indian weekender issue#107

www.iwk.co.nz6 September 2013

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September 6, 2013 Vol. 5 Issue 9 | www.iwk.co.nz

The leading Kiwi Indian fortnightly newspaper FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION

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Spice up your life at the Auckland Diwali Festival

Aucklanders have the chance to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of India at the annual

Auckland Diwali Festival on 19 and 20 October in Aotea Square and Queen Street.

The event – on from midday to 9pm – is Auckland’s largest free multicultural vegetarian festival and is set to attract thousands of Aucklanders over the two days.

Auckland’s 12th annual Diwali Festival is one of three major social anchor events run by ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development).

ATEED General Manager Destination & Marketing, Rachael Carroll, says this year’s event will really stimulate the senses by creating a festival that resonates more intensely with the ‘feel’ of India.

“Life happens on the street in India, so at this year’s festival we’re infusing more street theatre and surprise events than ever before, to inject even more spontaneity into what is already an exciting event,” she says.

“Auckland is known for being a multicultural city and the Auckland Diwali Festival is an amazing opportunity for people of all ethnic backgrounds to embrace a traditional Indian festival which has become an iconic event for our city,” adds Ms Carroll.

The festival will see Aotea Square and Queen Street transformed into an Indian Mela (bazaar), with more than 50 food and craft stalls

offering delicious vegetarian cuisine and Indian sweets, as well as a colourful array of clothing, jewellery, henna, handicrafts and art.

A live performance stage will showcase a mix of traditional and contemporary dance from local and international artists and there’ll be the hotly contested Radio Tarana Bollywood dance competition.

Other festival highlights will include the Rangoli craft workshop where children can

create Indian artworks and classical music workshops for people to have a go at playing traditional Indian instruments.

The event will end on a high note on the Sunday evening with the Diwali Finale Fireworks display, presented by Barfoot & Thompson.

This year’s festival will also coincide with the Prayas Theatre Company’s play Rudali –

The Mourner on at the Herald Theatre at The Edge from 17 to 27 October.

Auckland’s Diwali Festival is organised by ATEED in partnership with the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

IWK Bureau

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Asia New Zealand Foundation Chair, Philip Burdon says: “We work to build New Zealanders’ understanding of Asia, and events like Auckland’s Diwali Festival provide an ideal platform to showcase the talents of our Asian communities.”

Diwali ‘The Festival of Lights’ is an important and ancient Indian festival celebrated by thoughts of people around the world each year. Diwali symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and the renewal of life.

To find out more about Auckland Diwali Festival visit www.aucklandnz.com/diwali


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Onam celebrations stay true to tradition in Auckland

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NEW ZEALAND

Onam is a big festival celebrated in South India. As in previous years, The Auckland Malayali Samajamis

conducting this year’s Onam Celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre Auckland. Around 1200 to 1500 people to partake in the celebrations this year.

As part of the festivities, the Auckland Malayali Samajam is felicitating Jessie Hillel, the nightingale of the Indian community in New Zealand for being the runner up at New Zealand’s Got Talent show in 2012. There will also be our traditional dance Thiruvathirakali, along with lots of other entertaining programmes throughout the evening.The main highlight of the Onam celebrations in Auckland will be the much anticipated Onasadhya. The Onasadhya will be a sit down dinner served in traditional Kerala style.

There will be 14 varieties of curries with pappadums and 2 types payasam (dessert). Guests are welcome to attend and enjoy the night with family at $20.00 per person. The main sponsor for this year’s event is Malaysia Airlines and Travelshop, who are sponsoring two return flight tickets to Kochi. The proceeds from the raffle ticket sale will be used to fund various objectives of Auckland MalayaliSamajam includingCharity work & Community work.

IWK Bureau


5NEW ZEALAND

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Around 100 Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) students will be hitting the Remarkables Ski Field

tomorrow morning as two full busloads head up to enjoy the snow in the final months of ski season.

The trip was organised to give both Domestic and international students the opportunity to enjoy the snow at a reasonable expense with students only being charged $10 for the return trip. Students with families were also able to bring their children back for free.

Students have the option to bring their own skis or snowboards with many students opting to go tubing. SIT is running a snowperson competition and a treasure hunt during the day before the return late afternoon.

Southern Lakes English College (Contracted to SIT) Director Blaise Barham says this is the first time many of their international students have seen and touched snow and will be an

amazing experience for them. “Some will also be able to go tubing or try snowboarding or skiing for the first time or just enjoy the amazing views. These kinds of weekend activities are very useful for students to have fun and get an appreciation of what Southland has to offer. These students will be ambassadors for SIT and Southland when they return to their countries so it is important that they are able to have these experiences.”

SIT English Language School student Fiona Wei will be attending the day tomorrow and is excited to go to the Remarkables for the first time. She moved to New Zealand from her province of Shi jia Zhuang in China which is close to the mountains in Northern China. “I’ve skied and ice skated before. If it’s too steep up the mountain I may not go tubing-it depends! I want to go and have a look at the snowy mountains with my friends.”

-IWK Bureau

SIT takes students to Remarkables


6 NEW ZEALAND

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Beauty of the Holy Qur’an on display in AucklandIWK Bureau

The residents of Auckland were shown the beautiful bounties of the Holy Qur’an in over 45 major

languages of the world by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community who successfully held the Inaugural Exhibition of the Holy Qur’an on Saturday, 24th August 2013 at the Glen Innes Community Hall.

The exhibition organizer, Mr. Sabhan Shah, National President of Majlis Ansarullah New Zealand, an auxiliary body of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at NZ Inc., was quite pleased with the outcome with a very good cross section of local residents attending the exhibition for the first time. This is a start of a series of similar exhibitions which will continue throughout the year, including the launch of the fully translated version of the Holy Qur’an in Te Reo Maori in October of this year.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Central Missionary, Mr. Shafiq ur Rehman held a number of short seminars throughout the day educating the visitors about the history of the Holy Book and some of the key messages of peace, compassion, and forgiveness which was revealed to the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) for mankind. “The Holy Qur’an was revealed for all mankind and therefore it becomes our responsibility to ensure that the message is conveyed to all races through all

languages. The community’s effort is never ending in having the word of Almighty God translated in many different languages and to ensure that people understand the true Islam”, said Mr. Rehman.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a

dynamic, fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) in Punjab, India, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans 200 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions.

For more information please

contact Mr. Bashir A Khan – Press Officer Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at New Zealand Inc. Ph: +64 21 778 [email protected]


7

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NEW ZEALAND

Tough new bail rules passed into law this morning. The bill passed its final reading by 102 votes to

19. The Green, Maori and Mana Parties and Independent MP Brendan Horan voted against it.

The Bail Amendment Act aims to crack down on the high rate of offending on bail by defendants charged with murder, violent, sex and class A drug offences.

The burden of proof is now reversed in bail decisions, and it now requires defendants to prove they should be bailed.

It also means people aged under 17 facing charges who repeatedly breach their bail conditions can be arrested.

Those aged 18 and 19 will be subject to the standard test of bail, as will 17-year-olds if they have previously been jailed.

The bill also allows for electronically monitored bail - by anklets - throughout the country.

Justice Minister Judith Collins said the new law will make it harder for serious offenders to get bail and “strikes the right balance between public safety and a defendant’s right to be considered innocent until proven guilty”.

- IWK Bureau

Tough new bail laws come into force


8 NEW ZEALAND

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IWK Bureau

Event set to bring ethnic youth together

Auckland University of Technology will host an Ethnic Youth Hui 2013, on 28th September, an event

set to integrate youth from different ethnicities and communities. The Ethnic Youth Hui is an initiative piloted by the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Board who understand the importance of youth as the leaders of today and tomorrow.

The Ethnic Hui Youth is being organized by a team made up of young individuals from different diverse cultural backgrounds representing the diversity of New Zealand.

Mahafrin Variava, one of the eight youth on the organizing committee and the Project Manager for the hui, says her aim for the hui is to empower and encourage the youth.

“I believe that every youth is a light of the world and it gives me great pleasure to be there to encourage that light to shine as bright as it can”, she says.

The purpose of the hui is to create conversations about the issues and challenges facing ethnic youth in New Zealand as well as to celebrate their successes and achievements.

Makanaka Tuwe, spokesperson for the Ethnic Youth Hui said that there are barriers faced by ethnic and migrant youth that need to be addressed.

“This is an event for ethnic youth by ethnic youth. It is a chance for us to come together as one and share our stories and experiences. To be frank, I am tired of projects that are implemented from the top, from people who have little knowledge about young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds”, she says.

Although there have been a number of events organized for youth from a particular ethnic background, this is the first time that an event will invite youth from ethnicities.

“You will hear of youth days that cater to certain ethnicities and while this is fair and fine, we believe it is time to bring the youth together. This is all in the spirit of celebrating diversity and inclusion”, Mahafrin says.

Through the Ethnic Youth Hui, youth will have the opportunity to showcase their culture, celebrate what makes them unique, be amongst people who share similar experiences and hear from those with different stories to tell.

The day will be made up of workshops and presentations on a range of topics including culture, identity, health, and spirituality. During the workshop and presentation sessions, there will be entertainment, dances, songs, art and cultural displays from various cultural groups from New Zealand.

“At the end of

the day, we want

everyone to walk

away with knowledge,

friendships and

stronger networks,”

Makanaka says.

“I believe that every youth is a light of the world and it gives me great pleasure to be there to encourage that light to shine as bright as it can”, she says.


9NEW ZEALAND

IWK Bureau

The 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is being celebrated all over the world during 2013-14.

Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre (Auckland) in association with The University of Auckland organized a workshop on “Women’s Role in Human Society” on 1st September 2013, in order to commemorate this important event. Distinguished scholars of the Ramakrishna Order from Germany, USA and India participated in this workshop. Besides them, eminent speakers from The University of Auckland and Massey University participated in the program.

The program started at 10:30 am and ended at 4:30 pm. The president of Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, Auckland, Mr. Harish Kumar Sundarji, welcomed the gathering. Member of Parliament Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi also addressed the gathering.

Swami Baneshananda, Head of the Vedanta - Gessellschatt, Germany, talked on “Women’s Role in the Modern Society: an analysis based on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.” He brought out social issues regarding women and how they could be reduced or eliminated following the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Tyagananda, Head of Ramakrishna Vedanta Society in Boston, USA and the Hindu chaplain at MIT and Harvard University, spoke on “Swami Vivekananda and Women: Mutual Influences.” He explained how the swami was influenced by women, namely his mother, Bhubaneshwari Devi, Sri Sarada Devi and his disciple, sister Nivedita. He also informed the audience about the influences he had on Mrs. Ole Bull, Mrs. Seviers and other women he encountered.

