The Indian Panorama

Year: 2013

  • BRUSHING YOUR TEETH CAN LOWER HEART DISEASE RISK

    BRUSHING YOUR TEETH CAN LOWER HEART DISEASE RISK

    Anew study has revealed that taking care of your gums by brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits could keep heart disease at bay. Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have shown for the first time that as gum health improves, progression of atherosclerosis slows to a clinically significant degree. Artherosclerosis or the narrowing of arteries through the build-up of plaque is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and death.

    “These results are important because atherosclerosis progressed in parallel with both clinical periodontal disease and the bacterial profiles in the gums. This is the most direct evidence yet that modifying the periodontal bacterial profile could play a role in preventing or slowing both diseases,” Moise Desvarieux, MD, PhD, lead author of the paper and associate professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School, said. The researchers followed 420 adults as part of the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study ( INVEST), a randomly sampled prospective cohort of Northern Manhattan residents. Participants were examined for periodontal infection. Overall, 5,008 plaque samples were taken from several teeth, beneath the gum, and analyzed for 11 bacterial strains linked to periodontal disease and seven control bacteria.

    Fluid around the gums was sampled to assess levels of Interleukin-1a, a marker of inflammation. Atherosclerosis in both carotid arteries was measured using highresolution ultrasound. Over a median follow-up period of three years, the researchers found that improvement in periodontal health—health of the gums—and a reduction in the proportion of specific bacteria linked to periodontal disease correlated to a slower intima-medial thickness (IMT) progression, and worsening periodontal infections paralleled the progression of IMT. Results were adjusted for potential confounders such as body mass index, cholesterol levels, diabetes, and smoking status. There was a 0.1 mm difference in IMT change over three years among study participants whose periodontal health was deteriorating compared with those whose periodontal health was improving.

    Previous research has shown that a .033 mm/year increase in carotid IMT (equivalent to approximately 0.1 mm over three years) is associated with a 2.3-fold increased risk for coronary events. “When it comes to atherosclerosis, a tenth of a millimeter in the thickness of the carotid artery is a big deal. Based on prior research, it appears to meet the threshold of clinical significance,” Tatjana Rundek, MD, PhD, a co-author of the study and professor at the University of Miami whose lab read the carotid ultrasounds, said.

  • Iran: Nuclear plan ‘backed’ by 6 world powers

    Iran: Nuclear plan ‘backed’ by 6 world powers

    GENEVA (TIP): Iran’s plan to cap some of the country’s atomic activities in exchange for selective relief from crippling economic sanctions has been accepted by six world powers, the country’s chief nuclear negotiator said on November 7. The upbeat comments from Abbas Araghchi, reported by Iranian state TV, suggest that negotiators in Geneva are moving from broad discussions over a nuclear deal to specific steps limiting Tehran’s ability to make atomic weapons. In return, Iran would start getting relief from sanctions that have hit its economy hard. “Today, they clearly said that they accept the proposed framework by Iran,” Araghchi said. Though he described the negotiations as “very difficult,” he said he expected agreement on details by Friday, the last scheduled round of the current talks.International negotiators, representing the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, declined to comment on Araghchi’s statement. The last round of talks three weeks ago reached agreement.

  • SIGNS OF VAGINAL INFECTION

    SIGNS OF VAGINAL INFECTION

    Do you have itching and redness around your vagina, abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell, irritation, a burning sensation during urination? It could be Vaginitis, a very common disease, which affects millions of women each year. Vaginitis is medically described as an irritation and/or inflammation of the vagina. Some women have no symptoms at all. And some may have symptoms, which include:

  • Health benefits of carrots

    Health benefits of carrots

    Carrots are considered superfoods for fertility and help boost the quality and quantity of sperm. But there are far more health benefits of eating carrots. We list out the top six health benefits of eating carrots. Ageing: Carrots are considered anti-ageing foods as they are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that fights free radicals. Boost beauty: Carrots are rich in antioxidants and vitamin A, both responsible for healthy skin, hair and nails.

    Fight cardiovascular diseases: Carrots consists of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and lutein are antioxidants that fight cholesterol. Carrots are also fibrous; hence it helps soak out bad cholesterol. Dental health: Consumption of carrots improves the dental health by clearing plaque. Biting on carrots increases the production of saliva, hence balances the acid level which fight cavity-causing bacteria. Improves liver health: Carrots are considered detox food, as it cleanses the liver.

    Carrots help reduce bile and fat storage in the liver. Prevent infection: Raw carrot or boiled are applied on cuts and wounds as an antiseptic. Did you know there are 100 species of carrots? Choose bright colour carrots, smooth ones and medium size carrots as these are fresh. Carrots also contain minerals and vitamins like thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate and manganese. Carrots are also a good source of fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium.

  • The Mystery and Secret of Narendra Modi

    The Mystery and Secret of Narendra Modi

    Ganesha points out that be it a safe deposit vault or a human being there is a master key to open it. What is the master key which will open the personality of Narendra Modi? I am now 83. For the first time I am revealing the inner workings of the horoscope. Narendra was born on September 17, 1950. Therefore, the degree of his Sun is 23 degrees, Western Astrology. This is fine tuning. The 23rd degree of Narendra shows “An animal trainer. Harnessing energies”. In other words he is born to crack the whip in the circus of politics. You can say in modern terms it is in his genes. I do not judge people. That’s not my job. My job is to find out what makes them tick and report it to the best of my ability. In other words, if Narendra whom I have met twice, can control politicians and organize successfully he will be a winner. Whether he will be the Prime Minister or not is a different issue. We all have warts and defects. I neither excuse nor accuse. My final comment is he is a good politician. By palmistry it is the absence of lines on his palm which makes Narendra unique. He has a strong mount of Jupiter. In the dice test, my secret research, tried out before on Morarji Desai and Vajpayee, Narendra threw the dice number 3 and 5. 3 means luck. 5 means intelligence. Therefore by this method Narendra = luck + intelligence. For the first time I am revealing how I actually predict. I am after all only mortal and I have enjoyed my innings thoroughly. I specialize in laughing at myself ! By the tarot card the number 17 is named “L’ETOILE”. A lady is pouring a pitcher of water. Above her are the stars. It shows nourishment. This also applies to Narendra. Therefore the basic quest of Narendra is to tame the politicians, organize efficiently and also nourish the poor and the weak. It is quite a poser. To me that is his real challenge. May Ganesha bless him. According to me and I may be wrong, the number 17 of the tarot card has a connection with our Aquarian Age. That’s a very big deal.

