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Vol.7 No. 9 June 28-July 4, 2014 60 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info US advances to knockout round in World Cup

Recife, Brazil: The US may have a soggy turf, the U.S. stayed lost a game Thursday, but it won close enough to the both a huge amount of respect and world’s No. 2 team to finish The US team posing before their World Cup match with Germany Thursday. a spot in the World Cup’s second second in its group, allowing it to round despite dropping a 1-0 deci- advance to meet the winner of 1-0, and Algeria and Russia drew four World Cups that the US has but we took the chance and we sion to Germany in the group-play Group H in the knockout round 1-1, so Belgium and Algeria advanced beyond the group stage. move on and now we really want final for both teams. On goals aver- Tuesday in Salvador. The final advance. Powerhouse Germany, meanwhile, to prove a point,” US coach age, US beat Portugal to third Group H standings were deter- Germany, the group winner, will has reached the semifinals in six of Klinsmann said afterward. polace though both had 4 points mined in Thursday’s late games play Algeria which finished sec- the last eight World Cups. “The commitment was great, I each. In a game marred by rain and when Belgium beat South Korea ond. This marks the third time in “Everyone said we had no chance, Continued on page 4 Modi confidante Amit Shah Kanojia’s Aereo would have put cable TV out of set to be BJP president business, but loses at Supreme Court New York: The US Supreme Court but today’s decision sends a chill- New Delhi: BJP general secre- ruled June 25 that New York-based ing message to the technology tary Amit Shah’s elevation as the Aereo, an internet company started industry,” he argued. party president is as good as final by Indian American Chet Kanojia Had Aereo and other similar and an announcement can be has to pay broadcasters when it companies been allowed to operate expected any time, according to takes TV programs from the air- without paying for programming, party sources. Shah, a close aide waves and allows subscribers to more people would be likely to of Prime Minister Narendra watch them on any devices. drop cable services, meaning Modi, has been in charge of the In a 6-3 decision, the justices broadcasters would get less income party in Uttar Pradesh where the ruled that Aereo violates broadcast- for the rights to transmit their pro- BJP won 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha ers’ copyrights by taking the sig- grams. seats. nals for free. The ruling allows TV Available in New York, Boston, After party president Rajnath networks to continue to reap large Houston and Atlanta and seven Singh joined the government as fees from cable and satellite sys- other metro areas, Aereo uses thou- Home Minister, the BJP has been tems that transmit their program- sands of dime-size antennas to cap- in consultation with its ideologi- Indian American ming. ture TV signals and transmit them cal mentor, the RSS, to find a Amit Shah, a close aide of Chaitanya ‘Chet’ Kanojia said in a statement that to subscribers who pay as little as replacement. Other contenders Prime Minister Narendra Kanojia showing an the company would continue to $8 a month for the service. for the post have been J.P. Nadda Modi, was made in charge of Aereo antenna, small enough fight. “Today’s decision by the Company executives and promi- and Om Mathur, from Himachal the party in Uttar Pradesh to fit on the tip of a finger. Supreme Court is a massive set- nent Aereo investor Barry Diller Pradesh and Rajasthan respec- where the BJP won 71 of the back for the American consumer. worked diligently to create a tech- previously said their business Continued on page 4 80 Lok Sabha seats. We’ve said all along that we nology that complies with the law, Continued on page 4

OP ED 12 DIASPORA 14 MEDICINE 15 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30 excellence in journalism TheSouthAsianTimes.info June 28-July 4, 2014 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY June 28-July 4 , 2014 3 Edison Township decides IBA as sole Judge Sri Srinivasan is India organizer for India Day parade Abroad Person of the Year New York: By Ashok Ojha Srikanth Srini- vasan, the first Edison, NJ: Ending South Asian ori- the uncertainty over gin federal judge the fate of India Day in the US, is the parade in Edison NJ, India Abroad the administration of Person of the Srikanth Srinivasan, (right) Prof Arogyaswami Edison Township in Year 2013. Judge Paulraj, recipient of Lifetime Achievement award New Jersey has de- Sri catapulted cided in favor of In- into greatness when, as an Assistant Arogyaswami J Paulraj, profes- dian Business Asso- to the Solicitor General, he became sor emeritus at Stanford University, ciation (IBA) by al- the first Indian American to argue was the recipient of Lifetime lowing it to organize before the US Supreme Court in Achievement award. He trans- parade celebrating November 2002. He went on to formed the Indian Navy’s sonar system before coming to Stanford India’s Independ- August 10 was declared as the parade date at IBA’s kick-off meeting serve as Principal Deputy Solicitor ence Day through General before becoming the first at age 48 and revolutionizing wire- the Oak Tree Road Tree Road. IBA filed lawsuits de- years. Sapna Shah, Edison council- South Asian American to be nomi- less technology. Kumar Barve, who leading towards Iselin-Woodbridge manding the reversal of that order. woman, announced at the meeting nated as a federal judge in the DC became in 1990 the first Indian section of the Indian owned mar- The local Indian community was that the Township’s order repre- Court of Appeals, America’s sec- American to be elected to a state ketplace. Accordingly, the board of deeply divided over two parades sented its support for unity in the ond highest court. legislature (Maryland), received IBA, a representative body of New taking place the same day in the Indian American community. “We He was not only confirmed 97-0 Lifetime Service to the Communi- Jersey’s Indian owned businesses, same area. should respond by organizing a by the US Senate in May 2013, the ty award. Anuradha Bhagwati, a announced at on 19th June the pa- Most people viewed it as a sym- spectacular show on 10th August.” first confirmation to this court in former Marine, won the Publish- rade date as 10h August. The kick bol of disunity within the commu- “The local community will enjoy seven years, but also instantly er’s Special Award for Excellence. off meeting was attended by hun- nity, pushing community leaders the extended length of the parade earned the buzz of a US ‘Supreme The award for Community Service dreds of IBA supporters, public of- like Councilman Dr. Sudhanshu along Oak Tree Road this year and Court nominee-in-waiting.’ went to Mallika Dutt and Deepa ficials and business professionals. Prasad and Peter Kothari to pas- be proud of our heritage”, said Judge Sri formally accepted the Iyer. Arvind Mahankali (Scripps Since 2012 Edison Township had sionately advocate for unity. Dhiren Amin, president of IBA. highest honor of India Abroad last National Spelling Bee 2013) and allowed another organization to According to Satish Poondi, “This year’s parade will clearly Friday at a ceremony at The Pierre Sathwik Karnik (winner of the Na- hold a parade along Oak Tree IBA’s legal advisor, Edison Town- demonstrate the power and heres. The India Abroad Person of tional Geographic Bee 2013) were Road, confining the older IBA pa- ship agreed to issue the permit in strength of the community”, said the Year Awards honored 11 given the Special Award for rade to the Iselin section of Oak favor of IBA for at least seven Assemblyman Raj Mukherjee. achievers in eight categories. Achievement. No honeymoon period luxury, all steps in national interest: Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his one Modi said that several chief ministers have met him in the month in office, said in a blog post on June 26 that every Prime past month and extended their good wishes and spoken about decision taken by his government has been guided “solely by Minister issues concerning their states. “I look forward to working national interest” and his numerous meetings with ministers Narendra closely with them in the times to come,” he said. and officials have led to the regime coming up with “excel- Modi reflects “I feel there are areas where surely we need to improve. A lent road maps” for moving ahead. on completing big challenge I am facing in Delhi is to convey to a select Modi, who was sworn in May 26 after the BJP’s stunning one month in group of people about our intentions and sincerity to bring a victory in the elections, said he does not have the luxury of a office positive change in this country. These are people who are “honeymoon period.” both within and outside the government system. “In the last month, our entire team has devoted every single “There have been some instances in the last month with moment for the welfare of the people. Every decision we which our Government had nothing to do yet these contro- took has been guided solely by national interest,” he wrote. versies have persisted. I don’t blame anybody but I surely Modi said at the time of taking over, he was assailed with feel that we need to strengthen systems whereby the right the thought that he was new to the place and “some people things are communicated to the right people at the right time. believed that I would take at least a year or even two to learn Hopefully things will change then,” he wrote. the intricacies of the working of the central government.” said in his blog post, whose link was posted on his Twitter Referring to the so-called “honeymoon period” of his gov- “Fortunately, a month later that thought does not exist any handle. ernment, Modi wrote: “Previous governments had the luxury longer in my mind. My confidence and determination has The prime minister said that he has been meeting ministers of extending this ‘honeymoon period’ up to a 100 days and increased tremendously and I credit a substantial part of this and officials from various departments over the past few days even beyond. Not unexpectedly I don’t have any such luxury. to the collective experience and wisdom of my ministerial and listening to their presentations, which have “enabled a Forget 100 days, the series of allegations began in less than a colleagues and also to my experiences as a four time chief wonderful exchange of thoughts and ideas and we have come hundred hours. But when one is working with the sole aim of minister. The affection of the people and support from offi- up with excellent road maps for the various ministries and serving the nation determinately, these things do not matter. cials has also added to this confidence in large measure,” he departments”. That is why I keep working and that is most satisfying.” 4 June 28-July 4, 2014 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

US advances to knockout ... US sanctions two LeT leaders Cabinet clears China MoU for Continued from page 1 wish we had more possession and created more chances but maybe we are saving that for the industrial parks next one. blamed for Mumbai attacks New Delhi: The Indian government has given in principle “It is huge, huge step and now we can't wait approval to an MoU to allow China to set up industrial parks for the round of 16." Washington: The US on them. "In targeting LeT leadership, the country. The move comes ahead of the five-day visit of The only score Germany would need to win Wednesday slapped sanctions on today's action demonstrates our Vice-President Hamid Ansari to China from Thursday. China, the group came in the 55th minute. U.S. keeper two key figures of Pakistan-based unrelenting commitment to combat- which has established five industrial parks in ASEAN coun- Tim Howard made a spectacular diving save on terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba ing terrorism by disrupting terrorist tries like Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam, is keen to set up a shot by Per Mertesacker only to see the (LeT), blamed for the deadly 2008 groups' financial activities," David similar industrial parks in India. The states being examined rebound bounce out to an unmarked Thomas Mumbai terror attack in which near- Cohen, treasury department under- for the purpose include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mueller at the edge of the 18-yard box. From ly 170 people were killed and hun- secretary for terrorism and financial Haryana. there Mueller bent a right-footed shot just inside dreds injured. The Department of intelligence, said in a statement. The details of the MoU for setting up industrial parks would the far post for his third goal in as many games. Treasury added Nazir Ahmad The US State Department listed be available after the signing of the memorandum, Law and The U.S. pushed for the tying goal in stoppage Chaudhry and Muhammad Hussein LeT as a foreign terrorist organiza- Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said after a cabinet time but Alejandro Bedoya's open shot was Gill, who have served as vice presi- tion in December 2001, and the meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The stopped by a sliding German defender and sec- dent and CFO of the LeT respective- group was added to the UN sanc- industrial parks are expected to include special economic ond later a Clint Dempsey head went over the ly, to its list of specially designated tions list in 2005. zones and manufacturing zones. Commerce and industry net by inches. global terrorists, Xinhua reported. The Treasury Department said the Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is accompanying Ansari to The sanctions ensure freeze of their group was responsible for the China. Sitharaman is to hold talks with her Chinese counter- Kanojia’s Aereo would have... assets on US soil and bar American November 2008 terrorist attack in part Gao Hucheng to discuss bilateral trade and investment, Continued from page 1 citizens from doing business with Mumbai. which is heavily tilted in China's favour. model would not survive a loss at the Supreme Court. The National Association of Broadcasters praised the court for rejecting Aereo’s argument India announces concessions to cement ties with Bangladesh that the lawsuit was an attack on innovation. Kanojia, who holds more than 14 patents in Dhaka: India Thursday eased visa norms willingness to increase the frequency of the fields ranging from robotics to data communica- and agreed to supply more power to Maitree Express train service and the num- tions systems, is an innovative leader known for Bangladesh as part of decisions to scale up ber of air-conditioned coaches between the pushing beyond the conventional and develop- bilateral ties, with External Affairs Minister two countries. ing breakthrough solutions. Sushma Swaraj saying only an equitable She also proposed that India and He holds a master's degree in Computer partnership with Dhaka could ensure a Bangladesh should work on a possible Systems Engineering from Northeastern prosperous South Asia. Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus service. University and a bachelor's degree in In measures aimed at firming up rela- Sushma Swaraj promised to build better Mechanical Engineering from the National tions, Sushma Swaraj held comprehensive ties with Bangladesh on all fields including Institute of Technology in Bhopal. discussions with Prime Minister Sheikh trade, investment, transport, capacity build- Hasina and her Bangladeshi counterpart ing, environment-friendly practices and Modi confidante Amit Shah... which an official said were "constructive means that promote equitable development Continued from page 1 and productive, fruitful and successful". in the region. Earlier Thursday, the tively. The main contention against Shah has External Affairs Minister Sushma On the second and penultimate day of her Bangladeshi foreign minister quoted been that if he becomes president, both the Swaraj met Bangladesh PM Sheikh visit, the Indian minister told a think tank Sushma Swaraj as saying that India was Prime Minister and the party chief would be Hasina in Dhaka. here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trying to reach a consensus on a water shar- from the same state -- Gujarat. But a senior new government was focused on "produc- Bangladeshi nationals below 13 and above ing formula for the Teesta river so that a party source indicated that it is no longer con- tive partnerships" with its immediate neigh- 65 years of age would be eligible for five- treaty could soon be signed. sidered a roadblock for Shah.. bors. year multiple entry visas as against the cur- Bdnews24.com quoted him as saying that Amit Shah’s strategic acumen has been a big "We are convinced that India's develop- rent period of one year. Sushma Swaraj was hopeful about imple- asset for the party in the Lok Sabha elections ment cannot be complete and sustainable External affairs ministry spokesman Syed menting the long-pending Land Boundary but what weighs against him is a pending charge unless we succeed in building productive Akbaruddin also said that India had agreed Agreement "very soon". He said Sushma in the Tulasiram Prajapati fake encounter case. partnerships with our immediate neigh- to supply an additional 100 MW of power Swaraj had sought a special economic zone Shah’s plea for discharge from the case was bours," she said. from the Palatana project in Tripura to for Indian investors. The two ministers also pending for the final order that was expected In her first trip abroad as foreign minister, Bangladesh. discussed matters like security, trade, bor- any time, but the transfer on Wednesday of the Sushma Swaraj told Dhaka that Sushma Swaraj also confirmed India's der issues and counter-terrorism. judge who heard it will delay it now.

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The views expressed on the opinion pages and in the letters to the editor pages are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of The South Asian Times. The editor/publisher does not warrant accuracy and cannot be held responsible for the content of the advertisements placed in the publication and/or inaccurate claims, if any, made by the advertisers. Advertisements of business or facilities included in this publication do not imply connection or endorsement of these businesses. All rights reserved. TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY June 28-July 4, 2014 5 Vinod Dadlani pleads guilty in Meng awards Indian American students with Congressional Medal $200 m credit card fraud scheme New York: An Indian businessman, in- Medal is Congress’ highest award for youth volved in one of the largest credit card fraud schemes ever prosecuted by US federal au- New York: U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and cleaned and painted churches, senior citi- thorities, has admitted to his role in the con- presented Indian-American student Soham zen facilities, and public schools. He also spiracy and now faces a maximum penalty of Daga with the Congressional Award Gold helped install and maintain landscaping. In ad- 30 years in prison and a US$ 1 million fine. Medal, Congress’ highest award for youth. dition, he spent a summer serving communi- The banking fraud amounted to US$ 200 Daga is among 14 Indian American students ties in India by organizing medical camps and million in losses to businesses and financial from the Tristate area to be awarded the teaching students. For his personal develop- institutions. The guilty, Vinod Dadlani (51) medal. The list includes Akilesh Tangella, ment, Daga engaged in policy debate and be- of New Jersey, is scheduled for sentencing in Ward Melville High School, South Setauket, came captain of his high school policy debate September. New York; Noshin Khan, Central Islip Senior team. Dadlani, who owns a jewelry store, plead- High School, Islip, New York; and Suveer De- To maintain his physical fitness, he pursued ed guilty before US District Judge Anne sai, New Hartford High School, New Hart- his fervor for cycling and swimming. Thompson in Trenton federal court to an in- ford, New York, Sahaj Viradia, University of For his expedition, Daga embarked – with formation charging him with one count of Miami, from Holmdel, N.J.; Neha Gupta, In- his father – on a six-day hike on the Ap- conspiracy to commit bank fraud. dian Hills High School, Franklin Lakes; Raja palachian Trail where he learned skills such as He used his business to further one of the Atluri, West Morris Mendham High School, camping. largest credit card fraud schemes ever Chester; and Hari Ravichandran, New Jersey The Congressional Award Gold Medal, a charged by the Justice Department, and is the Institute of Technology, Holmdel, NJ; Puspa public-private partnership established by Con- 17th conspirator to plead guilty in the case, Chamlagai, Furness High School, Philadel- gress in 1979, is open to all youth ages 14 to New Jersey US Attorney Paul Fishman said Daga and Meng during the ceremony phia; Hari Gautam, Pennsylvania State Uni- 23. The ceremony in Washington, D.C. took in a statement. in Washington, D.C. Also pictured: versity, Philadelphia; Saraswati Nepal, South place this past Thursday afternoon. Dadlani was indicted in October 2013 as Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens/Bronx). Philadelphia High School; Bishnu Rimal, Daga is set to graduate from Stuyvesant part of a conspiracy to fabricate more than South Philadelphia High School; Govinda ness activities, and a four-night expedition or High School at the end of the month, and plans 7,000 false identities to obtain tens of thou- Subedi, Pennsylvania State University, exploration. to attend Princeton University in the fall. He sands of credit cards. His associates doctored Philadelphia; and Laxmi Dulal, Pennsylvania “Soham is an exceptional young man who expects to major in financial engineering. credit reports to pump up the spending and State University, Philadelphia. worked tirelessly to help others and achieve In addition to earning the Congressional borrowing power associated with the cards. Meng awarded the 17-year-old Daga with very challenging goals,” said Meng. “I’m Award Gold Medal, Daga was a finalist in the They then borrowed or spent as much as they the honor during a special ceremony on Capi- proud of Soham for earning this huge honor, 2014 Intel Science competition (where he met could, based on the phony credit history, but tol Hill that recognized all 283 Congressional and it’s a privilege to congratulate him.” President Obama). He was also honored by the did not repay the debts. These debts were in- Award Gold Medal recipients from across the Daga – who resides in Meng’s district in Society of Science. Further, he took part in the curred at Dadlani's jewelry store, among country. To earn the award, individuals must Forest Hills, New York – fulfilled his commu- Intel International Science and Engineering many other locations, where he would allow spend two years or more completing at least nity service by volunteering for Boy Scouts Fair earlier this year where he won first prize fraudulently obtained credit cards to be 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of service projects in New York City, particular- for global statistics and third prize for social swiped in phony transactions. both personal development and physical fit- ly in the borough of Queens. He cleaned parks science and economics research.

