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2 LI Rotary Clubs hold Charter Night Celebration Rotary Event, Pages 16-17
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Bollywoods very own Peter Pan bids adieu Tribute, Pages 18-19
Virendra Sehwag scored 219 against West Indies in the 4th ODI. 2010. He was the first cricketer to score a double century in ODIs. Sehwag got a life when he was on 171 with West Indies captain Darren Sammy dropping a sitter. He was finally dismissed by Continued on page 4
Exercise Sudarshan Shakti by Sudarshan Chakra Corps. nuclear weapons if its forces anywhere are attacked with biological or chemical weapons. This exercise was to validate the concept of an Continued on page 4
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari month because of the expected decisions on memogate' scandal; the National Reconciliation Order, and the release of Abbottabad Commission report on Osama Bin Laden's killing by US forces. Meanwhile, the US discounted rumors of a "silent coup" against Zardari.
Subramanian Swamy snubbed after his controversial article in a Mumbai paper ligious community and calling for violence against their sacred places," Comparative Religion professor Diana L. Eck was quoted as saying. Harvard has a moral responsibility not to affiliate itself with anyone who expresses hatred towards a minority group, she said. "There is a distinction between unpopular and unwelcome political views." Although Harvard chose to stand by Swamy in August in an effort to affirm its declared commitment to free speech, faculty members shot down his two courses, effectively removing him from Harvard's teaching roster, the campus paper said. Many faculty members determined Swamy's article was not a product of free speech but of hate speech. "Swamy's position on disenfranchisement is like saying Jewish Americans and African Americans should not be allowed to vote unless they acknowledge the supremacy of white Anglo Saxon Protestants," said History professor Sugata Bose.
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Preeta Bansal also a government member of the Council, serving as vice chair from 2010 until 2011. She is the former solicitor general of the State of New York and a former law clerk to US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
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Indian Army Story Continued from page 1 enhanced Theatre offensive in a Joint Service environment, as well as operational and transformational effectiveness of Sudarshan Chakra Corps. This was done under the backdrop of the study on Transformational and Theatrization of Combat and Support Services of Indian Army, for which the Army Chief and Southern Army Commander were the main proponents. President Patil reviewed the maneuvers of the Sudarshan Chakra Corps. She was briefed by Lt Gen AK Singh and Lt Gen Sanjiv Langer, Corps Commander Sudarshan Chakra Corps. They emphasized the unique feature of this exercise in the context of jointmanship between the Southern Army and its counterparts South Western Air Command (SWAC) wherein, the inter service operability focusing on seamless air-land battle was tested and re-configured to suit the constantly changing operational requirements. Many new concepts like the employment of the strike Corps Aviation Brigade, fighting against a backdrop of Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) environment and tailor made logistics system to sustain any offensive were also practiced and validated. More than 30,000 Indian troops participated in the massive desert war game along the Pakistan border earlier this summer. The exercises epicenter was in Bikaner sector in Suratgarh. The six-day exercise coded Vijayee Bhava (Blessed To Win) used 250 tanks and 1000 artillery guns and helicopters. Helicopters were aimed to train the troops in the actual desert conditions and test their warfare synergy. The Indian army, the worlds fourth largest in terms of personnel, has conducted 11 major military exercises along Pakistans border in
the past six years. New concepts have emerged in the modern day warfare and the new age technologies particularly in the fields of precision munitions, advance surveillance system and networking have to be evaluated in these exercises. The exercise is being conducted to harness the skills of the troops to harness the technological advancement in military warfare said Col SD Goswami, defense spokesman. Merely equipping the forces by acquiring of hi-tech weaponry and combat support systems for enhancing the fire power of troops is not enough, its essential to train and prepare them for its actual use during a war, Col Goswami added. All major combat maneuvers are conducted under the NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) overhang. The exercise primarily revolves around the Bhopal based 21 Corps, one of armys three principal strike formations, tasked with taking the battle right into enemy territory. The exercise envisages maneuvers, in a simulated battlefield, by composite combat entities supported by a wide array of force-multipliers. Sudarshan Chakra Corps with the blend of trained manpower, various force multipliers such as attack helicopters, state of the art battle tanks and long range Artillery and Networking ability had massive exercise in the desert. The exercise unfolded into an integrated Theatre and Air Land Battle in which joint plans and joint execution enabled by integrated networks were the high points. Sehwag Story Continued from page 1 Kieron Pollard, caught by substitute Anthony Martin at long on. Sehwag's top score before this innings was 175 against Bangladesh in the World Cup opener earlier this year.
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Puneet Issar, writer-director of I Am Singh, addressing merchants of Jackson Heights in Queens, NYC. (Photo by Ashok Ojha) the US government at par with those who lost their lives in the attacks on World Trade Center. Issar has enjoyed a successful career since 1983 as an actor and director in about 200 movies and TV serials. I am Singh has received rave reviews in papers such as The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Please dont mistake it as a documentary, cautioned Issar. It is the story of a young man caught in the middle of a conspiracy, who fights for justice for his family, for his Indian and Sikh identity. The Jackson Heights Indian Merchants Association president Shiv Dass, Subhash Kapadia and others attended the meeting.
An ongoing practice session. leagues website explains core prin- unite the various cultures and comciples: The SABL emphasizes munities that make up the South character before talent, promoting Asian framework through the power brotherhood through sports and ful- of sports. filling a gap that has existed in the League Commissioner Ammad community for years. Our aim is to Sheikh and Official Coordinator
Devu Sinh Chauhan (third from left), a Gujarat MLA was felicitated by community organizations in New Jersey. (Photo: Gunjesh Desai) that he will personally take up the Congress Party, USA, also participatissue with Chief Minister Narendra ed in the event. Modi. Chauhan, who is visiting USA to Representatives of the Federation study democratic institutions here, of Senior Citizens of North America, was elected from Mater constituency South Gujarat Pragati Mandal, in Gujarats Kheda District, which Overseas Friends of BJP, Indian has successfully eliminated sale of gutka, known to cause oral cancers. Many speakers including NJ Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula spoke highly about the zeal and commitment of the younger generation of Indian politicians and hoped that they would overhaul the Indian political system. Chauhan belongs to this generation from whom Gujarat has great hopes, said Piyush Patel, a leading philanthropist. Atma Singh, president of Indian Congress Party, highlighted the need to express our identities as Indians irrespective of which part of India we came from. He said that it was the right time for New York City Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio was honored by Indian the Indian American community to National Oversees Congress, Punjab, NY chapter. Seen in the picture assert our rights with one voice. INOC president Pam Kwatra (extreme left) and Bill DeBlasio OFBJPs Jayesh Patel also spoke. (7th from right) at the event.
President Nilam Singh with seniors at the annual gala. Hicksville, NY: Milans second Milan seniors. They showed energy annual fund raising gala dinner took and grace in a Bollywood type perplace at The Sterling on November formance on some nostalgic num18. More than 350 people attended bers mixed with some recent beats. the evening function. The event was Milan is a program by the sena huge success and a lot of commu- iors, for the seniors. Some of them nity leaders including doctors, suc- were honored by the executive comcessful businessmen, representatives mittee for their participation and of peer organization such as the selfless help in running various India Home, seniors and other dig- duties at the program. nitaries graced the occasion with Dr Nilesh Soni anchored the event their presence. and all guests including more than The evening started with the inter- 50 Milan seniors were made aware generational lighting of the lamp. of future projects of Milan such as This was followed by a beautiful the 2nd innings club and happy feet dance performance for ganesh van- program. Along with the noble dana performed by two young cause of raising funds for enhancing Herricks ladies. the quality of life of seniors, it was a The highlight of the evening was a celebration of respect and caring for surprise dance performance by elders.
