The Indian Panorama

Year: 2013

  • Hicksville modeling agency employees charged in scam

    Hicksville modeling agency employees charged in scam

    MINEOLA, NEW YORK (TIP): Three employees of a Hicksville-based modeling agency have been charged with defrauding dozens of clients out of more than $250,000, says Eyewitness News. Authorities say they overcharged for photo shoots, misrepresented the terms of contracts, and promised clients lucrative roles and modeling jobs for their children that never existed. An arrest warrant has been issued for the business’s CEO, James Muniz, 44, of Roslyn. Authorities have arrested Jennifer Santiago, 26, of Jamaica, Queens, Jennifer Diaz-Domenech, 31, of Brooklyn, and Michelle Alperin-Smith, 42, of Nesconset on grand larceny and related charges. The arrests are the result of a five-month joint investigation between the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and New York State Attorney General’s Office.

    “Hundreds of families were led to believe that their child was the next big thing, only to learn that they were just the next in line to be scammed,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. Rice and New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said that since 2010, James Muniz was president and CEO of the Model Talent Development Center (MTD) and New Faces Development Center, Inc. (New Faces) in Hicksville. Between then and New Faces/MTD’s closing in November 2012, Muniz had associates acting as talent scouts in public places and the Queens Center and Roosevelt Field shopping malls, approaching young teenagers and people with small children. The scouts claimed that the child had been chosen because they had a “look” that made them likely to succeed in modeling or acting. According to authorities, victims were falsely promised that they would incur no costs for services, were misled into believing that only a small percentage of those approached, and subsequently interviewed by New Faces/MTD, were actually offered an opportunity with the company.

    In truth, New Faces/MTD was not selective at all in choosing its clients, but signed up virtually anyone who would pay. Victims were subjected to high pressure sales tactics, and were falsely told that their children would lose imminent high-paying employment opportunities if they did not immediately sign up for contracts costing anywhere from $550 to $3,000, authorities said. After paying hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars, consumers would often go months without even a telephone call from New Faces/MTD, let alone a job as an actor or model. In other cases, investigators say clients were told that their children had secured multi-year contracts with retailers such as Macy’s, Toys R’ Us, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, The Children’s Place, Target, and JC Penney, but this required them to enter into additional agreements or extend their current contract with New Faces/MTD. Authorities said many were told that they had to accept the agreements or extensions immediately or the alleged modeling job would go to someone else.

    The payments, usually by credit or debit card for thousands of dollars, had to be made within 24-48 hours. Investigators said New Faces/MTD had no arrangements or agreements with any of the major retailers they mentioned to clients. It’s not the first time the company has faced accusations. The Attorney General’s Office had initiated civil proceedings against the company in 2006, when it was known as New Faces and owned by Muniz’s ex-wife. As a result of those proceedings, New Faces agreed to cease its deceptive business practices and paid more than $250,000 in restitution. The Attorney General opened a new investigation in December 2012 against Muniz and MTD after receiving numerous complaints. Complaints from clients and MTD employees spurred the Nassau County District Attorney’s investigation into Muniz and MTD in April 2013. The two investigations merged shortly thereafter. The investigation into New Faces/MTD is ongoing, and anyone who thinks they may have been similarly victimized should contact DA Rice’s Complaints Unit at (516) 571-3505 or the Attorney General’s Office at (516) 248-3301.

  • PM Manmohan Singh to address United Nations General Assembly on September 28

    PM Manmohan Singh to address United Nations General Assembly on September 28

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India’s Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will address the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 28. During his visit to US, he will meet with President Obama in Washington on September 27. He is also likely to have a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York, on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly meeting. The UNGA, with the theme “Post-2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage!”- will be attended by nearly 193 member countries and is scheduled from September 17 to October 2. Dr Singh will address during the high-level meeting segment which will be from September 24 to October 1, Additional Secretary Navtej Singh Sarna (International Organizations) in Ministry of External Affairs said. Mr. Sarna also said the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will hold bilateral talks with ministers of China, Egypt, Libya, Germany and UAE among others apart from attending ministerial meeting at the UN. Mr. Khurshid will also take part in G-77, NAM ministerial, BRICS, IBSA and G-4 meetings of Foreign Ministers.

  • Chatwal Dream in Dubai

    Chatwal Dream in Dubai

    Hampshire Hotels & Sheffield Holding LTD. ink deal
    NEW YORK (TIP): On the heels of the wildly successful launch of its New York flagship property, Dream Downtown, and its sunny cousin Dream South Beach, the brand has announced its next international offering Dream Dubai in the Emirate city’s hip waterfront Marina District. Dream brand officials disclosed today that the hotel group has completed a deal that will make Dream Dubai the world’s tallest hotel development, taking occupancy in the project known as Marina 101.
    Dream Dubai Marina will house 300 guest rooms and 420 branded serviced apartments which will be managed by Sant Singh Chatwal’s Hampshire Hotels Management, LLC in association with Wyndham Hotel Group who are global expansion partners for the Dream brand by way of a joint venture deal the two entities struck in early 2011 In addition to the 720 rooms and service residences, Dream Dubai Marina will feature 6 restaurants and lounges, multiple retail entities and a nightclub that will occupy the 101st floor.


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    The Marina 101 development is one of the largest super towers in the district and will stand as the tallest hotel tower in the world.

    Other recreational features will include two pools and two spas, one for each the hotel and the residences as well as men’s and ladies’ gymnasiums with squash courts. “It is through the Chairman, Sheffield Holdings LTD, Mr. Abu Ali Malik Shroff’s unique insight and vision of creating an iconic project in the heart of Dubai that this Dream will become a reality”, said Hampshire Hotels Chairman Sant Singh Chatwal, “He had the vision to create it and the fortitude to weather the storm of 2009 and 2010. I am very excited to call him a partner.” What will truly differentiate the upcoming Dream opening in Dubai from the other players in the market is the progressive nature of the brand and its forward-thinking eye for design and programming. The launch of Dream in Dubai will signify the first true lifestyle hotel opening for the Emirates and will be accompanied by other openings in the Dream pipeline including projects in Los Angeles, Dallas and West Palm Beach in the US as well as South Goa and Mumbai in India. Dubai’s Marina district is a dynamic, east-meets-west style megadevelopment on the man-made marina at the waterfront of the Arabian Gulf. The Marina 101 development is one of the largest super towers in the district and will stand as the tallest hotel tower in the world. The hotel is slated to open fourth quarter 2014.

    About the Dream Brand:
    Dream, the brainchild of hotelier Vikram Chatwal, is informed by a design philosophy that is contemporary, daring, at times surreal and always chic. Properties are highlighted by whimsical public spaces that mimic dream sequences and serene accommodations lit to lull the guest to sleep. Cosmopolitan yet comfortable, luxurious without being fussy, Dream hotels are remarkable for their genuine connection to the distinctive character of each locale, from New York’s thriving theater district to the colorful soil of Bangkok. The brand recently entered into an agreement with Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company as measured by nearly 7,210 hotels, in which Wyndham gained exclusive rights to franchise the Dream brand globally. Dream hotels will be able to leverage Wyndham’s reservations system, Wyndham Rewards loyalty program and extended reach of sales, marketing and development professionals designed to further expand the brand.

    About Sheffield Holdings LTD
    Sheffield Holdings LTD is one of the leading Dubai-based private developers and has projects across Dubai, spanning the International City, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai Waterfront and Mizin, where the realty company is constructing a unique retail mall. Sheffield Chairman Abu Ali Malik Shroff said the diversification of the portfolio has been done so that Sheffield is present in all potential growth sectors of the economy of Dubai.