Event Promotion

"Naach 360 2014” mesmerizes: Do you know how fortunate are Nritya Creations Dance Academy’s those who get the blessings of Broadway style concert was held at North Brunswick High a Satguru on Guru Poornima? School, New Jersey on June 21st. The show Get the personal blessings of Satguru Brahmrishi began with the junior kids fol- Sri Guruvanand Ji Swami “Gurudev” on this Guru lowed with the Poornima and become that fortunate person! adult's category during the four hour program. For much jam packed audito- rium, the show added new sequences from classical - Bharatanatyam, Indian VENUE: Semi- Classical, Fusion and Western dance techniques that including Ballet, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Jazz and Hip Hop and Bollywood styles. (Photo by: Abhilash Christy) 1 Center St., Newark, New Jersey Share and Care’s art event draws enthusiastic response DATE AND TIME: Saturday, July 12, 2014 New Jersey: Share and Care, a New Jersey 3 PM to 8 PM based nonprofit organization, partnering Followed by Gurudev’s personal with communities, philanthropists and local charitable organizations, is hosting events in blessings and Prasad (dinner). the Tri State area to create awareness and fundraising for various causes such as Registration is required for this healthcare, women’s empowerment and ed- complimentary (no-charge) event. ucation. First event in a series was kicked off on Father’s day, June 15, with an Art Com- Brahmrishi Sri Guruvanand Ji TO REGISTER, VISIT petition for kids. 150 young kids (ages 5-14) Swami “Gurudev” is one of the www.GuruPoornima2014.com showcased their creativity and talent at “It’s Or CALL Time to Create Your Masterpiece” depicting few living Satgurus. He has (516) 484-0018, Colors of India. SCF also presented a short One of the prize winning masterpiece Rakesh Bhargava video “I have a Dream” for kids to learn invoked all Chakras of his Bharti Doshi (516) 282-4353, about children in India and their needs. Event privileged and changes lives. Winners walked Kundalini and achieved all Siddhis. Suman Kumar (201) 562-2788. was organized and managed by Aha Designs. away with prizes such as X-Box, Nintendo The purpose of the Art Competition was to 2DS, WII and Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire and FREE buses from Long Island, Queens, Edison, raise awareness of parents and children that IPOD Touch. For more info on the organization their support to the Foundation benefits under- and its events visit www.shareandcare.org Jersey City and Northern New Jersey. 6 June 28-July 4, 2014 TRISTATE COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info More Indian students heading to America IN BRIEF Inaugural Wellness Festival on New Delhi: After declining for some years, the “The flexibility of subjects, and the practical number of Indian students heading to the Unit- learning you get there. It is because of the expo- ed States for graduate and undergraduate stud- sure you get in the U.S. I do not think any oth- June 28 in East Windsor ies is surging. A major factor is the lack of qual- er country can provide you with the exposure.” ayor Janice Mironov will be questions. ity universities in India to cater to a huge, young Another student says, “It was my dream, it inaugurating the first Wellness - Sprayology offers the latest ad- population. was like my ambition do my higher studies in MFestival on June 28 at 10 am vancement in homeopathic and vitamin Hundreds of students have been lining up at U.S.” in East Windsor Target Center parking oral sprays, and will demonstrate how the American Embassy in New Delhi this sum- Indian students account for about 12 percent lot, New Jersey. attendees can deal with health issues us- mer to get a visa to study in a college in the of foreign students in the United States - the sec- During the daylong free-for-all event, ing homeopathy. United States. Besides Delhi, they come from ond highest after China. several experts in the health field will be - Jim Rose, M. Ed, has been a medi- smaller cities such as Jaipur and Lucknow in But their numbers dipped between 2009 and on-hand to discuss topics ranging from tation practitioner and international northern India. 2012, when the American economy slowed due natural health, to body fat composition speaker for more than 30 years. As a Some are headed for undergraduate studies in to the global financial crisis. Officials at the to Jyothi meditation. member of the Science of Spirituality, a commerce and engineering, others are going to American Embassy in New Delhi say numbers Events include: global non-profit, non-denominational pursue a masters in American universities. are surging again, 40 percent more student visas - Dr. Dave Wendel of the Natural organization, Jim will lead hands-on Health and Wellness Center will be con- workshops focused on Jyothi meditation One student explains the reason of his choice, have been issued since October 2013. ducting health care screenings covering and spirituality, and their application to blood pressure checks, body mass in- daily life. dex, body fat analysis, stress analysis - Hand & Stone will be conducting Rupal Shah Palanki confirmed and breast cancer information. free chair massages, free skin scans, and - Retro Fitness Expert Trainers will offering the latest in facial care advice. demonstrate total-body workouts, boot Brand experts will provide guidance on Connecticut Superior Court Judge camps and offer Body Fat Composition the various types of massages and facial analysis in addition to answering fitness care services to best benefit the body.

New York: With her confir- site. Shah-Palanki also repre- mation as a judge for the Tol- sented the Departments of Four Indian-Americans killed in car land District Superior Court in Banking, Revenue Services, Connecticut, Rupal Shah Insurance and Economic and accident in Texas Palanki, becomes the first In- Community Development our Indian-Americans, including and charged with four counts of intox- dian-Indian American to be and the Office of Policy and two women, were killed and an- ication manslaughter. appointed to the Superior Management on litigation-re- Fother was injured in a car crash Shanumati Bhatt, another passenger Court in the state. The 41- lated matters before state trial, in the US state of Texas, media report- in the car, was injured and was rushed year-old Shah-Palanki of West state appellate and federal ed. The car driver, Devendraprasad Pa- to Memorial Hermann hospital in sta- Hartford, Connecticut was, on courts and on contractual mat- tel, as well as three backseat passen- ble condition, the report said. March 14, appointed to the ters. Prior to joining the Attor- gers - Kokila Patel, Ansuyaben Patel Deputies said the suspect driver was post by Gov. Daniel Malloy ney General’s Office, she and Jayanthilal Bhatt - died at the driving a 2009 Dodge van eastbound on a slate that included sever- practiced with the firms of scene when a suspected drunk driver on Beechnut when he ran a red light al other diverse nominations Bingham McCutcheon and Million Zeghergis ran a red light and and slammed into a 2002 Honda Civic slammed into their car in southwest that was travelling northbound on Syn- and was confirmed by the Rupal Shah Palanki Cohn, Birnbaum and Shea, Connecticut General Assem- where she practiced in the ar- Harris county in Texas late Sunday, ott. They were all found at the scene bly on April 29. Her term will expire in 2022. eas of cross border insolvency, financial trans- The Houston Chronicle reported Mon- "with no signs of life", according to a day. Deputies said Zeghergis showed release from the Harris County Sher- Earlier, Shah- Palanki worked as an assistant actions and commercial litigation. signs of impairment and was arrested iff's Department. attorney general with the Connecticut Attor- She graduated from Glastonbury High ney General’s Office, where she has served School in 1991 and received her B.A. from since 2003. During her first five years with the College of the Holy Cross in 1995 and her J.D. Manoranjan Sen passes away office, she worked primarily in the areas of the from Georgetown University Law Center in Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and re- 1999. n a major loss to the Indian com- nity leader Manoranjan Sen, popularly lated enforcement and on predatory lending Her husband Chandramohan Palanki is an munity, Jersey City’s former known as Mono Sen and Monoda issues, according to her bio data on the North IT professional. The couple has two children IDeputy Mayor and leading commu- passed away in the morning of June 25. American South Asian Bar Association web- Maya and Mohan. A K Mago felicitated Oncologist Dattatreyudu Nori feted for for strengthening Indo-US ties n eminent Indian- nourished and encouraged peo- American has been fe- ple like me and acknowledge outstanding contributions Alicitated by top Ameri- the contribution that the Indian can lawmakers for his contribu- American community has New York: The Memorial Home Journal magazine. tion to strengthening Indo-US made in the United States,” he Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Originally from India, Nori ties. said. Praising the contribution (MKSCC) honored Dr. Datta- completed his undergraduate A K Mago, the chairman of a of Mago in India-US ties, treyudu Nori, its Chief of coursework at Andhra Univer- Dallas-based business and in- A K Mago Congressman Pete Sessions Brachytherapy Service, with its sity, received his M.B.B.S. de- vestment consulting company, said he played a key role in Distinguished Service Award at gree from the Kurnool Medical was felicitated at an event organized by Texan understanding the people from the US India Chamber of Commerce in this part of the world. the International Brachytherapy College, and earned his med- Dallas. “There are days and nights when AK Symposium on May 22-23. ical doctorate degree from Os- “If it weren’t for A K Mago, I would would travel and talk and be proud of Nori, who is widely consid- mania University, also in In- have not had the occasion to visit In- the country that he knows and loves ered one of the top cancer treat- dia.] Currently, Nori is at the dia,” top Republican Senator John well,” he said. ment physicians in the US, was New York Presbyterian Weill Cornyn. The Indian Ambassador to the US, S feted for his “outstanding con- Cornell Medical Center, where Cornyn, who is co-Chair of the Sen- Jaishankar, in a video message said, tributions and pioneering work he is a professor and vice-chair ate Indian Caucus, and co-founded it “He is a success story in the United at MSKCC,” the hospital said, of the Department of Radiation with then Senator Hillary Clinton at- States, a wonderful example of equali- in a statement. Previously he Oncology. tributed the formation of this only ty of opportunity that this society sym- was named one of the top doc- He is also the chairman of country-specific Caucus to Mago. bolizes.” Mago is a recipient of the tors in all of America for can- Radiation Oncology at New “AK more than anybody I know, has Padmashri Award. cer treatment, by The Ladies’ Dr Dattatreyudu Nori York Hospital Queens. TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY June 28- July 4, 2014 7 Indian American Monica Gill crowned Indian missions scramble Miss India Worldwide 2014 to clean up visa mess

Washington, DC: Indian missions in the US plied with the previous service provider BLS have turned to social media like Facebook International for Overseas Citizenship of In- Monica Gill (center) is and Twitter as they scrambled to clear up a dia (OCI) that their applications have been crowned visa mess in the wake of a change of con- taken over processing by the mission itself Miss India tractors for processing consular services. for processing. Worldwide Following complaints galore against the Earlier, to deal with the crisis, the Indian June 20 in previous service provider BLS Internation- embassy in Washington DC and other Indi- Abu Dhabi, al, the Indian embassy here awarded the new an consulates in the US started moving own United contract for providing visa and other con- staff to consular service outsourcing centers Arab sular services to Cox & Kings Global Serv- to help the applicants. Emirates. ices from May 21. The missions also started providing visa The switch, however, made the ordeal of services to all Urgent/Emergency cases di- travelers to India, particularly from the West rectly and set up helplines for complaints Coast, worse in the initial days. against the previous and new service Outrage and anger over delays boiled over provider. The Indian "embassy and con- Abu Dhabi: Miss India U.S. Monica Gill announced as the winner. She was crowned into fights on at least two occasions at the sulates taking extraordinary steps to respond was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2014 by Miss India Worldwide 2013 Nehal outsourcing agency's office in San Francis- to recent Consular complaints. Write to Con- here June 20, with the second place going to Bhogaita. co last month, according to a media report. [email protected]," said a twitter Miss India Switzerland and third to Miss In- The pageant included rounds like evening "Is the Indian Consulate in SFO complicit message. dia Bahrain. gown, Indian dress, a talent contest and in stealing US passport... maybe not but "Senior officers would be visiting the con- More than 40 contestants of Indian origin question-and-answer sections. should not the DHS look into this," tweeted sular service outsourcing centers to monitor settled in various countries across the globe The winner took home a cash prize of one angry traveler. the progress in service," the embassy as- between the ages of 17 and 27 years, un- $8000 and various sponsored gifts, includ- "There would be no emergency if you bo- sured in another.The Indian embassy here married and citizens, residents, or born in ing photo sessions and modeling assign- zos would just process a normal visa appli- also advised travelers to send their com- the country they represent, participated in ments apart from the crown. cation," he said in another tweet. plaints about returned unprocessed applica- the Miss India Worldwide pageant. Gill is a graduate of Boston University, The Indian consulate general in San Fran- tions despite payment to ConsularCom- The finale took place at the Al Raha Beach where she studied biology, psychology and cisco Friday reassured those who had ap- [email protected] with full details. Resort, Abu Dhabi in UAE, where Gill was women’s studies. AAPI creates endowment for medical research WLP- Building next generation of Washington, DC: The American was born in Mayiladuthurai, in Association of Physicians of Tamil Nadu. "Charity relieves the South Asian leaders in US Indian Origin (AAPI), one of the pains of social problems, whereas most influential professional bod- philanthropy attempts to solve New Delhi: The Washington Department of Labor. Each year, ies in the US, has set up a fund to those problems at their root caus- Leadership Program (WLP), the the WLP selects ten top-notch encourage young medical es." premier leadership development South Asian American students for researchers of Indian origin with Bala's endowment is aimed at program for young South Asian the opportunity to intern in con- an endowment created by a Texas encouraging the application of the Americans, has started its sixth gressional offices and federal plastic surgeon, Dr. Rajaram Bala. scientific method, a harnessing of year with ten more summer agencies on Capitol Hill. In addi- The income from perpetual curiosity, encouraging young scholars who will intern Capitol tion to the internship, participants endowment will be used for physicians to engage in scientific Hill. This summer's class looks attend special meetings and events research award for the best research. Bala, whose father was a just as exceptional as past class- to fully expose them to the South research presentation at the AAPI farmer with high school education es with students from Harvard, Some of the 2014 WLP Scholars Asian American political diaspora. convention, in San Antonio, Texas, and mother a homemaker was the Yale, University of Pittsburgh, with Congressman Ed Royce at the The 2014 Scholars of WLP already from June 25-29, the association first in his family to go to college and North Carolina State annual Priya Dayananda DC Intern have exclusive meetings lined up president Jayesh Shah announced. and the first physician. University. They will work with Welcome party. with Assistant Secretary of State, Thanking Bala on behalf of the After finishing high school in Members of Congress and advis- Nisha Desai Biswal; former White executive committee and the AAPI Mayavaram and medical school in ers in the Obama Administration, said a WLP press House adviser Sonal Shah; Faiz Shakir who is a senior family, Shah citing Microsoft co- Stanley Medical College, he did release. The ten selected this year are: Areeba Kamal, adviser to Senator Harry Reid; a dinner with founder Bill Gates said, "I believe his post-graduation in surgery in interning at the White House Initiative on Asian Congressman Ami Bera and Congressman Mike in innovation and that the way you India and came to the US in the Americans & Pacific Islanders; Batul Contractor, Honda, as well as Judge Sree Sreenivasan. The WLP get innovation is you fund 1960s. Starting from Westchester interning at USAID; Kaushik Rao, interning with the was founded in August 2008 in memory of publisher research and you learn the basic College, Valhalla, he trained at the Department of Labor; Meera Patel, interning with and philanthropist Gopal Raju, who sponsored a pro- facts." Johns Hopkins University Medical Congressman Ami Bera; Krishnan Sethumadhavan, gram that placed over 170 students in Congressional He also urged other physicians School in Baltimore from 1968 to interning with Congresswoman Grace Meng; Christina internships over 15 years. Alumni of Raju's program of Indian origin to consider an 71. He has been chief of plastic Lalani, interning at the World Bank; Vidhaath Sripathi, created the WLP seeking to honor his legacy and con- endowment to AAPI to encourage surgery at the Christus Santa Rosa interning for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand; Priya tinue this vital program for the community. "Whether young investigators to pursue the Medical center for over 35 years Sundaresan, interning with Congressman Mike Honda; in elected office, law, or entertainment, our alumni academic pathway."Philanthropy and has focused on plastic surgery Ernest Rajakone, is interning with Congressman Joe have gone on to do great things," said Harin and charity differ," said Bala who for children. Crowley and Nisha Deolalikar, interning at the Contractor, chair for the WLP. 8 June 28- July 4, 2014 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info Lawmakers ask Sharif to Technocrat Chet Kanojia loses battle protect religious minorities with top US broadcasters Washington, DC: In a huge blow to 21st Century Fox and Walt Disney -- an India-born technocrat's streaming argue that Aereo is illegally taking Express deep concern over human television startup Aereo, the US their content. rights violation in Sindh province Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of In its defence, Aereo cited a 2008 America's biggest television broad- Cablevision case in which a federal Washington, DC: Expressing deep four other lawmakers are Kerry casters saying it violates the Copy- court ruled that remote DVR storage concern over human rights viola- Bentivolio, Adam Schiff, Tulsi Gab- right Act. Using thousands of minia- systems don't infringe copyright pro- tions in the Sindh province of Pak- bard and Tom Petri. ture TV antennas, the online TV plat- tections. istan, influential American lawmak- "Violence against minorities form founded by Chaitanya 'Chet' Broadcasters claimed that Aereo is ers have asked Prime Minister everywhere is an unacceptable vio- Kanojia Aereo scoops up the freely more like a cable subscription than a Nawaz Sharif to protect Hindus, lation of human rights," said Con- available signals of local stations in DVR service, arguing that the com- Christians and other religious mi- gresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, of the cities like New York, Boston and At- pany goes beyond simply providing norities in the country. House Foreign Affairs Committee. lanta. A group of broadcasters sued equipment for watching TV. "We are urging Prime Minister "In Pakistan, we have heard re- Aereo in early 2012 before it had Chet Kanojia According to CBS, Aereo support- Sharif to do everything in his power ports of torture, executions and dis- even launched in its first market, ers, including Barry Diller, CEO of to protect the Sindh community, as appearances of peaceful and politi- New York, according to CBS News. The ruling, as cited by CBS, states IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI), con- well as religious minorities, from at- cally active Sindhis and Balochs The broadcasters asserted that that "given Aereo's overwhelming tend that a ruling against the service tacks," Congressman Brad Sherman who are Hindu, Christian, Shia and Aereo violated copyright laws by al- likeness to the cable companies tar- would have an adverse impact on a said as he and four other members other religious minorities. lowing "public performances" of geted by the 1976 amendments, this range of important new technologies, of the US House of Representatives "These religiously and politically their TV shows. Aereo said it was sole technological difference be- including "cloud" computing. wrote a letter in this regard to motivated attacks are abhorrent and only enabling private screenings, just tween Aereo and traditional cable But the Supreme Court Wednesday Sharif. I strongly urge Prime Minister like off-the-shelf TV antennas do. companies does not make a critical said in its ruling that it believed its "The Sindhi community includes Nawaz Sharif to take action to ad- The US Supreme Court, which difference here". decision was limited and would not tens of millions of people in Pak- dress these troubling offences. The heard the case in April, Wednesday At issue in the case was what con- imperil emerging technologies. istan who are striving to preserve Government of Pakistan must stand rejected Aereo's argument that it is stitutes a "public performance" of The National Association of their language and culture but Sind- up for human rights, and against vi- only a provider of equipment and de- copyrighted material, a key standard Broadcasters concurred in its state- hi activists are subject to enforced olent radicals who seek to persecute cided that, for purposes of copyright under the law. Broadcasters involved ment: "Aereo characterized our law- disappearances and sometimes tar- and kill those with differing be- law, the service should effectively be in the case -- CBS, the parent com- suit as an attack on innovation; that geted killings," said Sherman. The liefs," Gabbard said. treated like a cable company. pany of CBSNews.com; Comcast, claim is demonstrably false." Indian-Americans lobby for US Congress invitation for Modi

