Indian

Indian December 11, 2009

Log on to www.iwk.co.nz Volume 1, No. 20
New Zealand’s first Indian weekend magazine
For free distribution

Bollywood | 20 Charity | 22 Kurbaan | 18

An all-new Rakhi When Starship landed in Film review
the Solomons

At a glance
Striving for wellbeing
If there is one rallying point for Kiwi
Indians for the better part of the past
century, it is one organisation that has
grown encompassing people of Indian
origin in all corners of NZ: The New
Zealand Central Indian Association
(NZICA). Page 7

Conquering Afghanistan
The western media says no country has
ever conquered Afghanistan, but the
fact they conveniently forget is that not
too long ago the Indians conquered,
subdued and ruled Afghanistan, an
episode of history that is carved into the
recesses of the Afghan mind. Page 15

The three idiots

Three Idiots is a comedy of ideas that
is as provocative as it’s funny, as widely
entertaining as insightful. A laugh riot of
a film that talks about the most impor-
tant of human pursuits: self-actualisa-
tion. Releases on Christmas Day.
Page 21

Greetings from Team IW

Team IW wishes you and your family an
enjoyable holiday season, a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year filled with joy, good
health and prosperity.
IW’s print edition will be taking a break after
this issue and we’ll be back in early 2010.
Our web edition will be updated as usual
and you will also receive the popular weekly
newsletter over the holidays. Enjoy your
break and stay safe.

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Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 1

Indian
India-NZ Biz Council’s South Island chapter launched
The South Island Chapter of the India New
Zealand Business Council has been launched
in Christchurch. The Chapter, which will or-
ganise regular seminars and round-tables to
inform and support members, is expected to
connect and inspire more South Island busi-
nesses to develop and implement strategies
towards India.
At a recent well-attended function on
Thursday 26 November at Christchurch Poly-
technic Institute of Technology (CPIT), the
Deputy Mayor of Christchurch Mr Norman
Withers performed the official ceremonies of
initiation.
Mr Withers commented on the long history
of friendship between the two nations, noting
in particular that his own family had fought
side by side in both world wars with Indian
troops.
He also noted the increasingly impor-
tant role the local Indian community played
in Christchurch affairs, and reinforced the
many areas of commonality between the two
nations. “I am proud to be able to launch this
important initiative on behalf of the City of
Christchurch,” he said.
Earlier, host Beth Knowles, International
Director CPIT, had welcomed attendees and
pointed out the growth in Indian student
numbers coming to New Zealand, with over
200 Indian students annually coming from
India to attend CPIT.
India New Zealand Business Council’s
newly-appointed Patron, Sir Richard Hadlee,
attracted keen interest from those who at-
tended.
Since first visiting India in 1976, Sir
Richard has had a long association, not the
least being that Bangalore was the venue
in 1988 when he set his then-world record
tally of 374 Test wickets in the first test of
2 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
L-R: Robert Barker (Head- INZBC Christchurch Chapter), Sir Richard Hadlee-
Patron-INZBC, Don Rae: International Market Manager – India- NZTE,
Wenceslaus Anthony- Chairman-INZBC, Norman Withers- Deputy Mayor, John
Ascroft- Jade Software Corporation
that series. In the second test his 10 wicket
haul helped New Zealand to a rare test win
in India, and in a home series against India
in 1989/90, he become the first bowler in
history to take 400 test wickets.
Most recently, Sir Richard has become
more involved at a business level, a recent
highlight being when he launched Apollo
Hospital Group’s first dedicated knee clinic
at a ceremony in Hyderabad. He is keen to
lend his support to New Zealand business in
India,
New Zealand
India New Zealand Business Council
Chair, Mr Wenceslaus Anthony, said that he
hoped that the presence of a local chapter
would increase the council’s ability to serve
the interests of members, and to better inform
stakeholders of opportunities and issues to do
with India trade.
Local businessman Robert Barker, Direc-
tor, New Zealand Innovative Future Solutions
(NZIFS) will head the chapter, with help from
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise’s “face of
India” Don Rae and other local members, he
said.
Chapters will soon be launched also in
Wellington and Auckland to make Council
events and executive members more acces-
sible for local businesses around the main
centres.
Keynote speaker, Mr John Ascroft of Jade
Software Corporation, outlined his compa-
ny’s approach over the past 3 years to suc-
ceeding in in the Indian market.
Characteristics including patience,
humour and personal contact were highlight-
ed and Mr Ascroft also took the chance to
urge authorities to provide more frequent and
direct f light connections to support develop-
ment of trade.
The event concluded with Q&A and a net-
working session. Mr Anthony said, “If this
is a signal of the level of interest to come in
other centres, the Council is looking forward
to 2010 as being maybe the best yet in the
Council’s long history.”
The Council was established in 1988 and
is the longest-standing business organisation
focused solely on encouraging trade between
the two countries, and the most representa-
tive.”
- Indian Weekender news desk
Indian

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 3

Indian
India to ease NZ tourist entry Dr Worth in the clear,
New Zealand tourists may soon be able to obtain visas
on arrival in India
New Zealand’s close ties and friendly relation-
ship with India may soon reap rewards for tour-
ists intending to visit the world’s largest democ-
racy.
The Indian government may be set to offer
New Zealand tourists visas on arrival.
New Delhi had always been reluctant to offer
such visas because of security concerns, but has
selected New Zealand and four other countries,
the Indian Express newspaper reported.
“The government . . . has decided to clear the
names of Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Lux-
embourg and Finland as the countries whose na-
tionals can fly into India and obtain a visa at the
airport,” the newspaper reported on its website.
“A formal notification in this regard is likely
Short film deadline extended
Entries for the Short Film Contest close December 24
You now have more time to submit your entries
for the Short Film Contest being held in New
Zealand, Australia and India.
The organisers of the Contest, which is
part of the International Film Festival 2010 –
being held in New Zealand for the first time,
have extended the deadline to January 30. It
was originally scheduled to close December
24.
The deadline extension follows the re-
scheduling of the Indian Film Festival from
February March to March April 2010
So, if you consider yourself a filmmaker,
get cracking and submit your entries before
the end of January.
You could be in to win a trip to India and a
chance to work on a life changing experience
of doing a Bollywood filmmaking internship.
The organisers of the Indian Film Festival
2010 are now calling on potential entrants to
start submitting their entries.
Enter your short film for exhibition along-
side some of the most promising new film-
making talent from Australia, New Zealand
and India. IFF2010 has life-changing prizes
to offer the winner of its short film and video
competition.
Prizes include:
l A trip to India.
l An internship on a major Bollywood film
production.
l See your film played to viewership of 300
million+ on World Movies India television
channel.
l Television exposure. Watch your film play
Manukau’s teaching gardens a success
Nearly 600 people are now involved in
Manukau City Council’s teaching gardens
project.
Two new teaching gardens have been es-
tablished at East Tamaki Domain and Mangere
Centre Park, bringing the total to six for the
summer course which started mid-October.
Plots are allocated to an individual or a group
to grow vegetables for a season, and participants
are taught a range of skills from seed germina-
tion through to harvesting. The 20-week course
prepares participants to grow their own fruit and
vegetables at home.
There are some plots left for the summer
season, so anyone interested should phone the
Parks Booking Officer 263 7100 for an applica-
tion form.
Enrolments don’t close until the end of No-
vember says Robert Findlay, Manager Park Rec-
reation and the teaching garden co-ordinator.
“The response has been great and we are
pleased to have good mentors at all sites includ-
4 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
say police
to be made very soon.”
The decision – nominally to boost tourism
– will be the first time India has offered visa-
on-arrival services other than to the citizens of
Bhutan and Nepal. Previous proposals have been
linked to a desire to see reciprocal arrangements
for Indian travellers.
“The choice of the selected countries has
been dictated by the fact that no national of any
of these countries has ever been found to be in-
volved in – even linked to – any terror-related
incident anywhere in the world.”
Interestingly, Australia does not figure in this
list.
- Indian Weekender news desk
on your own TV on World Movies Australia.
l Walk the red carpet alongside high profile
members of the Australian, New Zealand and
Indian film industries.
l Have your film screened in cinemas in Mel-
bourne, Sydney, Perth & Auckland.
Closing Date: Saturday 24th December2009.
Entry Requirements: Your film or video
needs to have SOMETHING to do with India,
whether it is the location, a key Indian crew
member, or a reference to India or Indian
culture in the content. Films should not be
more than 10 mins, and can be shot on any
Daljit becomes licensed
format, although shortlisted films will need
to meet certain quality standards for cinema
exhibition. Visit www.iff2010.com for further
immigration advisor – will now
details.
How to Enter:
Simply download our entry form and
upload your film or video on YouTube. Sub-
mitted films must be less than 10min and
have some link to India. Full details of how to
submit, deadlines and criteria can be found at
provide free legal advice
www.iff2010.com. All queries regarding the
competition can be directed to competitions@
iff2010.com.
The IFF Short Film Competition is an
exceptional chance to have your film work
widely seen alongside the best productions
from the sub-continent.
Winning entries will also feature at the
Indian Film Festival to be held in Melbourne,
Sydney, Perth and Auckland in March and
April.
- Arvind Kumar
this license by the Immigration Advisors author-
ity based on his track record and past experience
of dealing with immigration related matters.
Thus, Daljit can now legally provide advice to
people on immigration related matters. It is per-
ing Ake Ariki, June Alexander Kingi and Ari
Tauroa at Mangere Centre Park.”
Mentors Terri Marchant and Zahood Sheikh
at the East Tamaki teaching garden have a
novel way of letting students know that they are
present on the site. They hoist the New Zealand
flag on the old Croquet Club flagpole.
Mr Findlay says that the two planned gardens
for Manurewa and Otara are on hold until exter-
nal funding is obtained.
He believes the Manukau Parks teaching
garden model where the gardens are essentially
outdoor classrooms is a sustainable one.
“During our programme students are taught
basic horticulture husbandry which they then
transfer to their own home garden,” he says.
All course students are automatically
members of the Manukau Parks Garden Laugh-
ter and Food Processing Club. Clubrooms are
located at the Stadium Reserve in Papatoetoe.
The club is due to open its doors early in the
New Year.
New Zealand
Police clear former MP, but the Prime Minister is yet to
state why he said he would have sacked the MP if he
hadn’t resigned
There will be will be no charges laid against former National Gov-
ernment minister Richard Worth following a six-month inquiry,
police said earlier this month.
Dr Worth resigned as Member of Parliament after a controver-
sial complaint of a sexual nature that was lodged with the Welling-
ton Police, and another Auckland woman claimed he harassed her
with text messages and phone calls.
Inquiry head Detective Inspector Paul Basham said police had
completed a “careful and thorough investigation into the matter”,
which included peer review by a senior CIB officer and assessment
by police legal advisers.
“Having completed the investigation, the police have determined that there is no basis for
proceeding with any criminal charge against Dr Worth,” a police spokesman told the New
Zealand Herald.
Police interviewed Dr Worth in Auckland in June.
After the sudden announcement of Dr Worth’s resignation as a minister in June, following
a campaign orchestrated by the Labour Party and its leader Phil Goff, Prime Minister John
Key said that he would have sacked him had he not resigned.
“His conduct does not befit a minister, and I will not have him in my Cabinet,” Mr Key
had said at the time.
Though he also said then that he would possibly reveal why he had lost confidence in him
at some stage, he did not want to contaminate a police investigation at the time. Later on he
said he would not comment on the issue.
Mr Key has still not revealed his reasons why he would have sacked Dr Worth even if he
had not resigned – something which has now become all the more important now that he has
been cleared by the police of any wrongdoing in the matter.
- Indian Weekender news desk
Daljit Singh JP tinent to mention that a new law was passed in
spokesman of the May which prohibited people from providing im-
NZ Sikh Society migration advice unless they had a valid license.
and convener of Daljit provides his services as a JP every
the Supreme Sikh Thursday at the Papatoetoe Citizens Advisory
Council has been Bureau and talking to Indian Weekender, he has
officially declared pledged that he will provide free service as an
as a licensed im- immigration advisor to the community and thus
migration advisor help solve their complicated immigration maters
under the prevalent if any.
new immigration Indian Weekender wishes him luck for pro-
advisor law. He has viding this free and valuable service to the com-
been provided with munity. Daljit can be reached on 021803512 for
a free consultation or the readers can send their
queries by email to info@indianweekender.co.nz
and we will pass those requests on to Daljit for
his expert advice.
- HS Basiala
Bollywood flick to be
filmed in Queenstown
Dharma Productions, a Bolywood film production company plans to shoot one of its latest
ventures in Queenstown in late January, putting New Zealand’s premier holiday destination
on screen for viewing by as many as 150 million viewers across the world.
The major feature film “I Hate Luv Stories” stars Bollywood heart-throb Imran Khan
and opposite the lovely actress Sonam Kapoor and is due for release in May 2010.
Tim Hunter, the chief executive of Tourism New Zealand said the opportunity to show-
case New Zealand and for media coverage in India was huge.
“The movie itself will attract a huge audience but the media surrounding the filming
and the release will also present great opportunities for promoting New Zealand as a visitor
destination,” he said.
- Indian Weekender news desk
 Indian
Charity straight from the heart
You may often hear of Indian community
groups raising funds in the name of some
charity, only to see it diminish and die a natural
death, and sometimes with no clear indication
of where the money has gone.
The organisers may be genuine, and some
not so genuine. Some may be in it only to
further their own agenda – to seek glory and
the limelight.
One Auckland based community group,
which held its annual fundraiser recently, is
proving the critics and doomsayers wrong.
The Auckland Girmit Women’s Fellowship
has gone from strength to strength since it was
formed 10 years ago and has never basked in
any media attention.
Its members, 15 women, have worked
behind the scenes to raise funds for underprivi-
leged female students in Fiji’s schools.
And recently, the fellowship raised at a
dinner and dance function an amount big
enough to knock your socks off – yes, a whop-
ping $20,000 in a single night.
As fellowship president Sashi Rai puts it:
“We’re not in it for ourselves.”
What started out as a coffee group discus-
sion among a group of like-minded women in
2000 is now one of the more successful chari-
ties associated a worthwhile cause back in their
homeland.
“Our base is now so much stronger,” Mrs
Rai, an Auckland bank executive, told the
Indian Weekender. “We are a humble society
with a humble group of volunteers who have
done wonders.
“Encouraged by the support this year, I’d
say the future is indeed looking very bright.
“We now aim to create more awareness and
more women are welcome to join,” Mrs Rai
said.
“But we are looking for women who will
show a bit of commitment, and not just make an
appearance and disappear.”
Last year, the fellowship raised $19,000. The
money is then sent to the Fiji Girmit Council in
Lautoka, Fiji, where four other women helpers
take charge of things and organize suitable stu-
dents to receive help.
Working on a basis of $150 per year to help
educate a child in Fiji, the fellowship sponsored
110 students this current year. When it started
out, the fellowship sponsored 23 girls. Next
Illegal windscreen washing at Manukau
intersections decried
Windscreen washing at intersections is illegal
and dangerous and motorists who pay window
washers are encouraging their behaviour, says
the Manukau City Council.
This is in response to the increased reap-
pearance of windscreen washers at some of
the city’s major intersections, as is the case
with busy intersections in Central Auckland
as well.
Safe Communities Portfolio Leader Coun-
cillor Dick Quax says motorists should be
aware that windscreen washers only exist
because people are paying them rather than
firmly saying no to their request.
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
New Zealand
year, 120 students are expected to be sponsored.
Individuals are also quite welcome to
sponsor a child or children and also be able to
monitor their progress through the years.
Mrs Rai said at they were currently focusing
on students in the Western Division of Fiji, but
were expecting to branch out to the rest of Fiji
if suitable helpers could found at the other end.
“If you have passion for something, you’ll
find time for everything,” said Mrs Rai, aptly
summing up the sentiments of her members.
“While it may seem we are doing all the
work, we would like to acknowledge the efforts
passionate: Auckland Girmit
Women’s Fellowship president Sashi
Rai (standing at back) with guests at
the fundraiser; Some of the fellowship
members at the fundraiser in Auckland
recently.
and help from our husbands and families,
without their help it would not be as success-
ful.”
The fellowship has now set its sights on a
bigger fundraiser next year.
Fellowship members are: Sashi Rai (presi-
dent, Arinam Gounder (secretary), Padmini
Dass, Asha Dass, Shiro Mani, Prem Sharma,
Anita Singh, Sandhya Prasad Sharma, Shobna
Singh, Nalina Narayan, Nirmala Prasad, Bimla
Gordon.
Main sponsors this year: McDonald’s Royal
Oak, Dr Sunil Pillay, Roop Darshan, Saras and
Madhu Dayal, ASB Bank, Soni Indian Wed-
dings, Balbir Golian, Ronald Gordon, Frucor
Beverages, Auckland Indian Sweets and
Snacks.
- Arvind Kumar
“Not only is it dangerous for the window
washer it is also dangerous for motorists
trying to avoid these people as they dart in
and out of the traffic.”
Windscreen washing at intersections is
banned under Manukau City Council’s Public
Places bylaw.
The advice to motorists who are ap-
proached by a windscreen washer is to po-
litely but firmly refuse their offer to clean
their windscreen and not hand over money.
If everyone follows this advice it will help to
reduce the practice.
5
Indian
Registrar gives tips on finding Residents find ‘Safe at Home’
a good immigration adviser programme reassuring
“Are you a licensed adviser?” is a good
opening question when someone offers
immigration advice to migrants, Barry
Smedts, Registrar of Immigration Advis-
ers, said earlier this week.
“It’s important that when migrants are
asking for help with their visa or permit
applications, that they seek advice from
someone who is legally entitled to give
advice. There are a number of avenues open
to migrants, including but not limited to li-
censed immigration advisers,” Mr Smedts
said.
“The Immigration Advisers Licensing
Act recognises that cost may be a prohibi-
tive factor for some migrants seeking im-
migration advice. For this reason, a number
of groups are exempt from the requirement
to be licensed, some of whom are unlikely
to seek payment for their advice. These
may include MPs and their staff, communi-
ty law centre volunteers and citizens advice
bureaux.
“For a complete list of all exempt cat-
egories and to find a licensed immigration
adviser, I recommend people visit the reg-
ister of licensed advisers on the Immigra-
tion Advisers Authority’s website, www.
iaa.govt.nz.
“It’s important to remember that all li-
censed advisers have proof that they are
licensed. When a migrant visits a licensed
adviser for the first time, they should be
shown the adviser’s licence, proving they
are licensed and they should also receive an
explanation of and be given a copy of the
code of conduct that licensed advisers must
6 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
“For a complete list of all
exempt categories and to
find a licensed immigration
adviser, I recommend
people visit the register
of licensed advisers on
the Immigration Advisers
Authority’s website, www.
iaa.govt.nz.
adhere to,” Mr Smedts said.
The code of conduct sets out the ethical
and professional standards of behaviour for
a licensed immigration adviser. This gives
migrants a clear understanding of what they
can expect from their licensed adviser.
Mr Smedts said the Authority can also
take action against unlicensed advisers.
“If a migrant takes advice from someone
they suspect is neither licensed nor exempt,
they should contact us immediately. The
Immigration Advisers Licensing Act is in
place to ensure migrants get the consumer
protection rights that New Zealanders take
for granted,” Mr Smedts said.
- Indian Weekender news desk
When it comes to the concept
of safety in the home, most
people are inclined to think The most common
of structural safety, prop-
erty protection like burglar sentiments victims
alarms, keeping dangerous
goods out of reach of little, express after time on
unsuspecting hands and en-
suring heating systems, house the programme are that them to feel confident in their
wiring and the likes are up to
safe standards. they have not slept so
For many among us
though, being safe at home well for years and that
means being able to rest easy
knowing that someone you they feel safer than
shared your life with is no
longer the threat they used to they have ever been.
be.
In November 2008,
the Auckland City District
Western Area Family Violence co-ordinator, Ser-
geant Garry Ball, was one of a number of staff
from various agencies to set up the Safe at Home
programme.
In short, the programme is a combined Govern-
ment and non-Government interagency response to
victims of family violence. Agencies involved are
SHINE, CYFS, WINZ, Police, Family Community
Services, the Fire Service, Housing NZ, BUPA and
SPM Builders.
It aims to create an alternative course of action homes.
for high risk victims of family violence who, until
the programme’s inception, typically needed to be
relocated at short notice, move their children to new has been totally positive.
schools and try to start new lives in unfamiliar en-
vironments or locations.
The Safe at Home Programme helps vulnerable
people maintain their own environment and to keep
vital local support networks in place at times of
New Zealand
extreme crisis.
It does this by providing
more robust security options so
as to make victims’ homes more
difficult to break into and to give
victims valuable time to obtain
help. It helps to reduce victims’
fears of retribution and allows
homes.
The outcomes to date have
been reduced levels of repeat
victimisation and improved sta-
bility for children and adults.
Once a high risk victim is
identified and referred to the pro-
gramme, an assessment of their
suitability for participation on it
is carried out.
The assessment has a risk
component and, if the victim is deemed high risk
by way of set criteria, they are accepted into the
programme.
Through the support of the various agencies
involved, participants are able to have monitored
personal alarms and robust locks for doors and
windows installed, be provided with mobile phones,
torches, reinforced doors and frames, smoke detec-
tors, fire extinguishers, and any other safety feature
deemed necessary to protect the victims in their
The responses that have been received from
victims who have been included in this programme
The most common sentiments victims express
after time on the programme are that they have not
slept so well for years and that they feel safer than
they have ever been.
Indian
Striving for the wellbeing of Kiwi Indians
NZICA wants Indian MPs in the NZ Parliament to do more
Dev Nadkarni
If there has been one rallying point for Kiwi
Indians for the better part of the past century,
it has to be the one organisation that has grown
from strength to strength encompassing people
of Indian origin in all corners of this small
country: The New Zealand Central Indian As-
sociation (NZICA).
According to records, the first Indian migrat-
ed to New Zealand in 1890. The outlook toward
Indians and immigrants in general in those days
was a far cry from what it is today. Ideas such
as racial equality barely existed. Early migrants
who came here mostly from the Indian states of
Punjab and Gujarat were put to great hardship
not just by the climatic conditions that were
vastly different from the tropical climes of India,
but also by problems of language and racial dis-
crimination.
The Indian community throughout New
Zealand at that time in its history, felt the need
for a single body to represent them in their fight
against oppressive legislation and discriminato-
ry immigration policy, and to promote harmony
between Indians, the Maori people, and the dom-
inant European population in New Zealand; and
to respond to misleading propaganda concerning
Indians living in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Indian Central Association
was thus formed in 1926 with three branches
Auckland, Taumarunui (which was called the
Country Section) and Wellington, where there
was a sizeable population of Indians residing.
As well as the ideals of getting Indian settlers
on an equal footing with the European popula-
tion, the founders of the Association also had
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Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Rooting for Kiwi Indians: Veer Khar, NZICA General Secretary
at heart the cause of all Indians, be it political,
educational, health, welfare or cultural identity.
Today the three branches have grown into
ten independent, self governing, incorporated
branches throughout New Zealand, all affiliated
to the New Zealand Indian Central Association
which is an incorporated body.
The Officers of the Association consist of the
President, Vice President, General Secretary,
Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. The affairs
of the Association are managed and controlled
New Zealand
a long way,” he said. “We are now thriving in
every conceivable field be it business, industry,
white collar work, media, journalism, they are
technocrats, the whole works. That recognition
has been a little slow in coming.”
Proportionate to its population, Indians are
poorly represented in the New Zealand parlia-
ment or even official bodies, he said. “There
are hundreds of government bodies and boards.
How many Indians do you see on them?”
He said NZICA has been taking up such
issues and that both parliamentarians of Indian
origin today – one each in the two main political
parties – are a result of the pressure that NZICA
has steadily and assiduously built over the years,
he said.
But there were several issues that Indians
faced in several sectors such as immigration,
social development, security and health.
“Go to the immigration website – you will
see job and education opportunities for students
from overseas countries, especially Europe,
South East Asia and even China. But you won’t
find this for Indians.
by the Executive Committee plus a nominated “So the responsibility of NZICA and its
member from each affiliated branch. The ex- branches is to ensure that we get an equal op-
ecutives meet each quarter or more often if the portunity everywhere. NZICA is also a platform
need arises. The officers and the committee are to link to our roots and opportunity for people
elected at the annual conference attended by del- to network within the community and foster a
egates from each branch. sense of belonging for children.
Mr Veer Khar, the frank and outspoken “We also need to impress upon India that
General Secretary of NZICA told Indian Week- what they are doing right now is not acceptable.
ender that the association continues to work hard The way the Government of India is not even
toward getting all Indian organisations within able to send a new High Commissioner for the
New Zealand to affiliate with it, “The more past six months shows how lightly they take such
united we stand, the stronger we become,” he an issue. Also there is not even a body formed to
said. look at the FTA even six months after the elec-
New Zealand, for a long time, was far from tions in India although the New Zealand govern-
a level playing field for immigrants and had one ment is so keen on it and continuously following
of the most racist attitudes of any country in the up.”
earlier decades of the last century. “Our forefa- There was a stark contrast in the way in
thers fought inequities one problem at a time and which China pursued its FTA with New Zealand
slowly worked hard to gain more and more ac- and the way that India is doing it, he said.
ceptance. What we are today is thanks to their NZICA has always strived to be apolitical
tireless efforts,” he said. and has had a neutral political stance, he said.
“We are also thankful to New Zealand
leaders like former prime minister David Lange
The two MPs of Indian origin have had one year
to settle in, he said. “It is now time to ask them
who loved the Indian community and worked what have they delivered to the community.
closely with our previous generation.” Contrast that with how changes in the immigra-
Still, the manner in which European New tion rules because of appropriate lobbying from
Zealanders and others view Indians needs to the Chinese community is all set to help more
change in line with what modern Indian have Chinese people to immigrate here. Is there a
come to stand for, Mr Khar said. Because of similar assistance to boost the Indian commu-
the early settlers who took up agriculture and nity? We don’t see it there.”
managing corner dairies in a big way for several
decades, there has always been a tendency to
view Indians as farmers and smalltime retailers
Watch Mr Veer Khar’s interview on
www.indianweekender.co.nz
or even taxi drivers.
“The modern Indian immigrant has come
A book about early Indian settlers rance
nsu
On November 13, 2007, at the Diwali Celebration held at Life I
* urance
the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington, the NZICA saw
h I n s
Healt
the completion of the Historical Book Project. The Gover-
n
* tectio
nor General, Hon Anand Satyanand launched the book
“Indian Settlers: The Story of a South Asian Communi-
g e P r o
Mortga
ty”, written by Dr Jacqueline Leckie of Otago University
and published by Otago University Press, Dunedin. * P r o t e c tion
Income
This was an initiative of the NZICA Executive and was
achieved through funding by way of research grants *
from Otago University to Dr Leckie and a grant from
Etc...
the Department of Internal Affairs. This project was
successful due to the energy and scholarship of
*
Dr Leckie and the goodwill of the Indian communi-
ty in providing family histories, photographs and memorabilia.
At the 82nd Annual Conference held at Pukekohe in 2007, President of NZICA invited
the former High Commissioner of India Mr. Ernest to present a plaque to Dr. Jac-
queline Leckie for writing the NZICA’s historical book “Indian Settlers”. Dr. Leckie
thanked NZICA for choosing her to deliver this dream project. To date sales of the
book have been very good.
7
Indian
India

