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Persons with experience in newspaper reporting will bepreferred.

The individual must be a person with experience inmarketing and public relations, confident, independentand able to handle marketing on his/her own withminimum support from the management.

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VOL 7 ISSUE 02 ● DALLAS ● JANUARY 11 - 17, 2019 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458

Trump threatens to declare nationalemergency over border wall

Eyes unused Army Corps money to fund the wall WASHINGTON (TIP): A determined US

President Donald Trump on Thursday,January 10, threatened to declare a nationalemergency that would pave the way for himto construct a wall along the US-Mexicoborder without necessary funding approvalfrom the Congress, as negotiations on theissue between the administration andopposition Democrats to end a partialgovernment shutdown collapsed.

"If we don't make a deal, I would say 100per cent, but I don't know what is a 100 percent," Trump said at the White House whenasked about the chances of declaring anational emergency if there is no deal withthe Democrats on funding for a border wall.Trump has asked for USD 5.6 billion from the

contd on Page 20 President Donald Trump is adamant on funding for wall. Indications are he willdeclare emergency and use the unused Army Corps money Photo / CNN Screenshot

Trump Mocked India's PMModi: India responded to

Trump's 'Afghan library' dig WASHINGTON (TIP): US

President Donald Trump, onJanuary 2,mocked the IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi forfunding a library in Afghanistan.

contd on Page 20

US President Trump took a dig atIndia's Prime Minister Modi for

making no significant contributionin Afghanistan in funding a library

. India promptly responded . Inpicture, Modi and Trump at the

White House. (File photo )

WASHINGTON (TIP): Ambassador Harsh VardhanShringla has assumed charge as Ambassador-designateto the United States on January 9, 2019. He will presenthis credentials on January 11, 2019.

Ambassador Shringla succeeds Ambassador NavtejSarna who has retired. The 1984-batch Indian ForeignService diplomat was given a rousing welcome onarrival by the Indian embassy staff who he addressedand exchanged views with. contd on Page 4

New Indian Ambassador to USHarsh Vardhan Shringla

Assumes Charge: Will presentcredentials on Jan 11

Harsh Vardhan Shringla assumedcharge as Ambassador-designate to the United States on January 9, 2019

Photo /Courtesy Indian Embassy

Former Trump Lawyer MichaelCohen to Testify to Congress:

New York Times NEW YORK (TIP): Michael

Cohen, President DonaldTrump's former lawyer who hasimplicated the president incampaign finance crimes, willtestify before the HouseOversight and ReformCommittee on Feb. 7, setting thestage for a blockbuster publichearing, the Times reports. Mr.Cohen's decision threatens tofurther damage the president's

contd on Page 20

Michael Cohen whoonce claimed he will

take a bullet for Trump,is ready to go against

him before US Congressin an open testimony.

Photo / CNN Screenshot

REPUBLIC DAY OF INDIA SPECIAL EDITION

Articles and advertisements are invited for theRepublic Day of India special edition by January 21,

2019. Please email to salujaindra@gmail.com. For any question, please call 646-247-9458

10% EWS reservationBill challenged inSupreme Court

NEW DELHI (TIP): It was expected. Aplea challenging the Bill to provide 10 percent reservation to the general category poorin jobs and education was on Thursday,January 4 filed in the Supreme Court.

The petition, filed by Youth For Equalityorganization and Kaushal Kant Mishra,sought the quashing of the Bill, saying thatthe economic criterion cannot be the solebasis for reservation. The plea said the Billviolates basic feature of the Constitution asreservation on economic grounds cannot belimited to the general categories and the 50per cent ceiling limit cannot be breached.

contd on Page 20

22 of DFW's Film Festivals joinforces to bring the Community

a Film Festival to remember DALLAS (TIP): DFW

South Asian Film Festivalis partnering with 21other North Texas filmfestivals to give a gift tothe community: acelebration of ALLfestivals, as ONE festival.

