The Indian Panorama

Month: March 2014

  • NEW MAPS FOR NAVIGATING HUMAN GENOME UNVEILED

    NEW MAPS FOR NAVIGATING HUMAN GENOME UNVEILED

    LONDON (TIP): Scientists have built the clearest picture yet of how our genetic material is regulated in order to make the human body work. They have mapped how a network of switches, built into our DNA, controls where and when our genes are turned on and off.

    Scientists at the University of Edinburgh led the international project — called FANTOM5 — which has been examining how our genome holds the code for creating the fantastic diversity of cell types that make up a human. The three year project, steered by the RIKEN Centre for Life Science Technologies in Japan, has involved more than 250 scientists in more than 20 countries and regions.

    The study is a step change in our understanding of the human genome, which contains the genetic instructions needed to build and maintain all the many different cell types in the body, researchers said. All of our cells contain the same instructions, but genes are turned on and off at different times in different cells. This process is controlled by switches — called promoters and enhancers ?— found within the genome.

    It is the flicking of these switches that makes a muscle cell different to a liver or skin cell. The team studied the largest ever set of cell types and tissues from human and mouse in order to identify the location of these switches within the genome. They also mapped where and when the switches are active in different cell types and how they interact with each other. In a separate study, researchers used information from the atlas to investigate the regulation of an important set of genes that are required to build muscle and bone. Another study has used the atlas to investigate the regulation of genes in cells of the immune system. “The FANTOM5 project is a tremendous achievement.

    To use the analogy of an aeroplane,we have made a leap in understanding the function of all of the parts,” Professor David Hume, Director of The Roslin Institute and a lead researcher on the project, said. “And we have gone well beyond that, to understanding how they are connected and control the structures that enable flight,” said Hume. “The FANTOM5 project has identified new elements in the genome that are the targets of functional genetic variations in human populations, and also have obvious applications to other species,” Hume said.

    “The research gives us an insight as to why humans are different from other animals, even though we share many genes in common,” Dr Martin Taylor, from the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the university, said. “Comparing the mouse and human atlases reveals extensive rewiring of gene switches that has occurred over time, helping us to understand more about how we have evolved,” said Taylor. The findings were reported in a series of papers published in the journal Nature.

  • SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE POSSIBILITY OF PARTICLE SMALLER THAN HIGGS BOSON

    SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE POSSIBILITY OF PARTICLE SMALLER THAN HIGGS BOSON

    LONDON (TIP): Until 2012, nobody was certain it existed till the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced they had found the God Particle. Scientists now say that it is more likely than ever now that there must be particles smaller than Higgs particle “Nobody has seen them yet; particles that are smaller than the Higgs particle.

    However theories predict their existence, and now the most important of these theories have been critically tested,” they said. The result: The existence of the yet unseen particles is now more likely than ever”. The Higgs Boson is central part of the Standard Model of particle physics that describes how the world is constructed. According to the Standard Model, everything, from flowers and people to stars and planets, consists of just a few building blocks: matter particles.

    These particles are governed by forces mediated by force particles that make sure everything works as it should. The entire Standard Model also rests on the existence of a special kind of particle: the Higgs particle. This particle originates from an invisible field that fills up all space. Even when the universe seems empty this field is there. Without it, we would not exist, because it is from contact with the field that particles acquire mass. On 4 July 2012, at the CERN laboratory for particle physics, the theory was confirmed by the discovery of a Higgs particle.

    CERN’s particle collider, LHC (Large Hadron Collider), is probably the largest and the most complex machine ever constructed by humans. Last year, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the 2013 Nobel Prize for Physics to Peter Higgs after whom the particle is named. But in a new twist, Thomas Ryttov, particle physicist and associate professor at the Centre for Cosmology and Particle Physics Phenomenology refers to the theories, that over the last five years have been put forward for the existence of particles in the universe that are smaller than the Higgs particle.

  • RECORD: X-RAYS BRIGHTER THAN A MILLION SUNS GLOW IN LAB

    RECORD: X-RAYS BRIGHTER THAN A MILLION SUNS GLOW IN LAB

    LONDON (TIP): Scientists have for the first time ever created the brightest light ever imagined in the entire universe. X-rays brighter than a million suns were created which exposed the biochemical structure of a 50 million-year-old fossil plant to stunning visual effect when they were bombarded on it.

    The team of palaeontologists, geochemists and physicists investigated the chemistry of exceptionally preserved fossil leaves from the Eoceneaged “Green River Formation” of the western United States by bombarding the fossils with X-rays produced by synchrotron particle accelerators. Researchers from Britain’s University of Manchester and Diamond Light Source combined the unique capabilities of two synchrotron facilities to produce detailed images of where the various elements of the periodic table were located within both living and fossil leaves.

    The work shows that the distribution of copper, zinc and nickel in the fossil leaves was almost identical to that in modern leaves. Each element was concentrated in distinct biological structures such as the veins and the edges of the leaves and the way these trace elements and sulphur were attached to other elements was very similar to that seen in modern leaves and plant matter in soils.

  • Nasa discovers new gully on Mars

    Nasa discovers new gully on Mars

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A Nasa spacecraft has discovered a new gully channel on the surface of Mars which may have formed only within the last three years. A comparison of images taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in November 2010 and May 2013 reveal the formation of a new gully channel on a crater-wall slope in the southern highlands of Mars.

    According to Space.com the feature was not present in HiRISE photos of the area taken on November 5, 2010. While the Mars gully looks a lot like river channels on Earth, it likely was not carved out by flowing water and may have resulted from activity of carbon dioxide frost. Gully or ravine landforms are common on Mars, particularly in the southern highlands, Nasa said. Th images show that material flowing down from an alcove at the head of a gully broke out of an older route and eroded a new channel.

    The dates of the images are more than a full Martian year apart, so the observations did not pin down the Martian season of the activity at this site. Before-and-after HiRISE pairs of similar activity at other sites demonstrate that this type of activity generally occurs in winter, at temperatures so cold that carbon dioxide, rather than water, is likely to play the key role.

  • Computers can now nail people faking pain

    Computers can now nail people faking pain

    WASHINGTON (TIP): In the ever-expanding contest between artificial intelligence and the ordinary human mind, you can chalk up another one for the computer. Scientists have developed a computer system with sophisticated pattern recognition abilities that performed much better than humans in differentiating between people experiencing genuine pain and people who were just faking it.

    In a study published in the journal Current Biology this week, human subjects did no better than chance — about 50% — in correctly judging if a person was feigning pain after seeing videos in which some people were and some were not. The computer was right 85% of the time. Why? The researchers say its pattern recognition abilities successfully spotted distinctive aspects of facial expressions, particularly involving mouth movements, that people generally missed.

    “We all know that computers are good at logic processes and they’ve long out-performed humans on things like playing chess,” said Marian Bartlett of the Institute for Neural Computation at the University of California-San Diego, one of the researchers. “But in perceptual processes, computers lag far behind humans and have a lot of trouble with perceptual processes that humans tend to find easy, including speech recognition and visual recognition.

  • FACEBOOK TO ACQUIRE VIRTUAL REALITY FIRM OCULUS FOR $2B

    FACEBOOK TO ACQUIRE VIRTUAL REALITY FIRM OCULUS FOR $2B

    LAS VEGAS (TIP): Nearly a month after announcing $19 billion acquisition of instant messaging firm WhatsApp, Facebook said it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire virtual reality technology company Oculus VR, Inc., for about $2 billion in a cash and stock deal. The California headquatered Oculus’ flagship product — Oculus Rift — is a goggle like ‘virtual reality headset’ for video gaming.

    Cash and stock offer
    Commenting on the acquisition, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “Mobile is the platform of today, and now we’re also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow. “Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate.” The offer includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock (valued at about $.6 billion).

    Besides, the agreement provides for an additional $300 million earn-out in cash and stock based on the achievement of certain milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014. While the applications for virtual reality technology beyond gaming are in their nascent stages, several industries are already experimenting with the technology, and Facebook plans to extend Oculus’ existing advantage in gaming to new verticals, including communications, media and entertainment, education and other areas, the social networking giant in a statement said.

    “Given these broad potential applications, virtual reality technology is a strong candidate to emerge as the next social and communications platform,” it added. According to Facebook, Oculus has received more than 75,000 orders for development kits for the Oculus Rift.