Indian economy up 7.9% Ludhiana Tense

against all odds Ludhiana: After a day full
of violent clashes and rioting
scripted by migrant labourers
on last Friday, Ludhiana wit-
New Delhi: Contrary to all expectations the Indian economy is back with a bang. In the July-Septem- nessed a fresh round of vio-
ber quarter the country’s GDP grew at 7.9%, its fastest in 18 months and just 1% lower than China’s. lence and arson that claimed
The figure is not only higher than the 6% predicted by the Reserve Bank of India, but also 6.3% one life on Saturday morning
by the Planning Commission and the 6.5% by the Prime Ministers economic advisory committee. after radical Sikhs spilled
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said that this unexpected jump in growth is due to the govern- over the city streets to protest
ment’s Rs.1,86,000 crore stimulus package and reviving consumer demand and hoped that this would a religious congregation being
provide the ground to post at least 7% growth for the full year 2009-10. organised by a Hindu organi-
The bulk of the growth that is 9.2% has come from the manufacturing segment, while mining and sation Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sans-
construction activities expanded by 9.5% and 6.5% respectively. A major negative influence has been than (DJJS) whom the Sikhs
the agriculture sector due to the failure of monsoons in many parts of the country. accuse of indulging in acts of
blasphemy.
The city youth, who is yet
Fearing that any
retaliation could
Jarnail Singh and appealed the
protesting mob to maintain clam.
Later, having learnt that DJJS
function had a “smooth start”
and was on at the venue on Chan-
further aggravate the digarh road, the visibly charged
activities suddenly got into
situation, the cops action and broke off the cordons
brought back Jarnail erected by police. With high
pitch sloganeering and swords
Singh and appealed in their hands as the protestors
started running towards the road
the protesting mob leading to venue, the cops used
tear gas to block their ways but
to maintain clam. in vain.
Unperturbed with the stiff re-

India remembers victims of 26/11

Mumbai: India’s financial capital Mumbai held
tearful memorials to mark the first anniversary
of the terror attack on the city on the 26 of No-
vember 08. The ordinary Mumbaikar went to
school, college and office as any other day but
paused to remember the 166 victims who were
killed in the 60-hour attack.
Thousands of commuters rushing to their
offices halted to pay respects to those who lost
their lives in the attacks on the Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus.
The Force One - the new crack security
force of the State government , trained on the
lines of the National Security Guard Comman-
dos, launched here last two days ago (Tuesday)
- made its first public appearance by staging a
parade from Nariman Point to Chowpatty this
morning.
The Mumbai Police had a separate parade
later in the morning and displayed the latest
arms and ammunitions it has acquired in the
past one year after the attacks. The police march
to be identified lost his life after he sustained
bullet injuries during the police firing in Samrala agitated hard liners reached Samrala chowk, one
chowk. The police opened fire when a group of
Sikh activists broke off the cordon and sought to
march towards the venue. Another youth , who
too sustained injuries in his upper part of leg was firing.
rushed to Christian medical college and hospital
in critical condition.
Venting their anger on public transport, the
Sikh activists broke off police cordons, pelted
stone on vehicles hence provoking the cops to
resort to firing that left two protestors injured.
Determined to disrupt the DJJS function, the
hardliners gathered at Pheruman Shaheeda gru-
rudwara near Dholewal chowk early morning.
Following speeches by the Sikh leaders as
the tempers ran high and activists were about
to march towards the venue of Sansthan’s reli-
gious gathering, the cops took one of the leader
Baba Jarnail Singh into “preventive custody”.
Provoked by the detention of their leader, the ac-
tivities challenged cops with swords and other
weapons in their hands.
Fearing that any retaliation could further
aggravate the situation, the cops brought back
The state government had also organised an
sistance posed by guarding cops as a group of
of the closest entry point to function venue, the
police initially sought to stop them by firing in
air but later had to resort to lathicharge and open
Two activists sustained injuries during the
melee and were immediately rushed to local civil
hospital. Later one of the injured died at hospital,
a police spokesperson said.
Since the day DJJS head Swami Ashutosh
Maharaj announced himself as incarnation of
God and allegedly asked its followers not to
pay respect to the Guru Granth Sahib. Tension
had been brewing in city since the day DJJS an-
nounced Swami Ashutosh’s visit to city. Having
gathered on a common platform various radical
outfits had joined hands to oppose the function
and had warned the district administration of “
worst” in their bid to stop dera head from visit-
ing city.
Before the religious congregation, the DJJS
activists had proposed to take out a procession
but were denied permission by district magis-
trate.

Anything for the master…

was an exercise to reassure the citizens that the
police are better prepared now in the eventuality
of any attacks.
Earlier in the day Chief Minister Ashok
Chavan and his cabinet colleagues visited the
precincts of the Hotel Trident-Oberoi at Nariman
Point to offer homage to the victims killed there.
At the Trident hotel, chefs and laundry boys
gathered to remember the attacks. Outside, a
black granite column read: “In memory of our
guests and our staff”. A wreath of white lilies lay
next to a glass case with burning candles.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram inaugurated
a memorial to honour the martyrs erected by the
Mumbai police.
all-religious prayer meeting at the Gateway of
India in the evening that was attended by promi-
nent members of society and the masses.
Meanwhile ordinary citizens all across
Mumbai held blood donation camps and candle
light marches and vigils.
The ravaged Chabad House, a Jewish com-
munity centre was reopened with a commemo-
rative prayer meeting where residents had lit
candles outside.
Nine militants who were responsible for the
attack were killed by police in the attacks. The
lone survivor, Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, is on
trial in the Mumbai courts.
Kolkatta: Five men in the Burdwan district,
about 100 km from Kolkotta, took imperson-
ation to the extreme. Using fictitious names
and addresses they were serving jail term in
place of local CPI(M) leaders.
The incident came to light during a
routine inquiry by the sub-divisional office.
He says “ I realized that the people who were
inside the jail were imposter and not the ones
against whom the case was going on”
Meawhile the five who had been booked
on charges of arson and looting, have been
served fresh summons and now have to sur-
render before the court.
This incident has created an embarrassing
situation for the administration and they feel
that the imposters could be from very poor
families and could have agreed to be in jail
for the money offered.

Madhu Koda arrested Assam Congress holds record

New Delhi: Madhu Koda,
former Jharkhand chief min-
ister, who is embroiled in the
disproportionate assets cases
has been arrested on Monday,
30 (see Indian Weekender, No-
vember 27).
The arrest led by Koda’s refusal to respond to
the state vigilance investigation bureau’s second
summons to appear before it on November 28 for
number of meetings
interrogation. He has been sent to 14 days judi-
cial custody, informed officials.
Earlier Koda has also ignored as many as
three notices from the Enforcement Directorate
to appear before it on November 11, 15 and 19 for Shillong: The ruling A Congress party spokesperson said a total
interrogation. Congress party in of 18,828 public meetings were held across the
The Enforcement Directorate has been Assam created a state on Sunday aimed at reaching the grassroots
probing charges of money laundering involving history of sorts on workers ahead of the 2011 assembly elections.
Rs.5,500 crore by Koda during his 23-month Sunday by holding Elections in the state are due in May 2011.
tenure as the chief minister of Jharkhand. more than 18,500 Assam Congress party president Bhu-
meetings across the baneswar Kalita (pictured) said “no matter when
state. The party the elections are held, we are ready to face the

China objects to road construction which hopes to win

New Delhi: In a confrontational act, China
has objected to road construction in Demchok
near the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh
a third time has kicked off its campaign for the
2011 state assembly elections.
people. We know the Congress government since
2001 has changed the entire landscape of Assam
with all round development taking place,”
to the authorities that the Chinese army had
obstructed their work saying that the terri-
tory belongs to China. Most the people of

Ajmal Kasab’s lawyer removed

region of Kashmir.
The road project was being built under
the National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme (NREGS) and had to be stopped.
Besides providing connectivity the eight
kilometre stretch road was also providing em-
ployment to the locals.
India has a border dispute with China and
despite several rounds of talks, the issue is
still pending.
Demchok village is the last inhabited area
before the Line of Actual Control near the
Chinese border. Villagers had complained
the areas are nomads and migrate from place
to place during summer. They use this road.
Chering Dorjay, chief executive councillor
of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development
Council confirmed that the road was well
withing Indian territory.
India disagrees with China’s claims stating
that apart from occupying 90,000 sq km of
land on the eastern side of the border; China
has also occupied 38,000 sq km of territory in
Aksai Chin plateau in the western Himalayas.
- All India stories by Shobha Rao,
India correspondent
Mumbai: Abbas Kazmi, lawyer of the lone
surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab was on
Monday, 30 sacked after he indicated that he
was likely to cross-examine all of the around
340 “formal “ witnesses in the case.
Principal judge M.L.Tahiliyani observed
that Kazmi is “ determined to consume time
of the court unnecessarily and the issues are
being raised only a view to drag the trial” He
also said that “ One should not be under a
wrong impression that the interest of justice
means the interest of the accused only. The
interest of justice necessarily includes the in-
terest of the prosecution too”
Justice Tahiliyani then appointed Kazmi’s
assistant K.P.Pawar as Kasab’s lawyer.
Throughout the courtroom drama main
accused Kasab sat quietly in his corner, head
bent, folded hands and did not react or object
when the judge told him of Kazmi’s removal.

8 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Bhopal gas tragedy remembered
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha last week mourned
the victims of the Bhopal gas disaster of 1984, as
members expressed their “heartfelt sympathies”
for the “human tragedy of unparalleled magni-
tude”
A mere lip service this as the government
is yet to settle the compensation of many of the
victims of the tragedy, twenty five years on.
The tragedy occurred on the night of Decem-
ber 2-3, 1984 when the township near the Union
Carbide factory was asleep. Tonnes of toxic
Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) spewed out of the
pesticide plant in Bhopal killing more than 3,500
people instantly.
Research conducted by the state-run Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) until 1994,
says that between 8,000 and 10,000 people were
killed within the first three days of the tragedy,
and about 25,000 people later died from the
effects of exposure.
all in the knowledge of successive state govern-
ments.
A private charity had sent 15 samples from
around the area to laboratories in Switzerland
and England which showed concentrations of
some toxins were actually rising “as the chemi-
cals leach through the soil and into the aquifer”,
Radioactive contamination at nuclear plant
Mumbai: About 55 employees of the Kaiga
Nuclear Power Plant in Karnataka were exposed
to minor nuclear radiation after drinking con-
taminated water in the plant.
The incident was detected five days ago,
when routine urine tests tests of maintenance
unit employees showed that the tritium level was
higher than the normal level. The workers were
immediately hospitalised and treated. They have
now been discharged.
Tritium, also known as Hydrogen-3, is used
in research, fusion reactors and neutron genera-
tors.
Scientists carried out immediate checks for
radioactivity at the plant site but no leakage was
detected, sources said.
A top official said that this could be an act
of sabotage and a probe has been ordered by
the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd
India
(NPCIL).
A water cooler - which was identified as the
source of radiation leakage - has been isolated
and put out of service.
“The act is clearly the handiwork of a dis-
gruntled employee and we are trying to find
out he person who has done this,” said Union
Minister for Science and Technology Prithviraj
Chavan.
Atomic Energy Commission chairman
Anil Kakodkar while confirming that it was an
“inside job” said “The staff who had access to
the heavy water vials and the various points in
the chain where the vials could have been divert-
ed are being examined”
While the probe is on, the focus would be on
examining whether there was an intent to sabo-
tage the functioning of the plant or a disgruntled
employee playing a “vicious prank”.

Sharad Pawar to launch

The magnitude of the catastrophe can be it said.
gauged that even today the groundwater in the “This report will nail their lie,” Satinath
area is still toxic making the residents sick. The Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information and

coconut plantation drive

first to test the water samples was Union Carbide
themselves, the results showed lethal amounts
of toxins in the groundwater. The report was
hushed up.
Greenpeace activists’ survey found that more
than 350 tonnes of toxic waste about the site still
pollute the soil and groundwater. An estimated
100,000 people reside in the area and about
30,000 of them have to draw the ground water, as
the infrastructure set up by the government for
clean drinking water is inadequate. This has led
to cancer, congenital defects and a host of related
illnesses.
Investigations have shown that the company
had been dumping thousands of tonnes of waste
around the plant for years before the accident,
Action told newspersons.
“There are still high concentrations of car-
cinogens and birth defect-causing chemicals and
heavy metals in the water,” he said.
Dow Chemicals which purchased Union
Carbide in 1999, insists all liabilities toward the
plant were cleared in a 1989 out of court settle-
ment worth 470 million dollars, the bulk of which
was used to partially compensate victims and to
relatives of dead victims. Failure to disburse
the compensation has also led to a legal battle
between victims and the state with the Supreme
Court giving a deadline to pay the compensation.
Reports indicate that approximately $390 million
is still with the government fund as a result of
earned interest.
Thrissur: The Pilot thapuram, Kollam and Thrissur districts, was
project of replant- launched by the minister at Kerala Agricul-
ing and rejuvenation ture University, Vellanikkara.
of coconut in three Minister of state for Agriculture, K V
districts of Kerala at Thomas, presided, a PIB press release said.
a total cost of over The replanting and rejuvenation pro-
rs 2000 crore was gramme aims at the removal of all senile
formally launched and disease affected palms, replanting with
by Union Agricul- quality planting material and rejuvenation
ture Minister Sharad of coconut gardens by adopting proper man-
Pawar at Thrissur on December 6. agement practises. The project’s total cost in
The scheme, being jointly implemented kerala will be rs 2260.86 crore with a central
by Coconut Development Board and state subsidy component of rs 474 crore.

President Patil flies into

department of Agriculture in Thiruvanan-

record books
New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil entered the
record books on Wednesday, 25 November as
she became the first woman president to fly in
a fighter aircraft. The 74 year old president who
undertook the approximately 30 minute sortie
in a Russian made Sukhoi-30 MKI said “It was
thoroughly inspiring, a wonderful and unique
experience”.
Wearing an olive green G suit and the cap of
the no. 30 Squadron the Rhinos, the petite presi-
dent looked a picture of confidence as she got
inside the cockpit. Wing Commander S. Sajan
piloted the Sukhoi touching a speed of 850 kmph
at a height of 2.7 km above the airfield. She expe-
rienced a gravitational force of level 2G. Fighter skill and the expertise and are well equipped to
pilots are trained to take a maximum of level 9G. protect our nation.”
Flashing a victory sign after landing at the Brushing aside the recent controversy of
Lohegaon air force base in Pune, the president inducting women fighter pilots in the air force
shook hands with the pilot and patted him for she said she had full confidence in the ability of
smooth ride in the combat aircraft. women but would let the experts and the govern-
The president said “I feel reassured that our ment take a call on that.
defence forces especially our pilots have the

Chatishgarh herbs to ward of thieves

Will doing a few rounds of an Indian gooseberry
tree cause expectant mothers to have a son? Well,
the Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board
says it will.
The Board also says a gulbavakal plant on the
premises can protect the house from thieves.
These are among the claims made by the
Board, which is trying to popularise the state’s
herbs.
On being asked whether such claims are jus-
tified, the Board’s Chief Executive Officer S.C.
Agrawal said, “Such beliefs have been continu-
ing from time immemorial and the department
has not added anything new.” He added the aim
was to enhance the importance of medicinal
plants.
Nearly 44 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s area is
under forest cover. In trying to make something
of this, the government declared the state a
‘herbal state’ in 2001.
The Board’s initiative has been denounced for
promoting superstitious thinking.
Dr Dinesh Mishra, recipient of a national
award for science and technology communica-
tion, said the unique medicinal values of plants
are meant for allopathic and ayurvedic use.
“Instead of misleading people with superfluous
ideas and superstitions, the Board should have
publicised the inherent curative qualities of these
medicinal plants,” he said.
“Because of such irrational messages, super-
stitious practices take precedence over scien-
tific thinking or medical treatment among rural
masses,” said Mishra.
Ayurvedic practitioner Dr Alka Chouhan had
a piece of advice: enlighten people about the ben-
eficial vitamins, minerals and nutrients found in
the plants.

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 9

Indian
Fiji Business Park nears completion Fiji soccer slips 25 places in FIFA ranking
Suva: Fiji’s first business park, Garden City,
which went ahead with expansion plans despite
the events of December 2006, is now on sched-
ule to complete construction by next month, said
owner Yee Wah Sing.
The self-made former ginger farmer – who
is now into property development through his
company Marco Polo Holdings – told FijiLive
that it was factors other than the then prevailing
political climate drove the decision to go ahead
with the Garden City expansion.
“This is one of the first projects that was actu-
ally conceived, designed and initiated after the
coup of 2006.
We had a choice on whether to stop or go on
with it but we didn’t see any reason for it to stop,”
Mr Wah Sing said.
“The funding was there, the interest rate has
actually come down although it was up at one
stage. So there are some favourable factors. Of
course the devaluation in April raised costs a bit
but I don’t think the cost will ever come down
so we thought we might as well carry on with it.
Costs will always go up, historically it has shown
that. Building costs in the last nine years have
almost probably doubled now.”
Air Pacific invests in Hong Kong route
Suva: Fiji’s national carrier, Air Pacific, is to
make its first flight to Hong Kong today.
Air Pacific general manager strategic
planning, Dallas Foon, said Hong Kong was
a major hub in Asia.
And though the airline is projecting a
$10 million loss on this investment, Mr Foon
said, these figures would be subsidised by the
profit the airline makes from other routes.
“This initiative has been carefully
planned and Air Pacific is willing to accept
these losses considering the huge returns it
will gain from this route later on.
For now, he said, the figures were con-
servative but the airline was looking at
much stronger returns once it developed the
service.
“This is a huge potential for the airline”
Mr Foon also said with the airline’s part-
Traffickers target Fiji passports
Suva, Fiji: Fiji is being
used as a transit point for
international networks of
human traffickers, with
victims being brought in
under forged Fiji pass-
ports, says former direc-
tor Immigration Viliame
Naupoto.
Mr Naupoto said
some of these cases had
come to the attention of
the Immigration Department.
“Fiji passports can be easily forged making
it almost effortless for human traffickers to get
to Fiji or use Fiji as a transporting hub” Mr
Naupoto said.
Mr Naupoto this could be solved through
upgrading the security features on Fiji passport.
He also suggested that heavy penalties should be
given to those who lose their passports.
He said this would help Fiji counter the global
problem of human trafficking.
He said Fiji was an ideal destination for
human trafficking with its hub location and air
10
Mr Wah Sing, an agricultural graduate who
Suva: Fiji has slipped 25 places on the latest
spent years farming and exporting ginger, sold
FIFA World ranking and is now ranked 133 out
his exporting business before venturing into
of the 203 countries listed in the ranking.
property development.
The South Sea Islanders who enjoyed an im-
In 1999, he bought the Garden City site and
pressive ranking in the 100-108 placing earlier
began construction in 2001, just months after the
this year because of their historic victory over
2000 coup.
the New Zealand All Whites last November have
“I think the risk with property development
dropped dramatically due to their non involve-
is much less than other things I’ve done before,
ment in international fixtures.
much greater than farming, where you have
Fiji FA chief executive officer Bob Kumar
these biological factors, climatic uncertainties.
says the drop in ranking is not a real concern as
Property development compared to that is a
the changes were bound to occur in the stand-
much safer. And of course the banks are much
ings due to the world cup qualifiers and interna-
more willing to finance it,” Wah Sing said.
tional friendly matches between the nations in
He is expecting construction work to come to
the African and northern continents.
a head by next month at the earliest and although
“We had actually anticipated a drop since
space availability has yet to be advertised, it has
there were a lot of world cup qualifiers and in-
already attracted interested parties.
ternational
“I haven’t publicised it yet but I already have
friendly matches played all over the globe
a few tenants. We are adding around 16,000
last month.”
square feet of new space on top the 80,000 square
“The ranking fluctuates every month and
feet we have at the moment,” Mr Sing Wah said.
teams that play international matches will
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
always get improved rankings.”
When asked about Fiji’s international com-
mitments for the new season, Kumar said the
new national team management and national
coaching director are working on a plan for in-
ternational matches and there may be some in-
ternational commitments for the senior team.
“We have a new team director, Anil Sharma
Fiji Police strengthen border drug watch
Suva: Fiji’s police force is
strengthening its border polic-
ing efforts to keep an eye on
people entering the country
with hard drugs.
Police Commissioner Esala
Teleni (pictured) said his de-
partment had taken pre-emp-
tive measures following government’s decision
to open travel routes to more overseas destina-
nership with Cathay Pacific Airways provid-
tions.
ed a stronger marketing power.
Fiji’s national carrier Air Pacific launches
“Cathay Pacific is the home carrier for
flights to Hong Kong today amid some concerns
Hong Kong and with the airline as our proac-
about the possibility of attracting criminal ele-
tive partner, we would be able to efficiently
serve not only Hong Kong but the Asian and
European market,” he said.
Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Associa-
Fiji’s borrowing sending
tion chief executive officer, Michael Wong,
welcomed the decision by Air Pacific to take
a challenging approach.
“We’re supportive of what the airline is
country backward: Economist
doing because we also see the Hong Kong
hub as a very important destination. This
gives Fiji a linkage, to not only the whole
of Asia, but to Europe, India, Japan and the
Pearl River Delta,” he added. Suva: A leading Fijian economist says
figures provided in the country’s latest
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews budget show the country is going back-
ward.
Professor Waden Narsey, an economist
at the University of the South Pacific,
says despite big increases in spending on
the police and military, Fiji’s GDP will
access to major destina- actually decline by 2.5 per cent.
tions. “The data that has been given out
“Human trafficking with the budget documents indicates that
is considered the fastest we are just still going on the downward
growing underground in- slide,” he said.
dustry globally,” he said. Professor Narsey has told Radio Aus-
These victims were brought tralia’s Pacific Beat program that tourism
to Fiji under the guise of and food production are down, and Fiji’s
coming to work or study interim Government has resorted to bor-
but would eventually either rowing to pay for everything.
be dumped here or moved “Revenue has been very, very stag-
to another country.” nant in real terms,” he said.
He said the Immigration Department had re- “Essentially what the Government has
ceived unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals been doing is borrowing. They are going
buying valid Fiji passports which they suspected to borrow almost 500 million dollars this
were altered. coming year.”
Mr Naupoto said human traffickers scour the Professor Narsey says the production
world, buying passports which they then sell for of sugar - a key crop - has been dropping
thousands of dollars to unsuspecting victims. since 2006 and is currently at a record
He was speaking at the Attorney General’s low.
conference at the Warwick Hotel. Meanwhile, Declining local production of items
former judge Nazhat Shameem said immediate like rice, beef and dairy products has
steps must be taken to investigate and prosecute also raised Fiji’s reliance no imports.
offences of human trafficking. He said large investments in tourism
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Fiji
who is working out things with our head of
coaching and development, Saiyad Ali and they
are trying to get some international matches for
Fiji”
Meanwhile, New Zealand which will repre-
sent the Oceania region in the World Cup has
jumped 6 places after its win in the qualifiers
against Bahrain and currently enjoys the 77th
spot.
Former Oceania giants, Australia has also
improved and is ranked 21 compared to its previ-
ous ranking of 24.
In the Pacific, New Caledonia is second to
Fiji with a ranking of 139 (+2) while Vanuatu lies
on 157 (+2).
The ranking of the other island nations are
as follows: Solomon Islands 171 (+2), Samoa 183
(0), Guam 185 (+1), Cook Islands 185 (+1), Tonga
191 (0), Tahiti 195 (-1), American Samoa 203 (0),
PNG 203 (0).
In the top ten, Spain has regained the number
one status and has pushed former world champi-
ons Brazil to the second spot. Netherlands and
Italy retain the third and fourth spots while Por-
tugal has jumped into fifth place after moving
five places up on the ladder.
Other countries in the top ten include
Germany, France, Argentina, England and
Croatia.
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
ments.
Mr Teleni told FijiLive that his department
had already begun to strengthen its position at
the Nadi International Airport.
“We’re working on our intelligence capacity
and I don’t see it as a problem but it maybe a
challenge to us,” he said.
He said police were monitoring people
coming into the country with the help of Immi-
gration and Customs.
He said hard drugs were not a problem for Fiji
presently but they were ready to deal with the
problem if it did arise.
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
the economy’s “great hope” are unlikely
to pay off.
“I think the 2009 arrival figures will
be barely below the 2006 arrivals,” he
said.
“Despite the very, very large amount
being pumped into the market of tourism,
combined with the global crisis and all
that, that tourism is not going to show
any great dramatic growth.”
Fiji’s administration initially did not
release any budget documents following
Fiji’s leader Frank Bainimarama’s budget
address last week.
Professor Narsey said the administra-
tion which took over in a coup in 2006, is
passing its debt on to future generations.
“The tragedy also is that in the last
three years, they have made the terrible
mistake of borrowing abroad, which
means that a larger part of our public
debt has been denominated in foreign
currency,” he said.
”We are looking at problems ahead.
What this Government is doing is instead
of curbing in their current expenditure
and all that, they basically are borrow-
ing and passing the burden onto the next
generation.”
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/
Pacnews/ Radaus
Indian
Business body formed to
fight HIV/AIDS in Fiji
Suva: Fiji’s business community has
launched a Business Coalition Against
HIV and AIDS (BAHA) to create aware-
ness in the workplace against the disease.
Launching the 40-member coalition
outside the Reserve Bank of Fiji build-
ing in Suva, BAHA chairman Caz Tebutt
said HIV and AIDS had threatened the
productivity, profitability and welfare of
employees.
“BAHA’s campaign begins by supply-
ing contraceptives to workplaces around
Fiji so it is made available to their staff
to encourage HIV protection,” Ms Tebutt
said during a press conference at the
Reserve Bank.
Ms Tebutt said the coalition was
encouraging business organisations
to ensure they had training resources
because workplace HIV/AIDS policies
and programs could play a vital in raising
awareness about HIV, prevent HIV infec-
tion and help care for people living with
HIV.
“We’re encouraging organisations to
ensure that they have training resources
to promote the prevention of HIV and
also to ensure that there is no workplace
discrimination.”
Fiji’s President, Ratu Epeli Nailati-
kau, who was chief guest at the launch
also showed his support for the cam-
paign. “This is a symbol of hope for those
with HIV and also a symbol of hope for
those without HIV so it’s for everyone in
Leadership that elevates
Padmini Gaunder
A common loyalty to the nation is identified
as the most important prerequisite for the suc-
cessful governing of a multiethnic country. Fiji
lacked this at independence as both the major
ethnic groups in the country, the indigenous
Fijians and the immigrant Indians, had their
primary loyalty to their community and iden-
tified themselves first and foremost with their
ethnic group rather than with the nation.
So observers of the Fiji scene in the 1960s
were unsure of the direction it would take and
they saw the future of the country as bleak. They
agreed that the most important requirement for
the survival of the country as a peaceful, mul-
tiracial nation was enlightened and selfless
leadership. One writer even warned that if the
leaders of the major ethnic groups did not act
with foresight, putting the country before their
community, then Fiji might become “something
like a Cyprus in the South Pacific … Little hope
remains for Fiji unless all racial groups …act
now with vision, resolution and self-sacrifice to
subordinate their narrow, sectarian interests to
the interests of the country as a whole”, Watters
concluded.
Fortunately, when Fiji became self governing
and party politics started in earnest, the country
enjoyed enlightened leadership from the leaders
of both the major ethnic groups. Ratu Mara and
A. D. Patel were both prepared to subordinate
their narrow, sectarian interests to the inter-
ests of the country as a whole. This proved the
‘scaremongers’ wrong and it became clear that
‘the Federation Party leaders performed the Op-
position role well’ (Norton, 2004, p.165).
Kevin Hince offers these criteria for assess-
ing a leader. The important questions to ask, he
says, are whether the person concerned wanted
“personal power” or was he/she doing “com-
munity service”; was he/she a “positive force for
development or a divisive, destructive agent; a
leader of men or manipulator”. I F. Helu makes
a similar distinction between leaders who follow
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Fiji
Fiji,” Ratu Epeli said.
Ms Tebutt also acknowledged the
Reserve Bank for showing their support
towards HIV prevention. “I would like
to thank the Reserve Bank for allowing
us to go ahead with our campaign. They
house the economic power in Fiji and it’s
very symbolic; that’s why we’ve chosen
this building for the launch.”
Workplaces around the world are
wearing red today to mark World AIDS
Day.
Ms Tebutt said this was an opportune
time for employers to talk to their staff
about the prevention of this deadly and
incurable disease.
If Patel helped to elevate the sugarcane farmers by
fighting for them against the might of the Colonial
Sugar Refining Company (CSR) Ratu Mara made it
a reality by agreeing, as Chief Minister, to the take-
over of the sugar industry in 1969
the Socratic tradition of service and the Soph-
ists. Socrates believed leaders should work for
the good of the country unlike the Sophists who
believed only in having personal power
Joshua Rabukawaqa, on the other hand, had
elaborated the difference between an outstand-
ing leader and a mediocre one. It could be judged
from the kind of equality that the leader provided
for the people, he said. “There are two kinds of
equality. There is the equality that elevates and
creates and the equality that levels and destroys.
You give leadership to the one who has proved
himself to the world to lead. He will elevate and
create the others to enjoy the same status he has”.
Ratu Mara and Patel both wanted to elevate
the people which they did while they were
leaders. If Patel helped to elevate the sugarcane
farmers by fighting for them against the might
of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR)
Ratu Mara made it a reality by agreeing, as Chief
Minister, to the takeover of the sugar industry in
1969. CSR used to threaten to withdraw whenev-
er decisions were made which were not favour-
able to them. The colonial government used to
make concessions and persuade them to stay on.
In 1969, however, the elected government of Fiji
decided to let them go when CSR claimed that it
could not operate under the terms of the Denning
award.
Similarly during Ratu Mara’s time Fijian
commoners were elevated in many ways. They
were given the franchise which they did not have
till 1963. All of them were also given access to
higher education which during the colonial days
used to be the privilege of a select few, mainly the
chiefs and sons of chiefs. Providing higher edu-
cation for everyone in the country was a policy
that Patel had also been promoting throughout.
With Patel’s death in 1969, however, the party
he had founded and led to look after the welfare
of the exploited people of all ethnic groups in
the country, slowly turned into an ethnic Indian
party with no longer a clear ideology, resulting
in the failure of the Westminster system.
Ratu Mara and Patel were similar in many
ways, although most would be shocked by this
claim because during most of his political career
Patel disagreed with Ratu Mara. I say they were
similar because they both had a similar national
outlook. They looked at the country as a whole
and what was best for the country rather than at
the needs of any particular community. They
were also very proud of their cultures but at the
same time respected other cultures.
Ratu Mara and A.D. Patel both seemed to
have wanted personal prestige (more than any-
thing else) but they were enlightened enough
to understand that what would give them pres-
tige was what they achieved for the community
and the nation (and in the case of Ratu Mara, it
stretched to the whole region).
They also had a similar educational back-
ground. They both were educated in England
and had great respect for British education and
British institutions like democracy and the rule
of law. They both were capitalists but they were
against exploitation. They both were also against
colonialism, especially the exploitation of the
non-whites by the white colonial powers, which
was a common feature of colonialism. The main
difference was that while Ratu Mara was against
colonialism, he remained a loyal subject of the
British crown, seeing it as an extension of the
Fijian chiefly system as most Fijians did, whereas
Patel could not see any difference between the
British monarchy and British colonialism.
Ratu Mara and Patel had clear policies for
their political parties. While formulating these
policies they looked at what was good for the
country as a whole rather than for just a particu-
lar community so the policies they put forward
were for the benefit of the people of the country
without any ethnic distinctions. They believed in
integrating the people of the country.
The methods Ratu Mara and Patel advocated
for bringing about integration, however, were
different. While Ratu Mara believed in a slow
change brought about mainly through education,
Patel believed integration could only be achieved
through a common electoral roll. This is where
the difference came between the two leaders
though their ultimate aims were similar. They
both were “positive forces for development”
rather than “destructive agents”.
11
Indian
Community