Swami Sarvapriyananda, Educationist and teacher at Ramakrishna Math and Mission in Belur, Kolkata, India, spoke about “Women’s role in modern society – a Vedantic Approach to Identity and the Philosophy of Feminism.” He has brought out different aspects of feminism with the help of stories told by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Dr. Debasis Bandopadhyay of The University of Auckland presented a paper on “Violence against Women and Economic Wellbeing of a society”. He spoke on the reasons for violence against women and how to avoid it by empowering women in different cultures.

Professor Manying Ip of The University of

Auckland presented a paper on “Taoism: the tenets of a Chinese Philosophy and some of its modern implications – Echoes in Vedanta Philosophy.”

Professor Srikanta Chatterjee of Massey University presented a paper on “Bengali Renaissance, Women’s Emancipation and Swami Vivekananda”. He informed the audience about Swami Vivekananda’s influence on the women of Bengal.

After each talk the audience put forth their questions to the speakers and the speakers answered them. There was also a panel discussion. Many important points were discussed based on the talks given by the speakers.

Professor Debesh Bhattacharyya, Vice President of the organization and main organiser of the workshop, proposed a vote of thanks.

The workshop was conducted by Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, Auckland, in conjunction with The University of Auckland.

Started as a small group in late 1980s the organization has grown since then. At present, its activities are based at 27 Arawa Street, New Lynn, Auckland.

Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda


10 NEW ZEALAND

COMING SOON! Unless you have when TV changes in your area, you won’t be able to watch anything at all − even the news.

You don’t need a new TV, but you may need some new equipment. Now’s the time to get organised so you can keep watching all your favourite shows.

TV changes on: 29 September – in Wellington and the lower North Island. 1 December – in Auckland, Hamilton and the upper North Island.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY IN TIME!

Find out more at www.goingdigital.co.nz or call free on 0800 838 800. NZCT_001

The acquisition of the ground lease at New North Road is a key step towards delivering a greater public connection between the upgraded Mt Albert rail station and the town centre.

An adjoining area of public open space will be created to enliven the Mt Albert town centre and create a gathering place for the community. The upgrade will also provide a boost for local businesses.

The Mt Albert town centre upgrade is a flagship project for the Albert-Eden Local Board. The Board made investing in Mt Albert a priority from day one and is excited about this step into the future.

Auckland Council draft resolutions for camera surveillance

Auckland Council adopted new draft guidelines for the use of camera surveillance in public plac-es.The guidelines provide a consistent approach to the appropriate use of camera systems in public places, to help ensure public safety and reduce crime, which are goals of the Auckland Plan. The guidelines comply with the Privacy Act and are based on eight principles to ensure they meet high standards of planning and operation, so that people don’t feel that “big brother” is watching.“There are a lot of differing standards of technolo-gy and use of camera surveillance. These provide a single set of guidelines to promote consistency and standards to improve public safety and re-spect people’s privacy rights,” says Anaru Vercoe, Manager of Community Policy and Planning.

The guidelines are voluntary, but the council encourages anyone who uses, or is interested in using, camera surveillance systems to use them.

Joint social development programme for Maori

A landmark agreement between Auckland Council and the University of Auckland Business School has been signed with the intent of supporting Māori through Haere Whakamua, a jointly developed indigenous social enterprise programme.

“Māori enterprise has a collective rather than individual focus and is motivated by people and environmental outcomes,” says Associate Professor Mānuka Hēnare, Director of the Business School’s Mira Szászy Research Centre for Māori and Pacific Economic Development.

“Through closer collaboration and cooperation with council in research and capacity building we believe we can achieve better outcomes.”

BLUE September is here!The Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ

encourages all men over 40 to have an annual prostate check. If you’re over 50 then consider an annual prostate check that includes both a PSA blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE).

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand men. More than 3000 New Zealand men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and 1 in 10 will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. Last year more than 550 kiwi men died from this disease and many deaths could have been prevented by early detection and healthy lifestyle choices.

NEWS IN BRIEF

It’s September and time to Get Blue!Get Blue! Face up to prostate cancer!

Get tested! If you’re over 40 get a PSA blood test - it may save your life.TEXT ‘BLUE’ to 4847 and donate $3 Donate online at www.blueseptember.org.nz

Trashy by choiceFinalists in the Schools Trash to Fashion

Awards 2013 took to the catwalk on the weekend and modelled their unique designs.

Schools Trash to Fashion is an Auckland Council-driven initiative to spread the word about recycling, reusing and reducing waste by giving students a practical, yet creative, and fun opportunity to turn rubbish into high fashion and moveable art.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone who participated in this year’s awards. The entries were of a high calibre and it is exciting to see the up and coming talent and creativity that we have in Auckland”, says Kaye Glamuzina, Auckland Council’s Arts and Culture Manager.

The Supreme Award went to Kayla Rousselle, Lynfield College, for her entry Tori No Su (Birds Nest) in the Untamed Category. Kayla won the Emerging Fashion Designer in the 2012 awards.

Mt. Albert centre upgradedThe Mt Albert town centre upgrade has taken a

major step forward through the acquisition of 915-927 New North Road, Mt Albert.


11NEW ZEALAND

Hon Michael Woodhouse says skilled migrants welcome

National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi welcomed comments made by Hon Michael Woodhouse that

New Zealand will continue to welcome skilled migrants from anywhere in the world.

“New Zealand competes with other developed nations for skilled manpower, comments today by the Immigration Minister show our Governments commitments to welcome skilled migrants from India, and the world,” said Mr Bakshi.

To raise awareness about changes to immigration policies, Mr Bakshi invited the Minister of Immigration Michael Woodhouse to a public meeting in the Manukau East electorate. At the meeting, which was attended

by more than 25 people, Mr Woodhouse said he has heard from members of the Indian community who are concerned about getting visas for travel and study in New Zealand. He responded, “ I assure you Immigration New Zealand provides the same level of service to all our clients, worldwide – everyone will be treated equally within the guidelines issued by immigration New Zealand.”

“The National-led Government has worked towards ensuring that the application process to live, study and work in New Zealand is simplified and deserving applicants are granted their visas,” said Mr Bakshi.

“We have also eliminated the centre of gravity rule under the sponsorship of family

MP Bakshi welcomes drop fines owed

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi welcomes a drop in the amount owed in fines at Manukau from $ 75,530,070 in the

2010/11 financial year, to $ 58,253,110 in the 2012/13 year.

“National has worked hard in law and order, we’ve put more cops on the beat and we have the lowest crime rate in more than 30 years..”

We’ve also introduced new initiatives such as enhanced data matching between ministries, and credit checks of fines to help catch fines-dodgers. Clearly, we’re getting results.

“We have also gotten tougher on criminals, and focussed more on supporting victims. In the 2012/13 financial year 449,540 was collected by Manukau District Court through the Victims’ Offender Levy.

“This money is going straight into supporting victims. The funds are used for services such as trauma counselling, homicide support, travel assistance, and increasing funding for the work of the national Sexual Violence Survivor Advocate.

“It is great to see National’s drive to deliver better public services to New Zealanders is delivering such good results, and support to where it’s really needed,” said Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

If people have fines to pay they can phone 0800 4 FINES or visit www.fines.govt.nz.

-Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi National List MP for Manukau East

category. “These changes highlight the positive and pragmatic steps we are taking to best care of present and future generations of New Zealanders,”

Hon Woodhouse also said, “based on feedback I have received from local communities, industry, business, we have made good changes to improve the services we provide – I am proud of this progress.”.

“Immigration plays a critical part in National’s plan to build a brighter future and we’re making changes to give priority to migrants who can make a real contribution to New Zealand,” said Mr Bakshi.

-IWK bureau


12 NEW ZEALAND

Weta Digital comes to Invercargill

A combined classroom of various Southern Institute of Technology courses enjoyed the opportunity to

speak with a representative from Weta Digital earlier this week, discussing industry changes and career opportunities at the large Wellington based company.

Those attending the lecture included students from Visual Arts, Digital Media, Dramatic Arts, Fashion and I.T courses.

Weta Digital head of visual effects Matt Aitken spoke with students on the growth of Weta Digital since his involvement as one of the first employees. “Currently we have around 1200-1250 employees, we predict a growth in the rest of the year up to 1500 people.”

The change in technology within the film industry was highlighted by Matt who pointed to key aspects in some of their recent films including The Hobbit, Iron Man, and the Avatar. “Right now I’m working on two films, the second Hobbit film and the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. We have the third Hobbit film to do next year and we are looking to Segway into 3 Avatar sequels.”

The growth in motion capture has been a major change in the industry says Matt, “It all started with Gollum and his performance by Andy Serkis – it’s what we’re known by. We

wanted Gollum to be recognisable in 10 years. Between the time of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit we re-worked technology and motion capture. The big thing with the Hobbit is the on-set motion capture.”

Matt described to students the departmental

style structure that Weta Digital operates under. “You will be applying to work in a specific department, it may be modelling, lighting etc. - there’s not an overall Producer hiring. The company has the old-school mentality of starting low and working your way up.”

IWK Bureau

Around 50 tertiary graduates were hired by Weta Digital this year based on the talent presented by applicants says Matt. “We are hiring on the basis of your talent which is shown in your reel. A reel breakdown is a key part of the application process – make sure you put your best foot forward.”


13NEW ZEALAND

FREE WORKSHOPS

New Zealand Education System

Date: September 4th , 2013 (Wednesday), from 09:30am to 12:30pm

In this informative workshop, you will learn from Ministry of Education staff about the following topics:The education system of New Zealand, including zones and enrolment information for children.Detailed information about the early childhood education, primary and secondary education.ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) options in New Zealand.

Job Search Workshop

Date: September 5th, 2013 (Thursday), from 09:30am – 01:30pmAre you looking for work? Attend our FREE job search workshop in ARMS Manukau!In this workshop you will:

• Learn about language skills needed for job search and workplace

• Learn about New Zealand’s business culture and employment environment

• Learn how to write a Kiwi style CV and cover letter

• Receive tips about handling job interview

By attending this workshop you will also be given information about:• Making appointments with key presenters

for individualised consultation and coachin• Ways to gain NZ work experienc• Other relevant programmes and workshops

to assist your job search This workshop is particularly designed for skilled migrants who have been in NZ for less than 2 years, with WTR visa, PR, or Work visa. Please bring a copy of passport to be submitted on the day of the workshop.