    “We are excited to work with Mark and the Facebook team to deliver the very best virtual reality platform in the world,” said Brendan Iribe, cofounder and CEO of Oculus VR. “We believe virtual reality will be heavily defined by social experiences that connect people in magical, new ways. It is a transformative and disruptive technology, that enables the world to experience the impossible, and it’s only just the beginning.”

  • SAMSUNG LAUNCHES GALAXY S5 IN INDIA

    SAMSUNG LAUNCHES GALAXY S5 IN INDIA

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Smart phone manufacturer Samsung Electronics, on March 27, introduced Galaxy S5 in the domestic market. The features include a 16-megapixel camera, fast 3G speeds at 42Mbps and Octa-core processor capable of operating all eight cores at the same time, said a company release.

    It has a perforated pattern on the back cover, and is being offered in charcoal black, shimmery white, electric blue and copper gold, and is IP67 dust and water resistant. It has a finger scanner and biometric screen locking feature. Galaxy S5 also introduces S Health 3.0, a fitness application. “Galaxy S5 offers the world’s fastest auto focus speed up to 0.3 seconds and advanced high dynamic range (HDR)”, the release said.

    Samsung Galaxy S5 is priced between Rs.51,000 and Rs.53.000. Samsung also announced three wearable devices — Gear Fit, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. These devices will be available across the country through Samsung’s retail stores and e-commerce sites from April 11 onwards. Galaxy Gear 2 is priced at Rs.21,900 and both Galaxy Gear 2 Neo and Galaxy Gear Fit are priced at Rs.15,900.

    Asked if the pricing was slightly on the higher side, Samsung India Country Head (IT and Mobile Division) Vineet Taneja said people would not mind paying for a quality product. “I think the Rs.50,000 barrier got broken when we launched the Galaxy Note 3, for which we have got a good response. People are looking for value and for a quality product, they don’t mind paying,” Taneja said. He said the company would offer customers buyback and EMI schemes. “Our financing options make the device really affordable,” Taneja said.

  • SREI TO ROLL OUT WHITE LABEL ATMS

    SREI TO ROLL OUT WHITE LABEL ATMS

    KOLKATA (TIP): Srei Infrastructure Finance, engaged in infrastructure financing, is planning to start roll-out of its while label ATMs (WLAs) between July and September starting with a pilot of 200 Tier- III towns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

    The Reserve Bank of India authorisation is effective March 25, 2014. (Non-bank entities that intend setting up, owning and operating ATMs, would be christened White Label ATM Operators.) J. Moses Harding, Group CEO, Liability and Treasury Management, Srei Infrastructure Finance, said back-end and front-end connectivity was in place and now the delivery of the ATM machines had to begin.

    Srei plans to launch the service in Tier-II to Tier-V towns in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu. The RBI authorisation allows Srei to set up a minimum of 9,000 WLAs in the next three years in rural India. The sponsor bank is Axis Bank.Mr. Harding told The Hindu that the initial plan was to target the taluq headquarters where footfall was high.

    “Srei will offer this service as an add-on to its current initiatives through Sahaj footprints”. Sahaj e-Village Limited is a Srei initiative with a focus on rural India. It has offices in Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and is seen as one of the largest implementers of ICT-based projects in India, providing a distribution network for government, private and social sectors to deliver their services. He said that the WLAs would operate on a revenue-sharing model with the stakeholders, including the clearing service providers and Sahaj.

  • RBI opens the field wider for foreign investments

    RBI opens the field wider for foreign investments

    MUMBAI (TIP): To attract more investments into the equity and debt markets, the Reserve Bank of India has decided to put in place a framework for investments which allows foreign portfolio investors to participate in open offers, buyback of securities and disinvestment of shares by Central or State Governments.

    The framework has been unveiled at a time when the Indian equity market is experiencing a bull run, with the BSE S&P Sensex racing past the 22,000-point mark to a lifetime high on expectations of a stable government emerging at the Centre post elections. Under a new scheme called ‘Foreign Portfolio Investment’, the RBI said portfolio investors — foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and qualified foreign investors (QFIs) registered in accordance with SEBI guidelines — will now be called Registered Foreign Portfolio Investors (RFPIs).

    According to the scheme, RFPIs can sell shares or convertible debentures in an open offer or through buyback of shares by a listed Indian company. RFPIs can also acquire shares or convertible debentures in any bid for, or acquisition of, securities in response to an offer for divestment of shares made by the Central or any State Governments. Further, they can acquire shares or convertible debentures in any transaction in securities pursuant to an agreement entered into with a merchant banker in the process of market making or subscribing to unsubscribed portion of the issue.

  • EU TO BAN INDIAN MANGOES, VEGETABLES

    EU TO BAN INDIAN MANGOES, VEGETABLES

    BRUSSELS (TIP): European Union member states, on Wednesday, decided to ban the import of five types of fruits and vegetables from India, after several batches were found to be contaminated by pests such as fruit flies, the bloc’s executive said. The prohibition, which goes into effect in May, covers mangoes, aubergines, the taro plant and two types of gourd.

    These represent less than 5 per cent of the bloc’s fresh fruit and vegetable imports from India, according to the European Commission. Pests that are not native to Europe were found in 207 fruit and vegetable consignments from the subcontinent last year, the Commission said, adding that they “could pose a threat to EU agriculture and production.” The EU’s executive also said there were ‘significant shortcomings’ in the certification systems that prevent contaminated goods from being exported. The ban, agreed by a committee of experts representing member states, is to be reviewed by the end of 2015.

  • GWYNETH PALTROW, CHRIS MARTIN ANNOUNCE SEPARATION

    GWYNETH PALTROW, CHRIS MARTIN ANNOUNCE SEPARATION

    LOS ANGELES (TIP): Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin are separating after more than 10 years of marriage, according to a message posted on the “Iron Man” actress’s blog. Paltrow, 41, and the 37-year-old musician married in 2003. They have two children: 9- year-old daughter Apple and 7-year-old son Moses.

    “We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate,” read the message titled “Conscious Uncoupling” on Goop.com.

    It was signed by both Paltrow and Martin, and a spokeswoman for Martin confirmed the separation. “We are parents first and foremost, to two incredibly wonderful children, and we ask for their and our space and privacy to be respected at this difficult time,” the message also said.

    “We have always conducted our relationship privately, and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and co-parent, we will be able to continue in the same manner.” Martin, the Grammy-winning lead vocalist of Coldplay, and Paltrow, who won an Oscar for her performance in “Shakespeare in Love,” were among Hollywood’s highest profile couples. The duo frequently accompanied each other to public events, such as this year’s Golden Globes ceremony and the Help Haiti Home gala earlier this year, but they rarely posed together on red carpets.

  • SARAH JESSICA PARKER INSPIRED BY STREET FASHION

    SARAH JESSICA PARKER INSPIRED BY STREET FASHION

    Actress Sarah Jessica Parker says her style is inspired by “women on the street”. The “Sex And The City” star’s fashion sense was slammed last week after she was spotted wearing stirrup tights, but she didn’t consider it to be a fashion faux pas.

    “It’s been so cold in New York that bare legs seemed almost undoable…So, I started wearing tights, then I saw a woman in Seattle wearing stirrups with a pump and thought, ‘Maybe I’ll start wearing them with a strap shoe’,” contactmusic.com quoted Parker as saying. “I am often inspired by women on the street whose names I’ll never know,” she added. The 48-year-old fashion icon says she is unsure if the look will become a trend or not. “I don’t know if they’ll catch on,” Grazia magazine quoted her as saying.

  • Need For Speed

    Need For Speed

    STORY: Tobey Marshall (Paul) and friends are struggling to keep their garage business from going broke. He reluctantly accepts an offer from wealthy ex-NASCAR driver Dino Brewster (Cooper) to soup up a Ford Mustang for a big price. However, Tobey soon finds himself in a race that’s about revenge as well as redemption.

    REVIEW: Aaron Paul’s (of Breaking Bad fame) character Tobey is loosely reminiscent of Ryan Gosling’s look in ‘Drive’, minus the gore. He speaks very little and prefers to put the pedal to the metal. His friends Maverick (Mescudi), Joe Peck (Rodriguez), Pete (Gilbertson), Finn (Malek) and him make a living by modifying and racing muscle cars.

    But the money’s barely enough, so when Paul’s former rival Dino pays them a visit, he offers Tobey 25% to trick out the Mustang, valued at $2million. While Tobey’s pals are incredulous about the idea, he is more pragmatic and accepts, knowing that the money could really come in handy for the garage. They do the modification so well that an exotic cars investor called Julia Maddon (Poots), whom they meet at a party, is impressed and says she’d buy it for $3 million if it can exceed 230 mph.

    When the car clocks 234 mph, the deal is done. But simmering tensions between suave bad boy Dino and righteous Tobey come to a head during a race when Dino, Pete and Tobey race three illegally imported Koenigsegg Agera supercars. Tobey is double crossed by Dino and the former ends up serving a two-year prison sentence.

    When Tobey leaves the slammer, all he desires is vengeance – preferably on a racetrack and in fourth gear. The setting for this ‘battle royale’ is the big ticket De Leon race organized by a reclusive individual called Monarch (Keaton). Although light on plot and performances, the film delivers exactly what it promises. Devoid of CGI, the races you see are real and the stunts, really well done. Apart from Paul’s promising performance, it’s the supercharged cars that tear up the asphalt and steal the show in this one.

  • AISHWARYA, SUSHMITA SEN TOGETHER ON SCREEN?

    AISHWARYA, SUSHMITA SEN TOGETHER ON SCREEN?

    Soon after Aishwarya Rai gave birth to her daughter Aaradhya, speculations about the actress’ comeback have often been suggested in many entertainment dailies. She has reportedly shown interest in adman Prahlad Kakkad’s directorial debut, Happy Anniversary, where, if all goes by the plan, she will be seen starring opposite her real life husband Abhishek Bachchan.

    The duo is currently going through the script of the film, to be produced by Gaurang Doshi, and is soon expected to sign on the dotted line. In a recent development, Kakkad has approached Sushmita Sen to play a substantial supporting role in the same film. A few days ago, he met the actress and according to sources, she has loved the part offered. Confirming this development Kakkad told Mirror, “If all goes well, we should have Sushmita in Happy Anniversary.

    It will be a pleasure to work with her.” One of the most talked-about cold wars of Bollywood was that of Sushmita and Aishwarya’s. It dates back to 1994, when Sushmita won the Miss India crown beating the strongfavourite Aishwarya and went on to win the Miss Universe title, while Aishwarya, the first runners-up, was adjudged Miss World. But according to a source close to the film, the rivalry is long over. “If both are satisfied with the length and quality of their respective roles, they won’t allow their personal equation to come in the way,” a source said. Kakkad will give Sushmita the script next week.

    “She wants to read it and judge the role for herself. Fair enough!” he quips. Her character is that of a woman caught in a bad marriage who eventually breaks free. Aishwarya’s character starts off as a 21-year old and the story unfolds over the next eight years. The film will later also see her pregnant with twins. Happy Anniversary deals with marital issues and will be largely shot in South Africa. Aishwarya is currently trying to lose a few more kilos before facing the camera. And according to a friend, could start shooting for a Mani Ratnam film soon.

  • I FEEL VERY FREE WITH VARUN: NARGIS FAKHRI

    I FEEL VERY FREE WITH VARUN: NARGIS FAKHRI

    Nargis Fakhri says she doesn’t have many friends in Mumbai. “Maybe like three, if I had to say. But that’s okay. I have made Mumbai or Bollywood my office; I have to understand that I am a stranger, though many years have passed. So, I treat it as my office and the people like my colleagues.

    Though we say, ‘Oh, we are friends’, we aren’t because we haven’t built a proper foundation,” the actress says. Does she count Varun Dhawan, her coactor in upcoming Main Tera Hero, among her few friends? Nargis explains, “He is as honest a person as I am. I feel very free with him. If I say something weird, he will either save me or say something sillier. He would be a nice friend, but let’s see. When Varun is free, he has to spend time with his family and his real friends.”

  • Ragini MMS 2

    Ragini MMS 2

    STORY: Ghosts from the past resurface while the infamous ‘Ragini MMS’ scandal (from the prequel) is being filmed as a story for celluloid.

    REVIEW: Hold onto your pants as Erotica meets Eerie in a sequel that traces Ragini’s haunted past. Rewind: Uday and Ragini’s dirty, horny weekend in an isolated house turned into a horrifying threesome – when a ghost interrupted their sexcapade.

    Uday disappeared and Ragini landed up in a mental asylum. Now the sequel begins. Sleazy, over-zealous filmmaker Rocks (Parvin) is so ‘turned on’ by the story that he wants to adopt it for celluloid. He casts seductress Sunny Leone (played by Sunny Leone) in the lead because he’s impressed with her ‘body’ of work (perv!).

    He chooses the actual location of the ‘Ragini’ incident for the film and moves his crew into the haunted haveli. There, in between ‘knicks’ (undies) and ‘knocks’ (uh huh!), smooches, sizzling showers and dirty games – the ghost turns up. Patel’s ‘Ragini MMS 2’, pitched as a ‘horrex’ (horror+sex) film, offers screams, sighs and moans (read: erotic!), delivering more sexual delights than horrifying drama.

    Picture this: Sunny fakes an orgasm (really now?), talks dirty talk in bed and lip-locks with a woman (want more?). Well, there’s humour too with telly actor Maddy’s (Karan) lusty longings and Monali’s (Sandhya) ‘verny’ angrezi which goes – ‘shits ya’ and ‘so worst ya’. The film provides the usual creepy cliches – creaking windows, ghostly shadows and bedraggled bhoots. There are a few spooky moments, but fewer leapout- of-your-seat scenes.

    Sunny looks deathly desirable and plays the sexed-up baby doll with abandon. While her ‘act’ is good, her ‘performance’ doesn’t really climax. Yet, she gives us a ‘drool-worthy’ adult-horror film – one of its kind for Bollywood. Parvin and Karan are entertaining, Saahil is average, Divya (as a psychiatrist) stays trapped in an unconvincing role. For horror-buffs this might not be ‘spookilicious’ enough, but those looking for a ‘sun-sunny’ weekend, go lap it up!

  • DISD chief’s reforms are not enough, says Mayor Rawlings

    DISD chief’s reforms are not enough, says Mayor Rawlings

    DALLAS (TIP): For the first time, members of the public are getting to listen to presentations and ask questions about the DISD Home Rule initiative March 20 night. The face of the Home Rule initiative is a non-profit group called Support Our Public Schools (SOPS).

    SOPS is pushing the overhaul of governance at DISD, which must first be supported by roughly 25,000 petition signatures. Once that happens, the board of trustees would appoint a committee to craft recommendations on exactly how DISD should be locally run. The founders of the movement are a handful of Dallas residents whose faces most won’t recognize, but they have the support of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who said he wants change at DISD and wants it now.

    “I think what I’m trying to say is we’ve got such a serious situation that we are going to have to do something disruptive,” Rawlings said. “Incremental steps are not going to help a fourth grader in his or her next eight years.” But six months ago, Rawlings was the chief defender of DISD Superintendent Mike Miles and his reform initiative Destination 20-20. Today, Rawlings said Miles initiatives are not enough.

    “These things have got to change faster, better, and with a greater sense of urgency,” Rawlings said. “So let’s not change anything Miles is doing, let’s take the handcuffs off on something’s that he articulated that would be great for him to do.” What could be a problem for Rawlings is that Miles is not supporting the Home Rule concept. He’s not opposing it either, but told the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board Wednesday, “I didn’t initiate this and I didn’t say we should have this. You asked me whether there was a wish list of things we could have.

    I’m not the one pushing for a change.” News 8 asked the Mayor if not getting the superintendent’s endorsement could hurt the Home Rule campaign. “If you look at his quotes, I applaud them — that’s the sort of superintendent I want,” Rawlings said. “It’s not his job to whine that he doesn’t have enough resources, his job is to get the job done.” The question is, will the mayor need Mike Miles support to sell the Home Rule initiative? Maybe not. A check of the “Support Our Public Schools” Facebook page reveals an impressive list of luminaries who are supporting it. But even more important are the voters and what they are saying about it, and Thursday night, there is sure to be a segment of those who believe the governance of DISD is just fine.

  • Going Beyond Death With Real Love

    Going Beyond Death With Real Love

    The fear of death haunts many people. So they want to escape death and avoid facing it or even thinking about it. Unless and until one develops real love for the Supreme Lord Krishna, a human being cannot avoid or escape death. Like animals, humans too have to take birth repeatedly and die. The transcendental love for God, in the form of the Supreme Lord Krishna, is the real love. Once a person cultivates love for the Supreme Lord Krishna in this birth he/she becomes liberated and after leaving this body lives eternally in the spiritual abode by continuing the loving service to the lord.

    This is confirmed by the Supreme Lord Krishna in the Gita (15.6) yat gatva na nivartante tad dhama parmam mama, having attained that abode of mine, they do not return to this world. Here is a real life story that confirms this truth.

