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The South Asian TimesNEW YORK EDITION Excellence In Journalism

On October 12, Ambassador Hardeep S. Puri won for India a non-permanent seat on the UN

Security Council with an unprec-edented 187 of the 190 member states in the General Assembly

backing its candidature. Now he is using his diplomatic dexterity and vision to secure for India a permanent seat on the Council, which will happen sooner than

people believe, he told The South Asian Times. And, yes, that was his one-point agenda when he

came to head India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the ultimate

and most coveted posting for an Indian career diplomat.

See pages 23-26 for an interview with him and exclusive pictures from his 37 years in the Indian Foreign Service as well as with his wife, also a diplomat, and family.

Man of the Year 2010Ambassador Hardeep Singh PuriPermanent Representative,Mission of India to the United Nations

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 201042010

Highlights Movers & Shakers+

Chairman’s Message

Savor our New Year issue

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

4 Community

October 23- 29, 2010

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6

“I will stop at nothing to restore fiscal responsibility inNassau and not do it at the expense of the taxpayers”

County Executive Ed Mangano

In our New Year issue 2010, we had declared Edward P. Mangano as Man of the Year. He had engineered one of the biggestupsets in politics by defeating a confident incumbent in the election for Executive of Nassau County, which in terms of

importance and budget is bigger than a dozen American states. The South Asian Times caught up with him a year hencefor an exclusive interview on his achievements and challenges.

By Parveen Chopra

SATimes: You were our Personof the Year 2009 and we inter-viewed you when you were ready totake office as Nassau CountyExecutive. Now one year into yourterm, how has your perspectivechanged on the job of running thewealthiest county but with a budgetdeficit?

Hon. Ed Mangano: I have one

simple mission: to restore fiscal sta-

bility and responsible government

to the people of Nassau County. It

was my goal as a Legislator, it was

my mantra as a candidate and it is

my focus as the County Executive.

I remain as determined as ever!

Q: You have fulfilled many pollcampaign promises, but lookingback what have been your adminis-tration’s biggest achievements overthe year?

Hon. Ed Mangano: Since taking

office, I have focused on cutting

taxes and reducing government

spending by over $148 million. We

achieved $55 million in labor sav-

ings for 2011 by cutting 400 posi-

tions from the budget, from 8,810

in 2010 to 8,410 in 2011, and by

managing with less 250 unfilled

budgeted positions. As a result, 125

non-patrol police positions were

eliminated in the 2011 budget, sav-

ing $23 million. We also eliminated

275 other county employee posi-

tions in the 2011 budget, saving $17

million. We still have 250 budgeted

positions unfilled for 2011. Plus, a

nonessential hiring freeze will

result in $15 million in additional

savings.

More important, working with the

Legislature I removed $485 million

in County tax burdens off the shoul-

ders of homeowners and employers

over the next four years through the

elimination of a home energy tax

and by removing a 16.5% property

tax hike planned by the prior

administration over the next four

years. All of these initiatives have

helped me close a crushing deficit

that I inherited when I came into

office.

Q: You have a certain visionabout managing the county affairs,and most crucially, balancing itsbudget, but the media’s perceptionsseem to vary. Does it mean yourmedia managers have not been ableto communicate your vision, ormajor papers like The New YorkTimes and Newsday have a fixedDemocratic agenda?

Hon. Ed Mangano: The media is

always quick to criticize and many

writers have simply dismissed the

incredible amount of reform I have

enacted since taking office.

Interestingly, though, the people

seem to understand that I inherited

a bloated, mismanaged government

and I will stop at nothing to restore

fiscal responsibility in Nassau and

not do it at the expense of the tax-

payers.

Q: The New York Times reportedrecently that you, like otherRepublican administrators, are try-ing to cut taxes, but cutting spend-ing, and making government leaner,is not that easy, which means budg-et deficits will keep growing, or atleast not reduce.

Hon. Ed Mangano: It is not that

easy, correct. But we have done it. I

slashed the County Executive’s

payroll and have led by example.

We have also done away with many

useless middle management posi-

tions that did little but waste the

people’s money.

Q: On the national scene, how doyou feel a Republican Congress anda Democrat President will pan outin the next two years? The recentcooperation between the two onBush era tax cuts and other issues,does it augur well for the country?

Hon. Ed Mangano: Anytime

there is true bi-partisan work being

done on behalf of the people, it is a

great thing. Elected officials have to

stop letting political lines act as

impassable boundaries.

Q: Your views on the rise of twoIndian American governors, BobbyJindal in Louisiana, and NikkiHaley, who takes office in SouthCarolina in mid January.

Hon. Mangano with his charming wife, Linda. Hon Ed Mangano speaking at India’s Independence Day celebration officially organized by Nassau Countyin the presence of invited guests.

Hon Ed Mangano posing for a group photo with honorees, organizers and community leaders at the Diwali function in county office premises.(right) The chief guests lighting the traditional lamp at the start of the event.

7

Since taking office, I have been further reminded of how incredible the people of the Indian community are. I have been to many of their events

and I am always greeted with smiles and open arms.

County Executive Ed Mangano

Hon. Ed Mangano: Bobby

Jindal has done extraordinary things

as Louisiana’s governor and is a

fresh face for the future of America

and the Republican party. In the

wake of Hurricane Katrina and

some of Louisiana’s darkest days,

Gov. Jindal brought new energy and

optimism to the State. He continues

to break down walls and is one of

the brightest stars in national poli-

tics. I also applaud Governor-elect

Haley and wish her the very best as

she prepares to lead South Carolina.

These are very exciting times for

the party.

Q: You have become a householdname among the Indian Americancommunity. How have your interac-tions been with the community inthe past one year? Has your per-ception of them changed in anyway?

Hon. Ed Mangano: Since taking

office, I have been further reminded

of how incredible the people of the

Indian community are. I have been

to many events in the past year

hosted by the Indian community,

and I am always greeted with

smiles and open arms. It has been

one of the great pleasures of my

time in office.

Q: How are other ethnic commu-nities faring in Nassau County?

Hon. Ed Mangano: My adminis-

tration continues to work closely

with all ethnic groups. Our Office

of Minority Affairs has served triple

the amount of people that the last

administration served and our doors

are open to everyone.

Q: What are your priorities nowin the second year in office?

Hon. Ed Mangano: My priorities

remain the same: to move Nassau

County into the future and continue

to implement real reform that will

ensure Nassau’s fiscal well-being

for many more generations.

Q: How has your family copedwith your added responsibilitiesand demands on time?

Hon. Ed Mangano: In many

cases, my family accompanies me

to events. While this job has cer-

tainly had a negative effect on the

amount of time I spend at home, my

family realizes that the people

elected me to do a very difficult job

and they support me every day. I

would not be who I am without my

family.

Mr K.L. Sardana was honored by MrMangano at India’s Independence Day

celebration organized by Nassau County.

Hon Ed Mangano honored Animesh Goenka, National President ofAssociation of Indians in America.

The County Executive was invited as chief guest toDiwali function organized by Bharatiya Janata Party

overseas chapter.

Mr Mangano and Indian community leaders at Association of Indiansin American (National Chapter) Annual Gala Dinner at Uniondale

Marriott Hotel.

Mr Mangano with Dr Rajesh Singh (third from right, whom he hon-ored for his humanitarian service), his son Harender Singh, Rob

Walker, Rose Walker and others.

NFIA president Lal Motwani honored byMr Mangano at India’s Independence Day

celebration organized by Nassau County on 15th Aug

* Two new traditions were ini-tiated under County ExecutiveEd Mangano: Tricolor hoistingat aristocratic TheodoreRoosevelt Building, the NassauCounty Executive & LegislativeBuilding on IndianIndependence Day. And DiwaliCelebrations with Gala Dinnerhosted by Nassau CountyExecutive at glitteringLegislative Chambers of NassauCounty. These events were high-ly appreciated & admired by theIndo-US community of NassauCounty.

* Lal Motwani, Kishan LalSardana and Champak Parikhwere recognized for their dedi-

cated community services onIndia Day.

* Peter Bheddah & TulsiPolavarapu, MD were conferredLife Time Achievement Award atDiwali event.

* Dr. Rajesh Singh was hon-ored for his HumanitarianServices at BJP Diwali event.

* Thousands of new toys &winter Clothes were distributedto Needy Children in LongIsland. The event was cospon-sored by T Mobile Limited,Hicksville Chambers ofCommerce, Rotary Club ofHicksville South & The SouthAsian Times, all located inHicksville Long Island.

9

Good, bad and controversialTop 10 in Tristate Community

Controversies and unfortunate incidents markedthe year for Tristate residents. New Yorkers’ fortunate escape from abombing attack, inaugural India Day parade at Atlantic City and Diwali celebrations in Manhattan gave reasons to cheer

though, apart from stories of individual triumphs.

Botched Times Square bombing

In October Pakistan-born

American Faisal Shahzad

was served a life sentence

for driving a homemade car

bomb into Times Square and

leaving it to explode on May

1. The bomb packed into the

back of Shahzad's SUV fiz-

zled, injuring no one at the

crossroads of New York City

teeming with restaurants, the-

aters, and tourists. A defiant

Shahzad, self-styled Muslim soldier, plead-

ed guilty later to terrorism and weapons

charges and warned the US that the “war

with the Muslims has just begun.”

Two days after his failed plan to kill

Americans, security agencies

apprehended Shahzad trying to

board a flight to Dubai. Before

the botched attack, Shahzad, a

budget analyst living in

Connecticut, had returned from

a five-month trip to Pakistan

for training from terror organi-

zations. Had the Times Square

bombing been successful,

Shahzad allegedly planned to

attack four other targets --

Rockefeller Center, a Grand Central

Terminal, the World Financial Center and

the Connecticut headquarters of defense

contractor Sikorsky, the prosecutors

claimed.

Pakistan born terroristFaisal Shahzad

Brutal killing of Divyendu Sinha

Life changed forever for

the Sinha family when

a casual stroll in their

perfectly safe neighborhood of

Old Bridge, New Jersey,

turned a nightmare on June 25.

Dr. Divyendu Sinha, a respect-

ed technocrat was out with his

wife and two teenage sons for

a walk when five teenagers

(two Caucasians and three

African Americans) attacked

them, hitting him severely on head and

neck without any provocation. He died

three days later while his sons sustained

minor injuries defending him.

The incident came as a huge

shock for the entire Indian

American community which

demanded the culprits be tried

as adults. One of the five teens

accused, Steven Contreras,

who turns 18 in April is the

only one of the five who is still

in custody. He will be trans-

ferred to the Middlesex County

jail from the county Youth

Detention Center where he is being held.

The others charged in the case are free on

bail.

Dr. Sinha was attackedunprovoked

Indian dance debuts at Macy’sThanksgiving parade

Rupal K Patel’s Arya

Dance Academy

became the first

Indian American group to

be selected for the Macy's

Thanksgiving Day parade

in the New York City on

November 26. Over 100

groups had sought to join

the marching bands at the

parade. The Arya Dance

Academy was among the

nine groups chosen this

year.

Patel who has a degree in

computer science and busi-

ness from Boston College,

worked for IBM as a con-

sultant for about a year

before quitting her job and

starting a dance studio in

2001.

Today, Arya Studios

teach Bollywood and other

traditional Indian dances

such as Kathak, Bhangra or

Garba, in 33 states and 341

cities — including one

branch in Mumbai, India

— making it the largest

Bollywood dance studios in

the United States.

Macy’s loved the unique-

ness of Patel’s act and

accepted the Arya dancers

into the show in late May.

Reshma Saujani loses NY Primary

Aformer fundraiser

for Hillary Clinton,

Reshma Saujani,

failed in her bid to chal-

lenge veteran Democrat

Carolyn Maloney in a New

York party primary.

But as a first-time candi-

date Saujani, 34, a former

hedge fund lawyer, posed a

serious challenge to

Maloney, 64, in her “Silk

Stocking District”, which

encompasses much of

Manhattan’s East Side and

a chunk of Western

Queens.

Saujani, who called

Maloney “a mediocre but

reliable Democrat” during

her campaign and attempt-

ed to paint her as ineffec-

tive and out of touch with

her constituents, released a

series of attack ads after the

congresswoman initially

refused to debate her oppo-

nent. Accusing Maloney of

not having done enough to

protect the city’s biggest

economy engine, the finan-

cial sector, she raised more

than $1 million for her bid,

with significant contribu-

tions from financial indus-

try executives and technol-

ogy entrepreneurs.

Saujani, who cast herself

as new blood in a broken

political system, earlier

said she was optimistic

about her chances but if she

didn’t win she would

“absolutely” run again.

Continued no page 36...

Reshma Saujani

Row over Padma Bhushan to Sant Chatwal

The Government of

India’s decision to

confer civilian honor

Padma Bhushan to New

Year-based hotelier Sant

Singh Chatwal was like

stirring up a hornet’s nest.

Bharatiya Janata Party

expressed its disappoint-

ment and sent a letter to

President Pratibha Patil and

Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh demanding that the

award be taken back for his

controversial financial

dealings in the US and in

India. Ironically the covet-

ed award was bestowed

upon the man with high-

level political connections

for facilitating the passage

of the Indo-US Nuclear

deal, which in fact was a

joint community effort

including powerful profes-

sional groups such as

AAHOA (Asian American

Hotel Owners Association)

and AAPI (American

Association of Physicians

of Indian origin).

Hotelier Sant Chatwal receiving the coveted award fromPresident Pratibha Patil

Outrage over Joel Stein’s articlein Time magazine

An article titled ‘My Own Private

India’ by Joel Stein in Time maga-

zine sparked a controversy in July.

His supposedly hilarious take on the

Indian Americans in his hometown of

Edison, NJ didn’t go down well with the

community at large who reacted strongly

to the offensive language and intended

puns. SAALT (South Asian Americans

Leading Together) took up online petition,

celebrity desis such as Kal Penn lashed out

at him on blogs and the entire uproar final-

ly managed to elicit an apology from the

writer as well as the magazine.Joel Stein’s comments angered Indian

community

AryaDanceAcademydancersat theparade.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 20102010Highlights Movers & Shakers+

Poll triumphs and nagging issuesA record number of six Indian Americans were in the fray for Congressional seats in the November election this year. Five of them were Democrats - Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania, Ami Bera from California, Raj Goyle from Kansas, Ravi Sangisetty from Louisiana and Surya Yalamanchili from Ohio. All of them lost. Ashvin Lad from Illinois was the only Republican Indian American contesting. In Pennsylvania, Trivedi, an Iraq war veteran, was initially ahead of his Republican rival Jim Gerlach but the latter took the lead later on. In Kansas, Goyle was defeated by his Republican rival Mike Pompe. In Louisi-ana’s Third Congressional District Sangisetty received a decent 36 per cent of the total votes counted. Similar was the fate in Ohio with Surya Yalamanchill. Several oth-ers contested various other State senate and city council elections, many won, some got re-elected and many lost. But the fact remains that the Indian Americans have ar-rived on the political scene in the country.

Nikki Haley scripted history, elected South Carolina GovernorIn key mid-term polls in November in which President Obama’s Democrats were routed, 38-year-old Nikki Randhawa Haley, born of Sikh parents who migrated from Punjab, became only the second Indian-American to become a governor of a US state after Bobby Jindal in Louisiana as well as the first Indian-origin woman gov-ernor. A Republican, she has served three-terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives where she rep-resented Lexington County and was also the first Indian-American to hold office in that state. It was not smooth sailing for Haley, mother of Nalin (9) and Rena (12), as she had to overcome allegations of extramarital affairs and racial digs in her race for governorship. She fought a tough battle in the primaries and in the final run, receiv-ing 52 per cent of the votes as against her Democratic rival Vincent Sheehan, who polled 46 per cent. She as-sumes office on January 12, 2011 in Columbia.

Dr Ajeet Singhvi takes over as AAPI President

California-based gastroenterologist Dr. Ajeet Singhvi was elected pres-ident of American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) for year 2010-11. Getting the new generation onboard has been his main goal. In less than a month of taking over the gavel from Dr. Vi-nod Shah, he was successful in set-ting up the AAPI legislative office

in Washington DC to reach out to the lawmakers and make

their voices heard. Born in Merta, Rajasthan, the birth place of great poetess Meera Bai, Dr. Singhvi graduated in Medi-cine and Law from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur and immigrated to USA in 1977. He completed Internal Medicine Residency from Booth Memorial – NYU (1980) and went on to a Gastroenterology Fellowship from Wayne State Univer-sity, Detroit (1982). He is Board certified in American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics (2000) and Critical Care Medicine (2005). Since 1982 he has been in pri-vate practice in Gastroenterology in Hemet, CA. Along with his team at AAPI, he is now busy with the annual convention preparations to take place in New York City in June 2011. (photo): Dr Singhvi is trying to get the youth into AAPI and advocates community’s greater involvement in politics

Frisking of Indian diplomats at US airports

Two back to back incidents of singling out Indian diplomats at US airports and frisk-ing them enraged the Indian government as well as the community. Describing these searches as serious breaches of protocol, the Indian foreign ministry also registered their protest to Washington.

scribed Shankar’s pat-down as “appropriate under the cir- cumstances” (as she was wearing a sari) before Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said she was “concerned” and an official apology was issued. (photo): Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar was subjected to frisking.

Indian origin researcher Shuvo Roy created the world’s first implantable artificial kidney. What’s sensational about Roy’s creation is that the organ, no larger than a coffee cup, will be able to mimic the kidney’s most

vital functions like filtering toxins out of the bloodstream, regu-late blood pressure and produce the all-important vitamin D.

The artificial kidney has been tested successfully on a small number of animals. Large-scale trials on animals and humans are expected over the next five years. Once available, and if affordable, this creation by the Roy-led team at University of California will do away with the

Hardeep Puri, India’s ambassador to the United Nations, was held up for half an hour at Houston airport on No-vember 13 after refusing for a turban pat-down by se-curity people on religious grounds. On December 4, In-dian ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar was asked by security officials at a Mississippi airport for a pat-down search, despite reportedly notifying officials of her dip-lomatic status.

The US Homeland Security Department had initially de-

10

T o p 1 0 i n N a t i o n a l C o m m u n i t y

need for kidney dialysis. This will be a boon for all pa-tients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The University of California team is awaiting approval to conduct larger scale animal and human trials. Al-ready, it has successfully tested the implant in a few rats and pigs.(photo): Shuvo Roy led the team at University of California in this innovation.

Continued on page 19

Record number of Indian Americans ran for election

Indian American creates artificial kidney

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 20102010Highlights Movers & Shakers+

Kamala Harris elected Attorney General of CaliforniaEndorsed by President Obama, Indian-American Kamala Harris won the election for attorney general of Califor-nia in November after the result was delayed in a close race. Harris is the first woman to hold the office of AG in the state. Daughter of an Indian mother and African-American father, former San Francisco attorney gener-al Harris defeated Republican Steve Cooley in a tough fight and replaced Democrat Jerry Brown who won the election for governor of California. The US President had also attended a fund raiser for her in the state. Born and raised in the East Bay, Kamala was elected as the first woman district attorney in San Francisco’s history in December 2003, as well as the first African-American woman and South Asian American woman in California to hold the office. Kamala is the daughter of Dr Shyamala Gopalan, a Tamilian breast cancer specialist who traveled to the US from Chennai, to pursue her graduate studies at UC Berkeley. After attending public schools, Kama-la’s strong commitment to justice and public service led her to Howard University, America’s oldest historically Black university, and then to the University of California and Hastings College of Law.

Unrest over GoI’s new passport surrender and visa rulesA large number of Indian Americans have been unhappy with the new rules imposed by Govt. of India for sur-rendering the old Indian passport and delays in issuance of visa to visit India. It all started in the third week of May when the Indian Embassy and consulates started charging $175 fee for surrendering the old Indian pass-port and additional fees of $200 for any consular ser-vice used by naturalized citizens. An online campaign by GOPIO to the Prime Minister of India was signed by over 32,000 people in ten days. The government relented and the surrender fee was reduced to $20 for those who had become naturalized citizens before June 1, 2010. However there are several related issues which need to be sorted out. In June this year, the secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs Dr. Deedar Singh had sent a notification to many NRI/PIO organi-zations and prominent NRIs stating that those who ac-quired citizenship of another country before Jan. 2005 need not obtain the surrender certificate. This decision was taken at a joint meeting of the officials of three min-istries, MOIA, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Home Ministry. However, the Home Ministry officials went back on this decision and this was never imple-mented. So everyone has to get the surrender certificate. With a lot of hassles involved in the entire process, the community is uniting again to register their protest to the government. Hopefully 2011 will see some amicable solution to the changed rules issue.

World loses management guru C K Prahlad

Internationally renowned manage-ment guru C.K. Prahalad, popularly known as CK, died in San Diego af-ter a brief illness at 69.

The man who called attention to the “fortune at the bottom of the pyramid” died in April 2010 at

the top of his game. A professor at the University of Michigan, CK was considered one of the world’s top 10 management thinkers. His theory about the fortune at the bottom of the pyramid is followed by many corpora-tions in emerging markets.