Employment Rights and Your Rights

Date: September 6th, 2013 (Friday), from 10:00am – 01:00pm

Attend our free information workshop and learn more about the following: Employment AgreementsMinimum Wage rulesTypes of leave; Terminating employment; Union rights; The role of the Employment Relations Service (ERS); Discrimination in recruitment and employment; What to do if you have a problem at work. Consumer rights; Health rights; Rights in employment; Rights in education; Social rights; How to get help when your rights are breached.

Specialist Presenters will be there to anwer any questions you may have.

To register please call 09 263 5490 or email: [email protected]. Location: ARMS Manukau Resource Centre, 2 Osterley Way, Manukau.

SIT hairdressers call for more clients

More hairdressing clients are needed for Southern Institute of Technology students undertaking the Certificate

in Visual Hair Design.The second year hairdressing students are

required to work on clients as part of their practical course requirements in the purpose built fully equipped commercial salon located at the SIT Main Campus on Tay St. The work experience is built into the curriculum and both 1st and 2nd year students’ source clients to practice their treatments learned.

SIT hairdressing tutor Trish Dowling says whilst both years work on clients in the salon, their tasks vary between the two courses. “In the

first year of training the students are instructed on simple hairdressing tasks such as applying and removing colours, foils, streaks through a cap, simple long hair, simple blow drying, conditioning treatments and simple sets. In second year training they are instructed on more complex tasks such as cutting, full head colours, complex long hair, and complex blow drying.”The public are invited to book in with the students and all treatments are done at a discounted price with a free consultations says Trish. “The cost for all colours vary depending on the colour service. We charge $1.00 per gram so it is really hard to give a quote without seeing the hair and deciding on the colouring service required. Other services include treatments for

$5, sets for $6 and cuts at $5.”Students are required to source their

own clients as during their second semester clientdays feature almost daily, requiring a large amount of clients to work with. “To collect evidence on the practical tasks they are learning they need to be working in a commercial salon so they can gain the experience of what it is like to attend to clients, answer the phone, make appointments, clean etc.”

The salon is open from Monday to Thursday each week (hours vary) and students can either book in person at G1 Hairdressing Salons during class or ring 0800 4 0 3337 extension 8791.

-IWK Bureau


14 INDIA

Further slide for Rupee, Lira Encyclopedia of Hinduism launched in USAEmerging stocks, bonds and currencies

took another hammering on Wednesday as mounting expectations of Western

action against Syria pushed up oil prices and drove investors to seek shelter in dollar assets.

The United States and its allies appeared to be gearing up for a military strike against Syria, perhaps within days, as punishment for last week’s chemical weapons attacks which they have blamed on President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

The Turkish lira and the Indian rupee - already under heavy pressure due to their large current account deficits and an imminent rollback in U.S. money printing - were at the forefront of selling, with both hitting new record lows as oil prices surged to six-month highs above $117 a barrel.

The higher cost of oil will make it even more difficult for the two energy importers to contain their current account gaps.

-IWK Bureau

Chandrayaan finds water on moon

India’s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft have found evidence of water locked in mineral grains on the surface of the moon from

an unknown source deep beneath the lunar surface.

Using US space agency NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument on the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) spacecraft, scientists remotely detected magmatic water, or water that originates from deep within the moon’s interior, on the surface of the moon.

The findings of the National Aeronautics

and Space Administration (NASA) funded research, published in Nature Geoscience, represent the first detection of this form of water from lunar orbit, the agency said.

Earlier studies had shown the existence of magmatic water in lunar samples returned during the Apollo programme, NASA said in a media release.

-IWK Bureau

A comprehensive encyclopedia of one of the world’s major religions is set to be unveiled next week in South Carolina.

The 11-volume work covers Hindu spiritual beliefs, practices and philosophy, and is the culmination of a 25-year academic effort.

The encyclopedia is written in English and includes about 7,000 articles on Hinduism and its practices. The work also deals with Indian history, languages, art, music, dance, architecture, medicine, and women’s issues. The entire encyclopedia contains more than 1,000 illustrations and photographs.

Brightly colored images of Hinduism’s deities fill entire pages, with foot-noted explanations of the forms and powers God can take in the religion.

“The goal was to have something pretty definitive — not just about Hinduism, but about the whole South Asian tradition,” said University of South Carolina professor Hal French, who met with a small group of scholars in 1987 to offer academic support for the project.

“This hadn’t really been attempted before,” said French, 83, a distinguished professor emeritus of religious studies at the school and an associate editor. “It is a milestone of research that brought together both Eastern and Western scholarship.”

French specializes in the religions of Asia and served as an associate editor of the encyclopedia.

-IWK Bureau


15

www.national.org.nz

AUCKLAND OFFICE: Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe, Auckland

Ph: 09 278 9302 | Email: [email protected]

Postal Address: PO Box 23136, Hunters Corner, Auckland 2025

www.bakshi.co.nz

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi NATIONAL L IST MP

INDIA

After food bill, land acquisition bill comes into effect in India

China and India will launch joint anti-terrorism training between the two armies within 2013 in southwest

China, a spokesman announced on Thursday.The training, set in Chengdu, capital city

of Sichuan Province, has been arranged in accordance with the two armies’ annual military exchange plan, Ministry of National Defence spokesman Yang Yujun said at a news briefing.

The joint training is aimed at increasing mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation and preserving regional peace and stability, Yang said.

Experts from both sides have had two rounds of consultations on the date, assignment and scale of the forces to be involved in the training, he said. “The two defence ministries are keeping in touch on details of the training.”

Yang also slammed comments at the briefing that attempted to provoke tensions between China and India, saying, “It is groundless and shows a lack of good will to use weapons equipment as a pretext to drive a wedge between China and India.”

His remarks were in response to comments alleging India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier obviously targets China and ignites the fiercest arms race the world has ever seen in Asia.

“China and India are partners and close neighbors. Getting along well with each other and achieving co-development is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples,” the spokesman said.

-IWK Bureau

China-India: anti-terrorism drills within 2013

India’s lower house of parliament approved land reforms on Thursday that boost farmers’ rights but are opposed by other

businesses who say the new law will thwart efforts to revive the floundering economy.

The government says the bill, which will replace a muddled law dating back to the 19th century, will help speed up industrial investment by making the rules clearer.

With the rupee’s value tumbling along with other vulnerable emerging market currencies, India is struggling to finance its current account deficit and its leaders are desperate to promote economic growth.

But many are skeptical about the land bill, which is seen as a vote winner for the governing United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition because it will give farmers up to four times the market rate for land bought for industry and infrastructure.

Another bill, recently passed on Monday, offers subsidized food to two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion population, fuelling criticism that lawmakers are more concerned with elections due by May 2014 than in building a strong

economy.“It’s populist. They want to appease the

farmers,” said Paras Adenwala, MD and Principal Portfolio Manager, Capital Portfolio Advisors. “The UPA is making ground for election by these bills.”

Indian shares fell by more than 3 percent the day after the food security bill was passed, on worries the scheme would overshoot the government’s annual cost estimate of $20 billion.

IWK Bureau


16

Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, AucklandPrinted at Guardian Print, AshburtonCopyright 2010. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Indian Weekender Volume 5 Issue 9Publisher: Kiwi Media Group LimitedManaging Editor: Giri Gupta | [email protected] Editor: Shriya Chitale| [email protected]: Sumantra Maitra Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@ indianweekender.co.nzDesign: Natasha IyerAdvertising & Business Development Manager: Gaurav Gupta M: 021 292 4519 l [email protected] and Admin.: Farah Khan - P 520 0922 l [email protected] Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisheris not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication

Editorial“There is no such thing as a good tax. For a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket trying to lift himself up by the handle.”

-Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill,

Twice Prime Minister of United Kingdom,November 1874 – January 1965

Indian Economy: Back to the 80s

Indian economy entered a new disastrous phase with the introduction of the food security bill and the new land acquisition bill by the UPA Government led by Congress. With that, any debate about the economic reforms by the Congress is now fully settled.

There will be no more reforms. The country has now gone back to the 80s type Soviet economics. Ironic, as the Prime Minister now, was the Finance Minister of 1991, under whose stewardship limited reforms first happened.The food security bill, an ambitious project, aims to provide food, as a matter of legal right. Under the program, government will subsidize grain for around two-thirds of its 1.2 billion people. So, simply put, the taxpayers will pay tax, and that will go to feed everyone’s stomach. Fine, should be no problem with that ideologically, for a center left government. Now, comes the more interesting part. The Land acquisition bill, which takes the cost of land acquisition for industries, to four times high, to an absurd level, where no one, no company, no corporate, no industrialist or industrial houses, will want to buy land or invest anywhere and create jobs. Now the taxpayers will pay taxes for people who won’t sell their land for industry other than an absurd price, and therefore will never be able to. So, ideally there will be no new job creation, no new industries, and 2/3rd people of the country will eat on the tax of the rest 1/3rd. Sounds like Socialism? That’s exactly what it is. There have been a lot of debate recently between welfare economics versus growth economics, and we are not going to go to the details. There are academic papers, with data and stats by economist Jagdish Bhagwati for those who are interested. Simply put, the UPA government ran with a growth of plus 8 percent for the last one decade is due to the liberal economy by the NDA government before, which created massive jobs, made India a world leader in pharmaceuticals, IT, technology, and service industries. Now, with the global recession, UPA government took the easy way out. The FDI reforms never happened, scams became norms, market slowly got bottlenecked and closed, more and more rules and bylaws came into existence, and more and more cheap populism happened as a means to solidify vote banks. There’s two ways for trying to achieve equality. One is to provide for opportunities, create growth, have a functioning proper market with reforms, industrialize and create jobs and have a modern economy. The other one is taking the money from rich and middle class, and give it to the poor. The second one is more radical and appealing ofcourse, but it promotes one simple problem. If you give someone free food and free stuff, why would he want to work for it anyway? You don’t teach the man to fish here…you just take the fish from someone else and redistribute. Unfortunately the UPA Government took the second way, probably at the cost of the nation, for years to come, unless someone bold enough comes to change this madness. Ronald Reagan once said, the greatest social program is a job. The UPA Government perhaps condemned the country to permanent poverty and socialism, by stopping all mean

-Sumantra Maitra.

Fact-sheet : Mumbai rape case

Thought ofthe Week

Incident: A 23 Year Old Photojournalist Girl Intern, working for a leading Magazine visits Shakti Mills in the Mahalaxmi area of Mumbai along with a male colleague to take photographs on August 22. A group of 5 men approached them and told the victim that she would require permission to take pictures. On this pretext, the duo was taken to an area where the male colleague was tied up and the girl raped. Rapists held a broken beer bottle over her neck and threatened to kill her if she moved. The rapists clicked photographs of her after the assault and also threatened to release them in public and defame her if she dared to disclose their identities.All five accused had “unnatural sex” with her, according to the statement of the victim. Also, the victim was forced to see clips of pornographic materials before she was gang-raped, and forced to perform all those acts.She was raped a total of 6 times, by the five accused.

Arrests: More than 20 teams, including 10 from the elite Crime Branch formed to track down the perpetrators amid mounting public pressure and anger. By August 13 arrests were made.

Perpetrators:Chand Babu Sattar Shaikh alias Mohammed Abdul, is the only one allegedly a juvenile. Rest all are Vijay Jadhav, Qasim Bengali, Saleem and Ashfaq. They are alleged druggies and heroin addicts, and two of them have cases of robbery against them. It is also alleged that they raped homeless girls before. Crime branch has recovered all five mobile phones that were used by the five accused arrested for gangraping a photojournalist at Shakti Mill compound. It will aid investigation as it will help the police prove the presence of the accused at the crime scene at the time of the incident.The accused are to undergo an identification parade. The juvenile is to undergo a “bone test” to see if he a minor.

Victim condition:Victim is now stable, and recovering. “Rape is not the end of life,” the young woman told the Press Trust of India, adding that she hopes to return to work as soon as she can.

“I want the strictest punishment for all the accused and want to join duty as early as possible,” she said.

“Rape is not the end of life,” the

young woman told the Press Trust

of India, adding that she hopes to

return to work as soon as she can.

.


17

Anjum Rehman

COMMENT

The many reasons I choose to wear a Hijab

When I was growing up in Hamilton in the 1970’s, I was the only Indian girl in my

school. All the other children were either of European heritage or Maori. I grew up knowing what it was like to be different, to stand out merely because of my ethnicity and colour. I didn’t wear a headscarf as a child, nor for many years as an adult, but I stood out anyway.

As a result, I always had a strong desire to try to fit in, to be part of the crowd. It took me many years to realise that no matter how hard I tried, I would always be different. There were too many physical factors to be ignored. It took me a while to learn that being different is something to be proud of.

Hijab is something I strongly believed from a young age. There are many reasons: it is first and foremost an act of worship. It is a strong statement of identity. It is a rejection of the notion that women are required to be judged on their attractiveness

at all times, in every sphere. Hijab is a state of mind, where one focuses more on inner character development and spiritual growth, rather than outward appearances.

While I believed in all of these things, I also understood the way society punishes those who stand out, who choose not to conform to society’s expectations of them. I grew up in New Zealand at a time when there weren’t many Muslims and people generally didn’t know much about Islam. Therefore, they wouldn’t understand the reasons behind my beliefs and my decision to wear hijab.

More than that, what little they did know associated the covering of women with oppression. I agree that forcing women to put on hijab is oppressive, just as I agree that forcing them to uncover, as is happening in parts of Europe, is also oppressive. In both cases, it’s as if women have no right to autonomy, and cannot be trusted to make their own decision. The power of the State is being used to over-ride women’s rights to

independence.No-one forced me to put on hijab. The

decision was entirely my own, and was well thought through. The result has been to make me a stronger person, and more able to stand up for what I believe in. I have also found it liberating: I no longer worry about the latest fashion in clothes, hairstyle, make-up, weight, wrinkles, greying hair, bra size, cellulite. The list could go on.

I don’t worry about these things anymore because I know that they are not the most important thing about me. I know that how I behave towards others, how much kindness and empathy I can show, how much of my time I can devote to improving the community I live in, all of these are so much more important.

I used to believe it’s entirely co-incidental that my decision to put on hijab was made about six weeks after the tragic events on 11 September 2001. I didn’t believe my decision was related to that event, as the

spiritual growth I was going through at that time was entirely separate. And yet, perhaps I instinctively understood that my community would now need champions, because we were thrust into the spotlight in an entirely negative way.

Because of the actions of this group of people, everything about us was being questioned and we were being held responsible for events that we took no part in and did not in any way condone. In fact, some of the people killed in those attacks were also Muslim. We felt as shocked and saddened as everyone else did.

I realised that there was a need to counter the media narratives about us, and that there was a need for us to be more involved in the community, to let people get to know us better. And as I found the strength and courage within myself to take on this more public role, I also found the strength to put on hijab and to wear my identity with pride.

Fiji, foreign aid, development and the rising dragon of China

Australia and New Zealand’s political moves to impose sanctions and cuts in foreign aid to Fiji have resulted

in the suspension of diplomatic relations. But China is stepping in to fill the gap.

Ever since the military coup in 2006 in Fiji, relations between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji have taken a turn for the worse.

Responding to the internal political situation in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand and a host of other nations have sought to injure Fiji’s economy.

Major cuts to vital aid and a clutch of sanctions against Fiji have significantly impacted the Fijian economy. However, the hardline policies adopted by Australia are only serving to strengthen Fijian resolve in a number of ways.

The Pacific Islands have lately given a warm reception to Fiji.

Papua New Guinea recently declared its support for Fijian PM Bainimarama to the Commonwealth and Vanuatu’s Deputy PM, Edward Natapei, presented Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola with a traditional apology for Vanuatu’s anti-Fiji stance during 2010 by the country’s previous government.

Fiji has gained a lot of support in the Pacific since the 2006 coup. Australia, on the other hand, has begun losing credibility and many economic opportunities.

As a report by theAustralian Strategic Policy Institute outlines, “the biggest losers are Australian-owned businesses in Fiji, notably the banks”.

Invading the Islands?Secret plans by Australia to invade Fiji in

2006 came to light recently.Australian warships were in Fiji

waters shortly before, during and after the coup when an Australian Black Hawk helicopter crashed. Threats were allegedly made against the Fiji Prime Minister by the Australian Defence Minister at the time, Angus Houston. The Prime Minister says:

“He woke me up early in the morning to tell me, don’t ever do anything that will pit my troops against yours. It was a threat. He made a threat.”

These actions not only angered the military, but turned many ordinary Fiji citizens against Australia. Furthermore, top secret documents revealed by WikiLeaks showed clearly that New Zealand was spying on Fiji.

Yet while Australia and New Zealand continue to flex their political muscles in the Pacific, Fiji is taking advantage of the economic opportunities emerging in the north and pursuing alternative economic partnerships to rebuild its economy.

Dancing with the Rising DragonChina pledged a massive US$167 million

in grants and loans to help the country. China has also donated equipment for the police force, computers to the Fiji Defence Ministry, scholarships to Fijian students, media equipment and a sea wall.

China has certainly boosted the Fijian economy but one wonders, is all this effort going to repay dividends for the people of Fiji?

This year, for instance, China took out a 20 percent stake in the Vatukoula goldmines.

These mines are an important source of income for the people of Vatukoula and the surrounding areas.

Recently, there have been a lot of disputes over the mine ranging from misunderstandings between the CEO and the owners to a lay-off of workers caused by production issues.

Disputes over mines are not new in Fiji, in 2008 a Chinese company was awarded a contract for road works which took work away from Fijians. Local road contractors lost out on building roads such as the Nasarawaqa stretch in Bua which was awarded to the Chinese company.

Many Chinese nationals were brought in by this company.

Another Chinese company has also been awarded a contract to mine bauxitein Bua, Vanua Levu. While this provides the residents of Bua with a temporary burst of income, it might not be so good for them in the long run.

Devastating processThe mining process would devastate

the surrounding area, and marine life and agriculture would also suffer greatly which will affect people in rural Fiji who rely on these industries.

There needs to be proper consultation with local communities and all deals must be carefully examined before Fiji signs on the dotted line. Economic partnerships with China may seem beneficial for Fiji but the country needs to pay close attention to the fine line separating political interests from economic interests.

While China denies any wish to set up a military base in Fiji, evidence elsewhere

should set alarm bells ringing for the people of Fiji. China has set up military bases across the world and a Chinese military base in Fiji would certainly give them a lot of leverage in the Pacific.

In 2010, an article by academics in Pacific Scoop urged Australia and New Zealand to mend relations with Fiji as soon as possible since “the four year attempt to isolate and penalise the government of Bainimarama has pushed Fiji more quickly and fully into Beijing’s arms”.

Improving relationsAs relations improve between Fiji and

China, a new deal is currently being negotiated to remove visa restrictions for travel between Fiji and China.

This will mean more Chinese citizens will enter Fiji and set up businesses which risk depriving already poverty-stricken locals of much needed income.

China’s help has improved Fiji’s economy and reduced the impact of sanctions by Australia and New Zealand. While China does provide a lot of aid and development, Fiji must be very cautious when dealing with China to ensure that the benefits really are long term.

The Rising Dragon may be a very alluring partner to dance with but Fiji should watch out that its tender embrace doesn’t turn into a stranglehold.

-Mr. Chanel is a final year student journalist at the University of the

South Pacific. Article first published by the Bertelsmann Foundation’sFuture

Challenges website.

Arnold Chanel


18

India inducts C-17 to the Air Force

Giving impetus to the long standing strategic airlift of the Indian Air Force, Defence Minister AK

Antony on Monday formally inducted the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III into the IAF at a special ceremony held at Hindan airbase of the IAF.

The Induction ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries including the Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Arup Raha, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command Air Marshal SS Soman, the US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell and other senior officials of the IAF, USAF and air warriors of the newly formed C-17 squadron “SKYLORDS”.

Describing the induction of the C-17 Globemaster III in the Indian Air Force as a ‘defining moment’, Antony said, “With this, the IAF has taken a giant stride towards its goal of acquiring multi- spectrum strategic capabilities, essential to safeguard India’s growing areas of interest.”

Antony said the government had expedited the process of procuring 10 C-17 Globemaster III from the United States as a part of the Foreign Military sales programme because it was felt that there was a need for a capable strategic airlift platform.

He said the rapidly evolving geopolitical environment around us calls for robust national security architecture.

“Traditional challenges to our national security have evolved into complex multi-dimensional threats. A long-term comprehensive

capability enhancement approach by and for our Armed Forces is the need of the hour. On its part, the government remains fully committed to this responsibility,” the Defence Minister said.

Lauding the stellar role played by the IAF in rescue and relief operations during the recent Uttarakhand flash floods, he said, “Today’s induction of C-17 will further boost IAF’s capability for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.”

Referring to the Indo-US strategic partnership, Antony said the induction of C-17 adds another important milestone in this relationship.