    During the last summer at dusk on a sultry Monday, a young man in his late twenties literally barged into my room where I was chanting my twenty first round of ‘Hare Krishna’ maha mantra on my beads. From his dress, he looked a typical commercial sector executive in Mumbai. “Will you kindly initiate me into the chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra Swamiji?” asked the young visitor even before I could offer him a seat. I glanced at him, and by now, he was sitting on the floor.

    I was trying to gauge the reason for his request for initiation into the spiritual practice because I wondered about this sudden request by a stranger.Was it due to an emotional outburst or was it based on philosophical conviction? I was trying to assess. Curious why this man had come to me for spiritual initiation, I said, “It is not normally for a person of your status and stature to opt for a spiritual life. How come you have developed interest at this stage?” Sensing my curiosity, the visitor introduced himself properly. He started a long story, “In my early childhood I saw my grand parents die. Later, I also witnessed the death of my parents. After some months, I participated in the funeral ceremony of my elder sister.

    Soon after, I was informed of my brother’s passing away. All these happened suddenly and unexpectedly within a few years with brief intervals. Before I could recover from one tragedy, another hit me. These disasters left a horrendous impact on my young mind. Death is the cruelest misfortune that does not spare anyone. Death makes no distinction and in most cases, it is painful and shocking. After seeing so many dear ones vanishing into thin oblivion, never to be seen again, the message of death always created in me an unprecedented panic of hideous proportions.

    At the same time, a strong desire arose in me to defeat death. I said to myself, ‘I want to live.” As I entered my teenage years, I was present at a crematorium tragically observing my uncle’s body being consumed by flames in the presence of all my family members. I was wondering why no one is making an attempt stop it, to check the cruel hands of death. Some one in the funeral group said, “There is nothing as sure as death.” I tried my best to not to permit this unpleasant statement to penetrate into the recess of my heart, but it, nevertheless, did. This rather permeated my whole self. “No, I don’t want to die, I want to live!” I shouted. My outburst got lost in the incomprehensible cacophony that prevailed in the mourning crowd. Later one evening, when I returned home from my school, I saw there was an eerie silence. Once again, the news was negative.

    The impact of the news of death of some close relative numbed my mind. It was a sheer torture for me and hardly could anyone could ease my sad feelings. There arose an insatiable urge to explore an unquenchable thirst and constantly increasing curiosity coupled with innate motivation to learn and unravel the mystery of death. News of death always traumatised me. Hearing the news, the relatives and friends simply mourn, place wreaths on the dead bodies, and express some platitudes in appreciation of the deceased. They mechanically utter a few words of consolation to the close relatives and dutifully attend the services conducted in memory of the departed as a mere formality. Nothing more. My mind rebelled and revolted against the indifference exhibited by the people around. As I gradually became an adolescent, the tragedy centered around death and left an indelible imprint on my mind during formative years. It still remains powerful.

    Once I was commuting in an overcrowded suburban train in Mumbai. Suddenly the speeding train came to a screeching halt. Somebody announced that a passenger standing at the open doorstep fell off the train due to his loose grip and died instantly. No one can escape the vicious grip of death. It proves its unrestricted capability to strike anyone anywhere. Amidst all uncertainties, the only certainty is death, I now realized. I saw the arrival of an ambulance and the removal of the dead body of the person who boarded the train with me just a few minutes ago. Although I was in tears, no one besides me seemed to be affected. There was a pronounced indifference. Being saved from any inordinate delay due to the sad accident,my copassengers, on the contrary, heaved a sigh of relief when the train moved on, but my thoughts refused to.


    57

    By now, as a fully grown up young man, with buoyant optimism that someone must be able to challenge death, I flipped through science journals, diligently perused daily newspapers carefully avoiding the obituary columns, studied with interest many overseas periodicals and concentrated with unfailing regularity on ‘Research and Development’ magazines. But different studies of such voluminous writings with a meticulous mind only pathetically revealed to me that many men of great intellect as well as research scientists are simply wasting their time. The taxpayers money in is spent on some useless topics of this temporal world of uncertainties. They are the least interested in detailed research about death which can imperceptibly deal a sudden blow on them and put a stop to their current foolish and fanciful endeavours. I understand that all these fools are only interested in ephemeral projects and not in the eternal enlightenment.

    As I grew up, I saw the various media prominently projecting news of death.
    ● Nine killed in a car bomb blast
    ● Earthquakes claim 5100 lives
    ● Boat capsizes and 252 feared drowned.
    ● Building collapses, 81 instantly dead
    ● 112 burnt alive in communal clash
    ● A major air-crash- all passengers and the crew killed
    ● 210 lost lives in train accident
    ● A whole village wiped out in flood
    ● 30 people declared dead due to food poisoning
    ● 6 picnickers drowned
    ● 22 killed in police firing so far.
    ● 63 mercilessly massacred by terrorists

    This apart, due to personal rivalry and religious hostility, once I personally happened to see dead bodies strewn around street corners. I was prepared to learn but had no one to teach me. I was looking for directions but had no guide. I was groping in darkness but no one to show me light. One day, I saw BHAGAVAT GITA lying on a book shelf. It seemed unattended since the time the shelf was installed, it suddenly attracted my attention. I pulled it out of the shelf as irreverently as I would, any novel. I started gave it a cursory glance and lo! I found one of the important characters of this book Arjuna, five thousand years ago, was in a similar predicament like me. Before he started to fight the battle of ‘Kurukshetra’, Arjuna suddenly realized that the death of all his kith and kin on both sides was inevitable.

    The very thought scared him. Although a great warrior belonging to Kshatriya clan known for a sense of imperturbability even in the midst of a grave crisis, Arjuna was shaken out of his existence. Just after reading a couple of pages about Arjuna’s urge to run away from the battlefield, I impatiently shoved the book back on to the shelf as indifferently as I had picked it up. Recently, I was passing through a narrow side street in south Mumbai, when I was hurriedly taking a turn near a temple. Walking very close, I heard through loudspeakers someone saying, “You shall never die”. I could not move any further. I stood still. “You can conquer death”, the voice roared. I could not believe this. Conquering death? Is there a way? I was more stunned than surprised. The speech was emanating from the temple, I made sure.

    The excruciating experience that I went through all these years literally pushed me toward the temple threshold. The next moment, I found myself sitting with the rest of the motely crowd on the floor surrounding an elderly person in saffron robe sitting on a slightly raised platform. In front of him at some distance, there were elegantly dressed, aesthetically decorated deities of Shri Radha and Shri Krishna. The temple hall looked pleasant and inviting with fragrance of jasmine flowers and the aroma of incense sticks. I looked at the speaker. His face was completely serene reflecting the composure of his mind. There was Vaishnava clay marking on his broad forehead. I never came across such a face shining brilliantly in my entire life. His very presence had such a purifying effect that I was instantly relieved of the pain in my heart. He continued with his discourse, ‘na mriyate kadachit’ will never die at anytime. These words were just like honey pouring into my ears. ‘Nityah’ eternal and ‘Shashvatah’ everlasting, he emphatically expressed. Needless to say these words gladdened my heart further.

    Alas! At least here is someone who has challenged death. He knows the method, I said to myself. Swamiji quoted various instances where people defied death. At the last moment, at the time of death, Ajamila chanted the Holy Name of the Supreme Lord Narayana when the servants of Yama, the superintendent of death, came to take him away forcefully. At that very moment, a confidential associate of the Lord appeared and forbade them from doing so. Ajamila was saved from death. Then he also spoke of a saintly king called ‘Khatvanga’ who having assisted demigod Indra of heavens in his battle against demons successfully, wanting to return to his kingdom on the planet earth, came to know from Indra that only a few moments of his life were left. Immediately chanting the Holy Name of Supreme Lord Shri Krishna, the saintly king returned to the spiritual abode, Shri Vaikuntha. He also explained in great details about the incident of the ‘curse to die’ of Parikshit Maharaja and that he was finally advised while concluding seven days narration of Shrimad Bhagavatam by his spiritual teacher Shrila Shukadeva. Swamiji’s rhetorical gesture was very forceful and impressive. He said,

    tvam tu rajan marisyeti pasu-buddhim imam jahi na jatah prag abhuto dya deha-vat tvam na nanksyasi

