Volume 2, Issue 48 March 27 - The South Asian Times

Ultimate Bollywood 12 Finance 14 Sports 18
Spiritual Awareness 22
The South Asian Times
NEW YORK EDITION Excellence In Journalism
Vol. 2 | No. 48 | March 27-April 2, 2010 | 60 Cents
Neeta Bhasin
awarded for
media work
Tristate Community,
page 6
Saujani: 1st Indian
American woman
to run for Congress
People Watch,
page 11
Patel asks US aviation
firms to set bases in India
Minister of State
for Civil Aviation
Praful Patel
Wa s h i n g t o n
(HT Media): India
has asked US aviation
companies to
seriously think of
establishing manufacturing
bases and
investing in aviation
infrastructure
like airports in India
to show a longterm
commitment
beyond just exporting.
Meeting US Commerce Secretary
Gary Locke and Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood Thursday, Minister
of State for Civil Aviation Praful
Patel also urged Locke to explore the
possibility of liberalizing the export
controls regime for India.
Locke and LaHood told Patel that
US companies were impressed with
the growth displayed by India’s aviation
sector and were keen to contribute
to the growth, according to an Indian
embassy press release.
In response, Patel said these companies
needed to show a long-term
commitment beyond just exporting
to India and should seriously explore
the possibility of establishing
New Delhi (HT Media) Priya, 27,
a devotee of Swami Nithyananda,
can’t believe a video footage where
the Karnataka-based guru is allegedly
shown in a compromising position
with a Tamil actress.
“I still doubt whether it is swamiji
or it is a graphic gimmick,” a shocked
Priya said. Nithyananda’s is not the
first reported case of a person in
religious garb being
caught in a scandal.
Of late, many
swamis have been
in the news for the
wrong reasons.
manufacturing bases and investing
in aviation infrastructure like
airports.
At meetings with Locke, LaHood
and Federal Aviation Administrator
Randy Babbitt, both sides acknowledged
the positive role of aviation in
improving connectivity between the
two countries, since the signing of
the Open Skies Agreement in 2005.
The civil aviation sector has
emerged as the fastest growing
component of bilateral trade, accounting
for about 15 percent of
US exports to India.
Addressing a luncheon round table
at the US Chamber of Commerce
where a large number of the major
US companies engaged in aviationrelated
activities were present, Patel
gave them an update on recent developments
and encouraged them to
deepen their technological collaboration
with India.
Patel later addressed a 200-strong
gathering of US government officials,
US business representatives,
NRIs, and Indian-Americans at the
celebration “Air India’s Capital
to Capital Connectivity: Bringing
Washington and Delhi Closer”.
Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand
Ji Maharaj was arrested for
running a multi-crore-rupee sex racket
in Delhi involving former airhostesses.
Kumar Sahai alias Swami Ji
was arrested from Ghaziabad for kidnapping
a girl. Guru Asaram Bapu is
still under the police scanner for the
deaths of two minor boys in his ashram-run
gurukul in Ahmedabad.
Although many blame followers
for not being discerning enough, what
7113 IAB 2010 IRA Ad 10x2 3/12/10 has 12:28 emerged PM is Page the unshakable 1
faith
that devotees, particularly women
The South Asian Times
at Wharton India
In this issue we have a 28page
all-color special section
on the 14th Wharton India
Economic Forum (WIEF)
published in partnership
with WIEF, Wharton School,
University of Pennsylvania.
The South Asian Times is
the Proud Grand Print Media
Partner (North East USA) of
WIEF 2010, first time any Indian
paper here has been accorded
such prestigious status.
In our next issue of April
3, we will extensively cover
the conference being held
on March 27 in Philadelphia.
10 pc growth within
India’s reach:
Manmohan Singh
Business and
International, page 17
New Delhi (HT Media):
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative
David Headley has told a
US court that serving Pakistani
Army officers were involved
in the 26/11 terror mayhem in
Mumbai, and one of them was
“on the other side of the telephone
line” with the terrorists
during the 2008 attack, news
reports said on Friday.
According to Outlook newsmagazine
editor-in-chief Vinod
Mehta, the involvement of
who seek solutions to personal
problems, have in them.
Swami Shantatmananda, secretary
of the Ramkrishna Mission,
said: “One should seek god
through prayer and scriptures and
not through fake godmen They
thrive due to thoughtless followers
who have not understood the
true meaning of spirituality.”
According to Swami Sukhabodhananda,
founder of the
Prasanna Trust, “Like fake doctors
and engineers, there are
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Headley names Pakistani
Army officers
involved in 26/11
A courtroom sketch of David
Coleman Headley, who has
confessed to planning
Mumbai attack
the Pakistani Army officers
proves their “direct link” with the
terror carnage in India’s commercial
and financial capital in 2008
that left 166 people dead, including
foreigners. “David Headley
has confessed to the involvement
of serving Pakistani Army
officers in 26/11,” Mehta told
CNN-IBN news channel.
“Of them, three are serving
and one is retired,” he said, adding
it showed the “direct link” of
the Pakistani Army with the terror
strike that shook the country.
“Col. Shah (Pakistani Army
officer) was on the other side of
the telephone line (keeping in
touch with the 26/11 terrorists),”
Mehta told the TV channel.
According to Outlook, the
Pakistani-American terror suspect
Headley has reportedly
identified Major Sayeed, Major
Iqbal, Major Sameer and
Colonel Shah as the officers involved
in the 26/11 attacks.
Headley Continued on Page 4
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also fake godmen in society.”
Kamini Jaiswal, a senior Supreme
Court lawyer, who has
fought a case against Sathya Sai
Baba, blames blind followers for
such incidents. “It is shocking to
see that well educated people are
followers of such godmen,” she
said. Police say they can’t act
against fake swamis until they get
a complaint. “It’s a social issue,
with proper evidence, police will
do its duty and arrest fake godman.
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Philadelphia, PA (SATimes): A
book by Wharton professors providing
unique perspective on the “how
and why” of India’s success and its
implications for Western business
practices – ‘The India Way’ will be
launched at the Wharton India Economic
Forum to be held today at
Park Hyatt here.
Written by Jitendra Singh, Harbir
Singh, Michael Useem and Peter
Cappelli and published by Harvard
Business Press, the authors have interviewed
over 100 of India’s leading
business leaders - including
Azim Premji, N.R. Narayana
Murthy, Rana Kapoor, and K.V. Kamath.
They have compiled their
findings in the book.
The authors explain how management
practices that focus on longterm
thinking, a direct corporate role
in social progress, and an enlightened
view of the workforce are at
the heart of India’s explosive economic
growth and emergence as a
world economic power.
Both Harbir Singh and Jitendra
Singh will be speaking at the forum.
Peter Cappelli is the George W. Taylor
Professor of Management and director
of the Center for Human Resources
at the Wharton School, University
of Pennsylvania. He holds a
doctorate from the University of Oxford,
and he conducts research in human
resources practices, talent and
performance management, and pub-
lic policy related to employment.
Harbir Singh is the William and
Phyllis Mack Professor of Management
and co-director of the Mack
Center for Technological Innovation
at the Wharton School. He has been
Chair of the Business Policy and
Strategy Division of the Academy of
Management, and is Chair of Wharton’s
Management Department. He
holds a bachelor’s degree in technology
from the Indian Institute of
Technology, an MBA from the Indian
Institute of Management,
Ahmedabad and a PhD from the
University of Michigan.
Jitendra Singh is the Saul P. Steinberg
Professor of Management at
the Wharton School, where he pre-
viously served as Vice Dean for International
Academic Affairs. From
2007 to 2009, he was Dean and
Shaw Foundation Chair Professor of
Strategy, Management and Organization
at the Nanyang Business
School of Nanyang Technological
University in Singapore. He holds
an MBA degree from the Indian Institute
of Management, Ahmedabad
and a PhD from Stanford University.
Michael Useem is the William and
Jacalyn Egan Professor of Manage-
Tristate Community 3
Tristate Community 3
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 27-April 2, 2010
TheSouthAsianTimes.com November 7-13, 2009
India takes up visa issues with US Govt: Sharma
By Prakash M Swamy
New York (SATimes): The Government
of India has taken up
with the US administration the issue
of not only the overall liberalization
of the visa policy but
also the difficulties in the way it’s
implemented, said Anand Sharma,
Minister of Industries and
Commerce.
Answering a question from the
media that the US Border Security
and Immigration Service officers
at major US airports turn
away Indian employees with less
than one year validity of their
H1B or L1 visas on arrival, he
said besides specific cases, India
has asked the US corporate leaders
who have interest in India or
in the process of making investments
in important sectors to create
an awareness in the country.
Minister of Industries and Commerce, Anand Sharma with Venu
Srinivasan, president of Confederation of Indian Industries (CIE)
in New York
He said, “I have pointed out the
difficulties in getting visas for Indian
professionals and the need to
have it addressed in a fair manner.
Professionals will have to
travel back and forth because 125
of the Fortune 500 companies
have set up base in India and 75
of the leading ones have their R
& D hubs in India.”
Businessmen will travel to review
the functioning of their in-
vestments and businesses or to
enter into new partnerships.
There is a need for creating
greater sensitivity and awareness
by well meaning but inadequately
informed people who have a
wrong perception that India’s
growth in services and IT sector
is detrimental to the US and jobs
are being taken away, he said
“I made it clear to my interlocutors
that India is an exporter of
services but India is also the net
importer of services. When we
look at trade and services, it’s
more or less balanced and if there
is a tilt, it’s in favor of the US. We
have more nationals in India and
we want more of them to come to
India,” he said.
He said if Tatas have come to the
US, they have not only invested
but are also looking at job creation
and research pool in part-
nership with two of the universities.
According to various reports
by Price Waterhouse Coopers and
IBS, Indian entities have created
income worth $106 billion inside
the US. They have also created
300,000 jobs and the number
would be more now and of which
250,000 are for American citizens
created by Indian companies,
he added
“There is a myth that jobs are being
taken away and I have been
urging the US corporate leaders
to go as a delegation of top CEOs
and sit in the Capitol Hill with
Congressmen and elected leaders
and tell them the true picture. A
clear picture will emerge when
the US Congressmen become fully
informed, they should not
move forward any amendments
and withdraw those which they
have," Sharma added.
Book launch of ‘The India Way’ at WIEF
The book by Wharton professors
offers unique perspective of
India’s success.
ment and director of the Center for
Leadership and Change Management
at the Wharton School. He
holds a PhD from Harvard University,
and his research has focused on
leadership, decision-making, governance,
and corporate change.
Overseas Friends of BJP organized a meet and greet program with BJP National Secretary Vani Tripathi
on March 23 at TV ASIA auditorium, Edison, NJ. In the picture (L to R): President Elect Jayesh Patel,
Harish Mehta, H R Shah of TV Asia, Vani Tripathi and Sandip Patel.
(Photo by Gunjesh Desai / masalajunction.com)