Recalling the journey embarked by the IAF to fulfill the futuristic needs of Air operations, NAK Browne said, “The induction of ten C-17 aircraft promises to be a game changer on how we conduct air transport operations. The C-17 fleet will provide tremendous flexibility in terms of operational response options in any future campaign.”

“The long range, heavy lift capability will allow the commanders to induct Troops, squadrons, Re-locate Forces as well as shift forces between theatres rapidly,” he said.

The C-17 would form an extremely important component of the strategic airlift capability and reach of the IAF.

On the raising and the beginning of the new chapter of 81 Sqn the Air Chief said, “The SKYLORDS join a very unique group of officers and me of our Transport squadrons who bring with them a legacy of Honour, Dedication and sacrifice with a mandate to uphold the

highest professional standards of IAF.”He further exhorted them saying “keep the

work ethos of IAF foremost as you prepare yourselves to complete every mission with Honour and Pride.”

The government accorded approval to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster III along with associated equipment for the IAF in June 2011.

The first of the 10 aircraft touched down in India on June 18 and the delivery of all 10 is expected to be completed by November 2014.

This aircraft will enhance the operational potential of the IAF with its payload carriage and performance and would augment the strategic reach of the nation during operations, disaster relief or any similar mission.

The induction of the C-17 is a major milestone in the modernisation drive of the IAF.

Presently three aircrafts have been delivered and are operational. The newly inducted C-17 Squadron (81 Squadron) will be based in Hindan.

Army Chief to visit Australia

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bikram Singh will proceed on a goodwill visit to Australia on

Tuesday. The visit assumes special significance in

the light of improving economic and military cooperation between the two countries in consonance with India’s growing relationship with Australia.

“Relations between India and Australia have always been close and cordial. A structured mechanism is in place both at MEA and MoD level and the bilateral cooperation, based on a shared partnership and mutuality of interest, has seen a significant expansion to include all areas of mutual interest,” the Indian Army said in a statement on Monday.

The high level visit of the Army Chief will contribute significantly to the consolidation of the existing ties and give a boost to the cordial relations between the Australian and the Indian armies.

“It is essential that we maintain and further enhance the current architecture of our defence cooperation, in addition to Defence Policy

Talks, Army to Army Staff Talks, training and promotion of mutually beneficial exchanges between the armies of the two countries to further the bonds between the two countries,” read the statement.

During the visit, the COAS is scheduled to

IWK Bureau

INDIA-ABROAD

IWK Bureau

interact with various high level political and military dignitaries of Australia in addition to a visit to field formation and the Australian Staff College.

“The visit will contribute to the cementing of our overall relationship with Australia and

strengthen the ongoing defence cooperation. This enhanced military contact with Australia will prove to be mutually beneficial to the strategic interests of both the countries,” the statement said.


19INDIA-ABROAD

India asks nationals to leave Syria

India on Saturday directed its citizens to not to visit Syria. India also said earlier advisory for Indian nationals not to travel

to Syria also remains in effect.“We are in touch with our Mission in

Damascus who are also in contact with the approximately 25-30 Indian citizens in Syria. All Indian citizens are safe,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

“Previously, we had advised all Indian citizens in Syria to return to India. They have once again been advised to leave Syria. The earlier advisory for Indian nationals not to travel to Syria also remains in effect,” he said.

The US government has said that the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs on Aug 21, resulting in a large number of casualties, including the deaths of 1,429 people.

“The United States Government assesses with high confidence that the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs on August 21, 2013, resulting in a large number of casualties, including the deaths of 1,429 people, among them 426 children. We further assess that the regime used a nerve agent in the attack,” said an official release.

“This assessment is based on a wide variety of sources, including: human, signals and geospatial intelligence; multiple accounts describing chemical-filled rockets impacting opposition-controlled areas; accounts from

international and Syrian medical personnel; thousands of social media reports; and information from a highly credible international organization reporting that three hospitals in the Damascus area received approximately 3,600 patients displaying symptoms consistent with nerve agent exposure.”

The US said Syrian regime officials prepared for the attack. On August 21, a Syrian regime element prepared for a chemical attack in the Damascus area, including through the utilization of gas masks,” said the release.The US said Syrian forces conducted the attack.President inaugurates CIC Convention

President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday inaugurated the 8th Annual Convention of Central Information Commission (CIC) at DRDO Bhavan here.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the eighth annual convention of Central Information Commission is an important occasion to reflect and introspect about how Right to Information (RTI) has impacted on the functioning of the government and citizens.

Mukherjee called upon all stakeholders to use the occasion of the convention to deliberate on issues of abiding interest in the areas of transparency, accountability and good governance.

He hoped that the convention would come up with new ideas that can improve the implementation of the RTI Act.

The President said that a large number of appeals/complaints before the Commission, however, were also indicative of the need for enhancement in the quality of voluntary disclosure so that information seekers are not required to join long queues.

He called upon the Public Authorities to be proactive and voluntarily put information in the public domain for the use of citizens.

He said, “Our enthusiasm about transparency and democracy should not make us ignore, even for a moment, the fact that the citizen who is at the heart of all these arrangements is also

IWK Bureauan individual with certain inviolable rights to privacy.”

He said that there is a wafer thin difference between what is public and what is private.

“The RTI Act has provisions which deal with such issues, but there are certain areas which need further clarity. There is perhaps need to create an arrangement that would provide protection to individuals in case their privacy is breached through unlawful means,” Mukherjee said.

He called upon the government to do everything possible to create an informed citizenry which is vital for the functioning of Indian democracy. Dignitaries present on the occasion were V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office and Satyananda Mishra, Chief Information Commissioner.

“The Right to Information Act was enacted to secure access to information held by and under the control of government and public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of the public authority. It seeks to establish accountable and responsible governance and is a mechanism to create a better balance in the equation of power between those who hold and control information and the citizen who is both the author and beneficiary of democracy.”, said the President.

“I call upon all stakeholders to use the occasion of this Convention to deliberate on issues of abiding interest in the areas of Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance.”

Stockmarkets crash over Syria concerns

The Indian rupee and stock markets plunged with benchmark Sensex crashing by 651 points on reports that missiles were fired at Syria, raising fears of disruption in oil supply and spike in prices.

The partially-convertible Indian rupee slipped below 68 against a dollar, losing more than two percent of its value in the day trade.

Rupee closed at 67.63 to a dollar. It had touched a record low thus far of 68.80 against the dollar on Aug 28, 2013.

Concerns have been raised over escalation in tensions in Syria with a possible US intervention and, thereafter, the fallout on oil prices. India currently imports almost 79 percent of its total crude oil requirements.

Increase in price of crude oil due to the Middle East crisis will further lead to widening

of India’s current account deficit (CAD).Asian stocks too snapped a four-day winning

streak on Wednesday and safe assets like gold consolidated chunky overnight gains after President Barack Obama clinched the backing of two key figures in Congress in his drive for limited U.S. strikes on Syria.

The U.S. dollar stood tall even as risk appetite ebbed, on course for its best five day performance in two months against a basket of currencies as a stronger-than-expected slate of U.S. data emboldened greenback bulls.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.5 percent after four days of gains. Philippines and Indonesia’s stocks led declines in the region.

-IWK Bureau


20 FIJI

Fiji constitution offers better and fairer society for all – a window of opportunity

Fiji now has a new constitution—the fourth since independence in 1970. The final version was published

last Thursday – on August 22, 2013. It becomes law on September 6, a day before Australia goes to the polls.

The general elections based on the constitution are scheduled for not later than 30 September 2014, almost exactly a year after the Australian elections.

It is a 98-page document—half the size of the Independent Constitution Commission’s draft presented to the President of the Republic of Fiji on December 21, 2012 by its chair Professor Yash Ghai.

Like the Ghai draft which resonated with many ideas of the 1970 and 1997 constitutions and the People’s Charter of 2008, the new constitution is underpinned by many universal principles aimed at creating a democracy of human decency, equality of citizens and belonging to a nation with a common national identity.

Common identityAll Fiji citizens are now called Fijians for the first time in a Fiji constitution, irrespective of their origin, colour, creed, gender or religious beliefs.

Fiji has fewer than a million people, more than half of them will be eligible to vote, the voting age has been reduced to 18 years from 21. There is no compulsory voting but the young have the potential to influence the outcome of an election.

The constitution provides for the development of a “genuine democracy” in multi-ethnic Fiji— in the past so damagingly beset by communal constituencies, racial categorisation, colonial hierarchies, feudal patriarchy, discrimination and dispossession of many kinds, coupled with inventions of traditions and institutions to rule rather than to serve.

All that hass gone out the window into the waves of the Pacific floating like the debris from a pirate shipwreck.

Better placeFiji will be a better and fairer society for all that. And this constitution provides several windows of opportunity for the future.

One person, one vote, one value becomes a reality in Fiji for the first time in its history. This alone makes democracy a masterpiece of human ingenuity.

This fundamental change can and will bring about sea-changes in the nation’s consciousness and conscience.

Fiji now allows dual and multiple citizenships and Fiji citizens living abroad can cast their votes in the next election. These are likely to be people who were forced to leave Fiji after the three brutal coups, two in 1987, one in 2000.

They never gave up their Fiji citizenship nor their affections for the country of their birth. The roots go deeper despite the many routes they chose under anguished circumstances of cheated hopes.

A common name and a national identity is the most challenging imperative of many post-colonial polities. Fiji has taken this immensely desirable and forward-looking step in its constitution.

Daring innovationThe Parliament will have 50 Members

of Parliament elected from a single national constituency – a daring electoral innovation for Fiji. The elected Parliament will be the supreme body for legislation and governance.

The President elected by the Parliament is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Fiji Military Forces.

The constitution provides a genuinely strong position for the Leader of the Opposition to be respected as the alternative Prime Minister of the nation.

Land protectionIn Fiji almost 90 percent of the land is owned communally by the indigenous citizens, including islands by the Banabans and the Rotumans.

Their lands are fully protected in this constitution—the racist politicians , masquerading as nationalists, will not get much traction by arousing false fear in the minds of the communal landowners that their land-ownership is under threat. It has never been except before the Deed of Cession in 1874.

This issue has been used in the three coups and the last government created refugees within Fiji.

This constitution jettisons all this overboard. And has defined the ownership of iTaukei (new name for indigenous inhabitants) land unequivocally and categorically on the first page of this historic document.

NGO growthOver the years Fiji has built a strong culture of NGOs with international support. They can continue to contribute critically, creatively and constructively with assistance from their energetic and articulate constituencies.

