The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2014

  • SONAM KAPOOR WANTS BOLLYWOOD TO MAKE GAY LOVE STORY

    SONAM KAPOOR WANTS BOLLYWOOD TO MAKE GAY LOVE STORY

    Could there be a gay love story in Bollywood? One of its biggest stars says it is time to explore it. Sonam Kapoor spoke about the possibility in an interview where she lamented India’s laws on homosexuality: Last year, its Supreme Court upheld a ban on gay sex.

    “Well you know, unfortunately, in our country right now recently there is a law which does not, which basically had said that homosexuality is not legal which is very sad,” she said. Kapoor is in Cannes as an ambassador for the beauty brand L’Oreal. In an interview yesterday, Kapoor talked about last year’s Palme d’Or winner, “Blue Is the Warmest Color,” a lesbian love story, and whether such a film could be made for Bollywood. Kapoor believes if gays are depicted on film, it could help bring change in her country.

    “I think movies can influence the way people think sometimes and if we do start making love stories or we start making movies about people who are amazing human beings, people who have done something in life, people who are inspirational who aren’t necessarily only straight, I think people will start appreciating them more,” she said.

  • Professor Raj K. Goyal awarded prestigious Middleton Award

    Professor Raj K. Goyal awarded prestigious Middleton Award

    Zafar Iqbal
    WASHINGTON (TIP):Raj K. Goyal received the prestigious Middleton Award at the National Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Research Week on Wednesday, May 22, 2014 for his life time contribution to advancing the field in biomedical research. The Middleton Award is the highest award in biomedical research given by the VA. Dr. Goyal earned his M.B.B.S. degree from Panjab University in 1960 and completed post-graduation (M.D.) at Maulana Azad Medical College, University of Delhi in 1965.

    After a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine, he joined as a faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston in 1971 and later served as Professor of Medicine at University of Texas Health Center until 1981. He is currently at Harvard Medical School, Boston, holding endowed chairs of Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine and Charlotte F. and Irving W. Rabb Professor of Medicine. He is also the Director of the Swallowing and Motility Program at the VA Boston Healthcare System.

    He is nationally and internationally recognized for research that has advanced the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal diseases and gastrointestinal motility disorders (diseases of the gut). Dr. Goyal and his team have published more than 200 original research papers in well-reputed medical science journals. Their work has helped provide the foundation for the current understanding of major clinical disorders such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome IBS), and swallowing disorders, among others. Dr. Goyal can be reached at Raj_Goyal@hms.harvard.edu.

  • IRANIAN ACTRESS’S CANNES KISS SPARKS IRE BACK HOME

    IRANIAN ACTRESS’S CANNES KISS SPARKS IRE BACK HOME

    Iranian actress Leila Hatami on angered authorities in Tehran by kissing on the cheek, an act seen as affront to the “chastity” of the Islamic republic’s women. A picture carried by Iranian media shows Hatami kissing Gilles Jacob at the opening of this year’s festival.

    “Those who attend intentional events should take heed of the credibility and chastity of Iranians, so that a bad image of Iranian women will not be demonstrated to the world,” Deputy Culture Minister Hossein Noushabadi said. “Iranian woman is the symbol of chastity and innocence.” Hatami’s “inappropriate presence” at the festival was “not in line with our religious beliefs”, he added.

    Born into a family with a background in cinema, Hatami gained worldwide fame for her role in Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, which won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. She is on the jury this year at the annual Cannes festival in southern France but lives in Iran. According to Iran’s interpretation of Islamic law, in place since 1979, a woman is not allowed to have physical contact with a man outside her family.

  • Obama urges Democrats to vote in midterms, attacks Republicans

    Obama urges Democrats to vote in midterms, attacks Republicans

    CHICAGO (TIP): US President Barack Obama on May 22 urged Democrats to vote in November elections, saying the chance to pass immigration reform is at risk if Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress. “We have a congenital defect to not vote in midterm elections,” he said at a fundraising reception for Democratic Senate candidates. “The midterm comes and we fall asleep.” Democrats hold a 55-45 seat majority in the Senate, but many analysts give the Republicans an even chance of picking up the six seats they would need to seize control of the chamber.

    The Republican majority in the House of Representatives is not considered to be in play. Obama was using an overnight stop in his adopted hometown to attend two fundraisers organized by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Tickets for the events, where he was joined by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, the DSCC chairman, cost between $1,000 and $35,000. Obama blamed Republicans for congressional gridlock and said they were hostage to an extreme wing and uninterested in compromise.

    “What’s broken right now is a Republican party that repeatedly says no to proven time-tested strategies to grow the economy,” he said. At stake is the ability to pass immigration reform, reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, and the chance to raise the minimum wage, he said.

  • What made Courteney Cox direct Just Before I Go?

    What made Courteney Cox direct Just Before I Go?

    Actress Courteney Cox, who worked as a director for ‘Just Before I Go’, says she was drawn to the comic entertainer because she found a connect between the film and her personality. The ‘Cougar Town’ actress’ directorial was released April 24. “I was drawn to the hilarity and subversive humour.

    Between the heartfelt stuff and the crazy obscure humour, it (the film) was perfect for my personality. It was grounded yet outrageous,” contactmusic.com quoted the 49-year-old as saying. The actress, who has a nine-year-old daughter Coco with ex-husband and actor David Arquette, debuted the movie at the Tribeca Film Festival.

    She was so nervous that she forgot the speech that she had to deliver. “Going up there and seeing people watching the movie at a festival where they’re expecting something – I don’t know, I just got really nervous. I meant to say that Coco, my daughter, sang the opening song, but I forgot,” she said.

  • LiLo accepts $150K compensation from clothing company

    LiLo accepts $150K compensation from clothing company

    Lindsay Lohan has accepted 150,000 dollars in settlement for her lawsuit against clothing company D.N.A.M. Apparel Industries. The 27-year-old American actress had claimed that the clothing company owed hundreds of thousands of dollars after they licensed her 6126 trademark for international sales and has accepted 150,000 dollar in compensation, the Mirror reported. The settlement will save her from testifying about her traumatic miscarriage in court.

  • Molly Ringwald to star in ‘Jem and the Holograms’

    Molly Ringwald to star in ‘Jem and the Holograms’

    Molly Ringwald has joined the cast of the upcoming film based on the popular 1980’s animated show ‘Jem and the Holograms’. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film, which is directed by Jon M. Chu, will have a modern take on the character Jerrica Benton and her alter ego Jem, and will track the band’s music-driven adventure.

    The film which is already shooting in Los Angeles will star Aubrey Peeples as Jem while Ryan Guzman will play her love interest Rio. Ringwald, 46, who recently starred in TV drama ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’, is known for her 1980’s hits which include ‘Pretty in Pink’, ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Sixteen Candles’.

  • Miranda Kerr ‘still positive’ despite tumultuous time

    Miranda Kerr ‘still positive’ despite tumultuous time

    Despite having a tumultuous time recently, including her split from hubby Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr has taken it all in her stride. Kerr, who was listed by Forbes last year as the second highest-earning model in the world, behind Gisele Bundchen, said that remaining positive is part of her DNA, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

    She said that she feels blessed and very fortunate, adding that since she’s a businesswoman and a mother, balancing her life every day is something she chooses to do. Kerr is also determined to remain in the US so that son Flynn can grow up with his dad.

  • Congressman Garamendi Selected as Co-Chair of Bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus

    Congressman Garamendi Selected as Co-Chair of Bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus

    WASHINGTON, DC (TIP): The bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus announced, May 22, the appointment of Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA- 03) and Patrick Meehan (R-PA-07) as co-chairs of the Caucus. They will serve as leaders of the Caucus with the current co-chairs Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA-27) and Congressman David Valadao (R-CA-21). The selection of Garamendi and Meehan was made official through a letter to the House Committee on Administration. Garamendi has worked with the California Sikh community for decades.

    His Congressional District is home to tens of thousands of Sikhs and many Sikh run farms. “It is an honor to be selected as cochair of the bipartisan American Sikh Caucus. I am proud to take this next step in my work with Sikh-Americans to defend civil rights, fight discrimination, and educate Members of Congress and the public about the community,” said Garamendi. “I commend the community on their industriousness and entrepreneurship. I also want to thank them for their democratic civic engagement – for speaking up for their rights and beliefs.

    Regardless of background, we all want a good environment to raise a family. I will work in a bipartisan fashion to achieve this.” Last year, Congressman Garamendi joined a coalition that successfully persuaded the FBI to track hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu, and Arab- Americans through a letter signed by over 100 Members of Congress and by advocating for this cause through interviews with the press. Garamendi also introduced House Resolution 550 to wish the Sikh- American community a joyous spring festival of Vaisakhi.

  • SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    CONTD FROM Vol 8 ISSUE 19

    || 1 || O my mind, you shall obtain the treasure of the Naam, by submitting to the Will of your Guru. || 1 || Pause || Through the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, filth is washed away from within. The immaculate Naam comes to abide within the mind. || 2 || Deluded by doubt, the world wanders around. It dies, and is born again, ruined by the Messenger of Death.

    || 3 || O Nanak, very fortunate are those who meditate on the Name of the Lord. By Guru’s Grace, they enshrine the Name within their minds. || 4 || 8 || WADAHANS, THIRD MEHL: Egotism is opposed to the Name of the Lord; the two do not dwell in the same place. In egotism, selfless service cannot be performed, and so the mind goes unfulfilled. || 1 || O my mind, think of the Lord, and practice the Word of the Guru’s Shabad. If you submit to the Hukam of the Lord’s Command, you shall meet with the Lord, and then egotism will depart from within. || Pause || Egotism is within all bodies; through egotism, we come to be born. Egotism is utter darkness; in egotism, no one can understand anything.

    || 2 || In egotism, devotional worship cannot be performed, and the Hukam of the Lord’s Command cannot be understood. In egotism, the soul is in bondage, and the Naam does not come to abide in the mind. || 3 || O Nanak, meeting with the True Guru, egotism is eliminated, and then, the True One comes to dwell in the mind. Practicing Truth, abiding in Truth, and serving Truth, one is absorbed in the True One.

    || 4 || 9 || 12 || WADAHANS, FOURTH MEHL, FIRST HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: There is one bed, One God Lord and Master. The Gurmukh enjoys the Lord, the ocean of peace. || 1 || My mind longs to meet my Beloved Lord God. The Perfect Guru leads me to meet my Beloved; I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice to my Guru. || 1 || Pause || My body is overflowing with faults; how can I meet my Perfect Beloved?

    || 2 || The virtuous ones obtain my Beloved; I do not have these virtues. How can I meet Him, O my mother? || 3 || I am so tired of making all these efforts. Please protect Nanak, the meek one, O my Lord. || 4 || 1 || WADAHANS, FOURTH MEHL: My Lord God is so beautiful, but I do not know His value. Abandoning my Lord God, I am entangled in duality. || 1 || How can I meet with my Husband? I don’t know. She who pleases her Husband Lord is a happy soul-bride. She meets with her Husband Lord – she is so wise.

    || 1 || Pause || I am filled with faults; how can I find my Husband Lord? You have many loves, but I am not even in Your thoughts, O my Husband Lord. || 2 || She who ravishes and enjoys her Husband Lord is the good soul-bride. I don’t have these virtues; what can I, the discarded bride, do?

    || 3 || The soul-bride continually enjoys her Husband Lord forever. I have no good karma; will He ever hold me close in His embrace? || 4 || You, O Husband Lord, are worthy, while I am unworthy. I am worthless; please forgive Nanak, the meek one.

    || 5 || 2 || WADAHANS, FOURTH MEHL, SECOND HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: Within my mind there is such a great yearning; how will I attain the Blessed Vision of the Lord’s Darshan? I go and ask my True Guru; with the Guru’s advice, I shall teach my foolish mind. The deluded mind is instructed in the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, and meditates forever on the Lord, Har, Har. O Nanak, one whom my Beloved blesses with His Glance of Grace, focuses his consciousness on the Lord’s Feet.

    || 1 || I dress myself in all sorts of robes for the sake of my Husband, so that my True Lord God will be pleased. But my Beloved Husband Lord does not even cast a glance in my direction; how can I be consoled? For His sake, I adorn myself with adornments, but my Husband is imbued with another. O Nanak, blessed, blessed, blessed is that soul-bride, who enjoys her True, Sublime Husband Lord.