4 Community
March 20-26, 27-April 20102, 2010
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Aiyar delivers lecture
at Consulate
Headley Continues from page 1
Meanwhile, India has decided to send a
magistrate to the US to record Headley’s
statement. Other members of the team to
New York (SATimes): Mani Shankar
quiz Headley will include lawyers and of-
Aiyar,
ficials
former
of Mumbai
Indian
Police
diplomat
and the
and
National
minister,
delivered
Investigation
a lecture
Agency
on
(NIA).
March 15 under the
‘Distinguished
The 49-year-old
Lecture
Pakistani-American
Series’ at
has
the
Consulate
admitted in
General
a Chicago
of India
court
in
to
New
his involve-
York.
ment Aiyar in spoke plotting about the the Mumbai principles terror on attack. which
Indian A request democracy letter for rests access including to Headley secular- is to
ism, be sent socialism by the home and nonalignment. ministry next week He pre- to
sented the US Department a historical of perspective Justice, official to Indian sourc-
democracy es said on Friday. laying The emphasis NIA, probing on the the devolu- case,
tion will of file power the charge and need sheet for against strengthening Headley of
the only Panchayati after having Raj direct institutions. access to He him. spoke of
the Headley uniqueness has confessed of the Indian to his identity, involve-
absorbing ment in the the 26/11 best of attack other in cultures a plea and bargain religions.
with US authorities under which he will
not Two be of extradited his latest books to India “Confessions or Denmark, of a
Secular where he Fundamentalist” is wanted for plotting and “Time terror of
Transition: acts, or be given Rajiv the Gandhi death to sentence. 21st Century”
were launched at the event.
Swamis The event Continues was attended from page by diplomats, 1 academicians,
lawyers, community leaders, and
mediapersons As for the public, including it’s high time Hardeep they recog- Puri,
Permanent nized such fraudsters,” Representative Rajan of Bhagat, India to Delhi the
UN, Police Vijay spokesman Nambiar, said. Chef Sudha de Cabinet Sundaram, at the
UN, general Abdullah secretary of Haroon, the All India Pakistan Demo-
Representative cratic Women’s to Association the UN. (AIDWA), In his says wel-
there should checks and balances.
Suffolk County chief
Continued from page 1
compete against likely Democratic nominee
Andrew
By
Cuomo,
Prakash
the
M
New
Swamy
York state
Attorney General.
A New Levy York aide (SATimes): had said earlier Meera that Shankar, he would
declare Ambassador his candidacy of India with to the endorsement US, Frank
of Wisner, "a large former majority Ambassador of Republican of the vice US
chairs, to India, as well Arvind as many Panagariya, Republican Columbia county
chairs." University Just Professor before Levy's and announcement
former chief
Friday, economist, Lazio Asian sent out Development a press release blasting Bank,
him and as Madhu a "liberal Kannan, Democrat CEO with of Bombay a liberal
record." Stock Exchange The release will noted be some Levy's of endorse- the star
ments speakers of Democratic at the 6th annual presidential Columbia candidates In-
Al dia Gore Business and John Conference Kerry and to be his held voting at
record Lerner Hall, during Columbia three years University, in the state New
Assembly. York on April 2.
“The government should come up with a
state-level monitoring system to check the
registration of an ashram and its source of income
before providing monetary support.”
But there are those who are angry with
the names of gurus being dragged into
scandals. One of them is yoga guru Ramdev,
who said the recent arrests were “a
very big conspiracy”.
“Some politicians and communal forces
are conspiring to malign the name of
Indian saints by trapping them in cases
related to fake currency, rape, murder, sex
scandals and drugs,” he said.
Agreed Anitha Swaminathan, a member
of the Theosophical Society in Chennai.
“Our country has veteran sadhus and
swamijis. Such fake godmen are just a
bubble in the water,” she said.
The arrests have not altogether made
much of a dent in the mindset of people or
deterred them from following a guru who
would show them the light in their dayto-day
problems. But it has helped them
understand the need for the right one.
Naunidhi Kaur, a follower of Radhas-
Mani Shankar Aiyar
wami Satsung, said: “There are numerous
ashrams come address, and satsangs Prabhu that Dayal, stand out Consul for
their General spiritual of India, teachings recalled and his true association selfless
service with Mr to Aiyar mankind. in Karachi A follower where just the needs latter
to served be more as Consul knowledgeable General. about the faith
and not just be a blind one.”
Ironically, Levy is considered a maverick
tax-fighting executive who has been far to
the right of his party on immigration and
union
In May
issues,
2009,
and
Madhu
has steadily
Kannan
maintained
became
he
the
is the
youngest
most fiscally
CEO
conservative
of BSE. Prior
of
to
all
that,
those
he seeking was the a managing governor's director office this (corporate year. In a
strategy) year of record with deficits Bank of and America-Merrill
taxpayer unrest,
Lynch he has based convinced in New many York. The New World York
Economic Republicans Forum that he (WEF), has the Geneva, message also that
nominated most voters him want as to a hear Young in Global November. LeadTo
er get in the 2007. Republican nomination, Levy will
have Arvind to collect Panagariya the support is an of Indian more than Ameri- half
can the Republican economist delegates and Bhagwati at the party's Professor con-
of vention Economics in June. at The Columbia time may University be short for
and that. former The New Chief York Economist Times in at its the editorial Asian
Development Friday blasted Bank. Levy’s stance on immigration
reform. In the past, he has been the Chief
BIG Cinemas now in Manhattan
Alaigh sworn in as NJ
New York (SATimes): BIG Cinemas, India’s largest cinema chain, a division of Reliance
MediaWorks, and a member of Reliance ADA Group, strengthened its global footprint with
the reopening of ImaginAsian Theater as BIG Cinemas Manhattan in Midtown East - New
Health Commissioner
York. After undergoing major renovations over the past months, including aesthetic, audio
and visual By Prakash enhancements, M Swamy the theater now features her role brand with new a wide-ranging and comfortable background recliner
seating, remodeled restrooms, expanded lobby in with health an care updated administration, concession clinical stand, LCD prac-
screens and box office, New as well York as (SATimes): BARCO 2k digital tice, pharmaceutical projection in the medicine, auditorium. health care
Dr. Poonam Alaigh policy and academia.
Nirupama was Rao sworn in as Health nations She was instituted national a Strategic medical Dialogue director for in
Continued from and page Senior 1 Services July GlaxoSmithKline 2009 when Mrs before Clinton joining visited Horizon. India.
that Afghanistan can become Commissioner a stable, peaceThurs- External She has also Affairs worked Minister at the Veterans SM Krishna Adminis
ful and prosperous democracy. day evening This by Gover- is the expected istration Hospital to visit Washington in Lyons, and soon has for served the
core of our conversation nor with Chris world Christie. powers The first as assistant round professor of Strategic at the Dialogue University with of
including the US.” ceremony took place in Secretary Medicine Clinton. and Dentistry of New Jersey –
When asked whether
the
Washington
Governor’s
is buck-
Outer Robert The Foreign Wood Secretary’s Johnson Medical bilateral School meetings in
ling
Office in Trenton with New Brunswick.
Dr. Poonam under Islamabad’s Alaigh pressure to reduce the with US interlocutors provided an opportu-
presence of New Delhi
the
there,
Commissioner’s
she said, “India nity
Dr.
to
Alaigh
review
is
the
a
progress
founding
on
member
various pillars
of the
is
family
the strategic
in attendance.
partner
“It
of the
is truly
US and
an honor
US rec-
to
of
South
India-US
Asian Total
Strategic
Healthcare
Dialogue
Initiative,
agenda
which
be asked to serve the residents of New Jerognizes
our role in the region.”
including
was created
cooperation
to develop a
in
research-based
defense, nuclear
data
sey,” Commissioner Alaigh said. “Under resource on South Asian health, and to im-
Nirupama Rao visited Washington DC energy, counter-terrorism, agriculture, edu-
the Governor’s leadership, I’m committed prove the delivery of culturally competent
from 15-16 March to co-chair the 7th meetcation, energy, space and cyber-security.
to building a more efficient, high-quality care and address health disparities.
ing of the India-US High Technology Discussions also focused on regional
health care system while also protecting A board certified internist with a spe-
Cooperation Group (HTCG), a component of issues including India’s neighborhood. Rao
our most vulnerable populations – the uncialty in vascular disease, she is certified
the India US Strategic Dialogue.
briefed the US side about her talks with the
insured and our seniors.”
as a Diplomate in Internal Medicine. She
In Washington, Rao also had a series of Foreign Secretary of Pakistan last month.
Dr. Alaigh was serving as executive med- earned her medical degree from the State
bilateral
ical director
meetings
for Horizon
with US
Blue
Administration
Cross and
She exchanged views on recent develop-
University of New York at Stony Brook, as
officials
Blue Shield
including
when
Michelle
Governor
Flournoy,
Christie
Under
nomiments
well as
related
her Master
to Afghanistan
of Science in
and
Healthcare
stressed
Secretary
nated her to
for
lead
Policy
the Department
in the Department
of Health
of that
Policy
Afghanistan
and Management.
presented
She
the
is certified
foremost
as
Defense,
and Senior
Under
Services.
Secretary
She comes
of
to
State for security
a Black
challenge
Belt in Six
in
Sigma.
the region.
Political Affairs William Burns.
The US interlocutors conveyed their
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dropped appreciation of the important developmental
in and joined the discussions. The two work being done by India in Afghanistan.
Meera Shankar, Madhu Kannan to speak at Columbia’s India Biz Meet
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Economist of the Headley Asian Development
Bank and Continued a Professor from of page Economics 1 and
Some Co-director, experts Center believe for there International is enough sting Eco- in
his nomics, plea agreement University to of ensure Maryland that Headley at College is
available Park. He to has Indian also investigators worked for looking the World into
the Bank, larger IMF, conspiracy WTO, and related UNCTAD to the in overall vari-
planning ous capacities. of the Mumbai attacks.
Although The conference, Headley's arranged attorney by John Columbia Theis
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6 Tristate Community
March 27- April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Neeta Bhasin awarded
for media outreach
(L to R): Tai Wang, the chair of the festival, Neeta Bhasin,
President/CEO of ASB Communications and Anjani Roy,
volunteer committee member
Farmingdale, NY(SATimes):
Neeta Bhasin, CEO/President of
ASB Communications, was awarded
'Excellence in Media Outreach to
Multicultural Markets' at the 4th
Annual Asian-American Cultural
Festival of Long Island.
AACFLI’s decision to award Neeta
Bhasin was prompted by the fact
that, having started operations just
about a decade ago, ASB Communications
has been extremely effective
in proving the importance of
multicultural marketing to corporations
and society at large. ASB
Communications has not only
worked relentlessly to bring the
Asian communities in limelight, but
has also been successful in convincing
advertisers about the imperativeness
of stretching their dollar to
reach the African, Eastern European
and Middle Eastern Communities
as well.
An estimated 3,000 people attended
the event held at Roosevelt Hall
New Delhi (HT Media): A petition
was filed Tuesday in Delhi High
Court against the government’s decision
to award Padma Bhushan to
NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal.
S.K. Shah, who filed the petition
through his counsel S.P. Mehta, demanded
from the government that
Padma Bhushan should not be conferred
on a man against whom investigating
agencies were probing five
cases under various charges.
‘The decision of conferring the
Padma Bhushan award is not only an insult but is also
against public interest,’ the petitioner, a freelance jour-
on the campus of Farmingdale State
College.
At each festival, individuals who
have contributed in some way to the
Asian community or society at large
are honored. The festival’s evening
program, was hosted this year by
News 12 reporter Virginia Huie and
the Director of the Suffolk County
Office of Minority Affairs. This other
awardees this year were George
Hu, Asian Community Affairs Liaison,
New York State Governor's Office;
Dr. Hubert W. Keen, President,
Farmingdale State College; Dr.
Misao Nishikawa, PhD, Research
Scientist at the Chiari Institute,
North-Shore-LIJ Health System;
Yoon Sook Park, Traditional Korean
Musical Artist; Rhodora Ursua,
Project Director at NYU Center for
the Study of Asian-American
Health; Justin Yu, President, Chinese
Consolidated Benevolent Association
of NY and the Chinese
Chamber of Commerce.
Hofstra to honor co-recipients of
2010 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize
Hempstead, NY (SATimes): Hofstra
University will honor Rabbi
Arthur Schneier, president of the
Appeal for Conscience Foundation
and Religions for Peace, a worldwide
multi-religious coalition, as
co-recipients of the 2010 Guru
Nanak Interfaith Prize at an awards
presentation and gala dinner on
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7 p.m. at
the Garden City Hotel, Garden
City, NY.
The $50,000 prize, which is bestowed
every two years, recognizes
significant work to increase interfaith
understanding. Hofstra President
Stuart Rabinowitz, who announced
the winners in November
2009, will preside over the formal
award presentation. The first Guru
Nanak Interfaith Prize was awarded
in 2008 to His Holiness the 14th
Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
Among the guests at the dinner will
be the Honorable Tarlochan Singh,
a member of the Parliament of India.
“Rabbi Schneier and Religions
for Peace have shown an unflagging
commitment to bringing
together people of all faiths to work
towards common humanitarian
goals,” Rabinowitz said. “As a center
for learning, Hofstra University
is pleased to recognize their efforts
to nurture curiosity and understanding
throughout the world.”
The Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize
was established in 2006 by Ishar
Bindra and family to recognize outstanding
achievements in the promotion
of interfaith harmony. It is
Padma Bhushan for Chatwal
challenged in court
Hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal
nalist, said.
Describing Chatwal as one ‘whose
rise emanates from dubious and
questionable and murky financial
dealings’, the petitioner asked the
government to reconsider its decision.
Alleging that Chatwal duped several
banks to the tune of millions of
rupees, the petition said: ‘Despite
being the owner of a vast empire, he
got himself declared bankrupt. The
government despite being in full
knowledge (of these facts) ignored all these and chose to
give him the award.’
Rabbi Arthur Schneier,
one of the honorees
named for the founder of the Sikh
religion and is meant to encourage
understanding of various religions
and encourage cooperation between
faith communities. Guru Nanak believed
that all humans are born
equal, regardless of color, ethnicity,
nationality or gender.
A selection committee comprising
members of various faith traditions
chose Rabbi Schneier and Religions
for Peace. More than sixty
individuals and groups were nominated.
A Holocaust survivor, Rabbi
Schneier has devoted his life to promoting
religious tolerance and freedom.
He is spiritual leader of the
Park East Synagogue in Manhattan,
and founder and president of the
Appeal for Conscience Foundation.
He has led interfaith delegations to
Cuba, China and the former Soviet
Union, and was the first rabbi to get
the Presidential Citizens Medal, the
second-highest civilian award in
the United States.
“This high recognition by Hofstra
University will be an added incentive
to continue my life’s work on
behalf of religious freedom, human
rights and interfaith cooperation,”
Schneier said, “and hopefully will
inspire many others.”
Religions for Peace is the largest
multi-faith coalition for peace in the
world, with 70 inter-religious councils
across the globe. The organization
brings together leaders from
different religions to promote human
rights, reduce poverty and end
sectarian violence. Its most recent
world assembly, in 2006, drew
more than 800 religious leaders
from nearly 100 countries.
“It is especially meaningful for
Religions for Peace to receive an
award in the namesake of the first
of the ten great Gurus of Sikhism,”
said Religions for Peace Secretary
General William F. Vendley. “Guru
Nanak Dev Ji gave shape to the notion
of a ‘universal brotherhood’,
which is genuinely respectful of diverse
religious identities. The
Bindra family, the Sikh community,
and Hofstra University receive our
heartfelt appreciation for honoring
the many thousands of religious
leaders and believers – including
the heads of women of faith and
youth organizations - around the
world who cooperate through Religions
for Peace.”
Executive Committee members and well wishers of Yuva Hindi
Sansthan seen with NJ Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula at a
Community Awareness program aimed at promoting Hindi among
the new generation of Indian-Americans.
Photo: Gunjesh Desai / masalajunction.com

National Community 7
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 27- April 2, 2010
Immigration Reform
rally calls for urgency
Washington DC (SATimes): Thousands of
immigrants and activists got together at the
National Mall here for a rally on March 21
asking the Congress to expedite the process of
fixing the immigration laws and legalizing the
status of millions of illegal immigrants.
Demonstrators filled the five blocks of the
Washington Mall, down the hill from the Capitol
where last-minute negotiations were under
way on the health care bill. The immigrant activists,
chanting Obama’s campaign slogan of
“Yes we can” in Spanish and English, tried to
compete with their numbers for public and media
attention, which were mainly focused on
the climactic health care events in the House
of Representatives.
Organizers and supporters of the "March for
America" campaign want to make an immigration
overhaul the next big undertaking in
Washington.
Hundreds of community, labor and faithbased
groups nationwide joined the march.
The organizing group, Reform Immigration
for America, said Sunday's rally was larger
than the massive Washington demonstration in
April 2006, when thousands protested around
the country over immigrant rights and enforcement
practices.
Although the event had a festive, almost carnival-like
feel to it -- young and old in T-shirts
walking amid white tents and balloons while
drummers and musicians played -- many participants
came bottled up with frustration or
sorrow.
One group carried white crosses etched with
names of border crossers who died in the Arizona
desert. Crowds chanted in Spanish,
"Obama, listen, remember your promise!" -referring
to President Obama's campaign
Washington (HT Media): Manohar "Mike"
Vaswani, an Indian-American who has
worked for integrating all Asian communities
into one strong and cohesive entity, has received
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) Director's Community Leadership
Award for 2009. India born Vaswani was
among 51 community leaders recognized in a
ceremony at FBI headquarters by director
Robert S. Mueller for having "demonstrated
outstanding contributions to their local communities".
"Those honored here today represent
people from different backgrounds and
beliefs, from different corners of America, but
share some things in common: a willingness
to lead, a commitment to improving the lives
of their neighbors and a desire to make the na-
SAALT volunteers at the rally
pledge to make overhauling immigration policies
a priority in his first year.
Earlier this month, Sens. Charles E.
Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-
S.C.) proposed a new blueprint for immigration
overhaul, which the White House has endorsed.
Among other measures, the plan would
require biometric Social Security cards to ensure
that illegal workers cannot get jobs; additional
border security; a temporary worker
plan; and some path to legalization.
Obama addressed the crowd via a videotaped
message displayed on huge screens,
promising to keep working on the issue but
avoiding a specific time frame. “I have always
pledged to be your partner as we work to fix
our broken immigration system and that’s a
commitment that I reaffirm today,” Obama
said. South Asian Americans Leading Together
(SAALT) was among hundreds of organizations
that attended the rally. SAALT Executive
Director, Deepa Iyer, said, “"On Sunday,
Americans welcomed changes to the health
care and immigration systems in our country,
systems which have been broken for decades.
The 2.8 million South Asians living in the
United States will be affected by these changes
in years to come.” South Asians gathered at
the Asian American Pacific Islander pre-rally,
then marched to the Mall to demand changes
in the family and employment visa backlogs,
legalization for undocumented immigrants,
and due process rights for all. SAALT and
partner organizations, including Coney Island
Avenue Project, Desis Rising Up and Moving
(DRUM), South Asian Council For Social
Services (SACSS) and South Asian Youth Action
(SAYA!), joined allies and activists from
around the country at the March for America.
FBI honors Indian-American
for community leadership
tion safer for their fellow citizens," he said.
Selected by the Las Vegas Division of FBI,
Vaswani is the president of the Asian American
Group (AAG) and the Asian American
Coalition of Las Vegas.
Vaswani who came to the US in 1970 became
a naturalized citizen in 1978. He is a
2009 graduate of the Las Vegas FBI Citizens'
Academy. As the founder of the AAG,
Vaswani has emphasized the importance of
integrating all Asian communities into one
strong and cohesive entity so the community
members become strong citizens, FBI said.
Some of the Asian groups represented in the
AAG include: Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans,
Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Thai,
Malaysians, and Singaporeans.
First Sikh in decades
graduates at US Army
officer school
San Antonio, TX (HT Media): Amid lines of
soldiers, one after the other in standard-issue
fatigues and combat boots, was one in a turban
and full beard on Monday -- the first Sikh
in a generation allowed to complete US Army
officer basic training without sacrificing the
articles of his faith.
Capt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a 31-year-old
dentist, graduated at Fort Sam Houston after
the Army made an exemption to a uniform
policy that has effectively prevented Sikhs
from enlisting since 1984.
``I'm feeling very humbled. I'm a soldier,''
he said, grinning after the ceremony as other
members of the Sikh community milled about
nearby. ``This has been my dream.''
Rattan had to get a waiver from the Army to
be allowed to serve without sacrificing the
unshorn hair mandated by his faith. An immigrant
from India who arrived in New York as
a teenager, Rattan said it was important for
him to serve a country that has given him so
many opportunities. The Army in 1984 eliminated
an exemption that had previously allowed
Sikhs to maintain their articles of faith
while serving, but officials can issue individual
waivers to the uniform policy after considering
the effects on safety and discipline,
said Army spokesman George Wright. Only a
handful of such individual religious exemp-
Capt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist joined
US Army officer basic training course
tions are ever granted. Rattan and Dr. Kamaljeet
Singh Kalsi, who will attend basic
training this summer after completing an
emergency medicine fellowship, are the first
Sikhs to receive exemptions in more than 25
years. Rattan and Kalsi both offer health care
skills that are in high demand in an Army
stretched by wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
During training, Rattan wore a helmet over
the small turban, which he doesn't remove,
and was able to successfully create a seal with
his gas mask despite the beard, resolving the
Army's safety concerns, said Harsimran Kaur,
the Sikh Coalition's legal director.
Rattan worked with an Army tailor to create
a flash, the insignia patch worn on soldiers'
berets, that could be affixed to his black turban,
she said.

