The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e
Vol.11 No. 23 October 6-12, 2018 80 Cents
People wear Gandhi masks at a
rally organized by Indian Museum
in Kolkata on Oct 2, 2018.
Gandhi's message
relevant to resolving
world crises:
UNGA President
United Nations: Mahatma Gandhi's
name and image evoke the "con‑
cepts of peace, restraint and pas‑
sivity, even in the face of violence
and extremism" as the world faces
both challenges and hopes,
General Assembly President Maria
Fernanda Espinosa said on
Tuesday. She was speaking at the
Gandhi Jayanti celebration that is
observed here annually as the
International Day of Nonviolence,
where UN Postal System stamps
were issued honoring the
Gandhian concept of peace.
Secretary‑General Antonio
Guterres was, meanwhile, in New
De lhi part icipat ing in the
Continued on page 4
Congress calls for ʻ2nd freedom
struggleʼ to oust Modi
Wardha/Delhi: On Gandhi Jayanti,
Congress said a “second freedom
struggle” was needed to defeat the
Modi governmentʼs politics of
“divisiveness and polarization”, as
the party positioned itself as the
inheritor of Gandhian values and
blamed the RSS ideology for the
Mahatmaʼs assassination.
Cong ress president Rahul
Gandhi asked his party leaders to
oust BJP from power as it was
destroying the Gandhian fabric of
Continued on page 4
SPORTS 14 BOOKS 24
i n j o u r n a l i s m
Kavanaugh nomination
on knifeʼs edge as FBI
probes allegations
Washington: Senate Republican
leaders are pressing to wrap up
the confirmation of Judge Brett
M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme
Court, event as the FBI has said it
would complete its investigation
into allegations of sexual assault
and sexual misconduct against
him as early as Wednesday, New
York Times reported.
“Weʼll have an F.B.I. report this
week, and weʼll have a vote this
week,” Senate Majority Leader
Mitch McConnell told reporters
Tuesday.
McConnellʼs confidence
notwithstanding, five undecided
senators will determine
Kavanaughʼs fate. Those five ̶
the Republicans Susan Collins of
Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
and Jeff Flake of Arizona, and
the Democrats Heidi Heitkamp of
North Dakota and Joe Manchin
III of West Virginia ̶ are keep‑
ing their decision close to their
chest.
President Trump, who is fulfill‑
ing his election promise of filling
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and
Manmohan Singh at CWC meeting in Wardha Oct 2. (Photo IANS)
IMMIGRATION 26
New York Edition
Facing misconduct allegations,
Brett Kavanaughʼs vociferous
defense has saved his
nomination but sowed doubts
about his impartiality as a
Supreme Court judge.
the top court with committed
conservatives, expressed quali‑
fied optimism on Tuesday, noting
that this was the seventh time
the nominee had undergone a
Continued on page 4
SEE OP‑ED ON PAGE 10:
ʻGOP IN A BIND OVER
KAVANAUGHʼ
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30
Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Trump claims
India desperately
seeking trade
deal with US
While touting a great relationship with PM Modi, the President
called India 'tariff king'. (Photo courtesy The Independent)
By Arul Louis Mexico ‑‑ a landmark deal that ful‑
fills one of his election promises.
Washington: President Donald
Trump said on Monday that he has
Answering a question from a
reporter, he said, "I have spoken to
a "great" relationship with Prime Prime Minister Modi and he is
Minister Narendra Modi who has going to reduce them (tariffs) very
told him that India is going to substantially."
reduce substantially the tariffs on He added, "My relationship with
imports from the US. India is great, with Prime Minister
He said that "tariff king" India on Modi is great. And they are going
its own has reached out to the US to start doing a lot." Scoring a
to make a trade deal, without domestic political point, he assert‑
Washington calling New Delhi for ed that as in the case of the NAFTA
negotiations. and other trade issues, none of the
He was speaking at a W hite previous presidents or trade
House news conference on the representatives had spoken to
revised North American Trade India about the high tariffs.
Ag reement w ith Canada and Continued on page 4
excellence in journalism
TheSouthAsianTimes.info October 6-12, 2018

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY October 6-12, 2018 3

US tariffs starting to have effect India essential

on global economy: IMF chief component of multipolar
Washington: International
Monetary Fund (IMF) chief
Christine Lagarde, has said the cur‑
rent situation of protectionist poli‑
cies unleashed by the US has begun
to have an ef fect on the global
economy, slowing its growth,
according to IMF forecasts.
"A key issue is that rhetoric is
morphing into a new reality of actu‑
al trade barriers. This is hurting not
only trade itself, but also invest‑
ment and manufacturing as uncer‑
tainty continues to rise," Lagarde
said on Monday in a speech at IMF
headquarters here, Efe news report‑
ed. In addition, she warned that if
current trade disputes escalate "fur‑
ther, they could deliver a shock to a
broader range of emerging and
developing economies."
The IMF in July projected world
economic growth of 3.9 per cent for
2018 and 2019, although Lagarde
said that the next forecast ‑‑ to be
announced in Bali, Indonesia, dur‑
ing the October 8‑14 annual IMG
and World Bank assembly ‑‑ would
be "less bright".
However, the IMF Managing
Director emphasized that global
economic growth remains "at its
highest level since 2011," when the
nations of the world began recover‑
ing from the economic crisis, and
she hailed the fact that the unem‑
International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde
ployment figures are falling "in
most countries". Despite this
growth context, Lagarde warned
that the world's main economy, the
US, in the future could suf fer
adverse effects from the tax reform
approved last December by
President Donald Trump.
"For now, the US is growing
strongly, supported by a procyclical
fiscal expansion and still easy finan‑
cial conditions ‑ which can become
a risk in a maturing business cycle,"
she said. The IMF chief said that in
other advanced economies, includ‑
ing those in the Euro Zone and, to a
lesser degree, Japan, "there are
signs of slowing". Lagarde also
reviewed the challenges facing
emerging markets and low‑income
nations, including Latin America,
the Middle East and Sub‑Saharan
Africa. Many of these economies are
"facing pressures from a stronger
US dollar and a tightening of finan‑
cial market conditions. Some of
them are now facing capital out‑
flows," she said.
To try and deal with this unstable
situation, Lagarde said that the
rules of the global trade system
must be strengthened via the pre‑
vention of abuses by countries in
dominant positions and by improv‑
ing the implementation of intellec‑
tual property rights.
world: Guterres
New Delhi:
Multilateralism has not
been under so much fire
as it is today and India
will be the essential com‑
ponent if the world has to
become multipolar, UN
Secretary General
Antonio Guterres said on
Tuesday.
He called for a global
response to climate
change and terrorism,
which he said were the
two biggest challenges UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
the world was facing. is visiting India for a series of events.
A multilateral on the global platform was a key
approach was needed to meet element.
challenges and threats which His remarks assume signifi‑
were becoming more global in cance in the face of President
nature, Guterres said while deliv‑ Trump pulling out of the Paris
ering a lecture on "Global Climate Agreement and imposing
Challenges, Global Solutions" new trade tariffs on many coun‑
here. tries.
He said the world ceased to be Regarding the challenge of cli‑
bipolar after the end of the Cold mate change, Guterres said India
War and turned unipolar, but had already been impacted
today's world "is a kind of a through droughts and floods.
chaotic world". Asked about reforms in the UN,
"The world has to be multipolar Guterres said it cannot happen
and India has a key role to play... till there were no reforms in the
No country is better placed for UN Security Council, adding it
this than India," Guterres said. He was for the five permanent mem‑
added that India's assertiveness bers to do so.

Indian origin woman wins Emmy

for Investigative Journalism
St. Louis, Missouri: Prabjot (PJ) Kaur
Randhawa, an Indian‑Canadian of Sikh
origin, has won an Emmy Award for
Investigative Journalism in the Health
& Science category reg arding her
report on prescription medications
errors.
Randhawa, who has been an inves‑
tigative reporter at KSDK NBC in St.
Louis, Missouri, since 2015, reported
on large chain pharmacies that alleged‑
ly put profit over safety by requiring
pharmacists to fill more prescriptions
per hour, resulting in a large number of
customers going home with the wrong
Prabjot Kaur Randhawa,
who works at KSDK NBC in
St. Louis, with her Emmy trophy
medication.
Also, as a part of her investigation,
Rand hawa quest ioned the state
Pharmacy board.
According to KSDKʼs press release, the
news agency walked away with a total
of 11 Emmys. “Our journalists take
great care with every detail to provide
in‑depth, compelling coverage of the
issues that matter most to this commu‑
nity,” News Director Tiffani Lupenski is
quoted saying in the press release,
adding, “Itʼs rewarding to see that pas‑
sion for quality storytelling recognized
by our peers in the industry.”
“An unforgettable evening celebrating
many wins at the Emmy Awards with
my awesome work family!” Randhawa
says on Facebook Sept. 23. She posted
her Emmy speech on Facebook, saying.
Randhawa is quoted saying in news
reports that she believes that it is her
“duty to uncover practices that can hurt
or take advantage of the public” and
wants “people who read or watch my
stories to come away with information
that can benefit their families, and
enrich the quality of their lives.”
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba
in Canada, Randhawa is a graduate of
DePaul University, Chicago, where she
earned her Masterʼs degree in journal‑
ism. After that she worked as a Morning
News Anchor at the ABC TV affiliate in
Rapid City, South Dakota; an
Investigative Reporter for NBC TV in
Columbia, South Carolina, before join‑
ing KSDK NBC in St. Louis.
 4 October 6-12, 2018 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Overseas Congress
protests ʻRafale Lootʼ
Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Amee Yajnik is joined by Indian Overseas
Congress leaders George Abraham, Devendra Vora, Mohinder Singh
Gilzian and Ravi Chopra at the Rafale protest.
Richmond Hill, NY: Indian Overseas
Congress, USA staged a protest
here to highlight what they call cor‑
ruption by the Modi Government in
the purchase of Rafale jets. They
argue that Hindustan Aeronautical
should have been the building part‑
ner of Dassault Aviation rather
than Modiʼs handpicked friend Anil
Trump gained millions from
ʻdubiousʼ tax tactics: NYT
New York: President Trump partici‑
pated in "dubious" tax strategies in
the 1990s that allowed him to
accrue millions of dollars in addi‑
tional wealth from his father's real
estate empire, The New York Times
reported Tuesday.
T he newspaper reported that
Trump and his siblings set up a
"sham" corporation to help disguise
otherwise taxable income that came
from gifts from their parents.
Trump's parents left more than $1
billion to their children, which would
have resulted in a roughly $550 mil‑
lion tax bill at the time, The Times
reported. However, the Trumps paid
a total of $52.2 million on that
source of income. The newspaper
cited records that showed Trump
helped undervalue his father's real
Trump claims India
desperately seeking
trade deal with US
Continued from page 1
He quoted Modi as telling him,
"Nobody ever spoke to me" about
the high tariffs. "They (India) have
called us to make a deal, we didn't
even call them; they called us to
make a deal, which is like shocking
to people," he added.
Trump explained that he called
India a "tarif f king" because "it
charges us tremendous tariffs."
He cited the example of Harley
Davidson motorcycles, which would
resonate with bikers who are a sec‑
tion of his electoral base, saying
that India charged 100 per cent
Ambani who stands to gain Rs
duties on it.
30,000 crore in this “scam at the
He said, "That is so high that it is
expense of the tax‑paying public”.
like a barrier, in other words who is
T he crowd held placards and
going to buy it if it costs you so
chanted “Modi is corrupt, “Down
much." "Now they have reduced
with BJP and Crony Capitalism”,
that substantially, but it is still too
“Rafale, biggest Defense scam”, and
high," he asserted. ‑IANS
“Vig ilance should invest ig ate
Modi”.
Kavanaugh nomination on
knifeʼs edge as FBI probes
allegations
Continued from page 1
background check. “A lot is going
to depend on what comes back
estate holdings, which led to a lower
from the FBI,” he said. He also
tax bill when he and his siblings
warned of “a very scary time for
inherited the properties.
young men in America, when you
The Times interviewed former
can be guilty of something that you
employees and advisers to Trumpʼs
may not be guilty of.” Trump
father, and reviewed more than
ordered the additional investiga‑
100,000 pages of documents related
tion into Judge Kavanaugh on
to the Trump family business, includ‑
Friday after Senators Flake, Collins
ing bank statements, financial audits
and Murkowski decided they would
and invoices. T he documents
refuse to allow Judge Kavanaughʼs
reviewed by the Times consisted of
nomination to move forward with‑
public records as well as confidential
out the probe after the testimonies
records that included tax returns
of Kavanaiugh and his main accus‑
from Trump's father and partner‑
er Dr Christine Blasey Ford.
ships and trusts. Charles Harder, an
attorney for the president, refuted
Gandhi's message
the allegations of tax evasion as
relevant to resolving world
“100 percent false,” adding that
crises: UNGA President
Trump “had virtually no involve‑
Continued from page 1
ment” with the tax strategies used by
celebrations of the 150th anniver‑
his family.
sary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth.
Espinosa said, "At its heart,
humanity yearns for peace and har‑
mony, principles that Gand hi
espoused, and recent developments
have given us cause for hope."
The dialogue between the leaders
of South and North Korea and the
peace agreement between Djibouti
and Eritrea were positive examples
of trying to progress peace and an
inspiration "for those countries still
at odds, for those who would con‑
tinue to pick up arms," she said.
On the other hand, she said,
"T here are tragedies here too
numerous to name, but on every
account, it is heartbreaking."
She cited the ongoing conflicts in
Syria, Yemen and Central African
Republic.
Amid these challenges, "I commit
to working w ith the General
Assembly and its related commit‑
tees in ways that reflect Gandhi's
view of change: 'You must be the
change you want to see in the
world,'" she declared.
The UN stamps have a painting of
Swedish art ist Carl Fredrik
Reutersward's sculpture, the
Knotted Gun, that is located at the
UN headquarters. UN Under‑
Secretary‑General Jan Beagle said
the stamps were "miniature works
of art" and seek to raise awareness
of nonviolence.
India's Deputy Permanent
Representative Tanmaya Lal said
that the promotions of sanitation
and solar power, which were taking
place at international meetings in
New Delhi, were reflections of
Gandhi's holistic visions for society.
Congress calls for ʻ2nd free‑
dom struggleʼ to oust Modi
Continued from page 1
the country. In a move high on
symbolism, the Congress Working
Committee (CWC) met in
Sewagram in Wardha on Gandhiʼs
149th birth anniversary in a bid to
replicate the brainstorming held
by the ʻFather of the Nationʼ in
1942 which gave the Quit India
call against colonial rule, reported
The Times of India.
T he ent ire Cong ress brass
including Sonia Gand hi and
Manmohan Singh attended the
function. Juxtaposing British rule
with the BJP regime, the CWC
passed a strongly‑worded resolu‑
tion which said, “Today, a new free‑
dom struggle is the urgent need of
the hour ̶ a massive movement to
combat the forces of divisiveness
and prejudice, to confront the
Modi government whose politics is
the politics of threat and intimida‑
tion, of polarization and divisive‑
ness, of crushing debate and dis‑
sent, of imposing an artificial uni‑
formity in a nation of extraordi‑
nary diversity, of hate and vendet‑
ta, of subverting all constitutional
values, of lies, deceit, fraud and
subterfuge.”
The words delineated the coming
battle against BJP, which will be
headlined by the 2019 Lok Sabha
contest, in stark ideological terms,
conveying that Congress was will‑
ing to engage with the Hindutva
outfit on ʻsecular vs communalʼ
lines ̶ a faceoff that is viewed by
many as a catalyst for polarization
and advantageous to the Modi‑led
saffron camp. Congress pulled no
punches as it launched a frontal
attack on BJP in what appeared a
bid to relay claim to leadership of
the opposition bloc.
With BJP under Modi making
Mahatma Gandhi a mascot of its
prog rams, Cong ress used the
anniversary to argue that the saf‑
fron maneuver was opportunistic
with an eye on elections. Accusing
RSS of vilifying Gandhi during his
lifetime, the CWC resolution said,
“It is its ideology that was respon‑
sible for spreading the atmosphere
of hate that led to the Mahatmaʼs
tragic assassination.”

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE October 6-12, 2018 5

Washington, DC: The number of

Indians arrested for illegally

Indians arrested for illegally enter‑
ing the United States has nearly
tripled so far in 2018, making
them one of the largest groups of
illegal aliens apprehended, US
Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) said on Friday.
Paying smuggling rings between
$25,000‑$50,000 per person, a
entering the US tripled in 2018
growing number of Indians are
illegally crossing the US‑Mexico Around 4,000 Indians who entered the United States illegally this year did so over a
border and claiming asylum for
persecut ion, CBP spokesman three‐mile stretch of border fence at Mexicali, US Customs and Border Protection said.
Salvador Zamora said.
Many present viable claims, but that ends on September 30 will States," he said. cal years 2012 to 2017, according to outnumber the roughly 30,000
a large number are economic show "around 9,000" Indian Asylum see kers range from to Syracuse University's El Salvadorans who entered the
migrants with fraudulent petitions nationals had been apprehended lower caste "untouchable" Indians Transactional Records Access United States illegally in 2018, the
that swamp the system and can versus 3,162 in the fiscal year facing death threats for marrying Clearinghouse. T hat compares data showed.
cause leg it imate cases to be 2017. outside their class to Sikhs claim‑ with denial rates of 79 percent for After being held in the United
"washed out" in the high volume of Around 4,000 Indians who ing political persecution, immigra‑ El Salvadorans and 78 percent for States, Indians are often bonded
fraud, Zamora said in an interview. entered the United States illegally tion lawyers said. Hondurans. out of detention by human traf‑
T he Indian embassy in this year did so over a three‑mile Fraudulent asylum seekers often After Mexicans, cit izens of ficking rings, Zamora said. They
Washington and the Indian con‑ stretch of border fence at Mexicali, present "cut and paste" evidence Guatemala, Honduras and El then enter indentured servitude in
sulate in San Francisco did not Zamora said. identical to that of other migrants, Salvador were most likely to enter businesses ranging from hotels to
respond to requests for comment. "The word got out that Mexicali Zamora said. the United States illegally in 2018, convenience stores to pay of f
Zamora said the CBP expects is a safe border city which favors Some 42.2 percent of Indian asy‑ according to Border Patrol data. smuggling debts and bond fees,
that the data for the fiscal year their crossing into the United lum cases were denied between fis‑ Indians still have some way to go Zamora said.