Prahalad’s theory affected many Indian and developing world retail outlets. It was his proposition that businesses stop thinking of the poor as victims and instead start seeing them as value-demanding consumers that drove compa-nies such as Hindustan Lever and Godrej to come out with ultra-small sachets of everything from shampoo to gutka sparking off a retail revolution. Indeed, his 2004 book The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty through Profits, became a New York Times bestseller and catapulted him to a rock star among management thinkers although he was already a storied business guru by then.

(photo): CK Prahalad, 69, died in San Diego.

.

11

T o p 1 0 i n N a t i o n a l C o m m u n i t y

Kamala Harris was endorsed by President Obama

David Headley’s revelations continue to baffle US & IndiaAmerican-born Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, accused of plotting Mumbai terror attack in 2008, had “ha-tred” towards India and warned that he would stop helping the probe if his admission of guilt was linked to coopera-tion with New Delhi. This came out in a secret US em-bassy cable made public by WikiLeaks. Headley, who also conspired to target a Danish newspaper, pleaded guilty to all terror charges before a US court on March 18 this year. The plea was seen as an attempt by 50-year-old Headley to escape death penalty as he faced six counts of conspiracy involving bombing public places in India, murdering and aiming persons in India and providing material support to foreign terrorist plots and LeT and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of US citizens in India. But his plea agreement with federal prosecutors ruled out death penalty and extradition to India, Pakistan and Denmark, provided he cooperates with the government’s investigations into terrorist acts. Headley, a Chicago resident, was arrested by FBI’s joint terrorism task force on October 3 last year.

Robbers targeting South Asian homes sentencedIndian Americans in Washington suburbs heaved a sigh of relief when a New York City woman who admitted being part of a ring of picky burglars which targeted dozens of South Asian homes there was sentenced to three years in fed-eral prison. Melinda M. Soto, 34, and her husband, Dagoberto Soto Ramirez, plead-ed guilty in federal court in Alexandria to regularly travel-ing from New York to Fairfax and Lou-doun counties, two Washington sub-urbs in neighboring Northern Virginia, to commit the bur-glaries. They admit-ted to burglarizing 37 homes and steal-ing nearly $600,000 worth of gold jew-elry between Janu-ary and November of last year, when they were arrested along with a third alleged co-conspira-tor, Francisco Gray. The cases against all three were thrown out by judges in Fairfax and Lou-doun for lack of evidence, and Gray was deported to Peru. Federal au-thorities stepped in and indicted the trio in July. The So-tos pleaded guilty in September to transporting stolen property across state lines. Gray has not been located.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010292010

Highlights Movers & Shakers

Top 10 Diaspora News

Leading industrialist Lord Swraj Paul was cleared by the police in the MPs expenses row involving scores of British parliamentarians across the political spectrum. The 78-year-old Labor Peer said in a statement here that following media allegations the Metropolitan Police had been carrying out an investigation into his parliamentary expenses as a part of “its wider inquiries into this issue.” Paul, Chairman of the Caparo Group of industries, said he was delighted to announce that the police “will no longer be proceeding with any investigation or inquiry in relation to my House of Lords expenses.” Paul, who is regarded as a close friend of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, had vehemently denied media allegations that he was among those MPs who wrongly claimed parliamentary allowances.

People of Indian origin living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who need help in legal, financial and medical issues, now have a toll-free helpline -- the first of its kind for migrant workers by any coun-try in the world. The toll-free number is 800-46342 the last five digits of which read ‘INDIA’ if matched with the alphabet key positions on a mobile phone. The helpline of the much-awaited Indian Workers’ Re-source Centre was dedicated to the Indian community in the UAE by visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil in Dubai.

The resource centre will receive, register

New Zealand radio host Michael Laws apologized for calling his country’s Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand a “fat Indian”. The broadcaster made the racially charged comments which aroused the ire of the country’s Prime Minister John Key, who condemned it in strong terms. In a state-ment on the RadioLive website, Laws apologized for calling Sir Satyanand a “large, fat man” who has “never left” the buffet table.

On his talkback radio show last week, Laws said Sir Anand was an “unusual-shaped man” who reminded him of the impossibly obese Monty Python character Mr Creosote. He also likened him to a British actor who played the Agatha Christie creation Hercule Poirot on UK televi-sion. Key, who was trying to douse New Delhi’s anger af-ter another TV presenter had ridiculed Delhi Chief Min-ister Sheila Dikshit’s name, said the radio talk shows com-ments were “unacceptable.”

Malaysian Hindu organization urged the government to ban the latest issue of Ameri-can magazine Newsweek for ‘insulting Hindus’ by depicting US President Barack Obama as Lord Shiva. P. Murugiah, deputy chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s Penang state branch said the November issue of the magazine portrayed Obama as Nataraja (Lord Shiva) with the caption ‘God of All Things’. He said sacred Hindu images were too of-ten portrayed in pop culture without a proper understanding of their spiritual relevance.

and monitor grievance petitions and of-fer counseling to members of the Indian community in legal, financial and medical issues. It will work in cooperation with the Indian diplomatic mission. It will also have a walk-in counter to receive petitions directly from Indian workers on all days from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. One-to-one counsel-ing will be given by a panel of 14 experts, who will attend to calls in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi.

In Abu Dhabi, another walk-in centre will function from the Indian Embassy from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays.

Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the country’s oldest Indian-based political party had a change of guard after 31 years when party chief S. Samy Vellu stepped down. Vellu, 74, who had been head-ing the party since 1979 was succeeded by G. Palanivel, 61. He takes over as Malaysia’s spe-cial envoy to India and four other South Asian countries. MIC is princi-pal among the parties that traditionally represent Malaysia’s 2.1 million ethnic Indian population and is part of the Razak-led ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN).

Kamla Prasad BissessarLord Swraj Paul

Shrien and Anni Dewani as newly weds

Compiled by Hiral Dholakia-Dave

A British court granted bail to businessman Shrien Dewani a newly wed accused of hiring a man to kill his bride Anni, 28 during their honeymoon in South Africa. Anni was found dead in the back of an abandoned taxi with a bullet wound in her neck on Nov 13.

Authorities in South Africa want the 30-year-old British citizen extradited for a trial there, and objected to a lower British court’s decision to grant Dewani bail - provided he wore an electronic tag and observed a curfew.

The South African authori-ties want to question him after taxi driver Zola Tongo told a Cape Town court that he was hired by the husband to kill his bride. According to Daily Mail, a paramedic who was at the scene soon after Anni died has said that she was executed in cold blood. “She looked like someone who had maybe passed out after drinking or had been sedated. It looked as if someone in the passenger seat had leaned over and shot her in the neck. I got the definite im-pression that she was executed.”

Sensational murder of UK bride on honeymoon in South Africa

Lord Swraj Paul cleared in House of Lords expenses row

Toll-free helpline launched for Indians in UAE

Malaysian Indian

Congress gets a new leader after

31 years

Highs & lows of Indians AbroadMalaysian Hindus protest Obama’s portrayal as Lord Shiva

People of Trinidad and Tobago created history by electing a woman prime minister. Kamla Prasad Bis-sessar is the first woman to assume the highest office there and the second one among Indo-Trinidadians. Earlier it was Basdeo Pan-dey in 1995 to 2001. Born on April 22, 1952, she is mar-ried to Dr Gregory Bissessar and has one son. She studied in Trinidad until graduation and went to England to ob-tain her law degree. She started her career as teacher in a college before taking to legal profession.

Her experience in edu-cational institutions helped her to improve primary and secondary schools as well as technical and vocational and training, special education and teacher education in her country.

She is widely recognized for her work in educational broadcasting, educational counseling and guidance, moral, ethical and spiritual values and physical educa-tion in schools. She has many distinctions to her credit: first woman to serve as attorney general, acting prime minis-ter and leader of opposition of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ethnic Indians, whose forefathers came to settle in Malaysia a century back chose for the celebrations the historic Batu Caves, a site 13 km from Kuala Lumpur that has one of the largest complex of Hindu shrines in the world outside India. Over 2,000 members of the Association of Malaysia Indians of Kelantan Origin took a trip down memory lane as they recalled the time spent in the state. Though many of them no longer reside in Kelantan, their sentiment for the state is still strong, The Star online reported.

Trinidad’s first woman

PM is an Indian

NZ radio host apologizes for calling Gov Gen Satyanand ‘fat Indian’

The number of Indian students enrolling at Australian uni-versities for the 2011 academic year is set to plunge by 80 per cent, Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis said. There had been a string of attacks on Indian students in Australia, causing outrage in India. The assaults took place in Melbourne as well in Sydney. One of the attacks proved fatal when a student, Nitin Garg, was knifed in January.

Indian students number to dip in Australia by 80%

Indians celebrate century of living in Malaysia

Jayant Patel, an Indian origin doctor sentenced to sev-en years in prison for manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm on patients at an Australian hospital, appealed against his sentence and conviction. Dubbed “Dr Death”, Patel was sentenced July 1 to seven years for each case of manslaughter and three years for grievous bodily harm. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Patel was chief of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005. Indian-born and US-trained, Patel had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of James Phil-lips, 46, Gerry Kemps, 77, and Mervyn Morris, 75, who died following surgery performed by him. He had also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Vowles, whose healthy bowel he removed in October 2004. The trial involved the evidence of 76 witnesses over 53 days.

Jayant Patel appeals conviction in Australia

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12

India rules global stageIndian Diplomacy

It was the blockbuster diplomatic year for an emerging India that got elected to a rotating seat in the UN Security Councilafter nearly two decades and played host to all leaders of the permanent five (P5) members of the Security Council -- David

Cameron, Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy, Wen Jiabao and Dmitry Medvedev -- in the last six months of 2010.

March 12 - Russian Prime

Minister Vladimir

Putin's visit yields

lucrative deals in diverse areas

including oil exploration, dia-

monds, banking and fertilizers.

Putin vows to build more nuclear

reactors for India.

June 2-4 - During South Africa's

President Jacob Zuma's visit,

India and South Africa relaunch

CEOs forum, sign three pacts, set

a trade target of $10 billion by

2010 and vow to reform the UN.

July 27-29 - British Prime

Minister David Cameron is the

first leader of P5 to visit India. A

nuclear agreement and a $1.1 bil-

lion defense deal for supplying 57

Hawk trainer jets to India are

inked. Britain is outspoken about

Pakistan "exporting terrorism".

Oct 14: Mirroring the changing

architecture of the evolving glob-

al order, India wins a non-perma-

nent seat on the UN Security

Council with a record 187 votes

in the 192-member UN General

Assembly on October 12.

Nov 6-9 - US President Barack

Obama's charm offensive visit is

the scene-stealer of 2010. Strikes

deals worth $15 billion that are

expected to create 54,000 jobs in

the US. Obama also endorses

India's candidature for a perma-

nent seat in the UN Security

Council, backs India's full mem-

bership of NSG, Missile

Technology Control Regime

(MTCR), the Australia Group and

the Wassenaar Arrangement and

asks Pakistan to bring 26/11 ter-

rorists to justice.

Nov 14 - External Affairs

Minister S.M. Krishna asks

Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi

to show sensitivity to India's core

concerns and says that Jammu

and Kashmir is to India what

Taiwan and Tibet are to China.

Dec 4-7 - French President

Nicolas Sarkozy's visit sees deals

worth $20 billion being unveiled

and nuclear giant Areva signing a

pact for building two nuclear

reactors in Maharashtra.

Dec 15-17 - No breakthrough

on stapled visas, but Chinese

Premier Wen Jiabao's visit sees

the two sides seal deals worth $16

billion, launch a CEOs forum and

a strategic economic dialogue to

address over $20 billion trade

imbalance.

Dec 21-22 - Russian President

Dmitry Medvedev's visit sees the

inking of 29 pacts, including a

preliminary deal for building the

fifth generation fighter jet that

will eventually work out to $30

billion. Russia also asks Pakistan

to bring the "authors, perpetrators

and accomplices" of the Mumbai

terror attack to justice.

British Prime Minister David Cameron with Chief Mentor of Infosys, N.R. Narayana Murthy, in Bangalore; French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife with PresidentPratibha Patil in New Delhi; and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

The P5 leaders - save for

China's Wen Jiabao - were

unequivocal in backing

New Delhi for a permanent seat

in the UN Security Council. The

big breakthrough came when US

President Barack Obama ended

Washington's ambiguity and

announced before the Indian par-

liament Nov 8 that he looked for-

ward to welcoming India "as it

prepares to take a seat at the UN

Security Council". "For in Asia

and around the world, India is not

simply emerging, India has

already emerged," said Obama

memorably.

Obama's visit also silenced

skeptics who thought India-US

ties turned lukewarm under his

presidency as the US also backed

New Delhi for membership of

elite nuclear clubs like the

Nuclear Suppliers Group and

clinched business deals worth

$15 billion.

The year 2010 also saw Indian

diplomacy becoming more prag-

matic and business-oriented as

India sealed free trade pacts with

Japan and Malaysia, East Asia's

star economy, and launched

negotiations for civil nuclear

deals with Tokyo and Seoul.

The US sought to scale bilater-

al trade from $37 billion to $75

billion by 2015; Britain from

$11.5 billion to $24 billion by

2014; France from $8 billion to

$16 billion by 2012; China from

$43 billion to $100 billion by

2015; Russia from $9 billion to

$20 billion by 2015.

The year gone by also saw

India raising its profile as an aid

giver and exercising its soft

power astutely as it offered an

unprecedented $1 billion Line of

Credit to Bangladesh and

pledged $1.5 billion in soft loans

to rehabilitate and help recon-

struct war-ravaged northeast of

Sri Lanka.

In a year of many diplomatic

successes, however, Pakistan

remained a migraine for India's

foreign policy makers as the first

serious attempt post-26/11 to

revive dialogue by the foreign

ministers July 15 crashed in bitter

mutual recrimination.

Islamabad accused New Delhi

of making dialogue terror-centric.

India refused to buy the latter's

bait of a timeline to resolve diffi-

cult issues like Kashmir, deepen-

ing the chill in bilateral ties.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah

Mahmood Qureshi is expected in

India early 2011, but no one is

betting on a breakthrough.

Relations with China, too, con-

tinued on a slippery terrain as an

assertive Beijing denied visa to a

senior army officer from Jammu

and Kashmir in July, allegedly on

grounds that Kashmir was a dis-

puted territory between India and

Pakistan.

When Wen visited India in

December, the two emerging

Asian powers inked a clutch of

pacts and agreed to launch a

strategic economic dialogue to

address over $20 billion trade

imbalance, but the issue of the

Chinese stapled visas to residents

of Jammu and Kashmir remained

intractable.

Finally, New Delhi had no

choice but to do some blunt talk,

telling Beijing that Kashmir was

to India what Taiwan and Tibet

are to China.

The omission of a reference to

one-China policy in the India-

China joint statement tells its

own story.

In the year to come, the world

will be expecting India to balance

this assertiveness with calibrated

positions on key global issues

and flashpoints from Tehran to

Pyongyang as New Delhi returns

to the UN Security Council after

19 odd years.

P5 toast emerging India

US President Barack Obama's charm offensive visit to India is the scene-stealer of 2010 while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s India visit left many crucial questions unanswered.

Indian diplomacy highlights

13

Season of ScamsCorruption in India

From 2G to Commonwealth Games, from Niira Radia Tapes to Adarsh Society fraud… the year 2010 saw many skeletonstumbling out from across the layers of the society. The Opposition brought Parliament to a grinding halt

demanding a Joint Parliament Committee probe into 2G scam while Radia Tapes kept on revealing the nexus between corporate India, politicians and media.

2010's is one telecom story that

will keep ringing in people's

minds for years to come --

leaked tapped conversations of a

clutch of India's over 700 million

phone subscribers suggested how

lobbying may have led to an

alleged Rs 1.76 lakh crore ($40 bil-

lion) scam in the sale of radio

waves.

All hell broke loose after the pub-

lication of the tapes, recorded by

the Revenue Intelligence depart-

ment between 2008-09, and the

Opposition brought Parliament to a

grinding halt demanding a probe. If

proved, this scam may turn out to

be the biggest India has ever seen.

The developments have already

over-shadowed the remarkable per-

formance of the sector that has

grown by leaps and bounds by

adding up to 20 million new sub-

scribers every month. There are

already over 700 million phone

subscribers in India.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

removed A. Raja as the communi-

cations minister, but the Opposition

continued to demand the institution

of a joint parliamentary committee,

or JPC, to probe the allegations. In

an unprecedented breakdown of

Parliamentary traditions in

Independent India, the entire winter

session of Parliament remained

paralyzed, as the Opposition

refused to allow conduct of any

business while the government,

too, stuck to its stand that there was

no need for a JPC.

This was followed by CBI raids

on the premises of Raja as well as

his close aides, including his for-

mer personal secretary, a former

Telecom Commission Chairman

and a former TRAI Chairman and

some senior officials of the

Department of Telecom.

Even before the leak of taped

conversations that corporate lobby-

ist Niira Radia had with politicians,

bureaucrats, industrialists and jour-

nalists, the crisis was building, but

it was the tapes that fuelled it into a

raging fire.

The phone conversations between

corporate lobbyist Radia and politi-

cians, particularly Raja, may com-

plicate things further for the former

Telecom Minister and the govern-

ment, which also drew flak for tap-

ping phones.

The controversy even reached the

PMO, with the former Telecom

Minister claiming that the Prime

Minister was aware of all the deci-

sions made.

2G –The mother of all scams

Former Federal telecom minister A. Raja with Prime MinisterManmohan Singh; and Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

Yeddyurappa in limbo

Even if action

has been

taken in near-

ly all these matters,

they have not dis-

pelled the murky

atmosphere of venal-

ity, which has

enveloped the gov-

ernment and the rul-

ing Congress.

One reason, how-

ever, why the BJP

has been unable to

derive much advan-

tage from the Congress' discomfiture is that the BJP's own chief minis-

ter, B.S. Yeddyurappa, has become involved in questionable land trans-

actions in Karnataka.

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Nitish, a ray of hope

The only ray of

light in this

d e p r e s s i n g

environment has

been provided by the

electoral success of

Bihar Chief Minister

Nitish Kumar. There

are two reasons for

the celebrations.

One is that Nitish

Kumar has not fea-

tured in any scandal.

The other is that his

victory is mainly the

outcome of his fruit-

ful efforts relating to

development and

law and order, which

have enabled the

state to emerge from

the "jungle raj" of

Lalu Yadav's years

in power (1990-

2005).

With the govern-

ment being rocked

by corruption scan-

dals and the hostile

neighbors looking

for opportunities to

destabilize India, the

country is faced with

a winter of discon-

tent.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

At home, the government

was under attack, first

for delays and then for

alleged corruption in the con-

duct of the 19th Commonwealth

Games held in New Delhi in

October.

Irregular allotment of houses

in Mumbai’s Adarsh Housing

Society, which was meant for

the benefit of families of Kargil

war victims was the other cor-

ruption scandal that undermined

the government’s image.

Both Congressmen had to

resign in connection with other

acts of suspected malfeasance.

One was Maharashtra Chief

Minister Ashok Chavan and the

other was Commonwealth

Games Organizing Committee

chief Suresh Kalmadi.

Chavan was implicated in a

housing society scam in

Mumbai in which bureaucrats,

including defense officials,

were involved. Kalmadi 's

alleged sins were about the

siphoning off of funds related to

the Games.

Former Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chief SureshKalmadi with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit; and former

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Winter of discontent

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 20102010Highlights Movers & Shakers+ 10 Most Notable New Yorkers

14

An entirely India-educated financial pundit, Ajay Banga was appointed CEO of glob-al payment solution leader MasterCard Inc this year. He took over from Robert Se-lander in July.

Banga joined MasterCard as president and chief oper-ating officer from Citigroup Inc. in August 2009 and was given a $4.2 million signing bonus he could keep if he wasn’t named CEO by June 30, 2010, according to a reg-ulatory filing.

Pune-born, Delhi-educated, IIM-Ahmedabad alum Ajay Banga is the brother of high profile Manvinder Singh Banga, who left Unilever after 33 years to join a private equity firm.

With his new appoint-ment Ajay Banga joined the league of Vikram Pan-dit of CitiGroup and Indra

Ajay Banga, CEO, MasterCard

Ajit Jain, Chief Executive Officer of Reinsurance Division, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Ajay Bhumitra, President & CEO, Arjay Wireless

Ashwini Gupta, Executive Vice

President and Chief Risk

Officer, American Express

J Ganesh Bhat, Nephrologist and cofounder, Atlantic Dialysis

Ravi Batra, Eminent Attorney

Nooyi of Pepsico heading a global conglomerate.

Before joining MasterCard on August 31, 2009, Banga had spent 13 long years with banking major Citigroup and held various roles in the US, Europe and Middle East, among others.

Banga started his career with Nestle in 1981 and later joined Pepsico. He also serves on the board of Kraft Foods.

Son of an Army officer, Banga rejected an army ca-reer his father was keen he pursue and instead later took a BA in Economics Honors from Delhi University and later an MBA from the Indi-an Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

He has a keen interest in so-cial development issues and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Economic Club of New York, as well as a fellow of the For-eign Policy Association. He is also a member of The Finan-cial Services Roundtable.