  • Justice Scalia and Judge Scheindlin – Friendships and Relatedness

    Justice Scalia and Judge Scheindlin – Friendships and Relatedness

    What Judge Scheindlin is being subjected in the public square is both excessive and manifestly unfair – not just to her and her well-earned reputation, but to all judges upon which our Republic relies upon to keep America exceptional”, says the author

    No matter which side one may be on the NYPD Stop-and-Frisk debate, given the 1976 New York De Bour standard requiring “reasonable suspicion” and the now-over Mayoral election between Bill de Blasio and Joe Lhota, we are all on the side of the Constitution. Most even feel that the Constitution is not a suicide pact; especially, after 9/11 when we need to defend public safety from enemies foreign and domestic. But when politics is at play, law becomes a target by shooting at the judge. Hence, politics and law make bad bed fellows. Most are also on the side of judicial economy being a predicate for the related-case procedure, as the Second Circuit panel exemplified, as well as to avoid venue, and judge, shopping by litigants – hence, 1406 corrective-motions and “related case” questions in Civil Cover Sheet and Request for Judicial Intervention. All honest litigants are against a judge who pre-judges a case or judges a case on something other than the merits, defined by admissible evidence. Judicial independence, a/k/a judicial impartiality, is the core engine of American Exceptionalism rooted in our separation of powers regime. We owe ourselves and our children’s children an impartial judiciary. So the all important Third Branch, lacking executive “police power” or legislative “purse power,” relies only upon societal respect to be able to deliver on its vital Constitutional role: to decide a dispute, even a Constitutional one, with finality.

    Judicial respect then is equal to the aggregate of all judicial reputations. Furthermore, a judge’s reputation cannot be divorced from a judge’s ability to continue to judge a pending or future case. I recall the lesson taught us all by Associate Justice Nino Scalia, when thrust into a presidential political barbeque over the famous vice president Dick Cheney’s Duck Hunting trip in January 2004, he took the unprecedented step of lawfully issuing a 21-page official Memorandum to defend his honor, impartiality and integrity. Even a judge has some First Amendment rights allowed by the Code of Judicial Conduct. In that Memorandum, Justice Scalia argued that if a duck hunting trip would be enough to swing his vote, “the nation is in deeper trouble than I had imagined.” Justice Scalia argued that throughout history, justices have been friends with highranking government officials and that then-recently other justices had socialized with Mr. Cheney at the vice president’s home during Christmas 2003 – and yet, no recusal was demanded or warranted. Indeed, I have often cited President F. D. Roosevelt’s act of playing cards with the Justices on Sundays, and The Court holding his New Deal laws unconstitutional on Mondays as proof that there can be a separation between social friendship and intellectual impartiality in persons of honor and integrity.

    Justice Scalia further argued, perhaps, based upon the rule of necessity, that “[A] rule that required members of this court to remove themselves from cases in which the official actions of friends were at issue would be utterly disabling.” So, it’s fair to say that our Republic has survived many “ducks,” be they French, Peking or American. But how the bench and bar deal with one’s own, can both inform the public square into disrespectful hyperventilation as well as chill the adversarial system into a supplicant roll-over process. A judge, any judge, like Justice Scalia, must be free to speak so long as it is not a comment on the pending case or its trajectory. Of course, a judge’s right to speak is most robust, perhaps, even without limit, when doing so “on the record” hearing a case. Yet, whenever electoral politics is near any case, judges are at a serious disadvantage to the political harpooning they are subjected to, lacking the ability of a Clintonian “Rapid Response.” The “spine” of Bar Associations has weakened and the “decibel” lowered, perhaps, due to being overworked or enhanced fear of standing tall. Either way, society’s durable and deliberative guides, the bench and bar, are not what they used to be. What Judge Scheindlin is being subjected in the public square is both excessive and manifestly unfair – not just to her and her well-earned reputation, but to all judges upon which our Republic relies upon to keep America exceptional. The bench and bar must act to re-calibrate the public discourse, before we hurt the judicial-baby in the bath water and devalue judicial respect for all.

  • SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    O Siblings of Destiny, you perform devotional worship indoors, but read the Islamic sacred texts, and adopt the Muslim way of life. Renounce your hypocrisy! Taking the Naam, the Name of the Lord, you shall swim across. || 1 || FIRST MEHL: The man-eaters say their prayers. Those who wield the knife wear the sacred thread around their necks. In their homes, the Brahmins sound the conch. They too have the same taste. False is their capital, and false is their trade. Speaking falsehood, they take their food. The home of modesty and Dharma is far from them. O Nanak, they are totally permeated with falsehood. The sacred marks are on their foreheads, and the saffron loin-cloths are around their waists; in their hands they hold the knives – they are the butchers of the world! Wearing blue robes, they seek the approval of the Muslim rulers.

    Accepting bread from the Muslim rulers, they still worship the Puraanas. They eat the meat of the goats, killed after the Muslim prayers are read over them, but they do not allow anyone else to enter their kitchen areas. They draw lines around them, plastering the ground with cowdung. The false come and sit within them. They cry out, “Do not touch our food, or it will be polluted!” But with their polluted bodies, they commit evil deeds.With filthy minds, they try to cleanse their mouths. Says Nanak, meditate on the True Lord. If you are pure, you will obtain the True Lord. || 2 || PAUREE: All are within Your mind; You see and move them under Your Glance of Grace, O Lord. You Yourself grant them glory, and You Yourself cause them to act.

    The Lord is the greatest of the great; great is His world. He enjoins all to their tasks. If he should cast an angry glance, He can transform kings into blades of grass. Even though they may beg from door to door, no one will give them charity. || 16 || SHALOK, FIRST MEHL: The thief robs a house, and offers the stolen goods to his ancestors. In the world hereafter, this is recognized, and his ancestors are considered thieves as well. The hands of the go-between are cut off; this is the Lord’s justice. O Nanak, in the world hereafter, that alone is received, which one gives to the needy from his own earnings and labor.

    || 1 || FIRST MEHL: As a woman has her periods, month after month, so does falsehood dwell in the mouth of the false; they suffer forever, again and again. They are not called pure, who sit down after merely washing their bodies. Only they are pure, O Nanak, within whose minds the Lord abides.
    || 2 || PAUREE: With saddled horses, as fast as the wind, and harems decorated in every way; in houses and pavilions and lofty mansions, they dwell, making ostentatious shows. They act out their minds’ desires, but they do not understand the Lord, and so they are ruined. Asserting their authority, they eat, and beholding their mansions, they forget about death. But old age comes, and youth is lost.
    || 17 || SHALOK, FIRST MEHL: If one accepts the concept of impurity, then there is impurity everywhere. In cow-dung and wood there are worms. As many as are the grains of corn, none is without life. First, there is life in the water, by which everything else is made green. How can it be protected from impurity? It touches our own kitchen. O Nanak, impurity cannot be removed in this way; it is washed away only by spiritual wisdom.

