Indian

Indian November 27, 2009

Log on to www.iwk.co.nz Volume 1, No. 19
New Zealand’s first Indian weekend magazine
For free distribution

At a glance Globetrotter Honoured Bollywood

Solo Indian sailor Gurpreet Arora Vidya Balan
Giants in New Zealand in NZ Pg 2 Pg 11 Pg 18

Giants International, India’s first inter-

national service organisation similar
to Lions and Rotary, has a presence
in New Zealand and Shirish Kapadia,
Honorary Executive Secretary from In-
dia, wants to encourage more Indians
to join. Page 13

Unscrupulous reporting
It does not take much to notice that
reporting on Fiji has been painted
and tainted at the whim of the media
in both New Zealand and Austra- lia
largely because the two governments
view the country negatively. Page 15

Indian men ‘duds in bed’

Indian men are weak in the bedroom,
obsessed with car accessories and
sound, and fixated on Manchester
United. So says a group on a popular
social networking site that has raised
Indian men’s hackles across the
world. Page 22

India’s gift to the world

India’s contribution to the world has
always been immense – be it the con-
tribution to today’s corporate world, or
Yoga, Ayurveda, spirituality. But what
is India’s real or ultimate contribution?
Page 24

Poor man’s gold

While most investors are well
aware of gold’s unprec-
edented march to $1,100/
oz, far fewer are familiar
with the yellow metal’s
often overlooked cousin,
silver. Page 29

Today’s Exchange Rates

1 NZD =
USD 0.74
INR 34.3
FJD 1.40
EURO 0.49

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Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 1

Indian
Indian solo voyager passes through New Zealand
AROUND THE WORLD: Harjinder Singh Basiala with Commander Dilip Donde; the sailing yacht – INSV Mhadei; MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi with the Commander
Commander Dilip Donde of the Indian Navy has
embarked on an adventure to circumnavigate the
world solo. He arrived in Lyttelton port in Christ-
church to a rousing welcome from the Indian com-
munity as well as the city’s maritime community
upon his arrival.
Of significance is the fact that he is aiming to
achieve this feat single handedly and under the
power of sails.
On August 19 this year, Commander Donde
set out on the sailing yacht – INSV Mhadei from
Mumbai in an endeavour to circumnavigate the
globe – the first ever by an Indian.
He arrived in Freemantle, Australia on Septem-
ber 24 after being at sea for over a month travers-
ing nearly 5000 nautical miles. The completion of
the first leg of this historic voyage by the officer
and indeed the Indian Navy has already earned
2 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
him a place in the record books as no Indian has
ever sailed solo this far.
He departed Freemantle on November 1 on
his second leg that will see him traversing nearly
3300 nautical miles in approximately 21 days and
arrived in Lyttelton harbour, Christchurch on No-
vember 21.
A dinner was organised by prominent Indians
under the aegis of the Indian High Commission
and Kunal Roy acting High Commissioner was
also present. Jatinder Singh, Defence Advisor,
Indian High Commission Australia was also
present where Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP hon-
oured Commander Donde. He was welcomed with
a traditional Haka and the deputy mayor of Christ-
church was also present.
“That was a little bit of a hard situation as there
were nine-metre swells and there were problems
with the steering gear,” he said. “I was honestly
worried about it. You don’t think too much about
it, you just get it sorted,” he told the media in
Lyttelton where he will stay till December 6 while
his yacht is repaired.
The yacht Mhadei is an indigenous construc-
tion built at Goa. It is 56 feet long with a set of six
sails that can be used in different combinations for
speeds of up to 10 knots.
This yacht is a fine example of Indian ship
building industry which has literally come of age
with some fine warships recently constructed and
with an ambitious indigenous construction pro-
gramme currently under way.
Incidentally, the sails have been manufactured
in New Zealand and therefore Commander Donde
is looking forward to this visit. The boat draws its
name from the river Mhadei that flows through the
New Zealand
PHOTOS: Harjinder Singh Basiala
More Pics on page 30
western Indian state of Goa into the Arabian Sea.
The name was considered both evocative and
appropriate as it honours the ‘Boat Deity’ of Goa
and the river she was built on, seeking her bless-
ings for a successful circumnavigation in the name
of both Goa and India.
From Christchurch Commander Donde sails to
Falkland Islands and Cape of Good Hope in South
Africa before arriving back in Mumbai on or about
May 25 next year.
The sailor will thus be rounding the tips of the
three great continents, namely, Australia, South
America and Africa. During the course of this
voyage he would cover a distance of over 22,500
nautical miles with just four stopovers.
Commander Donde’s blog at http://Sagarpari-
krama.blogspot.com makes a fascinating read with
some breathtaking images of the Indian Ocean.
Indian
Auckland Indian community
contributes to Samoa tsunami relief
Money raised at an unplanned, impromptu fund-
raiser during the Diwali concert of the Auckland
Indian Association at Mahatma Gandhi Centre
last month was presented to Samoa’s Prime Min-
ister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Samoa’s na-
tional capital Apia last week towards the govern-
ment’s tsunami releif fund.
Indian Weekender editor-in-chief Dev Nad-
karni presented the cheque on behalf of the
Auckland Indian Association and Auckland’s
Indian community during his visit to Samoa.
Following the presentation and during an in-
terview, the prime minister thanked the Indian
community for its generosity. A video of ex-
cerpts of the interview can be viewed on www.
iwk.co.nz.
He said the country had received unprec-
edented support from all over the world in terms
of both cash contributions and in kind but there
was still a shortfall of funds to finance the re-
building of destroyed infrastructure.
Over 170 people had been killed in the
tsunami, which hit the south east coast of the
main Upolu Island flattening entire coastal vil-
lages for several kilometres at a stretch. In many
cases entire families were swept away with one
family losing as many as 15 members.
While the rebuilding exercise has begun in
right earnest with infrastructural and monetary
help particularly from governments and institu-
tions in Australia and New Zealand, the task is
challenging. Over $150 million will be required
for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the short
to medium term alone, with the requirement
rising by about the same amount over the next
five years, the prime minister told Indian Week-
ender.
Many villagers from the coastal areas now
wish to settle on higher ground away from the
tide line and the government will be tasked with
providing new roads, water supply and other in-
frastructure.
Caption: Samoa Prime Minister
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi receives
a cheque on behalf of the Auckland
Indian community from Indian Week-
ender editor-in-chief Dev Nadkarni
Tourism, the nation’s second highest revenue
earner after remittances has suffered a setback
with widespread cancellations following the
tsunami in October but is now beginning to limp
back to normal.
Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni Ret-
zlaff said it was important to convey to the people
at large that no more than 15% of the tourist ac-
commodation had been affected by the tsunami.
Samoa has been a top performer in the devel-
opment indices for several years and the tsunami
will prove a temporary setback in the achieve-
ment of its developmental goals. But the country
is known for the speed of its recovery from past
disasters like cyclones and is fully geared up to
the rebuilding process.
Resident representative of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), Neelima
Noble, who is originally from India and who has
been in Samoa for just two months was all praise
for the government’s response
Indian Weekender launches
intelligent business directory
Feature-rich online listings services for Indian
businesses in New Zealand
Indian Weekender online is committed to
bring you the latest and best features and
services for the Indian community in New
Zealand. As part of that commitment we’ve
launched the Indian Weekender Business Di-
rectory, a growing database of Indian busi-
nesses in New Zealand.
Unlike run of the mill listings the Indian
business directory has a fantastic array of
extras to help visitors find a business with
ease from a full fledged search that allows a
users to either search for a business name or
use a related keyword to simply picking a cat-
egory and region to narrow their search.
In addition, locating a business no longer
means having to copy paste the address into
a mapping website. A range of maps powered
by Google allow you to pinpoint the business
by simply clicking on a Map button located
on the listing to get even closer there is even a
street view map option.
Saving a business’ address doesn’t have to
be a copy paste ordeal anymore merely click-
ing on the Download card button downloads
the entire details of a business straight to a
visitors outlook address book or Mac address
book.
A full range of sharing tools allows a busi-
ness to be shared through Facebook email and
multiple social platforms giving businesses
maximum reach on their online listing. Users
New Zealand
can also leave their review on businesses that
they used.
In addition to being really user friendly
the online business directories also allow
every business to uniquely tailor their listing
to highlight the uniqueness of the business
through a fantastic array of extras from photo
galleries on a listing through to videos.
For example a restaurant can have its very
own photo gallery so viewers can view the
dishes on offer and also their menu online
that visitors can download straight from the
listing. For more multimedia rich viewing the
business can even have a video of their busi-
ness on their listing.
The Indian Weekender online directory
fills a gap in the Indian business directory en-
vironment where existing paper-based direc-
tories publish even the basic minimal listings
only upon payment. They therefore are a few
representation of the cross section of Indian
enterprises doing business in New Zealand.
The Indian Weekender online directory
offers free basic listings with charges only for
special promotions.
Indian businesses are invited to reg-
ister online and fill in details of their
business activities and contact details at
www.indianweekender.co.nz
- Indian Weekender news desk

Transport agency needs to

deliver locally

The structure for the new Auckland Transport
Agency needs to be clearer on how transport
services will be delivered to local communities,
Manukau Mayor Len Brown has said.
“It is also unclear yet what the government’s
role will be, the nature of the transport agency
board and the extent of the Auckland Council’s
influence on the agency.
“Up to half of councils’ spending is on trans-
port, Manukau has a history of strong links into
the community and then delivering the projects
they need. We don’t want to lose that.
“I’m not a supporter of a separate transport
agency, but the discussion document released
today by the Auckland Transitional Author-
ity gives us more clarity about where things are
heading. It shows a similar structure to the one
proposed for the Auckland Council.
“The difference is that the transport struc-
ture splits the organisation into operating, infra-
structure and finance areas. However the local
delivery areas seem to be a bit underdone.
“Having local board engagement reporting to
the chief executive’s office is welcomed, because
maintaining local links will be vital.
“But what is more important is how things
like road maintenance and upgrades, footpath
maintenance and road safety are delivered at a
local level. These are the things that the commu-
nity experiences every day.
“I’m also still concerned about getting the
relationship between the Auckland Council and
the transport agency right. We need to make sure
the Auckland Council has the power to get the
agency to deliver on the community’s vision for
transport, it’s not clear yet how it will do that.
“Most structures can work, having the right
leadership and culture is the key. This struc-
ture can work and the signals that the Auckland
Transport Agency will be customer focused and
collaborative are positive,” Mr Brown said.
Meanwhile the $1billion rail electrification
project has received a shot in the arm as the gov-
ernment approved funding this week. This will
help the purchase of electric rolling stock that
will be faster and cleaner than the present diesel
locomotives that are in use. The Cabinet had ap-
proved $500 million for electric rolling stock to
start running in 2013, Transport Minister Steven
Joyce announced this week.

Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 3

Indian
Commission proposal a positive
reflection of local concerns
The Local Govern-
ment Commission’s
proposals for Auck-
land’s boundaries and
representation dem-
onstrate the impor-
tant role Local Boards
will have in the new
governance structure,
Manukau Mayor Len
Brown has said.
“It is important that Auckland’s resi-
dents have effective representation at all
levels, and that communities of interest
are recognised. We have a unique and
diverse population and we’re pleased to
see that this is acknowledged, with spe-
cific communities of interest such as
Otara and Pakuranga represented through
subdivisions within the Local Boards.
The Commission’s proposal for Local
Boards is for fewer than put forward in
Manukau City Council’s submission, but
Mr Brown recognises the Commissions
proposed approach still takes account of
the distinct communities of interest.
“I am particularly pleased that the
Commission appears to have listened
to and taken account of concerns about
Auckland’s assets, taking a firm stance
on regional parks and the dams in the
Hunua Ranges remaining vested in
Auckland ownership with the Auckland
Council and Watercare.
“It’s also worth noting that the Com-
4 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
mission has slightly adjusted the southern
boundary to avoid splitting the present
urban areas of Pukekohe and Waiuku to
maintain their integrity. ”
The ward structure proposed for the
southern sector aligns with the council’s
submission to the Commission, particu-
larly around the view that fewer local
boards would allow for stronger local
decision-making.
“In our submission to the Local Gov-
ernment Commission, we advocated for
multi-member wards for Manukau and we
are pleased to see that this is ref lected in
the draft proposal.”
However, the council is somewhat sur-
prised that wards are proposed which do
not comply with the ‘fair representation’
ratio, some by a wide margin. Mr Brown
says he also realises that the provisions
of the Local Government (Auckland
Council) Act 2009 imposed constraints
on the Commission.
Overall, the Commission’s proposals
for the southern sector are a fair repre-
sentation of the community’s make-up
and diversity, preserving the Manukau’s
strong established communities of inter-
est.
“I will be discussing the detail of this
draft proposal with my council and com-
munity boards, to consider any further
submissions to the Commission.”
New Zealand
MP welcomes new initiatives
National MP (Mr Kan- and we expect the more
waljit Singh Bakshi)
has welcomed news that
funding for the hugely
“For many New
than 27,000 homes allo-
cated for funding in the
first year to be retrofitted
popular Warm Up New
Zealand: Heat Smart
Zealanders, confidence within six months,” MP
Bakshi says.
programme is being
brought forward.
in the health system over “The scheme is reach-
ing those most in need,”
“I am delighted that
the Government has recent years has been MP Bakshi said.
Under the four-year
made funding for the scheme the Government
$323 million scheme a damaged by excessive is providing grants of up
multi-year appropria- to $1800 for houses built
tion,” MP Bakshi said. waiting and delays. before 2000 that need
“This will keep the ceiling and under-f loor in-
momentum rolling and
ensure a steady stream
We are determined to sulation or a clean heating
device. Grants of up to a
of homes throughout
Auckland will be ret-
change this.” third of the cost of the work
are available to all house-
rofitted with insulation holds regardless of income
and clean heating.” with Community Service Card holders quali-
The announcement came as the latest fying for a 60 per cent subsidy.
figures show that nearly 20,000 New Zealand Meanwhile he also welcomed a new initia-
homes have been retrofitted in the first four tive that makes it easy to find out how well
months of the programme. the Auckland District Health Board is per-
“More than 4162 houses in Auckland have forming.
been retrofitted since the scheme began in Each District Health Board’s performance
July. And last month 1289 houses in Auck- against the Government’s new health targets
land were provided with insulation and clean had been published in local newspapers
heating.” throughout New Zealand on November 23.
Nationwide, 5720 homes were retrofit- “This is great news for people in Auck-
ted last month; bring the four-month total to land. This is the first time that DHB perfor-
19,759. mance has been available to the public in
The latest figures also show the trend con- such an accessible form, and it will improve
tinuing for a considerable number of these DHBs’ accountability to our communities,”
retrofitted homes occupied by low-income says Mr Bakshi.
earners. More than 12,600 of the house- “For many New Zealanders, confidence in
holds were low income while more than 7100 the health system over recent years has been
general income households have been retro- damaged by excessive waiting and delays. We
fitted. are determined to change this.”
“Kiwis have embraced this scheme that is
making homes warmer, drier and healthier
Indian
New Zealand

Manukau Council to Charlie and the chocolate

support Enviroschools
Manukau City Council will provide
funding to the Enviroschools programme
to compensate for government funding
cuts, with $40,000 to go to the programme
for the remainder of the 2009/10 financial
year.
Another $80,000 is recommended to be
provided to the programme for the 2010/11
financial year, subject to Auckland Transi-
tion Agency confirmation.
The Enviroschools Programme has op-
erated in Manukau since 2002. It was de-
veloped in the Waikato in the 1990s and has
since been extended into schools across the
country. There are currently 670 Enviros-
chools nationally, with 151 in the Auckland
region and 32 in Manukau.
“This programme is an extremely posi-
tive initiative for our schools, our youth and
factory in Manukau City
way through environmental learning,” Mr
Brown said.
“It is through the next generations
that we will have a successful, strong and
sustainable community and city. Enviros-
chools has brought about real results – en-
vironmental improvement, reduced anti-
social behaviour, youth leadership, Maori
achievement and community engagement.
“These are the elements that create
strong communities and it’s these that we
want to foster. By picking up this funding,
we are continuing the investment in our
community,” Mr Brown said.
Policy and Activities chair Colleen
Brown says “it is very clear that the learn-
ing is inter-generational. We are seeing
school children teaching their parents and
grandparents and their siblings, so the ben-
Nathan Homestead Performing Arts will be
presenting five fantastic performances of the
well-known Roald Dahl tale Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory in early December.
Manukau City Council’s arts centre,
Nathan Homestead, will be transformed into
a wondrous candy land for the play which
follows Charlie Bucket and other lucky young
golden ticket winners into the most wonder-
ful chocolate factory that ever existed.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fea-
tures fifty Nathan Homestead Performing
Arts students from throughout Manukau
aged from 5 to 15 years old.
Director Daryl Wrightson promises a
bright, fun-filled, larger than life show, with
many surprises and magical theatrical ele-
ments that will entertain and wow audiences
of all ages.
“All of the students are excited to show-
case their passion for the performing arts to
the community and bring these fabulous char-
acters to life on stage” says Daryl Wrightson.
This delicious production is a perfect
family show for the festive season.
When + where: The Nathan Homestead
Theatre, Manurewa Community Arts Centre,
70 Hill Road, Manurewa
9 - 12 December, 7.30pm
12 December, 2.00pm matinee
Tickets: $7 per head. Bookings can be
made on 267 0180.

Police warning on scam

our communities, which I don’t believe we
can afford to lose,” Mayor Len Brown said.
The programme is within 32 Manukau
schools and the council’s initiative came
about in response to a request from the
Enviro Council at Pakuranga College.
“It is a real success story, where our
children learn how to apply their core
maths and English skills in a practical
efits have a wide reach into the community.
“This is an exciting programme
because it is about equipping people for the
future. It also ties very much into what we
as a council have been doing in our projects
within Tomorrows Manukau, such as the
Wiri Improvement Programme, towards
2060 and Reducing Family Violence,” Cr
Brown said.
Auckland City Downtown Police are warning
people of a current e-mail scam whereby people
are contacted via e-mail in relation to a product
or service that they may be advertising on the
internet.
Downtown Police are dealing with a number
of incidents from the last two days where fake
traveller’s cheques are being presented for
payment at banks in the centre of Auckland as
eller’s cheques.
They will then ask the recipient to cash the
cheques and return the overpayment by way of
a Western Union Money Transfer back to the
scammer.
All overseas traveller’s cheques received
should be treated with suspicion and should not
be accepted by members of the public as a mode
of payment.