    “O King, give up the animal mentality of thinking, “I am going to die”. Unlike the body, you have not taken birth. There was not a time in the past when you did not exist, and you are not about to be destroyed”. It is only the animals who become scared of death. Hence they have intense spirit in them for self-defence. This is because they have no spiritual conception. They have absolutely no idea beyond the gross physical bodies they possess. You are not an animal. You should be free from this anxiety. Swamiji explained further citing verses from the second chapter of Gita.(2.11, 12, 13 & 2.22)

    asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna vadams ca bhasase gatasun agatasums ca nanusocanti panditah) na tv evaham jatu nasam na tvam name janadhipah na caiva na bhavisyamah sarve vayam atah param dehino smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara- praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grhnati naro parani tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany anyani samyati navani dehi

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: While speaking wise words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead. Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be. As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change. As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones. Arjuna, try to understand this, thus spoke Krishna,” said the Swamiji in his thundering voice. It reminded me immediately about the book ‘Gita’ lying in my book-shelf. Swamiji was speaking from this book. He further continued, “You should all read Gita at least.” Then he spoke about the glory of Gita.(12.5.2)

    sarvopanisado gavo, dogdha gopalanandanah partho vatsah sudhir bhokta, dugdham gitamrtam mahat

    “The crest-jewels of the Vedas, the Upanishads, are like a cow, and the milker of the cow is Lord Shri Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja. Arjuna is the calf, the nectar of the Gita is the milk, and the virtuous devotees are the drinkers and enjoyers of the milk.” While concluding, Swamiji spoke with anguish about the current social trend of general apathy towards spiritual learning and how that is ruining the whole human society. In India, it is generally seen that people in their seventies suffering from rheumatic pain and gout trouble often express a desire to visit far flung holy places. After a couple of cataract operations, many senior citizens suddenly develop desire to have ‘darshan’ of deities in temples situated at distant sites of pilgrimage. Persons who are paralytic and bed ridden show misplaced enthusiasm for spiritual initiation at a time when their minds suffer from dementia.

    Such old and infirm people tend to become religious because they can see death coming nearer every day. What is the use of taking to religion when one is afflicted with physical debility and mental derangement? Spiritual pursuits, on the contrary, demand agile physique and a clear mind. It is astonishing as to how such an attitude came to prevail for a very long time in India which boasts of spiritual supremacy over the rest of the world by the virtue of having nurtured and nourished a civilization based on the teachings of the Vedas, an ageless scripture of India. It is all the more amazing when we view this from the worldly perspective. These days we see boys aged six or seven practising cricket batting and bowling. Children of this age group attempt to learn swimming and bicycle riding, among other sports, pastimes and hobbies.

    But when it comes to adopting a religious way of life or taking to devotional service to God, we prefer ripe old age of invalidity.What a paradox! In Shrimad Bhagavatam, it is said, ‘kaumara achared prajyah..’, spiritual practices in terms of devotional service to Shri Vishnu or Shri Krishna should be imparted to one in the early childhood, that is because the child’s mind is uncontaminated by the subject matters of this physical world and free from craving for any material enjoyment due to undeveloped physical senses. We often come across people saying, “We shall take to bhakti or any spiritual practices after we fulfill our family obligations and duties”. This never happens. Even if it does in some cases, whatever they do at the tail end of their lives will be nothing more than a mere formality.

    This tendency of according the least priority to regular and meaningful spiritual practices is widely prevalent. Many people entertain a wrong notion that making perfunctory visits to temples on important festive occasions in itself constitutes devotion. Thus the discourse came to an end. Kirtans began. I rushed back home. That very night I started reading the Gita. In just seven days I finished the entire scripture thoroughly assimilating the essence of the teachings. I became fully convinced that I am not the physical body but an eternal spirit soul part and parcel of Krishna and to attain the eternal residence in the spiritual planet ‘Krishna Loka’ and this should be the only goal of life. To achieve this, one should be able remember Krishna at the time of death. The only positive method to ensure this remembrance is to chant the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord on a regular basis as concluded by the eighteen thousandth verse of Shrimad Bhagavatam (12.13.23) “.

    Nama sankritanam yasya sarva-papa pranasanam Pranamo duhkha-samanas tam namami Harim param

    “I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord, Hari; the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering obeisances unto who relieves all material suffering.” Thus he ended his narration. On the next Janamasthmi festival, I initiated him into chanting of Hari Nama as well as Gayatri Mantra as he was eligible for this.With his new name, he became known as Vraja Vallabha Dasa. He started chanting one hundred thousand Holy Names daily. On the following Radha Asthmi festival, I expected to him visit us, but I was told that he never turned up. I personally telephoned him the next day only to be told by his brother that Vraja Vallabha Dasa left his body on Radha Asthmi due to a massive heart attack and that he was chanting at the time of leaving his body. What a glorious death! We are sure he has now joined the group of cowherd boys in the eternal abode of Krishna Loka to directly engage in transcendental loving service of the Supreme Lord. He wanted to live. He lives for ever. He died only to live eternally.

  • SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    The Sikh Gurus never believed in the exclusivity of their teachings. The Gurus undertook travels to spread their message to peoples of different cultures in their own native languages. The Gurus did not believe in the ideas of any language being ‘sacred’ or ‘special’. It is in this spirit that various Sikh scholars have undertaken efforts to translate Sri Guru Granth Sahib into a number of languages in order to spread the teachings of the Gurus and to bring the Sikh religion to the people of the world as Guru Nanak wished.

    True Guru. The Guru is the Honor of the dishonored. The Guru, the True Guru, brings approval and applause. I am never tired of praising the Guru, who unites me with the Lord God. || 2 || Everyone, all over the world, longs for the True Guru. Without the good fortune of destiny, the Blessed Vision of His Darshan is not obtained. The unfortunate ones just sit and cry. All things happen according to the Will of the Lord God. No one can erase the pre-ordained Writ of Destiny. || 3 || He Himself is the True Guru; He Himself is the Lord. He Himself unites in His Union. In His Kindness, He unites us with Himself, as we follow the Guru, the True Guru. Over all the world, He is the Life of the World, O Nanak, like water mingled with water.

    || 4 || 4 || 68 || SIREE RAAG, FOURTH MEHL: The Essence of the Ambrosial Naam is the most sublime essence; how can I get to taste this essence? I go and ask the happy soul-brides, “How did you come to meet God?” They are care-free and do not speak; I massage and wash their feet. || 1 || O Siblings of Destiny, meet with your spiritual friend, and dwell upon the Glorious Praises of the Lord. The True Guru, the Primal Being, is your Friend, who shall drive out pain and subdue your ego. || 1 || Pause || The Gurmukhs are the happy soul-brides; their minds are filled with kindness. The Word of the True Guru is the Jewel.

    One who believes in it tastes the Sublime Essence of the Lord. Those who partake of the Lord’s Sublime Essence, through the Guru’s Love, are known as great and very fortunate. || 2 || This Sublime Essence of the Lord is in the forests, in the fields and everywhere, but the unfortunate ones do not taste it. Without the True Guru, it is not obtained. The self-willed manmukhs continue to cry in misery. They do not bow before the True Guru; the demon of anger is within them. || 3 || The Lord Himself, Har, Har, Har, is the Sublime Essence. The Lord Himself is the Essence. In His Kindness, He blesses the Gurmukh with it; the Ambrosial Nectar of this Amrit trickles down. Then, the body and mind totally blossom forth and flourish; O Nanak, the Lord comes to dwell within the mind.

    || 4 || 5 || 69 || SIREE RAAG, FOURTH MEHL: The day dawns, and then it ends, and the night passes away. Man’s life is diminishing, but he does not understand. Each day, the mouse of death is gnawing away at the rope of life. Maya spreads out like sweet molasses; the selfwilled manmukh is stuck like a fly, rotting away. || 1 || O Siblings of Destiny, God is my Friend and Companion. Emotional attachment to children and spouse is poison; in the end, no one will go along with you as your helper. || 1 || Pause || Through the Guru’s Teachings, some embrace love for the Lord, and are saved. They remain detached and unaffected, and they find the Sanctuary of the Lord. They keep death constantly before their eyes; they gather the Provisions of the Lord’s Name, and receive honor. The Gurmukhs are honored in the Court of the Lord. The Lord Himself takes them in His Loving Embrace.

    || 2 || For the Gurmukhs, the Way is obvious. At the Lord’s Door, they face no obstructions. They praise the Lord’s Name, they keep the Naam in their minds, and they remain attached to the Love of the Naam. The Unstruck Celestial Music vibrates for them at the Lord’s Door, and they are honored at the True Door. || 3 || Those Gurmukhs who praise the Naam are applauded by everyone. Grant me their company, God – I am a beggar; this is my prayer. O Nanak, great is the good fortune of those Gurmukhs, who are filled with the Light of the Naam within. || 4 || 33 || 31 || 6 || 70 || SIREE RAAG, FIFTH MEHL, FIRST HOUSE: Why are you so thrilled by the sight of your son and your beautifully decorated wife? You enjoy tasty delicacies, you have lots of fun, and you indulge in endless pleasures. You give all sorts of commands, and you act so superior. The Creator does not come into the mind of the blind, idiotic, self-willed manmukh.

    || 1 || O my mind, the Lord is the Giver of peace. By Guru’s Grace, He is found. By His Mercy, He is obtained. || 1 || Pause || People are entangled in the enjoyment of fine clothes, but gold and silver are only dust. They acquire beautiful horses and elephants, and ornate carriages of many kinds. They think of nothing else, and they forget all their relatives. They ignore their Creator; without the Name, they are impure. || 2 || Gathering the wealth of Maya, you earn an evil reputation. Those whom you work to please shall pass away along with you. The egotistical are engrossed in egotism, ensnared by the intellect of the mind. One who is deceived by God Himself, has no position and no honor.

    || 3 || The True Guru, the Primal Being, has led me to meet the One, my only Friend. The One is the Saving Grace of His humble servant. Why should the proud cry out in ego? As the servant of the Lord wills, so does the Lord act. At the Lord’s Door, none of his requests are denied. Nanak is attuned to the Love of the Lord, whose Light pervades the entire Universe. || 4 || 1 || 71 || SIREE RAAG, FIFTH MEHL: With the mind caught up in playful pleasures, involved in all sorts of amusements and sights that stagger the eyes, people are led astray. The emperors sitting on their thrones are consumed by anxiety.

    || 1 || O Siblings of Destiny, peace is found in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. If the Supreme Lord, the Architect of Destiny, writes such an order, then anguish and anxiety are erased. || 1 || Pause || There are so many places – I have wandered through them all. The masters of wealth and the great land-lords have fallen, crying out, “This is mine! This is mine!” || 2 || They issue their commands fearlessly, and act in pride. They subdue all under their command, but without the Name, they are reduced to dust.

    || 3 || Even those who are served by the 33 million angelic beings, at whose door the Siddhas and the Saadhus stand, who live in wondrous affluence and rule over mountains, oceans and vast dominions – O Nanak, in the end, all this vanishes like a dream! || 4 || 2 || 72 || SIREE RAAG, FIFTH MEHL: Arising each day, you cherish your body, but you are idiotic, ignorant and without understanding. You are not conscious of God, and your body shall be cast into the wilderness. Focus your consciousness on the True Guru; you shall enjoy bliss forever and ever. || 1 || O mortal, you came here to earn a profit. What useless activities are you attached to? Your life-night is coming to its end.

    || 1 || Pause || The animals and the birds frolic and play – they do not see death. Mankind is also with them, trapped in the net of Maya. Those who always remember the Naam, the Name of the Lord, are considered to be liberated. || 2 || That dwelling which you will have to abandon and vacate – you are attached to it in your mind. And that place where you must go to dwell – you have no regard for it at all. Those who fall at the Feet of the Guru are released from this bondage.

    || 3 || No one else can save you – don’t look for anyone else. I have searched in all four directions; I have come to find His Sanctuary. O Nanak, the True King has pulled me out and saved me from drowning! || 4 || 3 || 73 || SIREE RAAG, FIFTH MEHL: For a brief moment, man is a guest of the Lord; he tries to resolve his affairs. Engrossed in Maya and sexual desire, the fool does not understand. He arises and departs with regret, and falls into the clutches of the Messenger of Death. || 1 || You are sitting on the collapsing riverbank – are you blind? If you are so pre-destined, then act according to the Guru’s Teachings.

    || 1 || Pause || The Reaper does not look upon any as unripe, half-ripe or fully ripe. Picking up and wielding their sickles, the harvesters arrive. When the landlord gives the order, they cut and measure the crop. || 2 || The first watch of the night passes away in worthless affairs, and the second passes in deep sleep. In the third, they babble nonsense, and when the fourth watch comes, the day of death has arrived. The thought of the One who bestows body and soul never enters the mind.

    || 3 || I am devoted to the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; I sacrifice my soul to them. Through them, understanding has entered my mind, and I have met the All-knowing Lord God. Nanak sees the Lord always with him – the Lord, the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts. || 4 || 4 || 74 || SIREE RAAG, FIFTH MEHL: Let me forget everything, but let me not forget the One Lord. All my evil pursuits have been burnt away; the Guru has blessed me with the Naam, the true object of life. Give up all other hopes, and rely on the One Hope. Those who serve the True Guru receive a place in the world hereafter.

    || 1 || O my mind, praise the Creator. Give up all your clever tricks, and fall at the Feet of the Guru. || 1 || Pause || Pain and hunger shall not oppress you, if the Giver of Peace comes into your mind. No undertaking shall fail, when the True Lord is always in your heart.

  • THE BHAGAVAD GITA

    THE BHAGAVAD GITA

    Faith in sacrifice, charity, and austerity is also called “SAT”. Selfless service for the sake of the Supreme is, in truth, termed as “SAT”. (17.27) Whatever is done without faith — whether it is sacrifice, charity, austerity, or any other act — is called “ASAT”. It has no value here or hereafter, O Arjun. (17.28)

    LIBERATION THROUGH RENUNCIATION

    Arjun said: I wish to know the nature of Samnyaas and Tyaag and the difference between the two, O Lord Krishn. (18.01)

    Definition of renunciation and sacrifice
    The Supreme Lord said: The sages call Samnyaas (Renunciation) the complete renunciation of work for personal profit. The wise define Tyaag (Sacrifice) as the sacrifice of, and the freedom from, a selfish attachment to the fruits of all work. (See also 5.01, 5.05, and 6.01) (18.02) Some philosophers say that all work is full of faults and should be given up, while others say that acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned.

    (18.03) O Arjun, listen to My conclusion about sacrifice. Sacrifice is said to be of three types. (18.04) Acts of service, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed because service, charity, and austerity are the purifiers of the wise. (18.05) Even these obligatory works should be performed without attachment to the fruits. This is My definite supreme advice, O Arjun. (18.06)

    Three types of sacrifice
    Giving up one’s duty is not proper. The abandonment of obligatory work is due to delusion and is declared to be in the mode of ignorance. (18.07) One who abandons duty merely because it is difficult or because of fear of bodily affliction, does not get the benefits of sacrifice by performing such a sacrifice in the mode of passion. (18.08) Obligatory work performed as duty, renouncing selfish attachment to the fruit, is alone to be regarded as sacrifice in the mode of goodness, O Arjun.

    (18.09) One who neither hates a disagreeable work, nor is attached to an agreeable work, is considered a renunciant (Tyaagi), imbued with the mode of goodness, intelligent, and free from all doubts about the Supreme Being. (18.10) Human beings cannot completely abstain from work. Therefore, one who completely renounces selfish attachment to the fruits of all work is considered a renunciant. (18.11) The threefold fruit of works — desirable, undesirable, and mixed — accrues after death to the one who is not a Tyaagi (Renunciant), but never to a Tyaagi. (18.12)

    Five causes of an action
    Learn from Me, O Arjun, the five causes, as described in the Saamkhya doctrine, for the accomplishment of all actions. They are: The physical body, the seat of Karm; the modes (Gunas) of material Nature, the doer; the eleven organs of perception and action, the instruments; various Praanas (bioimpulses, life forces); and the fifth is presiding deities (of the eleven organs). (18.13-14) These are the five causes of whatever action, whether right or wrong, one performs by thought, word and deed.

    (18.15) Therefore, the ignorant, who consider one’s body or the soul as the sole agent, do not understand due to imperfect knowledge. (18.16) One who is free from the notion of doership and whose intellect is not polluted by the desire to reap the fruit — even after slaying all these people — neither slays nor is bound by the act of killing. (18.17) The subject, the object, and the knowledge of the object are the threefold driving force (or impetus) to an action. The eleven organs (of perception and action), the act, and the agent or the modes (Gunas) of material Nature are the three components of action. (18.18)

    Three types of knowledge
    Jnaan (Self-knowledge), Karm (Action), and Kartaa (Agent) are said to be of three types, according to the Guna theory of Saamkhya doctrine. Hear duly about these also. (18.19) The knowledge by which one sees a single immutable Reality in all beings as undivided in the divided, such knowledge is in the mode of goodness.