Taking place at variouslocations around Dallasfrom January 10th to the13th, this combinedfestival will comprise ashort, feature ordocumentary from EACHfestival that best

represents who they are.DFW SAFF will present its award-winning

documentary from the 2017 festival, THE JOURNEYWITHIN, directed by Mian Adnan Ahmad (who attendedthe festival in Dallas), about the 'Coke Studio' OriginStory on Sunday, January 13th at 1 p.m. at the Cinepolisin Victory Park (2635 Victory Park Lane, Dallas, TX75219).

contd on Page 20

Texas Restaurant has a Deepika Padukone Dosa, and

Ranveer Singh is Loving it!DALLAS (TIP):

Ranveer Singh andDeepika Padukonediscovered a dosanamed after theactress at an Indianrestaurant in Austin,Texas.

Ranveer Singh andDeepika Padukonehave been spendingNew Yearin the US,and the newly-wedscame across a happy surprise while dining out . They were at anIndian restaurant in Austin, Texas, where they found a DeepikaPadukone dosa on the menu.

The actress took to her Instagram account to share a photo of themenu that describes the dosa as one which is "topped with fiery hotghost chilli and stuffed with our potato mix." She captioned it,"hungry anyone?!" We're sure a lot of Deepika fans would love to tryit, and so does her husband Ranveer. Sharing a photo of the menuon his Instagram stories, the Simmba actor wrote, "I'd eat that." Thedosa dedicated to Deepika adds a filmi touch to the menu of therestaurant, called Dosa Labs, which has a lot of other quirky disheson offer, like Airy Fairy Keema and Mast Cheez.

Deepika -Ranveer went ga-ga overDeepika Dosa

2 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019FEATURE

LOHRI: THE BONFIRE FESTIVALLike most other festivals in India, Lohri

is also related to the agriculturalactivities of the farmers. It marks the

harvesting season in Punjab and the end ofthe winter season. Lohri usually falls on thelast day of the month of Paush, a day knownas Makar Sankranti in most parts of thecountry. According to the English calendar,Lohri falls on 13th January every year.

Lohri 2019 is just around the corner and it'stime to indulge in all the festive foods of thisharvest festival. Lohri is the festival thatmarks the beginning of the harvest season,which calls for a celebration in many states ofnorth India, including Punjab, Haryana andHimachal Pradesh. The festival is mainlycelebrated by the Hindu and the Sikhcommunities, wherein they light a holybonfire, which signifies passing of the wintersolstice. There are a number of traditionsrelated to this Punjabi festival other thanlighting of the holy bonfire like offeringceremonial prayers and even preparingdelicious food. Moreover, before harvestingthe crops, people offer their thanks to the God.

HOW IS IT CELEBRATED?Lohri traditions and festivities are quite

vibrant and soulful. The festival ischaracterised by a tradition of lighting of aholy bonfire, which signifies 'Agni', the God ofFire. People in the community gather aroundthe bonfire, warm up to the sparkling flames,offer prayers, sing songs, dance and throw infoods like gajak, chikki, jaggery, popcorn,sesame seeds (til), rewari and peanuts to payhomage to their roots, in a matter of speaking.

Preparation to celebrate Lohri begins waybefore the actual festival day. Right throughthe winter days, village women and childrencollect dry twigs and branches to make a hugebonfire on the day of Lohri-the bigger thebetter.

On the day of the festival, with the setting ofthe sun, the bonfire is lit with people singingand dancing to the tune of Lohri songs.

The munching of seasonal goodies likepopcorn, reori, peanuts and sugar cane formsan integral part of the celebration. Fistfuls ofthese goodies also find their way into the fire,as an offering to the Sun God, the giver of alllife. Interestingly, the next day of Lohri isknown as Maghi, a day that signifies thebeginning of the month of Magh.

According to common belief, this is anauspicious day to take holy dip and give awaycharity. Kheer is prepared in sugar cane juiceto mark the day.

THE FIRST LOHRILohri, the bonfire harvest festival of

Punjab celebrated in the month of Magh, issymbolic of new beginnings. The first timeLohris are especially celebrated with pompand grandeur. Friends and relatives gatheraround the fire and perform Gidda andBhangra to the beat of Dhol, the drums ofPunjab.