Asian business graduates give

a result of an attempted scam that originates off- Downtown Police would like to hear from
shore, probably England. anyone who may have received similar e-mails.
Enquires are being carried out to confirm the Please contact Sgt Rachel Wood on 09 379 4500

the thumbs up to NZ studies

Most Asian business graduates who attended
New Zealand tertiary institutions say they are
positive about their experiences of living and
studying in New Zealand, a new Asia New
Zealand Foundation report says.
Of those surveyed, 71 percent indicated that
they had enjoyed studying in New Zealand, and
just over half said that their studies had matched
their expectations.
In the tracking study of Asian business grad-
uates, 45 percent of the participants also said
they wanted to remain in New Zealand after
graduating, at least for a while, to launch their
professional careers.
A majority of the students surveyed (58
percent) also said maintaining links to New
Zealand was a clear priority while 80 percent
said they wanted to maintain friendships formed
while studying in New Zealand.
The study was undertaken by International
Student Ministries of New Zealand (ISM NZ)
which surveyed 131 Asia-born New Zealand-
trained business graduates and interviewed 40
participants.
Those surveyed came from countries ranging
from Pakistan, India through to Japan, Korea
and Indonesia. The largest single nationality sur-
veyed was from China with 43 percent.
But survey participants indicated that they
viewed tuition costs as the most negative aspect
of studying in New Zealand, with almost 60
country of origin of the e-mails. or rwg497@police.govt.nz if you have further
The scammers are finding products or servic- information.
es for sale on the internet and offering a payment
in excess of the asking price in the form of trav-
percent expressing disquiet at the cost of their
academic tuition.
This was despite the respondents identifying
New Zealand’s perceived affordability as one of
the main reasons for choosing to study here.
One possible explanation for this is that the
survey period was marked by rising exchange
rates and increased international and domestic
student fees in many educational institutions.
Interviews revealed that high tuition costs could
be a significant distraction and source of stress.
The report’s authors said of secondary
concern to the students surveyed was difficulty
mixing with ‘locals’. Forty-two percent indicated
that they found it difficult mixing with or relat-
ing to local people in New Zealand while a much
smaller number described having experienced or
observed discriminatory or unfriendly attitudes
towards people of Asian descent.
Despite some students’ negative experi-
ences with other New Zealanders, more survey
participants indicated that their liking for New
Zealanders had grown (37 percent) rather than
diminished (14 percent) through studying here.
Over half agreed that the work culture in
New Zealand was better than elsewhere; almost
60 percent said that work seemed less stressful;
and almost half said that workers seemed expect-
ed to work fewer hours in New Zealand.

• Asian students are the fastest-growing minority group in New Zealand’s tertiary
education sector.

• According to the New Zealand Ministry of Education, Asian students comprise

almost one-fifth (17 percent) of the total tertiary student population.

• One-third of Asian students in tertiary education are enrolled as international

students; the majority of these on a full-fee-paying basis.

• Asian students make up two thirds of the total international student population
and 12 percent of domestic students in New Zealand tertiary education.

• Although New Zealand has only a tiny proportion of the world’s international
student population, it stands out as a national economy for its reliance on revenue
generated through education exports.

Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 5

Indian
Boost for young people
with Job Ops scheme
The government has announced an extra
2000 places on the Job Ops scheme, and
a $1 million dollar campaign to support
Student Job Search.
The extra Job Ops places are on top of
the 4000 announced in August. Job Ops
creates a six-month work opportunity for
an unemployed young person in return for
a $5000 subsidy from the Government.
The Government has set aside an addi-
tional $8.9 million to fund the additional
places.
“We believe this is well spent money.
This programme is delivering concrete
results. Youth unemployment is stable at
the moment and there’s no question that
Job Ops is making a real difference,”
Member of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh
Bakshi said.
“We know that students are also
Delhi vows to rid itself of
beggars before Games
New Delhi: Along with setting up of a world
class games village with sports stadia, restau-
rants, housing complexes, the Delhi administra-
tion has one important agenda, to rid the city of
its approximately 60,000 beggars.
As part of operation clean up before the 2010
Commonwealth Games, the authorities want
to banish the sight of beggars, a mission that
experts fear will victimize the most vulnerable
class of society.
A mobile police task force has been patrol-
ling the city to round up the offenders. Accord-
ing to law begging is punishable. Those who are
caught for the first time are sent to a special home
for a year and repeat offenders are jailed for ten
years. Officials are trying to create a database
where habitual offenders are locked up or ex-
pelled from the city.
However the Delhi High Court came down
heavily on the city government for forcing the
Babri report tabled in Parliament
New Delhi: The report of the Justice M.S.Liberhan
Commission of Inquiry into the Babri Masjid de-
molition was tabled in both houses of parliament
on Tuesday 24 November. The commission has
held 68 people individually culpable for leading
the country ‘to the brink of communal discord’.
The list includes former prime minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani and Murli
Manohar Joshi as well as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thac-
keray.
The findings of the report which comes 17 years
after it was set up also attacked former Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Kalyan Singh saying, the destruc-
tion of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992
was carried out in a “duplicitous and under-handed
manner” which was not worthy of a democratically-
elected government.
The commission also came down heavily on
mixing politics and religion and has recommended
a law providing for exemplary punishment for such
misuse to acquire political power. Home Minister
P.Chidambaram who tabled the 4-volume 1000 page
report and the Action Taken Report (ATR) said the
government accepted the recommendation and is
contemplating enactment of the Communal Vio-
lence Bill to prevent and control riots and setting up
special courts to deal with them.
6 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
having a tough time finding summer
work, which is why the Government is
supporting Student Job Search in target-
ing individuals and businesses with jobs
that need doing.
“This year more than 160,000 students
are registered with Student Job Search
and we’re determined to connect them
with the right people.
“There are a lot of jobs that students
can do, whether it’s building a new
website to attract new customers, taking
part in the great Spring Clean campaign
or filling in for staff who want to take
leave over summer.
“We know that jobs are scarce and that
competition is high, and we want to boost
the profile of Student Job Search to help
as many students as possible.”
beggars to leave the city for their native states
terming it as a “crime against humanity” and
equated it with the Mahararashtra Navnirman
Sena’s campaign against migrants.
Meanwhile beggars in the city are expecting a
windfall during the games and preparing in their
own way for it, by learning to ask to for alms in
foreign languages.
An informal school has been set up where
bright children are taught to say ‘I am an orphan,
I have not eaten for days, I am ill, have no money
for medicine, please help me in the name of
God’,” all this in English, French and Spanish!
Former CM in mega money laundering scam
Mumbai: The country has woken up to yet
another financial scam involving an ex chief
minister. Madhu Koda, former chief minister
of Jharkhand, is the prime accused in the Rs.
2500 crore hawala transaction, which was un-
earthed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Early October the Income Tax (IT) of-
ficials along with their counterparts in the
ED raided nearly 70 locations across 8 cities
across India which belonged to either Koda
or his associates. The raid yielded lakhs of
rupees and several thousands of US dollars
in cash.
A case was registered against Koda and
eight others by the Enforcement Directorate
of IT department on October 10 for alleged
money laundering, diversion of state funds
and indulging in huge illegal investments
abroad.
Investigations have revealed that the UP
government had handed over work contracts
worth over Rs.540 crores in a span of three
months to Koda. A diary belonging to Koda
has been recovered which contains names,
dates, and all details of clandestine illegal
New Zealand
Key happy with progress on India FTA
A group of Indians, led by MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi met Prime Minister Hon John Key at a fund
raising dinner organised by the National Party in Auckland. The PM mentioned his fruitful meeting
with the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh in Thailand. The PM added that the progress
on the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and India is progressing nicely and both the
countries have currently started third round of talks on the FTA agreement. The group included
Prithipal Singh MNZM, Roshan Nauhria MNZM, Beant SinghQSM, Vipin Garg, Sudesh Jhunjun-
walla, Rakesh Patel and Ajay Kumar.
MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi in turn briefed PM Hon John Key about his meeting with an Indian
Delegation which was here to purchase defence related marine equipment. The delegation has already
bought equipment from NZ worth about $20 million in this year. The equipment bought includes
engines for high speed boats used by coast guards and naval surveillance. After the Mumbai incident
that occurred at the Taj Hotel on the 28th of November 2008, the Indian government has realised the
need to increase its coastal security.
India
Monkey files complaint
Bhubaneshwar: In a bizarre incident a
female monkey has lodged a First Informa-
tion Report (FIR ) against a male monkey
for attempting to kill her young one, in a
village near Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
The simian named Jhumri, was as-
sisted in this task by local villagers. The
complaint which was drafted in Oriya said
Raja the male monkey had consistently been
trying to attack the female monkey and its
new-born. Once the complaint was drafted
it was signed by putting the tail impression
of Jhumri and filed.
J.K.Das of the police station said that
since a female has placed before him a com-
plaint, he had no option but to register a case
under Section 363 (kidnapping), Section
366(abducting for slavery) and Section 307
(attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code
(IPC). “We are trying to give protection to
the baby monkey from the rogue simian,”
he added.
Koda who was the mines minister under
the chief ministership of Arjun Munda re-
tained that portfolio when he became the chief
minister. Koda is charged with misusing his
position in allocating mining contracts to his
close associates. He also used his inf luence
to push certain private groups for the lease of
coal blocks, an official said. He also bought
a mine in Liberia and is said to have used his
associates to purchase land in Thailand.
Indeed, the brazenness with which Koda’s
henchmen functioned was evident when one
of their ‘ front’’ companies deposited Rs 640
crore, in hard cash and at one go, in a Mumbai
bank. The scam figures, as of today, add up
money transfers between Koda and dozens of to Rs 4,000 crore.
people. The said names include both individ- ED officials have grilled Koda who
uals, corporates and well known politicians. feigned illness and later took off on cam-
It is further revealed that Koda, an inde- paigning for the forthcoming bypolls. As
pendent MP in the Lok Sabha had distrib- more and more details of the scam are being
uted hundreds of vehicles to his supporters unearthed IT officials said several teams
during the elections to the Lok Sabha. Koda were working in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,
is alleged to have , purchased and distributed Jamshedpur and other places to gather evi-
around 600 bikes, 25 to 30 Scorpios, Boleros dence.
and other four wheelers to his supporters.
Indian
India registers case against
David Headley
New Delhi: India’s National Investigative
Agency (NIA) has registered a case against
David Coleman Headley, the Pakistan born
American national who is in custody in the US
for allegedly plotting terror attacks against India,
Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Thursday.
His accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a
Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, has also
been named in the case of the now foiled terror
attacks plotted by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
outfit.
It has been revealed that Headley had visited
India “several times before 26/11 and once after”
the Mumbai terror strikes which left about 180
people dead. The Home Minister said “we are
conducting investigations in the cities he visited
to find out whom he met and what he did.”
Headley and Rana were arrested by the FBI
last month from Chicago and their investigations
have revealed that two of India’s most presti-
gious boarding schools - Doon in Dehradun
and Woodstock in Mussoorie – and the National
Defence College in New Delhi were supposed
targets of the LeT.
Meanwhile a Chicago court has given
January 1, 2010 as the deadline for the FBI to to
complete its investigations and file an indictment
against Headley and Rana for the foiled terror
plot in India and Denmark at the behest of the
LeT. The home ministry in India has collected
enough evidence against Headley and is plan-
ning to produce them in the court in January.
Sources said a formal request for Headley’s and
Rana’s extradition may follow.
India
Canadian PM upsets Sikhs at
Golden Temple
Indian investigators are trying to connect
the sequence of the nine visits Headley made
to India between 2006 and 2009, the last one
being made in April this year. During his trips
to India, Headley is alleged to have used false
identities, supplied false papers to authorities in
India.
With two more cities, Pune and Kochi,
getting added to the list of five cities (Delhi,
Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Agra)
which Headley was said to have visited, Union
Home Minister P Chidambaram said that inqui-
ries were being made in the cities to ascertain
“what he did and whom he met”.
Investigators believe that his background as
an American businessman on a visit to India
helped him elude any profile-based scanning by
intelligence agencies. He is said to have not only
collected information on possible targets but
also had done a recce by visiting the Trident and
Taj hotels.
A team of Mumbai police is also conducting
a parallel inquiry into Headley’s role in the 26/11
attacks and will leave for the United States to Amritsar: Canadian Prime minister too did the same leaving the temple
collate and collect information from the FBI. Minister Stephen Harper authorities fuming. Refusal of prasad at the
The mystery of ‘Rahul” mentioned in various who changed his itinerary Golden Temple is considered as sacrilege.
emails that Headley exchanged with his handlers and visited Amritsar instead Further the prime minister caused some more
in Pakistan could be film maker Mahesh Bhatt’s of Hyderabad, to appease unpleasantness when he declined to partake of
son Rahul. Rahul is a fitness instructor and the large Sikh population in the langar at the community kitchen of the
Headley met him at his gym in Breach Candy, his home country ended up temple. The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak
near the American consulate in south Mumbai. creating an unpleasant situ- Committee members were upset by the way the
The Bhatt family has told the investigators all ation there. prime minister and his entourage conducted
that they knew about the matter. After paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, themselves at the temple.
Harper invited anger of the granthis, when he A senior SGPC official lamented “It is for the
refused to partake of the prasad. Alisa Moham- first time that we have suffered such humiliation

Villagers pay costs

med, the prime minister’s aide turned down the at the hands of a foreigner in our own office.”
Prasad when it was offered to her. The prime

of conservation
Bhopal: Residents of the Karopani village in Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
have a strange tale to narrate of their conservation efforts. They risked
their lives and gave up agricultural land to nurture the blackbucks in
their area. The blackbucks thrived so well that they are now ruining the
crops and threatening the livelihood of the villagers.
In the year 2000 there were only about 50 in the area, by the end of
2008 they had increased to more than 1000. Now these thousand odd
blackbucks roam the fields, destroying crops and ruining the livelihood
of several farmers in Karopani and surrounding areas.
Villagers are now asking the government either to relocate the
animals or declare the area as protected under the relevant provisions of
the Wildlife Protection Act and compensate the people.
Earlier farmers in the area would grow two to three crops a year now
with difficulty they are able to save one crop. As one farmer put it “ For
whom should we grow more crops, for the blackbucks?”

Phyan’s fury devastates west coast

Panaji: Cyclone Phyan which nearly hit the Ma-
harshtra, Goa and Gujarat coast on Wednesday
has left behind a trail of destruction.
Nearly 80 fishing trawlers, with an average of
10 men in each, are missing in cyclone-hit Arabian
Sea, organisations of fishermen along the west
coast said on Wednesday.
“Fifty fishing boats with a total estimated
complement of around 500 fishermen are still out
at sea and are on the path of the cyclone headed
this way,” Gopal Tandel, president of the Daman
Machimar Sangh (fishermen’s association), said.
Daman is a small coastal enclave on the Gujarat
coast.
Security forces were kept on high alert and
the Navy and the Coast Guard were put on emer-
gency mode in Mumbai, Ratnagiri and coastal
Maharashtra earlier today. Fishermen were asked
not to venture out into the sea as a precautionary
measure.
However, Coast Guard officials said they were
responding to distress calls from fishermen who
had already put out to sea. Coast Guard officials
further said seven fishermen were winched out
by helicopter from the sea after their vessels had
capsized.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
also added that it had suspended all drilling and
outdoor operations off Bombay High though pro-
duction was not cut.
Packing windspeeds of up to 75kmph, the
cyclone hit three districts on the Maharashtra coast
— Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Raigad. Officials
said 1,000 houses suffered damages. The Coast
Guard and the Navy saved 24 people in rescue op-
erations, while many were reported missing.
Maharashtra’s response to Cyclone Phyan,
which was named by Myanmar under World
Meteorological Organisation’s practice of coun-
tries naming cyclones (Phyan in Burmese means
a cherry fallen off a tree) was swift. The govern-
ment machinery was on high alert and authorities
had been asked to evacuate those staying along the
coastline to safety.
Temporary shelters were set up in community
halls and school buildings. In Mumbai, schools
and colleges closed their gates by Wednesday af-
ternoon. CM Ashok Chavan, after a disaster man-
agement meeting with senior ministers, the Navy
and India Meteorological Department (IMD) of-
ficials, appealed to the private sector to shut shop
by afternoon. The BMC mapped out an evacua-
tion plan. And the city waited with bated breath
for Phyan to hit.
But the cyclone had lost much of its bite. It
barely scraped by the city’s coastline.

Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 7

Indian
Sachin competes 20 years in India to import rice
international cricket
Mumbai: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on
Sunday 15 of November completed 20 years in
international cricket and is only the 16th player
in the history of the game to have had a career
spanning two decades.
Beginning a career at the age of 16 in 1989,in
the test debut against Pakistan, he has come a
long way creating a number of records. In his
first test he played alongside his hero Kapil Dev (
his 100th match), and made an impression on the
cricketing world.
Sachin has played 159 tests, scoring 12,773
runs with 42 centuries, at an average of 54.58.
From the 436 ODI matches he played since De-
cember 19, 1989 against Pakistan in Gujranwala,
he has amassed 17,178 runs at an average of 44.50
with 45 hundreds.
He has also taken 44 test wickets and 154 ODI
wickets. He recently achieved another milestone
when he became the only batsman in the history
of the game to break into 17,000 run mark.
Tendulkar is also just 54 runs short of be-
coming the only batsman in the world to score
a massive 30,000 runs in international cricket
including both Tests and ODIs.
“The day I wore my India cap is my most
memorable moment. I was on cloud nine. The
dream was to play for India – nothing bigger than
that. I am very fortunate to be living that dream,”
Sachin said.
Sachin has been considered as one of the best
batsmen in the world not only for the number of
runs but for his impeccable technique and near
perfect style. His straight drives, cover drives,
hook shots, are all amazingly timed. His great-
est compliment came from the cricketing legend
himself Sir Donald Bradman who said he saw a
streak of himself in Sachin.
y o ur
Ar
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nsu ming
n ce
Lif s b e co
um
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ble?
P a
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f f o
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M: 021 66 77 9 2
E m a i l: oliver.pereira@ x t r a . c o . n z
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PO Box 87133, Meadowbank,
Auckland 1742
8 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Despite all the success and the iconic fame
worldwide Sachin remains firmly grounded
never allowing fame and adulation to come in the
way of his game. Truly proving that legends are
born not made. (Also read The curious case of
Tendulkar envy on Page 15)
India
New Delhi: For the first time in 20 years, India may import rice from Thailand and Vietnam in the
wake of poor monsoon resulting in drought in several states that destroyed the crop. Even though the
government claimed to have surplus stock in its godowns, Finance minister Pranab Mukherji made
this statement in the wake of the Opposition planning to put the government on the mat over rising
food prices during Parliament’s winter session.
According to government estimates, kharif rice output is likely to fall nearly 18% to 69.45 million
tonnes due to poor monsoon, leading to a shortfall of about 15 million tonnes in 2009-10. The south-
west monsoon this year was 23% below normal, the worst in 37 years.
A high level ministerial panel has been set up to monitor and control rising foodgrain prices.
Rising foodgrain prices have been causing concern among the ruling coalition partners, with cost of
items such as potato and onion rising 100% in the last one year or so. Prices of pulses too have risen
to nearly Rs 100-mark for some varieties.
National integration
week to be celebrated
The National Integration Week is observed day.
from November 19-25 every year to foster and The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram
reinforce the spirit of communal harmony, na- wrote to different ministries under Central
tional integration and pride in India’s vibrant Government to organise the programmes and
composite culture and nationhood. events befitting the occasion.
The occasion provides an opportunity to The National Foundation for Communal
reaffirm age-old traditions and faith in the Harmony (HFCH), an autonomous organi-
values of tolerance, co-existence and brother- zation with the Home Ministry also organ-
hood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious ises communal harmony campaign during the
society. week.
The week this year began with National In- The observation of the National Integra-
tegration Pledge. tion Week also helped to highlight the inher-
National integration, welfare of minorities, ent strength and resilience of the nation to
linguistic harmony, weaker sections, cultural withstand actual, and potential threats to the
unity, women’s issues and conservation were eclectic and secular fabric of our country, and
the themes for the week. Activities related to nurture a spirit of communal harmony in its
a specific theme would be under focus on each widest sense.
Tata group head scouting
for successor
Mumbai: India’s most respected corporate
group and the second largest business con-
glomerate, the Tata Group, whose name is syn-
onymous with economic nationalism, is scout-
ing for a successor to its current incumbent
Ratan Tata (71).
In an interview to the US daily Wall Street
Journal, Tata said, “We are in the process
of formalising a successor to me. We have
some outside consultants and a formal search
process is on. There are no constraints,” Ratan
Tata who has been chairman of the group since
1998 said he didn’t rule out a foreigner as his
successor. Tata’s tenure ends in 2012.
The successor could be from within the
group or from outside it, he said, “It would
Tata hoped that “there would not be a major
disagreement in the way that we have oper-
certainly be easier if that candidate were an
Indian national. But now that 65 per cent of our
ated... In terms of who that successor might be,
it could be he or she, it could be an internal or
revenues come from overseas, there could also an external candidate.”
n s u r a nce
Life I
be an expatriate sitting in that position with The group, founded in 1868, runs India’s
justification, now that we are a company that
*
top vehicle maker (Tata Motors), top software
urance
has global reach and global presence.
h I n s
services company (TCS), top private sector
Healt
“The successor, I would hope, would have power producer (Tata Power) and the world’s
n
integrity and our value systems in the forefront
and carry on the path that we have tried to set * e P r tectio
eighth-largest steel maker by output (Tata
o
Steel). Under Ratan Tata’s chairmanship the
g
Mortga
for the company’s growth,” he said on when a group’s turnover increased four-fold and the
decision is expected.
*
group went global.
P r o t e c tion
Income
*
Monuments go missing * Etc...
New Delhi: Thirty-five monuments, which were under the protection of the Archeological
Survey of India (ASI) including twelve in the national capital New Delhi are missing. Rapid
urbanisation around these monuments is said to be the culprit.
Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy, who also
holds the ad-hoc charge of Culture Minister, told the Rajya Sabha yesterday that these monu-
ments which were under the central government protection are not traceable now.
“Out of the 3,675 centrally-protected monuments or sites, 35 are not traceable,” he said, indi-
cating that urbanisation has devoured the historical sites.
Indian
Fiji ‘can beat the global financial Parts of Fiji’s abrogated 1997
crises,’ says Indian academic constitution to be revived: Bainimarama
Suva: Fiji will never suffer from starvation and
is in a position to beat the fallout of the global
financial crisis and even capitalize on it, an aca-
demic said in a public lecture in Suva.
Fiji Institute of Technology (FIT), Assistant
Professor in Management Dr Kunneth Ramak-
rishnan, said Fiji can avoid the food crisis that
is hitting countries worldwide because it already
has an abundance of natural resources that are
still under developed.
But, he stressed, what is needed is a concert-
ed effort put into human resource development
where Fiji people are taught the value of work
and, in the course of this, be able to harness the
available resources.
“Nobody will die of hunger, I can guarantee
that. You have so much of resources at your dis-
posal and the concern right now is how we can
fully exploit this for national growth and pros-
perity,” Dr Ramakrishnan told Fiji Live.
“I would say Fijians are sitting on a gold mine.
We have round the year rain fall, good sun shine,
plenty of fertile cultivable land, pollution and
pest-free environment; these are the unachiev-
able dreams of a farmer. It is difficult to find this
combination of natural elements any where in the
world. Fiji will be a rich self-sufficient nation if
all available fertile land is cultivated,” he added.
He said while there were limited human re-
sources, it was not the quantity that mattered.
“We have a supply of healthy people here but
they can be developed to work hard and produce
more. For that, you can have the proper human
resource development and change the attitude of
the people towards work, utilization of the re-
sources and the concern of the nation as well as
Brain drain affects Fiji
Suva: Brain drain is affecting Fiji, says the Train-
ing & Productivity Authority of Fiji (TPAF).
There has been a severe shortage of skills re-
sulting from the continuous and mass exodus of
skilled workers to overseas countries.
This has triggered TPAF to raise its volume
and quality of training.
Director General TPAF, Jone Usumate, said
demand for skilled labour in countries like Aus-
tralia, New Zealand and more recently, Guam
and Papua New Guinea, has escalated over the
years.
As a result, he said, many of our skilled
people have migrated to these states for better
pay and living conditions.
“There is a big need for skill development and
we are looking to address this by having in pipe-
line, development projects that will be carried
out in Nadroga and Labasa,” Mr Usumate said.
“We also plan to upgrade and expand our ex-
isting training facilities in Nabua and Lautoka,
which will better match training to industry
needs and provide businesses and the economy
with a solution to on-going skill shortages.”
A recent survey commissioned by Govern-
ment titled, ‘A Survey of Labour Demand and
Employment Opportunities in Fiji,’ suggests
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
for the individual. This is a very essential thing,”
Ramakrishnan said.
“Education in Fiji comparatively is much
better than in any other developing countries but
at the same time, there are two things happen-
ing. We have to continuously update the course
content and two, catch up with the latest technol-
ogy and skills. That is not being done. Secondly,
those that are being trained, whether they are
doctors, lawyers or nurses, are all going abroad.
“Government and industries are giving spon-
sorships but after that, these workers are not
available here. They work for a year or so and
then go abroad. You cannot stop them because
they are looking for better pay, better prospects
and better life. We cannot avoid that. So what
we can do here is provide more employment op-
portunities - not salaries, but self employment.
“We can start small industries - individually
or jointly owned proprietorship or partnership,
encourage small business and cottage industries.
These are within reach of the educated people,
but it will need the support of government and
financial institutions in terms of financing these
initiatives.”
Dr Ramakrishnan, who is from Kerala in
India, said while he found Fiji to be quite similar
to his home state, where coconuts were in abun-
dance, the difference was that Fiji lacked the
drive to capitalize opportunities in its coconut
industry, which has the potential to spawn nu-
merous cottage industries.
This is the same for a number of other crops
that grow naturally in Fiji, he said.
Pacificbusinessonline.com/
Pacnews/ Fiji Live
that in order to achieve the expected growth, Fiji
needs to develop a clear path for training as well
as upgrade and enhance training programmes
and technology.
The 2009 Training Needs Survey (TNS),
commissioned by TPAF determines the training
needs of organisations in Fiji.
Preliminary results reveal that 40.2 percent
of employers claim that there is a shortage of
skilled workers in their industry and 39 percent
of employers stated that training could overcome
shortage of skilled workers in their industry.
The study aims to find out the training needs
of employers so that TPAF can appropriately
provide training in such areas.
“We hope that this initiative will assist us to
meet the challenges and seize the opportunities
of a new education and innovation environment.
Our expanded training environment will play
a critical role in delivering a sustainable skilled
future,” Mr Usumate said.
“Without this Fiji will not be able to flourish
as a country, therefore the expansion of TPAF
training is critical for the nation as a whole,” he
added.
Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews/ Fiji Sun
Suva: Parts of Fiji’s abrogated 1997 Constitution
dealing with the rule of law, the judiciary, human
rights and democratic principles will be resur-
rected by decree, Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank
Bainimarama has told officials of the European
Commission.
At a meeting in Brussels with the EC’s Direc-
tor General for Development, Stefano Manser-
visi and his advisors, Commodore Bainimarama
assured them of government’s commitment to
upholding the rule of law, the strengthening
of the judiciary, respect for human rights and
respect for democratic principles, a government
statement said.
He said this commitment was evident in the
decreeing of new legislations “and the resur-
rection by decree of those essential elements
of the abrogated constitution dealing with such
matters”.
Commodore Bainimarama was accompa-
nied by Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke
Kubuabola, his permanent secretary Solo Mara
and Fiji’s ambassador to the EU, Peceli Vocea.
The meeting was to exchange views on
major issues that will form the basis for resum-
ing formal consultations under the provision of
Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, the state-
Fiji-NZ Business Council
warns trade is still at risk
Suva: Since the expulsion of New Zealand’s
acting High Commissioner and Australia’s High
Commissioner earlier this month, key business
interest groups in Fiji, New Zealand and Austra-
lia have come out of the closet to express their
views on how trade in Fiji and the wider pacific
could be effected by the state of government-to-
government relations.
In the past week a whole host of events have
taken place concerning pacific trade and interna-
tional relations. And while the Fiji New Zealand
Business Council (FNZBC) is encouraged by
movements in the Pacific trade realm and the
collective call for dialogue and democracy, it
warns that trade is still at risk.
Annual trade between New Zealand and
the Pacific is over $1 billion dollars with New
Zealand-Fiji trade being the largest contributor
of $434 million, and New Zealand enjoying a
massive surplus profit from Fiji of $292 million.
Although this sounds impressive, trade between
New Zealand and Fiji is certainly not secure with
China recently boasting increased Pacific trade
figures of $1.2 billion. The expansion of China
through trade into the Pacific directly challenges
New Zealand’s traditional stronghold on trade
with Fiji and consequently the Pacific.
At the APEC conference in Singapore this
week US President Barack Obama endorsed free
trade talks and a free trade bloc for the Pacific.
This comes at a time when New Zealand is not
actively facilitating direct trade with Fiji, and
consequently the wider Pacific, with Fiji being
the regional trade port.
With the reintegration of NZAID into the
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, funding for capacity building of existing
and new industry in Fiji has ceased. Although
Fiji does not have a New Zealand Trade Com-
missioner and NZAID funds, the World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
ADB are prepared to help grow Fiji’s economy
and have recently held initial talks with the Fiji
Government, businesses and NGOs with the aim
of providing financial assistance, an audit of eco-
nomic climate, and to look at practical ways to
move forward. With suboptimal trade and real
threats of current trade declining, the time is
well overdue for the New Zealand Government
to assist trade in Fiji by appointing a Trade Com-
missioner and allocating aid for economic devel-
opment.
The New Zealand government states it has no
trade and economic sanctions against Fiji. Al-
Fiji
ment said.
“Government believes that this informal
meeting can now be taken to another level
leading to the resumption of formal “consulta-
tions”, an objective of which is to review the
agreement signed in October 2007 between the
European Union and Fiji on the political situa-
tion in Fiji,” it said.
Commodore Bainimarama briefed the EC of-
ficials on the programs of institutional, judicial,
constitutional and electoral reforms that are in
place to begin in 2010 and in subsequent years
and the reasons for these reforms.
The two sides also discussed issues pertain-
ing to the Strategic Framework for Change, the
National Dialogue Forum and the Public Emer-
gency Regulation, enforced soon after the 1997
Constitution was abrogated in April.
Senior EC and Fiji government officials will
now follow-up on the major outcomes of the
discussion with the aim of ultimately resuming
formal consultations between the two sides, said
the government statement.
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
though without NZAID or a New Zealand Trade
Commission this policy statement by the New
Zealand Government seems hollow.
New Zealand’s foreign policy and sanctions
tightly targeted against the members of the
regime does not translate into practice in general
experience for Fiji citizens. For example generic
travel bans on all Fiji citizens serving on govern-
ment or quasi government boards only seem to
undermine governance and social stability.
The recent announcement by the Fiji Govern-
ment of a new national dialogue is a constructive
and positive step forward to set down the ground
work for a new constitution and new democratic
system by 2014.
The FNZBC encourages the Fiji Government
to foster a more favourable foreign investment
environment for small to medium size business-
es to drive Fiji’s economy in such difficult times
by removing regulatory restrictions such as the
$250,000 minimum investment criteria. Com-
petition in a free market promotes best practice
standards, removes complacency, and ideally de-
livers better service and value to the Fiji public.
This will go along way in building confidence
and trust, for current and future investors in Fiji,
and become the bedrock for significant new in-
vestment above the current criteria threshold of
$250,000.
As trade between New Zealand and Fiji dwin-
dles and moves north with both the New Zealand
and Fiji Governments pointing fingers across the
Pacific at each other, the FNZBC again implores
both governments to move towards dialogue
instead of corresponding conditions and dead-
lock.
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
9
Indian
HIV test urged for Fiji’s
expectant mothers
Suva: Expectant mothers in Fiji are being
urged to get tested for HIV after two babies
died of the virus this year at the Colonial War
Memorial Hospital.
This was revealed by the CWM Senior
Medical Officer Pediatric Department, Dr Ilis-
apeci Vereti, at the consultation on HIV Pre-
vention treatment Decree at the Novotel Con-
ference Centre in Lami yesterday.
Dr Vereti said four babies had died from
HIV since 2005 and that was why she wanted
pregnant mothers to get tested. She said cur-
rently the department was treating a child for
HIV.
She said the child was on medication and
another child is in the process of being treated.
Hindu-Maori initiative lauded
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has ex-
pressed appreciation of and support to the initia-
tive taken by Hindu Council of New Zealand in
building Hindu-Maori relations.
En route to attending the World Parliament
of Religions in Melbourne, Australia Dr. Mihir
Meghani, President of the Hindu American
Foundation visited New Zealand to see part of
New Zealand’s landscape and also to meet with
Hindu and Maori community leaders.
Dr. Meghani met with Kaumatua John
Marsh (MBE JP), Shaloh Mitchell of Ohinemutu
village tours, and Natanahira Te pona, Rotorua’s
Tohunga Whakairo (master carver), who sculpt-
ed a Maori carving of a “Rehua” to celebrate the
journey of friendship between Hindu and Maori
communities during the Rotorua Deepawali Fes-
tival recently.
Dr. Guna Magesan, general secretary of
Hindu Council of New Zealand, briefed the
visitor how Hindu Council of New Zealand built
ACC: The need for corrective action
Hon Pansy Wong, Minister for Ethnic Affairs
In 1972, the then National government passed
legislation to introduce the Accident Compensa-
tion Scheme to New Zealand.
This unique, world-leading scheme provided
24-hour, no-fault compensation for the victims
of accidents in exchange for our right to sue.
The aim of the scheme is to ensure that the
victims of accidents receive medical treatment,
support, and compensation for lost earnings
without the ordeals of legal process and dispute
over who is at fault.
The Accident Compensation Corporation
(widely known as ACC) manages claims for ac-
cidents in line with rules and policies according
to the legislation.
Given that the scheme was introduced by a
National government, we have very good reason
to ensure that the scheme is affordable, effective,
and can be sustained for the long-term.
The ACC scheme is comprised of five claim
categories known as ‘accounts’.
The Earners Account is funded by employees
through the PAYE system. Claims can be made
for injuries incurred outside of work.
The Motor Vehicles Account is funded by car
registration fees as well as taxes on petrol.
The Treatment Injury Account covers claims
where problems have occurred in the course of
medical treatment.
The Work Account is funded by employers
and the self-employed. Levies vary based on in-
dustry category and claims are made for injuries
10
The oldest child to be treated for HIV was 13
years old and the youngest a baby.
Dr Vereti said children were not aware of
the issue so it was the parents’ responsibility to
have their babies tested and treated.
She said in 2005 there was a case of a
mother refusing to allow her child to be tested.
Dr Vereti said the baby died soon after.
So far this year, 10 children have been
tested for the virus by the CWM Hospital’s Pe-
diatric Department. “Most of these cases deal
with mother to child transmission of HIV. The
number of cases with HIV positive children is
low for us and we want to keep it as such,” Dr
Vereti said.
relations with the Maori community over the
years and the partnership with Maori commu-
nity during recent festival.
“I am impressed with the Hindu Maori rela-
tions initiative and would like to explore how
such initiatives can be implemented in the US
with local indigenous people” Dr. Meghani said.
“By incorporating Maori cultural traditions
into the Deepawali festival, Hindus in New
Zealand have shown respect for the Maori heri-
tage and brought the Hindu and Maori commu-
nities closer together” he added.
“I am pleased to hear that so many Maori
community members attended the festival and
one of them even helped to raise some funds for
education in India with her henna skills.”
Dr. Meghani also appreciated Hindu Council
of New Zealand’s regular Marae stay programme
for the Indian community to learn, understand
and experience Maori culture and customs.
The Hindu American Foundation was
that occur at work.
In 1999, the Work Account was opened for
competition, which saw levies drop from $1.40
per $100 to $1.20.
Even after the previous Government made
the ideological decision to reverse competition,
the levy trended down to 80c per $100. Today,
levies have almost returned to their 1999 levels.
The Work Account is the only account that
remains in good shape as a result of the disci-
pline that was introduced during the brief year
when people had choice. (In fact, many people
do not realise that large companies continue to
have choice and can opt to manage their own
claims instead of paying the levies set by ACC.)
The Non-Earners Accounts is funded
through general taxation and covers claims for
people not in employment. It was this account
that the National Government had to bail out to
the tune of $300 million shortly after taking over
the treasury benches.
This budget blow-out was kept quiet before
and during the election. It was a nasty surprise
that gave us a glimpse into the problems facing
ACC affordability after nine years of Labour.
That Labour government extended coverage
without planning for funding, and oversaw a
culture of extravagant spending. Remember the
$5 million television advertising campaign that
told us nothing more than that we were covered?
In 1999, ACC adopted a full-funding model,
recognising that present claims incur ongoing li-
CMDA dissolved by decree
Suva: Fiji’s Capital Markets Development Au-
thority (CMDA) has been dissolved through
the Capital Markets Decree 2009 approved by
Cabinet last week.
The decree repeals the Capital Markets De-
velopment Authority (CMDA) Act of 1996 and
dissolves the CMDA, a Cabinet statement said.
“It transfers all administration to the Reserve
Bank of Fiji (RBF), transfers the CMDA func-
tions and responsibilities to be determined by the
RBF and ceases the Capital Markets Authority
Board operations and powers and transfers it to
the Reserve Bank’s Board,” the statement said.
Fiji’s leader and Minister for Finance, Com-
modore Frank Bainimarama, said the Minis-
try of Finance had issued a directive effective
August 13, 2009, that the administration of the
CMDA be transferred to the RBF.
“It was hoped that the capital markets would
grow sufficiently so that the industry would be
able to support the bulk of the operating costs
of the CMDA,” said Commodore Bainimarama.
launched in 2003 and it is an advocacy group
providing a progressive voice for over two
million Hindu Americans and is led by profes-
sionals. In 2009, the Foundation won the Hindu
Renaissance Award from Hinduism Today mag-
azine for outstanding Hindu organization of the
year.
The Foundation interacts with and educates
leaders in public policy, academia, media and the
public at large about Hindu Dharma and global
issues concerning Hindus. It has established un-
blemished credibility as a respectable voice for
Hindus in front of U.S. Congressman and Sena-
tors, the U.S. Supreme Court, newspapers like
the Chicago Tribune and Washington Post, and
powerful organizations such as the American
Jewish Committee.
HAF won a lawsuit against the California
State Board of Education for inequity in treat-
ing Hindus during the school textbook adoption
process; represented Hindu, Jain and Buddhist
abilities. For example, a person who becomes a
paraplegic as a result of a tragic accident is likely
to stay on the scheme for a long time.
Well established actuarial formulas estimate
liability and, over the years, annual levies are
set to incorporate this provision. This model
ensures that ACC’s liabilities will be funded out
to the future and introduces financial discipline
so that Government can clearly understand the
cost of injuries.
The full-funding model was introduced in
1998. In 2000, the then Minister of Finance, Hon
Michael Cullen, stated publicly that a catch-up
levy of 31 cents to provide for pre-1999 claims
would be sufficient to move to a fully-funded po-
sition by 2015.
He ultimately set the levy at 35 cents, claim-
ing that this would allow the scheme to move to
fully-funded two or three years earlier. After
nine years of rising claims, rising costs, extend-
ed coverage and worsening rehabilitation rates,
we need to extend the timeline to 2019. Labour
claims that this is the only change that is neces-
sary. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Nasty surprises have kept on coming. ACC’s
financial accounts for the 2008/09 years revealed
the largest public sector loss in history at $4.8
billion, on top of $2.4 billion last year.
As an accountant, I find it laughable to
suggest, as some have, that ACC has made a
profit this year. ACC’s financial position has
been confirmed by the ACC Board, signed off
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Fiji
“However, this has not happened and the cost
of operations kept on escalating, and was diffi-
cult to sustain.”
He said the transfer of CMDA operations to
RBF will consolidate the supervision and regu-
lation of the financial system of Fiji and bring
about greater efficiency and effectiveness in the
operations of the CMDA.
RBF Governor Sada Reddy assured the busi-
ness sector recently that there was no conflict of
interest in the RBF handling the CMDA’s func-
tions while at the same time being the regulatory
authority.
The CMDA was established in 1996.
Former chief executive officer Mereia Volav-
ola’s contract was terminated the day the shift to
the RBF was announced.
Government has assured that all CMDA em-
ployees will now be employed by the RBF.
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
Community
interests and perspectives to the U.S. Supreme
Court in a case involving the display of the
Ten Commandments on government property
; advocated successfully for the passage of the
Congressional Deepawali Resolutions; high-
lights Hindu human rights violations at Con-
gressional Human Rights Caucus briefings and
releases annual reports on the status of human
rights of Hindus where they are minorities; got
Burger King Corporation to remove ads in Spain
that featured Goddess Lakshmi sitting on top of
a sandwich; and has worked to build a coalition
to present the viewpoint of conversion and reli-
gious freedom that protects pluralism and pro-
motes tolerance and understanding.
One of HAF’s programmes, about the Hindu
origins of Yoga, has been accepted at the World
Parliament of Religions and they have also been
asked to speak at another session on freedom of
religion.
by the independent Audit Office and tabled in
Parliament.
The gap between assets and liabilities has
grown from $4 billion to $13 billion in just four
years. ACC Board Chairman John Judge has
rightly reminded us that this means a $3,000
debt for every New Zealander.
The Minister of ACC has taken the steps nec-
essary to ensure that the scheme that was intro-
duced by a National government will be here to
stay.
These include changes at the Board level,
a stock take of ACC activities, and legislative
changes to wind back some of the unfunded cov-
erage extensions.
Our legislative changes ensure that crimi-
nals who have received injuries committing an
offence resulting in a two year (or greater) jail
sentence would not be able to claim compensa-
tion. More than that, ACC is undergoing a cul-
tural change focused on taking effective action
rather expensive public relations campaigns.
Every year, ACC is required to consult the
public on levy increases. This year, the con-
sultation documents have made it clear that
without legislative changes, the levies will be, on
average, 40 percent higher than those proposed.
Many people, such as motorcyclists, are
understandably upset by these proposals, but
Labour has left us with real problems to fix.
Indian
Constable Gurpreet
Arora honoured
South East Asian liaison officer Constable Gur-
preet Arora has been conferred the District Com-
mander’s Award. The accolade is in recognition
of his hard work in turning the community’s at-
titudes toward New Zealand Police, which also
resulted in recruitments into the force from
members of the community.
A policeman for four years now, Constable
Arora reckons his present role will turn out to be
the highlight of his career with the police force.
Constable Arora began as the South East
Asian liaison offer at a difficult time soon after
the tragic shooting of liquor store owner Navtej
Singh in his store in Manurewa in South Auck-
land last year.
The pall of gloom that hung over the commu-
nity after the death and the subsequent hold up
in the same shop two months later left a sense
of helplessness and growing cynicism about the
ability of the police to address increasing crime
in the larger Manukau area.
Community services manager, senior ser-
geant Mike Fulcher, nominated constable Arora
for his outstanding skills and ability to work with
the community and his commitment to helping
turn the negative feelings the community had
toward the police into a positive outlook.
Interfaith service draws
people from many faiths
Over 160 people of various faiths wholehearted-
ly participated in an Interfaith Service that was
held at Papatoetoe Town Hall on Saturday, No-
vember 14 by the Auckland Interfaith Council, a
voluntary non-profit association.
Participating communities included follow-
ers of several religions and denominations in-
cluding Hindu, Bahai, Sikh, Muslim, Catholic,
Buddhist, Jewish, Universal Peace Foundation
and Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints,
among others.
The president of the Interfaith Council
Suzanne Mahon and other executive members
Terry Ball, Sister Pat Leamy, Ruth, Hussaini
Ambawala, member of parliament Kanwaljit S
Bakshi welcomed all to the service.
The Council applauded Nimi Bedi, the Com-
munity Advisor at Manukau City Council and
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Community
Constable Arora consulted with communities
of various ethnicities and collected useful infor-
mation that could go a long way in crime preven-
tion and swifter corrective action.
“It’s a good feeling to know that you’ve
done your organisation, family and community
proud,” Mr Arora told the Eastern Courier. “It
was a two-way street with equal input from each
side.”
Among the proactive initiatives he took were
a poster he helped produce and distribute to
265 small retailers in Counties Manukau on the
subject of crime prevention measures and talk to
them about what they could do to avoid becom-
ing victims of crime.
“Some retailers are taking it on board but not
to the extent that we would like,” he said. Ser-
geant Rod Salt had the same thing to say when he
spoke to Indian Weekender a couple of months
ago at his office at the Auckland Police head-
quarters.
Constable Arora also played an important
role in encouraging over 50 people from various
ethnic communities to send in their applications
for recruitment in the police force by holding
seminars and speaking during cultural events.
- Indian Weekender news desk
Terry Ball the master of ceremonies for the event
for having made the day a success and an enrich-
ing experience.
All participating faith communities pre-
sented their musical items and chants. This was
a good opportunity for different faiths to come
under a single roof. The speakers spoke on the
theme Faith & Family.
The Auckland Interfaith Council
• Represents the diversity of religious traditions
• Helps create a forum for inter-faith dialogue
• Fosters mutual appreciation and good relations
• Promotes the elimination of religious prejudice
- Indian Weekender news desk
11
Indian
Community

