- tions here. The exports stand at a whop- ping Rs 110 billion ($2.4 billion). Those who made Tirupur the export hub It is said that the very air in Tirupur turns everyone into, first, a garment manufactur- er and then an exporter. Take for example, Rajan of Rajsujee International, who was once a banker. The success of many exporters that he dealt with as a banker made him set up his own unit in 1995 with only Rs 200,000 Tirupur is home to 6,250 units involved in various operations of the textile industry ($4,000) by way of capital and 20 employ- ees. In the first year, his turnover was Rs 650,000 ($14,000). Today it is Rs 200 million ($4.4 million) and 450 people work for him. His is not an isolated case. S Dhandapani of Sreenidhi Apparels Pvt A miracle called Tirupur Ltd decided to start the company in 1991 because he saw “everyone” getting into garments exports. He started operations with Rs 400,000 ($9,000), 15 employees Shobha Warrier visits the small Tamil Nadu town that is the world's and 10 machines. He was first a garment garment supplier. Photographs Sreeram Selvaraj supplier to an exporter and then began exporting directly to Canada, France, Spain and the United States. Today, his turnover rom the unruly traffic, the noise, the is Rs 200 million ($4.4 million) and 300 pollution and the dusty, dug-up roads employees work for him. F of Tirupur you would never be able to Raja Shanmugam, another Tirupur guess that it is one of the largest foreign native, started Warsaw International in exchange earners for India. Or that the 1989 with a capital of Rs 500,000 biggest global brands get their garments ($11,000) and 20 people. In the first year, made in this small city. he did not go for direct exports. And the Tirupur (occasionally spelled Tiruppur) is turnover was Rs 2 million ($44,000). The a small dot on the map, a city of around next year, he doubled his turnover. In 600,000 people in Tamil Nadu. But with 1993, he decided to venture into the an annual growth of 30 percent since European market directly and his turnover 1998, it is a big deal in the international grew to Rs 20 million ($440,000). Today, business map. Warsaw International has a turnover of This city exports knitwear worth Rs 110 Rs 600 million ($13.2 million) and billion (about $2.4 billion) a year. The first employs 1,500 people. stop for any international buyer of Indian According to Shanmugam, there is no garments is Tirupur. Buyers from 35 coun- way a manufacturer cannot turn in a profit. tries frequently visit the city. It can deliver “This is the only industry that has a 60-to- customized samples in less than 12 hours; 90-day cycle. So, we can turn our invest- half a million pieces in a matter of days. ment over four to six times a year.” Yet, Tirupur has no airport — the nearest Haresh N Badani of Paras Apparels one is in Coimbatore (31 miles away) and entered the fray as early as 1989. He start- the nearest port is in Chennai. There is a ed his company with Rs 200,000 ($4,500), nondescript railway station and trains that six sewing machines and 20 workers. The go to Coimbatore stop at Tirupur for less market was so good that he had a turnover than 10 minutes. There is an inland rail of Rs 3 million ($66,000) in the first year. container depot at Tirupur. Over the next 10 years, he grew at a rate of How it all began 70 percent annually, and by 2008, his Tirupur’s amazing growth started in the turnover had touched Rs 85 million late 1970s. Before that, it was the manufac- ($1.8 million). turing hub of knit inner-wear thanks to the Another success story is that of Vijaya Noyyal river and the cotton belt all around Apart from rising costs, the biggest challenge Tirupur faces today is labor shortage. Handwritten notices, the city. With the Manchester of India — advertising vacancies are posted almost everywhere, including on tree trunks Page A28 A28 BUSINESS SPECIAL India Abroad March 19, 2010

about 10 people to make one garment. “Now we have a 20 percent labor short- A miracle age. It will go up to 30 to 40 percent once the recession is over,” said Dhandapani. Bangladesh, the competitor called Tirupur The next formidable challenge facing Tirupur is Bangladesh, which is snatching away most of the bulk orders from the US. Page A27 Almost 60 percent of the world’s cotton garment market has been taken over by Kumar, who started CBC Fashions in 2004 Bangladesh as their products are 30 per- with Rs 10 million, 50 machines and 60 cent cheaper and qualitatively, they are as employees as an exporting unit though his good as what India produces. father’s parent company had been manu- The underdeveloped tag gives facturing and supplying inner-wear to Bangladesh the additional advantage of the some of the major brands in India for 34 waiver of import duty in Europe. years. His first customer was an importer Ivan Raffaini, sales manager of from Belgium, and in the first year, his MCS Group of Italy, has been doing turnover was around Rs 40 million business with Tirupur for the last 10 years. ($220,000). Today, CBC Fashions deals His job is to supply dyeing and finishing directly with retailers in seven countries in Inside Tirupur’s textile units. The industry experienced an annual growth of 30 per cent since 1998 till the machines. He also does business with Europe and also in the US. The current recession hit in 2008 Bangladesh. “Bangladesh uses more tech- sales are nologically-advanced machines. So, they Rs 400 million ($8.8 million). Almost 600 produce more garments faster. They have people work for the company. the desire to get new machines unlike many Since there are many manufacturers in in India,” he said. Tirupur, there also are many trading agents Sensing the importance of Bangladesh, who act as intermediaries between the Vishal Kumar of International Trading Inc importers and the manufacturers. Vishal has opened an office there. “Labor is cheap. Kumar of International Trading Inc has Energy is cheap. All the machines are run seen only growth ever since he came from by gas. They have advanced technology Delhi to Tirupur to start his trading office because the government concentrates on 14 years ago. textiles exports.” Soon after college, he decided to shift Unless Indian companies add more value base to Tirupur because “it was the place to their products, it will be tough for them where the last word in textiles was.” to survive, he said. “Textile exports being The US market and the recession the major industry in the Bangladesh, the If Tirupur was growing at 30 percent government there has given all the facilities every year, the exporters too were growing to exporters by upgrading all the machines at an annual rate of 20 to 25 percent. Then and setting up huge establishments. We the global economic meltdown hit. Exports don’t get focused attention from the gov- earnings to the tune of Rs 110 billion ($2.4 ernment, as textiles exports are only one of billion) in 2007 dropped to Rs 95 billion that exported only to the US as compared fer to shop in discount stores. the many businesses in India.” ($2 billion) the next year. to those who had European customers. Another exporter who saw his turnover India faces tough competition from Almost 40 percent of Tirupur’s exports Shaktivel, president, Tirupur Exporters increase by as much as 50 percent was Vietnam and Cambodia too. are to the US, 30 percent to Europe and the Association, said, “There were Badani of Paras Apparels. “Because my gar- Cost of cotton rest to other parts of the world. huge job losses and there were few ments were as cheap as $2 to $3 apiece, Although India is the world’s second With exports dropping, many a textile enquiries from the US. But now, things are they were in real demand. Recession was a largest producer of cotton, the country has unit in Tirupur started to gasp for survival. getting better.” good time for me.” less than 3 percent share in the textile Thousands of people lost their jobs and But one man’s poison is another man’s Though things are now improving, market internationally. In comparison, returned to their native places. Those who meat. So it was with economic slowdown as there is another worry that’s eating up Bangladesh, which is dependent on India decided to remain had to work on sharply- well. For example, people like Rajan of Tirupur’s entrepreneurs. Raju Shanmug- for cotton, has 6 percent market share. reduced salaries, and production was down Rajsujee International. Since he was am’s explained, “Business has slowly start- China enjoys 26 to 28 percent of the in many units by almost half. exporting mainly to a discount store in the ed to pick up. But the exporters are now world market. There is unanimity in the opinion that United Kingdom, his turnover actually worried about the strengthening of the The problem, those in the business say, is units that suffered the most were the ones went up, as during a recession, people pre- rupee and the weakening of the Euro and that the Indian government exports most the dollar.” of the cotton that is produced in the coun- Tirupur is getting costly try, making the product dearer within The exporters are also worried about the country. the skyrocketing cost of production. The Tirupur’s future hike in yarn, electricity, dye and labor costs So, is the future of Tirupur bleak? Yes, has made garments from Tirupur costlier. according to some exporters like While the cost of making a garment in Vijayakumar. “Tirupur will be wiped out if India has doubled, the US importer offers the cost in producing garments increases the same price that he had offered three like this,” he said. years ago! Even the buyers in Europe who According to Badani, “Tirupur grew were not bothered about prices till recently because of the hard-working and skilled and looked only for quality and fashion labor force and if the labor shortage contin- want only cheap goods now. ues, I see the importance of Tirupur wan- Labor shortage ing.” Dhandapani and S Sreethar echoed Apart from the rising costs, the biggest this view. challenge Tirupur faces today is labor But Tirupur Exporters Association chief shortage. On lamp posts, tree trunks, gates, Shaktivel saw no challenge to Tirupur’s walls, almost everywhere, one can see supremacy. He expects exports of around handwritten posters asking for people to Rs 100 ($2.2 billion) to 200 billion ($4.4 work in garment factories. billion) this year too, despite the competi- The textile sector is the second largest tion from China and Bangladesh, the employer in India after agriculture. The dearth of workers and the escalating costs Rajan of Rajsujee International is one of Tirupur’s many success stories industry is so labor-intensive that it takes of making garments. India Abroad March 19, 2010 BUSINESS SPECIAL A29 Rakesh Mohan appointed Yale University professor

AZIZ HANIFFA MA and PhD, also in economics and of innumerable articles. IN WASHINGTON, DC from Princeton University. He Mohan served as deputy governor of also holds a BS in electrical the RBI between September 2002 and Rakesh Mohan, till recently the deputy governor of the engineering from Imperial October 2004, and again from June Reserve Bank of India, has been appointed as professor in College of Science and 2005 to July 2009. In the interim, the practice of international economics and finance in the Technology, University of he served as secretary of the Yale School of Management, and as senior fellow in the London. He has been a member Department of Economic Affairs in the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at the university. of the Yale President’s Council Ministry of Finance. As deputy gover- Mohan joins a high profile faculty that includes former on International Activities nor, he had sole charge of monetary pol- British prime minister Tony Blair, Mexican ex-president since 2005. icy, financial markets, economic Ernesto Zedillo, Ambassador John Negroponte, former He is currently the non-exec- research and statistics. United States deputy secretary of state, and Nobel laureate utive vice chairman of the In earlier avatars, he has been direc- Rajendra Pachauri, chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Indian Institute of Human tor-general of the National Council of Climate Change, and other notable world leaders. Settlements, and global adviser Applied Economic Research, director “Rakesh Mohan has been among India’s most distin- to the McKinsey Global and chief executive of the Indian guished economists,” Yale University president Richard C Institute. Last month, Prime Council for Research and International Levin said, “and admirably served the Reserve Bank of Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Economic Relations, and vice chairman, India and the central banking community during a period appointed him as chairman of Infrastructure Development Finance of unprecedented growth and challenges. I am pleased that the multi-ministry National Company. He also held the position of Professor Mohan will bring his experience and knowledge Transport Development Policy adviser to the finance minister and chief to his teaching at Yale in training the next generation of Committee to recommend economic adviser between January 2001 economists and international leaders,” he said. transportation policy for India. and May 2002. Mohan, whose teaching stint will kick off July 10, said, “I Mohan has researched exten- The mission of the Yale School of am honored to return to Yale — this time on its faculty — sively and is an expert in eco- Management is to educate leaders for because it was at Yale 40 years ago as an undergraduate nomic reforms and liberaliza- business and society. It was founded in that I began my studies in economics.” tion, industrial economics, Rakesh Mohan 1974, and is the youngest of the He spoke of how he has “long admired the caliber and the urban economics, infrastruc- University’s professional schools. talent of Yale’s students and faculty, and I am very much ture studies, economic regulation, monetary policy and the The Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, established in looking forward to again being part of this extraordinary financial sector. He is the author of three books on urban April 2009, administers Yale’s international relations mas- scholarly community.” economics and urban development and co-author of one ter’s program and international studies undergraduate Mohan received his BA in economics from Yale and his and editor of another on Indian economic policy reforms, major. Citigroup, Pelosi elated over Young the week that was

