TheSouthAsianTimes.

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 The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.11 No. 36 January 5-18, 2019 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

White House mulls Navika is

using disaster
The South Modi govt gets
Asian Times
relief funds for wall
Trump went to the
Organization
of Year 2018
upper caste
Rio Grande in Texas
Thursday to make
his point about
crisis at the border
even as over
quota passed
800,000 federal
Getting Parliament to pass
workers are set to
miss their
the Constitution
paychecks Friday amendment bill
because of govern‑
ment shutdown. instituting 10%
(Photo courtesy AP)
reservation for
Washington: Even as President relief to build a border wall with
Trump has invoked declaring Mexico. That's according to a con‑
Naveen Shah,
Navika President & CEO
economically
national emergency to sidestep
Congress to get funds for the bor‑
gressional aide familiar with the
matter who was not authorized to New York: The South Asian Times
weaker sections
der wall, the latest news is that speak publicly, media reports say. has announced Navika Group of in the upper
White House has directed the The aide said $13.9 billion has Companies as its Organization of
Army Corps of Engineers to look at been allocated but not yet obligat‑ the Year 2018 for their vision, castes is
leadership, philanthropy and
using emergency funds that
Congress approved for disaster
ed through contracts for a variety
becoming an inspiration for the
considered a
Continued on page 6
Indian community. masterstroke
Navika is not only a successful

Actors, filmmakers Commercial Real Estate and

Continued on page 6
by PM Modi.
New Delhi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha thirds of those present voting in

meet PM Modi Kamala Harris

elections, Indian Parliament on
Wednesday passed a landmark
Constitution amendment bill pro‑
to announce viding for 10 per cent reservation
to upper castes in government
White House jobs and higher educational insti‑
favor of it.
The AIADMK, which is friendly
with the BJP, staged a walkout
opposing the Bill with its member
A. Navaneethakrishnan saying it
violated the basic structure of the

New Delhi: A delegation of
young Hindi film actors and
filmmakers like Karan Johar,
Rohit Shetty and Ashwiny Iyer
Tiwari met Prime Minister
Narendra Modi here on
Thursday to discuss how the
entertainment industry can con‑
tribute to nation building.
Karan, who was a part of past
industry meetings with the PM,
Continued on page 6
run on Jan 21
tutions, with the Rajya Sabha vot‑
ing it late in the night.
Washington: Senator Kamala The bill passed with broad sup‑
Harris is expected to announce her port from the Congress and other
candidacy for the opposition parties despite their
White House on reservations over its constitutional
or after January validity and the timing in view of
21, which is the approaching elections.
observed as Earlier, the House rejected an
Martin Luther amendment moved by DMK mem‑
King Day. Harris, ber Kanimozhi and CPI (M)'s T.K.
who is of mixed African American Rangarajan for referring the bill to
and Indian American heritage, had a select committee for in‑depth
indicated earlier she would decide scrutiny. Several other opposition
about the run during the past holi‑ amendments were also rejected. A
days. Though she hasnʼt yet, she is constitutional amendment needs a
widely expected to and her special majority of more than half
Continued on page 6 of the House present and two‑
Constitution.
Rejecting the opposition criti‑
cism that the bill was brought late
in the government's tenure with
an eye on upper caste votes in the
coming Lok Sabha elections, Social
Justice Minister Thawarchand
Gehlot said the measure had been
brought with good intentions and
was aimed at justice for the eco‑
nomically weaker sections.
He called the bill historic and
allayed fears that the legislation
would face legal hurdles, saying
since it is a constitutional amend‑
ment even the Supreme Court
would accept it, should there be
Continued on page 6

TRUMP’S FATE 38 ON MODI 48 MICHELLE OBAMA BOOK 62 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 78 excellence in journalism
 4 January 5-18, 2019 L E T T E R F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Presenting Organization of the Year 2018

Dear Friends,
arm greetings for a
beautiful & joyous
New Year. Hope the
year 2019 brings more happi‑
ness in everyone's life.
The Team @ The South Asian
Times is proud to present our
New Year Special issue.
We have successfully complet‑
ed 10 years of our uninterrupt‑
ed publication, which would not
have been possible without
your continued support.
We are also proud to present
our annual feature, The South
Asian Times‑Person of the Year
2018. This year, make it
Organization of the Year. Let me
elaborate a little more.
It is truly not an easy task –
yet a proud one ‑‑ to zero down
The South Asian Times‑
Person/Organization of the
Year, which has become a much the views of the Navika
anticipated feature among our Letter from the Publisher investors and management
readers and the community at team, interviewed by us for the
large. There are always so Corporation, a For‑Profit cover story, is that much of the
many Indian‑Americans and Friends & Family organization credit for Navikaʼs success goes
their associations and organiza‑ whose motto ʻConventional to its Founding CEO and
tions which are scaling newer Wisdom‑Forward Thinkingʼ can President, Naveen Shah, a born
heights every year in some or be applied as a formula for suc‑ leader yet team player, indefati‑
the other sphere, making the cess by all Indian Americans gable worker, problem solver,
community very proud. We con‑ and their enterprises. We who is always moving the goal
gratulate and admire all those should honor and draw on our post.
who keep contributing to make roots in the Indian culture while Since its inception, The South
the community shine and at the same time adapt to the Asian Times has earned an
humanity move forward. modern business strategies and immaculate reputation for its
Last year we found our technologies in a fast changing excellence in journalism: value
Persons of the Year literally in world. based content, clean display and
our backyard, right here on It is a matter of immense quality advertising. Our unal‑
Long Island: Co‑Founders of pride for us as a leader in the tered vision has set new trends
Kamlesh C. Mehta South Asian print‑media to
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, and standards in South Asian
Chairman & Publisher
Chintu and Chirag Patel. This announce and profile Navika media fraternity of America,
time around also it is the same borhood Navika made their Group of Companies as "The both in print and online.
situation. Navika Group of presence felt by acquiring South Asian Times – We, the team at The South
Companies is headquartered in Uniondale Marriott & Organization of the Year 2018" Asian Times, sincerely thank all
Long Island and I have person‑ Huntington Hilton on Long for their vision, leadership, phi‑ our readers and supporters who
ally known the people behind Island and the beautiful lanthropy and becoming an have been integral partners in
its spectacular success and seen Sheraton in Mahwah, New inspiration for the Indian com‑ our gracious success.
its growth from humble begin‑ Jersey, in a period of less than munity. We recognize the mag‑ Hope you enjoy the hard work
nings in 2005 as a small real two years. nitude of managing so many put in by our editorial team in
estate financing company to But equally, Navika deserved marvelous and magnificent New Year Special issue.
what is now a hospitality giant to be our Organization of the properties and the significant
with multi billion dollars in Year 2018 because it is a success achieved by Navika in a Kamlesh C. Mehta
assets and more than 70 prop‑ unique showcase of becoming a short span of less than 15 years. Chairman@
erties. In our immediate neigh‑ conglomerate of Co‑operative‑ The unanimous consensus in TheSouthAsianTimes.Info

2010 2011 2012 2013

The special editions of
The South Asian Times The South Asian Times
NEW YORK EDITION
Excellence In Journalism
The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m

are much awaited by Vol. 5 | No. 37 | January 5-11, 2013 | 60 Cents

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2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 6 January 5-18, 2019 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and wife
divorcing after 25 years
Seattle: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos
and his wife, MacKenzie, are
divorcing, ending a 25‑year mar‑
riage that played a role in the cre‑
ation of an e‑commerce company
that made Bezos one of the
world's wealthiest people.
The decision to divorce comes
after a trial separation, according
to a statement posted Wednesday
on Jeff Bezos' Twitter account.
Left unanswered was one of the
biggest sticking points in any
divorce: How the assets amassed
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with
wife MacKenzie. (Photo : Reuters)
during the marriage will be divid‑
ed. Jeff Bezosʼs fortune currently
hovers around $137 billion, virtu‑
ally all of that is tied up in the
nearly 79 million shares of
Amazon stock that Bezos owns,
translating into a 16 percent
stake in the Seattle company.
The amicable tenor of the
Bezoses' divorce announcement
makes it highly likely that the
couple already has reached an
agreement on how to divide their
assets. The divorce announce‑
ment came hours before the
National Enquirer began tweeting
that it planned to publish an
expose about the split.
Gita Gopinath takes over
as IMF chief economist
Washington: Eminent academic and
former economic adviser to the
Kerala government, Gita
Gopinath has taken over
as IMFʼs chief economist
in a time of global finan‑
cial uncertainty.
In a sign of growing
women power, she joins a
select group of four women who
will dominate the global economic
sphere ‑‑ her boss and IMF's
Managing Director Christine
Lagarde, World Bank's chief econo‑
mist Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg,
and Kristalina Georgieva, the
Bank's CEO who will become its
interim President next
month. When Lagarde
announced in October
Gopinath's appointment
with formal title of
Economic Counsellor and
Director of the Research
Department, she called her "one of
the world's outstanding econo‑
mists, with impeccable academic
credentials, a proven track record
of intellectual leadership, & exten‑
sive international experience".

Modi govt gets upper
caste quota bill passed
Continued from page 3
any challenge. The Minister told
the Congress party that unlike the
Narasimha Rao government which
issued a government order to
implement a similar quota, the
Modi had taken precaution by
bringing in a statute amendment.
Intervening in the over eight‑
hour debate, Law and Justice
Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said
that the proposed quota would not
breach the Supreme Court's cap of
50 per cent on overall reserva‑
tions. He said the legislation would
apply to both Central and state
governments. Senior Congress
member and an eminent lawyer,
Kapil Sibal, said the bill had been
brought with "complete non‑appli‑
cation of mind" and raised ques‑
tions over the constitutionality of
the bill and its implementation.
"If the bill is passed, the imple‑
mentation of the reservation due
to complexities involved and
absence of required data with the
government would be like demon‑
etization."
Earlier, his party colleague and
deputy leader in the House, Anand
Sharma, welcomed the 10 per cent
quota for the upper caste poor but
questioned its timing as it comes
ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
White House mulls using
disaster relief funds for wall
Continued from page 3
of projects in California, Florida,
Texas, other states and Puerto Rico,
which have experienced hurricanes,
wildfires or other natural disasters.
The money funds a variety of proj‑
ects, mostly flood control to prevent
future disasters.
President Donald Trumpʼs
demand for over $5 billion for the
wall/barrier along the southern
border has led to the partial govern‑
ment shutdown. The meetings he
has had with Democratic leaders
Nancy Pelosi and Chick Schumer,
who oppose funding the wall but
are willing to consider other securi‑
ty measures, could not move the
needle on passing appropriation
bills More than 800,000 federal
workers ̶ more than half of them
still on the job ̶ are set to miss
their first paycheck Friday under
the stoppage that began Dec. 22,
and is set to become the longest in
US history.
Navika is The South Asian
Times Organization of
Year 2018
Continued from page 3
Hospitality Enterprise with a multi
billion dollar asset base, it is also, to
use its founding President and CEO
Naveen Jainʼs words, a unique com‑
pany “of the community, by the
community and for the community.”
Navika had humble beginnings in
2005 and now with its corporate
headquarters in Uniondale, NY, it
has in its portfolio over 40 top
brand hotels ‑‑ including newly
acquired trophy properties like
Hilton and Marriott in Long Island ‑
‑ with 10,000 rooms and 5,000
employees.
In his interview to The South
Asian Times for the cover story in
this New Year issue, Naveen Jain
broke the news that they have
recently launched a company
named Flex Point Hospitality
Solutions as an operations and
management arm of Navika to take
it to a still higher corporate level.
He is modest speaking about the
value he has created for the enter‑
prise, but others in his management
team credit Navikaʼs success major‑
ly to his leadership, strategies,
industriousness and vision.
The South Asian Timesʼ annual
New Year issue announcing the
Person of the Year gone by is much
awaited in the community. In the
past 10 years, the weekly has fea‑
tured NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio,
Pramukh Swami Maharaj of BAPS,
Amneal Co‑Founders Chirag and
Chintu Patel and Nassau County
Executive Ed Mangano as its Person
of the Year. In 2016 it was FIA, an
organization instead of a personali‑
ty. This time again it is a company.
Actors, filmmakers meet
PM Modi
Continued from page 3
led the delegation which included
marquee names like Ekta Kapoor,
Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer
Singh, Sidharth Malhotra,
Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar
Rao, Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi
Pednekar. After the meeting, where
the Bollywood squad clicked a
group selfie with Modi, Karan wrote
on Instagram: "Powerful and timely
conversations can bring about
change and this was one of what we
hope will become a regular conver‑
sation. Meeting the Honorable
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
today was an incredible opportuni‑
ty. "As a community, there is a huge
interest to contribute to nation
building. There is so much that we
want to do. And can do and this dia‑
logue was towards how and what
ways we can do that. When the
youngest country (in demography)
joins hands with the largest movie
industry in the world, we hope to be
a force to reckon with. Together we
would love to inspire and ignite
positive changes to a transforma‑
tive India."
Kamala Harris to announce
White House run on Jan 21
Continued from page 3
ongoing tour to promote her new
book, “The Truths We Hold: An
American Journey”, is adding to
the speculation. She has been
reportedly putting together the
logistics of the campaign such as
selecting a site for her announce‑
ment, the headquarters and the
personnel. The San Francisco
Chronicle reported Wednesday,
citing sources, that the California
senator could announce her run
on MLK Day or after, but, it added,
the exact date is still being worked
out.

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I n the profile of Navika Group
of Companies on their website,
you will read that it was founded in
2005. As Commercial Real Estate
and Hospitality Enterprise, yes it
started operations in that year. But
Navika had existed since 1992 as
a lending company. It was founded
by three friends and first two let-
ters from their names - NAveen
Navika was founded by three friends NAveen Shah, VInod Shah and KAnti Vadsola, and two letters
of their first names went into forming the company name which means ‘sailing boat’ in Hindi.
Shah, VInod Shah, KAnti Vadsola
went into the company name that
means sailing boat in Hindi.
The mission of Navika in its cur-
rent avatar is to acquire, own and
manage income generating real
estate across the United States. The
Company seeks to provide consis-
tent returns to its partners and en-
hance their capital base. Over the
years, with expreicne they found
that hospitality business brings
better returns, so eventually that
became the 100% focus. Their port-
folio today consists of over 40 Full
People who give a million or more are inducted into the Executive Board, the decision making body of Navika.
8 January 5-18, 2019
NAVIKA:
The Commercial Real Estate and Hospitality Enterprise has hit the $1.5 billion mark in assets. In just over 14
years of operations, this privately owned Friends & Family company has acquired 70 properties in 26 states
including trophy hotels like Marriott and Hilton on Long Island, with more than 10,000 rooms in its hotels.
& Limited Service Hotels. There are
a handful of Office Buildings, Shop-
ping Complexes and Recreational
Assets. The smaller properties are
hived off as and when appropriate.
The Navika Group has built a
successful track record by con-
verting productive and sustainable
business strategies into not only
providing the highest possible re-
turns on partners’ capital, but also
preserving & growing their invest-
ments in the Company. The Compa-
ny remains committed to building
and fostering long lasting relation-
ships based on integrity and re-
spect through the strength of its
partners and its strategic alliances.
The Company also successfully
COV E R S T O RY
entered into several Strategic Al-
liances with other Hoteliers and
Hotel Management Companies
and tactically capitalized on lever-
age financing to maximize cash
flow and capital appreciation. In
time, Navika also bought out the
partners. The Company remains
committed to its employees by fos-
tering a work environment where
employees are encouraged to think
independently and collaboratively
and are motivated to accomplish
the mission of Navika.
Navika offers full and uncondi-
tional ownership to its partners in
accordance with their capital con-
tribution in the Company. Navika
aims to bring successful entrepre-
SMOOTH SAILING
IN HOSPITALITY
neurs together to benefit from their
collective talent and experience
and forge a premier place for itself
in the Real Estate & Hospitality In-
dustry. The earlier idea of becom-
ing a publicly traded REIT concern
has been dropped.
Having withstood a test by fire
of a challenging economy, envi-
ronment and markets, Navika has
emerged stronger by concentrating
on its strengths, determination and
focus on the long term. The com-
pany has navigated an extremely
difficult and volatile climate in our
business environment thanks to its
expertise, motivation and creativity
and by using Conventional Wisdom
and Forward Thinking.
VISION
Navika’s vision is to become
a premier commercial real estate
and hospitality company to gener-
ate consistent returns with reduced
volatility to their partners by in-
vesting their capital in the most
profitable commercial real estate
and franchised hospitality assets
across United States of America.
OBJECTIVE
Navika’s objectives are to con-
sistently provide the highest pos-
sible returns on capital to its part-
ners, preserve and grow partner’s
capital, and enhance earnings by
implementing dynamic, produc-
tive and sustainable business
strategies. Navika also stresses
the importance of building qual-
ity relationships based on integri-
ty, responsibility and respect, and
create a work environment where
team members are motivated to
accomplish the mission.
COMMITMENT
Navika is committed to fos-
tering an entrepreneurial culture
where they employ the most capa-
ble and talented individuals, and
encourage them to think indepen-
dently in collaborative setting,
enabling them to grow personally
and professionally.
DISCIPLINE
Discipline and successful ex-
ecution are the cornerstone of
their acquisition strategy. “We will
aggressively pursue acquisition in
the growing regions that offer the
potential for high revenue growth
and maximize capital appreciation.
Regarding hospitality real estate,
we will continue to focus on pre-
mium brands that appeal to broad
spectrum of customers, ranging
from diversified corporate custom-
ers, to leisure and group visits,”
says Navika on its website.
QUALITY ASSET
MANAGEMENT
Navika’s strategy is simple – To
create significant value through in-
telligent positioning and operating
strategies. In order to achieve this
goal, they analyze each property in-
dividually in order to create value
from its unique attributes within
specific parameters. Working with
their management and operation
team, they strive to develop opti-
mal business mix for each proper-
ty, while constantly adapting to the
change in this economic environ-
ment to enhance revenue growth
and flow of funds from operation.

OPERATIONS
Navika claims it constantly
strives to develop more efficient
ways to operate their properties
and hotels whatever the economic
climate is; then work to deploy
these cost saving initiatives on
a system wide basis. Ultimately,
the successful execution of these
strategies will maximize the perfor-
mance of the properties and hotels
which will then likely position Navi-
Trophy Properties
Navika acquired Marriott in Uniondale next to the Nassau Coliseum,
and Hilton Long Island in Huntington, NY, within a period of two years, creating
waves in the community and hospitality market.
ka to reap rewards through higher
sale proceeds upon disposition.
CAPITAL
ALLOCATION
AND VALUE
ADDITION
Whether Navika is acquir-
ing new properties or enhanc-
ing existing ones, the goal, they
say, will remain to drive revenue
growth and create long term
value: “We look to reinvest intel-
ligently in our assets, eliminat-
ing deferred maintenance that
COV E R S T O RY January 5-18, 2019
can lead to increased costs and
reduced guest and tenants’ satis-
faction, and endorsing relation- NAVIKA’S JOURNEY
ships to reduce purchasing costs
and improve quality.” IN ITS CEO’S OWN
Navika’s management and op-
erations team has gained valuable WORDS
experience working in the eco-
nomic challenges and financial
crises. It has now crafted an excel-
lent blueprint to build a larger or-
ganization and developed strate-
gies using “Conventional Wisdom
and Forward Thinking.”
continues on page 10
By Naveen Shah
N avika was founded in 2005
with a vision to invest in
premier commercial real estate
and hospitality assets. The group
currently owns premier proper-
ties in diversified geographical
locations, with a mix of limited
and select service hotels, office
buildings, shopping centers,
multi-family housing and a golf
coruse. Envisaging greater asset
growth and profitability from
investments in the hospitality
sector, the group strategically
changed direction and has decid-
ed to focus more on investments
in upscale hospitality assets.
When Navika was founded,
our goal was to create an organi-
zation and environment with a vi-
sion to concentrate on the things
that matter – meeting the finan-
cial expectations of partners, op-
erating hotels with an emphasis
on unparalleled guest service,
driving revenue and building a
professional team. In the short
time that the Navika Group has
been in business, we have built
real value for our partners and
team members. We have built a
culture with a team spirit while
building our professional careers.
With our strategic focus and
our valuable partners, we are able
to implement and accomplish
what really works for each hotel.
Be it selecting and negotiating
with the right brand partners,
hiring and empowering talented
professionals or providing expert
support when needed to our ho-
tels, we strive to be a “truly differ-
ent” hospitality company. Our par-
ticular size and vision has created
an environment that allows suc-
cessful hotel teams to concentrate
on the things that matter:
THREEFOLD
VALUES
I believe that the values of the
Navika Group are threefold:
• An aggressive and proac-
tive management style, ex-
pressed with sensitivity and
integrity in all we do.
• A commitment to the high-
est professional standards,
9
yet conducted in a family
atmosphere.
• An intense desire to com-
pete and win, balanced with
respect and understanding
for all stakeholders.
When I look at our company,
I see a well-established organiza-
tion made up of what I believe
to be the best group of profes-
sionals in the business. I see
individuals who, not content to
rest on past accomplishments,
constantly challenge themselves
and their colleagues to find in-
novative ways to create value,
increase efficiency and provide
the highest level of service to
our guests and partners.
We are committed to uphold-
ing the Navika standard and our
guiding principles that help us
achieve it. With the best prac-
tices of our organization and the
best efforts of all our employees,
we continually strive to be the
premier commercial real estate &
hospitality company in business.
We continue to think entre-
preneurially so that we can take
advantage of opportunities avail-
able in the industry to meet our
fiscal priorities and extend our
resources to help our partners
and businesses achieve theirs.
Like any business, we have our
challenges and concerns. Growth
of performing assets and requisite
capital concerns are matters that
we’ve anticipated and planned
for. We are looking to do more
than hold our own however; we
are working to make the Navika
Group the country’s preeminent
hospitality enterprise.
I am excited about the op-
portunities that lie before us. The
Americas region has now passed
the Asia Pacific as the most highly
rated region for hotel investment.
Hotel operating fundamentals
across the Americas have exhib-
ited a steady and increasing rate
of growth. There is significant de-
mand among private equity funds,
real estate investment trusts, in-
stitutional investors and off-shore
investors to make investments in
hospitality assets.
We have plans to expand our
reach and continue to invest in
Upscale Hospitality Assets in the
future. We are seeking out op-
portunities, partners and places
where we can make an impact. We
look forward to further strength-
ening our business relationships,
both with our partners and our
team of dedicated employees. To-
gether, with our best efforts put
forth, we hope to see our com-
pany accelerate profitability and
asset growth in the coming years.

continued from page 9
N avika’s is mission is to acquire,
own and manage upscale com-
mercial real estate properties and
branded hospitality franchises in
metropolitan regions to maximize
return on Partners‘ capital, gen-
erate consistent cash flow which
continues to enhance enterprise
value and increase in tangible net
worth of the Company.
OBJECTIVES
Navika’s objectives are to con-
sistently provide the highest pos-
sible returns on capital to its part-
ners, protect and grow partners
capital, and enhance earnings by:
implementing dynamic, productive
and sustainable business strategies;
building quality relationships based
on integrity, responsibility and
respect; and creating a work envi-
ronment where team members are
valued and our mission is fulfilled.
VALUES
INTEGRITY
Navika claims to exemplify the
highest standards of personal and
professional ethics in all aspects
of their business. “We believe in
being open, honest and trustwor-
thy, and in taking responsibility
for our actions. We are commit-
ted to higher standards to follow
corporate governance and ethics,”
says the company website.
RESPECT
Navika’s promise: “We treat
others as we desire to be treated.
We respect the dignity of each in-
dividual, whether a Navika team
member, partner, colleague, or
member of the community. We
behave professionally and re-
sponsibly. We value diversity and
support an environment where
people of different backgrounds
can reach their fullest potential
with equal access to opportuni-
ties. We embrace a corporate cul-
ture where work and personal life
are balanced.”
LOYALTY
Navika’s credo: “We appreci-
ate those who show loyalty to us,
and we promise loyalty to them
in return. We recognize and re-
ward individual contributions and
achievements. We deliver on our
commitments, and commit our-
selves to acting in the best interests
of our partners, Navika team mem-
bers, colleagues, and community.
ENTREPRE-
NEURSHIP
Navika works with confidence
10 January 5-18, 2019 COV E R S T O RY
NAVIKA’S ROADMAP TO SUCCESS
in the intelligence, talents, skills From mixed commercial real estate, Navika has shifted to hospitality.
and foresight of their team mem-
bers. They believe that the company
Recently it has floated Flex Point Hospitality Solutions as an in-house
operates best in an entrepreneurial
environment. They strive to em-
power their people to make timely
operations and management arm.
and responsible decisions and to
take actions necessary to achieve
exceptional operating results.
COLLABORATION
Navika says it values individ-
ual differences in style, perspec-
tives and background, and values
independent thinking and talent,
adding, “Yet we believe that in-
dividual contributions made in
a collaborative setting are most
effective. We cooperate and col-
laborate within and across work-
groups and teams, and share our
successes and failures. We are de-
pendable and reliable and share
the workload. We communicate
and share information openly and
candidly with each other.”
IMPROVEMENT
Owned by Navika, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Front Royal, Virginia came with a golf course.
Navika believes in continuous
improvement, encouraging their
people to think innovatively and
respond dynamically. Says its
management: “We provide supe-
rior training and resources, and
encourage our people to grow
both professionally and person-
ally. We demand high standards
from ourselves, challenging us to
reach our potential in common
ways with uncommon means.”
COMPETENCY
Navika tries to recruit and re-
tain exceptional people with high
levels of skill, education, and ex-
perience. Motivated and ambitious
individuals are valued who work
efficiently and productively to help
the company fulfill its mission.
Sheraton Mahwah, NY in a picturesque setting is another prestigious property Navika acquired in 2017.
TEAM MEMBER
PROMISE
For Navika, team members
are the heart of the organization.
They say they are committed to
fostering an entrepreneurial cul-
ture where “we employ the most
capable and talented individuals
and encourage them to think in-
dependently in a collaborative set-
ting, enabling them to grow both
personally and professionally.
Navika embraces a work environ-
ment where our values are lived,
life balance is encouraged, indi-
vidual aspirations are achieved,
and our mission is fulfilled.”
With the experiences of learn-
ing through the challenges in busi-
ness and professional life, the part-
ners have crafted a roadmap for a
consistent growth plan and devel-
oped strategies using “Convention-
al Wisdom. Forward Thinking”. DoubleTree by Hilton in Greenway Plaza, Houston acquired by Navika.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
By Parveen Chopra
A s Navika’s President and CEO,
Naveen Shah is involved in all
areas of the business operation with
a particular emphasis on strategic
planning, capital transactions, as-
set management, and acquisitions.
He is one of the three founders of
Navika. According to others in his
top management team interviewed
by The South Asian Times, Shah
is the architect and engine of the
spectacular success of Navika, mak-
ing it a premier commercial real es-
tate and hospitality giant. Bringing
together a class management and
operations team, he has immensely
built the enterprise value of Navika.
All achieved with the company’s
founding values of ethics, vision,
integrity and commitment.
His three decade long experi-
ence of working in commercial
real estate, in accounting, financial
reporting, business consulting,
management advisory, and tax ser-
vices all came in handy in his role
at the helm, but it is equally his vi-
sion, industriousness, and leader-
ship that played a role.
Naveen Shah came to America
from India in 1982 with a degree
in accountancy and started his
own CPA company and has not
looked back since. He is very ac-
tive in the Indian community.
Co-founder of RANA (Rajasthan
Association of North America),
he was its President in 2015. He
is married to Rajshree and they
have two daughters and one son,
named Anjali, Aashna and Arpit.
In connection with Navika
Group of Companies being featured
12 January 5-18, 2019 COV E R S T O RY
NAVEEN SHAH
GROWING NAVIKA INTO A VALUABLE ENTERPRISE
Majorly responsible for leading Navika to become a well-managed, premier commercial real estate and hospitality enter-
prise, its founding CEO and President Naveen Shah wishes to share credits with his founding team, operations team and
growth team. More importantly, he call this unique company ‘of the community, for the community and by the community’.
Naveen Shah with his core management team (from left) Amarish Kachhy,
Dr Shital Sheth, Vinod Shah, Kanti Vadsola, and Chandrakant Trivedi.
as Organization of the Year 2018 in captain of this sailing boat named
The South Asian Times’ New Year Navika successfully navigating the
Special, Naveen Shah gave this ex- high seas of hospitality. How
clusive interview to the weekly’s do you see it yourself?
Managing Editor, Parveen Chopra,
in Navika’s Uniondale, Long Island Naveen Shah, Navika’s founding
office last week. Excerpts from the President and CEO: Navika has
interview: been built up over time with intel-
lectual and financial capital, which
The South Asian Times: Navika are the two components of capital.
investors and the top guys in your Intellectual capital came from the
management team we have spoken operations team. Financial capital
to all say that you are the worthy came from the founding members
team. The founding team is the one
that broke the ground, and created
the foundation for the building.
And then the growth team came
along to help the company to grow.
Where is the company currently at?
Naveen Shah: We have over 70
assets in 26 states, with 10,000
rooms. Besides New York and New
Jersey we have a strong presence
in Virginia, Texas, Georgia and
California. We have 5,000 em-
ployees at last count.
Your asset base grew from $1
billion to $1.5 billion over two
years, what is the next target?
Naveen Shah: We have targeted to
reach $2 billion by the end of this
year.
Navika is a group of
companies, namely?
“A GOAL IS A DREAM WITH A DEADLINE.”
--Naveen Shah, an inspirational leader and consummate CEO.
Naveen Shah: Navika Capital Group
is the sole owner but every prop-
erty has its own entity. There are
over 100 such entities. We want
to keep profit and loss of each
property separate that way.
To run Navika like a well-oiled
corporation, you have set up
a new company...
Naveen Shah: Yes, and we all are
very excited about this big, new
development four months ago.
We have brought all our manage-
ment in-house in a management
company, creating a wholly owned
subsidiary in the name of Flex
Point Hospitality Solutions. Based
in Washington DC, Flex is the man-
agement and operation arm of
Navika. Our objective is to manage
and consolidate our management
and operations not just with re-
spect to the properties of Navika,
but also expand into third party
management. Flex satellite offices
are in prominent regions where
our properties are based.
Tell us more about your operations.
Naveen Shah: Our corporate of-
fice is in New York (Uniondale,
Long Island) and now our central
management office is in Washing-
ton DC. And we have satellite of-
fices including in Atlanta, Arling-
ton TX, and Indianapolis.
Which are the major brand
properties in your portfolio?
Naveen Shah: Hilton, Marriott
(Sheraton is part of Marriott) and
Intercontinental (of which Holi-
day Inn is a part). We also have
Choice Hotels and the Wyndham
brand. We are franchisees. We
own, run and manage the proper-
ties. We had alliances with other
hotel groups before, but along the
way we have bought them out.
How do you envision the future
growth path of Navika?
Naveen Shah: We want to contin-
ue to grow our company with the
business model we have created
historically, to continue to grow
our business in hospitality indus-
try by adding full service, qual-
ity assets throughout the nation,
wherever we find opportunities,
and we have capital. We will con-
tinue to grow our company with
full service branded hotels every-
where in all regions of US—where
we have been there and where
we have not been there so far. In
short, continue to expand. And
continue to build a role model of
an enterprise in the society.
Any plans to go public?
Naveen Shah: No, we want to re-
main private. We will continue
to raise capital from friends and
family, as we have been doing for
last 14 years and leverage that
capital to build up performing
 COV E R S T O RY January 5-18, 2019 13

Naveen Shah: All investors are

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
By Parveen Chopra
assets in the hospitality industry.
And to drive the value and cash
flow for our partners and that is
basically what our future aim is.
equally important to us. I value my
two co-founders (Vinod Shah and
Kanti Vadsola) and our early team
like Dr Shital Sheth who brought
up the company in the early years
as much as those who have come
to invest 10 million in recent years.
How is your move from
mixed commercial real estate
to hospitality faring?