    (See also 11.13, and 13.16) (18.20) The knowledge by which one sees different realities of various types among all beings as separate from one another; such knowledge is in the mode of passion. (18.21) The irrational, baseless, and worthless knowledge by which one clings to one single effect (such as the body) as if it is everything, such knowledge is declared to be in the mode of darkness of ignorance (18.22)

    Three types of action
    Obligatory duty performed without likes and dislikes and without selfish motives and attachment to enjoy the fruit, is said to be in the mode of goodness. (18.23) Action performed with ego, with selfish motives, and with too much effort, is in the mode of passion. (18.24) Action that is undertaken because of delusion, disregarding consequences, loss, injury to others, as well as one’s own ability, is said to be in the mode of ignorance. (18.25)

    Three types of agent
    The agent who is free from attachment, is non-egotistic, endowed with resolve and enthusiasm, and unperturbed in success or failure is called good. (18.26) The agent who is impassioned, who desires the fruits of work, who is greedy, violent, impure, and gets affected by joy and sorrow; is called passionate. (18.27) The agent who is undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, wicked, malicious, lazy, depressed, and procrastinating is called ignorant. (18.28)

    Three types of intellect
    Now hear Me explain fully and separately, O Arjun, the threefold division of intellect and resolve, based on modes of material Nature. (18.29) O Arjun, that intellect is in the mode of goodness which understands the path of work and the path of renunciation, right and wrong action, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation.

    (18.30) That intellect is in the mode of passion which cannot distinguish between righteousness (Dharm) and unrighteousness (Adharm), and right and wrong action, O Arjun. (18.31) That intellect is in the mode of ignorance which, when covered by ignorance, accepts unrighteousness (Adharm) as righteousness (Dharm) and thinks everything to be that which it is not, O Arjun. (18.32)

    Three types of resolve, and the four goals of human life
    That resolve is in the mode of goodness by which one manipulates the functions of the mind, Praan (bioimpulses, life forces) and senses for God-realization only, O Arjun. (18.33) That resolve is in the mode of passion by which one, craving for the fruits of work, clings to Dharm (Duty), Arth (Wealth), and Kaam (Pleasure) with great attachment. (18.34) That resolve is in the mode of ignorance by which a dull person does not give up sleep, fear, grief, despair, and carelessness, O Arjun. (18.35)

    Three types of pleasure
    And now hear from Me, O Arjun, about the threefold pleasure. The pleasure that one enjoys from spiritual practice results in cessation of all sorrows. (18.36) The pleasure that appears as poison in the beginning, but is like nectar in the end, comes by the grace of Self-knowledge and is in the mode of goodness.

    (18.37) Sensual pleasures that appear as nectars in the beginning, but become poison in the end, are in the mode of passion. (See also 5.22) (18.38) Pleasure that confuses a person in the beginning and in the end as a result of sleep, laziness, and carelessness, is in the mode of ignorance. (18.39) There is no being, either on the earth or among the celestial controllers (Devas) in the heaven, who can remain free from these three modes (Gunas) of material Nature (Prakriti). (18.40)

    Division of labor is based on one’s ability
    The division of labor into the four categories — Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudr — is also based on the qualities inherent in people’s nature (or the natural propensities, and not necessarily as one’s birth right), O Arjun. (See also 4.13) (18.41) Intellectuals who have serenity, self-control, austerity, purity, patience, honesty, transcendental knowledge, transcendental experience, and belief in God are labeled as Braahmans.

    (18.42) Those having the qualities of heroism, vigor, firmness, dexterity, steadfastness in battle, charity, and administrative skills are called Kshatriyas or protectors. (18.43) Those who are good at cultivation, cattle rearing, business, trade, and industry are known as Vaishyas. Those who are very good in service and labor type work are classed as Shudras. (18.44)

    Attainment of salvation through duty, discipline, and devotion
    One can attain the highest perfection by devotion to one’s natural work. Listen to Me how one attains perfection while engaged in one’s natural work. (18.45) One attains perfection by worshipping the Supreme Being — from whom all beings originate, and by whom all this universe is pervaded — through performance of one’s natural duty for Him. (See also 9.27, 12.10) (18.46) One’s inferior natural work is better than superior unnatural work even though well performed. One who does the work ordained by one’s inherent nature (without selfish motives) incurs no sin (or Karmic reaction). (See also 3.35) (18.47) One’s natural work, even though defective, should not be abandoned, because all undertakings are enveloped by defects as fire is covered by smoke, O Arjun. (18.48)

  • Devyani – a Kabuki, a Tragic Trilogy or a Bilateral Selfinflicted Wound?

    Devyani – a Kabuki, a Tragic Trilogy or a Bilateral Selfinflicted Wound?

    Alightning fast re-indictment on March 14th, within 2 days of a judge’s dismissal, speaks to the Prosecutor’s rebuke of those who misunderstand law and chose to personalize their disrespect, while continuing to seek to hold a person liable for her alleged criminal wrongs.

    Any and all attacks on the prosecution were wrong in-fact and counterproductive at best, and all those who wish to engage in that mind-numbing sport ought to cease and desist. The legal process deserves respect, especially given the adversarial system of justice – anything less misdirects logic and proportionality, the hallmark of justice, when forced to function in a river of insults.

    I am disturbed by what I have seen occur from December 12th to March 12th, when Judge Scheindlin issued her surprising and unexpected technical-dismissal of the January 9th Indictment. There has been much noise from all quarters since December 12th, who sought to vilify the United States and our abovepolitics United States Attorney Preet Bharara. Some, perhaps, to derail the bilateral relationship.

    Others, perhaps, questioning how could a friendly nation treat another so. Yet others, were playing for personal advantage – much as an undertaker does upon every death. But the most painful cut, made repeatedly, was the legally false or factually false-laced comment coming from a source whose job was to defend Devyani, within the bounds of law. While lawyers, like doctors, can misdiagnose, they ought not misrepresent facts. Certainly, to do both, and repeatedly, when you have over 1 billion good and decent people worried about national respect and national honor is beyond comprehension as it is a core wrong.

    This misdiagnosis and mis-statements caused legal and factual false predicates to give birth to false public expectations in India and false governmental bureaucratic judgment. I know, as I took unexpected heat for properly diagnosing that Devyani lacked diplomatic immunity while holding an A-visa – even as I admitted that the arrest-off-the-street was excessive and ought not have been done. It even gave false birth to genuine public anger against the United States and US Attorney Bharara. The height of which were folks marching in India against President Obama and the American Flag. There were even unseemly and false stories about US Attorney Bharara’s political ambitions.

    This was, and is, wrong. Preet Bharara has earned his spot in the pantheon of legendary Southern District prosecutors like my mentor, the great Bob Morgenthau. Perhaps, the greatest wrong are the birth defects of the Devyani case, which in retrospect, I’m sure no one in the State Department knowing what they now know, would have ever asked the Justice Department to prosecute Devyani. Just look at who is involved, and not merely what is alleged to have occurred. Sangeeta Richard, who twice went to the United States Embassy in Delhi to lie about her contract of employment and scam herself a visa-approval; Philip Richard, who after getting to the United States, wants a divorce because Sangeeta, he says, can’t be trusted and lies; Wayne May and his wife, who while posted in India were anti-India and anti-Indian – worthy of a “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” episode.

    Such a posting between friendly nations is diplomatic malpractice at best. Can you imagine our State Department posting an anti-Semite to Israel, and who, along with his wife while there, enjoy mocking the receiving nation and its citizens on Facebook? The second greatest wrong is the pre-birth twin facts of prior legal proceedings in India against Sangeeta Richard, and the shocking evacuation of Philip Richard and family, well timed to occur prior to Devyani’s December 12th arrest. The law would have been better enhanced, while being mutually respectful, if India’s prior case and America’s subsequent case, each against their respective defendant(s), took its turns and twists to find justice.

    The evacuation stands as a core wrong, with lingering need for redress. After the successful negotiations between our Secretary of State John Kerry, and India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, Devyani was legally allowed to go home due to the State Department’s grant of a G-visa to replace her Avisa. The A-visa did not immunize her from being charged or arrested for what she was, and now again, is. That the A-visa was replaced by G-visa, proved the vitality, portance and warmth both nations place upon the bilateral relationship – from President Obama to the everyday hardworking American citizen. But, then, Devyani made her most critical error: instead of resolving the criminal charges, with the best possible resolution, including, a non-jail sentence along with an additional civil resolution, she sought an outright dismissal of the criminal charges based upon a mere 1-day full immunity consequence of a G-Visa, which had no retroactive effect of cloaking her.