Fiji now has two major universities: the University of the South Pacific—a regional institution of global significance, almost 50

years old, and the Fiji National University, barely five years old.

These two institutions are producing many graduates and diplomats, retraining civil servants of high quality in almost every important field of endeavour required in a developing society.

Learning languagesThe teaching of three languages is another move in the right direction with English as the global language of communication, business, education and regional and international co-operation.

Fair electionsNevertheless for the political stability of the

nation-state the most important issue will be the conduct of credible, free and fair elections in September 2014.

Fiji has exactly a year to prepare for it. How the present government goes about it will determine both the legitimacy of the future elected government and restore the faith of the people in the democratic process.

The Bainimarama government’s greatest and most enduring achievement will be to make the voice and the vote of the people of Fiji integral to the vision enshrined in the new constitution.

Fiji Sun writer says Australian radio show is ‘ignorant’ about new constitution

Jyoti Pratibha of the Fiji Sun has criticised Radio Australia journalist Bruce Hill for “unbalanced” coverage

of the new Fiji constitution.In an online “Coconut Wireless” opinion

article, the newspaper’s west editor disapproved of contacting Australian National University academic Professor Brij Lal for comments on the constitution, saying it was “a long, long time since he left Fiji to advance his own career in other countries and other directions”.

“Hasn’t Mr Hill got any modern day Fijian academic experts in his contact book? Or don’t they say what he wants to hear?,” Pratibha asked.

The journalist nicknamed the Pacific Beat programme where Bruce Hill interviewed Professor Brij Lal as “the Bruce and Brij show”.

In capital letters, Pratibha advised potential sources commenting on the new constitution to “read first, talk later”, suggesting that “[m]aybe some who have taken it upon themselves to

criticise our Fijian constitution on social media should read it first”.

“They should understand what the constitution actually says. Ignorance ain’t always bliss,” Pratibha said.

The new Fiji constitution will replace the 1997 constitution that was set aside by the military regime four years ago. Professor Lal was one of the three authors of the 1997 constitution.

-Daniel Drageset is the Pacific Scoop internship editor.

Jyoti Pratibha of the Fiji Sun encourages to “read first, talk later” before commenting on the new Fijian constitution. Image: fijisun.fj

Daniel Drageset

IWK Bureau


21SPORTS

Dont Suffer in scilence. Your pain in my consern. You will not be dissapointed.

Mr. Eric YayaInternational Spiritual Healer and Clairvoyant from Haiti

Call: 021 052 8223Landline: 09 889 76 25E-Mail: [email protected]

SPORTS

Joseph Parker will fight “King” Afa Tatupu for the New Zealand National Boxing Federation title at Trusts Arena on October 10.

Parker was originally scheduled to fight on David Tua’s undercard but with Tua postponing his fight to November 16 because of injury, Parker’s handlers were keen to see him make use of his seven-week training camp in Las Vegas where he has done 85 rounds of sparring and pounded the streets.

Barry and Parker are back in New Zealand and raring to go.

“There’s a lot of talk around about Sonny Bill in the future but I have to remain focused on what’s in front of me and that’s ‘King’ Afa,” Parker said.

Boxing Cricket

India-England tour dates announced

ECB today announced the itinerary for India’s tour of England next summer, which will encompass five

Investec Test Matches, a five match One-Day International series and a solitary NatWest T20 International.

India will play a five-match Test series in this country for the first time since 1959 with Trent Bridge, Lord’s, the Ageas Bowl, Emirates Old Trafford and the Kia Oval all hosting Investec Test Matches.

Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Middlesex will host tour matches against India, who last toured England in 2011 when they were defeated four-nil in the Test Series and three-nil in the NatWest Series with the NatWest International T20 series drawn 1-1.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: “This will be the first time England has hosted India in a five-Test series in more than 50 years and the length of the series reflects the iconic status which contests between these two great cricketing nations now enjoy.

“We anticipate significant demand for tickets both for the Investec Test series, and for the One-Day International series which will be the first encounter between these two countries in the 50-over format since India’s triumph in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy competition at Edgbaston earlier this year.

India Tour ItineraryMon 23 June: India team arrives in UKThu 26 - Sat 28 June: Three-day game v Leicestershire, Grace RoadTue 1 - Thu 3 July: Three-day game v Derbyshire, DerbyWed 9 - Sun 13 July: First Investec Test Match, Trent BridgeThu 17 - Mon 21 July: Second Investec Test Match, Lord’sSun 27 - Thu 31 July: Third Investec Test Match, Ageas Bowl**Thu 7 - Mon 11 Aug: Fourth Investec Test Match, Emirates Old TraffordFri 15 - Tues 19 Aug: Fifth Investec Test Match, Kia OvalFri 22 Aug: Fifty-over game v Middlesex, Lord’sMon 25 Aug: 1st ODI, Bristol (D/N)Wed 27 Aug: 2nd ODI, SWALEC Stadium (D/N)Sat 30 Aug: 3rd ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)Tue 2 Sept: 4th ODI, Edgbaston (D/N)Fri 5 Sept: 5th ODI, Headingley (D/N)Sun 7 Sept: NatWest International T20, EdgbastonMon 8 Sept: India team departs UK

“We thank the BCCI for their support and also our international venues who between them helped bring a record number of spectators - more than 850,000 - to international cricket over the course of the season when India last toured here in 2011.”

IWK Bureau

Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath blamed the batting department for Australian performance in the just completed Ashes series, won 3-0 by England.

“Our bowlers have done well but we have struggled to find the right batting combination,” McGrath was quoted as saying in Tuesday’s The Hindu newspaper. “We have changed a few things around this last test, so hopefully we will improve but Australia has been well and truly beaten.”

Australia frequently changed its top order throughout the five-match series that ended Sunday, with Chris Rogers, David Warner and

Shane Watson opening at different points of the series. Watson, Ed Cowan and Usman Khwaja were all tried at number three.

The 43-year-old also added that English batsman Ian Bell was difference between the two sides. “You take him out of England and they aren’t looking too good either,” said McGrath.

England squad meanwhile celebrated the series win by urinating on “The Oval” pitch.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew confirmed the prospect of expanding Super Rugby into countries such as Argentina and Japan will be discussed at a series of meetings next month.

South Africa’s desire to field six teams after the 15-team structure winds up in 2015 has prompted officials to consider a different format.

One possibility is for teams to play matches only within their own conference through the regular season, followed by a wider, inter-conference finals series.

Teams from Argentina or Japan could be added into larger New Zealand and Australian conferences.

Rugby

SPORTS IN BRIEF

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew confirmed the prospect of expanding Super Rugby

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22 FEATURES

Open all days

5.30 pm to 10.30 pm

This includes a curry a naan, rice & glass ofhouse wine or soft drink

Meri Saas Maha Traas - A bilingual rib tickling family comedy in Gujarati-Hindi

THEATRE

MIGHT-I THEATRE’s the pioneers of Gujarati theatre in New Zealand bring their third production “Meri

Saas Maha Traas” (My Troublesome Mother-in-law) in a bilingual format – Gujarati & Hindi for the audiences in Auckland. It will be staged on 28th & 29th September at Green Bay High Performing Arts Centre in Green Bay, Auckland. A rib tickling comedy about relations, emotions, expectations, obligations and suspicion.

Brought to you with Humm FM 104.6 and Jadoo Tv, this Gujarati play revolves around the saying, “Trust is like a mirror once broken, you can never look at it again”. Every family will connect with the play as the story is familiar in most household and maybe you will fancy yourself as Jignesh or Indu or even Sucharita!

To cater to a wider audience and the current cross community families, MigHT-i Theatre has embarked on a new experiment of bilingual theatre – A blend of Gujju (Gujarati) and Hindi which reflect the cosmopolitan nature of today’s families!

Mother-in-laws are always demanding, be they of son or daughter, both try to avoid

the nagging of a mother-in-law. To top it the husband suspects that his wife is having an affair! Suspicion is a dangerous disease which has no cure!

Already frustrated, with his interaction with a hyper Parsi Doctor, he enlists the help of a goon to take care of his wife. The story revolves around the trials of the husband, wife and their mother-in-law and how fate intervenes to save the situation!

MigHT-I theatre tries to look at this issue in humorous way through this play! The show features talented artists – Jayshree Sonar, Cyrus Mehta, Varsha Belwalkar, Jayesh Bateriwala, Jyotsna Trivedi, , Kuntal Trivedi and Prashant Belwalkar, and. The Play is directed by Kuntal Trivedi.

The show is supported by Indian Weekender along with Creative NZ, East Tamaki Healthcare, Patel Pike & Assocaties, Roops Vegetarian Takeaways, Fund Master and Native Herbs.

Don’t miss this laugh a minute riotous comedy and book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

MERI SAAS MAHA TRAASVenue: GreenBay High Performing Arts

Centre, 141-163 Godley Street, Green Bay.Date: Saturday 28th September @ 6.00 pm

& Sunday 29th September 2013 @ 6.00 pm (NOTE: Daylight savings start from Sunday 29th September)

Ticket rate: $25 & $20. Tickets: Available at YOGIJIs foodmart Mt

Roskill (6245757), Discount House Pakuranga (576 7771) Rajita Patel (02102416749) or

contact Exec. Producers Jayesh (0211504149), Kuntal (0272223278), or Prashant (0274404440) or email : [email protected]

A special lucky draw will be run by Jadoo TV for a ticket holder which can win “A FREE” JADOO TV box.

IWK Bureau


23FEATURES

Daffodil Day at New Zealand Tertiary College

It certainly felt like Spring had come early last Friday as New Zealand Tertiary College staff came to work wearing yellow

to support Daffodil Day - the Cancer Society of New Zealand’s main fundraising event.

Staff were positively glowing in their yellow wigs, hats, lei’s, hula skirts, fairy wings and flowers.

NZTC also set up a display in the Auckland Campus’s reception area for staff, students and visitors to donate a coin in exchange for a Cancer Society daffodil, notebook, pen or tea towel. All proceeds will go towards the Cancer Society’s lifesaving research into the causes and treatments of cancer, as well as providing support services for sufferers and awareness campaigns.

The event coincided with the last day of New Zealand Tertiary College’s Spirit week, the final week of the College’s Values Month, where we have been celebrating our values of

Vision, Heart, Competence and Spirit. For more information about studying one of

our specialist early childhood programs, please call us on (09) 520 4000 or [email protected]

Did you know that India is home to 11% of the world’s population living with chronic hepatitis B? This

virus is widespread through the neighbouring countries of Asia and Western Pacific, and is classed as endemic in New Zealand.

John Hornell, CEO of The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand, says, “Approximately 100,000 New Zealanders live with chronic hepatitis B. What is frightening is there are tens of thousands of people living in this country who have not yet been diagnosed.”

Hepatitis B is spread through blood-to-blood contact and bodily fluids. Most adults with chronic hepatitis B were infected at birth

or in early childhood, before the vaccination was introduced.

“The Foundation encourages anyone who is of Indian ethnicity, anyone who was born in India, or any New Zealand Indians over the age of 25 to get tested,” said Mr Hornell. “People should also get tested if their mother or close family member has hepatitis B; or if they live with someone who has hepatitis B. If you are at risk, talk to your doctor, or get a free test from The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand.”

Patients of East Tamaki Healthcare, West Auckland Healthcare & Mt Roskill Healthcare can visit any of its 18 clinics across greater Auckland to talk to a nurse or get a lab form

and be screened.

“Regular blood testing enables early detection of complications, such as liver inflammation and cancer. If any anomalies are identified, we can act before it’s too late,” said Mr Hornell.

The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand is the national provider for long-term follow-up of people living with chronic hepatitis B. The 14,000 New Zealanders enrolled in the programme receive regular blood tests, education, and support. The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand is a charitable trust promoting positive health outcomes for people living with chronic hepatitis.

Hepatitis B: Are you at risk?

Coun

try City Dates Activity

Sri

Lanka Colombo 15 September Free Seminar by Sanil Haria

16 to 19 September Sanil Haria to visit educational partners

India Kolkata 13 and 14 September Sanjay Jain to visit educational partners

Hyderabad 16 and 17 September Sanjay Jain to visit educational partners

Chennai 18 September Sanjay Jain to visit educational partners

Kochi 19 and 20 September

Sanil Haria and Sanjay Jain to visit educational

partners

Mumbai 23 to 25 September At the NZTC India office

Ahmedabad 26 September Sanil Haria to visit educational partners

Vadodra 27 September Sanil Haria to visit educational partners

Bhopal 28 September Sanil Haria to visit educational partners

Indore 28 September Sanil Haria to visit educational partners

Dehradun 30 September and 1 October Free Seminar by Sanil Haria

NZTC’s Marketing Manager Sanil Haria and NZTC India’s Senior Marketing Officer Sanjay Jain will be travelling around India next month to meet with educational partners and to host free seminars on NZTC’s programs. Sanil will also visit Sri Lanka.

If you have friends or family members in Sri Lanka or India who may be interested in learning more about studying a specialist early childhood program in New Zealand, please have them contact Sanil at [email protected].

Attention prospective early childhood students in Sri Lanka and India!

If you currently reside in New Zealand and are interested in studying at New Zealand Tertiary College from our Auckland Campus or through our online learning mode, please call us on (09) 520 4000 or email [email protected]

IWK Bureau

EDUCATION

HEALTH

A list of the cities Sanil and Sanjay will visit and their activities is below:


24 FEATURES

Where is God?Brahmachari Adarsh Chaitanya

HERITAGE

Someone asked me a question, Where is space? Immediately, I looked up at the sky and pointed with outstretched

hands indicating it to be far away. This seemed like the obvious answer to me. The wise man smiled and said, ok then come and stand next to me, between me and this wall, pointing to the wall on which he was leaning on. I said quizzically, between you and the wall? How can I? There is no space for me to stand there.

He said precisely, isn’t space also where you are standing at the moment? Isn’t space in you as well? You, me, this wall aren’t we all accommodated in space alone? Thus, he pointed out the imminent and transcendental nature of space, that which is here and now in and through everything and that which is infinite and beyond. That which is the very substratum of space, which is the creator and sustainer of all the laws that govern the world of matter - the world of time, space and objects, that ultimate power is what all religion term as the GOD principle, philosophy calls it Truth or Reality.

The different names given to that GOD principle are irrelevant and are only meant to aid our minds to grasp this subtle presence. Unfortunately, over time, all around the world, GOD has become a man-made concept used by certain factions of society to control others, by using their fears against them. Hence, the modern scientific man is allergic to this man-made GOD concept.

Often we get used to thinking GOD is this person sitting and deciding our fate… and the whole struggle in life is where we constantly try and make or determine our own destiny through self effort. Hence, as a human race, we develop this strange love-hate relationship with this GOD.

To the wise masters - the embodiments of the divine, this is emotional reaction towards GOD seems very strange. It is like hating the

sun for our sorrows or loving it for the joys it provides us. The only relationship we have with the Sun is that it, in conjunction with the earth’s distance and movement, sustains our existence. To the Sun, we are insignificant and even non-existent. But denying the existence of the Sun or its role in our very existence is indeed absurd.

Simple, if all the phenomenal forces like, light, sound, gravity, astronomy, etc. can be logically studied and proved by science, it must mean that there is an intelligence principle behind them all that has created them. Now how absurd is it that this intelligence principle is said to be non-existent and more so impotent just because we cannot perceive it directly through the same medium, which captures the world of matter?

It is like the actor denying his true identity, while playing his role in a movie. In the costume

and the make up, you see the character being portrayed, and the real person being masked, but at no point is that person non-existent just because he is not seen in his natural form. In fact all abilities of the actor in the role are his abilities alone, is it not? Similarly, that Truth or GOD is forgotten and misunderstood in the same way, either we take the role played as GOD, or we deny the very existence of Him beyond the role. Alas! Such ignorance is the very cause of our intolerance of other religions. This Knowledge and understanding, which was given by our Rishis in the ancient Hindu way of education, was the reason for our tolerance.

So to conclude, where is GOD, we first need to understand who is GOD? Wherever there is ability, purpose or manifestation of life in any form, the GOD principle is there. As said in Bhagavad Geeta, Ya pashyati sa pashyati… He who sees, He sees! The water in the cloud high up above, in essence, is the same water in the glass that quenches your thirst, THINK!

-Bramhachari Adarsh Chaitanya serves as the Resident Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Auckland and conducts weekly spiritual classes for children, youth and adults. For more information about the Chinmaya Mission and Bramhachari Adarsh Chaitanya please follow this link: www.chinmaya.org.nz or contact him at 2756954

So to conclude, where is GOD, we first need to understand who is GOD? Wherever there is ability, purpose or manifestation of life in any form, the GOD principle is there. As said in Bhagavad Geeta, Ya pashyati sa pashyati… He who sees, He sees!


25FEATURES

Happy Onam from Travelshop

Fares from $ 1150.00* Departure from 25 Sep to 7 Nov, 2013 and 15 Jan to 31 Mar, 2014 | Sales uptil 23 Sep

A kaleidoscopic journey for the senses at fashion week

Ritu Kumar’s exotic vintage collection dazzled at the Lakme India Fashion

Week. Unfolding the drama of the costumes from

the mountain kingdoms, the long-sleeved coat dresses with a mix of prints/embellishments and kurtas with the Himalayan flavour, trousers, leggings, the kira (wrap around skirt from Bhutan), wrap jackets, dresses, kaftans and capes were seen creating unconventional impact on the catwalk.

Using hand-woven back strap loomed fabrics, Bhutanese Tangkhas, prayer flags, kanni weaves, hand spun khadi, woven silks, leather, Lycra jersey and adding the beautiful jamavar motifs of Kashmir; the result was a fascinating line of contemporary fashion with vintage textiles, which bore Ritu’s individualistic style for her prét brand “Label”.

IWK Bureau


26 ENTERTAINMENT

Bollywoood diary

On Raksha Bandan, Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade was invited to spend the day with the kids of Akansha Foundation NGO.

The actor said he is very fond of kids and was very excited to spend the time with them. The festival is very close to Shreyas’s heart, and the actor even tweeted saying, “Beheno - Happy Raksha Bandan. God bless u with lots of love, happiness, success & strength.” Shreyas seemed to enjoy with the kids present there. He entered the venue to a thunderous applause from the kids, as they were happy to see him.

The event kick-started with the actor dancing with kids on famous Bollywood numbers. Following the dance, the kids tied Rakhi to him and presented him with flowers.

In return, Shreyas gave them lots of chocolates and the event ended with an informal chat between the kids and Shreyas, where he answered few questions and told them the importance of education. The actor also shared his experience from the industry.

Shreyas was touched by the love showered on him by the kids so much that he has decided to repeat this experience every year.

The Akanksha Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide children from low-income communities with high-quality education, enabling them to maximize their potential and transform their lives.

Shreyas celebrates Rakhi with kids Ranbir to propose Katrina?Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor will soon

propose his long-time rumoured girlfriend Katrina Kaif, media reports said.

The actor is planning to propose Katrina on his birthday, which is on Sept 28.

“Come September 28, Ranbir Kapoor might just let go of his single status. The grapevine is buzzing with rumours of the star planning to get down on one knee to propose to his girlfriend Katrina Kaif,” Mid Day reported.

“A lot of hearts are set to break on Ranbir’s birthday. But looks like the man has made up his mind,” the newspaper reported quoting a source.

Recently, they were captured holidaying on camera by a film magazine on the Spanish island of Ibiza and the snaps were splashed across the Indian media.

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif seems to have wooed people in the north and has been voted as the most desired celebrity in Indian weddings, according to the findings of The Taj Wedding Barometer.According to the survey, 11 percent of the people interviewed have chosen the actress as the celebrity who will be liked by baraatis (invitees) to be seen at weddings in north India.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan following Katrina at 9 percent has managed to spell bound her enthusiasts in south with her timeless beauty. She is a favourite among couples in south.

She might have enchanted the world with her talent and beauty but when it comes to bhangras (Punjabi dance style) and flamboyant north Indian weddings, its Katrina who has won the hearts of the couples in north India. According to The Taj Wedding Barometer, young couples prefer male celebrities to perform and attend their weddings over females.

Actors Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are the preferred choices followed by Katrina Kaif and Aishwarya.

Katrina beats Ash in wedding wish list chart


27ENTERTAINMENT

NOW SHOWING

NOW SHOWING COMING SOON

FOR SESSION TIMES & TO BUY TICKETS visit eventcinemas.co.nz

FILM RATING & CONDITIONS: RIDDICK (TBC), ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (PG) COARSE LANGUAGE, VIYAH 70KM (TBC), SMURFS 2 (G), SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE (TBC), RED 2 (M) VIOLENCE & OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE, SATYAGRAHA (M) VIOLENCE, PARANOIA (TBC).

ADVANCE SCREENING! SUN 15 SEP AT 3PM

INCLUDESA SPECIAL 1D

COMBO, 1D MINI POSTER &

3D GLASSES$18* Cinebuzz Members see it for

$1.10 ONLINE BOOKING FEE APPLIES.

Madras cafe presents much more than just ‘kaapi’

First came D-day, then Madras café and voila with it Bollywood has a brand new genre that of “Spy Thriller” or

“Espionage Thriller”.Madras Cafe opens with a disclaimer that it

is a work of fiction .This is followed by visuals of a bespectacled lady with a garland and then a deafening blast. Close up of a white sports shoe and a dismembered thigh, leaving viewers in no doubt as to which incident in India’s history is being alluded to.

Shoojit Sircar takes a very important moment in India’s modern history and with the help of his team of writers comes up with a story that takes us on a journey where no Hindi movie has gone before. In doing so he achieves a beautiful balance between fact and fiction.

At the centre of the drama are an undercover intelligence agent Vikram Singh (John Abraham) an Indian Intelligence agent is sent on a undercover mission to Sri Lanka and a London-based war correspondent Jaya Sahni (Nargis Fakhri) who are up against great odds in a country and war zone that is not quite their own. As he begins his operation of disrupting a rebel group, he makes an alarming discovery: a conspiracy to assassinate the Indian Prime Minister. And that sets the tone for what is by far Bollywood’s most riveting spy thriller yet.

Madras café’s first half is multi layered with complex trails - leaks, foreign interests, domestic rivals and hardcore political expediency - all slowly revealed to Vikram. As RAW boss Robin Dutt (Siddharth Basu) ups the pressure, Vikram must move fast through sultry, dangerous country to stop a tragedy from taking place. On the ground, however, treachery is rife and leaks from within the organisation push

him repeatedly into deadly traps. It is a world where danger lurks at every corner and violence erupts without warning. Worst of all, in the shadows, it is difficult to differentiate between friend and enemy.

The second half does not ease up but becomes tauter with each frame more riveting than the other.

The writers Somnath Dey & Shubendu Bhattacharya have done a brilliant job. They

know their craft to the hilt and keep us riveted to the very end.

Although Madras Cafe has not been shot in Sri Lanka (for obvious reasons!), the production design, camerawork and editing ensure that what we see in no less authentic.

John Abraham, an actor with a reasonable range, gives his role all he has got and comes up trumps. Nargis Fakhri, playing an English speaking journalist, comes up as the surprising package.

Debutante Rashi Khanna makes an impact in a brief but significant appearance.

The other characters (secret agents, soldiers, militants and bureaucrats etc) – are all people who look and sound like real people that one can identify with.

Madras café is devoid of any songs except one almost to the very end, but no one will miss the absence of any song and dance in this café.

Verdict: 4 stars from me. With three neo classics behind him (Yehaan & Vicky Doner) Soojit Sircar stamps his class in no uncertain terms. Madras Café is a MUST WATCH!

Rajesh Krishnamurthy is a writer, columnist and film reviewer based in Auckland. His

reviews are also available on his blog www.matineefilms.blogspot.co.nz

RajeshKrishnamurthy


28

INDIA’S #1 DESI DIVA - 1ST TIME IN NZ After her massively successful World Tour - DJ Rink is set to WOW party goers of Aotearoa. You have to be there to witness DJ RINK’s amazing DJ Skills and Super Energetic Mixes which will keep you rocking on the dance floor till the Music don’t stop!!!

When: Saturday Sept 7th – Where: Club Fuzion, Auckland.For tickets: 09 215-4874

Mehfil 2013 Musical evening by musicians of Hamilton celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema!

When: 15th SeptemberWhere: Celebrating Age Centre

Miss IndiaNZ 2013

Organised by leading Bollywood event specialists Rhythm House, the Miss IndiaNZ beauty pageant is a definite highlight on New Zealand’s show calendar.

Aimed to promote and enhance local talent in NZ, Miss IndiaNZ provides a platform for young women of Indian heritage to launch into acting, modeling and the entertainment industry on an international stage.

When: Saturday 14 September, 7.30pm Where: Auckland Town HallTicket Price: $25-$50* Booking fees applyFor tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.nz or 0800 111 999 or 09 970 9700

Auckland Diwali Festival

When: October 19 & 20Where: Aotea Square and Queen St.Weblinks: [email protected]

Highlights of the festival include delicious food stalls showcasing authentic Indian vegetarian cuisine, traditional and contemporary dance and music, the hotly contested Radio Tarana Bollywood competition, craft stalls and the Diwali Fireworks display, presented by Barfoot and Thompson.

Applications for food and craft stalls for this year’s Diwali Festival are still being considered. For more information, contact Mia Patel at [email protected]

Auckland Heritage Festival 2013

When: Between Saturday 28 September and Tuesday 15 October this year.

Proudly brought to you by Auckland Council, The festival, conveniently timed to coincide with the school holidays, has many family friendly events. From high teas, heritage walks and cooking on old coal ranges to vintage steam tug rides, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT’SOn

Special Offer

SPONSORS

Tickets @ YOGIJI’s FoodMart—6245757

Discount House Pakuranga – 576 7771 Rajita Patel 02102416749

Jayesh 0211504149

Kuntal 0272223278

Prashant 0274404440

Venue: Green Bay High Performing Arts Centre, 143-161 Godley

Road, Green Bay

DATE: 28 / 09 / 2013 @ 6.00pm

29 / 09 / 2013 @ 6.00pm

Ticket Rates

$25 & $20

Media Supported by

DIRECTED BY:

KUNTAL TRIVEDI

CAST

JAYSHREE, JYOTSNA JAYESH, KUNTAL,

PRASHANT, CYRUS VARSHA


29ENTERTAINMENT

PRESENTED BY SPONSORED BY

CELEBRATE

auck landnz .com/d iwal i

IND IAN MUSIC

DANCE , FASHION AND

FOOD

19-20 OCTOBER 2013 | NOON - 9PM | AOTEA SqUARE

DES

T234


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Method

Boil eggs for 9- 12 minutes.

Drain and set aside to cool.

Mix mince with red chilli powder, ga-ram masala powder and salt.

In a food processor add mince with onion, green chilli, blend it for2-3 min-utes or until done.

Shell the eggs.

Ingredients

Ruby’s KitchenBy Ruby Dhillon

RECIPE

RECIPE

SCOTCH EGGS

6 – eggs1kg – mince (chicken or lamb)1 – onion2 – green chillies 2tsp- garam masala1tsp – red chilli powder2tbsp – bread crumbsSalt according to tasteOil for frying

Divide the mixture into equal parts. Using little oil on your hands as the mixture can be sticky, mould a por-tion of mixture in the cup of your hand. Place a hardboiled egg into it and shape the mince around to fully enclose the egg, then roll in bread crumbs and set aside.

Repeat with others.

Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.

Deep fry the eggs for at 6-8 minutes, making sure they are evenly browned all over.

Drain on kitchen paper.

Cut them into half and serve hot with chutney.


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4th OCTOBER • VECTOR ARENA

MADHURIDIXIT

YO YOHONEYSINGH

in association with andEFTPOS

SYSTEMS LTD

EFTPOS

SYSTEMS LTD

For more info, visit:

PRINTING PARTNER

www.eftposltd.co.nz

TICKET PRICES: $199, $249, $399, $650


32

Looking ahead athome insurance

Help is at hand forhomeowners

Most homeowners are aware of the importance of insuring what is likelyto be their biggest asset: their home. But now, the way lots of Kiwisgo about insuring their homes is having to change.

Over the next 12 months, most New Zealand home insurancepolicies will switch from an unlimited or ‘open-ended’replacement basis to having a speci�ed Sum Insured.Many new and existing homeowners will be asked to estimatethe likely cost of rebuilding their home as a way to assistthem in setting the Sum Insured. While di�erent insurers mayuse di�erent terms, generally a home’s Sum Insured amountwill be the maximum amount payable to repair or rebuild ahome. It’s important that, if you are a homeowner facing thischange, you are comfortable that your home’s Sum Insuredre�ects your home. If you set your Sum Insured too low, itmay not be su�cient to meet the cost of a future claim andyou may have to rebuild or repair your home to a lesser sizeor quality, or pay for some of the repairs yourself. Conversely,if you set your Sum Insured too high, you may be paying toomuch premium – and if it costs less than the Sum Insuredamount to repair or rebuild your home, then only the actualcost will be payable.

Why the changes are happeningThe switch to insuring a home up to a speci�ed Sum Insuredamount is IAG’s response to meeting the new requirementsof its global reinsurers. Reinsurers are the companies thatinsurers obtain their disaster cover from, and the reinsurancethey provide helps insurers meet the costs of claims aftercatastrophic events like the Canterbury earthquakes.A number of major reinsurers have advisedNew Zealand insurers that they needto know the maximum amountinsurers would have topay out in claims forNew Zealand homes.Under current arrangementsfor home insurance thatinformation isn’tas well de�ned forthe reinsurers.

It’s all about understandingrebuilding costsThe signi�cance of the changes won’t be lost on homeowners.IAG, through its various brands, is recommending itscustomers determine their Sum Insured amount by lookingclosely at what their homes, including features such asdecking, paving, retaining walls, outbuildings, fences anddriveways, might cost to rebuild. If you are a home owner,this should help you decide on a Sum Insured that betterre�ects your home rather than having it based on simplermeasures such as �oor area multiplied by a square metrebuilding cost. By estimating the likely cost of rebuilding yourhome based on an assessment of its features – often thingsonly you would know – or by sourcing a valuation provided bya building professional, you should be well placed to decideon an appropriate Sum Insured for your home. This way, themany variables that can impact on rebuilding costs – such ashow the home is constructed, the slope of the land it’s builton, everyday features such as retaining walls, recreationalfeatures like swimming pools and special features like bridgesand cable cars – are taken into account when you set yourhome’s Sum Insured.

* IAG o�ers general insurance under the NZI, AMI, State and Lantern insurancebrands. It also underwrites general insurance products for some of

New Zealand’s leading �nancial institutions. Homeowners witha replacement home insurance policy from one of these

insurance providers will �nd the need2know.org.nz websiterelevant to their home policy.

IAG and its brands and partners are supporting

this change with a range of tools and information,

including a website explaining the changes and a

user-friendly online calculator that can help estimate

the likely cost of rebuilding many New Zealand homes.

For more information go to need2know.org.nz

Disclaimer: The Need to Know website and online calculator are in English and you may need to get assistance to work through it if English isn’ t your �rst language.

indian weekender issue#107

Documents

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annual diwali festival

traditional indian festival

financial mattersfollow

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new zealandcontinued

queen street unit

street theatre