Three former PMs Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh have all been accorded this honor Washington, DC: Indian-American groups have launched a campaign to win more law- makers' support for a move to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint session of US Congress when he visits US in September. The ball was set rolling last week with Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and a fellow House member George Holding writing to House Speaker John Boehner with the suggestion. "As you know, India is a critical partner of the United States. In every aspect - whether it be in political, economic or security relations - the United States has no more important part- ner in South Asia," they wrote. Following up on the letter, the US India Po- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi litical Action Committee (USINPAC), which calls itself the voice of Indian- Americans, has by Indian-American entrepreneur Prakash launched a "state-by-state grassroots cam- Ambegaonkar, to "promote shared prosperity paign" to win support for a Congressional in- by developing international dialogue through vitation to Modi. collaboration and learning," has also initiated Three former Indian Prime Ministers, Rajiv a similar move. Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan By granting Prime Minister Modi the honor Singh have all been accorded this honor, not- of addressing a joint meeting of Congress, the ed USINPAC Chairman Sanjay Puri thanking US would show to the Indian people and the Royce for his move. world our sincerity in rebooting and elevating USINPAC activists and chapter leaders in US-India relations, it said. North Carolina, Indiana and New York among The Speaker's office has not yet announced others have actively reached out to members a response to the two lawmakers' letter, but an of Congress in their states to win their support invitation to Modi is considered highly likely for such a Congressional invitation, USINPAC given how US leaders from President Barack said. Bridging Nations Foundation, a nonprof- Obama down have reached out to the Indian it policy and advocacy organization founded leader since his resounding victory. TheSouthAsianTimes.info US AFFAIRS June 28- July 4, 2014 9 Kevin McCarthy to replace Supreme Court says police must get Eric Cantor as House warrants for cellphone searches Majority Leader Washington: House Republicans have elect- Washington : Cellphones and smartphones "We cannot deny that our decision today will smartphones raise new privacy concerns that ed Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as their generally cannot be searched by police without have an impact on the ability of law enforce- differentiate them from other items. new Majority a warrant during arrests, the Supreme Court ment to combat crime," he said. "Privacy To liken physical objects to digital data, as Leader, replacing ruled unanimously Wednesday in a major vic- comes at a cost." federal and state government officials did in Rep. Eric Cantor, tory for privacy rights. The justices struck down an extensive smart- justifying cellphone searches, Roberts said, "is who announced last Ruling on two cases from California and phone search in California that had been up- like saying a ride on horseback is materially in- week he was step- Massachusetts, the justices acknowledged both held by the state Court of Appeals, as well as a distinguishable from a flight to the moon. Both ping down from the a right to privacy and a need to investigate more limited probe of an old flip-top cellphone are ways of getting from point A to point B, but top leadership post crimes. But they came down squarely on the in Massachusetts that a federal judge already little else justifies lumping them together." after suffering an side of privacy rights. had thrown out. Roberts said police still can examine "the embarrassing pri- "Modern cellphones, as a category, implicate Currently, police can search a person under physical aspects of a phone to ensure that it mary defeat at the privacy concerns far beyond those implicated arrest and whatever physical items are within will not be used as a weapon." But once se- hands of a Tea Party Kevin McCarthy by the search of a cigarette pack, a wallet or a reach to find weapons and preserve evidence cured, he said, "data on the phone can endan- challenger. "I'll make purse," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for that might be destroyed. But the justices noted ger no one" and the arrested person will not be one promise," McCarthy told reporters after the court. that vast amounts of sensitive data on modern able to "delete incriminating data." the vote last week. "I will work every single day to make sure this conference has the courage to lead with the wisdom to listen. Google domain registration service being tested And we'll turn this country around." Republicans gathered behind closed doors for the balloting, but a vote total will not be GoDaddy and other domain registrars are about to get some serious competition disclosed because it's a secret ballot. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, oogle Inc has quietly launched its own Wix. These services help end users build a ing a small group of people the ability to buy stays in place. Meanwhile, Rep. Steve domain registration service. And just website, usually within just a few minutes and and transfer domains through it and send feed- Scalise of Louisiana was elected Majority Glike many other Google’s services, without any coding required. back on their experience.” Users will need an Whip (the post McCarthy is leaving). Re- Google Domains is starting in beta, which With Google Domains, you can create up to invitation code to try it out. The company says publicans, stung by Cantor's defeat two means that if you want to try it out, then you’ll 100 email aliases using your domain. You will that they’re planning to make it available more weeks ago, knew they had to elect someone need to get an invitation code. You must have also be able to forward a domain to another. widely soon. who is friendly with the Tea Party, who the an invitation code to access the site and pur- For example, you can forward a visitor from Now that Google Inc is entering in this new most conservative members of the House chase domains from Google. www.example.net to www.example.com. domain registration field, other registrars like like. They needed a Red State Republican in This is definitely exciting news for webmas- Google Inc also says that when you register GoDaddy and Namecheap will soon be getting leadership, several lawmakers tell ABC ters and small businesses, as they’ll soon be a domain with them, you’ll be using the same some real competition from Google. News, and Scalise is the guy. able to buy domains from Google; however, DNS servers as Google. This means your do- Google Inc won’t be hosting your website. main will connect quickly and reliably to your The search giant will only be handling domain website, giving it the Google edge. registration. For hosting, the company has part- Right now Google Domains isn’t fully de- nered with Shopify, Squarespace, Weebly and veloped yet, and Google says that “we’re giv- New York State Senate coalition ends

Independent Democrats shun GOP as threats of Primary elections loom large

Albany, NY: A breakaway members in the 63-member faction of Democrats that chamber, could pick up shares leadership with Repub- enough seats to ensure a ma- licans in the New York state jority in January. Senate said Wednesday that it The current power-sharing would reunite with the main- coalition between Republicans line Democrats, potentially and the breakaway faction, shifting the power dynamic in known as the Independent Albany. Democratic Conference The new alliance wouldn’t (IDC), has led to passage of come until after the elections some liberal agenda items in November and likely such as gun-control laws after wouldn’t affect any legislation the Connecticut school shoot- this year because lawmakers ing. It also has permitted Cuo- are on recess until January. The deal was negotiated mo to successfully advance a The deal was negotiated in in large part by Gov. centrist fiscal agenda, including Andrew Cuomo, a large part by New York City a series of tax cuts. And it al- Democrat facing Mayor Bill de Blasio and his lowed the governor and legisla- re-election this year. It top aides and Gov. Andrew tors to give their achievements will give Democrats Cuomo, and would set the control of both a bipartisan veneer. In an inter- stage for Democratic control of legislative houses in view, Sen. Jeffrey D. Klein, the both chambers of the legisla- Albany. leader of the IDC, said the lead- ture in 2015. Cuomo, a Demo- ership arrangement with the crat facing re-election this year, praised the mainline Democrats would mirror the one he decision, saying that there is “no doubt there now has with Republicans, meaning both are progressive goals that we have yet to leaders would need to agree to bring pieces achieve and that we must accomplish next of legislation to a floor vote. January.” “I thought it was important that the IDC Corporate Office: 385 Seneca Avenue, Ridgewood NY 11385 The arrangement is contingent on the result lives on and remains intact, but clearly we 718.821.3182, www.AtlanticDialysis.Com of the legislative elections, though it is un- were disappointed by some of the things we likely that Senate Republicans, with 29 couldn’t accomplish” this year, Klein said. 10 June 28-July 4, 2014 INDIA TheSouthAsianTimes.info Is Uttar Pradesh slipping out of Akhilesh's hands?

Lucknow: Even as the besieged 41-year- minister is a nice boss but not a tough task each. Akhilesh Yadav's ambitious plans for old chief minister Akhilesh Yadav firefights master," a senior IAS officer noted, adding infrastructure development too have not criticism in the aftermath of the Lok Sabha that most officials take him "lightly and borne enough fruit. The IT city in Lucknow drubbing the Samajwadi Party (SP) non-seriously". More than 250 IAS, IPS, got delayed for several months for want of received last month, the jury is out on his PCS and PPS officials have been trans- bidders, the eight-lane "game changer" possible eclipse by his overbearing uncles ferred in the last one month. The govern- expressway between Agra and Lucknow and demanding father and party chief ment under Akhilesh Yadav would be deci- remained a non-starter with private compa- Mulayam Singh Yadav. mated in the 2017 assembly polls," said nies not showing interest. The project has And so, even as he tries hard to infuse Swamy Prasad Maurya of the BSP and been allocated more than Rs.3,000 crore in some semblance of control in the moribund leader of the opposition in the state assem- the 2014-15 budget. bureaucracy and party leadership, changing bly. Politically too Akhilesh's leadership IT companies are seething in anger with his cabinet colleagues, sacking ministers has failed to inspire confidence in the the shelving of the laptop scheme, while and transferring bureaucrats, it appears to UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav cadres. He holds the state president's post another ambitious scheme of free tablet PCs be too little and too late. That Akhilesh is and the recent poor showing at the Lok for those who pass Class 10 never saw the slowly being sidelined from important backseat driving ever since the environment Sabha polls cannot be glossed over, a senior light of the day. The exit of a friendly gov- decision-making was evident last week engineer-turned-politician took over as the SP leader said. A resurgent BJP, fresh from ernor and a "hostile" government taking when in his third budget, he was "coerced" state's youngest chief minister in 2012, the its landslide of 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats over in Delhi have added to Akhilesh’s wor- to bury his pet projects - Kanya Vidya budget this time round is the most "emphat- in the state, is breathing down the govern- ries. With such odds stacked against him, Dhan, free laptops to those clearing Class ic document" of the SP leadership's "rest- ment's neck, holding demonstrations on the recent pronouncements of police modern- 12 and an unemployment allowance - for lessness and open assertiveness" against power crisis gripping the state and plung- ization, overhaul of the power sector and which no funds were allotted for 2014-15. Akhilesh's scheme of things and style of ing the state assembly into turmoil over re-energizing the bureaucracy look hollow This is a significant signal from the SP functioning, said a knowledgeable source. failing law and order in the state. The SP and worthless for now! The only consola- leadership, admits a state leader close to the Akhilesh Yadav is also being blamed for could manage only five seats, with the tion: assembly polls are still two years CM. While there have been charges of the drift in the bureaucracy. "The chief Congress and the Aapna Dal claiming two away. DU sends proposal to UGC, admission process still on hold

New Delhi: Ignoring UGC's direc- graduate course with honours and tive to start the admission process will also obviate the need to call for undergraduate courses this for fresh registrations. We await morning, Delhi University your response in order to convene Thursday threw the ball back in the the statutory bodies at the earliest Commission's court by sending it a in the best interest of the students Congress chief Sonia Gandhi proposal suggested by academi- and the academic community," the and Rahul Gandhi cians to resolve the issue. letter signed by DU Registrar Alka The UGC had set a deadline of Sharma read. National Herald case: Thursday morning for DU to roll Speaking to media persons, DU's back the controversial four-year Media Coordinator Malay Neerav Sonia, Rahul summoned undergraduate program and start said, "We received a new proposal admission for the old three-year wherein the honors degree will be structure. given in 3 years. for misappropriating In response, the DU sent a letter We won't need much time to DU students demanding roll back of four-year undergraduate to the Commission which said "the implement this proposal. We have program in New Delhi on Monday. newspaper’s funds university is of the opinion that written a letter to UGC stating the Delhi: A court here Thursday given the situation where admis- proposal submitted by some emi- forward. same. We are now awaiting UGC's issued summons to Congress sions are being delayed, time is the nent persons to the UGC and DU "This proposal entails admitting response on the new proposal from chief Sonia Gandhi and party essence and hence this blended may provide the necessary way all students to a three-year under- UGC." vice president Rahul Gandhi for misappropriating the funds of the National Herald news- paper that was shut down some Washington 'pleasantly surprised' at Modi's responsiveness years ago. Metropolitan magis- By Arun Kumar trate Gomati Manocha, while Nuclear Cooperation Bill in 2010, and the issuing the summons, said: “I Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft decision a Washington: have found prima facie evi- As India's new Prime Minister year later which removed the two American plat- dence against all the accused.” Narendra Modi completes a month in office, the forms from the bidding contest," Rossow said. The court has directed them US appears "pleasantly surprised" at his govern- "At that point the relationship became more to appear before it on August ment's response to American outreach, proving transactional," he noted. "I suspect Mr. Modi will 7. Apart from Sonia Gandhi wrong doomsayers who expected a rough road be quite a transformational figure; I hope our and Rahul Gandhi, the court ahead. Many an analyst had suggested that the Government will be prepared to engage deeply has also summoned senior 2005 US revocation of Modi's visa for his Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again if/when we have an opening," Congress leaders Motilal Vora alleged inaction during the 2002 Gujarat riots Rossow said. "I suspect we will not have to wait and Oscar Fernandes. would cloud India-US ties, particularly since "From my perspective, Washington has respond- long." Ayres on her part suggested that "for next The summons was issued on Washington had been a bit late in reaching out to ed to India's change of government by reaching steps, it will be good to see Washington develop a private complaint filed by him. "I believe Washington has largely been out to Modi and decisively welcoming him to policy proposals to respond to the ambitions and BJP leader Subramanian pleasantly surprised at how responsive the new Washington." interests of the new Indian government." Swamy. Indian Government has been to American out- However, in Rossow' view "the 'comfort level' In a new policy publication released on Speaking to reporters, reach," Richard M. Rossow, Wadhwani Chair in of cooperation (with the new Modi government) Wednesday Ayres has recommended that Swamy said: “This is a fraud, US India Policy Studies at the Centre for has yet to be determined." "The trajectory of our Washington should champion Indian member- criminal breach of trust as they Strategic and International Studies said. relationship is not set in stone, and much will ship in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation have managed to misappropri- "Less than a month after the election result, we depend on personal rapport between cabinet and (APEC) as a means to get the economic relation- ate Rs. 2,000 crore rupees.” are checking schedules for a head-of-state meet- sub-cabinet officials," he said hoping that "our ship back on track. The National Herald news- ing in Washington, DC," he said taking note of a expectations for the relationship can be "By supporting India's long-standing request as paper was established in 1938 proposed summit meeting between Modi and matched." a new trade-oriented government takes charge in by Jawaharlal Nehru and was President Obama in September. Alyssa Ayres, a "The US Government felt quite let down about New Delhi, Washington can take an important shut down in 2008. senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia the possibilities of a deep strategic partnership step toward reorienting economic ties with India at the Council on Foreign Relations, agrees. following the failure to pass a clean Civilian just as they become more important," she wrote. TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA June 28-July 4, 2014 11 Switzerland ready with list of Indians Sushma Swaraj arrives with suspect black money in Dhaka on two-day visit, Zurich: In a major boost to India’s Teesta, LBA to be discussed fight against black money, Switzerland has prepared a list of Indians suspected Dhaka/New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma to have stashed untaxed wealth in Swaraj Wednesday evening arrived in Dhaka on a two- Swiss banks and is sharing these day visit to Bangladesh, details with the Indian government. her first stand-alone for- The names of these Indian individu- eign visit since taking als and entities came under the scanner over, that is part of the of Swiss authorities during an ongoing Modi government's out- exercise to identify the real beneficiar- reach to India's neigh- ies of funds held in various banks oper- bors. The visit is expect- ating in Switzerland, a senior Swiss ed to see two key out- government official said. standing issues taken up “These individuals and entities are - the Teesta water shar- suspected to have held untaxed money black money stashed in Swiss banks by by Indians in Swiss banks. ing deal and the Land in Swiss banks through structures like Indians could run into trillions of dol- "We have not received any official Boundary Agreement -- trusts, domiciliary companies and other lars, as the latest Swiss National Bank communication from Swiss authorities both of which have been legal entities based out of countries data pegs the total foreign client money so far about sharing bank account hanging fire. Ahead of other than India,” the official told PTI. across 283 banks in Switzerland at details of Indians (who have) deposited the visit, Sushma The official declined to reveal the $1.6 trillion. The Switzerland govern- unaccounted money there," Jaitley told Swaraj called up West identity of these persons and entities, ment dismissed the PTI report. reporters. Bengal Chief Minister External Affairs Minister as also the amount of money held by "Since a high-level Swiss delegation Justice M.B. Shah, who heads the and Trinamool Congress Sushma Swaraj them in Swiss banks, citing confiden- met with its India counterparts in New SIT on black money in India, said the supremo Mamata tiality clauses in the bilateral informa- Delhi in February 2014, no further list would be verified and action would Banerjee to brief her about the trip and as "preparations tion exchange treaty between the two official meeting has taken place. There be taken against those found to have for the visit". Mamata had refused to go ahead with the countries. The official further said is no new development to be reported," kept unaccountable money. Teesta water sharing deal with Bangladesh in 2011. The Swiss authorities were keen to work IANS reported a Swiss finance min- “It is not a list of only black money. Indian delegation is expected to raise issues like illegal with the new government in India and istry statement as saying. It is a list of those persons who are also migration and market access. Sushma Swaraj will be they would also provide all necessary Also, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley legally vested. It is a combined list. We meeting her Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan support to the newly set up Special said India would approach Switzerland are asking for the list of the said per- Mahmood Ali, and call on President Abdul Hamid and Investigation Team on black money. to expedite the process of revealing sons. Then we will verify. Then action Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He, however, dismissed claims that details of "unaccounted money" held is taken,” Justice Shah also said. Aamir meets PM to discuss issues Stepwell in Gujarat declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO raised by ‘Satyamev Jayate’ New Delhi: Rani Ki Vav, or Queen's break large spaces Stepwell, in Gujarat's Patan town has into smaller volumes been added to UNESCO’s list of World following ideal aes- Heritage sites, an official statement said thetic proportions," it Sunday. added. "The ancient Prime Minister Narendra Modi wel- stepwell was built in comed the decision, calling it a "matter the 11th century and of great pride" for the state. is an example of a "Rani Ki Vav is an excellent symbol unique Indian subter- of our great art and culture," Modi ranean architectural tweeted. "Rani Ki Vav has been structure. Its seven approved for inscription on the World stories of ornamented Heritage list," the Ministry of Culture panels of sculptures said, adding the decision was taken at and relief represent the global body’s session in Doha. the height of the "UNESCO has recognized this mas- Maru-Gurjara style," Rani Ki Vav Stepwell in Patan terpiece as an exceptional example of said the release. technological development in utilizing "Following the flooding and disappear- seven centuries and has been preserved ground water resources in a single com- ance of the Saraswati river due to geot- underneath in an exceptional state of ponent, water management system and ectonic changes, the property was conservation by the Archaeological it illustrates the exceptional capacity to buried under layers of silt for almost Survey of India," the release added. Actor Aamir Khan with the prime minister New Delhi: Actor-producer Aamir Khan Monday met Prime New gas price after three months: Cabinet Minister Narendra Modi and discussed social issues raised by the former's TV show Satyamev Jayate. Aamir tweeted: New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Dharmendra Pradhan told mediapersons had then asked the government to defer "Shared with him (PM) the overwhelming support that we got Economic Affairs (CCEA) on here after the CCEA meet. announcing the new price of natural gas from people across the country through Vote for Change Wednesday deferred a decision on the The meeting was called to consider the produced by companies till after the Campaign... on SMJ (Satyamev Jayate) on the various issues new price for domestic natural gas new gas price notified by the UPA gov- general elections had been completed. that we tackled in our show. He has assured me that he will awaited by producers by three months, ernment which could not be implement- After assuming office, the new govern- look into all the matters." The first season of Satyamev Jayate pending a review of the price approved ed owing to the election model code of ment has been exploring whether modi- went on air on Star Plus May 2012 while the second season by the previous government."The cabi- conduct. In April, the petroleum min- fications can be made in the implemen- was aired in March 2014 and ended in April. Now the actor is net has decided there is need for com- istry had told Reliance Industries, which tation of the Rangarajan formula which working on the third season of the show, where he brings to prehensive discussion and consultation is supplying gas from its eastern off- recommends pricing rates at an average the fore startling facts and figures about issues concerning the with all stakeholders keeping in mind shore fields at the old price of $4.2 per cost of importing LNG into India and Indian society. Be it dowry, rape, bribery, corruption or crimi- the interests of the common man. We unit even after it expired on March 31, rates prevailing at international hubs in nalization of politics - Aamir has so far dealt with a wide have deferred the matter for three that the new rate will be implemented the US and Britain as well as price of range of social issues. months," Petroleum Minister from July 1. The Election Commission gas imported into Japan. 12 June 28-July 4, 2014 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info Need for institutional framework for appointing governors

The Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that a new government at the Centre could not remove a governor merely because he is not on the same political or ideological page as that of the government. This is coming in the way of the Modi government doing what Manmohan Singh's government did in 2004.