    This was nothing short Caesarian hubris, overlaid on legal misdiagnosis and misrepresentation of facts. A trilogy of tragic proportions. Now, what must be avoided at all costs is an unearned chill between friends – India and United States, and Indians and Americans. From the presence of Indian tea at the Boston Tea Party to the innocent blood shed upon Lord Cornwallis’ cold command when stepping foot in India after losing “the Colonies” to General George Washington, these two nations have a joint destiny. Indeed, even Christopher Columbus only found the New World because of India.

    History will not kindly look upon additional colossal errors, nor will destiny willingly permit same. Devyani was, and ought to remain, a mere hiccup in the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st Century. On this Ides of March, as I remember Julius Caesar who ruled the world and brought us the Pax Romana, it is good to embrace humility, as it helps minimize errors of judgment in any capital of a sovereign nation, and the need to separate from folks, whose misjudgments and misrepresentations. Let only those who know the actual law and honor the real facts have the right to make binding judgments to keep the public peace, enhance the public good, and seek to form a more perfect world.”

  • Cops Find 100 People in Texas Home in Apparent Smuggling Bust

    Cops Find 100 People in Texas Home in Apparent Smuggling Bust

    HOUSTON (TIP): Police in Houston find more than 100 people crammed into a 1,500-square-foot, single-family house while searching for a woman who was reported missing.

    Most are from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador Houston police searching for a woman who had been reported missing by her family discovered a house overflowing with more than 100 people Wednesday, March 19 in what appeared to be part of a human smuggling operation.

    Police discovered the home just outside Houston while searching for a 24-year-old woman who had been reported missing, along with her two young children, the Associated Press reports. When they searched the home, they found 94 men-all in their undergarments and without shoes-and 15 women (including the missing woman and her children) in a 1,500-square-foot house.

    The people were lying in filth in several small rooms with access to only one bathroom, the AP reports. Police spokesman John Cannon said most of the people had been in the home for a few days, and one woman said she had been there more than two weeks. “It was just filth, very squalid-like conditions inside,” Cannon said. “Trash bags with clothing piled as high as you can see. … Some were just sitting on top of one another because there was just no room.”

    Houston police handed over investigation of the matter to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which said the people in the home were primarily from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador. A pregnant woman and a man were taken to the hospital for treatment, and all others will be fed and questioned. A spokesman for ICE told the AP it was too early in the investigation to say whether the house was part of a human trafficking operation, but it appeared that way. The ICE spokesman also said it has been years since police discovered a house in the Houston area with that many people inside; in 2012, police found a house containing 86 people.

  • Veterans unemployment rises in Texas, falls nationally

    Veterans unemployment rises in Texas, falls nationally

    DALLAS (TIP): The unemployment rate of military veterans rose in Texas last year, showing it’s still tough for returning soldiers to find a job even as the economy improves.Rates are highest among veterans who have returned home since the September 2001 terrorist attacks.

    In Texas, 19,000 of those veterans, or 8.7 percent, were out of work last year, according to information released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s up from 8.3 percent in 2012 and much higher than the 2013 average unemployment rate of 6.3 percent for all Texans. A similar trend was seen for all veterans in 2013: While the unemployment rate in Texas rose slightly, it declined nationally.

    Andy Nguyen, a former U.S. Marine and president of Dallas nonprofit Honor Courage Commitment, thinks part of the reason for the increase in Texas is that more veterans are returning to Texas or moving here to look for work.”I have seen more companies be more receptive about hiring veterans,” said Nguyen, whose nonprofit recruits, educates and mentors new veterans. “It’s getting better each year, but there’s still a huge gap and a long way to go.”

    The U.S. unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans edged down to 9 percent in 2013, from 9.9 percent in 2012. However the number of unemployed vets was the same at 205,000 as more veterans entered the workforce. Also, last year’s rate was well above the nation’s overall unemployment rate of 6.7 percent for 2013. When Glenn Roper retired as an Army lieutenant colonel last August without another job, he and his family sat down to make some tough decisions.

    He gave up his gym membership, his wife cut manicures and pedicures, his two teenagers didn’t play youth sports, and they ate out less. Roper landed a job in late October as an inventory analyst with a Dallas wireless equipment provider after searching for six months. He credits networking through LinkedIn and Nguyen’s group with helping him get hired. Still, he said it was a major transition – and one that many veterans struggle with. “You have to get into the corporate life,” Roper, 49, said. “You have to learn a new language. You have to learn to sell yourself. I had to go get a business suit.”

    Women, younger vets
    Women and younger veterans have fared the worst in the job market. “Women have a lot more to deal with – they’re often mothers with families to maintain – and more of our recent veterans are women,” said Jim Reid, president of Momentum Texas Inc., a Dallas nonprofit that helps new veterans find a job or start a business. “People returning from Afghanistan and Iraq need down time. A lot of them tend to be very young with no employment experience.”

  • John Sharp: Education is key to a bright future for Texas

    John Sharp: Education is key to a bright future for Texas

    FORT WORTH (TIP): The future of this state can be predicted just by peeking into an elementary school classroom. As businesses continue to flock to Texas, it’s more crucial than ever to create a skilled workforce – which means encouraging Texas’ youth to go to college, Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp said Thursday, March 20.

    “We have got to start paying attention to the most important economic asset,” Sharp told a crowd of more than 200 gathered for the Jim Wright Symposium at Texas Christian University. “That is those students sitting in first grade classrooms.” Sharp, who became chancellor of the Texas A&M University System in late 2011, served as a Democrat in the Texas House and Senate for years before serving on the state’s Railroad Commission and as Texas’ Comptroller.

    Narrowly defeated by fellow Texas A&M alum Republican Rick Perry in 1998, as they both sought to become the state’s next lieutenant governor, the two have worked together over the years on issues such as overhauling state business taxes. (Sharp did note Thursday that he had a higher grade point average in school than Perry). Sharp, who has deep local ties since his daughter Victoria was adopted from the Gladney Center for Adoption in Fort Worth, has been in town more frequently since Texas A&M opened a law school in Fort Worth.

    On Thursday, however, his focus was on “the good and the bad of what’s headed to Texas.” While cattle, cotton and oil and gas have dictated much of the state’s success in the past, the future will be carved out by whether there are enough educated youths to fill the jobs that will be open. To get to that point, mediocrity can’t be tolerated in Texas public schools or colleges, he said. Especially at a time in which the bulk of jobs in the coming years will require at least some higher education, according to data by the Center on Education and the Workforce.

    “If Texas cannot produce a higher percentage of its population able to fill this demand, businesses, including the state’s 52 Fortune 500 companies, may begin to look elsewhere for future employees,” Patrick Kobler, program coordinator for The Alliance to Reform Education Leadership at the George W. Bush Institute, recently blogged. “Preparing more students to succeed in, and ultimately complete, higher education can help ensure businesses continue relocating to – and not out of – Texas.”Kobler noted that a third of the state’s 25- to 34- year-olds have earned an associate degree or higher.

    Sharp said two of the most frequent questions he received as comptroller from businesses looking to relocate in Texas was: How many 18 to 20 year olds live in various Texas counties? And what’s the education level of those youths?That is why today’s children must be encouraged to attend college and become more accustomed to the question, “Where are you going to college?” rather than “Are you going to college”? “If we do this right, we are going to create an economic development system in Texas that literally is going to smoke everyone else,” Sharp said.

  • Ray Jasper, Ex-Rapper Who Killed Studio Owner, Executed In Texas

    Ray Jasper, Ex-Rapper Who Killed Studio Owner, Executed In Texas

    HUNTSVILLE, TX (TIP): A former San Antonio rap musician has been executed for a knife attack and robbery that left a recording studio owner dead.Ray Jasper was injected with a lethal dose of pentobarbital Wednesday, March 19, for the November 1998 stabbing death of 33-yearold David Alejandro.

    Jasper had acknowledged he slit Alejandro’s throat to steal equipment from the San Antonio studio. But he insisted a partner was responsible for Alejandro’s fatal stab wounds. Jasper’s execution was the third in Texas this year.

    Another is set for next week before the state begins using a new batch of pentobarbital obtained through a different pharmacy.The injection came after lawyers for Jasper, who was black, argued a black potential juror at Jasper’s San Antonio trial in 2000 was questioned and disqualified improperly because of race.