Vaastu Shaastra – from Soul to Universe: a unique talk show

The five elements of universe – earth, water, air,
fire, and space have always had a great impact
on mankind. Infact the role of directions, cosmic
waves, the five basic elements and the electro-
magnetic waves are the founding basis of the
science of “Vastu”. Vastu Shastra as it is known
is the oldest form of “architechtural science”
which has been described in the Sthapatya Veda.
The importance of Vastu is not lost on mankind.
Several different ways of looking at Vastu have
emerged over centuries. The west dubbed it a
kind of “esotericism”. The Chinese called it
“Feng Shui”. While the latter has been more
popular, one must not forget that Vastu predates
all these. The fundamentals of Vastu are also the
fundamentals of these later arts.
Vastu Shastra: A Result – Oriented Science.
Vastu Shastra has grown out of life. It has
its techniques of identification with nature. Life
and destiny are a part of the universal fabric of
Nature. In Marathi, this is described as “Pindi
Te Brahmandi”, which translates as English, as
“From Soul to Universe”.
The human body is created from the five
basic “elements” in the Universe. Our body is the
abode for the soul. Our building or Vastu is the
dwelling place of the body. This building dwells
in nature. It is an integral part of nature. Nature
is occupied by the five basic elements of the Uni-
Dr Raviraj Ahirrao with President of India Mrs. Pratibha Patil
verse. Our body is made up of the five basic ele-
ments of the Universe. It means that the dwelling
place (Vastu) comes between the human body
and nature. The exchange of energy between
human body and nature is an integral part of the
natural phenomena.
There is an invisible and constant relation
between all the five elements. Thus, man can
improve his conditions by properly designing his
buildings by understanding the effectiveness of
these five natural forces. Vaastu sastra combines
all the five elements of nature and balances them
with the man and the material. It takes advantage
of the benefits bestowed by the five elements of
nature to create a congenial living and working
environment thereby facilitating spiritual well-
being and paving the way for enhanced health,
wealth, prosperity and happiness.
We are lucky to have amongst us one of the
foremost practitioners of this art in India, Dr
Raviraj Ahirrao, Ph. D. and his wife Mrs Man-
jushree Ahirrao who are touring New Zealand
during the month of December. Dr Ahirrao has
been awarded several honours for the work that
he has carried out in this field. He has been a
regular presenter on Zee Marathi, which has
seen him in over 170 episodes, besides several
articles in Times of India, and other local dailies.
During his visit, he will be holding a unique
talk show based drama “Vasturaviraj” for the
benefit of the audience in Auckland. The show
is being held at:
Venue: Fickling Centre,
Address: 546, Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009
Time: 2.00 ~ 5.00 pm
Entry: Free.
RSVP: Jayshree (0210775596 /906204448)
Varsha (0274731078/095348000) or
Sandhya (092777523)

‘Rang Barse’ at AUT Holi fest Sarod maestro Vikash Maharaj’s

AUT in Auckland will be a sea of colour early next
year as the university goes all out to celebrate Holi,
the Hindu festival of colours.
And for the first time at any New Zealand uni-
versity campus, a “rain dance” will be held to mark
the festival which celebrates the victory of good over
evil.
“It won’t be a religious function, but more a
totally fun thing,” Agastya Pesara, president of
AUT’s Indian Students Association told Indian
Weekender.
The “rain dance”, more like a “Rang Barse”
event, will be held at AUT Quad on February 28, just
a day before the institution opens up for first semester
classes.
Agastya said he was grateful the AUT manage-
ment had agreed to host such a diverse and colourful
festival for the first time.
The “rain dance” will be held at the open air
AUT Quad in Wellesley St, where participants will
be allowed to splash or smear colour on each other
amid a drizzle.
“If there is no rain on the day, we will make it rain
in the form of artificial sprinklers to make it look like
the real thing back in India,” Agastya said.
Lots of coloured powder is available to partici-
pants on the day and they all celebrate their happiness
by smearing it on each others’ faces.
Agastya said apart from the festivities, Indian
food stalls will be there and also day-long music
with DJ Jimmy, well known among the Indian music
circles, starting at 10am, and expected to end around
3pm.
“Sangam” to be staged next month
“A lot of fun will be had and it is open to all,
not just Indians,” Agastya said. “Hundreds of non-
Indians will be there, too.”
Holi is an ancient festival of India and was origi-
nally known as “Holika”. The festival finds a detailed
description in early religious works such as Jaimini’s
Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras.
Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by
all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.
It is said that Holi existed several centuries before
Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is be-
lieved to have changed over the years.
The main day, Holi, also known as Dhulheti,
Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throw-
ing coloured powder and colored water at each other.
Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika
Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little
Holi).
The bonfires are lit in memory of the miracu-
lous escape that young Prahalad accomplished when
Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried
him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a
staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without
any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika
Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in Andhra
Pradesh.
Numerous Hindu groups in New Zealand will be
celebrating the festival.
- Arvind Kumar
Migrant Heritage Charitable Trust Inc
(MigHT-i) is continuing its work of
bringing to fore the rich heritage of
Indian Music in New Zealand. This
time we are fortunate to have the
father son duo of Pt. Vikash Maharaj
and his son Prabash Maharaj visiting
New Zealand in January.
MigHT-i is glad to bring the
program “SANGAM” on January 16
at venue near you in Auckland and
23rd January in Wellington.
Hailing from Varanasi, India,
Pt. Vikash Maharaj is one of the
leading Sarod players of the pres-
tigious Benaras and Maihar Senia
Gharana.
He belongs to a family of great
performers of Indian classical
music, such as Pandit Kishan
Maharaj, and Pandit Nanku Maharaj. that
Pandit Vikash Mahraj has mingled “taal” entirely differenti-
and “raag” to present an exquisite touch of his ate him from other sarod performers.
own creative soul. The Pandit is well known for For further details contact Prashant : 09
his unique blend of melody and fluency in sarod 5348000 or info@might-i.org.
recitals of “ragas” and “talas” of his own style

For all your

legal needs
Aaron Kashyap
BA, LLB
Barrister and solicitor
Level 1, 351 Manukau Road, PO Box 26-596, DXCP 32513, Epsom, Auckland
Mobile: 0274 857 302 Phone: (09) 6238277 Fax: (09)6235177
Email: aaron@kashyaplaw.co.nz

12 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Community
Lawyer provides free legal advice
Heval Hylan, Principal of Hylan Law Barrister & Solicitor, will be providing free 10-minutes consul-
tation and legal advice on: Immigration, Refugee matters, Contracts and Employment, Family Court,
Trusts as well as other areas of law.
Heval arrived in New Zealand in 1994 and received a LLB from Waikato University and Post
Graduate in Legal Studies from Auckland University. He speaks English, Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish
and Farsi and has several publications to his credit. He was the General Secretary of New Zealand
Refugee Council and Volunteer Legal Advisor for Citizen Advice Bureau, and a Board Member and
Chairperson of Migrant Enterprise – Auckland.

When: Fridays, 9.30 a.m. – 12.00 noon

Where: Auckland Regional Migrant Services, 532 Mt Albert Rd, Three Kings Plaza, Three Kings
To register, please contact reception at 09 6252440 or email at reception@arms-mrc.org.nz

Bakshi opens out-of-Parliament office

OUT OF PARLIAMENT: Finance minister Bioll English inaugerates Mr Bakshi’s

office

National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has opened
his out-of-Parliament office in Papatoetoe.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister of
Finance Bill English officially opened the office
for Manukau East-based List MP Mr Bakshi on
1 December.
Mr Bakshi and Mr English were jointed
by fellow National MPs Melissa Lee, Dr Paul
Hutchinson, Dr Cam Calder.
“The opening went very well. I was delighted
with the turnout,” Mr Bakshi says.
About 200 people people, including members
and chairs of several Indian organisations, were
at the opening to support Mr Bakshi.
In his speech, Mr Bakshi thanked his sup-
porters for their support during the election and
in the past year.
“I would like to thank the National Party for
believing in me and giving me the opportunity to
have a National office based in South Auckland,”
Mr Bakshi says.
“I have had the privilege, since being a Na-
tional MP, to travel around New Zealand and
meet many people. The experience of being an
ethnic MP for the National Government had
truly been life changing.”
The office is located at 131 Kolmar Road,
Papatoetoe, and is open between 10am and
3pm, Monday to Friday. Phone (09) 278 9302
to contact Ashvinder Kaur OOP Agent for MP
Bakshi’s Office or email bakshi.mp@parliament.
govt.nz