So how do you attract investors?
Naveen Shah: No, we cannot at-
tract investors, we are a privately
owned company. SEC (US Securi-
ties and Exchange Commission)
laws say if you go to the open mar-
ket you are considered a deemed
public company. Then you have
to do full blown registration with
SEC. We are not going the REIT
(real estate investment trust) way.
Our capital comes from friends and
family who are accredited with us
and with known relationship. We
cannot go in the open market and
seek capital from strangers. What
we do is accredited investors meet-
ings. If somebody we know offers
to invest, they have to have a cer-
tain range of assets, only then we
accept. Minimum investment is
one million dollars now.
What return do you promise
– 6%, 8% to investors?
Naveen Shah: No, we do not prom-
ise a fixed percentage. But histori-
cally we have continuously been
distributing cash flow back to the
partners to meet their expectations.
We plan and promise to maintain
that history. If we say 6, or 8 or 9 %
then it becomes a dividend. We are
not a dividend based company.
Is the returns to investors
a rising graph?
Naveen Shah: No, it is stable. We
believe in consistency. Not volatil-
ity, by giving a high return in one
year and low in another.
Who are your biggest investors?
Family values: Naveen Shah with his wife Rajshree,
and their daughters Anjali and Aashna & son Arpit.
Naveen Shah: Very, very well. Go-
ing forward, it is going to be 100
percent hospitality.
How did you weather the
market crash of 2008?
Naveen Shah: We took the down-
turn as an opportunity. We con-
tinued to acquire the assets in the
down time. Then the company re-
ally took off in 2010-2012.
Tell us some of Navika’s achieve-
ments under your leadership?
Naveen Shah: We have created a
substantial assets and capital base,
expanded geographical presence to
diversify risk, no mortgage defaults
and met all operating expenses
from operating cash flow. We have
also considerably enhanced the
value of the partners’ capital in a
relatively short span of time.
Your trophy properties?
Naveen Shah: Marriott in Union-
dale (which is across the road from
our office) next to Nassau Coli-
seum, Hilton in Huntington, and
Sheraton in Mahwah, New Jersey.
Why would the existing owners of
a Marriott or a Hilton sell to you?
Naveen Shah: Well, we continue
to develop relationships and make
a compelling case that we are the
right owner. In the case of Marriot
and Hilton in Long island, our ar-
gument was that we are local. Also,
we matched their expectations on
price. It is a combination of many
factors not just the price, because
Naveen Shah and his wife Rajshree Shah receiving the prestigious Bharat Gaurav honor bestowed
by the Yuva Sanskriti Sansthan, Jaipur, presented by founder Pandit Suresh Mishra and then Indian
National Commission for Women Chair Mamta Sharma at a gala event in New Jersey in 2012.
ultimately the brand has to accept
you. That is the most critical fac-
tor. Maybe they could not find a
buyer accepted by the brand.
Your reputation by now has a
seal of approval from all sides.
Naveen Shah: Yes, historically we
have proven that to the brands, in
the community and in the busi-
ness community, in the hospital-
ity industry. We have the highest
credit rating. We have never de-
faulted on our obligation to the
lender and/or third party. The
most important thing, we would
not have been able to grow our
company unless we maintained
the highest level of reputation in
the hospitality industry as well as
the lending community. Because
we leverage our capital. Banks
and financial institutions are the
backbone of the growth of Navika.
You call Navika a for-profit commu-
nity organization. How does it con-
tribute to social, charitable and phil-
anthropic causes in the community?
Naveen Shah: To borrow from the
definition of democracy by Abra-
ham Lincoln, Navika is of the com-
munity, for the community and by
the community. So, contribution
to the community is, of course
fundamental to our company. We
create value to the community by
hiring talent from the community.
By also giving contributions to
various community organizations.
Some small and others large con-
tributions. We have already given
to over 100 organizations, which
work for social, charitable and
welfare causes as well as religious
bodies. To name a few of those:
AIA (Association of Indians in
America), IALI (Indian Association
of Long island), Rajasthan Asso-
ciation of North America (RANA),
BAPS, Akshaya Patra, BAPS and
some temples. We also continue
to promote social, charitable and
welfare activities by being spon-
sors of major events in the tristate
area, like of Nargis Dutt Memorial
Cancer Foundation (NDMF) etc.
Our upcoming contribution in a
major way is going to be RANA’s
Global Convention this July 4
weekend at the Marriott, Union-
dale. We have also contributed
to promote cultural values and
heritage of different regions of In-
dia, for example, to the Rajasthan
Mahotsav in 2015. We continue
to promote cultural and religious
values in the community. As an or-
ganization we are not married to
any one religion but relate to the
religious values. We continue to
spread the value of spirituality by
hosting religious events and plan
to have another big religious event
in 2020: Mahalaxmi Pujan. In the
past we have had hosted Saraswa-
ti Pujan (the goddess of learning)
with 1008 couples and Padmavati
Pujan (goddess of spiritual power)
with 108 couples in 2007.

H with 360 degree of operations
aridas Kotahwala is respon‑
sible for overseeing corpo‑
rate matters and presides
over all the board meetings. He is a
very well‑known jeweler in New
York and successful business entre‑
preneur in the community. He has
experience in managing commer‑
cial real estate business of over 40
years as well as a pioneer and
founding member of Indian Dia‑
mond & Color Stone Association.
Very active in the community, he is
President of Rajasthan Association
of North America (RANA).
The South Asian Times caught up
with him when he was away in In‑
dia for this interview.
The South Asian Times: As Chair‑
man what exactly is your role at
Navika?
Haridas Kotahwala: I do not par‑
ticipate in day‑to‑day operations of
Navika but am actively involved in
Board meetings and proceedings. I
try my best to make myself always
available when and where Navika
needs my presence. As Chairman, I
personally pledge to adhere to the
highest standards of integrity and
the principles on which Navika was
founded.
When did you take over this re‑
sponsibility at Navika?
Haridas Kotahwala: Navika was
started with a few very prominent
people and we started with acquir‑
ing a couple of hotels. I am part of
Navika since its inception, joined as
a member and Director. And soon I
was appointed Chairman by the
Board of Directors of Navika be‑
cause of my seniority.
Have your family members also
invested in Navika?
Haridas Kotahwala: Since 2005
my family is part of Navika, and we
are part of a large group of proud
investors in Navika.
How satisfied are you with the
growth and success of Navika?
Narsinh Desai, Co‑Chairman, Navika
N
arsinh Desai has been Navika Co
Chairman and Executive Board
member for 14 years and is a ma‑
jor investor. He is responsible for oversee‑
ing corporate matters and presides over all
14 January 5-18, 2019 COVER STORY TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Our CEO is a one-man army dealing
-Haridas Kotahwala, Navika Chairman
Navika Group Chairman Haridas Kotahwala, seen with his wife Sharda Kotahwala at his side, speaking at a community event.
A prominent jeweler, he is the current President of RANA. (Right) Haridas Kotahwala heartily commends
Navika CEO‑President Naveen Shah for what he has achieved for Navika.
Haridas Kotahwala: Not only me ough due diligence, conservative as we see it today. munity, socially, or by way of phi‑
and my family, in my knowledge approach with risk‑free mindset, What would you want Navika to lanthropy?
and view, all investors are very hap‑ and astute financial planning. do differently? How do you see its Haridas Kotahwala: Navika has
py and utterly satisfied with the How much credit for Navikaʼs future? always shared tis success with the
growth and overall success of Navi‑ success goes to its CEO/President, Haridas Kotahwala: Navika has community; they have generously
ka. They are proud to be share‑ Naveen Shah? successfully moved into large prop‑ supported almost all Indian Ameri‑
holders and to be part of this pres‑ Haridas Kotahwala: The Found‑ erties serving the hospitality indus‑ can community organizations.
tigious company. ing President and CEO Naveen Shah try. We are moving towards sharing Their continuous support to RANA,
That Navika is being recognized is the architect of Navika's phenom‑ the management skills to manage BAPS, AIA, IALI, Akshaya Patra etc
as "Organization of the Year" by an enal success. He is the one who at‑ and operate third party properties. is well known in the community.
acclaimed newspaper like The tracts the investors, finds the prop‑ The outlook for hospitality industry Anything else you want to add
South Asian Times speaks volumes erties, deals with the institutions continues to be positive for the Haridas Kotahwala: I wish all the
about its success and standing. and seamlessly runs the manage‑ coming years and we plan to con‑ readers of The South Asian Times a
What is the secret of success of ment. He is a one‑man army dealing tinue to invest in productive and very happy New Year. Warm con‑
Navika? with 360 degree of operations. He performing assets and increase its gratulations to Mr. Kamlesh C.
Haridas Kotahwala: Convention‑ has succeeded in creating a trans‑ enterprise value. The future of Mehta and Parveen Chopra for
al Wisdom and Forward Thinking is parent organization, and assuring Navika is bright and success will be serving the community with such a
our motto. Other factors which are safety for every dollar of investors. sustainable forever. clean and informative newspaper.
the key to Navikaʼs success include: He is dynamic, inspiring, and a well‑ Navika calls itself a community Thank you for selecting Navika as
Unity and trust in the core manage‑ balanced human being. Without organization, albeit for‑profit. In The South Asian Times‑Organiza‑
ment team by the partners. Thor‑ Naveen Shah, there won't be Navika which ways has it helped the com‑ tion of the Year 2018.
We have given consistent David Fincannon, CHA
Executive Vice President,
Navika Capital Group
returns to investors
D
avid Fincannon joined Navika in
2016. He is a seasoned profes‑
-Narsinh Desai sional
with over 25 years
of experience in
the board meetings. When asked how he plaints, if any, his confident response: “So
the hospitality in‑
sees his role and responsibility at Navika, far we have given consistent returns. We do
dustry. Before
he replies: “To oversee operations, review not leverage high, we keep expenses down
Navika, he worked
new deals and support for better deals.” and are always trying to make improve‑
for the Dow Hotel
He foresees the groupʼs growth trajecto‑ ment in every aspect of our functioning.”
Company as re‑
ry continuing to go upward. Because, he From experience he says, “Hard work, con‑
gional vice presi‑
says: “Now we have a solid base, our own stant focus, unity and patience always pay
dent and was responsible for overseeing
management company (Flex Point Hospi‑ off.”
the operational performance and growth
tality Solutions) and good credit.” The South Asian Times declaring Navika
of Hilton Long Island in Huntington, the
What has been the secret of success of group as the Organization of the Year 2018
same trophy hotel now acquired by Navi‑
Navika? His terse reply: “Stay together in a “Is wonderful, a matter of pride for us”, De‑
ka. He has served in the US army, earn‑
financial crisis like in 2008‑2011 and take sai says.
ing , earning an Army Commendation
advantage of the downturn.” A resident of New Jersey, Narsinh Desai is
Medal, and holds an A.S. in Business
He confirms that he is a major investor in a highly respected and very successful busi‑
management from Monterey Peninsula
Navika. When asked how secure are re‑ ness entrepreneur. He has over 25 years of
College and is a Certified Hospitality
turns of investors or their investments and experience in Real Estate and Pharmaceu‑
Accountant (CHA) Executive.
how does the management deal with com‑ tical Industry.
 16 January 5-18, 2019 COVER STORY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

We do not play with other

V
inod Shah is responsible
for all the corporate legal
and secretarial matters.
He is a very successful business
entrepreneur in the community
with experience of over 30 years
in managing real estate and phar‑
maceutical businesses.
Vinod Shah says that as secre‑
tary it is his job to see that all le‑
gal formalities are completed
properly.
One of the original three
founders (the VI in NA‑VI‑KA),
Shah says why people like Navika
is “because we work with our own
money, we do not play with other
peopleʼs money. For example, we
the early investors put in our own
money, and let the people see, and
then we tell the people what we
are doing. So people have confi‑
dence in us.”
Continuing in the same vein,
Shah says, “The second most im‑
people’s money -Vinod Shah
portant thing which is good about
Navika is that those who become
partners in Navika are partners in
all the properties instead of in one
particular property. Which on the
ground means if one property
runs into losses, they donʼt lose
their money.”
When pointed out that some
real estate companies are luring
investors by promising as much
as 20% returns, he says, “But that
20% is not for all time. That may
be temporary. At Navika, we may
be distributing a lower return, but
we have given the same consis‑
tently without fail all these 14
years.” He clarifies that Navika as
a company is making about 16%,
so the equity keeps adding up.
That means all the partners are
also making 16 % even if they are
getting 6% or so now. The rest
10% is built up in the equity of the
company.
The secret of success of Navika
he puts down to these factors: uni‑
ty among partners and the man‑
agement, leadership and trans‑
parency. In leadership he includes
CEO Naveen Shah and all the Ex‑
ecutive Board. He then goes on to
elaborate, “People who have in‑
vested more than a million dollars
are on the Executive Board of
Navika. They meet every month
or so whenever the company is
buying a new property. If they see
any problem they sit down to‑
gether, discuss and resolve it.
There are 35 people on this
board.”
Shah is on the management
team but like others who have
their own individual businesses is
not part of the day to day opera‑
tions, he clarifies, adding, “But we
are the decision makers.”
Vinod Shah runs a retail phar‑
macy in East Patchogue, Suf folk
County, and is also into manufac‑
turing herbal products which he
says are allowed to be sold as
food supplements in America.
Vinod Shah, Founder and
Secretary, Navika

A reserve fund gives

security to Navika
and investors
-Kanti Vadsola
K
anti Vadsola is re‑ erties and buy big brand‑
sponsible for the ed properties.”
corporate treasury According to Vadsola,
and banking. He is a very the secret for success of
successful business entre‑ Navika is, “We are clear
preneur in the community and open, in the sense that
with experience of over anyone can come and look
30 years in managing real at a certain portfolio, that
estate and pharmaceutical
businesses.
kind of transparency we
entertain.”
US map showing states where
Talking about his role as
treasurer at Navika, he
Vadsola is one of the
three original founders of
Navika has sizeable presence.
says it is to find out finan‑ Navika (the KA in NA‑VI‑
cial requirements and talk KA). But he says the three
to the Executive Board founders do not necessar‑
and decide what we have ily have the highest invest‑
to do with this. ment in the company. He
When asked if the com‑ also refuses to name the
pany is cash rich, he puts highest investors in Navi‑
it like this, “The company ka. “It is hard to say who is
has cash to roll over. But the biggest investor as sit‑
yes, we have kept money Kanti Vadsola, Founder and uation changes on a daily
in a fund for the rainy day. Treasurer, Navika basis as money keeps
Rainy day like if the stock market crashes rolling.”
and everything goes down, then we can use It took a mere two years for Navikaʼs as‑
this money. Otherwise we donʼt use that sets to grow from $1 billion to $1.5 billion,
money and do not invest it either. It is be‑ he says. So, will this rate of growth hold?
cause of holding that fund for the rainy day He replies cautiously, “It depends on how
that we never face problems. This gives sta‑ the value of properties grows as it all de‑
bility and security in the company and pends on the market. Hospitality industry
peace of mind to the investors.” does well if the share market is doing well.
Talking about the figure of 1.5 billion dol‑ We did have bad years in 2008‑10. That is
lars in assets, Vadsola says that that num‑ when we survived because of the reserve
ber is always changing as “sometimes we funds we had stashed away and therefore
The major brands Navika group
buy and sometimes we are selling proper‑ did not have a problem.”
ties. Yes, once in a while we sell our small Kanti Vadsola runs a pharmacy in Lyn‑
is working with.
properties. The trend is, we sell small prop‑ brook, Nassau county.

A and growth of investments
s Vice President, Chan‑
drakant Trivedi is involved in
all the areas along with the
CEO of Naivka, Naveen C. Shah. He is
a successful entrepreneur in the
community with experience of over
30 years in managing real estate
and pharmaceutical businesses.
Trivedi told The South Asian Times
that the success of any company
mainly depends on leadership and
in what direction we are heading for
future success. Navika is in good
hands having Naveen Shah as CEO
and President, he said. Trivedi sees
his role as direct and indirect com‑
munications and public relations
and reduce the load on the CEO
while moving in the direction the
company is heading out to.
Trivedi recalls, “When in 2005 I
joined Navika, Naveen bhai talked of
making it a billion dollar company
and see, we have already crossed
that landmark. We have 400 in‑
vestors today because Naveen bhai
is able to convince the people in a
positive way and take them along
when making a decision.” He talks of
some other positives in the way
Navika functions: “If you have any
objection you communicate with
Naveen Shah and he will find a solu‑
tion and we move forward. There is
transparency and help also comes
from the thought process of the
Chairman Sahib Haridas Kotahwala
and Co Chairman Narsinh Desai.
AT NAVIKA WE PULL
IN ONE DIRECTION
A
marish Kachhy is a
member of the Execu‑
tive Board. He is in the
phramacy business otherwise.
He says his association with
Navika goes back to almost the
time it was started as a com‑
mercial real estate company.
He has been friends with its
founders Vinod Shah, Kanti
Vadsola and Naveen Shah.
“When they decided to expand
Navika from a lending compa‑
ny to commercial real estate, I
was among the first few to join
them. We started with small
properties. Since then Navika
has grown and grown and
grown into what it is today.”
Kachhy says that his associa‑
tion with Navika has also grown
over time. “From small investor
to as the company grew it need‑
ed more money and we were
there.”
About his role at Navika, Kachhy
says, “It is not in day‑to‑day opera‑
tions. When something new comes
up, we talk about it in the executive
18 January 5-18, 2019
Navika promises safety, security
Chandrakant Trivedi, Vice President, Navika
They are successful business people
and very supportive in guiding
Naveen Shah to take decisions from
time to time. Navika also brings val‑
ue to the community – there is rela‑
tions with the banks and venture
partners and general partners.”
Trivedi is all praise for Naveen
Shahʼs role in Navikaʼs success, “He
works 24/7 and is dedicated and
travels quite a lot all around the
-Amarish Kachhy
Amarish Kachhy,
Executive Board member, Navika
board meeting and during the dis‑
cussion everybody gives their
opinion and suggests the way to
go. And unanimously we decide on
the right way to go.”
What lessons have been learnt at
Navika, what works and what does‑
COVER STORY
country. We have properties in more
than 18‑20 states right now with
more than 60 small and large scale
properties. In 2008‑9 when there
was a disturbance in the hospitality
industry (a direct result of the down‑
turn in the economy), Navika stood
its ground and even came up be‑
cause of Naveen Shahʼs decisions
then and blending of different kinds
of properties. And so the success
nʼt? Kachhyʼs response: “Some‑
times it is difficult to work with
some partners as different peo‑
ple join the group. That can
hold up progress of the compa‑
ny. So we decide to stick with
Navikaʼs direction. The final de‑
cision maker is the Executive
Board and we meet every
month. The meeting used to
happen at the Navika office,
and now at Hilton Huntington
(which is now a Navika proper‑
ty).”
Hilton Huntington and Mar‑
riott Long Island are the two
most prestigious properties ac‑
quired by Navika, states Kach‑
hy. Add to that Sheraton Mah‑
wah in New Jersey as well.
The secret of Navikaʼs growth
in Kachhyʼs view is: “We are en‑
ergetic people. We are united, we
donʼt pull each otherʼs leg. Rather
we pull in one direction. We take
unanimous decisions with the lead‑
ership of CEO Naveen Shah and
Chairman Haridas Kotahwala. And
they are good visionaries.”
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
-Chandrakant Trivedi
credit goes to him. As a vice presi‑
dent my role is to communicate with
the investor‑members and try to un‑
derstand their concern and commu‑
nicate to the CEO to find the right
solution and to be supportive.”
On Navikaʼs secret of success,
Trivedi says, “Overall it is Navikaʼs
unique promise of safety, security
and growth of investments. The CEO
is trying to approach the task at dif‑
ferent levels with different kinds of
people and in marketing at the same
time ‑ and he has met with success.
He is not exercising his own deci‑
sions all the time, but adapts in a
timely manner when new input
comes in and that has been helpful
in the success of Navika.” Besides
flexibility, transparency and clarity
are Navika qualities. Adds Trivedi, “I
have not come across any complaint
from any investor‑member. If any‑
one wants out at any time, our CEO
has done the needful in a timely
manner. He has never said no to
anyone so far in the last 15 years.”
When asked whether investors do
withdraw sometimes, Trivedi
replies, “Yes, some people withdraw
due to their family situations – a loss
Kuods to all at Navika for
The South Asian Times honor
-Dr. Anil Paulose
D
r. Anil Paulose is the
principal of Reliance In‑
surance and Account‑
ing based in Astoria, New York,
for over two decades. He says
his affiliation with Navika start‑
ed as an Investor/partner sev‑
eral years back. “CEO Mr.
Naveen Shah who is also a close
friend of mine continues to im‑
press me through his humility
and exceptional management
and vision for Navika. The tra‑
jectory of growth Navika has
achieved to become a 1.5B
company with its steady and
continuous stream of selective
in the family ‑ or due to changes in
business, when they need money.
And their money is returned.”
Is it 6 percent return that in‑
vestors get? Trivedi explains, “The
returns are distributed on a quarter‑
ly basis. And you do not look at 6
percent or 8 percent as your equity
is getting appreciated over time.
Look at the properties in the Navika
portfolio which have grown tremen‑
dously. So you keep focus on the
long term that there is safety, secu‑
rity and future.”
Trivedi informs that the a unit of
investment in Navika is $25,000,
one can buy 20, 30 or 40 units, and
be rewarded accordingly. “When
they invest a million dollars they get
executive membership but all in‑
vestors are treated equally. The priv‑
ilege for Executive Members is to
take part in Navikaʼs decision mak‑
ing.” He adds that most of the Navi‑
ka investors are successful business
people, some are in jewelry business
like Haridas Kotahwala, the Chair‑
man, some are doctors.
Trivedi himself owns a neighbor‑
hood pharmacy in Islip in Suffolk
County.
Dr. Anil
Paulose,
Investor/
Partner,
Navika
acquisitions over the past
decade is highly commendable,”
said Dr Paulose, adding, “Itʼs
Mr. Shahʼs relentless and con‑
scientious work ethic, his expe‑
rience and approach to life
which is to be credited for the
success and growth of Navika.”
Dr Paulose congratulates all in‑
volved in the administration,
management and fellow in‑
vestors at Navika for this recog‑
nition as the “Organization of
the Year 2018” by The South
Asian Times and feels personal‑
ly very proud to be part of the
Navika family.
 20 January 5-18, 2019 COV E R S T O RY

NAVEEN SHAH IS THE ARCHITECT &

ENGINE OF NAVIKA’S GROWTH - Sunil Shah
Degree in Mechanical Engineering
and professional engineering li-
cense from the state of New York.
He brings more than 28 years of
experience in engineering, business
and trading experience to Navika.
He has worked with many diverse
industries and successfully run his
manufacturing business of plastics
and metal injection molding. Shah
is an accomplished entrepreneur
Sunil Shah with over 25 years of domestic and
international experience in strate-
Executive Partner, Navika
gic planning, operations, oversight
plan. He is the brain behind the
operation. We are accessories.
And I am not just saying this be-
cause he is my older brother.”
So how did Naveen Shah dream
up the idea of starting a commercial
real estate company? Sunil Shah’s
reply: “He is a very ambitious and
visionary person, always looking to
innovate, to grow himself out of his
current situation, and come up with
great ideas. And the ideas he sees
value in, he is going to pursue.”
“Navika’s growth really took off
out these years. It reflects the tre-
mendous amount of trust the com-
pany has received from its investors
because of its continued success.
Asked about Navika’s future
prospects, Shah says, “Navika is
a very well-managed company by
Naveen. His approach is multi-fac-
eted. He is now able run Navika
as a large corporation. There are
now different departments and
each is responsible for a certain
area of the group’s growth.
Naveen is a great manager and
I believe that he will be able to take
Navika to much greater heights in
the future. Navika is a company that
is here to stay for the long haul.”

A s an Executive Partner, Sunil

Shah is heavily invested in
the growth and success of Navika.
His company responsibilities in-
clude renovation work and facil-
ity upgrades to meet compliance
standards amongst the company’s
properties and assets.
He is actively involved with
Navika Capital group of companies
since its inception, and understands
the hospitality business from inside
out. He takes an active part in key
decisions making process of the
company. He is responsible for over-
seeing its PIPs and renovation work.
Shah’s academic and work expe-
riences make him more than quali-
fied for the job. He holds a Master’s
and cost-cutting in diverse indus-
tries and has extensively traveled to
different parts of the world.
Shah has been able to take his
expertise to aid Navika’s continued
growth. He started his new com-
pany, Elite Hospitality Manage-
ment out of necessity while helping
Navika Capital. Says he, “Elite’s job
is to serve Navika in all their prop-
erty improvement needs and to
fully comply with brand standards
(Hilton, Marriot, IHG and others).”
When asked about the secret
to Navika’s success, Shah praised
the company’s CEO. “The secret is
Naveen Shah. His mind and ambi-
tion have guided the company. He
is the architect of Navika’s growth
around 2010,” recalls Shah: “That
is when Naveen acquired fifteen
new properties throughout the
U.S. that accelerated the growth.
These acquisitions helped Navika
both from a financial and growth
perspective. As a result, he started
building good relations with all
top industry brands like Hilton
and Marriott. It enabled Navika
to pursue a variety of name brand
properties. Of course, credit for
the success of Navika also goes to
the company’s partners. They have Navika’s founding CEO and President Naveen Shah does
financially supported the company not boast about it, but others in the company’s management
allowing us to have the capital to heap praise on him as the single most contributing factor
acquire these properties.” for the success of Navika, for which he has been recognized
Shah has continuously invested by the Indian community and business community at large.
his own money in Navika through-

NAVIKA IS THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY - DrSheth

Shital

day to day activities. I did HR when
the company was not very big. I did
their website (now they have their
own IT person). I managed a lot of
things. I also did public relations. I
was director of corporate affairs.
Did the initial, small group
of people who started Navika in
2005-6 think it will expand to the
level it has? Replies Dr Sheth, “Defi-
nitely, there was a vision. It was just
a matter of time. We knew it will
reach to that level. The goal was al-
ways there. It was just working to
Dr Shital Sheth achieve it. But we definitely knew
Adviser, Navika
we will achieve it.”
She confirms that initially
Navika used to do investor meet-
ings, not anymore. “People who are
coming now are coming through
word of mouth, through family or
friends. Navika is not going looking
for people. People come looking for
us. This is because Navika has set a
benchmark; everyone knows about
it in the community and we are an
enterprise in which community
members can participate. ”
Now Dr Sheth is not doing much
on HR front for Navika as they have
their own person. But PR she still
manages. When asked why does
Partners have contributed in their
own different ways. “When Navika
was in the growing stages, everyone
contributed a lot. It has been team
work and everybody has worked
hard for it. People have sacrificed.”
Has Navika (meaning boat in
Hindi) stabilized enough where one
can say it is smooth sailing from
here now and everything is in con-
trol? Dr Sheth replies confidently:
“It has always been under control.
Naveen micromanages everything
and everything has always been
under control. There are hiccups,
of course, but not something that
But Navika did change its busi-
ness strategy from mixed real es-
tate portfolio to hospitality. Was
that a conscious decision? Says Dr
Sheth: “It is because hospitality has
more potential and everybody has
been more focused on hospitality
now than being all over the place.
People realized from experience
that we were made for hospitality,
not office buildings and the like.”
And that shift in focus happened
about 7-8 years ago, she adds.
Dr Sheth runs Fulton Pediatrics
in Hempstead, NY and has 4 other
doctors and a staff of 20 work for

A pediatrician by profession with

her own thriving practice, Dr
Shital Sheth, an Executive Partner,
That is not the end of it. Adds
she, “Our ambitions are always
higher. So when we achieve one
Navika need PR if investors are
coming on their own, she says, “It is
to still be known in the community
goes beyond control. Problems
come, get solved and we move on.”
her, making it one of the biggest pe-
diatric practices in Nassau County.

has been associated with Navika thing, our goal goes to a second that we are the best and that we are
from the very beginning. “I was in- level. We are still trying to achieve there for the community.” Ben Koopman
volved with not the operations, but more and more.” She asserts that all the Executive President, Flex Point Hospitality Solutions

Ben Koopman is the President of Flex

Point Hospitality Solutions and serves on the
Board of Directors. He joined a year ago. Flex
Point’s nationwide portfolio include includes
full and focused service hotels with best of
class brands from Hilton, Marriott, and IHG.
Ben Koopman is a High-impact Senior
Level Hospitality Executive known as a stra-
tegic growth driver and collaborator recognized for consistently
delivering exceptional revenue, profitability, market share, em-
ployee satisfaction and guest satisfaction.

Flex Point Hospitality Solutions has recently been cre-

Navika officials and spouses at a company event. ated as the operations and management arm of Navika.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
22 January 5-18, 2019 COVER STORY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Principles & Practice

Spell Success at Navika
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019

By SATimes Team
T
he master brain who con‑
ceived the idea and sowed
the seed of Navika has many
other feathers in his hat. As a team
player and leader, he is behind
many successful ventures and or‑
ganizations. A Rajasthani Jain,
known to be a highly educated and
business minded community, qual‑
ified Chartered Accountant and
Certified Public Accountant by ed‑
ucation, he has been associated
with quite a few successful com‑
munity organizations.
Navika was formed with his part‑
ners Vinod Shah and Kanti Vadso‑
la. Rajasthan Association of North
America (RANA) was initiated and
formed at his residence in 1999
with Arvind Bhandari, Kamlesh
Mehta, Krishna Mehta, Rajesh Shah
and Sunil Shah. Rajasthani Insti‑
tute of Culture and Heritage (RICH)
was also formed with him and
Haridas Kotahwala, Kamlesh
Mehta, Kanak Golia and Sushil Goy‑
al.
RANA is the premier organiza‑
tion representing over 300 fami‑
lies as life members in the tristate
area. Naveen has served RANA in
many capacities, twice as Presi‑
dent. During his Presidency, in
2016 Vasant Mahotsav was organ‑
ized at the sprawling campus of
SUNY Old Westbury attended by
over 2,000 people. The communi‑
ty still cherishes the memories of a
colorful procession with live band,
horses and elephant.
Naveen Shah is the Convener of
the Rajasthani Global Convention
2019 to be held at Uniondale Mar‑
riott during the July 4th weekend.
With Haridas Kotahwala as RANA
Naveen Shah speaking at Vaishnav Temple of Long Island on the
occasion of Indiaʼs Republic Day; also seen with him Bobby Kumar
Kalotee and Temple Chairman Dr Arvind Shah.
Navika under Naveen Shah supports many
worthy social and charitable causes.
24 January 5-18, 2019
NAVEEN SHAH
Like a Diamond with Many Facets
Naveen Shah
speaking at
RANA Diwali at
Hilton Hotel.
A RANA
co‑founder, he
has served as its
President twice
President, Kanak Golia as Jt. Con‑
vener and Kamlesh Mehta as Co‑
Convener, RANA is again getting
prepared to welcome over 2,500
people from all over the globe for
a 4‑day festive event.
Naveen is a strong and consis‑
tent supporter of many religious
organizations, especially Jain tem‑
ples. His public events on Long Is‑
land of Shree Saraswati Devi poo‑
jan with 1008 couples and Shree
Padmavati Devi poojan with 108
couples are still fresh in the mem‑
ories of hundreds of people after
so many years.
Naveen has been recognized by
almost all major organizations
such as IALI, AIA (Association of In‑
COVER STORY TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Naveen Shah with his sister Beena Kothari (left) &
wife Rajshree atRajasthan Mahotsav, sponsored by RANA,
dians in America), NDMF and celebrated in SUNY Old Westbury.
RANA for his success, service and
contributions to the community.
People look to him at times of
need, when requiring help. Navika
supports some 30‑40 community
events every year.
Naveen has also been supporting
local politicians. He is one of the
leading supporters of Congress‑
man Tom Suozzi since the year
2013 as well as the current Nassau
County Executive Laura Curran.
He lives on Long Island with his
wife Rajshree, two daughters and a
son. Rajshree takes care of his so‑
cial commitments, daughter Anjali
is practicing medicine, son Arpit
helps him in Navika and the
youngest daughter Aashna is pur‑
suing her undergraduate degree.
Naveenʼs two brothers Rajesh Shah
and Sunil Shah and sister Beena Naveen with his wife Rajshree Jain Shah performing Puja
Kothari also live on Long Island at Jain Temple, New Hyde Park. Also seen Naresh bhai Shah,
with their families. a Jain community leader.
A colorful looking Naveen Shah with then Home Minister of Rajasthan Gulab Chand Kataria and
a RANA founder Kamlesh Mehta at the Vasant Mahotsav at SUNY Old Westbury.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 28 January 5-18, 2019 NEWSMAKERS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