    || 1 || FIRST MEHL: The impurity of the mind is greed, and the impurity of the tongue is falsehood. The impurity of the eyes is to gaze upon the beauty of another man’s wife, and his wealth. The impurity of the ears is to listen to the slander of others. O Nanak, the mortal’s soul goes, bound and gagged to the city of Death.
    || 2 || FIRST MEHL: All impurity comes from doubt and attachment to duality. Birth and death are subject to the Command of the Lord’s Will; through His Will we come and go. Eating and drinking are pure, since the Lord gives nourishment to all. O Nanak, the Gurmukhs, who understand the Lord, are not stained by impurity.
    || 3 || PAUREE: Praise the Great True Guru; within Him is the greatest greatness.When the Lord causes us to meet the Guru, then we come to see them. When it pleases Him, they come to dwell in our minds. By His Command, when He places His hand on our foreheads, wickedness departs from within. When the Lord is thoroughly pleased, the nine treasures are obtained.

    || 18 || SHALOK, FIRST MEHL: First, purifying himself, the Brahmin comes and sits in his purified enclosure. The pure foods, which no one else has touched, are placed before him. Being purified, he takes his food, and begins to read his sacred verses. But it is then thrown into a filthy place – whose fault is this? The corn is sacred, the water is sacred; the fire and salt are sacred as well; when the fifth thing, the ghee, is added, then the food becomes pure and sanctified. Coming into contact with the sinful human body, the food becomes so impure that is is spat upon.

    That mouth which does not chant the Naam, and without the Name eats tasty foods – O Nanak, know this: such a mouth is to be spat upon. || 1 || FIRST MEHL: From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman. That mouth which praises the Lord continually is blessed and beautiful. O Nanak, those faces shall be radiant in the Court of the True Lord. || 2 || PAUREE: All call You their own, Lord; one who does not own You, is picked up and thrown away. Everyone receives the rewards of his own actions; his account is adjusted accordingly. Since one is not destined to remain in this world anyway, why should he ruin himself in pride? Do not call anyone bad; read these words, and understand. Don’t argue with fools.

    || 19 || SHALOK, FIRST MEHL: O Nanak, speaking insipid words, the body and mind become insipid. He is called the most insipid of the insipid; the most insipid of the insipid is his reputation. The insipid person is discarded in the Court of the Lord, and the insipid one’s face is spat upon. The insipid one is called a fool; he is beaten with shoes in punishment. || 1 || FIRST MEHL: Those who are false within, and honorable on the outside, are very common in this world. Even though they may bathe at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, still, their filth does not depart. Those who have silk on the inside and rags on the outside, are the good ones in this world.

    They embrace love for the Lord, and contemplate beholding Him. In the Lord’s Love, they laugh, and in the Lord’s Love, they weep, and also keep silent. They do not care for anything else, except their True Husband Lord. Sitting, waiting at the Lord’s Door, they beg for food, and when He gives to them, they eat. There is only One Court of the Lord, and He has only one pen; there, you and I shall meet. In the Court of the Lord, the accounts are examined; O Nanak, the sinners are crushed, like oil seeds in the press. || 2 || PAUREE: You Yourself created the creation; You Yourself infused Your power into it. You behold Your creation, like the losing and winning dice of the earth. Whoever has come, shall depart; all shall have their turn. He who owns our soul, and our very breath of life – why should we forget that Lord and Master from our minds? With our own hands, let us resolve our own affairs.

    || 20 || SHALOK, SECOND MEHL: What sort of love is this, which clings to duality? O Nanak, he alone is called a lover, who remains forever immersed in absorption. But one who feels good only when good is done for him, and feels bad when things go badly – do not call him a lover. He trades only for his own account. || 1 || SECOND MEHL: One who offers both respectful greetings and rude refusal to his master, has gone wrong from the very beginning. O Nanak, both of his actions are false; he obtains no place in the Court of the Lord. || 2 || PAUREE: Serving Him, peace is obtained; meditate and dwell upon that Lord and Master forever. Why do you do such evil deeds, that you shall have to suffer so? Do not do any evil at all; look ahead to the future with foresight. So throw the dice in such a way, that you shall not lose with your Lord and Master. Do those deeds which shall bring you profit.

    || 21 || SHALOK, SECOND MEHL: If a servant performs service, while being vain and argumentative, he may talk as much as he wants, but he shall not be pleasing to his Master. But if he eliminates his self-conceit and then performs service, he shall be honored. O Nanak, if he merges with the one with whom he is attached, his attachment becomes acceptable. || 1 || SECOND MEHL: Whatever is in the mind, comes forth; spoken words by themselves are just wind. He sows seeds of poison, and demands Ambrosial Nectar. Behold – what justice is this? || 2 || SECOND MEHL: Friendship with a fool never works out right. As he knows, he acts; behold, and see that it is so. One thing can be absorbed into another thing, but duality keeps them apart. No one can issue commands to the Lord Master; offer instead humble prayers. Practicing falsehood, only falsehood is obtained. O Nanak, through the Lord’s Praise, one blossoms forth.

    || 3 || SECOND MEHL: Friendship with a fool, and love with a pompous person, are like lines drawn in water, leaving no trace or mark. || 4 || SECOND MEHL: If a fool does a job, he cannot do it right. Even if he does something right, he does the next thing wrong. || 5 || PAUREE: If a servant, performing service, obeys the Will of his Master, his honor increases, and he receives double his wages. But if he claims to be equal to his Master, he earns his Master’s displeasure. He loses his entire salary, and is also beaten on his face with shoes. Let us all celebrate Him, from whom we receive our nourishment. O Nanak, no one can issue commands to the Lord Master; let us offer prayers instead. || 22 || SHALOK, SECOND MEHL: What sort of gift is this, which we receive only by our own asking? O Nanak, that is the most wonderful gift, which is received from the Lord, when He is totally pleased.

    || 1 || SECOND MEHL: What sort of service is this, by which the fear of the Lord Master does not depart? O Nanak, he alone is called a servant, who merges with the Lord Master. || 2 || PAUREE: O Nanak, the Lord’s limits cannot be known; He has no end or limitation. He Himself creates, and then He Himself destroys. Some have chains around their necks, while some ride on many horses. He Himself acts, and He Himself causes us to act.

  • Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio – A Champion of the American Dream

    Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio – A Champion of the American Dream

    ATale of Two Cities” was a Great Uniter of anger and despair, and promised change one could believe in. BdB’s real-life family vouched for Bill’s sincerity, as only a person who doesn’t look down on minorities can. If Barack Obama is a white man in black skin, Bill may be a black man in white skin. Each of them refuses to discriminate and love merit. Comprehend what that means: BdB is a sincere politician, with a 75% vote-mandate. Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio is going to shock those who stand in opposition to his people’s mandate. No politician who has been elected with less than 75% of the vote ought to take Mayor de Blasio “on.” To do so would be to activate the defacto rainbow coalition of active BdBvoters to vote against the BdBOpposer in 2014. Political poison not many will want to drink. Even those with corruption in their soul, will need to be straight and lawful. Bill de Blasio is amazing, perhaps, even more so as time passes – for it will begin to sink in that he did not change his campaign from beginning to end – the message he started with is the one he ended with – and won 75% of the vote! That message of a “Tale of Two Cities” united so many New Yorkers who found a true champion in BdB: as too many Americans have been left behind.