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 13

 Indian
Indian
From the Editor
Time for some real action
As another year winds down and everyone wonders how fast 2009 has whizzed past,
it is time to take stock of the past twelve months and look forward with a sense of
anticipation as we enter the tenth year of this century.
This has indeed been a difficult year for the world as also for New Zealand, fol-
lowing the global financial meltdown. It was a difficult time for any new government
to take on the reins of the country, especially so after an almost decade long rule by
another party that left the country’s coffers dry as it exited the corridors of power.
The National Party came to power at such a trying time riding high on the hopes
of Kiwi voters who swept it into the Beehive on a popular vote. One year later the
opinion polls show that the National government’s popularity is still high, though
there is a steadily growing body of people who think it could have done more in these
past twelve months given the popular mandate it had.
There has been little action on the more substantial promises that were made and
the government has given the impression of focusing more on the incidentals. We are
yet to see a single bold measure to kick-start the economy – something that has been
needed even long before the global financial crisis unfolded.
New Zealand has been steadily slipping behind not just Australia but most of the
developed countries in the OECD list and our vulnerabilities of being a small country
with declining exports and with one of the most highly traded currencies and an
almost unsustainably ballooning debt are beginning to look overwhelming as each
week passes.
Other longstanding problems that need quick resolution are the country’s taxation
system – to speak nothing of low wages – and the political hot potato of the social
benefit system that has become the monster it is today because of poorly-reasoned
social engineering theory. Few countries have such a lax and unjustifiably generous
benefit system that is open to widespread abuse at the expense of honest, hardworking
tax payers.
Ideas to correct these have been thrown around and discussed at length but there
has been little political will shown by the government so far, with greater inclination
and urgency shown toward assuaging concerns of its political allies like the Maori
and Act parties.
Whether it is the strong anti-incumbency factor against past Labour governments
or just the wish to give the National Party and Prime Minister John Key a fair chance
and a long rope, the latter’s popularity remains largely undiminished even one year
after the elections.
But it is not likely to remain that way for long. The time for action is now – before
the growing feeling that this is a ‘do nothing’ government snowballs into disillusion-
ment with it. The time for action is now and the prime minister knows it. He has in-
dicated that there will be action in the New Year. His government must act decisively
leveraging this popularity.
Early next year, among other things, the taskforce on taxation will submit its report.
Broad-basing the tax system is urgent. So is reforming the social benefit system that
is so open to widespread rorting, which successive governments have refused to deal
with by simply looking the other way. Boosting productivity and exports is equally
important. These are all linked and if pursued with purpose and seriousness would
put more money in Kiwi pockets while raising their standard of living.
But to achieve that, strong political will is necessary. Of which we have not seen
much in the past twelve months. Actions taken in the first quarter of the next year will
determine the future of Prime Minister John Key’s government. If the slow, dithering
attitude of 2009 continues into next year, the going for his party in the run up to the
2011 polls will increasingly tougher. And New Zealand will continue slipping down
the OECD indices with more and more Kiwis fleeing overseas as the global economy
bounces back.
This is 2009’s last print issue and we at Indian Weekender wish you and your
family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
– Dev Nadkarni
Indian Weekender Volume 1 No 20
Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited
Group editor-in-chief: Dev Nadkarni dev@indianweekender.co.nz
Online editor: Arvind Kumar arvind@indianweekender.co.nz
India Correspondent: Shobha Rao shobha@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza rohan@ indianweekender.co.nz
Design: Tanmay Desai desaidesign@gmail.com / www.desaign.co.nz
Advertising: Giri Gupta - Ph: 520 0922, Mob: 021 221 1131. Email - girigupta@xtra.co.nz
Please email original editorial contributions, community notices and pictures to
editor@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearingv in the publication
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, New Market
and printed at APN Print, Ellerslie, Auckland
Copyright 2009. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
14
Letters
India’s ultimate gift to the world
Excellent article and we look forward to many more articles like this. These articles will help
promote our cultural heritage of Bharat.
- Guna Magesan
Good thought provoking article. Our youngsters should definitely read this, instead of being
swept off their feet by Western/ American culture.
Shobha Rao
Kiwi Indians and overseas travel
I agree with you about the fact that Indians often shy away from world travel. However you need
to realise that it is not that NZ Indians do not want to travel around the world. Given a choice of
3 to 4 weeks of annual pay and parents who are tucked away thousands of miles away, the heart
rules over the head and you invariably make the same trip over and over again. For Indians
living in India the story is completely different. They live with their extended families so options
are different.
Sutapa Mukund
Firefly and fiery dragon
Well, have always loved fireflies, little magical creatures from my childhood memories, so I’d
pick a much lesser bug to use as an analogy. It’s a great article, though. There’s a popular hing-
lish saying: Bolne mein kya tax – no tax on your speech, therefore it’s easy to say what you don’t
mean, and mean what you don’t say, politician style.
Suzanne Furtado
Excellent article. Good point about Hone, he didn’t even realise the irony of his comments. Great
article though, really well written.
Sundar R
Hindu-Maori relations
I take this opportunity to record my appreciation for the activities of the Hindu American Foun-
dation as well as the Hindu Maori initiative. There is an urgent need of such initiatives with
the pro-Christian religions of Europe and Africa and even in India about such religions of
Arunachal, Nagaland etc., which are often misunderstood and misinterpreted.
Prof. Dhanush Dhari Misra
It is a beautiful step taken and such initiatives go a long way in establishing brotherhood and
harmony. Bravo.
Bhanu Prakash
Congratulations on this fantastic achievement. I am born in Fiji and have lived in Auckland for
35 years and have been a founding member and Trustee of Vishwa Shanti Ashram in NZ. We
always read with interest the information we recieve, please keep up the good work and if you
need any further input or assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
Dron Chand
Congrats. Hindu American Foundation develops social and communal hormony, brotherhood,
integrity among the people of the world. This foundation also provides a platform for educates
leaders in public policy, academia, media and the public at large about Hindu Dharma and
global issues concerning Hindus and other religions.
Dr. Anil Mishra
Whole India is proof of Ramayana and Mahabharata
You will find a lot of proof of these events, no matter what the date was, in the stories told by
villagers all over India. Western world has always wanted to prove us wrong, because they have
wanted to advance their point of view on history.
Jitendra Singh
Kurbaan Prize winners
Congratulations to Nimmi Binny, Bee Reddy, Mukesh Patel, Shobita Singh, Praveen Lata Ram
and Prema Kumar. Five of you win FREE Kurbaan CDs and the sixth, Prema Kumar, wins a
personally autographed CD by Mugdha Godse, lead actress of the movie All the Best.
Would you like your copy of
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your mail box?
Please send us your name, street address and phone number along
with a cheque for $30 payable to Kiwi Media Group and mail it to Unit
O, 8 Bishop Lenihan Place, East Tamaki, Manukau 2013. The amount
would cover the costs of mailing and handling 26 issues.
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Conquering Afghanistan: What the West can learn from India
Rakesh Krishnan
The western media says no country has ever conquered Afghanistan, but the fact they conveniently forget is that
not too long ago the Indians conquered, subdued and ruled Afghanistan, an episode of history that is carved into
the recesses of the Afghan mind.
If there’s one thing that really gets me worked up, it
is this: the western media keeps peddling the fairy
tale that no power – from Alexander 2300 years
ago to Britain in the 19th century and Russia 30
years ago – was able to conquer Afghanistan. To
me it reeks of ignorance, and reporters in western
countries have exhibited a lot of that. Remember,
this is the same bunch that devoted reams of news-
print to the lie that al-Qaeda was getting help from
Iraq, when in reality Iraq under Saddam Hussein
was the most secular in West Asia.
But how could experienced and Pulitzer Prize
winning writers ignore facts? Don’t they have
armies of researchers at their beck and call? Also,
newspapers like the NYT and The Guardian have
excellent research departments that can dig out the
region’s history!
The truth is that just 180 years ago Maharajah
Ranjit Singh (1799-1839) and his brilliant com-
mander Hari Singh Nalwa defeated the Afghans
and the tribes of the Khyber Pass area, in the
process securing India’s north west border. Had it
not been for Ranjit Singh, Peshawar and the north-
west frontier provinces of India (now in Pakistan)
would have been part of Afghanistan today.
But first a flashback: Afghanistan had always
been a part of India; it was called Gandhar, from
which the modern Kandahar originates. It was a
vibrant province that gave us excellent art, archi-
tecture, literature and scientific knowledge – a
world far removed from today’s Taliban infested
badlands.
It was an Indian province until 1735 when
Nadir Shah of Iran emboldened by the weakness
of the later Mughals ransacked Delhi and every-
thing on the way. This was a highly opportunistic
and reckless act because for the past 25 centuries
India and Iran had respected each other’s borders,
and though always a bit nervous of each other,
the two empires never tried to subvert each other.
Government by Greed: The Fijian Holdings saga
SUBHASH APPANA
Fijian Holdings Ltd. (FHL), the flagship of Fijian
business enterprise, is a huge $300m conglomer-
ate that belies periodic laments about lack of Fijian
participation in business. Established in 1984 by
the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), FHL was sup-
posed to be owned by provincial councils, the Native
Land Trust Board (NLTB), the Fijian Affairs Board
(FAB), and Tikina and village groupings.
It was felt that Fijians were missing out on par-
ticipating in the high-returns commerce sector and
that FHL would provide risk-free participation as
it operated on the basis of privileged contracts and
therefore, was free from competition. On its board
were respected and business-savvy non-Fijians like
Lyle Cupit who would ensure its health while rich
dividends flowed to Fijian collective units.
Two important points need to be established
here to understand how FHL was thwarted from its
original objectives by the cabal that has featured in
this series. One, FHL was an offspring of the GCC;
therefore, any changes to FHL policy had to be
endorsed by the GCC. And two, the GCC was too
chief-dominated for non-chiefly interests to effect
any changes to FHL shareholding policy.
The stranglehold of the chiefs therefore, had to
be weakened within the GCC itself to speed up the
change and allow ambitious non-chiefs to access the
infinite riches FHL promised. Once again, the push
to change the membership of the GCC can be traced
back to 1990 when Rabuka was jockeying for power
and Mara was forced to back onto his last bastion of
support, the GCC.
Chiefs Weaken in GCC
Wholesale changes were made to the composi-
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
But because of his greed Nadir Shah changed the
equation. He annexed Afghanistan and asked the
Indians to forget about ever getting it back.
However, Ranjit Singh was not prepared to
play according to the Persian script. Nadir Shah’s
successor, Ahmad Shah Abdali, had been launch-
ing repeated raids into Punjab and Delhi. To check
this Ranjit Singh decided to build a modern and
powerful army with the employment of French-
men, Italians, Greeks, Russians, Germans and
Austrians. Two of the foreign officers who entered
the Maharaja’s service, Ventura and Allard, had
served under Napoleon. Says historian Shiv Kumar
Gupta: “All these officers were basically engaged
by Ranjit Singh for modernisation of his troops. He
never put them in supreme command.”
After conquering Multan in 1818 and Kashmir
in 1819, Ranjit Singh led his legions across the
Indus and took Dera Ghazi Khan in 1820 and Dera
Ismail Khan in 1821. Alarmed, the Afghans called
for a jehad under the leadership of Azim Khan
Burkazi, the ruler of Kabul. A big Afghan army
collected on the bank of the Kabul River at Naush-
ehra, but Ranjit Singh won a decisive victory and
the Afghans were dispersed in 1823. Peshawar was
subdued in 1834.
The Afghans and Pathans had always con-
sidered themselves superior to the people on the
Indian side. They especially looked down upon
Indian Muslims and contemptuously referred to
them as Hindko. The fact that the Indians were su-
perior in all respects – wealth, culture, literature,
art – mattered little to them, as physical stature was
the only basis for this peacock-like strutting.
So how did Ranjit Singh manage to conquer
such fierce mountain people? Mainly by using a
blend of sustained aggression latter smoothened
by Indian magnanimity. Of course, his biggest
weapon was the scourge of the Afghans –Hari
Singh Nalwa, who in one battle defeated 20,000
tion of the GCC in 1990 under the rhetoric of re-
establishing chiefly power in national governance.
Out of a total of 55 members, the GCC now com-
prised: 3 nominees from each of the 14 provinces
and Rotuma, 6 nominees of the Minister of Fijian
Affairs, the PM, President, VP and Sitiveni Rabuka
(as the only life member).
Ambitious interests eyed avenues within this ar-
rangement for maneuvering. The provincial repre-
sentatives did not have to be chiefs, and it became
common to have chiefs and influential commoners
making the provincial trio. Then the 6 nominees of
the Fijian Affairs Minister comprised a mixed com-
position.
On top of this, a good number of chiefs showed
a weakness for “city life” during their visits to Suva
for GCC meetings. And the power-players devised a
potent concoction comprising the otela, kalavo kei
na vua-ni-kau karakarawa – hotel, young lass and
the blue pill (Viagra). That was the magic wand that
swayed the vote in the GCC at crucial times.
It was this influence that led to a change in policy
at FHL in 1991 when shareholding was relaxed to
include “Fijian owned companies”. This led to a
scramble to register individual and family-owned
companies for $2 in order to bid for the El Dorado
that FHL offered. And by June 1992, some 27 pri-
vately-owned companies held shares in FHL.
As would have been expected, there was a rush
to secure finances from the National Bank of Fiji
(NBF) and ‘Equity Window schemes’ of the Fiji De-
velopment Bank (FDB) in order to buy FHL shares.
Key personnel ensconced in these banks played
a pivotal role in this enterprise to kick-start Fijian
Hazaras. To defeat the cunning and fierce Hazaras
on their treacherous home turf was no mean feat
but to do that with only 7000 men was the stuff of
legend.
Indeed, Hari Singh had become a legend. He
realised that to dominate the warlike tribes, the
Sikhs had to give them the same treatment the
Afghans had given the Indians in the past. Ac-
cording to Kirpal Singh, “Hari Singh set up a very
strong administration in the Peshawar valley. He
levied a cess of Rs 4 per house on the Yusafzais.”
Ranjit Singh ensured that the Afghans never
again became a threat to India. The wild tribes of
Swat and Khyber were also tamed. These are the
same people who massacred British armies, and
against whom the Americans and Pakistanis are
now struggling.
There are three reasons why Ranjit Singh won a
decisive victory and in Afghanistan and the north-
west while the West is floundering.
First, terror tactics were followed by a period
of liberal and secular Sikh rule. In fact, secularism
was the defining character of Ranjit Singh’s rule.
There was no state religion, and religious toler-
ance was an article of his faith. He refused to treat
Muslims like second class citizens. Compare this
with the callous strafing of wedding parties by US
and European troops or the Nazi uniforms being
worn by Czech troops.
When his victorious army passed through the
streets of Peshawar, the maharajah issued strict
instructions to his sardars to observe restraint in
keeping with the Sikh tradition, not to damage any
mosque, not to insult any woman and not to destroy
any crops.
Two, like the NATO forces in Afghanistan
today, Ranjit Singh’s army was a coalition too.
The Indian king’s forces were made up of Sikhs
and Hindus, while the artillery almost fully com-
prised Muslims (as the Sikhs and Hindus thought
business.
Thus blue-chip shares from easy cash disbursed
by Fiji’s own banks under the rubric of “Fijian as-
sistance” became an intoxicating pill that drove and
taught the power-players that much more was there
for the taking. So much was taken that the NBF died
at $250m while the FDB hemorrhaged at $220m. A
scrutiny of FHL’s shareholding at this stage is re-
vealing.
Commoner Shares in Fijian Holdings Ltd.
In 1992, the Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB)
and Fijian Affairs Board (FAB) held 30% shares in
FHL while the power players held 70%. A number of
shareholdings were revealed in a fiery 1993 Senate
meeting by outspoken Kadavu Senator Manu Ko-
rovulavula.
In Kadavu, the provincially owned Kadavu De-
velopment Company owned $50,000 shares. KJY
Investment Ltd., owned by cabinet minister Konisi
Yabaki, held $100,000 shares. While Taoi Invest-
ment Ltd., owned by FTIB chief Jesoni Vitusaga-
vulu and Ulaiasi Taoi (President, Indigenous Fijian
Business Council), held $200,000 shares.
A closer scrutiny showed that Konisi Yabaki was
Chairman of Kadavu Development Company and
Jesoni Vitusagavulu Secretary of the same when
they amassed prime FHL shares to themselves at the
expense of their province.
In Lomaiviti, the province owned $55,100 shares
while KB Investment Ltd. and 5X Investment Ltd.
owned $100,000 each. Another company, Vensal-
isi Investment Ltd. owned $80,000 shares. Former
Deputy GM/NBF, Kalivati Bakani owned KB In-
vestment and had joint shareholding in 5X Ltd. Fi-
Comment
it below their dignity to serve in this new wing of
the military). Over half a dozen European nations
are assisting US troops just as European specialists
worked for Ranjit Singh. Also, for the first time in
Indian history, Mazhabis, for centuries considered
untouchables, become a regular component of the
army.
However, there is a key difference – Ranjit’s
Singh’s forces worked like clockwork with one aim
in mind and that was to secure the empire. Today,
the US is reluctant to do all the fighting, the British
forces are simply not up to the task of taking on the
fierce Afghans and relies on bribes to keep away
the Taliban fighters. Which Afghan will show his
opponent respect if they bribe them not to shoot?
The Ukrainians, Poles, Australians, New Zealand-
ers, Czechs, and who knows how many more na-
tionalities, are present in Afghanistan clearly to
curry favour with America and wrap up their re-
spective free trade agreements. Nobody, it seems,
has the balls to take on the Afghans, except from
30,000 ft in the air.
Around 30 years ago, the Russian general
Nikolai Ogarkov advised Leonid Brezhnev’s
cabinet not to invade Afghanistan, saying that the
country was unconquerable; today NATO generals
are asking Barack Obama to get out of the place or
else the Americans will have to leave in the same
state as they left Vietnam – in their underpants. But
Hari Singh and Ranjit Singh showed how a mixture
of ferocity, valour and compassion could tame Af-
ghanistan. And that’s the third reason: at the end
of the day, the Indians just did a much better job
of fighting.
- Rakesh Krishnan is a features writer at
Fairfax New Zealand. He has previously worked
with Businessworld, India Today and Hindustan
Times, and was news editor with the Financial
Express.
nancing for these shares also almost-naturally came
from NBF.
In Lau, the provincial council held $55,100
shares, Stiks Investment Ltd. held $150,000 shares,
Q-Ten Investment Ltd. had $200,000 shares, and
Kepa Investment Ltd. had $100,000 shares. Stiks
Investment is owned by the Weleilakeba family of
which Sitiveni Weleilakeba was the CEO of FHL.
Q-Ten Investment was owned by the Qarase family
of which former PM Qarase is head. And Kepa In-
vestment is owned by the Lakepa family.
The Qarase Connection
Ousted PM Qarase was Chairman of FHL from
1992-95 when the scramble for FHL was at its fre-
netic best as a small number of well-connected in-
dividual shareholders outbid and outdid their own
provinces in owning shares in FHL. Qarase not
only facilitated this move that was against company
policy, but actively encouraged it in a bid to have
that policy, that he saw as a hindrance to individual
ambitions, changed. He then conveniently became
the GM of FDB from 1996 till he’d helped drain that
bank of $220m.
In 2000, he was providentially handed the reins
of national government and from thence he proceed-
ed to execute his business acumen on the national
tableau. Stay tuned for more on Qarase in the next
issue.
- Subhash Appana is an academic and political
commentator. The opinions contained in this article
are entirely his and not necessarily shared by any
organizations he may be associated with both in
Fiji and abroad. Email subhasha@ais.ac.nz
15
Indian
Community

Wellington Regional Hindu Talented youngster

Conference to focus on
Community Development
The Hindu Council of New Zealand is organising the Wellington Regional Hindu
Conference on Saturday, February 27, 2010, in Lower Hutt, Wellington. The theme of
the conference is “Community Development – A Hindu Perspective”.
HCNZ believes in the ideal of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one big
family). Hindu New Zealanders have come from Fiji, India, South Africa, United
Kingdom, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Caribbean, Mauritius and more countries.
HCNZ has always worked to bring together people from different geographical and
cultural backgrounds, community groups, like minded Hindu organisations, Tangata
Whenua, Government agencies and Non-Government Organisations (NGO) together,
to discuss concerns of community and find out and set pathways for working towards
the betterment of the community. This conference aims to discuss successes in com-
munity development from Hindu perspectives, based on the principles of Hindu
Dharma.
The conference will discuss initiatives that government agencies have shown in
community development, role of volunteers in community development, development
of community based health, wellbeing and social services, involvement of youth for
community development and youth perspectives of community development. It will
be of interest to members of the community, government agencies who work in the
area of community wellbeing, academics, students, and NGO’s.
Hindu Conferences over the past few years have only taken place in Auckland.
This is a great opportunity to share the work done by HCNZ with the community in
Wellington region and strengthen the network between volunteers from Auckland, Divyesh Naidu has been awarded as the most talented person at the
Wellington, Hamilton, Rotorua and other regions of New Zealand.
For more information, please contact Dr Rajiv Chaturvedi, Coordinator, Wel- Balmoral Big Day Out event on November 14 at Balmoral School. He
lington Regional Hindu Conference, Joint General Secretary, Hindu Council of New was one of the many from a host of entrants drawn from a host of
Zealand Inc. Phone: 021 079 5036 Email: hinduconference@gmail.com ethnic groups at the “Balmoral Got Talent” quest. Divyesh Naidu has
- Indian Weekender news desk
been awarded as best Indian Drum player (tabla).