    || 2 || I go and ask the blessed, happy soul-bride, “How did you attain Him – your Husband Lord, my God?” She answers, “My True Husband blessed me with His Glance of Grace; I abandoned the distinction between mine and yours. Dedicate everything – mind, body and soul to the Lord God; this is the way to meet Him, O sister.” If her God gazes upon her with favor, O Nanak, her light merges into the Light.

    || 3 || I dedicate my mind and body to the one who brings me a message from my Lord God. I wave the fan over him every day, serve him and carry water for him. Constantly and continuously, I serve the Lord’s humble servant, who recites the sermon of the Lord, Har, Har. Hail, hail unto the Guru, the Guru, the Perfect True Guru, who fulfills the desires of Nanak’s mind.

    || 4 || Let me meet the Guru, my best friend, O Lord; meeting Him, I meditate on the Lord’s Name. I seek the Lord’s sermon from the Guru, the True Guru; joining with Him, I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. Each and every day, forever, I sing the Lord’s Praises; my mind lives by hearing Your Name. O Nanak, that moment when I forget my Lord and Master – at that moment, my soul dies.

    || 5 || Everyone longs to see the Lord, but he alone sees Him, whom the Lord causes to see Him. One upon whom my Beloved bestows His Glance of Grace cherishes the Lord, Har, Har forever. He alone cherishes the Lord, Har, Har, forever and ever, who meets my Perfect True Guru. O Nanak, the Lord’s humble servant and the Lord become One; meditating on the Lord, he blends with the Lord. || 6 || 1 || 3 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL, FIRST HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: His Court is the most lofty and exalted. It has no end or limitations. Millions, millions, tens of millions seek, but they cannot find even a tiny bit of His Mansion.

    || 1 || What is that auspicious moment, when God is met? || 1 || Pause || Thousands of devotees worship and adore Him. Thousands of ascetics practice austere discipline. Thousands of Yogis practice Yoga. Thousands of pleasure seekers enjoy pleasures. || 2 || He dwells in each and every heart, but only a few know this. Is there any friend who can rip apart the screen of separation? I can only make the effort if God is merciful. I sacrifice my body and soul to Him.

    || 3 || After wandering around for so long, I have finally come to the Saints; all my pains and doubts have been eradicated. God summoned me to the Mansion of His Presence, and blessed me with the Ambrosial Nectar of His Name. Says Nanak, my God is lofty and exalted.

    || 4 || 1 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL: Blessed is that time, when the Blessed Vision of His Darshan is given; I am a sacrifice to the feet of the True Guru. || 1 || You are the Giver of souls, O my Beloved God. My mind lives by reflecting upon the Name of God.

    || 1 || Pause || Your Mantra is True, and the Word of Your Bani is Ambrosial Nectar. Your Presence is cooling and soothing; Your gaze is all-knowing. || 2 || Your Command is true; You sit upon the eternal throne. My God is eternal; He does not come and go. || 3 || You are merciful; I am Your humble servant. O Nanak, the Lord and Master is totally permeating and pervading everywhere.

    || 4 || 2 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL: You are infinite – only a few know this. By Guru’s Grace, some come to understand You through the Word of the Shabad. || 1 || Your servant offers this prayer, O Beloved: I live by meditating on Your Feet, God. || 1 || Pause || O my Merciful Lord God, O Great Giver: they alone know, whom You bless with realization. || 2 || Forever and ever, I am a sacrifice to You. Here and hereafter, I seek Your Protection. || 3 || I am without virtue; I know none of Your Glorious Virtues. O Nanak, seeing the Holy Saint, my mind is imbued with You.

    || 4 || 3 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL: God is perfect – He is the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts. He blesses us with the gift of the dust of the feet of the Holy. || 1 || Please bless me with Your Grace, O God, Merciful to the meek. I seek Your Shelter, O Perfect Lord of the World. || 1 || Pause || He is totally pervading and permeating the water, the land and the sky. He dwells near at hand; God is not far away. || 2 || One whom He blesses with His Glance of Grace, meditates on Him. Twenty-four hours a day, he sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord. || 3 || God cherishes all beings and creatures. Nanak seeks the Sanctuary of the Lord’s Door.

    || 4 || 4 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL: You are the Great Giver, the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts. God, the Perfect Lord and Master, is permeating and pervading in all. || 1 || The Name of my Beloved God is my only support. I live by hearing, continually hearing Your Name. || 1 || Pause || I seek Your Sanctuary, O my Perfect True Guru. My mind is purified by the dust of the Saints.

    || 2 || I have enshrined His Lotus Feet within my heart. I am a sacrifice to the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan. || 3 || Grant Your Grace, that I may sing Your Glorious Praises. O Nanak, chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, I find peace. || 4 || 5 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL: In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, drink in the Ambrosial Nectar of the Lord. The soul does not die; it ever wastes away. || 1 || By great good fortune, one meets the Perfect Guru. By Guru’s Grace, one meditates on God.

    || 1 || Pause || The Lord is the jewel, the pearl, the gem, the diamond. Meditating, meditating in remembrance on God, I am enraptured. || 2 || Wherever I look, I see the Sanctuary of the Holy. Singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, my mind becomes immaculate and pure. || 3 || Deep within the nucleus of each and every heart, my Lord and Master dwells. O Nanak, one obtains the Naam, the Name of the Lord, when God grants His Grace.

    || 4 || 6 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL: Do not forget me, O God, Merciful to the meek. I seek Your Sanctuary, O Perfect, Compassionate Lord. || 1 || Pause || Wherever You come to mind, that place is blessed. The moment I forget You, I am stricken with regret. || 1 || All beings are Yours; You are their constant companion. Please, give me Your hand, and lift me up, out of this world-ocean. || 2 || Coming and going are by Your making. One whom You save is not afflicted with suffering.

    || 3 || You are the One Lord and Master; there is no other at all. Nanak offers this prayer with his palms pressed together. || 4 || 7 || WADAHANS, FIFTH MEHL: When You allow Yourself to be known, then we know You.We chant Your Name, which You have given to us. || 1 || You are so wonderful! Your creative potency is amazing! || 1 || Pause || You Yourself are the Cause of causes; You Yourself are the Creator. By the Hukam of Your Command, we are born, and by Your Command, we die. || 2 || Your Name is the Support of our mind and body. This is Your blessing to Nanak, Your slave.

  • Indian American Ishan Shah appointed to Ohlon College Board

    Indian American Ishan Shah appointed to Ohlon College Board

    FREMONT (TIP): Ishan Shah is the first Indian American ever to be appointed to Ohlone College’s board. Shah, 21, a Mission San Jose High graduate and former Ohlone student, bested two other finalists to nab the appointment. “Ishan brings the perspective of being a recent student at Ohlone College,” board President Garrett Yee said. “That’s a perspective that none of the other board members can bring.”

    While barely old enough to legally enter a bar, he already is a political veteran. In 2009, he ran for City Council at age 16. A year later, he ran for an open Ohlone College board seat. He lost both races but gained valuable experience and a reputation as a solid candidate with fundraising abilities beyond his years. He also caught the eye of local and state leaders. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him to the California Student Aid Commission, on which he served while studying political science at the University of Southern California.

    He also has served on the Alameda County Human Relations Commission. “Ever since (losing the Ohlone election in 2010), a significant part of my life has been spent on fighting for students,” he said. “I think the board saw in me someone who could say to the student body, ‘I get what you’re going through.’” Shah plans to commute between Fremont and Los Angeles, splitting time between Ohlone College and USC until he earns his bachelor’s degree later this year.

  • US lauds Modi invite to Pak, other SAARC nations

    US lauds Modi invite to Pak, other SAARC nations

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The United States has welcomed Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s invitation to leaders of Pakistan and other SAARC nations for his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, May 26, commenting that increased engagement with Islamabad is a “positive step”. “Broadly speaking, we welcome increased engagement between India and Pakistan and their leaders and other leaders in the region and India’s engagement with its neighbors leading up to the inauguration,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

    Asked to comment specifically on Pakistan, Psaki said: “We believe increased engagement between India and Pakistan is a positive step, so we’ll see what happens.” Quizzed if Washington would “encourage” the Pakistani leaders to attend the ceremony, she said: “I don’t think we’re going to get into that level of engagement, but certainly, the invitation has been issued, we support increased dialogue, and this is representative of that.” US media called the Modi move an unusual gesture, with The New York Times noting that for someone with the reputation of being a hardliner, Modi has “broken new ground by extending invitations to the leaders of all of India’s neighbors”.

    “Previous swearing-in ceremonies have been small affairs, a reflection of the country’s inward-looking approach to politics. Modi has made it clear that he hopes to make India a leader in its own neighborhood, knitting together a regional trade and economic bloc,” the NYT commented. South Asia expert Stephen P Cohen has been quoted as saying: “I think we might see a dialogue between Modi and Sharif. But Sharif has an Army problem and Modi has a right-wing ideological problem.” Some other reports noted that the decision, among the first taken by Modi as Prime Minister-elect, could signal intent to improve ties with Pakistan and other neighbors.

  • Nine Indian Businesses in Forbes’ 2014 list of the Most Innovative Growth Companies: Godrej highest ranked at #31

    Nine Indian Businesses in Forbes’ 2014 list of the Most Innovative Growth Companies: Godrej highest ranked at #31

    WASHINGTON, DC (TIP): At least nine Indian companies have landed on a spot on Forbes Magazine’s 2014 list of the Most Innovative Growth Companies, which ranks privately listed firms in terms of not just how innovative they are, but how much that innovation is expected to help them expand in the short-term future. The highest-ranked Indian company is Godrej Consumer Products Ltd., the Mumbai-based consumer goods company that was founded in 2001. The company was ranked #31 on the overall list, with a five-year average sales growth rate of 34.4%, fiveyear average net income growth rate of 27.6%, enterprise value of $4.2 billion, and innovation premium of 58.7%.

    Its CEO is Adi Godrej. ABB India was ranked #37, with an enterprise value of $2.7 billion, but abysmal sales and net income growth rates of – 1.5% and -22.8%. The other Indian companies that made the list are Marico (#53), United Breweries (#60), Siemens India (#63), Asian Paints (#76), Nestle India (#78), Colgate- Palmolive India (#87), and Divi’s Labs (#99). “Most innovation rankings are popularity contests based on past performance or editorial whims,” said Forbes, in a statement accompanying the release of the list.

    “Our method relies on investors’ ability to identify firms they expect to be innovative now and in the future.” Forbes explained that its rankings are based on “innovation premium,” which is calculated by compiling information like cash flow, net present value, market capitalization, and so on.

    Each company has a total market capitalization of less than $10 billion. The highest-ranked company on the list is Xero, a New Zealand-based company that specializes in “IT Software and Services.” It has a five-year average sales growth rate of 210.2%, which is astonishingly high. Its enterprise value is only a relatively modest $4.4 billion, but its innovation premium is 91.7%, the highest on the entire list. In terms of enterprise value, 64-ranked Stericycle, which is based in Illinois, has the highest, with an estimated value of around $9.9 billion.

  • PANCHAMUKHA HANUMAN

    PANCHAMUKHA HANUMAN

    The origin of Sri Panchamukhs Hanuman can be traced to a story in Ramayana. During the war between Lord Rama and Ravana. Ravana took help of Mahiravanka who is the king of pathala.

    Lord Hanuman in order to protect Lord Ram and Lakshman formed a fortress with his tail. Mahiravana took the form of Vibeeshana and took Lord Ram and Lakshman to pathala loka. Hanuman entered pathala loka in search of Rama and Lakshmana, He found out that to kill Mahiravana he had to extinguish five lamps burning in five different directions at the same time, so he has taken the Panchamukha form with Hanuman, Hayagriva, Narasimha, Garuda and Varaha faces and extinguished the lamps and killed Mahiravana.

    According to Hanumath Prakaranam in Sri Vidyarnavatantram, Anjaneya has five faces (Pancha Mukha) and ten weapons. The five faces are that of Lord Hanuman, Lord Narasimha, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Hayagriva, and Lord Garuda. Hanuman is a great yogi (mystic) having transcended the five senses (Pancha Indriyas).

    In Kamba Ramayanam (in Tamil), the significance of number five is beautifully narrated as follows:

    The son of one of the five elements (son of wind – Pavana Thanaya)

    crossed one of the five elements (water – the ocean),

    through one of the five elements (sky),

    met daughter of one of the five elements (daughter of earth – Sita Devi)

    burnt down Lanka by one of the five elements (fire).

    Sundara Kandam, which highlights the heroic exploits of Lord Hanuman at Lanka is the fifth canto in the Ramayana. Therefore, it is considered auspicious to go around His idol 5 times, 14 times, 23 times, 32 times or with such numbers the digits of which add to five. The pancha mukha hanuman is rare idol of Hanuman. There are many legends and interpretations to this.

    The legend

    Lord Hanuman is said to have appeared before Raghavendraswamy in a unique way amalgamating within him the avataras of “varaha, garuda, anjaneya, narasimha and hayagreeva”, thus five-headed. Panchamukhi, located on the south bank of river Tungabhadra near Manchala now known as Mantralayam is where Raghavendraswamy performed penance for 12 long years in a cave. In appreciation of his Yoga, Lord Panchamukhi Pranadevaru, Kollahpura Mahalakshmi, Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati and Kurmavathara gave darshan to him. Then he left for Mantralaya where he entered into Samadhi. A temple has been constructed at the spot where he performed penance known as the Panchamukhi Anjaneyaswamy temple.

    The details of Panchamukaa are:

    East facing Anjaneya to grant humanity Ishta Siddhi. South facing Karala Ugraveera Narasimha to grant humanity Abhista Siddhi. West facing Mahaveera Garuda to grant humanity Sakala Sowbhagya. North facing Lakshmi Varaha to grant humanity Dhana Prapthi. Urdhva Mukha {atop} being Hayagriva to grant humanity Sarva Vidya Jaya Prapthi.

    The interpretations

    There are five ways of prayer to the Lord. They are Naman, Smaran, Keerthanam, Yachanam and Arpanam. The five faces depict these five forms. Lord Hanuman always used to Naman, Smaran and Keerthanam of Lord Sri Rama. He totally surrendered (Arpanam) to his Master Sri Ram. He also begged (yachanam) Sri Rama to bless him the undivided love.

    In Bhagavat Gita Lord Krishna says to Arjun, “He who acts for me, who is engrossed in me, who is my devotee, who is free from attachment, he reaches me” . We find all these 5 qualities enshrined in Hanuman. Each of his face explains the five divine qualifications.

    May be an artist thought over about this before making the Vigraham. There is a belief that one of the faces is that of Sri Vinayaka. The idol of Adyanta Maha Prabhu depicts a figure of half Anjaneya and half Vinayaka. Half Ganesha and half Hanuman At Madya Kailas temple Adyar Madras The idol is an amalgam of Sri vigneshwara and Sri Anjaneya on the lines of Ardhanareeswara ( Siva and Parvati) and Sri Sankaranarayana (combination of Siva and narayana).

    The word Aadiyantha stands for “begining to end” (Aadi = begining & Antha = end). There is a Tamil saying “Begin with Ganesa and end up with Anjaneya”. Many people visit the temple to get blessing of the “Twins” against the influence of Navagrahas. The importance of the idol is that Sri Vigneswara and Sri Anjaneya are the only two deities who are totally free from any influence over them whatsoever by the Navagrahas.

    It is believed that, the devotees can and do influence the Navagrahas themselves proportionate to the devoutness with which the devotees address themselves to Sri Aadiyanta Prabhu!

    Birth of Hanuman Anjana,

    who became the mother of Hanuman Ji, was one of the sixteen matrikas. The matrikas are adored and worshipped ladies of celestial, astral and material planes of the universe.

    Once Anjana assumed the form of a lady tourist visiting Svah planet, a few million miles beyond the polestar. She arrived in the assembly of Indra, the king of Svah planet. Some how the king was attracted to her and requested her to make love with him. She rebuked him severely and said, who would like to make love with you, a fallen one with the signs of a thousand eyes!” King Indra could not bear this insult and cursing her, he replied, “You are very vain because of your beauty.

    You will be born in the monkey faced Vanara race”. While Indra was cursing Anjana, Anjana’s dearest friend Adrika (out of love for Anjana), tried to insult Indra by meowing like a cat. Indra then cursed her saying, “You will become cat faced in your next life!” In course of time, both friends were born as the twin daughters of Kunja, a Vanara knight.

    When they grew up, Keshari, a famous knight of the Vanara race. Married both of them. Then, one day while, Keshari was in meditation at the southern seashore, Maharishi Agastya became the atithi of Keshari.

  • New Jersey Lions elect Mahesh Chitnis as first Indian American Governor

    New Jersey Lions elect Mahesh Chitnis as first Indian American Governor

    TIP Reporter ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (TIP): Lion Mahesh Chitnis became the first person of South Asian origin to be elected a Governor of Lions district 16-J. He was elected by unanimous vote at the recently concluded 93rd annual state convention of the organization. Lion Mahesh Chitnis joined Lions Club International as a LEO in 1985 and participated several community service activities including disaster relief, mentoring youth, serving the homeless and under privileged. He will be leading 60+ lions clubs in central Jersey in 2014-15.

    Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

    International Director Lion Esther LaMothe was the Keynote speaker at the 93rd annual convention of New Jersey Lions (Multiple District 16) this weekend at the Bally’s in Atlantic City. She emphasized the importance of service. She challenged lions to be “glow worms” in our communities. Her speech was well received and motivated lions around the state.


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    Honorees and Lions: From Left: Bob Virgadamo, Sarvesh Dharayan, Kajol Bishnoi, ID Esther Mahote,PCC Mel Bray, Reena Bajpaiand Ojas Chitnis

    It was a very successful year for Indian Americans in New Jersey. Lion Anu Chitnis of Edison Visionary Lions received President’s leadership medal, 3rd highest award in Lions organization, for her service as chairperson for Women empowerment. Lion Sarvesh Kumar Dharayan, Lion Atma Singh, Lion Kajol Bishnoi (The Indian Panorama Reporter), Lion Rina Bajpai and Ojas Chitnis received prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship for their involvement in disaster relief effort.

    All lions present at the convention applauded their support for humanitarian causes undertaken by Lions clubs international foundation. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the Web site at www.lionsclubs.org or contact Lion Kajol Bishnoi atkajol.bishnoi@16j.org.

  • Connecticut woman makes bomb threats to hide dropout status from family

    Connecticut woman makes bomb threats to hide dropout status from family

    MILFORD (TIP): A woman who dropped out of Connecticut’s Quinnipiac University was arrested May 20 night after admitting to calling in two bomb threats in an effort to keep her family from learning she had dropped out of school, police said. Danielle Shea, 22, of Quincy, Massachusetts, made the threats after arriving at the ceremony in a cap and gown with her mother, who didn’t know she had dropped out, and told police she “panicked” when relatives noticed her name was not on the list of graduates.

    Police said Shea called in two bomb threats to the library so the graduation ceremony would be canceled. Instead the Sunday evening ceremony was delayed 90 minutes and moved a mile (1.6 km) to a different campus of the university. Local police responded to the Quinnipiac University library as an estimated 5,000 people, including the 388 graduates, evacuated the area and quickly moved to the indoor location, according to John Morgan, university spokesman. “We cannot speculate what she was thinking,” said Morgan.

    “But we had to act quickly in the interest of safety.” Police in the town of Hamden, where the school is located, said a female caller contacted school security twice on Sunday, first saying, “Bomb in the library,” and calling back 20 minutes later to say, “Several bombs are on campus. You haven’t cleared out graduation. That’s not a good idea.” Police said they tracked the caller down by tracing the phone number she called from.

    Shea was charged with threatening in the first degree and falsely reporting an incident. She was detained at police headquarters on a $20,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden on May 30. Shea could not be reached for immediate comment.

  • Pakistan’s religious body endorses underage marriage

    Pakistan’s religious body endorses underage marriage

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): In a retrogressive step, a religious body in Pakistan has declared girls as young as nine years old eligible to be married “if the signs of puberty were visible”, a media report said today. Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) chairman Maulana Mohammad Khan Sheerani of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) said after a meeting yesterday that media and ‘some other segments of society’ were not taking the council’s decisions seriously.

    He said laws that defined a minimum age for marriage were not Islamic and should be repealed, adding that the council would recommend that the Parliament amend these laws to bring them in accordance with Islamic principles, Dawn news reported. He also criticised the Sindh Assembly which last month passed Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Bill, banning underage marriages.

    The CII chief said marriages that were solemnised at a time when both individuals were minors were only binding if they were arranged by the ‘wali’ (father or grandfather) of the two individuals. In cases where marriages were solemnised by someone other than the ‘wali’, both individuals had the option to refuse or reconsider the match upon achieving adulthood. Clarifying the decision, Sheerani said that a ‘nikah’ could be performed at any age, but the bride could only start living with the groom after reaching puberty, the report said.

    The CII chief also said that most of the clauses of the existing Muslim Marriage Law, 1961 were un-Islamic. He said that section 6 of the law, which required men to seek permission from their wives before entering into another marriage, was not in accordance with Islamic principles.

    Civil society took strong exception to the statement. “Women and children are the most vulnerable groups in the country. If such legal cover as a minimum age prohibiting child marriages are done away with, then exploitation of women and children will increase,” human rights commission of Pakistan chairperson Zohra Yousuf said.

  • Nawaz Sharif mulls attending Modi’s swearingin ceremony

    Nawaz Sharif mulls attending Modi’s swearingin ceremony

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pak PM Nawaz Sharif is still considering attending Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony and a final decision will be taken by this evening, officials said on May 22. Foreign office has confirmed that formal invitation has been received but any decision by the Prime Minister to attend the ceremony on May 26 in New Delhi has not been taken as yet. Sources within Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that Prime Minister wanted to normalize ties with India to promote commercial and business activities.

    “He is keen to improve ties which is also the official policy of the party but he needs to take various aspects of the relations into consideration,” a top PMLN leader told PTI. He said the invitation has come at a short notice and the premier needs time to accept it. He also said that any decision about going to India will be made by the evening after consultations with the civil and military leaders.

    Diplomatic sources said that unexpected move by India’s Prime Minister-designate has left Sharif with difficult choices. “If he skipped the invitation it will send a very negative message to India and the world but the acceptance may bring backlash from the hardliners and hawks who consider Modi as anti-Pakistani,” said a diplomat.

  • Nepal opens 104 new peaks to climbers: Officials

    Nepal opens 104 new peaks to climbers: Officials

    KATHMANDU (TIP): Nepal has opened 104 new, unconquered peaks to mountaineers, in an attempt to boost tourism after a deadly avalanche effectively ended this year’s lucrative Mount Everest climbing season, the government said on May 22. Climbers can now scale a total of 414 peaks in the Himalayan nation, including two named after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first men to successfully summit the world’s tallest mountain in 1953, the tourism ministry said. The newly opened peaks have not been tackled before, officials said, meaning climbers have the chance to be the first to summit them.

    “The government felt that we should open new areas to attract more climbers and promote tourism,” senior tourism ministry official Madhusudan Burlakoti said in a statement. The government has also waived climbing fees — currently $100 for an individual mountaineer — for peaks under 5,800 metres (19,000 feet), Burlakoti said. All of the unconquered peaks were open for business immediately except for Yalung Khang West, which is awaiting approval from the Bern-based International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, because it is above 8,000-metres. The new peaks include the 7,681-metre Hillary Peak and the 7,916-metre Tenzing Peak.

    Mountaineering officials welcomed the announcement, saying it would revive Nepal as a climbing destination, after the April 18 avalanche saw the effective closure of the climbing season, a key revenue earner for the impoverished country. “This will help improve Nepal’s image in the mountaineering community, which has suffered after the Everest avalanche,” Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association told AFP.

    Tourism ministry official Burlakoti said the government was keen to open more of its over 1,300 Himalayan peaks in future, depending on demand from climbers.”Some peaks have cultural and religious significance — we have to keep that in mind before deciding which ones to open for climbers,” he said.

  • Police say Taliban kidnap 27 Afghan officers

    Police say Taliban kidnap 27 Afghan officers

    KABUL (TIP): Taliban fighters kidnapped 27 police officers during an assault on a northeastern province in Afghanistan, authorities said on Thursday, part of the extremist group’s spring offensive ahead of the withdrawal of foreign troops at the end of this year. Gen. Fazeluddin Ayar, the police chief in Badakhshan province, said that the 27 officers were hiding in a cave during the Taliban attack on Wednesday in Yamgan district. The Taliban took the officers hostage and police have launched an effort to try and find them, Ayar said.

    The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a message to journalists. The militants routinely execute security forces they capture. Insurgents ambushed several police checkpoints in Badakhshan province, killing at least six police officers in Yamgan district, Ayar said Wednesday. The fighting started late Tuesday and lasted into Wednesday. Reinforcements were sent to the site, but the police were forced to pull back from the area and were fighting the Taliban forces from surrounding mountains as army helicopters flew overhead, Ayar said.

    Five insurgents also were killed, and three policemen were wounded, he added. The Taliban said its fighters had raised the movement’s white flag above the district headquarters. Badakhshan province, nestled in the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges and bordering China, is one of the most remote in the country. The area has seen few attacks from insurgents following the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.

    A recent landslide in the province killed hundreds in a rural village. The violence comes as the Taliban has launched its annual spring offensive promising to step up attacks against Afghan security forces in a bid to undermine the Western-backed government as foreign combat troops prepare to withdraw by the end of the year. The Taliban also have pledged to disrupt voting as Afghans prepare for a second round of presidential elections on June 14. The first round was relatively peaceful, but no candidate won a majority forcing a runoff vote between the top two vote-getters – Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

  • 40 dead as Bangladesh ferry search called off

    40 dead as Bangladesh ferry search called off

    MUNSHIGANJ, BANGLADESH (TIP): Rescuers called off the search for missing passengers of a sunken ferry in central Bangladesh on Saturday after retrieving 40 bodies, causing anger among relatives of those still unaccounted for. The chief of Bangladesh’s water transport authority, Shamsuddoha Khandaker, said that divers would leave the River Meghna site where the ferry MV Miraz-4 sank in a storm on Thursday.

    There was confusion over how many passengers were onboard, and authorities would not provide any complete list. “We are calling off the search as the ferry has been towed to the bank and we found no more bodies. In total, our rescuers found 40 bodies,” he said. Ferry operators in Bangladesh usually do not maintain a list of passengers, and none was available in the latest disaster, said local administrator Saiful Hasan. “I haven’t got my brother, where is he? Why do authorities stop searching?” asked Mohammad Moniruzzaman.

    Before 11 more bodies were recovered on Saturday, police had estimated that at least 100 were still missing. Rescue diver Masudul Haque said on Friday evening he had recovered nine of the bodies but many were still trapped in cabin rooms. “We have recovered the bodies mainly from the lower deck and other open spaces, but could not open the doors of the cabin rooms where many passengers took shelter after the storm had hit,” Haque said.

    “I tried to open those doors but could not as huge volumes of sand have buried many of the doors,” he said. Relatives of the missing and the dead gathered on the banks the Meghna River, near where the boat capsized. Several bodies, covered in cloth, were laid out on the ground. “I came here yesterday for my brother but I don’t have any trace yet.

    Nobody can assure me of anything,” said a sobbing relative, Lokman Hossain. Sabuj, a passenger who jumped overboard when the ship began to sink, said he was among some 25 survivors who swam to shore. He said the captain of the double-decker ferry ignored the passengers’ calls to stay close to the shore as the storm started brewing. “But he continued to steer the ship” out into the water, said Sabuj, who uses one name.

  • BAROQUE IS BACK WITH A MODERN FLAIR

    BAROQUE IS BACK WITH A MODERN FLAIR

    The 17th century design style from Europe is being redefined in home decor this year. We show you how to do up your home in a modern baroque finish With vintage pieces thriving in the world of home decor, baroque is reemerging as the must-have design style for architects and interior designers. It started out as an ornate design aesthetic in Europe in the 17th century. This year, it’s being reinterpreted to suit current lifestyles and tastes. Traditional baroque furniture and art was heavily ornamented and profusely detailed. It sported gold, marble and featured shepherdesses, cherubs, angels and other mythical creatures.

    What is modern baroque? Not everyone wants to live in a decadent, over-elaborate house, but mixing present styles with vintage baroque elements can take your home to another level.

    Modern baroque is all about marrying old-world design with new age finesse. Imagine a futuristic-looking chair in front of baroque wallpaper or a vintage baroque mirror looking over your white bedroom. It is becoming popular for homeowners who like opulence, albeit in a toned-down way. Pay homage to Europe’s classical past in a new way through our shortcut to modern baroque decor.

    Contrast with gold Use gold to contrast brighter colours. The introduction of gold brings the other colours to life and also creates a buffer between them. This was trick used in baroque interiors in the past. An alternative to gold is matte gold or chrome yellow.

    Build a foundation Approach this step tastefully and with restraint. Use black, grey and white as your foundation colours and build on them. The remaining colours in the scheme are preferably romantic. Incorporate silver or gold — never both together — with mirrored surfaces and crystal into your home.

    Invest in glam pieces Invest in baroque items and furniture that will bring glamour to your home, like a chair with baroqueembroidered upholstery or an ornate mirror. Scour through the lanes of furniture markets in Chor Bazaar, Oshiwara and Malad for inexpensive reproductions. High gloss black or soft white pieces look the most authentic. If you don’t have kids at home, you can safely buy damask upholstery to do up your seating or curtains.

    Avoid going over-the-top Unless you want your home to resemble Louis XIV’s palace in Versailles, don’t be excessive. Arrange not more than one to three statement pieces carefully in each room for effect. Have one focal point piece — like crystal lighting and one ‘surprise’ piece, something guests don’t expect to see.

    Marry the old with the new For a contemporary spin, mix fabric in a baroque pattern with striped wallpaper in the same colours. The modern-classic choice is vertical stripes since they lend clean lines to furniture in the room, create a sense of space and bring height.

  • Prime Minister MODI

    Prime Minister MODI

    Challenges and opportunities in a new innings

    “Mr. Modi thus comes to power in an atmosphere of great expectations and in the end an unforgiving public in case he does not measure up. In the popular mind, he is the doer, a man who takes decisions and has clear-cut policies that will put the country on the path of rapid development. But as opposed to a state with a people known for their entrepreneurial skills, governing a diverse country with a bewildering variety of problems is another matter”, says the author.

    Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister-designate, is on the cusp of a moment that comes rarely in a nation’s history, a moment of hope tinged with anxiety stemming from his antecedents and the shadow of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. For the present, hope trumps darker thoughts because the nation’s mood is to give him a chance. This comes against the backdrop of a widespread feeling that the second term of the United Progressive Alliance government was prey to indecision, paralysis and a stream of scams that bled the goodwill the UPA had enjoyed in the first term.

    Indeed, one aspect of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s impressive victory, in addition to Mr. Modi’s super packaging, was a desire for change. Mr. Modi thus comes to power in an atmosphere of great expectations and in the end an unforgiving public in case he does not measure up. In the popular mind, he is the doer, a man who takes decisions and has clear-cut policies that will put the country on the path of rapid development.

    But as opposed to a state with a people known for their entrepreneurial skills, governing a diverse country with a bewildering variety of problems is another matter. Underneath these problems is the sneaking suspicion that the Rashtriya Sayamsevak Sangh, which has invested much in his dramatic rise, will demand its pound of flesh. For the RSS, its tenets of spreading its creed revolving round the Hindutva philosophy is far more important than immediate political gains.

    Mr. Modi has demonstrated that in governing Gujarat, he was able to keep the RSS and fringe elements at a distance. But the stakes at the national level are much higher and the RSS is unlikely to be easily sidelined. Apart from dealing with his internal problems of the Sangh Parivar, Mr. Modi faces two kinds of challenges. The first is to get the vast machinery of national government to function efficiently in an essentially colonial “filepushing” culture.

    The other is the larger problem of convincing the administrative and political class that he means business and his slogan of governance, rather than a bloated government, is the solution of the country’s problems. At the broader philosophical level, Mr. Modi needs to convince India’s large Muslim population and other minorities that he will play fair by them.

    The stain of the 2002 Gujarat pogrom has not gone away and he needs to do something more than to suggest that he will lift all boats in the water through the strength of his economic policies. What strikes odd to many is his refusal to give an apology for 2002, having muddied the waters by his unfortunate analogy of feeling sad if a puppy comes under the wheels of a vehicle in which he is travelling. Thus far Mr. Modi has shown that he is less than happy in a media environment he cannot control.

    There was the infamous case of a television interview he aborted midstream, rather than answer the difficult questions he was asked. He is a rare politician who has demonstrated his métier for employing modern technology in his dramatic political journey. As Prime Minister he must learn to field inconvenient and rude questions from journalists who are not beholden to him. Despite these question marks, there is a lot going for him. Like the advent of the Aam Aadmi Party, Mr. Modi is a breath of fresh air in a political environment that had been atrophied by a “Congress culture” that had become synonymous with inertia and a refusal to take risks after weighing all options.


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    And sad to say the dual nature of the power arrangement at the top accentuated a culture of consensus building almost for its own sake. Much will depend upon the team of politicians he picks in his Cabinet, warding off obvious political pressures from the RSS and his allies. It will be an easier task to put together a competent team of bureaucrats and it is a given that the Prime Minister’s Office will again enjoy a clout rarely seen after the days of Indira Gandhi. The country can take it for granted that, unlike in the Manmohan Singh era, Mr. Modi’s policies will be presented countrywide in the best light, as demonstrated by the slick and lavish campaign that tilted him to the top office. But in the end, propagating policies will be as effective as substantive action.

    What is beyond doubt is that with the advent of Mr. Modi, the country has entered a new era. How good it will be will depend upon the new Prime Minister’s ability to move mountains. He is by all accounts a man of prodigious energy and a quick mind in understanding the essence of abstruse problems. But will the very different work culture and problems compared to the placid banks of the Sabarmati fox Mr. Modi? Even those who disagree with the philosophical framework of the new Prime Minister will give him the benefit of the doubt if he can bring life to the tired sinews of government and give a fillip to the country’s economic development.

    If he can bring Gujarat’s resultoriented work culture to the filepushing babus of the Central Secretariat, he would be performing a great service. However, the underlying philosophical underpinnings of the new government will not go away because it affects the idea of India and the new India built over more than six decades on the sacrifices of the Independence generation and the vision they enshrined in the Constitution.

    It represents more than the welfare and development of the majority community and empowers the entire citizenry, whatever its ethnicity and religion. It is, of course, true that the bloody birth of the independent states of India and Pakistan on the basis of religion will remain a disturbing legacy. But it is for new generations to rise above the past and look to the future. The Sangh Parivar has a greater problem in reconciling with history than the rest of us because it seeks to employ history as a badge of its distinctiveness. Mr. Modi will have to surmount this handicap to become a successful Prime Minister.

  • GET KISSABLE LIPS AT HOME

    GET KISSABLE LIPS AT HOME

    Rummaging through your kitchen can give you kissready lips, read on how. The way your lips look can affect the overall look of your face. Darkened, dry, chapped or bleeding lips can mar the beauty of your smile. A perfect pair of lips looks healthy, pink, soft and flexible.

    Find out how you can solve you lip problems at home. To get lighten dark lips and make them pink, mix equal quantities of heavy cream, tomato paste and a good quality of pink lip colour. You should make a fresh mixture everyday and apply it on your lips. Within a few days, the colour change will become noticeable. Stretchy, bleeding lips are an effect of dry and dead skin accumulating over the skin. Just mix some olive oil and sugar and rub it on your lips.

    You can also use a toothbrush to remove the dead skin, but be gentle. Once the dead skin is completely removed, your lips will be smooth and supple. You can even make your very own lip balm at home by melting some bee wax with apricot oil and cooling it. Later, add some drops of coconut oil and mix. Keep aside till the mixture sets. You can use this balm everyday for strong, supple lips.

  • NIGHT-EATING SYNDROME ‘IS REAL’, STUDY SUGGESTS

    NIGHT-EATING SYNDROME ‘IS REAL’, STUDY SUGGESTS

    Night-eating syndrome may appear when the genes that synchronise eating patterns with sleep are faulty, research on mice concluded. This alters meal times, leading to over-eating and weight gain. About 1-2% of people have the condition. Signs include waking in the night and being unable to go back to sleep without eating.

    The syndrome has recently been classified as an eating disorder, but the cause is unknown. The food consumed is often unhealthy and high in calories, leading to weight gain and sometimes obesity. The study, published in Cell Reports, looked at mice bred with a human version of a body-clock gene in place of the mouse one. When the gene was silenced, the mice ate much earlier than normal ones, when they should have been asleep.

    Mutations in a related bodyclock gene – implicated in sleep disorders – led to the mice sleeping more. The researchers think the genes work together to keep eating and sleeping synchronised. A fault in either gene causes disruption in sleeping and eating patterns. “For a long time, people discounted night-eating syndrome as not real,” said lead researcher Satchidananda Panda, of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, US. “It opens up a whole lot of future questions about how these cycles are regulated.”