By Parmod Kumar review. If the aggrieved person is too for some extremely compelling able to demonstrate prima facie that reason. It is indeed very necessary he Narendra Modi govern- his removal was either arbitrary, to assure a measure of security of ment - like any other new dis- mala fide, capricious or whimsical, tenure to the Governor's office." Tpensation - is offloading the the court will call upon the Union bureaucrats who had served under Government to disclose to the court, The National Commission to the Congress led UPA-II and has the material upon which the Review the Working of the reportedly asked some governors President had taken the decision to Constitution headed by Chief and other political appointees occu- withdraw the pleasure." Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah that pying constitutional positions to "If the Union Government does went into the working of Indian con- step down. Shunting out babudom is not disclose any reason, or if the stitution recommended its amend- not a problem as their positing is at reasons disclosed are found to be ment so that a governor's appoint- the discretion of the government but irrelevant, arbitrary, whimsical, or ment should be entrusted to a com- a problem has arisen as eight gover- mala fide, the court will interfere", mittee comprising the prime minis- nors are resisting calls to voluntarily the constitution bench had said. ter, the home minister, the speaker quit. It is this pronouncement that is of the Lok Sabha and the chief min- While two Governors - B.L. Joshi coming in the way of the Modi gov- ister of the concerned state. UP Governor BL Joshi was the first to resign voluntarily, but of Uttar Pradesh and Shekhar Dutt ernment doing what Manmohan Favoring a fixed tern for the gov- Governors like Sheila Dikshit (appointed Kerala governor as of Chhattisgarh - have resigned, oth- Singh's government did. The first ernor, the Commission recommend- recently as March 2014) are resisting pressure from the Modi gov- ers are resisting the pressure to vol- ernment to step down. hurdle that the new government ed the deletion of Article 165(1) that untarily step down. Politically faces is that it can't remove the UPA says that the Governor holds office speaking, it has been a practice in Congress-led UPA? After all politi- The constitution bench said, "A appointed governors merely because "during the pleasure of the presi- India for the ruling party to rest the cal retribution is integral to real Governor cannot be removed on the they don't share the political or ideo- dent". political left-outs or political bag- politic. ground that he is out of sync with logical colors of the Modi govern- As usual, political exigencies gage at the Raj Bhavans. Soon after the governors were the policies and ideologies of the ment or the BJP. weighed upon the recommendations On the 41st day after becoming removed, a PIL was moved in the Union Government or the party in The second is that government that would have gone a long way in the prime minister on May 22, 2004, Supreme Court which was heard by power at the Centre. Nor can he be will have to persuade President strengthening the institution of gov- Manmohan Singh shunted out four the constitution bench. removed on the ground that the Pranab Mukherjee that its reasons ernor, Governors appointed by the prede- The five-judge bench on May 7, Union Government has lost confi- for seeking the withdrawal of pleas- Our political class has often cessor government. They were 2010 said that with the change of dence in him. It follows therefore ure was not "irrelevant, arbitrary, demonstrated that it has no qualms removed for their political affiliation government at the Centre a that change in government at Centre whimsical, or mala fide" - an uphill in allowing their immediate interests with the BJP and Article 156 of the Governor could not be removed is not a ground for removal of task as Mukherjee is prone to take from overshadowing the democratic constitution was cited to remove all merely because he is not on the Governors holding office to make an independent call. institutions - so vital for the demo- the four in one stroke. Article 156 same political or ideological page as way for others favored by the new The question of a governor was cratic functioning of the state. spells the term of the office of the that of the government. The court government." also considered by Justice R.S. Thus, it may be necessary to once Governor. Clause (1) of the Article further held that though for remov- The court further held: "As there Sarkaria that went into Union-States again visit the recommendations of 156 says that a governor shall hold ing a governor no reasons had to be is no need to assign reasons, any relations. Justice Sarkaria in his the Justice Sarkaria report and the office at the pleasure of the assigned, this could not be "irrele- removal as a consequence of with- report recommended that "the Justice Venkatachaliah report so that President. vant, arbitrary, whimsical, or mala drawal of the pleasure will be Governors’ tenure of office of five there could be an institutional What prevents Modi government fide". If this was so, court would assumed to be valid and will be years in a State should not be dis- framework for the appointment of a from doing what was done by the step in. open to only a limited judicial turbed except very rarely and that governor with a fixed tenure. Muslims and Modi: Need of change in thinking

By Syed Ubaidur Rahman are feeling let down that he gave Muslim leaders will do only one Muslim representation in arendra Modi’s historic win well to be optimistic his cabinet, that too at the head of shocked the so-called about what Modi does the least important ministry (Najma NMuslim leaders who Heptulla: Minority affairs). expected a miracle victory for non- as the prime minister Muslims are looking forward to BJP, non-Congress parties in the and not remain sulking see what Modi does to help the Lok Sabha battle. But common community that has been suspicious Muslims are not that amazed. They in their private about him for a long time. It wants say the Congress had no chance of gatherings. to see if he will follow "raj dharma" coming back to power after the (the code of governance) and help blunders it made at the expense of There are others, too, who have all sections of society to grow. those who voted for it in two con- said that Muslims need to rethink Muslim leaders will do well to be secutive elections. The average their strategy vis-a-vis Modi. optimistic about what Modi does as Muslim's refrain is the same as that The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a the prime minister and not remain of the "aam aadmi" that the Modi has spoken about inclusive massive election victory. nationalist Muslim organization sulking in their private gatherings. Congress lost because of rising development and against sectarian- "Nehru's secularism was like a that has always talked of inclusion, They need to reach out to the man food prices and corruption. ism has given hope to Indian mirage, a trail of false hopes. The has decided it will stop attacking who has been made responsible for There are many Muslims too who Muslims that he is serious in what minority status created a psycho- the new prime minister over the the fate of 1.2 billion people for the are welcoming the defeat of the he claimed during the election cam- logical shell in the minds of Indian past though it will continue to fight next five years. The earlier they do Congress. Muslims are hoping that paign. Muslims... Now, the dark era of the cases against victims of the this, the better it will be for every- the Modi government will be secu- Rashid Shaz, a staunch Islamist pseudo-secularism is over," he said Gujarat riots in courts. This is a one. lar and will take care of all sections who runs the Milli Parliament and recently. Shaz is the author of more welcome decision. Syed Ubaidur Rahman is the of society and not implement the is a professor at the Aligarh Muslim than a dozen books on Islamic ren- But notwithstanding the change author of "Understanding the RSS' divisive agenda. The way University, has welcomed Modi's aissance. of mood towards Modi, Muslims Muslim Leadership in India.”

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times. TheSouthAsianTimes.info OP-ED June 28- July 4, 2014 13

One Month Report Card of Modi government Challenges mount after fresh beginning

By Prashant Sood and unpopular decision of hiking rail The Modi government, in its first Anjali Ojha passenger fares by a steep 14 % cabinet meeting, decided to form an before presenting its first fiscal SIT to unearth the billions in unac- New Delhi: It has been an energetic budget July 10. counted money stashed outside the start to the new government but BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas country. This has been one of the challenges are already beginning to Nqvi said that more tough steps BJP's poll promises. On its success show. Prime Minister Narendra would follow in national interest: will hinge a lot of the government's Modi has led the efforts to stream- "The UPA left the economy in credibility, though analysts say it is line governance by pitching for shambles, so there will be some easier said than done. speedy decision-making in his first decisions which will not be very Modi also faces the immediate month in office and taken the first of popular." challenge of ensuring safe release of Prime Minister Modi chose Bhutan, a neighbor with which "tough" measures as his government The government's apparent inten- Indians held hostage by suspected India shares age-old ties, as his first foreign destination. tries to revive a sluggish economy tion to replace Congress appointees militants of the Islamic State of Iraq Wang Yi flew to Delhi to meet month but the new government has and nudge some Congress in gubernatorial and other institu- and Greater Syria (ISIS). It is the Modi. generated hope that "ache din aaye appointees to quit gubernatorial tional posts raised the political tem- first foreign policy test of the gov- Former home secretary G.K. Pillai hain". offices. perature. While the Congress ernment, and Modi himself has been said it was too early to comment but "The earlier government had lost Modi has sought to live up to his protested, there were murmurs that chairing high-level meetings on the it appeared that the Modi-led gov- confidence of the people. People avowed goal of "minimum govern- this was one of Modi's methods to issue and monitoring the situation ernment was moving at a faster pace feel the new government has honest ment, maximum governance" by ensure lesser friction in decision- closely. than the previous dispensation. objectives, they will do justice," seeking to change the official work making and implementation. Among Modi's early initiatives He said the government was in the Sahasrabudhe added. culture and style of governance: - The BJP denied there was any was to ask his ministers to prepare process of finalizing the budget However, Congress spokesperson the PMO is becoming the nerve- message to governors and heads of their "timetable" for the first 100 which will spell out its thinking in Shobha Oza said there was no single centre of governance, the "group of organizations like the National days. Every ministry has been told areas such as growth, investment area where the Modi government ministers" of the UPA government Disaster Management Authority and to give an action plan and a deliver- climate and foreign direct invest- had made a difference. disbanded, and Modi keeping all the National Commission for able report which would be moni- ment. "Whether it is inflation or key policy issues in his remit. Women to quit. tored by the PMO. A senior railway official also said women's security, the government But the moves that earned Modi Modi has sought to inject a new Modi has also initiated a new for- Modi's becoming PM had ushered has not stuck to its promises. positive media coverage were shad- working spirit in a sluggish bureau- eign policy outreach by inviting in speed in governance. "Both avail- Inflation has risen. The government owed by challenges including the cracy by meeting the secretaries, the leaders from SAARC countries for ability and visibility of ministers is supporting a minister facing alle- kidnapping of Indians in Iraq, rise in topmost bureaucrats in the ministry, his swearing-in. He chose Bhutan, a have increased in offices." gations of involvement in a rape inflation and predictions of a defi- and telling them that they should not neighbor with which India shares Vinay Sahasrabudhe, convenor of case. Railway fares have been cient monsoon. The government, in hesitate in taking hard decisions and age-old ties, as his first foreign des- the BJP's good governance cell, said hiked. Modi is centralizing power," its first month, also effected an he would stand by them. tination. Chinese Foreign Minister big things cannot be done in a Oza said.

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

SEP. 14 June 28- July 4, 2014 DIASPORA TheSouthAsianTimes.info 'Phoren' dreams and big-buck Worsening plight of Sikhs hopes end in Iraq misery in Afghanistan By Prakash Bhandari from Kabul Chandigarh/Jalandhar: Promised a higher. good life in rich havens like Dubai "Though I don't have the actual figure, I Kabul: The Sikhs in Afghanistan whose (United Arab Emirates), Kuwait and am told that up to 4,000 Indians, mostly number has dwindled in the past three Jordan, hordes of gullible youth from Punjabis, are stuck in Iraq," Mann said. decades drastically because of wars and who Punjab and Haryana are allowing them- "Majority of the youth are taken to are estimated to number 3,000 spread out in selves to be trapped by travel agents in Dubai, Jordan and Kuwait and then sold Kabul, Jalalabad, Kandhar and Herat. The the state and their links in these countries off to companies in Iraq," he added. largest number of Sikh are in Kabul fol- and to work in miserable conditions in The Punjab government has already lowed by Jalalabad. During the 1980s, in conflict-torn Iraq. submitted a list of 514 people from Soviets’ attack on Afghanistan, many With the number of people from Punjab Punjab who are stranded in Iraq. Afghan Sikhs fled to India. After the fall of and Haryana stuck in Iraq after the recent Going abroad is a common fad among the Najibullah government in 1992, Sikh The numbers have dwindled to 3000 over past three decades sectarian flare-up going up to nearly 700, youths from Punjab, especially in the Gurdwaras throughout the country were the old story of failed "phoren (foreign) Doaba region (the area between Sutlej destroyed in the Afghan Civil War of that allow us last rites as they feel that the bil- dreams" and lost big bucks is being and Beas rivers) comprising the districts decade. lowing smoke was inauspicious and bad for retold. of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawan Shahr Under the Taliban the Sikhs were a rela- health. Once we had to take a dead body to "Many youth are promised jobs in and Kapurthala. tively tolerated religious minority and Jalalabad for cremation. Recently when the Dubai, Kuwait and Jordan but they are "Rural youths and also those from allowed to practice their religion. However, Sikh people tried to cremate a religious taken by the travel agents to Iraq instead. smaller towns just want to go abroad by cremation of the dead was prohibited by the leader they were beaten up and police had to Once the youth reach there, they do not any means. They see no future and Taliban and cremation grounds vandalized. intervene.” have the option of returning. It is a miser- employment for themselves in Punjab. In addition, Sikhs were required to wear yel- The historic Gurdwara Karte Parwan and able trap. The youth spend lakhs of Despite big promises, the Punjab govern- low patches or veils to identify themselves. adjoining shire in the Kabul are under threat rupees of hard earned money or sell land ment does little for them. The levels of Sikhs continue to find it difficult to cre- to be destroyed for city's development. to go abroad, and end up in a life of hell," frustration are high," says Satnam Singh, mate their dead and cremation has become a Sikhs in Afghanistan are culturally diverse says Paramjit Singh, who returned from a Jalandhar-based travel agent. big problem for the Sikh community as their and they speak various languages and Iraq after working there for over two "The unscrupulous travel agents take cremation grounds have been appropriated dialects. The Kandharis speak Sirakai while years. advantage of this situation and exploit by the local Muslims. the Kabulis speak Kabuli, a dialect of Bhagwant Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party such youth. They swindle them of lakhs Said Rajesh Singh, a herbal medicine sell- Punjabi. There are Sindhi speaking Sikhs (AAP) Lok Sabha member from Sangrur, of rupees and dump them in countries er, “We find it difficult to cremate our dead. and a very small group of people speak has taken to the social media and set up a like Iraq," he said. The cremation ground, several hectare large, Punjabi. Large number of Sikhs and Hindus, helpline to reach out to youths stranded According to reports, 40 Indians, most- which belonged to the Sikh community in who used to live in complete harmony here inside Iraq and also connect to their fami- ly Punjabis, have been taken hostage in Qalacha area of Kabul used by both the find that living in Afghanistan is not safe lies in Punjab. Iraq's Mosul town by militants. Their fate Sikhs and Hindus has been largely acquired and large number of them have migrated to He said the actual number of people is unknown since they were abducted by people particularly the migrants from the India and now there is a craze to migrate to from Punjab stuck in Iraq could be much June 11. rural areas to Kabul. These people do not Germany. Dipika Damerla becomes second Indo-Canadian minister in Ontario Nottingham leverages Indian diaspora for India tie-ups Toronto: Dipika Damerla, Member of Provincial New Delhi: It has an Indian diaspora 60,000 students that businesspersons can Parliament (MPP) from numbering 30,000 and houses 300 utilize. Mississauga East-Cooksville, is Indian business enterprises. And now The city council is keen to push busi- the new Indo-Canadian minister in Nottingham city in England is wooing ness in three areas, life sciences, clean Ontario, NewsEastWest reported. Indian business, especially from north- technology and education and informa- Dipika is one of the eight women ern India, in an effort to build on its tion technology. appointed ministers on Tuesday by India links, says a top Nottingham City Under life sciences, Bishop mentioned Premier Kathleen Wynne who led Council official. nanotechnology, health and beauty prod- the ruling Liberal Party to a major- "We have a lot of British Indian busi- ucts and pharma. "Under clean technolo- ity in the just concluded provincial nesspersons from Punjab and Haryana in gy is waste treatment, in which area the elections in Ontario. Dipika, who is a two-time Nottingham. We want to strengthen the city council can offer its expertise." MPP, will be associate to the new health minister investment bridge between these Indian "We welcome Indian business to set up Eric Hoskins, and look after Long-Term Care and states, as well as Chandigarh and Delhi Nottingham has 30,000 strong in these sectors and partner with existing Wellness. Her appointment assumes significance with Nottingham," says David Bishop, Indian Diaspora business.. the locals will get jobs," as Dipika will assist her boss in supervising the corporate director, development, Bishop said. $50-billion health care system in Ontario. Harinder Nottingham City Council. British Indian members. "The NRIs have He said his talks in Punjab and Takhar, currently an MPP, was the first-ever Indo- Bishop, who visited the two north money which they want to invest in Haryana and Chandigarh, where the Canadian to become a minister in Ontario in May Indian states and the Indian capital with India," said Bishop. team met senior officials, were good and 2006. Before Dipika, Harinder Takhar was the a six-member team, said they want to Bishop said that Indian investment was they got "very positive response." first-ever Indo-Canadian to become a cabinet min- build a "two-way investment bridge" welcome in property development in The proposal to come to India to open ister in Ontario which is now home to more than between Nottingham and India, mainly Nottingham, which has a population of up investment and trade links was sug- half a million Indo-Canadians. Takhar is currently northern India. 1.3 million. He said that Nottingham gested by some prominent Indian dias- an MPP from Mississauga-Erindale. The six-member team includes some University provides a talent pool of pora members, he said. TheSouthAsianTimes.info MEDICINE June 28-July 4, 2014 15

By Nupur Joshi

New York: The Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM), Aruba celebrated its annual Commencement Ceremony at the Hillwood Commons Cinema at Long Island University – C.W. Post on June 19, graduating 56 doctors. Distinguished guests at the event included Chancellor Dr. J.G. Bhat, Chairman Edwin Casey, President Keynote Speaker Ravishankar Bhooplapur, Trustees Dr. Dr. Moro Salifu. Dayan Naik, Dr. Obi Nwasokwa, Kamlesh Mehta, G.S. Narula, and the Clinical Chairs of XUSOM. Dr. Dubey, the Dean of Basic Sciences, and Dr. Neelam Dwivedi bestowed the XUSOM President hoods upon the graduates. Chancellor Dr. J. G. Bhat Ravishankar Bhooplapur Edwin Casey, Chairman of addressing graduates. speaks to graduates. XUSOM, addressing graduates. In his keynote address, Dr. Moro O. Salifu, Chairman of the Dept of Medicine, Chief of Nephrology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Valedictorian Pawandeep commended the students for their Dhillon, M.D. achievements and reminded them to never accept failure as an option. Citing his personal experience with research in nephrology and choosing that as a career, Dr. Salifu advised the graduates to always be prepared to seize any opportunities that came their way. Special recognition was given to Valedictorian Pawandeep Dhillon, Salutatorian Amanda Wolf, M.D. and Salutatorian Amanda Wolf, XUSOM’s faculty posing before the ceremony. M.D., addressing peers. M.D. for their outstanding academic performance at XUSOM. In their speecesh, the two girls reminded their peers that with their newly acquired degrees, comes great responsibility. President Bhooplapur spoke about ongoing medical innovations, changes in the healthcare system, and advised the graduates to remain prepared for changes and embrace them as they come. Dr. Bhat reminded the new medical graduates that although available tech- nology has increased, care for the patient is key to being a successful physician. The Xavier University School of Graduates pose proudly on stage shortly after the ceremony. (Photos: Xitij Joshi – www.xitijphoto.com) Medicine became operational with its first enrolling class in Sept 2005. It has Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba, graduates 56 doctors since expanded its campus in Aruba from its initial stages and been accred- Annita Afxentiou Dave Chopra Sixto Medina Purvi Shah ited by The Caribbean Accreditation Manal Ahmad Pawandeep Dhillon Monica Mikhail Mrigank Shail Authority for Education in Medicine Syed Hamza Ahmad Lorena Do Ponte Kunal Mistry Sunil Shingala and Other Health Professions (CAAM- Shawn Alam Preeya Dykstra Asma Mogharbel Sharanjit Singh HP). Its mission is to recruit, train, and Nehal Aleemuddin Marlow Easterling Deepa Mohan Ranjeeta Singh graduate more students from culturally Nabeel Ali Eleanor Eustace Atif Muhammad Shariff Somani diverse backgrounds for service as pri- Jamal Aqeel Timothy Franklin Palak Patel Gregory Stushnoff mary care physicians and nurses. Since Amsa Arshad Faraz Javed Mitali Patel Sindhura Suryadevara its establishment, XUSOM has become Nisa Arshad Muneer Kaba Mayan Patel Chandan Upadhyaya a popular destination for medical stud-     ies in the Caribbean. Shola Aruleba Khuram Khan Cristina Penon Heshan Wijegunaratne     Contact for Xavier admissions office Amany Bashir Saba Khan Vipin Philip Amanda Wolf in New York: 1000 Woodbury Road, Maria Belaev Sandeep Khurana Seshu Pisipati Saba Zahid Suite 109, Woodbury, NY 11797. Ph: Hafsa Bhatti Adam Laitman Ashvin Punnyamurthi Sophia Zia 516-333-2224, Fax: 516-921-1070. Husnain Bukhari Michelle Lim Monique Saran Lionel Znaty

