WASHINGTON DC (TIP) : Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Grace Meng, Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra, and DACA recipient Parthiv Patel held a press call to discuss President Trump’s immigration policies and the destructive effects they have on Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.
“I’m the daughter of immigrants. The first one in my family to come to the US was my grandmother,” said Meng. “ She worked for years as a nanny and was eventually able to sponsor my mom.”
She said that without family-sponsored immigration, she would not have been able to be here today representing communities and the country in Congress.
“Contrary to what this administration says, (Dreamers are) the hardest working Americans that you will see,” she said.
Washington State Senator Dhingra said that she has been involved in addressing hate crimes in King County since after 9/11.
“The area that I represent—45th LD is home to many tech employees—some of whom are here on a H1B visa—it is taking them decades to convert that visa into a green card. Decades,” said Dhingra. “The question that people forget to ask, is what happens to their children when they turn 18. These kids come here at a young age with their parents, but when they become adults, they suddenly have no legal status. We are a country of immigrants. Immigrants enrich and contribute to the success of America every single day.”
DACA recipient Patel, the first DREAMER admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey State bars, said he did not what to do.
“All I thought was – was all of my hard work for nothing? Was I ever going to be admitted to the bar? Was I ever going to be able to fulfill my dreams of becoming an attorney? But I decided to do what Dreamers do best; I decided to preserve,” Patel said. “I was never really big about speaking out and showcasing my status. But that kind of changed for me over the course of the last six months. Realizing that Dreamers have a lot on the line. There are nights where Dreamers toss and turn in bed not knowing what’s going to happen.”
Patel said that he felt like this was a time where Dreamers who can lend their voice, and speak out.
“That’s why I began to speak out. Also, another reason that I began to speak out was because I realized that especially in the Asian community, there is this notion that nobody speaks about their status,” Patel said. “I think it’s important that we begin to speak out, because this is not just a Latino issue… this is a global issue.”
WASHINGTON DC (TIP): Indian American, Raj Shah, 32, began his temporary stint at the press briefing Feb. 8, to fill the shoes of Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders who is away on a well-earned vacation. He was bombarded by questions on a senior White House advisor’s sudden exit. Shah faced the press in what is considered a grueling position, in the midst of a tumultuous few days at the White House when President Trump’s staff secretary, Rob Porter, resigned Feb. 7, after spousal abuse allegations surfaced.
But Shah was thrown a question by an Indian journalist, about the president’s thoughts concerning legal immigration as it affects Indian immigrants, and those applying for Green Cards through the normal route, and on lifting the country quotas for legal immigration
“The President wants to see legal immigration reforms. He wants to see us move from a process currently existing in law, of extended family chain migration toward merit-based legal immigration reform,” Shah said.” We want to ensure that people coming in the country are the best and the brightest regardless of nationality, creed, religion or anything else in-between,” Shah added.
“We want to look at educational backgrounds, ability to contribute to the workforce in a way that helps American workers,” Shah said, adding, “The President wants reforms that improve America’s economy.”
The administration has consistently referred to family-reunification provisions in the U.S. Immigration Act, as “chain migration,” a term that some have said, gives a derogatory connotation to a clause that is held in high regard by Indian-Americans who have fought over decades to protect the right to bring in their immediate family members to this country.
The press briefing came on the heels of stories revealing Shah’s own scathing remarks about President Trump’s candidacy in 2016 emails with colleagues. However, reporters preferred focusing on the latest scandal to hit the White House.
The New Yorker magazine in an article earlier this week, unearthed emails Shah sent while at the Republican National Committee, where he is known to have crafted the White Paper on how to defeat Hillary Clinton.
When President Trump’s “Access Hollywood” tape surfaced where he talked about being able to grope women because of his celebrity status, Shah, sent the following email to a colleague, as reported by New Yorker – “U wanna hear something a little f–ked up?” adding, “I’m kinda enjoying this, some justice. I honestly don’t think it’s the worst thing he’s done but he somehow got passes for the other acts.”
But Shah is not the first nor only staffer, neither is he the first Indian American in the Trump administration, to have made negative comments about Trump during the Republican presidential primaries. These appear not to have influenced the president’s choice about hiring them.
The prime example is former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is now the only Indian-American to hold a cabinet-level position in the Trump administration as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, opposed Trump strongly during the campaign.
Haley openly backed Florida Senator Marco Rubio and then Texas Senator Ted Cruz, before finally endorsing Trump as the presidential candidate. She also demanded Trump release his tax returns, castigating him for using strong divisive rhetoric, and also opposing his singling out of Muslims for an immigration ban.
In response Trump described her as “very weak” on immigration, and tweeted, “The people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley!” on March 1, 2016.
BOSTON (TIP): NBC Boston anchor Natasha Verma felt a lump on her neck last year, and soon she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The 23-year-old Indian American lost all her hair from chemotherapy and found it even difficult to manage the wig she got.
Now having successfully battled cancer, Verma has launched a “Cap Wig” fundraiser, as a part of her “Put a Cap on Cancer” project, to help female and children battling cancer by providing quality “cap wigs.”
“Losing my hair was the hardest part of chemotherapy,” she writes on the official website of her Verma Foundation. “When doctors told me, I’d lose my hair to treatment. I felt panicked. It sounds so trivial, but that’s my identity and that’s how I express myself. It was a really big punch after already hearing you have cancer.”
“Dealing with ill-fitting, itchy, and expensive wigs on top of all only made it worse,” she adds. “I would throw a baseball cap on top of my wig to avoid the problems, and that’s when the light bulb went off.
On January 3, 2018, I launched a ‘Cap Wig’ fundraiser to raise enough money to produce free hats with hair for female and children cancer patients who want to have a wig look, without the hassle of cost or style. Many women, especially those struggling to cover health care bills, cannot afford the cost of a quality wig.”
Verma was the youngest-ever graduate from the University of Texas, when she earned broadcast journalism and biology/pre-med UG degrees at 17. She joined NBC in 2016 after completing a master’s in journalism from Columbia University.
Verma says she is in remission and distributes wigs free of cost.
The wigs are made from 100 percent human hair, customizable, and completely free for cancer patients. Each patient is entitled to a cap and can choose the color of both cap and hair, each cost around $150 to $200.
All donations will go toward the Leukemia and Lymphoma Research Fund at Bet Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where she was treated.
NEW YORK (TIP): Two Indian Americans, Parmjit Singh, 44, and Parthey Patel, 30, were the victims of a shooting that happened at two different gas stations and convenience stores in Rome, Georgia, according to a myajc.com report.
Singh was pronounced dead at the scene while Patel is still in critical condition, according to myajc.com.
Police say that Lamar Rashad Nicholson, 28, walked into the Hi-Tech Quick Stop on Burnett Ferry Road on the night of Feb. 6 a little before 9 p.m. and walked “right up to the counter pulls a gun out of his right pocket, fires 3 rounds, and runs out, he’s in and out in under 12 seconds,” Floyd County Police Sgt. William Wacker told Fox News.
Police added that there was no robbery or altercation.
Ten minutes later, Nicholson got into his car, drove a mile and a half down the road and entered Elm Street Food and Beverage, another convenience store, stealing some money before shooting Patel, according to myajc.com.
“For whatever reason after he stuffed his pockets full of money he shot the clerk anyway,” Rome Police Lt. John Walters told Fox News.
According to Fox News, while Patel was being rushed to the hospital, police spotted Nicholson in his car less than two miles away, along with a pistol and some money on the seat.
According to myajc.com, Nicholson was arrested on multiple charges including murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm while committing a crime and use of a firearm by a convicted felon though he was not charged with robbery in Singh’s shooting; he is being held without bond in the Floyd County jail.
Nicholson, a convicted felon, was arrested just a few weeks ago for violently snatching up his 3-year-old daughter by the arm, according to a report from the Floyd County sheriff’s office. He faced charges of child cruelty, disorderly conduct and simple battery in connection with that incident.
Friends of Singh, who was also known as “Remi,” dropped off balloons and flowers in front of his store and prayed for his two children who are in high school.
“That’s the sad part, they’ve got to grow up the rest of their lives without a dad because someone wanted to take their anger out on him,” Michael Dykes, a friend, told Fox News.
Singh’s brother-in-law, Harry Singh, remembered him as a “personable man who was friendly with everyone he met.”
“Whenever we all sit down and have a family get-together, he’s always the center of attention. He’s the one who tells us stories and jokes,” Harry Singh told myajc.com.
Harry told myajc.com that his brother-in-law started out driving limousines in New York before moving to Michigan to get into the convenience store business.
“He moved to Georgia about five years ago to be closer to family and ended up owning two stores in Rome, one on Martha Berry Boulevard and another on Burnett Ferry Road, where he died. He and his wife of 20 years had just bought a house, one of his lifetime goals. He was a very hardworking man and worked 14 hours a day,” Harry told myajc.com.
Singh’s customers paid a tribute to him on Facebook, remembering his as “a kind and polite man who enjoyed joking with his customers.”
Florence McCain, one of Singh’s customers, told myajc.com that his family had just bought and renovated the Burnett Ferry store in September.
“They were just so nice, the whole family. I was kidding with him just a couple of weeks ago,” McCain said.
Daniela Comacho told myajc.com that she shopped at the Hi Tech Quick Stop specifically because of Singh’s kindness.
“I liked to go, not because it was close by but because of how nice of a person he was. He was always interested in knowing that everyone was having a good day,” Comacho said.
NEW DELHI (TIP): Amid claims and counter-claims by various Hindu and Muslim leaders over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court on Feb 8 refused to be drawn into religious arguments, saying it was only a property dispute.
“We are treating it only as a land dispute. There are appeals and crossappeals,” a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said after an advocate, who wanted to intervene in the matter, said it involved sentiments of 100 crore Hindus.
The Bench chose to keep pending all intervention applications filed by those who were not parties to the dispute before the Allahabad High Court. “We are not allowing the intervention application… We are not dismissing them… The applications for impleadment and intervention shall be considered at the appropriate time,” said the Bench, which also included Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer.
One such intervention application pending before the Bench is from BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
The top court asked all parties to file English translation of documents relied upon in two weeks and posted the matter for March 14. It did not commit to a “dayto- day” hearing of the case.
The top court is seized of crossappeals challenging the Allahabad High Court’s September 30, 2010, verdict dividing the 2.7-acre disputed land at the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site equally between Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Wakf Board. All three chose to challenge the order before the top court. Besides, there are more than 10 other appeals as well.
Thursday’s hearing was in sharp contrast to the one held on December 5, which was marred by a heated exchange after senior counsel Kapil Sibal, Rajiv Dhawan and Dushyant Dave — representing Muslim appellants — insisted that the case should be heard only after the 2019 Lok Sabha poll as it might impact the electoral outcome.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh Government, told the Bench that 504 exhibits, including scriptures such as the Ram Charit Manas and the Bhagavad Gita, their excerpts and 87 depositions along with the translations had been filed.
Advocate Ejaz Maqbool, appearing for one of the appellants, gave an overview of the documents already filed and those required to be filed. The Bench directed the Registry to make available copies of two video cassettes to advocates for various parties on payment of actual cost.
The otherwise peaceful proceedings witnessed some banter after senior counsel representing Ram Lalla, CS Vaidyanathan, said the other side should submit a synopsis of their legal propositions to make it easy for all concerned to assist the court.
“The High Court’s verdict is an insult to justice,” Dhawan said. He requested day-to-day hearing, but the Bench didn’t appear inclined. “There are 700 cases pending where citizens are crying for justice,” said CJI Misra, clarifying he was not commenting on the importance of the Ayodhya case.
Is a new liberalism, shaped profoundly by Indian cultural conditions, just round the corner?
Liberalism is probably more challenged in India today than in any other democracy in the world. Why? First, conservative communities appear to have gained untrammeled power in recent times. Self-proclaimed custodians of caste and religion are perpetually breathing down the necks of young men and women, dictating who they must meet, converse with, befriend and marry, what they should eat, wear, watch or read, whether they can use mobile phones, and even where they can go and when. By encroaching on the most intimate relationships of love and friendship, interfering in matters of pleasure or habit, they suffocate personal freedoms and violate the very basic norms of individual choice.
Second, people find it increasingly difficult to express themselves freely. A public culture of hurt sentiment, violated collective honor, offence and alleged humiliation and the social and political license to react to it in whatever brutal manner possible have created such a climate of fear that creative artists, intellectuals and even ordinary persons in public conversations hesitate to say what comes to their mind and look over their shoulder to see if big daddy is watching. The threat of social intimidation and legal harassment makes public expression so expensive that people would rather stay silent or remain aloof from public life.
Third, large corporations and the government have access to virtually every detail about us, making us vulnerable and insecure. Methods of surveillance become more opaque, even as they attempt to make us transparent against our will. The minutest details of one’s private and intimate life are available today to large, powerful organizations at the press of a button. Is it not frightening that to call or visit friends and family, we must undergo CCTV cameras, finger printing and face recognition?
Fourth, confidence in the rule of law is badly shaken. Is there any assurance that law will be enforced evenhandedly, indeed, that it will be enforced at all? On the contrary, we often fear excesses by official agents at every level of government, worry that power will be abused, that some person in charge of law and order will behave lawlessly, even brutally.
Freedom to say ‘no’
What do the power of the state, the community, individual choice and expression have to do with liberalism? Everything. The term ‘liberalism’ has come to mean different things to different people and is associated with: (a) demands for greater overall equality, (b) defense of individual reason and autonomy, (c) a tool against moral conservatism, (d) cosmopolitanism and humanism, and (e) free markets. Overused, it suffers from what happens routinely to words with wide currency: it generates less light, more heat, and even greater cacophony. Yet, a moment’s reflection shows that one value has always lain at its heart: the freedom of an individual to say no; to say that enough is enough and that something ominously coming towards me up close, stalking me, is no longer bearable and must be stopped; that there is a little world of my own, my private universe, that no one may enter if I do not give permission, and a place exists in public for me too that must not be impeded as long as others are not harmed. In my largely private but also partly public world, I must live without fear or favor.
One such bulwark against habitual and pervasive acts of cruel interference is the dismantling of private armies commanded by powerful custodians of communities and the creation instead of an impartial public power (the state) governed minimally by the rule of law — a law that protects my mini-kingdom, where I am sovereign — and that liberates me from fear itself. But then the same rule of law must also shield me from arbitrary, unexpected and unnecessary acts of state coercion. Whatever else liberalism might come to have mean, it stands for personal freedoms in the face of intrusion by every form of organized power. Indeed, classical liberalism in western societies emerged precisely in response to persistent attempts to throttle the then bourgeoning assertions of individual freedom by oppressive communities, a meddlesome church, and abusive state power.
In this minimal sense, the term ‘liberal’ no longer has a restricted spatial or temporal application. It has a much wider usage and has resonated in India with acts of renunciatory Brahmins, with movements led by the Buddha and Mahavira, by the early Lingayats, by those inspired by Nanak, Kabir, Akka Mahadevi and Mira as well as Phule and Ambedkar. This ‘thin’ liberalism has nothing uniquely western about it. Indeed, there are modern liberalisms and ancient ones, and just as there have been liberalisms in the past, there will be liberalisms in future. The message in all these is common, clear and simple: don’t force anything down anyone’s throat, stop the deliberate infliction of physical or emotional pain on individuals, especially upon a weaker person, no matter how valuable you believe your cause to be.
An inevitable revolt
If the current climate of oppression or violent threats continues, a revolt against the current set-up will invariably arise. Young, self-reflective men and especially women facing continual restrictions, Dalits, lower Other Backward Classes, poor Muslims, people from smaller towns and rural areas will seize the moment, demanding greater opportunity to exercise individual choice and freedom of expression. Is a new liberalism, different from the one articulated by traditional, metropolitan English-speaking elites, shaped profoundly by Indian cultural conditions, just round the corner?
India and Pakistan must restore calm along the LoC and International Boundary
The 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan is now alive only in the breach, with violations intensifying in number and much damage to life and livelihood along the border. The drift can only be arrested through high-level political intervention to save this very significant bilateral agreement between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. In the latest incident, four Indian soldiers, including an Army Captain, were killed in the Bhimber Gali sector in cross-border firing that went on through most of Sunday. These casualties are a natural extension of what has been unfolding along the International Boundary as well as the Line of Control for the past several months. As a result, 2017 has turned out to be the worst year since the agreement brought calm to the border 15 years ago. The ceasefire agreement had resulted in a dramatic drop in military casualties, and thousands of border residents had been able to return home from temporary shelters on both sides. It is important to see the 2003 agreement in the immediate context of the time. It came just four years after the Kargil war, and soon after India and Pakistan almost went to war following the December 13, 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament. The agreement was historic, and a triumph of diplomacy — Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali announced a unilateral ceasefire on the Line of Control on Id; India suggested including the Siachen heights, and the ceasefire was eventually extended to the International Boundary. It was the high point of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s premiership, and his successor, Manmohan Singh, heeded the legacy.
Now, as the two countries are caught in a spiral of almost daily exchanges of fire along the border, there is a danger of political rhetoric acquiring its own momentum. Already, 2017 has been the worst year along the border since the ceasefire came into force, with at least 860 incidents of ceasefire violations recorded on the LoC alone. By way of comparison, in 2015 there had been 152 incidents, and in 2016 there were 228. January 2018 recorded the highest number of ceasefire violations in a month since 2003, according to estimates. According to data mentioned in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, between January 18 and 22, 14 people including seven civilians were killed and over 70 were injured in firing from the Pakistan side along the International Boundary in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts as well as along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts. Thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their border homes. Peace on the border is difficult to achieve at the tactical level by military leaders. Restoring the ceasefire requires real statesmanship, not brinkmanship.
NEW YORK (TIP): Yoga has emerged among the top 10 fitness trends worldwide for 2018, according to “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2018” by American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
“The sustained popularity of yoga seems to be that it reinvents and refreshes itself every year making it an attractive form of exercise”, Survey points out. “Based on ancient tradition, yoga utilizes a series of specific bodily postures practiced for health and relaxation. This includes Power Yoga, Yogalates, Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kripalu, Anurara, Kundalini, Sivananda and others”, ACSM release adds.
It reportedly surveyed over 4,000 fitness professionals from Mexico, Chile, Columbia, Venezuela, Portugal, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Serbia, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Taiwan, Switzerland, Jamaica, South Africa, Bermuda, Greece, Ireland, Finland, Kenya, New Zealand, China, Barbados, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. Now in its twelfth year, this Survey provides 40 potential trends to choose from and claims to help the health and fitness industry make critical programming and business decisions.
Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement said that Hindus were highly pleased with the fast and tremendous growth of yoga worldwide.
Yoga, referred as “a living fossil”, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.
Rajan Zed further said that yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.
According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to a “2016 Yoga in America Study”, about 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga; and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self-image. Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed added.
Besides ACSM, other participating organizations included American Council on Exercise, National Council on Strength and Fitness and The Cooper Institute. Dr. Walter R. Thompson, associate dean at Georgia State University, is the President of ACSM, which is headquartered in Indianapolis and claims to be “world’s largest sports medicine and exercise science organization”.
Government of India keeps its promise to honor “Unsung heroes”.
NEW YORK (TIP): Sixteen persons under the category of foreigners, NRI, PIO and OCI were among 85 individuals announced the winners of the Padma awards.
Prominent among them were Alexander Mikhailovich Kadakin, former Russian ambassador to India, Sanduk Ruit, an eye surgeon from Nepal, and Nguyen Tien Thien, a badminton player from Vietnam. Kadakin, who was the Russian Ambassador to India from 2009 until his death in 2017, was given Padma Bhushan. Ved Prakash Nanda OCI (overseas citizenship of India), US, has also been awarded the Padma Bhushan. The Padma Shri recipients include Jose Ma Joey, the Philippines, Ramli Bin Ibrahim, Malaysia, Bounlap Keokangna, Laos, Tommy Koh, Singapore, Hun Many Cambodia, Nouf Marwaai, Saudi Arabia.
Keeping its promise of honoring “unsung heroes”, the government of India announced Padma Shri awards for personalities who served the poor, set up free schools and popularised tribal arts globally.
Lakshmikutty, a tribal woman from Kerala, who prepares 500 herbal medicines from memory and help thousands of people especially in snake and insect bite cases, is among the awardees.
Arvind Gupta, an IIT Kanpur alumnus who inspired generations of students to learn science from thrash, has also been honoured. He has made 6,200 short films on toy-making in 18 languages and also hosted popular TV show Tarang in 1980s.
Gond artist Bhajju Shyam has also been awarded the Padma Shri. Shyam is famous for depicting Europe through Gond paintings, a tribal style of painting of Madhya Pradesh. His ‘The London Jungle Book’ sold 30,000 copies and it was published in five foreign languages.
West Bengal’s Sudhanshu Biswas, a freedom fighter who serves poor, runs school and orphanages and set up free school for poor, is also among the winners. Kerala’s medical messiah to terminally ill, MR Rajagopal, has also been honoured with Padma Shri. Rajagopal has specialized in pain relief care for neo natal cases. Maharashtra’s Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympics gold medalist who lost his arm in 1965 Indo-Pak war, is another winner of Padma Shri.
Subhasini Mistry, from rural West Bengal who toiled 20 years as housemaid and daily labourer to build a hospital for poor, is another awardee. Nonagenarian farm labourer Sulagatti Narasamma, who provides midwifery services in the backward region of Karnataka, too was awarded Padma Shri. Another awardee is Yeshi Dhoden, monk physician of Tibetan herbal medicine working in remote areas of Himachal.
Winner of President of India’s award for the best score of music in Indian film industry for film “Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai” in the year 1969, music director S. Mohinder (92) is a close friend of mine. He lives in Northern Virginia in suburban Washington D.C. While on a visit to New York – New Jersey area, he stopped over for lunch at my house in New Jersey. He narrated to me an interesting story about his tryst with destiny in 1947.
He was a radio singer at All India Radio Lahore and was living in Lyallpur in 1947. On a hot and humid August morning, he boarded a train heading to Lahore to sing a few songs at the only radio station in the province of Punjab. After finishing his singing assignment, he was paid rupees twenty, the rupee was worth a lot during those days. Coming out of the radio station, as usual he saw a number of tongas parked outside in a corner. He paid two annas to the Tonga (horse driven carriage) driver to drop him off at the railway station. He could not, for a minute, visualize that this was possibly his last experience with his favorite city of Lahore.
He purchased a ticket for less than rupees two for Lyallpur and started walking towards the likely platform. Suddenly he heard some tense sounding voices. One person was saying that serious violence has erupted in the Hindu and Sikh dominated areas of Lahore, some incidents of arson, stabbing and gun fire had occurred in parts of the city. He further exclaimed that reports of violence against the Hindus and Sikhs at other places have also been reported.
One neat and clean train with markings of Bombay was about to steam off at platform one. Without caring for his destination, he hurriedly entered the over-crowded train. No seat was empty in a train packed with humans like sardines. Standing up space could be managed with difficulty. The train stopped briefly at Amritsar Junction, where more than half of the passengers disembarked, and a few got in too. More passengers got off a Jullundur, Ludhiana and Ambala. At Delhi, for a change, more passengers got in than those getting out.
After a one and a half day’s journey, the train reached the magnificent Victoria Terminus railway station. The building was awe inspiring. Surprisingly throughout the journey no one asked him to show the ticket. A neatly dressed ticket collector was on duty at the platform. S. Mohinder reluctantly handed over the ticket. The ticket collector smiled and told him that the ticket was for a shorter distance and not for Bombay. S. Mohinder explained the entire story to the officer. After looking at S. Mohinder’s tired face and ruffled up clothes, the officer believed his story and let him go without charging a paisa.
On reaching Bombay, S. Mohinder found out that life was very tough in India’s second largest metropolis. The distances were long, the food and shelter were expensive, but there was no communal tension in the city. He was made to go to other places also, but after a long struggle he did become a music director in what is now called Mumbai.
Aries: Ganesha says the overlying theme of this period is finance and you will be busy with loans, funds, buying and selling of personal assets, even trying your luck in the stock market. It is a time for new beginnings and you are keen to make your work more profitable. You can definitely do it if you put in focused efforts. You attract money this period and will possibly see an increase in your personal income through loans, fixed deposits, dividends.
Taurus: You will be daring and enterprising and even a pioneer of sorts. Money trends are positive as you ponder your goals and aims for the current period. Settings goals, making plans and implementing them will occupy you and keep your energy levels high. Take care of your health, as you could overextend yourself in pursuit of material gains. You push ahead with all guns blazing and see most of your plans being released.
Gemini: Your creative streak reveals itself and you find ingenious solutions to your money and relationship problems. But, despite it, you are plagued by a sense of insecurity deep down. It is possible that you feel restless and dissatisfied with your life and this could spill over into your intimate relationships. Children and pets could be a source of worry. Travel for work / pleasure will be beneficial and you attend meetings, seminars and conventions and win applause for your prowess in work.
Cancer: You have worked hard to consolidate your position and now feel confident that your finances are stable. You have taken a lot of risks earlier which could have led to some degree of loss at work. You are now cautious and read the fine print carefully. There is better rapport too between you and your co-workers and boss. You could be involved in developing new contacts or more business for your company and will be travelling on work.
Leo: This is a time to slow down but it won’t be easy as your sights are firmly fixed on making more money. Children / siblings / extended family will crave and need your attention and your time. Health may need attention too and alternative therapies will prove effective. Visits to places of worship will calm your agitated mind. You look for truth and the meaning of life and may seek out a guru for guidance. Your life is fairly well balanced but there could be stagnation in relationships.
Virgo: Your interest in money matters continues and you think of ways and means to increase your assets. You love making money and spending it too. You can also be flamboyant and make it a point to display your material worth. Meetings with financial planners, and dealing with loans, funds, assets will keep you occupied. There will be fun times too with social and outings with loved ones. This is a good period in life and you taste success in whatever you do.
Libra: The financially hectic period of the last period slows down and there is a sense of a quiet and calm now. This low-key period could propel you to seek out adventures and shake things up a bit. Nothing ventured, nothing gained – so true in your case, and you are ready to try your luck, gamble away your money, and also seek out adventures of the heart. You might even find the courage to propose to your sweetheart, and then there may be an engagement or marriage on the cards.
Scorpio: Keep your bags packed as you may have many trips this coming period. Yes, says Ganesha, be prepared to take overnight trips or short getaways for both work and pleasure. Meeting new people and even those you have lost touch with, personally or through email, phone or snail mail is not ruled out. Check out new technology to raise your communication levels. There will be some obstacles at work, but the family and close friends are behind you like a rock to motivate and support you.
Sagittarius: You also have the co-operation and support of your boss and co-workers. People find you pleasant and agreeable as you go out of your way to help others in need. There may be a windfall now and you could gain a lot from an inheritance which you didn’t expect. Loans / interest / bonuses and even payment stuck for a long time will now be accessible to you. Don’t go overboard and spend it all. Exercise control and be moderate, says Ganesha, and success is yours.
Capricorn: A really busy period, even a hectic one, as everyday chores take your time. Despite leaving you totally engrossed and sometimes exhausted, it is still an enjoyable period. You also manage to find time for your spiritual aspirations. Apart from work, there are social interactions and quality time spent with friends, family and loved ones. You love entertaining and being entertained and there will be a plethora of outings, picnics and get-togethers. You will be the soul of the party.
Aquarius: Your fine interactions with people, especially with family members / work associates have been enjoyable and even empowering. The introspective phase gives way to more pressing, earthly concerns. The welfare and security of your loved ones is of paramount importance now and you need to take care of their needs and wants. There could be unexpected expenses as you over-reach yourself to help others.
Pisces: Your sustained hard work now bears fruit. It is payback time now and Ganesha shows you with rewards. Salary raises, promotions and perks are part of this well – deserved package and you will have to take care that it doesn’t bloat your ego further. Other money-related matters such as funds, loans, deposits, taxes, trade, agencies, legal matters could give you gains, both expected and unexpected, and could become a cause of great jubilation at home.
MINEOLA, NY (TIP): The Indian American Community from long Island organized the 69th Republic Day Celebrations on January 26, 2018
Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, Publisher and Chief Editor of The Indian Panorama was honored with India Republic Day Award by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran on the occasion of India’s 69th Republic Day celebration in the Nassau County legislature building on January 26 evening. Prof Saluja, who is President of INDO-US Foundation Inc., is also famous as a Writer, Speaker, Actor, and Television Host and well known in the Media and Community for his contributions and support to society. Along with Prof Saluja Laura Curran also presented India Republic Day Awards to:
Dr Bhupendra R Patel, Doctor of Medicine in appreciation for his good work. He is also former chief of Medicine of the department of medicine at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens. Dr Patel also known as Bhupi is an Icon and pillar of our society.
Dr Anila Midha is the founder of South Asian American Womens Alliance a nonprofit organization that promotes the education of STEM subjects along South Asian American Women and give scholarships to deserving female students in High School.
Dr Himanshu Pandya is currently the Vice President of AAPIQLI. Dr Pandya has published several articles in Health Journals. He is Founder of SPARK Club of New York. Dr Pandya is the Co-owner of Social Day Care Center in Long island
Dr Runi Mukherji Ratnam is the Chair of the Psychology Department at SUNY College at Old Westbury and also served as the Director of General Education program for the college. She serves as consultant to the center for immigrant Health and Center for the study of Global Health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Deborah Misir Esq. is the Founding Partner of Lally & Misir LLP.
Indu Jaiswal Chairperson of Indian American Forum welcomed and greeted all the guests. Keynote Speaker Dr Parveen Chopra highlighted the significance of India’s Republic Day. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Presiding Officer Mr Richard Nicollelo also graced the event.
Bollywood dance performances on January 26 at NASSAU county legislature building
Republic Day was also celebrated in Hempstead Town Hall on January 26 morning and February 1 evening. Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and Board members of Indian American Forum, Hempstead Town Clerk Silvia Cabana, Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, Councilman Mr Dennis Dunn, Dr Urmilesh Arya, President National AIA, Indu Jaiswal Chairperson of Indian American Forum, Members of Indian Veterans Association, Varinder and Ratna Bhalla and several community leaders graced the flag-hoisting event.
Flag Hoisting Outside the Hempstead Town Hall with Supervisor Laura Gillen, Town Clerk Silvia Cabana, Members of Indian Veterans AssociationRepublic Day celebrations at Town of Hempstead. Seen in the picture: Town of Hempstead Councilman Dennis Dunn, Town Clerk Silvia Cabana, Supervisor Laura Gillen with Dr. Urmilesh Arya , National President of AIA , Indu Jaiswal Chair IAF, Nilima Madan, Bina Sabapathy, , Ratna BhallaMembers of Indian Veterans Association with Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen and Town Clerk Silvia Cabana
On February 1, The Board of trustees and, members of Indian American Forum organized India Republic Day Celebration at Nathan L.H, Bennett Pavilion, and Hempstead Town Hall. Dr Swadesh Rana, first ever woman to become the chief of Conventional Arms Branch in the Department of Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations, was the keynote speaker.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, Town Clerk Silvia Cabana presenting Citation to Indian American Community
During the event India Republic Day Awards were presented to Dr Sunita Saini, Founder and Director of South Shore Psychological Services of Long Island and Dr Inderpal Chhabra, clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Hofstra North Shore School of Medicine.
LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): The Coalition of Indian Organizations of Long Island celebrated the 69th Republic Day of India on January 31, attended by the Consul General of India in New York, Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, judges of NY Supreme Court, public officials at the local and state level as well as who’s who of the Indian community on the island.
The rare event bringing fourteen Indian organizations of Long Island under one umbrella along with the largest gathering of the American dignitaries was the brainchild of Varinder Bhalla, Chairman of the Indian American Voters Forum, and the culmination of inspiration and support by Ambassador Chakravorty. The community responded enthusiastically packing the Clinton G Martin Hall in New Hyde Park to capacity.
(From L to R): Dr. Ajay Lodha, former President of the American Association of Physicians from India, Emcee & Event Coordinator Ratna Bhalla, Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana and Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen presenting a Citation to Ambassador Chakravorty, with Varinder Bhalla.
The participants were the Association of Indians in America represented by its national President Dr. Urmilesh Arya, and its NY Chapter represented by its President Gobind Munjal; the Arya Samaj of Long Island represented by its Founder Veer Mukhi; Asa Mai Temple represented by Founder Gobind Bathija; Brahmakumaris of Long Island represented by Anjani Persaud; the Federation of Malayalee Associations represented by its Chairman Thomas Oommen; the Gujrati Samaj of New York represented by its President Minesh Patel; Indian American Physicians of Long Island represented by Dr. Rakesh Dua & Dr. Ajay Lodha; the India Association of Long Island represented by its President Gunjan Rastogi; the Indian American Voters Forum represented its Chairman & the event coordinator Varinder Bhalla; International Punjabi Society represented by President Dr. Rajinder Uppal; Rajasthan Association of North America represented by President Dr. Ajey Jain; SPARK Youth Club of New York represented by its Founder Dr. Himanshu Pandya; the World Spiritual Awareness Forum Inc. represented by Rakesh Bhargava and the World Malayalee Association represented by its President Koshy Oommen.
(From L to R): Ratna Bhalla, State Senator Elaine Phillip honoring Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty with a Proclamation from the Senate of New York, First Lady of the India Consulate Taruna Chakravorty, and Event Chair Varinder Bhalla.
New York Supreme Court Justices Denise Sher & Ruth Balkin represented the judiciary; NY Senator Elaine Phillips presented a Senate Proclamation to Ambassador Chakravorty; Nassau County was represented by its Legislature Majority Leader Rich Nicolello and Legislator Tom McKevitt. Also in attendance was Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman who was profusely applauded for including a Hindu prayer in his inaugural program earlier in the month.
Hempstead Township, larger than seven States of America, was represented by its Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana and Supervisor Laura Gillen, the first Democrat in over a century elected to that post. On January 26, Gillen hoisted the Indian tricolor flag atop the Town Hall.
Gillen also presented a Citation to Ambassador Chakravorty honoring the 68th anniversary of the India Republic Day. Another Republic Day Citation was presented to the Ambassador on behalf of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino.
Niketa Bhatia, who successfully petitioned the Syosset School District to have the Festival of Diwali designated as an official holiday was honored with a Citation from the Oyster Bay Township.
The highlight of the cultural segment was a performance by the artists of the Surati for Performing Arts, nationally acclaimed group which has performed at the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and the United Nations among others. The Indian kids in the tricolor dresses enthralled the Indian audience and the American dignitaries alike. Manav Khurana, 13, a self-taught dholak player at the age of 8, captivated the audience with his stellar performance.
The pageantry of the Republic Day event was enhanced by bagpipers of Nassau County Firefighters Band which had earlier played at the Trump Presidential Inaugural in Washington DC and in Europe on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Year-Long Workshop Series to Help M/WBEs Find Opportunities for Growth Through the City. The initiative, M/WBE University, will train and support M/WBEs in an effort to help small businesses grow.
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Comptroller Stringer has announced a 2018 initiative to help minority and women-owned business enterprises – known as M/WBEs – gain access to City contracts. Known as “M/WBE University,” the year-long series of workshops is designed to help M/WBEs get certified with the City, navigate the procurement process, and gain access to government business.
While City agencies are making important strides in delivering contracts to M/WBEs, major gaps remain. Last year, the City awarded just over $1 billion in contracts to M/WBEs, which represent only 4.9 percent of all awards.
“Four years ago, we did something no one had before. We started analyzing and holding agencies accountable for how – and to whom – it delivers contracts. We saw deep inequities, and a playing field that was far from level. With M/WBE University, we’re building on our office’s work and helping business owners navigate the City procurement process. This is about fairness,” Comptroller Stringer said. “M/WBE University is so important because these companies help to build real, local wealth across all of our communities. That’s why we need to work with these businesses closely. If we’re going to have a true five-borough economy where everyone has a fair shot, we have to make sure our M/WBEs are successful.”
The year-long series of workshops will, for the first time, bring in representatives from major companies like IBM, CDW, and Ricoh Partner, as well as other businesses that contract with the City for legal, construction, and accounting services. Along with opening the doors to City contracting, M/WBE University will provide businesses with opportunities in contracting directly with the Comptroller’s office.
The list of workshops include:
February 23
Doing Business with NYC as an IBM, CDW, or Ricoh Partner
https://MWBEUnivIT2018.eventbrite.com
March 23
Become a Prequalified NYC Auditor
https://MWBEUnivCPAs.eventbrite.com
May 25
Capital, Bonds, & Tax Breaks for Businesses Impacting NYC
https://MWBEUnivEconDev.eventbrite.com
July 13
Doing Business with the Comptroller
https://MWBEUnivComptroller.eventbrite.com
August 17
Prevailing Wage: What Your Business Needs to Know
https://MWBEUnivPrevailingWage.eventbrite.com
December 14
The Future of M/WBEs in NYC
https://MWBEUnivFuture.eventbrite.com
Since taking office, Comptroller Stringer has launched several initiatives to increase transparency and improve access to City contracting by M/WBEs. Those include his “Making the Grade” report, which assessed each City agency’s actual spending with M/WBEs compared to citywide procurement goals established by Local Law 1 of 2013 and a Red Tape Commission that pinpointed roadblocks for small businesses.
M/WBE data from the most recent Making the Grade report shows:
Since the letter grade report started in 2014, annual spending with M/WBEs increased by $208 million to $554 million in FY 2017.
More agencies receiving “A” and “B” grades than ever before and compared to FY 2016, grades increased at 13 agencies in FY 2017. Overall, 42 percent of agencies saw their grade increase in FY 2017.
In FY 2017, the City awarded $21 billion total in goods and services to outside vendors. Of all contracts, just over $1 billion was awarded to M/WBEs. That represents 4.9 percent of all awards – an uptick from 4.8 percent a year ago and a rise from 3.9 percent in FY 2014.
To read the full “Making the Grade” report, click here.
To see the schedule of M/WBE University events, click here.
Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ is the recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director), and Todd Schmidt (Managing Director). The Playhouse is one of the country’s leading regional theatres.
The Playhouse shares the wonder of creation in its 2017-2018 season with an astonishing 4 premieres: The Honeymooners, the major revival of a cherished holiday classic Annie, A new musical: Half Time, and the current new play The Outsider.
Paper Mill has been consistently recognized for the high-quality artistry of its re-imagined classic musicals as well its commitment to development of new works and careers of New York Broadway’s best talent and emerging artists both onstage and behind the scenes.
Along the way, some of today’s best classical singers, dancers, directors, choreographers, actors, playwrights and designers share their talents to transport you with captivating, human and funny American stories.
It’s all part of what has placed Paper Mill Playhouse center stage in bringing the new American musical theater to life, and it’s why anyone looking for what’s truly next and noteworthy subscribes.
In politics, the less you know, the higher you’ll go!
(From L to R): Burke Moses (Arthur Vance) and Lenny Wolpe (Ned Newley Photo Credit /Matthew Murphy(From L to R): Manoel Felciano (Dave Riley) and Lenny Wolpe (Ned Newley). Photo Credit / Jerry Dalia
At once a razor-sharp satire and an inspirational tribute to democracy, The Outsider by Paul Slade Smith is a timely and hilarious send-up of modern American politics.
Completely fictional, the story begins in the midst of a political scandal, Ned Newley, the ultimate policy wonk, is unexpectedly thrust into the position of Governor. A complete unknown, with no political instincts and a paralyzing fear of public speaking, to his ever-supportive chief of staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But a political guru, Arthur Vance sees things a little differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for… the worst candidate to ever run for office!
In March 2016 at a successful reading of the play attended by top Broadway (NY theater) insiders, “declared it one of the funniest – not to mention topical – plays in years” quipped Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director and Todd Schmidt, Managing Director of Paper Mill Playhouse.
Governor Phil Murphy, and 7 former governors of NJ teamed up to promote The Outsider in an unusual video. The 2-minute video, which went live a few days before the start of the performances, got over 150,000 views on YouTube in its first 3 days. You can view it at https://youtu.be/JORleE_3jYE
“We’ve had hundreds of shares, tons of views,” says Hawley Abelow, director of communications, marketing and membership for Paper Mill. “I think when all is said and done, this is going to be extraordinarily successful for getting attention and selling tickets.”
Book: Paul Slade Smith
Starring: Kelley Curran, Julia Duffy, Manoel Felciano, Erin Noel
Grennan, Mike Houston, Burke Moses, Lenny Wolpe
Directed by: David Esbjornson
The production team includes set design by Michael Schweikardt, costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy, lighting design by Ben Stanton, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and sound design by Randy Hansen.
The Outsider runs from January 24 to February 18, 2018.
The following link is a hilarious promotional video for The Outsider
The film depicts a man’s crusade to make India a 100% pad using country
Consul General of India in New York is hosting a show on February 12
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Pad Man, which hits theaters in North America on February 9, aims to raise the curtain on all myths, taboos and beliefs around periods and menstrual hygiene, which have held women and girls back from empowerment for centuries. The curtain raiser gives us some of the exciting insights into what Pad Man has in store for us. It opens with an awestruck Sonam Kapoor trying to come to terms with the fact that how can a man be so obsessed with ‘chumming,’ as menstruation is commonly called. We are then taken to a festive scene in Akshay Kumar’s village where a celebration takes place in honor of a young girl getting her first period.
Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor in a still from the film
SYNOPSIS:
Pad Man is a fictionalized account of Padmashri Arunachalam Muruganatham, the man who revolutionized the manufacture of the low cost sanitary napkin in India. Lakshmi is a newly married, humble welder from a rural village in the heart of India. Lakshmi’s incredible journey starts when he is shocked to discover that his wife uses an unhygienic cloth during her periods. Unable to afford a branded pad, he decides to make a sanitary pad himself. After several attempts, his irate wife refuses to be a part of his experiments. Lakshmi’s love and concern for his wife, his determination to make the pad, leads him into situations that cause so much shock and embarrassment that it compels his wife to leave him and his village to banish him.
Lakshmi doesn’t give up. His simplicity of thought, his resilience, his focus and his complete disregard for convention finally leads him to his destiny. A machine that can make a pad! The revolution that follows…from spreading menstrual hygiene, to empowering women, to starting mini cooperatives, to a vision of making India a 100% Pad using country, to accolades, to international glory and to a final resolution of his personal life, makes the rest of the feature “PAD MAN”. His journey to make India a 100% pad using country goes on…even today.
Produced by Mrs. Funnybones Movies, SPE FIlms India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions, Pad Man is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). It is billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, starring international megastar Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) who assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham to once again showcase his commitment to social entertainers. He is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali). One for the mad ones, the ones who are crazy enough to change the world, Pad Man is the one-of-a-kind feature film, tackling the taboo and stigmas attached to menstrual hygiene through the art of entertainment.
Consul General of India, Sandeep Chakravorty is hosting a special show of the film on February 12. Those interested in watching the movie may email request to culture.newyork@mea.gov.in
NEW YORK (TIP): Miss World 2017 Manushi Chillar from India has announced that she will be gracing the South Asian Women Empowerment Gala 2018 to be hosted by Bindu Kohli in New York.
This black tie gala event is title sponsored by Premal Badiani. Today, women have excelled in all domains and we have a lot to learn from each other. We believe in our uniqueness and are happy to be part of this event showcasing women who have made a big difference “, said Premal Badiani.
Manushi Chillar won the coveted title after seventeen years when Priyanka Chopra, a fellow Indian won the same title. Earlier Ms Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had won the title and become the first Indian to ever win the Miss World title.
Bindu Kohli, a household name on the East Coast is a well-known television host and a promoter of high quality events. She hosted Miss Shilpa Shetty last year in various cities in US with multiple events to mark women empowerment in USA. “This premium event will be ideal to present and felicitate Miss Manushi Chillar in USA amongst high profile guests and several women achievers in USA”, said Bindu Kohli. She continued, “I believe in quality and class and I am sure to make it a memorable event”.
Bindu Kohli entertainment is an event management and production company based in New York. Some of the others proud sponsors for this event are Shaheen, Leonard Palazzo, Munawar & Andrews-Santillo LLP, AR Helping, and The Indian Panorama.
Son, tried in absentia, and 4 others jailed for 10 years
DHAKA (TIP): Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was, on February8, sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for corruption, a body blow for the main Opposition leader who may be disqualified from contesting the next election in December, as thousands of her supporters staged protests against her jailing.
The 72-year-old three-time PM was sentenced by Dhaka’s Special Court in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million taka ($250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her late husband Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler-turned-politician.
The verdict simultaneously sentenced Zia’s “fugitive” elder son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior vice-president Tarique Rahman as he was tried in absentia. Rahman and four others have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The case is one of dozens pending against Zia, who has been a rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for decades. The charges against her had already led to her boycotting polls in 2014, which triggered widespread protests.
Zia, wearing a white sari, appeared in the heavily guarded courtroom amid heightened political tension. While sentencing Zia, the judge read out the abridged version of the 632-page verdict in 10 minutes.
He said though all convicts played an identical role in the crime, Zia was given a lesser term taking into account her “age and social status”. The court also said that the defense tried their best to hinder the trial proceedings as they sought time on 35 occasions in the name of changing the court.
The other convicts are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, ex-PM’s principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and her nephew Mominur Rahman.
Zia became the second head of government after former dictator-turned-politician HM Ershad to be convicted in a graft case.
“I will be back, there is no need to cry,” Khaleda Zia today told her weeping relatives and supporters, minutes before the three-time former Bangladeshi premier was sentenced to five years in jail related to a graft case.
According to experts, Zia will have to stay in jail for at least three days until Sunday. It will depend on the High Court whether it will give Zia bail or not. The conviction means that Zia, could be barred from contesting the General Elections in December this year.
The law says if someone is convicted for at least two years, he or she cannot contest the election for the next five years, The Daily Star said. n Zia’s case, if the high court gives her bail and yet upholds the sentencing, then she will be disqualified from the poll, it said. — PTI
BNP stares at split
Political analysts believe Bangladesh Nationalist Party may split as several senior leaders could disassociate them from Zia. Their grouse is Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman, BNP senior vice-president, who is learnt to be wielding authority from London, ignoring the party veterans. Rahman has sought asylum in the UK as he is also facing several criminal charges.
3000 athletes from 95 nations will march in the presence of several heads of States at the Opening, February 9
By Prabhjot Singh in PyeongChang
PYEONGCHANG (TIP): Nearly 3000 athletes from 95 nations will march in unison in the presence of several heads of States, including the US Vice President Mike Pence, Canada’s Governor General Julie Payette, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to give a warm and colorful to the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on Friday, February 9. Because of the extremely cold weather, perhaps the coldest of the past four editions, the organizers have done everything at their command, including providing blankets, to those who want to be part of the colorful bash that showcases South Korea.
A special stadium erected for only opening and closing ceremonies here in PyeongChang is without a roof and has no physical barriers to prevent strong chilly winds sweeping the venue with the temperature expected to be around seven degrees Fahrenheit.
The previous coldest Winter Olympic Games were in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1994 while the last two editions – Sochi and Vancouver – were clubbed in the warmer winter category.
The 23rd edition of the Winter Olympic Games being held in northeastern South Korea, including the hilly PyeongChang, the coastal area of Gangneung and Jeongseon, have been the biggest ever.
Opening ceremony will be a virtual fashion parade on a cold windy evening
Since the venue of the opening ceremony is at a higher latitude than the other Olympic venue sites, PyeongChang draws severe cold weather. The stadium can seat about 35,000 spectators. There are not many Koreans keen to attend the opening ceremony. They rather prefer to watch it on Television in little warmer environs.
Looking at past records, PyeongChang has been one of the coldest regions in South Korea as it is located at nearly a half mile above sea level. It is also notorious for its biting winds that come sweeping in from the Manchurian Plain and Siberia.
The Organizing Committee of PyeongChang Olympic Committee spent about $58 million to build the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium without a roof. As a part of cost-cutting, even no central heating has been provided because it would have been too expensive.
To keep the spectators attracted, the organizers provided spectators with heating pads, a blanket, and a raincoat, besides other things. according to the AP. They also put up polycarbonate walls along the highest points of the stadium to block winds and portable gas heaters between rows. People could also buy hot drinks and food to keep themselves warm in the stadium.
The meteorologists predicted that temperature during the Olympic Games would be lower than temperatures recorded during the 1994 Lillehammer Games in Norway, which has the record for the coldest Olympics thus far, at negative 11 degrees Celsius, or about 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
The 2018 Winter Olympics may set several new records, including being the coldest. But it’s not the first recent Winter Olympics to have weather issues — the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2014 Games in Sochi became famous for not being cold enough during their respective games. Temperatures were above freezing during the competitions, causing snow to melt.
Both Canada and the US besides the hosts South Korea with substantial number of athletes would be cynosure of all eyes. Many athletes who had events before or immediately after the ceremony naturally gave a miss to the ceremony.
Tale of two cities
PyeongChang Olympics beckon
We all know about two Punjabs, two Bengals and two Koreas. Do we know about two Pyeongs?
If you google search “Pyeong”, the expected answer would be “PyeongChang is very different from Pyongyang. Do not confuse, please.”
Intriguingly, the same answer was given by the Governor of South Korea’s Gangwon province, Choi Moon-Soon, when he addressed international media some time ago.
History is full of instances, when cities, provinces and even nations had similar names. There was East Berlin and West Berlin but now one unified Berlin. There was East Germany and West Germany but now a unified Germany.
The German example apart, there are hardly any other instances when cities, provinces or nations with similar names merged.
The case of Koreas is an example.
It is not an uncommon mistake to confuse PyeongChang and Pyongyang even though the two cities representing South Korea and North Korea have slight variation in their spellings.
Both PyeongChang and Pyongyang have been hawking newspaper headlines for different reasons.
PyeongChang has been in the news as the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. And it will also enter history books as the host of coldest Winter Games in past several decades.
And Pyongyang have been in headlines about a possible nuclear war threatening the world in general and the US in particular.
PyeongChang is a county in South Korea’s Gangwon province in the east of the Korean Peninsula while Pyongyang is the capital city of North Korea in the west of the Korean peninsula.
While the Olympic host county has a small population of 44,000, its North Korean name sake has 2.8 million inhabitants.
While PyeongChang has the slogan of “Happy700 Pyeongchang” referring to the country’s elevation of 700m, the North Korean capital is listed at 38m and has the slogan “Dynamic Labors”.
The South Korean county is the official host of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, the earlier speculation of North Korea sharing hosting duties of some events were rejected due to a lack of time to prepare the possible venue.
Interestingly when South Korea hosted the 1988 summer Olympic Games at Seoul, North Korea boycotted the games.
South Korea’s current Winter Olympic medal count is far more impressive with 26 gold, 17 silver and 10 bronze than North Korea with 0 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.
As host nation, South Korea is guaranteed entry in all sports on the 2018 Winter Olympic program while North Korea agreed to participate in the PyeongChang 2018 games following negotiations with South Korea. North Korea has sent 22 athletes, including 12 members for a unified Korean women’s hockey team.
Kimchi, a must for all Korean food, is much spicier in South Korea. In addition, South Koreans have access to American fast food giants, that are barred from doing business in the North. “Cold noodles” or naengmyeon is a classic North Korean dish.
Popular destinations in PyeongChang include Woljeongsa Temple, the exciting Ocean 700 Water Park or the Korea Botanic Garden. while in Pyongyang popular tourist destinations are the State Circus, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum or The Metro and all tours in Pyongyang must be guided and officially sanctioned.
Six nations – Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore – are making their debut at PyeongChang 2018. They will be mostly represented by their expatriate athletes in speed skating, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, figure skating and two-woman bobsleigh.
Klaus Jungbluth Rodriguez, 38, will represent Ecuador at its first Winter Games. He is known as the “Tarmac Skier”, given his training on roller skis in the city of Guayaquil and now in Australia.
“This is how we will enter the stadium on 9. February 2018,” declared Team Deutschland on its Facebook page (Photo/ Team Deutschland).This is expected to be France’s Opening Ceremony outfit at PyeongChang 2018. Needless to say, France is the fashion capital of the world.
A PhD student in sports sciences at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, Rodriguez began by creating an Ecuadorian Ski Federation from scratch with the help of his National Olympic Committee (NOC), in order to be able to compete in cross country skiing events under the aegis of the International Ski Federation (FIS).
Canadian-Eritrean Shannon-Ogbani Abeda will not be the first African to take to the Alpine skiing slopes at the Olympic Winter Games, but he opens the way for Eritrea, the East African country where his parents are from. Born in Alberta on 15 May 1996 and having grown up and studied IT sciences in the Olympic city of Calgary, Abeba began his trailblazing career by competing at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012which, he says, opened his eyes to the top international level. He did not manage to qualify for the Sochi Games in 2014, but several top 20 places on the FIS circuit over the past couple of years have helped him earn a place at PyeongChang 2018, in the slalom and giant slalom events.
Kosovo made a magnificent Olympic Summer Games debut with a gold medal won by judoka Majlinda Kelmendi in the -52kg category in Rio in 2016. Now it is the turn of Alpine skier Albin Tahiri to gift his country with its first participation in the Winter Games.
USA sportspersons will look like thisUSA sportspersons will look like thisThe Norwegians probably have an official Olympic uniform, but that doesn’t matter. All eyes are on what their curlers will wear. Once known just for their colorful pants started at Vancouver 2010, Norway’s men’s curling team returns with a full checkered suit this time.
Indeed, he is going to compete in all of the Alpine skiing disciplines, even if he is in fact more of a specialist in the speed events. Albin has skied since he was a child in Slovenia, the country in which he grew up, and where Alpine skiing is very popular. His presence in PyeongChang represents more for him and his country as he becomes the first athlete from Kosovo to compete in Winter Olympics.
The tropical State of Malaysia is making its Winter Games debut with not one, but two competitors. Chronologically, it was young skier Jeffrey Webb, 18, who secured the first ticket to PyeongChang, in the slalom and giant slalom events.
Very much inspired by his idol, Marcel Hirscher, he was also the first Malaysian to compete at the Asian Winter Games, in Sapporo in 2017. Based in the US, he has skied from a young age. His two races in YongPyong have given him experience at the highest international level.
At the end of September 2017, skater Julian Yee posted on social media a photo of himself in front of the Olympic rings at Gangneung Olympic Park, where he will perform his short and freestyle programs in the men’s figure skating events at the PyeongChang Games on 16 and 17 February. The photo was posted with this comment: “It has been a long, tiring, and meaningful journey. The milestone has been achieved and Malaysia will for sure be at the 2018 Winter Olympics! I’ve finally made it! Thank you to everyone who has supported me and given me the strength. Without you guys, it would be impossible.”
Julian qualified on 29 September when he finished in 6th place in the 49th Nebelhorn Trophy, an international competition that is part of the “ISU Challenger Series” staged in Oberhof, Germany. He is also a four-time Malaysian champion, and winner in August 2017 at the South East Asian Games, organized at the national skating rink in Kuala Lumpur.
Pilot Seun Adigun and her team-mates Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga grew up and studied in the US and are all former high-level sprinters. Under the Nigerian flag, Adigun competed in the 100m hurdles at London 2012. Onwumere won medals at the African Games in 2015 in the 200m and 4x100m relay. Omeoga, meanwhile, competed for the University of Minnesota in the 100m and 200m.
In 2014, Adigun turned to bobsleigh with the aim of reaching the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. She recruited Onwumere and Omeoga, and the pioneering African women trained in Houston, Texas, in a wooden luge that they nicknamed “The Mayflower”. They then launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the finances needed for their participation in the World Cup (equipment, accommodation, travel expenses), and also attracted the attention of Worldwide Olympic Partner Visa, which lent its support and made them members of “Team Visa”. Their journey on toboggans on ice at the IBSF World Cup 2017-18 led to the first Olympic qualification of an African bobsleigh team.
At 18, Cheyenne Goh becomes the first Singaporean athlete to compete at the Winter Games. Based in Canada since the age of 4, she began practicing ice hockey, then turned to speed skating. A fruitful decision as now, having competed in four ISU World Cup events with a best result of 20th place in the 1500m in Shanghai, Goh clocked up enough points to allow her to write this page in her country’s history.
Besides these expatriates, mostly Americans or Canadians, the United States has the biggest contingent of overseas athletes here. Needless to say, that the hosts South Korea (Korea) will have the biggest contingent. The US squad has 240 athletes, including 107 women. Canada follows next with 227 competitors, including 103 women.
Among Asian countries, Japan is sending 124 athletes (72 women) while China has 81 (46 women) in their contingents. Coming to Europeans, Germany’s contingent will have 157 athletes (61 women) while Switzerland will have 169 (71 women). There will be 23 women athletes in the Australian squad of 51.
Both India and Pakistan are sending two men athletes each.
Prabhjot Singh, Executive Editor, PTC News, is currently in PyeongChang for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games
34 students presented White Coat and administered the Medical Student Pledge of Professional Conduct
ARUBA (TIP): Xavier University School of Medicine held its 42nd White Coat Ceremony on Friday, January 19th, 2018. 34 students were presented with their White Coats and they took the Medical Student Pledge of Professional Conduct.
President Ravishankar Bhooplapur addressed the audience of students, their family members, faculty, and staff at this momentous occasion. He welcomed the first lady Prime Minister of Aruba, Honorable Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes, and congratulated her on her election and in taking over the beautiful, happy island.
Ravi Bhooplapur addresses: President Ravishankar Bhooplapur addresses the audience at the White Coat Ceremony.
In his address, President Ravishankar Bhooplapur commended the students on choosing the right medical school and for entering this most noble profession. He emphasized the importance of their studies, and assured commitment from the most qualified faculty to provide them with a superb education. He also brought to everyone’s attention Xavier’s success of a 90% first time USMLE passing rate, and a 70% residency rate. President Bhooplapur thanked Xavier’s faculty and staff, as well as the government of Aruba, for welcoming them with open hearts. He believes Aruba is the best island in the Caribbean, and a wonderful tourist destination. President Bhooplapur stated that Xavier is a “feather in the cap” of Aruba, in that is has a special place on the island. Finally, he thanked the Chair, Board of Trustees, and trustee Mr. Frank Croes for his continued guidance in Aruba.
PM addresses: The first female Prime Minister of Aruba, Honorable Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes, addresses the audience at the White Coat Ceremony.
Following the President’s address, Prime Minister, Honorable Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes, spoke. She explained how she wanted to attend medical school after high school, but her only option at the time was to go to Costa Rica to study. While she said the country was beautiful and her studies went well, she missed home. Ultimately, she came back to Aruba, where her father decided she would study law. Mrs. Wever-Croes was excited when Xavier first came to the happy island of Aruba, as her dreams of a medical school on the island had come true. She assured continued support for Xavier, and appreciated that the school awarded an Aruban student a scholarship. She concluded by congratulating the students on receiving their White Coats.
Xavier is fortunate and thankful that the Honorable Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes was in attendance at such a special event.
President Ravishankar Bhooplapur presents Prime Minister, Honorable Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes with a gift.
Xavier University School of Medicine has received accreditation from two accrediting bodies: CAAM-HP (Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions), and ACCM (Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine). We offer special scholarships for Aruban students. We have provincial loans for Canadian students, as well as loan programs for U.S. citizens and green card holders.
LONDON (TIP): An Indian origin anesthetist who was heartbroken after receiving divorce papers from his wife committed suicide by taking an overdose of a cocktail of drugs in the East Midlands region of England, a probe into his death concluded.
The 41-year-old George Eapen had separated from his general practitioner wife Amy after undergoing counselling to deal with angry outbursts and mood swings that had strained their relationship.
Born in India George Eapen had completed his medical studies in Chennai and worked at a Mumbai hospital before moving to the UK in 2001.
The 41-year-old had separated from his general practitioner wife Amy after undergoing counselling to deal with angry outbursts and mood swings that had strained their relationship, ‘Daily Mirror’ reported.
“George made a number of attempts at reconciliation, with letters and phone calls, clearly he had a great deal of difficulty accepting it (separation), said Derbyshire Assistant Coroner Peter Nieto.
It was when he received divorce papers in the post in October last year, that Eapen text some friends to say he was going to kill himself. He drove to a secluded area of Derbyshire s picturesque tourist spot known as Peak District, where he was discovered too late to be resuscitated, Chesterfield Coroners Court was told.
Eapen worked as a consultant neuro-anesthetist at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and was also a university lecturer.
It is said that he had been hurt when his first marriage ended within a year back in 2007. He met Amy in 2012 and the couple married two years later.
The widow sobbed in court as the details of Eapen’s suicide were recounted at the probe.
The couple had separated over his anger management issues, with Amy moving out of their home in the suburb of Totley, Sheffield, last year.
On October 14, when Eapen found the divorce papers from his wife, he went to work and then drove to the spot where he was later found dead.
He sent some texts to friends outlining his intentions, leading them to alert the police and form a search party to try and track him down.
Paramedics also arrived on the scene but they could not resuscitate the doctor, who was rushed to Chesterfield Royal Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“It was clear George was unhappy, but he had not contacted anyone prior to his actions or close enough to those actions to allow anyone to intervene. It‘s my view that he has done what he has done with the intention of committing suicide, said the coroner, who felt the anesthetist had the expert knowledge necessary to administer a toxic dose in the most effective way.
The combination of the drugs he took caused acute respiratory arrest, leading to his death. The coroner added that there was no proof he had taken the drugs from his hospital workplace earlier in the day, but it was “reasonable” to assume that was the case.
NEW YORK (TIP): When citizens work towards moving up on the ladder of prosperity, development goals are automatically met, Ajay Pandey, the CEO of the SM Sehgal Foundation, told the United Nations’ 56th Session of the Commission for Social Development in New York on February 5.
Making a presentation on the foundation’s work with communities on rural development, he said engaging all groups segregated by varied factors is imperative to achieve impact.
The 10-day 56th Session of the Commission for Social Development, which began on January 29, concludes on February 7. It is primarily discussing “strategies for eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all.”
Founded by the Indian American philanthropist crop scientist and entrepreneur Suri Sehgal, the Gurugram, India, -based SM Sehgal Foundation is present in some 700 Indian villages, impacting more than 230,000 villagers in five states. More than 50 percent of the people the foundation is working with are women.
Pandey named women, the elderly, the youth and the infirm as vulnerable groups, and said it is important to recognize the role of local government institutions and engagement of citizenry in initiating and affecting any development initiative.
“A prudent policy mix is therefore required that would strive for inclusive growth,” he said in the written statement submitted before the Commission for Social Development. “One that could provide the opportunities and improve capabilities of ‘the farthest behind’ so as to enable them to participate in a sustainable growth process,” he added.
Speaking from his experience in India and South Asia, Pandey said “investment in social capital can thrust sustainable social development.”
The work of the SM Sehgal Foundation among the rural poor shows that “an effective amalgamation of empowered citizenry and accountable institutions of governance can create inclusive spaces for equitable development, he said.
“Bringing in innovations in water security, food security and social justice, we have developed technologies and models such as the high pressure recharge well, bio sand filters and salt resilient crop varieties, some of which have been recognized by the United Nations as adaptable and scalable solutions,” he said. “These models are now being adapted in several continents across the globe to create better future for all. Success of these models is however reliant on the foundational aspects of program designing which works on the principle of creating constructive democratic spaces for all. It is the good rural governance initiative of the foundation that forms the basis of every innovation or intervention, thus planned.”
Pandey said the foundation, through its 15,000 trained volunteers, who work as effective citizen participants in addressing the disconnect between promises of law and their grassroots reality, is helping bridge the ever-widening gap between policy and people.
“The foundation is working tirelessly to develop this initiative nationally and globally such that law and policies become people-centric in every sense — their formulations, implementation, correction should all be inclusive of masses,” he said. “Through this initiative, communities work to secure good governance as they participate to strengthen democracy, rule of law, and justice. All this to break the difficulties that law, its language, its structures and their language together weave against the common people.”
KENTUCKY (TIP): A gas station and convenience store owned by an Indian American Sikh man in Greenup County, Kentucky, was defaced with racial slurs, and “white power” symbols and “swastikas.”
According to the WSAZ news channel, the store owner Gary Singh was shocked to see his store walls sprayed with highly racist and offensive graffiti.
“I’m just really shocked that somebody is doing that,” Singh told WSAZ.
He said he came to know about vandalism of his store from an employee on February 1st morning.
Police officers who checked the CCTV footage of the store found a ski masked man moving toward the store after 11:30 pm.
“I was really nervous about that,” Singh told the channel. “It happened to me for the first time in this store in four years’ time. I’ve never done wrong to the community here. I try to help the community all the time.”
Singh told the channel that he came to the United States in the 90s to fulfill American dream and what happened to his store on Thursday was more than a nightmare.
The police have registered a case against the unknown miscreants and also seeking the opinion of county prosecutors on whether charges of hate crime can be registered.
Singh told the channel that he is ready to forgive the vandals and hoped that they don’t mess with his livelihood in the future.
“Please don’t do it to anybody else,” Singh said. “Don’t hurt anybody’s feelings. Let them work and enjoy their life.”
This is not the first time that the store is getting vandalized. In 2014, a few former employees, whom Singh fired following a petty robbery, had vandalized the store.
KATHMANDU (TIP): An Indian Origin hotelier in Nepal who was wanted by the Interpol, was arrested on February 3rd, on charges of drug trafficking. Mashkoor Ahmad Lari was arrested from the Maharajgunj area of Kathmandu, said a senior police officer at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Office.
The police were searching for the hotelier after drugs were found inside a package dispatched by him from Kathmandu to the Netherlands during a security check at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport, the police said.
Mr Lari is the owner of Kathmandu’s five-star Everest Hotel which was closed the building developed major cracks in the 2015 earthquakes.
He has been operating the hotel in Kathmandu for the last 30 years.
The police have filed a case for trafficking drugs against Mr Lari in the Kathmandu District Court after taking him into custody.
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