It is unfortunate that a city of immigrants has to face the scourge of hate crimes. In a diverse and multicultural society, one expects to see greater tolerance and accommodation. But in New York, it is not happening. This is not the first time that a Sikh has been subjected to assault and battery. It has happened earlier, too. Also, it is not just the bearded Sikhs who are objects of hate crimes. Even kids of Sikhs in the schools have often been subjected to indignities. The latest attack of an assistant professor with Columbia University in Harlem on Saturday, September 21 must be taken as a wake up call by the City administration. Dr. Prabhjot Singh, the victim, is a suave person, given to academics. It is inconceivable that a thorough gentleman like him could have been treated so cruelly. The least that New York Police can do is to bring the culprits to book. The community, should meanwhile, not get exercised and lose patience.
Year: 2013
-
Congressman condemns remarks against Miss America
As a Member of Congress who represents a large population of Americans of Indian descent, I am deeply troubled by the outrageous remarks aimed at the winner of the 2013 Miss America Pageant and a fellow New Yorker, Nina Davuluri. Ms. Davuluri embodies the American dream-the daughter of immigrants who graduated from a prestigious university and plans to pursue a medical degree. She is American in the truest sense, and the fact that this would be questioned is despicable. Embracing diversity is an American value, and one that I have always cherished. I am the product of grandparents who fled Russia due to persecution and found an accepting home here in America. I have spent my life honoring their memory by fighting against hatred, bigotry and persecution. When I heard of the vitriol being directed toward Ms. Divuluri, I felt compelled to respond. I join with the voices of the many Americans who have cried out against these hateful remarks. And I will continue to work in Congress to fight against hatred.
-
SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB
CONTD FROM Vol 7 ISSUE 37 || 1 || CHHANT: Countless silent sages and innumerable ascetics seek Him; millions of Brahmas meditate and adore Him; the spiritual teachers meditate and chant His Name. Through chanting, deep meditation, strict and austere selfdiscipline, religious rituals, sincere worship, endless purifications and humble salutations, wandering all over the earth and bathing at sacred shrines of pilgrimage, people seek to meet the Pure Lord. Mortals, forests, blades of grass, animals and birds all meditate on You.
The Merciful Beloved Lord, the Lord of the Universe is found; O Nanak, joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, salvation is attained. || 1 || Millions of incarnations of Vishnu and Shiva, with matted hair yearn for You, O Merciful Lord; their minds and bodies are filled with infinite longing. The Lord Master, the Lord of the Universe, is infinite and unapproachable; God is the all-pervading Lord of all. The angels, the Siddhas, the beings of spiritual perfection, the heavenly heralds and celestial singers meditate on You.
The Yakhsha demons, the guards of the divine treasures, and the Kinnars, the dancers of the god of wealth chant Your Glorious Praises. Millions of Indras and countless gods and super-human beings meditate on the Lord Master and celebrate His Praises. The Merciful Lord is the Master of the masterless, O Nanak; joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, one is saved. || 2 || Millions of gods and goddesses of wealth serve Him in so many ways. The invisible and visible beings worship Him in adoration, along with wind and water, day and night. The stars, the moon and the sun meditate on Him; the earth and the sky sing to Him.
All the sources of creation, and all languages meditate on Him, forever and ever. The Simritees, the Puraanas, the four Vedas and the six Shaastras meditate on Him. He is the Purifier of sinners, the Lover of His Saints; O Nanak, He is met in the Society of the Saints. || 3 || As much as God has revealed to us, that much we can speak with our tongues. Those unknown ones who serve You cannot be counted. Imperishable, incalculable, and unfathomable is the Lord and Master; He is everywhere, inside and out. We are all beggars, He is the One and only Giver; He is not far away, but is with us, everpresent.
He is in the power of His devotees; those whose souls are united with Him – how can their praises be sung? May Nanak receive this gift and honor, of placing his head on the feet of the Holy Saints. || 4 || 2 || 5 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL, SHALOK: Make the effort, O very fortunate ones, and meditate on the Lord, the Lord King. O Nanak, remembering Him in meditation, you shall obtain total peace, and your pains and troubles and doubts shall depart. || 1 || CHHANT: Chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord of the Universe; don’t be lazy.
Meeting with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall not have to go to the City of Death. Pain, trouble and fear will not afflict you; meditating on the Naam, a lasting peace is found. With each and every breath, worship the Lord in adoration; meditate on the Lord God in your mind and with your mouth. O kind and compassionate Lord, O treasure of sublime essence, treasure of excellence, please link me to Your service. Prays Nanak: may I meditate on the Lord’s lotus feet, and not be lazy in chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord of the Universe. || 1 || The Purifier of sinners is the Naam, the Pure Name of the Immaculate Lord.
The darkness of doubt is removed by the healing ointment of the Guru’s spiritual wisdom. By the healing ointment of the Guru’s spiritual wisdom, one meets the Immaculate Lord God, who is totally pervading the water, the land and the sky. If He dwells within the heart, for even an instant, sorrows are forgotten. The wisdom of the all-powerful Lord and Master is incomprehensible; He is the Destroyer of the fears of all. Prays Nanak, I meditate on the Lord’s lotus feet. The Purifier of sinners is the Naam, the Pure Name of the Immaculate Lord. || 2 || I have grasped the protection of the merciful Lord, the Sustainer of the Universe, the treasure of grace. I take the support of Your lotus feet, and in the protection of Your Sanctuary, I attain perfection.
The Lord’s lotus feet are the cause of causes; the Lord Master saves even the sinners. So many are saved; they cross over the terrifying world-ocean, contemplating the Naam, the Name of the Lord. In the beginning and in the end, countless are those who seek the Lord. I have heard that the Society of the Saints is the way to salvation. Prays Nanak, I meditate on the Lord’s lotus feet, and grasp the protection of the Lord of the Universe, the merciful, the ocean of kindness. || 3 || The Lord is the Lover of His devotees; this is His natural way. Wherever the Saints worship the Lord in adoration, there He is revealed. God blends Himself with His devotees in His natural way, and resolves their affairs.
In the ecstasy of the Lord’s Praises, they obtain supreme joy, and forget all their sorrows. The brilliant flash of the One Lord is revealed to them – they behold Him in the ten directions. Prays Nanak, I meditate on the Lord’s lotus feet; the Lord is the Lover of His devotees; this is His natural way. || 4 || 3 || 6 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL: The Husband Lord of the Saints is eternal; He does not die or go away. She, whose home is blessed by her Husband Lord, enjoys Him forever. God is eternal and immortal, forever young and immaculately pure. He is not far away, He is ever-present; the Lord and Master fills the ten directions, forever and ever.
He is the Lord of souls, the source of salvation and wisdom. The Love of my Dear Beloved is pleasing to me. Nanak speaks what the Guru’s Teachings have led him to know. The Husband Lord of the Saints is eternal; He does not die or go away. || 1 || One who has the Lord as her Husband enjoys great bliss. That soul-bride is happy, and her glory is perfect. She obtains honor, greatness and happiness, singing the Praise of the Lord. God, the Great Being, is always with her. She attains total perfection and the nine treasures; her home lacks nothing. – everything is there. Her speech is so sweet; she obeys her Beloved Lord; her marriage is permanent and everlasting. Nanak chants what he knows through the Guru’s Teachings: One who has the Lord as her Husband enjoys great bliss.
|| 2 || Come, O my companions, let us dedicate ourselves to serving the Saints. Let us grind their corn, wash their feet and so renounce our self-conceit. Let us shed our egos, and our troubles shall be removed; let us not display ourselves. Let us take to His Sanctuary and obey Him, and be happy with whatever He does. Let us become the slaves of His slaves, and shed our sadness, and with our palms pressed together, remain wakeful day and night. Nanak chants what he knows through the Guru’s Teachings; come, O my companions, let us dedicate ourselves to serving the Saints. || 3 || One who has such good destiny written upon his forehead, dedicates himself to His service.
