The Indian Panorama

Month: June 2013

  • Coup In INOC (I) USA Shudh Manages To Oust George

    Coup In INOC (I) USA Shudh Manages To Oust George

    NEW YORK (TIP): The 82 year old Dr. Karan Singh has done it again. This time, not from New Delhi but sitting in New York. He has announced appointment of Shudh Jasuja as President of INOC (I) USA as dramatically as he had given marching orders to Dr. Surinder Singh Malhotra a year ago and inducted George Abraham as President. The announcement effecting the change of guard was made by Dr. Singh at a reception to honor him at a Flushing banquet hall June 20.

    George Abraham who was appointed for a two year term was taken by surprise as he has yet a year to go before his term ends. It is learnt that the INOC (I) USA is divided right in the middle following the announcement. There was a lot of tension and the supporters of Shudh Jasuja and George Abraham were heard exchanging hot words. The agitated supporters of George Abraham tried to stop Dr. Singh’s car as he was leaving and shouted repeatedly Karan Singh Murdabad.

    Some said a huge payment was made to Mohan Singh, Senior Private Secretary to Dr. Karan Singh to secure his good offices to recommend Shudh Jasuja’s appointment. It may be recalled that Dr. Malhotra too had leveled allegations of bribes to the same person when he was removed as President. Supporters of Shudh Jasuja were said to be greatly elated and shouted Karan Singh Zindabad, Shudh Jasuja Zindabad. Clearly, the lines are drawn unless one of the two sides decides to surrender meekly which probably is not going to happen. It will be interesting to watch in the next few days the course the INOC (I) USA politics will take.

  • RSS Chief Offers No Assurances To Advani

    RSS Chief Offers No Assurances To Advani

    NEW DELHI (TIP): BJP stalwart L K Advani on June 20 failed to extract a firm commitment from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that his concerns about the functioning and direction of the party would be heeded. While Advani raised with Bhagwat the issues he had cited when he resigned in the wake of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s appointment as chairman of BJP’s national campaign committee, the RSS chief offered little except the assurance to hold more discussions and an advice to the veteran saffronite to stay engaged.

    In fact, Bhagwat, who had persuaded Advani to withdraw his resignation on June 11, also said that other stakeholders needed to be heard before he took a view: a rather candid assertion that Advani’s views on party’s affairs were not the final word. The hour-long “detailed and candid interaction” at the RSS headquarters in the Capital ended without Bhagwat committing himself to any timeline for addressing the issues Advani raised with him before withdrawing his resignation.

    In his resignation letter to party president Rajnath Singh, Advani had said, “For some time, I have been finding it difficult to reconcile either with the current functioning of the party or the direction in which it is going.” He also said that most party leaders had deviated from the ideals of the founding fathers, and were pursuing their selfish agendas.

    Sangh Parivar circles had interpreted Advani’s lament about the “functioning” and “direction” of the party as shorthand for the resentment of his supporters about the functioning of RSS’s joint secretary general Suresh Soni and Modi’s ascendancy. Soni, RSS’s liaison person who is respected by many in saffron circles for his ideological clarity and tough resolve, has earned a reputation for not allowing himself to be intimidated by seniority.

    A statement issued by the RSS on the meeting suggests that no decision on Soni, especially on whether he should continue on Sangh’s BJP desk, will be taken without hearing him and others. As for Modi’s elevation, it is irreversible, and Rajnath had made it clear even before Advani withdrew his resignation. The RSS statement made it plain that Advani got no concession from Bhagwat. “Shri Advaniji conveyed his views on various developments in the country and the role of the party and the broad nationalist movement led by Sangh.

    It was opined that several issues need further discussion and exchange of notes at various levels. Same will take place at appropriate time. Shri Bhagwatji suggested that such useful exchange of views should continue in future also,” the statement said. The meeting between the two leading Sangh Parivar figures was agreed upon after Advani took back his papers following a brief telephonic conversation with Bhagwat.

    The resignation, which was widely interpreted as a protest against Modi’s elevation and surprised many, ended equally dramatically the following day with Rajnath Singh emphasizing that Advani had retraced his step following talks with Bhagwat, while assuring that all his “concerns” would be “properly addressed”. Many who considered the assurance to be vague and meant more for soothing the veteran’s hurt rather than an expression of an intention to change decisions of the party, especially Modi’s appointment in Goa, claimed validation after seeing RSS’s version of the interaction between Advani and Bhagwat.

  • Thousands Feared Dead In Rain-Ravaged Uttarakhand

    Thousands Feared Dead In Rain-Ravaged Uttarakhand

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Nature’s fury continued unabated amid fears of the death toll rising rainravaged Uttarakhand as many pilgrims staying in 90 rest houses may have been washed away in flash flood even as rescue operations were stepped up. The the Uttarakhand State Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre in its report to the union ministry said casualties in the affected areas may run into thousands as about 90 guest houses with pilgrims were swept away in the flash floods.

    But official death toll still stands at 150. With the weather clearing up, rescue operation were stepped up. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna while seeking funds to help the affected people, said many kilometers of roads have been washed away in Uttarakhand due to the flash floods. The chief minister said many bridges, houses, water lines, canals, check dams, electricity lines, power houses and other public and private property had been severely damaged.

    He said the Chardam pilgrimage, which includes the shrines at Kedarnath and Badrinath, had been severely hit. He appealed to people and voluntary organizations to contribute to relief efforts in the wake of the devastation caused by heavy rains, landslides, cloud bursts and floods.

    Meanwhile, an official of the Badrinath- Kedarnath Temple Committee said that pilgrimage to the shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand cannot resume for three years due to extensive damage caused by heavy rains and floods. Officials of the two shrines say the two places have been so badly devastated that there was nothing “but mud, devastation and death” around the highly revered temples visited by millions.

    “What we are seeing is very painful and unbelievable,” he said. “We don’t expect the Char Dham Yatra to resume in the next three years.” KEDARNATH SHRINE SAFE, EVERYTHING ELSE DESTROYED The ancient Kedarnath shrine has survived the devastating floods in Uttarakhand but virtually everything around it has been destroyed, an official of the temple committee said. “Call it a miracle but the Nandi statue and the other idols in the temple are intact,” the official said.

    “In fact, those pilgrims who were in the temple during the tragedy also survived. “But the destruction all around the temple has been terrible,” said the official, adding that the real death toll in the floods and cloudburst of the weekend would be much more than the officially stated 150. But he admitted that the temple had suffered some damage. The official said there was no trace of a large number of pilgrims who were either headed to or returning from the shrine, built by Adi Shankara around 1,000 years ago.

    He said Ram Bada, located about seven kilometres from the temple, had been destroyed. So was the case with Gaurikund where there was a parking lot and a rest house. “There were an estimated 5,000 people at Ram Bada when a cloudburst took place,” he said. “The shops and houses around Kedarnath temple have been either destroyed or severely damaged,” said the official. “From the reports we are getting, I don’t think the Kedarnath pilgrimage can restart for two to three years,” he added. According to the official, 1,000 to 2,000 pilgrims were rescued from the temple region Wednesday.

    “The rescue operations are still going on.” 1,446 people rescued from flooded areas A total of 1,446 people were rescued by the NDRF from areas affected by floods caused by torrential rains in various places of north India, including Uttarakhand, a disaster management official said Thursday. “While 443 people were rescued in Uttarakhand, NDRF teams rescued 930 people from Haryana out of which 844 from Karnal and 86 from Yamuna Nagar.

    Fifty were rescued from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh and 23 in Uttar Pradesh,” a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) official said in a statement. Twenty-nine teams of the NDRF have been deployed in various flood hit area of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal and Assam for relief operations.

    “The water levels have decreased, relief operations are continuing,” the statement added. Apart from NDRF, men and staff of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the army are carrying over the rescue operations particularly in Uttarakhand, the worst hit by heavy rains. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has put the number of people stranded in Uttarakhand at some 62,000.

  • BJP meeting: Party plays down LK Advani’s absence in Goa on Day 1

    BJP meeting: Party plays down LK Advani’s absence in Goa on Day 1

    PANAJI (TIP): BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu said that the party’s senior leader LK Advani will arrive in Goa on Saturday to attend the national executive meeting and the media should not read too much about the delay in his arrival.

    Speculation has been rife after it became apparent that Advani will not arrive in Goa on Friday. Speaking to reporters outside the venue of national executive meeting, Naidu said Advani is not able to come to Goa on Friday because of ‘health reasons’ . There was speculation in the media about Advani’s delayed arrival. “There is no need to read too many things in everything,” Naidu said.

    Replying to queries from the media about a few other BJP senior leaders skipping the national executive meeting, Naidu said they are not able to attend the meeting due to prior engagements and that there is nothing new in that.

    BJP national spokesman Prakash Javdekar said that Advani is not angry about speculation that Modi will be projected as chief of election campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

  • Ways To Fight The Tan

    Ways To Fight The Tan

    Excessive exposure to UV rays leads to many skin problems and skin tanning is one of them. The melanin in the skin increases and leads to pigmentation and it also causes rapid aging, fine lines, wrinkles and leathery skin. For Indians who already have a dark complexion it is very necessary that they prevent their skin from tanning. Dr Swati Srivastava, Sketch Clinics from Mumbai shares tips to fight tan during the summer season. Wear full sleeves clothes if you are going to be out in the sun for long time.

    Least the exposure, less will be the tan. Use hats and caps whenever possible. There is nothing better than a umbrella on a bright sunny day. Avoid sun between 10am – 3 pm. The UV rays are at their maximum intensity between this tie.

    Don’t forget the sunscreen. A broad spectrum sunscreen covering UVA & UVB of any SPF above 15 should be applied 20-30 mins before going in the sun on all exposed areas. If you have been out in the sun, immediately rinse your face with cold water after coming home . This will minimize the tanning. If you will be in water or swimmimg, sunscreen needs to be reapplied every hour. A water resistant sunscreen should be used.

    You can put aloe vera gel on all exposed areas.

    Mix turmeric powder and lime juice and make a paste. Apply this thrice a week.

    It will help in reducing the tan. Antioxidants in diet (in fruits and vegetables) or as supplements will help in maintaining the quality of the skin.

  • My Mother Is My Hero: Sonali Bendre

    My Mother Is My Hero: Sonali Bendre

    Who is Sonali Bendre’s real life hero? The actress calls her mother her hero for raising three daughters with very limited resources and giving them wings despite being not so educated. She admits this kind of heroism is not so uncommon in the country. “My mother has done a great job with her kids,” the 38-year-old actress said in a group interview.

    “The daily struggle of raising three daughters with a very limited income, yet seeing to it that they get a good upbringing, giving her daughters the wings even after not being so educated – that person is my hero,” Bendre added. Having said that, she feels that “this kind of heroism is in most of the women in India because they all are doing that.” Hailing from a middle-class family, Bendre entered filmdom through ads and later rose on the firmament with her work in Sarfarosh, Zakhm, and Duplicate.

    After playing a successful innings, she tied the knot with filmmaker Goldie Behl and settled down. Mother of a seven-and-a-half-year-old son, she has an immense respect for women who balance family and work. “I had the luxury of making a choice (whether to work or not). All the women don’t have this luxury and I really don’t know how they do it. If I had to do everything on my own, I would have fallen apart,” she confessed. “I have an immense amount of respect for women who leave their kids and go to work, because they have to. They don’t have a choice. I couldn’t have done that,” she added

  • Dr. Madhu Korrapati India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Community Service

    Dr. Madhu Korrapati India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Community Service

    Dr. Madhu Korrapati was born in a small village in India called Pallapadu in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. He graduated from Guntur Medical College, Guntur and did his M.D. in Pharmacology at JIPMER in Pondicherry. He moved to the USA in 1990 and did his Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology at the VA Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. He then moved to New York in 1993 and did Internal Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Nephrology at Winthrop University Hospital.

    He was the Best Resident of the year at Winthrop University Hospital. He has published several scientific papers and authored various textbook chapters in Clinical Pharmacology. Dr. Korrapati currently practices Nephrology on Long Island, New York. He is Vice President of The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin – Queens & Long Island (AAPIQLI) and Chief of Nephrology at St. Joseph’s Hospital. His community service is wide ranging, both in the USA and in India.

    He is one of the founding members of a National Service Organization called NATS of which he is presently the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has successfully conducted approximately 23 Free Medical Camps around the nation. He is also instrumental in establishing a permanent health clinic in New Jersey. In India he is responsible for renovating schools and providing safe drinking water in his village.

    He has helped in adopting several service projects in Andhra Pradesh like SEVA, the Old Age Home in Tirupathi. He has also set up RO Plants in Uddanam area to provide safe drinking water. Dr. Korrapati is blessed with a beautiful family which includes his wife Sireesha, two sons Vineet and Praneet, daughter-in-law Smita and last but not the least his two adorable grandchildren Krish and Riya.

  • Dr. Arti Datta India Association Of Long Island Iali Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Performing Arts

    Dr. Arti Datta India Association Of Long Island Iali Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Performing Arts

    Dr. Arti Datta is the founding Artistic Director of Mudra Dance Studio, Muttontown, NY and the President of The Mudra Foundation: Art for a Cause. Established in 2003, the studio focuses on teaching the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam to young and adult students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Seeking to promote our rich ancient heritage among younger students, the Mudra Dance Studio provides opportunities to study classical dance as a recreational activity and a performing art.

    Dr. Arti Datta was initiated into the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam early in her childhood in India. An alumnus of Kalasadan, one of the premier cultural institutes in Mumbai, India, she was under the direct tutelage of the late Guru Shri Mani and received her training in the rigorous Vazhuvoor tradition. Dr. Datta continued her education in dance at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, London, UK. She has performed extensively in India, U.K. and the United States.

    Dr. Arti Datta is a clinical scientist by profession and has conducted her post-doctoral research at the famed Hammersmith Hospital in London, U.K. and here at the NYU Medical Center in New York. Dr. Arti Datta has successfully choreographed and directed several multimedia productions including Shiv-O-Hum, Leela – The Play of Krishna, Yatra – A Journey of Indian Dance, which was presented as part of the Joseph G Astman International Concert series at the Hofstra University, NY, Devi: An Ode to Mother Goddess and Arpan – An Offering, which served as a very successful fundraiser for the victims of the Japan tsunami disaster.

    The ultimate goal, however, was to uplift the spirit of dance by channeling this artistic energy towards a higher calling. On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the dance school, as a way of integrating her passion for dance with a desire to give back to society she founded the nonprofit The Mudra Foundation: Art for a Cause.

    www.TheMudraFoundation.org. The debut production of the nonprofit, WATER : The Flow of the Divine , was staged a few weeks ago, with proceeds going to the Sankara Eye Foundation. Dr. Arti Datta actively serves on the Arts in Education committee on the Syosset School District and volunteers her time at New York Cares. She lives in Muttontown with her husband Dr. Rajiv Datta and their daughters, Tanya and Saumya.

  • Mr. Pavankumar Darisi India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Community Service

    Mr. Pavankumar Darisi India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Community Service

    Greek philosopher Epictetus once stated: “Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.” Mr. Pavankumar Darisi has made every effort in life to be a model citizen worthy of the praise he is often awarded. Mr. Darisi’s life and experience had made him the astounding image of a successful businessman with an idealistic and modest personality.

    Born in a small village called Pamuru of the Prakasam District in rural India, Mr. Darisi spent his childhood under his father’s wing taking in all his father’s teachings. Mr. Darisi owes most of his success to his father, who despite his poor financial condition educated his children at the very best institutions he could afford. Mr. Darisi graduated from Raichur VL College with a degree in Pharmacy.

    Just months after his graduation, Mr. Darisi immigrated to the United States in 1987 and in this new country he purchased an insolvent pharmacy with the hopes of reviving it. Within a few years, Mr. Darisi’s pharmacy witnessed phenomenal growth, which allowed Mr. Darisi to branch out and open 5 more pharmacies in the different parts of New York City. His success in business did not just end there.

    He began and expanded an online business for Health & Beauty supplies named AmericaRX.com. He started out in a small basement with one employee. He had nothing but a four foot shelf and an old used computer from which he conducted his business. This is the same AmericaRX.com that has grown tremendously since its conception now grossing millions of dollars in revenue. Mr. Darisi’s entrepreneurial success has not gone unnoticed.

    In fact he is the recipient of notable awards from organizations such as Inc. 500, USPAACC, Top 500 internet retailers, and News India Times. He has been continuously receiving these coveted awards for almost six straight years. Additionally he received the prestigious Pravashi Bharatiya Award which is only given to NRIs by the Indian government. In addition to Mr. Darisi’s success in business, he is heavily involved in providing social services to the community. Inspired by his father’s giving nature, Mr. Darisi devoted a significant portion of his life to community service.

    Notably after graduating from college, he worked odd jobs and ended up donating whatever little income he made to help the elderly. He has started and served several philanthropic organizations and projects along the way. One notable organization he founded is Darisi Seva Samstha. Using this organization, he has reached out to many disadvantaged people in the community. He has made philanthropic contributions in countless projects in the fields of medicine, construction, and education.

    Mr. Darisi has helped in conducting free computer classes for the modernization of rural places, constructing marriage halls for underprivileged youngsters, establishing schools to educate poor children, and building of temples and bus shelters. He truly serves as a role model for many who have emigrated from their respective homelands in search of success. Despite all his business achievements and immense success, this man has not forgotten his roots.

    His love and care for others is always placed first for him through his philanthropy. He is proud of his heritage and lives to serve and benefit his beloved community both back home in India and here in the U.S. Mr. Darisi could not have all of his success without his loving family. He has a beautiful wife named Ramadevi and two wonderful children Sindhu and Sanjeev.

  • Mr. Gobind Bathija India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Community Service

    Mr. Gobind Bathija India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Community Service

    Mr. Gobind Bathija’s business acumen and negotiation skills can best be understood by the decades during which he has built a vast business empire, comprising today of Dunkin Brands, Welcome Group Inc., Sayville Donut Group Inc., Blue Point Donut Group Inc., Two Go’s Group Inc., Bollywood Group Inc., Bathija Holding Co. Inc., Bayport Group Inc., Bathija Telecom Corp and International Branding in 2014.

    Starting from the export and import of spare parts for trucks and buses for markets in the USA and Europe to opening chain stores in Canal Street generated particularly for the Indian shoppers; from launching an upscale and trendy women’s boutique in Queens to major film distributorship of Indian films in the USA; from retail outlets and brand name garment labels to stock trading in the stock market; from diversity to solidarity under the umbrella name The Bathija Group of Companies; from Empire State Building Office to overseas markets; from food market franchise to real estate and construction, Mr. Bathija’s business empire has grown from strength to strength through several decades starting from the early 1970s through to the present day, weathering ups and downs and experiencing phenomenal successes along the way.

    He attributes this success and the wealth of his achievements to his considerable knowledge of domestic and international markets as well as to his special skills at identifying trends and new businesses and his dedication to his principles as well as his loyalty towards colleagues and subordinates who share his goals. He has learned to balance between the assertion of his own views and openness to the views of others adding the proactive approach.

    These attributes together with his keen knowledge of the market have helped him keep the edge in terms of selecting winners and actualizing further success. His success has made him believe even more deeply in the totality of his social commitments and he is known to be very active in a number of social organizations. He is the Founder and President of the Asamai Temple in Flushing, New York. He is also the Founder and President of the Hindu Community Center in Hicksville, New York.

    In addition, he is an active member of the Rotary Club of Lindenhurst, an active member of the Chamber of Commerce of Holbrook and active in the India Garment Association of New York. He has successfully held many events and many fundraisers for all of these associations. Mr. Bathija holds a Masters in Accounting from CUNY – Queens and is a CPA by profession. He currently resides in Dix Hills with his wife Sonia and the couple have three children – Tanya, Pooja, and Sunny

  • Mr. Sudhir Vaishnav India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Media & Entertainment

    Mr. Sudhir Vaishnav India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Media & Entertainment

    Sudhir Vaishnav is the CEO and President of GEN-I; a leading international distributor and content aggregator representing international television channels with distribution in the US, UK and Canada on various platforms. He has a strong emphasis on its operations and distribution platform contract negotiations. With premiere Indian television channels like Sahara One, Filmy & Sahara Samay and Radio City under its franchise; GEN-I, with the guidance of Sudhir Vaishnav has grown to become one of the strongest players in the South Asian media industry of North America.

    With over 32 years of varied corporate experience in the U.S., Vaishnav has built a strong background in sales and marketing working with Fortune 500 companies. Known for being a pioneer in bringing South Asian entertainment to North America, Vaishnav is the first Indian producer in the 130 year history of New York City’s Broadway to present a South Asian production, Andrew Lloyd Webber and A R Rahman’s “Bombay Dreams”. He also co-produced an off- Broadway production, India Awaiting, while working with Sony Music Classics to promote Rahman’s international album, Between heaven and Earth, in North America.

    Vaishnav’s new passion is to find meaningful ways to merge South Asian media and entertainment with the American mainstream. He feels that the second generation is better prepared to deal with their roots and culture. Vaishnav has always held the fundamental belief that giving back to the community should be an integral part of every Indian American’s life. He practices what he preaches, having deeply integrated himself into philanthropic organizations as a leader, facilitator and a fund-raiser.

    Vaishnav has been actively involved with the NRI community in the US for over three decades and has served on the board of advisors with various leading community and non-profit organizations. His unwavering support and involvement with organizations such as the Share and Care Foundation, the Association of Indian in America (AIA), Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), the America India Foundation (AIF), Nargis Dutt Foundation and Children’s Hope India, has cemented his position as a pillar in the Indian American Community.

    Vaishnav has also been integral part of the world renowned Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, since its inception 30 years ago, as well as the Gujarati Samaj of New York. Even as the CEO of a diverse entertainment and media company, he is known to deftly juggle his time between work, travel, family, and the community. Vaishnav lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife Swati, who is also actively involved with the South Asian community. They have a daughter, Siddhi and a son, Shivang.

  • Mr. Kanwal Sra India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Business Leadership

    Mr. Kanwal Sra India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Business Leadership

    Mr. Kanwal Sra was born in Mumbai, India. He moved to the USA with his family in the mid- 1970s, graduating from NYU in 1986 with a Bachelors in Accounting which led to his taking and passing Certified Public Accounting examination. His early-on extensive experience in auditing, accounting and tax services came from Wall Street, Brokers and Dealers in stocks and bonds and High Net Worth individuals. After risk management and derivatives trading for Prudential Global Funding he joined Ernst & Young LLP as Senior Manager. In 1996 WR Lazard appointed him CEO of its broker dealer division.

    He then became Managing Director of the financial services group Donald Stukes & Co. It was during this period that he set up SRA & Associates LLP to provide tax, financial, management consulting, accounting and auditing services to the construction industry. In 2000 he started System One Financial Services LLC to provide retirement and business succession planning, investment and risk management and employersponsored financial education programs.

    He became Founder and CEO of TaxOSphere having over 60 branch offices in over 22 states to provide tax preparation services to businesses and individuals. In 2003 he launched OSI Info Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. to provide back office processing in accounting, taxes, financial and medical billing in Chandigarh for US based clients.

    In 2005 he launched Phoenix Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. in Punjab to build a township on 100 acres for NRIs from USA, Canada and UK. Last year he merged with Jackson Hewitt Tax Services with over 6,000 offices nationwide, making him the Managing Director of his franchise for Long Island and Queens. Mr. Sra is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, NYS Society of CPAs, National Society of Tax Professional and National Association of Tax Practitioners.

    His charitable work for the community started as Treasurer of the Sikh Cultural Society of Richmond Hill Gurudwara for proper reporting of their financial statements which is being followed till today. He set up health camps in Queens. He has also been Board Founder and Chairman of Punjab and Sindh Federal Credit Union established in 1995 to provide banking services to the Indian community. He set up a non-profit Crystal Foundation to provide health care and education to the underserved population in India.

    He has anchored a TV Show “Money Matters” for the Jus Punjabi Channel to help educate and answer financial and tax related questions for Punjabis all over. It was in 2011 while serving as Treasurer for another nonprofit “NRIs for Better India” that he met many senior Congress leaders during the Punjab election campaign which led to his appointment in 2012 by Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the All India Congress, as an executive committee member and National Treasurer of the INOC(I) USA. Today in 2013 Mr. Sra has been appointed as President and Chairman of the Indo American Business Council Chapter of the INOC(I) USA.

  • Mr. Hussain Baqueri India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Aviation Leadership

    Mr. Hussain Baqueri India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Aviation Leadership

    Mr. Hussain Baqueri was born in Hyderabad, India. He received his B.Sc. and M.B.A. Degrees from Osmania University and graduated from the Andhra Pradesh Flying Club with a Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor licenses. While in India, he was an active member of the Interact and Rotaract Clubs (the Young Rotarians) helping the poor in the slums of Hyderabad. After immigrating to the USA in 1977, he attended Spartan University of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma to convert his aeronautical licenses.

    He also attended the University of Pennsylvania for his M.B.A. in Finance & International Business. Quickly from there Mr. Baqueri climbed the corporate ladder, holding several managerial positions both nationally and internationally in the fields of Business Aviation and Aircraft Leasing, including being the only South Asian to hold a board member position at local and national levels. At present he is the Vice President of Client Services for North and South America at Jet Aviation, a General Dynamics Company, which manages aviation assets globally.

    Having logged over 19,000 hours in flight he still finds time to fly around the world in a G5, run multiple minority owned small businesses and be affiliated with several charities and networking groups across the Tri-State area. He owns a Sir Speedy Printing & Marketing Services in Plainview, NY where he spends countless hours making sure his clients have the best marketing tools available. Additionally, he also runs Nash Global Inc., an international consultancy and business development firm. Mr. Baqueri is well known as a community leader who charitably donates his time and efforts to many local organizations.

    Some of the organizations that he represents include : The Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation, Hyderabad Cultural Association, The Rotary Club of Hicksville South, The Huntington Kiwanis Club, The Chambers of Commerce of Plainview, Hicksville, Melville and Huntington, The National Business Aircraft Association, The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, SANA, to name a few. He is very passionate about mentoring the young people, who he believes are the future of our community.

    Always on the go, he is a man of many talents who always strives to be the best. He has been awarded several public service citations from local government agencies and a Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International. Mr. Baqueri is married to Noor, his wife of 35 years, and has two wonderful children – Sarah and Ali and now a beautiful granddaughter Zayna. Sarah has a Law Degree from Hofstra University while Ali studied Aircraft Maintenance Engineering at Vaughn College of Aeronautics. Together they operate the family business Sir Speedy of Plainview, New York.

  • Dr. Purnachandra Aramalla India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Business Leadership

    Dr. Purnachandra Aramalla India Association Of Long Island Pioneer Award 2013 Excellence In Business Leadership

    Mr. Purnachandra Aramalla studied Pharmacy at Andhra University in India. After his Post-Graduation studies he worked in the industry for a couple of years and then went back to the University to do research on antibiotics and biotechnology. At this time he published several research papers in Indian and International Journals. He then worked as a Lecturer in Andhra University for a few years before he migrated to the USA in 1984. In the USA he first worked as a Pharmacist.

    He then joined with one of his former students and in 1998 founded a Biotech Firm known as JN International Medical Corporation. This today is a premier R & D Company which has developed several vaccines including a Tetravalent Meningitis Vaccine. One of the most exciting products this Company has developed is also a preventative and therapeutic vaccine for stroke and other neurological disorders. Several other such innovative vaccines are in the process of development.

    This Company currently has several patents. Mr. Aramalla is known to be a philanthropist. He has built a humanist library in India and donated Digital Blackboards to his former school. He contributed to the Indo American Cancer Hospital at Hyderabad, one of the leading cancer hospitals in India. He is one of the Trustees on the Board of the Indo American Cancer Hospital.

    Additionally, he is known to be a regular contributor to several other Indian Organizations too such as TLCA, TANA, NATS, NATA, Silicon Andhra and many others. Mr. Aramalla lives on Long Island, NY with his wife Usha who is also very actively involved with various charitable organizations. The couple has a daughter, Snigdha and two sons, Krishna and Raja.

  • Britain To Restart Detainees’ Transfer To Afghan Authorities

    Britain To Restart Detainees’ Transfer To Afghan Authorities

    LONDON (TIP): Britain would restart the transfer of detainees captured in Afghanistan to the local authorities later this month. The process was suspended in November last year after it emerged the prisoners were being mistreated in Afghan custody. The fresh move comes days after Britain confirmed it had 90 Afghan nationals in its custody at Camp Bastion, the country’s biggest base in Afghanistan and dubbed as the UK’s version of Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

    They were being held without charges for up to 14 months with no access to lawyers in violation of the international law. “We have been working to identify a safe transfer route to Afghan custody and I am pleased that this work has come to fruition,” said defence secretary Philip Hammond. “I very much hope we do not face any further legal impediments in the British courts which could prevent us from transferring these detainees and force us to hold them for even longer in Camp Bastion.” The prisoners would be transferred to an Afghan National Army facility at Parwan, which has received positive reports from rights organizations.

    “Our coalition allies also now transfer detainees to the same Afghan facility. I am confident the safeguards in place will ensure detainees will not be at risk of mistreatment,” said Hammond. He justified detentions, saying they were crucial on the battlefield to stop those intend to kill British troops. “Our troops must be able to detain enemies on the battlefield and debrief them for intelligence purposes and will continue to do so before transferring them into the Afghan judicial system.’

    ‘ British forces in Afghanistan are part of the International Security Assistance Force and are allowed to detain suspects for 96 hours. The custody can be extended in “exceptional circumstance”. Since 2003, UK operations in Afghanistan have been conducted under Operation Herrick.

  • Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s Mother Passes Away

    Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s Mother Passes Away

    CHENNAI: Union finance minister P Chidambaram’s mother LakshmiPalaniappan passed away early this morning at her residence in Chennai, family members confirmed. She was 92 and is survived by two sons, P Lakshmanan and P Chidambaram, and a daughter. Lakshmi Palaniappan had been under medication for her ailment for the past few weeks.

    The funeral will be held in the evening at the Mylapore crematorium, family sources said. Chidambaram is expected to arrive in Chennai in the morning from New Delhi. Her eyes have been donated to the well-known eye hospital Shankara Netralaya as she had desired, a family member said.

  • Reliance Industries, Reliance Comm Strike $2.1 Billion Telecom Towers Pact

    Reliance Industries, Reliance Comm Strike $2.1 Billion Telecom Towers Pact

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Reliance Industries Ltd’s telecommunications unit will lease up to 45,000 mobile towers from Reliance Communications Ltd in a deal valued at more than Rs 120 billion ($2.1 billion) over the lifetime of the contract, the Indian companies said on June 7. Reliance Jio Infocomm, a unit of Reliance Industries, is rolling out a nationwide 4G network.

    The company won airwaves in 2010, but is yet to start commercial services. Mukesh Ambani controls Reliance Industries, while Reliance Communications is controlled by his younger brother Anil Ambani.

  • BJP Meeting: Party Plays Down LK Advani’s Absence In Goa On Day

    BJP Meeting: Party Plays Down LK Advani’s Absence In Goa On Day

    PANAJI (TIP): BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu said that the party’s senior leader LK Advani will arrive in Goa on Saturday to attend the national executive meeting and the media should not read too much about the delay in his arrival. Speculation has been rife after it became apparent that Advani will not arrive in Goa on Friday. Speaking to reporters outside the venue of national executive meeting, Naidu said Advani is not able to come to Goa on Friday because of ‘health reasons’ .

    There was speculation in the media about Advani’s delayed arrival. “There is no need to read too many things in everything,” Naidu said. Replying to queries from the media about a few other BJP senior leaders skipping the national executive meeting, Naidu said they are not able to attend the meeting due to prior engagements and that there is nothing new in that. BJP national spokesman Prakash Javdekar said that Advani is not angry about speculation that Modi will be projected as chief of election campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

  • 24×7 Ambulance Service On National Highways Made Mandatory

    24×7 Ambulance Service On National Highways Made Mandatory

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Now, developers and government agencies managing and maintaining National Highways (NHs) will have to ensure that ambulances and patrolling vehicles are available 24×7. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to install vehicle tracking system (VTS) in all such vehicles with global positioning system (GPS) within a month to monitor their uninterrupted movement. In a circular issued last Monday, NHAI chairman R P Singh has directed all chief general managers (CGMs) to take up the issue with private developers.

    He has cited the provision of concession agreement, where private developers are bound to provide “round the clock” ambulance service for accident victims and patrolling vehicles for the entire project stretch. Singh has pointed out there are often complaints of developers not deploying these vehicles crucial for shifting accident victims to hospital and to get crucial first report of jams, breakdowns or accidents from patrolling vehicles. As per rules, every developer needs to deploy one ambulance and one patrolling vehicle for every 50 km stretch.

    At present, though 244 life-support ambulances and 245 patrolling vehicles are deployed on highway stretches totaling around 10,360 km, the deployment is inadequate. Moreover, only a small portion of country’s 80,000 km NH stretch has such a facility. The most recent global road safety report, conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), has also exposed how only less than 49% seriously injured victims are rushed to hospital by ambulances in India.

    “Robust ambulance services reduce fatalities significantly as the victims get immediate treatment at spot and are rushed to hospital. As per the order, in case of financial need to implement this project the fund can come from the decided road safety fund available with NHAI,” said B S Singla, CGM in NHAI. Road safety experts have welcomed the move considering the fact that 37% of countries’ total road fatalities are reported from NH stretches. “Finally, the beginning has been made. But what we need is to monitor and control the facilities at local level for effective result,” said Rohit Baluja.

  • India Outpaces Major Steel Producers With 5.8% Growth In Fy’13

    India Outpaces Major Steel Producers With 5.8% Growth In Fy’13

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India, the world’s fourth largest steel maker, logged 5.86 per cent growth in production in 2012-13 – the highest among major global producers, World Steel Association has said. According to WSA, India produced 78.12 million tonne (MT) steel during the fiscal as against 73.39 MT in 2011-12. China had produced the maximum steel during the fiscal at 726.33 MT, almost half of the world’s total output of 1,521 MT; but India outpaced the neighbour in the rate of growth.

    Production in China grew by 5.39 per cent during 2012-13 over 689.192 MT in 2011-12. Global production grew by 1.59 per cent during the fiscal. World’s second largest steel maker Japan produced 107.30 MT in 2012-13, clocking 0.78 per cent growth over 106.46 MT produced in the previous fiscal.

    The US, the world’s third largest steel producing nation, clocked a negative rate, down 1.61 per cent, during the fiscal at 86.94 MT compared to 88.36 MT a year ago. Russia produced 69.56 MT steel in 2012-13, recording just 0.17 per cent growth over the previous fiscal. South Korea has also clocked a de-growth of 1.62 per cent to produce 68.15 MT steel during the year.

  • Rbi Imposes Curbs On Gold Import

    Rbi Imposes Curbs On Gold Import

    MUMBAI (TIP): In a move to support the rupee, the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday announced measures to curb gold imports in tandem with the government measures to encourage foreign capital into debt. The concerted measures brought back the rupee and also crashed gold prices in international market. However, many feel that gold curbs were a short-term solution and would lead to a price differential between local and international prices which would encourage smuggling of the yellow metal.

    Besides extending to nominated agencies and star trading houses restrictions on gold imports that were applicable to banks, RBI has also insisted on 100% cash margin for letters of credit. RBI has also curbed credit by insisting that imports will be on documents against payments as against “documents against acceptance” earlier. As a result of these measures, the rupee recovered from 11-month lows to close at 56.45—a 32 paise gain from Monday’s close of 56.77.

    The restrictions on gold imports come after imports of the yellow metal soared to 162 tonnes in May from 142 tonnes in April following a softening in international prices. “This will lead to a reduction in imports and reduce supply. Local prices may go up and this could also lead to some jewelers turning to unauthorized imports.” said Mohit Kamboj, president, Bombay Bullion Association . Bankers also said that the move could have only shortterm benefits as a demand supply mismatch could lead to local prices firming up vis-a-vis international prices providing a huge arbitrage opportunity for importers.

    According to news reports, gold fell below $1,400 an ounce in London on Tuesday, extending losses on worries over demand in the world’s largest consumer, India, after the government further restricted imports of the metal. “The rupee gained because of a combination of the measures to restrict gold imports and news that the government was extending ceiling on FII investment in debt and reduction of withholding tax on overseas investment in debt,” said Ashish Vaidya, head of fixed income, currency and commodities trading, at UBS.

    Inflation index bonds: The twin measures to support the rupee coincided with RBI’s auction of the government’s first tranche of inflationlinked bonds. RBI sold Rs 1,000 crore of bonds at a yield of 1.44% over the wholesale price index. This is RBI’s second attempt at introducing inflation linked bonds after an attempt in 1997 failed to meet expectations .

  • L&T Wins Gas Project From Saudi Aramco

    L&T Wins Gas Project From Saudi Aramco

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday said it has won a contract from the Saudi Arabian Oil Company Saudi Aramco for setting up gas processing facilities. “A joint venture company of L&TLarsen Toubro Arabia LLC, has achieved a major breakthrough in the Kingdom of South Arabia by securing a large EPC contract from South Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco),” the company said in statement. The contract is for setting up gas processing facilities, for the Midyan gas facilities with a capacity to treat 75 million standard cubic feet per day of gas and 4,500 barrels per day of condensate and laying of gas and condensate product pipelines, the statement added.

    The project is scheduled to be completed in 37 months. The scope of the contract includes project management, detailed engineering, procurement, supply, manufacturing, construction, among others, it said. In the past, L&T has worked for establishing onshore gas processing complexes for Reliance Industries at Kakinda, Cairn Energy at Barmer and gas treatment projects at Uran and Hazira for ONGC, the company added.

  • Sebi Acts Against Public Float Violators

    Sebi Acts Against Public Float Violators

    MUMBAI (TIP): Sebi acts against public float violatorsMUMBAI: Market regulator Sebi on barred promoters of companies which failed to comply with its 25% minimum public shareholding norms by denying partially their rights to dividend, bonus and voting. Sebi also barred these promoters from accessing the market other than for reducing their stakes in the company. Sebi said the sanctions will be lifted once the companies meet the shareholding norms.

    The denial of voting rights in the companies which have not complied with the Sebi rules will be proportional to current promoter shareholding, which is three times the public shareholding. For example, if the public shareholding in a company is 10%, the promoters would be entitled to get only 30% (that is 10% X 3 = 30%) of the total dividend paid by the company. In other words although promoters hold 90% in the company, they will have to forgo 60% of the dividend paid by the company, which in normal course would have come to them.

    The same would apply for voting rights, bonus, rights offers, split etc, an order by Prasant Saran, wholetime member, Sebi, noted. The Sebi order also barred the promoters and directors with these companies from holding any new position on the board of a listed firm. In its 13-page late evening order, Sebi also warned of further action, including levy of monetary penalties, initiation of criminal proceedings, restricting the trading activities of related stocks and other possible directions.

    Sebi said 105 companies failed to meet the norms within the stipulated deadline of June 3, despite repeated reminders and various relaxations provided to the companies to help them meet the requirements. The companies whose promoters and directors would face the prohibitory orders, which have come into immediate effect, include Adani Ports, BGR Energy Systems, Essar Ports, Omaxe, Plethico Pharmaceuticals and Tata Teleservices. These included 72 companies whose shares are actively traded on the stock market, while the shares of 33 other companies are currently suspended for various reasons.

  • Emaar MGF Receives Rs 8.6k Crore Fine Notice

    Emaar MGF Receives Rs 8.6k Crore Fine Notice

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Realty giant and Commonwealth Games Village builder Emaar MGF was on Tuesday slapped with a show-cause notice of Rs 8,600 crore by the Enforcement Directorate for violating Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The company is alleged to have diverted FDI money to buy thousands of acres of agricultural land in violation of FEMA and FDI rules and could face a penalty in excess of Rs 25,000 crore.

    Significantly, the development comes on a day the Union Cabinet approved the Real Estate Regulators Bill. Sources said the company had used a modus operandi similar to as alleged in the case of Walmart, under investigation by the ED for diverting FDI money to retail sector through various subsidiaries. Emaar MGF allegedly used a maze of subsidiaries through which it diverted FDI money — brought in for investment in construction projects — to buy agricultural land. ED first raided 13 premises of the company here and elsewhere in 2009 in connection with the case and had seized several documents and large amounts of cash.

    Investigations then found that almost 70% of the company’s land bank was agricultural land. Out of over 12,000 acres of land bank with the company, close to 8,500 acres were found to be agricultural, most of which is alleged to have been bought by FDI money. The firm is also alleged to have floated over 300 companies as subsidiaries in India and abroad with several of its lowgrade employees listed as directors. Some of these companies were allegedly used to divert FDI into agricultural land bought around Delhi, Haryana , Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

  • Scientists To Retrace 100-Year-Old Antarctica Expedition

    Scientists To Retrace 100-Year-Old Antarctica Expedition

    SYDNEY (TIP): Scientists will retrace Sir Douglas Mawson’s 1911-14 expedition to the Antarctica in November, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) announced on June 4. A team of 46 researchers and would-be explorers will set out from Hobart, the capital of Australia’s southern Tasmania island state, for a six-week journey to repeat measurements made by Mawson’s team 100 years ago, including observations of the ocean, wildlife, weather, geology and ice cover, reported Xinhua.

    “Antarctica remains one of the last, great unexplored regions on thr Earth. It is a unique place to monitor the health of our planet. We want to discover just how much has changed since Mawson’s time,” said Chris Turney, professor at the UNSW Climate Change Research Centre. The 1.5 million AU dollars ($1.46 million) privately-funded expedition also aims to recapture and share the excitement of scientific exploration and discovery, using the latest technologies to communicate with school children and the public back home in Australia.

    The researchers will take measurements of the ocean water, visit sub-Antarctic islands where they will collect sediment cores from lakes and peat bogs, and study the wildlife. They will also drill ice cores and take geological samples to study the changing shape of the ice sheet. A drone will survey from the air and some adventurous scientists hope to venture under the ice.