8 National Community
March 27- April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Indo-American challenges layoff by Syntel
Florida (SATimes): Prabhat Singh, a naturalized
citizen of the United States based in
Coral Springs here and employed with Syntel
Inc since June 30, 2006 has filed a case with
the Department of Justice against the company
for laying him off on grounds of “work authorization
issue.”
Being laid off due to issues with work authorization
is a well-known reason for job
loss. However this case is uncommon as Prabhat
Singh is US citizen and not a foreign national
on a work visa.
Prabhat Singh was employed by Syntel Inc
(NYSE - SYNT) as project manager and has
been working at American Express client site
Miramar FL, as a Project Manager. In 2008
November, he was assigned on a company
business in Charlotte, NC, temporarily transitioning
his responsibilities to other foreign
workers at peer level working from the off-
Store robbers gun down
Indian-American
in Kansas City
Kansas City (HT Media): India-born Gurpreet
Singh was working his final shift as a 7-
Eleven clerk, before moving on next week to
full-time job at a hospital, when he was gunned
down during a robbery.
Police say they can't explain why Singh, 35,
was shot in the abdomen early Wednesday
even after complying with the gunman's instructions
to hand over his register's cash in a
bag. ``He didn't put up a struggle at all,'' said
homicide Detective Jeff Cowdrey. ``He did
what he was supposed to do and got shot for
it.''
The encounter was recorded on the store's
surveillance cameras, and Kansas City police
Washington DC (HT Media):
India-born doctor
Jayant Patel caused the
deaths of three patients and
left a man permanently impaired
after he performed
on him a 'useless' and 'careless'
operation to remove
his bowel, an Australian
court was told.
Prosecutor Ross Martin
gave an overview of the accusations
against the former
Bundaberg Base Hospital
surgeon in his opening
address in the Supreme
Court in Brisbane Monday,
Australian news agency
AAP reported. Martin said
they would be presenting evidence to prove
Patel, 59, was responsible for the manslaughter
of Mervyn John Morris, James Edward
Phillips and Gerry Kemps. Patel, however,
has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The charges relate to Patel's time as director
of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital between
2003 and 2005.
Martin told the court that 75-year-old Morris
was 'neither a young man or a well man'
Dr.Jayant Patel was banned from
surgery in two US states
Prabhat Singh was relieved from his duties
as Project Manager due to
“work authorization issues”
are working to identify the killer and two other
people who were with him, The Kansas City
Star reported.
Singh, a divorced father of two whose family
immigrated to the US from India when he
was in middle school, was to start a new job
next week as a hospital kitchen supervisor. His
brother, Gurbhushan Singh, said he could have
skipped his final shifts at the convenience store
- where he'd already been robbed less than a
month earlier - but didn't because he had promised
to be there.
Singh called police about 1:10am local time,
after the gunman fled, then collapsed on the
floor. He later died in surgery.
Patel faces trial for
manslaughter in Australia
when he died in June
2003. He said the patient
had a history of prostate
cancer and heart disease,
but his condition worsened
after the doctor removed
part of his bowel in
May that year.
'For a variety of reasons
this was simply the wrong
thing to do ... as a consequence
of this Mr Morris
did not survive,' Martin
was quoted as saying.
Patel's case is probably
the worst medical-negligence
scandal in this
country. He allegedly falsified
his application to
practice medicine in Australia and then falsified
death certificates and refused patients'
transfers to other hospitals to cover up
'botched treatment and surgery'.
Patel, banned from surgery in two US
states, was employed at the regional Bundaberg
Base hospital for A$200,000
($195,000) per annum in 2003. In late 2003,
he was promoted to director of surgery at the
hospital.
shore location. During nearly 3 month long
company business trip, he was denied reimbursement
of all travel expenses for being a
US based worker and upon return to FL, he
was not taken back in his original role.
While Syntel protected working status of all
temporary foreign workers on work Visas
with or without any active assignment, Prabhat’s
position was abolished giving reason -
“issues with work authorization”. It was explained
that since he did not need to be in
working status to be in the US while all his
peers do, the company would let him go first
as allowed by “Will to Work” law in the state
of Florida.
Syntel inc later brought Jipson Jose from
offshore as Prabhat’s replacement on an L1
Visa. Jipson was the person Prabhat had transitioned
his responsibilities before proceeding
on company business to Charlotte NC. Ap-
Michigan (SATimes): Michigan Association
of Physicians of Indian Origin (MAPI) and
its Foundation wing -FOMAPI - donated
$10,000 to Doctors Without Borders, a Haiti
disaster relief fund. Dr. Dinesh Shah, president
of Foundation of Michigan Association
of Physicians of Indian Origin (FOMAPI), a
non profit arm of MAPI, coordinated the efforts.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF) is an international medical
humanitarian organization created by doctors
parently Syntel also filed multiple Green Card
Petitions for people at Project Manager level
after Prabhat’s release, showing unavailability
of US based worker for the same role.
Prabhat Singh says, “This was an unprecedented
case where a US citizen was hand
picked and terminated for his work authorization
status in his own country, under the Will
to Work law.”
In a press statement he alleges that Syntel
denied sharing the public notice to be given to
the DoJ as required by every employer before
brining any foreign worker. “This is an opportunity
and privilege of all US workers
while preventing abuse of visa privilege by
the employers,” he said.
Prabhat Singh is thinking of putting a
peaceful demonstration of facts in front of
American Express building within a month, to
make people aware of the issue.
Michigan Indian
physicians donate
$10 K to Haiti relief
SATimes: Binaytara Foundation has announced
the recipient of BTF medical research
grant 2009. Research project titled
“Efficacy of initial resuscitation in patients
presenting as ATS-2 in emergency units” by
Bibhusan Basnet of BP Koirala Institute of
Health Sciences, Dharan Nepal has been selected
for the grant. Each year BTF awards
research grants to medical students to encourage
them to understand and learn the
practice of evidence-based medicine early in
their medical career. The scientific advisory
committee members review the research proposals,
and after detailed peer review for scientific
merit and relevance of the proposed
and journalists in France in 1971.The Mission
of Doctors Without Borders is to provide
aid and quality medical care to people caught
in acute crisis regardless of race, religion, or
political affiliation.
Dr. Yash Shah said in a press release that
MSF also assists people who face discrimination
or neglect from their local health systems
or when populations are otherwise excluded
from healthcare.
In 1999, MSF received the Nobel Peace
Prize for its work, he added.
BTF medical research
grant 2009 announced
study, research grant awardees are selected.
Researchers are required to conduct the supported
project within the stipulated time
frame from the date of the award and, as a
condition of the grant, furnish project reports
at regular intervals. Binaytara Foundation
(BTF) is an Illinois non-profit organization
exempt from taxation pursuant to Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The
mission of the foundation is to bring social
revolution by promoting health and education.
Since its inception in 2007, BTF has
awarded four research grants to medical students
and provided several scholarships to
underprivileged schoolchildren.
Indian origin student shot dead
in Oklahoma store robbery
Oklahoma (HT Media): A 28-year-old Indian student, hailing from Hyderabad in
Andhra Pradesh, was shot dead in a store robbery in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma. Identified
as Prasanth Goinaka, the victim was a student of International Technology University
at Sunnyvale, California.
Prasanth had taken up a part time job in a convenience store three days ago. He had
come to the US just two months ago. The incident is reported to have occurred around 7-
15 pm yesterday when two men walked in to the store as customers, stole the cash from
the cash register and gunned down Prasanth. Oklahoma City Police are investigating the
case. The autopsy report is awaited.

Lucknow : Accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Mayawati of diverting central government
development funds for setting up
parks, memorials and statues, the Congress
Tuesday said Mayawati has in this way misused
around Rs.14,000 crore.
"According to our estimate, ever since she
(Mayawati) came to power in July 2007, she
has spent nearly Rs.14,000 crore on the construction
of statues, memorials and parks that
do not have any significance in terms of
development," Congress spokesperson
Akhilesh Pratap Singh told reporters at a
press conference here.
"Not only this, we have also learnt that she
(Mayawati) has a target to spend nearly Rs.
11,000 crore more for parks, memorials and
statues," he claimed.
According to Congress, Nirman Nigam -one
of the six government departments
involved in construction of memorials -- had
alone spent Rs.4,436.46 crore between July
2007 and August 2009 on the projects relating
to memorials to Dalit icon Bhimrao
Ambedkar and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
founder Kanshi Ram.
"It's really surprising that why the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
(CAG) is silent on the issue and not taking
any action to prevent any further bungling of
funds by the state government," said Singh.
India Newswire 9
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 27- April 2, 2010
Bharti resigns from her own party
New Delhi/Bhopal : Firebrand Hindutva leader Uma
Bharti resigned as president of the Bharatiya Jan Shakti
(BJS), a party she floated four years ago following her
expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). There is
talk she may return to her parent party.
Though Uma Bharti has said she was quitting on health
grounds, her surprise resignation comes amid speculation
she may return to the Nitin Gadkari-led BJP. Gadkari, the
new BJP chief, had earlier expressed his readiness to take
back some popular disgruntled party leaders.
Uma Bharti in a letter to her party's acting president
Sanghpriya Gautam, who too had walked out of the BJP to
join Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Jan Shakti, said she was
resigning "in view of the political situation in the country...
and (her) state of health".
"Responsibility as the party president and my earnest
desire for introspection and contemplation with free mind
is putting too much strain on my body and mind," the former
Madhya Pradesh chief minister wrote in her letter.
‘Maya spent over
Rs.14,000 cr on memorials’
My remarks were
intentional: Mulayam
Lucknow : Undeterred by the flak on
his remark that men would be provoked
to "indulge in eve teasing" if
the women's quota bill were to be
passed, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief
Mulayam Singh Yadav said it was a
deliberate comment to kick off a
debate on the issue. "I intentionally
made the remarks as I wanted a debate
to start on the women reservation
bill," Mulayam Yadav told a gathering
here.
"I made those remarks so that people
think about the condition and situation
which women will have to face
due to the bill," he added. He said he
had no intention of hurting women
and stated: "I want to make it clear
that no other political party other than
the SP have given more respect to
women." The SP leader, who had been
opposing the bill since its introduction
in the Rajya Sabha, had said the
women's reservation bill, if passed,
would bring to parliament "the
women youth would o whistle at".
"If the women's reservation bill
were to be passed in its existing form, it would
result in flooding the parliament and state legislatures
with wives of government officials
and women connected with big industrial
houses. I don't like to say this, but they would
be the women youth would whistle at," he
said. The remark attracted condemnation not
just from women's activists and politicians but
also from his former confidants Amar Singh
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
and Jaya Prada. While former SP general secretary
Amar Singh hoped that the National
Commission for Women would take cognizance
of the "Talibani" comment, Jaya Prada
said: "After hearing such remarks, I feel liberated
that I am not in the party."
The bill, reserving 33 percent seats in the
Lok Sabha and state legislatures for women,
has been passed by the Rajya Sabha and is to
be tabled in the Lok Sabha.
Bharatiya Jan Shakti president Uma Bharti.
"I am resigning from the party presidentship and relieving
myself of all responsibilities," said the 51-year-old
who was at the centre of a political row in the BJP.
She has requested Gautam to appoint Baburam Nishad
as the president of the party. Uma Bharti is in New Delhi.
A senior leader of the party said Uma Bharti had not
resigned from the party but quit only the post. "She has
resigned from the post of the president and not quit the
party as is being made out in the media." Uma Bharti was
a senior leader of the BJP and was a central minister. She
had openly revolted against L.K. Advani in 2004 following
which she was temporarily expelled and served a show
cause notice.
Her expulsion was revoked later, but in 2005 she was
sacked again when she opposed the appointment of
Shivraj Singh Chauhan as chief minister of Madhya
Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.

