Indian Weekender Issue#97

Indian
April 05, 2013 Volume 4, No. 23
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Sikh leader on terrorism charges

Manpreet Singh, arrested in India, faces multiple charges. Aucklands Sikh Community extends support.
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NZ Sikh leader arrested on terrorism charges

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Sikhs in NZ
New Zealand Sikh community leader has been arrested in India on terrorism charges. Manpreet Singh, a former president of the New Zealand Sikh Society Auckland and a JP, faces multiple charges including alleged involvement in seditious activities, masterminding a jailbreak and attempted murder of a jail staff, Punjab police said. Singh, 69, was arrested on his arrival from Sydney at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday and declared a proclaimed offender, the New Zealand Herald reported this week. A senior police officer told the newspaper Singh had been charged more than a decade ago under Indias Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act but fled the country when he was released on bail in May 1999, Punjab News reported. Singh was also a member of the All India Sikh Students Federation, which the Indian police claimed was a militant organisation. Indian police said how Singh got a passport
to leave the country was being investigated. Grant Ogilvie, spokesman for the New Zealand Police, said they had not received any request from India to help with the investigation. Immigration New Zealand spokesman Marc Piercey said Singh had never been the subject of any immigration investigation. In India, the All India Sikh Students Federation president Karnail Singh said the arrest was politically motivated. He believed the action against Manpreet Singh was an attempt to thwart the organisations campaign for justice over the systemic killing of Sikhs in 1984, the Herald report said. Daljit Singh, chairman of the Supreme Sikh Council of New Zealand, said Manpreet Singh had been living in Australia for the last 18 months and had travelled to India with his two NZ-born sons, aged 16 and 13, to attend to personal matters. This was Manpreet Singhs second trip to India after spending
a month there in 2009 without any problems, Daljit Singh said. He described Manpreet Singh as a good man and said it was wrong for Indian authorities to label him a terrorist or militant. What we know is that Manpreet had already been acquitted of those charges, but he did not sign the papers before he fled from India, Daljit said. Thats the only reason why his name is still on Indias blacklist. Daljit Singh said he spoke to
Manpreet on Tuesday night, and was told that he will be in custody until April 8 when he was due to reappear in court. Several New Zealand Sikh organizations are appealing to the New Zealand Embassy in Delhi to ensure Manpreet received fair treatment, Daljit Singh said. National Party Sikh MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi told the NZ Herald: Obviously if there is a need for any help, I will be happy to intervene.
ndians started arriving in New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, most immigrants arrived from Punjab, and Gujarat. Most Indians settled in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. Indians are often stereotyped as owning convenience stores in New Zealand. Also there are a large number of Indian Restaurants in New Zealand. Since 2003 Diwali is celebrated in New Zealand as a big festival. With the Sikh community in New Zealand increasing. The New Zealand Sikh Society was developed in 1964, and the first New Zealand Sikh Temple was built in Hamilton in 1977 and another in 1986 in Otahuhu. With the increasing number of Sikhs in New Zealand an increasing number of gurudwaras are being built. The number of Indians are increasing rapidly in New Zealand as seen in the 2006 census compared with the 2001 census, over the five years there was a 68.2% increase in the number of Indians in New Zealand. In the 2006 census there were 9507 Sikhs in New Zealand.
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Airline passenger Boosting trade opportunities by telling the New Zealand story security charges to increase
Trade is the main driver of economic growth, create jobs, boost incomes and the improve standard of living for all Kiwi families
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flights (Hamilton and Palmerston North) and we have not met our budgeted passenger numbers as a result of the global financial crisis. Nigel Gould went on to say For a mainly charges-funded business, this new economic environment has placed considerable stress on the organisation and as such the. Board will undertake an independent review this year of the Aviation Security Service operating model and future funding requirements. The Aviation Security Service is committed to ensuring the security of our airports across New Zealand and the safety of the domestic and international travelling public. These increases ensure this service will continue, Mr Everitt said.
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he increases, which takes effect from 1 June 2013, will see the international charge rise by $3.98 to $11.98 (GST inclusive) and the domestic charge rise by $0.90 to $4.60 (GST inclusive) per departing passenger. These increases come after two years of reduced charges, introduced to eliminate a projected $27 million accumulated surplus by June 2013. When the reduction was announced in 2011, the government signalled that passenger security charges would need to increase again from 2013, once the accumulated surplus had been redistributed to air travellers, said Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Nigel Gould. These new charges better reflect the actual cost of providing screening and other security services at our airports, he said. General Manager for the Aviation Security Service Mark Everitt said, It has been a difficult trading environment since 2011 and two airports have ceased international
Avsec is the official provider of aviation security services in New Zealand. For more information visit http://www. avsec.govt.nz
nly by earning our way in the world can we generate the economic growth needed to create jobs, boost incomes, improve living standards, and provide the world-class public services that Kiwi families need. One of Nationals four main priorities this term is to build a more competitive and productive economy, and trade is one of our drivers of economic growth. We have a strong history of high-quality free trade agreements, essential to opening offshore markets to our exporters. New Zealands overall advantage is that we are confident we are the best in the world at what we do. We produce high-quality, highvalue goods. This was recently showcased in Latin America when a Prime Minister-led delegation of 22 New Zealand businesses visited Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil. As a result, weve boosted our trade and economic links with these countries - some of the worlds major emerging economies. Were a small country, with a small population, at the bottom of the world. But we know our biggest challenges can also be our biggest opportunities. We excel at doing this doing more with less, working smarter.
National believes in collaborative opportunities. Thats why we launched the Primary Growth Partnership, a partnership between industry and government. Together we invest in research and innovation that will deliver long term economic growth and sustainability, particularly to the primary sector. Thats also why New Zealand is a founding member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. We believe in its potential to enhance the way the Asia-Pacific region does business, and to make the region as a whole more competitive and more productive. Were also founding members of the Global Research Alliance, an exciting international initiative targeted at providing practical solutions to climate change. The Government is really excited about the opportunities Latin American countries present for New Zealand businesses. The growing middle class and spending power in these countries is translating into demand for higher-end specialised services and products, which our businesses are well placed to tap into. The world is full of opportunities for New Zealand over the next few years. And we need to seize those opportunities with both hands.
NEW ZEALAND
Drink Drive: Serious Consequences

rink driving is one of the most frequently seen charges in New Zealand Courts. While it is never a good idea to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol, it is not unusual for people charged with this offence to be surprised at how little alcohol it took to put them over the legal limit. Alcohol can affect different people in different ways. Factors such as a persons gender, height, weight, body type and metabolic tolerance (the rate at which your body processes alcohol) can all have an impact on breath and blood alcohol levels when tested by Police. The commission of the crime is entirely dependent on a persons test results. Criminal intent is not required. The end result is that many who face drink driving charges are otherwise good people who may never have been to Court for anything in their lives up to that point. Going to Court for the first time can be a scary experience and it is all too often the case that drink drive offenders simply assume that they have no options and will simply have to face the consequences. While there can be advantages to pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, this can also
sometimes be a mistake. Drink drive law is very complicated and it is required that the Police follow detailed procedures and make thorough records of their actions. Police errors can and do occur. Sometimes these errors may be so significant that the Courts will dismiss the charge. It is important that offenders be prosecuted but it is also important that the Police be held to standards of practice required of them by law. Police errors, even major ones, require legal training to identify. Even if a Police officer appears to be doing his or her job in a thorough and reasonable manner, it is still possible that the officers work could be far below what is required. That said, if you are stopped by the Police for breath or blood testing purposes, it is absolutely crucial that you be respectful and cooperate with them. Noncooperation can lead to serious charges. Refusing to provide a blood sample when required to is an offence as serious as a very high level drink drive charge. If you feel the Police are not doing their jobs properly or are treating you in a manner they shouldnt then ask to speak to a lawyer. This is your right under the New
Zealand Bill of Right Act and the Police must assist you with this. At Court, it is common practice for Police to provide the minimum amount of information about your case they are legally required to. This is often limited to a summary of the crime the Police claim you have committed as well as a list of your previous convictions (if you have any). To obtain full information about your case, you (or a lawyer acting for you) will usually be required to request this in writing. It is usually not possible to know whether you have a defence to a drink driving charge until full information has been requested and received. This usually amounts to approximately ten pages of material from the Police file concerning what actions were taken by the Police when they dealt with you. This material will usually be copies of checklists and handwritten notebook entries. Even if you intend to plead guilty, this material could reveal information which may help keep your penalty to a minimum. Even pleading guilty to a drink drive offence is not always a simple matter. The situation is simplest for first offenders who usually face the minimum
six month disqualification from driving required by the Land Transport Act as well as a fine. If the disqualification will result in extreme hardship to the offender or undue hardship to any other person then it may be possible to apply to the Court for a special licence to allow for limited driving during the disqualification period. This is not a simple process and requires the preparation of legal documents to convince the Court that the licence should be granted. If you will lose your job as a result of the disqualification then you will most likely be eligible (unless you have previous driving convictions within the last five years). Repeat offenders are at risk of indefinite disqualification, car confiscation or a 3 year period on a zero alcohol licence. These penalties can apply even to second offenders. Offenders with three or more convictions for drink driving may face prison terms especially when the previous convictions are recent. The Land Transport Act does allow Judges to be lenient sometimes. In unusual circumstances (such as emergency driving) offenders may be able to avoid disqualification entirely. It is also sometimes
possible to ask the Court to impose community work instead of a disqualification (though this is more relevant to charges of driving while disqualified). In rare circumstances, it is possible to be discharged without conviction (this result is usually only available to first offenders who would have their life plans ruined if a conviction were to be entered). All of these outcomes require preparation of complex legal documents by a lawyer experienced in this area of law. So while it may seem like a good idea to plead guilty at your first Court appearance and simply deal with the penalty, this is not always the best choice. Even when pleading guilty, many matters must be considered. When facing a drink driving charge, it is especially important to seek qualified legal advice so as to obtain the best possible result. Raj Pardeep Singh / Ashima Budgoojar, Kenton Chambers Lawyers, Level 8, 300 Queen Street, Auckland Central. Ph: +64 9 358 1900, Fax: +64 9 358 1903 | Mobile: 021 149 3497 raj@kentonlaw.co.nz/ a s h i m a @ k e n t o n l a w. c o . n z www.kentonlaw.co.nz
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atch some amazing live cultural performances courtesy of Auckland Council at the Auckland International Cultural Festival on Sunday 7 April. Come along and be amazed by the traditional art of shadow puppetry, an ancient form of storytelling enjoyed by many cultures across the world. Accompanied by the Auckland Gamelan Orchestra, the Wayang Shadow Puppets are performed by Dr Joko Susilo, born in Indonesia and an eighth generation dhalang (shadow puppet master). Dr Susilo has been the star of more than 50 different plays and over 500 performances as a professional puppeteer. Councillor Alf Filipaina, Chair of the Councils Culture, Arts and Events Forum says the line-up of performers at the Festival is impressive. Its great that Aucklanders can experience these amazing artists, free of charge as part of this Council event. Tasty food, great performances and have-a-go activities, this annual event should be a definite must-do on
everyones calendar, he says. Also taking to the festival stage will be the Tamashii Taiko Drummers, a Japanese Taiko drumming troupe who have adapted the traditional Japanese art form and blended it with martial arts and contemporary rhythms. The Tamashii Taiko Drummers have previously delighted Aucklanders as part of the 2011 Rugby World Cup grand opening ceremony. Their high energy performances will be followed by audience participation workshops where you can have a go on the giant drums.
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Considering anti-bias in early childhood education

oung children are often described as sponges absorbing and imitating the behaviours and attitudes of those around them. For this reason early childhood teachers need to deconstruct their own beliefs about different groups and promote a healthy and inclusive environment for all children and their families. This is known in the early childhood sector as antibias practice. There are many simple ways a teacher can implement this. An early childhood teacher must first reflect on his or her own beliefs and preconceptions about different groups, especially those who fit outside social norms. Any negative inclinations need to be deconstructed and challenged as these will inevitably manifest in teaching practice. Secondly, a teacher must be willing to talk openly about differences and to answer questions honestly and sensitively. Children need to know that differences arent wrong and that diversity can be celebrated. Centres in New Zealand are becoming increasingly diverse, and so all groups need to be represented in the centres literature, visual aids and toys.
Care should be taken, however, to avoid tokenism for example having one non-white doll - just for the sake of it as this can lead to stereotyping. A teacher should be respectful and patient when dealing with families who are learning English. Families from non-English speaking countries can be made to feel more welcome if the teachers make an effort to learn some simple phrases such as welcome hello and goodbye in their mother tongues. Displaying signs around the centre in multiple languages can also promote a tolerant atmosphere. Misconceptions of gender roles can be broken down by using non-sexist language in everyday situations. An example of this could be using the term fire-fighter instead of fireman. When playing dress-ups, one child might say to her friend, youre a girl; you should dress up as a nurse, not a doctor. A teacher may guide the child to a more balanced view by saying she can dress up as a doctor if she likes. Girls can be doctors too, and boys can be nurses. A teacher could extend on this by having posters showing men and women in a variety of professions
around the classroom. All children have the right to have their families valued and welcomed. The modern family comes in many structures. Teachers will likely come into contact with children from singleparent families, children being raised by relatives, adoptive or foster parents and gay or lesbian headed families2. The inclusion of children with disabilities can present special challenges as care needs to be taken to support their needs but at the same time they must be made to feel valued and equal to the other children. Teachers must work closely with parents and specialists to create a plan to achieve this. This might include the planning of activities to promote social interactions; observing play and explicitly instructing children how to work with others4. Teachers should be careful that they dont inadvertently praise children for their possessions. This may make children from less well-off families feel inferior and encourage competitiveness. Sharing should be actively encouraged. Through awareness and simple implementations an environment can be created where every child
has a positive self-identity and pride in their family, and where children are able to recognise bias and its harmful consequences3. Anti-bias practice is just one of many topics covered in the early childhood t e a c h i n g qualifications offered by New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC). NZTC is a private tertiary education provider specialising in early childhood teacher education. Our high quality NZQA-approved programs reflect the ever-evolving needs of the sector and equip our graduates to practice in a range of early childhood settings. Two of our qualifications, the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) and Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education), lead to teacher registration with the New Zealand Teachers Council. There are also certificate level
programs that pathway into these qualifications. Students can study at our Greenlane, Auckland Campus, or online.
For more information on any of our programs, please call us on (09) 520 4000 or email international@ nztertiarycollege.ac.nz . You can view our prospectus at www.nztertiarycollege.ac.nz .
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Groove with Nasha

An evening of music, dance and entertainment
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asha - NZs finest Bollywood Band in association with Angithi Caterers presents an evening of music, dance and entertainment for the entire family at 7.30pm on Saturday 11th May 2013 at the Mt Albert War Memorial Hall, corner of Wairere Ave and New North Road, Mt Albert. The concert will feature the band Nasha alongwith performances by the Ritz Event Entertanment Dancers, Bhangra DancersAnakh Punjab Di and Singers Priya Shankar and Maria OFlaherty. Bonus attractions also include Spot Prizes. tasty Indian and Western food and snacks catered by Spice Station. Nasha is made up of a group of excellent musicians and performers. Many of the members of the band have performed with leading singers and performers in Bollywood.
The band has enthralled audiences in Auckland with stellar performances at many concerts and events including the Diwali festival at the Aotea Centre, the Diwali Mela at the TelstraClear Events Centre and fundraising events for the Rotary ClubHarbourside , Murrays bay Intermediate , Auckland Dyspraxia Support Trust and many others. Tickets are limited so do book your ticket now. They are priced at $20/- each and are available at Jassals, Wairau Park- North Shore , Salujas and Quality Mini Bazaar- Botany, Yogijis- Blockhouse Bay , Century VideoMt Roskill, Rhythm Video- Henderson , Quality Mini Bazaar- Papatoetoe. Visit the Nasha facebook page www. facebook.com/NashaTheBand for further details.
Can you take transform trash to fashion?

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uckland is bursting at the seams with young talented designers and the Schools Trash to Fashion Awards is the perfect arena to showcase their talent and arts. Organisers of the Schools Trash to Fashion Awards are now calling for expressions of interest from young designers across the region. The Schools Trash to Fashion Awards (ST2F) is an annual event produced by Auckland Council, which helps spread the word about recycling, reusing and reducing waste and gives students the opportunity to work on a creative project with an environmental twist, using recycled items to create high fashion and moveable art. Its great that Trash to Fashion continues
to promote waste elimination and recycling in our local communities, and we are proud to support creativity in our young people, says Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse. This years theme is Celebrate Individuality and encourages young designers to consider and celebrate what makes them unique. The designers have until June to complete their garment. Organised by Auckland Council and Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust, the awards are open to all primary, intermediate and secondary pupils aged between 5 and 17. Students can enter through their school or as individuals.
To find out more about Schools Trash to Fashion visit http://www.st2f.co.nz/
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Aucklands youth can swim free

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rom April 2 young Aucklanders will have free access to all council-owned pools. In a region surrounded by sea, swimming and spending summer at the beach is a rite of passage, and its vitally important to give our young people the skills to do that safely and wisely, said Mayor Len Brown at the start of the new initiative. Free access to public pools is one way of giving our young people a stronger start in life, an avenue to important skills, enjoyable physical activity and good fun. Young people aged 16 years and under will have free access to core facilities during operating hours. Charges will apply to all non-core facility areas like spas, sauna, steam, special play equipment, dive-boards and hydroslides, and for programmes such as learn to swim. All adults (17 years and over) will be charged to access council-owned pools, including in the Manukau area where entry has until now been free.
NEW ZEALAND
...a bunch of youngsters whose commitment towards dance will perhaps make you fall in love with dance, writes
Meet the The Garagewalas...
Arwa Janjali
hat is success without its share of bitter-sweet struggle? Ask The Garagewalas and they will confirm its incomplete. This bunch of youngsters, who set out to give way to their flaming passion for dance seven years ago, had little support in terms of guidance and infrastructure in their initial days. Since their parents brushed aside their interest saying its just dance, they were thrown out of houses during dance sessions and landed up in each others garages the only place where they found their much needed space. We used to even get together and dance in car parks (laughs) but eventually realised that garage is where we belong, narrates Rahul Chopra, the oldest member of the group, who was also instrumental in forming The Garagewalas. And today, from winning High School and College competitions, this eclectic gang of 10 boys have not only made their presence felt in all the major concerts taking place in Auckland (Atif Aslam, Adnan Sami, Jay Sean and Hard Kaur to name a few) but also have a Bollywood film to their credit. We shot a song for the film De Taali starring Riteish Deshmukh. The song was cut in post production but we were lucky to get that exposure with big names, Rahul informs. Fresh out of a local Bollywood dance group in 2006, Rahul and a few of his school buddies decided to take their love for dance further by doing something on their own, as Rahul
says, When we do things on our own, we learn more. So they spread a word among their classmates at Mount Roskill Grammar School to come forward and shake a leg. The response was great and the teen dancers quickly found like-footed people. There even came a time when a lot of our juniors wanted to join in too but we couldnt accommodate them. Hence, they formed their own group called Little Garagewalas and went on to win many junior competitions under the brand name, Rahul recounts proudly. However, they are now all one. The Garagewalas at present is a mix of both younger and older brothers. The key to our group was to stick together. There have been thousands of dance groups but they have all been one-offs. Very few have been as consistent. Whereas we have formed a bond over time. Before it was all about competition for us but now, its about co-operation. Besides, the biggest strength of our group is that everybody is as good as each other and we complement each other. There is no leader, Rahul reveals. Bhangra being their main focus (they have even conducted Bhangra workshops for Europeans and Islanders, much to the latters delight), ...along with adding Bollywood beats to their dance of course, the boys are now aiming at diversifying their styles by adding hip-hop to their performances. And the influence comes from the hip-hop groups in New Zealand, which Rahul terms as being the best in the world. New
Zealand is undoubtedly a dancing country but our inspiration has been the two groups from UK and US Khalsa Junction and Bruin Bhangra, he adds. In addition, The Garagewalas is not just about dance. Its a group which believes in telling stories through their art form. What sets us apart from the other dance groups is our ideas. Our performances are peppered with humour and convey messages, which have been constantly liked by people. Our USP is the snippets and stories we come up with and the theatrical element to our dance. We have imbibed themes as varied as Christchurch earthquake and Rugby World Cup to zumba and homosexual tones,
Rahul says, adding, We can afford to portray the last theme effectively since we are all boys (winks). As much as the boys would want to make their passion their profession, lack of funds make it an improbable reality. Its only now that we have started charging for corporate shows, weddings and other events. But it just enables us to recover our cost of costumes and props yet, Rahul says. Hence, its a group of dancers from fields as diverse as business, engineering and architecture. With the age bracket of 17-25 years, The Garagewalas includes Rahul Chopra, Daivik Raj, Moonis Vegdani, Siddharth Krish, Abeer Ali Syed, Siva Shankar, Munsarim Ahmed, Athurva
* Rahul can be contacted on 0212149243.
Kulkarni, Kaushik Balan and Vignesh Krish. So whats next? Well, we have toured Wellington and Napier lately and our aim is to tour the rest of New Zealand and then move on to perform at Sydney and Melbourne, says Rahul, wishfully. We wish them all the success. Meanwhile if you think you have it in you to be a Garagewala, get in touch with the gang, who is more than willing to train aspiring dancers to add on to their number. Remember, there are no auditions, just the requirement of having that spring in your step.
NEW ZEALAND
Peace initiatives lauded as Muslims mark silver jubilee

Ahmadiyya Muslim community appreciated for spreading message of peace at jubilee celebration in Auckland
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he Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of New Zealands Silver Jubilee celebration, held recently at the Mt. Eden War Memorial Hall, Auckland, was graced by community leaders, guests and politicians from all parties, including Richard Prosser of New Zealand First Party. Mr Prosser recently raised the ire of Muslims in New Zealand throughout the world by making comments about the community in a magazine article. He later apologized for his outburst. In the speeches delivered by local leaders, the community was praised for their work in promoting peace and religious tolerance in New Zealand and around the world. Chief guest David Rutherford, chief human rights commissioner, congratulated the communitys work of promoting peace and interfaith dialogue in New Zealand and globally. Mr Rutherford said it was important to acknowledge the Ahmadiyya community because nothing in the world changes unless there are organisations like you, especially when there are situations like in Christchurch... Labour MP Phil Goff said What really appealed to me about the
Ahmadiyya community was their belief in a harmonious and tolerant relationship between peoples. He also went on to acknowledge the persecution of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan which was of deep concern that people are being persecuted on the basis of their belief. National president of the Ahmadiyya Community in New Zealand, Mohammed Iqbal in his opening address said Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the leading Islamic organization to categorically reject terrorism or oppression in any form. Over a century ago, Ahmad(as) declared that an aggressive jihad by the sword has no place in Islam, Mr Iqbal said. In its place, he taught his followers to wage a bloodless, peaceful and intellectual jihad of the pen to defend Islam. As part of its effort to revive Islam, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to spread Ahmads (as) teachings of moderation and restraint in the face of bitter opposition from parts of the Muslim world. Mr Iqbal expounded on the 25year achievement of the community in New Zealand from spreading
MrShafiqurRehman (Central Missionary), Mr David Rutherford, Chief Human Rights Commissioner and Mr Mohammed Iqbal, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. the message of peace to restoring the livelihood of New Zealanders affected during the tragic moments in Christchurch and Pike River mine. The secret of the communitys success was our total obedience to the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw, his ardent promised reformer, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and his successors, Mr Iqbal said. Over a century ago, Ahmad(as) reminded his followers of Gods promise to safeguard the message of Islam through khilafat (the spiritual institution of successorship to prophethood). It believes that only spiritual successorship can uphold the true values of Islam and unite humanity. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1889 in Qadian, India. Today the community spans over 202 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New Zealand was established in 1987 with the permission of the 4th Caliph, his holiness Mirza Tahir Ahmad. It was formally registered in 1988 with the Department of Internal Affairs.
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10
NEW ZEALAND
Painting the town red...blue, green and how: Auckland celebrates Holi
Indian Weekender brings you the best from the weekend celebrations
Crowd Dancing to Holi Beats HUMM 106.2 FM Managing Director and Kal kaur of The South Trust lighting the Diya
Diksha Vohra performs at a play depicting the legend of Holi at the Hare Krsna Temple, Auckland
Holi brings us closer! Photo by Jamie Ball
Watch out ... the colour imps are here! Photo by Jamie Ball
ISKON devotees perform a live kirtan at the Hare Krsna Temple Holi celebration
NEW ZEALAND
11
The colours depicting the rich diversity of Auckland at the HUMM 106.2 FM Holi celebration
Entertainment at the ISKON Temple Holi celebration included classical and contemporary performances by kids
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NEW ZEALAND
Blokes soak up the sun and some colour at the HUMM 106.2 FM Holi celebration The story of Hiranyakashapu and Prahlad performed at the Hare Krsna Temple as part of the Holi festivle celebration u Roopa Suchdev at the ISKON temple Holi celebration
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NEW ZEALAND
13
Musings of a music lover after a five year hiatus