Previously, he served on the boards of trustees of En-terprise Community Partners and the National Urban

League and was vice chair-man of the board of trustees for the New York Hall of Science.

moved to the United States, where he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1978. He joined McKinsey & Co., but returned to India in the early 1980s. After a monthlong courtship, he married a Tinku Jain cho-sen by his parents. Then he went back to the United States to work for McKinsey. According to Robert P. Miles’ book The Warren Buffet CEO: Secrets from the Berk-shire Hathaway Managers Jain said he would not have returned to America, but his wife wanted to move there. In 1986 he left McKinsey to work on insurance opera-tions for Buffet. At the time, he said he knew little about the insurance business.

lowed on the heels of another--this time to the Governor’s Ju-dicial Screening Panel, Second Dept, on Nov. 19, 2010 by the Democratic Majority in the state senate. Batra has received nu-merous awards and accolades over the years. The most recent being awarded “Eminent Law-yer” by Deputy Speaker of NJ Assembly, Upendra Chivkula, May 15, 2009.

His list of achievements in-clude winning dismissal of a $30 million libel suit filed by Justice Larry D. Martin against New York Daily News, col-umnist Errol Louis, and Ravi Batra. Batra was sued in his

capacity as litigation coun-sel in an unrelated litigation, Riskin v. Karp, for Karp’s al-leged breach of the adver-sarial system’s safety net; the Karp case continues on.

He also won a First Amend-ment landmark decision in a libel-in-fiction lawsuit against NBC and inter alia, Dick Wolf when Law & Order created and aired an episode, “Float-er,” in fall 2003 while ripping from the headlines the real-life story of courthouse corruption between then-attorney Paul Siminovsky and then-Justice Gerald P. Garson, now both convicted criminals.

New York Governor David Pa-terson appointed noted nephrol-ogist J. Ganesh Bhat, MD to the NYS Public Health and Health Planning through 2016. Previ-ously he was a member of the New York State Public Health Council appointed by Governor Paterson. Co-founder of the At-lantic Dialysis Management Ser-vices in Queens, Dr. Bhat has

A legal luminary, Ravi Batra was appointed by Governor David Paterson on Decem-ber 16, 2010 as a Member of NYS Interest on Lawyer Account Fund for a 2-year term. This appointment fol

practiced nephrology for almost 30 years and is a founding mem-ber of Mattoo & Bhat Medical As-sociates, P.C., one of the largest non university based nephrol-ogy practice in New York City. Dr. Bhat is also the Chancellor of Xavier University School of Medicine in Oranjestat, Aruba in the Dutch Caribbean.

Dr. Bhat has held numerous

teaching and administrative po-sitions in the NY area, including Assistant Professor of Medicine at SUNY Stony Brook, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medi-cine at Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Nephrology Director at Queens Hospital Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Cen-ter, and Medical Director at North Shore/LIJ Hospital at Forest Hills.

Ajay Bhumitra is President & CEO of the Arjay Wireless Group, also known as King Maker of wireless business, has grown from a single retail. store in 1989 to a Group that is most known and success-ful in the wireless industry His companies have partnered with industry leaders in wire-less including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Motorola, RIM, Nokia, Samsung, LG and HTC. The Arjay Group has over 350 employees, and has

consistently won awards and recognition from busi-ness partners over the years.Ajay has established a lead-ership role for himself in the wireless business, and has helped numbers of people in building businesses and be-coming successful in the in-dustry. Other notables desi in wire less industry are: Sarab Lambaof AW Mobile, Raja Amar of Portables Unlimited, Vikas Dhall of ZCom and Jer-ry Kohli of T Mobile Limited.

Ajit Jain, born on July 23, 1951 in Orissa, India, is a busi-nessman who currently heads several reinsurance businesses for Berkshire Hathaway and has been touted as a pos-sible successor to Warren Buffet. In his annual letter to shareholders this year too, as in the past, Warren Buffet wrote: ‘If Charlie, I and Ajit are ever in a sinking boat – and you can only save one of us – swim to Ajit.’

Jain was raised in India’s coastal state of Orissa. He graduated in 1972 from the Indian Institute of Technol-ogy Kharagpur with a bach-elor’s degree in engineer-ing.He was a resident of the Azad Hall of Residence. He didn’t take his studies very seriously, according to classmate Ronojoy Dutta. In-stead, they spent hours talk-ing about economics, sociol-ogy and the Vietnam War, often debating through the night. Vijay Trehan, another classmate, described Jain and Dutta as “class clowns in our mechanical engineering class.” But con-sidering their later careers, Trehan said, “The lesson has to be that ‘not taking life too seriously’ is definitely the way to go.

Jain worked for IBM in In-dia from 1973 to 1976, then

Gupta is one of the 15 most senior leaders of American Express Company. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, Mr. Gupta oversees all risk manpany agement and information management for the com and manages over 1000 people. He has held various positions in American Ex press Com-pany for more than 25 years with increasing responsibil-ity and is now a part of the company’s Global Manage-ment TeamGupta received his Bachelor’s Degree in Me-chanical Engineering from IIT Delhi in 1974. He completed his MBA from Columbia Busi-ness School in 1977.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 20102010Highlights Movers & Shakers+ 10 Most Notable New Yorkers

17

India-born Citi Bank CEO Vikram Pandit decided to work for just $1 for the sec-ond year in a row.

Pandit, who has restored

PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi kept up with her record of making it to the list of Forbes ‘World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ this year too. She ranked 6th on the list. Nooyi, 54, whose total annual compensa-tion package last year was 10.6 million dollars, ranked sec-ondin the business category.

Indra Nooyi, Chairman & CEO, PepsiCoVikram Pandit, CEO Citi Banktheailing banking giant to prof itability and brought it mostly out from under strict government scrutiny after a $45 billion rescue during the financial crisis, told the Citi board he wouldn’t accept any compensation above $1 for this year.

Pandit hogged the media limelight worldwide when he was declared as the young-est CEO of the world’s larg-est conglomerate, the Citi-group in 2008.

Born on Jan 14, 1957 at Nagpur in the state of Maha-rashtra in India. He shifted to US at 16 and went on to ac-quire BS and MS in electrical engineering. He completed Ph D in finance in 1986.

Forbes said Nooyi nudged a 20 million dollar slice of the com-pany’s $616-million-a-year ad budget away from traditional to social media spends. Pepsico has the world’s largest portfo-lio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines tha each generate more than $1 t billion in annual retail sales.

Nooyi was named President and CEO on Oct 1, 2006 and assumed role of chairman in May 2007. She has directed the company’s global strat-egy for more than a decade and led its restructuring, in-cluding the divestiture of its restaurants into the success-ful YUM! Brands, Inc. the acquisition of Tropicana and

The South Asian Times published a special edition celebrating 64th Independence Day of India & 40th Anniversary of FIA in partnership with FIA NY-NJ-CT. This edition is a

collectible due to its superior content and colorful layout about history of Indian Independence & FIA.Seen in the photo: Preity Zienta, Bollywood star and Grand Marshall at the India Day Parade unveiling the special edition of The South Asian Times presented by

Ms. Apurvi Mehta & publisher Kamlesh C. Mehta.

Nassau County Executive Edward P Mangano was presented the prestigious Rotary International Paul Harris Award by Rotary International Dist Gov.

Ravi Bhooplapur. Seen in the photo are: Kamlesh Mehta, President Rotary Club Hicksville South, Ed Mangano, Linda Mangano, Dist. Governor

Bhooplapur and Deputy County Executive Pat Foye.

Jai Ho Concert was led by Oscar and Grammy winner A R Rahman in New Jersey, where he projected a giant image of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. Pic: Vijay Shah

Thousands of New toys & winter clothes were distributed to Needy Children in Long Island. The event was cosponsored by T Mobile Limited, Hicksville Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Club of Hicksville South & The

South Asian Times, all located in Hicksville Long Island.

National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA) honored Kamlesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Publisher of The South Asian Times for Excellence in Print Media at

NFIA International Convention 2010.In Photo Kamlesh Mehta is seen receiving the plaque.Others in pictures are: CK Patel President NFIA, Mr. Lal Motwani Convener

2010 NFIA Convention and Mr. Raj Purohit, BJP President, Mumbai.

the merger with Quaker Oats that brought the vital Quaker and Gatorade businesses to Pepsi Co and the merger with PepsiCo’s anchor bottlers.

Proud moments for SATimes in 2010

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 20102010Highlights Movers & Shakers+ 10 Most Notable New Yorkers

18

Harry Singh is an extremely hands-on and committed NJP executive who has more than 26 years of oil and convenience store business experience. He is an entrepreneur’s entrepre-neur. He is living the American Dream. Singh is often quoted throughout the tri-state area and is known for his philanthropy and commitment to excellence.

He is New Jersey Petroleum’s COO (Chief Operating Officer). As a partner and officer of NJP, Singh is responsible for much of the day-to-day functions. He

Harry Singh , COO, Bolla Group Nirav Shah, NY’s next Health Commissioneris very involved in the strate-gic planning and vision of the company. Singh oversees the business operations as well as the Company Owned Stores.

Singh is recognized as one of the top Oil Executives in this tri-state area and across the nation. He currently has over 400 people in his organiza-tions and sells over 113 mil-lion gallons and operates 44 sites with maculate c-stores. He currently flies the follow-ing flags ExxonMobil (23 lo-cations), Sunoco (11), BP (3) and Gulf (1) in the Metro New York and Long Island area.

He is a hands on experienced operator as an oil jobber, Fran-chise operator, supplier, con-struction company executive with over $14.5 Million projects currently underway (Residential projects [$10Million], Ground up Gas Station projects [$2 Mil-lion] and 4 gas station upgrade projects [$2.5 Million].

the state’s Medicaid program and making sure the agency safeguards the health of the public at all income levels.

Straddling the worlds of medicine and research, Dr. Shah, 38 is an attending physician at Bellevue Hospi-tal Center in New York City and an associate investiga-tor at the Geisinger Center for Health Research in Dan-ville, Pa.

Dr. Shah is “an expert in the use of systems-based methods to improve patient outcomes … and a nationally recognized thought leader in the very methods needed to transition to the future of lower-cost, more patient-cen-tered health care,” according to the announcement.

According to the Langone Center website, his research focuses on the use of technol-ogy to improve patient care.

More specifically, he has

Dr. Nirav Shah, an assis-tant professor at New York University’s Langone Medi-cal Center, will be New York state’s next health commis-sioner. His appointment was announced Dec. 16 by New York Gov.-elect An-drew Cuomo. He replaces Dr. Richard Daines.

As head of the Department of Health, Dr.Shah will be responsible for overseeing

been working on ways to im-prove care for vulnerablepop-ulations in the public hospital system of New York City and the rural, aging population of eastern Pennsylvania’s Gei-singer Health System. The website describes Shah as a leading researcher in the use of large-scale clinical laboratories and electronic health records to improve the effectiveness and effi-ciency of care, and as a “na-tionally recognized thought leader in the very methods needed to transition to the future of lower-cost, more patient-centered, healthcare for the 21st century.”

A graduate of Harvard Col-lege in Cambridge, Mass., Shah studied medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, specializing in epidemiology. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Specials in 2010In a short span of less than 3

years, The South Asian Times hasbecome the most read & admiredweek ly newspaper o f I ndo -USCommunity.

Due to trendsetting clean conceptand detailed write ups with valuebased content, display & advertis-ing, it has earned immaculate rep-utation of coffee table newspaperof upscale households in affluentIndian community of tristate area.

There are many special issuesand exclusive coverage during theyear 2010 wh i ch were h igh lyappreciated by the community.

All issues are archived in ePaper sec t i on on our da i l y updated , website www.thesouthasiant imes. info ,

wh ich can be v i s i t ed any t imeonline...

Most admired issues of The SouthAsian Times

19

It’s the end of the year and what does that mean? The biggest and best year-end list is back! Ladies and gents, yet another year of monumental achievements and further establishment for South Asians.

Read on as Desiclub tells you who called the shots in 2010.

Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2010

by Hiral Dholakia-Dave

We never fail to awe and inspire, do we? And here

by "we" - we mean the intelligent, enterprising,

creative, hardworking Desis who straddle the two

worlds they grow up in with elan. How else would you

explain the success of a Sikh American woman who defied

every odd and went on to become the only other Desi

Governor of an American state? Or the new breed of young,

brainy moneymakers who are also creating jobs for millions

or the master innovators bridging the scientific divide and

even helping making sense of how the universe works!

As we step into a brand new decade, it is that time of the

year when we at Desiclub spent sleepless nights chronicling

history through our trend setting "Top 50 Coolest Desis" list.

After all, as in the past, there were contenders A-P-L-E-N-

T-Y for the coveted inclusion and it sure did take a lot of dili-

gence on our end to get the compilation just right.

We have been at it for seven years now, so would it be

immodest to claim the inspiration for all other lists that have

come along? Be it the 30 Under 30s, 40 Under 40s, 80 Under

80s and all other yearenders. It doesn't hurt to claim recogni-

tion for expanding on a wonderful idea and setting a bench-

mark.

Indian American politicos topped our list this year with a

record number of them in the fray during the November 4

elections and many making it to the seats of power. And if

the political pundits have it right, we may soon see the likes

of Nikki Haley and Kamala Harris running for President in

the future. Some high-profile appointments - Subra Suresh as

director of National Science Foundation and Vijay "Jay"

Chand Gandhi as a federal judge in California have made it

to our list as well. As have some former claimants - Fareed

Zakaria, Vinod Khosla, Russell Peters - whose list of

achievements just keeps getting bigger and better.

From ruling a democracy to unraveling the mysteries of the

universe, Desis have been at it all, designing robots to ease

our lives and what not. And of course how could we miss a

big bunch of entertainers, some known names and some new,

who've rightfully claimed their spots after making their

space in the public consciousness ala the cast of

"Outsourced" - the wonderfully brilliant and funny new NBC

show, which makes light of stereotypical Indians in call cen-

ters with witty lines and deeply penetrating Indian jokes,

which everyone gets. Talk about bridging the mainstream -

we are the mainstream!

So here's raising a toast once again to the Desi spirit... we

now present to you the mother list of all lists, here's

Desiclub.com's Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2010.

1. Kamala Harris

Location: California

Who is She: Attorney General

Why is She Cool: She's the first woman of South Asian

origin to be elected to the post anywhere in the

country. She has been called the female

"Barack Obama" but we like to think

Kamala Harris will be spawning many

male and female Kamala Harris's now

and in the future. There is a bright star that

shines on this well poised woman who has

set out to make some drastic changes in the

way California deals with and enforces the law. What she has

accomplished through her mainstream and grassroots efforts

is truly inspiring and a sign of things to come.

What's Next: At the moment, her top priority is to try new

approaches to reduce the state's high recidivism rate - the

term technically means, after having served the sentence and

released, criminals getting back into prison for committing

felony again. Given her track record (she's responsible for

increasing the trial conviction rate of gun felonies to 90%

while serving as San Francisco District Attorney, previous-

ly), the voters won't be disappointed, we hope.

Cool Fun Fact: Last year, she was named by the New

York Times on a list of 17 women most likely to become the

first lady President. She has been featured on the Oprah

Show and in Newsweek as one of "America's 20 Most

Powerful Women." We will be hearing this name over and

over and over again, that we are certain of.

2. Nikki Haley

Location: South Carolina

Who is She: Governor-Elect

Why is She Cool: She's the first woman of

South Asian origin to win the Governor's

race in any US State. This is no minor

achievement ladies and gentlemen, for

she faced quite a difficult campaign and

withstood her many opponents. It isn't

enough that she became Governor, but that

a woman with the ethnic background she has

became governor of the state of South Carolina is

quite a feat and she proves that no challenge is too daunting.

What's Next: Nikki is already being mentioned as a "long

shot" Presidential/VP candidate in 2012.

Cool Fun Fact: According to CNN, she was the "fastest

rising" political figure searched for on Google in 2010.

Among all the political fresh faces and new names Googled

in the United States in 2010, "Nikki Haley" was the search

term that spiked the most from last year to this year.

3. Fareed Zakaria

Location: New York City

Who is He: Editor, Columnist, TV Host, Commentator,

Author, Foreign Policy Expert

Why is He Cool: Global magazine Foreign Policy named

him one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers. Plus,

in January, Zakaria received "Padma

Bhushan", the third highest recognition

awarded to civilians by the Indian

Government. This was for his contribu-

tion to the field of journalism. He has

become the voice of authentic journalism

on TV and in print. In an age where the word

journalism has become myth with tons of personalities over-

shadowing the news and stories, Fareed's voice of objective

thought and analyzing sets him apart from every single indi-

vidual in his business.

What's Next: More accolades, more hard-hitting journal-

ism, he's a brown Walter Cronkite.

Cool Fun Fact: Before joining Newsweek in October

2000, he was managing editor of Foreign Affairs for eight

years, a post he was appointed to at only 28 years old!

4. Vinod Khosla

Location: California

Who is He: Billionaire Venture Capitalist and cofounder

Sun Microsystems

Why is He Cool: He is featured in Vanity Fair's annual

listing of The New Establishment 100. He

comes in at #71 (Facebook's Mark

Zuckerberg is at #1 and Apple's Steve Jobs

at #2) on the list of "The 100 Most

Influential People of the Information

Age."

What's Next: He plans to start a VC fund

to invest in companies that focus on the poor

in India, Africa and elsewhere by providing services like

health, energy and education.

Cool Fun Fact: Khosla Ventures has made one direct

investment in India - $3.35 million in an electrical utilities

company. He also invested in a Tamil Nadu based microfi-

nance institution, through his non-profit private foundation,

Amar Foundation.

5. Irrfan Khan

Location: Mumbai

Who is He: Actor

Why is He Cool: Give him a role and he'll turn it into a

memorable character with his histrionics.

He's Bollywood's most notable export to

the West in recent times. After fortifying a

place in public psyche with his portrayals

in 'Namesake', 'Slumdog Millionaire' and

'A Mighty Heart' he managed to become

the 'most interesting patient' in the TV

series 'In Treatment' this year with what New

York Times called a deft and compelling rendering of a

grieving Indian émigré struggling to retain his dignity in an

alien culture.

What's Next: He has been cast as a second villain 'Van

Adder' in the 3D 'Spider Man' due out in 2012 and will be

seen in Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's bestseller

"Life of Pi."

Cool Fun Fact: Slumdog Millionaire maker Danny Boyle

says Irrfan "is a touchstone connecting two worlds." I per-

sonally enjoyed him in "The Warrior" - fantastic film!

6. Aasif Mandvi

Location: New York City

Who is He: Actor, Writer, Comedian

Why is He Cool: All for the satirical and witty insights on

daily happenings, he's also one of the biggest

reasons for us to stay addicted to 'The Daily

Show with Jon Stewart.' 'Today's Special' -

which he adapted from his one act play

Sakina's Restaurant received rave reviews at

the film festival circuit and is on its way to

reaching the mainstream.

What's Next: For someone who knew from age 13 that he

wanted to act, Aasif has been pursuing it relentlessly and get-

ting a thumbs up for a job well done with his integrity in

place. We see Aasif heading into even greater places.

Cool Fun Fact: Spiderman is his favorite superhero and he

played Peter Parker's boss at the Pizzeria in the sequel of the

film!

7. Russell Peters

Location: Los Angeles

Who is He: Errr... you know him, don't you?

Why is He Cool: He is named as No. 7 on Forbes's list of

the Top 10 Highest Grossing Comics ($15 mil-

lion, earned from June 2009-June 2010)

What's Next: Peters will star in his own

sitcom on NBC. The comic has teamed with

"Cheers" writer Rob Long on a half-hour

comedy that will be based on his own life, as a

child of Anglo-Indian immigrants and will likely

be called "I'm With Russell."

Cool Fun Fact: During a recent tour of Dubai, Russell

sold tickets at the rate of one ticket every two seconds -

crashing all the online sales outlets as soon as the tickets

went on-sale!

8. Aziz Ansari

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Who is He: Actor and Standup Comedian

Why is He Cool: He's been a fixture on

NBC's "Parks and Recreation" as Tom

20

Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2010Haverford, the witty and sometimes desperate ladies man.

Aziz has been busy touring with his sold out standup comedy

tour 'The Dangerously Delicious' show. He also hosted the

MTV 2010 Movie Awards - a rare achievement for a Desi

celeb. He's been appearing in countless hit films and has

developed a good presence in the Comedy world for himself,

paving the way for others. He has been named "The Next

Big Thing" among 17 stars to watch by Forbes.

What's Next: If not acting he is touring with his standup

comedy and vice versa. He's always been up to something

creative. An entertainer to the core. He's earned himself a

three-picture deal with Apatow and GE's Universal Pictures.

With his partner Jason Woliner, Ansari is working on a

movie about Raaaaaaaandy (the character he played in

Funny People) as well as a road trip film about two motiva-

tional speakers.

Cool Fun Fact: Ansari's performance on Parks and

Recreation has received notable praise from critics, includ-

ing Entertainment Weekly naming him one of 2009's

"Breakout TV Stars," TV Guide naming him a "Scene

Stealer" and Yahoo! TV placing him in the number one spot

on their list of "TV MVPS."

