Fashion 2

Op Ed 23

Bollywood 27

Spiritual Awareness 30

NEW YORK EDITION

Vol.3 No.51 April 9-15, 2011 60 Cent
Obamas first reelection mass rally on Facebook US Affairs, page 10 Hasya poets from India regale at RANAs Holi RANA Holi, page 15 The world cheers Dhonis victorious Men in Blue ICC World Cup 2011, page 16

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Author denies suggesting Gandhis bisexuality Controversy, page 24

No deal on budget cuts as govt shutdown looms

Washington: Time ticking, President Obama and Congressional leaders bargained and blustered Thursday but failed to reach an agreement to cut federal spending and prevent a midnight Friday government shutdown. Obama held talks at the White House during the day with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. With an agreement elusive, Republicans passed legislation through the House to fund the Pentagon for six months, cut $12 billion in domestic spending and keep the federal bureaucracy humming for an additional week. "There is absolutely no policy reason for the Senate to not follow the House in taking these responsible steps to support our troops and to keep our government open," said Boehner. But Obama flashed a veto threat even before the bill passed on a 247-181, mostly party-line vote. The administration issued a statement calling it "a distraction from the real work" of agreeing on legislation to cover the six months left in the current fiscal year, and there was no indication Reid

Anna Hazare's anti-graft crusade galvanizes a nation

Sonia pleads but Hazare to continue fast as talks fail on Lokpal Bill
New Delhi: As the fast-unto-death by Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare galvanized a whole nation, the UPA government bowed and agreed to a joint committee with the civil society to draft an anticorruption ombudsman bill demanded by the activists. The agitation for the (Jan Lokpal Bill) to fight corruption entered the third day on Thursday as Hazare's unrelenting stance on the issue forced the government to agree for a dialogue and form a panel with 50 percent representation by the civil society. However, the government only agreed to issue a letter with the commitment but not any formal notification even as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi urged Hazare to give up his hunger strike. There were talks between the government and social activists like Arvind Kejriwal and Swami Agnivesh but the sticking point was the issue of a formal

House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaking about the budget impasse after their meeting with the President would allow a vote on it. For all the brinksmanship, there was agreement that a shutdown posed risks to an economy still recovering from the worst recession in decades. In a shift in position, Obama said he would sign a short-term measure keeping the government running even without an agreement to give negotiations more time to succeed.

Hazare is on fast unto death at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. (Photo: Rohit Gautam) notification and on who would head the proposed committee. The activists under the India Against Corruption (IAC) want Hazare as the Continued on page 4.....

World Cup brings cricket mania to town

By Swathi AK New York (SATimes): Punita Sukumaran prefers a laidback weekend watching movies and cooking her own lunch and dinner and playing cards with her friends. But last Saturday was different. She woke up even before her alarm went off at 4 am in. In a jiffy she was dressed in a sky blue T-shirt sporting Indian flag colors and a pair of black sweat pants. Fidgety, her hands traced the words Chak De India on a placard she had made. Apprehension mounted while she waited for her pals to join in before proceeding to the pub in downtown Manhattan to watch the finals of cricket World Cup. Punita was not an exception. An overwhelming majority of the Indian community in the US were anxiously awaiting the match. Busy schedules, deadlines at work or personal commitments: nothing could deter the steadfast cricket followers from catching the match on TV or the Net. The frenzy had already reached a fever pitch when India slammed archrivals Pakistan in the semis. Continued on page 4.....

Superbug gene found in Delhi water

London: A gene that can turn many types of bacteria into deadly superbugs was found in about a quarter of water samples taken from drinking supplies and puddles on the streets of New Delhi, according to a new study. Experts say it's the latest proof that the new drug-resistance gene, known as NDM-1, named for New Delhi, is widely circulating in the environment and could potentially spread to the rest of the world. But the Indian health ministry Thursday denied superbug posed any public health threat to Delhi's environment, Researchers held that bacteria armed with this gene can only be treated with a couple of highly toxic and expensive antibiotics. Since it was first identified in 2008, it has popped up in a number of countries, including the US, Australia, Britain, Canada and Sweden. Most of those infections were in people who had recently traveled Continued on page 4.....

Soon after Dhoni hit the winning six to lift the World Cup, Indians in faraway America came out on the streets, waving the tricolor, jumping for joy.

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

WIFW kicks off in style

As many as 141 participants are featuring in what is both a five-day fashion extravaganza and a business-to-business event.

Models showcasing designer Kallol Datta's creations at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. New Delhi: The autumn/winter edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) started at the same venue as the last time, but there was a pleasant surprise in store for the guests when they walked into the Hall No. 18 at Pragati Maidan. The spacious interiors were jazzed up with interesting installations, mannequins with designer clothes and ultra-cool looking lounges to chill out in. Spread over an area of 11,633 sq m, the two-level venue has the exhibition area and lounges on the ground floor. The main show areas are one level higher, giving the entire set-up a spectacular international feel. "We want to improve with every edition, hence we introduced small changes in the design aspect. We want that every time you come, we should surprise you with the creativity of our designers. These small changes are important to make the venue look grander and different," Sunil Sethi, president of event organiser Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), was quoted as saying. As many as 141 participants are featuring in what is both a fashion extravaganza and a business-tobusiness event. Seventy-seven of them will showcase their creations on the runway, while the rest will display their garments in the various stalls assigned to them. The five-day fashion extravaganza opened with Neeru Kumar's show and the venue is abuzz with activity -- some designers are ready with their stalls, while others are still decking them up and setting things right. Designer Reynu Taandon, one of the efficient ones, said: "These five days are very important for us. I came here early to ensure my stall is done before buyers start pouring in. I don't want to miss out on business and I am all set to meet them all." "In the last edition, we did wonderful business and this time too I am hoping for the same," she added. Designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Arora, Tarun Tahiliani, Varun Bahl, Shantanu and Nikhil, Kallol Datta, Abraham and Thakore, Preeti Chandra, Kavita Bhartia, Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna, Niki Mahajan and Anamika Khanna will be showcasing at the business-to-business event.

Models showcasing Tarun Tahiliani's creations at WIFW.

Gul Panag on the first day of WIFW 2011.

A models showcasing designer Rehane's creation at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week autumn winter 2011.

Model Nethra Raghuraman at the event.

A model at designer Neeru Kumar's show on the first day.

Models present creations by designers Meera and Muzaffar Ali.

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April 9-15, 2011

FIA elects Kurang Shah Executive Vice President

New York: During the Board meeting on April 1, Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), NY-NJ-CT, unanimously elected Kurang Shah as its Executive Vice President for the year 2011. Shah has been associated with FIA for past many years and has chaired various committees. Last year he served as an event coordinator and successfully oversaw all mega events like Dance Pe Chance, India Day Parade and Grand Gala Reception Dinner.

Prominent Indian community leaders were at the Consulate General of Indias New York office to celebrate Indias historic win in the ICC World Cup Cricket. All photos by Gunjesh Desai/masalajunction.com

Kurang Shah

Indian family in California charged with arranging fake marriages

Santa Ana, CA: An Orange County couple and their daughter were arrested Wednesday on charges of arranging fake marriages for more than 20 foreigners seeking ways to remain in the country, authorities said. Ajit Bhargava, his wife Nisha, 56, and their daughter Runjhun, 30, were arrested early in the morning at their home in Yorba Linda and are charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, federal prosecutors said. Authorities said the Bhargavas ran immigration services company MPEagle Consultants in Cerritos, CA, and charged as much as $60,000 to arrange bogus marriages for foreigners who came to the country on visas, mostly from India. Authorities said the Bhargavas used the same witnesses, and sometimes, the same U.S. citizen spouse, on multiple green card applications, and had the couple take photographs in different locations wearing different outfits to make it look like they had a relationship. Immigration officers noticed the pattern and forwarded 21 similar-looking cases to investigators at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "They were just recycling marriage certificates. They were even using the same witnesses, a couple of applications had the same U.S. spouse," said Joseph Macias, who heads ICE's homeland security investigations in Orange County. "It got to the point where they didn't care. They thought they were just kind of above the law." In a 75-page affidavit, authorities said the Bhargavas paid an associate to recruit unemployed and low-income U.S. citizens who were often homeless or drug addicts to enter into the marriages. The U.S. citizens were offered $2,000 for the ruse, but often weren't fully paid, court papers said. Nisha and Runjhun Bhargava entered not guilty pleas in federal court on Wednesday, said John Barton, an attorney for the daughter. Ajit Bhargava was not in court because of a minor medical problem but will appear Thursday with his wife and daughter for a detention hearing, Barton said.

Six Indian-Americans in Forbes Midas 100

Washington, DC: Six IndianAmericans figure in The Midas 100, Forbes' list of venture capitalists who bucked the trends of shrinking firms and declining returns to "create wealth and fund the new ideas that keep US economy vibrant." Topping the US business magazine's list of 2011 Top Tech Investors is Jim Breyer, whose Accel Partners' early $12.7 million bet on Facebook now worth $5 billion with a 10 percent stake makes Accel Facebook's second largest shareholder after Mark Zuckerberg. Among the Indian Americans, San Francisco based Aneel Bhusri "the enterprise software guru", who worked as vice chairman at PeopleSoft before joining Greylock in 1999 is ranked number 15. He notched big returns in 2007 when storage software outfit PolyServe sold to Hewlett-Packard for $200 million, and software vendor OutlookSoft was acquired by SAP. Menlo Park, California based Rob Chandra comes next at number 26. "Three-time consecutive Midas member saw seven of his portfolio companies go public in the last three years, many in India where Chandra helped launch Bessemer's operations," Forbes noted. Boston, Massachusetts based Sunil Dhaliwal follows at number 49. He led Battery Ventures' investments in CipherTrust (acquired by Secure Computing for $271 million) and Netezza, which went public in 2007 before IBM took it off the market for $2.9 billion last year. Two notches down Waltham, Massachusetts based Neeraj Agrawal at 51 led Battery Ventures's investment in Internet media company InternetBrands, which sold to Hellman & Friedman for $640 million last December. Agrawal led investment in software outfit RealPage, which went public just a few months earlier (current market cap: $1.67 billion), Forbes said. Ranked 71st is Indian-born engineer Vinod Khosla, who raised $1.1 billion in the teeth of the recession (summer 2009)--the most raised by a venture firm in three years, Forbes said. He "immediately started deploying capital into his 'imprudent science experiments,' everything from wood-based biofuel and new types of batteries, engines and lights to water purification, greener glass and clean cement." it said. Passion for social entrepreneurship led to an investment in SKS, the Indian microfinance lender he funded in 2006 and went public last August. Sameer Gandhi ranked 81 brings up the rear. Gandhi joined Accel Partners Accel from Sequoia in 2008, where he invested in media and tech firm Gracenote before it sold to Sony for $260 million in 2008.

Paresh Rawals Hindi play Kishan Vs Kanhaiya was staged at Plainfield High School in New Jersey. The play has been a huge hit.

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apartment block as mine to catch the match with nearly eight of my friends and a few kids, and I did not budge until the last over of the match, says Sonali, an HSBC employee and an avid cricket fan. Many Indians who were not too keen on watching all the World Cup matches featuring Dhonis men in blue got really interested when India beat Australia, believed to be one of the strongest teams who were invincible in the last few years. The nail-biting got more intense when India played Pakistan at Mohali. To catch the live action without missing even a ball, many bunked office. I applied for leave at office a month ago as I had a gut feeling that India will reach the finals this year as we are a strong team of great players and I am a total cricket buff, said Mahesh excitedly. The excitement skyrocketed for the final. India had everything in its favor, most of the players were in top form and the team boasted a superb batting line-up and a good combo of pace and spin bowlers. Even the not so cricket mad wanted India to win to enable Sachin Tendulkar, playing his last World Cup, to add the biggest prize in the sport to his string of records. For many their hopes started fading when Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar got out early. But soon there was a surge of hope as the younger players Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, and then skipper M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj notched up runs to chase Sri Lankas decent score of 274 and reached the summit of glory. It was both sensational and an extremely emotional moment for me as India lifted the World Cup after 27 long years, I felt on top of the world, admitted Rajkumar, another cricket enthusiast. Mayhem broke out as tons and tons of cricket fans poured out on to the streets, jumping for joy and dancing, feeling like the excited school kids after their exam results. They wore the biggest smiles as they waved the Indian flag vigorously to celebrate Indias victory. A wave of nostalgia swept over as the thunderous cheering and applause bore a resemblance to street scenes

April 9-15, 2011

Anna Hazare story from page 1 chairman of the committee, while some media reports said the name of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has also cropped up. Sonia Gandhi said Anna's views will receive 'full attention' of the UPA government. "There can be no two views on the urgent necessity of combating graft and corruption in public life, Gandhi said in a statement. Hazare said Sonia should ensure that the law is quickly drafted and implemented. The movement spread all across India. People in Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Ahmedabad among many other cities expressed solidarity with street meetings and fasts. People sporting "I am Anna Hazare" placards marched in processions and shouted slogans. Many celebrities are chipping in with support including danseuse and social activist Mallika Sarabhai, film star Aamir Khan and many others. Earlier on Wednesday, Union Agriculture Minister Shard Pawar stepped down from the governments anti-graft ministerial panel after Hazare said many on the panel themselves face corruption cases. Forty-two years in waiting, the Jan Lokpal Bill is touted to be Indias de facto weapon against graft. A Lokpal means an ombudsman to root out corruption at high places in the Indian polity. World cup story from page 1 Many bars and eateries in New York and New Jersey had offered to screen the match and were booked out. Entrance cost $10- $20 yet the demand surpassed that for a blockbuster Bollywood film. Some others preferred to enjoy the match with their friends at home. One person would subscribe to the channel showing the match live and invite his friends over. I woke up at 4.30 in the morning and headed straight to my friends who lives in the same

8th annual day of Academy of Indian Music was held at Balaji Temple, Bridgewater, New Jersey. back home in India, making people forget for a moment that they were 7,300 miles away in America. Indian restaurants were packed as the elated Indian fans feasted on a scrumptious lunch and dinner specials with all their friends and family. Earlier, Pakistani cricket fans had to face disappointment. They had pinned all their hopes on their team and rooted for Pakistan, a fairly strong team and in good form till the end. I thought they played some great cricket and expected more from them but a few lapses in the fielding made us lose, said a disgruntled Asif, who runs a grocery store in Jersey City. India had the strongest players in the team and was ranked as the No.1 team. They were under immense pressure to win the ICC World Cup. Carrying the burden of expectations of a billion countrymen was Dhoni who remained unflappable through it all. Not only cricket buffs, the entire nation is proud of his team, which has become immortal in the history of Indian cricket. As Dhoni continues his ride as the most successful and celebrated Indian captain, fans like Punitha and the country will continue to buck up him and the team with Chak De! Chak de Indiiiaaaa..! Super bug story from page 1 to or had medical procedures in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. "This is not a problem that is looming in the future ... there are people dying today from infections that can't be treated," said David Heymann, chairman of Britain's Health Protection Agency. He was not linked to the research. Last fall, British scientists analyzed more than 200 water samples from central New Delhi, including public tap water and water that collected in the streets. They found the superbug gene in two of the drinking water samples and 51 of the street samples. Researchers found the gene in 11 different types of bacteria, including those that cause dysentery and cholera. Indian officials called the study "unsupported" and denied the gene was a public health threat. They cited a random sample of nearly 2,000 women in a New Delhi hospital which they said showed no sign of it. "We know that such bacteria with genes are in the atmosphere everywhere," said V.M. Katoch, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. "This is a waste of time," he said. "The study is creating a scare that India is a dangerous country to visit. We are condemning it."

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April 9-15, 2011

Vishwa Hindi Divas celebrated at NY Consulate

New York: The Consulate General of India, New York celebrated Vishwa Hindi Divas on March 30, 2011 at the New India House. About 150 guests including academics working in the field of Hindi promotion in New York and New Jersey, Hindi poets and litterateurs, representatives of the mainstream and ethnic media and people interested in Hindi language and Indian culture attended the event. Consul General of India, Amb. Prabhu Dayal, in his opening remarks, laid emphasis on the need to popularize Hindi Language and exhorted the guests to begin the process by speaking in Hindi at home. He read out the message of the Honble Prime Minister of India for the occasion. The first session dwelt on the activities being undertaken by various institutions to popularize Hindi language. Ashok Ojha, a noted journalist spoke about workshops conducted by the Vishva Yuva Sansthan to enthuse children of Persons of Indian origin to learn Hindi language. He also gave a snap shot of the activities undertaken by the individuals and associations in the TriState area. Mrs. Ambalika Mishra, spoke about the activities of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in the propagation of Hindi language. Ms. Hariet Lengel and Ms. Nooriya Puri, Hindi students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan recited their own creative work on the occasion. Ms. Geeta Setia and Mr. Ashok Vyas of ITV engaged the guests with their composition 'Shabd Mere Meet' - a dialogue that emphasized the importance of use of appropriate Hindi lexicon in daily life. The second session was dedicated to rendition of poems of eminent Hindi poets. While Prof. Susham Bedi recited works of Bhavani Prasad Mishra, Prof Anil Prabha Kumar indulged the audience with the works of Dharamvir Bharti. The evening concluded with recital of satirical poems of Sharad Joshi by Mr. Anoop Bhargava.

(L to R): Dr. Searson, Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, Ashok Ojha and poet Anup Bhargava

South Asian Summit 2011 raises voice against racism

Washington, DC: Over 250 South Asians gathered to speak out, raise awareness, and collectively brainstorm solutions against growing xenophobia and discrimination in the United States, at the third national South Asian Summit 2011, hosted by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) in Washington, DC from April 1-4, 2011. At a community briefing on the impact of September 11th on South Asian communities, community members and policy experts shared personal stories and policy recommendations about the continuing impact of the post9/11 backlash. Following the briefing, participants made visits to congressional offices to ask their elected representatives to pledge to oppose racial profiling and bias-based bullying. This year's Summit was also part of the SAALT's campaign An America for All of to mark the 10-year anniversary of September 11th. "What we want to do throughout the year is really contribute to the process of reflection that our country is undoubtedly going to be engaged in over the next few months. For South Asian communities, it is so important that we contribute to that process of reflection, adding our voices, stories and experiences," said Deepa Iyer, Executive Director, SAALT. The South Asian Summit kicked off on Friday, April 1, 2011 with a ChangeMaker award reception. Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director and co-founder of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) and keynote speaker at the ceremony, spoke passionately about the importance of organizing, and fighting for the rights of the working class. "There is no other answer to organized oppression, racism, the xenophobia that we see unfold on a daily basis in this country - there is no other answer to that except organizing," said Desai, who through the NYTWA, not only led six historic city-wide strikes of taxi drivers in New York fighting for improved labor rights, but also helped raise over $15 million as September 11 disaster aid for drivers. In the spirit of fighting for the rights

GOPIO to honor 4 Indian Americans

Washington, DC: The Connecticut chapter of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) will honor four Indian Americans for their achievements and contributions. In addition, Paul Semanski of Hartford will be honored with Friend of India Award, GOPIO announced Tuesday. The four Indian Americans Vijay Prashad, Madhu Mathur, Vidya Teredesai, and Mequitta Ahuja - will be honored with a Friend of GOPIO award as the organisation celebrates its fifth anniversary Sunday at the Italian Centre of Stamford. Prashad holds the George and Martha Kellner Chair in South Asian History, and is Professor of International Studies at Trinity College, Hartford. He has published several books on world governance. Prashad is recognized in the category of Arts and Letters. Mathur of Greenwich is a tireless advocate for children's health. She is the founding member of Stamford's Childhood Obesity Task Force. In addition, she is Medical Director of the Regional Medical Home Initiative and Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee of Childhood Blueprint Initiative in Stamford. Mathur is recognized for her contribution to Health Services. Teredesai of Norwalk is being recognized for her community service in the US and in India. She has raised funds for homeless shelters, Norwalk Senior Centre, Evergreen Foundation as well as Women's Hospital in Baroda. The Young Person's Award goes to Mequitta Ahuja of Weston, who is a visual artist. Her work has been exhibited across the United States, in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, India and Dubai. In February 2010, she was profiled in ArtNews as "Artist to Watch." Semanski serves as a CoCoordinator for Asha Hartford, which organizes several fundraisers each year on behalf of the Navsarjan Trust Schools for disadvantaged girls in Gujarat and the DF Blind School in Kolkata.

Luna Ranjit of Adhikaar receiving a ChangeMaker Award from Jayesh Rathod, SAALT. Picture by Les Talusan. of working class, this year's award honored Luna Ranjit, Executive Director, Adhikaar for Human Rights, a New York-based, direct services and social justice advocacy group that serves Nepali-speaking communities, by providing legal consultations, language classes and rights trainings. It also recognized Prerna Lal, a law student at The George Washington University, and co-founder of DreamActivist, who, through online activism in support of the DREAM Act, managed to generate over 8,000 followers on Twitter and more than 70,000 fans on Facebook all without financial and organizational support. The third awardee was New Jersey-based organization called SAMHAJ, meaning "understanding", which has done monumental work in breaking barriers and dispelling the stigma of mental health among South Asian communities. The four-day-long Summit had two full days of sessions dedicated entirely to issues affecting the growing South Asian population in the United States. From discussing the impact of the Census on the South Asian community, to talking about worker rights, health care policies, and advocacy among others, the Summit collected over 250 individuals, including representatives from 29 organizations, from across the country.

Desi boy shares science fair top prize

New Jersey: Kamal Shah of McNair Academic High School in Jersey City, N.J., has been named co-winner of The Jersey Journal's 53rd annual Hudson County Science Fair. Shah shared the top position with Carolina Pelaez of Union City High School in Union City, N.J. The winners were named March 30 at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City. Shah and Pelaez will represent Hudson County at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles this spring. Shah's project, which won him the physics and astronomy gold medal, focused on plasma, a state of matter similar to a gas but in which a certain portion of parti- cles ionize. "I've been playing with plasma since I was a kid and I wanted another chance to play with it, so I used it in my experiment," Shah told The Star-Ledger. Pelaez project, which won her the animal science gold medal, examined bronchial tissue in chicken embryos in order to better understand lung disease. Hundreds of students from across Hudson County competed in the fair, which kicked off at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City on March 21. Other Indian-American award winners who received silver medals include Chandni Ray, McNair Academic High School in Jersey City (cellular and molecular biology); Pranjal Patel, McNair (environmental analysis); and Disha Modi, William L. Dickinson High School, Jersey City (environ- mental management). Special awards were also pre- sented to Nisha Naik of McNair (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration "Taking the Pulse of the Planet" Award) and to Patel (Association for Women Geoscientists).

Shyamalan to direct Will Smith, Jaden in next

London: Hollywood director M. Night Shyamalan, has roped in Will Smith and his son Jaden for his new sci-fi film and says it was his dream to work together with the father-son duo. "The chance to make a scary, science-fiction film starring Jaden and Will is my dream project," contactmusic.com quoted Shyamalan, who is of Indian origin, as saying. The film is set 1,000 years into the future in which Jaden plays a boy who must find his way around an abandoned planet after his spaceship has crashed. Will will play his estranged father. Will and Shyamalan will also be producing the film. The father-son duo previously starred in "The Pursuit of Happyness" (2006).

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April 9-15, 2011

Prosecutors want Roomy Khan tapes in Rajaratnam trial

New York: US prosecutors want to show two surveillance videos of ex-Intel executive Roomy Khan, who allegedly passed on a tip from a former Indian American Moody's analyst to hedge fund tycoon Raj Rajaratnam. Prosecutors Monday said instead of calling one of their key witnesses they would like to show the jury two surveillance videos of Khan allegedly faxing confidential data to Rajaratnam, who is currently on trial in Manhattan federal court for alleged $45 million insider trading trial. Galleon Group co-founder Rajaratnam's lawyers, however, are trying to keep Mark West, an Intel security employee, from testifying about faxes Khan allegedly sent to Rajaratnam in late 1997 and early 1998, which the prosecution claims contained confidential company information. Khan, who has pleaded guilty to insider trading, allegedly helped Rajaratnam male $4 million in a day by passing on a tip from Indian origin Moody's analyst Deep Shah about Hilton hotel chain takeover by privateequity firm Blackstone Group. Shah, who was declared a fugitive two years ago and was recently located in Mumbai. West, who was working on an Intel internal security investigation for about a month, set up video surveillance that included Khan's work station, a certain fax machine and the documents sent over that fax, according to court documents.

Indian American tipsters helped Rajaratnam make millions: FBI

New York: A US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent has testified how hedge fund tycoon Raj Rajaratnam made millions thanks to secret tips from company insiders including two Indian Americans. Galleon Group founder Rajaratnam made nearly $23 million in profits from his trading in ATI Technologies after allegedly receiving tips about its potential acquisition by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in 2006, FBI Special Agent James C. Barnacle Jr. told a Manhattan court Tuesday. Several times in the months leading up to the merger's announcement when Anil Kumar, a former Indian American McKinsey official, came in contact with confidential information about the deal and allegedly passed it along to Rajaratnam, he alleged. Kumar, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud in January 2010, previously testified in the biggest insider trading trial in the US that he was a source on the deal. Barnacle also testified about his review of phone records between Rajiv Goel, a former Indian-American manager in Intel's treasury department, and Rajaratnam ahead of Intel's earnings announcement in April 2007. Goel, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and securities fraud, has earlier testified that he gave Rajaratnam details about

An artists impression of the trial in NY court Some of the faxes allegedly included "bookto-billing" reports which the prosecution claimed provide a sense of Intel's earnings because they analysed customer demand for the company's processors. Another kind of document, the government alleged, showed calculations relating to Intel's revenue and gross margins for the quarter ending March 1998. Defence attorneys, however, are fighting the prosecution's use of West's testimony, saying that it doesn't demonstrate a sufficient connection between Khan and Rajaratnam and calling the videos and faxes "prejudicial than probative" and "based in part on hearsay." In documents related to a 2002 court hearing in Khan's case, prosecution acknowledged that it could not show "that any Galleon trade resulted from Rajaratnam's possession of the information stolen for him by Khan from Intel," defence attorneys wrote in a letter to the court.

Intel's earnings before they were publicly announced. The agent testified that Rajaratnam sent an instant message to his trader at Galleon April 9, 2007, about an hour after receiving a phone call from Goel. The message said "short 1 million INTC", referring to Intel's stock symbol, the agent said. Later, as the announcement grew closer and Rajaratnam and Goel engaged in several more phone conversations, Rajaratnam began covering his short position and buying Intel shares, Barnacle said. By the time of the April 17, 2007 announcement, Rajaratnam held nearly two million shares of Intel, the agent said. As a result of his trading, Rajaratnam was able to earn profits and avoid losses of about $2.48 million, Barnacle said.

Indian American HSBC client said to plead guilty for hiding bank accounts
New Jersey: Vaibhav Dahake, a New Jersey businessman accused of conspiring with five bankers at HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA) to hide his Indian bank (INBK) accounts from U.S. tax authorities is scheduled to plead guilty next week, according to court records and a person familiar with the matter. Dahake, of Somerset, New Jersey, will have a plea agreement hearing on April 11 in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, court records show. He was indicted Jan. 26 on charges of conspiring with bankers of one of the largest international banks in the world, which has headquarters in England. London-based HSBC, Europes largest bank by market value, is the bank, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the U.S. Justice Department hasnt identified the conspirators. Dahake was the first taxpayer charged in a crackdown focusing on whether HSBC helped clients with Indian accounts hide assets from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Hes accused of conspiring with two bankers in New York, one in Fremont, California, and two in Thane, India. He faces as long as five years in prison.

Out going Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey was felicitated by presenting sword, shawl and Sikh symbolic Kada by Mohinder Taneja during Baisakhi celebrations at Nassau County Police Headquarters. Seen in the photo Mr. Lawrence Mulvey holding sword and TONH Supervisor Jan Kaiman among Bhangra Group and community members attending the event.

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April 9-15, 2011

Stop targeting Indian companies under H-1B prog: USIBC to Congress

Washington, DC: Arguing strongly in favor of the H-1B visa program, an umbrella body of Indian and American industrialists has asked the US Congress to stop targeting Indian companies with discriminatory fees as they have brought investment and quality jobs into the country. The US India Business Council (USIBC) has said that the H-1B program has helped attract billions of dollars of Indian investment into the US, which in turn is supporting tens of thousands of quality jobs in all 50 states. "The continued targeting of Indian companies could put these opportunities in jeopardy. "Unfortunately, Congress has targeted Indian firms and used them to pay for unrelated US initiatives by imposing large and discriminatory fee increases on 50/50 firms seeking to sponsor new H-1B and L1 visas," said Ron Somers, president of USIBC. The hike in the visa fee under these two programs was included in two pieces of legislation signed into laws -- the Supplemental Border Security Bill and the 9/11 Health Responders Bill. In both instances, the fees were included as revenue offsets. "...in several instances prominent Members of Congress spoke out against Indian companies, in one instance calling them 'chop shops'", Somers said in his letter to Congressman Elton Gallegly, head of the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy & Enforcement, House Committee on the Judiciary. The letter dated March 29 was submitted for consideration for a subcommittee hearing on the H-1B visa program. Corporate America, Somers said remains concerned with continuing false perceptions about the nature of Indian investment in the US and the use of the H-1B program by Indian companies. "The specific targeting of Indian companies could create unintended consequences, including a backlash against US companies operating in India," he said. Somers said such rhetoric undermines America's overall bilateral relationship and puts in jeopardy important commercial opportunities as the strategic partnership between the US and India rests on the successful growth of commercial ties between the world's two largest free-market democracies.

Geeta Pasi is new US envoy to Djibouti

Washington, DC: Yet another Indian American has become President Barack Obama's preferred choice for a government posting. Obama named Geeta Pasi, a career senior foreign service official, as US abassador to the Republic of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Pasi, who once served as Political Military Officer at the US embassy in New Delhi, currently serves as the Director of East African Affairs in the Africa Bureau at the Department of State. Announcing his intent to nominate Pasi and three others to key administration posts, Obama said, "I am pleased to announce that these experienced and committed individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead." Prior to her current assignment, Pasi served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy Dhaka from 2006-2009. Other overseas assignments have included Deputy Principal Officer at the US Consulate General in Frankfurt; Political Chief at Embassy Accra; Human Rights &

Indians in top three among new US green card holders

Washington, DC: Mexico, China and India topped the list the countries whose nationals were among over a million foreigners who became permanent legal residents of the United States in fiscal year 2010 ended in September. While Mexico topped the list as the country of birth with 13 percent of the 1,042,625 new legal permanent residents or green card holders, China and India accounted for seven percent each, the department of homeland security said Thursday. Most of the 1,042,625 new legal permanent residents (54 percent) already lived in the United States when they were granted their green cards, according to DHS data. Nearly two-thirds of the new recipients obtained the

India accounted for seven percent of the new legal permanent residents legal residency status based on family ties to a US citizen or legal US permanent resident. Under the Immigration Act of 1990, the department places an annual limit on the number of new applicants of between 416,000 and 675,000 for family-sponsored preference, employment-based preference and diversity immigrants. The number of familysponsored applicants are limited to 226,000 to 480,000 per year. Despite the number of green cards issued each year, some 10.8 million undocumented foreigners still live in the United States, according to DHS figures.

Geeta Pasi Consular Officer at Embassy Bucharest; and Political and Economic Officer at US Consulate Douala. In Washington, Pasi served as Desk Officer for Afghanistan and for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. She also served as a Line Officer in the Executive Secretariat. Pasi received her BA from Duke University and a MA in French Studies from New York University.

Workers at two Indian eateries get $95,000 in back pay

Washington, DC: Employees of two Indian eateries in California recovered nearly $95,000 in back wages following an investigation by US labour regulators revealing they were not being paid the minimum wage, a media report said. The 22 employees of Jay Bharat Foods Inc., doing business as Jay Bharat; and Standard Foods LLC, doing business as Standard Sweets and Snacks in Artesia, were determined to have been forced to work an average of 55 hours a week, local Cerritos-Artesia reported. They were paid straight time wages, rather than the required time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 per week in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to the Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division. Both eateries are located in Pioneer Boulevards Little India and are owned by India-born Chandrakant Patel. It is against the law to not pay workers at least the minimum wage, Priscilla Garcia, director of the divisions West Covina office, was quoted as saying. Investigators also determined that the owner was in violation of the FLSA record-keeping provisions by not keeping accurate records of employee work hours and wages, Garcia said. After conducting employee interviews and reviewing payroll records, investigators determined that Jay Bharat owed a total of $41,428 in minimum wage and overtime back wages to 12 employees, and Standard Sweets and Snacks owed $53,442 in minimum wage and overtime back wages to 10 employees. Patel agreed to pay all back wages due to the employees and committed to maintaining future compliance with federal minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping requirements, Garcia said. In California, minimum wage is $8/hour. Employers are also required to keep accurate records of all hours worked by covered employees.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Hollywood studios sue Indian-American's Internet movie company

Boston: Six major Hollywood studios, including Warner Brothers and Sony Pictures, have sued Internet movie company Zediva and its Indian-American CEO Venkatesh Srinivasan for streaming movies online for as little as USD 1 without permission from them. The lawsuit filed for copyright infringement in a Los Angeles court alleges that Zediva "illegally" streams movies to its customers in violation of the studios' right to "publicly perform" their works, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced on behalf of its members. The studios' complaint alleges a single count of copyright infringement against California-based Zediva's parent company WTV Systems and IIT Mumbai alumnus Srinivasan. "When legitimate companies stream movies to their customers, they pay license fees to the copyright owners, enabling content providers to invest in new products and services that pay writers, set builders, wardrobe designers...who contribute to a movie production. "Companies like Zediva profit off creators without paying them what is required by the law," MPAA Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel Dan Robbins said in a statement. Zediva claims it is like a "brick-and-mortar DVD rental" store and therefore not obligated to pay licensing fees to copyright holders, the MPAA added. "But the DVD rental label is a sham. In reality, Zediva is a video-on-demand service that transmits movies over the Internet using streaming technologies in violation of the studios' copyrights," Robbins added in the statement. The studios have asked that the site be shut down and pay damages that could total millions of dollars. Zediva, which was launched last month, rents movies for as little as one dollar each by streaming the video over the Internet. The company buys DVD movies and lets the customer play them back remotely from a bank of DVD players located in the firm's Santa Clara data center. It charges 1.99 dollars per movie, or 10 dollars for 10, which is far less than the 4-5 dollars that studios normally charge for new releases through Internet video-on-demand. Unlike DVD rental provider Netflix, Zediva does not send DVDs to customers through mail. According to Srinivasan's profile on the Zediva website, he has a PhD in chemical engineering and "used to be an actual Rocket Scientist at NASA." He graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst and IIT Mumbai.

Indian Industry meets the U.S. Congress

Members of US Congress, Ambassador Meera Shankar, CII representatives and member companies of the CII India Business Forum show the CII report, "Indian Roots, American Soil: A Look at Indian Companies in the U.S. Economy" on the contribution of Indian companies in the U.S. that was released at Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.on March 30, 2011. Washington, DC: At an U.S. Strategic Partnership both our countries and proevent organized by the grows, Indian industry is viding U.S. consumers with Confederation of Indian willing to play its role and access to affordable goods. Industry and India Business provide it with concrete Representative Royce began Forum at the Capitol Hill, commercial underpinnings. with a very apt Jai Hind Ambassador Mrs. Meera A message that Indian busi- and spoke not just about the Shankar spoke of the two- nesses are investing in the investments being made by way flow of India-U.S. U.S. economy and are today Indian firms in the United trade and commercial generating and sustaining States, but also praised the engagement in various sec- thousands of direct and Indian development model, tors. At this well attended indirect U.S. jobs. And, last pushing for US companies program, over 25 top Indian but not least, a message of to also invest in India as companies operating in the their commitment to work part of the two-way relaUnited States in various sec- closely with U.S. stakehold- tionship. Senator tors including information ers, in the Congress, the Klobuchar from Minnesota technology, automotives, Administration and with the provided a positive account pharmaceuticals, communi- private sector to promote of Essar Americas $1.3 bilcation, steel manufacturing, broad-based and mutually lion greenfield investment interacted with the beneficial bilateral trade in Minnesota which helped Congressmen and Senators, and economic engagement. save the mine from closing. and senior officials, both on In his remarks Senator Along with the Senators the House and the Senate John Cornyn said that the and Congressmen present, side. relationship between the and CII Country Director Ambassador stated that U.S.the worlds oldest Kiran Pasricha, Ambassador the Indian Industry was democracyand India the also released a publication reaching out collectively to worlds largest democracy titled INDIAN ROOTS, the U.S. Congress with a has grown by leaps and AMERICAN SOIL: A Look strong message. A message bounds in recent years. at Indian Companies in the that Indian industry is one Trade in goods and services U.S. Economy, which of the key constituents and between the United States showcases the message of stakeholders in the growing and India has grown expo- job and value creation by India-U.S. relationship. A nentially, creating countless the Indian companies in the message that as the India- economic opportunities for United States.

Coalition files second lawsuit against California Prison System

Washington, DC: The Sikh Coalition has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on behalf of Mr. Sukhjinder Singh Basra, a Sikh detainee, who suffered repeated disciplinary sanctions for keeping his religiously-mandated beard uncut. The lawsuit was filed in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation of Southern California, the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, and the law firm Alston & Bird LLP. The ultimate aim of this litigation is to ensure that Sikh detainees -- and indeed all others who are required to maintain beards for religious reasons -- are able to do so without penalty. This is the second Sikh Coalition lawsuit against the CDCR. In December 2009, the Coalition filed a lawsuit against California's prison system for failing to hire a Sikh correctional officer job applicant who refused to cut his beard. That lawsuit remains open and is actively being litigated. In addition to enlisting the help of the ACLU and Alston & Bird, the Sikh Coalition was able to persuade the U.S. Department of Justice to file a separate lawsuit in order to protect Mr. Basra's religious rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). This federal law extends basic religious freedoms to detainees and is based on the principle that religious freedom is a fundamental human right.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Sikhs bullied by Capitol Hill cops

Washington, DC: In an irony of sorts, Rajdeep Singh Director of Law and Policy, The Sikh Coalition and youth activist Gurwinder Singh were racially profiled outside the halls of the Capitol Hill on the morning of April 4 while they were on way to 2011 South Asian Summit for latters presentation about his experience with school bullying and his efforts to combat it. Like all summit participants, Gurwinder and Rajdeep Singh were instructed to deposit personal bags and suitcases in a storage room on the 5th floor of the Cannon House Office Building, which was reserved for SAALT by Congressional staff. And so, after clearing security with Gurwinders bag, they found the relevant room, mingled with some familiar faces from the South Asian community outside, and deposited the bag. On the way out, they ran into colleague, Sikh Coalition staff attorney, Sandeep Amy Singh on Coalition blog. After several awkward minutes, other summit participants (carrying suitcases) happened to pass by the area and backed up their claim that a storage room had been set aside for the South Asian Summit. By this time, the policemen also received confirmation from their colleagues that we had done nothing wrong. As our drivers license cards were returned to us, one of the police officials noted that a civilian had reported two men of Middle Eastern appearance acting suspiciously inside the Cannon Building. It was at this moment that I realized we were being profiled and that what made us suspicious in the eyes of some misinformed bigot were our turbans. I clarified to the three officers that we are actually from South Asia; requested their business cards; and told them that we would be in touch, said Rajdeep Singh.

Gurwinder Singh was on way to talk about his experience with school bullying Kaur, who also dropped off her bag, and proceeded to exit the building so that they could watch Gurwinder make his presentation at a different location. After walking about a block toward our destination, three Capitol Hill police officials stopped us; asked us whether we had dropped off a bag a few moments earlier; told us to step aside in the grass (in full view of curious onlookers); demanded our identification cards; and rudely grilled us with questions about what we were doing there that day, said Rajdeep

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha participates in Earth Hour Celebration

BAPS celebrates International Womens Day

New Jersey: Celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Womens Day, over 5000 women attended the BAPS Womens Conference 2011 at 20 locations across North America in the month of March. This conference focused on the theme of Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future. Spanned over two hours, the conference was in the presence of engaging speakers and videos that kept the audience captivated. Conference organizer in New York, Parul Patel said, BAPS is committed to the enrichment of women, and we feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to participate in this global celebration right here in Flushing, New York. The conference allowed for a positive and rich collection of dialogues, performances and exchanges. The program highlighted the role of women in Indias history and cultural heritage, the impact of the practices and principles of Hinduism in the life of women, and the opportunities and challenges that face the Indian female diaspora today. In 2011, BAPS Womens Conference was organized in Toronto, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, St Louis, Columbus, Edison, New York, Washington, Boston, Cherry Hill, Parsippany, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Raleigh, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Jose. Paulomi Mehta, a speaker at the conference in Parsippany said, There are an incredible amount of pressures in our lives today. We often ask what is the ideal way to proceed? Looking at the ideals upheld by the women of ancient India, we find inspiration to lead better lives. It is very important to recognize and honor women, shared participant Punam Amin, a social worker and involved community service member in Cherry Hill. If we have projects like this over and over

Over 5000 women attended BAPS Womens Conference at 20 locations across North America again it reminds women that we can continue to make a difference in society. There were so many things to learn from this conference, and women need to know their own value in society which a lot of them don't so this was a good eye opener. It was very good and informative," remarked Meera Patel, a young college student in Edison. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has hosted the Womens Conference annually since 2008. Past conference themes emphasized the importance of investing in the lives of women and girls, the role of women in their family and community, as well as womens health, wellness and balanced development. The social capital in the room is incredible, said BAPS volunteer Kavita Patel, So many remarkable women gathered with the same goal: to build a sustainable future for women. Our guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has told us that The Future is Bright. This conference makes it easy to visualize that shared vision.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta at 8.29pm with full lighting and at 8.30pm after turning off the lights. New Jersey: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs across North America joined hundreds of millions of supporters in thousands of cities, towns and communities in a record 134 countries in observing Earth Hour 2011 at 8.30pm on Saturday, March 26, 2011. We performed the evening rituals inside the Mandir by candlelight, said BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir , Atlanta volunteer Sandip Trivedi. As a global citizen, I felt good participating in an event that marks our commitment to sustaining the environment. His wife, Niketa Trivedi, could be heard nearby, explaining to a group of curious young children why she was placing candles across the Mandirs inner sanctum. Its to celebrate Earth Hour, she explained to them. When we turn off the lights, we save energy. This is good for our planet, and we have to help in any way we can. Demonstrating a year-round commitment to the principles of environmental sustainability symbolized by Earth Hour, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is continuously finding new ways to creatively harness cutting edge environmental designs and materials in its Mandirs and activities. Currently, many facilities utilize power saving fiber optics, LED lighting and management practices to ensure Earth Hour was also observed at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London as well at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi. We share the same sky, walk the same earth, and breathe the same air. We are a single human family and together, we can make Earth Hour every hour of every day, said volunteer Aarti Patel.

Jay Bhandari appointed to Fairfax, Va county advisory committee

Virginia: Indian American community activist and GOPIO Northern Virginia President, Jay Bhandari, has been appointed by Fairfax (Virginia) County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova, in Citizens Advisory committee on Reapportionment of the Board of Supervisors. Bhandari will represent the Asian Pacific Islander community. This committee will plan and advise the Board on redistricting options. Bhandari is the only person in 19 members committee from the Indian American community. Jay Bhandari is the immediate past President of Association of United Hindu & Jain Temples of Metro Washington, which is a congregation of 15 Temples in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. He is also director of Indian Cultural Coordination committee and Chairman Public Relations committee of the Jain Society of Metro Washington area. He has also served as President of Jain Society of South Florida (20012002). Bhandari has organized several successful big events including largest Diwali Mela of the decade in 2009, Grand Hindi Kavi Sammelan in Metropolitan Washington area in 2010. Other events organized include: Republic Day, Independence Day, Diwali celebration, Holi Mela and community picnic.

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USA Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

President Obama road-tests 2012 themes

Washington: For the first time since formally declaring hell run for reelection, President Barack Obama hit the road Wednesday, telling a town hall audience hes not a perfect president but has kept his promise to level with the public and will keep pushing and fighting for you. Comparing the budget fight with Republicans with the decades-long debate over alternative energy, the president told employees of Gamisa Energy, a wind turbine manufacturer, that Washingtons entrenched political culture has kept the nation from moving forward. Change has been difficult, he said, but I do not want to see Washington politics stand in the way of Americas progress. Democrats and Republicans need to get together to work through their differences, keep the government running so that we can focus on keeping this economy growing, focus on things like clean energy [and] driving down gas prices, Obama said. Thats what people want to see: results. You deserve no less than that. Obama came to the turbine factory in suburban Bucks County to communicate with voters on multiple issues: his concern about gas prices nearing $4 a gallon, his push to accelerate economic growth and the importance of renewable energy to the nations

Obamas first re-election mass rally to be on Facebook

Washington: President Obama has announced plans for a major online gathering of supporters on Facebook. He will hold a town hall-style session on the social networking site later this month during a trip to California.Social media has been a popular means for Obama to communicate with supporters, particularly during his 2008 presidential campaign, and his advisers are eager to tap into the youthful audience that drives Facebook. The virtual meeting on Facebook will be conducted on April 20 from Facebooks headquarters in Palo Alto, California.According to an announcement posted on the White House Facebook page, the rally will feature Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and will be streamed live over the Internet.The White House says Obama will conduct a discussion on the economy and the need to reduce the government's debt while still spending on innovation and other administration priorities.Virtual participants will be able to post questions on the events

future. At the same time, the visit was an opportunity to road-test the message hell deliver to voters in the 2012 campaign. The unresolved budget in Washington and the looming government shutdown, however, threatened to overshadow Obamas trip to Pennsylvania, a battleground state that could be crucial in next years presidential race. Standing in front of a massive turbine at the town hall meeting, the president used the budget fight, the government shutdown threat and the need to manufacture cleanenergy components in the U.S. to remind Pennsylvanians why they should give him four more years.

Facebook wall before and during the event. Obamas Facebook page is already liked by more than 19 million people, far ahead of the possible Republican contenders.Sarah Palin, who has not yet said whether she will run, has 2.8 million fans on her page.President Obama kicked off his 2012 reelection campaign on Monday with an announcement that he will run for a second term of office on YouTube and in an e-mail to supporters.The announcement allows the President to begin raising money in earnest for what advisers hope will be a recordbreaking haul of more than $1 billion.

GOP prepares weeks extension as shutdown looms

Washington: Republicans battling with President Barack Obama over budget cuts plan to hold a House vote Thursday on one-week legislation to avoid a government shutdown, despite opposition from the White House and Senate Democrats pressing for a longer-term solution. The party leaders debated as the clock ticked toward a midnight Friday deadline. Even a brief shutdown could affect a wide range of Americans, from troops fighting abroad to tourists planning trips to national parks. The move by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to advance the interim budget measure angered his Democratic negotiating counterparts and came after slower-than-hoped White House talks Wednesday night. The president said Republicans need to display more urgency, while Boehner said honest differences remain. Thursday's GOP measure would combine a full-year Pentagon budget with a big slice of cuts to domestic programs as the price to keep the government running. Democrats and the White House oppose the idea, preferring to focus on the broader legislation and not forfeit leverage. "It's going to require a sufficient sense of urgency," Obama said, "to complete a deal and get it passed and avert a shutdown." Obama emerged before reporters to declare his differences with the House Republicans were narrowing but both sides were still stuck in an impasse. "I thought the meetings were frank, they were constructive, and what they did was narrow the issues and clarify the issues that are still outstanding," Obama said. "I remain confident that if we're serious about getting something done, we should be able to complete a deal and get it passed and avert a shutdown. But it's going to require a sufficient sense of urgency from all parties involved." After the late-night White House session, Boehner said: "We did have a productive conversation this evening. We do have some honest differences, but I do think we made some progress. ... There's an attempt on both sides to continue to work together to try to resolve this."

Glenn Becks incendiary show to go off Fox

New York: The highly rated host became such a lightning rod that many at Fox wanted him outand for Glenn Beck, the feeling was mutual. Despite his monster ratings, Fox News is bidding farewell to Glenn Beck as tensions between the incendiary host and the top-rated cable news channel have led to a near-total divorce. Not total divorce because the two sides have announced a deal in which Becks production company will produce occasional content for Fox. But insiders say this will amount to a handful of specials and that many senior Fox executives are relieved to be rid of Beck, whose ratings have dropped 40 percent. Beck, too, has tired of the friction with Fox and is said by people close to him to be happy to end the partnership. Whatever the genesis, for Beck to give up his daily 5 p.m. program, which at its peak

drew more than 2.5 million viewers, is a case study in how even the most successful broadcast personalities can become too hot to handle. In the end, the man who drew a huge crowd to the Lincoln Memorial, but also became a lightning rod after calling President Obama a racist, lasted less than three years as a daily Fox host.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

Mamata juggernaut rolls out

Kolkata: She waves at the crowds, shakes hands with the people and greets them either with a namaskar or an adab - depending on whether she is traversing a Hindu or a Muslim majority area. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is drawing people by the thousands as she canvasses for her party candidates in the city for the April-May assembly polls. With the restrictions in force on using loudspeakers in view of the ongoing higher secondary examinations, Banerjee has been holding roadshows alongside her party leaders to woo the voters. She seldom speaks and even refuses to give sound-bites to the media during the roadshows which continue for several miles at a stretch. Be it Behala in the city's fast developing southern outskirts, or Shyambazar that still oozes old world charm in the north, Banerjee is being virtually mobbed by party supporters and the people everywhere. Carrying party flags and posters and shouting "Maa Mati Manush (a catchy Trinamool slogan coined by Banerjee) Zindabad" and "Mamata Banerjee Zindabad", the workers and commoners are walking miles with the firebrand leader who is being regarded as a strong contender for the chief minister's chair after the polls. Similar scenes of crowd adulation were seen in the Muslim majority areas when Banerjee led a gargantuan seven-km long procession from Ekbalpore More to Ramnagar. With an eye on the Muslim vote bank, Banerjee along with city Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and other senior party leaders, covered several localities dominated by the minority community that constitutes around 26 percent of the state's electorate. As Banerjee walked past Mominpore, Garden Reach, Khidderpore and Metiabruz, the crowd swelled. Thousands of people stood on both sides of the roads and waved at Banerjee, who returned the gestures. Groups of youngsters were seen riding motorbikes carrying Trinamool flags, and shouting slogans eulogising Banerjee and cursing the present Left Front government of the state. Former Congress state executive president Pradip Bhattacharya led a large group of party supporters, who hailed Banerjee. They shouted 'Didi r sathe Congress' (Congress is with Trinamool) and carried life size cutouts of Banerjee. At Ekbalpore, residents of several buildings showered flower petals on the 56-year-old leader, who has established herself as the main alternative to the state's ruling Left Front.

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee on a campaign with candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections in Kolkata.

Rahul kicks off poll campaign

Change to bring rule of law: Pranab

Siliguri: Charging West Bengal's ruling Left Front with misrule and corruption, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee said rule of law would be established after the change of government following the assembly elections. "Opportunity has come for the people of West Bengal to free themselves from the 34-year misrule and corruption of the Communist Party of IndiaMarxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front government. Change (in the government) will take place. This is a historic moment for the state," Mukherjee told a CongressTrinamool Congress rally at Debidanga in MatigaraNaxalbari constituency. "Congress workers gained confidence that a change would come in the state after the strength of the Left Front was reduced to just 15 MPs from 35 following the Lok Sabha elections in 2009," Mukherjee, who is also union finance minister, said. He warned rebel Congress leaders of expulsion if they contested against the party's officially nominated candidates or against the officially nominated alliance candidates.

Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee. "These rebel Congressmen, who do not respect the party's decision, can be expelled according to the constitution of the Congress party," he said. Many voices of dissent were heard in the state after the Congress leadership gave in to Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and agreed to contest only on 65 seats of the 294 in the state.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Chaygaon (Assam): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi kicked off his election campaign in Assam by launching a blistering attack on the opposition and calling upon the young voters to vote on the basis of development and progress. "Progress and peace are the two important things for the overall development and well being of any state and I am saying with authority that the Congress government in Assam during the past 10 years did change the face of Assam in many ways," Gandhi told a massive election meeting at Chaygaon on the outskirts of the state's main city of Guwahati. Gandhi addressed three election rallies in the state Tuesday at Chaygaon, Mazbat and Raha. All the three Congress candidates are young leaders in the age group of 30 to 35. "My appeal to the youth of Assam is to give the Congress party another chance so that the pace of development does not get retarded. The opposition parties do not have any contact with the people, while we work hand in hand with the 'aam aadmi' (commoners)," Gandhi said amid cheers from the crowd. He said the opposition in Assam wants only power and hence is active during the elections. The second phase of elections in 64 of the 126 assembly seats is scheduled April 11. The first phase vote ended peacefully Monday with an estimated 70 percent polling recorded.

AIADMK will get majority: Karat

Coimbatore: Ruling out the possibility of a coalition government in Tamil Nadu, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said the AIADMK will get absolute majority in the state assembly elections. "The AIADMK will get absolute majority in the elections and the issue of coalition government does not arise," Karat told reporters in Coimbatore, around 500 km from the state capital Chennai. "The people of Tamil Nadu, who are suffering from price hike and corruption, want a change," Karat said. According to him, the prospects looked bright for the AIADMK-led front in which the CPI-M is a part. Referring to the seizure of huge

CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat. amounts of cash meant for distribution among voters, Karat said the election commission should intensify its raids in the state. On the row over the proposed nuclear power plants in India, the Left leader said the government should order a review of the existing reactors while putting a halt to construction of new ones.

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India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Pak frees Indian after 27 years

Lahore: Pakistani authorities freed Indian national Gopal Das whose jail term was cut short by President Asif Ali Zardari on humanitarian grounds after he had spent 27 years in prison following his conviction for alleged involvement in espionage. Das was taken from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail and handed over by Pakistani officials to their Indian counterparts at the Wagah land border. "The Indian prisoner Gopal Das has been handed over to Indian authorities," Pakistan Rangers spokesman Mahboob Hussain said. Footage on television showed Das, who was handcuffed, walking to the land border post with a bag in his hands. The handcuffs were removed before he crossed the border. Das was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 1987 and was set to be released by the end of this year. Zardari remitted Das' remaining jail term on March 27, three days before Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited India to watch the cricket World Cup semi-final featuring the teams of the two

Satya Sai Baba's condition critical

Puttaparthi: The condition of Satya Sai Baba remained critical but stable with doctors attending on him expressing satisfaction with his response to the treatment. "Sri Sathya Sai Baba continues to be stable and his health on the whole is in the same condition as it was yesterday evening," a health bulletin issued this morning by A N Safaya, Director of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, said. "His vital parameters are near normal including the functional indices of vital systems like heart rate, blood pressure, blood bio-chemistry and blood gas saturation values," it said. "He continues to be on ventilator to assist his lungs and to allow the secretions to be sucked out. The dialysis process has been further reduced. The level of consciousness continues to show improvement," it said. "Although his state of health is

Gopal Das. countries. The remission was granted to honor an appeal made by India's Supreme Court to the Pakistan government to free Das.A two-judge bench of the Indian Supreme Court had appealed to Pakistan last month to remit the remaining period of Das' sentence and release him on humanitarian grounds.

Heat over Batcha's death

New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed the central government to issue a notification for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Sadiq Batcha - an associate of former communications minister Andimuthu Raja and an alleged accomplice in the 2G spectrum scam. Batcha was the managing director of Greenhouse Promoters, considered to be a front organisation of the former minister. He allegedly committed suicide at his home in Chennai March 16. The apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly issued the direction after the government said it would require seven days' time to issue the notification. The government said the Tamil Nadu government has agreed to hand over the probe to the CBI.

Satya Sai Baba. still critical, yet the panel of doctors treating him is satisfied with his response to the treatment being given to him," the bulletin added. The 85-year-old Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to the superspeciality hospital on March 28 following heart and kidneyrelated problems.

Sadiq Batcha, an associate of former communications minister A. Raja.

Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

Diaspora exults over World Cup win

From Trinidad and Tobago to Dubai and New Zealand, India Zindabad rings all over
Port-of-Spain: The Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago was overjoyed at India's win in the cricket World Cup, with the news being splashed across the newspapers here. A minister described the win as a triumph of the human spirit. The Indian diaspora in the Caribbean watched with bated breath as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led his team in the final against Sri Lanka Saturday. And when India won, they were ecstatic.Almost the entire Indian diaspora - comprising of 44 percent of the total population of 1.3 million - were glued to radio or TV sets, and numerous bars and restaurants were packed to capacity for the final that India went on to win by six wickets. Newspapers gave prominent display to the victory.The Sunday Guardian had a bold headline "INDIA WINS" with a photograph of the Indian team. The Sunday Newsday headlined its front page story "BIG FETE IN INDIA" and also carried a large photograph. It also devoted several inside pages to the World Cup. Radio and TV stations also carried live coverage of the final. sands of Indian fans exhibited their patriotic fervor, with the Indian flag seen on virtually every car that passed by the Bur Dubai area along the western creek. Other areas in the city - which has close to one million Indians living here - such as Jumeirah, Al Qusais and Al Karama also had major festivities with fire crackers and people going for drives and shouting in ecstasy. "I haven't ever seen so many Indians in Dubai come together like this," said Bharti Sajnani, a resident of Bur Dubai, as celebrations of India's victory continued on the streets till past midnight. "I think, more than the win, I'm enjoying this unity and celebration," Sajnani added. Wynette Goes, 20, a resident of Al Karama, shared similar sentiments. "I was in Meena Bazaar after India won, and I have never seen so many people out there. All the Indians in Dubai were there celebrating the win," she said. "It was so great to see, it was like a mini-India." Like in India, cricket in Dubai has become increasingly popular among the South Asian community. During the World Cup, all restaurants, bars, cafes and malls were tuned-in and hooked onto the very addictive game. Amid whoops of joy, Indians in New Zealand took to the streets as soon as Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni hit a huge six to clinch the World Cup final. Indian fans in Auckland, Hamilton and other cities of New Zealand celebrated the victory. Prayers were offered by Indian fans at holy shrines Saturday before the match began. Most of the Indians on night shifts took off from their work to watch their favorite team play. Nitin Mehra, an Indian team fan, said: "Today Indian has proved that it is the best team in the world and deserves to be the world champion. It's a matter of pride for people living abroad." Another cricket fan Musa said: "I am having a party since morning with my friends and will continue till night. This is an achievement that every Indian is proud of. Dhoni's boys have done a marvelous job and Indians like us are really proud of them. We wish we would have been in India to celebrate this historic moment."

Fans holding the Indian flag on the streets of Bur Dubai, ecstatic over India's triumph Winston Dookeran, finance minister and leader of the Congress of the People (COP), hailed India's victory as "a formidable feat and endurance." ndia, again, has showed its supremacy in the field of cricket, and this victory juxtaposes with the resilience in the economic and financial arena. India's victory has given a new worth and international value to the world, but more so, its worldwide diaspora," Dookeran added. Former sports minister Manohar Ramsaran said: "India was showing signs of incredible invincibility as the World Cup drew to its climax. India's victory has been well-noted and worthwhile. It has set India on a new social and sporting pathway." In Dubai, the Indian tricolor fluttered on the streets of this Gulf city and people were out shouting and partying after India's victory."India Zindabad" rang out across the city as tens of thou-

Finns dig into malai kofta and masala chicken

Helsinki: Finland may not have many Indians, but Indian restaurants have certainly made a mark in the Scandinavian nation, luring tens of hundreds of Finns as well as other Europeans. There are around 10 restaurants offering Indian cuisine in Helsinki and Finns are all full of praise for the food. "I really like Indian food. I go to Indian restaurants very frequently with my family. I love Indian cuisine, especially 'malai kofta' and chicken cooked in Indian style," Hanna Kouri, communications manager of Cleantech Finland. "Though, initially, I found it very spicy I have gradually developed a taste for it. Maybe in the future, I would also try my hand in learning the recipes," she said. Hanna said she had friends who had also tried Indian food and developed a liking for it. Jaana Kivela, who runs a souvenir shop and is another fan of Indian cuisine, said: "My son, who works with Nokia, has gone to India several times. Whenever he comes back from his trip, he has a new story to tell about Indian food. So we also went to an Indian restaurant here called Mini India to try the food and found it simply amazing." "Now we are going there regularly. I am fond of Indian breads (naans) and my husband likes masala and butter chicken. Their menu is very elaborate and royal. We have also learned some Hindi words like 'namaskar' (greetings) and dhaynavad' (thank you) from the owners of these Indian restaurants," she said. Another fan of Indian cooking here is not deterred by the extra calories and is willing to exercise more so that he can indulge in it. "I regularly go to an Indian eating joint named Gandhi restaurant. Though the food is full of spices and oil, I can't resist the temptation. I do not mind spending some more time jogging and in the gym to compensate for the extra fats and cholesterol," Timo Sipila, a student at the University of Helsinki, said. Helsinki also has an Indian restaurant called Govinda's, where vegetarian food is served in pure Indian style and one can even sit on the floor and eat with one's hands.

Indian 'chai' a big hit in Dubai

Dubai: Tea made in Indian style has become a major attraction among the people of Dubai as 'karak chai' (strong tea) stalls have come up in every nook and corner of the region. Mohamamd Jasem, a UAE national, rolls down his car window in front of the Modern Cafeteria, one of the most popular Indian tea stalls, and shouts in Hindi, "Ek karak chai." A waiter carrying a tray with a dozen disposable cups full of "karak chai" rushes towards his car and hands him a cup of piping hot tea. Jasem drops one dirham in his tray and the waiter moves to the next car. Hundreds of cars stop every day in front of the cafeteria to take a sip of its special "karak chai", Gulf News reported. Traffic moves at a snail's pace on both sides of the road as motorists stop to get their favorite tea. At least two to three young waiters stand on the roadside from early morning till late at night to deliver tea in the cars. "I have been drinking this 'karak chai' for the last five years from the same cafeteria and now I am hooked to this. It seems I am addicted," says Jasem. He normally stops in the afternoon on his way back from office to his house.

Chaihas become a major attraction among UAE nationals "It is a very popular drink amongst Emiratis," he adds. A waiter told the daily: "We sell around 5,000 cups of 'karak chai' on any given day. Apart from Asians, especially Indians and Pakistan, most of our customers are UAE nationals."

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Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Triple blasts rock Pak shrine

Islamabad: Three suicide blasts ripped through a shrine in Pakistan's Punjab province on April 3, killing at least 30 people and injuring over 100, officials said. The blasts took place at about 5.40 p.m. in the Sakhi Sarwar shrine in Dera Ghazi Khan district, Geo News reported. Rescue monitoring in-charge Muhammad Ahsan said the blasts took place near the main gate of the shrine. Hundreds of people, including women and children, had gathered at the shrine in the afternoon. The condition of several injured was critical, district official Iftikhar said. Police said the blasts were suicide attacks. An alleged suicide bomber was taken into custody and his suicide jacket was defused. He was later taken to undisclosed location for investigations

4 children die in Kohat blast

Peshawar: Four children have been killed and three others injured in a blast in north-west Pakistan on April 6. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is under way. Local reports say the children may have been playing with a shell or had trod on a mine. Police say the victims, aged between seven and nine, were swimming in a pond near the town of Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The area has seen clashes between government troops and Taliban fighters. "I talked to the bomb disposal officers at the scene and they said it was some type of explosive, maybe a mine, maybe a grenade," Zafar Iqbal - a police official in Kohat - told the AFP news agency.

A man covers a dead body at the site of the suicide bombing at a shrine near Dera Ghazi Khan.

Nepal's Christians, Hindus head for clash

Kathmandu: Nepal's burgeoning Christian community's demand for a burial ground seemed headed for a collision with the Hindus with the Supreme Court on April 6 deciding to resolve two separate suits together. Judges Balaram KC and Bharat Bahadur Karki on April 4 said two separate petitions over a Christian cemetery - one filed by Christians and the other by a Hindu activist - would be resolved together as they were corelated. The decision could spark tension between the two communities who have so far been living in harmony. The fresh development came after Christians, who say their number has crossed two million, began a public campaign, asking the government to give them a plot of land for an official cemetery. Though Nepal, once the only Hindu kingdom in the world, became secular in 2006, Christians do not have any com-

Britain may hand over Musharraf to Pak

Nepal's oldest temple, the 5th century Pashupatinath shrine is revered by Hindus worldwide. munity burial ground yet and drive, razing the clandestine complain of harassment by locals graves erected by Christians and when they try to bury their dead other non-Hindus in an ancient on personal property. forest adjoining the shrine. The The problem became more acute Pashupatinath Area Development this year after the trust managing Trust says the forest belongs to Nepal's oldest Hindu temple, the the temple and the "encroachhallowed Pashupatinath shrine in ment" by non-Hindus has hurt Kathmandu, began a demolition Hindu sentiments.

British Prime Minister David Cameron receives bouquets from Pakistani children upon his arrival at Chaklala airbase in Rawalpindi. Islamabad: Britain will consider handing over former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, said British Prime Minister David Cameron during his day-long visit to Pakistan on April 5. Cameron said that Britain will look into handing over Musharraf if Pakistan asks formally, Samaa TV reported. Musharraf ruled Pakistan for nine years after taking power in a bloodless coup in 1999. He stepped down in 2008 and left Pakistan. He now lives in London. An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan's garrison city of Rawalpindi Feb 19 issued an arrest warrant in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case against Musharraf. Bhutto was assassinated Dec 27, 2007 as she was leaving Liaquat Bagh in a motorcade after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi, the twin city of Islamabad. A teenaged shooter was seen aiming for her head in the CCTV footage before a powerful suicide blast killed at least 24 people participating in the rally. Cameron arrived in Pakistan to improve ties after he upset Islamabad last year when he said during a visit to India that Pakistan was "looking both ways" on terrorism. Addressing a press conference after holding talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Cameron said the bond between the two countries was "unbreakable". He announced 650 million pounds worth of aid for education. "Let me begin by saying without any hesitation that Britain's friendship with Pakistan is unbreakable," said Cameron.

Nobel laureate Yunus loses final legal fight

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Supreme Court on April 5 confirmed the removal of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus from as the managing director of the Grameen Bank that he had founded in 1976. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court dismissed Yunus' petition filed against a High Court verdict upholding an order of the Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank, replacing him. A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque, delivered the order after a hearing, reported Star Online, web site of The Daily Star and small credits to rural women in Bangladesh. The Grameen model has been replicated in many countries across the world. Yunus's removal March 2 has caused protests at home and abroad. Governments, including those of the US and France, have officially expressed concern. The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says that Yunus, 70, has stayed at the helm of the bank beyond the limits permitted under the laws of the land that govern banking. Grameen Bank says it is only partly government owned.

Muhammad Yunus. bdnews24.com, a web newspaper. Yunus and Grameen jointly won the Nobel peace prize in 2006 for the pioneering effort in delivering

RANA Holi Event TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

Hasya poets regale as RANA celebrates Holi

The Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) celebrated Holi on April 2 at the Ganesh temple auditorium in Flushing, NY. Well-known Hasya poets Surendra Sharma and Arun Gemini had the 500-strong audience in splits. Consul General of India in New York, Prabhu Dayal and Mrs Chandini Dayal were honored at the event by RANA President Haridas Kotahwala and his wife, Sharda Kotahwala. The event was coordinated by Vinod Jain and emceed by Mrs Manju Surana.

(from left) Poet Surendra Sharma, RANA President Haridas Kotahwala, Poet Arun Gemini, and Vinod Jain, who coordinated the event.

The board members of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) posing for a group picture

Haridas Kotahwala felicitating Consul General of India in New York, Amb. Prabhu Dayal at the celebration.

Mrs Sharda Kotahwala honoring Mrs Chandini Prabhu Dayal with a shawl.

An audience of 500 thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the traditional Rajasthani meal.

Nimmi and RANA founder Kamlesh Mehta hosted a reception on Sunday, April 3 at Copper Wok restaurant in Hicksville, NY for the two Hasya poets Surendra Sharma and Arun Gemini who flew in from India for the RANA Holi celebration in New York. In the picture on the left are Surendra Sharma, Kamlesh Mehta, Vinod Kotahwala, Nimmi Mehta and Arun Gemini.

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ICC World Cup 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

We are the World

Laurels and rewards flowed for the MS Dhoni-inspired Men in Blue after they lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup after 28 yawning years. The one-billion plus Indians, along with the diaspora around the world, danced to drumbeats, waving the tricolor at their homes and out in the streets. Here are some unforgettable moments from the Ground Zero.

Triumphant Indian skipper MS Dhoni, sporting a new shaved head look, with the World Cup trophy and his Man of the Match award from the final, posing at Gateway of India in Mumbai, April 3.

The jubilant members of the Indian cricket team celebrating their world Cup win.

People celebrating the win on a street in New Delhi.

Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli carry Indian coach Gary Kirsten on their shoulders after the win.

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April 9-15, 2011

MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh celebrate the ultimate moment in their life, after scoring the winning runs against Sri Lanka in the finals.

Sachin Tendulkar with his son and daughter at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Jeet Gaya,
Photos and Article by Nupur Joshi New York: Who says that we forget about our roots after being brought up in a country away from our homeland? A recent celebration in Jackson Heights, Queens proved all such arguments to be invalid. Moments after the Indian team won the 2011 Cricket World Cup final against Sri Lanka, people sped through the streets of South Asian dominated Jackson Heights area in their cars, waving Indian flags and blasting renditions of national Indian songs as they went, regardless of whether they were blocking the flow of traffic as they did so.

India Jeet Gaya!

This same music could be heard playing inside the landmark Patel Brothers grocery store as proud shoppers went through the aisles discussing the match. Meanwhile, outside the store, a group of youngsters danced enthusiastically to the rhythm of a dhol, all the while screaming at the tops of their lungs: Jeet gayaa Jeet gayaa! India Jeet gayaa! The group, and an accompanying dholi, continued to storm the streets, going from store to store, dancing with store owners and even the man running one of the halal carts. What started as a group of 25 youngsters soon turned into a large mob of people of all ages. The dancing continued and was soon joined by a very capable singer who had the crowd hyped even more so than before, and with good reason. India won the cricket World Cup for the first time in 28 years. Without a doubt, this is a great honor for Captain Dhoni and the team including veteran Tendulkar, but even more so, for every Indian around the world, irrespective of whether they are cricket fanatics.

Celebrations in Jackson Heights

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Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Rotary Hicksville South holds first dinner event

he Rotary Club of Hicksville South celebrated the arrival of Spring with dinner and fundraising event on April 6 at Akbar restaurant in Long Island. Vikas Dhall, President of the 36member club, and Kamlesh Mehta, Charter president, were joined in by President Elect Dan Flynn, and Gabor Karsai, Governor Elect 2011-12 of District 7250 (comprising Brooklyn,

Queens and Nassau County), club members and prominent members of the community. The Club was started in December 2009 by a group, largely Indian American, of like-minded friends with inspiration from Ravi Bhooplapur, the then District Governor. Vikas Dhall, who also hosted the lively party, gave a presentation on the young clubs philanthropic projects including support in cash

or kind for the Gift of Life Program (which addresses the medical needs of children suffering from congenital heart defects and other similar conditions), Haitis Earthquake Relief, T-Mobile Food & Toys drive, CRY America, and Nassau County Museum of Arts. Kamlesh Mehta, Daniel Flynn and Gabor Karsai also addressed some 125 attendees. The target $5000 for forthcoming Club

projects was raised through raffle tickets and auction of items like Art Karat jewelry, and Kingfisher airline tickets. The gift baskets too were sponsored by club members and supporters. The auction was conducted in a lively manner by the evenings emceeJas Mayal. Even as the guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner, they were serenaded by Vikas Bhalla and Tina rendering popular Hind film songs.

Rotary Club Hicksville South President Vikas Dhall and Charter President Kamlesh Mehta cut the cake joined in by their wives and others.

Mr Dhall, Sr, picks a winning raffle ticket number, even as Vikas Dhall and emcee Jas Mayal look on.

President Elect of the Club Dan Flynn with his wife and Jini Tharappen-Laferla, Director of Sales of The Garden City Hotel.

President Elect Dan Flynn, District 7250 Governor Elect Gabor Karsai,Vikas Dhall, Kamlesh Mehta and Ashok Varshney

Raja Amar, chief of Wireless Champs, Kamlesh Mehta and Dev Ratnam

Ladies of the Jericho Sunrise Rotary Club, which was chartered at the same time as Hicksville South.

Club Secretary Quddus Mohammed with his wife Seema.

Club Vice President Neeta Bhasin with her guests

Jaya Bhooplapur, President elect of Jericho Sunrise Club, with the gift basket she won

Roopam Maini helping Simran Sahni wear the Art Karat jewelry she won in the auction.

Teji Bindra, President of Sikh Art and Film Foundation, with his father and wife

Vikas Bhalla and Tina serenaded the audience with popular Hindi film songs

Andy Singh (middle) with guests.

International TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

NATO takes flak over Libya

BRUSSELS Less than a week after taking over the Libyan military campaign, NATO was forced onto the defensive on April 6 as rebels and France urged the alliance to do more to protect the city of Misrata. NATO insisted that the pace of air strikes against Muammar Gaddafis forces has not slowed down since the 28-nation alliance took command on March 31 of a Western bombing campaign that had been led by the United States. But the alliance acknowledged that Gaddafi has made it harder to target his heavy artillery by hiding tanks in populated areas and using human shields to prevent NATO from conducting air strikes. "Misrata is our number one priority," NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero said, but she only confirmed that alliance warplanes hit regime targets around Libya's third largest city on April 4. "We have a clear mandate and we will do everything to protect the civilians of Misrata," Romero said, referring to the UN Security Council resolution permitting "all necessary measures" to defend Libya's popula-

Gaddafi planned to kill opponents

London: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had drawn up plans to kill his opponents months before the Arab uprisings spread to Libya, a media report said on April 6. Gaddafi was set on brutally quashing any demonstrations in his country as soon as he saw the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt in January, express.co.uk reported. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, said: "We have evidence that they were planning how to manage the crowds." "The evidence we have is that the shooting of civilians was a pre-determined plan," he said. "The planning at the beginning was to use tear gas and, if that failed to work, shooting," the Express quoted Moreno-Ocampo as saying. The revelation came as the first oil export in three weeks started from the rebel-held areas in eastern Libya. The one-off shipment of up

An unidentified target burns in the background as Libyan rebels gather outside Brega. tion. The top commander of rebel forces, Abdelfatah Yunis, accused NATO-led aircraft of doing nothing while Gaddafi-loyal forces kept up their 40-day long artillery bombardment of civilians in the western city of Misrata. NATO "is letting the people of Misrata die every day," Yunis told reporters in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. "If NATO waits one more week, there will be nothing left in Misrata." French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the situation in Misrata, 214 kilometres (132 miles) east of Tripoli, was not tenable and that he would discuss it with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. "Misrata is in a situation which cannot continue and I am going to discuss it in a few hours time with the secretary general of NATO," Juppe told France Info radio.

Muammar Gaddafi. to a million barrels was only a fraction of Libya's pre-crisis export, but was seen as a symbolic step, the Express said. Gaddafi's forces, however, have been bombarding rebels outside the key oil producing town of Brega.

Italian PM's sex trial adjourned

Milan: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial on charges that he paid for sex with an underage Moroccen dancer was adjourned shortly after it opened in a court here on April 6. The court proceedings lasted for about 10 minutes. The three presiding judges had just enough time to hear Berlusconi's legal team request that the case be transferred to a special tribunal for ministers. Berlusconi did not attend it. The trial is scheduled to resume May 31. Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex last year with Moroccan exotic dancer Karima el Mahroug,

Many feared dead after boat sinks off Italy

ROME A boat from Libya carrying more than 200 migrants, most of them sub-Saharan Africans, capsized on April 6 off the Italian island of Lampedusa, an Italian island near North Africa, and least 150 are still missing, Italian officials said. After the shipwreck, at least 50 people had reached in Lampedusa by early Wednesday afternoon, rescued by an Italian patrol boat and a fishing boat, but coast guard officials feared many more were still at sea. We are still looking for at the very least 150 people in the sea, but we fear they could be even more than that, said Commander Valerio Alessandro, a spokesman for the Italian port authorities. He added that about 20 bodies had

Silvio Berlusconi. nicknamed "Ruby the HeartStealer", when she was 17 years old. He is also being tried for abuse of office in an attempt to cover up the crime.

A boat carrying migrants arrives at Lampedusa harbour after more than 150 people were reported missing when another vessel capsized. been seen in the water. The migrants had set sail from Libya before capsizing about 39 miles from the Italian island, which has attracted migrants and refugees fleeing unrest in North Africa. Some of the migrants said in Italian television interviews that they had come from the western port city of Zuwarah, near the Tunisian border.

Egypt frees 14 Palestinian prisoners

Gaza: The Egyptian authorities on April 5 released 14 Palestinian prisoners detained during the rule of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, the Palestinian Al Quds radio station has reported. The decision to free the detainees was made by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), which took power in the country following Mubarak's resignation in mid-February. Smuggler Muhammad AshShaer, known in Gaza as the "King of tunnels" and "Al-Far" (the mouse), was among those freed, the radio station said. The released Palestinians have already arrived in Gaza, it said. In early March, the Egyptian authorities released 12 Palestinian prisoners after they went on a hunger strike in protest against their "illegal" detention. More than 30 detainees, including Ayman Nofal, a key member of the Hamas' armed wing Qassam Brigades, escaped from Egyptian jails amid February's unrest in the country that overthrew Mubarak's regime. According to Palestinian human rights activists, a total of 19 Palestinians remain in Egyptian prisons.

Egyptian soldiers stand guard in Mansura, 120 kms north of Cairo.

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Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Satyam, PWC units to pay penalties

Washington: India's scandal-hit Satyam Computer Services Ltd. and five PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd. affiliates have agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle claims brought by US regulators over an alleged $1 billion accounting fraud. To settle the US Securities and Exchange Commission's suit, filed in a Washington federal Court, Satyam agreed to pay a $10 million penalty while five PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP affiliates in India that audited Satyam agreed to a $6 million civil penalty. It was the largest ever penalty to be paid by a foreign-based accounting firm in an SEC enforcement action to settle allegations that they conducted deficient audits of the company's financial statements from 2005 to January 2009. Satyam also agreed to require its officers and employees to undergo training on securities laws and accounting principles, amp up its internal audit functions, and hire an independent consultant to evaluate those new internal controls, the commission said. The SEC complaint alleges that former officers of the Hyderabad-based information deny any allegations in the immediate complaint, the agency said. The commission claimed that the audit failures of Lovelock & Lewes, Price Waterhouse Bangalore, Price Waterhouse & Co. Bangalore, Price Waterhouse Calcutta and Price Waterhouse & Co. Kolkata were evidence of a quality control problem that extended beyond Satyam to all of the units' work in India. In an SEC order enforcing the sanctions, the units also agreed not to take on any new US-based clients for the next six months and to set up securities laws and accounting principles training programmes for its officers and employees, It would also revise its audit policies and procedures, establish new pre-opinion review controls, and appoint an independent monitor to make sure it adheres to the promised changes. Satyam's deal with the SEC follows a $125 million class settlement agreement it struck in February to exit multidistrict securities litigation brought by investors who claimed the company cost them billions of dollars by inflating its value.

To settle the US Securities and Exchange Commission's suit, Satyam agreed to pay a $10 million penalty while PricewaterhouseCoopers agreed to a $6 million civil penalty. technology service provider forged bank two of the firms. The complaint follows a Wells notice that statements and more than 6,000 fake invoices to overstate the company's revenue, the SEC issued to Satyam in September 2009 income and cash balances by more than $1 after the massive fraud was unveiled that billion from at least 2003 through September January, when the company's then-chairman B. Ramalinga Raju disclosed financial irreg2008. The Public Company Accounting ularities. That year, the Indian government Oversight Board (PCOAB) also announced took over the company by replacing the its own settled disciplinary order against the members of its board of directors and removfive PricewaterhouseCoopers affiliates based ing former top managers, the SEC noted. Satyam's new leadership has been cooperin India, all of which the board said had violated its quality control standards. The board ating with the SEC's ongoing probe of the said it issued a $1.5 million penalty against scheme, and the company did not admit or

India to join US meet on offshore drilling

2G scam: telecom honchos quizzed

Reliance Telecom's Anil Ambani, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia. New Delhi: Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) quizzed the top brass of Reliance Telecom, Telenor, S-Tel and Etisalat on matters related to the allotment of telecom spectrum by former communications minister A. Raja. Briefing reporters after the daylong meetings, PAC chairman, Bharatiya Janata Party's Murli Manohar Joshi, said all those quizzed today were candid in their responses, but asked not to be queried on matters that were subjudice. The reference was to the charges framed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Those quizzed included Reliance Telecom's Anil Ambani, Etisalat's Atul Jhamb, Unitech's Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom's Vinod Goenka, S-Tel's V. Srinivasan and Telenor's Charles Woodworth. "Ambani spoke candidly. Regarding a few matters, he also resorted to the plea that the matter was either sub-judice or that he needed to refer to some relevant documents. He assured us the documents would be sent to the committee in a day or two," Joshi said. "Both Goenka and Ambani said as there was a CBI chargesheet, the matter was sub-judice. They prayed that the committee should not ask questions related to that as it could weaken their case in the court of law," Joshi added. Monday saw the panel question Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, each for some three hours. Ambani's meeting, Joshi said, lasted about an hour. According to sources, the members raised six sets of issues with Ambani pertaining to policy matters, first-come-first-served basis for awarding spectrum, excess spectrum with service providers and second and third generation (2G and 3G) telecom services. The sources said Ambani was candid and cooperative in his replies and responded to all queries raised by the members. On matters pertaining to charges by the CBI, he said the issue was sub-judice. "He had all the facts and figures on his fingertips," said a source, adding the meeting, scheduled around noon, had started an hour late. "We told those present today that as per the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India), some of the companies should not have got the spectrum and licences. They gave their replies from their side. We will investigate the matter," Joshi said. "We also observed that most companies came into existence one day and within a few days, the capital was enhanced. The articles of association hastily added the telecom business -- not in a proper manner. We are investigating."

Washington: The US is convening a ministerial level meeting of 13 nations including India engaged in offshore drilling to discuss ways to reduce risks associated with offshore drilling around the world here on April 14. US Interior Ken Salazar announced in Rio de Janeiro Monday that he is convening ministers and senior government officials of these countries "as part of a commitment to reduce the risks associated with offshore drilling around the world." The Ministerial Forum on Offshore Drilling Containment would discuss the development of cutting-edge technologies for containing potential deepwater well blowouts on the outer continental shelves, he said. "Those of us engaged in offshore energy exploration and production have a collective responsibility to strengthen our capabilities for containing potential deepwater blowouts and promoting

international collaboration, research and development going forward," Salazar said. "Just as we share oceans with our neighbors, we have an interest in sharing best practices for how all of us can develop our resources safely and responsibly," he said. Two panels of experts from industry and academia will make presentations on the lessons learned from recent blowouts and offer suggestions for promoting cutting-edge containment capabilities in the future. Ministers and senior officials from 13 countries and the European Union, along with representatives from industry, academia, and NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs), have been invited to attend the Ministerial Forum. Besides India, other participants are Brazil, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, Russia, Canada, Israel, Netherlands, Angola and the European Union.

Mercedes-Benz recalls 136,000 cars in US

New York: Over 136,000 Mercedes-Benz M-class SUVs are being recalled in the US over problems related to speed control, officials said. Complaints have been received that the cruise control does not immediately disengage when drivers tap the brake pedal, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Cruise control - also known as speed control or auto-cruise - is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver. It said the recall covers 2000-2002 Mercedes-Benz M-class and 20002004 M-class AMG vehicles. Several consumer complaints had been made to the agency that prompted the recall, according to Xinhua. It said if the driver pumps the brakes, the cruise control system requires an "unusually high" amount of force.

Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

IPL: Vettori to lead Royal Challengers

Bangalore: Daniel Vettori will lead the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). RCB chairman Vijay Mallya in a statement said: "Vettori is a experienced and respected leader and we hope to ride to the pinnacle of success in this IPL under his leadership." Vettori led a spirited New Zealand team to the ICC World Cup 2011 semifinals where they lost to Sri Lanka. "Vettori is one of the most respected captains in the world and was praised for his leadership skills in the World Cup quarterfinals against South Africa which the Kiwis won by 49 runs," said Mallya. Former Indian Test captain Anil Kumble led the Royal Challengers for the second and third editions of the IPL in which it finished as runners-up and the third best team in 2009 and 2010. "It is wonderful that we have somebody of Vettori's stature to lead our team this year. He is the ideal person to fill Kumble's shoes and I wish him the very best in this endeavour. I look forward to supporting him in his efforts towards a successful season," said Siddhartha Mallya, Royal Challengers Sports Ltd director, in a statement. Kumble, who is president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), is the chief mentor of the Royal Challengers. "Vettori is a respected professional not only within his team but amongst his international peers as well. His unique ability to get players to perform as a unit and deliver more than just the sum of their parts, as he has done time and again with New Zealand, will be a big asset to any team," Kumble said. Daniel Vettori.

Super Kings will miss IOC warns of action against India Murali: Dhoni
London: The International Olympic Committee has warned of "appropriate measures" against India in its next executive board meeting this July if the country's sports ministry goes ahead with a legislation which puts a limit on the age and tenure of sports federation heads. The IOC's stern warning comes after the Sports Ministry refused to budge from its stand despite getting a letter from the body. After a meeting of its executive board here, the IOC said the proposed legislation does not adhere to the points that were agreed upon in its meeting with the Indian Olympic Association and representatives of the Indian government last June in Lausanne. "It appears that the government of India is still failing to respect the jurisdiction and autonomy of the National Olympic Committee and the Olympic Movement in the country and that it is now in the

process of drafting new sports legislation, which may not be compatible with the Olympic Charter and the basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement," the IOC said in a statement after the conclusion of the meeting. "Consequently, the EB clearly indicated that it would reserve its right to consider appropriate measures at its next meeting in early July 2011 in Durban. "This may unfortunately impact the representation and participation of India on the international sports scene and at the Olympic Games, in particular, if the government of India does not observe its commitment to respect the jurisdiction and autonomy of the NOC and the Olympic Movement in the country," it added. The ministry has, however, remained steadfast on the matter, insisting that the new legislation was needed to curb malpractices in the running of sports federations in India.

Muttiah Muralitharan. Chennai: MS Dhoni is shuttling between different worlds. From the emotions of Indian cricket to the glitz and glamour of the Indian Premier League, the skipper has to hold fort in everything he does. Incidentally, he is one captain who has won it all - World Cup, T20 World Cup, IPL, Champions League. When somebody asked him what else has he in store, Dhoni smiled: "I don't mind all those once again." But the realist in Dhoni knows that it's easier said than done. Chennai Super Kings may have won the IPL last year, but this time around, the pressure will be high to repeat the performance. CSK have held on to their key players, but there's one Muttiah Muralitharan who was snapped up by Kochi Tuskers. Dhoni made no bones about the fact that Murali will be missed in the CSK ranks. "We are bound to miss him...He had great influence in the dressing-room and had a big role in our success over the last three years," Dhoni said. But then, that's how the auctions work and the skipper said that they have learnt to live with it. "A couple of key players like L. Balaji have also left...We'll miss them for sure. However, some good players have come in as well." The skipper is banking on the batting-order which has a potent look about it. "With Raina, Badri, myself, Mike Hussey and Vijay, the top-half looks quite settled. Players like Fauf du Plessis have also joined. We have a pretty decent side and we should be in a position to do well." Given the hectic international schedule and the dodgy back that MSD has, does he think that it's better for him not to keep in the IPL? "It's tricky situation. When Parthiv (Patel) was in the team, I sometimes did that...But now I have to take the call whether I can play the extra 'keeper (Wriddhiman Saha). Though there's not much scope for rest in professional cricket, I would look to take a bit, if and when it's possible."

Sania, Somdev in last 16

Bangalore: Indians Sania Mirza and Somdev Devvarman advanced to the last sixteen in the WTA and ATP Tour events in Charleston and Houston in contrasting fashion late on April 5. While Sania worked her way past American Vania King 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 6-2 in 2 hours and 31 minutes, Somdev made light of American Robert Kendrick's challenge winning 6-2, 6-1 in 62-minutes. Sania, 24, ranked 90 in the world, who came through the qualifying competition and won two rounds in the main draw, plays the winner of the second round clash between German Sabine Lisicki and fourth-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli in the third round. Somdev, ranked 72, was too good for Kendrick, 80, who was never allowed to settle down. Prior to this week's US Clay

Sania Mirza.

Court Championship, Somdev had played Kendrick thrice in keenly contested affairs of which the Indian won two. However, the 26-year-old has been on a hot streak this season,

having lifted his game a couple of notches. Next up for Somdev is Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, the third seed in the Houston ATP Tour event.

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ICC World Cup 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Sachin deserves Bharat Ratna: Dhoni

Dhoni is the best captain: Tendulkar

Mumbai: Expressing his gratitude to his teammates for dedicating the cricket World Cup to him, Sachin Tendulkar said that it was a great gesture and that M.S. Dhoni was the best captain he played under. "Dhoni stayed calm and alert. He reads the situation well, is open to ideas, and doesn't show frustration. That is his biggest strength," Tendulkar said at a press conference here Monday, his first after the World Cup victory. "To know the likes and dislikes of every individual is very important and he has taken care of that throughout the tournament," he added. Lauding Team India coach Gary Kirsten, who has announced that he will not continue in the post, Tendulkar wished the South African could stay on. "Personally, I would say Gary should continue, but he has family commitments. I respect his decision. We will miss him a lot," he said. "He has probably worked harder than anyone else in the team. He worked like a machine," Tendulkar added. Asked about the pressure he faced during the championship, Tendulkar said that it were his own expectations from himself.

Chennai: If any Indian cricketer deserves the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, it is batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Wednesday. Speaking here on the sidelines of the launch of the IPL Chennai Super Kings team which he leads, Dhoni opined that given Tendulkar's contribution to Indian cricket, he was "200 percent" worthy of the award. "He is the ideal candidate. He has served the country for a very long time. As a cricketer, if he doesnt get it then no one else can get it. "He has done great things for the country, taking cricket to the next level. He has made the country

proud and taken cricket to places where no one knew about cricket," said Dhoni who himself had grown up idolizing Tendulkar. Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government had recommended Tendulkar for the award in the wake of the World Cup triumph. Reacting to Tendulkar's statement that Dhoni was the best captain he had played under, the skipper said he deemed it an honor to receive the accolade from the maestro. "It is a great pleasure that he said what he said. I have been honest since the time I have started playing cricket. I have been trying to fulfill expectations. I am also serving the nation like him," said Dhoni.

"Everyone was under pressure. We had to work as a team. If one team member could not deliver in a particular match, it became the others' responsibility to turn his failure into success by giving the best shot," he said. "The team went into the final not thinking about lifting the Cup, but thinking of the process. We were thinking of limiting them (Sri Lanka) to the smallest total possible. "In the knockout stage we peaked at the right time, clicked together at right time," he added.

Emphasizing that good performance cannot be guaranteed, but good effort can, Tendulkar said: "We batted, fielded and bowled well. You saw the effort from all the players, from senior-most to juniormost. Performance no one can guarantee, but effort you can guarantee." He also reminisced about the days when Sunil Gavaskar, in 1987, took the ball boy Sachin to meet his teammates in the dressing room. "The victory was sweeter as it came at Wankhede stadium," the master blaster said.

Emotional Kirsten bids adieu to Indian cricket Delhi-born Canadian captain Mumbai: After an outstanding three-year tenure as its regrets Cup exclusion coach, South African Gary Kirsten Tuesday bid adieu
to the World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, saying it was one of the hardest goodbyes but he was happy to leave Indian cricket in a "healthy" state. "It has been one of the hardest good byes I have had to say. I think it was interesting to come into this job without any coaching experience. I used the reference of being a player to work with the team. I tried building trust in the environment. Me and Paddy (Upton) tried to make sure that they knew that we had come to India to make it the best team in the world," an emotional Kirsten told reporters at the Cricket Centre in the Wankhede Stadium, where he guided the Indian team to lift the World Cup after 28 years ago only three days ago. Kirsten was not worried about his immediate future but said catching the flight to Cape Town Tuesday night was the best option for him as he wants to spend time with his family. "I am going home to spend some time with my family. But I have to consider my future at some time. I have been fortunate to have been offered some jobs but I want to spend time with my family right now," he said. Kirsten said Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest sporting model he has ever met. "It has been a great privilege to coach the Indian team. It has been an honor to be alongside Sachin Tendulkar. He is the greatest sporting role model I have ever met. The passion for the game he has is unparalleled," said Kirsten. "We achieved both our goals to be the World Champions and the number one Test side. The way the players handled the weight of expectations of the entire country was remarkable," he said. He also predicted a bright future for the team and felt Zaheer Khan is the best medium pacer in the world. Kirsten said Zaheer is the most dangerous against the left-handers. Zaheer, along with Pakistan Toronto: Delhi-born Canadian cricket team captain Ashish Bagai is dismayed at the exclusion of associate members, including Canada and Ireland, from the next two World Cups by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC executive board in its meeting in Mumbai Monday confirmed that only its 10 full members will play in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, with all teams playing each other before top four making to the semi-finals. "It is very disappointing for players and associate member countries. You cannot work for something (cricket) if there is no incentive. We were improving very fast on the highest stage of cricket,'' the 29-year wicketkeeper-batsman told IANS in an interview here. He said Canada and other associate members should have been given more opportunities to play cricket at the highest level to develop their sport. "We did well in the World Cup though results don't reflect the kind of hard work we put in during the past one and a half years. We played good patches against Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia, but we didn't take the game through to 100 overs. That will come from experience at the highest level,'' said Bagai who has represented Canada since 1996 when he was voted the best wicketkeeper in the Under-15 Cricket World Cup. Despite his disappointment over their exclusion form the next two World Cups, the Canadian captain was hopeful that the ICC will arrange "a regular competition with better sides to raise our standards. "If we are given the opportunity to play against better sides over the next few years, we will improve a lot. But if there is no such thing, then there will no incentive for players to do better.'' He said Canada will soon formally request the ICC - which currently provides most of funding for Canadian cricket - for organizing such competitions. Bagai said the new immigrants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean have given a major boost to cricket in Canada. "We have cricketing talent in these immigrant communities. Now if we have a proper five-toeight-year process and funding keeps coming through, I think Canadian cricket can improve dramatically.'' Players of Indian and Pakistani origin constitute the bulk of the current Canadian cricket team.

captain Shahid Afridi, was the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup with 21 scalps. "Zaheer is the best bowler in the world right now. He performs well under pressure. I think he is an unbelievable bowler to left-handers," Kirsten said. The South African spoke highly of the other Indian bowlers but stressed they need support of the reserves. "I was impressed with Munaf Patel. He performed well in the World Cup. Ashish Nehra also did well. Zaheer has been No.1 for a long time but these guys need support. Pragyan Ojha too has done well and he just needs to keep learning what he has to do," he said. On the batting front, he said: "Virat Kohli is ready for Test cricket. He is a bright young star. He has taken the responsibility of playing for India in big games really well. You cannot be in the team with average performances." "I have also enjoyed working with Suresh Raina. He has been an exceptional player. I have been impressed with Cheteshwar Pujara who can be a star of the future in Test matches." Kirsten made special mention of comeback man Yuvraj Singh, the Player of the Tournament at the World Cup. "He was well-prepared and he had worked hard on his bowling. For Yuvi to end up being man of the tournament, I am extremely proud of him," he said.

Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

Dhoni creates history on his terms

The international media has described M.S. Dhoni as an all-conquering captain who now rivals Sachin Tendulkar in popularity.
By Pradeep Magazine e was put under the scanner throughout the World Cup, with his unconventional, unorthodox methods getting a fair amount of criticism, some very unfair, some may be justied. The strength of the man in his belief and decisions is so unshakeable that he does not seem to care, carrying on doing what he thinks is best for the team. On Saturday night, with cricket's biggest prize at stake and the hopes and demands of an unforgiving nation resting squarely on his shoulders, Mahendra Singh Dhoni took a giant leap forward, and created history. He did this on his own terms, taking a controversial selection decision yet again and making risky bowling changes, which the best of captains would desist from taking. And when India

were looking down and out, he walked in ahead of the man in form - Yuvraj Singh - a decision, which if it had backred, could have possibly cost him his captaincy. It was the last throw of the dice from a man who believes in the dictum that the greater the risks you take, the better the results would be. It was a decision which only the brave and courageous would take, knowing fully well that a failure would mean death, but success would grant immortality. It was a night when a gambler, never touched by the fear of failure, created magic, to satisfy the thirst of a nation, which would have clamored for his blood had he failed. If ever there has been a captain who has taken the responsibility of failure on his shoulders, it is this man. And that is why, on the greatest day for Indian cricket -

well the second greatest day after June 6, 1983 - Dhoni should be credited with having played a major role in helping India claim the Cup. There were many stars on this night. The brave Gautam Gambhir, who anchored the innings when in crisis, the unappable Zaheer Khan, whose crafty, incisive spells throughout were the cornerstone of this win and the amboyant Yuvraj, who nished the job which he had begun so well more than a month back, when the World Cup began. So what if Sachin Tendulkar failed and did not get his 100th hundred. For him, winning the World Cup will always be a greater achievement than achieving a personal milestone, no matter how great it may be.
Sachin Tendulkar and Indian captain M.S. Dhoni at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

Thank you, Afridi

By Maheen Sadiq heres a lot to be said about the World Cup, especially our match against India. And it has a lot more to do with Misbahul-Haq and Umar Guls bad luck, and Sachin Tendulkars good fortune. Cricket speaks to our nation in a way our government never has. And Shahid Afridi addressed the nation in a way our president never has unselsh, genuine, modest. So when Afridi apologized to Pakistan, millions listened and were humbled by the gesture. Our eyes were lled with tears and our hearts with love and a strange kind of sorrow. Afridi, you need not apologize to the nation. We are proud of you and our entire cricket team! You didnt bring back the cup, but any excitement, any happiness, any hope that Pakistanis have felt in the past few months is because of your brilliance. Weve been hearing a lot of Pakistan needs something to celebrate, but what Pakistanis really needed was something to look forward to. The green team gave us that with the anticipation of each game played. The funny thing about cricket is that it can unite the nation through a victory or a loss. It would have been wonderful to go out on the streets and celebrate with dhols, as we did when we won the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in 2009. But even af-

Shahid Afridi with M.S. Dhoni. ter our loss on Wednesday, the people of Pakistan, in their state of disbelief, came out and shared their sorrow. Misery loves company. Cars on streets, people driving around slowly, quietly, patiently. No honking, no cursing, nowhere to go, nowhere to escape. It was surreal. This only goes to show what cricket means to us and the massive void it lls for our nation. Cricketers, you made us patriotic. You made us

passionate. You made us proud. And these precious adjectives are some that Pakistan rarely gets the chance to associate itself with. So again, Afridi, your apology is appreciated but not needed. You conducted yourself with patience, grace and dignity, encouraging your own with a smile, and congratulating the opponents with an even bigger smile. You didnt win the seminals, but you won our hearts. Thank you for showing the world we are not an aggressive nation. To Pakistan, I propose this: if theres anyone who needs to apologize, its us. So to Afridi and the team, I apologize for the pressure I put on you to win the World Cup. It comes from my own shortcomings. So lazy and so cowardly am I that I am incapable of creating for myself a reason to celebrate Pakistan. Since as far as I can remember, my patriotism has tenaciously clung to cricket. It is unfair. I know. To those Pakistanis who thought this was a match between Hindus and Muslims, Im glad India won. This was never a battle between nations, or a jihad against Hindus. It was a semi-nal cricket match, and if a loss is what it took to be reminded of this then Im glad we lost. Victory would have only made you gloat over something you had done wrong all along. However, if there was one thing I was relieved to discover it was that we dont hate

India. We may hate America, but we dont hate India. No burning of the Indian ag, no bitter remarks, no threatening reaction. Just healthy competition and a pure love for the game. So we dont hate India. In fact, we hate Asif Ali Zardari. What pleased me even more were the numerous text messages and Facebook statuses I came across that poked fun at Zardari. My personal favorite is, We congratulate India on winning the semi-nals. As a goodwill gesture, India can keep Pakistans prime minister. And if it wins the nals, we will give our president too. Ahhh, Zardari jokes. They never get old. Hes our scapegoat now. Its his fault we lost. Somehow. Its time we stopped asking of our cricketers something we should have been asking of ourselves. Or our government. Lets nd ourselves a reason to be patriotic and celebrate Pakistan, and let cricket be a sport, not an identity. If we all just took a little responsibility, maybe our beloved team can nally approach the pitch as cricketers, not as soldiers entering the battleeld. We owe it to them. Welcome back, boys! (Maheen Sadiq from Pakistan wrote this article for the Pakistan Defense Forum before the India-Sri Lanka nal. The views expressed by the author are personal.)

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

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Controversy TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Experiments with facts

What triggered an outcry in India were two paragraphs in the Gandhi book review in Wall Street Journal about the Mahatmas relationship with a German-Jewish bodybuilder and architect Hermann Kallenbach, described by the reviewer as the love of his life for whom Gandhi left his wife in 1908.
By Ramachandra Guha Kallenbach at all. The Journal, on the other hand, gave the book to a British reviewer whose powers of judgment are such that he once spoke of Tony Blair as a latter-day Winston Churchill. An apologist for imperialisms past and present, who has defended water-boarding by the CIA and expressed solidarity with Boer racists, he used the platform to mount a character assassination of a great opponent of the British Empire. Quoting words and phrases out of context, he characterized Gandhi as a sexual weirdo, a political incompetent and a fanatical faddist. Two paragraphs of his review were about Gandhis friendship with Kallenbach, described by the reviewer as the love of his life for whom Gandhi left his wife in 1908. This review appeared on March 26; two days later, the British tabloid Daily Mail ran a story with the headline: Gandhi left his wife to live with a male lover new book claims. Clearly inspired by the Journal story, it called Gandhi bisexual and said after four children together [with Kasturba] they split up so he could be with Kallenbach. The foolish decision to ban Great Soul in parts of India was provoked not by the book itself, but by tendentious misrepresentations by Britons still not reconciled to the loss of their Empire. However, I write this from the United States, with a copy of Great Soul at my side. The two questions one must ask, in order of importance, are: How much of the book is devoted to Gandhis friendship with Kallenbach? And what does the book say about the subject? By my count, Kallenbach appears on 33 of Great Souls 349 pages. I think Lelyveld exaggerates the significance of Kallenbach in Gandhis life in South Africa. In his book, Henry Polak appears only fleetingly, whereas Pranjivan Mehta is not mentioned at all although these two men were easily as important to Gandhi at this time. This is compounded by the sin of anachronism, the tendency to assess male friendships of a 100 years ago through the lens of a progressive New Yorker of today. Lelyveld privileges things said now to the written evidence of the past. Someone in Ahmedabad tells him Kallenbach and Gandhi were a couple; someone in Australia claims the relationship was homoerotic. These remarks (likewise informed by a contemporary sensibility) should have been disregarded; what he should have perhaps laid far more stress on is a remark made by Kallenbach himself, where, writing to his brother in June 1908, he notes that ever since he met Gandhi, I have given up my sex life. Lelyveld is stretching the evidence in claiming that Gandhis friendship (he uses the term relationship) with Kallenbach was the most intimate of his life. The further claim that Gandhi, leaving his wife behind, had gone to live with a man is even more tenuous. The fact was that Gandhi had to be in Transvaal to organise the Indians in that province. Kasturba and the boys stayed at the ashram in Natal, being visited by Gandhi as often as his work permitted. The friendship between these two men was not sexual, not even homoerotic; it was, as Gandhi himself described it, that between brothers. While they lived in the same house, Gandhis commitment to brahmacharya was matched by Kallenbachs own. Much later (although Lelyveld does not mention or perhaps know this) Kallenbach broke their common vow of celibacy by having a sexual relationship with a woman. Lelyvelds arguments may be anachronistic, but his prose is dignified and restrained. Moreover, Kallenbach goes unmentioned on 90% of the books pages, where matters of social and political import are given their due. Indians, aware only of the misrepresentations in the tabloid press, need to ponder these words from the books last paragraph: In India today, the term Gandhism is ultimately synonymous with social conscience; his example of courage, persistence, identification with the poorest, striving for selflessness still has a power to inspire One might thus reasonably view Joseph Lelyveld as the hapless victim of, on the one hand, reactionary British journalists, and, on the other, opportunistic Indian politicians, who seek to camouflage their own betrayal of the Mahatmas ideals by proclamations of reverence to his memory. Two of Gandhis grandsons themselves writers of distinction have urged the Indian government to allow the book to be published and circulated. What is at stake here is both the maturity of Indian nationalism and the credibility of Indian democracy. Are our heroes so weak that we need bullies masquerading as patriots to protect them? Is our democracy so fragile that we cant allow free debate on individuals and processes. The censorship of ideas, while congenial to Islamic theocracies, military dictatorships, and oneparty communist regimes, sits strangely and uncomfortably with our democratic claims. ( Ramachandra Guha is the author of India After Gandhi: The History of the Worlds Largest Democracy)

arendra Modi may never have banned Joseph Lelyvelds Great Soul had the books editor of the Wall Street Journal been as discerning as his counterpart in the New York Times. The New York dailies carried reviews on the same weekend, but these could not have been more different in style or substance. The Times reviewer, who has himself written fine books on India, judiciously assessed the strengths and weaknesses of Lelyvelds approach, situated Gandhi historically, and in the wake of the controversy that followed, this may be the crucial point did not mention Hermann

Gandhi and Kallenbach with a female friend (middle) in South Africa, 1913.

'I aim to be provocative, not offensive'

My book's central, more challenging theme concerns Gandhis struggle for social justice not his intimate relationships, insists the Gandhi biographer.
Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India, the new book by Joseph Lelyveld, a Pulitzer Prize winner and the former executive editor of The New York Times, has already been banned by Gujarat and an Indiawide ban may come. Asia Society has circulated this response by Lelyveld: My book's central theme might be even more challenging than the passages that have aroused so much sound and fury. It concerns his struggle for social justice, not his intimate relationships. The controversy of the last week focuses on three paragraphs in a discussion of a dozen or so pages of Gandhi's relationship with Hermann Kallenbach, part of a 349-page book that very few people in India have seen, including those who would ban it. Those three paragraphs raise the sensitive question of sex but reach no conclusion. When the book appears in India in a few weeks, I urge readers to turn the page where they will find my own humble attempt at a conclusion: that it's best to be guided by what the two men actually said about celibacy, abstinence and the control of diet in the pursuit of those aims. My own belief is that they were not hypocrites and that their practice almost certainly conformed to their principles. But that is just the beginning of the story. I think my discussion of Gandhi's letters to Kallenbach which mistake the discussion for an insinuation that I did not intend. What Gandhi aspired to, in the later stages of his life at least, was a kind of sexlessness, something different from bisexuality (a word, incidentally, I never use). I don't discuss that aspiration in any detail because of my own limitations: I don't understand it. He's a fascinating, self-created, ever-changing figure an original in so many ways of profound moral ambition who has become closely identified with Indian nationhood, even though many of his most urgent teachings have been neglected. I don't mean to offer my book as a substitute for the standard interpretations of his life but an amplification, focusing on him as a visionary who hoped for a wide-ranging social transformation of India and was, ultimately, disappointed in those hopes. That's why my subtitle speaks of Gandhi's struggle with India, rather than as it might have been. I wanted to understand why he didn't celebrate when India achieved her freedom in 1947, why he called himself a "spent bullet" and a "back number" and remarked, this is "a sorry affair." I aim to be provocative, not offensive. The story I tell has always been there, just below the surface. From my standpoint, his failures are in some ways more noble and inspiring than his successes.

Joseph Lelyveld denies having suggested that Gandhi was bisexual in his book Great Soul. have been in the public domain for nearly 20 years shows very clearly that Gandhi had a deep love for his Jewish friend and wanted him by his side for the rest of his life. He says as much. It's harder now than it probably was a century ago, when Gandhi and Kallenbach lived at Tolstoy Farm outside Johannesburg, to believe that two men can be on loving and intimate terms without it becoming overtly sexual. But it's an effort of imagination we should at least attempt. If it's wrong to discuss sex in connection with Gandhi (who much later would tell his grand-niece Manu that he wanted her to regard him as her mother), I'm guilty. The critics

Focus Rajasthan TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

How a state got its name from a bank

Formed in 1943 and promoted by Udaipur rulers, Bank of Rajasthan was so named because the Rajputana region was ruled by Rajas and Maharajas. Post-independence, in 1949, the name was mooted for what is now the largest state in the country. The name Rajasthan has stuck since though the Bank of Rajasthan no longer exists having merged with the ICICI Bank.
By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: Would you believe that just after Independence and after the merger of the 22 princely states of the erstwhile Rajputana, the new state got its name Rajasthan from a now defunct bank. The Bank of Rajasthan was promoted by the rulers of Mewar (Udaipur). But it lost its identity after RBI allowed its merger with the ICICI Bank last year. When the state was being formed after the merger of the 22 princely states the banks name was found appropriate in naming the state Rajasthan instead of Rajputana. The Bank of Rajasthan was founded in 1943 with just Rs 10 lakh by Maharana Bhupal Singh of Udaipur with Gobind Ram Sekhsaria, an eminent Industrialist , as its first chairman. In line with the then prevalent practice of naming a bank after the location or princely state, the suggested names were Bank of Mewar State or Bank of Udaipur. The promoters, particularly Rai Bahadur PC Chatterji, having a long-term vision, expressed the view that the word 'Rajasthan' will be more advantageous in future for expanding activities in other princely states. Chatterji suggested that the state of Rajputana was ruled by several Rajas and Maharajas, so a new word Rajasthan should be coined and the bank be named Bank of Rajasthan. The promoters were of the firm view that some day when the country attained freedom, under the new constitution a grouping of the then local princely states was expected under one umbrella. Indeed, the individual princely states came to be merged plete. Still retaining their independence from India were Jaipur and the desert kingdoms of Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. From a security point of view, it was vital to the new Indian Union to ensure that the desert kingdoms were integrated into the new nation. The princes finally agreed to sign the Instrument of Accession, and the kingdoms of Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jaipur were merged in March 1949. This time the Maharaja of Jaipur, Man Singh II was made the Rajpramukh of the state and Jaipur became its capital. Later in 1949, the United State of Matsya, comprising Bharatpur, Alwar, Karauli and Dholpur, was incorporated into Rajasthan. On January 26, 1950, 18 states of the united Rajasthan merged with Sirohi, leaving Abu and Dilwara to remain a part of Greater Bombay and what is now Gujarat, said Vijay Bhandari, veteran editor and political chronicler. Added Bhandari, In November 1956 under the State Re-organisation Act, 1956, the erstwhile part 'C' State of Ajmer, Abu Road Taluka, former part of princely State Sirohi (which were merged in former Bombay), State and Sunel Tappa region of the former Madhya Bharat merged with Rajasthan and Sirohi sub district of Jhalawar was transferred to Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan gained its still existing boundary thus. Today with further reorganization of the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Rajasthan has become the largest state of the Indian Republic. Bhandari, who was then a student at Udaipur and was a witness to the political development running through the country, said Patel readily accepted the idea of Rajasthan.

A map of Rajputana in late 19th century and (right) present day Rajasthan map. under the final name for the state - Rajasthan. The naming of the bank, The Bank of Rajasthan Ltd., set up in pre-independence India, clearly lent its name for the vast state in western India. After independence, on January 14, 1949 a historic meeting was held at the initiative of the former ruler of Udaipur Maharana Bhupal Singh, which was presided by Indias first Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel. It was in this meeting that the idea of naming the erstwhile Rajputana state as Rajasthan was suggested by the Maharana. The example of Bank of Rajasthan Ltd was cited and it was said that when the bank was formed the state was ruled by Rajas and Maharajas. This meeting was attended by leaders and political activists from different parts of the region. They all agreed to the new name of Rajasthan. The Bank of Rajasthan is a historic institution and the state in 1949 earned its name from the name of the bank. We would cherish the memory of this bank by naming the building that ICICI is building on 11 acres of and in Jaipur as Bank of Rajasthan building. This building would house the data recovery center and it would also serve as a museum that would depict the history of the Bank of Rajasthan, said Chanda Kochhar, MD and CEO of ICICI Bank. The formation of Rajasthan as defined today happened in seven stages. In March 1948 the Matsya Union comprising Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli was formed. Also in the same month, Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Kishangarh, Kota, Pratapgarh, Shahpura and Tonk joined the Indian union and formed a part of Rajasthan. In April that year, Udaipur joined the state and the Maharana of Udaipur was made Rajpramukh. Thus the merger of southern and southeastern princely states was almost com-

Jaipur mummy gets a new lease of life

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: The mummy of Tutu, a teenaged Egyptian priestess from the Ptolemaic period in Egypt (322BC to 30BC), which is decaying fast is now receiving a new lease of life. Three Egyptian mummy experts are trying to restore and conserve 2280-year-old mummy, which is one of the main attractions of the Albert Hall museum here. Displayed in a glass case, the mummy exposed to oxygen and moisture has led to its case crumbling to dust. This mummy was bought by the erstwhile ruler of Jaipur Sawai Ishwar Singh from Cairo in 1887. Egyptian alabaster figures and scriptures create the right ambience in the room where the mummy is on display. Museum director S.P. Singh said: "The conservationists have told us that the mummy is in a good condition. However, they also gave some recommendations for the maintenance of the mummy. We were also informed about the possible damage threats." Fact remains that Tutus condition has badly deteriorated over the years. Its ochre colored shroud is so frayed that its linen This mummy, one of only six in India, came to the country in 1883 when it was gifted by Brughsch Bey of the Museum of Cairo for an exhibition in Jeypore. But with almost no major restoration or preservation efforts in all these years, Tutus mummy is in need of immediate care. The Egyptian ministry of culture has taken up conservation of mummies excavated from 118 pyramids and now preserved in different museum of the world. The three-member Egyptian team do the biological damage control caused to the embalmed body. These experts are highly skilled and are responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt, said director Singh. Of course, the mummy in Jaipur is not the only one in India to have been neglected. Mummies in museums in Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Baroda and Kolkata all need to be preserved. In fact, the ones in Hyderabad and Mumbai have deteriorated so much that they are not even shown anymore. The same team of experts visited Hyderabad to restore the mummy.

Uncertainly over Japanese investment in Rajasthan

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: The tsunami in Japan has resulted in uncertainty about the the Japanese investments in Rajasthan. The future is bleak for the industrial complex in village Majrakath at Neemrana in Alwar district and located on Jaipur-Delhi highway, popularly called Japanese zone because of a number of Japanese units coming up there. The tsunami also hit badly the garment exports to Japan, worth $75 million as well as gems and jewelry exports worth $50 million. Many jewelers from Jaipur who have offices in Japan have come back and are waiting for the situation to normalize in Japan before returning.Rajasthan government's investment wing RIICO had successfully developed the Japanese zone extending to 1160 acres divided in 124 plots. As per the MD of RIICO Rajendra Bhanawat, nine projects have already begun trial production. The project attracted Japanese investment of $ 450 million to Neemrana. Japan is the sixth largest investor in India in terms of FDI with $22 billion invested in the last 10 years. Nearly 70 per cent of this has come in the last three to four years. Analysts in Jaipur now fear that the Japanese economy will take longer than expected to come out of the impact of earthquake and tsunami. In a highly integrated world, it is impossible to escape aftershocks of a crisis like the one Japan.

Mummy of the teenaged Egyptian priestess Tutu at the Albert Hall museum in Jaipur and (right) Conservationists examining the condition of the mummy. cloth bandage is visible from the outside. At some places one can even see the mummys body tissue and skeleton. Yet it is evident that Tutus mummy was once splendidly embellished. A gilded mask painted in gold, black and white covers its face and neck. A few inches below the mask is the painted wsekh, a cloth covering the entire chest area. A large winged scarab beetle is painted on top of the wsekh and a painted necklace adorns the lower part. There are also decorative figures of gods and goddesses painted in yellow, white, red and black. But the wsekh too is severely damaged now, as is the lid of the mummys sarcophagus where the carvings and paintings can hardly be discerned anymore.

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Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011

Chilli could fight the flab

akes which may help you burn off calories could soon be available in the UK. A slimming aid, found in chilli peppers, speeds up the body's metabolism and could be added to foodstuffs, including desserts, a food company claims. The extract, dihydrocapsiate (DHC), is one of several chemical compounds known as capsinoids found in a particular variety of chilli, called CH-19 sweet. They increase the body's metabolism helping to burn more calories - and unlike

similar extracts in other chilli varieties, they do not cause the burning sensation of hot peppers. They also have no taste or odor. Tokyobased company Ajinomoto plans to produce DHC synthetically because chilli peppers only produce small amounts. They say three milligrams of DHC would be added to a portion of food - the equivalent of ten chilli peppers. An application has been made to the Food Standards Agency for a license to market

DHC in the UK. Ajinomoto spokeswoman Naoko Obara said DHC was not a "magic bullet" in the battle against the bulge, but said it was "unique" among weight loss aids. She said: "Most weight management aids focus on caloric intake. Capsinoids are unique in targeting the other side of the equation, the caloric output. "Increasing the body's metabolism to burn more calories can be as important as diet and exercise.

But it should be used as one piece of the overall weight management equation." The company applied for a "novel foods" license from the Food Standards Agency last year to allow it to market the product in the UK and the EU. It has since been declared safe after studies showed DHC can increase the burning of body fat and overall calorie expenditure. But it is now down to the European Commission to decide whether it can be sold or not.

Dating a beautiful girl risky?

s your ladylove better looking than you? Well, then chances are your relationship won't last, says a new research. According to the UK study, relationships in which the woman is more attractive than the man may be doomed to failure. However, having a handsome husband or boyfriend is no barrier to the couple's success, says the study. The phenomenon was spotted by British researchers studying whether it was true people tend to pair up with those who are similarly attractive to ourselves. The researchers took photos of more than 100 couples, some together for just a few months, others for several years. The individual men and women were then rated on their looks. The study showed if the woman was the one blessed with good looks, the relationships tended to last a matter of months. "Beautiful women may realize they can afford to pick and choose," the Daily Telegraph quoted researcher Rob Burriss as saying.

Now, get that JLo butt!

acelift and tummy tuck will soon become pass, for more and more women are opting for the trendier bum lift. Constantino Mendieta is the inventor of the Miami Thong Lift, the latest way to a shapelier rear view. According to Mendieta, a Harvard-educated surgeon, there's been a steady rise in numbers of women seeking a curvier bottom, like that of Miami's famous resident Jennifer Lopez. However, top-notch plastic surgeon Rajiv Grover explained that these operations could be risky. Previously, the standard way to create a rounder, higher bottom was with silicone implants, similar to those used for breast enlargement. Implants have a The Miami Thong Lift procedure tendency to move and, if they can change the shape of the bum get infected, they have to be from flat to super-curvy and high, surgically removed," The Daily just like JLo! Mail quoted Grover as saying. So, Mendieta uses grafts of fat cedure isn't entirely risk-free. It liposuctioned from the thighs or needs to be done by a very experistomach, purified and then enced surgeon, in a hospital, in painstakingly injected using a sterile conditions with good afterlarge needle into the layers of care if you get an infection it muscle of the buttocks, changing could cause a very large abscess," their shape from flat to super- said Mendieta. Also, fat transfer is never 100 curvy and high. Because the fat belongs to the patient, there is no per cent predictable. If the fat dies and is re-absorbed by the body risk of rejection. The scars left by the incisions unevenly, you could end up with needed to inject the fat are hidden, one buttock larger than the other. said Mendieta, 'in the grand To say nothing of the bruising and canyon where the thong goes', swelling that can last for months. Added to the risk, the cost is hence the name of the procedure. However, he warns that the pro- quite high too - 8,850 pounds.

Relationships in which the woman is better looking tend to last a matter of months, says a new study.

Exercise linked to survival after kidney transplant

idney transplant patients with low physical activity are more likely to die early, suggests a new study. The results suggested that patients needed to exercise to fend off an early death. Dorien Zelle (University Medical Center Groningen, in the Netherlands) and her colleagues studied the health of 540 kidney transplant recipients between 2001 and 2003, assessing physical activity through questionnaires and recording deaths until August 2007. With regard to the guidelines for minimum requirements of physical activity, 260 (48percent) patients did not meet the criteria and 79 (14.6 percent) were completely inactive.

Physical activity can play an independent role in survival for kidney transplant patients, Dutch researchers have found.

During the study period, 81 patients died, with 37 heart-related deaths; the lower the level of physical activity, the higher the rate of deaths. The investigators acknowledged that in general, sicker people are less likely to exercise and more likely to die; however, they found that the link between low physical activity and premature death was not substantially affected by adjustments for factors such as patients' heart health, kidney function, muscle mass, and their diabetes and smoking status. The findings have been published in the upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

Ultimate Bollywood TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 9-15, 2011

F.A.L.T.U: A pleasant surprise

F.A.L.T.U? Not quite. A film that takes stinging swipes at our education system cannot live up to a title as uninspiring as that. F.A.L.T.U turns out to be quite a pleasant surprise. Fresh, feisty, vivacious and vibrant, and with an important message on the gaping loopholes in our education system, this film gets your adrenaline all pumped for its energetic storytelling and more than a fair share of juvenile antics which stop short of being annoying because they represent the dimmed aspirations of hundreds of school drop-outs and semi-drop-outs who run adrift in the absence of the requisite marks to get into college. As in Ayan Mukerjee's vastly superior "Wake Up, Sid," the aimless protagonist takes the earnest parents for granted until the terrible marks precipitates a domestic crisis for the academic failures. After a point, the storytelling acquires a life of its own independent of any other films, desi or firangi. The film exudes a certain gaiety and ebullience. Post-debutant director Remo d'Souza (he has earlier directed a Bengali film) lets the four principal characters do their own thing. A spirit of unconditional bonhomie runs through the hyper-activity of the characters, as they party, party and then party some more. And then somewhere down the line they want to get serious about their education. Interestingly, the bonding among the quarter of friends never goes into any emotional tangents. There isn't even a hint of a romance between Jackky Bhagnani and debutante Pooja Gupta who are the official hero and heroine. None of the four principal characters gets to lord over the proceedings. There are no romantic duets, no attempt to create individual alcoves of emotional or dramatic interest for any of the characters. Not one moment touches your heart. This isn't a film that encourages a slackening of narrative energy.

A still from F.A.L.T.U.

Funny take on extra-marital affairs

I cried when Yuvi cried: Shilpa

ollywood actress Shilpa Shetty found it hard to control her emotions after India won the cricket World Cup Saturday. She broke down in tears when she saw Yuvraj cry. "I can't control my emotions!! Yay India won. It's a wonderful feeling. It was an emotional moment. When I saw Yuvraj (Singh) cry, I also started crying because I have experienced this myself," Shilpa, who owns Indian Premier League team Rajasthan

Shilpa Shetty.

Royals, said. "The way India played together with maturity was superb," said the 35-year-old actress. She even recalled the day when India had won the World Cup title in 1983, saying her father had also cried at that time. "We were very small when India won its first World Cup 28 years back, but I remember my father had also cried at that time. All those emotions came back one again."

Big B hits Mumbai streets

A still from Thank You.

fter doing a cricketbased drama "Patiala House", Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is back on the big screen with multi-starrer comedy "Thank You", a funny take on extra-marital affairs. The film releases on April 8. Produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Hari Om Productions, the film is about three married men trying to have some fun outside their marriages. Apart from Akshay, the film stars Bobby Deol, Irrfan Khan, Suniel Shetty, Rimi Sen, Celina Jaitly and Sonam Kapoor. In the film, three best friends and business partners - Raj (Bobby), Yogi (Suniel) and Vikram (Irrfan) - are portrayed as womanizers. Their wives are clueless about their husbands cheating on them with every pretty girl they lay their eyes on.

However, their supposedly happening world is rocked when Raj's wife Sanjana (Sonam) begins to suspect her husband and hires a private detective, Kishan (Akshay) to keep an eye on him. Kishan has built his reputation as a man who saves marriages by getting philandering husbands to mend their ways. However, in this particular case, Kishan gets into trouble when he falls in love with Sanjana, which means he may not be acting in her best interest. Soon follows a crazy cat and mouse game, where Kishan tries to catch the husbands red-handed. Directed by Anees Bazmee, who has given hits comic capers like "No Entry", "Singh Is Kinng" and "Welcome", "Thank You" promises some really ribtickling moments.

mitabh Bachchan believes that if he watches a cricket match, India will lose. But he not only sat in front of the TV to see the India-Sri Lanka World Cup final on April 2, also hit the road in open car to celebrate with others when the home team won. "Me superstitious about watching match coz' we lose... but after 33 for 2 (sic), don't know why, sat in front of TV till the six from (M.S.) Dhoni," he tweeted after India's six wicket victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. "Diya ghuma ke, ghuma ke, ghuma ke!!," he wrote, very excited. The 68-year-old says he hadn't previously witnessed the kind of euphoria in the city that followed India's victory. "No one is saying anything...just

Amitabh Bachchan, joined the jubilant crowds with son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, after Indias world cup win.

screaming!! It is bizarre!!! Roads lanes everywhere jammed with people and screams!! Never before!"

"Anhonee ko hooni kar de, honi ko anhonee ! Ek jagah jab jama hon tinoh - Rajni, Gajni aur Dhoni!!!" he tweeted.

Will strip soon: Poonam

New Delhi: Model Poonam Pandey who off ever since the final match got over. The authenticity of the Twitter account she is requisitioned the Indian cricket board supposedly tweeting from could not be saying that her bare-all act will have a therapeutic effect on the Men in Blue, verified. Before the finals, Pandey wrote to has said that she intends to stick to her BCCI that she was serious about baring it commitment. all for the boys, as it would be a therapeutic method to boost and inspire people to A tweet, purportedly of Pandey, said perform better in any field. Immediately "once Steve Forbes said 'A promise made should be a promise kept.' so guys soon after the match was over, there were several Poonam Pandey. will complete my promise just Wait n Facebook captions such as, "Where is watch." The model had promised to strip if the Indian Poonam?", "Im waiting for you Poonam", "Where the cricket team lifted the ICC 2011 World Cup trophy. The hell is Poonam Pandey. I bought an HD TV for you!". Indian team has delivered, and there was a growing According to the latest news, she has requested the clamor among netizens demanding that Pandey keep her BCCI to choose another country such as Paris for her side of the bargain. Her mobile was reportedly switched striptease, to avoid controversies in India.

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Humor TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9 -15, 2011

Humor with Melvin Durai

New career goal for a 4-year-old

ntil recently, my 4-year-old son, Rahul, had just one ambition in life: to become a mail man. It seemed like an exciting career, stopping at someones house, dropping off the mail and hopping over a fence to escape a snarling dog. But after visiting India recently, Rahul has come to his senses and decided to pursue a safer and more rewarding occupation: auto driver. Yes, he wants to drive an auto-rickshaw, one of those three-wheeled vehicles that serve as mini-taxis throughout India. He wants to cruise around the city, blowing his horn constantly, and charging suckers like me twice the regular fare. I havent had the heart to tell him that hes going to have a tough time becoming an auto driver, that unless he works hard and stays focused, hell never make it through autodriving school. Here are just some of the courses my son would need to take to become a certified auto driver: 1. Introduction to Auto Driving. This course teaches you the basic principles of driving an auto, such as starting the vehicle, making it go forward, and saying with a straight face, Meter not working. 2. Intermediate Auto Driving. In this course, you will learn how to use your hands, not just to steer the vehicle and press the horn, but also to rub them together gleefully whenever you spot a tourist. Also taught in this course: how to use your hands to signal to other drivers that you think theyre idiots.

learn how to reduce wind resistance through the highly effective technique of tailgating. 6. Negotiation Techniques. You will learn how to size up each potential customer and determine how much money they would be willing to part with. You will learn to start with a very high figure and then reduce it by a third or half, depending on how much steam comes out of your customers ears. 7. Health and Fitness. This course will teach you how to survive all the fumes and 3. Advanced Auto Driving. This course teaches you advanced techniques, such as how to make a U-turn on a one-way street, how to spot a tourist from a mile away, and how to turn a 2-km ride into an All-India Tour. You will learn useful English phrases, such as Dont worry, you not pay much. Usual rate only and No, no, we not going in circles. This is different temple. All looking the same! 4. Meter Management. This course teaches you how to manipulate your meter to maximize your earnings. You will learn how to turn it on and off, how to make it go faster, and how to say meter not working in 28 languages. 5. Fuel Management. In this course, you will learn various ways to improve fuel economy, such as giving preference to skinny customers, turning off your engine when youre stuck in traffic, and using your hands as paddles during a monsoon rain. You will also

smells from the road, as well as from the back seat. It will also teach you how to breathe effectively, especially when youre transporting a family of 14. 8. Auto Decoration. Youll learn how to decorate your auto with pictures of movie stars and gods, as well as movie stars who act like gods. This will make it easier to pray for more business: My wife wants some new jewelry and my son wants a new cricket bat. Please bring me a rich tourist, dear Salman.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

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

Tech Life

iPad app to watch TV at home

CHICAGO: Cablevision Systems Corp is launching an app for customers using its Optimum package to watch television on their iPads at home. The service, available at no extra charge, will allow the cable operator's more than 3 million customers to watch some 300 channels, search programing by genre and enable customers to record programs. The system uses Cablevision's digital cable television network to deliver programing to the iPad, so customers do not need to have Internet access on their devices to use the app. "This application allows the iPad to function as a television, delivering the full richness and diversity of our cable television service to a display device in the home," Tom Rutledge, Cablevision chief operating officer, said in a statement. The move by New York-based Cablevision comes weeks after Time Warner Cable launched its own iPad app in mid-March. The Time Warner version allows users to watch live programing from 32 networks so long as they are at home using their Wi-Fi network. But Time Warner's app sparked controversy. A few days ago, after getting several "cease and desist" notices, the No. 2 U.S. cable company said it would no longer carry networks owned by News Corp's Fox, Viacom and Discovery Communications. The media companies believe the cable company needs to pay for new licenses in order for customers to use the iPad app.

Apple, Android apps spying on you?

NEW YORK: The US is investigating how customer data is used by some popular applications that run on the mobile platforms of Apple Inc and Google Inc. Online radio service Pandora said in a regulatory filing that it was subpoenaed by a Federal grand jury requesting information. It believes it is not the target of the investigation and that similar subpoenas were issued on an industry-wide basis to the publishers of numerous other smartphone applications. The company did not disclose when it received the subpoena. The information was contained in an amended filing by Pandora ahead of a public offering of around $100 million expected later this year. The Web radio company has more than 80 million registered users some of whom use mobile apps to access the music service beyond their personal computers. Pandora, Apple and Google were not immediately available for comment. There are concerns from privacy watchers that popular applications such as Pandora's can disclose critical information about a user such as location, gender and age. More than 300,000 apps are available on Apple's App Store catalog, while Google's Android carries over 100,000 and is growing fast. Billions of apps have been downloaded by users for everything from social networking on sites such as Facebook and Foursquare to accessing personal bank accounts.

Astrology
TheSouthAsianTimes.info

29

April 9-15, 2011

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874; Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899; psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: April 9-15, 2011

ARIES: This week businessmen will explore new and more profitable avenues. New partnerships and contacts will prove to be beneficial. Sudden gains from old artifacts and belongings cannot be ruled out. Your spouse and children will be supportive and provide you with love and affection. Confiding your problems in your friends will be beneficial, as they will go out of the way to help you out. New investments, work related travel and new alliances will dominate the coming week. TAURUS: Speculation will yield profits provided you are confident where to put your money. Your determination at work will please your seniors and win you lot of appreciation from home. Overseas travel or benefits from foreign land for some. Romance, however, will suffer due to your over indulgence in work. Later in the week, some of you will go out for a vacation or pilgrimage to take a break from your daily monotonous schedule. GEMINI: This week provides hope, health and happiness. Your financial position also stabilizes as past investments start raking profits. For those at job, the coming days will be highly beneficial as they can look forward to transfers or promotions. Increase in responsibility will definitely improve your monetary benefits. Lovebirds will have a fabulous time and some will commit themselves to a matrimonial alliance. Health of your parents might suffer, causing stress, anxiety and increase in medical expenses. CANCER: This week starts with a thrust forward for those of you in the creative profession. Though you will not find money coming your way very easily, but you will receive immense recognition and appreciation for your efforts. Businessmen can expect financial benefits through speculation during this period. There will be an increase in your income, but pending debts will make it impossible for you to save. Home front will be pleasurable. Children and youngsters will demand more attention, but at the same time provide you with necessary affection and respect. LEO: This week starts with an opportunity for you to excel in your profession. Some of you will see a change in their career for the better and others will gain monetarily. Be cautious on the professional front because seniors or business partners may become unfair and try to take undue advantage of you. People in creative professions like advertising, artists and writers will receive laurels for their contributions and efforts. All those preparing to tie a knot can look forward to a happy relationship. VIRGO: Seniors, colleagues and subordinates will be very helpful. Business negotiation will work to your advantage bringing you handsome monetary benefits. Investment made in the past is likely to yield good returns. This week your spouse will be in a supportive mood and cherish moments spend with you. Children will do exceptionally well in academics and some will even win medals for their achievements in sports or social activities. Be careful of your diet and make it a point to adhere by the advice of your elders. LIBRA: You start this week with new energy and excitement. Professionally and financially things look much brighter, but exercise self-control, restraint and abstinence to emerge a winner on all fronts. Long pending issues will get resolved and any disputes or disagreements with partners will ease out. Children, family members and relatives will be highly supportive to you and help you achieve your goals. An old friend will make an unscheduled but pleasant visit, sharing with you lots of delightful and memorable moments. SCORPIO: Significant week when you take major decisions about the future. Rethinking about your past investments and future business alliances will keep you in office overtime. Though a hectic and stressful week, it will prove to be beneficial and rewarding in the long run. This period is also good for builders and those related to construction industry. Highly memorable time for those taking a vacation as they will find themselves getting attracted into a romantic alliances. SAGITTARIUS: This week you should be prepared for some unexpected obstacles on your personal front. Love and romance alone will not succeed in cheering you up, because of your increasing dependence on those you love. Professionally this seems to be a mild period, as romantic disturbances seem to cloud your mind. Try a few outings and short trips to cheer yourself up and boost your spirits. Meditation and yoga will be ideal for spiritual as well as physical benefits. CAPRICORN: This week business related journey will prove to be highly rewarding. The likelihood of a change of job or an improvement in your work environment is quite strong. You will have tremendous confidence in your capabilities. Your creativity will win you appreciation and rewards. Your domestic front however will not be all that smooth as disagreements and arguments will buildup over non-issues. Stress related ailments like backache, headache, sleeplessness cannot be ruled out. For some, a change of residence or renovation of the house will prove highly lucky. AQUARIUS: This week you will find yourself bothered about the sudden rise in your expenses. Financial help will be rendered by your family members and friends, but that will only suffice your immediate needs. For those at job, will have to put in extra hours to wind-up pending work. Although you will please your seniors and win their appreciation, but immediate monetary gains seem unlikely. Your workaholism will be bane for your spirits as romance might take a backseat. Invest wisely. PISCES: This week you will experience some hindrances over your new projects, but you wont have trouble in overcoming them. Maintain a low profile because there will be strong forces trying to work against your interests. Clear thinking with a bit of diplomacy will ensure that you immerge a clear winner. Businessmen who will be travelling for new contracts will achieve their goals. Unexpected gains in cash and kind for some. Highly beneficial time for career women and those in the fields of art, media and garments will do extremely well.

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

April: 9 You are governed by the number 9 and dominated by the planet Mars. You are also influenced by the planet Mercury. Full of courage, dashing ness, you are a born warrior. You will not let any obstacle come your way. In the coming year, you can expect to reach your ambitious goals, because of your perseverance and determination. You will be able to study any subject in great details and this will bring success to you in your individual projects. But sometimes, you tend to jump to rushed decisions. You try to undertake projects, which may be too big for you to handle alone. Try not to be egoistic and over estimate your strength and capabilities. Your conversational abilities will make you a centre of attraction, at social gatherings. Your inborn ability to tackle subjects like science and mathematics will draw a lot of attention and praise from those around you. The months of May, October and January will be very significant. April: 10 Governed by the number 1 and the Sun, you are also dominated by the planet Mercury. You are a faithful friend and can be trusted to keep secrets of those who confide in you. Systematic and sincerity, will lead you to newer heights of success, in your professional front, in the year ahead of you. An ability to be good at anything that you undertake is likely to catch the attention of your seniors, and you will be rewarded for your efforts. The year ahead of you, will be financial profitable. Those of you in business are likely to undertake important projects, and achieve success in the same. Some of you are likely to get attracted to the opposite sex, and probably make a special friend, in the year ahead of you. A word of advice to you try to avoid taking hasty decisions or take the law in your hands. The months of July, November and January will be very significant. April: 11 Governed by the number 2, you are also governed by the planet Moon and dominated by Mercury. Hard working by nature, you are also sincere and honest to your work. You will not compromise on sincerely or honesty. Any job, undertaken by you will be done to perfection, in the year ahead of you. This will bring you fame and recognition. You will be able to make the right decisions in important matters. Those of you in the writing field will reach newer heights of success, in the year ahead of you. But you tend to worry over trivial matters. This only creates tension and stress not only for you, but also for your family members. You will have to learn to relax and let small problems sort out themselves. You also tend to become a little selfish at times. This is not very well received by your friends. The months of June, December and March will be very important. April: 12 You are governed by the number 3 and by the planet Jupiter. You are also dominated by the planet Mercury. You are firm in your words and deeds. An introvert by nature, you do not exhibit your feelings easily. In fact, you try to maintain a distance from those who talk too much. The coming year will see you lead a luxurious life. Financially, it will be a good year for you. But you will have to keep a control on your habit of finding faults with others. Try to overlook trivial faults in your friends and relatives. Those of you, who are to be married this year, can expect to achieve success and happiness in your married life. You tend to worry too much over small matters. Learn to relax and let small matters sort out themselves. This will help you to keep away from stress and strain. The months of April, August and January will be very significant. April: 13 Governed by the number 4, you are also governed by the planet Uranus, and dominated by the planet Mercury. Your ambitious nature, coupled with your good luck, will take you to newer heights of success, in the year ahead of you. Money matters will be of no worry to you. Financially it is going to be a good year, for most of you. You will overcome obstacles in professional life, very easily. You will not allow any trivial matters to upset you or come in your way of success. Your strong memory, will also be an asset for you. You will be able to impress your seniors with your determination and a sharp memory. You will be moving in an intellectual crowd, in the year ahead of you. This will help you both in your professional career, and also allow you to enjoy a good social life. The months of July, September and November will be very eventful. April: 14 You are governed by the number 5 and ruled by the planet Mercury. You are co operative by nature and will go all out to maintain peace and harmony at work, as well as the domestic front. Since you do not like to annoy anyone, and are always adjusting to others demands, you have a lot of friends around you. Your keen power of observation and your sharp mind will bring success to you in your business pursuits, in the year ahead of you. You are a reserved person and do not easily show your emotions. This will be an added asset to you. Those of you, who are single, can expect to find their life partner, in the year ahead of you. Also, marriage will bring you happiness as well as prosperity. You will be tempted to play high stakes in gambling, and you should be careful where to draw the line. The months of May, September and January will be very eventful. April: 15 You are governed by the number 6 and the planet Venus. You are also dominated by the planet Mercury. You are born with intelligence and communication skills. Most of you do well as lawyers, because you have the ability to put forward your arguments. Honor, prestige and dignity, will be all yours, in the year ahead of you. You will enjoy your work and go to the depth of any project that you undertake. The domestic front will be full of happiness and peace. You will have well wishers and family around you and they will be ever ready to help you, when and if the need arises. But you will have to be careful of not taking hasty decisions. Be calm, take your time, weigh the pros and cons, before jumping to any decision or conclusion. Use your sharp memory to your advantage. You will be drawn towards research and studies, in the coming year. The months of June, October and December will be very significant.

Before you consult...

i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, dont feel shy. Its his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.

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Spiritual Awareness TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 9-15, 2011