Global Leader Shamina Singh Page A26

Page A24 Singh’s journey so far India has least corporate women employees Singh joined Citigroup in 2004 after spending 15 India has the lowest percentage of women employees (23%), followed by years in public service, and among her previous posi- Singh said, “I am incredibly honored Japan (24%), Turkey (26%) and Austria (29%), according to the World tions, she served in the Clinton Administration as the to be selected by the WEF to join this Economic Forum’s Corporate Gender Gap report. The United States (52%), first executive director of White House Initiative of dynamic group of young leaders. As Spain (48%), Canada (46%) and Finland (44%) have the highest percentage Asian American and Pacific Islanders from 1999 to an American born to Indian immi- of total women employees. The services sector employs the greatest percent- 2000. She also served on Capitol Hill as a senior advi- grants, I believe boundaries and bor- age of women employees. Within this sector, the financial services and insur- sor to Pelosi. ders should never get in the way of ance (60%), professional services (56%) and media and entertainment (42%) Singh also worked on the campaigns of former Texas innovation and collaboration. We sim- industries employ the greatest percentage of women. The sectors that display Governor Ann Richards, former Dallas Mayor and ply can’t afford it.” the lowest percentage of women in the 20 economies are automotive (18%), Texas Secretary of State and now US Trade She added, “I look forward to mining (18%) and agriculture (21%). Representative Ron Kirk, when he ran unsuccessfully working with my new colleagues to for the US Senate in 2002. She has even worked for the tackle the challenges we face as Service Employees International Union, one of the global citizens.” LyondellBasell rejects Reliance takeover offer largest and most powerful labor unions in the country. Klaus Schwab, founder and executive Petrochemicals major LyondellBasell rejected a multi-billion dollar She is a Henry Crown Fellow with the Aspen Institute, chairman of WEF, said, “The WEF is a takeover offer from Reliance Industries, preferring its own restructuring plan serves on the board of the Planned Parenthood multi-stakeholder community of global to exit bankruptcy. LyondellBasell filed an amended disclosure statement and Federation of America and was recently appointed to decision-makers in which the YGL rep- reorganization plan with the US bankruptcy court. Reliance had reportedly President Obama’s Military Diversity Commission. resent the voice of the future. The made a $12 billion bid to acquire controlling stake and later raised it to over At Citigroup, Singh is responsible for overseeing ini- diversity of the YGL community and $14 billion. In November, the two companies had disclosed that they were tiatives that enable Citi to positively impact communi- its commitment to shaping a better negotiating, but never officially disclosed the financial details. About RIL’s ties around the world. Issue areas covered by her port- future through action-oriented initia- bid, the spokesperson said LyondellBasell’s management board and the inde- folio have included foreclosure prevention, poverty alle- tives of public interest is even more pendent directors of the supervisory board carefully evaluated the proposal. viation, economic development and communications important at a time when the world is capacity-building within the non-profit sector. in need of new energy to solve She is an alumnus of Old Dominion University in intractable challenges.” Indian workforce is the most mobile Norfolk, Virginia, and the University of Texas, from The 2010 honorees will become part The Indian workforce is the most mobile in the world followed by Mexico, where she received a master’s degree in public affairs. of the broader Forum of Young Global China and Turkey. India’s mobility index is 140, the highest in the world, Singh’s father Jagdish Singh, who is retired, was a Leaders community that currently showing that Indians are most open about shifting their jobs, the Ma Foi professor at Tidewater Community College in comprises 660 individuals. The YGLs Ranstad Work Monitor said. The lowest mobility rates were accounted by Portsmouth, and her mother Amarjit Singh, is a long- will convene at the annual summit in Luxembourg, Italy and Hungary. Employees in Bangalore were the most time community and political activist in Democratic May in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This mobile in India. Some of the key insights of the survey were mobility index, Party circles in Virginia. will be the first ever parley in Africa factual job changes, trust in market conditions, fear of job loss, readiness to and the largest ever gathering of YGLs. take up new jobs, satisfaction level and personal motivation. A30 India Abroad March 19, 2010 IMMIGRATION LAW Law Offices of Allen E. Kaye, P.C. Future flow key to immigration reform Over 30 Years of Immigration Law experience ALLEN E KAYE just as easily packaged and resonate not only with the left and in U.S. Immigration, Naturalization, Visa, and Consular Cases The most common explanation that comes from the right for pro-migrant circles but also with the middle. • Representation before the INS nationwide and at American Consulates abroad. the current failure of the immigration system is, of course, lack of We must offer up an alternate solution that is not only humane • Founding Member of ImmLaw, The National Consortium of Immigration Law Firms. enforcement. These commentators claim the problem would be and practical, but also ‘common sense.’ The key to both fixing to our broken system, and creating a nar- • Past President, American Immigration Lawyers Association easily solved if only we spent more time, money, and effort lock- ing up or deporting unauthorized immigrants, or patrolling thou- rative by which to win support for reform, lies in formulating an 111 Broadway, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10006 sands of miles of border to keep them out. They couple this with effective and practical plan for addressing future flow, one that an argument against providing a normalization of status for 12 truly addresses both domestic labor needs and the global forces Telephone: 212.964.5858 Fax: 212.608.3734 million undocumented immigrants based the failure of the 1986 that drive migration, one that is responsive to real world situa- Website: kayevisalaw.com Email: [email protected] Immigration Reform and Control Act amnesty. tions and events with enough flexibility to be adjusted to chang- They have taken these two ideas and tied them into a nice pack- ing circumstances. age to form the foundation of their narrative in opposition to Such a plan would allow us to not only insure that our reform IMMIGRATION & VISA MATTERS immigration reform; a narrative that essentially says; ‘You can’t measures would in fact have long-lasting positive effects, but also Law Offices of Michael Phulwani, P.C. reform immigration unless the borders are totally secure... and you supply us with an alternative narrative based on sound principles, 888 MAYWOOD AVE, MAYWOOD, NJ 07607 can’t have an ‘amnesty’ because we tried that before and it only and built on the foundation of factual realities, that could counter Tel: (201) 845-0989 - Fax: (201) 845-8741 opened the floodgates to more ‘illegal’ immigration by rewarding the opposition’s enforcement-only positions. 24 hours Hotline: (201) 845-6068 lawbreakers.’ We must be able to offer up a plan to the American people that Email: [email protected] • Website: www.phulwanilaw.com This simple narrative has allowed them dominate debate and says we have a practical solution that will guarantee that our NEW YORK OFFICE INDIA OFFICE set the parameters of how comprehensive immigration reform immigration system will be responsive to our economic and social 74-09 37th Avenue, Suite 316 7 Mistry Park, Ground Floor, has been crafted in all past attempts, with a heavy reliance on needs. It will supply needed workers when economic conditions Jackson Heights, NY 11372 77 Bhulabhai Desai Rd, Mumbai 400 026, India Tel: (718) 899-1293 Tel./Fax: 2367 0059/2368 4768/2364 2963 enforcement and border security, restrictive guest worker pro- warrant, it will keep families together, it will supply ample oppor- Fax: (718) 899-1291 Email: [email protected] grams, and in return, some limited normalization of status for tunity for innovation and education to keep us competitive in a Nationwide Representation before Immigration Service & American Consulates Abroad. some of the undocumented population. global economy, and provide refuge to those most in need. Over 34 years experience in successfully handling complex immigration matters. We see its influence even in the framing used by Democrats But most of all it will be flexible and fluid, able to respond to Watch us on "Immigration and You" TV program on ITV, and when addressing the issue. Such as President Obama’s statement shifting needs and circumstances. It will not be based on the Vision of Asia. Weekly articles on immigration are published in in the State of the Union address: wants or needs of special interests or those wishing to exploit the News India, India Tribune and Gujarat Times. ‘And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immi- system, but rather on what is in the best interest of the American gration system – to secure our borders and enforce our laws, and people and those looking to make a better life. ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our We must be able to assure the American people that a function- economy and enrich our nation.’ ing and responsive immigration system will end the cycle of The problem for reformers is that, although based on faulty unregulated and uncontrolled migration. logic and misinformation, the narrative is compelling, easily It will end the inequities and injustice inherent in ‘market driv- understood, and unfortunately accepted by not only large swaths en,’ laissez-faire systems that look only to make profits at the of the American public, but by those on both sides of the aisle in expense of people. It will recognize that controlling the flow of Washington. immigration based on rational needs is far more effective than try- It doesn’t matter that border security and enforcement measures ing to control it through tough enforcement of the rules of an have grown exponentially since the mid-1990s with no resulting already dysfunctional system. decline in unauthorized entry, and that enforcement expenditures Currently, labor and big business are in the process of hashing today are at their highest level in history. Or that deportations and out a compromise on just how they would like to see future flows detentions are at record levels. Or that it was not until the recent handled (from HuffingtonPost): economic meltdown that we saw any decline in unauthorized Sonia Ramirez, legislative representative for the AFL-CIO, has migration. indicated that she and other labor leaders are trying to reach a It also doesn’t matter that the true reason for the failure of IRCA compromise with business representatives on a complicated sec- was that it made absolutely no provisions or plans on how to tion of the bill that would set guidelines to regulate the use of address ‘future flow’ – it had no systems or mechanism in place to migrant workers on either a temporary or permanent basis. Labor determine, regulate, or control, the future level of immigration organizations have supported a plan for a new presidential com- going forward. mission to help establish criteria and calculate labor needs. The determination of the number of the immigrants that are Business groups have said that they would not accept a commis- legally allowed to enter the country each year was left to politicians sion that could be politicized and not suitably responsive to ‘mar- (and their lobbyist friends) who set quotas, and to low-level ket forces.’ This issue may seem esoteric, but as legislative efforts bureaucrats who administer them. Once enacted, these quotas to enact immigration reform move haltingly along, the ability of were rarely revisited or adjusted in the last 24 years to reflect eco- labor and business to agree on the fundamentals of migrant work- nomic realities or other needs. er programs could make the difference between a viable bill and The result of this lack of foresight, and unwillingness to address yet another failed effort to fix the broken system. the issue of regulating future flow, led to a de facto ‘free market’ Labor’s Ramirez suggested that the commission proposal would for immigrant labor with flows determined by market forces and not be a deal breaker: ‘In terms of creating a system – let’s put the greed. word ‘commission’ aside – that contemplates economic need and It has left millions of needed workers, who should have had a makes decisions on visas based on demonstrated need, that’s legal path to entry if the system was in fact responsive to econom- attractive to us both [business and labor]. So I think there is lots ic needs, in a state of limbo whereby they are easily exploited and of agreement on how to move forward.’ Ramirez said that labor marginalized. would want to insist that migrant workers involved in ‘future But at the present time the opposition narrative still trumps the flows’ be assured worker protections and rights. Labor is also truth – it makes for better sound bites and is easily digested with- pushing to make sure that recruiters who bring in foreign workers out the need for too much thought or analysis. are better regulated. But she made it clear that the commission But, if we are to enact truly meaningful and lasting reform we idea was more of a subject for negotiation ‘ she said, ‘not calling it must find a way to offer up solutions and narratives that can be a ‘commission.’

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Sachin named UN environment ambassador Sachin Tendulkar has been named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program. Tendulkar will use his massive popularity to raise awareness and harness support for environmental action in India and around the world. “I have played and enjoyed cricket across the planet. Now, it is also time to do something for the planet, which is our only home,” he said. “Being part of the effort to save the planet is an immense undertaking, but it is a challenge I am ready to undertake.” With 2010 being the UN’s international year of biodiver- sity, Tendulkar will work with the agency to boost the glob- al and grassroots response to the loss of animal and plant diversity worldwide. Tendulkar is no stranger to the UN, having lent his voice to a children’s fund campaign in India on the importance of personal hygiene. He led a green pledge to save the planet when the Indian Premier League kicked off its third season March 11 in Mumbai. The vow read ‘the earth is our home and together we must conserve our precious wildlife, forests and oceans. I am proud to pledge that I will play my part in caring for our natural her- itage.’ Along with Tendulkar, different captains signed a giant globe made of recycled materials. Every day of the 45-day tournament, tips on how to care for the environment will be shown on screens in stadiums and read out by commentators. The new UNEP-IPL partnership will also look into ways to minimize the league’s carbon footprint with waste man- agement, energy efficiency, carpooling and recycling. India out of Davis Cup elite group India were ousted from the elite World Group of the Davis Cup after they lost the first round tie 2-3 to Russia. Russia progressed to the quarterfinals while India will yet again strive in the play-offs to re-enter the 16-team world group. India were playing in the World Group for the first time since 1998. In complete contrast to their play-off tie against South Africa, where they won all the singles match-

David Morgan, president, ICC, hands over the Hall of Somdev Dev Varman Fame cap to Kapil Dev in Dubai, March 9

Kapil Dev inducted into Hall of Fame India’s only cricket World Cup-winning captain and legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev was inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame at a ceremony held at the International Cricket Council headquarters in Dubai. David Morgan, president, ICC, presented a commemorative cap to Kapil in the presence of fellow Hall of Famer Clive Lloyd, as well as an audience of ICC officials and other invited guests. ‘It’s amazing to think that I have been picked as one of the greats of Indian cricket,’ Kapil said.

es, Somdev Dev Varman and Rohan Bopanna both lost for being the number one side in Test cricket. Australia will their singles matches. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati receive a check of $175,000 for its number one position in averted a whitewash by winning the doubles rubber against ODIs. Igor Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili. IPL bidding falls flat Team India to finish season as The high profile bidding for two new teams in the Indian No 2 ODI side Premier League in Mumbai last week turned out to be a India will finish the season as the number two side in damp squib. Only three interested parties came forward, one-day cricket, behind Australia, and will receive out of which one was disqualified for submitting its bid $75,000, the International Cricket Council confirmed last late. Seeing the low-key response, IPL Commissioner Lalit week. India’s position in the ranking table April 1, the Modi announced that all current bids stood canceled. Fresh annual cutoff date, was confirmed after New Zealand went tenders will be called for and the new teams will be down to Ricky Ponting’s men by 12 runs in the second announced March 21 in Chennai. match of their one-day series. Even if New Zealand wins Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, the remaining three matches, it will not be able to leapfrog along with her mother Babita, had formed a consortium India, which sits on 122 ratings points. The second place means that India will win $75,000 in addition to $175,000 Page A33 GRIGORY DUKOR/REUTERS  India Abroad March 19, 2010 SPORTS A33

Karun Chandhok to race in F1 India’s Karun Chandhok last week struck a deal to race for the new Spain-based Hispania Racing Team in Formula One this season. Younis Khan Mohammad Yousuf Chandhok will partner Bra- zilian rookie Bruno Senna at the team, which has changed Pakistan bans two former its name from Campos Meta, captains for life when the season starts in In an unprecedented crackdown on indiscipline, the Bahrain next week. Bruno is Pakistan Cricket Board indefinitely barred its former cap- three-time F1 champion, the tains and illustrious middle-order batsmen Younis Khan late Ayrton Senna’s nephew. and Mohammad Yousuf from playing for the country in Chandhok becomes the the wake of the team’s disastrous tour of Australia. It second Indian to race in imposed one-year bans on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved- Formula One after Narain ul-Hasan. The Akmal brothers — Kamran and Umar — Karthikeyan, who drove for and Shahid Afridi were put on probation for six months Jordan in the 2005 season besides being fined between $50,000 and $70,000 for before being Williams’s test indiscipline on the tour after implementing the recom- driver in the following two mendations of an inquiry committee formed to evaluate seasons. Chandhok has won Pakistan’s dismal performance. The international careers two races in the GP 2 series of Younis, 32, and Yousuf, 35, are virtually over. Pakistan in the last three years. were whitewashed in all the three formats of the game in Australia during the recent tour, following which the PCB had set up a six-member inquiry committee headed by the PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Wasim Bari.

