Indian

Indian Log on to www.iwk.co.nz

April 29, 2010
Volume 2, No. 3
New Zealand’s first Indian weekend magazine
For free distribution

Community | 19 New Zealand | 4 Bollywood | 22

Malayali Samajam ‘Ghar Pardes’ I’m inspired by
celebrates Kerala’s worldwide Noorjahan, says
ethos in NZ release Akriti Kakar

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1
Indian
Thirty-One Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib arrive in NZ
It was a spectacle to watch the Auckland Airport
arrivals hall flooded with Sikh devotees assembled
there to receive the 31 Granths, which were arriving
via Australia. There were 31 people who were bare-
foot and not carrying any other belongings other than
a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib with respect on their
heads. There were another 14 people accompanying
them to relieve the main 31 carriers in case of any
eventuality.
Upon arrival at Auckland International Airport
there were special arrangements made to ensure their
speedy clearance. Special buses had been arranged
to take the arriving group as well as the devotees
present at the airport to Takanini Gurdwara where
the Granth carriers were presented with robes of
honour followed by langar. Members of Parliament
Hon Chris Carter and Rajen Prasad were also present
at the Airport.
The Guru Granth Sahib – the living Guru con-
tains the holy scriptures of the Sikhs. No Sikh cer-
emony is regarded as complete unless it is performed
in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. The
Granth was written in Gurmukhi script and con-
tains the actual words and versus as uttered by the
Sikh Gurus. Initially known as the Adi Granth, it
was compiled by the fifth Guru Arjan and installed
in 1604 in Sri Harmindar Sahib (Golden Temple),
Amritsar.
The tenth Guru Gobind Singh added to the Adi
Granth the composition of his father, Guru Teg
Bahadur. It is believed that four copies of the Granth
Sahib were prepared, the first one was sent to Sri
Harmindar Sahib at Amritsar, the second to Anan-
dpur Sahib, the third to Patna Sahib and the fourth to
Nander Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh did not include
his own verses in the Granth, owing to his modesty
and humility.
When Guru Gobind Singh ended the line of the
living Sikh Gurus by raising the Adi Granth to the
status of permanent Guru he renamed it Guru Granth
2 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Sahib. He commanded the Sikhs that it was to be
the revered body and spirit of the ten Gurus. Thus,
Guru Granth Sahib was given the Guruship by the
last of the living Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708. Guru
Gobind Singh said before his demise that the Sikhs
were to treat the Granth Sahib as their next Guru
and said – “Sab Sikhan ko hokam hai Guru Manyo
Granth” meaning “All Sikhs are commanded to take
the Granth as Guru.”
Every copy of the Guru Granth Sahib consists of
1430 pages. It contains the banis (sacred composi-
tions) of the first five Gurus and the ninth Guru as
well as a number of passages of verses written by
several non-Sikh saints from Muslims, Hindus even
so called “untouchable” castes. Altogether the Guru
Granth Sahib includes 5894 shabads (hymns or holy
verses) which are arranged in 31 ragas (musical mea-
sures). The first verse is the Mool Mantra, followed
by daily prayer or Nitnem namely, Japji, Sodar and
Kirtan Sohila. The renaming verses have been ar-
ranged according to their individual musical patters
or ragas.
The Guru Granth Sahib is an anthology of prayers
and hymns. Most of the hymns are addressed to God
and often describe devotee’s condition: his aspira-
tions and yearning, his agony in separation and his
longing to be one with the Lord. The subject of Guru
Granth Sahib is truth: how to become ‘a person of
truth’, that is, an ideal person. As Guru Nanak states
in the Mool Mantra, God is the ultimate truth and one
has to cultivate those qualities which are associated
with Him, in order to be like Him. The basic concept
behind the hymns is that sacred music, when sung
or listened to with devotion and undivided attention,
can link that individual’s consciousness with God. A
mind may become stable and enjoy the peace of his
divine presence as listening to the hymns can exert a
powerful influence on the mind and help to establish
it communion with God.
The Guru Granth Sahib is a book of revelation.
It conveys the Word of the Master through his mes-
senger on earth. It is universal in it scope. For Sikhs
the greatness of Guru Granth Sahib lies not only in
its being ther holy book but also in it being a general
scripture intended for everybody, everywhere.
The Guru Granth Sahib also explains what Guru
Nanak meant by a ‘perfect individual’ or a gurmukh.
It is a remarkable storehouse of spiritual knowledge
and teachings which does not preach any rites or
rituals but stresses meditation on the Name of God.
Through its teachings, it can enable men and woman
to lead a purposeful and rewarding life while being
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members of society. It seeks universal peace and the
good of all mankind. The Guru Granth Sahib also
stresses the democratic way of life and equality of all
people. It teaches that we are karam yogis, that we
reap what we sow. The emphasis is on moral actions,
noble living and working for the welfare of all people.
Respect and veneration for the Guru Granth Sahib
does not imply idol worship, but rather respect for
a divine message, the ideas and ideal contained in
the Sikh scripture. Meditation on the True Word,
Satnam or the Wonderful Enlightener, Waheguru,
or on any line of a verse in the Guru Granth Sahib,
may bring the true devotee or disciple to be in tune
with God.
Today, when one visits a Gurdwara (a Sikh
temple), the Guru Granth Sahib forms the main part
of the Darbar Sahib or Main Hall. The holy book is
placed on a dominant platform and covered in a very
beautiful and attractively coloured fine cloth. The
platform is always covered by a canopy, which is also
decorated in expensive and very attractive coloured
materials. The text in which the Granth is written is
a script called Gurmukhi (literally “From the Guru’s
mouth”), which is considered a modern development
of the ancient language called Sanskrit.
- Indian Weekender news desk
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Indian
New Zealand

When the Sikhs fought alongside Kiwis and Aussies

dev nadkarni
Few of us Kiwi Indians – especially of the younger
generation – know that the spirit of Anzac Day,
which has such solemn significance to New Zea-
landers and Australians, has a deep Indian con-
nection.
Anzac Day, which was observed last week, as
we all know is observed to perpetuate the memory
of over 8,000 Australians and nearly 3,000
New Zealanders who laid down these
their lives fighting for the fine sol-
British Empire diers all lying on their faces as they
on the Gallipoli fell in their steady advance on the
Peninsula in the enemy.
course of World “The history of Sikhs affords many
War-I. instances of their value as soldiers, but it
The Gallipoli may be safely asserted that nothing finer
campaign resonated than the grim valour and steady discipline
profoundly among displayed by them on the 4th of June has ever
all nations involved. been done by soldiers of the Khalsa.
For New Zealand us are aware of the role Indian soldiers landers and Australians died at Gallipoli, but their “Their devotion to duty and their splendid
and Australia, the played in the Gallipoli campaign that number was significant. loyalty to their orders and to their leaders make a
campaign was the first ran from April 25, 1915 to January 9, Records tell us that 371 of the Indians who record their nation should look upon with pride for
major battle undertaken 1916. died fighting at Gallipoli were from the battalion many generations.”
by a joint military forma- Being subjects of the Crown of the 14th Sikh regiment on June 3 and 4 1915. This battle involving the 14th Sikh regiment
tion, the Australian and under British rule in India, Indians General Sir Ian Hamilton was in charge of the has been honoured with a mention in monuments
New Zealand Army Corps had no choice but to participate troops against the Turks during that operation and in the UK, though there aren’t many records of the
(ANZAC), and is often con- in World War-I – a war that was he wrote glowingly of this regiment that fought thousands of others who died elsewhere fighting
sidered to mark the birth of certainly not of their making valiantly. for the Crown in other war theatres during World
national consciousness in both and a war that they were sent In a letter to his Commander-in-Chief back in War-I.
of these countries. to fight in simply because they India, he wrote: “In spite of the tremendous losses While honouring New Zealand soldiers here in
Observance of the day has were recruits of the British Indian there was not a sign of wavering all day. Not an our adopted country, we Kiwi Indians must also
never diminished in importance Army. inch of ground was given up and not a single strag- make special efforts to perpetuate the memory of
over the generations; in fact as its Of the estimated 47,000 and odd Indian sol- gler came back. all the valiant soldiers who laid down their lives
century approaches, the fervour is only diers that were killed during the four-year war, “The ends of the enemy’s trenches were found including the Sikh regiment that fought alongside
increasing. While many of us Kiwi Indians par- which also saw over 65,000 Indians wounded, to be blocked with the bodies of Sikhs and of the New Zealanders and Australians at Gallipoli –
ticipate in Anzac Day activities like the Dawn 1,358 died in the Gallipoli campaign and some enemy who died fighting at close quarters, and the besides the unnamed thousands who died during
Service and parades all over the country, few of 3,421 were injured. Fewer Indians than New Zea- glacis slope was thickly dotted with the bodies of the four year war.

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Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 3

Indian
New Zealand
New electronic system will help stamp ‘Ghar Pardes’ DVD out soon
out identity fraud in our banks. Ghar Pardes, from the makers of Adhura Sapna, is set for D release next month.

Hon Pansy Wong, Minister for Ethnic Affairs. A movie made in Fiji and Australia last year is
now preparing for its worldwide release on DVD
A new electronic service to requires banks and other next month.
help combat identity fraud financial institutions to Ghar Pardes (Home Abroad), shot in Mel-
will be made available to The system undertake more compre- bourne and Fiji, has been made by Australian
banks and other financial hensive ‘know your cus- filmmaker Vimal Reddy, who was also the man
institutions this year to checks against tomer’ checks. behind the earlier release from Fiji – Adhura
increase security in the in- The National-led Gov- Sapna.
dustry.
The Data Validation
records such as ernment is mindful of
privacy concerns that may
Reddy’s latest offering, which is a story about
a migrant family settling in to a culture clash, has
Service was developed be raised about this data- played to good reviews in theatres in Fiji, Austra-
by the Department of In- citizenship papers, base and that is why we lia, New Zealand, United States and Canada.
ternal Affairs as a way of have ensured that records “It was well received,” Reddy told the Indian
proving identity. It has
already been trialled by
passports and do not include sensitive in-
formation such as income,
Weekender.
“The response from the public was quite good
other government agencies travel details or criminal
and the National-led Gov- birth certificates, records.
– not one bad comment.”
Reddy said the announcement of the DVD
ernment has now agreed to Agencies using this release had generated much excitement and a lot
let private sector organisa- death certificates service will also need of people had made enquiries about it.
tions use it as a way of con- the expressed permission “Many people had missed it on the big screen,
firming identity and reduc-
ing costs.
and marriage of the customer before
making the check.
but they don’t have long to wait now,”
Reddy, originally from Fiji, said they were tar-
The service decreases The Data Validation geting a release date of May 28 worldwide, with a
the chance for identity certificates. Service will be available fully fledged release throughout June.
fraud by allowing organi- only to organisations, Ghar Pardes, produced, directed and written
sations to enter a person’s information into which meet strict security, privacy and integ- by Reddy, stars Praneel Rajoria, Pritash Dutt,
the Data Validation Service website, which rity criteria and the Privacy Commissioner Vijay Kumaran and Anila Kumar in the lead roles.
immediately confirms whether data imputed will monitor this service to ensure it is being The Ghar Pardes DVD will be distributed in
is consistent or not with other personal details used responsibly. New Zealand by Anand Reddy, who can be con-
held by the Department of Internal Affairs. To ensure New Zealanders have optimum tacted on 09 271 0292 or 021 281 4500.
The system checks against records such security against identity fraud, we will
as citizenship papers, passports and birth progress legislation later this year to make ghar pardes: Top, Pritash Dutt,
certificates, death certificates and marriage the Data Validation Service available to the leading lady of the movie Ghar Pardes,
certificates. private sector. shot in Melbourne and Fiji. It will be
The opening up of this service to banks It is this Government’s priority to protect
and other financial institutes will help ensure our communities from identity theft and the
released worldwide on DVD late May;
security in the sector and compliance with opening up of the Data Validation Service Anand Reddy is the man responsible for the
the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter- will go a long way to ensuring this will distribution for Ghar Pardes DVDs in New
ing Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, which happen. Zealand.

4 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
New Zealand
Retailers advised to beware of counterfeits
New Zealand Police are advising small business
owners, supermarket check-out staff and casual
stall holders to be wary of people presenting
counterfeit bank notes.
Police are aware of six instances in the Western
Area of Auckland City District last month where
fake $50 and $100 notes were presented at busi-
nesses and stalls in Mt Roskill and Pt Chevalier.
The young men using the notes have attempt-
ed to or did purchase low value items prior to ob-
taining change. Three offenders who used fake
notes at the Wesley Community Centre have been
Kavinesh wins hearts in India
“Superstar” Kavinesh Kumar is back from his
musical mission in Mumbai, and he loved every
minute of it. Kavinesh, the “Kaun Banega Superstar”
winner last year, was in India last week to record a
track with music director Rajiv Bhatt.
The trip was part of Kavinesh’s prize in the
popular New Zealand TV singing competition, run
by Dreamz Productions.
“I loved every minute of it,” and excited Kavinesh,
who lives in Papatoetoe, Auckland, told the Indian
Weekender. He spent a week in Mumbai where he
recorded his first track, Aawara La-pata, which is
now available from Dreams Productions in Auck-
land. The former Lautoka lad said the recording was
done in just a day. “Everything was ready for me, new
song, new lyrics and because I can also play musical
instruments, it became quite easy to master the song.”
“The music director, Rajiv Bhatt, was very
pleased with my efforts,” Kavinesh said. Lyrics for
the song were provided by Devendra Kafir and pro-
duced by Dreamz Productions.
Dreamz Productions director business develop-
ment Devesh Singh said they were happy Kavinesh
had enjoyed and reaped full benefits of his prize for
winning the competition.
“He is a talented young man who fully deserved
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
described as Maori or Polynesian, Somalian and
Asian.
Police are also aware of a report that $1,000
of fake $50 notes were used recently at the All
Seasons Shopping Centre in Te Atatu South.
Anyone with information about who is making
and using the notes should contact Police or call
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you know who the person pictured is, please
call Senior Sergeant Scott Leonard at Avondale
Police or e-mail scott.leonard@police.govt.nz
- Indian Weekender news desk
the win,” Mr Singh said. “He will go a long way.”
The highlight for Kavinesh was visiting his idol,
Sonu Nigam’s house. Sonu Nigam was out of the state
but he did manage to have a chat with Sonu’s father,
Adam Kumar Nigam.
Kavinesh said he also enjoyed seeing the homes
of Bollywood mega stars Amitabh Bachchan and
Rajesh Khanna’s houses.
He said he was well looked after by Tejas Parmar,
who took care of all his needs in Mumbai and showed
him around the big city.
Although Mumbai was “hot and very crowded”,
he said he loved every minute of it.
Kavinesh has dedicated his winning prize, his
first recorded song – Aawara L-pata - to his fans in
New Zealand and Fiji. If anyone who wishes to order
and own this song, please contact Dreamz Produc-
tions via info@dreamzproductions.com or text 021-
0277 0106 for a minimal cost.
The Kaun Bangea Superstar Season 3 will start
soon with auditions to be held in May/June and reg-
istrations are open for all who wish to participate in
New Zealand’s popular singing challenge, NCBT
Kaun Banega Superstar. Visit www.dreamzproduc-
tions.com
- Arvind Kumar
5
Indian
Fuel from waste to
power street lights
New Delhi: The Delhi government is planning to
generate power from bio-waste to generate power
for street lights.
The Delhi government has already set up a CNG
plant at its secretariat canteen that will produce fuel
from waste. The output will be worth Rs 70,000 per
month and they are also planning to set-up similar
plants at government hospitals with the help of
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and one
100kg plant at the Ghazipur abbatoir which will be
used for streetlighting.
The scale of the operations at the abbatoir plant
is still not clear as the project is on the drawing
board. But if even a part of the power consumption
for streetlighting is met, Delhi may become the first
city in the country to have such an ecofriendly setup
in place.
Chief secretary Rakesh Mehta said that it would
serve the dual purpose of generating eco-friendly
fuel and will also be a solution for waste manage-
ment problems which are considerable.
“Creation of a dumping ground, apart from
being an environmental hazard entails wastage of
Delhi Police want markets
to shut down for CWG
New Delhi: To avoid any unwanted secu-
rity threats, Delhi Police wants all major
markets in the national capital to be closed
on the opening and closing days of the
Commonwealth Games 2010.
The opening ceremony of
the 11-day sporting extrava-
ganza will be held Oct 3 and
the closing ceremony will be
held Oct 14, both at the Jawa-
harlal Nehru Stadium.
Delhi Police officials said
Saturday that they want the
markets in Khan Market,
Chandni Chowk, Sarojini
Nagar, Connaught Place,
Greater Kailash, Karol
Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Rajouri
Garden, and others which are popular with
foreign nationals, to be shut during those
two days.
The move comes days after the US, UK
and Australia issued advisories warning
their citizens about possible terror attacks
in the capitals.
The Delhi Police advisory has been
6 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
resources in transport-
ing and disposing of the
waste,” Mehta added.
The environment
department had already
asked all hotels and restau-
rants in the city to give their
waste oil which can be made into fuel but
it did not generate any response. Officials found that
big restaurants make a huge amount by selling used
oil to small dhabas.
The city government had earlier contacted the
Khadi Village Commission for the project but the
scale proved to be too much for them.
Finally BARC had stepped in tp help the state
government. They have been similar projects in
Mumbai and Pune and some hotels have expressed
a keenness. The plant in Delhi secretariat canteen
will be ready in the next two-three months after
which hotels will be invoted for a demonstration.
The government is also planning to rope in housing
societies.
- Indian Weekender news desk
sent to various market associations.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan
Bhagat said that they have asked the market
associations for their support as that will
help Delhi Police manage the
Games and manpower can then
be utilized in other places.
Another senior officer said
the shutting down the markets
will help Delhi Police reduce the
burden of law and order.
Delhi Police officials also said
that there will be less traffic and
they would be able to focus on se-
curity for the Games.
“It is an 11-day sporting event
and all our resources will be ex-
hausted. The markets can stay
open on their weekly offs in lieu of the
days they are being asked to shut down,”
said an officer.
Shopkeepers are ready to help Delhi
Police. Sanjeev Mehra, President of Khan
Market Association, said that they are
going to cooperate with the police.
- Indian Weekender news desk
For all your
legal needs
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Fight Maoists with development: PM
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Wednesday said   left-wing ex-
tremism, which poses the gravest internal
security threat, can be fought with coordi-
nated action in the backward areas so that
fruits of development can reach the under-
privileged.
Inaugurating the Civil Services Day,
2010 in New Delhi, he   said the recent
events have underscored the need for urgent
and considered action to root out left-wing
extremism and urged the civil servants to
come forward to accomplish the work.    He said despite the global economic
“No quarter can be given to those who
have taken upon themselves to challenge
the authority of the Indian state and the
fabric of our democratic polity. But we
cannot overlook the fact that many of areas
in which such extremism flourishes are
under-developed and many of the people,
mainly poor tribals, who live in these areas
have not shared equitably in the fruits of
development.
“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that
no area of our country is denied the ben-
efits of our ambitious developmental pro-
grammes,” he said.
“Civil servants have a pivotal role in en-
suring that the benefits of our programmes
percolate to the farthest and remotest vil-
lages of our country. It is a daunting task
that will test the endurance and mettle of
our civil servants, especially that of the All-
India Services,” he said.
“Inclusive growth is the centerpiece of
our developmental agenda. Fast economic
growth provides us with the resources and
the wherewithal to address the problems
of poverty, ignorance and disease. Rapid
growth will have little meaning, however,
unless social and economic inequalities,
which still afflict our society, are not elimi-
nated quickly and effectively,” he said.
Check-in at Delhi airport will get easier
New Delhi: Check-in at the Delhi airport is
going to be a smooth affair as the upcoming
terminal 3 at the IGI Airport will be the first
airport in India to get the sophisticated common
use passenger processing system (CUPPS) for
check-in. With the system in place, checking in
will become an easier process for passengers
but will also provide airlines with a common,
standardized system for provision of service.
At present, the common user terminal equip-
ment (CUTE) system is in place at the airport.
The system had been upgraded since several
years and required multiple applications to be
used by airlines to access it. The new system
permits the use of a single application by carri-
ers and integration with other airport systems.
India
He said with the medium term target
of the government focused on returning
the economy to an annual growth rate of 9
percent, civil services can play a big role in
achieving the same.
“Our medium term target is to return
the economy to an annual growth rate of 9
percent. Our civil services have a major role
to play in reaching this goal by facilitating
the right enabling environment in which en-
terprise and innovations are encouraged,”
said Singh.
crisis in the past years, India was able to
post a respectable growth of 6.7% in 2008-
09.
“The growth rate for 2009-10 is now es-
timated at 7.2 percent and the forecast for
2010-11 is 8.25 percent,” he said urging the
civil servants to do their best.
He urged the civil services to pay atten-
tion to accelerating the growth of agricul-
ture
“We faced a severe drought in the last
kharif season. The impact of the drought
on agricultural output was mitigated to a
large extent by the resilience shown by our
farmers and by the timely measures taken
by the Government at the Centre and the
State governments. But now we need to do
some hard work to accelerate the pace of
agricultural growth,” he said.
“I would urge the civil services to pay
particular attention to this area of national
endeavour. Special efforts must be made
to increase the productivity of dry land,
rainfed farming. I have said this earlier
and I repeat it today again that the agricul-
ture departments in the states need to be
manned by our very best officers. I hope
the Chief Secretaries of States will attempt
to ensure this.”
Airport officials said that at the new termi-
nal, there would be 173 CUPPS counters in the
check-in area that could be used by both domes-
tic and international airlines.
There would be 24 service counters and 80
aircraft boarding gate locations with 240 sta-
tions. Further, 30 desks will be available at the
transit and re-check in area
The system will cut down time needed in
check-in and security clearances. International
passengers would have the benefit of more than
90 desks for immigration and around 20 CUPPS
counters would also be made available at Metro
stations on the airport express line.
- Indian Weekender news desk
 
Indian
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flavours and lifted oak spice and Suggested Food Match: All game, Palate: The 2009 Riesling is a foods. Suits hard cheeses such as
char, underlined by a gamey lamb and roasted vegetable seamless and fresh flavoured wine Parmesan, Gouda and Cheddar.
complexity. dishes. Serve at room temperature. with a racy acid length and a

Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Sharkstooth Pinot Gris 2009

Colour/Appearance: Pale straw
Aroma/Bouquet: Classic
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nettles with some flint and crushed
herb undertones. Characterised by
fine mineral texture, typical of the
Awatere Valley.
Palate: A lightly structured palate
with lifted varietal flavours that linger
on the long, crisp acid finish.
Suggested Food Match:
This wine is ideal for accompanying
pasta dishes, crisp summer salads,
and seafood especially shellfish
such as greenshell, mussels and
oystes. Serve chilled.
Colour/Appearance: Mid strawgold
Aroma/Bouquet: The nose is
dominated by a rich combination
of lemon sherbet, talcum powder
and bottled pears.
Palate: This is a full bodied,
well-structured wine, with a rich, soft
texture, medium acidity and long
finish. Zestly citrus and pear flavours
dominate the palate.
Suggested Food Match: This Pinot
Gris is a good partner for dishes featuring
mushrooms, such as quiches, but is also
well matched to creamy pastas and pork.
Suits hard cheeses such as Parmesan,
Guoda and Cheddar.