9. Sarina Jain

Location: New York City

Who is She: Fitness trainer and innovator

Why is She Cool: She brought the Masala Bhangra routine

into the fitness industry lexicon and celebrat-

ed its 10-year mark in 2010. Add to it, she

was selected as the new face of Nestle

Fitness' "Flat Belly" campaign.

What's Next: She just introduced Bar

Bhangra and expanded her presence to as

far as Tokyo. You can imagine what's next.

Cool Fun Fact: Sarina says she loves learn-

ing, culture, why people do what they do, politics, reading

and last but not least, cooking and eating! As for the last one,

she sure can afford to indulge because burning calories is

pretty much on her schedule all the while.

10. Aarti Sequeira

Location: Los Angeles

Who is She: TV news producer turned food blogger turned

chef

Why is She Cool: She won the sixth season of Food

Network's reality TV show The Next Food

Network Star by weaving Indian flavors

into American classics! That also got her a

dream job - she now gets to host her own

show, Aarti Party on the network.

What's Next: More Desi flavors, more

fun and a permanent spot, not just on the

network but in public memory with her touch

of humor and on-screen charisma.

Cool Fun Fact: Aarti's passion for food started before she

could even talk. As a toddler, she sat on her mom's kitchen

counter, secretly sneaking slices of raw onion into her not-

yet-toothed mouth whilst her mom was cooking. She never

considered food as a career, though.

11. Vijay Iyer

Location: New York City

Who is He: Jazz pianist, composer

Why is He Cool: His album "Historicity" has been nomi-

nated for a Grammy in the Best Jazz

Instrumental Album category. And the Jazz

Journalists Association Jazz Awards

recently named Iyer their 2010 Musician

of the Year, an honor previously awarded

to jazz legends like Herbie Hancock and

Ornette Coleman.

Cool Fun Fact: A polymath whose work

has spanned the sciences, arts, and humanities, Iyer holds a

B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from Yale College, and a

Masters in Physics and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in

Technology and the Arts from the University of California at

Berkeley. He was chosen as one of nine "Revolutionary

Minds" in the science magazine Seed, and his research in

music cognition has been featured on the radio programs

This Week in Science and Studio 360.

12. Kumar Barve

Location: Maryland

Who is He: House Delegate

Why is He Cool: He was reelected to the Maryland House

of Delegates for District 17. He continues to

serve in his incredible leadership role as

Maryland House of Delegates Majority

Leader.

What's Next: He mentored two other

Democrats Sam Arora and Aruna Miller

who also won their elections. Just proves

his able leadership and commitment towards

the Desi community too.

Cool Fun Fact: He's the longest serving Indian American

in elected office.

13. Archie Panjabi

Location: London, New York City

Who is She: Actress

Why is She Cool: She bagged the best supporting actress

award for her role of Kalinda, the street smart

in-house investigator in CBS's hit legal

drama "The Good Wife" at the 62nd

Primetime Emmy Awards.

What's Next: She's picked up projects,

which have won her accolades along the

way. Be it Best Actress award at Reims

Festival for her role in 'Yasmin' or critical

acclaim for her role as a journalist in Anjelina Jolie's 'A

Mighty Heart'.

Cool Fun Fact: Winning an Emmy is a dream fulfilled for

Archie. As a kid she aspired to be a TV actress as "film was

just impossible - you never got any Asian women in Western

cinema." She's also known for her roles in 'The Constant

Gardener', 'Bend It Like Beckham' and 'East is East.'

14. Vijay "Jay" Chand Gandhi

Location: California

Who is He: United States Magistrate Judge

Why is He Cool: Gandhi is the first

Indian-American federal judge in

California, and only the second Indian-

American federal judge in the history of

the United States.

What's Next: Until his second term after

eight years, he'll be busy ensuring that law and order is in

place in the largest district of the nation.

Cool Fun Fact: He is 38 and currently the youngest feder-

al judge in the Southern California area and one of the

youngest in the country.

15. Adnan Virk

Location: Connecticut

Who is He: On Air Sports News Anchor/Sportscaster

Why is He Cool: Global sports broadcaster ESPN hired

him in April, 2010. That makes him one of

the countable few South Asian faces to

bring in the best of national sporting

events to drawing rooms of millions.

What's Next: He's on a two-year con-

tract but given his flair, we sure hope to

see him around for a long time to come.

Cool Fun Fact: He was previously an

anchor for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's Raptors

NBA TV, Leafs TV, and Gol TV. Until June of 2009 he host-

ed several programs on The Score in Canada and was previ-

ously an associate producer for Sportscentre at TSN. In 2007

Virk hired an agent who soon secured for him an interview at

ESPN. Virk impressed his interviewers but was victimized

by a hiring-freeze at the Disney-owned network. "The ESPN

guy told my agent afterwards, 'If I had an opening, I'd hire

him tomorrow,'" he told the Ontario Whig Standard. Not one

to give up, he kept a follow up and three years on, he finally

made it to what he calls "the Mecca of sports television."

16. Sachin Tendulkar

Location: Mumbai

Who is He: Cricketer

Why is He Cool: The greatest run-scorer of all-time

scored an epic double hundred runs including

six sixes in the one day international

against South Africa in February in

Gwalior, India, which catapulted him to

the league of cricketing greats whose

records will remain unsurpassed for a long

time to come (unless cricketers also start

using Steroids, do they?). He created a record of

sorts by hitting his 50th test century against South Africa.

What's Next: The batting maestro never ceases to amaze

us creating a higher benchmark for himself year after year.

Cool Fun Fact: He holds the record as the youngest Indian

to make an international debut and got the highest number of

Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards in One Day

Internationals (ODIs).

17. Siddhartha Mukherjee

Location: New York City

Who is He: Cancer Specialist

Why is He Cool: Mukherjee's book, "The Emperor of All

Maladies: A Biography of Cancer", on the

history of the disease, features among "The

10 Best Books of 2010" in the New York

Times Book Reviews, a rare feat for a

work of non-fiction.

What's Next: Despite the overwhelm-

ing response to the book, the author doesn't

intend to turn a fulltime writer. Practising and

writing about medicine is what he would like to stick to.

22

Cool Fun Fact: He's been known to say, "people first train

in medicine and then get fascinated by cells. It happened the

other way around for me," as he's a cellular biologist turned

oncologist.

18. Rizwan Manji

Location: California

Who is He: Actor

Why is He Cool: Manji plays Rajiv Gidwani on NBC's

new comedy Outsourced where he plays

Todd's mischievous assistant manager who

has aspirations to be Todd's replacement

no matter what. We got to see quite a bit

of him on the telly this year. He has been

seen on "Glee," "How I Met Your

Mother," and "Hawthorne," as well as a

recurring role on "FlashForward," "Three

Rivers," and "Better off Ted." Manji also appeared as Ahman

on the final season of "24," though he is probably best

known for playing the cantankerous butler Rami on the

series "Privileged."

What's Next: More screen space definitely!

Cool Fun Fact: Manji was born in Toronto, Canada and

was raised in Calgary, Alberta. His ancestry is from a small

village in Gujarat, India, however, both his parents were

raised and met in Tanzania.

19. Parvesh Cheena

Location: California

Who is He: Actor

Why is He Cool: He's been around for quite a while with

recurring roles in TV shows and movies.

Currently, he stars in NBC's new comedy

series Outsourced as Gupta, a socially

awkward call center employee. His hilari-

ous portrayal of the character has got him

noticed in American media and garnered

him a fan-following in the mainstream.

What's Next: Theatre, films, television,

commercials, he's been proving his acting prowess all

around. It won't be long before we hear him bag some presti-

gious awards too!

Cool Fun Fact: He's also busy polishing his talents per-

forming long -form improvisation with the Harold mainstage

team, Fairfax Prep, at IO/West. He is also a part of a three-

man improv group named STU; the South Asian team

Browntown; and the musical improv troupe All- Skate. He is

continuing classes at Steppenwolf Classes West with

renowned viewpoints teacher Alexandra Billings, and at the

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles.

20. Ajay Naidu

Location: New York City

Who is He: Actor, Director

Why is He Cool: He made his directorial debut with the

indie flick 'Ashes' which premiered in NYC

in November. Reviews say 'Ashes' brings

out the serious actor-director in him.

What's Next: Festival circuit of the

film next year. And more accolades and

awards, may we add?

Cool Fun Fact: Known for his comic

roles including the cult classic 'Office Space'

he's been around for 15 years having working in 50 film and

TV projects.

21. Ami Sheth

Location: New York City

Who is She: Actress, Model, Veterinarian

Why is She Cool: Ami did what every parent

in the world wants there offspring to do -

become a doctor. She didn't stop there

however, having accomplished something

to fall back on, she pursued her modeling

and acting career with full force and can

now be seen in commercials for Six Flags,

Ethan Allen, Claritin, to name just a few

household brands. Talk about the perfect combo for success!

Artist meets Science - Parents: Here's your example of a per-

fect child. Kids: Sorry!

What's Next: While Ami recently appeared in the feature

film "Walkaway" you can catch Ami in an episode of CBS'

"Blue Bloods", which aires on January 14th.

Cool Fun Fact: Ami was one of Desiclub.com's swimsuit

calendar models way back in 2007. Time surely flies and we

are immensely proud of Ami!

22. Kal Penn

Location: Washington DC

Who is He: Actor and Associate Director, Office of Public

Engagement at the White House

Why is He Cool: He has returned to the

White House after a five month hiatus

which he took to film the third installment

of "Harold and Kumar", the role he is best

known for. A good balancing act indeed.

What's Next: He will be the point person

for those in the Arts, Youth and Asian

American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

Cool Fun Fact: Penn has also taught at the University of

Pennsylvania as a visiting lecturer in the Cinema Studies

Program. Kal will be in our top 10 again once the next H&K

movie is released, at least we predict that.

23. Shailja Gupta

Location: New York City

Who is She: Artist, Filmmaker and New Media Specialist

Why is She Cool: After a successful career in New Media

and Information Technology, Shailja actively

pursed her passion for film. She made her

directorial debut with the feature film -

Walkaway.

What's Next: A multifaceted personali-

ty, she's been a successful entrepreneur,

artist and now a filmmaker. Wonder what

surprises she'll pop up with in the future?

Keep watching this space.

Cool Fun Fact: She worked as Global Marketing Manager

for the Indian National award winner (2003) and internation-

ally acclaimed film - Chokher Bali, followed by Assistant

Script Supervisor for another Indian National award winner

(2005) - Raincoat, starring the former Miss World Aishwarya

Rai Bachchan.

24. Capt Tejdeep Singh Rattan

Location: New York

Who is He: Dentist

Why is He Cool: He is the first Sikh in a generation

allowed to complete US Army officer basic

training without sacrificing the articles of

his faith. He graduated at Fort Sam

Houston after the Army made an exemp-

tion to a uniform policy that has effective-

ly prevented Sikhs from enlisting since

1984.

What's Next: He has set a precedent.

Hopefully it will lead to the US Army adopting more lenien-

cy towards recruiting Sikh citizens in the future.

Cool Fun Fact: During training, Rattan wore a helmet

over the small turban, which he doesn't remove, and was able

to successfully create a seal with his gas mask despite the

beard, resolving the Army's safety concerns.

25. Samrat Chakrabarti

Location: New York City

Who is He: Actor, Composer

Why is He Cool: He's a prolific artist with a spate of

releases during the year. Be it New York pre-

mieres of "Ashes" and "The Waiting City" or

screening of "Gangor" based on a work by

Mahasweta Devi at Rome International

Film Festival, and "Walkaway" across the

US or sharing the screen space with the likes

of Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Irrfan Khan

(In Treatment).

What's Next: He has already left an indelible mark on

independent cinema with his work so far. We can only expect

more additions to his oeuvre, be it movies or music.

Cool Fun Fact: Samrat also composed the original score

for Hiding Divya, starring Madhur Jaffery and Pooja Kumar

and Sundaram Tagore's documentary "Natvar Bhavsar:

Poetics of Color."

26. Archana Patchirajan, Puneet Mehta and Sonpreet

Bhatia, Location: New York City

Who are They: Cofounders, MyCityWay mobile apps

27. Naveen Selvadurai , Location: New York City

Who is He: Founder of Foursquare, a location-aware

social networking app

28. Subra Suresh, Location: Virginia

Who is He: Director of National Science Foundation

29. Kesha Ram, Location: Vermont

Who is She: State Representative

30. Hashem Clarke, Location: Michigan

Who is He: Congressman

31. Nergis Mavalvala, Location: Cambridge, MA

Who is She: MIT Astrophysicist

32. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon

Location: New York City

Who is She: Businesswoman-cum-Vocalist

33. Amit Goyal, Location: Tennessee

Who is He: Researcher at the US Department of Energy's

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

34. Raghuram Rajan, Location: Chicago

Who is He: Economist and Professor at Chicago Booth

School

35. Raj Varma, Location: New York

Who is He: Actor, Writer, Producer

36. Sam Arora, Location: Maryland

Who is He: State Delegate District 19

37. Sachin Agarwal, Location: California

Who is He: CEO, Posterous

38. Ooshma Garg

Location: California

Who is She: Founder of Anapata, Inc., an online recruit-

ment site for law firms that want to reach a diverse popula-

tion of law school graduates.

39. Vikas Reddy, Location: Colorado

Who is He: Co-founder of iPhone application startup

Occipital

40. Poonam Alaigh, Location: New Jersey

Who is She: New Jersey Health and Senior Services

Commissioner

41. Priyamvada Natarajan, Location: Connecticut

Who is She: Yale University Cosmologist

42. Aruna Miller, Location: Maryland

Who is She: State Delegate

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For More Details, visit Desiclub.com.Courtesy and © of Desiclub.com

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010232010

Highlights Movers & Shakers+

Ambassador Hardeep S. Puri by Parveen Chopra

interview

Securing a seat for India on UN Security Council

When The South Asian Times met Ambassador Hardeep Puri, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in his of-fice in the Mission of India to the UN, in Manhattan, he was bask-ing in the glory of having secured for the country non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council by a huge vote. But a week before India assumed mem-bership of the Council on January 1, 2011 for a two-year term, the suave Sikh and proud Indian was not resting on those laurels.

In an illustrious career spanning 37 years, he was secretary (econom-ic affairs) in the external affairs min-istry in New Delhi before coming over to New York. Earlier he served as Ambassador to Brazil (2006-8), and as Ambassador/Deputy High Commissioner to the UK (1999-2002). From 1984-88 he was First Secretary/Counsellor (Political) in the High Commission of India in Colombo, when he assisted in the negotiations of the historic India-Sri Lanka Agreement for Peace and Normalcy in Sri Lanka in 1987.

Ambassador Puri is also known among his peers for his wide-rang-ing experience with multilateral in-stitutions and has served as India’s Permanent Representative to the UN institutions in Geneva. His ju-niors at PMI consider him a model officer. They ascribe his success in his projects to identifying a goal and then breaking it down to pro-ceed in measured steps to achieve those goals. His wife, Lakshmi Puri, is also an IFS officer of the same batch as him. She is currently serving as Director of the UN Office

of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Coun-tries and Small Island Develop-ing States (UN-OHRLLS). They have two daughters, Himayani, who is married, and Tilottama.

Excerpts from the interview with the Ambassador conducted by Parveen Chopra and Kam-lesh Mehta, Managing Editor and Chairman of The South Asian Times respectively, accompanied by Mr Ravi Batra, eminent attor-ney and a friend of Mr Puri.

The dexterous diplomat with a vision was already planning and pushing ahead for a permanent seat for India on the Council, un-perturbed by the publicity to the incident of his frisking at a US airport, which he clarifies was not a pat-down.

Delhi-born Puri, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974, has reached the zenith for a career diplomat. He took over in mid-2009 as Permanent Repre-sentative to the UN, a most cov-eted posting.

Lakshmi Puri, also an IFS officer, on her husbandWith a lifetime of extensive experience and distinguished record in multilat-eral diplomacy – in the Ministry of External Affairs, WTO, different UN agencies and policy areas and as Permanent Representative (PR) of India to the UN in Geneva, coming to New York as the PR to the UN was a natural destination for him. That he is charming and a peoples’ person, adept at connecting with people from diverse countries and backgrounds, is a capti-vating orator and commands intellectual depth and strategic vision, makes him the right man in the right place at the right time. Most of all, he is a brave heart, one who is courageous and bold in setting high goals for his

country and with an iron determination to achieve them.We have been soul-mates since we got married at the young age of 22 and have grown up together in our lives, families and our careers through an eventful three and a half decades. He has been the most affectionate, generous and caring husband to me and father to my two daughters. He has always stood by me and with his strong family, ethical and spiritual values, has also been a source of inspiration and support to us all. As colleagues and batch-mates in Foreign Service, we have been fortu-nate to be posted together most of the times in the last 36 years but have had to make compromises in terms of career and family over different points of time. These are I guess the trade offs and sometimes cruel choices that a ‘tandem couple’ has to make but the balance sheet shows that our joint enterprise has been worth it in every way.

Puri, the brave heart

SATimes: Mr Ambassador, con-gratulations on facilitating India’s election to a non-permanent seat on the Security Council by a huge vote. We are proud to say that you are our Person of the Year 2010, as you are the most deserving having brought India closer to its rightful place on the Council so it can play its rightful role in world affairs.

Ambassador Hardeep Puri: I give credit to team effort; the team I have here in New York, to my col-leagues in Delhi, the efforts of our External Affairs Minister, right up to the Prime Minister. But yes, we put our best foot forward.

Q: You think President Obama made a spontaneous decision to endorse India’s bid for Permanent Seat on the Security Council dur-ing his address to Indian parlia-ment in Delhi on November 9?

Ambassador Puri: Such cru-cial matters are always planned in advance. I was told by Ambassador Susan Rice, US Permanent Repre-sentative to the UN, that the Presi-dent took the decision personally a few days before his India visit. It was kept under wraps. They made the announcement in Indian parlia-ment for maximum impact. In any case, we warmly welcome it.

Q: You think the huge vote (187 out of 190) for India in the General Assembly would have influenced President Obama’s endorsement?

Ambassador Puri: There were a number of factors. Bilateral

relations between India and the United States are excellent. The India-US civil nuclear deal has el-evated our links to a higher plane. India’s nuclear status has been sanctified. Following the deal, the IAEA has approved an India-spe-cific nuclear Safeguards Agreement and we have obtained an exemp-tion from the Nuclear Suppliers Group requirements. This political and strategic momentum has been supplemented by rapidly expanding business and trade linkages, educa-tion and technical exchanges. Our governments are working closely together on a number of areas rang-ing from security to a second green revolution.

The nature of our relations is dy-namic; it is based on a forward-looking agenda. Some people say the (George W.) Bush years were the best for Indo-US relationship. My response is: the best is yet to come. The atmospherics surround-ing President Obama’s visit and the reaction to his speech in Parliament clearly convey the unique charac-teristics of this relationship. All this would have been factored into his endorsement. Among the major thrust areas between the two coun-tries is cooperation at the United Nations, a fact which he referred to in his speech in Parliament.

More importantly, Security Coun-cil reforms have a logic that goes beyond bilateral relations. The Se-curity Council must reflect the real-ities of today, not those of the Sec-ond World War. When the UN was formed, it had only 51 members,

we will simultaneously work to-wards getting a decision on Secu-rity Council reform. The proce-dure is established. Two-thirds of General Assembly members (128 votes) have to authorize an amend-ment, followed by endorsement by the P5 (US, UK, France, China and Russia). The P5 have endorsed the idea of Security Council reform in general and India’s candidature in particular. It is wrong to say that China is against reform. It too wants an increased role played by the developing world and has clear-ly conveyed that will not stand in the way of reform.

A text that specifies the reforms has been drawn up by an inter-govern-mental process in New York. This text, which is a 30 page document is being pared down to 2-3 pages so that it can provide a basis for nego-tiations to commence. That should be done by February 2011 follow-ing which it will be placed on the table for attention of members of the General Assembly. After that there will be hard negotiations for another 6-8 months.

Q: Incidentally, in which ways will securing that permanent seat ben-efit India and its standing in the world?

Ambassador Puri: History teaches us that once a country ac-quires a certain size, it has to as-sume greater responsibilities in international relations. Indian has acquired that critical mass and the logic of the situation dictates that India, by virtue of its capabilities

and its relative weight in global affairs, find permanent represen-tation in the Security Council. As its names indicates, the Security Council deals with issues related to peace and security. It has an un-precedented legislative mandate and the coercive power to counter threats to international peace by way of sanctions. India and Indian national power is central to emerg-ing security equations and India will use its presence on the Council to make the world a safer place. It will work towards strengthening human rights and will focus on hu-manitarian issues and on concepts such as the Responsibility to Pro-tect, so that the horrors like ethnic cleansing do not ever happen again.

Q: With the sea change in India’s image the world over, has it be-come more comfortable to be an Indian diplomat abroad?

Ambassador Puri: It has always been a privilege to be an Indian For-eign Service officer. India is nation with 5000 years of glorious history. We waged, under Mahatma Gandhi, a non-violent war against the colo-nial, British rulers, which became an example and an inspiration for other societies in the world. We have so much to offer to the world.

Q: You were posted to Colombo during the IPKF (Indian Peace-keeping Force) days. In hindsight, now that LTTE is finally defeated, you think India muddled the Sri Lankan Tamil issue by supporting the rebels at one time?

Puri continues on page 26

now there are 192. There has been a dis-persal of global power since then and a shift towards emerging economies. India’s credentials to be a permanent member are probably the best. We are one of the top economies of the world, a country with enormous capabilities. We are a bastion of freedom and de-mocracy. We are a voice of moderation and a force for stability. We represent one-sixth of humanity. We have no ag-gressive intentions and no ideological axes to grind.

No country has contributed more than us to peacekeeping. We are also prob-ably the largest contributor of finan-cial resources amongst developing countries. We have the capacity and the willingness to make contributions to global issues like climate change. We are also a success story when it comes to transforming a colonial soci-ety into a modern, secular state within six decades. This unparalleled nation-building experience is something that is highly relevant to the maintenance of international peace and security in many parts of the world.

Q: When you came to head PMI in mid-2009, did you come with the one-point agenda to secure Permanent Seat for India on the Security Council?

Ambassador Puri: (an emphatic, unabashed) YES.

Q: What timetable do you see now for the process of Security Council re-forms? Do you think it will happen dur-ing your three-year term?

Ambassador Puri: After assuming membership of the Security Council,

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010242010

Highlights Movers & Shakers+

On Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2009, with members of the Permanent Mission of India in New York.

Celebrating Diwali and India’s election to the Security Council (securing 187 votes out of 190). Seen in the picture are Mr Puri with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mrs. Yoo Soon-taek and Mrs. Lakshmi Puri.

With Indian Minister Anand Sharma and Prime Minister Man-mohan Singh during the latter’s landmark visit to Brazil in Sept 2006.

At the release of a commemorative stamp on Mahatma Gan-dhi by the UN Postal Administration in NY, the event coincid-ing with the Commemoration of International Day of Non-Violence at the UN, October 2, 2009. Seen in the picture are: (From left), Ambassador Palitha Kohona, Permanent Repre-sentative (PR) of Sri Lanka to the UN, Susan E. Rice, PR of US to the UN, Ali Abdussalam Treki, President of the UN General Assembly 64th session, Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secre-tary-General, Hardeep Singh Puri, PR of India to the UN, Baso Sangqu, PR of South Africa to the UN and Robert Gray, Chief of the UN Postal Administration.

Amb Puri Presenting a check for $5 million to the Permanent Representative of Haiti to the UN, Ambassador Leo Merores on January15, 2010, towards India’s assistance to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti

With UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Pakistan Ambassador to UN Mr. Abdullah Hussain Ha-roon while handing over a check for $ 20 million on 17th September, 2010 for flood relief in Pakistan.

Highlights from four decade

Hardeep Singh PuriPermanent Representative,Mission of India to the United Nations

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010262010

Highlights Movers & Shakers+ Ambassador Hardeep S. Puri

During a security check on No-vember 13 at Houston, I did not allow removal of my turban, vol-unteering – in accordance with the rules - to pat it myself. The officer was not aware of this provision. So he went to consult his seniors and returned to apologize. Left to myself, I would not have talked about it at all. For the record, as a matter of principle, as a respon-sible global citizen I do not seek exemptions of this nature.

Q: How have you taken to the no fixed-address life of a diplomat?

Ambassador Puri: It has been a great privilege to serve India. It has been a privilege to represent India as it grew and transformed itself. If I could do it, I would live this

Puri continued from page 23

Ambassador Puri: What India did was absolutely right and a bold deci-sion. We (IPKF) went there on the re-quest of the Sri Lankan government to wage peace, to find a political solution to the ethnic problem. We were the first to take on LTTE and thus laid the foun-dation for the Tigers’ defeat now. I was personally involved in negotiations with the LTTE chief Prabhakaran then.

Q: WikiLeaks has created a rumble in the world of diplomacy. Your response...

Ambassador Puri: I wish our IFS officers write such crisp cables (in lighter vein)! But seriously, students of diplomacy will find much material there to study and analyze. This also highlights the need for us to mecha-nisms to prevent such breaches from occurring in our systems.

Q: A section of the media was critical of you that you talked about your frisk-ing at a US airport much after it hap-pened, soon after Ambassador Meera Shankar’s pat-down incident at anoth-er airport.

Ambassador Puri: For the record, no pat down took place.

life all over again. I have no regrets even after 37 years in the service.

Q: What do you think of the Indian community here in America?

Ambassador Puri: They are doing extremely well here—in medicine, on Wall Street, in aca-demia, in the world of business and so on-- as they draw strength from Indian roots and also having become good American citizens. We rejoice in their success.

Q: How do you keep fit? Any other interests?

Ambassador Puri: I am under strict orders from my wife (laughs) to workout on the treadmill regu-larly and eat light. I also like to read.

My father (Hardeep Singh Puri) exemplifies drive, that is, hard work, attention to detail, focus, determination, how to deal with and overcome obstacles/adversity. Also how to manage different constituencies and how to adapt to changing circumstances.As a father, there are so many qualities to admire in him ... perhaps most important-ly his ‘sher’-like (unconditional) support of my life path and choices.

Himayani Puri, on her father

Unconditional love

Hardeep Puri with Laxmi Puri and daughters Himayani (in green) and Tilottama in Udaipur in December 2008 at Himayani’s marriage.

At US Open Tennis semifinal with the doubles team of Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan along with Pakistani Ambassador to UN H.E. Mr. Abdullah Hussain Haroon.

With Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna (right) outside UN building in September 2009.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010282010

Highlights Movers & Shakers

Top 10 Diaspora News

Leading industrialist Lord Swraj Paul was cleared by the police in the MPs expenses row involving scores of British parliamentarians across the political spectrum. The 78-year-old Labor Peer said in a statement here that following media allegations the Metropolitan Police had been carrying out an investigation into his parliamentary expenses as a part of “its wider inquiries into this issue.” Paul, Chairman of the Caparo Group of industries, said he was delighted to announce that the police “will no longer be proceeding with any investigation or inquiry in relation to my House of Lords expenses.” Paul, who is regarded as a close friend of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, had vehemently denied media allegations that he was among those MPs who wrongly claimed parliamentary allowances.

People of Indian origin living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who need help in legal, financial and medical issues, now have a toll-free helpline -- the first of its kind for migrant workers by any coun-try in the world. The toll-free number is 800-46342 the last five digits of which read ‘INDIA’ if matched with the alphabet key positions on a mobile phone. The helpline of the much-awaited Indian Workers’ Re-source Centre was dedicated to the Indian community in the UAE by visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil in Dubai.

The resource centre will receive, register

New Zealand radio host Michael Laws apologized for calling his country’s Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand a “fat Indian”. The broadcaster made the racially charged comments which aroused the ire of the country’s Prime Minister John Key, who condemned it in strong terms. In a state-ment on the RadioLive website, Laws apologized for calling Sir Satyanand a “large, fat man” who has “never left” the buffet table.

On his talkback radio show last week, Laws said Sir Anand was an “unusual-shaped man” who reminded him of the impossibly obese Monty Python character Mr Creosote. He also likened him to a British actor who played the Agatha Christie creation Hercule Poirot on UK televi-sion. Key, who was trying to douse New Delhi’s anger af-ter another TV presenter had ridiculed Delhi Chief Min-ister Sheila Dikshit’s name, said the radio talk shows com-ments were “unacceptable.”

Malaysian Hindu organization urged the government to ban the latest issue of Ameri-can magazine Newsweek for ‘insulting Hindus’ by depicting US President Barack Obama as Lord Shiva. P. Murugiah, deputy chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s Penang state branch said the November issue of the magazine portrayed Obama as Nataraja (Lord Shiva) with the caption ‘God of All Things’. He said sacred Hindu images were too of-ten portrayed in pop culture without a proper understanding of their spiritual relevance.

and monitor grievance petitions and of-fer counseling to members of the Indian community in legal, financial and medical issues. It will work in cooperation with the Indian diplomatic mission. It will also have a walk-in counter to receive petitions directly from Indian workers on all days from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. One-to-one counsel-ing will be given by a panel of 14 experts, who will attend to calls in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi.

In Abu Dhabi, another walk-in centre will function from the Indian Embassy from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays.

Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the country’s oldest Indian-based political party had a change of guard after 31 years when party chief S. Samy Vellu stepped down. Vellu, 74, who had been head-ing the party since 1979 was succeeded by G. Palanivel, 61. He takes over as Malaysia’s spe-cial envoy to India and four other South Asian countries. MIC is princi-pal among the parties that traditionally represent Malaysia’s 2.1 million ethnic Indian population and is part of the Razak-led ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN).

Kamla Prasad BissessarLord Swraj Paul

Shrien and Anni Dewani as newly weds

Compiled by Hiral Dholakia-Dave

A British court granted bail to businessman Shrien Dewani a newly wed accused of hiring a man to kill his bride Anni, 28 during their honeymoon in South Africa. Anni was found dead in the back of an abandoned taxi with a bullet wound in her neck on Nov 13.

Authorities in South Africa want the 30-year-old British citizen extradited for a trial there, and objected to a lower British court’s decision to grant Dewani bail - provided he wore an electronic tag and observed a curfew.

The South African authori-ties want to question him after taxi driver Zola Tongo told a Cape Town court that he was hired by the husband to kill his bride. According to Daily Mail, a paramedic who was at the scene soon after Anni died has said that she was executed in cold blood. “She looked like someone who had maybe passed out after drinking or had been sedated. It looked as if someone in the passenger seat had leaned over and shot her in the neck. I got the definite im-pression that she was executed.”

Sensational murder of UK bride on honeymoon in South Africa

Lord Swraj Paul cleared in House of Lords expenses row

Toll-free helpline launched for Indians in UAE

Malaysian Indian

Congress gets a new leader after

31 years

Highs & lows of Indians AbroadMalaysian Hindus protest Obama’s portrayal as Lord Shiva

People of Trinidad and Tobago created history by electing a woman prime minister. Kamla Prasad Bis-sessar is the first woman to assume the highest office there and the second one among Indo-Trinidadians. Earlier it was Basdeo Pan-dey in 1995 to 2001. Born on April 22, 1952, she is mar-ried to Dr Gregory Bissessar and has one son. She studied in Trinidad until graduation and went to England to ob-tain her law degree. She started her career as teacher in a college before taking to legal profession.

Her experience in edu-cational institutions helped her to improve primary and secondary schools as well as technical and vocational and training, special education and teacher education in her country.

She is widely recognized for her work in educational broadcasting, educational counseling and guidance, moral, ethical and spiritual values and physical educa-tion in schools. She has many distinctions to her credit: first woman to serve as attorney general, acting prime minis-ter and leader of opposition of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ethnic Indians, whose forefathers came to settle in Malaysia a century back chose for the celebrations the historic Batu Caves, a site 13 km from Kuala Lumpur that has one of the largest complex of Hindu shrines in the world outside India. Over 2,000 members of the Association of Malaysia Indians of Kelantan Origin took a trip down memory lane as they recalled the time spent in the state. Though many of them no longer reside in Kelantan, their sentiment for the state is still strong, The Star online reported.

Trinidad’s first woman

PM is an Indian

NZ radio host apologizes for calling Gov Gen Satyanand ‘fat Indian’

The number of Indian students enrolling at Australian uni-versities for the 2011 academic year is set to plunge by 80 per cent, Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis said. There had been a string of attacks on Indian students in Australia, causing outrage in India. The assaults took place in Melbourne as well in Sydney. One of the attacks proved fatal when a student, Nitin Garg, was knifed in January.

Indian students number to dip in Australia by 80%

Indians celebrate century of living in Malaysia

Jayant Patel, an Indian origin doctor sentenced to sev-en years in prison for manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm on patients at an Australian hospital, appealed against his sentence and conviction. Dubbed “Dr Death”, Patel was sentenced July 1 to seven years for each case of manslaughter and three years for grievous bodily harm. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Patel was chief of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005. Indian-born and US-trained, Patel had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of James Phil-lips, 46, Gerry Kemps, 77, and Mervyn Morris, 75, who died following surgery performed by him. He had also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Vowles, whose healthy bowel he removed in October 2004. The trial involved the evidence of 76 witnesses over 53 days.

Jayant Patel appeals conviction in Australia

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 20102010Highlights Movers & Shakers+ 2010 in 10 Frames

WikiLeaks stuns Global Diplomacy

Over 2,30,000

Die in Haiti Quake

Obamas Visit India, Shake a Leg

Iran’s Nuclear Defiance

Economy Bustsand EU Bailouts

Afghanistan: Mission Far From Accomplished

Chile’s Miner Miracle

U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq End

40 mn Footsteps at Mahakumbh 2010

29

W o r l d N e w s

On October 22, WikiLeaks released the largest leak of U.S. military documents in history: nearly 400,000 Iraq war documents. On No-vember 28, the site started publishing more than 250,000 diplomatic cables that embarrassed or infuriated foreign governments across the globe. Its Founder Julian Assange, who is under intense probe, has been credited with Person of the Year Award by the media.

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 MW earthquake, with an epicen-ter near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capi-tal. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. The Haitian government reported that an estimated 230,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured and 1,000,000 made homeless.

US President Barack Obama’s charm offen-sive visit is the scene-stealer of 2010. India and US inked deals worth $15 billion that are expected to create 54,000 jobs in the US. Obama also endorsed India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Coun-cil. Post-diplomatic parleys, Obamas didn’t miss a chance to show their dancing skills!

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims he wants to go nuclear for energy pur-poses, while many fear weapons intentions from the saber-rattling Islamic Republic. The U.N. Security Council agreed on May sanc-tions against Iran for its nuclear program, but Iran spent the rest of the year stressing that the sanctions hadn’t hurt the country.

As the world struggled to recover from global recession, entire countries took a hit and extended a hand for help. In May, the IMF and EU agreed to extend a $145 bil-lion bailout package to Greece. In November, a $113 bil-lion bailout package was extended to keep Ireland afloat. Fears abound about Portugal being the next to need a bailout, or Spain -- Europe’s fourth largest economy.

Despite the United States dropping $2 bil-lion a week on the war in Afghanistan and the presence of some 150,000 foreign troops throughout the country, every possible indica-tor reveals a situation that is rapidly devolv-ing. More U.S. soldiers, NATO forces, Afghan soldiers and police, humanitarian workers and civilians have been killed or wounded in 2010 than any year since the U.S. invaded.

It was a chilling scenario with a survival story for the ages: A main ramp in the San Jose Mine, near Copiapo, Chile, collapsed on August 5, 2010, trapping 33 min-ers 2,300 feet below ground. For days, anxious rela-tives braced for the worst as rescuers tried to locate the miners to no avail. Finally, all 33 miners came to the surface through a specially drilled hole. The miners inspired all and became instant celebrities.

After seven and a half years of conflict, Pres-ident Barack Obama declared in August that U.S. combat operations in the country had drawn to a close. The death toll stands at 4,746 coalition deaths, as well as tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and insurgents.

The largest confluence of human beings on earth, Maha Kumbh, that occurs every 12 years, began in Haridwar, north India, on January 14 and ended on April 28 after the Baisakhi Shahi Snan on April 14. Over 40 million people visited the Maha Kumbh this year.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (also referred to as the BP oil spill) is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which gushed unchecked into the Gulf of Mexico for three months in 2010. It caused extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as the Gulf’s fishing and tourism industries. Ravaged by the spill, the British energy major slumped into a staggering loss of $17.15 billion.

World’s Biggest

Ecological Disaster

30

WikiLeaks rattles South AsiaTop 10 Revelations

WikiLeaks, the whistleblower website leaked 250,000 US diplomatic cables in November end, leaving the global diplomacyin rumbles. In South Asia, however, the US Diplomatic Cables have done a favor by letting the people know of the

dangerous situation evolving, particularly in Afghanistan, Pakistan and increase in Indo-Pak tensions. Here are the 10 most crucial and controversial Wikileaks surrounding this strategic region.

The Pakistan Army was involved in the Mumbai terrorist

attack, India's National Security Adviser Shivshankar

Menon told the US just days after the 26/11 terrorist

attacks. The cable quoted Menon as bluntly telling US

Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher: "Let's not

insult one another by telling a story that the Pakistan army

was not involved ... They're either unwilling to take action,

or incapable, or both; any way you look at it, they're

involved."

A 26/11 victim being escorted by a security personnel atMumbai railway station.

Another set of leaked US

diplomatic cables portrayed

Afghan President Hamid

Karzai as paranoid, with an

"inability to grasp the most

rudimentary principles of

state-building" and paint a

picture of Afghanistan

steeped in corruption.

The cables sent from the

US embassy in Kabul over

the last two years showed

corruption's "pervasive

nature, its overwhelming

scale, and the dispiriting

challenge it poses to

American officials."

Monumental corruptionin Afghanistan

LeT planned tokill Modi

Afghan President HamidKarzai.

Pakistan's ISI

was actively

involved in

attacks on

Indians working

in Afghanistan

and paid the

Taliban and the

Haqqani terror

network to target

Indian missions,

road workers,

doctors and engi-

neers working in

the country. A

March 2008

i n t e l l i g e n c e

report said the

ISI paid the

Haqqani network

$15,000-30,000

to eliminate

Indian nationals

working on the

key Zaranj-

Delaram road

project and target

engineers and

road workers.

ISI paid Taliban to hit Indians

The Haqqani terror network is adeadly terror organization.

Pak Army involved in 26/11

Home Minister

P. Chidambaram

had insisted on

having access to

P a k i s t a n i -

A m e r i c a n

Lashkar-e-Taiba

(LeT) operative

David Coleman

Headley, who

scouted for targets

for the 26/11 terror attack. A "secret" US cable of Feb 26

this year said that in a Feb 23 meeting in 2010, FBI

Director Robert Mueller and Chidambaram discussed the

case of Headley, who is in US custody. During the meet-

ing, Chidambaram confided that "I have a feeling in my

bones that Headley was not acting alone" in India and

expressed frustration over what he characterized as

Headley's false claim that he had no accomplices in India.

Headley wasn't acting alone

David Coleman Headley.

The International

Committee of the

Red Cross (ICRC)

sent evidence to US

diplomats about

widespread torture

by Indian security

forces in Kashmir.

Visits to detention

centers in the region

in 2002-04 revealed

cases of beatings, electric shocks, sexual abuse and other

types of ill-treatment. The most highly charged dispatch is

likely to be an April 2005 cable from the US embassy in

Delhi which reports that the ICRC had become frustrated

with the Indian government which, they said, had not

acted to halt the "continued ill-treatment of detainees".

India 'tortured' Kashmirprisoners

Families of Kashmiri prisoners at protest.

The most talked about

Wikileak, which stirred an

anti-Congress protest in the

country, was Congress general

secretary Rahul Gandhi's com-

ments on saffron terrorism.

According to US Cables,

Rahul told US Ambassador to

India Timothy Roemer last year

that "the growth of radicalized Hindu groups" may be a "big-

ger threat" to India than support to some Islamic terror groups

from the Muslim community. He told Roemer that although

"there was evidence of some support for (Islamic terrorist

group LeT) among certain elements in India's indigenous

Muslim community, the bigger threat may be the growth of

radicalized Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and

political confrontations with the Muslim community."

Hindu terror biggerthreat: Rahul

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT had

planned to assassinate Gujarat Chief

Minister Narendra Modi and use Kerala,

Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu as a strike

base in southern India. A June 19, 2009,

secret State Department cable also sug-

gests a dangerously expanding LeT net-

work in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and

Nepal.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Taliban usesopium like savings

The Taliban in Afghanistan are with-

holding thousands of tons of drugs, which

they were treating like "savings accounts"

so as to manipulate street prices in the

west, according to a US cable. The

Taliban withheld 12,400 tons of opium

from the global market to keep the price

of heroin and opium at a profitable level,

Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN's

office on drugs and crime, told NATO.

The Taliban at an opium field.

Osama pledged$20m for jihadis

Al-Qaeda supre-

mo Osama bin

Laden had prom-

ised jihadis fighting

in Kashmir that

they will not "run

short of funds" and

was willing to

"divert" $20 million

to support Kashmir-

oriented militancy,

Indian officials were

quoted as telling US diplomats.

In a meeting with US diplomats, Indian

security officials said that India is now

becoming more prominent on Al Qaeda's

radar and pointed out to the terror group's

number two Ayman al-Zawahiri's April 29,

2006, video message praising 'popular

jihadist movements against Indians in

Kashmir'.

Al Qaeda numbertwo Ayman

al-Zawahiri.

Pak fastest producer of N-arms

A m e r i c a n

and British

diplomats fear

P a k i s t a n ' s

n u c l e a r

weapons pro-

gram could

lead to fissile

material falling

into the hands

of terrorists or

a devastating nuclear exchange with

India. A separate cache of U.S. embassy

cables contains warnings that Pakistan is

producing nuclear weapons at a faster

rate than any other country in the world.

Mariot Leslie, a senior British Foreign

Office official, told U.S. diplomats in

September 2009: “The U.K. has deep

concerns about the safety and security of

Pakistan's nuclear weapons."