TheSouthAsianTimes.com
By Hiral Dholakia-Dave
Her parents had to flee from Uganda when
Idi Amin took over and start afresh in the
US. Being an immigrant’s daughter, she
realized the importance of being politically active
very early in life. A 34-year-old legal scholar
and a hedge fund lawyer, Reshma Saujani is first
Indian American woman to run for Congress.
And President Obama’s successful campaign
message of bringing about “change” resonates
in her effort in run up to the primary where she
is challenging a nine-term incumbent Democrat
Carolyn Maloney with her ‘passing on the baton’
and ‘new direction’ election rhetoric.
Born and brought up in Illinois, Reshma went
to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and
then Yale Law, before moving to New York in
2002. Her bid is for New York’s 14th District Congressional
seat, which covers most of the Upper
East Side south to the East Village and part of the
Lower East Side and western Queens.
Reshma may be a novice to the game of politics
but she sure has proven her savvy at fundraising,
considered a huge stepping stone towards
fortifying one’s candidacy. As founder of South
Asians for Kerry, she raised over a million for
John Kerry’s campaign in 2004 and employed the
same skills to great effect for HillPac in 2008. Her
star power is quite evident at various fundraisers
she’s hosting to garner support with heavyweight
Democratic donors in her favor.
The South Asian Times catches up with this
dynamic South Asian who might just go on to
create history if odds favor her...
* You have been a top fundraiser and now you are
into the fray. Comment.
I learned at a young age that if you don’t participate
in the political process, your rights can be taken
away in a moment’s notice. So I got involved in campaigns
at a young age, I knocked on doors, raised
money and registered voters. And now, in these challenging
times, I’m running for the Congress.
* Why do you think you stand a chance against
the incumbent Democrat?
I believe that the people of New York want a
choice in this election. I’ve traveled around the
district and I’ve met with hundreds of people and
they have encouraged me to take on this challenge.
I know I’m the underdog but I believe voters
in our district are looking for new leadership
and fresh ideas.
* Why should South Asians vote for you?
I am going to work hard to earn votes from all
communities in the district. I think South Asian voters
should support me because I’m the best candidate
to create jobs and help get our district’s economy
back on track. The economic downturn has hit
the South Asian community very hard and I want to
work to turn things around for all New Yorkers.
* Which issues are close to your heart?
I care deeply about preserving America as
the land of opportunity. I want to make sure
that future generations have the same opportunities
to succeed that I had. That’s why I’m going
to focus on innovation and job-creation in
Congress, so that people are able to provide for
Person of the Week
Reshma Saujani: Against all odds
their families and we can rebuild our economy.
Right now, hundreds of thousands of young people
are out of work and are not optimistic about
their future. We have to create opportunities for
them because they are the future.
As a product of public schools, education reform
is an issue that is very close to my heart. I
believe that getting a good education is the first
step towards success and I want to work to ensure
that all children have the opportunity to get
a first-rate education.
We cannot rebuild our economy on a broken
immigration system. We need immigration
reform now.
Also, I want to work to create meaningful
reform in the financial services industry, so
that we can have a regulatory structure in place
that fuels economic growth while protecting
our people from another destructive recession.
There are so many other critical issues and I
could go on. But those are ones that come to mind.
* What were your aspirations as an immigrant
kid growing up in the US?
I have always felt very strongly about giving
back. This country saved my parents’ lives and
gave my sister and me so many opportunities. I
feel passionate about public service and have always
wanted to dedicate my life to service.
* Did you ever see yourself into politics while
pursuing law?
I did. I’ve been involved in politics my entire
life and will always be involved. I think
participation in politics and government is critically
important and I’ve always believed that
we need to engage more people in the political
process.
* Whom do you look up to?
I look up to my parents, who came to America
with nothing and worked hard to make a good
life for themselves and for their children.
* If not politics, where do you see yourself five
years from now?
I don’t know what the future holds but I will
certainly always be involved in politics. The issues
we face are so important and I will keep advocating
for what I believe and working hard to
make people’s lives better.
* Please tell us about your family background.
My father Mike Saujani was born in a small
village, Khirasra in Saurashtra, Gujarat in India.
The town is about 60 miles from the port
city of Jamnagar. He was the youngest of the
five boys and three sisters. My mother, Meena
was born in Soroti, Uganda. My older sister
Keshma is a practicing OB GYN at a Gainsville
hospital in Georgia.
* What do you take away from your Indian and
American backgrounds?
That’s hard to say in just a few sentences, because
I have learned so much from my Indian and
American backgrounds. I think both cultures believe
that anything is possible if you work hard.
No dream is too big.
People Watch 11
March 27 - April 2, 2010
Reshma Saujani, 34, a NY attorney is in primary race taking on
nine-term Democratic incumbent
Reshma Saujani (right) speaks to a group of young mothers on January 12,
shortly before announcing her candidacy.
Reshma speaks to a group of young professionals.
At a fundraiser

12 Ultimate Bollywood
March 27- April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Rahman to tour
Oscar and Grammy-winning
musician and composer
A.R. Rahman is
set to embark on a highly anticipated
US tour in June to wow
South Asian audiences in nine
cities.
Starting with a performance at
the Nassau Coliseum in New
York on June 11, the "A.R.
Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The
Journey Home World Tour" will
travel to Atlantic City, New
Jersey, Washington DC,
Chicago, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and Houston.
Internationally produced by
Deepak Gattani and Rapport
Productions, three East Coast
shows promise to reach over
Dimple Kapadia is once
again teaming up with
two of her old co-stars -
Nana Patekar and Rishi Kapoor.
The bold and the beautiful
actress says she gets an inferiority
complex while working with
Nana even after 16 years while
she feels Rishi has now become
an "atom bomb".
Dimple is working with Nana
in forthcoming film "Tum Milo
Toh Sahi" and will be seen with
Rishi in "Patiala House".
"I was completely thrilled
when I came to know I was
being paired with
Nana...Working with him is difficult,
but it gives me great
pleasure. To match his level of
acting and performance is quite
a challenge. His portrayal and
understanding of roles continues
to make me feel inferior even
after so many years," Dimple said.
The two were first paired together in "Krantiveer" in
1994. Now they play lovers in their 50s in Kabir
Sadanand's romantic film "Tum Milo Toh Sahi" that
releases on April 2.
Dimple, who essays a Parsi woman running an old
Irani cafe in the film, says she was extremely envious
US in June
35,000 South Asian concertgoers,
known for their usually
vociferous appetite for
Bollywood entertainment.
"The A.R. Rahman concerts
are going to be a musical extravaganza,
which concert-goers
will remember in a long-time for
its originality and all-encompassing
entertainment value,"
said Shishir Misra of Rushhi
Majik, the company promoting
the East Coast concerts.
Rahman's rise to prominence
in the West came when he captured
the world spotlight last
year with his work on the film
score for Danny Boyle's
"Slumdog Millionaire" winning
a Golden Globe, two Academy
Awards and most recently two
Grammy's. On his US tour,
Rahman will collaborate with
creative director Amy Tinkham,
known for creating live musical
concerts for a variety of popmusic
icons including Britney
Spears, the Backstreet Boys and
Mariah Carey.
"A.R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert:
The Journey Home World Tour"
will be a theatrical experience
that will blend new technologies
with powerful dance arrangements
and acrobatics, the promoters
said.
A.R. Rahman will start the
tour with a performance at the
Nassau Coliseum in New York
on June 11.
Rishi is an atom
bomb: Dimple
Dimple Kapadia.
of Nana's role in the movie
when she read the script three
years ago.
"I had this script with me for
three years and I really liked it.
I liked my role, but I liked
Nana's role much more than my
own. It is lovely and beautiful. I
always told Kabir that I would
be envious of whoever would
get to play the role and, surprisingly,
it was Nana," she said.
The 52-year-old actor says
that though most actors feel
Nana is tough to work with,
there are very few in the film
industry as helpful as him.
"Nana is extremely helpful.
The climax of 'Tum Milo...' was
not easy to shoot, but it was
Nana who almost co-directed
the scene with Kabir to see me
through it. I completely dedicate
that scene to him.
"Nana has always been superb at his work, very
focused and dedicated. I guess it is his theatre background
that makes him so, but I really admire him for
his work," she said.
Another actor that Dimple feels happy working with
is the evergreen Rishi Kapoor, with whom she made
her debut in 1973 film "Bobby". At that time, she was
just 16. Later, they were paired
together in films like "Saagar",
"Pyaar Mein Twist" and more
recently "Luck By Chance".
"I've worked with Rishi on a couple
of films. He has been consistently
good, he always had brilliant
energy. But now, my god, he is an
atom bomb. I am so glad he is doing
so much work these days," said
Dimple.
She will now be seen with Rishi in
"Patiala House", which also stars her
son-in-law Akshay Kumar.
Divya Dutta
Hollywood bound
Ve rsatile
actress Divya
Dutta, who
wowed audiences
with her performances
in "Delhi 6",
"Morning Walk" and
"Welcome to
Sajjanpur", has
bagged a couple of
Hollywood projects.
One of them is
"Hisss", and she says
it's one of her best
roles.
Directed by
Jennifer Lynch, the
film is about a snakewoman
who can
transform herself into
a human being at
will. While Mallika
Sherawat plays the
female lead, Divya
will be seen as Irrfan
Khan's love interest.
"It is one of the challenging roles
I have received. I am really looking
forward to it. I play Irrfan's love
interest, who is passionate as well
as sensitive. The role is not cliched
and has subtle things to portray. It
is one of my best roles," Divya
said.
The film is being shot in the jungles
of Kerala and other parts of
India to give it an authentic touch.
Apart from "Hisss", Divya has
two more Hollywood projects in
hand. One of them is Emmy winning
director Fred Holmes' "Heart
Land".
"'Heart Land' is a light hearted
film in which I am playing a
Punjabi girl. It deals with a sensitive
relationship my character
shares with a much older man from
Apart from "Hisss", Divya has two more
Hollywood projects in hand.
the US," said the actress, who
seems to be impressed with
Hollywood's working style.
"People from the West are
extremely passionate and disciplined
about work. Everyone, from
the junior level to the director, is so
involved that we have no choice
but to give our best," she added.
The films also stars Amelia
Jackson Gray, Reg Grant and
Stephan Mario Singh.
Divya refuses to divulge details
about her third Hollywood project
saying she is bound by a contract.
The actress was also seen on the
small screen in serials like
"Kadam" and "Shanno ki Shaadi".
She says although she enjoyed her
stint on TV, she has no plans to
return to soaps or serials.

Ultimate Bollywood 13
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 27- April 2, 2010
Aamir performs on
small screen, finally
Aamir Khan, who
usually stays
away from any
stage performances,
teamed up with his "3
Idiots" co-star Kareena
Kapoor to shake a leg to
raise funds for artists
who need financial support.
STAR India Pvt.
Limited and Cine & TV
Artist Association (CIN-
TAA) are coming up
with an entertainment
program called "CIN-
TAA - Super Stars Ka
Jalwa" in which 52
actors will come together
to raise funds for
needy artists.
Aamir had to postpone
the shoot due to a seri-
ous leg injury but, after recuperating, he completed the shoot on
time.
The fund will be used to construct a building that will have medical
facilities, rehearsal halls, theatre, gym, club, library, restaurant
and two offices.
The show to be telecast for two hours every Sunday has been coproduced
by Sohail Khan Entertainment and Seventy Event
Management.
Manoj Bajpai says his
character in forthcoming
"Raajneeti" is very similar
to Duryodhana from the Hindu
epic Mahabharata - he is powerful,
regal and politically motivated.
"I am playing Virendra Pratap
Singh. My role is almost like
Duryodhana in Mahabharata,"
Manoj said.
"Duryodhana always felt he had
inherited the power his father had.
He is regal; he is somebody who is
not cheap.
He is someone who will not let
things go so easily. He is one
whose mind is politically motivated
and can go to any extent to get
things done. This is what gives him
high and nothing else," the actor
said.
Manoj, known for his powerpacked
performances in movies
Aamir Khan will perform in
‘CINTAA - Super Stars Ka Jalwa’
on Star TV.
like "Satya", "Zubeidaa", "Kaun"
and "Pinjar", adds that every char-
Bollywood superstar Shah
Rukh Khan loves his celebrity
status and admits he
would never want to live without it
even for a few moments.
"I don't want to be anonymous...
I'm very honest about that. I love
being recognized, I love people liking
me, I love the fact that people
scream when I go out, I think I'll
miss all that when it's taken away,
and I don't even think about it," said
Shah Rukh in an interview to CNN's
Talk Asia.
"I think that's why I work harder
every year, every day, every month
and every moment. I'm not standing
and counting the people outside my
house, but I don't want them to
lessen," he added.
When Shah Rukh came to
Mumbai in 1991 to make it big in
Bollywood, he had no film background.
But with his sheer hardwork
and determination, the actor
hit the bull's eye.
His popularity soarred high with
blockbusters like "Dilwale Dulhania
Le Jayenge", "Baazigar", "Kuch
Kuch Hota Hai", "Darr", "Pardes",
"Dil Toh Pagal Hai" and "Chak De!
My character in 'Rajneeti'
resembles Duryodhana: Bajpai
acter in the film directed by
Prakash Jha has grey shades.
Lata, Rafi songs to pepper Vivek’s play
Alarge number of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohmmad Rafi's evergreen melodies from the 1950s will be
used in the Bollywood-inspired play featuring Vivek Oberoi, Isha Sharvani and Gauhar Khan at
Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon, the capital's suburban town in Haryana.
"The first half will have 11 evergreen melodies. The second-half will have 8-9 songs.
We're still looking in on the final songs. There's dispute about some of the songs to be
included," lyricist Javed Akhtar said.
The yet-to-be titled play will be staged in May at the newly constructed entertainment
and leisure hotspot, and Javed says it will be unlike any thing done on stage in India so
far.
"I had seen a lot of theatre, I've written 'Kaifi Aur Main'. But that is not pure theatre.
Vivek Oberoi.
A poster of the film Rajneeti.
And besides I've hardly used my own words in 'Kaifi Aur Main'. I've either taken
excerpts from Shaukat Azmi's book or interviews on video," Javed Akhtar said.
I never want to be
anonymous: SRK
Even though Shah Rukh Khan never wants people's focus to shift from
him, he says inherently he is a shy person.
India". Even though the 44-yearold
never wants people's focus to
shift from him, he says inherently
he is a shy person.
"I'm basically shy and I have to
really prepare myself to go and let
myself go on a set. There are certain
things I started, I tried them and
then I started feeling very awkward
Shabana learns
Punjabi while
Shabana Azmi has
found an inventive
way of spending
her time while she waits
for her fractured leg to
heal. She has been learning
Punjabi at home for
the dubbed Punjabi version
of Gurinder
Chadha's "It's A
Wonderful Afterlife".
And Shabana is having
a ball. "I've been dubbing
Gurinder Chadha's film
from the English to the
Punjabi. The Punjabi version
is called 'Hai Mar
Java'. I never knew I
could speak Punjabi! It's
the first time, and I'm
enjoying myself. A girl
named Shweta who is a
professional Punjabi dubbing
instructor is guiding me on the
right pronunciation and diction.
She seems quite pleased with the
results."
Shabana has more reason to be
happy. Her husband Javed
Akhtar has been nominated to
the Rajya Sabha. Says the
ecstatic wife. "I am delighted
with Javed's nomination to the
Rajya Sabha. His is a secular liberal
articulate and most important
of all sane voice that we
doing them ... like laughing on
screen. "I find it extremely odd to
laugh on screen. I find it extremely
odd to use bad language so I don't
do a film like that... kissing and love
making (on screen) is the other
thing, because I just find it odd,"
said the actor who is currently
working on his film "Ra.One".
leg heals
Shabana Azmi is learning Punjabi for
the dubbed Punjabi version of Gurinder
Chadha's "It's A Wonderful Afterlife".
need in today's stressful times.
He truly is to the manner born!"
Speaking on how Javed Akhtar
could make a difference from
the parliament Shabana says, "I
expect he will take up issues of
the film industry, secularism,
women and the city of Mumbai.
He is fortunate to have around
him a resource base of academics
activists and the corporate
world. You cannot fix Javed into
a type...he embraces a cross section
of interests and people".