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Tel/Fax: + 64 9 577 5788; Email: info@exoticaaroma.com; www.exoticaaroma.com
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 7
Indian
India

“Indians on UAE death SC quashes former

row were framed”
Chandigarh: A human rights group from India
which visited Sharjah jail in UAE to meet 17
prisoners facing death sentences on charges of
killing a Pakistani youth said the accused on
death row were tortured, framed and made
victims of gross miscarriage of justice.
Lawyers For Human Rights International
(LFHRI), an organisation of lawyers having its
base in Punjab in India, being part of an interna-
tional movement against Death Penalty, visited
Sharjah jail in UAE to meet the 17 prisoners.
Two member team comprising of Navki-
ran Singh, a human rights lawyer and activist
from Punjab practising in the High Court at
Chandigarh and who is the General Secretary
of LFHRI along with another lawyer Gagan Ag-
garwal, visited Dubai and Sharjah on 13th and
14th of April and met the
lawyers who have been
hired to defend these 17 “Some of these
Indians by the Indian
Consulate of UAE. prisoners also showed
They also visited
Sharjah jail and met all
their injuries received
the prisoners and found by them in the police
a gross miscarriage of
men of CID branch.
“They were beaten with Golf clubs & plastic
pipes and were also given electric shocks. They
were made to stand on one foot and not allowed
to sleep and asked to make confessions to the
crime, which as per their version they never
committed,” Navkiran Singh, who is LFHRI
general secretary, told IBNS.
“However in spite of brutal torture, they
never confessed. Some of these prisoners also
showed their injuries received by them in the
police interrogation and also disclosed that
the said injuries are contained in their medical
reports,” said Singh, who visited the prisoners
in the jail.
The right group said the accused disclosed
that they are not allowed access to their reli-
gious prayer books and
have been forced to keep
away from their articles
of faith.
“Two of the accused
want to grow hair to be
true Sikhs, however are
not being permitted to do
so. In the library of the
Punjab CM’s expulsion
New Delhi: The Supreme Court
has quashed the expulsion of
former Punjab chief minister
Captain Amarinder Singh from
the state assembly, terming his
ouster ‘unconstitutional’.
The order was passed by a
five-judge constitution bench,
led by Chief Justice KG Bal-
akrishnan.
The apex court ordered
the immediate restoration of
Singh’s membership to the
present assembly. Singh was
expelled from the present as-
sembly in September 2008 over his alleged in-
volvement in a land scam during his tenure as
the chief minister.
“It is our considered view that the Punjab
Vidhan Sabha exceeded its powers by expelling
the appellant (Capt Singh) on the ground of a
breach of privilege when there existed none,”
the Bench, which included Justices RV Raveen-
dran, P Sathasivam, JM Panchal
and RM Lodha, said.
“If we were to permit the leg-
islature to exercise privileges for
acting against members for their
executive acts during previous
terms, the courts are likely to
be flooded with cases involv-
ing political rivalries. One can
conceive that whenever there
is a change of regime, the fresh
incumbents would readily fall
back on the device of legislative
privileges to expel their political
opponents as well as dissidents.
Such a scenario would frustrate some of the
basic objectives of a parliamentary democracy,”
the court observed.
He was elected to the present assembly from
Patiala and the Akali Dal government had an-
nulled his membership.
- Indian Weekender news desk/ IBNS

NGOs to come under RTI

justice. interrogation and also jail there are no books in
“The meeting was Punjabi language litera-
conducted for almost disclosed that the said ture or of Sikh religion,
2 hours, with these 17
young boys who are all
injuries are contained in which can be read by the
inmates,” LFHRI said.
aged between 21-25 years their medical reports,” The victims also New Delhi: Non-government organizations (NGOs) getting govt fund will come
and it revealed a very alleged callous attitude of under the purview of the Right to Information Act (RTI) and will have to comply
sorry state of affairs. The the Indian Consulate as with the ‘duty to publish’, section 4(1)(b) , which has 17 manuals incorporating
apathy of the prisoners revealed a total miscar- officials from the consulate hardly visited them various kinds of information relating to their functioning and management.
riage of justice, highhandedness and religious in the jails. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday made these observations while passing an
biasness of the CID branch of Police of Sharjah The group said one of the prisoners told
order on a petition filed by National Stock Exchange (NSE), challenging a Central
and a total callous attitude of the Indian con- them that out of their 9 months incarceration
sulate towards the Indian citizens who are lan- in the jail, only now has the consulate officials Information Commission order which had directed it to disclose information
guishing in jails of UAE,” the group said in its started visiting some of them, due to highlight- under the Act.
fact finding report. ing of these 17 accused case of death penalty.
LFHRI said the prisoners reported that none LFHRI has demanded immediate action by RTI, the brainchild of activist Aruna Roy, has allowed NGOs to successfully
of them was arrested from the spot and on their the Indian Consulate to protect the human rights expose bunglings in muster-rolls, maintained by the panchayati raj institutions
arrest they were brutally tortured by giving of the prisoners. making them more transparent. It is now the turn of NGOs , dealing with public
beatings to them for continuous 9 days by police fund and govt aid to be transparent and accountable themsleves.

Pak may use Taliban for

According to Dr. RS Tolia, Chief Information Commissioner, Uttarakhand, as the
state concern in various facets of rural and social development improved and
expanded there was an unprecedented expansion of the NGO sector.

Kashmir: Report
“In due course, it was but natural that the sector attracted those who were there
simply to make a ‘fast-buck’, as an enterprise.”

Washington (IBNS): Pakistan may use Taliban
against India over Kashmir, said a top US non-
proliferation official. “If something broke out in
Kashmir that re-ignited the vitriol between India
and Pakistan, there could be an incident that could
cause Pakistan to make the decision ‘we don’t want
To the extent the public funds they use and utilize, NGOs become amenable to
Graham said neither India nor Pakistan has devel- public disclosure, just like any government department, informed Dr. Tolia.
oped ‘fail-safe’ procedures that have made both
countries sensitive to a war situation. - Jayalakshmi Sengupta
“I think one of our recommendations was to
work with India and Pakistan to develop some fail-
safe procedures. But none of that exists between

Indians looking for Pak spouses: Survey

to use these (nuclear) weapons but we are going to
let our surrogate Taliban have access to these and
they will do our dirty work’,’’ said Bob Graham,
head of US commission on the prevention of WMD
(weapons of mass destruction) proliferation and ter-
rorism.
He was speaking to US lawmakers at a hearing
convened by the Homeland Security Committee.
India and Pakistan. I have felt that this may be an
area in which the US and Russia together might
work together with India and Pakistan,” he said.
Graham said while India and China have started
working on ‘fail-safe’ procedures since March, the Kolkata: It seems most Indians are now looking this trend based on the recent furore around the
‘real adversaries’, that is, India and Pakistan have for Pakistani spouses. At least that’s what a Shoaib-Sania marriage, and were pleasantly
shown no such attempts. recent survey by matrimonial service Shaadi. surprised to learn how broad minded South
com reveals. The survey titled ‘Love Across Asians have become.
Boundaries’, taken by over 9500 Shaadi.com “This trend is evidenced not just in de-

Sachin Tendulkar turns 37 members over 3 days, brought about astonish-

Mumbai: Master Blaster Sachin
Tendulkar turned 37 on Saturday.
There seems no stopping the
“God of Cricket”, who, even after
a career spanning 20 years, is at
the top of his game. In the ongoing
Indian Premier League (IPL), he was
on Friday declared the best batsman.
The top scorer of the tournament,
Tendulkar has scored 570 runs in 14
matches. He has scored five half centu-
ries. The master batsman has also been
named best batsman and best captain
in the Viewers’ Choice category.
Several Bollywood stars who at-
tended the IPL awards programme on
Friday wished the
prolific batsman
the best on his birth-
day.
“It’s because of Sachin I started taking
interest in the game and finally fell in love
with cricket,” said Amrita Rao. Shilpa
Shetty, who is also an owner of Rajas-
than Royals, also wished him the very
best.
“Sachin was born to play cricket,”
victorious Chennai Super Kings skipper
M S Dhoni reportedly said.
- Indian Weekender news desk
ing results as 61.2% of these survey takers said
they wouldn’t mind looking for their spouse in
neighboring Pakistan.
Nepal came in far behind with 28.9% votes
at 2nd position, followed by Sri Lanka at 26.4%
& Bangladesh at 9.9%. Of the total respon-
dents that took the survey, 12.7% said that cross
border marriages were all hyped up and 77%
said that in reality its compatibility between the
two partners is what matters.
It clearly showcases that people are now
opening up to the idea of finding a life partner
across the border and are willing to oversee
such spatial and geographical disparities.
Gourav Rakshit, Business Head, Shaadi.
com, said, “It truly was a revelation to us that
people are genuinely open to having cross
border marriages. We recently investigated
clared preferences, but also interaction behav-
ior on Shaadi.com. However compatibility is
clearly still the primary focus, and so while
cross-border interaction is on the rise, success
in finding a compatible partner across borders
is still restricted only to a small percentage of
candidates”.
As part of the survey on ‘Love Beyond
Boundaries’, Shaadi.com also asked members
their view on the Sania Mirza-Shoaib Malik
wedding that hit headlines recently.
Despite the ongoing controversy, 59% of
the respondents saw this in a positive light and
thought that it would help bridge the distance
between India and Pakistan.
Surprisingly, only 7.4% said that it would be
a rough ride for the two of them while 33.6%
said it wouldn’t make a difference to them.

8 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
CSK crowned IPL-3 Champions
Navi Mumbai: The Super
Kings from Chennai beat
Mumbai Indians by 22
2, 4, 0, 6) to raise hopes of an
improbable win. But when the
all-rounder got out in the 19th
runs and won the IPL 2010 over, it was actually all over.
trophy at the end of a scin- Earlier in the night,
tillating final here on last Chennai Super Kings began on
Sunday night. a cautious note with Matthew
The team from Hayden looking to settle down
Chennai put up a spirited and find his form. The Super
performance in the field, Kings’ strategy seemed to be
unlike the one by Mumbai one of not losing early wickets
Indians who dropped and then exploding at the end.
Suresh Raina twice to They were hitting the occa-
hand the match to CSK. sional boundary and six, but
It was clearly Suresh nothing spectacular.
Raina’s day – the southpaw Murali Vijay was outscor-
scored 57* off 35 balls, took a brilliant catch and ing Hayden, but then the stylish CSK opener
claimed the wicket of Harbhajan Singh with his failed to read a slower one from Dilhara Fer-
off-spin helping the Chennai emerge winners nando and holed out to Saurabh Tiwary. Haydos
for the first time on the grandest stage. couldn’t deliver on the big night either, with
It was a difficult wicket to bat on and the another slower delivery getting a wicket. This
slowness of the pitch was reflected in the slug- time, Kieron Pollard was the bowler.
gishness of the Mumbai Indians’ chase. Ab- CSK skipper MS Dhoni and his deputy
hishek Nayar, who joined Sachin Tendulkar joined forces to rescue the innings. Raina and
after the fall of Dhawan, initially looked out of Dhoni set about making it a real contest.
touch. Raina was his usual effervescent self finding
But the all-rounder finally seemed to have the boundary at regular intervals. He would be
found his groove. But then Nayar got himself grateful to the MI fielders, having first been
run-out in the 12th over. Tendulkar’s angry re- dropped by Zaheer Khan on 28 and later being
action to Nayar’s run-out showed how desperate given another life – a moment that proved to be
he was to win the trophy. the funniest moment of the match. Fernando
It was then that Mumbai seemed to lose the and Abhishek Nayar went after a Raina skier
plot. Harbhajan Singh was sent ahead of Kieron but ended up looking facing each other blankly
Pollard. Harbhajan, though, failed in his pinch- having missed the catch altogether.
hitting role. And when Tendulkar fell in the 15th Dhoni departed after a quick-fire 22 that in-
over, the match seemed all over. cluded one audacious six off Pollard.
Pollard, though, had other ideas. The tall Raina’s two lifelines proved costly for MI
Trinidadian then decided to show what a big with the southpaw hitting Pollard for 18 runs in
mistake sending him late was by letting his bat the 16th over. CSK ended the innings at 168, the
do the talking. He hit the unplayable Bollinger highest target by a team in an IPL final.
for 22 runs in the 18th over (the scorecard: 4, 6,
Politicians don’t understand
IPL, says Mallya
New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
owner Vijay Mallya last Saturday said politicians,
who are accusing the Indian Premier League (IPL)
also alleged that politicians are making an issue out
of the IPL.
“Several political parties are now using this as
of corruption, does not ‘understand’ the ‘business’ an excuse to make a big issue out of this. Let them
of the league. wait for an investigation to be completed,” the liquor
“I don’t think they (politicians) even understand baron said.
the business model of IPL. It is all very easy to make “In case of foreign direct investment in our
allegations but I think we should all calm down till country, money comes from Mauritius or Swit-
the investigations is done and then conclude what zerland, no body questions it. How can it certainly
w e need to,” Mallya told become a big issue when it comes to IPL investiga-
reporters. tions. The finance Ministry I had heard on TV has
“If you don’t un- promised a full inquiry into all this, let the inquiry
derstand success of be conducted. Till then, I don’t think we should
the world’s sixth jump into conclusions.
largest sporting “Yesterday, even something new appeared
league, they should about match fixing. This is utter rubbish. Several
do their homework. of our political leaders are calling the IPL gambling
They should look den which is completely not true,” he said. However,
at other competible when asked to comment on controversy-hit Lalit
league in the world Modi, Mallya said he didn’t ‘discuss’ anything on
then figure out what the line with the IPL commissioner and chairperson.
the IPL really is.” “Lalit Modi is a friend of mine and I met him at
Mallya the awards function last night (Sahara IPL Awards).
But we did not discuss the current controversy. I
think Modi must be given some opportunity at
some point of time to explain himself,” he said.
The RCB franchise owner further said the
IPL controversy has become an ‘unneces-
sary’ storm.“This whole controversy has
become an unnecessary ‘toofan’ (storm).
Yes, there may be some questions about
the way in which IPL runs. Clearly some
governing council members may not be
happy. Let all that be properly investi-
gated. But to rubbish the IPl as a league
then start casting aspersions on owners,
alleging black money involvement, al-
leging funds from tax havens. I think
this is stretching things way way too
far,” Mallya said.
- Indian Weekender news desk
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Winners announced at
Sahara IPL Awards
The winners of Sahara IPL Awards
were announced at Grand Hyatt
Mumbai on Friday night as follows:
IPL Jury Awards
Best Debut Performance: Kieron
Pollard (Mumbai Indians)
Best Batsman: Sachin Tendulkar
(Mumbai Indians)
Best Bowler: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan
Chargers)
Best Dramatic Performance:
Harbhajan Singh (Mumbai Indians)
Most Consistent Performer: Jacques
Kallis (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Best Breakthrough Performance
2008: Brendon McCullum (Kolkata
Knight Riders)
Best Breakthrough Performance
2009: Anil Kumble (Royal Challengers
Bangalore)
Best Fielder: AB de Villiers (Delhi
Daredevils)
Best Ground: M Chinnaswamy
Stadium, Bengaluru
Best Stadium Experience: DY Patil
Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Viewers’ Choice Awards
Best Catch: David Hussey (Kolkata
Knight Riders)
Best Batsman: Sachin Tendulkar
(Mumbai Indians)
Best Captain: Sachin Tendulkar
Modi suspended,
showcaused by BCCI
Mumbai: Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI)
on Monday suspended tainted
Indian Premier League (IPL)
chief Lalit Modi on charges of fi-
nancial irregularities and show-
caused him.
“In exercise of the powers
vested in me under Rule 32 (vii),
I have suspended Mr. Lalit K
Modi from participating in the
affairs of the Board, the IPL, the
Working Committee and any
other Committee of the Board
of Control for Cricket in India,”
BCCI president Shashank Manohar said in a state-
ment.
Modi, chairman and commissioner of the
tainted Indian Premier League (IPL), was gearing
up to attend Monday’s Governing Council (GC)
meeting of the glamorous cricket body, but the
Indian cricket board suspended him ahead of the
meeting.
Modi earlier announced to turn out at Monday’s
meeting to hear charges against him.
“While we rejoice and celebrate the great
success of IPL Season 3, the alleged acts of individ-
ual misdemeanors of Mr. Lalit K Modi, Chairman
IPL and Vice President BCCI have brought a bad
name to the administration of Cricket and the game
itself,” the statement said.
“I have waited for the IPL 3 – 2010 to conclude
in order to respond to the situation as I did not want
the event to be disrupted in any manner,” Manohar
said.
“Immediately after the conclusion of the IPL
final, the Secretary, BCCI Mr. N Srinivasan has in
consultation with me issued a show cause notice
India
(Mumbai Indians)
Best Bowler: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan
Chargers)
Best Commentator: Ravi Shastri
Most Stylish Player: Robin Uthappa
(Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Most Fan-Friendly Cricketer: Adam
Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)
Best Fielder: Suresh Raina (Chennai
Super Kings)
Statistical Awards
Most Economical Bowler:
Ravichandran Ashwin (Chennai Super
Kings)
Fastest Hundred: Yusuf Pathan
(Rajasthan Royals)
Highest Percentage of Runs Scored
in Boundaries: Virender Sehwag (Delhi
Daredevils)
IPL Captains’ Award
Indian Cricketing Legend I Would
Want in my Team: Kapil Dev
IPL Awards Jury
Lalit Modi (Chairperson)
Sunil Gavaskar
Brian Lara
Javagal Srinath
Simon Taufel
Harsha Bogle
to Mr. Lalit K Modi under Rule
32 (iv) calling upon him to show
cause within 15 days why dis-
ciplinary action should not be
taken against him.,” he said.
“The events of the last few
days have thrown up lot of sad
and unfortunate developments,”
he said.
In a statement released few
hours before the IPL final Sunday,
Modi circulated a notice inform-
ing members of the Governing
Council of the Extra-Ordinary
Meeting to be held on Monday.
Pushed to the wall, on Saturday Modi said he
will disclose the names of men who tried to bring
‘disrepute’ to the game.
“Wait for the IPL to finish - I will reveal the men
who have tried to bring disrepute to the game and
how we stopped them from doing it,” Modi posted
on micro-blogging site Twitter on Saturday.
“Truth will prevail soon. Trial by media and
no chance to present the facts is like the wild west.
Wait and the facts will be delivered.”
A defiant Modi also earlier said he will not
resign from IPL.
The BCCI has accused Modi of breach of
confidentiality by selectively tweeting on the IPL
Kochi franchisee owners on April 11 this year
while keeping mum on other owners’ details since
January 2008.
Following the tweets of Modi on the new IPL
team Kochi, India’s junior external affairs minister
Shashi Tharoor had to quit from his position over
his alleged role in the gifting of a stake of the team
to his Dubai-based friend Sunanda Pushkar.
- Indian Weekender news desk
9
Indian
India Business