One who attains the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, has his desires fulfilled. In the Saadh Sangat, immerse yourself in the Love of the Lord; remember the Lord of the Universe in meditation. Doubt, emotional attachment, sin and duality – he renounces them all. Peace, poise and tranquility fill his mind, and he sings the Lord’s Glorious Praises with joy and delight. Nanak chants what he knows through the Guru’s Teachings: one who has such good destiny written upon his forehead, dedicates himself to His service. || 4 || 4 || 7 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL, SHALOK: If you chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, the Messenger of Death will have nothing to say to you. O Nanak, the mind and body will be at peace, and in the end, you shall merge with the Lord of the world. || 1 || CHHANT: Let me join the Society of the Saints – save me, Lord! With my palms pressed together, I offer my prayer: give me Your Name, O Lord, Har, Har. I beg for the Lord’s Name, and fall at His feet; I renounce my self-conceit, by Your kindness. I shall not wander anywhere else, but take to Your Sanctuary. O God, embodiment of mercy, have mercy on me.
O all-powerful, indescribable, infinite and immaculate Lord Master, listen to this, my prayer. With palms pressed together, Nanak begs for this blessing: O Lord, let my cycle of birth and death come to an end. || 1 || I am a sinner, devoid of wisdom, worthless, destitute and vile. I am deceitful, hard-hearted, lowly and entangled in the mud of emotional attachment. I am stuck in the filth of doubt and egotistical actions, and I try not to think of death. In ignorance, I cling to the pleasures of woman and the joys of Maya. My youth is wasting away, old age is approaching, and Death, my companion, is counting my days. Prays Nanak, my hope is in You, Lord; please preserve me, the lowly one, in the Sanctuary of the Holy.
|| 2 || I have wandered through countless incarnations, suffering terrible pain in these lives. I am entangled in sweet pleasures and gold. After wandering around with such great loads of sin, I have come, after wandering through so many foreign lands. Now, I have taken the protection of God, and I have found total peace in the Name of the Lord. God, my Beloved, is my protector; nothing was done, or will ever be done, by myself alone. I have found peace, poise and bliss, O Nanak; by Your mercy, I swim across the world-ocean. || 3 || You saved those who only pretended to believe, so what doubts should Your true devotees have? By every means possible, listen to the Praises of the Lord with your ears. Listen with your ears to the Word of the Lord’s Bani, the hymns of spiritual wisdom; thus you shall obtain the treasure in your mind.
Attuned to the Love of the Lord God, the Architect of Destiny, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. The earth is the paper, the forest is the pen and the wind is the writer, but still, the end of the endless Lord cannot be found. O Nanak, I have taken to the Sanctuary of His lotus feet. || 4 || 5 || 8 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL: The Primal Lord is the Lord God of all beings. I have taken to His Sanctuary. My life has become fearless, and all my anxieties have been removed. I know the Lord as my mother, father, son, friend, well-wisher and close relative. The Guru has led me to embrace Him; the Saints chant His Pure Praises. His Glorious Virtues are infinite, and His greatness is unlimited. His value cannot be described at all. God is the One and only, the Unseen Lord and Master; O Nanak, I have grasped His protection.
-
The BRICS Foreign Ministers meet to discuss United Nations Agenda
NEW YORK (TIP): The BRICS Foreign Ministers met on 26th September on the margins of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Ministers congratulated the South African Presidency and appreciated the good pace of implementation of the Thekwini Action Plan. The Ministers exchanged their points of view on the following issues of the United Nations agenda.
SYRIA
The Ministers expressed deep concern about the ongoing violence and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria. They called upon all parties to commit immediately to a complete cease-fire, to halt violence and to end all violations of human rights and humanitarian law. Taking note of the Report of the United Nations Secretary-General, the Ministers strongly condemned the use of such weapons by anyone in any circumstances. The Ministers expressed satisfaction with recent important developments that bring renewed hope for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict. They welcomed the framework agreement for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons reached by Russia and the United States. They further welcomed, in particular, the decision of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the commitment of the Syrian authorities to provisionally apply the Convention prior to its entry into force and the delivery of the initial roster. They recognised the key responsibility of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in this regard and look forward to the decisions of the OPCW and the Security Council in support to the Framework Agreement.The Ministers reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict and that it is time for diplomacy. They stressed that the elimination of chemical weapons and the political process aimed at resolving the Syrian conflict should be pursued in parallel. They also reiterated their support for the convening of an international conference on the Syrian situation as early as possible. They stressed that only an inclusive political process, led by the Syrians, as recommended in the Action Group on Syria Communiqué issued in 2012 could lead to peace, to the effective protection of civilians and to the realization of the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian society for freedom and prosperity. They expressed their full support to the efforts of the UNArab League Representative Lakhdar Brahimi in helping finding a political solution to the crisis.
MIDDLE-EAST PEACE PROCESS
The Ministers welcomed the announcement of the resumption of negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis as an encouraging development. They reaffirmed that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a prerequisite for building a sustainable and lasting peace in the Middle East region. They expressed their expectation that this renewed effort will lead to a two-state solution with a contiguous and economically viable Palestinian state, existing side by side in peace with Israel, within internationally recognized borders, based on those existing on 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. In recalling the primary responsibility of the UNSC in maintaining international peace and security, they noted the importance that the Quartet reports regularly to the Council about its efforts, which should contribute to concrete progress. They expressed concern about the construction of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which constitutes a violation of international law and is harmful to the peace process.CYBER SECURITY
The Ministers expressed their concern about the reported practices of unauthorized interception of communications and data from citizens, businesses and members of governments, compromising national sovereignty and individual rights. They reiterated that it is important to contribute to and participate in a peaceful, secure, and open cyberspace and emphasized that security in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) through universally accepted norms, standards and practices is of paramount importance. The Ministers thanked Brazil for the briefing on the plans and preparations for the VI BRICS Summit to be held in 2014. -
THE 9 DIVINE NIGHTS OF NAVARATRI
“Nava-ratri” literally means “nine nights.” This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.
What’s the Significance of Navratri?
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as “Durga,” which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as “Devi” (goddess) or “Shakti” (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti reconfirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.
Why Worship the Mother Goddess?
We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. “Why mother; why not father?”, you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God’s glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.
Why Twice a Year?
Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because: (1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe. (2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.Why Do You Need the Power?
Thus, I suggest you join your parents in worshipping “Ma Durga” during the Navaratri. She will bestow on you wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge, and other potent powers to cross every hurdle of life. Remember, everyone in this world worships power, i.e., Durga, because there is no one who does not love and long for power in some form or the other.The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga
Nava – that also means ‘new’ – denotes ‘nine,’ the number to which sages attach special significance. The Hindu goddess Durga has nine manifestations: each goddess has a different form and a special significance.Shailaputri
Shailaputri, literally means the daughter of the mountains. Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of Hemavana – the king of the Himalayas, she is the first among Navadurgas. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.Brahmacharini
Brahmacharini, is the second form of Mother Goddess, and her name means one who practices devout austerity. She holds a rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation – MokshaChandraghanta
The third facet of Goddess Durga is Chandraghanta. She has a ‘chandra’ or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a ‘ghanta’ or bell. She is the apostle of bravery and possesses great strength to fight in the battle against demons.Kushmanda
Kushmanda is the fourth form of the mother goddess. She is considered the creator of the universe. The universe was no more than a void full of darkness, until her light spreads in all directions like rays from the sun.Skanda Mata
The fifth aspect of the Mother Durga is known as Skanda Mata – the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons. Skanda Mata has four arms and three eyes, holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right hand which is slightly raised upwards.Katyayani
The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as Katyayani. According to legend, she is the daughter of a great sage called Kata, who wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga.Kaal Ratri
Kaal Ratri is the seventh form of Mother Durga. She has a dark complexion, disheveled hair and a fearless posture. She is black like Goddess Kali and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil. Her gesture of protection assures us of freedom from fear and troubles.
Maha Gauri
Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. She wears white clothes, has four arms, and rides on a bull. Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Goddess and has supernatural healing powers. She blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. -
Security Council Reform discussed at the Ministerial Meeting of the G4 Countries
NEW YORK (TIP): The Minister of External Relations of Brazil, the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, the Minister of External Affairs of India and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan met in New York on 26 September 2013, in the margins of the opening of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, to exchange views on Security Council reform. The Ministers underscored that, almost 70 years after the creation of the United Nations, reform of the Security Council is long overdue. They agreed that difficulties of the Security Council in dealing with international challenges, including current ones, have further highlighted the need for U.N. Security Council reform in order to better reflect geopolitical realities of the 21st century and make the Council more broadly representative, efficient and transparent and thus to further enhance its effectiveness and the legitimacy and?implementation of its decisions.
The Ministers recalled that almost 10 years ago, in the Outcome Document of the 2005 World Summit, international leaders committed themselves to an early reform of the Security Council. The Ministers stressed the need to intensify efforts to translate, at the latest by 2015, the existing agreement into concrete outcomes. Recalling previous G4 joint statements, the Ministers reiterated their common vision of a reformed Security Council, taking into consideration the contributions made by countries to the maintenance of international peace and security and other purposes of the organization, as well as the need for increased representation of developing countries in both categories, in order to better reflect today’s geopolitical realities. The G4 countries reiterated their commitments as aspiring new permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as their support for each other’s candidatures. They also reaffirmed their view of the importance of developing countries, in particular Africa, to be represented in both the permanent and nonpermanent categories of an enlarged Council.
In this context, the Ministers emphasized the importance to enhance dialogue and outreach with African countries on Security Council reform and commended the initiative of the Government of Japan in having convened the first Japan-Africa Summit Meeting on U.N. Security Council Reform in June. In addition, the Ministers noted with appreciation the directive of CARICOM Heads of State and Government in February 2013 calling for ‘greater urgency in achieving lasting Security Council Reform’ and the initiative of CARICOM to reinvigorate the Intergovernmental Negotiation process. The Ministers recognized the need for greater involvement of civil society, the media and academia on the discussions about the reform of the Security Council and in this context, they welcomed the Brazilian initiative of hosting a seminar, in April this year, to broaden the debate on the urgency and inevitability of the reform of the United Nations Security Council. The Ministers also discussed the outcome of the ninth round of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform. The Ministers emphasized the important role the Chairman of the intergovernmental negotiations, H.E. Ambassador Zahir Tanin, has played in the negotiations, notably reflected in his letter dated 25 July 2012 to the President of the General Assembly, and welcomed anew his recommendations therein.
In this context, the Ministers reiterated that, given the overwhelming support by member states for an expansion of the Security Council in both categories of membership, permanent and non-permanent, this should be a key parameter in the negotiation process among member states. They called for the drafting of a concise working document as the basis for further negotiations, in line with the recommendations of the Chairman. The Ministers welcomed the decision by the General Assembly to immediately continue the process of intergovernmental negotiations in the informal plenary of the 68th Session, building on the progress achieved and the recommendations made by the Chairman. The Ministers underlined the need to achieve concrete progress in the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly and, in this context, expressed their commitment to continue to work in close cooperation and in a spirit of flexibility with other Member States and Groups of Member States, in particular Africa, in genuine text-based negotiations. The Ministers expressed gratitude for the efforts made by the President of the 67th General Assembly, H.E.Mr. Vuk Jeremic and the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiations, H.E. Ambassador Zahir Tanin. They looked forward to working closely with H.E. Mr. John Ashe, the President of the 68th General Assembly, and the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations in order to bring about the urgently needed reform of the Security Council.
-
Besharam team lands at the Indian Consulate in New York
NEW YORK (TIP): “Cinema that does not entertain is boring. I find parallel cinema boring,” said veteran actor Rishi Kapoor at the promotional campaign of his upcoming film Besharam. He said it in response to a question on the contributions of parallel cinema to 100 years of Indian cinema. He added, “I have been fighting this for over 40 years, ever since I joined the industry. Why pay entertainment tax on something you are not entertained with? It takes a great deal of energy to do fight or romantic scenes. So I request people to not discount our efforts and instead stop giving credit to parallel cinema.” Kapoor senior was joined by his wife and costar Neetu Singh, Ranbir Singh and Indian Australian debutant actor Pallavi Shardha at the grand ballroom, at Indian consulate on Monday. The actors were in New York to promote their latest film ‘Besharam’ scheduled to release October 2.
The Kapoor Khandan (family) along with the new Indian Australian actress gave a special appearance at the Maharashtra Tourism Diwali at Times Square event where both Pallavi and Ranbir performed at the Light Up Times Square gig. For Ranbir, alumni of the School of Visual Arts in New York and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, celebrating Diwali on Times Square with his family and fans on Times Square was surreal. “All my life I’ve come to New York and walked the streets of Times Square completely anonymously,” he said, “and now 30,000 people are screaming my name! It was a surreal moment.” His 10 minute appearance made the crowd that had waited for him since morning, go ballistic. His female fans continued to follow him even at the press conference held at the Consulate for the film’s promotions. Besharam is a slapstick, in-your-face funny dialogues and proper, shameless fun. It is everything you’d expect from the director who gave us Dabang: slapstick, in-your-face funny dialogues and proper, shameless fun. The film is about Babli (Ranbir Kapoor) a street smart car mechanic is living in a Delhi orphanage.
He is charming and lives life to the fullest. He also steals cars to support his orphanage.He has no sense of right or wrong till he unwittingly hurts the love of his life, Tara (Pallavi Sharda) and is chased by cop couple Chulbul Chautala (Rishi Kapoor) and Bulbul Chautala (Neetu Kapoor). Babli realizes that there is no right way of doing the wrong thing. Babli sets out to fix all the wrongs in his life and he continues to be shameless about it. Sanjeev Lamba, CEO of Besharam’s distributor Reliance Entertainment, providing insight into the current state of Bollywood in relation to Hollywood and the international movie marketplace noted that among the major marketing strengths of Besharam was the fact that three members of the Kapoor family were the main stars, and appearing together onscreen for the first time. This according to Lamba was the reason for Besharam to have one of the largest global releases ever for a Hindi film which included an unprecedented 200 theaters across North America. “It’s only fitting because Ranbir is a rising superstar, his parents have made an immeasurable contribution to the industry, and it’s the first time they’ve acted with him,” said Lamba. “Besharam is an attitude. It’s where you listen to your heart and follow it. The tagline of this film means Babli isn’t afraid of getting insulted and he’s not looking for respect,” said Ranbir confessing that he is not a Besharam. “In real life I am actually pretty shy, but I guess in front of the camera I focus.
It is very important for an actor to be Besharam in front of the camera. Unless you express yourself fully you can’t connect with the audience,” said Ranbir who attended the School of Visual Arts in New York for three years, and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute here for another year. Asked for an anecdote about working with his father, Ranbir revealed that “in real life,” he never looked into his father’s eyes, but that during the filming of Besharam, he “discovered” Rishi’s eye color. Asked about the tag ‘Super star’ and its use in the present day context, Kapoor scion said, “The tag super star is over used today, It is used for anybody who delivers a Friday hit. To choose good scripts and work with good directors is the first step. But more importantly, I need a larger body of work to get there… For me and a new generation of actors, being a good actor is the new superstar.” He said the concept of super star is dying because “unlike yesteryears actors, today’s stars are everywhere, the mystery as an actor- that kept fans asking for more-is missing partly due to social media.” The consulate event began with a welcome address by Consul General of India Dnyaneshwar Mulay who introduced the film team and highlighted the contributions the Kapoors made during 100 years of Indian cinema.
He even praised the first family of Bollywood for contributing 84 years to the largest film industry in terms of production of films every year. Bollywood’s Kapoor family goes back four generations. Prithviraj Kapoor was an actor (roles including the emperor Akbar in the 1960s historical epic Mughal E Azam) and theater company founder. His sons Raj, Shammi and Shashi Kapoor likewise became famous actors and directors. Karishma, Kareena and Ranbir are now carrying the legacy. Asked at the press conference whether he felt jealous of his son who had made his remarkable mark in a much shorter span of time than he had, Rishi Kapoor said he couldn’t be more proud of the “male heir to the legacy” of the Kapoor family. He said he felt fortunate that he had worked on three films with his late father, Raj Kapoor, including the 1973 blockbuster Bobby, Rishi’s first film as male lead. Neetu Singh too made a couple of remarks, including the one that she was proud of Ranbir. Another was that she and Rishi ensured giving the best values of life to their children. In fact, it was for the consideration of raising the children in a befitting manner that she had decided to keep herself away from working in the films. And Ranbir flattered her with the observation that he found his mother to be the best artist to work with. It was a pleasure to see a doting family.
-
WONDERS OF PUNE
Chaturshringi Temple
History: Built during the reign of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle, the Chaturshringi Temple derives its name from a mountain with four peaks (Chatur means four). The premises also houses temples dedicated to Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesh – which includes eight miniature idols of Ashtavinayaka. These small temples are located on the four separate hillocks. The legend associated with Chaturshringi Temple has that a rich and prosperous merchant, Durlabhsheth Pitambardas Mahajan, an ardent believer in Goddess Chaturshringi had this temple built on the direction of the Goddess herself. Being a devout follower he had visited her temples located at various places but as he grew older he could no longer travel. It was then that the Goddess Chaturshringi appeared in his dream one night and told him, that if he could not travel to her she would instead opt to come stay near him. She directed him to have a mountain situated in the North West side of Pune dug up. On digging at the designated place a natural statue or a swayambhu idol of the goddess was found and a temple was built there. To see: Open daily from 6 am to 11pm.
Shaniwarwada
centre?History: The foundation stone of one of the most historically significant places in Pune was laid in the year 1730 on a Saturday which gave it the name Shaniwarwada as Shaniwar is Saturday in Hindi and wada is a place you stay at. Today, little remains of the original structure that comprised of additions made over years to this seat of Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire. A great fire in 1827, that lasted for a full seven days, gutted everything except heavy granite ramparts, strong teak gateways and deep foundations. One can see five gates here, namely Dilli Darwaza, the main gate of the complex, the Mastani Darwaja, Khidki Darwaja, Ganesh Darwaja, and Jambhul Darwaja. Superstition attached: Many believe that the place is haunted because of the brutal assassination of the 13-year-old Peshwa heir. Many claim to still hear him crying for help on full moon nights. To see: Light and sound show that depicts the story of the fort (7 pm daily).
Aga Khan Palace
-
PAKISTAN GETS THREE NEW ISLANDS FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE
GWADAR, PAK (TIP): Pakistan has just got three brand new islands — thanks to a major earthquake. When the shock of the temblor subsided on September 24, people living in the coastal town of Gwadar were stunned to see a new island in the sea. That’s not all. Two other islands have come up along the Balochistan coast. “The island near Gwadar is about 600 feet in diameter and has a height of about 30 feet,” Muhammad Moazzam Khan, technical advisor at WWF — Pakistan, told IANS over telephone. He said “gas was coming out” of the island, which primarily consists of “stones and soft mud”. The two islands near Ormara town are small. Khan said the islands had a diameter of about “30-40 feet and a height of about 2-3 feet”. “Gas is also coming out,” he said. He said that while some islands which form suddenly “stay on”, others gradually fade away. He explained that the islands were formed following the massive earthquake that rocked Balochistan province Tuesday. The death toll in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake has reached 348, and a total of 20,000 houses were destroyed. This is not the first time islands have formed off the Pakistan coast. “In 1945, two big islands had formed near the coast. One was two kilometers long while the other was half kilometre long,” said Khan.
-
Deal reached on UN resolution on Syrian chemical weapons
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The five permanent members of the deeply divided UN security council reached agreement on September 26 on a resolution to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons, a major step in taking the most controversial weapon off the battlefield of the world’s deadliest current conflict. Senior US, Russian, British and French diplomats confirmed the agreement, which also includes China. Britain’s UN ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said he would introduce the text to the security council’s 10 nonpermanent members on September 26 night. A vote on the resolution still depends on how the full council responds to the draft, and on how soon an international group that oversees the global treaty on chemical weapons can adopt a plan for securing and destroying Syria’s stockpile. Diplomats said the earliest the security council could vote would be late Friday.
On Twitter, Lyall Grant said the five vetowielding members, known as the P-5, had agreed on a “binding and enforceable draft … resolution.” A senior US state department official said the Russians agreed to support “a strong binding and enforceable resolution.” But the draft resolution, seen by The Associated Press, makes clear that there is no trigger for any enforcement measures if Syria fails to comply with the provisions of the resolution or the dismantling of its chemical weapons stockpile. Instead, it states that in the event of non-compliance, or any use of chemical weapons, the Security Council will “impose measures under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter,” which will require a second resolution. Chapter 7 allows for military and nonmilitary actions to promote peace and security. Russia, Syria’s most powerful ally, had opposed any reference to it. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov met in hastily scheduled, closed-door talks on Thursday afternoon to resolve several lastminute disputes on the text, and the agreement was announced soon afterward. The security council has long been paralyzed in dealing with the 2 1/2-year Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 100,000 people and spilled over its borders, because of differences between Russia and China, who back Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, and the US, Britain and France, who support the opposition.
Russia and China have vetoed three Western-backed resolutions aimed at pressuring Assad to end the violence. The flurry of diplomatic activity was spurred by the August 21 poison gas attack that killed hundreds of civilians in a Damascus suburb, and by President Barack Obama’s threat of US strikes in retaliation. After Kerry said Assad could avert US military action by turning over “every single bit of his chemical weapons” to international control within a week, Russia quickly agreed. Kerry and Lavrov signed an agreement in Geneva on Sept. 13 to put Syria’s chemical weapons under international control for later destruction, and Assad’s government accepted the broad proposal. Tough negotiations, primarily between Russia and the United States, followed on how Syria’s stockpile will be destroyed. US ambassador Samantha Power tweeted Thursday evening that the draft resolution establishes that Syria’s chemical weapons “is threat to international peace & security & creates a new norm against the use of CW.” While the resolution now works its way through the security council, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Hague-based body that will be in charge of securing and destroying the stockpile, was working on its own document to set out its exact duties. The UN resolution will include the text of the OPCW’s declaration and make it legally binding _ so the OPCW must act first.
The OPCW said Thursday it was optimistic it could quickly schedule a meeting of its 41-nation executive council to approve its roadmap for Syria’s stockpile. A UN diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because consultations have been private, said the OPCW board wasn’t likely to meet before Sunday, which means that security council adoption of the resolution likely won’t take place until next week. French foreign minister Laurent Fabius told reporters on Thursday evening that “we’ve advanced well.” He cited agreement on three difficult issues that France had pushed for: the inclusion of a sentence saying the use of chemical weapons in Syria and anywhere else is a crime; the inclusion of a reference to Chapter 7 that contains the same wording as in the US-Russia agreement reached in Geneva; and the inclusion of a statement saying those responsible for using chemical weapons must be held accountable. The Geneva agreement did not have an automatic Chapter 7 trigger for enforcement _ a point France’s UN ambassador Gerard Araud confirmed Thursday evening. He said a second resolution will be needed if Syria violates the resolution’s provisions.
-
History making Indian Diwali at Times Square mesmerizes visitors
NEW YORK (TIP): Diwali maybe a month away but for Indian Americans at Times Square, festivities started as early as September 22 when the entire cast of Besharam made a special appearance at the ‘Maharashtra Tourism Diwali at Times Square’. But Diwali at Times Square was much more than just the special performances from the Besharam team. Roughly about 30,000 people attended the Diwali event on Sunday at the busiest area for pedestrians in the world where 3,00,000 people visit every day. In a bid to tap major international source markets and increase tourist arrivals, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) participated in the early Diwali celebrations. Speaking on the occasion Minister for Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, Chhagan Bhujbal said, “Due to this event, the image of Maharashtra is going to be boosted in all international markets, not just in the USA. We want foreign tourists to come to Maharashtra, explore its rich cultural heritage and UNESCO world heritage sites like Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta caves.
They should also visit Tadoba Tiger Sanctuary, near Nagpur, where any tourist would spot tigers. It is my pleasure to invite all international tourists to indulge in the luxurious Deccan Odyssey train which covers the beautiful Maharashtra.” Mr. Satish Soni, Director – Tourism, Government of Maharashtra said, ‘It’s an extravagant event for Maharashtra tourism in a foreign land. We are glad at its grand success as thousands of people visited and enjoyed the event at the magnificent Times Square. We appeal to the people of the world to come to Maharashtra for an unforgettable experience. “There were many enquiries for the Deccan Odyssey train followed by the wildlife reserves, mostly from foreigners and local Americans,” said one of the organizers at the tourism booth. The festivities showcased Indian music, cuisine and fashion. Times Square between 45th to 47th streets was bustling with tourists and visitors dressed in traditional attire as they lined up to get the saffron Kolhapuri turbans, pointed mustache masks, Gandhi caps and chudis (bangles). The cultural festival included dance, diya, rangoli painting, Indian arts and crafts, fashion show, photo booths with ethnic outfits, celebrity autograph/photo booth and much more. The event saw some famous dancers performing Lavani, and other well-known Marathi dances styles, Bhangra, fusion etc.
Dhol – Tasha and Tutari enthralled the crowds eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of their favorite Bollywood stars. Groups like Sangharsh and Sankalp promoted Govinda festival by forming human pyramids. Late in the evening at the Light Up Times Square concert had the music maestro Shankar Mahadevan also created a sensation through his voice and musical troupe. “Where in my dreams did I think that I will sing Ganpati bhajan at Times Square,” said Mahadevan. The concert also saw Canada based group Culture Shock perform live on a mix of songs. Although Indian Americans dominated the crowd many tourists as well as local Americans enjoyed the festivities. “This is my first ever encounter with India. I have heard a lot about the country that it is colorful and vibrant but experienced it for the first time. I loved the energy and the sense of community and also the samosas. My next holiday destination is India for sure,” said Suzan Lew. The festival encountered mixed reactions from the Indian Americans. “Diwali is a festival of lights and what better place to celebrate than Times Square. It is like a mela out here, I have never seen such a crowd in the US. Only Indians can party like this, I am proud to be an Indian,” said Pragya Mahajan who wore a saffron turban. “Celebrating Diwali at Times Square is celebrating the cultural capital of the world (India) at the cultural capital of the United States,” said Sunny Doshi, a new Jersey resident.
While there were positive responses to the event, many Indian Americans were disappointed with the ‘westernized’ Diwali celebrations and poor management. “Speakers at the very end did not work. We tried to go forward but feared stampede and because there were no screens to look at we headed back,” said Reetu Kumar who had come with her 68 year old grandmother. The night culminated into the star studded performances from Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor, and debutant Pallavi Shardha who made a special appearance along with Rishi and Neetu Kapoor to promote their upcoming film Besharam. The crowd gathered at Times Square went ballistic on catching a glimpse of one of Bollywood’s most eligible bachelors. Dressed in a black ‘sherwani’, the young Kapoor danced and interacted with his fans as his father recalled visiting the city years ago and expressing gratitude for the adulation shown to him and his family. Congratulating Maharashtra Tourism for its achievement, Rishi Kapoor said, “I am proud to be a part of Maharashtra.” Complimenting ASB Communications and Event Guru, Shankar Mahadevan said, “Congratulations for pulling this off. To do this at Times Square was close to impossible. God bless”. “I came to the USA over 36 years ago and I still remember being awed by Times Square when I first saw it. I told myself even at that time that I will showcase the diversity and richness of India at this location. I am so thankful to all those who came here today. I am equally thankful to Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Air India, MoneyGram, DishWorld, Wells Fargo, Bank of Baroda and all other sponsors without whose support this event would not have been possible”, said Neeta Bhasin, President, ASB Communications, the conceptualizer of the event.
-
FINGER SWEAT CAN REVEAL DEPRESSED PERSON’S SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
WASHINGTON (TIP): A simple measurement of the sweat gland activity of a depressed person can nearly accurately determine if they have suicidal propensity, a new research has claimed. Lars-Hakan Thorell, associate professor in experimental psychiatry at Linkoping University, one of the researchers behind the study, said that blood pressure, blood circulation and activity in the sweat glands of the fingers can reveal if a person is suicidal. In the German-Swedish study, 783 depressed inpatients in Germany were tested for hyporeactivity – reduced ability to react to various stimuli.
A suicidal depressed person reacts differently to environmental changes, compared to a healthy person. The test found that hyporeactivity was present in up to 97 per cent of depressed patients who later committed suicide, compared to just 2 per cent of the depressed patients who were not hyporeactive. But the study also shows there is no relation between the severity of depression and hyporeactivity. Hyporeactivity can be measured by the test person listening to a pattern of tones, while the body’s reactions are measured via sensors on the fingers. The first time they hear a tone, virtually all people react. This is a general orientation reaction which occurs automatically. But when the tone is heard again, the reaction decreases amongst some people: the hyporeactive.
-
CURIOSITY FINDS MORE SIGNS OF WATER ON MARS
WASHINGTON (TIP): Nasa’s Curiosity rover has found more evidence of water on ancient Mars during a recent pit stop along the way towards a huge Red Planet mountain. The one-tonne Curiosity rover resumed a trek of many months toward its mountain-slope destination, Mount Sharp. The rover used instruments on its arm to inspect rocks at its first way-point along the route inside Gale Crater. The location, originally chosen on the basis of images taken from Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, paid off with investigation of targets that bear evidence of ancient wet environments, the US space agency said. “We examined pebbly sandstone deposited by water flowing over the surface, and veins or fractures in the rock,” said Dawn Sumner of University of California, Davis.