In the spotlight
INDIAN AMERICANS WHO MADE HEADLINES FOR
MORE REASONS RIGHT THAN WRONG IN 2018
Satya Nadella live in New
York for at
Combating Hu‑
man Traffick‑
Akshay
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella topped Com‑ least two years
while her son
ing' in the
White House.
Venkatesh
parablyʼs ‑ a platform that rates companies
based on a mul‑ finishes high She was This renowned Indian‑Australian mathe‑
titude of fac‑ school. Haley awarded the matician was one of the four winners of pres‑
tors ‑ list of hasnʼt said country's high‑ tigious Fields
best CEOs of what her next est honor in medal, known
2018. The rat‑ career move the field at a as the Nobel
ings were will be, but ceremony also prize for math
based on em‑ most donʼt attended by for his "pro‑
ployee inter‑ think sheʼs President Don‑ found contri‑
views that done with na‑ ald Trump. She butions to an
were conduct‑ tional politics. Haley burnished her national is currently im‑ exceptionally
ed anony‑ and international reputation in her time at plementing Mayor Turner's Anti‑Human broad range of
mously. While the UN, and speculation abounds that she will Trafficking Strategic Plan, which is the first subjects in
Nadella got 82 run for presidency someday. Thereʼs also comprehensive municipal response to human mathematics."
points on a rating scale of 100, the company some thought she could run for vice presi‑ trafficking by a US city. The prize is
also got appreciated for its culture, diversity dent if President Donald Trump decides to re‑ awarded every
and perks and benefits. Not surprising place Vice President Mike Pence in 2020. Anurima four years to
the most promising mathematicians under
though. Since becoming CEO over four years
ago Nadella has created quite a buzz for turn‑ Tulsi Gabbard Bhargava the age of 40. Akshay, 36 is currently teach‑
ing around the fortune of Microsoft. Under A civil rights lawyer, Arunima Bhargava ing at Stanford University.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard confirmed in December
Nadellaʼs leadership, Microsoftʼs stock price
has tripled and also surpassed Apple to be‑
that she was seriously considering a 2020
White House
was appointed as a Commissioner to the US
Commission for
Abhay Ashtekar
come the worldʼs most valuable company in bid. Her critics International Professor of physics, Evan Pugh Professor,
terms of market valuation. His views and ini‑ and observers Religious Free‑ Holder, Eberly Chair, and director of the In‑
tiatives in new tech areas such as virtual re‑ had long been dom (USCIRF), stitute for Grav‑
ality, cloud computing, artificial intelligence speculating an independ‑ itation and the
and cybersecurity have grabbed headlines given her re‑ ent, bipartisan Cosmos at the
around the year. cent trips to federal govern‑ Pennsylvania
ment entity es‑
Sundar Pichai Iowa and New
Hampshire and tablished by
State Universi‑
ty Abhay
For someone heading a behemoth as meetings with the US Con‑ Ashtekar was
Google being in limelight constantly is not Hindu Ameri‑ gress to moni‑ conferred the
uncommon. cans before tor, analyze prestigious Ein‑
However the she confirmed and report on stein Prize by
world stood up the idea respond‑ threats to reli‑ the American
and took no‑ ing to a direct question on MSNBCʼs ʻHard‑ gious freedom abroad. She was a perfect pick Physical Socie‑
tice of how ballʼ show. “Iʼm concerned about the direction for her extensive experience in various roles ty (APS) for nu‑
Sundar Pichai of the country,” she reasoned. If she wins, advocating for members of under‑represent‑ merous and
as the search Gabbard would be the youngest person to be ed communities, including at the US Depart‑ seminal contri‑
giantʼs CEO elected president. ment of Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense butions to general relativity, including the
handled the and Educational Fund (LDF). theory of black holes, canonical quantum
K P George gravity, and quantum cosmology.
plethora
questions
of
Rita Baranwal
bowled to him
In November, to the surprise of almost
everyone outside his campaign, K P George President Donald Trump nominated top nu‑
Achuta
when he testi‑
fied before the House Judiciary Committee in
was elected clear expert Rita Baranwal to be an assistant
secretary of en‑
Kadambi
Fort Bendʼs
December for 3.5 long hours. The lawmakers county judge ergy (nuclear) Dr. Achuta Kadambi of the Electrical and
grilled him on a wide range of issues, includ‑ ̶ one of the at the Depart‑ Computer Engineering Department at UCLA
ing potential political bias on the companyʼs United Statesʼ ment of Energy was named to
platforms, its plans for a censored search app fastest‑grow‑ in October Forbes maga‑
in China and its privacy practices. He was ing counties, 2018. A major zineʼs 30 under
also the only other Indian‑origin CEO in Com‑ with 765,000 part of Baran‑ 30 list for Sci‑
parablyʼs list of top 50 CEOs at large compa‑ residents, near‑ walʼs job would ence 2019. He
nies in the world. Pichai was given 80 out of ly 3,000 em‑ be to oversee heads the Visu‑
100 points and his company, despite the anti‑ ployees, and the develop‑ al Machines
trust lawsuit in the European Union, and the an annual ment of the Group, whose
Google+ bug that allegedly gave the private budget over next genera‑ research aims
data of 52.5 million users to the developers, $370 million. tion of nuclear to give the gift
was appreciated for its diversity, culture and That makes him now the most prominent In‑ power as many of sight to ro‑
as the best place to work for women. dian‑American to hold an executive position current, aging bots. Professor
nuclear power plants reach the end of their Kadambiʼs in‑
Nikki Haley in the U.S. government.
lives. In November a US Senate panel ad‑ ventive cameras
The former South Carolina governor Nikki Minal Patel Davis vanced Baranwalʼs nomination to run the of‑ enable new capabilities for robots. Examples
Haley left her post at the end of 2018 after fice that oversees Idaho National Laboratory. include deploying drones that can image sur‑
Minal Patel Davis, Special Advisor on Hu‑ vivors in a natural disaster, or autonomous
two years representing the Trump adminis‑ The Energy and Natural Resources Commit‑
man Trafficking to Houston Mayor Sylvester cars with specialized LIDAR systems that op‑
tration at the United Nations. She will now tee voted to send Baranwalʼs nomination to
Turner received the 'Presidential Medal for erate in fog.
the full Senate.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 30 January 5-18, 2019 NEWSMAKERS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

In the spotlight
INDIAN AMERICANS WHO MADE HEADLINES FOR
MORE REASONS RIGHT THAN WRONG IN 2018
Kavya Kopparapu, crowned Miss
India World‑
US‑based global software major Cognizant
appointed CEO Francisco D'Souza as Vice
the teams that build the end‑to‑end e‑com‑
merce experience, enterprise‑shared services,
Rishab Jain wide 2018 at
a glittering
Chairman of its Board. The Indian‑born D'‑
Souza has been the IT major's CEO since
infrastructure, field services and functional
IT support.
Kavya Kopparapu and Rishab Jain were pageant held 2007 and the company has grown more than
named among 25 most influential teens of Dec 14 in seven‑fold, to a Fortune 200 firm, with $15 Indra Nooyi
2018 by Fords, New billion in revenues. D'Souza has also been rec‑
PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi stepped down as its
Time maga‑ Jersey. She ognized as one of America's Best CEOs by In‑
chief executive officer on Oct 3 after 12 years
zine. won the stitutional Investor and as one of the top 10
at the helm
Oregon crown from on Fortune's Businessperson of the Year
of the global
based among en‑ ranking.
beverage gi‑
Rishabh trants from 17
Jain, 14, de‑ countries. She Rajesh ant. When
she was
veloped a started her
software non‑profit organization at the age of 15 in re‑ Subramaniam named CEO
of Pepsi, she
tool that, sponse to the injustices she saw in the world Kerala‑born IIT Bombay alumni Rajesh Sub‑ was one of
during sim‑ and her own personal life struggles. She ramaniam was named as the president and only 11 fe‑
ulations, needed a pacemaker at the age of 12 and told CEO of multina‑ male CEOs
was shown she could never live a normal life but she per‑ tional courier of Fortune
to help doctors zero in on the pancreas more severed and is a spokesperson for the Amer‑ delivery giant 500 compa‑
accurately, ideally improving treatments of ican Heart Association. FedEx Express nies. One of
pancreatic cancers, according to Time maga‑
zine. Anshdeep Singh last year. He
assumed his
the most
powerful and influential business leaders in
18‑year‑old Kavya Kopparapu, a freshman
at the Harvard University developed a deep‑ Bhatia new role from
Jan 1, 2019.
the world, Nooyi was regularly featured on
power lists compiled by Forbes and Fortune
learning computer system that can scan Indian American Anshdeep Singh Bhatia, Subramaniam magazines. Characteristic of PepsiCoʼs robust
slides of tissue from brain cancer patients originally from Ludhiana, Punjab, India, be‑ is credited performance under Nooyiʼs stewardship, the
looking for differences in density, color, tex‑ came first tur‑ with several company reported strong second‑quarter re‑
ture and cellular alignment that are unique to baned Sikh to landmark de‑ sults in 2018.
that particular person's case. This would help be inducted velopments at
develop targeted therapies unique to a per‑
son.
into the securi‑ FedEx, includ‑ Venkat
ty detail of ing the continuing digital transformation of

Dr. Chad P Gehani President Don‑ the companyʼs services, the first‑ever global Srinivasan
ald Trump. brand campaign, and a significant expansion
A serial entrepreneur, Venkat Srinivasan
Dr. Chad P Gehani was the first person of Bhatia always of the companyʼs global product portfolio. He
launched a new venture capital firm, In‑
Indian origin to be elected as the president of dreamt of be‑ has been with FedEx for more than 27 years
nospark
the American coming a secu‑ and has held various executive‑level posi‑
Ventures,
Dental Associa‑ rity guard for tions in the company.
with $100
tion (ADA). the President
482 delegates of the United Naveen million for
AI‑driven
States one day.
of the Ameri‑
can Dental As‑ However, he Krishna startups
and ven‑
sociation voted had to fight a legal battle to get court nod af‑ Naveen Krishna assumed the post of Macyʼs tures pri‑
for Dr. Gehani ter he was asked to change his looks to get Inc.ʼs new chief technology officer in June. He marily in
on October 22, cleared for the security job. is responsible early‑stage
2018 in Hon‑
olulu, Hawaii. Francisco for driving
the technolo‑
companies
in life sci‑
ADA is a lead‑
ing advocate of
D’Souza gy strategy
and direction
ences,
business
dentistry in America setting standards of care for Macyʼs, services,
and policies to protect the public, to protect Inc., includ‑ education
the profession and provide advocacy for ing all store, and cyber‑
“things that matter” to the dentists. e‑commerce security. Srinivasan has also founded Eng‑
and internal‑
Shree Saini facing tech‑
lishHelper, KnowYourMeds, and AIinGov all
of which are double bottom‑line enterprises
Twenty‑two year old Shree Saini was nologies. He leveraging AI, focused on education, health
also oversees and the public sector, respectively.
 32 January 5-18, 2019
Indian Americans
- Raising the profile
Some major highlights of 2018 events affecting our community
Midterm Elections:
Four Congressmen
get re-elected
(Clockwise) Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal,
Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi
Four Indian‑American Congressmen from the Democratic
Party ‑ Raja Krishnamoorthi from the 8th District near Chica‑
go in Illinois, Ami Bera from Californiaʼs 7th District, Pramila
Jayapal from Washingtonʼs 7th Congressional district and Ro
Khanna from Californiaʼs 17th District ‑ were re‑elected to the
House of Representatives and over a dozen other Indian‑
American candidates many of whom caught national atten‑
tion by giving a tough fight to their opponents and outraising
them in the fundraisers won various other races across the
country in midterm elections held Nov 6. Also for the first
time, at least 100 Indian Americans stood for various public
offices. Republican Niraj Atani, 27, registered his third con‑
secutive electoral victory from Ohio House 42nd District. In‑
dian‑Americans picked up more seats in the State Assemblies.
The community sent its member Ram Villivalam for the first
time to the Illinois Senate and also elected a Muslim Indian‑
American Mujtaba Mohammed to the North Carolina State
Senate.
Call for unity at World
Hindu Congress
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at WHC
Heads of several countries with a sizeable Hindu popula‑
tion, chief ministers of states, top corporate honchos and re‑
ligious leaders attended the second World Hindu Congress
(WHC) in Chicago in September. Focussing on the theme
"Sumantrite Suvikrante" ‑‑ think collectively, achieve valiant‑
ly and billed as the biggest‑ever gathering of the who's who
of the Hindu community across the globe, WHC 2018 com‑
memorated 125 years of Swami Vivekananda's historic Chica‑
go address. The event drew 250 thought leaders and 2200
delegates from over 50 countries to connect, confer and de‑
liberate how Hindus around the world can raise their profile,
NATIONAL ROUNDUP
find their voice and create a consequential positive impact on
the world stage. The proceedings though were briefly marred
by protests by a group of six people who raised slogans
against atrocities on religious minorities in India.
First ever Diwali
celebrations at US
State Department
Deputy Secretary of State John J Sullivan and
Ambassador Navtej Sarna lighting ceremonial lamp
For the first time, the United States Department of State or‑
ganized Diwali celebrations at the State Department in col‑
laboration with the Embassy of India, Washington DC.
Deputy Secretary of State John J Sullivan and Ambassador
of India to the US Navtej Sarna were the chief guests. Over
200 guests including officials of the US State Department and
the Embassy of India attended the celebrations.
Sullivan said that celebration at the State Department re‑
flected the great strength of partnership with India and
shared values of tolerance, diversity, freedom and justice. The
celebrations included a recital of Hindustani classical music
played on tabla and sitar and servings of vegetarian Indian
food.
Indian kids monopolize
Bees yet again
Karthik Nemmani, Scripps Spellbee winner
Indian‑origin children monopolized the National Spelling Bee
crown for 11th consecutive year with Karthik Nemmani win‑
ning the 2018 championship. Venkat Ranjan, won the 30th
National Geographic Bee and Avi Goel won the world cham‑
pionship at the International Geography Bee's junior varsity
division held in Berlin, Germany.
Community on tenter-
hook over H1B and H4
visa changes
The H1B and H4 visa policy changes proposed and imple‑
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
mented by the Trump administration not only increased the
woes of IT companies but also affected the future of depend‑
ent spouses (H4) whose work status would be revoked under
the new rules. From changes in the lottery system to prefer‑
ence for US‑educated applicants, the administration has been
moving slowly but steadily towards implementing President
Trump's 'America First' election rhetoric. The community has
been fighting the good fight with petitions filed in US courts
against the proposed changes to generating voice against the
new policies.
Ivy League universities
oppose visa policy
changes
As many as 65 top US universities, including Harvard, MIT,
Cornell, Yale, and Princeton challenged the Trump adminis‑
tration in a court against its stringent visa policy for foreign
students which places restrictions on overstaying a visa. The
top institutions signed onto an amicus brief arguing that the
new rule will render tens of thousands of F, J and M cate‑
gories of visa holders subject to three and 10‑year re‑entry
bars without any opportunity to cure. In the good news sec‑
tion though, the number of Indians studying in the US has in‑
creased by 5.4 percent since 2017, according to the 2018
Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.
An estimated 1,96,271 Indians are at present studying in the
US and this is the fifth consecutive year during which their
strength has grown!
Indians arrested for
illegally entering US
tripled in 2018
The number of Indians arrested for illegally entering the US
nearly tripled in 2018, making them one of the largest groups
of illegal aliens apprehended according to US Customs and
Border Protection (CBP). Paying smuggling rings between
$25,000‑$50,000 per person, a growing number of Indians
illegally cross the US‑Mexico border and claim asylum for
persecution. As of 2018 as many as 2,382 Indians are lodged
in 86 jails in the US, according to the information obtained by
the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) through
Freedom of Information Act.
8 Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan acquired sixth US
church in Portsmouth, Virginia at $1.6 million, to
be transformed into a temple.
8 US Sikh community thanked PM Modi for
Kartarpur Corridor Project
8 Alumni generously gave back to their alma
maters. While Manoj Saxena gifted $1 million to
MSU to advance Responsible AI, BITS Pilani
received $1 million pledge from Prashanth and
Anuradha Palakurthi
8 People from Kerala made generous donations
toward flood relief. While Arun Nellamattom,
Ajomon Poothurail, and Abin Kulathilkarottu
raised a remarkable $1.5 m in five days, Dr. Babu
Stephen donated Rs.1 crore to KCMDF.
8 International Yoga Day was celebrated across the
country with active participation of the
community.
 34 January 5-18, 2019
Community events and
achievements: A recap
Time and again the community won accolades, supported each other and celebrated
their roots as events around the year 2018 across the Tristate region prove.
Here's recounting some from many moments of pride and unity.....
NYC witnesses largest India
Day celebration
Over 150,000 people were in attendance for the 38th India
Day Parade on August 19, in New York City. The parade, or‑
ganized by the Federation of Indian Associations of New York,
New Jersey, and Connecticut (FIA), commemorated the 72nd
Independence Day of India, and was the largest celebration of
Indiaʼs Independence outside of the country itself.
The 2018 India Day Parade was overseen by FIA‑NY‑NJ‑CT
President Srujal Parikh, Shrujal Parikh who was elected pres‑
ident at the end of 2017. Parikh selected the theme of this
yearʼs parade as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one
family. People from all walks of life came to join in on the cel‑
ebration of Indian independence, pride, and culture. The day‑
long event included Indian cuisine, activities, and perform‑
ances for all to enjoy.
Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan Kamal Haasan served as
Grand Marshal for the parade. The legendary actor/direc‑
tor/singer/politician was joined by his daughter, actress Shru‑
ti Haasan, as well as Chief Guest singer Kailash Kher, and
Guests of Honor cricket player Sir Vivian Richards, actor Anu‑
pam Kher, pop singer Shibani Kashyap, and singer Mickey
Singh, as well as Shri Dwarkeshlalji Maharaj.
Thousands attend IBA India Day
Parade in NJ
Thousands attended India Day Parade organised by New
Jersey based Indian Business Association.
The parade, which included 18 floats, a marching band, and
multiple walking groups, ran down the Oak Tree Road, be‑
ginning in Edison and ending in Iselin. Veteran actor Anupam
Kher was the Grand Marshall. The parade also featured tele‑
vision journalist Richa Anirudh as well as Bollywood actors
Niharica Raizada and Prachi Tehlan.
Elected officials and candidates from across New Jersey
also showed their support for the IBA. The delegation includ‑
ed Congressman Frank Pallone, Middlesex County Freehold‑
ers, Senators Vin Gopal, Patrick Diegnan, and Sam Thompson.
TRISTATE ROUND UP
Elected officials from Hudson, Passaic, Essex, Bergen, Mid‑
dlesex, and Monmouth counties were also present. Also on
hand was US Senate Candidate Bob Hugin. A cultural program
followed the parade at the review stand in Iselin. It included
local and international talent, who entertained the crowd with
music and dance.
Kevin Thomas became first
Indian American in NY Senate
Democrat Kevin Thomas became the first Indian American
to be elected to the New York
Senate, from New Yorkʼs 6th dis‑
trict. Thomas is an attorney and
an appointee of the U.S. Commis‑
sion on Civil Rights to the New
York State Advisory Committee.
Thomasʼ top priorities are educa‑
tion, womenʼs rights, fighting the
opioid crisis, taxes, infrastruc‑
ture, protecting the working
class with the passing the Public
Works Definition Act and Pro‑
tecting the Prevailing Wage, gun control, immigration, pro‑
tecting the environment, civil rights, and consumer protec‑
tion.
NJ Governor celebrated Diwali
at official residence
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy held a special Diwali cele‑
bration at Drumthwacket, the Governorʼs Mansion in Prince‑
ton, NJ, Nov. 8 evening. The Diwali celebration included more
than 150 community leaders and members of the South Asian
community, including several elected officials, as well as New
Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Indian Consul
General in New York, Sandeep Chakravorty. Drumthwacket
was adorned with traditional Indian decor and food from sev‑
eral regions of India, and also included a henna artist for
guests. The Governor ended the evening by lighting sparklers
with the community.
AIA celebrated 50
years at NY gala
The oldest grassroots Indian organization, the Association
of Indians in America (AIA) which has been a pioneer in serv‑
ing the causes of the Indians in America addressing their va‑
riety of issues celebrated their 50th anniversary Golden Ju‑
bilee Gala on December 1st at the Garden City Hotel in New
York. It was a sold out black tie dinner event attended by close
to 400 people. The gala was well organized and coordinated
by Chairman Ravishankar Bhooplapur supported by co‑chairs
Dr. Buddhadev Manvar and Surinder Rametra as well as the
Banquet Committee.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
1500 attended National Hindi
Convention in Boston
Hindi Manch, a Boston‑based non‑profit organization with
the mission of bringing together people who know Hindi or
who want to know Hindi and propagate the language and cul‑
ture in the future generations, hosted a 3‑day National Hindi
Convention, or Rashtriya Mahotsav, in Boston Nov. 30 – Dec.
2, 2018. The event also marked the organizationʼs 10th an‑
niversary. Over the three days of the convention, a 1500
member audience was treated to live music, dance, theatre,
poetry reading sessions and workshops by celebrity figures
as well as other talented artists from USA and Canada.
Diwali holiday for students
in 27 NJ school districts
Over 27 school districts in New Jersey reportedly stayed
closed for students on November 7 for Diwali. In addition,
there was an early dismissal for students in over 15 New Jer‑
sey school districts. The New Jersey school districts with no
classes for students on Diwali included Chesterfield Township
School District, Clifton Public Schools, Glen Rock Public
Schools, Jersey City Public Schools, Passaic Public Schools,
Piscataway Township Schools, South Brunswick School Dis‑
trict, etc. In addition, there was reportedly no school for stu‑
dents for Diwali on November 6 in Edison Township Public
Schools.
Kerala Center honored five
achievers at annual gala
The Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center hon‑
ored five Indian American Malayalees for their outstanding
achievements in their field of specialization or for their serv‑
ice to the society at its 26th Annual Awards Banquet held on
November 3rd at The Kerala Center Banquet Hall, Elmont,
New York. The program with dignitaries, speakers, and en‑
tertainment was held in full capacity attendance. The hon‑
orees included two achievers in corporate leadership; Bobby
V. Abraham, former Chairman of the BOD and CEO of Paragon
Trade Brands (Seattle, WA) and Jayasankar Nair, former CEO
and currently a senior advisor to Sabinsa Corporation (East
Brunswick, NJ). Other recipients were: Malini Nair, the own‑
er and director of Sowparnika Dance Academy in New Jersey
for performing Arts; writer Chacko M. Chacko for literature
and community volunteer Joy Ittan for community service.
 36 January 5-18, 2019 US AFFAIRS ROUNDUP TheSouthAsianTimes.info

The year ends in political,

strategic, financial chaos
that relies on Riyadh and central bank policies and wiped
Jerusalem. out all the gains the stock markets
The withdrawals from made this year. Wall Street indices
Op Ed by Afghanistan will likely have an im‑ ended in the red for 2018, even
Arul Louis/IANS pact on South Asia and affect In‑ though by most measures, espe‑
dia. The troops pullback led to the cially the low unemployment, the

T
he rumbling controversies
and divisive trends of 2018
erupted in a perfect storm
of chaos at the year's end with
parts of the US government para‑
lyzed by a showdown between
President Donald Trump and the
Democrats, while senior officials
quit, foreign and strategic policies
fell into disarray, and the stock
markets tumbled.
Trumpʼs Chief of Staff John Kel‑
ly and his Defense Secretary, Jim
Mattis have quit, and so has Nikki
Haley, his UN ambassador and the
first Indian American to serve on
the US cabinet, along with several
other officials.
Adding to Trumpʼs sense of iso‑
lation, his party lost control of the
House of Representatives to the
Democrats in the November mid‑
term elections. "I am all alone
(poor me) in the White House
waiting for the Democrats to come
back and make a deal on desper‑
ately needed Border Security,"
Trump tweeted on Christmas Eve,
a picture of isolation.
He lacked the votes that are re‑
quired beyond a simple majority
to pass budget legislation in the
Senate to include funding his $5.6
billion demand for building a wall
In his resignation letter, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis criticized
the Presidentʼs foreign policy. (Photo courtesy NBC)
along the Mexican border to pre‑
vent illegal immigration, which
was one of his election pledges.
Illegal immigration was one of
the flashpoints this year as Trump
moved to curb the inflow of mi‑
grants ‑ many of them economic
migrants or those upset by gang‑
violence and seeking to claim
refugee status. To discourage par‑
ents and others who bring chil‑
dren with them to claim sympathy
and lenient treatment, he ordered
the separation of children from
parents citing a Obama‑era court
order against keeping children in
custody for more than 20 days.
It became a public relations
nightmare for Trump and under a
new court order, he had to reunite
them. While his campaign prom‑
ise to build the wall has failed so
far, he partially made good on an‑
other pledge to bring US troops
home from the Middle East. He or‑
dered a complete pullout from
Syria and halving the troop‑level
in Afghanistan to about 7,000.
Coupled with the pressure from
within the US and the West
against Saudi Arabia because of
the killing of Washington Post
columnist Jamal Khashoggi, the
troop withdrawals threw Wash‑
ington's Middle East strategy into
disarray.
This opens the way for Israel's
and the Saudi's nemeses Turkey,
Iran and Syria (and, by extension,
Russia) to increase their influence
in different areas of the region ‑
upending the core of US policy
resignation of Mattis, who op‑
posed the pullout from Syria, and
to criticism from many Republi‑
cans and conservatives.
A positive development in 2018
‑ though still clouded by uncer‑
tainties ‑ is Trump's North Korean
diplomacy that led to a summit be‑
tween him and Kim Jong‑un, the
Pyongyang strongman, after
Trump's characteristic blasts of in‑
sults and threats.
They agreed in principle to de‑
nulearization of the Korean Penin‑
sula and North Korea has begun
dismantling its missile production
and test facilities while there has
been no progress on nuclear dis‑
armament.
On the economic front, Trump,
who had promised to tackle the
trade deficits and bring back man‑
ufacturing jobs, took on Mexico
and Canada and reworked the
trade agreements to reflect what
he considered a fair deal for the
US.
While India and other countries
were in his sights as tied to lower
trade deficits, he launched an al‑
most full‑fledged trade war of tar‑
iffs against China, which retaliat‑
ed. It has added to the uncertainty
from the budget battle and the US
economy was strong.
With their control of the House,
Democrats, who are smarting
from the 2016 election defeat that
they blame on Russian interfer‑
ence, will be pushing harder for
investigations into Moscow's role
and into whether Trump collabo‑
rated with the Russians, as well as
into various allegations against
him and his family.
So far the 18‑month investiga‑
tion by a special counsel has only
trapped people connected with
Trump campaign, including his
former National Security Adviser
Michael Flynn, on charges like ly‑
ing to investigators and bank
fraud.
Trump is crossing the half‑way
mark of his four‑year term and
will be in full campaign mode in
2019 as all parties start preparing
for another polarizing election in
2020. Short of an impeachment or
evidence of direct collusion with
Russians or a major criminal case,
Trump will be his party's candi‑
date.
For the Democrats, the test will
be to come up with a charismatic
and unifying leader and a coher‑
ent policy alternative, which they
did not manage in 2018.

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

A woman rocked President’s men Democrats take

Kavanaugh’s court facing jail time back the House
confirmation
I A
n 2018, Paul Manafort, Trumpʼs former campaign chairman, fter the
went to jail. Even before a jury found him guilty of multiple 2018

A
t first Brett Ka‑ counts of federal tax and banking crimes in August, he was midterm
vanaugh seemed sent to jail after a judge accused him of witness tampering. He re‑ elections, Re‑
to be on a glide mains in prison. publicans man‑
path to the high court As part of his plea agreement with Mueller, Manafort agreed to aged to hold
after an uneventful con‑ cooperate with prosecutors in their probe. He also forfeited mul‑ onto the Senate
firmation hearing. But tiple bank accounts and several New York properties. ‑‑ but Democ‑
just before the Senate Meanwhile, Michael Cohen, President Trumpʼs lawyer‑cum‑fix‑ rats gained a to‑
was set to vote, Califor‑ er, has pleaded guilty to Mueller's charge that he had lied to Con‑ tal of 40 House
nia psychology profes‑ gress about plans to build a Trump Tower development in seats, giving
sor Christine Blasey Moscow. He also pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts related them a substan‑
to tax fraud, unlawful corporate contributions, etc. He has been tial majority
Fordʼs accusations of Nancy Pelosi is set to be the
sexual misconduct came sentenced to three years in prison. starting January Speaker again.
to light. 3, 2019. “Today
Several more women is more than about Democrats and Republicans,” Mi‑
then came forward to nority Leader Nancy Pelosi ‑‑ who is all but certain to
Brett Kavanaugh was become House speaker again ‑‑ said after Democrats
accuse Kavanaugh of eventually confirmed as
sexual misconduct, regained control. “Itʼs about restoring the Constitu‑
Supreme Court Justice.
prompting the Senate tionʼs checks and balances to the Trump administra‑
Judiciary Committee to scramble to hold a dramatic new tion.”
hearing, with Ford and Kavanaugh testifying back‑to‑back. The Democratsʼ takeover sets up 2019 to be a year
Kavanaugh vehemently denied the allegations before the for tough legislative battles between lawmakers and
judiciary panel. He was ultimately confirmed to the Supreme the Republican president. Additionally, Pelosi has her
Court in the wake of the second hearing and a supplemental eyes set on campaign finance laws, election statues
FBI background review. and ethics requirements.
Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019

For more information, write to : ttninternational@timesgroup.com

 38 January 5-18, 2019 ANALYSIS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

What fate
awaits Trump?
The legal troubles for
President Trump are
growing, and Mueller’s
report is expected in a
few months. With
Democrats now holding
the House promising to
By Ravi Batra fully investigate his

T
o Americaʼs enemies ‑ for‑
eign & domestic ‑ be
warned ‑ America has nev‑
er been stronger. “What to the
uninitiated may be seen as our
weakness ‑ that a president is un‑
der scrutiny ‑ is actually proof of
both American Exceptionalism
and that we are a nation of laws.
The genius of our Constitution
is that it expects persons in pow‑
er to be corrupt ‑ indeed, it takes
that as a given ‑ and created our
cherished Separated Powers
regime ‑ unlike any on earth ever
‑ so that meek dissent, when ag‑
gregated, in a co‑equal setting ‑
checkmates the corrupt to better
serve the public good.
The irony of the Trump presi‑
dency ‑ apart from the problems
Robert Mueller is investigating
about getting elected or the firing
of Jim Comey ‑ is that he is most‑
ly correct in what he wishes to do,
Self-correction is in America’s genes
but the means are not so correct.
It is a fact that our allies have
taken America as a sucker. It is a
fact that Obama drew a Red Line
in Syria and then ignored its
breach.
And for the same reasons Oba‑
ma didnʼt dive into Syria, is why
Trump is pulling out. Sorry, that
the Kurds experienced the joy of
American support and now have
to cut a local political deal consis‑
tent with local political ecosys‑
tem. Anyone who forgets to deal
with neighbors because of
tourists, deserves the teaching
moment that follows.
I for one, have concluded that
Counterbalance as a tool of State‑
craft is the opioid of geopolitics,
and always boomerangs. See the
High Level Brainstorming session
at the UN organized by Belarus,
Kazakhstan and Surinam in early
2017.
For those who are curious ‑ it is
legal for a president to be indict‑
ed for pre‑presidential acts as it is
to be impeached for presidential
acts. To be indicted for a personal
act ‑ like domestic abuse ‑ is also
possible as itʼs not an official act.
affairs, will Trump
complete his term and
get re‐elected in 2020?
We need to ignore the soap be as the Coliseum of Rome once
opera that the star of The Ap‑ was. But because itʼs part of Sepa‑
prentice is a master at causing, for rated Powers regime that is Amer‑
it fogs the body politic from what ica, it will cause all to behave bet‑
are simple facts: half of America is ter. That is American Exceptional‑
unhappy and feels powerless. The ism in action, and every American
other feels angry at being accused benefits.
for Americaʼs weakness. When itʼs It matters not if there is an “I”
“Wall Street” and “Special Inter‑ coming out of SDNY (Southern
ests” who play both and make District of New York) or an “I”
money off the fight. coming out of the House. What
Thomas Jefferson said: Eternal matters is that America self‑cor‑
vigilance is the price of liberty. rects, recalibrates and gets bet‑
Midterms just gave the Dems the ter.”
House, and hence the gears of Ravi Batra is an eminent attor‑
government will grind loudly and ney based in New York.