AAHOA hosts Legislative Day on The Hill
About 400 delegates met up with the lawmakers and highlighted the lodging industry's strength and unity
Washington, DC: At the annual 2018
Legislative Action Summit hosted by the
Asian American Hotel Owners Association
(AAHOA) and the American Hote l &
Lo dg ing Asso ciat ion (AHLA), on
September 12th – 13th on Capitol Hill, the
nearly 400 delegates highlighted the lodg‑
ing industryʼs strength and unity, a press
releases issued by both the groups said.
At the annual event, T he AHLA and
AAHOA members urged lawmakers to
make permanent the tax cuts in the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act, “policies that encourage
international travel and tourism to the
United States, and new protections for con‑
sumers from online hotel booking scams,”
the press release said.
“As Congress confronts the many chal‑
lenges facing our country, hoteliers are
united in advocating for our employees,
our businesses and our industry. AAHOA is
pleased to once again join with AHLA for
our Legislative Action Summit,” AAHOA
president Chip Rogers said.
AAHOA members talked to lawmakers
about tax reform, stopping online booking
scams, increasing international travel to
the United States and enhancing the hospi‑
tality workforce, Rogers said.
The hotel industry supports nearly 8
million American jobs, puts $600 billion
into the U.S. economy annually and con‑
tributes $170 billion in federal, state and
local taxes. And rightfully so, the hoteliers
during the meeting with their lawmakers
on Capitol Hill discussed ways to boost
tourism and cut taxes.
“The hotel industry is one where the
American Dream is alive and well, and we
are excited to bring that story of opportu‑
nity and success to Capitol Hill,” said AHLA
president and CEO Katherine Lugar.
“As part of an industry that supports 8
million jobs across the U.S., hoteliers are
focused on providing the training and sup‑
port to help our employees move up the
"Visitors, students
from India to the US
overstay visas: Report
Washington, DC: Every year, hundreds of
thousands of visitors to the US overstay
their visas, some of them indefinitely. One
out of every 100 visitors from India and
almost two out of every 100 international
students from India overstayed their U.S.
visa during the 2017 fiscal year, according
to a report issued Aug. 9 by the
Department of Homeland Security.
The number of “overstays” is almost two
times as large. By the end of fiscal 2017,
there were about 600,000 people suspect‑
ed to still be in the US after their permis‑
sion to stay had expired, according to a
new report from the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS). That year, the
US Border Patrol apprehended a little more
than 310,000 immigrants trying to enter
the US.
India and China had the largest numbers
of visitors to the U.S. during the last fiscal
year: India had more than one million total,
while more than 4.5 million Chinese resi‑
dents visited or graduated in the U.S.
ladder of opportunity, and build a strong
According to DHS statistics, 1,078,809
workforce to sustain our industry. Hotels
visitors from India arrived in the U.S. last
are an integral part of the communities of
year on B1 or B2 visitorsʼ visas. Of those,
every congressional district across the
1,708 stayed for a while after their visa
country, and we look forward to working
expired but eventually left the U.S.
together with our nationʼs lawmakers so
An estimated 12,498 visitors overstayed
that they understand what makes us
and are believed to still reside in the U.S.,
unique as an industry, and the policies that
in undocumented status. India is the
will help us continue to grow and thrive.”
fastest‑growing home country for undocu‑
Summit participants heard from key
mented U.S. residents: an estimated
leaders in Washington who of fered their
500,000 – one out of every six – Indian
insights on the political climate and con‑
nationals currently reside in the U.S. with‑
g ressional landscape, including U.S.
out requisite immigration papers, accord‑
Department of Labor Secretary Alexander
ing to earlier DHS data, and the Migration
Acosta; Sen. Mike Rounds (R‑S.D.); Reps.
Policy Institute. Approximately 127,435
Henry Cuellar (D‑Texas), Rodney Davis (R‑
students from India graduated and finished
Ill.), and Scott Peters (D‑Calif.); Phil Lovas,
their optional practical training, and were
deputy assistant secretary of the National
expected to return to the home country. Of
Travel and Tourism Of fice of the U.S.
those, 1,567 stayed for a while but eventu‑
Department of Commerce; and David
ally left, while 2,833 remained in the coun‑
Wasserman, U.S. editor and senior election
try, accruing unlawful presence, about 3.5
analyst with the Cook Political Report.
percent.
(Source: theunn.com)
 6 October 6-12, 2018 TRISTATE COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Asia Society launches Season of India with a gala

New York: The Asia Society kicked of f its
“Season of India” with the opening of the
exhibition “The Progressive Revolution:
Modern Art for a New India” on September
14th at Manhattanʼs Pierre New York hotel.
The gala raised more than $1.3 million.
Superstars streamed into the pre‑dinner
cocktail party, including Farida Khelfa, the
brand ambassador of Schiaparelli; Susan
Gutfreund, the society swan turned interior
decorator; the Dowager Duchess of
Marlborough, herself of Indian descent; and
fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra.
“The cultural richness of India is over‑
whelming,” said His Highness Prince Tikka
Raja Shatrujit Singh Ji of Kapurthala the
af fable royal, a luxury‑goods advisor who
would be the Maharajah of Kapurthala if that
realm still existed.
“Every village has a historic site that
deserves attention. Perhaps an event like this
should be taken around the United States,
wherever successful Indian immigrants are
living, like Palo Alto, for instance. I think we
could convince them to give back.” The
The exhibition showcases work of India's
Progressive Artists' Group.
eveningʼs theme honored the opening of
“The Progressive Revolution: Modern Art for
a New India,” an Asia Society exhibition of
more than 80 works of art by a group of
Mumbai modern artists that sprang into
prominence after India won its independ‑
ence from the United Kingdom in 1947.
The exhibition showcases work by mem‑
bers of Indiaʼs Progressive Artistsʼ Group and
examines their founding ideology, exploring
ways in which artists from different social,
cultural, and religious backgrounds found
common cause in the wake of Indiaʼs inde‑
pendence.
Though the group disbanded in 1956, the
movement continued to animate and give
visual expression to Indiaʼs modern identity,
with many of the groupʼs artists creating
their most iconic works after this period.
Works in the exhibition ̶ primarily oil
paintings from the 1940s to 1960s ̶
underscore how these artists gave visual
form to the idea of India as secular, hetero‑
geneous, international, and united. Like their
counterparts in the West, Indiaʼs modern
masters mined multiple sources of inspira‑
tion while forging their own distinctive
styles. Their consideration of the ways in
which a new secular republic could emerge
from a rich, multi‑religious tradition contin‑
ues to be relevant today.
The exhibition comprises important works
from the Groupʼs core founders̶K. H. Ara, S.
K. Bakre, H. A. Gade, M. F. Husain, S. H. Raza,
and F. N. Souza ̶ as well as later members
and those closely affiliated with the move‑
ment: V. S. Gaitonde, Krishen Khanna, Ram
Kumar, Tyeb Mehta, Akbar Padamsee, and
Mohan Samant.
The exhibition is organized by guest cura‑
tor Dr. Zehra Jumabhoy, Associate Lecturer,
The Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and
Boon Hui Tan, Director of Asia Society
Museum. An illustrated catalog featuring
essays by leading scholars of Indian art and
modern history will accompany the exhibi‑
tion. The Asia Society will also host a series
of programs and special events on arts, cul‑
ture, business, and policy focusing on India.
The show, supported in part by the State
Bank of India, opened on September 14 and
runs through January 20, 2019.
(Source: theunn.com)

NRI Federation celebrates Sufi IALIʼs IndiaFest: Scintillating fare

Concert with Bhavin Shastri
NRI Federation Chairman Deepak Kavadia, Chairman of Jaipur
Foot USA Prem Bhandari, Regional Director of Air India
Vandana Sharma (honoree) and Sufi singer Bhavin Shastri.
New York: The NRI Federation
hosted a musical concert Sept
22 featuring noted Sufi singer
Bhavin Shastri at the Bombay
Theater in Flushing, Queens.
W hen Bhavin Shastri,
Bollywood playback singer,
began “Maa Tujhe Salaam”
hundreds of NRIs leaped to
their feet with a roar of “Vande
Mataram.”
Deepak Kavadia, Chairman
of NRI Federation, said that
during the program, the outgo‑
ing Regional Head of Air India
Mrs. Vandana Sharma, India
Abroad COO Rajeev Bhambri
and prominent hotelier Bharat
Patel were honored for excel‑
lence in their fie lds with
plaques presented by chief
guest Jaipur Foot USA
Chairman Prem Bhandari. The
concert was attended by over
300 people, notable attendees
included Naveen Shah of
Navika, Kanak Golia of
Perfume Center, Natvar
Thakker of Roshani Media and
INOC President Shudh Parkash
Jasuja. Chief Guest Prem
Bhandari lauded NRI
Federationʼs ef forts to help
NRIs in India and abroad. He
detailed Jaipur Footʼs work in
29 countries, aiding 1,700,000
amputees by operating and
installing prosthetic limbs.
Chairman of NRI Federation
Deepak Kavadia and Surbhi
Kavadia thanked honorees and
esteemed guests for their pres‑
ence and valuable contribution
and donations towards welfare
and charitable programs in
India.
NRI Federation, based in
NYC, is a non‑profit that aims
to provide services in areas
such as charitable outreach
and investments as well as
assist NRIs in adopting Smart
Villages, Medical and Cultural
Heritage Fairs, Preserving
Vedic Heritage, Youth
Deve lopment, Disabled &
Underprivileged Child Support,
Senior Center & Programs, and
Women Empowerment &
Safety
Port Washington, NY: Scintillating
music and dance performances, arts
and crafts as well as food were among
the attractions at the India Association
of Long Island (IALI) marquee event
India Fest he ld Sept 23 at North
Hempstead Beach Park, Port
Washington, NY. Thousands of people
including those from communities and
ethnicities other than Indian American
attended the festival aimed to show‑
case Indian culture to the Long Island
community. All this was set in a beau‑
tiful setting of the park with the beach
as the backdrop ‑ the same location
where the very first India Fest was
held in 1990.
Several social and political digni‑
taries and community leaders attend‑
ed the event including New York State
Senator Elaine Phillips, North
Hempstead Town Supervisor Judy
Bosworth, Oyster Bay Town
Supervisor Joseph Saladino (repre‑
sented by Ange l Cepeda),
Assemblyman Anthony DʼUrso,
Councilwoman Anna Kaplan and
Yogacharya Dr. Dayashankar
Vidyalankar from the Indian
Consulate (who conducted a Yoga
Session). Judy Bosworth presented
Friends of MP holds 4th annual picnic
TV star Javed Pathan with IALI team including
President Gunjan Rastogi (third from left).
IALI and its President Gunjan Rastogi hour non‑stop cultural program fea‑
with citations and declared September tured beautiful classical performances
23rd a day of special recognition in that represented the many Indian
North Hempstead for IALI in honor of dance styles from north to south &
India. All of the attendees were wel‑ east to west & popular Bollywood per‑
comed with a tika at the entrance and formances throughout the day. Amita
an Indian "costume booth" was set up Karwal, Dr. Ujwala Shah, Jyoti Gupta,
to felicitate guests to dress up in tradi‑ and Pradeep Tandon were the emcees.
tional Indian garb. The elected of fi‑ IALIʼs 40th‑anniversary sponsors were
cials (ladies) looked stunning in their honored on stage: Benefactor spon‑
Indian outfits ‑ Saree, lehanga, cos‑ sors Dr. Dev Chitkara, Vimal Goyal,
tume bridal jewelry, bindi, and chunni. Dev Kini Associates, Shashi Malik, KK
There was also a turban‑tying station Mehta, Satnam S. Parhar, Naveen Shah
and more than 250 males/females of and IALI President Gunjan Rastogi.
all ethnicities took turns. Many ven‑ Patron sponsors Dr. Urmilesh Arya,
dors showcased new items, such as Peter Bheddah, Govind Gupta, Sunil
Haldi milk by Ravya Drinks and Jain, Dr. Bhupi Patel & Vijay Verma.
“Nutribites” healthy snack bar made Corporate sponsor: HAB Bank, repre‑
from dates, nuts, and jaggery. The five sented by Rizwan Qureshi.
Friends of MP ‑ NY/NJ held its 4th
annual picnic cum get together on
September 29th at Princeton
Country Club Picnic Area in NJ.
Around 300 people of all age groups‑
including families and couples – orig‑
inating from Madhya Pradesh (MP)
enjoyed the picnic. Prominent guests
included Deputy Counsel General of
India in New York Shatrughan Sinha
and Mrs. S Sinha as well as noted
businessman and community leader
Sunil Nayak. Surprise best wishes for
the picnic from noted singer Palak
Muchhal were played out.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY October 6-12, 2018 7

Two US Senators urge Trump administration

not to revoke H4 work authorization
Washington, DC: Two powerful Democratic
women senators have urged the Trump
administration not to go ahead with its
decision to revoke the authorization to
immigrants on H‑4 visas, a majority of who
are Indian‑Americans, as doing so would
impact about 100,000 women.
H‑4 visas are issued by US Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) to imme‑
diate family members spouse and children
under 21 years of age of the holder of H‑1B
visa, the most sought‑after among Indian IT
professionals.
Senators Kamala Harris from California
and Kirsten Gillibrand from New York
wrote a letter on the matter to Homeland
Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and
USCIS Director L Francis Cissna.
The letter comes after Department of
Homeland Security told a US court last
Senators Kamala Harris (right) from
California and Kirsten Gillibrand from New
York wrote a letter on the matter to
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen
Nielsen and USCIS Director L Francis Cissna.
week it is going to revoke employment
authorization of H‑4 visa holders and a
notification in this connection is to be
issued in less than three months.
"Rescinding the H‑4 rule will result in sig‑
nificant personal hardship to women who
will be forced to abandon their professional
careers," the two senators wrote in their let‑
ter. "Preventing women from engaging in
employment can lead to isolation, depres‑
sion, anxiety, feelings of guilt, and a loss of
self‑worth. Revoking a wife's ability to work
leaves her and her children entirely
dependent on her spouse. Increased isola‑
tion coupled with complete financial
dependence can make leaving an abusive
relationship dangerous and, in some cases,
impossible," they wrote.
Asserting that independence and equal
opportunity are fundamental American val‑
ues, they said an action to deprive spousal
H‑4 visa holders the ability to continue to
pursue their professional careers is anti‑
thetical to principles this country is built
on.
Harris, the first Indian‑origin American
Senator, and Gillibrand said a revocation of
the H‑4 rule would "disproportionately tar‑
get" South Asian women.
"In 2017, 94 percent of H‑4 visa holders
with work authorization were women and
93 percent were from India. Currently, no
more than seven percent of approximately
375,000 family and employment‑based
green cards issued annually can go to
nationals from the same country," they
said.
"As a result, over 306,000 Indian appli‑
cants and 67,000 Chinese applicants whose
applications have been approved are cur‑
rently in line to receive a green card.
Because of the backlog, H1‑B visa holders
and dependent H‑4 visa holders from cer‑
tain countries in the U.S. are forced to wait
from 12 years to an impossible 150 years
to receive green cards," they said. (PTI)

Indian Americans donated $1.2 billion to Telugu fastest

37 US universities from 2000 to 2018
Washington, DC: Indian
Americans donated $1.2 billion
to 37 US universities between
2000 and 2018, according to an
Indiaspora research of publicly
available information from 68
such donations of more than $ 1
million.
Released by the not‑for‑profit
Indiaspora, which aims at trans‑
forming the success of Indian
Americans into a meaningful
impact worldwide, the first‑of‑its‑
kind report is part of its project ‑‑
Monitor of University Giving.
It is a "living database" to keep
abreast of Indian American phil‑
anthropic donations to higher
education, said Silicon Valley‑
based philanthropist and venture
capitalist M R Rangaswami.
The brain behind Indiaspora,
Rangaswami said the goal of
such a database was to illustrate
how Indian Americans, the most
highly‑educated ethnic minority
in America were giving back to
higher education in their adopt‑
ed homeland.
According to the report, 50
individuals made 68 donations of
$ 1 million or more, amounting
to over $1.2 billion. Of them,
nearly half are repeat donors,
indicat ing how passionate ly
Indian Americans feel towards
giving back to American institu‑
tions of higher education, in
many but not all cases, their
alma maters.
Additionally, while the frequen‑
cy of large donations has stayed
fairly consistent since 2000, the
dollar amount of donations has
increased on average since then,
the report said.
The million‑plus donations cal‑
culated by Indiaspora include
donations made to colleges and
universities that have been pub‑
licly disclosed. Since smaller gifts
are not tracked, this results in
under‑reporting of the total con‑
tribut ions made by Indian
Americans, but allows for consis‑
tent year‑to‑year comparisons of
donations, Indiaspora said.
"While Indian Americans con‑
tinue to donate time and money
towards causes in India, our
community also believes that
charity beg ins at home,"
Rangaswami said.
"Indian Americans are acutely
growing Indian
aware of the vital role played by
the American inst itut ions of
higher education in their profes‑
language in the US
sional success stories and many
Washington, DC: Almost half of Telangana.
of us consider it a moral obliga‑
Americaʼs population speaks a Not just IT sectors, people
tion to give back and pay it for‑
foreign language and an Indian from south Indian cities are
ward for the next generation of
language is among the top for‑ making names in varied fields,
Americans," he added.
eign languages spoken, a for instance, the first Indian‑
According to the report, private
report by Centre for American to be crowned Miss
universities were targeted for
Immigration studies revealed. America in 2013, Nina
donation more than twice as
Nationally one in every five Davuluri has roots in
often as public schools and
persons spoke a language Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
receive $ 5 for every $ 2 donated
other than English in 2017. Telugu students have also
to public schools.
The number of Telugu speak‑ won many spelling bee compe‑
University of California, Los
ers had gone up by 86% titions in the U.S. Bengali and
Angeles received the greatest
between 2000 and 2017, the Tamil also continue to be the
number of donat ions, w ith
data showed. Telugu was fol‑ fastest growing languages in
Harvard University and Boston
lowed by the Bengali language the west. Hindi although,
University tied for second, close‑
which has seen a surge of 57% remains the widely spoken
ly followed by University of
and Tamil with a 55% increase. Indian language with a total
Chicago and University of
Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and number of 8,63,077 people in
Pennsylvania. Interestingly, three
Gujarati were other Indian lan‑ the U.S.
of the 37 colleges receiving
guages that were mentioned in CIS further revealed that
donations were community col‑
the list of foreign speaking lan‑ 21.8% of the American popula‑
leges, it said.
guages. The US had 87,543 tion speaks a foreign language
Among the donations directed
Telugu speakers in 2000 back home with D.C, Wyoming,
towards specific academic areas
which increased to 2,22,977 in North Dakota and Utah having
of interest, however, the two
2010 and by 2017, 4,15,414 the largest number of people
most prevalent recipient fields
people residing there speak speaking a foreign tongue.
are business and medicine, close‑
this language which is native
ly followed by India studies and
to Andhra Pradesh and (Source: indiatimes.com)
engineering. (PTI)
 8 October 6-12, 2018 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Latin American Hindus travel to

World Hindu Congress 2018
By Manu Shah with renunciation and follow strict veg‑ has been restoring old shrines and
inputs from Radhe etarian diets. These communities maintaining two schools for the
Shyam Devi Dasi also believe in reincarnation, the poor villages in the area. Vrinda
law of karma, the soul and wor‑ Mission has also opened several

A
g roup of 27 Lat in
American Hindus flew into
Chicago to attend the
Second World Hindu Congress
2018 in September. They came
from countries like Colombia,
Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Mexico
and Peru w ith their spiritual
leader Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti,
founder of the Vrinda Mission and
Coordinator of the Vishva Hindu
Parishad South America.
A pane list in the Hindu
Organizational Conference, Swami
B.A. Paramadvaiti, whose eyes
crinkle with a perennial smile,
of fered a rare and fascinating
account of Hindu Dharmaʼs appeal
in South America and the increas‑
ing number of people who identi‑
fied with yoga, Ayurveda and
“simple living.”
Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti was 18
years old when he chanced upon a
German translat ion of the
Bhag avad Gita in the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram in Germany.
He had heard of the Himalayas
and the mystics who practiced
renunciation there and had even
attempted reading the Rig Veda
but found it arduous. However,
Delegates from South America who
attended the World Hindu Congress
when he read the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Villages in over thirty‑five
the book, he says, “had a magnetic countries.
ef fect on him and answered all Through his community out‑
the questions his parents and reach work, Swami B.A
teachers could not.” Paramadvaiti, has been inspiring
Initiated in 1976, he accompa‑ both city dwe llers and native
nied his spiritual guru ISKCON Latin American communities to
Founder A.C Bhaktivedanta Srila understand Sanatan dharma. His
Prabhupada to India and “lost his extensive travels to the remotest
heart in Vrindavan.” His spiritual corners of South America for the
master sent him to South America past 40 years has led him to
to spread the teachings of the Gita indigenous Adivasi communities
and his ef forts led to the estab‑ whose lifestyles bear a striking
lishment of the Vrinda Mission resemblance to traditional yogic
which has over 150 Vedic renunciation. Some native com‑
Awareness centers and sustain‑ munities, he explains, train spiri‑
able farm communities called Eco tual leaders through a period of
ship the feminine and masculine
aspects of divinity – so close to
the philosophy of Sanatan
Dharma. He also revealed that
many chiefs of the Adivasi com‑
munities would be accompanying
him to the Kumbh Me la in
February 2019 to “pray for world
peace, the environment and the
holy rivers.”
This vibrant community of Latin
American Hindus, who live in the
Vrinda Kunja ashram in
Vrindavan, have taken it upon
themse lves to clean up the
Yamuna river which has become a
dump yard for garbage and plas‑
t ic. “Weʼre actually going to
Vrindavan and picking up trash
with our own hands, itʼs our her‑
itage and main seva,” says Ambika
Devi Dasi from Colombia, who has
been residing in Vrindavan for the
past 7 years and coordinates the
“Braj Vrindavan Act Now” pro‑
gram. Explaining the significance
of cleaning up Vrindavan, Swami
Paramadvaiti says the region
around Mathura “has tremendous
power for the revival of spiritual
consciousness, not only for India
but the whole world.” The group
vegetarian restaurants around the
world to promote cruelty‑free eat‑
ing. Founder of the World Hindu
Foundation, Swami Vigyanananda,
who helped bring the members of
this Mission into the mainstream
Hindu movement, lauded the
work of this group whose “com‑
mitted, dedicated volunteers clean
up the banks of the Yamuna daily
and in the last few years have
transformed the pilg rimage
place.” “Itʼs an honor to be a repre‑
sentative of Hindu culture in
South America, our family grows
every day and the values and
visions of India enrich our coun‑
tries while also complementing
our ancient cultures and our rela‑
tionship with Sri Krishna and
Mother Earth” says Satyaki Das, a
delegate from Peru at the World
Hindu Congress. Maha Laksmi
Devi Dasi from Mexico adds, “The
World Hindu Congress left me
with a strong feeling of communi‑
ty and solidarity. I could appreci‑
ate how united the Hindu commu‑
nity is and how it has become
established in dif ferent parts of
the world without losing its roots
or wisdom.”