Coca Cola grows Rolls-Royce selects TCS

by 29% in India
Kolkata: Beverage brand Coca Cola has report-
ed a unit case volume growth of 29% in India in
Q1 2010 (as of 31st March 10).
This is the 15 consecutive quarter of growth
in unit case volume for Coca-Cola India; out of
which 12 quarters have had double digit growth.
Coca-Cola India’s growth in unit case
volume of 29% involved share gains across
key beverage categories in the market, said the
company on Tuesday.
Brand Coca-Cola registered double-digit
growth in India, Vietnam, the Philippines,
Brazil, Russia and Egypt. The Coca-Cola
Company reported net revenues increase of 5%
in first quarter 2010.
RE/MAX to deploy Canadian technology in India
New Delhi: RE/MAX – a leading Real Estate
network, is going to deploy one of the world’s
most advanced Integrated Real Estate Manage-
ment platforms for its Indian Operations. This
technology would be sourced from Canadian
Firm –GryphTech - a leading provider of en-
terprise software applications, solutions and
services.
According to the company, RE/MAX India
will implement the multi-lingual, multi-site so-
lution across the entire network over the next
two months.
Samir Chopra – Executive Director, RE/
MAX India, said “ With the advent of this tech-
First quarter 2010 reported operating
income increased 17%, and comparable cur-
rency neutral operating income increased 9%.
Cash from operations in the quarter in-
creased 52% to $1.3 billion. There were no
share repurchases during the first quarter due
to the pending Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE)
transaction.
During the quarter, the company announced
its 48th consecutive annual dividend increase,
raising the quarterly dividend 7% from 41 cents
to 44 cents per common share. This is equiva-
lent to an annual dividend of $1.76 per share, up
from $1.64 per share in 2009.
Specifically designed for regional real
estate franchise networks, the flexible platform
is comprised of a series of administrative, sales
and marketing, operational and recruitment
tools to optimize productivity; manage perfor-
mance and maximize organizational growth.
Said Carlos Matias, Managing Director at
GryphTech, “Our flexible, multilingual Real
Estate Management platform can be easily con-
figured to deliver the unique tools, systems and
processes required by franchise based organiza-
tions like RE/MAX India.”
Every agent in the RE/MAX network would
access this technology and could help his/her
for engineering services
Mumbai/Kolkata: Rolls-Royce, the global
power systems company, and Tata Consultancy
Services (TCS), the leading IT services, busi-
ness solutions and outsourc-
ing firm, have announced a
global engineering services
partnership.
TCS will provide Rolls-
Royce with a range of engi-
neering services across the
entire product life-cycle,
said a company release on
Wednesday.
As part of the agreement,
TCS will support and enable
the Rolls-Royce strategy to
expand its engineering ser-
vices footprint in India. TCS
will set up an engineering
centre to cater to Rolls-Royce
design and engineering re-
quirements in Bangalore.
Anil Shrikhande, Presi-
dent Rolls-Royce India, said, “India is a strate-
gically significant market as well as an increas-
ingly important technology services location for
Rolls-Royce. The new collaboration with TCS,
a world class company, will give us additional
quality and cycle-time advantages.”
Rolls-Royce chose to partner with TCS for
their technical and project management capabil-
ities, following a comprehensive and competi-
tive evaluation process.
Regu Ayyaswamy, Vice Presi-
dent and Global Head/Engineer-
ing and Industrial Services, Tata
Consultancy Service said, “This
partnership with Rolls-Royce is
significant to TCS. This will lead
to high quality engineering solu-
tions and services from TCS for
complex aero engines under the
Rolls-Royce standards of excel-
lence.”
Aerospace and defense sectors
have been a major focus for TCS
and it has significantly expanded
its engineering capabilities in this
field.
The agreement represents
an important milestone for TCS
in the aeronautical sector. TCS,
over the years, has consolidated
its position in the field of Engineering Services
as a player with unmatched capabilities in the
field of design and development, providing
world-class services.
- Indian Weekender news desk

State Bank inaugurates

nology the profiling of the real estate agents clients with buying / selling / leasing property
would also undergo a shift; the real estate agents in any of the 120 regions and 80 countries where
of tomorrow will be Tech Savvy, Highly Profes- RE/MAX is present.

own windmills
sional, Entrepreneurial and Growth Oriented.” - Indian Weekender news desk

Coimbatore: The biggest bank of the country
has become the first bank in the country to
venture into generation of Green Power by
installing windmills for their captive use, as
part of its ongoing Green Banking initiative,
said a State Bank release last Friday.
The State Bank has installed 10 wind-
mills with an aggregate capacity of 15MW
in the States of Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and
Gujarat. Power generated by these windmills
will be wheeled to various HT consumption
points of the bank spread across these States.
O.P.Bhatt, Chairman of the Bank on
Friday inaugurated the windmills at Panapatti
site, Vadaputtur village, Pollachi Taluka, Co-
imbatore District.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhatt said that
“Amongst the players in the Financial Ser-
vices Sector, State Bank has taken the initia-
tive to be in the forefront in initiating steps
for combating climate change and reducing
our carbon footprints and we propose to take
the initiative forward for which this beginning
has been made in acquiring Green Power, with
a view to making the Bank as nearly energy
neutral as possible over the next five years”.
He further said: “Windmills are set up
with a definite objective of reducing the de-
pendence on the polluting thermal power and
not on purely economic & business consider-
ations”.
The project has been brought to fruition in
a record period of four months from the time
of its conception by Suzlon Energy Limited,
who won in the open bid for the project.
“Bank is planning to set up an additional
20 MW capacity of windmills in the State of
Gujarat, once clarification about the feasibil-
ity of wheeling of power even to our LT con-
sumption points is received from the Gujarat
Energy Development Authority,” said Bhatt.
This project directly results in reducing
the carbon foot print of the Bank and paves
the way for others to follow.
- Indian Weekender news desk

Titan offers free watches with eyegears

Kolkata: Leading eyegear brand Titan Eye Plus has launched its ‘Sunglass Fiesta’
initiative where the company is offering free Titan watches with select models.
The offer also allows the customer to get a Titan watch worth Rs 3400 free upon
purchase of a sunglass worth Rs 8000 and above. Also get a stylish Reebok
sports bag worth Rs.599 absolutely free with every purchase.
Speaking about the offer, S. Ravi Kant, COO- Eyewear Business, Titan Industries
Ltd. said, “As a young and fast growing brand, we at Titan Eye Plus believe in
infusing excitement to our customers through a stylish and trendy product range.
Sunglass Fiesta initiative is just an extension to this philosophy. ”
The sunglasses brands include Ray Ban, Esprit, Fossil, CAT, Speedo and D&G.
The sunglasses are priced between Rs.1600 and Rs.16000.

- Indian Weekender news desk

10 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Maruti Suzuki launches
‘Blue-eyed boy’
Kolkata: Leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki
unveiled the new edition of its popular Multi
Utility Vehicle (MUV), WagonR, billed as
‘the blue-eyed boy’, at a city five star last
week.
The new car comes at prices between Rs
3.29 lakhs and 3.82 lakhs.
Part of the already overcrowded A2
segment which features some 20 cars from
different manufacturers, the new WagonR
joins the other five offerings of Maruti Suzuki
in the segment which include the also popular
Alto and Swift.
Maruti Suzuki, the largest automobile
manufacturer in South Asia, leads the A2
COLENSO1967F
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Offer ends 30th June 2010. See vodafone.co.nz for details.
segment, which is of around
1.86 million units, with a
56 per cent market share
with Alto being the
top seller.
S . N .
B u r m a n ,
GM Eastern
Region, said,
“The A2
segment is
expected to
grow this year
to 2 million
and we are defi-
nitely going to con-
tinue leading the line.”
The new model, built on
a larger platform which gives
the car more space, also features the
new 998 cc K-series engine which meets the
BSIV and E10 emission norms and delivers a
mileage of 18.9 kmpl.
The design of the the new model also bears
a freshened, more aggressive look along with
its distinct blue tinge in the headlamps which
are bigger, wider bumpers, a chrome etched
badge and a cleaner grill.
According to the company, the car also
comes with a new transmission, cable-type
gearshift and better suspension with an in-
creased length, width and height of 3,595,
1,495 and 1,700 mm respectively along with
the ‘longest-in-class’ wheelbase of 2,400 mm.
The high-end Vxi model sees most of the
action with an in-dash CD player with 4 speak-
ers, power windows, tilt-adjustable steering,
keyless entry with iCats engine immobiliser,
central locking, rear wiper & defogger, elec-
trically adjustable mirrors, 60:40 splitting rear
seat,
14 inch
wheels (13 on
the lesser variants)
and optional ABS and
airbags.
Maruti says it has paid
special attention to the small needs
o f the customers by providing innovative
features like front passenger under-seat tray,
push-type cup holder and rear parcel tray.
According to company sources it has in-
vested around Rs 290 crore in the car while
its suppliers have put in an additional Rs 300
crore but they insist the margins are intact and
in fact they actually expect an increase in the
margins on WagonR.
Despite being the third highest selling
car last year at 145,000 units and having sold
around 8.8 lakh units in all, launched in De-
cember 1999, the outgoing model was over
10-years-old and definitely needed an over-
haul say auto experts.
According to sources the company is now
preparing its strategy for the next launch,
which is likely in the midsize sedan space in
the form of the Kizashi.
- Indian Weekender news desk
Why fly home when you
can call home?
Just 10c a minute to call mobiles and landlines
in China, India and other selected countries
from your Prepay Mobile.
See vodafone.co.nz for details
India Business
Sony invests Rs 100 million
to market Indian Idol 5
Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is all
ready to launch the fifth season of its flagship prop-
erty, Indian Idol, on 26 April.
The channel is pumping Rs 100 million to market
the reality show and has roped in Amul, Nokia, Tata
Docomo, Suzuki, Piramal Pharmaceuticals, Parle
Agro and Tata Motors as show sponsors.
The fifth season is jointly produced by format
co-owners Fremantle Media India and Wizcraft.
It will be aired from Monday to Thursday at 9 pm.
Altogether, a total of 35 episodes will be screened
including the finals.
The promotional activities will remain high
across the Hindi speaking market (HSM). Apart
from SET’s own network, the channel has booked
6000 TV spots across 14 television channels.
Says SET marketing head Danish Khan, “The
marketing of the show is being conducted in phases.
While the first phase focused on spreading aware-
ness about the auditions that was held in different
parts of the country, the second phase will involve a
lot of experiential marketing to get in more and more
people to sample the show.”
The channel has tied up with Radio Mirchi as
the show’s radio partner. As part of its out-of-home
initiative, Set has booked around 800 hoardings in 11
cities across Indian. SET has priced a 10-second ad
spot for Rs 250, 000, added a channel source.
Says SET programming head Ajay Bhalwankar,
“Indian Idol 5 will showcase the inspirational and
emotional stories of people. It will give the flavor
of our vast country, showcase great singing talent
and unique characters. We have made it to a weekly
format so that people can follow their favourite char-
acters more closely and immerse themselves in the
Indian Idol experience.”
The new season will be judged by Anu Malik,
Salim Merchant, and Sunidhi Chauhan and will be
hosted by Abhijeet Sawant and Prajakta Shukre.
Says FremantleMedia India MD SK Raj Barua,
“By tapping into the international and creative ex-
pertise of Fremantle Media’s global network, we
expect the new season to showcase everything that
has made Idols one of the world’s most inspiring
brands.”
- Indian Weekender news desk
11
Indian
Segregation in Sports and Recreation Clubs
Padmini Gaunder
During the colonial days in Fiji, sports and recreation
clubs played a significant role in keeping the different
ethnic groups segregated. The segregation practised
was against all non-whites and the policies applied
equally to Fijians and Indians. Sports and recreation
clubs in Lautoka, the second largest city in Fiji, are
used as an example because that is the place I know
more intimately than any other, having lived there for
more than three decades.
The most prominent club in Lautoka, and perhaps
in the whole of the western districts, was the North-
ern Club, established by the Colonial Sugar Refining
Company (CSR) in 1944. It was started for the benefit
of the CSR staff but it also admitted other Europeans
such as the bank officers, managers of European
firms, doctors, teachers and other civil servants in
the colonial service. But it refused to admit any non-
Europeans including part-Europeans – it was a club
for the Europeans only. In those days there was also
the threat of deportation if any European became too
friendly with any non-European!
CSR opened a separate recreational club for its
part-European employees, the Sports and Social
Club. A part-European man, Alan Roxborough, who
used to work at the gold mine in Vatukoula before
independence and used to come often on business to
Lautoka said that sometimes when he came with his
European boss he was allowed to go to the Northern
Club but whenever he was alone he was denied entry.
Alan became the secretary of the Northern Club after
independence and served in that capacity for many
years!
The ‘whites only’ policy continued until the
1960s. The first Fijian to be admitted to the Northern
club was Ratu Dreunimisimisi, the eldest son of Ratu
Sir Edward Cakobau, and the elder brother of the
current President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. When Ratu
Dreu applied for membership in 1961, his application
was, however, turned down. His father then rang up
the General Manager of the CSR and asked him why
his son was denied membership at the club. The GM
of the CSR did not know who the son of Ratu Edward
was as they did not use the same surname (as it often
happens in Fijian society). He promised to look into
the matter and Ratu Dreu was subsequently accepted
as a member. The first Indians to be admitted were
H. B. Singh and Sami Naidu in 1966.
Since the Northern Club and Sports and Social
Club (both run by the CSR) did not allow Indians
to become members, Lautoka Club was started by
a few Indians in 1952 to provide a place of recreation
for members of their community. Membership was
open to anyone although it had only Indians at the be-
ginning. Later it had some very prominent Fijians as
members including Ratu (later Sir) George Cakobau
when he was the District Officer in Lautoka. (After
independence Ratu Sir George became Fiji’s first
local Governor-General.) It also had European and
part-European members but the majority remained
Indians.
By contrast, the South Seas Club, which was es-
tablished in Lautoka in 1964, was multiracial from
the beginning. Its policy was open admission and in
practice it became a club for men of different ethnic
groups in the community to meet and relax over a
few drinks. The idea came from Ratu Mosese Vera-
sikete Tuisawau, the Rewan chief, who was a found-
12
ing member.
At the time of independence Fiji was still a plural
society with limited contact between the two major
communities though there was no longer any offi-
cial segregation. When Ratu Mara offered the policy
of ‘multiracialism’ to bring the communities closer
together what he meant was, in fact, heterogeneity.
That is, there would be cultural diversity without any
social divisions. Fiji was making steady progress
towards this goal. By 1970 many of the features of a
plural society that it had before had disappeared and
Fiji at independence was a plural society in transition.
There was no longer any domination by a colonial
power. Nor was there a power imbalance between
constituent communal groups. Instead there was
a kind of power sharing. Political power was with
the Fijians, who also owned most of the land in the
country, while the Indians were leading in the profes-
sions and fast catching up with the Europeans in the
economic sphere, especially in the retail sector. Eu-
ropean dominance in all spheres of life was waning
though it was still there in the background.
In spite of the removal of segregation in clubs and
in schools, sports teams still remained organized on
ethnic and communal lines. Dr. Tupeni Baba once
compared this to the apartheid system in South
Africa. But there was a major difference. In Fiji, es-
pecially after independence, it was people’s choice
to remain separate unlike in pre-independent South
Africa. In sports perhaps it had something to do with
people’s personal tastes.
Rugby remains the preferred sports for Fijians
(although their interest in games stretches to most
sports) while the Indo-Fijians patronize soccer.
Soccer teams today have a lot of Fijians but even
school rugby teams hardly have an Indian player.
Until recently, very few Indo-Fijians used to take an
interest in rugby even as spectators, although this is
now changing. This is exemplified by the sponsor-
ing of Pacific Islanders rugby team by the Indo-Fijian
firm, Punjas. The Pacific Islanders’ team consisted of
mainly Fijian, Tongan and Samoan players and they
played against the All Blacks in New Zealand and the
Wallabies and Springboks in Australia.
The administration of these sports, however,
remains entrenched in the respective racial groups.
While there are many Fijians playing soccer at all
levels, there seems to be hardly a Fijian official in the
Fiji Football Association. Similarly, the Fiji Rugby
Union has no Indian, though it may not be racially
as exclusive as the Fiji Football Association because
it has had Europeans and part-Europeans (such as
Arthur Jennings) amongst its ranks.
Moreover, most schools remained multiracial
only in name. This was because of the voluntary
system that persisted after independence with only
a handful of state schools. To bring about genuine
multiracialism it was important to change the system
but no one saw it as a priority. This indifference to
government policies to bring about integration in
schools was one of the reasons for the failure of mul-
tiracialism in Fiji.
Asilina Showed the Way
Asilina Tabua was the youngest daughter of Doctor
Sefanaia Tabua, the leading gynaecologist in Lautoka
in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also a staunch Meth-
odist. Dr. Tabua was also a town councillor and later
became the Mayor of Lautoka. But to my family he
was just Asilina’s father. He also had a reputation for
being anti-Indian but we never saw that side of his
personality.
Asilina and my younger daughter attended the
kindergarten at the Red Cross Hall at the corner from
our house where Mrs. Bechan, an outstanding kin-
dergarten teacher, looked after the infants under her
care like a mother providing a home away from home
for them and welding them into a happy family. My
elder daughter had attended the kindergarten earlier.
She started attending it in January 1971 three months
after Fiji became independent. Mrs. Bechan taught
the children ‘the Fiji song’ which they sang passion-
ately every morning:
Blessing grant o God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together God bless Fiji.
For Fiji. ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, to endure whatever may befall
May God bless Fiji for ever more.
Mrs. Bechan also had two trusty assistants,
Nancy and Kamla.. There were boys and girls,
Fijians, Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Part Euro-
peans and Part Chinese in the kindergarten. It was
a genuinely multiethnic group projecting the Fiji
family of the new nation. When my younger daugh-
ter started attending the kindergarten two years later
she became friends with Asilina and they became
the best of friends. After two years in the kindergar-
ten they both moved to Jasper Williams School and
then to Natabua High School and their friendship
continued. In 1985 my daughter went to Australia
to study while Asilina continued at Natabua High
School.
Asilina was a regular visitor to our house. She
not only came for my daughter’s birthdays. Every
year Asilina and other non-Indian friends of my
daughters came home for Diwali and helped us cel-
ebrate it. They used to help my daughters put lights
around the compound and on our verandah and after
that they all used to play with fireworks. After having
Diwali sweets and dinner we all used to go for a ride
around Lautoka to see the lights and the fireworks. If
Dr. Tabua was anti-Indian as people claimed, I can
only say that it did not make him stop Asilina from
coming to our house and celebrating an Indian Fes-
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Fiji
tival.
In 1987 my daughter and I were in Perth. It was
Saturday, September 26, my daughter’s 18th birth-
day. We had arranged a small party for her. But in the
morning she did not get a call from her father who
was in Fiji which we thought was very strange. When
we tried to call him the phone was engaged and we
left it at that. During the morning news break on TV
we learnt that there was another coup in Fiji. Since
Perth time is four hours behind Fiji we were late in
getting the news.
Soon the post office called to say that there was
a telegram for my daughter and she went and col-
lected it. It was from her father wishing her a happy
birthday as he could not get through to her by phone.
A little later he was able to call also and everything
seemed all right. Though we were distressed by the
news from Fiji, unlike in May when there was the
first coup, we did not panic as we had got used to the
idea and life seemed to go on normally, especially in
Lautoka where our home was. The major problem
we experienced was with the phones as the lines
were clustered.
My daughter had her small party that afternoon.
The next day we called home and talked to my
husband and everything seemed normal. So we did
not bother to keep ringing up during the week but
just followed the news everyday. Then on Friday my
husband called to say that he was just released from
Natabua Gaol in Lautoka! On Sunday night he was
taken by the army and locked up but no reasons were
given and then they released him after five nights.
When I gave my daughter the news she sat down
and cried. Then she said she was going to write to
Asilina. I asked her what she wanted to write to
Asilina about. She did not answer me but furiously
started writing. After she finished she let me read the
letter she had written. It was a very strange letter to a
friend which went something like this: “Who do you
think that Rabuka is to lock my father up” etc. etc. I
asked her what Asilina had to do with Rabuka and
the army but she said ‘they are all in it together”. It
was sad to see her talking of ‘them’ and (by implica-
tion) ‘us’. I tried my best to stop her from posting that
letter but I did not succeed.
Weeks passed, and still there was no reply from
Asilina. Every now and then my daughter would say,
‘I told you, they are all in it’. She had been hoping
for a quick reply from Asilina reassuring her that she
(Asilina) did not approve of what Rabuka and the
army were doing but the reply did not come.
It was now December and finally a letter came
from Asilina. My daughter eagerly opened it. But it
was only a Christmas card wishing her happiness
and peace as usual. There was no mention of her
letter. But Asilina’s Christmas card spoke volumes in
what it did not say directly. It was a reassurance that
nothing had changed between them and she (Asilina)
understood how my daughter felt and she was sorry
about what had happened to her father. The card
cheered up my daughter who said to me: ‘Asu is very
fond of Dad so she must have felt very upset too when
she learnt what happened’.
In 1991 we were all back in Lautoka. My daugh-
ter and Asilina both worked in the city and often met
and had lunch together. And we had a last Diwali cel-
ebration together at home as we used to have with our
daughters’ friends. There was Asilina, of course, and
my elder daughter’s old friends Veniana and Lijiana,
who were then working with her.
The next year my younger daughter got married.
It was a Sunday. Dr. Tabua and his wife did not come
as the wedding was at 10 o’ clock, the time of the
service at the church. But he did not stop Asilina
from coming. She came alone, looking elegant and
dignified as ever. That was perhaps the last time I saw
her. I remember going to the bank where she worked
before I left for New Zealand in December 1992 but
Asilina was not there. I was, however, happy to meet
my old student Linda who was also Asilina’s friend.
Linda told me that Asilina had gone to the village to
get married. I told Linda that I was going to be away
for some time and asked her to tell Asilina that.
I was still in New Zealand in July 1993 when I
got the shocking news that Asilina died in a car ac-
cident in which Linda was also injured. Asilina’s life
was short but it was not only a life well lived but an
exemplary one from which we all can learn.
- This article appeared in the Fiji Sun of 27/12/07
Indian
Motibhai Group denies
interest in Fiji Times
SUVA: Prominent businessman Mahendra
Patel, also known as Mac Patel has denied
rumours that his company is interested in
leading a buyout of Fiji Times shares.
Mr Patel, of Motibhai & Co Limited,
laughed off rumours that the company was in-
terested in the newspaper.
Speaking from his Nadi office yesterday,
Patel said the rumours were news to them.
“We did not even know that Fiji Times
was on sale,” he said when queried about the
Overseas experts to draw Fiji’s constitution
Overseas experts will be brought in to help in the
drawing up of a new Constitution for Fiji.
But it is the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace
and Progress that will be used as a foundation for the
drawing up of the new supreme law, Attorney-Gen-
eral and Minister for Justice, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
said yesterday.
“The Peoples Charter has provided a foundation
for many of the provisions of the new Constitution,”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
However, he said work on the Constitution would
not start until 2013.
It is only then that Government will decide on
Pre-2006 elections in Fiji were ‘undemocratic’
A former Australian politician has labelled Fiji’s
parliamentary elections before the 2006 coup as
being outside the perimeters of democratic ideals.
Peter Lewis, former speaker and member of the
South Australian Parliament, made the comments
in a public lecture at the Fiji National University in
Suva yesterday, adding those elections were more
likely to establish disproportionate privileges for
ethnic groups.
“Fiji’s recent experiences in regards to law and
order itself show that those who exercised such
power were ignorant of the consequences,” he
said.
He said Fiji’s then constitutional structure pro-
vided some people with more than one vote elect-
ing representatives to the same Chamber and who
were provided with more weight to their vote than
others.
Lewis believes it is too simplistic to assume
that Fiji’s Parliament and its government at the
time of the coup was democratic just because
people voted in elections.
“To be democratic in the real sense, the elec-
toral process needs to be based on one vote to each
citizen and roughly equally populated electorate’s
Fiji President ‘proud advocate of HIV work’
Fiji’s President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says he
is proud to be a strong and vocal advocate of a
humane and integrated approach to the challenge
of the HIV virus.
Receiving a report at the Forum Fale in Suva
last night on HIV in the Pacific, Ratu Epeli said
addressing HIV requires courage, forbearance,
patience and understanding “because we are per-
suading people in our communities to change their
beliefs and attitudes and deal with sensitive and
sometimes unpleasant issues”.
“The Pacific region, indeed the planet, has
never before faced such a profound threat. AIDS
has already destroyed entire generations in South
Africa and the same scenario faces us in the
Pacific because our ocean home is no longer the
remote place it used to be,” said Ratu Epeli
“We are part of the global village and in that
regard we are vulnerable. From the perspective of
our small and fragile states in the Pacific, the death
of one individual is the loss of part of us and col-
lective well being.”
“It is not just PNG or Fiji or Samoa that needs
to be concerned, it must be on everyone’s radar
screen.”
He said one of the reasons that HIV infections
have spread rapidly is the cultural, social and re-
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Fiji
rumours.
“We are not interested and there have been
no negotiations whatsoever.”
Australian newspaper company News
Limited owns the Fiji Times.
However, under the draft of the Media In-
dustry Development Decree, 90 per cent of
such ownership must be held by local interests.
- Indian Weekender news desk
people who will be involved in the drawing up a re-
placement for 1997 Constitution.
“It is still three years away and it’s too early to
comment on who will be involved,” Mr Sayed-
Khaiyum said. The Prime Minister’s Office earlier
said work would start in September 2013 and was
expected to be completed in time for the country’s
next elections in 2014.
Former President Ratu Josefa Iloilo abrogated the
1997 Constitution last April and mandated the Baini-
marama administration to prepare a new constitution
which would pave the way for a general election in
2014.
process regardless of their ethnicity,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Lewis has questioned the
ongoing sour relationship between Fiji and its
Trans-Tasman neighbours.
According to Radio Fiji News he challenged
those present at his public lecture to decide
whether or not Fiji needed the 2006 coup.
However, Mr Lewis said it was up to the people
of Fiji to decide if the coup has made things better
or worse for Fiji.
He said he does not understand why the re-
lationship between Fiji and Australia and New
Zealand differ when compared to other countries
that are worse off.
Mr Lewis highlighted that there is no blood-
shed happening in Fiji compared to other countries
and yet Australia and New Zealand has better re-
lationships with these other countries and not Fiji.
He said s Fiji seems to be doing well under the
leadership of someone who gained absolute power
without elections, and the best way forward is to
take the Fiji leader at his word and remind him of
it at regular intervals, through objective remarks.
ligious taboos that are associated with sexual
matters generally and sexual intercourse in par-
ticular.
“Because it is a matter that is little talked about
in our island cultures, there is consequently great
ignorance. Can we afford to remain blissfully ig-
norant? Of course not.”
“Doing so will result in our youth dying in their
thousands or our resources being totally devoted
to the impact of AIDS rather than for economic
and social development.”
The report was prepared by the Commission
on AIDS in the Pacific.
Also present at the launch was Fiji’s Minister
for Health, Dr Neil Sharma.
The report was handed over by the chairman
of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific and
Samoa’s deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni.
Titled “Turning the Tide: An open strategy for
a response to Aids in the Pacific”, the report was
initially presented to UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon in New York in December 2009.
The commission’s 18 months of work on the
report draws on existing and new research to make
26 recommendations for responding to HIV in the
most appropriate manner in the Pacific.
- All Fiji stories from PBOnline/ Pacnews
13
 Indian
Indian
Letters
You need $$$ to meet visiting
Indian dignitaries
I cannot agree more with this article. Something
is not right - in democracy and a free world
From the Editor the Ministers should be freely available to the
public - at least this is prevalent in India and is
the basic ethos of our thriving largest democ-
National’s popularity close to tipping point racy in the world. This event has hit the right at
the very roots of this basic ethos.
No one is thinking about the community as a
whole rather trying to prove this or that organi-
sation. You are mature enough to understand
the dirty politics around. This will not achieve
anything but further divisions in the community.
If you are wise enough, I do not tell you who
would be the beneficiary out of such damaging
issues.
Aryan