The First Lohri of a BrideThe celebration takes place in the in-law’s

house with a grand feast for family andfriends. The bride dresses in traditional attirewith solah sringar, 16 things that a bridegenerally wears. The new bride and groom sitin a central place together as people approachthem with wishes and gifts. The parents-in-law present the bride with new clothes andjewellery.

The First Lohri of a New-bornThe first Lohri of a new-born is of immense

significance where the family and friendsparticipate to bless the child with a

prosperous and a healthy future.Many conduct an elaborate get-together at

the paternal home, where invitation cards aresent in advance.Family and friends bringalong gifts for the child as well as the newmother. The maternal and paternalgrandparents shower the child with gifts.

Lohri RitualsLohri is primarily the harvest festival of

the Punjabis. This festival denotes theharvesting of the Rabi crops and hence all thefarmers get together in order to thank god forgiving them such a wonderful harvest.

The rituals related to Lohri symbolize theattachment of the people with Mother Nature.A few days before the festival, youngsters gettogether in groups and go round theirlocalities singing folk songs.

Doing this they also collect firewood andmoney for the bonfire that is scheduled on the

night of Lohri. On the special day, offerings ofphulley (popcorn), moongphali (peanuts) andrewri (a sweet delicacy made out of jaggeryand sesame seed) are offered to the fire

The men and women go round the fire andbow before it in reverence. Lohri holds specialimportance when there is a special occasionin the family like marriage or childbirth.

Lohri TraditionsLohri is primarily the harvest festival of

the Punjabis. This festival denotes theharvesting of the Rabi crops and hence all thefarmers get together in order to thank god forgiving them such a wonderful harvest.

The rituals related to Lohri symbolize theattachment of the people with Mother Nature.

A few days before the festival, youngstersget together in groups and go round theirlocalities singing folk songs.

Doing this they also collect firewood and

money for the bonfire that is scheduled on thenight of Lohri. On the special day, offerings ofphulley (popcorn), moongphali (peanuts) andrewri (a sweet delicacy made out of jaggeryand sesame seed) are offered to the fire.

The men and women go round the fire andbow before it in reverence. Lohri holds specialimportance when there is a special occasionin the family like marriage or childbirth.

Lohri LegendsLike all Indian festivals, Lohri also has

some legends and lore attached to it.One of the many interesting legends has it

that in a place that lies between Gujaranwalaand Sialkot, there was a thick forest known asRakh.

The forest was the home of Dulla Bhatti, adacoit who was considered as the Robin Hoodof Punjab.

This brave and generous man was alwayshelpful to the needy.

During the reign of Mughal EmperorJahangir, a jealous Hindu spread a rumourthat his niece was very beautiful and would docredit to the Muslim harem.

On hearing this, the Mughal officerswanted to carry her off forcibly. The girl’sfather was extremely worried and sought theprotection of Dulla Bhatti.

Dulla at once got her married to a youngHindu boy at a simple ceremony in the forest.He lit the sacred fire in keeping with theHindu custom. Since there was no priest tochant the holy mantras, he broke into ahilarious song composed extempore to addcheer to the occasion. This song is sung eventoday on the occasion.

The best way of celebrations in this chillywhether could be to sit around a bonfire andenjoy. Well, Lohri Celebrations would be thebest festival to celebrate and spread thewarmth of love and happiness among all yournear and dear ones in this chilly weather.Lohri is majorly celebrated in Punjab andnorth Indian states on 13th January and isconsidered to be the harvesting festival ofPunjab. Lohri is not just a festival for people ofPunjab but it is a symbol of life. Several hopesof farmers are associated with this festival ofLohri as the fields promise a golden yield tothe farmers.

Newly wed couples and all those coupleswho have a newborn baby celebrate Lohri butnowadays it is seen that most of the peoplecelebrate this festival of Lohri as an occasionof get together, to spend some time with theirnear and dear ones and enjoy the celebrations.

Children start collecting firewoods andwooden twigs one week before the festival thatare used for burning Lohri .

On the Lohri day all the firewoods arearranged in a circular manner in such a waythat it makes a huge bonfire.

Children visit each and every house of theirlocality inviting all he people for the Lohricelebrations and asking for theircontributions. While visiting every housechildren sing a Lohri song, making everyonefeel that the festival of Lohri is around thecorner.

The traditional food cooked on the Lohriday is sarson ka saag and makki ki roti andrau di kheer is served as a dessert.

People dress themselves in new clothes andin the night they gather around the bonfire tolight it. People pray in front of the burningbonfire and put til (gingelly), moongphali(peanuts), popcorns and chirwa (beaten rice)in it, as all these eatables are considered as theLohri prasad.

People greet each other wishing a veryhappy Lohri and spread the feeling of love andhappiness all around.

Indian-AmericanEconomist Gita Gopinath

Becomes First WomanChief Economist of IMF

NEW YORK (TIP): Indian-Americaneconomist Gita Gopinath has joinedInternational Monetary Fund last week asits chief economist, becoming the firstwoman to occupy the top IMF post. InOctober 2018, IMF Managing DirectorChristine Lagarde appointed Gita Gopinathas Economic Counselor and Director of theIMF's Research Department.

"Gita is one of the world's outstandingeconomists, with impeccable academiccredentials, a proven track record ofintellectual leadership, and extensiveinternational experience," Ms. Lagarde saidthat time. "All this makes her exceptionallywell-placed to lead our ResearchDepartment at this important juncture. Iam delighted to name such a talented figureas our Chief Economist."

Ms. Gopinath is co-editor of theAmerican Economic Review and co-director of the International Finance andMacroeconomics Program at the NationalBureau of Economic Research (NBER). Sheis co-editor of the current Handbook ofInternational Economics with Former IMFEconomic Counsellor Kenneth Rogoff. Shehas authored some 40 research articles onexchange rates, trade and investment,international financial crises, monetarypolicy, debt, and emerging market crises.

Ms. Gopinath was born and grew up inIndia. She is a U.S citizen and an OverseasCitizen of India. She received her Ph.D. ineconomics from Princeton University in2001 after earning a B.A. from theUniversity of Delhi and M.A. degrees fromboth the Delhi School of Economics andUniversity of Washington. She joined theUniversity of Chicago in 2001 as anAssistant Professor before moving toHarvard in 2005. She became a tenuredProfessor there in 2010. She was JohnZwaanstra Professor of InternationalStudies and Economics at HarvardUniversity.

Indian man fromTelangana Shot in Detroit

Battling for his lifeDETROIT (TIP): An Online fundraiser has

started for Indian Engineer from TelanganaSai Krishna who was shot in Detroit onJanuary 3 andis battling for life. He is in acritical condition and doctors mentioned thathe has to go through numerous surgeries andvery complicated procedures. (Read full

story on www.theindianpanorama.news)

Gita was John Zwaanstra Professor ofInternational Studies and Economics at

Harvard University

Indian American Susheela Jayapal Swornin as Oregon’s County commissioner

PORTLAND, OREGON (TIP): IndianAmerican Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal'ssister Susheela Jayapal was sworn in onJanuary 3 as a Multnomah Countycommissioner, making her the first IndianAmerican to hold an elected county office inOregon. Jayapal will represent District 2, theseat representing North and Northeast Portland.

Susheela was born in India. She came to theUnited States when she was 16, to go to college.In 1983, at the age of 20, Susheela earned herundergraduate degree in economics fromSwarthmore College. After two years as afinancial analyst at an investment bank,Susheela went to law school, earning her lawdegree from the University of Chicago LawSchool. She was a litigator at law firms in SanFrancisco and Portland, and then became theGeneral Counsel at adidas America, serving asthe member of the senior executive team

responsible for the legal affairs of what was thena $1 billion company.