Karun Chandhok, left, and Bruno Senna on the new Hispania Racing F1 car during the team's presentation in Murcia, Spain, March 4

HEINO KALIS/REUTERS

Page A32 behind Kazakhstan (34 points). Vikas defeated Phonwirat Patiyhangkho of with Videocon-owner Anirudh Dhoot Thailand 4-0 while Naveen edged past and the Panchshil Group from Pune to Aolih Zhang of China 4-2. bid for the Pune franchise. Adani Enterprises was bidding for the Ahmedabad franchise. The J P Group was the third bidder, but its bid was not India finish eighth in hockey considered since it was submitted late. world cup Modi pointed that a clause that required India lost to Argentina 2-4 in a play-off a company to have a net worth of $1 bil- match to finish eighth in the 12th men’s lion might have put off potential bidders. hockey World Cup in New Delhi. Earlier He said it has been taken off from the India placed fourth in its group of six new tender forms. teams, earning it the right to battle Argentina for the seventh place. The Indian youth boxers finish eighth place finish is an improvement second in Asian championship when compared against the ninth, 10th The Indian boxing team finished sec- and 11th place finishes at the three previ- ond in the Asian Youth Boxing champi- ous editions. The only bright spot for onship in Tehran, Iran, as Vikas Krishnan India was its campaign opener where it (60 kilogram) and Naveen Kumar (81 beat archrivals Pakistan 4-1. kilogram) fetched gold medals. Devendro (48 kilogram), Venkat Giddi Nagarjun (57 kilogram) and Sumit Sangwan (75 India's Sarwanjit Singh, second from left, kilogram) lost their final bouts to finish celebrates with his team mates Gurwinder Singh second on the podium. Having got four Chandi, second from right, and Dhananjay bronze medals through their losing semi- Mahadik, right, during the match against South finalists earlier, the Indian team posted a Africa at the men's Hockey World Cup in New Delhi, March 8 healthy tally of 28 points to finish second ADNAN ABIDI/REUTERS A34 Bay Area filmmaker organizes Walk for India’s Missing Girls COMMUNITY

India Abroad March 19, 2010 Apart from San Francisco, the Walk for India’s Missing Girls was held in eight other cities across six countries

SHALINI KATHURIA NARANG

March 6 morning, around 75 peo- ple peacefully marched from the Conservatory of Flowers at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco to the Indian consulate to protest female infanticide and feticide in India. The participants of San Francisco’s Walk for India’s Missing Girls were joined by people who walked in eight other cities across six countries. The goal of the global walks was to raise awareness of the human rights violations of millions of baby girls in India. The staggering statistics say it all. In the last century, over 50 million girls Francisco resident, realized the gravity of organizations like Fight-Back, CAPF (Cam- mother 18 years ago because she already have been eliminated from India’s popula- the situation three years back when she paign Against Pre-birth elimination of had two daughters and would become an tion. Ten million girls, either before or soon decided to adopt a girl child from India. “I Females), Breakthrough, the Pink Pagoda, outcast in her province in Punjab, if she after birth, have been killed in India in the was told I would have to wait at least two to and several Indian women’s groups to orga- had a third daughter.” An American couple last two decades, resulting in a skewed gen- three years for a baby girl,” she says. “I was nize walks for missing girls in Delhi, Mum- subsequently adopted Angelique. der ratio — 927 girls per 1,000 boys. In surprised to learn that there were long bai, Pondicherry, Kuwait, Dublin, San Fra- Caputi is also working on Petals in the some regions, the ratio is as low as 500 girls waiting lists of families wanting to adopt ncisco, Melbourne and Ontario March 6 to Dust: India’s Missing Girls, a documentary per 1,000 boys. girls from India. The orphanage that I vis- mark the International Women’s Day, on female foeticide and infanticide in The gender imbalance has further aggra- ited in Karnataka pointed me to a lake in March 8. India, and is in the process of raising funds vated the crimes of trafficking, sexual abuse the area where baby girls used to be A key speaker at the walk was Angelique to complete it. She and her husband will and violence against women. drowned by their parents.” Guarneri, who narrated the touching story commence their adoption quest again at Filmmaker Nyna Pais Caputi, a San She collaborated with social justice of her own life. “I was almost aborted by my the end of the year. Rajesh Khanna among nation’s top ophthalmologists

AZIZ HANIFFA vision enhancements on celebrities like India Abroad, “I feel humbled to receive this honor. It is actor Corbin Blue from High School Musical, prestigious and vindicates that ethical, caring way of prac- The Consumer’s Research Council of America Disney Channel star Brenda Song and mixed tice is still the best. has chosen Chandigarh-born and New Delhi- martial arts and kick-boxing star Sebastian “To be selected amongst the top ophthalmologists in raised Dr Rajesh Khanna, one of the pioneers ‘Bas’ Rutten. America makes all the sweat, toil and tears worthwhile, of Lasik and refractive surgery, as one of the An alumnus of the State University of New especially for a boy who was head boy of Apeejay School in nation’s top ophthalmologists. York in Brooklyn, where he did his ophthalmic Panchsheel Park in New Delhi, where I received the chair- Khanna, 42, the founder and medical direc- residency and the University of Cincinnati, man’s award for the best all-rounder. It certainly is a long tor of the Khanna Institute of Lasik and Ohio, where he received specialized training in way from those high school days.” Refractive Surgery in Beverly Hills, Los Lasik and Refractive Surgery, Khanna told Khanna recalled the “thrill” of earlier being voted the best Angeles, and a practicing eye surgeon for over Lasik surgeon by the readers of the Los Angeles 15 years, has also been voted the Best Lasik Daily News and the Ventura County Star and said, Surgeon by consumers in Los Angeles. “This honor of an unsolicited award untainted by Each year, the CRCA assembles a list of the money or bias is equally thrilling. This award moti- top ophthalmologists in the United States, with those vates me to work even harder and continue to take short-listed being judged on experience, education, train- stellar care of my patients. I consider all my patients ing, professional associations, and, most importantly, feed- my family members. It’s the high point in one’s back from patients who have undergone surgery. Noting career, when one is recognized for the personalized that every year over 210 million Americans visit an oph- procedures and the after-care that one provides.” thalmologist, the CRCA says the list is aimed at making He added, “Young Indian-American physicians patients aware of the best eye doctors from around needed to take up ophthalmology. This is a rapidly the country. advancing field.” The CRCA makes it clear that ‘no fees, donations, He said he would “personally encourage young sponsorships or advertising is accepted from any individu- Indian-American physicians to take up this special- als, corporations or associations,’ so as to ‘ensure an unbi- ty because with the Baby Boomer population retir- ased selection.’ ing soon, there is going to be a dearth of ophthal- Khanna, besides being one of the pioneers of Lasik eye mologists by 2020. So, there’s an opportunity for surgery, is also at the forefront of being one of the most professionals in our community to make a contribu- experienced and skilled Wave front Lasik, Prelex and tion to alleviate the lot of those who lead difficult cataract surgeons. He has performed thousands of proce- lives because of poor vision, particularly the less for- dures on patients across southern California, including Dr Rajesh Khanna is one of the pioneers of Lasik and refractive surgery tunate amongst us.” India Abroad March 19, 2010 COMMUNITY NEWS A35 Diaspora art travels to New Jersey

ARTHUR J PAIS unveil, and reveal difference, identity, religion and culture.” Outsourcing gets a twist in Nidhi Jalan’s video Bangalored, On display which looks at the colonial days of personal associations For artists Satyakam Saha, Sonia between the memsahibs and the very few Indians invited to Chaudhary and Asha Ganpat, South their tea parties and present day associations between an Asian religion, faith and philosophy American woman and an Indian wife. offer points of connection, investiga- The video is part of the Site of Departure, Source of tion and critique, says Myers. Arrival exhibition, featuring seven artists of South Asian ‘Chaudhary’s hand-crafted book I Am origin, including one from Trinidad. The exhibition in Sin evokes the powerful presence of Edison, New Jersey, will be on till March 25. holy texts such as the Koran, Bible or ‘The American woman’s role as wife has been “out- Torah. However, rather than divine rev- sourced” to the Indian woman, providing an ironic and elation and religious instruction, Asha Ganpat makes inventive twist to the more conventional expectations Chaudhary’s volume reveals searing her point with an installation of regarding not only the economic and political effects of words from five Muslim women, origi- Goddess Kali, right outsourcing, but the personal as well. Drinking tea in their nally from Pakistan, but now living in the United States. Their accounts cite instances of abuse that may be tragically common among women from any community or religious group throughout the world, but that take on special significance for Chaudhary, who as a Muslim woman interrogates religious traditions, expectations, restrictions and social taboos both as personal exploration and to bring the transgressions upon the bodies and souls of these woman to light.’ Myers also explains why Goddess Kali, who has been depicted in a new way by Ganpat, holds the imagination of writers, film-makers and painters. ‘Among the approxi- mately 330,000 Hindu deities, Kali is perhaps the most dalas, as well as astrological and cosmological diagrams.’ widely known outside her home country. Her paradoxical Indrani Nayar-Gall, who has lived in India, Barbados, nature as the most terrifying manifestation of the great and now in the United States, explores issues of migration goddess and the divine mother has been the subject of from a personal standpoint through her prints and multi- scholarly and popular attention both in India and the West. media works on paper. Many of her images are layered In her viewer-interactive tableau, Ganpat presents one of with cryptic maps, fingerprints, words and figures, Myers Sonia Chaudhury’s hand-crafted book I Am Sin the most popular depictions of Kali astride or dancing on points out. the recumbent form of Lord Shiva, symbolizing transcen- ‘Some suggest diagrams of journeys she has taken, places hats of decaying fruit, the two women trade identities as dent power.’ she has lived in or remembered, or perhaps unspoken and the American woman instructs in “proper” use of language She adds, ‘Many icons and myths throughout the world ill-defined boundaries she has struggled to transgress. and even intimate matters,’ says the curator of the exhibi- have become diluted or emptied of meaning both within Some works parallel the encounters of Alice in tion, Kathryn Myers. Myers is a professor of art at the and outside of their countries of origin. In her work, Wonderland, who serves as an apt metaphor for one who University of Connecticut. Ganpat explores icons such as Kali that, for her, despite or may endure acute disorientation and displacement.’ The exhibition is being organized by the Middlesex perhaps because of their ancient roots, still hold power and Ruby Chishti presents the torsos of women made from Community College in Edison and the Manhattan-based meaning in contemporary society.’ worn stockings of various colors and transparencies recre- Indo-American Arts Council, one of the most important In Saha’s luminous abstractions, shape, color, and most ating in art form her personal experiences in Pakistan. cultural organizations in the Tristate area. The IAAC holds vividly, the power of light engage core concepts of desire, ‘Armour, the title pivoting on the theme of love and an annual film festival, author readings, dance perform- creation and the merging of active and passive forces found defense, is potently political as well as personal. It is the ances and a number of other events. in Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist and Christian traditions. Says haunted figure of a baby that will not be born, in a defiance How it happened Myers, ‘Saha’s radically non-objective shapes reference the of expectations brought to bear on the lives of many “Friends and supporters in New Jersey have been asking aniconic elegance of Tantric diagrams, yantras and man- women,’ says Myers, explaining why she chose Chishti’s the IAAC to bring the arts across the river,” work. ‘Chishti’s use of a non-traditional sculptur- says Amina Ahmed, the IAAC’s exhibition al material, unused sanitary napkins, serves as a director. “When Nadine Heller, the event metaphor for individual affirmation and choice.’ director at MCC, approached us, IAAC’s exec- Also displaying his art is cartoonist and multi- utive director and founder Aroon Shivdasani’s media artist Raghava K K. He has created images response was, ‘Let’s do it. on a wall of the exhibition gallery. ‘His com- Edison is a great place to pelling patina of marks and messages incorpo- begin this dialogue. The rate a dizzying range of imagery from the history exhibition showcases new of art, popular culture, political figures, cartoons talent among the South and hybrid human/animals. The sense of polar- Asian artistic community ized rage and humor in his work brings to mind as well as artists who have the work of F N Souza, a renowned Indian artist exhibited internationally. who immigrated to New York from Goa. Like Many of the works are Souza, who protested the corruption of church being shown for the first and state of his times, the topics K K engages are time,” she adds. Like most both timeless and locally immediate. Words IAAC events, the exhibi- sprawled across some images mock “moral tion is expected to be Raghava K K speaks police” or “freedom of expression” as well as shown at couple of other through his artwork offering “free art,” while angels and doves venues in the Tristate area. on the walls of the attempt to elude the grasp of gluttonous holders Ahmed explains that exhibition hall of power.’ each of the artists “makes a MCC event director Heller promises that the connection to their place of origin, expressing exhibition is a vibrant, dynamic and multi-tex- their heritage in diverse ways.” She calls it a tured event, featuring world-class artists cele- “powerful and provocative exhibition. It inves- brating the South Asian heritage. “It is going to tigates the many ways these artists explore, be a spectacular visual experience,” she says. A36 COMMUNITY NEWS India Abroad March 19, 2010 Lifetime achievement award for child welfare lawyer Ashok Batra