SKRMʼs 33rd free eye Padma Lakshmi says after

cataract camp held in India her rape revelatory piece a
woman's assaulter apologized
P
opular model and author
Padma Lakshmi has
revealed that she was
raped when she was 16 by a man
she was dating at the time.
Lakshmi wrote about the incident
in an op‑ed article in The New
York Times. Her revelation comes
in the backdrop of the sexual
Surgeons from US too volunteered assault accusations made against
for the camp and surgeries 1127 patients underwent surgery Supreme Court nominee Brett
her story and how it affected her.
Lakshmi said the woman narrat‑
ed that her assaulter apologized to
her in an email recently.
"He sent me the link to the arti‑
cle and he said, 'I'm sorry. I didn't
know then what I know now and I
shouldn't have ever done that to
you. And I apologize'," the woman
told Lakshmi.
The former model also said she

T
he 33rd Eye Cataract Camp
organized by Sawan Kirpal
Ruhani Mission (SKRM), Delhi
as part of the Global Conference on
Mysticism was held from September
13‑20. The silver jubilee conference
was presided over by Sant Rajinder
Singh Ji Maharaj, whose life has been
one continuous thread of service to
humanity. He is the inspiration
behind the vision of the eye camp.
His vision of extending a helping
hand to those in need is an integral
tenet of SKRM.
Free eye cataract surgeries during
the eye camp were provided to
patients who were otherwise not
able to afford the expenses of such
an operation. 2795 patients attend‑
ing the eye camp were first screened
by a medical team. 1127 selected
patients, based on medical eligibility,
were then allocated surgery dates.
Patients were transported to ICARE
hospital, Noida, where they under‑
went cataract surgery and received
premier new lenses. They were given
eye drops for several weeks follow‑
ing the operation. ICARE is a leading
eye hospital in India and keeps pace
with advanced technology available
worldwide, including using the state‑
of‑the‑art Alcon Infiniti Vision
System, for eye surgery. The experts
included eye surgeons from the
United States who volunteered their
high‑quality technical skills and time
to conduct the surgeries. The United
States clinical team worked in collab‑
oration with doctors at ICARE hospi‑
tal. The eye camps are conducted
twice a year by SKRM, in February
and September. More than twelve
thousand individuals have benefited
from free cataract surgeries since
the inception of SKRMʼs eye camp in
February 2002. The patients appre‑
ciated the kind voluntary service,
rendered free of charge. The proce‑
dure helped to improve their vision
and quality of life.
Kavanaugh. Now, Padma Lakshmi
has said her New York Times op‑
ed, where she revealed her sexual
assault story, has prompted an
alleged attacker to apologize to
his victim. Lakshmi, a prominent
Indian‑American model host, had
recently said that she was raped
by her boyfriend at the age of 16
and she wanted to bring out this
secret in the wake of allegations
of sexual assault on US Supreme
Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Speaking at the Open
Endoscopy Forum, the 48‑year‑old
host said one woman, who read
her article, approached her to tell
has no regrets about the article
and telling her story to the world.
"I'm very glad I did it. The sto‑
ries women and men have shared
with me have become some of the
most moving things I have read,
felt, discussed in my life," she said.
"I had a family write to me yes‑
terday morning about their
daughter who was raped last week
on campus. And she went to cam‑
pus police and did all of the things
you need to do: rape kit, exam‑
ined. And then her father wrote to
me because he said she was hav‑
ing second thoughts about press‑
ing charges.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
NRIs deserting wives
matter of great concern
says Delhi High Court
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has said the
issue relating to the desertion of wives by
their NRI husbands is of "great concern" and
sought the response of various ministries on
it. The court said it would examine a plea
seeking framing of guidelines concerning the
protection of rights and safeguarding of inter‑
est of women deserted by Non‑Resident
Indian (NRI) husbands.
A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon
and Justice VK Rao sought response of min‑
istries of Law and Justice, External Af fairs,
Home Af fairs, and Child and Women
Development as also the National Human
Rights Commission and National Commission
for Women on the petition filed by Delhi Sikh
Gurudwara Management Committee
(DSGMC).
"It requires examination. It is an issue of
great concern," the bench said and listed the
matter for January 9 for further hearing.
DSGMC, represented by advocate Rajat
Taneja, raised the issue of wives being desert‑
ed and abandoned by their NRI husbands on
various grounds, including dowry. This was
shattering their dreams and reducing them to
hapless individuals without any fault of
theirs, it maintained.
T he petition, filed through advocates
Jasleen Chahal and Manpreet Kaur, said a
woman is entitled to equal enjoyment and
protection of all human rights and fundamen‑
tal freedoms and there is an urgent need to
focus on the ever‑growing complaints where
a wife is deserted by her NRI husband.
The plea mentioned the pattern of exploita‑
tion which includes that the woman learns on
reaching the residence of her husband in the
other country that he is already married to
someone else and continues to live with her.
"Usually they marry Indian women due to
pressure from his parents in order to please
Singapore Malayalee community
raises Rs. 2.5 crore for Kerala floods
Singapore: Around 40,000 members of
Singapore's Malayalee community along with
the local Red Cross has raised about 500,000
dollars for the Kerala Flood Relief Fund
(KFRF) this month, a spokesperson of the
community said Saturday.
Kerala last month witnessed its worst floods
in a century. According to the government's
figures, 443 people have died while 54.11
lakh people in 14 districts of the state were
severely af fected. People from all over the
country and abroad had pitched in to help the
state by offering material and also cash dona‑
tions to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief
Fund (CMDRF).
The Singapore Malayalee Association and
the Singapore Red Cross will send the fund to
KFRF, the spokesperson said.
Commenting on the fund‑raising efforts of
the local community, Singapore's Minister of
Communications and Information, S Iswaran
said: "This is our way of doing our part to
help our relatives and friends in India and in
Kerala, in particular.
"This (flood) disaster has had an impact not
DIASPORA October 6-12, 2018 9
them or sometimes to use her as a domestic
help," it said.
It added that the woman is sent back to
India by her husband with a promise of being
called her back, but she is left behind without
passport, visa, and money thus leaving her
without any way to rejoin her spouse.
"In many such instances, the woman would
be pregnant when he left and both, she and
the child are abandoned. The husband never
calls or write and never comes back again.
The in‑laws who could still be in India would
either plead helplessness or flatly refuse to
help," the plea said.
It said women who seek the aid of criminal
justice system to prosecute her husband and
in‑laws for dowry demands and cruelty are
left handicapped as trial fails to proceed
because the offender spouse would not come
to India to face the proceedings.
The plea said there is no comprehensive or
special law to govern such aspects.
"The Supreme Court has dealt with similar
issues on various occasions and has already
expressed its distress upon lack of legislative
measures in India with respect to the
exploitation of women by their NRI hus‑
bands," it claimed.
The plea sought direction to the authorities
to constitute a high‑level committee to frame
guidelines concerning the protection of rights
and safeguarding of interest of women who
are deserted by NRI husbands and to
strengthen the enforcement of such guide‑
lines by streamlining the law.
It sought direction to make arrangement
for deportation of such offenders to India.
It said the services of an independent inves‑
tigating agency be taken to deal with the mat‑
ters where wives are deserted and constitute
a monitoring panel to look into the status of
such pending complaints. (PTI)
just on the families there but also on their
extended families in Singapore," he pointed
out. The Minister termed the ef fort by the
community as a part of the ongoing deepen‑
ing ties between India and Singapore after
closing the month‑long fund booth in the
Little India shopping precinct on Saturday.
The Malayalee community here maintains
"very strong ties to their language, culture...
and has families there," said Israwan, who
also officiated at a day‑long painting exhibi‑
tion, proceeds from which will be donated to
the KFRF.
Singapore‑based painter Lakshmi
Mohanbabu, who hails from Kerala, said all
proceeds from painting exhibition will be
given to the flood relief fund.
Lakshmi took one year on a painting of
Kerala traditional dancer, which was priced at
20,000 dollars as a top showpiece in the exhi‑
bition of 24 paintings by 12 artists.
Anil Kumar, a Indian navy personnel who
now lives in Singapore, also presented four
paintings, two of which were on traditional
murals from Kerala, his home state. (PTI)
 10 October 6-12, 2018 US AFFAIRS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Is Brett Kavanaugh bound for Supreme Court?

Or are the Republicans in a bind?
Op Ed among those who are against him,
By Shivaji Sengupta perhaps even among those who
are for him.

B
y the end of this week we
should learn whether the
FBI's findings on the
Supreme Court nominee Brett
Kavanaugh will have any bearing
on the Senate confirmation vote.
There are people ‑ politicians, jour‑
nalists and ordinary folks – who
already think that the probe will
have absolutely no bearing; that
the judge will be confirmed no
matter what.
I am not so sure. My reasons are
three‑color: the Congressional
hearings themselves, the belated
reactions of the president, and the
mid‑term elections. I will discuss
them in order.
People do have reasons to be
cynical about Judge Kavanaugh
confirmation, after all the plunder‑
bund ‑ collusion between politi‑
cians and big business ‑ to send
him to Supreme Court, yet the
Republican majority in Senate
would like to elevate him. Most
people who did not vote for Trump
seem to have lost confidence not
only in him, but even in the politi‑
cal system in Washington.
According to them, the decay in
confidence in fact began during
Obama's presidency when in the
mid‑term elections of 2010 the
Democrats lost the House, and by
the beginning of his second term,
lost the Senate. Thereafter, from
the Democratic perspective, began
a period of Republican Revenge on
not only President Obama, but also
on the American people. T hey
road‑blocked his every ef fort to
bring progressive change, includ‑
ing his nomination for Supreme
Court. Things became so bad that
he began to find ways to bypass
Congress, and rely on the execu‑
t ive powers g iven by the
Constitution to pass some laws he
Trumpʼs nominee for Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh denied all allegations of sexual
misconductbut was irate and belligerent at times during his testimony. Dr. Christine Blasey Fordʼs
testimony was compelling. Now the matter is up to the FBI.
thought were fair, like not deport‑
ing undocumented immigrant par‑
ents whose under‑age children
were born in the United States.
Republicans, in turn, used the
Constitution to stall his actions.
With Trump moving to the White
House, the Democrats had lost all
three branches of the government.
It was expected by the Republicans
to run rampant by changing the
fundamental laws of the country,
such as on abortion (Roe vs Wade),
lowering the taxes on the rich and
the middle class, but doing very lit‑
tle for the poor, and many more.
T he only reason they couldn't
bring about total change is
because of the Supreme Court.
They feared that with judges like
Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonia
Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, some
of their more radical laws would
be declared unconstitutional. So,
change the membership of the 9‑
seat Supreme Court. Currently,
with Justice Kennedy's retirement,
the court is evenly divided. The
ninth chie f just ice had to be
Republican.
President Trump also wants his
own person there, someone who in
the unlikely event of his being
impeached ‑ which can happen
only if the Democrats win back
both the House and the Senate ‑ he
would need an ultra conservative
judge like Kavanaugh who is also
personally beholden to him.
The Congressional proceedings
were going well and smoothly for
Kavanaugh.
Until Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. A
research psychologist by profes‑
sion, and a Democrat, she suddenly
broug ht a sexual molestat ion
charge ag ainst the judge.
Apparently, when she was 16
years old, the 17‑year‑old
Kavanaugh, in a drunken state,
with the help of a friend, forced
her onto a bed and molested her
in a house.
Kavanaugh denied the accusa‑
tion and plunged the whole coun‑
try into turmoil.
But when I saw her speak to the
Senate Judiciary Committee I was
moved to tears. I felt her shame
and anguish, having to divulge an
incident like this to the whole
country. At the same time, I was
also impressed by her precision
and clarity. It is difficult to be mod‑
est during such confessions, yet
she was, leaving no doubt in the
minds of those who listened that
the heinous attack took place. But
is the judge the culprit.
In sharp contrast, Kavanaugh's
presentation was just that: a pres‑
entation. T he stark dif ference
between the testimony of the two
was authenticity. Dr Ford did not
once blame the Republicans, or
politics: she simply stated what
happened, and during the interro‑
gation by the Judiciary Committee
members, stuck to the fact that the
molester was Brett Kavanaugh. She
was 100% sure. She was a credible
witness, even Trump said so.
The judge's commentary was full
of blame: of the Democrats, the
Clintons, calling the whole Blasey‑
Ford incident a trick to derail his
candidacy. He was loud, indignant
and arrogant, quite forgetting that
one doesn't loudly proclaim one's
own good character. What did
Shakespeare say? "Methinks [the
man] doth protest too much!" The
end result of it all was disbelief
So what happens now? Now that
the FBI is going to try to establish
the veracity of Kavanaughʼs accus‑
ers (at least three including Dr
Ford), is there a chance that his
name would be withdrawn? Many
of my fellow Democrats think, no.
Some of them feel that this whole
FBI thing is a charade to clear the
path for the judge to go to
Supreme Court. T hey cite
President Trump's unequivocal
support for him, and the 100%
votes the Senate Judiciary
Committee Republicans cast after
the hearing.
I am not so certain. I think the
President and the Republicans
might in fact withdraw the nomi‑
nation if there is some indication
from the FBI that the judge's state‑
ment under oath were not corrobo‑
rated and contradicted by witness‑
es.
To President Trump, and to the
Republicans, even more important
than Brett Kavanaugh is the mid‑
term e lect ions. A Demo crat ic
majority in both the chambers of
Congress might spell doom to
Trump as he can be impeached.
And as everybody knows, Dems
are within striking distance of cap‑
turing them both. If Kavanaugh is
sent to the Supreme Court, imag‑
ine the anger of the thousands
upon thousands of angry women
voters and young voters. Beware
the fury of women scorned!
Even as I write this, I will wager
that the President and his
Republican advisors are huddling
together to decide how to proceed.
This is politics. And politicians
don't think twice about throwing
each other under the bus if it suits
their interest.
Remember "Evita": politics is the
art of the possible.