Tough to take on Teflon

By Rekha Valliappan
manity‑erased ones. The Hill is
awash with rumors. Excitement
has 2018 ending on a roller‑
coaster of leaders wanting to do
their own thing. Then comes
bluster and blunder and they do
the wrong thing. In India the
Hindi heartland ousts PM Modi's
BJP. In England the ruling pow‑
ers lose control over Brexit. In
America, like it or not, voiceover
for "we the people" has shut
down the government with no
end in sight. Over a border wall.
Ludicrous? Maybe. Democrats in
the House are chomping at the
bit. Question is, who pays? How
will it end? Looking longer term,
will the President Trump be im‑
does exist the pathway to indict‑
ment, although not on the sensa‑
tional scale of the 1990s. But
this President is a shrewd maver‑
ick, who has successfully navi‑
gated thousands of lawsuits in
his lifetime. He is also a master‑
class salesman, used to playing
the world as poker chips. While
the attorney general may get to
decide what and how much will
be made public, I believe techni‑
cally the Mueller report due
soon could open grounds for
Congress to act. Question is, will
they? This will be historical.
Whether it will affect the Presi‑
dent's chances at re‑election
would depend on how much po‑
Republicans are reluctant to con‑
demn him. That leaves a bruised
press, the market and people to
either fear‑monger, speculate or
freak out, while swallowing his
cheesy tweets, platitudes and
whims in 'enjoyment' of the half‑
time show, where the program is
not about the power itself but
about the willingness to use the
power.
Looking across the globe, the
message is largely one of peace.
America remains very much the
powerhouse of the world, its
economy banging at such levels
it still becomes our responsibility
to help the world, despite shrink‑
ing policeman‑role or re‑strate‑
nations of that region who will
pay for the re‑building of Syria,
not the American taxpayer. Un‑
fortunately, leadership has been
absent with respect to our south‑
ern wall, with climate change,
whaling, some of my pet peeves.
Mother Earth is the mother we
know. I am not into making pre‑
dictions but with Teflon‑coated
giant we are talking about, the
year will surge on a high note.
That said, NASA's Mars Landing
recently filmed cobalt blue sand
dunes on red planet Mars, when
NYC's night skies were lighting
up with an eerie blue glow.
Rekha Valliappan is a multi‑

Z
ombie Apocalypseʼ poten‑
tially shows the state of
chaos and panic to hit if
90% of humans are wiped out,
replaced by virus‑infected‑hu‑
peached? Removed from office?
Or will he lasso key players to
more rodeos?
America's history of 'Presiden‑
tial‑impeachment' indicates there
litical capital he has gained or
lost, the support he enjoys, and
how nourishing remains the
"word‑salad" which seemed to
work well with his base. For now,
gizing who pays for what. We
have effectively stopped World
War III. If the President's tough
act is to be believed it will be
Saudi Arabia and other wealthy
genre writer of short fiction and
poetry. She has also served the
Long Island community as a
three‑term Secretary of an Indian
association.
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Need to correct what
Trump has wrought
platforms, that included reining in
President Trump.
In January 2017 when Trump
took office, the nation was divided
By Dev Banad as it ever was but polarization was
Viswanath, Esq. stirred further throughout his 2016
campaign and negativity was cham‑
pion of the day. In fact, many would
argue that while there were some
fundamental principals (populist,
nationalist, or ideological) that he
espoused, the main theme of his
campaign was a railroading bulldoz‑
er of speeches geared towards
drumming up fear, hatred, anger,
and maybe, just maybe, some hope
for a portion of White Christian
America, that the America they re‑
membered from the 60ʼs, 70ʼs, and
early 80ʼs was back on top. Where
the middle class white American
could feel more in power again, and
less like the world, and the US is
changing and they must accept it. I
W
hile ushering in the New call it, and have heard similar refer‑
Year, we contemplate ences, to the “Archie Bunker Years”
our resolutions and how (from the sitcom All in the Family).
we will make things different, bet‑ A good portion of Americans did
ter, and more fulfilling. We also look not see the country becoming more
back at what has gone wrong and equal and just, but conversely be‑
didnʼt work as we had planned. Pres‑ coming more hard, and difficult, and
ident Donald Trump, has been, for anti‑white, and anti‑Christian. And
many American, something that Donald Trump, expertly, capitalized
went wrong, and now people are on that sentiment, with the help of
looking at ways to correct him, or an astute campaign staff, and was
the world we live in under his presi‑ catapulted to the highest position of
dency. We have just welcomed a ros‑ power in the modern world!
ter of new and 1st time Congress Of course, there were those who
members who ran on a platform, or argue that he may have colluded
Letter to the Editor
Bhutoriaʼs incisive report
on Israel
Dear Editor,
Ajay Bhutoria's article "Pressures and Challenges that Both Israel
and Palestinians Face," made interesting reading. I hope SAT will
publish more articles like this: informative, humanistic and inci‑
sive.
We Indian Americans, who are more educated than almost all
other ethnicities in the US, nevertheless need to be educated in the
major issues confronting this great country. The Israeli‑Arab issue
is one of them.
What makes this article even more readable is the intimacy with
which Mr. Bhutoria narrates about his visits to the holy sites of
Jerusalem that embrace the three religions of Judaism (King
David's Tomb, Western Wall) Islam (site of Muhammad's ascen‑
sion to heaven) and Christianity (the road on which Christ walked
to his crucifixion). With what reverence yet with the excitement of
an enthusiastic tourist does he write about his visits to these lands
of historic, indeed, iconic import!
Just one reminder: I wish Mr. Bhutoria did mention in his article
about the joint conspiracy between the US and UK back in the
1940s that carved up the Middle Eastern holy lands solely among
Israelis while abandoning the Palestinians. Britain and America
were the original culprits, try as they might now to bring peace
there.
Sincerely,
Shivaji Sengupta
Long Island
ANALYSIS
This is a time for standing up for our values and the country we
would like ourselves, our children, and their children to live in.
with Russia and Russians in turn in‑
terfered with our elections to favor
him. Then there are those who be‑
lieve that he was just more astute
and a better campaigner and was
able to game the electoral college in
a more favorable way. But ultimate‑
ly, no matter what you believe, we
saw him ride in on a wave of hate,
disillusionment, and feelings of mar‑
ginalization as he was ready to do
whatever to became president. He
blasted those who defied him and
praised those who towed the line
and stayed loyal. It is not uncom‑
mon, to this day, to see the man, the
presumable leader of the free world,
contradict himself in statements and
on Twitter regularly.
Now, what to expect in 2019, with
the GOPʼs heavy midterm losses in
the House, albeit gaining seats in the
Senate. Trump, for the first time
since taking office, does not have a
unified Republican controlled gov‑
ernment. And the Supreme Court,
while ideologically dominated by
conservative and Republican nomi‑
January 5-18, 2019
nated Justices, have not shown, yet,
the type of wide pread conservative
leanings that people and some pun‑
dits have feared. So where do we
stand? What will be the fate of
Trump?
Well, the federal court judge in
Washington D.C. has already grant‑
ed Special Counsel Robert Muellerʼs
request to extend the Grand Jury
term by 6 months, which allows for
additional investigation and intelli‑
gence gathering. The information
that has come out so far, including
that provided by Michael Cohen,
does not portray a pretty picture of
the President and suggests several
criminal and unlawful activities that
he may have been involved with, had
knowledge of, and in some in‑
stances, directed.
Yet, newly elected Speaker of the
House, Nancy Pelosi, has suggested
that discussions of impeachment are
pre‑mature and that she would not
consider the same without biparti‑
san support. So for Democrats for
now, itʼs more of a wait and watch
39
approach. However, they have made
it clear that they will make President
Trump much more accountable in
the days to come, including pushing
for disclosure of his tax returns
which he has refused to share.\
Impeachment seems very unlikely
in the near future. Mueller investi‑
gationʼs full report when it comes
may change everything. Trump has
not only isolated himself, but he has
also created a very bad situation for
the Republican party, members of
which are starting to express disap‑
proval. Yet, many will point to bet‑
terment in parts of the country. Such
as the December 2018 job numbers,
which showed a higher than expect‑
ed growt. Aside from plummeting
stocks more recently there was a
good run in the market since Trump
took over.
In the end, the question is whether
President Trump deserves to be and
will be held accountable for any
wrongdoing and whether the Con‑
gress and the people are strong
enough to flex their muscles. A
democracy is only as strong as its
people and their will to exercise
their voice and vote! We are at a
crossroads and while the voters
have spoken in the November 2018
elections, only time will tell whether
we still, as a nation, have the moxie
and determination to see America
get back on track.
We live in a remarkable and ex‑
traordinary country, where opinions
and choices matters. Where people
have a type of freedom not often en‑
joyed by much of the world.
We need to live up to the princi‑
ples of what founded those free‑
doms and be it Donald Trump,
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or
George W Bush, we need to make
sure that we can endure the test of
civility and still stand up to the ma‑
chine when things arenʼt working.
This is not a time for apathy and
standing on the sidelines. This is a
time for standing up for our values
and the country we would like our‑
selves, our children, and their chil‑
dren to live in.
 42 January 5-18, 2019 T R AV E L

Doing Washington & Alaska

TO M EE T M Y GOA L O F SEEIN G A L L 5 0 US S TAT ES
The writer had set himself the goal of visiting all 50 states in America.
The two northwestern states were the last ones remaining on the list.
From Tulip fields to Northern Lights, the trip there was full of memorable sights.
brands such as Starbucks and Tul-
ly’s. During my stay, we made stops A clear water lake in Mount Rainier National Park.
By Hassan Majeed at several independent coffee shops Driving in the snow in the area I had a scary experience.
to have freshly roasted brews.

A rriving at international air-

ports with a Pakistani pass-
port is the least favorite part of my
travel, but the excitement of see-
ing the pristine beauty of the Pacif-
ic Northwest overrode any anxiety.
Washington State
Once we landed in Seattle, I
rented a mid-size sedan and drove
to our host’s home. The house was
located in East Lake District, just
one block from Union Lake.
This was my first experience
as a guest at an Airbnb. The neigh-
borhood, located on the steep hills
that lead to the lake, was clean
and well maintained. The apart-
ment had china and silverware, a
small refrigerator, a Keurig ma-
chine with a wide selection of cof-
fee flavors and cookies. The walls
had artwork. I was impressed with
the homey environment, finding it
more comfortable and interesting
than an average hotel room.
After some rest, I drove to the
University of Washington. One
purpose of my trip to Seattle was
to interview for a fellowship posi-
tion at the university.
As I entered, I drove under
a banner saying, “Question the
Answer.” This free spirit of ques-
tioning of any theory, dogma or
notion is, I believe, what differen-
tiates American institutions from
those in Pakistan.
The next day we set off to visit
the famous Skagit Valley Tulip Fes-
tival, 60 miles north of the city.
Seattle is home to several
The untouched beauty
around the majestic volcano
named Mount St Helens with
its snow-covered peak.
The Tulip fields were more
beautiful than I expected. It was
like a scene out of a movie with
enormous fields of tulips of differ-
ent colors extending to hills far in
the background.
Out in the fresh air with the sun
dancing in and out of the clouds,
I felt one with nature. I touched,
smelled and felt the flowers; it was
an intoxicating experience.
Most of the tourists I met were
professionals from India and other
parts of Asia. I imagine them as
future builders of the world, now
employed at Amazon, Microsoft,
Expedia, Google, Boeing, Nike and
other multinational companies.
As I left, I ordered some tulip
bulbs for the front yard of my
house; they arrived by mail a few
weeks later.
The Space Needle is an iconic
structure that defines the skyline
of Seattle. The ticket to the obser-
vation deck was overpriced and
going up and down in the glass ele-
vator was nerve racking, to say the
least. The panoramic view from
the circular platform on the top
was interesting. Also, there was a
touchscreen map where tourists
could pin their place of origin on a
map. I marked Lahore there.
The next stop was a glass mu-
seum that displayed the work of
the internationally known artist,
David Chihuly. He has created ex-
ceptionally beautiful glass sculp-
tures in every shape, color, style
and form you can imagine. Walk-
ing through the different galleries
is breathtaking. He has created
a parallel universe made of glass
that has jungles, trees, grass, flow-
ers, animals, birds and other crea-
tures. It looked vividly real, leav-
ing a delightful and permanent
impression on my mind.
I woke up early in the morn-
ing and went for a run. Usually,
the landlords would come out and
we would have hour-long chats. At
times, a couple of neighbors came
and also sat with us. The neigh-
borhood definitely had the feeling
of a community. Our friends said
that ultra-rich Seattle natives such
as Paul Allen and Bill Gates, Jeff
Bezos and other entrepreneurs
are investing in several neighbor-
hoods to improve city living.
We drove to Snoqualmie Falls,
which is almost 30 miles east in
the Cascade Mountains. We had
breakfast at a restaurant located at
the edge of the fall with a spectacu-
lar view of the water. The water fell
vertically from a height of a couple
of hundred feet and made a big
splash. Everything on the banks
was wet from water and mist.
I decided to go down, follow-
ing a dirt track, nearer the water. I
passed evergreen trees filled with
moss and algae. It reminded me of
the Shogran hiking track through
the woods to Siri Paye in Pakistan.
Then I realized that the track was
closed due to construction. I was
disappointed that I could not enjoy
the view of the fall from its base.
We went to Pike Place Market
for a lunch of good French food
with a perfect view of the river. It
was one of the best meals I had
in Seattle. Then we wandered
around the market, which sold
fresh seafood as wells as organic
berries, fruits, vegetables, flowers
and milk from local farms. Differ-
ent vendors were giving out sam-
ples of food. I tasted all of them;
they were very good!
Washington is among the first
states that legalized marijuana
for recreational use. You could
find stores and vendors all across
the market selling weed products
such as cookies, munchkins, beau-
ty products and even marijuana-
infused chocolates.
We also visited the Seattle Art
Museum, which had a fascinating
exhibit of Edward Curtis’ photo-
graphs of Native Americans.
Amazon headquarters in Seattle has three giant spheres,
which serve as employee lounge and workspace.
During the next couple of days,
we visited Amazon’s headquarters,
which has amazing glass spheres
within which are some employee
work spaces, and a park-like area
covered with soft AstroTurf and sur-
rounded by rare trees and plants.
Parents let their children crawl
across the turf and Amazon employ-
ees came out to play. At street level,
the office building has Amazon Go,
a cashier-less store where you shop
without paying cash or swiping
card. You must carry an Amazon
Go app on your smart phone. You
enter the store after scanning the
application at a turnstile.
Inside the store, cameras and
scanners detect whatever you
pick up and automatically bill
your Amazon account.
We took bottled protein
shakes, fruits and other snacks,
and just walked out of the store.
It felt weird and uncomfortable to
shop without paying anything.
We decided to visit Mount Rain-
er, 60 miles south of Seattle. It was
a bright and sunny day, and I was
able to see the mountain from dis-
tance. But the snow-covered peak
was invisible because of cloud cov-
er. Once the black-top road ended, a
gravel track began. Then the snow
started to fall gently and a few miles
up the hill, it became steadily heavi-
er. We were less than a mile away
from the base camp when I saw
two deer on the road. I stopped to
take a photo and afterwards when
I pushed on the gas pedal, the tires
started to spin because of the steep
elevation and the snow. I changed
the gear from automatic to manual,
but the car did not move.

I felt helpless and scared. I
thought of calling 911, but my
phone was not receiving any signal.
There was a few-hundred-feet-deep
trench with evergreen trees on one
side of the road. On the other, there
was a small natural drain, almost
one to two feet deep. I did not want
the tires to get near either side of
the road. I was not sure that I would
be able to get out of the place with-
out the help of a tow truck.
I started to drive in reverse
gear. Because of the weight of
the vehicle, gravity and slope, it
started to slide down the road in
an unexpectedly smooth manner.
The car had a rearview camera. I
don’t think there could be a situ-
ation where a rearview camera is
more helpful. There were more
scary moments but I finally made
it out of that snow trap.
The experience at Mount Rain-
ier did not discourage me from
driving toward Mount St. Helens.
We went a few miles off the main
road to explore the untouched
beauty around the majestic vol-
cano with its snow-covered peak.
Due to past eruptions, we were
able to see lava caves in the val-
ley. I went inside a mile-and-half-
long lava tube for a couple of hun-
dred feet. Then I decided to turn
around. I did not have the right
equipment and clothes to navi-
gate the lava caves that run for
miles. Instead, I decided to move
on to see the rest of the Lava Val-
ley in the bright sunlight.
I bought some
picture postcards
of Alaska’s famous
Aurora Borealis to
impress my friends
and family.
Alaska
The next day we took off for
Fairbanks, Alaska. When our plane
landed, I was excited that I had fi-
nally visited all 50 states.
Fairbanks is a small town in
central Alaska. I had chosen the
travel dates carefully. These were
the darkest nights of the month,
without any moonlight, which
would provide the best chance of
seeing the Northern Lights.
I had rented an apartment
through Airbnb and drove through
the small town to find it. The owner
was a young Native American who
was proud that, for generations,
his ancestors had lived in the area.
He told me that the sun did not go
down till 11pm at this time of year
In Denali National Park, I
spotted one moose and a few
caribou grazing in the vast
wilderness.
and it did not get dark till midnight.
In Fairbanks, I visited an inde-
pendent bookstore named Gulliv-
er. Gulliver was only a block from
the place where I was staying and
it had a good collection of books
as well as a cafe. It made me wish
there was a better reading culture
in Pakistan.
Next, we drove to Denali Na-
tional Park. I was able to see one
T R AV E L
moose and a few cari-
bou grazing in the vast
wilderness. We visited
a kennel of sled dogs
where we were able to
pat those Alaskan hus-
kies. The forest guard
said that, on average,
these dogs travel 3,000
miles each winter be-
fore they retire at the
age of seven or eight
years.
Visiting Hot Springs, where the
water temperature was 106 de-
grees because of sulphur in the
water, was an interesting experi-
ence. My body was both hot and
cold simultaneously in an open
hot water spring while the air
around me was almost freezing.
I downloaded a couple of phone
apps to predict the likelihood of
the Aurora Borealis activity in
the area. The phenomenon does
not happen dependably. For four
nights, I went out in the woods and
waited for hours to see the North-
January 5-18, 2019
Taking a dip in the Hot Springs, my body was both hot and
cold simultaneously as the air around was almost freezing.
ern Lights but without luck.
It was my last day in Fair-
banks. The morning was cold with
some ice showers. The weather
forecast predicted better weather
in the evening. After dinner, I fell
asleep and woke up around mid-
night. I checked my phone for the
updated Aurora prediction, which
indicated that, in 20 minutes,
there would be an 18 per cent
chance to see the lights.
I jumped out of bed and drove
to the hilltop. While the predic-
tion seemed to be in my favor, I
did not see anything in the sky.
Around one in the morning, I saw
some milky white streaks over my
head. They seemed to extend, like
long fingers parallel to each other,
stretching from the north western
to the south eastern sky.
Within the next few minutes,
the display started to swirl around
the sky, in a typical Aurora pat-
tern. Now I could see very light
43
green hues in the swirling waves.
It was extended all over the sky
and seemed to be moving slowly.
This was the Aurora.
After half an hour, the process
started again, this time in a differ-
ent corner. The pale yellow light
started to become clearer and
then it spread all over the sky. It
did not have any bright colors in
it this time. But it was a live light
show happening in front of me.
The show was not as spectacu-
lar as I had seen in pictures and
videos. It seemed to me that the
full spectrum of the Aurora was
like a colored painting by Monet.
The next morning, before
boarding the plane, I bought some
postcards of Aurora Borealis from a
store and mailed them to my friends
and family with pride. It was a long
flight back to New York, but once
I closed my eyes, the memories of
the beautiful sights from this trip
made my journey easy.
Hassan Majeed is a child and
adolescent psychiatrist based in
Connecticut, USA. He tweets @
HassanMajeedMD
 44 January 5-18, 2019 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

2018 a watershed year for

India-US strategic ties
Wells, who has been Trump ad‑
ministration's point person for the
South and Central Asia.
By Lalit K Jha Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
described the first 2+2 Ministerial
upheavals impacting longstanding
trade agreements and frame‑
works, with retaliatory tariffs, ris‑
ing protectionism, and domestic
political clashes spilling over into

N
otwithstanding irritants
on trade issues, India and
the US made "landmark"
progress in 2018 to bolster their
strategic and defence ties – from
holding the maiden trilateral
meeting with Japan to the first‑
ever 2+2 dialogue during which
they signed the long‑pending
COMCASA agreement that would
open the way for sales of more
sensitive US military equipment to
India.
The trade disputes posed bumps
on the road as President Donald
Trump called India a "tariff king"
in September. However, two
months later, he praised Indians
as tough negotiators as the two
countries started talks on a bilat‑
eral trade deal.
India was among the few coun‑
tries, which received a waiver on
Iran sanctions from the Trump ad‑
ministration, which also pressed
Pakistan to bring to justice the
perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai
attack and announced a reward of
$5 million for information leading
to the arrest or conviction in any
Dialogue in September as "sym‑
bolic of our increasingly close
partnership," she said.
Pompeo along with Defence Sec‑
retary James Mattis were hosted
by their Indian counterparts, Ex‑
ternal Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj and Defence Minister Nir‑
mala Sitharaman in New Delhi.
India's strategic partnership
with the US and its emergence as
a leading global power was on dis‑
play during other high‑level gath‑
erings this year, including two
meetings of the quadrilateral part‑
ners (Australia, India, Japan, and
Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Defense Secretary the US) and at the India‑Japan‑US
James Mattis during the signing ceremony of COMCASA pact after trilateral meeting at the G‑20 sum‑
2+2 Dialogue, in New Delhi in September. (File photo: IANS) mit last month.
country of any individual who met in Buenos Aires with Prime On the economic front, India‑US
committed, conspired to commit, Minister Narendra Modi and trade relationship continues to
or aided the 26/11 attack. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the grow, she said. Bilateral trade
"This has been a landmark year first US‑India‑Japan – or 'JAI' grew to $126 billion last year,
for US‑India ties as we build out meeting as Prime Minister Modi and, parallel with the launch of
stronger relationships across the called it – between the three lead‑ the Strategic Energy Partnership,
board," Alice Wells, the Principal ers, and Vice President (Mike) US‑sourced oil and liquefied natu‑
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Pence reviewed the rapid develop‑ ral gas landed on Indian shores.
State for South and Central Asia, ment of the strategic partnership Nisha Desai Biswal, president of
told PTI. during his meeting with Prime the US‑India Business Council, be‑
"Last month, President Trump Minister Modi in Singapore," said lieves 2018 experienced major
the economic policy of major
economies.
"Despite these trade headwinds,
the US‑India commercial and
strategic relationship continues to
enjoy strong bipartisan support in
the US, underpinned by rapidly ex‑
panding bilateral trade," she said.
Biswal said that on the commer‑
cial front, the private sector will
be watching closely to see
whether the two governments can
reach a bilateral trade deal and re‑
solve key trade irritants impacting
US business.
The resumption of the US‑India
Commercial Dialogue next Febru‑
ary, a US‑India CEO Forum and the
potential for a Trade Policy Forum
will make 2019 a particularly im‑
portant year, Biswal said.
All eyes are right now on the up‑
coming elections and how that
will impact the economy and over‑
all investment climate, she noted.
Alyssa Ayres from the Council of
Foreign Relations said bilateral
ties have made good progress on
strategic and defence front, but
economic ties are bumpier. ‑PTI

Rahul emerges as effective campaigner, strategist

By Prashant Sood rich". He attacked the BJP on national securi‑ Gandhi changed the Congress stance of pro‑
ty ‑‑ a key plank of the ruling party ‑‑ high‑ jecting him as the prime ministerial candi‑

I
t was a year Congress President Rahul
Gandhi came into his own as a campaign‑
er and strategist, emerging as a powerful
voice in the opposition against Prime Minis‑
ter Narendra Modi.
He also earned his electoral spurs in tough
Hindi heartland battles, helping his party win
three states that will have ramifications in the
Lok Sabha elections a few months away.
Rahul Gandhi began the year as Congress
President, having taken over the post from
his mother Sonia Gandhi last December at the
culmination of party's organisational elec‑
tions. The path was full of challenges as bar‑
ring Karnataka ‑‑ where it is the junior part‑
ner in the ruling coalition ‑‑ the Congress was
virtually starved of electoral victories since
its Lok Sabha debacle in 2014. It had also not
beaten the BJP in a straight contest anywhere
in four years.
Gandhi went about the task methodically
by identifying weaknesses and bridging gaps.
He sought to beat Modi at his own game by
expanding social media outreach and con‑
necting with the audiences through witty,
hard‑hitting tweets and posts.
Gandhi consistently attacked Modi on is‑
sues linked to the common man ‑‑ corruption,
unemployment, farmers distress, demoneti‑
sation, price rise ‑‑ and stepped up his efforts
to portray the BJP leader as a "friend of the
lighting how the government had been
"silent" on the Chinese build up near the Dok‑
lam site and its "failure" over the continued
infiltration from Pakistan in Jammu and
Kashmir. Gandhi sought to demolish the per‑
ception that Modi was "personally incorrupt‑
ible" by taking repeated jibes at him over the
Rafale fighter jet deal with France. He single‑
handedly made Rafale deal a national issue
through press conferences, tweets and
speeches and attacked Modi with "chowkidar
is chor" (the guard is the thief) barb.
He traveled abroad to counter Modi's out‑
reach among the diaspora. Gandhi's consis‑
tent articulation of issues, including job loss‑
es caused by demonetisation and the slowing
down of economy due to "flawed implemen‑
tation" of the Goods and Services Tax, seem‑
ingly put the government on the defensive.
The GST, which was simplified in the run‑up
to the Gujarat assembly polls last year, has
been further eased after the BJP lost power in
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattis‑
garh.
Gandhi aggressively clamoured for farm
loan waivers and several state governments
are likely to opt for the measure before the
2019 general elections.
Realising that the Congress would need as
much support as possible to oust the BJP‑led
National Democratic Alliance from power,
date for the 2019 elections and said the de‑
cision will be taken after the polls. Rahul Gandhi
Gandhi also reached out to people directly openly said that
through the social media. BJP leaders may
call him "pappu"
As party chief, Gandhi has run far more
but he does not
elaborate and sustained assembly election
hate the party.
campaigns than did Sonia Gandhi, who
helmed the Congress for 19 years.
He also openly said that BJP leaders may
call him "pappu" but he does not hate
the party. But the challenges that re‑
main for him are herculean.
The Congress lost six assembly
elections this year ‑ Telangana,
Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya,
Nagaland ‑ despite the three
wins in Hindi heartland and
scraping through in Kar‑
nataka. It is not in power in
any state in the northeast, a
party stronghold only four
years ago.
It is weak in the crucial
states of Uttar Pradesh, Bi‑
har, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu and West Bengal and
needs allies to win seats.
Next year is likely to be a
make or break year for
Congress, as the country
goes to general polls.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info OP-ED January 5-18, 2019 45

Can a divided opposition

take on weakened Modi?
statue in the world ‑‑ of Sardar Pa‑
tel – and of Shivaji that is coming
Special to up off Mumbaiʼs coast.
The South Asian Times Many Indians, including the
burgeoning youth population, re‑
cluding those ruled by the Con‑
gress party, are doing the same.
Urjit Patel, former RBI governor,
remarked that such giveaways
will have a long‑term adverse im‑
was once close to Modi but is now
leading a campaign to oust him.
Naidu is trying to garner support
among non‑NDA parties saying
“either you are with the BJP or
dealt with immediately. There is
wide consensus that it has to be
resolved before it becomes a hu‑
manitarian crisis. The govern‑
ment should dust off a report sub‑

P
olitical parties in India en‑
tered the New Year with
great enthusiasm and op‑
timism about the coming general
election. Each party is either a
part of the ruling NDA, led by the
BJP, or the Congress‑headed Unit‑
ed Progressive Alliance. Any par‑
ty left out could join the third
grouping, the Federal Front float‑
ed by the re‑elected Chief Minis‑
ter of Telangana, K. Chan‑
drasekhar Rao (KCR).
Four and a half years have
passed and the NDA fell much
short of delivering on its promis‑
es. Worse, fingers were pointed at
corruption among higher‑ups in
power. Make in India and intro‑
ducing bullet trains did not make
much headway. Not many even
appreciated building the tallest
main locked in informal, often
lowly paid jobs. The government
has stopped publishing unem‑
ployment figures. In general, Indi‑
ans supported demonetization as
they thought it would hurt the
dishonest tax‑evading rich people.
But the purported benefits have
not percolated down.
Rural India is not happy as
shown by the Hindi heartland as‑
sembly election results. Agricul‑
tural growth fell to 4% from 5%.
Modiʼs promised ʻachche dinʼ
(good days) are not in sight.
Uttar Pradesh and other BJP‑
ruled states wrote off farm loans
amounting to billions of rupees.
Yogi Adityanath of UP alone nulli‑
fied farm loans valued at 392 bil‑
lion rupees benefiting 10 million
people. True, non‑BJP states, in‑
pact on the national economy.
Fiscal deficit is going to cross
3.3% of GDP. It bloats up to 6%
when you add the statesʼ figures.
It is going to increase as nearly all
states and parties have promised
to ease the agrarian distress and
offer dole‑outs.
It is not NDA alone that faces
hurdles in its attempt to retain
power. The divided opposition,
too, is nowhere close to providing
an alternative. There is no con‑
sensus over projecting Rahul
Gandhi as PM. Mamata Banerjee,
the firebrand chief minister of
Bengal, has already declared her
candidacy for the post.
Mayawatiʼs BSP and Samajwadi
Pary may not sail with Rahul or
join hands with Chandrababu
Naidu, the regional satrap who
you are against it,” stressing there
is no middle way. KCR, a regional
rival of Naidu, is also trying to
form the third front with not
much success. He is confident
that he would at least play the
kingmaker post‑national election
scheduled for April‑May.
Advantage Modi then. Though
his governmentʼs standing has
taken a hit, he himself remains
popular. He beat Rahul and other
potential PM candidates in a re‑
cent survey. Modinomics after all
is not a farce. Under his watch In‑
dia is going to overtake the UK be‑
coming the fifth largest economy.
Remember, India was not even
among the Top 10 about a decade
ago.
No matter who is at the helm,
the agrarian distress should be
mitted by the noted farm scientist
M.S. Swaminathan. The report
suggests long‑term solutions to
the issue, but neither the UPA nor
the NDA acted on it. It is not diffi‑
cult for a politician like Modi to
bring back the unaccounted mon‑
ey concealed abroad. Similarly the
Make in India program has to be
expedited and foreign‑investment
rules should further be eased. All
these measures should create the
much‑needed employment. The
10‑year rule of UPA led by noted
economist Manmohan Singh did
not do it. Manmohanomics did not
work as he was acting under the
orders of somebody; but Modi‑
nomics should succeed as he
gives his own orders, accountable
to no individual but the people at
large.

There is no consensus over projecting Rahul Gandhi as PM. Mamata Banerjee is already a contender. Chandrababu Naidu and KCR are trying to float their own third fronts.