16 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Feature

An India more ancient than Ancient India

Nalinesh Arun

There is an India more ancient than recorded

history, more hoary than recorded time. This
pre-history era of the Indian sub-continent has
been opening up to the world only the past 70
years or so.
Its monuments are at Mahenjo Daro, Harappa,
Dholavira, Lothal and many other archaeological
sites scattered on the Indian subcontinent. Ar-
chaeologists agree that these ‘recovered’ cities
were well planned and had a high degree of sani-
tation at a time when the world was thought to
have been near the end of the Neolithic Age.
The above sites and recently discovered
cities beneath the waves off the coast Gujarat
and Tamil Nadu attest to a civilisation of such a
high standard that it was only rivalled by western
civilisations just a thousand years ago, offering
this delicious tit bit that Asia was at least 2000
years more advanced than Europe of that time.
Western dating practices place some of these
finds around 3500 BCE, with 2500 – 1900 BCE
as the height of this civilisation. Originally
known as the Indus Valley civilisation it is now
called the Harappan civilisation as cities lost in
time are discovered outside of this valley on the
subcontinent.
The datings, carbon and otherwise, makes the
Indian subcontinent civilisation a contemporary
of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations.
Yet, each decade of research throws up datings
that push the start of this civilisation further back
in the annals of time.
With such findings, our Indian mythology is
getting validated. There existed a civilisation on
the subcontinent that far surpassed any of its time,
that went back into time immemorial (for the
West at least). Only by studying Indian mythol-
ogy can a picture of the civilisation be somehow
composed. Archaeological science will not pres-
ently validate this civilisation as anything more
than its interpretation of the Bronze Age.
Indian scholars are putting the Mahabharata
and the existence of Krishna into the timeframe
of what is called the Harappan civilisation.
Indian scholars now generally agree that Krishna
passed away on January 23, 3102 BCE. This date
was arrived at by comparing and relating ancient
documents’ time frames with the Gregorian cal-
endar. Any reading of the mythology surround-
ing Krishna tells us of the advances in that civili- out both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. A
sation, of the level of knowledge demonstrated whole school of thought existed around this tech-
and the achievements of a culture steeped in art, nology, and still does.
architecture and technology. Another amazing Indian text the Agastya
Even if we take away the somewhat astonish- Samhita gives the precise directions for con-
structing electrical batteries:
“Place a well-cleaned copper plate in an earth-
enware vessel. Cover it first by copper sulfate
and then moist sawdust. After that put a mercu-
ry-amalgamated-zinc sheet on top of an energy
known by the twin name of Mitra-Varuna. Water
will be split by this current into Pranavayu and
Udanavayu. A chain of one hundred jars is said to
give a very active and effective force.” Agastya
Samhita (the Indian Princes’ Library).
Leaving aside the technology from our my-
thology, the genealogy and the time frames of the
yugas appear to correspond well with Harappan
Civilisation. The Dwapar Yuga ends with Krish-
na’s death (or Parikchit’s death, depending on
whom you are talking). Krishna’s royal line con-
tinues down to the Mauryan kings of the middle
ages, 138 generations, noted and listed by Indian
historians and harking back to 3000 BC.
The trend has been to talk of Ancient India
as being pre-Moghul (16th century and after): the
time of Asoka, Harshavardhan, Guptas, Chau-
hans, going right back to the time of the Greeks
in India.
In the South the kingdoms of Pandyans, off the Tamil Nadu coast? It is a very interesting
Cholas, Cheras, Kadambas, Western Gangas, “fill in the gaps” that reveals to us what a great ci-
Pallavas, Vijayanagar and Chalukyas dominated vilisation we had, and are heading towards if we
in this so-called ancient times. get it right. The past, in our case, is the blueprint
In the great timeframe of cyclic Indian yugas, for our future.
this so-called ancient India is really pretty To be continued: Part II – A language as yet
ing episodes of weaponry demonstrated during modern. The ancient India that existed pre-3000 undeciphered: The text of Harappa that baffles
the Mahabharata war, the level of advancement BC and maybe all the way up to 30,000 BCE is linguists.
remains incredible. Vehicles that fly tops the list: only accounted for in our mythology. * Nalinesh Arun is a former Fiji journalist
what technology was available to the ‘Harappan The discovery of the sunken city off the who lived in India for many years and is now
civilisation’ to allow for such a vehicle to exist? Gujarat coast could easily be Krishna’s Dwarka, based in Christchurch
The ‘vimana’ references are peppered through- which sank at his death. What of the sunken city

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 17

Indian
Kurbaan: the cyclical nature of terrorism
One might have guessed that at the lack of spon-
taneously choreographed, lip-synced Bollywood
love song that something was wrong in the court-
ing stages of the romance between Avantika
(Kareena Kapoor) and Ehsaan (Saif Ali Khan).
The film establishes itself completely on the
seemingly innocent relationship between the
protagonists, leaving us with the feeling that
perhaps it was too good to be true. It was. What
starts off as a cheesy, unconvincing romance
between two university professors in India un-
expectedly transcends into a thrilling, under-
ground Islamic terrorist drama set in the suburbs
of New York.
Upon learning that her new husband is part
of a terrorist group, Avantika, caught in the
whirlwind of extreme plot twist, discovers a new
life of silence – a life where men organise plots
to blow up subway stations in the name of Allah
and their wives make them chai.
Avantika, who once adorned herself in gypsy
skirts and chandelier earrings, took to wearing
a headscarf once she had been trapped and si-
lenced by her fundamentalist neighbours.
Kurbaan does not depict freedom is only
being restricted to women - the aptly cast Om
Puri plays the elderly ringleader, similar to the
elegantly clad Dons of the Italian mafia, and he
has a harsh rule and influence upon the families
around him.
Ehsaan, otherwise known as Khalid, an infa-
mous highly-skilled terrorist wanted by the FBI
is joined by three other Muslim men residing on
the same street. Ehsaan later recruits American-
Muslim Riyaaz (Vivek Oberoi), a war journalist
masquerading as a fundamentalist pro-suicide
bombing cadet.
The acts of “terrorism” themselves were
more in favour of glamourised cinematic artistry
as opposed to nitty-gritty realism. In particu-
lar, a police-chase sequence results in Ehsaan
18
single-handedly killing a whole squad of Ameri-
can policemen, concluding his massacre with an
enormous, expensive fire blast.
Such overstatements, which are a staple in
Bollywood films, are not left out of the politi-
cally relevant Kurbaan.
Avantika snooping in her neighbours’ base-
ment and running for her life in her own home
is reminiscent of every American teen horror
blockbuster.
The several extreme close-ups of Ehsaan’s
bullet wounds made it seem as though it was ac-
tually a bite from a B-grade zombie film where
the special effects and make-up crew could self-
indulge, but it did nothing for the intensity of the
situation.
Apart from moments where the film ex-
changes narrative realism for cinematic clichés,
weak dialogue and visual overstatements,
Kurbaan, although formulaic in structure, as a
whole turned out to be moderately complex, with
social commentary as its box-office saviour. Or
maybe that was due to the big budget and star
studded cast.
Kurbaan plays it safe by eradicating racial
and gender stereotypes and by taking no sides.
Nobody wins.
There is no justification for suicide bombings
by Islam followers just as there is no justification
for government-sanctioned bombings on inno-
cent civilians.
Who would have thought that a university
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Bollywood
professor could be a
wanted terrorist leader? Or that another univer-
sity professor could fall in love with a terrorist?
By the end of Kurbaan, audience empathy is felt
for both Avantika and Ehsaan, as by then their
relationship is comprised of mutual passion and
despair.
Where Kurbaan succeeds in destroying
media stereotypes, the film fails in the sense that
it attempts to give reasons for suicide bombings.
For example, Ehsaan is plagued by the unjust
death of his ex-wife and child so he turns to
Islam, bombs and political sabotage to seek
revenge on those responsible – namely America.
Now, what about American-born suicide at-
tackers who have not experienced traumatic life
in the Middle East themselves?
What about suicide bombings that occur
within countries like Iraq and Afghanistan,
where Muslims are killed by Muslims?
Kurbaan does make a compelling point
about the cyclical nature of terrorism – indeed
it is both the American government and the fun-
damentalist Islamic world that need to change in
order to co-exist.
- Manisha Anjali is a double major graduate
of Film TV / Media and English from the Univer-
sity of Auckland
Indian

Her luck quotient seems to be

growing stronger by the day
While her latest release De Dana Dan has opened to
a mixed response, Katrina Kaif is undoubtedly riding
high on the success wave. Both her last two films, Ajab
Prem Ki Gajab Kahani and New York have reaped rich
dividends at the box-office and one of the reasons being
cited for their success is the charming presence of
Katrina Kaif. More recently she was seen on the cover of
Vogue Magazine.

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 19

Indian
Bappi Lahiri’s Hollywood Rakhi Sawant gets a makeover!
music-biz connection
Sporting layers of his glittering trade-mark chunky
jewellery, pop-icon and Bollywood composer Bappi
Lahiri seems to have won over Hollywood bigwigs
as well. Little wonder then that noted Los-Angeles
based music mentors, Don Grierson, Ritch Esra and
(India-born) Neli Kools, have singled out the roly-
poly Lahiri to formally support them in their inter-
national ‘on-line’ portal venture (“Musicbizpro”).
Bappi-da revealed this on the eve of his birth-
day when he was flanked by his cheering foreign
guests, “It’s a commendable gesture on the part of
Don, Ritch and Neli to come all the way to India
to scout for upcoming and polished musical talents
and promote them mainly through ‘on-line’ portals.
We are deprived of our music royalties and dues all
thanks to the rampant music piracy. So with this
comprehensive consultancy, I suppose it will prove
to be a blessing for the music industry and a much-
needed ‘Godfather’ to hundreds of struggling NRI
singers all over the world. In due course they will
get their share of limelight and the financial benefits
as well. Which is why I am with their group and
hope to make an international sureela dhamaaka in
early 2010,”
Few are aware that Bappi-da had also composed
and sung a special song dedicated to the Mumbai
26/11 terror-attack victims which went ‘Hum Sub
Ek Hain’. The enterprising Lahiri’s current mission
seems to be an anti-dote of sorts to the tag ‘Slum-
dogs’. (Remember ‘Slum Dog Millionaires’?) “For
me the street-kids living in hutments are actually
‘slum-stars’. Which is why I have picked up a group
of eight promising slum children, groomed them
and made them sing for my upcoming pop-album,
which I have sent to Los Angeles. Currently they
are ‘mixing’ the tracks out there and they are going
20
Bollywood
IshQ Bector, India’s mad-max music
import from Canada is set to launch
Rakhi Sawant in an all-new hi-glam
avatar shortly. Rakhi’s amazing meta-
morphosis will be seen in the title track
of IshQ’s latest album ‘Jhagde’ to be
released on Pen Audio.
“The spunky brand, known for her bold
and brazen personality attracting mass
appeal, will now be seen in a complete-
ly classy, up market trendy look and
style,” informs IshQ.
Rakhi’s new look comprises of
boy-cut hair and jazzy tops right out
of a Karan Johar movie and the hottest
hot-pants to compliment them. “We’re
taking her cattiness to the next level,”
quips IshQ.
The composer, who also sings and
performs for his videos (most of them
having crazy shocking antics and
scandalous lyrics), is best known for
his hit video track ‘Aye Hip Hopper’,
‘Karle Gunaah’ from the movie ‘Ugly
Aur Pagli’, ‘You Got Me Rockin and
Reeling’ from ‘Billu Barber’, the title
track of ‘Maan Gaye Mughall-e-Azam’
and rap-vocals for ‘Race’.
In the new video of ‘Jhagde’, the
gaga over the ‘Slum-Stars numbers,” he claimed.
Sawant babe will be seen coming to
Not one to be lagging behind as far as global
blows with IshQ in a freestyle boxing
track tributes to the ‘late’ Michael Jackson go,
match.
the Bollywood composer has “recorded a special
Who wins it and how is a mystery.
number ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’ with Jackson associ-
But Rakhi, full of excitement about her
ates, which will soon be released internationally.
new chic look, laughs and hits hard, “If
That’s not enough. Despite being passionately in-
IshQ thinks he will get away with the
volved with pop-fare, Lahiri has not jilted filmi
jhagde, he’s sorely mistaken. Even with
songs, having recorded a racy dance-number for
a hip look, I can beat the Hip Hopper
‘Spaghetti 24x 7’ ( yes, it’s a Hindi movie) which
black and blue in any boxing match.”
will have Mithun Chakraborty competing on-
screen with his real-life son Mimoh.
- Chaitanya Padukone
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Bollywood
The saga of Three Idiots hits
the screens on Christmas Day

Two friends (Madhavan and Sharman Joshi) reenaKapoor and it beautifully captures the siz-
embark on a quest for a lost buddy. On this zling chemistry on celluloid.
journey they encounter a long forgotten bet, a ZoobiDoobi is a tribute to all romantic songs
wedding they must crash, and a funeral which of golden era, choreographed by Bosco; it has
goes impossibly out of control. been shot over eight days in Mumbai.
As they make their way through the perilous
landscape, another journey begins: their inner Releasing on: Dec 25, 09
journey through memory lane and the story Directed by: Raj Kumar Hirani
of their friend—the irrepressible free-thinker Produced by: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Rancho (Aamir Khan) , who in his unique way , Music by: Shantanu Moitra
touched and changed their lives.
It’s a story of their hostel days that swings
between Rancho’s romance with the spirited Pia
(Kareena Kapoor) , and his clash with an op-
pressive mentor, Viru Sahashtrabudhhe (Boman
Irani)
And then suddenly one day Rancho vanished
…..
Who was he? Where did he come from? Why
did he leave?
The friend who inspired and influenced them
to think creatively and independently, even as a
conformist world called them three idiots. Where
is the original idiot now?
Finally, in the misty mountains of unparal-
leled beauty, the friends find the key to the secret.
Three Idiots is a comedy of ideas that is as
provocative as it’s funny, as widely entertaining
as insightful. A laugh riot that talks about the
most important of human pursuits: self actuali-
sation.
Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor have ro-
mantically come together for the first time for the
Vinod Chopra film directed by Rajkumar Hirani
of Munnabhai MBBS fame.
Though 3 Idiots is essentially a story of three
friends; ZoobiDoobi is the only romantic song
that has been picturized on Aamir Khan and Ka-

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 21

Indian
Reaching Out

When Starship landed in the Solomon Islands

Dr. Vipul Upadhyay’s Kiwi team helps treat kids in the Solomons
PRASHANT BELWALKAR