Concerns raised thatPak nuclear arsenal

may be given to opposition groups.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 20102010Highlights Movers & Shakers+

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010322010

Highlights Movers & Shakers+

Top 10 in Business

India growth story continues in 2010Indian economic growth rebounded from 6.7 percent in fiscal year 2008-2009, and 7.4 percent in fiscal year 2009-2010. The GDP growth even could rise to 9 percent in fiscal year 2010-2011, starting from April 1, 2010. The Sensex touched 20,000K mark and FDI increased multi-fold in 2010.

Revival of IT SectorThe year 2010 marked a period of revival for the $60 billion Indian IT industry, with the global econ-omy assuming some semblance of normalcy after a period of pro-longed turbulence and demand for software technology products on the rise again. According to industry body Nass-com, the Indian IT-BPO industry is well-poised to reach the $70 billion-mark by the end of the current fiscal.The year 2010 also saw a lot of philanthropic initiatives taken up by the leaders in the sector. The biggest contribution came from billionaire technology czar Azim Premji, who donated more than Rs 8,000 crore to his education-focused trust.

Super Indian GDP figuresIndian economic growth rebound-ed from 6.7 percent in fiscal year 2008-2009, and 7.4 percent in fiscal year 2009-2010 thanks to the dom-inance of domestic consumption and monetary stimulus policies.The GDP growth even could rise to 9 percent in fiscal year 2010- 2011 starting from April 1, 2010, accord-ing to the mid-term economic anal-ysis by the Ministry of Finance.Earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he hoped that the country’s economy could see 9 to 10 percent growth in the coming 25 years.

India enters global stageIndia pays great importance to the G20 summit and wants to interact with more powers in comparison with smaller club of BRIC countries including Brazil, Russia, India and China, said Kaushik Basu, chief economic adviser at the Ministry of Finance. Afterwards, India sought to reconcile the tensions between Chi-na and the US on the exchange rate of Chinese currency RMB by calling for dialogue and against protection-ism at G20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea, in November this year. India held a mild but clear stance at the meeting and strived to force ahead Doha Round trade talks despite the lack of enthusiasm from developed economies in the time of recession. India also successfully leveraged the BRIC forum to push forward the reform of the international financial bodies and lifted its quota shares from 2.44 percent as the 11th share-holder to 2.75 percent as the 8th one.

Inflation haunts aam aadmiAlthough India’s economy has been growing rapidly in recent years, its high inflation at home threatens to derail the prospects of near double-digit economic growth in addition of laggard progress in infrastruc-ture both physically and socially.Though the wholesale price index has come down to 7.48 percent in November as the lowest so far this year, inflation is still very high and close to economic growth rate.

Sensex at 24,000 in 2011Since the recent peak for the BSE Sensex and the S&P CNX Nifty (21,108/ 6,348 on November 5), there has been a correction of over 10 per cent due to a mix of con-cerns -- the conflict in Korea, the 2G licence scandal and the bribe-for-loans scam involving banks and realty sector stocks.The coming year is expected to generate 10-20 per cent returns for investors, though the stock markets will not rise as sharply as they did in the calendar year of 2009. The return in 2009 was the best since 1991, with benchmark indices rising over 80 per cent. The return so far in the cur-rent calendar year has been around 14 per cent, considerably lower than other asset classes, such as gold, which appreciated by 26 per cent, and silver, which was up 74 per cent.

Apple launches iPadOn the global front, one saw the launch of the revolutionary ‘iPad’ from the stable of Apple, which spurred the interest of technogeeks and commoners alike. The launch also prompted many others like Samsung, Dell and Motorola to join in the ‘tablet’ race.The year 2010 saw numerous ac-quisitions in the technology space, with companies breaking free from the shackles of recession. One of the largest acquisitions of the year was by global chip giant In-tel, which bought security software firm McAfee for USD 7.68 billion.

Consumers pampered like never beforeChoice was the buzzword for the Indian consumer who in 2010 was mollycoddled like never before, with companies offering a range of products, from mobile phones to cars, tailored to one’s taste rather than seeking to unload what was thought as best. According to lead-ing industry lobby, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Indus-try of India (Assocham), the $6.5-billion market for consumer dura-bles grew 30 percent this year and will expand 40 percent next year.In the mobile phone market, where India has been adding some 15 million subscribers each month to touch 700 million subscribers, as many as 500 new models were launched, many in the sub-Rs.1,000 category with a built-in FM radio receiver to target the hinterland.In the auto market, as many as 78 new models were launched during 2010, across all the segments.

Facebook outsmarts allThe subject of David Fincher’s film The Social Network this year, Fa-cebook founder Mark Zuckerberg now strikes terror into the hearts of his commercial rivals. Google clearly views Apple and Facebook, rather than Microsoft, as the enemy – certainly in terms of the advertis-ing that generates 97% of Google’s revenues, $22.89bn (£14.87bn) for 2009. Estimates put Facebook’s revenues at $2bn for 2010.

India Inc raises Rs2,00,000 crIndia Inc slaked its thirst for funds in 2010 with a record haul of over Rs200,000 crore from the equity and debt market during the calendar year.The capital raised by Indian companies in calendar year 2010 topped by a third the Rs150,000 crore mop-up during the previous year, which heldeut hope for a global economy hit by the woes of western economies. Standard Chartered was the first foreign company to list in India through an In-dian depository receipts (IDR) issue. It raised Rs 24.9 billion by via this IDR. The IDR is an opportunity for inves-tors to invest in a globally diversified (both in terms of geography and seg-ments) banking and financial services conglomerate at a reasonable price.

Price tag for 2010 disasters: $222 bnThe global economic losses from natu-ral catastrophes and man-made di-sasters equaled $222 billion in 2010, more than triple the $63 billion lost in 2009, according to reinsurance com-pany Swiss Re.The worldwide insurance industry spent $36 billion on disasters this year, an increase of 34 percent from 2009. The most expensive was the Febru-ary earthquake in Chile, which cost the insurance industry $8 billion, ac-cording to preliminary estimates. New Zealand’s earthquake left a bill of $2.7 billion for insurers, while winter storm Xynthia in Western Europe led to in-sured losses of $2.8 billion.

Women workers at a BPO company in Gurgaon and Wipro CEO Azim Premji.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

at G20 Summit in Seoul.

The Reserve Bank of India building

in New Delhi.

Traders celebrate Sensex crossing

20,000K mark.

Nissan launched Micra for India’s hot

mid-sized car segment.

One of the first few iPad owners in New York and

India’s e-book called Kindle.

Estimates put Facebook’s revenues

at $2bn for 2010.

People protest against rising food and vegetable prices

in New Delhi.

The Chile earthquake cost the insurance industry

$8 billion

Engineers working on a Metro Rail coach in Gujarat and Indian

rupee’s new symbol.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010342010

Highlights Movers & Shakers+

Top 10 in Sports Arena

Year of mega sporting eventsThe year 2010 was witness to various international sports, including FIFA World Cup, 19th Commonwealth Games, 16th Asian Games and Hockey World Cup. The year will also be remembered for India’s living legend Sachin Ten-dulkar, who scored a double hundred in an ODI and his 50th Test ton.

FIFA World Cup, South AfricaSouth Africa hosted a successful FIFA World Cup in. South Africa became the first African country to host the mega event. Beating all predictions, Spain and Netherlands managed to enter the Football World Cup final but it was Spain which clinched the coveted trophy winning 1-0. The star predictor of the FIFA World Cup 2010 was Octopus Paul Baba, who hogged limelight for its correct predictions. Paul the Octopus died Oct 26.

Commonwealth Games, New DelhiAfter questionable preparations for CWG 2010, the entire world hailed India for holding a success-ful international mega event. De-spite being marred by corruption charges, CWG opening and clos-ing ceremony was a fit reply to the world that New Delhi is capable of holding even the Olympics. The official mascot of the Games was Shera and the official song of the Games, “Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto”, was composed by A.R. Rahman.CWG 2010 is also important for India for medals won: over 100. The final medal tally was led by Australia. The host nation India gave its strongest performance yet to emerge second, while Eng-land was placed third.

Asian Games 2010, Guangzhou, ChinaThe host country China dominated the 16th Asian Games aka Asiad 2010 by winning 416 medals alone. India finished the Games at sixth

place in the medal tally with 64 medals. India’s performance in Guangzhou pales in comparison with China, but by winning 64 medals in a variety of events with varying degrees of success, Indian

athletes have proved that the country is headed in the right direction for the 2012 London Olympics.India’s 14-Gold haul at the Asiad was crucial, it managed to win a Gold in rowing (Bajrang Lal), 5 Gold in athletics, Billiards, Box-ing and Shooting.

Saina rules the roost in badmintonIndia’s ace shuttler Saina Nehwal was the pick of the year 2010. The 20-year-old Hyderabadi girl finished the year with second rank and also broke the ‘Great Wall of China’ with five interna-tional titles: Indian Open Grand Prix Gold, Singapore Super Se-ries, Indonesian Open in June, Commonwealth Games 2010 and Hong Kong Super Series. For her giant stride, Nehwal was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award and Padma Shri.

Good year for Indian cue sportsTo say the least, it has been a fairly satisfactory year for Indian cueists, notably Pankaj Advani, the coun-try’s No.1 exponent. Although only 25, Advani has won virtually every trophy, national and interna-tional. He ended 2010 by claim-ing the gold medal at the Asian Games, but in the course of the year, lost both his World billiards titles (points and time format).

Tepid finish for Indian hockeyA riotous start and a rather tepid finish for Indian hockey in 2010.

And there were glimpses of hidden potential with a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, followed by a bronze at the Asian Games.The only silver lining was the nom-ination of Sardara Singh and teen-age sensation Rani Rampal to the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) All-Star men’s and women’s teams,at the fag end of the year. The men’s team put in a remarkable display to reach the final in Com-monwealth Games after stirring victories against Pakistan and Eng-land. But they were outclassed in the final by Australia who won 8-0.

Tiger Woods holes up GolfAce golfer Tiger Woods will defi-nitely try to forget the year 2010. A year ago, Woods’s fortunes plummeted on and off the course after the stunning revelations of his marital infidelities, which end-ed with divorce. However, Woods made a comeback in April.

Sushil scripts history in wrestlingIndian wrestler Sushil Kumar created history after winning the gold medal in the 66 kg freestyle competition at the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Cham-pionships. On July 2009, he received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - India’s highest honor for sportspersons.

Sania weds Pakistani Shoaib

Indian tennis sensation Sania Mir-za’s wedding with Pakistani Crick-eter Shoaib Malik was much talked about event this year. After several hiccups, finally Sania and Shoaib entered the wedlock on April 12. Shoaib faced legal action for de-nying his telephonic marriage to Hyderabadi girl Ayesha Siddiqui. Former Pakistan cricket captain Ma-lik’s passport was seized by the po-lice after a complaint. However, the case was withdrawn after Malik gave divorce to her first wife Ayesha.

Chandhok, Gill shone in motorsportsAlthough Karun Chandhok made it to the pinnacle of motorsports with his Formula One debut, it was left to Gaurav Singh Gill to bring home top honors with his second place finish in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship to round off a year that saw Indians otherwise struggling to maintain a toe-hold at the international level.India is now seen as a “hot” Formu-la One destination with the Indian GP scheduled next year and more significantly, the FIA General As-sembly and the FIA annual awards gala, also to be held in New Delhi. India’s first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan, too entertains some hopes of a return.

Spain with FIFA World Cup trophy

The Closing Ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2010.

Saina Nehwal won 5 world titles.

Pankaj Advani won gold at Asiad.

Vijender Singh with his boxing gold.

Tiger Woods is on comeback trail.

Sushil Kumar.

Karun Chandhok.

Sania Mirza with Shoaib Malik.

The Indian hockey team at Commonwealth Games.

BatsmanDon Bradman

Sachin TendulkarRicky PontingRahul Dravid

Brian LaraJacques KallisAllan BorderSteve Waugh

Sunil Gavaskar

Top 8 Batsmen (with 10,000 Test runs) compared with Bradman (as on 25 Dec 2010)

Bold figures indicate a record. * = not out.

CountryAusInd.Aus.Ind.WISAfAus.Aus.Ind.

Tests52

175151148131143156168125

Runs6,99614,51312,33312,00011,95311,65011,17410,92710,122

Average99,9456.9153.8553.0952.8856.8250.5651.0651.12

Top score334

248*257270

400*201*205200

236*

100s295039313438273234

50s135956594854635045

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2010352010

Highlights Movers & Shakers+

Top 5 in Cricket

Tendulkar’s spate of records

India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in Test cricket’s history to score 50 centuries. He achieved the feat when he drove Dale Steyn through the covers for a single on the fourth day of the first Test

against South Africa at Cen-turion. It took him 175 Test matches to reach the record, which will be near impos-sible to break. Next best is Australia’s Ricky Ponting (39 centuries in 151 Tests).

Tendulkar has played most number of Tests, scored most runs and hit most centuries. Lara’s unbeaten 400 remains a Test record. Border has made most fifties, 63. It is interesting that out of eight to score 10,000 Test runs, three are Indians, with Gavaskar being the first to reach this milestone. Bradman’s batting average of 99.94 will remain supreme in decades to come. Also his century per Test ratio of 0.56 (29 in 52) is twice as good as Tendulkar’s of 0.28 (50 in 175). So comparison between greats based on statistics alone is futile. Let’s say Bradman was the supremo in his time and Tendulkar is the maestro of this decade.

Tendulkar achieved an-other impossible milestone on February 24, 2010 when he became the first batsman to score double hundred in a one day match. This innings also found place in Time maga-zine’s top 10 Special Sports

moments. Tendulkar also crossed the 14,000 runs in Test cricket. He became the first batsmen in the history of Cricket to cross this Mount Everest. He also became the first batsman for scoring most 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year. He has done it six times - 2010 (1543 and counting), 2008 (1063), 2002 (1392 runs), 1999 (1088 runs), 2001 (1003 runs) and 1997 (1000 runs).

The living legend also received ICC cricketer of the year 2010- Highest award in ICC listings. He was also in news for a book about him ti-tled ‘Tendulkar Opus’, which is one of the most costly biog-raphies and weighs 40 kg. He

amassed 1,532 runs in 13 Tests this year at a stupen-dous average of more than 85 runs per innings. Interestingly, Tendulkar’s seven centuries in 2010 are his most in a calendar year during his career span-ning two decades. He has also notched up five fifties this year.

By runs scored, 8 batsmen have registered 10,000 or more runs in Tests. How do their figures compare with the greatest batsman of them all, Sir Donald Bradman’s whose score is the gold standard? Here are their statistics:

For Sachin Tendulkar, sky is not the limit.

The world’s one and only International Cricket Hall of Fame was opened in Novem-ber in Sir Donald Bradman’s hometown of Bowral, south of Sydney, in Australia.

The Hall of Fame is de-voted to the achievements of cricket and cricketers from every country. Among other displays it contains the sta-tistics of every player - male and female - who has ever played for his or her country in any form of the game at an international level.

It also features the world’s most up-to-date and compre-hensive series of interviews with famous international cricketers. A key difference between this and any other cricket museum is that it is not built around objects.

While there are numerous fascinating objects, particu-larly relating to Bradman, what visitors will experience is an interactive digital ex-position of cricket through the ages. Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting is the Global

Ambassador for The Interna-tional Cricket Hall of Fame (TICHOF). He said, “It was Sir Donald’s vision that crick-et should continue to flourish and spread its wings.

TICHOF reflects that vi-sion. It makes sure that future generations will understand Bradman’s values and his belief in the character-build-ing attributes of the game - courage, honor and humility. It will lead to a better society among the cricketing nations of the world.”

International Cricket Hall of Fame opens near Sydney

The Hall of Fame is housed in the Bradman Museum.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Team India dominated the en-tire year in the cricket field. They retained Numero Uno position in the Test cricket while jumping to 2nd spot in the ICC ODI rankings.

The other achievement from the cricket filed was Sri Lankan Spin Wizard Muttaiah Muralitharan, who bid adieu to Test cricket after claim-ing his 800th Test wicket. He achieved the milestone against India in the Galle Test.

The host England lifted the third edition ICC Twenty20 World Cup after beating Australia by seven wickets in the final. With this, Paul Collingwood became the first Eng-land captain to get his hands on a major trophy. However, the champion of inaugural edition, India’s eviction before the semifinal was real disappointment for cricket fans.

India dominates

the pitch

ICC T20 World Cup 2010 in England

The Indian cricket team after de-feating Australia in Test series.

The third edition of cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL-3) had a roller-coaster ride off the field. However, Dho-ni-led Chennai Super Kings lifted the trophy after beating Sachin Tendulkar -

led Mumbai Indians in the final but the mega T20 ex-travaganza was more in news for controversies. The corruption and illegal infusion of funds in the IPL fran-chise hogged limelight. The IPL row over new IPL fran-chise Kochi also cost Minister of State for External Af-fairs Shashi Tharoor his ministerial berth while the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who brought Indian Cricket at the highest level, was sacked from his position.

BCCI also annulled two IPL franchises Rajasthan Royal and Punjab Kings XI over funds irregulari-ties. However, the Bombay High Court stayed the BCCI’s suspension order.

Indian Premier League (IPL-3)

36

Best of 2010 cartoons

A select few from our chief cartoonist Mahendra Shah's collection of witty and humoroustake on everyday life events

Mahendra Shah is an architect byeducation, entrepreneur by

profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby.

He has been recording the plightof the immigrant Indians for thepast many years in his cartoons.Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Galleon hedge fund scandalcontd….

Early this month, federal authorities

arrested three employees of some of

the world's largest technology com-

panies on charges that they leaked confi-

dential corporate information to the

Galleon group. The charges are the latest

brought by the government in its rapidly

expanding investigation into insider trad-

ing on Wall Street. The case is built around

the prosecution of Raj Rajaratnam, a bil-

lionaire hedge fund manager (of Sri

Lankan Tamil extract) and co-founder of

the Galleon Group. The Justice

Department has charged 23 people related

to that case, 14 of whom have pleaded

guilty. Rajaratnam, who is free on $100

million bail, is fighting the charges and is

expected to go on trial early in 2011.

(Compiled by Hiral Dholakia-Dave)

Galleon group co-founder RajRajaratnam

Tragic death of filmmaker Manish Acharya

The desi film fraternity lost this bright

talent in early December. “Loins of

Punjab Presents” fame actor-direc-

tor-producer Manish Acharya died in a

freak accident falling off a horse while hol-

idaying in Matheran, Maharashtra. He was

just 40. Acharya came to the US at age 18

to earn degrees in physics and industrial

relations. He founded a software company

too that went public in 1998. But he real-

ized his true calling was filmmaking. He

applied for the NYU Tisch School of the

Arts graduate film program and made it as

he was quoted saying “due to clerical

error.” He was planning a period drama

based in the '80s and had begun work on it.

Manish Acharya

First India Day parade in Atlantic City

The Indo US Council organ-

ized the first India Day

parade at the Atlantic City

Boardwalk this year. The event was

part of a set of initiatives to boost

the influx of visitors to Atlantic

City. On August 13, 2010 the

India’s Independence Day celebra-

tions commenced with a night of

music and dance featuring a live

concert by “the international pop

sensation and multi-platinum sell-

ing Cash Money/Universal

Republic recording artist Jay Sean”

at the Trump Taj Mahal Arena followed by

a colorful parade next day. The first-ever

Atlantic City India Day parade made its

way — eventually — from New Jersey

Avenue to the Tropicana Casino and

Resort, complete with music, dancers and

floats celebrating the 63rd anniversary of

India becoming a nation.

Parade was hosted by the Indo US Council

23rd AIA South Street Diwali festbrings India to NYC

The Association of Indians in America

(AIA) held its 23rd annual South

Street Seaport Deepavali festival in

the New York City on October 3. The exu-

berant and dynamic festival has become an

annual fixture and this year the onus of its

successful execution was on AIA President

Sushma Kotahwala. Enjoyed by tens of

thousands of people, the festival displayed

the colors, tastes, art, and culture of India.

The theme of this year “Enlighten the

World” promoted the Indian culture and

heritage throughout the Tri-State area. The

festival was well attended by many public

figures including Sushilkumar Shinde,

Energy Minister of India, Mr. Gondane, a

representative of the Indian Consulate,

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Mayor

Mike Bloomberg, Comptroller John Liu,

New York Assembly woman Grace Meng,

New York council member Dan Halloran

and District Leader Uma Sengupta.

...Continued from page 9

38

Striking DiscoveriesTop 5 of Science & Astrophysics

Science’s breakthrough of the year

Top news from space science and physics

2010 has proved to be an important year for discoveries in the fields of space science and physics. Here is a pick of themost consequential with far-reaching implications.

Scientists at European

Organization for

Nuclear Research

(CERN) have managed for

the first time to trap anti-

matter, which could help

them unravel the mysteries

regarding the evolution of

our universe and how we

even exist.

Matter is the stuff we are

made of, our surroundings

are made of, and anti-mat-

ter is the one which is exact

opposite of matter and

annihilates when it comes

into contact with matter.

According to scientific the-

ories, both matter and anti-

matter were produced in

equal quantities at the

beginning of the universe.

And that’s where the prob-

lem lies. If both were creat-

ed in equal quantities, then

both should have annihilat-

ed each other long ago and

we should not even exist.

By trapping anti-hydro-

gen, scientists at CERN

plan to study what exactly

is anti-matter and how it

behaves. (Anti-matter

should look exactly as mat-

ter but in opposite way),

and, plan to unravel condi-

tions at the beginning of the

universe.

Trapped anti-matter could revealUniverse’s secret

Antimatter trap

NASA’s Cassini

probe, which is cir-

cling the planet

since 2004, has for the first

time revealed the presence

of liquid water on Saturn’s

moon Enceladus.

During one of its flyby,

instruments aboard Cassini

analyzed the gaseous mate-

rial contained in plumes

ejecting from one of its

pole. Analyzing the data,

Cassini scientists found sig-

nificant quantities of water

being ejected from long fis-

sures in its surface.

The evidence from the

Cassini probe points to a

possible global liquid ocean

beneath the frozen surface.

Particles of ice analyzed by

Cassini revealed that the ice

was of salt water which

could, it is surmised, only

occur in a large liquid body

of water, and, this, in turn,

raises the tantalizing possi-

bility that Enceladus is a

candidate for the harboring

of extraterrestrial life.

Evidence of water on Saturn’smoon Enceladus

Saturn’s moon, Enceladus

NASA radar carried by India’s

Chandrayan-I mission identified 40

craters on the North Pole, where

water could be found. The craters ranged

from 1 to 9 miles in diameter. According to

scientists, these craters could be holding

around 600 million gallons of water.

In order to further confirm the results,

NASA’s Lunar Orbiter crashed a rocket into

a crater, called Cabeus, on the South Pole in

October 2009.

After months of analyzing the data,

NASA announced in March 2010 that they

have found significant quantities of water

on the moon, shattering the belief that

Moon’s surface is dry.

The discovery of such vast sources of

water has significant implications for the

future of space exploration, as astronautscould use the water to sustain a base on the

moon, or even to generate oxygen.

Water found on moon

Picture of North Pole, where craters,believed to be storing water, are marked.

At a press conference held in early

December, NASA announced that

it has discovered the presence of

arsenic-based life forms on earth,

Dr. Wolfe-Simon, a bio-chemist from

US Geological Survey, suggested that

phosphorous, carbon, and the other funda-

mental elements found in every living

thing on Earth aren't the only signs of life.

All life on Earth is based on a single

genetic model that requires the element

phosphorus as one of its six essential com-

ponents. But, researchers now have uncov-

ered a bacterium that has five of those

essential elements but has, in effect,

replaced phosphorus with its look-alike but

toxic cousin arsenic.

After a two-year study at California's

Mono Lake, near Yosemite National Park,

Wolfe-Simon found that a bacterium will

grow in the presence of the toxic chemical

arsenic when only slight traces of phos-

phorous are present.

Scientists said the results, if confirmed,

would redefine the quest for other life in

the universe.

Alien life among us? NASA announcesarsenic-based life form on Earth

Alien Lifeform

All human-made

objects have moved

according to the

laws of classical mechanics.

But, in March 2010, a group

of researchers designed a

gadget that moves in ways

that can only be described

by quantum mechanics --

the set of rules that governs

the behavior of tiny things

like molecules, atoms, and

subatomic particles.

Physicists Andrew Cleland

and John Martinis from the

University of California at

Santa Barbara and their col-

leagues designed the

machine—a tiny metal pad-

dle of semiconductor, visi-

ble to the naked eye—and

coaxed it into dancing with a

quantum groove.

First, they cooled the pad-

dle until it reached its

"ground state" or the lowest

energy state permitted by

the laws of quantum

mechanics, a goal long-

sought by physicists. Then

they raised the gadget's

energy by a single quantum

to produce a purely quan-

tum-mechanical state of

motion. They even managed

to put the gadget in both

states at once, so that it liter-

ally vibrated a little and a lot

at the same time—a bizarre

phenomenon allowed by the

weird rules of quantum

mechanics

This is the first time this

feat has been achieved and it

could shed light on the mys-

terious boundaries between

the classical and quantum

worlds.

It could also lead to new

devices that would control

the quantum states of light,

ultra-sensitive force detec-

tors and, ultimately, investi-

gations into the bounds of

quantum mechanics and our

sense of reality.

The first Quantum Machine

The first quantum machine — a mechanical, vibratingdevice, which is as long as a hair is wide

39

Top 5 weather, natural andenvironmental disasters

The year 2010 has seen some of the worst types of weather, natural and environmental disasters. Though there are quite a few, we list here the ones we believe were most severe.

The BP oil spill, also known

as Deepwater Horizon oil

spill, was the biggest acci-

dental oil spill in the history of

petroleum industry, which flowed

for three months in the Gulf of

Mexico.

It began as a sea-floor oil gusher

when oil rig “Deepwater Horizon”

exploded and sank. The explosion

killed 11 and injured 17. The well

was not capped until July. During

that period, nearly 185 million gal-

lons of crude oil were released into

the gulf.

The runaway gusher was finally

capped on Sept.19, when a relief

well was completed which was

used to permanently seal the leak-

ing oil gusher and the government

finally declared the well “effec-

tively dead”.

The impact of the oil spill has

been devastating. Many fisheries

were ruined, hundreds of birds

were killed, many first responders

have gotten sick and tourism was

badly affected.

Scientists are still assessing the

impact of the spill on the environ-

ment.

BP oil Spill

In the months of

April and May, a

volcano located

in Iceland erupted,

spewing huge plume

of smoke and ash

cloud in the air

which stretched as

far away as Spain.

The ash cloud shut

down the air space

over most of Europe.

Many airlines had to

cancel their flights

and thousands of

passengers were

stranded.

Even though it is

currently dormant,

according to scien-

tists, the area is still

geo-thermally active

and might erupt

again.

Iceland’s VolcanoEruption

Pakistan suffered devastating floods

in July 2010, after heavy rains

affected the Indus-river basin.

The floods affected nearly 20 million

people mostly through destruction of

property, livelihood and infrastructure. At

one point, nearly one-fifth of land area

was under water.

Devastation wrought by floods was

severe – nearly 17% of Pakistan’s fertile

crop land was submerged, 200,000 herds

of cattle were killed and massive amounts

of grain were destroyed. The damage to

infrastructure was also quite heavy –

many roads and bridges were washed

away, and scores of public buildings were

destroyed. Pakistan’s economy was badly

impacted by the floods.

Pakistan Floods

Without doubt, Haiti earthquake

qualifies to be one of the worst

natural disasters ever to strike a

nation. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake

struck Haiti on Jan. 12 approximately 16

miles from Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.

Nearly 3 million people were affected.

Around 220,000 deaths were recorded and

300,000 people were injured. Nearly

280,000 buildings collapsed or were ren-

dered inhabitable due to severe structural

damage, which included the presidential

palace, the Port-au-Prince cathedral and

the main jail from which many prisoners

escaped.

The Inter-American Development Bank

estimated the total cost of destruction from

$8 to $14 billions, and many countries

have pledged financial and humanitarian

aid towards rebuilding of Haiti.

Haiti Earthquake

In July, the hottest

heat-wave on

record in Russia set

on fire nearly 300,000

acres of land spread

across seven regions of

Russia. The fire spread

from country's peat

marshes, filling the air

with toxic fumes in a

plume that could be

seen from outer space.

Moscow was covered

in dense smoke, which

delayed many flights.

The smog was so bad

that residents in

Moscow had to wear

surgical mask while

walking in the streets.

The fires caused an

extensive damage to

wheat crops, which

forced Russia to halt its

export. At one point,

there was danger of fire

spreading to Chernobyl

site, raising the possi-

bility of a worst-case

scenario: the fires

spreading to the

radioactive waste and

creating a nuclear

nightmare. Fortunately,

a sudden drop in tem-

perature and rainfall

helped firefighters

bring fires under con-

trol in late August.

Russian Wildfires

40 Astrology

January 1-7, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874; Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898,2648 9899; psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

The Year 2011 is significant as it rings in change for everyone, either on the physical plane or in mental attitudes. Dr. Prem Kumar

Sharma, our celebrated resident astrologer, tells what this may mean to you in terms of health, profession, family and romance

ARIES the Ram(March 21-April 20)

Health: The year 2011

starts with a healthy note,

with the first quarter of the

year promising total fit-

ness. This is because you

turn excessively health

conscious and make extra efforts to keep

fit. However, your excessive love for food

and drinks may start taking its toll by the

month of July. Some ailment or injury can-

not be ruled out sometime in the last quar-

ter of the year, so be careful.

Profession: Whatever you had planned

for 2011 will start unfolding by the end of

the first quarter of the year. However,

things may start becoming a bit shaky on

the professional front in the third and the

last quarter of the year. Someone working

against your interests at work needs to be

won over, instead of being confronted.

Family: Marital boat will cruise along

smoothly and the relationship appears par-

ticularly blissful during the second quarter

of the year. This will happen only if you

don’t cross each other’s path and give each

other adequate space! Socially, you may

keep aloof, more due to circumstances,

than by design. In the last quarter of 2011,

worry and concern for someone in the

family may keep you ill at ease.

Romance: Making a fresh beginning on

the romantic front is indicated for some.

So watch out for the months of April and

May 2011, when chances appear the

brightest! Love life for the married

remains satisfactory through mutual shar-

ing and caring all throughout 2011. Some

misunderstanding is possible in the month

of November.

Your Lucky Months: January, March,

May, June

Your Lucky Charm: Gold or silver

pendant

TAURUS the Bull(April 21-May 20)

Health: The ailments

that afflict you presently

may trouble you intermit-

tently, but will certainly

disappear by the middle of

the third quarter of 2011.

On the whole, no serious medical prob-

lems are foreseen, unless you become neg-

ligent. However, you need to protect your-

self from injuries, especially in the month

of July, as even minor ones can become

lingering problems.

Profession: Luck and your own efforts

have certainly paid dividends in 2010, as

regards career advancement. The year

2011 is the year of consolidation of what-

ever you have achieved. Those finding

grass greener on the other side of the fence

and may decide to switch jobs. So, expect

significant changes between the months of

February and July. A slight dip in perform-

ance is indicated in the month of October.

Family: Socially, you may remain either

a recluse or become over active. Both

courses will prove unfavorable and isolate

you. Your sharing and caring nature will

keep the marital front in a blissful state,

but some turbulence cannot be ruled out in

the last quarter of the year. A vacation with

your near and dear ones is indicated in the

month of April or May.

Romance: For you, love is in the air for

the whole of 2011! Forming a special

equation with partner is indicated, which

promises immense happiness and fulfill-

ment. The eligible will manage to find a

suitable mate by the third quarter of 2011.

Be wary in the month of April, as someone

may try to create confusion in your rela-

tionship.

Your Lucky Months: February, May,

September

Your Lucky Charm: Gold colored

wrist watch

GEMINI the Twins(May 21-June 21)

Health: Health-wise the

year 2011 may have its

ups and downs, which can

grow worse in the month

of July. You will also need

to take extra care in the

months of March and June. However after

this period, your health promises to remain

free of ailments. You may begin to focus

on fitness by the middle of the third quar-

ter and take appropriate steps to remain fit.

Profession: An immensely fulfilling

time is foreseen on the professional front,

almost all throughout 2011, that promises

to keep you on the forefront in your field

of expertise. Those planning to switch jobs

may not do so, as they find many more

benefits in their present occupation. Those

planning to set up their own business

should avoid the months of August and

September.

Family: All throughout 2011, family

seems to remain sharply in your focus.

You will remain poised to provide full sup-

port to a family member, who is on the

threshold of something important. On the

marital front, you may be blowing hot and

cold intermittently due to your own stub-

bornness and partner’s mood swings.

However, the third quarter of the year

promises pure bliss.

Romance: A potent combination of good

looks, inherent charm and liveliness is

likely to attract people of the opposite gen-

der, like moths to the flame! Expect 2011

to be most romantically happening. A

long-term romantic relationship may cul-

minate in wedding. Those married will

succeed in keeping the embers of passion

alive. Some adverse situation can develop

in the month of April.

Your Lucky Months: February, May,

November

Your Lucky Charm: Silken handker-

chief with gold thread

CANCER the Crab(June 22-July 22)

Health: You remain

unduly worried about

health, but things will

change for the good in

2011. Those on the wrong

side of fifty should avoid

becoming over conscious of bodily

changes and getting medical check-ups

done frequently, as this may actually land

them in hospital without any serious ail-

ment! Happenings in the month of July

may take the form of mental or physical

ailments.

Profession: Opportunities for career

enhancement are aplenty in the year 2011,

as you enjoy an unhindered run of luck in

the first two quarters on the year.

Professionally, you remain a cut above the

rest and attract all important assignments

and projects. However, things begin to tot-

ter a bit by the end of July. Watch your

step in the month of October, as someone

may work against your interests.

Family: Your own nature generally

keeps you at loggerheads with others, so

expect a love-hate relationship to linger on

the family front during the year 2011. A

chance to travel overseas is possible either

in the beginning of the second quarter or

latter half of the third quarter of the year.

Steer clear of any misunderstandings in the

month of October.

Romance: Romance is assured, so

expect an immensely fulfilling existence in

2011. Newlyweds and young couples are

likely to enjoy closeness not experienced

before. Overlooking shortcomings in part-

ner is your mantra for a satisfying relation-

ship. Eligible may find the third quarter

most favorable. November is the month to

be watched out for, as it can affect your

relationship.

Your Lucky Months: February, May,

December

Your Lucky Charm: Ring with birth-

stone

LEO the Lion(July 23-August 23)

Health: Your love for

outdoors and physical

activity generally keeps

you fit. The year 2011

promises to keep you fit as

a fiddle, but exposure to a

lingering problem cannot be ruled out,

especially in the month of July. End of the

third quarter rings in good health and a fit-

ter existence, as you get increasingly

health conscious.

Profession: A born leader, you believe in

taking the bull by the horns in professional

matters. Your never-say-die attitude and

the capacity to take up all kinds of chal-

lenges will endear you to superiors and

make the first-half of the year 2011 good

for your career. Your tendency to overdo

things threatens to affect your professional

reputation adversely in the month of

October, so remain guarded.

Family: You uphold family values and

will remain a pillar of strength to the fami-

ly. On the whole, family life cruises along

smoothly in 2011, but may encounter some

choppy waters too! It will be important to

keep in touch with those in your social cir-

cle in the third quarter of the year to help

out a family youngster in achieving some-

thing important.

Romance: Your charisma is likely to

prove irresistible to someone from the

opposite camp in the first or third quarter

of the year 2011, so expect romance to

blossom! The month of April doesn’t

augur well on the marital front, as your

uncompromising attitude may ruffle part-

ner’s feathers. Eligible can expect a suit-

able mate to walk into their lives by the

end of third quarter of the year.

Your Lucky Months: February, May,

September

Your Lucky Charm: Red colored wrist

band

VIRGO the Virgin(August 24-September 23)

Health: The first quar-

ter of 2011 is likely to

liberate those ailing

since the previous year.

But this is not to say that

perfect health is assured all throughout the

year, as some problems are foreseen in the

month of April or August. Those on the fit-

ness trail may become insistent on eating

right and exercising, and show the differ-

ence by the last quarter of the year.

Profession: A steady build up since 2010

on the career front will come to fruition by

the second month of the year 2011. Not

only will you manage to assume a position

of authority on the professional front, but

also take steps to further your career.

Additional academic qualifications are

likely to benefit in a competitive situation.

Be careful of some professional reverses in

October.

Family: Some serious differences may

crop up in your relationship right at the

beginning of the year 2011, but from then

on the situation will only improve. So,

don’t harbor any apprehensions. An elder

may become instrumental in bringing sta-

bility in the family. Newlyweds are likely

to strengthen their marital bonds by mak-

ing conscious efforts to draw closer to

each other.

Romance: Although you remain happy

in your present relationship, but someone’s

unusual interest in you may become hard

to resist! This is not to say that you will

stray or do anything inappropriate, but you

will certainly use the opportunity to pep up

your romantic life! A competitor may give

you a tough time on the romantic front in

the month of November.

Continued on page No. 41.....

Yearly Forecast 2011

Astrology 41

TheSouthAsianTimes.info January 1-7, 2011

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874; Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898,2648 9899; psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

Continued from page No.40

Your Lucky Months: March, July,

September, December

Your Lucky Charm: Pendant of any

semi-precious stone

LIBRA the Scales(September 24-October 23)

Health: The year 2011

brings good news on the

health front, especially for

those making efforts to

lead a perfectly healthy

life. Since you are sensi-

tive to seasonal changes, more precautions

are advised, especially during winter and

monsoon seasons. Beware of injuries or

some disease in the month of July.

Profession: If a job switch is on your

mind, 2011 is the year for you. However

professionally, it may prove difficult to get

the best of both the worlds – a good salary

and job satisfaction. Whatever you choose

will go in your favour, but make the

changes before the month of July, as a pro-

fessionally lean period starts after that.

Family: Solemnizing the marriage of

someone eligible in the family may remain

topmost on your mind in the first half of

2011. But be rest assured, good news is

likely by the month of August or

September. Taking up a social cause is

indicated for some, which may keep them

gainfully employed. Marital life will

remain without problems, but some turbu-

lence can be experienced in the last quarter

of 2011.

Romance: There seems a distinct possi-

bility that love may creep up on you, with-

out you even realizing it in the first quarter

of 2011 itself! Be careful of an outside ele-

ment out to create friction in the relation-

ship in the month of April. Newlyweds and

young couples will find the third quarter to

the year exceptionally blissful. Stagnation

in love life can be expected in the begin-

ning of the last quarter of the year.

Your Lucky Months: February, May,

June

Your Lucky Charm: Pearl in any form

of jewellery

SCORPIO the Scorpion(October 24-November 22)

Health: Freedom from

an ailment requiring con-

stant monitoring is indi-

cated by the end of the

first quarter of 2011.

However, you will need to

exercise all precautions to prevent it from

recurring. Naturopathy may appeal and

may entail sacrificing the lifestyle you are

used to. Nursing someone back to health is

indicated. December appears definitely

bad, so be careful.

Profession: You are ambitious and yearn

to make your mark on the professional

front. Year 2011 may prove a mixed bag in

this respect, since your endeavors may not

be good enough to achieve total success.

Be particularly careful in the months of

September and October, as some serious

ego problems threaten to harm your career.

Also don’t undertake any new venture in

the months of March and April.

Family: Expect a good phase of family

life from May to August of 2011. A love-

hate relationship with someone on the

social front may keep you on your toes in

September. Married life will have its ups

and downs, as you get caught in balancing

work and home. A challenging situation

may develop in the months of March and

April.

Romance: Romance is likely to hit a

rough patch in the year 2011. Lack of trust

and suspicious nature will put paid to your

romantic aspirations. Differences in a rela-

tionship may crop up in month of January.

Months of April and October also appear

to pose challenges on the romantic front.

Good period for those married commences

from May to August, when something sig-

nificant is likely to happen.

Your Lucky Months: February, May,

June, July

Your Lucky Charm: Copper coin

SAGITTARIUS

the Archer(November 23-December 21)

Health: Your health

remains satisfactory in the

year 2011. In fact, the first

four months of the year

may find you in peak

physical condition. You

will need to watch your step in the month

of July, when an injury or a medical condi-

tion may entail surgery. However, you will

recover quickly and enjoy the last five

months of the year without any problems.

Profession: You are passionate about

what you do, so success will always be

with you all throughout 2011. Multi-task-

ing may become your forte in creating

more earning opportunities. Chance for a

promotion or a coveted appointment is

likely by the second quarter of the year. In

all this, your hard work and efforts will be

most evident.

Family: Family life appears most satis-

fying in the year 2011. Forming a special

equation with life partner is on the cards

and will help in forging stronger ties. You

will need to be careful in the months of

June and July, as your personal likes and

dislikes may create some misunderstand-

ing with people in your social set-up.

Helping out a family youngster is on the

cards.

Romance: Too many love interests may

prevent you from having a steady relation-

ship in the year 2011. But instead of pity-

ing your situation, you will enjoy the peri-

ods of brief flings! Married couples will

keep their relationship alive by being

available to each other and giving each

other space. The months of April, June and

September do not augur well for romance,

so go slow.

Your Lucky Months: First quarter of

the year, August, December

Your Lucky Charm: Silver bead in

black string

CAPRICORN the Goat(December 22-January 21)

Health: The first and the

third quarter of 2011 seem

a period of excellent

health. This is because of

your continued Endeavour

to attain perfect fitness.

Seasonal changes and other factors may

get you under the weather in the months of

April, June and November, so be careful.

Yoga and meditation may appeal to some

and prove spiritually gratifying.

Profession: Professional front remains

excellent, except for the third quarter of

2011. During this lean period, you will

need to keep your emotional nature in

check, so as not to rub someone important

the wrong way. Some special achieve-

ments are in store for you in the last quar-

ter of the year. A position of authority may

be acquired by some.

Family: Your reputation on the social

front is likely to soar during most of the

first half of 2011. However, you need to

check superficiality in your relations with

others, as they may send wrong signals.

From June onwards, marital relationship

may come under strain and the onus of

steering it out of troubled waters will rest

upon you.