    As Mayor BdB, he will not let them down – because politics as usual won’t dare get in BdB’s way – and his army of activated and unified angry voters will punish any politician who gets in their Mayor’s way. Crime is low, so a new police commissioner will come in. Stop and Frisk, as it is, will end. Judge Scheindlin’s reputation will be rebuilt. Labor will work with Mayor BdB, a man quick on his feet as in his mind, and who will play his budget cards “face up.” Albany has a new 800 pound giant in BdB. No politician in Albany can dream of a 75% voter-victory. So, BdB’s political honeymoon will last longer than most marriages. The people won on November 5th, 2013 by electing Bill de Blasio as their champion to be Mayor – and shockingly, Mayor BdB will not let them down – as he promised them his best, even if it takes time to build a new New York – a city for all New Yorkers. Wait until Mayor BdB uses Gracie Mansion to host New Yorkers who didn’t think they could afford to live in New York anymore. John Lennon, if alive, would say: Imagine – the poor, the lost, the near-beaten will grace the lawn of Gracie Mansion and proudly proclaim: This is My City too! With the American Dream in the ICU of history after trillions of dollars were given to Wall Street, Main Street has a new champion – Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio – to revive the American Dream for all on Main Street. Bill, like Charles Dickens, is a natural champion of the poor.

    It is fitting to recall how “A Tale of Two Cities” started: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…” It might as well have been Election 2013 in New York City. To honor Bill, I paraphrase Sydney Carton for him: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better place that we will go to than any have ever known.” I am proud to have spoken with certainty to so many, from political leaders to community fundraisers, for almost 3 years that Bill de Blasio was a good man – “of, by and for” the people-type – and he will be Mayor. My wife, Ranju, a great fan of Bill’s and of the same view, supported his candidacy and campaign, including, by spending time and sincere effort as a dedicated volunteer to secure him votes, even from folks who didn’t want to vote. Now, he is Mayor-elect of the Greatest City in the world. A time of pride and joy for all Americans – the American Dream has a new champion and the rip-off artists better get out of Dodge.

  • CADBURY LOSES BATTLE WITH ITC OVER CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS

    CADBURY LOSES BATTLE WITH ITC OVER CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS

    CHENNAI (TIP):
    After Kellogg’s and Bata, it is now the turn of Cadbury to lose a trademark for non-use, ‘eclairs’ in this case, leaving experts intrigued as to why the chocolate maker couldn’t come up with enough evidence of its use when asked in a court. The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB), India’s patent appeals board, recently ordered the removal of three trademarks of Cadbury Eclairs, following a case initiated by rival ITC. The dispute itself is a decade old. It started when ITC started marketing eclairs confectionery along with its ‘Candyman’ trademark, something that Cadbury got an injunction against. Eventually, ITC moved IPAB, making a case that the trademark hasn’t been used since 1994.

    Cadbury, in defence, said the Cadbury’s Chocolate Eclairs was registered as a trademark in India as early as 1974, and that it has been continuously used since. They also have trademarks for Cadbury Chocolate Eclairs and Chocolate Eclairs Pop. But the IPAB judgement, delivered by V Ravi and S Usha, said there isn’t “a single evidence” to prove it. “Just the registration alone will not help the respondents to prove their use,” the judgement went. Further, it said, “The board in various matters on the issue of non-user has held that if the respondent does not appear to rebut the ground of non-user, it goes without saying that they have not used the mark even after several years of registration and the mark shall be cancelled for non-user.

    ” T Prashant Reddy, an intellectual property lawyer, said, “It is not clear as to why Cadbury failed to file such evidence, especially since it had been maintaining some of these trademarks for more than 40 years.” A spokesperson for Cadbury downplayed the development. She said, “The label mark for Cadbury Eclairs, which formed the subject matter of the litigation, has not been used by Cadbury for many years and hence we do not plan to take this matter further. We continue to retain other trademark rights in the Cadbury Dairy Milk Eclairs brand, and the IPAB’s decision, if any, has no bearing on those trademark rights.

    ” Reddy said it would be “interesting” to see the implications of this on royalty payment from the Indian subsidiary to the UK parent for the right to use these trademarks, given that “several MNCs like HUL have been increasing the royalties payable by their Indian subsidiaries for the use of the parent company’s intellectual property.” What this episode highlights is that non-use is becoming a major reason, of late, for brands losing trademarks. Kellogg’s got its trademark POPS removed last year in a case against Chennai-based Pops Food Products, which makes chewing gums and dairy products. Bata lost its Sparx trademark in a case against Relaxo Footwears early this year.

  • LOANS DEARER AS SBI, HDFC BANK HIKE RATES

    LOANS DEARER AS SBI, HDFC BANK HIKE RATES

    MUMBAI (TIP):
    Home and auto loans are set to get more expensive with State Bank of India and HDFC Bank raising their benchmark rates by 20 basis points on Wednesday. Both the banks raised their base rate to 10% from 9.8%. Following the increase, home loans from SBI will attract 10.3% interest for borrowings up to Rs 30 lakh and 10.5% for loans above Rs 30 lakh. Typically, a 20 basis point hike results in the monthly EMI on a Rs 30 lakh loan going up by Rs 368. SBI’s auto loans are also benchmarked to their base rate and will now attract 10.75% interest. SBI shares fell Rs 63 to Rs 1,810 following the announcement. The country’s largest home finance company, HDFC, offers home loans at 10.4% for amounts up to Rs 30 lakh and 10.65% for loans above that. However, as part of a festive offer, HDFC is giving loans at 10.25% for borrowings up to Rs 30 lakh and 10.5% for loans above the sum until November 15.

    HDFC vice chairman and CEO Keki Mistry said the company did not have any immediate plan to raise its lending rates. Other private lenders like Axis Bank and ICICI Bank also said they were not immediately revising their base rate. Though there will be an increase in outgo for new borrowers of SBI, for existing borrowers there will be no increase in the EMI as the tenure of the loan will be extended. Bankers say for borrowers with longterm loans, the overall impact will be offset by drop in lending rates as interest rates tend to move in cycles, rising and falling every two years. Meanwhile, the bond markets appear to be preparing for another hike in the repo rate before the year end. On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year government bond rose to 8.82% from 8.74% earlier.

    The increase in lending rates come on the back of a 25 basis point increase in repo rate by Reserve Bank of India in its monetary policy review on October 29. RBI governor Raghuram Rajan had indicated that inflation, as measured by the wholesale price index, is expected to remain higher than current levels through most of the remaining part of the year, warranting an appropriate policy response. “With inflation risks still tilted to the upside, the RBI has to keep its inflation guards up and stand ready, if needed, to raise rates further to bring inflation under control,” Lief Eskesen, HSBC’s chief economist for India and ASEAN, said following the policy announcement.

