The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2014

  • SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    || 1 || THIRD MEHL: The fool does not understand his own self; he annoys others with his speech. His underlying nature does not leave him; separated from the Lord, he is beaten. He has not changed and reformed himself in Fear of the True Guru, so that he might merge in the lap of God. Night and day, his doubts never stop; without the Word of the Shabad, he suffers in pain. Sexual desire, anger and greed are very powerful within; he passes his life constantly entangled in worldly affairs. His feet, hands, eyes and ears are exhausted; his days are numbered, and death is approaching.

    The True Name does not seem sweet to him – the Name by which the nine treasures are obtained. But if he remains dead while yet alive, then by so dying, he truly lives; thus, he attains liberation. But if he is not blessed with such pre-destined karma, then without this karma, what can he obtain? Meditate on the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, you fool; through the Shabad, you shall obtain salvation and wisdom. O Nanak, he alone finds the True Guru, who eradicates self-conceit from within.

    || 2 || PAUREE: One whose consciousness is filled with my Lord and Master – why should he feel anxious about anything? The Lord is the Giver of peace, the Lord of all things; why would we turn our faces away from His meditation, for a moment, even for an instant? One who meditates on the Lord obtains all pleasures and comforts; let’s go, each and every day, to sit in the Society of the Saints.

    All the pain, hunger and disease of the Lord’s servant are eradicated; the bonds of all the humble beings are torn away. By the Lord’s Grace, one becomes the Lord’s devotee; beholding the face of the Lord’s humble devotee, the whole world is saved and carried across. || 4 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Let that tongue, which has not tasted the Taste of the Lord, be burnt. O Nanak, one whose mind is filled with the Lord, Har, Har – his tongue savors the Word of the Shabad.

    || 1 || THIRD MEHL: Let that tongue, which has forgotten the Name of the Lord, be burnt. O Nanak, the tongue of the Gurmukh chants the Lord’s Name, and loves the Name of the Lord. || 2 || PAUREE: The Lord Himself is the Master, the servant and the devotee; the Lord Himself is the Cause of causes. The Lord Himself beholds, and He Himself rejoices. As He pleases, He enjoins us. The Lord places some on the Path, and the Lord Himself leads others into the wilderness.

    The Lord is the True Master; True is His justice. He arranges and watches all His plays. By Guru’s Grace, servant Nanak speaks and sings the Glorious Praises of the True Lord. || 5 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: How rare is the dervish, the Saintly renunciate, who understands renunciation. Cursed is the life, and cursed are the clothes, of one who wanders around, begging from door to door.

    But if he gives up hope and anxiety and becomes Gurmukh, and takes the Name as his charity, then Nanak washes his feet; I am a sacrifice to him. || 1 || THIRD MEHL: O Nanak, the tree has one fruit, but two birds are perched upon it. They are not seen coming or going; these birds have no wings. The soul enjoys all sorts of pleasures; through the Word of the Shabad, it remains in Nirvaanaa. Imbued with the subtle essence of the fruit of the Lord’s Name, O Nanak, it bears the True Insignia of God’s Grace.

    || 2 || PAUREE: He Himself is the field, and He Himself is the farmer. He Himself grows and grinds the grain. He Himself cooks it, He Himself puts the food in the dishes, and He Himself sits down to eat. He Himself is the water, He Himself gives the tooth-pick, and He Himself offers the mouthwash. He Himself calls and seats the congregation, and He Himself bids them goodbye. One whom the Lord Himself blesses with His Mercy – the Lord inspires him to obey the Hukam of His Command.

    || 6 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Religious rituals are all just entanglements; bad and good are bound up with them. Possessiveness and emotional attachment are more bonds; children and spouse are entanglements as well. Wherever I look, I see the noose of attachment to Maya. O Nanak, without the True Name, the world is engrossed in blind dealings. || 1 || FOURTH MEHL: The blind receive the Divine Light, when they merge with the Will of the True Guru. They break their bonds and dwell in Truth, and the darkness of ignorance is dispelled. They see that everything belongs to the One who created and fashioned the body. Nanak seeks the Sanctuary of the Creator; the Creator preserves his honor.

    || 2 || PAUREE: When the Creator, sitting all by Himself, created the Universe, he did not consult with any of His servants. So what can anyone take, and what can anyone give, since He did not create any other like Himself? Then, after forming the Universe, the Creator blessed all with His blessings. He Himself instructs us in His service; as Gurmukh, we drink in His Ambrosial Nectar. He Himself is formless, and He Himself is formed; whatever He Himself does, comes to pass.

    || 7 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: The Gurmukhs serve God forever; night and day, they are intuitively absorbed in the Love of the True One. They are in bliss forever, singing the Glorious Praises of the True Lord; in this world and in the next, they keep Him clasped to their hearts. Their Beloved dwells deep within; the Creator pre-ordained this karma. O Nanak, He blends them into Himself; He Himself showers His Mercy upon them.

    || 1 || THIRD MEHL: By merely talking and speaking, He is not found. Night and day, sing His Glorious Praises forever.Without His Grace, no one finds Him; many have died barking and bewailing.When the mind and body are drenched with the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, the Lord Himself comes to dwell in the mind. O Nanak, by His Grace, He is found; He unites us in His Union.

    || 2 || PAUREE: He Himself is the Vedas, the Puraanas and all the Shaastras; He Himself recites them, and He Himself is pleased. He Himself sits down to worship, and He Himself creates the world. He Himself is the householder, and He Himself is the renunciate; He Himself speaks the Unspoken. He Himself is all goodness, and He Himself causes us to act; He Himself remains detached. He Himself grants pleasure and pain; the Creator Himself bestows His blessings.

    || 8 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: O Shaykh, renounce your violent nature; live in the Fear of God and give up your madness. Through the Fear of the Guru, many have been saved; in this fear, you shall find the Fearless One. Pierce your stubborn mind with the Word of the Shabad; let peace and tranquility come to abide in your mind. If good deeds are done in this state of peace, they are approved by the Lord and Master. O Nanak, no one has ever found God through sex and anger – go, and ask any spiritual teacher.

    || 1 || THIRD MEHL: The self-willed manmukhs are emotionally attached to Maya – they have no love for the Naam. They practice falsehood, gather falsehood, and make falsehood their sustenance. They collect the poisonous wealth of Maya, and then die; in the end, it is all reduced to ashes. They practice religious rituals, purity and austere selfdiscipline, but within, there is only greed and corruption. O Nanak, whatever the selfwilled manmukhs do is not acceptable; in the Court of the Lord, they are dishonored.

    || 2 || PAUREE: He Himself created the four sources of creation, and He Himself fashioned speech; He Himself created the worlds and solar systems. He Himself is the ocean, and He Himself is the sea; He Himself puts the pearls in it. By His Grace, He enables some to find them – those whom He makes Gurmukh. He Himself is the terrifying world-ocean, and He Himself is the boat; He Himself is the boatman, and He Himself ferries us across. The Creator Himself acts, and causes us to act; no one else can equal You, Lord.

    || 9 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Service to the True Guru is fruitful, if one does so with a sincere mind. The treasure of the Naam is obtained, and the mind comes to be free of anxiety. The pains of birth and death are eradicated, and the mind is rid of egotism and possessiveness. One achieves the ultimate state, and remains absorbed in the True One. O Nanak, the True Guru comes and meets those who have such pre-ordained destiny.

    || 1 || THIRD MEHL: The True Guru is attuned to the Naam; He is the boat in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga. One who becomes Gurmukh crosses over; the True Lord abides within him. He remembers the Naam, he gathers in the Naam, and he obtains honor through the Naam. Nanak has found the True Guru; by His Grace, the Name is obtained. || 2 || PAUREE: He Himself is the Philosopher’s Stone, He Himself is the metal, and He Himself is transformed into gold. He Himself is the Lord and Master, He Himself is the servant, and He Himself is the Destroyer of sins. He Himself enjoys every heart; the Lord Master Himself is the basis of all illusion.

    He Himself is the discerning one, and He Himself is the Knower of all; He Himself breaks the bonds of the Gurmukhs. Servant Nanak is not satisfied by merely praising You, O Creator Lord; You are the Great Giver of peace. || 10 || SHALOK, FOURTH MEHL: Without serving the True Guru, the deeds which are done are only chains binding the soul.Without serving the True Guru, they find no place of rest. They die, only to be born again – they continue coming and going.Without serving the True Guru, their speech is insipid.

    They do not enshrine the Naam, the Name of the Lord, in the mind. O Nanak, without serving the True Guru, they are bound and gagged, and beaten in the City of Death; they depart with blackened faces. || 1 || THIRD MEHL: Some wait upon and serve the True Guru; they embrace love for the Lord’s Name. O Nanak, they reform their lives, and save their generations as well. || 2 || PAUREE: He Himself is the school, He Himself is the teacher, and He Himself brings the students to be taught.

    He Himself is the father, He Himself is the mother, and He Himself makes the children wise. In one place, He teaches them to read and understand everything, while in another place, He Himself makes them ignorant. Some, You summon to the Mansion of Your Presence within, when they become pleasing to Your Mind, O True Lord. That Gurmukh, whom You have blessed with greatness – that humble being is known and respected in Your True Court.

    || 11 || SHALOK, MARDAANAA: The Dark Age of Kali Yuga is the vessel, filled with the wine of sex; the mind is the drinker. Anger is the cup, filled with emotional attachment; egotism is the bartender. Drinking too much in the company of falsehood and greed, one is ruined. So let good deeds be your distillery, and let Truth be the molasses you ferment; make the most excellent wine of Truth. Make virtue your bread, good conduct the ghee, and modesty the dish of meat. As Gurmukh, these are obtained, O Nanak; consuming them, evil and corruption depart. || 1 ||

  • 60 militants dead after major attack on Afghan army post

    60 militants dead after major attack on Afghan army post

    KABUL (TIP): Afghan forces repulsed an assault by hundreds of militants, many from across the border in Pakistan, officials said April 30, in the biggest clashes since the presidential election almost four weeks ago. Nato air support was called in to help beat back the attack that left 60 militants and at least five Afghan soldiers dead at an army base near the porous border on Monday night.

    “A group of terrorists and foreign fighters numbering about 500… launched a big operation targeting army posts in Zirok district of Paktika province,” the Afghan defence ministry said in a statement. It said the militants were trying to score a high-profile victory after failing to mount a significant attack on polling day despite threatening to target voters, election officials and security forces.

    The Afghan National Directorate of Security, the country’s intelligence agency, said 300 fighters from the Haqqani network, which is allied to the Taliban, and other insurgents were involved. “Haqqani and foreign fighters along with suicide attackers carried out an assault on the night of April 28 to capture a military base in Zirok district,” it said. “As a result of a counter-attack by government forces backed by coalition airforce, 60 members of Haqqani and other foreign fighters were killed and a large number injured.”

    The Haqqani network is blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, including bombings of the US and Indian embassies in Kabul. A Haqqani source in Pakistan confirmed Monday’s incident to AFP. “Allied forces and the Afghan army retaliated to the assault and killed 60 fighters,” he said. “The fighters left and took with them 40 bodies of their colleagues and 12 Afghan soldiers who were alive.” The Haqqani source said the bodies of 20 militants were with the Afghans and a message had been sent offering to exchange the captured soldiers for them. Afghan officials said only one soldier had been taken hostage.

    US officials have in the past accused Pakistani intelligence agencies of links to the Haqqani network, which has bases in Pakistan’s tribal districts. Washington put the network on its terror blacklist in September 2012, and the Pentagon said the group represented a “significant threat” to national security. Afghanistan’s election is heading for a run-off on June 7 after former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani failed to secure the 50 percent vote needed for first-round victory. A second election in June – at the height of the traditional “fighting season” – will present another major challenge for Afghanistan’s stretched security forces.

  • Taliban suicide car bomb kills 13, including six policemen, in Afghanistan

    Taliban suicide car bomb kills 13, including six policemen, in Afghanistan

    KABUL (TIP): A Taliban suicide car bomb killed at least 13 people, including six policemen, on May 1 in a normally peaceful region of eastern Afghanistan, officials said, nearly one month after elections. “A suicide attacker detonated his vehicle-loaded explosive after been identified by security forces,” Abdul Aziz Ghairat, police chief of Panjshir province, told AFP.

    “Six police were killed, and seven civilians. A number of other civilians and security forces were wounded.” The ministry of interior confirmed the incident at the highly-guarded checkpoint where vehicles enter the Panjshir valley. “Around 5:00pm, a suicide bomber in a Toyota Sedan vehicle detonated his explosives-loaded vehicle,” it said in a statement.

    “As a result of this attack, six policemen were killed and a number of civilians were wounded.” Panjshir province, north of Kabul, was a bastion of anti-Taliban resistance during the extremists’ 1996-2001 regime, and has been relatively stable since they were ousted. The steep valley in the Hindu Kush mountain range is also famous for its residents’ dogged resistance against the Soviet occupation of the 1980s

  • PARSHURAM JAYANTI

    PARSHURAM JAYANTI

    Parshuram is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was the son of Raja Prasenjit’s daughter Renuka and Bhrigu dynasty’s Jamdagni. Parshuram was devoted to Lord Shiva. He had immense knowledge and was a great warrior. The day of his birth is celebrated as Parshuram Jayanti all over India with a lot of zeal and excitement. A Parshuram Shobha Yatra is organized on this day along with other Havans, Pujas, Bhandaras etc.

    Originally, his name was Ram. But, he came to be known as Parshuram because of the mystical weapon called Parshu which as given to him by Lord Shiva. Parshuram is believed to be Lord Vishnu’s sixth incarnation. According to religious texts, he was born on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya, which is also celebrated as the day of his birth.

    Observing fasts and other religious works have been the trademarks of this day for centuries. According to beliefs, he defeated Kshatriyas a number of times. He was born to free the world of Kshatriyas’ pride. Parshuram was taught by Dronacharya.

    Significance

    It is believed that Tretayug began on the day of Vaishakh Shukla Paksha Tritiya. It is also known as Akshaya Tritiya. Parshuram is believed to be born on this day. According to Bhagvat, Parshuram was born on this day to destroy the kings of Haideya dynasty.

    Parshuram was the fifth son of Jamdagni and Renuka. He had four elder brothers : Rumanvant, Sushen, Vishwa and Vishwavasu. This day is celebrated as Parshuram Jayanti because Parshuram was born on this day. Parshuram has immense knowledge and was a great warrior. He wanted to live for the benefit of mankind. Parshuram had immense energy and was a great human being.

    Parshuram always helped the ones in need and was just in every decision he took. The day of Parshuram’s birth, i.e, Akshaya Tritiya is important in its own way. Any auspicious work done on this day gives fruitful results. This day is considered to be auspicious. Works are done on this day without even looking for an auspicious time.

    Parshuram Jayanti is celebrated with a lot of dedication and excitement by Hindus. Parshuram’s character seems flawless in ancient religious texts. Originally, Parshuram’s name was Ram. Hence, it is also said that Ram was born before Ram.

    Parshuram Story

    Two stories are famous about Lord Parshuram’s birth. According to Hari Vansh Purana, there was a city named Mahishmati Nagri in ancient times. This city was ruled by Haiheya dynasty’s Kartaveerya Arjun (Sahastra Bahu). He was a cruel king. Goddess Earth went to Lord Vishnu because she was distressed by the Kshatriyas.

    She asked for his help. Lord Vishnu promised her that he would be born as a son to Jamdagni in order to destroy the kingdom of Kshatriyas. Lord Vishnu Incarnated as Parshuram and defeated the kings. Parshuram killed Arjun and freed the Earth of Kshatriyas 21 times there on.

    He filled five ponds in Samantpanchak district with their blood. Saint Trichik asked Parshuram to stop doing this. Hence, he gifted the Earth to Saint Kashyap and started living on Mahendra Parvat.

    THE AXE OF PARSHURAM

    In Vedic times Rishis used to perform yagnas to harness the power of the cosmos for the benefit of the king or Raja and his kingdom. The Raja in turn ensured the livelihood of the priests by gifting them cows. The Puranas, however, refer to a period, when this symbiotic relationship soured, transforming both the kings and their priests forever.

    This shift happens before the arrival of Ram and is marked by another of Vishnu’s avatar, Parashuram, which literally translates as ‘the axe-bearing Ram’. He is also called Bhargava Ram or ‘Ram of the priestly Bhrigu clan’, distinguishing him from Raghava Ram or ‘Ram of the royal Raghu clan’.

    Parshuram’s grandmother, Satyavati, was a princess, daughter of Gadhi. She was given in marriage to Richika, Parashuram’s grandfather. It was common practice for Rajas to offer their daughters to Rishis, along with cows. Parshuram’s father, the Rishi Jamadagni, had received a cow from a king of the Haihaiya clan. The king’s son Kritarjuna or Kartaviryarjuna demanded the cow back. When Jamadagni refused, the king took the cow by force, angering Parshuram, who refused to take things lying down.

    He raised an axe and hacked the king to death. The king’s sons retaliated by beheading Jamadagni. An infuriated Parshuram went on to slaughter five clans of warriors, some say five generations of warriors, creating five lakes of blood. These lakes were later filled and became the dreaded battlefield of Kurukshetra. It is said that Parashuram continued killing every Kshatriya in his path until there were no more warriors left on earth. To restore the Kshatriya clans the widows had to marry priests.

    There is one story of a man called Narikavacha, meaning ‘one whose armor was made of women’. He survived by hiding in women’s quarters. All women went to this one surviving warrior and from this coward were born all future warriors. Perhaps stories such as these were propaganda crated by Rishis to insult kings who did not behave as Rajas are supposed to, as custodians rather than masters of their kingdoms.

    Rishis were known to oppose kings who did not do their duty. There are tales of how Rishis ousted Pururava who went mad after his wife, the nymph Urvashi, left him. There are stories of how Rishis killed Vena who abused his power and exploited the earth. Parshuram’s massacre of kings only stopped when he met Ram, the son of Dashrath, who was so perfect a Raja that he restored Parashuram’s faith in kings and ended his slaughter.

    Parshuram threw his bloodstained axe into the sea but the sea recoiled in horror and drew back revealing a new coast now known as the Konkan and the Malabar, which is why Paashuram worship is most prevalent in the western coast of India. Many Rishis and Brahmins shunned Parshuram as they felt he was contaminated with blood and murder. Determined to pass on his knowledge of warfare to priests who could balance the power of kings, Parshuram is supposed to have gone to a crematorium and resurrected dead priests, who became his students.

    One theory states that the Chitpavan Brahmans of Pune who dominated Indian political scene in the 18th century sprang from these resurrected priests hence the name Chitpavan meaning ‘purified from the funeral pyre’. Parshuram even passed on his martial skills today known as Kalaripayattu to families who were of mixed blood, whose mothers were from warrior clans but fathers were of priestly clans, like, some say, the Nair community in Kerala.

    It is interesting to note that Parshuram’s granduncle was one of those who abused his royal power against the Rishis. His name was Kaushik and he was Satyavati’s brother. Kaushik tried to steal the cow that belonged to Rishi Vasishtha. Unlike Jamadagni, Vasishtha was able to defend himself using his spiritual powers. Humiliated in defeat, Kaushik decided to acquire spiritual powers for himself.

    Just as Parshuram had abandoned his priestly ways to become a warrior, Kaushik gave his warrior ways to become the Rishi Vishwamitra. Just as Parashuram became a warrior to create a better world, free of corrupt kings, Vishwamitra became a teacher and a priest to create a better world, where spiritual powers were used to bring material growth. Vishwamitra was a teacher of Ram.

  • Trains collide head-on in Sri Lanka; 68 injured

    Trains collide head-on in Sri Lanka; 68 injured

    COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (TIP): Two trains have collided headon in northwestern Sri Lanka, injuring 68 people. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana says the crash took place on April 30 at the railroad station in Pothuhera, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.

    He says a train from Colombo traveling to Pallai in the north crashed into a southbound train that was stopped at the station. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Rohana says four of the injured passengers are in serious condition. Trains are a popular mode of transport in the island nation, and are generally considered safe.

  • Seasonal storm kills 14 in Bangladesh

    Seasonal storm kills 14 in Bangladesh

    DHAKA (TIP): At least 14 people were killed when a powerful storm lashed northern and northwestern parts of Bangladesh, disrupting normal life in the region. “Six people were killed as the afternoon storm called ‘kalboishakhi’ (nor’wester) lashed the Notrokona district,” a district administration official told PTI over phone.

    “The deceased include a mother and her three minor sons who were crushed to death as the tin roof of their house collapsed last night during the storm,” he said, adding the storm lasted for an hour in the area. “The storm also killed three others, burying them alive under their collapsed huts,” the official said.

  • Minor girl killed after being brutally raped in Pak

    Minor girl killed after being brutally raped in Pak

    CHARSADDA (TIP): A minor girl was killed after being raped in a remote village of Pakistan’s northwestern Charsadda district on Thursday. Iqra (10) was found dead by local residents in a drain about 50 feet outside her house early on Thursday with a nylon shawl around her neck.

    Hakim, an eyewitness said, that she had bruises on her face, hands and legs. Police have taken the body for post mortem. “She was raped and it appears that she became unconscious due to forced vaginal penetration. She suffered with grievous internal injuries besides strangulation marks on her neck,” hospital sources said.

    A local police official investigating the case said that Iqra was raped in a small hujra (male guest house) owned by her uncle Khalid. “We arrested two suspects in the morning and they led us to the ring of rapists. We made further arrests,” he said.

  • Pakistan cuts prime minister’s electricity for not paying bills

    Pakistan cuts prime minister’s electricity for not paying bills

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): The Pakistani government on April 30 cut off the electricity supply to several major official buildings for non-payment of bills, including parliament, the prime minister’s offices and the president’s official residence. Pakistan is blighted by rolling power cuts, caused in part by people not paying their bills, with government offices among the worst offenders.

    Ordinary people struggle without electricity for 12 to 18 hours a day in the blistering heat of summer, but up to now little action has been taken against recalcitrant bureaucrats working in air-conditioned offices. Minister for water and power Abid Sher Ali announced an “indiscriminate drive” to recover unpaid bills and warned that all offices and customers who had defaulted would be cut off.

    “I have issued orders that the electricity supply to Parliament Lodges, Parliament House and President’s Secretariat should be disconnected immediately for nonpayment of millions of rupees of bills,” he said. The Capital Development Authority, Islamabad’s civic agency which is responsible for paying government offices’ bills, owes the Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) 2.36 billion rupees ($24 million). The President’s Secretariat, which is the head of state’s office and residence, owes 28 million rupees, while lawmakers’ residential block, Parliament Lodges, had to pay 20 million rupees to IESCO, he added.

    Power company officials said that electricity supply to more than 100 government offices had been disconnected over non-payment of bills. Solving Pakistan’s energy crisis was a key campaign pledge for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the runup to the 2013 general election. But the daily power cuts, known euphemistically as “load-shedding”, have already begun this year, even though there is still at least a month to go before the height of summer, when temperatures in some places top 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit). The disconnections were not limited to electricity. The state-run gas company also disconnected the natural gas supply to the prime minister’s offices.