AZIZ HANIFFA rewarded when a child is reunited with his biological family, a child is adopted by a Attorney Ashok Batra, 67, a longtime family, which is going to give love and a activist on behalf of neglected and abused nurturing environment, or, when a young children, the majority of whom are indi- adult leaves the system and is on the way to gent and from minority communities, was becoming independent.” last week presented with the 2010 Lifetime He added, “Our practice is different Achievement Award of the Family Court from other practices of law and it cannot Trial Lawyers Association of the District of be interpreted in the same manner as Columbia. most legal work. It is social work-based Batra is the first Asian American attorney practice that calls for extensive person-to- to receive this award. Former president of the association Richard Landis accorded Batra a rousing introduction at the ceremony held at the Ashok Batra, right, receives the David A Clarke Law School at the award from Richard Landis University of the District of Columbia on From Delhi to March 8, which was attended by over 200 attorneys, Indian American community Washington leaders in the Washington metropolitan person contacts. It is very demanding and sister, Shalini, who did the billing; mom, area and Indian embassy diplomats. Born in Gojra, Lyallpur, Batra was often the work demands longer hours who drove you around for your home visits; ‘At the dawn of the new century, Ashok raised in Delhi and received his bache- than anticipated.” your colleagues who provided you with retired from court service and began a new lor’s and master’s degrees in political He lamented that “our work often does sample pleadings and motions; judges who career as a CCAN (Child Center for Abused science from the University of Delhi in not get the recognition it deserves,” and appointed you to the cases and approved and Neglected in the DEC Family Court) 1963 and 1965. argued for the “need to encourage civility your vouchers for payment.’ lawyer, serving children and families in our In 1970, he received his law degree and open communication between the He also implored Batra not to ‘watch family court,’ said Landis, who also lauded from Ranchi University and was bench and bar.” the Oscar or Filmfare Awards and don’t Batra’s selfless dedication for the elderly. also the recipient of a merit scholarship Batra however said that the Family Court steal any lines from the acceptance speech- “Ashok has also provided pro bono legal from the Institute of International had “come a long way in terms of renumer- es.’ services through the Legal Counsel for the Studies at The Hague, The ation and training,” and commended Batra told India Abroad, “This Lifetime Elderly in the District, and for a communi- Netherlands. the work of Wilma Brier, director of Achievement Award means a lot to me, as ty legal clinic in Montgomery County, After arriving in the US in the early the CCAN Office for “developing a wonder- it is coming from my colleagues and peers Maryland, since 2008.” 1970s, he first received his MBA from ful program for the new attorneys and and it certainly inspires me to continue “He has truly had an auspicious career, George Washington University in DC, offering numerous training sessions for the with my commitment.” providing service to our court, our family and then in 1980, a Master of relevant issues.” Carolyn Daniels, chairperson of the past bar and to his community,” added Landis. Comparative Law from the National “We still lack in terms of resources and presidents committee of the Association of Batra was visibly overwhelmed. Accept- Law Center of George Washington get frustrated, but we carry on with our Family Court Trial Lawyers Association, ing the award, he said, “When I was University. mission to provide effective legal services,” told India Abroad, “I know Ashok is informed about this award, I sincerely Batra is also a founding member of he said. extremely smart, but I am impressed by his believed there were more deserving attor- the Indian Cultural Coordination In a lighter vein, Batra read out an amus- humility.” neys than me.” He credited Landis for con- Committee of Washington, DC as well ing e-mail from his son, who could not be “He was so deserving of the award. He vincing him to accept it. as the Association of Indians in at the event, as he was visiting Indonesia. has done a remarkable job as president of “Generally, I have shied away from America and the Indian American Vishal advised his father to ‘be short with the association. He is always quick on his awards and honors,” he said. “We, practi- Public Affairs Committee. your comments, do not forget to thank your feet and always well prepared in his pre- tioners in the field of child welfare, feel parents who brought you to this world; my sentations in the court.” Ratna Ray finds possible breast cancer cure in bitter melon SUMAN GUHA MOZUMDER Ray said she had decided to study the impact of bitter Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for melon extract on breast cancer cells because research had Cancer Research. Bitter melon, a commonly used vegetable in India, may shown the substance lowered blood sugar and cholesterol ‘Cancer prevention by the use of naturally occurring hold the key to curing breast cancer, says an Indian- levels. Bitter melon extract was commonly used as a folk dietary substances is considered a practical approach to American researcher at Saint Louis University. medicine to treat diabetes in China and India, she said. reduce the ever-increasing incidence of cancer. Studying a Ratna Ray, professor in the department of pathology at Ray conducted her research using human breast cancer high-risk breast cancer population where bitter melon is Saint Louis University and lead researcher, said the cells in a controlled lab setting. The next step, she says, is to taken as a dietary product will be an important area of extracts from bitter melon showed promise in killing breast test the extract in an animal model. If those results are pos- future research,’ Ray said. cancer cells and preventing them from multiplying. itive, human trials could follow. Ray, however, cautioned against seeing bitter melon She said the effects of the bitter melon extract took her Ray said while it was too early to know for sure whether extract as a miracle cure. ‘Bitter melon is common in China by surprise. bitter melon extract would help breast cancer patients, the and India, and women there still get breast cancer,’ “To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the matter was worth studying. ‘There have been significant she noted. effect of bitter melon extract on cancer cells,” said Ray. “Our advances in breast cancer treatment. However, women Research at Saint Louis University School of Medicine result was encouraging. We have shown that bitter melon continue to die of the disease and new treatment strategies seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, extract significantly induces death in breast cancer cells are essential,’ she said. infectious disease, liver disease, aging and brain disease and decreases their growth and spread.” The research was published in the March 1 edition of and heart/lung disease. India Abroad March 19, 2010 A37

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million outpatient visits and performed over 3.6 million surgeries. It operates five India’s miracle eye-care provider wins Aravind hospitals in India, supported by a network of clinics, manages four others and has research laboratories and a manufac- turing facility, producing high-quality, low- world’s largest humanitarian award cost ophthalmic supplies. It is now expanding its model globally, establishing seven eye hospitals in Bangladesh. It has worked with over 260 eye hospitals from India and other develop- ing countries to expand their capacity to address eye diseases. It has participated in establishing national eye care plans for India, Rwanda and Eritrea. Assembly line finesse This was made possible because of their unique style of working. Inspired by fast- food giant McDonald’s capability to repli- cate the same quality and efficiency any- where in the world, Dr V adapted this con- cept to eye care, standardizing everything from systems and equipment to training. Nurses can be transferred to any Aravind facility and immediately start work. An assembly-line approach to surgery increased productivity tenfold. While a typ- ical ophthalmologist might perform 250 to 400 surgeries annually, an Aravind doctor averages 2,000 or more. Equipment that typically might be used a few times a day is used 30 times a day at Aravind. The result is that Aravind runs at one-fifth the cost of similar hospitals. According to Hilton, ‘Every 15 minutes, a doctor at an Aravind Eye Hospital com- Every 15 minutes, a doctor at an pletes an operation and restores someone’s Aravind Eye Hospital eyesight. Yet, with this great efficiency, restores someone’s there is no compromise on quality or care. eyesight Aravind is so respected for its unique model that students from Harvard, Johns RYAN PYLE Hopkins, Yale and the University of California at San Francisco come to India SUMAN GUHA MOZUMDER human suffering. More than 200 nomina- world. India alone accounts for 12 million for training.’ tions are received from across the world, of them. Because of extreme sun and genet- Aravind has also developed a cost-effec- India’s Aravind Eye Care System, miracle and an independent international jury ics, the average age for cataracts in India is tive revenue model in which only 30 per- workers when it comes to eye care, has makes the final selection. 40s and 50s unlike in the United States cent of patients pay and the remaining 70 been selected to receive the $1.5 million ‘Aravind is a remarkable enterprise and where it’s the 60s and 70s. Without surgery, percent are treated free or almost free. It Conrad N Hilton Humanitarian Prize for its scale of impact on millions of patients is many cataract patients go blind. depends on volume and efficiency to keep 2010. Aravind, which has developed inno- phenomenal,’ said Steven M Hilton, CEO Realizing that it was possible to end its low-cost structure, establishing eye vative technologies allowing it to perform and president of the Conrad N Hilton much of the unnecessary blindness in his camps in remote villages that bring in 300,000 eye surgeries each year — 70 per- Foundation. ‘In a 30-year quest to end country, Dr Govindappa Venkataswamy, about half of its patients. Many are treated cent subsidized or free for the poor — is the blindness in India, Aravind has developed popularly known as Dr V, upon his retire- on site with even prescription glasses dis- world’s largest eye-care provider. innovative technologies that are now a ment in 1976 from government health serv- pensed in rural camps. The Conrad N Hilton Foundation pres- model for both the developed and develop- ice, mortgaged his home to start an eye When intraocular lenses were intro- ents the annual award, the world’s largest ing world.’ clinic — Aravind — with just 11 beds in a duced, Aravind sought to use them, but, humanitarian prize, to an organization that There are 45 million blind people in the rented house in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. is doing extraordinary work to alleviate world, the majority being in the developing As of 2009, Aravind had handled over 29 Page A41

GEORGE JOSEPH

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has welcomed film- New Mexico wants to woo Bollywood makers from India to the state as an alternative to Hollywood. reserves of uranium. adopted the Sikh path and the largest Western Sikh com- At a meeting with India’s Consul General in San On a less formal note, at a reception held at the India munity is now located in Espanola. Francisco Susmita Gongulee Thomas, Richardson briefed House Restaurant in Santa Fe, Thomas spoke to the Indian The board of directors for the Santa Fe 400th her about the incentives the state offered to filmmakers and community about the amazing strides taken by the Indian Anniversary also hosted a reception for the consul general sought her help in inviting Indian filmmakers. economy and how India was now a leader in many indus- at the Santa Fe Hotel. The talks also touched upon cooperation between India tries, with much to offer to world. The Consul General’s visit was coordinated with the help and New Mexico on other fronts. Richardson and Thomas Thomas also attended other Indian and American com- of Bhai Sahib Satpal Singh Khalsa — a prominent member talked about cooperation in the field of ayurveda, as New munity events. of the American Sikh community and Pawan Singh Mexico recognizes ayurveda as an alternative system of The Sikh Dharma International community marked the Dhindsa — honorary consul for the State of New Mexico medicine, offering a lot of potential for Indian companies meeting with a luncheon at the estate of the late Siri Singh for India. “As India continues its economic growth, it must to export ayurvedic products to the state. Shaib Yogiji in Espanola. Yogiji came to the West in the late strive to attract more investments and technology from the They also discussed the possibility of exporting nuclear 1960’s, bringing the teachings of Kundalini Yoga as well as US and identify states such as New Mexico that are willing fuel to India from New Mexico, which has abundant the lifestyle of Sikhism. Over the years, many Westerners to do business with India,” said Khalsa. India Abroad March 19, 2010 COMMUNITY NEWS A41 Another Bobby Jindal in the making?