  • America Abroad Media to honor Kathryn Bigelow, Aamir Khan and ICNC

    America Abroad Media to honor Kathryn Bigelow, Aamir Khan and ICNC

    WASHINGTON (TIP): America Abroad Media (AAM) will host its Inaugural Awards Dinner at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC on October 28, honoring three outstanding leaders in television and film -Kathryn Bigelow, Aamir Khan and the International Center on Non-violent Conflict (ICNC), whose work exemplifies the power of media to inform, educate and empower citizens about the critical social and public policy issues of our time. Kathryn Bigelow is the director of Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker, which have received widespread acclaim for their honest portrayal of war and counterterrorism. In 2010, Ms. Bigelow became the first and only woman to date to win the Academy Award for Best Director. Aamir Khan is one of India’s most famous Bollywood stars. His new TV series, Satyamev Jayate, explores India’s biggest social challenges and has been seen by hundreds of millions of people in his country and across Asia. Mr. Khan was recently selected as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people. Founded by Peter Ackerman, the ICNC produces award-winning documentaries on the role of non-violent resistance in promoting democratic change. The ICNC – which was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 – will release a new documentary on the Arab Spring and uprising in Egypt later this year.

  • Tony Blair’s daughter threatened at gunpoint by robbers

    Tony Blair’s daughter threatened at gunpoint by robbers

    LONDON (TIP): The daughter of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was threatened at gunpoint in London in an attempted robbery. Kathryn Blair, a 29-year-old barrister was held at gunpoint by two men in a posh locality of central London on Wednesday. She escaped unhurt. Kathryn was walking down Marylebone Street with her boyfriend when two men, one of armed with a gun, demanded cash and jewellery. Blair never offered resistance but the robbers suddenly fled empty-handed. She and her friends are safe and were left unhurt. Scotland Yard confirmed it happened at around 8.30pm. People have raised serious questions on how the daughter of the former leader could be strolling around without any security cover. The spokesman said, “The victims were a man and a woman, the suspects were two males”. Sources said the robbers could be returning after committing another robbery at a nearby house half-an-hour earlier. The police spokesman added, “On both occasions a firearm was seen but not used – no shots were fired. None of the victims were injured and nothing was stolen during the incidents.” The first incident occurred in Boston Place at 8 pm and involved a female victim. Officers from Westminster borough are investigating both attempted robberies. No arrests have been made so far. The Blair family has been in the news recently for the high profile wedding of Tony’s Blair’s son. Kathryn had just returned to London after spending the weekend with father Tony and mother Cherie in their country home at Buckinghamshire after the wedding of her brother Euan.

  • About Dr. Vaijnath M. Chakote,

    About Dr. Vaijnath M. Chakote,

    EDUCATION: Karnataka Medical College Hospital,Hubuli India
    MEMBERSHIP: Karnataka Medical & Dental Alumni Association of America American Association Physicians from India
    CHARITABLE & SOCIAL ACTIVITY: Conducting Continuing Medical Education in India & US; Charitable Activities in Karnataka – India
    PROJECTS: Funding and supporting Kolar District Rural Clinic As President of KSMD Ghattahalli Village Kolar
    Karnataka India – 12 Kilometer from Kolar
    PURPOSE: Render free medical care the poor and underprivileged
    PLAN: Clinic Services 500- 600 patients per week
    NEXT PROJECT: Provide dental care in Kolar Clinics
    IN USA: Servicing medical care in poor communities in all boroughs of NYC

  • About Mr. Ed Mangano,

    About Mr. Ed Mangano,

    On January 1, 2010, Edward P. Mangano was sworn into office as Nassau County Executive. That same day, the County Executive kept his pledge to taxpayers by repealing Nassau County’s Home Energy Tax – the equivalent of a 5% property tax reduction for homeowners. Mr. Mangano is the first County Executive to place tax dollars back in the pockets of our residents. Ed Mangano believes that high taxes kill jobs. That is why County Executive Mangano has held the line on County property taxes every year since taking office, eliminated a 16.5% property tax increase planned by the prior administration and even stopped a County Food Tax dead in its tracks. Nassau County was the highest-taxed county in the nation before Ed Mangano took office – that is no longer the case due to his cost-saving policies.

    In fact, Nassau County won the New York State Local Government Efficiency Award. Throughout his term as County Executive, Mr. Mangano has focused on rebuilding Nassau County without asking taxpayers to foot the bill for the $378 million deficit he inherited from the prior administration. To accomplish this, County Executive Mangano cut over $330 million in wasteful spending and launched nationally recognized public-private partnerships – savings taxpayers millions of dollars and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Some of the notable publicprivate partnerships are: ” Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – a successful public-privatepartnership with Forest City Ratner Companies was formed to transform the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum into a world-class sports-entertainment destination at no cost to taxpayers.

    When completed, the facility will host the New York Islanders, Brooklyn Nets, New York Yankee Coaching Clinics, Children Shows, Heavyweight Boxing championship tournaments, minor league hockey and college basketball games as well as an exciting array of star-studded performers and family-fun entertainment. Plaza development will include a performing arts theatre, ice rink, movie theatre, bowling alley and theme restaurants.

  • About Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay

    About Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay

    Born on November 5, 1958 in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra State (Western India), Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Manohar Mulay took his primary education at the village Primary School. Subsequently, he completed Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Shahaji Chhatrapati College at Kolhapur, followed by Master’s Degree in Personnel Management from Mumbai University. He joined Indian Foreign Service in 1983 and, besides serving at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, has also done postings in Indian Missions in Tokyo, Moscow, and Port Louis. He served as Minister in Damascus and was High Commissioner of India to Male (Maldives) from April 2009-March 2013. In New Delhi, he acquired diverse experience during his assignments at Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Finance. He also served as Advisor in the Cabinet Secretariat. Ambassador Mulay took charge as Consul General of India in New York on April 23, 2013. Ambassador Mulay has been an award winning writer in Marathi and Hindi. He has contributed several books some of which have been translated into Kannada, Arabic, Urdu and Dhivehi. He has keen interest in Education, Environment (particularly water security) and socio-economic issues. Ambassador Mulay is married and has three children (a daughter and two sons).

  • ABOUT DR. VIJAYPAL ARYA

    ABOUT DR. VIJAYPAL ARYA

    Dr. Vijaypal Arya, born in 1962 in Rajasthan, comes from a very academic oriented family; his mother Mrs. Sheelvati Devi, starting and serving at a Girls’ school for 55 years with active support of his father, Mr. Shanti Gupta. His grandfather Swami Satyanand founded Arya Mahila Vidyapeeth for girls’ education in Bharatpur district that is now a University. His parents, despite economic hardships, gave education top priority and excellence in education was the hallmark of the family. After completing his primary education, Dr. Arya commenced studies at Ravindranath Tagore Medical College of Rajasthan University. Dr. Arya came to the US in 1986 and joined as an intern at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. He completed his internal medicine residency in 1991.

    To further pursue his interests, he joined the Gastroenterology fellowship program at Allegheny General Hospital and became a board certified gastroenterologist in 1993. He joined the Gastroenterology division of Wyckoff Heights Hospital as the Assistant director in 1994; became a fellow of American College of Physicians (1996), American College of Gastroenterology (1999) and American Gastroenterology association (2007). At Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, he is serving as the Chairman of Continuing Medical Education Committee and is the President of Medical Staff Society. In the past he served as President of Alumni Association. Teaching is his passion, which he believes he inherited from his mother. He has been honored by the Department of Medicine residents at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center for his teaching and guidance by various awards. Dr Arya has been serving as Clinical Assistant Professor at Weill – Cornell Medical College, Director of Endoscopy at Wyckoff, Attending Physician at North Shore LIJ Health System . Dr Arya is well recognized by his peers and was listed as America’s Top Physician in 2004 by Consumers Research Council of America for three consecutive years.

    In 2004, he started working to provide scientific evidence for the ancient Yoga method (Shankh Prakshalana) for Colon cleansing. This work received the Presidential Poster Award in 2009, American College of Gastroenterology, Annual Meeting. The research has been published in peer reviewed journals. He has given extensive lectures at various educational meetings. Dr Arya is an active member of various academic and honorary societies and organizations. He is also known for his generosity and humbleness by his selfless contributions to the people who are in need, for which he has established Vikalp Foundation. He lives in Old Brookeville, Long Island with his wife Dr Kalpana Arya-Gupta and four kids -Swarn, Simran, Sajel and Krishna.

  • ABOUT SALEEM IQBAL

    ABOUT SALEEM IQBAL

    Saleem Iqbal is currently the President/CEO and Director of HAB BANK, a multi-state New York State chartered bank with headquarters in New York. Since 2000, Mr. Iqbal has led an extraordinary transformation of HAB BANK with ambitious strategic efforts designed to re-engineer processes and fuel sustained growth with diverse revenue streams. The Bank besides expanding its branch network saw its assets and deposits more than tripled since Saleem Iqbal assumed leadership in 2000. Shareholder’s equity also experienced more than triple digit increase during the same period. Before joining HAB and while with Habib Bank AG Zurich in 1991, Saleem Iqbal quickly established himself as a growth-oriented individual. He was responsible for an unparallel growth of Habib Bank AG Zurich Branches in UAE and Oman.

    In 2011, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York appointed Saleem Iqbal on its Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC) for a 3- year term. CDIAC consists of 12 CEOs selected from over 1200 Banks, Thrifts & Credit Unions in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Island. Saleem is the only South Asian on the Council. Appointed by NYLIB (New York League of Independent Bankers) on its Advisory Board of Directors in 2012. In 2013, Saleem was among a select group of business leaders invited to The White House for the Export Finance Roundtable. The Round Table is the initiative of The White House Office of Public Engagement and The Export Import Bank of the United States. 4 Times winner of ‘Man of the Year Award’. This award is conferred to the best performing individual in Habib Group of Banks – worldwide. He is the only individual to have won this award 4 times Saleem serves on Board of Middlesex. Community College in NJ and Cerritos Community College in Cerritos, CA. He is a charter member of The Indus Entrepreneurs with chapters all over the US and holds an MPA (Masters in Public Administration).

  • About Dr. Prem C. Goel

    About Dr. Prem C. Goel

    Dr. Prem C. Goel was born in 1944 in Taraori, a small town in Haryana. He earned a medal of honor for standing first in Kurukshetra University in premedical and graduated from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in 1969. After completing the compulsory Internship at AIIMS, Dr. Goel embarked on a journey to the land of opportunities and touched the shores of the city that never sleeps on June 23, 1971. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology at the Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He was soon appointed director of critical care unit at the hospital. It is here that he was offered a teaching appointment as an assistant professor of medicine at the Cornell-Weil medical college in 1977 but the fear of administrative hierarchy and insecurities and the lure of independence took him away from academics to private practice but only for a short while. His heart and soul belonged to teaching the residents and fellows which he continues without being on the institutional salary. He maintained a faculty position briefly at Down State Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York . He was first acknowledged with an award for social service while still in high school.

    He received an award of community service from the well known Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation of which he subsequently became the President and served it extremely successfully with dedication and devotion. Former prime minister Mr. Inder Kumar Gujral bestowed upon him an award in 1997 for “his commitment, outstanding contribution and fierce dedication.” It is very befitting to state that Prem is a kind hearted doctor with a Midas touch and a mind set for diligent service to the humanity. Philanthropy was first coined 2500 years ago in ancient Greece by the playwright Aeschylus but the modern philanthropy with its entire previous history means, “private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of life.” Prem befits this very meaning and it is for this very reason that we are honoring him this evening. He is married to the shy and religious but equally kind-hearted and loving sweetheart, Shashi. She has been the proverbial woman behind Dr. Goel’s success.

    They have a daughter, Kavita and two sons, Paresh and Amit. Kavita, who finished at the top of her class in medical school, is an internist and provided the most compassionate, dedicated and high quality patient care alongside her father for five years. She is married to Naveen, a highly successful and respected attorney. Since the birth of their second child, Kavita chose to pay fulltime attention to raising their two beautiful daughters, Naiya and Riya. Paresh along with his wife, Usha, both very astute and dedicated physicians, have also followed the family foot steps and joined Prem in his private practice. Amit, the genius with independent mind that he is, chose a modern path of information technology and is a computer consultant. Goels live in Muttontown, Long Island. We wish Prem and his family continued achievements, happiness and peace as they continue to travel the path of humanitarian services.

  • ABOUT MANOHAR TOOR

    ABOUT MANOHAR TOOR

    Manohar Singh Toor’s life story is an example of the American dream come true. Through hard work, perseverance and effort,Mr. Toor overcame simple beginnings to become an American success story. He is a shining example of what Punjabi focus, grit and determination can accomplish. Manohar Singh Toor arrived to the United States in 1982. His first two years in the U.S. were spent working in the California farm fields. By 1984, he had decided to take on the challenge of New York. Upon arriving in New York, he took various odd jobs available to him until he could get his own construction business underway. In 1986, he marched up one rung of the ladder of success by opening his own construction company. As luck would have it, god granted him the best support and partner he could have, as he was married to Apinderjit in 1987.

    After making his construction company a success, he purchased his first gas station business in 2005. As with all things he has put his mind to, the gas station business flourished to the point where he now has several stations.With the success and blessings he has received, Mr. Toor recognized the necessity to remember his roots and to give back to his community so that others may have the same success he obtained. Mr. Toor thus began a lifelong pursuit of community service. For example, he has worked for the last couple of years by volunteering his time and effort with the L.I. India Day Parade committee. Further, he has provided expertise and money to public projects in Jalandhar and Amritsar. Additionally, he has provided material support to numerous Sikh temples here in New York. Finally, he is proud of the time and energy he has devoted to various associations to support Kabaddi tournaments. These tournaments provide a slice of home to recent Punjabi immigrants and give an outlet for young Punjabis to focus their energies. He currently lives in East Meadow with his loving wife Apinderjit and three children, Simran, Harry and Kabir.

  • RAFAEL NADAL BEATS NOVAK DJOKOVIC TO WIN US OPEN

    RAFAEL NADAL BEATS NOVAK DJOKOVIC TO WIN US OPEN

    NEW YORK (TIP): Rafael Nadal claimed his second US Open title and 13th Grand Slam crown when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a lungbusting, big-hitting final on September 9. Nadal, 27, added the 2013 trophy to his 2010 triumph, when he completed a career Grand Slam, and gloriously capped a year that has now seen him capture 10 titles and stretch his season record to 60 wins and just three losses. Monday’s win also earned him a total of $3.6 million, which takes his career earnings through the $60 million mark and also edged him closer to Roger Federer’s record of 17 majors and put him one behind Pete Sampras.

    In the pair’s record-setting 37th meeting, world number two Nadal, who only returned to the tour in February following a seven-month injury lay-off, took his lead over Djokovic to 22-15 as he added the US Open crown to the eighth French Open he claimed in June. “It’s very emotional. All my team knows what this means to me,” said Nadal. “Novak always brings my game to the limit. He is an amazing player. He will go down as one of the greatest in the sport.” For Djokovic, playing in a fourth successive final in New York, it was a devastating defeat in a year which started with a fourth Australian Open title but was followed by a semifinal loss at the French Open to Nadal and a Wimbledon final mauling by Andy Murray. For the neutrals, however, it was a memorable contest which showcased thrilling athleticism, delicate touch and exhausting, brutal rallies, one of which was fought out over 54 shots. Djokovic lost 11 of the last 13 games with his challenge fatally undermined by 53 unforced errors to Nadal’s 20. “Rafa was too good, and he definitely deserved to win today.

