The Indian Panorama

Month: January 2013

  • China Paper Hits Newsstands, But Protests Still On

    China Paper Hits Newsstands, But Protests Still On

    GUANGZHOU (TIP): A weekly Chinese newspaper at the centre of anti-censorship protests appeared on newsstands on Thursday as a newsroom strike ended amid fresh calls for the Communist Party leadership to loosen its grip on the media. The strike at the Southern Weekly in the affluent Guangdong province came after censors watered down a page-two editorial in the New Year edition. Calls for China to enshrine constitutional rights were replaced with comments praising oneparty rule. The rare newsroom revolt at one of China’s most respected and liberal papers hit a raw nerve nationwide, with calls for freedom of expression led by bloggers with millions of followers such as actress Yao Chen and writer Han Han.

    How the party responds to those calls will be a key indicator of new party leader Xi Jinping’s reformist inclinations. About six protesters were forcibly cleared from the gates of the paper by plainclothes officials on Thursday, shouting as they were bundled into vehicles as dozens of uniformed police officers looked on. The problem of reconciling the conflict between conservatives and liberals was illustrated in scuffles and heated arguments outside the Southern Weekly’s gates all week. Leftists carrying Mao Zedong posters and red China flags repeatedly abused scores of Southern Weekly supporters for undermining China’s socialist system and one-party rule.

  • Nasa’s Kepler Mission Discovers

    Nasa’s Kepler Mission Discovers

    NEW DELHI (TIP): It is no longer a question of will we find a true Earth analogue, but a question of when, says Steve Howell, project scientist at the NASA mission that is searching for new planets orbiting other stars. On Monday, NASA announced that its Kepler space telescope had discovered 461 new planet candidates. With this addition, the number of potential planets discovered so far has gone up to 2,740 orbiting 2,036 stars. That’s a 20 percent increase since data was released in February last year. Four of the potential new planets revealed are less than twice the size of Earth and orbit in their sun’s “habitable zone,” the region in the planetary system where liquid water might exist on the surface of a planet, NASA said in a statement. Just like our Solar System, 43 percent of Kepler’s planet candidates are observed to have neighbor planets.

    The new data increase the number of stars discovered to have more than one planet candidate from 365 to 467. “The large number of multicandidate systems being found by Kepler implies that a substantial fraction of exoplanets reside in flat multi-planet systems,” said Jack Lissauer, planetary scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. “This is consistent with what we know about our own planetary neighborhood.” The Kepler space telescope identifies planet candidates by repeatedly measuring the change in brightness of more than 150,000 stars in search of planets that pass in front of, or “transit,” their host star. At least three transits are required to verify a signal as a potential planet.

    Scientists analyzed more than 13,000 transit-like signals to eliminate known spacecraft instrumentation and astrophysical false positives, phenomena that masquerade as planetary candidates, to identify the potential new planets. Candidates require additional follow-up observations and analyses to be confirmed as planets. At the beginning of 2012, 33 candidates in the Kepler data had been confirmed as planets. Today, there are 105. Kepler space telescope, named after the 17th century German astronomer Johannes Kepler was launched in March 2009. It is fixedly looking at a view that covers about 145,000 stars in the neighborhood of the Solar System, within the Milky Way.

  • Insulin breakthrough could see end to needles

    Insulin breakthrough could see end to needles

    SYDNEY (TIP): Breakthrough research mapping how insulin works at a molecular level could lead to new diabetes treatments and end daily needle jabs, helping hundreds of millions of suffers, scientists said. A joint US-Australian team said it has been able to lay out for the first time in atomic detail how the insulin hormone binds to the surface of cells, triggering the passage of glucose from the bloodstream to be stored as energy.

    Lead researcher Mike Lawrence said the discovery, more than 20 years in the making and using powerful xray beams, would unlock new and more effective kinds of diabetes medication. “Until now we have not been able to see how these molecules interact with cells,” said Lawrence, from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. “We can now exploit this knowledge to design new insulin medications with improved properties, which is very exciting.” Lawrence said the team’s study, published in the latest edition of Nature, had revealed a “molecular handshake” between the insulin and its receptor on the surface of cells. “Both insulin and its receptor undergo rearrangement as they interact — a piece of insulin folds out and key pieces within the receptor move to engage the insulin hormone,” he said of the “unusual” binding method.

    Understanding how insulin attaches to cells was key to developing “novel” treatments of diabetes, a chronic condition in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use it properly. “The generation of new types of insulin have been limited by our inability to see how insulin docks into its receptor in the body,” Lawrence said. “This discovery could conceivably lead to new types of insulin that could be given in ways other than injection, or an insulin that has improved properties or longer activity so that it doesn’t need to be taken as often.” Importantly, Lawrence said the discovery could also have ramifications for the treatment of diabetes in developing nations, allowing for the creation of more stable insulins that do not need refrigeration. It could also have applications in the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer’s, with insulin playing a role in both diseases, he added.

  • Scotland Yard Recovers Stolen Hindu Jewellery

    Scotland Yard Recovers Stolen Hindu Jewellery

    LONDON (TIP): High value jewellery and ornaments, possibly smuggled out of India, have been seized by Scotland Yard in an investigation into stolen goods. The Yard on Thursday put out an appeal to owners to claim the precious goods. The fact that the police are unaware of who these belong to has raised suspicions that these may have been imported illegally. The haul include a jewel-encrusted gold ring in the shape of an owl, a statuette of Ganesha, said to be of silver or platinum, and coins featuring Hindu images. Scotland Yard’s inquiry, codenamed Operation Maxim, recovered the valuables from addresses in London. But it said, “It is believed the items were stolen from homes across the UK.” Operation Maxim’s detective sergeant Ian Gibson said, “Many of these items are unique. Some feature engravings of names and what we believe is Hindi (perhaps Sanskrit) script. There are a number of items, featuring Hindu and other religious imagery.” He added, “…We suspect that these are family heirlooms or ceremonial pieces, and that they will hold sentimental value for the owners.”

  • Ailing Chavez Misses Own Inauguration Bash

    Ailing Chavez Misses Own Inauguration Bash

    CARACAS (TIP): With cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez hospitalized in Cuba, thousands of flag-waving Venezuelans in red shirts filled the streets of Caracas on Thursday to inaugurate his new term without him. Bands played anthems from street-side stages as people poured out of buses to make their way on foot toward the Miraflores presidential palace for a symbolic swearing-in of the people in place of Chavez, who is too sick to take the oath of office. “I love the president,” said Pedro Brito, a 60-year-old law professor, in a red T-shirt with slogan “I am Chavez.” “He has done a lot for poor people, the ones who had no place to sleep or food to eat. He has shown us how to love the country.”

    Vice President Nicolas Maduro hosted a meeting of leftist Latin America presidents and other foreign representatives who have come to show support for the Chavez government in a period of deep uncertainty. The supreme court cleared the ailing Chavez to indefinitely postpone his swearing-in and said his existing administration could remain in office until he is well enough to take the oath. It was the last legal hurdle to a government plan for resolving the vacuum created by Chavez’s illness that met fierce resistance from the opposition, which had argued it was unconstitutional.

  • Makar Sankranti

    Makar Sankranti

    Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid- January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context.

    It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14th January every year. Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the ‘holy phase of transition’. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards.

    Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season. All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. As, it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.

    History
    It is a harvest festival which is basically celebrated in the Hindu communities. In Indian, the states of Bihar, Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu celebrate the festival with great fervor and gusto.In Tamil Nadu the festival is known as Pongal, in Assam as Bhogali Bihu, in Punjab, as Lohiri, in Gujarat and Rajasthan, as Uttararayan. Outside India, the festival is given due importance in the countries like Nepal where it is celebrated as Maghe Sakrati or Maghi, in Thailand where it is named as Songkran and in Myanmar where it is called Thingyan. The festival of Makar Sankranti marks the day when the sun begins its northward journey and enters the sign of Makar (the Capricorn) from the Tropic of Cancer.

    It is like the movement of sun from Dakshinayana (south) to Uttarayana (north) hemisphere. It is the one of the few chosen Indian Hindu festivals which has a fixed date. This day falls on the 14th of January every year according to the Hindu Solar Calendar. The festival is considered to be a day from where onwards all the auspicious ritualistic ceremonies can be solemnized in any Hindu family. This is thus considered as the holy phase of transition. Shankranti means transmigration of Sun from one zodiac in Indian astrology to the other. As per Hindu customary beliefs, there are 12 such Sankrantis in all. But the festival is celebrated only on the occasion of Makara Sankaranti i.e. the transition of the Sun from Sagittarius (‘Dhanu’ Rashi ) to Capricorn(‘Makara’ Rasi).

    In this case, the zodiacs are measured sidereally, and not tropically, in order to account the Earth’s precession. That is why the festival falls about 21 days after the tropical winter solstice which lies between December 20 and 23rd. Here the sun marks the starting of Uttarayana, which means northern progress of Sun. Makar Sankranti holds special significance as on this day the solar calendar measures the day and night to be of equal durations on this day. From this day onwards, the days become longer and warmer.

    It is the day when people of northern hemisphere, the northward path of the sun marks the period when the sun is getting closer to them. The importance of the day was signified by the Aryans who started celebrating this day as an auspicious day for festivities. The reason behind this may be the fact that it marked the onset of harvest season. Even in the epic of Mahabharata, an episode mentions how people in that era also considered the day as auspicious. Bhishma Pitamah even after being wounded in the Mahabharata war lingered on till Uttarayan set in, so that he can attain heavenly abode in auspiciuous times. It is said that death on this day to brings Moksha or salvation to the deceased.

    Customs & Traditions
    In Maharashtra, there is a custom of exchanging sweets made of jaggery, as the first sugarcane crop for the year is harvested during the period. According to a tradition, the Marathis wear black clothes, because they consider the black sesame as auspicious. Til Gul (Sesame- Jaggery sweet) is prepared and exchanged on the day. Flying kite is one of the popular Makar Sankranti traditions of Maharashtra.

    Colorful kites, made of different shapes and sizes, are also flown in Gujarat, as a part of the celebrations of Makar Sankranti. This is primarily because, the festival coincides with the International Kite Festival held at Ahmedabad (capital city of Gujarat), on January 14. Charity forms a significant part of the traditions of Makar Sankranti. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, one can witness people donating Khichdi (rice cooked with lentils) to the poor and needy. People in Andhra Pradesh also indulge themselves in charity of clothes.

    Taking a holy dip on the day is considered auspicious and hence, it is a popular custom followed in Uttar Pradesh, where people flock the religious places in the state to take a ceremonious bath in holy River Ganga. It is believed that taking dip in holy rivers provides moksha (salvation) from all the sins done previously. Makar Sankranti is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu.

    There, it is a three-day festival, starting from January 13 until January 15. January 13 is celebrated as Bhogi, followed by Makara Pongal (Sankranti) and then culminated by Mattu Pongal on the next day. Similar tradition is seen in Andhra Pradesh, where the third day of Makar Sankranti is known as ‘Kanuma’. The customs followed in villages of India, on Makar Sankranti, have a unique charm. Varied festivities including singing and dancing mark the celebrations of the harvest festival. Courtyards and swept and sprinkled with a mixture of water and cow dung, while the homes are scrub-cleaned for the festival. People would make Rangoli or Kolam in their courtyard. The villagers extend their gratitude to Mother Nature for a good

  • Army Calling The Shots In Pakistan Again?

    Army Calling The Shots In Pakistan Again?

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): The Pakistani aggressors who killed Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies may have undermined one of the key factors underpinning the peace process. Pakistan lured India, deeply distrustful of its intent post-26/11, to the negotiation table by promising that the Pakistani Army was on the same page as the Zardari government on the restoration of normalcy in ties. The brutality on the Line of Control (LoC) raises doubts about the credibility of the promise, and prompt India to take a fresh look at its options. More so, because India was in any case expecting that Pakistan is likely to get more “assertive” in Jammu & Kashmir, which may be a direct consequence of the US-sponsored role the Pakistan Army believes it is playing to bring the Taliban into Afghan government in Kabul.

    The latest Pakistani provocation, including beheading an Indian soldier during an infiltration bid in Kashmir, on Tuesday did not come as a huge surprise to the strategic leadership of this government. The brutality of the attack was unexpected and carried reminders of a similar attack by Ilyas Kashmiri over a decade ago. On the face of it, Pakistani government has really no proximate reason to escalate temperatures on their eastern flank. Their western flank remains under pressure of both Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, drone attacks and terrorism inside Pakistan have been on with unflinching regularity. There are no elections due any time soon, so there is really no reason to whip up nationalist sentiment inside Pakistan by invoking the India bogey. The Pakistani Army is in no particular danger from the civilians, in fact, quite the contrary.

    All the reasons for Pakistan to concentrate on its western flank continue to hold. So why would Pakistan resort to this kind of provocation that could invite a sharper Indian response? But something has changed. The change actually started a few years ago. In the years since Pervez Kayani has taken over the reins of the Pakistan Army, infiltration into India has steadily increased. Nothing eye-popping, but the charts have kept ticking. India, desperate to maintain a show of peace and a modicum of normalcy, has routinely glossed over the increased numbers of terrorists being pushed in. Indian forces’ ability to intercept terrorists has also increased, which has resulted in less “incidents”. But the fact remains, infiltration has not stopped. Government sources had confirmed that last year saw the highest levels of infiltration in the past five years.

    In recent weeks, Pakistan has been pulled out of the doldrums after suffering its worst couple of years with the US. Its renewed sense of importance lies in once again being identified as the key to peace in Afghanistan. With the US preparing to turn off the lights in Afghanistan by 2014 – some say, even this year – the concerted western effort there is to go the tried and tested way. The Pakistani Army is once again being given the keys to the peace effort in Afghanistan, by being asked to broker a deal with the Taliban, to bring them into the government. New Delhi has been very unhappy at the turn of events, because they reckon that the price would be paid by increased terrorism against India by Pakistan-supported elements. This week’s incident may just be the beginning of a difficult period.

  • Kidnapped Sikh Man Beheaded In Pakistan’s Tribal Belt

    Kidnapped Sikh Man Beheaded In Pakistan’s Tribal Belt

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): A militant group in Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt beheaded a Sikh man kidnapped over a month ago after accusing him of acting as a “spy” for a rival outfit, media reports said. Mohinder Singh, 40, was kidnapped from his shop in Tabbai village of Khyber Agency by unidentified armed men on November 20. Singh was a seller of herbal medicines, a trade that is common among Sikhs in northwest Pakistan. Singh was beheaded January 8 and his body was mutilated before it was packed in a sack and dumped at Zakhakhel Bazaar in Khyber Agency, unnamed officials were quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. The officials said Tawheedul Islam, a militant group, had claimed responsibility for killing Singh. A note left with the body said Singh had been killed for spying for a rival militant group, the Lashkar-e-Islam. The body was identified by the slain man’s brother Daswant Singh.

    He said his brother’s killing was a “cruel act” against members of the minority Sikh community. “We have no enmity with anyone and have lived peacefully in Khyber Agency for more than six decades,” he said. Daswant told The News daily that his family had earlier approached the Tauheedul Islam, a pro-government militia of Zakhakhel tribesmen, but it had claimed it did not know the whereabouts of Singh. “After we tried and used all tribal channels and sources for the recovery of my brother, we sent an application to Mutahir Zeb, Political Agent of the Khyber Agency, on December 13 to seek his support,” Daswant said. The official had reportedly assured the family that Singh would be recovered within a week, he said. Daswant said his brother was diabetic and had been survived by his wife and nine children, including a polio-affected son. He demanded that the government should protect minorities and pay compensation to the family.

  • Lohri The Bonfire Festival

    Lohri The Bonfire Festival

    A midst the freezing cold weather, with the temperature wobbling between 0-5 degrees Celsius and the dense fog outside, everything seems stagnant in the northern part of India. However, below the apparently frozen surface, you would be amazed to find a palpable wave of activity going on. People, especially in the northern Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh, are busy making preparations for Lohri — the long-awaited bonfire festival — when they can come out of their homes and celebrate the harvesting of the Rabi (winter) crops and give in to relaxing and enjoying the traditional folk songs and dances.

    Significance
    In Punjab, the breadbasket of India, wheat is the main winter crop, which is sown in October and harvested in March or April. In January, the fields come up with the promise of a golden harvest, and farmers celebrate Lohri during this rest period before the cutting and gathering of crops.

    According to the Hindu calendar, Lohri falls in mid-January. The earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time, starts its journey towards the sun, thus ending the coldest month of the year, Paush, and announcing the start of the month of Magh and the auspicious period of Uttarayan. According to the Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna manifests himself in his full magnificence during this time. The Hindus ‘nullify’ their sins by bathing in the Ganges.

    Customs & Legends In the morning on Lohri day, children go from door to door singing and demanding the Lohri ‘loot’ in the form of money and eatables like til (sesame) seeds, peanuts, jaggery, or sweets like gajak, rewri, etc. They sing in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi avatar of Robin Hood who robbed the rich to help the poor, and once helped a miserable village girl out of her misery by getting her married off like his own sister.

    The Bonfire Ritual
    In the evening, with the setting of the sun, huge bonfires are lit in the harvested fields and in the front yards of houses and people gather around the rising flames, circle around (parikrama) the bonfire and throw puffed rice, popcorn and other munchies into the fire, shouting “Aadar aye dilather jaye” (May honor come and poverty vanish!), and sing popular folk songs. This is a sort of prayer to Agni, the fire god, to bless the land with abundance and prosperity. After the parikrama, people meet friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts, and distribute prasad (offerings made to god). The prasad comprises five main items: til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn. Winter savories are served around the bonfire with the traditional dinner of makki-di-roti (multi-millet hand-rolled bread) and sarsonda- saag (cooked mustard herbs).

    Song & Dance
    Bhangra dance by men begins after the offering to the bonfire. Dancing continues till late night with new groups joining in amid the beat of drums. Traditionally, women do not join Bhangra. They hold a separate bonfire in their courtyard orbiting it with the graceful gidda dance.

    The ‘Maghi’ Day
    The day following Lohri is called ‘Maghi’, signifying the beginning of the month of Magh. According to Hindu beliefs, this is an auspicious day to take a holy dip in the river and give away charity.Sweet dishes (usually kheer) are prepared with sugar cane juice to mark the day.

    Exhibition of Exhuberance Lohri
    is more than just a festival, especially for the people of Punjab. Punjabis are a funloving, sturdy, robust, energetic, enthusiastic and jovial race, and Lohri is symbolic of their love for celebrations and light-hearted flirtations and exhibition of exuberance.

    A Celebration of Fertility Lohri
    celebrates fertility and the joy of life, and in the event of the birth of a male child or a marriage in the family, it assumes a larger significance wherein the host family arranges for a feast and merry-making with the traditional bhangra dance along with rhythm instruments, like the dhol and the gidda. The first Lohri of a new bride or a newborn baby is considered extremely important.

    Thanksgiving & Get-together!
    Nowadays, Lohri brings in an opportunity for people in the community to take a break from their busy schedule and get together to share each other’s company. In other parts of India, Lohri almost coincides with the festivals of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and Uttarayan all of which communicate the same message of oneness and celebrates the spirit of brotherhood, while thanking the Almighty for a bountiful life on earth.

  • India-US Economic Ties Not Realized: US Think Tank

    India-US Economic Ties Not Realized: US Think Tank

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The full potential of India-US economic relationship is far from being realized, chiefly due to the actions and inactions of the two governments, according to a US think tank. “Progress will be faster and broader if the focus on government-to-government negotiations is replaced with an emphasis on cooperation at the level of individual companies and states,” suggests the report by the Asian Studies Centre of The Heritage Foundation. Much of the hope for progress on India-US economic issues has been put on the prospects and scope of a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), it says in the first part of the report on “Unleashing the Market in the India-US Economic Relationship”. “A BIT may be useful,” the report said. “But only a high-quality BIT-which includes sensitive topics, such as mining and intellectual property rights-can achieve the necessary progress on these and other critical bilateral economic issues.”

    Current government-to-government talks are nowhere close to realizing such a BIT and the historical record indicates that a high-quality BIT is unlikely in the near future, the Heritage report said. “Even if a sound BIT is eventually achieved, progress should not wait. There is much to be gained for India and the US in the interim,” it said. In investment, individual US states should be more active in marketing to Indian companies, the report said. It suggested that “it would be helpful if the Indian government were to remove various restrictions on multinational corporations”. “Even if that does not occur, Indian states can greatly improve their local investment climates,” it said.

    As mining in particular is largely a state matter in India, American companies can assist the process by demonstrating their record in environmental protection and social remediation of mined areas, it said. In labor, American companies and universities should prod the federal government to roll back recent increases in visa fees and effective reduction in visa quotas, the report suggested. Indian firms should enhance credibility by doing a better job of self-policing, and New Delhi should look at its own restrictions on foreign labor. Noting that in intellectual property, international negotiations have led to progress and enforcement is the most pressing issue, it said: “For that, Indian states are well positioned.”

  • Obama Cabinet Shuffle Takes Shape Amid Concerns About Diversity In Obama’s Inner Circle

    Obama Cabinet Shuffle Takes Shape Amid Concerns About Diversity In Obama’s Inner Circle

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The composition of President Barack Obama’s second term Cabinet became clearer on January 9, with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis resigning and three other members of the president’s team deciding to stay on amid concerns about diversity in Obama’s inner circle. Solis, a former California congresswoman and one of the highestranking Hispanics in the Cabinet, said she was departing after leading the department during the economic storms of the first term. She was the nation’s first Hispanic labor secretary. A White House official said three Cabinet members: Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki: would stay on as the second term begins.

    It would ensure diversity among the president’s leadership team: Holder is black, Sebelius is a woman and Shinseki is of Japanese-American descent. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel changes, said the three remaining officials were not an exhaustive list of which Cabinet members intended to stay. Some Democratic women have raised concerns that the “big three” jobs in the Cabinet State, Defense and Treasury will be taken by white men. Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has been tapped as the next secretary of state; former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican, was picked to run the Pentagon and White House chief of staff Jack Lew is expected to be named treasury secretary later this week.

    The White House is expected to announce more members of Obama’s Cabinet in the coming weeks, giving the president a chance to present a team that reflects the diverse coalition of women, Hispanics and minorities that helped give him a second term. Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a close friend of the president, removed her name from consideration for the State Department last month following criticism from Republicans over her initial comments about the attacks on Americans in Libya. Several female House Democrats said the criticism of Rice, who is black, was indicative of sexism and racism.

    EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said last month she is stepping down after nearly four years as the administration’s chief environmental watchdog. No replacement has been named, although several names are reportedly under consideration, including Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Jackson’s deputy, Bob Perciasepe. Gregoire is a longtime Obama ally who is leaving office next week after two terms, while Perciasepe is slated to take over as acting EPA administrator after Jackson leaves, expected in the next few weeks. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, meanwhile, is expected to leave sometime after the inauguration, while Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s plans are unknown. Contenders to replace Chu include former North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Gregoire.

  • UN Urges India, Pak To De-Escalate Tensions Through Dialogue

    UN Urges India, Pak To De-Escalate Tensions Through Dialogue

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The UN has urged India and Pakistan to respect the ceasefire and “de-escalate” tensions over the recent cross-border firings through dialogue. The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) made the plea even as it received a complaint from Pakistan which claimed that Indian troops had allegedly crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and “raided” a border post on January 6. India has denied it has crossed the LoC. “UNMOGIP is aware that the Pakistan Army and Indian Army are in contact via the Hotline and urges both sides to respect the ceasefire and de-escalate tensions through dialogue,” the UN observer force said in an emailed statement to . The ceasefire has been in place along the LoC since 2003.

    However, “no official complaint has been received either from the Pakistan Army or Indian Army” regarding the January 8 clash in which two Indian soldiers were killed, it said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky said at the daily briefing yesterday that the UN observer mission had not received any complaint from either side over the January 8 clashes. “Regarding the 6 January alleged incident, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, or UNMOGIP, has received an official complaint from the Pakistan Army and will conduct an investigation as soon as possible in accordance with its mandate,” the observer group added. An UNMOGIP official did not provide further details of the complaint, saying that the mission “is not in position to distribute communications between member states and the UN.”

    The Pakistani mission to the UN did not respond to queries from seeking comment on the complaint to UNMOGIP. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after two Indian soldiers Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Lance Naik Hemraj were brutally killed by Pakistani troops on January 8, which India has described as “highly provocative.” The attack took place along the LoC in Poonch district when the Pakistani troops entered into Indian territory and assaulted a patrol party. The bodies of the two Indian soldiers were mutilated by Pakistani troops. UNMOGIP observers have been located at the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir since 1949 and supervise the ceasefire between the two countries. Currently there are 39 military observers in Kashmir, 25 international civilian personnel and 48 local civilian staff.

    Outraged over the attack, India summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Salman Bashir yesterday and lodged a strong protest against the “highly provocative” attack in its territory and described as “extremely distressing” and “inhuman” the mutilation of bodies of the two soldiers. India has denied crossing the LoC on January 6 and said the Pakistan army started firing mortar shells towards its posts with some of the shells landing close to civilian habitation. It has said that Pakistani troops commenced “unprovoked firing on Indian troops” in the early hours of January 6. A civilian house was damaged in the firing and Indian troops then undertook “controlled retaliation” in response. Pakistan is currently holding the rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council. It will complete its two-year term at the 15-nation body this year end. India’s two years at the Council as a non-permanent member ended in December.

  • US May Leave No Troops In Afghanistan: Officials

    US May Leave No Troops In Afghanistan: Officials

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The Obama administration gave the first explicit signal that it might leave no troops in Afghanistan after December 2014, an option that defies the Pentagon’s view that thousands of troops may be needed to contain al-Qaida and to strengthen Afghan forces. The issues will be central to talks this week as Afghan President Hamid Karzai meets with President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to discuss ways of framing an enduring partnership beyond 2014.

    “The US does not have an inherent objective of ‘X’ number of troops in Afghanistan,” said Ben Rhodes, a White House deputy national security adviser. “We have an objective of making sure there is no safe haven for al-Qaida in Afghanistan and making sure that the Afghan government has a security force that is sufficient to ensure the stability of the Afghan government.” The US now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The US and its NATO allies agreed in November 2010 that they would withdraw all their combat troops by the end of 2014, but they have yet to decide what future missions will be necessary and how many troops they would require.

    At stake is the risk of Afghanistan’s collapse and a return to the chaos of the 1990s that enabled the Taliban to seize power and provide a haven for Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network. Fewer than 100 al-Qaida fighters are believed to remain in Afghanistan, although a larger number are just across the border in Pakistani sanctuaries. Panetta has said he foresees a need for a US counterterrorism force in Afghanistan beyond 2014, plus a contingent to train Afghan forces. He is believed to favor an option that would keep about 9,000 troops in the country. Administration officials in recent days have said they are considering a range of options for a residual US troop presence of as few as 3,000 and as many as 15,000, with the number linked to a specific set of military-related missions like hunting down terrorists.

    Asked in a conference call with reporters whether zero was now an option, Rhodes said, “That would be an option we would consider.” Karzai is scheduled to meet Thursday with Panetta at the Pentagon and with secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State Department. Karzai and Obama are at odds on numerous issues, including a US demand that any American troops who would remain in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends be granted immunity from prosecution under Afghan law. Karzai has resisted, while emphasizing his need for large-scale US support to maintain an effective security force after 2014. In announcing last month in Kabul that he had accepted Obama’s invitation to visit this week, Karzai made plain his objectives. “Give us a good army, a good air force and a capability to project Afghan interests in the region,” Karzai said, and he would gladly reciprocate by easing the path to legal immunity for US troops.

    Without explicitly mentioning immunity for US troops, Obama’s top White House military adviser on Afghanistan, Doug Lute, told reporters Tuesday that the Afghans will have to give the US certain “authorities” if it wants US troops to remain. “As we know from our Iraq experience, if there are no authorities granted by the sovereign state, then there’s not room for a follow-on US military mission,” Lute said. He was referring to 2011 negotiations with Iraq that ended with no agreement to grant legal immunity to US troops who would have stayed to help train Iraqi forces. As a result, no US troops remain in Iraq. David Barno, a former commander of US forces in Afghanistan and now a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, wrote earlier this week that vigorous debate has been under way inside the administration on a “minimalist approach” for post-2014 Afghanistan.

    In an opinion piece for ForeignPolicy.com on Monday, Barno said the “zero option” was less than optimal but “not necessarily an untenable one.” Without what he called the stabilizing influence of US troops, Barno cautioned that Afghanistan could “slip back into chaos.” Rhodes said Obama is focused on two main outcomes in Afghanistan: ensuring that the country does not revert to being the al-Qaida haven it was prior to September 11, 2001, and getting the government to the point where it can defend itself. “That’s what guides us, and that’s what causes us to look for different potential troop numbers – or not having potential troops in the country,” Rhodes said.

    He predicted that Obama and Karzai would come to no concrete conclusions on international military missions in Afghanistan beyond 2014, and he said it likely would be months before Obama decides how many US troops – if any – he wants to keep there. Rhodes said Obama remains committed to further reducing the US military presence this year, although the pace of that withdrawal will not be decided for a few months. Last year the U.S. military pulled 23,000 troops out of Afghanistan on Obama’s orders.

  • Ind Vs Eng: England Off To A Steady Start Against India In 1st Odi

    Ind Vs Eng: England Off To A Steady Start Against India In 1st Odi

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Making full use of excellent batting conditions, openers Alastair Cook and Ian Bell brought up England’s fifty in the tenth over in the first one-day international against India at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Friday. The steady start came after England captain Cook won the toss and chose to bat. After winning the toss, Cook said that the young squad has a good opportunity to play some international cricket and do well for the country. Joe Root makes his ODI debut For England.

    After losing the toss, Dhoni said that he would have batted first as well. There is just one change in the Indian side from their last game against Pakistan. Shami Ahmed makes way for Ashok Dinda. Giving the pitch report, Ravi Shastri reckoned that the surface is a ‘proper national highway’. There will be something in it for the bowlers just for the first few overs and post that it will be a flat wicket, making life easy for the batsmen. The outfield is also pretty quick.

    India would look to somewhat settle a score after the Test debacle against the Englishmen and have history at their side as England has not won an ODI in their last 13 attempts in India, with 12 defeats and one tie which was the 2011 World Cup match in Bangalore. England’s last win over India in India was in Jamshedpur on April 12, 2006. However, while history does favour the hosts, they have their problems in the present.

    The opening conundrum is one of them. In the last 10 ODI innings, India have tried three different pairs, with even Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir opening in three games, but the first wicket mark has never crossed 50 with the scores reading 19, 25, 0, 7, 31, 8, 29, 17, 42 and 19. One factor which might work in India’s favour is that they are coming from a high-pressure series against Pakistan while England are coming from a break. England’s bowling attack, without the presence of several key Test bowlers, appears inexperienced and could be just the tonic needed by the bruised Indian batting line-up to get back into the groove.

    Teams:
    India: MS Dhoni (Capt.), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda.

    England:
    Alastair Cook (Capt.), Ian Bell, Joe Root, Kevin Petersen, Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, James Tredwell, Steven Finn,Jade Dernbach.

  • Indian Soldiers Beheaded By Pakistani Troops

    Indian Soldiers Beheaded By Pakistani Troops

    JAMMU (TIP): The fragile peace between India and Pakistan is once again under threat after two Indian soldiers were killed and ‘mutilated’ during fresh clashes at the Kashmir border. India claims Pakistani troops crossed into their territory on January 8 and attacked Indian soldiers patrolling in the Mendhar region before retreating. The government said the bodies of the two killed soldiers were ‘subjected to barbaric and inhuman mutilation’ while a senior army officer disclosed that they had been decapitated.

    Pakistan alleged that Indian troops crossed the cease-fire line in Sunday’s attack. Both sides have denied crossing into the other’s territory. Both India and Pakistan claim the largely Muslim territory of Kashmir but it remains divided between them along a Line of Control (LoC). The countries, both nuclear powers, have fought two wars over the Himalayan area but a cease-fire has largely held for a decade. India summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi to formally complain about the latest clash. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that Pakistan has been asked to ‘immediately investigate these actions that are in contravention of all norms of international conduct and ensure that these do not recur.’ The defence minister described the incident as ‘highly provocative’ but a foreign minister sought to play it down.

    ‘I think it is important in the long term that what has happened should not be escalated,’ said Salman Khurshid. ‘We cannot and must not allow the escalation of any unwholesome event like this.’ ‘We have to be careful that forces attempting to derail all the good work that’s been done towards normalization (of relations) should not be successful.’ Firing and small skirmishes are common along the 460-mile LoC despite the ceasefire and improving relations. The Indian army says eight of its soldiers were killed in 2012, in 75 incidents. Away from the border, however, ties have appeared to be improving. Pakistan’s cricket team completed a two-week tour of India on Sunday, the first time it has visited in five years.

  • Saina Nehwal lone Indian to make quarters at Korean Open

    Saina Nehwal lone Indian to make quarters at Korean Open

    HYDERABAD (TIP): With the second round exit of Parupalli Kashyap and PV Sindhu, it was left to Saina Nehwal to carry the Indian hopes at the Korea Open Super Series Premier in Seoul on Thursday. The Olympic bronze medalist made short work ((21- 16, 21-9) of Singapore’s Mingtian Fu to set up a quarterfinal clash against upcoming Chinese shuttler Han Li on Friday. Saina defeated Li twice last year. With the withdrawal of top seed Li Xuerui and second seed Wang Yihan, Saina, who is seeded third, has emerged as the title favourite.

    However, with the presence of few other players like former All England champion Shixian Wang of China and youngster Minatsu Mitani of Japan, the field is quite strong at Seoul. Sindhu lost to Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 19-21, 13-21, her first loss against the Thai girl in three meetings. Men’s singles shuttler Kashyap went down fighting against Hu Yun of Hong Kong 21-16, 13-21, 17-21. Kashyap started on a strong note winning the first game before Yun began to trouble him at the net. Kashyap is world No. 11 Kashyap rose to a careerbest ranking of world number 11 in the latest rankings. P V Sindhu, also jumped two places to reach career-best ranking of number 17, while Saina retained her third rank.

  • Dhoni should give up IPL, T20 captaincy: Rahul Dravid

    Dhoni should give up IPL, T20 captaincy: Rahul Dravid

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Former India skipper Rahul Dravid believes MS Dhoni, while still the best man to lead the country in Tests, needs to change the way he captains if he is to turn around India’s fortunes. Acknowledging the team’s poor run and the fact that the captain is under “enormous pressure”, Dravid wrote in his column for a website. “What it (a turnaround) will require from him (Dhoni) is a change in the way he captains, a recognition that he can’t do everything all the time, and the willingness to ask for and accept help.” Dravid believes there are no alternatives to Dhoni as Test captain, so he must give up the captaincy in T20s and pick and choose ODI assignments . “There’s a lot of talk of split captaincy these days. It won’t be a bad model for India to adopt, if only to keep Dhoni fresh as Test captain,” Dravid wrote. “Dhoni has got to recognize that he can’t continue to captain and play all the time, because it is making him stale. The pressure of international cricket is huge — it lends itself to a lot of fatigue — and Dhoni has been in the job a long time now. “To start with, Dhoni could easily give up the India T20 and Chennai Super Kings captaincies . He should certainly play ODIs and T20s for India, because he is invaluable to the side. Giving up a couple of captaincy roles might give him more time in the main India job and the freshness to keep doing it. “It would also give India an opportunity to perhaps give someone like (Virat) Kohli a chance to be T20 captain, break him into the job and see how he goes.

    There is another option for Dhoni as well, which he has resorted to in the past: to miss the odd ODI series and prepare himself for the big competitions.” Dravid also says Dhoni must change his captaincy style to suit the changing requirements of the team. “He must also recognize that he needs to change a very successful leadership style — almost change direction — because the team is changing. ” Dravid suggests that unlike in the past, when he had experienced batsmen and bowlers to aid his “instinct” and “gut feel”, Dhoni must adopt a more hands-on approach to the Test captaincy. “He led on instinct and gut feel, and it worked brilliantly for him. Now Dhoni is captaining a team with young guys, who need more communication and guidance.

    One of the criticisms directed at Dhoni has been that there is very little communication about plans and roles either. “He is not one for bowling plans and bowlers’ meetings. When you have senior bowlers like Zaheer, Kumble and Harbhajan, the captain need not worry about all that because the bowlers know what to do. The younger bowlers coming in now, like Ashwin and Ojha, need to know what the plan is…they need to discuss strategy and planning well before they go on to the field.” Given the series of overseas tours in the coming years, Dravid says, “I don’t think anybody expects him (Dhoni) to have great success in the immediate future. People recognize that this is a period of transition and that there are going to be tough days.

    What they need to know, though, is that the way forward has been clearly mapped. If Dhoni wants to lead India, the job is going to demand a lot more energy and involvement. He is the man for it at the moment, if he can find that second wind.” On why there are no alternatives for Dhoni as Test skipper, Dravid says, “At one point we felt Gautam Gambhir could take over the job…yet what goes against him today is the fact that he has not scored too many Test runs in the last three years, and he averages under 32. Virat Kohli is the only other alternative leader, and he ticks the box of being an automatic selection in all three formats. Yet I believe it’s a little early for him.”

  • Kochi Beckons

    Kochi Beckons

    Formerly known as Cochin, Kochi is a major sea port on the west coast of India, in the state of Kerala. The city’s coastal location resulted in it becoming an important spice trading centre and by the 14th century Kochi was known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. The city was occupied by the Portuguese in 1503 and remained the capital of Portuguese India until 1530 when Goa was selected instead. Kochi’s strategic location has welcomed many visitors of differing nationalities over the past six centuries, and this diversity is evident in everything from cuisine and nightlife, to architecture and even religion. Although primarily a commercial hub, modern-day Kochi – as with much of Kerala – is also a tourist hot spot and the city’s population of over one million swells significantly with foreign visitors who flock to the state’s beaches and tourist attractions. Also known as the Gateway to South India, Kochi provides a convenient starting point for further Indian travel.

    Attractions

    There are numerous sights and attractions in and around Kochi, but most visitors flock straight to Fort Kochi. This ‘tourist enclave’ is on a peninsula, southwest of mainland Kochi, and often referred to as Old Kochi. On Fort Kochi beach you’ll find the photogenic Chinese Fishing Nets (Cheena Vala); huge cantilevered contraptions which are operated from the shore by a team of up to six fishermen and were believed to have been first introduced by Chinese traders in the 14th century.

    Other landmarks in Fort Kochi include St Francis Church, a national monument which was once the burial place of Vasco da Gama; the Portuguese explorer who founded Portuguese India. Nearby is Santa Cruz Basilica, a 16th century gothic-style Portuguese church which was destroyed by the British in 1795 before being rebuilt in 1887. Visit Princess Street for a lovely walk; the narrow stone alleys are lined with Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial architecture. Fort Kochi is also home to Kochi’s version of Wall Street – the International Pepper Exchange in Jewtown – where you can learn ancient spice trading practices

    Inland from Kochi are the backwaters which separate Ernakulam on the mainland from Fort Kochi. The backwaters are dotted with many islands and boat ride is an unforgettable experience. Bolgatty Island’s Dutch Palace is now instead a five-star hotel complete with golf course, marina and panoramic views, while Vypin Island is known for its fishing villages and coconut palm-lined Cherai Beach..

    Dining and Nightlife

    Kochi has welcomed Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, French, English, Dutch, Russians and Japanese over the centuries and this diversity has manifested itself in the cuisine. Streetside Arabic restaurants are popular and serve shawarma and roasted chicken, while Americanized fast food chains are also present across Kochi. As a coastal city, seafood is the local specialty. A typically Kochiite experience is to buy fresh fish caught from the Chinese Fishing Nets at Fort Kochi beach, and take it straight to one of the nearby food stalls where you can have it cooked in front of you. The choice is yours but Fish Molly (coconut milk curry), Alleppey Fish Curry (curry with tomato sauce and fish tamarind) and Fish Peera (chunks of fish toasted with grated coconuts with fish tamarind sauce) are recommended. Kochi’s expansive backwaters also ensure that freshwater fish is widely available, and one of Kochi’s most well-known dishes is Meen Molagitta Curry (smoked freshwater fish with chilli and coconut milk).

    Nightlife in Kochi is excellent and the city is dotted with bars with the most high-end ones to be found around Fort Kochi. As per Kerala laws, all bars and pubs will be closed on the first and second day of every month – known as ‘dry days’. Curiously this does not apply to nightclubs which are a recent phenomenon in Kochi. Ask around and consult current guidebooks for suggestions.

    Beyond Kochi Alapuzha (Alleppey)

    Seventy kilometers south of Kochi is Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey. The very heart of Kochi’s backwaters, Alappuzha is an incredible maze of natural lagoons, rivers and canals and is known locally as the Venice of the East. Enjoy a houseboat cruise along the channels, and relax as you watch the world and its wildlife go by. Every year the villagers hold Snake Boat Race in which traditional snake boats, each manned by over a hundred people, compete for the Nehru Trophy. The race is extremely popular with locals and makes for a fascinating excursion.

    Aluva

    An important commercial and pilgrim center. The Udyogmandal, Ambulamugal, Kalamaserry and Periyar rivers runs through Aluva. The Shivarathri Festival is celebrated on the banks of the Periyar every March/April. At other times, this river bank proves to be an excellent picnic and bathing spot.Aluva is considered the outskirts of Kochi and is connected by road and rail.Angamali (10 km on NH 47)The fastest growing town in Kerala Angamali is the gateway to many places of tourist and religious interest like Kaladi, Malayattur etc. The Little Flower Hospital, the largest eye hospital in South India, is located here

    Angamali

    It is connected to Kochi by road and rail.Cheruthuruthi (110 km) Home of Kerala Kalamandalam, a famed arts academy. Training in various dance forms, but especially in Kathakali, is imparted here The nearest railhead and bus terminus is at Shoranur, 3 km away.

    Guruvayur

    This temple town is a pilgrim center famed for its Lord Krishna temple. Guruvayur is connected with Kochi by road and rail.

    Kaladi

    This important pilgrimage centre, is on the banks of the River Periyar. It was here the Bhakti Saint Sri Sankaracharya was born. The Sri Ramakrishna Adwaitha Ashram is located here. Kaladi is connected to Kochi by road.

    Kodungallur (Cranganore)

    A famous port before nature destroyed it and formed Kochi harbor. St. Thomas the Apostle landed here. The Kodungallur Bagwat Temple is very famous for its ‘special payers’. Kodungallur also has the first mosque in India, a shrine built in the form of a Hindu temple. Kodungallur is connected to Kochi by road and water.

    Kottyam

    An important commercial area, it is the gateway to the famed rubber and tea plantations of Kerala. The Mahatma Gandhi University is located here. It is the home of Malayalam Journalism. Kottayam is connected with Kochi by road and rail.

    Munnar

    A hill resort famous for its lush green tea and cardamom plantations. An ideal holiday spot, it has a cool and stimulating climate. The Mist Valley Resorts, overlooking Munnar town is a ideal place to spend the hot summer months. The rare species of Nilgiri Tahr can be seen in the Ernakulam game Sanctuary not far from here. Anaimudi, the highest peak in South India, is in these hills. The Munnar – Kodaikkanal Road is the steepest road in South East Asia.

    Thrissur

    An important cultural and commercial centre. Thrissur, the largest town in Kerala is called the cultural capital of Kerala. The famous Pooram festival is celebrated here every April / May. The Museums, and the Vaddakkuntham Temple are all worth visiting. After Kochi, Thrissur is the most important commercial town in Kerala.Thrissur is connected with Kochi by road and rail. The Peechi Dam, 26 km from Thrissur, is a good picnic spot and is ideal for a holiday

  • Pravasi Bhartiya Divas: Organizing Committee office inaugurated

    Pravasi Bhartiya Divas: Organizing Committee office inaugurated

    KOCHI (TIP): Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Govt. of India inaugurated the organizing committee office of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013 to be held in Kochi from 7 to 9 January , in the presence of Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Affairs. K.C. Joseph, Minister for NORKA, Govt. of Kerala, Hibi Eden MLA and Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany were also present at the function held at the office of the Protector of Immigrants, Kochi.

    On the occasion, Vayalar Ravi told the media that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the PBD on 8th and President of India Pranab Mukherjee will deliver the valedictory address on 9th and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards. Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag will be the chief guest at the inaugural session.

    The theme of the Convention is ‘Engaging Diaspora: The Indian Growth Story’. There will be pre-PBD seminars on 7th, related to developmental issues such as skill development, pure sciences, tourism, youth and the issues faced by NRIs in the Gulf.. Vayalar Ravi said that more than 1500 delegates from all over the world will attend the session and considering the overwhelming response, the number may rise to 2000.

    PBD 2013 is being conducted in partnership with the Government of Kerala. Kerala has been chosen as the host for the Convention since Keralites constitute one of the largest expatriate communities of India. Since the Country is celebrating the centenary of the Gadar Movement in 2013, the PBD Oration this time will be on the Gadar Movement. There will also be an exhibition on the Gadar Movement.

    The purpose of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is to have a meaningful interaction with overseas Indians that would address their issues and concerns. Overseas Indians have emerged as important constituents of their adopted countries. They have contributed to transforming the economies, participating in political process and added value to thought and innovation of their destination countries. They also serve to build bridges between their present homeland and the land of their ancestors.

  • Chargesheet seeks death for 5 accused, leaves out minor

    Chargesheet seeks death for 5 accused, leaves out minor

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Seeking the maximum of death penalty for five of the Nirbhaya gang rape accused, police on December 3 charged them under various IPC sections, including murder and gang rape.

    In their bid to speed up the trial, police took the unusual step of filing the chargesheet without incorporating the victim’s postmorterm report —the most crucial evidence in the case—as it is still to be received from Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where the 23-year-old paramedic had died.

    In the chargesheet filed before duty metropolitan magistrate Surya Malik Grover at 5.40pm, police named the accused as Ram Singh, Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur. They have also asked for the trial to be held in-camera to protect the identity of the girl.

    The sixth accused, a juvenile, was not named as his case is being heard by the Juvenile Justice Board. The 33-page chargesheet has annexures running into over 1,000 pages.

    The accused have also been charged with section 377 (unnatural sex), 201 (destruction of evidence), 307 (attempt to murder), 365 (kidnapping or abduction with intent to secretly or wrongfully confine a person), 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery), 395 (dacoity), 396 (dacoity with murder), 34 (common intention) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

    Sources said criminal conspiracy has been added in the chargsheet as investigations have revealed that the crime was committed in a “pre-planned manner”. In its 33-page chargesheet, with annexures running over 1,000 pages, police gave the statement of the victim, her male friend, their parents, police officers, CFSL officers, DNA reports and the statement of doctors at Safdarjung Hospital, where the girl was initially admitted. The postmorterm report will be filed later in a supplementary chargesheet. “We have not received the report from Singapore,” Commissioner of Police Neeraj Kumar told TOI. Sources said the supplementary chargesheet will be filed within 10 days.

    With 50 prosecution witnesses listed in the chargesheet, police have given a detailed account of the crime committed by the six, the victim’s treatment at Safdarjung followed by her journey to Singapore and her subsequent death on December 29. The chargesheet was filed by special public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan along with SHO (Vasant Vihar) Anil Sharma, who moved an application before the court urging it to keep the document in a sealed cover to protect the identity of the victim and asked for the proceedings to be held incamera. Rajiv Mohan, who appears in all the terror related cases for Delhi Police, will appear along with Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan during the trial. The court has posted the matter for hearing on January 5 before the area magistrate, who is expected to commit it to the sessions court for trial. During the hearing, Mohan said that the police will file an e-challan in a couple of days with the other remaining documents. Among the important evidence, the chargesheet has statements of both victims recorded under section 164 of CrPC. It also has the statement of their parents, five doctors of Safdarjung Hospital and two doctors at Mount Elizabeth Hospital (recorded by the investigating officer on December 29).

    The CCTV footage of Hotel Delhi 37, which shows bus (DL1PB-0149) on the move on December 16, is also part of the chargesheet. Other documents include statement of bus owner Dinesh Yadav, papers showing recovery of mobile phones of the victims from the accused, their ATM cards, the iron rod used to hit the victims and other forensic evidence. Mohan later told reporters that the DNA report had established the involvement of all the accused in the crime.

    Having filed the chargesheet within 18 days of the incident, Neeraj Kumar said he was happy with the outcome. “We are more than satisfied. We have a very strong case. Our chargesheet spells out the efforts made by the investigation team and arrests made in the case,” he said. According to sources, the chargesheet says the five accused “were on a joyride, which started in the evening itself and they were in a mood to harm people on December 16, 2012”.

    “Being a Sunday, main accused Ram Singh and his helper, Akshay Thakur alias Bihari, had a small party along with the former’s younger brother Mukesh (a drivercum- helper). They decided to go for a joyride and have fun while picking some extra bucks from giving lift to people so that more drinks could be bought. The helper Akshay then took out the vehicle and Vinay, Pawan and a juvenile joined them for the bus ride. They left with Mukesh driving the bus,” said a source quoting from the document.

    “At the Munirka bus stand, they called out to collect passengers and the couple boarded it. The accused charged them Rs 20 (Rs 10 each) as fare. They passed comments on the girl, to which her male friend objected. They (accused) picked up a fight and the boy was hit on his head with an iron rod. The girl also fought with them to save her friend but was hit,” says the chargesheet, according to sources.

    “They (accused) were enraged and dragged the girl to a backseat where they sexually assaulted her, while two of them caught hold of the male friend near the driver’s seat,” it adds. The chargesheet, sources said, states that the girl was assaulted for more than 30 minutes before both victims were dumped around 10.15pm at NH-8, near the Mahipalpur flyover.

  • President calls upon scientific fraternity to work towards getting Nobel Prize in a time bound manner

    President calls upon scientific fraternity to work towards getting Nobel Prize in a time bound manner

    KOLKATA (TIP): In the inaugural address of the 100th Session of Indian Science Congress at Kolkata January 3 President of India Pranab Mukherjee called upon the scientific community to work for the promotion of a scientific culture for shaping India’s future in which prosperity and peace, excellence and equity, oriental values and occidental methods of science converge and co-exist.

    President said India is expected to emerge as a major economic power by 2035. India should also emerge as a major knowledge power with high human and societal values. He mentioned that it has been 83 long years since CV Raman won the Nobel Prize for Physics. Another Nobel Prize in the sciences is long overdue for India. He called upon scientific fraternity gathered at the Congress to rise to the challenge and work towards this goal in a time bound manner

    Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh released the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013 and presented its first copy to the President, on the occasion.

  • Tulsi Gabbard becomes first Hindu ever to become member of the US House of Representatives

    Tulsi Gabbard becomes first Hindu ever to become member of the US House of Representatives

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii has created history by not only becoming the first Hindu ever to be sworn in as a member of the US House of Representatives, but also being the first ever US lawmaker to have taken oath of office on the sacred Bhagavad Gita. Tulsi, 31, was administered the oath of office by the John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives. “I chose to take the oath of office with my personal copy of the Bhagavad-Gita because its teachings have inspired me to strive to be a servant-leader, dedicating my life in the service of others and to my country,” Gabbard said after the swearing in ceremony.

    “My Gita has been a tremendous source of inner peace and strength through many tough challenges in life, including being in the midst of death and turmoil while serving our country in the Middle East,” she said explaining the reasons for taking the oath of office on Gita. “I was raised in a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-faith family. My mother is Hindu; my father is a Catholic lector in his church who also practices mantra meditation. I began to grapple with questions of spirituality as a teenager,” Gabbard said.

    “Over time, I came to believe that, at its essence, religion gives us a deeper purpose in life than just living for ourselves. Since I was a teenager, I have embraced this spiritual journey through the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. “..In so doing, have been blessed with the motivation and strength to dedicate my life in service others in a variety of ways,” she said. Proud of her Hindu religion, she is not Indian or of Indian heritage. Her father Mike Gabbard, is currently Hawaii State Senator and mother Carol Porter Gabbard is an educator and business owner. At 21, she became the youngest person elected to the Hawaii Legislature. At 23, she was the state’s first elected official to voluntarily resign to go to war. At 28, she was the first woman to be presented with an award by the Kuwait Army National Guard.

  • Dr. Nori Gives Spiritual Touch To Professional Excellence

    Dr. Nori Gives Spiritual Touch To Professional Excellence

    Man does not liveby bread alone.What else doesone need depends on thethinking of the person. ToDr. Dattatreyudu Nori, it isa touch of spirituality thatlends strength to him as amedical professional. Aderivative of thespirituality that hepossesses and practices isthe desire to serve and helpthe less fortunate in society.In Dr. Nori one sees aglorious combination ofmaterial success andspiritual excellence.Dr. Dattatreyudu NoriM.D., FACR, FACRO, isProfessor and ExecutiveVice Chairman of theRadiation OncologyDepartment at TheNewYork-PresbyterianHospital/Weill CornellMedical College in NewYork City.

    In addition, Dr.Nori is Chairman ofRadiation Oncology at TheNew York Hospital MedicalCenter of Queens. He isalso the Director of theCancer Center at the NewYork Hospital Queens, inwhich capacity he headsthat organization’s cancerprogram. Dr. Noricompleted hisundergraduate training atKurnool Medical Collegeand received hispostgraduate medicaldegree from OsmaniaUniversity in India. Hethen joined the staff ofMemorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center in New YorkCity, where he becameChief of the BrachytherapyService before acceptingthe current position asChairman of RadiationOncology at Cornell.Dr. Nori has aninternational reputation asa pioneer and authority inradiation oncology andbrachytherapy. He wasinstrumental inintroducing the currenttechniques and clinicalconcepts of High Dose RateBrachytherapy forgynecological,genitourinary, thoracic andhead and neck tumors.

    His research also included efforts to improve the outcome forpatients with prostate cancer,lung cancer, pancreas, breast andother cancers. Dr. Nori has servedas principal investigator fornumerous clinical trailssponsored by the National CancerInstitute and has received severalnational and internationalawards for his contributions tocancer research, including theDistinguished Alumnus Award ofthe Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center Alumni Society. Hehas been called “a recognizedleader in his specialty” by theprestigious New England Journalof Medicine.Dr. Nori served in theAmerican Cancer Society invarious positions includingChairmanship of the ProfessionalEducation Committee. TheAmerican Cancer Societyhonored him with their highestprestigious award “Tribute toLife” for his accomplishments incancer research.

    Dr. Nori has trained more than150 residents and fellows, some ofwhom have become Chairman ofacademic departments in the U.S.Dr. Nori is a Fellow in theAmerican College of Radiology,Fellow in the American College ofRadiation Oncology, pastPresident of the AmericanBrachytherapy Society, and acurrent member of severalnational and internationaloncology societies. He is also anAssociate Editor of threeoncology journals as well as aVisiting Professor to manyuniversities in the U.S. andabroad. He has published threebooks and more than 200scientific articles. He has givenseveral prestigious lectureshipssuch as the Probstein Oncologylecture at Washington Universityin St. Louis.

    He received a GoldMedal from the Indian MedicalAssociation for his contributionsto cancer research and trainingIndian physicians in the U.S. Healso received the Excelsior Awardfrom the Network of IndianProfessionals in the United Statesand many Indian Organizationsin the U.S., such as the NargisDutt Cancer Foundation and theFederation of Indian Associationshave honored him for hiscontributions to cancer research.Dr. Nori has provided technicaland scientific help to manycancer centers in India, SouthAmerica and Israel, and he is alsothe Founding Member of theIndo-American Cancer Institutefor Women and Children, a stateof-the art 250 bed cancer andresearch institute located inHyderabad, A.P. which wasinaugurated by the PrimeMinister of India in 2001.

    In addition, Dr. Nori is a Consultantto the United NationsInternational Atomic EnergyAgency, advising on theformulation of guidelines for thetreatment of cancer in developingcountries. In a recent surveyconducted by the reputable CastleConnolly Medical Ltd andpublished in America’s TopDoctors, Dr. Nori has beenselected as one of the top doctorsin America. In this survey, morethan 250,000 leading doctors wereasked to name the nation’s bestphysicians in various specialties -those “to whom you would sendmembers of your family”. Themost important criterion forphysician selection wasexcellence in patient care,education, residency, boardcertification, fellowships,professional reputation, research,hospital affiliation, academicstature and medical schoolfaculty appointment andexperience.

    In a more recentsurvey done by the most popularwoman’s magazine in the U.S.,The Ladies’ Home Journal, Dr.Nori has also been named as oneof the top doctors in America forthe treatment of cancers inwomen. Dr. Nori was alsohonored by Senator Jon Corgine,Chairman of the DemocraticSenatorial Committee and byCouncil Speaker Gifford Milllerfor his contributions to cancerresearch.Dr. Nori continues to be activeas clinician, teacher, researcherand administrator of two largeRadiation Oncology Departmentsand the Cancer Center at NewYork Hospital Queens.As I write his profile here inNew York Dr. Nori is away toIndia where he is addressing aGlobal Health Summit in Kochifrom January 2 to 5. Dr. Nori isthere to talk about prevention ofCervical cancer in India.

    He isthere to give out the message thatit can be prevented in India justas well as it is prevented in USA.Dr. Nori is a visiting professor tomany universities across theglobe and is frequently traveling.In India, which is his countryof origin, he has helped set up anumber of hospitals. One suchhospital – Indo American CancerHospital with 500 beds is state ofthe art cancer hospital inHyderabad. It was founded in2002 and was inaugurated by thethen Prime Minister of India Mr.Atal Behari Vajpayee.Dr. Nori lives with his wifeSubhadra in Scarsdale, New York.His wife is a physician,academician and chairperson ofthe Department of Rehabilitationat Jacobi Medical Centeraffiliated with Albert EinsteinCollege of Medicine in New York.His son, Sateesh and daughterin-law Joy, are both attorneysand his daughter, Priya and sonin-law Himanshu, are bothphysicians.

  • Dr. Sukhvinder Ranu Nostalgic about India, Tradition, Values

    Dr. Sukhvinder Ranu Nostalgic about India, Tradition, Values

    Dr. Sukhvinder Ranu is among those successful professionals who fully enjoyed the love and affection of a joint family. A son of High School teacher, Sardar Gurnam Singh, Dr. Ranu grew up in a family that valued higher education. Inspired by family traditions and equally influenced by his elder brother, Dr. Amrik Singh Ranu who worked as a medical doctor, he not only chose the medical profession for himself but also excelled in it. Today he is settled in Garden City Park, Long Island, New York with his wife and two young children while maintaining a close contact with his 84 year old father who lives in Vancouver, Canada with Dr. Ranu’s sister and mother.

    Born in village Sarhala Ranuan in the famous Banga Tehsil of district Nawan Shahr in Punjab, Ranu completed his medical degree from Government Medical College at Patiala, Punjab and gave a helping hand to his elder brother in his private clinic. After a brief stint of working in a government hospital at Soondh in Nawanshahr district, Dr. Ranu moved to Canada in 1990 to join his parents where he soon realized that a better career awaited him in the USA. He moved to New York in 1995 to do his residency as a Pediatrician. He joined the State University Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Ranu emerged as a respectable name in the field of Neonatology. Serving in the Department of Pediatrics at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, he is helping the community as a specialist who takes care of the new born and the prematurely born babies. As a neonatologist, he evaluates, stabilizes, and treats infants who require medical intervention, including premature babies, babies who need help to breathe at birth, and babies born with lifethreatening medical conditions.

    Content with his professional life, Dr. Ranu is involved in a number of social and professional organizations. In recent years Dr. Ranu got increasingly involved in community service. He regularly participates in social and cultural celebrations organized by various organizations. Earlier this year he was elected as the president of India Association of Long Island, the premier organizations of Indian American population in Long Island area with a membership of 1600. The association is the largest group of Indian American population in New York Metro region

    representing people with roots in India irrespective of their religious or political affiliations .He is also a board member of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Queens and Long Island, which is a professional organization supported by more than two thousand physicians from Queens and Long Island. A cheerful family man Dr. Ranu attributes his successful medical career to his family. He likes to spend time with his wife Darshan, a housewife and sons Ashvinder who is doing major in Psychology and Business Administration at Stonybrook University, preparing to be a lawyer and Akaashdeep who is in High School and plans to go in to medical profession.

    Speaking about his wife, Darshan, Dr. Ranu said his wife enjoyed the role of a housewife. To her tending her husband and two young sons is a pleasure she loves to indulge in. However, she has diverse interests. As the First Lady of the India Association of Long Island, Darshan has been working closely with IALI’s Women’s Forum that aims at educating and updating women members on various important issues, including family’s health. Because of her leadership role, the participation of women in the Forum activities tripled. An achievement, in deed. The Ranu family is fond of traveling and seeing places. They have been to most parts of the US, Canada and Mexico. Dr. Ranu has a passion for nature photography and has a rich collection of photos on various moods of nature.

    Q. How do you describe yourself?

    DR. RANU: I am a physician specializing in Neonatology-looking after ailments of premature and newborn babies. I work hard to ensure that the society is blessed with healthy new citizens who could meet the expectations of the future. I am a family man who is blessed with two school going children. I am fortunate to be receiving the love and affection of my mother and father who live in Vancouver, Canada.

    Q. How do you define success?

    ANS: I think I am a successful professional working as an Assistant Professor in medical field. I enjoy my job teaching young physicians in New York. I have a happy family who make me feel very content with life.

    Q: What was your family’s contribution in shaping your life?

    ANS: I learned from my father that education is very important for succeeding in life. He retired as a principal of a High School and inspired me to do well in my school and college. I was a bright student who had not much difficulty pursuing the medical career. I also followed my elder brother, who owned his medical practice, and helped him for a few years in his clinic.

    Q: How did you arrive in America? What challenges you faced here?

    ANS: In the Eighties I graduated from medical school and got employment in a government hospital in Punjab. Meanwhile my father immigrated to Canada to live with my sister. He wished me to live with him. In order to get my father and mother’s affection and with a desire to stay close to them I decided to move to Canada. Afterwards I moved to New York to pursue higher studies in Pediatrics and specialize in Neonatology.

    Q: What is your future plan?

    ANS: I would like to continue working in the hospital but also would like to work towards setting up my own practice. I am also interested in social and community service. I want to spend more time in community organizations. As a leader in the India Association of Long Island I will continue play a role in mobilizing our people for good cause and hold meaningful activities.

    Q: Is there something you miss in your life?

    ANS: Our community is known for successful professionals. Indian American doctors and professionals are highly respected in this country.We are dedicated to our family values and keep our unique culture alive in this country. Though we are very successful in our professions we are deprived of the social warmth that is easily available back home in India. People of my generation clearly view the changing values in this country with a lot of concern. In spite of our commitment to Indian values I feel that the younger generation of Indians,who are born and raised in this country, are not fully aware of our traditions and care little about concerns and feelings of their ageing parents. This situation bothers me a lot.

    Q: What is your message for the younger generation?

    ANS: I would like to advise the younger generation to be sensitive about their family values and traditions. They shouldn’t deviate from the culture of their parents and grand parents. I would be very happy if the younger generation would continue our tradition to look after their elders without sending them away in long term care facility. Our elders deserve a lot of love and care because they had sacrificed a lot to ensure good future for their offspring.

  • An Overhaul Man Gobind Munjal

    An Overhaul Man Gobind Munjal

    Gobind Munjal, a successful Chartered Accountant and CPA by profession has worked as a Senior Vice President of Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions and served on the Board of Directors of the International Division of Tata Group of Hotels in the USA, totaling 30 years of professional services with the renowned Tata Group in various senior leadership positions. During his services with the Tata Group he saved millions of dollars for the company by way of efficient tax structuring of the deals and was recognized for his excellence in the Hospitality Merger & Acquisition field. In 2006 he started his own advisory and consultancy services. His involvement in community affairs and activities started since more than a decade ago when he joined what was then one of the fastest and largest growing not for profit Organizations on Long Island representing Indians in America, known as the India Association of Long Island (IALI).

    This Organization was about 20 years old then with a growing membership of Suffolk and Nassau County residents, which today numbers 1,600 strong. The aim of the Organization was primarily to promote the culture and heritage of India so that bridges may be crossed between Indians living in America and the local Americans to promote a better understanding of the two cultures. Mr. Munjal served on the Executive Board of IALI for seven of the fifteen years of his continuing membership, in various capacities climbing steadily to the very top :- 2006 – Member-at-Large; 2007 – Membership Chair; 2008-2009 – Secretary; 2010 – Treasurer; 2011 – President. He worked very hard in each of the positions that he held taking each position very seriously and elevating its standards to a much higher level. He brought ethics, professionalism and transparency in producing Minutes of Meetings and raised the standards of Financial Reporting and its presentation to a level that almost everybody in the Executive Council and Past Presidents expressed their overwhelming praise for his work and dedication.

    As President he did much to improve and raise the standards of IALI by bringing transparency, accountability and professionalism to the Association. As President of IALI Mr. Gobind Munjal’s goal and objectives was to bring back Unity, Harmony and Team Work within the Organization; bring back “INDIAFEST” IALI’s hallmark event which truly promotes and showcases India’s culture and traditions in mainstream America; build “INDIA CENTER” for the Indian community, a long cherished dream come true for the India Association of Long Island; encourage stronger participation of the youth and Seniors Group; involve more with the local American community; provide educational support to needy Indian students; build closer ties with local Senior Groups and National Indo-American Association for Senior Citizens (NIAASC); and increase participation and support for the Annual Food Drive to take it to a higher level.

    Growth of membership of IALI during Mr. Munjal’s presidency of one year has been exponential, with around a hundred new members added. A remarkable feat. Many of these objectives were remarkably achieved with the IALI having all successful, well attended month to month women, seniors and youth programs and major events for the year 2011. INDIAFEST turned out to be a BLOCKBUSTER of an event well received and well attended by many dignitaries, community leaders and scores of Americans who thoroughly enjoyed the high end Floor Shows with its sophisticated Fashion Show, a page out of Broadway, a wealth of scintillating performances and dances, mindblowing variety of delicious Indian cuisine and showcasing of the wide variety of arts and crafts and ethnic designer ware of India. Not giving up on the dream of having the INDIA CENTER a place India Association of Long Island has long wanted to call their very own Mr. Munjal has still persisted and today chairs the Ad Hoc Special Committee in IALI with a committed team set up for 2012 so that this dream become a reality.

    Mr. Gobind Munjal’s vision for the future of the Indian community is to see realize INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER and at the same time he also holds true his dream of some form of Housing and Assisted Living Facility for the Seniors. His involvement with India Home providing services for seniors of Indian origin, is testament to his commitment towards improving lives of seniors. He is relentlessly working towards achieving his goal of providing medical, social, and spiritual services for the aging Indian Seniors in Queens and Long Island. When his term as President of IALI concluded at the close of the year 2011, in spite of his tremendous popularity he did not seek reelection, rather made himself available upon invitation to give his services for others. His dedication and passion for community service did not diminish. This has resulted in his joining Indian American Forum (IAF) as Co-Chair of Indian American Night and Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Long Island Chapter as Secretary. He has been invited to join the National Federation of Indian Americans (NFIA) and has twice participated in the Congressional Hearings and White House briefings in Washington DC.

    He is also a life member of Association of Indians in America (AIA) and Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation (NDMF) and participates in their activities. He has received numerous Citations and Awards in his year as President of IALI, among them being the Certificate of Recognition from Hon. Kate Murray, Supervisor, Town of Hempstead and has been honored with a Citation by Nassau County Executive Hon. Ed. Mangano and NYS Comptroller Thomas Di Napoli together with Indian Consul General at New York Hon. Prabhu Dayal. During his professional career, he received Outstanding Professional Award from the America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals. IALI events gained not only popularity but commanded a certain amount of respect among the community and administration. As a result, whereas community loved to associate itself with IALI events, lawmakers and administration officials looked upon these events as opportunities to gain support of the community. Mr. Munjal assiduously built bridges of understanding and cooperation between the Indian American community and the mainstream Americans.

    He took the IALI to the next stage of growth which is getting recognition for the community at the political level, a step in the right direction of empowering the community. The dignitaries that graced various IALI events included Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, Congresswoman Goosby, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York State Senator Tony Avella, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and Mayor of Laurel Hollow Harry Anand and many more. Mr. Munjal’s work for the community is far from complete. On August 11th, 2012 he stood tall and proud with 5 other founder conveners of India Day Parade USA who put together Long Island’s First India Day Parade for Long Islanders in Hicksville, an event never before attempted, but successfully concluded. His involvement in India Day Parade USA started with bringing together of all Indian Organizations onto a single platform to participate in the first ever Parade in Hicksville, Long Island. This was concluded as more than 100 Indian Organizations came together as one for the very first time to participate and march in the India Day Parade USA in Hicksville Long Island.

    However, it is not just work all the time for Gobind. He and wife Suman who is in to Real Estate business and is often busy make it a point to take time off their work to travel and enjoy their vacation. The family has been to Europe, Far East, UAE, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and seen much of North America. The latest has been a visit to China which has impressed Munjals much. They are all praise for China. They said they were impressed with the infrastructure there. The cleanliness that they witnessed was in total contrast with what they had been made to believe about China. And, above the human effort to give an impressive look to the country is the power of Nature which one sees in her abundant beauty and glory in the most populated country of the world. . Gobind Munjal lives happily in the Whitestone/Malba area with his wife Suman who is a professional in real estate with Prudential Douglas Elliman. He has two sons Gaurav and Kevin and daughter in law Iona with two cute grand-sons Sajin and Neilan, 4 years and 2 years respectively.