TheSouthAsianTimes.info June 28-July 4, 2014 18 June 28-July 4, 2014 ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD TheSouthAsianTimes.info

umbai police Tuesday started alleged incident took place as part of the recording the statement of investigations, and get the names of MBollywood actress Preity more witnesses who were present at that Zinta who has accused her former time. boyfriend and business partner, industri- The 39-year old actress had submitted alist Ness Wadia, of allegedly molesting a written complaint to the Marine Lines and threatening her. Police station in Mumbai on June 12, The actress came in the evening to the making various allegations against Wankhede Stadium where the alleged Wadia, who denied them as "false and incident involving Wadia took place baseless." May 30 and was closeted with the inves- Later, police recorded the statements tigators till quite late. of at least half a dozen other people, Among other things, the police ques- including some eyewitnesses in the case. tioning is expected to reconstruct the Soon after lodging her police com- sequence of events that night during an plaint, Preity left for a foreign tour and IPL match played by their jointly-owned returned to Mumbai Sunday. King XI Punjab Team. Police officials remained tightlipped Police are also likely to on the line of questioning, further visit couple of places in action and investigation. the stadium where the

Ranbir Kapoor

'KBC 8' to start in August, reveals Big B

Mumbai : The "new face" of "Kaun Banega Crorepati" will Ranbir: go on air in August, accord- ing to Bollywood megastar ctor Ranbir Kapoor rues that Amitabh Bachchan, the host rumours about his personal 'My life has of the popular game show. Alife have turned his life into a The 71-year-old took to his "reality show". He says he feels become a Facebook page to make the "bad" for his parents, who have to announcement Monday night. face the embarrassment as a result of "Yeh hai KBC ka naya aakaar... loose talk. "There were so many sto- reality the new face of KBC starting in ries that I am leaving my parents; my August...now been on since 2000, dad has asked me to get out of the show' with a break in between and one sea- house, and all of that...So I feel really son done by Shah Rukh Khan," he bad that my life has become like a posted on his official Facebook page. Big reality show," the 32-year-old said B, despite his stardom, manages to establish a warm and here Monday at a Hero Maestro strong connect with the myriad contestants who come from event. "My parents are old and I don't have to move out." There was also different nooks and corners of the country to try their luck to want them to read such stuff about news that he is moving in with become a 'crorepati'. This becomes an attraction to viewers me because it's embarrassing for rumoured lady love Katrina Kaif. across all demographics. "Yahaan sirf paise hi nahin jeete them," added the son of veteran To that, Ranbir said: "Who I am jaate...yahan dil bhi jeete jaate hain (You not just win money actors Rishi and Neetu Kapoor. moving in with, I would like to keep here, you win hearts too). At least my heart is always won Recently, there were reports that that personal because I am unmarried over by the contestants! love all of you," added the actor, Ranbir is moving out of his parents' and the day I am married, you all will who changed the face of Indian television when he began house. But setting the record straight, know." Ranbir has finished shooting hosting "Kaun Banega Crorepati" in 2000. The show, which he said: "The house I live in is going for Anurag Kashyap's "Bombay is shot at the Yash Raj Films studio here, will be aired on for redevelopment, and when that Velvet". He is currently shooting for Sony Entertainment Television. An Indian version of the happens, people who are living there "Jagga Jasoos" with Katrina. globally popular "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", the Amitabh Bachchan show has a huge fan following. TheSouthAsianTimes.info ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD June 28- July 4, 2014 19 Madhuri Dixit: I am really strict with my kids

he dhak-dhak girl talks about her two sons, their health care and much 'Ramanujan' best Tmore Bollywood beauty Madhuri Dixit, a doting mother to two sons – Arin and Raayan – is strict when it comes to their debut I could get healthcare. She says she never lets them go to bed without brushing their teeth no mat- as an actor: ter how tired they are. “There is one thing that I am really strict Abhinay Vaddi about my kids and that is (making sure that they are) brushing teeth twice a day. No matter how tired they are or how late they are arriving after attending birthday parties, I make sure that they brush their teeth,” Madhuri told in an interview over phone from Mumbai. “I think that is very important. Brushing teeth for two minutes every morning and night is very important,” said the actress, who is the face of oral care brand Oral B. Madhuri, who married Sriram Nene, a doctor, in 1999, also feels that “a family is very important in Indian culture” and it is necessary to have a healthy family. “A healthy smile shows a happy family because they all represent health when they smile healthy. So I think it is very important for a family to establish a good smile,” said Madhuri, who was recently shooting for a new Oral B toothpaste ad campaign. Madhuri Dixit with her family. ewcomer Abhinay Vaddi, grandson Fatherhood wonderful feeling of move towards a better future," of legendary actors Savitri and Aamir said here. NGemini Ganesan, agreed to play unequivocal love: Michael Douglas He is currently working on mathematics genius Srinivasa Ramanujan Being the third season of "Satyamev in the upcoming Tamil-English biopic ollywood actor Michael Douglas says fatherhood is a Jayate", via which he raises "Ramanujan" because he felt it's "the best "gorgeous feeling" and adds important social issues of debut" he could get as an actor. "When I Hthat with children, "there is part of TV the country. decided to act, I wanted to only work in art- no judgment"."There's no way to "We are currently work- based films. After my first film in Telugu, I articulate or define the joys of ing on the third season of waited for two years to get an art-based fatherhood. It's just a gorgeous, important for me: 'Satyamev Jayate'. We are project but I couldn't find one script. When wonderful feeling of unequivocal researching on the topics I finally got 'Ramanujan', I felt it's the best love. With children, there is no and it is going good," the debut I could get as an actor," Abhinay told judgment, both in your love for Aamir Khan 48-year-old said. IANS in an interview here. them and their love for you," the What brought him to the Star "I'm not against commercial cinema 69-year-old told people magazine Parivaar Awards held here because you can’t have much of a choice in in an interview. The two-time Sunday? "I have been working our industry. If you want to be versatile as Oscar winner focuses on family, olly- with Star for many months and an actor, you need to do different films. from his 13-year-old son Dylan's bar mitzvah to strengthening Bwood star Aamir Khan, when they invited me, I was 'Ramanujan' came to me when I was least his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones, 44. The couple, who decid- who chooses to give a miss to happy to come," he added. expecting it and I realized I need to be open ed to spend time apart a year ago, have stepped out hand in hand film award functions, "Satyamev Jayate" sea- to all kinds of cinema," he added. several times in recent months. decided to turn up for son one went on air on Many would not call "Ramanujan" a the Star Parivaar Star Plus May 2012 dream debut for a newcomer from a star Actor Brad Pitt to be George Awards event here while the second family, but Abhinay thinks otherwise. recently. The host season was aired in "Everybody wants a star-studded launch Clooney's best man of "Satyamev March 2014 and with a successful director and popular cast. I feel all that's there in this film as well. It's ctor Brad Pitt will be George Clooney's best man at his Jayate" said the ended in April. being directed by a National Award-win- wedding. The small screen medi- The Star Parivaar “Monuments um is vital to him. Awards will be ning filmmaker, features a host of very A popular and experienced actors and above Men” actor is set to tie the "For me, being a part telecast June 29. knot with girlfriend Amal of TV is very impor- all I get to play Ramanujan, for which top Alamuddin later this year, tant. My films are (for) Tamil actors vied," he said. Directed by and his aunt Starla thinks entertainment but through Gnana Rajasekaran, "Ramanujan" is the his “Burn After Reading” TV, I am bringing story of the mathematician from his early co-star will be by his side forward social days in Kumbakonam to Cambridge at the ceremony, reports causes University, London. A biopic usually contactmusic.com. ''I and involves a lot of research, but Abhinay was would say he'd choose Brad (to) asked to blindly follow his director's Pitt for his best man. They are good friends, I would think instructions. that's who he'd choose,” said Starla. Starla also revealed her "After I was narrated the story, I nephew is set to marry the 36-year-old lawyer in Italy, with his researched and came across so many things parents Nick and Nina Clooney planning a trip to Europe to about Ramanujan that was not part of the help with the wedding preparations for his big day. ''I did hear story I heard. I went back and told my Cincinnati, since it's not that far from Kentucky - that's one of director about it but he asked me to stop the places they were considering - but apparently Cincinnati reading from other sources as he feared it didn't win, it's not going to be the place. I do know that Nick would confuse me," Abhinay said. and Nina are planning a trip over to Italy in the next week or so to, I guess, scope out some stuff,” she said. 20 June 28-July 4, 2014 SUBCONTINENT TheSouthAsianTimes.info US Congressional Committee Jaiput Foot brings smiles to reduces Pak aid by $65.8 million Afghan amputees The Senate approved a total of By Prakash Bhandari from $959.7 million for Pakistan Kabul

Washington, DC: A key It supported the reincorpora- Kabul: Many Afghans who lost Congressional committee has tion of SRAP within the Bureau their limbs in land mine blasts in reduced the US aid money to of South and Central Asian the war and militant attacks and are Pakistan for the year 2015 by Affairs. facing grave hardships as handi- $65.8 million as proposed by The Senate Appropriations capped are finding the famous US President Barack Obama in Committee directed that pro- Jaipur Foot as a great relief. his annual budget. grams in Pakistan target unem- The artificial limbs are provided Approving State Department's ployment, illiteracy, and disen- by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang 2015 budget of $48.285 billion, franchisement among the most Sahayata Samity (BMVSS) based the powerful Senate Committee impoverished individuals and at Jaipur. BMVSS is holding a on Appropriations approved a communities. camp in Kabul’s Khair Khana. On total of $959.7 million for Recognizing Malala one single day, 65 handicapped D.R. Mehta, the founder of BMVSS, the makers of the Jaipur Pakistan which is $65.8 million Yousafzai's courageous advoca- were attended to at the camp and Foot, is seeing an amputee walk after getting the Jaipur Foot at less than Obama's request of cy for girls' education, the bill some of them walked with the arti- Kabul last week. $1.03 billion. provided $3 million in addition ficial limb the very next day with Of this, amount up to $816 to increase the number of schol- confidence and a smile. Till the ly without sticks.” He brought said with a smile, “Now I am million for assistance programs, arships under the Merit and camp wraps up on July 7, the three other amputees along with assured that I will get a prosthetic an official statement said. Needs-Based Scholarship BMVSS hopes to provide fitments him to get fitted with the light which would not only allow me to The bill increased funding for Program. to 1,000 amputees free of cost. The weight Jaipur foot, which is high walk easily, but I would be able to polio prevention programs to No less than 50% of the schol- camp has the active support of the on technology and low on cost. even run. Now I can even find a $59 million, including $7.5 mil- arships should be awarded to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Labor, Mirwaiz, 24, said as a soldier he bride for myself.” lion in Afghanistan and Pakistan Pakistani women, it said. Social welfare, Martyrs and had not even in his wildest dreams This is the fifth visit of Jaipur to support a multilateral cam- Asking the State Department Disabled. imagined that his life would take a Foot team to Kabul. On earlier four paign to eliminate the disease, to ensure that the US aid money Said a beneficiary, Abdul, 48, “I sad and painful turn. While sta- visits, on the spot fitment were pro- which is $9 million above the is not used in the Iran-Pak gas was totally disturbed when I lost tioned in a troubled area in vided to over 3000 people. President's request, it said. pipeline, the Senate my one leg in landmine blast four Kandahar, he lost one leg in a mas- “The objective of such a camp is The Committee has also Appropriations Committee years ago and became handicapped sive blast. “To add to my miseries I to help amputees not only stand or requested the Secretary of State urged the Secretary of State to with almost zero mobility. Making lost my parents and being the only move but to reintegrate them into to consult with the Committee make the release of Warren a living was difficult and challeng- offspring had to face these difficult society with dignity. We aim to on plans for winding down the Weinstein who was kidnapped ing, yet I managed to earn some times alone,” he recounted. socially, economically and physi- Office of the Special by extremists in Lahore in 2011, money by selling fruits along a And as Mirwaiz waited for his cally rehabilitate,” D.R. Mehta, Representative for Afghanistan a priority in the bilateral rela- roadside and now I am happy when turn to for measurement of the foot founder and chief patron of the and Pakistan (SRAP). tionship with Pakistan. I will be able to move independent- taken by the Jaipur Foot team, he organization, said. Pakistan seeks extradition of 41 injured in bomb blast at Taliban chief from Afghanistan Islamabad shrine

Islamabad: Pakistan has sought Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone extradition of outlawed Tehreek-e- attack. During the weekly briefing Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief at the Foreign office yesterday, Mullah Fazlullah from Afghanistan spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said and dismantling of the militant that Afghan authorities had assured group's hideouts in Kunar and their cooperation to Pakistan. Nooristan provinces. Following Achakzai's visit to Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a Kabul, Afghan President Karzai renowned Pushtun leader, made the telephoned Prime Minister Sharif request for the extradition on and discussed the anti-terror coop- behalf of Prime Minister Nawaz eration between the two neighbors. Sharif when he met Afghan "Sharif agreed with all parts of President Hamid Karzai in Kabul an Afghan that both countries on Wednesday, The Express TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah should jointly fight with all terror- Tribune reported. ists. Safe havens of terrorists No one has claimed responsibility for the attack The foreign office confirmed that ing that Mullah Fazlullah and other should be dismantled and there Islamabad: At least 41 people who were shifted to three hospitals Achakzai, accompanied by foreign TTP commanders were enjoying should be a road-map to coordinate were injured when a bomb ripped of Islamabad and the neighboring secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, "patronage" of Afghanistan's intel- the joint struggle," a statement through a Sufi shrine on the out- city of Rawalpindi. visited Afghanistan as a special ligence agency. from Karzai's office said. skirts of the Pakistani capital. No one has claimed responsibili- envoy of the Prime Minister to It was decided that an Afghan Pakistan has launched a massive The blast occurred June 20 in ty for the attack that came after seek Kabul's cooperation against delegation would also soon visit operation against Taliban in the Pandorian village, about 15 kilo- police launched a search operation terrorism. Islamabad to carry a special letter North Waziristan but there is meters of from here, as devotees yesterday to comb the suburban A government official familiar from President Karzai that would increasing worry over reports that gathered to mark the death anniver- villages of Islamabad amid reports with the development said that list some proposals and would also militants are easily crossing over sary of a local sufi saint. of presence of militants. Pakistan asked Karzai government discuss future plans with Pakistani towards Afghan side and taking About 300 people were present Pakistan has already increased to stop supporting the TTP and side, the paper said. shelter there. in the premises of the building the security around the capital after extradite its fugitive chief hiding in Fazlullah, nicknamed the Pakistan has asked Afghanistan when the low intensity improvised the launch of a military operation Afghanistan. "Mullah Radio", became the TTP to seal common borders to stop the explosive device went off, a police in North Waziristan on Sunday in The official said that Pakistan chief in November last year after escape of militants from Pakistani official said. Another police offi- which over 200 militants have been had compelling evidence suggest- the killing of his predecessor territory. cial said 41 people were injured, killed. TheSouthAsianTimes.info INTERNATIONAL June 28-July 4, 2014 21 Syrian warplanes strike in Iraq PM vows to go ahead with political process Baghdad: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed Wednesday Iraq, killing 57 civilians to go ahead with the roadmap of the political process, rejecting any attempt by political rivals to form Baghdad: Reports that Syrian attacks struck markets and fuel a government of national salva- warplanes carried out a cross- stations in areas such as Rutba, tion to deal with the country's border attack on Iraqi towns this al-Walid and Al-Qaim. deteriorating security situation. week is further evidence of the Karkhout said he was certain "Despite the cruelty of the battle blurring between the two coun- the warplanes were Syrian against terrorism, we will remain tries' borders as they face an because they bore the image of faithful to the will of the people in offensive by Islamic extremists. the Syrian flag. promoting the democratic experi- At least 57 Iraqi civilians "Also, the planes flew directly ment and in the protection of the were killed and more than 120 from Syrian airspace and went political process," Maliki said others were wounded by what back to Syria," he said. during his weekly televised local officials say were Syrian Iraq's military spokesman, speech. warplanes that struck several Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, denied "We will attend the first session border areas of Anbar province reports that Syrian warplanes of the Council of Representatives Tuesday. struck inside Iraq's border in line with the constitutional Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, right, and U.S. Secretary of These border cities are among towns. requirements," Maliki said refer- State John Kerry meet at the Prime Minister's Office in Baghdad, those under the control of the "We know our airspace. We ring to the first session of the Iraq, June 23, 2014. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, have not recorded or registered newly-elected parliament, which or ISIS, which seeks to create infiltration of our air space from has to be convened within 15 Ayad Allawi, for Maliki's govern- constitutional requirements," an Islamic caliphate that foreign jets, and all the war- days after the federal court rati- ment to quit and form a govern- Maliki said. encompasses portions of Iraq in planes and helicopters flying fies the final result of the elec- ment of national salvation to con- However, Maliki called on the Syria. over Iraq airspace are Iraqis," tions. front a Sunni militant offensive Iraqi political blocs to "put aside Reports of the Syrian incur- he told CNN. On June 16, the Iraqi federal that has overrun large parts of the the differences and to unify our sion into Iraq is a reminder that The head of the United court ratified the results of the country, according to Xinhua. efforts to start a new page of seri- the civil war in Syria and the Nations Assistance Mission for April 30 parliamentary elections "It is no secret for all Iraqis the ous dialogue". unrest in Iraq are not isolated, Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, told for all the Iraqi provinces, mark- dangerous goals behind calls for A statement of the office of Vice but linked in ways that threaten reporters Wednesday that the ing the first step toward forming the formation of a national salva- President Khudair al-Khzaie, a the security of both. warplanes that bombed the Iraqi the new Iraqi government. tion government. Shiite, said that "the presidency is Sabah Karkhout, head of cities were not Iraqi jets, but he Maliki ruled out the calls by This is an attempt by those who committed to the political and Iraq's Anbar provincial council, did not have information some political rivals, including disrespect the constitution in democratic path of the political told CNN that Tuesday's air beyond that. the Sunni Speaker Osama al- order to eliminate the democratic process of the country as well as Nujaifi and the Shiite secular experiment and circumvent the constitutional timings". ‘Iran secretly sending drones and supplies into Iraq’ Brussels: Iran is directing surveillance drones over Iraq from an airfield in Baghdad and is secretly supplying Iraq with tons of military equipment, supplies and other assistance, American officials said. Tehran has also deployed an intelligence unit there to intercept communications, the officials said. The secret Iranian programs are part of a broader effort by Tehran to gather intelligence and help Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s government in its struggle against Sunni militants with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the head of Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force, has visited Iraq at least twice to help Iraqi military advisers plot strategy. And Iran has deployed about a dozen other Quds Force officers to advise Iraqi commanders, and help mobilize more than 2,000 Shiite militiamen from southern Iraq, US officials said. Iranian transport planes have also been making two daily flights of military equipment and supplies to Baghdad — 70 tons per flight — for Iraqi security forces. Rebekah cleared, Coulson guilty in UK phone-hacking trial London: Rebekah Brooks, sive trials in British legal his- the former boss of Rupert tory forced Cameron to apol- Murdoch's British newspaper ogize for hiring Coulson as arm, was acquitted on his media chief. "I'm extreme- Tuesday of orchestrating a ly sorry that I employed him, campaign to hack into it was the wrong decision," phones and bribe officials in said the British leader. the hunt for exclusive news. On hearing of her acquittal A jury at London's Old in court, Brooks looked Bailey court cleared Brooks stunned and drew a sharp unanimously but found Andy intake of breath before being Coulson, Prime Minister led away by a nurse. Wearing David Cameron's former a white jumper and dark blue Rebekah Brooks was the media chief and ex-editor of trousers, she later walked free editor of the News of the one of Murdoch's British from the court through a World when titles, guilty of being part of scrum of photographers, illegal phone hacking the phone-hacking conspiracy was carried out by the clutching the hand of her hus- after a trial that has lasted newspaper. band Charlie who was also nearly eight months. cleared of any attempt to hin- The conviction in one of the most expen- der the investigation. 22 June 28-July 4, 2014 BUSINESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info Global Economy Prize for Highway projects worth India's biotech queen Rs.40,000 crore approved New Delhi: The road transport Nagaland and Tripura. Bangalore: India's biotechnology entrepreneurs." and highways ministry Tuesday "Within three months, we will queen and Biocon chairperson Liberia President Ellen said it has approved highway proj- start work on those projects and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been Johnson-Sirleaf and University of ects worth over Rs.40,000 crore to preparation of detailed project awarded the coveted Global Chicago professor Richard H. be implemented in Jammu and reports has already started," he Economy Prize for business by Thaler were the other two who Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, said. the Kiel Institute in Germany dur- were conferred the honour along Uttarakhand and the northeastern Regarding Uttarakhand, which ing its centenary celebrations. with Shaw for 2014. region. "We have approved proj- faced massive floods last year, "Mazumdar-Shaw is the first Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, ects worth Rs.20,000 crore for Gadkari said: "We will set up a Indian woman and fourth Indian Kalyani group chairman Baba N. Jammu and Kashmir. They include new highway network in the state to be conferred this prize," the Kalyani and Bharti group chair- two-laning and four-laning of and will invest Rs.6,000 crore for Bangalore-based biotech compa- man Bharti Mittal are three national highways in the state, that." ny said in a statement here Indians who received the prize in some road projects in Leh and The government plans to build Monday. the past. Shaw pioneered biotech- Ladakh and we will coordinate one-way roads in the hill state of The German institute is an nology in India and started with the Public Works Department Himachal Pradesh. international centre for research Biocon chairperson Kiran Biocon as a novel enzymes com- for these projects," Road "It is difficult to widen the exist- Mazumdar-Shaw in global economic affairs, eco- pany, which evolved into the Transport and Highways Minister ing roads, specifically between nomic policy consulting and eco- three individuals - a high-ranking country's largest biopharmaceuti- Nitin Gadkari told reporters here. Kullu and Manali. Therefore, we nomic education. policy maker, a renowned econo- cal enterprise committed to He said these projects will be have suggested that there will be "The award, set up in 2005, is mist and an outstanding entrepre- affordable innovation. With the completed in the next two-and-a- one-way roads in the area," bestowed on pioneers finding neur. largest scientific talent pool, the half years and will encourage Gadkari said. The minister solutions to global economic After receiving the prize at Kiel company is engaged in research tourism in the state. reviewed over 250 road projects problems by influencing and Sunday, Shaw said: "I am hon- to develop novel and differentiat- Gadkari also announced projects worth about Rs.60,000 crore and implementing economic or trade oured to receive this prestigious ed biopharmaceuticals aimed at worth Rs.15,000 crore in the said the ministry is trying to expe- systems based on individual ini- award and consider it a privilege reducing the cost of treatment for northeast region comprising dite the clearances for projects tiative," the statement said. to be in the company of great cancer, diabetes and autoimmune Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, stuck due to land acquisition and The annual prize is awarded to economists, world leaders and disorders for patients worldwide. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, environment clearance issues. Budget session of parliament Maharashtra to launch Buddhist circuit tourism soon from July 7 Mumbai: After Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, from the town, had journeyed to Shravasti in New Delhi: The budget session of parlia- Maharashtra will have its own Buddhist cir- Uttar Pradesh, attended a discourse by ment will commence from July 7 and con- cuit tours with 25 major destinations, in a bid Gautam Buddha who lived there for 27 tinue till Aug 14, said an official release to attract more tourists to the state, a top offi- years. Tuesday. "Subject to exigencies of busi- cial said here Tuesday. Later, Maitrayaniputra renounced his ness, the session is scheduled to conclude The Buddhist circuit has been finalized by wealth and became a Buddhist monk, on Aug 14," said a press communique of the Maharashtra Tourism Development returned to his hometown Nallasopara to the Rajya Sabha secretariat. The first gen- Corporation (MTDC) and will start from the propound Buddhism and built a Buddh Vihar eral budget of Prime Minister Narendra Sanchi Stupa replica adorning the port town here which had eight sandalwood gates. Modi's government is likely to be present- of Nallasopara in Thane district, said MTDC He invited Buddha to inaugurate the ed July 10 according to indications by managing director Jagdish Patil. Buddh Vihar, which the founder of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a media "We chose the stupa in Nallasopara Buddhism honored and travelled to interaction Tuesday. The rail budget will because it is from here that Emperor Nallasopara with 500 disciples and stayed be presented July 8 followed by the Ashoka's son Mahendra and daughter here for a week. release of the Economic Survey on July 9. Sanghamitra are believed to have left for Sri After his visit, Buddha gifted his begging Approval for the vote-on-account sought Lanka to spread Buddhism," Patil said. bowl to Maitrayaniputra, now a monk, which by the previous government ends July 31. The Buddhist Circuit Maharashtra tour - was discovered in April 1882 by Pandit The full budget must be cleared by parlia- the commencement dates and duration of Bhagwanlal Indrajit here. ment before the expiry of this period. which are being finalized - will proceed from Much later, after Emperor Ashoka became Thane to Mumbai, which has several major a Buddhist, he built a stupa here with 14 Buddhist religious and tourist attractions. inscriptions, eight of which were discovered Air India joins Star Alliance It will have 25 major destinations New Delhi: Air India has joined the Star These include the Kanheri Caves, the world's including world's tallest in 1882 by Pandit Indrajit near Lake Bhatela Alliance group of airlines, a spokesman of tallest pagoda in Gorai (both in Borivli sub- pagoda in Gorai here. Another inscription - the ninth - was urb), the Chaityabhoomi in Dadar and the discovered by a historian N.A. Gore in 1956 the national carrier said Tuesday. After Elephanta Island Buddhist caves, 10 km off point - Nallasopara - has great historical sig- from Bhuigaon nearby. talks in London Monday, Air India and Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. nificance as the ancient port had trade links After Thane and Mumbai, the Buddhist Star Alliance officials arrived at the deci- The next attractions would be in Raigad, with Mesopotamia, Arabia, Greece, Rome circuit will cover the world-renowned Ajanta sion on the airline's affiliation. The Satara, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, and and Africa, among others in its 5,000-year and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad and other Alliance membership will allow Air India Nagpur (besides Thane and Mumbai), cover- existence, with a mention also in the Vedas prominent sites in surrounding districts to share routes with the other airlines to ing 25 major destinations spread across eight and ancient Greek writngs. before terminating at Dikshabhoomi in more than 1,200 destinations and in the districts. According to Patil, the starting Purna Maitrayaniputra, a rich merchant Nagpur. process will help improve its revenue. TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPORTS June 28-July 4, 2014 23

roup play got the 2014 FIFA World Cup off to a Messi ready to join the Gthrilling start, but the inten- sity is set to kick up a notch as the game's all-time greats knockout stage plays out. A few of the top-ranked squads ionel Messi's World Cup failed to advance out of their double for Argentina in groups. Defending champions LWednesday's 3-2 victory Spain were eliminated by the time over Nigeria sug- their second match was complete. gests the four-time England and Italy were both elimi- World Player of nated before the round of 16 even the Year may be ready to take arrived. his place among the all-time On the other hand, a few of the greats of the game. pre-tournament favorites had no The 27-year-old has amassed trouble advancing to the round of a glittering haul of trophies with Argentina's Lionel Messi 16. Host nation Brazil, led by Barcelona, netting 354 goals in celebrates after scoring Neymar, won Group A. The 425 official games for the La against Nigeria June 25. Netherlands, who lost to Spain in Liga side and helping them win the 2010 World Cup Final, made a Luis Suarez may be banned from three Champions League ing two months through injury statement by owning Group B. crowns. Until the finals in before the New Year but still The "Group of Death" lived up to World Cup for biting opponent Brazil, however, he had yet to managing to rack up 41 goals in the hype. Entering the final day of shine on soccer's biggest stage 46 appearances in all competi- Natal, Brazil: group play, all four squads in Biting opponents, Uruguay following subdued performanc- tions. It is a tally most players 's Luis Group G—Germany, the United racist comments -- all that looked es on his previous two appear- can only dream of yet there Suarez States, Ghana and Portugal—have to be behind Luis Suarez, as soc- ances. Messi's patchy World were still suggestions he was holds a chance to advance on to the cer's bad boy was maturing into a Cup form called into question not giving his all for his club star for his club and country. his teeth and saving himself for the knockout stage. during a whether he would ever quite Then, the old habit that most peo- World Cup. He did at times look In the international spotlight, match claim his spot in a pantheon that ple leave behind in nursery a shadow of his normal zippy superstars have the ability to shine with includes the likes of compatriot school cropped up again in front even brighter. Lionel Messi (four Italy in Diego Maradona, Brazil’s Pele self, especially towards the end goals) rose to the occasion to lead of an audience of millions. Faced Natal and Johan Cruyff of the of a season Barca ended without Argentina to a perfect 3-0 record in with a smothering and frustrating June 24. Netherlands. major silverware, but he seems Group F. Italian defense in a must-win The comparison with to have recovered his energy in Although he hasn't found the World Cup game Tuesday, the Uruguayan superstar responded with his Maradona, whose brilliance Brazil at just the right time for back of the net himself, Cristiano front teeth. It came at about the 80th minute when Suarez and Italian almost single-handedly pro- his country. If Argentina are to Ronaldo kept his team's dreams defender Giorgio Chiellini got tangled up in front of Italy's goal. The pelled Argentina to victory in win the World Cup they still alive with a beautiful cross in the apparent chomp happened in an instant, but was caught by television Mexico in 1986, is the one need to fix the glaring problems final minute of extra time against cameras and became a worldwide sensation -- and could lead to Suarez inevitably made most often. in defence and midfield that the United States. being kicked out of the World Cup. The referee didn't see a bite, and no Both men are short in stature, were again exposed by the The bracket for the round of 16 is foul was called despite Chiellini pleading and pulling down his jersey to predominantly left-footed and Nigerians in Porto Alegre. beginning to take shape. There are show a red mark on his shoulder. About a minute later, Uruguay scored blessed with incredible skills However, with Messi in the side still some spots up for grab, but the the winning goal in a 1-0 game that sent Italy home. Uruguay will con- that can unlock the most stub- and firing on all cylinders, fans remaining open spots will be tinue playing, but the federation that runs the World Cup will investi- born defences. Messi had a rela- back home will be confident decided by the end of the day on gate and may suspend Suarez, who has twice before been disciplined tively poor season with Barca they can score more goals than Thursday. for biting opponents in league games. by his sky-high standards, miss- they inevitably leak. N. Srinivasan confirmed as ICC chairman Options for LeBron James and Melbourne: N. Srinivasan has been con- firmed as the ICC's first chairman after constitutional changes to the governing Anthony as free agents body were passed at the annual conference in Melbourne on Thursday. New York: Carmelo Smooth passage of the changes devised With LeBron Anthony by the "Big Three" of India, England and James opting opted out of Australia had been expected after a set of out of his con the final year broad resolutions were approved by Full tract with of his contract Member nations earlier this year. Miami Heat, with the Srinivasan had been barred from his role teams Knicks in as BCCI president due to an India Supreme throughout order to test court investigation into IPL corruption but the NBA are free agency, had spent the preceding two days, with N. Srinivasan preparing and ESPN Australia's Wally Edwards and England's pitches to reported that Giles Clarke, explaining the new landscape fair to me and is not well-founded. Beyond make a run for as many as to delegates, including Associate and that all I can say is that over a long period him. seven teams Affiliate members. of time I have been involved with cricket He has report- Heat’s mainstay Knicks star Carmelo are planning on As for whether Srinivasan was the right and its administration, and one must judge edly five pre- LeBron James Anthony chasing after man to lead world cricket into the future, me by results," he said. "It is the first day, ferred destinations. Though a return to him. The Bulls, Rockets, Mavericks and having long stated his primary responsibili- I've just been elected, and one has to wait Miami is no lock, the Heat might still be the Lakers are all expected to try and steal ty as a representative of the BCCI, the and see as to what is the effect I have on front-runner for James. Anthony from the Knicks, with the Heat and India Cements and Chennai Super Kings the ICC and on cricket, before you make In fact, Heat's confidence in retaining Hawks also in contention. Anthony is cer- owner argued that he should be judged on that judgment." James is buoyed by its belief that his options tainly not interested in joining James, Wade, what he achieved over the term of his The BCCI termed Srinivasan's appoint- are relatively limited to: Cleveland etc. He could still return to New York, and chairmanship. ment "a proud and historic moment for Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls the Knicks can offer $33 million more than "I believe that some of the criticism is not Indian cricket". and Los Angeles Clippers. any other team. 24 June 28-July 4, 2014 FEATURES TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Living with Autism

With South Asian families there is no common set of beliefs and attitudes on autism. The experiences vary depending on the extent of acculturation, knowledge of the legal system, socio-economic status, language barriers and cultural taboos.

By Renee Mehrra of clarity on autism and ASD triggers flawed child with autism. It is also important to research indicates that it is an effective thinking and perceptions fluctuate from understand and address the interrelationship adjunctive treatment for physical, emotional utism and autism spectrum disorder believing the child to be mentally retarded of culture and language for an effective treat- and mental conditions and can help children (ASD) is a range of complex neu- who has to be institutionalized to total denial ment plan for children coming from minority with autism to be more focused and calm. Arodevelopment disorders, character- of the disorder. cultures. Families of different cultures Integration of arts, music and theater for ized in varying degrees by difficulties in ver- The more educated parents utilize the respond differently to similar delays placing active participation and therapeutic healing bal and nonverbal communication, impaired resources the city offers to get early interven- different emphasis on language and social is evident in Autism the Musical, an inspira- social interaction and repetitive behavior. tion and have better outcomes. skills. Policy, pedagogy and practices should tional documentary, a moving testament to ASD varies significantly in character and The belief patterns are cultural yet have strategize a culture specific approach for the the perseverance and triumphs of autistic severity, and occurs in all ethnic and socio- common denominators with other immigrant optimal utilization of health care services for children who given the right opportunity are economic groups. The Center for Disease communities. When the child starts to show these children. able to realize their potential. It redefines our Control and Prevention states that 1 out of 88 signs of delayed speech and slow physical To have positive outcomes, effective scaf- understanding about ASD and gives a vision children will be affected by ASD with males growth, parents view this as a temporary folding is needed so families can talk about of hope to parents and a brighter future for four times more likely to be diagnosed than phase. As the child’s behavior persists and Autism and ASD candidly. A critical mass of children on the spectrum. females. Autism is more common than child- starts to interfere with social interaction, the educated is essential for acceptance and To lead a successful change in policy and hood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric there is fear, discomfort and unease. early identification of autism. Since it is pedagogy, educators must weigh in the com- AIDS combined. Raising a child with autism However, some parents continue to think that often difficult and subjective to know where plexities of diversity and be committed to is challenging and the stress is compounded the child is a slow learner and would eventu- the child is on the spectrum, immigrant chil- being culturally responsive. In the for immigrant communities grappling with ally catch up with time. At this juncture, dren should be evaluated in their own lan- Knowledge Era, global competence comes socio-economic issues and archaic societal some, but not all, educated and astute parents guage for an accurate assessment. The mate- when education is inclusive and transcends norms. From denial to acknowledgement to seek diagnosis and treatment for their child. rials in different South Asian languages borders, customs and values in a school cul- acceptance can be a long and winding road Some parents on the lower rung of the socio- would enhance the awareness of parents and ture where children with autism and ASD for many caregivers. This can cause delays economic status go through social withdraw- help them to recognize behaviors that are feel safe and secure. Pedagogy is effective in diagnosis as well as in early intervention. al and prolonged stress delaying treatment delayed and different. This would encourage when principals, teachers and parents are With South Asian families there is no while in some families marital tension and them to become reliable informants and con- aligned with the goals and dreams of chil- common set of beliefs and attitudes on abuse results in trauma for their child. tribute immensely in early detection and in dren with special needs and when an innova- autism. The experiences vary tremendously Clarity in thinking brings a deeper awareness the continuing core research area in ASD. tive approach is applied in their trajectories determined on the extent of acculturation, for more help and support. At times this real- Resource centers run by South Asian care- of development. knowledge of the legal system, socio-eco- ization comes late and unfortunately the givers can become safe havens for both par- This would enable active learning, social nomic status, language barriers and cultural child cannot achieve his/her full potential. ents and kids. justice and equity in special education where taboos. Domestic violence can further exac- Family values, perceptions and attitudes Meditation is evidence based holistic solu- autistic and ASD children do not feel alienat- erbate issues and predispose the autistic child play a dominant role in the assessment, diag- tion valued in the East for centuries to nour- ed from their own culture or the culture of to trauma and self-inflicted injuries. The lack nosis and successful treatment plan for a ish and relax body, mind and spirit. Medical their classroom. Portraits of love and acceptance The month long exhibition ‘Our Portraits, Our Families’ at MOCA in New York is part of a program initiated by Q-Wave and SALGA to help families go through the “coming out” process and accept their LGBTQ members.

By Jinal Shah that of the family’s but also with society’s reprobation and cultural son sharing a light moment expectations. It is a challenge that with his mother, a family tests family bonds. Ahuddling on a couch for Mashuq Deen relates his experi- family photo, folks taking a meal ence thus: “I don’t come from a together -- these may be common family that talks about things, so scenes in many households. But to nothing has ever been resolved. We the families featured in the photos, just muddle past the hard bits and exhibited at the Museum of into the next bits and hope for the Chinese in America (MOCA) in best.” But how do families open a New York , a moment like this line of communication after their takes a lot of effort to reach because child has come out? they all have to learn to accommo- “It is telling that so many South date their lesbian, gay, bisexual, Asian gay and lesbians are still in transgender and queer (LGBTQ) the closet. The reason? They fear members. Transgender Mashuq Deen & his partner Elizabeth Clark & her family. Navin with his mother. family and community rejection. The photos on display at MOCA June 13, features photos that cap- founded on the belief that families with the cause. Photographer They don't want to be shunned, or are part of the Asian Pride Project, ture the family bonds and tender go through a coming out process, Nelson Chan captured Navin be made to feel ashamed of who a program initiated by Asian les- moments in multigenerational too. We are an LGBT arts and advo- Dargani and Navin Manglani’s they are. They don't want to feel bian advocate organization Q-Wave Asian families. The goal of the cacy group that uses multimedia art visual narrative in Manhattan and that their parents are disappointed and South Asian Lesbian Gay exhibition, where socially engaged forms -- such as video and photog- photographer Alexis Padrigal Lim in them,” said Reddy. However, Association (SALGA), to help fam- professional artists were paired raphy -- to tell the stories of API captured loving moments with some families are coming out ilies go through the “coming out” with individuals and families, was individuals, and their families and Mashuq Deen and his partner strong. “We realize how brave, and process and accept their LGBTQ to increase visibility and empower communities,” said Suma Reddy, Elizabeth Clark and her family. unconditional our parents’ love for members while exploring the Asian & Pacific Islander (API) director of the Project. Being gay and South Asian some- us is, especially in the face of a dynamics of family acceptance and LGBTQ individuals and families Three Indian Americans volun- times is painful and heart wrench- community that sometimes called love. The month long exhibit ‘Our through the use of visual media and teered to be photographed with ing, because they not only have to our union ‘unacceptable’ and ‘dis- Portraits, Our Families’, unveiled arts. “Asian Pride Project was families to show their solidarity deal with their internal denials and graceful’, said Navin Manglani. TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPIRITUALITY June 28-July 4, 2014 25 Guru greater than God?

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to meet a Satguru on the auspicious day of Guru Poornima on July 12 in the New York metropolitan area.