Recently, a team led by Dr Vipul Upadhyay

visited the Solomon Islands to assist the National
Referral Hospital in Honiara. The visit was part
of the project run by the Pacific Island Project
division of the Royal Australasian College of
Surgeons. This trip was funded by the AusAid
programme of the Government of Australia.
Prashant Belwalkar caught up with Dr. Vipul
over the weekend to understand the motive
behind his dedicated team’s charitable visit.
Can you give a back ground of the visit, your
involvement and the team was selected?
I’ve previously been to Rarotonga to operate
on an infant-in-an-emergency situation. We had
also arranged a visit of voluntary work to Fiji
which did not eventuate due to change of cir-
cumstances. All this is charity work.
The Royal Australasian College’s PIP divi-
sion knows of surgeons who are required to
carry out various activities in the Pacific Island
nations and we get requests from time to time to
offer our services for this cause. Mostly, only the
surgeon and the anaesthetist are involved in such
visits but I requested the PIP division to include
the nursing staff as well.
As surgery is only the first half of the job, the
recovery and post operative care are quite im-
portant aspects for patient care and I wanted to
get them involved as well. Fortunately for me,
the PIP saw the far reaching consequences of days to reach Honiara [the capital]. A very inter-
this approach and accepted my request to include esting observation for your readers; the commu-
the nursing staff. nications infrastructure is very rudimentary and
My team included Dr Ian Champan, Ms some of the villages do not even have a phone
Ngaire Murry and Ms Shonagh Dunning all of there.
whom belong to Starship hospital in Auckland. However, there is radio available on the
It is always easy to work with a known team as islands and our visit was widely publicised on
we know each other well and the timing as well the Radio. Apart from those who had fixed up
as tuning works wonders in the field. This was appointments there were a few who turned up
for the first time, I believe, that we had a four based on the news they had heard on Radio. So I
member team from the same institution for pae- guess, the good old airwaves still has some of the
diatric surgery on a Pacific island. Hopefully, best uses in these places.
all such future missions will include the nursing How do you l;ook back at your and has there
staff as well. Dr Vipul Upadhyay performs a procedure in the Solomen Islands been any follow up with the authorities?
What was the nature of work carried out It gives me great pleasure when I am able to
by your team and how many patients did you 5 days non stop as the trip was short. the obligations. It is especially hard on the nurses contribute to any such initiatives. Overall the
manage to operate on? Apart from the surgery, we were also in- as they are donating not only their annual leave trip was a great success in terms of the knowl-
Our visit was for one week which involved volved in teaching workshops for the nursing but are working under more demanding condi- edge that we were able to impart to the local
travelling to Australia and then to the Solomon staff for operating room nursing and post op- tions in this tour. However, I must appreciate the staff. We hope to keep in touch to ensure that
Islands. Solomon islands comprises six main erative recovery and care. for the patients. This fact that Starship has been lenient in allowing the transfer of skills and knowledge is continued
islands and a population of half a million people. was very useful to the staff at the hospital there. four of its staff to take annual leave at the same in future. The idea is to develop the local skills
We worked at Honiara where we managed to I also donated a number of my books to the hos- time for such noble cause! The idea is to give which can be very useful.
complete checkups of between 40 to 50 patients pital staff for future reference as well as under- back to the society that we live in, and this is After the hectic operative schedule we
(children aged new born – 15 yrs; ward and standing the operative protocols. possibly the best we can do! I have been doing updated the NZ High Commissioner for the Sol-
clinics). During our week long programme we We are thankful to Air New Zealand as well this back in India as well whenever I visit my omons, Mark Ramsden as well as had a debrief
also operated on 15 patients during that period. as Solomon Airlines for allowing us to carry home town. with the staff at AusAid.
Most of the operations carried out included uro- almost 20 kg extra weight of these books for How did you manage to get such a high The visit was very well received by local
logical operations, gastrointestinal surgery and which they did not charge any fees. number of responses for your visit? Was it based doctors and nursing staff. They have already ex-
even surgery involving free transfer of grafts. Did you travel on your own or were you given on the wait list at the hospital or some other tended us an invitation to do another visit next
It is quite challenging as the facilities available special privileges by Starship? mode? year. Of course, the patients and their parents
there are quite basic and the infrastructure is not Vipul: This is entirely charity work done on Vipul: It was interesting to see so many pa- were very grateful.
the same as in New Zealand. We also worked for voluntary basis and we take annual leave to fulfil tients as some of them have to travel by boat for 2

aarti chabbria

22 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian

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Indian
Remembering Osho, one of India’s most brilliant minds
ram lingam
OSHO has been one of the most provocative and inspiring spiritual teachers the world has ever known. He was known for his contemporary
contribution to inner transformation and the influence of his teachings continues to grow even today, reaching seekers of all ages in virtually
every corner of the world
December 11 is the birth anniversary of Osho
also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Of the
many Indian Gurus whom the world loved and
celebrated, Osho is probably one of the very few
masters who had such a worldwide acceptance
for his multi-faceted and contemporary teach-
ings. Osho is considered by many to be the
greatest spiritual master of the 20th century.
Through his compelling discourses he used a
convincing logic, compassionate wisdom, con-
temporary jokes and fitting anecdotes to bring
home the truth about ourselves.
Osho, born as Chandra Mohan Jain came to
be known as Acharya Rajneesh from the 1960s
onwards, calling himself Bhagwan Shree Ra-
jneesh during the 1970s and 1980s and taking
the name Osho in 1989. Some sources explain
that the name Osho was derived from the ex-
pression “oceanic experience” by William
James; others say that it was derived from an
ancient Japanese word for master.
Unfortunately some have misunderstood
the teachings of this enlightened genius in
their hasty conclusions without going through
or reflecting on much of his works. They have
branded him as a Guru much ahead of our
times because his teachings can fundamentally
shake any ill-informed hard-nut of orthodoxy.
However here are some remarks that matters
which are made by eminent people on Osho that
says why he is such an important teacher at a
macro level.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama: “Osho is an
enlightened master who is working with all pos-
sibilities to help humanity overcome a difficult
phase in developing consciousness.”
Dr. Deepak Chopra: “These brilliant insights
will benefit all those who yearn for experimen-
tal knowledge of the pure potentiality inherent
in every human being.”
Tom Robbins, author: “...he was the greatest
spiritual teacher of the 20th century... He under-
stood us better than we understand ourselves.”
Dr. A. Schleger, Ph.D., Institute of Technol-
ogy, Switzerland: “Never before or after have I
encountered anybody having such a harmonious
and immensely creative view encompassing art,
science, human psychology and religiousness.
Certainly we would lack substantially without
his vision of the new man.”
Los Angeles Times: “Summarizing the
thoughts of a man whose transcribed teachings
have sold a purported 15 million volumes world-
wide is not easy. Perhaps the kernel is Osho’s
notion that the perfect human being combines
the earthly zest of Zorba the Greek and the tran-
scendental spirituality of Buddha.”
Osho has spoken on virtually every topic
of concern to modern man – talking about ev-
erything under the sun and beyond. His thou-
24
Heritage
sands of hours of unpremeditated talks, spoken complicated. He summarises in one of his talks ness, a love of life ~ Meditation and Love. About
to people around the world over some three saying “My whole teaching consists of two his own work Osho has said that he is helping to
decades are available on all types of audio- words, meditation and love. Meditate so that create the conditions for the birth of a new kind
video, web and print formats. An enlightened you can feel immense silence, and love so that of human being. He has often characterized
Guru lives through his teachings and so is Osho your life can become a song, a dance, a celebra- this new human being as “Zorba the Buddha”
through his many communes. There are some tion. You will have to move between the two, -- capable both of enjoying the earthy pleasures
three hundred Osho Information Centers and and if you can move easily, if you can move of a Zorba the Greek and the silent serenity of a
Osho Meditation Centers in forty-five countries without any effort, you have learned the great- Gautam Buddha. Running like a thread through
“My whole teaching consists of two words, meditation and love.
Meditate so that you can feel immense silence, and love so that your
life can become a song, a dance, a celebration. You will have to move
between the two, and if you can move easily, if you can move without any
effort, you have learned the greatest thing in life.
Awareness and enjoying this life can grow together simultaneously. And
this is my vision of the whole man.”
- Osho
around the world. Osho is also often referred est thing in life. Awareness and enjoying this all aspects of Osho’s work is a vision that en-
to as the most prolific author, with some 600 life can grow together simultaneously. And this compasses both the timeless wisdom of the East
titles to his name. Just one of the many websites is my vision of the whole man.” and the highest potential of Western science and
www.oshoworld.com on Osho has a complete Osho’s teachings centred mainly on aware- technology.
archive of Osho discourses consisting of more
than 5500 discourses in English (4,800 hours)
and Hindi (4,000 hours).
In fact the Indian Parliament has placed a
complete set of Osho’s books in a special section
named after the author, a privilege that other-
wise only Mahatma
Gandhi enjoys. Osho has spoken on hun-
dreds of mystics and traditions including Bud-
dhism, Christianity, Communism, Hassidism,
Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Sufism,
Tantra, Taoism, Yoga, Zen and many more.
On a regular basis Osho would remind the
seekers of truth who were around him that the
silent gap between his words are the essential
message. “I am saying things and talking to
you just to give you an experience of silence.
Those pauses are the most significant thing that
is being delivered to you, being transferred to
you. Be available in those pauses.”
Osho was a Guru who insisted to live in the
moment with all the heart and in constant cel-
ebration advising us that “To live in the head is
stupidity. To live in the heart and use the head
whenever it is needed is intelligence.”
According to Osho, his teachings aren’t
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Why are NZ Indians shy of world travel?
Madhup Srivastava
Second of a two-part series; the first part appeared in the November 27 issue
Though not as efficient as flying, overland travel lets
you get to know a country more intimately and adds
variety to your itinerary. You will have the opportu-
nity to interact with locals, who can serve as well-
springs of information for what to see and do.
Your travel agent will take climate and seasonal
weather conditions, such as hurricanes, torrential
rains, floods etc into consideration as your route is
planned. When a destination’s climate is favourable,
that’s typically its “high season,” and tourism greatly
increases.
If you wish to travel during high season, you
should book your flights well in advance and expect
to pay more for airfare. However, if you are looking
to save money and/or be in the company of fewer
tourists and are willing to endure a chill or intense
heat, you can take the “shoulder” or “low season”
options.
Before you leave New Zealand, you will have to
purchase all of your airline tickets, and all of your
flights must culminate in a round trip. In most in-
stances, you must continually move in a westward or
eastward trek with no back-tracking. Travellers must
have a return or onward ticket out of the country they
are visiting.
With some fares, each flight in your journey will
need to be booked in advance. If you are planning to
travel for more than a year, you will have to purchase
your tickets in stages since airline tickets are usually
valid for a year after their issue date.
Once you have purchased your tickets, it is likely
that you will incur a cost to change travel dates. Date
change rules vary depending on the airline and fare,
so be sure to ask your travel agent for the date change
and cancellation policy of each airline you are using.
And since the least expensive fares sometimes do
not offer frequent flyer mileage credits, also ask your
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
travel consultant if there are any such restrictions on
your tickets.
Your choice of accommodations as you travel is
important both in determining the degree of comfort
you can anticipate and also your total expenditure.
Your travel consultant will provide you with excel-
lent resources for this part of your planning. Most
travel planners have access to insider hostel and hotel
guides that provide detailed description of not only
the amenities of each property. Websites like tripad-
visor.com are good way to read reviews of hotels.
Your travel consultant will have access to whole-
sale rates for hotels that are sometimes cheaper than
what you can get on your own. You can also consider
house swaps and there are various websites that will
help you getting your requirement listed on their
websites for a small membership fee.
You can also book apartments directly online in
certain countries. Bed and breakfast accommoda-
tions are available almost in all places. There are re-
ligious sects or places where you can stay for free in
return of some work like cooking and cleaning.
Now that you have made your travel arrange-
ments, you are just about ready to start your adven-
ture. But before you step on the plane, it is time to
organize your travel documents. Make sure your
passport is current and will be valid for at least a year
after your return date.
You may need certain visas or other documents
for each country you are visiting. Ask you travel
agent, which documents are needed at each stop.
And keep all of your airline tickets together. In some
countries, health certificates are required certifying
to yellow fever vaccinations. Check all health re-
quirements of all countries you will be visiting. Make
sure that you are appropriate physical condition prior
to travel. Visit with a doctor experienced with travel
medicine and cover your itinerary.
Bring copies of your passport and airline tickets
with you on the trip, as well as copies of your pass-
port photos, which are often needed when purchas-
ing rail/metro travel cards. It is also practical to give
a copy of your itinerary, passport and return ticket to
a friend or family member back home, who can fax
them to you in an emergency. During your trip, keep
your documents on you at all times, not in your hotel
room. A money belt in which to carry documents is
a good idea.
During your planning, consider how you will
handle your finances while on the road. In general,
traveller’s cheques, Travelex cash passports and
credit cards are the safest bet, since they can be re-
funded or replaced if lost or stolen. Travelex cash
passports and credit cards generally offer the best
exchange rate, but in some destinations are less
common for trade than others.
European merchants prefer credit cards such as
Visa and MasterCard. For the rest of the world, it is
best to have some American dollars in case you get
into a bind. American dollars will be no good in erst-
while USSR countries, where you need to carry local
currencies.
And remember that you do not want to unzip
your money belt and expose your passport and fi-
nances each time you need cash. Keep a small
amount of local currency in a more easily accessible
place, such as your pocket or purse. Monitor your
budget and expenses carefully as you travel, as it is
easy to lose track of finances as money is changed re-
peatedly from one currency to another. Have a small
calculator with you. This helps you immensely while
shopping.
After all of your planning for your trip of a life-
time, it would be wise to invest in travel insurance.
Travel
Some companies have long term travel policies
available. Remember that your own health insurance
may not be valid abroad. Items generally covered
by a typical travel insurance policy include airfare,
baggage, health, and trip cancellation/interruption
for up to a year. Some companies also offer travel as-
sistance services and worldwide call numbers should
something happen.
Three items often left off a packing list to the
eventual dismay of the traveller: sunglasses, SPF
lotions and a hat! Medications should be packed in
their original prescription bottles and carried with
you, not stored in checked baggage. Of course you
will want to take a camera to immortalize your trip
and help illustrate your adventure to others, and pos-
sibly a journal. Understand that although a state-of-
the-art camera would do those majestic sunsets more
justice, keeping a constant eye on such a valuable
piece of equipment could prove to be a burden.
Is an around the world trip safe? Common sense
will be your best defence. Trust your instincts and
steer clear of potentially dangerous situations. Do
your research before you go so you will be aware of
less hospitable areas in the cities you visit. Find out
if the water is drinkable or if you should stick with
bottled. The latter includes while brushing your
teeth, and means foregoing ice cubes.
Keep your perspective clear all the time and do
not watch each behaviour from a coloured glass.
View your trip as educational and as an opportunity
to connect with others.
Most importantly, relax. The road goes on
forever. You are setting off on an adventure that most
only imagine.
-Madhup Srivastava is owner of Kilbirnie Travel,
Wellington. He can be contacted on madhup@xtra.
co.nz
Heritage
25
Indian

26 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Sport

India finally the No.1 team;

Black Caps stutter after a great start.
Prashant Belwalkar

Just when the doubting Thomas’s started writing
the obituary of Test cricket, it came back with
a bang! 6 different teams, 3 different zones and
3 wonderful results, all in a day’s work. India
crushed Sri Lanka in Kanpur, New Zealand
beat Pakistan in Dunedin and Australia stream
rolled the West Indies in an exciting week of Test
cricket. It gets even better, Pakistan got their
revenge in Wellington, West Indies put Aussies
on the back foot in Adelaide while India reached
the top of test cricket for the first time when they
beat the hapless Sri Lankans for the second time
in a row.
Let me start with Australia. West Indies
arrived in Oz with their reputation in tatters, but
had managed to get their 1st team players back to
the fold. The nostalgia of the 80s was still linger-
ing when the first test began and spectators had
hoped for some exciting contest. But the well-
oiled machine of Ponting’s men didn’t let the
West Indies settle in their grove. After scoring
an exciting 480 thanks to 92 by Katich as well
as some useful contributions from the entire
top order as well as some wonderful batting by
Hauritz at the tail, it was hoped that West Indies
would put up a good fight. However, apart from
some useful top order contribution and a rear
guard action by Ramadin, none of the West
Indian batsmen could withstand the Aussies
bowlers, even Hussey managed to grab a wicket
as West Indies were bowled out for 228 and
Ponting asked them to follow on. Things only
got worse for there for West Indies, as the second
innings saw them score 187 thanks largely to
the century by debutant Barath, which gave the
Aussies victory by an Innings and 65 runs.
The Oz presses were after the blood of West
Indies and wanted them to be stripped off their
test status. How things have changed in the
last 20 years, which has seen the West Indies
losing their grip on the top of test cricket and
the Aussies are now baying for their blood. But
cricket is a great leveller and West Indies came
back with a bang in the second test when they
scored 451 in their first innings, while dismiss-
ing Aussies for 438, the match evenly poised
at the end of day 3. Let’s hope that the Aussies
media will now stop the negative rant!
New Zealand pulled off one of the most excit-
ing wins in test cricket in Dunedin. The series
being played in New Zealand due to security
reasons, is for the first time in history of test
cricket where the home team is actually the vis-
iting team. Pakistan won the toss and put New
Zealand in to bat and Mr Reliable, Vettori came
close to a century (99) and Taylor too chipped
in with 94 to give New Zealand a decent 429 on
board. Pakistan in response scored 332 on the
back of some fine batting by the Akmal broth-
ers. In response, the Pakistani bowlers ripped
through the Blacks Caps line up to restrict them
to 153 runs. However, Bond on his comeback
trail had other ideas restricted the Pakistanis to
218 to give New Zealand an exciting victory by
32 runs in Dunedin.
The second test in Wellington saw the
comeback of Tuffey as Bond was once again
side-lined with another injury. Tuffey did it in
style with a 4 wicket haul along with Vettori (4
wickets) to restrict Pakistan to 264. But the Paki-
stani bowlers had other ideas when they mauled
the Black caps for a meagre 99. The Pakistani’s
could only manage 239 in their second test, but
chasing 405 was always going to be a talk task
for the fragile Black caps. Mohammed Asif, has
taken 17 wickets in the 2 tests so far, took a fiver
in the second innings and gave Pakistan a series
levelling victory by 141 runs, when Black caps
would manage only 263 in their second outing!
1-1 as the tour progresses to Napier for the 3rd
and final test.
Finally to the news of the week, as India fulfils
its potential in Test cricket. The Sri Lankan tour
was going to be a test for Indians as Sri Lanka
had some potentially explosive batsmen in the
form of Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardene and
mercurial bowlers in form of Murali and Herath.
But the bowling was also the weakest link the Sri
Lankan armour!
The first test in Baroda saw a run feast as
India scored 426 runs in the first innings thanks
to centuries by Rahul “the wall” Dravid and
captain MS Dhoni. Sri Lanka’s reply was even
more emphatic as they piled on 760 which in-
cluded a double hundred by Mahela Jayawar-
dene, and centuries by Prasanna Jayawardene &
man in form Dilshan. Sri Lanka were looking
for their first victory in India and thought that
they could get it in Baroda, but Gambhir and
Tendulkar had other ideas as they both scored
centuries to save any blushes for India as the
match petered out to a tame draw.
The second test saw the Indian top order
deliver in style as Gambhir, Shewag and Dravid
all scored tons to give India a mammoth 642
on the board. Sreesanth, making a comeback
bowled with venom to take a fiver and restrict
Sri Lanka to 229. Following on, Sri Lanka were
fighting to survive in the match, but could only
manage 269 in their second outing, handing
India a victory by innings and 144 runs, India’s
100th test victory. It took India 432 matches
to reach this milestone, the longest by any test
playing nation who have managed that, but an
important one for India.
The series moved to the mecca of cricket in
India, Mumbai and the home ground of Indian
cricket, the Brabourne stadium. This was the
first match of any significance after the incidents
of 26/11 last year (the one day with Australia was
washed out earlier in November) being played in
Mumbai. India had a chance to go to the top of
test rankings if they beat Sri Lanka 2-0.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat, given
that Mumbai pitch played true for the first 2-3
days and crumbled on the final day. Murali who
had been in-effective so far in the series, was
looking at some salvation. However, Dilshan
the man in form once again proved his worth
when he scored his second century of the series
to pile up 393 for Sri Lanka in the first innings.
Normally, any team would be happy with that
score, but this is the new India and a confident
batting line up. Murali Vijay had replaced the in
form Gambhir at the top, who took a leave for
attending his sisters wedding. Sri Lanka were
looking at the opportunity to put India on the
mat, but the Sehwag had other ideas as he hu-
miliated the Sri Lankan bowlers into submission
with an amazing knock of 264 on Day 2, where
India not only wiped off the 1st innings lead of This catapulted India to the #1 position in the
393 but scored more than 430 runs in a day in the ICC Test rankings. They overtook Sri Lanka and
process. The second match running when they South Africa!
have achieved that. Sehwag could not reach his It has been a real team effort for Team India,
300 run mark the next day but once again the top where every individual has contributed with
order delivered for India as Dhoni piled up his either Bat or Ball. For once, we are coming to-
second century of the series when India declared gether as a team and are living upto our poten-
on 726. Sangakkara played a fighting knock in tial! Hope this is the start of better things. We
the second innings for Sri Lanka when he scored will be truly called a great cricketing nation
137, but the deficit of 333 runs proved too much when we display the consistency of the Aus-
in the end as Sri Lanka folded for 309 in the tralians (and beat them in their own backyard)
second innings to hand India another innings and are not seen as a flash in the pan! Go TEAM
victory and a 2-0 overall trashing in the series. INDIA!