PAYAL KAPUR
ever underestimate the power of music. There are powers of healing that musical notes have that you cannot deny or run away from. Youve heard this before, Im sure, but never in a way like Im about to describe.I went for a musical evening after a forced hiatus. In the past, I remembered what power a live performance had over me, but I was being realistic this time and not expecting the same magic. After all, five years is a long time. at the venue, I sat myself down, got comfortable while the artist adjusted the instrument on-stage. I must admit, I was beginning to feel the notes as the sarod was being tuned - sharper, higher and lower. Tingles ran down, right to my toes. Was this the same feeling from years before? I asked myself. Not entirely, not yet anyway, I thought. The light dimmed, the performance began. Right on time, I thought, what a pleasant surprise. A brief description of the artist (which I knew verbatim), the ceremonial speech and the performance was underway. I had almost forgotten what live music sounded, the potency with which it can hit you, because when the performance began, I was taken aback. Every note was poignant. The raag in keeping with my mood at this time of the year, I found myself moving to every beat of the percussion, with every movement of the notes- up and down the octave. The true beauty of the live performance is when the artist is able to take you on the musical journey with you. Sometimes it works and sometimes, the music lover must return without visiting the places that the artist promises to show you. And when it works, well, then crowds cease to exist and what remains is a moment, both private and personal, shared between you and the artist. Its like having a dialogue with the artist, where he completes your sentences. Its a feeling of pure innocence and almost divination. This time, I could feel the familiar feeling of five years back, I had been here before. It all sank in slowly and
Once the music touches you, it never leaves you even if you forget for a little while what it can feel like. For me, music is my 4 am call, my hidden stash of sweets, my un-opened bottle of jack, my special place, my warm embrace in times of need. When people say they would like to be deserted on a barren island with basics and music, I know what they mean. It serves every purpose, corrects every mood. It makes you feel like for that brief moment, all shall be sorted. Like the world is a better, sweeter, lovelier place. Every time I hear the notes, I know that the music in me is alive and well. Thank you Pandit-ji, you reacquainted me with my lost friend. . only much later. I woke up the next morning, with the memory and rapture intact. This was a sure sign that the music lover in me was back and how You might think it impossible, but yes, music has that effect on people. As private as a prayer you make to your deity of choice. As personal as a conversation with your best friend that takes place in the safety of friendship, in the wee hours of the morning. It felt like I completely failed to notice the multitude of people present there last night. Like Pandit Jis Veena almost sang, and sang just for me. The music found me. I felt like the me I used to know, the me that had the Sarod as her special friend, for the special times I had forgotten, when I was never alone. I carried with me, through these years the smile I broke into every time my finger touched a string.
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14
INDIA
Marines: Italian foreign minister resigns
In brief
2329 rhinos at last count in Kaziranga
While AssamsKaziranga National Park (KNP)continues to fight against poaching, at last count, the rhino population stands at an encouraging 2329, an increase of 39 in the past one year, from 2290 in just one year. 179 matured unidentified gender rhinos, 97 non-matured male rhinos, 99 non-matured female rhinos, 88 non-matured unidentified gender rhinos and 276 rhinos of the age between 1 to 3 years were also found during the survey, a park official said. Assam forest minister Rockybul Hussain said it is an achievement in wildlife conservation. We are very satisfied with the recent survey outcome and hope to reach the magical target of 3000 by 2020 set by the Indian Rhino Vision, the Assam minister said. Kaziranga has lost 17 one-horned rhinos this year to poaching. In 2012, poachers killed 22 rhinos in the park and a total of 143 rhinos were killed in Kaziranga in past 12 years. To protect wild animals and fight against poachers, the state government and forest department had recently deployed 300 jawans of Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) at Kaziranga.
IWK BUREAU
he Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi has said that he was resigning from his post in protest over the return of two Italian marines to India to face a murder trial. I resign in contention with the decision to send the marines back to India. The misgivings I expressed had no effect on the decision taken, he told the Italian parliament. I am resigning because for 40 years I have maintained, and still maintain, that the reputation of the country, the armed forces and Italian diplomacy, should be safeguarded, he said. I am also standing down in solidarity with our two marines and their families, Terzi added. The two Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - facing trial in India for a high-seas shooting that killed two Kerala fishermen returned to India from Italy amid assurance by the Indian government that they would not face the death penalty. They landed at Delhi airport on the last day of the Supreme Courts deadline for their return, after high drama for days when the Italian government said they would not send back the marines who were allowed to go home for voting. Ties between India and Italy had plunged
Its school-time for 13,500 CBSE principals

Come April, principals of over 13500 schools in over 30 states across the country following the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum would spend at least a week in the coming year to train themselves in effective leadership and school management. In what is seen as one of the biggest initiatives mandated by CBSE to take principals, vice principals and head mistresses and head masters back to school, they have been mandated to compulsorily spend at least 7 days learning a range of skills oriented and behavioural programs. The flagship 5-day behavioural program on leadership and school management would be offered in both residential and a non-residential format. T his program is divided into two parts of behavioral learning on leadership that would include among others unraveling leadership styles, goal setting, collaboration and team building, vision building, time management, conflict resolution. The technical learning would bring school heads up to speed on many reforms and policies of CBSE and the government like Right to Education, students not being marked only on their final examination marks but through Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE), using technology for both school administration and enhancing learning and financial management. India faces a significant shortage of trained educational professionals and considering this under serviced sector, this iinitiative is a big step towards filling the demand-supply gap.
following Romes unexpected move, prompting Indias Supreme Court to lash out at Italian Ambassador to New Delhi and forbid him from leaving the country. The decision to finally return the marines to India had sparked anger in Italy since the men and their families
had been previously told they would not be sent back. On February 15, 2012, the security officials of Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen mistaking them as pirates in the high seas off Ambalapuzha in Kerala. They were subsequently arrested.
No milestone Aakash tablet

T
he ambitious move by the Indian government to provide every child with a laptop comes to a halt as the Canada-based Datawind fails to deliver the required number of tablets in time. Delays in manufacturing, a faulty processor and low memory means that what could have been a milestone project in the Indian education sector may not see the light of day. Hyped as worlds lowest cost tablet and an answer to the I-Pad, Aakash-2 was supposed to be supplied to 22 million students and faculty at 50 per cent subsidised cost. Only 17,000 of the targeted 1 lakh tablets have been sent to the Indian Institute of TechnologyBombay so far. Manufacturer Datawind says that there are 29,400 in production at the moment. Even combined these numbers fall way below the target. The final launch price of Aakash 2 which was estimated at $35 has also doubled over the course of production, and the final product itself has many glitches.
Salman Khan hit-andrun case

A
Mumbai Court has deferred the hearing in the 2002 hit-and-run case that involved Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. Khan was earlier facing the trail for rash and negligent driving, which awards the convict with a maximum sentence of two years. However, the court handling his case, in January accepted that the police has provided evidence that merits trying the actor for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Last month, Khan challenged the order and filed a revision petition, pleading that the stringent charges against him be dropped. In 2002, the actor driving a SUV had run into a bakery in suburban Bandra, and the accident took the life of one pavement dweller while injuring four persons sleeping on the pavement outside. On Saturday, revised charges were framed by a Jodhpur court against Khan If convicted one can face up to six years in jail. They face charges under section 52 of Wildlife Protection Act. The case continues in the Mumbai court.
INDIA
15
India to be third largest aviation market by 2020

IWK BUREAU
ndias airports are predicted to handle 336 million domestic and 85 million international passengers with projected investment to the tune of US$ 120 billion by 2020. This would make India the third largest aviation market globally as per the Oxford Economics report commissioned by IATA. The aviation sector accounts for 1.5% of Indias GDP and supports 1.7 million jobs with a further 7.1 million employed in other sectors including tourism through the catalytic effects of aviation Indian Aviation Industry has been instrumental in the overall economic development of the country, said Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh. There are huge prospects and possibilities of growth. The gap between potential and current air travel penetration shows that India is presently at 0.04 air trips per capita per annum which is far behind developed countries like US and Australia (more than 2 air trips per capita per annum), China and Brazil (0.3 air trips per capita per annum). The Low ratio of per capita
air trips in India suggests a huge potential for the air traffic growth considering a relatively higher trajectory of economic growth in the country coupled with necessary Government support. The Indian government has recently liberalised the process for airlines to acquire aircrafts by doing away with the Aircraft Acquisition Committee. In addition steps have been taken to liberalize and grant traffic rights to Indian carriers to fly to new destinations around the globe. India is currently witnessing highest growth in air passenger traffic globally. It is the worlds 9th largest aviation market handling 121 million domestic and 41 million international passengers. Today, more than 85 international airlines operate to India and 5 Indian carriers connect over 40 countries. In recent times, the policy initiative of 49% FDI by the foreign carriers in domestic airlines has been a step towards creating an environment to foster swift growth in the sector. Multiple Indian companies have begun to explore foreign partners and collaborators. Tied in with this, international travel
gets a boost since Indian airlines fly to several new destinations across the globe as the Government has allocated the traffic rights to Indian carriers for next two years. The new traffic rights have opened up several new international sectors and increased the overall
traffic entitlements of the airlines by approximately 60% over the existing traffic rights. Another area which has given wings to the growth of Indian civil aviation is the privatization of four major airports under JV/PPP model and the policy of development of
Greenfield airports which envisages synergy between the public and private sector. Indian Government envisages an investment of US$ 12.1 billion at Indian airports. Of this a contribution of about US$ 9.3 billion is expected from the private sector.
For how long will
JEALOUSY
corrode your...
Corrode = destroy gradually.
health?
Professionally, there was always something that didn't work well for me, so I decided to work for myself, in an attempt to see if things could improve. But my situation only got worse, to the point where I didn't have money at the beginning of the month to even cover my expenses. Coming to the UCKG Help Centre on FRIDAYS and listening to the messages I understood that I was victimised by a CURSE caused by JEALOUSY, and that was the reason why my life didn't move forward. Because of all this situation, I became physically and psychologically exhausted. It was the point that I heard about the Campaign of Faith, I knew I wouldn't have any money to cover my basics needs, so I decided to talk to God. As I stood at the altar I determined, "It's now or never." But, whilst everyone was expecting me to give up, God gave me strength to carry on and, gradually, conquer what I dreamed. Today, I have a new shop and I am conquering more and more daily. My business has been recognized by the public, and I have bigger plans for the future.
marriage?
finances?
business?
I was victimized by JEALOUSY
Sashi Kumar
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THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