By Parveen Chopra of the Guru in the calendar: Guru Indian philosophy, Guruji also has Poornima, which falls on the full a deep understanding of abir was a level-headed moon day in the Hindu month of Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, saint-poet, almost an icono- Ashad (July-August). It falls on Jainism, and Buddhism. So, he is Kclast, who cut through 12th July this year as per the able to explain and relate the spiri- much mumbo-jumbo surrounding English calendar. Guru Poornima tual process to the tradition a devo- Guru Poornima 2014 with Sri Guruvanand Swami will be religion and spirituality. So one lis- is the day to feel grateful for the tee belongs to. celebrated at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in tens intently when he proclaims, great knowledge you have received Interested in cherishing some Newark, NJ, on July 12 followed by Gurudev’s “Guru Gobind dono khare, kake from your Master. Gratitude and spiritual bliss? Guru Poornima personal blessings and Prasad (dinner). lagon paye, Balihari guru aapne humility together blossom a gen- 2014 with Sri Guruvanand Swami jin Gobind diyo milaye” (Both uine prayer inside you! will be celebrated at the magnifi- blessings and Prasad (dinner). The To register, visit God and Guru are standing in front You may be wondering – can one cent New Jersey Performing Arts event has been made free, courtesy www.GuruPoornima2014.com, or of me, who should I prostate to? I find a Satguru in America of all Center in Newark, New Jersey, on of World Spiritual Awareness call, Bharti Doshi (516) 282-4353, choose the Guru, of course, places! Well, people living in the Saturday, July 12 (3 PM to 8 PM) Forum, but registration is Suman Kumar (201) 562-2788, or because I owe everything to one New York metropolitan area and followed by Gurudev’s personal required. Rakesh Bhargava (516) 484-0018. who was instrumental in my meet- those who can travel here are fortu- ing God.) nate to be able to celebrate Guru Guru Gita (part of Skanda Poornima 2014 in the divine pres- Purana) goes one further, and ence of an enlightened master and equates guru with God. perfect Satguru, Brahmrishi Sri “Gurur Brahma gurur Vishnu Guruvanand Ji Swami. He is one gurur Devo Maheshwarah, Guru of the few living Satgurus who sakshat par Brahman tasmai shri have invoked all chakras of their guruvai namnah”. (Guru is the Kundalini. His devotees, who call creator Brahma, Guru is the pre- him Gurudev, point out that on server Vishnu, as well as the Guru Poornima his divine power is destroyer Siva. Guru is verily the at its peak. That day he gives his Supreme Spirit — I offer my salu- blessing in the form of shaktipat tations to this Guru.) personally to each and every one These days we often hear of a present. Such a precious blessing marketing guru, a media guru, and given on Guru Poornima goes a so on. But here, of course, we are long way for those receiving it to talking about guru as in spiritual bring long lasting peace and happi- teacher. Etymologically, in ness in their lives. Sanskrit the syllable ‘gu’ (ग)ु means Hear Diane, a devotee of shadows, and the syllable ‘ru’ (रु), Gurudev, relate her own shaktipat one who disperses them. So the experience: “After meeting guru has the power and the where- Gurudev I was touched by him and withal to disperse the darkness of my meditation the next morning ignorance and bring us into the was different. I worked through light of knowledge of the True Self. some old unrest and fears during In simple terms, a guru is an meditation. He is a powerful figure enlightened master who helps us to for good in the world.” tune in to the voice of God within Adds Apra Bhandari of Los our hearts and silences the voices Angeles, “Just being in his pres- of lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion ence makes me feel like I can get and madness. He helps us to see the through any obstacle that comes Lord within the hearts of humans my way. He guides us towards a and other beings. The guru does not more balanced and aware lifestyle. tell us what to do but clears the dust His aura has the power to make on the mirror of our hearts so the everything around us happy and reflection of the Lord can shine positive.” through us. For those who have not yet come Why do we need a guru? If you in contact with Sri Guruvanand ji, want to learn mathematics or any he has made his life’s mission to academic subject, you go to school help and guide us all, irrespective and learn from the teachers of those of caste, creed or religious belief, disciplines. If you want to learn along the path he has treaded. A music, you go to a music teacher. disciple of revered Yogiraj Devraha Similarly, to pursue spirituality, Baba, who lived to the age of 250, you will progress faster if you learn Sri Guruvanand Swami attained his from a spiritual teacher. spiritual powers after 45 years of The Indian system, wisely rigorous sadhana. A renowned enough, has even earmarked a Day scholar of Hinduism, Jainism and 26 June 28-July 4, 2014 HEALTH TheSouthAsianTimes.info Processed red meat raises heart failure risk in men Three ways to get healthier, from the inside out

ove ham or salami for your analyzed a cohort of Swedish eart health should be a year-round breakfast daily? Better cut men study that included 37,035 consideration for anybody looking to Ldown the intake for the men 45-79 years old with no his- Hlead a healthy life. While that may health of your heart. An alarming tory of heart failure. Participants sound like a daunting task, better heart health research indicates that men who completed a questionnaire on can be possible with a few steps in the right regularly eat moderate amounts food intake and other lifestyle direction. Iconic television, stage and screen of processed red meat such as factors in 1998. After almost 12 actor, Tony Danza, makes his health a top pri- cold cuts (ham/salami), sausage, years of follow-up, researchers ority, even when facing a busy schedule. bacon and hot dogs are at higher found that heart failure was diag- Danza, who knows the importance of diet, risk of heart failure and death. nosed in 2,891men and 266 died exercise and “doing good to feel good,” offers Processed meats are preserved by Cold cuts from heart failure. Men who ate (ham/salami), his go-to tips for fitting health and wellness Fitting in exercise can be as easy and smoking, curing, salting or the most processed red meat (75 into your daily lifestyle: adding preservatives. "Processed sausage, bacon grams per day or more) had a 28 cost-efficient as taking the stairs and hot dogs Turn Your Daily Habits Into Exercise. instead of the elevator or going for a red meat commonly contains per cent higher risk of heart fail- are highly Most people know that exercise, in addition to walk on your lunch break. sodium, nitrates, phosphates and ure compared to men who ate the avoidable. a healthy diet, also plays a key role in improv- other food additives, and smoked least (25 grams per day or less) ing your overall health. However, many peo- Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and grilled meats also contain polycyclic after adjusting for multiple lifestyle vari- ple have trouble fitting exercise into their that include 7 gm of soluble fiber per day aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which may ables. Men who ate the most processed red busy schedule or think they have to look to from psyllium husk, as in Metamucil (also as contribute to the increased heart failure meat had more than a two-fold increased costly private training options to see results. in Indian Isabgol), may reduce the risk of risk," claimed Alicja Wolk, a professor risk of death from heart failure compared What most don’t realize is fitting in exercise heart disease by lowering cholesterol. One from the Institute of Environmental to men in the lowest category. For each 50 can be as easy and cost-efficient as taking the adult dose of Metamucil has at least 2.1 Medicine at Karolinska Institutet in gram (1-2 slices of ham) increase in daily stairs instead of the elevator or going for a grams of this soluble fiber. “Metamucil has Stockholm, Sweden. consumption of processed meat, the risk of walk on your lunch break. been an important part of my health regimen Unprocessed meat is free from food addi- heart failure incidence increased by eight Encourage others, like your friends or fami- for over 20 years. It’s a simple way to get tives and usually has a lower amount of percent and the risk of death from heart ly, to join you on these mini exercise sessions. multiple health benefits and an extra fiber sodium, Wolk added. failure by 38 per cent, researchers noted. Having a support system of people who are boost since it can be hard to get all the fiber "To reduce your risk of heart failure and The risk of heart failure or death among looking for ways to be healthier can help pro- you need from food alone,” says Danza. other cardiovascular diseases, we suggest those who ate unprocessed red meat did not vide motivation to keep going on your jour- Do Good; Feel Good. Overall health and to avoid processed red meat and limit the increase. Researchers said they expect to ney to better health. wellness also comes from how you feel about amount of unprocessed red meat to one to find similar associations in a current study Get Your Fiber Up. Fiber is a crucial yourself as an individual. Danza makes giving two servings per week or less," explained conducted with women. "For people who component to our diet, but most Americans back to the community a regular practice and Joanna Kaluza, an assistant professor at eat meat, choose lean meats and poultry are not getting the recommended daily lists it among his healthy habits. Warsaw University of Life Sciences in without skin and eat fish at least twice a amount of 25 to 38 grams of fiber, according “Giving back is good for the soul and really Poland. week - preferably fish high in omega-3 to the American Dietetic Association. Many warms the heart. You will be amazed to see "Eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole fatty acids such as salmon, trout and her- people know that fiber can help promote how much you do for yourself as a person, grain products, nuts and increase your serv- ring," researchers concluded in an digestive health, but few know that it can also when you are helping and giving back to oth- ings of fish," Kaluza added. American Heart Association journal promote heart health. ers,” says Danza. To reach this conclusion, researchers Circulation: Heart Failure. Are you taking the right vitamins and nutrients?

f you eat a healthful diet, you “To get the amount of nutrients health scientist with Life Extension overwhelmed by the choices. may think you’re in the clear you need to thrive, you can’t rely on in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Making matters more confusing, Iwhen it comes to supplying your food alone. You really have to turn to If you’ve ever walked through the everyone has different nutritional body with vital nutrients. But some dietary supplements,” says Michael supplement section of a natural foods needs. “With the exception of a few experts say that even the most well- A. Smith M.D., host of “Healthy store or done a quick search online, foundational nutrients, there’s no rounded meal plans fall short. Talk” on RadioMD.com and senior you know it can be easy to become such thing as a one-size-fits-all sup- plement regimen,” says Smith, whose new book and educational tool, “The Supplement Pyramid,” seeks to help readers design a nutri- Like food, it’s helpful to think of tional regimen that meets your supplement needs in their unique needs. “Like a tiered pyramid structure. food, it’s helpful to think the base of most people’s plans, no of your supplement matter what their unique needs are, needs in a tiered pyramid Smith says. These include an ideally structure: the foundation- dosed multivitamin/mineral, omega- al supplements we all 3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10 (as need, personalized sup- ubiquinol) and probiotics. Check plements based on your with your doctor before starting a needs and optimal sup- supplement regimen. plements for living Everybody has their own per- healthier, longer.” sonal medical history and health Smith is offering needs. With do-it-yourself detective guidelines for getting work, you can arm yourself with the started: facts you need to personalize your Bootleg products on supplement plan for disease preven- the market can do more tion. Beyond taking a personal and harm than good. Invest in family medical inventory, certain high-quality nutritional laboratory tests can help you discov- supplements. Stick with a er out what’s going on inside your company that has an body. Additionally, “The Supplement established track record Pyramid” contains a series of med- of using only pure, potent ical quizzes based on clinical risk raw materials. assessments in different areas includ- There are essential ing heart health, cognitive function foundational supple- and immune strength. ments that should build TheSouthAsianTimes.info SELF HELP June 28- July 4, 2014 27 How to network your way to a great new job How your online presence hen it comes to getting a job or doing business, social media and Wother forms of electronic commu- works to grow your business nication are a great networking tool. However, there will never be a substitute for f you own a small business, you know communicating face-to-face. that online visibility is one of the keys to In 2013, 68 million business professionals success. And these days, harnessing the attended business-to-business exhibitions, I Web is crucial to any marketing plan. according to the Center for Exhibition “While most small business owners know Industry Research (www.CEIR.org). And it’s they need a strong Web presence, many of no wonder that this industry contributes them are not taking enough action to build more than $79.3 billion directly to the gross and maintain it,” says Tim Carroll, Vice startups as well. Are you interested in domestic product in attendee and exhibitor President of Small Business Engagement at expanding your professional skills set? Look spending. Deluxe Corp., a provider of marketing serv- into the education sessions available. All working professionals stand to gain ices and products for small businesses. In “The most important thing is confidence from attending exhibitions and events as fact, of those small business owners who put Website: “Today, a business without a and preparation, so engage with your sur- buyers, exhibitors, or simply as general a high level of importance on Web presence, website is a business without a face,” says roundings and ask questions. Everyone there attendees. Whether you’re at a major trade 70 percent spend less than one hour a week Carroll. “A clean, easy-to-navigate, and is focused on gaining the most out of their show looking for candidates to help expand maintaining it, according to a new Deluxe mobile-friendly online presence is one your experience, so be sure you do the same,” your business, or you’re a job seeker attend- study. In contrast, only 1.2 percent spend 10 customers will remember.” says DuBois. ing a local business conference, exhibitions or more hours each week on their Web main- Unfortunately, less than a third of small bring the right audiences together. tenance. It’s important to learn how to use business owners think they are proficient or New Career Path “Exhibitions are a key networking tool, as the Internet to keep your business top of extremely proficient at maintaining their well as a valuable resource for gaining While employment rates are on the rise, mind with prospective customers, says individual company websites, which is why insights in your field, growing professionally they’re still lower than prior to the recession. Carroll. He offers some top tips for maxi- many seek outside help developing a site and through education or training, or simply by Despite the numbers, the exhibitions and mizing your company’s presence online. building content. observing what other companies and leaders events industry is thriving, supporting 1.8 Interact: Since current and prospective  Search engines: With 91 percent of in your field are doing,” says David DuBois, million jobs across the country, according to consumers use social media, you can’t neg- Internet users utilizing search engines, President & CEO, International Association the Convention Industry Council. lect this marketing approach. Social media according to the Deluxe-commissioned of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). Whether your experience is in research, marketing isn’t just about gaining followers. study, search engine optimization can be Whatever your goals are, there are univer- food and beverage management, event plan- It becomes a vehicle for sharing your com- your key to better visibility online. After all, sal ways to maximize your presence at ning or sales, the exhibitions and events pany’s message as well as driving traffic to a website is hardly useful if no one can find industry events: industry may be an ideal sector to forge a your website. it. Additionally, consider search engine mar- new career. Don’t be afraid to use Twitter, Facebook keting services to help your online advertis- Be Prepared and other social media sites to ask customers ing and to make use of local searches by Learn about event attendees and engage Learn for feedback and show your personality. Use more effectively targeting your customer with them online in advance so that when You may no longer be in school, but that’s calls to action to acquire new followers, audience. you meet in person, you’re simply continu- no excuse to discontinue career training or engage them further and encourage reviews Email marketing: Small business email ing the dialogue. Trade show organizers your education. Take advantage of work- of your services. marketing is the centerpiece of any effort to often provide planning resources, like shops, seminars and the other opportunities Many small businesses turn to consultants stay in touch with existing customers, while mobile apps and scheduling tools that make to expand your skills and earn new certifica- or social media services for help developing reaching out and finding new ones. Use it to these conversations easier. tions that exhibitions and events provide. At and executing a social media strategy. When promote new items and offer special dis- It is helpful to create a list of who you plan the very least, such experiences can provide effective, these efforts will place a brand in counts to loyal customers or simply to keep to connect with beforehand and what you an opening with key contacts. front of its target audience. Small business in touch. want to get out of your experience. More information about the benefits of owners should look for a service that also Small business owners know they need to Are you starting a business? See if the exhibitions and event attendance, as well as tracks results in order to gain insight into be online. It just takes commitment and the event features a startup session. Most events statistics about the industry can be found at how its customers engage online. right tools to capitalize on the potential. have space on the exhibit floor dedicated to www.IAEE.com. How the internet can keep kids excited about learning this summer

n summer, keeping kids busy means Parchment. The company’s newest tool, including great books for camp, pool time and outdoor games. But College Match, uses a proprietary algorithm kids. Iall that sun, fun and physical activity to generate personalized college recommen- Monitor children’s should also be well-balanced with mental dations, enabling students to discover progress and log reading exercise. schools for which they may be well-posi- minutes on-the-go using With that in mind, here are several ways tioned to be accepted. Parchment also the free Scholastic Reading kids and parents can use the Internet to makes ordering, tracking and sending tran- Timer app. focus on education when class is not in ses- scripts to schools an easy, online process. Additionally, summer- sion: Visit www.Parchment.com to get started. friendly literature recom- mendations are available Online Tutoring Summer Reading from Scholastic experts. Nothing beats one-on-one learning time to Free summer reading resources can help Their book list features improve grades and build confidence and avoid “summer slump.” Check out more than 700 books for yet most kids learn in large groups all Scholastic’s suite of free tools available at children in Pre-K-8, school year. Students can get that one-to- www.Scholastic.com/summer. including this year’s one time this summer with online tutoring. Consider registering children in grades K- “Reading Under the Stars” Available 24/7 with expert tutors in more 8 for the Scholastic Summer Reading themed list, which show- than 40 subjects, Tutor.com is a great way to Challenge, a free, global online reading pro- cases books about space, stars and astrono- which provides advice and activities that help students brush up on concepts and keep gram. Kids can log reading minutes, win my, as well as spooky stories to read by a can be used in just a few minutes. Its free, their skills sharp all in a secure online learn- prizes and help beat last year’s summer campfire. personalized stream of reading activities for ing environment that is accessible from any reading world record of 176,438,473 min- parents and kids is a nice antidote to sum- computer or mobile device. utes read. Learning on-the-Go mer brain drain, and its mobile-based activi- You can use the summer calendar app on Even in summer, parents and kids are ties build reading comprehension, knowl- Personalized College Prep the Scholastic Parents Facebook page, busy. Luckily, GreatSchools.org, a nonprofit edge and perseverance. It’s never too early to work on college which features expert tips, articles and website for parents that has reviews of more A bit of learning and preparation during applications. Investigate online services, activities. Every Friday, parents can enter than 200,000 prek-12 schools, is launching the dog days of summer will serve kids well tools and resources that can assist, such as for the chance to win a Freebie Friday prize, smartphone-friendly tools like GreatKids, when they return from break. 28 June 28- July 4, 2014 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Bone by Nury Vittachi Confession: my career as a counterfeiter

y dazzling career as a professional the 1980s. Since it takes 200 dong to make and called police. counterfeiter started one Friday one US cent, I just need to find another 99 This is Mr Jam’s Law of Mwhen I used a tiny image of a ban- two-dong notes and then I can go out and Irony: Things you have to knote to complete a piece of advertising art- buy something, a molecule perhaps. tell people are true aren't. work for a friend. How much is a molecule these days? That guy should have A couple of weeks later, the lawyers from Probably more than one US cent, thanks to heeded that classic line from HSBC complained that I had illegally dupli- the scourge of inflation! the Bible: "The wise man cated their currency — even though the *** knoweth when to speak and mud on the bottom of my shoe would have On that first visit to Vietnam, I remember when to shutteth up.” been smart enough to realize it wasn't a real wondering how people bought homes in *** banknote. Vietnam. The price of a house would surely Perhaps the most ironic A couple of months after that, I wrote a be a pile of dong considerably bigger than tale from my counterfeiting newspaper report about new banknote most homes. files is another true story designs. HSBC complained again, even Why not skip the purchase entirely and from Vietnam, but from the though I was printing a press release from just live in a structure made of "bricks" of 1990s. HSBC about HSBC banknotes! banknotes? A forger from Ho Chi That was when I realized bank staff were It would be cheaper, more distinctive and Minh City used a piece of clearly sniffing too many chemicals wafting you could avoid dealing with smarmy real- cheap iron to make a coun- writers have moved over to commenting on up from the printing department. tors. terfeit piece of "precious metal" and sold it the Facebook version of this column -- I get I used advanced spiritual techniques *** to a group of investors for a large bundle of between 10 and 400 comments on the FB (“kicking furniture”) to defray my A friend who knows my dark past as a cash. version. This includes many regulars from aggrieved feelings, but since then I have counterfeiter sent me a recent report from But when he got back home, he found this website, including Karuna, Jason, etc. always felt an affinity with counterfeiters, the Darlington and Stockton Times, a they paid him with counterfeit money. Feel free to join that one, too, in case you particularly those from Vietnam, as they do British newspaper. I know it's mean to laugh at people, but I like more commenting traffic. If you are not no harm since their currency isn't actually A counterfeiter walked into a shop and couldn't stop myself. He was hopping mad, a Facebook person, of course, you can con- worth anything. asked staff to change a large denomination no doubt telling his family members: "You tinue to comment here as normal -- we still *** banknote. can't trust anybody these days.” have lots of readers here, too. The other day, I came across a two-dong "It's not fake!" he announced, merrily. Having finished this post, I shall now All Facebook friends lists have restric- note from my first visit to that country in Staff immediately realized that it was fake reward myself with a visit to the coffee tions -- you can't have more than 5,000 peo- shop, stopping at an ATM on the way. ple on it, and mine is approaching the limit. Or maybe the photocopier. But anybody who is a regular commenter *** here I will automatically approve, even if it SPECIAL NOTE TO COMMENTATORS: means taking other people off my Facebook In recent months, many regular comment- list!