Close to half time in the present electoral term, the National Party’s popularity still leads La- P Raniga We leave India to save ourselves from politics
bour’s by some 20 per cent despite the difficult economic times New Zealand has been going and favouritism and here we see these things
through. Prime Minister John Key is regarded as the most popular prime minister ever. It was appalling that we need to pay and go happening again. What do we all come here
That’s the sort of popularity political parties anywhere would die for anywhere in the through the community organisations or so- for, to be free from dirty politics. The reality is
called community leaders to meet the Indian who knows who and who favours who. Out India
world, especially toward the middle of an electoral term. For normally, when things get tough
minister. Now the Indian communities and or- we are supposed to be regarded as one but the
in the economy, the natural tendency of the masses is to blame it all on the government. ganisations are working in secluded and segre- irony is we all were sepertaed in India and we
But the electorate is proverbially fickle and it does not take much for the tables to turn in gated groups. Some organisations are hijack- all will be seperated here as well.
the popularity stakes, though National can rest assured at least for the moment because of the ing the events, dignitaries using the internal Ramesh Singal
huge lead it has on Labour right now. political connections. This is a bad reflection --
However, a couple of false moves on National’s part, particularly at this stage, could well on the organisations and the community at Congratulations and Happy Birthday to IWK
see that gap narrow and once that happens, it will be a mammoth task for it to regain the kind large. The NZCIA should be given a top prior- Very well done pse keepon going doing a good
of dream lead it has been enjoying since it was swept to power in 2008. ity to facilitate such events and programmes. community work, Capture all the important
Life is all about perception and politics is even more so. That indeed is the reason why I urge the communities and organisations to news local as well as international, So WELL
work together to have a unified, fair, balanced DONE .Best of luck for future.
popularity waxes and wanes so rapidly and seems so fickle. Instances of a false move, however
and diverse representation at these associa- Kantilal (KEN) Patel Q.S.M.J.P.
well intentioned, sending a well-regarded leader’s popularity into a tailspin are legion. And it tions and functions. I am waiting to see diverse
usually happens when the leader in question has had a long run as a favourite. and balanced Indian representation at all levels I am very pleased that Indian Weekender has
Call it a tipping point. The National Party and its leader seem to be approaching their including NZICA. completed a very successful first year. Being
potential tipping point shortly. Their handling of two developments in the near future will Madhu Rao a community focused newspaper your role is
determine whether will they will keep their lead of popularity intact or if their gap with the vital in reaching out to the Indian diaspora.
opposition’s will narrow. Ignoring NZICA is probably the biggest mistake Your coverage of wide ranging events will help
The first is next month’s budget. The increase in GST and the reduction in personal tax and ill informed decision. NZICA is the only or- enrich the lives of Kiwi Indians. Also a newspa-
rates has the potential to reinforce the perception that it favours the well off and puts people ganisation which is over 80 years old and has per like yours has an important role to play to
representation throughout NZ. GOPIO is run connect us back to our homeland, India while
at the lower end of the wage scale at a disadvantage. This could well snowball into a negative
like a private fiefdom controlled by a few indi- we enjoy our living in our adapted land, NZ. I
wave and certainly take away the support of fence sitters at the lower end of the wage scale. viduals with no democratic setup like NZICA. I appreciate and applaud your endeavour.
The effect of the move, though, might be softened by the widespread awareness of the dif- pray that such actions do not sully the image of Partha S Roop
ficult time the country – and the world – has been in economically and the fact that the present our Country as a whole.
government inherited all but empty coffers from the previous regime. So, the tax moves in the Jay Patel Hearty congratulations on completing success-
budget might not prove to be too much of a tipping point. ful one year. Wish you many more successes,
But what is certain to be a tipping point is National’s and the prime minister’s increasingly I support Harshad Bhai from Auckland Indian year after year.
stubborn stand on going ahead with the Emission Trading Scheme provisions which kick in Association on his comments. I fail to under- Prasad Kailaje
on July 1. stand when AIA can offer the Gandhi Centre --
free of charge why did the High Commission Iron willed Kiwi Indian
That is a move that has been universally criticised. Every country that embarked on that
choose to go with a private organisation and It is great to see a person of Indian origin com-
route has either shelved or certainly delayed their carbon emission trading schemes – includ- charge a door fee to meet the Minister ? peting in the Ironman challenge. You made
ing Australia, whose every move is otherwise carefully watched and often adopted by this Gopal Ranchhod us all Indians proud of your achievements,
country. Gaurang. Well done and all the best for your
The science behind emission trading schemes is faulty and has been proved to be so. Every Frankly, knowing the complex fabric of the future endeavours.
country is backing out but New Zealand under National wants to be a leader and take a step ethnic associations, this seems like another one Lakshmi Iyer
into a space that may well be a dark abyss. All the developed countries in the world that have of those tirades by a few rival organisations to
suspended their own schemes aren’t the babes in the wood New Zealand appears to be. malign another. This reeks of politics! I hope the rest of the Indian community gets in-
In a case of classic political turncoat-ism, Environment Minister Nick Smith, who was so Bill James spired by the very positive example you’ve set
for us. Hope to see more Indians participating
vocally critical about the scheme when National was in the opposition, is now its most vocal
With due respect to Bill-here we are not com- in the future.
votary. paring apples with apples, NZICA was setup Sundar
Business, National’s biggest support bank, is vehemently opposed and made a number of in 1926 and is a democratic organisation so
protests. Working people simply won’t be happy – who would be to pay extra taxes on the basis the diff is chalk and cheese! The point is that I remember that couple of months back you
of unproven science? a democratic organisation with 80 year history showed me your newly purchased expensive
National’s belligerence on ETS could very well be the tipping point that the opposition has has been ignored. bike, today I see that you are into Iron Man
been waiting for all these months. Sunny group. Good on you Gaurang. Hope your hard
Anthropogenic causes of global warming are proving to be more a matter of faith, than work and achievement will encourage many
based on solid science. Bill might be right that organisations may have Indians. Best wishes and good luck in your
rivalry-but pay to meet the minister is unac- future endeavours.
Which brings us to another matter of faith, which I wrote about in this column in the last
ceptable. I think everyone would be agreeable Shyam Nilkund
issue. Our stand on not accepting ads that promise magical remedies has attracted wide re- to this conclusion as this incident of charging
sponse from media organisations and academics on both sides of the Tasman. totally defies logic. Congratulations Gaurang, you’ve made me
Some have hailed it as an example in self-regulation and have invited us for further discus- Jignesh Parikh very proud.
sions on how this could be meaningfully applied a guideline for media outlets without the need Josie McVitty
for any special legislation as in the case of the Indian Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.
While we are humbled by all that response, as much as we are by the messages and good
wishes we have received from readers, advertisers and associates as we completed one year
of publication. Thank you, all.
– Dev Nadkarni
Top 10 stories on www.iwk.co.nz
1.0 You need $$$ to meet visiting Indian dignitaries

2.0 Meet the iron willed Kiwi Indian

Indian Weekender Volume 2 No 3
Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited 3.0 When the Sikhs fought alongside Kiwis and Aussies
Group editor-in-chief: Dev Nadkarni dev@indianweekender.co.nz
Online editor: Arvind Kumar arvind@indianweekender.co.nz 4.0 ASB’s insurance campaign spreads awareness
India Correspondent: Shobha Rao shobha@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza rohan@ indianweekender.co.nz 5.0 Minister invites Kiwis to tap India’s healthcare, education potential
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 6.0 What an amazing first year it has been
Please email original editorial contributions, community notices and pictures to
editor@indianweekender.co.nz 7.0 Stage set for IPL grand finale
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
8.0 Indian Weekender marks first anniversary

9.0 Has cricket hit all other Indian sports for a six
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, New Market
and printed at APN Print, Ellerslie, Auckland 10.0A rare Kishore Kumar classic comes to NZ
Copyright 2010. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

14 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
No Easy Riders on India’s Gravy Train
Rakesh Krishnan Simha
In most countries there is corruption because too many people are chasing too little money, but in India it is a problem of plenty –
there are billions of dollars in the sleaze pond but as episode Tharoor showed, not everyone is equipped to fish there.
There is one basic rule practised by India’s
ruling Congress Party – when it’s time to reward
a stupid loyalist make him a Governor, not a
minister. But Shashi Tharoor, the former United
Nations undersecretary general for communi-
cations, somehow slipped through that screen-
ing process. Predictably, the proverbial hit the
ceiling.
His supporters have described Tharoor as an
idealist who did not fit into the corruption ridden
world of Indian politics. But a more accurate de-
scription would be that he wasn’t smart enough
to practice the kind of sleaze that works in India.
Indeed, Indian politics is an even bigger gravy
train than the Indian Premier League, where
Tharoor tried to lose his innocence.
While Tharoor remains innocent until
proven guilty – his Kerala coterie will continue
to bleat that he’s the next best thing after Rajiv
Gandhi – in the general public’s eyes he’s as
good as a political corpse.
Now stupid is not a word you would normal-
ly ascribe to Tharoor but the former minister of
state for external affairs, despite his numerous
books, awards and citations, acted plain stupid.
Continuing the series: Government by Greed
Qarase and Governance
Subhash Appana
In my last Greed article I covered the lead-up
to and outcome of the fateful 2001 Fiji elec-
tions. There were numerous complaints about
it regarding process discrepancies, lack of
impartiality of public officials, sudden ap-
pearance of unrecorded postal ballots in tight
seats, etc.
Ultimately, none of these mattered as
Qarase ascended to elected Prime Minister-
ship on the back of the 2000 coup and unwav-
ering support from the nationalists who were
now in coalition with his SDL party. This
meant that he had to somehow appease their
ambitions as well as extricate them from the
shadow and stain of the 2000 coup.
Qarase Supported Coup-Makers
As soon as he became elected PM in Sep-
tember 2001, Qarase drafted a number of coup
perpetrators into his cabinet. These included:
Vice-President Ratu Jope Seniloli, Deputy
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ratu
Rakuita Vakalalabure, Minister for Lands
and Natural Resources, Ratu Naiqama Lala-
balavu, Minister for Information, Simione
Kaitani, and Senator Ratu Josefa Dimuri. All
of these were charged with coup related of-
fences and jailed except for Kaitani who mi-
raculously escaped the law.
On 6 August 2004, Ratu Jope Seniloli and
Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure were found guilty
of treason and sentenced to four and six years
in jail respectively. Both were members of the
Matanitu Vanua Conservative Alliance which
propelled Qarase into government with its 6
seats. An alarmed Qarase immediately de-
clared that he was “dismayed by the severity
of the sentences”.
This was not the end of it as barely 4
months later, on 29 November 2004, Attorney
General Qoriniasi Bale announced that Se-
niloli was being paroled on health grounds, in
return for his resignation. The medical certifi-
cates used for this decision were never made
public despite repeated demands and Seniloli
continued to be paid while he was incarcer-
ated.
In a similar scenario Ratu Naiqama Lala-
balavu and Ratu Josefa Dimuri were con-
victed of unlawful assembly for their role in
providing traditional support for the rebels at
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
If your girlfriend is an
unknown executive of a
Dubai company, what are
her chances of getting Rs
In 2006, his attempt to be
70 crore ($21 million) in
sweat equity? Smaller
the UN Secretary General
than small! But Tha-
roor’s girlfriend got it in
was shot down by none
perpetuity, which means
free and forever, with a
other than US President
starting value of Rs 70
crore. You do the math.
George W. Bush, who
I can’t think of even
one Indian politician
conveyed to the Indian
who has been exposed
like Tharoor. There
government that Tharoor
are Indian politicians
who are alleged to have
was too immature.
amassed hundreds of
millions of dollars in tax
havens in Europe and the Caribbean. Many have
used that money to build business empires both
in India and abroad, but – here’s the difference
– they have done it in the name of proxies that
can’t be traced back to them.
Speight had called Savua just before he stormed
parliament at 10:00 on that fateful day. Just what
was that call for? Was Speight seeking reassurance
that police would be kept away? These questions
have never really been answered.
the Sukanaivalu Barracks in Labasa by visit-
ing them on 4 July 2000. Both were sentenced
to eight months’ imprisonment on 3 April
2005. And both were released on parole after
serving just eleven days of their sentences
with Lalabalavu subsequently resigning from
cabinet.
This was not the beginning, nor the end, of
Qarase’s initiatives to “help” the coup-taint-
ed. In 2002, he whisked ineffective former
Police Commissioner, Isikia Savua, to New
York as Fiji’s ambassador to the UN. It is hard
to forget how Savua redirected the Tactical
Response Unit’s “red bus” when parliament
was under siege in 2000, and how he (a former
military colonel) feigned helplessness on na-
tional TV as Suva burned and looters ran-
sacked with glee all around him.
Savua’s reward for his public impotence
was the NY posting where he rubbed shoul-
ders and made merry with all the other inter-
national big wig fans of democracy and good
governance. This fact becomes all the more
baffling when one considers the present un-
helpful, self-righteous indignation and holier-
than-thou attitudes adopted by the NZ and
Australian governments.
Savua had been pointed out as a coup-man
from various quarters. First, questions had to
emerge on his paralysis in deploying police
when Suva was being ransacked after Speight
took over parliament on 19 May 2000. Second,
police vehicles were deployed on a number of
Tharoor wasn’t just
a rank outsider, he was
a rank amateur too. In
2006, his attempt to
be the UN Secretary
General was shot down
by none other than US
President George W.
Bush, who conveyed to
the Indian government
that Tharoor was too im-
mature. To be labelled
immature by Bush, of all
people, is clearly a new
nadir in public life.
Anyway, when he
became the junior min-
ister of external affairs,
Tharoor displayed his
immaturity in ample
measure with his brazen Twittering of Cabinet
level matters, in stark contrast to his boss, the
dignified S.M. Krishna. Perhaps it is fitting that
the Twitter-happy Tharoor was finally laid low
on Twitter by another celebrity, the IPL’s Lalit
occasions to transport stolen food from farms
in Muainaweni and surrounding areas to the
parliamentary complex to feed Speight’s
merry men – this was later blown out of the
public realm through a hasty inquiry. A news-
paper publisher who questioned the inquiry
that exonerated Savua was unceremoniously
removed from the newspaper.
Thirdly, on 29 April 2002, Ratu Sir Kamis-
ese Mara, the coup-deposed President of Fiji,
said on national TV that all indications were
that Savua had a hand in the planning of the
2000 coup. In fact, Speight had called Savua
just before he stormed parliament at 10:00 on
that fateful day. Just what was that call for?
Was Speight seeking reassurance that police
would be kept away? These questions have
never really been answered.
Qarase’s attempts to help the coup-cabal
did not end there. In May 2005, with un-
elected Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale’s
help, he made an innovative attempt to grant
legal pardon to all the coup makers and sup-
porters of 2000. The ambitious Reconciliation
Tolerance and Unity Bill (RTU) was basically
aimed at granting amnesties to people who
supported the 2000 coup because of greed and
political ambitions.
Qarase went overboard in championing
this Bill as he began to experience the exi-
gencies of precarious power. First, he made
selective presentations in pocket meetings
and to the media; and second, he deliberately
Comment
Modi.
Tharoor may well be the last of the outsid-
ers. The elites will close ranks, the politicians
will order a probe – a euphemism for destruc-
tion of evidence – and the show will resume.
With or without its lynchpin Modi, the IPL will
be bigger and better next year.
Shilpa Shetty of the Rajasthan Royals and
her wealthy husband now want to do an IPL with
Indian football. There will be others like them
who will want to clone IPLs in other sports, for
the sports mad Indian public can’t have enough
of it, and there is no shortage of cash – at least
not of the black variety. At last count, India
had 20 million millionaires – the highest in the
world. Factor in unaccounted wealth, and the
real figure is easily four times that number.
The show will indeed go on because India’s
gravy train is too rich to be derailed.
- Rakesh Krishnan Simha is a features
writer at Fairfax New Zealand. He has previ-
ously worked with Businessworld, India Today
and Hindustan Times, and was news editor
with the Financial Express.)
failed to consult and get the approval of the
Bose Levu Vakaturaga (BLV). This was an
unprecedented affront to that august body at
that point in time.
The Chairman of the BLV, Ratu Ovini
Bokini, was forced to declare, on 18 May that
the BLV was “in the dark” about the bill. This
drew an immediate response from Qarase,
who said that he saw no need for prior con-
sultations with anybody. “Any Bill is drafted
without consulting any party or stakehold-
ers because it contains what the Government
wants to be included in the Bill,” he said. It
was obvious that Qarase was willing to defy
the BLV if it served his ends.
On 24 June 2005, Archbishop Petero
Mataca, accused Qarase of misleading a del-
egation of church leaders on May 2 about the
contents of the RTU Bill. According to the
Archbishop, Qarase had only highlighted the
reconciliation and compensation provisions.
It was only later that they heard, through the
media, that it provided amnesty for persons
convicted of crimes related to the 2000 coup.
This, according to the Archbishop, was unac-
ceptable.
Qarase’s hand was best seen in the quiet
removal of the Deputy Director of Public
Prosecutions, Peter Ridgeway, who was ex-
pelled from Fiji on 22 June 2005 while inves-
tigating alleged links between members of
his government and the coup of 2000. At the
time Ridgeway was hot on the trail of links
between the 2000 coup and the Qarase gov-
ernment.
He had strongly criticized the RTU Bill
which he saw as a legal mechanism for finally
removing the shadow of the coup from its
perpetrators. As a true public prosecutor he
abhorred government interference in his work
– Qarase had him banished and sent back to
Australia for this. More will follow.
- Subhash Appana is an academic and po-
litical commentator. The opinions contained
in this article are entirely his and not neces-
sarily shared by any organizations he may
be associated with both in Fiji and abroad.
Email subhasha@ais.ac.nz
15
Indian
Indian Weekender Anniversary coverage

Indian Weekender
celebrates first
anniversary
Several New Zealand government ministers and Members of Parliament of both the National and Labour par-
ties joined over 200 readers, advertisers, associates, contributors and staff of New Zealand’s most read Kiwi
Indian publication and website, Indian Weekender, in the celebrations to mark its first anniversary in Auck-
land on Saturday, March 24.

Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong congratulated the Indian Weekender team on achieving success in both
print and online segments of the media in what was undoubtedly a difficult year. She lauded the role the
publication and website had played in trying to bridge the gap between ethnic and mainstream media with its
interesting content. She said the Indian Weekender team was young, energetic, technically savvy and very
modern.

Ms Wong particularly commended Indian Weekender’s move at self-regulation in setting up suo motu
controls on dealing with advertising that promised magical remedies. The move has caught the attention of
media across the region and several academics as well as media organisations in New Zealand have been in
touch with Indian Weekender to discuss more on this self regulatory move.

The highpoint of the evening was

when Minister Pansy Wong
spontaneously called upon her
colleagues and party MPs to
join her on stage to sing “Happy
Birthday to Indian Weekender” to
the accompaniment of the band
that played throughout the evening.

Labour MP Chris Carter said he was privileged to be

present at the first anniversary of the paper saying he
fondly remembered being on the dais as a guest of hon-
our when the paper was launched at the Holi festival in
Waitakere city in 2009. Mr Carter who is a keen blogger
and an online media enthusiast said Indian Weekender’s
online role had played a role in bringing the focus of the
world media on New Zealand through some of its stories
that went global and were absorbed by the world’s lead-
ing media outlets.

The highpoint of the evening was

when Minister Pansy Wong sponta-
neously called upon her colleagues
and party MPs to join her on stage
to sing “Happy Birthday to Indian
Weekender” to the accompaniment
of the band that played throughout
the evening.

While Ms Wong declared the spe-

cial anniversary issue published,
Mr Carter was invited to launch the
range of special edition wines that
was specially developed by Koura
Bay wines with a special Indian
Weekender label. Guests had the
privilege of savouring the range of
wines throughout the evening.

publisher Giri Gupta welcomed

the gathering

16 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Indian Weekender Anniversary coverage

A specially made
cake depicting Indian
Weekender’s complete
media services – the paper,
the online and mobile
versions – was displayed
and cut by the Indian
Weekender team.

Earlier publisher Giri Gupta welcomed the gathering while director Bhav Dhillon introduced
the Indian Weekender team and later proposed a vote of thanks. Editor-in-chief Dev Nadkarni
outlined the story of Indian Weekender, its achievements and future plans with a multimedia
presentation.

A specially made cake depicting Indian Weekender’s complete media services – the pa-
per, the online and mobile versions – was displayed and cut by the Indian Week-
ender team.

Among the ministers and people’s representatives present were Maurice Wil-
liamson, Cam Calder, Sam Lotu Liga, Jackie Blue, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi,
Ashraf Chaudhry, Dr Paul Hutchison and Su’a William Sio.

Among dignitaries who attended was Waitakere City CEO Vijaya Vaidya-
nath, as also prominent businesspeople
Roshan Nauhria, Sudesh Jhunjhunwalla, Dr Kanti Patel, Ranjana Patel,
Andrew Singh, Harish Lodhia among several others.

Eminent community leaders like Prithipal Singh, NZICA past and current presidents Ratilal Champaneri and
Paul Singh Bains, past and present general secretaries Veer Khar and Raj Thandi, Auckland Indian Associa-
tion leaders Harshad Patel and Ashok Darji, Bharatiya Samaj chairman Jeet sachdev besides leaders from
several Indian associations also attended.

Minister Maurice Williamson

with his iPad about to access
the iPad version of the Indian
Weekender website

Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 17

Indian
Pratima Nand honoured
as local hero
Pratima Nand QSM, JP and a New Zealander
and an indigenous Fijian has being honoured
with a Kiwibank Local Hero’s Medal for the
Auckland Region.
Alton Shameem, JP, and the Founder and
President of Fiji Club of New Zealand (FCNZ)
said, “Our warmest congratulations to her and
her family. We are all humbled and stoked by
Pratima’s award and the dedication of Fiji Club
of New Zealand (FCNZ) members, supporters
and fans in helping and being ambitious for our
fellow New Zealanders, Fijians and all commu-
nities both nationally and internationally.”
The Kiwibank Local Hero’s Medal is be-
stowed on those individuals who have made
significant contributions to fellow New Zea-
landers who need assistance the most.
“Pratima Nand is a multi-talented person, a
Justice of the Peace, marriage and civil union
celebrant, radio broadcaster, author, communi-
ty worker, child sponsor, health worker, singer,
TV producer & presenter, philanthropist, in-
terpreter, translator, chef and a valuable and
dedicated member of Fiji Club of New Zealand
(FCNZ)” Mr Shameem said.
Help plan NZ’s largest new town
People are being given a unique opportunity
to help plan stage two of Flat Bush – New
Zealand’s largest new town.
Flat Bush, in the south-east of Manukau,
could be home to at least 40,000 people by
2020, a similar population to Nelson. About
10,000 people already live in the first part
of Flat Bush.
Now public feedback is wanted on draft
plans for stage two that show a proposed
street pattern, street block and property
sizes and where housing, shops and parks
will be.
Flat Bush residents will receive a
summary of the draft masterplan, there will
also be public open days and online feed-
back at www.manukau.govt.nz/Flatbush.
The first section of land in the stage two
area is expected to be released for devel-
opment later this year, after a district plan
change.
Stage two of Flat Bush covers 350 hect-
ares, in an area south of Flat Bush School
Road and east of Murphy’s Road, as well
as vacant land around Barry Curtis Park.
It does not include the Flat Bush town
centre, which council company Tomorrow’s
Manukau Properties Limited (TMPL) is de-
veloping plans for.
Manukau City Council Urban Design
Principal Specialist Bruce Harland says
a feature of the draft masterplan is a large
park around the existing Murphy’s Bush.
It would have playing fields and create a
buffer zone around the ecologically signifi-
cant bush.
“Close to the new park would be a neigh-
bourhood centre based around Flat Bush
School Rd. This would include a main street
shopping centre, a mix of housing types and
a primary school within walking distance of
each other.
18
Police advice public on magical remedies
The Police have been
asked for comment
on matters that have
been raised as public
concerns, regard-
ing issues relating to
people responding to
advertisements, that
offer various forms
of astrological and
psychic services.
It is not the role of
Gurpreet Arora, Asian the Police to suggest
Liaison Officer, Coun- to people whether they
ties Manukau District should or should not
consult an astrologer,
but following infor-
mation revealed as a result of publicity, there is
an obligation or duty for the Police to suggest that
caution should be exercised by people, consider-
ing consulting a person advertising any such ser-
vices, says a Police news release.
It is recognised that astrology is commonly
accepted in many societies, with certain cultures
such as people of Indian ethnicity, having stron-
ger beliefs than others.
Providing an astrological chart at an accept-
able rate, may be regarded by practitioners and
persons using such services, as a normal busi-
ness practice. Any person using such services
should first compare the rates charged by various
individuals, and be wary of being victimised
by an unscrupulous individuals who may seek
to exploit a person, by preying on weaknesses
through making predictions or actions, that
induce a person to make several visits and hand
over sums of money, through concerns or fears,
or hopes that may never materialize.
There have been numerous cases over the
years of people being scammed or fleeced of
considerable sums of money by persons offering
a variety of services, particularly as bogus trades
people. The elderly have been especially vulner-
People can go to www.manukau.govt.nz/
flatbush to read the full draft masterplan
and give feedback. Or they can come to an
open day to discuss it with council officers
and give feedback.
“Another feature is a mix of a grid street
pattern and park-edge roads. The draft mas-
terplan proposes rectangular street blocks
that are 60m in depth, meaning property
sections would be 30m, with backyards that
are at least 9m.
“The council wants to know if
people believe the proposed street
blocks would allow sufficient f lexibil-
ity for current and future housing needs.
“Feedback is also wanted on the draft mas-
terplan in general and other features like
how different types of housing should be de-
veloped. This is people’s opportunity to help
shape how the second stage of Flat Bush will
be developed,” Mr Harland says.
People can go to www.manukau.govt.nz/
f latbush to read the full draft masterplan and
give feedback. Or they can come to an open
day to discuss it with council officers and
give feedback.
Public open days - Old Flat Bush School
Hall corner Flat Bush School Rd and Mur-
able. Usually a con artist will prey on the needs
of the victim, and will not have the experience,
skills or qualifications to perform the service ad-
vertised. An extortionate amount will be charged
for the service with payment demanded upfront,
before anything is commenced. Frequently the
service will be only partially completed if at all,
and the tradesperson or con artist will then dis-
There have been numerous cases
over the years of people being
scammed or fleeced of considerable
sums of money by persons offering
a variety of services, particularly as
bogus trades people.
appear.
Whilst there may be some differences
between trade services, questionable investment
schemes and astrological type services, anyone
contemplating using such services, should first
ask themselves the following questions:
• How long has this person been operating in
New Zealand?
• How long will this person be in New Zealand?
• Does this person move around different
countries offering similar services?
• Does this person belong to a business group?
• Is this person a New Zealand resident?
• Is this person only operating out of a tempo-
rary office or address?
• Is this person in New Zealand on a visitor’s
permit and working illegally?
• Is this person registered with Inland
Revenue?
• If this person is only in New Zealand tempo-
rarily, what person or persons are behind the
scenes providing support?
phy’s Rd, Wednesday 28 April 4 - 7pm.  Wet-
lands Playground at Barry Curtis Park (Stan-
combe Rd end), Saturday 1 May 1 to 4pm.
The draft masterplan proposes:
A mix of park-edge streets and a grid street
pattern
The park edge roads allow for bigger
neighbourhood park areas around the green
fingers and for houses to look out on them.
The more traditional grid-like street
pattern contained in the draft masterplan
follows the lines of Flat Bush’s original
roads, like Ormiston, Chapel, Murphy’s and
Flat Bush School roads.
Straight streets provide better views, for
example people would be able to see a park at
the end of the street, rather than just houses.
They also make it easier to get around.
Roads are likely to be wider than some of
those seen in Flat Bush stage one, detailed design
will include measures to keep speeds low.
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Community
• If there are persons behind the scenes offer-
ing support, are they likely to be genuine, or
possibly of a dubious nature involved in sup-
porting a network of questionable activities?
• Does this person have the skills, experience,
knowledge and qualifications claimed in the
advertisement?
• What independent and bonafide person or
persons can act as referees to substantiate the
claims made by the person advertising the ser-
vices?
• What will be the cost of the consultation, is
it excessive?
• What will be the exact nature of the consul-
tation, will there be anything occurring that
might make me feel uncomfortable, such as a
black magic or other practice?
• Will it be a safe place to visit for the consulta-
tion?
• Am I required to pay before or after the con-
sultation?
• If I am not satisfied with the consultation,
will my money be returned?
It would be prudent to make enquiries, or discuss
the above questions with the person offering the
service, before agreeing to a consultation. If the
person is evasive or you are not satisfied with the
answers, it would be sensible not to make an ap-
pointment.
The public should be aware that under section
16 of the Summary Offences Act 1981, that
it is an offence to act for reward with intent to
deceive, by acting as a spiritualistic medium, or
exercising any powers of telepathy, clairvoyance,
or similar powers, or fraudulently using any
device in exercise of such powers. This offence
carries a $1000 fine.
A dispute over the amount charged for ser-
vices is a civil matter, unless money has been
obtained by fraud. If a person believes that a
criminal offence has been committed, the advice
of Police can be sought.
Rectangular property blocks
Rectangular property blocks would allow
f lexibility for the type of housing that can go
on them. This would mean that over a long
period of time properties could be easily re-
developed, if necessary, from detached to
terraced housing or apartments while main-
taining high quality living environments.
Property blocks are proposed to be at
least 60m deep, which means each section
back to back will be 30m deep.
This would allow for larger backyards
and mean 18m minimum distance between
houses, creating extra privacy and opportu-
nities for more trees.
Feedback is wanted on whether the 60m
proposed block depth allows sufficient f lex-
ibility for current housing needs or if the
council consider a shorter minimum block
depth.
Rules to encourage high quality housing
Rules aim to ensure greater levels of privacy
and high quality living environments. The
majority of housing in Flat Bush is likely
to be the traditional detached home, which
would have 420sqm sections, 4m front
gardens and 9m backyards.
For other types of housing individual
properties would range from about 300sqm
for semi-detached to between 180 and
260sqm for terrace housing. Apartments
would be limited to five-storeys.
More parks
An increase in open space and parks is pro-
posed for the second stage of Flat Bush.
This includes creating more park area
around Murphy’s Bush and playing fields
nearby to create a large Murphy’s Park.
Indian
Malayali Samajam celebrates Kerala’s ethos in NZ Lecture series
The Auckland Malayali Samajam has dedi-
cated itself to preserve and promote the unique
culture of the state by name Kerala in the south-
ern part of India. Kerala has a multicultural
society of Hindus, Muslims and Christians
living in harmony from times immemorial.
Keralites have a very broadminded culture,
which permits mutual respect of social and cul-
tural aspects.
The same attitudes and values are brought to
New Zealand. This is particularly relevant and
valuable for the younger generation born and
raised here and who came here at a very young
age. Currently, the Samajam membership is
about two thousand (five hundred families with
an average of four members per family) and the
majority of them reside in Auckland region/dis-
trict of New Zealand.
Auckland Malayali Samajam was estab-
lished in the year 1997 as a not-for-profit socio-
cultural organisation. It was registered as an
incorporated society according to the Societ-
ies Act, 1908 on 29th November 1999 and as a
charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005,
on 30th June 2008.
The key objectives of Samajam include fos-
tering contacts, friendship and understanding
among Malayali and other ethnic communities
of New Zealand, organising educational activi-
ties to add value to the culture and society, or-
ganising cultural programmes for making con-
tributions to institutions such as Cancer Society
of New Zealand.
Some of the cultural events we celebrate are
Onam (traditional harvest festival of Kerala),
Christmas, Kerala Piravi, Vishu and Easter.
We have activities involving multi ethnic group
such as Love-All Badminton tournament,
Soccer tournament, cricket and volleyball.
The Samajam started their 2009-2010 ac-
tivities by giving ‘Pranamam to Parents’. The
programme named “Matha-Pitha Vandhanam”
held on June 6 last year was dedicated to our
parents with special songs, dances and speech
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
cELEBRATIONS: Clock wise - Sports
and Games day (President gives away
trophy to winners); Glipmses from
ONAM celebration
to suit parents’ taste. Major attraction was the
talk on “Ways to lead a happy life” by Prof T O
Poulose. Traditional meals were prepared and
served by the committee members to all.
Samajam Yuvajanotsavam, conducted as
part of Independence Day celebrations on
August 15 last year at Mt Roskil War Memo-
rial Hall for our children aged 15 and under,
was one of the most long awaited programmes
of the year. The children who participated
showed their extreme commitment and dedica-
tion in performing on the stage. Yuvajanotsav
2009 proved that, there is no dearth of budding
talents in our community.
Apart from Onam Extravaganza, the tradi-
tional programme of Kerala, this year’s com-
mittee is coming up with Starnite 2010 bringing
Cine artists from Kerala - Jagathy Sreekumar,
Kalpana, Indrans, Tiny Tom and Playback
Singer Vidhu Pratap and Deepti the classical
dancer.
The show is being held on May 1, 2010 Sat-
urday at Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auck-
land. Preparations are already on for receiving
artists and ticket sales are progressing.
The two who were leading the Samajam
of 2009-2010 are: Sasi Nambissan (President)
and Jomichen (Secretary). Other Committee
members are: Priya Coray (Vice President),
Aby Joseph (Joint Secretary), Venugopalan Nair
(Treasurer) Executive Committee members:
Sreekumar Puli, Roy Pallimalil, Roy Varghese
and Roy Francis.
Their tenure will be completed with a final
program with Vishu and Easter celebrations,
AGM and Election of new office bearers on
May 15, 2010.
Editor’s note: Indian Weekender profiles
ethnic Indian organisations from time to time.
Organisations are invited to send articles about
themselves and reports about their activities
along with any photographs for publication.
Send yopur contributions to editor@indian-
weekender.co.nz
Community
an uplifting
experience
The NZ Vedanta Education
Society recently celebrated
a week of illuminating
lectures from Swami
Anubhavanandaji.
The New Zealand Vedanta Education Society
Incorporated, together with the general public
of Auckland, recently celebrated a week of il-
luminating lectures from Swami Anubhavana-
ndaji of Mumbai, India.
Swamiji’s lecture series on “give and take,
faith, concentration or awareness” directly
emitting from the fragrance and the sweetness
of the Upanishads and the Bhagwat Geeta ex-
hilarated the participants.
The weekend retreat on the topic of “the ve-
dantic spiritual life” proved very engaging and
a lot of fun and joy, participants said.
The aim of the society is to promote the im-
portance of spiritual and vedantic philosophi-
cal education amongst the residents of New
Zealand via lectures, study circles, seminars,
retreats, management lectures and cultural pro-
grammes.
Regular weekly study circles are held:
Vedanta Study Circle, Time: 8.30am to 9.30am,
every Saturday at Bhartiya Samaj Hall, 13 May
Rd, Mt Roskill, Auckland.
All are invited to participate and learn/
engage in the Vedantic spiritual life.
19
Indian
Community

ociation 84th conference was held at

The New Zealand Indian Central Ass 0.
kland on Saturday 27th March 201
the Mahatama Gandhi Centre, Auc
NZICA conference was presented to Muthamil Sangam arranged a
The merit certificate for attending 15+ turn out for the ev two-day trip to H
khb hai Chh aga n of BO P (Ro toru a) Indian Association. en t. T he da y w
unua Falls. There
was a big
Hasmu and drawing com as marked with Tw
petitions and bush enty20 cricket, co
helped with the co walk to spot glow louring
oking and there w worms. Every mem
non-vegetarian fo as delicious spread ber

Teen queen on the move

od was served to with vegetarian an
Ilango Krisnamoo all our members. d
rthy distributed pr Sangam President
izes for the winne M r.
r of competition.
Being part of St John has proven proud of?

Teachers drive musical show

to be a life changing experience One of the achievements that I
for former Teen Queen Priyanka am especially proud of is becom-
Grish of North Shore. ing a Prefect and Student Board
Priyanka, who was the People’s of Trustee at Northcote College
Choice Miss Teen New Zealand because to become one of the head
two years ago, says she loves the students of a college was a dream
opportunities that come her way come true for a girl who was very
for being part of the organization. shy and insecure. St John had a
“The best part of being in- huge component in making this
volved with St John is that it per- dream come true.
suades me to step outside my What is one thing about you
comfort zone and challenge myself most people don’t know?
to strive for excellence,” says Pri- Most people don’t know that
yanka, who is the Takapuna St I am People’s Choice Miss Teen
John Youth Division leader. India New Zealand 2008
St John Youth is a programme Tell us about your background
popular with the Indian youngsters – where you come from, how
age 6-18 in New Zealand, giving you came to be in New Zealand,
them good citizenship skills and what other roles you have had,
first aid training. any advice for Indians in New
However, there is a need for Zealand considering becoming a Sangeet Bhari Shaam: The core organising members of the Fiji Teachers Reunion
more leaders like Priyanka to fill youth leader or wanting to join as pictured at a recent meeting in Papatoetoe. Seated on left is president Shiu Charan.
volunteer leadership roles. a cadet?
As a youth Leader in the fun I was born in India, I moved to A group of former Fiji school teachers has re- “While entertaining people, this programme
and dynamic programme, Priyan- New Zealand 7 years ago with my united in Auckland for a good cause. is expected to raise money needed to continue
ka is making a positive impact on parents and two brothers. I never The Fiji Teachers Reunion, comprising prac- our assistance programme to the children of
young people’s lives while develop- let an opportunity pass me by so tising teachers and former educationalists, have Fiji.”
ing her own professional skills. juggling acts: I have held many roles. Some of pooled their times and resources to organize Swami said the group had organized several
Here, she talks to LINDA DON- Priyanka Grish, former the roles I have had are Prefect, events to help children in the island nation. functions in the past and had collectively given
ALDSON about her experiences: People’s Choice Miss Teen Student Board of Trustee, Librar- One such event – the “Fiji Ke Bachchon Ke the money to various causes in Fiji.
How long have you been in- NZ, now a St John Youth ian, Peer Support Leader, Peer- Naam Sangeet Bhari Shaam” - will be held on He urged all to support the May 8 pro-
volved with St John? leader on the North Shore. Tutor, Head Peer-Tutor, Member of Saturday, March 8, in Papatoetoe, Auckland. gramme at Papatoetoe Town Hall, 35 St George
I have been a Cadet for 3 years; Student Council, Member of North The programme starts at 7pm and is expected to St.
a Youth Leader and Operational Volunteer for 2 Shore Youth Council, St John Corporal, St John end at around 10.30pm. Food included in the entry fee of $15. Kava,
years so a total of 5 years. Cadet Leader, Member of Raise Up n Represent, A group spokesman, Vishnu Swami, said the juice and snacks will be on sale.
How did you first become involved in St John? Cancer Society Charity Collector, and New World programme would feature artistes from Fiji and For ticket information, Swami can be con-
I started St John as a Youth Member in 2005. Checkout Operator. India in a night of musical extravaganza. tacted on 09 835 1787. Alternatively, president
What role(s) do you have in St John? Before starting St John I was very shy, I always “This programme will range from famous Shiu Charan can be contacted on 838 4418;
At the moment I am a Youth Leader at Takapuna kept to myself, I didn’t make many friends, I had a current numbers to classical dances and mim- Secretary Satya Dutt on 273 9674; or treasurer
Youth Division and an Operational Volunteer. very low self-esteem, I was afraid of taking chal- ickery,” Swami told the Indian Weekender. Rishi Maharaj on 627 8226.
What do you enjoy most about your role? lenges. I would always avoid going to new places
I love the wide range of opportunities that St where I didn’t know many people as I was scared of
John has offered me. The experience of meeting ce- not being able to make any friends.
lebrities like Silver Fern, All Blacks, Indian Cricket Right now I see myself as a very different person.
Team, Black Caps is just mind blowing. On top of I am much more confident in meeting new people, I
that I have gained expertise in a variety of subjects have learned to trust myself and the people around
while teaching youth member’s basic life skills and me, I am not afraid to take challenges anymore. It
most of all I love the adventurous trips and camps. has taught me to rise above my fears. Being a part
My role is exciting, challenging and rewarding at of St John has certainly changed my life for good.
the same time. I enjoy every little bit about being a For Indians in New Zealand who would like the
youth leader. join, I would just like to say that it is a wonderful
What is the best part of being involved with St experience, the people are amazing, the opportuni-
John? ties are enormous, it’s one of the best things that you
The best part of being involved with St John is could do for yourself and the community and at the
that it persuades me to step outside my comfort zone end of the day you will be amazed by things you
and challenge myself to strive for excellence. would achieve.
Describe a typical day in your role at St John. People who have what it takes to become a
Not a single day is the same in my role at St Youth Programme leader like Priyanka should
John. Every day I have different experiences, learn phone St John toll-free on 0800 ST JOHN (78
new things and meet new people. My days are full 5646) or got to www.stjohn.org.nz and complete the
of surprises so I can’t really describe a typical day. expression of interest form.
What is one achievement in life that you are - Linda Donaldson

20 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Community

Community hugely disappointed at practice of charging

Our report in the last issue of Indian Weekender on the practice of charging a door fee for meeting visiting Indian
dignitaries has resulted in an avalanche of email messages, phone calls and posts on the Indian Weekender website. This
report is based on responses from eminent community members. Several messages have also been posted on the Indian
Weekender website. Also included on this page is GOPIO’s official communication in response to last week’s report and
Indian Weekender’s rejoinder to it.
Members from a broad swathe of the Indian chance for free and fair meetings with the private one. In these countries this is how it disappointment to Indian Weekender. As re-
community as well as prominent community public. works. There are no free lunches, everyone ported in the last issue, office bearer Manjit
leaders and businesspeople expressed their “If at all there is a funding problem, it can has to pay,” he said. “As I have always said, Singh who is also NZICA Treasurer said
disappointment – some of them even their always be sponsored by such community or- Indian communities must all come together he did not attend the dinner on a matter of
outrage – in these messages. ganisations. They can quite comfortably ac- and work as one. I have asked the NZICA principle: “I thought it was simply unfair to
These comments were not necessarily commodate 500-700 people. People should to take the lead in this during their annual charge,” he said.
about the practice of charging but also the not be made to pay individually. And there general meeting.” Kuldeep Arora, whose wife is an office
fact that many people as well as leading com- has to be more openness in the way these Community leaders said while there was bearer of GOPIO and also closely associated
munity organisations were not even aware of things are done. Hopefully we will do better nothing wrong in hosting private functions with the Sai Sansthan, saw nothing wrong in
senior Indian minister Kapil Sibal’s visit. next time.” for which there were charges, this being the paying a fair amount for food and drinks con-
Expressing her disappointment, Ranjana Community leader and President of Global only one of the minister in Auckland it should sumed but he did not endorse the so-called
Patel, recently elected President of the Indians Prithipal Singh Basra said, “Charg- have been more inclusive and open to the “private dinner” that followed where even
Manukau Indian Association, director of East ing was totally out of the question. We should public. Many people were simply not aware office bearers of GOPIO were not invited
Tamaki Healthcare and community leader be concerned with how to get the common and learned about the news from the media – and termed it a case of “favouritism.” Mr
said she had no idea about the minister’s visit. people of this country to interact with digni- – that too after the minister and his team had Arora added that he believed everybody
“I was totally unaware and read in the paper taries and not put barriers for doing so. There departed, community members have said. should be treated equally and fairly – and
that he spoke on healthcare. If we had known are organisations like the NZICA, which have Chairperson of the Bhartiya Samaj Chari- thus be given an equal chance to meet any
about it we would definitely have been there been there for 80 years that are capable of table Trust Jeet Sachdev said he was disap- visiting dignitary.
and to discuss matters with him. doing this. If this were to be organised by any pointed at the way in which the whole event Another GOPIO member Ram Vasisht
was conducted. “Such things simply cannot also deplored the manner in which the event
be exclusively private affairs,” he told Indian was handled as did Deepesh Parikh, former
Weekender. “I am deeply disappointed.” Director of Bollywood publication G3 and
Even several GOPIO members expressed secretary of Vaishnav Pariwar.

GOPIO’s response to last week’s report:

Attention: Chief Editor
Reference: Recent issue of The Indian Weekender, dated 15th April, 2010
Header: You need $$$ to meet visiting Indian dignitaries

CLOCK-WISE FROM TOP-LEFT: High Com-
missioner of India Admiral (Retd) Sureesh
Mehta; Ranjana Patel; Roshan Lal Nauhria;
Harshad Patel; Prithipal Singh Basra.
“We are the biggest healthcare pro-
vider especially to the Indian community in
New Zealand. So it would have been benefi-
cial for both parties to meet for discussions.
We have already made several visits to India
– to Ahmedabad and Bangalore and we are
committed to going ahead with projects there
because we want to give back to communities
in India,” she told Indian Weekender.
“To date all such meetings have been or-
ganised by the Indian associations and we
have never charged or ever have had to pay
for attending such meetings. This seems to be
a new trend. If it is indeed a new trend then
it is going to disadvantage the mainstream
Indian community at large in a very big way.
“For India-New Zealand relations to grow
we need the involvement of more people, and
more avenues for meetings open to the wider
public without any charge.”
Well known industrialist and community
leader Roshan Lal Nauhria said, “I believe
whenever any leader comes from India, the
initiative for meetings with Indians here
should be taken by the High Commission.
“We have so many organisations in Auck-
land that would be willing to do this. There
is NZICA, Auckland Indian Association,
Manukau Indian Association, Swaminarayan
Mandir, Bharatiya Mandir so many others
who would be willing to facilitate such meet-
ings with visiting dignitaries.
“The last time when Indian Sports Min-
ister M. S. Gill was here this was facilitated
through the Swaminarayan temple giving a
of the Indian associations, there would have
been no question of charging.
“The lead has to be taken by the High
Commissioner, if he is involved in the visits
of such dignitaries, in contacting the right
Indian organisation that can organise mean-
ingful meetings with a large section of the
community. And it is not as if the office of
the High Commissioner does not know which
are the right organisations with the highest
reach,” he said.
Speaking to Indian Weekender over phone
High Commissioner of India Admiral (Retd)
Sureesh Mehta said GOPIO approached the
High Commission to arrange the meeting in
Auckland. GOPIO office bearers were “well
connected with the community, they know
everyone” he said. “No other Indian organi-
sation had approached.”
But most organisations Indian Weekender
spoke to claimed no knowledge of the min-
ister’s impending visit. NZICA General Sec-
retary Raj Thandi said he knew about the
meeting just two hours before and therefore
could not make it because he was commit-
ted somewhere else. If it had known, NZICA
would have been glad to host it, he said.
Auckland Indian Association President
Harshad Patel also said if the association had
known they would have made the venue avail-
able free. “Charging is totally unacceptable,”
he said.
Admiral Mehta said he saw nothing wrong
in the charges. “The GOPIO function was a
We the National Executive of GOPIO New Zealand wish to advice and/or comment as
under:
1. The function organized in the honor of visiting Union Minister of India Hon Mr Kapil
Sibal was an ‘invitation only’ event. It was a PRIVATE function and not a political meeting
or a public gathering. GOPIO NZ had extended invitation to Business Professionals and
Community and Social Organization Leaders. The function was well attended and was a
great success.
2. The invitees spontaneously agreed to contribute towards the actual costs of the function.
3. GOPIO New Zealand, being a part of GOPIO International, is a non political organiza-
tion with no alignment to any political faction or party. GOPIO stands for harmonious co-
existence of all associations and organizations representing the Indian community to serve
the wider interests of the Diaspora, not only here in New Zealand but across the globe.
4. GOPIO New Zealand has no intention of engaging in any further correspondence on
this matter and earnestly requests all concerned to work for the unity and progress of the
Indian Diaspora.
Kind regards
ASHOK BHATIA
National President – GOPIO New Zealand
Indian Weekender’s rejoinder:
We beg to differ with the contention that “invitees spontaneously agreed to contribute
towards the actual costs of the function.” See GOPIO’s response above.
The text of GOPIO’s invitation to the event says it all:
GOPIO New Zealand will be hosting a Cocktails Function in the honour of Indian Cabinet
Minister for Human Resource Development, Education and Science & Technology, Hon.
Shri Kapil Sibal, who is leading a high powered delegation for a two-day visit to New
Zealand. This would allow the Indian Community Leaders and Business Leaders to share
their views with the Minister on possibilities of developing further cooperation between
the two countries in areas of Education and HRD. The details are as follows:
Date: 11 April, 2010
Time: 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Venue: Stamford Plaza Hotel, Albert Street, Auckland
Cost: $40.00 per head (includes Wine, Beer, Soft Drinks and Veg/NonVeg nibbles)
Kindly note that owing to a very short notice, you are requested to RSVP latest by the
evening of Thursday, the 1st April and ensure to deposit requisite attendance costs to
GOPIO New Zealand account, details of which will be communicated to you by our Na-
tional Treasurer Mr Sandeep Aggarwal upon getting confirmation of numbers.”
We see nothing spontaneous in inviting forking $40. As can be seen, the amount was
clearly solicited, contrary to what GOPIO’s clarification says.

Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 21

Indian
Bollywood
Bobby Deol wraps up I’m inspired by Noorjahan,
shooting for Help says Akriti Kakar
Mumbai: The cast of the upcoming horror thriller the midst of their troubled marriage, they have to Mumbai: Singer Akriti Kakar is one of the the audiences.”
‘Help’, starring Bobby Deol and Mugdha Godse, rush Mauritus to visit Pia’s ailing father. lucky ones who had gone on a world tour Akriti has earlier
recently wrapped shooting the final schedule and But something “dark that remains still, hidden with music maestros Kalyanji and Anandji in sung songs in 2
are ‘extremely excited’ about it’s release ‘in the and silent” in the old house where Pia grew up and her childhood. albums- ‘Baby
very near future’. “all it wants wants to do is to strike again” But that’s not why she is in the news these Doll’ and ‘A-
Directed by debutant director Rajeev Virani ‘Very excited’ about her role, Mugdha, said, days. Teen’.
and Produced by Sanjay Ahluwalia & Vinay “I have done glamorous roles as well as de-glam The talented young singer has launched She is also
Choksey of Rupali Aum Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., roles in the past but with ‘Help’ you will see me in her very first namesake music album titled playbacking
the film was shot in Mauritius and Mumbai for a role which is much more acting oriented.” ‘Akriti’, released by Sony Music. for ‘Do Duni
a schedule of 45 days spread over a period of 8 Calling it a ‘role of a lifetime’ the she says she Excited about her new launch, Akriti Char’, ‘Pappu
months. ‘had to prepare really hard’ to inhabit the skin of said: “Many people advised me to not release Can’t Dance’,
Speaking about his role in the film, Bobby the character. the album so soon, but I was adamant and and ‘Life
said, “The film has She said, ‘My I released it because I believe that if the isse gale
been beautifully character had to be product is good, people are bound to appreci- laga le’.
shot and I must really authentic and ate it exactly same way if the music is good,
say it’s one the I must admit that it people will buy the album and listen to the
finest horror films was a spooky ex- songs.”
that the audience perience too as the She further said the 7 songs in her album
will see. It’s chill- makeup was such are all sung in varied moods.
ing, gruesome and that it gave me the “I have dedicated one song to Noor-
the kind of horror jitters.’ jahan Ji who was my inspiration and my
which gives you ‘The prosthetic mentor since childhood,” she said.
Goosebumps. makeup for me Out of the seven songs in the album,
‘Help will take and the other char- she has composed the music for 5 songs.
the horror genre acters in the film Music sensation Shankar Mahadevan
in India to another has been done by has composed the music for 2 songs.
level. My char- Vikram Gaikwad, “Shankar Ji has always supported me
acter in the film who is reknowned and he always encourages youngsters like
is extremely well for his makeup for me. I am very lucky and proud of the fact
defined and I am films like 3 Idiots, that he has composed the music for 2 of
sure people will The cast: Mughda Godse, Rajeev Virani, Kaminey, Ishqiya, my songs in this music album,” she said.
like the new Bobby Sanjay Ahluwalia & Bobby Deol on the last Delhi 6 etc.’ she Akriti likes listening to classical
in the film,” he day of shoot of Help added. singer Kishori Amonkar and pop-icon
said. Mugdha said she hope that once the audience Mariah Carey’s songs in her free time.
According to makers, ‘Help’ is a supernatural has watched Help they will agree that it is ‘as au- Asked if she’s nervous about the
horror that draws upon the story of a malevolent thentic as can be’ and see that ‘we have not com- fate of her album, Akriti coolly said: “I
spirit that refuses to leave the human world. prised an iota when it comes to quality’. have put in all my efforts to make sure
Bobby Deol plays the protagonist Vic who is a ‘Help’ being billed by the makers ‘as one of my album comes out to be very unique
successful horror film director in Bollywood and the scariest horror films of all times by the people and melodious. I am sure that my album
is married to Pia played by Mugdha Godse. Pia who have seen the rushes of the film’ is expected would be able to strike the right chord with
and Vic who are having marital problems and in to release in the coming months.

22 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
‘Audience will love
me on big screen’
Anuuj Saxsena was a big hit with the audiences
on the small screen. He will soon be seen
showing his acting prowess in forthcoming film
Chase. He speaks to Indian Weekender
Bollywood correspondent. Excerpts:
You have acted in Chase as well as
produced it. How did you juggle two dif-
ferent roles at one time?
Chase is the first independent venture of Mav-
erick Production. I never faced any problem
balancing acting and producing as I got tremen-
dous support from all the staff of my production
house.
How did you decide to make an action,
thriller movie Chase?
When I heard the story of the film I really liked
it and I know the audiences appreciate action
movies made with new concepts and storylines.
So how has director Jagmohan
Mundhra directed the movie?
Director Jagmohan Mundhra has done a fantas-
tic job in directing the movie. I am sure the audi-
ence will like the movie without a doubt.
We have heard about a certain rift
between you and director Jagmohan
Mundhra…
No there are no rifts between us. When two or
Hrishitta Bhatt is the new Limca girl
Mumbai: Bollywood actor Hrishitta Bhatt has been
tied up for Limca’s ‘Splash of freshness’ Summer
Campaign.
Latest communication is based on how Limca
with its splash of freshness can spark a playful ro-
mantic interaction between a boy and a girl who
are complete strangers. According to Ricardo
Fort, Vice-President, Marketing, Coca-Cola India,
“Limca is known for refreshing its consumers both
physically and emotionally. The new Limca ‘Splash
of freshness’ summer campaign takes the magic
of ‘water-like freshness’ to the next level by using
‘Romance’ as a key to emotional rejuvenation. I am
confident that this latest communication would find
a special appeal amongst all soft-drink consumers.”
The communication revolves around two strang-
ers, a girl (Hrishitta Bhatt) and a boy (Viraf Patel).
The story starts with Hrishitta Bhatt reading a
book in her balcony.
Right opposite her house is Viraf Patel sitting on
his bike with a bottle of Limca. With the book in her
hands and eyes on Viraf, Hrishitta exchanges sweet,
flirtatious glances with Viraf.
As soon as Viraf takes a sip of his Limca, the
book in Hrishitta’s hands bursts into water leaving
them both surprised.
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
more people work together
certain differences of opinion
are bound to happen.
Tell us something more about your
character in the movie.
I play the character of Sohail, a youngster
wrongly accused in a murder case and who
wants to prove his innocence.Sohail is on the
run from the police who are convinced that he
is the culprit.
What was your experience working with
actresses Udita Goswami and Tarina
Patel?
It was a great experience working with Udita
and Tarina. Both of them are talented actresses
and they have worked really hard in this movie.
We all shared a great chemistry during the
making of the movie.
So will the audience get to see the ac-
tresses doing action scenes too?
Yes definitely why not. Both Udita and Tarina
have shot for action scenes as per their charac-
ters.
What kind of movies do you want to do
after this one?
I have not really thought about the future so
much, but I would like to do movies in which
the character suits me perfectly.
As a producer what are your future
projects?
I will be producing a movie with Chirag Paswan
and Kangana and a movie with the acclaimed
director Tanuja Chandra. As of now I am con-
centrating on these two projects.
You have a lot of fan following on the
small-screen; do you think you can get
a similar following on the silver screen?
Yes definitely. The audiences have always loved
and supported me and I am confident that they
would love me in the movies as well.
And so begins the romantic ‘Shararat’ between
the two as Hrishitta gets drenched when the object
that she is reaching for [be it to dry herself, throw
at him in anger or simply touch] turns into water.
She finally gets her due when Viraf’s Limca finishes
and she walks across to his house with her bottle of
Limca. As soon as she takes a sip, Viraf’s bike bursts
into water and he falls on the ground drenched yet
smiling.
The communication ends with both of them
laughing together and signs off with the tag line –
‘Doobo taazgi mein’.
Shakti Mohan wins Zee TV’s golden hat
Mumbai: Shakti Mohan has been announced the
winner of Zee TV’s popular dance reality show
Dance India Dance Season 2.
The Grand Finale was held at Shahaji Raje
Krida Sankul (Andheri Sports Complex) on Friday
night.
In an intense, nerve-racking finish, Shakti
Mohan was voted the winner by millions of viewers
from across the nation.
Shakti Mohan got 734140 votes, while
Dharmesh Yelande got 730931, Punit Pathak
723867 and Binny Sharma got 697914 votes.
The evening saw power-packed acts including
Remo’s medley of Micheal Jackson’s chartbusters
and Terence’s jaw-dropping zip-line entry seated
atop the Avatar bird.
Punit’s rocking rendition of ‘Dhoom’, Shakti’s
spunky jig to ‘Shut Up n Bounce’ & ‘Chamma
Chamma’, Binny’s mermaid act to the soul-stirring
‘Mar Jawaan’ & Dharmesh’s stunning turn on a
giant cassette player prop made the competition a
tough one to judge.
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On public demand, Shakti joined hands with
Amar for an encore of the Best duet act of Season
2, ‘Khuda Jane’.
The audience stood up and applauded when
the four finalists performed a special aerial act to
‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’.
As if this wasn’t exciting enough, Grand Master
Mithun Da joined hands with anchors Jay Bhanush-
ali and Saumya Tandon for a comic act that had the
audience in splits.
Nitin Vaidya, COO, Zee Entertainment Enter-
prises Ltd. and Business Head, Zee TV said, “With
Shakti’s victory, the second season of Lux Dance
India Dance has surpassed the benchmarks set by
the first season.”
Shakti won the Sunheri Taqdeer Ki Topi (The
Golden hat). Apart from this, the winner was also
bestowed with a contract of Rs. 50 lakhs with Zee
TV, a Wagon-R car and an exclusive opportunity to
star in Farah Khan’s next film ‘Tees Maar Khan’.
Heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif
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23
Indian
Femina Miss India now
hunts for ‘Bollywood Diva’ 
Mumbai: Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2010
scheduled the much-awaited Live audition and
screen test of its 18 finalists for the ‘Bollywood
Diva’ title at Hotel Novotel, Juhu.
Dedicated to the one of its’ kind ‘Fashion
meets Bollywood’ tie-up announced early this
year, industry stalwarts  Madhur Bhandarkar,
Vipul Shah and Anupam Kher judged the con-
testants on the basis of their acting and dancing
skills.
Basis the above audition and screen
tests, Madhur Bhandarkar and Vipul Shah will
select one contestant each which they will
launch in one of their forthcoming films.
Additionally, these two girls shall be
titled  “Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2010
Bollywood Diva”  and the winners will be  an-
nounced at the Grand Finale event, which is
scheduled on April 30.
The transformation process was the high-
light of the day as the contestants brought to
forefront the ‘beauty with brains’ perspective.
The experts behind this enviable makeover
were two of India’s leading gurus – Anupam
Paa, Japanese Wife to be screened in Poland
Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Paa’ and
Aparna Sen’s ‘The Japanese Wife’ have been
selected as the two Indian films to be screened
at The International Festival of Independent
Cinema in Krakow, Poland.
Directed by R Balki, ‘Paa’ is a film based
on a generic disease called progeria. Amitabh
Bachhan plays a 13-year-old kid suffering
from progeria. His real-life son Abhishek
plays Big B’s father in the film.
‘The Japanese Wife’ is directed by Aparna
Shammi Kapoor’s son makes a comeback
Mumbai: Veteran actor Shammi Kapoor’s son
Aditya Raj Kapoor is all set to make a come-
back with Maverick Production’s film
‘Chase’.
Aditya Raj Kapoor is playing an
industrialist in the film and his char-
acter has grey shades.
The film also stars Anuj Saxena,
Udita Goswami, Tarina Patel,
Samir Kochar, Tarina Patel, Rajesh
Khattar, Sanjay Mishra and Shweta
Menon.
Aditya has also directed films
like ‘Shamaal’, ‘Sambar Salsa’ and
‘Don’t stop dreaming’ in the past.
Aditya was busy in con-
structing amusement parks
24
Bollywood
Lahore set to get Hollywood remake
The director believes one of the reasons people
liked the film was “its quality and for sure all my
crew left no stone unturned for achieving the best
possible quality”.
“I have been requested to sell all the rights for
remake of the film and yes there might be a pos-
sibility of myself directing the film again, with an
all new International cast and crew, which will
a big challenge and responsibility for me.” said
Chauhan.
Mumbai: Director Sanjay Puran Singh Chau- The makers feel that “even though many
han’s Indian film Lahore is now ‘all set to create Indian actors have worked in Hollywood and vice
a history’ according to its producers, by becom- versa and many Hollywood films have had their
ing ‘the first ever Indian film to have its remake remake here in Bollywood, but for an Indian film
in Hollywood.’ to have its remake there is a big
Lahore, released in India by Warner Bros. and achievement for the Indian
was produced by Sai Om Film Pvt. Ltd, won many entertainment industry”.
International Awards much before its release and Now what is to be
had to its name ‘many rave reviews’ when it hit the seen is whether Hol-
Cinemas all over last month. lywood Gang will
Hollywood Gang, producers of films like 300 have the original
starring Gerard Butler and Robert De Niro & script restored in the
Drew Barrymore starrer Everybody’s Fine, have remake or use the
approached Sanjay Chauhan to acquire all the re- cinematic liberty to
quired right for remake of the film. match the tastes of
According to the makers there is also ‘a prob- foreign audiences.
ability’ that Sanjay himself might go on directing Sanjay Chauhan,
the film with an all new cast from Hollywood, and however, firmly said,
it is believed to have an amalgamation of some big “I would hand over the
names there. rights only on one condi-
Chauhan said, “Yes it is true that we have been tion that my script is
approached by Mr.Scott Carr, Director of Devel- not tampered with,
opment of Hollywood Gang Production House. I whether if I direct
would say it is an honour for me and my film that the film there
after having so much of accolade from all over, or anyone else
Lahore will now be remade in Hollywood.” does. I know that
“Even in the original film I had a lots of In- my script is very
ternational crew like Wayne Sharpe who did the original and I don’t
background score, Tony Leung, our action direc- think so it requires
tor, International Vocalist Lisbeth Scott who sung any changes as it is
for the film, and Rob Miller, who served as our a universal subject.”
Sports Consultant and must say they added the au-
thenticity that my film always needed,” he added
Kher and Shiamak Davar. 
Anupam Kher  trained the contestants in
nuances of acting through a specialized de-
could i visit mum for Mother’s Day?
signed training module. Additionally, his
company ‘Actor Prepares’ will award a scholar-
ship for a 3-month Full Time Diploma Course in
Acting to any one of the deserving contestants. 
Shiamak Davar, India’s guru of modern con-
temporary dance, along with his team at SDIPA
conducted exclusive workshops to train the con-
testants in Bollywood dancing.
Sen. The film stars Rahul Bose , Japanese
actress Chigusa Takaku, Raima Sen and
Moushumi Chatterjee. It is based on the rela-
tionship between two pen-friends- a Bengali
village teacher and a Japanese girl. The two
exchange marriage vows through letters
and live like man and wife for 17 years even
without seeing each other.
The International Festival of Indepen-
dent Cinema in Krakow started April 16, and
ended on April 25.
with $10,000 to be won, you
could visit your entire family!
across the country (the two most popular ones
Appu Ghar and Fantasy Land) When you send money to your mum this Mother’s
Day, she can buy herself a treat, and you’ll
since last fifteen years and is automatically go in the draw to win $10,000 cash!
also working on the cause
You can send money from over 730 agent locations
of Child Education. around New Zealand1, or online at westernunion.
Years ago, he had co.nz. Better still, when you transfer money online
acted in Salman Khan or if you use a Western Union® Gold Card, you get
and Madhuri Dixit two entries in the draw.
starrer ‘Dil Tera Aas- Offer runs 5 April 2010 – 9 May 2010. Terms and conditions
hique’ and was also apply. Visit www.westernunion.co.nz for details.
seen in ‘Satyam Shivam
Sundaram’ in 1978.
‘Chase’, directed by www.westernunion.co.nz
Jag Mohan Mundhra, is
set for April 29 release. Service available at:
Pacific
1. Data network as of 31 December 2009. © 2010 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. WES2173/IndianW/QPV
WES 2173 INDIAN WEEKENDER QPV.indd 1 14/04/10 11:04 AM
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
‘Want to make film on
Sonia Gandhi’
After spending over 25 years in filmmaking, Jagmohan Mundhra
is now awaiting the release of his new film Chase. Excerpts
Tell us something about Chase?
Chase a movie launched by Maverick Production
is the story of Sohail who is caught in a trap set by
some of the most influential people in the city and
is wrongly accused of murder. Sohail is on the run
from the police as he wants to catch the real culprits
and get acquitted in the murder case. The film stars
Anuuj Saxena, Udita Goswami, Tarina Patel,Aditya
Raj Kapoor, Shweta Menon and Rajesh Khattar.
Do you think the audience will appreci-
ate the film?
I think it depends on the audience entirely. I have
put in a lot of efforts to make an action, thriller
movie Chase. I am sure the audience will not be
disappointed when they see the movie as it covers
all aspects which the audience expects to be present
in a movie.
Why did you choose Srinagar to shoot
for one song sequence?
If I wanted I could have shot for this song in Mau-
ritius or Switzerland. But Srinagar and Kashmir
both places hold a special place in my heart. After
a lot of discussions with the rest of the movie crew
we shot the song sequences in Srinagar. We have
described the beautiful flora and fauna of Srinagar
in the song we shot there. It was such a great experi-
ence to shoot the beautiful rivers, flowers, valleys,
mountains etc in Srinagar that we never felt that
there was danger surrounding us.
Tell us something about the star-cast of
the movie.
Everyone has done a great job in the movie. All the
star-cast were extremely hard-working and dedi-
cated during the shooting. The audience will love
to see Anuuj and Udita doing the action stunts. I am
sure they will also like the acting done by Tarina,
Rajesh and Aditya.
Zee TV brings ‘dance’
to Mumbai streets
Mumbai: Ever imagined that a television
show with a cult following across India
will step out of the tube and onto the
streets of Mumbai? Well, it just did!
With the grand finale of its popular
dance reality series Lux Dance India
Dance barely a week away, Zee TV re-
created the magic of the show through a
world-class dance carnival at Worli Sea
Face, Mumbai.
Presenting India with its first experi-
ence of an authentic dance carnival, Zee
TV’s marathon was a riot of colours, an
opulent extravaganza of dance … a cel-
ebration of the joyous spirit of Mumbai.
With an interesting mélange of stilt-
walkers, lezim troupes and tattoo artists,
the crowd was encouraged to groove to
some Hip-Hop, try their hand at Ballet,
do the Dandiya and sashay to the beats
of Salsa.
All this while, professional dancers
dressed in vibrant carnival costumes
swayed to the tunes of Broadway, Lavni,
Cha Cha Cha and Pasa Doble on ornately
decorated floats.
Crowd frenzy was at its peak when
everybody’s favorite dance masters
Remo D’souza, Geeta Kapoor & Terence
Lewis flagged off the carnival in the
presence of the local MLA Sachinbhau
Ahir.
Special security had to cordon off the
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Bollywood
10 Anniversary
th
Special
There was a certain speculation about
you having a rift with actor Anuuj Sax-
ena…
No, there is absolutely no problem between me
and actor Anuuj. When two people from different
and varied backgrounds work together, certain dif-
ferences of opinion are bound to happen, but it’s a
trivial matter and it’s in the past.
You have been highly appreciated for
making women-oriented movies. Could
you elaborate on it?
I have always been drawn towards making movies
with an unusual storyline, especially making
movies on socially relevant issues. I believe that
movies are a powerful medium to educate the
masses on our prevailing social issues and condi-
tions.
Apart from Chase what are your other
projects?
Apartment will be releasing soon, and Naughty @
40 will be released later.
We heard that you are keen on making a
movie on Sonia Gandhi?
Yes, I am very keen to make a movie based on the
life of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi .The talks are
on about making the movie, hopefully the plans
should be materialized soon.
Hurry!
49
mob as fans began flocking the trio.
The popular top 4 finalists of the
$
season - Shakti Mohan, Dharmesh
*
Yelande, Punit Pathak & Binny Sharma
waved out to cheering fans from atop
floats as the resplendent parade proceed-
ed to Worli Sports Ground.
The best of
The culmination of the parade was a
medley of performances by the contes-
Indian
tants of the show.
The dance marathon delivered a
Entertainment
potent message to the citizens of Mumbai
through signages and posters that read
only
“Dance your way to a healthy life”.
Akash Chawla, Marketing Head, Zee
TV said, “The carnival was just our way
of letting the audience experience the
show in person on the streets of Mumbai
when the excitement around the show
is at its peak. Moreover, the concept of
giving India a taste of what a real dance
carnival is, is an immensely exciting
proposition. We’re extremely glad that
the carnival received an overwhelming
response from Mumbai and was a grand
success.”
The 2 NGO’s involved in organizing All NZ: 0508 933 546
Auckland: 09 621 0520
the marathon alongside Zee TV were
the Lions Club of Swami Samarthnagar
Oshiwara- Lokhandwala and the Shri
Sankalp Pratishtan, Worli managed by
www.visionasia.co.nz
local MLA Sachin Ahir & wife Sangeeta
Ahir.
*conditions apply
25
Indian
‘Enjoy hosting cricket shows’ ‘Stars are no guarantee
Samir Kocchar is quite excited these days over his new film Chase,
he tells Indian Weekender Bollywood correspondent. Excerpts
Tell us something about
your character in Chase.
I am the essaying the role of a
police inspector in the action-
thriller Chase. It is the story of
Sohail is gets caught in a trap set
by others and is wrongly accused
of murder. The story revolves
around Sohail and his struggle to
set himself free and catch the real
culprits.
How was your experience
working with director Jag-
mohan Mundhra?
It was a great experience working
with Jag jee. He managed to bring
out the best in everyone who were
working on the movie. After a
long time the audience will get to
see a good action thriller movie.
How was it working with Anuuj, Udita and
your other co-stars?
I enjoyed working with all my co-stars. All of
them are very professional and talented actors, but
at the same time we shared lots of jokes and had
fun working together. The film also stars Aditya
Raj Kapoor and Gulshan Grover and it was great
working with them as well.
You started off your career on television
and now you are seen acting in movies.
What is more fun to work-television or
movies?
I enjoyed working on both
movies and television. I started
my acting career at the age
of 18 where I worked with a
channel known as Jain TV But
people will always remember
me for Sex Talk a talk-show
which I co-hosted along with
Kamal Sidhu. I host another
show on Zoom TV.
You are also seen hosting
IPL matches. Could you
elaborate on that?
So far I have hosted all the
seasons of IPL and I really
enjoy hosting cricket shows.
My very first stint as a cricket
host was on Hungama TV
where I hosted Indoor Cricket
Tournament, a cricket show for
kids.
What are your other forthcoming projects?
Right now I am concentrating only on promoting
Chase. My other forthcoming movie is Chargesheet.
What kinds of movie do you like work for
and also to watch?
I haven’t thought about what kind of movies I would
like to do or what kind of movies I wouldn’t do. I
always choose a movie if I like the story and the
character what I would be playing. As far as watch-
ing movies are concerned, I like to watch movies
with lots of action, thrillers and suspense.
Bollywood
for success’
Director Mahesh Manjrekar was recently in Kolkata
to promote his upcoming Hindi film City of Gold. The
revered director speaks to Divyanshu Dutta Roy
about what it takes to make successful cinema.
How did City of Gold happen?
The film is based on a Marathi play written
by Jawant Pawar. It was called Adhantar. It
was a very successful play and ran from 1997
to 2002 I think. He came to me with the story
idea and I was so ashamed to find out that I
didn’t know anything about the incident. It
looked like a project I wanted to do and we
got down to write the script immediately. In
2004 we had the script ready. Then it took
some time to get the producers and for filming
to begin.
The movie is about the plight of Mumbai
mill workers?
Correct. By 1980s various mills had sprouted
up around Mumbai which employed lakhs of
people. Then as the city progressed, the mills
were bought over to make way for high rises
and malls. Not much thought was spared for
these people. I’m not saying progress shouldn’t
be made. Definitely as time goes by there has to
be development; but not by trampling people.
Tell us about the cast...
We needed actors who could look like mill
workers. Also I didn’t think characters in this
film would suit the stars, so I decided to pri-
marily go with seasoned theatre actors. Of
course people like Karan (Patel), Sachin (Khe-
dekar), Satish Kaushik and Seema Biswas are
also there...I’m very happy about the cast.

Why do you think stars wouldn’t ‘suit’

your characters?
Because then it adds the extra baggage of their
stardom. It becomes really difficult to peel of
their charisma and see them as actors capable
of playing such character roles. Also it was
small budget film so...
Have you used songs in the movie?
Not as they normally are used. I think one
proper ‘song’ which shows how these mill
workers derive entertainment and then there’s
a promotional song we shot for the film.

Making an offbeat film, do you think our
industry is better prepared now or is
Hollywood still the destination for ‘dif-
ferent’ cinema?
‘Different’ as in non-mainstream?
We hear that you sung it?
(Laughs) Yes. It’s a rap song that tells the story
of a modern city bustling with progress. It’s a
rap song so not much training was required and
the music director thought I’d fit the bill so...

Yes... You had started doing a bit of acting in

Well then I’d have to say no. I’m not in awe
of Hollywood. True, they make some great
cinema but they dish out their share of trash
as well. You see, I think it’s the kind of cinema
that you make that matters. You can do a main-
stream movie like Kurbaan or Chandni Chowk
to China with big stars and yet it still flops. You
do a good film like Aamir or A Wednesday and
that becomes a hit. The thing is that the audi-
ence doesn’t want to see trash.
films, what happened to that?
Well it was good for a while. And then I got
being approached for similar kind of roles. So
it was not much fun.
Aside from the film business, what’s
your favourite hobby?
Farming. I love to own a farmhouse, do the
gardening, do some horse riding, hosting
parties on weekends...the works.

So, what does it take to woo in the audi- What’s next?

ence?
There’s no formula to it, I think. We just need
to do good cinema that surprises the audience.
Look at the 3 Idiots, the reason that it was so
successful was its amazing script. The audi-
ence is pretty intelligent now and finally we
are seeing them rejecting the cinema that does
not live up to their expectations. Stars are no
guarantee for success. Take all the flops Yash
Raj has had recently...
Speaking of Yash Raj, what do you have
to say about the so called ‘camps’ that
have come up?
Well I don’t see them as ‘camps’. When you
work with people, you develop a professional
relationship. That makes it comfortable to
work with them. If it’s an accusation, then am
guilty too (laughs); look at me, I work with
Sachin Khedekar.
Am doing a Bengali film with Mithun
Chakraborty next. It’s based on a Marathi
movie. When he heard the script he said ‘I’ll
kill you if you don’t make that film in Bengali
with me in the lead’ (laughs). So I feared my
life and got down to work.
A Bengali movie?
Yes. I mean why not? As long as there’s inter-
esting work to do, the language does not matter
to me. I’m also doing a Telugu movie. Also I
think culturally Marathi and Bengali people
are similar. We have this laid back attitude
(laughs) about us. We appreciate the creative
arts. It goes on. And then I’m in total awe of
Panther Panchali. Few movies have been made
that come close to it.

26 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Facebook: time to ‘unlike’?
Divyanshu Dutta Roy
New York: What if you lived in a world where every-
one including companies knew almost everything
there was to know about you; your favourite movies,
singers, restaurants, designers, hobbies, interests,
what you are doing and even where you are doing it?
It’s not crazy science fiction; if you are one of
the 400 million people who use Facebook (FB), then
starting past Thursday, they know all that about you.
Almost.
At the recently held F8 conference, Facebook
founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg took the stage
on Wednesday and introduced a series of ‘innova-
tions’ that hold the promise of taking the next step
towards connecting you to Internet. Seamlessly.
Say you read a news article, see a video, find a
cool gift idea, there will soon be an omnipresent
‘Like’ and/or ‘Recommend’ button next to it, cour-
tesy Facebook.
The ‘Like’ buttons are meant for real-world items
such as your favourite sports team or band, while
‘Recommend’ buttons are for Web content such as
news articles and videos on news sites.
Taking on social bookmarking sites like Digg,
StumbleUpon, etc, the ‘Recommend’ buttons next
to videos and articles will record and display how
many Facebook friends and other users have recom-
Last year and again this year, Canadian authorities challenged
Facebook’s default privacy settings and its use of personal
information for targeted advertising. Norway filed complaints
after a year-long study of the site’s terms and conditions.
mended the item you are viewing.
Also whenever you recommend something on
sites with the ‘Recommend’ button, a notification
will be sent to your Facebook News Feed that in-
cludes a link back to the video or article.
Even though according to Facebook, the ‘Like’
and ‘Recommend’ buttons don’t affect your privacy
‘that much’ since the information comes and goes
directly from Facebook servers without being deliv-
ered to third party sites, but that can be easily by-
passed.
The ‘Like’ button works similarly to the ‘Recom-
mend’ button but apart from pushing it to the News
Feed, the item (say a car, a peanut butter brand) also
gets placed in your ‘Likes and Interests’ section
under the ‘Info’ tab of your Facebook profile.
On some sites, if you are logged in to Facebook,
you will see your Facebook friends that have signed
up to become members of the site you are viewing,
as well as a link to sign up for the site using your
Facebook login.
Taking it further, Facebook also introduces
something called ‘Instant Personalization’.
By giving access to your publicly available Face-
book information the moment you land on their web-
pages Facebook allows partners to offer a ‘person-
alised’ experience.
If you are logged in to Facebook and visit its
‘partner sites’, which currently includes Yelp, Docs.
com and Pandora - a number that is sure to increase,
the site will ‘recommend’ you information based on
data that gets pulled from your publicly available
Facebook profile.
For example, music site Pandora, would be able
to look at your favourite music listings on your Face-
book profile and deliver music suggestions to you
based on that information. Also much to the glee of
marketers, Zuckerberg announced that its partners
will be able to hold on to this personal data, available
publicly, indefinitely; previously they had to flush it
out in 24 hours.
It gets even scarier when you find out what
exactly Zuckerberg is giving away; everything that,
according to recent revisions to Facebook’s privacy
policy, is now lumped into one category called ‘con-
nections’.
Presently it includes your name, profile picture,
gender, current city, networks, friend list, likes and
interests, and your fan pages. But that list could very
well get longer. The company assures that accord-
ing to Facebook’s rules, a third-party website cannot
sell your data or do much more than use it in relation
to your Facebook account and also that it monitors
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Technology
external sites to make sure they are using your data
appropriately.
But within the fine print of its Privacy Policy,
Facebook states that the social network does not
“guarantee that [third parties] will follow [Face-
book’s] rules” in regards to how your data is sup-
posed to stored and handled.
So next time you visit IMDB and ‘Like’ a movie,
don’t be surprised to see similar movies being rec-
ommended when you go to purchase a DVD at
Amazon. But of course movies are an innocent
example, the effect extends to a whole lot more.
So far one company has used this sort of person-
alised information and preferences to sell you stuff
and today it is the arguably the most powerful IT
company in the world: Google.
Also oft-bashed for its privacy features, Google
used, and continues to use, a similar technique to
offer you better search results and advertising to
become the Internet legend it is today.
Like Google, Facebook defends itself by saying
it allows users to ‘opt out’ of these ‘features’; experts
disagree vehemently.
They say opting out of ‘Instant Personalization’
will not completely stop Instant Personalization sites
from accessing your information simply because
one of your 400 ‘friends’ might still have it on.
So if any of your Facebook friends visit these
sites, the Instant Personalization can access that per-
son’s friend list and all the publicly available infor-
mation for each friend.
How to fix that? All you would have to do is
to explicitly block each of the 109.5 million (as of
March 2009) websites that your Friend might visit
and you will be safe.
25-year-old Mark Zuckerberg, who has already
been accused of stealing the idea for Facebook from
three of his Harvard friends, of course is unper-
turbed. He and and his company have never really
listened to its users much.
At a technology conference he reportedly said,
“People have really gotten comfortable not only
sharing more information and different kinds, but
more openly and with more people.”
From endless revisions to the site layout, to
adding and dropping of features to the often confus-
ing reworking of it’s Privacy Settings, Facebook has
continued doing it’s bit to make the world a more
‘connected’ place.
Last year and again this year, Canadian authori-
ties challenged Facebook’s default privacy settings
and its use of personal information for targeted ad-
vertising. Norway filed complaints after a year-long
study of the site’s terms and conditions.
From a policy is that doesn’t it delete any per-
sonal data from it’s servers even if you explicitly
delete it, close your account or die; or the reported
presence of a ‘master password’ that grants access
to any Facebook profile, the company has apparently
done it all.So how do you protect yourself? Face-
book’s sharing of data depends on previously men-
tioned ‘connections’ data: your name, profile picture,
gender, current city, networks, friend list, likes and
interests, and your fan pages.
Simply by clearing those provided boxes (which
turns them into clickable links or ‘connections’) and
filling in the information you wish to share inside the
‘About Me’ section, you can bypass, to some extent
the, the effects of the ‘personalised’ experience.
Also lifestyle blog, Lifehacker, recommends you
revoke authorisations granted to Applications you do
not need from your Application Privacy Page apart
from generally having an extended look at your
privacy page and turning off things you do not need
everyone to know.
The worrying part is, with half of the 400 million
users logging in everyday, Facebook very well
knows that it can get away with pretty much any-
thing. And, it is doing so.
27
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Indian
On the road to recovery
Hon Pansy Wong, Minister for Ethnic Affairs
New Zealand has emerged from the global financial
crisis in better shape than many advanced countries
and it is expected to continue on a gradual recovery
path.
In its recent Concluding Statement, the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund states that “demand from fast-
growing Asian markets and the robust Australian
economy, a flexible exchange rate, and the absence
of a banking crisis” have seen New Zealand emerge
from the recession in a strong economic position.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an or-
ganisation of 186 countries, working to foster global
monetary cooperation, secure financial stability,
facilitate international trade, promote high employ-
ment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce
poverty around the world.
The recent IMF statement supports the National-
led Government’s fiscal stimulus initiatives through
to June 2010 and welcomes our longer-term net debt
target of 20 percent of GDP – noting that accommo-
dating fiscal and monetary policies are supporting
domestic demand.
In its statement, the IMF forecasts that real GDP
will expand by about three percent this year and next
year; although unemployment is expected to lag the
recovery and peak at 7.5 percent this year, before
falling back over time.
It expects that net core Crown debt will rise to a
peak of 30 percent of GDP by 2016, which represents
WEEKENDCUISINE
Chholia Paneer
Recipe by Ruby Dhillon
Ingredients:
• 250gm - Bengal gram (frozen chholia
available at most Indian Outlets)
• 300gm- Paneer chunk size cubes
(Indian cottage cheese)
• 1- Onion ( small and chopped)
• 3tsp- Ginger paste
• 3tsp- Garlic paste
• 4to5- Green chillies (chopped)
• 50ml- Tomato puree
• 1/2tsp- Red chilli powder
• 1/2tsp- Garam masala
• 2tsp- Cumin powder
• 1cup- Water
• 1/2cup- Coriander ( fresh and
chopped)
• Salt according to taste
• Oil for cooking
Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
a smaller increase than in most advanced countries.
Crown debt is then projected to fall below 20 percent
of GDP by 2024.
However, the statement warns that we are not
out of the woods yet and advises further spending
restraints.
The IMF also suggests that tax reforms could
help raise potential growth and that shifting the tax
burden from income to consumption – as suggested
by the Tax Working Group – would raise incentives
to work and invest.
The National-led Government believes that the
current tax system is unfair and inequitable for many
hard-working New Zealand families and we will
address this in the upcoming Budget.
Finance Minister Hon Bill English’s release of the
Budget on May 20 will also set out the next steps in
the Government’s programme of reforms to increase
New Zealand’s economic growth and help get New
Zealanders into higher paying jobs.
We are taking a considered and pragmatic ap-
proach to addressing New Zealand’s long-standing
economic challenges while at the same time, sig-
nificantly reducing the amount of extra government
spending and demanding better public services from
government agencies.
The National-led Government continues to be on
the right track towards providing a brighter future for
all New Zealanders.
Method:
• Heat oil in a wok. Fry onions over
medium heat until light brown then
add ginger, garlic paste, stir and then
add green chillies with tomato puree.
• Fry with constant stirring until fat
leaves the masala.
• Add the chilli powder and salt.
• Add Bengal gram with 1 cup water,
cook until tender.
• Add Paneer with garam masala
and cumin powder and cook for 5
minutes.
• Garnish with coriander and serve hot
with rice or naan bread.
How long will the low OCR last
RAVI MEHTA
By the time, you read this column, RBNZ would
have done a review of OCR on 29.04.10 and most
likely it would have been left unchanged. Unchanged
OCR means no change in floating interest rates.
But for how long this low OCR and resultant in-
terest rates will last for? It is a big question.
RBNZ may not increase it this time, but there is
strong possibility that increases will start sometimes
later this year. The rise may not be steep, it may
be gradual instead. We have already seen in Aus-
tralia that OCR has been increased by 1.25% over
last few months. According to general opinion, it is
likely that it will be raised by another 1% in coming
few months. The floating rate of different banks is
around 7% in Australia. There is no doubt that Aus-
tralian economy is experiencing strong growth due
to higher prices of natural resources as well as strong
immigration inflows. The rate of unemployment has
already come off its highs. The wage rates are on
the rise.
The strength in the Australian economy should
help NZ economy in certain respects. If there is net
outflow of people to Australia, the unemployment
situation will ease here in New Zealand. It will put
upward pressure on wage rates here. Australia being
New Zealand’s biggest trade partner, NZ exporters
will benefit from booming economy there. New
Zealand attracts a large percentage of its tourists
from Australia. A resurgent economy there will add
to our tourism as well. Also the Rugby world cup in
2011 will have its positive impact on economy.
So growth along with inflation in the New
Zealand economy should start picking up later this
year. Sooner or later, interest rates tightening cycle
is bound to start in New Zealand. The tightening by
Reserve bank directly influences floating and very
short term fixed rates only.
The longer term rates which are already quite
high compared to short term are influenced more by
Column
international factors. Here the position in Euro Zone
is particularly a matter of concern. After Greece, it
is feared that more nations will come under crisis.
Many of the developed countries in the world in-
cluding the US have incurred substantial borrow-
ings in recent past. There are further plans of even
increased borrowing by these countries. All of these
will put upward pressure on interest rates.
Though floating rates are lowest and are likely to
remain lower than fixed rates for few more months,
yet it is quite risky to leave full amount of loan on
floating. Remember what happened in March/April
2009. The day there was a small increase in long
term (5 years fixed) by one or two of the lenders,
many people jumped to fix the mortgage. The rates
went up sharply in next 2-3 weeks. In fact some of
the rates were raised by 0.50-0.75% overnight. Many
of the customers called their respective banks/per-
sonal bankers to fix the rates whose phone lines
were so busy that they couldn’t get through and
missed out just by one day.
This may happen again. Many people are sitting
on floating loans, hoping that they will fix it when
reserve Bank starts tightening cycle. The day, tight-
ening cycle is started, everyone will be looking to
fix. It may put upward pressure on fixed rates and
attractive rates at present may disappear without
giving a chance to people to fix at those rates.
- Ravi Mehta is an Auckland based Financial
Advisor and can be contacted on ravi.mehta@pfsl.
co.nz. A disclosure statement as required under
Securities Act 1988 is freely available on request.
- This column is for general guidance only. Everyone
has unique circumstances; there cannot be any general-
ized strategy. Though my overall philosophy is still split-
ting your loan and fixing for different maturities, please
talk to you adviser before taking any decision as to when
to fix for how long to fix.
29
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Personality

Shall we stay?
It’s a question most migrants ask themselves. FARIDA MASTER talks to Edwina Pio, author of two books, ‘Sari’ and
‘Longing & Belonging’, who is on the quest of exploring the trials, tribulations and celebration of settling in a new country
Edwina Pio is a wonderful raconteur of stories.
Every time we meet over coffee, this Associate
Professor at the Business School of AUT University,
has an interesting, thought-provoking story to tell.
True life stories that journey in to the inner recesses
of the minds of tireless travellers who attracted by
the lifestyle, scenery and education system in New
Zealand have made the clean, green and nuclear-free
land of the long white cloud, their new home. Stories
that encourage you to reflect on who you
are and the yearning to belong to the island-
country perched at the other end of he world.
This Visiting Professor at Boston College, Mas-
sachusetts, USA, with research interests in manage-
ment, spirituality and what makes people leave their
footprints in the quick sands of time, has mastered
the art of weaving stories as she unearths them with
astonishing alacrity. She evocatively narrates them
in her books which are a quick reference point for
those wanting to explore the fascinating ethnic di-
versity of Aotearoa and how it can constructively
contribute towards the economic and cultural
growth of the country.
With her first labour of love ‘Sari’ that was re-
ceived with great fanfare, Edwina exploded the
stereotype of Indian Women at work. The girl-at-
heart from India hoped the book would contribute
towards a greater understanding of the dynamic
Indian woman who struggles with her identity and
goes through the roller-coaster of joy and tribula-
tions whilst trying to resettle in a new country.
Her second offering ‘Longing & Belonging’
which was recently released both at Te Papa in
Wellington and at the beautiful Japanese garden,
Waitakere City Council, pushes the bar further as
it opens a window onto the diverse people of Asian
and MELAA ( Middle Eastern, Latin American,
African and Asian ) origin who are a part of con-
temporary New Zealand. The book is laced with
moving stories of settlement, the hard challenges
and the reservoir
of strength and hope
that sustains them as
they cross latitudes and
longitudes to share this
patch of land.
Edwina who has ex-
perienced the tug-of-war
of emotions that practi-
cally every migrant has
faced says, “I remember
the times when I wanted
to fly back home, numb
with disbelief at the road-
blocks for the different,
with my mind bearing a
staccato rhythm with the
words ‘shall I stay’? Yet
there is something intan- Edwina Pio with Prime Minister John Key and with Waitakere City CEO Vijaya Vaidyanath.
gible that calms me and
quells my pulsating heart and throbbing mind as I into the true implication of diversity. The Malaysian ment of Immigration we would see Department of
weigh my joys and sorrows. The scale tilts slowly but born Director of Ethnic Affairs, Te Tari Matawaka, Inclusion. We would then have a new position in
definitely towards explains that diversity is not just about food and New Zealand, called ‘Chief Executive of Inclusion.”’
this land I now call home-which is home of a for- cultural festivals but is about unlocking the creative states the former CEO of Rodney District, the fastest
tunate few who have limitless possibilities.” potential that our diversity brings to New Zealand. growing district in New Zealand.
A gestation period of eight years has spawned “The DNA of our society has been changed and “We regularly hear that we need highly talented,
books, journal articles and website pieces. ‘Longing there is no turning back,” he writes. “These changes creative and skilled people, but such people will be
& Belonging’ nurtured through this incubation affect the way societies operate-from politics to in- interested only where they are welcomed. The best
period, is an initial response on a diverse group of ternational trade, to community social events to the new strategy would be to listen, remove obstacles
people in the full knowledge that such information ever vibrant activities of civil society organisations. and negative attitude and create an inclusive and
must be necessarily be complex, layered phenom- Diversity enriches, frustrates and bewilders us all supportive environment,” she says driving the point
enon and always incomplete,’ she mentions in her at the same time. Our lives would not be the same home.
preface. without it,” points out the man who wants to make As migrants inevitably struggle with the ques-
‘Longing & Belonging’ is a stimulating mix of a definite difference to the rich and diverse tapestry tion of acceptance and hope to have a wedge of the
hard facts, touching stories of adaptation and think of New Zealand. economic pie through work as they try to erase the
pieces about the challenges faced and hopes har- Vijaya Vaidyanath, the highly accomplished colour scale, Edwina’s academic and referenced
boured by a brave breed of people. Chief Executive Officer of Waitakere City Council text, ‘Longing & Belonging’ gets beneath the skin
The fourteen stimulating thinkpieces pertain to speaks about inclusion. “My vision is not just about and lets information work towards unveiling blind
the migrant/refugee experience with specific refer- settlement it’s about inclusion. Instead of settlement spots.
ence to identity and work, and the reality of being policies, New Zealand would have inclusion poli- It gently urges its readers to reap the bountiful
a Kiwi in New Zealand.In the first chapter written cies, instead of settlement programmes we would harvest from the growing tree of ethnic diversity.
by Mervin Singham, he gives a meaningful insight have inclusion programmes. Instead of the Depart-

One-minute Indian Wisdom for all times
ram lingam
Wisdom makes the difference between
success and failure. Though there is enough
wisdom available in this world, there always
seems to be a shortage of wisdom at crucial
times. Subhaashitaas or wise sayings in San-
skrit have offered us one minute wisdom since
ancient times but due to our modern educa-
tion, we have completely overlooked them.
Moreover we have been looking for wisdom
only in contemporary books and magazines.
We always need one-minute wisdom
quickly in moments of despair and confu-
sion. Wouldn’t it be great if the great wisdom
of the world is available in simple bite-sized
two-liners? Well Indian culture has that in the
form of subhaashitaas. Subhaashitaas are a
great heritage of Indian culture. They teach
values in life, great thoughts in a convincing
manner, often quoting examples. They are ap-
plicable at all times, all ages and for all cul-
tures. These subhaashitaas offer material to
learn from and provide essential life skills.
In Indian culture there is plenty of wisdom
- be it in the tales of our grandparents, the
sayings of our Gurus and our ancient books.
Of the wisdom originating from ancient India
culture, Subhaashitaas or wise sayings in san-
skrit offer a colossal amount of wisdom for all
times, in the shortest of the sentence. Subhaas-
hitaas are a great heritage of Indian culture.
They teach values in life, great thoughts in a
convincing manner, often quoting examples.
Subhashita are witty and epigrammatic verses
in Sanskrit that are full of wisdom. A sub-
haashitaa has morals and values that are life
essentials for daily living. They are the ‘Yoda
(wise man of Star Wars)’ quotes from ancient
India.
So what are ‘subhaashitaas’?
Subhaashitaas literally means good speech.
They are wise aphorisms, instructions, prov-
erbs and stories, either in poetry or in prose
composed in Sanskrit language which is con-
sidered as the “Mother of all Languages”. Sub-
haashitaas act as wise teachers in formulating
the sense of morality and character, which
sums up the total of a person’s virtues. Sub-
haashitaas through its short wisdom generally
in couplet format stresses that by understand-
ing the meaning and practicing the disciplines
in real life can cultivate a strong and morally
superior character. They offer a code of
conduct, a philosophy of social and ethical re-
lations and a lively teaching of morals crucial
to the survival of a modern society caught up
in turmoil of decaying values.
What is the source of the
Subhaashitaas?
The great subhaashitaas are composed by
ancient saints and scholars which can be
dated back to 5000 BCE. Subhaashitaas--
literally meaning “well-spoken words” were
passed down orally through generations are
works of great masters of Sanskrit language:
Vedavyasa, Shankaracharya, Bhartrhari and
Somadeva Bhatta. There are many originat-
ing from the great epic ‘Mahabharata’. The
Panchatantra and the Hitopadesha also have
compilation draws from all these sources in
addition to the Bhagavad Geeta and other
Puranas, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.
Here’s a subhashita which speaks
about its own greatness.
Samsaara vishavrukshasya dve phale
hyamrutopame|
Subhaashitarasasvaadaha sangatihi sujanaihi
saha||
The most important and sweetest of all languag-
es is the divine language of Gods (Sanskrit).
Poetry is the sweetest literature in Sanskrit and
‘Subhaashitaas’ are sweetest verses in Sanskrit
poetry.
There are plenty available on the internet
and many books are available too. Of the many
books that are available on subhaashitaas, the
Subhashita-Ratna-Bhandagara of Gems of San-
skrit Poetry by Narayan Ram Acharya Kavyat-
irtha is a good collection.
Here are some Subhaashitaas for
our understanding and appreciation.
What are the three jewels in this world?
There are three jewels in this earth. They are
water, food and Subhaashita!! But the Fools call
Heritage
the pieces of rocks as Jewels! Subhaashitaa are
nothing but the collection of vast experiences of
people or in other words wise sayings.
What is goodness and what is sin?
In all the 18 ‘Puranas’ Shri. Vyaasa Maharshi
has told only two gospels:
Doing favour to others is ‘Punya’ and trou-
bling others is ‘Paapa’ (Sin)!!
Who is a broad minded person?
This person is my kin and that one is alien’ such
a thought occurs only to the narrow-minded
people. To the broad-minded person the whole
world is one family.
What should be finished completely?
Fire, Loan and enemy traces, even if they
remain in small amount, they grow back repeat-
edly, hence finish them without leaving a trace.
What do wicked people do?
Wicked person’s company is invitation to
frequent insults. When gold is with iron and
hammer, it gets beaten.
What is the highest achievement
Happiness is the highest gain,
Noble company is highest achievement
What is the highest knowledge and enjoy-
ment?
Questioning is highest knowledge,
Forgiveness is highest enjoyment

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32 Indian Weekender | April 29, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz