The Indian Panorama

Month: January 2017

  • Chided by Donald Trump, Ford scraps Mexico factory, adds Michigan jobs

    Chided by Donald Trump, Ford scraps Mexico factory, adds Michigan jobs

    FLAT ROCK (TIP): Ford Motor has scrapped a planned Mexican car factory and added 700 jobs in Michigan following criticism by Donald Trump, as the US president-elect turned his attention toward rival General Motors Co with the threat of a “big border tax” over compact cars made in Mexico.

    Ford CEO Mark Fields called the move “a vote of confidence” in Trump, but primarily a response to a decline in North American demand for small cars like those that would have been made at the Mexican plant. He said Ford would have made the same decision even if Trump had not been elected.

    Ford will cancel plans unveiled in April to spend $1.6 billion to build the new plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, a project Trump urged the automaker to abandon and called an “absolute disgrace” during the election campaign.

    The No. 2 US automaker also said it would invest $700 million to expand the Flat Rock, Michigan factory and would make new electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles there.

    Trump’s efforts to browbeat the US car industry show he may go further than other modern presidents to try to influence corporate decisions, especially those related to trade and investment. In a Twitter post hours before Ford’s announcement, Trump wrote, “General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to US car dealers-tax free across border. Make in USA. or pay big border tax!” GM, the largest US automaker, said making some of the Cruze cars in the plant in Coahuila, Mexico was part of its strategy to serve global customers, not sell those vehicles in the United States. Trump’s GM tweet was his latest broadside aimed at an American company over jobs, imports and costs even before he takes office on Jan. 20.

    Mexico’s government said it regrets Ford’s decision and has ensured that the company will reimburse San Luis Potosi state for any costs associated with the investment.

    “Obviously, this isn’t a good decision for us,” said Mexico’s economy minister, Ildefonso Guajardo.

    Ford said it still will shift production from Michigan of its Focus compact car to an existing plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. Fields said he expects Michigan to give incentives for Ford’s investment in Flat Rock.

    Ford spokeswoman Jennifer Flake said the automaker will save $500 million by not opening the new plant in the near term, but will have some undisclosed costs to retool the other Mexican plant to build the Focus.

    Ford shares closed up about 3.8 percent. GM shares rose about 0.9 percent. Top Ford executives personally notified Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence of their decision. Fields praised tax and regulatory proposals advocated by Trump and his fellow Republicans who control Congress.

    “Our view is that we see a more positive US manufacturing business environment under President-elect Trump and the pro-growth policies and proposals that he’s talking about, so this is a vote of confidence for President-elect Trump and some of the policies that they may be pursuing,” Fields said.

    Source: Reuters

  • SPICEJET, INDIGO RAISE RED FLAG OVER FDI NORMS

    SPICEJET, INDIGO RAISE RED FLAG OVER FDI NORMS

    NEW DELHI (TIP): IndiGo and SpiceJet have raised “security” concerns over the government’s decision to allow 100% foreign ownership by non-airline players in the Indian carriers. SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh and IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh recently raised this issue during their meeting with commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman. According to sources, the two airlines said aviation is a “sensitive sector” and the FDI policy relaxation would have “security implications”.

    Spokespersons of IndiGo and SpiceJet could not be immediately reached for comments. The meeting also assumes significance as the government is considering removal of an anomaly restricting FDI in the civil aviation sector. The sector is facing a Catch-22 situation where a foreign investor, excluding overseas airlines, can acquire up to 100% stake in a local carrier. However, at present they cannot seek a scheduled operator’s permit since it can only be given to a company where substantial ownership and effective control is in the hands of Indian nationals

    As this condition restricts and prevents foreign investors from acquiring a domestic airline, there is a need to amend Aircraft Rules, 1937, to facilitate FDI in the sector.Due to this anomaly , the moment foreign investors buy 51% or a controlling stake in a domestic airline, the scheduled air operator permit gets withdrawn. “So, this sectoral norm needs to be amended,” sources added.

    As per the current policy, 100% foreign investment is allowed in scheduled air transport service, domestic scheduled passenger airlines and regional air transport. Only non-airline players will be allowed to bring in 100%FDI in local carriers.

  • World’s most heat resistant material found

    World’s most heat resistant material found

    LONDON: Scientists have identified materials that can withstand temperatures of nearly 4,000 degrees Celsius, an advance that may pave the way for improved heat resistant shielding for the faster-than-ever hypersonic space vehicles.

    Researchers from Imperial College London in the UK discovered that the melting point of hafnium carbide is the highest ever recorded for a material.

    Tantalum carbide (TaC) and hafnium carbide (HfC) are refractory ceramics, meaning they are extraordinarily resistant to heat. Their ability to withstand extremely harsh environments means that refractory ceramics could be used in thermal protection systems on high-speed vehicles and as fuel cladding in the super-heated environments of nuclear reactors.

    However, there has not been the technology available to test the melting point of TaC and HfC in the lab to determine how truly extreme an environment they could function in. The researchers developed a new extreme heating technique using lasers to test the heat tolerance of TaC and HfC.

  • ISRAEL’S FLYING CAR PASSENGER DRONE MOVES CLOSER TO DELIVERY

    ISRAEL’S FLYING CAR PASSENGER DRONE MOVES CLOSER TO DELIVERY

    The Cormorant, billed as a flying car, is capable of transporting 500kg (around half a tonne) of weight and travelling at 185 km (115 miles) per hour. It completed its first automated solo flight over terrain in November. Its total price is estimated at $14 million. (Reuters)

    After 15 years of development, an Israeli tech firm is optimistic it will finally get its 1,500 kg (1.5 tonne) passenger carrying drone off the ground and into the market by 2020.

    The Cormorant, billed as a flying car, is capable of transporting 500kg (around half a tonne) of weight and travelling at 185 km (115 miles) per hour. It completed its first automated solo flight over terrain in November. Its total price is estimated at $14 million.

    Developers Urban Aeronautics believe the dark green drone, which uses internal rotors rather than helicopter propellers, could evacuate people from hostile environments and/or allow military forces safe access.

    “Just imagine a dirty bomb in a city and chemical substance of something else and this vehicle can come in robotically, remotely piloted, come into a street and decontaminate an area,” Urban Aeronautics founder and CEO Rafi Yoeli told Reuters.

    Yoeli set up the company, based in a large hanger in Yavne, central Israel, in 2001 to create the drone, which he says is safer than a helicopter as it can fly in between buildings and below power lines without the risk of blade strikes.

    There is still plenty of work required before the autonomous vehicle hits the market.

    The Cormorant, about the size of a family car and previously called the ‘Air Mule’, is yet to meet all Federal Aviation Administration standards and a test in November saw small issues with conflicting data sent by on board sensors.

    With 39 patents registered to create the vehicle, Yoeli has little concern about competitors usurping him.

    One industry experts said the technology could save lives.

    “It could revolutionise several aspects of warfare, including medical evacuation of soldiers on the battlefield,” said Tal Inbar, head of the UAV research centre at Israel’s Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.

    Source: Reuters

     

     

     

  • NASA may build ice homes on Mars to protect astronauts

    NASA may build ice homes on Mars to protect astronauts

    WASHINGTON (TIP): To protect astronauts from the harsh Martian environment, the best building material for a new home on the Red Planet may lie in ice, say NASA researchers.

    The surface of Mars has extreme temperatures and the atmosphere does not provide adequate protection from high-energy radiation. The researchers believe that their “Ice Home” design provides a sound engineering solution to offer astronauts a safe place to call home. The Mars Ice Home is a large inflatable torus, a shape similar to an inner tube that is surrounded by a shell of water ice. This is just one of many potential concepts for sustainable habitation on the Red Planet in support of NASA’s journey to Mars. “After a day dedicated to identifying needs, goals and constraints we rapidly assessed many crazy, out of the box ideas and finally converged on the current Ice Home design, which provides a sound engineering solution,” Kevin Vipavetz from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, said in a statement on Thursday.

    The Mars Ice Home design has several advantages that make it an appealing concept, according to the scientists.

    Source: IANS

  • New imaging technique may prevent vision loss

    New imaging technique may prevent vision loss

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Scientists have developed a new non-invasive retinal imaging technique that could help prevent the onset of vision loss in diseases like glaucoma – the second leading cause of acquired blindness worldwide.

    Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Centre in the US hope their new technique could prevent vision loss via earlier diagnosis and treatment for these diseases.

    The method can non-invasively image the human retina, a layer of cells at the back of the eye that are essential for vision.

    The group led by David Williams from the University of Rochester was able to distinguish individual retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which bear most of the responsibility of relaying visual information to the brain.

    There has been a longstanding interest in imaging RGCs because their death causes vision loss in glaucoma, the second leading cause of acquired blindness worldwide.

    Despite great efforts, no one has successfully captured images of individual RGCs, in part because they are nearly perfectly transparent.

    Instead of imaging RGCs directly, glaucoma is currently diagnosed by assessing the thickness of the nerve fibers projecting from the RGCs to the brain.

    However, by the time retinal nerve fibre thickness has changed detectably, a patient may have lost 100,000 RGCs or more.

    “You only have 1.2 million RGCs in the whole eye, so a loss of 100,000 is significant. The sooner we can catch the loss, the better our chances of halting disease and preventing vision loss,” said Williams.

    Ethan A Rossi, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the US and his colleagues were able to see RGCs by modifying an existing technology – confocal adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO).

    They collected multiple images, varying the size and location of the detector they used to gather light scattered out of the retina for each image and then combined those images. The technique, called multi-offset detection, was performed in animals as well as volunteers with normal vision and patients with age-related macular degeneration.

    Not only did this technique allow the group to visualise individual RGCs, but structures within the cells, like nuclei, could also be distinguished in animals.

    Source: PTI

     

  • ‘GOOGLE ASSISTANT WILL LEAD SMART SPEAKERS, VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SPACE’

    ‘GOOGLE ASSISTANT WILL LEAD SMART SPEAKERS, VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SPACE’

    Internet giant Google’s virtual assistant, Google Assistant, is expected to lead the smart speakers and virtual assistant space leaving products such as Amazon’s Alexa trailing behind, an analysis by market research firm IHS said.

    “Despite Amazon’s strong first-mover advantage and momentum, Google Assistant will eventually benefit from scale — a unified presence across all Google platforms; and fundamentals — the ability to enhance consumers’ everyday virtual assistance experience via its strength in search as well as deeper personalization thanks to data from Gmail, Chrome, Maps and other Google services,” Paul Erickson, senior analyst at IHS Markit, said.

    “Additionally, Google Assistant will be able to play media to the growing multi-brand Google Cast universe of devices –Chromecasts, smart TVs, speakers and Android TV devices,” he added.

    Smart speakers are an increasingly important anchor for virtual assistants in the smart home, and expected to grow to a base of 45 million units by the end of 2020. The long-term platform battle in this market is expected to be between Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.

    IHS Markit expects that though Google’s ecosystem will help it eventually prevail, the affordability-based success of Amazon’s Echo Dot is a competitive challenge Google will need to address to succeed. “Echo Dot’s inexpensive pricing has proven a volume success for Amazon, and is helping to grow the entire category – and Alexa’s foothold into the mainstream,” Erickson explained.

    “Though Google possesses advantages in the virtual assistant race, Alexa’s Echo Dot-driven surge is a competitive development they will need to respond to quickly. The longer it takes for impulse-buy-priced Google Assistant Smart Speaker products to arrive, the more the future will be one where the Google-Amazon competitive relationship in the virtual assistant landscape will be one of co-existence rather than Google’s preferred position of dominance.”

    With Google Home and Assistant both relatively new, these advantages are expected to take time to combine and build momentum, IHS Markit analysis shows. Amazon capitalised on this in the fourth quarter of 2016 with a less-expensive Echo Dot, discounted Echo Dot multi-packs, and an aggressive Alexa television ad campaign — to highly successful results in the 2016 holiday buying season. Echo Dot has become Amazon’s Trojan horse for Alexa penetration into the smart home –similar to Google’s Chromecast and the Google Cast standard. However, Google’s advantages are expected to eventually pull Google Assistant ahead in both smart speakers and the overall virtual assistant race, strong developer momentum behind Alexa and surging Echo Dot sales will make this increasingly difficult.

    IHS Markit currently estimates 2017 platform shipments of Smart Speakers at a conservative 4.1 million units for Alexa, and 1.5 million for Google Assistant. Google Assistant is expected to eventually out-ship Alexa by 2020. Despite this, Alexa is still expected to remain the installed base leader in Smart Speakers for several years beyond thanks to the current momentum of Echo Dot.

  • GST: JAITLEY PUSHES FOR CONSENSUS

    GST: JAITLEY PUSHES FOR CONSENSUS

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Centre on Wednesday said that it will wait for consensus to emerge on GST laws and will not push for a decision by vote despite the threat of a delay in rolling out the new tax regime from April.

    “I have consciously avoided voting and we have decided on issues based on consensus, often after a long discussion. The GST Council is a federal institution and a delicate one,” finance minister Arun Jaitley said after the body comprising states and the Centre failed to finalise the draft laws once again. Jaitley said that given that the precedent from earlier meetings would be cited in future decision-making, GST Council was trying to decide on all issues by consensus.

    Two major issues -the proposed levy of tax on sale in the high-seas and dual control over entities with annual turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore -have held up the finalisation of the draft laws. The laws need to be cleared by the state legislatures and Parliament before GST can be rolled out and industry is demanding time to prepare itself for the new tax regime.

    As a result, the possibility of rolling out GST from April seems remote and state FMs are talking about a delay with Kerala finance minister Thomas Issac suggesting that implementation may not take place before September, which is the Constitutional deadline. “I am not very optimistic about GST rolling out in June or July.It is better to move to GST after all the preparations are done. To my understanding, it will be implemented September on wards,” he told reporters.

    While West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra did not indicate a date, he said that a number of steps had to be taken, including software upgradation by companies. Jaitley too acknowledged that it was a race against

    time.”We know the difficulties, we are moving against time,” he said, adding that the GST Council would try to clinch a deal at its next meeting on January 16.

    Source: TOI

  • Mr. HR Shah: The Doyen of Indian American Community

    Mr. HR Shah: The Doyen of Indian American Community

    He may pass by. You may not notice him. He is one among many. But only when you get to know him, you understand the power of the man. When I say power, I surely do not mean the physical power or the power which comes with position. Nor do I allude to money power. It is the power of self in this man, known as HR Shah which attracts attention and wins admiration.

    This charismatic Indian is a well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist and community leader who endeared himself as a close friend of who’s who of the world. Mr. Shah has rubbed shoulders with Heads of states – from Bill Clinton and Obama to Narendra Modi, and celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan.

    When I sat down to interview him in his conference room, I saw dozens of pictures of Mr. Shah with who’s who of the world. Let me give a picture of the wall decorated with lovely photographs over the decades.

    A wall in the conference room at TV Asia Studios in Edison, New Jersey is decorated with Mr. Shah's pictures with who's who of the world.
    A wall in the conference room at TV Asia Studios in Edison, New Jersey is decorated with Mr. Shah’s pictures with who’s who of the world.

    But behind the seemingly high profile HR Shah is a Hansmukh Shah whose life story will need a whole book or a  documentary, and. I found myself at a loss as to how I could do his profile in a page or two of 11″ X 15″ size in the Indian Panorama. His story may be like the story of many others. It may be another rags to riches story His story from a remote village in Gujarat to the US may appear to be another success story. His story of being a penniless young man, looking for employment in his home state and then venturing out to the US, with financial assistance from friends and relatives may just be another story of another man from Gujarat. But it certainly is his unique story.

    Honors and awards decorate the walls in TV Asia
    Honors and awards decorate the walls in TV Asia

    In an exclusive interview with The Indian Panorama, Mr Shah revealed the journey of his life like an open book.

    Mr Shah was born in a poor family. His father had two wives and seven kids and died when HR was only 2 years old. He had a difficult childhood with enormous financial problems. After completing high school he did his bachelor’s degree with honors in Chemistry but missed first class for just few numbers.

    He went door to door for a job but did not get any. But at that situation how could someone think of coming to America?

    “In 1967, one of my cousins came to America. That gave me the courage. I started thinking that if he can do it why not me? At that time, there were jobs here for two classes of people – highly educated or labor class. I had no issues to opt for a labor class job in USA as there was no future for me in India.”

    But coming to the land of opportunities was not so easy. He ran from pillar to post to make his dream true. Even people were joking at him for his dresses or English speaking capacity. But he was determined to achieve his goal and finally achieved it when he landed in USA in 1970.

    “For getting success in life you have to have goal, vision, and determination. Money comes later. You have to work hard”, he says.

    His struggle continued here too. After doing some odd jobs like fruit and vegetable distribution, he started a consulting office at The Empire State Building in 1973. It was doing well but did not last for a long. “The business closed due to some problems and I lost huge amount of money. I came down to footpath straight from Empire State”, reveals HR who is now one of the highest donors in any charity event and is serving the community for over 30 years.

    Confabulating with PM Narendra Modi
    Confabulating with PM Narendra Modi

    In 1976 HR opened a medical center but this time also luck was not with him. So, this venture also failed. But something very significant happened in his life during this crisis hours. He met Rosemarie who came for a job at the medical center. They fell for each other and married in 1977.

    Without having anything, he started driving taxi in New York City. “I took that decision because as a taxi driver I could have worked for as many hours as I want. So, I used to work for 15 to 16 hours a day. I had huge debt on me because of my failed business.”

    This honest man was also determined to clear his debts.

    Good Old Days- HR Shah's entertainment connection with Donald Trump dates back decades ago
    Good Old Days- HR Shah’s entertainment connection with Donald Trump dates back decades ago

    Every weekend he used to repay even 100 or 50 dollars to people whom he owed money. That earned him a trust among them and grew a strong bond. In personal life, he faced a tragedy as his daughter who was born with a critical disease, died at the age 8.

    After running a Limousine service for 2 years, HR started his brokerage business for Indians in USA. Finally, he got real ‘break’ of his life when he took over Krauszer’s Food Stores, New Jersey’s largest chain having over 400 outlets. He took over the firm in 1991 to become the first NRI to own a chain store business anywhere in the world and through his entrepreneurial skills, gave the stores renewed statewide recognition. That acquisition saved over a thousand jobs. He also put hundreds of people from ethnic communities in the convenience store business, making them owners. “The game changer came as a jackpot to me. My life changed”, he said laughingly. Life changed but the man did not change. He did not forget his past, he did not forget the sufferings he went through in India, and he did not forget his poor villagers. His mission was to bring less or uneducated people from his village and establish them here. To date, he has brought 4,000 people from his village. “They salute me but I don’t have any expectations from anybody. If I do something for people, I never ask anything in return”, says the ‘Father Figure’ of community.

    Amitabh Bachchan has been a family member to Mr. Shah. Here he is seen with Mr. Shah and Mrs. Shah (extreme right)
    Amitabh Bachchan has been a family member to Mr. Shah. Here he is seen with Mr. Shah and Mrs. Shah (extreme right)

    In 1996, he took over TV Asia. A turnaround expert, he became prominent for rescuing the channel out of poor viewership – with 350,000 viewers today. With TV Asia, Mr Shah is the first NRI to run a 24/7 TV station in North America. It is the first coast-to-coast television network broadcasting 24 hours a day, on satellite and cable for South Asians in the US. TV Asia was the only Network in North America to bring live coverage of the visit to the UN of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

    With 30 bureaus in North America, TV Asia mainly focuses on community events to keep Indian culture and heritage alive, especially for second generation NRIs.

    Mr Shah has actively participated in the US political process at many levels and has made outstanding contributions to India-US relations. He has organized or supported awareness meetings for several prominent officials, including Governors, Senators, Congressmen and candidates for the US presidency, including Barack Obama.

    He accompanied former US President Bill Clinton to India in the year 2000 and was with him again in 2001 in Gujarat for earthquake relief operations. In fact, TV Asia was the first South Asian media outlet to be invited by a US President to join the Presidential entourage on an overseas visit.

    Mr Shah is a founding member of GOPIO as well as Past President and Trustee of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA). As the Chairman and Trustee of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (USA), the world famous institute of Indian culture, education, music and the arts, he has worked for the upliftment in lifestyle of Indians via education. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Ellis Island-National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO).

    Mr. HR Shah has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the highest award conferred to honor the ancestral groups who through struggle, sacrifice and success build this great nation of United States of America. Today, Mr H.R. Shah, the Chairman & CEO of TV Asia is regarded as one of those selfless individuals who have made extraordinary contributions for the cause of humanity.

    He has generously donated his time, energy and resources and is a pillar of the community, always supporting various social works, cultural, educational and related activities in the US and in India. He has received thousands of awards and citations from across the globe in serving ethnic American communities in different fields.

    One admirable strength of the man is that success has not gone in to his head. Asked as a closing question of the interview what he thought was the most important thing to do, he did not bat an eye, nor did he hesitate for a moment and said “Hard Work“.

  • FROM WILL SMITH TO CHRIS HEMSWORTH: IT WAS A STARRY 2016 FOR INDIA

    FROM WILL SMITH TO CHRIS HEMSWORTH: IT WAS A STARRY 2016 FOR INDIA

    Every year a slew of Hollywood celebs visit India, and rarely do they return disappointed. Last year, superstars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom, among others, were here and shared how the country charmed them. This year, too, a host of celebrities visited, be it for films, social work, networking or leisure. Here’s a round up:

    Will Smith: The actor was here in August for a dinner hosted by actor Akshay Kumar at his Mumbai house. “It was an intimate dinner,” Akki had told us. Actors Varun Dhawan, Ranbir Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shraddha Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, and filmmakers Karan Johar and Rohit Dhawan also attended, and posted photos on social media.

    CHRIS HEMSWORTH: The adventure enthusiast along with wife, actor Elsa Pataky, took part in a Spanish adventure programme in February, climbing a 18,000 ft mountain, Chantang, in Ladakh. The happy couple also posted pictures from their stay in India. This included a photo of Chris posing with a cow.

    IAN MCKELLEN: The British actor was here as part of a global programme to celebrate Shakespeare’s works and his influence on culture, education and society, coinciding with his 400th death anniversary in May. The 77-year-old Lord of The Rings actor — who came out of the closet in 1988 — spoke on homosexuality, slamming India’s hypocritical stance. “It is appalling and ironical that India would use a colonial law to oppress its homosexuals. India needs to grow up. India needs to realise that it doesn’t need to follow British laws any more,” he had said.

    ELLEN PAGE: The Juno star visited in May to shoot her show, Gaycation, which explores the lives of the LGBT community in various countries. She also caught up with Apurva Asrani, scriptwriter of Bollywood film, Aligarh, that touched upon the subject of homosexuality, and celebrated his dog’s birthday.

    “Ellen and her best friend Ian Daniels came home to chat with me about Aligarh and the state of LGBTQ rights in India. I am also one of the guests on the show that she’s shooting.She was extremely moved by our film and thought that Aligarh was relevant to the US audience, too. She came out (of the closet)?in 2014 and I came out in 2015. It was great chatting with her as we are united by the same cause,” Apurva had told us then.

    JASON ISAACS: The Harry Potter actor shot for the film, Mumbai Hotel, based on 26/11 terror attacks in October. In Mumbai, he also met foster families to understand if India safeguards children’s interests. “I’m passionate about children’s rights and protection… trying to find a way to give them the childhood they deserve. There are more home-based foster groups than orphanages there. In India, I see that is yet to happen, but also the magnitude of problem is much larger,” he was quoted as saying.

  • He Accomplished Daunting Tasks of Protecting and Promoting Diversity

    He Accomplished Daunting Tasks of Protecting and Promoting Diversity

    A Tribute to Guru Gobind Singh, Creator of Khalsa. Sikhism is the Fifth Largest Religion of the World.  The Sikh Guru’s 350th birth anniversary falls on January 5, 2017

    In the times of Mogul empires India was in great danger of eclipsing its cultural and religious diversities. Mullahs in the court of Mogul king Aurangzeb were creating havocs in converting everyone living in their empire to their version of Islam. To fully appreciate the extent of this widespread bloodshed in today’s context, one may view the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as the mission of then Mogul empire was similar.

    In order to conceptualize the mentality of ISIS and its tactics, look no further than daily pictures of horrors and insanity throughout the Middle East and the Western world. Only just in the past few months the rise of ISIS became a revelation to the West. Commencing with the self-proclamation of Caliph by its leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, and finally the surge in Iraq and Syria, each day is bringing bloodshed, beheading, and burning of live innocents. It is occurring withoutstop once it was launched.

    To those who know the Indian history it will be obvious that the theology and actions during the Mogul Kingdom were reciprocal of ISIS as well asthe Wahhabi religious doctrine that governed the days of Aurangzeb in India. Then too thehostility towards other religions was very evident through Mullahs’ orations and fatwas such as: “It is incumbent upon Muslims to take as enemies the infidel Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Sufi Muslims, and other polytheists, and to avoid their amicability,” and “Shi’ites are the most polytheist, and none of the people of passion are more lying than them, and more remote from monotheism, and their danger on Islam is very great indeed.” Such was the common rhetoric and propaganda used during the kingdom of Mogul Aurangzeb. It was militant legitimization for superiority of one religion. It was there to eclipse any sign of diversity among religions and cultures.

    A SCHOLAR’S TESTIMONY

    Daulat Rai, a social historian of the Pakistani Punjab, entitled his book ‘Sahibe Kamal Guru Gobind Singh’ (1993 edition) in order to exemplify Guru Gobind Singh as an extraordinary prophet. Guru was so recognized not only on account of his forward looking lead to religious thoughts but similarly extraordinary undertakings to promote and protect diversity in opposition to forced bent on bringing uniformity. His boldness and commitment to his cause cost him his parents, his children, his beloved followers, and eventually his own life.

    DIVERSITY: HALLMARK OF FUTURE SOCIETIES

    It is now accepted universally that the next generations of humanity would create a new global village in order for diverse type of societies to live together in peace and prosperity. This prosperity would be both in worldly and spiritual domains.

    In illustrating the greatness of Guru Gobind Singh, I cherry picked a few facets; to fully comprehend and describe Guru’s greatness may take a lifetime commitment to such pursuit. In limiting the scope, I will select issues that impact particularly the civil societies across oceans even though they are illustrated through examples of the practices prevalent in the Sikh, Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu societies of Indian sub-continent.

    Contrary to the prevalent beliefs of proving one religion superior to another, and imposing one belief at the cost of the other, Guru Gobind Singh called upon all religions to engage in the service of whole humanity. Let me illustrate with a few examples.

    GURU’S FIRST SERMON

    From his childhood, young Gobind took to the ways of inter-religious dialogues and engagements. According to our history books, the recognition of Guru’s divinity was first acknowledged publicly in an important inter-religious event.

    It all began with the installation of infant Gobind to his prophetic rank. Contrary to established practices of initiating a child prophet by the clergy of the faith of his forefathers, in this case a renowned Muslim saint, Syed Bhikhan Shah, was given this honor in case of Gobind Rai. Mind you that Guru was not born to Muslim parents.

    The story goes as follows.

    One day, followers of Muslim Pir Bhikhan Shah observed their holy man to bow towards the East during his morning prayers. Certainly, it was contrary to the established Islamic practice of bowing in the direction of Kiblah.

    When his followers looked astonished, the Pir responded and explained his unusual act. He said that a special child, the savior chosen by Allah, was taking birth in Patna located to the East that he faced to say his prayer. He further disclosed that he was inspired by Allah to make his way to the child’s birth place in the East India, Patna, to bless the newly born Gobind, and to pronounce him a prophet.

    The Pir gathered his followers and led them to the pilgrimage of Patna in order to view the newborn. In Patna, although unusual for mothers of a newborn to do so, Guru’s mother accepted the Pir’s request and brought out the child for public viewing.

    The Pir presented a pre-meditated riddle. He placed two bowls of candy before the child; one bowl was purchased from a Hindu’s shop, and the other from a Muslim’s shop, thus signifying the two major religions in India. The riddle sought answer to an unspoken question of seeking guidance as to which religion this divine prophet would belong to. The proper response would permit the Pir to pronounce the Guru’s divinity and his prophetic authority to lead those very people.

    To everyone’s admiration and deep gratification, the infant Gobind Rai placed his hands in both bowls, thus indicating that he would not profile people among religious divides. Further, it signified that all religions would be likewise dear to him. Also, he would honor a holy man of a religion different than that of his ancestors’ to become the intermediate of his new message.

    The Muslim Pir and his Muslim companions as well as Hindu neighbors who had gathered there were thrilled and fulfilled.

    The point is that in his very first public message Guru Gobind Singh laid the path to inter-religious engagement that sanctioned inter-religious appreciation and accommodation. Further, he chose symbolic language over the languages considered sacred by two religions to communicate his first public sermon. There too he chose to tell it through a profound public demonstration.

    Although minimizing the religious divide was Guru Gobind Singh’s first sermon, it was neither a one-time sermon alone nor the first time in the Sikh tradition that such a sermon was aired.

    Then onward all congregations of the Guru always consisted of diverse audience.

    SIKH TRADITION

    Divinity of Guru Nanak was first recognized by a Muslim holy man, Rai Bullar and not by his parents. Similarly, when Guru Nanak made his first debut after receiving the divine ordination at the banks of River Vein in Northern India he gave the following sermon to those who gathered to welcome him as a prophet. Guru Arjan paraphrased this sermon in the following hymn.

    éÔîÇÔ§ç±éî°ÃñîÅé¢ÁñÔðÅîÕ¶Çê§â°êðÅé –

    Guru Arjan, SGGS, p. 1136.

    I am neither a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim (Christian, Budhhist, etc.). My body and breath of life belong equally to Allah and to Raam -the God of both religions.

    In the most popular painting of the founder of the Sikhi reformation, Guru Nanak is always shown with his two companions, a Hindu companion, Bhai Bala, and, a Muslim companion, Bhai Mardana.

    Guru Gobind Singh reiterated the same doctrine of not profiling people into religious categories. The writers and historians amply documented Guru Gobind Singh’s teachings in this respect. He is said to teach as:

    ÜÅå¶Û±Çà×ï¯ízîÀ°ðÕŨÇåÔÁÅ×ËÇÔ§ç±ÇÕÁÅå°ðÕŨ

    When one gets rid of the false beliefs one ceases to profile people into Hindu or Muslim (Christian, Jew or Sikh).

    Bachitar Natak, p. 157

    GLOBAL IN SCOPE

    Guru Gobind Singh further believed that when such an enlightened person looked around far and wide through all lands he would not find anyone other than the same divine spirit. A poet described this as:

    ÃÅð¶ÔÆç¶ÃÕ¯ç¶ÇÖðÇÔúîåÕ¯À±éç¶ÖÆÁåêzÅéêåÆÕ¶

    (Tav-Prasad Savayeaa)

    So, that no one may have any doubt, Guru Gobind Singh is said to refer, by name, various geographical regions, many linguistic and cultural groups that spread all over the continents to make one humanity. For example, Guru is described to pronounce various sects, denominations or ethnicities as all adoring the same Creator.

    ê±ðìÆéêÅðêÅò˺ÇԧװñÅÇÔîÅñËÇèÁÅò˺ׯð×°ðç¶ÜÆ×°é×ÅòËºå¶ ð¶éÅîÔ˺¨

    ܯ×Æܯ×ÃÅèËêÀ°éÃÅèéÅÇÕå¶ÕìÅèËÁÅðìÕ¶ÁÅðìÆÁðÅè˺å¶ð¶ éÅîÔ˺¨

    ëðÅÕ¶Çëð§×ÆîÅé˺էèÅðÆÕ°ð¶ÃÆÜÅé˺êÛîÕ¶êµÛîÆêÛÅé˺ÇéÜÕÅ îÔ˺¨

    îðÔàÅîضñ¶å¶ðÆîéïºåêÇÃÁÅÕðËÇçzóòËÇåñ§×ÆêÔÚÅéËèðî èÅîÔ˺¨

    ì§×Õ¶ì§×ÅñÆÇëðÔ§×Õ¶Çëð§×ÅòÅñÆÇçñÆÕ¶ÇçñòÅñÆå¶ðÆÁÅÇ ×ÁÅîËÚñåÔ˺¨

    ð¯ÔÕ¶ð°Ô¶ñ¶îÅØç¶ÃÕ¶îضñ¶ìÆðì§×ÃÆì°§ç¶ñ¶êÅêê°§ÜÕ¯îñåÔ˺¨ ׯÖÅ×°é×ÅòËÚÆéîÚÆéÕ¶ÃÆÃéïÅòËÇåµìåÆÇèÁÅÇÂç¶Öç¶ÔÕ¯ çñåÔ˺¨

    ÇÜéËå¯ÇÔÇèÁÅÇÂúÇåéËê±ðéêzåÅêêÅÇÂúÃðìèéèÅîëñë±ñî¯ ºëñåÔ˺¨

    The inhabitants of the East could not know Thy limit, the people of Hingala and Himalaya Mountains remember Thee, residents of Gor and Gardez sing the Praises of Thy Name.

    The Yogis perform Yoga, many are absorbed in doing Pranayama and people of Arabia bound by Holy Quran remember Thy Name.

    The people of France and England revere Thee, the inhabitants of Kandahar and Quraishis identify Thee; the people of the West recognize their duty towards Thee.

    The inhabitants of Maharashtra and Magadha perform austerities with profound affection; the residents of Drawar and Tilang countries recognize Thee as the Abode of Dharma.

    The Bengalis of Bengal, the Phirangis of Phirangistan and Dilwalis of Delhi are the followers of Thy Command.

    The Rohelas of Rohu Mountain, the Maghelas of Magadha, the heroic Bangasis of Bangas and the Bundhelas of Bundhelkhand abolish their sins in Thy devotion.

    Gorkhas sing Thy Praises, the residents of China and Manchuria bow their heads before Thee and the Tibetans end the sufferings of their bodies by remembering Thee.

    Whosoever meditated upon Thee, they obtained perfect Grandeur; they prosper greatly with spiritual wealth, blooming flowers and ripening fruits, and praiseworthy place of ultimate abode.

    Akal Ustat, 254-255, Dasam Granth, p. 13-14. The above hymn speaks the universality of the Guru’s recognition that the faith message is beyond man made boundaries and territories.

    MANY SCENARIOS ONE PURPOSE

    Guru Gobind Singh’s ecumenical teachings continued as solidifications and extensions of what he told as an infant and what his predecessor gurus initiated to tell centuries earlier. He worked tirelessly to restore society’s confidence in the time-tested human values of unity in diversity, freedom of faith practices, justice and compassion. He challenged the wide-spread religious bigotry among all world religions. His teachings as defined below emphasized that in the eyes of Creator there was no difference among various people.

    Õ¯À±Çíî°§âÆÁÅçÇéÁÅÃÆÕ¯À±Ü¯×ÆíÇÂÕ¯À±ìzÔîÚÅðÆÕ¯À±Üå ÆÁé°îÅé쯨ÇÔ§ç±å°ðÕÕ¯À±ðÅëÃÆÇÂîÅîÃÅëÆîÅéÃÕÆÜÅåÃì˶ ÕËêÇÔÚÅé쯨ÕðåÅÕðÆîïÂÆðÅÜÕðÔÆîÂÆç±Ãð¯éí¶çÕ¯ÂÆí°î ízîîÅé쯨¶ÕÔÆÕÆöòÃíÔÆկװðç¶ò¶Õ¶ÕÔÆÃð±êÃì˶ÕËܯ åÜÅéì¯

    Many believed that they became superior by accepting celibacy or undertaking many modes of meditation, by giving up material comforts, by making themselves look different, or by wearing long and matted hair or no hair. Others feel higher by joining a sect of Islam as, Shia, Sunni, etc. But no one should overlook the basic fact that followers of all religions are the same human beings. The Creator of all provides for the needs of all humans. There is one God of all and that God alone should be worshipped. Do not remain an ignorant and believe in anyone else except the One. All humanity is equal, each one of us carries the reflection of the Creator in us, and we are all manifestations of one Creator.

    Akal Ustat, In: Chaunnvee Banee Dasam Granth, Ed. Lal Singh, Nav Yug Publishers, Delhi, 1987, P. 92.

    To spread his message of a perfect egalitarian society based on one-ness of God that celebrated diversity in all its myriad forms, Guru Gobind Singh is said to relate the origin of all diversity to the One Being.

    ÜËö¶ÕÁÅ×å¶Õé±ÕÅÕ¯ÇàÁÅ×À°áÇÔº,

    ÁÅ×Õ¶Õé±ÕÅÇëðÁÅ×î˺ÇîñÅÇÔ׶¢ÜËö¶ÕÇèðå¶Áé¶Õè±Çðê±Çð Áå,

    è±ÇðÕ¶Õé±ÕÅÇëðÇèðÔÆÃîÅÇԺ׶¨ÜËö¶ÕéÇçå¶åð§×Õ¯ÇàÀ°êÜ å,

    êÅéÕ¶åð§×ÃíêÅéÔÆÕÔÅÇԺ׶¨åËöÇìÃòð±êå¶Áí±åí±åêz×à Ô¯ÇÂ, åÅÔƺå¶À°êÇÜÃìËåźÔÆîËÃîÅÇÔº×Ë

    As out of a single fire arise millions of sparks; but all merge back into the same fire. As out of same dust arise millions of dust particles; but all merge back into the same dust. As out of a single ocean arise millions of waves; but all merge into the water. So from God’s form, emerge all creation, animate and inanimate; and all of them are in equilibrium with the Creator.

    Akal Ustat, Chhand 87.

    DIFFERENCES ARE DECEPTION

    Guru Gobind Singh believed that the differences among humans in terms of color, appearance and ethnicity were due to God’s creative process; all human beings had a moral responsibility to cherish and preserve this sacred creativity. He underscored the unity of human spirit despite many apparent distinctions. He is said to state:

    îÅéÃÃì˶ÕêËÁé¶ÕÕ¯íðîÅÀ°ÔË

    All human beings are one and the same, although there is a deception of differences.

    Akal Ustat, Chhand 86. l. 2.

    Guru Gobind Singh was a champion of the human right to be diverse. He advocated freedom of culture, religion and thought for every individual. He is known to explain that the differences in our outward appearance, clothes, customs and practices are attributed to the choices that only we make:

    ç¶òåÅÁç¶òܵÛקèzìå°ðÕÇÔ§ç±ÇéÁÅð¶ÇéÁÅðËç¶ÃéÕ¶í¶ÃÕ¯ êzíÅÀ°ÔË

    ¶ÕËéËé¶ÕËÕÅé¶ÕËç¶Ô¶ÕËìÅéÖÅÕìÅçÁÅåôÁ½ÁÅìÕ¯ðñÅ À°ÔË

    Many are gods or demon, or celestial musicians. There are heavenly tribes and the learned people or the artists. They may be seen as people of different religions as Muslims (citizens of Islamic nations) or Hindus (natives of Indian subcontinent). They may all look and act differently, but their apparent differences are due to the influences from their countries and cultures, or in the clothes they wear.

    Akal Ustat, Chhand 86. l. 3.

    Thus, the worldview of Guru Gobind Singh was all inclusive. Indeed, Guru Gobind Singh’s ideal of appreciation for diversity as a pivotal feature of all human activity was also a new age ideal. We must never forget to defend it. As torch bearers of his teachings we must harp on all imperative slogans that he is known to give us.

    îÅéÃÃì˶ÕêËÁé¶ÕÕ¯íðîÅÀ°ÔË

    Recognize all humans as one and the same race.

    Akal Ustat, Chhand 85. l. 4.

    POLITICS MEANT TO SERVE WITHOUT PREJUDICE

    To Guru Gobind Singh, finding and protecting Truth was a desired political doctrine and a national heroism. Noble purpose of political life and/or religious mission can be pursued both by spiritual pursuits and/or by sacrificing acts to serve humanity. To seek to be a community leader he pointed out that, faith and humility would be necessary virtues. Similarly, great heroes would be bold, courageous, and sometimes audacious in their determination to succeed; but they must also be humble in their awareness of their real mission.

    To the Guru, a person must never violate spiritual laws while pursuing a noble purpose-the means must be as moral as the ends.

    For his purpose, Guru Gobind Singh recruited ordinary people-farmers, peace-keepers, shopkeepers, teachers, business professionals, parents, citizens – to ennoble them for what they could do by being mindful of deepest meaning in a life of service as a common trait within all diversity.

    Guru Gobind Singh showed a deep concern of godless rulers and their brand of governance. He was very vocal critic of the monarchs who ruled without regards to the universal teachings of love for God’s creation. For example, Guru Gobind Singh conveyed the following in response to a letter from the Mogul Emperor, Aurangzeb.

    Hama ko tura padshahee badad, bama daulatey deen panahee badad, Tura turkatazee be makar va riyaa, mara chareh saazee be sidak vafaa. Na zedad tura naame Aurangzeb, xe Aurang Zeban na yabad fareb.

    By Whose grace you are made king and your writ sweeps everything, His very grace endowed us to protect the faithful and the low. When your aim is to loot and plunder, to cheat and fraud, we are there to shield, save, and protect. Our arms are the Truth and faith in Almighty. You do not really deserve to be a king when you resort to hoax and fraud and thus betray the trust of God as a king.

    Duggal, S.S., Fathenama

    As is illustrated in his letter, the Guru’s displeasure with the mogul emperor was not so much because the emperor forcibly took over the governance of the Hindus or the Sikhs, but rather, that the emperor had forsaken the tenets of a true religion during his reign and warfare.

    It is a clear example that Guru Gobind Singh held the rulers of the day responsible for leading others to be God-fearing and believers of the faith in the politics that they practiced. With strength of their belief in the Creator, they were held responsible for the protection of the people and their rights to be safe.

    In this way, Guru Gobind Singh concluded the mission assigned to him by his predecessor gurus as is evidence in the following verses.

    ÃÇÚÁÅðÅç¶ÇÂòÇâÁÅÂÆÔÇðèðîÇéÁÅÀ°ÕÆúǨÃíÔÇðÕÆ ÕðÔ°À°ÃåÇåÇÜÇé×ðÆìÁéÅæðÅÇÖñÆúǨÜËÕÅð°ÕÆúèðîÆ ÁÅÕÅêÅêÆÕÀ°â§â°çÆúÇÂ

    God bestows glorious recognition upon those who are truthful and promote righteous justice. Everyone should praise the Creator who asks to protect the poor and the lost. He honors the righteous and punishes the culprit.

    Sri Guru Granth Sahib (1604), p. 89.

    Sikh theologian, Bhai Gurdas observed this order being implemented in real practice.

    ×°ðî°ÇÖÃÚÅê§æ°ÔËÃÚ°ç¯ÔÆÃÚ°ðÅÜ°Õð§çŨ

    The nation of the Guru-oriented people is the nation of the truth. Their slogan is Truth and their kingdom based on the laws of Divine Truth.

    Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 26, Pauri 1

    CONCLUSION

    The prophet lived at a time (1666-1708) when religious fanaticism in South Asia was at its height. It was endlessly posing a grave threat to the human spirit of freedom and liberty.

    The innate human desire for individual expression and diversity of belief was severely curtailed. Those with faith practices different from the misguided rulers were persecuted and the religious places of one religion were replaced with those of others. Practice of pluralism and multicultural life was in peril.

    Guru’s great-grand-father, father, four sons and countless followers were put to death by the powers. It was a dark, grim and ominous period in human history.

    Guru Gobind Singh worked tirelessly to restore society’s confidence in the time-tested human values of unity in diversity, freedom of faith practices, justice and compassion. He challenged the ruling and dominant powers with grit and determination. With equal might he challenged the wide-spread religious bigotry.

    Indeed, Guru Gobind Singh’s ideal of appreciation for diversity as a pivotal feature of all human activity is also an American ideal. We must never forget to defend it.

    While celebrating Guru Gobind Singh we can see clearly that the Guru was obviously establishing institutions with multiple ramifications. The self-righteousness which comes from dividing the world into us and them had no place in Guru Gobind Singh’s vision. His sacrifices made a great difference and diversity was preserved in opposition to uniformity throughout Indian sub-continent.

    Sikh scholar Bhai Santokh Singh, a great historian of India rightly observed.

    ÛÅÇÂÜÅåÆ?Õ¶åÅÁé¶ÕåÅÇìñŶÜÅåÆ,

    Ô¯òåÆÕ°ÚÆñåÅÕåì¶éÕ°ðÅéÕÆ.

    êÅêêðêÕÜÅå¶, èðîèÃÕÜÅå¶,

    ìðé×ðÕÜÅå¶ÃÅÇÔåÇìèÅéÕÆ.

    ç¶òÆç¶òÇçÔ°ð¶Ã§å¯ÖÇçØç±ðÔ¯å¶,

    ðÆåÇîàÜÅåÆÃíì¶çéê°ðÅéÕÆ.

    ÃzÆ×°ð±×¯Çì§çÇçØêÅòéêðîñð, î±ðåéÔ¯åÆܯêÇÔ,

    Õð°äÅÇéèÅéÕÆ.

    Were Guru Gobind Singh not there at the critical junction of Indian history, there would have been all uniformity; the diversity in religious spheres, diverse scriptures and diverse modes of worship would have taken wings. In favor of one religion, the others would have been destroyed and their holy places smashed. Sin would have replaced the virtues.

    Bhai Santokh Singh, Suraj Parkash.

    http://www.sikhiwiki.org/images/4/4b/SG PS_Ayan_1.pdf

  • DEEPIKA NERVOUS YET EXCITED ABOUT HOLLYWOOD DEBUT

    DEEPIKA NERVOUS YET EXCITED ABOUT HOLLYWOOD DEBUT

    Actress Deepika Padukone says she is nervous and excited about her Hollywood debut ‘xXx – Return of Xander Cage’ that stars Vin Diesel.

    “I am really excited. This is my Hollywood debut. I am very nervous, but I am also very excited. And today is the beginning to that journey. Hopefully, we will be coming to India soon.” Deepika said on January 1 before leaving for abroad to kick-start the film’s promotion.

    “In terms of promotion, first we will head to Mexico. As far as the release is concerned, we will first release the movie in India. While shooting the film, I discussed this with my unit… that it would be great to first release it in India and I am happy that it is finally happening.” she added.

    After her Hollywood debut later this month, Deepika will be known for being more than a Bollywood actress. Talking about it, she said, “I think I’d like to be known as a good person and a good actor. But I also feel very proud that I get to represent my country, especially in this kind of action franchise of the film.”

    “I am really excited. I am also very sure we will enjoy this film because of its content. There is a lot of action, adventure in the film, which we have not seen in Indian films before. So, I can’t wait to bring this movie to India and show it to everyone.”

    “xXx: Return of Xander Cage”, helmed by D.J. Caruso, also stars Donnie Yen and Samuel L. Jackson.

    Source: IANS

  • Makers of Rustom team up with Anushka Sharma

    Makers of Rustom team up with Anushka Sharma

    Looks like 2017 is going to be the year of joint ventures in Bollywood. After producing Rustom and the upcoming ‘Toilet — Ek Prem Katha’, KriArj Entertainment has announced a tie-up with Clean Slate Films, the production banner owned by Anushka Sharma and her brother Karnesh. Their first film together will go on floors this year.

    Karnesh says, “We are happy about this association. Both production houses share a common vision — to provide strong content to discerning cinema viewers.” Following the success of their maiden production ‘NH10’, Karnesh and Anushka are also ready to release their next, ‘Phillauri‘.

    Arjun N Kapoor, the co-founder of KriArj Entertainment along with Virender Arora, adds, “There couldn’t be a more fitting partnership. Clean Slate Films has shown consistency in providing quality content. We look forward to a long-term collaboration.” Source: TOI

  • ANISTON AND THEROUX TO GO ON VACATION TO SAVE THEIR MARRIAGE

    ANISTON AND THEROUX TO GO ON VACATION TO SAVE THEIR MARRIAGE

    Actors Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are reportedly trying to fix their broken marriage. Aniston is planning a getaway with her husband to save their marriage.

    “The honeymoon has been over for a while. Less than two years after Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux said ‘I do’, they are already feeling the strain in their marriage,” a source told a Magazine.

    “But despite the pain, Jen is committed to making things work, and is planning a warm getaway, just for the two of them.”

    “Jen just wants it to be an intimate, romantic vacation for two,” the source said, adding that the 47-year-old actress

    “hopes it will go a long way toward smoothing over their myriad marital problems”.

    The pair got engaged in August 2012, after 18 months of dating. They got married in 2015.

  • ASSASSIN’S CREED MOVIE REVIEW

    ASSASSIN’S CREED MOVIE REVIEW

    STORY: Using a revolutionary technology that unlocks genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar in 15th century Spain. This video game adaptation delves into a mysterious secret society of assassins with incredible knowledge and skills. ?

    CAST: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Rampling, Michael K. Williams

    DIRECTION: Justin Kurzel
    GENRE: Action
    DURATION: 1 hour 55 minutes

    REVIEW: The number of video game movie adaptations that have failed to meet expectations is astounding. It’s as if Hollywood simply can’t make the transition from console to cinema. ‘Assassin’s Creed’ was touted as the one to break the curse, with big actors attached to the project like Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons. Additionally, the trailer looked promising with sweeping cinematography and complex action choreography which mimicked the frenetic pace and vast set pieces of the free-running, gravity-defying, time-traveling game series.

    To its credit, the movie manages to accomplish that. Fassbender’s Aguilar showcases lethal skills with his character’s trademark concealed knives as he scales buildings and jumps across rooftops leading to some gorgeous fight sequences. The production design is appropriately detailed and the background score does its best to lend some emotion to the action. But instead of focusing on its most intriguing aspects – Aguilar and the assassins in the past, it chooses to invest more time in the present. The plot revolves around a device that is supposed to end violence across humanity. Exposition tends to be a distracting element in most films, but could have probably enhanced the story here – there’s no explanation of how this device works and when we finally see it in action, it’s still baffling. This detracts from an intriguing father- daughter power struggle between Alan Rikkins (Jeremy Irons) and Sofia (Marion Cotillard), which is the most compelling aspect in the film’s present. Even more so than the protagonist Callum Lynch/ Aguilar (Micheal Fassbender), whose motives aren’t made explicitly clear, therefore preventing the audience from being emotionally invested in his journey across time.

    Hollywood’s current obsession with franchise-building might act as a consolation for fans of the game series who might take a leap of faith in a better constructed sequel. Meanwhile, ‘Assassin’s Creed’ becomes another exercise in squandering the considerable talents of its cast and crew.

  • KATRINA KAIF SEEKS CAREER ADVICE FROM SALMAN KHAN?

    KATRINA KAIF SEEKS CAREER ADVICE FROM SALMAN KHAN?

    After seeing a dip in her career with two duds – ‘Fitoor’ and ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ – last year, Katrina Kaif is now ready to get back in the game. And she has the perfect mentor too – none other than her ex-boyfriend Salman Khan.

    Reports suggest that Kat and Salman have started meeting for the workshops of ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’. She is seeking Sallu’s help in selecting the right films, as currently, there’s no one better than him at making great choices when it comes to films. The man with the Midas touch has recently finished the shoot of ‘Tubelight’ with ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ hit-maker Kabir Khan. Katrina, who shares a special relation with Kabir, even dropped in on the sets of ‘Tubelight’ and the trio ended up having a good time at the wrap-up party. Katrina has not signed any other project after giving the nod to the ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ sequel. Her film with Fawad Khan has been put on hold after the recent ban on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood. She is holidaying in London with her family, but she wants to sign a few strong projects once she’s back. Let’s see how well Salman’s advice works out for her.

    Source: TOI

  • Horse-riding is therapeutic, says Jacqueline

    Horse-riding is therapeutic, says Jacqueline

    Jacqueline Fernandez has often been seen riding a horse at a popular club in Southern Mumbai. But against popular perception, it’s not for a movie.

    The actress has been indulging in the activity purely as a hobby that helps her rejuvenate post work. “I love horse-riding. I used to do it when we lived in Bahrain. After I moved to Sri Lanka and subsequently to Mumbai, I couldn’t pursue it much. Over the last few months, I’ve been making time to visit a club and practice it,” says Jacqueline, adding, “Whenever I am in Mumbai, and I have the time, I wake up at 5 am, and I’m atop a horse at 6 am. I spend a couple of hours; it’s therapeutic. It’s a hobby I’ve cultivated outside of work. Everything we learn cannot be work-related, right? And look at the brighter side, I’ll be prepared if a role comes by where I need to horse ride.”

    The actress headed home for Christmas celebrations and has now joined her gang of girls in Geneva to kick off 2017 in style. Once she returns to the bay, she will start the concluding schedule of her action adventure with Sidharth Malhotra.

    Source: TOI

  • SCARLETT JOHANSSON IS 2016’S TOP-GROSSING ACTOR

    SCARLETT JOHANSSON IS 2016’S TOP-GROSSING ACTOR

    Scarlett Johansson has been crowned 2016’s top grossing actor according to Forbes, with her films bringing in a total of US$1.2 billion (Rs 8000 crore) worldwide.

    The 32-year-old actor’ film credits this year included Sing, The Jungle Book, Hail, Caesar!, and Captain America: Civil War, but the latter — which grossed over $1.15 billion worldwide and became the top-grossing movie of the year — is what really boosted Johansson’s star power.

    Also part of the primary cast on Captain America: Civil War, were Chris Evans (who plays the titular character in Marvel’s Captain America series), and Robert Downey Jr. (otherwise known as Iron Man), who tied for second place with US$1.15 billion grossed worldwide. Rounding out the top five were two more actresses — Australian Margot Robbie, who starred as Harley Quinn in this year’s Suicide Squad film at US$1.1 billion, and Amy Adams, whose part in films such as Batman v Superman: Dawn, and the recently released alien drama Arrival gives her an (as yet incomplete) total of US$1.04 billion.

    Ben Affleck (US$1.02 billion), Henry Cavill (US$870 million), Ryan Reynolds (US$820 million), Felicity Jones (US$805 million), and Will Smith (US$775 million) rounded out the annual list of highest grossing actors, with each contender having starred in a DC comics-related film this year — other than Felicity Jones, who led the latest Star Wars saga instalment.

    Source: AFP

  • Overseas Indian sportsmen have done their homeland proud

    Overseas Indian sportsmen have done their homeland proud

    By Prabhjot Singh

    The year 1984 may have been a tumultuous year for the Punjabi community in general and Sikh community. It may not be easy for anyone to put behind the dastardly and tragic events that rocked not only Punjab but also the Punjabi community elsewhere. As the community was drowning in gloom, two overseas Punjabis  -Alexi Singh Grewal and Kulbir Singh Bhaura – provided the silver lining by telling the world how enterprising the community was. Not only they entered the history annals as first overseas Indians to win Olympic medals but they also set a new trend in motion that has been kept afloat by enterprising overseas Indian community ever since.

    At the overall overseas Indian community has done exceedingly well in the world of sports, including Olympic games, Commonwealth games and cricket.

    Their heroic deeds scripted a new chapter describing it as the launch of “Brand India”. Before 2016 ended, yet another overseas Indian – Rajeev Ram – kept the “Brand India” flame alive by winning an Olympic medal, a Silver in Rio Olympic games.

    Contribution by overseas Indian community cannot by undermined for it has won cockles of many a heart in the contemporary sports world. In December when a field hockey team from Canada went to play in the 2016 Junior World Cup Hockey Tournament in Lucknow, 11 of its 16 members were of Indian origin.

    Alexi Singh Grewal became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in cycling, at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Photo: Todd Buchanan
    Alexi Singh Grewal became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in cycling, at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Photo: Todd Buchanan

    These players -Brandon Pereira, Harbir Sidhu,Parmeet Gill, Rohan Chopra, Rajan Kahlon, Kabir Aujla, Balraj Panesar (captain), Ganga Singh, Gavin Bains, Arshjit Sidhu and Iqwwinder Gill – need to be complemented as they self-financed their participation in the prestigious Lucknow tournament.

    And the Australian team, too, had one player of Indian origin, Kiran Arunasalam. It is after a long time that any player of Indian origin is playing for Australia in hockey.

    At the overall overseas Indian community has done exceedingly well in the world of sports, including Olympic games, Commonwealth games and cricket.

    You name any sport in which the overseas Indian community has not won laurels for the countries of its present abode. Needless to say, that 17 countries, including Canada, the US, Australia, Malaysia, England, Kenya, Uganda and Hong Kong, have been represented by overseas Indians in Olympic games.

    Kulbir Bhaura, who represented Great Britain in field hockey, is the only overseas Indian to have two Olympic medals to his credit, a bronze in Los Angeles and a gold in Seoul.

    Then there is Shiv Jagday, a former Indian Universities colour holder; he had the distinction of working as National Coach of Field Hockey Canada. He also coached the US national team besides being on the panel of the select FIH coaches. His son Ronnie Jagday also played for Canada in Sydney Olympic games. One must not forget the contribution of Malkiat Singh Saund who was one of the best forwards of the 1972 Munich Olympic games. Malkiat represented Uganda. Now he is settled in England.

    Sutinder had the distinction of leading England in one match in the Mumbai World Cup Hockey Tournament in 1981-82. He played for England and Great Britain for a number of years.

    If Australia is a world power in field hockey, it is all because of efforts of Pearce brothers who immigrated to Australia from India and represented their new country of abode in Olympic games.

    Hardial Singh Kular, besides playing for Kenya, also rose to be the Vice-President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). He was one of many Indian expatriates who represented Kenya in 60s and 70s of the last centenary.

    He stands tall with Alexi Grewal, the first overseas Indian, to win an individual Olympic gold medal. In the 1984 Olympic games, he won the road race event in cycling in style. His father, a Sikh, had migrated to the US.

    Interestingly, Alexi Grewal’s individual gold, though for the US, came 24 years before Abhinav Bindra won the country’s first ever-individual gold medal in Olympic games.

    The latest from the overseas Indian community to get on to the Olympic medallist list is tennis player Rajeev Ram who won a silver medal in mixed doubles in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.

    While the overseas Indians have done the country and the overseas Indian community proud, the Indian government is yet to reciprocate. Though it started organizing #PravasiBharatiyaDivas (PBD) where outstanding members of the overseas Indian community are felicitated, sportsmen and women are yet to get their due.

    Besides Alexi Singh Grewal, Kulbir Singh Bhaura and Rajeev Ram, there are a large number of other sportsmen and women, who have done the overseas community and India proud.

    Rajeev Ram has to his credit a silver medal. In partnership with Venus Williams,

    Rajeev Ram, finished runners-up in mixed doubles event in Tennis. Thirty-two- year-old Rajeev is first generation American. His parents moved to States in 1981 and Rajeev was born in 1984.

    Rajeev won his first major Tennis title in Chennai in 2009. Rated as one of the top doubles players in tennis, silver in Olympics has been his highest achievement. In the semi-finals, Rajeev and Venus had defeated Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna.

    After Rajeev Ram, another athlete of Indian origin doing well for a country other than India is shutter Rajiv Ousef. Born in Indians dominated Hounslow area in England, Rajiv has already qualified for quarterfinals of men’s singles in Rio. On his way to last eight Rajiv have beaten Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, Sasaki Sho of Japan and Koukel Petr of Czech. At 30, this has been perhaps best ever performance by him in a major sporting event. He had won a silver medal in the 2010 Commonwealth games in New Delhi.

    Cricket is a game that every person of Indian origin follows. Monty Panesar scripted a new chapter when he became the first turban-wearing player to represent a country other than India in Test cricket. Monty played for England. Ravi Bopara followed him.

    Since I have been following the overseas community closely, I wrote the following piece in The Tribune in November 2010 talking about emerging  “Icons” of the Indian community. My piece was re-read by many as the President-elect, Donald Trump, named Nikki Haley, as the US Ambassador to the United Nations,

    My piece read:

    “What do Nikki Haley Randhawa, Bobby Jindal and Arjan Bhullar have in common?They all belong to the second-generation Punjabi Diaspora of North America.

    While Randhawa and Jindal share the rare distinction of being the first Indian Americans to be Governors in the US, Bhullar has become the first Indo-Canadian to win a gold medal for his adopted homeland in the just- concluded Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

    They all are now icons of successful second generation young overseas Punjabis — 20-40 age group– who have brought laurels to the motherland of their parents after scripting extraordinary success stories in their chosen fields.

    Interestingly, both Randhawa and Jindal are almost of the same age group — both succeeding in their race for gubernatorial posts even before they turned 40.

    Though Piyush Subhas Chandra Amrit Bobby Jindal created history in 2008 by getting elected as Governor of Louisiana at the age of 37, Nimrata Nikki Haley Randhawa, will be almost 39 when she assumes charge as Governor of Carolina in the New Year.

    Similarities are not only limited to the age group but also extend to other areas. Parents of both Jindal and Randhawa migrated to the US in the early 70s. And fathers of both Jindal and Randhawa were university teachers before they decided to leave India for good.

    While the Jindals belonged to the Malerkotla area in Punjab, Rancheria’s family moved from Amritsar to the United States.

    Mothers of both Jindal and Randhawa have the same first name — Raj. If similarities can be taken a step further, “A” is the initial of their fathers’ first name, Amar Jindal and Ajit Randhawa. Both belonged to the middle-class families before getting lured by the greener pastures of the US.

    Interestingly, Jindal married Supriya Jolly, also an Indian-American, Randhawa married an American, Michael Haley.

    Like their parents, both Bobby and Nikki charted out their own ways to success and glory with their sheer hard work, determination and commitment.

    Bhullar has been on a different turf. Born in a family of wrestlers — his father Avtar Singh Bhullar was a known wrestler of his times who contested against Asian games champion Kartar Singh – in Vancouver in British Columbia, Arjan had to choose between soccer and wrestling in his school days. Now while pursuing higher studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, he is focused on wrestling and wants to make it to the podium at the 2012 Olympic games in London.

    Never before any Indo-Canadian had won a gold medal for his or her adopted homeland in any international meet of the level of Commonwealth Games, Pan American games or the Olympic Games.”

    Now coming to many other sports personalities who also deserve appreciation and honour for flying the Indian flag flying overseas.

    Hockey Olympian Avtar Singh Sohal played for Kenya in 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics, captaining Kenya in the last three editions of the Olympic games. He went to 1984 Olympics as Chief Coach of Kenya Besides Avtar also played for Kenya in the inaugural 1971 World Cup as Captain. In the second World Cup (1973) in Amsterdam, he went as Assistant Coach. Avtar is also the FIH Coach and also a member of the FIH Development and Coaching Committee. No one in the history of Olympic hockey has captained a national team for three consecutive times. In India, Pargat Singh has the distinction of leading India in two Olympic games.

    Avtar Singh was in Rio Olympic games on his own to watch the hockey competition and other events.

    Naaz Shah belongs to select band of Indian women hockey players who played for India in the Olympic games. When India was represented in women’s hockey competition in the Moscow Olympics, she was a member of the team. She was also a member of the gold medal winning Indian team in the 1982 Asian Games. Now settled in Hamilton, NZ she continues to be passionate about hockey.

    Four of her trainees represented New Zealand in the New Delhi Junior World Cup Hockey Tournament. In the 2016 Junior World Cup Hockey Tournament in Lucknow, another batch of her trainees also represented New Zealand. Naaz also went to Rio as a Volunteer where she had the distinction of becoming flag-bearer of Indian hockey team in one of its pool matches. Now she has been a coaching youngster, both boys and girls in Hamilton where she works as a teacher. While she won laurels for India, her contribution to hockey and sports have remained unrecognised.

    Let us talk about the World’s richest league, NBA. It is in this league that members of the overseas Indian community have made dents.

    Gursimran “Sim” Bhullar, Canada born Punjabi boy, has the distinction of becoming the first ever player of Indian origin to play in NBA. Though Satnam Singh Bhamara and Palpreet Singh, both Punjab born basketball players have been subsequently drafted into NBA, they too have brought good name to Indian sports worldwide.

  • VOLUME 11 ISSUE 1 | #NYC | Jan 06

    VOLUME 11 ISSUE 1 | #NYC | Jan 06

    Print Edition ~ Digitally 

    Issue 1 ~ New York ~ Jan 06

  • New Bill on H-1B Visas Seeks to Crack Down on Abuse

    New Bill on H-1B Visas Seeks to Crack Down on Abuse

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A bill backing key changes in the H-1B visa program that allows skilled workers from countries like India to fill high-tech jobs in the U.S. has been re-introduced in Congress by two lawmakers who claim that it will help crack down on abuse of the work visa.

    The ‘Protect and Grow American Jobs Act,’ which makes important changes to the eligibility requirements for H-1B visa exemptions, was re-introduced Jan. 4 by Republican Darrell Issa and Scott Peters -both from California.

    The bill, among other things, increases the minimum salary of an H-1B visa holder to $100,000 per annum and eliminates the master’s degree exemption.

    The legislation, the lawmakers argued, will help crack down on abuse and ensure that these jobs remain available for the best and brightest talent from around the world.

    The bill comes after a number of companies – Disney, SoCal Edison and others – came under fire for abusing the H-1B visa program to replace American workers with foreign workers.

    “In order for America to lead again, we need to ensure we can retain the world’s best and brightest talent. At the same time, we also need to make sure programs are not abused to allow companies to outsource and hire cheap foreign labor from abroad to replace American workers,” Issa said.

    “The legislation we’re introducing today does both. It will ensure that our valuable high-skilled immigration spots are used by companies when the positions cannot be filled by the existing workforce,” Issa said.

    By raising the salary to a level more in-line with the average American salary for these positions, it would help cut down on abuse by removing the profit incentive and ensuring these positions remain available for companies who truly need them, a media release said.

    “Curbing abuse of the H-1B system will protect American jobs and help ensure that visas are available for innovators who need them to maintain a competitive workforce,” Peters said. By raising the salary to a level more in-line with the average American salary for these positions, it would help cut down on abuse by removing the profit incentive and ensuring these positions remain available for companies who truly need them, a media release said.

    “This bipartisan bill makes one of the much-needed updates to our high-skilled visa system to level the playing field and help prevent companies from taking advantage of the system to offshore jobs,” the congressman said.

    The two lawmakers claimed that the legislation would cut down on abuse by eliminating the master’s degree exemption, which has become abused as foreign workers seeking H-1B visas have increasingly sought and obtained low-quality certificates to meet the requirements for an exemption just to qualify for an H-1B, instead of keeping the positions open for truly high-skilled positions that companies cannot fill domestically.

    The bill had faced opposition last year in Congress.

    Reshaping immigration is a central tenet of President-elect Donald Trump’s push for companies to invest and hire more in the U.S.

    Trump has listed immigration reform among five executive actions he plans to take on his first day in office. They include asking the Department of Labor to investigate “all abuses of the visa programs that undercut the American worker.”

  • Poll schedule for 5 states announced, UP to vote in 7 phases; counting on March 11

    Poll schedule for 5 states announced, UP to vote in 7 phases; counting on March 11

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Election Commission on January 4 (Wednesday) announced the poll dates for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said that the state of Manipur will have a two-phase election and Uttar Pradesh will have a seven-phase election. Counting for all states will be held on 11 March.

    A total of 690 assembly constituencies will go to polls in these elections. Twenty three of these have been reserved from Scheduled Tribes candidates. Over 160 million voters – that’s the size of the electorate in these assembly elections. There will be 1,85,000 polling stations across five states.

    Seven-phase elections in Uttar Pradesh from February 11 to March 8; Punjab and Goa will vote on February 4 while Uttarakhand on Feb 15; results on March 11

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Assembly elections in UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur will be held between February 4 and March 8, the results of which — to be announced on March 11 — are likely to be seen as a referendum on the demonetisation move by PM Narendra Modi.

    The terms of the legislative assembly of Goa, Manipur and Punjab are due to expire on March 18 while that of Uttarakhand expires on March 26. The legislative term of Uttar Pradesh ends on May 27. Goa has 40 assembly seats, Manipur has 60, Punjab has 117, Uttarakhand has 70 while Uttar Pradesh has 403.

    Election Commission made the much-anticipated announcement of dates on January 4 (Wednesday), setting in motion a process that will impact Indian polity in the coming months. The UP polls are already being dubbed as a “semi-final” to the 2019 general elections. These polls are significant for BJP as a good electoral harvest will boost its strength in the Rajya Sabha in the near future. The outcome will also have a bearing on the Presidential elections later this year.

    UP will have a seven phase election, with polling on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, March 4 and 8.

    Manipur, which continues to be under a blockade and is facing law and order problems, will have a twophase election with polling on March 4 and 8.

    Seven-phase elections in Uttar Pradesh from February 11 to March 8; Punjab and Goa will vote on February 4 while Uttarakhand on Feb 15; results on March 11Punjab and Goa will vote on February 4 while Uttarakhand on Feb 15. While the Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement, the state-wise notification process will begin with Punjab and Goa on January 11.

    Demonetisation is likely to be a big issue in these elections, though the polling pattern will be guided by local factors, caste equations and identity politics. With the Centre propagating a less-cash economy, the extent to which money power is at play in these polls will be keenly watched. One of the new rules of these elections allows parties to use cash for campaign payments only up to Rs 20,000.

    Candidates will also have to take oath this time that they have no pending public utility bills. The SC order last week barring political parties and candidates from seeking votes in the name of religion or caste has also added to the worries of the contestants. While SP is seeking to retain power in UP and is facing a challenge from BJP and BSP, Congress is trying to beat anti-incumbency in Uttarakhand and Manipur. BJP is a part of the ruling coalition in Punjab and rules Goa. The caste-ridden politics of UP now has an added dimension with the feud in the first family of SP. CM Akhilesh Yadav is fighting over the symbol, bicycle, with his father and party patriarch Mulayam.

    SAD-BJP combine, which has ruled Punjab for two consecutive terms, has not lost hope, especially if AAP makes it a triangular contest at the expense of Congress. AAP is also making things difficult for BJP and Congress in Goa.

    BJP is still confident of retaining power. BJP is hopeful of defeating Congress in Uttarakhand while CM Harish Rawat is playing the victim card, citing the saffron party’s attempt to topple his government a few months ago. BJP is hopeful of defeating Congress in Manipur currently under Congress rule. Manipur has been facing an economic blockade on its two highways since November 1 over creation of seven new districts.

  • Welcome to Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017 at Bengaluru

    Welcome to Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017 at Bengaluru

    Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017 at BengaluruTHE CONVENTION WILL FOCUS ON DIASPORA ACHIEVEMENTS

     

    TIP Correspondent BENGALURU: The curtains are ready to be raised on the 14th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas being held at Bengaluru from January 7 to 9, 2017.

    President of India Pranab Mukherjee will present Pravasi Samman awards on January 9.
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the PBD 2017 on January 8.
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the PBD 2017 on January 8.

    The Mahakumbh of the NRIs, expected to be attended by over 3000 delegates from across the world, will be opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 8.

    President Pranab Mukherjee will present the awards on the last day, January 9, the day Mahatma Gandhi had returned from South Africa to India in 2015.

    Dr. António Costa, Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal will be the Chief Guest
    Dr. António Costa, Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal will be the Chief Guest

    Dr. António Costa, Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal will be the Chief Guest at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. He will participate in the inaugural session of the PBD Convention on 8 January and address the delegates.

    Mr. Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin, Vice President of the Republic of Suriname will be the Special Guest at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
    Mr. Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin, Vice President of the Republic of Suriname will be the Special Guest at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

    Mr. Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin, Vice President of the Republic of Suriname will be the Special Guest at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) to be held on 7 January. He will address the young overseas Indian delegates at the inaugural session of the Youth PBD, along with Minister of External Affairs Smt Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel.

    Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a platform to connect with the youth, the new generation of Pravasis growing up all over the world, confident, aspirational and transcending the old boundaries of caste and class. The government is keen to enable young Diaspora to know more about their roots and the place from where their fathers or forefathers originated. They can discover many features of India, its tradition, rich art and culture and many facets of contemporary India.

    The Government has put in place many schemes and programs to connect with the young Diaspora.

    The Bengaluru event will be the first full-fledged festival of diaspora Indians under a new format adopted by the government last year.The annual convention of Non Resident Indians will focus on what the Indian origin NRIs and PIOs achieved in the last few years, culminating with award of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman to distinguished NRI achievers.

    Dhyaneshwar Mulay, Secretary, Overseas Indian Affairs, said, “Highlight of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017 is social innovations by Indians, 20 social innovations will be highlighted and there will also be a contest of innovators and the winner will get an award of Rs.1 lakh.”

    Mr. Mulay said all sessions will be held in plenary format to allow more interaction with delegates from overseas to convey their suggestions to the government directly. “The sessions will focus on immigration and the role of diaspora organizations,” he said.

    The theme this year is ‘Redefining engagement with Indian diaspora’ and the event exhibition would showcase the achievements of the government in various sectors, and the delegates can also explore business opportunities in India and connect with government officials, business owners and entrepreneurs.

    The stated objectives of PBD 2017.

    • PBD 2017 will focus on the theme “Redefining the engagement with the Indian Diaspora”.
    • To strengthen Diaspora engagement and provide a platform for networking with the Diaspora.
    • To recognize the Diaspora’s contribution to India and know their expectations and concerns.
    • To deepen engagement with young Diasporas, to help them know more about their roots.

     

    For more information on PBD 2017, please visit www.pbdindia.gov.in

  • Federal bribery trial for Harendra Singh indefinitely delayed

    Federal bribery trial for Harendra Singh indefinitely delayed

    NEW YORK (TIP): The much anticipated federal trial of the once prominent Long Island restaurateur Harendra Singh, which was scheduled for jury selection Monday, January 2, has been delayed indefinitely, according to court records, the judge’s clerk, and sources.

    Singh has been negotiating a plea deal to be a key witness in Eastern District prosecutors’ corruption case on Long Island against Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, his wife Linda, and recently resigned Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, according to sources. In addition, Singh has been negotiating a similar deal with Southern District prosecutors in Manhattan probing the possible granting of favors by city officials to campaign fundraisers such as Singh.

    Singh has been charged with bribery, income-tax evasion and obstruction of justice. He has pleaded not guilty in the Eastern District and has not been charged with any crimes in the Southern District.

    The Manganos and Venditto also have pleaded not guilty.

    It would not be unusual for a key government witnesses charged in one case to have their own trial delayed until the completion of their testimony in another case. Such witnesses are often required to secretly plead guilty so that when they testify, jurors know they will be held accountable for their crime.

    The Singh trial date was set before the Manganos and Venditto were arrested in October on charges of receiving “bribes and kickbacks” from a person identified only as a co-conspirator, but whom sources identified as Singh.

    Singh’s attorney Anthony La Pinta, of Hauppauge, declined to comment on the reason for the delay in the case.

    Attorneys for the Manganos, and Venditto’s attorney, also declined to comment, as did spokespersons for prosecutors in the Eastern and Southern Districts.

    Singh was arrested in September 2015 on charges of bribing a former deputy Oyster Bay town attorney with $50,000 in order to help him get an ‘indirect” guarantee from the town on $32 million in loans. He was also charged with defrauding the Internal Revenue Service by failing to report millions of dollars in wages paid off-the-book, as well as cash paid by his restaurants’ customers.

    In addition, Singh was charged with obstruction of justice for lying to FBI agents, and also illegally collecting $950,000 from FEMA for falsely reporting damage by superstorm Sandy to his Water’s Edge restaurant in Long Island City.

    In June, U.S. District Judge Sandra Feuerstein in Central Islip set jury selection for Singh’s case to begin Monday with the trial to start immediately afterward. Feuerstein’s deputy confirmed Wednesday that the Singh case was no longer on her court calendar for that date and no future dates had been scheduled.

    Federal prosecutors claimed that Linda Mangano received more than $450,000 for no-show jobs including that of a “food taster.” And Eastern District U.S. Attorney Rob Capers said that Mangano was charged with extortion for pressuring the co-conspirator to award the no-show job to his wife.

    In return, the co-conspirator got hundreds of thousands of dollars in county contracts to provide food services and received multimillion dollar loan guarantees, prosecutors charged.

    In the Southern District case, prosecutors are investigating whether businessmen such as Singh, who gave tens of thousands of dollars to political campaigns, received favorable treatment in dealings with the city, according to sources. The focus of Singh’s role has been whether he received favorable treatment in the handling of the city lease on his now shut Water’s Edge restaurant in Long Island City. DeBlasio administration officials have denied that they had engaged in any such pay-to-play scheme.

    (Source: Newsday)

    Meanwhile, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos who is keen to be the next Executive of Nassau County said in a statement, January 4: “The indictment and resignation of John Venditto as Oyster Bay Town Supervisor is another blow to public trust in government. It is imperative that steps be taken immediately to start the process of restoring the public trust. In this vein, I call on the entire Oyster Bay Town Board, who appears to have condoned the corruption, to resign, and all Long Island elected officials who have been indicted to step aside”.

  • Predictions For The Month Of January 2017 – Horoscope & Astrology By Bejan Daruwala

    Predictions For The Month Of January 2017 – Horoscope & Astrology By Bejan Daruwala

    Aries: March 21 - April 19Aries: March 21 – April 19 | Ganesha says you will put your house in order, truly speaking now. First, you overhaul and revamp your finances to make provision for future security and immediate income. Next, you get all the gadgets, furnishings, gizmos that will make your home a haven of comfort. Even of luxury – you love beautiful things and spend willingly and wisely on them. You will enjoy yourself hugely in the bargain.

    Taurus: April 21 - May 21Taurus: April 21 – May 21 | You see your wishes coming true, your popularity raising and yet rock – steady, ties of family likewise. You are close, intensely so, with your special love / mate / spouse that makes you feel so wonderful. You can deal with anything at all – any minor conflicts arising now will not even make a dent in your overall feeling of happiness, joy, laughter. There is a total absence of bitterness. You are in one of the rare sweet phases that Ganesha blesses us with!

    Gemini: May 22 - June 21Gemini: May 22 – June 21 | You are self – confident, very, very focused and in full control. What’s more, you have the energy, power, insight to sustain this. Both work and pleasure are handled with this mindset, not to forget love! You will get praise, approval, recognition from those around you as you sail past deadlines, targets, goals. Also you’re feeling great and so do others, when they deal with you. You’re really having a dream run!

    Cancer: June 22 - July 22 Cancer: June 22 – July 22 | Your optimism, enthusiasm, sheer driving energy known so bounds, and you are now looking firmly and confidently ahead at future plans, values, the way you want your life to go. It is a time when you are going to re-think about your priorities as well as your goals in life. These must be made to confirm to your new outlook, philosophy and self – perception. The beauty of it all is that you are thankful and grateful, modest and gracious.

    Leo: July 23 -August 21Leo: July 23 -August 21 | Leisure activities, sports, holidays, fun, merry-making, especially in the company of young people, or your own children – if the cap fits. In short, all your relationships will be infused with a special closeness and warmth, making you feel pretty good about it all! There could be a special relationship growing, too; it might lead to a wedding. This could be your own or that of someone very dear.

    Virgo: August 22 - September 23Virgo: August 22 – September 23 | In this mood of joy and gratitude for being so greatly blessed, you are so deeply and sincerely spiritual that it is an expensive in itself! It is almost transcendental! At the same time, there will be successful and efficient handling of capital, funds, trade and export spinoffs, investments for the future. In fact you’re creating investments in this world and reaping heavenly rewards, too, courtesy Ganesha.

    Libra: September 24 - October 23Libra: September 24 – October 23 | You know that even dream runs come to an end. Any rational, thinking person knows that – and you’re prepared for it – but in a unique way. You’re only grateful it’s happening, and won’t let it get you down when it stops. The joys of special love, of family togetherness, of ties of both kinship and friendship are still of yours, and you revel in them! Funds and finances, domestic issues will all be handled with style, finesse, daring.

    Scorpio: October 24 - November 22Scorpio: October 24 – November 22 | Finances have steadily been improving over the last period and will continue to do so now, too. Future benefits will be your main concern, and in this you’re not alone. Your family are strongly with you – in every other way, too. That is how true progress happens – with shared vision, hopes and wishes. Funds, extra earnings, taxes, rentals spin-offs, joint investments will all be handled well and wisely.

    Sagittarius: November 23 - December 22Sagittarius: November 23 – December 22 | Another of my pet phrases – hard work and matching rewards – could sum up the entire forecast. I must, however, fill in some of the important details. I have to give you your money’s worth, after all, and pay my dues to Ganesha, who inspires the whole exercise! You have the confidence and the energy, the vigor to think of fresh ideas and innovations and implement them, too.

    Capricorn: December 23 - January 20 Capricorn: December 23 – January 20 | What is your major gain now is the greater clarity of focus and sense of direction that you have. It has been growing and developing over the last period and is clearly apparent now! You are, in fact, quite happy and contented with your achievements at work, in family life, in love and marriage. However, you realize that you have to work constantly to maintain even the status quo, leave aside the hopes you have for even better things in the future.

    Aquarius: January 21 - February 19Aquarius: January 21 – February 19 | You have gained much in terms of prestige, achievements and status in the last period. It does not engender any sense of complacency in you, though. On the contrary, you fall prey to a kind of restlessness rather than discontent per se. You are fascinated and attracted by the occult, the esoteric, the world of tantra, mantra and spirituality. There could be a danger lurking there of deviating from the proper path to salvation.

    Pisces: February 20- March 20Pisces: February 20- March 20 | You are very good with people. They are charming and gregarious, genuinely caring and yet sophisticated. You can enjoy being alone, but you need to fill your time with creativity and beauty, with enjoyment of fine things, of art, of music, of craft and creative pursuits. You will find this a really good phase for all of these, and for your genuine enjoyment and appreciation of them. You realize how much people matter to you, and strive to keep your relationships sweet and your interactions meaningful.

    bejanBejan Daruwalla is world’s most famous astrologer today. He appears regularly on world wide TV shows. Bejan who has been a professor in English, has authored a number of books on astrology. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi , on March 29, 2012, lunched one of Bejan’s books, ‘2012- End of the World? Bejan contributes to a number of journals and newspapers in many parts of the world which include Berkley Communications (London) Times of India (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) and The Indian Panorama ( New York and Texas). Bejan’s predictions have mostly been correct and people the world over rely on his predictions.

    As early as 1998 the publishers of the book, had said in the introduction of Bejan Daruwalla “Ganesha devotee, Bejan Daruwalla and Pete Sampras, the tennis champ, can now only compete against themselves. Today the whole world knows that Pete Sampras has created a history in the Wimbledon by winning the title for the 7th time and claiming a record breaking 13th grand slam title. Ganesha Bejan Daruwalla can never be wrong! Here’s what he had to say about Amitabh as early as November 15, 1999 in the outlook magazine. Good news for suave Amitabh……. From June 2000, his period of joy starts and 2001, itself is going to be proverbial cornucopia of plenty. In family drama he will make his mark, steal the thunder and slice his critics into silence! That’s for sure! I see the red carpet again for him. Ganesha nods in agreement.

    BEJAN DARUWALLA CAN BE REACHED AT  +919825470377 BETWEEN 2 & 5 P.M. AND 9 &11 P.M. (INDIA TIME)

    E-MAIL: INFO@BEJANDARUWALLA.COM