The Indian Panorama

Month: January 2014

  • Mayor de Blasio administration files to drop city’s stop-and-frisk appeal

    Mayor de Blasio administration files to drop city’s stop-and-frisk appeal

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): Mayor de Blasio administration filed papers on Thursday, January 30 to drop the city’s appeal of a judge’s decision to reform the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy.

    Under the court papers, which were filed in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, the city came to an agreement with the plaintiffs in the ongoing case against stop-andfrisk, Floyd vs. City of New York. “This is a defining moment in our history. It’s a defining moment for millions of our families, especially those with young men of color,” de Blasio said.


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    Mayor de Blasio has made good his promise to drop the city’s appeal of a judge’s decision to reform the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy

    “This will be one city, where everyone’s rights are respected, and where police and community stand together to confront violence.” U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled last year that the Police Department had discriminated against minorities with stop-and-frisk, and ordered that monitor oversee the NYPD and other reforms.

    In the agreement announced today, a court-appointed monitor will oversee the NYPD’s reform of stop-and-frisk for three years. The city filed to appeal the decision last year under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Despite the city dropping the appeal, the case may not be over. When de Blasio was elected mayor last year, the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association promised that they will seek to intervene and carry on the appeal if the city drops the case.

  • ‘Will Watch Jan 26th Parade in Delhi’: Mangano

    ‘Will Watch Jan 26th Parade in Delhi’: Mangano

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano joined ITV reporter Riti Bhalla and watched the Republic Day festivities telecast from New Delhi and marveled at the great national celebration in India with “wonderful parade, the beautiful floats and a great expression of democracy.”

    Last week, joining the teen host of Riti Bhalla Special, Mangano said, “I hope that someday I will watch the parade in New Delhi in person.” Appearing fifth time since 2011 on the special India Day shows hosted by Bhalla, Mangano, representing a county larger in population than seven states of America, greeted Indian Americans across the US with “Happy Republic Day, Jai Hind”. Mangano also commended Indian Americans at large and especially those “who are part of my administration in Nassau County and contribute to our successes each and every day.”

    Bhalla, currently a student of New York University, started hosting her biannual celebrations of the Republic Day and the Independence Day of India in 2008, when she was 14 years old. Over the years, ten governors, 22 senators and congressional leaders, as well as four presidential candidates – Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John McCain and Joe Lieberman – have also appeared on Bhalla’s shows.

    Bollywood celebrities, Shah Rukh Khan, Yash Chopra, Sanjay Dutt and Anushka Sharma as well as the former President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam have appeared as Riti’s guests. In 2012, history of sorts was made on Riti Bhalla Special when Indian American Astronaut Sunita Williams connected with Bhalla all the way from the International Space Station and greeted Indians around the world on Independence Day. The program was telecast in over 100 countries and covered by the print media worldwide.

  • Feds grab $21.6M in counterfeits before Super Bowl

    Feds grab $21.6M in counterfeits before Super Bowl

    NEW YORK (TIP): Investigators have seized more than $21.6 million in knockoff souvenir football jerseys, caps and other merchandise, shut down illegal websites and made dozens of arrests in a crackdown on Super Bowl counterfeiters, authorities said Thursday, January 30.

    The seizures and arrests were announced at a Manhattan news conference where NFL and law enforcement officials displayed fake Payton Manning and Russell Wilson jerseyscomplete with knockoff Adidas labeling- Broncos and Seahawks hats, Super Bowl Tshirts and other goods made to look like official NFL gear.

    The league and law enforcement “are working hard to prevent fans from being scammed by criminals seeking to profit from the public’s passion for the NFL, their home teams and the Super Bowl,” Anastasia Danias, an NFL senior vice president, said in a statement issued three days before the game in East Rutherford, N.J. During an eight-month operation, investigators seized more than 202,000 Super Bowl-related items that, if legitimate, would have been worth more than $21.6 million.

    Authorities called the dollar amount a record for similar enforcement operations before other Super Bowls, including one last year that netted about $17 million in seizures. Authorities say most of the knockoffs were manufactured in China. They say once the makers learned the Broncos and Seahawks made the Super Bowl, they rushed to make the goods with the teams’ logos. Then the goods were smuggled into the United States, often using overnight shipping.

    Some of the items make their way to street corners in Times Square and elsewhere where they are sold for half the price or less of legitimate merchandise. But others are offered on websites designed to trick buyers into thinking they are purchasing officially licensed goods worth the nearly full price they pay. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has obtained court orders to shut down several of the bogus Super Bowl gear websites.

    Authorities warn that users of the websites risk identity theft, and that proceeds can go to other illegal activities like drug trafficking. Earlier this week, New York authorities announced the arrest of two men on charges they made high-quality counterfeit Super Bowl tickets and sold them online.

  • Spiritual Poetry Symposium (Ruhani Mushaira) Organized

    Spiritual Poetry Symposium (Ruhani Mushaira) Organized

    NEW YORK (TIP): Spirituality is the soul of life’s poetry. Not often does one come across an event where these two are celebrated and relished. For the past few years Science of Spirituality in Amityville NY, has been hosting Spiritual Poetry Symposium, “Ruhani Mushaira”. This event is a celebration of the poetry of Darshan Singh (1921-1989), a beacon of spirituality in the 20th century.

    An acclaimed mystic poet, master of “Surat Shabd Yoga”, and spiritual teacher of “Sant Mat”, Darshan Singh was conferred with the prestigious Urdu Academy Award for two of his Urdu poetry collections. His various works not only continue to kindle the spirit of oneness among fellow humans but also herald the message of spiritual unity that ties all creation and its various manifestations.

    Despite the inclement weather, the event was well attended by renowned Urdu poets, enthusiasts of Urdu poetry and those who follow mystic poetry. “Ruhani Mushaira”, more than anything, was a platform that seeded positive vibes towards cultural understanding, human love and spiritual oneness. There were references to undoing the impact of historic follies that plague many parts of the world and building on the universal love and spiritual unity that binds all.