BollyworX New Lynn starts Expo for Asian women and

with a bang kids draws strong response
Report on a free fitness event for the Indian community The South Asian Women’s and Children’s Expo
held at the Alan Brewster Stadium in Papatoetoe
in New Lynn on 14th Nov on Saturday, November 21 drew a strong re-
sponse from the community. The main purpose
of the expo was to educate women and children
about both general safety and issues like domes-
tic violence.
Nimi Bedi, Manakau City Council Commu-
nity Advisor and organizer of the expo said that
they hoped this expo would be a step in the right
direction towards eradicating domestic violence
and empowering women in a positive way. Ms
Bedi said that just getting women to break out of
their shells and attend an expo like this was an
achievement in itself.
The expo was a Counties Manakau Police ini-
tiative supported by the Manakau City Council
and many different agencies. Some of the agen-
cies involved included Child Youth and Family,
East Tamaki Healthcare, The Art of Living foun-
dation and Civil Defence. Rozeena Kumari, rep-
resentative for the Art of living foundation said
that the expo was a great platform to acknowl-
edge women and children and to recognize the
problems they faced and to help them to deal
with them.
The expo saw stalls from all the differ-
ent supporting agencies, and included fashion
shows, cultural performances and quizzes. The
events were all hosted by popular Radio Tarana
RJ, Neha Bhatia. There was also an opportunity
for visitors to go into a draw to win return tickets
for two to Sydney.
Gurpreet Arora, project coordinator of the
expo on behalf of NZ police said that women,
especially South Asian women, are typically
unaware of how to deal with issues such as do-
mestic violence and don’t know about the kind
of support that is available. The main aim of the
expo, he said, was to spread the message and in-
crease awareness.
- Shreya Gejji

This was proven by the turnout of participants
from all walks of life -toddlers, elders, females,
males of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels. This
group of some 120 odd adults and 30 kids jump
jammed to a feverish pitch for the full two hour
of BollyworX. BollyworX is not dance but a
workout that everyone can enjoy without feeling
self-conscious.
BollyworX relies on just ‘plain fun body
movements’ with Bollywood music and is devoid
of any obscene Bollywood moves that will em-
barrass anybody. It’s exceptionally easy and fun,
suitable for all age groups and all fitness levels
BollyworX New Lynn inaugural took place
on the November 14 at New Lynn Community
Centre, and was a success. Who says Indian
community is not health conscious?
SPROUT’s reliance on word-of-mouth in the
neighborhood communities and other promotion
was once again fruitful as the turnout was over-
whelming. Participants comprised a wide cross-
section of the Indian and South Asian commu-
nity and included the young and old who were at
different fitness levels. The response from the
crowd was wholesome and encouraging.
BollyworX kicked off with a warming up
session conducted by Deepa and Shveta who are
trained community coaches. Their sessions pre-
pared the participants for a pulsating, hi-energy
30 minutes led by Tony and Lea, both trained
professional fitness instructors. They demon-
strated moves that were religiously followed and
thoroughly enjoyed by young and old alike on
the floor. Sawinder Pasricha showed the crowd
how simple Bhangra steps can help them keep
fit. Shveta Bhatt had the crowd hopping and
working out to the catchy tunes of “Jai Ho”
Amidst other enthusiastic instructors,
SPROUT’s little kids put up a solid choreography
of “dancercise” set to the tunes of swashbuckling
bollywood music. They incorporated day-to-day
movements like sweeping, mopping, hopping or
simply hugging into the dance and this was ap-
plauded and appreciated by the crowd.
Spot prizes were also given to encourage
participants. Thanks to Waitemata DHB for
funding this event and thanks to Radio Tarana,
SPROUT’s media partner, their ever-supportive
sponsors and the community at large, the event
was well-received.

For all your

legal needs
Aaron Kashyap
BA, LLB
Barrister and solicitor
Level 1, 351 Manukau Road, PO Box 26-596, DXCP 32513, Epsom, Auckland
Mobile: 0274 857 302 Phone: (09) 6238277 Fax: (09)6235177
Email: aaron@kashyaplaw.co.nz

12 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Community

Giants: India’s first international service organisation

Shirish Kapadia

“Those to whom life has been kind should not
accept this good foryune as a matter of course
but instead it’s one’s duty to think continually of
those who have been denied this privilege.”
It is with this one thought in mind that Giant’s
International was formed in India’s commercial
capital, Mumbai, in 1972.
An active and service oriented group of in-
dividuals under the able leadership of Mr Nana
Chudasama who later became the Sheriff of the
city of Mumbai got together to start this service
organisation to work for the betterment of
society with service toward the underprivileged
and poorer sections of cociety.
With that humble beginning nearly four
decades ago Giants has today blossomed into
an international organisation not unlike other
similar organisations like Lions and Rotary In-
ternational.
Giants International is India’s first interna-
tional service organisation. The foundation and
basis of this movement were courage and convic-
tion, moral leadership and intellectual integrity
of the Indian people in accepting Giants as an
organisation which would work towards better-
ing communities all over the world, dervving its
strength from compassion and virtue to bring
good cheer and hope in the community.
Each letter in the word ‘Giants” stand for
something. In fact it’s an acronym for the values
it stands up for: Generosity, Integrity, Action,
Nobility, truthfulness and Service. These quali-
ties are manifestations of good solid citizenship.
Eac member of the Giants organisation is ex-
Postgraduate Diploma in
pected to live up to these ideals and his utility
and promptness in action are judged accordingly.
The Giants movement provides its members
Business Enterprise
an ideology-based organisation platform to
enable citizens to play their role for community
welfare. Every good citizen wishes to contribute
to some useful social service. Giants organisa-
tion helps translate that wish into will. Every
citizen has a responsibility to contribute and do
something that goes beyond the welfare and hap-
piness of his own family. Each Giants Interna-
tional member makes a commitment that he shall
carry out all actions with generosity in his heart
and with integrity as his guide.
The Giants International symbol is in toma-
to-red and golden colours. This has significant
interpretation attached to it. The capital letter
“G” stands for Giants while its white colour
symbolises peace and progress. The profile of
the human with the globe in his hands held in a
careful and nurturing manner signifies desire to
serve and uplift the less fortunate and make the
world a better place to live. The golden hues of
the globe signify happiness and prosperity.
The central committee is the highest policy
making body and is headed by the world chair-
Each letter in the word ‘Giants”
stand for something. In fact it’s an
acronym for the values it stands
up for: Generosity, Integrity, Action,
Nobility, truthfulness and Service.
man. The federation is the formation of a body
to coordinate, direct and supervise the activi-
ties of the group headed by the federation presi-
dent along with a team of officers. Every Giants
group must have a minimum of 25 members and
each city or town as many groups as can function
smoothly.
“Action” is the key word. Each Giants
member is encouraged to act proactively and
execute result-oriented projects and programmes
for the betterment of the community.
While individual groups are free to carry out
service activities to suit the local need, the in-
ternational and federation group identifies prior-
ity programmes in the country of operation. In
India, family planning has been given the top
slot followed by consumer protection initiatives,
afforestation, drug awareness and control and
assistance to physically and mentally disabled
individuals and institutions catering for them.
Besides over 500 active groups in India,
Giants are actively working in countries on
almost every continent. Giants groups operate in
Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi,
the UK, the USA, South Africa, Ukraine and
there is one group even in Auckland.
Efforts are now under way from some indi-
viduals here in Auckland to form more groups
in both Auckland and New Zealand and other
countries in Oceania.
The doors of Giants International are open to
all who subscribe to the aims and objectives and
are willing to work toward their fulfillment.
For more information, please feel free to
email Shrisih Kapadia, Honorary Executive Sec-
retary, Giants International shirishkapadia36@
yahoo.co.in or visit www.giantsinternational.
org.
Aims & object
1. To promote unity, harmony and self dis-
cipline among the members through the
bonds of friendship and fellowship.
2. To promote high ethical standards in
business and professions.
3. To create greater awarmess among busi-
ness and professionals about their responsi-
bilities and obligations towards the commu-
nity and the country.
4. To apply the ideal of service to the com-
munity and national life.
5. To encourage the advancement of inter-
national understanding, goodwill and peace
through the spirit of co-operation.
6. To practise the principals of good citizen-
ship through active participation in civic,
social, and economic life of the community.
7. Giants strive to achieve much more than
this . It is a new way of life with its members.

Coursework Dissertation Study, work to NEW

12 months - done PGDipBE and migrate
6 months anywhere in NZ ZEALAND
Limited time offer:
No registration fees
Free airport pick up Example of points calculation for skills migration Points
Coursework/ to New Zealand:
MBA Free insurance for first Postgraduate
year of Diploma studyin Business Enterprise at SIT
University of Wales, UK 60
(50 + 5 + 5 points)
Project
Free accommodation for first 2 weeks
Resource fee for NZ$1800 Offer ofwaived
skilled employment (less than 12 months)
for 2009 50

Bonus points for employment outside Auckland 10

Age between 20 to 29 30
Example of points
Relevantcalculation
work experience (say 2for
years)skills 10

migration to New
TOTAL Zealand: 160
Benefits for students:
Points
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise at
Course duration of only 18 months.
South Island, NZ 60
SIT (50 + 5 + 5 points)
Affordable. Full course fees of NZ$18,000.
Offer of skilled employment Queenstown  Christchurch
50
(less than 12 months) 
Work up to 20 hours a week and full time during

year-end holidays.
Bonus points for employment outsideInvercargill
Auckland 10
Age between 20 to 29 30
Spouse can work full-time.
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 13
Relevant work experience (say 2 years) 10
Children attend primary / secondary schools at

TOTAL 160
domestic rates (mostly free).
Part time & Full-time job placement assistance.
 Indian
Indian
Viewpoint
The firefly and the fiery dragon
When asked for ten reasons why anybody should go to New Zealand while on the
David Letterman show – Prime Minister John Key’s most watched moment on
American television – Mr Key said if anybody would travel to New Zealand in the
next 30 days he would pick them up at the airport.
Of course nobody expected Mr Key to keep a promise obviously made in jest on
a television programme nobody takes seriously (though some tourists did call his
office and were given a tour of the Beehive by his staff, according to reports). But
last week Mr Key did fail to keep a far more serious promise he had made before
he came to power: about meeting the Dalai Lama. He simply said there was no
reason for him to meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader during his visit to New
Zealand, although he had earlier said he would do so.
That was when Helen Clark dodged meeting the Dalai Lama officially in Aus-
tralia but contriving to meet him at an airport lounge for a “courtesy meeting”.
Double standards, double speak and the concomitant hypocrisy are the tools
of the trade of politicians anywhere. Whether it is New Zealand lecturing Fiji
on democracy while making no comment at all after China executed two people
involved in the Sanlu-Fonterra melamine tainted milk powder scandal or Hone
Harawira painting all New Zealand pakeha with the same white brush and then
hiring a white lawyer to defend him, hypocrisy rules.
(Incidentally, Fonterra was quoted as saying that the executions were China’s
internal matter – and Harawira had slipped out of an official engagement to take in
the sights of one of the world’s greatest and most beautiful cities that is indeed one
of the cultural capitals of, in his own system of nomenclature, white motherf***er
culture).
The Prime Minister’s stated reason for not meeting the Dalai Lama – that there
is no reason for him to do so – is a non-reason that is too thinly veiled for anyone
not to see the real reason why. He said he was not pressured by China not to meet
the world’s most famous exile. That may well be the case. But it is not very much
different from feeling pressured by the world’s fastest growing super power with
so much of this country’s future and destiny bound up with it.
Why not just be upfront about it and tell it like it is: China doesn’t like the Dalai
Lama and whoever it is that entertains him. So we feel obliged to take its concerns
on board because it is not a wise thing for us to displease the world’s fastest
growing economy that has the capacity, the muscle and the money to buy up whole
nations – if indeed there was a way to do that – let alone global businesses.
We can’t be blamed if we are deferential to a giant of a nation that pulls its
weight in every important international forum; that has snatched away the loyalty
of our dear Pacific Islands from right under our noses; that discretion is the better
part of valour, especially when we are a firefly facing a fire breathing dragon.
Everyone knows China is here to stay and everyone knows that New Zealand
has wholeheartedly embraced China, what with becoming the first western nation
to sign a free trade agreement with it. It is potentially one of our largest future
markets. It is also poised to power the world out of the turbulence of recession. It
is well acknowledged that the 21st century belongs to Asia and China. So what is
the harm in candidly admitting that it is not in our interest to rub the dragon on
the wrong side?
Everyone would appreciate such frankness. But when have candidness and
frankness been the qualities of politicians?
Indian Weekender Volume 1 No 19
Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited
Group editor-in-chief: Dev Nadkarni dev@indianweekender.co.nz
Online editor: Arvind Kumar arvind@indianweekender.co.nz
India Correspondent: Shobha Rao shobha@indianweekender.co.nz
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is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearingv in the publication
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, New Market
and printed at APN Print, Ellerslie, Auckland
Copyright 2009. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
14
Letters
Travel Overseas
I agree with the fact that Indians often shy away from world travel. However you need to realise
that it is not that NZ Indians do not want to travel around the world. Given a choice of 3 to 4
weeks of annual pay and parents who are tucked away thousands of miles away, the heart rules
over the head and you invariably make the same trip over and over again. For Indians living
in India the story is completely different. They live with their extended families so options are
different.
Sutapa Mukund
It made interesting reading on the huge number of travel criteria – made me think, dream on a
world tour – from now on. You have created an old unfulfilled resolution in me, now.
T Kulasekaran
Indians come from many Indias
I question the last paragraph of the article. Personally I think that the richness of culture is only
rich in it’s mother land. Culture gets subjected to change when brought into the western world
and one’s values change for whatever reason and for many reasons.
The richness of a multi-cultural society/Indian multiculturalism has in my opinion a lot to offer
only if it is prepared to assimilate alongside with other cultures and not by making itself stand
as unique.
Gurmeeta Singh
Caring for your heart
Loved the fact that white wine (I like white wine better than red) and vigorous sex is good for
the heart.
Anu
Hindu society
I must as an Indian Hindu congratulate Dr Guna Magesan you on the good work that your es-
teemed society is doing in the West. It will be fulfilling if I too as a Hindustani classical vocalist
and teacher can be a part of any of your future projects. Meanwhile, do keep up the good work.
Basavi Mukerji
When Indian leaders ignored the Pacific Way
The writer seems to suggest that the Indians in Fiji should have accepted Fiji hegemony and
behaved like vassals. If Fiji was a democracy, then people have to go through the rigmarole of
voting, electing, horse-trading, conniving, ruling. The flaws of democracy have been exposed in
Fiji’s case. There are countries in the Gulf where the expats outnumber the locals 2:1 but the
expats have no voting rights. Perhaps such a situation would have been better suited for Fiji.
However, it’s all over now.
Ajay Grover
Steely nerves behind the friendly smile
Yes! You did it! Well done. We feel so proud of you. I can understand your struggle. Now it is
so proud for all the Gujarati/Indian women – especially for Ahmedabadis- as I feel. I am sure
Aashka and Siddhant might be enjoying your achievement – as we are! If you remember I am
Aashka’s teacher, who used to teach at Wiremu, but now I am in Christchurch.
Nutan Panchal
I am very proud of you as always. You have not only made the Bhatt family from Ahmedabad and
Rajpipla proud, but the entire India proud as well.
Asmita Raina
We were inundated with congratulatory letters for New Zealand’s first Gujarati police-
woman, Community Constable Bharvi Bhatt. Some of them have been published above
and in the previous issue. Dozens of people have also congratulated Bharvi directly.
Last week, Bharvi write to us about the response she received:
Dear Editor,
I appreciate your efforts for publishing my photograph and the
article. I have received an immense response on that. Just to keep
you posted, I am very much overwhelmed with the response I am
getting from our community. It’s beyond my expectation. And I
sincerely hope that I make my community proud.
Thanks and regards,
Bharvi
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Indian
Unscrupulous Reporting on Fiji
SUBHASH APPANA
It does not take much to notice that reporting
on Fiji has been painted and tainted at the whim
of the media in both New Zealand and Austra-
lia largely because the two governments view
the country negatively. This article focuses on
analyzing the latest report ensuing from a rare
interview with Commodore Bainimarama, the
military leader of Fiji.
On Sunday (15/11) NZTV had a 6pm news
piece on the fact that the Commodore had given
a rare interview to their reporter Jenny Mc-
Intyre. Clips were shown of Bainimarama telling
NZ and Australia, that “if you bully, there will
be a reaction”. He was also seen saying that both
these countries should “butt out”. This was a
preview to a later programme called Sunday on
which the whole interview was to be shown.
After the spiked build-up, NZ again saw Fiji’s
dictator under scrutiny. McIntyre who is sup-
posed to have “a cross-examination technique
that would be the envy of any criminal barrister”
was given a right run around by the Commodore
who, I believe, entertained her to see if there was
any change in attitude towards Fiji – there was
none.
In fact McIntyre’s best brow-beating failed to
faze Bainimarama and whatever would come out
of her after that was hardly likely to be unbiased.
That’s what has happened to a lot of reporters
who’ve gone to Fiji to weave superficial paths of
understanding, sensationalise the situation and
come away espousing the need for democracy.
In 2000, as Suva crackled with violence and
lawlessness, I had a long discussion with two
foreign reporters (one Kiwi, one Japanese) and a
The curious case of Tendulkar envy
Rakesh Krishnan
Indians should count themselves extremely lucky
that just over a year after Sunil Gavaskar retired from
cricket, Sachin Tendulkar arrived and dominated the
game much as Gavaskar thrilled a previous genera-
tion with his stroke filled batting.
Such back to back domination of the game won’t
be repeated in a hurry. Maybe we are blessed with
naturally talent cricketers, maybe we just have the
numbers, but all that doesn’t take anything away
from the fact that India has produced two of the
greatest batsmen ever.
However, many English and Australian com-
mentators don’t seem to see such obvious greatness.
In fact, they seem to be suffering from Tendulkar-
phobia, a modern phenomenon that mostly affects
those in Britain and Australia. Part of the reason is
that they can’t bear to see their icon Don Bradman
dethroned from his lofty pedestal.
But first let’s put things in perspective. Brad-
man’s cricket statistics are awesome. He scored a
huge number of double centuries and triple centu-
ries and his test batting average of 99.94 is amazing.
Indians do not attach ifs and buts while praising the
great Australian. He was indeed the greatest – until
Gavaskar, and later Tendulkar, arrived on the scene.
Tendulkar’s statistics shock and awe everyone. I
won’t go into his centuries, runs, not outs, catches,
wickets, fielding, run outs achieved, matches played
and so on. By now every Tom, Dick and Hari know
his legendary achievements.
What should shock us is the cavalier attitude of
English and Australian journalists and how they try
to belittle Tendulkar. The great man is too humble to
protest, so please leave the task of defending him to
thugs like me.
Former England captain Mike Atherton, now the
chief cricket correspondent of The Times, London,
wonders if Tendulkar would have lasted as long
or scored as many runs without the protection of a
helmet that the former greats lacked. “We cannot
know for sure,” he writes, adding, “To suggest that
Tendulkar – or, indeed, any modern, armoured or,
pampered player – is the best ever is demeaning to
those former greats who stood at the crease in the
knowledge that their next ball could be their last.”
Here’s Simon Wilde of the same paper: “Cricket’s
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
cameraman over a few bottles of the amber brew
and as I continued to correct misconceptions
and shallow understandings about that coup, the
Kiwi bristled and said, “but you guys control the
economy don’t you.
If you take over politically that will be the
end of the Fijians. That’s what they fear.”
This was coming from a Kiwi reporter who
was supposed to be a champion of democracy.
Here he was attempting to make sense of a coup
that he knew virtually nothing about. In fact
many of those who cut their teeth in that 2000
coup still don’t know what it was about. And
many tried to rationalise it!
That rationalisation always came from the
“Indian threat” perspective. The Kiwi was
propagating in 2000 an unfair and cruel political
line that was used to endear the colonials to the
Fijian aristocracy and subjugate and castigate
the Indians without any conscience during the
colonial era in Fiji.
Furthermore, I thought it was hypocriti-
cal that the Kiwi who had taken over Aotearoa
both politically and economically and made the
country progress admirably, was accusing the
Fiji Indian of having the same designs in Fiji.
Something was very wrong with the understand-
ings carried by that Kiwi reporter.
The same continues to be seen now. During
that Sunday programme on 15/11, footage was
shown of primary school students in a Fijian
school with McIntyre lamenting their future
because of Bainimarama’s coup. Only Fijian stu-
dents were shown with an ominous silence on In-
do-Fijian students. This type of selective footage
leaves gaps for damaging interpretations. And
modern age has been all about the cult of the great
batsman – whether it be Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky
Ponting, Mohammad Yousuf, Graeme Smith, or
Andrew Strauss. They all amass centuries at a rate
earlier generations could only have dreamed of. In
India, Tendulkar is regarded like a bank, too big to
be allowed to fail.”
I have worked with leading Indian newspapers
and magazines, and let me tell you that no writer
would be allowed to write such things about any
cricketer – Indian or other. Such low blows would
never be tolerated in an Indian newsroom. It just
shows the depths to which The Times has plum-
meted.
The Australian media is unanimous in its opinion
that Bradman is untouchable. Some of what they
publish is not fit for printing in a half-decent journal.
In fact, their vilification of Gavaskar is simply not
cricket. Mainly because he always speaks out against
the rowdy on-field behaviour of Australians and
biased match officials from England and Australia.
They do it also because they want to run Gavaskar
down and prevent any chance of the original Little
Master dethroning Bradman.
It’s really pointless to argue with those who have
closed their mind over an issue. But why not let
facts, rather than hot air, decide greatness. Here’s the
lowdown on Bradman.
l Bradman used to walk into bat after the Austra-
lian openers Woodfull and Ponsford had racked up a
comfortable score. He didn’t have to face tearaway
fast bowlers and in any case there were none those
days. Yes, the wickets were not covered, but you also
didn’t have Malcom Marshall firing in those toe-
crushing yorkers.
l Bradman’s strongest opposition was England,
which hardly had a decent bowler. Bodyline hap-
pened because England had NO good bowlers.
Teams like India, West Indies and South Africa were
nothing to write about. There was no Pakistan or Sri
Lanka.
l In Bradman’s days, teams would have three slips
even after he crossed 300. Runs were always easy
senior reporters would be only too aware of this.
If that omission was deliberate, was there an
implication that Indo-Fijians have no problems
and support Bainimarama wholeheartedly. The
latest poverty reports clearly show that it is the
Indo-Fijian who is the most vulnerable because
neither can he fall back on tribal lands nor can he
rely on traditional communal social structures
for support.
I can’t help repeating that on August 24,
Barbara Dreaver openly said that Fiji Indians
“supported” the coup. This time she was present-
ed as a sufferer by her friend McIntyre because
the poor girl cannot visit family in Fiji as she’s
blacklisted. Bainimarama’s response to that,
“who’s imposing travel bans, NZ or Fiji?”
That aside, the most ominous omission from
that Sunday programme was discussion of the
real reason why NZ’s High Commissioner Todd
Cleaver was asked to leave Fiji. This is what
was deliberately left out of that programme by
McIntyre. Following the “Presidential coup” of
April 2009, a number of magistrates and judges
chose to leave Fiji as the 1997 constitution had
been abrogated.
This left a void in Fiji’s judiciary and a search
was conducted to get judges from outside. A
number were identified in Sri Lanka, but they
had to travel through Australia or NZ to get to
Fiji, so they applied for visas to these countries.
That’s when the sabotage mechanism was acti-
vated by Fiji’s two concerned neighbours.
Each of the judges was politely told over the
phone (no paperwork) that if they took up ap-
pointments in Fiji, they would be banned from
entering the two more attractive countries. In
and fielders rarely dived to stop
the ball. These days you have
teams trying to unsettle a player
nearing his 100. Such behaviour
would be considered totally
uncouth 50 years ago.
l Cricket was played at a
leisurely pace. Tests did not
end in five days – there was no
limit. Players had all the time
in the world to get set. There
was no crammed international
schedule, no ODI’s, no great ex-
pectations from millions of viewers,
no third-umpire, no video analysis, no reverse
swing or the doosra.
Gavaskar, on the other hand, played the fiercest
fast bowlers of all time and got 13 centuries against
the all-conquering West Indies. To be an Indian
opener meant you had to face the fastest bowlers in
the world – the West Indians, the Australians and the
Pakistanis. Indeed, India’s fortunes almost always
depended on how Gavaskar fared. That was the kind
of weight he carried on his shoulders.
Both Tendulkar and Gavaskar have scored fewer
double centuries than Bradman and no triple centu-
ries. However, that is a pointer to the kind of oppo-
sition they have faced and the competitive nature of
modern cricket, where quick runs matter and there is
pressure from fans, sponsors, and the boards to get
a result.
The other significant aspect of their game is
stroke play. The opposition has hope while bowling
to strokeplayers like Gavaskar and Tendulkar
because they always offer a chance.
This is not to suggest that Bradman wasn’t enter-
taining. Bradman is great and will always remain so;
in fact, his average may never be surpassed. But he
played in a much gentler era and faced bowlers that
were clearly several notches below the ones Gavas-
kar and Tendulkar had to deal with.
As for helmets, my only rejoinder is that Atherton
is a much worse writer than he was a player. Despite
wearing a helmet himself, he was referred to as Mc-
Grath’s bunny. Helmets don’t make you a Tendulkar,
Comment
fact anyone taking up a post in Fiji is open to
travel bans from these countries regardless of
the fact that these appointees could actually act
as a bastion against total deterioration and more
importantly as agents of the much-wanted return
to democracy.
Coming back to the Sunday programme
under scrutiny here, McIntyre then went on to
warn that poverty has worsened, tourism will
suffer, support will not be forthcoming, etc. And
the Commodore reiterated that Fiji would go
through anything to get “true democracy”. That
should’ve provided a very useful cue for any re-
porter, but it appeared that McIntyre chose not to
live up to her elevated billing.
Indeed, what did Bainimarama mean by
“true democracy”. Shouldn’t this have piqued
the interest of any serious reporter? Why hasn’t
this line made waves in NZ? There appears to
be an interesting twist to “freedom of the press”
in NZ. First, McIntyre deliberately chose not to
include the very central Sri Lankan judges issue
in her vaunted programme. And two, nobody is
interested in finding out Commodore Bainima-
rama’s vision of “true democracy” in Fiji.
Is this how the press should operate in a de-
mocracy? More importantly, is this what is being
prescribed for Fiji? Intriguing questions!
- Subhash Appana is an academic and
political commentator. The opinions contained
in this article are entirely his and not neces-
sarily shared by any organizations he may be
associated with both in Fiji and abroad. Email
subhasha@ais.ac.nz
or a Bradman, or even a better cricketer.
The Indian media must close ranks and stand
up for its cricketing greats. A lie repeated too often
will seem to the masses as the truth, once said Goeb-
bels. The danger here is that if we don’t no-ball these
English and Australian writers and commentators
now, then their lies and obfuscations will make it dif-
ficult to rank cricketers according to their achieve-
ments in the right context. Currently, Bradman is
being touted as No.1 based on his average, and his
double and triple tons. Tendulkar and Gavaskar have
achieved vastly more.
A future generation, with the benefit of distance
from the present, will surely rank the Indian duo
above Bradman. Hopefully, by then the English and
Australian media would have come to terms with
their Tendulkar envy.
(Rakesh Krishnan is a features writer at Fairfax
New Zealand. He has previously worked with Busi-
nessworld, India Today and Hindustan Times, and
was news editor with the Financial Express.)
15
Indian
Obama plays the Pacific card – but it’s far too late
DEV NADKARNI
A few months ago, the United States’ Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, during the course of
her first official visit to the Asia Pacific region,
told the media that the US was “not ceding” the
Pacific to anybody.
Apart from the fact that it was a poor choice
of words (for one can cede only if one has pos-
session of something in the first place – and the
US does not possess the Pacific by any stretch
of imagination) it betrayed real fears of being
upstaged in the region by the regional giant who
is on a fast track to becoming a global giant:
China.
Perhaps the word was also used to convey a
sense of comfort to its allies in the region; that
the US still meant business in the region even
if had been distracted geopolitically, stretched
economically and severely criticised domesti-
cally because of its fruitless engagement in Iraq
and Afghanistan over the past decade.
If there was any “we mean business” firm-
ness that Ms Clinton sought to convey in what
she said a few months ago in the usual vein of
the United States’ big brotherly manner, Presi-
dent Barack Obama’s pronouncements when
he visited the Asia Pacific region, by contrast,
had more emotional content. With his eloquent,
straight from the heart approach – which indeed
is his well-acknowledged forte – he sought to
project himself as a part of the region.
Speaking at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the US
President said, “I am an American President
who was born in Hawaii and lived in Indonesia
as a boy. My sister Maya was born in Jakarta,
and later married a Chinese-Canadian. My
mother spent nearly a decade working in the
villages of Southeast Asia, helping women buy
a sewing machine or an education that might
give them a foothold in the world economy. So
the Pacific Rim has helped shape my view of
the world.”
On a more tangible note, during the course
of the visit, the United States also announced its
assent to participate in negotiations for an Asia-
Pacific free trade agreement with itself.
Boomerang or Sudarshana Chakra?
Padmini Gaunder
The renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, Dr.
Padma Subrahmaniam, came to Fiji in 1979 for
the Girmit (Girmit is the term used by the Fiji
Indians for the indenture system under which
most of their forefathers originally came to Fiji.
It stands for the ‘agreement’ which they signed
before they left India.) Centenary Celebrations.
She told us that apart from being a dancer she
was also an anthropologist so she was interested
in Fijian culture.
The one aspect of the Fijian culture that
fascinated her most was the ‘tapa’ or ‘masi’ the
cloth that is made out of the bark of trees. She
said there is mention of such cloth in the Ra-
mayana where Sri Ram was supposed to have
used it when he was in the forest. But she did
not know that it was still in use (though only for
ceremonial occasions in Fiji) and she wanted to
take one back to India and give it to Sri Sanka-
racharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, who she
said was her Guru.
Padma was also interested in the Australian
aborigines. She had heard that there was a tribe
called ‘Siva’ among them and she wanted to find
out more about it.
I then remembered the first time I had seen
a group of aboriginal artistes perform. It was
in 1972 after the South Pacific Arts Festival in
Suva. The aboriginal group, which had come to
participate in the festival, before going back to
Australia, came to the school where I was teach-
ing then, to put on a performance.
They were to perform in the school ground,
16
So, further to
naming the year
2007 the Year of
the Pacific and
setting in motion
one of the single
biggest infrastruc-
tural projects in the
region – the US$
15 billion military
base in Guam that
will take shape in
the years to 2014 –
the US has begun
to actively focus
its commitment in
what is now indis-
putably the region
of the future.
Make no mistake:
the twenty first
century belongs to
Asia and, by exten-
sion, to the Pacific.
Several recent
developments
have conspired to
make the Pacific
the world’s hottest
property. It is one
of the last unexplored regions of the world; it is
incredibly rich both in mineral content beneath
the ocean floor and teeming with life above it;
the recent changes in the UN Law of the Sea
will greatly expand the exclusive economic
zones of the far flung island states scattered
across the surface of the world’s largest geo-
physical feature – because of which it presents
great opportunity for expanding geopolitical
ambitions, particularly of energy and resource
hungry fast developing economies like China
and India.
Laying your bets on the Asia Pacific region
is therefore a complete no brainer.
But the painful truth, as the US must now
which is a rectangular field. I remember going
upstairs and standing on the verandah to have
a good view. When the artistes came out and
squatted on the ground to begin their perfor-
mance, with their dark bodies covered with
white paint, I was reminded of the devotees of
Siva in a south Indian temple with their bodies
covered with holy ash (vibhoothi) ready for say-
anapradakshinam (going round the temple lying
down). It was only a few years later that I came
to know that there is a tribe called Siva among
the aborigines. Otherwise apart from admiring
their performance I could have also tried to find
out more about their tribes by talking to them.
The artiste that fascinated me most was the
boomerang thrower. I had never before seen the
boomerang throw so my knowledge of the boo-
merang was limited. I just knew that it was a
weapon used by the aborigines in their hunting.
The boomerang thrower came and stood in one
corner of the rectangular field and threw it to the
next corner. It went up to the corner and came
back to the thrower. He did that a few times and
if I found these fascinating greater things were
to follow.
He next made the boomerang go further.
From the first corner he made it turn and go
up to the following corner; and then turn back
and come to the first corner; and then turn back
again and come back to his hand. He did this
also a few times. After that he threw the boo-
merang to the first corner; made it turn and go
to the next corner; made it turn again and go to
know, is that it is
rather a little too
late to do so now.
Both it and the
resident bloc of
western nations in
the Pacific – Aus-
tralia and New
Zealand – have
frittered away their
longstanding first
mover advantage
of having been
here in the Pacific
for decades to the
Asian powers.
This they have
achieved with a
fateful combina-
tion of conde-
scending attitudes,
high handedness,
neglect and gen-
erally taking for
granted that the
Pacific and the
small, economi-
cally and geopo-
litically powerless
island states, many
of which are their former colonies, to be their
backyard over which they could walk all over
at will, with the lure of that convenient and
cheap instrument called aid. Western powers
have always appeared smug in their belief that
the long and historic ties they have had with the
islands were vouchsafed to them for eternity.
They couldn’t have been more wrong. And
now it’s too late.
The deepening imprint of the Chinese jug-
gernaut is there for all to see – not just in the
Pacific Islands but also all over the world. With
trillions of dollars worth of cash at its dispos-
al, China has the shopping budget not just to
buy up the most expensive real estate in any
the next corner; and turn again and come back to
his hand, completing a full circle! As I watched
dumbfounded I thought of Lord Krishna and his
Sudarshana Chakra (the wheel that he holds in
one of his four hands). I had heard stories of how
Krishna could throw it and the wheel would go
and do whatever Sri Krishna wanted it to do and
then come back to him. Most of the time it would
be killing a wicked person but there were other
things that it did also.
For example, during the great war of Ma-
habharata, when Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu was
killed, Arjuna took a vow to kill Jayadratha, who
had killed Abhimanyu, before sunset that day.
The Kauravas guarded Jayadratha so well that
Arjuna found it difficult to penetrate through
them. It was afternoon and time was passing and
it would soon be sunset. Then Sri Krishna threw
the Sudarshana m to go and hide the sun. The
sun was hidden and it seemed like sunset. Soon
the Kauravas rejoiced that they had succeeded
in preventing Arjuna from fulfilling his vow and
relaxed their defence.
Soon Arjuna was able to kill Jayadratha and
Sri Krishna made his Chakra come back to him
and the sun was once more visible. The Kaura-
vas knew they were tricked but it was too late
as Jayadratha was already dead, thanks to the
Sudarshana Chakra doing the job assigned to it.
As I watched the boomerang thrower I re-
alised that the stories I had heard in my child-
hood about Krishna are much more than myths.
Perhaps the aborigines did come from south
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Comment
country and the biggest of corporate conglom-
erates anywhere but also entire nations, if ever
it found a way to do so.
Already it is the largest single investor in
several countries in Africa, South America
and parts of Asia and has jockeyed itself into a
strong position throughout the Pacific Islands,
thanks in no small way to the apathetic attitude
of the regional western economic powers – New
Zealand and Australia. It has stepped up its in-
vestments in the capitalist heart of the west,
buying up assets in the US, UK and Australia,
triggering off demands for hitherto unheard of
protectionist measures for guarding “sensitive
assets” from businesspeople and lawmakers.
It now commands respect and pulls its con-
siderable weight at all international forums,
whether political or economic. The world’s
leaders have no choice now but to grudgingly
acknowledge that the Chinese dragon is here to
stay and simply cannot be wished away. It is a
part and parcel of the landscape – and in the
case of the Pacific, oceanscape – and is poised
to take a progressively bigger role in their eco-
nomic milieu, like it or not.
One of the fallouts of the Fiji situation
and the extremely muddle headed response
to it from Canberra and Wellington has has-
tened China’s increased relevance as develop-
ment and economic partner not just in Fiji but,
by virtue of it being a gateway to the Pacific
Islands region, to the rest of the South Pacific
island nations as well.
China is well on the path to consolidating
its position in the Pacific over next year or two.
With improving relations with Taiwan, divi-
sions over the support from Pacific Island states
will become increasingly irrelevant.
Whether by necessity or design, a country
like Fiji, all things considered, particularly
from the standpoint of its present leadership
that has been left marooned by its traditional
western partners, seems to have done the right
thing in forging closer ties with the world’s
most formidably growing superpower.
Feature
India and among them there were devotees of
Shiva as well as those who worshipped Vishnu
(and therefore Krishna who is believed to be an
incarnation of Vishnu).
(Padmini Gaunder’s book, ‘Educa-
tion and Race Relations in Fiji’ is avail-
able for $15.00. Those interested may
contact her at pgaunder@hotmail.com)
Indian
Malegaon ka Superman to
be showcased at IFFI 2009
International Film Festival of India 2009, prom-
ises a wide selection of 200 films both from
India and abroad in its 40th edition. IFFI 2009
will be inaugurated on November 23, at the Kala
Academy in Panaji, Goa and run for 10 days till
December 3, 2009.
“In a departure from previous years, we will
have a best director and best film awardthis year”
said Festival Director S M Khan at a press meet
in Mumbai on Monday. “the best film award will
be jointly shared by both the director and the
producer of the film,’’ he added. The winner gets
the prestigious Golden Peacock award and Rs 40
lakhs (Rs 4 million) as cash prize. The Best Di-
rector and the winner of the Special Jury Award
will get silver peacock and cash prizes of Rs 15
lakhs (Rs1.5 Mn) each.
The Indian Panorama will showcase 47 films
– 26 feature and 21 non-feature films selected by
the jury. In addition, the National Film Archives
of India, Pune will screen five vintage musical
hits and three National Film Award winning
movies – Do Ankhen Baara Haath (1957), Sagar
Sangame (1958) and Apur Sansar (1959). Trib-
utes to Indian film personalities include Neelu
Phule, Prakash Mehra, Shakti Samanta, Feroz
Khan, Leela Naidu among others. The Films
Division, Mumbai will show documentaries on
Indian music and musicians covering Pandit
Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad
Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Jasraj, Naushad, K L
Saigal, Begum Akhtar and Mohammad Rafi.
Retrospective in the Indian section will be
of films from Assam , as the Assemese Film In-
dustry is celebrating the diamond jubilee. The
films of Jahnu Barua, Bhabhendranath Saikia,
Santwana Bardoloj and Sanjeev Hazarika will be
showcased. Retrospective will also feature films
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
of those artistes who have completed 50 years
in the film industry. Two movies each of Kamal
Hassan, Asha Parekh and Saumitra Chatterjee
will be screened.
In the Cinema of the World, about 65 films
from 45 countries have been selected by the
Preview Committee. The continent focus is on
Africa and Latin America, while the country
focus is on cinema of Italy, France , Poland ,
Croatia and Estonia . Films made by Indians
abroad on NRI issues will be part of the ‘Film
India Worldwide’ section. Retrospectives in the
foreign films category will include Gurinder
Chadha , UK , Manuel De Oleivera, Portugal
and Nonzee Nimibutr, Thailand . In addition,
five anti-war films will also be shown.
Spoof Cinema, mocking popular cinema is
the new entrant in this edition of the festival.
Films such as “Malegaon ka Superman’ and
‘Gabbarbhai MBBS’ are part of this package.
Among the parallel activities, Shiamak Davar
will present a lecture demonstration on ‘Evolu-
tion of Dance in Hindi Cinema’ while Kishwar
Desai will speak on ‘Hindi Films based on book
adaptations.”
Delegate registration has commenced and
already over 3000 have registered. The last date
for registration is November 10, 2009. The media
registration is being handled by the Press Infor-
mation Bureau and the last date for registration
is November 15, 2009. The details of registration
procedure can be accessed at www.pib.nic.in
Some 1200 seats in Madgaon have been
added and another 100 in Kala Academy, Panaji
for the IFFI 2009. Tight security arrangements
are being made by the Goa Police with the help
of the Central forces.
- Indian Weekender news desk
Minister calls for national-
level plan to stem film piracy
MUMBAI: Union Information & Broadcast-
ing Minister Ambika Soni(pictured) has said
that film and video piracy is the principal
bane of entertainment industry in the country.
Speaking at the opening day of the two-day
business conclave on ‘Media & Entertain-
ment’ being organised by FICCI in Chennai,
Soni observed that widespread piracy ‘puts
Bollywood
to zero’ the efforts and investments that are
made to entertain the country and Indian dia-
sporas abroad.
Soni said the issue needs to be addressed
with firm hand. “It is not acceptable that some
people work, some earn foreign exchange for
the country, some sweat and toil to entertain
the countrymen and people across the world
but a few unscrupulous elements draw the
benefits of that in illegal manner. This is not
just acceptable.” she said.
She added that the whole issue needed to
be a matter of joint concern of the states and
centre. She requested Tamil Nadu chief min-
ister Dr. M Karunanidhi to help the centre
in drafting some act or law towards this aim
so that the centre can ask the other states to
follow.
The Union Minister has convened a
meeting of State Information Ministers in
New Delhi on December 5 to discuss various
issues related to the entertainment industry,
including piracy.
Soni said that the government of India is
keen to open up wider opportunities for Indian
films. “Government is making its efforts in as
many international film-centric events as pos-
sible. The efforts will be beyond festivals like
the ones at Cannes, Berlin, etc. We will tie up
with FICCI and other organisations and the
film production houses across the country for
an effective public-private partnership mode
to ensure that there is international market for
Indian film industry,” she said.
17
Indian
Her due for release ‘Paa’ is being hyped as a “fa-
ther-son movie” with both Bachchans (Amitabh
and Abhishek) dominating the show but the
dainty Vidya Balan begs to differ. “On the con-
trary, I consider it my privilege to be working
with both the Bachchans and to be directed by
Balki-sir who is a hugely talented director. Al-
though the focus in ‘Paa’ is on the father-son re-
lationship, I have my romantic, intense and emo-
tional scenes and catchy song sequences which
will leave its lasting impact,” insists the actress,
who has got her fair share of appreciation for her
riveting performance in films like ‘Parineeta’,
‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ and ‘Bhoolbhulaiyya’.
What was her first reaction when she was told
by the director that she would be playing Am-
itabh’s mom, in ‘Paa’? After a brief pause she
recalls, “Initially I was flummoxed, I just didn’t
know how to react but then I asked Balki-sir to
narrate the story. After hearing him out, I real-
ized that this was a life-time opportunity to play
18
Bollywood
Vidya Balan:
“It was awkward to scold the junior
version of Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Paa’”
The slim ‘n shapely Vidya is in one of her witty elements as she fields questions
about her upcoming maverick movie ‘Paa’ at Mumbai’s Reliance BIG FM
broadcasting studios.
a challenging role. That too with my
favourite actor Amitabh as my co-
star. Never in my wildest dreams
did I ever fantasize that someday,
Amit-ji would play my child that
too with his rapid-ageing proge-
ria syndrome. It is definitely not
the stereotyped mother’s role,
but an out-of-the box gamut,” ex-
plains Vidya. There were moments
though when she literally squirmed
with her dialogues while enacting
the scenes with Bachchan. “That’s
because it was rather awkward for me
to scold the junior version of Amitabh
Bachchan in ‘Paa’,” smiles the actress
who shares a warm camaraderie with
her romantic ‘Paa’ co-star Abhishek. She
fondly calls him a “mastikhor prankster”.
Ask her about her childhood days and
her face suddenly lightens up. “Like most
normal kids I had my share of sharaarat
(mischief). While playing hide’n seek
games during my childhood, when it was
my turn to play the ‘seeker’ I used to bluff
my buddies to exempt me since I had an
appendix operation,” she laughs heart-
ily jogging into a flashback mode. “Its
strange that as a kid I wanted to grow up very
fast, but now I ardently wish I could be back in
school, carefree as ever,” she asserts, tossing her
permed tresses.
Not many people are aware that the vivacious
Vidya is often hailed as the New Year’s ‘Eve’ of
Bollywood! That’s because her birthday falls on
1st January. While the rest of filmy folks are busy
chilling out at night clubs and beach-resorts or
even performing at a ‘live’ event to earn ‘the big
fast bucks’ on December 31st, she chooses to be
an exception. “Every year-end, if I am in town, I
generally remain at home in Chembur (the distant
suburb of Mumbai) with my parents and family
and maybe a few close buddies. At ‘zero hour’ I
take the blessings of my parents, offer prayers to
my family deity and then check out sms-es and
receive calls from my well-wishers. During the ‘odd woman out’ in showbiz. “Its better that I morning classical live concerts of acclaimed
day on 1st Jan, I end up cutting my birthday cake am known for my acting skills and versatile per- Indian musicians like Hariprasad Chaurasia or
with my family and close friends around,” she formances rather than snatching attention at wild Shubha Mudgal,” she quips.
says adding that she has no hang-ups being the late-night parties. I would rather attend early
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Bollywood

Red Carpet
Launch Event at
Lokhandwala club
Subodh Tyagi CMD of Red Carpet Pvt Ltd
planned his magazine launch in novel style, by
organizing a big show with Bollywood stars.
The event started on the dot with Shekhar
Suman taking over as the compere. Model
and actress Misti Mukherjee performed
on the Michael Jackson track while mod-
el-actress, Nikita Rawal performed on the
Shakira track. The other performers were
Raja Hassan, Rajiv Nigam, Rubaru Band,
Lavanya, Pavni Pandey, Jay Mahrshi,
Tochi, and Rex Dsouza. Sonu Sood was
the surprise package of performance. But
the performance which stole the show was
that of Himesh Reshamiya, who sang a
medley of songs. Among others present
at the event were writer-director, Neeraj
Pathak, Abhishek Awasthi, Raja,
hotelier Satish Shetty, fashion
designer Riyaz Gangji, Yogesh
Lakhani and others.
On the occasion, Tyagi also
announced Red Carpet’s plans to
do three big events every year, the
Red Carpet Cine Awards, a Miss
India event and the Red Carpet
Film Festival of India.

On the red carpet:

Sonu Sood (top); The
performance which
stole the show was that
of Himesh Reshamiya
(left), who sang a
medley of songs; MC
Shekhar Suman (bottom
left); Model-actress
Nikita Rawal

Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 19

Indian
Bollywood
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se goes on the floor
Eesha Koppikar’s The mahurat of Ashutosh Gowariker’s and PVR Pictures ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ was recently
held in Goa. Present on the occasion was the lead actor, Abhishek Bachchan along with producers

‘Ken and Barbie’ party

Ajay Bijli, Sanjeev Bijli and Sunita Gowariker. Sunita Gowariker, Producer, AGPPL revealed that the
film marked the coming together of Gowariker Productions and PVR Pictures for the first time. “We
are excited to collaborate with them as our partners for this film. PVR being great exhibitors we look
forward to a great association with both Ajay and Sanjeev Bijli,” she said.
‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ is a period thriller based on the book ‘Do and Die’ by Manini Chat-
terjee, which is based on the Chittagong Uprising of 1930. Deepika Padukone will play the female
In view of their marriage on November 29, hotelier Timmy Narang and actress Eesha Koppikar (pic- lead opposite Abhishek in the film.
tured) threw a Ken and Barbie party recently for their friends and family to celebrate the pre-marriage
occasion. The event was graced by prominent Bollywood celebrities like Gul Panag, Shenaz Trea-
surelywala, Bikram Saluja, Leena Mogre, Naved Jaffery, Ravi Behl, Vikas Bhalla, Mushtaq Shiekh
and many more. The guests reveled in the music, the scrumptious appetizers and the food till the wee
hours of the morning. The party was designed by Ashley Rebello.

Hrithik Roshan- Barbara Mori’s

‘Kites’ set to take the world stage

Reliance Big Pictures & Filmkraf

t recently announced a tie-up with
Ratner, director of ‘Rush Hour’ seri Bret t
es and ‘X-Men: the Last Stand’ for
English version of their magnum the
opus Kites for the international mar
Ratner is currently at work on the ket.
English version of the film, tailoring
appeal it for the international aud it to
iences. Directed by Anurag Bas
Hrithik Roshan and Mexican actr u, starring
ess, Barbara Mori, ‘Kites’ will rele
simultaneously in English and Hind ase
i in the international market whe
film will release in Hindi in India. reas the
The film, a love stor y about unexpe
betrayal crossing barriers, bounda cted
ries and cultures, is slated shortly
release, both at the national and for
international level.

20 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Bollywood
Asin’s career is indeed going places
Her Bollywood debut, Ghajini shot her into the big
league of actresses overnight and south sensation, Asin
hasn’t looked back ever since. Her recent performance in
London Dreams also did not go unnoticed. Asin has now
shifted base to Mumbai and is now looking forward to a
promising innings in Bollywood.

Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 21

Indian
Variety

Indian men ‘duds in bed’

Indian men are weak in the bedroom, obsessed
with car accessories and sound, and fixated on
Manchester United.
This is according to the “Indian Girls 4 White
Guys” group on the social networking site Face-
book, believed to have been started by a young
white man in a bid to lure Indian women.
“Indian guys are such lame duds, especially
in bed. All they know is sound, the size of the
rims and Man United,” reads a posting by the
group.
It goes on: “Well, leave them be, ladies. Join
the movement to a whole new way of doing men.
WHITE MEN. They gym, got great abs and blue
eyes, and they know how to treat a lady. Come
on, give them a taste of that mystic Eastern
charm we all know you have.”
There has been a mixed reaction to the group.
Melissa Moodley, 23, a Johannesburg senior
educational administrator who is a member of
the group, said she had learnt from previous
relationships that Indian men were controlling
- “from simple things like your style down to
which friends you choose”.
Indian men she had dated were unlike her
boyfriend, George Joao, who made her feel “ap-
preciated and loved and cherished”.
“Indian men are always trying to please their
parents and expect you to do the same,” she said.
Moodley said Joao helped her with every-
thing, “even chores, which Indian guys feel is a
woman’s privilege”.
A 29-year-old Cape Town woman, also a
member but who did not want to be named, said
she loved white men.
“It’s not because of sex. It’s their attrac-
tive appearance, personality and manners. I’m
not racist. Indian men do have it, but it doesn’t
appeal to me at all. Indian men are just boring,”
she said.
Former South African Rupini Bergstrom,
who is married to a Swede, said she had not
chosen a white guy over an Indian guy.
“I do not think Indian men are much different
to men of any other race group.
“The type of man described in the Facebook
group is common to certain sections of black and
white societies too. I have met Indian men from
India, Uganda, Kenya, the US and even South
Africa who would be appalled to be described as
above,” said Bergstrom.
A 30-year-old Johannesburg health profes-
sional, who refused to be identified, has dated
both white and Indian men. She said white men
also had a passion for cars and hi-tech equip-
ment.
“As for the Man United statement, I’m sure
that even if they don’t support soccer, lots of
white men love rugby and other sports. To judge
an Indian man on that is pointless and childish.”
Durban business consultant Robbie Naidoo
said the comments were narrow-minded.
“This is racial stigmatising. Whether it’s
Indian men today or coloured men tomorrow or
Chinese men in the future, the moment you start
putting stigmas, you are going contrary to the
spirit of a new South Africa,” he said.
Actor Kaseran Pillay said although he had
not seen the group’s postings, the comments
were a “huge” generalisation.
“This is coming from a white boy who
knows nothing about me (an Indian), who knows
nothing about my people to make these kinds of
statements,” he said.
University of KwaZulu-Natal sociologist
Sultan Khan said: “This is a racially perceived
stereotype about Indian males which we are
carrying from the apartheid era. The apartheid
legacy has had a different impact on the Indian
community and one cannot make such a gener-
alisation.”
TELL US: What are your thoughts on the
group’s claims about Indian men? E-mail your
responses with the subject line “Indian men” to
editor@indianweekender.co.nz.
- By Taschica Pillay and
Teneshia Naidoo/ Times Live

Indian globe trots just to prove a point!

He spent £350,000 to visit every country on ‘In Nauru, my
earth in the shortest time possible and thereby flight was cancelled
earnt himself a mention in the Guinness Book
of Records - just don’t expect to be thrilled by
eight times and I had
to overstay for one-
The idea for the trip began in
his pictures.
While businessman Kashi Samaddar,
and-a-half months.’
Considering his
2003 when Calcutta-born Mr
55, dodged bullets and bombs in some of the
world’s more unstable countries, and lived to
feat the snaps he took
along the way are a
Samaddar was left stranded
tell the tale, his photographic skills are some-
what wanting as these two examples (below)
touch underwhelming,
many of which feature
in Johannesburg, South
demonstrate.
That’ll be London, then: Mr Samaddar with
him in offices and
hotel lobbies instead Africa for two days because
a friend during his visit to the British capital
He began his epic journey to 194 countries
of at top tourist sights.
On his trip to of visa problems due to his
with a visit to Holland in July 2002 and finished
his mission in Kosovo in May of this year - six
London there are no
shots of Big Ben, nationality.
years, ten months and seven days later - with Tower Bridge, or
plenty of drama along the way. Buckingham Palace.
Mr Samaddar, an Indian national who now Instead, Mr Samaddar’s souvenir picture is of
lives in Dubai, said of his trip to Afghanistan: him standing inside a white office cubicle with
‘The hotel where I stayed in Kabul was blown a friend.
apart an hour after I left my room. His photo from the Cook Islands reveals
‘I have travelled through regions with nothing of the country’s white-sand beaches or
bullets flying thick and fast all around. It’s a lush vegetation, but shows him sat with friends
miracle I didn’t get killed. at a patio table.
‘In East Timor, I stayed without food for And, in a more bizarre turn, his Greenland
three days and had to pay a local lad a few shot shows him standing on front of a cabin with
hundred dollars for some bananas. a baby’s pram to one side and a local cheerily
raising a can of drink He also wanted to highlight the difficulties
to the camera on the some nationalities encounter obtaining visas to
other.
The idea for the
enter countries - a problem he is very familiar
with.
trip began in 2003
when Calcutta-born
‘The most difficult visa to get was Moldova,
which took me almost three years with many
Mr Samaddar was
left stranded in Jo-
rejections,’ he said.
‘The problem isn’t with big countries like
hannesburg, South
Africa for two days
America, England or places in Europe, a lot of
the time it’s smaller countries who don’t know
because of visa prob-
lems due to his na-
what they should be doing.’
According to Guinness World Records, any
tionality.
As an act of
person attempting the trip must take public
transport such as scheduled flights, buses,
defiance, the busi-
nessman promised
trains and ferries to arrive in countries.
The record-breaking authority also defines
himself he would visiting a country as ‘setting foot within its
travel to all the coun- border’.
tries in the world, using his life savings to do so. It is not necessary to remain in any country
Luckily he had an understanding wife, for any length of time - perhaps this could go
Barnali, who even accompanied him to more some way to explain Mr Samaddar’s opportu-
than 70 of the countries he visited. nistic photos.
The globe trotting adventurer was deter- As a result of his trip, the Indian national
mined to complete the whole trip using his has set up the Travel, Tourism and Peace Initia-
Indian passport - despite opportunities to tive, which provides travellers with advice on
adopt Australian and Canadian citizenship - as what documentation they need to enter differ-
he wanted to prove an Indian could travel the ent countries.
world. - Sarah Gordon, The Daily Mail

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Indian
What is India’s ultimate gift to the world?
ram lingam
India has ‘been there – done that’, as far as civilisation goes. India’s contribution to the world has always been immense
– be it the contribution of today’s corporate world, or even from ancient times like that of Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian values,
spirituality. But what is India’s real or ultimate contribution? For that we have to take account and learn from her glorious
past first.
India’s contribution to the world has not
gone unnoticed by those who know about
her ancient civilisation. It’s not just about
a Gandhi, Tagore, Aryabhata, Kalidas, AR
Rahman or a Sachin Tendulkar nor it’s just
about her heritage monuments like the mys-
terious Ajanta or the Taj Mahal. It’s about
India’s very character and her knowledge
traditions that have contributed to a refined
civilisation that is still continuous but sadly
forgotten.
A Sanskrit subhāshita praising knowl-
edge says: “Knowledge cannot be stolen by
thieves, cannot be taken away by the king,
cannot be divided among brothers and does
not cause a load. If spent, it always multi-
plies. The wealth of knowledge is the greatest
among all wealths.” India also had great ma-
terial wealth as India was one of the richest
countries till the time of British rule in the
early 17th century. Even Christopher Colum-
bus, attracted by India’s wealth, had come
looking for a sea route to India when he dis-
covered America by mistake.
Even paid pundits of the Imperial British
like Max Mueller couldn’t but be honest when
he said: “If I were asked under what sky the
human mind has most fully developed some
of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pon-
dered on the greatest problems of life, and
has found solutions, I should point to India”.
Today, India’s image is not as high as it
should be due to many reasons. However one
cannot ignore or forget the unfortunate turn
of events that led to some 1000 years ago of
political slavery which has made her people
forget her glory. Certainly today’s India is
complex and not as glorious as it was in the
past. India’s image is also being tarnished by
what we read, hear and see in the media but
little is known about her real contribution. A
friend of mine mentioned to me that India’s
glory is only in the past not in the present and
it seems to be true. But what is India’s real or
ultimate contribution?
In 2001, a strategic taskforce report was
published by the Planning Commission of
India titled “India as a knowledge super-
power” where it’s mentioned that “India is
an ancient civilisation with a rich heritage. It
has a vast storehouse of knowledge in various
fields, but general awareness of much of it is
inadequate”. The former President of India
- Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalām elaborated in his
book ‘Ignited Minds’ that “Ancient India was
24
Heritage
which we enjoyed as early as 350 BCE, while
“Knowledge cannot be stolen by thieves,
it came to Europe only in the 11th century. In
philology, our Sanskrit language is now uni-
versally acknowledged to be the foundation
cannot be taken away by the king, cannot be of all European languages ….”
Awareness about ancient India being a
knowledge society, the university being an
divided among brothers and does not cause Indian invention and the different knowl-
edge streams is just the tip of the iceberg as
a load. If spent, it always multiplies. The far as the knowledge tradition of India goes.
There are many facets that India’s past pro-
vides about Indic knowledge through history,
wealth of knowledge is the greatest among archeology and research. This could help us
gain a better understanding and application
all wealths.”
of knowledge that existed in the past.
So what if India had a glorious past? What
now? In response to such relevant questions,
Dr. A.P.J.Kalam offers wonderful advice to
a knowledge society and a leader in many in- astronomy, medicine, chemistry, biology, as- create a knowledge society in India and calls
tellectual pursuits, particularly in the fields trology, logic and grammar were the result of for using our ancient scriptures with the
of mathematics, medicine and astronomy.” painstaking, accurate observation of natural modern scientific methods to create a new
Anyone with even a passing interest on phenomena. source of knowledge that is useful for the
India knows that India has a rich tradition of Adding on to this, Swami Vivekananda generations to come.
intellectual inquiry and that’s her ultimate remarks “In philosophy we are even now The idea here is to learn the secrets of the
gift to the world ~ a knowledge tradition head and shoulders above any other nation, world’s ancient and continuous Indian civili-
that was at the core of all progress that India as Schopenhauer, the great German philoso- zation which had reached its zenith of evolu-
achieved. Over several millennia, India has pher has confessed. In music India gave to the tion. One can say India has ‘been there - done
been home to mathematicians and astrono- world her system of notation, with the seven that’ but its time now to recreate the magical
mers who calculated the orbit of the earth cardinal notes and the diatonic scale, all of and mystical past.
around the sun with astonishing accuracy.
India also had Nālandā, the first university
of the world. Set up in the fifth century BCE,
in its heyday it accommodated over 10,000
students and 2,000 teachers. Nālandā was an
extraordinary centre of learning for seven
centuries.
Most of the branches of knowledge that
have survived till today in India were rooted
in her spiritual traditions. The intellectual
achievements of Indian culture lay scat-
tered across several fields of study in ancient
Indian texts ranging from the Vedas and the
books of ‘self-knowledge’ i.e. the Upanishads
to a whole range of scriptural, Gnostic, scien-
tific and artistic sources.
In India, there is wide variety and multi-
plicity of thoughts, languages, life styles and
scientific, artistic, philosophical perceptions
and Darsanas. For example the six traditional
branches of knowledge being Vyākaran –
grammar, Jyotish – astrology and astronomy,
Nirukt – etymology, Shiksha – phonetics and
phonology, Chhandas – rhyme and meter and
Kalpa Sutras – rituals) and gradually other
scientific disciplines like arithmetic, algebra,
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Why are NZ Indians shy of world travel?
Madhup Srivastava
First in a two part series of how anyone can make their dream of travelling the
world come true at prices that are oh so affordable.
Traditionally, people from India living in
New Zealand want to visit their family and
friends In India whenever there is an oppor-
tunity to do so.
That is a laudable travel objective and
a lot of money is spent on this every year.
But when it comes to spending similar or
little more money on visiting other touristic
places, prime consideration is where else our
relatives or friends stay and going to those
places.
As a travel agent, I find it quite amazing
that these very people have all the money and
courage to uproot them from India, work hard
and settle in a foreign land but when it comes
to thinking of travelling to alien places, their
first thought is to visit extended family in
India and elsewhere.
On the other hand, Indians living in India
are increasingly visiting foreign countries ir-
respective of the fact whether there are family
or friends living in that country or not.
I was talking to one USA based travel agent
the other day and he said that hotels in Europe
at times are so full of people from India that
sometimes it is hard to find a vacancy for his
US based clients in high season. I wonder
why then Indians in New Zealand are shy of
travelling around the world.
To most of us, a trip around the world is
a dream affordable only to those with ample
money and time. But around-the-world travel
is a growing trend among people from all
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
backgrounds, professions and ages. With
airfare costing as little as $3500, many trav-
ellers are turning their dreams into reality.
This guide will give you an overview of
the considerations you need to make before
undertaking such a grand and unique endea-
vour. Many rewards and frustrations can ac-
company an around-the-world trip, and you
will have a better idea if such a trip is for you,
while you learn about the advance planning
needed to pull off your elaborate, life-alter-
ing trip.
An Around-The-World trip is usually
defined as one that persists in a single di-
rection (East or West) and stops on at least
three continents before resulting in complete
global circumnavigation.
Travel time is usually three months to
one year, and can include stops on every
continent. Though extremely rewarding, an
around-the-world trip is not for everyone.
Far from an extended stay at a resort, a trip
around the world does involve a similar com-
mitment of time, but also holds promises of
real adventure.
If you are truly considering a trip around
the world, your f lair for adventure will over-
ride the logistical issues and risks. Doing
your research before you take off is the key to
a successful Around-The-World trip, and you
can start with a knowledgeable travel consul-
tant who may assist you with developing your
itinerary.
The rewards? Savour a new sense of
freedom and the confidence of mastering
travel that others only dream of. The engag-
ing stories you might share upon your return
could teach others tolerance and appreciation
for other cultures, and in the best way pos-
sible, make the world a smaller place.
Before you talk to a travel consultant,
develop a general idea of the time you have to
travel and the amount of money you wish to
spend. Also consider the type of experience
you are seeking... are you interested in climb-
ing mountains, hiking through rainforests or
snorkelling over a coral reef?
Would you rather meet locals over coffee
in cafés, or perhaps work on your knack of
scanning business or job opportunities?
Which countries are on your “must-see” list
and which can you skip? The more you con-
sider these issues, the more efficient the plan-
ning process will be, and the quicker you will
be on your way.
Your first stop should be a good travel
agent. Because of the logistics of an around-
the-world trip and your significant invest-
ment in both time and money, it is important
to have a practiced set of eyes watching out
for you. A good travel consultant can assist
in pulling together less obvious components
of the trip.
Go to your travel consultant with an open
mind. No doubt you will discover many new
possibilities for your trip as you plan.
Travel
Your travel route will mostly determine
the overall cost of your excursion. Around the
world trips can certainly be luxurious, but the
budget-minded can be true world travellers
as well. If you are looking to save money, let
your travel consultant know from the start.
The price of your trip will increase with each
stop you make.
To further reduce cost, you can spend
more time in less expensive areas such as
South America, Africa and Asia. You can
buy food at local markets instead of dining
out, and consider staying in a hostel, many of
which offer private rooms and baths. Using
inexpensive local transportation will also
give you an authentic view of the country you
are visiting.
If you are a full-time student or senior
citizen, you could also be eligible for dis-
counted airfare. If you belong to a religious
organisation like ISCON, you may plan to
stay in their guesthouses for free in most of
the major cities around the world.
If you are a Sikh, you may stay for free in
a Gurudwara found in most of the major cities
around the world. In planning your trip, in-
corporate overland travel by train, bus, car or
ship as you make your way around the world
(however, always check with your travel
agent to be sure that your air connections will
still be valid).
(To be continued in the next issue)
Heritage
25
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26 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian

Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 27

Indian
Finance

When was the last time you had your life insurance policy reviewed?
oliver pereira

Are you adequately insured should the unexpected happen?

Insurance Companies and advisers often tell
New Zealanders that they are under insured.
They do it so much, in fact, it’s almost become
part of the sales pitch
But if that sounds a little cynical, it’s
useful to remind ourselves that, internation-
ally, New Zealand languishes at the bottom of
the OECD ladder when it comes to life insur-
ance penetration.
When you consider that the core reason
for taking out insurance is to protect borrow-
ings or children, the level of underinsurance
is even more concerning.
For example, in the past five years there
has been an increase of nearly 50% in house-
hold debt, which has risen to $156 billion or
approximately $100,000 per household1. In
addition, during this period, consumer credit
(personal loans, credit cards) has increased by
$5 billion.
Since 2004, there has been a mini baby
boom with a significant increase in the
average number of births. Last year there were
approximately 68,000 births in New Zealand,
an increase of nearly 20% since 2001 (and the
highest number of live births for 20 years).
So, whether it’s to repay debt or protect
loved ones, the case for New Zealanders to
have a higher level of insurance coverage is
compelling - so why don’t we?
One Major Insurance Company’s research
has provided interesting insights into the
mindset of New Zealanders and their reasons
for not insuring. Some think “I am OK, it
won’t happen to me”. Others think “I can
A significant reduction in levels of saving – in the
past three years there has been a $6 billion decline –
means that for many New Zealanders, the traditional
‘emergency fund’ can no longer be relied upon.
always sell my house” or “I have the savings”
or “I’ll get a loan”.
But once again, the situation has changed
remarkably over the past five years. In
2008. the financial worth of New Zealand-
ers (exclude housing) declined by a massive
97.4%. for those with housing, their net worth
declined by ‘only’ 10.1%. We can expect this
to deteriorate further in the current recession.
A significant reduction in levels of saving
– in the past three years there has been a
$6 billion decline – means that for many
New Zealanders, the traditional ‘emergency
fund’ can no longer be relied upon. And for
those thinking that borrowing is the answer,
the ability to borrow has been significantly
reduced as credit has become harder to obtain.
So are New Zealanders underinsured? The
fact is New Zealanders are not just underin-
sured but massively underinsured.
This highlights how important it is to have
your current situation assessed and have your
insurance policies reviewed to make sure all
of your current and future needs have been
adequately covered.
Evaluate your current situation to make
sure you consider consumer credit such as
personal loans, hire purchase or credit cards
debt risk is covered by your insurance should
the unexpected happen. This sort of review
demonstrates how important it is to keep poli-
cies up to date as even an unprotected $20,
0000 car loan carries a significant risk.
During this recession times many of you
may have had your net asset position deterio-
can i win a $150 shopping
voucher when i send money?
rate through increased lending and decrease
in housing value and savings. Your lifestyle
may also have changed, with some having
children, and others getting married. All of
these changes give rise to a valid reason to
reviews levels of insurance cover.
The last decade has seen a fundamental
change in the way the New Zealand economy
operates, with significant increases in debt,
reductions in savings and increase in the birth
rate. What has not changed though, is the need
for protection, and the need for life insurance.
1. New Zealand Statistics 2007 Household
Economy Survey (HES)).
The above information has been provided
to serve only as a guideline to assist in evalu-
ating your insurance needs. You are encour-
aged to do your own research before arriving
at any decisions.
- For further information, please contact:
Oliver Pereira –
OPM Insurance Services Ltd.
Ph. 0800 66 77 92, Faxmail. 021 551 669,
Mobile. 021 66 77 92
Email. oliver.pereira@xtra.co.nz

To celebrate the opening of your new local Fexco

Pacific branch at 1250 Dominion Rd, Mt Roskill, we’re
giving away a $150 shopping voucher every week
between 31 August and 30 November 2009. Send a
Western Union® Money Transfer and complete this entry
form to enter the draw. Terms and conditions apply. See
instore for details, or visit www.fexcopacific.co.nz.

name:
email:
mobile:

0800 270 000 Money

exchange
available
Pacific www.fexcopacific.co.nz here!

28 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Poor man’s gold holds its own
sunil khemlani
While most investors are well aware of gold’s
unprecedented march to $1,100/oz, far fewer are
familiar with the yellow metal’s often overlooked
cousin, silver (trading at $18/oz).
For centuries silver has always played
“second fiddle” to its “prettier, more popular
cousin,” gold. While gold has continued to be the
precious metal that everybody wants, loves and
adores, wise investors are now beginning to take
a good look at the value of silver in a diversified
portfolio.
As the emerging economies of the world con-
tinue to diversify their reserves away from the
US dollar, investors are looking to buy assets that
are not dependent on the full faith and credit of
the US government. Case in point – India’s recent
purchase of 200 tonnes of gold from the IMF.
Gold has received a great deal of attention of
late and according to the World Gold Council,
gold demand rose 10% in the third quarter of this
year primarily led by currency hedging.
Although silver has flown under the radar
(thanks in large part to its price of around $18/
oz.), many investors consider the metal to be
a sound investment due to robust industrial
demand and its traditional role as a store of value.
These factors may help ensure that despite sil-
ver’s volatility, there will always be demand for
this “forgotten precious metal.”
Silver’s recent performance
Looking at its performance over the past year,
it does appear that Silver is revealing itself as a
currency hedge and alternative just like gold. In
2008, Silver had a tough time, tumbling along
with other base metals. However since October
2008, the performance has been quite remark-
able. Year to date in 2009, Spot silver prices have
increased 54% versus 31% for gold. The leading
silver exchange traded fund (ETF), iShares Silver
Trust (with holdings at a record 9,100 tonnes of
physical Silver), has outperformed its gold coun-
terpart by a factor of 2 to 1 in 2009. Also, demand
in physical silver bars and coins have been noted
to be tracking higher of late.
Silver-to-Gold Ratio
The US Congress established its monetary
system in 1792 and agreed to mint coins using
both gold and silver. At that time, 15 ounces of
silver bought one ounce of gold. (In other words,
the “silver-to-gold ratio” was 15:1.) The ratio was
well established seeing that 15 ounces of silver
had roughly equaled an ounce of gold for the pre-
vious four centuries (at least according to 1932
edition of the US Geological Survey Minerals
Family Trust, a useful asset-planning tool
RAVI MEHTA
This is part 1 of the topic; part 2 will be published in next issue.
People usually are not sure whether they
should form a family trust or not when they
find that their friends or relatives have set up
one. It is estimated that around 16% of people
have got family trusts in New Zealand.
What is a trust? In a trust, there are three
parties involved and these are: The settlor,
trustees and beneficiaries.
The settlor is the person who transfers
his/her assets to the trust. He/she transfers
the same to trust for the benefit of others
(may include himself/herself ) who are called
beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are normally
family members and may include children
(natural as well as adopted), grandchildren
and their spouses or partners. The beneficia-
ries can be of two types, income beneficiaries
and capital beneficiaries. Who you should
make capital and who should you make
income beneficiaries is a decision which you
are to take at the time of forming a trust. The
trustees are the persons who manage the trust
assets for the benefit of beneficiaries. The
settlor can be one of the trustees but cannot
Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Yearbook).
Now with governments around the world
(particularly the US) having abandoned the
backing of gold and then silver for their money,
we have witnessed increased volatility in the
ratio, first rising during the great depression era
and peaking above the 90:1 level in the late 1930s.
Over the entirety of the twentieth century,
the average ratio is estimated to have been 47:1
– a far cry from the 15:1 ratio of the nineteenth
century. Today gold is even more valuable rela-
tive to silver, with the ratio currently standing at
62:1.
While predicting the optimum ratio (if there
is one) is not the business of an astute investor,
what’s worth noting is the declining trend of the
silver-to-gold ratio (as seen in the chart below),
from the highs in the 80:1s late last year to
present levels
What’s driving Silver’s demand
As the entire world continues to rapidly
advance into the realms of modern day state of
the art technology, medical research and infra-
structure building, silver is noted as a far more
useful metal that touches all our lives on an ev-
eryday basis.
Silver has a wide variety of industrial uses.
You can set up a trust to protect your assets from claims arising out of
business failure, liability arising out of selling faulty product which may
result in substantial loss to buyer and a corresponding claim on you, or
a claim arising against you out of your giving wrong advice, medical/
legal/ financial or otherwise.
be the only trustee. The property transferred
to trust is held in the name of trustees as the
trust is not a separate legal entity on its own.
While establishing a trust, a trust deed is pre-
pared which has the details of beneficiaries,
trustees, power of trustees, the procedure for
removal or change of trustees etc.
So if you and your spouse decide to set
up a trust, both of you are the settlors and
normally you will be trustees as well as ben-
eficiaries in addition to other trustees and
beneficiaries.
What are the advantages of forming a
family trust?
Over 50% of all silver is used for industrial
purposes, including uses in LCD/ Plasma TVs,
solar panels, water purification and medical ap-
plications. Silver is also fast becoming a criti-
cal component of emerging technologies such
as silver-zinc batteries for ‘smart’ cars, an array
of portable electronic devices, and even biocides
(which use silver in chemical agents to kill dan-
gerous bacteria).
According to a New York based commodities
research and consulting firm, Silver may further
outshine Gold in 2010, as spot prices for the white
metal respond to the prospect of a surge industri-
al demand, as well as investment demand. With
the growth recoveries expected in economies of
the world, fabrication demand led by the photog-
raphy, jewellery and silverware sectors is also
expected to rebound to “normal levels” in 2010.
Due to the expansive diversity of the appli-
cations for silver, it has proven to be one of the
metals least affected by a sustained industrial
slump. In fact, industry experts note that silver
inventories were so run-down during the fi-
nancial crisis that its traditional end users such
as the global electronics industry would take a
fair amount of time to replenish them to normal
levels. Supply and demand dynamics as such,
seems to reflect a return to a normal economy.
Tax considerations:
The Trust (called trustee) income is taxed
at a f lat rate of 33% where as beneficiary
income is taxed as per the income tax rates
applicable to that individual beneficiary. So,
for those who are in higher tax bracket of
38%, it is a good tax saving tool. An example
is, Mr. Prasad earns $250,000 from his busi-
ness. His tax liability in respect of income
over $70000 is 38%. He forms a family trust
and sells his share in business to trust for
$750000. As he is working for the business,
he should be paid market salary, let’s assume
it is $70000. The rest of profit out of $250000
that is $180000 can be given as dividend to
Finance
Investment Choices
For investors interested in gaining/increasing
exposure to Silver, here is a summary of some
investment choices:
• Bullion: Silver in the form of bars that are at
least 99.5 percent pure.
• Official Coins: Silver coins issued by a govern-
ment mint.
• Medallions (Rounds): A round piece of silver
resembling a coin but not considered legal tender.
Medallions may be issued by governments or
private mints.
• Certificates or Storage Accounts: Silver is kept
in storage but the investor can take possession
within a few days if desired.
• Accumulation Plans: This approach enables in-
vestors to accumulate silver on an average basis,
similar to dollar cost averaging. The investor
does not own the physical silver.
• Futures and/or or Forward Contracts: An agree-
ment made on an exchange to take or make deliv-
ery of silver at a set date in the future.
• Options: The right, but not the obligation, to buy
or sell a silver or a financial security linked to
silver on a specified date in the future.
• Exchange Traded Fund: A basket of equities
linked to silver, i.e. the physical metal, produc-
ers, refiners, etc. ETFs are traded on exchanges
throughout the trading day.
• Mutual Funds: An open-ended fund that holds
a basket of silver-related equities that are priced
once daily.
Sunil Khemlani
StoneBridge Securities (NZ) Limited
Email: sunil.khemlani@stonebridgegroup.
co.nz
“This publication has been prepared on
behalf of and issued by StoneBridge Securi-
ties (NZ) Limited (“StoneBridge”). This is not
an offer to deal in any financial product and is
not specific advice for any particular inves-
tor. StoneBridge believes that any information
or advice (including any recommendation)
contained in this publication is accurate when
issued but does not warrant its accuracy or reli-
ability, and is not liable for the future perfor-
mance of transactions or for any loss or damage
arising in connection with this publication. A
full Disclosure Statement in accordance with the
Securities Markets Act 1988 is available free of
charge on request. ”
Trust who will be taxed at 33% resulting in
savings of $9000 per year. The trust can then
give $180000 less tax, means $120000 to Mr
Prasad in satisfaction of debt of $750000.
Asset protection from creditors
You can set up a trust to protect your assets
from claims arising out of business failure,
liability arising out of selling faulty product
which may result in substantial loss to buyer
and a corresponding claim on you, or a claim
arising against you out of your giving wrong
advice, medical/legal/ financial or otherwise.
In that case, your personal assets will be held
accountable whereas trust assets will not be.
Note : It is very important that you should
get a trust set up by an experienced solici-
tor who has got good trust law knowledge
and same should be done in conjunction with
good financial advice as to how to structure
your overall asset portfolio and also which
assets should be held in trusts.
- Ravi Mehta is an Auckland based Fi-
nancial Advisor and can be contacted on
ravi.mehta@pfsl.co.nz
29
Indian
WEEKENDCUISINE
ANARDANA CHICKEN 5 Easy tips for Nails
– a tangy snack
1. Practice Pranayam package 5. Avoid eating oily or greasy
Recipe by Ruby Dhillon of 8 breathing exercises every food.
day. (Contact us for free class-
Ingredients: Method: es 09 6223308) Next Issue: Hernia
• 12- Medium size skinless chicken • Safely prick the skinless chicken drumsticks
drumsticks. with fork. 2. Take four pieces of amla FREE YOGA CLASS
• 4tbs- Anardana powder • Beat curd and add all the masalas and powders candy or chatpata twice a day. Mount Roskill: Monday 6.30pm
• 4tbs- Meat masala to it to prepare the marinade. 3. Eat leafy vegetables, pota- Santoor Restaurant,461 hills-
• 1tsp- Garam masala • Add pricked chicken drums to this marinade toes, tomatoes. borough road.
and leave it for 2 hours or more. North Shore: Thursday 6.30pm
• 1tbs- Cumin powder
• Heat oil and add the marinated chicken 4. Take Swami Ramdev Ji’s 123 Sunset Road, North Shore
• 2cups- Curd
drumsticks.
• Red chilli powder and salt according to Aloe Vera Juice twice a day Botany - Sunday 9.30am India
• Cover and cook the chicken on low heat.
taste along with Amla Juice and hot trade group, Unit E, 8 Bishop
• Keep cooking on slow heat until it is cooked
• Onion rings and lemon wedges for water. Lenihan place (Behind Punjabi
and there is no gravy.
garnishing Dhaba).
• Garnish with onion rings and lemon wedges.
• Oil for cooking Serve Hot

More Pics of Commander Dilip Donde’s yatch Mhadei

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Indian

Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 31

Indian
Advertisement

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PO Box 1941 - Wellington, New Zealand

President: Ratilal Champaneri Gen Secretary: Veer Khar

Phone: 021 383 859 Phone: 0274 417 654
Email: president@nzindians.org.nz Email: secretary@nzindians.org.nz

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32 Indian Weekender | November 27, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz