Vol 7 Issue 50 - April 18-24, 2015

The South Asian Times
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Vol.7 No. 50 April 18-24, 2015 60 Cents
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Hillarys presidential bid gets

Indian community talking
By Parveen Chopra
New York: India and by association Indian Americans
nurture a soft spot for the Clintons who have spent quality
time in India over the years. So, naturally, Hillary
Clintons announcement last Sunday that she is running for
President in 2016 has energized the community. The South
Asian Times asked a few prominent Indian Americans to
appraise her race, her chances of taking the White House and
whether she will be good for the country and for India.
We received responses from seven of them, with
Democrat as well as GOP leanings.
If successful, Hillary Clinton will break the
highest glass ceiling for women.
For full story see page 8-9.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Indian diaspora at Ricoh Coliseum
in Toronto on April 15 where 10,000 people gave him rockstar welcome.
Modi concludes
successful
3-nation visit
Inks numerous deals, pitches for Make in India and
invest in India, connects with diaspora in France, Germany & Canada
Toronto: In yet another power-packed foreign trip in just 10 months in office, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his visit
to three G7 countries in just a week, signing
numerous pacts and garnering investments
for India from France, Germany and Canada.
One high point came in Toronto on
Wednesday when 10,000 Indo-Canadians
thronged his 'rockstar' show. It had all the
trappings of a rockstar concert as Bollywood
singer Sukhwinder Singh, Shiamak Davar
troupe and other groups set the tone for the
US AFFAIRS 10
evening. The adoring audience interrupted

Modi repeatedly during his hour-long speech
in Hindi with shouts of "Modi, Modi..." as he
highlighted the changes sweeping India.
Wherever he went, Modi made a pitch for
Make in India, and Invest in India, citing
the liberalized tax regime etc to make it easier to do business in India. Modis hosts too
were equally pleased. India signed a deal to
DIASPORA 15
Continued on page 4
Vaisakhi celebrated at New York Town Hall

First Lady honors Ritu Nanda with Woman of the Year award
New York: Ritu Nanda, filmmaker Raj Kapoors daughter who is

hugely successful in life insurance business and a Guinness record
winner for selling pension policies, was honored with Woman Of The
Year Award by NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray at the Vaisakhi
celebration organized by community leader Pam Kwatra (extreme
right), at NY Surrogate Court. Public Advocate Letitia James
(inset) addressing the 150-strong audience.
Satya Nadella is highest paid CEO in the US

New York: With an annual pay
package of $84.3 million, tech
giant Microsoft's Indian-origin
chief Satya Nadella has emerged
as the top-paid CEO in the US,
as per a new list
The Equilar 100 CEO Pay
Study, an analysis of CEO
See detailed stories on page 16-18.
SELF HELP 26
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30
salaries at the 100 largest public

US companies as measured by
revenue, was last year topped by
Oracle's Larry Ellison, who has
been now pushed by Nadella to
the second position. Another
Indian-origin CEO, Indra Nooyi
Continued on page 4
Also see page 3 for Obama award to Nadella as 'Champion of Change'.
excellence in journalism
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
April 18-24, 2015
Mangano installs Indian-American Economic Advisory Committee

The committee comprising business leaders has Shudh Parkash Singh as Chairman and Aron Govil as Vice-Chair.
Mineola: In a history-making event for the
community, Nassau County Executive
Edward P. Mangano installed the first-ever
Indian-American Economic Advisory
Committee (IAEAC ) on April 13.
The committee will assist the County in the
development, advancement and betterment of
economic, employment and business opportunities for Indian American residents of the
County and to encourage further investment
in the County.
At the event hosted by the Nassau County
in the Theodore Roosevelt Executive &
Legislative Building in Mineola, Hon.
Mangano administered the oath of office of
Chairman to Shudh Parkash Singh and to 12
members of the IAEAC in the presence of
elected officials, community leaders and a
few hundred professionals and business
owners who packed the hall. The following
committee members were installed: Shudh
Parkash Singh, CEO of the JGroup,
Chairman; Aron Govil, Chairman & CEO of
Ducon Technologies, as Vice-Chair; Jaspreet
Mayall, Esq., Partner at Certilman Balin
Adler & Hyman, LLP, as General Secretary;
Sunil Kumar Shah, President & CEO of Hi-
Members of the new committee posing with Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano,
Countys Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves, Director of Business & Economic
Development Kamlesh Mehta, and Hempstead Town Clerk Nasrin G. Ahmad.
Tech Industrial (USA), Inc., as Secretary.

Other members are: Kanwal Sra, CEO of Sra
& Associates LLP and Jackson Hewitt
Franchisee; Sunil Modi, licensed engineer
and real estate consultant; Ravi Chopra, CEO
of STI Group; Mohan Wanchoo, President &
CEO of EC Infosystems; Shaker Nelanuthala,
CEO of Herbal Destination; Dr. Vaijinath
Chakote, Board Certified Physician in
Internal Medicine; Manoj Narang, CEO of
VM Petro Inc; Ashok Sapra, Entrepreneur;
and Kiran Mandrekar, Managing Principal,

Growth Capital International, LLC. Kamlesh
C. Mehta, Director of the Nassau County
Office of Business & Economic
Development, welcomed Hon. Mangano, all
elected members and other officials present.
Norma Gonsalves, Nassau County Presiding
Officer, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mangano in his speech praised the contributions of the Indian Americans and wanted
to see new investments coming to Nassau
County from them. He wants to make Nassau

a more business friendly county and wants
the new committee to act as a bridge between
the growing Indian-American owned businesses and Nassau. Shudh Parkash Singh in
his remarks pointed out that IAEAC was
being inaugurated on the auspicious day of
Vaisakhi founding day of the Sikh religion,
without which India couldn't have been
liberated.
The committee, he said, is an important
milestone for the Indian community in one of
the biggest and richest counties of America.
He praised the County Executive for giving
an unprecedented representation to Indian
Americans in his administration. Shudh
detailed the committees goals: To help
small business by bringing to the attention of
County officials the problems faced by
Indian-American business owners. We will
work towards inviting corporate India to
invest in our county.
Kamlesh Mehta has already spoken to the
top officials of the foreign affairs ministry of
India, he added. Aron Govil, Vice-Chair,
thanked the officials and community leaders
present in big numbers.
International Hindi Center to come up in New Jersey
Obama to honor Nadella with

'Champion of Change' award
New Brunswick, NJ: Hundreds of

academicians, business professionals, public officials and community
leaders unanimously adopted a resolution to establish an International
Hindi Center as a hub of academic
and cultural activities to promote
Hindi as a world language.
At the Second International Hindi
Conference held at Rutgers
University campus in New Jersey
April 3-5 approved the resolution as
Amb. Dnyaneshwar Mulay, ConsulGeneral of India in New York, who
chaired the event, declared the resolution as adopted at the concluding
session on April 5.
Organized by the Hindi Sangam
Foundation, dedicated to promotion
of Hindi in USA, the conference
was sponsored by Rutgers
University, many US and Indian
universities, corporations and institutions such as, Air India, Bank of
India, SBI, TV Asia and Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan. The Indian
Consulate in NY actively supported
the event. Amb. Mulay assured the
audience that the Government of
India would support the establishment of Hindi Center in USA.
Promising to use his good offices
for raising funds for the center, he
Washington: President Barack

Obama plans to honor Microsoft's
Indian-origin
CEO
Satya
Nadella with
the 'Champions
of
Change'
award
for
bringing about
change within
his company to support working
families. "Microsoft recently
announced that over the next year
it will make changes to ensure
that a wide variety of suppliers
that do business with Microsoft in
the US provide at least 15 days of
paid leave each year to their
employees who handle Microsoft
work," the White House said as it
announced the names of recipients of the Champions of Change
Award. 'Champions of Change'
award is given to those who support working families and have
helped to bring about change
within their companies, communities or organizations by advocating for commonsense paid sick
and paid leave policies, equal pay
and an end to pregnancy discrimination to support families, businesses, and economy.
(1) Ambassador Mulay seen with Dr. James Masschaele, Executive Vice Dean, School of Arts and
Sciences, Rutgers University, at the conference with Ashok Ojha, the event coordinator.
(2) Delegates and others at the International Hindi Conference, Rutgers University.
said, Hindi Center will become a

reality soon where all educational
activities regarding Hindi learning
including exchange programs and
joint projects with India based institutions and universities will take
place under one roof. Mulay, an
accomplished author and poet, also
inaugurated the conference, where
senior Rutgers University officials
touched upon growing relationship
between Rutgers and various institutions in India. Dr. Joanna Regulska,
Rutgers University Executive Vice
President for International and
Global Affairs, expressed her happiness over the strong support extended by Government of India to
Rutgers. According to a blueprint
presented by Dr. Ved Chaudhary, a
Hindi Sangam Foundation official,

an independent facility for the center would cost over $4 million to
construct in Central New Jersey.
Members of high distinction in the
promotion of Hindi representing
North America, Caribbean Islands
and South American nations, nominated by Hindi Sangam Board of
Trustees, would comprise the board
of advisors. The Consul-General of
India will be a permanent invitee.
The proposal to establish Hindi
Center was originally adopted by
the First International Hindi
Conference held at the New York
University on April 25-27 last year.
It was endorsed by International
Hindi Conference, Mauritius
through a similar resolution on Oct
30-Nov, 2014.
More than 250 delegates from
various US, India and Canada based
universities, businesses and educational institutions attended the New
Jersey event, where discussions
were held on various topics, such as
Hindi for professional purposes,
Status of Hindi literature in the
Indian Diaspora, Status of Hindi on
the web, and Hindi story writing. A
Kavi Sammelan and a two-hour
play were part of the conference.
Renowned academicians and
research scholars such as Dr. Christi
Merrill, University of Michigan, Dr.
Mary Curran, Rutgers, Dr. Satya
Santosh, Indian Institute of Delhi,
Dr. Surendra Gambhir, UPenn,
Continued on page 4
TURN PAGE
April 18-24, 2015
India assures foreign investors of a modern tax regime

Washington: India's Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley has assured foreign investors that the
government of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi was working on a more modern tax
regime as part of ongoing reforms to
increase investment and reduce regulations
to realize double-digit growth.
"In order to realize double-digit growth we
need to undertake a number of reforms to
increase investment and reduce burdensome
regulations. Key among them are taxes,"
Jaitley said in a speech at the Peterson
Institute for International Economics here.
Spelling out a tax vision for India at the
leading think tank on international economic
issues, Jaitley said he believed that with the

reforms underway in India, "we are well on
our way to having one of the more modern
tax systems in the world."
Noting that India, "one of the bright spots
in the economy", is attracting the attention of
investors and policy-makers around the
world because of its rising growth prospects,
he acknowledged investors' concerns about
tax related issues.
Outlining various reforms undertaken by
the Modi government, Jaitley said,
"Fundamentally we have restored faith in
government and its ability to push the Indian
economy toward the path of sustained dou-
Indore girl Bhavyangana wins

in space art contest
Indore: Indore girl
Bhavyangana Kanthed
has secured 2nd position
(in 11-12 age category)
at the International Space
Art Contest 2015 organized by the Space
Foundation headquartered in Colorado, USA.
Bhavyangana Kanthed,
daughter of Jain parents
Priyamvada and Sandeep
Kanthed, is the only
Indian selected in the Bhavyangana Kanthed, 12 years old
contest. Students from student of Choithram School, Manik
around the world, ages 3 Bagh from Indore, Madhya Pradesh,
through 18, were invited also made a World Record for most
to submit original artpictures drawn in a minute.
works for this year's
theme, "The View From My Springs, Colo. The art will also
Spaceship." Winners in 1st, 2nd be displayed at the Space
and 3rd place in 8 categories Foundation World Headquarters
and Discovery Center, located in
were selected from 3,686 entries.
The winning entries were dis- Colorado Springs.
The winners receive a certifiplayed at the 31st Space
Symposium April 13-16 at The cate, ribbon, personalized astroBroadmoor Hotel in Colorado naut autograph and an art kit.
ble-digit growth."
Spelling out his vision of a modern 21st
century tax system for India, Jaitley said the
Indian Parliament will pass a bill in the coming weeks to implement Goods and Services
Tax (GST), a consumption-based valueadded tax.
It would, he said, create a broad tax base,
strengthen revenues going forward, increase
the tax-GDP ratio, promote transparency,
reduce corruption and go toward creating an
Indian common market because it will
replace a number of state-levied taxes.
India's direct tax system needs to catch up
with the modern GST system, said Jaitley
Ex-employee sues TCS for

favoring South Asians in US
Washington: A former employee of Tata Consultancy Services

(TCS) has accused India's leading
IT services company of discriminating against American workers
and favoring "South Asians" in
hiring and promotion.
In a complaint filed Tuesday in
San Francisco federal court,
Steven Heldt claimed that 95 percent of the 14,000 people TCS
employs in the US are South
Asian or mostly Indian.
This practice has created a
"grossly disproportionate workforce," it says. TCS achieves its
"discriminatory goals" by hiring
large numbers of H-1B workers
and locally hiring "disproportionately South Asian" workers, the
complaint alleged, according to
Computerworld.
For the "relatively few nonSouth Asians workers that Tata
hires," it disfavors them in placement, promotion and termination
decisions, it alleged.
From 2011 to 2013, TCS sponsored nearly 21,000 new H-1B

visas, all primarily Indian workers, the lawsuit claimed.
The lawsuit, which seeks class
action status, is similar to a lawsuit filed last year against Infosys
in federal court in Wisconsin.
Heldt "one of the few nonSouth Asians to gain employment
with Tata" describes a "miserable
experience during his 20-month
employment period" handling
jobs that "often involved only
menial responsibilities" and
experienced "substantial antiAmerican sentiment" along the
way.
The lawsuit contended that one
top Tata HR manager instructed
recruiters to focus on hiring
Indians, and that this official "has
expressed his dislike for
American workers," and
"believes Indians were smarter
and better qualified than
Americans."
New Delhi Bureau

Meenakshi Iyer
Delhi@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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noting, "Currently we have in some ways the

worst of both worlds: high marginal corporate taxes (35 percent) but low effective collection (22 percent)."
"We create the perception of a high tax
country and yet do not collect commensurate
taxes," he said. "We need to change this to
promote investment and growth. At the same
time we need to create incentives for savings."
A long standing demand of the US financial services industry, for allowing foreign
investments in alternative investment fund
(AIF) structured has been introduced in this
year's Budget, he said.
Strategy and Marketing

Jinal Shah
P: 315-436-1142
jinal.shah85@gmail.com
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Jaipur (India) Bureau
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Photo Journalist: Sandeep Ganatra
Modi concludes successful...

Continued from page 1
buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from
France. Under another deal with
the French, they will manufacture
nuclear reactors in India, creating
clean energy. With Canada he
broke a logjam and secured a deal
on the supply of uranium to power
Indias civilian nuclear program.
Satya Nadella is highest paid ...
of PepsiCo, is ranked 19th with
$19.08 million yearly package.
Ellison ($67.3 million) is followed
by Steven Mollenkopf of
Qualcomm at the third place on the
list with $60.7 million.
International Hindi Center to...
Dr. Gabriela Nik Ilieva, NYU, and
Dr. Hemanti Bannerji, Wharton
School of Business, presented
papers and took part in discussions
at the conference. The papers are
posted on the conference website.
Rutgers University was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the conference participants, said Asher
Ghertner, Director of SASP, Rutgers
University.
For more information, contact: Ashok
Ojha, aojha2008@gmail.com.
Cartoonist: Mahendra Shah

Art and Design: Vladimir Tomovski
Bhagwati Creations,
Dhiraj Kumar
Web Editor: B.B.Chopra
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TRISTATE COMMUNITY
Clinton picks Maya Harris to

lead her agenda team
Bhadreshkumar Patel is the prime suspect
Washington, DC: A 24-year-old Indian, suspected to have murdered his wife in a restaurant,
is on the run, a media report said.
Palak Bhadreshkumar Patel, 21, was found
murdered inside the kitchen of a Dunkin Donuts
restaurant on Arundel Mills Boulevard in
Hanover, Maryland. Police said her husband
Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel is a suspect in
the case, CBS Baltimore reported on Monday.
Both the husband and wife were Dunkin Donuts
employees. "We are treating this as domestic-re-
lated, not random. Again, they were husband and

wife and lived together in the area here," a police
officer was quoted as saying.
Police received a call from a police officer
around 11 p.m. on Sunday, informing them
about the murder.
"We have officers that work in this area. One
of the officers came to the business and found
the victim," the officer added.
A manhunt has been launched to trace the
husband.
Excellent Business
Opportunity
Washington, DC: Making

Senate.
her second presidential run,
Their mother, Shyamala
Hillary Clinton has set up a
Gopalan Harris, a cancer rethree person team of senior
searcher who came to the US
policy advisers headed by Infrom Chennai in 1960, is of
dian-American Maya Harris, a
Indian descent while their faformer senior fellow at the
ther is from Jamaica.
Center for American Progress.
Harris received her bacheThe team will help develop
lor's degree from the Univeran agenda for her presidential
sity of California at Berkeley
campaign that would be unand graduated with distincfolded in a series of policy
tion from Stanford Law
rollouts expected to begin late
School.
next month after her early
At age 29, Harris was rephase of road trips to meet
cruited to serve as dean and
voters, Politico reported.
chief executive officer of
Two others on the policy
Lincoln Law School of San
team are Ann O'Leary, a for- Maya Harris was senior fellow at Center Jose making her one of the
mer legislative director to
country's youngest law
for American Progress
Clinton when she was in the
school deans. Harris later
Senate; and Jake Sullivan, a top agenda until earlier this year and served as executive director of the
aide to Clinton while she was Sec- was the founder of the CAP.
American Civil Liberties Union,
Harris, 46, has a background in or ACLU, of Northern California,
retary of State and a former national security adviser to Vice human rights, having served as where she led the litigation, pubVice President of Democracy, lic education, advocacy, and orPresident Joe Biden.
Besides the policy team, Clinton Rights and Justice at the Ford ganizing efforts of the nation's
is also likely to keep getting infor- Foundation, where she led a team largest ACLU affiliate.
mal advice from another Indian- that promoted effective goverHarris is married to Tony West,
American Neera Tanden, the cur- nance, democracy and human who left the Obama administrarent president of CAP and a long- rights around the world.
tion last September after five
She is the younger sister of Ka- years as associate attorney genertime adviser.
Clinton's campaign chairman, mala Harris, California's first In- al, the third top official in the JusJohn Podesta headed President dian-American-African attorney tice Department. They have one
Barack Obama's executive action general who is now running for daughter, Meena.
Wife found murdered in Dunkin

Donuts kitchen, husband on the run
April 18-24, 2015
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Raja Rajeswari becomes NY's

first Indian-American judge
New York: Chennai born Raja

Rajeswari, who came to America when she was 16, has become
the first person of Indian descent
to be named as a criminal court
judge in New York City.
Rajeswari, 43, an assistant district attorney at the Richmond
County District Attorney's office, who was nominated to the
bench by Mayor Bill de Blasio,
formally assumed her new office Tuesday.
"It's like a dream. It's way beyond what I imagined," she was
quoted as saying by silive.com,
a Staten Island news website.
"For someone like me, an immigrant who comes from India, I'm beyond
grateful," she said. "I told the mayor this is
not only my American Dream, but it shows
another girl from a faraway country that
this is possible."
Rajeswari, who has worked at the district
attorney's office for 16 years, has been the
deputy chief of the Special Victims Unit
for more than four years.
She hopes to use her new position to improve the judicial system by encouraging
interpreters to have more access to aid immigrants, the news site said. Rajeswari told
Raja Rajeswari
ethnic weekly Desi Talk she had observed

gender inequality even before coming to
the US when some of her "brilliant" girlfriends in India were married off at the age
of 14 and 15. "That has always stayed with
me."
Besides her legal acumen Rajeswari is an
accomplished Bharat Natyam and Kucchipudi dancer who continues to perform
at Indian events and temples with her
troupe from the Padmalaya Dance Academy, named after her mother, Padma Ramanathan.
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
April 18-24, 2015
"Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen" to premiere in NYC
Washington, DC: "Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen", a multi-media chamber opera by
Shirish Korde, a Uganda born composer of Indian descent, is set for its world premiere
shows in New York City on June 26-27. With
a libretto by playwright Anusree Roy and directed by Tom Diamond, the full-length, semistaged shows will be performed at the Alvin
Ailey Citigroup Theatre. They are co-presented by the Indo-American Arts Council and Da
Capo Chamber Players.
The opera is a series of musically com-
pelling and visually stunning scenes, a riveting dramatisation that explores real (and reimagined) events in the life of the notorious
Phoolan Devi, according to a media release.
"Born into poverty, sold as a child bride, abducted by bandits, abused and victimized, imprisoned, elected to India's Parliament and
then tragically gunned down in the streets of
New Delhi in 2001, the Bandit Queen was just
37 at the time of her death."
"Phoolan Devi's life raises difficult and universal questions about violence and women,"
said Korde.
"Her story is so compelling that it was imperative for me to expand my 2006 song cycle
into this full length opera which only just begins to capture her extraordinary circumstances," he said. Aroon Shivdasani, founder
and executive director of the Indo-American
Arts Council said: "The energy and strength of
Phoolan Devi is particularly powerful in the
context of today's awakening awareness of
decades of brutality towards women."
Shirish Korde's compelling score is a dis-
tinctive synthesis of Asian and contemporary

Western traditions - among them are Indian
classical singing, opera, jazz and hip hop. The
award winning playwright/actor Anusree Roy
has written a libretto that brings to life a
woman of so many contradictions who polarized the Indian population.
The performers include Zorana Sadiq, soprano, and Dashon Burton, bass baritone.
They are set against a backdrop of stunning visuals created by multi-media artist Raphaele
Shirley.
IN BRIEF
IFFLA announces award winners
Indian priest gets 27-year jail term

for bank fraud
n Indian-oricard number by telegin
former
phone to guarantee
leader of a
payment.
now defunct Hindu
He charged his foltemple in Georgia has
lowers credit card
been sentenced to 27
numbers on multiple
years in prison for
occasions, in excess of
committing bank and
the agreed amount and
tax frauds, money
without authorization.
laundering and using
When the followers
the temples income
disputed the charges
to fund his personal
with their credit card
Swami Selvam
lifestyle.
companies, AnnaSiddhar
Annamalai Annamalai submitted false
malai also known as Swamiji Sri documentation to the credit card
Selvam Siddhar, was in August companies in support of the
2014 convicted for bank and tax unauthorized charges. He later
frauds following a two-week jury filed spurious lawsuits against
trial. He was also convicted of followers, who disputed his
bankruptcy fraud offences in charges and manipulated audio
connection with the temples pe- recordings to make it sound as if
tition for bankruptcy protection the followers had agreed to the
in August 2009. Annamalai per- disputed charges.
verted the sacred institution of reThe income generated by the
ligion by using it as a vehicle for temple through these credit card
greed and personal profit, said charges was used to fund the peracting attorney John A Horn.
sonal lifestyle of Annamalai and
He convinced his victims that his family, who owned or conthey had a problem in need of trolled numerous homes and real
spiritual guidance, and then took properties, luxury vehicles, and
advantage of their vulnerabilities foreign bank accounts in India.
for personal financial gain.
In addition to Annamalais
The sentence rendered against prison sentence, U.S. District
him is lengthy but just and fair Court Judge Timothy Batten also
considering the irreparable harm ordered Annamalai to not engage
he caused to his victims.
in any spiritual service for comAnnamalai generated income pensation, directly or indirectly
through the temple by charging through intermediaries. He
fees to his followers in exchange would be housed in a Communifor providing spiritual or related cations Management Housing
services.
Unit, which is a special facility
In a typical transaction, a fol- that will be able to monitor Anlower agreed to purchase a par- namalais telephone calls and
ticular service for a communicat- electronic communications from
ed price, and provided a credit prison.
Chauranga receives Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature

he 13th annual Indian Film
Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) concluded April 12
with a red carpet and gala fete that
featured the U.S. premiere of
Nagesh Kukunoors Dhanak and
the presentation of the festival's
Grand Jury and Audience Choice
Awards.
This year the festival showcased
25 film features, documentaries,
and shorts at ArcLight Hollywood,
home of IFFLA since its inception,
including four world premieres,
seven North American premieres,
two U.S. premieres, and 10 Los
Angeles premieres. The films
hailed from six different countries,
including the United States, United
Kingdom, France, Cuba, and of
course India, and featured 10 different languages, from Hindi to
Marathi, to German to Bengali.
Four Colors (Chauranga), directed by Bikas Mishra, took home the
Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature,
(l to r) Pratyusha Gupta (Safar), Shweta Tripathi

(Haraamkhor), Bikas Mishra (Four Colors), Christina
Marouda (IFFLA), Jasmine Jaisinghani (IFFLA), Leena
Pendharker (Dandekar makes a Sandwich) and Isaac Hagy
(Tomorrow We Disappear)
with Best Actress honors going to

Kalki Koechlin for Margarita With
A Straw, and Shweta Tripathi for
Haraamkhor in a tie. The Best Actor prize, also a tie, was awarded to
the young stars of The Crows Egg,
brothers J. Vignesh and Ramesh. A
special jury mention was made for
the stunning cinematography of

Labour of Love. The Grand Jury
Prize for Best Short was presented
to Dandekar Makes A Sandwich,
directed by Leena Pendharker. An
honorable mention was given to
The Rabbit (Khargosh), directed by
Sudarshan Suresh.
Former Miss America Nina Davuluri throws rst pitch

aseball fans and families watching
throughout the nation witnessed a historic night in Philadelphia with a
memorable evening celebrating cultural diversity, a Phillies win and a first pitch thrown
by former Miss America, Nina Davuluri.
On April 11th, Platinum Dream Events,
Philadelphias premiere event planning and
production company, provided Philadelphia
Phillies fans with an outstanding entertainment line-up featuring on-field performers, a
dance spectacular at Left Field plaza, a Bollywood performance on the dug-out with the
Philly Phanatic, and a first pitch honoring
Miss America 2014.
Fans were welcomed into the stadium to the

sounds of the top 40 in Bollywood fused with
western beats. The citys top university dance
teams took stage to bring South Asia to
Philadelphia and were seen performing and
giving fans an opportunity to learn some of
the latest moves. The plaza event culminated
with a visit from the beautiful Nina Davuluri
who greeted fans who were eager to shake her
hand or snap a selfie. Moments before throwing out the pitch Nina exclaimed, "Being here
for Asian Pacific night and spreading my message of Cultural Competency has been amazing! I'm looking forward to a great game and
win for the Phillies!"
Nina Davuluri
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
April 18-24, 2015
Couple donates $1 mn Pooja Chandrasekar gets accepted by Vaisakhi resolution

to University of Arizona all eight Ivy League schools, and others introduced in US House
Houston: An Indian-American couple has donated one million dollars for the construction of a
cancer services facility at the University of
Arizona. The couple, Dr Ram, an orthopedic surgeon, and Meera Krishna made the donation in
memory of Meera's sister, Mandira Jalajakshi,
who was a physician practicing in England when
she passed away in 2012.
The donation will go towards the construction of
the UA Cancer Center at St Joseph's Hospital and
Medical Center outpatient facility that would offer
comprehensive cancer services, including infusion, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging,
endoscopic radiology, a prevention center, clinical
lab space and several specialized cancer clinics.
The ve-story, 2,20,000 square-foot facility - a
partnership between the varsity and St Joseph's
Hospital - is currently under construction in downtown Phoenix and expected to open in September.
The couple, whose two daughters graduated
from the UA, said they wanted to give back to the
school their children attended, and support UA
medical education and research.
"I was very impressed with President Hart's
vision, and we wanted to give back. Education and
research in the medical eld are very important to
us," a press statement quoted Dr.Ram as saying.
In recognition of the Krishnas' gift, a space in
the new center will bear the name of the late
Jalajakshi.
New York: Pooja Chandrasekar, a senior at the Thomas Jefferson High

School for Science and Technology, a
top-ranked magnet school in Virginias
Fairfax County has earned admission
to all eight Ivy League schools.
She was also accepted at Stanford,
MIT, Duke, the University of Virginia,
the University of Michigan and
Georgia Tech, going 14 for 14.
17-year-old Pooja is no ordinary girl.
Shes got a 4.57 grade-point average,
scored a 2390 (out of 2400) on the
SAT, and aced all 13 of her Advanced
Placement exams.
She also founded a national nonprot
organization that encourages middleschool girls to participate in science,
technology, engineering and math
(STEM) programs.
Besides shes also developed a
mobile app that analyzes speech patterns and predicts with 96 percent
accuracy if a person has Parkinsons
disease.
Earning an acceptance letter from
one Ivy League school is a rare
achievement for most high school students. It is extremely rare for a student
Pooja Chandrasekar
to gain admission to all eight, although

a few each year manage to do so. Born
in Potomac Falls, Pooja is the only
child of two engineers who immigrated to the United States from
Bangalore.
Washington, DC: Sixteen US lawmakers

led by Democrat John Garamendi have
introduced a resolution in the US House of
Representatives, honoring the Sikh community's celebration of Vaisakhi.
The bipartisan resolution was co-sponsored among others by the lone IndianAmerican Congressman Ami Bera,
Democratic co-chair of the Congressional
Caucus on India and Indian Americans, one
of the largest in Congress with more than
180 members.
"America's founding ideals of freedom of
worship, equality, and justice are reected
in the Sikh American community's celebration of Vaisakhi," said Garamendi, co-chair
of the American Sikh Congressional
Caucus.
"I am proud to represent one of the largest
Sikh communities in the country. I have
partnered with the community on many
issues, including civil liberties, education,
and business development," he said.
"Sikhs are an integral part of the American
fabric, and we invite our fellow Americans
to learn more about their Sikh neighbors by
visiting their local gurdwaras and partnering
with us on community service projects,"
said Rajdeep Singh, senior director of law
and policy at the Sikh Coalition.
Barack Obama names Shamina Two Indian Americans among biggest givers of 2015
Singh to key post
Washington, DC: President
Barack Obama has named yet
another Indian-American as member of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation for National and
Community Service for a term
expiring in October 2019.
The nomination of Shamina
Singh, executive director of the
MasterCard Center for Inclusive
Growth since December 2013, has
been sent to the Senate, according
to a White House announcement
on Monday.
She joined MasterCard in 2013
as the global director for government services and solutions where
she expanded MasterCard's business capabilities to digitize social
subsidy programs in over 40 countries. Prior to joining MasterCard,
Shamina led government and public affairs for Nike and spent ve
years with Citigroup's Global
Community Development Group.
Over the course of 15 years in
Shamina Singh has been

named to board of
Corporation for National and
Community Service
the public sector, she held senior

positions within the Clinton
Administration and the US House
of Representatives.
Washington, DC: Two Indian

Americans have been listed among
the 50 biggest philanthropists of
2015 by the Town and Country
Magazine with the likes of Microsoft
co-founder Bill Gates and Apple
CEO Tim Cook.
"These are the men and women
whose serious dollars, bold ideas,
and old-fashioned hard work have
made them the year's most noteworthy and inspiring givers," the
American lifestyle magazine says of
the top givers including Adarsh
Alphons and Reshma Saujani.
The 'Grand Plan' of New York
based Alphons, 30, Founder &
Executive Director of ProjectArt,
which provides free art classes at
public libraries in all ve boroughs
of New York City, is to help troubled
students in the metropolis. Alphons,
son of former Indian bureaucrat K J
Alphons, was a troubled student
himself - he was once expelled for
drawing at the expense of his studies
- until one art teacher began encouraging his talent. He founded
ProjectArt in 2011 and by 2014 had
Adarsh Alphons, founder, ProjectArt & Reshma Saujani,

founder, Girls Who Code
11 thriving neighborhood programs,

funded heavily by art enthusiasts
from David Maupin to Kyle
DeWoody. Saujani, 38, an IndianAmerican lawyer and politician,
founded the tech organization Girls
Who Code to close technology's
gender gap. She did so noting that
demand for programmers has skyrocketed, the percentage of computer science graduates who are female
has gone down, from 37 percent to
12 percent over the past 30 years. In
December, her non prot announced
a major expansion of its seven-week

summer program around the US,
which will provide top-notch training to girls. Her partners include
AT&T and Twitter. Saujani hopes to
have taught one million by 2020.
Besides Bill & Melinda Gates, cochairs of the Gates Foundation and
Apple CEO Tim cook others on the
list include Facebook Chairman &
CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife
Priscilla Chan, former New York
mayor Michael Bloomberg and actor
Leonardo DiCaprio.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
April 18-24, 2015
Appraising Hillarys bid for President
Responses from 7 prominent Indian Americans, some

leaning Democrat and some leaning to GOP, on
Mrs Clintons race to the White House, and whether she
will be good for the country and for India.
By Parveen Chopra
of center trim some of her Democrat support? My answer is No. It's political positioning worthy of an endorsement from the
person with the second most important job
in America - NYC Mayor. Bill de Blasio is
Hillary's unquestioned supporter.
How different is her approach to the second presidential campaign as compared to
2008 when Barack Obama created much euphoria? Well, the Electric Euphoria of 2008
wasn't present in 2012, even though the Second Term is the Imperial term and President
Obama is giving America a new set of books

with new assets and less liabilities, to whit:
the opening of Cuba, the coalition of Muslim
majority countries fighting ISIS, the significant and serious attempt to bring Iran into
the comity of nations with the most stringent
and intrusive Iran nuclear deal, which will
surely secure the region including Israel.
Hillary's success will be historic, and even
fathers will be excited with their daughters'
future being unlimited.
What makes Mrs Clinton Indian Americans favorite? Well, Hillary, like Bill Clinton, is fabulous in speaking only to you even if in a crowd. I recall her, as a Senator,
upon meeting my daughter Angela in Albany
at the Caucus Weekend and commenting:
Angela, you changed your hairstyle.
Imagine the impact upon me. Indeed, when
I told her a few days later - her response was
direct proof of her political brilliance born in
warm details to win my heart.
Will Indias interests and Indo-US ties
benefit if she is in the White House? Sorry,
that's not the litmus test. What's best for
these United States under all circumstances
- that is the litmus test. Indeed, Republicans
and Democrats, some say Republicans even
more, appreciate US-India ties as a predicate
for the 21st Century enhanced peace and
prosperity. Indeed, it was President George
jobs, especially for the long unemployed,

and America's competitiveness in the
global marketplace.
Also, she has to change her approach in
connecting with ordinary people and she
cannot take women's vote for granted.
The mood of the country is very different
compared to 2008 as indicated by the
mid-term elections. People are tired of
posturing politicians and are looking for
pragmatic problem solvers. She has to
earn the left of center Democrats' support
by focusing on the government's role in
helping ordinary people with respect to
income inequality, jobs, prison system
reforms, etc.
Mrs Clinton understands India and
India's interests better than anybody else
because of her role as the Secretary of
State. It is unclear how much she can
really do for India given political pressures because of the international political climate.
Indian Americans have a soft spot for
Mrs. Clinton because of Bill Clinton's
connection to India. She is definitely
favored by Indian Democrats and it is not
clear how the Independents and
Republicans from the community are
perceiving her.
Good to have a
centrist leader
like her
view of global issues and great relations

abroad. Perfect timing! My philosophy is,
We are to the universe only as much as we
give back to it and Mrs. Clinton clearly
embodies that sentiment and spirit!
I said in London two years ago even before
she announced her candidacy that the middle
class American must be lifted. The polarizing
gap between the rich and the poor must be
reduced. The middle class America must be
empowered. Infrastructure needs to be rebuilt
and a faster internet highway added. A major
marshal plan is needed for employment, efficiency and infrastructure.
Mrs Clinton is ready and its not about
euphoria, its about taking the current growth
and moving it forward. America is in a soft
boom and is propelling forward and needs the
Democrats in power to keep this going. She
Its Hillarys race

to win
-Ravi Batra
Eminent Attorney & Chair of National
Advisory Council of South Asian Affairs
illary Clinton is a unique candidate
for the presidency of these United
States. Her singular ability, like
Barack Obama, to break the highest Glass
Ceiling is undeniable. As a Democrat, I welcome Marty O'Mally and inter alia, Jim
Webb as the Primary process will sharpen
the Democratic argument to take America to
new strengths and heights for all -- not just
those who have done well already. I look
forward to working with her and her campaign.
It's Hillary's race, without need to lose to
Jeb Bush, who is the best Republican candidate. I want her to revive the American
Dream for all - everyone must have a fair
shot to make a good life and a better one for
their kids. Income inequality is a legitimate
issue for people who work hard to achieve
the American dream.
Mayor Bill de Blasio not endorsing Hillary
and whether the perception of her being right
Hillary should
focus on domestic
issues
-Upendra Chivukula
Served 12 years as Assemblyman
in New Jersey
hances of Mrs Clinton becoming
a Democratic nominee are good.
Id like her to focus and address
domestic issues -- income inequality,
-Meera Gandhi
Founder of the Giving Back Foundation
am a ready for Hillary finance co-chair
and was one of the first to sign up for her
campaign. I sincerely think Mrs. Clinton
will be Americas next president as she
understands the issues the country is facing
right now and wants to be a champion to
improve the country.
I am supporting her because she has a clear
W. Bush who gave India the civil nuclear

deal - a deal which President Obama just
made sweeter for India when he was chief
guest at India's Republic Day celebration.
The biggest difference of who the President is, is in the appointments they make and no appointment is more important than
to the US Supreme Court, albeit, so many Indian Americans being appointed by President Obama to be US ambassador - as
Richard Rahul Verma is to India or Atul Keshap is to Sri Lanka - that's pretty cool and
heady too. Did I mention that President
Obama appointed Preet Bharara or Sri Srinivasan as a circuit court judge on the federal
Court of Appeals. President Obamas critical
appointments have become a benchmark for
every American president who follows him
to utilize the patriotism, the loyalty, and the
sheer intellect of the Indian American community to serve and protect the best interest
of these United States. Forgetting the absolute disgraceful Bobby Jindal, who sold
his soul, name and ethnic pride to move
ahead, I look forward to seeing an Indian
American not only run but win the presidency by 2040.
Hillary, if she remains a new candidate for
2016 without the 2008-errors, stays connected to all Americans, especially blacks and
Hispanics, then she is our next president!
appeals to Republicans too as she is more

middle of the road in her approach and views.
Her being in the White House will
undoubtedly be good for Indians and IndoUS ties. India is a budding economic powerhouse and the USA understands that.
Americas philosophy is about the work and
economic contribution and not about the person or his origin. The Clintons have spent
much quality time in India and they are personable, intelligent and the first American
administration to reach out to India.
On Mayor de Blasios non-endorsement,
sadly his stand does not mean much in the
big scheme of things. He is too fresh to the
arena! Yes, Mrs Clinton may lose some support from the left of center voters but I think
its best to have a President in the center as
many more needs can be met.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
GOP Presidents
have been better
for India
-Mayor Harry Anand
Business Executive & former Mayor of
Laurel Hollow, NY
illary Clinton will not be my
choice for the next President of
USA. She is a polarizing figure
and it would further add to the dysfunction in Washington. We need a leader
who can bring people together and lead
by forming consensus. Hillary is not that
person.
Being a woman should not be an advantage or a disadvantage for any candidate.
Mrs Clinton should be judged on her
record and her ability to perform as the
leader in current times.
With reference to her announcement
video, Id like Mrs Clinton to define that
everyday American. We often fall for
these one-liners without questioning the
specifics. Our current President pledged
to bring the country together and not be
the President of Blue States or the Red
States but the President of United States
of America, yet America has never been
so polarized on racial, political and eco-
nomic issues since the civil war. We

should not elect our next President based
on who is appealing to our emotions, but
use our intellect and base our votes on
facts supported by evidence.
Is Hillary right of center? Ive never
subscribed to the political theories of
right, left or center. These are vague definitions intended to confuse and misguide
the electorate. In a few months we may
find Mayor de Blasio going from left to
center and Hillary going from right to left
and embracing each other for their personal political gains.
On the unlikelihood of her creating the
Obama euphoria of 2008, I hope we do
not fall for the euphoria for any candidate
- Democrat or Republican - and vote for
Mrs Clinton will be

India friendly
President Bill Clinton refused to

help when IA Flight 814 was hijacked to
Kandahar by Taliban, supported by
Pakistan.
President Clinton called the Kargil
invasion by Pakistan a regional conflict
and took a neutral stand.
President Lyndon B. Johnson
refused to supply wheat to India and
refused to even meet with PM Lal
Bahadur Shastri.
President Kennedy in 1961 called

Nehrus visit to the US as the worst head
of the state visit and it marked the lowest level of US-India ties.
More recently, during President
Obamas tenure, Indian immigration to
the US has been at its lowest in over two
decades. The H1 visas granted for skilled
Indians has been at its lowest too. Middle
class Indian Americans, who actually
believe in working hard and not standing
in a line for social services, have seen
their taxes go up and their small businesses hurt by increased regulations and compliance issues.
On the Republican Presidents front:
India-US relations improved dramatically during President George W. Bush
presidency, including the signing of the
historic India-US nuclear treaty. Even
Forbes magazine called the 43rd as the
Best US President India has ever had.
During President Reagans presidency, visa and migration of Indians to
the US saw the biggest increase.
Yet, we should vote with our minds and
not our hearts. We should vote for the
candidate who is right for our community, our country of birth and our adopted
country.
-Renee Mehra
Journalist and anchor for ITV
Entrepreneur & producer-host of a TV show

do not see a Democrat candidate taking White House in
2016 whoever their nominee is. A Democrat President
was in office for 8 years and the new candidate will have
a lot to answer. Any party
in power for a long time
accumulates some baggage.
Notwithstanding Hillarys
focus on domestic issues in
her announcement video,
foreign policy is very critical and I hope she clearly
defines her vision for the
world.
She will not be able to
generate excitement among
young Americans like
Obama did in 2008. So,
rather than big rallies, she
should meet people in small groups to win their hearts.
President Bill Clinton is very popular among Indian
Americans. She will have to use him for the ride.
As for India, it will have beneficial relations with America
no matter who is in the White House. PM Modi is adept and
knows exactly what he must do to get what India needs.
America ready for a

woman President
-Raj Mehta
Neonatologist in Chicago, currently

advisor to Delhi health minister.
an effective leader who can build consensus and bring this country together.
On Indians soft spot for the Clintons, I
submit that the Indian American community has to grow up politically and start to
vote based on facts and not emotions. We
have fallen for false promises and big
speeches many times and regretted later
on. I am a registered Republican but I
have often voted for Democrats when I
think they have the right candidate. I am
sure GOP will have plenty to say against
the second Clinton just like Democrats
will rail against the third Bush in White
House. Once again, we need to base our
votes on facts and not theater of either
party.
Historically GOP Presidents have been
good for India and the Indian community
in US. Consider these facts about
Democrat Presidents:
No Dem can take

White House in 2016
-Munish Kumar Raizada
am a Republican in my attitude and beliefs.

But Hillary Clinton would be an interesting
candidate whom I may support after knowing her stand on issues like immigration and the
economy.
In her second
presidential bid,
she has far more
superior chances.
Last time too she
created a buzz,
but
Obama
proved far better
in creating ripples. She is no
doubt popular and
time is ripe for
her
to
coax
Americans
to
elect their first
woman President! Indian American community
knows the Clintons well and will naturally
receive Hillary with much gusto.
India can expect a friendlier President in
Hillary Clinton.
April 18-24, 2015
think America is ready for a woman President! Mrs Clinton is

a powerful and seasoned politician and a shoo-in for
Democratic nomination. But she will face a tough challenge
in the general election and only
time will tell how that will play
out in the final haul. Importantly,
it has to be seen how she connects
with the first time voters and the
young generation who may not
have much recollection about her
2008 presidential bid.
She started her campaign earlier
this week as the Champion for
Everyday Americans but it is too
early to know her campaign strategy and agenda and the issues she
will make as her priority. Her
opponents are furious about her
emails issue as Secretary of State
and her slow response but I think it will not derail her campaign
for long.
The Indian American community has traditionally been a strong
supporter of the Clintons and all eyes will be on her with regards
to issues of interest to us, namely, immigration reform, healthcare
and the economy.
With inputs from Jinal Shah
10
April 18-24, 2015
US AFFAIRS
2016: Hillary Clinton Vs the rest
Among the Republicans, Hillary Clinton leads Jeb Bush (right) 54 % to 40 % in a

matchup and with even larger margins over others who have entered the race.
Washington: The US presidential race took

off with Hillary Rodham Clinton finally jumping into the fray with an aura of inevitability,
but that analysts suggested may turn out to be
the former secretary of state's biggest handicap.
In her second bid to break the ultimate glass
ceiling and return to the White House, the former first lady chose a low-key video message
on social media to announce her run Sunday
before heading to Iowa, the state which traditionally kicks off the primaries.
The first official event of her 2016 presidential campaign was a roundtable discussion
with four students and educators in an automotive technology classroom at a community
college. There she declared her desire to

"begin a conversation" with Americans on
how she could "be the champion who goes to
bat for Americans."
Low key or not, Clinton's entry has electrified the somewhat somnolent presidential race
and generated media attention far and wide,
including India, with which she has a long history going back to her first visit as first lady in
1995.
As Alyssa Ayres, a fellow at the Council on
Foreign Relations, wrote in a recent blog post,
"First and foremost, she sees India as a crucial
part of US strategy in a world increasingly
centered on Asia, where, in her words, 'the
future of politics will be decided.'"
Obama not ready to endorse Hillary - yet
Washington: President Barack Obama is not

ready to formally endorse his ex-secretary of
state, Hillary Clinton, in her bid for the presidency because it is possible that other hopefuls for the post will appear, including other
"friends" of the commander-in-chief
A day after Clinton, who was defeated by
Obama in the Democratic primaries of 2008,
announced her intention to seek the party's
presidential nomination in 2016, White
House spokesperson Josh Earnest on
Monday scuttled rumors about any immediate support she might get from the president,
Efe news service reported.
"The two of them Obama and Clinton have
become friends, but there are other people
who are friends of the president who may
decide to enter the race. So the president has
not offered up any sort of endorsement at
Within her own Democratic Party, Clinton is
miles ahead of her likely rivals - none of
whom have officially declared their intention
to run.
Among the Republicans, she leads former
Florida governor Jeb Bush 54 % to 40 % in a
matchup and with even larger margins over
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Wisconsin Governor
Scott Walker and Florida Senator Marco
Rubio, Time said.
Louisiana's Indian-American governor
Bobby Jindal is still toying with the idea of a
presidential run.
But potential Republican candidates lost no
time attacking Clinton leaving criticism of
likely primary rivals within the party for
another day.
Rubio, 43, the youngest contender in the
race so far, took a swipe at Clinton Monday.
"Just yesterday, a leader from yesterday," he
said as the crowd erupted in boos, "began a
campaign for President by promising to take
us back to yesterday. But yesterday is over,
this point," Earnest told his daily press conference. Though the spokesperson did not
identify exactly who those "friends" might
be, predictably among them will be Vice
President Joe Biden if he finally decides to
compete for the Democratic nomination.
Earnest emphasized that it will be "the
responsibility of Democratic voters to decide
who should be the Democratic nominee for
president" in 2016, and once the process is
concluded, whoever receives the party's
nomination "can be confident that they'll
enjoy the support of President Obama in
their campaign."
Last Saturday, Obama called Hillary
Clinton a "friend" who would be "an excellent president," a statement interpreted by
some as an implicit endorsement for his former secretary of state.
and we are never going back."

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul released a
video ad critical of Clinton hours before she
officially declared her candidacy Sunday saying she "represents the worst of the
Washington machine, the arrogance of power,
corruption and cover-up".
Cruz, another official 2016 GOP candidate,
questioned her success as secretary of state
saying "Hillary Clinton represents the failed
policies of the past".
Bush turned the Clinton debut into a
fundraising opportunity telling his supporters
in an email that "Hillary plans to raise $1.7
billion to win the White House ... which is
why I'm asking you to give $5 right now" to
"stop her."
With hardly any opposition worth the name,
Clinton may easily win the Democratic primary, but "she'll face a battle-tested
Republican opponent who will be in tip-top
shape to take on the Democrats," Time
suggested. She will be equally ready too.
Landing copter on Capitol grounds to protest money in politics

Washington: A mailman from Florida
wanted to make a big, bold point about the
corruption that results from money in politics. So Doug Hughes boarded a small personal aircraft called a "gyrocopter" and
flew an hour from Maryland into restricted
airspace over Washington and landed on
the West Lawn of the Capitol building
Wednesday noon.
In tote: letters for every member of
Congress urging them to reform campaign
finance laws.
It was a bizarre incident that riveted the
city and shut down the U.S. Capitol for part
of the day. Hughes was immediately taken

into custody.
Ex-NFL player Hernandez gets life for murder
Corporate Office: 385 Seneca Avenue, Ridgewood NY 11385

718.821.3182, www.AtlanticDialysis.com
Boston, Mass.: Former New

England Patriots star Aaron
Hernandez was convicted of
first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison
Wednesday, sealing the downfall of an athlete who once had
a $40 million contract.
Hernandez, 25, was held
guilty in the slaying of Odin
Lloyd, a 27-year-old landscaper and amateur football player
who was dating the sister of Hernandez's
fiancee. The former football pro was also
found guilty on weapons charges. "The jury
found that he was just a man who committed a brutal murder," District Attorney
Thomas Quinn said. "The fact

that he was a professional athlete meant nothing in the end."
For reasons that were never
made clear to the jury, Lloyd
was shot six times in the middle of the night on June 17,
2013 in a deserted industrial
park near Hernandez's home
in North Attleborough.
Prosecutors presented a
wealth of evidence that
Hernandez was with Lloyd at the time he
was killed, including home security video
from Hernandez's mansion, witness testimony and cellphone records that tracked
Lloyd's movements.
INDIA
April 18-24, 2015
11
Finally, Rahul back after 56-day sabbatical AAP to take action against
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who remained

out of the public view for 56 days,
returned to the national capital on
April 16.
He (Rahul Gandhi) is back... I
have no doubt that he will be not
only taking proactive measures
but also with dynamism, with
commitment, provide leadership,
Congress leader Anand Sharma
said.
He returned amid intense speculation regarding his whereabouts.
Rahul Gandhi, 44, arrived at his
residence around noon on
Thursday, where his mother and
party president Sonia Gandhi as
well as his sister Priyanka were
already present, an AICC official
said.
A TV channel showed photographs of Rahul Gandhi sitting in
a vehicle as an SPG commando
stood close by.
After missing from action since
the budget session of parliament
began on February 23, the
Congress vice president will
address a kisan-mazdoor (farmerlabour) rally here on April 19 to
protest what the Congress has
described as the "anti-farmer"
Narendra Modi government.
Gandhi is also scheduled to hold
meetings with party leaders as
well as farmers' leaders on Friday
Yogendra Yadav, Bhushan
A TV image showing Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi

coming back to New Delhi after 56 days.
to discuss the contours and details

of the rally at Ramlila Ground
here.
On his return, Gandhi was
expected to be elevated as the
party chief at an AICC session in
April, but the session was later
rescheduled until after July.
Party worker Jadish Sharma,
however, told reporters outside
Rahul Gandhi's residence that he
would soon be made party chief
after April 19.
Sharma also claimed that Rahul
Gandhi was in Uttarakhand during
his sabbatical and not in Bangkok
as was being reported by a section
of the media.
Rahul Gandhi's leave of absence

prompted questions about his
leadership skills.
Former Delhi chief minister
Sheila Dixit has been quoted as
saying, "...(in case of) Rahul, of
course, there is a question mark,
there is scepticism because you
have not seen him perform as yet."
Her remarks echoed the sentiments of a few other senior leaders
who demanded Sonia Gandhi
should continue as party president.
The party, however, contended
Gandhi's absence was due to his
need to chart out the party's future
course in "isolation" after a series
of electoral drubbings.
New Delhi: The AAP will take

action against dissident party leaders Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra
Yadav and two others for organising 'Swaraj Samwad' - an open dialogue - against the party's wish, a
leader said here this week.
Taking to the media after the Aam
Aadmi Party's (AAP) two-hour
long Political Affairs Committee
meeting at Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal's residence, party
leader Sanjay Singh said: "We have
referred the matter of Yogendra
Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Ajit Jha
and Anand Kumar holding the
'Swaraj Samwad' to the national
disciplinary committee. It will take
suitable action." He, however,
refused to comment on when the
action would be taken.
Yadav and Bhushan, ousted from

the party's national executive on
March 28 for alleged "anti-party"
activities, held a day-long conference that was attended by over
4,000 people, many of whom
claimed to be AAP volunteers.
The event was seen as an attempt
to break the AAP led by Kejriwal.
However, Yadav, Bhushan and
Kumar have denied any intention to
split or leave the party. Earlier in
the day, Yadav and Bhushan hinted
at forming a political party and also
named Kumar as the national convener of the steering committee of
'Swaraj Abhiyan' -- a non-political
movement to establish 'swaraj'
(self-rule) in the country's cultural,
political, economic and social
fields.
Dissident AAP leader Yogendra Yadav addresses

during Swaraj Samvad in Gurgaon, Haryana.
Out with the truth, demands Kolkata on Netaji's death

Kolkata: Angry and shocked over
the alleged snooping on Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose' family by
successive Congress governments,
concerned citizens here termed it a
"national shame" and demanded to
know the truth that is purportedly
buried in secret government files.
United in rage, a large section of
eminent personalities and commoners alike have called for the
declassification of all secret government files on the nationalist
leader. With the fresh revelations
pertaining to 20-year period
between 1948 to 1968 making the
headlines last week, the clamor for
publicizing over 150 secret documents gained ground, prompting
the central government to set up
an inter-ministerial committee
headed by the Cabinet Secretary to
review the Official Secrets Act in
the context of such files.
Expressing his disbelief that the
Jawaharlal Nehru government
could order such snooping, former
Lok Sabha speaker Somnath
Chatterjee called for making the
secret documents public for the
truth to come out.
"Snooping has always been
unacceptable although it is quite
unbelievable that Nehru would
have ordered such a thing. But
then all these things would
Modi assurance on correcting

distortions, secret files
People stage a demonstration demanding the declassification of

documents related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Kolkata.
become clear if the classified documents of Bose are made public.

So I hope all the declassification
campaigns bear fruit," Chatterjee
told IANS. According to documents accessed by author and
researcher Anuj Dhar, Bose's two
nephews Sisir Kumar Bose and
Amiya Nath Bose were among the
family members spied upon for 20
years. While Sisir is said to be the
person who drove Netaji to
Gomoh in Bihar to facilitate his
"great escape", Amiya Nath has
often been called the "ideological
disciple" of the great leader.
Jawaharlal Nehru was prime
minister for 16 of these 20 years.
Chatterjee, however, expressed

his reservations over the interministerial panel that was constituted Wednesday.
"I don't know if the panel would
serve any purpose. Only time will
tell, if it's a concrete move or a
mere eyewash," added Chatterjee.
Former Supreme Court judge
A.K. Ganguly minced no words in
slamming the Congress for the
snooping controversy.
"It's a national shame. All the
secret Netaji documents must be
declassified because the people of
India have the right to know what
happened to their hero," added
Ganguly.
Kolkata: Netaji Subhas

Chandra Bose's descendants,
who have been campaigning
for declassification of secret
files on the nationalist leader,
exuded confidence of a positive outcome after getting an
assurance from Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on the issue.
A day after Netaji's grandnephew, Surya Kumar Bose,
met the visiting Modi in
Berlin, a section of the Bose
family was certain their campaign would bear fruit.
"The prime minister gave
Surya a patient hearing for
more than 40 minutes. Besides
looking into the snooping controversy, he has also assured
that he will take positive steps
towards declassification of the
secret files on Netaji," said
Surya Bose's brother and family spokesperson Chandra
Kumar Bose.
"The prime minister has
assured that the distorted his-
tory concerning Netaji will be

rectified. It is now a well
established fact that Netaji did
not die in the alleged planecrash of 1945. To rectify the
history of his death and to
know what actually happened
to him, all the secret documents must be made public.
We are hopeful of positive
action by Modi," said Chandra
Kumar.
Chandra Kumar, son of
Netaji's nephew Amiya Nath
Bose, also slammed West
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee for trying to "play
politics" over Netaji.
"All these years she
(Banerjee) did not utter a single word on Netaji, but now
has been raising the issue of
secret files in her bid to corner
the central government. If she
is so much concerned, why
does her government continue
to sit on 64 files on Netaji,"
asked Chandra Kumar.
12
INDIA
April 18-24, 2015
'Janata Parivar' announces merger to take on BJP
New Delhi: After months of deliberations, six constituents of the

erstwhile Janata Party, collectively
referred as the 'Janata Parivar',
announced their merger into a single entity this week to take on
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
BJP. However, they are yet to
decide on a name and electoral
symbol.
Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose
Samajwadi Party is one of the
merged entities, is the president of
the new party.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) called it a temporary
alliance of political warlords, the
Congress said it had taken no decision so far on joining hands with
the new party for the forthcoming
assembly elections in Bihar.
The announcement of merger
was made at a joint press conference by JD-U chief Sharad Yadav,
who said a decision on the name,
Mulayam Singh Yadav is the president of the new party.
policy, flag and other issues has

been entrusted to a committee
comprising Ram Gopal Yadav
(SP), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Lalu
Prasad (RJD), H.D. Deve Gowda
(JD-S) and Kamal Morarka
(Samajwadi Janata Party-
Rashtriya).
The decision was announced
after a meeting of leaders from
Janata Dal-United, Janata DalSecular, Rashtriya Janata Dal,
Indian National Lok Dal and
Samajwadi Janata Party, apart
India needs to target double

digit growth: Arun Jaitley
Washington: To reap
the dividend of India's
"major demographic
shift", the country has
to target a double digit
growth rate, Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley
said.
"India is on the brink
of a major demographic shift, with the proportion of working-age
population between 15
and 59 years likely to
increase from 58 percent in 2001 to more
Global ratings agency Moody's has enhanced India's
than 64 percent by
sovereign rating to positive from stable.
2021, adding approximately 63.5 million new entrants to the cent is not an India that is going to face up
working age group between 2011 and this challenge."
"India has the potential to make 9-10 per2016," he said. Addressing a conference
here organized by the Center for Strategic cent its new normal in the years to come,"
and International Studies think-tank, he added.
The finance minister was in the US to
Jaitley said: "India's own normal in terms
of its growth rate has to target anything attend the spring meetings of the
close to a double digit. India growing at International Monetary Fund and the
five percent, six percent or even seven per- World Bank.
India successfully test fires

3,000 km range n-missile
Bhubaneswar: India has successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile, with a range of over 3,000 km, from a base in Odisha, an official said.
The surface-to-surface missile was fired from a launch complex at the Inner Wheeler
Island off the coast of Dhamra in Bhadrak district, about 200 km from here. "It was a user
trial. The test was successful," test range director M.V.K.V. Prasad said.
Agni-III is capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes. It is 16 metres in
length and weighs 48 tonnes. The missile has a two-stage solid propellant system. It can
re-enter the atmosphere at a very high velocity. Agni-III is a rail mobile system capable
missile and can be launched from anywhere in India.
from the Samajwadi Party, at the

residence of Mulayam Singh
Yadav.
Sharad Yadav said: "The six parties have unanimously decided to
form a new party. Mulayam Singh
Yadav will be president of the new
party. He will also be chairman of
the parliamentary board."
"We are ready to face the challenge which the nation faces
today," said Yadav.
The joint press conference was
addressed by Mulayam Singh
Yadav, Lalu Prasad, H.D. Deve
Gowda and INLD leader Abhay
Chautala.
As the entity focused on showing the BJP the door, starting with
the Bihar assembly polls, BJP
spokesperson M.J. Akbar called it
a "confederation of political warlords".
"It is a temporary alliance of
political warlords, who think elec-
tions are determined not on the

basis of governance, but on the
basis of barren (electoral) mathematics. As Amit Shahji has said,
zero plus zero equals to zero,"
Akbar said in Kolkata.
Congress general secretary
Shakeel Ahmed said that INLD
joining the front was a bit surprising as it supported Narendra Modi
as prime minister before the general elections last year.
"It's a bit surprising for us as
INLD had announced its support
for Modi," he said, adding that the
Congress would decide it later
whether it could get into any
alliance with the new party.
"We are different, they are different, joining or not joining hands
with them would be decided later,"
the Congress leader said.
Challenging BJP which is in
power at the Center, Lalu Prasad
challenged it to a "new fight".
Rane loses in Maharashtra

by-polls, SAD gains in Punjab
Mumbai/Lucknow:
not significant, it is a
Maharashtra Congress
victory of principles."
strongman Narayan Rane
In Punjab, the ruling
was the biggest loser in
Shiromani Akali Dal
the April 11 assembly byimproved its tally by
polls for five seats in four
bagging the Dhuri
states, even as the ruling
assembly seat previously
Samajwadi Party in Uttar
held by the Congress.
Pradesh and the Shiv
Shiromani Akali Dal
Sena in Maharashtra
candidate Gobind Singh
retained their seats.
Longowal trounced the
In Punjab, the ruling
Congress-supported
Shiromani Akali Dal
Sanjha Morcha nominee
(SAD) gained a seat. The
Simar
Pratapsing
ruling Congress in
Barnala, the grandson of
Uttarakhand
and
former chief minister
Maharashtra Congress
Maharashtra's opposition strongman Narayan Rane. Surjit Singh Barnala.
NCP retained their seats
The victory has helped
in by-elections. A former chief minister, Shiromani Akali Dal to get a simple
Rane was trounced in Bandra East con- majority of 59 in the 117-member
stituency by Trupti Sawant, widow of assembly, where it is in an alliance with
former Shiv Sena strongman Bala BJP.
Sawant, raising a question mark on his
In Uttarakhand, the ruling Congress
political future.
retained the Bhagwanpur seat from
This is Rane's second consecutive elec- where its candidate Mamta Rakesh
toral defeat in six months, but president trounced her nearest BJP rival Rajpal
of Congress state unit Ashok Chavan Singh by a margin of over 36,000 votes.
described him as "a strong leader and a
Elsewhere in Maharashtra, the
couple of losses don't matter for his Nationalist Congress Party nominee
stature". Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Suman Patil won the by-poll in TasgaonThackeray said: "We dedicate this victo- Kavthemahankal assembly seat in Sangli
ry to the people of Bandra East. (The district, necessitated by the death of her
late) Bala Sawant enjoyed a close rap- husband and former deputy chief minisport with his constituents... Who lost is ter R.R. Patil.
OP-ED
April 18-24, 2015
13
Hillary Clinton, a cautious friend of India

By Pramit Pal Chaudhuri
olls of the past three
months in which US voters
are asked to choose
between her and a roster of
Republican presidential possible,
have Hillary Clinton winning in
95% of them.
New Delhi, like most foreign
capitals, is probably already wondering what a second Clinton
presidency this will mean for
their country.
On the plus side, there is no
doubt that Clinton has long taken
an avid and personal interest in
India. Her two visits to India as
First Lady led her to become the
strongest White House advocate
for a full state visit by her husband and then US president, Bill
Clinton.
Though there were obviously
other drivers, the then US ambassador to India, Richard Celeste,
used to privately say it was her
telling the president, Bill, you
have got to go to India before
your president ends, that put it
on the fast track.
It helped that she was among
the first US politicians to recognize the financial clout of the
A President Clinton can be expected to continue where

a second-term Obama administration has left off.
Indian-American community.
Hillary Clinton was also the
strongest consistent advocate for
India in the first Barack Obama
term, say both Indian and US
officials. President Obamas early
enthusiasm waned dramatically

after the passage of Indias
nuclear liability law.
Clinton had a broader agenda
that encompassed gender issues,
climate change, trade and invest-
ment policy, and democracy promotion and continued to woo

India.
By the time she resigned as secretary of state, however, even she
had wearied of the Manmohan
Singh governments inability to
carry out anything. Privately, say
US officials, she described India
as among her greatest foreign
policy disappointments.
As secretary of state Clinton
never took any steps to reverse
the visa ban on Narendra Modi
that she inherited, but she and
Bill Clinton met Modi when he
went to the United Nations
General Assembly last year. She
has also praised his sanitation and
Swaach Bharat program.
Which is a reminder that
Clinton is a pragmatist, much less
ideological and more centrist
than Obama.
For example, Clinton does not
shirk from the use of US military
force in the way that Obama
does: she was a strong voice in
favour of the US military intervention in Libya in 2011. The
Indian government received a
dose of her pragmatism during
the final rounds of the Indo-US
nuclear deal. At that point, she
was a New York senator preparing for her abortive presidential

bid and had actively wooed the
Indian-American community for
funding.
However, reluctant to take a
stand on a deal that was so controversial within the Democratic
Party, Clinton declined to endorse
the deal before the actual Senate
vote. Indian officials were
miffed, especially since she was
co-chair of the Senate India
Caucus. Some still see describe
as a fair weather friend of
India, even while admiring her
intellect and ability to grasp policy issues.
A President Clinton can be
expected to continue where a second-term Obama administration
has left off. And like him, her
interest in India will be rekindled
because of a Modi government
that can put its legislation where
its mouth is.
New Delhi will also be helped
by the fact, say Washington
sources, that two of the front-runners to run her foreign policy
Nick Burns and Kurt Campbell
have been longstanding cheerleades for the Indo-US relationship.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
OSAP Loans NOW available to Ontario applicants !!!
May & Sept 2015
14
April 18-24, 2015
OP-ED
Bringing back Kashmiri Pandits: Make it a process

By Peerzada Ashiq
consensus is emerging within the
political spectrum in Kashmir that the
5% Pandit population remains at the
core of the states composite culture, their displacement was a migration of a civilization
and that the return of the Kashmiri Pandits,
who left the Valley in the 1990s, symbolizes
inclusive Kashmiriyat.
The assimilation of the Pandits into the
social milieu of Kashmir also remains a compulsion for separatists, who, of late, have distanced themselves from the forces that are
pushing for exclusionist and destructive politics based on extreme religious interpretations
in the state.
In fact, the stand of the separatist groups has
seen incremental accommodation of the
Pandits, and is a welcome step. The separatists move to ask Pandits to return to their
properties in the Valley is helping them portray
their struggle as inclusive and indicates that
any solution to the Kashmir problem will not
be based on religious identities but on historical and political realities.
More than 62,000 Pandit families await
return to their roots. However, the state government and the Centres roadmap for their
return is flawed and bound to destroy the
inclusive culture of Jammu and Kashmir. The
Centres stress on composite townships and
its exclusive focus on Pandits also reflect
unfair politics, if not bias.
The displacement issue needs to be
Kashmiri Pandits demonstrate pressing for their various demands in Srinagar.
addressed irrespective of ethnicities. Hundreds

of Muslims migrated in 1947, 1965, 1971 and
in the 1990s to the Jammu region. They continue to remain a fluid population with no
sense of closure. However, to create Muslimonly enclaves for the displaced in Jammu to
question the regions secular credentials is
equally flawed.
There is a better way to deal with the Pandit
issue. First, their return should be part of a
serious political process which addresses the
larger political question of J&K. Two, it needs
to be clubbed with other confidence-building
measures like allowing divided families of
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
Gilgit-Baltistan to meet in Kargil, allowing

joint initiatives on knowledge creation and
tourism between Jammu and Kashmir.
There will be more takers for the return-tothe Valley project if it becomes an outcome of
a process and not an event, where one can seek
guarantees to safeguard their interests from
those putting pre-conditions.
Besides, enclaving the Pandits is fraught
with the danger of turning the Kashmir issue
into an Islamic issue, which will prove disastrous in the long run.
There is a need to quarantine Kashmir from
being an Islamic problem rather than a political one and confine it to its boundaries only.
Any push to turn Kashmir into an Islamic
problem blurs its frontiers and clubs it with
two volatile regions of Afghanistan and NorthWest Frontier Province and Peshawar of
Pakistan.
This will bring volatility beyond control and
consume all. The need of the hour is caution.
Steps to realize the dream of the Pandits return
to a Muslim neighborhood in Kashmir should
be done in a phased manner. The government
must encourage the restoration of properties
that are still intact like in areas of Habba Kadal
in Srinagar.
This Pandit population after living with
Muslims will help other displaced and dispossessed Pandit population to purchase land. Of
course, the state must make money available
for an organic absorption.
(The piece appeared in The Hindustan Times)
DIASPORA
April 18-24, 2015
15
2nd NRI of the Year Awards presented

TIMES NOW and ICICI Bank felicitate Indian achievers across the world
Mumbai: TIMES NOW, Indias No. 1
news channel, and ICICI Bank, India's
largest private sector bank, celebrated the
success and achievements of Indians
across the world with the felicitating the
winners of the 2nd NRI of the Year
awards, powered by Global Indian
International School (GIIS). The ceremony was graced by the superstar Shah
Rukh Khan, bestowed India's Global
Icon Award, and other dignitaries.
Besides Global Icon, 15 individuals
were awarded under 6 categories
Entrepreneur, Professional, Academics,
Art & Culture, Philanthropy, Special Jury
Award. The achievers are contestants
from 4 regions - North America, the UK,
Middle East & Asia-Pacific.
On the occasion, Chanda Kochhar, MD
& CEO, ICICI Bank, said, "We are happy
to present the second edition of the NRI
of the Year awards. The overwhelming
response that we received last year has
inspired us to reach out to more NRIs
across the globe and make this event even
bigger. We have been serving the NRI
community for more than a decade. These
awards give us the opportunity to honour
members of the NRI community and
felicitate them for their outstanding
achievements.
M.K. Anand, CEO and MD, Times
Network, said, "Times Network informs,
entertains and engages over 100 million
urban affluent viewers in India and is
available in 76 countries across the globe.
Our channels are known for their high
quality of programming and audiences in
all the markets they serve. NRIs are a
very important audience for the content
we create.
Naveen Chandra, Head- International
Business, Times Network, added, The
NRI of the Year awards is the most distinctive awards for Indians globally and
we have received an overwhelming
30,000 registrations online and the multiple Jury rounds ensure the winners are
high quality. Among the winners this year
are Senators, winners of the Pravasi
Bharatiya (PBD) Award, CEOs of global
banks, and some very rich and accomplished Indians. We hope to build this further into more markets and reaching out
to more accomplished Indian Diaspora.
Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and
CoFounder Global School Foundation,
Singapore, said, "The 21 million Indian
Diaspora now have a reputed and robust
recognition platform to showcase their
extraordinary contributions to the 1.2 billion strong Indian community.
The commendation conferred by the
'NRI of the Year Award' to these outstanding individuals with remarkable achievements, is a befitting honor. As an international school where excellence is in the
DNA, GIIS is proud to be a co-founding
partner of the 'NRI of the Year Award'
with Times Now."
With their grit and perseverance, NRIs
have achieved tremendous success in var-
(From left) Gaurav Atreja, Winner - Professional; Bharat Kumar Jayantilal, for Philanthropy; Dr. Asha Seth
Philanthropy; Ms. Chanda Kochhar, of ICICI Bank; Anju Jaswal, Professional; Manjit Singh Nijjar, Philanthropy;
Kehkashan Maushum Basu, Academics; Shah Rukh Khan; V.N. Teja, Academics; Dr. R. Seetharaman, Professional; Arun
Agarwal, Entrepreneur; Representator for Dr. Ravi Pillai - Entrepreneur; Representator for Sarthak Sinha - Academics;
Naveen Chandra of Times Network; Atul Temurnikar, Chairman, Co-founder Global School Foundation.
Shah Rukh Khan and Chanda Kochhar - MD & CEO, ICICI

Bank seen in the front row of the distinguished audience.
Femina Miss India 2015 Aditi Arya, Vijay Chandok President ICICI Bank, and honoring entrepreneur Arun
Agarwal, who started Dallas based Alok International, the
US division of an integrated textile company.
List of Winners 2015

Category
Tripti Mukherjee, Indian classical vocalist who founded the

Pandit Jasraj Institute for Music
and Appreciation in the NY-NJ
area, was awarded in the Art
& Culture category.
M.K. Anand, CEO and

MD - Times Network,
speaking at the event.
ious fields in the countries they have chosen to adopt as their homes. Many NRIs
are accomplished politicians, scientists,
sportsmen, businessmen, professionals
and academicians in various countries and
Name of the Winner
Country
Indias Global Icon Shah Rukh Khan

India
Special Jury Award Satya Nadella
North America
(Microsoft CEO)
Academics
Vallamkonda Nagamani Teja Asia Pacific
Kehkashan Maushum Basu Middle East
Sarthak Sinha
North America
Professional
Anju Jaswal
Asia Pacific
Dr. Rahavan Seetharaman Middle East
Subhash Chandra Basu
North America
Gaurav Atreja
UK
Philanthropy
Bharat Kumar Jayantilal
Middle East
Dr. Asha Seth
North America
Manjit Singh Nijjar
UK
Art & Culture
Tripti Mukherjee
North America
Entrepreneur
Harindarpal Singh Banga
Asia Pacific
Arun Agarwal
North America
Dr. Ravi Pillai
Middle East
TIMES NOW-ICICI Bank NRI of the

Year awards recognize the success of
these achievers. The event was attended
by a distinguished audience of
Government Officials, Bollywood Stars,
the winners of Femina Miss India 2015,

CEOs and business owners.
Times Television Network is part of
Indias largest media conglomerate, The
Times Group.
16
MODIS 3-NATION VISIT
April 18-24, 2015
Modi seeks strong ties between Indian Lion, German Eagle
Berlin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

wooed German business, assuring an
open and stable environment in India to
give a fillip to his 'Make in India' initiative, and said there could be a strong partnership between India's Lion and
Germany's Eagle.
Modi also pushed for UNSC permanent
membership for both countries, saying
they have "earned the right".
Addressing the media after talks with
German Chancellor Angela Merkel April
12, he said "I believe that there will be a
strong partnership between the King of
the Earth, Lion and the King of the Skies,
the Eagle."
Referring to his last visit to Berlin,
when Air India One had stopped at Berlin
enroute to Brazil for the BRICS summit
in July, Modi said: "When I last came to
Berlin, Germany was successful in winning the World Cup Final. This time in
Berlin, I feel that we will also be successful in taking the strategic partnership
between India and Germany to new
heights." Modi's last stopover at Berlin
clashed with the FIFA World Cup final.
Merkel chose to watch the final, which
Germany won after many years, over a
meeting with Modi.
"My objective of coming to Germany
was not only to invite the German industry to India, but to assure them that they
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the joint press statement at Federal
Chancellery in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
would find an open and stable environment, which would be easy to do business
in; and that they will have my full support
to invest and work in India," he said.
Referring to the India-EU Free Trade
Agreement, Modi said he has requested
Merkel that India and EU "should resume
the negotiations quickly and conclude a
balanced and mutually beneficial agree-
ment at the earliest".

He also proposed that both sides should
increase cooperation in advanced technology and defense manufacturing.
On terrorism, Modi said: "We need a
comprehensive global strategy to deal
with this global challenge, in which India
and Germany can work together." He also
proposed that both cooperate in the areas
of maritime, cyber and space security.

"Earlier when we used to talk about terrorism, people used to say it is a law and
order problem. Now they have realized
how big a threat it is," he said.
Alluding to Pakistan, Modi said:
"Pressure should be created on governments who give shelter to terrorists. If we
can make this effort and isolate terrorists
and people supporting terrorists..." He
also pitched for the United Nations to
pass a resolution defining terrorism.
On permanent membership in the UN
Security Council, Modi said: "India and
Germany are two countries that have
earned the right to be permanent members
of the UNSC. Our membership will also
be beneficial to the world. We both would
like to see tangible progress in the UNSC
reforms during the 70th Anniversary year
of the United Nations."
"Our discussions in Germany have
established a robust road-map for expanding our multi-faceted and mutually beneficial ties. We are confident that this will
receive a further boost during the visit of
the German Chancellor to India for the
3rd Inter-Governmental Consultations," it
said. Earlier, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Federal
Chancellery. Modi later visited the Berlin
Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station in
Berlin.
India better country today for foreign investors: Modi
Hannover: Prime Minister

Narendra Modi, who has invited
global companies to invest in
India, continued his pitch at the
grand industrial fair here, this
time listing what exactly makes
the country an attractive destination. Inaugurating the India
Pavilion and a business summit at
Hannover Messe with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, Modi
said the 10 months of his government has put an end to the retrospective tax regime, eased the
regulatory environment, fasttracked approvals and encouraged
innovation and entrepreneurship.
"All this is a historic opportunity for German companies. You
would already be knowing the
direction of my government and
the steps we are taking. We have
committed ourselves for creating
and improving the business environment. I can assure you that
once you decide to be in India, we
are confident to make you comfortable.
"You will be able to see for
yourself the winds of change in
India. We are very keen to develop the sectors where you are
strong. We need your involvement. The scope and potential,
the breadth and length of infrastructure and related developments is very huge in India."
India is the partner country this
year at the world's largest indus-
Modi speaking at the Joint Inauguration of the India Pavilion

and the Joint Walk-About Make in India in Hannover.
trial fair here.

Hannover Messe, started in
1947, normally attracts around
6,000 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors over a one-week period.
"I've never seen a vibrant show
like this. It brought alive India's
civilization, culture and technology," Merkel told Modi as they
walked around the India Pavilion.
Germany is the eighth-largest
foreign direct investor in India.
German FDI in India during
1991-2014 was $7.57 billion.
Germany is also India's largest
trading partner in the European
Union, with bilateral trade
amounting to some 16 billion
euros in 2014.
In an Op-Ed piece in German

newspaper
Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung, Modi said
that through "our 'Act East' and
'Link West' policy, India has the
potential of becoming the middle
ground for East and West as a
manufacturing hub that serves
both our vast domestic market
and becomes a base for global
exports and general well-being".
"I visualize India as a key
engine of global growth. Our
democratic principles and practices are guarantors of stability.
We have a free media and an
independent judiciary that allows
all opinions to be aired without
fear," he wrote.
PM Modi at the Investor Round table meeting with the Major

Pension Fund Managers of Canada in Toronto.
Modi gifted to the Lord

Mayor of Hannover on
April 12 a Madhubani
painting depicting
various stages of life,
nature and the
interconnection
between nature and
life on Earth. The
painting is by a
National Award
winning artist,
Baua Devi, 70.
April 18-24, 2015
17
10,000 Indo-Canadians throng Modi's 'rockstar' show
Toronto: Just as the organizers had

promised, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's public interaction with the
Indian diaspora at Ricoh Coliseum
here April 15 had all the trappings
of a rockstar concert as Bollywood
singer Sukhwinder Singh, Shiamak
Davar troupe and other groups set
the tone for the evening.
The nearly 10,000-strong audience interrupted Modi repeatedly
during his hour-long speech with
shouts of "Modi, Modi..." as he
highlighted the changes sweeping
India.
Speaking in Hindi in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper and his cabinet
colleagues, Modi stressed, "Sarkar
naahi badli, jan manas badla hai
dus mahine main (It is not that the
government has changed, but it's
people's thinking that has changed
during the last 10 months)".
In the new atmosphere, Modi
said, people were responding with
enthusiasm to new ideas whether it
was his Clean India Mission, or
bank accounts for the poor or gas
subsidy. Modi said celebrities
joined the Clean India Mission on
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Indian diaspora

at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Canada, April 15.
their own, poor people deposited

Rs.14,000 crore in their newly
opened accounts and rich people
are giving up their gas subsidy so
that the poor can be helped. "Modi
has done nothing...it is the common man in India who has
changed," the prime minister said.
There were rounds of cheers
every time he took a dig at the previous regime. But the prime minis-
ter drew the biggest applause when

he said his mission is "Skill India
while theirs was Scam India". He
elaborated, "Jinhone gandgi karni
thee, woh kar ke chale gaye. Lekin
hum safai kar ke jayenge (Those
who created scams and dirt have
now gone, we will clean up the
mess". Modi said his government
was working on his four-pronged
dream symbolizing the four colors
Uranium deal clinched, 13 agreements inked

Ottawa: Turning a new leaf in its
relationship with Canada, India has
clinched a multi-million-dollar deal
for uranium to power its civilian
nuclear program for five years and
also inked 13 agreements on skill
development as Prime Minister
Narendra Modi after talks with
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
sought Canada's "cooperation and
investment in every area of India's
national development priority".
Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit Canada in 42 years,
said the bilateral "relationship had
drifted in the past". He said Canada
has the potential to be a partner in
India's economic transformation
and assured a "new environment in
India, which is open, predictable,
stable and easy to do business in".
The highlight of the agreements
was the $350-million uranium deal
that was signed by Cameco and the
Atomic Energy Commission of
India. It marked a new chapter in
India's ties with Canada, which had
imposed sanctions on India after its
nuclear tests.
Under the deal which runs
through 2020, Cameco will supply
7.1 million pounds of uranium concentrate to India.
Welcoming the deal which has
been reached after protracted talks,
Modi said at a joint press conference with Harper: "The agreement
on procurement of uranium from
Canada for our civilian nuclear
power plants launches a new era of
bilateral nuclear cooperation. It also
reflects a new level of mutual trust
One of the various performances by the artists at the Modi

event at Ricoh Coliseum, in Toronto.
in the Indian flag - saffron, white,

green and blue (the color of the
Ashok Chakra in the flag).
"Saffron means energy revolution,
white means the second white
(milk) revolution, green means the
second green revolution and blue
means clear blue sky through new
manufacturing processes which
don't impact the environment,"
Modi said.
The prime minister wondered

why the likes of Google and
Microsoft cannot be created in
India when Indian IT specialists
are playing an important role in
these tech giants. "We have undertaken to promote innovation in
India through the Atal Innovation
Mission and skill development
through our Skill India mission,"
he said.
Khajuraho sculpture
to return to India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister

Stephen Harper witnessing the exchange of
signed documents in Ottawa.
and confidence." Announcing visa

on arrival for Canadians, Modi said
his government wants to promote
people-to-people contacts between
the two countries. Canadians can
apply online and will be eligible for
visas for 10 years.
Modi said India and Canada have
complementary interests. "India
offers immense opportunities for
Canada. Canada has the potential to
be India's key partner in many sectors, including energy, manufacturing, skills development, research,
education, and his smart city project," Modi said.
Agreements were also signed in
the areas of civil aviation and
space, skill development and higher
education. In his remarks, Harper
said to Modi: "Your visit indicates
the strong friendship between
Canada and India. This is a growing

relationship. Trade potential
between our countries is enormous."
Lauding Modi for undertaking
economic reforms and his "minimum government, maximum governance" mantra, Harper said: "The
historic visit by PM Modi to
Canada combined with the number
and scope of agreements signed
between our governments clearly
demonstrate the commitment of
both countries to taking bilateral
relations to new heights."
The prime minister was welcomed with a gun salute and also
inspected a guard of honor.
Modi also met Canadian
Governor General David Johnston
at the latter's official residence,
Rideau Hall.
Modi at the library of Canadian Parliament with Harper.

'Parrot Lady' is seen next to them.
Ottawa: An 800-year-old
Khajuraho sandstone sculpture
of a scantily clad woman holding a parrot will return to India
after Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper on Wednesday
handed it over to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
The sculpture dates back to
the 12th century. It was returned
in accordance with the 1970
Unesco Convention, tweeted
India's external affairs ministry
spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
The prized Indian statue was
returned at the Library of
Parliament in Ottawa. The
about three-foot tall statue of

'Parrot Lady' turned up in
Canada in 2011 in the possession of an individual who did
not have proper documentation.
It was seized under the Cultural
Property Export and Import
which controls antiquities and
other cultural objects being
imported from foreign states,
reports The Globe and Mail.
Modi in exchange presented
Harper with a miniature painting of Guru Nanak Dev with his
disciples. The painting is by
Jaipur-based artist, Virendra
Bannu.
18
April 18-24, 2015
India, France ink 17 pacts, India to buy 36 Rafale jets

Ties in civil nuclear energy, sustainable energy and defense and the order for 36 Rafale jets show the
partnership has moved to new stage of cooperation, says the French President.
Paris: In a major fillip for IndiaFrance ties, India said it will buy
36 Rafale fighter jets in fly-away
condition as both sides also
pushed for early conclusion of
techno-commercial talks on the
Jaitapur nuclear power plant and
inked 17 agreements as Prime
Minister Narendra Modi held talks
with French President Francois
Hollande here on April 10.
The Rafale deal was the biggest
takeaway in the talks between
Modi and Hollande. India had
shortlisted Rafale, made by
Dassault Aviation, in a $20-billion
deal for purchase of 126 fighter
jets for the MMRCA project in
2012. However, the final deal has
not been inked.
Hollande said their ties in civil
nuclear energy, sustainable energy
and defence and Indian desire to
acquire 36 Rafale jets show the
partnership has moved to new
stage of cooperation.
Modi said several cities, including Paris and Mumbai, have faced
terror attacks and India and France
understand each other's pain.
He said terrorism was spreading
and taking new forms. It is
responsibility of every country to
cooperate fully. It should not give
them (terrorists) sanctuary and
give them punishment at the earliest, Modi said. President
Hollande has extended full cooperation in our 'Make In India' campaign in the defence sector which
is not just a program but an ambition, he said in Hindi. Hollande
also voiced support to India for a
French President Francois Hollande with visiting Prime Minister

Narendra Modi during the press conference in Paris.
permanent membership of the UN

Security Council. Both sides also
urged for early conclusion of techno-commercial discussions on the
proposal for construction of six
1650 Mwe nuclear power plants at
Jaitapur, with due consideration to
project viability and in the framework of an ambitious partnership
for large and critical components,
the joint statement said. The two
also urged their atomic energy
establishments to lay an ambitious
foundation for the future of IndiaFrance civil nuclear cooperation,
including a wide range of subjects,
including in the area of civil
nuclear liability.
Modi clicks selfie with Indian

students in France
Toulouse: Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi clicked a selfie
with Indian students
during his visit to the
French space agency
here. The students
from India milled
around Modi who
was happy to click a
selfie for them. The
eager students crowded around Modi when Modi clicks a selfie with Indian students.
he clicked the picture.
"We were all trying to take the they were not part of the brain
best selfie out there," Modi tweet- drain from India and would be
ed later. India's foreign ministry willing to go back to their home
spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin country after finishing their studtweeted: "The young usually want ies. Many of them started chanting
selfies. PM @narendramodi oblig- "Modi, Modi" as soon as the
Indian prime minister arrived at
es."
The students told the media that the venue.
Modi also went on a boat ride on

the Seine river with Hollande and
French Foreign Minister Laurent
Fabius after conclusion of their
talks.
Both sides signed 17 agreements, including in the field of
civil nuclear energy, railways and
space, and three Letters of Intent.
The joint statement said that
India and France reaffirmed their
commitment to their deep strategic
partnership and deepened bilateral
ties. It said France and India
shared common concerns and
objectives in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction.
Modi and Hollande take a boat ride on La Seine river in Paris.
In a further effort to strengthen

global non-proliferation and
export control regimes, France and
India committed to continuing to
work jointly towards India's accession to the multilateral export control regimes, namely, the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG), the
Missile Technology Control
Regime (MTCR), the Australia
Group, and the Wassenaar
Arrangement, the statement said.
On the pressing global challenge
of climate change, Prime Minister
Modi extended his full support to
France for a successful outcome of
CoP 21 to UNFCCC to be held in
Paris later this year.
The leaders expressed confidence that the Paris Conference

would finalize an historic agreement for the post-2020 period.
The Modi government's initiative to create smart cities in India
also came up for discussion.
Earlier, Modi was accorded a
ceremonial welcome, after which
he attended two back-to-back
meetings with CEOS where Make
in India was the focus.
He also visited the Unesco headquarters in Paris where he spoke
of the Indian government's commitment to ensure that every citizen, faith, culture and creed has an
equal place in society.
Modi visits Airbus facility, pays homage to Indian soldiers
Paris: Prime Minister Narendra

Modi kept up his hectic schedule on
day two of his France tour, visiting
the Airbus facility in Toulouse and
also paying homage to the thousands of Indian soldiers killed during WWI at the Neuve Chapelle
memorial.
A day after Modi held talks with
French President Francois Hollande
and both sides inked 17 agreements
and also announced the purchase of
36 Rafale fighter jets, the prime
minister flew down to Toulouse in
southern France.
Accompanied by French Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius, Modi
went around the Airbus A 380
Assembly Line Facility.
Airbus Industrie has assured
Modi that its Indian outsourcing
will increase from $400 million to
$2 billion over the next five years
as part of the Indian government's
Make in India initiative. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Syed
Prime Minister Modi at the

World War I Memorial in
Neuve-Chapelle, France.
Akbaruddin tweeted: "500%

increase in 5 years. @Airbus to
PMA @narendramodi : Indian outsourcing to increase from $400 mil
to $2 billion."
"Make in India gains further
momentum. $2 billion cumulative
outsourcing planned by @Airbus
from India by 2020," he posted.
"Amazing visit to @Airbus
Facility. They are very enthusiastic
about @makeinindia initiative," the

prime minister wrote on his twitter
handle @narendramodi.
At the Airbus facility, the top
brass gave Modi their assessment
on the need for aircraft by Indian
carriers. The country, they said, will
require as many as 1,291 planes
over the next 20 years -- 913 in single-aisle configuration, 322 twinaisled and 56 large ones.
The prime minister was taken on
the tour by a team led by Airbus
Group chief executive Tom Enders,
who said his group was keen on
forging a stronger industrial bond
with India.
Modi later visited the Prefecture
(Grande Salle, Palais National) in
Toulouse where he met delegates
and councillors.
He then went to Lille to pay homage at the Indian Memorial at the
Neuve Chapelle that commemorates Indian soldiers who sacrificed
their lives in World War I.
DIASPORA
April 18-24, 2015
19
Abu Dhabi-based NRI girl wins 'MasterChef India 4' Indian eatery in Doha offers
free food to migrant laborers
Mumbai: After 11 grueling weeks

of innovative vegetarian cooking
and 67 episodes of high-intense
drama, 21-year-old Nikita Gandhi,
an Indian based in Abu Dhabi,
bagged the winner's golden chef
coat and Rs.10 million on
"MasterChef India 4" here on
Sunday.
Born in Ahmedabad, the young
and vibrant food aficionado was
chosen as the winner on the basis
of viewers' votes. She pipped
Mumbai's Neha Shah, who walked
away with a prize money of Rs.1
million and a trip for two to
London; and the show's second
runner up, Hyderabad-based
Bhakti Arora was given
Rs.500,000.
Elated over her win, Gandhi
found the news of her victory hard
to assimilate, but she made an
emotional point at the finale.
"These four to five months here
(in India) thanks to 'MasterChef...'
have made me realize that India is
truly my home," she said, and even
thanked channel Star Plus and the
Nikita Gandhi with the shows judges (l to r) Vikas Khanna,

Ranveer Brar and Sanjeev Kapoor
show's three judges -- Sanjeev

Kapoor, Vikas Khanna and
Ranveer Brar -- for giving her "a
huge platform to portray my culi-
nary talent." The trio of judges

announced Gandhi as the winner at
the finale, calling her a consistent
performer throughout the season.
Vandals deface Glasgow gurdwara with

Islamophobic graffiti
Glasgow: A gurdwara in the largest

city of Scotland has
been defaced by
vandals with the
words
"No
Shariah" and a Nazi
symbol, a media
report said on
Monday.
The
Central
Gurdwara
near
Charing Cross in
Glasgow
was
defaced with the Islamophobic slurs last
week, the Herald Scotland reported, adding
the police have launched a manhunt for the
vandals responsible for it.
"The Sikh community completely abhors
the hateful ideology of Islamophobia. We
are in complete shock that such disgraceful
words were put on the walls of this great
gurdwara," said Surjit Singh Chowdhary,
vice-president of the Central Gurdwara
Singh Sabha.
"These words represent ignorance at its
worst. Unfortunately in this climate of rampant Islamophobia, members of the Sikh
community have fallen victim too," said
Charandeep Singh, general secretary of the
Glasgow Gurdwara. Scottish Labor leader
Jim Murphy has urged the members of the

public with information to come forward.
"The Sikh community is a vital part of
Scotland. It's shameful that the iconic
Gurdwara has been vandalized. Call the
police if you have info," he said on Twitter.
Instances ranging from jeers of "Taliban"
or "Bin Laden" directed at turban-wearing
Sikh men, to the firebombing of a gurdwara
in Kent after the 7/7 London terrorist attacks
have beset the Sikh community, Charandeep
Singh said. He added that the Sikh community would continue to have dialogue with
the police, local and national politicians "to
create an inclusive society and celebrate the
contributions made by Scottish Sikhs to our
country."
Doha: Sixteen kilometers from

here, in the dusty interiors is the
industrial area, which provides
essential labor and materials for
the country's massive and
relentless expansion.
This is also the place where
hundreds of migrant workers
sweat it out at small-scale workshops and factories and live in
low-cost accommodation.
But this place is also home to
a restaurant called Zaiqa which
has grabbed media attention for
all the right reasons.
A sign outside this modest
restaurant popular with migrant
laborers reads: "If you are hungry and have no money, eat for
free!!!"
Owned by Indian brothers,
who have lived in Qatar for
many years, this 16-seater
eatery serves "authentic Indian
cuisine from the heart of Delhi"

24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
The need for free food in
Qatar is particularly acute
among laborers and those working in heavy industry.
It is estimated that there are
anywhere between 700,000 and
one million migrant workers in
the tiny Gulf kingdom, out of a
total population of 2.3 million.
"Many laborers earn 8001,000 riyals per month. They
have to send money back to
home. It's expensive here so
there are people who need free
food," said Shadab Khan, one of
the owners. Shadab, who is a
filmmaker as well as a restaurant owner, said those asking for
food are mostly construction
workers from countries such as
India, Nepal and Bangladesh
Election candidate Gita Gordon

stands for change
New Delhi/London: Gita

Gordon speaks fluent Hindi,
Gordon, nominated by
Punjabi, and Urdu and has a
Britain's Liberal Democrats as
working knowledge of Bengali.
a candidate in next month's
She worked as a business develparliamentary elections, has
opment executive in banking
been a busy woman lately,
and marketing. While making it
attending one meeting after
a point to mention her rootedanother and canvassing doorness to the British society, she is
to-door, but never feels tired
duly proud of India's rich culturto underline her resolve to
al heritage and her upbringing in
stand by the voters and prove
a traditional Indian family.
they can change things.
"It pleases me when I hear
Gordon, an India-born Nominated by Britain's people refer to India with great
Liberal Democrats Gita
woman fighting from the
respect with regard to specific
Gordon is contesting in
South Shields constituency, is
areas," she says.
next month's
the first minority ethnic candi- parliamentary election
Gordon has a degree in weldate chosen to fight from a
fare studies from the University
northeast British constituency for the Liberal of Central Lancashire, and she is a member
Democrats. "My candidacy, along with being and volunteer for Soroptomists International,
a proud moment for my party because of my a global organization which focuses on
ethnicity and gender (apparently we made improving the lives of women, and a volunhistory with it!), has additional message for teer for the British Heart Foundation and Age
people of South Shields," Gordon says.
Concern.
"I am standing to encourage the electorate Her "experience of working with individu- the residents of South Shields, who are so als from all walks of life, age groups and
far disengaged from mainstream politics. those experiencing difficulties at different
Individuals who feel disenfranchised because levels" had prepared her for the current role,
they believe that they will not be able to she felt.
change anything. I am there to prove it to
"I believe that I do have the capacity to
them that they can. If I can do this, so can fight for people, and get things done,"
they," Gordon said.
Gordon asserts.
20
SUBCONTINENT
April 18-24, 2015
US, Israel disappointed over Lakhvi's release
New Delhi/Washington: The US and Israel

have expressed concern and disappointment
over the release of 2008 Mumbai terror
attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi
from a Pakistani jail.
Conveying its grave concern, the US has
asked Pakistan to follow through on its commitment to bring the attack perpetrators to
justice.
"We are gravely concerned about the
release on bail of alleged Mumbai attack
mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi," State
Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke told
reporters in response to a question.
The US has "communicated that concern
to senior Pakistani officials over the course
of many months, and as recently as yesterday," he said, urging Islamabad to follow
through on its commitment to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice.
"Terrorist attacks are an assault on the collective safety and security of all countries,"
Rathke said.
Lakhvi was released from Adiala Jail in
Rawalpindi, a day after the Lahore High
Court suspended his detention and ordered
his immediate release. Pakistan, the
spokesman noted, "has pledged its cooperation in bringing the perpetrators, financiers,
Lakhvi's release challenged in Pak Supreme Court

Islamabad: The Punjab government has challenged in the Supreme Court the Lahore
High Court's order releasing Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008
Mumbai terror attacks.
In a petition filed in the apex court by the Punjab home department, it was maintained
that despite sufficiently strong evidence being present against Lakhvi, the Lahore court's
Justice Anwarul Haq ignored it and ordered Lakhvi's release on April 10, Dawn online
reported. The apex court has been requested in the petition to suspend the Lahore High
Court's decision to release Lakhvi and order that his detention be restored under the
Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
The Punjab government had previously maintained that Lakhvi has been detained based
on "sensitive information" provided by intelligence agencies. Lakhvi had challenged his
fourth one-month detention on March 14, upon which the Lahore High Court had ordered
his immediate release.
2008 Mumbai terror attack

mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
and sponsors of the Mumbai terrorist attacks

to justice". "We urge Pakistan to follow
through on that commitment to ensure justice for the 166 innocent people, including
Sri Lankan president

calls for unity
six Americans, who lost their lives," he said.

"Certainly, bringing the perpetrators of the
Mumbai terrorist attacks to justice is a key
priority. And we stand by that. So we'll continue working in that direction, but I don't
have any further specific steps to outline
right now."
Israel said it was "surprised and disappointed" at the release of Lakhvi and termed
it a "setback for the international efforts in
the war against terror in which India and
Pak sends delegation to Saudi

after tiff over Yemen
Islamabad: Pakistan has sent a

high-profile delegation to Saudi
Arabia in an effort to ease the tension following its refusal to cede to
the demands made by the Gulf
Kingdom for troops to fight
Yemen's Houthi rebels.
The delegation is led by Punjab
chief minister Shahbaz Sharif -also the younger brother of prime
minister Nawaz Sharif -- and
included adviser on foreign affairs
Sartaj Aziz and foreign secretary
Aizaz Chaudhry.
Last month, defence minister
Khawaja Asif had led a high- level
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.
Colombo: As Sri Lanka celebrated its national New Year this

week, President Maithripala
Sirisena said important strides
were being taken to realize the
need for unity among all people.
In his message to mark the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New
Year, Sirisena said that by giving
prominence to religious and cultural traditions and the best social
values in the New Year celebrations, Sri Lankans show their
recognition of the age-old
humane values that have
enriched their lives to this day.
He noted that what stood out
was the coming together in unity
and peace, amidst the spirit of
sharing and goodwill to all,
Xinhua news agency reported.

"What is special in this New
Year celebration is the spread of
festivity amidst the commitment
to good governance that transcends differences of ethnicity,
caste and community, with
important strides being taken to
realise the need for unity among
all our people," he said.
Sri Lanka is still recovering
from a more than 25-year-long
civil war that pitted the Tamil
minority in the north and east of
the island nation against the
Sinhala majority ruling elite. The
intermittent insurgency, which
began in July 1983, was successfully quelled by the Sri Lankan
military in May 2009.
Israel are close partners".

French President Francois Hollande also
voiced indignation at the release on bail of
Lakhvi.
Lakhvi is among the seven people charged
with planning and helping carry out the
November 26, 2008, Mumbai attack. The six
other men facing trial for their alleged
involvement are Hammad Amin Sadiq,
Shahid Jamil Riaz, Younas Anjum, Jamil
Ahmed, Mazhar Iqbal and Abdul Majid.
delegation to Riyadh to hold talks

over Saudi Arabia's request for
troops to support a coalition led by
the oil-rich kingdom in fighting
Houthi rebels, allegedly backed by
Iran.
Foreign office spokesperson said
that the delegation has left for the
Saudi capital Riyadh.
The delegation is expected to
meet Saudi crown prince Muqrin
bin Abdul Aziz and defense minister prince Mohammed bin Salman,
and try to calm the anger of Saudi
government over Pakistan's decision to remain neutral in the Yemen
conflict, diplomatic sources said.

The royal family, having personal
ties with the Sharifs, is reportedly
not happy with Pakistan's decision,
as they wanted substantial support
in the form of ground troops, air
power and naval warships to fight
in Yemen.
However, there is a widespread
opposition to Pakistan joining the
war in Yemen, and several politicians and retired army officers
have cautioned the government
against becoming part of a conflict
that has sectarian faultlines and can
create domestic troubles.
'China spying on Indian defense sector for a decade'

New York: For over a decade, a
cyber operation with likely ties to
China spied on Indian defense,
business and media operations,
using malware hidden in emails or
documents on topics of interest to
the targets, according to a Silicon
Valley-headquartered cyber-security company.
A decade-long operation
focused on targets -- government
and commercial -- who hold key
political, economic, and military

information about the region,
FireEye said in a report on cyber
espionage that covered India and
South-East Asia.
The spying centered on Indian
defense and military material topics, the report said. In particular,
a number of spear phishing subjects have related to Indian aircraft carrier and oceanographic
monitoring processes.
Tracking the cyberspying that

started in 2005, FireEye said:
Such a sustained, planned development effort, coupled with the
groups regional targets and mission, lead us to believe that this
activity is state-sponsored -- most
likely by the Chinese government.
However, the Chinese government has denied it was involved
in the cyberspying operation.
INTERNATIONAL
April 18-24, 2015
Iran, world powers to finalize n-deal next week
Tehran: A fresh round of talks

between Iran and world powers will be held next week to
discuss the details of a possible comprehensive nuclear
deal, Iranian foreign ministry
spokeswoman
Marzieh
Afkham said here.
It is possible that the deputylevel and expert-level meetings will be held next
Wednesday, she said, adding
that however, the venue has
not been decide on yet.
In the next meeting, representatives from Iran and the
world powers will bring with
themselves preliminary drafts
to work on, she said, adding
that in the drafts there are
numerous blank spaces as well
as bracketed words or phrases
which require discussions.
Afkham said that Iran's
Foreign Minister MohammadJavad Zarif will also attend a
meeting on the NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) in
New York on April 27.
He may have a meeting with
It is possible that the deputy-level and expert-level

meetings will be held on April 22.
the foreign ministers of P5+1

group of major world powers,
namely the US, Britain, China,
France, Russia plus Germany,
on the sidelines of the NPT
conference to discuss the latest
developments on Iran's
nuclear issue, she added.
A delegation of experts from
the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA),
which is a UN body to confirm the peaceful nature of
Iran's nuclear activities,

arrived in Tehran on
Wednesday to hold talks with
Iranian officials on the
remaining issues of the
nuclear programme.
The delegation, led by Tero
Varjoranta, the IAEA deputy
director general and head of
the department of safeguards,
will hold one-day technical
negotiations with relevant
Iranian officials within the
framework of implementation
of the Framework for
Cooperation, Press TV reported.
The negotiations will focus
on the two issues of alleged
explosives testing at a site in
the western city of Marivan
and neutron calculations,
Behrouz Kamalvandi, the
spokesman for the Atomic
Energy Organisation of Iran,
said.
Under an interim deal inked
between Iran and the world's
major countries in November
2013, Tehran suspended certain nuclear activities in return
for limited easing of sanctions,
as all sides continued working
toward a comprehensive deal.
The latest report by the UN
nuclear watchdog said that the
IAEA was yet to receive information from Tehran on two
outstanding issues related to
the alleged nuclear bomb
research, the so-called "possible military dimensions",
which Iran denies.
China in grip of long slowdown
Beijing: Chinas first-quarter GDP

growth rate for 2015 was the slowest
since 2009 with its economy expanding
at 7%, down from 7.3% in the last quarter of 2014, data showed this week.
Though Chinas National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS) said it was better than
what was forecast by many organizations that the growth rate would fall
below 7% the slowdown could mean
further easing of monetary policies, and
signify that days of Chinas growth at a
breakneck speed were over.
As wages grow, manufacturers shift
out of China and demand for its goods

slow down across the globe, analysts
say the slowdown in the worlds second-largest economy was on expected
lines.
One main reason is that old economic cycle is no longer operational. The
coastal areas of China were rich in capital, full of labor-intensive industries.
Products were exported to developed
countries. After the 2008 crisis, this
slowed down, Hu Shisheng from the
China Institutes of Contemporary
Relations (CICIR), said.
Then, labor force has reduced dramatically. In coming years, 2-3 million
reduction in the labor force is expected.
Then the price of labour force has also
gone up, Hu said.
For doing the same job, a Chinese
laborer in south China gets $292 per
month. The same job is being done in
Vietnam for $150.
The government, however, put on a
brave face, with NBS spokesperson
Sheng Laiyun attributing the slowdown
to sluggish global economic recovery in
the post-crisis period.
21
Iran n-deal
negotiations not with
US: Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said

that his country is negotiating an agreement on its
nuclear program not "with the US Senate and Congress
but with P5+1 group of world powers".
Any agreement would include the lifting of "all sanctions," Rouhani stressed while speaking at a ceremony
in the northern city of Rasht.
The president's remarks came after the US congressional Foreign Relations Committee unanimously
approved a bill that obliges any agreement reached by
the Obama administration on Iran's nuclear program to
be reviewed by Congress.
"Current disputes between US Senates and their mercenaries have nothing to do with us," Rouhani said,
noting that Iran expects nothing but good will and
respect.
The resumption of talks between his country and
P5+1 (the US, China, France, Britain, Russia, plus
Germany), scheduled for next week, "will focus on
lifting of unfair and inhuman economic sanctions
imposed on Iran," said Rouhani.
He stressed that the agreement would "benefit the
Western society, region and the Iranian nation."
Modi, Kejriwal among Time's 100 most influential people

Washington: Indian Prime Minster
Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief
Minister Arvind Kejriwal have
been voted among the 100 most
influential people in the world in a
poll conducted by the prestigious
Time magazine.
Modi, who became prime minister following a landslide electoral
victory last year, polled 0.6 percent
of the votes in this year's Time 100
readers' poll.
Kejriwal, who staged a political
comeback, winning the Delhi elections earlier this year with an overwhelming mandate, got 0.5 percent
of the votes cast by the readers of
the magazine.
"The populist Modi, who was
swept to power last year on a
pledge to boost India's economic
punch, has rolled out key economic
reforms and restored close ties with
the US, hosting President Barack
Prime Minster Narendra Modi with

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Obama in January after a rock-star

visit to the US in September," the
Time magazine said.

On Kejriwal, the magazine noted
that after a brief stint as chief minister of Delhi in 2013, he was reelected in February this year, and
led his "anti-establishment Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) in a rout of
both the leading national parties in
Delhi assembly elections".
Russian President Vladimir Putin
was voted as the most influential
person in the world, according to
the poll, with 6.95 percent of the
votes in the final tally.
Rapper-singer CL (of the South
Korean girl-group 2NE1) claimed
the number two spot with 6.9 percent of the votes. Pop stars Lady
Gaga, Rihanna and Taylor Swift
rounded off the top five with 2.6
percent, 1.9 percent and 1.8 percent
of the votes, respectively.
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual
leader of the Tibetans, with 1.7 percent of the votes, and Pakistani
Nobel laureate peace activist
Malala Yousafzai, with 1.6 percent

of the votes, found places in the top
10. Pope Francis, with 1.5 percent
of the votes, was the only other
non-entertainer in the top 10.
US President Barack Obama and
First Lady Michelle Obama sat just
outside the top 10 and occupied
successive slots, with 1.4 percent
and 1.2 percent of the votes cast,
respectively.
The Time 100 is an annual list of
the 100 most influential people in
the world, spanning politics, entertainment, business, technology, science, religion and other fields.
Chosen by the editors of the magazine, voting for the readers' poll
closed on April 10.
More than half of the votes, or
57.38 percent, were cast within the
US. Canada and Britain followed
with 5.54 percent and 4.55 percent,
respectively.
22 April 18-24, 2015
BUSINESS
Net neutrality: Flipkart walks away from Airtel Zero
New Delhi/Bengaluru: E-commerce giant Flipkart has said it is

"walking away" from Airtel Zero
as it is committed to "the larger
cause of net neutrality" but Bharti
Airtel said it also fully supported
the concept and there was some
"misconception" about its toll-free
platform.
"We at Flipkart have always
strongly believed in the concept
of net neutrality, for we exist
because of the Internet," said the
e-commerce company in a statement.
"We will be walking away from
the ongoing discussions with
Airtel for their platform Airtel
Zero. We will be committing ourselves to the larger cause of net
Bharti Airtel recently launched Airtel Zero, an open marketing

platform that will allow customers to access mobile applications at zero data charges.
neutrality in India. We will be

internally discussing over the next
Raja misled Manmohan

on 2G case: CBI
Former telecom minister A. Raja
New Delhi: The Central Bureau

of Investigation (CBI) has told a
court here that former telecom
minister A. Raja misled former
prime minister Manmohan Singh
on policy matters related to 2G
spectrum allocation while commencing final arguments in the
case. Special public prosecutor
Anand Grover told CBI Special
Judge O. P. Saini that Raja misled
Manmohan Singh on first-comefirst-serve (FCFS) policy and cut
off dates by referring the letters
written by then telecom minister
on November 2, 2007, to the former prime minister.
Grover added that FCFS policy
was deliberately changed by Raja.
He added that cut-off date for

receiving applications by the
companies for grant of 2G
licences was also changed to
favour particularly Unitech
Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd.
Grover argued that Raja had
granted spectrum to "ineligible"
companies such as Swan Telecom
Pvt. Ltd. (STPL) and Unitech
Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd.
The final arguments in the case
that began on Wednesday will be
now heard on May 25, the next
date of hearing.
The case pertains to the 2G
spectrum allocation in which
Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and
others are facing trial.
few days, the details of actions we

will take to support the cause," the
statement added.
Bharti Airtel recently launched
Airtel Zero, an open marketing
platform that will allow customers
to access mobile applications at
zero data charges. Reacting to
Flipkart's decision, the telecom
major said it is also on the same
page regarding net neutrality.
"Airtel fully supports the concept
of net neutrality. There have been
some misconceptions about our
toll-free data platform Airtel
Zero," it said in a statement.
It stressed that Airtel Zero is a
not a tariff proposition but is an
open marketing platform that
allows any application or content
provider to offer their service on a
toll-free basis to their customers
who are on Airtel network.

In a series of tweets, Flipkart
co-founder Sachin Bansal said he
was all for net neutrality.
"I spend time/money helping
start-ups in India. I will never support things which suffocate innovation," he said.
Following criticism by twitterati
of its proposal to tie-up with
Airtel, Flipkart said it was committed to the larger cause of net
neutrality.
Net neutrality means that governments and internet service
providers should treat all data on
the internet equally -- therefore,
not charging users, content, platform, site, application or mode of
communication differentially.
Overtaking China, India to grow at 7.5 percent: IMF

Washington: Thanks to recent policy reforms, a consequent pickup in
investment, and lower oil prices,
overtaking China, India's growth is
expected to strengthen from 7.2
percent in 2014 to 7.5 percent in
2015, according to IMF.
While India's growth is forecast
to remain steady at 7.5 percent in
2016 too, China's growth is likely
to fall from 7.4 percent in 2014 to
6.8 percent in 2015 and 6.3 percent
in 2016, said the International
Monetary Fund's latest World
Economic Outlook (WEO).
Lower oil prices will raise real
disposable incomes in India, particularly among poorer households,
and help drive down inflation
keeping it close to target in 2015,
said the world economy's health
report released Tuesday.
Several years of downgraded
medium-term growth prospects
suggest that it is also time for
major emerging market economies
World Bank pegs India's growth at 8 percent

Washington: The World Bank has forecast India's growth accelerating to 8 percent in the next fiscal and said the country is well-placed in
a region that has not only logged the highest economic expansion but
would benefit the most from cheaper oil bill.
According to the bank's South Asia Economic Focus report, which is
released twice a year, the exports sector in the region remains a cause
for worry, even as the lower oil import bill should trigger a complete
revamp of fuel subsidy regime.
The new projections come soon after host of agencies and organizations expressing renewed confidence on the Indian economy.
International credit rating major Moody's revised India's sovereign
ratings outlook to positive from stable, while Fitch reaffirmed its stable outlook on India.
to turn to important structural
reforms to raise productivity and
growth in a lasting way, the WEO
said. In the case of India, the suggested structural reform agenda
includes removing infrastructure
bottlenecks in the power sector and
implementing reforms to educa-
tion, labour, and product markets to

raise competitiveness and productivity.
"In India, the post-election recovery of confidence and lower oil
prices offer an opportunity to pursue such structural reforms," the
WEO said.
Niti Aayog completes 100 days, begins 12th Plan appraisal
New Delhi: A mid-term appraisal

of the 12th Plan (2012-17), to take
stock of the progress thus far and
finalize a strategy for course correction where needed is one of the
top priorities for the government's
principal think tank, Niti Aayog, as
it completed 100 days.
"This opportunity is also being
used to weave in the national
development agenda discussed in
the meeting of the governing council for its suitable implementation

in the remaining two years of the
12th Five Year Plan (2012-17)," the
council said in a statement.
Referring to the tasks undertaken
during its 100 days in office, the
think tank said the Governing
Council of NITI Aayog has
requested states to create appropriate institutional mechanisms to
address issues which cause delay in

execution of the project. This is
being further monitored by the
council. The council was constituted with Prime Minister Narendra
Modi as its chair and economist
Arvind Panagariya as the vice
chair. While Bibek Debroy and
V.K. Saraswat are full-time members, bureaucrat Sindhushree
Khullar is the chief executive.
SPORTS
April 18-24, 2015
23
Najam Sethi to take over IOC president to visit India for supporting athletes
as interim ICC president
Najam Sethi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board's

(PCB) executive committee.
Dubai: Najam Sethi, the head

of the Pakistan Cricket Board's
(PCB) executive committee, is
likely
to
become
the
International Cricket Council's
(ICC) interim president, filling
the post left vacant by Mustafa
Kamal's resignation earlier this
month.
Sethi, who is currently in
Dubai ahead of the ICC meeting, is a favourite to replace
Kamal, reports espncricinfo.
Sethi, who is also the former
chairman of the PCB, was slated to take over from Kamal as
the ICC president for a period
of 12 months from July 1.
However, he had expressed
his willingness to take on the
role for an interim period before
formally taking charge in July.
Bangladeshi Kamal's resig-
nation from a largely ceremonial position came after a public

falling out with the ICC. It
stemmed from the IndiaBangladesh quarter-final at the
World Cup, when he had
strongly criticised the umpires - even questioning their motives
over a dubious no-ball call that
went against his country.
Kamal had also protested after
he was passed over for the duty
of handing over the trophy to
the World Cup winners, a decision he said went against his
right as ICC president.
ICC chairman and former
Indian cricket board BCCI boss
N. Srinivasan handed over the
trophy to winning Australian
captain Michael Clarke after the
World Cup final on March 29 in
Melbourne.
Mumbai: International Olympic

Committee president Thomas
Bach is baffled by India's lack of
sporting success and will meet the
country's Prime Minister later this
month seeking more fund for the
athletes, the country's Olympic
association said.
India's only individual Olympic
gold medal came in 2008 when
Abhinav Bindra won the 10 metre
air rifle event in Beijing and the
world's second most populous
country's best overall showing
was at the last edition in London
where they won six medals.
"The IOC president is always
telling me '1.2 billion people in
India and you are hardly getting a
few medals'," Indian Olympic
Association (IOA) president
Narayanaswamy Ramachandran
said.
"I felt if he meets the Prime
Minister, it will give an impetus to
the programme and we can ask for
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
additional funding for the athletes

in Olympic disciplines.
"He is definitely bullish on
India. After China we have the
largest population and we are the
largest democracy in the world
and it has a nice federal structure." The German's visit will also
encourage the Indian corporates to
look beyond cricket and fund

Olympic sports, Ramachandran
told Reuters in a report.
"Money is available in the corporate sector, we have to tap it.
We can only tap it if the corporates have confidence in the
national sports federations," he
added.
Delhi snap 11-match losing streak in IPL

Pune: A responsible innings of 55
runs by Yuvraj Singh and some
aggressive hitting from Mayank
Agarwal (68) helped Delhi
Daredevils register their first win
of the Indian Premier League
(IPL), beating Kings XI Punjab by
five wickets, in a group league
match at the Maharashtra Cricket
Association Stadium here.
This was the Daredevils' first
win after losing 11 matches on the
trot in the competition (nine last
year, two this year) that propelled
them to the fourth spot in the
standings with 2 points from three
matches. Punjab were at the fifth

spot with a win from three matches. Chasing 166, Daredevils did
not get a brisk start and when they
lost skipper Jean Paul Duminy
(21) in the 8th over with the score
at 53, things looked bleak for
them. But Yuvraj took over the
responsibility from thereon. He
forged an innings-resurrecting
106-run third-wicket partnership
with Agarwal that brought the
Daredevils closer to their target
and paved their way to the victory
on the penultimate ball of the
match. The pair engaged in some
lusty hitting when they came closer to the target but both got out
when Daredevils were inches
away from their win.
But in the end it was just a
minor blip on their way, though
they would have liked to win
more comfortably. Earlier, experienced opener Virender Sehwag
(47) and Wriddhiman Saha (39)
scored the bulk of the total. Kings
XI were provided a decent start
through Sehwag and Murali Vijay
(19). And even after Vijay's dismissal in the fifth over, they continued their run flow.
After Saina, Sania's turn to hit the top

New Delhi: Just three days after Saina
Nehwal was deposed as World No.1 badminton player in only a week, her
Hyderabad citymate Sania Mirza ascended
to the throne as the tennis worlds top doubles player.
The country rightly savoured and celebrated Sainas rise to the top of the summit
but before the weekend, she had to make
way for Chinese Li Xurei to return to the
top. Sania offset the disappointment and her
accomplishment is also not easy coming.
Sania, 28, created history in the company
of Martina Hingis, winning her third
straight Women Tennis Association (WTA)
doubles title with the Swiss star, the duo
beating Ausralian Casey Dellacqua and
Darja Jurak of Croatia at the Family Circle
Club tennis tournament.
It has been a happy week for not only for
Sania, but also Martina, the two climbing to
the No.1 position as a team. Remarkably,
the two have not lost ever since they joined
forces three weeks ago. They won the two
hardcourt ttitles in Indian Wells and Miami
before triumphing on green clay at
Charleston, South Carolina. Both promise

much more in the weeks to come.
It was a tough week for Sania and
Martina, going through the agony of special
tie-breakers in every round on the way to
the final. As Saina mentioned its a tribute
to their ability to bounce back even when
they were not at their best. The fact that
they lost only three sets over 14 matches in
the three tournaments is an indication of
their dominance.
"Its a dream for every kid to be No.1 one
day, said Sania just as Saina recalled how
her mother wanted her to get an Olympic
medal. Yes, she cant think of a better person than Martina to get to the top, acknowledging the experience of the Swiss miss
helping them wriggle out of tight situations.
Martina said it in a perfect postscript: I
think now the pressure is off. I know we can
play at any time, any surface, anywhere.
Sanias rise was so quick and amazing
that even she cant believe she is No.1, not
long ago she was trailing Italians Sara
Errani and Roberta Vinci at the top of the
ranking table by some two and half thou-
sand points.
Sania is the third Indian to attain the No.1
ranking in doubles following her more
illustrious compatriots Leander Paes
and Mahesh Bhuapthi, who ruled
the mens doubles circuit in the
90s. Leander, in his 40s, is still
counting his Grand Slam doubles
and mixed doubles titels.
Sanias progress report is as
impressive, her three Grand
Slam mixed doubles titles
underscoring her achievements.
To put her fantastic run in
perspective, it has to be viewed
taking her performance graph
last year. She ended the year
winning the year-end
WTA finals with the
e x p e r i e n c e d
Zimbabwean Cara
Black.
Like Paes, Saina
is also skilful
enough to adapt
her play with any
partner as she has shone in mixe doubles.

She won two Grand Slam titles with
Bhupathi and the third with
Brazilian Bruno Soares.
Sania Mirza is now
tennis worlds top
doubles player.
24
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
April 18-24, 2015
ollywood blockbusters Kick and

Bang Bang! have been nominated
in Taurus World Stunt Awards alongside Hollywood biggies like The Amazing
Spider-Man 2 and Transformers: Age of
Extinction.
Salman Khan-starrer Kick is up against
The Expendables 3, 22 Jump Street and
Transformers: Age of Extinction for Best
High Work Award, read taurusworldstuntawards.com.
It is also nominated in Best Stunt Rigging
category along with 22 Jump Street,
Captain America: The Winter Soldier,
Transformers: Age of Extinction and XMen: Days of Future Past.
Hrithik Roshan-starrer Bang Bang!,
which has several death-defying stunts, may
bag the Best Fight award if it manages to
defeat 300: Rise of an Empire, Captain
America: The Winter Soldier and John
Wick. It has even won nomination for Best
Work With a Vehicle. Other nominees are
The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Captain
America: The Winter Soldier, Need for
Speed and Nightcrawler. The Hindi movie
with power-packed action scenes is also
Hrithik and Salman in scenes from Bang Bang! and Kick
nominated for Best Specialty Stunt award. It

will vie against Dumb & Dumber To,
Fury, Need for Speed and Pompeii.
Bang Bang!, which also stars Katrina Kaif,
may get honoured with Best Overall Stunt By
Irrfan heading to Budapest for 'Inferno'

ollywood actor Irrfan Khan is set to
pack his bags and head to Budapest
for his next Hollywood venture
"Inferno", directed by Ron Howard.
The "Haider" actor will be sharing screen
space with Hollywood star Tom Hanks and
Felicity Jones in the film adaptation of Dan
Brown's book. "This trip is to decide my look
in the film, what I will wear and other
things," Irrfan said in a statement.
"Ron and I have been discussing how we
will approach the role. We've also spoken
about the character's accent. His (the character's) nationality is not important, but he definitely has some British influence. While I
was looking for references for the role, Ron
sent me some links, and he even got Dan to
look for some material, which he forwarded
to me. I'm hoping to meet Dan when I'm
there," he added.
The acclaimed actor's past international
movies include "Slumdog Millionaire", "Life
of Pi" and "The Amazing Spider-Man".
inger Mika Singh, against whom an FIR has been

registered for slapping a doctor during a performance in New Delhi, says he did it because the latter
was drunk and did not listen to him.
According to reports, police have registered a case of
causing hurt and wrongful restraint against the hit Punjabi
singer at Inderpuri police station. The victim, Shrikant, is
an ophthalmologist at Ambedkar Hospital and reportedly
suffered some internal injury in his left ear due to the
assault.Mika says the incident took place because of a
rude gesture by Shrikant, after the singer had asked
him to not to stand among the women. Talking
about his side of the story, Shrikant told the
news channel: "Mika was asking me to
move to the other side in a very insulting
way... He ordered his bouncers to get me
on the stage and there he said, 'Why didn't
you listen to me?'... And Mika slapped me
on the stage," Shrikant said. Shrikant's colleagues reportedly created a ruckus at the
venue soon after the incident, leading to
intervention by the police.
Mika
Singh
Irrfan
Khan
He was drunk:
Mika Singh on
slapping
doctor
a Stunt Woman at a ceremony to be held in

California on May 9. Other contenders are
Need for Speed, Pompeii, The
Sacrament and X-Men: Days of Future
Past. Taurus World Stunt Awards in the
form of a Taurus statuette is given annually to

members of the Taurus World Stunt Academy
for outstanding stunt and stunt-related
achievements in eligible, theatrically released
motion pictures.
'2 States', 'Haider'

lead IIFA nominations
eaving behind the likes of
Kangana
Ranaut's
Queen and Aamir Khanstarrer PK, Alia Bhatt and
Arjun Kapoor's romantic comedy
2 States is leading the nominations for the 16th edition of the
International Indian Film
Academy (IIFA) Awards in categories like Best Picture, Best
Director and Best Story.
Coming close on the heels of
"2 States" is Vishal Bhardwaj's
Haider, with its nomination in
eight categories, including
Leading Role Male for Shahid
Kapoor, and Kay Kay Menon in
both Supporting Role Male and
Negative Role.
2 States, based on Chetan
Bhagat's novel of the same name,
will be vying for the Best Picture
trophy with Queen, PK,
Haider, Highway and Mary
Kom.
Abhishek Varman, who made his directorial debut with 2 States, will be competing in the Direction category with Vikas
Bahl (Queen), Vishal Bhardwaj
(Haider), Rajkumar Hirani (PK) and
Imtiaz Ali (Highway).
In the Leading Role Male category,
Shahid Kapoor (Haider), Aamir Khan
(PK), Arjun Kapoor (2 States), Hrithik
Roshan (Bang Bang!), Randeep Hooda
(Highway), and Shah Rukh Khan
(Happy New Year) have been nominated.
Bollywood's Queen Kangana Ranaut
will be contending for the Leading Role
Female category against Alia Bhatt (2
States), Priyanka Chopra (Mary Kom),
Deepika Padukone (Happy New Year),
A scene from 2 States
Rani Mukherji (Mardaani), and Anushka

Sharma (PK).
Actors nominated for the Supporting Role
Male are Ronit Roy (2 States), Riteish
Deshmukh (Ek Villain), Kay Kay Menon
(Haider), Randeep Hooda (Kick),
Inaamulhaq
(Filmistaan)
and
Naseeruddin Shah (Finding Fanny).
The female contenders for the same category are Tabu (Haider), Amrita Singh (2
States), Lisa Haydon (Queen), Juhi
Chawla (Gulaab Gang), and Huma
Qureshi (Dedh Ishqiya).
IIFA will take place at Stadium Putra in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 5 to 7
this year, rolling out a red carpet for a string
of Bollywood celebrities.
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
April 18-24, 2015
25
SGPC, Sikh groups see red in Sikh-related films Lilly 'Superwoman' Singh
extends India tour
B
ollywood and other films
showing anything to do
with the Sikh religion or
portraying characters as Sikhs are
running into trouble with the
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak
Committee (SGPC), the miniparliament of Sikh religion, and
other Sikh groups.
The latest controversy is over
the film "Nanak Shah Fakir",
which portrays the life and times
of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak
Dev and his family and is to be
released on April 17. The SGPC
has sought a ban on the release of
the film, which garnered a lot of
appreciation at the Cannes Film
Festival and the Sikh Film
Festivals at Toronto and Los
Angeles.
Produced by Harinder Singh
Sikka, a Sikh, the film's release is
being objected to by the SGPC,
the Akal Takht and radical Sikh
groups like the Dal Khalsa and
All India Sikh Students
Federation (AISSF).
"The said movie (Nanak Shah
Fakir) is an assault on the fundamental tenets of the Sikh religion.
Sikhs cannot allow denigration of
Singer Kailash Kher at the music launch ceremony of the film

"Nanak Shah Fakir."
their religion in pictorial or other

forms," Dal Khalsa leader
Kanwarpal Singh said.
SGPC president Avtar Singh
Makkar has shot off a letter to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and union Information and
Broadcasting Minister Arun
Jaitley, pointing out that the film
violated Sikh tenets which did
not allow the portrayal of the
Guru and his family by human
beings.
Though Sikka claimed that the
whole episode is driven by some
"political agenda", Makkar refut-
ed him saying that the SGPC

never cleared the film.
In recent years, the SGPC has
even objected to films which
have been cleared by the Central
Board of Film Certification
(CBFC), better known as the
Censor Board.
The films that have run into
trouble in recent years include
"MSG - The Messenger" (2015)
of controversial godman Gurmeet
Ram Rahim Singh of Dera Sacha
Sauda sect, "Singh is Kinng"
(2008), "Son of Sardar" (2008)
and "Jo Bole So Nihal" (2005).
Lilly Singh
fter
Indo-Canadian
YouTube sensation Lilly
Singh's shows in her forthcoming debut India tour got sold
out in less than two days of bookings opening, presenter Culture
Machine has decided to extend her
performances. The tour, called 'A
Trip to Unicorn Island', which earlier featured a total of four shows
will now feature seven shows in
four cities -- Delhi, Mumbai,
Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Lilly
will perform in Delhi on May 20
and May 21, in Mumbai on May

19 and May 22, in Hyderabad on
May 23 and in Bengaluru on May
24 and May 26, read a statement.
The tickets for the additional
shows are now available on lillysisnghtour.com and bookmyshow.com
Meanwhile, Superwoman -- the
alias she uses for her channel on
YouTube -- is truly excited and
ready to entertain her desi fans
with her stand-up comedy, made
popular via internet.
Repeal Article 370, build Smart City for Pandits: Kher

eteran actor Anupam
Kher said Article 370 of
the Indian Constitution,
which guarantees special status
to Jammu and Kashmir, should
be repealed and a Smart City
should be built in the Kashmir
Valley for the displaced Pandit
community.
In an interaction with the
media organised by Roots In
Kashmir, Kher, a Kashmiri
Pandit himself, said: "Personally,
I feel that Article 370 should be
abolished." Arguing that Pandits

can't return to their colonies
where they once lived because
most of the properties have
either been burnt down or occupied, Kher urged Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to construct a
new Smart City for the Pandits.
"It is more important today that
the Pandits feel secure when they
return to the valley and this is
possible only when they live
together as a cohesive unit in one
township," said Kher.
"I request the (central) government to consider building this

township as a Smart City. Some
of the country's best doctors,
educationists and IT professionals come from the Pandit community."
"If the township is developed
into a Smart City, it will benefit
the entire Kashmir Valley," he
said.
Actor Anupam Kher addresses a press
conference the return of Kashmiri
Pandits to Kashmir.
t is interesting to see
S u n n y
Leone's name as
a solo credit during the titles while
the names of her male co-stars are
bunched together.
Yup, the Hindi film heroine has
come of age. How much so, is
apparent when we see Sunny
Leone, the brunt of so many giggly jokes just two years, take centre-stage in this surprisingly
engagement and yummy
yarn about a sexy
British-Indian
model who in her
previous life was
a
sexy
Rajasthani
chokri whom
the local sculptor lusted after.
Amusingly Ms
Leone
flashes
more of her ample
cleavage 300 years
REVIEW
'Ek Paheli
Leela': A
voluptuous
fairy tale
Sunny Leone in 'Ek Paheli Leela'
earlier in the pre-incarnation

flashback than she does in the
present. The very fetching Ms
Leone's skin-show, done in temperate measures, provides an apt
sense of continuity to a plot that is
partially inspired by Shakti
Samanta's "Mehbooba". The hummable Amaal Malik track "Tere
bin nahin laage" is used to nudge
Sunny Leone's memory awake in
much the same way that the
haunting R.D. Burman track
"Mere naina saawan bhadon" was
used in "Mehbooba" to refurbish
Hema Malini's memory.
Either way Ms Leone just can't
stop taking a stroll down mammary, sorry, memory lane.
"Ek Paheli Leela" is a voluptuous feast for the eyes, and I am
not only referring to the film's
heroine who is supremely confident in her skin. It's the aura of the
film. The images splashed across
the frames to represent two differences eras, are done in tastefully
flamboyant colours that seem to

pay a homage to the flamboyant
aesthetics of Sanjay Leela
Bhansali.
Stunningly mounted and sumptuously narrated, "Ek Paheli
Leela" is a feast for the senses.
Basha Lal's camera caresses Ms
Leone's assets and the sand dunes
of Jaisalmer with equal affection.
Though the luscious Ms Leone
dazzles in her double avatar, the
question is, can she act? Well,
dear friends,while the jury is still
out on that one, let's just say this.
Could Zeenat Aman act? Like the
sex bomb of the yesteryears,
Sunny Leone fills up the screen
with her voluptuous presence.
Curiously she looks different not
only in her two avatars but also
from one frame to another.
It may not be revolutionary in
concept or path-breaking in execution. But make no mistake. "Ek
Paheli Leela" is the surprise of the
year.
26
SELF HELP
April 18-24, 2015
Find the right swimsuit for your body type

ant to look your best this
summer? Whether youre
hoping to slim down or
you already have the ideal body, the
right swimsuit and the right attitude
can flaunt what youve got and
leave you glowing, say fashion
experts.
Stand up straight, shoulders
back, and walk with confidence -channel your inner supermodel,
says Diana Kelly, a fashion, fitness
and health journalist based in New
York.
For your most confident summer
ever, get inspired by actress Soleil
Moon Frye, who publicly rocked a
bikini after losing 40 pounds with
Nutrisystem -- and consider these
fashion tips from the experts.
Kelly suggests focusing on your

upper body: Consider a one-piece
with a deep V-neck or halter style
that adds interest to the top, she
says, and suggests pairing it with a
black or dark-hued bottom.
Large Bust
Choose: A bra-style top with
thick, adjustable straps that will
ensure full coverage, says Pamela
Pekerman, a TV style personality
who offers tips at PiecesofPam.com.
My trick is to make sure the fab-
ric of your top is at least the length

of the thickness of two of your fingers, she says, a distance that
should be about 1.5 inches.
Another trick: Look for flat
straps to be embellished, says
Donna Burke, a managing partner
and
personal
shopper
at
AtlantaActivewear.com. Youll
pull focus away from your chest and
provide a lift to make your waist

appear smaller.
Athletic/Square Shoulders
Choose: A suit that adds the illusion of curves. Pekerman suggests
one-pieces with thick, contrasting
color bands that curve into the abs
area to create that shapely, Cokebottle body.
For a two-piece, stay away from
tops that create the same square
shape as your shoulders, says
Burke. Thinner straps will work
better for you and keep your shoulders looking slimmer.
Pear-Shaped
Choose: A bottom that doesnt
add bulk, says Burke. Look for
string bikini bottoms if youre comfortable in those, or bottoms with
adjustable sliders that make the side
of the suit thinner.
Stomach Coverage
Choose: A suit that draws attention upward, says Kelly. Look for a
halter-style top or one-shoulder or
fancy straps, she says. Diagonal
stripes on a one-piece or tankini can
be flattering here, as well.
Healthy snack ideas for your little athletes
ids may seem to have

boundless energy, but
running around the soccer field or baseball diamond
takes effort -- and burns lots of
calories. As a parent or coach,
its important to make sure kids
are well fueled. Theyll play
better on the field and feel better afterwards.
Whether its a practice game
or the championship, come prepared with these fuss-free,
nutritious, on-the-go snacks:
Make your own after-sports snack pack with olives,

veggies, cheese and fruit.
Victory veggies: Bring veggies that are easy to eat, such as

baby carrots, celery sticks and bell pepper
slices. They provide valuable vitamins and
nutrients, and they wont weigh down young
athletes.
First-place fruit: Oranges, tangerines,

watermelon and other juicy fruits are chock
full of vitamins. And their high water content will help keep kids hydrated. Make
these tasty fruit snacks even easier to eat by
pre-slicing, pre-peeling and packing them in
single-serve bags. Fun fact: olives, avocados
and tomatoes are fruits!
Winning flavor: Olives are central to the
bold, heart-healthy flavors of the
Mediterranean style diet. Often used in
cooking or served at meals, they are also a
terrific snack.
An easy way to include olives in your kids'
pre- and post- game snack routine is with
Pearls Olives to Go! These single-serve, liquid-free olives in a cup are available in
Americas most popular variety: Californiagrown Black Pitted Olives. All kids need to
do is peel the lid off the cup, which makes
them an easy, mess-free addition to the usual
snack line-up. Theyre also gluten-free,
dairy-free, sugar-free, cholesterol-free, transfat-free, GMO-free and vegan.
Powerful protein: A boost of protein

after vigorous physical activity helps repair
muscles. A handful of almonds or a scoop of
trail mix is easy to pack in a re-sealable plastic bag and delivers a nutritious dose of
antioxidants and omega-3s. Cheese sticks
are another portable protein option.
Replenish & rehydrate: While nourishment is important, dont overlook the importance of replenishing fluids and electrolytes
lost during intense activity. Kids should
quench their thirst throughout the game,
especially in warmer weather. Water is
always the best choice for hydration. To
resupply necessary sodium, offer your little
athlete a salty snack, like olives, as a healthful, simple and natural alternative to the less
healthful go-to snack, chips.
Go easy on sports drinks, which can be
loaded with calories and sugar and are generally unnecessary for the sports field except
in the case of prolonged, vigorous exercise,
according to the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
Whether youre prepping for a big game or
enjoying a casual scrimmage at the park,
dont forget snacks that will keep your athletic, on-the-go family healthy, hydrated and
strong.
Plunging V-necks can also draw

the eye up, says Pekerman. Also, a
retro-style high-waisted bottom with
built-in shapewear is truly a miracle
creation, she says. Pair it with a
polka dot print top to complete the
1950s vibe.
Short Torso
Choose: An X-pattern to lengthen
your middle, says Kelly. A low-rise
bottom can help, too, says Burke.
If youre self-conscious about your
stomach, try a monokini with waist
cut-outs that will hit lower than your
natural waist, making your torso
appear longer, she says.
If youre looking to shed some
pounds for summer, theres still
time! Look for programs that jumpstart your weight loss, like
Nutrisystem Fast 5, so you get that
motivation you need right from the
beginning!
With the right fashion and a
healthy weight loss plan, you can be
your most confident self this swimsuit season.
What to know before bringing

home an adopted dog
D
ogs play a special role in a home,

bringing laughter, love and warmth.
But dog ownership comes with great
responsibility and there are certain things to
consider before beginning the adoption
process.
Getting Your Home Ready
Just as a home needs to be prepped for the
arrival of a new baby, you must also make
preparations for dog adoption. In fact, many
shelters will even check whether your home
is suitable for dog ownership with a site visit
before approving your application.
If youre a homeowner, be sure to take
steps to make your home more dog-friendly.
Decide in advance which rooms of the
house your dog will be allowed to enter.
Baby gates may be an option and work well
as barriers for dogs. Have all the necessary
items for your dog ready for his or her
arrival like a leash, collar, crate and toys.
Areas of the home that contain dangerous
substances should also be safeguarded. For
example, medications and cleaning supplies
should be stored securely.
If youve never owned a dog before, you
may not have paid much attention to your
neighborhoods dog parks, trails and walkable routes. Study these locations in advance
so there are no questions on day one.
Where to Adopt
Between six and eight million cats and
dogs enter shelters each year, and 2.7 million
adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in
such shelters annually, according to the
Humane Society. Rather than buying a dog
from a breeder, check out your local animal
shelter.
Adoption has become the preferred way
to find a new dog, puppy, cat or kitten, says
Abbie Moore, Executive Director, Adopt-aPet.com. Not only is this often a more
affordable route, but you are saving a life in
Coldwell Banker Real Estate has joined

with Adopt-a-Pet.com to find homes
for 20,000 dogs in 2015.
the process.
Fortunately, campaigns can raise awareness about this issue and help dogs and families find each other. For example, Coldwell
Banker Real Estate has partnered with
Adopt-a-Pet.com for the Homes for Dogs
Project which aims to find homes for
20,000 dogs in 2015. The company will
engage its network of 87,000 sales associates
to help adoptable dogs find homes in their
communities through a variety of tactics,
including hosting adoption days by partnering with local shelters in the Adopt-aPet.com network.
Other Considerations
You should already have identified the veterinarian you plan to use before taking your
dog home, as a dogs medical care should
begin immediately after adoption.
Remember to budget for dog ownership.
Beyond regular supplies, food vaccinations
and check-ups, add in some padding as an
emergency fund.
As every dog lover knows, there is nothing
quite like coming home after a long day and
being greeted by mans best friend. With a
dog adoption, you can make your home an
even more welcoming, comfortable place.
April 18-24, 2015
Literary world loses a gem:

German Nobel laureate Gnter Grass
ne of the most acclaimed writers of

our century, Gnter Grass, who
broke the silences of the past for a
generation of Germans, breathed his last in
Lbeck at the age of 87.
Grass was admitted to hospital with an
infection a few days ago. His family had
been at his bedside when he died.
His last public appearance was on March
28th, at the premier of a stage version of
the Tin Drum at the Thalia theatre in
Hamburg.
German president Joachim Gauck led the
tributes, offering his condolences to the
writers widow Ute Grass. Gnter Grass
moved, enthralled and made the people of
our country think with his literature and his
art, he said in a statement. His literary
work won him recognition early across the
world, as witnessed not least by his Nobel
prize.
His novels, short stories, and his poetry
reflect the great hopes and fallacies, the
fears and desires of whole generations, the
statement continued.
Tributes began to appear within minutes
of the announcement of Grass death by his
publisher, Steidl.
In a short statement, German chancellor
Angela Merkel said Grass accompanied
and shaped Germanys post-war history
with his artistic, social, and political
engagement.
In the UK, Salman Rushdie was one of
the first authors to respond.
Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk had
warm personal memories: Grass learned a
lot from Rabelais and Celine and was influential in development of magic realism
and Marquez. He taught us to base the story
on the inventiveness of the writer no matter
how cruel, harsh and political the story is,
he said. He added: In April 2010 when
there was a mushroom cloud over Europe
he was in Istanbul and stayed more than he
planned. We went to restaurants and drank
and drank and talked and talked ... A generous, curious and a very warm friend who
also wanted to be a painter at first!
Geoffrey Mulligan, Grasss long-time
British editor, said he was one of the
giants of world literature, adding:
Whereas most people would be delighted
to excel in one artistic discipline, Gnter
Grass was an accomplished artist, sculptor,
poet, playwright and novelist. In person he
was funny, generous and wonderful company.
Grass found success in every artistic form
he explored from poetry to drama and
from sculpture to graphic art but it wasnt
until publication of his first novel, The Tin
Drum, in 1959 that he found the international reputation which brought him the
Nobel prize for literature 40 years later. A
speechwriter for the German chancellor
Willy Brandt, Grass was never afraid to use
the platform his fame afforded, campaigning for peace and the environment and
speaking out against German reunification,
which he compared to Hitlers annexation of Austria.
Grass was born in the Free City of
Danzig now Gdansk in 1927, almost
TRIBUTE
late enough, as he said, to avoid involvement with the Nazi regime. Conscripted
into the army in 1944 at the age of 16, he
served as a tank gunner in the Waffen SS,
bringing accusations of betrayal, hypocrisy
and opportunism when he wrote about it in
his 2006 autobiography, Peeling the Onion.
The writer was surprised by the strength
of the reaction, arguing that he thought at
the time that the SS was merely an elite
unit, that he had spoken openly about his
wartime record in the 1960s, and that he
had spent a lifetime working through the
unquestioning beliefs of his youth in his
writing. His war came to an end six months
later having never fired a shot, when he
was wounded in Cottbus and captured in a
military hospital by the US army. That he
avoided committing war crimes was not
by merit, he insisted. If I had been born
three or four years earlier I would, surely,
have seen myself caught up in those
crimes.
Instead he trained as a stonemason, studied art in Dsseldorf and Berlin, and joined
Hans Werner Richters Group 47 alongside
writers such as Ingeborg Bachmann and
Heinrich Bll whose common mission was
to develop and use a literary language that
stood in radical opposition to the complex
and ornate prose style characteristic of
Nazi-era propaganda. They last met in
1967.
He married his first wife, the Swiss ballet
dancer Anna Schwarz, in 1954. Living on a
small stipend from the publishing house
Luchterhand, Grass and his family spent
the years 1956 to 1959 in Paris, where he
wrote The Tin Drum. In 1958 he won the
annual prize of Group 47 for his readings
from the work in progress. The novel
shocked and astounded German critics and
readers, confronting them for the first time
with a harsh depiction of the German bourgeoisie during the Second World War.
Grasss 1979 volume, The Meeting at
Telgte, is a fictitious account of a meeting
of German poets in 1647 at the close of the
Thirty Years War. The purpose of the fictional gathering, as well as the books cast
of characters, parallels that of the
postWorld War II Group 47.
A sprawling mixture of fantasy, family
saga, bildungsroman and political fable,
The Tin Drum was attacked by critics,
denied the Bremen literature prize by outraged senators, burned in Dsseldorf and
became a global bestseller.

Divorced in 1978, he remarried in 1979.
From 1983 to 1986 he held the presidency
of the Berlin Akademie der Knste (Berlin
Academy of Arts).
Speaking to the Swedish Academy in
1999, Grass explained that the reaction
taught him that books can cause offence,
stir up fury, even hatred, that what is undertaken out of love for ones country can be
taken as soiling ones nest. From then on I
have been controversial.
27
A steady stream of provocative interventions in debates around social justice, peace

and the environment followed, alongside
poetry, drama, drawings and novels. In
1977 Grass tackled sexual politics, hunger
and the rise of civilization with a 500-page
version of the Grimm brothers fairytale
The Fisherman and His Wife.
The Rat (1986) explored the apocalpyse,
as a man dreams of a talking rat who tells
him of the end of the human race, while
1995s Too Far Afield explored reunification through east German eyes prompting
Germanys foremost literary critic, Marcel
Reich-Ranicki, to brand the novel a complete and utter failure and to appear on the
cover of Der Spiegel ripping a copy in half.
His last novel, 2002s Crabwalk, dived
into the sinking of the German liner
Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945, while three volumes of memoir Peeling the Onion, The
Box and Grimms Words boldly ventured
into troubled waters.
In Germany, Grass has long been as well
known for his controversial politics as he is
for his celebrated novels. He was Willy
Brandts chief speechwriter for ten years
and is a longtime supporter of the Social
Democratic Party.
28
April 18-24, 2015
HUMOR
Humor with Melvin Durai
Indians cant get enough of spicy pizza

herever we live in the world,
theres one thing you can say
about almost all Indians: we
love spicy food. If it doesnt make our
tongues burn or eyes water, were likely
to send it back to the kitchen. India, after
all, is the only country in the world where
people would be eager to fly an airline
named SpiceJet, and where millions of
people who dont listen to rock music
have nevertheless liked the Facebook
page of Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Food companies and restaurant chains
who want to cater to Indians had better
pay heed to this. They could all learn a
lesson from Dominos Pizza, which operates 650 restaurants in India and sells
eight million pizzas each month. Thats
enough pizzas to feed every single person
in Mumbai and even some of the married folks too.
Dominos has been so successful that
its CEO, J. Patrick Doyle, recently predicted that India, in a few years, will
overtake Britain as the largest market
outside the U.S. How popular is pizza in
India? Well, a recent telephone survey of
middle-class Indians found that pizza
was overwhelmingly their favorite foreign food. Not only did 60 percent of
respondents say they love pizza, another 15 percent said they love peeja.
Dominos offers a variety of vegetarian
and non-vegetarian pizza choices in
India. Among the popular choices are
spicy delight and keema do pyaaza,
as well as peppy paneer, described on
the menu as chunky paneer with crisp
capsicum and spicy red pepper. If you

think the paneer is chunky, wait till you
see my relatives who keep ordering it.
Other popular choices include spicy
chicken, described as hot and spicy
chicken with red pepper that adds an
extra punch, and 5 pepper, which,
according to the Dominos website, is
topped with red bell pepper, yellow bell
pepper, capsicum, red paprika, jalapeno
& sprinkled with exotic herb. Ive never
heard of sprinked, but it sounds delectable.
I looked all over the website, but didnt
see any Bhut Jolokia pizza. Bhut Jolokia,
as you probably know, is one of the
worlds hottest chili peppers, grown in
the Indian states of Assam, Nagaland and
Manipur.
The omission of Bhut Jolokia on the
menu means, of course, that not all
Dominos customers in India are happy

with their pizza.
Customer: Hello, I would like to make
a complaint.
Dominos employee: Please give it to
me, sir. I will pass it on to our Not Hot
Enough Department in Bangalore.
Customer: You have a Not Hot
Enough Department?
Employee: Yes, it used to be called the
Complaint Department, but every complaint was about pizzas not being hot
enough. A few complaints were about
cold pizzas our delivery drivers sometimes get stuck in traffic but most were
about pizzas that arent spicy enough. I
assume thats what your complaint is
about.
Customer: Yes, I ordered your 5 pepper pizza but it wasnt hot enough.
Instead of crying from happiness, I was
laughing from disappointment. I will be
very pleased if Dominos can add Bhut
Jolokia to the pizza and call it 5 alarm
pizza.'
Employee: That sounds like a great
idea. Any other complaints or suggestions?
Customer: Yes, you know that tomato
sauce that you put on all your pizzas,
under the cheese? Well, have you ever
thought of using vindaloo curry sauce?
Employee: Yes, we tried it once. But
we almost killed an American tourist.
Customer: Didnt you warn him?
Employee: Yes, we did. But he said he
was from Texas and nothing scared him.
You should have seen him running for
the fire extinguisher.
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.
ASTROLOGY
April 18-24, 2015
29
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
April 18-24, 2015

ARIES: A sense of foreboding can
make you uneasy; try to find the reason before it starts playing on your
nerves. Hurdles are likely to be faced by
some organising an important event. Time
spent with lover promises to be most fulfilling. Chances of monetary loss cannot be
ruled out, so remain cautious. Trying to
come back in shape may appear an uphill
task to some. Remain alert on the work
front.
CANCER: Your efforts at work

will get recognized and give your
career a boost. In these hard financial times, you will be able to establish
yourself. Partners mood swings can make
you edgy, so it is best to give him or her
space. A much expected event can prove a
damp squib. Mental calmness can be yours
if you take up meditation. A long journey
undertaken this week may not be that comfortable.
LIBRA: You will manage to plan

your expenses well to remain within
the budget. Homemakers will need to
be motivated to go in for cleaning and painting of the house. A promotion or increment is
likely for some, especially those in the armed
forces. Active lifestyle will help keep minor
ailments at bay. Those craving for partners
affection may need to change their approach.
Travel can be boring and tiring.
CAPRICORN: Visitors thronging

your home can prove burdensome.
You will find it difficult to muster
some time for your own self. Professionals
can expect to make good money this week.
Students are likely to fare well in a test or
competition. The initiative of those seeking
love is likely to bear fruit, but they will need
to keep at it. You may become a solid support for an ailing family elder.
TAURUS: Luck favours you this

week and all the difficulties faced by
you of late will resolve themselves. A
family member will become a great source
of encouragement. Your considered
approach will help you in judging a tricky
situation and take the right decisions. This is
the time to let your hair down and have a
rocking time with lover. You will be in a
position to earn well and party hard!
LEO: Avoid travelling by road this

week, if possible, as stars seem unfavorable. You manage to tie up all the
loose ends at work and take the initiative to
start afresh. You will find luck on your side
in a financial deal. Some of you may be
invited for a lecture or for participating in a
competition. A family get-together will provide an excellent opportunity to meet people
you have not met in years.
SCORPIO: You will complete all the

pending work through your focussed
approach. This is the time to consolidate on the professional front. Wealth is
likely to come from unexpected sources.
Family provides support when you need it
the most. Your humble ways and kind words
will impress lover no end. You manage to
remain calm even in most trying situations.
You can say goodbye to a health problem
bugging you for long.
AQUARIUS : Working women

may find it difficult to balance both
home and office. You can face a lot
of hassles on the domestic front, if you dont
get organised. Those romantically linked
will need to spend some more time with
lover. An outing can prove expensive and
pinch your pocket. Good guidance will see
some students through. A home remedy is
likely to cure your minor ailment. Remain
cautious on the road.
GEMINI: A family member may

prove annoying by not doing your
bidding. You will have to take the initiative in making an evening out with lover
exciting.
You will manage to kick a bad habit by
sheer will power. Those on the cross-roads
can hope to be guided by divine light. A job
on the side will provide good pocket money.
Prioritizing jobs will work to your advantage. Health remains good.
VIRGO: You will manage to prevent

an ugly situation at work, thanks to
your even-handed approach. This is
the week to focus on the domestic front to
make the changes you had been craving for.
Those overspending should not touch their
savings.
Cupids arrow is likely to find its mark and
open up the romantic front for you! A new
exercise regime will prove effective in coming back in shape.
SAGITTARIUS: This week you

achieve much on the professional
front. Wealth is likely to come to you
from most unexpected source. You will need
to handle a tensed family member with sympathy. Some of you are likely to visit a place
of religious significance soon. You will
manage to maintain mental tranquility by
shunning negative thoughts. A piece of good
news can brighten your week. Meeting a
long lost friend is possible this week.
PISCES: Those associated with any

kind transport need to exercise caution this week. Students appearing
for examination will do well to maintain
their tempo of studies. A game of oneupmanship being played by a rival at work
can harm you, if you are not careful.
Homemakers can exceed budget in doing up
their homes. Horizon brightens for those
seeking a raise. Some of you need to read
the signs beforehand to avoid getting jilted.
Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

18th April, 2015
Ruled planet: Mars Ruled by no: 9
Traits in you: Being governed by the planet Mars,
you are adventurous, sensitive, courageous, emotional, hard working, charismatic and punctual. You
are full of enthusiasm and ambitions. You should try
and avoid your shyness and stubbornness.
Health this year: Though you would not face any
major health related issues, you should take extra
care of your health. Do not take unwanted risk of putting your health in stake. Go for regular medical
checkups.
Finance this year: You may get your pending works
done, which will yield enough financial benefits for
you. You should invest in share market or real estate
to get better benefits. You need not borrow or lend
money as it may create disturbances in your personal life.
Career this year: Being an efficient professional,
you are highly respected in your professional circuit.
Your ordinates and seniors may take advice from
you. You may get your long expected promotion this
year. Salary hike is also likely to happen.
Romance this year: You will find your partner to be
a huge emotional support for you during the tough
times of your life. You may get involved in a matrimonial alliance.
Lucky month: June, September, February and
March
19th April, 2015
Ruled planet: Sun Ruled by no: 1
Traits in you: Your ruling planet the Sun blesses you
with a unique character. You are pretty confident, creative, intellectual, optimistic, and enthusiastic. You
are gifted with an artistic perception. You are very
much social and like to make new contacts wherever
you go. However, you need to control your mood
swings and selfishness.
Health this year: As far as your health is concerned
this year, you may frequently fall sick. You need to
undergo regular medical checkups and take your prescribed medicines on time. Join a gym and try practicing meditation to retain your fitness.
Finance this year: You will be able to earn more
money. However, you may end up spending a lot of
money on luxury and comfort. You may go for new
business or investments this year as the movement of
planets ensures you good monetary benefits.
Career this year: You are quite capable of handling
critical issues in your professional life. You will succeed in your attempts of performing well in your
work. You will get appreciations from your peers,
seniors, and the higher management. You should help
others to make your presence felt.
Romance this year: You may try and convert your
long time romantic relationship to a married one. You

will be enjoying a great life with your spouse with
lots of understanding, love, and care. You need not
get into any kind of argument with your beloved this
year.
Lucky month: July, September and November
20th April, 2015
Ruled planet: Moon Ruled by no: 2
Traits in you: As you are influenced by the Moon,
you are confident, emotional, imaginative, simple,
creative, courteous, and warm hearted. You can easily make friends because of your nature so you enjoy
enormous respect amongst your friends. You should
control your mood swings and you should not be
lazy.
Health this year: Your health would remain very
good this year. However, you need to go for regular
yoga exercises. You should not ignore your healthy
diet plan to remain in shape. Go for regular medical
checkups to avoid any hiccups further.
Finance this year: You will be in ample financial
gains this year. Your new business ventures will be
successful this year. You should go for new partnerships and businesses as your star favors your luck
this year. You may go for investments in any sector.
Do not spend unnecessarily in luxury and comfort.
Career this year: Being a hardworking professional, you may create wonders for your organization.
You need to learn more and look for better options.
You may not get your expected promotion or salary
hike in spite of your hard work and efficiency.
Romance this year: You will be enjoying a better relationship with your partner or beloved. You will get
the required emotional support from your partner
whenever you seek.
Lucky month: April, July, August and December
21st April, 2015
Ruled planet: Jupiter Ruled by no: 3
Traits in you: Being ruled by Jupiter, you are courteous, courageous, decisive, ambitious, disciplined,
and realistic. You are gifted with high imagination
power, optimism, and enthusiasm. However, behaving restless and dominating may hamper your characteristics at times. You need to work on your personality to make yourself better as an individual.
Health this year: You need to take an appropriate
care of your health. You may fall sick in the middle
months of the year though those will not be serious.
If you are a sportsperson, you need to be very careful for your diet and nutrition to perform better in
your sporting events.
Finance this year: You should invest in real estate to
get better benefits. Your legal matters will settle
down and provide you with the flow of the blocked
money. You need to decisive enough before investing

on something else but real estate as there are chances
of loss.
Career this year:Your communications skills will be
proved instrumental in the overall improvement of
your professional career. You will be able to make
enough contacts and you will get regular projects and
assignments. You may get promotions and salary
hike towards the end of the year.
Romance this year: You will find your partner to be
a huge emotional support for you during the tough
times of your life. You may get involved in a matrimonial alliance.
Lucky month: June, September and February
22nd April, 2015
Ruled planet: Uranus Ruled by no: 4
Traits in you: Uranus, being your dominating planet helps you become dynamic and creative. You are
positive, realistic, responsive, and sincere. You need
to work and overcome the weaknesses in your personality to attract more people towards you.
Health this year: Your health will remain good
throughout the year. You need to take utmost care of
your health to maintain it and remain fit. The health
of your family members might be a concern for you
this year. Try and avoid your bad habits and start
practicing yoga for the betterment of your health.
Finance this year: Your innovative ideas to earn
money may not meet your expectations. However,
you need to keep trying until you succeed. You will
find it tough to make money this year. You may go
for investments in various sectors like shares, gold,
land and so on.
Career this year: With an enhanced confidence and
brushed up skills, you will become very successful
professionally. You will do justice to the role assigned to you. You may get promotion or a hike in
your current salary. If you are in creativity field, this
year will bring you much more success and recognition.
Romance this year: This is a quite good year for
women when romance is concerned. You will enjoy
a very strong relationship with your spouse. You may
decide to get married towards the end of the year.
Lucky month: August, October, December and
March
23rd April, 2015
Ruled planet: Mercury Ruled by no: 5
Traits in you: As you are ruled by Venus, you are
simple, generous, cheerful, friendly, humble, honest
and peace loving. You are pretty interested to stay in
harmony with each and everyone in your surroundings. You need to work on your nature of being restless and pessimistic.
Health this year: Your health will remain fine but

the fluctuations in the health of your spouse may create huge problems for you. You should take care of
the health of yourself as well as your family members
to avoid future health problems.
Finance this year: You will be among major financial gains this year. You may go for a real estate transaction later this year and this will bring you a lot of
money to cherish. You may start up a new business.
If you are already into business, you may plan for expanding its territory this year.
Career this year: You will get enough opportunities
in your professional life to prove yourself. You will
create a better impression on your seniors or higher
management, which may result in promotion. You
should work efficiently to maintain your respect at
your workspace.
Romance this year: Your romantic life will become
stagnant this year as you may not give enough time
to your beloved. If you are unmarried and planning
to marry this year, it may not happen because of the
negative movements of your stars and planets.
Lucky month: August, November, January and
April
24th April, 2015
Ruled planet: Venus Ruled by no: 6
Traits in you: As you are ruled by Venus, you are
simple, generous, cheerful, friendly, humble, honest
and peace loving. You are pretty interested to stay in
harmony with each and everyone in your surroundings. You need to work on your nature of being restless and pessimistic.
Health this year: You may enjoy a great health this
year. However, that does not mean you will start neglecting your health. You need to take care of your
diet and nutrition to maintain a good health. You may
practice some exercises to remain fit.
Finance this year: You would not be able to save
any money for future this year as your earnings will
be spent for something or the other. You may face
unexpected expenses, which would make you a bit
financially weak. You may go for new business
ventures but need not get involved in any partnerships.
Career this year: As far as your professional life is
concerned you may find your job a bit monotonous.
You need to go for innovative ideas to get better in
your profession. Your decision making capacity may
make you the favorite to win an award in your professional circuit.
Romance this year: You will spend a peaceful life
with your love interest this year. You will lead a blissful life with your beloved with lots of love, care, concern, and support.
Lucky month: September, December and March
30
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
April 18-24, 2015
The power of attention
By Sant Rajinder Singh

Ji Maharaj
soul is sent to a life in the
human body for a certain
period of time. During
that time the soul is confined in
the human form like a prison cell.
When the soul inhabits a body,
the soul is still a part of God and
is still one with God. The soul,
however, is now overpowered by
some very powerful forces, such
as the mind, the body, and the
outer world, which cause the soul,
over time, to forget itself. The
soul slowly begins to identify
itself with the body and mind and
world outside. It suddenly begins
to think that it can only receive
information from the outer world
through the senses. Thus, the soul
has become attuned to only one
channelthe channel of the
world.
If we think about our life as
watching a television program,
we have multiple choices as to
what to watch. Just as there are a
dozen network stations and then
dozens if not hundreds of cable
stations from which to choose, so,
too, there are many activities in
this world that we can engage in.
Now, let us take a look at the
other choices available to us. This
physical planet is not a separate
offshoot from all of creation and
God. Most religions believe that

there are higher regions of existence to which the soul goes after
it dies. Scientists and doctors
have tried to verify this by documenting accounts of people who
were declared clinically dead but
had near-death experiences and
described something beyond this
world. The question is, where are
these realms? They are not zones
in outer space delineated by borders. All these realms exist concurrently with this one. The reason we are not aware of them is
because they operate on a different frequency or vibration.
The saints and mystics tell us
that we have the choice to either
stay tuned to this physical world,
or to tune into the channels of
God. God wants us to watch
Gods programming. God is
available twenty-four hours of the
day, three hundred sixty-five days
a year. Gods programming does
not turn off at three a.m. like
some networks do. It is a free station broadcasting all the time
without any cable fees. We only
need to know how to tune into
Gods station.
The hook-up to God is not hard.
It is just a matter of making the
choice that this is what we want
to do. The steps to do this are
simple. Step one is to stop identifying with the body, mind, and
world outside, and identify with
the soul. Step two requires that
when we identify with our soul
that we shift our attention to the
frequency of the higher realms
and ultimately to God. That is all
we must do. God did not make it
hard for us to become aware of
our true Home. It is we who have
made it complicated.
So how do we accomplish step
one and step two? To accomplish
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji

Maharaj
n each persons life a moment comes when
we have a transcendent experience or a
revelation in which we become aware that
we have a higher purpose in this world.
Suddenly, amidst the daily rituals of waking
up, getting dressed, going to work, eating, and
sleeping, we get a glimpse that there is something more to this life. That moment may
come when we are a child. It may come to us
while a teenager, or it may come in adult life.
Some may have it when they are young adults,
and some have it in their senior years of life.
Whenever it comes, it leaves us transformed.
Suddenly, we begin to question who we are,
why we are here, where we go when we die,
and what our purpose in life is.
Read about the life of any of the great saints
and mystics and you will find some life-transforming experience that awakened their quest.
Once these burning questions arise, there is no
turning back. We are restless until we find the
solution.
Before our awakening, it is like we are
If we meditate accurately we will

experience ourselves as soul. Once we
identify with the soul, then we will also
be aware of the inner Light and Sound
that is the radiance and vibratory
sound of God within us.
step one, we must withdraw our
attention from our body, mind,
and the world outside. We must
decide to turn off the outer programming. When that programming is in the off mode, then in
the silence we will experience
ourselves as soul. That is the step
that we call self-knowledge. Once
we identify with the soul, we will
be able to pick up frequencies
that the soul is capable of receiving. We can do a gradual shift in
which we go from the consciousness of one region to consciousness of the spiritual realms.
Once someone asked the great
saint, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji
Maharaj, how long it took to get
from here (the physical region) to
Sach Khand (the highest spiritual
region). Hazur closed his eyes,
and then opened them. He told

them, I have just been there and
back. He was showing that the
shift of attention from the physical realm to Sach Khand could be
done in the twinkling of an eye.
Why? Because we are not going
anywhere physically. We are
merely shifting our attention from
one state of consciousness to the
other. The other state of consciousness does not exist in time
or space. They are operating concurrently. We are simultaneously
in the other realms and in God at
the same time but we are not
aware of it because our attention
is only focused on one region
the physical.
So, for step one, the Masters
who have learned to be attuned to
the realm of God, teach us that we
can withdraw our attention from

the world, the body, and the mind
by sitting in meditation. If we
meditate accurately we will experience ourselves as soul. Once we
identify with the soul, then we
will also be aware of the inner
Light and Sound that is the radiance and vibratory sound of God
within us. If we absorb ourselves
in the Light and Sound within, we
can then attain step two. We can
shift our attention into the Light
and Sound, which attracts our
soul to higher levels of vibration.
The Light and Sound function
at different vibratory rates in the
different regions. As we shift our
attention we find ourselves conscious of being in the different
regions. Ultimately, the Light and
Sound function at their highest
vibratory rate, which is the power
of God itself. When we shift our
attention to that, we have come to
the state of consciousness where
we are at one with God and merge
with God.
It is simply a matter of choosing
where we want to put our attention. That is the true meaning of
the anecdote about Bulleh Shah
and Inayat Shah. When Bulleh
Shah asked his Master, Inayat
Shah (who was a gardener by
profession), How can I find
God? Inayat Shah pulled up a
plant and replanted it in another
place. When Bulleh Shah questioned what that demonstration
meant, Inayat Shah said, To find
God it is merely uprooting your
attention from one place and
planting it in another place. That
is the simplicity of spirituality.
God did not make things complicated. It is simple. It is only we
who have to choose to transplant
the flower of our attention from
the world into Gods garden.
Lifes awakening moments
sleeping. Our soul has been asleep for aeons.

We started out in the lap of God but became
lost in the attractions of the world. We have
forgotten our true Home.
We are in a state of slumber or forgetfulness
that we are souls, a part of God. We think we
are the mind and the body and have forgotten
our true essence as soul, as a part of the
Creator.
Sant Mat
Sant Mat, the Path of the Saints, reflects
the core teachings of saints and mystics
through the ages. People new to this path
often say they are attracted by its simplicity,
integrity, and effectiveness in fostering spiritual growth. Although Sant Mat was born centuries ago in India, it is in many ways ideal for
the modern seeker. Followed under the guidance of a living spiritual Master, these teachings couple meditation on the inner Light and
Sound with an inclusive, positive way of living.At the heart of Sant Mat are these simple
principles: There is one God of all creation,
though people worship the Lord by different
names and through different practices. While
Sant Mat respects all faiths, it stresses that
religion has two dimensionsouter and inner.
Sant Mat focuses on the inner dimensionthe
deep spiritual essence known as mysticism.
Mysticism looks beyond rites, rituals, and
scriptural knowledge and pursues spirituality
as a matter of personal inner experience.
Sant Mat expresses the deepest values of

every great spiritual traditionlove for God,
compassion for Gods creation, and a daily
life grounded in ethical values. Sant Mats
unique contribution is distilling these noble
ideals into a simple, universal spiritual path
and then providing the tools and techniques to
make them a personal reality.
Sant Mat does not demand that we renounce
our families or societies. Instead, we can pursue our spiritual goals while leading normal
lives.
The need for a living master
A competent teacher speeds our progress.
It's a common sense principle of life: studying
with one who has mastered the subject we
wish to learn accelerates our learning. That's
why seekers throughout history have turned to
spiritual Masters. By virtue of their own inner
awakening, these Masters awaken others. As
much as we revere Masters of the past, Sant
Mat stresses the importance of a living guide.
April 18-24, 2015

Vol 7 Issue 50 - April 18-24, 2015

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Vol 7 Issue 50 - April 18-24, 2015

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The South Asian Times

Vol.7 No. 50 April 18-24, 2015 60 Cents

New York Edition

Hillarys presidential bid gets

evening. The adoring audience interrupted

Vaisakhi celebrated at New York Town Hall

New York: Ritu Nanda, filmmaker Raj Kapoors daughter who is

Satya Nadella is highest paid CEO in the US

See detailed stories on page 16-18.

salaries at the 100 largest public

Also see page 3 for Obama award to Nadella as 'Champion of Change'.

April 18-24, 2015

Mangano installs Indian-American Economic Advisory Committee

Tech Industrial (USA), Inc., as Secretary.

and Kiran Mandrekar, Managing Principal,

County from them. He wants to make Nassau

International Hindi Center to come up in New Jersey

Obama to honor Nadella with

New Brunswick, NJ: Hundreds of

Washington: President Barack

said, Hindi Center will become a

Hindi Sangam Foundation official,

April 18-24, 2015

India assures foreign investors of a modern tax regime

issues, Jaitley said he believed that with the

Indore girl Bhavyangana wins

Ex-employee sues TCS for

Washington: A former employee of Tata Consultancy Services

From 2011 to 2013, TCS sponsored nearly 21,000 new H-1B

New Delhi Bureau

Managing Editor: Parveen Chopra

noting, "Currently we have in some ways the

Strategy and Marketing

Modi concludes successful...

Cartoonist: Mahendra Shah

Clinton picks Maya Harris to

Bhadreshkumar Patel is the prime suspect

lated, not random. Again, they were husband and

Washington, DC: Making

Wife found murdered in Dunkin

April 18-24, 2015

Candidate with Good Credit &

Raja Rajeswari becomes NY's

New York: Chennai born Raja

ethnic weekly Desi Talk she had observed

April 18-24, 2015

"Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen" to premiere in NYC

tinctive synthesis of Asian and contemporary

IFFLA announces award winners

Indian priest gets 27-year jail term

Chauranga receives Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature

(l to r) Pratyusha Gupta (Safar), Shweta Tripathi

with Best Actress honors going to

the stunning cinematography of

Former Miss America Nina Davuluri throws rst pitch

Fans were welcomed into the stadium to the

April 18-24, 2015

Couple donates $1 mn Pooja Chandrasekar gets accepted by Vaisakhi resolution

New York: Pooja Chandrasekar, a senior at the Thomas Jefferson High

to gain admission to all eight, although

Washington, DC: Sixteen US lawmakers

Shamina Singh has been

the public sector, she held senior

Washington, DC: Two Indian