“We know the veins are younger than the sandstone because they cut through it, but they appear to be filled with grains like the sandstone,” said Sumner. This Waypoint 1 site at an outcrop called “Darwin” is the first of up to five waypoint stops planned along the route of about 8.6 kilometers between the “Glenelg” area, where Curiosity worked for the first half of 2013, and an entry point to the lower slope of Mount Sharp, the mission’s main destination. It is about one-fifth of the way along the route. The rover departed Waypoint 1 on September 22 with a westward drive of about 22.8 meters. Curiosity’s science team planned the waypoints to collect information about the geology between Glenelg and Mount Sharp. Researchers want to understand relationships between what the mission already discovered at Glenelg and what it may find in the multiple layers of Mount Sharp.
Analysis of drilled samples from veined “Yellowknife Bay” rocks in the Glenelg area provided evidence for a past lakebed environment with conditions favorable for microbial life. That means the mission has fulfilled its principal science goal, researchers said. “We want to understand the history of water in Gale Crater,” Sumner said. “Did the water flow that deposited the pebbly sandstone at Waypoint 1 occur at about the same time as the water flow at Yellowknife Bay? If the same fluid flow produced the veins here and the veins at Yellowknife Bay, you would expect the veins to have the same composition,” Sumner said
-
DENSEST GALAXY EVER DISCOVERED
WASHINGTON (TIP): Astronomers have discovered the densest galaxy ever to be found – packed with an extraordinary number of stars – about 54 million light years from our own Milky Way. The ultra-compact dwarf galaxy, dubbed M60-UCD1, was found in what’s known as the Virgo cluster of galaxies, researchers said. Imagine the distance between the Sun and the star nearest to it – Alpha Centauri. That’s a distance of about 4 light years. Now, imagine as many as 10,000 of our Suns crammed into that relatively small space. That is about the density of a galaxy discovered by an international team of astronomers led by a Michigan State University faculty member.
“This galaxy is more massive than any ultra-compact dwarfs of comparable size and is arguably the densest galaxy known in the local universe,” said Jay Strader, MSU assistant professor of physics and astronomy. The galaxy was discovered in the Virgo cluster of galaxies, a collection of galaxies located about 54 million light years from our own Milky Way. What makes M60-UCD1, so remarkable is that about half of its mass is found within a radius of only about 80 light years. This would make the density of stars about 15,000 times greater than found in Earth’s neighbourhood in the Milky Way. “Travelling from one star to another would be a lot easier in M60-UCD1 than it is in our galaxy.
Since the stars are so much closer in this galaxy, it would take just a fraction of the time,” Strader said. The discovery of ultra-compact galaxies is relatively new – only within the past 10 years or so. Until then, astronomers could see these “things” way off in the distance but assumed they were either single stars or very-distant galaxies. Another intriguing aspect of this galaxy is the presence of a bright X-ray source in its centre. One explanation for this is a giant black hole weighing in at some 10 million times the mass of our Sun. Astronomers are trying to determine if M60-UCD1 and other ultra-compact dwarf galaxies are either born as really jampacked star clusters or if they are galaxies that get smaller because they have stars ripped away from them.
The possible massive black hole, combined with the high galaxy mass and Sun-like levels of elements found in the stars, favour the latter idea. A giant black hole at the centre of M60- UCD1 helps tip the scales against the scenario where this galaxy was once a star cluster, since such large black holes are not found in these types of objects. The galaxy was discovered using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Follow-up observations were done with NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and groundbased optical telescopes, including the Keck 10-metre telescope in Hawaii.
-
PM condemns terror attacks in J&K; says peace process with Pakistan will continue
NEW YORK (TIP): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on September 26, strongly condemned the “provocative” terror strikes in Jammu region by the “enemies of peace”, but said such attacks will not succeed in derailing efforts to resolve all problems through a process of dialogue.Singh, who will be meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on Sunday for talks, said: “the terrorist menace” continues to receive “encouragement and reinforcement” from Pakistan and India is firmly resolved to combat and defeat such forces. “This is one more in a series of provocations and barbaric actions by the enemies of peace,” Singh said in a statement here en route to the US. “Such attacks will not deter us and will not succeed in derailing our efforts to find a resolution to all problems through a process of dialogue,” he said, indicating that the talks with Sharif will go ahead as per schedule. (Read the full story of attack on Page 23) At the meeting on September 29, the Indian side will see what the new Pakistan Prime Minister, who has made “some nice statements” about the relationship, has to offer to address its concerns over ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and International Border, continued terrorism and inaction against the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attack.
Bilateral relations soured after five Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control last month. India has also been urging Islamabad to take steps to stop terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil and to prosecute those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The situation on the LoC and terrorism will be discussed, highly placed sources said about the talks that will take place against the backdrop of a chill in bilateral ties.Emphasizing the need for talks with Pakistan, the sources said it is all the more essential after the “barbaric incidents” on the LoC. The sources said the two leaders will review the status of bilateral relations to see “where we are and where we need to go”. They, however, sought to keep expectations low, emphasizing that any substantial outcome should not be hoped for. The sources further said there will be no joint statement. They underlined the need for talking to Pakistan, arguing that “you don’t need to make peace with friends but with enemies”. “We are ready to talk on all issues. We know what the issues are,” a source said.
-
VIRENDER SEHWAG SHOWS INTENT IN MIDDLE ORDER
INDORE (TIP): Virender Sehwag’s decision to bat down the order for Delhi in the Challenger Trophy match against India Blue may have come as a surprise to his fans. But it wasn’t really unexpected as there has been speculation that he was contemplating such a move to give his flagging career a second wind. Many experts believe it is not a bad idea for the attacking batsman to give up the opener’s slot as age has slowed him down. His eyesight too isn’t the same. Ironically, as Delhi lost two quick wickets, Sehwag was at the crease in the third over itself and must have felt like he was still an opener. He impressed during his half-century stint, even showing glimpses of his old self.
At the same venue where he made a record-breaking 219 against the West Indies in Dec 2011, Sehwag seemed way on his way to a breezy century till he threw it away. It is difficult to say whether, with one flourishing innings, he has been able to convince the national selectors, led by Sandeep Patil, about his utility in Team India, be it as an opener or a middle-order batsman. Sehwag, who is 25 days away from his 35th birthday, had begun his career as a middle-order batsman and scored his first Test century batting at No. 6. But he gave opening a shot as Team India had a start-studded middle order.
With his belligerent strokeplay, he changed the entire concept of batting in Test matches. He has been among the most successful openers for India, with two triple hundreds and a couple of double centuries in Test cricket, besides a record breaking 219 in ODIs. Yet, Sehwag has always maintained that he was keen to go back to the middle order, where he doesn’t always have to negotiate the new ball. On the 2011 tour of Australia, when Sehwag was captaining the side at Adelaide, he had given the first indication of moving down the order. He had then said; “No, not immediately as we have a very good middle order. When they retire, I’ll think about it. It depends on the combination, and who’s the captain, and who’s going to retire.”
-
TENDULKAR TO QUIT AFTER PLAYING 200TH TEST AT HOME AGAINST WEST INDIES
KOLKATA (TIP): Sachin Tendulkar will play his 200th Test match at home against the West Indies later this year. BCCI interim secretary Sanjay Patel confirmed on Sunday that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has agreed to tour India in November during which they are likely to play at least two Tests and five ODIs. The itinerary for the tour will be drawn up in consultation with the WICB, but in all likelihood the second Test will be played at the Wankhede Stadium. Assuming he figures in both Tests, Sachin would not only become the first player in cricket’s history to play 200 Tests, he would also get to achieve the landmark in Mumbai, his own backyard.
It could also be his farewell series as indications are that the Little Master is likely to announce his retirement from all forms of the game at the end of that series. BCCI’s tour and fixtures committee, which will meet shortly to finalise the dates and venues, is also likely to award the first Test to Kolkata. The proposed tour by the West Indies was sprung on the Working Committee members by BCCI’s president-inexile N Srinivasan and was passed unanimously, ostensibly to appease host broadcasters and sponsors. Under the Future Tours Programme (FTP), India are scheduled to host only a seven-match ODI series against Australia in October. Sachin, who recently started practising after undergoing surgery on his left palm, has confirmed his availability for the Champions League T20 where he will turn out for the Mumbai Indians. The peerless batsman has so far played 198 Tests, scoring 15,837 runs at an average of 53.86. He is also the only batsman in the world to log 100 centuries in international cricket, 51 of them coming in the longest (five-day) format. He had announced his retirement from ODIs late last year after having played 463 games in the course of his 24-year long career, amassing a record 18,426 runs, including 49 centuries at an average of 44.83.
-
KOHLI BEATS DHONI AND SACHIN IN ENDORSEMENTS
MUMBAI (TIP): India’s hottest young cricketer Virat Kohli is setting the world of brand endorsements alight. The Indian captain-in-the-making, whose exploits on the field, combined with his youth, good looks and never-say-die attitude, makes him a winner off the field too, has inked a Rs 10- crore per annum deal with German sports goods giant Adidas. The three-year contract, perhaps the most lucrative to be signed by an Indian sports star, will see the swashbuckling right-hand batsman endorsing the brand’s apparel and shoes. The Delhi lad has also struck a Rs 6.5 crore a year deal with a tyre brand that had master batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh as its ambassadors, a person familiar with the development revealed.
The two deals will see Kohli topping the likes of Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Tendulkar in terms of annual earnings per brand endorsement. Kohli, who turns 25 later this year, pocketed around Rs 40 crore from endorsements last year, but that sum may swell up substantially with these two deals in his kit bag. Currently, he lends his face to as many as 13 brands, including Pepsi, Toyota and Cinthol deodorants. An Adidas spokesperson declined to comment on the development.
Tendulkar, who is Adidas’ current brand ambassador, is perhaps at the fag end of his illustrious career. And Kohli fits the bill perfectly as he is being groomed to take over the top job from Dhoni after the 2015 ICC World Cup, an executive from a sports management firm, who did not want to be named, said. Bunty Sajdeh-led Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment manages the Indian vicecaptain’s endorsement contracts. Sajdeh was unavailable for comment. Kohli’s annual endorsement fee has seen a meteoric rise over the past year, rivalling the likes of Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor, the hottest brand ambassador in the film industry.
Till last year, the cricket star used to command Rs 3 crore per brand annually, which went up to Rs 6 crore. The Rs 10-crore a year deal with Adidas propels him to a different league altogether. “For the past few years, Dhoni has been ruling the endorsement space, but Kohli is catching up very fast.While Dhoni connected well with the masses, Kohli has a more urban appeal which a lot of brands want to cash in on,” said Indranil Das Blah, COO of celebrity management firm CAA Kwan. The price escalation in Kohli’s endorsement contracts has meant that a lot of brands which had signed him early on must shell out much more to renew their deals or simply end their association with him. “We are willing to pay a premium, depending on what that number is.
He has been a great fit for our brand which targets youngsters, and he has grown with us,” said J Suresh, MD and CEO, Arvind Lifestyle and Brands which has had the cricketer on board for three years as Flying Machine’s brand ambassador. The jeans-wear brand signed Kohli before the World Cup at a moderate price and its contract is up for renewal.With Rs 10 crore becoming the new benchmark, many brands will find it hard to match up to Brand Kohli’s price tag. Until recently, Kohli and Nike were in a five-year contract inked in 2008. However, things turned sour between the two sides when the US sports goods major went to court claiming Kohli had breached the contract by disagreeing to continue as its brand ambassador till 2014. But the Karnataka high court ruled in favour of the cricketer,
-
Cosmos Health : A new step towards Women Healthcare
COSMOS Health India is likely to invest around Rs 40 crore in the next 6 months to set up 4 premium birthing centres across the country under ‘COSMOS’ brand, said the media report.
The fund will be raised through a combination of internal accruals, funding from the parent company and external funding which could be taken as and when required.
Moreover, the company has planned to build a presence in Bangalore as it believes there is a huge potential for quality healthcare in Bangalore and other metros, said the Group Director Dr. Sunil Eshwar.
For More info visit www.cosmoshealth.in
-
New president Hasan Rouhani: I have power to ensure Iran will never seek nuclear bomb
TV interview comes days before first appearance at the UN General Assembly
TEHRAN (TIP): Iran’s recently installed President has said his country won’t seek a nuclear bomb, and claimed – contrary to Western perception – he has the authority to make such decisions. Hasan Rouhani spoke to the American TV station NBC in Tehran, ahead of his first appearance on the world stage when he attends the UN General Assembly in New York. Described widely as a moderate, the Glasgow-educated former nuclear envoy was elected on a promise to ease tensions with the West and free the country from painful trade sanctions. The sanctions have slashed Iran’s vital oil exports by more than half in the past two years, sent inflation soaring and severely undercut the value of its currency. According to an NBC translation of the interview, Mr Rouhani said: “We have never pursued or sought a nuclear bomb and we are not going to do so.
“We have time and again said that under no circumstances would we seek any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, nor will we ever.” That denial – along with the accompanying claim that Iran’s uranium enrichment programme is for energy production – has been made before, including by Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It hasn’t yet convinced UK or US administrations. The US and its allies suspect Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, a feat some experts say the country might be able to accomplish as early as next year. During past nuclear negotiations with the West, and despite the seemingly endless discord between the two sides, Rouhani became a respected and well-liked figure. But Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is known to control all important matters of state, with Rouhani not thought to have the clout to make decisions about nuclear policy. Rouhani denied this in the interview, saying: “In its nuclear programme, this government enters with full power and has complete authority. We have sufficient political latitude to solve this problem.”
He also said he received a “positive and constructive” letter from US President Barack Obama upon his election in June. He said: “From my point of view, the tone of the letter was positive and constructive. It could be subtle and tiny steps for a very important future.” White House spokesman Jay Carney said there were no plans for Mr Obama to meet Mr Rouhani at the UN General Assembly. He said: “I think it’s fair to say that the President believes there is an opportunity for diplomacy when it comes to the issues that have presented challenges to the United States and our allies with regards to Iran. “And we hope that the Iranian government takes advantage of this opportunity.”
-
Japan economy expected to withstand sales tax hike: Poll
TOKYO (TIP): Japan’s economic recovery is expected to survive the impact from scheduled increases in the sales tax, a Reuters poll showed, as the government prepares economic stimulus measures to soften the blow. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set on Oct. 1 to sign off on an increase in the 5 percent sales tax to 8 percent in April and then to 10 percent in October 2015 to pay for welfare costs. The world’s third-largest economy is forecast to grow 2.8 percent in the fiscal year to March 2014, a Reuters poll of 24 economists showed. The survey, conducted Sept. 12-19, was little changed from the August poll. Growth is expected to slow to 0.7 percent in the following fiscal year as the first increase in the sales tax will slow consumer spending. That forecast also was little changed from last month’s poll. In fiscal 2015, growth will then accelerate to 1.5 percent, higher than 1.1 growth forecast last month, as declines in consumption will be temporary.