Laughter is the Best Medicine

by Mahendra Shah

Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY June 28-July 4, 2014 29

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 [email protected]; www.premastrologer.com Stars Foretell: June 28-July 4, 2014 Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

ARIES: Business partners behave sup- for your achievements at work. A promising 28th June, 2014 Ruled planet: Sun Ruled by no: 1 1st July, 2014 Ruled planet: Sun Ruled by no: 1 portive on executing strategies to sort week to plan things for your progeny. Your Traits in you: Due to the positive effects of your ruling Traits in you: Being ruled by the Sun and number 1, you out pending problems. You achieve suc- brilliant ideas would help in bringing financial planet Sun, you will have the characteristics of a good hu- are original, authoritative, dignified, and determined. As cess in personal work with the timely help & gains. Love comes your way as friendship man being. By nature, you are accountable, unique, you are sensitive for your relationships, your friends and courageous, committed, competitive, coordinated and in- family may consider you to be an asset in their lives. support provided by family members. Long turns into romance. Sound physical health will telligent. You should work on your negative personality However, you need to take care of your nature of spend- pending arrears and dues will finally be recov- enable to participate in outdoor activities. traits such as selfishness, dependency and pessimism. ing unnecessarily and your dominating character. ered. You find pleasure and enjoy ecstasies of Breathtaking beautiful site scenes are your Health this year: You will enjoy a good health through- Health this year: You will remain healthy throughout love in the arms of partner. A week when smile lover’s desire. Its time to make some property out this year but provided you go for regular medical the year provided you go for regular medical checkups. will perpetually be on your face and strangers investments for your kids. Following honest checkups and take proper medication prescribed by the Finance this year: If you are a professional, you will be will seem familiar. Travel plan with a colleague and to-the-point approach help in achieving doctor. among financial benefits. Finance this year: Your financial conditions will be very Career this year: You may get excellent returns from might lead to a new relationship. Their might personal goals. good this year as you will be working hard to reach your your investments in business and it may improve your be a chance of acquiring a plot from your SCORPIO : Your creativity will amaze goal. Your past property dispute will get solved and it will standard of living by making you spend a more luxuri- closed relative. Self-discipline enables easily people around you besides enhancing earn you a lot of money. If you are into business, you may ous life. managing emotions. career prospects. You would be the cen- go for new ventures as those seem to be very profitable Romance this year: You will find yourself in romantic TAURUS: Innovative ideas & technical ter of attraction at a social gathering that you this year. peak this year and marriage may happen for few. Career this year: Lucky month: expertise would enable to win the confi- attend especially with family. A promising You will enjoy a good professional at- September, December, April and June mosphere this year. You will be appreciated by your sen- dence of seniors at professional front. week to earn profits in real estate and financial iors and higher management. This may bring you promo- 2nd July, 2014 Ruled planet: Moon Ruled by no :2 Misunderstandings with near ones in the family transactions. You are likely find comfort in the tions and salary hike. You need to concentrate more on Traits in you: you are blessed with a lively, creative, will get cleared. Investment concerning resi- arms of romantic partner. You will be success- your work to get a better position in your profession. You practical and trustworthy nature. You epitomize simplic- dence will be profitable. Avoid temper flair up ful in getting rid from tensions. Time to relax may go for a job change this year. However, you should ity and leadership. You possess enough capability to per- especially in romance in this week. Your ener- and enjoy your visit to a relatives place. not decide anything hastily. form your job that requires huge responsibility and Romance this year: You will share a good relationship courage. You have to work on your nature of becoming gy level will be high. Better to channelise it in Purchasing official accessories can lead to with your spouse. You may decide to turn your relation- impatient and spending unnecessarily. a positive direction. Small picnic organized by improve growth of your office. You bring the ship into marriage if you are not married yet. However, Health this year: You might undergo tension and nerv- your company is good to change your mood. positive attitude of `Yes in life. you need to understand your beloved and provide the re- ousness as your spouse might fall sick. You need not You might deal in some ancestral property or SAGITTARIUS: New job opportuni- quired emotional support for the betterment of your rela- bother for a long time as your spouse would recover any other parental property. Learning the art of ties for some will be better than expect- tionship. soon. Lucky month: Finance this year: life would make life easier and peaceful. ed. If possible share the company of June, November, February and May You may find yourself in a busy GEMINI: schedule as you may have to solve various matters relat- Handling subordinates might close relatives who understand your feelings 29th June, 2014 Ruled planet: 2 Ruled by no: Moon ed to property, business, and new business initiatives. be a little tough in this week. Children and needs. An improvement in monetary posi- Traits in you: As you are under the influence of the This may make ypou earn lot of money if you succeed. would do their best to keep you happy. tion makes it convenient to purchase essential Moon, you are generous, courteous, caring, cooperative, You may concede a huge amount of money on renova- Financial hassles seem to get over as someone items. Love and romantic encounter will keep decisive, and determined. Being a very friendly person, tion or construction activities during the ending months lends a timely helping hand. You enjoy a lovely you in a cheerful state. A sparkling laughter you make friends easily and you believe in loyalty for of the year. friends. You should not behave stubborn and dishonest at Career this year: Your efforts are not destined to go un- time as Cupid is on your side in this week. filled week when most things proceed, as you times for the betterment of your personality. noticed and unrewarded this year should you to concen- Positive outlook impresses those around you desire. If you want to travel start planning your Health this year: You will enjoy a pretty good health this trate on your goals and put qualitative effort. Your skills besides keeping you fit & fine. Official jour- trip now. Inheriting property from your rela- year though you may go through few minor diseases. Go will get recognition and appreciation from your col- neys prove to be more fruitful for you. A deal tives seems to be ahead. You find yourself open for regular medical checkups to retain your good health. leagues. regarding residential property can start moving to suggestions, cooperation and doing things in Take care of the health of your family members. Do not Romance this year: Your romantic life would be filled on its right path. You succeed in getting rid of a better way. ignore any health related issue as it may lead to further with love and affection by your partner. Overall your ro- CAPRICORN : disturbances. mantic life would remain blissful forever. bad habits. At work you are likely Finance this year: You will be fortunate enough this year Lucky month: October, November, March and July CANCER: Service people, artists and to win appreciation and awards for past to be among financial gains. All you need to do is to grab those in creative field will get several efforts. You would prefer to relax and opportunities to earn money. You will find plenty of earn- 3rd July, 2014 Ruled planet: Jupiter Ruled by no :3 new opportunities. You are likely to be enjoy the company of family members in the ing opportunities around you. However, you have to work Traits in you: You are blessed with positive traits like benefited as family members positively evening. Long-term investment would enable hard to gain that money. Overall, this year will give you confidence and optimism. You are independent as you respond. Promising week to invest surplus to make substantial gains. Sudden romantic financial stability and security. have high ambitions in your life. You enjoy your dignity Career this year: You will gain a lot of professional whatever the situation may be. You are quite religious by money in real estate. A special message from encounter is foreseen in this week. Your enor- knowledge this year. You may think for a job change this nature and you trust on God. beloved/lover lifts spirits. Charity work under- mous confidence would help in enjoying a year. You may not get the job satisfaction in the organi- Health this year: Backache, stiff neck or body pains will taken will bring mental peace & comfort. Fly healthy life. Before you travel examine your- zation you currently work for. You may not get the ex- prove to be obstacles for you to spend a healthy life. away with your dreams, new business horizons self and your traveling partner, to determine pected appraisal, which would urge you to switch to an- Finance this year: You may help your earning improve are ready to explore. Discussing property mat- what you expect from your vacation. Your other company. by implementing new plans in your business. You may Romance this year: You may get some good news from start various new and profitable ventures. You may find ters with parents can help for better innova- income can be doubled by renting your house your spouse or partner later this week. This will make your speculations worthy enough to improve your finan- tions. A reunion with friends is on the card. or a part of your house. Bold innovation and your relationship grow stronger. You may have to travel cial status you may get a chance to travel foreign coun- LEO: Your greatest gains will come continuous efforts enable making a steady to distant places to spend time you’re your partner and tries for business purpose or you may plan a personal trip through your creative ideas at profes- progress at personal front. maintain a good relationship. with family to spend your holidays. sional front. Don’t forget to spend quali- AQUARIUS: Timely and swift action Lucky month: July, September, January and April Career this year: Being a perfectionist in your profes- ty time in the company of family friends you would give an edge over others at pro- sion, you will get ample recognition. However, you need 30th June, 2014 Ruled planet: Jupiter Ruled by no: 3 to control your emotions of being extravagant, dominat- care. Instead of wasting time, better to get fessional front. In this week you move Traits in you: As your governing planet is Jupiter, you ing and fickle-minded to forward your career. You may involved in something to improve your finan- with new excitement & confidence as you are intelligent, dignified, dynamic, simple, ambitious, and take frequent critical decisions in your professional life cial position. Love companion will be eager to receive support from family and friends. optimistic. You are very whimsical towards your work. this year. meet you in this week. Meditation and self- Financial hassles will be eased out with the help However, you need to eradicate few negative character- Romance this year: Your partner may expect you to realization prove beneficial. A fun- filled holi- of your friends. A promising week for romance istics such as jealousy, rude, irresponsibility. spend more time at home. However, this may create dis- Health this year: day at an amusement and theme park with your when your innovation infuses a new spirit in it. You may go through few minor health turbances as you will be busy throughout this year. issues, which will create unwanted tensions for you Lucky month: July, October, January and May family is there. Planning a property might A very healthy week filled with happiness & throughout the year. To avoid falling sick frequently, you explore new horizons for you and your family. vitality. Journey to some famous historical place need to get your medical checkup done periodically. 4th July, 2014 Ruled planet: Uranus Ruled by no :4 Keeping patience coupled with commonsense sounds exciting to your kids. It would be benefi- Finance this year: You will get financial benefits if you Traits in you: You are the owner of a responsible, disci- and understanding brings success. cial if you plan to buy a small property. A hum- have invested in past. For future financial gains, you may plined, sociable, organized and creative personality. You VIRGO: Success is certain provided ble behaviour would touch others souls. invest on real estate and stock market. You should study hold religious beliefs and philosophy at high esteem. You PISCES: the market well before investing on anything. Do not be should avoid being jealous, stubborn and self centered at you work as a team. Parents and friends Business partners would be in a hurry to invest as it may go in loss. times to improve your personal traits. will do their best to keep you happy. A enthusiastic about new plans & ven- Career this year: You will be successful in every project Health this year: You may undergo stress for your par- sound financial health would enable to invest tures. Family front seems to go smooth- you take up this year. You may be adjudged the best em- ent’s health. However, your health will remain good. on lucrative schemes. You are likely to find ly as you receive their full support to your ployee by your higher management because of your effi- Finance this year: You will earn a handsome amount of someone with whom you will enjoy the plans. Certain important plans will be execut- ciency, hard work, and timely delivery. You may need to money from your previous investments. The legal issues ecstasies of love. You will have ample time to ed, bringing fresh financial gains. Partner negotiate with different types of customer and learn a lot will be solved in your favor to provide you with mone- about handling a project independently. tary benefits. You may plan for a business trip to a dis- do things to improve your health. An interest- brings immense romantic pleasure even if work Romance this year: As far as your relationships are con- tant place to enhance the territory of your business. ing cruise ship is next place for your vacation. pressure occupies your mind Pleasure trip cerned, you will enjoy a good time this year. You will find Career this year: If you are a sportsperson or artist or Your friends and family will be of great sup- would help in maintaining sound health in this your spouse or partner supportive enough in your diffi- writer, this year will be fruitful for you. You would be port if you are trying for an office. Time to week. Romance is in full bloom, a journey full cult time. You will be able to solve any problem that oozing with confidence to make tough tasks easy. guard against mischievous interference in oth- of pleasure is your crave. Looking to buy prop- comes in your way to achieve something. If you are un- Romance this year: You will enjoy a blissful ers work. erty, then go for commercial one. You find married, there is a healthy chance for you getting married relationship with your partner with ample love, care and LIBRA: this year. support. You will be on the seventh yourself full of good ideas and your choice of Lucky month: September, October, March and June Lucky month: December, February, June and July heaven when you receive recognition activities brings gains beyond expectations. 30 June 28-July 4, 2014 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info Chapter excerpt from the book: Empowering Your Soul through Meditation The empowered soul and about the purpose of their existence. This some of the qualities—wisdom, immortality, found transformation that will enrich all areas search for meaning and purpose—the spiritu- fearlessness, love, connectedness, and bliss). of our life—from personal relations, to physi- al quest—is one that people pursue in indi- The personal or practical side consists of a cal, mental and emotional health, to our vidual ways. Some seek answers in scripture technique that I learned from a fully realized work, to our spiritual growth, and the attain- while others search in places of worship. being. I wish to share this technique to help ment of our life’s goals. This transformation Some go beyond their own religion to find others realize their soul on their own. can bring peace and joy into our lives and can the answers offered in other faiths. On the theoretical side, a basic agreement contribute to a peaceful, loving world. The Whichever method one adopts, the direction among enlightened souls is that we are not Empowered Soul is a manual for daily living one follows to find the answers to life’s ques- just a physical body, but we are also the soul and personal discovery. tions is known as the spiritual path. It is the or spirit behind the body. It is the soul that From the outset, we should define certain By Sant Rajinder Singh spiritual path that leads us to the realization that gives us life. When the soul is in the terminology to ensure that there is no confu- Ji Maharaj of our inner self, to the soul. body, we are physically alive. When the soul sion in how words are being used throughout Many people pass through life never realiz- leaves the body at the time of death, the body the book. The term “soul” is defined as our ithin us are riches greater than any ing who they are and never certain about the ceases to exist. The body may perish, but the true essence or spiritual side—the part of us we can ever accumulate on earth. purpose of their existence. In times of trouble soul that inhabits it is immortal. that lives beyond the death of our physical WWe have inside us a source of or in the face of death, they may raise these The soul continues to exist after our physi- body. The soul exists whether it has a body or knowledge from which all other knowledge questions but may not follow them through to cal death. mind. When it enters this world, it is given a flows. a fulfilling conclusion or else may abandon We are aware of our physical body because body and mind. As human beings, we are A love far greater and fulfilling than any the process when the bad times pass. But we can look at it, feel it, and listen to sounds thus “embodied souls” or souls with a body we can know in the outer world is waiting to those who have a burning desire to find the coming from it. However, where and what is and mind. embrace us with open arms within. At our answers to the mysteries of life can find the soul? How can we recognize it? What are The terms “we” or “us” refer to us as core is a strength and power that can enable them. its characteristics and qualities? This book human beings or embodied souls. The us to overcome any fear. Underlying our sep- process of finding the soul is referred to as arateness as individuals is a connectedness “tapping into” or “discovering our soul with- and oneness to all life. Awaiting us inside is a in us.” When we finally do discover our soul bliss and joy so fulfilling that we need no and identify with it as being our true nature, other outer intoxicants to make us happy. All then the soul is referred to as the “empow- these gifts lie within us in the empowered ered soul,” a soul that has recognized itself soul. and is aware that it is the essence of who we The soul is a source of tremendous wis- really are, that it is the guiding power behind dom, love, and power, yet we remain igno- the body and mind. rant of its treasures when we allow it to be True joy is not as elusive as we think. We overpowered by the mind, the senses, and the can find lasting happiness if we only look in physical body. When the mind and body the right place. Within us lies the unlimited assert power over the soul, the soul forgets power and energy of the empowered soul. Its itself. But the empowered soul is our true rich qualities include wisdom, fearlessness, nature, and it is time we reclaim the soul so immortality, unconditional love, connected- that its gifts can enrich our life. ness, and bliss. Tapping into the soul and its There are two ways through which to view power can enrich and transform our life. ourselves with regard to the soul. We remain ignorant of these inner gifts The first is to view ourselves primarily as a because blockages keep us from tapping into body and mind. When we see ourselves in them. How can we remove these blockages? this manner, we say that we are a mind and What process do we need to employ to dis- body that “have a soul.” cover all that we seek? The second is to see ourselves primarily as Fortunately, there are people in the world provides a way for us to accomplish two There are simple techniques for accessing a soul. When we change perspective and who have found spiritual fulfillment and can tasks: the theoretical understanding of our the riches of our soul. We need not search the identify with the soul, we say that we are a guide us. If we look through history we find true selves as soul; and the practical tech- four corners of the earth. We need not travel soul who “has or wears a mind and body.” To that in every generation there have been peo- nique for the realization of our soul and the into outer space. These techniques can be assess how we look at ourselves is one of our ple who have realized themselves as soul and empowering of it to guide our lives. practiced in the comfort of our home. goals. If we think we are a mind and body, have realized God. Some of their wisdom and Some of us may spend our lives searching Once we learn to tap into our inner then ours is a journey to find the soul. If we experiences have been recorded in history for knowledge in the world outside. resources, we can experience a profound realize that we are the soul, which has been and, in some cases, a religion has been creat- Little do we know that the source of all transformation that can enrich all areas of our given a mind and body to maneuver through ed from their teachings. Other realized souls answers, the universal wisdom, lies within life—personal relations; physical, mental, the physical world, then our goal is to further have come and gone but have left behind no us. Some of us may find that at times our life and emotional health; professional work; empower the soul. By empowering the soul records because they did not found a religion is thwarted by fear and anxiety, hopelessness spiritual growth; and the attainments of our we recover its natural control over the mind or leave behind any scriptures. and depression, yet we have a source of fear- life’s goals. This transformation cannot only and senses. Some of them we know of through refer- lessness within us that can help us overcome bring peace and joy to our lives, but can also The aim of Empowering Your Soul through ences by other people who wrote about them. any inner turmoil. We fear our own death and contribute to a peaceful, loving world. Meditation is to help reacquaint us with the One thing is clear: these realized souls have the passing away of our loved ones. We are The aim of the book is to provide a means qualities of the soul and provide direction for the ability to teach us how to realize our- petrified of the unknown and what awaits us by which we can re-identify with the soul, its empowerment. selves. If we find such a being, we can learn beyond this life. But we do not realize that (i.e. realize that the mind and body are mere- The soul’s power has been forgotten. The how we, too, can discover our soul and its immortality is ours. We crave love and seek it ly our soul’s outer coverings through which it mind, the senses, the body, and the pulls of attributes. True knowledge comes from see- many places. But there is an unconditional can live and work in this physical world) and the physical world have placed the soul in a ing and experiencing on our own. We may love that is ours awaiting us with open arms. to empower the soul to guide our life. state of forgetfulness from which we must read what others write or listen to what others We need only turn in the right direction to awaken. When we empower our soul, its wis- say, but we cannot be fully satisfied until we find it. We feel alone and unconnected in this Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an dom, immortality, love, fearlessness, con- experience it for ourselves. world. But there is a place of unity and con- internationally recognized spiritual leader nectedness, and bliss add a new dimension to This book touches on the two aspects of nectedness within us. If we could but only tap and Master of Jyoti Meditation who our life. spiritual knowledge that can help us realize it we would find the richness of relationships affirms the transcendent oneness at the Many people live and die without ever real- our soul: the theoretical knowledge, and the with others, with nature, and with all life. heart of all religions and mystic traditions, izing the full power and potential of their personal or practical knowledge. The theoret- Exploration within will help us discover emphasizing ethical living and meditation soul. At some time in their life, they may ical side consists of what other realized peo- our own potential. Once we learn to tap into as building blocks for achieving inner and begin to wonder about the soul, about God, ple have said about the soul (such as what are our inner resources, we experience a pro- outer peace. www.sos.org. TheSouthAsianTimes.info June 28-July 4, 2014 TheSouthAsianTimes.info June 28-July 4, 2014