14 Finance
March 27- April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Harry Aurora
Foreclosure Statistics,
Procedures and Relief II
Harry Aurora is a mortgage banker and leading realtor,
serving the community for over a decade, operating
under Wall St Commercial Capital. His Sherman
Oaks Realty is helping homeowners and investors in
Manhattan and Nassau County. Recently, Aurora's
new venture Wall Street Modification Services has
helped hundreds of homeowners save their houses
from foreclosure. He can be contacted at 516-681-
8000, email: harry@shermanoaksrealty.com, website:
wallstreetmodification.com. This is his second monthly
column on the subject.
Dear Homeowners, in our previous article we brought you the current statistics
as of the last fiscal year in terms of Short-Sales and Foreclosures
in New York as a percentage of the total relief funds applied to the Tarp
program. The most important indicator of the same is the Foreclosure rate which
is depicted below as of 02/28/2010 (Source: Bloomberg).
In the above chart we can see that on 1st Jan 2010 the Foreclosure rate was
350,000 Houses which went down to 310,000 houses as of today. Therefore, we
have an average reduction of 40,000 nationwide in 3 months.
Below mentioned are latest rates on mortgage nationwide as of Mar 17th 2010.
As per Herbert Allison – Assistant Secretary of Treasury,last year about 30 percent
of borrowers in trial-payment plans had turned in the necessary paperwork
to qualify for a permanent loan modification so far, the only problem is that if an
eligible borrower with three months of trial payments doesn’t turn in all their
paperwork by year-end “jeopardize their chance to get a permanent modification”.This
is the present view of the banks regarding modification as per a
research study by federal reserve last year.
The Above Charts show the Waterfall of eligible borrowers which practically
state which removes the existing notion of people of being delinquent and getting
their loan modified. A closer look at the red bars on both sides show us the
amount of Hamp approvals granted by the govt in terms of the 60+ delinquency.Below
mentioned are the Predominant reasons for Permanent Modifications
as per the latest reports released by the Treasury in Feb ‘2010 & Jan ‘2010.
Below mentioned is the data for Feb ‘2010 which states NY has the maximum
number of Trial and Permanent Modifications and the number is growing.
At Bank of America Corp., which accounts for almost a third of the loans targeted
by the program, 55 percent of borrowers aren’t eligible because they are
unemployed, don’t live in the home or their mortgage payment is less than 31
percent of gross monthly income, Mr. Jack Schakett, who runs the bank’s credit
loss mitigation strategies, said in an interview last December. Bank of America
has moved approximately 65,000 trial payment plans into permanent status by
Dec. 31. Of those, 50,000 have either not submitted any of their paperwork or
have submitted incomplete or inaccurate information, Schakett said and this is
the very reason for their negotiators and Loss mitigation analysts are delayed
with granting Trial and Permanent Modifications. Mortgage Bankers
Association state they have ramped up staffing to keep up with the “extraordinary”
volume of applications and flurry of paperwork. JPMorgan Chase had
opened 30 homeownership centers in 13 states, with 21 more planned for the
first quarter of 2010, to more directly reach borrowers and help collect paperwork.
The bank has added more than 2,550 new loan modification counselors
and 2,825 mortgage operations employees this year to deal with the “unprecedented
volume,” Molly Sheehan, who runs housing policy for the company’s
home lending division. New York State has had highest number of Hamp
approvals with servicer participation agreements to modify loans under HAMP
which rose from 63 to 102 last December.
Conclusion:
As per the latest report by our president released on January 19th 2010 on the
Modification Conversion Drive More Than 850,000 Homeowners Now with
Median Payment Reductions Exceeding $500; More Than 110,000 Permanent
Modifications Approved to Date Aggressive Administration Campaign which
significantly accelerates Conversion Rate; December Push Doubles Number of
Permanent Modifications Over Life of Program.
The new February 2010 data shows us that more than one million borrowers
are receiving a median savings of $500 each month - a 36 percent median
monthly payment decrease. Permanent modifications have been granted to
170,000 homeowners and an additional 91,800 permanent modifications have
been approved by servicers and are pending only borrower acceptance. On
February 19, 2010, President Obama announced $1.5 billion in funding for innovative
measures to help families in the states that have been hit the hardest by the
aftermath of the burst of the housing bubble.
States where house prices have fallen more than 20% from their peak are eligible
for this funding. As of now, HAMP is designed to offer through 2012 up to 3-
4 million homeowners reduced monthly mortgage payments that are affordable
and sustainable over the long-term.

By Vir Sanghvi,
HT Media
Here is a hypothetical
situation.
Imagine that the
Indian police arrest a
man who had advance
knowledge of the 9/11 plot. Not only did he
work with the conspirators but he had also
been sent to New York several times to conduct
reconnaissance so that the terrorists
would be able to successfully execute their
assault.
Naturally, the US would want to extradite
this person so that he could be tried in a US
court for his involvement in one of the
worst acts of terrorism in recent times. Assume
now that India not only refused to discuss
the extradition but also denied the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) any access
to the suspect. “We will tell you what
he is saying,” the Central Bureau of Investigation
would insist. “There is no way you
can interrogate him face to face.”
Take our scenario further. Imagine now
that even as the US seethes at being denied
access to this important link in the 9/11
case, India announces that it has done a deal
with the man. He will plead guilty to all
charges. So, there is no question of the
death penalty under our law. Nor is there
any prospect of his being prosecuted under
American law. Part of the deal is that we
have assured the suspect that we will never
extradite him. As for the sentence, that is
still to be worked out but it will be decided
on the basis of the deal that we have made
with the terrorist.
How do you suppose America will react?
The answers are obvious. There would be
a diplomatic incident.
The secretary of state would call our
home minister (or perhaps our prime minister)
to insist that the terrorist is handed over
By Pankaj Vohra,
HT Media
The most obvious aspect of the new team
announced by BJP president Nitin Gadkari
is that it has the unmistakable stamp
of L.K. Advani. The only change that had been
promised by the RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan
Bhagwat last year has been in the ritual of replacing
Rajnath Singh with his blue-eyed boy
Gadkari at the very top of the saffron party.
Otherwise, it is Advani’s team to be spearheaded
in the organisation by Ananth Kumar and
Ravi Shankar Prasad and in Parliament by
Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.
Gadkari, who had appeared to have won
round one in Indore during the meeting of the
National Council, seems to have surrendered to
Advani who rightly said that he may have quit
the position of the leader of Opposition but had
not retired from active politics. Both Gadkari
and his mentor Bhagwat, a veterinary doctor by
profession, have demonstrated that their interests
were confined only to Maharashtra. It is,
therefore, not surprising that nearly 30 activists
from that state alone have been accommodated
to the FBI. India would be accused of betraying
the war on terror. How can we prosecute
the man in our country, we would be
asked, when the crime he was involved in
occurred in America? There would be
threats galore. We would be warned of a
suspension of aid. Summits would be cancelled
and so on.
I have spent some time outlining this scenario
because it closely parallels something
that has actually happened: except that in
this case, the terrorist was involved in
26/11, not 9/11. And it is not India that is refusing
to extradite him but America that has
told us to go take a flying jump.
It is not difficult to see why the case of
David Headley evokes such strong emotions
among Indians. For us, 26/11 is as important
as 9/11 is to Americans. The difference
is that while the US knows pretty
much everything it needs to about 9/11 —
in the National Executive and among officebearers.
Both had been very keen to get Sanjay
Joshi to replace Ram Lal as the representative
of the Sangh in the BJP. But this has not happened.
No prizes for guessing why. The majority
of office-bearers have never contested polls
especially as al-Qaeda has openly taken
credit for the attack — India is still trying to
piece together the details of the conspiracy.
It is the US that has told us that Headley
made several reconnaissance trips for
26/11.
Naturally, we believe that such a man not
only deserves to be punished by an Indian
court but that his information may hold the
key to unraveling the 26/11 plot. What’s
more, we suspect that Headley also suggested
Poona as a potential terror target.
How many other such targets did he pinpoint?
Until we interrogate him, we will
never know.
So, why is the US behaving in this manner?
Say what you will about the Americans
but the truth is that till now, they have genuinely
tried to fight a global war against terror
and have regularly involved the world’s
intelligence agencies in this effort.
of any nature and political circles have been left
wondering how the Rajya Sabha types or those
who know little about the ‘art and science’ of
contesting elections will provide the BJP organizational
strength when it comes to going in
for assembly or Lok Sabha polls.
The only political point that Gadkari has
managed to score over the Advani camp is his
act of nominating an ailing Atal Bihari Vajpayee
to the Parliamentary Board.
There has been widespread criticism over
why the former prime minister, no longer in the
pink of health, was named to the party’s highest
body. Gadkari has apparently done this to
convey to Advani that he was not the numero
uno, either symbolically or theoretically. As
long as he lives, Vajpayee will remain the top
BJP leader and Advani, despite playing a more
successful political innings, will have to be the
perpetual number two man.
Gadkari’s team lacks the potential to beat
even the ‘B’ team of the Congress. It has tired
and retired faces as compared to the youthful
appeal of the Congress. If one takes away
Shahnawaz Hussain and Varun Gandhi, there is
hardly anyone who can appeal to the youth.
Op Ed 15
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 27- April 2, 2010
What does America have to hide?
A court design of David Headley being produced before the judge in Chicago.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
It is not difficult to
see why the case of
David Headley
evokes such strong
emotions among
Indians. For us,
26/11 is as important
as 9/11 is to
Americans. The difference
is that
while the US knows
pretty much everything
it needs to
about 9/11 — especially
as al-Qaeda
has openly taken
credit for the attack
— India is still trying
to piece together
the details of the
conspiracy. It is the
US that has told us
that Headley made
several reconnaissance
trips for
26/11.
Gadkari’s team bears Advani’s mark
Ananth Kumar has the ability to be a future
leader but he has many miles to go before that
happens. Gadkari, who had sung a popular
movie song at Indore in a filmi style, seems to
be also obsessed with introducing glamour at
the cost of budding activists. How can one explain
the exclusion of someone like Amit Thaker,
the president of the Yuva Morcha? This
over-emphasis on glamour could prove to be a
costly affair when it comes to the polls.
Murli Manohar Joshi, who was being tipped
to take over an important position due to his
seeming proximity to Bhagwat, has been further
marginalized. In his capacity as a past
president he will be in the Parliamentary
Board, which incidentally has six Brahmins as
members. None of Joshi’s close supporters
have found a berth in the new set-up and the
show seems to be over for him as far as the RSS
and BJP go unless destiny wills otherwise.
The announcement of the team when the
Congress was at its most vulnerable stage is not
going to make things better for the Sangh Parivar.
But hats off to Advani. He has humbled the
RSS and shown Bhagwat and Gadkari their
place. Between us.

16 Subcontinent & Diaspora
March 27-April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Washington: Pakistan appeared
to have found little encouragement
from the US as it raised two
of its pet peeves - an India-type
civil nuclear deal and mediation
on Kashmir - at their first strategic
dialogue here.
The very first question that US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
fielded at the end of the first
round of meetings with Pakistan
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi was whether Washington
was prepared to discuss an Indiatype
nuclear deal with Pakistan.
Her answer, couched in diplomatese,
made it fairly clear that
while Washington was willing to
listen to everything on Pakistan's
long wish list presented in a 56page
memorandum ahead of the
talks, progress on such "complicated
issues" could be expected
only over time.
"We have a broad agenda with
many complicated issues like the
one you referred to," Clinton said
without using the "nuclear" word.
"... we've said that we will listen
to and engage with our Pakistani
partners on whatever issues the
delegation raises."
"We don't just make announcements
and then forget about them
US says no to N-deal with Pak
and get the headlines and move
on," she said. "So this dialogue
that we're engaged in is helping us
build the kind of partnership that
can make progress over time on
the most complicated of issues."
US "was committed to helping
Pakistan meet its real energy
needs" and was "particularly
pleased that we are moving forward
with $125 million to
Pakistan for energy sector projects,"
Clinton said.
Similarly when asked why
"Americans seem too reluctant to
play their real role" on issues
India to insist on direct
access to Headley
Bangalore/New Delhi:
India on March 25 asserted
it would insist on and
was confident of interrogating
David Headley
over the Mumbai terror
attack, a day after US
ambassador Timothy
Roemer said no decision
had been taken on giving
New Delhi direct access
to the Pakistani
American terror suspect.
"One day or the other,
the US will have to agree and
expedite the issue that Headley
will have to undergo interrogation
by our agencies," Law Minister M.
Veerappa Moily said in Bangalore.
Moily told reporters that "this is
a matter (where) we need to press
hard our argument and tell them
what's necessary. We have to make
a strong case which we have
already made out. He is involved,
really involved (in the Mumbai
attacks)."
Coinciding with Moily's assertion,
a home ministry official told
IANS in New Delhi: "The government
will go by what US Attorney
General Eric Holder told Home
Minister (P. Chidambaram). He
(Holder) is the top boss of the justice
department in the US government."
He said New Delhi would soon
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi with US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton.
A sketch of David Headley in the courtroom
in Chicago.
ask the US authorities for specific
dates to question Headley, who
visited India more than once to
look for targets that Pakistan-based
terrorists could attack.
Eventually, 10 well-armed terrorists
sneaked into Mumbai by
sea from Pakistan and went on a
killing spree in November 2008,
leaving 166 Indians and foreigners
dead.
"The government has already
started preparations to form a team
(to be sent to the US). The ambassador's
remark has not stopped
that," the official said.
Roemer signaled a change in the
US stance over giving India access
to Headley, who is in US custody
and has confessed to his role in the
Mumbai attack. "No decision on
direct access for India to David
Headley has been made," the
ambassador said.
related to Taliban, terrorism and
India, she reiterated that while
Washington encouraged a dialogue
between India and Pakistan,
it was for them to resolve any
issues bilaterally.
"Well, I think it's important to
recognize that the United States
has positive relationships with
both Pakistan and India. And we
certainly encourage the dialogue
between India and Pakistan,"
Clinton said.
"The issues that are part of that
dialogue need to be addressed,
and resolution of them between
London: A British economist of
Indian origin has been left perplexed
after being hailed by a cult as its 'chosen
one' who it believes was hiding in
the Himalayas for 2,000 years. 'I'm
not the messiah... I'm just an economics
expert,' an exasperated Raj Patel
has been saying after being bombarded
with email messages from followers
of cult Share International across
the world. The cult, founded by
Scotsman Creme in the 1950s,
believes that the 18-million-year-old
Maitreya - the 'chosen one' -- combines
elements of Christianity,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam and has
been living for the past 2,000 years in the Himalayas.
It all began when Patel, 37, gave a TV interview in
the US in January to discuss his book, 'The Value of
Nothing', on the global financial crisis.
Thereafter, Share International founder Benjamin
Creme stated that the cult's 'chosen one' or Maitreya
the two countries would certainly
be in everyone' s best interest,' she
said.
"But I want to just underscore
that our goal in the Obama
Administration is to make clear
that we are going to be a partner
with Pakistan going forward on a
full range of matters."
"Now, we can't dictate Pakistani
foreign policy or Indian foreign
policy. But we can encourage, as
we do, the in-depth discussion
between both countries that we
think would benefit each of them
with respect to security and devel-
opment," Clinton said.
But Qureshi was quick to add
that while Islamabad respected
US-India bilateral relations, all
that it was insisting on was that
those relations should not be at
the cost of Pakistan. He also suggested
that India would have to
"revisit its policy" very soon.
"As far as India is concerned,
they are a sovereign country and
they have bilateral relations and
we respect that. But all we are
saying that those relations should
not be at the cost of Pakistan," he
said.
Oz cops face sack over racist emails
Melbourne: A veteran police officer
who killed himself this week is
among many officers identified
during a crackdown over racist
and pornographic emails, an
Australian police officer said on
March 25.
Chief Commissioner of Victoria
Police Simon Overland stated that
the racist, homophobic and pornographic
emails shared by the officers
were too shocking ever to be
US rules out mediation
Washington: Ruling out a mediatory role between India and
Pakistan, the US has said that while it welcomed a dialogue
between the two South Asian nations, including on the issue of
Kashmir, the modalities were for them to decide.
"Well, we've always welcomed dialogue and better relations
between India and Pakistan, including on the issue of Kashmir,"
State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.
"But the pace, scope, and character of that dialogue are really
something for the Indian and Pakistani leaders to decide," he said
when asked if Pakistan's demand for a more "constructive engagement"
on the Kashmir was on the table at the US-Pakistan strategic
dialogue.
Toner like other administration officials also suggested that while
the US would listen to everything that Pakistan had to say, including
its plea for an India-type nuclear deal, it was unwilling to "pre-empt
or prejudge" issues as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton put it.
NRI economist Raj Patel
hailed as messiah
Raj Patel
released, the Herald Sun reported.
Senior police officers are among
about 100 officers who could be
reprimanded or sacked. Overland
confirmed that an officer of 30
years who killed himself this week
at Healesville police station was
among officers identified during a
crackdown on computer usage.
Sergeant Tony Vangorp, who
could have been sacked over a
"seriously inappropriate email",
had finally arrived, The Sun reported
Thursday.
He told the cult members: 'Maitreya
recently gave his first interview in
America. The master of all the masters
for the first time in human history himself
came on a well-known television
programme on a major network. But
undeclared as Maitreya, just as one of
us.'
According to the cult, Patel shares
many of the characteristics of Maitreya.
Raj, who was raised a Hindu, was quoted
as saying: 'I started getting emails
saying 'Are you the world teacher?'
Then it wasn't just random internet folk, but also
friends saying, 'Have you seen this?' It's absurd to be
put in this position when I'm just some bloke.' He
rejected his so-called holy credentials. Yet two members
of the cult flew 2,400 miles to meet him at a
book signing in his current US hometown, San
Francisco.
resigned before committing suicide.
Another officer also faces
the sack over an "extremely racist
email". The most serious email
was believed to show an ethnic
man being tortured.
Overland refused to confirm if
the emails contained racist comments
against Indian students or
Africans, two minority groups
who have repeatedly criticized
police conduct in recent months.