Romance: Good times are foreseen in

the year 2011 for those going steady for

sometime. Wedding bells may toll for

those in a long-term relationship. Those

divorced or single with no chance of mar-

riage are likely to benefit from the initia-

tives taken by them. Something untoward

may happen on the romantic front in the

month of April, so be warned. A lot of

travelling and leisure trips are in store for

young couples.

Your Lucky Months: First quarter of

the year, May, October

Your Lucky Charm: Any sandalwood

item

AQUARIUS

the Water Bearer

(January 22-February 19)

Health: Health may not

remain on the tracks all

throughout 2011. Problems

pertaining to health may be

as minor as pimples on the

face to as grave as getting

out of shape, but nothing more serious!

Eating right and adopting an active

lifestyle will need to be your fitness

mantra for the year, if you want to main-

tain perfect health. Some work-related ten-

sions may also manifest as bodily ills, so

take steps to de-stress.

Profession: There is much happening on

the professional front in the year 2011.

Those looking for a suitable break may get

their chance after a frustrating period of

two months at the beginning of the year.

Business persons are advised not to trans-

act any deals in the months of February

and November, as stars appear unfavor-

able.

Family: The hectic pace of the year

2011 may not permit you to enjoy family

life to the fullest extent. For youngsters,

parents or family elders may appear more

of a hindrance than support. Marital life

may have its ups and downs, and will need

conscious efforts to keep it on track.

Something happening in the month of

September threatens domestic harmony.

Romance: Paucity of time and a busy

life may have direct fallout on romance in

the year 2011. Those looking for love may

find it, but may not be able to continue it

for long. The months of June, July and

August appear favorable for those roman-

tically inclined. An overseas trip or a trip

out of town with lover cannot be ruled out.

Your Lucky Months: June, August,

December

Your Lucky Charm: Silver bracelet

PISCES the Fish(Feb. 20-March 20)

Health: A balanced

lifestyle promises to keep

you in perfect health and

fitness all throughout

2011. You will steer clear

of any mental or bodily

ailment and will enjoy a perfectly healthy

phase, not experienced before. Taking up a

sport in a serious way is indicated for

some. Your positive influence and insis-

tence will keep others around you perfect-

ly fit.

Profession: Whatever you have man-

aged on the professional front in the year

2010, will multiply many times over to

make this year one of the best professional

phases of your life! A better and well pay-

ing job is in the offing for those looking

for one. An overseas job is possible in the

third or last quarter of the year. Promotion

comes with many perks, so rejoice!

Family: Stability on the marital front is

yours for the asking, as complete under-

standing with life partner is achieved.

Harmony prevails on the domestic front all

throughout the year, strengthening familial

and filial bonds. Socially, your charisma

will help you in acquiring special place in

the hearts of all those you come in contact

with. Newlyweds may get a chance to set

up a separate household.

Romance: There will be much love and

caring in your current relationship that

promises to grow stronger during the year

2011. Those engaged for marriage are like-

ly to enjoy an extended courtship and get a

chance to know each other better.

Downplay whatever happens in the month

of September on the romantic front and

you will be better off.

Your Lucky Months: All months, except

April and September

Your Lucky Charm: Peacock feather

Yearly Forecast 2011

Aries:This week travel would pro-

mote new romantic connections.

Important people around you would appre-

ciate your ideas. Relationship with the

opposite sex would be highly cordial and

pleasant. Spend some exciting time with

family members and relatives. Your ability

to converse intelligently would help you

seek favors. You can easily double your

financial gains if you play your cards well.

Taurus:This is an excellent period

to show your knowledge and skills.

You should go ahead with new plans and

finalize important deals. Children would

give you happiness and comfort. This is

also the perfect time for romance, pilgrim-

age and even seeking favors. Financial

gains from past investments would roll in,

but not at the rate you might expect.

Gemini:Travel and learning should

be on your agenda this week. For

some, a change in residence would prove

highly lucky. Your income would rise and

you would spend lavishly on family mem-

bers and friends. Be cautious while han-

dling sophisticated equipment or entering a

new alliance. Your ideas would bring you

rewards.

Cancer: This week you are likely to

be asked to handle additional

responsibilities. Your outgoing nature

would work to your advantage as you gain

favors from others. Business trip might

prove unproductive. Exercise caution while

dealing with colleagues and important

clients. Not a favorable period for romantic

alliance. Speculation will prove highly ben-

eficial. Spiritual gains for some.

Leo:This week your partner expects

a lot from you, which seems to add

pressure on your mind. Do not sign any

legal documents or any other papers per-

taining to property. You need to take some

time off and go for little recreation towards

the weekend. This period is also not very

good for romance or those seeking a matri-

monial alliance. A close friend will try to

do the unexpected.

Virgo:Discuss your objectives with

experienced people to benefit this

week. Your intellectual charms would win

heart and bring you opportunities that you

least expected. Visiting a place of worship

would bring peace of mind. Businessmen

and those starting a new venture stand to

gain. Residential moves would prove to be

highly hectic and expensive.

Libra:This week money matters

would take high priority and new

ventures would be highly alluring. Students

need to concentrate on their career and plan

for the year ahead. Be at your best behav-

iour and precise in your communication

when meeting influential and important

people. Take firm decisions regarding

office matters. Be careful not to say any-

thing that will offend others.

Scorpio:Colleagues would appreci-

ate you because of your skills and

talents. Good period for materializing real

estate and financial transactions.

Unexpected gains on the money front are

quite likely. A long journey concerning

work is on the cards for some of you.

Renovation or purchases made for your

home would pay off in the long run. Be

careful while driving.

Sagittarius:This week support from

friends and family members would

generate new confidence into you. Pending

correspondence should be completed

immediately, but be precise and honest

when writing to the one you love. Personal

needs and requirements would increase but

gains from unexpected sources would take

care of the financial obligations. Close rel-

atives might try to force their opinion on

you.

Capricorn:Do not trust others with

important information. Matters relat-

ed to property, partnerships and new ven-

tures would work to your advantage.

Maintain a positive approach to reap maxi-

mum benefits during this period. Children

and youngsters would demand attention. A

new romantic affair is likely for some of

you. Go out with friend, as you need to

relax towards the weekend.

Aquarius:Concentrate on your

efforts and rewards will follow by

themselves. A stable period of growth and

prosperity. This is also the right time for

establishing new contacts, participating in

charity and social work. Affairs of the

heart would be pleasant and highly enjoy-

able. Work with people who are creative

and enterprising. Friends will understand

your problems and your needs.

Pisces:This is going to be a highly

rewarding period for women. An

unexpected achievement or news would

bring in happiness for you and the entire

family. Also prepare yourself for favorable

changes at your work front. Children

would look forward to some of your time.

Some situation might be blown out of pro-

portion, which might bring tensions at

home.

January 01

Ruled by number 1 and the planet Sun. You are

confident, intelligent, original, enthusiastic, and

possess a very creative and artistic mind. You are

a good host and love moving about in good socie-

ty, but you need to control your tendencies towards

extravagance and stubbornness at times.

This year you will see a remarkable improvement

in your ability to take quick and correct decisions.

Your self-confidence and dedication would help

you accomplish difficult tasks and assignments be-

fore the stipulated time. Monetary rewards and

benefits for those employed. Favours from govt.

officers and prominent persons likely later in the

year. Your health would be perfect, but the health

of your parents would bring some moments of

stress and anxiety. New romance for some through

social gathering and entertainment activities. Mat-

rimonial alliances for those eligible. Renovation or

new construction activities towards the year-end.

The months of January, April, August and Decem-

ber would prove to be important and significant.

January 02:

Influenced by number 2 and the Moon. You are

imaginative, emotional, trustworthy, simple and

possess a sharp memory. Your command over your

work can do wonders for you in your career and

profession, but you need to check your tendency to

behave fickle-minded and introvert at times. This

coming year will require you to be highly cautious

of your moves. During this period you are likely to

face several ups and down in your career. Your fi-

nancial position also seems to be moderate, there-

fore make new investments with extreme precau-

tions. Only secure investments like banks fixed de-

posits and tax saving schemes should be encour-

aged. Domestic front however would bring enor-

mous happiness. Your spouse and children would

be supportive and helpful to your concerns. A sud-

den influence of an important and eminent spiritu-

al person would provide you solace and mental

comfort and bring a new twist into your life. Dis-

tant journeys probably for pilgrimage would be

undertaken later in the year. The months of Febru-

ary, August, September and November would

prove to be highly significant.

January 03:

Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter, you

are energetic, honorable, ambitious, dignified and

intelligent. You are hard working and always ap-

preciated for your commitment and efforts, but

your tendencies towards extravagance and jeal-

ousy need to be checked at times. This coming

year brings enormous prosperity for those inclined

to learn and improve their skill levels. Success

would be yours provided you work towards given

opportunities. Businessmen are likely to venture

into new and more profitable avenues. Important

decisions and contacts that you establish during

this phase would bring long lasting benefits to

your career. Health will show improvement in

spite of the hectic schedule that you might have to

follow. Investments will yield favorable returns.

Foreign education or travel for some. Some mis-

understanding with your in-laws might create

some tense atmosphere at home. Being patient and

calm would be important to ease out the tension.

New romance for some, so make the best of it.

The month of January, March, June, July and Au-

gust will be significant.

January 04:

Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus.

You are active, energetic, reliable, systematic and

methodical. You are fond of art and soft music.

You can really do wonders in your career but you

need to check your tendency to behave introvert,

stubborn, and jealous at times.

This year your stars promise you plenty of fame

and fortune. Your sincerity towards your work and

your office would ultimately bring you enormous

benefits in the long run. New sources of income

will improve your financial position. Journeys un-

dertaken will bring you in close contacts with im-

portant and influential people. Acquisition of

some real estate later in the year cannot be ruled

out. Health wise this year would not be satisfying

as minor ailments would keep on bothering you

now and them. It would be wise not to avoid pre-

ventive medication and seek a doctor’s advice

whenever necessary. Matrimonial alliances for

those eligible as other would find romance to get

them going. Lending and borrowing money should

be avoided to the casual acquaintances. The

months of March, June, July and August will be

significant and result oriented.

January 05:

Ruled by number 5 and the planet Mercury. You

are an imaginative, practical, honest, brilliant and

simple. You’re co-operative and helpful person

and enjoy enormous respect in your friend’s circle,

but you need to check your tendency to behave

jealous and stubborn at times. New proposals and

assignments would improve your income and

prosperity. Although there would be a rise in ex-

penses but increase in earnings would take care of

your needs. Your strong willpower and determina-

tion would see you emerge victorious in whatever

task you undertake. Travel would be undertaken

quite frequently and would be important in estab-

lishing new and important ties. Difference of opin-

ion with your family members would bring some

stressful moments at home. Certain losses due to

overconfidence in others and speculation cannot

be ruled out. Children will win laurels in their re-

spective fields and would be supportive and un-

derstanding towards you. The months of February,

April, August, September and December would be

highly significant.

January 06:

Ruled by number 6 and the planet Venus. You are

kind hearted, generous, simple, accommodating,

love peace and harmony. You have a strong mem-

ory and an ability to impress others with your in-

telligent and witty conversation. But you need to

control your tendency to be extravagant, reckless

and moody at times. This year plenty of impor-

tant function and religious ceremonies would be

performed in the family. Social gathering and ac-

tivities would be beneficial in establishing new

and long lasting ties. Property matters will materi-

alize. Financially this year might not bring results

that you have been dreaming for long. Opportuni-

ties for a new job and assignments would be plen-

ty but job satisfaction seems unlikely. A sudden in-

fluence of a person from the opposite sex will give

a new and interesting twist to your life. Travelling

will be pleasurable and highly exciting. Friends

would be helpful and supportive to your concerns.

Some gains through inheritance also seem high on

your cards. Pilgrimage or a distant journey with

the family for some. The months of May, June,

September and October will prove to be highly re-

sult oriented.

January 07:

Ruled by number 7 and the planet Neptune. You

are intelligent, sensitive, adaptable, charming, in-

dependent and kind hearted. You enjoy a good po-

sition and respect at your work place, but you need

to control your tendency towards extravagance,

recklessness and to dominate others.

This year you are going to do major changes in

your style of working. You are also going to be

more particular about your health and looks. Gains

from investment and speculation will improve

your financial positions. Long pending legal mat-

ters will be sorted out to your satisfaction. Promo-

tions or increments are likely to take place later in

the year for some of you. Your rapport with the im-

portant govt. authorities in various departments

will improve. Children may cause some dissatis-

faction, but your spouse will provide you with lots

of love and affection. The months of April, July,

August and November will prove to be highly

eventful.

42 Astrology

January 1-7, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874; Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898,2648 9899; psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

Stars Foretell: January 1-7, 2011 Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

44

Stars that shone brightTop 10 Bollywood Actors

Dazzling Debuts

For Bollywood actors, 2010 has been a year of no big consequence. The usual frontrunners like Shah Rukh Khan, HrithikRoshan and even megastar Amitabh Bachchan failed to charm audiences with their big budget outings this year except forSalman Khan and Ajay Devgn. New faces brought in a breath of fresh air through their powerful performances in small-

budget films like Peepli Live and Tere Bin Laden. Here are the top 10 Bollywood actors who struck a chord in 2010.

Rajnikanth challenged

every Bollywood actor

worth his salt, and also

proved that when it comes to

box-office appeal, all that matters

is star charisma.

Rajnikanth's 'Robot' perhaps is

the only 'Indian' hit of the year -

making waves wherever it went.

It also proved that India can still

make a movie for the entire

country - not for south, north,

east and west.

Rajnikanth

Rajnikanth’s star charisma, bothin India and abroad, played

a major role in making Endhiran(Robot) a blockbuster.

Comedy, politics, action - you name

it, he's done it. Proving his mettle

with the maximum releases for an

actor this year in "Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?"

"Raajneeti", "Golmaal 3", "Once Upon a

Time in Mumbaai" and the forgetful

"Aakrosh" and “Toonpur Ka Superhero”,

the National Award winner emerged as the

most versatile and dependable actor.

According to the ETC Bollywood

Business Awards 2010, Ajay was the most

profitable actor of the year, as four of his

six releases did good business.

Ajay Devgn

Nobody believed that

this Kapoor family

scion will portray

the nuances of a conniving

and scheming politician with

such perfection in

"Raajneeti". But this choco-

late boy turned into desi

Michael Corleone and sur-

prised everyone with his

immaculate performance in

the political thriller that hit

bull's eye at the box office.

Ranbir Kapoor

With three hits this year,Ajay Devgn emerged asthe most versatile and

dependable actor of 2010.

Ranbir Kapoor, known for hischocolate face image, surprisedeveryone with his immaculate

performance in Raajneeti.

There is nothing that

she can't do.

Daughter, actress,

wife, mother - Kajol's dor-

mant comings and goings on

the big screen took a surprise

turn when the dusky beauty

returned with three outings

this year, "My Name is

Khan", "We Are Family" and

"Toonpur Ka Superhero".

Kajol

Kajol in ‘My Name is Khan’.

Although two of her three releases

tanked this year, Aishwarya Rai

was praised for her powerful per-

formances in all her films of 2010 –

Endhiran (Robot), Guzaarish, Raavan and

Action Replayy.

While illegal

Bollywood discs run

on the neighboring

nation's home theatres with

panache, the Hindi film industry

got an original import in Ali

Zafar from Pakistan to produce

"Tere Bin Laden". As for the

singer-actor's performance, he

definitely left the fairer sex

wanting for more.

Aishwarya RaiBachchan

Ali Zafar

Aishwarya Rai has been praised for herpowerful performances this year.

Pakistani pop singer AliZafar received critical

acclaim for his performance in Tere

Bin Laden.

Ramp to rampage - this

model-turned-actress has

taken Bollywood by

storm. Continuing her habit of

turning a movie into a hit, the gor-

geous face rocked the box office

with her chaste Hindi volleys in

Prakash Jha's political thriller

"Raajneeti" and the sizzling

Sheila ki Jawani in Farah Khan’s

Tees Maar Khan. According to the

‘ETC Bollywood Business

Awards 2010,’ Katrina was the

most profitable actress of the year

as Indian viewers paid a total of

Rs.142 crore to watch her movies

Rajneeti and Tees Maar Khan.

Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif emerged as the most profitable actress of the year, withIndian viewers paying a total of Rs.142 crore to watch her movies.N

obody beats this "Bigg

Boss" when it comes to

pleasing audiences with

his authenticity and irrevocable

charm. Living up to his "Wanted"

legacy, 'Robinhood Pandey' stood

tall as the invincible king of

Bollywood this year with his cor-

rupt cop saga "Dabangg" that

flushed the debacle of his first

release of the year "Veer" to

obscurity.

Salman Khan

With Dabangg, Salman Khan was Bollywood’s unquestionable king this year.

VJ-turned-actor Aditya

Roy Kapoor is surely a

star in making. His per-

formance in Guzaarish and

Action Replayy has been appre-

ciated by both critics and

Bollywood hotshots. Starting

out as a VJ with Channel V, he

made his film debut with a role

in Vipul Shah's film London

Dreams in 2009.

Aditya Roy Kapoor

Aditya Roy Kapoor inAction Replayy.

No six packs, no film connections

and no fanfare, but still this 39-

year-old managed to make his

place in a billion hearts with his vulnera-

ble, suicidal and tattered appearance as

soon as his modest debut "Peepli Live"

hit the screens. The result - you had the

common man and now he's got a name,

Natha. Manikpuri has been a member of

folk-theatre doyen Habib Tanvir's Naya

Theatre company for several years.

Omkar Das Manikpuri

Omkar DasManikpuri inPeepli Live.

45

More misses than hits Bollywood Boxoffice

It was a pathetic year for Bollywood, except for a couple of big hits and some others that managed average commercialsuccess. It was also the worst year for top filmmakers. Instead, some small budget films defined the year as they credited

their viewers with both IQ and EQ and won instant applause.

Endhiran (Robot)

The year belonged to Rajnikant whose

robot avatar in Shankar's 'Endhiran'

enjoyed a great run at the box office. With a

record opening weekend of $21 million, the

film took the crown of being the biggest hit

of the year.

Dabangg

It marked the directorial debut of Abhinav

Kashyap and became the first release

under the Arbaaz Khan Productions. The

Salman Khan-starrer broke many records at

the box office within the first week of its

release.

Raajneeti

Apolitical thriller that drew parallels to

the epic Mahabharata, it was directed

and produced by Prakash Jha. Starring Ajay

Devgn, Manoj Bajpai, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun

Rampal, Katrina Kaif, Naseeruddin Shah

and Nana Patekar in major roles, Raajneeti

had the second biggest Friday opening in

India after ‘3 Idiots’.

My Name Is Khan

Shahrukh Khan and Kajol starrer created

records in India and is the highest-

grossing film in overseas markets.

Golmaal 3

Director Rohit Shetty, along with the

enigmatic Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi,

Kareena Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade and Kunal

Khemu, delivered Golmaal 3 as the second

highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2010

despite mixed reviews from critics.

Peepli Live

Written and directed by Anusha Rizvi

and produced by Aamir Khan

Productions, it emerged the most noticeable

movies ever made in Bollywood. Peepli

Live is India's official entry for the Oscars in

the Foreign Film category.

Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD)

Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, LSD was

applauded for its unique filming style,

acting, realistic story and superb editing. It

also made it to the list of best feature films

released in 2010 on IMDB (Internet Movie

Database).

Tere Bin Laden

Written and directed by Abhishek

Sharma, Tere Bin Laden is a spoof on

Osama Bin Laden, as well as a comic satire

on America's war against terror and the real-

ities of the post-9/11 world.

The film generated positive reviews for

being mint fresh.

Raavan

Written, directed and produced by Mani

Ratnam, Raavan is the biggest disap-

pointment of 2010. The film's budget was

Rs.100 crore, but the gross revenue of the

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai

Bachchan-starrer was just Rs. 29.50 crore.

Chota B reportedly got depressed after that

verdict.

Guzaarish

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's meditation on

euthanasia, starring Hrithik Roshan and

Aishwarya Rai, was made on a budget of

more than Rs. 67 crore, but the gross rev-

enue was Rs. 21 crore. The film was

declared a 'disaster’, notwithstanding good

reviews by some critics and wows from

many viewers.

Action Replayy

Big names like Akshay Kumar and

Aishwarya Rai failed to create magic

here. The movie's budget exceeded Rs.40

crore and made just about half of that. The

film was criticized for sorely lacking in

drama and genuine humor.

Kites

Despite a sizzling chemistry between

Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori,

Kites had to be taken off theaters with peo-

ple facing issues with the language in the

film, and a boring second half. Directed by

Anurag Basu and produced by Rakesh

Roshan, the film managed to recover its cost

with a gross revenue of Rs 65 crore.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey

Despite having a novel storyline and

commendable direction, Ashutosh

Gowariker's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey

bombed at the box office due to its slow first

half and a plot that did not excite the youth.

Tees Maar Khan

The last big release of the year failed to

create a happy ending for Bollywood.

Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan, starring

Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, has been

panned for its tacky writing, tasteless humor

and poor performances.

HITS

MISSES

46 Spiritual Awareness

January 1-7, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info