“Growth in Q1 next year should be boosted by spending being brought forward ahead of the consumption tax hike, which should slow growth in the second quarter,” said Marcel Thieliant, economist at Capital Economics. Japan is considering $50 billion in economic stimulus to cushion the blow of the national sales-tax increase, which is meant to rein in the government’s massive debt, people involved in the decisions have told Reuters. The tax hike is the biggest effort in years by a Japanese government to contain a public debt that, at more than twice the nation’s annual economic output, is the biggest in the world. The economy grew an annualised 3.8 percent in the second quarter, driven in large part by strong consumer spending, boosting the case for Abe to go ahead with the sales tax hike. Critics of the plan have called for a delay or watering down of the tax increase on the view Japan’s economy is still too weak to take the pain. Many politicians blame the last sales-tax hike, in 1997, for plunging the country into recession. The poll also showed that Japan’s core consumer prices were expected to rise 0.8 percent for the fiscal year starting April 2014 and 0.8 percent for fiscal 2015, excluding the effect of the expected sales tax hike. In comparison, the Bank of Japan’s latest forecasts are for a 1.3 percent rise and a 1.9 percent increase, respectively. The BOJ overhauled monetary policy in April in a bold move to pull Japan out of 15 years of mild deflation.
-
SACHIN HAS ALWAYS KEPT IT SIMPLE: JOHN WRIGHT
JAIPUR (TIP): The focus is understandably on Sachin Tendulkar as he pads up in the T20 format of the game for one last time. The Master Blaster arrived in Jaipur on Wednesday for Mumbai Indians’ opening match against Rajasthan Royals here on September 21. “We know that this is the last time that he would be playing in the T20 format,” Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma said on Thursday. “We will try to make it special.” Sharma doesn’t want to speculate on Tendulkar’s retirement. “He knows what is best for him. Now, he wants to take one game at a time and right now, it is CLT20,” the skipper said. For Royals skipper Rahul Dravid, it is just another game. “I have played so many times with and against him that it doesn’t really matter now,” he said. “That’s what the game is all about.”
Even Dravid will be playing competitive cricket for the last time and the focus for him is to lead the Royals to another successful outing. John Wright has been following Tendulkar’s career since he was 16 and feels the reason for the Master Blaster’s longevity is keeping things simple. “I first saw him as a rival player when he was 16,” Wright, the Mumbai Indians’ coach, said. Tendulkar had toured New Zealand with the Indian team in 1990 when Wright was still playing for the Kiwis. “I interacted with him a lot when I was the India coach,” the New Zealander said. “And now, as the Mumbai Indians coach, it is once again a pleasure working with him. The best part is that Sachin hasn’t changed since he was 16, in his approach towards the game. He continues to be sincere, hard-working and very dedicated.” Wright went on to add that the Master Blaster knows the game in and out. “He has kept it simple. He is the same old Sachin, a great person and a tremendous cricketer.” Mumbai Indians underwent a fourday preparatory camp at Ahmedabad before coming to Jaipur and, Wright said, Tendulkar was as sharp as ever. “It is a pleasure to inform you that he has been batting well and looks very keen and fresh.”
-
INDIA IN FRAY TO HOST 2018 HOCKEY WORLD CUP
LAUSANNE (TIP): India are among the five nations, who have placed their bids before the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to host the 2018 Hockey World Cup. The FIH said that it had received seven high quality bids from five nations who are all vying for the chance to host men’s and women’s showpiece events to be held simultaneously. According to a FIH statement, four official proposals to host the men’s World Cup have been made, with a further three submissions being made for the women’s tournament. The National Associations of Australia, England, India, Malaysia, and New Zealand have all put extremely strong cases forward in an attempt to lure the sport’s top properties to their territory, the statement added. As part of the bidding process, the FIH requested that official bid questionnaires were submitted before the August 31 deadline. The FIH received official submissions from five of the original six nations that initially expressed interest earlier in the year. The next phase of the process will feature the detailed evaluation of each bid which will be followed by further discussions and clarifications with NAs as well as site visits to each country. The final decision will rest with the FIH Executive Board in Lausanne, Switzerland, with the winning bids being announced on November 7. “The FIH is thrilled to have received such an excellent response from National Associations regarding the great opportunity to host Hockey World Cup events in 2018,” said FIH chief executive officer, Kelly Fairweather.
“The quality and competitiveness of every single bid is impressive, demonstrating that the decision to allocate events earlier and across the entire four-year cycle was absolutely the right move for hockey. All of the bids show a determination and desire to deliver the most entertaining, exciting and inspiring hockey events in the world, which is in line with our strategy to take hockey to the next level. With such strong competition between the bidding nations, it is clear that the choice will not be an easy one to make.” India had last hosted the World Cup in 2010 before the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. The official bids received for the World Cups are part of the new event assignment process which was launched and presented to the National Associations at the FIH Congress in November last year. The re-structured bidding process will ensure that all unallocated events for the 2015-2018 period will be assigned before the end of this year. A total of 20 events between 2015 and 2018, as well as the men’s and women’s Indoor World Cups 2019, will be assigned from 54 bids submitted to the FIH for assessment.
-
USAIN BOLT BACKTRACKS ON PLAN TO RETIRE AFTER 2016 GAMES
LONDON (TIP): Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, may continue competing until the 2017 world championships in London, the Jamaican told the BBC. The six-times Olympic champion had previously always said he planned to quit after the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. “I wanted to retire after Rio but my fans are saying do it one more time and then my sponsors came on board. I might go one more year. My coach says it can be done,” the eight-times world championship gold medallist said. Bolt, 27, said it was still possible he could lower his world records from 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres and 19.19 in the 200, both times set four years ago. “There’s a possibility,” he said. “For me last season I said I wanted to but I started slowly and I got injured, the older you get the harder it is to come back from injury.” Bolt also said he would like to run in next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. “It’s on my to-do list but I never try to go against my coach,” he said. “We’re going to discuss it, we’re not fully sure. It’s unlikely I’ll run both, I’ll probably be running the 200 metres if I go.”
-
New foreign coach in 2 weeks, Oltmans to continue in his role
NEW DELHI (TIP): Indian men’s hockey team is set to get a new foreign coach within two weeks time as the national federation has shortlisted four candidates for the top job. Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra has confirmed that they have received six applications from across the globe to fill the foreign coach’s post, which is lying vacant after Australian Michael Nobbs’s sudden ouster in July this year. “We have received six applications for the foreign coach’s post. After going through all the applicants’ CVs we have shortlisted four individuals,” Batra said, completely rubbishing reports that HI has recommended its High Performance Director, Roelant Oltmans’s name for the national team coach’s position on permanent basis. “In a day or two we will send the names to Sports Authority of India for their approval. The SAI will take a final decision on this issue after consulting us. We expect the new coach to be named within two weeks time,” he said.
A newspaper report today claimed that HI had proposed Oltmans to be appointed as the national team coach till 2016 Rio Olympics and the SAI, who are responsible for hiring coaches, is believed to have approved the national body’s proposal. The report said Oltmans’s name came in the running after he guided India to the silver medal finish in last month’s Asia Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia. The Dutchman was the team’s interim coach during Asia Cup after Nobbs’s ouster. But the HI secretary general termed the report as “false and completely baseless”. “The report is false and completely baseless. We haven’t discussed anything with SAI on this matter. The question of proposing Oltmans’ name for national team coach doesn’t arise at all as he is our High Performance Director. He is responsible for the development of all teams be it junior, senior, women’s,” Batra said. “Oltmans himself played a key role in shortlising the candidates. His views were also taken into consideration in pruning down the list,” he added.