    Audience was enthralled by poets in attendance including Sadarat, Qaseem Bin Nasam Amrohvi, Maulana Rehan Naqvi, Tarlok Singh, Jori Kohli, Hasnain Raza, and Qaseem Bin Nasam Amrohvi. The evening saw the launch of soft-cover collection “Noore- Aqeedat” (Noor: Light, Splendor – Aqeedat: Faith), an anthology of select urdu mystic poetry by Darshan Singh. The book presents a powerhouse selection of Darshan Singh’s poetic gems in Urdu and Roman English.

    The spiritually charged evening had a heart-tugging message of universal love, peace and unity. The theme that underlined the whole event, and further accentuated the mystic message of oneness in God, was of tapping inside into the flame of love, living in loving remembrance, and passing through the ups and downs of life with a sense of equanimity. The core behind the teaching and poetry of Darshan Singh and Sant Mat is ethical living, selfless service and the practice of light and sound meditation.

    Celebration of Darshan Singh, his teachings and poetry, is an important initial step in ultimately practicing the principles of universal love, peace and unity. “Ruhani Mushaira” is proving to be a critical step to spread the message of love and in popularizing teachings and practices to attain oneness within and without. Science of Spirituality/Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission is a nonprofit, multi-faith organization that provides a forum for people to learn meditation, experience personal transformation, and bring about inner and outer peace and human unity. For more information about the Ruhani Mushaira, and other Science of Spirituality programming please call 516-901-6662; 631- 822-7979 or soshindisatsangny@yahoo.com; www.sos.org.

  • Hundreds enthusiastically celebrate Republic Day in Fords, NJ

    Hundreds enthusiastically celebrate Republic Day in Fords, NJ

    FORDS, NJ (TIP): Led by entrepreneur and social activist, Atma Singh, scores of community leaders and hundreds of Indian Americans participated in a colorful celebration of India’s 65th Republic Day.

    The event included a parade of unity held in the Royal Albert’s Palace complex in Fords, NJ where hundreds took part holding India’s national flag. Some were holding US flag too while chanting, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and other slogans. On this occasion flags were hoisted near the huge statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, India’s iron man who played an important role in uniting India.


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    A parade of unity was organized in the Royal Albert’s Palace complex in Fords, as part of celebrations of the Republic Day

    Dressed in a white suite Atma Singh welcomed the audience of about 400 people reminding them the auspicious occasion of Republic Day. “Today we are all united as Indians and remember our heritage which is characterized by high values and great traditions”, he said. It is our duty to keep our head high and teach the younger generation about our culture and traditions.”

    Later, the audience gathered around India’s Tri-color which was unfurled as everyone sang the national anthem, Jana, Gana, Mana… Speaking on the occasion, Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula extended his greetings to all and spoke about the greatness of Indian heritage. “We must celebrate our national events with great enthusiasm and pride”, he said.


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    A group of children perform a dance number

    Edison Councilman Dr. Sudhanshu Prasad also spoke and promised to work with the community in its endeavor to succeed in all fields of life. Community leaders Bharat Rana, Anil Patel, Veerendra Tavathia, Popat Patel, Albert Jasani, Dr. Mukund Patel and Mahesh Chitnis also spoke on the occasion.

    Col Veerendra Tavathia said that we should remember the sacrifice made by India’s armed forces who guarded the borders of India. Varsha Naik of Navrang Dance Academy directed a group of children for performing a variety of dance numbers on the stage. Others who spoke on the occasion included Mukul Bishnoi, Veeru Patel, Mahesh Patel and Mukesh Kashiwala.

  • Vikas Khanna Launches Himalayan Cook Book ‘Return to the Rivers’

    Vikas Khanna Launches Himalayan Cook Book ‘Return to the Rivers’

    NEW YORK (TIP): Vikas Khanna, an award-winning Michelin-starred Indian chef, restaurateur, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV show Master Chef India along with Lake Isle Press, launched his new book “Return to the Rivers” at an exclusive event on Tuesday, January 28 at Junoon Restaurant in New York City.

    Return to the Rivers boasts nearly 500 pages, and 100 full-color photographs of plated dishes, exotic travel experiences, and personal and thoughtful musings that preserve the traditions, values and simple gifts that the Himalayan people bestowed upon Khanna. Speaking at the launch event, in a personal interview Khanna said: The inspiration of the book came from within and it was the journey he had to take to explore himself.

    His spiritual and culinary journey through the Himalayan heartland brought foodies and travel enthusiasts some of the best recipes and culture from northern India, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet and western China. Also 60% of his book revolves around vegetarians. Khanna’s book explores a wide variety of cultural delicacies, as it is organized by Street Foods; Soups and Noodles; Grains; Vegetables; Fish; Poultry, Eggs and Cheese; Meats; Breads; Condiments; Desserts; and Beverages.

    There’s even a section dedicated to the ever popular Momo, and the many ways in which to fold these iconic little dumplings. An exclusive evening Reception followed that evening at Junoon, attended by over 100+ people including several Media outlets. Guests enjoyed hand crafted appetizers and drinks while getting their books individually personalized from the author himself. The event was sponsored by Junoon Restaurant and organized by Jitin Hingorani of ZINGO Media.

    About the Author
    Born in India, Vikas Khanna learned to cook from his grandmother and opened his own catering company at a young age of seventeen. After apprenticing under the most renowned chefs of India, he moved to the United States in 2000 and has worked his way up to be one of New York City’s top-rated chefs. He was named one of StarChef’s “Rising Stars” in 2010 and is currently the Executive Chef of the Michelinstarred restaurant Junoon. Known to many as the host of MasterChef India and FOX Traveller’s Twist of Taste, Vikas is equally recognized for his humanitarian work with SAKIV, New York Chefs Cooking for Life and his documentary film series about food and religion, Holy Kitchens. Vikas currently resides in New York City.

  • Port Authority orders airlines to raise wages, give paid holiday to airport workers

    Port Authority orders airlines to raise wages, give paid holiday to airport workers

    NEW YORK (TIP): Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Director Patrick Foye has ordered the CEOs of Delta, JetBlue, American and United airlines to immediately raise wages and make Martin Luther King Jr.

    Day a paid holiday for the 8,000 contracted workers at John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports. Foye sent a letter to the four CEOs telling them to grant an immediate $1 an hour raise to workers making $9 or less, recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday and work towards “providing an improved wage and benefits package to the thousands of hard-working men and women at the airports.”

    The announcement comes a week after close to 1,000 workers, elected officials and clergy members blocked a bridge leading to LaGuardia Airport on Martin Luther King Jr. Day during an act of civil disobedience demanding “economic justice.” “Pat Foye’s letter is a promising step forward and marks the first real progress we have made in lifting thousands of contracted airport workers out of poverty,” said Hector Figueroa, president of SEIU 32 BJ, a union representing most of the airport workers.

    “We have gotten to this point due to the courage of the contracted airport workers and their willingness to take action – including being arrested for civil disobedience at LaGuardia Airport on MLK Day along with Congress member Charles Rangel and many others.” During the day of civil disobedience, more than 30 people were arrested, including city and state elected officials, and workers. “It’s good that someone is finally listening to us and responding,” said Wendy Arellano, a LaGuardia Airport cabin cleaner.

    “This is a good plan. It’ll be better when we have good benefits, security and the peace of mind that a good contract gives you. But, for now, getting us up to 10 dollars and 10 cents is a real start.” Figueroa said that the work will still continue to “bring contracted airport workers the dignity and respect they deserve,” and also help these workers get out of the path to poverty and succeed in gaining economic justice.

  • Mainstream Politics comes of Age for Indian Americans

    Mainstream Politics comes of Age for Indian Americans

    NEW YORK (TIP): At a meeting organized by Malini Shah at the residence of Harbachan Singh on January 25, 2014 a group of motivated Indian Americans joined together to provide support to Ms. Swati Dandekar, a candidate of Indian origin, who is making a run for a US Congress seat from the State of Iowa this fall.

    Swati Dandekar won a seat in the Iowa State Assembly in 2002 and a seat in the Iowa Senate in 2009 and is now geared up for winning a seat in US. Congress. In welcoming Swati Dandekar, Harbachan Singh, a community activist and a leader of several organizations, said that Swati was a professional and a seasoned politician.

    Her experience and performance during the last ten years is a glowing testimony that she is fully ready, dynamic and highly capable of best representing all the people of Iowa in particular and all of us of Indian origin in general in the US Congress. Her success will resonate in US and in India alike and will demonstrate that we are capable and willing to fill leadership positions and contribute in the beautiful mosaic of the US political system.


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    Swati Dandekar with Mr. Mulay and a group of her supporters

    Consul General Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay who also attended the event was very happy to note that Indian Americans were coming forward to play an active role in the politics of their new homeland. He believed that it was their civic duty to fully engage themselves in all the activities of Government and also help build bridges between the two largest democracies in the world. He urged all Indian Americans to help each other and assimilate and integrate nicely with the local communities and keep forging ahead up the ladder to leadership levels.

    George Abraham congratulated Ms. Dandekar on her success in Iowa and wished her support and cooperation in her bid to become the first Congresswoman from the State. Sunil Modi and Eric Kumar also spoke lauding the efforts of Swati. Others present were Mohinder Singh Gilzian, Dilip Chauhan, Gunjan Rastogi, Leela Maret, Oommen Koshy, Gajendra Ganesan, Manoj Shinde, Piyush Patel, Arvind Dandekar, Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja, Benjamin Gaines and Niti Kapoor. Others who could not attend but lent support included, Pam Kwatra, Dr. Binod Verma, Thomas Abraham and Indu Jaiswal. Special guest of the evening was the former Lt. Governor of the State of Iowa Hon. Patty Judge.

  • New York State Comptroller appreciates NYC Comptroller Stringer’s City Pension Fund Reforms

    New York State Comptroller appreciates NYC Comptroller Stringer’s City Pension Fund Reforms

    NY State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli eulogized NYC Comptroller Stringer for his initiative to reform City Pension Fund

    ALBANY, NY (TIP): “New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer is coming out of the gate very strong and doing the right thing for New York City’s public pension funds”, said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. DiNapoli added: “His multi-faceted plan to protect the city’s public pension funds will do much to ensure the funds operate with greater transparency and with the highest ethical standards.


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    Thomas P. DiNapoli

    I have instituted a series of reforms over the last seven years at the New York State Common Retirement Fund. Today, the state pension fund stands as a national model for accountability and transparency and has never been stronger. The proposals laid out by City Comptroller Stringer today will no doubt do the same for the city’s pension funds.”

  • TIME WARNER CABLE IN NEW YORK: 10,000 JOBS & GROWING

    TIME WARNER CABLE IN NEW YORK: 10,000 JOBS & GROWING

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York’s telecommunications marketplace is among the most competitive in the world. The FCC has determined nearly 68% of Time Warner Cable’s franchises are subject to “effective competition,” meaning consumers have real choice in selecting a video provider. And competition drives investment in new technology, improving important services, which all leads to the most valuable investment of all-new jobs for New York.

    Madman beats girlfriend and her daughter to death with hammer because he thought they were witches: officials

    Mohammad Jaffer
    NEW YORK (TIP): Estrella Castaneda, 56, and her daughter Lina, 25, were found dead in a home on 87th St. in East Elmhurst early Wednesday, January 29th. Carlos Amarillo, Estrella’s boyfriend, was charged with murder. Lina’s 4-year-old daughter was removed from the home. The girl was present during the attack, according to police. A Queens’s madman used a hammer to beat his girlfriend and her adult daughter to death Wednesday after becoming convinced they were witches who performed voodoo and cast spells on him, authorities said.

    “I killed them because they are witches,” Carlos Alberto Amarillo, 44, allegedly told cops after they nabbed him outside the East Elmhurst home. “I want the police to kill me.”Police who responded to the address after a 911 call from Amarillo saw him walking from the door to the street carrying a Bible, officials said. “I killed them,” he allegedly told cops. “I killed them.” Amarillo was held on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

  • Indian Consulate celebrates 65th Republic Day

    Indian Consulate celebrates 65th Republic Day

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): The Indian Consulate hosted a reception to celebrate India’s 65th Republic Day on January 26th. The event was attended by nearly 200 members from the Indian and American community and other Consul Generals and dignitaries. Some of the prominent members who were present included Senator Swati Dandekar from Iowa, Patty Judge, former Lt.

    Governor of Iowa, Assemblymen Upendra Chivkula and Raj Mukherjee from New Jersey and Assemblyman David Weprin from New York State, New York City Councilmen Mr. Daniel Dromm and Mr. Paul Vallone. Ambassador Mulay read out excerpts from the Indian President, Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the Nation on Republic Day. He also applauded the Indian and American communities’ joint effort in strengthening their country’s ties.

    “India and US share a multi-lateral relation that extends to nuclear, political, economic and other fields. Each of us here is responsible for bringing this relation to a strong bond. Sure, all relations have problems and it is only possible to sort them out if we work together and more closely on matters of mutual interest and concern”. He informed the audience about the plans of the Consulate to hold two flagship programs, Media India 2014, and State-by-State India during 2014. Assemblyman David Weprin thanked the Consulate for inviting him to celebrate India’s 65th year at being Republic.


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    Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Balwant Singh Bishnoi, Senator Swati Dandekar from Iowa and Consul General of New York, Ambassador Dyaneshwar Mulay, cut the cake in celebration of India’s 65th Republic Day

    “I am lovingly called ‘The Indian Assemblyman’, as much of our population is Indians. I am proud to be associated with such a dynamic community.” NYC Councilman Paul Vallone commended the Indian community’s achievements in the US. “The Indian community is so diverse with multi-culture, multilanguages yet the common thing is that everyone strives to achieve. I wouldn’t even be here today had it not been for the Indian and South Asian community members.” Senator Swati Dandekar urged the community members to work towards a common goal and bring the best of both India and US in everything they do.

    “We are proof that American Dream still exists. We must pay respect to what this country has given us by opening its doors for us. We should be proud to be a part of the world’s both largest democracy and oldest democracy.” Swati also announced that she was a candidate for Congress from her State of Iowa and appealed to community to support her. Poet Laureate Ramya Ramana had the gathering spellbound with a powerful recital of her composition. Earlier, New Jersey Assemblymen Upendra Chivukula and Raj Mukherjee presented a proclamation from the State of NJ to the Consul General.

  • SAPAC Annual Breakfast on February 2

    SAPAC Annual Breakfast on February 2

    NEW YORK (TIP): The South Asian American Political Action Committee (SAPAC), a representative organization of South Asians in Long Island, New York is organizing the annual breakfast on Sunday, February 2nd, 2014 from 9.30 A.M. to 12.00 PM at Mint Restaurant & Lounge, located at 1 Ring Road West, Garden City, NY 11530.

    Speaking about the organization, SAPAC founder Zahid Syed said that the object of the organization is to empower the South Asian community. Over the years, SAPAC has been quite successful in its objective. Quite a few from the community have come to occupy important positions and many have played important role in shaping the community.

    It is by bringing together the community leaders and the government and elected officials that SAPAC has been promoting understanding and cooperation. Zahid Syed said he was looking forward to participation of a large number at the Breakfast where, once again, important issues and concerns will be shared with the community and with officials. For further information on SAPAC and the Breakfast on February 2, please contact Zahid Syed at SAPACLI@aol.com or at 516- 832-6151.

  • SC stays Bhullar’s Execution

    SC stays Bhullar’s Execution

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on Friday, January 31, stayed the execution of Khalistani terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and agreed to review its judgment by which it had rejected the 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict’s plea to commute his death sentence to life term.

    A four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam issued notice to the Centre and Delhi government on a curative petition filed by Bhullar’s wife Navneet Kaur. The bench also comprising justices R.M. Lodha, H.L. Dattu and S.J. Mukhopadhaya directed the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), where Bhullar is being treated, to file a medical report within a week on the condition of the death convict who is alleged to be suffering from a mental illness.

    “We would examine whether our judgment (pertaining to commutation of death sentence to life term on the ground of delay in deciding the mercy plea) is applicable or not in this case,” the bench said, adding “we also want to know his present condition”.

  • Tata Nano, other Indian small cars fail independent crash tests

    Tata Nano, other Indian small cars fail independent crash tests

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Some of India’s best-selling small cars have failed independent crash tests conducted by a global car safety watchdog. All five small cars popular on the Indian market last year, including the famous Tata Nano and the Hyundai i10, failed the crash tests performed by London car-safety watchdog Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme).

    The cars that were tested were the Tata Nano, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo and Volkswagen Polo. All cars had to be made-in-India models only, and the most basic or entry-level version available in the market was selected for testing. This meant none of them had airbags – one of the most basic prerequisites globally to pass a safety test.

    There were two tests carried out on identical cars of the same make – meaning two of each car were procured by Global NCAP from Indian showrooms, and shipped to Germany for the tests. One crash test was performed at 56 kmph, the other at 64 kmph. All five cars failed the test, landing a zero on a scale of 1-5. Representatives from each manufacturer were invited to witness the test, and the results have been shared with them all too.

    Automakers said the issue of car safety is complex, involving not just passenger safety, but also the safety of those outside the car. That means cars need to handle well and drivers must be educated about the rules of the road, and roads should be in good condition. As NDTV’s Automobiles Editor, I was consulted on which cars should be tested. Of the five cars, only the Figo and Polo showed good structural rigidity and therefore a safer cabin, while the smaller cars performed rather poorly.

    What is rather surprising to me is that a car like the Hyundai i10 – which is only made in India for global markets – also did badly. The made-in-India for export to Europe i10 has a good rating in its Euro NCAP test for instance, which begs the question – are the cars for Indian buyers made differently? India’s growing middle class has helped fuel a booming auto industry, making the country the world’s sixth-largest car market.

    But nearly 140,000 people die on Indian roads every year in nearly five lakh accidents. That’s the worst road safety record in the world. Given those grizzly statistics, it is staggering to think India is the only country in the world’s top ten car markets that does not have a comprehensive testing programme that measures the safety of cars.

  • Arvind Kejriwal targets top leaders in ‘India’s most corrupt’ list

    Arvind Kejriwal targets top leaders in ‘India’s most corrupt’ list

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A day after he announced that his new Aam Aadmi Party will contest nearly 350 of the Lok Sabha’s 543 seats, Arvind Kejriwal listed his choice for “India’s Most Corrupt” and vowed to put up strong candidates against them.

    Union ministers like Kapil Sibal, Kamal Nath and Farooq Abdullah were among his nominees; so was Nitin Gadkari, BS Yeddyurappa and Anant Kumar of the BJP and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi who is helming his party’s campaign for the national election due by May. “Don’t let a single corrupt politician enter Parliament,” he told party workers.

    Think of that election as a revolution to cleanse parliament, Mr Kejriwal urged party workers in Delhi. He has declared that his party will prioritize defeating about 160 candidates who have criminal records. Positioning his party as the putative antidote to a deeply-corrupt system has served the former tax inspector well.

    A month ago, he took over as the chief minister of Delhi after the Aam Aadmi Party or AAP emerged as a breakout hit in the first election it contested. After the hyper-change it escorted, national interest in the AAP has spiked. Opinion polls project about 12 seats for the AAP, but its impact is visible in the national campaign, with the two major parties, the Congress and the opposition BJP, aping its anti-elite, anti-corruption language.

  • UTTARAKHAND CHIEF MINISTER VIJAY BAHUGUNA RESIGNS

    UTTARAKHAND CHIEF MINISTER VIJAY BAHUGUNA RESIGNS

    DEHRADUN (TIP): Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, 66, has finally paid the price for the shoddy relief and rehabilitation work carried out by his government after last year’s flash floods.

    He drove down to Dehradun Raj Bhawan on January 31 and handed over his resignation to Governor Aziz Qureshi. Union minister Harish Rawat, who claims to enjoy the backing of a majority of the Congress lawmakers in the state, is the frontrunner in the race to replace Bahuguna. Bahuguna’s removal has been on the cards for quite some time, and is being viewed as part of the organizational revamp being undertaken by the Congress leadership ahead of the national elections, due by May this year.

    The party had earlier changed the state presidents of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Bahauguna, a surprise pick for the Uttarakhand chief minister’s post after the polls held in March 2012 had thrown a hung assembly, has earned a lot of flak for his poor handling of the relief work undertaken by his government after the natural calamity that wreaked havoc in large parts of Tehri district. He got a taste of popular disaffection against his rule in October, 2012, when his son Saket suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP in the by-election to the Tehri Lok Sabha constituency.

    Bahuguna’s leadership has since then been called into question. In the 2012 polls, the Congress won 32 seats in the 70-member assembly, and was only marginally ahead of the BJP, which won a seat less. Despite commanding the support of a majority of the MLAs, Mr Rawat, who too is 66-years-old, found the chief minister’s post eluding him. It was, instead, offered to Bahuguna, the MP from Tehri. The Congress government in the state has the backing of three BSP lawmakers and the lone Uttarakhand Kranti Dal legislator. Three independent legislators too have offered their support to the Congress government. Uttarakhand sends five members to the Lok Sabha, and the party had made a clean sweep in 2009. The BJP had drawn a blank.

  • Satya Nadella likely to be next Microsoft CEO: Report

    Satya Nadella likely to be next Microsoft CEO: Report

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Senior Microsoft executive Satya Nadella would replace Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO, two media reports said today, citing sources familiar with the processes of selecting the new leader at the Redmond-based company.

    Bloomberg reported that the Microsoft board was set to name Nadella, an Indian who was born in Hyderabad and who completed his engineering from Manipal University before heading to the US for higher studies, as the company’s next CEO. The report also said that the board was discussing replacing Bill Gates as chairman.

    The Bloomberg report came several hours after Kara Swisher, who has a fairly reliable record of breaking stories, wrote on technology website Re/code that Microsoft has apparently finalized Nadella as the next CEO of the company. Swisher wrote that a formal announcement was expected within a week. While Bloomberg report indicated that Nadella was certain to be the next CEO, Re/code report hinted that he was among the three insiders shortlisted for the job and was the strongest candidate.

    “And, at this moment, those who have watched the process think that insider Satya Nadella, who is currently leading its enterprise effort, is the likeliest internal candidate to prevail. That’s due to a number of reasons, including his familiarity with the company, where he has spent much of his career, as well as a strong technical background and a varied work history at Microsoft,” noted the report. “The two other insiders — strategy head Tony Bates and Nokia leader and former Microsoft exec Stephen Elop — seem further behind.” Currently, Nadella is the president of server & tools business at Microsoft.

    He landed his current assignment in 2011. Before that he was senior vice-president of R&D for the online services division and vicepresident of the Microsoft business division. In total he has been with Microsoft for nearly 23 years and is considered a person who is familiar with the internal culture within the company, which has an incredibly complex corporate structure. Nadella’s appointment as CEO is likely to have mixed reactions.

    He is considered a person who is familiar with the Microsoft’s enterprise-focussed products like MS Office, online services like Bing and cloud services like Azure. In the last few years, Microsoft has seen good adoption of products like Office 365, Azure and Windows Servers and many industry insiders believe that for the company, enterprise services and the products are the future. If that is the same consensus Microsoft board has reached, Nadella seems like an obvious and good choice as the next CEO of the company.