  • Mangano is a lesson in Governance

    Mangano is a lesson in Governance

    Local elections, whether in India or in the US, remain very much localized. The issues that may attract the attention of voters at the national level or at a level higher than the municipality are not the ones to occupy the mind of voters when it comes to voting for a Mayor or an Executive of a County. This fact is quite clear from the recently concluded elections to Nassau County and New York City. In the local elections, party affiliations do not matter much. Had it been so, Nassau County would have a Democrat in position as Executive, for the number of registered Democratic voters in the County is much higher than the number of registered Republican voters. Again, the voter turn out has clearly established that Democrats did not come out in full strength to vote whereas the Republicans voted in strength. The lack of interest among Democratic voters can only be attributed to their being satisfied with the policies of Ed Mangano. What the voters in local elections look at is how comfortable they are made to feel. And Mangano who did not raise taxes and promised not to raise taxes, was more acceptable than the Democrat Tom Suozzi to a considerably large section of Democrats also.

    It is not surprising then that the more acceptable candidate won, regardless of what party he is affiliated with and what party the voter is affiliated with. And Magano not only retained his own position, he has been responsible for the victory of his Comptroller George Maragos, too. Such has been his goodwill that anybody riding with him would have been in heavens. In the neighboring New York City, the common man felt there was a better person in Bill de Blasio to look after their interests. He was happy with Bloomberg. But he could not trust a Joe Lhota. So, here you have a Democrat being elected New York City Mayor after two decades, even though New York has almost 6 Democrats to 1 Republican, and going by this number, all mayors should have been Democrats. But no. It is not the numbers of a party, but the local considerations that prompt the mind of a voter in a local election, like the one we had in Nassau County and in New York City. We wish all winners all the success.

  • Global economic growth hits 32-month high in October: Survey

    Global economic growth hits 32-month high in October: Survey

    LONDON (TIP): Global economic growth accelerated in October to a 32-month high, bolstered by a solid improvement in new business, a survey showed. JPMorgan’s Global All-Industry Output index, produced with Markit, rose to 55.5 in October from September’s 53.6, comfortably above the 50 threshold for growth and its highest reading since February 2011. “The global economy has started the final quarter on a positive footing. All-industry output accelerated October, indicating that global GDP is on track to post a decent outcome in Q4,” said David Hensley, a director at JPMorgan.

    “The broad-base of the upturn across manufacturing output and services activity is encouraging.” A global services PMI bounced to 56.4 in October from September’s 53.7. Data on Monday showed global manufacturing activity increased at its fastest pace in over two years. Global employment rose for the 13th month in a row in October, with the rate of increase hitting a 32-month high. The euro zone’s economic recovery lost a little momentum last month, according to earlier PMIs that showed only modest growth in German and French businesses. Data from non-euro zone Britain impressed again, while Chinese and US service-sector business activity picked up.

  • Samsung promises bendable smartphones by next year

    Samsung promises bendable smartphones by next year

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Last month, Samsung took the lead in bringing out the world’s first smartphone with curved screen. Though the device failed to excite the technology community, the company has more display technologies in the offing that promise to revolutionize the industry. At the Samsung Analyst Day, the company’s vice chairman and CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon revealed its roadmap for the coming years and the technologies it aims to incorporate in upcoming gadgets.

    The two most notable technologies that the company talked about at the event are bendable and foldable displays. One of the slides, given below, details that the company will launch smartphones with bendable screens as early as next year, while devices with foldable displays are scheduled for 2016-17. Though Samsung has not detailed the technologies involved or which gadgets they would debut with, it has already given a glimpse. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January this year, the company showcased the bendable Youm display. Unlike the curved screen of Galaxy Round smartphone, this prototype screen technology could be bent at any angle. Samsung Galaxy S5, expected to be launched early next year, is one of the likeliest contenders to get this screen technology.

  • IPCNA demonstrated how we can think and act ‘outside the box’

    IPCNA demonstrated how we can think and act ‘outside the box’

    SOMERSET, NJ (TIP): On November 1st of 2013, the Kerala Piravi day, the Malayali Pravasis of USA witnessed the grant inauguration of the three day National conference of IPCNA [India Press Club of North America]. All Malayali media activists of North America assembled in Holiday Inn of Somerset, New Jersey to have self evaluation and education on modern trends in journalism with the help of stalwarts from India and the future promises of young media professionals in USA and in India. Very informative and educative sessions were very useful and enjoyable not only for the media activists and community activists but for their families too. The large hearted sponsors of the conference events made it totally free for all. It was definitely a big loss for many who missed the conference. The organizers of the conference, especially the President Mathew Varghese, General Secretary Madhu Kottarakara, VP Joby George, Treasurer Sunil Thymatom and Joint Treasurer George Chirayil deserve special appreciation for the excellent and exemplarary way the conference was conducted. They demonstrated to the public how a public function must be conducted by avoiding long speeches of many self imposed, photo opportunity ‘ leaders’ who still fail to understand the public feeling of their boring and useless show offs in the community.

    This national conference was very different from any other national level conferences of Pravasi organizations in USA that carefully avoided all ministers from Kerala/India. By bringing from India the dare devils in media industry like Jose Panachipuram of Manorama, Gopi Krishna of Pioneer paper of Delhi, Vinu of Asianet, Sreekandan Nair of visual media and the young political leaders with excellent track record such as KN Balagopal MP, VC Satheesan, MLA and VT Balaram MLA, the IPCNA has declared to the whole world that the young generation will only identify themselves with and listen to only such voices for their future in India and abroad. ‘Let those who have eyes see and those who have ears listen’ to this message. While appreciating the young media and political leaders from India , the audience representing millions of Pravasis voiced their concern on the indifference of political and bureaucratic leaders of India towards their issues. They requested the Parliament members to take up the issues like OCI card, Passport renunciation and Pravasi property protection in the parliament and the media leadership investigate into the day by day deteriorating public relation of India missions abroad leading to repulsion of investments in India.

    Another bold step taken by the organizers of the conference is their determination to keep away the faith based ‘leaders’ and their neo community leaders who use religious platform for popularity. Some of such ‘leaders’ are entering the ‘journalism’ field by introducing different media with the help of religions and faith orientation. Professional media people should guard the public from such foxes with sheep skin working in the community and disintegrating the community. IPCNA is the silver line in the cloud of all negative and destructive tendencies on the air by many media and community organizations. Its leadership has taken bold and correct steps to keep their association as a model for all community/religious/political organizations. Let Almighty God lead the team of IPCNA with wisdom and spirit of unity and team work to instill that moral standard in our community activists for giving positive and beneficial activities for our people. As I write this, our motherland’s Mars exploration rocket was launched very successfully even dismaying all advanced countries. A VERY BIG LEAP FOR OUR MOTHER INDIA!! Every Indian and people of India origin can be proud of this achievement of their brothers and sisters in India who demonstrated their excellence in different fields that led to this achievement.

  • Commissioner quits NY ethics board

    Commissioner quits NY ethics board

    ALBANY, NY (TIP): Another commissioner has quit New York’s ethics board after it hired an executive director with ties to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to a legislative official, says The Associated Press. In July 2012, Commissioner Ravi Batra resigned, he said, partly because the secretive commission lacked independence from Cuomo. On Tuesday, October 29, law professor and ethicist Ellen Yaroshefsky resigned from the 14-member Joint Commission on Public Ethics, according to the official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because that person wasn’t authorized to announce the decision. Yaroshefsky, a professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City, provided no reason for her resignation. Word of her decision came as a surprise after an unusual session of the ethics board, which has long been criticized by good-government advocates for its secrecy. In the brief public part of Tuesday’s meeting, Yaroshefsky proposed what she called an independent search for an executive director. Other commissioners then moved the discussion behind closed doors. Neither Yaroshefsky nor commission spokesman John Milgrim immediately responded to requests for comment. “I’m saddened to hear of Commissioner Yaroshefsky’s departure,” Batra said in an interview Tuesday.

    “Her service was of one who cherished her independence.” Batra had been appointed by the Senate Democratic conference. Commissioner Patrick Bulgaro, an appointee of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver resigned in July, without comment. Yaroshefsky also was a Silver appointee. In April, the commission issued a report critical of Silver, a Democrat, for arranging a secret $103,000 settlement of sexual harassment accusations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez. The commission never accused Silver of wrongdoing. Lopez has denied sexually harassing anyone. The Legislative Ethics Commission levied a $330,000 fine against Lopez, based on an accusation that he groped, intimidated and manipulated young women staffers. Yaroshefsky’s resignation comes as the anti-corruption Moreland Commission, appointed by Cuomo in July, is being criticized for its focus on the Legislature, rather than his own office or other statewide officials. Last week, Cuomo defended the commission, citing the rash of corruption scandals that have touched more than 30 lawmakers over the last seven years, including several arrests this year. “With the Moreland Commission existing in the same space as JCOPE, ethics, not corruption, is in the crossfire,” Batra said.

  • Sikhs in Thousands Attend ‘Justice Rally’ in Geneva

    Sikhs in Thousands Attend ‘Justice Rally’ in Geneva

    ‘Sikh Genocide Petition’ Submitted to UN

    GENEVA (TIP): The Justice Rally held in front of the UN office in Geneva was attended by thousands of Sikhs from across Europe, the US and Canada. The rally was organized by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) Movement Against Atrocities and Repressions (MAR) with the support of Gurudwara management committees from across Europe. November 01 rally before UN was one of the biggest rallies ever held before UN in Geneva. SFJ coordinators Avtar Singh Pannun of New York and Sukhwinder Singh Thana worked tirelessly past several weeks to organize the rally and toured the UK and Europe to gather support from the local Sikh community. Doctor Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, SFJ Coordinator also traveled to Geneva to attend the rally. According to SFJ coordinators, the rally before UN woke the world community that organized killing of Sikhs during November 1984 was Genocide and not riots. A delegation comprising of representatives of SFJ, MAR, AISSF and European gurudwaras personally filed the “Sikh Genocide Petition” in the United Nations Human Rights Council. The delegation included SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ Coordinator Avtar Singh Pannun, Harminder Singh Khalsa of MAR, Doctor Karj Singh Dharamsinghwala of AISSF, Jatinder Singh Grewal of SFJ and Jasbir Singh Delhi.


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    SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and SFJ Coordinator Avtar Singh Pannun display the petition submitted to UN Office in Geneva

    Jasbir Singh Delhi a resident of California, who is main witness against Congress leader Tytler also traveled across Europe to gather community support for the Genocide petition and rally before UN. According to Jasbir Singh Delhi, the victims of November 1984 have approached United Nations for justice because all the attempts to obtain justice in India have failed and organizers of November 1984 are rewarded by India instead of being prosecuted. Addressing the rally, SFJ Coordinator, Avtar Singh Pannun stated that for past 29 years Sikh community has been demanding justice for India’s crimes of November 1984. Now we have approached the UN and global community for recognition of November 1984 Sikh Genocide. According to Sukhwinder Singh Thana, SFJ Coordinator, Sikh community have come together in demanding justice and UN intervention on the issue of November 1984 Sikh Genocide. Doctor Bakhshish Singh Sandhu of SFJ stated that filing petition before the UN on the issue of November 1984 is just the first step in seeking justice and recognition for Sikh Genocide. With the help and support of Sikh community worldwide, we will have to take the matter to all international forums. Tejinder Kaur from Surrey, Canada, traveled all the way to Geneva for submission of the petition and to participate in the rally. She also addressed the rally, saying: “I was just 13 years old when this massacre took place and daughter of a senior Indian government official. That was the moment in my life, to discover my identity as a Sikh.” SFJ legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who had been touring various European countries for the last few weeks, claimed that this signature campaign has once again focused the Sikh Diaspora on the issue of demanding justice for the victims of the November 1984 killings.

  • Haryana CM Inaugurates INOC (I) Haryana Chapter

    Haryana CM Inaugurates INOC (I) Haryana Chapter

    NEWYORK (TIP): In an impressive ceremony at the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee office in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister of Haryana Ch. Bhupinder Singh Hooda inaugurated the Haryana Chapter of Indian National Overseas Congress (I) The event was hosted by ChPhool Chand Mullana, President Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee to welcome the INOC (I) USA delegation led by its President ShudhParkash Singh. The Chairman of NRI Cell of HPCC BudhParkash Singh welcomed the Chief Minister and the delegates from USA. In his opening address, Phool Chand Mullana spoke in detail about the importance of the contribution of the NRI’s. He congratulated the newly appointed Chapter President, Sher Singh Madra and assured him of HPCC’s total support. ShudhParkash Singh spoke about the work being done by Indian National Overseas Congress (I). He said Indians living abroad felt proud of the State of Haryana. “We believe the present Chief Minister is doing an outstanding job”, he said.

    He thanked the CM for bringing the crime rate down and making Haryana a truly progressive State. He underscored the need to have greater FDI in India. As part of those efforts, as President of the INOC (I) he had asked skilled and able men, such as Madra, to join the INOC Overseas. Madra has the experience of being a banker for over 40 years and as a former Global Banking Head of Citigroup, he is more than able to help in that effort. Additionally, as the President of the NargisDutt Memorial Cancer Foundation he has been involved for many years in helping to fight cancer in India. Sher Singh Madra thanked ShudhParkash Singh for his appointment. He said it is a dream come true for him to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister himself in the presence of the state party President. Hooda appreciated the role of NRI’S for building India. He said new schemes will be implemented soon to facilitate the investments and charity work conducted by NRI’S. He lauded the hard work and dedication of ShudhParkash Singh and his team, the delegation of the INOC (I) that included Kanwal Sra, Ravi Chopra, Mohan Wanchoo and Edward Troy.