GEORGE JOSEPH ing, unproductive partisan politics, job creation and reforming the US Army Corps of Engineers. Though a Democrat, Ravi Sangisetty’s campaign has one “People are excited for a new generation of leadership in thing in common with the 2003 Congressional campaign coastal Louisiana, and our fundraising successes so far are of fellow Indian American and current Governor of clearly showing this,” he added. Louisiana Bobby Jindal. He said he entered the race with the goal to hold the In 2003, Jindal, a Republican, ran and won from the 1st political process accountable to the people. “The problems District after the incumbent Congressman David Vitter we face as a unique region — whether coastal restoration, vacated the seat to run for the Senate. hurricane protection, education, health care, or the econo- Sangisetty, an attorney, is running from the nearby 3rd my — are too urgent to allow the current state of politics to District in the surrounding area of New Orleans, as the Democratic incumbent Charlie Melancon is leaving to challenge Senator Vitter in the Senate race. Sangisetty, though in the opposite party, has good things Sangisetty at a glance to say about Jindal. “Governor Jindal is very popular in Louisiana. He’s been a leader of our state, as well as the Ravi Sangisetty grew up in the Terrebonne Parish, which Indian community.” means he understands the concerns of the coastal com- The 3rd district gave a huge majority to Republican can- munities of South Lousiana. didate Senator John McCain in the last presidential elec- After graduating from the Vanderbilt Catholic High tion. So, it is expected to be a tough battle for the School, he earned a degree in political science from Democrats to retain the seat. Princeton. There he developed a strong devotion to pub- “When we began this campaign for the US House of lic policy, especially in the area of coastal restoration. He Ravi Sangisetty Representatives, we knew that this was going to be a earned his law degree from Louisiana State University. hard-fought campaign from both sides of the aisle,” He began his legal career as a judicial clerk of the US said Sangisetty. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. He leads the field with a quarter million in his war chest His work centered on post-Katrina litigation involving continue. My pledge is to raise the level of dialogue above while his Republican opponents rank far below the mark. the Federal Emergency Management Agency, home- unproductive partisan rhetoric and propose real reforms.” “There are several Republicans vying for the nomination, owners insurance policies, and the National Flood The primary is schedule for August 28. The district has none of whom have established themselves as the clear Insurance Program. about 638,000 voters. Seventy percent of the population is front runner, and none have raised as much money as I His parents, Drs Aruna and Koti Sangisetty, are from white, while 24 percent is African American. Asians num- have,” he said. Andhra Pradesh and both have a thriving medical prac- ber about one percent only. “The campaign is going very well, getting a great tice. He is married to Sarah, a graduate of Tulane Law “I am proud to count among my supporters men and response from local folks in the heart of the district,” School. They live in Houma. women of various backgrounds and professions, Democrat he said. Sangisetty now works as a business attorney. and Republican. With their help, we have exceeded even Sangisetty said he was running a straightforward cam- my most optimistic fund-raising goals. It is with great pride paign, focusing on the federal government’s bloated spend- that I call South Louisiana my home,” he said. Dr Subhendu India’s miracle eye-care provider wins Narayan chosen world’s largest humanitarian award Bay Area’s best gastroenterologist Page A40 Dr Subhendu ‘Bob’ Narayan has been at $200 each, they were too costly. So, selected as the best gastroenterologist Aravind set up Aurolab to manufacture in the east Bay Area by the Oakland these lenses that now cost as little as Magazine. $2 and are currently supplied to 120 coun- ‘As far back as I can remember, I have had tries, commanding eight percent of the an interest in biology. My uncle was a global market. physician and he used to take me on rounds Aurolab also manufactures other supplies with him when I was younger. I liked how such as ophthalmic drops, sutures and the filed of medicine combines technical lasers for treating diabetic retinopathy. And aspects with caring for patients,’ he said. to top it all, Aravind has accomplished all of Narayan is an associate partner with this without assuming debt and with mini- Northern California Gastroenterology mal charitable contributions. Consultants based in Berkeley, California. ‘The worldwide visibility and recognition He practices at Alta bates, Alameda and that comes with the Hilton Humanitarian Highland hospitals. Prize will allow us to bring our healthcare Narayan, 49, lives with his wife and two model to alleviate suffering in many more children in Walnut Creek. His parents live parts of the world,’ said Dr P Aravind performs 300,000 in New Jersey. He attended the medical Namperumalsamy, Aravind’s chairman. eye surgeries each year — school at Cornell University, completed his ‘Over 80 percent of the developing 70 percent subsidized or fellowship at the University of California, world’s blindness and impaired vision is free for the poor Los Angeles and went on to complete an needless, causing enormous personal suf- advanced endoscopy fellowship at the fering and severely limiting a country’s RYAN PYLE Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. ability to develop. Our goal is to manage Humanitarian Prize will help us reach this the Global Philanthropy Forum’s 9th annu- His one advice to all is the need to focus 100 hospitals worldwide by 2015 to provide goal,’ he said. al conference on April 20 in Redwood on prevention by trying to maintain a sight to many millions and the Hilton The 2010 prize will be presented at City, California. healthy lifestyle. A42 COMMUNITY NEWS India Abroad March 19, 2010

Raja Krishnamoorthi for Illinois lieutenant governor SUMAN GUHA MOZUMDER Krishnamoorthi, who garnered roughly supporters signed a petition organized by 384,000 votes statewide but lost the the Indo-American Democratic Organi- Raja Krishnamoorthi, who lost the party Democratic nomination by less than 1 per- zation to put Krishnamoorthi on the ballot. primary for Illinois comptroller earlier this cent of the votes cast, won 22 out of the 30 ‘If not now, when,’ asked Pramod Shah, a year by a whisker, last week submitted his Cook County suburban townships with a former IADO president, a Niles Township application to the Democratic State Central 52 to 41 percent margin of victory. He Trustee and Skokie Village Board Member. Committee to be considered as the party’s swept all of the Chicago collar counties, ‘No one is better qualified to be Lt gover- lieutenant governor nominee. including DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, nor than Raja,’ said Sainath Reddivary, ‘I am a Democrat because the Democratic Kendall and McHenry by a total of 60 to IADO secretary. ‘He is an engineer who can Party has never settled for the status quo,’ 33 percent votes. help Governor Quinn with infrastructure Krishnamoorthi wrote in his application. He believes when the Illinois Democratic issues, and an expert on financial matters.’ ‘The party has always believed that govern- State Central Committee meets later this But the spirited campaign by members of ment can be a force for good and that no month to select the nominee, Democrats the community doesn’t necessarily mean one should be left behind.’ will have an opportunity to change the Krishnamoorthi will get the ticket. He emphasized his appeal as a game by selecting him. Sources had told this correspondent earlier Lieutenant Governor nominee with a Meanwhile, thousands of Indian this month that a lot of lobbying was on strong electoral performance in the pri- Americans are rallying to put for the position. “What is going on now is mary for Comptroller in the two key battle- Krishnamoorthi on the November ballot as a game of insiders within the party and grounds for the November general elec- Governor Pat Quinn’s running mate. Over no one is sure if Raja will be selected,” a tion: the Chicago suburbs and Downstate. the course of two weeks, more than 10,000 source said. Raja Krishnamoorthi

Holi in Long island New York Life’s Asian-Indian Market Division. The first was in 2007 with the elephant campaign that featured a The India Association of Long Island celebrated Holi Dispatches group of Indian children interacting with a baby elephant. with pomp and show February 28. About 250 participants ‘We are very proud to be nominated,’ said Ashwin K enjoyed the four-hour program at Cotillion in Jericho, cellular engineering and how cells use local cues from Verma, corporate vice president and chief marketing offi- Long Island, New York. The evening included a cultural their environment to orchestrate cell functions, such as cer for cultural markets, New York Life. Verma developed program, cocktails and dinner. M Subramanyam, the con- migration and polarization. The work focuses on under- the concept for the campaign. sul, trade, Indian Consulate, New York, was also present standing how physical interaction between cells is a key The award is given by the New York Chapter of the at the occasion. component of cell biology. Desai is currently nearing com- National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The pletion of his dissertation research in the School of winners will be announced at the 53rd Annual New York Indian student awarded Engineering and Applied Science. Emmy Awards gala April 18. for pathbreaking research New York Emmy nomination for Ravi Desai, a bioengineering researcher completing his Indian community pays tribute doctoral degree at the University of Pennsylvania, has won New York Life’s Asian-Indian ad to former Indian lawmaker the 2009 JCS Prize, awarded annually to the first author A New York Life Insurance Company television cam- The Indian community and several organizations paid of the paper judged best by the editors and editorial board paign geared toward the Asian-Indian community has tribute to Nanaji Deshmukh, who passed away recently. of the Journal of Cell Science. Desai’s paper, ‘Cell Polarity been nominated for a New York Emmy Award. The four- Deshmukh was a former Rajya Sabha member, founder of Triggered by Cell-Cell Contact via E-cadherin’, demon- commercial campaigns, Life is Beautiful with… The Deendayal Research Institute in Uttar Pradesh, and a strated that cells are prompted by physical cues and cell- Company You Keep, aired in the US last year. winner of the Padma Vibhushan. He is remembered for to-cell contact assists in wound healing, a finding that The campaign is one of the four nominated to win this his rejection of the offer to join Moraraji Desai’s cabinet may lead to improved treatments. His research focuses on award. This is the fourth New York Emmy nomination for in the 1970s. Asian Women in Indian Indian students showed their charitable side at Haiti who are still trying to cope with the January Business launches the University of Maryland’s Indian Students earthquake. Students Association’s 4th Semi-Annual Charity Dinner. The The event raised some $2,500 and pharmaceuti- New Jersey chapter Association proceeds went to Doctors Without Borders, in cal company Eminent Services Corporation Asian Women in Business gathers for Haiti hopes of providing medical aid to the people of matched that, taking the tally up to $5,000. launched its New Jersey chapter March 8. Held at Prudential’s headquar- ters in Newark, the event fea- tured professionals and entre- preneurs working throughout the state. The reception was open to business owners and profes- sionals looking to network, explore new skills-building opportunities and learn more about joining the AWIB commu- nity. About 30 entrepreneurs of South Asian origin attended the event, The AWIB has served over 27,000 women and minorities. India Abroad March 19, 2010 EVENTS A43

ALBAMA Indian music, TEXAS dance festival Nishkaam sewa March 25, 7 PM UN International Day March 21, 10 AM Hosted by: Indian Fine Arts For the Elimination of Racial Knights of Columbus Hall Neuroscience Auditorium Discrimination 116 Grand street Los Angeles Hosted By: Shri Ram Chandra Iselin, Alabama 08830 California 90036 Mission 732-207-7595 www.indianfinearts.org March 20, 11 AM 858 200 7481 Unity Center - A Church of CALIFORNIA Positive Prayer GEORGIA 9603 Dessau Road Singles Mixer Austin, Texas 78754 March 19, 7 PM Atif Asalm live 512-656-3791 Hosted by: Shalabh March 19, 8 PM Entertainment Robert Ferst Center At Georgia Classical concert Albertos Lounge Tech March 20, 6 PM 736 West Dana Street Georgia Tech Hosted By: ICMCA Mountain View Atlanta, Georgia 30332 Jones Auditorium, Ragsdale California 94041 http://atifatlanta.com Center 408-368-6865 404-518-7988 Edward’s University 3001 S Congress Avenue Spring 2010 Maestros in Concert Austin, Texas 78704 March 20, 3 PM March 20, 8 PM 512-895-9524 Hosted by: IIM USA Inc Rialto Theater 676 Quince Lane 80 Forsyth Street NW RimFit fitness Milpitas Atlanta, Georgia 30303 California 95035 https://tickets.rialtocenter.org session www.123signup.com 404-413-9800 March 21, 5 PM 818-209-0172 The Dance Studio ILLINOIS Austin, Texas 78750 Bollywood Carnival www.rimfitness.com March 20, 8 PM Jam Session Hosted by: DJPrecautionSF March 19, 8:00PM Events IMU , Inner Engineering Strikes 1418 W Howard Street March 24, 10123 N. Wolfe Road Chicago, Illinois 60626 Hosted by: Isha Foundation Cupertino, California 95014 http://lifesurfing.org Saint Michael Plaza Hotel www.djprecautionsf.com 773-262-1468 7800 N I - 35 650-669-2840 Austin Texas 78753 Dance Drama www.ishafoundation.org Spring Run MARYLAND 512-589-3665 March 21, 8:00AM Shakuntala Hosted by: Asha For Education, March 19, 7:30 PM Ram Navmi Ram Navami Silicon Valley Prairie Center for the Arts www.dance2health.com March 24 March 24, Kite Flying Area 201 Schaumburg Court 301-299-3334 Hosted by: Hare Krishna Hosted by: Austin Hindu Temple Shoreline Park Schaumburg Temple Austin Hindu Temple Mountain View Illinois 60194 NEW JERSEY Hare Krishna Temple 9801 Decker Lake Road California 94043 www.gaurijog.com 10310 Oaklyn Drive Austin, Texas 78724 http://sv.team- 847-755-9625 Naach Revolution Potomac, Maryland 20854 www.austinhindutemple.org asha.org/springrun/ March 20, 6 PM www.iskcondc.org 512-927-0000 408-627-0306 Ugadi celebration Union County Arts Center 301-299-2100 March 20, 10:30 AM 1601 Irving Street Music for Literacy Bridal Show Hosted by: Hindu Temple of Rahway, New Jersey 07065 March 20, March 21, 11 AM Greater Chicago 732 763 0118 Skirball Center Hosted by: Pratham USA Hiller Aviation Museum Hindu Temple of Greater for the Performing Arts Stafford Civic Center 601 Skyway Chicago Gao dil se 566 LaGuardia Place Stafford, Texas, 77477 San Carlos 10915 Lemont Road March 20, 5 PM Washington Square South 866-P772- 8426 California 94070 Lemont, Illinois 60439 Hosted by: Josh Musical New York www.internationalweddingfesti- http://htgc.org Hoilday Inn - Polo Lounge http://worldmusicinstitute.org Homa val.com 630-972-0300 3050 Woodbridge Avenue 212-545-7536 March 21, 9 AM 209-966-3890 Edison, New Jersey 08837 Texas Orchards MASSACHUSETTS 908-217-5838 Bhangra dance 42823 Old Houston Highway Bollywood March 20, 4 PM Waller, Texas 77484 March 19, 10 PM Spring Garba 2010 Dag Hammarskjold Park [email protected] Hosted by: Le Mast Mast Club March 19, Raag Rang - 47th St. and 1st Avenue 713-365-9676 Isla Cantina Hosted by: India Society of Kal Ke Kalakar New York City 8788 W. Sunset Boulevard Worcester March 20, 3:30 PM New York VIRGINIA Cross Street Holloway India Center Hosted by: Raag Rang West Hollywood 152 Main Street Universal Unitarian Mangalam California 90069 Shrewsbury Congregation of Princeton March 25, 8 PM Bollywood musical, www.lemastmast.com Massachusetts Fah Theatre, Princeton Hosted by: Niraj Parekh Co Love Times Seven 805-587-9144 http://iswonline.org 50 Cherry Hill Road The Saloon March 19, 7 PM Princeton, 1584 York Avenue Hosted by: Rasa Arts Collective Kismat Konnection Art of Living Course New Jersey 08540 Between 83rd & 84th Street Ernst Community Theater March 20, 7 PM March 25, 908-429-1120, New York 10128 8333 Little River Turnpike Hosted by: Shaadi.com Hosted by: Art of Living www.nirajparekh.com Annandale, Tantra Foundation Comedy show 347-633-8429 Virginia 22003 3705 West Sunset Boulevard Art of Living Center March 20, 5 PM www.lovetimesseven.com Silverlake 76 Winn Street Hosted by: Agrawal Samaj PENNSYLVANIA 202-365-4415 California 90026 Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 Green Brook Middle School 646-450-7307 http://secure.artofliving.org 132 Jefferson Avenue WASHINGTON 817-881-9191 Green Brook Art of Living Bollywood affair New Jersey 08812 Foundation Course Tarana March 20, 10 PM MARYLAND www.agrawalsamajusa.org March 25, March 20, 6 PM Hosted by: Desi Rebels 877-427-8720 Hosted by: Art of Living Hosted by: Association for Entertainment Dance class Foundation India’s development Tantra March 22, 7 PM NEW YORK Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Interlake School Performing Arts Los Angeles Stamp Student Union, 5050 RR 5 , Center California 90026 Marchyland University Bombay Jazz Saylorsburg 16245 NE 24th Street [email protected] Center for Campus Life March 19, 8 PM Pennsylvania 18353 Bellevue, www.desirebels.com College Park Hosted By: World Music http://secure.artofliving.org Washington 98008 323-393-3374 Maryland 20742 Institute 848-248-0504 206-569-5180 A44 India Abroad March 19, 2010 India Abroad CALL (800) 822-3532 Fax: (212) 691-0873 Email: [email protected] Classifieds Website: www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds

Payment: Complete name, address, telephone number and full remittance must accompany all Ads. All valid credit cards are acceptable. SECTIONS For Rate Information: The check/ money order should be payable to India Abroad. New York: Toll Free: 1-800-822-3532 Box Number: $6 (USA & Canada) $10 Overseas While replying to a Box Number, please write the IA-number-M/F, on the envelope to be Matrimonial Business/Finance Employment Fax: 1-212-691-0873 dispatched, seal the same, drop it with a loose 49¢ stamp or Midwest/ International Reply Coupon per reply, in another envelope, which One stop place Business/Investment Career Opportunities, West: Toll Free: 1-800-514-8183 should be addressed to “BOX REPLIES” INDIA ABROAD INC. for finding the Bride Opportunities. Job Offers, Help Fax: 1-847-933-9405 42 Broadway, Suite 1836. NEW YORK, NY 10004. and Groom Sale/Lease: Business/ Wanted, Household Canada: Call: 1-416-622-2600 Classified Policy: INDIA ABROAD reserves the right: of your choice Motel/ Restaurant/ Store help, Job Wanted Fax: 1-416-622-9197 * Not to accept an advertiser’s order. * To edit or alter any and all ads. By Fax: Complete name, address, telephone INDIA ABROAD assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertisements except to the extent of reprinting the rectified text of the ad, provided the newspaper is notified within Medical Real Estate Services/Miscellaneous number, ad copy & credit card information 48 hours of the error. Failure to honor position requests shall not be cause for rerun, refund required. or adjustment. * Advertisers are advised to check the Category of the ad prior to publication. Doctors, Medical Rentals: House/ Public Notice, Via Internet: Log on to: * No telephone orders will be accepted. * Mailing of any unsolicited material to our advertisers is prohibited. Assistants, Dentist, Apt/Property for Computers, Adoptions www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds Clinics, Medical sale/lease. USA, and many more Cancellation & Corrections: Possible only 1 week before the date of publication. (Place your Ad directly) Any advertisement cancelled before its publication will be charged a processing Services Canada, and India fee of $ 5. Visit: India Abroad Publications, Inc. Deadline for submitting Ads: 42 Broadway, Suite 1836. New York, NY 10004. Thursday 5:00 pm of the preceding week.

Matrimonial ALLIANCE for Jat Sikh girl, DENTIST sister invites GUJARATI PATEL parents invite HINDU Brahmin family looking HINDU Punjabi parents seek US born, attractive, fair, correspondence; from correspondence for USA born for an educated, well-settled and suitable match for US born, Bride dentist, 29/5’4”, graduated handsome, well-educated, daughter, 32/5’8”, tall, slim, mature groom from the NY/NJ beautiful, fair, slim, MD - doing established, professionals; for beautiful, doctor. Caste no bar. area; for their 30yr daughter, fellowship, 32yr/5'4”, never A HIGHLY educated/respected from a reputed university, US raised, never married, loving, Please email biodata & well-settled & lives in New York married, match must have North Indian Hindu family seeks status and well-educated attractive, 36/5’3”, Gujarati E.R, recent photograph to: City. US citizen & raised in US Graduate level education, be intelligent, tall, handsome, USA Physician sister practicing in [email protected] required. Email bio & recent career-minded, handsome, born/raised, non-smoker, 30-34, physician family; seeking caring, sincere, family oriented, well-qualified, clean Chicago. Please send bio/recent photo: athletic, personable, 5'9” - 6'2”, photo at: GUJARATI Patel parents invite [email protected] 32-36 & never married. accomplished professional with shaven, professional correspondence for US born strong moral values, for their [email protected] Email photograph, CV & bio daughter, 30/5’6”, slim, very fair, groom, physician or dentist daughter, 30 yrs/5'3'', widow, HINDU parents invite alliance to: [email protected] beautiful, compassionate, loving, preferred. ESTABLISHED Hindu Punjabi Masters in IT/Finance and well- from educated professionals, embodies East/West values. Ivy- Email details/photo to: parents invite correspondence settled. Email Biodata & recent residing in USA; for never I am 31yrs old & 5’3”, Gujarati from Hindu Punjabi family settled photo to: Vaishnav, working in the medical league educated senior executive. married, 40yr, MD. USA raised Please email biodata & recent [email protected] in Canada or U.S.; for their [email protected] profession; seeking never photograph to: daughter. Respond with recent ALLIANCE invited from Hindu Canadian born, fair and slim married US born boy. Email [email protected] daughter, 27 years of age. Gujarati, physician father invites photo/ biodate: biodata with photo: professionals, for US born Response from professionals correspondence from [email protected] [email protected] Alliance for fair Vadagalai daughter, Dentist (DMD), with picture and biodata. handsome, professionals in the Iyengar girl, Bharadwaj Pooram, Bengali, 27/5’6”, beautiful and [email protected] USA; for USA born daughter, HINDU parents invite match from NI Brahmin parents invite Sept 1978 / 5'3", B.Sc slim, raised with family values. 32 yrs/5'2", never married, professionals (willing to relocate to correspondence for their Computer Science, working in Parents: well-established GUJARATI Brahmin parents holding a masters degree. tri-state); for US born/ raised never daughter, (25yr) studying in Chicago, innocent divorcee. engineer and physician. Email: invite correspondence for US Beautiful, resides on east coast. married daughter, podiatric surgeon, MD program in a reputed US born physician daughter, 33/5’4”, Caste no bar. Email: bio/recent university, Undergraduate from Email biodata & recent photo: [email protected] fair/ pretty, E/W blend, 36/5'3". slim, beautiful, never married, photo : Email bio/recent photo to: a top US University, respond [email protected] CORRESPONDENCE invited for vegetarian. Please email biodata [email protected] [email protected] with biodata & photo at: daughter Doctorate in clinical with recent photos to: brahminvivah09@ ALLIANCE invited from well- psychology from Australia, [email protected] HARVARD educated executive, HINDU parents seek alliance for gmail.com educated/ well-established/ 32/5'3", fair, slim, smart, homely, beautiful, 34/5'8''/125, U.S. born, daughter, 24/5’1”, 2nd year serious minded Sikh Hindu, E/W blend, parents settled v.fair, affluent SI Brahmin family; GUJARATI parents invite medical student, from US SOUTH Indian Hindu Brahmin professionals, working in NY, NJ, in Canada. seeks accomplished professional, correspondence from medical students and residents. parents invite Brahmin CT, MD, DC & VA, for highly Email with details age 33-38, tall, never married, educated/professional, never Email photo and biodata at : correspondence from well- educated/ family oriented/ never [email protected] vegetarian. married, preferably physician; [email protected] educated professionals married/ beautiful, Arora/ Khatri (780) 641-7478 Email: [email protected] for their U.S. raised/citizen preferably tall; for daughter, daughter, 32/ 5’2”, working in B'FUL Software Eng, 28yrs/5'4'', BS GUJARATI parents seek professional GUPTA Physician parents invite daughter, 37/5'2'', never married, 24/5’7”, (B.E, M.S), currently NYC. Email recent MS Agarwal girl in USA. Seeking edu match; for beautiful, US born daughter, alliance for UK born daughter, beautiful, good-looking, slim, M.D. Contact residing in the US. photo/biodata: prof boy. Email: CPA, 32/ 5'7'', innocent divorce, 5 year fair, 27/5'1'', MBA, employed MNC; with biodata/photo to: from professionals: s- Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] daughter. Email: Biodata & photo: Ph: (978) 710-6106 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Continued on Page A45 Place your ad online www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds India Abroad March 19, 2010 A45