  • Narendra Modi and Charges of Fascism: Voices Rise across the Political Spectrum

    Narendra Modi and Charges of Fascism: Voices Rise across the Political Spectrum

    As the election in India is winding down, the political rhetoric is heating up. Congress, BJP and AAP are attacking each other mainly not on policy matters but rather on personal issues that I believe, are critical when selecting political leaders.

    The abject failure of the media either to scrutinize personalities and their backgrounds or their track record does not bode well for the electorate in a democratic system. An example is Modi’s marital status that may have been kept secret until now despite many filings for his candidacy; however, it opens up the character issue and its relevance and far reaching implications for the future when running for the highest office of the land. Honesty is a positive social character trait where you tell the truth and show integrity.

    It is an important trait we ought to aspire in every leader? Increasingly in our political process, leaders tend to present themselves as something they are not. Narendra Modi is campaigning across India as a new Messiah who would govern the country efficiently and unite the masses! Does that posture stand up to the scrutiny? When so many voices across the political spectrum disagree with it, shouldn’t we take a pause and do some more homework before casting the votes? What intrigued me most is the charges of fascism or its traits are increasingly finding a place where the Modi candidacy for the Prime Minister is discussed.

    Fascism is defined as any ideology or movement inspired by Italian Fascism, such as German National Socialism; any right-wing nationalist ideology or movement with an authoritarian and hierarchical structure that is fundamentally opposed to democracy and liberalism. Are these folks treading lightly on the subject or they are genuine in forewarning us? Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently invoked Hitler and his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels to attack his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, saying the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate was peddling false statements to score political points.

    “A man who aspires to the high post should have patience and not be excitable,” Nitish said at the Janata Dal (United) convention in Rajgir and went on to give a point-by-point rebuttal of Narendra Modi’s attack on him at the BJP’s rally in Patna. Modi had urged people to “uproot and punish” the backstabbers, a reference to the acrimonious split between the BJP and the JD (U). “This is not how democracy works. This is the language of Hitler, of a person who brooks no opposition,” Nitish said.Warning fascism and not merely communalism was the biggest challenge before the country, the JD (U) leader took a dig at the name of BJP’s mega rally, hunkar (battle cry).

    “It reflects arrogance. These are fascist traits. Hitler’s associate Goebbels had said if you repeat a lie hundred times, it appears to be the truth. This is what they do.” Slamming as ‘fascist’ Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s pitch for a “Congress Mukt Bharat”, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh today reached out to all non-BJP parties on the plank of secularism. “Isn’t Modi and now BJP’s slogan of Congress Mukt Bharat fascist? For would all other non-BJP, non-communal political parties please respond?,” Singh said on micro logging site Twitter. Singh’s bid to reach out to “all non-BJP, non-communal parties” comes at a time when there is a realization in both national parties that the next Lok Sabha election could ultimately be a game of alliances.

    Launching a scathing attack on Gujarat chief minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, NCP president Sharad Pawar said that fascist tendencies will be defeated in Maharashtra as the state has never yielded to such tendencies. He criticized the live telecast of Modi’s speeches on all TV channels and said that it was a ploy to grab attention by using money power and this, he said, could take away the fundamental rights of people. Pawar said, “I have seen many prime ministers and many elections but this is for the first time that the authority of elected MPs to decide their legislature party leader has been taken away by pre-deciding the name of the prime minister. It is nothing but autocracy by holding the entire party to ransom for a single person.”

    He said that such parochial attitude is not advisable for the integrity of the country. He pointed out that after a Congress MP was burnt alive along with 20 others in Gujarat, Modi did not think it necessary to visit and console the bereaved family members. Jairam Ramesh, a senior cabinet minister close to the leadership of the Congress party, said Modi’s career reminded him of the rise of the Third Reich, the strongest comments yet by a minister of his rank. “Political autocracy, social divisiveness and economic liberalism. That’s Mr. Modi reduced to three dimensions,” Ramesh told Reuters.

    “Exactly what created the autobahns and the Volkswagens in the 30s but also created the disaster of Germany. “India right now in 2013 – I would say we are going through what Germany went through in 1932.” Now, directly targeting Narendra Modi, the Finance Minister P. Chidambaram says Modi’s politics borders on fascism. Speaking to NDTV, Mr. Chidambaram quoted statistics to argue that Mr. Modi was only the Chief Minister of an average state. ‘People want a compassionate, wise leader who’s acceptable to all. India doesn’t need a Hitler or Mussolini to solve its problems’ he added. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress President Saifuddin Soz also said if BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is elected to office it would be the “first step towards fascism.”

    Prof Soz said Modi doesn’t have knowledge of subjects as the prime minister post is special. “That person (Modi) doesn’t know the name of Gandhi. I don’t think he can become the Prime Minister of India,” Soz said. “And if by chance Modi succeeds in becoming PM, then I must say that it will be the first step for India towards fascism,” he said. “Fascism comes at the time of an economic crisis” Prof. Prabhat Patnaik, a prominent intellectual warned. Adding a note of caution, he said, “The social revolution taking place in the country for the last hundred years will be reversed if Modi comes to power”.

    That is the real agenda; it is not just communalism and fascism. Drawing a parallel with the situation that obtained in 1977, Prof. Prabhat Patnaik said that no election since then has been so important. The fight in 1977 was against authoritarianism and for restoration of democracy. Now it is against the threat of fascism. The 1977 elections were held after the lifting of the hated internal emergency that was clamped by Indira Gandhi in 1975. “There is a difference between authoritarianism and fascism” Patnaik said. The support of corporate to Modi is not without reason. Recalling that the same industrialists who were behind bringing Hitler to power in Germany, who were later given concentration camps to run, Prof. Prabhat said that in our country also this is happening. Those helping Modi will definitely reap the fruits once he is installed in power at the center.

    “Fascism creates a mass base. The mass base is created by targeting one community against the other. Like the Nazis targeted the Jews, in our country, Muslims are being targeted”. A day after her party labeled Narendra Modi “the butcher of Gujarat,”Mamata Banerjeee, Chief Minister of West Bengal made a substantial contribution to the onslaught, describing the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate as an “architect of riots” whose “gyan (insight) on development” is not needed in her state. “If he (Modi) comes to power, India will plunge into darkness,” said Ms Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal.

    In a series of tweets on Sunday, Mamata Banerjee’s party attacked Narendra Modi as “The Butcher of Gujarat” who could not “take care of his own wife.” “Butcher of Gujarat air-dropped into Bengal. He has no answers to Bengal’s development model. So, he is making personal attacks,” Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien tweeted on Sunday. Targeting Narendra Modi on the issue of Gujarat riots, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav described the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate as an “executioner”. “Narendra Modi is a ‘jallad’ (executioner), is a ‘jallad’, is a ‘jallad’. It doesn’t matter where he goes, where he comes or what he does,” Prasad told reporters at the Patna airport.

  • Fear and loathing in Washington

    Fear and loathing in Washington

    The known unknowns about Modi are perfect catalysts for a reset of India-US relations

    Over the past three years, Washington has also come to believe it did India too big a favor with the nuclear deal and received little payback. This premise conveniently ignores the many tangibles (Indian purchases of US defense platforms to the tune of $10 billion in less than a decade) and intangibles (India’s decision not to criticize wholesale spying by NSA). A strong government in New Delhi is unlikely to be as patient or as yielding

    The American establishment is registering a measure of fear while the liberal academic-NGO community a sense of loathing at the prospect of Narendra Modi becoming India’s next PM. They are full of questions with no real answers. If elected, how would a state CM play the national and international game? How would he deal with a US administration whose policy lately has been to hit India on multiple fronts to extract concessions? More importantly, how would he look at a country that denied him a visa and had no contact with him for seven years?

    The anti-Modi coalition of Christian evangelists, left-leaning Indian Americans and Muslim activists is gearing up to mount pressure through the US Congress. They will keep the heat on even though the old fervor is gone, especially among Republicans. The uncertainties, the ambiguities and the “known unknowns” about Modi are actually perfect catalysts for a “reset” of India-US relations currently running at a low. They can create the new chemistry necessary for a more balanced equation better suited to the times.

    It cannot be the responsibility of one partner to create equilibrium, constantly ignore provocations and appease. A good relationship bears traffic in both directions. Actually the reset has already begun. Ironically, the button was pushed by the Khobragade affair. Needless provocation sparked a strong Indian response and washed the fuzziness off the relationship. Dialogue has gained in clarity since. The defensive tone has been replaced by a confident articulation of Indian expectations from the relationship. It is neither arrogant nor whiney. Terms of engagement will change further if Indian voters give a clear mandate.

    Unfortunately, the last phase of the UPA government left the impression that India will reverse its policies in the face of pressure and noise from Washington. It did so on preferential market access and transfer pricing. This has emboldened US lobbies out to draw more blood. After all who wouldn’t use a tactic that works? Over the past three years, Washington has also come to believe it did India too big a favor with the nuclear deal and received little payback. This premise conveniently ignores the many tangibles (Indian purchases of US defense platforms to the tune of $10 billion in less than a decade) and intangibles (India’s decision not to criticize wholesale spying by NSA). A strong government in New Delhi is unlikely to be as patient or as yielding. Piling on public pressure is bad strategy for the general health of the relationship.

    It reduces the Indo-US story to one of trade and investment disputes and blurs the original idea for coming together – a geostrategic convergence of interests. The new government will realize soon enough that an inward-looking Obama administration has had only fitful engagement with the world. That it has paid no special homage to strategic vision, and instead allowed a disaggregation of the India-US relationship. Then it has come after New Delhi issue by issue. It has attacked India at the behest of big pharma and other business interests whose maximalist agenda has been repeatedly exposed.

    Their game is to scotch any serious attempt to keep medicine affordable while discrediting India’s generic drugs industry through means both fair and foul. In their calculation, if India bends, it would scare smaller, weaker countries from ever contemplating a compulsory license US pharma’s brutal overreach has even put the much-touted Trans-Pacific Partnership under a cloud as negotiating countries discover the traps set for them under the guise of protecting intellectual property and copyrights. If the US Trade Representative reviewing India’s intellectual property regime downgrades it and puts it on the list of ‘Special 301’ countries, this will add another twist to an already twisting relationship. Such naming and shaming could lead to sanctions.

    Pushing the business agenda of demands drafted by the US Chamber of Commerce at a time when the US is losing international partners faster than it is acquiring them is unwise. Especially when Obama’s signature foreign policy effort – the pivot to Asia – keeps reincarnating in lesser and lesser avatars. Obama had also pledged to strengthen bonds with emerging economies but today all Brics are piled up against America for various reasons. India, Brazil, China and South Africa abstained on a UN resolution condemning the fifth partner Russia’s annexation of Crimea. India also abstained on a US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka’s human rights situation.

    This reflects a post-Khobragade realism, a push-back, even a new equilibrium. India will give but also take. For every US demand to open the Indian economy, there would be an equal and opposite demand on completing a “tantalization agreement”. India may find it useful to cross-link and leverage defense contracts for something tangible. Surely $10 billion worth of arms can buy relief on H-1B visas or a more honest policy towards a certain neighbor that remains the hub of terrorism. The truth is if Washington can be transactional, so can others. But this new phase should not obscure the larger logic behind India and the US coming together because the many reasons for convergence remain. Those with a wider window than a four-year election cycle understand that. Equally importantly, those who make national security policy in India know what balance of power is more beneficial.

  • MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK SPACIOUS

    MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK SPACIOUS

    Low furniture really opens up your home and makes it look spacious. People wanting a sleek, modern look for their homes opt for low furniture. Furniture closer to the ground ends up making the room it is placed in much larger than it is. From platform beds to low sofas, home decor just got lower.

    Many sofa sets available in the local markets are just a few inches off the ground, instead of the traditional height of more than a foot away. Most Mumbaiites live in small flats, and that is the reason why even a little space available anywhere is what people crave for. Thanks to these short sofas the ceilings of your homes can appear to be much higher than it is.

    Low furniture can really lend a spacious look to your otherwise cramped dwelling. Yash Tonkk’s duplex home in the western suburbs has a low sofa cum bed that makes his otherwise small living room appear larger. “I liked this low sofa cum bed. Its height and bright colour adds drama to my room, while the low height allows space,” says Gauri Tonkk. Not just sofas there are beds available in the market, which accommodate the mattress, and thereby keep the level much lower than regular beds. Low furniture can actually be housed in any room, and can be mixed with any style. “My wife, Mona and I got this low sofa especially designed for our home.

    I believe low furniture like our coffee table gives an amazing sense of space inside homes,” says Sudhanshu Pandey. Low furniture can work in any room but when it come to just the seating areas, then mixing a low arrangement and a higher one at the same time can be quite disastrous. It looks more aesthetically appealing to have seating arrangements that are of similar heights, if not exactly the same. For example one should ideally avoid a low sofa right next to a very high bar stool!

  • To catch a mocking bird: Modi breaks the law, BJP defends it

    To catch a mocking bird: Modi breaks the law, BJP defends it

    The registration of an FIR may unnerve an ordinary citizen, but not Narendra Modi, the BJP strong man whose single-minded goal in life seems to be to somehow occupy the Prime Minister’s chair. The pursuit of ambition sometimes can drive one to do things one may regret later.

    Right now Modi sees no wrong in violating provisions of the Representation of the People’s Act. The BJP too blindly defends anything that Modi says or does. The Election Commission has visual evidence of Modi’s law-breaking act of addressing a press conference and soliciting votes for his party and displaying an image of lotus, the BJP symbol. On the EC’s order the Gujarat police registered two FIRs against Modi and certain TV channels that telecast the event.

    On April 24 Modi filed his nomination papers in Varanasi after leading a massive procession which was also telecast live by TV channels regardless of the fact that voters could be influenced since polling was being held in parts of India on that day. BJP opponents had demanded the registration of an FIR then too. Modi got away then and makes light of the latest offence punishable with up to two years’ jail.

    Everyone makes a mistake but not everyone defies or makes fun of the authority that points to the wrongdoing. Here the authority is none other than the Election Commission of India, a constitutional body. Modi ridiculed it when he said: “One can understand if someone points a knife, a pistol or a gun. But do you know why an FIR was registered against me? Because I showed a lotus to people”. Obviously, he has no fear of the law and believes the lotus is a sacrosanct emblem.

  • Shankar Mahadevan Music Academy affiliates with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

    Shankar Mahadevan Music Academy affiliates with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA announcedon Monday, April 28, Online Music Academy in affiliation with Shankar Mahadevan Music Academy, at the Consulate General of India, NYC in the presence of Consul General, NY, Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay.

    Another feather in Bhavan’s cap was the announcing of the 13 episode reality show Showcased by TV Asia named “SUR TAAL AUR SANSKAAR” Speaking at the occasion Ambassador Mulay appreciated the role played by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in upholding the Indian values and spreading Indian culture in USA. Chairman- Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and CEO TV Asia, Mr. H. R. Shah updated media about reality show and reiterated the support of TV Asia in this project.

    Dr. Navin Mehta -President of Trustee Committee,Bhavan, reminded media of Bhavan’s Trend setting history and urged community to take advantage to groom second generation in proud tradition of Indian Music by Maestro himself. Mr. Sudhir Vaishnav, a dedicated bhavanite and instrumental in bringing this project around introduced Music Maestro Shankar Mahadevan.

    In his response Mr. Mahadevan paid rich tribute to Bhavan, USA and Bhavan worldwide. He explained the layout of online music academy. While explaining the reality show Mr. Mahadevan assured media of his presence for judging the finale. He formally announced the association with chanting of Ganesh Stuti. Dr. Parveen Chopra-Director Bhavan, USA, while thanking everybody, conveyed special thanks to Indian Consulate for encouraging more and more community interactions and involvement. Mr. Deepak H. Dave -Executive Director conducted the program and read out Blessings from the founder of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA, Dr. P. Jayaraman.

    BHAVANUS-SHANKAR MAHADEVAN MUSIC ACADEMY:
    Starting July 2014
    Web site: www.
    bhavanus.shankarmahadevanacademy.com

    Contest Name – SUR TAAL AUR SANSKAAR- SEASON 1
    Genres for Contest
    Hindi Movie Songs
    Hindustani Classical Vocal
    Online Auditions Launch Date – Registration begins -May 5, 2014
    Online Auditions End Date – Registration ends – May 30, 2014
    Online Auditions Completion Date (Results Announced) – June 10, 2014

    Projected TV Episodes start date- JULY 12TH (GURU PUNIMA)
    Number of TV Episodes – 13 episodes
    8 elimination rounds
    4 Quarter finals
    Grand finale

  • WAYS TO CURE UNDERARM DARKENING

    WAYS TO CURE UNDERARM DARKENING

    Frequent use of razors and deodorants can cause dark, ugly looking underarms that can cause you a lot of embarrassment. Here’s how to get rid of the darkness.

    Milk and flour pack

    Make a thick paste out of milk and white or wheat flour and apply a thick layer of it on your underarms. Let it dry off and rinse. This mixture helps exfoliate the dead skin off and the milk helps lighten the skin.

    Coconut oil

    Massage underarms for a few minutes with some warm coconut oil and leave it on for about half an hour. Go for a steam and then have a warm exfoliating bath with a good quality scrub. Doing this three to four times a week can show effective results.

    Vinegar pack

    IF you’re not allergic to vinegar, mix some rice flour with a few drops of vinegar to form a thick paste. Apply on the affected areas and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Scrub it once it is dry and have a warm bath.

    Home lightening pack

    A pack made with a mix of yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric and besan should be applied and kept for about 20 minutes. Wash it off with some warm water. Repeat the process everyday for several days to see results.

  • I don’t hide my relationship like Modi: Digvijaya Singh

    I don’t hide my relationship like Modi: Digvijaya Singh

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday said he will formalize his relationship with television journalist Amrita Rai when her divorce comes through, ANI reported.

    Bringing up the recent controversy surrounding Narendra Modi’s marriage, Digvijaya said, “I have the courage of my conviction and to face the consequences. He (Modi) is a coward, who had hidden his wife for years.” “I don’t hide things like Mr Modi.

    It is a private matter which I have made public,” the Congress leader said on his relationship with the TV journalist. “I don’t hide my relationship, which Mr Modi does. I am not a coward,” he added. Shortly after their pictures and videos went viral online, Digvijaya Singh and Amrita Rai admitted to being in a relationship on Twitter on Wednesday.

    “I have no hesitation in accepting my relationship with Amrita Rai. She and her husband have already filed a mutual consent divorce case. Once that is decided we would formalise it. But I do condemn encroachment in our private life,” posted Singh, 67, across two tweets on Wednesday. Rai echoed the sentiment in a tweet timed to coincide with Singh’s.

    “I have separated from my husband and we have filed a (sic) mutual consent divorce papers. After which I have decided to marry with (sic) Digvijaya Singh,” she posted from her Twitter account. In another tweet, Rai seemed to indicate that the pictures were leaked as a result of a hack. “My email/computer been hacked & contents tampered with. It is a serious crime in India & encroachment of my privacy. I strongly condemn it,” she tweeted. Singh’s wife died of cancer in February last year.

    Rai is a news anchor with Rajya Sabha TV. Meanwhile, BJP’s Sushil Kumar Modi took a jibe at Singh, where else, but on Twitter. “Congratulations Digvijaya Singh for having an affair even at 67,” he wrote. Cong spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said, “If the tweets are genuine… they have explained their position.” AAP’s Somnath Bharti condemned the relationship from a moral point in a series of tweets.

    Calling Singh “characterless”, he tweeted, “he knew mny (sic) such relations, if he doesn’t expose on his own, I will file a PIL after the election gets over for him to reveal all such cases.” However, the tweet could not be found after a few hours. The screenshots, though, were doing the rounds on Twitter. A video posted on Tuesday on Inagist showed Singh performing a religious ritual with the journalist.

    The video, also available on YouTube, was posted on April 11 from a user called “Raja Mama” with the title, “Is Amrita Rai Secret/Second Wife of Shri Digvijaya Singh?” Another copy of the same video, was posted back on July 20, 2013, and is titled “Digvijay Singh pooja at alandi by ameen sheikh”. And then there were pictures of Singh and Rai in intimate poses. Another YouTube video posted on Tuesday by a user called “Expose AAP” put together a slideshow of the very same pictures. While the rumblings had begun to gain momentum on the web on Tuesday, a report published in the daily Millennium Post on Wednesday brought the affair mainstream. By Wednesday afternoon, both Singh and Rai had accepted their relationship on Twitter.

  • TRICKS FOR A TONED STOMACH

    TRICKS FOR A TONED STOMACH

    Crop tops are a must-have fashion trend this season, but before you choose to flaunt them, get rid of your belly fat. Try torso rotations or leg lifts for a toned stomach. Femalefirst.co.uk lists four exercises, along with some cardio and healthy eating tips that can help in getting abs in no time.

    Torso Rotations

    Torso rotations are great for working your whole abdominal area, including your lower back. These are done with your body alone or with a broomstick! Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, hands on your hips whilst keeping your lower body still, rotate your upper body as far to the left and right as possible. This should be done in steady movements for 15 to 20 repetitions at a time. If using the broomstick, lay it across your shoulders and hold it with a wide grip.

    Lying Twist

    The lying twist also works the oblique muscles and improves flexibility. Lie on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you and your arms are out to the side, with your palms flat on the floor. Lift your legs so that they are at a 90 degree angle to the ceiling, then slowly lower them down to the right as far as possible and then slowly repeat on the left side. Continue to repeat this movement in a slow and controlled movement.

    Leg Lifts

    Leg lifts are achieved by lying on the floor with your legs straight. Raise them five inches from the floor either together or on their own depending on your ability and hold them for about 30 seconds. Your back should be close to the floor. Be careful if you have previous back problems when doing this move.

    The Plank

    This classic exercise is usually performed at the end of a workout. But it can also be done at any time and in front of the TV is ideal! You need to be in a similar position as a press up but rest on your forearms instead. Ensure you have a straight back and neck and hold this position for as long as you can, this is beneficial for your core muscles, especially your inner and outer abs.

  • Two Shankaracharyas to work against Modi in Varanasi

    Two Shankaracharyas to work against Modi in Varanasi

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Two Shankaracharyas—Puri Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshjanand Devtirath and Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand—have come out openly against Narendra Modi and decided to work for his defeat in Varanasi as they believe he is a “sinner” in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

    Puri Shankaracharya on May 1 said he will go to Varanasi and campaign against the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate for the 12 May elections. “I will go to Varanasi and expose him. Those who divide people to come to power should be exposed.” He said Modi has committed “sins” and no justice-loving person can ever “like” him. Narendra Modi is pitted against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress candidate Ajai Rai in the holy city.

    The Puri Shankaracharya said he had himself gone to Gujarat and witnessed the situation after the 2002 riots. He charged Rashtriya Swayamsevak Samiti (RSS) with using religion to “mislead” the people. He said it should come to the fore as a political organization rather than a social-cultural body. The Puri Shankaracharya said Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) leaders were already issuing statements which were creating tension in the country.

    He said he would not campaign for any particular party but just wanted that secular parties should win. Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand is also opposed to Modi and will be deputing his close associate Swami Avi Mukteswaranand to Varanasi to campaign against Modi, people close to him said.

    They said Dwarka Shankaracharya cannot travel to Varanasi because of his poor health. He had recently protested against the “Har Har Modi” slogan, saying it amounted to “worship” of a man and “god will stop Modi” if it was not stopped. Sensing a religious controversy, Narendra Modi had immediately asked his supporters to refrain from raising such slogans.

  • BIKRAM SINGH MAJITHIA PUNISHED FOR ‘SHABAD’ DISTORTION

    BIKRAM SINGH MAJITHIA PUNISHED FOR ‘SHABAD’ DISTORTION

    AMRITSAR (TIP): Handing out tankhah (penance) to Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia for distorting the ‘shabad’ (hymn), “Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Eha”, written by the 10th master of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, while campaigning during Lok Sabha polls, the Akal Takht, on May 1, directed him to perform penance – physical and financial ‘sewa’ as atonement for his blasphemous act.

    The five Sikh high priests held a meeting at the Akal Takht secretariat to discuss the issue where they had summoned Majithia. Later, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh pronounced atonement on Majithia from the rostrum. The Sikh clerics directed Majithia to perform physical and financial ‘sewa’ at Takht Patna Sahib, Takht Anandpur Sahib, Takht Hazur Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib and then begin Akhand Path at Akal Takht, clean utensils for three days at ‘langar’, listen to ‘gurbani’ (hymns) and also make donation as per his capacity.

    The Sikh high priests also directed Majithia to offer Rs 501 in the Guru’s ‘golak’ (coffer) and perform ‘ardas’ (prayer) seeking apology for his act and offer ‘karah parshad deg’ of Rs 101. Giani Gurbachan Singh said Sikh high priests had not made the atonement time-bound due to unforeseen reasons like delay or cancellation of flights due to which Majithia might not be able to visit the Takhts on a given day. Majithia, who had arrived at Akal Takht around 10am, performed ‘sewa’ at ‘langar’ and listened to ‘gurbani’.

    After pronouncement of atonement, Majithia said he would go to all the Takhts in the near future. Accepting the religious punishment, he said, “It’s for my good and will make me a better human being.” On April 24, Majithia, during an election rally, had distorted a shabad by incorporating SAD-BJP nominee Arun Jaitley’s name in it. Instead of saying “Nischay karr apni jeet karu” at the end of the ‘shabad’, Bikram had said “Nischay kar Arun Jailtey ki jeet karu”.

    A video clip of Majithia altering the ‘shabad’ was released on social media, which went viral within a few minutes and triggered outrage among Sikhs against him, besides giving his political opponents an issue. Majithia rushed to the Akal Takht on April 25 with a written apology. However, before that Takht Hazur Sahib at Nanded had taken note of Majithia distorting the Guru’s hymn for political gains and convened a meeting of five Sikh priests. During the meeting, under the aegis of Jathedar of Takht Hazur Sahib Giani Kulwant Singh, the Sikh priests issued an edict declaring Majithia as ‘tankhayia’ (guilty of religious misconduct) on April 27.

    Following that the minister sent a letter to Takht Hazur Sahib stating that he would appear before them after the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab on April 30. On April 28, the Sikh high priests at Takht Hazur Sahib met once again and the Jathedar issued another edict to pardon Majithia if he carried out ‘sewa’, which would be pronounced on him when he personally appeared before them.

    Giani Gurbachan Singh clarified that Majithia had been directed to perform ‘sewa’ at four Takhts for one hour for a day and at the Akal Takht for one hour a day for three days. He also informed that the Akal Takht secretariat had received numerous complaints against Majithia. He said Majithia had appeared before them with a written apology.

  • Seyfarth is one of the top 8 strongest law firm brands in US

    Seyfarth is one of the top 8 strongest law firm brands in US

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): For the third consecutive year, the BTI Consulting Group, a leading provider of market research for professional services firms, has named Seyfarth as one of the strongest law firm brands.

    In a new survey of more than 300 in-house counsel at large corporations, titled the “2014 Brand Elite: Client Perceptions of the Best-Branded Law Firms,” Seyfarth was named among the top 8 strongest brands, among all U.S. firms. BTI says that innovation propels market differentiation and that Seyfarth is among the best-of-the best in this area.

    Based upon unprompted feedback from in-house counsel, Seyfarth received top rankings as a tech-savvy firm that institutes thoughtleading changes and delivers top value to clients. Another key BTI metric in gauging a brand’s current impact and ability to influence action is its “brand velocity,” how the brand is improving in the eyes of clients and the market. Seyfarth brand recognition has grown stronger every year for the past three years and BTI singled out Seyfarth in the 2014 report as enjoying one of the greatest upward trajectories in how it is perceived by clients.

    The 2014 report includes these specific comments on Seyfarth:
    Seyfarth Shaw has earned the distinction among clients as one of the most innovative law firms for 3 years running. The firm wins praise from clients for their focus on project management and “systematizing the delivery of legal services” in order to streamline cost and better target clients’ needs.

    Counsels take notice of Seyfarth Shaw’s client-friendly technology solutions such as customized databases and web portals, a comprehensive enterprise search application and a voluminous webinar library. Seyfarth Shaw’s thought leadership regarding value-based billing and the use of alternative fee arrangements help drive clients’ perception of the firm as a top value leader and client service strategist.

  • EASY WAYS TO HEALTHIER EYES

    EASY WAYS TO HEALTHIER EYES

    We tend to ignore the health of our eyes more than any other part of our body. But having healthy eyes is more essential than we imagine and consider, after all it’s your way of looking at the world.

    Regular check ups

    This is the most obvious ways of keeping your eyes in good health. But most of us fail to visit an eye specialist for regular check-ups. Going for a regular check-up once a year can help you keep your eyes in best condition for long, especially as you age.

    Maintain good air quality

    Pollution outside is beyond out control. But we can maintain a clean atmosphere in our houses, and avoid unwanted dust and other pollutants to avoid irritants entering the eyes. Those with pets should take care of their falling hair, they can bring irritation to your eyes.

    Avoid too much of computers

    Staring too much into the computer screen can be dangerous and we all know it. But very few follow the 20-20-20 exercise. After every 20 minutes, look away from your screen at a distance of 20 feet for at least 20 seconds. This will help in relaxing your eyes and also relieve the stress.

    Eat right

    Healthy food takes care of your entire body. Food items like fish, spinach, red onions, and other food items rich in vitamin C are good for your eyes. Staying away from oily and fatty snacks also make a difference.

  • Ekal Vidyalaya Event Raises $225,000 in New Jersey

    Ekal Vidyalaya Event Raises $225,000 in New Jersey

    NEW JERSEY (TIP): For past 25 years, “Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation” has been dispensing Literacy, Health care, and Integral development in rural & tribal areas of India uplifting the lives of countless neglected isolated masses.

    Recently, ‘Ekal’ hosted three fund-raising concerts in New Jersey by renowned Kathak dancer Aditi Bhagwat and her equally talented musical group, for the same cause. The events, headlined as “Avartan”, took place at various locations in New Jersey where it was spearheaded by respective Chapter Presidents – Mohanji Khanna in Glen Rock, Harshadbhai Mehta in Blackwood and Satishji Karnik in Edison.

    The events raised over $225,000. Aditi Bhagwat, having performed at numerous international events with globally wellknown musicians, had already pulled record crowd everywhere even before coming to New Jersey (NJ) and Edison concert was no exception. It was completely ‘sold-out’ two weeks in advance to the disappointment of scores of people, just like the year before.

    The concert evening proved to be mesmerizing composition of ‘Taal, Saaz Aur Awaaz through Kathak fusion Dances & Bollywood melodies’. “Avartan” was an uniquely produced audio-video music spectacle of five different disciplines such as Dance, Tabla, Vocal, Drums & Sarangi. Aditi Bhagwat, in these efforts was accompanied by Pt. Kalinath Mishra on Tabla, Gautam Sharma on Drums & Percussion, Sangeet Mishra on Sarangi and Vaibhav Mankad on Keyboard who also lent his vocal talent when required.

    The entire program was a journey of classical Hindustani music accompanying Kathak through cyclical Eras – from temple to Indian Cinema to today’s collaborative musical fusion. Aditi kept the audience spell-bound, starting with Ganesh Vandan and proceeding to Jugalbandi with instrumental music, followed by classic Bollywood Mujra dances, Folk music and Shiv-Tandav Nrutya.

    The group presented ‘Sufi’ music at the end to the delight of the gathering. Aditi’s enthralling graceful renditions of Mujra dances from ‘UmaraoJaan’ & ‘Pakeeza’ and topping them with Marathi folk ‘Lavani’ brought the house down with thunderous applause. Ekal on its part, gave power-point and DVD presentations on Ekal’s activities, its ecliptic progress, and various innovative projects which could empower the village masses. At each place, it was followed by motivational appeals for donations and concluding it with a short briefing on new undertakings. At Glen Rock, NJ the power-point presentation was made by Chetanji Chopra.

    At Blackwood, NJ appeals for Donations were made by Harshadbhai Mehta &Jyotindrabhai Patel which followed DrVeenaben Gandhi’s informative briefing on ‘ArogyaVikasYojana’ as a part of Healthcare project. In Edison, DrUmeshjiShukla elaborated on an inspirational story of personal ‘walkathon’, undertaken by Stephen Hnilica to collect $100,000 to support ‘Ekal Vidyalaya’. This ‘Walk- Across-USA’ episode reflects how Ekal has caught people’s imagination to eradicate illiteracy from the face of our developing nation.

    This year on behalf of NJ Chapters, a beautiful informative Souvenir about Ekal was published, for the benefit of all well-wishers. This Souvenir was conceived and artistically put together by SanjayjiPhanse and his Team. Commenting on tightly executed four hour program, NeerajiTulshian, a first time volunteer at Edison event, euphorically said, “I attribute the success of this evening to meticulous planning, sincere hardwork and team-spirit”.

    Ekal has yet to host one more fund-raising concert at ‘Mahatma Gandhi Center’, Wayne, N.J. This unique concert is going to be by Gujarat’s Nightingale “VibhavariYadav” & her group which will be completely devoted to old nostalgic Bollywood melodies which has captivated our memories for ever. For more details of this concert, pl contact Jayeshbhai Patel @ (732-688-2658) or Kaushikbhai Patel @ (973-341-6916).With this last concert for N.J. region, the total fundraising amount for NJ is likely to reach to a quarter of Million Dollars, this year.

    As of this month, there are over 58,000 ‘Ekal Schools’ operating throughout rural India including Jammu-Kashmir, nurturing more than 1.6 Million children. Please donate generously by visiting www.ekal.org. … To volunteer for this divine worthy cause, please call Jyotindrabhai @ (732-672-8071).

  • WATERMELON IMPROVES SEX LIFE TOO

    WATERMELON IMPROVES SEX LIFE TOO

    The summer just got hotter. The humble watermelon in your neighbourhood fruit market not only helps you shed weight, improve circulation or lower blood pressure, it can also boost your sex drive! According to a recent study by Italian researchers, citrulline amino acid in watermelons improve blood flow and can alleviate erectile dysfunction.

    Our bodies use citrulline to make yet another amino acid called arginine, which has viagra-like effect. Arginine boosts nitric oxide which relaxes blood vessels – the same basic effect that viagra has. Extra nitric oxide can also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, the study noted.

    The juicy fruit is 92 per cent water, eight percent sugar, a great source of vitamin C and only 71 calories per serving.

  • Democratic Legislators Call for Better Transparency & Accountability in the Nassau County Legislature

    Democratic Legislators Call for Better Transparency & Accountability in the Nassau County Legislature

    MINEOLA, NY( TIP) : Democratic Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams announced April 30 that he filed a resolution to make all County Legislative Hearings available online via video archive as well as meeting transcripts.

    Legislator Kevan Abrahams moved to do this after learning of the due diligent work of a local Democratic Club leader, Henry Boitel, who worked to FOIL and archive meeting transcripts and make them available on his site after suggesting that the Nassau County Legislature use their web page to make these transcripts more accessible to residents.

    “It is the duty of the legislature to provide access to its own records. It is just irresponsible to point residents to a private party website to get public information. I commend Mr. Boitel for taking the initiative to make this available for Nassau residents but agree it should be a function of the County.” stated Legislator Abrahams.

    ‘WHEREAS, open and transparent government is essential to maintaining a functional democracy, to promoting governmental integrity, accountability and efficiency and to fostering an informed and engaged electorate,’ are the opening words of the resolution that calls for legislative meeting transcripts to be made available online as well as digital videos of the meetings.

    While the Nassau County Legislature’s website currently allows for live streaming of the meetings, they are not archived or taped in a way that would make them available for future use. “It’s important to not just make the transcripts available but the videos as well. It’s a quicker way than waiting for transcripts and allows working families who can’t be at the meetings to view the meetings at their own convenience and to see firsthand how their government is being managed and where their tax dollars are going.” stated Kevan Abrahams.

    “I think in the interest of transparency and accountability both should be made available and it seems that technology certainly supports being able to do just that.” The measure would resolve the Legislative Clerk’s office, who oversees maintenance of the website and legislative archives, to make the transcripts available within 3 business days of receiving them.

    It would also charge them with ensuring that the meetings are taped, archived and loaded on the site for digital use. “I am glad to hear that the Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves is on board with getting this done. I look forward to us working together to resolve this.” concluded Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams.

  • MUST HAVE VEGETABLES

    MUST HAVE VEGETABLES

    If white coloured clothes have a soothing effect on people, eating white vegetables is beneficial too and you should include more of cauliflower and garlic in your diet. Here’s a list of healthy white vegetables that you should consume more, reports huffingtonpost.com: CAULIFLOWER: It contains sulfur compounds that are associated with fighting cancer, strengthening bone tissue and maintaining healthy blood vessels.

    MUSHROOM: Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, with barely any sodium, and yet they carry a wealth of selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin D. Mushrooms are also filling, so they can help you control your weight. GARLIC: It is believed to help in growing hair, cause acne to disappear and keep colds and flu at bay. Its antioxidant properties can help boost your immune system.

    POTATOES: The white potato provides as much fiber as and more potassium than other commonly consumed vegetables or fruit. A medium skin-on baked potato weighs in at just 163 calories, a whopping 941 milligrams of potassium and 3.6 grams of fiber. Potatoes also provide vitamin C, vitamin B6 and magnesium in addition to small amounts of high quality protein.

  • Judge Sweet dismisses SFJ case against Indian National Congress

    Judge Sweet dismisses SFJ case against Indian National Congress

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): In a 35 page judgment , Federal Judge Sweet, on April 28,grantedINC’s Motion todismiss the 1984-lawsuit filed by Sikhs for Justice.

    The Judge found that SFJ cannot be a plaintiff and individual plaintiffs are not “legal representatives. Furthermore, no further amendment is permitted and case is dismissed. “Based on the conclusions set forth above, Defendants’motion to dismiss the SAC is granted”, read the Conclusion.