A man who is not afraid is not aggressive, a man who has no sense of fear of any kind is really a free, a peaceful man.
EDITORIAL
- Jiddu Krishnamurti
World teacher (1895 - 1986)
Happier at home
hile the bright lights across the Tasman continue to beckon our young and skilled professionals, it is heartening to note that many New Zealanders are happy with their lot here. Key factors include that not only is there no place like home, people now realize that the grass across the ditch is not so greener. A recent poll, in which people were asked whether they would live in New Zealand or Australia if they had the choice, only 12.7 per cent said they would choose Australia. Although 40.3 per cent of those people consider the standard of living better in Australia, they are not persuaded that this outweighs the many benefits of living in their own country. Part of the reason may be increasing publicity about the downsides of life in Australia. We are bombarded by campaigns selling these attractions and offering, even indirectly, a commentary on what we have here. People now realise that if they cross the Tasman they will not have access to most of Australias welfare safety net, including dole and disability payments. Neither can they expect higher-education assistance for children they take with them. Living does not come cheaply, either. If an international housing-affordability study released recently highlighted the plight of first-timers trying to buy in Auckland, it was notable that Sydney was even less affordable. Only Hong Kong was worse in terms of the median income needed to buy a house. Then, of course, there are the attractions of this country, many of which are undervalued because of their familiarity. These are confirmed by the number of migrants who continue to choose to live here. The latest figures, for November last year, show a net gain of 600 migrants - the highest seasonally adjusted gain since December 2010. Also in the same month, fewer New Zealanders left for Australia. The grass across the Tasman is beginning to look parched. Except in the mining centres of Western Australia, jobs are harder to find. And increasingly, a more temperate climate is not to be scorned. More and more New Zealanders are coming home.
Celebrating diversity, celebrating Race Relations Day

NATIONAL LIST MP
N
Kanwaljits Auckland office:
Wishing you a
Happy Diwali and
Bandi Chhorh Divas
- Arvind Kumar
Indian Weekender Volume 4 No. 23 Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz Editor: Arvind Kumar | arvind@indianweekender.co.nz Associate Editor: Shriya Chitale| shriya@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Arwa Janjali | arwa@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@ indianweekender.co.nz Advertising & Business Development Manager: Gaurav Gupta M: 021 292 4519 l gaurav@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan - P 520 0922 l accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Views and comments: e-mail at: arvind@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication
ational is building a strong and inclusive nation with incentives that reward hard work and back our ability to take on the world and win. Our diverse ethnic communities are an important part of this and contribute to our overall culture in New Zealand. We are working hard to strengthen ties between our ethnic communities and all New Zealanders. A great example of this is Race Relations Day, which was celebrated on March 21. It marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is celebrated around the world. This years Race Relations Day theme is My dream is Aotearoa New Zealand is... its a chance to take time and think about the things that are important to you. The March 21 date formally commemorates the tragic loss of life at the apartheid-related massacre in Sharpeville, South Africa in 1960, and is dedicated by the United Nations to the achievement of the goals of the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. New Zealand signed the Convention on 25 October 1966 and ratified it on 22 November Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi is a 1972.We are truly a multicultural society - one in four New National MP
1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland P: 09 278 9302 | F: 09 278 2143 | E: Bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz
www.national.org.nz
Zealanders are born overseas and 60 per cent of our workforce growth comes from migrants. Our ethnic and migrant communities are playing a bigger role in our society and our economy, helping us export more and creating more longterm, sustainable jobs, giving New Zealanders an edge when working in a global village. In the face of global economic uncertainty, this Government is working hard to protect New Zealand and jobs - National wants to see all members of our ethnic communities in fulfilling jobs, contributing to our domestic economy. National wants to ensure fair and equal opportunities for all New Zealanders and involving ethnic communities in events of national significance such as Race Relations Day is part of creating greater awareness of our diverse culture here in New Zealand. This month, there are many events being held around the country supporting race relations to see whats on visit http:// www.hrc.co.nz/race-relations/ race-relations-day-2013. I encourage you to take the time to enjoy what a beautiful, vibrant and multicultural country we live in.
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, New Market and printed at Guardian Print, Ashburton Copyright 2010. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Catch all the stories online @ www.indianweekender.co.nz
COMMENT
17
Kashmir Conflict - Losers and Gainers

VEER KHAR
Kashmir, one of the three provinces of the northern state (Jammu and Kashmir) of India has been facing intermittent turmoil for years (from about 1000AD). The aboriginal Pandits, known for their knowledge driven, civilised life style were challenged too many times by the onslaught resulting in their regular migration out of Kashmir. The final push was orchestrated in secular, democratic India in the 1989-90 when almost all the remaining Pandits were forced to leave Kashmir. The following write up dwells into the losers and gainers of this recent conflict.
osers of the Kashmir conflict: Kashmiri Pandits would perhaps top the this. Forced out of their homeland, Pandits are now scattered as rootless displaced people; in and outside India. These aboriginals of Kashmir were traumatised by the barbarians who were either indoctrinated by Muslim fundamentalism or lured into action by the power hungry coterie that has been in charge of the absolute corrupt political system in the state. The shameful inaction by the government
of India has been instrumental in the genocide of the Pandits and the ethnic cleansing is so rapid that hardly a Pandit is now visible in the very land of their ancestors and their population is only of its kind in India that is dwindling. Hangings, shootings of individuals to scare the community in early days of the upheaval and annihilation of leadership with unabated killings of reformers like Tika Lal Taploo, Prem Nath Bhat and Sarwanand Premi left the community struggling to understand as to why the rest of the country stayed paralysed? The losers include those who lost family members to the conflict by being innocent passers by. Even losers are those families to which belonged the dead or imprisoned indoctrinated terrorists. My dear neighbour Gulam Nabi Ahangers family belonged to this group of losers and I remember the grief stricken faces of his family members when I went to pay my condolence, travelling all the way from Delhi to our remote village in South Kashmir. Gh. Nabi, I was told had been short dead by the security forces. Even those people are losers who lost leaders like Molvi Farooq and Gani Lone that did not fit in the scheme of the coterie. Losers in Kashmir; includes those whose dear ones like Josey Joseph, Lassa Koul and Mushir-ul-Haq; were killed while performing their duty as
security personnel or as staff in radio station, university etc. The long list continues on with rape victims, tortured individuals and common people who detest uncivilised living. Other Indian states are big losers too, as their resources are getting diverted to the boiling pot of Kashmir Conflict.
sides. They get funds to raise voice and then funds to calm down. They get flown in air force planes for even flu treatment and are protected by the security forces even while indulging in antinational activities. With a large portfolio of assets, these families are now well entrenched into almost all business
My dear neighbour Gulam Nabi Ahangers family belonged to this group of losers and I remember the grief stricken faces of his family members when I went to pay my condolence, travelling all the way from Delhi to our remote village in South Kashmir. Gh. Nabi, I was told had been short dead by the security forces.
Evan Pakistan as a nation can be added to the list of losers. The obsession to get Kashmir and to derail India coupled with internal conflicts like inter-provincial domination and Sunni supremacy has categorised this young country as a failed state. Pakistans meddling in Kashmir has done more harm to its own citizens than to the intended. Seeing the trends; Shias may be the next to be targeted like Pandits and add to this infamous list of jahaname benazeer.. Gainers of the Kashmir conflict: Top of the list are the families that have amassed immense wealth and power as a result of the conflict. Like justice monkey, these scavengers of sick society have benefitted from all ventures across the globe. Well knit clans like Abdullas, Sozs, Syeds and Azads may be worth investigating as to what is their current worth. How come they have never been targeted by terrorists and how come they are passing the battens of power between themselves? Gainers also include religious bigots and street peddlers; who strangely enough are assisted by the government with visas plus expenses to speak against India itself and are even provided with Khadi to balance the act. These include Gilanis and Maliks. Then there are those who are busy confiscating properties that of the Pandits. This lot also manages to get lucrative contracts and loans that
Veer Khar is a practicing civil engineer with Masters in International relations. The views expressed are the authors own.
are not to be paid back. These are the ones who provide cadre to the game directors in the coterie. They organise stone peltters or strikes to allow bargains for the masters. Illicit business operators from within and outside Kashmir have also taken big strides in the prevailing chaos. In the list of gainers is also the government of India. Kashmir situation has portrayed Pakistan as a villain and India as a member of civil society. Events in the Muslim world have left no sympathy for the religious fundamentalism and India has done well to categorise the conflict as communal. India has successfully managed to hide its absolute disorder, corruption and malfunctioning behind the veil of Kashmir conflict and even used the exodus of Pandits to wash its sins in the process. With such an arrangement; where on one side the perpetrators are funded to keep the pot boiling and on the other side the resources from areas like Bihar and Orissa are diverted and embezzled in the garb of funding the security and welfare arrangements in Kashmir; it seems the conflict in Kashmir is to stay. It is a business that is unaffected by recession.
Sanjay Dutt should not be pardoned

TEJAS MEHTA
he Supreme Court upholds the conviction of a person for illegal possession of an assault weapon, an AK-56 rifle, and sentences him to a 5 year jail term. The weapon is part of a larger consignment that will be used to carry out the deadliest terrorist attacks on that countrys financial capital. The convict has also met, hugged and had phone conversations with the masterminds of this terror conspiracy. These are men whose name repeatedly figure in the infamous most wanted lists. In the past he has also illegally possessed a pistol. Along with him, about 100 others are found guilty. But there is a powerful political and societal lobby that sympathizes with him and pushes for his pardon. Poor man, he just loved guns but also the Mahatma, they clamour in unison. Freedom for one. The rest can rot. This in essence is the story of a convicted criminal named Sanjay Dutt. That he happens to be an actor in Indias powerful Hindi film industry called Bollywood,
that his parents too were in the same profession and were honest and sincere social workers, that his father and sister were and are MPs, are all only incidental and secondary factors, of little importance. But it is exactly this privilege: of being a part of an affluent, upscale, influential and yet an extremely insecure circle of society in a largely poor country, that allows facts to be blurred by emotional rhetoric. Whats even more tragic is that they know and the system knows: this can work wonders. So lets begin where it has all ended. With Justice Markandey Katju, the chairman of the Press Council of India. Can fictitious and popular characters played by film stars in movies ever have any bearing on an actors relationship with the law in real life? I never thought it could. But Justice Katju has got us thinking. After all, he believes that 90% of Indians are idiots who can easily be misled in the name of religion. But this goes beyond the circle of idiots. Now, he has forced K Sankarnarayanan, the Governor of Maharashtra to think too. And heres how: hours after Dutt was given a 5 year prison term by the Supreme
Court in the 1993 Bombay blasts case, Justice Katju penned an appeal requesting the governor to pardon Sanjay. Ten reasons that need a rebuttal. 1) Sanjay has suffered a lot 2) He underwentvarious tribulations and indignities 3) He had to go to court often So? Havent the other accused also suffered a lot? Ya, if you are accused of breaking the law, you have to go to court. Thats true for everybody. The legal system took 20 years to complete the trial, then all accused in this trial should get the benefit against their conviction. Shouldnt they? 4) He had to take the permission of the Court for foreign shootings 5) He could not get bank loans 6) He has undergone 18 months in jail Why should that be surprising? He was earning his livelihood when out on bail. And indeed, making a lot of money. 18 months: thats just 30% of his 5 year jail time. 7) Sanjay Dutt is married and has two small children Now heres where it starts getting interesting. Sanjay married Manyata in 2008 after he was convicted by
the TADA court a year earlier. Kids came in much later. No doubt, this ordeal is painful for the family for no fault of theirs. But Sanjay was aware that the final say in the matter was with the Supreme Court. He still chose to take that risk and go ahead with his domestic life. How can this be a mitigating factor to pardon him? 8) He has not been held to be a terrorist, and had no hand in the bomb blasts Sure, but he is a convicted accused under a serious charge called the Arms Act. In fact, lawyers believe he should be convicted like the other accused under TADA. Because under TADA, at the point of time, possessing an illegal weapon in a notified area which Mumbai was automatically attracted the stringent act. Hence he was booked and tried for terror charges just like the others. Lawyers are surprised that he was let off by the courts on this count. It may be true that he didnt know about the blast conspiracy, but then that was the case with many others too. 9) His parents Sunil Dutt and Nargis worked for the good of society and the nation. They often went to border areas to give moral support to our brave jawans and did other social
work for society. Really? How can good karma of his parents, be passed on to mitigate Sanjays criminal past? Astrologically it is possible perhaps to access this benefit. But legally? 10)Sanjay in this period of 20 years has through his film revived the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and the message of Gandhiji, the father of the nation. And heres where it gets outrageous. Munnabhai is a fictitious filmi character. Sanjay did a great job, but the larger credit for the characterization goes to the director and screenplay writer. Sanjay also played shady roles of criminals in super hit films like Khalnayak and Vaastav. Should that then be taken against him? Certainly, not. The problem with Justice Katjus appeal is that it is an emotional plea. Coming from a former justice of the Supreme Court, it is expected that beyond sentiments, the appeal should be legally sound. In fact the power of a pardon is also subject to judicial review and it cannot be exercised whimsically. Critically, it has to be in public good. Alas, Bollywood support continues unabated.
18
INDIA
FDI from BRICS increases in global influence

IWK BUREAU
oreign direct investment (FDI) going into and out of the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa collectively known as BRICS is mounting in global influence, according to a United Nations report. The latest Global Investment Trends Monitor (GITM) shows that over the past decade, FDI going into BRICS has more than tripled, totaling USD 263 billion in 2012. This figure represents 20 per cent of world FDI flows, and is a significant increase considering it was only 6 per cent in 2000. Meanwhile, investment from BRICS into other countries has climbed from USD 7 billion in 2000 to USD 126 billion in 2012, rising from 1 per cent of world flows to 9 per cent, with China and Russia accounting for the majority of these investments. In particular, the report highlights that foreign investment from BRICS into Africa represented 25 per cent of Africas inflows last year, with most funds going to the manufacturing and services sectors. While labour costs in Africa may not differ significantly from those in
the firms home economies, the dutyfree, quota-free access of African countries and Chinas zero-tariff measures for African least developed countries (LDCs) have generated manufacturing investment. Brazil, for example, has expanded its business in the new African ethanol industry in countries like Angola, Ghana and Mozambique; China is one of the top investing countries in LDCs such as Sudan and Zambia; an Indian company recently acquired an African mobile phone network; and Russian banks are expanding to countries such as Cte dIvoire and Nigeria. The report notes that this growing relationship between BRICS and Africa is likely to be reinforced in the future due to the rapid economic growth and industrial upgrading currently taking place in BRICS countries. The rise of FDI in manufacturing, which has positive consequences for job creation and industrial growth, is becoming an important facet of SouthSouth economic cooperation, it says. However, the main share of BRICS outward investment is still in developed economies, with 34
per cent of their stocks going to the European Union. The report notes that these investments are in large part driven by market-seeking motives as well as mergers and acquisitions across borders. The report, produced by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), was released ahead of the 5th BRICS Summit which starts Tuesday in Durban, South Africa, and whose theme is BRICS and Africa: Partnership for development, integration, and industrialization. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban said: Given the collective economic weight and global standing of BRICS countries, the forum represents a unique mechanism to address regional and global challenges, particularly in so far as the interests of the developing world are concerned, said Singh in a statement prior to his departure for South Africa. As the current BRICS Chair, India received the unstinted support of its partners in successfully implementing the ambitious agenda adopted at the New Delhi Summit in March 2012. The Durban Summit gives us
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are collectively known as BRICS an opportunity to make further progress on the initiatives that we launched in Delhi to deepen intraBRICS cooperation and fulfill our international responsibilities. I look forward to discussions on new ideas in Durban to advance our goals, he said. Singh added that he will reaffirm Indias strong and enduring commitment as a steadfast partner for inclusive development in Africa.
IMF asks Indian government to be mindful BRICS

In an unrelated but simultaneous development, BRICS to set up development bank parallel to WB and IMF to fund infrastructure and development projects in the five emerging global powers
IWK BUREAU
fast facts
The collective strength of the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China) is of increasing importance to the global economy. BRICS accounts for 26 per cent of the worlds landmass, 42 per cent of the global population and 40 percent of the global GDP ($18.486 trillion). Goldman Sachs predicts that BRIC can become collectively bigger than the G-7 (the top industrial powers) by 2035. BRICS countries have accounted for over 50 per cent global economic growth in the last decade. Intra-BRICS trade is growing at an average of 28 percent annually and currently stands at about $230 billion. The BRICS group of countries has broadly agreed they are not bound by unilateral sanctions on Iran. BRICS held its first summit in 2009 and has been criticised as nothing more than an empty acronym as it struggles to find common cause from four different continents with radically different economies, systems of government and competing priorities.
he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned the Indian government to be mindful about extending guarantees on the bank loans taken for the public private partnership projects (PPP) in the infrastructure sector in the wake of high level of public debt in the country. In a presentation given to the ASSOCHAM, IMFs Senior Resident Representative for India and Nepal, Thomas Richardson has said that Indias infrastructure financing is a bank-led model but the government has to be mindful of risks of taking on contingent liabilities that would include guarantee, PPP and other types of potential fiscal liabilities given that India has a high level of public sector debt to begin with. He said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is justified in keeping a cautious approach so that risks are not concentrated. We think that the RBI has been quite right to worry about asset-liability mismatches and concentration risks in some ways (it)could do more if necessary but certainly compared to China they have been quite prudent,
Richardson said. Indias public debt, though far better than several debt-ridden countries in the west, is quite high at around USD 750 billion. Richardson said there is a need to deepen bond markets for helping finance the key infrastructure projects. There is a need to develop bond market as a way of financing
infrastructure development. At the same time, he underscored the importance of developing well regulated and sophisticated pension system as a way of transforming effectively demographic dividend into investment. It is very important to develop pension scheme, given demographic dividend in the country. Half of Indias 1.2 billion
population is below the age group of 25 years. It is taken as a demographic advantage for the country provided human resource development gets priority in the national scheme of things, said ASSOCHAM President Rajkumar N Dhoot. In an unrelated development but simultaneous development, the BRICS finanace ministers agreed on setting up of a development bank to fund infrastructure and development projects in the five-nation grouping of emerging powers. This major move is aimed at reforming the global financial architecture. We are reporting to the Heads (of governments) that the BRICS bank is feasible and viable, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told PTI after a meeting with his counterparts from Brazil, Russia, China and host South Africa in this port city ahead of the summit on Thursday. The agreement came after weeks of negotiations among the five emerging economies in a move aimed at changing the rules of governance in global governance, especially the Bretton Woods institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
INDIA ABROAD
19
Hindujas topple Mittal, top Asian Rich List

An increasing demand for discount retail stores is creating new fortunes in a UK grappling with global recession.This year, the list sees eight new entries with a combined value of 767 million
IWK BUREAU
or the first time in four years, since the Asian Media & Marketing Group (AMG) has been publishing the Asian Rich List, steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal no longer holds the title of the richest Asian in Britain. The London-based Hinduja brothers, whose net worth is estimated to stand at a staggering 12.5 billion, an increase of 3 billion over the past 12 months; topped the list this year. The Hinduja trading empire is spread virtually over five continents and run by four brothers and their children. Steel magnate Mittal, who until now seemed unreachable at the top of the list, has had a tough year, with a drop in wealth of 2.5 billion, taking him to 11bn. Mittal has been largely hit by the fall in the share value of ArcelorMittal, which has been beset by the falling global demand for steel. In what has been deemed by many to be one of the toughest years for the economy, this years Asian Rich List, released exclusively at the Asian Business Awards, saw the
number of Asian billionaires more than doubling in a year. The list features seven billionaires, compared to three in the 2012 list. With a combined overall net worth of nearly 46bn, (an increase of 4billion since 2012), the 101 millionaires certainly seem to be bucking the global trend. This years list sees eight new entries with a combined value of 767 million, with the highest new entry, metal mining magnate, Rajesh Satija storming in to the Top 20 with a valuation of 390m. As the UK economy struggles to overcome recession, the increasing demand for discount retail stores is creating new fortunes. Simon, Bobby and Robin Arora, have increased their fortune by almost 800m, by selling a stake in their hugely successful chain of discount stores B&M to private equity in this financial year, whilst the Lalani family of 99p Stores fame continue to travel steadily up the list. Interestingly, as their wealth grows, so does the philanthropic commitment of the millionaires,
with many of them having set up their own charitable foundations and trusts. Retail and property tycoon, and the man who brought Dominos pizza to the UK, Rumi Verjee is a prime example with the Rumi Foundation selecting and donating to key projects and charities like Mosaic to
a consistent entry in the Top 10 set up the Bestway Foundation and 2.5% of profits from the Bestway Cash & Carry business are donated to the Foundation to support projects in the UK and Pakistan. Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of AMG and one of a panel of four experts who has examined British
give disadvantaged youngsters in the UK greater opportunities. Sir Anwar Perwez, who has been
Asian wealth over the last year for the Asian Rich List, said: The list shows the remarkable resilience and
diversity of Asian businesses in the UK. Despite the challenges of the general economy many business leaders in the community have seen opportunity and potential and moved quickly to capitalise. It is an inspiring picture and one that should energise entrepreneurs everywhere. Solanki said the Hindujas rise has been gradual but was a clear example of the scale and the impressive breadth of their business interests. The Hinduja family have been in business for over three generations and they are one of the largest and most diversified Indian family businesses. They are a truly global business and are always looking at opportunities, Solanki said. They have made London their home and are deeply attached to this country and that is borne out by their first active investment in a UK business with the purchase of bus company Optare in 2011. The Asian Rich List in association with UBS is the definitive guide to ultra-high net worth individuals and Asian Business success.
20
FIJI
Fiji defend HK 7s crown in thriller

IWK BUREAU
Govt decision angers womens group

IWK BUREAU
iji has defended their Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens title in the most dramatic fashion, coming back from a 19-0 half time deficit to beat first-time World Series Cup finalists Wales and claim a famous 26-19 victory. Osea Kolinisau came on as a second half substitute for the Fijians and changed the game with two quick tries. He then added a third late on to seal a remarkable win. In the other Hong Kong trophies Samoa beat Canada to the Plate, England finished on a high by beating hosts Hong
Kong to the Bowl and France edged Argentina to lift the Shield. HSBC Sevens World Series leaders New Zealand beat Kenya to third place in Hong Kong, in doing so stretching their Series lead after six of the nine rounds. The New Zealanders now have 113 points, 25 more than Fiji in second place (88). Samoa move up to third (84), South Africa fall to fourth (78) and Kenya climb to fifth (72).
he Fiji Womens Forum is disappointed with the decision by the Government that there will be no Constituent Assembly (CA) a critical component in the constitution-making process. The CA is intended to allow open debate on constitutional content. On Thursday March 21, along with this decision, the State also released their draft constitution; and gave the public nine working days within which they can submit comments on the State draft. It is unclear how submissions will be incorporated, given the very short time-frame. The FWF had nominated 13 women leaders to be part of the CA. It had also worked with women from all the divisions in Fiji to make submissions to the Constitution Commission, particularly in relation to human rights and political participation. Much of this was reflected in the 2012 Peoples Draft Constitution, but is missing from the State draft. Supporting the submission process took a lot of time, effort and resources; and while the Fiji Womens Forum had concerns regarding the legitimacy of the overall process, it still mobilised
women to take part because womens participation is essential to human rights centred development, and to full and effective democratization, Fiji Womens Forum spokeswoman Sharon Bhagwan Rolls said. The invisibility of women in the State draft is in direct contravention to CEDAW1 which Fiji ratified in 1995. Since last year the Fiji Womens Forum has been mobilising women from around the country to take part in the democratisation process and as a result of this, over 650 individual and group submissions were made by women to the Constitutional Commission, she said. Through experience, FWF knows that it will take weeks for many of the people, especially those in the rural and remote communities to read and understand the provisions in the draft and for many, translations and explanations will be required.
The FWF is a national consultation to discuss the participation of women in national democratic processes, organized by femLINKPACIFIC, the National Council of Women, the Soqosoqo Vakamarama and the Fiji Womens Rights Movement.
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22
HERITAGE
Your strength is in your choice

Bramhachari Adarsh Chaitanya
n Amritabindu Upanishad, it is said, Your mind alone is cause of your limitations (bondage) and your mind alone is the cause of your freedom (liberation). Now liberation need not only mean the final emancipation as experienced on Self-Realization of the Spiritual Masters, but for us ordinary folk, it means the freedom to live up to our nobler convictions, to lead a life of values and purpose. Freedom is when we are not just living as a slave to circumstance but when we can sculpt a magnificent destiny from the opportunities that circumstance presents us with. WHY CANT WE LIVE FREELY? Very often we find ourselves in situations where we are guided by our limitations. These limitations seem to define us. If we think about it, limitations really express in two ways, 1. A limitation can put us down and crush us for example, if I cannot perceive any talent or skill in me like my friends around me have, then I feel very small and need others appreciation, etc.
constantly, to feel good about myself. If I do not get that then I tend to feel very low, etc. This is the limitation of comparison. It saps all energy from us; or 2. A limitation can guide us to our strength and goal like the banks of a river sure does limit the waters of the river from dissipating everywhere but also gives it the force and intensity to gush towards its destination, the ocean. Very often we use our limitations, whether it is a lack felt within me or seen as a limiting circumstance outside me, in either case, they only bring us to a negative state of stagnancy. This
expresses as constant complaints and lack of genuine effort. At such times, we are unable to take responsibility of our own lives and are going through life in neutral gear. How do we change that? CHOICE AND UNDERSTANDING - THE KEY In our lifes journey in order to beat our limitations, we need to provide a new direction in our life. If a body of water is only defined by its banks, then it wont be dynamic. But if we are dynamic like the river, we need to look for a new direction other than our limitations to surge forward
towards our goal. A beautiful example comes to mind of the frog who was trying to jump out of a well. He was trying really hard to jump outside the well. Hearing his grunts, other frogs who were outside the well, gathered around the well and each one was commenting on whether the frog will get out or not. Some of them started yelling out to the frog that there was no future, no hope and that he would die trying. Some even called him names and told him to stop foolishly wasting his energies. Others started betting with each other whether he would make it out or not On seeing a crowd
of frogs gathered around the well, this frog kept on trying with every attempt getting closer and closer to the mouth of the well. After many attempts, he finally made it out. All the frogs celebrated his victory and rejoiced with him. One of the journalist frogs came to interview him and asked him, what was his motivation? Soon they discovered he was deaf! Finally, they managed to communicate the question to him and his answer was all the encouragement he had received from the other frogs who were outside. They were stunned! They were all criticizing and discouraging him, but due to his disability, he perceived their caviling as encouragement. See how our perspective can turn our disadvantage into our strength? Our Gurudev used to always encourage us with 6 simple words, WE CAN, WE MUST and WE WILL.
Bramhachari Adarsh Chaitanya serves as the Resident Acharya of Chinmaya Mission, Auckland and conducts weekly spiritual classes for children, youth and adults. For more information go to: www.chinmaya.org.nz or call 2756954.
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SURVEY
23
The Indian Weekender reader survey 2013

Answer these simple questions and get in the lucky draw to win exciting prizes!
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24
FEATURE
Read & reflect
Of other peoples stories
SUNAYANA ROY adolescent daughter who is unable to bear the weight of her mothers adultery. The motif of blurring lines is central to Crossed Borders where old crimes follow an immigrant gardener around all his life. As an old man he think he has finally achieved the anonymity needed for a peaceful existence but a yellowed newspaper clipping lands him in the hands of his employer, a vengeful ex-wife looking for somebody to murder her husbands new love. The Birthmark is a more fanciful, less satisfying tale. Discussing the female infanticide rampant in the Doab areas, it pits a mother-in-law prepared to keep her bloodline pure against the Bihari tribal worker her younger son married. Pregnant with a girl, the daughter-in-law refuses an abortion and her mother-in-law finds herself resorting to scheming against this strange dark witch who is teaching her son to accept a girlchild. Cory Fernandez, in her story Me and Sammy Fernandez, offers a setting which is almost filmy in its extravagance: an aspiring music journalist falls in love with the son of a celebrated Goan singer. Rejecting the demands of her own Parsi background she enters into a relationship that turns abusive. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is described in disturbing detail as Cory struggles to reconcile her conscience, work and family with her rapidly souring marriage. The final straw comes when she discovers the truth behind the death of her husbands singer mother Amethyst, the idol of Corys youth. The young village boy who dreamt of Marrying Nusrat, of giving the young NGO worker the stability and love she did not find in her marriage finds his path rockier than planned. Nusrat came from some do-gooder agency in Lucknow to organise the chikan workers of the village into a cooperative. In the process she opened the eyes of many of the villagers to the world outside the village and herself received unconditional love and support from them in her time of need. This story provides an eye-opening account of the lives and hopes of the men and women who provide the exquisitely hand-embroidered that are sold in Indian shops everywhere. One of my favourite stories in the book is Underneath a Moonlit Sky, about two couples who meet while honeymooning in Kashmir. Against the backdrop of the violence that destroyed Kashmiri tourism in the 1990s the Kashmiri husband and wife struggle to keep their love and marriage alive; in Madras the ex-honeymooners have their own troubles with childlessness and demanding relatives. Each year Rohini sends a little photo-postcard to Kashmir, unconsciously creating mementoes of happier times as well as of guilt and despair. The eponymous Another Mans Wife is possibly the highlight of
aving read Manjul Bajajs first book Come, Before Evening Falls with deep appreciation only a year ago, I approached her second offering Another Mans Wife (a collection of nine short stories) with high expectations. The latter, a collection of short stories, did not disappoint. Her strengths remain the same: strong characterisation, detailed depiction of period detail and cultural context, and finely nuanced storytelling. The first story, Ripe Mangoes, is a stellar example of all this. A young Kathak dancer, married for convenience to her fathers creditor, yet tries to hold on to all that is dear to her. She leaves behind her family orchards, her lover and her old life in Murshidabad and moves to a grey matchbox of a home in Calcutta where she looks after her three growing children. A home where she installs a tutor for her sons, the man she has loved most of her life. A life which is now threatened by her
the collection. Kuheli and Devji grow up together in an adivasi village in Gujarat. They plan their lives together, forseeing a future of children, farming, togetherness. The building of a dam disrupts their lives, flooding their villages and making them penniless refugees overnight. Their struggle for survival is further complicated by the government official who wishes to make Kuheli his mistress. The resulting strain on their marriage is almost more than the bonds can bear. The writer is a reviewer, blogger andtheaterartiste.
First season of colours for the widows in Vrindavan

enturies-old social barriers came crashing down in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, when scores of Vrindavan widows took part in Holi celebrations with social activists during the festival last week. Cutting the umbilical cord from the past is no easy task, and you cant do that without raising eyebrows, said social commentator Paras Nath Choudhary. It is reflection of changing times that instead of opposition, people came forward to support the social reform movement, he said. At the five widows homes in Vrindavan, the ambience was infectious, the fervour and an air of victory was felt by all Holi revellers. This was no routine Holi celebration, it had a purpose. The effort to draw these women into the mainstream was widely appreciated, said Shravan Kumar Singh of Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society who came from Agra to join the cultural revolution. Said social activist Padmini Iyer: This is a clear departure from tradition. Who would have thought till a few years ago that hundreds of widows would be able to sprinkle colourful flowers and petals on one another to play Holi? Sulabh International recently launched a programme to provide medical facilities, job training and a monthly allowance of Rs.2,000 to every registered widow. This initiative, at the suggestion of the Supreme Court, has fundamentally changed the lives and mindsets of the inmates of the shelter homes, Iyer said. The Holi celebrations continued for four days. More than 800 widows will be part of the new initiative. In an effort to help widows in their social assimilation, we have organised several events, Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak said. The Vrindavan Holi is an effort to free the widows from the shackles of age-old tradition. Not only will the widows play Holi, they will also participate in cultural programmes, said Pathak.
This Holi was a revolutionary one for the place thats the Holy Grail of the festival
The widows also shared food with some of the outsiders and foreigners. This too is an unusual practice for widows. As part of Holi celebrations. Right from the morning, the 100-yearold Meera Sahbhagini Ashram, an abode for 350 odd widows, began to throb with life. The ashram is one the five governmentrun centres for widows. Among the widows are many who lost their husbands at a tender age of 16 or 17 and have since lived an obscure life, abandoned by their families and awaiting moksha -- as the feeling goes -- by serving the Lord.
ENTERTAINMENT
25
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Ghulam Ali comes up with biography
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akistani Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali comes up with his biography that encapsulates the various ups and downs he experienced in his life. Titled Ghazal Wizard - Ghulam Ali, the book has been penned by two Indian writers Bhavesh Sheth and Sadhana Jejurikar. It feels great when a biography comes out. Even if I am not there, people will remember me through the book. Its a great feeling. There are a lot of things in the book which have been revealed from my childhood days till now, said Ghulam Ali, known for all-time hit ghazals Chupke chupke raat din, Hungama hai kyon barpa, and Apni dhun mein. Ghazal has faded from the music scene, but Ghulam Ali says this is just a temporary change and the genre will come back soon. I know the future of ghazals is very bright. After a certain point, we will come back to ghazals. This is a temporary change of modern music. The biographys foreword is written by Ustad Zakir Hussain and the introduction is by Hariharan. A music CD will be given free with the book and consists of eight ghazals. Of these, two are sung by Ghulam Ali and rest by co-author Sadhana.
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Chiranjeevi proud of son for doing Zanjeer

elugu superstar-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi says he is proud of his actor son Ramcharan Teja for doing a bilingual movie, a re-make of the 1973 Hindi classic Zanjeer. The Union Tourism Minister says his sons achievement has enhanced his pride as a father. He spoke at a function organised in Hyderabad recently to release the promos of Toofan, the Telugu version of Zanjeer. Ramcharan and Priyanka Chopra are playing the lead roles in both the versions. Sanjay Dutt will be seen as Sher Khan in the Hindi version, while Srihari is donning the same role for Toofan. Chiranjeevi recalled that it was after 13 years in Telugu cinema that he got a Hindi movie Pratibandh, in which he played an angry police officer, while his son Ramcharan got this opportunity very early in his career. The superstar is confident that the bilingual movie Ramcharan Teja in a still from Toofan, the Telugu version of Zanjeers remake. would prove a big hit as it has all the ingredients of a good commercial movie. I saw some clippings of Toofan. The acting, body language, actions and expressions are fantastic. The film will rock, said Chiranjeevi. The young actor, who began his career in Telugu films six years ago, said he was initially reluctant.But when I heard the story, which has emotions and everything else, I was impressed. Later everything fell in place, he said. However, Amitabh Bachchan will not be making an appearance in the remake. The actor had charmed his fans by playing the character ofVijayin the original in 1973, directed by Prakash Mehra. The remixed version is directed by filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia. Teja is playing the role of a cop in the film which Bachchan had played in the original movie.Bachchan appreciated the trailer of the remake and called it smashing stuff.
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26
ENTERTAINMENT
No mercy for
Munnabhai
The country comes forward in seeking pardon for Sanjay Dutt as he prepares to go behind the bars once again, after 20 years
he Supreme Court sentenced actor Sanjay Dutt for five years in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case on charges of illegal arms possession linked to the terror attack, invoking sad reactions from the film industry which even now rides on the 53-year-old actor for box office success. Dutt, who has played gangster in several films, followed by the endearing role of a dogooder gangster Munnabhai, was earlier sentenced to six years of imprisonment by an anti-terrorism court in July 2007. Dutt, who was out on bail after spending 18 months in prison, had challenged his conviction in the Supreme Court, but the court sentenced him for five years now, the verdict of which came on March 21. The actor, who has enjoyed sustained popularity in Bollywood, despite his various run-ins with law, was convicted for possessing illegal weapons from the terrorists responsible for the Mumbai blasts that killed 257 people. He was, however, acquitted of graver charges under TADA or the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. Effectively Sanjay Dutt will now have to spend three years and eight months in jail. Dutt was given four weeks to surrender and the actor said he would surrender in the given time and not seek pardon. On March 12, 1993, twelve coordinated blasts in Bombay Stock Exchange, Air India Building at Nariman Point and hotels Sea Rock and Juhu Centaur resulted in death of at least 257 people and injury to more than 700.
20 years of ordeal has finally come to an end: Priya Dutt Sanjay Dutts sister, Congress MP Priya Dutt thanked all those who had expressing their solidarity and support to her brother after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction. I would like to thank the entire film industry, prominent personalities and most of all the people of India for their overwhelming gestures of love and support shown towards Sanjay and our family, Priya Dutt said in a statement.
versions of verdicts have been passed on him throughout these years. He has been judged by all during these 20 years and sometimes in the most harsh ways. Yet he has stood strong and firm, normalised his life, served society, helped and stood by his colleagues, friends and family and is today one of the most dependable people in the film fraternity. As a sister, as a family...we will always stand by him. That is what any loving family will do.
times, said he was saddened and life was not like film sadly. He said he also spoke to the actor the previous night and felt the turbulence in him. Heart Broken: Just heard that Sanjay Dutt has to go to jail for 5 years. I expected mercy! Alas it did not happen, tweeted Bhatt. Karan Johar said he was shattered to know of the verdict. I am truly shattered to hear of Sanjus sentence...the nicest guy I have known just does not deserve this... my heart goes out to him, Johar
would not be fair to pardon Sanjay. Work commitment rules over pain for Sanjay An estimated Rs 100 crore is riding on the actor and he has assured the makers of his three under-production films Zanjeer, Policegiri and P.K. - that he will complete the projects before he is imprisoned. Despite the trauma that Sanjay is going through, he met the filmmakers at his residence in Pali Hill and assured them that he will complete their projects.A friend of the actor, who spent the entire day and night at the Dutts residence, said: Yes, Sanju Sir has made a commitment. Zanjeer requires three more days, Rajkumar Hiranis P.K. requires seven more days and Policegiri needs 17 days to be completed. In spite of the shock that he went through on (March 21) Thursday (of hearing the honourable Supreme Courts verdict), Sanju Sir assured the Zanjeer director Apoorva Lakhia, P.K. maker Rajkumar Hirani and the Policegiri producer T.P.Aggarwal that their films would be completed. Sanju Sir told them, Boss, lets complete the shooting and my dubbing. Pataa nahin aage kya hoga (Who knows what will happen in future). Sanjay has already got started on the projects. The commitment stunned all of us, said the friend. Before Sanjay got entangled in the 1993 bombings when he was given arms by gangsters for keeping with him, he had a problem with serious drug addiction for years.
Sanju speaks
I have already suffered for 20 years and been in jail for 18 months. If they want me to suffer more I have to be strong. I am heartbroken because today along with me, my 3 children and my wife and my family will undergo the punishment. I have always respected the judicial system and will continue to do so, even with tears in my eyes. I am going to complete all my films and wont let anyone down. I am overwhelmed by the support of my fans the industry people, the media and all the well wishers. They have always stood by me and supported me. I know in my heart that I have always been a good human being, respected the system and always been loyal to my country. My family is very emotional right now and I have to be strong for them. I am shattered and in emotional distress. I am sorry I cant come down and meet you all. God is great and he will guide me through this.
It is in your lowest moment that we can truly know your friends, she said. Saying a 20-year ordeal has finally come to an end, she said: 20 years is a lifetime for most people. In Sanjays case this has been a lifetime of tension and anxiety, a lifetime of repentance and reform, a lifetime of punishment and trial. Pointing to the agony that her brother had undergone all these years, Priya said: For Sanjay,
If the purpose of incarceration is reform and punishment for crime committed, then I believe he has undergone both, Priya Dutt said. Support galore Several members of film fraternity and some politicians spoke in Sanjays support. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who had cast Sanjay in several of his films and stood by him in his bad
tweeted. Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and actor-turned politician Jaya Prada met Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan.Last week, Press Council chief Justice Markandey Katju wrote to the governor to exercise his powers and pardon the actor. However, other political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena opposed it, saying it
Salman Khan hit-and-run case to be heard April 8

to murder, which will be heard April 8 by Sessions Judge U.B. Hejib. Earlier, Salman Khan was tried by a magistrate under lesser charge of causing death by negligence (Section 304 A IPC) that provides for a maximum punishment of two years in prison. Salman Khan had rammed his car into a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four others who were sleeping on the pavement.
sessions court in Mumbai deferred to April 8 the hearing of the 2002 hit-and-run case against Bollywood actor Salman Khan. A magistrate court, trying the case, had invoked the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and shifted the trial to the sessions court last month. The charge, if proved, can attract a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail. The actor had filed a review petition to quash the charges of culpable homicide not amounting
ENTERTAINMENT
27
Cinema in four frames

ilmmaker Karan Johar, who is known to have lavish sets and larger than life and expensive films, says he was under pressure when he was asked to make the film Bombay Talkies on a tight budget. We have our own style of film making but we didnt have much budget. First of all nobody gives me a budget because I have always made larger than life films. This is for the first time I have to work under a budget and it was difficult to make a film under a budget. The budget was Rs 1.5 crore each. We consciously made an effort to make it in 1.5 crores... we did not cheat by putting our own money into it, Karan Johar, told reporters during the trailer launch of the film. Bombay Talkies which is a film to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema has four diverse filmmakers coming under one roof to make four short films. Director Anurag Kashyap says megastar Amitabh Bachchans house Pratiksha plays an important role in the film. Amitabhs house plays a very important role in the film. For the first time when I had to come to Mumbai, I was standing outside his bungalow. Pratiksha, his bungalow, is the protagonist in my film. Kashyap is happy with the film. When we saw all the film together we felt good suddenly you feel you are part of something big and this has not happened before. His film is about the madness and importance given to stars in Mumbai by their crazy fans. Director Zoya Akhtar says when she was approached to make this film, she had a short story ready. I could adapt it to the film. But you have got to like it the way it is. I am glad I did this (film) and I am very proud to share a credit in this film. Johar, who is known to cast one for him in this film. Asked what titles would they prefer to give to their respective films, Akhtar says Sheila Ki Jawani while Kashyap felt Murabba would be apt. Johar likes the title Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh and Dibakar Banerjee who is making an emotional film, feels Star would suit it as a title. Bombay Talkies is being made to celebrate the 100 years of
Stills from Bombay Talkies, four short films from four diverse filmmakers to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema
of his close friends Shah Rukh Khan in most of his films, says he didnt have any character for him in this film. I havent thought of Shah Rukh Khan because he is part of my life, part of my system. I look up to him and I didnt think off casting him because there was no character
Indian cinema. It has four segments directed by Johar, Akhtar, Banerjee and Kashyap respectively. The film is slated for May 13 release. The film features Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Katrina Kaif, Randeep Hooda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui among others.
Southern stories
What its like to be a Southern Siren in B Town? Asin Thottumkal reveals some crucial differences between Tollywood and Bollywood and how its no cakewalk to work with the biggies today. Hear it from the actress
he southern film industry is far more traditional than Bollywood, which caters to a wider audience and gives opportunities to women in technical fields, says actress Asin Thottumkal after a five-year stint in Hindi films. The south Indian film industry is more traditional. This reflects in their work. The cultural differences, language and approach are completely different, while Bollywood is more open and caters to a wider audience, Asin says. There is another key difference, she added. Down south people are ready to accept you the way you are. They appreciate and value simplicity. You dont have to wear make-up or be in your glamorous image when you make public appearances. Whereas in Bollywood, its about creating a star image, a style quotient that you have to carry throughout. You have to be in the glamorous image all the time, said the actress who made a big name for herself in Tamil and Telugu films before she moved to Hindi cinema. Asin, who debuted opposite Aamir Khan in the 2008 hit Ghajini, said Bollywood gives a chance to women in varied spheres. On the sets, I see a lot of young women technicians, women camerapersons, hairdressers, makeup artists, dress designers, stage designers and technicians... Its not the same in the south, she said.
The 27-year-old however feels the barrier between the two industries is slowly diminishing. Bollywood filmmakers have taken inspiration from Tamil and Telugu films and remade them in Hindi. Yuva, Singham, Rowdy Rathore and Wanted are some examples. She is glad the trend is growing at a fast pace. The main purpose is to entertain viewers and that is undoubtedly being done. I also like the fact that a lot of young writers and directors are coming in with fresh original scripts, she added. Aamir, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar... Asin has romanced some of the top-notch actors of Hindi cinema on the big screen in the last five years and says teaming up with big names helps in growth. She says she feels blessed that Hindi movie buffs had accepted her. Its not easy. Those who migrate from Tollywood or Kollywood or freshers do not really get to work with A-listers. Working with them helps in growth. I am lucky. I worked with Aamir Khan and A.R. Rahman in my first film Ghajini. But I have also put in a lot of hard work to be where I am today, she said. Before entering Hindi films, she was already a star in the south Indian film industry and featured in films like Chakram, Varalaru and Dasavathaaram.
28
WHATS ON
Get set for the filmy dose
The New Zealand International Film Festival will present a series of Autumn Events at The Civic this April. Two spectacular classics will launch the Autumn Event calendar: Lawrence of Arabia, in a new 50th anniversary 4K digital restoration acclaimed at Cannes last year; and Guys and Dolls, which sees the unfailingly charismatic Marlon Brando croon it up alongside Frank Sinatra. Also featuring are the NZ premiere screenings of Oscar-nominated Kon-Tiki and the horror anthology The ABCs of Death. this is your chance to sample the world, one film at a time. Miss the annual dose of superb international cinema at your own peril! When: Guys and Dolls Sat 20 April, 3pm Kon-Tiki Sat 20 April, 7.15pm The ABCs of Death Sat 20 April, 10pm Lawrence of Arabia Sun 21 April, 2.15pm Where: The Civic, Corner Queen Street & Wellesley Street Admission: $11.50 - $17 Website: www.buytickets.co.nz
will be crowning the first ever Mr Burlesque New Zealand. It will be a night of glitter and glam, with international guest performers and the best of New Zealand burlesque. When: Sat 13 April, 8.30pm Where: Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall Admission: $30 Website: www.buytickets.co.nz
Miss Burlesque New Zealand
The fourth annual Miss Burlesque New Zealand pageant as seen on 20/20, Nightline, Asia Pacific Down Under and The Burlesque Bible. Some of New Zealands top burlesque performers will be vying for the ultimate title of Miss Burlesque New Zealand. Miss Burlesque NZ is New Zealands leading Burlesque pageant, and the highlight of the burlesque year. A night of dazzling costumes, cheeky entertainment and just to make the night even more spectacular, we
mainstream appeal has been demonstrated by consistently high audience attendance since its inception in 1993. Held simultaneously over three weeks in Auckland and Wellington during April & May each year, the Festival then takes to the road with the Comedy Convoy, touring to regional cities across New Zealand. The Festival is not only a hugely popular event, but also an extremely accessible one. With comedy performances ranging from stand up, sketch, improv, theatre, childrens and musical comedy we aim to provide something for everyone to laugh at. When: April 26 to May 19 Where: The Q Theatre and other venues Admission: $26 Website: www.comedyfestival. co.nz
NZ International Documentary Festival
The Documentary New Zealand Trust presents The NZ International Documentary Festival 2013. Australasias biggest and most prolific documentary festival, the Documentary Edge International Film Festival, returns to Auckland and Wellington this April-May with a stunning programme of over 40 local and international films. The 2013 titles include Academy Award nominations, Cannes and Sundance films, a host of international festival awards and newly completed New Zealand films. This years Culture Vultures section also boasts an impressive selection of music-based documentaries while Spotlight programming on the American Dream and Sports reflect the current themes and conversations in the world we live in. When: April 10 to 21, 12pm and May 8 to 19 in Wellington Where: Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street and Reading Cinemas and The Film Archive at Wellington Website: www.documentaryedge. org.nz
NZ International Comedy Festival
The NZ International Comedy Festival is a highlight on the entertainment calendar. Its broad
After doing Dabangg, I realised I was born to be an actor

In conversation with Sreya Basu on her next film Lootera, Sonakshi Sinha is at her cheekiest best
I would love to keep doing this kind of films too. How was the experience of working with Ranveer Singh? It was good working with him as it is with all my co-stars. He is a very, very good actor and I think the characters that were written for us in the film were aptly suited. What was your reaction when you were told to play a character from 1950s? When Vikramaditya Motwane told me that I have to do a character from the 50s, I was very excited as I like those films that take you to a different era altogether. The immediate faces that came into my mind were those of Madhubalaji, Suchitra Sen and Waheeda Rehmanji(legendary actresses). Given a chance to actually be aLootera(robber), what will you rob? Box office (Laughs). You have gained so much fame in just three years. Is the thought of maintaining stardom scary? I am not scared, my directors are, since they dont get my dates. But jokes apart, I consider myself very fortunate that I could do so many good films in so little time. I feel blessed and I will continue working as hard as I had been doing for the last three years. But there must be some kind of pressure while signing a film? There is no such pressure because if I start thinking on that line I might get a nervous breakdown. I do what my mind asks me to do. I just want to please myself as an artist and my audience. I wont ask you when you will get married but tell us whats your idea of a dream wedding? I want to be a simple bride and I want a beach wedding. Did you always want to be an actress? Before coming into films, I was studying fashion designing. I was not at all interested in acting or cinema. Since I had seen my fathers (actor Shatrughan Sinha) stardom, there was no fascination or inclination towards glamour. But when I started my acting career (withDabanggin 2010), I felt I should have chosen films long time back. I realised I am born to be an actor. How much did Shatrughan Sinha help you to enter Bollywood? Look, neither I told him to make me an actress, nor did he tell me that I have to be an actress. I was offered my first film from people outside my family. They called me and said here is a film which we think will suit you. That was when I signedDabangg. You have already made it clear that you wont expose or do kissing scenes. Why is that? I believe that if our film industry could survive without these things for so many years, I dont need to do them just because others are doing.
Looterais based in 1950s while so far you have done all contemporary roles. Was it difficult? Yes. This is my most difficult film. Its a beautiful character.
Though I love doing those kind of films (based in todays time) and they will remain my true love and what I enjoy doing the most, but this is something so fulfilling and I got so much to learn from this film that
REVIEW
29
For bravados, by baravados
ARWA JANJALI
Film: Himmatwala Director: Sajid Khan Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tamannah, Paresh Rawal, Mahesh Manjrekar, Zareena Wahab Rating: Ha!
nly Sajid Khan could have chosen to remake a film from the worst decade of Hindi cinema and take it a notch higher in terms of torture. After all, his bawdy and juvenile brand of humour does put the 80s era to shame. So while we have the regressive undertones of Jeetendra and Sridevi starrer Himmatwala intact with dialogues like Jis ghar mein ladki ki doli jaati hain, wahan se uski arthi hi nikalti hain, the 21st century Himmatwala (Ajay Devgn) also spouts lines like Meri ma behen
ki kasam, main teri ma behen kar doonga. Keeping up with the times, there is also an eerie gay scene between Paresh Rawal and Mahesh Manjrekar, where the former is biting the latters ear followed by the most pathetically tasteless sexual innuendo. And there is no breather to recover. It indeed takes a Sajid Khan Entertainer to spread horror in the name of laughter. Ravi (Devgn) returns to his village Ramnagar after 20 years to avenge the death of his father from
the villages villainous sarpanch (leader) Sher Singh (Manjrekar). And ends up taming an actual Sher (tiger) in the process too, with just one solid punch on the tigers cheek. Thats perhaps the only considerable innovation (pun intended) by Sajid in an otherwise scene-to-scene and song-to-song remake of the original. The 83s flick at least had its moments in the all time popular number Naino Mein Sapna but Sajids version kills that too by making Ajay dance to the tunes. Ajay is no jumping jack and Tamannaah is no Sridevi even though she shows
a slight resemblance to the actress in a few scenes apart from the Southern connection. Having said that, Tamannaah is not a bad actress. Just that she makes her Bollywood debut with the wrong film. As for Devgn, how we wish he takes a break from this inane fare and gets back to where his forte lies sensible cinema. In addition, what can one say about veterans like Zareena Wahab and Paresh Rawal, who degrade themselves with their presence in this disaster of a film? Except for
hoping we dont see them in any of the Sajid Khan Entertainers in future. That the man has some serious notions about entertainment is known with his last two releases (Housefull and Housefull 2) but after Himmatwala, Sajid has proved he is delusional about himself too. Apparently, the blockbuster filmmaker (as he likes to call himself) had claimed there would be no tickets available for the first three days of his films release. Really Sajid, how about growing up a little?
THE HOME OF
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THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2013
Zombie rom-com starring Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: First Class) as a down-and-out living dead who falls for the girlfriend of one of his victims. Also stars John Malkovich. Rated: (M) Violence & Horror
*One child in each group must be a Kids Club member and present card to receive the special $10 ticket price. Excludes $1.10 online booking fee & glasses fee. Rated: PG - Contains Low Level Violence.
Sunday 14 April, 2pm

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I LOVE NY
WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL 2013
I love New Year follows two strangers, a beautiful musician (Kangana Ranaut) and a serious Wall Street banker (Sunny Deol), that have a chance encounter on New Years Eve that the banker cant seem to remember and the events that come about as a result of the two meeting. Rated: (TBC)
STAR TREK
THURSDAY 9 MAY 2013 After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
Rated: (TBC) Science Fiction
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30
RECIPE
Rubys Kitchen
Ruby Dhillon
Guacamole (Avocado Dip)
Tandoori Chicken
Ingredients
8- chicken drumsticks -skinless 7 tbsp- cream 6tbsp- plain yogurt 4tbsp- lemon juice 2 1/2tsp- ginger paste 2 1/2tsp- garlic paste 1tsp- red chilli powder 1tsp- garam masala powder 1tsp- cumin powder 1tsp- coriander powder 1 drop orange food colour Salt according to taste Oil for brushing 2- lemons cut into wedges
Method Wash, skinned chicken, prick the flesh of the chicken all over with a fork or using a sharp knife cut slashes in the flesh for the
chicken to marinate. In a bowl combine yogurt, cream, ginger paste, garlic paste, garam masala, red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, orange colour, salt and lemon juice. Mix and pour the mixture over the chicken and rub it into the flesh with your hands, turning the chicken several times. Cover and refrigerate for 8-10 hours or overnight. Pre heat oven at 200c. Keep a silver foil on a baking tray, place the drumsticks on it, cook turning once or twice for 30-50 minutes until the juices run clear when a piece is pierced near the bone with a knife. Brush with oil during the cooking process. Serve with lemon wedges.
Note: There can be variations in the temperature of the oven and time of cooking according to different ovens.
Makes about 2 cups Ingredients

2-avocados ripe 2tbsp- lemon juice 1/4cup- onion chopped 1/4cup- tomato chopped 2 - green chillies chopped Salt according to taste
Method Remove flesh from avocado and mash with a fork. Add chopped onion, tomato, green chillies, lemon juice and season with salt to taste. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
ENTERTAINMENT First Look
31
Never want to touch my fathers films

ilmmaker Rohan Sippy, son of renowned producer-director Ramesh Sippy, doesnt want to remake any of his fathers films. Ramesh Sippy is known for his memorable films Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Shakti and Saagar, among others. I would always like to do original films. My wish is that I should never remake my dads film, only then one would understand what is the difference between both of us. I would never want to touch my fathers films, said Rohan who debuted as a director with Kuch Naa Kaho. So many of his films were perfect. Where will you find actors like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan together (Shakti) in a film? Why would one want to remake his films? So far Rohan has directed four films, including forthcoming movie Nautanki Saala, and of them, only Bluffmaster worked at the box office. Not under any pressure, Rohan is proud his father has made some of the best films in Bollywood. Only my father has done it, no other director has done it. I am proud that my father has made the best films. The first century belongs to my father. Any son would feel proud about it. There is no pressure. I will keep working hard and make him feel proud of my films, he said. He is currently busy promoting Nautanki Saala, which features Ayushmann Khurrana, Pooja Salvi, Kunaal Roy Kapur and Evelyn Sharma. The film is slated for April 12 release.
am Kapoor and Abhay Deol The first look of Dhanush, Son released on micro-blogging starrer Raanjhana, which was Holi. Directed by Aanand L site Twitter on the occasion of ry, with music composed by A Rai, Raanjhana is a love sto led to release on June 28. R Rehman.The film is schedu
Rohan Sippy (left) with father Ramesh Sippy
Father can have the world's 1st Human 3D massage chair with 11 programs.
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Indian Weekender Issue#97

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Indian

April 05, 2013 Volume 4, No. 23

The leading Kiwi Indian fortnightly newspaper

For free distribution

Sikh leader on terrorism charges

Holi hues of auckland

New to New Zealand?

Choose the bank that understands where youre coming from.

two sides of the sanjay dutt 26 saga

Groove with the garagewalas

fiji defends hk7s crown

ON > MORTGAGE INTEREST > INSURANCE PREMIUM

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

NZ Sikh leader arrested on terrorism charges

Mortgage Brokers | Insurance Brokers | Financial Advisers | Tax Consultants

Our new Insurance Advisers

Vishal Jain 022 043 0336

Tarundeep Chadha 022 043 0337

Call our Insurance Advisers for any Insurance Advice

CALL US TODAY TO DISCUSS YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS

Professional Financial Solutions Ltd

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

Drink Drive: Serious Consequences

IMMIGRATION & LITIGATION SPECIALISTS

Free Initital Consultation

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

Calling all international culture vultures

Get Free Insurance Review and Consultation

We help you at the time of claim

Call us now and see the difference!!!

Free Phone - 0800 88 78 78

Our Pride Is Our Premium Service.

021 058 9551

Mothers Day Special

LATEST 2013 DESIGNS AVAILABLE

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

Considering anti-bias in early childhood education

Commonwealth Vault introduces Commonwealth Bullion

Visit: www.commonwealthvault.co.nz or Phone: 0800 482 858

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

Groove with Nasha

Can you take transform trash to fashion?

To find out more about Schools Trash to Fashion visit http://www.st2f.co.nz/

P: 09 5502664 M: 0222125052 www.nzlaserclinics.co.nz

Aucklands youth can swim free

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

Meet the The Garagewalas...

* Rahul can be contacted on 0212149243.

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

Peace initiatives lauded as Muslims mark silver jubilee

VISIT NORTHLAND : Find answers and win 40+ prizes at www.northlandnz.com

Cruises & Tours

0800 653 339 | www.dolphincruises.co.nz

0800 653 339 | www.dolphincruises.co.nz

0800 653 339 | www.dolphincruises.co.nz

Museum - Kiwi House - Heritage Park

The Rock Overnight Cruise

09 435 0110 | www.kingdomofzion.co.nz

09 438 9630 | www.kiwinorth.co.nz

Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands

0800 NZ OWNED | www.scenichotels.co.nz

0800 365 744 | www.explorenz.co.nz/bayescape/

www.iwk.co.nz | The Indian Weekender | April 05, 2013

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