Kashmiri separatist leader Ghulam Nabi Fai Fai, 62, has consented to forfeit all four bank accounts in his name or in the name of KAC totaling about $140,000. He also agreed before the court that he had send to the ISI annual budget of the KAC for approval. He continues to be under house arrest till the time of his sentencing.
Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi deployed. After his service, he was promoted from Captain to Major. "It continues to be my honor to serve my country," said Major Kalsi. "I look forward to service as duty calls." Current U.S. military policy forces Sikhs to remove their religiously-required turbans and facial hair in order to join the military. Over the past two years, the Army granted Major Kalsi and two other Sikh soldiers individual accommodations, which allow them to maintain turbans and beards.
Yoga enthusiasts at Times Square in NYC. It has been practiced for ages in India. ples. lions around the world. Many people including Dr. According to court papers pubMysorekar believe that postures of lished on the website Yoga existed for centuries and have NYTimes.com, Bikram Choudhary, been practiced unrestricted by mil- the millionaire founder of Bikram
Miller thanks community for supporting sister state pact with India
Annapolis, MD: State Delegate Aruna Miller has returned from India after a successful trip which included agreements signed between Governor Martin OMalley and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to work together towards a sister state agreement which will provide for cultural, educational and economic exchange. Early into his second term Maryland Governor Martin OMalley had hinted at making a trip to India. Delegate Miller, born in Andhra Pradesh, who is the first Indian-American woman legislator to serve in the Maryland General Assembly worked with Governor Martin OMalleys office to establish a sister state relationship with India. She also lobbied with the sister state committee to include Andhra Pradesh for serious consideration. In response to the IndianAmerican community in Maryland, the Office of the Secretary of State began with a preliminary list of several Indian states under considera-
Delegate Miller presenting a shawl to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy tion. I am grateful to beneficial for Maryland and Secretary McDonough for his Andhra Pradesh, said Miller. leadership in undertaking this Miller credits the success of effort. He worked closely the Governor s visit to with the community leaders Andhra Pradesh to the particito ensure their voices and pation and commitment of concerns were heard. And community leaders Ram after careful consideration, Mohan Konda President of the states of Andhra Pradesh the Capital Area Telugu and Maharashtra were select- Society (CATS), Prasad ed. Thotakura President of the Andhra Pradesh has a Telugu Association of North booming biotech and IT America (TANA) and Elisha industry which is very similar Pulivarti from the Maryland to my district in Montgomery Indian Business Roundtable County Maryland. During (MIBRT). This trip could this historical trip, we not have been successful engaged with the Indian without them. It was my Government and business honor to work with such a leaders and forged relation- great team on this historic ships that will be mutually event, Miller said.
Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Jain works, such as a rare 5th-century painted fragment featuring Buddhas half-brother, Nanda, from the caves in Ajanta, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central India the only known work to have left Ajanta and an elaborately carved 11th-century sculpture of the elephant-headed Hindu god of good fortune, Ganesh. Opening on December 15, some 120 works in the South Asian and Southeast Asian Sculpture Gallery will highlight the artistic traditions of India and the surrounding South Asian countries of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as Southeast Asia, which includes Indonesia, C a m b o d i a , Burma,Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition, the gallery will emphasize the important cultural exchange that took place between the two geographic regions during the course of two millennia.
Omi Vaidya masala film," added the 29year-old who was also seen in "Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji." Explaining his directorial venture, he said that his take on the film is a little different but it would be a commercial film for sure. "The film is based on supernatural powers. As of now, it is too early to reveal any other detail but for
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US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info
President Barack Obama isn't just another political debate. This is the defining issue of our time. This is a make or break moment for the middle class, and all those who are fighting to get into the middle class." At stake, Obama said, is the fundamental American principle "that this is the place where you can make it if you try." Obama spoke in the same small
Newt Gingrich: after Herman Cain withdrew, GOP presidential nominee has become a two-horse race with Romney the other top contender "revolutionaries" who turned Democrats out of power for the first time in 40 years as well as more senior lawmakers waver on the question of whether Gingrich would be good for the GOP and the country given his rocky past. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, who credited Gingrich with helping push through a transformative farm bill, is among those unsure whether Gingrich-as-nominee would be helpful. "It depends on what he does," said Roberts, who has not committed to a candidate for the party's nomination. For his part, Gingrich told CNN
Charges against Rod Blagojevich included peddling the vacated seat of Barack Obama Chicago: A federal judge Wednesday have nobody to blame but myself for sentenced impeached Illinois Gov. my stupidity and actions and the Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in things I did and I thought I could do. prison, giving little weight to his first- I'm not blaming anybody," ever apology since his arrest three Blagojevich said.Prosecutors argued years ago. that he has failed the people of "The jury didn't believe you and Illinois and instead "further eroded neither did I," U.S. District Court the public's confidence in government Judge James Zagel said. and government officials." Blagojevich was convicted on 18 "He knew from a very early date corruption charges, including the exactly what he could do to help the scheme to peddle the vacated Senate people of Illinois and he didn't do it," seat of Barack Obama. federal prosecutor Reid Schar said. Blagojevich started the day telling "Instead, what he did was first to seek the court that he was "unbelievably personal benefits, jobs, millions of sorry" for his "terrible mistakes," his dollars, and things for him in relation last chance to convince the federal to the Senate seat. judge that he deserved some mercy "He lied repeatedly, concretely, and when he was sentenced on corruption on issues that went to the heart of the charges. "I'm here convicted of case and he lied on every episode that crimes. The jury decided I was guilty. he was questioned," Schar said. "He I am accepting of it. I acknowledge is incredibly manipulative, and he it" Blagojevich told Zagel. "I want knows how to be." Since the 1970s, to apologize to the people of Illinois, three former Illinois governors have to the court, for the mistakes I have been sent to prison, not to mention made. I never set out to break the several others who have gotten in law. "I never set out to cross lines. I trouble with the law.
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Anna Hazare has threatened to go on an indefinite fast from Dec 27 if a strong bill was not passed in parliament during the winter session, which ends Dec 22. Lokpal. Another contentious issue was whether the prime minister should come under the purview of the ombudsman. Singhvi said the controversial issues have been left for parliament to debate and resolve. Opposing constitutional status for the Lokpal, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav demanded reservation for Dalits, backward castes and the minorities in all the panels under the Lokpal. Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan has made a similar demand. But sources said there is general agreement in the panel that the Lokpal should have a constitutional status. The BJP and the Left parties have also given dissent notes on this issue as well as on the absence of a citizen's charter and the manner of appointing the Central Bureau of Investigation chief. Sources said the draft has also recom-
Uddav Tahckeray. ment constructs a flyover on Peddar Road, his party would not permit the construct work of any other flyover in the city or the state. His stance came following the state government's plans to drop the flyover at Peddar Road and instead compensate by constructing two flyovers nearby one at Haji Ali junction and another at Cadbury Company junction, both in the vicinity. A high-level delegation including top office-bearers of the party, its women's wing, legislators and others met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Tuesday and urged him to initiate steps to construct the longpending Peddar Road flyover. Playing safe, Chavan said that "no final decision" has been taken on the issue so far.
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Kapil Sibal had said that global Internet companies should block some content from their sites in view of sensitivities and cultural ethos of people of the country
Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture. High Court, objecting to the way her late sister was portrayed in the film. The court had refused to stop the film's release after the filmmaker denied that it is based on Silk Smitha's life.
The political tussle between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar Dam has shifted to the streets of Chennai, Coimbatore and Thanjavur.
India TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: The Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan is leaving no stone unturned to reshape the Pink City as a world class city. Its the dream of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to see Jaipur emerge as not only a tourist destination, but also as a world class city. The Rajasthan government would try to highlight its efforts in this direction during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conclave slated for January 7-9, 2012r. At a meeting of the PBD organizing panel, CM Gehlot said, Lets make all the efforts to show what is being done on the development front to improve the city from being a mere heritage city to a vibrant modern one. All the departments should work in close cohesion to improve the basic facilities and clean the city so that it could be showcased as a world class city in the making. This is an enormous
Jaipur landmark Hawa Mahal opportunity when 2,000 participants, a large number of them being non-resident Rajasthanis, would rediscover not only Jaipur, but also the whole of Rajasthan. The highpowered PBD panel, headed by Chief Secretary Salahuddin Ahmed, is holding regular meetings with different departments, assigning them various tasks related to the holding of PBD 2012. Urban development minister Shanti Kumar Dhariwal alongwith Ahmed and other officials went round the city to see the conditions of roads and other amenities. Finding a lot of work still in progress, efforts have been made to quickly complete all works a week before the convention. Some have suggested to use the large voluntary force of the Haryana based Dera Saccha Sauda to clean up the city. Recently their 24,000 volunteers, headed by Sant Ram Rahim, undertook cleaning operations of the Pink City.
OPIO plans to launch GOPIO-Jaipur on Dec 23 at a Conference in Malaviya Industrial Area in Jaipur. GOPIO Founder President and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Thomas Abraham will be the guest speaker. Former NRIs settled in the Jaipur area and those interested in networking with NRIs/PIOs (i.e. parents of NRI children and those with business interest) are requested to contact the GOPIOJaipur Coordinators Gopal Mehta at 09928852100 (e-mail: mehtagopal@yahoo.com) or Viswas Jain at 09929094199 (email: vishwas@cegindia.com).
4 YEAR OR 5 1/2 YEARS MD PROGRAM FOR MOTIVATED STUDENTS CLINICAL ROTATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES LOW STUDENT/TEACHERS RATIO USMLE REVIEW WITH KAPLAN SUPERIOR FACULTY AND IDYLLIC LOCATION FOR THE STUDY OF MEDICINE PAYMENT PLAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE (866) 987-6610
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Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Organizing committee members at preevent press conference: (L to R)Prakash Doulatani,Manohar Keswani,Nand Khanchandani,Narendra Somani, Amar Doulatani, Maya Kodnani, Parmanand Khattar, Anil Mulchandani, Harish Kakwani The issue of Thalassaemia shall be discussed in length and the importance of organ donation will also be highlighted during the Sammelan. Several reputed Sindhis from fields like politics,
Gurdwara Sahib Sikh in Kota Kinabalu. Built in 1924, it is the oldest Gurdwara in the country. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has given a grant of about $16,000 for renovations of the countrys oldest Sikh Gurdwara in Sabah state. Muslim majority Malaysia has eight per cent ethnic Indian population of which a small percentage are Sikhs who have been in this Southeast Asian country for more than 200 years.The earliest Sikhs, known to be fearless, were brought in by the British to help maintain security. The Gurdwara Sahib Sikh in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah can now carry out renovations with the 50,000 ringgit ($15,633) grant from Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. The allocation is proof of the governments commitment to help the people, regardless of their religious beliefs, a Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leader of the Sabah state said while handing out the donation to Gurdwara member Anup Singh. He said similar allocations would be distributed to temples in other areas. Early this month, Muhyiddin announced the 400,000 ringgit grant, following a request from Sabah MIC, at the Deepavali function. Singh said the Gurdwara had also received RM 40,000 from the state government to carry out renovation work. Built in 1924, it is the oldest Gurdwara in the country.
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Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano addressing the gathering, mainly Rotarians Left : The cake cutting as the two clubs celebrated their second anniversary.
Vimi Sikka, Kamlesh Mehta and Dev Ratnam received the Paul Harris Fellowship award for philanthropy
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Major (Retd) Chuck Kilbride of Toys for Tots speaking at the event flanked by County Executive Mangano and two marines.
Herb Flores, Director, Office of Minority Affairs - Nassau County, with his wife and guest.
Flamingo dance performance by Bollywood Performing Arts was scintillating. Kamlesh Mehta introduced some of the jewelry during the auction.
County Executive Mangano presented citations of appreciation to Jericho Sunrise President Jaya Bhooplapur and Hicksville South President Dan Flynn. Current Rotary Dist. President Gabor Karsai is second from left.
Kamlesh Mehta and the Manganos with Vikas Dhall, Andy Singh , Saleem Iqbal, Raja Amar and Ravi Batra.s
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From Baazi in 1951 to Chargesheet in 2011, it was an untrammeled joyride through six decades of Bollywood. It's curtains for the ageless Dev Anand, who oversaw the growth of the Hindi film industry from the black and white era to Technicolor, and leaves behind a unique legacy of a star who had moved way beyond his cinematic works.
The evergreen Dev Anand saab. romance blossomed but met with a tragic end when Suraiya's grandmother didn't approve of their alliance and they were forced to part ways. Heartbroken, Dev Anand married his co-star Kalpana Kartik. Picked from Hollywood actor Gregory Peck, Dev Anand's rapid style of dialogue delivery, his array of hats, jackets and mufflers, and a penchant for nodding while speaking became his trademark. The style was widely imitated even while some cast aspersions on his acting abilities. He proved naysayers wrong with a Filmfare best actor award for "Kala Pani" (1958). His first color film, "Guide", which was directed by his brother Vijay Anand, with Waheeda Rehman in 1965, became a cult movie and is remembered as one of his best works. Music remained a highlight of his films. Can anyone forget songs like "Aankhon hi aankhon mein"; "Gata rahe mera dil"; "Hai apna dil to awara"; "Hum bekhudi mein tumko pukare chale gaye"; "Khoya khoya chand"; "Koi sone ke dilwala"; "Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala"; "Mana janab ne pukara nahi"; "Na tum hame jano"; "Jab pyar kisise hota hai"; and "Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar". His maiden attempt at direction, "Prem Pujari", flopped. But Dev Anand got lucky with his 1971 "Hare Rama Hare Krishna", which launched Zeenat Aman. Later he introduced Jackie Shroff, Tabu and Richa Sharma to filmdom.
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Founded in 1949, Navketan notched up impressive successes in movies such as "Baazi", "Taxi Driver", "Funtoosh", "Kala Pani", "Hum Dono", "Jewel Thief", "Tere Ghar ke Saamne", "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" and the overarching "Guide". down by rural idealism that characterised some of their contemporaries. The trio landed with their feet on the ground rather early in the Navketan story. Bhatia attributes that to the fact that "the Anands were smart, educated people. They had their share of struggle, but they had a wider, fresher worldview. "Chetan Anand had studied for the ICS (the elite Indian Civil Service), the brothers had both gone to the prestigious Government College in Lahore. They mixed with a very smart, intellectual lot. So they saw how things in the industry were changing and moved quickly." Bhatia explains the predominance of urban themes in Navketan movies saying: "It was their background and their sensibility...Their father was a great believer in British educational experiences. They mixed in Lahore with the smart young set. The Anands and their friends were heavily influenced by Hollywood. They thought urban, not rural." Navketan seemed to create a genre that was free from a colonized mindset. What separated Navketan movies from the other comparable production houses was that it stayed away from what Bhatia calls the "national project", which involved the village in some form or the other. "India was rural dominated and Gandhiji had spoken about India being a land of villages. So this preoccupation was natural. The Anands looked at the world differently," he says. That difference manifests itself in the way their movies tackled urban themes; but Bhatia disagrees that they conveyed a sense of settled urbanity. "In fact, their sense was of unsettled life in the city - poor migrants, people eking out a living at the margins, the underbelly. Hollywood was experimenting with film noir. I call the Anands' early films Bombay Noir," he says. One particularly remarkable feature of the Navketan films has to be its progressive treatment of female characters. "The women in Navketan films were characters all their own. Even, and especially the 'vamps', were interesting and beguiling characters. Geeta Bali in 'Baazi', Sheila Ramani in 'Taxi Driver', Tanuja in 'Jewel Thief' -- all these were independent women confident of their sexuality. "Rosy in 'Guide' is in a class of her own; she leaves her husband because he stifles her desire to dance and then leaves her lover because he cheats her. An unusual character never repeated in Hindi cinema. And this was a film made in 1965 India, remember. Even today a filmmaker would be worried about showing adultery."
Dev with Waheeda in Guide and Kala Bazar for his love interest, played by ing with his girlfriend, played by Shakeela. Sadhana, not to leave so soon and "Chod do anchal zamana kya kahe- spend some more time with him. ga" ("Paying Guest" 1957): A playful "Khoya khoya chand khula asman" number, it is picturised in Dev ("Kala Bazar" 1960): A beautifully Anand and Nutan and even today picturised love song in the outdoors sounds refreshing. with Waheeda Rehman playing the "Hai apna dil to awara" ("Solva love interest. Lyrics and music are Saal" 1958): Shot in a moving train, married so well, that it plays with the the song has Dev Anand playing the listeners' heartstrings. mouth organ and teasing Waheeda "Main zindagi ka saath nibhahata Rehman. chala gaya" ("Hum Dono" 1962): An "Hum bekhudi mein tumko epitome of cinematic nonchalance, pukaare chale gaye" ("Kalapani" the song is a philosophical number 1958): A sad number sung by and shows Dev Anand puffing away Mohammed Rafi, the song remains on a cigarette. one of the best songs picturised on "Gata rahe mera dil" (Guide 1965): Dev Anand. Dev Anand portrays a man ecstatic in "Abhi na jao chodkar" ("Hum love, the heroine here is Waheeda. Dono" 1962): An out and out roman- The happy number is sung beautifultic number, it has Dev Anand plead- ly by Kishore Kumar.
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Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Foreign retail chains seeking an entry into the Indian market will be hard put to compete with small retailers in economic terms.
any said that K e n t u c k y [Kentucky Fried Chicken] will drive the dhabas out of the market. The dhabas have driven out Kentucky. The Indian sherbet is still there despite Coca Cola and Pepsi. Dont underestimate India. That was former NDA finance minister Jaswant Singh in 2004 when supporting FDI in retail. Fifty per cent of our population, comprising small traders, street vendors and the self-employed, sustain themselves through retail businesses. The UPA government wants to deprive them of livelihood by allowing FDI in multi-brand retail. That was another former NDA finance minister Yashwant Sinha last week while protesting FDI in multi-brand retail.What has really changed between 2004 and 2011 for two former finance ministers of the NDA to adopt such contrarian positions? Frankly, little. Except the fact that in 2004 the NDA under Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an alliance in power; now the NDA is a coalition in opposition, desperate to return to power at the earliest and looking for any opportunity to embarrass the ruling UPA. If in UPA 1, the NDA did a somersault on the India-US nuclear deal, thereby undermining the Vajpayee legacy on foreign policy, in UPA 2 its the economic agenda of the Vajpayee years that is in danger of being abandoned. The NDA alliance which in government pioneered the opening up of the economy in key areas to foreign investment now threatens to turn its back in opposition on the very reforms it once originated.
By D.R. Mehta
T
The Congress has hastily pushed through the FDI in retail proposal without making any serious attempt to take either the Opposition, its coalition partners or even its own MPs into confidence. In a sense, the shift only hand, is also in a bind. exposes how contemporary Having scored a series of politics is now almost entire- self-goals, from 2G to Anna ly driven by convenience, to Telangana, an embattled not conviction. The logjam Congress leadership has in Parliament highlights this. been looking to finally break The Left, for example, has free. As a result, it hastily made common cause with pushed through the FDI in the BJP. Still recovering retail proposal without makfrom the mauling it received ing any serious attempt to in the West Bengal elections, take either the Opposition, the communists are trying to its coalition partners or even recapture their traditional its own MPs into confiideological space by project- dence. ing FDI in retail as an antiIs it any wonder then that a poor, Washington-dictated paralyzed Parliament has agenda. sparked off a populist no But while the Left may be work, no pay chant among a prisoner of ideology, what the chattering classes? Our of the BJP, a party that right MPs may not realize it, but through the Vajpayee years there is a dangerous cynihad shown a refreshing will- cism among the electorate ingness to balance its ideo- that is threatening to spiral logical moorings with a out of control. We had a pragmatic approach to gov- trailer of it during Anna ernance? When a Uma Hazares agitation in August Bharti threatens to burn when Parliament was down Walmart stores, when besieged by street protests. its UP leadership attempts to That should have served as a revive the Ram Mandir cam- warning that Parliament paign, when its national needs to get its act together, leaders have fanciful notions revive its legislative muscle of bringing back black and become a synthesizer of money to India, when even differing opinion rather than its reform-friendly leaders an arena of perpetual conwarn of dire consequences flict. The time for grandof enhancing foreign invest- standing and obstructionism ment limits, then you begin is over. Remember, Anna is to wonder if the BJP is being already threatening us with a pulled back into the emotive sequel! and destructive politics of a (Rajdeep Sardesai is ediprevious generation. tor-in-chief, IBN 18 The Congress, on the other Network.)
he issue of higher FDI limits in the retail sector has become highly contentious, resulting in a stalemate. Apart from political parties, the trade organizations are opposing it vociferously and, at times, even violently. An economic issue has thus become highly emotive. The need of the hour is for a rational debate. In the first place, the apprehension of the existing retailers that they might be displaced deserves to be examined. But the ground realities are different. In fact, foreign retail chains, seeking an entry into the Indian market, will not be in a position to compete with the small retailers in economic terms. The existing shopkeepers, say in Connaught Place New Delhi, or in any market of metropolises of the country, pay very low rents for their shops. Comparatively, a foreign chain will have to rent a mall on a premium rent. In terms of the staff and establishment cost also the position of the foreign retail chains will be even more difficult. A mid-sized Indian retailer may have the owner, his son and, maybe, one or two low paid employees and working for long hours. In comparison, the foreign retail chain will have much larger paraphernalia. It will have to employ more people working for lesser number of hours. Its per unit staff cost will be a multiple of what the existing Indian retailers incur. The cost of training, attiring of staff, larger parking space, air-conditioning,
policy would ruin the existing retailers of rural areas and small towns or the country as whole is specious. There is yet another aspect of this policy. Supposing, despite what has been reasoned above, the foreign retail chains like Wal-Mart succeed, it will directly benefit large sections of the people. If the prices are lower in the stores run by the foreign chains, consumers would be the gainers. This will curb inflation. India has 120 crore consumers as against a few million retailers and their employees. Secondly, the farmers are likely to get better prices. In such a situation, is it appropriate to weigh the interest of the middle-men against that of the larger populace? The existing grocery retail sector seems to be more apprehensive about the new policy. Again this is unfounded. Like others, I have seen umpteen corner stores in London or New York and other cities flourishing. Even a large number of retailers of Indian origin are visible on Oxford Street of London. Yet another dimension is that owing to competition from the foreign retail chains, the existing retailers will also get more modernized and efficient and quality conscious. Thus in the larger interest of the country, the created hype against the new policy is not understandable. Indeed, the policy should be welcome. (The author is a former Chairman SEBI and Dy. Governor of RBI) --As told to Prakash Bhandari in Jaipur
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Kabul: Twin blasts at Afghan shrines on the Shiite holy day of Ashura left at least 58 people dead, with one massive suicide attack in Kabul ripping through a crowd of worshippers including children. The attack in the capital and another in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif came a day after an international meeting in Germany aimed at charting a course for Afghanistan, 10 years after US-led forces drove the Taliban from power. The Kabul blast alone killed 54 people, in the deadliest strike on the capital in three years. The Taliban condemned the attacks as "inhumane" and instead blamed the bloodshed on the "invading enemy". The explosion erupted at the entrance to a riverside shrine in central Kabul, where hundreds of singing Shiite Muslims had gathered to mark Ashura, with men whipping their bare backs as part of the traditional mourning. "I was there watching people mourning when there was suddenly a huge explosion," witness Ahmad Fawad said. A young girl, dressed in a green shalwar kameez smeared in blood, stood shrieking, surrounded by the crumpled bodies of slain children.
The explosion erupted at the entrance to a riverside shrine in central Kabul, where hundreds of singing Shiite Muslims had gathered to mark Ashura. Separately, four people were killed in Mazar-i-Sharif when from the Hazara group suffered brutal persecution, but in another blast struck a shrine in the northern city. It was not recent years sectarian violence has been rare and the Kabul blast is thought to be the worst attack of its kind. immediately clear whether Shiites were the target. The explosion was caused by a bicycle bomb, said Lal The blasts came the day after delegates at the Bonn conferMohammad Ahmadzai, a police spokesman for northern ence agreed to extend international support for Afghanistan to Afghanistan, adding that another four people were injured. 2024 following the scheduled withdrawal of all foreign combat When the Sunni Taliban ruled in the 1990s, minority Shiites troops by the end of 2014.
It is made up of Sunni extremists who believe in the extermination of Shias and has helped drive the rampant sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni groups in Pakistan. At least 58 people were killed and scores wounded after bombers struck Shia religious observances in three cities, detonating explosives amid crowds of worshipers in the first such sectarian attacks in a decade of war in Afghanistan.
US-Pakistan relations have been pushed to an all-time low by NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. to liaise with Pakistani forces and increase the risk for another misunderstanding.
Bangladesh has been hosting thousands of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar district bordering Myanmar for years. Dhaka: Myanmar has assured Bangladesh of taking back all its nationals called Rohingyas staying here as refugees. At a meeting between Myanmar president U Thein Sein and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Nay Pyi Taw, the neighboring nation also assured to consider gas exports in the future, state news agency BSS reported. A wide range of issues, including the repatriation of Rohingya, cooperation in the energy sector, creating direct road and air
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Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info
India Inc felt let down and said it sent wrong signals overseas. "It is a highly regressive move. For the growth of this vital sector of the economy which is likely to result in strong linkages with the farm sector and for the economy as a whole, it is imperative that the reforms like these should take place," Mariwala said. Mukherjee said in parliament that the government was holding back its decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail.
A spokeswoman for the companys U.S. operations compared the use of virtual models online to the common retail practice of using mannequins in stores. New York: Visiting the H&M latest swimsuit and lingerie looks website is not the only virtual appear in generic, stock-form with experience to be had by H&M cus- their left hand resting slightly tomers who choose to order the below their waist, right arm companys clothes online instead straight and face looking directly of inside one of their 2,300 global ahead. retail stores. Advertising watchdogs in the Also completely virtual are the companys native Scandanavia elemodels at the center of H&Ms vated the controversy by criticizswimsuit and lingerie online cam- ing the chain of lower-cost clothpaigns, the Swedish-based retailer ing stores for their generic confirmed. approach to models. Its not a real body; it is comThe Norwegian Broadcasting pletely virtual and made by the Corporation, one of the most outcomputer, H&M press officer spoken groups to criticize H&M, Hacan Andersson told Swedish accused the chain of creating newspaper Aftonbladet in an arti- unrealistic physical ideals. cle questioning the companys picAndersonn defended the compature-perfect online models. nys decision to rely on virtual In the Dec. 4 article, translated instead of real models by explaininto English by U.S. celebrity ing that computer-generated bodwebsite Jezebel, Andersson ies would ensure that the garments explained the companys approach. remain the focus of online shopWe take pictures of the clothes pers attention, not the models on a doll that stands in the shop, bodies. and then create the human appearA spokeswoman for the compaance with a program on [a] com- nys U.S. operations compared the puter, he said. use of virtual models online to the Images from the companys common retail practice of using website show models wearing the mannequins in stores.
Rolls-Royce has about 200 employees in India. 650 engineers work on a sub-contract basis in engineering centers in Bangalore.
transporting and selling books. Despite the savings, the prices of blockbuster eBooks are often higher than the real thing, the Mail said. For instance, Apple's iTunes store is offering an eBook download of the biography of its founder Steve Jobs for 12.99 pounds. Amazon charges just 11.97 pounds for the hardback version, the Mail said. Stephen King's novel 11.22.63 is available for 9.99 pounds as an Apple eBook, compared with 8.20 pounds for the real book from Amazon. The European Commission announced a probe to discover whether the publishers have "engaged in anti-competitive practices".
International TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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It appears Putin's once invincible popularity is on the wane ahead of his planned return to the Kremlin in 2012.
US for 'transparency' in Chinese Parliament military growth dissolved, Kuwait set for elections
Kuwait City: Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad AlSabah issued a decree dissolving the Gulf state parliament, state television reported, citing a "threat to supreme national interests". "An emiri decree has been issued to dissolve the national assembly," the television said. The action marks the fourth time in less than six years that the emir has dissolved parliament. "After the obstruction of progress and due to the threat to the supreme national interests it was decided to go back to the nation," the decree said. The decision came one week after the emir accepted the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad alAhmad Al-Sabah, a senior member of the ruling family, following widespread protests led by youth activists. Under Kuwaiti law, fresh genWashington: Amid growing uneasiness in the US over the rapid growth of Chinese military power, Washington asserted that Beijing has the right to develop its military but underlined the need for full "transparency". "The United States views the Asia-Pacific region as a top priority. Our policy is focused on the region and not on any one country in particular," George Little, the Pentagon press secretary told reporters during an off camera news conference. "With respect to China, they have the right to develop military capabilities and plan just as we do and we repeatedly call for transparency from the Chinese and that's part of the relationship we are continuing to build with the Chinese military. That's important and transparency is the key," Little said. The remarks came after the Chinese President Hu Jintao urged his navy to prepare for military combat and advance naval modernization as part of effort to safeguard world peace.
The US remarks came after the Chinese President Hu Jintao urged his navy to prepare for military combat and advance naval modernization as part of effort to safeguard world peace. The navy should "accelerate its transformation and modernization in a sturdy way, and make extended preparations for military combat in order to make greater contributions to safeguard national security and world peace," Hu said in a speech. China has the right to develop naval forces, said Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt John Kirby. "Our naval forces are ready," he noted. "The peaceful rise of China is a good thing for the region, is a good thing for the world. We continue to seek a better military relationship with China. We continue to pursue that. That is not only in their interest, ours but the entire world as well," Kirby said.
The action marks the fourth time in less than six years that the emir has dissolved parliament. eral elections must be held within a period of 60 days. Another decree was expected to be issued soon to set the date for the next polls.
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Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Indian GP confirmed for India face confident West Indies in fourth ODI Oct 2012, US round too
New Delhi: Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) confirmed a 20-race calendar for the 2012 Formula One season and the Indian Grand Prix will be held from Oct 26-28 as previously scheduled. The United States Grand Prix was also included in the calendar. The FIA approved the race calendar at a World Motor Sport Council meeting in the national capital where its Annual General Assembly (AGA) is going on from Dec 5. The AGA is happening for the first time in India and will concluded with the FIA Awards Night. The Indian Grand Prix will again be the 17th race of the season and will take place at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida near here. The inaugural race this year was from Oct 28-30. The Bahrain round, which was cancelled in March due to civil unrest, will be the fourth race in 2012. The FIA also announced a host of rule changes for the next season. A three-day test will be allowed during the season as compared to none previously and the maximum duration of a race will limited to fours hours, the FIA said in a statement. "A maximum race time is to ensure that a lengthy suspension of a race does not result in a race that could run up to eight hours if left unregulated," said the statement. From now onwards, when safety car Indore: India will have to raise their game against a buoyant West Indies if they are to seal the series in the fourth One-day International at the Holkar Stadium here. The West Indies showed fighting spirit in the first two ODIs before finally winning the third at Visakhapatnam to keep the five-match series alive. India lead the series 2-1. India allowed the West Indies to make 269 after having them on mat at 170 for nine in the second ODI. In Ahmedabad, India had things under control until late fireworks by captain Darren Sammy and allrounder Andre Russell took the West Indies to 260 from 181 for five in 45th over. The score in the end proved enough for the tourist's first win on the tour. The Caribbean side, however, have already received a setback with in-form batsman and leading scorer of the series Darren Dravo ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Irfan Pathan, who has
The Indian Grand Prix will again be the 17th race of the season and will take place at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. returns to the pits all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join the back of the pack, ensuring a clean restart without slower cars impeding those racing for the leading positions. The cars which were in the pit lane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to rejoin the cars on the grid in the position they were in when the race was halted . The drivers will not be allowed to move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position. The 11 set of tyres allocated to a driver can now be used on the first day of practice. Earlier, only three sets were permitted. The 2012 season begins with Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 16-18.
Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir , Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli during the practice session at Indore. been inducted in the squad for the last two ODIs, is likely to play. The confidence in the West Indies camp must be sky high after their maiden win and they would be keen to end the tour on a high by performing well in the remaining two games. "Morale of the team is good. So far, we kept seeing we have been coming close. It is about taking the opportunity, grabbing it and winning," Sammy said on the eve of the match here. "It is two games left and most of the guys have been away from home for two and a half months. We want to finish on a high. We have to believe we can win. It is an important game for us and hopefully we can win it and take it down to Chennai for the final." The West Indies would expect some runs from the openers, who have failed to score in tandem. The highest opening wicket partnership for them has been 18 that was between Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath.
Features TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Jaipur: A nurse in a government hospital in a sleepy village Borunda in Rajasthan who wanted to become rich and famous and also grew politically ambitious had to lose her life. She rocked the country when a CD showing her in a sex act with a minister in Rajasthan was aired on a Hindi news channel. It brought shame to the people in power. Bhanwari Devi, 38, who was seen in the sex act with the arrested former Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna used the tape to blackmail him. She had initially demanded Rs 5 crore for returning the CD containing images of her in compromising position with Maderna. She had even threatened that the Congress government in Rajasthan would fall if she exposed the CD in public showing her relationship with men in
Bhanwari Devi was killed after attempt to blackmail a minister seen in a sex tape with her.
power. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh has claimed that Bhanwari had relationship with BJP leaders also. The attractive nurse, mother of three children, had finally struck a deal to make Rs 50 lakh from the henchmen of the minister to surrender the controversial CD. But all she could get was a mere
Rs 2.50 lakh out of the promised sum. This amount she received in August, but in September she was done to death. The greed and attempt at blackmailing cost her the life. She was earning a salary of Rs 17,000 per month but lived beyond her means and possessed two houses and a car. Bhanwari belonged to the Nat
Shahabuddin, Baldev Jat and Sohan Lal, in a Jodhpur court last Friday. In it, CBI has given details about recoveries including Bhanwaris jewelry, a camcorder, some videos, computer, clothes of one of the accused which reportedly had bloodstains and call details of all the accused. CBI has filed charge sheet under sections dealing with abduction and murder along with those under the SC/ST Act. The CBI chargesheet against the three main accused says Maderna assigned the task to his trusted Sahi Ram with a diktat to settle the issue with Bhanwari who was demanding money from Maderna. Sahi Ram Bishnoi, who is the prime accused and is now absconding hatched the plot to eliminate Bhanwari along with Sohan Lal Bishnoi and Shahabuddin and planned to obtain the CD showing Maderna with Bhanwari for Rs 50 lakh.
Rajasthan tourism minister Bina Kak receiving the Conde Nast Traveller magazine award from India's tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay (left).
announcement, Divia Thani Daswani, Editor, Cond Nast Traveller India says, Our awards are globally acknowledged as the most prestigious awards in the industry, because they are voted for by readers. These are discerning consumers who understand, appreciate and ultimately consume luxury travel products and services. Not only are Indians traveling more than ever before, the entire industry in the country is growing at an unprecedented rate. As all eyes focus on India, it is the perfect time to launch Indias very own Readers Travel Awards. These awards acknowledge the best in travel and hospitality. The awards and accolades journey for Udaipur began in 2009 when the prestigious US journal Travel + Leisure chose Udaipur through a readership based poll for the annual list of the "World's Best Cities". This accolade proved to be a boom for the city. The die was cast. The ancient city around a lake has a beautiful palace with some great hotels and superb resorts, including the Taj Lake Palace and the Oberoi Udaivilas. Luxury hotel companies are opening properties there because "they are looking for these very special destinations that are unspoiled, that do offer a very rich and real sense of the culture of the region to guests," the editor of Travel + Leisure, Nancy Novogard observed.
Now, Conde Nast Traveller s India edition has voted Udaipur as the best leisure destination of India. Udaipur pushed Kerala to the second spot. The Conde Nast award also found The Oberoi Udaivilas and Leela Penta as the best leisure hotels. In the award for the boutique hotels Devgarh Fort pushed Jaipurs Raj Vilas to the second category to emerge on top. Honors for Udaipur further proved that under the hotels Spa category Leela Penta was adjudged the best. The awards came to Udaipur as leisure destination as it was found that in terms of aesthetics, architecture, child friendliness, climate and scenery, culture, food, nightlife, people and hospitality, range of accommodation, value for money and variety of attractions, there
was no other city better than Udaipur. Similarly under the leisure hotels category, Udaipur scored over others because of ambience, dcor, food, restaurants, leisure facilities, service, comfort of accommodation and value for money. Awards after awards, Udaipur has proved that it is a haven for the tourists. I have hopes for Chittorgarh, Delwara and Mount Abu. The Mewar circuit that would include part of Marwar would mean that more and more tourists would come there and the tourism industry should gear up to receive the guests, said Bhim Singh, veteran tourism expert who owns Rajasthan Tours. The best thing that happened to Udaipur was the conservation of the lakes. Udaipur has faced
water scarcity from its inception due to its geographical location. The four large water bodies Pichhola, Swaroop Sagar, Fateh Sagar and Badi remained the lake citys lifelines. But the condition of the lakes deteriorated sharply in the post independence era. While, unregulated and rapid commercialization escalated the inflow of pollutants, indifferent government machinery that paid scant attention to proper cleaning up operations, only worsened the problem. But now under a Centrally sponsored scheme under the national conservation of lakes program (NCLP) efforts have been made to ensure that Udaipur lakes would get water from the Dewas project and the water from the project would be flowed to fill the Pichhola, Fateh Sagar and Swaroop Sagar lakes. Under the scheme Rs 84.75 crores were sanctioned for Pichhola and Rs 41.86 crores for the Fateh Sagar lake. With these funds the desilting, lake development, sewage interception and diversion, water quality monitoring, IEC activities, afforestation and aeration etc are being done. Various government departments like irrigation, public health (PHED), municipality, urban Improvement Trust (UIT) and fisheries department are undertaking the job, said Anil Nepaliya, the executive engineer of UIT, Udaipur.
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REVIEW
offering her first job watches her lustily and, given her first stab in front of the camera, wants to impress the choreographer and unasked sheds it all - clothes and inhibitions. Wan, worn out and broke, she ends her life, alone in her big house. The once star wears a red, bridal sari, puts on a bindi and lies down for that endless sleep. Is it an unrequited desire? Did this very unconventional sex symbol really want marriage and two kids? We don't really know because there has been plenty of sex, but little romance so far. The filmmaker seems confused, and so is the audience. The performances are pretty good. This is Vidya's film through and through, she gets under the skin of the character. The uninhibited portrayal of that frank, unabashed sexuality could have been saved for a better film. Remember the sizzle and subtlety of "Ishqiya"? The problem with "The Dirty Picture" is that we never really get a grip on Silk Smitha's character.
Aamir Khan confirmed that they went for IVF-surrogacy due to medical complications. amir Khan and Kiran Rao are blessed with a baby boy. And if you are surprised how you never heard of it earlier, it is because the child was born through IVF to a surrogate mother. The delivery happened on December 1 at a private clinic in Mumbai. Aamir Khan confirmed that they went for IVF-surrogacy due to medical complications. Expectedly both Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao are elated to have the baby. The news took the whole industry by surprise, especially because Kiran had been spotted at different events without the least hint of a baby bump. But now, the reason is clear, as Aamir and Kiran announced the latest arrival in their family with a press statement.
Last year, 162 million people tuned in to see the Black Eyed Peas perform at the Super Bowl.
"It gives us the greatest joy to share with you the good news of the birth of our baby boy. This baby is especially dear to us because he was born to us after a long wait and some difficulty. Due to medical complications, we were advised to have a baby through IVF-surrogacy, and we feel very grateful to the Almighty that all has gone well. We are humbled by the greatness of God, the miracles of science, and the kindness and love of our families and friends in being there for us while respecting our privacy. We seek your good wishes and blessings for our child," said the statement from the couple. Aamir Khan has two kids from his first wife, Reena Dutta - a son named Junaid and a daughter named Ira.
The 36-year-old will address a press conference to make a formal announcement of his entry in the show in Mumbai.
ustralian cricket allrounder Andrew Symonds is set to enter the "Bigg Boss 5" house this week. Symonds will be the second international celebrity to enter the Colors' show after IndoCanadian porn star Sunny Leone. He will enter the show as a participant, said a source from the channel. The 36-year-old will address a press conference to make a formal announcement of his entry in the show in Mumbai. Some of the remaining contenders include Mahek Chahal, Juhi Parmar, Akashdeep Saigal, Siddharth Bharadwaj, Shonali Nagrani, and Amar Upadhyay, apart from Sunny.
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ignaling a new era of co-operation between Bollywood and Hollywood, Hollywood star Tom Cruise was accorded a red carpet treatment at a special pre-release screening of his forthcoming movie "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol", over a fortnight before its global release on December 21. Wearing a blue shirt and jeans, keeping in mind Mumbai's warm weather, Cruise, 49, was at his charismatic best, even as his host and co-star, Anil Kapoor, beamed with pride at the Imax Cinema in Wadala in central Mumbai. When Cruise, Patton and Kapoor - who plays telecom tycoon Brij Nath in the film arrived, they were throatily cheered by the gathering. Cruise and co-star Paula Patton spent nearly two hours wowing and directly interacting with their fans, happily signing autographs, accepting their good wishes for the movie, which nearly 1,500 of them watched. "I have wanted to come here all my life. I kept telling Anil, a great actor and an
Tom Cruise, Paula Patton and Anil Kapoor at the special screening of 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' in Mumbai.
incredible host, 'I promise you I will come to India'. Yesterday when we were at the Taj Mahal, I told him 'You have to pinch me. I can't believe I am here'," said a smiling Cruise. Asked about his experience in India, Cruise said he met Kapoor and became friends with him when he gave away the Golden Globe Award to the "Slumdog Millionaire" team, which included the Indian actor. Asked whether he was familiar with Indian cinema, Cruise said: "Yes, I know some of them. You make so many movies. I don't know all of them. But, you have made many great films, and have great film-makers and actors here." Referring to the film in which he plays an IMF agent Ethan Hunt accused of a terrorist bombing in the Kremlin, leading to USRussia tension, Cruise said he was excited working the movie's director, Brad Bird. In the traditional hallmark of the MI franchise, the latest one provides ultra-high adrenaline action supported by a racy script that keeps the viewer on the edge of the seat.
iracles happen. And this one happened at an event recently, where Karisma Kapoor was being bestowed the style icon of the year tag. Well, the Kapoors and Bachchans seem to have warmly made up if the cordial and warm hug between Karisma Kapoor and Jaya Bachchan is anything to go by. It can be remembered that Karisma Kapoor was once engaged to Abhishek Bachchan, until all hell broke loose and the engagement was called off. Everyone still doesn't know why the rings on the fingers were
pulled off, but Karisma and Abhishek went their own way. However, with both of them being well-settled now, in a private space of their own with their respective spouses and families, Karisma thought it only right to walk over to Jaya Bachchan, her once-upon-a-time to-be-motherin-law and greet her. The greeting was cordial, and even a warm hug followed a few lines of interaction. It can be remembered that Karisma Kapoor was once engaged to Abhishek Bachchan, until all hell broke loose and the engagement was called off.
According to a survey conducted by the Eastern Eye Weekly, Hrithik, 37, beat off tough competition from high profile stars to top the 50-strong list.
ollywood star Hrithik Roshan has emerged as the sexiest Asian Man in the World of the year 2011. According to a survey conducted by the Eastern Eye Weekly, Hrithik, 37, beat off tough competition from high profile stars to top the 50strong list. Described by many as a Greek God, Hrithik went back to winning ways in 2011 playing the lead role in mega-hit movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and also had his wax statue added to the Madame Tussauds museum in London. "Hrithik is a worthy winner
and a leading man with global appeal. This year there was a massive gap between Hrithik and the rest of the competitors. He is the perfect ambassador for India and someone who could take on anyone in Hollywood in terms of looks, talent and likability," said Asjad Nazir, Eastern Eye showbiz editor. Indian batsman Virat Kohli at 18, was the highest new entry in the 2011 list. Other big named new entries included Abhishek Bachchan at 17, Prateik Babbar at 20, Ajay Devgn at 29 and Farhan Akhtar at 34.
om Cruise made a mark for himself as an actor and filmmaker in Hollwyood and the star confesses that he dreamt of making films ever since he was four years old. "I think it's about the 20th film I have produced. I love cinema, I love movies and my whole life. Since when I was 4 years old, I remember I dreamt of making movies, so I started producing," said the 49-year-old actor who turned
producer with "Mission Impossible" and continued it with movie like "Vanilla Sky", "The Last Samurai" and "Mission Impossible III". "'Mission Impossible' was the film I produced and I came up with the idea of making the series into movies because, as a child, I saw the series and I thought it would make a great film because there wasn't anything like that. And you know it's fun hiring directors, writers and
being involved in casting and story," he added. "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" also features Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist and Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor. Meanwhile, Cruise is very clear about continuing with the "Mission Impossible" franchise. "There are lots of stories and lots of places to go," said the actor who has spent 30 long years in the movie industry.
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Humor TheSouthAsianTimes.info
s part of an ongoing effort to get more young people to participate in church, Good Shepherd United Church decided to accept prayer requests on its Facebook page and print them in its weekly bulletin. Pastor Jim Williams was pleased to see the entire congregation, young and old, reading the bulletin with great interest the following Sunday. Prayer Requests: Please pray for C.J. as he awaits the results of an important test. His classmate Jenny recently gave birth to a baby boy and is having a paternity test done. Pray that C.J. isnt the father, but if he indeed is, please pray that he has the strength to face his parents. Please keep Mike in your prayers as he tries his best to get tickets to the U-2 concert next week. Also pray that he doesnt have to pay too much for the tickets, and if he does, please pray for the souls of the ticket scalpers. Please pray that Harumi can overcome his addiction to viewing certain pictures and videos on the Internet, which is affecting his work and family life. He wants desperately to overcome his obsession with Will and Kate. Please pray that Heather will have success with her experiment in
watching LeBron come up short. Please pray for Sunita, who is struggling with temptation and wondering why she couldnt find employment at some place other than Baskin-Robbins. Pray that she doesnt eat herself out of a job. Please pray for Dawn, who is having a health issue. Her doctor says
she needs to lose weight, but if she doesnt get a little bigger, she wont create enough space for a Justin Bieber tattoo. Please pray for Jack, who just lost three friends. He doesnt know why they unfriended him on Facebook. Pray that his prayer request results in a few more friend requests.
chemistry class. There is a cute guy in the class and she is experimenting playing hard to get. Please pray that Mukesh can solve his Visa issues and bring his wife and children from India. He wants to buy airline tickets and needs a new Visa card to charge them to. Please keep Veronica in your prayers as she begins a new phase in her life. Pray that she has the strength to survive without Oprah. Please pray for Joanne, who strongly desires to tie the knot with her boyfriend, Ron. Pray that everything works out for her and that Ron finally gets the hint.
Please pray for Prince, who is trying desperately to get some money out of Nigeria and needs someones help. Please keep Justin in your prayers as he faces a difficult decision in his life: whether to buy a Nintendo Wii or a Sony PlayStation. Help him get the direction he needs. Please pray for Carson, who promises to come to church every Sunday for the rest of his life if he manages to pass his Grade 12 math exam. Please pray for Miguel, who is recovering from a big loss and still cant understand how the Mavericks beat the Heat. Pray that he has the strength to endure another season of
by Mahendra Shah
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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We say we want to find God. But God can only be found in the stillness of our soul. We need to shut down the chatter of the world to hear God within. God comes to us within in the form of a divine Current. This Current is both radiant Light and celestial Sound. To see and hear it within, we need to silence the outer world and silence our thoughts.
tion progress. Can we expect to achieve the results we want when we can barely be still for a few minutes? Physical stillness requires control of our body. It is remarkable how much control we exercise over our body when it comes to worldly pursuits. For example, look at how many tasks we do to get our body in shape. We force ourselves to do aerobic exercises by spending twenty to thirty minutes a day on a treadmill or taking a brisk walk. We find time to do this to keep up our cardiovascular system. We spend time daily when we feel the need to lift weights or do workouts to keep fit and build our muscles. We snatch away time from our other pursuits when we feel something is important. We spend time daily preparing food that we feel will be delicious, nutritious or weight-reducing. This reminds me of a humorous story. A family had decided to all go on a diet. The husband was on a diet, the wife was on a diet, and the kids were on a diet. After many months, the husband remarked, "This does not seem fair. We have been on a diet for months and we are not losing weight. The only thing losing weight is the refrigerator." concentrate mentally on different tasks in our everyday lives. For example, if we are going to school, we study for hours. When we want to pass a course or test, we find a way to tune out everything else and mentally focus on studying. We spend hours memorizing facts and figures. We train ourselves to turn off the television and take time away from our video games and friends to concentrate. Those who are in the computer field learn how to concentrate on the detailed task of writing computer code. They must concentrate with intensity lest they mess up the code! If we want to play a video game or a challenging game like chess, we find no trouble tuning out all distractions to concentrate on what we are doing. Millions of people read books and can do so in a crowded airport or train, at home with children running around the house, or even while the television is playing. When we want to concentrate on reading, we are able to train our mind to tune out all other noises and focus only on the words on a page. Millions of people go to the movies. A movie may last two or three hours. People have no trouLook at all the amazing tasks humans do when they have a desire and how they put in time to make their dreams a reality. For example, people have figured out how to put a human being on the moon. Who could imagine that someone walking on earth, pulled down by gravity, could rise out of the earths gravitational pull, travel through oxygenless space, land on a moon, without any oxygen, walk on that lifeless surface, and come back alive. It is remarkable. Yet, someone had the dream to make it happen and then set in motion all the necessary steps for it to become a reality. If we can put a physical body on a moon, why cannot we take our spirit and return it to the spiritual realms from where it came? All it takes is the desire to do so and a will to follow the instructions to make it happen, and it will happen. Another example of making a dream into a reality is that of the astronauts who are able to leave the space shuttle to do a spacewalk safely and even make repairs or upgrades to the ship. Is that anything less than amazing? Some people are afraid to lean out their window on a second floor or higher lest they fall. Yet, astronauts venture out to space, at how they do it. Yet, they had a goal and worked day after day to increase their ability to run. They not only trained their body, but they trained their mind to keep at the task until they achieved their goal. Some people can barely swim across a pool, yet there are people who train themselves to swim the English Channel. We wonder how it is possible. But someone had that desire and worked hard to make it happen. If we look at the field of medicine, we marvel at how doctors have created ways to transplant an organ such as the heart or do delicate brain surgery. For centuries no one could have dreamed these treatments possible, yet people had the idea to develop these methods, and they worked hard to make it reality. (To be continued..) Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.