    I am disappointed to lose a match like this but it’s a huge privilege to be fighting for the trophy,” said Djokovic. Nadal, in his 18th major final, was comfortably the more settled player in the opening stages, finding pin-point accuracy while Djokovic, who had already voiced his dislike at playing on a late Monday afternoon, was sluggish and heavy-footed. Nadal, who missed the 2012 tournament through injury, sensed the Serb’s uneasiness and broke for a 2-1 lead, mastering the occasion as well as the tricky breeze. Djokovic, meanwhile, looked as lethargic as he had done at Wimbledon when he was brushed aside in straight sets by Murray. Even the technology was on the Spaniard’s side as a successful challenge on triple break point gave him a double break for 5-2. With a host of show business glitterati looking on — including Sean Connery, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake — Nadal claimed the first set with ease after 42 minutes, Djokovic undone by 14 unforced errors. The omens were looking good at that stage for the 27-year-old Spaniard, who had only lost three out of 154 career Grand Slam matches when winning the first set.

    But 26-year-old Djokovic stormed out of his slumbers and broke for 4-2 in the second set after a 54-shot rally, Nadal dumping an approach into the net. It was only the second time Nadal had dropped serve in the tournament and the setback fired him into an immediate response, hitting back at 3- 4, before Djokovic broke again for 5-3 on a modest 28-shot exchange. This time, the world number one backed up it up to level the final, taking the 58-minute set with a down the line winner. Djokovic broke to love in the opening game of the third and had a point for a double break in the third before Nadal clung on to avoid dropping serve for the fourth game in a row. The world number two then capitalized on a sloppy Djokovic service game to level at 3-3, but the twists and turns became a tumble for Nadal, who slipped to the floor in the ninth game. Unruffled, he saved three break points to sneak ahead 5-4 and then unleashed a deep, fierce forehand which Djokovic could only slap long as Nadal went into a two sets to one lead. The momentum was back with Nadal as Djokovic cursed his unforced error count, which had rocketed to 42. Nadal fought off two break points in the opening game of the fourth set and broke a tiring Djokovic with a heat-seeker of a forehand. He backed it up for 3-0 and repeated it against a broken-spirited Djokovic for 5-1. Victory was Nadal’s after three hours and 21 minutes when Djokovic buried a return in the net.

  • ARMSTRONG RETURNS OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL

    ARMSTRONG RETURNS OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL

    AUSTIN (TIP): Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has handed over his 2000 Olympic bronze medal to US Olympic officials, nine months after the International Olympic Committee demanded it back, he said on September 12. “The 2000 Bronze is back in possession of @usolympics and will be in Switzerland asap to @Olympics,” Armstrong said on Twitter, posting a photo of the medal. USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky confirmed on Twitter that the American body had the medal. “I can confirm that The United States Olympic Committee has received the bronze medal awarded to Lance Armstrong at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney,” Sandusky said. “The International Olympic Committee and the USOC had previously requested that the medal be returned.

    The USOC has made arrangements to return the medal to the IOC.” Thomas Bach, who was elected president of the IOC in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, had revealed on Monday in his role as head of the IOC judicial commission that Armstrong had yet to return the medal. The IOC had written to Armstrong — who was third in the time-trial event in Sydney — in January to ask him for it. The IOC had to wait to punish the American until world cycling’s governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI), sanctioned Armstrong, which it did on December 6 last year. It then had a further three-week wait in which the Texan had recourse to appeal his lifetime doping ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from the sport for life in October, 2012, after the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) produced evidence of widespread doping by him and his former team-mates.

  • Menaria, Mandeep sizzle as India A whitewash Kiwis

    Menaria, Mandeep sizzle as India A whitewash Kiwis

    VISAKHAPATNAM (TIP): India ‘A’ dug deep and were challenged right through before managing a two-wicket win with four balls to spare in the final one-dayer against New Zealand ‘A’ at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACAVDCA Stadium on September 12. Ashok Menaria yet again stood out for his all-round abilities, taking 2/45 and playing a blistering knock of 69 (8×6, 2×4), while Mandeep Singh (37 no, 3×4, 1×6) played a levelheaded innings towards the end, adding 47 runs for the eighth wicket with Rahul Sharma (20, 3×4), as India ‘A’ chased down 291. The win helped India win the series 3-0 after a drawn ‘Test’ series. The visitors’ new-ball pair of Mark Gillespie (3/43) and Douglas Bracewell (1/37) bowled to a steady line, getting rid of India ‘A’ skipper Unmukt Chand (11, 1×4). Gillespie, who accounted for Chand, then dismissed Sanju Samson (5, 1×4) to reduce the hosts to 43 for 2. Robin Uthappa (46, 6×4, 1×6) and Sachin Baby (16, 2×4) added 35 before the Kiwis got rid of the two.

    At 79-4, India ‘A’ looked vulnerable for the first time in the series. With the target still 212 away, it all boiled down to Menaria and Kedhar Jadhav (57, 5×4, 2×6) to keep the hosts in the hunt. And, they did just that. The introduction of Todd Astle (0/37) in the 25th over saw Menaria amass 24 runs (3 sixes and 1 four) from it, altering the complexion of the contest. From the eight deliveries Menaria faced from Astle, he hit 36 runs. The Jadhav-Menaria stand added 128 runs in 17.5 overs for the fifth wicket. While Menaria’s clean hits brought down the asking rate, Jadhav played the role of second fiddle to perfection. The Menaria-Jadhav partnership brought life into the contest, turning the tide firmly in the hosts’ favor.

  • GORY MUZAFFARNAGAR KILLINGS SHAKE DOCTORS

    GORY MUZAFFARNAGAR KILLINGS SHAKE DOCTORS

    LUCKNOW (TIP): The brutality with which people were massacred in west UP clashes has shaken even the doctors at Muzaffarnagar district hospital who performed the postmortem of victims. The tales told by the doctors are horrific: a woman dismembered into two parts, charred bodies whose sex could not be ascertained and a ten-year-old kid whose head was smashed. A 12-member team of doctors has been working round the clock since September 7, conducting autopsy of victims of the state’s deadliest communal clashes. So far, doctors have conducted postmortem of 53 victims. While 40 bodies were identified, 13 were beyond recognition. The team is doing autopsy of three to four corpses daily. The official toll climbed to 45 on September 13. On Septrmbrt 13, two highly decomposed bodies of men were brought to the hospital from Bhopa and Sikhera police stations.

    Both the victims could not be identified. Doctors said most of the riot victims were either stabbed or attacked with sharp-edged weapons. Recounting the horror, a senior doctor posted at the hospital said, “A family of four was killed brutally in Phugana town of Shamli. A woman was cut into two pieces. Cops brought her torso and abdomen separately to the hospital. It seemed the rioters had axed her and damaged her face with multiple blows of the weapon.” The doctors said in Phugana, victims were targeted by rioters with wreaking vengeance. “Two severely charred bodies, including that of an eight-year-old kid, were brought to the hospital on September 10. Their sex could not be determined but we have preserved DNA samples for further examination,” said a doctor. DNA samples of 11 more riot victims have been preserved. Several houses in the village were torched in the communal violence. Maximum charred bodies came from Phugana. At least 16 people from Phugana are feared dead. Another pocket targeted by rioters was Kutba, a village in Shahpur area of Muzaffarnagar.