    But at the same time Microsoft has found going a little difficult in the consumer space. Windows 8 has been considered a flop and the company is trying to fix the OS by dialling down on the Metro user interface. Also, Windows Phone has so far failed to take off even as Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS continue to woo consumers. In the smartphone and tablet market Microsoft has negligible share.

  • It was a superb win against the world champions: Kyle Mills

    It was a superb win against the world champions: Kyle Mills

    WELLINGTON (TIP): New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Mills said it was a superb effort from the Kiwis to clinch the five-match ODI series against India on a track which was similar to a subcontinent wicket. “These guys (India) are a very good unit, world champions and Champions Trophy holders.

    To have a series win against them, and to do it in Hamilton which is as close as a subcontinent wicket that you’ll get … to win twice against them here was superb,” Mills was quoted as saying in a website. The 34-year-old veteran said he had to rely on his experience against the world champions who possess a great batting unit.

    “I often wish I was the bowler I was five years ago. I have to really call on my experience and that helps in certain situations where I know where I should be bowling at certain times and what fields we can set. I’ve got to have faith and trust myself and that I can deliver in those situations,” Mills said. “I’ve always been confident in myself because my stats suggest that I should be in there. I’ve always felt I’ve bowled well and contributed to the team performance.” New Zealand have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series with one match to go. The fifth and final ODI will be played here on January 31.

  • Federer returns to Davis Cup action this week

    Federer returns to Davis Cup action this week

    NOVI SAD (TIP): Roger Federer will return to the Davis Cup this week in Switzerland’s first-round match in Serbia. The Swiss tennis federation confirmed Federer’s participation Wednesday after it was first announced on the tournament’s official Twitter account.

    Federer teams up with new Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, now the Swiss No. 1, against a Serbian side missing second-ranked Novak Djokovic. The winner plays Belgium or Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals in April. Federer has played only one first-round match since 2004. He last represented Switzerland in September 2012, helping win a relegation playoff against the Netherlands.

    Serbia, the 2010 champion, is hosting the match without any top-100 players after Djokovic pulled out. Dujan Lajovic at No. 102 is the highest ranked team member. The series opens Friday on indoor hardcourt at Novi Sad.

  • I want to win titles and focus on my performance: Saina

    I want to win titles and focus on my performance: Saina

    Saina Nehwal, ace shuttler, won the Syed Modi International India Grand Prix Gold badminton crown, against PV Sindhu, on January 26. The shuttler, who broke a 15- month title drought, feels that the victory was much needed.

    “I think my victory was much needed as I won something after a very long time. Last year was not that good for me and winning this title has helped me,” said the shuttler, adding, “The title has been a confidence booster for me as I wanted to do really well and this has helped me get my position back.”

    This was Saina’s 22nd final match and the win has helped her earn 7000 points and she has also climbed up the ranking ladder. “If you perform, the ranking automatically goes up. But I am not focussed on rankings right now. I want to win titles and focus on my performance,” she added.

  • Simon Doull questions India’s selection policy

    Simon Doull questions India’s selection policy

    WELLINGTON (TIP): Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has questioned Indian team’s selection policy in the ongoing five-match ODI series, which the visitors have already lost, and said he was surprised by the side’s reluctance to change things around them.

    The Men in Blue haven’t won a game in the ongoing tour so far, losing three of the four ODIs (one in Napier and twice in Hamilton), while tying one match at Auckland. The visitors also lost their hard-earned number one ODI ranking. “I am surprised by the reluctance shown by the Indian team to change things around in this series,” said Doull, after India lost the fourth ODI in Hamilton by seven wickets. “They bowled first throughout the series and then batted in a must-win game.

    Before that they selected two new players in the eleven and made a whole lot of changes in their batting line-up. They changed too much at one go and usually it doesn’t work like that,” he insisted. “After the first two ODIs, it was clear that the New Zealand batsmen had found out a weakness in their spin bowling, particularly during the middle overs. But they still persisted with Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin. Don’t get me wrong, they are both fantastic cricketers, but why not try Amit Mishra once? He is a leg spinner and could have used the bounce better, and more than anything else, it would have been a change when the series was still there to play for.

    “It is just one of many things that have gone wrong for India, but they didn’t react to it quickly enough,” he added. The Indian bowling has also come under heavy criticism from skipper MS Dhoni, who expressed his dissatisfaction time and again during the series, and most lately after the loss in Hamilton. Doull felt the Indian team were trying too many things. “They are trying too many things,” he said, talking about the young Indian pace contingent. “They have played too much ODI and T20 cricket, or they have played too little. There is no experience in this bowling line-up and they are getting easily carried away.

    They have bowled really short throughout the series, instead of cutting off runs on atleast one side of the ground,” Doull explained. “That is how you bowl overseas and build pressure. They haven’t stuck to the basics. Someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is otherwise a very good swing bowler, I haven’t seen much swing coming from him in this series. But he has definitely bowled short and wide to the batsmen. Why are they not sticking to the basics and getting carried away so easily? Inexperience cannot be an excuse for too long,” added the former Black Caps’ international with 98 Test and 36 ODI wickets. Asked if the Indian batsmen should also take some of the blame, Doull replied, “For sure.

    They haven’t come in with a game plan against the New Zealand bowling line-up. They must have known that they would be facing a lot of short stuff from the bowlers here, yet their application has been lacking. And their main batsmen aren’t in form, or willing to apply themselves. Their game plan against this bowling has been lacking and New Zealand isn’t even the quickest bowling attack in the world. “Shikhar Dhawan is out of touch and Rohit Sharma has been tied down at the starts. There are not major runs coming from lower down either. You cannot expect Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni to score runs every time.

    Again, they should have realised it earlier than the fourth ODI and adapted to it more quickly, but that didn’t happen and that is why India have lost the series,” he added. This series was billed as preparation for the 2015 ODI World Cup to be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand, but the embarrassing loss has raised question marks over India’s title defence, while forwarding the case for the Kiwis in a tournament that they will be playing at home. “This series has thrown up two angles. One, New Zealand have played some good cricket and their plans with respect to stopping a very talented Indian team have worked perfectly, be it in terms of batting, bowling or fielding.

  • BASANT PANCHAMI

    BASANT PANCHAMI

    BIRTHDAY OF GODDESS SARASWATI

    Basant Panchami is also denoted as Saraswati Puja by the Hindus in India. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of art, crafts and knowledge was born. She conferred upon humanity the greatest wealth that a human being can ever ask for, the gift of Knowledge. The Hindu mythology popularizes Goddess Saraswati as the immaculate power who bestows upon the worthy with the wealth of knowledge. The color white is associated with the goddess of knowledge as it is the symbol of peace and serenity.

    Images of goddess Saraswati with white adornments, sitting on a white lotus flower which blooms in a wide stretch of water are quite commonly seen on this day. Goddess Saraswati or Maa Saraswati, as called by the people of West Bengal, is worshipped on this auspicious day by the worshippers who are themselves clad in the color yellow, the color of spring. Prasad is offered to the goddess and later the same is distributed among the worshippers. The popular festival is related to the goddess of knowledge; hence, children are initiated towards learning and gaining knowledge.

    This is significant because it is the birth day of goddess Saraswati. As the river Saraswati is associated with the goddess, rituals are performed on the banks of this holy river. Offerings are made but no sacrifices are conducted. Vegetarian food is cooked and had on this day and people abstain from non-vegetarian food. Goddess Saraswati is supposed to be the goddess of art, literature and speech too; hence, hymns are written and sung in praise of the goddess on Basant Panchami. Whenever a new teaching institution is started, goddess Saraswati is worshipped.

    A school is considered to be the temple of learning and hence, a temple of the goddess itself. Schools and colleges organize special functions and cultural activities on this particular day and devote these to goddess Saraswati. Students offer a lot of flowers to the image of Saraswati. They keep all their study materials like books, articles, instruments of music and arts, earthen inkpots and bamboo quills in front of the deity. No one reads anything on this day; it is a way to show their reverence to the deity of knowledge. Most Hindu communities celebrate this festival with great pomp and show as this is the time of the year when goddess Saraswati is remembered by its followers.

    Significance
    This day falls on the fifth day of the Hindu month of Magh, which is also the first day of spring. Goddess Saraswati denotes serenity and calmness. She is generally shown seated on a white lotus, wearing a pure white silk sari and holding a book in her lower left hand.

    The eyes of the goddess are full of compassion. Her four hands denote four facets of human personality namely mind, intellect, alertness and ego. The lotus on her hand symbolizes true knowledge. Her ride is a white swan which is known for its peculiar capability of separating water from the milk. The swan indicates that we should have the ability to discriminate the bad from the good.


    3

    Basant Panchami, also known as the Saraswati Day, is celebrated by the Hindus across the world with great enthusiasm and festivities. The devotees visit temples which are filled with various types of religious activities. Yellow color is given prominence on this day and people dress up in yellow garments and perform rituals. Yellow represents spiritual knowledge, increasing the significance of the festival. People eat yellow sweets and distribute the same among friends and relatives. People feed Brahmans on this occasion and also perform Pitra- Tarpan, the traditional ancestral worship.

    Basant Panchami is the day when children are taught their first words, making it an auspicious occasion which marks the beginning of their learning process. On this day, schools and colleges organize special worships for goddess Saraswati. Traditionally children place their books on the altar, at the goddess’s feet. No one is allowed to touch the books during this period as they believe that goddess Saraswati is blessing the books. Devotees believe that worshipping of goddess Saraswati will lead to spiritual enlightenment. It is generally said that there is no comparison between a king and a learned person as the king is honored only in his land but a learned person is respected everywhere.

    Saintly and learned people who are inclined towards spirituality know the importance of worshipping goddess Saraswati. Other activities performed on this day include worshipping of Kamadeva, the God of Love. On this occasion, people offers prayers to the Sun God and the deities associated with Ganges. The festivities of Basant Panchami include kite flying and a kite festival is observed in Ferozepur, Punjab. Basant Panchami marks the arrival of spring and can be noted from the colored blooms in trees and crops. This is the period when mango flowers start blossoming on trees, representing the beginning of a new life. Basant Panchami spiritually signifies that the days of ignorance and gloom are over and the period of joy and spiritual awakening has begun.

    Kite Festival
    The festival of Basant Panchami is celebrated to welcome the season of spring, a season when the earth replenishes itself. Spring also denotes pleasant weather, during which calm wind whistles in your ear and caresses your face with its light cool touch. It is the season when the weather is neither hot nor cold, when the wind has a cooling effect but not the kind to chill your bones. This kind of weather reminds you of a number of things including Basant Panchami, the primary festival of this season. It is one of the most colorful and wonderful festivals of this effervescent nation and is celebrated on the fifth day of the Indian month of Magh. The festival brings in a number of colors in the form of colorful attires.


    4

    Being the color of spring, yellow gets into vogue as it also denotes prosperity, happiness, intellect and energy. Flying kites is a sport much popular in India. In a clear and pleasant weather, you will see plenty of kites in the sky. Being a part of Basant Panchami, kite flying competitions take place during this festival. Fighter kites were designed in India and Pakistan for decades. Ferozepur, a small town in Punjab, is famous for this sport and a number of children including both girls and boys purchase kites and fly them. Popular among adults too, they get on to their building’s terrace along with the children, play songs at high volume and dance with the rhythm while flying kites.

  • HIDDEN SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

    HIDDEN SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

    Unless you’re aware of the hidden signs of depression, you might just consider yourself a victim of circumstance and suffering and easily overlook the very obvious signs of depression.

    Here are a few indicators:
    LOW IMMUNITY: An obvious sign of depression is low immunity. Low moods can lead to lower physical activity which can greatly weaken one’s immunity. If you find yourself falling sick often, don’t ignore it. TIRED AND FATIGUED: Do you find yourself wanting to sleep all the time. Does a few hours of work make you tired and lethargic? It might be a hidden sign of depression. If you find yourself tired often, don’t succumb to it because physical inactivity can only worsen the condition.

    LOW MOTIVATION: This is a very obvious indicator towards depression. Not wanting to go to work, not wanting to interact with people, finding yourself in a miserable state of mind, are all clear signs of depression. EATING HABITS: If you skip meals through the day and find yourself hogging at night, be careful. Unhealthy eating habits can give rise to a number of eating disorders or even weight issues which can contribute immensely to your low state of mind.

  • BALDING, AN INDICATOR OF HEART DISEASE?

    BALDING, AN INDICATOR OF HEART DISEASE?

    Check for these physical characteristics that could be indicators of future health problems

    Balding
    Heart disease
    As if losing your hair wasn’t bad enough, follicle-challenged men are now said to be at significantly greater risk of heart disease. Men with baldness at the crown of their heads are a third more likely to develop coronary artery disease, with Japanese researchers suggesting that men who lost their hair earlier in life are at especially high risk. Research published in the British Medical Journal had a look at six studies involving 37,000 men to report these startling findings. How to prevent it: The good news is risks of heart disease can be greatly reduced. Simple measures like making sure you get enough exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet will keep your heart in check. Avoid drinking and smoking, which are the key causes of heart disease.

    Skinny thighs
    Coronary problems
    However desirable, tiny thighs could raise your risk of coronary problems. Women whose upper legs are less than 23.6 inches in circumference have a higher risk of coronary disease and early death, says a Danish study. It is due to the fact that too little muscle mass can lead to type 2 diabetes and heart failure. How to prevent it: A healthy diet with oily fish and regular exercise can help to keep your heart healthy.

    Short index finger
    Osteoarthritis
    Strange as it may seem — and also bad news for women — if your index finger is shorter than your ring finger you could be twice as likely to develop osteoarthritis in the knees. According to a 2008 study in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, such people tend to have lower levels of oestrogen, which could contribute to the onslaught of osteoarthritis. How to prevent it: There is a lot of speculation regarding links between hormones and osteoarthritis, however most doctors would advise that risk can be minimised by avoiding injury and staying as healthy as possible. Eat a balanced diet, look after your joints and maintain a healthy weight.

    Short legs
    Liver disease
    A 2008 study by Bristol University indicated that women with legs between 20 and 29 inches in length tended to have higher levels of four enzymes, which indicated liver disease. How to prevent it: Research suggests that there is a connection between fat distribution and liver function. The liver is a vital organ. A healthy diet and a low alcohol intake will help keep your liver working to its full potential.

    Short arms
    Alzheimer’s
    Women with shorter arm spans are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study in Neurology. Experts believe women who measure less than 60 inches fingertip to fingertip may have had nutritional deficits in childhood, predisposing them to cognitive decline. How to prevent it: Keeping your brain active is key. Brain food includes oily fish and folic acid.

    Big bust
    Breast cancer
    It seems buxom ladies could have received a genetic booby prize. Women with a large bust may be more likely to develop breast cancer, according to scientists. A study of 16,000 women found that genetic mutations, which are involved in regulating the female sex hormone oestrogen, can trigger the growth of both breasts and tumours. How toprevent it: This is yet to be proved. Further, thanks to scientific advances breast cancer has become one of the most treatable cancers. Again, lifestyle is key. It has also been suggested that breast feeding can help reduce the risk of cancer. If breast cancer runs in your family, take tests to see if you carry the gene as there are several preventative procedures you can undertake.

  • EYE PROBLEMS YOU MUST NOT IGNORE

    EYE PROBLEMS YOU MUST NOT IGNORE

    When studying science, most of us have learnt that the human eye functions like a camera and the retina acts like a film. The retina is a light sensitive tissue, which reacts to incoming light and sends the image to the brain through the optic nerve. Needless to say, any problem in the retina disrupts the picture and makes it harder for the brain to interpret it.

    Therefore, it is advisable to get a retinal examination in case you experience black spots, flashes of light or distorted or blurred vision. As this could be a symptom of diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment or a torn retina. Furthermore, a retina consultation with an ophthalmologist can help you determine the root cause of the problem.

    Diabetes and the retina
    Diabetes can affect sight by causing cataracts, glaucoma, and most importantly damage the blood vessels inside the eye, a condition known as “diabetic retinopathy”. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. When blood vessels in the retina are damaged they may leak blood and grow fragile, brush-like branches and scar the tissue. This can blur or distort the vision. Diabetic eye diseases are a leading cause of blindness worldwide. People with untreated diabetes are said to be 25 times more likely to suffer from blindness than the general population. The longer a person has diabetes, the higher the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

    Retinal detachment
    Known as a medical emergency, retinal detachment is separation of the retinal tissue (neural layer) from the layer of blood vessels (that provide it nutrients and oxygen). When the cells are deprived of oxygen, they are unable to compose a clear picture. While the initial detachment could be restricted, if left untreated for a long time, it can cause blindness in the affected eye. Posterior vitreous detachment causes a tear in the retina and allows the fluid or water of the eye to seep under it, which detaches the retina from its supporting layer. Myopia, better known as short sightedness is a very strong risk factor for retinal detachment. Retinal detachments are also caused by trauma to the head or eye. According to the statistics, these are frequent in the elderly and middle aged people.

    Retinoblastoma
    Retinoblastoma is retina cancer which rapidly develops in the retina cells. Generally, it affects kids below 6 and could be heritable or nonheritable. In some cases it occurs in only one eye and is referred to as unilateral retinoblastoma; if both the eyes are affected, it is called bilateral retinoblastoma and in several cases when it affects the pineal gland as well, it is called trilateral retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma is the most common type of cancer, which affects kids. But it also responds to timely treatment and has one of the best cure rates. Doctors warn the parents to look for signs like white spots on the pupil, redness and pain. Parents with cross eyed kids, should get regular check-ups. A delay in treatment could lead to blindness, tumours that could spread to the lungs, brains and bones. If the tumour spreads outside the eye, then finding a cure might prove to be difficult.