BENGALI Physician family seeks N INDIAN physician Uncle & Aunt TELUGU Boy, US Educated, alliance from tall, fair, pretty, educated, seeking professional Hindu/Sikh 31/5'10", MS; seeks 24-31. Store/ Space Classifieds family oriented girls; for son, 29/5’91/2”, match in USA/ Canada/ India, for $250K/yr. Caste no bar. handsome, USMD .Radiology Rent /Lease handsome, teetotaler, clean shaven [email protected] resident. Continued from Page A44 TELUGU Naidu parents seek for nephew, 31/ 5’9”, M.S, MBA, FRANKLIN SQUARE Email recent photo/ biodata to: Software Senior Consultant in MD daughter, 27, v.fair, US [email protected] Store for lease, 5000sqft NORTH Indian Hindu parents Dallas, H1Visa. Business / in busy shopping center. citizen 3rd year resident. Groom Email bio/recent photo to: invite correspondence from CANADIAN Hindu M.D. well- Great for Variety. should be Hindu, Telugu, 27-31, [email protected] Finance professionals; for US born and established in Ontario, 47 (brief US citizen, MD in [email protected] No rent 1st year. raised daughter, 27 years old, residency/fellowship. marriage), no issues, seeks (516) 334-1111 professional girl, 35+, no bars. Business Dentist, slim, fair, beautiful, Call (215) 393-0795 Parents seeking Hindu bride for Email bio/recent photo to: affectionate, with good family [email protected] Opportunities values. Send details with photo [email protected] 30yrs old/5’8”, Hindu (Sindhi), Office Space to: ALLIANCE for very beautiful, 36/5'4", (905) 884-2315 good-looking, Bachelor OPPORTUNITY YOU JACKSON HEIGHTS, Queens: 72- USMD vegetarian Hindu girl. Email 26 Broadway, 3fl office room. Space [email protected] CORRESPONDENCE DO NOT WANT TO MISS!!! biodata/photo to: Computer Science, well-settled, for rent. invited by NI parents for 31yrs old, NORTH INDIAN Hindu Punjabi [email protected] US Citizen, legally divorced son. Require Investment of Call (718) 457-2700 US born son; from educated girls. 150K individual/collectively parents invite correspondence; HINDU Brahmin girl, convent well-settled. Email with biodata & Call (847) 287-2171 or email: Commercial from suitable professionals, educated, professional business girl, recent photo to: to open chain of 29/5’1”. Call (718) 253-5695/ [email protected] preferably physicians in the Tri- [email protected] restaurants in India. 20% Space State area; for 26yrs/5’6", (718) 338-4525 PARENTS seeking Hindu bride, of profits will be paid For Rent 2500 sqft. on Oak Tree Road beautiful, attractive, intelligent SEEKING alliance for beautiful cultured HINDU Business family seeks Next to Moghul Express, top location. for handsome, tall, fair, 4/74, girl, 1st year resident in Sindhi Amil girl, 27/5'3”, US born MHA. alliance; for handsome son, beginning 4th month after Call (732) 946-0448 Anesthesia. Call (718) 445-0455. Send details to: [email protected] 41/5’7”, settled in Canada, USA born citizen with MBA, opening. Profit & loss divorcee, no liability. Family working for reputable company, Office : Reply w/photo & biodata: SI Hindu Physcian parents seek statement certified & [email protected] suitable alliance for their US born owns hotel, real estates; seeking lives in Manhattan. Comes from Available USMD daughter, 30 yrs, starting beautiful girl, family values, a Hindu, prestigious & prepared by reputed PUNJABI parents seeking match Neprology fellowship in Washington, respectable background. professional family, with mix of PROFESSIONAL office space 142-20 chartered accountants. Franklin Ave. 1200 sqft. $2200/P/M. for M.D. daughter, 31/ 5' 6", in DC July 2010; from US born Email biodata, photo: eastern & western values. fellowship training, US born, never Investment to be returned Handicap access. Walk to subway/ professionals preferably USMD. [email protected] Prefers to meet girl if living in NY married, lives in east coast,with Email: [email protected] in 2yrs. LIRR. 2 blocks to Main St Parking M.D.or professional. Send bio with HINDU parents invite City or vicinity. Email photo/bio available. Call (718) 762-3830/ (718) SEEK well-settled professionally Call (717) 407-5020 recent picture to: communication from very beautiful to [email protected] 445-3000 qualified Indian raised Punjabi boy [email protected] professional girls; for 29 years old/ settled in US; for their beautiful, smart 11 ROOM MOTEL FOR SALE, with 6'1'', tall, highly accomplished Telugu Naidu parents invite Employment daughter, June 80/5’5”, MD Pediatrics. manager's apt. 695K. Putnam County, SEEKING Catholic boy w/family resident surgeon in Chicago. USA alliance for son, 30, MD, US Respond: [email protected] NY. values, for niece, US resident, residents only. citizen, completing surgery Call (845) 225-1786 Help Wanted graduate, 27/5’3", very fair, [email protected] residency. Prefer Hindu attractive, Mangalorian Catholic. Matrimonial Telugu Doctors in residency GAS station/ conv.store with property A GARMENT IMPORT Email biodata with recent photo COMPANY Groom HINDU Punjabi parents seek Call (814) 769-6853 in Connecticut. Inside sale 850K. to: alliance; for US born, handsome, Asking 900K. Is looking for the following positions [email protected] for their Long Island (Farmingdale) [email protected] A HINDU Brahmin, fair, Athletic, Musical, IT Call (908) 421-9289 warehouse (Maharashtrian) US born citizen, Consultant with Prestigious firm, HINDU Punjabi Khatri Canadian LOCATION! Location! Location! Oak 1) Warehouse Assistant SI Brahmin family invites 33/5’9”, Wheatish, athletic, Citizen boy, 36/5'5'', handsome fair, 27yr/5'9”, never married, match tree Road, Little India, NJ store(s) for Manager. proposals from professionals; for Northwestern University undergrad, businessman, never married; seeks must have good sense of humor, rent in the heart of the Iselin. 1950 sq Minimum experience 2 years. daughter, 26/5', pretty and smart Master of Accounting (Ohio State), beautiful, between, 23-27yrs, professional, good-looking, family 2) Shipping assistant who has a oriented girl. Prefer from USA and ft or subdivide. Call (732) 887-4718 currently in law school & finishing US Federal Government Senior never married. Please email knowledge of Appointments, finance analyst; seeks educated, Canada. Caste no bar. Serious Routing , ASN’s for Chain Stores as in summer of 2010. Born & photograph, CV & bio to: Business raised in US with E-W affluent girl, age 25-32, currently enquiries only with recent photo and well as for department stores. [email protected] Biodata. [email protected] 2 Positions background. Email biodata with living in USA. Send Biodata & photo For Sale to: (Manhattan & Long Island) rec photo: IYER parents seek never HINDU, single, 46 yrs, good looking [email protected] JACKSON HTS/ QUEENS: 74th St. You can email us at: [email protected] married girl from South Florida, female, slim, US citizen, highly [email protected] educated, financially secure; looking T-Mobile store for sale. $1,10,000. Call ALLIANCE for 36 yrs/5'9'', US under 34, teetotaler, fair, (917) 822-8832 or fax your resumes SPECIALIST physician for an beautiful, medical professional, for a professional well settled man. (212) 398-2579 born, handsome South Indian Send details & recent photo: extremely beautiful doctor caste no bar, for never married Motels For Sale Nephrologist, slim, Garg, physician, busy practice, [email protected] GARMENT IMPORTER IN physician son, 42/6', slim, fair, PISCATAWAY LOOKING FOR: 33yrs/5’4”. Send recent photo North Florida. never married; PARENTS seek bride; for 33/5'11'', 16 ROOMS indpendent motel, handsome, CPA.,MD, US Merchandiser/ Production & biodata: Harvard MBA earning seven North Carolina. 2 bedroom house. Good seeks beautiful, well- citizen. condition & location. (843) 271-0147 Coordinator figures/annum. 170 Howard Oaks Drive, educated, Hindu girl. South Email recent photo/bio to: Coordinate with retail chain Macon, GA 31210. Email: [email protected] Indian/ North Indian. Caste [email protected] Store buyers/ overseas suppliers. Help Call (478) 361-5558/. PUNJABI Aggarwal family seeking VP sales in Customer meetings. Email: shyamgarg@ no bar.Please send recent JATSIKH parents invite match for their handsome son, 29/5'9'', For Sale/Lease Must have spreadsheet knowledge. photo and biodata to: Engineering from India, Masters from Citizen/GC/EAD only. sonalimports.com correspondence for son, 25/6'3", HUGE DOLLAR/ DISCOUNT [email protected] Ivy League educated & USA and working as Senior engineer Attractive salary/bonus/401K HINDU/ JAIN parents seek alliance for STORE FOR SALE practicing attorney, born & raised in California. Educated/ beautiful girl; Fax (908) 822-1270 USMD daughter, 26/5’5”, v.fair, slim, HINDU Parents invite alliance for from good family presently in USA on In Suffolk County in US. 22-25 yrs. MD/JD status Email: [email protected] Ophthalmology resident. Philadelphia; 31/5’7” son, Doctor doing Fellowship; any kind of visa is preferred. Please in busy shopping center. seeking USMD. from US based girl. Email bio/recent families only. Email bio/recent send bio-data/ recent picture: Excellent opportunity. Call for more photo: [email protected] details (631) 418-7731 [email protected] photo to: [email protected] [email protected] Continued on Page A46 Place your ad online www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds A46 India Abroad March 19, 2010

India Abroad Real Estate

Continued from Page A45 DRIVER/ CHAUFFEUR HELP WANTED OFFICE ASSISTANT LIVE-IN full-time Front Desk Clerk for LIVE IN/ OUT NANNY DUNKIN DONUTS College graduate with good a Full service Franchise Hotel in Needed for an infant & ACCOUNTANT WANTED Virginia. Fluent English and some Wood bridge area, Connecticut communication & computer skills 2 school going kids Experienced Aggressive CPA or computer skills needed. Send resume Looking for a full-time Need Manager & counter persons. (Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, in Long Island. Light house work. CPA Capabilities located in to: [email protected] personal driver/ Assistant, Legal status required. Manager PowerPoint & Mon–Fri. English/ Secaucus, NJ. We are an must have Dunkin Donuts Outlook) Email resume to: Long Island- Manhattan. LOOKING for 7 eleven employee, MA. Hindi speaking. importing and distribution experience. Good salary. Call [email protected] Accommodation + good pay. References required. company, looking for a small Drivers license, work (732) 456-4637 Call (646 346-0102 PC TECH/LAN Call (516) 625-1613 after 5 PM. business controller with strong authorization and English HELP WANTED IN ADMINISTRATOR LOOKING for experienced salesman accounting and office are a must. Car and LIVE-IN BABYSITTER LIQUOR STORE Build and configure desktops & to work diamond business. Must be management experience. This able to travel. Minimum: 3yrs NEEDED insurance are provided. At Grand Rapids Michigan. servers, maintain network and person will be responsible for Accommodation provided. experience. (646) 805-0305 or email: To care for 2 children Looking for someone who email systems A+Certification handling all day to day No transport needed. [email protected] in Shreveport, Louisiana. MCSE, knowledge of windows accounting functions for the is experienced, flexible, Experience and non-drinker Experienced and good small business server/ Need Gas Attendant for Mobil Gas company including payroll, and responsible to begin preferred. Station. Day and night shifts. referenced required. exchange, anti virus, Cisco benefits, accounts payable, as soon as possible. Call (616) 308-6735. 49-01 Van Dam Street, Queens. Call (404) 861-1054 firewall essential, virtual receivables, general ledger Tel (718) 786-7438 Please email contact IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR networking experience will be a maintenance, reconciliations, LIVE-IN NANNY/ information and references (2) Motel Managers & plus 3-5 years exp. Send NEED office help. For insurance office. and various office support Must speak Hindi, Punjabi and have HOUSEKEEPER to: samtycoon@ single or couple housekeepers for resume to: functions. Must have permission NJ Motel. Good Salary with nice computer skills a must. Need energetic nanny & [email protected] to work in USA. Please email a gmail.com living quarters. Contact: Call (718) 426-1195. housekeeper in NJ, full resume & salary [email protected] for 71/2 yr. and 21/2 yr old. DUNKIN DONUTS SECURITY CAREER NEED South Indian Cook in USA. requirements to: (609) 741-8880. Non-veg household. Hartford, Connecticut. OPPORTUNITIES, NY ONLY Please email resumes to: [email protected] No experience needed [email protected] References needed. Business Opportunity for KAS CARPET No High School or GED reqd Call (201) 951-8494. partnership. BY JFK SECRETARY Wanted for used car ACCOUNTANT Earn* Unarmed $8.00-$15.00 Must have Dunkin Donuts Bookkeepers dealership in Astoria. Req computer Looking for a full-time book Armed $17.00-$25.00 LIVE-IN/OUT NANNY/ experience & legal status Assistant Floor Manager. skills, paperwork. Monday to Saturday. Ask for Mr.Mohamed HOUSEKEEPER keeper. knowledge of basic Interested persons email: Prefer experience or we’ll train. Call @ (718) 545-0500 (917) 374-5656 Needed for 2 children (11 and 7) computer and data entry must. [email protected] Email resumes at: WANTED an Accountant immediately in Westchester, NY. Vegetarian Please email resume to: [email protected] COMPUTER: Software Engineer to independently handle bookkeeping, family. Must be able to drive, speak [email protected] EXPERIENCED (Edison, NJ): Analyze, dsgn, dvlp, test, administration and operational matters. some Hindi. TANDOORI CHEF MOTEL HELP WANTED comm protocol based products, create Knowledge of Quick Books essential. Call (914) 239-3171. BUSY MIAMI NORTH INDIAN Food Runner and Wait Staff Immediate opening for couple benchmarks, review test reports, Exposure to advertising business A babysitter needed at West Windsor, RESTAURANT required for Indian Restaurant (husband & wife). Needed to run debug, modify, enhance, implmt, preferred though not essential. The NJ. Call: (609) 933-1138 Seeking an experienced in Somerville, NJ. 50 Rms franchised hotel in PA. Free integrate, deploy & document comp. candidate should have a valid work assistant curry/tandoori chef. Accommodation provided, living quarters. Fluent English & s/ware apps dsgn'd for data center permit. Compensation is negotiable. LIVE-IN nanny Must speak English. proper legal status. capacity planning, branch circuit Starting salary is $550 per week Salary no consideration for right Reply to: [email protected] Quote Also be able to perform house including accommodation. candidate. Fax resume: (717) 397-7034 monitoring BMS installations. Debug, cleaning, cooking. Live-in Long Island. Email: Ref: Accountant for US Operations Email: [email protected] Call: (973) 953-9945. troubleshoot & fine tune live applies at (631) 987-7867. [email protected] client locs. Use the following Cell:+ 1.(305) 528-7099 Household Live-in nanny/housekeeper needed in technologies & tools: .Net Technologies +1 (786) 303-7099 FULL-TIME NEED EXPERIENCED NYC. References required. (917) 930-5000 (ASP.Net, VB.Net), ASP, Javascript, Help Wanted DATA ENTRY PERSON Front Desk Clerk for a franchise CASHIERS WANTED Visual C++, Oracle, SQL Server, SQL LONG ISLAND, NY - Seeking full-time Must have good communication motel in N Carolina. Email your Server D/base Administration & tuning, GUJARATI LIVE-IN live-out nanny for 3 month old baby Immediately in skills to handle incoming sales resume at: telecom & n/work protocols, XML, COOK AND HELPER living in Glen Cove, Long Island. Must Winchester, Virgina. Must calls. [email protected] or OPC, MODBUS, SNMP, C#. Masters Needed in Gaithersburg, speak fluent English. Housekeeping and cooking required. Call (646) 334- Call (212) 679-6521 fax (704) 868-3757 (U.S. equiv) & 3 yrs exp in comp Maryland. Room & board have work 9442. s/ware dvlpmt &/or consulting. Will provided. Willing to help relocate. authorization. GARMENT IMPORTER IN OFFICE HELP REQD accept a Bachelor's (U.S. equiv) & 5 Salary negotiable. Please NEED a live-in housekeeper in Call (703) 999-7748/ EDISON, NJ SEEKS: Must know yrs exp or 3 yrs college & 6 yrs exp contact: (240) 602-7589 or Hartford, CT. Call Alka (860) 830-1460 (703) 669-2849/ CFO/ Controller Good computer skills. in lieu. To work at unanticipated client This is a responsible locs. Respond to: FieldView Solutions, (240) 750-5717 NEED a live-in nanny for our baby boy. (540) 877-2385 Please call (917) 609-3880 Call (646) 932-7962 Gujarati speaking position Inc., 275 Raritan Center Pkwy, Edison, Dr.Nand Panjwani LIVE IN NANNY only. Citizen/GC/EAD only NJ 08837 (Ref: GG2911A-1). No EXPERIENCED email: phone calls. REQUIRED MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST/ Attractive salary/Bonus/401K [email protected] WANT a live-in baby- sitter/housekeeper in New York. FRONT OFFICE PERSON Email: [email protected] EXPERIENCED curry, South Indian for 4 year old twin girls FD/HK Couple needed. Vermont hotel. Monday to Friday. Call (914) 409-6276 MEDICAL BILLER tandoori cook, helper & waiter needed. Fax (908) 822-1270 Night FD/ HK & Laundry work. Prior in Little Neck. for busy family practice. (812) 333-0440 WANTED live-in nanny/ housekeeper CASHIER/ Receptionist wanted for hotel exp necessary. Good references, Call (718) 631-5059 2yrs USA experience must. 6 days/week, age less than 40 years. beauty salon in Manhattan. No English & Legal document a must. 10am-7pm. Mon-Sat HIRING Indian female Ayurvedic LIVE-IN nanny, cook and house keeper Call (646) 467-4383 experience necessary. Will train. Fluent Accommodation provided. Call Call (718) 309-0328 consultant (Veid) in Queens, NY. wanted in Boston, MA. Contact: in English. Excellent salary. (917) 238- (802) 683-9190 or email resume to: Fax resume to: (866) 372-8750 (917) 535-0299 (617) 751-0444 6603 [email protected] Continued on Page A47 Place your ad online www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds India Abroad March 19, 2010 A47

India Abroad Real Estate

Continued from Page A46 LONG ISLAND: 1Bath,1BR 1Living, 51 ST. 7 TH AVENUE, FOR SALE: PhPh-1-1 Last chance to own Out IN MANHATTAN. brand new construction, all included. OPEN HOUSE SldSootld O Residential Plots on Arun (516) 637-7800 Fully furnished & Tastefully done Job Wanted Nr. Theater District One BR Nicely. up 3BR/ 4 Ba Independent Villa. NOIDA (India) Expressway Furnished Condo with view , 24 hrs. OPEN HOUSE Limited Edition Residential Plots Sunday 2-4pm, WELL-EDUCATED and experienced Concierge, Gym, laundry Room. REGOPARK: 2BRs, ground level Built-in area 2,100 sq ft on 3,000 at Wish Town Noida nanny looking for job. References $2500. No fee Short/ long term. basement, 3 persons, windows. Rebuilt large high-end dream sq ft plot in well-secured, gated available. Contact (917) 651-3267 Call (347) 724-9290 $1100/-. Studio for single $600/- home in award winning community in Coimbatore, South including everything. (718) 271-5818. Herricks SD, 5bdrms, India. Contact: Doctors COLLEGE POINT 31/2 bth, gourmet EIK, on [email protected] Beautiful, large 3BR apt pvt RICHMOND HILL: 2BRs $600, 1BR 1/3 acre land. 43 Reed Drive, SEEKING PHYSICIAN house new kitchen/bathroom $300. Near A train. Store front Church MLS# 223677. Sheila (516) LUXOURIOUS Service apartment/ KENSINGTON PARK For Cardiology Office in Bayside, for rent. 25X40 $600. Owner with granite floor/ counter top. 610-9023 Bunglows with housekeeping, cooks, Just 10 Kms From Ashram Chowk, New Delhi Queens. Excellent salary and (917) 667-6230 100% Power Back Up, Near all. No pets. $1650 pm. Posh South Delhi area. benefits. Immediate opening Email: [email protected] Security & 24 Hours water supply Owner (347) 268-5214 BELLEROSE: Studio apartment House/Flat Very Few Units Left in Phase-2 Bayside New York. FMg +919810039024/+919990591400 Size : 153 to 239 Sq. Yds. encouraged to apply. (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom). Rent KEW GARDENS $700. Call (917) 912-8777. Sale/Lease:India LUXURIOUS furnished bungalow/ Renaissance Realty Please fax resume to: Two Bedroom apartment apartments, sector15 Panchkula/ (An associate of Jaypee Greens) BANGALORE real-estate apartments Delhi Office -Defence Colony (718) 465-9792 or email: available. Furnished & in good Chandigarh for NRIs, foreigners. Tel: SUNNYSIDE: 39-20 Green Point Ave. villas. Email: +91-11-9999598213, 9999598214 9815388686, 9417106225. gallardosystems@ condition. Large studio. Newly renovated. $1075. [email protected] [email protected], www.renrealty.in yahoo.com No pets/smoking allowed. Call Super # 1W. (718) 809-4590 Please call (718) 707-9700 Subscribe to India Abroad and get 5% Off on classified ads! Services / WOODSIDE: $650.00 share bath & BRIARWOOD: 1BR apartment kitchen. Near EFGR7V trains. Miscellaneous in quiet neighborhood. Excellent Call (718) 429-3963 condition. Call (718) 658-3738 WOODSIDE: 1BR for rent. Near all. FLUSHING: Studio apartment, near REAL ESTATE Home: (718) 956-7537/ Cell (347) 935- Q44 bus. Call (516) 724-7800. 5039 SUBSCRIPTION / RENEWAL / CHANGE OF ADDRESS Room For Rent FORESTHILLS/ QUEENS: One BROOKLYN: Room $350. Share bedroom apartment for rent. $1200 Apartment Please include my subscription for the term checked below: kitchen/ bath. Near R/N train. including utilities. Near subway. Call Call (718) 490-9517 Mukesh (516) 364-9539 House To Share
6 Months - $18 - 26 issues.
JACKSON HEIGHTS: Room for rent. JACKSON HTS: 2BR apt near train. ELMHURST: Room available, for lady to 1 Year - $32 - 52 issues. Note: These subscription rates Ladies or couple only. Call (917) 656- Pvt house. Family preferred. Owner share, an apt. Call (718) 651-9319.
2 Years - $60 - 104 issues. 3253 are applicable only within (718) 565-8911
5 Years - $125 - 260 issues. US territorial limits QUEENS: Looking for female to NEED roommate for one room KEW GARDENS HILLS: Best area,
share two bedroom apartment, near 10 Years - $220 - 520 issues. separate. Share kitchen, bathroom and walk-in furnished studio apt. subway, $650. Call Seema (347) 924- living room, close to A&Etrain. Rent Tel (718) 268-0916/ cell (347) 831- 3108 $350 include 4880 Name: internet. Contact (646) 280-0343. Address: Property City: State: For Sale Zip: LAND FOR SALE $1.5M Tel: (Off.) (Res.) 6 acres Upper Brookville, N.Y. Want 5% off on West View Drive, LI, NY Email: Lot #40 5 Acre zoning Payment enclosed: $ Beautiful Residential


Communityat end of cul-de-sac classified ads? Charge my: VISA MC AMEX Lane Realty (631) 629-4240 Card no. Apartment/ Exp Date: House To Rent Subscribe to
Change Please attach the mailing label from the front page of address for subscription renewal. Write in the address above QUEENS, REGO PARK: Large Studio. Call for change of address. (347) 806-0914 & renewal

FLUSHING, NORTHERN BLVD. Modern 1BR. 2nd floor, balconry. Near Mail to: INDIA ABROAD, 42 Broadway, Suite 1836, New York NY 10004. Shopping mall/ subway. (917) 865- Tel: 1.877.463.4222 • Fax: 212.627.9503 • Email: [email protected] 7470/ (718) 886-4054 Place your ad online www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds FRIDAY, March 19, 2010 INDIA ABROAD www.indiaabroad.rediff.com A FINE DINING RESTAURANT IN FAMILY PRACTICE / URGENT CARE SAN FRANCISCO (BAY AREA) FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY is looking for FIRST STOP URGENT CARE CENTER North Indian Chef IS SEEKING A BOARD CERTIFIED / with at least three years of experience. ELIGIBLE FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN Forward all resumes to FOR A ONCE IN A LIFETIME BUSINESS Bulletin Board OPPORTUNITY TO OWN AND RUN Bulletin Board [email protected] Or call 650-444-1383 to schedule an appointment YOUR OWN MEDICAL PRACTICE. To advertise in the Bulletin Board call toll free (800) 822-3532 for an interview. WE ARE LOCATED IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY AND MADISON, INDIANA. BUSINESS FOR SALE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES EDUCATION LARGE PATIENT BASE AND PAYOR MIX. OPEN 7 DAYS / WEEK / 365 DAYS / YEAR Store for Sale CORPORATE GAS STATIONS NYS Certified Maths Teacher FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM. NO HOSPITAL WORK. C-STORE (HIGH VOLUME), SALE Tutoring K-12, in Brunswick Georgia Homework, ONLY SERIOUS CANDIDATES NEED APPLY. Over $40,000 monthly sale NORTH & SOUTH CAROLINA Regents, SAT. J1 APPLICANTS WELCOME. + Lot comm W/ OR W/OUT REAL ESTATE Chandi (718) 507-0379 PLEASE FORWARD CV TO Asking price $250,000 with 1/2acre property. STORES VALUES $150K-$600K [email protected] Very low price, absentee owner. MUST HAVE $200K DOWN HELP WANTED THE ATTENTION OF SHANNA STIVERS DAVE Call (774) 249-0413 FINANCING: QUALIFIED BUYER Curry Chef/Waiter/Captain 502-593-0083 Well-Established Part-Time Wanted for Indian Restaurant (678) 851-2004 Long Island, New Hyde Park. Jewelry Business Sale Retail Store Opportunities Will sponsor right person. HELP WANTED * Excellent income in the Cellular Industry Anil Bhatia Wanted a Young, * Excellent tax shelter Well-established company Energetic, Single Male * Excellent hours in the cellular industry (516) 503-9666 * Excellent rent above the age of 38 years, is looking to expand Denver, Colorado, to run a new Saturdays & Sundays only! retail stores with partners Owner retiring. in the Baltimore / DC area. Indian Restaurant Quiznos franchise Total price $325K Must have previous experience Expd Tandoori Cook, in Arkansas, USA. includes all merchandise, with operating cellular stores. Free Accommodation. Good Pay. Email: [email protected] furnishing & heavy duty safes. Call (202) 246-7200 (303) 669-0740 Experienced (732) 979-7520 Waiters Needed BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES CHOKSHI, MUND & RACZKOWSKI, P.C. - CPA’S AND CONSULTANTS Bay Leaf Restaurant. Selling: YOU MAY THINK ALL CPA FIRMS ARE THE SAME, BUT ARE THEY? Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Most firms can prepare business and individual income tax returns, but do they have the expertise Call (225) 933-9635 C-Store - Astoria and experience to advise with the following ? MEDICAL Pizzeria - Manhattan Ç Establishing a business in India or in the US if you presently operate in India or any other foreign country? Ç Your business operates in one state but desires to expand in other US states and needs to evaluate Nexus issues? FAMILY PRACTICE FOR SALE Nail Salon - Forest Hills Ç Determining the proper retirement and tax-free fringe benefit program? Clark, New Jersey (917) 929-6194 Ç Restructuring the mortgage and other debt of your business to enhance cash flow? Asking: 1 year’s gross income. CEOBizBroker Ç Counseling with business succession? (732) 548-2526 (9AM - 5PM) Ç Evaluating the exercise of Qualified and Non-Qualified Stock Options and other equity and non-equity compensation (908) 337-3444 (After 5 PM) GAS STATION SPECIALIST agreements? www.fillerupgroup.com Ç Trustworthy opinions in evaluating insurance products? REAL ESTATE: INDIA (212) 786-2320 Ç Financial, investment and retirement planning recommendations? Land (Sale) Gas Station with Convenient Store We are a firm located in central Connecticut large enough to provide candid, practical advice and services Near Chennai Gas 65 to 75 thousand gallons, related to any of the above and other areas and yet small enough to give you personalized attention. Kovalam Village. store 60K per month (high margin) Call us at (860) 563-2854 or visit us at www.chokshicpa.com 8 grounds. + Lotto+ ATM. 15years lease left. Gated community. Installed new pumps, piping & control 07. (732) 326-6116 Net Rent $3000 per month. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES HELP WANTED Running 100% absentee. Golf Green, Kolkata Making net 20K plus per month. Grocery Deli EXPERIENCED Near South City Great potential for right operator. TANDOOR CHEF, 2nd Floor 2Bdrm/2Bath Located in Connecticut, Brooklyn, Bay Ridge sales $90,000 to $100,000. ALASKA with Balcony/Kitchen/ one hour drive to city. Owner retiring. Living-cum-Dining Price 350K + inventory. monthly net's $20,000. to $23,000. MAY-SEPTEMBER GREAT SALARY- flat for sale in a monthly total overhead expense $11,300. No notes, no negotiations. ACCOMMODATION. G+3 building with Elevator. Only serious parties. Rent $1,800. Ten year lease no increase (917) 703-7294 Garage available. Call (203) 917-9089 asking $625K + inventory all cash. (610) 761-2518 Need Experienced Waiters, [email protected] 1825 2nd Ave. N.Y.C. CAPITAL PROOF REQUIRED Tandoor Chef, Between 94th & 95th St. (718) 501-9990 Ali Curry Chef Popular Fastfood Retail Store Opportunities for busy restaurant Mexican Franchise in the Cellular Industry in St.Louis, Missouri. Just vacated, no investment Well-established company (314) 537-0186 or key money needed in the cellular industry Reputed Indian Restaurant + all equipment is looking to expand Columbus, Ohio needs & seating in place, full basement, retail stores with partners Curry Chef , Asst Manager long lease (owner). in the Tri-State area. & Waiters immediately. Find your Must have previous experience Sponsorship/accommodation/ (516) 380-7889 with operating cellular stores. health insurance. BP Franchise Call (646) 465-4084 Vince (614) 783-7526 Life Partner in our for lease in Florida corner location. Gas Station w/Liquor, Sales Rep Wanted Lease (15 Years) with 1-2yrs Experience Matrimonial Pages. Nike (561) 842-8050 For a T-Mobile Lansing Area, Michigan, Check Cashing Store (Sale) exculsive dealer Call: (646) 432-6033/6026 Rockville, Maryland. Inside $110K, 45K/M Gas, High Salary + Commission. Looking: quick sale. Asking $185K, $6900/M Rent. Call (516) 304-8320 Email: [email protected] (301) 523-4050 Raj (717) 608-0435 (516) 567-2355