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

Trump orders comprehensive but timely Kavanaugh probe

Washington: The White House has author‑
ized the FBI to expand its abbreviated
investigation into sexual misconduct allega‑
tions against Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh by
interviewing anyone it deems necessary as
long as the review is finished by the end of
the week, New York Times reported.
The new directive came in the last 24
hours after a backlash from Democrats,
who criticized the White House for limiting
the scope of the bureauʼs investigation into
Trumpʼs pick for the Supreme Court.
Trump said on Monday that he favored a
“comprehensive” FBI investigation and had
no problem if the bureau wanted to ques‑
tion Judge Kavanaugh or even a third
accuser who was left off the initial witness
list if she seemed credible. His only con‑
cerns he said, were that the investigation
be wrapped up quickly and that it take
direction from the Senate Republicans who
will determine whether Judge Kavanaugh is
confirmed.
The revised White House instruction
amounted to a risky bet that the FBI will
not find anything new in the next four days
that could change the public view of the
allegations. Republicans have resisted an
open‑ended investigation that could head in
unpredictable directions. But the limited
time frame could minimize the danger even
as it heightens the likelihood that FBI inter‑
views do not resolve the conflict ing Kavanaughʼs 2nd and 3rd accusers: Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick.
accounts. Trump has said the FBI can speak to them.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Amazon announces $15 minimum
wage for all US employees
New York: Amazon is raising its
minimum wage to $15 an hour for
all US employees.
T he change takes ef fect
November 1 and applies to full‑
time, part‑time and temporary
workers. Amazon says the $15 min‑
imum wage will benefit more than
250,000 Amazon employees, plus
100,000 seasonal workers.
"We listened to our critics,
thought hard about what we want‑
ed to do, and decided we want to
lead," said Jef f Bezos, Amazon's
founder and CEO. "We're excited
about this change and encourage
our competitors and other large
employers to join us."
Expired visa? From Oct 1, US starts deportation proceedings
Washington: Start ing this
Monday, the US has started imple‑
menting its new immigration rule
under which people whose legal
status to stay in America has
expired can be deported. T he
deportation process would be ini‑
tiated in case the visa extension
application is denied or due to a
change in status. The non‑immi‑
grants will be first issued notices
"We listened to our critics,
thought hard about what we
wanted to do, and decided we
want to lead," said Jeff Bezos,
Amazon's founder and CEO,
about the wage hike.
to appear (NTA) before initiating
deportation proceedings.
However, US Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) said
that this policy will not be imple‑
mented with respect to employ‑
ment‑based petitions and humani‑
tarian applications and petitions.
The new rule could have a major
impact on Indians living in the US
as applications of extension of H1‑
US AFFAIRS
T he change applies to Whole
Foods and all other subsidiary
employees.
Amazon also said its public policy
team will begin lobbying for an
increase in the federal minimum
wage, which has been $7.25 an
hour since 2009.
The size and explosive growth of
Amazon give the decision impor‑
tance far beyond the hundreds of
thousands of people who will bene‑
fit directly.
Amazon is among the largest
employers in the United States, and
it has added more American jobs in
the past decade than any other
company.
B visa holders have been denied in
the past few months. However, the
issue of NTA for H1‑B visa holders
has been put on hold.
NTA is considered the first step
towards deportation of foreign
nationals who do not have valid
papers to legally stay in the US. It
is a document that instructs an
individual to appear before an
immigration judge.
October 6-12, 2018
New NAFTA soothes
investors, businesses
Washington: Investors greeted
the completion of a new North
American trade pact with relief
Monday, as the Trump adminis‑
tration turned its focus on getting
the deal through a divided
Congress and toward even larger
economic feuds with China.
Canada and the US reached an
agreement alongside Mexico a
new free trade deal called the US‑
Mexico‑Canada Agreement
(USMCA) according to a joint
statement from US and Canada on
Sunday. The USMCA will replace
the 24‑year‑old NAFTA.
On Monday, the Dow Jones
Industrial Average on Monday
rose 192.90 points or 0.73 per
cent to 26 651.21. The S&P 500
increased 10.61 points or 0.36
per cent to 2 924.59. T he
Nasdaq Composite Index
decreased 9.05 points or 0.11 per
cent to 8 037.30.
Shares of Ford and General
Motors both jumped more than 1
per cent following the news.
Trade‑sensitive stocks Boeing
closed 2.79 per cent higher.
11
Market sentiment was bol‑
stered as investors expected the
new accord would help remove
uncertainties experts noted.
The US dollar was up against
other major currencies after the
US, Canada and Mexico reached a
new free trade deal to replace
NAFTA.
In late New York trading on
Monday, the euro fell to $1.1575
from $1.1610 in the previous ses‑
sion, the British pound decreased
to $1.3037 from $1.3039 in the
previous session, and the
Australian dollar was up to
$0.7226 from $0.7223, Xinhua
reported.
The US dollar bought 113.97
Japanese yen, higher than 113.57
Japanese yen of the previous ses‑
sion. The US dollar was up to
0.9841 Swiss franc from 0.9792
Swiss franc, and it decreased to
1.2786 Canadian dollars from
1.2921 Canadian dollars.
The dollar index, which meas‑
ures the greenback against six
major peers, was up 0.17 per cent
at 95.3001 in late trading.
 12 October 6-12, 2018
ED attaches Nirav Modi's foreign assets, including in US
New Delhi: T he Enforcement
Directorate (ED) said it has
attached foreign properties of
fugitive diamond jeweller Nirav
Modi worth Rs 637 crore, includ‑
ing two apartments in New Yorks
Central Park, in its ongoing
investigation into the Punjab
National Bank (PNB) fraud case.
A senior ED of ficial said the
agency had been working in
close coordination with other
foreign agencies in order to iden‑
tify and attach foreign properties
of Nirav Modi in various loca‑
tions.
The attached properties were
in the form of jewe lry, bank
accounts and immovable proper‑
ties. Among them are two apart‑
ments worth Rs 216 crore in
New York's popular Central Park,
which are registered in the name
of Nirav Modi, the agency said.
Meanwhile, a flat worth Rs
No one can steal Supreme
Court’s independence: CJI
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Dipak Misra and Chief Justice of
India‑designate Justice Ranjan Gogoi in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)
New Delhi: Demitting office after a
tumultuous tenure, Chief Justice
Dipak Misra said the Supreme Court
will stand supreme not just for now
but for all times to come and that
judicial independence cannot be
taken away.
Speaking at a farewell ceremony
hosted by the Supreme Court Bar
Association (SCBA), he said justice
must have a humane approach and
should be insulated from "disruptive
action". "Independence of judiciary,
the collegiality of brother and sister
judges should be supreme. T he
Supreme Court stands supreme not
just now but for the all times to
come. Any kind of craftsmanship
cannot steal away judicial independ‑
ence. I must add that truth has no
colour," Justice Misra said. "Law is
not static, jurisprudence is not stat‑
ic....I tell you justce must have a
humane face and a humane
approach. The artificial divisions and
barriers of caste, creed, religion and
gender tend to divide us. Justice
must be insulated from disruptive
action. Scales of justice have to be
The two apartments worth Rs 216 crore are in New York's Central
Park, which are registered in the name of Nirav Modi.
56.97 crore on Marylebone road
in London has also been
attached, of which the beneficial
owner is Nirav Mo di's sister
balanced as far as possible. That is
the essence of justice," he said.
Justice Misra, who delivered a slew
of judgements in the company of
brother judges on individual free‑
doms and other important issues,
had his last working day on Monday.
Chief Justice‑designate Ranjan Gogoi
will be sworn in on Wednesday.
Justice Misra said neutrality in
each case, whether involving greater
or smaller ramifications "is same for
us (judges)". "Tears are tears.
Popular perception or capacity to
building narratives for any particular
leanings can never guide the course
of justice."
Complimenting CJI Misra for his
various judgements upholding the
liberty and gender justice, Justice
Gogoi said, "In times of great politi‑
cal churning, alongside huge diversi‑
ty of thought and opinion, we are
divided, perhaps more than ever, by
lines of caste, religion, ideology.
These are issues that cut and divide
us. They make us hate those who are
different. The challenge is to protect
a common world view."
INDIA NEWS
Purvi Modi, a Belgian national.
The agency also attached five
bank accounts containing over
Rs 278 crore, belonging to Nirav
SC opens Sabarimala gates
to women aged 10‑50
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has
opened the gates of the Sabarimala
temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa in
Kerala to the women in the 10‑50
age group, saying the ban violated
their fundamental rights and consti‑
tutional guarantees.
In a majority 4:1 judgment, the top
court also read down the provision
of Kerala laws that protected the pro‑
hibition and said it could not be cov‑
ered under practices essential and
integral to religious practice. Justice
Indu Malhotra, the only woman
judge in the five‑judges bench, gave a
dissenting judgment.
Chief Justice Dipak Misra reading
out the judgment, also on behalf of
Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, said that
subversion of women's rights under
the garb of physiological phenome‑
non cannot be allowed.
"All devotees are equal and there
cannot be any discrimination on the
basis of gender," Misra said. Justice
Rohinton F. Nariman in a separate
but concurring judgment said that
Modi vows 'befitting reply' to
India's enemies
New Delhi: In a veiled warning to
Pakistan, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said Indian sol‑
diers will give a "befitting reply"
to whosoever attempts to ruin
peace and progress in India.
While India fiercely believed in
peace, it would not compromise
with its honour and sovereignty at
any cost, he said.
Modi's remarks came in his
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Modi, Purvi and others in the
case.
The of ficial said that it had
broug ht diamond jewe llery
worth Rs 22.69 crore back to
India from Hong Kong.
According to the ED, a stock of
jewellery was exported to Hong
Kong after a case was registered
ag ainst Nirav Mo di by the
Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) in January. This was kept in
a vault of a private company in
Hong Kong on behalf of Nirav
Modi.
"T he agency contacted the
company and its London head‑
quarters and after much persua‑
sion and follow up, it successfully
broug ht back the jewe lry to
India," the official said.
He also said that the stock
value of the jewelry was around
Rs 85 crore and the jewellery
was sent to Hong Kong by
A view of crowded Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala. (Photo: IANS)
people of all faiths visit the temples ‑‑
worshippers are not of separate
denomination. "Religion cannot
become a cover to exclude and deny
women their right to worship,"
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also said in
a separate but concurring judgment.
Holding that the Sabarimala tem‑
ple is not a denominational temple
peculiar to any sect, the court said
that the Ayyappa temple belongs to
Hindus and does not constitute a
separate entity. The apex court also
read down the provision of Kerala
48th episode of monthly radio
program 'Mann Ki Baat', a day
after India celebrated the second
anniversary of the 2016 surgical
strike by the Army on terrorist
hubs in Pakistan‑administered
Kashmir.
Recalling the surgical strike as a
reply to the "audacity of a proxy
war under the garb of terrorism",
Modi, without naming Pakistan,
Firestar Group of Companies. On
independent valuation, the value
of jewe lry came to Rs 22.69
crore.
The ED has also attached a flat
in south Mumbai worth Rs 19.5
crore which was in sister Purvi's
name.
The of ficial said the flat was
purchased by Purvi in 2017 and
the deed was signed by Nirav
Nodi's brother Neeshal, who is
also a Belgian national and who
held a power of attorney.
"But the consideration of the
flat was paid by Purvi through
her Barclays Bank account main‑
tained in Singapore," the official
said.
Interpol has issued an Red
Corner Not ice ag ainst Nirav
Modi, Neeshal, Purvi and his
executive Subhash Parab.
Nirav Modi left India before the
scam was reported to the CBI.
laws that protected the practice of
prohibiting the entry of women in
the age group of 10 to 50 years.
Justice Indu Malhotra said: "What
constitutes essential practices of reli‑
gion is to be decided by worshippers
and it is not for the judiciary to adju‑
dicate. "It is not for courts to decide
if such practices should be struck
down. Rationality cannot be used to
judge faith. All followers must be
allowed to follow their own faith as
per their own beliefs in a secular
polity.
said: "It has now been decided
that our soldiers will give a befit‑
ting reply to whosoever makes an
attempt to destroy the atmos‑
phere of peace and progress in
our nation.
"We staunchly believe in peace;
we are committed to taking it for‑
ward… but not at the cost of com‑
promising our self‑respect and
sovereignty."
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA October 6-12, 2018 13

Nation pays floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi

New Delhi: The nation on Tuesday paid hom‑ Rajghat to of fer his tributes to Gandhi and
age to Mahatma Gandhi on his 149th birth said: "The noble thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi
anniversary with President Ram Nath Kovind, have given strength to millions across the
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime world. He was a stalwart who lived for others
Minister Narendra Modi offering floral tributes and to make our world a better place."
to the Father of the Nation at Rajghat here. Modi also tweeted on the "insightful op‑ed"
Marking the launch of the 150th birth anniver‑ by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
sary celebrations of Gandhi, Kovind tweeted: on "how India and Singapore are united in the
"Homage to Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. Let us pursuit of building a cleaner and better tomor‑
rededicate ourselves to the values espoused by row for the coming generations".
Mahatma Gandhi ‑ peace, fraternity, harmony Modi, sharing his op‑ed to national dailies on
and inclusive national development. Gandhiji's the occasion, said: "From today we are entering
message remains relevant for all and he con‑ Pujya Bapu's 150th anniversary year. It is a
tinues to be our guiding light." Modi visited great opportunity for all of us to fulfill their
dreams.” UN Secretary‑General Antonio
Medley version of Bapu's Guterres, who also paid his floral tributes to
Gandhi at Rajghat, remembered his contribu‑
favorite bhajan launched tion in peace. Congress President Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also paid
floral tributes to Gandhi at Rajghat. PM Narendra Modi pays floral tributes at Rajghat in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS/PIB)
on Tuesday launched a medley version of
Bapu's favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav jan to
tene kahiye' sung by artists from over 40
countries, during the closing ceremony of
the Mahatma Gandhi International
Sanitation Conference here. As part of the
year‑long celebrations leading to Gandhi's
150th birth anniversary, artists from over
124 countries have contributed musically
and paid homage to the Mahatma through
his favorite bhajan. "All Indian missions
abroad identified a local artist/group to
record the bhajan in the run‑up to Gandhi
Jayanti, which is observed on October 2.
The result is an eclectic, colourful and rich
rendition of the hymn infused with the
local flavours of the region," the MEA said
in a release. From Armenia to Angola, Sri
Lanka to Serbia, Iraq to Iceland, prominent
singers/groups have showcased their tal‑
ent for the 15th century hymn that was
close to Gandhi's heart.

Gita Gopinath appointed

IMF director of research
United Nations: Eminent academic and eco‑
nomic adviser to the Kerala government, Gita
Gopinath, was appointed
as Director of the
International Monetary
Fund's Research
D e p a r t m e n t .
Announcing the appoint‑
ment, IMF Managing
Director Christine
Lagarde called her "one
of the world's outstanding economists with
impeccable academic credentials, a proven
track record of intellectual leadership and
extensive international experience". The direc‑
tor of the IMF's Research Department oversees
the World Economic Outlook Report that is
considered a major survey of the global econo‑
my as well as several other reports and
research projects that determine the financial
and economic statuses of countries. She suc‑
ceeds Maurice Obstfeld, who announced in July
that he would retire at the end of this year.
Gopinath, who received her MA degree from
the Delhi School of Economics, is the John
Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies
and Economics at Harvard University. She
received her Ph.D in economics from Princeton
University in 2001 for her work on internation‑
al macroeconomics and trade and was an assis‑
tant professor at University of Chicago before
moving to Harvard in 2005.
 14 October 6-12, 2018 SPORTS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Team Rebellion was the proud winner of the Cricmax Freedom Cup Team Takat Power Rangers, the runner up in the 8‑team tournament,
and they celebrated the cherished victory with gusto. seen with Rayaz A. Takat

New cricket tournament

New York: CricMax Freedom Cup
2018 created excitement in the
South Asian community in its
debut. The cricket tournament
showcased 8 teams and was held

debuts in tristate area

from September 28‑30 last month
at Little Ferry turf ground in North
Bergen, NJ. The organizers man‑
aged to secure an exciting lineup
of sponsors including Precious
Pebbles Inc as Cup and tourna‑ Freedom Cup USA with 8 teams was held in association with CricMax USA
ment Sponsor.
All the 8 teams gave their best Executive Committee
performances but there was only
one winner in the end. Team
Hitesh Patel: Bansari Trading
Rebellion showed great team spirit
Rayaz A. Takat: Takat Gems
Sushil Goyal: Liberty Gems
to win all their group stage games
and the playoff championship.
Paresh Vedawala: Ruchi
Gems/Kush Gold
Team Takat Power Rangers was
the runner up.
Ranvirsingh Sishodia:
Sparkling Jewels USA
The scores could be accessed live
on the tournament app. The South SPONSORS
Asian Times and TV Asia were the
media sponsors. Diamond Sponsor:
Freedom Cup USA partnered Precious Pebbles Inc
with CricMax, which has an Emerald Sponsor:
indoor sports facility Green Rock NY Inc
in New Jersey Ruby Sponsor:
and also pro‑ Mass Mutual (Ajay K. Jain),
vides crick‑ Van Lennep & Co (Peter Van
et coach‑ Lennep) & Aanya, Inc
ing and (Davender Baid)
sells The tournament Executive Committee posing with the Grand Sapphire Sponsor:
cricket Sponsor, (from left) Grand Sponsor Mohammed Ausaf (Precious PNG Jewelers (Anil Soni), AP
gear Pebbles Inc), Ranbir Sisodia, Hitesh Patel, Paresh Vedawala, Management (Kamal N
online. Rayaz A. Takat and Sushil Goyal. Mohideen), Jaipur Foot USA
(Prem Bhandari), The South
Man of the Series Alpesh Jiwani Asian Times (Kamlesh Mehta)
of Team Jersey Titans receiving Teams and Sponsors
his trophy from Hitesh Patel.
Power Rangers ‐
Takat Gems USA, Inc
Liberty Fighters ‑
Liberty Gems Inc
Jersey Titans ‐
Bansari Trading LLC
Gladiators ‐
Sparkling Jewels USA
Youth Power Cricket Club ‐
Hansa Diamonds and
SuperJewelers.com
Rebellion ‑ Green Gems USA
Jersey Eagles ‑ Ruchi Gems &
Kush Gold
Jersey Tiranga ‐
Tournament Executive Committee with Man of the Match,
R3 Diamonds, DHK Gems Corp
(from left) Sushil Goyal, Rayaz Takat, Man of Match Dharav Patel,
The Working Committee members posing at the closing ceremony & Aj. T
Paresh Vedawala, Hitesh Patel and Ranbir Sisodia.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info October 6-12, 2018 15
 16 October 6-12, 2018
India's #MeToo moment: Bollywood speaks up for Tanushree
D
ays after actress Tanushree Dutta's
sexual harassment allegations
against veteran actor Nana Patekar
created a whirlwind, a gamut of stars like
Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Vir Das
and Anurag Kashyap have spoken out
strongly in support of the former beauty
queen and a safer working environment for
women.
Tanushree had first raised the allegation
against the actor in 2008. She brought the
spotlight once again on her unpleasant
experience of working with Nana during the
shooting of "Horn 'Ok' Pleassss", in a recent
interview.
Nana, 67, denied all allegations and said:
"What can I do about what one says? You
tell me. What does it mean by sexual harass‑
ment?"
While veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan
chose to steer clear from commenting on
the controversy, drawing flak from the
social media world, a string of celebrities
raised their voice.
Here's what they wrote:
Priyanka Chopra: The world needs to
believe survivors.
Farhan Akhtar, who has launched a social
campaign Men Against Rape and
Discrimination or MARD in 2013, re‑tweet‑
ed a string of posts by an eyewitness about
the details of Tanushree's ordeal.
"This thread is very telling. Janice (Janice
Sequeira, who at that time was with a news
Can't think of anything more boring
than retirement: Bryan Adams
B
ryan Adams has spent over 30
years in the
music
industry, celebrat‑
ing many mile‑
stones. And he is in
no mood to rest his
vocal chords any‑
time soon. The
Grammy Award‑win‑
ning singer‑song‑
writer says music
isn't for a short time,
but for a lifetime.
"I cannot think of
anything more boring
than retirement. Why
would anyone want to
do that? Keep your
mind active, do what
you love to do," Adams Grammy‑win
told IANS in an email inter‑
view. "Music isn't for a short
time, it's for a lifetime," added the Canadian reasons today as the day I started. I love
music star, who will perform in India in
October.
Known for his signature brand of feel‑
good rock and roll and big ballads, Adams
attained international glory with his 1984
album "Reckless" ‑‑ which include classics
like "Summer of ʻ69", "Heaven" and "Run to
you".
Adams feels musicians need to stay
inspired to stay relevant.
"And that doesn't happen from standing
still. You have to keep moving and continue with other people,” he added.
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Haven't received any legal
notice from Nana: Tanushree
D
espite getting threats of legal
notice from Nana Patekar for
accusing him of sexual assault,
actress Tanushree Dutta revealed that nei‑
ther has she got any legal notice from the
actor's lawyer nor is she afraid of him. "I
am putting together a team of lawyers
and advocates to defend my interests.
Also contrary to claims made by Nana's
lawyer, I have not received any legal
channel) was there at the time of the inci‑
dent being debated today. Even when
Tanushree Dutta had career concerns to
keep quiet 10 years ago, she did not. And
her story has not changed now. Her courage
should be admired, not her intention ques‑
tioned," Farhan said.
Actress Richa Chadha wrote: "It hurts to
be Tanushree Dutta right now. To be alone,
questioned. No woman wants publicity that
opens the floodgates of trolling and insensi‑
tivity. What happened to her on set was
intimidation. Her only fault was she did not
back down ‑‑ (that) takes a special courage
to be Tanushree Dutta."
Actress Swara Bhasker shared her post,
yan Adams
ning singer Br
a in October.
will visit Indi
to create. I'm in this for the same
songs and I love singing. I think most
artistes tend to take control of themselves
at some point. "But, I think, at some point,
you also have to let go, because in order to
let people come in and help you get to the
next stage of your career or the next thing
you want to do, you can't tell people what
to do. You've gotta let them do their thing. I
enjoy collaborating with other artistes
because there's a certain sense of breaking
out of your own mould a bit, if you work
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Actress and
former Miss
India
Universe
Tanushree
Dutta.
notice. So 'Bluffmaster' gogo needs
to step up his game a bit here,"
the former beauty queen said in a
statement.
Tanushree said that no one
can stop her from speaking
the truth and the "threat of
legal notice" can't intimi‑
date her.
and wrote: "This is a long
thread, but one that must
be read.... lots of clues here
as to why Bollywood's
#MeToo moment is so far
away. Because we don't want
to hear these voices."
Producer‑author Twinkle Khanna
also shared Sequeira's posts and
tweeted: "Please read this thread
before judging or shaming Tanushree
Dutta ‑‑ a working environment without
harassment and intimidation is a fundamen‑
tal right and by speaking up this brave
woman helps pave the way towards that
very goal for all of us!"
'Sui Dhaaga: Made In
India': Predictable
By Troy Ribeiro overboard with melodrama, the hero's strug‑
gle is formulaic and the silver lining pre‑
A
ll without doubt, "Sui Dhaaga" is a dictable. The director has taken cinematic lib‑
sweet, warm‑hearted and inspira‑ erties to propel the narrative, making the film
tional film set in the world of working lose its sheen and emotional connect.
class India. It is a formulaic, feel‑good film Varun Dhawan as Mauji and Anushka
portraying the travails of a self‑made entre‑ Sharma as Mamta look an odd couple from
preneur. the very beginning and that's what makes
Starting on a low‑key note in a them appealing. They are both sin‑
small town in India, the film fol‑ REVIEW cere in their projection and you feel
lows the life of Mauji (Varun their pain and pangs during the
Dhawan), a contented person working as an course of time. How their relationship blos‑
all‑rounder, handyman in a shop selling soms is what makes you want to watch them
sewing machines. further.
While the film tries to give you a realistic Overall, albeit heart‑warming, there are
view of real life, the writing is what lets it other inspirational stories that are bound‑
down. The narrative is all glossed‑up. It goes lessly better.
As a couple,
actors Varun
Dhawan and
Anushka
sharma are
convincing in
their roles.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD October 6-12, 2018 17

Manto speaks post‑Partition India's 'Inside Edge'

truth with relentless fury nominated for International
By Saeed Naqvi
Emmy Awards
N
andita Das' film on

the subcontinent's
greatest short
story writer, Saadat Hasan
Manto, brought alive mem‑
ories of days when it was
fashionable to be on the
Left. That is where all the
progressive writers were ‑‑
Ali Sardar Jafri, Kaifi Azmi,
Ismat Chugtai, Sahir
Ludhianvi, Krishen Chander,
Rajinder Singh Bedi, Majrooh
The portrayal of post‑Part
Sultanpuri, the lot.
The Pied Piper who lured
them to Bombay (Mumbai) was the innova‑
tive Secretary General of the Communist
Party of India (CPI), P.C. Joshi. Socialism even
in Raj Kapoor films was influenced by the
ambience that this lot had generated. They
determined the character of Bollywood by
their lyrics, dialogue and sheer presence.
Subsequently, the influence disappeared but
not totally. Witness Nandita Das.
At one level, Manto's uncompromising real‑ world's finest short stories at her disposal,
ism sustains the tension throughout the film
because it clashes with the dogmatic ideal‑
ism of his colleagues. Das assembles many of
them and their friends in cinema, Ashok
Kumar, Shyam (Chaddha) in the first
Independence Day party where the leg‑
endary Jaddan Bai regales the gathering. The
teenage girl behind her mother Jaddan Bai is
unmistakably Nargis. The way Manto pro‑
tects Ashok Kumar through a mob of Muslim
rioters is unbelievably realistic. His parting
with his closest friend, the handsome actor
Shyam, because of Partition, is rich in
poignancy.
The Partition of India is replete with many
tragic ironies but tragedies pale before the
incident that Manto picks on as
a metaphor for the mayhem: Toba Tek Singh.
I
ndian cricket‑themed series "Inside Edge" cricket and its dark side, which involves the
is Amazon's only representation in the business world, the world of glamor and
International Emmy Awards nomination entertainment and politics that goes around
list as it has landed a spot in the best drama it.
category. The team is ecstatic. It was told through characters essayed by
The show will go up against buzzy Spanish Richa Chadha, Vivek Oberoi, Tanuj Virwani,
series "Money Heist", Brazil‑produced "One Sidhhant Chaturvedi, Sanjay Suri, Sarah Jane
Against All" and "Urban Myths", which was Dias, Sayoni Gupta and Angad Bedi.
on Sky in the UK, as per the nominations An excited Richa tweeted: "Despite detrac‑
announced by the International Academy of tors, was always proud to be part of India's
Television Arts and Sciences. first original series! It's now nominated for
ition mayhem is Produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh the International Emmys! Congratulations
ractions.
one of the filmʼs major att Sidhwani under their banner Excel Media and team ‑ especially to our team of writers, and
Entertainment Private Limited, "Inside Edge" again Excel Entertainment for having and
When Bishan Singh, a Sikh in a Pakistan asy‑ came as Amazon's original web series from keeping the faith!"
lum, is being transferred to India under India in July 2017. The awards gala will take place in New
police escort he learns that his hometown, The story of "Inside Edge" revolves around York on November 19.
Toba Tek Singh, has been left in Pakistan.
Bishan Singh begins to walk in the opposite
direction. The last scene shows him lying in
no‑man's land.
The extraordinary directorial success lies
in what Nandita Das has avoided. Despite the
she has refrained from creating a catalogue
of Manto masterpieces, however seductive
the idea may have been. The stories are in
the service of the director's primary purpose:
To bring out the multilayered life of a genius,
struggling to keep the wolf from the door, a
difficult proposition when tight‑fisted pub‑
lishers buy a short story only for Rs 20
against Manto's demand for Rs 50. He
accepts the humiliation because he is in des‑
perate need for money for his child's medical
treatment. The film's other attraction is the
portrayal of an era along a distinct track ‑‑
post‑Partition mayhem, breakdown of friend‑
ships, relationships, Manto's parting from
Bombay deliberately preserving a one rupee
debt to a cigarette seller as a "precious" link
with the city he loved. A still from cricket‑themed series ʻInside Edgeʼ.

Big Bʼs generosity on 'special appearances' uncommon

By Subhash K Jha This was special, because I was cajoling could convince him oth‑
There will never be instrumental in getting him to do erwise. Finally, I got a call from

A
another Amitabh mitabh Bachchan shares a
Bachchan ever again. very special rapport with
Ajay Devgn. Ajay's father,
the famed stunt co‑ordinator
Veeru Devgan, is a friend of
Bachchan. The friendship contin‑
ues with the next generation,
with Ajay and Abhishek Bachhan
sharing very warm vibes.
So when Ajay requested the
senior Bachchan to make a spe‑
cial appearance in his production
"Ela Helicopter", the film starring
Ajay's wife Kajol, the veteran
actor readily agreed.
There was no question of any
monetary transaction. Bachchan
has appeared in many films for
fleeting appearances out of
goodwill.
To me Bachchan's most memo‑
rable guest appearances as him‑
self was in the Kannada film
"Amrithadhare".
this role. The film couldn't be
made without Bachchan's
appearance (unless they man‑
aged with a duplicate) for the
crucial scene in which a dying
girl finally meets Bachchan. Since
they had heard of my closeness
to him, they made this one last
attempt.
Considering the urgency of the
situation, this was the only time I
asked Bachchan for a favor. He
immediately agreed. On the
appointed day, the crew of
"Amrithadhare" landed in
Mumbai to shoot the required
sequence. Bachchan arrived at
the exact time and shot the
scene. He was about to leave
when the nervous director came
forward with a gift.
But Bachchan refused to take
the gift (an expensive pen).
No amount of coaxing and
the frantic director asking me to
request the icon to accept the
gift. Only then did Mr B oblige.
Such is the greatness and gen‑
erosity of this mega‑star. I later
asked him why he was so reluc‑
tant to accept the gift from the
grateful director and he had
replied. "Won't accept any remu‑
neration means won't accept
anything. You told me the film
needed my presence. That was
it."
Cut to many decades later
when Dibakar Banenerjee need‑
ed Ranbir Kapoor to appear as
himself in "Bombay Talkies".
Many attempts to get the actor
failed and Dibakar finally had to
use a double. There is a lesson to
be had from the above incident
on why there will never be
another Amitabh Bachchan ever
again.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info October 6-12, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Aadhaar: A landmark verdict
for the greater common good
By Zoheb Hossain
T
he hearing in the constitu‑
tional challenge to Aadhaar
started on January 17 and
lasted till May 10. On the day the
hearings were concluded and the
judgment reserved, the Attorney
General KK Venugopal remarked
that this was the second‑longest
hearing in the history of independ‑
ent India after the case of
Kesavananda Bharati, where the
basic structure doctrine was held
as a limitation on the constituent
power of Parliament.
The length of the hearings in the
Aadhaar case is commensurate to
the gravity of the issues involved
and the judges have risen to the
occasion in delivering a judgment
of the highest quality. The patience
and democratic nature of the hear‑
ings cannot be emphasised more.
The court was equally attentive to
junior lawyers such as myself, as it
was to legal giants such as KK
Venugopal, Kapil Sibal and P
Chidambaram .
DECRIMINALISATION OF ADULTERY IS
FIRST OF MANY STEPS
By Gautam Bhatia
A
five‑judge bench of the
Supreme Court has struck
down Section 497 of the
Indian Penal Code (IPC), and
decriminalized adultery in India (it
remains a “civil offence”, that can
be a ground for divorce). The judg‑
ment is important not simply
because it got rid of an archaic and
patriarchal law, but also because of
its consequences for the future.
Section 497 of the IPC ̶ part of
the British‑enacted penal code of
1860 ̶ criminalized adultery, but
did so “asymmetrically”: that is,
only the man ̶ and not the
woman ̶ who engaged in adul‑
tery could be punished. Moreover,
only the husband could bring a
prosecution for adultery; but he
would have no case if he had “con‑
sented” or “connived” in the adul‑
terous act.
This set of bizarre conditions
together constituted a near‑perfect
storm of patriarchy. The husband
being authorized to bring a prose‑
cution against the “other man” (but
not if he “consented” to the rela‑
tionship) smacked of the belief
that, on marriage, ownership over
The Aadhaar verdict will help us leapfrog to a more equitable society.
Having said that, while the judg‑
ments are expansive and deal with
several issues, I would like to
address a few aspects that make
them truly landmark and pushes
jurisprudence forward.
At the outset, Justice Arjan
Kumar Sikri, who has delivered the
majority opinion on behalf of Chief
Justice Dipak Misra, Ajay
Manikrao Khanwilkar and himself,
gives a gentle reminder, not once,
but twice, in his judgment that
a womanʼs body passes from her
father to her husband.
The woman has no independent
personality but is, instead, sub‑
sumed into the personality of her
husband, for the purposes of law
and for society. And exempting the
adulterous wife from criminal pro‑
ceedings ̶ although seemingly a
benefit to her ̶ was nonetheless
based on the idea that it is the man
who is the seducer, and it is the
woman who is sexually submissive,
and lacking agency in a relation‑
ship (and hence, the asymmetry:
you cannot punish someone for
something they are not responsi‑
ble for).
Both these presumptions were
staple features of Victorian law
and morality, which was the basis
of the Indian Penal Code of 1860.
Not only was this all a matter of
historical record, but it had even
been accepted by the courts. The
Bombay High Court acknowledged,
for instance, that the section was
premised on the assumption that
women were chattels (although
the Supreme Court would ultimate‑
ly go on to uphold the constitution‑
ality). And the Supreme Court itself
remarked, a few decades after this,
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
OP-ED
notwithstanding the passions,
emotions, despair and rhetoric
expressed by both sides, the
Supreme Court has adopted a calm
and composed approach and
decided the matter on the touch‑
stone of constitutional provisions.
The majority view acknowledges
the case as a “hard” one and recog‑
nises the competing constitutional
norms and interests, which arise in
the matter and emphasises the role
of the Supreme Court as assigned
The decriminalization of adultery serves as a launch pad for greater
freedom, equality, and independence within what is commonly
understood to be the private sphere.
that it was generally the man who
acted as a seducer.
With all this in the background,
it was an easy task for the
Constitution Bench to unanimous‑
ly strike down the section as
unconstitutional. The four concur‑
ring opinions ̶ authored by the
Chief Justice, RF Nariman, DY
Chandrachud, and Indu Malhotra
̶ all agreed that the law was
based on gender stereotypes, and
therefore violated Article 14 of the
Constitution (equal protection of
October 6-12, 2018
by the Constitution to be the final
arbiter of such competing claims.
The Court notes that whereas, on
the one hand, right of personal
autonomy is a part of dignity (and
right to privacy), another part of
dignity of the same individual is to
lead a dignified life as well (which
is again a facet of Article 21 of the
Constitution).
Therefore, in a scenario where
the State is coming out with wel‑
fare schemes, which strive at giv‑
ing dignified life in harmony with
human dignity and in the process
some aspect of autonomy is sacri‑
ficed, the balancing of the two
becomes an important task which
is to be achieved by the courts.
The majority opinion has tested
the validity of the Aadhaar Act
through a rigorous four‑stage pro‑
portionality test and has rejected
the arguments on surveillance and
breach of privacy after examining
the entire Aadhaar ecosystem and
satisfying itself of the security
measures deployed at each stage
of the process from enrolment to
laws), and also Article 15(1) (non‑
discrimination on grounds of sex).
The exemption of women from
criminal liability was not a benefit,
but rather, part of a broader set of
presumptions that effectively
caged and limited them. But the
court also went one step further: it
also held that adultery could not
be criminalized at all. The court
held that subjecting interpersonal
relationships (where there was no
violence) to the rigors of criminal
law would amount to an unwar‑
19
authentication.
Dignity as a community value
has guided the court to explore the
role of the State and community in
establishing collective goals and
restrictions on individual freedoms
and rights on behalf of a certain
idea of the good life.
The Supreme Court has
addressed the heart of the issue
and held that enrolment in
Aadhaar of the unprivileged and
marginalized section of society, in
order to avail the fruits of welfare
schemes of the government, actu‑
ally amounts to empowering these
persons. On the one hand, it gives
such individuals their unique iden‑
tity and, on the other hand, it also
enables such individuals to avail
the fruits of welfare schemes of the
government.
In that sense, the Aadhaar
scheme ensures dignity to such
individuals.
The use of data by private enti‑
ties, however, under Section 57
pursuant to a contract has been
read down since a contractual pro‑
vision is not backed by a law and,
therefore, the first requirement of
proportionality test – that there
must be a law, is not met.
(Zoheb Hossain represented the
UIDAI before the Constitution
Bench in the Aadhaar challenge.
The Op‑ED appeared in The
Hindustan Times)
ranted intrusion into the right to
privacy.
Therefore, the legislature could
not respond to the judgment by
passing a fresh, gender‑neutral
adultery offence: that, too, would
be unconstitutional, this time
under Article 21 of the
Constitution.
The judgment of the Supreme
Court is also important, however,
for the further implications that it
may have. All the judges were clear
that a woman has the right to bod‑
ily integrity, individual choice, and
personal autonomy not just
against the State, but also within
the context of the home and the
family. This immediately calls into
question a number of our laws that
actively deny these rights.
The decriminalization of adul‑
tery may have a ripple effect that
goes beyond its immediate context,
and serves as a launchpad for
greater freedom, equality, and
independence within what is com‑
monly understood to be the pri‑
vate sphere.
(Gautam Bhatia is an advocate in
the Supreme Court. The article
appeared in The Hindustan Times)
 20 October 6-12, 2018 SUBCONTINENT TheSouthAsianTimes.info

At UNGA, Sushma slams Pak for promoting terror

United Nations: In her speech to
the General Assembly that shined
a spotlight on Pakistan's complici‑
ty with the "demon of terrorism",
India's External Af fairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj warned of a "con‑
flagration" if the world does not
act against terrorists and their
supporters.
Her speech in Hindi gave an
overview of the domestic and
global concerns of India that list‑
ed terrorism and climate change
as the two biggest existential
threats to the world.
In a scathing attack on
Pakistan's sponsorship of terror‑
ists, she said, "The demon of ter‑
rorism now stalks the world, at a
faster pace somewhere, a slower
pace elsewhere, but life‑threaten‑
ing everywhere."
"In our case, terrorism is bred
not in some faraway land, but
across our border to the west,"
she added.
"The killers of 9/11 met their
fate; but the mastermind of 26/11
Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets
of Pakistan with impunity."
She accused Pakistan of "duplic‑
ity" and "hypocrisy," citing the
shelter it gave Osama bin Laden.
Indiaʼs External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
addresses the 73rd UNGA Session.
She called for going beyond list‑
ing terrorists for sanctions by the
UN and taking on their protectors,
a direct reference to Pakistan.
To decisively act against terror‑
ists and nations protecting them,
she said, "Each year, for last five
years, India has been arguing
from this podium that lists are not
enough to check terrorists and
their protectors. We need to bring
them to accountability through
international law."
Swaraj called accusations by
Pakistan that India was "sabotag‑
ing the process of talks" between
them "a complete lie."
"We believe that talks are the
only rational means to resolve the
most complex of disputes," she
reiterated.
Many Indian governments
under dif ferent parties tried to
hold talks and pursue a peace
process, but "if they stopped, it
was only because of Pakistan's
behavior," she said.
"Please explain to me how we
could pursue talks in the midst of
terrorist bloodshed," she asked.
Qureshi mounts multi-pronged
attack on India at UN
United Nations: Pakistan mount‑
ed a multi‑pronged attack on
India at the UN General
Assembly, bringing up Kashmir,
alleging Indian links to the
Pakistani Taliban, opposing
Security Council reform and crit‑
icizing the US and others who
provide defence equipment to
New Delhi. Pakistan Foreign
Minister Makhdoom Shah
Mahmood Qureshi, who spoke
after India's External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj had
delivered a scathing attack on
Islamabad for promoting terror‑
ism, tried to portray his country
as the victim on terror.
Speaking in Urdu, he trotted
She hit back at Pakistan's criti‑
cism of India's human rig hts
record saying that Islamabad
throws "the dust of deceit and
deception against India in order
to provide some thin cover for its
own guilt." She called for the early
out an allegation that India was
behind the Pakistani Taliban
that carried out the Army school
attack in 2014 that killed about
150 students.
He also mentioned Kulbhushan
Jadhav as its evidence of India's
involvement with terrorism in
Pakistan
He said that Pakistan wanted
talks with India, but the govern‑
ment of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has backed out
of it on "flimsy grounds," but
made no mention of the killing
of three security personnel in
Kashmir, which India cited as the
reason to call off the most
recent talks.
adoption of the Comprehensive
Convent ion on Internat ional
Terrorism, which was proposed by
India in 1996 and has been
stalled because of UN members
can't agree on a definition of ter‑
rorism.

Poll campaign kicks Pakistani helicopter violates

off in Afghanistan Indian air space
Jammu: A Pakistani helicopter
violated Indian air space in
Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch
sector but an Indian Defense
Ministry spokesman said it was
likely a civilian chopper.
According to reports from
Pakistan, Pakistan‑o ccupied
Kashmirʼs Prime Minister Raja
Farooq Haider Khan was travel‑
ling in this chopper.
Spokesman Lt Colone l
Devender Anand said that the
Pakistani chopper, flying very
high, committed the violation at
12.10 p.m.
“It entered around 700m inside
the Indian territory and flew over
Krishna Ghat i sector be fore
returning,” he said.
Indian troops fired at the heli‑
copter with small arms. The heli‑
copter withdrew into Pakistani
territory after five minutes, the
spokesman added. The incident
comes at a time when relations
between the two neighbors are at The chopper entered around
a low. 700m inside the Indian territory.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (C) with people in Ghazni,

where polling has been delayed.
Kabul: The electoral campaign
for the long‑delayed Afghan
parliamentary and district
councilʼs elections began across
the country.
The polling will be held on
October 20. Around 2,691 can‑
didates from 33 out of 34
provinces (excluding Ghazni)
will stand for the Parliament's
249 seats, Xinhua news agency
reported.
The first parliamentary elec‑
tion in the post‑Taliban
Afghanistan was held in 2005
while the second parliamentary
polls took place in 2010.
Meanwhile, elections in
Ghazni province are reportedly
Hasina asks for early
delayed by Afghan Election
Commission for several rea‑
sons, including lack of female
candidates for district councils'
repatriation of Rohingyas
New York: Bangladeshi Prime
seats.
Minister Sheikh Hasina has Bangladesh
Based on the electoral time‑
asked for early repatriation of PM Sheikh
line, the election campaign for
Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. Hasina
districts councils' nominees will
In her speech at the UN General addressed
start on October 3. The elec‑ the
Assembly General Debate, Hasina
toral campaign will end on Rohingya
regretted the fact that repatria‑
October 17. issue in
tion had not started in a perma‑
Over 9 million registered vot‑ UNGA.
nent and sustainable manner,
ers, including 3 million women,
reports Xinhua news agency.
will cast their ballots to elect
"Myanmar is one of our neigh‑ arrangements have been con‑ authorities are yet to accept
members of Wolesi Jirga or
bors. From the outset, we have cluded between Bangladesh and them back.
lower house of Parliament for a
been trying to find a peaceful Myanmar for Rohingya repatria‑ "The Rohingya crisis has had
five‑year term while they will
solution to the Rohingya crisis tion. Despite their verbal com‑ its origin in Myanmar. As such,
also vote to elect members of
through bilateral consultations," mitment to take back the its solution has to be found in
the district councils.
she said. "So far, three bilateral Rohingya, in reality the Myanmar Myanmar...”
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
N Korea says it needs trust in
US before denuclearization
United Nations: North Korea
demanded the United States take
steps to secure Pyongyang's trust
before its denuclearization.
"Without any trust in the US
there will be no confidence in our
national security and under such
circumstances there is no way we
will unilaterally disarm ourselves
first," North Korean Foreign
Minister Ri Yong Ho told the UN
General Assembly, Xinhua report‑
ed.
"DPRK government's commit‑
ment to denuclearization is solid
and firm. However, it is only possi‑
ble if the US secures our sufficient
trust toward the US"
The key to consolidating peace
and security on the Korean
Peninsula is to thoroughly imple‑
ment the joint statement adopted
at the historic summit between
North Korea's top leader Kim Jong
Un and US President Donald
Trump in Singapore in June, said
Ri.
"Once the DPRK‑US Joint
Statement is implemented, the cur‑
rent trend toward detente will turn
into durable peace, and the com‑
plete denuclearizat ion of the
Korean Peninsula will also be
achieved."
Even before the summit, North
Korea took significant good‑will
measures such as stopping nuclear
and ballistic missile tests and dis‑
mantling a nuclear test site, said
Ri.
"However, we do not see any cor‑
responding response from the U.S.
On the contrary, instead of
addressing our concern for the
British PM accuses critics
of playing Brexit politics
London: British Prime Minister
Theresa May accused those who
refuse to back the Chequers plan
for Brexit of "playing politics"
with the UK's future.
The comment came in an inter‑
view with the Sunday Times, in
which May stressed that the
Chequers plan was the only work‑
able strategy, and signalled she
had a "long‑term" job to do as
Prime Minister, Xinhua reported.
May says her plan for the UK
and European Union (EU) to share
a "common rulebook" for goods,
but not services, is the only credi‑
ble way to avoid a hard border
between Northern Ireland and the
Irish Republic.
The strategy has been fiercely
criticized by Brexiteers, who say it
would compromise the UK's sov‑
ereignty and betray the 2016 ref‑
erendum vote.
INTERNATIONAL October 6-12, 2018 21
Death toll from Indonesia's
quakes, tsunami soars to 832
Jakarta: The death toll from
Indonesia's strong quakes and
Their number is still a lot. Many
areas have not been reached. So
tsunami in Central Sulawesi that the number of victims is like‑
province soared to 832 as lack of ly to increase," Sutopo told a press
rescuers and vast stretches of land conference.
hard to access hampered search Strong and shallow under‑earth
and rescue efforts, a government quakes of 6.0‑, 7.4‑ and 6.1‑mag‑
official said here. nitude that triggered a tsunami
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said have devastated the province, with
the toll could rise into the thou‑ the hardest‑hit area in Palu, the
sands as the death figure now provincial capital and Donggala
came mainly from the city of Palu district.
while the situation in the other The tsunami, with a height of
two densely populated districts 0.5 to 3 meters, devastated
remained unclear as they were cut coastal areas near Talisa beach in
off from communications and Palu city and Donggala district,
help, Xinhua news agency reports. the Meteorology and Geophysics
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. Among the death figures, 821 Agency said.
were recorded in Palu, the provin‑ Sutopo said the search and res‑
cial capital, and the rest in cue operation had been hampered
Trump claims Obama nearly Donggala district, while figures in
two other affected districts, Parigi
by electricity outage, cut‑off com‑
munications and limited number
launched war with N Korea Moutong and North Mamuju,
were not included, the National
of heavy machinery equipment.
Meanwhile, a total of 61 foreign
New York: US President Donald Trump has again claimed that his
Disaster Management Agency's nationals were affected during the
predecessor Barack Obama was close to starting a war with North
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. disasters, including 21 Chinese
Korea, saying that if he "wasn't elected, there would have been a
"Besides, there are still many citizens who have been secured
war". "President Obama thought you had to go to war. You know
bodies that have not been identi‑ safely along with those from
how close he was to pressing the trigger," Trump said at a solo
fied. The victims remain under Singapore, Belgium, Germany and
press conference here on Wednesday, adding that "not thou‑
rubble or flattened buildings. Vietnam, said Sutopo.
sands... (But) millions of people would have been killed" in what
"could have been a world war", cnn reported. "If I wasn't elected,
you'd be in a war," Trump declared, seeking to bolster his claim by
implying that Obama had "essentially" told him so directly.
absence of peace regime in the rant about us. But the problem is
Korean Peninsula, the U.S. insists that the continued sanctions are
on 'denuclearization‑first' and deepening our mistrust."
increases the level of pressure by At this critical juncture, the US
sanctions to achieve their purpose should make a foresighted judg‑
in a coercive manner, and even ment that faithful fulfilment of its
objecting the 'declaration of the commitment will, in the end, be in
end of war'." the best national interests of the
"The perception that sanctions United Sates and should maintain
can bring us on our knees is a pipe new method for solving North A quake‑shattered building in Palu, Indonesia.
dream of the people who are igno‑ Korea‑US relations, he said.
IRAN LAUNCHES MISSILE
STRIKES AT SYRIA
Tehran: Iran's Revolut ionary
Guard Corps announced targeting
"terrorists'" bases in Syria with
missiles and drones in response to
a deadly attack on a military
parade last month.
In the operation, which targeted
an area in the east of the
Euphrates river in Syria, the
Revolutionary Guard Corps used
six mid‑range missiles and seven
drones, according to a statement
cited by the BBC.
"A big number of the terrorists
were killed or injured in the
attack," said the statement posted
on Revolutionary Guards' Sepah
News website.
Iran's action came in response
to the September 22 terror attack
British PM Theresa Mayʼs on its military parade in Ahvaz
strategy has been criticized city, in which 25 people were
by the Brexiteers. killed and dozens were injured. The missile strikes were aimed at terrorist bases in Syria (file photo).
 22 October 6-12, 2018 BUSINESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

India, Uzbekistan set $1‑billion bilateral trade target

New Delhi: India and Uzbekistan
set an annual bilateral trade tar‑
get of $1 billion to be achieved
within two years and agreed to
boost connectivity as the two
sides signed 17 ag reements
across a range of sectors follow‑
ing delegation‑level talks led by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and Uzbekistan President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev here on Monday.
The two sides also agreed to
further strengthen their Strategic
Partnership which will be a boost
to India's increasing engagements
with Central Asia.
"We have agreed to strengthen
trade and investment ties and
have set a bilateral trade target of
$1 billion by 2020," Modi said in
a joint address to the media with
Mirziyoyev following the the
talks.
"We have also decided to start
negotiations for a preferential
trade agreement," he said.
India‑Uzbekistan bilateral trade
stands at around $350 million
on the importance of Chabahar
port in Iran that is jointly being
deve loped by India, Iran and
Afghanistan.
He also expressed gratitude to
Uzbekistan for its support in
India becoming a member of the
Ashgabat Agreement, which seeks
to establish an internat ional
transport and transit corridor
between Iran, Oman,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan,
earlier this year.
"We are happy that Uzbekistan
has agreed to be a part of the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Internat ional North South
Mirziyoyev at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS/PIB) Transport Corridor (INSTC)," he
said.
now and the new target repre‑ and buyer's credit from Exim The INSTC is a 7,200‑km‑long
sents a six‑fold increase over this. Bank," he said. multi‑modal network of ship, rail
Modi also said that India has "We have proposed to he lp and road routes for moving
decided to extend a line of credit Uzbekistan in the areas of space, freig ht between India, Iran,
(LoC) of $200 million to human resource development Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Uzbekistan for housing and other and information technology." Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
social infrastructure projects. Modi said that in Monday's Modi said that during the talks,
"Apart from this, we will wel‑ talks, they discussed ways to both sides shared their vision and
come Uzbekistan's proposals boost connectivity. plans to further strengthen the
under $800 million line of credit In this connection, he stressed Strategic Partnership that they
share. The India‑Uzbekistan rela‑
tionship was elevated to that of a
Strategic Partnership during the
visit of then Uzbek President
Islam Karimov to India in 2011.
"Meaningful discussions were
also held on regional issues of
importance that are linked to our
security, peace, prosperity and
cooperation," Modi said.
In terms of defense coopera‑
tion, the Prime Minister said that
India and Uzbekistan discussed
joint military exercises and mili‑
tary educat ion and training
among other areas.
Stating that both India and
Uzbekistan seek a secure and
prosperous external environment,
he said that a stable, democratic,
inclusive and prosperous
Afghanistan will be beneficial for
the whole region.
On his part, Mirziyoyev said
that the India‑Uzbe kistan
Strategic Partnership is very
important for Tashkent's foreign
policy.

US, Canada reach deal DR REDDY'S SELLS

to salvage Nafta
Washington: The US and Canada have
reached a last minute deal to salvage
the North American Free Trade
Agreement (Nafta), overcoming deep
divisions to keep the 25‑year‑old tri‑
lateral pact intact.
The deal came on Sunday night
after a weekend of frantic talks to try
and preserve a trade agreement that
has stitched together the economies
of Mexico, Canada and the US but that
was in danger of collapsing amid deep
divisions between President Donald
Trump and Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau, reports The New York
Times.
T he 11th‑hour ag reement was
punctuated by a frenetic Sunday, with
Canadian leaders teleconferencing
throug hout the day w ith top
American officials in Washington.
Trudeau convened a cabinet meet‑
ing in Ottawa to brief officials on the
deal, as Jared Kushner, Trump's son‑
in‑law and his close adviser, and
Robert E. Lig hthizer, the Trade
Representative, hashed out the final
details. Mexico's Under Secretary of
Foreign Trade, Juan Carlos Baker, was
Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau. (File Photo: IANS)
expected to present the texts of the
agreement to the Mexican senate just
before midnight.
T he deal represents a w in for
Trump, who has derided Nafta for
years and threatened to pull the US
from the pact if it was not rewritten in
Washington's favour.
The Trump administration struck a
deal w ith Mexico last month to
MANUFACTURING
FACILITY IN US
Hyderabad: Pharma major Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd on
rewrite Nafta and had threatened to
Monday announced the sale of its antibiotic manufacturing
jettison Canada from the pact if it did
facility and related assets in Tennessee, US, for an undis‑
not agree to concessions like opening
closed sum.
its dairy market to American farmers.
The Hyderabad‑headquartered company said it sold the
T he W hite House had set a
facility and related assets to Neopharma Inc., a wholly
September 30 deadline to release the
owned subsidiary of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE)
text of its new trade agreement with
largest pharmaceutical manufacturer headquartered in
Mexico.
Abu Dhabi. According to a statement by Dr Reddy's, it sold
Informed sources told The New
all the issued and outstanding membership interests in Dr.
York Times that Canada will now ease
Reddy's Laboratories Tennessee, LLC and certain related
protections on its dairy market and
assets. "This sale is in line with our stated priority to
provide access that is similar to what
streamline and optimize our global cost structures and
the US would have gained through the
help us focus on other business priorities to drive growth,"
Trans‑Pacific Partnership, a trade
said Erez Israeli, Chief Operating Officer for Dr. Reddy's.
treaty that Trump withdrew from last
Suresh Nandiraju, Chief Operating Officer of Neopharma
year.
Inc., said that this acquisition is synergetic and will
The countries also appear to have
strengthen their product portfolio for driving long‑term,
reached an understanding that would
sustainable growth by leveraging their global presence.The
protect Canada from the threat of
plant and associated facilities focus on manufacturing or
automobile tariffs, which Trump has
packaging amoxicillin‑based products, which include a
routinely threatened, though it is not
semi‑synthetic penicillin.
clear how far those protections would
The 390,000‑square‑foot facility is dedicated to second‑
extend.
ary oral‑solid dose penicillin manufacturing/packaging and
Canada also appears ready to accept
includes processing, packaging, development, printing and
assurances that steel and aluminium
warehouse spaces.
tarif fs that Trump has imposed will
A separate 24,000‑square‑foot plastics‑processing facili‑
be lifted, though it remains unclear
ty in Bristol, Tennessee, is also included in the transaction,
whether the taxes would be replaced
it added.
by quotas that limit metal imports.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
India win a memorable Asia Cup of close finishes
By Veturi Srivatsa
T
he just‑concluded Asia Cup will be
remembered for edge‑of‑the‑seat
finishes in four matches as it culmi‑
nated in India becoming champions for
the seventh time, with a last‑ball victory
over Bangladesh in the title‑clash.
Bangladesh made it a memorable final
as well as the tournament for themselves.
A pity, they played three finals in the bien‑
nial tournament and could not win even
once. This was their second successive
loss to India in the final and had lost the
2012 final to Pakistan.
Bangladesh were able to defend 246
against Afghanistan, and 239 against
Pakistan in a virtual semi‑final. They
looked like doing so again against India
and this time they had 223. They stum‑
bled at the doorstep of history as they
were up against a truly all‑round side in
the final. In the pool game, they were no
match to India.
This the second final Bangladesh lost to
India this year, both after looking like
pulling them of f. Six months ago, they
could not stop India from getting 32 runs
in the last two overs of the Twenty20
Nidahas Tournament in Colombo when
Dinesh Karthik hit what he thought his
karma of doing good things helped him
hit a winning last‑ball six.
A look at the Asia Cup scorecard shows
how India got out of difficult situations in
the final even though none of their bats‑
men scored a fifty, skipper Rohit Sharma
being the closest with 48. What tilted the
balance was that seven Indian batsmen
had healthy double‑figures, helping them
in stringing crucial partnerships, particu‑
larly the lower middle order.
Any team losing the way from 128/1 in
the 24th over cannot be condoned.
Bangladesh's talented opener Liton Das
South Korea favorites
but we will fight: India
Kuala Lumpur: One match away from
sealing a maiden berth in the FIFA U‑17
World Cup, India U‑16 football team
coach Bibiano Fernandes feels although
their next opponents South Korea are the
favorites, they will not go down without a
fight.
"South Korea are one of the teams tout‑
ed to win the AFC U‑16 Championship and
the match against them will be the most
challenging ninety minutes that any one
of us has ever faced. Korea Republic are
the overwhelming favourites," Bibiano
told www.the‑aiff.com.
"They are tactically very agile and have
swift players in almost all positions who
are capable of catching the opponent
defense of f guard. However, we were
underestimated in our 1‑0 win over Iraq
in the Four‑Nation Tournament and we
were underestimated in the group stages
of the AFC U‑16 Championship. But here
we are, we will give everything that we
have in the match ag ainst Korea
SPORTS
Men in Blue with the trophy after winning the Asia Cup,
in Dubai. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
tested the selectors' patience before show‑
ing why he is being persisted with despite
repeated failures by cracking stroke‑filled
century. Leaving him and only two bats‑
men barely got into the 30s and the next
best score was seven.
This is not the first time that Indian
attack was taken to cleaners by the open‑
ers to post a hundred‑plus partnership,
Hong Kong, too, frustrated them, Nizakat
Khan (92) and captain Anshuman Rath
(73) putting on 174.
In both the matches, neither the captain
nor the bowlers panicked. They had the
wiser counsel of Mahendra Singh Dhoni
from behind the stumps and the golden
arm of Kedar Jadhav to pull them out of
tight situations.
When the United Arab Emirates hosts
any cricket it is expected to be a high‑
scoring. Yet, the total never crossed the
Republic," he said.
After advancing through the group
stages of the AFC U‑16 Championship for
the first time in 16 years, the Indian U‑16
national team is aiming high.
With just a win away from qualification
to the FIFA U‑17 World Cup in Peru next
year, the squad is apprehensive about the
challenge that lies ahead.
"Everybody in the squad including the
staf f knows the gravity of our quarter‑
final bout.
The boys have sacrificed a lot for these
coming ninety minutes and have worked
tirelessly day in and day out for the same.
This is the moment that they have been
preparing for, almost their whole lives till
now," Bibiano said.
India has never defeated Korea Republic
in any format in football, but Bibiano said
if the team, which has drawn many plau‑
dits for their performance, plays to their
strength they can give their more illustri‑
ous rivals a run for their money.
300‑mark. Strangely, India posted the
highest total in the tournament, 287, and
made a heavy weather of defending it
against qualifiers Hong Kong.
The shocking part is Pakistan's poor
showing. Their morale was so low that if
they had played the final they would have
been staring at a third defeat against India
in the tournament, after getting ham‑
mered twice. Talking positives is a favorite
pastime for the captains. The tournament
brought Dhawan back into focus as he hit
two hundreds to be named the player of
the tournament. But that may not help
him retain his Test place in the upcoming
series against West Indies.
His miserable showing in South Africa
and England will continue to be marked
against him, though Rohit may be back at
No.6, after missing the England tour,
when the selectors sit down to pick the
CHESS OLYMPIAD:
DRAWS FOR INDIA
AGAINST RUSSIA, USA
By Venkatachari
Jagannathan
Chennai: Fifth seeded Indian team drew
their crucial sixth round match against
the second seeded Russia in the 43rd
World Chess Olympiad at Georgia.
In the women's section, the fifth seed‑
ed Indian team drew with 10th seeded
USA winning two and losing two games.
Former World Champion V. Anand
signed peace treaty after 43 moves with
Ian Nepomniachtchi on the top board.
Similarly P.Harikrishna, Vidit
Santhosh Gujrathi and B.Adhiban split
points with Vladimir Kramik, Nikita
Vitiugov and Dmitry Jakovenko respec‑
tively. For the Indian eves it was a day
of mixed luck with two early wins and
two losses.
October 6-12, 2018 23
Rohit jumps to second
spot in ICC rankings
Dubai: Indian opener Rohit Sharma has
jumped two spots to sit at second posi‑
tion in the ICC ODI Rankings for
Batsmen.
Rohit, who
scored 317 runs
in five innings in
the recently con‑
cluded Asia Cup in
UAE, is only
behind his skipper
Virat Kohli on the list, according to an
ICC statement.
Shikhar Dhawan, also took giant
strides on the list, vaulting four spots to
sit at No.5. The left‑hander was the lead‑
ing scorer in the tournament, accumulat‑
ing 342 runs in five innings with two
centuries to his name.
Elsewhere, Jasprit Bumrah retained his
spot at the summit of rankings for
bowlers. The pacer was in brilliant form
throughout the Asia Cup.
squad on Sunday.
The selectors may continue to rest and
rotate players but it is unclear how much
will that help either the players or the
team.
As for Dhoni, he should play in domestic
cricket, as Sunil Gavaskar suggested, and
that will help him to regain his touch as a
free‑flowing stroke‑maker, though he is
still the best man to tend the wickets. He
might even regain his power to be a fin‑
isher knocking around.
The bench strength had been tested in
the Asia Cup and most of them will get
more opportunities to fight for their
places in the World Cup in England next
summer.
Former World Champion
Viswanathan Anand.
 24 October 6-12, 2018
Aeren't there those who would
rather go to India than to Paris?
Drawing on the rich experience of his own life, bestselling author Paulo Coelho's "Hippie", dedicated to Kabir, Rumi and
Tagore, among others, has been released. Presented below is an exclusive extract from the book:
By Paulo Coelho
I
n September 1970, airplane
tickets were outrageously
expensive, which meant only
the rich could travel. OK, that
wasn't entirely true for an enor‑
mous number of young people
whom these outdated media out‑
lets could see only their outward
appearance: they wore their hair
long, dressed in bright‑colored
clothing, never took a bath?
T hey were a danger to an
entire generation of diligent
young boys and girls trying to
succeed in life, with their horri‑
ble example of lewdness and
"free love" as their detractors
liked to say with disdain. Well,
this ever growing number of kids
had a system for spreading news
that no one, absolutely no one,
ever managed to detect...
T he "Invisible Post" existed
because people were always
going to these concerts, swap‑
ping ideas about where they
ought to meet next, how they
could explore the world without
jumping aboard one of those
tourist buses where a guide
described the sights while the
younger people grew bored and
the old people dozed. And so,
that's to word of mouth, every‑
one knew where the next concert
was to take place or where to
find the next great trail to be
explored. No one had any finan‑
cial restrictions because, in this
community, everyone's favorite
author wasn't Plato or Aristotle
or comics from some artist who'd
attained celebrity status, the big
book, which almost no one who
traveled to the Old Continent did
so without, went by the name
Europe on 5 Dollars a Day. With
this book, everyone could find
out where to stay, what to see,
where to eat, where to meet and
where to catch live music while
hardly spending a thing.
Frommer's only error at the
time was having limited his guide
to Europe. Were there not per‑
haps other interesting places to
see? Weren't there those who
would rather go to India than to
Paris? Frommer would address
this failing a few years later, but
until such time the "Invisible
Post" took it upon itself to pro‑
mote a South American itinerary
ending at the once‑"lost" city of
Machu Picchu, with the warning
not to mention anything to those
Paulo Coelho now and in his younger days, and the
title page of his new book.
who were outside of the hippie
culture, lest the place be invaded
by wild animals with cameras
and extensive explanat ions
(quickly forgotten) about how a
band of Indians had created a
city so wee concealed it could be
discovered only from above ‑
something they considered
impossible, since men did not
fly...
Returning to the trails: after
Machu Pichu, the next hot spot
was Tiahuanaco, in Bolivia. Then
Lhasa, in Tibet, where it was dif‑
ficult to enter because, according
to the "Invisible Post" there was a
war between monks and Chinese
soldiers. Of course it was difficult
to imagine such a war, but every‑
one took it seriously and wasn't
about to risk an endless trip to
later end up a prisoner to the
monks or the soldiers. Last of the
era's great philosophers, who
had just split up in April of that
year, had a short time before pro‑
The Beatles and actress Mia Farrow (middle) with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his Rishikesh ashram.
BOOKS
claiming that the greatest wis‑
dom on the planet was to be
found in India. That was enough
to send all the world's young
people to the country in search
of wisdom, knowledge, gurus,
vows of poverty, enlightenment,
and communion with My Sweet
Lord.
"The Invisible Post", however,
warned that Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi, famed guru to the Beatles,
had tried to engage relations
with Mia Farrow. The actress had
always been unhappy in love
through the years. She had trav‑
eled to India at the invitation of
the Beatles, possibly in the hope
of finding a cure for other trau‑
mas related to her sexuality,
which seemed to hound her like
bad karma.
But everything suggests that
Farrow's bad karma had accom‑
panied her, John, Paul, George,
and Ringo on their trip.
According to Farrow, she was
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
meditating in the great seer's
cave when he grabbed her and
tried to force her into sexual
relations. By this point in the
trip, Ringo had already returned
to Eng land because his w ife
hated Indian food and Paul had
also decided to abandon the
retreat, convinced that it wasn't
doing anything for him.
Only George and John
remained in the Maharishi's tem‑
ple when Mia came looking for
them, in tears, and told them
what had happened. T he two
immediately packed their bags,
and when the Enlightened One
came to ask what was going on,
Lennon g ave him a bruising
response: "You're the f***ing
Enlightened One, are you not?
You ought to be able to figure it
out."
Now, in September 1970,
women ruled the world ‑‑ or,
more precisely, young hippie
women ruled the world.
Wherever they went, the men did
so knowing these weren't about
to be seduced by the latest
trends ‑‑ the women knew much
more about the subject than the
men did. And so the men decided
to accept once and for all that
they needed these women; they
constantly wore an expression of
yearning, as though begging,
"Please protect me, I'm all alone
and I can't find anyone, I think
the world's forgotten me and
love has forsaken me forever."
T he women had their pick of
men and never gave a thought to
marriage, only to having a good
time enjoying wild, intense sex.
When it came to the important
things, and even the most super‑
ficial and irrelevant, they had the
last word. However, when the
"Invisible Post" brought news of
Mia Farrow's sexual assault and
Lennon's reaction, these women
immediately decided to change
their itineraries.
A new hippie trail was created,
from Amsterdam (Holland) to
Kathmandu (Nepal), on a bus that
charged a fare of approximately
a hundred dollars and traveled
through countries that must have
been pretty interesting: Turkey,
Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and part of India (a
g reat distance from the
Maharishi's temple, it's worth
noting). The trip lasted three
weeks and an insane number of
miles.
Paulo Coelho is the bestselling
author of several books, best
known for "The Alchemist".
Courtesy: IANS/Penguin Random
House India
Editorʼs note:
Even though Paulo Coelho has
ascribed to Mia Farrow the
allegation of sexual advances
by Maharishi, later accounts
showed the allegation was
baseless. Dr Deepak Chopra,
who had known both
Maharishi and the Beatles,
explained to the London
Telegraph in 2008 that the
Maharishi‑Beatles bust up was
because he objected to them
taking drugs in his Rishikesh
ashram. ".. the stuff about Mia
Farrow, that was complete
nonsense. I met her years later
and she asked me to tell the
Maharishi that she still loved
him," Chopra told the paper.
George Harrison, one of the
four Beatles, was to confess
years later: "Now, historically,
there's the story that some‑
thing went on that shouldn't
have done – but nothing did."
In 1992, Harrison gave a bene‑
fit concert for the Maharishi‑
associated Natural Law Party,
and later apologized for the
way the Maharishi had been
treated by saying, "We were
very young" and "It's probably
in the history books that
Maharishi 'tried to attack Mia
Farrow' – but it's bullshit, total
bullshit."
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
2.2 bn Facebook users must log
out, re‑login across devices
Expert advice after massive hack
New Delhi: After Facebook admit‑
ted that hackers broke into nearly
50 million users' accounts by
stealing their "access tokens"
(cookies) or digital keys, cyber
experts on Saturday warned over
2.3 billion users to log out and log
back into Facebook, or any of
third‑party apps that use
Facebook login.
Facebook has reset the access
tokens of almost 50 million
accounts it knew were affected. It
has also taken the precautionary
step of resetting access tokens for
another 40 million accounts that
have been subject to "View As"
look‑up in the last year.
"For now, logging out and back
in is all that is necessary. The truly
concerned should use this as a
reminder and an opportunity to
review all of their security and pri‑
vacy settings on Facebook and all
other social media platforms,"
Chester Wisniewski, Principal
Research Scientist with global
cyber security major Sophos, told
IANS.
According to Dr Gary McGraw,
Vice President of Security
Technology, Synopsys (Software
Elon Musk agrees to step down as Tesla Chairman
New York: Coming under pres‑
sure from his lawyers and
investors of Tesla, tech billionaire
Elon Musk has agreed to step
down as chairman of the compa‑
ny for three years and pay a $20
million fine in a deal with the US
stock market regulatory authori‑
ty, Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), to resolve
securities fraud charges.
The SEC announced the deal on
Saturday ‑‑ two days after it sued
Musk in federal court for mis‑
leading investors over his post
on Twitter last month that he
was considering taking Tesla into
private ownership.
Musk said that he had "funding
secured" for a buyout of the elec‑
tric‑car company at $420 a
share, reports The New York
Times.
Under the settlement, which
requires court approval, Musk
will be allowed to stay as CEO
but must leave his role as chair‑
man of the board within 45 days.
He cannot seek re‑election for
three years, according to court
filings.
He accepted the deal with the
SEC "without admitting or deny‑
ing the allegations of the com‑
plaint", according to a court doc‑
Integrity Group), this breach
emphasizes just how important
software security is, and how sub‑
tle solid security engineering can
be. "When a feature like 'View As'
can be turned on its head into an
exploit, it indicates a design prob‑
lem that led to unanticipated
security vulnerability," noted Dr
McGraw.
"Design flaws like this lurk in the
mind boggling complexity of
today's commercial systems, and
must be systematically uncovered
and corrected when software is
being designed and built," he
added.
If you've ever wondered what
keeps you logged into your
account even after you restart
your laptop/browser ‑ those are
access tokens (cookies).
ument. "As a result of the settle‑
ment, Elon Musk will no longer
be Chairman of Tesla, Tesla's
board will adopt important
reforms ‑‑ including an obliga‑
tion to oversee Musk's communi‑
cations with investors ‑‑ and both
will pay financial penalties,"
Steven Peikin, Co‑Director of the
SEC's Enforcement Division, said
in a statement.
"The resolution is intended to
prevent further market disrup‑
tion and harm to Tesla's share‑
holders," Peikin added.
Musk's tweet about taking his
company private, along with
attacks on critics on social
media, raised concerns with
investors about whether Musk
has become too focused on criti‑
cism from so‑called short‑sellers
who had been making bets
against him and Tesla.
According to the SEC's com‑
plaint, Musk's misleading tweets
caused Tesla's stock price to
jump by over six percent on
August 7, and led to significant
market disruption.
Tesla in recent years has
become one of the most valuable
American car maker, with its
stock worth more than $50 bil‑
lion.
SCI-TECH
They maintain a constant ses‑
sion even when your IP changes.
"In this case, hackers were able
to steal these tokens, which basi‑
cally means the hacker could fool
Facebook servers to believe they
are the authorized users of the tar‑
get's account that would give the
attacker complete access of the
target's account," said Saket Modi,
CEO and Co‑Founder of Lucideus,
an IT risk assessment and digital
security services provider.
According to experts, they don't
know for how long the vulnerabili‑
ty existed, who the hackers were
and the extent of damage that
might have been caused in terms
of stealing not only one's profile
data but, in this case, potentially
the personal messages, pictures
and chats, among others.
"As a precaution, all Facebook
users must log out and re‑login
into all the gadgets that they have
their Facebook session active like
your cell phone (app or browser),
laptop and desktop, etc," Modi
advised.
In the Cambridge Analytica
scandal, data of nearly 87 million
people was breached upon.
But its shares have been hit
hard since the SEC filed the law‑
suit. On Friday, its stock dropped
almost 14%.
Musk, a co‑founder of Tesla, is
the company's largest stockhold‑
er, owning approximately 22 per
cent of its outstanding shares.
The company has recently
been struggling to meet auda‑
cious production goals for its
Model 3 sedan.
Musk courted another contro‑
versy recently by giving an
Internet interview in which he
appeared to smoke
marijuana.
October 6-12, 2018 25
Sundar Pichai to testify
before US House in
November: Report
Washington: Google
Google CEO
CEO Sundar Pichai
met the Republican Sundar Pichai
lawmakers last
Friday and agreed
to testify before the
House Judiciary
Committee in
November over
business practices
and entry into the
Chinese market.
House Majority
leader Kevin McCarthy said in a free speech, democracy, human
tweet, "Google has a lot of ques‑ rights and peaceful protest, trig‑
tions to answer about bias in its gering internal protests among
search results, violations of user some Google employees.
privacy, anticompetitive behav‑ Two weeks after that report,
ior and business dealings with Pichai told the company's
repressive regimes like China." employees that the China plan
“As big tech's business grows, was in its "early stages" and
we have not had enough trans‑ "exploratory".
parency and that has led to an Earlier in September, Google
erosion of trust and perhaps was given "the empty chair treat‑
worse harm to consumers,” he ment" at a Senate Intelligence
added. Committee hearing as neither
The news about Google's plan Pichai nor Larry Page, Chairman
to build a censored search of Google's parent company
engine in China broke in August Alphabet, showed up at the event
when The Intercept reported on election interference, attend‑
that the search platform would ed by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey
blacklist "sensitive queries" and Facebook COO Shreyl
about topics including politics, Sandberg.
SEC had sued Elon Musk for misleading investors for claiming last
month that he was considering taking his electric car company
private. Musk courted another controversy by giving an Internet
interview in which he appeared to smoke marijuana. (Photo: YouTube)
 26 October 6-12, 2018
By Shaker Nelanuthala
H4 dependents a curse,
a misery or both?
All the spouses and dependent
children get H4 visas. The spouses
(9 out of 10 times women), could
get work permits, if Green Card
petitions are approved for the H‑
1B holders. The sad story is that
this work permit is on the chop‑
ping block by the current adminis‑
tration in D.C. In most cases the
H4 visa holders, Indian women are
relegated to a second‑class citizen
status (The DACA recipients have
more rights than these legal non‑
residents). They are not allowed to
work, do not get social security
cards (IRS allows H‑1B visa hold‑
ers to claim dependents on tax
returns without social security
numbers, an exception) and do not
get drivers licenses (Hey, even
Saudi Arabia now allows women
to drive). These spouses are typi‑
cally stuck inside apartments and
in most cases live a life of melan‑
choly. No future for sure till that
permanent residency comes and
this could take decades. It is really
a lifetime!
The ambiguity of the current
immigration system for H4
dependent children creates a new
class of residents who are between
a rock and a hard place and this is
a humanitarian crisis. Most H‑1B
parents bring their children to
USA on H4 visas. They go through
high school education which is
free. When they get to age 18 and
when it is time to go to college, the
problem kicks in. They must apply
to colleges as foreign students and
convert to F‑1 (student) visas from
H4 visas. No matter what taxes a
parent would have paid, these kids
would be paying tuition like other
Entering the US after deportation,
what are my options?
By Dev Banad Viswanath, Esq.
& Michael Phulwani, Esq.
I
f a noncitizen was deported or
removed from the U.S. to anoth‑
er country they may be barred
from reentering the U.S. for either
five, ten, or 20 years, or perma‑
nently. The length of time depends
on the the reasons why the individ‑
ual was removed and whether they
were convicted of a crime.
A foreign national who had pre‑
viously been deported or removed
from the U.S. may request to reen‑
ter before waiting the required
number of years if they have a new
valid basis for which a green card
or a visa should be granted. This
would require Form I‑212,
Permission to Reapply For
Admission into the U.S. After
Becoming an American turning
into a distant dream?
Misery of Indian H‐1B/H4 Visa holders. Part 2 of two‐part series.
foreign students. If the kids do not
go to college, the H4 dependent
visas expire when they turn 21. In
most cases they would end up
attending college as foreign stu‑
dents, graduate, and apply for H‑
1B visas? Wow! Full circle one
more time. Again, as I mentioned
earlier, the DACA recipients have
more rights than these kids
brought into the country legally.
Something is wrong, it is a broken
system!
Solutions, Solutions
and Solutions
Everyone knows that we have
problems and the million dollar
question is what are the solutions?
Here are some. I am going to men‑
tion this part in first person as if I
were in these situations.
I) If I came to this country with
my spouse and 2 kids who were
born in India, I would try to work
only at best organizations. I would
VISA
TALK
Deportation or Removal, to be
completed and submitted to USCIS.
This form is known as a waiver
request which asks immigration to
forgive the individualʼs inadmissi‑
bility and give them a second
chance. Every I‑212 that is filed is
looked at individually and is decid‑
ed case by case.
Some factors that are looked at
when deciding an I‑212 are: the
reason for deportation, how much
time has passed since deportation,
the length of time the individual
had lived in the U.S., and moral
IMMIGRATION
The best solution is US
legislation to remove
the 7% per country
quota for visas, to shift
the lottery visa quota
and the family visa
quota towards skilled
immigration.
mention to kids that there will be
a time when they must go back to
India to study and hopefully come
back here for an advanced degrees
and try their luck. I know my kids
would hate me for life!
II) If I came to this country with
my spouse without kids, I would
make sure that I would have them
in USA as they would become US
Citizens by birth (the Fourteenth
amendment is still in force).
Maybe, when one of them turns
21 and he or she would sponsor
me and my wife under family cate‑
gory for a permanent residency
(which would be 21 years from
the childʼs birth).
III) I would just enjoy my life in
USA while applying for permanent
residency in Australia or in
Canada. If one day say, we get to
become Canadian citizens, TN‑1
visas would allow us to stay in
USA forever, itʼs almost like having
a permanent residency.
character. Not everybody is eligi‑
ble to apply for a waiver through
Form I‑212. Individuals who were
previously removed from the U.S.
or ordered removed but voluntari‑
ly left the country, or have entered
the U.S. unlawfully after a prior
removal order or deportation or
were present in the U.S. for at least
one year without first obtaining
permission from immigration offi‑
cers are not allowed to file Form I‑
121.
If the individualʼs Form I‑212 is
granted they then may apply for
an immigrant visa. In some cases,
individuals may need to file a sepa‑
rate waiver of the grounds of inad‑
missibility if the individual was
deported for reasons such as being
unlawfully present in the U.S. or
for committing a serious crime.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
IV) Knowing everything I know good Systems integrator. Whether
at this time, maybe I will stay put one likes it or not the current
in India and try my luck in other administration in D.C. is dealing
countries. with several incorrigible compa‑
V) If I were single and working nies in the IT industry and going
here on H‑1B visa, maybe I will try forward, I hope, these IT compa‑
to find a spouse that is born any‑ nies would start acting in a
where in the world other than responsible manner and start tak‑
India. This is interesting! The ing care of their employees. I give
cross chargeability in Green Card a lot of credit to our DHS.
cases states that if a spouse is Please write a note to
born in any country other than editor@thesouthasiantimes.info
India, then both petitioners can and they will forward me the
apply using the best option (the information. I always go home on
waiting time will be significantly a Friday with a hard copy of this
reduced. Source: Murthy law firm). exceptional Indian newspaper.
For example, if I were to marry an
Indian that was born in Sri Lanka,
Malaysia or UK, then this cross
chargeability would allow me and
my wife to get Permanent residen‑
cy based on the country of her
birth (for other countries than
India the waiting times for resi‑
dency are reasonable). One could
get the ultimate prize in a few
years.
VI) The last option is, US legisla‑
tion to remove the 7% per country
quota for visas, to shift the lottery
Shaker Nelanuthala,
visa quota and the family visa
first generation Indian
quota towards skilled immigra‑
American, is an IT consult‑
tion. But in the current political
ant. A proud member of the
environment, only an act of God
can bring us out of this predica‑ Indian community on Long
ment. Island, he was a candidate
In closing I would say that I am for Councilman ‑ Town of
blessed, as I always consulted with Oyster Bay in 2013.
exceptional IT companies and one
This separate waiver will require useful tool for individuals who
Form I‑601 to be filed with USCIS
and the individual will need to
have some time related bar from
entering the US related to Removal
show immigration that their denial or Deportation.
of entry would cause extreme Individuals or people with family
hardship to a qualifying relative. that have been removed may have
Qualifying relatives are: spouse, options available to them and
child, or parent who are either U.S. should contact an experienced
citizens or permanent residents. Immigration Attorney to find out
The I‑212 request can be a very what their options are.
Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal Attorney of
The Banad Law Offices PC in the United States, and
Banad Immigration in India for which Attorney
Michael Phulwani is also affiliated as Of Counsel.
With Offices in Manhattan, Queens, Bangalore, and
Mumbai, the firm is able to assist clients with all
facets of the immigration process, including
Employment Visas, Consular Visa Assistance,
Student Visas, Removal & Deportation, US
Citizenship and Green Card Applications based on
Family or Employment. Dev B. Viswanath can be
reached at Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
5 tips to help you take a vacation like a boss
T
aking a break is the best
executive decision a CEO
can make, isnʼt it?
Entrepreneurs and top executives
are often admired for their non‑
stop drive and crazy hours, and
the rise of entrepreneurial culture
has also popularized the “earn till
you burn” ethos. However,
research proves that working
without a break can seriously
jeopardize business, health and
the life youʼre working so hard to
build.
Juggling presentations, business
travel and mergers between a del‑
uge of work and intermittent fires,
makes taking a break seem like a
bad idea. However, studies con‑
firm taking time off is the very
thing you need to enhance pro‑
ductivity and enable better deci‑
sion‑making. And taking a break
hardly means taking the first
cookie cutter option available on
the market. After all, a power‑
packed vacation is the last thing
you need in order to de‑stress.
Here are some choices you could
consider instead to help you get
the break you need.
Taking shorter breaks: Long
vacations donʼt necessarily mean
TRAVEL October 6-12, 2018
Working without a break can seriously jeopardize business,
health and the life you’re working so hard to build.
rent in getting down to planning a
vacation. Tech‑innovation in the
travel and hospitality sector has
brought rare and exclusive vaca‑
tion homes within drivable dis‑
tance, making the choice of taking
a break easier than ever before.
Five‑star luxury vacation
rentals: Luxury service in hospi‑
tality is no more limited to just
hotels in big cities. Unique vaca‑
tion rentals can give you more
personalized luxury services, mak‑
ing your vacation comfortable,
relaxed and, most importantly, a
private experience that you can
Relaxation doesnʼt have to be totally passive. Choose a holiday spot enjoy with your family while rely‑
that allows you to do some activity together as a family, which could ing on the luxury of a 5‑star expe‑
include a nature walk or learning a new hobby like scuba diving.
rience even in the most rustic
greater relaxation. Short breaks Holidays within drivable dis‑ locales.
are easier to pencil in as opposed tance: With the roaring luxury Go gadget free: Going off into a
to going away for larger chunks of vacation rental business, the luxury dwelling in the midst of
time. The psychological boost a options for quick getaways with‑ nature will encourage you to
short break gives you fades out in out spending too much time and dump the myriad devices that
a couple of weeks; so, several resources on travel are burgeon‑ connect you to work and instead
short breaks over a year trump ing. Often, the time spent in travel help you to connect with your
one big annual break to keep you and the hassle of making travel loved ones, affording you time for
on top of your game. reservations also acts as a deter‑ quiet bonding that you may miss
DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS
27
in large hotel settings.
Disconnecting from work this way
will leave you refreshed to tackle
work even more efficiently when
you get back.
Choose an activity to do as a
family: Relaxation doesnʼt have to
be totally passive. Choose a holi‑
day spot that allows you to do
some activity together as a family,
which could include a hike or a
nature walk and intersperse it
with moments of poolside reading
or game of pool or volleyball
thrown in.
There is no doubt that getting
away from work allows the mind
to get involved in active thinking,
hobbies and rejuvenation, helping
you come back to the drawing
board with enhanced productivity.
With long weekends and the fes‑
tive season over the next few
months it is definitely a good time
to take a step back before you
leap ahead into the new calendar
year with new challenges to
tackle.
28 October 6-12, 2018 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Side by Nury Vittachi

A wave of self‑reliance
sweeps the world
but misses me

BEST
RATE (Image courtesy: selfreliancetactics.com)

FOR
T
his columnist once watched a 60‑ baby, and some bananas." Husband: "Good,
minute BBC TV documentary on the I like bananas."
INDIA railways of Lahore simply because
the remote control was on another chair.
The wave of self‑reliance spread to the
US. On April 2, a car hit a woman, sending
AND Heartless people call this "laziness", but I
prefer "terminal indolence", which sounds
her flying. She picked herself up, refused
an ambulance and drove herself to the hos‑
PAKISTAN more medical.
In a bid to encourage this writer to be
pital, the Tennessee press reported. On the
same day, a man in Las Vegas was shot ‑‑
more active, colleagues pointed out that a but also drove himself to hospital, accord‑
noble, dramatic wave of self‑reliance is ing to the local radio news.
New York Head Quarter sweeping the world at the moment. This is a bit worrying, conjuring up a
422‑S Broadway It started with a video report from China vision of US highways being filled with
a few days ago showing a woman out shop‑ motorists zooming along while severely
HICKSVILLE
ping for food. She paused for a moment injured. "Oops, sorry for crashing into you,
NY 11801 and gave birth to a baby, which fell to the someone shot my head off so I can't see
floor. She never even sat down. Onlookers anything." "No problem, bud."
516‑827‑1010 in the city of Yunfu called an ambulance Self‑reliance was demonstrated in
and paramedics but she waved them away Southeast Asia at the same time too. An
and walked home, baby in one hand and economy passenger on a Kuala Lumpur to
shopping in the other. Hong Kong flight upgraded herself. The
Just imagine the conversation. Husband: flight attendant sent her back, but she
"What did you get?" Wife: "Four carrots, a sneaked forwards three times. Eventually
the passengers in the expensive seats
shouted at her to go back. This seems
Laughter is the Best Medicine unfair, since she was doing no harm to
them besides damaging their elitism.
I told colleagues that these were trivial
examples compared to the ultimate do‑it‑
By yourself tale. Jadav Payeng of Assam
moved to a large sandbar in a river. He
Mahendra spent 30 years planting trees and eventual‑
Shah ly turned it into a new forest 1,360 acres in
size. (An acre is about the size of a soccer
pitch.) The forest was so successful that
Mahendra Shah
tigers and elephants now share it with him.
is an architect by
And possibly the worst do‑it‑yourself true
education,
story is that of Oscar Taylor of California.
entrepreneur by
He performed a surgical operation on him‑
profession, artist
self in 1909. He died and his family mem‑
and humorist,
bers didn't even have a doctor to sue, so
cartoonist and
they missed an important US tradition.
writer by hobby. When I got home, I discovered that my
He has been kids were watching a viral video about a
recording the dog named Drewbert who was playing
plight of the "fetch" with himself. Owner Jialu Wong
immigrant was busy so the dog threw his own ball and
Indians for fetched it.
the past many But going back to where this started, one
year in his of my kids told me that modern people no
cartoons. Hailing longer used TV remote controls. They
from Gujarat, he changed channels by giving voice com‑
lives in mands to their Alexa electronic assistants.
Pittsburgh, So basically, they're agreeing with me:
Pennsylvania. Reaching for the remote and pressing a
button is just too much work, right?
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY October 6-12, 2018 29

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

OCTOBER 6‑12, 2018

ARIES: It is not the right time to push
things forcibly at work. Students would
need to proceed with caution on the aca‑
demic front. A dip in earning is indicated for
retailers and middlemen. Plan this week only
to listen and cater to the needs of the family
members. A lighter mood will strengthen the
bond you share with other people. Take advice
from friends and folks if you are in two minds
about a decision. Gains from property are indi‑
cated.
TAURUS: Good news is in store for
those looking for a promotion or wait‑
ing to get nominated. Stop feeling supe‑
rior to your colleagues as it might affect your
relationship with them. Positive thinking and
perseverance will help you in making your
mark. Keeping promises on the social front
may prove difficult, but you will manage
somehow. Strengthen your efforts deliberately
to meet someone you love! A balanced diet
and adequate physical activity will be enough
to remain healthy.
GEMINI: Pamper your colleagues well,
before you can ask for favors. Those
learning how to drive will make speedy
progress. Setting up the house will be on the
priority list of homemakers this weekend. A
new equation with someone close will keep
you mentally at rest.
Do not shun away to put some extra time in
office to complete your pending chores. Social
front can keep some busy entertaining guests.
Donʼt neglect health issues if you are feeling
under the weather.
CANCER: Stars are likely to favor you
in winning over a professional rival.
You will be your eloquent best profes‑
sionally this week. Changes on the domestic
front may not be to your liking. Connect with
people who share similar viewpoints to
strengthen your decision in the subjects of
importance. Students should keep all their
options open on the academic front. Lover
may surprise you with an exciting plan for the
evening. Love life will be blossoming as you
learn to share and care.
LEO: Scroll through all the documents
carefully before investing in a proper‑
ty. You would need to impress superi‑
ors at work to bag more assignments.
Impulsive decisions could lead to mistakes.
Your hectic schedule may leave you feeling
tired. Take out some time for yourselfto relax
and rejuvenate. A romantic date is on the
cards for some. An interesting guest is likely
to make the home front entertaining. Those in
love are likely to take time out to meet lover.
VIRGO: You are likely to be appreciated
in your social circle. Professionally, you
may be required to dig your brains a
bit more. A delayed payment can keep you on
tenterhooks, but will be released. Some of you
can expect important visitors this weekend.
Romance takes a turn for the better. Business
should avoid going out of their way to meet
clientʼs unrealistic demands.
Meeting the right people to enhance business
prospects is possible. Take things easy on the
financial front.
LIBRA: A golden opportunity may just
slip on the business front with your
careless attitude. Increased responsi‑
bilities at work front may interfere with your
social life. There may be a difference of opin‑
ion with spouse over an important matter.
Adding to the wealth is foretold as cash comes
to you from various sources. A much anticipat‑
ed journey may keep you in an excited state.
Spending quality time with lover is foreseen.
Choosing healthy alternatives is the need of
the hour.
SCORPIO: You have got down the right
side of the bed this week as everything
seems just perfect for you. This is a
good time to sort out all your pending issues.
You are likely to excel in your professional
field. Academic achievements are foretold for
some. You will have enough in your kitty to
ward of f an urgent requirement of money.
Unnecessary arguments at work place may
upset you; exercise caution. Those singles can
hear about meeting someone special.
SAGITTARIUS: Someone at office may
help you out in completing a task.
Businessmen will be allowed more free‑
dom than expected in negotiating a deal.
Those in government service are likely to get
in line for promotion. Lover will lay your sus‑
picions to rest on the romantic front. Try solv‑
ing issues of the young ones in the family. A
lifestyle change will prove a boon for your
health. Try and curtail unnecessary expenses.
Leisure travel is indicated for some. Exercise
caution in financial dealings.
CAPRICORN: You need to be grounded
on the academic front. Returns from
previous investments are likely to
keep the cash register ringing. Those planning
to book a flat should not delay it any further.
You may need to be much more discerning,
before you go in for something expensive. This
is probably because you are on the verge of
launching something important on the person‑
al front. Someone is likely to pull your heart‑
strings, but ushering in romance may prove
difficult.
AQUARIUS: Stars favor you on both
personal and professional fronts.
Support from seniors and colleagues
will boost your morale. Division of an ances‑
tral property will get you a bigger chunk.
Singles should stay alert about who they meet
on mid of the week. Social engagements will
keep you busy in the evening. Finances will be
stable for most of you. Settling in a new house
is indicated for some. Someone may seek your
advice on a personal level. Health requires
attention.
PISCES: Some lucrative avenues of pro‑
moting business open up for you.
Overconfidence could lead to mistakes
on the work front. Some working women will
finally achieve financial freedom and have the
resources to be on their own. Be open to
brainstorming with colleagues. Do seize an
opportunity to express your feelings to some‑
one you love. Taking up a sporting discipline
may become your key to goo d health.
Unexpected expenses are possible.

6th October,2018
Traits in you: Being number 6, you are
lover of simplicity and originality. You
have the ability to inspire those around
your. Your mere presence, makes people
happy and full of enthusiasm. This year
too your attractive personality and help‑
ing nature will bring happiness in other's
life.
Health this year: Health will generally
remain normal. You will enjoy a sound
physical health on imbibing positive
thinking in your life. However, it will be in
your interest to continue physical exercis‑
es to keep diseases a bay.
Finance this year: You will earn a lot of
money in the coming year, but on the
other hand you will also spend it all on
buying expensive clothes, jewelry and
luxuries of life. Remember that you
should save some money for your future
too.
Career this year: You have an special
attachment towards art and music. Those
of you who are in the profession of dance
and poetry, will do exceeding well in your
professional career, in the year ahead of
you. Others will be able to impress their
counterparts in the workplace.
Romance this year: Your warmth and
attractive personality will draw many
friends towards you. You will always be a
centre of attraction amongst friends and
relatives, but this year you will be bowled
by someone special. You might fall in love.
7th October,2018
Traits in you: Being number 7, you are
an intelligent, independent and kind
hearted person. Your supportive nature
makes you famous in your group. You
love to be a leader in a group and can eas‑
ily sense positive and negative energies
coming from the people around you. This
year you might go for a foriegn trip,
which would be both pleasureable and
rewarding.
Health this year: This year positive atti‑
tude and a preventive care would bring
immense relief from your ailments. You
might have some teeth problem, but oth‑
erwise you will be enjoying a healthy life.
Finance this year: This year travel will
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
be an important part of your life. Most of
you are likely to travel to distant lands for
business purpose or office work. There is
also a possibility of developing business
ties abroad, which will fetch good finan‑
cial returns.
Career this year: You will be able to
handle difficult situations with ease and
authority. You will be able to express your
views with clarity, whenever required.
But, you tend to become a little stubborn
at times, and try to impose your ideas on
your colleagues and friends.
Romance this year: Romantic life could
face a testing time this year, when it will
be publically known to everyone.
However, Don't get disheartened /dis‑
couraged, as you will have to cement your
love bond, so that you can enjoy your love
to the fullest.
8th October,2018
Traits in you: Being number 8, you are
a person who loves challenges in life and
always come out as a winner which ever
task you take in hand. You are very prac‑
tical, systematic and friendly person who
is always there to help needy people. You
determination and sincerity at work will
fetch you both good finances and respect
in society.
Health this year: This year you have
decide to eat well. This is really nice on
your part, but at the same time it would
be better to develop a habit of wanting
good nutritious food. This would make
you feel lighter and more energetic, and
you will be away from illnesses.
Finance this year: Financially this year,
you will be able to handle your money
matters with ease and with your efficient
planning you will even save some earning
for the future.
Career this year: In the coming year,
your efficiency and sincerity, will clearly
reflect in your work. Your seniors will
notice this and you will be rewarded for
your hard work and dedication. Your abil‑
ity to see both sides of a problem, will be
an asset to you, and you will be using this
for your and others benefit.
Romance this year: Your sense of duty
towards your loved ones, will make you
do your best for them this year. You can
expect peace and harmony at the domes‑
tic front, in the year ahead of you. Those
looking for life partner, will get an oppur‑
tunity to meet the person of their dreams.
9th October,2018
Traits in you: Being number 9, you are
one of the most energetic, courageous
and brilliant person, who successfully
completes the work taken in hand. You
can be called cleanliness freak person.
You always help those who need your
help. You love to be in the company of
those people who are intellignet and
sophisticated.
Health this year: By nature you are
short tempered and get easilly irritated
over small matters, which also af fects
your mental and physical health. You will
have to learn to control your temper, oth‑
erwise you will find yourself alone, mak‑
ing you depressed person.
Finance this year: Travel will be an
important part of your life, in the coming
year. This will bring more opportunities
for you and also help you to broaden your
outlook and living style. You will be
investing some of your savings for your
brighter future.
Career this year: Courage and alertness,
will allow you to face any obstacle with‑
out much difficulty this year. You will be
undertaking new ventures in your profes‑
sional field. You will finish your project
with sincerity and dedication.
Romance this year: If you are unmar‑
ried and ready to embrace marriage, then
there are chances that by the end of this
year you will find your soul mate. But if
you are married or in a serious relation‑
ship, then you need to be little cautious,
as someone might create misunderstand‑
ing between two of you.
10th October,2018
Traits in you: Being number 1, you are
a person who loves originality in whatev‑
er work you do. By nature you are an
authoritative person and so you always
take charge of things which also makes
you responsible person. If you take some
task in hand, you are determined to finish
it. By nature you are very soft spoken and
kind hearted person.
Health this year: You will enjoy good
health this year. Time is to control your
bad eating habits by avoiding junk food.
Keep in mind that this could give rise to
many stomach ailments. Therefore main‑
tain a distance from them for the sake of
a sound health.
Finance this year: Financially, this will
be a good year for you. Some of you, are
likely to inherit property from your par‑
ents or grand parents. Your sincerity and
dedication, will bring prosperity for those
who are running any business.
Career this year: Honour, fame and
recognition, will be all for you, in the com‑
ing year. With your intelligence and abun‑
dance knowledge, you will be able to
impress your seniors. You will be duly
rewarded for your work. Promotions,
increments and overall prosperity, is what
most of you can expect from the year
ahead of you.
Romance this year: Your magnetic per‑
sonality, will help you get closer to some‑
one you lave, but have never shared your
feelings. This year chances are that
he/she might become your partner for
life.
11th October,2018
Traits in you: Being number 2, you are
a person with high confidence, imagina‑
tion and the one who is always ready to
help others. Anyone can trust you blindly
as you are very balanced person in
nature. Though you are reserved person‑
ality, but when it comes to do some task,
you are independent and complete your
work with full determination and honesty.
Health this year: You are likely to fulfill
your dream to attain a sound physique.
However to achieve this it is very essen‑
tial for you to be a fitness freak. Keep in
mind that besides physical health you
must make efforts to enhance your men‑
tal toughness. You should maintain a dis‑
tance from negative emotions.
Finance this year: Monetary position is
likely to improve as you get some com‑
mission and dividends this year. Proper
planning would be utmost important to
invest the money to bring good returns.
Remember the phrase 'money attracts
money'. Only thing needed on your part is
to use it your fetching good returns.
Career this year: Your leadership quali‑
ties and your high ideals, will take you to
the ladder of success this year. Your imag‑
ination, coupled with hard work, will
bring you fame and recognition in your
field. Your bosses will notice your this
ability, and you will be appreciated for
your leadership qualities.
Romance this year: This year beware,
as someone might flatter you in love.
Therefore maintain a distance from them.
There are indications that they will try to
take advantage of you. Maintain distance,
as far as possible, to avoid them.
12th October,2018
Traits in you: Being number 3, you are
confident, ambitious and independent
person who loves to work with optimistic
attitude. You are a born leader, and you
are always appreciated for your work,
whether it is at home or work place.
Health this year: Persons suffering from
heart problems will have to be extra care‑
ful this year. Make sure that you don't
take any unnecessary tension, as this
might create problem in your physical
health. At the same time avoid fatty, spicy
& junk food to live healthy life.
Finance this year: A safely executed
investment plan would be monetary bene‑
ficial this year. You just need to look at all
the aspects before executing them. Don't
run after lucrative incentives. Career this
year: With your creative ideas and hard
work, you will be able to achieve honour
and position in the year ahead of you.
People will depend on you to sort out
minor differences between colleagues.
Romance this year: Your pleasing per‑
sonality will catch the attraction of the
opposite sex this year. Some of you might
take your special relationship to the next
level, i.e. marriage.
30 October 6-12, 2018 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Gratitude to the giver

truck. But, the angel collecting
prayers of thankfulness had only
a few. We may feel that God
When God was presented with only exists when
their findings, God sighed. “This
is nothing new” said God. “You everything goes our
now have a taste of what it is like way, and believe that
being God. People are always
praying for something from Me,
there is only God if we
which is all right because at least get whatever we want.
they are thinking of Me. But few
By Sant Rajinder Singh ever thank Me.”
Ji Maharaj When God checked the email, We may have had a
there were millions of email mes‑ job for 25 years, but

T
here is a story of God send‑
ing two angels to earth to
listen to the prayers of
humanity. One angel was asked to
collect the prayers asking God for
something. The other angel was
asked to collect the prayers of
thanksgiving and gratitude.
The two angels were given large
baskets to collect and descended
to earth to begin their task.The
angel collecting prayers asking
Go d for something became
extreme ly busy. Many people
prayed to God to help them earn
more money, some prayed for
improved health of their children,
spouse, parents or relatives. The
angel also collected prayers for
latest computer, exquisite jewelry,
expensive clothing and new
toys.In the meantime, the other
angel traveled far and wide look‑
ing to fill the basket with prayers
of thankfulness. Days passed, but
no prayers of gratitude were
heard. T he ange l collect ing
prayers of request had a loaded
sages of complaints and requests.
The mailbox was bombarded with
endless complaints and prayers
from billions of people requesting
things all at the same time.
There were few who thanked
God for the good they received.
This story illustrates the human
condition. People request others
to do something for them, but
how many people take an equal
amount of time to thank them?
Similarly, we pray to God for the
things we want. How many of us
take the time to thank God?
We focus more on what God has
not g iven than what Go d has
given us. If we were to fill out a
thank you note to God for all the
good we received, we would dis‑
cover that we have received much.
Let us count many things for
which we owe our gratitude to
God.
First, we are extremely fortu‑
nate that our soul was born into a
human body. We are fortunate
that we have been born into the
only species who can know our‑
selves and know God.
We may fee l that Go d only
exists when everything goes our
way, and believe that there is only
God if we get whatever we want.
We may have had a job for 25
years, but the one time we are laid
of f we say there is no God. We
may have had a loving family for
years but when one member pass‑
es away we blame God. We may
have been healthy for many years
but the one major illness we have,
we say, “What is happening to
me? There must not be any God.”
the one time we are
laid off we say there is
no God. We may have
had a loving family
for years but when
one member passes
away we blame God.
Few are grateful to God for the receive, not only physical, intellec‑
good they receive so that when tual and emotional but also for
something goes wrong they tell the spiritual gifts of God. We can
God, “Itʼs okay God, I still love You, reflect on how we can show our
and I know you are there. What gratitude by developing noble
happened to me must have been qualities and resolve to improve
something that was best for me, ourse lves to become better
under Your will.” human beings. We can also spend
How many people take such a time connecting with the Divine
grateful attitude to God? within through prayer and medi‑
Let us thank God for each day tation, and in performing selfless
that we are able to do our work, service to others. In this way, we
enjoy our family and friends, for can express our gratitude to God,
our health and be grateful our ail‑ not only in words but also
ments are not worse. We should through our deeds.
be grateful for all the gifts we (For more visit www.sos.org)

saints have come in all traditions,

We might
How God helps us in our lives
all cultures, all times, and all
walks of life. They have always
think that come to help the people in those

M
any times we may think
that God is enjoying the
heavenly regions with‑
out knowing what difficulty we
are having on earth. Little do we
know that God wants to help
each one of us.
We might think that God is not
aware of what is happening with
us, but God is aware of each
action that occurs in our lives. If
we know that God is aware of
everything that happens to us
then the next question that arises
is, "If God knows what is happen‑
ing, why is God making us suf‑
fer? Why do we have problems in
this world? If God can do any‑
thing, why doesn't God take all
the problems away?" There is an
interesting story that helps to
explain God's predicament.
There was a grandfather who
went to visit his daughter and his
grandchild. Grandparents have
great affinity for their grandchil‑
dren. When he went to his
daughter's house, he saw that the
(image : journeyquest.org)
grandchild was kept in a playpen.
As soon as the grandchild saw
the grandfather he said,
"Grandfather. Grandfather! Get
me out of this. I want to play with
you.” All grandchildren love their
grandparents, so the grandchild
wanted to get out of the playpen,
but just as the grandfather
reached his hand toward the
child, his daughter said, "Don't
touch the child. He did something
God is not
aware of
what is
happening
with us, but
God is
aware of
each action
that occurs in
very wrong, and he is being pun‑
ished." our lives.
Although the grandfather
around, walk out of the house,
wanted to pick up the child, his
and leave, but then the grand‑
daughter told him not to, so what
child would be devastated. So the
is the grandfather supposed to
grandfather came up with a solu‑
do? The grandfather could rule
tion. He climbed into the playpen
over his daughter and say, "No.
himself and played with the child.
no. no, I am picking up my grand‑
Similarly, this is what God does
child anyway," and have difficul‑
for us.
ties in that arena. The other
If we look back at history,
option is that he could turn
times. They are the ones who are
compassionate. This is why many
saints have suffered for each one
of us.
This is why many religions talk
about the founders suffering for
our sins. What are our sins? Our
sins arise from our breaking the
spiritual laws, from not living
according to the highest ethical
principles.
If we look back at our own
lives, we will find that God's hand
has always been there to support
us. Many times we do not appre‑
ciate or see God's help in our
lives because we are unable to
gravitate to that level where we
experience that God is with every
one of us at each moment. lf we
were able to sit quietly and focus
within through meditation, we
would then come into contact
with the True Reality. We would
connect to the divine Light with‑
in and begin to perceive how God
is working for our benefit at
every moment of our lives.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info October 6-12, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info October 6-12, 2018