  • BULLETT RAJA to Open in US before India

    BULLETT RAJA to Open in US before India

    NEW YORK (TIP): Bollywood fans in America will now get to see the muchtalked- about new film BULLETT RAJA starring Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha before audiences in India will. Directed by National Award winner Tigmanshu Dhulia, the Fox Star Studios film will release a day early in the U.S. on Thursday, November 28, on Thanksgiving Day. BULLETT RAJA’s release date in India, Canada, and other countries remains Friday, November 29. This explosive new entertainer also stars Vidyut Jamwal, Jimmy Shergill, Gulshan Grover, and Raj Babbar. Bullett Raja is the story of a common man, Raja Mishra, who transforms into a dreaded gangster of the Hindi heartland. A victim of the system and chained by it, Raja’s life changes as he takes on those that rule and shakes the very foundations of the nexus of the police, the government, and the industrialists. As he rises and revolts against the system becoming an outlaw, Bullett sets ablaze the nexus and changes the landscape forever. The powers that be, fight back in a compelling struggle for power and money against the backdrop of personal ambitions, greed and revenge. Redefining love, friendship and loyalty, Bullet Raja creates a world, where a common man, tests his endurance and fortitude against the very system he once obediently followed and then declared a war on it! Directed by National Award winner, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Bullett Raja toplines leading Indian stars- Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha.

  • INDIA MAKE 453, SIX FOR SHILLINGFORD

    INDIA MAKE 453, SIX FOR SHILLINGFORD

    KOLKATA (TIP): West Indies finally dismissed India but not before Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin stretched the lead past 200 on the third morning. Their seventh-wicket partnership of 280 was the highest for their country, and the third biggest ever. Shane Shillingford claimed six wickets for his labours over 55 overs, his five-for coming when he bowled Ashwin for 124. The overnight pair of Rohit and Ashwin was in absolute control against a flat West Indies attack, having already added 82 runs in 21 overs. Rohit looked on course to become the sixth man to make a doublecentury on Test debut, but was halted by umpire Richard Kettleborough, who gave him out padding up to Veerasammy Permaul’s first delivery of the day. Replays suggested the ball would have missed off stump.

    West Indies had gone almost 82 overs without a wicket. They now got four in less than seven. Two balls after having Ashwin dropped by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, Shillingford did it all by himself, when the batsman missed a big sweep. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami fell soon to the spinners, and an early lunch was taken at Eden Gardens. West Indies won’t mind the breather at all, having already spent 102 overs on the field before the day began. They seemed set to stand under the sun into the second session the way Rohit and Ashwin were going. Ashwin squeezed Tino Best’s first ball over point for four, and reached his second Test century in the fourth over of the day. Rohit carried on smoothly from last evening, punishing width with several boundaries off the back foot. Again, both batsmen were sure in defence, trusting their crease and getting forward only when the ball was quite full.

    There was reverse swing even with a 16- overs old ball, but Best wasn’t able to control it, spraying deliveries down the leg side. Darren Sammy continued to overbowl Shillingford, who got many deliveries to rear up. Not that his second spinner Permaul had earned the captain’s confidence, but he was brought on well into the second hour. Sammy finally gave Marlon Samuels a bowl before Permaul, but even that came after 115 overs were up. Samuels immediately produced uneven bounce, getting some to shoot through at shin height while some reared up. He will now have to produce another spirited batting effort if West Indies are to set India a reasonably challenging target.

  • DR. TINNA RUNS HIS 22ND MARATHON

    DR. TINNA RUNS HIS 22ND MARATHON

    NEW YORK (TIP): Dr. Avtar Singh Tinna, a dentist by profession, has added yet another Marathon to his long career in running Marathons. On Sunday, November 3rd, 2013, he ran his 22nd NYC Marathon. Since 1991, Dr. Tinna has been a regular in the 26.2-mile New York City Marathon-running with his club -Sikhs of America. Donning their signature Tshirts labeled “Proud to be a Sikh” the teammates run with their saffron (kesri) turbans, attracting an enormous crowd of spectators as they trek through the city’s five boroughs. This year, in fact, a staggering 2 million spectators watched the event along on the city’s streets and more than 315 million via international live broadcast. A new addition this year to Dr. Tinna’s loud pageantry was the fact that he ran the entire race while carrying a Nishan Sahib, the sacred flag of the Sikhs. He ran this year alongside his two friends (and strong patrons of the community) Satnam Singh Parhar and Dr. Ashok K. Dogra. Dr. Tinna, a dentist by profession, maintains a practice in Queens, New York City.

    He was born in Punjab, India in the village of Seh Jhangi, Jalandhar. Having studied at DAV College in Jalandhar and graduating from Punjab Government Dental College and Hospital in Amritsar, Dr. Tinna moved to New York in 1980 where he lives with his wife and four children. Famed marathoner Fauja Singh, a 102- year old Sikh from the United Kingdom captured the attention of the Guinness Book of World Records. As it so happened, Dr. Tinna himself personally drew crowds this week-many runners and supporters frantically cheering “Fauja Singh! Fauja Singh!” as he made his trek. Nevertheless, Dr. Tinna and Fauja Singh do share some history: in 2003, Sikhs in America invited Fauja Singh to run the NYC Marathon. This proved to be a pivotal moment for Fauja Singh, earning him the world’s admiration in this prestigious event. Since the 2003 Marathon, the two have maintained an appreciable personal and professional correspondence. According to Dr. Tinna, he runs for Sikh identity.

    Championing for years a place for the Sikhs in an increasingly globalized society, Dr. Tinna encourages young Sikhs to take up the cause and run. Dr. Tinna trained Satnam Singh Parhar and Dr. Ashok Dogra both in their sixties who ran for the first time and completed the Marathon quite comfortably. If anyone is interested in participating in next year’ s Marathon please feel free to contact Dr. Tinna at 718-291-1200. It was heartening to find that many Indian ran the Marathon this year. Besides Satnam Singh Parhar and Dr. Ashok Dogra, others who ran included Mandeep Singh Sobti, Piara Singh, Lakhvir Singh and Hamesh Singh, all of the Sikhs. Is it an impact of Bhaag, Milkha, Bhaag? Marathon 2013 had 50,304 runners participating. It was the 43rd NYC Marathon. Last year there was no Marathon because of the Superstorm Sandy. The Marathon this time had a tighter security in view of an earlier terrorist attack in Boston in the month of April. Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya was the first male to finish in 2:08:24 and the female to finish first was Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya who finished in 2:25:07.

  • Actor – Politician Shatrughan Sinha attends PMI Diwali Celebrations

    Actor – Politician Shatrughan Sinha attends PMI Diwali Celebrations

    NEWYORK, NY (TIP): The Permanent Mission of India in New York celebrated Diwali on Tuesday, November 5, with esteemed guests and celebrities. Several senior UN officials and ambassadors attended the event. Honorable Peter Thomson, Ambassador of Fiji to the UN, Honorable Rodney Charles, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN, Honorable Milan Jaya NyamrajsinghMeetarbhan, Ambassador of Mauritius to the UN were some of the honored guests present at the celebrations.


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    Mrs. Namrata Puri, wife of DPR Manjeev S. Puri (left of the statue) is joined by women officials and spouses of PMI staff

    Bollywood Actor Shatrughan Sinha, father of lead actress Sonakshi Sinha made a brief appearance at the event. He extended his warm greetings to the Indian American community. “I am extremely honored to be here with the Permanent Mission to celebrate this auspicious day and I would like to wish the Indian American community a very happy and prosperous Diwali,” said Mr. Sinha. Indian Ambassador to the UN, Honorable Asoke Kumar Mukerji was away on urgent business to India. Deputy Permanent Representative Manjeev Singh Puri stood in as host and exuberantly took part in the festivities. On behalf of the Permanent Representative Mr. Mukerji and the Permanent Mission of India at the UN, Honorable Manjeev Singh Puri wished every one present at the event and the Indian community a very prosperous Diwali.

  • I KNEW THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN THE RUNS WILL FLOW: ROHIT

    I KNEW THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN THE RUNS WILL FLOW: ROHIT

    KOLKATA (TIP): In less than a week, Rohit Sharma has joined most of India’s batting elite. In Bangalore, he said hello to Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in the ODI double-century club, hitting 16 sixes in the innings. Five days later, in Kolkata, he took 165 deliveries before he even lofted the ball in the air, and joined Sourav Ganguly, Sehwag, Gundappa Vishwanath, Mohammad Azharuddin and recently Shikhar Dhawan as those with a century on Test debut. What makes this innings really special is that he has been yearning for the chance in Tests for a few years now, coming close – he was once listed to play in 2010 but injured himself moments before the toss – but not getting to put that white India shirt on.

    However, he couldn’t say what satisfied him more: the Bangalore double or this century on debut when India were struggling at 82 for 4 in response to West Indies’ 234. “I cannot really say,” Rohit said. “That was a 200, really special. And this is even more special because it’s a Test hundred on debut. See, anywhere you get a hundred, it’s very special. And on top of that if your team wins, that’s like the icing on the cake.We’ve got to wait another three days to see what happens in the game. Both these innings are very close to my heart.With that innings in Bangalore we won the series, and here… let’s hope that we can get into a good position tomorrow, and then I’d be more happy.

    ” This has been an exceptional year for Rohit. He has led Mumbai Indians to the IPL and Champions League T20 titles, has transformed his career by opening in ODIs, and now has had a dream Test debut. This time last year he was licking his wounds from a disastrous ODI series in Sri Lanka, which somehow cost him the Test place that should have been his after the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. How did he turn the corner? “Being a sportsman, there is a lot of inspiration to take from so many sportspersons from around the world,” Rohit said. “You look at Michael Hussey, he made his debut when he was 30. There are a lot of other cricketers who had to wait for their opportunity. I’m no different, I’m one of them. I knew once I got an opportunity, I’d try and make the most of it.

    I never wanted to put my head down, I believe that if you have the ability, the talent, if you know you can do it, there is no need to worry about anything. “There was this phase when things were not going my way. But I never put my head down, I just wanted to focus because I knew there will be a time when the runs will flow. I just waited, waited… kept working on my game very hard. Yes, today I’m really happy with what’s happened.” This was not a freebie century from 400 from 4. Rohit had to fight hard for every single of his initial runs. India were struggling, the ball was turning, and West Indies were on top when Virat Kohli was the fifth man out. “See, they were bowling quite well when we lost five early wickets,” Rohit said. “We wanted to build partnerships then, but they were bowling very well so we just thought we’ve got to respect these bowlers who were bowling in tandem.

    The five-ten overs of Shillingford and the bowler at the other end were very important, so we just thought that we needed to stick there, and that once we get in, we can capitalise later when the bowlers get tired. That’s exactly what happened at the end of the day.” He spoke about the innings with the same maturity that he played it with. “They were varying their pace so when I and MS [Dhoni] were batting runs were not really coming so easily,” Rohit said. “So we just had a plan of negotiating these overs and as I said, we had to stick [to] whatever we’d decided and then capitalise when the day was coming to an end. I knew this exactly because the outfield here is very fast so you just need to play your normal cricket. After MS got out, me and Ashwin had a really good partnership.

    At Eden Gardens, if you just can manage those few initial overs, thereafter it becomes… I wouldn’t say easy but you get a lot of runscoring opportunities.” And Rohit knows from personal experience. He made his first-class debut here and scored a century. He started captaining Mumbai Indians here, and won the IPL final here. The same maturity was evident when he was asked to talk about the earlier nearmisses. “Whenever it happens, you’ve got to be proud, you’ve got to take that,” Rohit said. “I was really disappointed with what happened in 2010, but now I just wanted to focus on what was happening at the moment, so my focus was on this Test match, and I was really happy.

  • IALI WOMEN’S FORUM CELEBRATES DIWALI

    IALI WOMEN’S FORUM CELEBRATES DIWALI

    India Association of Long Island (IALI) Women’s Forum recently celebrated the Festival of Lights – Deepavali – heartily and eloquently with a colorful and unique Fashion Show done by the women and geared for the women. Excitement was generated on account of the wide variety of stylish designs in traditional saree wear together with elegant embroidered and sequinned lenghas in a multitude of shades showcased with full printed heavy ghagras in ethnic designs and an ensemble of glittering jewelry with matching clutches and silken scarves making up the complete array of an entire wardrobe collection.

  • Helen Marshall at the Target Meals for Minds Food Pantry

    Helen Marshall at the Target Meals for Minds Food Pantry

    Queens Borough President Helen Marshall shook hands with volunteers at the Target Meals for Minds food pantry at P.S. 148 in East Elmhurst following the opening ceremony held for the pantry on Friday, November 1. The pantry was funded by Target Corp. and the Heart of America Foundation and will provide fresh produce and staple foods to students and families. Target and the Foundation also funded a makeover of the P.S. 148 library that was also unveiled Friday. The renovated library features 2,000 new books and a technology upgrade, including new iPads.

  • Attorney Anand Ahuja Organized a Seminar on “U.S. Tax Laws and Foreign Bank Accounts Reporting Requirements”

    Attorney Anand Ahuja Organized a Seminar on “U.S. Tax Laws and Foreign Bank Accounts Reporting Requirements”

    A Seminar on “U.S. Tax Laws and Foreign Bank Accounts Reporting Requirements” was held on October 27, 2013, in Hicksville, Long Island. Attorney Anand Ahuja was the keynote speaker.