17 International & Business
March 27- April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Obama signs healthcare bill into law
Washington: US President Barack Obama has signed into
law the landmark Health Care bill that introduces sweeping
reforms in the country's health care system, capping a historic
legislative victory that had eluded several of his predecessors.
"Today, after almost a century of trying, today after over a
year of debate, today after all the votes have been tallied,
health insurance reform becomes law in the united states of
America," Obama said at the signing ceremony held at the
White House.
The Senate had passed the Bill that eluded several of
Obama's predecessors, including Bill Clinton and George
W Bush.
Obama was flanked by some of the key- architects of the
bill and all those who made this happen including the Vice
President, Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Sen Edward Kennedy's widow Vicki was also present at
the historic signing in ceremony.
"You know, it is fitting that Congress passed this historic
Washington: President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House in the
midst of a serious dispute that spoiled what might have been a
celebration of a recent agreement for
a new round of peace talks with the
Palestinians.
Obama and Netanyahu conferred
for about 90 minutes in the Oval
Office, but in a break with custom
reporters were not invited to see the
close allies shake hands and begin
their discussions.
The White House had no immediate
comment on what was discussed.
Netanyahu did not leave the White
House for another two hours after his
formal talks with Obama, but what
New Delhi: Promising a renewed focus
on infrastructure that will need $1 trillion
in investment during 2012-17,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said
India will grow at 8.5 percent next fiscal,
accelerating to 10 percent in the
medium term.“Despite adverse global
situation, the Indian economy grew by
6.7 percent during fiscal 2008-09, which
will accelerate to 7.2 percent this fiscal
that ends in a few days time,” the prime
minister told a conference organized by
the Planning Commission.“We expect a
growth of 8.5 percent in 2010-11 and I
do hope we can achieve 9 percent in 2011-12,” he said, adding:
“But we need to do even better. A 10 percent per annum target
is what we should work towards.”Manmohan Singh, who is
also the chairman of Planning Commission, said while a double-digit
growth looked ambitious, it was not impossible and
was something that had indeed been achieved by some emerging
economies.“For this we will make continued improvements
in our policy regime and procedures,” the prime minister
told the conference, primarily to deliberate on Building
Infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Agriculture Minister
Sharad Pawar, Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal
Nath, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Planning
Commission Deputy Chairman were among those who attended
the conference. According to the prime minister, in the next
legislation this week, for as we mark the turning of spring,
we also mark a new season in America. In a few moments,
when I sign this bill, all of the overheated rhetoric over
Obama and Israeli PM
meet amid dispute
President Barack Obama with Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
he was doing during that time was not immediately clear.
At issue is Israel's announcement two weeks ago, as Vice
President Joe Biden visited the country, that it will build 1,600
new apartments in east Jerusalem, the
largely Arab section of the disputed
holy city.Palestinians claim east
Jerusalem as the capital of a future state
and have delayed new US-sponsored
peace talks over what they say is an
Israeli land grab.Israel yesterday
unveiled a grandiose plan for hotels,
businesses and new housing for
Palestinians in the centre of east
Jerusalem, but the announcement only
brought Palestinian suspicion that it
was an unacceptable payoff for new
building in Jewish neighbourhoods.
10 pc growth within India's reach: Manmohan
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivering
the inaugural address at the conference
on Building Infrastructure: Challenges and
Opportunities, in New Delhi on March 23.
US President signing the bill into law. He says this legislation
will also lower costs for families and for businesses
and for the federal government, reducing deficit by over
$1 trillion in the next two decades.
Five Year Plan (2012-17), India will
need double the investment of $500 billion
that will go into infrastructure
development in current plan
period."Preliminary exercises suggest
investment in infrastructure will have to
expand to $1 trillion in the 12th Five
Year Plan. I urge the Finance Ministry
and the Planning Commission to draw
up a plan of action for achieving this
level of investment."He emphasized
that a successful infrastructure development
strategy depended crucially and
critically on implementation, and the
the federal and state governments needed to give top priority to
strengthen the capabilities.
The prime minister also outlined some of the programs on
infrastructure currently under development:- In electricity, the
problem of high transmission and distribution losses was being
tackled through accelerated power development and reform
program- In roads, work was on to strengthen capacity with
changes made in policy for greater private participation- For
railroad, there was a focus on dedicated corridors for both
freight and passenger trains, apart from metro rail projects
being increasingly pursued in many cities- In aviation, the
Delhi and Mumbai airports are undergoing a complete transformation,
airports the at Hyderabad and Bangalore have
already been operationalized, while the upgrade process will
start for Kolkata and Chennai.
reform will finally confront the reality of reform," Obama
said minutes before he put his signature on the bill.
"The bill I'm signing will set in motion reforms that generations
of Americans have fought for and marched for and
hungered to see. It will take four years to implement fully
many of these reforms, because we need to implement them
responsibly," he said.
Obama said this year insurance companies will no longer
be able to drop people's coverage, when they get sick or
they won't be able to place lifetime limits or restrictive
annual limits on the amount of care they can receive.
The President said once this reform is implemented,
health insurance exchanges will be created, a competitive
marketplace, where uninsured people and small businesses
will finally be able to purchase affordable quality insurance.
Obama said this legislation will also lower costs for families
and for businesses and for the federal government,
reducing deficit by over $1 trillion in the next two decades.
"It is paid for, it is fiscally responsible. And it will help lift
a decades-long drag on our economy," he said.
‘Without Google,
China’s net
will suffer’
Google has redirected mainland users of its
Chinese-language search engine
Beijing: Google’s decision to shut down its Chinese-language
search engine is likely to stunt the development of
the Internet in China and isolate local web users, analysts
say.
The US Internet giant is the only big search player in
the world’s largest online market, and its reduced presence
leaves a web dominated by domestic firms, meaning
less competition and innovation, they say.“It is
becoming more like an echo chamber,” said Jeremy
Goldkorn, founder of media and advertising website
Danwei.org. “It is one step closer to this word ...
Chinternet — or the Chinese Internet becoming more
like an Intranet.”
Google acted on its threat to stop censoring itself in
China, redirecting mainland users of its Chinese-language
search engine Google.cn to its Hong Kong site,
which is not subject to mainland censorship.But searches
from mainland China of sensitive key words on the
Google.com.hk site are still blocked, which analysts say
means Beijing is filtering the results through its “Great
Firewall”.
“There actually isn’t that big a difference in terms of
getting information,” said Shaun Rein, MD of China
Market Research Group in Shanghai. Chinese search
engine Baidu already had 58.4 per cent market share at
the end of 2009, ahead of Google’s 35.6 per cent, according
to research firm Analysys International.
The next nearest rival was Sogou, with one percent
share would leave Baidu virtually unchallenged. “It is
always better to keep Baidu and the other search engines
more honest by having competition from Google,” Rein
said.

18 Sports
March 27- April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
India announces team for
T20 World Cup
Mumbai: Bangalore pacer
Ranganath Vinay Kumar was the
lone new face in the 15-member
squad announced by the cricket
selectors on March 26 for the
Twenty20 World Cup.
Chief selector K. Srikkanth and
his colleagues decided to go
ahead with Gautam Gambhir and
Ashish Nehra, who were injured
while playing for Delhi
Daredevils in the Indian Premier
League (IPL).
Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli
failed to find a place in the team.
Vinay Kumar was finally rewarded
for his consistent performance
in the domestic circuit, especially
with Bangalore Royal
Challengers. Vinay Kumar is the
joint second highest wicket-taker
in the IPL with eight scalps. Legspinner
Piyush Chawla also found
a place while selectors preferred
the experience of Rohit Sharma to
strengthen the middle order.
Team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(captain), Virender Sehwag (vicecaptain),
Gautam Gambhir,
Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh,
Tendulkar powers
Mumbai Indians
to victory
Mumbai: Riding on Sachin
Tendulkar's masterful 72 and
Shikhar Dhawan's blazing 56,
Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai
Super Kings by five wickets in an
Indian Premier League match.
Super Kings scored 180 for two
with Suresh Raina (83) and
Subramaniam Badrinath (55) sharing
an unbeaten stand of 142 runs.
Mumbai Indians chased down the
target with an over to spare.
Tendulkar continued with his
amazing run in the tournament,
scoring 72 off 52 balls, striking
eight fours and one six. Left handed
Dhawan hit 56 off 34 balls with
five fours and three sixes.
With the victory, Mumbai
Indians reached at the top of the
table with four wins in five matches.
Super Kings are at fifth place
with two victories in six matches.
Dhawan demolished the Super
Kings bowling and with the lefthander
in rampaging form,
Tendulkar focussed on rotating the
strike. In Bangalore, Delhi
Daredevils snapped the four-match
winning run of Royal Challengers
Bangalore, beating the home side
by 17 runs in Indian Premier
League.
Delhi Darevevils posted a challenging
183 for five after being put
to bat with middle order batsman
Kedar Jadhav scoring an unbeaten
50 runs off 29 balls. AB de Villiers
contributed 45.
Royal Challengers made a good
Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrives for a meeting of the selection
committee at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
headquarters in Mumbai on March 26.
Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan also
made a blazing 56.
start through Manish Pande (39)
and Jacques Kallis (27) but suddenly
lost quick wickets and finished
at 166 for nine in 20 overs.
Amit Mishra (2-23) and Andrew
McDonald (2-42) did the damage
with the ball.
Pande and Kallis shared a 71-run
stand in 9.1 overs, but then the
Challengers suddenly lost the plot
as wickets tumbled one after the
other. They were reduced to 137
for eight. Virat Kohli struck an
unbeaten 38 and tried to resurrect
the innings but found no support
from the other end.
Table toppers Royal Challengers
lost their second game in six outings
while Daredevils scored their
third win from six matches.
Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh,
Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan,
Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, R.
Vinay Kumar, Dinesh Karthik,
Rohit Sharma and Piyush Chawla
Sports gets lost in IPL: P.T. Usha
Chennai: Kerala's cricket may
have received a shot in the arm
with little-known Rendezvous
Sports World Limited adding commercial
hub Kochi to the Indian
Premier League, but legendary
sprint queen P.T. Usha sees it as
pure business and a dampener to
the efforts to revive the state's glorious
past in athletics.
"Those who invested money in
the IPL look for profits. The players
will never feel that they are representing
the country. If I invest
my money, I will surely look for
ways to recover the investment,"
Usha said.
"The love for sports gets lost,"
she added, pointing out that the
investments made by the IPL team
owners are close to budgets of
small states and three-fourths of
the investment for the 2010 New
Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Kerala has given India some
renowned athletes -- middle-distance
runner Shiny Wilson, hurdler
M.D.Valsamma, Vandana Rao,
K.M.Beenamol, K.C.Rosakutty,
high jumper Anju Bobby George,
longjumpers Suresh Babu and
T.C.Yohannan, besides Usha.
Today Kerala's atheletic scene is
bare, starved of star performers, as
Usha is trying hard to hone the furture
of Indian athletic talent at her
academy.
The "Payyoli Express" recalls
how her performance in the 1984
Olympics and the 1985 Asian
Track and Field meet at Jakarta,
where she won five gold and one
bronze medals, hogged the limelight
for days and even overshadowed
cricketers.
"That was big news. I remember
Campaign to seek
Bharat Ratna for
Tendulkar
Lucknow: Sachin Tendulkar's
fans have launched a campaign in
Uttar Pradesh to collect one million
signatures on cricket bats to
demand Bharat Ratna, India's
highest civilian award, for the
cricketer.
The fans hope to fill up 4,000
cricket bats to be presented to
President Pratibha Patil, say the
students and faculty members of a
management institute in
Shahjahanpur, 180 km from
Lucknow.
"The campaign is getting popular.
It is a small initiative to pay
respect to Tendulkar who truly
deserves the Bharat Ratna,"
Narayan Institute of Management
head Shashi Bhushan told
reporters in Shahjahanpur.
"The campaign will also be conducted
in around 15 districts
Sprint queen P.T. Usha.
leading cricketers arguing with
media that cricket should get
prominence in the news columns."
says Usha.
Usha believes that a good performance
by an athlete at the international
stage will have the same
impact even today.
"Cricket has changed Indian
sports scene after the 1983 World
Cup victory."
"But I still feel that one big performance
by an athlete will overshadow
the media hype for the IPL
cricket," says Usha, who has
pumped in all her energies to give
shape to her academy.
Who will forget Usha's feat in the
1984 Olympics, where she missed
the bronze medal in 400-metre hurdles
by a whisker (one hundredth
of a second)? It was a memorable
Olympics for Kerala girls.
Shiny Wilson (then Shiny
Abraham) qualified for the semifinals
in the 800 metres and in the
women's 4x400 metres relay team
Sachin Tendulkar
including Bareilly, Pilibhit,
Badaun, Hardoi, Rampur,
Moradabad and Bijnor," Bhushan
said.
(Usha, Shiny Wilson,
M.D.Valsamma and Vandana Rao)
set an Asian record in the final
even though they finished last.
Incidentally, the news of the
Kochi IPL team comes at a time
when the women's athletes who
participated in the 1984 Los
Angeles Olympics are to be honoured
at a function here in a couple
of days.
Shiny Wilson says: "After the
1984 Olympics we haven't seen
any major performance by Indian
athletes on the track. People should
support other games as well." Her
husband Wilson Cherian, a former
swimming champion, also feels
that with IPL coming to the state,
youngsters will be drawn more
towards cricket.
"Almost all kids play cricket.
Even volleyball courts are used for
playing cricket. IPL will have a
negative impact on other sports. It
is very difficult to get crowds to
watch even the Santosh Trophy
football tournament. IPL is just
business and not sport," Wilson
told IANS.
Valsamma, who is with Indian
Railways, believes that an IPL
team will be good for the state in
certain ways.
"The positive side is that it would
promote tourism. And the negative
side will be that other sports will
be affected," she said.
But Kerala's athletic fraternity is
hoping that Usha's academy would
turn out world class runners in the
years to come. "With movie hero
Mohanlal becoming brand ambassador
for Kerala athletics, we hope
children will get attracted to the
sport," Valsamma added.

By Dr.Akshat Jain
Forty years back human reproduction
was considered a purely natural
process. Not being able to bear a
child was accepted as a stroke of ill fate by
millions of childless couples. Creating
artificial babies, implanting fertilized eggs
into the womb of a woman etc., were food
for thought for thinkers and sci-fi movie
directors. The mere thought of having a
baby created in the lab from your own biological
origins would have been thought as
an unachievable fantasy.
But take a look at where we are today
with “Test tube babies” and “Artificial
reproductive techniques” being offered at
every nook and corner turning hope into
reality.
Let us fast forward to 2040 or 2050 and
let’s reflect what medical fantasies of
today will one day become everyday medical
procedures.
Millions suffer and billions are spent on
disability so much so that it has been
crowned as a separate specialty in the
medical field. You have disability specialists
to help deal with your long term organ
failure, help you gain strength back into
your muscles after a stroke because every
organ can fail and not every one of it
grows back. This fact of limited regenerative
capability since time immemorial has
fed into the thoughts of scientists and
health care professionals alike.
Think of a one-year-old baby who was
born with no kidneys …what chance does
the baby have to survive?
Think of a 55 year old with hypertension
who suffered a massive brain hemorrhage
and stroke, destroying part of his brain
permanently.
Organ transplant is an option available
for such patients… but, after all you are
fitting parts of human body from one to
another and in the process there are serious
risks and complications.
Brains don’t grow back and memories
are lost forever.
If I’d be fortunate to live to 2050, parents
of this one-year-old baby and children
of this 55-year-old person will not have to
think too hard. I can see organ regeneration
labs and self styled organ salons.…for
the fancier minds, delivering parts of
human body totally suitable to you “as
ordered.”
There are people expressing regrets for
being instrumental in advancement of science
today. They think we have come too
far… the chain reaction has started and the
discretion of the human mind can rarely be
trusted when it comes to play “god.”
Human regeneration by stem cell transplant
and research is in immediate reach.
People are perfecting techniques and not
very far from now, we will be witnessing
our fantasies……….scenes from Star Trek
and Fringe, actually as real time breaking
news on your local daily.
We are wielding power of the mind
through a double edged sword and I can
only wish that conscience and the sense of
“Do no harm” prevails. I don’t have to
over emphasize the potentials and hazards
of these scientific forays.
Lifestyle 19
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 27- April 2, 2010
Relationship expert for South Asian singles
Growing up as a second-generation,
professional Indian-American
woman, Jasbina Ahluwalia had
experienced the challenges of juggling professional,
social and personal demands. A
practicing attorney yet an entrepreneur at
heart, she sensed the need to create a premium
service which could be effectively leveraged
by selective professionals wishing to
focus on finding that special someone, while
at the same time maintaining demanding
schedules. This led to inception of
Intersections Matchmaking in 2007.
“I noticed many young professionals had
difficulty balancing their professional life
with their personal life. In particular, this can
be a common issue for young professionals
from South Asian backgrounds, people
whose cultures discourage early dating and
teach young people to first focus on their
educations and other self-development,” she
says.
The service focuses on selective South
Asian singles nationwide looking to find significant
others. “This is a high-touch service,
not online.
We do a comprehensive Personal
Consultation with each client to understand
their needs, paradigms regarding relationships
and blind spots. We provide feedback
after each introduction,” she says.
“Our personalized service is specifically
designed to take over the time-consuming
task of screening so that our clients are able
to strategically spend their limited time and
energies focusing on matches with real
Jasbina Ahluwalia, founder,
Intersections Matchmaking
potential. In addition, we do not limit our
search plan clients to meeting other
Intersections’ clients exclusively. Rather, the
idea is to exponentially expand our selective
clients’ universe of potential matches,” she
adds.
The matches come from their exclusive
"Search Plan" client base; pool of standalone
"Personal Consultees"; "Register For
Free Database" events held nationwide; customized
personal ads run in various upscale
DOCTOR’S DIARY
The power of human mind
publications throughout the country; as well
as everyday lives (including various professional,
cultural, social and charitable organizations).
Each match is prescreened and a
criminal background check is run, before
introductions are made.
Educating the South Asian community has
been the biggest challenge. “It strikes me as
short-sighted that many people choose to
spend a significant amount of time, energy
and money on the wedding event (or events
oftentimes in our culture), while oftentimes
not investing those resources on finding the
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Intersections Matchmaking is currently
operating nationwide as well as exploring
the possibility of overseas expansion in the
future.
Ahluwalia has a graduate degree in philosophy,
is a qualified attorney and previously
practiced law in San Francisco and Chicago.
She has been on guest panels at some prestigious
forums such as Harvard Business
School WSA 2010 conference, Columbia
Business School conference and Wharton
Women’s Conference.
"Ask Jasbina"
Q: I consider myself someone who generally has a pretty flexible and accommodating
nature. When asked by dates what restaurant or activity I'd be interested in, I
generally let the guys know that "I'm happy with anything." I thought this accommodating
approach would be appreciated. I'm starting to notice that instead of
appreciation, guys oftentimes appear put off by my response. Am I missing something?
A: Being flexible and accommodating will generally serve you well in relationships and
is a great trait to have. However, consider this: generally when a guy you're dating asks
you what you'd be interested in, it's his way of showing that he cares about you, wants to
get to know you better and would like to provide you with an experience you'd enjoy.
When your response to a guy's inquiry is always "I'm happy with anything," the (unintentional)
effect may be to not only discount his caring but to deprive him of the opportunity
to get to know you and provide for you. So would encourage you to share your preferences
with appreciation and gratitude next time a guy asks. Best wishes!
Have a relationship/dating question? South Asian Times readers are welcome to submit
questions directly to Jasbina at jasbina@intersectionsmatch.com with 'The South Asian
Times' as the subject line and questions will be selected to appear in an issue next month.
For more information, visit www.IntersectionsMatch.com.
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20 Religion
March 27-April 2, 2010
Naina Devi: Sacred Shakti Peeth
By Sandeep Sehgal
Origins of Naina Devi
temple: According to Hindu
Puranas, at this location,
both eyes (Naina in Hindi)
of Satee fell. Naina Devi
shrine is considered among
the major Shakti Peeths in
India. It is located in Bilaspur
district of Himachal
Pradesh. The magnificent
temple stands atop a beautiful
hill in the Shivaliks.
The Naina Devi temple atop a hill and (right) Darshan of the Deity
CLASSIFIEDS
Brought to you every week by
The South Asian Times
To place a classified ad please call 516-390-7847 & 516-
710-4014 or email Classifieds@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
I, Ajit Aravindkshan,
residing at 21 Hana
Road, Edison,
New Jersey 08817,
will now be known as
Ajit Aravindakshan.
You traverse a steep incline
of two kilometers to
reach the temple. And even
as you have sacred darshan
of Mother Goddess, you
enjoy the beautiful natural
scenery all around.
Besides having darshan of
the Goddess, there are other
important sites in the vicinity,
which too are worth a
visit. They include Havan
Kund, Brahmkapali Kund and
Prachin Gufa (Ancient Cave).
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Havan Kund: During Navratras,
the recitation of Durga Saptshati
is carried on continually here
along with Havan. The Havan
Kund is also significant because
before fighting the enemy for saving
Hindu Dharma, the tenth guru
of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh,
presented himself in the Mother’s
durbar here to get Shakti (power)
from the Naina Devi. Guru
Gobind Singh also performed
yagna in this very Havan Kund
and worshipped the Mother.
Then he asked for a boon
from the Goddess: “Mother, I
should never alienate myself
from the welfare of all. Never
should I fear the enemy and I
should gain victory with great
determination.” Ma Naina
Devi granted him the boon.
I also have had a miraculous
experience linked to the Havan
Kund. In December 2009,
I went with my family-- wife
and two sons—to New Delhi
in India. From there we went
on pilgrimage to the Devi
temples in Himachal Pradesh.
First we had darshan at Anandpur
Sahib. From there we went
to Naina Devi temple. We performed
the havan in the same
historical Havan Kund. After
the havan I took pictures of
the temple as well as the Havan
Kund. When my wife was
reviewing the digital pictures
in the camera, she noticed that
the picture we took of the Havan
Kund had an Om like formation.
We were all very excited
to see that. This inspired
us to get prints of the picture
and show it to people, because
Om is the Ultimate Truth.
Numbers ‘R’ Us
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Brahmkapali Kund: Kapali
Bhagwan is one of the
names of Lord Shiva. Probably
the pond here is connected
to Shiva. Holy dip
in the Kapali Kund washes
away one’s sins.
Prachin Gufa (Ancient
Cave): This cave is near the
temple and is sacred like the
Naina Devi shrine. Once in
the area, we must make it a
point to visit it.
I believe that Mother Goddess
has made us a medium to
bring her miraculous darshan
to you. In this world, each
person is suffering because
of some or the other reason.
Mother Goddess, or God, is
panacea for all ills. One who
surrenders to God becomes
free of all suffering. In this
age, people are waiting for a
miracle to inculcate faith in
God, which Mother Goddess
is capable of. I pray to her to
bless everybody’s life with
peace and happiness.
Based in Syosset,
NY, Sandeep Sehgal
has formed a
group which does
Jagrata and Mata
Ki Chowki.
By Kris Pahuja
Sudoku is a single digit puzzle originated in Japan. Most people freak out when they see
numbers and they associate it with Mathematics, which is NOT true. There is no math at all in
these puzzles, it is purely logical thinking. Kris Pahuja of Hicksville, NY, has created a double
digit puzzle to make it more interesting or harder, whichever way you look at it. The South
Asian Times is publishing these puzzles from him weekly. For answer, look at left bottom.
17 19
13 18 16
12 11
12 11
16 14 18
12
13 18
16 19 15 17
17 14 16

Aries: This week you should cut down
your expenses to ease financial constraints.
Moneymaking ventures will not be as
good as they appear. You are likely to be bothered
with too much work and too many family obligations
and it will cause mental stress. Try to relax
as much as possible and go after recreation and
entertainment. Travelling will promote new romance
and additional knowledge.
Taurus: This is a good week for making
important decisions. You should work towards
completing your projects and remember to
take into confidence all those who are involved
with you. You will be able to get along well with
your colleagues. The best way to keep yourself
happy and relaxed will be to get involved in new
hobbies. Opportunities for new and exciting relationship
will be yours if you go out and socialize.
Be very careful about what you say in public.
Gemini: This week financially you will
be on a better footing. Investments in
stock may not bring in desired results, but real estate
matters look promising and can bring you
handsome gains. Friends will seek your support
and someone will even share a secret with you,
make sure you keep it to yourself. Efficiency will
be more important than creativity and try not to let
any underlying discord ruin your mental peace.
Travel will be important for strengthening ties.
Cancer: Friends and near ones will provide
financial support. However, you may
be a bit reluctant and hesitant to accept it. This is
the period of compensation and rewards and you
will be appreciated for the good deeds you have
done in the past. If you go out shopping, you will
find it extremely difficult to control yourself from
overspending. Driving too fast and getting involved
in gossip will put you into trouble with
elders in the family.
Leo: Sudden speculative gains during this
week may not be ruled out. Expenditures
on the renovation or beautification of the house or
on the other domestic requirements are likely to
rise. This is a good period to work on creative
hobbies and to purchase art items that will grow
in value. Professionally your hard work will pay
off, and you will be appreciated for your efforts,
but try to keep your professional life completely
separate from your personal one.
Virgo: Although it will be a hectic and tiring
week yet you will be extremely
pleased with your achievements. Fresh business
deals will bring in good financial gains. Emotionally
things might be disturbing and someone close
to your heart will disappoint you immensely, but
you should follow your conscience and behave
exactly the way you normally do. Your friends
and coworkers will be grateful to you for the help
that you extend to them. You will be generous and
enjoy the pleasure of giving.
Libra: Take time off to have fun with
family members. You need to remember
that life is short and you should enjoy each and
every moment of it. You will make some new
friends if you go out and socialize. You will have
good opportunities to make major changes that
will swing you in a position of leadership. Your
unique and original ideas will be appreciated. Financial
gains are certain, but speculation should
be completely avoided.
Scorpio: This week you will buy luxurious
and exorbitantly expensive items for
the spouse or beloved to attract more love and affection.
Your income will increase, but so will
your expenses. Investments put in the past will
fetch returns. Past differences with colleagues if
any will get sorted out. By doing what makes you
happy, you will attract the right crowd. Everything
that happens around you will bring you lot
of fun. Opportunity for a new romance seems
likely for those unattached.
Sagittarius: This is a mixed period of
gains and losses. On one side financially
things will improve and on the other side some
unexpected development on the work front may
disturb your mental peace. Sudden romantic encounter
will set your head spinning, but you
should make sure that this doesn’t distract you
from your responsibilities. You will be in the
mood to overspend, however if you don’t control
yourself you could have a severe financial constraint
in the coming days.
Capricorn: Funds may flow in through
various sources to ease out your financial
constraints. You may spend lavishly on your
friends as well as your family members. Concentrate
on your pending work. Someone with big
plans and ideas will capture your attention but
you should not make any financial commitments
until you are sure you can keep to it. Business
dealing with relatives or friends will definitely not
be in your interest. You will enjoy the time you
spend with children.
Aquarius: This week don’t force your
opinion on others. Lectures and meeting
that you attend will help you in building important
professional contacts. Money gains from unexpected
sources likely to boost up your spirits.
Ignoring your spouse will only bring tensed moments
at home. Avoid any arguments or confrontation.
Travel and communication will be important
but will not go as smoothly as expected.
Focus your attention on domestic issues and look
after the needs of others.
Pisces: This week you should use your
extra energy to finish pending jobs. Prevailing
projects and plans will carry on in a
smooth pace. Children may cause some dissatisfaction
as they get distracted from their responsibilities.
Be careful of your belongings while travelling.
Foreign transactions expected to yield
good returns. It would be better to control over
your expenses and plan out the budget according
to your sources and means. Spiritual gains for
some will bring solace and mental peace.
March 27
Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are
intelligent, energetic, confident, enthusiastic and
courageous person. You make firm decisions and
once you have taken a decision it lasts forever.
You are strong and highly diplomatic person, but
you need to check your tendency to behave short
tempered and vindictive at times. This year you
should concentrate on your priorities and your efforts
will definitely bring desired results. Past investments
will fetch returns and long pending
property disputes will settle amicably. Unexpected
gifts and presents from near ones and friends will
keep you in high spirits. New plans and ventures
will start on a positive note. Family front will be
pleasant as children and spouse will provide you
with love and affection. Health seems fine but
even then, it is recommended that you avoid
overeating and alcohol. The months of May, October
and January will prove to be highly important.
March 28
Influenced by number 1 and the Sun, you are authoritative,
confident, determined, responsible and
creative person. You are very attracted to your father
who is generally your inspiration and best
friend. You are highly decent and well mannered,
but you need to curb your tendency to behave careless
and spendthrift at times. This year you will
make major gains if you associate with creative
people. Your performance will be at its best and
you will easily impress your seniors with your
dedication and ability to handle jobs, which require
immense responsibilities. Property transaction,
or construction, or renovation will be high on
your agenda. Moments at home will not be all that
pleasant. You will suffer due to the very unpredictable
behavior of your spouse. Spiritual gains
provide solace and comfort. A journey abroad is
also on the cards for some of you. The months of
April, July, September and March will remain significant.
March 29
Ruled by number 2 and the Moon, you are highly
imaginative, practical, emotional, honest, simple
and generous person. You have a very sharp mind,
an exceptionally good grasping power and you believe
that it’s never to late to learn. You have a
pleasing personality and manners, but you need to
check your tendency to behave extravagant and
moody at times. This year your energy will be
high and you will feel strong enough to face any
challenge. Middle of the year seems exceptionally
good for those who are looking for a change in
their career, as they will receive an excellent job
offer. Frequent and fruitful journeys will be undertaken.
You will also improve your relationship
with important people during this period. Children
will win laurels at school and overachieve the expectations
of their parents. Family members will
gather around you providing you with love and affection.
The months of July, November and February
will be highly eventful.
March 30
Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter, you
are energetic, honorable, ambitious, dignified and
an intelligent person. You are a person with out-
Astrology 21
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 27- April 2, 2010
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
Before you consult...
i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date,
Time and Place of birth is accurate.
ii) Careful: Did you check background of the
astrologer before disclosing your secrets.
iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, don’t
feel shy. It’s his business.
iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome
is not as desired, never give up.
v) Consult: Take second opinion before
spending thousands on cure/remedies.
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874; Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898,
2648 9899; psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
Stars Foretell: March 27- April 2, 2010 Annual Predictions: For those born in this week
Astrology, Numerology, Tarot are highly complicated
ancient sciences, impossible to understand
them completely. Over 99% astrologers are inaccurate
in over 80% of their predictions & forecasts.
Many of them are con artists taking advantage
of blind faith & situation of God fearing people.
Now-a-days many of them use all the state of
the art, latest tools of marketing & excessive use
of media to attract more & more people. Be careful
before putting complete faith in the hands of
un-known person who could be possibly a fraud.
Please check the back ground & testimonials of
the Astrologer/Pandit /Swami/Guru/Muni/ Rishi
before consulting them. Don’t get influenced by
their outfit, busy schedule and photographs with
celebrities & high profiled personalities. More
they spend on their self promotions & advertisements,
more the chances of getting robbed by
them.
Be Aware
Everyone have situations with family, finance,
health or love but fearful middle age women are
their soft target. Remember, no one can change
any-one’s future & fortune. Be careful before
spending thousands of dollars on remedies.
Tantra, Man-tra & Yantra, Havan, Pooja, Tabeez,
Prayers should not cost thousands of dollars.
The South Asian Times is proud to present Dr.
Prem Kumar Sharma, the trustworthy, renowned
& expert astrologer who com-bines scientific calculations
of your birth chart with planets in transit
before mak-ing predictions. He will never suggest
any remedy which is very high in cost and
not tested for prescribed effects & results.
If you have any experience to share with our
readers, please write to editor@thesouthasiantimes.info
standing personality and ability to make many
friends. You are always appreciated for your sincerity
and commitment, but your need to check
your tendency to behave over ambitious and dictatorial
at times. This year new plans and projects
will be alluring but instant gains might not be possible.
Great period for consultants and brokers. Investment
is definitely recommended but sudden
losses due to thoughtless decisions cannot be ruled
out. New romance for some as others get involved
in a matrimonial wedlock. Distant pilgrimage is
certain later in the year. Don’t be too friendly with
strangers and avoid disclosing your plans, as
chances of deceit are very strong. Be extra careful
while lending money and take extra care of your
jewelry, precious gifts and items. The months of
April, August, December and February will be important.
March 31
Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus.
You are active, practical, enthusiastic, ourageous
and highly philosophical person. You are a very religious
and you have great appreciation for your
culture, traditions and rituals. You have a commanding
personality, but you need to check your
tendency to behave impatient and stubborn at
times. This year new ventures and associations
would prove beneficial. The love of your life
would make few important decisions, which might
make you feel insecure and threatened. You need
to show that you are adjustable and supportive to
strengthen your relationship. Home front would be
peaceful and family members would extend all
possible help and cooperation. Children will be
supportive but demanding. Wedding bells for
those seeking a matrimonial alliance seem likely
later in the year. The months of May, August and
January will be important and eventful.
April 1
You are dominated by the number 1 and the Sun.
The planet Moon, also has a strong influence on
you. Success and prosperity will be yours, in the
year ahead of you. You will handle challenging
projects, with determination and sincerity. This
will bring you fame and recognition, in your professional
front. You will be able to save money for
the future, which will give you a sense of security
and satisfaction. Religious by nature, you will not
bend down to tradition or superstitions. Anything
beautiful, appeals to you. You will be attracted towards
art and will purchase artifacts for your
home, which will bring beauty and a sense of well
being around you. New ideas, which you put into
action, will draw the attention of your seniors.
Your work will be appreciated by your colleagues
and your loved ones. Happiness, a great social life
and pleasures of life will be for you, in the coming
year. July, October and January will prove to be
highly eventful.
April 2
You are dominated by the planet Moon. You are
also governed by the number 2. Soaring high, is
your nature. You are ambitious and always look
upwards towards progress and prosperity. In the
coming year, you will be able to complete any
project that you undertake, to complete satisfaction.
You will be able to create opportunities for
yourself, which you will be able to fulfill and earn
recognition and fame for yourself. But in trying to
do so, you may become a little dictatorial at times.
You need to control your dominating nature, to
keep those around you happy. You are a born
leader, and expect your colleagues and friends to
follow whatever you order them to. This sometimes,
leads to misunderstandings and heart burning.
Nature and natural surroundings will draw
your attention in the coming year. You will be able
to enjoy the seas, flowers and on the whole, nature,
which will give you a sense of satisfaction. June,
September and December will be eventful.
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22 Spiritual Awareness
March 27- April 2, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Only true pathway is of God's love
Second part of a talk given by S ant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj based on two verses from
a ghazal written by his master, Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj as serialized by SATimes
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
Each person is on his or her own trajectory
in life. Some are heading
towards a life in which they are trying
to become rich. Some try to amass
wealth through owning a business, while
others save all their money earned from a
particular profession. Others try to become
rich in real estate, while some try to make
money in the stock market.
Many people are on the pathway towards
a career. Doctors, lawyers, teachers,
accountants, scientists, engineers and those
in other professions spend years training for
work in their particular field. They devote
most of their adult life working in their
career and identifying with their work.
Some people are on a trajectory of knowledge.
They devote their time to studying in
school and colleges. Some continue their
studies to earn more and more degrees,
attaining one Ph.D. after another. Others
spend time in research to learn more on a
particular subject. Some people are interested
in personal relationships and family life.
Their trajectory leads them to marry, have
children and be the best parent possible.
They watch their children grow up, marry
and bring them grandchildren.
Others are on a trajectory of mastering a
talent or skill. Some work towards excelling
in sports, art, music, or other creative
endeavors. Others master a vocation. All
their time is devoted to perfecting their craft
or art.
Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj is pointing
out, though, that the journey on which the
Beloved takes us is one of love. This journey
is far different than the traveling on the
other pathways of life. All the pathways of
the world on which people walk have one
thing in common—those pathways lead to a
dead end.
Those roadways are limited as they come
to an end. The road runs out when we take
our final breath. We may think that the path
of money will go on forever. Some people
are in pursuit of earning money until their
dying breath. Others hoard their money,
never spending a nickel, thinking they can
take it with them. Their spouses or children
may plead with them to open their purses to
take a vacation or use the money for things
they enjoy, but they won't spend a penny,
thinking that they may need it someday.
These people go to their graves without
enjoying what they can buy with the wealth
they had accumulated all their lives. They
think that their money is what is bringing
them happiness, but sadly they leave the
earth and cannot take a penny of it with
them.
King Mahmoud of Ghazni told his subjects
that when he died they should lay his
body on the bier so that his arms would
extend outwards. When asked why he wanted
to be carried to his burial in that manner,
he replied, "I want people to know that with
all my plundering of other people's wealth,
it was to no avail, for I leave this world
empty handed. I cannot take any of that
wealth with me."
The path of careers is also temporary.
When we leave this physical world at the
time of our death, we do not take our titles
with us. The job we hold in this world is
only for this life. As we transmigrate
through the human existence, we may have
been a pyramid builder in one life, an
alchemist in another life, and a computer
programmer in this life. The job we had in a
past life may be obsolete in this life. The job
we have now may never have existed before
in a previous incarnation. Careers are as
temporary as our physical body. The day
our physical body expires will also be the
day when the pathway of our present career
will end. We cannot take our job with us.
The path of gaining worldly knowledge
also is temporary. Those who spend their
lifetime earning degrees will find that they
cannot take their degrees with them when
they leave this world. We may know everything
about rocks and fossils, but this information
is useless in the realms beyond. The
toys we cared about as children mean little
to us as adults. Similarly, we outgrow
knowledge of this physical world as we
enter into the realms of reality beyond. All
the trivial knowledge of this world is left
behind when our physical body perishes.
The path of relationships also leads to a
dead end. Our physical relationships in this
world end with the demise of our physical
body. We are bound together in this life
through the karmic chains of our past lives.
Through all our past incarnations we have
had numerous relationships with marriages
to different husbands and wives, parenting
different children, and having different relatives
and friends. We may strongly identify
with our relationships in this life, but have
forgotten that we have had equally strong
relationships with other people in previous
lives. When our life is over, our present
relationship with those we are close to in
this life also ends at the physical level.
The path of perfecting a skill or talent is
also temporary. We can keep up a skill or
talent as long as our physical body has the
strength or our mind has the faculty to pursue
it. Yet, we have seen what happens to
athletes who age. They may no longer be
useful to their teams after a certain age.
Artists may lose their ability to use their
hands to produce works of art. Musicians
may lose their hearing or their manual dexterity
to play an instrument. Whoever excels
in any craft has to suffer the debilitation of
old age that may prevent them from pursuing
their craft. Ultimately, death puts an end
to their physical ability.
What then is a lasting path that we can
follow?
Sant Darshan Singh Ji is telling us that the
only true pathway is one of love on which
the Beloved leads us. The Beloved is God.
The only pathway on which we can walk
that does not meet a dead end is the journey
of love back to God. God is spirit and is
beyond the limitations of this physical
world. If we spent our valuable life's breaths
in pursuit of the love of God, we would find
a pathway that does not have a dead end;
rather, we would find a road leading to eternity.
All other pathways in life end when
our physical body takes its last breath. The
only pathway that does not end is the path
of spirit that leads our soul from this world
of suffering into a realm of Light and eternal
peace. There is a realm where death is
unknown. There is a realm in which there is
no suffering. There is a realm in which there
is only Light and love. That is the realm of
the Beloved Lord.
Masters have been sent by the Lord to
chauffeur us on the road back to our true
Home. The true journey is the road that
leads from the physical region to the astral
region; from the astral region to the causal
region; from the causal region to the supracausal
region; and ultimately to the purely
spiritual realm of Sach Khand.
There we find the Beloved waiting for us
with extended arms to wrap us in an eternal,
divine embrace. The Masters have become
one with God. When they come to this earth
they give us a taste of God's essence. They
give us a glimpse into God's beauty.
They give us an idea of the sweetness of
God's voice. They give us a whiff of God's
captivating sweet fragrance. They give us
an experience of God's love.
The divine love of the Lord is an experience
more fulfilling than having all the
money in the world. In this connection,
there is an account from the life of the great
saint, Pir Nizamuddin Auliya. A poor man
was to marry off his daughter, which in
India was a great expense because the
bride's family had to bear most of the cost.
He did not have enough money for the wedding
and did not know what to do. He had
heard of the generosity of Pir Nizamuddin
and went to him to beg for financial help for
the wedding.
The saint listened with compassion and
If we spent our valuable
life's breaths in
pursuit of the love of
God, we would find a
pathway that does
not have a dead end;
rather, we would find
a road leading to
eternity.
told the man, "I will gladly give you any
donations that are collected during the next
three days."
The man waited and watched as many disciples
came to see the saint during the next
three days. He thought that his financial
problems would be over since there was a
constant stream of people visiting the saint
throughout the day and night.
At the end of the third day, the man, with
anticipation, expected to receive a large
amount of money from the Guru's hands.
The man was sorely disappointed when,
instead of receiving any money at all, the
Guru gave him his own pair of shoes. The
Guru said, "I am sorry, but none of my disciples
have made any donations to the mission
in the past three days. All I have to give
you are my own shoes. Take them for whatever
they are worth. That is all I own.
Maybe you can sell them for enough money
to buy one day's amount of food."
The man left with tears rolling down his
eyes in disappointment that that was all that
the saint could do for him. The man set out
to return to his own village. As he walked
home along a sandy road, he saw an
approaching caravan with men riding on
camels. The camels had beautifully embroidered
cloths draped over them. There were
baskets hanging from the sides of the
camels in which were piled expensive jewels
and beautiful embroidered fabrics and
rugs. "What a wealthy caravan that must
be!" thought the man.
When the man came closer to the caravan,
he saw that the caravan belonged to Amir
Khusrau, who had just retired from his service
to the king in Kabul. Amir Khusrau was
taking all his rich belongings with him to
settle elsewhere.
The poor man saw that Amir Khusrau was
riding a camel at the head of the caravan. As
Amir Khusrau rode nearer to the poor man,
he began to sniff some fragrance. "This
smells like the sweet fragrance of
Nizamuddin
Auliya, who is my Beloved Master," Amir
Khusrau said aloud, as the poor man stood
on the side of the road, admiring the rich
possessions the camels were carrying.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, an international
spiritual leader and Master of
meditation, affirms the transcendent oneness
at the heart of all religions, emphasizing
prayer and meditation as building
blocks for achieving peace.www.jyotimeditation.org

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