    The victims in this village were attacked with firearms, sharp-edged weapons and wooden sticks. The administration has told doctors to speed up the autopsy process. So postmortems are being conducted in the night as well. But doctors complain the government is not sending additional teams of doctors from Shamli. “Health department despite reminders did not ensure that some doctors from Shamli help us in taking care of patients. Serious cases from the neighbouring district are referred to Muzaffarnagar district hospital and we remain extremely overburdened,” said a doctor. “Dissecting body of the charred kid left me in shock and I could not have proper meal for the next 24 hours. I had never seen brutality of such magnitude before,” said a doctor. Twenty one critical cases were brought to the hospital, out of whom 20 survived.

  • ARMS DEALS WORTH RS 15,000 CRORE CLEARED

    ARMS DEALS WORTH RS 15,000 CRORE CLEARED

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The defence ministry on September 13 cleared several arms acquisition projects worth almost Rs 15,000 crore for the armed forces, which included six more American C-130J “Super Hercules” aircraft, 236 Russian T-90S main-battle tanks and 4,400 new lightmachine guns (LMGs). The projects were cleared in a meeting of the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) — chaired by defence minister A K Antony and included the three Service chiefs and the defence secretary — just four days before US deputy secretary of defence Ashton B Carter arrives here next week. The C-130J deal is among the four major Indian deals worth around $5 billion that the US is all set to clinch within this financial year.

    The other three are for 22 Apache attack helicopters ($1.4 billion), 145 M-777 ultralight howitzers ($885 million) and 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters (around $1 billion). The new contract for six more C-130J planes – worth over Rs 4,000 crore in the direct government-togovernment deal under the US foreign military sales (FMS) programme – will now go the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) for the final nod by next month. While the first six C-130J aircraft already acquired by IAF are based at Hindon airbase, the six new “Super Hercules” will be housed at Panagarh in West Bengal. Panagarh will be the headquarters for the new mountain strike corps, along with two “independent” infantry brigades and two “independent” armoured brigades (totalling over 80,000 soldiers), which will be raised over the next seven years to plug operational gaps against China. Russia – not too happy with the US bagging Indian defence deals worth over $8 billion in recent years – also had some reason to cheer on Friday with the fresh order for the 236 T-90S tanks. They will be built by the Indian Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), at a cost of around Rs 6,000 crore, under transfer of technology (ToT) from Russia.

    India, in 2001 and 2007, had inked two contracts worth Rs 8,525 crore with Russia to import 657 T-90S tanks. With the OFB subsequently beginning to manufacture these tanks under licensed production, the Army has till now inducted around 780 of the 1,657 T-90S tanks it eventually wants. The LMG project is part of the Army’s endeavour to overhaul the basic weaponry of its infantry soldiers, which range from new-generation assault rifles to closequarter battle (CBQ) carbines, as reported earlier. Infantry battalions will induct the new 7.62mm calibre LMGs, with spare barrels and an effective 1-km firing range, under the new project worth around Rs 530 crore. The project will see the OFB tying up with a foreign vendor after issuing a global tender. The existing 5.56mm LMGs have only a 700-metre range and weigh much heavier at 6.23-kg. The US, of course, is steadily cornering a major chunk of the lucrative Indian defence market. It has already bagged defence contracts worth over $8 billion from India in recent years, including the first six C-130J aircraft for $1 billion, 10 C-17 Globemaster-III strategic-lift aircraft for $4.1 billion and eight P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft for $2.1 billion. Another major deal being negotiated is the follow-on order for four more P-8I aircraft for the Navy.

  • IPL spot-fixing: Sree, Ankeet Chavan banned for life

    IPL spot-fixing: Sree, Ankeet Chavan banned for life

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Rajasthan Royals’ players S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan were on September 13 “banned for life” for their involvement in the IPL spotfixing scandal by the Disciplinary Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). “They have been banned for life from playing any representative cricket, or in any way being associated with the activities of the BCCI or its affiliates,” a statement issued by board secretary Sanjay Patel said. The BCCI disciplinary committee, comprising N Srinivasan, Arun Jaitley and Niranjan Shah, met here today to consider the report submitted by Ravi Sawant, appointed by the board to inquire into the scandal. Sawant has held Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan guilty of conceding a “predetermined number of runs per over in exchange for bribes”.

    The committee took the decision “after considering the evidence on record, and hearing each of the players in person”. Cricketer-turned-bookie Amit Singh was banned for five years while his Royals teammate Siddharth Trivedi got one-year ban for not reporting that he was approached by bookies. The case against Harmeet Singh, 20, who was part of India’s under-19 World Cup winning team in 2012, has been “closed in the absence of evidence against him”. No decision was taken on Ajit Chandila, as his deposition was not complete. He got bail three days ago and would be asked to appear before Sawant for evidence. His case would come up before the disciplinary committee after that.

    Sreesanth was the last to be called in by the committee. The former India player said, “I have never cheated. I gave them my side of the story. I did not argue with anybody. Everybody was very cooperative. Since childhood, I only dreamt of playing for India. I will never cheat the game. I have faith in the judiciary and the BCCI. I hope to play again.” However, the BCCI did not trust his side of the story, and preferred to go by what Ravi Sawant had observed. A minor drama was played out in the Disciplinary Committee room as N Srinivasan reached the venue and chaired the meeting, though it was widely expected that Jaitley would steer the proceedings in the wake of Srinivasan “stepping aside” as the board president following alleged involvement of his son-in-law Raghunath Meiyappan in the fixing scandal. However, a reliable source said it had been decided at the working committee meeting that Srinivasan would discharge his constitutional duties, and, therefore, it was “mandatory” for him to chair today’s meeting.

  • ONAM: CARNIVAL OF KERALA

    ONAM: CARNIVAL OF KERALA

    Late August or early September marks some highspirited celebrations down south. People in the southern Indian coastal state of Kerala go crazy over the state festival of Onam, with ten days of feasting, boat races, song, dance and merriment.


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    The Origin of Onam
    Onam or Thiruonam originated as a joyous annual reminiscence of the golden rule of King Mahabali, a mythical king, who ruled Kerala a very long time ago. It recalls the sacrifice of the great king, his true devotion to God, his human pride and his ultimate redemption. Onam welcomes the spirit of a great king, and assures him that his people are happy and wish him well.

    The Legend
    Facts and fables blend as Kerala celebrates this royal return, year after year with the festivities of Onam. Legend has it that the gods plotted against Mahabali to end his reign. For this they sent Lord Vishnu to earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin. [Read the full story] But before being trampled down to the netherworld, Vishnu granted the king’s sole wish: To visit his land and people once every year.

    The Custom
    A flower carpet called ‘Pookalam’ is laid in front of every house to welcome the advent of the vanquished king, and earthen mounds representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards. Traditional rituals are performed followed by a lavish feast called ‘Sadhya’. Onam also means new clothes for the whole family, sumptuous home-cooked delicacies on plantain leaf and the lingering aroma of the sweet Payasam.

    The Spectacle
    Spectacular parades of caparisoned elephants, fireworks and the famous Kathakali dance are traditionally associated with Onam. It’s also the season of many cultural and sport events and carnivals. All this makes Onam-time a perfect period to visit this coastal state, touted as “Gods Own Country”. No wonder the Government of Kerala has declared this time every year as Tourism Week.

    The Grand Boat Race
    One of the main attractions of Onam, is the ‘Vallamkali’ or boat races of Karuvatta, Payippad, Aranmula and Kottayam. Hundreds of oarsmen row traditional boats to the rhythm of drums and cymbals. These long graceful Snake Boats called ‘Chundans’ are named after their exceedingly long hulls and high sterns that resemble the raised hood of a cobra. Then there are ‘Odis’, the small and swift raiding crafts adorned with gold tasseled silk umbrellas, the ‘Churulans’ with their elaborately curled prows and sterns, and the ‘Veppus’, a kind of cook-boat. This traditional village rivalry on watercrafts reminds one of ancient naval warfare. Thousands throng the banks to cheer and watch the breathtaking show of muscle power, rowing skills and rapid rhythm. These boats – all pitted against their own kind – rip through the backwaters of Kerala in a tussle of speed.

    Onam is For All
    Although this festival has its origin in Hindu mythology, Onam is for all people of all class and creed. Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the wealthy and the downtrodden, all celebrate Onam with equal fervor. The secular character of Onam is peculiar to this land where unity had always coexisted with diversity, especially during festivals, when people come together to celebrate life’s unlimited joys.

    Stories Behind the Onam Festival
    A long long time ago, an Asura (demon) king called Mahabali ruled Kerala. He was a wise, benevolent and judicious ruler and beloved of his subjects. Soon his fame as an able king began to spread far and wide, but when he extended his rule to the heavens and the netherworld, the gods felt challenged and began to fear his growing powers. Presuming that he might become over-powerful, Aditi, the mother of Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali’s powers. Vishnu transformed himself into a dwarf called Vamana and approached Mahabali while he was performing a yajna and asked for alms. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin’s wisdom, Mahabali granted him a wish. The Emperor’s preceptor, Sukracharya warned him against making the gift, for he realized that the seeker was no ordinary person. But the Emperor’s kingly ego was boosted to think that God had asked him for a favor.

    So he firmly declared that there is no greater sin than going back on one’s promise. He kept his word. The Vamana asked for a simple gift — three paces of land — and the king agreed to it. Vishnu in the guise of Vamana then increased his stature and with the first step covered the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, straddled the netherworld. Realising that Vamana’s third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last step. Vishnu’s fatal third step pushed him to the netherworld, but before banishing him to the underworld Vishnu granted him a boon. Since he was attached to his kingdom and his people, he was allowed to return once a year from exile. Onam is the celebration that marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala pays a glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects.

    Story of King Mahabali & Vamana
    worshipper of Lord Vishnu. He was sincere, honest, just and a good ruler. But he had one weakness — ego. And to eradicate his pride and redeem his beloved devotee of this one sin, Vishnu came to earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana. The king in his pride asked the Brahmin what he wanted for he could give anything. Vamana asked for three paces of land and the king agreed. To humble him Vishnu, as Vamana showed Mahabali that he is just a puny creature in front of God’s universal stature. Mahabali, who was a man of principles, realized God’s purpose and offered his head for Vamana’s footstep, as he was sent to another world. This fatal step proved a blessing in disguise for the good king — the foot salvaged and released him from the recurrent cycle of birth and death. That is why Onam is celebrated by wearing new clothes and resolving to lead a new life of truth, piety, love, and humility.

  • SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    CONTD FROM Vol 7 ISSUE 35 || 2 || I am foolish and ignorant, but I have taken to His Sanctuary;may I merge in the Love of the Lord of the Universe, O Lord King. Through the Perfect Guru, I have obtained the Lord, and I beg for the one blessing of devotion to the Lord. My mind and body blossom forth through the Word of the Shabad; I meditate on the Lord of infinite waves. Meeting with the humble Saints, Nanak finds the Lord, in the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation. || 3 || O Merciful to the meek, hear my prayer, O Lord God; You are my Master, O Lord King. I beg for the Sanctuary of the Lord’s Name, Har, Har; please, place it in my mouth. It is the Lord’s natural way to love His devotees; O Lord, please preserve my honor! Servant Nanak has entered His Sanctuary, and has been saved by the Name of the Lord.

    || 4 || 8 || 15 || AASAA, FOURTH MEHL: As Gurmukh, I searched and searched, and found the Lord,my Friend,my Sovereign Lord King.Within the walled fortress of my golden body, the Lord, Har, Har, is revealed. The Lord, Har, Har, is a jewel, a diamond; my mind and body are pierced through. By the great good fortune of pre-ordained destiny, I have found the Lord. Nanak is permeated with His sublime essence. || 1 || I stand by the roadside, and ask the way; I am just a youthful bride of the Lord King. The Guru has caused me to remember the Name of the Lord, Har, Har; I follow the Path to Him. The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is the Support of my mind and body; I have burnt away the poison of ego. O True Guru, unite me with the Lord, unite me with the Lord, adorned with garlands of flowers. || 2 || O my Love, come and meet me as Gurmukh; I have been separated from You for so long, Lord King. My mind and body are sad;my eyes are wet with the Lord’s sublime essence. Show me my Lord God,my Love, O Guru; meeting the Lord,my mind is pleased. I am just a fool, O Nanak, but the Lord has appointed me to perform His service. || 3 || The Guru’s body is drenched with Ambrosial Nectar; He sprinkles it upon me, O Lord King. Those whose minds are pleased with the Word of the Guru’s Bani, drink in the Ambrosial Nectar again and again. As the Guru is pleased, the Lord is obtained, and you shall not be pushed around any more. The Lord’s humble servant becomes the Lord, Har, Har; O Nanak, the Lord and His servant are one and the same. || 4 || 9 || 16 || AASAA, FOURTH MEHL: The treasure of Ambrosial Nectar, the Lord’s devotional service, is found through the Guru, the True Guru, O Lord King.

    The Guru, the True Guru, is the True Banker, who gives to His Sikh the capital of the Lord. Blessed, blessed is the trader and the trade; how wonderful is the Banker, the Guru! O servant Nanak, they alone obtain the Guru, who have such pre-ordained destiny written upon their foreheads. || 1 || You are my True Banker, O Lord; the whole world is Your trader, O Lord King. You fashioned all vessels, O Lord, and that which dwells within is also Yours. Whatever You place in that vessel, that alone comes out again. What can the poor creatures do? The Lord has given the treasure of His devotional worship to servant Nanak. || 2 || What Glorious Virtues of Yours can I describe, O Lord and Master? You are the most infinite of the infinite, O Lord King. I praise the Lord’s Name, day and night; this alone is my hope and support. I am a fool, and I know nothing. How can I find Your limits? Servant Nanak is the slave of the Lord, the water-carrier of the slaves of the Lord. || 3 || As it pleases You, You save me; I have come seeking Your Sanctuary, O God, O Lord King. I am wandering around, ruining myself day and night; O Lord, please save my honor! I am just a child; You, O Guru, are my father. Please give me understanding and instruction. Servant Nanak is known as the Lord’s slave; O Lord, please preserve his honor! || 4 || 10 || 17 || AASAA, FOURTH MEHL: Those who have the blessed pre-ordained destiny of the Lord written on their foreheads, meet the True Guru, the Lord King.

    The Guru removes the darkness of ignorance, and spiritual wisdom illuminates their hearts. They find the wealth of the jewel of the Lord, and then, they do not wander any longer. Servant Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and in meditation, he meets the Lord. || 1 || Those who have not kept the Lord’s Name in their consciousness – why did they bother to come into the world, O Lord King? It is so difficult to obtain this human incarnation, and without the Naam, it is all futile and useless. Now, in this most fortunate season, he does not plant the seed of the Lord’s Name; what will the hungry soul eat, in the world hereafter? The self-willed manmukhs are born again and again. O Nanak, such is the Lord’s Will. || 2 || You, O Lord, belong to all, and all belong to You. You created all, O Lord King. Nothing is in anyone’s hands; all walk as You cause them to walk. They alone are united with You, O Beloved, whom You cause to be so united; they alone are pleasing to Your Mind. Servant Nanak has met the True Guru, and through the Lord’s Name, he has been carried across.

    || 3 || Some sing of the Lord, through musical Ragas and the sound current of the Naad, through the Vedas, and in so many ways. But the Lord, Har, Har, is not pleased by these, O Lord King. Those who are filled with fraud and corruption within – what good does it do for them to cry out? The Creator Lord knows everything, although they may try to hide their sins and the causes of their diseases. O Nanak, those Gurmukhs whose hearts are pure, obtain the Lord, Har, Har, by devotional worship. || 4 || 11 || 18 || AASAA, FOURTH MEHL: Those whose hearts are filled with the love of the Lord, Har, Har, are the wisest and most clever people, O Lord King. Even if they misspeak outwardly, they are still very pleasing to the Lord. The Lord’s Saints have no other place. The Lord is the honor of the dishonored. The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is the Royal Court for servant Nanak; the Lord’s power is his only power. || 1 || Wherever my True Guru goes and sits, that place is beautiful, O Lord King. The Guru’s Sikhs seek out that place; they take the dust and apply it to their faces. The works of the Guru’s Sikhs, who meditate on the Lord’s Name, are approved. Those who worship the True Guru, O Nanak – the Lord causes them to be worshipped in turn.

    || 2 || The Guru’s Sikh keeps the Love of the Lord, and the Name of the Lord, in his mind. He loves You, O Lord, O Lord King. He serves the Perfect True Guru, and his hunger and self-conceit are eliminated. The hunger of the Gursikh is totally eliminated; indeed, many others are satisfied through them. Servant Nanak has planted the Seed of the Lord’s Goodness; this Goodness of the Lord shall never be exhausted. || 3 || The minds of the Gursikhs rejoice, because they have seen my True Guru, O Lord King. If someone recites to them the story of the Lord’s Name, it seems so sweet to the mind of those Gursikhs. The Gursikhs are robed in honor in the Court of the Lord; my True Guru is very pleased with them. Servant Nanak has become the Lord, Har, Har; the Lord, Har, Har, abides within his mind. || 4 || 12 || 19 || AASAA, FOURTH MEHL: Those who meet my Perfect True Guru – He implants within them the Name of the Lord, the Lord King. Those who meditate on the Lord’s Name have all of their desire and hunger removed. Those who meditate on the Name of the Lord, Har, Har – the Messenger of Death cannot even approach them. O Lord, shower Your Mercy upon servant Nanak, that he may ever chant the Name of the Lord; through the Name of the Lord, he is saved.

    || 1 || Those who, as Gurmukh, meditate on the Naam, meet no obstacles in their path, O Lord King. Those who are pleasing to the almighty True Guru are worshipped by everyone. Those who serve their Beloved True Guru obtain eternal peace. Those who meet the True Guru, O Nanak – the Lord Himself meets them. || 2 || Those Gurmukhs, who are filled with His Love, have the Lord as their Saving Grace, O Lord King. How can anyone slander them? The Lord’s Name is dear to them. Those whose minds are in harmony with the Lord – all their enemies attack them in vain. Servant Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, the Lord Protector. || 3 || In each and every age, He creates His devotees and preserves their honor, O Lord King. The Lord killed the wicked Harnaakhash, and saved Prahlaad. He turned his back on the egotists and slanderers, and showed His Face to Naam Dayv. Servant Nanak has so served the Lord, that He will deliver him in the end. || 4 || 13 || 20 || AASAA, FOURTH MEHL, CHHANT, FIFTH HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD.

    BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: O my dear beloved stranger mind, please come home! Meet with the Lord- Guru, O my dear beloved, and He will dwell in the home of your self. Revel in His Love, O my dear beloved, as the Lord bestows His Mercy. As Guru Nanak is pleased, O my dear beloved, we are united with the Lord. || 1 || I have not tasted divine love, O my dear beloved, within my heart. The mind’s desires are not quenched, O my dear beloved, but I still hold out hope. Youth is passing away, O my dear beloved, and death is stealing away the breath of life. The virtuous bride realizes the good fortune of her destiny, O my dear beloved; O Nanak, she enshrines the Lord within her heart. || 2 || My eyes are drenched with the Love of my Husband Lord, O my dear beloved, like the song-bird with the rain drop. My mind is cooled and soothed, O my dear beloved, by drinking in the rain drops of the Lord. Separation from my Lord keeps my body awake, O my dear beloved; I cannot sleep at all. Nanak has found the Lord, the True Friend, O my dear beloved, by loving the Guru.

    || 3 || In the month of Chayt, O my dear beloved, the pleasant season of spring begins. But without my Husband Lord, O my dear beloved, my courtyard is filled with dust. But my sad mind is still hopeful, O my dear beloved; my eyes are both fixed upon Him. Beholding the Guru, Nanak is filled with wondrous joy, like a child, gazing upon his mother. || 4 || The True Guru has preached the sermon of the Lord, O my dear beloved. I am a sacrifice to the Guru, O my dear beloved, who has united me with the Lord. The Lord has fulfilled all my hopes, O my dear beloved; I have obtained the fruits of my heart’s desires. When the Lord is pleased, O my dear beloved, servant Nanak is absorbed into the Naam. || 5 || Without the Beloved Lord, there is no play of love. How can I find the Guru? Grasping hold of Him, I behold my Beloved. O Lord, O Great Giver, let me meet the Guru; as Gurmukh, may I merge with You. Nanak has found the Guru, O my dear beloved; such was the destiny inscribed upon his forehead.

  • YOGA FOR WEIGHT LOSS

    YOGA FOR WEIGHT LOSS

    Sun Salutation is considered a complete body workout. Yoga experts say that doing 12 sets of Surya Namaskar translates into doing 288 powerful yoga poses in a span of 12 to 15 minutes.

    A workout for ‘busy bees’
    Facing a time crunch? Want to feel fit but don’t know how? Welcome to the world of Surya Namaskar. Literally translated as sun salutation, Surya Namaskar comprises a sequence of 12 yoga postures. The best part about Sun Salutation is that it works well for those ‘super busy’ people who often complain about not being able to do yoga because of a time crunch. Doing at least 12 sets of Sun Salutation, preferably at sunrise, at a fast pace provides a good cardiovascular workout. If done at a slower pace, these postures help tone the muscles and can be relaxing and meditative. Moreover, it allows you to enjoy the stretch and makes the body more flexible. Though pretty much an exercise in itself, Sun Salutation forms an excellent link between warm-ups and intense yoga postures. Start your early morning yoga routine with some warm-up stretches to ease out body stiffness. You can then do a few rounds of Sun Salutation to help increase body flexibility and also prepare the body to stretch more during the intense yoga posture sequence. Sun Salutation is considered a complete body workout. Yoga experts say that doing 12 sets of Surya Namaskar translates into doing 288 powerful yoga poses in a span of 12 to 15 minutes.

    Why Sun Salutation is good for you?
    But that’s not all. Regular practice of Sun Salutation offers a lot of interesting benefits for every part of the body. These powerful yoga poses have a great impact on the heart, liver, intestine, stomach, chest, throat, and legs – the whole body from top to bottom. It purifies the blood and improves blood circulation throughout the body and ensures proper functioning of the stomach, bowel, and nerve centres. Practicing Sun Salutation daily helps balance the three constitutions – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – that the body is made up of.

    Your guide to Sun Salutation
    Stand at the edge of your mat, keep your feet together and balance your weight equally on both the feet. Expand your chest and relax your shoulders. As you breathe in, lift both your arms up from the sides and as you exhale, bring your palms together in front of the chest in a prayer position. Step #2: Hastauttanasana (Raised arms pose) Breathing in, lift the arms up and back, keeping the biceps close to the ears. In this pose, the effort is to stretch the whole body up from the heels to the tips of the fingers.

    How to deepen this yoga stretch?
    You may push the pelvis forward a little bit. Ensure you’re reaching up with the fingers rather than trying to bend backwards. Step #3: Hasta Padasana (Hand to foot pose) Breathing out, bend forward from the waist, keeping the spine erect. As you exhale completely, bring the hands down to the floor, beside the feet.

    How to deepen this yoga stretch?
    You may bend the knees, if necessary, to bring the palms down to the floor. Now make a gentle effort to straighten the knees. It’s a good idea to keep the hands fixed in this position and not move them until you finish the sequence. Step #4: Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose) Breathing in, push your right leg back, as far back as possible. Bring the right knee to the floor and look up.

    How to deepen this yoga stretch?
    Ensure that the left foot is exactly in between the palms. Step #5: Dandasana (Stick pose) As you breathe in, take the left leg back and bring the whole body in a straight line. How to deepen this yoga stretch? Keep your arms perpendicular to the floor. Step #6: Ashtanga Namaskara (Salute with eight parts or points) Gently bring your knees down to the floor and exhale. Take the hips back slightly, slide forward, rest your chest and chin on the floor. Raise your posterior a little bit. The two hands, two feet, two knees, chest and chin (eight parts of the body touch the floor). Step #7: Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) Slide forward and raise the chest up into the Cobra posture.You may keep your elbows bent in this pose, the shoulders away from the ears. Look up.

    How to deepen this yoga stretch?
    As you inhale, make a gentle effort to push the chest forward; as you exhale, make a gentle effort to push the navel down. Tuck the toes under. Ensure you’re stretching just as much as you can; do not force your body. Step #8: Parvatasana (Mountain pose) Breathing out, lift the hips and the tail bone up, chest downwards in an ‘inverted V’ (/) posture.

  • STRETCH MARKS: CAUSES, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

    STRETCH MARKS: CAUSES, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

    It can caused either due to pregnancy or due to extreme weight loss. Stretch marks generally occur on our tummies, arms, thighs and chests. These stretch marks act as permanent reminder with their horizontal thread like marks all along our skin. But did you know there are ways to minimise these permanent marks? Dr Rickson Pereira, Consulting Dermatologist, Dr Minal’s Dermatherapie Centre, M.D. (Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy) tell us how.

    The reasons and causes of stretch marks
    Stretch marks are healed scars in the skin which are caused due to overstretching of the skin. They often appear on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs. They may be pink or red to begin with, but eventually fade to white or grey. Stretch Marks: Causes, Treatment and Prevention The tendency to develop stretch marks is genetic, because it depends on the amount and arrangement of the protein elastin in the skin. Once a stretch mark has developed, it cannot be reversed. Stretch marks can develop in the following circumstances: Pregnancy – Most pregnant women develop stretch marks towards the end of their pregnancy.

    If your mother had them, you are probably going to have them. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy, twin or multiple pregnancy can increase the chances of getting stretch marks.Weight gain and growth during adolescence and in weight-lifters. Medication use – prolonged use of corticosteroid creams, lotions and pills. Corticosteroids reduce the production of collagen and elastin in the skin making it prone to stretch marks. Hence, these medications should not be used without a physician’s supervision. Diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome (excessive cortisol secretion by a tumor) can cause sudden onset of wide stretch marks on the arms, thighs and abdomen. Genetic conditions including Marfan’s syndrome and Ehlers- Danlos syndrome can cause stretch marks due to abnormalities in collagen and elastin

    Precaution to avoid stretch marks
    If you have developed stretch marks you have a tendency for it. If weight gain is the cause, weight loss through appropriate diet and exercise helps prevent formation of new stretch marks and prevents widening of the existing stretch marks. Avoid self-medicating with oral corticosteroids or steroid creams and lotions. Stretch Marks: Causes, Treatment and Prevention Work with your gynecologist to avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Following a good diet and exercise, will provide good health to you and your baby with the added advantage of minimizing stretch marks.

    Treatments for stretch marks
    Alpha-hydroxy acids such as glycolic acids in the form of peels or creams work similar to retinoids. Microdermabrasion or skin polishing removes the topmost layer of the skin stimulating the growth of new skin and collagen. Lasers such as Nd-Yag lasers and fractional lasers can improve the appearance of stretch marks but multiple sessions are required (5-8). Nd-Yag lasers are effective in pink to red stretch marks, and fractional lasers in white stretch marks. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be injected into stretch marks by microinjections to improve hydration and reduce the papery texture. Venus freeze is a device used for skin tightening which combines radiofrequency and magnetic pulse technology. Within 8-10 sessions it tightens up loose skin and stimulates collagen and elastin production which also improves stretch marks. The treatment is safe, and with no downtime or discomfort.

  • JLO TURNS COUGAR FOR THE BOY NEXT DOOR

    JLO TURNS COUGAR FOR THE BOY NEXT DOOR

    Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez will be seen as a cougar mother in her next movie “The Boy Next Door”. The movie will follow the “On the floor” hitmaker as a newly-single mother as she is involved in an affair with her teenage neighbour who befriends her son, reports aceshowbiz.com. The film is produced by Jason Blum while Rob Cohen is reportedly in talks to wear the director’s hat. Barbara Curry has penned down the script. The 44-year-old, who is returning to the judges’ panel of singing reality show “American Idol”, is dating a much-younger boyfriend Casper Smart in real life.

  • ASHLEY GREENE GOES TOPLESS FOR STATEN ISLAND SUMMER

    ASHLEY GREENE GOES TOPLESS FOR STATEN ISLAND SUMMER

    Actress Ashley Greene, currently shooting for ” Staten Island Summer”, has shot a topless scene for the movie. The actress shot the sexy sunbathing scene in New York City, reports eonline.com. In the scene, the actress is seen as lying on her stomach on a sun bed while wearing only yellow bikini bottoms. The 26-year-old used a towel under her to try and cover her modesty. The “Twilight” actress accessorised her look with gold hoop earrings.

  • Riddick

    Riddick

    STORY: Hunt for the intergalactic convict ‘Riddick’, who can see in the dark, continues in this third installment of the sci-fi series. REVIEW: The film captures exploits of Riddick ( Vin Diesel), after he is deceived and left for dead on an obscure planet full of alien predators. All he knows about his existence is the fact that he’s not on Furya. To add to his woes, he is also being chased by bounty hunters, who want him dead. The tough guy’s fight for survival forms the story. Do the antics of a lone Riddick marooned on a hostile planet manage to hold your interest? It does to a certain extent, especially in the opening scenes, where you see Riddick playing a deadly hide-and-seek with the murderous creatures. However, eventually, the storyline ends up free-floating as if lost in space, just like its lead character. After a while, the killings and order of events start looking monotonous, making the film seem more of a low-budget slasher movie than a sci-fi thriller.

    Those who like horror might like the gore – chopping of heads and bodies but the profanities hurled at women, homosexuals are a bit unsettling, even given the context and genre of the film. Riddick solely relies on the bald & beefy Diesel’s macho appearance and deep-raspy voice. No effort has gone into penning a substantial screenplay or making the visual effects look better. Dark visuals of barren, lifeless planet fail to create the desired impact. Nothing really instills fear. We wonder if even fans of the franchise, had high expectations from this sequel, given the mediocrity of the previous film (The Chronicles of Riddick). Everything about the film looks as artificial as the glowing-eyes of its central character, barring the cool bikes.