Can you put a price on your family’s security?
oliver pereira
In the event of any misfortune, well-planned life in-
surance can protect your loved ones from financial
difficulties. However, in most cases, people find it
difficult to estimate the correct value of insurance
they need.
Partly this is because life insurance needs
change through different stages of life. Young
people with no dependants may not have much
need for life insurance.
As one’s family responsibility grows, life insur-
ance needs too increase. Thus, a periodical review
based on your family circumstances is required in
order to ensure that the coverage is adequate.
Here are some guidelines to help you decide if
life insurance is the right security for you:
Children: Children do not need life insurance
since no one depends on income from them.
Beginning Families: Life insurance should be
purchased if you are considering starting a family.
Your rates will be cheaper now than when you get
older and your future children will be depending
on your income.
Established Families: If you have a family that
depends on you, you need life insurance now!
This does not include only the spouse or partner
working outside the home. Life insurance also
needs to be considered for the person working in
the home. The costs of replacing someone to do do-
mestic chores, home budgeting and childcare can
cause significant financial problems for the surviv-
ing family.
Young Single Adults: The reason a single adult
would typically need life insurance would be to pay
for their own funeral costs or if they help support
an elderly parent or other person they may care for
financially. Otherwise, if one has other sources of
money for a funeral and has no other persons that
depend on their income then life insurance would
not be a necessity.
Non-Child Working couples: Both persons in
this situation would need to decide if they would
want life insurance. If both persons are bringing
in an income that they feel comfortable living on
alone if their partner should pass away, then life
insurance would not be necessary except if they
wanted to cover their funeral costs. But, maybe in
some instances one working spouse contributes
more to the income or would want to leave their
significant other in a better financial position, then
as long as purchasing a life insurance policy would
not be a financial burden, it could be an option.
Elderly: As long as you do not have people de-
pending on your income for support, life insurance
at this stage in life would not be necessary, unless
again, you do not have any other means to pay for
your funeral expenses. But, be aware that purchas-
ing a life insurance policy at this age can be very
expensive. Before doing so, first talk to an Insur-
ance advisor or accountant about looking into other
options Like a Funeral Cover or saving options to
Finance
pay for your funeral costs before considering life
insurance.
There is a broad relationship between needs
and assets over a period of time. Thus, not much
life insurance is needed in the initial stage. The
same is true in the empty nest stage.
The maximum need for life insurance arises
during the mid-phase, when one is married and has
children. In other words, one may go for life insur-
ance so long as the asset-level is lower than the
need-level once the asset-level surpasses the need-
level, the importance of life insurance declines.
The above information has been provided to
serve only as a guideline to assist in evaluating
your insurance needs. You are encouraged to do
your own research before arriving at any decisions.
For further information, please contact:
Oliver Pereira – OPM Insurance Services Ltd.
Ph. 0800 66 77 92, Faxmail. 021 551 669,
Mobile. 021 66 77 92
Email. oliver.pereira@xtra.co.nz

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 27

Indian
Protecting our environment
and our way of life
HON John key, prime minister of new zealand
New Zealand’s environment is at the core of our
quality of life, our national identity, and the reason
why so many people choose to migrate here.
From Cape Reinga to the Bluff, there is little
doubt that we enjoy some of the world’s most pris-
tine and accessible natural beauty. Our clean and
green brand has seen New Zealand become a top
tourism destination.
But good environmental practice is not just
important for protecting our natural heritage and
our tourism trade. It is also crucial for lifting New
Zealand’s game and securing the sort of future we
want for our children.
Our environment is why many Chinese/
Korean/Indian people have chosen New Zealand
as their new home – to take advantage of our wide
open spaces and provide a better life for their chil-
dren.
During our first year in office, the National-
led Government has worked hard to provide real
leadership on environmental issues, and we have
moved to implement a raft of policies that balance
our environmental responsibilities with our eco-
nomic opportunities.
Over the past year we have set out clear envi-
ronmental priorities for the Ministry for the Envi-
ronment: climate change, freshwater management,
biodiversity protection, oceans, air quality, outdoor
recreation, waste management, and contaminated
site clean-ups.
As part of our commitment to environment
management, we have established the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. This will be the vehicle
for providing clearer central Government leader-
ship around many of the environmental issues
facing New Zealand.
National’s approach to climate change is about
making sure New Zealand plays its part in reduc-
ing our greenhouse gas emissions.
But we’re also realistic about the costs, the
impacts on jobs, and what a small country like
New Zealand with a large agricultural sector can
achieve. That is why we have made changes to the
Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Keeping unwanted pests and
diseases away from our borders
Hon David Carter, Minister for Biosecurity
In an effort to increase biosecurity at our
borders, the Biosecurity Amendment Bill has
been passed through Parliament.
This new law will double the instant fine to
$400 for people bringing illegal food, plants
and animals into New Zealand, in a bid to
protect our ecosystem from unwanted pests
and diseases.
This means that members of all of our com-
munities need to be extra vigilant in ensuring
that they are not breaking our country’s biose-
curity laws and that every person entering the
country declares food or plant material.
This new law represents a major step
towards improving border processing practic-
es as well as cracking down on travellers who
deliberately f lout our biosecurity laws.
It is an important change to biosecurity at
our border and sends a clear message about
how seriously the Government takes New
Zealand’s biosecurity protection.
Our country’s clean green image and rela-
tive lack of pests hangs on our border security
and keeping unwanted diseases, animals and
noxious weeds out of our delicate ecosystem.
Travellers who don’t declare or dispose of
products such as fruit and meat upon arrival
pose a significant threat to New Zealand’s
economic, environmental, and social well-
28
Finance
Government plans to
facilitate summer jobs
Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, National List MP
Over the past few months we’ve put a lot of Summer is a great time for students. For some scheme has been a real success. We created
work into making the New Zealand ETS workable students, it’s an opportunity to relax after an 1600 research opportunities, allowing stu-
and affordable. intense period of study. For others, it’s the op- dents to study in their chosen academic field
Our changes to the ETS will halve the electrici- portunity to earn some money. while earning money over the summer months.
ty and fuel price increases that the previous Labour This year, students may have a tougher time The idea came out of the Prime Minister’s Job
Government was planning. They will also encour- finding summer work. Jobs are scarce and com- Summit earlier in the year, following concerns
age businesses and families to be more energy ef- petition is high. More than 160,000 students are from universities that there weren’t enough job
ficient, which will help to reduce greenhouse gas registered with Student Job Search. opportunities for students to boost their finances
emissions. That’s why the National-led Government has during the holidays.
National remains committed to pursuing set aside $1 million to support Student Job Search We set aside $4 million in Budget 2009 to
sound, practical environment policies to achieve in targeting individuals and businesses with jobs fund this initiative, and the universities, which
emission reduction. that need doing. There are a lot of jobs that stu- allocated the places, matched the Government’s
As well as improving the Emissions Trading dents can do, whether it’s helping out around investment in the scheme dollar for dollar. This
Scheme, we have launched other programmes that your home, helping out family and friends, vol- kind of partnership is exactly the kind of oppor-
are already delivering for New Zealanders, includ- unteering or filling in for staff who want to take tunity that National wants to create. We believe
ing our $323 million Warm Up New Zealand: Heat leave over summer. it is what New Zealand needs to grow our knowl-
Smart initiative. I am encouraging every New Zealander who edge base for the future.
The scheme provides grants of up to $1800 has some work available to take on students this In our first year in government, we have put
towards a third of the cost of insulation or a clean- summer. Student Job Search will be squeez- in place a number of programmes that support
heating device for houses built before 2000. Over ing every vacancy it can out of the summer job young people. As well as the summer scholar-
180,000 homes throughout New Zealand will have market. ships and funding for Student Job Search, we are
access to these grants regardless of income. The Government is also keen to support stu- funding up to 9000 workplace opportunities, in-
This scheme is proving very popular. About dents who want to continue their studies through dustry specific training partnerships, and extra
20,000 homes across the country have been insu- the summer. Our summer research scholarships places at polytechnic and technology institutes.
lated since its launch in July. Already, it’s improv-
ing energy efficiency, reducing the cost of energy
for households, and reducing health risks.
We also understand the value of renewable
fuels. That’s why we’ve invested $36 million into
a biodiesel grants programme, promoting biodiesel
production to kick start the industry.
And we’ve passed legislation that exempts elec-
tric vehicles from road user charges to encourage
their uptake.
These new policies provide a refreshing ap- can i win a $150 shopping
proach to new energy technologies that are good
for our economy and good our environment.
We’re proud of our environmental initiatives so
voucher when i send money?
far, but there is a lot of work ahead of us.
National has an ambitious agenda for the en-
vironment, and you will see more environmental
policies rolled out in the coming years. Our envi-
ronment and our clean and green credentials are
too important for us to rest on our laurels.
This new law will double the
instant fine to $400 for people
bringing illegal food, plants and
animals into New Zealand, in a
bid to protect our ecosystem from
To celebrate the opening of your new local Fexco
unwanted pests and diseases. Pacific branch at 1250 Dominion Rd, Mt Roskill, we’re
giving away a $150 shopping voucher every week
being.
The doubling of the instant fine for not between 31 August and 30 November 2009. Send a
making such a declaration is an appropriate Western Union® Money Transfer and complete this entry
ref lection of the seriousness of this offence, form to enter the draw. Terms and conditions apply. See
and will increase awareness of New Zealand’s
strict biosecurity measures.
instore for details, or visit www.fexcopacific.co.nz.
As well as raising the instant biosecurity
fine from $200 to $400, the new Bill also in- name:
creases the maximum penalty for conviction
in Court for the same offence from $400 to
email:
$1000. mobile:
The Bill was passed with support from all
parties in Parliament and represents our coun-
try’s firm commitment to maintaining and
0800 270 000 Money
exchange
available
protecting our nation’s borders. Pacific www.fexcopacific.co.nz here!
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Family Trust, a useful asset-planning tool
RAVI MEHTA
Continued from the November 27 issue of issue of Indian Weekender
Asset Protection in case of relationship
property
There may be occasions when a couple
has got substantial jointly owned assets. If
one of the spouses dies, the other spouse
will become sole owner of those assets. The
surviving spouse may enter into relationship
with another person. The property held in
his/her name will become relationship prop-
erty. After lapse of 3 years, the new partner
may be entitled to half share in those assets.
But if the assets are held in trust in the first
instance, these are protected from becoming
future relationship property.
Similarly your assets are to pass on to
your children after your death. Their part-
ners will be entitled to share in those under
Relationship act. If you want to protect your
assets and want those to go to your children
and not to their spouses, in the event of their
separation, a trust can be a good solution.
Entitlement to rest home subsidies
Entitlement to rest home subsidy is de-
pendent on your asset position. You can have
assets up to a certain amount to qualify for
it. But only assets held in your personal name
and not held under family trust are taken into
consideration for calculating your eligibility.
So having assets under family trust and not
under your personal name is a good solution.
Disadvantages of forming a family trust:
When you transfer the assets from your
name to trust, you lose personal ownership.
Although you may have control as a trustee,
you are to act in accordance with wishes of
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Finance
other trustees as well.
There is more administrative and ac-
counting cost.
There is one time cost of setting up a trust
Some of the
and transferring the assets to it.
Sometimes spouses do want to undo the disadvantages can be
trust in the event of split, which is difficult to
do once you have transferred those to trust.
Some of the disadvantages can be over-
overcome by careful
come by careful planning and thought at the
time of formation of the trust. The trust deed planning and thought at
should be drafted carefully by specialist
trust lawyer or Trustee Company.
Regarding cost involved, yes, there is a
the time of formation of
cost. You buy insurance to protect your assets
and to protect your income earning capac- the trust.
ity and for that you pay insurance premium
throughout your life. By setting up a family
trust also you are protecting your assets, so names and transfer the same to family trust
you should be ready to bear the cost. later on, it will be more expensive as com-
pared to if you had bought the house under
What is the right time to form a family family trust in the first instance.
trust? Note : It is very important that you should
In New Zealand, one can gift $27000 get a trust set up by an experienced solici-
in any 12 months without paying gift duty. tor who has got good trust law knowledge
Suppose you and your spouse have assets of and same should be done in conjunction with
$540000, it will take 10 years for gifting to good financial advice as to how to structure
be completed and assets to be protected in your overall asset portfolio and also which
case you and your spouse decide to set up a assets should be held in trusts.
family trust and transfer those assets to it.
With time, the value of those assets should - Ravi Mehta is an Auckland based Finan-
go up, so if you decide to set up the trust and cial Advisor and can be contacted on ravi.
transfer the assets after few years, the gifting mehta@pfsl.co.nz
process will take longer. So it is in your in-
terest to transfer the assets to trust sooner.
If you buy a house today in your personal
29
Indian
WEEKENDCUISINE
POTATO FRITTERS
Recipe by Ruby Dhillon
Ingredients:
• 4- Potatoes (large and peeled)
• 1-Egg
• 3tbs- Spring onions chopped
• 2tbs- Chana Flour ( Besan)
• 2tbs- Onion grated
• 1tbs- Lemon juice
• Salt according to taste
• Oil for frying
5 Serai Place , Flat Bush:
3 BR ,a bathroom and a separate
toilet. Internal access to single ga-
rage and laundry from the lounge.
Fully fenced with double iron gates.
Rent $390 p/w. 4 week Bond plus
one week rent in advance. Ready to
move in.
30
Method:
• Grate the raw potatoes and put them in a
sieve for straining.
• Beat egg in a bowl and add spring onions,
flour, onion, lemon juice and salt.
• Squeeze out any water from the potatoes
and stir them also into the egg mixture.
• In a fry pan heat oil and drop potato
mixture by ½ cup at a time.
• Flatten each fritter into 3- inch rounds.
• Cook the potato fritters from both the sides
and serve hot with chutney.
31B Arthur Street Ellerslie:
5 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom with dou-
ble garage. Modern. Rent $780
p/w. 4 week bond plus 1 wk rent in
advance. Ready to move in.
12 Dennis Road Papatoetoe:
3 Bedroom, 2 living, 2 bathroom,
5 Easy tips for Hernia
1. Practice Pranayam package
of 8 breathing exercises every
day. (Contact us for free class-
es 09 6223308)
2.Take 2 tablets of Kanchnaar
Guggul food supplement twice
a day with warm water.
3.Take four pieces of amla
candy or chatpata twice a day.
4. Do not apply any heat and
avoid any pressure over the
swollen area.
Classifieds: Places to rent
double garage. Master bedroom
is large double and has access to
ensuite and walk-in -wardrobe. The
other 2 bedrooms are double in
size. Viewing from 9th dec . Avail-
able to move in 19th dec. Rent $365
p/w. 4 week bond plus 1 wk rent in
advance.
Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
5. Take Swami Ramdev Ji’s
Aloe Vera Juice twice a day
along with Amla Juice and hot
water.
FREE YOGA CLASS
Mount Roskill: Monday 6.30pm
North Shore: Thursday 6.30pm
123 Sunset Road, North Shore
Botany - Sunday 9.30am India
trade group, Unit E, 8 Bishop
Lenihan place (Behind Punjabi
Dhaba).
Contact for all
properties listed:
Pallavi
Phone: 263 9558
Mobile: 021 915 361
Indian

Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 31

Indian
Advertisement

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PO Box 1941 - Wellington, New Zealand

President: Ratilal Champaneri Gen Secretary: Veer Khar

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Email: president@nzindians.org.nz Email: secretary@nzindians.org.nz

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32 Indian Weekender | December 11, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz