The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e
Vol.11 No. 31 December 1-7, 2018 80 Cents
India dismisses Pak ‘invite’
to PM Modi for Saarc meet
New Delhi/Islamabad: India dis‑
missed as “posturing” a Pakistan
foreign office announcement on
Tuesday that it would “invite” PM
Narendra Modi to a Saarc sum‑
mit in Islamabad.
Coming on the heels of the two
countries joining forces to build
the Kartarpur corridor, a long‑
standing Indian demand, the
Pakistani announcement would
have raised the possibility of
resumption of the Saarc process,
which has been stalled since
2016, had it not been for a cru‑
cial detail ̶ Pakistan cannot uni‑
laterally “invite” for Saarc. A
Saarc summit is announced only
after it has been decided upon by
all members. It is only after the
date has been decided by mem‑
ber states that formal invitations
AIAʼs Golden Jubilee gala Black Friday
in‑store traffic
set to be a grand affair loses to online
AIAʼs Golden Jubilee celebration banquet Chair Ravi Bhooplapur,
Guest of Honor Raja Krishnamoorthi and Honoree Dr Arthur Klein
By SATimes Team
New York: The Association of
Indians in America (AIA)ʼs
Golden Jubilee celebration on
December 1 is planned as a
grand affair worthy of the glori‑
ous history of the mother of all
Indian community organizations.
Banquet Chairman Ravi‑
CULTURE 15 RELIGION 25
i n
PM Imran Khan was set to lay the foundation stone of Kartarpur
corridor on November 28, and was to be joined
by Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu.
are sent out.
“India is not a special invitee
that Pakistan has the discretion
to invite us. India is integral to
the Saarc process,” a senior gov‑
shankar Bhooplapur and Smithi
Khanna, Chair of Publicity, con‑
firmed to The South Asian Times
that Cong ressman Raja
Krishnamoorthi of Illinois will be
the Guest of Honor at the gala to
be held in Garden City Hotel in
Long Island, and Dr Arthur Klein,
President of Mount Sinai Health
Continued on page 4
CORPORATE LAW 27
j o u r n a l i s m
New York Edition
ernment official said. Pakistan,
sources said, probably wanted to
garner some PR points in the
presence of a large Indian media
Continued on page 4
surge
New York: A surge in online shop‑
ping and higher spending by low‑
income Americans gave a lift to
the start of the holiday season,
even as initial reports showed that
foot traf fic to traditional stores
continued its long decline.
During Thanksgiving and Black
Friday, traf fic to U.S. stores fell
between 5% and 9% compared
with the same days last year, esti‑
mated RetailNext, which uses cam‑
eras to track people in both mall‑
based and stand‑alone retailers.
Another measurement firm,
ShopperTrak, estimated traffic fell
less sharply, about 1% over the
two‑day period from a year ago.
Purchases cont inued to shift
Continued on page 4
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30
Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info
US announces
$5M bounty
on Mumbai
attackers
Pompeo asks Islamabad to act against
26/11 terrorists even as Modi and
Trump to meet at G20 this weekend.
"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years,
those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been
convicted," Secretary of State Pompeo said.
By Arul Louis Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program
is offering a new reward for up to
New York: Announcing a new $5‑ $5 million for information leading
million bounty on the terrorists to the arrest or conviction of any
involved in the "barbaric" 2008 individual who was involved in
attack on Mumbai, US Secretary of planning or facilitating the 2008
State Michae l Pompeo has Mumbai attack.”
demanded that Pakistan must act Meanwhile, President Trump will
against the Lakshar‑e‑Taiba (LeT). have a "trilateral meeting" with
"It is an affront to the families of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM
the victims that, after 10 years, Narendra Modi at the G20 summit
those who planned the Mumbai (scheduled for November 30 and
attack have still not been convict‑ December 1) in the Argentinian
ed for their involvement," he said capital Buenos Aires. Briefing the
on Sunday. Pompeo, "The US is press, US National Security Adviser
committed to seeing that those John Bolton said on Tuesday that
responsible for this attack face jus‑ Trump's bilateral with Abe "will
tice. T he Department of State Continued on page 4
excellence in journalism
TheSouthAsianTimes.info December 1-7, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
No more long waits for Indian
passports for NRIs
By Suchitra Srinivas
The South Asian Times
Edison, NJ: All Indian missions
across the world will be digitally
connected and passports issued in
less than 48 hours to be a reality,
the Minister of State for External
Affairs V.K. Singh has assured.
Addressing an interactive session
organized jointly by the Consulate
General of India, TV Asia and the
Indian American community on the
T hanksgiving T hursday in New
Jersey, the Minister elaborated on
the success of 'Passport Seva' proj‑
ect that aimed at eliminating the
time lags and bottlenecks in pass‑
port issuance thus making the
whole experience enjoyable to the
applicant.
Singh said at the well attended
event, “The project of cleaning the
existing procedures and processes
has been a long one that took seri‑
ous shape since 2014. It has now
culminated in connecting the pass‑
port offices at Indian missions digi‑
tally with the data center back
home. This would speed up the
process of issuing passport to peo‑
ple living abroad. Verification can
be done instantaneously. One can
apply for passport from anywhere
and receive it at the address
Indian police wonʼt try to get body of
US missionary killed by isolated tribe
Missionary John Allen Chau had travelled to the area before
and was killed by the tribe on Sentinelese island, which is off‑limits
to visitors under Indian law. .
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
Minister of State for External
Affairs V.K. Singh addressed the
Indian community at TV Asia on
Thanksgiving Day.
requested within 48 hours”.
Over the years many cumbersome
processes have been removed such
as a gazette officerʼs endorsement.
The application will be submitted
online and appointments and pay‑
ments will be made online.
In India, the minister said there
are 365 places where one can apply
for passport, of these, 245 are post
of fice centers. The passport seva
project is the best e service model
run on public‑private partnership,
the minister said.
Singh also elaborated on the India
Assist Program, executed by trust‑
worthy veterans. This is the best
route for NRIs, for example to
organize medial help for parents in
India or get assistance for property
maintenance in India or obtain
guidance on vacationing in India.
The minister also encouraged
people to attend the Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas (January 21‑23,
2019) in Varanasi. Special trans‑
portation facilities will take visitors
to Kumbh Me la on the 25th in
Allahabad and from there to attend
Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
Singh emphasized that India cares
for its diaspora. For this the govern‑
ment has made its embassies and
missions abroad very sensitive to
creating a sense of confidence
among Indians living abroad that
approaching a mission will help.
He urged persons of Indian origin
to apply and get the OCI cards,
which will be beneficial. He also
assured that the blocks due to non‑
availability of sufficient documenta‑
tion or certificates to back the appli‑
cation will be addressed soon.
The minister was on a US tour to
launch the passport seva project in
New York, Washington DC, Atlanta,
Houston and San Francisco.
Port Blair: Indian of ficers had a
nervous long‑distance face‑of f
w ith the tribe who killed an
American missionary in their lat‑
est bid to locate his body on a
remote Indian island, police said
Sunday and all but abandoned
their efforts.
John Allen Chau, 26, of
Vancouver Washington, an
Instagram adventurer who also
led missionary trips abroad, trav‑
eled to the Andaman Islands this
month to make contact with and
convert members of the tiny
Sentinelese tribe.
The tribe, who have remained
alone for centuries, reject contact
December 1-7, 2018
India welcomes release
of joint communication
on EU's vision
New Delhi: India on Monday wel‑
comed the release of the Joint
Communication by the European
Commission on India‑EU partner‑
ship and said that it refers to the
country as an emerging global
power that plays a key role in the
current multi‑polar world and is a
factor of stability in a complex
region. In a statement, the Ministry
of External Af fairs said India's
engagement with the European
Union has substantially intensified
since the establishment of strategic
ties in 2004.
"The government of India wel‑
comes the release of the Joint
Communication by the European
Commission and the High
Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
on 20th November, 2018 on the
EU's vision for a strategy on India ‑
'A Partnership for Sustainable
Modernisation and Rules‑based
Global Order'.
"The strategy covers India‑EU
partnership over the next 10 to 15
years. The Joint Communication
refers to India as an emerging
global power that plays a key role
in the current multi‑polar world
and a factor of stability in a com‑
with the wider world and react
with hostility and violence to
attempts by outsiders to interact
with them.
The island is of f‑limits to visi‑
tors under Indian law.
The death of the 27‑year‑old on
Nov 17 has cast a new spotlight
on ef forts to protect one of the
world's last "uncontacted" tribes
whose language and customs
remain a mystery to outsiders.
Though Chau's death is official‑
ly a murder case, anthropologists
say it may be impossible to
retrieve the American's body and
that no charges will be made
against the protected tribe.
3
plex region. The report recognizes
India's consistent economic
growth, demographic dynamism
and modernization drive and calls
for greater India‑EU political, secu‑
rity and defense cooperation," the
statement said.
The statement said India‑EU
cooperation now spans over 30
dialogue mechanisms, covering for‑
eign policy and security issues,
trade and investment, sustainable
development and modernization,
research and innovation as well as
people‑to‑people contacts.
With a bilateral goods and servic‑
es turnover in excess of $100 bil‑
lion, the EU is India's largest trad‑
ing partner, said the statement,
adding the EU is also a significant
source of foreign direct investment
for India with cumulative invest‑
ment flows in excess of $91 billion
from 2000 to June 2018.
"India looks forward to engaging
with the EU not only on a robust
bilateral agenda, but also on
regional and global issues of
shared concern and for reforming
the multilateral system and institu‑
tions to better reflect contempo‑
rary global realities," the statement
added.
Seven people, including six fish‑
ermen who were involved in fer‑
rying Chau to North Sentinel,
have been arrested.
The fishermen have accompa‑
nied the police teams to the
island to help efforts to pinpoint
where Chau was killed.
Anthropologists and tribal wel‑
fare experts who have had the
previous rare contacts with the
Sentinelese have been heavily
involved with the inquiry. Their
advice w ill be important, a
spokesperson for the Indian
police said. "We are taking the
advice of the people in the field
to advance this case."
 4 December 1-7, 2018 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

US announces $5M the obstinate one holding up Said President of AIA National,

Diwali lingers in Washington DC bounty on Mumbai

By Surekha Vijh
The South Asian Times
Washington DC: Diwali celebrations have
been continuing in various parts of the
Washington DC metro area, long after the
November 7 date. “It is one of the biggest
festivals of India, thatʼs why people donʼt
want to part with it quickly,” said Kathy
Wood, who follows Indian festivals.
Now Diwali is celebrated in the White
House and seats of government in many
states. The DC Mayorʼs Of fice on Asian
and Pacific Islander Af fairs (MOAPIA)
held its fourth annual Diwali celebration
at the Smithsonianʼs Freer Gallery of Art
on November 13. The 240‑seat Meyer
Auditorium was packed to capacity as
Pandit Venkatacharyulu of the Sri Siva
Vishnu Temple in Maryland, led the light‑
ing of the ʻdiyaʼ while chanting a mantra
for world peace and prosperity.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser greeted the
audience and expressed pride in celebrat‑
ing Diwali in the nationʼs capital. She
said Washington DC was home to all com‑
munities and all cultures, “We want to
create a city that is more inclusive for
people of all backgrounds”.
Brahmachari Vrajvihari Sharan, director
of Hindu Life at Georgetown University,
spoke about the meaning and signifi‑
cance of Diwali. He noted that for
DC Mayor Muriel lighting the diya at a
celebration organized by her office.
Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists,
Diwali is the most recognized festival of
the year.
Sharan is the first‑ever Hindu monk to
be hired by a Catholic University. “The
true essence of Diwali lies in realizing we
are a complex mix of good, bad and indif‑
ference and no matter which state or
stage of life we are in, we are sacred and
divine equally”, he told the audience.
The festival, he said, “illuminates our
path so we can move away from dark
thoughts, dark situations towards the col‑
orful, variegated essence of life”. The cul‑
tural program included Kuchipudi and
Kahak dance recitals. Radha Madhav
Dham, a new community center in
Ashburn in Virginia, celebrated Diwali on
November 17, where more than 100 peo‑
ple gathered.
attackers
Continued from page 1
transform at some point during
that meeting into a trilateral
meeting" with PM Modi.
T he issue of terrorism is
bound to come up at that trilat‑
eral meeting.
The 10 terrorists who came
to Mumbai from Pakistan by
the Arabian Sea killed 166 peo‑
ple ‑‑ including Indian security
personne l and 26 foreign
nationals ‑‑ and left another
300 injured during a three‑day
rampage.
The RFJ bounty announced
by Pompeo is the third from
the State Department on terror‑
ists involved in the Mumbai
attack. In 2012, the
Department put a bounty of
$10 million on LeT founder
Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and $2
million on his deputy, Hafiz
Abdul Rahman Makki.
The rewards have not worked
so far and Saeed operates open‑
ly in Pakistan, leaving the
effectiveness of the latest steps
open to question.
Saeed has also been declared
an international terrorist by the
UN Security Council. Before the
Mumbai attack, the US had des‑
regional cooperation.
Sources in De lhi said
Bangladesh, which is going to
the polls, or Sri Lanka, which is
embroiled in a political crisis,
are hardly likely to agree to a
Saarc summit just now.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan is
expected to interact with Indian
journalists where he is likely to
raise this issue as one awaiting
resolution. The last Saarc sum‑
mit attended by Modi was in
Kathmandu in 2014. In 2016,
after the terror attack on an
Army camp in Uri, India
refused to agree to a summit.
Bang ladesh, Bhutan and
Afghanistan followed suit, lead‑
ing to the cancellation of the
Saarc summit, which has not
yet been revived. India and
Pakistan have since had little
of ficial engagement. Pakistan
foreign of fice spokesperson
Mohammed Faisal recalled that
Khan, in his first address to the
nation, had said that if India
took one step forward, Pakistan
would take two.
AIAʼs Golden Jubilee
gala set to be a grand
affair
Continued from page 1
Network, is the Honoree. Film
Dr. Urmilesh Arya, “This free
public event features live
stage shows, spectacular fire‑
works on East River, and a
street fair in lower Manhattan.
It has been attended by hun‑
dreds of thousands of people
each year and the tradition
continues.”
AIAʼs other big achievement
that goes under the radar is
that it was AIA at whose
behest in 2003 Diwali celebra‑
tion was started in the White
House. Re lease of Diwali
Stamp by USPS in 2016 was
also the result of a successful
campaign initiated by the AIA‑
New York chapter.
Many of AIAʼs honorees and
speakers in the past years
have included Noble Laureates,
acclaimed artistes and acade‑
micians as we ll as other
achievers in their respective
fields. For Indian Americansʼ
success and status, Bhooplapur
said AIAʼs founding fathers
have to be thanked. Looking
ahead, he offered his perspec‑
tive: “To keep AIA going strong
for another 50 years and
beyond, new blood & new
ideas have to emerge. We have
to change and adapt & do
some brainstorming in the

Polling begins for Madhya ignated the LeT as a terrorist

organisation in 2001 and
star Anupam Kher will be the
second Guest of Honor and
changing society in America.”

Consul General in New York Black Friday in‑store

Pradesh Assembly election
Bhopal: Polling began at 7 am on
Wednesday in three constituencies of
Maoist‑af fected Balaghat district in
Madhya Pradesh amid tight security,
while in the remaining 227 of the 230
Assembly seats polling will begin at 8 a.m.
The polling will end in the three con‑
stituencies ‑‑ Baihar, Lanji and Paraswada
‑‑ at 3 p.m, while it will continue till 5 p.m
in all the other constituencies.
T he contest is mainly between the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the
Congress, though the Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP)
are also in the fray. Among the 2,907 can‑
didates in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has
fielded candidates in all 230 seats, while
the Congress is contesting in 229 seats
leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh dis‑
trict, for Sharad Yadav‑led Loktantrik
Janata Dal (LJD). The BSP has fielded 227
candidates and the SP is contesting in 51
seats. There are 1,102 Independent candi‑
dates. In the last polls, of the 230 seats,
the BJP won 165, Congress 58, BSP four
and Independents three.
imposed sanctions on it and the
UNSC followed suit in 2005.
The only Mumbai attacker
captured by Indian security,
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab,
was tried by Indian courts and
executed in 2012.
India dismisses Pak
ʻinviteʼ to PM Modi for
Saarc meet
Continued from page 1
contingent which has travelled
for the Kartarpur corridorʼs
inauguration to paint India as
Sandeep Chakravorty will be
the Guest Speaker. AIA ‑
National is the oldest grass‑
roots Indian org anizat ion
established in 1967 to work
for the welfare of Indians set‑
tling in America and to bring
India and America closer. Its
motto is ʻIndian Heritage,
American Commitmentʼ.
AIAʼs shining achievement is
the annual Deepavali festival
at South Street Seaport in
New York City 1987 onward.
traffic loses to
online surge
Continued from page 1
online as stores put many of
their best deals on their web‑
sites and more consumers, even
those earning minimum wages,
shop on their smartphones.
Internet sales for Wednesday
through Black Friday surged
26.4% from a year earlier to
$12.3 billion, estimated Adobe
Systems Inc which tracks activi‑
ty on thousands of websites.

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE December 1-7, 2018 5

Victims of 26/11 Mumbai Terror NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio

Attacks remembered at Embassy event
Washington, DC: Embassy of
India hosted a Solemn event "in
memory of the victims of the
26/11 Mumbai terror attacks."
It was attended by Ambassador‑
at‑Large and Coordinator for
Counterterrorism in the US State
Department Ambassador Nathan
A. Sales, Basant Sanghera and
Jennifer Whethey, Director in
the US National Security Council
at the White House, Rabbi Levi
Shemstov, Executive Vice
President, American Friends of
Lubavitch (Chabad).
Remarks on the occasion were
delivered by India's Ambassador
to the United States, Navtej
Sarna, Ambassador Nathan
Sales, and Rabbi Levi Shemstov.
During his remarks, Ambassador
Sarna paid tributes to the inno‑
cent lives lost during these
attacks which included Indians
and citizens from 14 other coun‑
tries, including those from the
United States.
He condemned terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations
and urged the international
community to call on Pakistan
to bring the perpetrators of this
Tributes were paid to innocent lives lost
heinous terrorist attacks to jus‑
tice. He thanked the US State
Department for instituting a
"Rewards for Justice" program
announcing a bounty for any
information leading to arrest or
conviction of any individual
involved in planning or facilitat‑
ing the 26/11 Mumbai terror
attacks.
To honor the memory of the
victims, a moment of silence was
observed by the attendees fol‑
lowed by the lighting of candles.
Extracts from an article written
on this occasion by Kia Scherr,
Co‑founder of a charity 'One Life
Alliance' and a family member
of US victims in this tragedy was
also read out on the occasion.
The event concluded with the
screening of HBO documentary
on 26/11 Mumbai attacks, titled
'Terror in Mumbai.'
The event was attended by a
broad cross‑section of leaders
from various communities in
Washington DC, including the
Indian‑American community
and the Jewish American com‑
munity. The representatives of
the US Congress, media and
think tanks were also present
during the event.
names Kapil Longani as
Counsel to the Mayor
New York, NY: New York City Mayor mayoral of fices and agencies, as
Bill de Blasio announced Nov. 20 the well as overseeing special projects
appointment of Kapil Longani as for the mayor. The counsel to the
counsel to the mayor, the city said in mayor also serves as the liaison to
a news release. the Conflict of Interest Board, the
As counsel to the mayor, Longani Mayorʼs Judiciary Committee and
will advise the mayor General Counsels at
on legal matters city agencies.
involving City Hall and “Kapil is bringing
the executive staff, as extraordinary experi‑
well as provide counsel ence and talent to City
to the mayor on legal Hall,” said de Blasio in
aspects of policy and a statement. “His com‑
administrative matters. mitment to public serv‑
“I am honored to ice and strong ethical
serve as the Counsel to grounding are clear
the Mayor. I look for‑ from his legal back‑
Kapil Longani
ward to serving the ground, and I know he
people of New York City as we con‑ will be a valuable part of our team.”
tinue to implement the mayorʼs Longani is the son of immigrants
vision of making New York City the who instilled in him a strong belief
fairest big city in America,” said in the power of government to
Longani in a statement. The Indian improve peopleʼs lives and a deep
American lawyer has over a decade commitment to public service, his
of legal experience in both the pri‑ bio noted.
vate and public sectors in New York Before joining the administration,
City and Washington, D.C. Longani served as senior counsel to
As counsel to the mayor, he will be Ranking Member Elijah E.
responsible for developing and Cummings for the Committee on
advancing policy proposals by coor‑ Oversight and Government Reform
dinating ef forts across multiple in the U.S. House of Representatives.

CHARLES B WANG COMMUNITY

Season 2 of SETʼs crowdfunding reality
show “Meet the Drapers” going global
New York, NY: “Meet the Drapers”
Season 1 de buted the worldʼs first
crowdfunding‑based startup reality show
in 2017‑2018, featuring the Drapers ‑‑
Silicon Valleyʼs legendary VC family –
and was an immediate success in the
Americas.
Startups in Season 1 raised a stagger‑
ing 2.2 million dollars through the show,
with Pigeonly being chosen as the win‑
ning startup that claimed the Grand Prize
funding investment by Tim Draper. All in
all, the top 6 finalists received over
$400,000 in funding from Tim Draper
during the Season 1 final episode.
Season 2 takes things up several notch‑
es and promises to be more exciting than
ever in its search for the hottest startups.
The show is going global and will now be
accessible to millions of viewers in 167
countries through multiple platforms.
Season 2 will premiere in the Americas
on November 24th, 2018 at 6 PM ET on
Sony Entertainment Television (SET).
T he series is sponsored by Draper
University, Augmate & Veridoc.
“We were thrilled by the success of
Season 1 and look forward to bringing
“Meet the Drapersʼ to a global audience,”
said Jaideep Janakiram, Head of
Americas, Sony Pictures Networks.
“Season 2 showcases some of the bright‑
est young entrepreneurs in the US and
we are hoping that the show will encour‑
age other entrepreneurs around the
world to apply and get their shot at suc‑
cess.” Cryptocurrency, blockchain, and
bitcoin are changing the world, and no
one understands it better than Tim
Draper, one of the foremost authorities
on the Blockchain and Crypto space in
the VC world.
“We are going to experience the great‑
est transformation of humans in the his‑
tory of the world as a result of bitcoin
and all its associated technologies,” said
Tim Draper. Season 2 of “Meet the
Drapers” weaves this technology into the
show with the addition of Crypto Corner
– a special segment where Tim Draper
will discuss the latest developments with
celebrity experts in the field and share
insights with viewers.
In “Meet the Drapers”, viewers watch
some of the USʼs hottest young entrepre‑
neurs pitch their startups to the Draper
family, one celebrity guest judge, and the
audience. Viewers will then invest in the
startups they like best via the Republic
crowdfunding platform. Startups that
raise the most funds from viewers will
enter the grand finale. From these lucky
few, Tim Draper will select the final win‑
ning companies that will get funding
from the Draper family. “The next gener‑
ation of startups is being built today and
viewers can share in their success if the
startup takes off,” said Republic Partner,
Chuck Pettid. “Itʼs been a thrill for us to
work on this groundbreaking television
series and we canʼt wait to bring Season
2 to the world.”
HEALTH CENTER TO HOST
BABY SHOWER EVENTS
New York, NY: The Charles B. Wang Community Health
Center is partnering with Fidelis Care to host two baby
shower events for all pregnant women and their family
members. The events will be held on Saturday,
December 1st, 2018 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, at
136‑26 37th Ave., 4th Floor, Flushing, NY 11354; and
on Thursday, December 20th, 2018 from 2:00 pm to
4:00 pm, at 268 Canal Street, 1st Fl., New York, NY
10013. Becoming a parent can be a stressful yet excit‑
ing time. These events will be a celebration for expect‑
ing parents and a great opportunity to learn about how
to stay healthy during, and after pregnancy. Providers
from the health center will talk about nutrition advice
during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and newborn care.
There shall also be raffle drawings and prizes, and
cake cutting to celebrate mothers‑to‑be.
The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
offers comprehensive and high‑quality health care
services to everyone regardless of ability to pay in five
convenient locations in Manhattan and Queens. To
learn more about upcoming health education events,
call the Health Education Department at (212) 966‑
0461 or visit http://www.cbwchc.org/index.asp.
 6 December 1-7, 2018 TRISTATE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Hofstra University honors Dr. Isha Community honors hometown

Mehta with suburban diversity award
Woodbury NY: Dr. Isha Mehta, a humanitarian
and activist, was honored at Hofstra
Universityʼs National Center for Suburban
Studies (NCSS) tenth annual Celebration of
Suburban Diversity event at Crest Hollow
Country Club for her passion to make a tangi‑
ble difference, as she selflessly devotes her
time to securing the well‑being of underprivi‑
leged women all around world. The Executive
Dean of NCSS, Lawrence Levy, selected Dr.
Mehta as an honoree as she exemplifies Long
Islandʼs multicultural richness, showcased by
its growing minority and immigration popula‑
tions. Levy believes that this diversity is
strength and Dr. Mehta embodies this
strength.
Dr. Isha Mehta, an Ahmedabad native, immi‑
grated to the United States after graduating
from NHL Medical College and VS Hospital as
an OB‑GYN. Since the start of her career, Dr.
Mehta has been a firm advocate for equality in
womenʼs health. Her journey to make her
dreams a reality started when she was a resi‑
dent at Queens Hospital. Then in 1998, she
started working at NYC HHC/Elmhurst as
Chief of Gynecology. Additionally, she is a
Clinical Assistant Professor at Icahn School of
Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. As a co‑
founder of A Stitch in Time (http://astitchin‑
time.org/), a 501(c)3 certified organization
she travels around the world with a team of
health care professionals who care for women
with no access to adequate healthcare. Her
extensive work in the field fuels her belief
that timely pelvic surgery to correct pelvic
organ prolapse is life‑changing for women
who would otherwise live as social outcasts.
She has visited Bangladesh, Ethiopia,
Guatemala, Honduras, India, Uganda to per‑
form pelvic surgeries through various organi‑
zations. These life‑changing pelvic surgeries
in these countries can be performed at very
low cost compared to the US but lack of infra‑
structure and expertise to treat is an obstacle.
Dr. Isha Mehta has focused on training physi‑
heroes on Veteran's Day
Prominent
Indian
American
community
members with
the Veteran's
Day honorees
and Supervisor
Saladino
Dr Isha Mehta
cians to perform such surgeries and establish‑
ing protocols to improve the infrastructures
while performing these surgeries. Donation
Hicksville: On November 15 Town of Oyster decades. He started a music therapy for vet‑
of a colposcope and training the staf f at
Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the erans with PTSD and traumatic brain injury
Debre Berhane in Ethiopia, to use it for early
Indian American Forum and Indian American at the Institute for Music and Neurological
detection of cervical cancer is one of the
Bar Association and Indian American commu‑ Function. He continues to help and support
examples. Visit their website to join or donate
nity presented a salute to veterans. A wounded veterans.
http://astitchintime.org/
Veteranʼs Day celebration honoring and Distinguished Services Awards were pre‑
Hosted on November 13th, 2018, the din‑
saluting hometown heroes at Hicksville sented to Col Virendra Tavathia (Retd), an
ner celebrated strength and opportunities in
Community Center started with Pledge of alumnus of prestigious Indian Military
our differences. This event continues to raise
Allegiance and American National Anthem by Academy Dehradun. He was commissioned in
money to support research in diversity and
Innesa Tymochko‑Dekajlo. Innesa presented the famous second battalion Rajputana Rifles
sustainability and community‑based initia‑
beautiful violin performances. Mohinder in 1977. During his career, he held various
tives. The banquet included dances and per‑
Singh Taneja welcomed the audience and instructional, command and staf f appoint‑
formances by various ethnic groups, recogni‑
stressed the importance of celebrating and ments. In 2003 he joined the financial servic‑
tion of diversity essay contest winners, and
saluting veterans. es industry and currently holds the position
celebration of honorees. The dinner was
Indu Jaiswal Chairperson of Indian of Managing Director of Amogh Wealth
attended by various recognized figures within
American Forum introduced Supervisor Management. An ardent supporter of the sol‑
the Long Island and Hofstra community. This
Saladino and thanked the town for helping diers and their families he is passionate about
included the President of Hofstra University,
and organizing this special program. helping the children of fallen soldiers and
Mr. Rabinowitz, Provost & Senior Vice
Supervisor Saladino praised the efforts of the their families. US Armyʼs Sylinthia Burges is
President, Gail Simmons, Academic Director,
Indian American community in initiating Nassau County County Veterans Service
Christopher Niedt, Director of Sustainability
such an important program recognizing Agency for first woman Veteranʼs Counselor.
Research, Sandra Garren, Senior Assistant
hometown heroes. She works as homeless case manager special‑
Dean for Administration, Chairman of Nassau
Indu Jaiswal and Deborah Misir, President izing in the veteran homeless population in
University Medical Center Board, George
of Indian American Bar Association intro‑ NYC. Niki L Prasad served in the United
Tsunis, CEO of the NYCHHC Elmhurst, Israel
duced the honorees. States Army and also as Police Sergeant in
Rocha.
Leadership Award was presented to Harry New York City Police Department.
As she accepted this honor, Dr. Mehta
Ballan, dean, and professor of Law of Touro Donations of woolen Socks, gloves, and
reflected that “as one person I cannot change
College Jacob D Fuchsberg Law Center. He scarves were made to the Veteran Families in
the world, but I can change the world of one
has served the veterans community for need.
person.”

The first‑ever Diwali fireworks show in San Francisco makes history

San Francisco, CA: November
10th, 2018, marked a historical
day as an estimated 10,000 excit‑
ed children and nostalgic parents
came out to experience the first‑
ever Brooke Bond Taj Mahal
Diwali Day held at San Franciscoʼs
iconic Pier 39 to commemorate
Diwali. The family‑friendly event
culminated with a spectacular
fireworks show, an especially
meaningful element of the pro‑
gram since it is the traditional
form of celebration in India.
While fireworks are commonly
associated with major U.S. holi‑
days such as the 4th of July and
New Yearʼs Eve, this was the first
time they were launched over the
San Francisco Bay to celebrate
Diwali. It was a beautiful example
of cultures coming together and
an understandably proud moment
for the over 350,000 Asian
Indians that call San Francisco
and the Bay Area home‑‑making
An estimated 10,000 people attended the Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Diwali day
them the second largest popula‑
tion of Indians in the United
States. Not to be missed, close to
60,000 people tuned in via
Facebook Live to view special
moments from the event includ‑
ing the fireworks finale.
Sponsored by Brooke Bond Taj
Mahal Tea and pro duced by
MIKADO International, the day‑
long event was free and open to
the public, thoughtfully curated
for the entire family to enjoy in
the celebrations. In addition to
savoring delicious tea samplings
from the Brooke Bond Taj Mahal
tea cart throug hout the day,
attendees eagerly lined up to
receive henna tattoos, paint per‑
sonalized diyas (ceremonial clay
oil lamps), go for a spin on the
teacup ride, snap selfies for the
photo mosaic wall and participate
in a meet and greet with celebrity
Bollywood dancer Manpreet Toor
and comedian Rajiv Satyal.
“Asian Indians are a strong,
proud and culturally rich popula‑
tion with traditions that have not
only survived but continue to
thrive outside of our motherland.
We at Brooke Bond Taj Mahal are
committed to ensuring South
Asian immigrants feel at home, no
matter where they live, which is
why we are thrilled to have been
able to provide the South Asian
community of the Bay Area with
an authentic Diwali celebration
experience echoing the traditions
of home,”commented Partha
Guha, Sr. Manager ‑ Marketing &
Business Development at Unilever
International.
“We were honored to have pro‑
duced the Brooke Bond Taj Mahal
Diwali Day at Pier 39,” says
Sandrine Vohra, CEO of MIKADO
International, a global multicul‑
tural advertising agency.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL December 1-7, 2018 7

Increase in hate crimes against

Indian Americans: Report
New York: A new report on hate
crime statistics released by the
FBI Nov. 13 reveals a disturbing
surge of hate crimes against the
Indian American community, par‑
ticularly Muslims and Sikhs.
The report compiled data from
more than 16,149 participating
law enforcement agencies across
the country which used the
Uniform Crime Report, that – as of
2016 – includes data specifically
about the number of hate crimes
ag ainst Sikhs, Hindus, and
Buddhists. Though the number of
hate crime incidents increased in
2017, the number of reporting
agencies also increased by more
than 1,000, noted the FBI in the
release of the report.
Participating law enforcement
agencies reported 7,175 hate
crimes to UCR in 2017, up from
6,121 in 2016, about a 17 per‑
cent increase. The largest number
of incidents involved race, ances‑
try, and ethnicity, in which African
Americans were overwhelmingly
the victims, with 2,358 reported
of fenses and 2,458 victims. A
total of 152 ant i‑Asian hate
crimes were reported in this cate‑
gory.
Incidents related to religion
constituted the second highest
number of reported hate crimes,
with 1564 incidents and 1,749
victims. Jewish people were over‑
whelmingly the targets; more
than 1,000 Jews were victimized
for their religious beliefs. Muslims
were the second‑largest number
of victims: 325, from 273 inci‑
dents.
Also a total of 495 hate crimes
were reported to the FBI in 2017,
of those, 260 were linked to bias
based on race or ethnicity and
180 involved people or locations
targeted because of religion, the
Record reports.
According to a South Asian
Americans Leading Together
(SAALT) press release, this is an
alarming upward trend in hate
crimes, especially against Indian
Americans of Sikh origin and Arab
Americans, and it has now consis‑
tently surpassed the spike imme‑
diate ly after the attacks of
September 11, 2001.
On another note, the overall
number of hate crimes targeting
Muslim Americans has decreased
by 11 percent, however, the 2017
total of 273 anti‑Muslim hate
crimes continue to be a historical‑
ly high number, the press release
adds. Since November 2016,
SAALTʼs data on incidents of hate
violence aimed at South Asian,
Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Middle
Eastern and Arab Americans show
that more than 80 percent of the
documented incidents are moti‑
vated by anti‑Muslim sentiment,
though the underreporting of hate
crimes by local law enforcement
agencies to the FBI remains to be
a major problem, according to
ProPublicaʼs “Documenting Hate”
project.
Although, the FBI itself does not
regularly submit the hate crimes
it investigates to its own database,
such as the failure to include
Srinivas Kuchibhotlaʼs 2017 mur‑
der in Olathe, Kansas at the hands
of a white supremacist by the
name of Adam Purinton, who was
convicted on a federal hate crimes
charge earlier this year.
There is also a lack of political
will on the part of the Department
of Justice to collect this critical
data combined with this adminis‑
trat ionʼs flawed approach to
understanding and addressing
hate crimes makes us all less safe
and places a burden of data col‑
lect ion on communit ies, the
SAALT press release states.
In addition, the Trump adminis‑
trationʼs continued refusal to
acknowledge the growing prob‑
lem of white supremacy ignores
the primary motivation behind the
violence targeting these commu‑
nities as the 2017 FBI data shows
that of the more than 6,000 hate
crimes where the race of the
offender was reported, more than
50 percent of the perpetrators
were identified as white.
(Source: theunn.com)

Sruthi Palaniappan National Hindi Convention

elected Harvard student
body president
Washington, DC: An Indian‑
American woman has been elect‑
ed as the president of the power‑
ful student's body of the presti‑
gious Harvard University.
Sruthi Palaniappan, 20, whose
parents migrated to the US from
Chennai in 1992, was elected as
president of the Harvard
University Underg raduate
Council.
Her running mate Julia Huesa,
20, was elected as vice president,
according to an announcement
by the Undergraduate Council
Election Commission.
Palaniappan said that along
with Huesa she planned to work
Sruthi Palaniappan elected president of Harvard University
Undergraduate Council
on improving the Council's com‑
munication with the student
bo dy in their init ial days in
of fice. "I think from the onset,
better structuring the way we
communicate with students is
something that we need to
already set the tone and plan
for," she said.
"I think we're going to work on
it before we even leave for break
and just get off the ground run‑
ning," she told Harvard Crimson,
the student newspaper of the
varsity. Palaniappan was the
youngest de leg ate at the
Democratic National Convention
in Philadelphia in July 2016.
to be held in Boston
New York: Hindi Manch, a Boston‑based non‑profit
organization with the mission of bringing together
This national 3‐day fun‐filled fiesta is
people who know Hindi or who want to know Hindi expected to attract over 1,000
and propagate the language and culture in the families from all over the US. The
future generations, announced that it will host a 3‑ program will feature Hindi Manch’s
day National Hindi Convention, or Rashtriya
signature events that have been
Mahotsav, in Boston this year on Nov. 30 – Dec. 2,
2018. The event also marks the organizationʼs
appreciated and well‐attended in the
10th anniversary. past including Sa‐Re‐Ga‐Ma‐Pa,
The 3‑day national event will provide a variety of Sahitya Sammelan and Naatak with
entertainment as well as plenty of opportunities to participants from all over the country.
network, engage, and relish the language with
other Hindi and Urdu language enthusiasts. lished celebrities in these areas.
Preetesh Shrivastava, founder and president of The program will include such luminaries as
Hindi Manch, said that the organizationʼs continued actress Deepti Naval and playback singer Kavita
engagement and ef fort to leverage Hindi to con‑ Krishnamurthy. Naval, a renowned Bollywood
nect people with Indian heritage and culture actress will grace the poetry session where US‑
caught the attention of Consulate General of India based poets in Hindi, Urdu and related dialects like
in New York. Awadhi, Brijbhasha, Bhojpuri, Khadiboli and
“We were encouraged to build a nationwide Hindi Bundelkhandi, among others, will recite their
forum by the Consulate,” said Shrivastava, who has poems.
been nurturing and growing Hindi Manch for the Krishnamurthy will serve as one of the judges for
last 10 years. “It is a proud moment for the Hindi the final singing competition of Sa‑Re‑Ga‑Ma‑Pa.
Manch team to celebrate its 10th anniversary and The steering committee members for the event are
mark it with a national event with guests from all Shrivastava, Ajay Jain, Anish Khanzode, Jharna
over the US to bring synergies and celebrate our Madan and Raksha Soni.
language, culture and heritage.” For more information and details visit
Hindi Manch Rashtriya Mahotsav will see partici‑ www.hindimanch.org
pation from other organizations
across US with similar Hindi lan‑
guage initiatives. This national 3‑ Need an accountant / manager
day fun‑filled fiesta is expected to
For Temple / Jain Center of America in Elmhurst, Queens NY.
attract over 1,000 families from
all over the US. The program will Requirements: 100% vegetarian, detail oriented,
feature Hindi Manchʼs signature Proficiency in QB, Good knowledge of payable, receivable,
events that have been appreciated bank reconciliation, preparing and filing payroll taxes. We
and we ll‑attended in the past will train.
including Sa‑Re‑Ga‑Ma‑Pa, Sahitya Any 4 days a week plus
Sammelan and Naatak with par‑ Sunday is a must.
ticipants from all over the coun‑ Please reply with your resume to:
try. T hese features w ill be Anu Jain, jainanu2005@gmail.com &
adjudged and graced by estab‑ Kalpana Gandhi kalinuc@yahoo.com
 8 December 1-7, 2018
Alumnus Manoj Saxena gifts $1 million to
MSU to advance Responsible AI
Michigan: Michig an State
University of ficials Nov. 14
announced a $1 million gift to
the Eli Broad College of Business
from alumnus Manoj Saxena, the
execut ive chairman of
CognitiveScale and founding
director of the Saxena Family
Foundation.
T he g ift w ill establish the
Omura‑Saxena Endowed
Professorship to permanently
support a faculty position in
Responsible Art ificial
Inte lligence, according to a
CognitiveScale news release.
T he professorship honors
Glenn S. Omura, a leading expert
and professor at the Broad
Collegeʼs Department of
Market ing and the recently
retired associate dean for M.B.A.
and masterʼs programs.
Omura is widely recognized for
his work on market creation and
entrepreneurial marketing, par‑
ticularly those driven by emerg‑
ing technologies, the release said.
“Endowed faculty positions
Infosys to open new hub
in Texas, hire 500 by 2020
New York: Infosys has
announced in a press release,
that it will open its next technol‑
ogy and innovation hub in the
state of Texas and plans to hire
500 American workers in the
state by 2020.
The hub will be located in
Richardson, Texas, and have a
special focus on the telecommu‑
nications, retail and banking sec‑
tors. Infosysʼ investment in Texas
reinforces the companyʼs com‑
mitment to driving digital trans‑
formation for American enter‑
prises by leveraging local talent
alongside the best global talent,
while the new Texas employees
will include recent college gradu‑
ates from around the state.
Infosys recently opened a hub
in North Carolina and it plans to
hire 10,000 Americans along
with hiring more than 6,200
since May 2017.
“We are excited to announce
the expansion of our presence in
Texas, which is another impor‑
tant step in our continued invest‑
ment in driving digital transfor‑
mation for American businesses.
Digital is rapidly changing every
industry, and our hubs will allow
us to co‑locate, co‑innovate and
co‑create alongside our clients,”
Infosys chief executive Pravin
Rao said in a statement.
According to a press release,
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Manoj Saxena and Glenn Omura at the MBA Reunion on Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo by Kasra Raffi. (Image courtesy: broad.msu.edu)
guarantee a strong future for
Michigan State, and we are hon‑
ored that Manoj and the Saxena
Family Foundation have chosen
to come alongside us to advance
MSUʼs leadership in business
ethics related to AI,” said John
Engler, interim president of MSU.
“T heir generosity will create
extraordinary learning opportu‑
Infosys investment in Texas “will
provide Texans with the training
and skills they need to compete
in todayʼs technology‑driven
economy.”
The companyʼs “investment in
the state will further improve its
ability to serve clients by broad‑
ening the STEM talent pipeline
and provide training for the spe‑
cialist skills that Infosys clients
need,” Infosys president Ravi
Kumar added.
The city of Richardson,
Richardson Chamber of
Commerce and Richardson
Rotary Clubs, selected Infosys to
receive the International
Business EDGE Award, earlier
this month.
Infosys has opened two
Technology and Innovation Hubs
so far with one in Indianapolis,
Indiana and another in Raleigh,
North Carolina, and it plans to
open additional ones Hartford,
Connecticut and Phoenix,
Arizona; as well as a unique
Design and Innovation Hub in
Providence, Rhode Island, the
press release added. The compa‑
ny will make Indianapolis as its
main hub in North America and
will build a $245 million campus
there, including a 125,000 sq. ft.
training center and 250‑person
dorm to train U.S. employees and
clients who want to re‑skill their
own employees.
nities for students at a time when
the impact of artificial intelli‑
gence is rapidly permeating into
all industries.” According to eco‑
nomic project ions, AI w ill
increase the global gross domes‑
tic product by 14 percent, or an
addit ional $15.7 trillion by
2030, making it the biggest com‑
mercial opportunity in todayʼs
More than 30,000 Indian‑American Sikhs
have entered the trucking industry in 2 years
Aramie, Wyoming: Here's what you
might expect to see driving I‑80
near Laramie, Wyoming: long
stretches of highway framed by
rolling hills and trucker after truck‑
er making their runs, hauling every‑
thing from fue l to furniture.
Billboards advertise where they can
gas up.
What you might not expect is that
the trucker in the next lane is wear‑
ing a turban. Even with unemploy‑
ment at a nearly 49‑year low, there
is a record‑high shortage of truck
drivers.
This year, the turnover rate for
truck drivers is 96 percent. More
than 50,000 drivers are needed to
meet the demand, and the shortage
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is an ode
to India, says Freida Pinto
Mumbai: Actress Freida Pinto says
actor‑filmmaker Andy Serki's
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is an
ode to India. The film is based on
Rudyard Kipling's widely‑read clas‑
sic The Jungle Book ‑ story of a boy
in an Indian jungle, who grows up
with animals.
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
stars Indian‑American child actor
Rohan Chand, Matthew Rhys and
Freida Pinto, along with voice and
motion capture performances from
Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett,
Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomie
Harris and Serkis.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
economy, the release said.
Harnessing AI in the coming
years requires the creation of a
workforce that has the skills and
understanding needed to build
and manage AI systems that are
secure, transparent, explainable
and accountable, so that society
can avoid unintended conse‑
quences that can be harmful to
individuals, businesses, and soci‑
ety, according to the Saxena
Foundation, the release said.
“We are deeply grateful to the
Saxena Family Foundation for
this visionary endowment,” said
Sanjay Gupta, Eli & Edythe L.
Broad Dean of MSUʼs Eli Broad
College of Business. “This gift
underscores Manoj Saxenaʼs for‑
ward‑looking commitment to
support teaching, and benefits
research that recognizes the
tremendous importance of digital
ethics in an era when AI technol‑
ogy will fundamentally redefine
how we learn, work, and play.
This gift jump‑starts the ability of
the Broad Collegeʼs faculty to
is forcing companies like Amazon,
General Mills, Tyson Foods and oth‑
ers to hike up their prices to con‑
sumers.
But one group of drivers ‑‑
Indian‑Americans who practice the
Sikh faith, truckers like Mintu
Pandher ‑‑ may well be a big part of
the solution. More than 30,000
Sikhs have entered the trucking
industry in the last two years.
"For Sikhs, they want to keep their
articles of faith, turban, unshaven
hair, beard, moustache ‑‑ it's a safe‑
ty hazard for a lot of jobs that
require it. So in trucking they can
keep everything, and still make a
decent living," Pandher said.
Pandher bought a used tractor‑
Freida Pinto in Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (Image : allocine.fr)
T he film is set to re lease on
streaming giant Netflix on
December 7.
play a leadership role in this
exciting new area to build a bet‑
ter world."
An Indian American serial
entrepreneur, venture capitalist
and philanthropist, Saxena
earned his M.B.A. from MSU in
1991; he has also served as an
IBM execut ive and Federal
Reserve Board member.
“I am very grateful for the sup‑
port and education Professor
Omura gave me during my time
at MSU,” said Saxena, who came
to MSU from Hyderabad, India.
“There has never been a more
important time than now to edu‑
cate future business leaders on
the promise and perils of AI and
train them in digital ethics as it
will greatly influence the kind of
world we will live in.
“This gift is just a beginning
and it is my familyʼs hope that
this will serve as a seed crystal
for growing a world‑class pro‑
gram in Responsible AI at MSUʼs
Broad College of Business,”
Saxena added.
trailer 13 years ago. Now he owns
nine rigs, plus a truck stop in
Laramie. With so many Sikh truck
drivers, he even added a Sikh tem‑
ple to his truck stop. And his
kitchen of fers Indian specials that
attract new fans as well.
But it's more than a friendly truck
stop that's drawing Sikhs to a career
behind the wheel. Recruiting videos
that look like something straight
from Bollywood promise a glam‑
orous future: fancy truck, nice car, a
wife making food for the road.
Pandher said it's "pretty much"
made from reality.
"I mean the presentation can be a
little eye‑catchy, but you know
that's the reality," Pandher said.
The actress is playing the role of a
caring motherly Indian woman
named Messua in the movie.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Jagadish Chandra Bose among
nominees to become face of
UK's new 50‑pound note
London: Indian physicist and physiologist Sir
Jagadish Chandra Bose was on Monday
revealed among hundreds of scientists nomi‑
nated in the first stage of the Bank of
England's search for the face to feature on a
new 50‑pound note to go into print from
2020.
Penicillin discoverer Alexander Fleming,
father of modern epidemiology John Snow,
naturalist and zookeeper Gerald Durrell, and
fossil pioneer Mary Anning, and British‑
Jamaican nursing pioneer Mary Seacole are
among the others.
Bose, who was born in Bengal during the
British Raj in 1858, is credited with proving
that animals and plants share much in com‑
mon as a result of his very early experimenta‑
tions and the creation of a very sophisticated
instrument called the crescograph to detect
minute responses of living organisms.
He is nominated alongside one of the
world's best‑known physicists, Stephen
Hawking, as the Bank of England announced
that it had received a total of 174,112 nomi‑
nations since it confirmed that the new note
would feature a scientist who had made a sig‑
nificant contribution to British science.
This is only the preliminary stage of identi‑
fying eligible names for consideration. At this
first stage, a nomination has been deemed eli‑
gible simply if the character is real, deceased
and has contributed to the field of science in
the UK in any way, the Bank of England said
in a statement.
Bose attended the University of Cambridge,
studying natural sciences after graduating
with a physics degree from Calcutta
Nandita Parshad takes
charge of European
Bank's sustainability team
London: The European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on
Monday announced the appointment of
Nandita Parshad, an Indian‑origin senior exec‑
utive, as the head of its consolidated new sus‑
tainable infrastructure group within the mul‑
tilateral organization.
Nandita Parshad, currently Managing
Director for Energy and Natural Resources at
the EBRD, in her new role will lead the bank's
engagement in environmental, transport and
energy sectors in 38 countries across three
continents with a particular focus on decar‑
bonization and sustainable financing, a state‑
ment said.
"Green investments increasingly require a
complex approach combining energy, emis‑
sions, water and waste," said Parshad, who
was born in Kolkata and holds undergraduate
and graduate degrees from the Woodrow
Wilson School of Public and International
Affairs at Princeton University.
"This integration is shown in the emergence
of a number of important cross‑cutting
themes such as electrification of trains, buses
and electric vehicles, water‑energy nexus,
including the growing role of desalination, as
well as green, sustainable cities. By joining
DIASPORA December 1-7, 2018 9
University. He returned to India in 1884 after
completing his BSc degree from Cambridge
University and was appointed Professor of
Physical Science at Presidency College in
Kolkata.
In 1917, Bose left his professorship and
established the Bose Institute at Kolkata,
which was initially devoted principally to the
study of plants.
Bose and black hole expert Hawking are up
against the likes of former British prime min‑
ister Margaret Thatcher, who qualified as a
nominee within the bank's specified criteria
because of her work as a chemist before her
career in politics.
T he names, once finalized after the
December 14 deadline for the close of nomi‑
nations, will be considered by the Bank of
England's Banknote Character Advisory
Committee.
The Bank of England had revealed a few
months ago that nominations for the new
note can include anyone who worked in any
field of science including astronomy, biology,
biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, mathe‑
matics, medical research, physics, technology
or zoology.
Until the criteria was unveiled, a campaign
had been building up in favor of British Indian
World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan to feature
on the new currency.
An online petition in favor of Khan attracted
thousands of signatures, calling for the
descendant of Tipu Sultan and daughter of
Indian Sufi saint Hazrat Inayat Khan to be
considered as the first ethnic minority British
woman to be honored on the currency (PTI)
Nandita Parshad, currently Managing
Director for Energy and Natural Resources
at the EBRD, in her new role will lead the
bank's engagement in environmental,
transport and energy sectors in 38
countries across three continents
the efforts of bankers structuring energy and
infrastructure projects, we will capitalize on a
common ethos and working model," she said.
Nandita Parshad is a member of the Energy
Transition Commission and of the World
Economic Forum Council on Future Energy,
where she represents the EBRD and shapes
policy‑making and thinking in global chal‑
lenges of decarbonization. (PTI)
 10 December 1-7, 2018 US AFFAIRS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Mueller report will be Kamala Harris could lose

'devastating' for
Trump: Commentator
Washington DC: The Harvard Law professor
emeritus told ABC News Chief Anchor George
Stephanopoulos that he believes President
Trump will have to navigate the political
impact of a potentially damning final report
from the special counsel.
“I think the report is going to be devastat‑
ing to the president and I know that the pres‑
ident's team is already working on a
response to the report,” Dershowitz said on
"This Week" Sunday.
Dershowitz added that he believes the
report, although it will have a strong political
impact, is unlikely to result in criminal
charges. “When I say devastating, I mean it's
going to paint a picture that's going to be
politically very devastating. I still don't think
it's going to make a criminal case,”
Dershowitz said. Twitter Ads info and privacy
The comments come as Trump, this past
week, submitted written answers to ques‑
tions from Mueller in the investigation into
Russian interference in the 2016 election,
according to a statement from his attorneys
given to ABC News. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a
Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said
Sunday on “This Week” that the Mueller
investigation may be jeopardized by the
appointment of acting Attorney General
Matthew Whitaker.
Pointing to Whitakerʼs previous public
comments on the Mueller investigation
before becoming attorney general,
Klobuchar said he should not be running the
Justice Department and that Congress
should pass legislation protecting Mueller.
“I'm really concerned about having him in
charge. As you know, we have tried in the
Senate on a bipartisan basis, to protect that
investigation by law,” Klobuchar said.
The bill is still pending in the Senate.
seat on Senate Judiciary
Committee, report says
Washington DC: Reducing the size of the
21‑member Senate Judiciary Committee is
reportedly among the actions being con‑
sidered by Senate Republicans as they
prepare for the next Congress.
If that happens, Sen. Kamala Harris of
California ‑‑ a high‑profile Democrat who
is considered a possible candidate for her
partyʼs 2020 presidential nomination ‑‑
could be left off the panel, according to a
report.
Thatʼs because the first‑term senator is
the judiciary committeeʼs most junior
member, and would be among the first to
go if the panel is downsized, the
Washington Post reported.
But some Democrats are reportedly
scrambling to find a way to keep Harris
on the committee, the report said. The
ideas include negotiating with
Not being on judicial panel will harm the
Republicans ‑‑ who maintained control of Indian American Senatorʼs chances of
the chamber after this month's midterm running for President in 2020.
elections ‑‑ to keep the committee at 21
members, or convincing a more senior state attorney general in California – drew
Democrat to step aside. attention during the summer for her ques‑
Although she has been a U.S. senator for tioning of Brett Kavanaugh during his
less than two years, Harris – a former Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

US authorities fire tear gas to GM to close plants,

disperse migrants at border cut staff by 15%
Washington: General Motors on staffs, the realignment of its man‑
Washington: A major
Monday announced the closure of ufacturing capacity and a reduc‑
US‑Mexico border
seven of its factories around the tion of salaried workforce."
crossing in San Diego
world as part of a restructuring "These actions are expected to
was closed for hours
plan. increase annual adjusted automo‑
after a g roup of
The automaker said in a state‑ tive free cash flow by $6 billion by
mig rants on the
ment that it will close two assem‑ year‑end 2020 on a run‑rate
Mexican side rushed
bly plants in the US and one in basis," the statement said.
the border area, lead‑
Canada, along with two others in In addition to these plants, GM
ing American Border
as‑yet‑unidentified countries. said that at the end of 2019 it will
Patrol agents to fire
The firm added that it will also cease production at two other
tear gas at the group.
close two production plants in the plants located outside North
About 500
US, reports Efe news. America, providing no further
mig rants on the
The five North American plants details but saying that it will do so
Mexican side of the
affected by the move are the in the very near future.
border overwhelmed
assembly plants in Detroit‑ The closures come after the
police blo ckades
Hamtramck and Lordstown, Ohio, company announced it was shut‑
near the San Ysidro
as well as the one on Oshawa, ting down its assembly plant in
Port of Entry on
Ontario, and the two engine and Gunsan, South Korea.
Sunday afternoon,
transmission production plants in CEO Mary Barra told reporters
authorit ies in Caravan tensions boil over on US‑Mexico border. (Photo courtesy Reuters) Baltimore, Maryland, and Warren, that the firm is making the cuts
Tijuana told CNN.
Ohio, all of which employ some "to get in front of it while the com‑
As the migrants tried to cross trian traffic for several hours, was from helping the migrants' cause,
14,500 people. pany is strong and while the econ‑
the border, authorities on the US reopened later on Sunday. it could result in a serious inci‑
GM did not say in its statement omy is strong," although the firm
side used tear gas to disperse Mexico's Interior Ministry said dent on the border.
how many workers will lose their said it was not anticipating an
them. Video of the scene showed a federal and lo cal authorit ies In response to the incident, US
jobs, but it emphasized that it is economic downturn.
cloud of tear gas that sent people stopped the migrants from cross‑ Secretary of Homeland Security
taking measures to reduce its pay‑ She added that the move is part
running and screaming, including ing the border illegally. Those Kirstjen Nielsen said: "The DHS
roll by 15 percent, including cut‑ of GM's plan to become a more
families with young children. identified as having tried to ille‑ will not tolerate this type of law‑
ting its white collar executives by agile, resilient and profitable com‑
US Customs and Border gally cross will be processed for lessness and will not hesitate to
25 percent to facilitate decision‑ pany, while giving it the flexibility
Protect ion said the mig rants deportation to their home coun‑ shut down ports of entry for secu‑
making. it needs to invest in the future.
threw projectiles that struck sev‑ tries, it added. rity and public safety reasons.
The firm's statement read in Barra also said that the firm rec‑
eral agents. "Border Patrol agents By Sunday night, Tijuana police "We will also seek to prosecute
part: "Today, GM is continuing to ognizes the need to stay ahead of
deployed tear gas to dispel the had arrested 39 people, the to the fullest extent of the law
take proactive steps to improve changing market conditions and
g roup because of the risk to agency said on Facebook. anyone who destroys federal
overall business performance consumer preferences so that GM
agents' safety," the agency tweet‑ The Interior Ministry described property, endangers our front‑line
including the reorganization of its can be successful over the long
ed. The San Ysidro Port of Entry, Sunday's incident as "acts of operators, or violates our nation's
global product development term.
which closed to vehicle and pedes‑ provocation" and warned that far sovereignty."
TheSouthAsianTimes.info US AFFAIRS December 1-7, 2018 11

Climate change will shrink US Trump wants quick

ruling on military
economy, fed report warns transgender ban
Washington: A new US govern‑ modern history. Even if the best‑
ment report delivers a dire case scenario were to happen Washington: To bypass lower courts, the
warning about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions Trump administrat ion has asked the
and its devastating impacts, were to drop to nothing, the Supreme Court to hear a challenge to
saying the economy could lose world is on track to warm 1.1 President Trump's policy that bars most
hundreds of billions of dollars degrees Fahrenheit. transgender individuals from military serv‑
‑‑ or, in the worst‑case sce‑ As of now, not a single G20 ice.
nario, more than 10% of its country is meeting climate tar‑ T he policy, first announced by the
GDP ‑‑ by the end of the centu‑ gets, research shows. President in July 2017 via Twitter and later
ry. The federally mandated Without significant reductions officially released by Secretary of Defense
study was supposed to come in greenhouse emissions, the James Mattis, blocks individuals who suffer
out in December but was annual average global tempera‑ from a condition known as gender dyspho‑
released by the Trump admin‑ ture could increase 9 degrees ria from serving with limited exceptions. It
istration last Friday. The report's findings run counter to President Trump's consistent Fahrenheit (5 Celsius) or more also specifies that individuals without the
David Easterling, director of message that climate change is a hoax. Global warming is a factor by the end of this century, com‑ condition can serve but only if they do so
the Technical Support Unit at in disasters like the California wildfires pared with preindustrial temper‑ according to the sex they were assigned at
the NOAA Nat ional Centers for entists, roughly half from outside the gov‑ atures, the report says. birth.
Environmental Information, denied external ernment. The costs of climate change could reach District courts across the country have so
interference in the report's development It's the second of two volumes. The first, hundreds of billions of dollars annually, far blocked the policy from going into
adding that the climate change the Earth is released in November 2017. according to the report. The Southeast alone ef fect. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
experiencing is unlike any other. T he report's findings run counter to will probably lose over a half a billion labor heard arguments in one challenge earlier
"The global average temperature is much President Donald Trump's consistent mes‑ hours by 2100 due to extreme heat. this fall and the DC Circuit will hear argu‑
higher and is rising more rapidly than any‑ sage that climate change is a hoax. Farmers will face extremely tough times. ments in early December.
thing modern civilization has experienced, On Wednesday, Trump tweeted, The quality and quantity of their crops will On Friday, Solicitor General Noe l
and this warming trend can only be "Whatever happened to Global Warming?" decline across the country due to higher Francisco filed petitions asking the justices
explained by human activities," Easterling as some Americans faced the coldest temperatures, drought and flooding. In parts to take up the issue in three separate cases
said. Coming from the US Global Change Thanksgiving in over a century. of the Midwest, farms will be able to pro‑ that are still in lower courts so it could be
Research Program, a team of 13 federal But climate change is not disproved by the duce less than 75% of the corn they produce decided definitively this term. Francisco
agencies, the Fourth National Climate extreme weather of one day or a week; it's today, and the southern part of the region argues that lower court rulings imposing
Assessment was put together with the help demonstrated by long‑term trends. Humans could lose more than 25% of its soybean nationwide injunctions are wrong and war‑
of 1,000 people, including 300 leading sci‑ are living with the warmest temperatures in yield. rant immediate review.
 12 December 1-7, 2018 INDIA TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Momentum grows for early construction of Ram temple

Ayodhya: The 'Super Sunday' in
Ayodhya passed of f peacefully
and turned out to be a win‑win
for all the stakeholders, with the
right‑wing outfit Vishwa Hindu
Parishad ( VHP) manag ing to
mobilise crowds for its "Dharma
Sabha" and succeeding in bring‑
ing the Ram temple issue to cen‑
tre stage, and the state govern‑
ment successfully warding of f
any untoward incident.
The Yogi Adityanath govern‑
ment in Uttar Pradesh managed
to ensure that the day passes off
peacefully, even if this meant
twisting some rules and bending
backwards to accommodate the
converging Hindu faithfuls who
wanted the Ram temple to be
built at the earliest.
The day started with the Shiv
Sena (SS) chief Uddhav Thackeray
and his family praying before the
Ram Lalla, who has been under a
tent since 1992. Emerging out of
the 30‑minute "darshan",
Thackeray said he felt blessed to
be in Ayodhya but the larger feel‑
ing was that of "visiting a prison".
Later at a presser, he told the
media that the Narendra Modi
government at the Centre and the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gov‑
ernment in Uttar Pradesh were
"powerful enough" to ensure that
a grand Ram temple was built at
the earliest. He announced all‑out
support if the Modi government
introduced a Bill or brought an
ordinance favouring an early start
of building of the Ram temple at
the disputed site.
Taking a dig at its ally BJP,
Virat "Dharma Sabha" underway in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
(Photo: IANS)
Thackeray however rued the fact
that while some people chanted
"Ram‑Ram" during the elections,
they got into "aa‑ram" mo de
(relaxed mode) thereafter, allur‑
ing to the fact that the BJP has
done precious little in the past
four years in power to pave way
for a Ram temple, as promised in
its poll manifesto as well.
He later flew off in a chartered
plane to Mumbai but not before
ticking off party workers for their
"unruly behaviour" at the Laxman
Quila grounds on Saturday. He
asked them to leave and a train
ferrying them back home left the
Ayo d hya railway stat ion on
Sunday evening, one hour before
time. A train was sent on Saturday
as well.
In the afternoon, the main event
‑‑ VHP's "dharma sabha" ‑‑ was
convened. According to district
administration's estimates, a
crowd of over 75,000 had gath‑
ered to "strategise on the next
step to a grand Ram temple".
VHP's internat ional Vice
President Champat Rai
announced that they (Hindus)
would not cede an inch of land for
anything but a Ram temple and
demanded of the Sunni Waqf
Board that they withdraw their
case over distribution of the dis‑
puted land, as ordered by the
Allahabad High Court.
Rai went on to add that the
issue of land was non‑negotiable
for Hindus. "The distribution of
land is not acceptable to us and
we want the whole land for Lord
Ram," he declared.
He also pointed out that the
Hindus would not accept offering
of "Namaaz" over any piece of the
disputed land. Warning that no
one should test the patience of
the Hindu community anymore,
MODI INTERFERING WITH
COURT PROCEEDINGS IS
DANGEROUS: YECHURY
Agartala: After weakening the Election Commission, CBI, CVC and other
Constitutional bodies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now interfering
with court proceedings which is extremely dangerous, CPI‑M leader
Sitaram Yechury has said.
"The Prime Minister alleged that the Supreme Court is under pressure,
that Opposition parties are interfering with the court proceedings. By
saying this, the Prime Minister himself and the government are interfer‑
ing with the court proceedings. This is a very dangerous trend," Yechury
told reporters here.
He said: "The Prime Minister, during his election campaign, has threat‑
ened to subvert the legal process on the Ayodhya dispute. Out of frustra‑
tion, Modi is making such undemocratic and unconstitutional com‑
ments. "No one should make any comment on issues that are before the
court. The Ayodhya dispute is a very sensitive issue. How can a Prime
Minister make coments on an issue which is before the Supreme Court?"
Yechury, who came here on Sunday and attended a two‑day Tripura
state conference of the Communist Party of India‑Marxist, said the Modi
government had truncated Parliament proceedings and was brazenly
undermining the judiciary, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the RBI and other Constitutional
and autonomous bodies.
He claimed that the public mood in the five poll‑bound states ‑
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telanganna, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram ‑
was against the BJP and the Modi government.
"Modi and his party are now seeking votes, giving priority to Hindutva
and communal polarisation. They failed to implement every single
promise they had made before the 2014 Lok Sabha election," the CPI‑M
leader said. He said that a 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) will take
shape just before the 2019 general election, like in 1977.
he said they had been battling the Muslim litigant Iqbal Ansari, who
matter for the past 490 years. had earlier expressed fear at the
Earlier, hundreds of thousands growing crowds in Ayodhya for
of VHP workers and supporters the VHP event, on Sunday
trooped into the venue of the thanked the Uttar Pradesh gov‑
"dharm sabha" and Muslim locals ernment for "goo d arrange‑
showered flower petals on them. ments".

Rahul promises farm loan waiver if Sabarimala protests to continue

Congress wins Rajasthan until Sec 144 is lifted: UDF
Jalore (Rajasthan): In an attempt The Congress chief alleged that Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress‑led before the temple opened for a two‑month
to woo farmers in Rajasthan Modi wanted to divide the nation UDF on Tuesday announced that it will long season.
which goes to polls on December into two parts ‑‑ one for industrial‑ continue the protests till the Kerala Police The Left Democratic Front (LDF) govern‑
7, Cong ress President Rahul ists and the other for the poor. withdrew the prohibitory orders enforced ment‑led by the Communist Party of India‑
Gandhi on Monday promised to "While the industrialists get the in Sabarimala. Marxist (CPI‑M) has been trying to imple‑
waive of f farmers' loans in 10 tag of non performing assets when The decision was conveyed by the United ment the top court's order even as the
days if the Congress formed a they fail to pay back loans, the Democratic Front (UDF) Convenor Benny Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and
government in the state. other gets the tag of defaulters Behanan to the media here, soon after the several Hindu groups have been up in
"Our party had promised farm‑ when they fail to pay back loans. Liaison Committee of the leadership met arms against it.
ers in Punjab and Karnataka elec‑ The former class gets an aircraft to here. Behanan added that there was "an
tions loan waivers and we waived fly to London while the poor are "We have decided that our protests will unholy alliance between the Pinarayi
farmers' loan there," he said sent to jail. continue till the prohibitory orders in the Vijayan government and the BJP/RSS
adding that he doesn't make false "We want justice for all. Rules temple town in Sabarimala are lifted. Our forces".
promises unlike Prime Minister should be equal for all in one protests will be seen both inside and out‑ "Vijayan and the Sangh Parivar forces
Congress President
Narendra Modi. nation," he added. side the Assembly," said Behanan. are hand‑in‑glove and the former has
Rahul Gandhi.
He also ridiculed the planned He targeted Rajasthan Chie f The business session of the state assem‑ given the chance to the latter to get glori‑
bullet train. He said the Indian Railways had an Minister Vasundhara Raje for spreading lies in bly begins on Wednesday. fied through their protests and arrests of
annual budget of Rs 1 lakh crore and transport‑ advertisements. The Kerala Police on Monday extended their leaders.
ed crores of people but the cost of a bullet train He spoke about an advertisement of a school Section 144 of the CrPC that prohibits "This is a ploy by the two forces. We
that will carry around 2,000‑3,000 people to in Bharatpur which showed a school with fans, assembly of more than four persons in one have had a consistent stand on the
Mumbai a day was almost the same. drinking water, furniture and playground. But place, till November 30. Sabarimala town Sabarimala issue. We will not withdraw
"And the profit of this train will be passed journalists who went there failed to find drink‑ has been witnessing repeated protests our protest till the prohibitory order is
onto industrialist Adani and not to poor of the ing water, teachers, fans or anything which the ever since the September 28 verdict of the withdrawn," Behanan added.
nation. It should be named Adani Railways." ad specified. Supreme Court that allowed women of all In a re lated deve lopment Rehana
He also questioned reasons for removing the Gandhi said that the big amount was being ages to enter the temple that hitherto Fathima, who had attempted to visit the
CBI chief at the stroke of midnight. It was spent on advertisements by the BJP and this banned girls and women aged 10‑50. Lord Ayyappa temple, escorted by the
because he was investigating the Rafale deal was the money which they were getting from The apex court had on November 13 police on October 19, was arrested on
with France, he said. their industrialist friends. refused to stay its earlier order, three days Tuesday.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram KCR did nothing
to vote on Wednesday for Telangana: Modi
Bhopal/Aizawl: Madhya Pradesh
will vote on Wednesday to either
give the BJP a fourth successive
term in power notwithstanding
anti‑incumbency or give a chance
to the challenger Congress to
break the saffron party's monop‑
oly over power for the last 15
years.
Similarly, voters in Mizoram
will also exercise their franchise
on Wednesday to elect a new
Assembly in which the Congress
is striving for a third successive
term against a stiff challenge
from the Mizo National Front
headed by former Chief Minister
Zoramthanga.
Mizoram, one of the four states
where the Congress is in power
at present besides Punjab and
the union territory of Puducherry
and part of a coalition in
Karnataka, is the last remaining
bastion for Congress in the
northeast. The campaign has
been high decibel, often marked
by bitter personal attacks, with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and Congress President Rahul
Gandhi leading the charge of
their parties.
In Madhya Pradesh, the contest
is mainly between the BJP and
Congress though the Bahujan
Samaj Party and Samajwadi
Party are also in the fray.
Apart from Modi's appeal, the
BJP is banking on the image of
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan and its organisational
structure. Party President Amit
Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Yogi Adityanath and
26/11: Friendly Indo‑Pak ties only way forward
New Delhi: Senior leaders across
the political spectrum, including
former Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, remembered the victims of
26/11 attacks in Mumbai on this
day 10 years ago and agreed that
friendly relations between India
and Pakistan is the only way for‑
ward. Unveiling "Fables of
Fractured Times", authored by
Congress leader Manish Tewari on
Monday, Singh, along with former
Jammu and Kashmir Chie f
Minister Farooq Abdullah and for‑
mer diplomat and Janata Dal‑
United ( JD‑U) leader Pavan K.
Varma, marked a moment of
silence in the memory of victims
who lost their lives.
Singh said terror achieves no
purpose and emphasised that
friendly relations between India
and Pakistan is the only way for‑
ward. "Our dear citizens were lost
due to acts of grave terror. I can
only hope that saner elements will
Security personnel queue up outside a polling booth to
cast their votes for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections
through postal ballot in Bhopal. (Photo: IANS)
union ministers Rajnath Singh,
Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley
campaigned in the state.
The Congress put up a spirited
fight by raising issues concern‑
ing people and putting up a unit‑
ed fight by keeping the issue of
leadership at bay.
Rahul Gandhi sought to rejuve‑
nate the state unit by appointing
Kamal Nath as the party chief in
April this year and naming
Jyotiraditya Scindia, MP, as the
campaign chief.
Congress leaders have sought
to highlight the problems of
farmers, the poor, middle class
and youths in their rallies hold‑
ing, especially holding demoneti‑
sation and GST as the reasons for
the agrarian distress and traders'
plight.
Modi attacked the Congress on
corruption, dynasty politics and
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Farooq Abdullah & journalist Rajdeep
Sardesai with Congress leader Manish Tewari at the launch of
Tewari's book "Fables of Fractured Times" in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)
prevail in India and Pakistan," he
said. Singh maintained that terror
achieves no purpose and referred
to the current state of af fairs in
Jammu and Kashmir as a result of
the "strained relationship" between
the countries, separated at birth.
He said there is a great churning
INDIA
several other issues and gave
accounts of the achievements of
the state and his own govern‑
ment.
In Mizoram, the fight is largely
between the Congress and the
Mizo National Front though the
BJP is also seeking to make its
presence felt. The BJP has made
deep inroads in the northeast
since the Modi government came
to power at the Centre in 2014
and its performance in the
Christian majority state will be
keenly watched.
In battle for supremacy in the
election to the 40‑member
Mizoram Assembly, Chief
Minister Lal Thanhawla of the
Congress is seeking a hat‑trick.
He claims there is no incumben‑
cy against his government. A
total of 209 candidates are in the
fray in Mizoram.
in international af fairs, where
changes are taking place at a rate
that was "unthinkable" 10 years
ago.
In an apparent reference to the
terrorists from Pakistan, Abdullah
said they will never succeed in
dividing this nation "unless we are
December 1-7, 2018
Nizamabad (Telangana): Opening
his campaign in Telangana, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on
Tuesday launched a scathing
attack on Chief Minister K.
Chandrasekhar Rao, accusing the
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)
government of doing nothing dur‑
ing its tenure while only the KCR
"dynasty" flourished.
Addressing his first rally in the
state, which goes to poll on
December 7, Modi devoted most
of his time castigating KCR and
his party for neglecting the state
for the sake of vote‑bank politics
and doing nothing to solve prob‑
lems related to power, water
and roads.
While his campaign in
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Mizoram and Rajasthan revolved
around Congress bashing and tar‑
geting the Nehru‑Gandhi family,
Modi concentrated in Telangana
on the "failures" of the TRS gov‑
ernment and attacking Rao.
"The Chief Minister is following
the Congress footsteps and
believes that if the Congress can
rule for 50‑55 years doing noth‑
ing, then he too can do it," he said,
calling the elections an to seek
accountability from the TRS gov‑
ernment and teach them a lesson.
"People here have been longing
for water. Despite his assurances,
nothing has been done. People
who cannot even ensure drinking
water for the masses have no
right to seek votes," the Prime
Minister said. With the health
infrastructure in the state in
"shambles", Modi flayed the KCR
divided".
"Pakistan is a rogue state. The
state is dependent on the Army.
But if we are united, nobody is so
powerful to divide this country," he
said.
Abdullah urged the gathering to
trust Muslims and reminded them
that they are a part of this land.
"Ram doesn't need my vote nor
does Allah... The elections are not
being fought on developmental
issues," he said.
"Do not mistrust Indian Muslims.
We are a part of this land. We have
never taken direct ions from
Pakistan. We decided not to partic‑
ipate in the elections because they
(BJP) were playing with Article
370 and 35A," he said.
Although seen largely in opposi‑
tion gatherings, Varma maintained
that he is very much a part of JD‑U
and agreed that friendly relations
between the countries is the way
forward. He, however, asked the
13
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
addressing a rally in Telangana
government for opting out of the
Ayushman Bharat scheme ‑ the
National Health Protection
Scheme covering over 10 crore
families. "The CM suffers from
insecurity and doesn't have an
iota of trust on even himself. He
depends a lot on astrologers,
spends a lot of time on prayers
and is superstitious. He feels so
insecure that he did not join
Ayushman Bharat, doing gross
injustice to the people of the
state." He also ridiculed KCR for
early dissolution of the Assembly,
saying the early elections have
given the people an opportunity
to "get rid off" TRS a little earlier.
"This government's hallmark is
half‑hearted promises, half‑heart‑
ed schemes and they did not even
complete their term," he said.
Taking a jibe at KCR for promis‑
ing to turn Nizamabad into
London, Modi said even smaller
towns and cities in BJP‑ruled
states were better off and advised
the Chief Minister to "stay in
those towns" to learn about devel‑
opment.
audience, how it is possible to
maintain good relations when the
perpetrators of 26/11 roam open‑
ly in Pakistan and spew venom on
India. The discussion also touched
upon the decline in public dis‑
course and Abdullah targeted
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of
using the language that is unbe‑
coming of a PM.
Singh said that Modi should
exercise "due restraint" in his
speech and must act in a manner
that suits a Prime Minister.
"My advice to the Prime Minister
is to exercise due restraint that is
becoming of a Prime Minister.
When the PM goes to states that
are not ruled by the BJP, he has an
obligation to not use the language
that has now become common
practice," he said. Singh stressed
that he and his Congress‑led UPA
government never discriminated in
the fashion the Modi dispensation
is doing every day.
 14 December 1-7, 2018 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

As India gets richer, more

By Tish Sanghera

A
s India has become wealthi‑
er, more of its citizens are
leaving its shores.

Indians leave its shores

An estimated 17 million Indians
were living abroad in 2017, making
India the largest source country for
international migrants globally, up
from seven million in 1990 and a
143 per cent increase, according to
an IndiaSpend analysis of data from
the United Nations Department of
Economic Affairs.
Over the same period, India's per
capita income increased by 522 per
cent (from $1,134 to $7,055), pro‑
viding more people the means to
travel abroad in search of employ‑
ment opportunities they were not
finding at home.
At the same time, the number of
unskilled migrants leaving the coun‑
try has been falling: An estimated
391,000 left India in 2017, almost Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari with the Overseas Young Indian Diaspora in New Delhi. (File photo: IANS/PIB)
half the number in 2011 (637,000), "Over the years India has made migrants globally entering the work‑ residents between 1990‑2017, while to land a job in the country after uni‑
according to a new report by the internal adjustments to who gets an force in their host country, the ADB in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, over versity too, so you're seeing a shift in
Asian Development Bank (ADB). ECR passport. A lot of people are report found. seven years to 2017, Indian popula‑ migration," Sharma said.
However, this does not necessarily entitled to non‑ECR passports and India's working age population is tions rose by 110 per cent and 78 Rapidly aging populations across
mean that an increasing proportion take that route to migrate instead ‑‑ currently growing by 1.3 million per cent, respectively. the West will further create a
of India's emigrants are likely to be this is data which is not publicly each month, exacerbating a stagnant While traditional host countries demand for migrant labor, as
higher skilled or that policymakers available and therefore cannot be job market that is further afflicted for Indian migrants, such as the Gulf imported workers fill employment
should be worried about a rise in analysed," Seeta Sharma, Technical by a lack of employment. states, US and UK, remain the coun‑ gaps left by falling birth rates in
"brain drain". Of ficer (ILO) for EU‑India Over almost three decades, tries with the highest Indian popula‑ many developed countries. India is
T he above figures refer to Cooperation and Dialogue on between 1990‑2017, India wit‑ tions, over the last decade, OECD well placed to benefit from this
unskilled migrants traveling on Migration and Mobility, told nessed waves of skilled and unskilled countries have seen a significant demand.
Emigration Check Required (ECR) IndiaSpend. labor emigration. Indians living in increase in the number of Indians Indeed, Kerala received 19 per
passports ‑‑ passports issued by the International emigration generally Qatar increased 82,669 per cent ‑‑ choosing to settle within their bor‑ cent of all remittances (funds sent by
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs rises with economic development as from 2,738 to 2.2 million ‑‑ over 27 ders. an expatriate to their country of ori‑
to those leaving for employment in more people acquire the financial years to 2017, more than in any Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, gin) received in India in 2016‑17,
certain countries in the Middle East means to travel abroad, and only other country. In the two years for example, have seen their Indian closely followed by Maharashtra (17
and Southeast Asia. Changes in the begins to reduce when countries between 2015‑2017, the Indian pop‑ populations grow by 66, 56 and 42 per cent) and Karnataka (15 per
government criteria used to class reach upper‑middle income status. ulation in Qatar more than tripled. per cent, respectively, over seven cent), according to RBI data.
workers as unskilled, leading to Labor demand driven by con‑ Oman (688 per cent) and the years to 2017. They are cheaper and India received the largest remit‑
more migrants travelling on non‑ strained local employment markets United Arab Emirates (622 per cent) have better educational opportuni‑ tances globally in 2017, with close
ECR passports, could be part of the is a key motivation for international also feature in the top 10 countries ties."For example, Germany has free to $70 billion landing in the coun‑
reason for the declining trend. migration, with 73 per cent of all for the largest increases in Indian education and there's the potential try's banks accounts.

Why Indian media canʼt emulate the US media

By Karan Thapar Indian media is unlikely to emulate the many Indian professions but it can create a
American. Itʼs not because individual journal‑ poignant moral dilemma for journalists.

L
ast week Justice Markandey Katju
answered a question that has frequent‑
ly been put to me. Actually itʼs one that
a lot of people have started to ask: ʻIs the
Indian media capable of standing up to Prime
Minister Modi in the same way that the
American media has stood up to President
Trump?ʼ
Justice Katjuʼs answer was no. I believe heʼs
correct but I donʼt believe his reasons go far
enough. Thereʼs a better and more convincing
argument heʼs overlooked.
Justice Katjuʼs answer rests on two argu‑
ments. First, he believes public opinion is not
mature and independent enough to stand up
to supreme authorities such as the prime min‑
ister. At such moments it buckles and gives
way. This is often true though there have
been instances when public opinion has been
firm and resolute. The Nirbhaya rape case
and the response to Gauri Lankeshʼs killing
are two.
Justice Katjuʼs second argument is that
newspaper proprietors are unwilling to stand
up to government pressure. They inevitably
Press Council of India Chairman Justice
Markandey Katju.
“kowtow”. More often than not, this is
because they have other businesses to pro‑
tect. They know governments can be vicious
and vengeful and they want to avoid provok‑
ing them.
However, I believe thereʼs a further, deeper
and more comprehensive reason why the
ists – indeed, the vast majority of them – are
willing to toe the governments line (although
a few sadly are) and do not recognize the
need to stand firm. Itʼs because they lack eco‑
nomic security. If you challenge the govern‑
ment you run the risk of losing your job. Yet
for many this is not just their livelihood but
the anchor of their (and sometimes their fami‑
lies) existence. If standing up to the govern‑
ment means risking your security most peo‑
ple would think carefully and decide against
it. This is where the American media differs.
Individual American journalists have the
financial wherewithal to stand up for their
principles and their conscience. We donʼt,
which is why weʼre forced to compromise.
To some this may be a lamentable conclu‑
sion but itʼs also Godʼs own truth. Of course,
our profession can boast of some journalists
who, at the cost of their happiness or security,
will stand up for their principles and refuse to
bend, but they are rare. Theyʼre men and
women of exceptional character. The majority
of us are dif ferent. Weʼre survivors and we
need to carry on living. In fact, this is true of
There are, of course, other failings that
come in the way of the Indian media standing
up to authority. But these arenʼt unique to
India. Youʼll find them everywhere. Some jour‑
nalists seek to be friends of the powerful, oth‑
ers allow their personal prejudices to deter‑
mine their decisions and some are looking for
favors that could advance their career or even
launch new ones.
Yet this will change and it already is. The
initial response to the Emergency was the
first example. Bofors and the reaction to the
Anti‑Defamation Bill was another. Arguably
the opposition to Hindutva and its champions
is a third.
What Justice Katju didnʼt ask is how would
our courts respond if the governmentʼs
behavior is legally challenged by journalists.
Iʼd like to believe our judges will be no differ‑
ent to their American counterparts. Justice
Katju would know better but on this, alas, he
was silent. I wonder why?
(Karan Thapar is the author of The Devilʼs
Advocate: The Untold Story. The Op‑Ed
appeared in The Hindustan Times)

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Siddhi Jain
New Delhi: W hen Syed
Fariddudin Qutbi, the "khadim"
(attendant) of the shrine of 13th
century Sufi saint Qutbuddin
Bakht iar Kaki in Mehrauli,
stepped out after offering a floral
"chhatra" (a flower‑embellished
umbrella) at the ancient Yogmaya
temple located at a stone's throw
from the dargah, all he had to say
was that in the small temple sanc‑
tum sanctorum suf fused with a
strong incense and jasmine fra‑
grance, he felt the same tranquili‑
ty and a "magnificent, invisible
power" he feels at the dargah.
Part of the annual cultural festi‑
val "Phool Walon Ki Sair" (Festival
of Flower Sellers), an initiative
that promotes communal harmo‑
ny and positive cultural exchanges
since the early 1800s, many like
Qutbi go beyond the bounds of
religious identity, and encourage
members of other communities to
offer flowers and "pankhas" (fans)
at places of worship that are con‑
sidered not "their own".
The roots of the festival go back
to the reign of one of the last
Mughal emperors and Bahadur
Shah Zafar's father, Akbar Shah II,
who was buried next to the dar‑
gah.
Legend has it that when his son
Mirza Jahangir was imprisoned on
the orders of the British, Akbar
Shah's wife vowed that she would
offer a blanket at the Sufi saint's
dargah upon his release. As fate
had it, Shah's son was released
and the blanket was offered. Upon
imperial orders, floral of ferings
were also made at go ddess
Yogmaya's temple, which sparked
public enthusiasm, causing it to
become an annual tradition.
The festival was stopped in the
1940s when the British started
their polarizing ef forts in line
with their "divide‑and‑rule policy"
that led to deep rifts between
India's two major religious com‑
munities, Mirza Mohtaram Bakht,
Selfie with past on Himachalʼs British‑era rail track
Shimla: Running through histo‑
ry, the British‑era Kalka‑Shimla
railway track w ill now take
tourists to the ʻgloriousʼ past for
capturing the moments. Railway
authorities installed a rail engine
and a coach for the tourists at the
Shogi railway station, some 13 km
from the state capital, on
Wednesday for the tourists to get
themselves photographed with
the stationary train in the back‑
ground.
“The selfie point at Shogi will be
inaugurated by midddle of next
month,” a railway of ficial told
IANS. He said this is the lone selfie
Phool Waalon Ki Sair
secretary of the Anjuman Sair‑e‑
Gul Faroshan, the organizers of
the fair, told IANS.
He said the festival was revived
in 1961‑62 by India's first Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It has
since been a regular occurrence
and brings together hundreds of
Delhi residents each year, Bakht
said.
In to day's deeply polarized
milieu where hate crimes against
specific communities are just as
rampant as the venom spewed
against them on social media, the
assimilating significance of the
week‑long festival takes a new
turn.
"When our Hindu brothers offer
a blanket of flowers at the dargah,
members of the Muslim communi‑
ty take a step back and let them
take the lead. Similarly, Muslim
people are encouraged to offer a
floral 'chhatra' to Devi Yogmaya.
It's a communion of hearts, and
that can only happen if there's
'pakeezgi' (purity) in people's
souls," Qutbi said, adding that he
recommends extremists of all reli‑
gions to at least experience other
cultures once.
Rajnish Jindal, another resident
of Mehrauli, who has been visiting
the festival for 15 years, said that
it was a matter of developing com‑
fort with all religions and people
from all walks of life.
"You go into a gurdwara, you
find peace and comfort, that's
your 'mazhab' (faith); same is with
a mosque or a temple or a church.
It should be a matter of personal
belief," he said.
Not surprisingly, the path of
"Phool Walon Ki Sair" is often
laden with thorns and threats.
"People say 'tum karke toh
Kalka‑Shimla rail, also called toy train.
point on the 96‑km‑long Kalka‑
Shimla railway track. Even the
CULTURE
Lt. Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal offe
at Mehrauli, New Dehi, on November
Lt. Governor Delhi Anil Baijal flagging off the
Phool Walon Ki Sair at Raj Niwas.
dikhao, hum dekhte hai tum kaise
karte ho' (We'll see how you do it);
not everyone wants a secular
nation that celebrates all its reli‑
gions. It often happens covertly;
11th‑hour permissions, indif fer‑
onlookers can board the wagon to
get themselves photographed. The
December 1-7, 2018
ring floral chadar at the Dargah of Khw
15, 2018.
ence and excuses create hurdles
for us, even if there is no direct
visible opposition.
"We, however, give it back with
our enthusiasm. Truth is always
victorious. They can't stop our
idea to set up the selfie point was
mooted by Railway Minister
Piyush Goyal to allure the tourists
to the hill destination.
The official said the Shimla rail‑
way station refurbishing work is
going on to give it a grand old
look, nostalgic of the British India.
Goyal inspected the railway sta‑
tion in June and directed the
Railways to restore the it the way
it looked prior to Independence.
The century‑old Kalka‑Shimla
rail line, a narrow‑gauge railroad
built to ferry Europeans to and
from this hill town, then the sum‑
mer capital of British India, was
15
aja Bakhtiar Kaaki
caravan," Bakht, a former geolo‑
gist and a "proud Delhi‑wallah",
said. Kite flying competitions, pro‑
cessions, wrestling bouts, kabaddi
and shehnai recitals mark the first
four days of the seven‑day festi‑
val, with of ferings in the dargah
and the temple earmarked for the
fifth and sixth days.
This year, Delhi's Lt Governor
Anil Baijal offered the floral blan‑
ket at the dargah on Thursday,
and Delhi government's transport
minister Kailash Gahlot offered a
floral "chhatra" on Nov 15, along
with members of both communi‑
ties.
"Phool Walon Ki Sair" closed
two days later with tableaus from
over 11 states and a night‑long
qawwali program.
(The feature series is part of a
positive‑journalism project of
IANS and the Frank Islam
Foundation.)
chosen by the UNESCO as a world
heritage site in 2008. In 1903, the
rail line was opened to traffic by
Lord Curzon, the then viceroy of
India. At that time, only Europeans
were allowed to use the rail link.
The glorious journey along the
rail line from 640 meters above
sea level at Kalka in Haryana to
the lofty heights of Shimla at
2,060 meters takes your breath
away. Meandering through deep
ravines, verdant forest of pines,
alpines, deodars, oak and maples,
magnificent scenery of the
Shivaliks, a ride on the Kalka‑
Shimla train is memorable.
 16 December 1-7, 2018 BOLLYWOOD TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Flavors of Indian cinema come BOX OFFICE WELCOMES

alive at 49th IFFI opener OPEN‑ENDED FILMS
By Nivedita on social media was 'Kattappa ne
Baahubali ko kyu mara?' I think it's a great

H
ero meets heroine, hero saves
heroine from villain, hero wins the
game. Remember this phase of
Bollywood? When the climax in films was
all about good winning over evil? But with
new age cinema making waves at the box
office, the endings have moved away from
cliched expectations to "intricate and com‑
plex" ones.
Recent box office successes like "Stree"
and "Andhadhun" prove that movie‑goers
no longer need a perfect ending to make a
film a hit or a flop. After all, both the films
had a climax that made audiences think,
Foreign dignitaries at the 49th IFFI in Panaji. and perhaps hint at a sequel in the
way to keep the audience hooked and
that's what you want.”
Ayushmann Khurrana's "Andhadhun"
opened to positive reviews despite not
being a mainstream Bollywood film.
Why are such films are doing well at the
box office?
Film trade analyst Girish Johar told IANS:
"With the advent of multiplexes and social
media, consumers nowadays are a little
more proactive and more involved in dis‑
cussions at various levels. That makes
their mindset open."
He said there are three reasons filmmak‑
ers have open endings.

A
slight pitter‑patter of raindrops in
Panaji made way for a vibrant red car‑
pet roll‑out for the 49th International
Film Festival of India (IFFI) opening ceremony,
which saw a melange of action, romance and
music, to bring alive different flavors of cine‑
ma, but it failed to touch upon the #MeToo
storm. Government dignitaries, Bollywood
celebrities like Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar,
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Prasoon Joshi,
apart from international guests and delegates
and an audience full of movie buffs came
together at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Indoor Stadium for the gala.
Information and Broadcasting Minister
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said IFFI was a
platform for the younger generation to show‑
case their talent and for international filmmak‑
ers to see India and explore its talent pool.
Karan, who hosted a tete‑a‑tete with Rathore
and Akshay "Koffee With Karan" style ‑‑ sans
the 'coffee' ‑‑ also spoke about the "digital rev‑
olution" in India.
"There's a lot of content on digital space.
Now what we have to do is to empower our
writers," he said, citing how "other stars"
pipeline. "First, they want the audiences to be a lit‑
should emulate Akshay in doing "socially rele‑
Spooky comedy "Stree" had started some tle more engaged and involved in the prod‑
vant films".
humorous conversations on social media uct. Secondly, the makers want them to
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who has been
for its confusing climax which showed how take home whatever they want to, since it's
accused of drugging and sexually violating a
the actor defeats the witch and cuts her an open end; and, lastly, if the film does
woman ‑‑ a claim he has flatly denied ‑‑ took a
hair off, depriving her of her powers. well at the box office, it also gives makers
prominent seat at the ceremony even as other
Talking about the how such films with an a chance to launch a franchise or sequel or
film festivals this year took a strong stand
"open ending" are being appreciated in take the story forward.
against sexual perpetrators in the wake of the
Bollywood, actor Rajkummar Rao said: "I "It's a win‑win kind of thing and a cre‑
#MeToo movement.
think it's a great way to keep audiences ative call. It's a deliberate decision of cer‑
From the foreign world, Polish writer‑direc‑
engaged. The biggest example is tain smart and intelligent filmmakers and
tor Robert Glnski, "The Aspern Papers" director
'Baahubali'. The question doing the rounds it has done well."
Julian Landais ‑‑ who showcased the trailer of
his opening film ‑‑ and actors Chin Han,
Barbara Meier, Nicholas Hau, Lois Robbins and
Tom Fitzpatrick were present at the opening
ceremony.
With Israel as its focus country this year, IFFI Andhadhunʼ
felicitated veteran Israeli filmmaker Dan got positive
reviews
Wolman with a Lifetime Achievement honor.
despite
Over its nine‑day duration, IFFI 2018 will
not being a
showcase 212 films from 68 countries, which
mainstream
consist of 2 World Premieres, 16 Academy film.
Award nominated films, 6 Indian rare language
films, 3 Indian films competing with 15 inter‑
national films for the Golden and Silver
Peacock awards and more.

'BHAIAJI SUPERHIT': AN OBSOLETE, Priyanka, Nick celebrate

TEDIOUS ROM‑COM Thanksgiving in Delhi

D A
irector Neerraj Pathak's
"Bhaiaji Superhit" is a
romantic comedy with situ‑
ations and emotions which seem
anachronistic, including its setting
and characters.
Bhaiaji aka 3D (Sunny Deol), a
Mahadev bhakt, is a don in Benaras
whom everyone fears, but he is
actually a savior of the poor and
the needy. His wife Sapna Dubey
(Preity Zinta) is of a suspicious
nature and owing to some misun‑
derstanding, she leaves him.
The characters are all trite and
appear obsolete. The situations are
predictable and the dialogues,
replete with hackneyed humor and
thus, a forced attempt at eliciting
laughter. "Pen nahin hai par pain
hai," is a case in point.
The plot lacks originality and no
attempt is made to inject freshness
anywhere in the film. It appears
outdated, oft‑seen and cliched,
REVIEW
Actor Sunny Deol in a still from the film.
from the word go. However, there
are some exaggerated comic
scenes and double entendres,
which do make the audience chuck‑
le, no matter how incredulous.
Sunny Deol as Bhaiaji is an exten‑
sion of himself ‑‑ bashing people,
blazing guns and breaking glass
with aplomb, sans any expression
on his face. His gawky dance steps
along with his characteristic,
insipid dialogue delivery, too are
head of their
wedding, actress
Priyanka
Chopra and American
singer Nick Jonas cele‑
brated Thanksgiving
with their families in
New Delhi. Priyanka
shared a photograph of
herself along with Nick
and their family on the
dinner table. The cou‑
ple could be seen hold‑
ing hands, while posing
the same as always. There is noth‑
for the camera. She cap‑
ing he does that you have not seen
tioned it: "Happy
him do before. Preity Zinta as his
Thanksgiving. Family
zesty wife Sapna Dubey, is bubbly
forever."
and energetic and performs con‑ Actress Priyanka Chopra will marry
Nick shared the same
vincingly, but her fake UP accent singer Nick Jonas in December.
image and wrote: "What
with an urban twang, is irksome. personally welcomed the pop
a beautiful Thanksgiving. Hope
Ameesha Patel as a popular singer here and later posted a
you all had the best day with your
Bollywood actor, Malika Kapoor, is loved‑up photograph with him on
loved ones." Nick arrived in the
lacklustre, trying hard to exude Instagram. Along with the photo‑
capital on Nov 22. As the actress is
oomph, but adds nothing to her graph, the actress wrote:
currently shooting for her upcom‑
character. "Welcome home baby."
ing film "The Sky is Pink" here, she
TheSouthAsianTimes.info BOLLYWOOD December 1-7, 2018 17

Saif belongs at the top Sabyasachi clarifies Deepika's

By Subhash K Jha wedding sari given by her mother
I A
ts good see Saif Ali Khan back in the reckon‑
ce designer
ing with the web series ʻSacred Gamesʼ. He
Sabyasachi
deserves to be at the top. Thatʼs where he
Mukherjee has
belongs. Over different periods of time, I've
clarified on social
interacted with all the three Khan superstars ‑‑
media that Deepika
Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. I was on very
Padukone's sari for
warm terms with all three in different time
her wedding with
zones. Until major differences cropped up and
actor Ranveer Singh
things just ceased to be hunky‑dory.
was given to him by
Saif, the fourth Khan superstar is a special
the actress's mother
case for me. For me, Saif was my favorite
Ujjala Padukone.
actress' (Sharmila Tagore) son to begin with.
Sabyasachi had pre‑
Then he married Kareena with whom I've
viously claimed that
shared a very warm relationship in the past.
the red and gold sari
This happened much later. When I first got to
for Deepika's Konkani
know Saif, he was going through a traumatic
style wedding at the
break‑up with his first wife Amrita Singh.
picturesque Lake
Saif had a lot to say and, at that point of time,
Como in Italy was
I think he trusted me a lot. The interview
designed by the cou‑
where he lashed out at Amrita was (naturally) a
turier himself.
sensation. Saif was, as expected, guilt‑ridden
Actor Saif Ali Khan is one of the Later, Sabyasachi
about the impact.
Then came his relationship with Rosa (where most affable individuals in the took to Instagram and
entertainment business. said that the sari was
is she now?). That too didn't end too well. Saif
a gift to Deepika by
was looking for something in his Significant led me into the study and said he would be
her mother, which
Other. He found that person while shooting for back in a while ‑‑ and forgot that I was waiting
was handed over to
Vijay Krishna Acharya's "Tashan" in Ladakh. there. More than an hour later he emerged, all
the designer.
We could Saif‑ly say that the one good thing apologetic. I wrote a bitchy column on this
"As per Konkani tra‑
which came out of "Tashan" was Saif's relation‑ encounter. I think he must have read it.
dition, the bride's sari
ship with Kareena. Looking back, though, I can laugh at the
is gifted to her by the
I think Saif is more at peace with Kareena episode. I feel I should have been more tolerant Couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee
mother for her wed‑
than he has ever been. The restlessness, the of the wait. Because, at the end of the day, Saif often forgets to give design credits.
ding. Deepika's wed‑
fidgeting, the constant uncertainty is gone. means no harm to anyone. He is one of the
ding sari was given to
This is the most self‑assured phase of Saif's life. most affable, well‑adjusted individuals in the
us by her mother ‑‑ Mrs Ujjala Padukone. its. Last year, at the time of Virat Kohli
We saw how much at peace he was with his entertainment business.
We have just received that the sari was and Bollywood actress Anushka
daughter, the very lovely debutante Sara Ali And Saif is now married to a gorgeous
bought from Angadi Galleria, Bengaluru Sharma's wedding reception the design‑
Khan, on Karan Johar's show. woman from Shashi Kapoor's family. Saif's son
and we would like to give them due cred‑ er took credit for the Indian skipper's
As I watched him look so relaxed with Sara, I Taimur is now a bigger star than Saif and
it for the same," he wrote. This is not the outfit, which was designed by
remember my first meeting with Saif at his Kareena put together. This is one Khan against
first time Sabyasachi forgot giving cred‑ Raghavendra Rathore.
well‑appointed apartment. He met me warmly, whom Saif can't compete.

ALIA RAISED THE BAR FOR Struggled for 14 years:

HERSELF: MEGHNA GULZAR Pankaj Tripathi
F A
ilmmaker ctor Pankaj Tripathi, who is
Meghna Gulzar shooting in a small town of
says actress Uttar Pradesh for his next
Alia Bhatt has raised "Kaagaz", says he has faced struggles
the bar for herself in in his life and added that it took him
cinema with her role over a decade to make his own identi‑
of Sehmat Khan ‑‑ the ty in the film industry.
Indian spy ‑‑ in the "Kaagaz" is based on the real life of a
movie "Raazi". farmer named Bharat Lal also known
"Alia performed as Lal Bihari from a small town in
quite challenging Bihar. He struggled for 18 years to
scenes in the movie. establish his identity. It took him 18
She would be trem‑ years of legal battle to establish his
bling before you say identity and to acquire his land and
action but the property legally.
moment camera rolls, "After reading the first draft of the
you see the performer (film's) script without hesitation I
in her taking over agreed to step into the shoes of Bharat
everything. She has Actress Alia Bhatt was praised for her role in ʻRaaziʼ. Lal. While reading the script I could
raised the bar in act‑
easily relate the trauma and hardships
ing for herself," Meghna told IANS over e‑ except Alia playing the role.
Bharat Lal could have gone through
mail. "I could not see anyone else play this Actor Pankaj Tripathi was last seen
for 18 years. Like Bharat Lal, I too in web series ʻMirzapurʼ.
The daughter of veteran lyricist‑poet part. If she (Alia) had not done the film, I
struggled for 14 years to make my
Gulzar, Meghna, who showed the India‑ don't think I would have made it. Alia's
own identity in Bollywood," Pankaj said my own path in this industry. I have my
Pakistan spy drama against the backdrop vulnerability, fragility fitted the character
in a statement. own experience of long battle in
of the 1971 war through the film, admit‑ which I imagined. I am grateful for the
"It took 14 years to shape my destiny, Bollywood, experience of joy, sorrows
ted that Alia was her first choice for belief she had put into the character and
in this whole process I never lose hope and achievements the way Bharat Lal
Sehmat and she could not see anyone brought it to life."
and kept on struggling till I carved out has his own tale to tell," he added.
 18 December 1-7, 2018 TRAVEL TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Bappaditya Chaterjee

Kolkata: Kolkata still remains a "great city"

that hasn't lost its "heart" or "culture" and
among whose people there is "some kind
of discipline", says P. Thankappan Nair, its
'Kolkata a great city,
hasn't lost its culture'
86‑year‑old barefoot chronicler who has
left the eastern metropolis after a 63‑year‑
long association with the city. His legacy
will be the 62 books he penned
on the city and the 2,000 he
purchased over the years
and which he has given to
the Town Hall library.
Nair has gone back to his
roots ‑‑ Chendamangalam, a
small town in Kerala's
Ernakulam district ‑‑ as his
children and grandchildren
did not want him and his
wife to stay on alone in
Kolkata at their age.
"The heart of the city has
not changed. Although the
city has lost its importance
as many companies shifted
their operations, but the city
has not lost its culture. It
still remains a great city,"
Nair told IANS while recalling his memo‑ street to collect material and prepare
ries of the city. notes about its origin. For example, I have
"Somehow I like the city. It has got some been staying at Kansari Para Road since
kind of discipline among its people," added the 1960s and took interest in how it was
Nair, who still prefers to call it "Calcutta" named after Kansari."
though the name was changed to Kolkata Recalling the day he had arrived in the
in 2001. city on a Thursday morning in October,
"I am already 86 and my two children 1955, Nair said: "Armed with only a
and three grandchildren do not want me to matriculation certificate and Rs 20‑25 in
stay here at this age, though my wife is cash, I had travelled ticketless in a train to
also staying with me for last 10 years," he Howrah station for seeking a job here. I
said while his wife was busy with last‑ did not have anybody in Kolkata but had a
minute packing. reference of a U. Raman hailing from a vil‑
His latest book, "Gandhiji in Kolkata", lage near mine."
would be released at next year's Kolkata He fell in love with the metropolis at first
Book Fair and he was not sure whether he sight while crossing the river Hooghly and
would present at the event. the iconic Howrah Bridge in a tram that
Even in the era of a digitized world, Nair took him to Dalhousie Square, Nair said,
does not use a mobile phone or computer. adding that he managed to meet Raman
When I started my research work, there and stayed with him for few days.
was no computer, mobile and internet. Nair secured a steno‑typist's job in a pri‑
These are for modern researchers. I have vate company in Dalhousie Square within
only books and my Remington typewriter a week of his arrival in the city and kept
which I use till today. I am taking it to my on changing jobs. He eventually got a job
native village." at the Anthropological Society of India and
Explaining his style of work, he said he was posted in Shillong for few years
would gather information from govern‑ before returning to Kolkata.
ment records, newspaper clippings and lis‑ The historian has given all the books
tening to the local people as this was "very that he had purchased for his research to There are about 1,700 books. In addition, "The research work that I am intending
important" to know about a city and its the city's Town Hall library to make it an a list of 300 books is being prepared and to take up will be of a different kind. There
culture, he said at his rented accommoda‑ "alternative and rich source" of historical these would also be deposited to the Town is scope of researching in my native village
tion at Kansari Para Road, about 10 min‑ documents, beside the National Library, he Hall authority. because Chendamangalam is a place
utes walking distance from the National said. I have chosen the Town Hall as an alter‑ where the first printing was started in
Library ‑‑ his primary source of research. "I used to go to College Street every day native source of books as there are many India by Portugese. I would like to explore
"I used to ask the people whenever I saw and had purchased almost each and every books on the city in the National Library," more on this," said Nair, who still remains
any buildings or came across any little book written on Calcutta and West Bengal. Nair explained. on the lookout for a new challenge.

Indians most vacation deprived nation: Survey

New Delhi: Indians are the most
vacation deprived nation in the
world followed by South Korea and
Hong Kong, says Expedia Vacation
Deprivation Survey.
The survey is spread across 19
countries with India specific find‑
ings analyzing how vacation
deprived Indians are, how do they
take their holidays, do they utilize
all or prefer working, feel guilty of
taking vacations and take into
account the work pressure while
deciding their vacation.
This year, the survey shows India
as the most vacation deprived
country in the world, as more and
more Indians feel vacation
deprived followed by South Korea
and Hong Kong.
As many as 53 per cent of
Indians take fewer vacation days
than they get and 35 per cent don't
take leave as work schedule does
not allow for vacation or there are
not enough staff to cover, said a
statement.
This year 68 per cent of people
cancelled or postponed their vaca‑
tions due to work.
The survey throws light on the
reason as to why Indians are vaca‑
tion deprived and what factors play
an important role in their travel
decisions.
Also Indian workers do not take
all vacation days and rank five in
the matter of leaving their vaca‑
tions unused after Japan, Italy,
Australia, New Zealand.
Also 68 per cent of Indians have
ended up canceling their vacation
due to work with 19 per cent fear
being seen as less committed and
25 per cent have fear that they will
miss out on important decision
making and 18 per cent live under
the perception that successful peo‑
ple don't take a break.
Despite the fact that 78 per cent
of bosses are supportive of vaca‑
tions, Indians continue to get
diverted by work while vacationing
as 32 per cent of supervisors, 34
per cent of co‑workers and 33 per
cent of junior staff keep bothering
Indians while they are vacationing.
The study was conducted among
11,144 respondents across 19
countries.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SUBCONTINENT December 1-7, 2018 19

Signs of thaw in Indo‑Pak ties

New Delhi: In a significant thaw to
the frigid ties, India has respond‑
ed positively to Pakistan's invita‑
tion to the ground‑breaking cere‑
mony for the construction of a
corridor leading up to the
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in
Kartarpur, saying two senior Sikh
ministers w ill represent New
Delhi.
Responding to the invite from
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmoo d Qureshi for the
November 28 ceremony, External
Af fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
said that Minister for Foo d
Processing Industries Harsimrat
Kaur Badal and Minister of State
for Housing and Urban Af fairs
Hardeep Puri will represent the
Narendra Modi government.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran
Khan will be conducting the cere‑
mony.
Qureshi had extended the invita‑
tion to Sushma Swaraj, Punjab
A paper model of Kartarpur Sahib, the final
resting place of Guru Nanak Dev.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh,
and state minister and former
cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu who
has been calling for the opening
of the Kartarpur corridor.
The development comes after
Union Cabinet decided to build a
corridor from Gurdaspur district
in Punjab to the International
Border with Pakistan ahead of the
550th birth anniversary of Guru
Nanak in 2019.
The proposal for a corridor to
Kartarpur Sahib, the place where
Nanak died in 1539 has been a
demand from India for two
decades.
The shrine is visible from the
Indian side of the border.
In her letter to Qureshi, Sushma
Swaraj said that given her com‑
mitments to the election cam‑
paign in Telangana, she would not
be able to travel to Pakistan.
"However, being mindful of the
sentiments of our Sikh citizens
and the importance of facilitating
their smooth and easy access to
holy Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib,
we will be sending Harsimrat
Kaur Badal, Minister for Food
Pro cessing Industries, and
Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of
State for Housing and Urban
Af fairs, as government of India's
representatives for the event
planned for November 28," she
said.
"It is our hope that the govern‑
ment of Pakistan will expedite the
construction of the corridor in
order to ensure that our citizens
can pay their respect at the
Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib using
the corridor as soon as possible."
The government will also run
special trains to sacred places and
gurudwaras associated with the
Sikh Guru's life, he said.
Sikh pilgrims will now be able to
visit the iconic Gurudwara Darbar
Sahib at Kartarpur on the banks of
the river Ravi.
India and Pakistan share a bilat‑
eral Proto col on Visits to
Religious Shrines that was signed
in 1974.
New De lhi's decision comes
amid cont inued rows over
Islamabad's denial of consular
access to Sikh pilgrims visiting pil‑
grimage sites there.

26/11 attack: US government Maldives decides to rejoin Commonwealth

announces $5 mn bounty Male: Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed
Solih has told his new cabinet that the
Maldives will be a part of the Commonwealth
of Nations again after it pulled out in 2016,
the President's Office said.
The ministers were told about the advan‑
tages of being a Commonwealth member and
that it would open up several opportunities to
the Maldivian people, especially for the youth,
Xinhua news agency quoted the President's
Office as saying.
Following the President's decision, the
respective authorities were in the process of
setting things in motion for the Maldives to
rejoin the Commonwealth, a statement from
the President's Office said. The Maldives first
became a member of the Commonwealth in
President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
1982 and left it in 2016.

The terrorists involved in Mumbai attack continue

CHINA ASKS PAKISTAN TO
to operate freely in Pakistan.

New York: Timed for the tenth

anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai
attack, the US government has
announced a $5 million‑bounty
covering all the terrorists connect‑
ed with it.
The reward of fered under the
State Department's Rewards for
Justice (RFJ) Programme is for "any
individual who committed, con‑
spired to commit, or aided or abet‑
ted in the execution" of the attack
that killed 166 people, a
Department media note said.
This is the third RFJ bounty from
the State Department on terrorists
involved in the Mumbai attack car‑
ried out by the Lashkar‑e‑Taiba
(LeT) as it casts a wider net beyond
its leaders.
In 2012, the Department put a
bounty of $10 million on Le T
founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed
and $2 million on his deputy, Hafiz
Abdul Rahman Makki.
The rewards have not worked so
far and Saeed operates openly in
Pakistan, leaving the effectiveness
of the latest steps open to question.
Under international pressure, the
Pakistani Punjab government put
him under house arrest in January
in 2017 but a review board headed
by a Lahore Hig h Court judge
ordered his release in November
that year.
Saeed has also been declared an
international terrorist by the UN
Security Council.
The RFJ website, which said the
"reward offer extends to any indi‑
vidual who bears responsibility for
this act of terror", mentioned four
persons, who, it said, have been
indicted by a US federal court.
They are Sajid Mir, Major Iqbal,
Abu Qahafa and Mazhar Iqbal (alias
Abu al‑Qama).
ENSURE CITIZENS' SAFETY
Beijing: China condemned Beijing has invested millions of
the terror attack at its con‑ dollars and building a $60 bil‑
sulate in the Pakistani city of lion China‑Pakistan Economic
Karachi and asked Islamabad Corridor (CPEC).
to ensure the safety of It connects China's Kashgar in
Chinese citizens in the coun‑ Xinjiang with Pakistan's restive
try where it has multi‑billion province Balochistan where
dollar investments. locals and separatists are
"China strongly condemns against the project. China has
any violent attacks against been expressing concern over
diplomatic missions and the security of citizens working
have asked the Pakistani side on the CPEC and other Chinese
A terrorist attack took place in the
to take measures to ensure diplomatic area of Karachi. projects. In August, there was a
the safety of Chinese citizens suicide attack on a bus ferrying
and organisations in the country," doled the death of the two Pakistani Chinese workers in Balochistan.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson policemen. Asked about the Asked if the attack will affect the
Geng Shuang said. Balochistan Liberation Army, a sep‑ Chinese investments and the CPEC
Geng said three men tried to aratist group that has reportedly in the country, Geng said both coun‑
barge into the consulate who were claimed responsibility for the tries have the strong resolve to
later killed by Pakistani policemen. attack, he said: "According to my advance the project.
Assuring that the consulate staff information, the Pakistan side is "China and Pakistan are all‑weath‑
was safe, the spokesperson con‑ conducting an investigation." er strategic partners.
 20 December 1-7, 2018
Brexit gets EU nod
Brussels: T he European Union
approved the UK's w ithdrawal
agreement from the EU, its chief
of ficial Donald Tusk announced in
Belgium leaving it upon the UK
Parliament to consent to the deal
fecilitating Britains departure from
the union.
The UK Parliament is expected to
vote on the deal in early December
but its approval is by no means
guaranteed, with Labour, the Lib
Dems, the SNP, the DUP and many
Conservat ives MPs set to vote
against. "EU27 has endorsed the
Withdrawal Agreement and Political
Declaration on the future EU‑UK
relations," Tusk broke the news on
twitter. The 27 leaders gave it their
backing after less than an hour's
British PM Theresa May addresses a press conference
discussion at the summit here, the
BBC reported.
Tusk signalled that the deal would be
approved after Spain withdrew last‑minute March 29, 2019.
concerns over Gibraltar.
It follows more than 18 months of negotia‑
tions between the two sides, which began
when the UK triggered Article 50 in the wake
of the 2016 referendum.
Russia seizes Ukraine ships,
Kiev to impose martial law
Kiev: Russia has seized three
Ukrainian naval vessels of f the
coast of the Crimean Peninsula in a
major escalation of tensions lead‑
ing Kiev to announce that it will
impose martial law.
Ukrainian President Petro
Poroshenko tweeted he will pro‑
pose to the Supreme Rada (parlia‑
ment) to approve the imposition of
martial law following the seizure by
the Russian coastguard forces in
the Black Sea, Efe news reported.
Poroshenko said that as president
and commander‑in‑chief of the
armed forces and in accordance
with the Constitution, he has decid‑
ed to support the proposal of the
Military Committee of the National
Security and De fence Council
(NSDC).
T he Ukranian leader said he
hoped the Rada would quickly
approve his proposal. However, he
added the state of emergency
would not necessarily include the
mobilizat ion of the Army, but
added that "you have to be pre‑
pared".
T he Secretary of the NSD C,
Oleksandr Turchynov, proposed
that the martial law be in force for
60 days in order to create the con‑
ditions to repel a possible "military
aggression" and any threat to the
independence and territorial
integrity.
He said that they were talking
about the danger of a provocation
not only in the Black and Azov seas,
at the end of a special Brexit summit in Brussels.
The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on
Prime Minister Theresa May earlier in the
day appealed to the public to get behind the
agreement, arguing it is the best deal she
could have struck and honours the result of
the Brexit referendum.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
but also on land, and that they see
the intense preparations of the
Russian military units that are close
to the northern, eastern and south‑
ern borders of the Ukraine.
He recalled that this was the first
t ime that Russia has openly
attacked Ukraine, since, until now,
it had done so "secretly" through
hybrid warfare methods.
The Federal Security Service (FSB,
former KGB) of Russia confirmed
that the seizure of two small
Ukrainian Navy vessels and a tug‑
boat in Russian territorial waters
took place after they supposedly
performed "dangerous maneuvers",
something that Kiev denies.
The Ukraine maintains that its
vesse ls were seized in neutral
waters when they returned to the
port of Odessa in the Black Sea
from which they had departed on
INTERNATIONAL TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Iran urges Muslims to unite against
US, including Saudi ‘brothers’
Tehran: Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani urged Muslims
all over the world to unite
against the United States and
assured Saudis they were
“brothers” who had nothing to
fear from Tehran, the Hindustan
Times reported.
US President Donald Trump
abandoned a landmark 2015
nuclear deal between major
powers and Tehran in May and
has since reimposed crippling
unilateral sanaction.
“What the United States wants
of (the Middle East) today is
enslavement,” Rouhani told an
Islamic unity conference in
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke at an
Tehran.
Islamic unity conference in Tehran.
Instead of “rolling out the red
carpet for criminals,” Muslim governments pleʼs interests against terrorism and super‑
should unite against the United States and powers with all our might,” he said.
“the regionʼs cancerous tumour”, Israel, he “We do no ask $450 billion for it and will
said. not insult you.” Riyadh cut diplomatic ties
Rouhani urged Shiite Iranʼs Sunni rival with Tehran in January 2016 after protest‑
Saudi Arabia to end its dependence on ers stormed its diplomatic missions in Iran
“insulting” US military aid. following its execution of a prominent Shiite
“We are ready to defend the Saudi peo‑ cleric.
Bainimarama
sworn in for second
term as Fiji PM
Suva: Incumbent Fijian Prime the parliament.
Minister Voreqe Bainimarama The opposition is headed by
was sworn in for a second term the Social Democratic Liberal
after his ruling FijiFirst party Party (SODELPA), which
won this year's general elec‑ received 39.85 per cent votes
tions. and 21 seats, followed by the
Bainimarama was sworn in National Federation Party,
by President Jioji Konrote in which managed to retain its
the presence of representatives three seats with 7.38 per cent
and high officials of the execu‑ support.
tive, legislative and judicial According to reports, the
arms of the government, SODELPA was planning to chal‑
reports Efe news. lenge the results in court, with
According to the November its leader Sitiveni Rabuka alleg‑
14 official election results, ing that they were neither gen‑
Sunday morning. Bainimarama's party received uine nor credible.
The FSB also admitted to opening 50.02 per cent of the total This is Fiji's second general
fire on the Ukrainian ships to force vote, almost 10 per cent less election since a military coup
them to stop, adding that their than the 2014 polls, and in 2006 and the last elections
coastguards attended to the injured secured 27 of the 51 seats in took place in 2014.
Ukrainian crew and that "their lives
are not in danger."
Ukraine had already earlier
accused a Russian coast guard ship
of ramming one of its tugs on
Sunday, as it circumnavigated the
Crimean peninsula.
Despite Russian warnings, the
Ukrainian fleet continued its course
to the Sea of Azov, which is why the
port authorities closed the Kerch
Strait.
Russia accuses Ukraine of trying
to provoke a situation of conflict in
the region, while the Ukrainian
Foreign Ministry called on the
international community to con‑ Fijiʼs former coup leader‑turned PM Voreqe Bainimarama.
demn the Russian aggression.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Online festive sale in India
flares up on 'Black Friday'
New Delhi: The American shop‑
ping festival of Black Friday sud‑
denly gained a buzz in India,
thanks to e‑commerce portals
of fering sales on the occasion,
and market participants feel the
demand for products online has
been positive so far in the day.
Black Friday is celebrated on
the first Friday post
Thanksgiving Day in the US and
is considered the beginning of
the pre‑Christmas shopping.
"Due to a bulk of customers
searching the internet and
browsing content, the awareness
has increased substantially. We
are seeing 1.5X jump in the sales
in the ongoing Black Friday sale,
compared to a normal day," a
Paytm Mall spokesperson told
IANS.
Flipkart Fashion also reported
1.5X higher sale during the day
compared to non‑sale days, said
the Vice President of Flipkart
Fashion, Rishi Vasudev.
"Though at an early stage in
India compared to any other sale
event, we have witnessed higher
than expected customer interest
and demand this time on Black
Friday sales," he said.
The spokesperson with Paytm
Mall added that the response
was great, with sales of con‑
Microsoft becomes most Transport fuel prices continue
valuable US company to fall on global slide
San Francisco: Microsoft has
become the most valuable US
company with $753.3 billion
in market capitalisation, riding
past Apple for the first time
since 2010 when it came close
to the Cupertino‑based tech
giant.
Apple, which became the first
$1‑trillion US company in
August, came down to $746.8
billion, owing to lower‑than‑
expected iPhone sales amid
reports of its suppliers cutting
cost and workforce.
Amazon with $736.6 billion
is currently at third and
Alphabet (the parent company
of Google) with $725.5 billion
is at the fourth spot.
"With Microsoft now over‑
shadowing all three, including
Alphabet Inc, the firm now
looks to be the most valuable
tech company of the Silicon
Valley giants,"
mspoweruser.com reported.
The investors are now bet‑
ting big on companies with
robust Cloud services and soft‑
Xiaomi said it received high demand for its "Redmi Note 6 Pro"
smartphone during its first Black Friday sale.
sumer electronics, mobiles, lap‑
tops and fashion items increas‑
ing considerably in numbers
since the start of the Black
Friday sale and the demand from
the metros also increased.
Chinese mobile phone major
Xiaomi said it received high
demand for its "Redmi Note 6
Pro" smartphone during its first
Black Friday sale on e‑commerce
site Flipkart and its own plat‑
form Mi.com.
ware services which are wit‑
nessing an increased demand
from big and small enterprises
the world over for their digital
journey, at a time when giants
like Facebook and Google face
intense scrutiny for users' data
practices.
Riding on its growing Azure
Cloud, gaming and Surface lap‑
top portfolio, Microsoft posted
a revenue of $29.1 billion and
net income of $8.8 billion for
the first quarter of its 2019
financial results.
"We are off to a great start in
fiscal 2019, a result of our
innovation and the trust cus‑
tomers are placing in us to
power their digital transforma‑
tion," CEO Satya Nadella said in
a statement.
BUSINESS
Although, Amazon, the other
major segment player, did not
carry out the sale in India, it pro‑
vided platform to global sellers
including Indians to sell their
products in the US.
About 37,000 Indian sellers
offered around 20 million prod‑
ucts to woo global buyers during
the Black Friday and Cyber
Monday sales on e‑commerce
platform Amazon, the company
said.
New Delhi: Domestic fuel prices
continued to decline on Sunday,
with petrol down 40‑41 paise and
diesel rates slashed by 45‑46
paise across major metros, in line
with the downward trend in Brent
crude oil, which has fallen below
the $60 per‑barrel‑mark.
In the national capital, petrol
was sold at Rs 74.84 per litre, as
against Rs 75.25 on Saturday,
according to data on the Indian
Oil Corp`s website. In other key
cities of Kolkata, Mumbai and
Chennai, the fuel was priced at Rs
76.82, Rs 80.38 and Rs 77.69 per
litre, respectively, against the pre‑
vious levels of Rs 77.22, Rs 80.79
and Rs 78.12 per litre, respective‑
ly.
Fuel costs in India are impacted
by global crude oil prices, as the
country is a net importer of oil.
Price determination is done on a
daily basis under the dynamic
pricing system. As per the coun‑
try`s pricing mechanism, the
domestic fuel prices depend upon
the international fuel prices on a
15‑day average and the value of
December 1-7, 2018 21
India third in tourism
sector after China, US
Agartala: India attained
third position in the
tourism sector after
China and the US and
13.92 million jobs have
been created in the sec‑
tor in the last four years,
Union Tourism Minister
K.J. Alphons said here.
"...We want to achieve
more, both in foreign
tourists' arrival in the
country and earning
from tourism sector," he
said at the 7th edition of
Union Tourism Minister K. J. Alphons
the International
at the inauguration of 7th
Tourism Mart here.
International Tourism Mart 2018,
Alphons said: "Last year in Agartala. (Photo: IANS/PIB)
domestic tourists
increased by seven per cent now under implementation in
from the previous year while the eight northeastern states
foreign tourists increased by with an allocation of Rs 1,300
14 per cent. Over 13.92 mil‑ crore. "Only the Tourism
lion jobs have been created in Ministry out of all the central
the tourism sector in the last ministries are spending more
four years. amounts in the northeastern
"There are many incredible region than the stipulated 10
things and natural splendours per cent," she said.
in the northeastern region. According to an official docu‑
Northeast India would be the ment of the central govern‑
hub of the Government's 'Act‑ ment, over 10.04 Million for‑
East Policy'." eign tourists visited the coun‑
Union Tourism Secretary try last year, an increase of 14
Rashmi Verma said that under per cent as compared to 2016
the "Swadesh Darshan" data. Rs 177,874 crore was
scheme, 15 centrally funded earned in Foreign Exchange in
major tourism projects are 2017 by the tourism sector.
Fuel prices in India continued to decline last weekend, with petrol
down 40‑41 paise and diesel rates slashed by 45‑46 paise across
major metros, in line with the downward trend in Brent crude oil,
which has fallen below the $60 per‑barrel‑mark.
the rupee. than the Saturday`s level of Rs
The UK Brent crude is currently 70.16 per litre. In the country`s
priced around $59 per barrel, financial capital, Mumbai, diesel
down from the four‑year high of was sold at Rs 72.99 on Sunday as
$86.07 recorded on October 4. against Rs 73.48 on Saturday.
The cost of other key transporta‑ Similarly, in Kolkata and
tion fuel ‑‑ diesel ‑‑ too fell in tan‑ Chennai, it was priced at Rs 71.55
dem with petrol prices across the and Rs 73.63 per litre, respective‑
four metros. ly, compared to the previous
The fuel‑type was priced at Rs respective levels of Rs 72.01 and
69.70 in Delhi, 46 paise lower Rs 74.13.
 22 December 1-7, 2018 SPORTS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Indian skipper
Virat Kohli. Mary Kom lifts record 6th
gold at Boxing Worlds
New Delhi: India's Sonia Chahal
added the silver lining to the
home campaign after M.C. Mary
Kom's record sixth gold at the
10th AIBA women's boxing
World Championships at the
K.D.Jadhav indoor hall here.
Sonia went down 1:4 by split
3RD T20I: INDIA decision to Germany's Ornella
Gabriele Wahner in the 57 kg

DEFEAT AUSTRALIA featherweight category.

Sydney: Skipper Virat Kohli (61
not out) scored a sparkling half‑
century to guide India to a six‑
wicket victory over Australia and
level the three‑match rubber 1‑1
at the Sydney Cricket Ground
(SCG) here. The visitors were in a
must‑win situation as Australia
had won the first T201 at
Brisbane while the second game
was washed out at Melbourne.
The Indian skipper, who hit the
winning runs, came in the sixth
over when India were 67/1 and
made sure his team crossed the
line well in time to deny the hosts
a series win.
Kohli's knock was laced with
four boundaries and a couple of
sixes. The Indian skipper was
involved in a crucial 60‑run part‑
nership with Dinesh Karthik, who
provided valuable support with
his unbeaten 18‑ball 22 runs.
Chasing a 165‑run target, open‑
ers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit
Sharma lit up the early stages of
the run chase with some awesome
strokeplay. The duo hammered
Nathan Coulter‑Nile and Marcus
Stoinis for 20 and 22 runs in the
fourth and fifth over respectively
as India's scorecard read 62/0
after five overs.
Mitchell Starc gave some respite
to Australia by breaking the 67‑
run partnership as the pacer
picked Dhawan before the wickets
in the sixth over. Leggie Adam
Zampa then struck to dismiss
Rohit (23) with India's scorecard
reading 67/2.
Lokesh Rahul (14) and Kohli
then tried to rescue India, adding
41 runs for the third wicket
before the former, while trying to
clear the fence off a Glenn
Maxwell delivery, was caught at
long‑off.
In the very first ball of the next
over, it seemed Australia were
back in the contest as medium
pacer Andrew Tye sent back
stumper Rishabh Pant, who failed
to open his account and India
were reeling at 108/4 in 13.1
overs. However, Kohli was then
joined by Karthik and the duo
denied the hosts any further cele‑
bration as they guided India home
with a match‑winning 60‑run part‑
nership.
Sonia's bout looked a one‑sided
af fair in favour of the German,
who came in with a flurry of
punches towards the end of the
opening round to dominate the
proceedings.
It was always going to be a
tough outing for the debutant
Indian, who failed to use her
taller height as an advantage as
the German began on an attack‑
ing note, with a few left‑and‑right
Boxing legend M.C. Mary Kom with her gold medalafter winning
combos before pinning Sonia to
the 10th AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships
the corner of the ring more than
in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)
once to end with a few left‑hand‑
ed jabs. light flyweight 48 kilogram cate‑ 2010 ‑‑ besides bagging a silver
With the tie already slipping gory after outclassing Ukraine's on her debut in 2001.
out of her grasp, the third round Hanna Okhota by an unanimous We lcomed by thunderous
was a do‑or‑die for the Indian, 5:0 verdict. chants of "Mary Mary" at the
who was shaken up by a jab on The 35‑year‑old Mary, a moth‑ jampacked K.D. Jadhav hall, the
her nose and then a right hook er of three and a pre‑tournament Indian took the ring with a statis‑
as the German continued her favourite for the gold, rewrote tical and psychological advan‑
flurry of punches to end on a vic‑ the record books when she tage over her Ukrainian oppo‑
torious note. eclipsed her joint haul of five nent, whom she recently beat at
Sonia's silver brought India's golds w ith Kat ie Taylor of the Silesian Women's Open semi‑
campaign at the World Ireland. finals in Poland.
Championship to an end with the T he Manipuri pugilist, who Living up to the reputation,
hosts ending with 1 gold, 1 silver went over her weight category to Mary started the opening round
and 2 bronze. clinch a 51 kg bronze at the aggressively and landed a couple
Earlier on Saturday, Mary London Olympics, previously of right jabs quite early into the
scripted history by clinching a clinched the World round before taking full control
record sixth World Championship gold on five occa‑ with a right‑two punch combina‑
Championship Gold medal in the sions ‑‑ 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, tion to Hanna.

Debate grows on Mithali Raj's exclusion in key match

By Tridib Baparnash
New Delhi: India's team selection in the 8‑
wicket women's World T20 semi‑final loss
to England seemed to defy all logic even as
skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's defence of hav‑
ing "no regrets" of keeping veteran Mithali
Raj out of the playing XI hardly found any
takers.
Going by sheer statistics, Mithali, with
2,283 T20I runs, is the highest scorer for
the country in the shortest format, even sur‑
passing the likes of her male counterparts ‑‑
Rohit Sharma (2,214) and Virat Kohli
(2,106) ‑‑ and to that extent, the team skip‑
per herself, who has 1,886 runs.
In the World T20, Mithali had opened the
batting along side Smriti Mandhana on two
occasions, and on both the former skipper
had scored back‑to‑back half centuries
while also bagging the Player‑of‑the‑Match
awards.
The veteran right‑hander was dropped to
No.8 in the order in the tournament opener
Indian cricketer Mithali Raj.
(File Photo: IANS)
against New Zealand, with stumper Tanya
Bhatia partnering Smriti. Mithali was then
rested from the last league game against
Australia as she was unwell.
Cut to the toss at the Sir Vivian Richards
Stadium here. India won the toss and opted
to bat and it was then that Harmanpreet
announced that Mithali was not in the play‑
ing XI. She said that the Indian management
had decided to back its winning combina‑
tion.
Now coming to the outcome, Mithali's
replacement Tanya managed a meagre 11
before falling to England skipper Heather
Knight while Smriti top scored with 34
runs, before a lower order collapse com‑
pletely derailed India's innings.
On a pitch that demanded the technical
acumen of Mithali, and where stroke play
wasn't the easiest way to approach, the
Indian team management's ploy of exclud‑
ing the former skipper cost it dear, which
was evident from the fact that the last seven
Indian wickets fell for mere 23 runs.
But in the post‑match presentation, when
Harmanpreet defended the decision, she
hardly found any takers with many cricket
experts terming it as a big mistake.
"India paid the price for two mistakes.
One in planning, by dropping Mithali on
this pitch. The other in execution, by rush‑
ing down the pitch to muscle the ball in
front of the pitch on a very slow pitch," for‑
mer India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar wrote
on Twitter.
Noted cricket commentator Harsha
Bhogle also criticised the move in a couple
of tweets, in which he wrote: "If India can go
in without Mithali Raj, this must be twice as
good a batting side as any in the world!!!
What is the story there?"
"Can understand, if you have to, that you
leave out Mithali in a 180 game. But on a
tough pitch? Then you play your best play‑
ers and she is that," Bhogle wrote.
Till Friday, India remained the sole
unbeaten side in the 2018 World T20 but
like last year it was once again an England
team that stood as a stumbling block to the
Women in Blue's pursuit of a title in a big‑
ticket event.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info JLF 2019 December 1-7, 2018 23

ZEE JLF 2019 promises tribute

to unflinching women power
By Prakash Bhandari
Jaipur: Described as the ʻgreatest
literary show on Earth,ʼ the Jaipur
Literature Festival(JLF) is the
grande dame of discourse and
seamless conversation. The next
edition in January 2019 will fea‑
ture a host of powerful women
whose talent has defined their own
personal journeys and have trans‑
formed and inspired the lives of
many.
In the inspirational session,
ʻMithali Raj: The Warrior Skipper
of Indian Cricket,ʼ unstoppable
cricket captain and remarkable
sportswoman Mithali Raj, all‑time
leading run‑scorer for India and
Arjuna and Padma Shri awardee
talks about her journey to the top
and the challenges she faced as
recounted in her recently‑released
autobiography. Raj stares at gen‑
der stereotypes and skewed oppor‑
tunities for women players with
characteristic steel and discusses
the way forward for an environ‑
ment that actually rewards grit
and talent.
There are few personalities like
Usha Uthup – with immense joi de
vivre combined with a voice that
ricochets straight off your soul
and the enduring strength of per‑
severance. Uthup, who sings in a
dizzying 15 Indian and eight for‑
eign languages, a magnet to many
generations of music‑lovers, will
be in conversation with Sanjoy K.
Roy in ʻI Believe in Music,ʼtalking
of what music means to her and
her all‑encompassing belief in its
power.
The stark and unadorned ʻWhat
We Talk About When We Talk
About Rapeʼ will have Sohaila
Abdulali share her heart‑rending
story of being gang‑raped as a
teenager more than 30 years later.
Abdulali, the intrepid journalist
and prolific writer whose 2013
Op‑ed in The New York Times
Featured Speakers
Indian womenʼs cricket team
captain Mithali Raj
(Image courtesy: indiatoday.in)
Actress Manisha Koirala
(Image courtesy:
huffingtonpost.in)
broke readership records, will dis‑
cuss her latest book, written from
the point of view of a writer, coun‑
selor, and activist and a personal
and professional testament that
reaches out to victims and sur‑
vivors, feminists and mansplainers.
Abdulali throws light on the tor‑
tured silences around rape.
Priyamvada Natarajan, Professor
at Yale and acclaimed author of
Mapping the Heavens: The Radical
Scientific Ideas That Reveal the
Cosmos, takes us on a tour to “map
the heavens” across the greatest
cosmological discoveries of the
past century. Natarajanʼs extraor‑
Singer Usha Uthup
(Image courtesy:
starsunfolded.com)
Author Prof Priyamvada
Natarajan (Image courtesy:
ctsnet.edu)
dinary gift for making scientific
theory accessible to audiences and
her commitment to developing
strategies to enhance numerical
and scientific literacy make for fas‑
cinating and powerful learning
which the session promises to be.
In ʻHealed: Life Learnings from
Manisha Koiralaʼ, the actor suffer‑
ing from cancer shares the highs
and lows of her life, career, rela‑
tionships and her relentless battle
to overcome ovarian cancer. A can‑
did and no‑frills session about the
physical and emotional turbulence
of her life post‑diagnosis, the
power of prayer, positive thinking
Journalist and writer Sohaila
Abdulali (Image courtesy:
viralindiandiary.com)
Classics scholar Donna
Zuckerberg (Image courtesy:
eidolon.pub)
and the long and intricate process
of healing, this session will give
the bare bones story of a dauntless
journey and hard‑won survival.
Silicon Valley‑based classics
scholar Donna Zuckerberg re‑
appropriates the legacy of the
ancient Greeks and Romans and
repositions it in a larger context,
away from misogynistic, racist and
patriarchal interpretations that are
gaining currency in the digital age.
In conversation with biographer,
historian and academic Patrick
French and writer and editor
Sharmila Sen in ʻNot All Dead
White Men: Classics and Misogyny
in the Digital Ageʼ, she dismisses
the myopic and sexist vision which
colors the study of the classics and
the unparalleled wisdom found in
Ovid, Euripides, Marcus Aurelius.
Her book is a grim account of
misogyny, toxic white supremacy
and some very flawed history pro‑
liferated online by the Alt‑Right to
muscle its way into the venerable
study of antiquity.
A session on the enigma of
Radha, illicit‑by‑law consort of
Krishna and yet paradoxically wor‑
shipped and revered as a goddess
over his legally‑wedded but
ignored wife Rukmini, ʻFinding
Radhaʼ delves into deeper social
questions of cultural context and
the play of perceptions. Namita
Gokhale and Malashri Lal have co‑
edited the anthology Finding
Radha: The Quest for Love. Pavan
K. Varma, Yudit Greenberg and
Devdutt Pattanaik have all con‑
tributed significantly to the collec‑
tion of essays on Radha and will
share their insights and perspec‑
tives with Lal.
The ZEE Jaipur Literature
Festival 2019 programming bou‑
quet is a tribute to the unflinching
power of the woman – a force that
has remained constant not just in
todayʼs empowered and digitally‑
charged world, but one that has
played out over eras, generations
and geographies with a dogged
determination to survive against
unbelievable odds. The themes
arenʼt manifestly feminist but they
question and discuss the countless,
often subtle and most diverse,
avenues through which male
supremacy has insidiously and,
more often overtly, led the way in
our day‑to‑day lives: professional,
cultural and personal. It is time to
amplify the voices less heard and
tell the stories less told. That is
what the Festival set out to do at
its inception and continues to do
with fervor 12 years later.

British Council lists 70 Indian‑origin words

New Delhi: Words like pashmina, dal,
chutney and pyjamas form part of a list
of 70 Indian origin words included in the
Oxford English Dictionary unveiled by
the British Council in New Delhi on
Thursday as part of its 70th anniversary
in India. The English cultural‑educational
organization unveiled the list to highlight
"the proximity and understanding
between the two nations," a statement
from the Council said. The occasion high‑
lighted how the English language has
evolved with the words of Indian origin,
with some words dating back to the pre‑
independence period while many were
added recently, including those like
bhelpuri and churidar, it added.
Pointing to the "many points of connec‑
tion over the centuries in which people,
ideas, language, goods and services have
moved between Britain and India", the
British Council India Director Alan
Gemmell said the 70 words are a
"momentary reminder of the layers of
connection and fluid nature of the
English language."
"For the cashmere we drape and pyja‑
mas we sleep in; the bangles we wear;
the shampoo that cleans our hair; the
cheetahs we watch whose speed we
admire; and, the curry and kedgeree we
might eat on a verandah ‑‑ we thank the
rich languages of India, and the people
who have mixed and shared over the gen‑
erations of those last 400 years," he said.
Some of the words, the Council said,
will be reimagined visually through 14
illustrations by the UK and Indian artists.
All 70 words can be accessed online at
www.britishcouncil.org.in. (IANS)
 24 December 1-7, 2018 SELF HELP TheSouthAsianTimes.info

How to make full use of your workplace benefits?

M
illennials are a genera‑
tion with unique finan‑
cial challenges. Seven in
10 possess student loan debt,
according to the Institute for
College Access and Successʼ
“12th Annual Report, Student
Debt and the Class of 2016.”
Combined with car loans, hous‑
ing expenses and entry level
salaries, itʼs no surprise to learn
that many young workers lack
the savings necessary to cover
unexpected medical costs.
To help strengthen their finan‑
cial situation, experts say that
this generation should take a
closer look at their available
workplace benefits to see if they
have access to voluntary bene‑
fits, often also referred to as sup‑
plemental health insurance poli‑
cies.
“Having health insurance is
not always enough. Someone
with a serious injury or illness
can face large deductibles or sig‑
nificant out‑of‑pocket expenses
even with health insurance. If
your employer offers the oppor‑
tunity to obtain supplemental
health insurance policies, such as
accidental injury, critical illness
or hospital care coverage, take a
few moments to become familiar
with what these options provide.
They can help you create and
personalize your financial safety
net,” says Jim Boyman, president
and general manager of Cignaʼs
voluntary benefits business.
Sixty percent of millennials are
worried theyʼre unprepared for
medical costs, according to
Cignaʼs Voluntary Benefits
Consumer Survey, yet many
arenʼt taking advantage of
obtaining voluntary accidental
injury, critical illness and hospi‑
tal care benefits when they are
offered in the workplace.
When asked how they would
pay for expenses if a serious
injury or illness struck, millenni‑
als were more likely than older
employees to say they would
borrow from friends and family,
take out a bank loan or get a sec‑
ond job. However, these choices
can often be accompanied by
other drawbacks: borrowing
money can sometimes impact
personal relationships, and bor‑
rowing from the bank means
paying interest on top of the
original expense. Getting a sec‑
ond job may not be realistic
depending upon the nature of
the health condition and could
also impact the ability to succeed
at the primary job.
Voluntary benefits or supple‑
mental health insurance policies
can help with those unexpected
medical expenses. It is important
to take the time to learn what is
available in the workplace.
Many employers offer educa‑
tional tools and resources to help
individuals understand how vol‑
untary benefits work and how to
tailor coverage to provide the
most value for personal situa‑
tions. Read the benefits materials
and consider attending informa‑
tional learning sessions that may
be offered. An employerʼs human
resources department can also
be a source for assistance. Or,
use online tools to learn more.
Whether employer‑funded or
employee‑paid, workplace bene‑
fits can help provide additional
financial protection and help
deliver greater peace of mind.

Making your empty nest an Exiting a timeshare can

empowering new chapter be tricky: What to know
S I
uddenly, the kids are all grown
up and ready to flee the nest.
Itʼs the start of a new chapter ‑‑
for them, and for mom and dad, too.
While this sudden change in family
dynamic is bound to bring a mix of bit‑
tersweet emotions, there are plenty of
ways to embrace the shift. An empty
nest certainly doesnʼt mean an empty
life.
Raising a family reaps many rewards
and any parent knows that family time
revolves around the childrenʼs wants and
needs well into their teenage years. While
in the thick of it, the prospect of a quiet,
relaxing weekend with no parental respon‑
sibilities and the very concept of self‑care
can seem farfetched. But now with the kids
leaving home, itʼs time to make the most of
your new foot‑loose and fancy‑free
lifestyle.
Make More ʻMe Timeʼ
Now that you have more time to do
things that bring you joy, itʼs time rediscov‑
er who you are ‑‑ whether thatʼs through
traveling the world, learning a new skill or
language, taking a yoga class, volunteering
or simply doing more of what makes you
feel good.
The newfound time in your day is an
opportunity to discover new hobbies and
build a social life that is entirely your own.
Stay Connected
Just because the kids have left home
doesnʼt mean you canʼt stay connected. In
fact, you may find yourself on the other
end of the phone giving dating advice or
having more meaningful life chats than
ever before. Family group text threads can
replace dinner table conversations, so do
make sure you stay up‑to‑date with tech‑
nology to keep the entire family connected.
Choose a phone plan that lets you talk,
video chat or text with your kids as much
as you want, when you want, such as T‑
Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+, which gives
you two lines for just $35 per line with no
surprise fees or taxes. A super affordable
option designed just for customers 55 and
older, it includes unlimited talk, text and
data, in‑flight texting, one hour of Gogo
Wi‑Fi on domestic flights, and texting and
data when you travel abroad in 210 desti‑
nations.
And whatʼs more, all the money you save
on your phone plan can go straight into
the self‑care fund or to finance your next
“adults only” fancy vacation. Win‑win.
Find a Furry Friend
If youʼre an animal lover, adopt a new
pet, train a friendʼs dog, pet‑sit, or become
a foster pet‑parent. This time, you wonʼt be
getting a pet just for the kids. Animals
have a magical ability to lift the spirit and
fill the void left from caring for your little
ones for so many years.
Becoming an empty nester is surprising‑
ly empowering, and can be a period of pos‑
itive growth for you. Instill new routines
and experiences in your life, stay connect‑
ed to your kids, and the rest will surely fol‑
low.
tʼs estimated that at any
given time, there are
over 1 million timeshare
owners looking to end their
timeshare ownership.
Unfortunately, exiting a
timeshare is more complex
than many people realize.
“Timeshare owners are
never more vulnerable than
when theyʼve made the deci‑
sion to end their ownership.
The resale market is flood‑
ed, resorts have stacked the
deck and con artists are
waiting to take advantage
of your situation,” says
Gordon Newton, president
of Newton Group Transfers and author of Specifically, any agent you hire should be
“The Consumerʼs Guide to Timeshare Exit.” aligned with your interests, agreeing in writ‑
There are several personal or financial rea‑ ing to cover all timeshare fees – or legal fees
sons you may want or need to exit your time‑ ‑ that arise during the exit process for a flat
fee.
share, and there are several ways to do so, be
it via a sale, transfer or cancellation. No mat‑ 4 Research your exit companyʼs creden‑
ter how you part ways with your timeshare, tials (through the Better Business Bureau, the
Newton says itʼs important to protect your‑ stateʼs attorney general, consumer protection
self by having a better handle on the indus‑ agencies and a general internet search) look‑
try. He offers the following insights to any‑ ing for a minimum five‑year track record of
success. Beware of companies that make it
one who owns a timeshare:
4The fine print in your timeshare agree‑ hard for you to research them.
ments may be the reason you canʼt sell it. 4 Be wary of timeshare exit companies
Many resort developers see the resale mar‑ boasting “attorneys on staff.” Those attor‑
ket as a direct threat to their revenue stream neys will be acting in the best interests of the
and have accordingly rigged the system in company, not yours.
their favor. For example, some resorts 4 If an exit deal sounds too good to be
restrict rights and benefits for owners who true, it probably is. Be wary of phone solici‑
purchase their timeshares on the resale mar‑ tors telling you someone has a buyer, anyone
ket, intentionally devaluing your timeshare advising you to stop paying your timeshare
while also making it harder for you to mortgage or maintenance fees, “donate your
unload. timeshare” programs, or anyone marketing a
4 Only sign an agreement offering you guaranteed timeframe for the exit. These are
real protections in your timeshare exit. all red flags.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
11 Leavesʼ brutal fall from
The Tree of Life
The victims of the Pittsburgh Synagogue massacre were
not just the 11 who lost their lives that day, but every Jew
in the world; living or dead. All Jews count on each other
and mourn the disasters that befall any of us.
By Lawrence Spiro
S
habbos, Saturday, October 27,
2018 in the morning hours at a
Synagogue in Pittsburgh madness
had its way. A lone gunman walked into
the defenseless congregation and brutally
murdered 11 people, and wounded sever‑
al responding police officers. The Tree of
Life is the name of the Synogogue.
Victims were a unique group of people
who had one thing in common ‑ inno‑
cence. The marauding murdererʼs target
was determined by their innocence and
their bloodline. His strategy was simply
to pick out where the innocent congre‑
gate and whimsically kill as many as he
could. This murderer sought Jews as his
premise to achieve his fantasy.
The victims were not just the 11 who
lost their lives that day, but every Jew in
the world; living or dead. Every Jew
was/is crushed by his dirty work. All Jews
count on each other and mourn the disas‑
ters that befall any of us. The single, the
more, the many; the lambs of innocence
are the smallest of groups in the world. A
Jew cannot separate himself from the oth‑
ers. Alive or dead; when one dances with
joy every Jew dances and when one Jew is
crushed every Jew is crushed.
Jews look at each other in anticipation
regardless of their belief system. Every
Jew resonates with the others. We are all
part of the 2% club. We are born into this
club and cannot leave. The membership is
final.
The world shines hotly on the Jew in
abnormal proportion to our diminutive
size. One could assert that the world
keeps the Jew in focus because of our size.
Many look at the Jew as an astronomer
looks at the stars or a child looks at a rain‑
bow or as a game in which the innocent
are the victims to destroy.
The Jew has been the focus of the
worldʼs fantasies and are worthy objects
of subjective disregard and ignorance. The
world sees the members of this club as
different and confusing. The fantasy
remains alive and the Jew is placed in his
own special place of isolation.
Throughout Jewish history the
Babylonians, the Romans, the Byzantines,
the Christians, the Arabs, and the Nazis all
did gaming of the Jew as a fulfillment of
their fantasies by whatever means they
imagined in order to persecute this tiny
group of humanity.
The Jew does not ask why the suffering
of the innocent occurs. To ask this ques‑
RELIGION
tion means that there are answers but
there are none. This is G‑dʼs realm and
cannot be understood nor would the Jew
want to know. The logic of slaughtering
the lamb is outside of reason.
In the aftermath of The Tree of Life
tragedy, the innocent can no longer wor‑
ship in light and freedom. In response,
every congregation has instituted a
lockdown and guarded security system.
Temple Shaaray Tefila, Mosbacher said
there will be an increased security pres‑
ence, as well as at Orthodox congregation
Young Israel of Sunnyside.
"We have a combination lock on the
door and members will be notified how to
get in. We have camera system and we
know the faces of our regular members.
Weʼve been in contact with the local
police ̶ they will be patrolling the area
and different synagogues over the week‑
end," said the Queens temple's Rabbi
Reuven Stengel.
The purpose of the innocents is to
refine themselves and thereby improve
the world around them. The method is to
keep our thoughts, speech and action
focused on these aspects through prayer
and good deeds. G‑d runs the world and
people have free will to decide reality, fan‑
tasy, good and evil.
The following poem addresses the
occurrence of October 27, 2018 at the
Tree of Life Synagogue.
POEM BY
LAWRENCE SPIRO
In the twilightʼs last gleam death is
revealed.
Shrouded in darkness the why is con‑
cealed.
There are no words written that can
explain
or comfort those who mourn with grief,
with pain.
Life is the result of cause and effect
and the actions of men free to select.
No manner of belief can touch this truth
Far beyond a guess a reason or proof
The purpose of darkness within twilight,
is known by Him alone as day dims night.
There are specific traditions that are fol‑
lowed by the Jew when another Jew dies.
Here is a brief description:
LIFE
In Judaism, life is valued above almost
all else. The Talmud notes that all people
are descended from a single person, thus
taking a single life is like destroying an
entire world, and saving a single life is
like saving an entire world.
DEATH
In Judaism, death is not a tragedy, even
when it occurs early in life or through
unfortunate circumstances. Death is a
natural process. Our deaths, like our
lives, have meaning and are all part of
God's plan. In addition, we have a firm
belief in an afterlife, where those who
have lived a worthy life will be rewarded.
The murderer will have no place in the
world to come. He will be in no‑place for
eternity.
Mourning practices in Judaism are
extensive, but they are not an expression
of fear or distaste for death. Those prac‑
tices have two purposes: to show respect
for the dead (kevod ha‑met), and to com‑
fort the living (nihum avelim) who will
miss the deceased.
CARE FOR THE DEAD
After a person dies, the eyes are closed,
the body is laid on the floor and covered,
and candles are lit next to the body. The
body is never left alone until after burial,
as a sign of respect. The people who sit
with the dead body are called shomerim,
or guards/keepers. Respect for the dead
body is a matter of paramount impor‑
tance. For example, the shomerim may
not eat, drink, or perform certain com‑
mandments such as prayer in the pres‑
ence of the dead. To do so would be con‑
sidered mocking the dead, because the
dead can no longer do these things.
In preparation for the burial, the body
is thoroughly cleaned and wrapped in a
simple, plain linen shroud. The Sages
decreed that both the dress of the body
and the coffin should be simple, so that a
poor person would not receive less honor
in death than a rich person. The body is
Decmeber 1-7, 2018 25
Names of the Synagogue
attack victims
not embalmed, and no organs or fluids
may be removed. The body must not be
cremated. It must be buried in the earth.
Coffins are not required, but they may be
used.
The body is never displayed at funerals;
open casket ceremonies are forbidden by
Jewish law. Exposing a body is consid‑
ered disrespectful, because it allows not
only friends, but also enemies to view the
dead, mocking their helpless state.
Jewish law requires that a tombstone
be prepared, so that the deceased will not
be forgotten and the grave will not be des‑
ecrated. It is customary in some commu‑
nities to keep the tombstone veiled, or to
delay in putting it up, until the end of the
12‑month mourning period. The idea
underlying this custom is that the dead
will not be forgotten when he or she is
being mourned every day. In communi‑
ties where this custom is observed, there
is generally a formal unveiling ceremony
when the tombstone is revealed.
KADDISH
Kaddish is commonly known as a
mourner's prayer, but in fact, variations
on the Kaddish prayer are routinely recit‑
ed at many other times. The prayer
begins "May His great Name grow exalted
and sanctified in the world that He creat‑
ed as He willed. May He give reign to His
kingship in your lifetimes and in your
days . . ." and continues in much that vein.
The age of redemption is upon us. The
world will recognize the presence of a
person whom we call the Mashiach. When
he comes to the world, the world will stop
fantasizing about the Jew and the world
will say “OK”. May the souls of those mur‑
dered at The Tree of Life be ensconced in
the yoke of heaven.
Lawrence Spiro is a published poet and
writer. Based in Syosset, NY, he is CFO of
Vitaco, Inc., DBA Healthquest Vitamins.
 26 December 1-7, 2018
Winter coats to rule this season
W
inter coats are the
basic clothing of sea‑
sonal wardrobe.
Therefore, selecting the perfect
piece from a wide array of styles
can be very tricky and time con‑
suming.
Ashima Sharma, owner of
Ashima S Couture and celebrity
stylist Anuj Lalwani in De lhi
share some details about the
trending w inter jackets and
coats.
* Trench coat: This timeless
classic has been adopted by
everyone, even the Duchess of
Sussex Meghan Markle was spot‑
ted in trench coats on many
occasions. The trench has long
been considered an essential
item that every woman should
own. If not, then it is high time
to invest in one. Keep it classic
with a cream or beige color and
it will be a part of your winter
closet for years to come.
* Heritage check: Heritage
check is a constant classic for
winters, but this year it has been
embraced more than ever. The
checks were constantly recreated
year by year, providing various
styles for the coming season.
Skin care rules for men this winter
M life expectancy by over 4 years: Study
en nowadays have become
equally conscious and cog‑
nisant of their skin.
However, it is important to take
steps wisely. Karan Gupta, Director
and Menʼs Grooming Expert of Qraa
Men, and Dilip Kundlia, Director
and Skin Care Expert at Oshea
Herbals in Delhi, have shared tips
for men to look prim and proper in
winter.
4 Never step out of your house
before applying sunscreen on your
skin. Sunscreen is an essential
product and something most men
often tend to ignore and neglect.
Use sunscreens that have high
moisture content in them to have
dual benefits on your skin.
4 Men are usually very protec‑
tive and insecure about their beard
Americans more negative on
Twitter than Canadians: Study
W
ith their choice of words
on Twitter, Americans
appear to be living up to
their national stereotype as nega‑
tive and assertive, while Canadians
tend to be nice and polite on the
microblogging platform, suggests
an analysis of nearly 40 million
tweets. Canadians were far more
positive on Twitter, using words
such as great, thanks, good, amaz‑
ing, and happy. Americans tended to
use more negative words like hate,
miss, mad, feel, swear, tired, said
Trench Coat
Like trench coats, heritage
checks are also a long‑t ime
investment to wear with basic
work wear which means that you
can buy now and love it forever.
You can pair heritage check coat
with a light blouse to add a soft
femininity to the look.
and take exceptional care of it. The
beard of a man enhances his mys‑
tique thereby making him look
more attractive and charismatic.
Beard vitalizers, beard conditioning
spa and beard oils shall be their
savior this winter.
4 It is time to get into some seri‑
ous skin care business and indulge
in some charcoal face washes,
scrubs and face packs. The pres‑
ence of activated charcoal sucks out
the impurities and detoxifies the
skin while soothing it.
4 For healthy skin, it is impor‑
tant to give up on all the bad habits
like drinking and smoking. Such
habits have a direct impression and
control over looks of a person.
Instead, start drinking more water
to stay hydrated.
the study published online in the
journal PLOS ONE. "The Twitter
behavior we observe doesn't actual‑
ly reflect the real underlying per‑
sonality profile of an average
American or Canadian," said study
co‑author Daniel Schmidtke from
McMaster University in Hamilton,
Canada.
For the study, the researchers iso‑
lated the words, emoticons, and
emojis used most disproportionate‑
ly on Twitter by individuals from
each country.
LIFESTYLE
Heritage Check
Undoubtedly, this is one of the
most adaptable and versatile
winter coats.
* Animal print: Animal print is
another trending winter coat. In
fact, most of the ramp walks are
packed by myriad of printed
coats and jackets. The leopard is
Air pollution cuts average Indian's
I
ndia is the world's sec‑
ond most polluted
country, slightly trail‑
ing only Nepal, the Energy
Policy Institute at the
University of Chicago said
last week. Particulate pol‑
lution is so severe that it
shortens the average
Indian's life expectancy by
more than four years rela‑
tive to what it would be if
WHO air quality guide‑
lines were met.
This is up from about two years in
the late 1990s due to a 69 per cent
increase in particulate pollution, it
said. Concentrations in Indian
states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, Punjab, and the National
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Animal Print
the most popular opt ion to
choose from. If spots arenʼt your
fashion thing, then you can opt
for snake, tiger or zebra prints.
Every time, these animal prints
were tailored in a more relaxed
way, providing a modern twist to
a 1950s classic. To get this look,
Capital Territory of Delhi are sub‑
stantially higher, and the impact on
life expectancy exceeds six years.
Its new air pollution index, known
as the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI),
finds that air pollution reduces
global life expectancy by nearly two
you mix and match an animal
print coat with a dark dress,
maybe consider a subtle print for
added interest, and similar acces‑
sories.
* Leather coat: Most people
own a leather biker jacket, but
this winter season the hard‑wear‑
ing fabric is paving its way onto
a longer and more tailored style.
There are coming in an array of
colors, from classic black to rich
autumnal hues like burgundy
and creamy brown. The pantsuit
trend is quite a favorite during
the winter season, try a hybrid of
the trend in a leather iteration.
* Denim jacket: T he jeans
jacket is everyoneʼs favorite and
is often marketed as spring or
fall outerwear, but that doesnʼt
have to be the case. You donʼt
have to wait until spring to take
out your denim attire. The key is
smart layering. Use the jacket
like a button‑up, or as an inner
coat layered under your winter
long coat. You can also wear a
hoodie under the denim jacket to
look stylish and at the same time
keep the cold at bay. Denim jack‑
ets are always a go‑to, irrespec‑
tive of the season.
years, making it the sin‑
g le greatest threat to
human health. The tool
gives figures like ‑ for an
average resident of Delhi,
gain in life expectancy if
the WHO guidelines are
met, could be up to 10.2
years.
Likewise, it gives num‑
bers of years lost to pol‑
lution for every district of
India for a span of 18
years between 1998 and 2016.
What makes AQLI unique is that it
converts pollution into perhaps the
most important metric that exists ‑‑
life expectancy. It does so at a
hyper‑local level throughout the
world.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info LEGAL EAGLE December 1-7, 2018 27

Mandating sex harassment policies & training for employees

By Shannon Azzaro Many of the city training require‑
What employers need to know to CORPORATE LAW ments mirror the state require‑

N comply in New York City.

ew York State and New
York City recently passed
historic legislation requir‑
ing most private employers to con‑
duct annual sexual harassment
training for all employees, effective
October 9, 2018 (under state law)
and April 1, 2019 (under city law).
In this two‑part series, the first part
last week dealt with New York State
requirements. This part addresses
the New York City requirements
and provides additional tips for
compliance.
New York Cityʼs New
Legal Requirements
New York Cityʼs sweeping legisla‑
tion package included an expansion
of the New York City Human Rights
Law to cover employers with fewer
than four employees where sexual
harassment is alleged. Additionally,
the legislation extends the statute
of limitations from one to three
years for gender‑based harassment
claims before the New York City
Commission on Human Rights
(“NYCCHR”).
Effective July 8, 2018, all city
contractors who are currently
required to file employment reports
with the Department of Labor
Services will also be report on their
practices, policies, and procedures
“relating to preventing and address‑
ing sexual harassment”.
New Training
Requirements
Under the New York City law, all
employers in New York City with 15
or more employees (including
Part II of two‐part series.
interns) must conduct sexual
harassment training for all employ‑
ees (who work for at least 90 days
and at least 80 hours per calendar
year). Unlike the State law, the City
requires that employers train inde‑
pendent contractors who have per‑
formed work in the furtherance of
the business for more than 90 days
and more than 80 hours in a calen‑
dar year (however, they are not
required to re‑train independent
contractors who have already
received the mandatory training
elsewhere). Other related require‑
ments include:
1. The training must take place
within 90 days of hire and annually
thereafter.
2. Employers must also keep
records of training for at least three
years, including signed employee
acknowledgement of such training.
3. The training must be “interac‑
tive” – specifically stating that “the
trainee is engaged in a trainer‑
trainee interaction, use of audio‑
visuals, computer or online training
program or other participatory
forms of training as determined by
the [NYCCHR]”. However, the train‑
ing does not necessarily need to be
“live” or “in‑person”.
The content of the training is
extensive, and must include
the following:
1. an explanation of sexual harass‑
ment as a form of unlawful discrim‑
ination under local law;
2. a statement that sexual harass‑
ment is also a form of unlawful dis‑
crimination under state and federal
law;
3. a description of what sexual
harassment is, using examples;
4. any internal complaint process
available to employees through
their employer to address sexual
harassment claims;
5. the complaint process available
through the commission, the divi‑
sion of human rights and the United
States equal employment opportu‑
nity commission, including contact
information;
6. the prohibition of retaliation and
examples of retaliatory conduct;
7. information concerning
bystander intervention, including
but not limited to any resources
that explain how to engage in
bystander intervention; and
8. the specific responsibilities of
supervisory and managerial
employees in the prevention of sex‑
ual harassment and retaliation, and
measures that such employees may
take to appropriately address sexu‑
al harassment complaints.
The City will be issuing model
training policies prior to the April 1,
2019 effective date which they
state will meet or exceed the
requirements of both State and City
law. However, it is wise to begin
formulating a plan and commenc‑
ing trainings as soon as practicable.
An employee who has received anti‑
sexual harassment training at one
employer within the required train‑
ing cycle shall not be required to
receive additional anti‑sexual
harassment training at another
employer until the next cycle.
Additionally, all employers must
conspicuously display anti‑sexual
harassment rights and responsibili‑
ties notices in English and Spanish
and provide a fact sheet to employ‑
ees. The fact sheet is available at
http://www1.nyc.gov/site/cchr/law
/stop‑sexual‑harassment‑act.page.
How employers in
State and City can
comply with the new
requirements?
ments; therefore, it is advisable for
any employers who do business in
or provide services within the five
boroughs to consider the city
requirements in implementing sex‑
ual harassment policies and train‑
ing materials to comply with the
earlier state requirements. Since the
State and City require annual train‑
ing and the City requires new hire
training within 90 days of hire,
employers should examine when
they perform the bulk of their hir‑
ing and training in order to effi‑
ciently and effectively train all new
hires and ensure that all employees
receive training. Further, employers
must evaluate their existing poli‑
cies, training programs, and con‑
tracts with service providers
(including the training and policies
provided to independent contrac‑
tors in the workplace).
As always, if you have any ques‑
tion regarding compliance with
these new laws or training, you may
contact Peckar & Abramsonʼs
employment practices group.
Shannon D. Azzaro is an
Associate in Peckar &
Abramsonʼs Employment
and
Employment
Practices
Group. She
defends
Employment
Practices
Liability
Insurance
(EPLI) and Directors &
Officers (D&O) claims on
behalf of employers.

By Dev Banad Viswanath, Esq.

& Michael Phulwani, Esq.

H‑4 Employment Protection Bill

S
ince President Trump took
office we have seen a lot of

changes to immigration
laws. President Trump wants to
change a lot of Obama‑era laws
that have benefited many immi‑
grants. A few weeks ago the
Department of Homeland Security
made an announcement that a new
rule will be released soon prevent‑
ing foreign national spouses on H‑
4 visas from working. H‑4 visas are
given to certain dependent spous‑
es of H‑1B visa holders who are in
the process of obtaining perma‑
nent residency.
Lawmakers Anna G. Eshoo and
Zoe Lofgren introduced a new bill
to Congress to stop the Trump
administration from taking away
the work authorization of spouses
of H‑1B visa holders. Spouses of H‑
1B visa holders are given H‑4 visas
which may include permission to
work if the H1B primary applicant
has an I‑140 petition for perma‑
nent residence, which is already
approved. The H‑4 Employment
VISA
TALK
Protection Act would prohibit the
Trump administration from taking
away the right of H‑4 visa holders
from working. Congresswoman
Eshoo says "Eliminating this bene‑
fit would create a painful choice
for many immigrants to either split
up their families or return to their
home countries and use their tal‑
ents to compete against American
businesses." Taking away the work
authorization of H‑4 visa holders
would not help the American econ‑
omy and Eshoo believes that work
authorization for H‑4 visa holders
is “a matter of both economic fair‑
ness and family unity.” If spouse of
H‑1B visa holders are not allowed
to work, they may have to return
to their home country to help bal‑
ance out the economics and finan‑
cial hardship the lack of additional Congress members Anna G. Eshoo and
income creates; this would cause
Zoe Lofgren have
the separation of many families.
Many H‑1B visa holders are from introduced a bill to
India and the backlog for Indian
citizens to obtain a green card is stop the Trump admin‐
very long. If not for the extremely
long wait time many H‑1B visa
istration from taking
holders would be green card hold‑ away the work author‐
ers already. It is not likely that the
new bill will pass in the current ization of spouses of H‐1B visa holders.
Republican controlled Congress,
but it does have a better chance of
passing though once the new Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal Attorney of
Democratic majority House takes The Banad Law Offices PC in the United States,
office in January. Both Eshoo and and Banad Immigration in India for which
Lofgren believe that spouses Attorney Michael Phulwani is also affiliated as Of
should not be left without the right Counsel. With Offices in Manhattan, Queens,
to work and many are “accom‑ Bangalore, and Mumbai, the firm is able to assist
plished, qualified, and highly‑ clients with all facets of the immigration process,
skilled” and therefore should be including Employment Visas, Consular Visa
Assistance, Student Visas, Removal &
allowed to benefit from their skills.
Deportation, US Citizenship and Green Card
If you have questions about this
Applications based on Family or Employment.
bill or what options are available,
Dev B. Viswanath can be reached at
you should contact an experienced
Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999.
Immigration Attorney.
28 December 1-7, 2018 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Side by Nury Vittachi

The challenges of being a

father in the scientific age
O
ne of my children
asked me whether
ham came from ham‑
sters. "Of course," I said. "Just
like jelly comes from jelly‑
fish." I added that our family's
favourite dessert, Nutella
mousse, was a gland secre‑
tion from "a brown elk from
Canada called the chocolate
moose".
BEST Kids expect dads to be the
font of all knowledge, and it's
RATE easy to rise to the challenge if
you have a good imagination
FOR and a plausible manner.
But then came a harder
INDIA question from the of fspring:
"If junk food is bad for kids,
AND why do dads eat it all the
time?

PAKISTAN The real reason, of course, is

that the main act ivity of
(Image courtesy: dumblittleman.com)
eat ing weird things, I goog led "Do
fathers is telling off children for sins that we Singaporeans really eat turtles?". Instead, I
still do ourselves, right? found a turtle‑re lated newsflash from
New York Head Quarter But instead I put on my Scientific Thinker Science Alert: "Researchers in Korea are
422‑S Broadway persona and explained that foods have dif‑ developing a technology that will allow
ferent ef fects on dif ferent people. Luckily humans to control turtles through thought
HICKSVILLE there was a perfect example in the latest alone." A human wears a helmet that beams
NY 11801 New Scientist magazine. Tribes who live in brainwaves to an apparatus worn by the
the Atacama Desert in Chile have evolved turtle.
516‑827‑1010 the ability to consume the deadly arsenic Just imag ine what unscrupulous
poison without harm, it said. "Kids there Singaporeans could do with this. "Hello, tur‑
probably go to fast food shops and order tles, we bought you some cute hats!" Later:
poison and french fries," I explained. "Bit "You are under my control. Lightly season
like everywhere else." yourselves with soy sauce and come to me."
Seeking further examples of bizarre tribes W hat puzzles me is why the South
Koreans have not made remote brain con‑

Laughter is the Best Medicine

trol devices for children. Or for wives to use
on husbands. "You are under my control. Put
down that beer, lightly season yourself with
soy sauce and come to me."
The report said that the Turtle Brain
By Control System could "give the user a sense
Mahendra of oneness with the controlled animal". Who
Shah wants a feeling of oneness with a turtle? Be
better to achieve oneness with the Buddha.
Mahendra Or maybe Scarlett Johansson.
Shah is an But the most worrying recent report on
architect by the science page was the news that
education, Facebook has a team of 60 people working
entrepreneur on a device that reads your brainwaves and
by profession, types out the words. W hen this gets
artist and launched, all males are going to be in deep
humorist, car- trouble.
toonist and A colleague told me that academics from
writer by hobby. the University of Zurich have proposed the
He has been creation of a Mental Privacy law that makes
recording the it illegal to read someone's mind. It sounds
plight of the good in theory, but a) we won't be able to
immigrant tell, and b) who's going to confess? "Oops,
Indians for the sorry, I read your mind, you're one sick
past many year dude, arrest me now."
in his cartoons. Incidentally, I do realise that one day my
Hailing from child will come home from school saying:
"Dad, my teacher says ham does not come
Gujarat, he
from hamsters. It comes from pigs." I have
lives in
my response prepared: "Yes, I've heard that
Pittsburgh,
theory too, but fathers who are Scientific
Pennsylvania.
Thinkers always keep an open mind."
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY December 1-7, 2018 29

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

DECEMBER 1‑7, 2018

ARIES: Shopping for exotic things will be
fun. You will enjoy spending time with
loved ones. Your talents are likely to be
recognized at work. You may have to keep
someone at an armʼs length, if you want to
retain your peace of mind. Romantic bonds
are set to become stronger through only with
your own ef forts. A vacation will do you a
whale of a good in relaxing. Change your eat‑
ing habits to remain energetic. You may pick
up an interesting hobby.
TAURUS: Donʼt feel left out on the
social front, but go out and participate.
Your helping hand at home will be
appreciated. Person you are in love with will
offer you something you just canʼt refuse! A
break in your busy schedule will be most wel‑
come. Your persuasive ways are likely to put
of f someone important this week. Students
may perform below par. Repaying a loan is
likely to become a financial burden and com‑
pel you to scrounge the bottom.
GEMINI: Good contacts will translate
into new opportunities on the profes‑
sional front. Increased workload can
keep you busy on the professional front. Your
ideas on the home front may not cut ice with
spouse.
Some of you are likely to be on the lookout for
a helping hand. A child may need guidance, so
spare some time for him or her. Plan your
schedule in a way that caters to romantic
breaks too. You can try your luck in stocks.
Marital woes should be nipped in bud.
CANCER: Something you have started
will need your time and energy for
completion. Hurdles on the profession‑
al front cannot be ruled out. You will manage to
remain motivated to undertake a difficult job
and ensure its successful completion. Those in
love can plan an outing to spend time together.
You manage to motivate yourself for workouts
and keep fit. An entertaining pastime can keep
you busy. Horizon on the academic front
brightens. Travel is likely to be hectic and
stressful.
LEO: “Patience” should be your mantra
this week. Time to impress others has
arrived. Benefits accrue through net‑
working. You will be forced to set right a person
casting aspersions on you. An errant family
member will need to be dealt with diplomatical‑
ly. Chances of promotion start looking slim for
borderline cases. Sudden insights could lighten
your tensions in love life. Health wise, junk food
is likely to become your enemy number one.
VIRGO: An ailment may recur due to
sheer negligence, but you will manage
to bring it under control. You can expect
to have a nice time in the company of friends
this week. Professionally a satisfying period is
foreseen, when you will be able to complete all
your tasks successfully. Focus on networking
and increasing your sphere of influence. Things
start looking bright on the financial front as
earnings increase. Family and friends will be
supportive. Verify all the facts and figures
before playing with stocks.
LIBRA: Some other avenues of making
money may open up for you. You can
expect total support of the family in a
new venture. A luxury item is likely to be
bought soon. Your charm is likely to impress
someone of the opposite gender. A laid back
attitude towards work may put you behind
schedule. An office love can distract you and
make you lag behind at work. Those travelling
abroad will need to be careful of their belong‑
ings. Donʼt take up the past under any pretext.
SCORPIO: Chances of promotion may
seem to dwindle, as competition grows
at work. Networking will prove worth it
in getting you a better break. You may be in a
mood for some fun on the romantic front, but
lover may not share your mood. Social invites
could keep you busy. Spending on friends will
may get your wallet lighter, so donʼt overdo it.
Getting romantically linked with a co‑worker
or fellow student may affect your reputation;
stay alert.
SAGITTARIUS: Professional guidance
may be required in completing a proj‑
ect. Those in the upper tax bracket will
need to manage their finances well. If you are
looking for a soul mate, this week you get
lucky!
Donʼt let a minor problem cropping up at
home affect the harmony. An enjoyable vaca‑
tion is coming, so get set for fun! Expenses
may be on the rise. Pain in the lower back or
legs may disturb you; keep the necessary pain
killers handy.
CAPRICORN: You may not find your‑
self in the right frame of mind to tack‑
le anything complex at work. There is
a possibility of a prized job going to someone
else, so tighten your belt. Your steps to
become financially secure may be too little,
too late. You will be able to reap rich dividends
in an overseas investment. Spouse can feel
burdened and may not appear his or her
happy self. A new health fad may not be as
beneficial, as it had first seemed.
AQUARIUS: Blowing your own trum‑
pet gets you nowhere on the profes‑
sional front, so play it cool. Someone
may bully you but avoid reacting any further
to his or her whims and fancies. A medical
problem needs to be taken seriously, as neg‑
lect may aggravate it. A pressing engagement
may delay the deadline of the project at hand.
Mounting expenses may compel some to seek
a better paying job. Efforts will be required to
win the heart of the one you love.
PISCES: You are likely to take the right
course of action in a contentious issue.
Someone who is close to you may seek
your support.
Those awaiting exam results can expect to do
well. An award or recognition awaits those in
the media industry. Money will pose no prob‑
lems despite your splurging! You will be able
to convince the family on your ideas and get
full support. Health may become a concern, if
you eat wrong. A little disappointment on the
financial front is indicated.

1st December, 2018
Traits in you: Being under the guid‑
ance of Sun, you are active, dynamic,
authoritative, brilliant and talented.
You have the ability to initiate new
ideas and work on them. However, you
need to work on your stubbornness to
become a better individual.
Health this year: You may suf fer
from joint pain or high blood pressure
this year. however, proper medication
would he lp you maintain a good
health.
Finance this year: You will find new
ways to enhance your confidence to
earn and improve your financial condi‑
tion. Your professional journeys will
pay off and you will be successful in
your deals this year. You should invest
in a house or selected socks to get bet‑
ter benefits. If you schedule business
trips abroad, you may find a chance to
meet old friends and get new opportu‑
nities to improve your business. You
may end up spending a lot of money in
yours legal issues as they will be
stretched more than expected.
Career this year: The following year
will bring you lot of promises and sur‑
prises to cherish in your career. You
may get rewards for your work. Your
long cherished dreams may get ful‑
filled this year.
Romance this year: You will find
your spouse or partner supportive and
understanding enough to help you in
critical situations this year.
2nd December, 2018
Traits in you: As you are ruled by
Moon, you are simple, honest, and
cooperative. You are fond of peace and
harmony.
Health this year: You may get wor‑
ried for your parentʼs health and
increasing household expenditure.
Finance this year: You may establish
new contacts and partnerships this
year. You will get benefitted from your
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
previous investments. You may gain
unexpectedly, which will improve your
financial position much better than
expected.
Career this year: You have ample
new and innovative ideas. You are a
perfectionist in whatever you do.
However, you have to control your
whim and jealousy to succeed in your
life.
Romance this year: You will find
your spouse supportive enough to
your concerns and provide you with
love and affection.
3rd December, 2018
Traits in you: Being number 3, you
are confident, ambitious and inde‑
pendent person who loves to work
with optimistic attitude. You are a
born leader, and you are always appre‑
ciated for your work, whether it is at
home or work place. Your efforts are
always sincere and thatʼs why you bal‑
ance your personal and professional
life very smoothly.
Health this year: This year you will
make efforts to enjoy the true happi‑
ness. You need to keep in mind that
physical happiness is attained by self‑
restraint, eating simple but balanced &
nourishing food and daily exercise.
You will start participating in any
sports or outdoor activities to keep
yourself in good health.
Finance this year: As far as finances
are concerned, you need to invest your
hard‑earned money wisely. Look at all
the aspects of business before putting
your money, then only it would enable
you to fetch good returns.
Career this year: Your ability to
express your views and ideas, will take
you to the top of hierarchy, in the year
ahead of you. Your superiors will
notice your sincerity and loyalty. They
will entrust a lot of responsibility on
your shoulders. You will be able to ful‑
fill all these duties to the utmost, mak‑
ing everyone happy.
Romance this year: This year, you
might meet the sweetest dream of
your life, means a person of your
dream, whose thoughts have kept your
memory radiant. It is now upto you to
take initiatives to develop friendly
relations with him/her.
4th December, 2018
Traits in you: You are the owner of a
responsible, disciplined, sociable,
organized and creative personality.
You hold religious beliefs and philoso‑
phy at high esteem. You should avoid
being jealous, stubborn and self cen‑
tered at times to improve your person‑
al traits.
Health this year: You may undergo
stress for your parentʼs health.
However, your health will remain
good.
Finance this year: You will earn a
handsome amount of money from
your previous investments. The legal
issues will be solved in your favor to
provide you with monetary benefits.
You may plan for a business trip to a
distant place to enhance the territory
of your business.
Career this year: If you are a
sportsperson or artist or writer, this
year will be fruitful for you. You would
be oozing with confidence to make
tough tasks easy.
Romance this year: You will enjoy a
blissful relationship with your partner
with ample love, care and support.
5th December, 2018
Traits in you: As you are guided by
Mercury, you are gifted with strength,
intelligence, diplomacy and practica‑
bility. You are physically and mentally
active with an intelligent business
mind.
Health this year: To attain peace of
mind, you should plan a pilgrimage
during the end months of the year.
Finance this year: You may undergo
financial crisis in the first couple of
months this year.
You may get carried away by new
ventures. However, you need to do
enough research on the market before
investing. You will find your past
investments paying of f in the latter
half of the year. You will be able to
solve the property related matters dur‑
ing the middle months of the year to
receive extra monetary gains.
Career this year: Your ef fort and
commitment in your professional life
is appreciated by your peers and high‑
er authorities. Your will be criticized
hugely at times for your nature of
being extravagant and reckless.
Romance this year: Some of you may
find your new love interests and some
may tie their knots this year.
6th December, 2018
Traits in you: Being under the guid‑
ance of Venus, you are bestowed with
simplicity. You are philosophical, coop‑
erative, and a talented. You are
inclined to literature and witty discus‑
sions. You are able to memorize lot of
things as you will be the master of a
sharp memory. However, you need to
work on your erratic and careless
behavior to become a better person.
Health this year: You may remain
concerned over the health of your
family members.
Finance this year: You may find new
sources to earn money. However, you
will end up spending lot of money,
which would make you unable to save
money. You may travel a lot during
this year to find new opportunities and
to enhance your business relation‑
ships.
Career this year: You may find this
year to be a mixture of good and bad
experience as far as your professional
life is concerned. You may not get
expected credit for your hard work.
Romance this year: Your partner will
be understanding enough to support
you during your emotional break
downs. You will enjoy a mature rela‑
tionship with your partner.
7th December, 2018
Traits in you: Being under the influ‑
ence of Neptune, you are born to be
responsible, affectionate, creative, reli‑
able and highly emotional. You pos‑
sess the quality and courage to brave
any unfavorable condition to adapt
with it or win over it. You need to
work on your stubbornness to
enhance the charm in your personali‑
ty.
Health this year: You may undergo
various health related issues. You have
to take enough stress regarding you
law matters as they will not be solved
easily. However, you will find peace
and happiness because of financial
improvements, improvement in life
style, and spiritual beliefs.
Finance this year: You may receive
cash as gifts this year from your
guests and relatives. Your financial
condition would be mediocre with not
much loss.
Career this year: You need to listen
to otherʼs opinions to get benefited
professionally. You will find new and
exciting job of fers, which will prove
instrumental in improving your finan‑
cial position this year. You will be able
to fulfill your long cherished dreams.
You may find your subordinates diffi‑
cult to handle.
Romance this year: You will find
your life romantic enough and it
would add some extra spice to your
life style.
30 December 1-7, 2018 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

True happiness awaits us within

loss. At some point in the life, we
discover that happiness in the outer
world is a transitory illusion. As
There is only one source of happiness,
long as we seek happiness in the that is lasting, that cannot be
world, we will be disappointed, for
all matter is subject to decay and
destroyed by wind, fire, water or earth.
destruction. Everything in this It cannot be taken away from us either
world must perish. Ultimately, we
too must face our physical end and
in this life or at the time of death. The
must leave behind all that we cher‑ only permanent source of happiness is
By Sant Rajinder Singh ished. This is the way of the world.
Ji Maharaj Looking at the realities of life, we God. Some mystics of the East refer to
begin to wonder if there is any God as Sat‑ Chit‑Anand. These words

F
rom the moment of birth,
every human being wants
happiness and does not want
suffering. From the very core of our
being, we simply desire content‑
ment. We look for happiness in
meeting our emotional needs for
love and companionship through
our relationships, with family,
friends and loved ones.
We try to find happiness in
worldly possessions and relation‑
ships. If we analyse, we find that
they do not bring the happiness
they have promised. We may derive
happiness from them for some
time, but the loss of any of our pos‑
sessions or relations brings untold
pain and suffering. If our house is
destroyed by fire, we feel as if we
have lost everything.
If we are millionaires and sudden‑
ly become bankrupt, we become
dejected. And if one of our loved
one passes away, we are drowned
in grief. The happiness we had dur‑
ing the time we had our money,
belongings and near and dear ones
turns into deep misery from their
hope for finding real happiness in
the world.
How to find lasting happiness?
Throughout the ages, the great
teachers, sages, saints and philoso‑
phers of the world have been telling
us that true happiness does exist.
But it does not lie in anything in
this world. It can only be found
within. There is only one source of
happiness, that is lasting, that can‑
not be destroyed by wind, fire,
water or earth. It cannot be taken
away from us either in this life or at
the time of death. The only perma‑
nent source of happiness is God.
Some mystics of the East refer to
God as Sat‑ Chit‑Anand. T hese
words translate respectively as
truth, consciousness and bliss.
Saints and mystics have been able
to realize God within themselves
and have shared their knowledge
with humanity. They tell us that
God is an ocean of light, all love and
consciousness. The soul is drop of
His essence. Each of us is actually a
drop of this blissful awareness. It is
only when we identify with our real
self that we become moving drops
of bliss on earth.
The way to tap into this pool is
simple. It is only a matter of our
attention. We can direct our atten‑
tion wherever we wish. We can
place it on our body. We can focus
it on our mind. Or we can concen‑
trate our attention on our soul.
Instruction in how to place our
attention on our soul is domain of
spiritual teachers. This process of
concentration or focusing our
attention is popularly known as
Meditation. Meditation is focusing
one's attention at the seat of the
soul located between and behind
the two eyebrows. If we can stop
putting our attention on our outer
eyes and ears for a while and con‑
centrate at the seat of soul, we will
tap into the source of happiness
and bliss awaiting us within.
Spending two hour concentrating
on the eye focus each day will help
translate respectively as truth,
consciousness and bliss.
our attention withdraw from the
body. Generally, the sensory cur‑
rents give us sensation in the body.
It is the sensory currents which
make us aware of the hearing,
smell, taste and touch. It is through
the senses that we can see beautiful
sights, hearing pleasing sounds,
smelling sweet fragrances eating
delicious foods and having pleasur‑
able sensation through the sense of
touch. If we withdraw our sensory
currents from the outside world
and collect them at the eye focus, a
vista of Divine Light and Celestial
Sound opens for us. We witness the
light and Sound which emanated
from God at the dawn of creation
Like a current, this stream flows
out from God and
returns to Him. When our soul
comes in contact with this stream,
it can travel back on it back to the
source. By meditation, the soul
begins its voyage to the ultimate
source of happiness. We are all con‑
scious, all bliss and in a perpetual
state of happiness. Our worldly
desires become more trifles when
we experience the astounding joy
within. Those
who learn to meditate can switch
their attention to the source of hap‑
piness even in the midst of sorrow.
True, they still undergo the outer
pains and sorrows of life, but they
do not affect them. The ecstasy we
experience within fill us with happi‑
ness and we are able to overcome
problems. As we meditate and come
in contact with the source of love
within, we begin to spread it to oth‑
ers. We will be always in tune with
the happiness within and will radi‑
ate it to all who come in contact
with us.
This leads to expansion of self
and one becomes a true citizen of
the world with cosmopolitan out‑
look on life.

How to improve spiritually

By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj

W
henever we apply for a job and
write our resume, we try to high‑
light all the good things about
ourselves and our experience. Many hide all
the difficulties they had in their career and
focus on their great achievements. When
employers read through such resumes they
often feel each person is the greatest person
who ever lived, because we try to put our‑
selves in the best possible light to land the
job. When people go to a bank for a business
loan, they write up all their greatest financial
achievements and best references. They
want to appear that they are a safe client
and not a credit risk. They write down all
their business and financial successes in
hopes that the loan officer will grant them a
loan.
When we apply for college or business
school, we collect all our best references
from former teachers so that a college will
find us appealing as a candidate.
That is typical in worldly affairs.
Whereas in worldly work we always want
to appear our best, when it comes to spiritu‑
al work, we cannot hide who we are from the
Divine within us. Our progress is an open
book. The grace we receive in our spiritual
progress is based on our sincere efforts. We
cannot hide the truth of our spiritual gains
and failures from the Divine.
One way for us to improve spiritually is to
take an honest look at our weaknesses. By
doing so, we can weed them out and see the
areas that need improvement. If we looked at
only our successes, we would get compla‑
cent and think we had reached the pinnacle
of glory. Then, we would never change.
Our shortcomings show us which areas we
have to do better in each day. Then, by mak‑
ing an effort, we find that each day we have
less failures than the previous day. Over
time, we would ultimately reach a stage in
which we have zero shortcomings; we would
have improved.
By reading the writings of the saints and
watching their lives we can see what a virtu‑
ous life looks like. Then, we measure our‑
selves each day against that goal. We count
our shortcomings and apply their teachings
to conquer each area. The writings of the
saints are rich in positive advice on how to
overcome failures in the qualities we need.
Each day as we honestly count our failures,
we then apply their advice for making the
following day more successful. We avoid the
pitfalls.
If we were allergic to a particular food and
we kept taking that food, we know we would
have a reaction. Would it be wise for a per‑
son who gets so ill to continue to eat the sub‑
stance they are allergic to? No. They should
be super careful each day to avoid such
foods. Similarly, if our actions each day
result in failings in a particular category of
virtue that is keeping us from spiritual
growth, would we not want to avoid that
behavior so we can overcome that problem?
Analyzing our shortcomings helps us identi‑
fy the allergens in our spiritual life so we can
avoid and overcome them.
Let us work on introspecting our weak‑
nesses with honesty.
We are not applying for a job with the
Divine and writing spiritual resumes that
show us in a good light. We cannot hide our
failings from the One who sees all. We need
to make an honest ef fort to overcome our
failures.
The beauty of the Divine is the law of com‑
passion and grace. When we are seen mak‑
ing an honest effort to weed out our failings,
to honestly assess these shortcomings our‑
selves, even if we have difficulty, our sinceri‑
ty is noticed. The Divine will respond with
compassion and grace. By our ef fort and
grace of the Divine, we will achieve spiritual
improvement faster, reaching our goal of
union with the Creator. We will see rapid
spiritual progress in our lives.
(For more visit www.sos.org)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info December 1-7, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info December 1-7, 2018