By Saket Suman
W
hatever the state of politics be‑
tween India and Pakistan, the citi‑
zens of the neighboring countries
separated at birth, are naturally drawn to
each other, says Fatima Bhutto, niece of for‑
mer Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto. She said
she has personally been a witness to the
"great warmth" between Indians and Pakista‑
nis.
"Whether it's Pakistani serials or Indian
films, art or books, as a people we are natu‑
rally drawn to each other and open and curi‑
ous to learn more. Art has always broken bar‑
riers ‑‑ it's always been a powerful way for
people to connect and communicate with
each other and I think the ease of the internet
has helped us overcome physical obstacles,"
the 36‑year‑old writer, who has been a critic
of Benazir and her husband Asif Ali Zardari,
whom she accused of being involved in her
father Murtaza Bhutto's murder, told IANS in
an email interview from Karachi.
She recalled that, in the year gone by, she
read books by several Indian authors online
and even discovered authors she had not
Insist on Indo-Pak cultural exchanges,
reject barriers: Fatima Bhutto
icalism is born out of religion, I don't think
"The narrative we are fed that's necessarily true. I think radicalism
comes from a hundred different humiliations
today is that radicalism is born
and wounds ‑‑ not just one source. To boot,
out of religion. I think it comes we live in a time where young people are sub‑
from a hundred different jected to an overwhelming culture of the self:
humiliations and wounds,” Everyone wants to be famous, to go viral, to
be seen, to be significant," she said.
Fatima Bhutto argues.
Bhutto clarified that she doesn't set out to
insert politic in her books but it's what she is
of millennial culture and how difficult it is to
drawn to.
survive in a world on fire, was welcomed with
"My way of seeing the world is shaped by a
rave reviews in India.
fundamental belief that politics is ingrained
She said when she began writing it, she was
read before. in everything. It codes the films we watch, the
thinking primarily about her two main male
When told the cultural exchanges between places we travel to, how we live, how we treat
characters ‑‑ Monty and Sunny ‑‑ who come
India and Pakistan have hit rock bottom late‑ others, how we dress ‑‑ everything. With 'The
from very different worlds but are thrown to‑
ly, with books being the only exception, Bhut‑ Runaways' I wanted to write about what has
gether in the wilds of Iraq. The narrative of
to urged people to engage with each other's to happen to a person in order to radicalize
the novel also makes it apparent that young‑
creative and popular cultures. him ‑‑ what does it mean to be at war with
sters are drawn to radicalism as a result of so‑
Interestingly, her recent novel "The Run‑ your society, your family, your friends, your
cietal and political pressures.
aways" ‑‑ about radicalism and the confusions world?"
"The narrative we are fed today is that rad‑

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
 46 January 5-18, 2019
Five key events in India
From improving foreign ties to bracing
mammoth Kerala floods, India saw some key
moments in a year defined by the Supreme
Court judgments that delighted the masses
INDIA STRENGTHENED
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with
Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi.
Wanting to be close to all major countries, India's policy went
beyond the non‑alignment spirit. The recent agreements and
defense cooperation of Russia with Pakistan shook New Del‑
hi and led to mending the ties between the two countries. The
two leaders, Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin, chose the
same "informal" format to reset ties in the Russian city of
Sochi. Coming on the back of the Doklam standoff between
India and China at the India‑Bhutan‑China tri‑junction, the
Wuhan Summit was a useful, timely and necessary step to cut
through the negativity building up within their ties.
India became the 43rd member of the Australia Group,
which aims to prevent proliferation of biological and chemi‑
cal weapons, will ensure a more secure world. With this India
is a member of three of the four nuclear export control
regimes. The India‑Japan annual summit saw the signing of
key defense agreements and the official start of negotiations
between the two countries on an acquisition and cross‑serv‑
icing agreement (ACSA).
In February when Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in
Ramallah for a day visit, it was a mark of solidarity with the
Palestinian people and commitment to "deepening of ties".
India took leadership of the International Solar Alliance
along with France when the so called superpowers of world
shied away from the greatest challenge that faces the planet,
globally warming and climate change. India has been con‑
sciously working towards the issue of climate problems in the
world
A YEAR OF LANDMARK
JUDGMENTS
Sabarimala temple being shut down
for "purification rituals”.
INDIA ROUNDUP
In a 4‑1 majority decision, the Supreme Court in September
lifted the ban on women entering the Sabarimala temple in
Kerala , which it termed as a violation of women's right to
practice religion.
A Supreme Court bench in September held the constitu‑
tional validity of the government's Aadhaar project. However,
it set boundaries to the use of Aadhaar for verification ‑‑ Aad‑
haar can be used for payment of government benefits and tax‑
ation records but private companies were barred from ac‑
cessing it.
In January, the apex court modified a 2016 order which
made playing the national anthem in movie theaters compul‑
sory. By changing the word 'shall' to 'may', it decreed that the
order was no longer mandatory.
Proving that love wins, the Supreme Court in a unanimous
judgment repealed Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code ‑‑ the
draconian law that criminalised same‑sex relations as well as
unnatural sex between consenting adults. The landmark judg‑
ment held that sexual orientation was a biological phenome‑
non and not a mental disorder or something against the or‑
der of nature.
In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court in March broke
new ground, giving legal sanction to the living will of patients
by observing that "Right to refuse medical treatment and die
with dignity is a fundamental right; and a part of the right to
live, as guaranteed by the Constitution".
Furthering its championing of women's rights, the apex
court struck down Section 497, a 158‑year‑old law that con‑
siders adultery to be an offense committed by one man
against another, and has been criticized for treating women
as possessions rather than human beings.
KERALA FLOODS
CREATED HAVOC
Army personnel carry rescue operations in
flood‑hit Kerala's Chengannur.
The Kerala flood disaster in August claimed hundreds of
lives and the estimated value of destruction was more than
the annual outlay of the state. It was the worst flood in Ker‑
ala in nearly a century.
About a million people were evacuated. All 14 districts of
the state were placed on red alert.According to the Kerala
government, one‑sixth of the total population of Kerala had
been directly affected by the floods and related incidents. The
Indian government had declared it a Level 3 Calamity, or
"calamity of a severe nature".
Over 3,274 relief camps were been opened at various loca‑
tions to accommodate the flood victims. Thirty‑five out of the
54 dams within the state were opened, for the first time in
history.
Kerala will be given Rs. 3,048 crore as an additional assis‑
tance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), of‑
ficials said in December..
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and BJP chief Amit Shah
at the inauguration of 'Statue of Unity'.
WORLD’S HIGHEST
TRIBUTE IN STATUE
OF UNITY
Dedicating the the 182‑meter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stat‑
ue in October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is Indiaʼs
reply to all those who question her existence and asked all cit‑
izens to remain united in countering efforts made by divisive
forces. Unveiling the statue of the former Deputy Prime Min‑
ister built on Sadhu Bet Island on the Narmada river at a cost
of Rs 2,389 crore, Modi touted it to be the worldʼs tallest ̶
surpassing Chinaʼs Spring Temple Buddha that stands at 153
metres by 29 metres and nearly double of the 93‑metre Stat‑
ue of Liberty in New York.
The Gujarat government expects the statue to boost
tourism, with one estimate putting the daily numbers at
15,000.
A viewing gallery at a height of 153 metres has been creat‑
ed inside the statue to enable tourists to have a view of the
1,210 metre long concrete Sardar Sarovar Dam, 3.2 km up‑
stream as well as the nearby Satpura and Vindhya mountain
ranges.
As per a government statement, the statue has been built
using over 70,000 tonne of cement, 18,500 tonne of rein‑
forced steel, 6,000 tonne of structural steel and 1,700 tonne
of bronze, which was used for the outer cladding of the struc‑
ture.
REALTY SECTOR STARES
AT TURBULENT RECOVERY
Though the fledgling real estate sector facing a slowdown
due to the weak residential segment showed signs of recov‑
ery in 2018 with affordable and mid‑segment housing driv‑
ing sales amidst largely stagnant prices, the liquidity crisis
gripping NBFCs, a major source of funding for realty, put the
brakes on recovery. And with the assembly polls and upcom‑
ing general elections further casting a pall of uncertainty over
the liquidity situation in the New Year, real estate is headed
for a turbulent turnaround.
This year, the spotlight was on the dominant residential
segment. With key reforms of RERA and GST settling in and
the disruptive impact of demonetization fizzling out, residen‑
tial real estate staged a recovery, propelled by substantial in‑
terest subsidy (up to Rs 2.67 lakh) and lower GST (8 per cent)
on affordable and mid‑segment housing.
Flagship reforms like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(PMAY) proved to be a panacea to bridge the housing deficit,
especially in urban India. Further, liberalization of FDI norms
in retail saw growing interest of foreign investors in this seg‑
ment, with tier 2 & 3 cities significantly contributing to the
growth of retail real estate, along with metros.
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
From the BJP losing in key states to the Supreme Court delivering on morality
and gender justice, the year saw some significant developments in India
MODI'S CHARISMA
APPEARED TO WANE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP face a
tough challenge in the Lok Sabha elections in the coming
summer in the wake of its defeat in the Assembly elections in
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and mounting
worries on the economic front.
The BJP was contained in Modi's home state of Gujarat in
the year‑end Assembly elections where it was stopped short
of the 100 mark, signaling the green shoots of recovery for
the Congress.
The change in the last one year became evident after a unit‑
ed Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party defeated
the BJP in the Lok Sabha by‑elections in its strongholds like
Gorakhpur and Phulpur and along with the RLD, in Kairana
in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress worsted the BJP in parlia‑
mentary by‑elections in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and in
Karnataka.
The results of the Assembly polls in five states, where the
Congress snatched power from the BJP in the Hindi heart‑
land, gave a major boost to the opposition parties and could
be a factor in the battle for control of the next Lok Sabha.
During the year, the BJP had lost seven out of the 13 by‑
elections in parliamentary constituencies. Of these, it held
nine since 2014. It could retain only Palghar in Maharashtra
and Shimoga in Karnataka.
The BJP's tally in the Lok Sabha has come down to 268
from 282 in 2014.
In the present political scenario, political analysts feel the
BJP is unlikely to repeat its performance of 2014, especially
in key states.
SC DELIVERED ON
MORALITY AND
GENDER JUSTICE
The Supreme Court entered 2018 on a tumultuous note
with four senior‑most judges going public over its function‑
ing and the allocation of cases, including certain cases being
selectively allocated to select benches.
The press conference by the four judges, including Ranjan
Gogoi, who was elevated to Chief Justice later in the year, cre‑
ated ripples in judicial and political circles which Justice Ami‑
tava Roy said left the top court with a "fractured face" and
dented its credibility and the paramountcy of the judicial
process.
The year also saw court telling the government that Aad‑
haar was not panacea of all that ails governance and restrict‑
INDIA ROUNDUP January 5-18, 2019 47
Top 5 defining
moments in India
ed it from demanding the Unique ID (UID) number for each
and every scheme.
house by its supporters, decided to bury the hatchet and join
ranks with the party.
Another area of serious concern where top court left its in‑
delible stamp was environment. It was unsparing in hauling
Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav are now glued to each other
in their hatred for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and haunt‑
the administration for not doing enough for curbing an ed by the spectre of his again returning to power in 2019. Po‑
alarmingly high level of air pollution and the handling of the litical observers here say that this was the "only option before
piling mound of solid waste. the regional satraps as they fought for survival and not suc‑
cess anymore".
DEATHS ON TRACKS The new understanding between the two seemed to have
found favor with the voters who threw their lot behind the
AND SHAKY FINANCES duo after which SP candidates romped home winners in the
STALK RAILWAYS Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana parliamentary by‑polls. Hav‑
ing tasted blood, the two parties now have more or less ce‑
Mowing down 61 people on the tracks on Dussehra, among mented a seat‑sharing agreement for the 2019 Lok Sabha
a spate of accidents; rolling out the first indigenously‑built polls. Even BJP chief Amit Shah has conceded that the com‑
Trainset and inauguration of the long‑awaited Bogibeel rail‑ ing together of the SP and BSP would cost the party dearly in
road bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra river will perma‑ UP.
nently etch 2018 in the annals of the Indian Railways.
However, as the year draws to a close, the national trans‑ POLL TIMING, SOPS
porter stares at a dismal financial scenario, with its operating
ratio (OR) touching 112.91 per cent till November‑end ‑‑
FOR FARMERS
meaning it is spending almost Rs 113 to earn every Rs 100.
Despite the gloom over its financial health, the year will also
WORKED FOR TRS
be remembered for the railways going full steam ahead on
electrification, track renewal and elimination of unmanned
level crossings ‑‑ the three mantras of Railways Minister
Piyush Goyal.
The year's worst train tragedy occurred on October 19
when a speeding train crushed 61 people to death on the
tracks on Dussehra in Amritsar. The festive crowd, including
women and children, had spilled over on to the track while
watching the burning of Ravana's effigy.
The year also witnessed the opening of a limited section of
the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), one of its flagship proj‑
ects ‑‑ though only for trials.
Billed as the next‑generation train, the Rs 100 crore Train‑
18 ‑‑ the costliest so far ‑‑ can run at 160 kmph and is
equipped with world‑class amenities to improve passenger
comfort to a great extent.
TECTONIC SHIFT IN UP'S
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
A year is a long time in politics. In Uttar Pradesh, the change
of the calendar from 2017 to 2018 saw a tectonic shift in the
TRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao
political landscape, one that left the ruling BJP and its cadres
shocked to the core. Mayawati, the Dalit powerhouse who was
Early Assembly elections and the Telangana Rashtra
daggers drawn with arch rival, the Samajwadi Party (SP),
Samithi (TRS) retaining power with a landslide majority ear‑
since June 2, 1995, after a murderous attack on her at a guest
lier this month dominated the events in Telangana during
2018.
Eight months before the expiry of the Assembly's term, the
TRS government recommended dissolution of the House on
September 6. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan accepted the rec‑
ommendation the same day.
Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao's
gamble of early polls paid rich dividends as the party bagged
88 seats in 119‑member Assembly. The historic alliance be‑
tween Congress and its arch rival for 36 years, Telugu Desam
Party (TDP) ‑‑ and the formation of four‑party People's Al‑
liance led by Congress ‑‑ failed to stop the TRS juggernaut.
The year began with the launch of free 24‑hour electricity
to the agriculture sector. This made Telangana the first state
in the country to provide this facility to farmers.
The year also saw the launch of two major schemes for
farmers. Under 'Rythu Bandhu', an investment support of Rs
8,000 is being provided to each farmer per acre per year for
two crops. 'Rythu Beema' offers Rs 5 lakh life insurance cov‑
BSP Supremo Mayawati, er to every farmer.

By Shaker Nelanuthala
I
remember vividly the early
hours of May 16, 2014 when I
was glued to NDTV news on
election results in India. As the
numbers came pouring in, it was
an inevitable change and a victo‑
ry for the BJP led National Demo‑
cratic Alliance (NDA). It was an
amazing and awe‑inspiring night!
Not only did the NDA get a con‑
vincing mandate (won 336 seats /
273 needed for simple majority),
they embarrassed the incumbent
UPA‑Congress party. The torpor
that was prevalent in the Con‑
gress party made them lose
around 20 states with no repre‑
sentatives at all in the 16th Lok
Sabha. The sycophant‑dominated,
nonchalant grand old party gar‑
nered a meager 44 seats, making
them ineligible to even assume
the status of Opposition party
(needed 55 seats).
As analyzed by The Telegraph of
the UK, there were five solid rea‑
sons for Narendra Modi leading
BJP to a spectacular victory and
to become the Prime Minister of
India. They included the slowing
down of the GDP to around 5%;
the corruption that has reached a
new high; disenchantment among
the youth that did not care for
communal politics, voted with
their hearts and on pocket book
issues (one study found Modi gar‑
nered the highest percentage of
Muslim vote in BJP history, cour‑
Master of developing India,
Modi to return as PM
By Ashok Vyas
P
rime Minister Narendra
Modi retains his unique
position as a very special
leader of modern India. He is the
first leader to have convincingly
demonstrated his understanding
of Indian culture with whole‑
hearted appreciation of the so‑
cial fabric of Bharat interwoven
with the awareness of the eter‑
nal.
He seems to be a genuine devo‑
tee of Mother Goddess and a true
admirer of Swami Vivekananda.
48 January 5-18, 2019
Will Modi be PM
again in 2019?
tesy of Muslim millennials);
perennial infrastructure problems
and finally, by an efficient use of
technology via micro‑targeting
(including the use of social media)
to reach out to every BJP/ Modi
voter in the country.
A “Chaiwallah” (tea seller), an al‑
truistic person and a virtuoso in
politics that came from penury
came to rule the largest democra‑
cy in the world. Modiʼs policies
are more in line with those of the
conservatives in other parts of the
world. The policies of deregula‑
tion helped the country signifi‑
cantly, by moving it from 134th in
the world in 2014 to 77th in the
world as far as ease of doing busi‑
ness is concerned. In addition,
several policies implemented
were business and consumer
friendly, including a uniform GST;
Real Estate (Regulation and De‑
velopment) Act; Benami Transac‑
tions (Prohibition) Amendment
Act; Biometric identification via
This image is still intact in the
mind of a common Indian. In
terms of his sincerity, simple and
disciplined living style with abili‑
ty to think out of the box, identi‑
fy problems, confront them and
of fer executable solutions has
strengthened with landmark de‑
cisions taken by his government.
The Modi government has defi‑
nitely moved the needle by re‑
placing Indiaʼs policy paralysis
with a dynamic approach.
dmittedly the rollout of demon‑
etization af fected millions of
people, and GST has caused lot of
ANALYSIS
Aadhar card; consolidation of
troubled banks; and demonetiza‑
tion (which created short term
hardships to common people)
were heralded as a success. For
this Modi should be given all the
accolades.
Now that the year 2019 has
rolled in, itʼs time for new elec‑
tions in India for the 17th Lok
Sabha. The question on every In‑
dian and NRIʼs mind is, whether
Modi will become PM again. Here
is my take on this issue.
In 2014 the BJP projected Mr.
Modi as its PM candidate right
from the get‑go, almost in the
style of a US Presidential candi‑
date. A majority of the electorate
cast their vote for Mr. Modi, and
many had little clue of the actual
BJP candidates that they were
voting for.
Now again, in 2019, the BJP is
featuring Modi as the PM candi‑
date and is challenging the oppo‑
sition parties to come up with a
inconvenience for small business
owners. Yet, in 2018, Indiaʼs
economy grew more than most
of the key nations of the world.
Soon, India will overtake the UK
to become worldʼs fifth largest
economy. Indiaʼs international
image has significantly improved
under Modiʼs leadership.
Infrastructure is markedly im‑
proving. The speed of road con‑
struction has changed Indiaʼs
connectivity. Building toilets has
helped in improving the quality
of life of rural folks.
Millions of common Indians
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Congress party
ousted BJP from
power in the
heartland states of
MP, Rajasthan &
Chhattisgarh. In UP
too, BJP’s popularity
has suffered. So, is
Narendra Modi’s
charisma on the
wane? In the Lok
Sabha elections this
year, will BJP scrape
through and Modi
become PM again.
coined by a Victorian philosopher
Herbert Spencer and employed
repeatedly by the Congress party
to install Nehru‑Gandhis in the
PM seat, will come into play in fa‑
candidate for the PM post. We as
vor of Modi. The rise of conserva‑
Indians or as Indian‑Americans
tives like Modi in India, Theresa
are no longer interested in dy‑
May in UK and Donald Trump in
nasty rule (Gandhi, Bush, Clinton
America was caused by growing
clans). The opposition parties that
populism and nationalism in
include the UPA‑Congress and
these democracies. Were Modi to
several regional players have a
get PMship again, will it presage
mental torpor and are extremely
survival of Brexit‑May and the re‑
polemical. There are also several
election of President Trump? My
egocentric megalomaniacs who
epiphany! Time will tell.
would want to Prime Minister and
as such there is no consensus on
any one candidate.
The recent state election losses
for BJP in the Hindi heartland
should have limited effect on na‑
tional elections. It is likely that
the BJP and its NDA partners will
fall short by a few seats . I per‑
sonally feel that they would get
around 230 seats (will need about
43 more) and they should be able
Shaker Nelanuthala is an IT &
to garner these required seats to
Web development consultant,
form a government from a frac‑
political junkie and a writer for
tured and incoherent opposition.
The South Asian Times. He lives
In the end, the TINA factor
on Long Island.
(There Is No Alternative), as
Rajasthanʼs popular CMs, Shivraj
Singh Chauhan and Vasundhara
Raje have been ousted, which is
perceived as a taste of first suc‑
cess by Rahul Gandhi. But the
margin of votes with which the
BJP lost is not substantial, lead‑
ing me to conclude that majority
of voters still appreciates PM
Modi.
have been brought into the orbit
of banking. One can list many
positives for the Modi govern‑
ment but questions about the
Rafale deal raised by Congress
President Rahul Gandhi also
caught attention. Concerns about
India becoming unsafe for the
minorities are being voiced ‑‑ BJP
has always been referred to as
ʻHindu Nationalist Partyʼ by the
Ashok Vyas is Program Director
foreign media. Modiʼs cabinet
with ITVGold. Poet and Hindu
colleagues are made to again and
priest he also writes primarily on
again explain the ground reality
Hinduism, Indian culture and
of ʻSabka Saath, Sabka Vikaasʼ.
mindfulness.
Indeed, Madhya Pradesh and
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 50 January 5-18, 2019 OPINION TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Modi must make women’s

safety priority No. 1
tending a tougher‑than‑expected family man insensitive to the plight
battle for him to retain power in the of women and young girls? Modi has
upcoming nationwide elections. His to man up now and take action,
By Sunil Tolani opponents are divided and lack a amending penal codes and ensuring
leader of his stature. But even if that swift action is taken and justice

T
here is no doubt Prime Minis‑
ter Narendra Modi is Indiaʼs
most charismatic politician in
a generation. And for over four and
a half years
he has ruled
with a swag‑
ger that cap‑
tivated Indi‑
ans who have
long believed
their country
wasnʼt taken
seriously
enough or re‑
spected enough on the world stage.
But the hype isnʼt always good. His
2016 decision to cancel the two
most valuable currency notes looks
increasingly like a colossal blunder,
which crushed the poor and middle‑
class people of India. Relations with
nuclear‑armed rival Pakistan are at a
low ebb. Modi has been silent as par‑
tisans and officials of his Hindu na‑
tionalist party are implicated in hate
crimes against minority Muslims
and Sikhs. Recently the BJP lost con‑
trol of three state assemblies, por‑
Modi wins again, his allure as a
statesman and reformer has faded.
In my view, the # 1 thing that can
bolster Modi is women of India. If I
was Modi or leading BJP, I would
make womenʼs status and safety my
# 1, 2 and 3 priorities. This will be
Modiʼs biggest opportunity to do
good in the biggest problem India
faces.
Indian women have the highest
rate of suicide in the world. A stag‑
gering 230,000 women in India an‑
nually die from suicide. Under‑re‑
porting and mis‑classification of sui‑
cide deaths, rapes and sexual ha‑
rassment are common. Women still
face lower status and barriers to op‑
portunity.
Indiaʼs rape crisis and #MeToo are
a national shame and disgrace. Sexu‑
al harassment, abuse and violence is
rampant in the workplace. Sexual fa‑
vors are demanded by men in posi‑
tion of power and authority and un‑
reported by women for fear of
shame and losing their jobs and
livelihood. Molestations and catcall‑
ing on streets is deeply entrenched
Working on womenʼs safety and status will be Modiʼs biggest
opportunity to do good in the biggest problem India faces.
in the countryʼs largely patriarchal
society.
It is estimated that nearly 39,000
sexual assaults occur every year but
the real number may be 5‑7 times
higher.
There has to be a come‑to‑Jesus‑
moment, a national soul‑searching
whether anything changed since
2013 when, post‑Nirbhaya, the gov‑
ernment introduced measures to
speed up prosecutions of rape cases
and expanded the definition of sex
crimes to include stalking and
voyeurism. There was a 12% rise in
rape related cases in 2016 in part
because women felt more embold‑
ened to report crimes. But the na‑
tional statistics remain shocking. In
40% of the rape cases, the victims
were under 18.
Narendra Modi came to power,
partly professing pro‑Hindu Ideolo‑
gy, where women are respected and
honored. Modi is a single man, nev‑
er fathered children. . While cam‑
paigning he boasted that he had "no‑
one to be corrupt for". So is the no‑
is served right away and the cases
donʼt languish in courts forever. The
BJP government said it was consid‑
ering tougher penalties for rape cas‑
es, including the death penalty in
crimes in which the victim is
younger than 12.
Modi, a savvy communicator who
skilfully uses social media, said with
the patriarchal attitude which infects
most Indian thinking about women:
“Our daughters will get justice.”
The question is, who will make
sure justice is served. Modi is calling
for a mass movement to protect the
girl child in India with his flagship
campaign “Beti Bachao, Beti Pad‑
hao."
The bottom line is, India has a long
way to go on race and caste issues,
gender equality, female infanticide,
dowry, sexual harassment and do‑
mestic violence, rape and more.
Modi must seize the initiative in this
regard.
Sunil Tolani is CEO of Los Angeles
based Prince Organization, which is
in hospitality business.

India needs a competency-enhancing,

job-creation master plan
By Frank Islam economies after World War II through a laser beam focus
on technical and vocational education. It should also com‑

W
hen Narendra Modi was campaigning for his
party in 2014, he promised to create 10 million
jobs per year. The Modi administration has
come nowhere near generating that number during his
tenure in office, with the Indian economy expanding but
the growth being essentially "jobless".
In this election year, job creation, or
the lack thereof, has become a con‑
tentious topic.
Modi and his supporters ‑‑ using data
which now includes jobs that have
moved from the informal to the formal
sector due to factors such as tax pay‑
ments, government loans and health‑
care coverage ‑‑ claim numerous jobs
have been created recently. His opponents assert that the
data is being manipulated to give the appearance of job
creation.
Here are some facts about the nature of India's economy
and the dimensions of that problem:|
* India has a huge workforce of 470 million people with
"almost half " of that workforce being self‑employed.
* Over 80 per cent of the Indian workforce is in the in‑
formal as opposed to the formal sector.
* 12 million Indian youth enter the workforce each year.
These are staggering numbers. The most critical one re‑
lates to the percentage of the Indian workforce currently
in the informal sector.
An ILO report "Women and Men in the Informal Econo‑
my: A Statistical Picture" said that for a country to be de‑
veloped it must have a high percent of its workforce in the
formal sector which provides meaningful employment and
benefits for employees. India, with more than 80 per cent
of jobs in the informal sector, ranks lower than even
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
This is a formula for failure. For India to become a de‑
veloped nation, it must have modern jobs, workforce and
economy. This could be accomplished by creating and im‑
plementing a citizen‑centered and competency‑enhancing
job creation master plan. That plan should be developed
based upon a comprehensive, objective and strategic as‑
sessment, including a SWOT analysis of India's current
and future job situation and the employment and employ‑
ability needs of its citizens and employers. The plan should
study how Japan and Germany transformed their
pare and contrast what China has done to evolve its infor‑
mal sector.
The master plan should clearly spell out a vision, goals,
strategies, strategic action programs, implementation re‑
quirements, facilitating factors, potential obstacles or bar‑
riers, and critical success factors. It should present a de‑
tailed budget and cost‑benefit analysis.
The master plan must be multi‑faceted, addressing all ar‑
eas that are essential for building and evolving a modern
Indian workforce and economy, including: Rural and ur‑
ban differences, literacy enhancement, skill development,
vocational and technical education, apprenticeship and
mentoring, entrepreneurship, small‑ and mid‑size business
assistance, high‑growth firm focus, public service employ‑
ment as a means for propelling national and state‑level ini‑
tiatives forward, and, implementing a uniform job creation
and employment measurement methodology.
India has many of the bits and pieces for job creation to‑
day. For example, it is an international leader in informa‑
tion technology driven by the private sector; it has the
Make in India manufacturing focus driven by the govern‑
ment; and, it has numerous start‑ups driven by fledgling
entrepreneurs. Bringing these pieces together into an in‑
tegrated and coordinated master plan will solve the job‑
creation puzzle in a manner that will make India and its
people economic leaders in the 21st century.
Frank F. Islam is an entrepreneur, civic and thought
leader based in Washington, D.C.
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info I N T E R N A T I O N A L R O U N D U P January 5-18, 2019 51

North Korea, Pakistan

took center-stage in 2018
The year gone by was important for the international politics as rogue nation North Korea finally returned
to the path of dialogue & Imran Khan rose phenomenally to Nawaz Sharif’s staggering fall in Pakistan

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with A Brexit protester outside the House of People protest against the disappearance and murder
US President Donald Trump in Singapore. Parliament in London. of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Denuclearized N. Trump and Kim were expected to
meet in the first half of 2019 to iron
Korea amid Trump- out remaining differences and take
Kim bonhomie the peace process forward.
EU member states would be com‑ US decides troop 14,000 American troops stationed
pelled to tax all imports from and in the war‑torn country would jeop‑
exports to the UK by applying the
pullout from Syria, ardize the peace efforts as it would
bloc's agreed customs code. Afghanistan reduce the incentive for the Taliban

A
fter years of threatening the
world with nuclear annihila‑
tion, North Korea chose to
return to the path of dialogue. Reel‑
ing under tough world sanctions,
Kim Jong‑Un became the first North
Korean leader to enter South Korea,
where he met the South Korean
president Moon Jae‑In to initiate
baby‑steps towards lowering ten‑
sions on the peninsula.
Setting an important milestone in
the history, Kim met US President
Donald Trump at a summit in Sin‑
gapore where the two leaders
signed a joint statement agreeing to
the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula.
The summit removed the immedi‑
ate threat of war from the Korean
peninsula as the North indicated its
willingness to embark upon the
process of denuclearization.
Brexit in limbo as
deadline looms
With less than 100 days left until
Brexit, the UKʼs planned divorce
from the European Union experi‑
enced a rocky year, with Prime Min‑
ister Theresa Mayʼs plan facing
staunch opposition from within her
own party.
The British cabinet met several
times to discuss whether to ramp
up preparations for a no‑deal Brex‑
it amid uncertainty. As May's pro‑
posed exit plan struggles in Parlia‑
ment, both sides are preparing for
the worst case scenario.
The European Commission (EC)
has also published a set of meas‑
ures that would limit the negative
effects on Europe of the UK leaving
the EU without an exit deal.
In the event of a no‑deal scenario,
Khashoggi’s killing
triggers crisis for
Saudi Arabia
The murder of dissident journal‑
ist Jamal Khashoggi created a ma‑
jor crisis in Saudi Arabia as several
global leaders castigated the Saudi
leadership.
The assassination of the Wash‑
ington Post columnist occurred at
the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The
exact cause of his death is unknown
since his body has not been found.
Saudi Arabia is now in a position
from where it was difficult to con‑
vince the world that Khashoggi's
mysterious disappearance wasn't
planned in the kingdom. Denying
the leadershipʼs involvement in the
killing, Riyadh fired five top offi‑
cials and arrested 18 Saudis as a re‑
sult of the initial investigations.
With the suddenness of revela‑
tion, President Donald Trump an‑
nounced withdrawal from Syria and
“drawdown” from Afghanistan.
President Donald Trumpʼs an‑
nounced a complete pullout from
Syria, where some 2,000 soldiers
are deployed as part of an interna‑
tional coalition fighting the Islamic
State (IS) terrorist group.
He said that his country cannot
be the world's policeman, even as
he claimed victory against the IS.
While Russia and Turkey seemed to
welcome the decision, rest of the
world, including France and UK,
were left stunned. Trump was also
mulling withdrawal of nearly 7,000
troops from Afghanistan.
Former top US commander in
Afghanistan Retired General Stan‑
ley McChrystal said in December
that the withdrawal of half of
to negotiate a deal to end the 17‑
year war.
US pulled out of
Iran nuclear deal
President Donald Trump in May
announced that the United States
would pull out of the multilaterally
negotiated Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In 2015, Iran agreed a long‑term
deal on its nuclear programme with
the P5+1 group of world powers ‑
the US, UK, France, China, Russia
and Germany. The deal, formally
known as the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action, offered Tehran bil‑
lions of dollars in sanctions relief in
exchange for agreeing to curb its
nuclear program. It came after
years of tension over Iran's alleged
efforts to develop a nuclear
weapon.

SUBCONTINENT ROUNDUP
The phenomenal rise mentary election in early January. dered the arrest of chief justice a former pres‑
ident. The emergency was lifted after 45
of Imran Khan No homecoming days. In September, the joint candidate of the

C
ricketer‑turned‑politician Imran
Khan was elected Pakistan's 22nd
Prime Minister by the country's Na‑
tional Assembly in August after his Pakistan
Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) party won the highest
number of seats in the general election.
Former Prime Minister and PML‑N chief
Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to seven years in
prison on corruption charges and banned
from contesting elections.
Political impasse
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka plunged into a political turmoil
when President Maithiripala Sirisena abrupt‑
ly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wick‑
remesinghe and replaced him with former
President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Wickremesinghe was reinstated as Prime
Minister after the Supreme Court ruled as
"unconstitutional" Sirisena's decision to dis‑
solve Parliament and conduct a snap parlia‑
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
for Rohingya
The misery of Rohingya, a highly persecut‑
ed Muslim group numbering over one mil‑
lion, continued – both in the refugee camps of
Bangladesh and in their native Rakhine
province of Myanmar.
Despite the repatriation deal between the
governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh,
homecoming did not happen as the condi‑
tions were not considered conducive for their
voluntary repatriation.
In June, Myanmar inked an agreement with
UN to expedite the process of Rohingya repa‑
triation, but the MoU was kept under wraps.
Rohingya community leaders, after seeing
the leaked MoU, rejected the agreement, say‑
ing it did not address their concerns.
The turmoil in Maldives
Severe political crisis erupted in the island
nation when President Yameen Abdul Gay‑
oom declared a state of emergency and or‑
coalition of opposition parties, Ibrahim Mo‑
hamed Solih, prevented Yameen from seeking
a second term as the president by securing
58% votes in the president elections. In No‑
vember, Solih took oath as Maldives' third
democratically‑elected president.
Sheikh Hasina won
fourth term as PM
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
secured a new term with a landslide victory
on the last day of the year ‑‑ in an election
marred by deadly violence and condemned
by the opposition as "farcical" amid vote rig‑
ging claims.
The opposition alliance led by the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of jailed
former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia took just
seven seats and condemned the vote as "far‑
cical". With Bangladesh, Indiaʼs ties contin‑
ued to remain positive as has been the case
under the prime ministership of Hasina.

90-day truce in
US-China trade war
S
ince midway through this
year, Washington imposed
tariffs on $250 billion
worth of goods from China, to
which Beijing responded with im‑
port duties on $60 billion worth of
products from the US.
US President Donald Trump and
Chinese President Xi Xinping re‑
sorted to a tit‑for‑tat tariffs row
since June this year which roiled
world markets for months.
However, during a dinner meet‑
ing held on the sidelines of the G20
summit in Argentinian capital
Buenos Aires on December 1, Xing‑
ping and Trump decided to suspend
imposing of any new tariffs for 90
days.
But if there is no deal at the end
of the 90‑day grace period, the US
will increase the tariffs on the $200
billions of goods from 10 percent to
25 percent.
India rises in ease
of doing business
With India jumping 23 places to
77th rank on “Ease of Doing Busi‑
ness” index, World Bank chief Jim
Yong Kim called up Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to congratulate him
for the ʻhistoric riseʼ in the rank‑
ings.
Kim said this has been made pos‑
sible, in large measure, due to the
unwavering commitment and lead‑
ership of Prime Minister Modi. He
described this as a historic and un‑
precedented achievement.
Kim called it ʻremarkableʼ for a
nation of over 1.25 billion people to
have achieved a rise of 65 ranks in
a short period of 4 years.
Mallya, Nirav
Modi’s extraditions
come closer
After a British court in December
ordered the extradition of Indian in‑
52 January 5-18, 2019
US China trade war
dominated business world
The tumultous US‐China trade ties, India’s efforts towards extradition of fugitives Vijay
Mallya and Nirav Modi and Walmart‐Flipkart mega deal made headlines in 2018
Chinese
President Xi
Jinping
with his US
counterpart
Donald
Trump in
Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
Vijay Mallya Nirav Modi.
dustrialist Vijay Mallya to stand tri‑
al on charges of committing a Rs
9,000‑crore bank loan fraud, the In‑
dian High Commission in London
said it was in touch with British au‑
thorities, with the case now in the
hands of British Home Secretary.
On December 10, the Westminster
Magistrates' Court in London gave
its decision recommending the ex‑
tradition of Mallya.
Regarding absconding diaman‑
taires Nirav Modi and Mehul Chok‑
si, both wanted in the Rs 13,500‑
crore Punjab National Bank fraud
case, India was following up on the
extradition requests submitted to
the British and Antigua & Barbuda
authorities.
Air India floats
in deep red
A 76 per cent stake sale process
of national carrier Air India ended
abruptly this year as "no interest"
was shown by bidders.
On May 31, the Ministry of Civil
Aviation said that "no response"
was received even during the ex‑
tended submission deadline for the
'Expression of Interest' (EOI) bids
under Air India's divestment
process and the "further course of
action will be decided appropriate‑
ly".
Naresh Goyal‑led Jet Airways, in
which Gulf carrier Etihad holds 24
percent stake, also grappled with fi‑
nancial woes and even delayed pay‑
ment of salaries to staff.
Jet Airways has been reporting
losses since last three successive
quarters.
BUSINESS ROUNDUP
Traffic soared
on low fares
Even as strong headwinds ‑‑ soar‑
ing jet fuel prices and low yields ‑‑
induced financial turbulence, the
country's civil aviation sector main‑
tained robust traffic growth rate
during 2018.
Passengers were delighted as ma‑
jor airlines flew‑out to un‑served
domestic destinations and budget
carriers planned international ex‑
pansions.
As per Directorate General of Civ‑
il Aviation (DGCA) data, India's do‑
mestic air passenger traffic grew
by 11.03 per cent to 1.164 crore in
November, while it rose by 19.21
per cent during the January‑No‑
vember 2018 period.
Indian IT industry
goes digital
Embracing disruptive technolo‑
gies to stay ahead of the curve, the
buoyant Indian IT industry made
digital business its growth driver in
2018, despite facing a shortage of
skills and double‑digit attrition.
The industry revved up this fiscal
(2018‑19) to meet the increasing
demand for new services in the dig‑
ital domain, spanning Artificial In‑
telligence (AI), automation,
blockchain, Cloud, data analytics or
mining, Internet of Things (IoT),
machine learning (ML) and robot‑
ics. Accounting for 37 per cent
share of the global outsourcing of
software services, the Indian IT‑
BPM (business process manage‑
ment) industry is set to post $167
billion revenue for fiscal 2018‑19
from $154 billion in fiscal 2017‑
18.
RBI governor quits
Former Reserve Bank of India
Governor Urjit Patel.
The year leading up to the 2019
general elections was topped up by
the abrupt resignation of Urjit Patel
as the RBI Governor, a rare phe‑
nomenon in the banking world. He
was immediately replaced by for‑
mer Economic Affairs Secretary
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Shaktikanta Das.
India, meanwhile, continued to be
the fastest growing big economy
during 2018 with its gross domes‑
tic product (GDP) rising at above 7
per cent.
On the inflation front, lower food
prices kept headline inflation down,
which touched a 13‑month low of
3.3 per cent in October, and fell fur‑
ther to 2.3 per cent last month.
Core inflation, however, continued
to remain elevated.
Rise of unicorns in
Indian start-ups
India witnessed a dramatic rise of
eight unicorns in 2018 from among
the start‑ups across verticals as
against a mere nine in six years
from 2011 till 2017, according to
IT industry apex body Nasscom.
With the addition of the start‑ups,
about 40,000 jobs were created
during the year, taking their total in
the ecosystem of 7,200‑7,500 firms
to 1.6‑1.7 lakh.
The investment in the native
start‑ups rose by a phenomenal
108 per cent annually to $4.2 bil‑
lion in nine months (January‑Sep‑
tember) from $2 billion in the same
period of 2017.
Indian realty's
revival year
The year turned out to be an
eventful one for the Indian real es‑
tate marked by the improvement in
sales and its return to stability after
the double blow of GST and demon‑
etisation.
Although real estate did not wit‑
ness an increase in launches, devel‑
opers say, the market registered
higher sale of inventory in 2018
compared to last year. The number
Traders protest against Walmart's acquisition
of largest e‑tailer Flipkart.
of new projects, however, declined
this year, with around 1.9 lakh
units being launched ‑ 22 per cent
lower on a year‑on‑year basis.
Indian firms see
silver lining in Cloud
With digital transformation rap‑
idly re‑defining the regional land‑
scape in India ‑‑ amid humongous
amount of data being generated ‑‑
many more enterprises this year
looked at embracing agile, scalable
and cost‑friendly Cloud.
Nearly 88 per cent business lead‑
ers from India, polled in the Mi‑
crosoft's "Asia Digital Transforma‑
tion Study", acknowledge that
Cloud technology is a critical en‑
abler that will fuel their digital
transformation.
Nearly 43 per cent of Indian en‑
terprises will adopt Hybrid Cloud
by 2020 ‑‑ from 13 per cent as of
today. For India, 91 per cent of re‑
spondents agreed that Cloud com‑
puting has increased the efficiency
of their IT departments.
Walmart-Flipkart
mega deal
World's largest retailer Walmart
picked up 77 percent stake in e‑
commerce major Flipkart year for
$16 billion, taking the companyʼs
value at about $20 billion, which
also met with protests in India.
Flipkart co‑founder Sachin Bansal
exited the business by selling his
entire stake of over 5 percent for
around Rs 7,000 crore to Walmart
immediately after the deal.
Another co‑founder Binny Bansal
stepped down in November as the
CEO following an independent
probe into allegations of "serious
personal misconduct".
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 54 January 5-18, 2019 SPORTS ROUNDUP TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Top defining moments

for sports in 2018
From the rise of Indian women shuttlers to the tiny Croatia reaching a soccer World Cup
final for the first time, the world of sports witnessed some spirited performances.
Serena Williamsʼ extended argument with
PV Sindhu,
chair umpire Carlos Ramos at the U.S. Open
India's leading
final in September was uncomfortable: she
shuttler
called him a “thief” for calling violations on
her, and she accused him of sexism, as many
male players have treated umpires far worse
than she did and never suffered a game
penalty at a crucial point of a Grand Slam
match.
The post‑match booing at the trophy cere‑
mony, which honored Japanʼs Naomi Osaka
̶ the superior player that day ̶ as U.S.
Open champ, was unfortunate. Serenaʼs out‑
burst, however, sparked a global debate
about gender bias, decorum, and proper in‑
an unanimous 5:0 verdict.
terpretation of rules. No on‑court moment
The 35‑year‑old Mary, a mother of three
was more consequential.
and a pre‑tournament favorite for the gold,
Tiger finally comes rewrote the record books when she eclipsed
A watershed year for AB de Villiers, India's Mohammed Kaif, Sri
out of the woods her joint haul of five golds with Katie Taylor
Lankan spin‑bowling great Rangana Herath,
of Ireland.
women shuttlers West Indian all‑rounder Dwayne Bravo.
The Manipuri pugilist, who went over her

I
ndian badminton continued to move
northwards in 2018, especially the
women's singles players ‑‑ P.V. Sindhu and
veteran Saina Nehwal ‑‑ as they dished out
one stunning performance after another.
While Sindhu extended her status as India's
leading shuttler and shrugged off the 'chok‑
er' tag by winning the BWF World Tour Finals
title, Saina bounced back in style from in‑
juries to pocket a few titles.
The 28‑year‑old Saina, who struggled with
consistency and fitness in 2017, grappled
gallantly with a cramped schedule and went
on to clinch few titles along with the runner‑
up finishes.
Cricket's highs
and lows
The gentleman's game hit a new low in
2018 when two of the world's finest batsmen
‑‑ Steve Smith and David Warner ‑‑ copped
year‑long bans from Cricket Australia for
their involvement in the infamous 'sandpaper
gate' scandal while in India, it was marred by
"MeToo" allegations against the BCCI CEO
Rahul Johri before he was re‑instated after
the charges found very few takers, even as
the administrative mess continues.
On the field, while the start was inauspi‑
cious in South Africa, India capped off the
year on a resounding note, thus stamping
their authority as the top ranked Test side
when they took an unprecedented 2‑1 lead in
the four‑Test series over Australia, after beat‑
ing the Kangaroos by 137 runs in the Boxing
Day Test in Melbourne.
Virat Kohli broke a 16‑year‑old record by
batting legend Rahul Dravid to become the
highest run getter for India in away Test
matches in a calendar year.
In ODIs, the 30‑year‑old broke Sachin Ten‑
dulkar's record and became the fastest to get
10,000 runs.
The year also witnessed a number of greats
fading into the sunset with Gautam Gambhir.
Among the other prominent names to bid
goodbye to the game are former England
Test captain Alastair Cook, ex‑Protea skipper
Croatia celebrates
in true style
England had extinguished so much heart‑
break at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. After
being eliminated from the tournament via
penalty shootouts in 1990, 1998, and 2006,
England finally clinched a World Cup
shootout victory, in the round of 16 against
Columbia.
And in the semifinal against Croatia, Eng‑
land scored five minutes into the game to go
up 1‑0. England held the lead into the second
half, before Croatiaʼs Ivan Perišić tied up the
game in the 68th minute.
The tension built in extra time, before
Mario Mandžukićʼs left‑footed goal in the
109th minute set off a wild celebration. Croa‑
tian players piled on top of photographer
Yuri Cortez, a proʼs pro who still managed to
snap some memorable pics in the mayhem.
Croatia held on to reach a World Cup final for
the first time.
Serena Williams
states her case
After injuries and personal scandal nearly
left him an afterthought on the PGA Tour,
Tiger Woods capped off a stellar comeback
campaign, in which he contended for two ma‑
jor titles ̶ Woods shot a final round 64 at
the PGA Championship to finish second ̶
with his first tour win in over five years, at
the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
As Woods walked towards the 18th green
in September to soak in his victory, thou‑
sands of fans trailed him on the course, as if
he were their leader. The scene spoke to
Tigerʼs power.
Golden State
Warriors win
NBA again
People may have expected the Warriors to
win the NBA title this year, but winning three
of the last four years is a hell of an achieve‑
ment ̶ especially the way they did it. They
corralled LeBron James and squeezed the life
out of the Cavaliers, completing a sweep and
etching their names among the greatest dy‑
nasties the league has ever seen.
Mary Kom
scripts history
Mary Kom scripted history by clinching a
record sixth World Championship Gold medal
in the light flyweight 48 kilogram category
after outclassing Ukraine's Hanna Okhota by
weight category to clinch a 51 kg bronze at
the London Olympics, previously clinched the
World Championship gold on five occasions ‑
‑ 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 ‑‑ besides
bagging a silver on her debut in 2001.
Wrestling: Phogat,
Punia, Sushil shine
On the wrestling mat, Vinesh Phogat be‑
came more than just a famous Phogat sister
with gold medals at both the CWG and Asian
Games and Bajrang Punia stepped out of the
shadow of his mentor and London Olympics
bronze‑medallist Yogeshwar Dutt.
Punia won gold at CWG and Asiad before a
silver at World Championships positioned
him as the biggest star.
However, double Olympic‑medallist Sushil
Kumar's stock fell due to a string of sub‑par
performances.
Tennis: Manika
Batra rises
The big takeaway in table tennis was the
rise of Manika Batra.
The Delhiite claimed four medals, including
two gold, in the CWG before combining with
veteran Sharath Kamal for a historic mixed
doubles bronze at the Asiad, where India de‑
livered its best‑ever medal haul.
Unified Korea walks
together during 2018
Olympics
The year began with the Olympic Winter
Games PyeongChang 2018, which were a
success story in so many respects.
The best expression of this was the joint
march of the athletes of the NOCs of the Re‑
public of Korea and the Democratic Peopleʼs
Republic of Korea at the Opening Ceremony.
They entered the Olympic Stadium as one
team, united behind one flag, the Korean uni‑
fication flag.
Norway led the total medal tally with 39,
followed by Germany's 31 and Canada's 29.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019

T
echnology had an un‑
precedented impact on
our lives as the year 2018
went by. From influencing elec‑
tions to deciding what digital
info you consume to spreading
violence via fake news to design‑
er babies and art created by arti‑
ficial intelligence!
The positives definitely weigh
equally. The year brought new
breakthroughs, solutions, and
discoveries as a result of the re‑
search conducted day in and day
out by some of the world's best
minds in science and technology.
We take a look back at promi‑
nent moments and trends….
SPACE
TECHNOLOGY
8 NASA reached a significant
milestone this year turning
60 years old. Created by the
National Aeronautics and
Space Act of 1958, the space
agency began formal opera‑
tions on October 1, 1958.
8 In August 2018, NASA
launched the Parker Solar
Probe: a spacecraft designed
to travel to the edge of the
sunʼs corona to study solar
winds.
8 On November 26, 2018,
NASAʼs InSight Lander suc‑
cessfully touched down on
the Martian surface.
8 Backed by Sir Richard Bran‑
son, Virgin Galactic success‑
fully completed four powered
space flights in 2018. The
next test flight will be used to
simulate a commercial pay‑
load weight that is expected
when the starship is packed
full of passengers. More than
600 people have purchased
tickets to ride on the Virgin
Galacticʼs reusable space ve‑
hicles. Each ticket costs
$250,000!
8 2018 was another banner
year for SpaceX. With 20
launches under its belt in
2018, one of its most recent
launches deployed 64 satel‑
lites into orbit, a record num‑
ber of deployments for a sin‑
gle mission in the US.
8 China launched more rockets
into orbit in 2018 than any
other country.
8 The year 2018 was a year of
many ʻfirstsʼ and ʻbeginningsʼ
with profound growth in all
directions for the Indian
Space Research Organization
56 January 5-18, 2019
How technology
changed our lives in 2018
(ISRO). It completed 16 mis‑
sions, signing off with 7 suc‑
cessful missions within 35
days. This included two suc‑
cessful GSLV missions in a
single year. GSLV Mk‑III com‑
pleted its development flights
and entered the operational
arena. GSAT‑29, the heaviest
satellite launched from Indi‑
an soil and GSAT‑11, the
heaviest satellite built by
ISRO were the two hallmark
achievements of the year.
8 Several new technological
milestones achieved by ISRO
by inducting the payloads for
Hyper‑Spectral Imaging
(Hysis), Geo‑imaging and Op‑
tical Communication (GSAT‑
29).
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
8 Artificial intelligence and ma‑
chine learning represent one
of the most exciting trends in
technology: virtual assistants,
autonomous cars, self‑learn‑
ing algorithms. 2018 was a
key year for artificial intelli‑
gence with mounting con‑
cerns about the repercus‑
sions of AI on society and hu‑
man activity.
8 Google was the latest to enter
this space of what some refer
to as AI for good. The compa‑
ny announced in November
its AI Impact Challenge to
grant about $25 million glob‑
ally in 2019 to humanitarian
and environmental projects
seeking to use artificial intel‑
ligence to speed up and grow
their efforts.
8 Microsoft launched a series
of new AI programs, totaling
$115 million, including AI for
Earth, its new project to put
AI to work for the future of
planet, and AI for Humanitar‑
ian Action, a new $40 mil‑
TECH ROUNDUP TheSouthAsianTimes.info
An image
sent from
Parker Solar
Probe
(Image
courtesy:
NASA/Naval
Research
Laboratory/
Parker Solar
Probe)
A year of many firsts for Indian Space Technology
lion, five‑year program to
8 While the term Fake News usher in a new era of data
harness the power of AI to fo‑
was one of the most popular privacy. In late May, Euro‑
cus on four priorities ̶ help‑
of 2018, the yearʼs Word of pean Union lawmakers
ing the world recover from
disasters, addressing the
the Year according to Dic‑ passed a user‑centric data
privacy law dictating what
tionary.com was: Misinforma‑
needs of children, protecting
refugees and displaced peo‑
tion ̶ defined as “false infor‑ companies can and cannot do
mation that is spread, regard‑ with the information shared
ple, and promoting respect
less of whether there is intent with them. This has far‑
for human rights.
to mislead” ̶ often used in‑ reaching implications world‑
8 Artificial intelligence has
terchangeably with the ex‑ wide, affecting internet busi‑
been making “art” for years,
pression Fake News and/or nesses, media publishers, and
and as A.I. systems have ad‑
the word disinformation. anyone else with European
vanced, so too have the quali‑
8 2018 was the year of tech users.
ty of their creations. 2018
hearings on Capitol Hill. Even
saw perhaps the biggest
breakthrough for the inter‑
Facebookʼs founder and CEO MEDICAL
Mark Zuckerberg, the compa‑
section of A.I. and art, when
the historic auction house
nyʼs Chief Operating Officer TECHNOLOGY
Sheryl Sandberg, and Twit‑
Christieʼs sold its first paint‑ 8 In arguably the most contro‑
terʼs co‑founder and CEO
ing created by a machine. versial move in science in
Jack Dorsey were all grilled
Dubbed “Portrait of Edmond 2018, a Chinese scientist
by US senators and congress‑
de Belamy,” the piece was ex‑ claimed he altered the DNA
pected to sell for up to
people. Zuckerberg appeared
of twin girls, creating the
in congressional hearings in
$10,000. When the gavel fi‑
nally fell, the sale price was a
London and in Brussels.
worldʼs first genetically engi‑
neered babies. The an‑
Zuckerberg even testified in nouncement was met with as‑
whopping $432,000.
Brussels in front of European sertions from his peers that
TECH Parliament President the work was unethical, dan‑
Antonio Tajani and a EU gerous, and even “mon‑
AND DATA Parliament Conference of strous.”
Presidents.
PRIVACY 8 General Data Protection Reg‑
Developing designer
babies is banned in most
8 The backlash of the Cam‑ ulation (GDPR) arrived to countries.
bridge Analytica scandal had
a deep impact not only on so‑
cial media users but also on
the tech industry and govern‑
ment legislators around the
world.
8 Equally came to fore the is‑
Portrait of
sue of fake news and the re‑ Edmond
lationship between tech and de Belamy:
politics and the role of social First art
media platforms in elections piece sold
around the world. by
8 Social media giants such as Christieʼs
Facebook, Snapchat and Twit‑ created
ter were compelled to take using AI
steps to improve their poli‑
cies governing political ad‑
vertising and misinformation,
with a focus on state and
non‑state actors trying to in‑
fluence elections globally.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 58 January 5-18, 2019 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

AAPI’s Health Summit in Mumbai

commits to give back to India
Mumbai: The 12th Global Health‑
care Summit concluded here on
December 30th with Physicians of
Indian Origin rededicating them‑
selves to work and collaborate to‑
NJ businessman wards bringing in high quality, in‑
novative, preventable, cost‑effec‑
Bipin Patel tive ways to the delivery of health‑
holds 4th care to millions in India.
The 3‑day event at the Taj Palace
medical camp Hotel was jointly organized by
AAPI and Global Association of
in Gujarat Physicians of Indian Origin (GA‑
PIO).
In his inaugural address, the
President of India, Ram Nath
AAPI leadership with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and other political leaders
Kovind said that AAPI is “more
than just a platform of doctors and academic institutions, Government thereby helping prevent deaths view to help the delivery of health‑
medical practitioners. It is a link of India, and have contributed to‑ due to road traffic accidents, ini‑ care to millions across the nation,
between two vibrant and demo‑ wards addressing diabetes with tiatives to make quality healthcare said, “AAPI has capped the achieve‑
cratic societies.” the launch of Sevak program, CPR‑ accessible to village and taluka and ments of the past 37 years with a
Dr. Naresh Parikh, President AED training for first responders, district levels, and now to make In‑ clear vision to move forward tak‑
AAPI, said, “Over the past 12 years Traumatic Brain Injury – the dia TB Free signing of a MOU with ing this noble organization and its
AAPI physicians have collaborated scourge of young India, and devel‑ USAID.” Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, Chair‑ vision for better healthcare to new‑
with several medical associations, opment of management guidelines man for GHS 2018, said that with a er heights.”

Bipin Patel (2nd from right on

the dais) at the medical camp.
New York: Indian American
businessman Bipin Patel held
Lalit Aery elected President of IALI
Jericho, NY: Lalit Aery was elected
his 4th free Medical Camp in
the new President of the India As‑
the Ghoghamba district of
sociation of Long Island (IALI) for
Gujarat, some 100 miles
2019 at its Annual General Body
south of Ahmedabad, on De‑
Meeting held on December 22 at
cember 23.
The Cotillion here attended by
Patel had taken a team of
over 250 IALI members and past
35 doctors and nurses from
presidents. Aeryʼs team includes
Ahmedabad including physi‑
Shashi Malik ‑ Vice President; Har‑
cians, cardiologists, orthope‑
govind Gupta – Secretary; Rajeev
dics, ophthalmologists, pedia‑
Chaudhary ‑Treasurer. Members‑
tricians, gynecologists and
at‑Large – Kuljeet Ahluwalia, Sushil
cancer specialists, who treat‑
Khanna, Jay Singh, Ramesh Gupta,
ed 1,350 people.
Neeru Bhambri, Neelima Srivasta‑
While more than 300 eye Lalit Aery (7th from left) with his executive committee.
va, Deepa Goyal, and Ravi Kanta
glasses were given, 70
Verma. sary year. IndiaFest, IALIʼs mar‑ County with 25 other organiza‑ (INN) for Diwali food drive, $2,500
cataract surgeries were to be
Outgoing President Gunjan Ras‑ quee program, was held outdoors tions, and many programs in col‑ to ECHO for the Kerala Flood Relief
performed at hospitals in
togi highlighted the accomplish‑ after 10 years at the Bar Beach laboration with other organiza‑ Fund, 100 school children back‑
Ahmedabad and Baroda in
ments of 2018, celebrating all IALI (North Hempstead State Park). tions such as AAPI‑QLI, GOPIO and packs to Nassau County schools
the following weeks with all
events with great attendance by IALI also celebrated Republic Day, NIASSC. IALI also donated $17K to and business professional clothing
expenses paid by Patel.
the members in its 40th anniver‑ Independence Day at the Nassau the Interfaith Nutritional Network for men and women in need.
A pharmacy was also set up
on site to provide patients
with more than 50 types of
medicine along with any ad‑
ditional supplements that
Sankara eye charity holds fundraiser on LI
Garden City, NY: The New York million visually impaired and 8
were prescribed. Refresh‑
chapter of Sankara Eye Founda‑ million of them totally blind.
ments were provided to all
tion USA held its annual fundrais‑ Sankara Eye Foundation, USA,
New Jersey based Bipin Patel
er at The Akbar here on Decem‑ founded in San Jose, CA, and its
holds a medical camp every
ber 15. Indian counterpart headquar‑
year around his birthday in
Under the foundationʼs Execu‑ tered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu,
India and this year his daugh‑
tive Chairman, Murali Krishna‑ have been working together since
ter Payal and son Amit also
murthy, the New York chapter is 1998 towards a mission to eradi‑
took part in organizing the
helmed by Mohan Wanchoo, ably cate curable blindness in India by
camp ‑‑ the two have even
supported by a team including providing free high quality eye
formed an organization called
Chintu Patel, Dr. Yashpal and Ur‑ care at the doorsteps of the needy.
“Health Reach India” to take
milesh Arya, Dr. Raj Bhayani and They have performed 1.8 million
their fatherʼs initiative for‑
Nilima Madans. free eye surgeries till now. Start‑
ward.
Mr. Wanchoo hosted the event. ing with only one hospital, today,
The camp was held in asso‑
Mr. Krishnamurthy detailed the the SEF has nine hospitals per‑
ciation with the Psychological Mohan Wanchoo, Kanak Golia, Yatin Doshi,
achievements and plans of the forming around 160,000 free eye
Development and Mental Dr Nirmal Mattoo and Chintu Patel at the event.
foundation. In his keynote, Dr. surgeries per year.
Health Foundation, Shri Ra‑
Arvind Panagariya, of Columbia the Indian economy. Chintu Patel most of us take for granted.
jleela Sewa Trust, Navinbhai
University, highlighted the impact gave an impassioned speech on India has the largest population More information at
Patel and Vashram Makvana.
of health on the development of the true value of eyesight, which of blind in the world, with over 55 www.giftofvision.org.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019

SC reinstates
Alok Verma
as CBI
Director
Alok Verma.
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court on Tuesday reinstated
Alok Verma as the CBI Direc‑
tor, setting aside the Central
Vigilance Commission (CVC)
and the Centre's decision to
divest him of his powers to
function as the head of the in‑
vestigating agency.
While restoring Verma's
powers, a bench of Chief Jus‑
tice Ranjan Gogoi and Jus‑
tices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and
K.M. Joseph said that the
matter will go to the high
powered selection committee
comprising the Prime Minis‑
ter, Leader of Opposition and
the Chief Justice, which will
look into the issue.
Pronouncing the judgement
authored by Chief Justice
Gogoi, Justice Kaul said the
committee will meet within
seven days from Tuesday and
till then Verma will "cease
and desist" from taking from
taking any "major policy" de‑
cision.
The Centre had divested
Verma of his powers to func‑
tion as CBI Director and had
asked him to proceed on an
indefinite leave.
The judgement came on a
plea by Verma and and NGO
Common Cause challenging
the government's decision on
the intervening night of Octo‑
ber 23‑24 to divest Verma
from exercising his powers.
Referring to the provisions
of the Delhi Special Establish‑
ment (DSPE) Act and the Lok‑
pal law, the court said that
the legislative intent was to
insulate the CBI chief from
outside interference.
60 January 5-18, 2019
Modi, Trump to further
boost India-US ties
New Delhi: Days after US President
Donald Trump's jibe at Prime Min‑
ister Narendra Modi over India's
role in ensuring peace and stabili‑
ty in Afghanistan, the two leaders
agreed to further strengthen bilat‑
eral relations in the year ahead.
According to a statement issued
by the Prime Minister's Office on
Tuesday, Modi and Trump ex‑
changed New Year greetings in a
telephonic conversation on Mon‑
day evening.
"They expressed satisfaction at
the progress in India‑US strategic
partnership in 2018," the state‑
ment said.
"They appreciated developments
such as the launch of the new 2+2
Dialogue mechanism and the first‑
ever trilateral summit of India, the
US and Japan."
Modi, Trump and Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on
the idelines of the G20 Summit in
Buenos Aires last November.
The three countries along with
Australia, are part of a quad that
10% quota for economically backward upper castes
New Delhi: With an eye on the upper
caste vote in the coming Lok Sabha
elections, the Union Cabinet on Mon‑
day approved 10 per cent reserva‑
tion for economically backward peo‑
ple in the general category in jobs
and educational institutions, a deci‑
sion that came under attack from the
Opposition which described it as an
election gimmick aimed at mislead‑
ing the voters.
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, took the de‑
cision to provide for 10 per cent quo‑
ta for people belonging to "unre‑
served categories", including Chris‑
tians and Muslims, in jobs and edu‑
cation with an annual income limit of
Rs 8 lakh and a land holding ceiling
of about five acres, highly placed
sources said.
A Constitution amendment bill for
Acharya Lokesh graces Yoga Institute’s 100th
Mumbai: The centenary celebra‑
tion of The Yoga Institute was in‑
augurated by President of India
Ram Nath Kovind, Ahimsa Vishwa
Bharti founder Dr. Lokesh Muni,
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fad‑
navis, Director of Institute Hansa
J. Yogendra, Rishi J. Yogendra and
many other eminent people.
President Kovind commented
that yogic philosophy has the
wherewithal to fight lifestyle
problems of our time as it yoga
embodies a holistic approach to
well‑being.
Acharya Lokesh said that yoga
INDIA NEWS
US President Donald Trump with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. (File photo: IANS)
was revived in 2017 seeking to
work for peace and prosperity in
the Indo‑Pacific region.
Last September, the first ever In‑
dia‑US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
was held here in which External Af‑
fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, De‑
fence Minister Nirmala Sithara‑
man, US Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo and then Defence Secre‑
tary Jim Mattis participated.
The proposed move will not disturb the existing 50% reservation
for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes
the purpose was introduced in the
Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The proposed move will not dis‑
turb the existing 50 per cent reser‑
vation for Scheduled Castes, Sched‑
uled Tribes and Other Backward
Classes. "The quota will include sec‑
makes body, mind, soul, senses,
emotions and intellect healthy..
and it is a unique gift of India to
the world.
Being a Jain saint, he pointed
that the idols of all Jain
Tirthankaras from Bhagwan
Rishabh to Bhagwan Mahavir are
in Yoga Mudra.
Simply named The Yoga Insti‑
tute, it is the oldest organized
yoga school in the world founded
in 1918 by Shri Yogendra. Hans‑
ben mentioned that over 50,000
qualified yoga teachers have
passed out of the institute.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Tuesday's statement said that
Modi and Trump also "took posi‑
tive note of growing bilateral co‑
operation in defence, counter‑ter‑
rorism and energy and coordina‑
tion on regional and global issues".
"They agreed to continue to work
together for further strengthening
India‑US bilateral relations in
2019."
Monday's conversation between
tions not falling under any provision
of reservation such as Brahmins, Ba‑
nias, Thakurs, Jats, Gujjars, Muslims
and Christians," a source privy to the
decision told IANS.
He said that rules will be framed in
due course to implement the Cabinet
(From left) Acharya Lokesh, President Kovind, CM Devendra
Fadnavis, Director of the institute Hansben and others at the event.
the two leaders took place after
Trump on January 2 said that India
was not doing enough for peace
and stability in Afghanistan.
In his first Cabinet meeting,
Trump asked India, Russia, Pak‑
istan and other neighbouring
countries to take the responsibility
for Afghanistan's security as he de‑
fended his move to withdraw
troops from that country.
Trump also referred to Modi as
an example of how world leaders
were talking about their contribu‑
tions that were nowhere near the
billions of dollars the US was
spending.
India hit back with sources here
saying that New Delhi does not
send troops abroad except under
specific UN mandate.
Pointing out that India plays a
significant role as a development
partner in Afghanistan, the sources
said this partnership was built on
the specific needs and require‑
ments worked out with the Afghan
government.
decision. The decision comes four
months before the Lok Sabha polls
and after the reverses suffered by
the BJP in the Assembly polls in the
Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The BJP was said to have faced the
wrath of the upper castes, especially
in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan,
over the amendment brought by the
Central government to nullify the
Supreme Court judgement in the SC‑
ST Act last year.
The idea has also been favored by
the RSS, which has been demanding
a quota on these lines. The move, a
step to consolidate upper caste votes,
was dubbed as "election gimmick" by
the Opposition parties which ques‑
tioned its legality vis‑a‑vis the
Supreme Court putting a cap of 50
per cent on reservations.

World Bank
head quits,
Trump likely
to determine
successor
Jim Yong Kim would join a
private firm after stepping down
as the World Bank President.
United Nations: World Bank
President Jim Yong Kim has an‑
nounced that he is stepping
down as the head of the pre‑
mier anti‑poverty institution
putting the likely choice of its
future leadership in the hands
of US President Donald Trump,
a sceptic of international devel‑
opment. Trump's role is expect‑
ed reinvigorate challenges to
Washington's monopoly on ap‑
pointing the Bank's head.
Announcing his decision, Kim
said in a tweet: "It's been the
greatest privilege I could have
ever imagined to lead the dedi‑
cated staff of this great institu‑
tion to bring us closer to a
world that is finally free of
poverty."
Kim, 59, who is dropping out
19 months into his second term
on February 1, would be joining
a private company and focus on
infrastructure investments in
developing countries, the Bank
said. The Bank's CEO Kristalina
Georgieva will become the inter‑
im president till a successor to
Kim is appointed.
As the largest share‑holder,
the US by tradition appoints the
head of the Bank, while Euro‑
peans determine the chief of the
International Monetary Fund.
Kim was nominated for the
job by former President Barack
Obama in 2012. Kim, a South
Korea‑born US citizen, was an
unusual leader for the Bank: He
was a medical doctor by train‑
ing, a specialist in public health
and an academic with a Harvard
doctorate in anthropology who
had led the Ivy League Dart‑
mouth College.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
No US withdrawal from Syria
until IS destroyed: Bolton
Washington: White House Nation‑
al Security Adviser John Bolton
has contradicted President Donald
Trump's decision to immediately
withdraw troops from Syria, laying
out conditions for a pullout that
can leave US forces there for
months or even years.
Speaking during a visit to Israel,
Bolton said that American forces
would remain in Syria until the last
remnants of the Islamic State were
defeated and Turkey provided
guarantees that it would not strike
Kurdish forces allied with the US.
He and other top White House
advisers led a behind‑the‑scenes
effort to slow the President's order
and reassure allies, including Is‑
rael, the New York Times reported.
Jayapal, Gabbard take oath of office on Bhagavad Gita
By Surekha Vijh,
The South Asian Times
Washington: A record 102
women were sworn into the US
House of Representatives on the
first working day of the 116th
Congress. Democrats took control
of the lower house for the first
time in eight years.
“It is the most diverse legisla‑
ture ever in the history of the
United States,” said Nancy Pelosi
beaming with pride.
Pramila Jayapal, re‑elected for a
second term with 84% votes from
Washington State, took the oath
of office on the Bhagavad Gita,
along with a copy of the US Con‑
stitution.
“Iʼm ready to fight for a bolder,
progressive America in the 116th
Trump offers condolences to kin
of slain Indian-origin policeman
Washington: US President Donald
Trump has called up the family of
Indian‑origin police officer Ronil
Singh who was shot to death al‑
legedly by an illegal immigrant in
the US state of California last
week, the White House said.
Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the
Newman Police Department was
shot and killed during a traf fic
stop at Merced Street and Euca‑
lyptus Avenue just before 1 am on
December 26.
White House Press Secretary
Sarah Sanders released a state‑
ment on the President's call to
Singh's family.
"President Trump spoke with
the family and law enforcement
colleagues of fallen Newman, Cal‑
ifornia, police of ficer Ronald
US & INTERNATIONAL
US National Security Adviser John Bolton agreed that
pockets of IS remained undefeated.
"We don't think the Turks ought
to undertake military action that's
not fully coordinated with and
Pramila Jayapal (R) was re‑elected for a second term with 84%
votes from Washington State.
Congress,” she said.
A strong woman of color, Jaya‑
Indian‑origin police officer Ronil Singh was shot dead in California.
"Ron" Singh," Sanders said in the
statement.
"The President praised of ficer
Singh's service to his fellow citi‑
January 5-18, 2019
agreed to by the US, at a minimum
so they don't endanger our
troops," Bolton said in Jerusalem.
pal has also been called Leader of
the Resistance, the anti‑Trump.
zens, of fered condolences and
commended law enforcement's
rapid investigation, response and
apprehension of the suspect."
61
He also acknowledged that pock‑
ets of the Islamic State remained
undefeated and that a quick US
pullout could endanger US part‑
ners and allies in the region, as
well as American forces them‑
selves.
Trump, who had earlier declared
the battle won against the mili‑
tants and refused military en‑
treaties for more time, said that he
remained committed to the with‑
drawal but told reporters: "I never
said we're doing it that quickly."
Bolton said there was no
timetable for the US withdrawal
from Syria but that there was not
an unlimited commitment. He also
said Trump wanted to ensure that
the Islamic State was "destroyed".
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard,
the first Hindu elected to the US
Congress and now serving her
4th term, again took the oath of
office on the Gita. She is consid‑
ering a 2020 presidential bid.
Clad in her traditional Palestin‑
ian dress, with her hand on a
Quran that belonged to former
president Thomas Jefferson,
Rashida Tlaib took oath as a Con‑
gresswoman from Michigan.
Ilhan Omar, a Somali‑American
and refugee elected from Min‑
nesota, took the oath of office on
her grandfatherʼs Quran while
wearing a hijab. “No one puts a
scarf on my head but me”, she
tweeted. “Itʼs my choice – one pro‑
tected by the First Amendment.
And this is not the last ban Iʼm go‑
ing to work to lift”.
"Included in the President's
calls were Corporal Singh's wife,
Amanika "Mika" Chand‑Singh;
Newman, California Police Chief
Randy Richardson and Sherif f
Adam Christianson of Stanislaus
County, California," according to
the statement. The California po‑
lice had arrested 33‑year‑old Gus‑
tavo Perez Arriaga, who came to
the US illegally and was believed
to be fleeing Mexico, on charges
of killing Singh.
Singh was a native of Fiji and
had immigrated to the US. He was
a veteran of over seven years at
the Newman Police Department
and was assigned as a canine offi‑
cer. He earlier served with the
Merced County Sherif f's Depart‑
ment.
 62
In the book, the key section is, “Becoming Us”, which is supposed to mean Barack and
Michelle. But I feel the word “us” in this autobiographical book is loaded: it also
denotes the joining of Michelle Obama to the public cause, encouraged by her husband.
By Shivaji Sengupta
M
ichelle Obama has written a won‑
derful book, a memoir dealing with
her life till after the time she and
her husband left the White House in early
2017.
The first part of the autobiography, entitled
"BECOMING ME" covers up to the time she
marries Barack Obama. The next set of chap‑
ters, from the beginning of the coupleʼs life
together to the presidential election of 2008,
are bunched under the section “BECOMING
US”. The epilogue is titled “BECOMING
MORE.”
For any human being, me and you included,
the slow, almost imperceptible transition
from "me" to "us" is iconic, in the sense that
all of us have transitioned from me to us, as
we grew up, found jobs and partners, brought
children into this world. For the Obamas,
however, the transition can serve as an ex‑
ample; and not just because the couple rose
to the highest echelon of American society,
achieving the status of "Mr. President" and
"First Lady." The reason the book means so
much to me is because of how Mrs. Obama
sees her life as an adventure, mysterious, in‑
triguing, and yet, ultimately, a journey, not all
that different from ordinary persons like you
and me. I have read Barack Obamaʼs autobi‑
ography, “Dreams from My Father.” I donʼt
mean to compare the two – the purpose of
writing each is vastly different. But I found
Michelle Obamaʼs telling of her life story
more immediate, pulsating with life, roman‑
tic.
The story of her childhood, growing up in
an ordinary middle class black family in
Chicagoʼs southside which, much like the
South Bronx of New York City, is fraught with
poverty and mayhem. Neither of her parents
were college graduates, more for economic
reasons than the lack of desire. It is for this
reason the parents sacrificed all and every‑
thing to educate their two children, the older
boy, Craig, and the younger, Michelle. She de‑
scribes the America she grew up in, especial‑
ly, Chicago thus:
Outside the ballparks, America was in the
midst of a massive and uncertain shift. The
Kennedys were dead. Martin Luther King Jr. had
been killed standing on a balcony in Memphis,
setting off riots across the country, including in
Chicago. The 1968 Democratic National Con‑
vention turned bloody as police went after Viet‑
nam War protesters with batons and tear gas in
Grant Park, about nine miles north of where we
lived. White families, meanwhile, were moving
out of the city in droves, lured by the suburbs̶
the promise of better schools, more space, and
probably more whiteness, too.
Michelle Obama writes about her being
driven through ambition and intent through‑
out her childhood, adolescence and college
life in Princeton, right up to the time she com‑
pleted Harvard Law School and entered a top‑
brass law firm in Chicago as a young law as‑
sociate. Supported in every which way by
January 5-18, 2019 BOOKS TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Michelle’s
Meaningful
Memoir
both parents, and egged on by Craig, her old‑
er brother who himself preceded her to
Princeton, all young Michelle Obama wanted,
by her own admission, is success. She wanted
to become the best at whatever she tried, in‑
cluding making money, being a “yuppie”
(young urban professional), to ultimately be‑
come the successful wife of a successful pro‑
fessional.
One of the most inspiring aspects of this au‑
tobiography is to read about how she
changed. Yes, she remained as ambitious as
ever; but the goals changed. From” becoming
me,” a cracker‑jack wealthy attorney in a
multinational corporate firm, she turned her
direction to “becoming us,” devoting her life
to community organizations and helping tal‑
ented young others to join public service. In Michelle started a new life as First Lady when Barack Obama was sworn in
the book, “BECOMING US” is supposed to as President in January 2009. (Photo courtesy The African Magazine).
mean Barack and Michelle. But reading the
scious decision not to make her First Ladyʼs hope to help create space for other stories and
book I feel that that the word, “us”, is loaded:
work overly political. Instead, she worked on other voices, to widen the pathway for who be‑
us means the couple, yes, but it also means
health issues of children, particularly obesity. longs and why….And here is what I have to say,
the joining of Michelle Obama to the public
Mrs. Clinton, some of you might remember, finally: Letʼs invite one another in. Maybe then
cause, encouraged by her husband. Thus “Be‑
was given the responsibility to convince the we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong
coming Us” is all about how they fell in love,
members of the House of Representatives assumptions, to let go of the biases and stereo‑
married, had children, but it is also about how
and Senators of the importance of passing a types that unnecessarily divide us. Maybe we
Mrs. Michelle Obama became who she is now,
law mandating Universal Healthcare, a re‑ can better embrace the ways we are the same.
a public figure, devoted to the highest pinna‑
sponsibility she took head‑on, meeting with Itʼs not about being perfect. Itʼs not about where
cles of public life. The transition from me to
Congress people, engaging them in policy dis‑ you get yourself in the end. Thereʼs power in al‑
us is told with sincerity, earnestness and even
cussions and even sometimes lecturing to lowing yourself to be known and heard, in own‑
romance. Witness the “ussing” of the Obamas:
them. The result was a disaster. The Clintons ing your unique story, in using your authentic
were accused of being overly ambitious voice. And thereʼs grace in being willing to know
He was looking at me curiously, with the trace
about themselves, projecting the First Lady and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.
of a smile. “Can I kiss you?” he asked.
as a policy wonk, or even a future presiden‑
And with that, I leaned in and everything felt
tial candidate. Universal Healthcare died pre‑ Completing the book, I had a feeling of self‑
clear.
maturely because the country was not ready fulfillment. Itʼs a strange feeling because I am
for it. Mrs. Clinton was gutted. much older than Michelle Obama and her
The final section is an epilogue, “Becoming
I think Mrs. Obama learned from that ex‑ husband. “It is I who should be telling them
More,” is about the aftermath of Barack Oba‑
ample. Not coincidentally, her husband also these things,” I find myself murmuring. Yet, I
maʼs two terms as president, and the defeat
brought in the healthcare issue and wanted realize that some people are wiser than their
of Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump.
Congress to make that into law. Affordable age, like Barack and Michelle Obama.
Those who have read books by other First
Healthcare was passed without Barack Oba‑
Ladies – Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush – have a
ma involving Michelle. Right until the end of
good idea of what the life of the wife of an Shivaji
her husbandʼs second term, she has been
American president is like. Suffice to say that Sengupta
known to be efficient and kind, kind to oth‑
despite being intellectually and professional‑ is VP
ers, kind about peopleʼs weaknesses, and im‑
ly every bit as qualified as Hillary Clinton, Academic
mensely practical. Thus, as the book ends
Michelle Obamaʼs tenure as First Lady for Affairs
with these words, I find myself applauding
eight years was more traditional, not like at Boricua
these “ordinary people”:
Hillary Clintonʼs. College:
And it was fully intended. Aware that the Bronx
Iʼm an ordinary person who found herself on
public expected her to aspire for the presi‑ Campus.
an extraordinary journey. In sharing my story, I
dency herself, Michelle Obama made a con‑
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019

Locations in New York:

East Meadow Hicksville Poughkeepsie
Flushing Manhattan Scarsdale
Forest Hills New Hyde Park Valley Stream

By Rachna Rawat
I t’s time for wedding bells to
ring all around as the most-
preferred nuptial season of the
year for Indians is here. As the
country scrutinizes Deepika Padu-
kone and Ranveer Singh’s Italian
wedding celebrations, followed by
updates from the Jodhpur extrav-
aganza of the marriage of celeb-
rities Priyanka Chopra and Nick
Jonas, we find out what’s making
waves in the industry.
In India, it’s considered that the
more extravagant a wedding, the
higher is the families’ (of the bride
and groom) social status. That is
one reason the wedding industry
here is estimated to be worth over
$25 billion and is seeing a 30 per
cent growth, annually. However,
millennials don’t only want lav-
ish weddings, they are looking for
unique ideas as well. The trend is
to make a personalized statement,
specially with the help of technol-
ogy. “You need to plan something
quirky and unique. And don’t un-
derestimate the importance of an
effective social media plan,” says
Pooja Khera, general manager,
marketing & PR, Ferns N Petals,
a boutique florist brand that also
curates exclusive weddings. And
here are a few ideas on how you
can make some special memories.
Geo-tagging
Destination weddings have
always been in demand, but
now they are being geo-tagged.
Whether you are tying the knot in
Udaipur or Italy, you can make it
With all the different photo sharing apps and social media plat-
forms out there, it’s nearly impossible for a couple to ever see
all the photos their guests take at their wedding. An easy way
to collect all the photos in one place is to set up a wedding app
for yourself. Wedding Party is a great and free option for couples
looking to give their guests a fun social experience and reap the
benefits of having all their photos in one place afterwards.
64 Jan 5-18, 2019 LIFEST YLE
Tech your wedding vows
popular on social media by adding
geofilters. And it is unbelievably
easy! Open Snapchat and click on
the create tab. This multimedia
messaging app offers a few ba-
sic templates and plenty of cus-
tomizations to create a signature
filter or geotag. “Make the filter
available at your wedding loca-
tion for 72 hours, which will not
only cover all functions but can be
accessed by all your guests,” sug-
gests Khera. It is a cost-effective
way of adding an exclusive touch
to your wedding. Another popular
social media platform, Instagram,
too allows you to tag locations.
What’s more, when you select
a location, posts from the same
place automatically get collated.
Hashtags
We live in a ‘hash-tagged’ world
today. Every emotion and action
has a trending hashtag. But in a
space teeming with hashtags, most
of them cliched, how do you make
yours epic and memorable? Create
a catchy one with your names (of
the bride and groom) clubbed to-
gether to create a new word with-
out making it complicated. Try to
keep it simple so that your guests
can easily use the hashtags. For ex-
ample, #deepveerkishaadi!
Heart rate monitor
“My heart stopped as she ar-
rived at the wedding venue!” This
is a common statement most
grooms make, as they await for
the bride to arrive. What if one
could actually monitor the heart
rate? Several couples, who have
tried this, say it’s poignant to look
back at your wedding day and ac-
tually be able to see your exact
heart rate at the special moments
during the ceremony. You can
either monitor your heartbeats
through health monitoring apps
installed in your phone or fitness
From drone photography to live streaming your marriage and from a 3D printed
cake to geo-tagging the venue, Air India’s in-flight magazine Shubh Yatra offers
some quirky technology backed ideas to make your D-day memorable.
trackers like FitBit. Take printouts eymoons. Experts say these are in video, all in fast forward motion!
and add to your wedding album. demand as they introduce a unique Experts suggest using this fea-
perspective to wedding imagery. ture to capture the mandap (tradi-
Hi-tech photography “At weddings, GoPros can be tional Hindu wedding venue) be-
strapped onto the photographer’s ing put together or guests arriving.
Gone are the days when wed- body as he or she moves among Another unique photography
ding photography was just about the crowd. Or it can be passed trick is to use a drone camera to
hiring a great photographer. To- around among guests so that each get fantastic aerial views of both
day, it’s also about knowing if he/ can capture what they are seeing,” the wedding ceremony and venue.
she has the updated equipment. A she explains. These cameras can “Just make sure the drone has
latest in this genre is the use of Go- be used to capture candid shots, enough battery life and doesn’t
Pros. These are cameras that can which make for great memories. crash. Also, it makes a buzz-
capture videos from a personal “Or use the camera’s time-lapse ing sound, so keep it at a height
viewpoint and are often used for feature,” suggests Rehana. For this, where it doesn’t disturb anyone,”
adventure activities. Rehana, a Del- you have to mount the camera at a says Vaibhav of Marriage Moods,
hi-based wedding photographer, vantage point and let it capture its a Mumbai-based wedding photog-
says the trend started as couples surroundings for hours. And then raphy firm. Make sure to check
used these tiny cameras to shoot the time-lapse feature will crunch for permissions required for aer-
their beach-side or mountain hon- the footage into a few-minute-long ial photography.
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info CELBRATIONS January 5-18, 2019 65

At the stroke
New York

of midnight
How the world celebrated first few moments of 2019

Russia

People
watch
fireworks in
downtown
St.Petersburg, Russia.
(Image : www.
Fireworks
news18.com)
at iconic Times
Square in New York
(Image courtesy:
IANS)

Sydney

Paris

ss the harbor in Sydney.

e launched from seven barges acro
More than 65,000 fireworks wer
Malaysia

Fireworks
explode in front of
Malaysia's
Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Arc de Triomphe on the landmark building,
Champs Elysees, in Paris. (Image courtesy: www.news18.com) the Petronas
Twin Towers, Kuala
Dubai Lumpur, Malaysia.
(Image courtesy:
IANS)

Spectacular
fireworks at
Thailand
Burj Khalifa,
Dubai (Image
courtesy:
IANS) People
welcome the
new year near
Chao Phraya
River in
Bangkok,
Thailand.
(Image: Image
courtesy:
news18.com)
 66 Jan 5-18, 2019 FIRST PERSON

Cancer be not proud!

cancer that was in a late stage. It
is known to come like a hurricane
and sweep you away. So I made it
a point to read a lot, finding stories
that made me stay positive and
helped me survive. But this was not
easy. It is a tough journey for any-
one. That is why doctors say that
patients with family support are
By Manisha Koirala likely to do much better than those
who are alone. But there is a huge
step, there is a dagger dangling
over your head. Before my surgery,
the doctor in America said he had
treated someone with a similar
cancer and she was doing well.
Right after the surgery, he told
me that he could not predict how I
would do because cancer is not like
a cough or a cold you treat it and
have to wait to see how the body
responds. I had to make peace with

T he worst things -- health and

relationship breakdowns -
have peppered my life. What I have
learnt, especially after this illness
hit me in 2012, is that I have the
choice to decide how to take things
that happen to me. To give you one
example, I have a beautiful terrace
amount of guilt that plagues the
patients. I constantly felt guilty be-
cause my parents were old and still
looking after me. Patients either
came to the hospital for treatment
alone or with their spouses or sib-
lings. My brother was a huge sup-
port. But, I remember nurses in the
my own death and with the fact
that it is not in my control. I have
vowed that I am not going to go
with fear and sadness. I am going
to go laughing and smiling. That
will be my ultimate test. As long as
I live, I want to be ready for it, and
when I realize that death is near, I
want to gracefully say goodbye.
I soon got back to work. This
year, ‘Sanju’ released — it hit too
close to home. I was nervous be-
cause Nargis Dutt ji (the role I
played) also suffered from cancer.
Now, I have to be careful that I don’t
get into a sad, morose space. When
I see that zone, I turn down the film
because I am a sensitive soul. In
one movie that I will be doing, I am
grieving. But I have a plan on how
to do it right. I have taken the direc-
tor and producers into confidence.
I tell them that I do not intend to be
in a sad space for the whole month.
Manisha Koirala played legendary actress Nargis Dutt in ‘Sanju’
(2018), a Sanjay Dutt biopic. Nargis Dutt had died of cancer.
So they need to give me some space
to recover from what I have carried
and then come back. It is a beauti-
ful film about grieving, but I have to
protect myself.
I definitely do not want too
many highs or lows in life now. If
cancer has not taught me impor-
tant lessons on how to live, what
else will! We need to be able to see
our strengths and work on them.
My strong will is my strength. But,
I keep a check on it and do not go to
extremes. The divine has made me a
person who can take a lot of punch-
es. I don’t punch back, but I can lock
myself in a room and scream out.
The first few years after my
treatment were filled with mood
swings. I even experienced early
menopause but I could not let my-
self grieve as I was just thankful
that I had recovered from can-
cer. I remember my mom going
through her menopause and she
was a terror. For me too, it was
quite bad. I experienced anger,
and would burst into tears any-
time. That whole phase was short-
lived because I had to focus on my
cancer not recurring.
So, I decided to concentrate
on something good and focused
on healing. When I see others like
Irrfan (Khan) and Sonali (Bendre),
I can see the pain behind their
smiles. During my treatment, I had
started noticing people’s eyes and
what they conveyed. I promised
myself that I did not want to have
a cancer patient’s eyes because
they reek of impending death. So,
whenever I take a selfie, I make my
eyes big and bright, and smile!

Article courtesy: NDMF

upstairs. I returned to my home in chemotherapy room whispering

Mumbai from Nepal (where I am
from) to find it ruined and all my
plants destroyed. I broke down. But
after a couple of days, I realized
that perhaps something good could
come out of it. And now I have de-
cided to build a yoga room there.
I learned that dealing with can-
cer is not just black and white at
all. It has a lot of greys. It is not
a linear course of action. The ill-
ness comes as a huge shock and
it takes a while to recover from
its impact. Then you have to begin
to think practically. It’s happened,
so what next? Where is the best
treatment available? Do you have
enough money? Then there is the
fear factor. Is this the end of life?
And during chemotherapy, there is
lots of confusion because you have
to sign many waivers.
I was diagnosed with ovarian
that I only had my old parents with
me. And I would shrink into myself.
Even after I was declared can-
cer-free, doctors said that because
it was a late-stage cancer, it could
recur. I had to be careful for the
next three years. I asked them
what I had to do to ensure that
it stayed away. They told me that
if it did come back, I should not
blame myself. When I returned
from my treatment in the US, mu- Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala’s has recently published ‘Healed’, her
sic composer and singer Aadesh
personal story of her heroic battle against ovarian cancer. The book is subtitled
Shrivastava - Vijeta Pandit’s hus-
band — came to visit me. He was ‘How cancer gave me a new life.’ “Overcoming cancer has been a lesson in self-
suffering from blood cancer. He discovery and learning to love life again!” remarks the 1942: A Love Story actress.
told me that no matter how much
the family loved you, it was a jour- Penguin Random House India, publisher of the book, comments: “Today, as she
ney you had to take alone. `You
have to take ownership, he said.
completes six years of being cancer-free, she shares her story — one marked by
‘You just have to be strong.’ apprehensions, disappointments and uncertainties — and the lessons she learnt
One faces many dark spaces along the way. Through her journey, she unravels cancer for us and inspires us to
and a lot of uncertainty. At every not buckle under fear, but emerge alive, kicking and victorious.”

I
t seems like actress Anushka
Sharma and cricketer Virat
Kohli gave a teaser of what mov-
iegoers were expected to see in
the coming year when they got
hitched in December last year.
The year 2018 witnessed some
of the top Bollywood stars shin-
ing even more off screen than on
screen when they decided to tie
the knot with partners, thereby
putting an end to incessant ru-
mors about their relationships.
From Sonam Kapoor and Deep-
ika Padukone to Ranveer Singh
and Priyanka Chopra, the year
that is soon going to say goodbye
saw some of the successful and
glamorous singles of Bollywood
settling down. The year ended
with the spectacular wedding cel-
ebrations of billionaire Mukesh
and Nita Ambani’s daughter Isha
Ambani with the scion of Piramal
industries Anand. Here’s a look
at some of the most hyped celeb
weddings of 2018.
Sonam Kapoor
and Anand Ahuja
The couple tied the knot in a
big fat Punjabi wedding in May.
The wedding took place in a tra-
ditional Anand Karaj ceremony,
68 January 5-18, 2019 CE L E B R I T Y W E D D I N G S
ADIEU TO SINGLEHOOD:
2018’S MOST HYPED CELEBRITY WEDDINGS
which was preceded by two days a six-year-long love story in a majestic venue, the royal Umaid A reception in Delhi was graced
of mehendi and sangeet revelry, “happily ever after.” Bhawan Palace, situated atop a by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
and followed by a grand recep- Deepika and Ranveer first tied hill in the “Blue City” of Jodhpur in who came to bless the couple.
tion party with close family, the knot as per Konkani traditions Rajasthan. Three days of wedding
Isha Ambani and
friends and Bollywood’s glitterati followed by a north Indian cer- celebrations included a color-
Anand Piramal
in attendance. emony. There were only about 40 ful mehendi ceremony, a friendly
Sonam was all smiles in a red guests for the celebrations, and a cricket match and a power-packed Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s
Anuradha Vakil lehenga with regal
jewelry, as she wed businessman
Anand, who looked handsome in
a sherwani. They had been dating
for the past two years, and their
wedding was announced formally
only a week before D-day.
From videos of Karan Johar,
Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan,
Anil Kapoor and Ranveer Singh
making some unforgettable
moves on the dance floor to the
celebrities’ wardrobe choices --
there was ample to swoon over
for social media users.
Neha Dhupia
and Angad Bedi
Actress and former beauty
queen Neha Dhupia surprised her
fans and friends in the industry
with the news of her hush-hush
wedding with actor and “best
friend” Angad Bedi, son of former
Indian cricket captain Bishan
Singh Bedi, here in May.
The couple got married in an
Anand Karaj ceremony, which
no-pictures policy was imposed “desi” musical evening. daughter Isha Ambani tied the
was attended by close family and
on them, leaving the couple’s fans Priyanka, 36, and Nick, 26, knot with Anand Piramal on De-
friends in a Gurudwara in south
pining to get a glimpse of the gala. first exchanged vows in a Chris- cember 12 in a lavish wedding
Delhi. They made the announce-
After their very private wed- tian ceremony officiated by the held at Antilia in Mumbai.
ment via social media. The couple
ding ceremonies, the couple had groom’s father on December 1. The couple’s wedding was at-
has since been blessed with a
receptions in Bengaluru and They wore custom-made Ralph tended by the biggest names from
baby girl whom they named Mehr.
Mumbai, with well-known person- Lauren ensembles -- a good fit all over the world like Hillary
Ranveer Singh and alities from Bollywood, sports and as the two stars had shared the Clinton, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah
political background attending spotlight for the first time as Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Deepika
Deepika Padukone
them. For many, their choice of guests of the designer at the Padukone among others.
This was one wedding that going ahead with three receptions 2017 Met Gala. They also had Photos from the couple’s wed-
everyone was waiting for and the became the talk of the town with Hindu wedding. ding celebrations have been setting
couple lived up to expectations. many creating memes online. Marking their union, the the internet on fire for over a month
They opted for an international Jodhpur sky lit up with fire- now and still the wedding has not
location to tie the knot as they Priyanka Chopra works. However, Priyanka was faded from the minds of people.
wanted to stay away from all pa- and Nick Jonas widely trolled for it as, around The couple’s wedding had the
parazzi. The wedding happened Diwali, she had urged people not best arrangements. From a lavish
over two days in mid-November Actress and former Miss World to burst firecrackers due to the engagement in Lake Como to two-
in a dreamy Lake Como setting Priyanka Chopra married Ameri- health hazards it leads to. As a day long pre-wedding celebrations
in Italy amidst a tight circle of can singer Nick Jonas in a “fai- result, she was called out for her in Udaipur, Ambanis had the most
family and friends, culminating rytale” wedding in tune with the “double standards.” extravagant functions for Isha.
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info BOLLY ROUNDUP January 5-18, 2019 69

Content crowned king

of Bollywood
The charm of the Khans failed, while content ruled Bollywood like never before with films telling familiar stories
in an unusual way. Indian Cinema witnessed some of the quirkiest plots, which were loved by the audiences.

BOLLYWOOD SCREAMED Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta‑starrer ʻBadhaai Hoʼ, centered
on an older womanʼs pregnancy, earned nearly Rs 137 crore
#METOO at the domestic box‑office, comfortably eclipsing the figures
of Akshay Kumarʼs ʻGoldʼ and ʻPad Manʼ and Ajay Devgnʼs

#
MeToo movement created ripples in Bollywood this ʻRaidʼ.
year, in the same industry that finally saw a collective A Bollywood film that rests on the shoulders of an actress
consciousness on the darkest and dirtiest side of the has limited box‑office appeal, but ʻRaaziʼ, starring Alia Bhatt,
business emerge as earned in excess of Rs 120 crore.
women came out ʻAndhadhunʼ, ʻStreeʼ, ʻMantoʼ, ʻMulkʼ, ʻLove Soniaʼ, ʻTumb‑
with some heart‑ badʼ, ʻOctoberʼ, ʻPadmanʼ – all these movies were a break‑
wrenching stories of through from the typical highly dramatic Bollywood stories.
sexual harassment. Some were even credited for breaking stereotypes.
The campaign began The year 2018 established that the viewers like content
with actress which has relatability, likeability and virality.
Tanushree Duttaʼs al‑
legations of sexual KHAN MAGIC FELL FLAT
misconduct against
veteran actor Nana ON BOX OFFICE
Patekar and filmmak‑ Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar made
er Vivek Agnihotri. his Tamil debut with ʻ2.oʼ.
Following example, who stood out with films like with films like ʻMulkʼ
Tanushreeʼs claim, and ʻBadhaai Hoʼ. Neena, who became a household name af‑
several actresses ter portraying an iconic role in the 1990s TV show ʻSaansʼ,
came out in public to was away from the screen for a long time. Last year, she took
share their experi‑ to social media to ask for work.
ences of sexual ha‑ Surekha Sikri and Gajraj Rao won the audience's heart with
rassments and as‑ their funny and quirky performances in ʻBadhaai Hoʼ, which
saults. showed that for viewers what matters the most is good acting
Writer‑producer irrespective of an actor's age.
Vinta Nanda talked Surekha made her debut in 1978 with political drama
Actress Tanushree Dutta sounded openly about the "Kissa Kursi Ka", and made a name for herself by working in
the MeToo bugle in Bollywood. abuse she suffered at films, theatre and television. After featuring in TV show ʻBali‑
the hands of ʻsanskari babujiʼ actor Alok Nath. ka Vadhuʼ, she gained huge popularity as the stern ʻDadisaʼ.
Some of the other biggest names in the industry who came Gajraj has featured in movies like ʻBandit Queenʼ, ʻHazaaron
under fire included directors Sajid Khan, Vikas Bahl and Sub‑ Khwaishein Aisiʼ and ʻTalvarʼ.
hash Ghai, as well as casting directors such as Mukesh Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in a still from ʻZeroʼ. The web space further opened up doors for older actors as
Chhabra and Vicky Sidana, music director Anu Malik and The three Khans started from 1987 to 1992 and since then Farida Jalal, Ashish Vidyarthi and Raza Murad.
singer Raghu Dixit.
All Indian film production houses are bound to implement
all three have only built their fan base with one hit after the
other.
CELEBS CROSSOVER
and enforce the 'The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work‑
place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013
But something extraordinary happened in 2018. The films
of all the three Khans fared poorly at the box‑office. The ac‑
IN CINEMA
(PoSH), the Producers Guild of India (PGI) declared in No‑ tioner ʻRace 3ʼ, starring Salman Khan, made on a budget of Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan, set foot in Bollywood
vember. A handbook on 'Prevention of sexual harassment at around Rs 180 crore, earned only Rs 169 crore at the Indian this year with ʻKarwaanʼ and Bollywood's Khiladi, Akshay Ku‑
the workplace' was also drawn up. box office. His last, ʻTiger Zinda Haiʼ, had earned more than mar didn't disappoint

A YEAR OF SENSIBLE AND double. The ʻThugs of Hindostanʼ, starring Aamir Khan and
Amitabh Bachchan was Bollywoodʼs most expensive movie
the audience with his
villainous role in ʻ2.0ʼ. It
PROGRESSIVE CINEMA made on a budget of Rs 335 crore. But the film turned out to
be a box‑office disaster, grossing less than Rs 150 crore. The
marked his Tamil de‑
but.
Indian Cinema witnessed some of the quirkiest plots which biggest damage it did was to the perfectionist image of the Pankaj Tripathi made
were loved by the audiences. The yearʼs list of highest‑gross‑ content‑rich Khan. his Tamil film debut
ing films featured some unlikely names. Even the recently released ʻZeroʼ, led by Shah Rukh Khan, with Rajinikanth film
opened to a tepid box‑office response, collecting Rs 87 crore ʻKaalaʼ and Bollywood's
in the first six days of its release. dancing diva Madhuri
The year established that the viewers like content which has Dixit Nene's maiden
relatability, likeability and virality. Marathi film ʻBucket
The audiences have given a stern message that image and Listʼ released this year.
hype wonʼt work anymore. Neil Nitin Mukesh, who
But high ticket prices are also turning out to be deterrents featured in the 2014
for the audience to visit theatres, said experts. Also, with stiff Tamil film "Kaththi" by
competition from regional films, Hollywood and especially A.R. Murugadoss, made
the vast variety of digital content, Bollywood needs to step up his Telugu debut with
Malayalam actor Dulquer
its game with scripts being the focal point, and by allotting ʻKavachamʼ this month. Salmaan was the best export
the right budget. Vidya Balan will be from south cinema in 2018.
launched in Telugu film
SENIOR ACTORS BACK industry with the biopic on legendary actor‑politician and for‑

IN SPOTLIGHT mer Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao. For
Aishwarya Devan, who has acted in Malayalam, Tamil and
Indian showbiz paved the way for senior actors to return to Kannada language films, it was her role that pulled her to‑
The film ʻBadhaai Hoʼ cashed in big at the box office. the limelight. Neena Gupta, 59, turned out to be the perfect wards the Hindi film ʻKaashi in Search of Gangaʼ.
 70 January 5-18, 2019 COLUMNS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Way Americans can

By Frank Islam
I want to be happy
But I canʼt be happy
Till I make you happy too
These lyrics are from a hit song
written for the Broadway musical
comedy No, No, Nanette, crica 1925.
The show was revived in 1971, after
the tumultuous sixties, in a produc‑
tion that reminded Americans of
more innocent times.
In 2018 there is evidence that we
Americans are longing for simpler
times again. We need someone or
something to make us happy.
The American Psychological Asso‑
ciationʼs (APA) Stress in America sur‑
vey last October found the countryʼs
current political climate as a “signifi‑
cant stressor” for people. An astound‑
ing 69% reported that the nationʼs fu‑
ture is another stress source.
Those in Generation Z̶ages 15 to
21 ̶ are especially stressed out,
which relates to personal matters
such as work, money and health, and
national news such as mass shootings
and suicide rates. This heightened
stress cuts across socio‑economic and
educational levels. Last January, over
1,200 students at Yale signed up to
be Happier in 2019
take Psyc 157, Psychology and the
Good Life. And you thought Yale stu‑
dents would be more content and se‑
cure than others their age.
So what to do about it.
There is academic research that can
help. For example, the Harvard Study
of Adult Development of 80 years ago
identifies factors such as relation‑
ships with family, friends and com‑
munity as central ingredients for liv‑
ing a happy and healthy life. Based on
newer research focused on the poor,
particularly non‑college educated
whites and males, Carol Graham of
Brookings Institution recommends
using life satisfaction monitoring and
well‑being metrics to help shape gov‑
ernmental policies and programs as a
way to address the haves vs have‑nots
divide.
For the near term, there is no quick
fix. But, three ideas for stress reduc‑
tion are:
1. Be kind to yourself. In a
Bloomberg article, Claire Suddath
comments that Americans are accom‑
plishing this by “escaping from the
news”, for example by watching
heart‑warming movies or TV shows.
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, a docu‑
mentary about pre‑school TV show
host Fred Rodgers, did exceptionally
well at the box office after its mid‑
year release. As the movieʼs director
said: “A character like Fred takes us
back to how we should treat each oth‑
er.”
On the popularity of Hallmark
Channel, Suddath quotes Jess Aguirre,
its director of research: “When we
asked people why they watched Hall‑
mark, we used to hear things like, ʻI
want to escape.ʼ Now itʼs ʻI want to be
reminded that thereʼs still love in the
worldʼ.”
It could be yoga, or fly fishing, or
jogging, or reading, the essential
thing is doing something that makes
you feel better. It could be something
that you used to do that you havenʼt
done in a long time, or something that
youʼve always wanted to but havenʼt
maybe even doing nothing. The point
is to be kind to yourself.
2. Be kind to those around you.
One of the ways to be kind to yourself
is to be kind to those around you.
That could be family. Or, it could be
friends. That broader circle matters
for them and for you. Julie Fraga
notes in the Washington Post, “Re‑
searchers have found that these per‑
sonal connections may be more ben‑
eficial to oneʼs health and well‑being
than family relationships.”
Relationships really matter because
they are mutually beneficial and the
bonds that are built through them are
reinforcing and can be self‑sustaining.
3. Be kind to those in need. Ameri‑
cans are generous people – reaching
out to give to others and to address
problems. The APA has found that
our societally stressful environment
has magnified this American propen‑
sity. In 2017, 51% of Americans say
that the state of the nation “has
prompted them to volunteer or other‑
wise support causes they value.” In
2018, that percentage was down to
45% yet meaningful. Bottomline is,
we do want America to be Great
Again. Making America great again,
as we noted in the blog we wrote af‑
ter George H.W. Bushʼs death, re‑
quires heeding the following words
from his 1989 inaugural address:
“America is never wholly herself un‑
less she is engaged in high moral
principle. We as a people have such a
purpose today. It is to make kinder
the face of the nation and gentler the
face of the world. My friends we have
work to do.”
So we have to again begin the
process of rediscovering what Ameri‑
ca stands for and who we are as
Americans. That perspective makes
us optimistic about the future for this
country and its citizens. Indeed the
APA survey showed that a full 75% of
those surveyed “feel hopeful about
their future.”
So we wish our fellow Americans a
happier 2019 and ask them to join
with us in doing what we can to make
it so ̶ remembering, as the Beatles
advised:
And in the end,
The love you take
Is equal to
The love you make.
The writer is an Indian American
entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic
leader, and thought leader.
Article source: Frank Islam blog.
Image courtesy: Time magazine.

IMMIGRATION

I‑751, Waiver of Joint Filing for

By Dev Banad Viswanath, Esq.
& Michael Phulwani, Esq.

f an individual received a green

I
card based on their marriage to
a U.S. citizen which occurred less
than 2 years after their marriage,
they will receive a “conditional”
Abuse or Cruel Treatment
green card that is only valid for two tional permanent resident; resident will receive a receipt tional permanent resident qualifies
years. Within 90 days of the two‑
year expiration, the green card VISA 4 Threatening to divorce the con‑
ditional permanent resident,
notice. The conditional permanent
resident is allowed to continue to
for a waiver of joint filing and send
a letter to the applicant with their

holder and their spouse would joint‑
ly file Form I‑751, Petition to
Remove the Conditions of
Residence. If the conditions on their
green card are not removed, then
the green card and their status and
right to stay in the U.S. will termi‑
nate at the end of two years. There
are a few circumstances where a
spouse may not have to jointly file
Form I‑751, such as if they have
been abused or treated cruelly by
their U.S. citizen spouse and itʼs no
longer safe or feasible for joint fil‑
ing. Therefore a waiver of joint fil‑
ing must be requested based on that
abuse and cruel treatment. When
applying for a waiver of the joint fil‑
ing requirement based on abuse or
cruel treatment the applicant must
provide USCIS with evidence show‑
ing that they there were abused or
treated cruelly by their U.S. citizen
TALK
spouse. USCIS defines battery as
physical violence committed against
a conditional permanent resident
by their spouse. Some examples of
physical abuse include punching,
slapping, forced sex, and any other
infliction of bodily harm. Extreme
cruelty is defined as nonviolent
abuse that a U.S. spouse purposely
caused on the conditional perma‑
nent resident in order to control or
embarrass them. Some examples of
extreme cruelty are:
4 Threatening to report the condi‑
tional permanent resident to
USCIS or any other government
agency;
4 Threatening to refuse to jointly
file Form I‑751 with the condi‑
especially if it is not accepted in
their culture or religion;
4 Withholding money or food
from the conditional permanent
resident as punishment;
4 Name calling and harsh insults,
in public or private; or
4 Not allowing the conditional
permanent resident to contact
their family or friends.
The conditional permanent resi‑
dent will need to provide USCIS
with evidence showing specific
instances of their spouseʼs abusive
actions and how these actions hurt
or controlled their life. If the condi‑
tional permanent resident was
physically abused, official reports
from police and medical personnel
would be important to provide
USCIS with.
After the whole I‑751 packet is
filed, the conditional permanent
live and work in the U.S. while their decision or, schedule them for an
case is being processed. If USCIS interview.
needs more evidence to show abuse On behalf of all of us at the Banad
and/or cruel treatment they will Law Offices and Law Offices of
send a request for evidence, which Michael Phulwani, we wish you all a
must be timely answered. Once wonderful and prosperous 2019!
USCIS reviews the whole I‑751 May it be filled with blessings and
packet it will determine if the condi‑ joy!
Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal Attorney of
The Banad Law Offices PC in the United States, and
Banad Immigration in India for which Attorney
Michael Phulwani is also affiliated as Of Counsel.
With Offices in Manhattan, Queens, Bangalore, and
Mumbai, the firm is able to assist clients with all
facets of the immigration process, including
Employment Visas, Consular Visa Assistance,
Student Visas, Removal & Deportation, US
Citizenship and Green Card Applications based on
Family or Employment. Dev B. Viswanath can be
reached at Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999.
Dev will be in India working from those offices
Jan 28 to Feb 12 and can meet people
for personal consultations.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 72 January 5-18, 2019 ASTROLOGY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Dr PremKumar Sharma Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874;

Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899;
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

January 12, 2019
Carry forward by 3, Jupiter and Mer‑
cury, your hardnosed approach will
take you on high rides. You are high‑
ly intellectual person with knowledge
of every domain in your kit. You have
the capability of dealing with your
professional as well as personal life
together. Your first love will always
be your work with whom you tend to
spend maximum time which in re‑
turn will provide you awesome glory,
honor and surprises. You abhor bigot
natured person and always try to
light up the dark spaces with the ray
of hope. This makes you a veteran
warrior. Always ready to help others
means a friend in need is friend in
deed. You should learn that love is al‑
ways known by deeds not by words
so hurry until the tides will flow in
your favor. Too much of expectation
from others may strain you so be‑
lieve in yourself. Result oriented
time: October, November, March and
July.
January 13, 2019
Charged by number 4, Uranus and
Mercury, unwittingly you will get lot
of name and fame in your business
but donʼt get excited just take the
charge. Upcoming year promises to
bring positive vibes for your pious
soul but little flip flop may chafe you.
Sharp and honed acumen skills are
all what you require in your income
Annual Predictions: For those born in this week (January 12-18 2018)
source. You will easily surpass all
your hindrances well. Your way of
communication will take you to the
pinnacle post at your professional
level. Serve the humanity is high on
your genre. Understanding the need
of society and helping the people
may lead you to enter into politics.
Your modest and organized approach
for your business will assured you
high returns with some B2B relation
in the international market. Travel‑
ling may leads some onus on you but
turned to be fruitful for you. You are
advices to dig into the details of every
new project you are undertaken,
surely get success. Goddess Luxmi
will shower all her blessing on you.
Time for new options: August, Dec.,
March and May.
January 14, 2019
Supported by number 5 and Mercu‑
ry, your inborn attitude will help you
to make good relations at your work
place with dignity. Circumstances
will force you to follow your ideals
path in your ventures. You should
pay attention to the saying “Careless
habits may lead to happening”. Your
dual personality helps to claim name
and fame in all front of life. You are
always there for your kins and
friends. Your benevolent nature is an
asset for you. You are supposed to
get respect and regard from your
coworkers and seniors. You believe
in “Earn and Spend theory” means on
one hand your diligence pays for you
and on the other your spendthrift
trait will credit you. You are likely to
follow western culture of taking no
tension for future. Your wardrobe is
replete of high profiled and branded
items. Your mental and physical state
will catch your interest in spirituality.
Catching time: November, January,
May and July.
January 15, 2019
Ruled by number 6 and planet Venus;
Mercury also dominates you. You are
blessed with immense talent. Your
artistic nature will create win win sit‑
uation for you everywhere. Hidden
talent in the field of art and music is
tangible symbol signifying distinc‑
tion in your life. You are likely to set
your own venture in this named and
famed industry. Your ideas will not
only get populate at domestic level
but also at international market. This
ensures you a smooth and contended
life both in terms of your bank bal‑
ance and health. You will get Red Car‑
pet welcome wherever you go. Sug‑
gestion is to set your goals before fir‑
ing onto them. You are perfect exam‑
ple of “Donʼt follow success instead
be so much talented that success will
follow you”. Yogic exercise and an ap‑
ple a day is all what recommended to
you by to keep your body in toned
state. Profitable months: October, De‑
cember, April and June.
January 16, 2019
Mercury and Neptune and number 7
will follow you, “you are what you
are” is the tagline of your life. You al‑
ways believe to follow your foot‑
prints only. You invent your invento‑
ry yourselves. You basket is full of
new ideas all the time which makes
glory to follow you. You are not pseu‑
do intellectual personality but care
free kind of attitude which makes you
eminent person. You need to control
your gallant feeling at times. Active‑
ness and participating are your
benchmarks. You donʼt bear any kind
of lousiness or regardless behavior in
your work. You will be like a pendu‑
lum moving to and fro from your one
country together for jaunting as well
as business trips. You are conserva‑
tive and choosy about making
friends. Your friends are special for
you but any kind of misbehaved char‑
acter will generate brush aside atti‑
tude from your side. Manipulation of
your feelings may bother you and
you will feel loneliness. You love
yourself more than any other person.
Clashes of self respect arguments will
fail to keep your near and dear ones
close to you so just chill. Marvelous
time period: July, November, January
and April.
January 17, 2019
Superseded by 8 and Saturn, dictated
by Mercury, time prognosticate you
to blossom in the field of education
which is long term investment for
you. Your focused vision always is
likely to make you concentrate on
your utmost goal. All in vain tenden‑
cy will distract you but you need to
stick to your ploy as time will replen‑
ish your loose energy. Better late
than never is what you need to fol‑
low. Make guidelines and do not
leave the task bare. Honesty, thought‑
fulness and organized approach will
take you to the heights. Properly in‑
vestigate the things before dwell into
any matter be it related to family or
business otherwise unduly may be‑
come culprit. Donʼt get impulsive
while taking any decision. Other as‑
pects of life tend to attract you to‑
wards them like some artwork or
some euphony which warms your
heart. Your leadership qualities will
take you beyond imagination in your
work which at times also brings you
under the ambit of criticizing others.
Eventful time: November, March and
May.
January 18, 2019
Characterized by number 9, Mars
and Mercury, your chippy behavior
tends to take people away from you.
They may call you a bilk person but
you are pure by heart. Your so called
caring nature will only bring embar‑
rassment for you. But on profession‑
al terms you will glow like a shining
star. You will easily overcome all the
hindrance comes to your way. Your
domination will create leadership
quality which at times make you to
take all the responsibility and polish‑
es you for upcoming high career
prospects. You will get lot of surpris‑
es from your employer which even
takes you close to the top notch posi‑
tion in your company. Your arche‑
type facts will get prestige and high‑
ly productive for you. Your volition is
as strong as stones so keep going
with your instincts. Surprises can be
in the form of increasing remunera‑
tion or overseas tour with your fami‑
ly. Fruitful time: December, January,
and April.

Stars Foretell: January 12-18, 2019

ARIES: You are likely to remain in high spirits
throughout the week. A business
trip will prove fruitful in bag‑
ging a lucrative deal. On the
professional front, chances of
getting selected for something
prestigious cannot be ruled out.
Good price can be expected for a property, if
you are interested in it. Those going steady
may think on the lines of solemnising their
relationship.
TAURUS: You will be able to get your ideas
implemented at work and make
your mark. Travel plans will go
without a hitch. You will be
able to maintain the balance
between food intake and work‑
outs to enjoy good health. A treat,
coupled with an enjoyable outing, is likely to
make it a best t ime for you. Financial
stability will be maintained by concerted
efforts.
GEMINI: A piece of good news on the social
front may get you into a celebrato‑
ry mood. You will do we ll to
refurbish your professional
image to attract better clientele.
Academic excellence is likely to
he lp you achieve your dream.
Financial worries become a thing of the past, as
money comes from unexpected sources. An old
flame is slated to enter your life once again and
brighten the romantic front.
CANCER: Those searching for accommodation
near place of work or study may
get lucky. Keeping seniors
informed of the developments at
work will be in your interest.
Someone may convey his or her
indebtedness to you for your help, in
a most touching manner. You may be singled
out for a special honour on the professional
front. You will feel fit and energetic, like never
before!

LEO : Your burden of work on the professional
front is set to increase, so tighten
your belt. Change of scene, just to
resurrect your married life is pos‑
sible. Your current exercise regi‑
men will make you feel stronger
and fitter. A family youngster may join
the family business soon. You may need to
search out a mutual friend who can introduce
you to the one you admire on the romantic
front!
VIRGO: Overseas travel is foretold for those
wishing to visit exotic places. Be
a realist enough to take no for
an answer from a potential
lover on the romantic front.
You will be able to raise your
performance level on the academic
front through outside help. Your efforts on
the professional front will bring you into the
notice of those who matter, so keep up the
good work.
LIBRA: Luck favours you on the financial
front, so expect money to flow in.
Your initiative on the academic
front is like ly to g ive goo d
results. Someone may persuade
you to accompany him or her on
an interesting excursion. You may
spend more than you had budgeted for in set‑
ting up a new house, but it will be worth it.
Donʼt let personal differences spoil the fun on
the social front.
SCORPIO: Investing all your money in one ven‑
ture or scheme is not recommend‑
ed, howsoever attractive be the
prospects. T hings remain in
order on the professional front,
as you go about your task ef fi‑
ciently. Your attempts to curry favour
with those who matter on the academic front
will succeed. Joining a group of health‑con‑
scious people will prove immensely beneficial
for your health.

SAGITTARIUS: A pleasant period greets you
and promises to climax towards
exciting finish. Your romantic
endeavours prove fruitful, as
you go around spreading your
charm! An excit ing trip may
materialise and take you on a tour of
beautiful sites. Increased earning and perks
are likely to give a boost to those in the pri‑
vate sector. An old ailment disappears, as you
step on the path to perfect health.
CAPRICORN: A minor job at work may get
complicated and eat away your
working hours. You may resolve
to save money for paying an
outstanding amount. You are
likely to miss out on some good
investment opportunities by being
over cautious. Some development at home
may not be to your liking and can pit you
against others. An official trip may need to be
postponed.
AQUARIUS : The week promises much fun and
gaiety, as you get the time to min‑
gle in your social circle. Not
breaking your daily routine will
he lp you in retaining goo d
health. Initiative taken on the
professional front will get due recog‑
nit ion from those who matter.
Misunderstandings doing the rounds on the
family front will be sorted out, so expect the
domestic harmony to prevail.
PISCES: This is an blissful period for you.
Money comes your way and fill
your cof fers to the brim.
Taking an instant liking for
someone is possible, so expect
romance to knock on your door
soon! Your strong showing on the
academic front is likely to mark you as an
achiever. Adopting an active lifestyle is indi‑
cated for some and will help achieving good
health.
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Not all years are the same. While 2018 brought a mix of good and bad overall for the world,
we should all hope for and look forward to a world of peace and harmony in 2019,
ARIES the Ram
(March 21‑April 20)
The year 2019 starts with a healthy note,
with the first quarter of the
year promising total fitness.
Luck and your own efforts
have certainly paid dividends
in 2018, as regards career ad‑
vancement. You uphold family values and
will remain a pillar of strength to the fam‑
ily. On the whole, family life cruises along
smoothly in 2019, but may encounter
some choppy waters too! In relationship,
you continue to blow hot and cold all
throughout the year. Do not allow situa‑
tions of lack of trust or suspicion control
your mind
Lucky Number: 4
Lucky Colour: Blue
TAURUS the Bull
(April 21‑May 20)
The first and the third quarter of 2019
seem a period of excellent
health. This is because of
your continued endeavour to
attain perfect fitness. There is
much happening on the profes‑
sional front in the year. Solemnising the
marriage of someone eligible in the fami‑
ly may remain topmost on your mind in
the first half of the year. Those looking
for love may find it, but may not be able
to continue it for long.
Lucky Number: 2
Lucky Colour: Gray
GEMINI the Twins
(May 21‑June 21)
On the whole, no serious medical prob‑
lems are foreseen, unless you
become negligent. job switch
is on your mind, 2019 is the
year for you. However pro‑
fessionally, it may prove diffi‑
cult to get the best of both the worlds – a
good salary and job satisfaction. Family
life appears most satisfying in the year
2019. Forming a special equation with
life partner is on the cards and will help
in forming stronger ties. Although you re‑
main happy in your present relationship,
but someoneʼs unusual interest in you
may become hard to resist!
Lucky Number: 18
Lucky Colour: Golden Brown
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
2019 – High hopes for a good year for all
maintains our celebrated resident astrologer, Dr. Prem Kumar Sharma.
CANCER the Crab
(June 22‑July 22)
Multi‑tasking may become your forte in
creating more earning oppor‑
tunities. Your health remains
satisfactory in the year. In
fact, the first four months of
the year may find you in peak
physical condition. An elder may become
instrumental in bringing stability in the
family. For you, love is in the air for the
whole of 2019! Forming a special equa‑
tion with partner is indicated, which
promises immense happiness and fulfil‑
ment.
Lucky Number: 7
Lucky Colour: Pink
LEO the Lion
(July 23‑August 23)
You may begin to focus on fitness by the
middle of the third quarter and
take appropriate steps to re‑
main fit. Those planning to
set up their own business
should avoid the months of
August and September.
Family seems to remain sharply in your
focus. You will remain poised to provide
full support to a family member, who is
on the threshold of something important.
Newlyweds and young couples will find
the third quarter to the year exceptional‑
ly blissful.
Lucky Number: 9
Lucky Colour: Cream
VIRGO the Virgin
(August 24‑September 23)
You are sensitive to seasonal changes,
more precautions are advised,
especially during winter and
monsoon seasons.
During this lean period, you
will need to keep your emo‑
tional nature in check, so as not to rub
someone important the wrong way. Some
special achievements are in store for you
in the last quarter of the year.
A position of authority may be acquired
by some marital relationship may
come under strain and the onus of steer‑
ing it out of troubled waters will rest
upon you.
Lucky Number: 3
Lucky Colour: Lemon
ASTROLOGY
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874;
Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899;
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
LIBRA the Scales
(September 24‑October 23)
The year 2019 promises to keep you fit
as a fiddle, but exposure to a
lingering problem cannot be
ruled out. You are ambitious
and yearn to make your mark
on the professional front. Year
2019 may prove a mixed bag in this re‑
spect, since your endeavours may not be
good enough to achieve total success. . A
challenging situation may develop in the
months of March and April requiring you
to devote extra hours in balancing work
and home. Married life will sail smoothly
as spouse grows extra supportive.
Lucky Number: 6
Lucky Colour: Green
SCORPIO the Scorpion
(October 24‑November 22)
Opportunities for career enhancement are
aplenty in the year 2019, as
you enjoy an unhindered run
of luck in the first two quar‑
ters on the year. Those on the
fitness trail may become insis‑
tent on eating right and exercising, and
show the difference by the last quarter of
the year. Stability on the marital front is
yours for the asking, as complete under‑
standing with life partner is achieved.
Newlyweds may get a chance to set up a
separate household. Married couples will
keep their relationship alive by being avail‑
able to each other and giving each other
space
Lucky Number: 8
Lucky Colour: Lavender
SAGITTARIUS the Archer
(November 23‑December 21)
A better and well paying job is
in the offing for those looking
for one. An overseas job is
possible in the third or last
quarter of the year. Promotion
comes with many perks, so rejoice! Natur‑
opathy may appeal and may entail sacri‑
ficing the lifestyle you are used to. Nurs‑
ing someone back to health is indicated.
A vacation with your near and dear ones
is indicated. Those willing to settle
abroad are likely to hear of the possibili‑
ties in the third quarter. Socially, you will
be much in demand.
Lucky Number: 15
Lucky Colour: Saffron
January 5-18, 2019 73
CAPRICORN the Goat
(December 22‑January 21)
A born leader, you believe in taking the
bull by the horns in profession‑
al matters. Taking up a sport
in a serious way is indicated
for some. Your positive influ‑
ence and insistence will keep
others around you perfectly fit. Your ten‑
dency to overdo things threatens to affect
your professional reputation adversely in
the month of October, so remain guarded.
Extended family may come and stay with
you in the third quarter. Eligible can expect
a suitable mate to walk into their lives by
the end of third quarter of the year.
Lucky Number: 17
Lucky Colour: Yellow
AQUARIUS the Water Bearer
(January 22‑February 19)
Refuse your temptations to try shortcuts for
weight loss as it may not help
much. Meditation and Yoga will
help you achieve mental
solace.Additional academic
qualifications are likely to bene‑
fit in a competitive situation. Be careful of
some professional reverses in October. This
is going to be an year to strengthen your
family bond. Those staying away from their
families will get many chances to visit their
families. Downplay whatever happens in the
month of September on the romantic front
and you will be better off.
Lucky Number: 22
Lucky Colour: White
PISCES the Fish
(February 20‑March 20)
Eating right and adopting an active lifestyle
will need to be your fitness
mantra for the year, if you want
to maintain perfect health.
Some work‑related tensions
may also manifest as bodily ills, so
take steps to de‑stress. Avoid conflicts or ar‑
guments of any sort with seniors especially in
the third quarter of the year. A promotion or
an appraisal is also in the offing in the month
of October or November. A family youngster
may need to be handled with patience in the
months of August and September. A long‑
term romantic relationship may culminate in
wedding. Those married will succeed in keep‑
ing the embers of passion alive.
Lucky Number: 1
Lucky Colour: Mustard

Atal Bihari
Vajpayee
India lost a great statesman when
prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpay‑
ee passed away in New Delhi on
August 16 after being critically ill
for over nine weeks.
The 93‑year‑old Bharatiya Jana‑
ta Party leader was the oldest liv‑
ing former Indian prime minister.
A founding member of the
Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a precursor
of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and
a parliamentarian for four
decades, Vajpayee was the first
non‑Congress leader to have com‑
pleted a five‑year term (1999‑
2004) as Indiaʼs prime minister.
During his second term, from
1998 to 1999, India conducted
the second Pokhran nuclear tests
(May 1998) and Vajpayee attend‑
ed the Lahore summit (February
1999) where he traveled to Pak‑
istan in a bus for establishing full‑
fledged diplomatic relations with
the country. Born on December
25, 1924, Vajpayee never married
but adopted a daughter, Namita.
Sridevi
Superstar Bollywood actress
Sridevi Kapoor died of an acci‑
dental drowning on February 24
in Dubai.
The 54‑year‑old actress gave
some of the iconic classics of
Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kanna‑
da and Hindi language films.
Star of movies such as Mr India,
Chandni, ChaalBaaz, and Sadma,
she was also awarded Padma Shri‑
74 January 5-18, 2019
Luminaries we lost in 2018
They were pathbreakers, pioneers and influencers of our time. History will
remember their contribution to the milieu they belonged to.
The South Asian Times remembers the icons the world said goodbye to.
the countryʼs fourth highest civil‑
ian honor.
Sridevi debuted as a lead in a
Bollywood film in 1978, soon be‑
coming one of India's most loved
actresses.
Kader Khan
Veteran actor Kader Khan
breathed his last on December
31st. He was 81.
Known for his impeccable com‑
ic timing Khan made his debut in
Rajesh Khanna starrer Daag in
1973 and went on to work in over
300 films, spanning several
decades.
A man of many talents he had
written dialogues for over 250
movies. Among Khan's frequent
collaborators as a screenwriter
were Manmohan Desai and
Prakash Mehra. With Manmohan
Desai, Kader Khan gave the Hindi
film industry gems like Dharam
Veer, Ganga Jamuna Saraswati,
Coolie, Suhaag, Desh Premee,
Amar Akbar Anthony and Parvar‑
ish.
Stephen
Hawking
English theoretical physicist,
cosmologist, and author Stephen
Hawking worked on the basic
laws which govern the universe.
With Roger Penrose he showed
that Einstein's general theory of
relativity implied space and time
would have a beginning in the Big
Bang and an end in black holes
IN MEMORIAM
(1970).
Known to be one of the most
brilliant minds of his time, Profes‑
sor Hawking received thirteen
honorary degrees. He was award‑
ed CBE (1982), Companion of
Honor (1989) and the Presiden‑
tial Medal of Freedom (2009). He
was the recipient of many awards,
medals and prizes, most notably
the Fundamental Physics prize
(2013), Copley Medal (2006) and
the Wolf Foundation prize
(1988).
His 1988 publication, A Brief
History of Time, quickly became a
bestseller and has sold more than
10 million copies.
In the early 1960s, Hawking
contracted an incurable degener‑
ative neuromuscular disease but
continued to work despite its pro‑
gressively disabling ef fects. He
died on March 14.
Stan Lee
Stan Lee, who ushered in a com‑
ic‑book renaissance by co‑creat‑
ing the iconic superheroes Spider‑
Man, the Fantastic Four, and the
X‑Men ̶ characters who made
the leap to film with often‑spec‑
tacular results ̶ died on Nov. 12.
He was 95.
George
H.W. Bush
The 41st President, whose
steady hand and foreign policy vi‑
sion led the nation through a pe‑
riod of sweeping global change
died on November 30 at the age
of 94, just seven months after he
lost his wife of more than 70
years, Barbara Bush.
Born into privilege and a tradi‑
tion of service, Bush was a son of
a senator, celebrated World War
II combat pilot, student‑athlete,
Texas oilman, a Republican con‑
gressman, national party chair‑
man, pioneering diplomat, and
spy chief. After his own 1980
presidential campaign came up
short, he served two terms as
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Ronald Reagan's vice president
before reaching the pinnacle of
political power by winning the
1988 presidential election.
After losing the White House in
1992, Bush became a widely ad‑
mired political elder who leaped
out of airplanes to mark birthday
milestones.
Paul Allen
The Microsoft co‑founder died
from complications of non‑
Hodgkinʼs lymphoma on October
15. He was 65. He was a noted
technologist, community builder,
conservationist, musician and
supporter of the arts.
He is estimated to have donated
more than $2bn to philanthropy
throughout his life including sci‑
ence, education and wildlife con‑
servation causes.
He was also an avid sports fan,
owning both the Portland Trail
Blazers basketball team and Seat‑
tle Seahawks NFL team, who won
the US Superbowl in 2013.
In 2010 he pledged his majority
fortune to charitable causes after
his death.
John
McCain
John S. McCain, the proud naval
aviator who climbed from depths
of despair as a prisoner of war in
Vietnam to pinnacles of power as
a Republican congressman and
senator from Arizona and a two‑
time contender for the presiden‑
cy, died on August 25th at his
home in Arizona. He was 81.
Although a self‑described con‑
servative “foot soldier in the Rea‑
gan revolution” McCain clashed
with his partyʼs right wing on a
wide range of issues.
A son and grandson of four‑star
admirals who were his larger‑
than‑life heroes, McCain carried
his renowned name into battle
and into political fights for more
than a half‑century.
Anthony
Bourdain
Author, celebrity chef, television
personality; first became known
in 2000 after the publication of
his bestselling book Kitchen Con‑
fidential: Adventures in the Culi‑
nary Underbelly.
He hosted a number of popular
culinary travel shows, including A
Cookʼs Tour, Anthony Bourdain:
No Reservations, The Layover,
and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Un‑
known and won a number of emi‑
nent awards during his career for
his shows. Sadly he committed
suicide on June 8. He was 61.
Hubert de
Givenchy
The French couturier who
founded the house of Givenchy in
1952 passed away on March
10th. Known as a personal and
professional designer for Audrey
Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy
he designed Hepburnʼs infamous
ʻlittle black dressʼ worn in Break‑
fast at Tiffanyʼs.
He learned his trade from an‑
other fashion master, Cristóbal
Balenciaga, produced restrained
designs of what admirers called
an “extreme elegance” that be‑
came his trademark. His creations
were eagerly awaited and sought
out by the titled and wealthy in
the 1950s and 60s, including
Princess Grace of Monaco and
Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of
Windsor.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019

Happy New Year

76 January 5-18, 2019 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

The Best of Mahendra Shah

Mahendra Shah has been drawing cartoons for
The South Asian Times ever since the paper started.
Here is a selection of his best cartoons from 2018.

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.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
 78 January 5-18, 2019 S P I R I T UA L AWA R E N E S S

NE W Y E AR ME SSAGE 2019
by Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
Perfecting meditation takes practice. Spiritual experiences can illuminate us in a twinkling
of an eye, but we need to create the right conditions for those moments to crystalize. What
preparations can we make for those moments to brighten our lives?

Consider a scientist who performs a chemistry experiment. For the right reaction to take place, we need the
proper ingredients, steps, and time. Meditation requires the right combination of steps to be fruitful.

While meditation can bring relaxation and peace to the body and mind, a higher benefit of meditation is il-
lumining our soul with the wonders within. Meditation on the inner Light and Sound provides us an experience of
the inner vistas and celestial Music. Just as the holiday season is celebrated with festive lights and seasonal music,
we have within us a continual symphony of inner Music and radiant Lights within. If we practice meditation we can
enjoy those not only at the holiday but all year round, anytime we want. To gain access to these, we can perform the
preparatory steps to be ready to experience them.

Be a meditation machine in 2019.

Meditation is not difficult. We sit still, close our eyes, still our mind from thoughts and gaze within. Practice
makes perfect. For 2019, we can remember these simple words to remind us to practice:

The term “machine” is often used for one who works hard with passion and zeal at a hobby or task. Machines are
an analogy for diligent work, efficiency, and persistence. Once turned on, they run continually without a break. This
is a good reminder for our meditation. Once we sit for meditation, we can be diligent, efficient, and persistent. This
means staying focused without distraction until we receive results.

The difference, though, is we are not only mechanical in our practice like a machine, but we do our work with
heart and soul. The electricity that runs our machine is the passion and zeal which fuels us to keep going. We medi-
tate with consistency and right effort, but we also add the love and joy for achieving the ultimate goal, experiencing
the inner Light and Sound that will lead us to oneness with God.

As a reminder for the new Year, let us be a meditation machine in 2019 and let our persistence, accuracy, and
diligent efforts in meditation be rewarded with the grace to experience the inner Light and Music that lead us to the
bliss, peace, and joy of union with God.

Yours affectionately,

Rajinder Singh

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an inter-

nationally recognized spiritual leader and
Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the
transcendent oneness at the heart of all re-
ligions and mystic traditions, emphasizing
ethical living and meditation as building
blocks for achieving inner and outer peace.
For more info visit www.sos.org.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NEW YEAR SPECIAL January 5-18, 2019