As an attorney, Susheela represented thegovernment in taking on corrupt andnegligent bank officers during the fiscal crisisof the 1980s; provided free legal services topeople seeking political asylum in the U.S.;and worked on improving labor conditions atfactories in Southeast Asia, developing andimplementing adidas' first set of laborstandards.

She has dedicated her time and energy toPlanned Parenthood of the Columbia-Willamette, Portland Schools Foundation, AllHands Raised, Literary Arts, MetropolitanFamily Service, and the Regional Arts & CultureCouncil. She has also been a grant evaluator forthe Oregon Community Foundation and servedas a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)for children in foster care.

Susheela Jayapal sworn in as MultnomahCounty Commissioner

AUSTIN, TX (TIP): Indian AmericanVarun Rai, an Assistant Professor of PublicAffairs & Assistant Professor of MechanicalEngineering at the university of Texas atAustin,assumed the chair of director of theEnergy Institute at the University on Jan. 1,2019.

Rai succeeds Michael Webber, who hasserved as the institute's acting director sinceSeptember 2018 when Director Tom Edgarreturned to his research and teaching.

"Professor Rai's strong background inengineering, his expertise in energy policyresearch and his administrative experience asan associate dean make him the ideal choiceto take on the leadership of UT's EnergyInstitute," said Vice President for ResearchDaniel Jaffe. "I look forward to working withhim to strengthen the institute's role as a frontdoor to energy research on our campus."

Rai's research examines the underlyingcomponents of energy systems - social,institutional, economic and technological -and how they affect the adoption of cleanenergy technologies.

In addition to teaching courses in statisticalanalysis and energy innovation at the LBJSchool of Public Affairs, Rai established theUT Energy Symposium, a weekly guest

lecture series hosted by the Energy Institutethat's open to the public. In 2016, Rai won theDavid N. Kershaw Award and Prize, given bythe Association for Public Policy Analysis &Management, "to honor persons who, at underthe age of 40, have made a distinguishedcontribution to the field of public policyanalysis and management."

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity toshape the Energy Institute into a valuableasset for supporting and elevating path-breaking energy research at UT for a betterTexas, a better United States, a better world,"Rai said in a release. Among Rai'sachievements is the establishment of UTEnergy Symposium, a weekly guest lectureseries hosted by the Energy Institute. Thesymposium is open to the public.

In 2016, Rai won the David N KershawAward and Prize, which is given by theAssociation for Public Policy Analysis andManagement. The award recognizes peopleunder 40, who have made an outstandingcontribution in the field of public policyanalysis and management.

Indian American Varun Rai Named NewUT Energy Institute Director

Varun Rai is an Assistant Professor of PublicAffairs & Assistant Professor of Mechanical

Engineering at the university

Indian-American appointed to SanFrancisco County Superior Court

SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Indian-American lawyerVedica Puri, 47, of San Francisco, who has been a partnerat Pillsbury & Coleman LLP since 2005 and was a seniorassociate there from 2002 to 2005, was appointed to the SanFrancisco County Superior Court.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who left office on Jan 7, appointed sixnew superior court judges to Bay Area courts onJanuary3, including two in Alameda County and one eachin Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Solanocounties.

Puri is the first Indian-American appointed to the SanFrancisco County Superior Court.She earned herBachelor of Arts degree from St. Xavier's College andreceived her law degree from the Santa Clara UniversitySchool of Law. She fills the vacancy created by theelevation of Judge Tracie Brown to the Court of Appeal.

Puri is an experienced trial attorney with an expertisein high-stakes builder's risk, property and technology errors and omissions claims.As Bay Area native, she has a greater understanding of the new and emergingrisks inherent to Silicon Valley businesses and universities. Ms. Puri hascounseled many companies and risk managers on issues involving protectionagainst technology failures, cyber liability, directors' and officers' liability as wellas handling claims under these policies. Her in-depth experience involvescoverage disputes arising from catastrophic natural disasters, most recently theSan Bruno pipeline explosion (2010) and the North Bay Wildfires (2017).

Vedica Puri is thefirst Indian-Americanappointed to the San

Francisco CountySuperior Court

Indian American business tycoonRajat Gupta's appeal rejected

NEW YORK (TIP): A federalappeals court in Manhattan declinedto throw out former Goldman SachsGroup Inc. director Rajat Gupta's 2012insider-trading conviction, upholdinga lower-court ruling. IndianAmerican business tycoon Gupta,who was released from prison in 2016after serving 19 months, argued thatthe conviction should be thrown outbecause US prosecutors failed toprove he got a personal benefit forpassing tips to his friend, billionairehedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam. Rajaratnam, a founder of theGalleon Group, would end up getting convicted in 2011. He wassentenced to 11 years in prison and is due to be released in July2021. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals, in an order issued onJanuary 7, said: "We have considered all of Gupta's arguments onthis appeal and have found them to be without merit. The judgmentof the district court is affirmed."

A federal jury in New York found Gupta guilty of passing tips toRajaratnam about Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s $5 billion investmentin Goldman Sachs and the bank's financial results for two quartersin 2008. While Gupta has already served his prison term, a rulingin his favour would have cleared the conviction from his record.

Gupta was released fromprison in 2016 afterserving 19 months

3THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 INDIANS ABROAD

4 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019US

contd from page 1

New Indian Ambassador to US HarshVardhan Shringla Assumes Charge: Will

present credentials on Jan 11 Prior to his present posting, Ambassador Shringla was India's High

Commissioner to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Incidentally, AmbassadorShringla's successor in Dhaka, Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das was ConsulGeneral of India in New York from March 2016 to July 2017. In the course of adiplomatic career spanning 35 years, Ambassador Shringla has held a variety of

positions in New Delhi and abroad. He has served as High Commissioner of Indiato Bangladesh and Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Thailand. He has alsoserved in France (UNESCO); USA (UN, New York); Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho ChiMinh City); Israel and South Africa (Durban).

Ambassador Shringla has served in the Ministry of External Affairs, NewDelhi as Joint Secretary (Director General) responsible for Bangladesh, SriLanka, Myanmar and Maldives. He has also headed the United Nations Politicaland SAARC Divisions in the Ministry. Earlier, he served as Director of theNorthern Division dealing with Nepal and Bhutan and as Deputy Secretary ofthe Europe West Division.

Ambassador Shringla has graduated from St. Stephen's College, DelhiUniversity and has worked in the Corporate and Public Sectors in India prior tojoining the Indian Foreign Service. He has pursued courses and published paperson conflict prevention, economic diplomacy, the Indian diaspora and India-Bangladesh relations.

Ambassador Shringla speaks French, Vietnamese and Nepalese apart fromEnglish and Indian languages. He is married to Hemal Shringla and has oneson.

Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla chairing a meeting of the embassy staff atthe Embassy of India in Washington on Jan 9 Photo / Courtesy Indian Embassy

President Trump talksto family of slain FijianIndian American police

officer Ronil Singh

WASHINGTON (TIP): President DonaldTrump has spoken to the family and formercolleagues of the Newman police officerRonil Singh who was shot to death during aDec. 26 traffic stop by an alleged Mexicannational Paulo Virgen Mendoza.

White House Press Secretary SarahHuckabee Sanders says Trump praisedslain Fijian Indian American policeofficer's service and offered condolences tohis wife, Amanika "Mika" Chand-Singh,during a phone call on January 3.

A statement released by White Housespokesperson Sarah Sanders about thePresident's call to Ronil Singh's family read:"This afternoon, President Trump spokewith the family and law enforcementcolleagues of fallen Newman, California,police officer Ronald [sic] 'Ron' Singh. ThePresident praised Officer Singh's service tohis fellow citizens, offered condolences, andcommended law enforcements, rapidinvestigation, response and apprehensionof the subject. Included in the President'scall were Corporal Singh's wife Amanika[sic] 'Mika' Chand Singh; NewmanCalifornia Police Chief Randy Richardsonand sheriff Andy Christianson ofStanislaus County California."

People waving American flags lined upalong the streets of the Central Valley townof Newman, where a viewing was held forSingh. On January 5 hundreds paid tributeto the slain officer at CrossPointCommunity Church in Modesto during thefuneral service.

US lawmakers demandaccountability for killing

of Saudi journalistJamal Khashoggi

WASHINGTON (TIP): In December,several of Trump's Republicans joinedDemocrats to defy the president and passSenate resolutions to end US militarysupport for the Saudi-led coalition in thewar in Yemen and blame Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman for Khashoggi'smurder. US lawmakers called on January 10for Washington to hold Saudi Arabiaaccountable for the killing of journalistJamal Khashoggi at one of the country’sconsulates in Turkey and vowed thatCongress would act if the Trumpadministration did not. More than a dozensenators and members of the House ofRepresentatives. (Reuters)

Singh was shot to death Dec. 26 during atraffic stop by an alleged Mexican

national Paulo Virgen Mendoza

Trump-Modi discuss bilateralcooperation in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (TIP): India's PrimeMinister Narendra Modi and U.S. PresidentDonald Trump discussed a range of bilateralissues including reducing the U.S. tradedeficit with India and increasing theircooperation in Afghanistan in a telephonecall on Monday, January 7, the White Housesaid.

"The leaders agreed to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership in 2019 andexchanged perspectives on how to reduce theU.S. trade deficit with India, expand securityand prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, andincrease cooperation in Afghanistan," theWhite House said in a statement.

In Afghanistan, Trump is planning towithdraw more than 5,000 of the 14,000 UStroops from there, a US official said lastmonth.

The statement issued by India's Ministry ofExternal Affairs did not mention the subjectsdiscussed between the two leaders.

"The two leaders took positive note ofgrowing bilateral cooperation in defence,counter-terrorism and energy andcoordination on regional and global issues.They agreed to continue to work together forfurther strengthening India-US bilateralrelations in 2019", the MEA said in theirstatement.

Modi and Trump discussed a range of bilateral issues over telephonePic tweeted by @narendramodi.in

US Troop withdrawal from Syriawill happen, says Mike Pompeo

CAIRO (TIP): Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saidThursday, January 10, that a full US troop withdrawal fromSyria announced by President Donald Trump last monthwill go ahead despite widespread criticism.

The US top diplomat made his remarks while on awhistle-stop tour of the Middle East to address theconcerns of regional allies about the surprise pullout plan.

"President Trump's decision to withdraw our troops hasbeen made. We will do that," Pompeo told a joint pressconference in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister SamehShoukry.

Earlier this week, US National Security Advisor JohnBolton laid out conditions for the pullout, including thedefeat of the Islamic State group in Syria and guaranteesfor the safety of Washington's Kurdish allies in thecampaign, who have been threatened with an imminentoffensive by Turkey.

Bolton's comments were widely seen as backtracking onTrump's announcement.

"There is no contradiction whatsoever. This is a storymade up by the media," said Pompeo, underscoringWashington's continuing commitment to preventing anyresurgence by IS.

From Cairo, Pompeo is scheduled to head to the capitalsof the six Gulf Arab states to make the US case.

Mike Pompeo said Thursday, January 10, that a full UStroop withdrawal from Syria announced by President

Donald Trump last month will happen (File photo )

5THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 US

CongressmanKrishnamoorthi

requests to withholdhis salary for the

period of GovernmentShutdown

CHICAGO (TIP): Indian AmericanCongressman from Illinois RajaKrishnamoorthi has requested that hissalary from January 1st through theremainder of the shutdown be withheld,delaying his pay until the governmentreopens, in solidarity with workers whoaren't being paid while also donating hispay from the December portion of theshutdown to local charities.

"The federal shutdown would endimmediately if President Trump chose tostop holding federal workers hostage tohis demand for billions in taxpayerdollars for an unnecessary wall. I amactively working and voting to restorefunding and provide pay to the BorderAgents, TSA staff, tax refund processors,federal loan administrators, and otherworkers who are doing their jobs inservice to the American people. Insolidarity with government employeesworking for the American people withoutpay, furloughed workers, and taxpayersdenied government services because ofthis shutdown, I've requested that mysalary be withheld until the conclusion ofthe shutdown. I'm donating my pay fromthe December portion of the shutdown tocharity. It is my hope that the Presidentembraces our efforts to reopen thegovernment and finally agrees to bringthis shutdown to an end" he said in astatement.

In his letter to Philip G. Kiko, the ChiefAdministrative Officer, requesting hissalary be withheld from January 1stthrough the remainder of the shutdown,Krishnamoorthi wrote, "As with theprevious two shutdowns that have occurredduring my time as a Member of Congress, Iknow that in the event of a lapse inappropriations, Members will continue toreceive their salary despite the governmentshutdown.

"I respectfully request that my pay bewithheld during the current lapse ingovernment appropriations starting onJanuary 1st, 2019, and ask it continue to bewithheld until this shutdown ends."

Rep.Krishnamoorthi wrote a letter toPhilip G. Kiko, the Chief Administrative

Officer, requesting his salary be withheldfrom January 1st through the remainder

of the shutdown

Do not make any changes atKartarpur Sahib Complex:

American Sikhs Urge PakistanNEW YORK (TIP): Sikh groups in the US

have urged Pakistan government not to makeany structural changes at the KartarpurSahib Complex to accommodate the upcominginflux of visitors from around the world.Kartarpur Sahib is the place where thefounder of the Sikh Faith Guru NanakDev Ji,spent 18.5 years of his life.

The appeal has been made by the AmericanSikh Council (ASC) and the Sikhs in America(SIA).

In November, both Pakistani and Indiangovernments agreed to open KartarpurCorridor for Sikhs to visit the birthplace ofGuru Nanak Dev Ji. Kartarpur Sahib can becalled the first Gurdwara which wasestablished in 1521. Bhai Duni Chand donated100 acres to Guru Nanak Sahibji where hestarted to till the land and use it for farming.

"Any structural changes and/or additionsto accommodate upcoming huge visitorseither coming from India, Pakistan or Sikhdiaspora living across globe for lodging torestrooms and more must be done at adistance, away from the main KartarpurSahib Complex, so that the Kartarpur Sahiboriginal farms, natural areas spread around100 acres of land that belonged to GuruSahibji, and the forest areas around the RiverRavi can retain as much of its originality as

possible. This needs to be preserved in itsoriginal landscape for posterity," a message onthe ASC's website said.

"ASC reiterates its plea to keep theKartarpur Sahib complex in its currentsimplicity as that is what Guru Baba NanakSahibji insisted onhis entire life. Sikhseverywhere yearn to visit the KartarpurSahib and see the fields that our wondrous'Guru' tilled with his own hands, the place

where he lived, the trees he sat under and feeland touch their forehead on the same dustysoil that our 'Guru' walked on!", it furtheradded.

ASC also thanked the Pakistan governmentfor opening the Kartarpur corridor andtaking this proactive step towards peace andamity of two people who have so much incommon, from language to food, from poetryto clothes and so much more.

Kartarpur Sahib, the place where the founder of the Sikh Faith Guru Nanak Dev Ji, spent 18.5years of his life

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein 'plans to resign'WASHINGTON (TIP): Top justice department official Rod Rosenstein, who oversaw the inquiry into

alleged Russian meddling in 2016, is planning to quit, according to media reports.The deputy attorney general reportedly made the decision to step down and was not forced out by the White

House.But he has been a frequent target of President Donald Trump's criticism.Rosenstein had reportedly considered resigning last fall after a report emerged that he suggested secretly

recording Mr Trump.The no 2 US Department of Justice official plans to stay on until the confirmation of attorney general

nominee William Barr, sources say.Senate hearings for Mr Barr's confirmation are scheduled to begin on 15 January.If confirmed, Mr Barr will succeed acting attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who replaced former

Attorney General Jeff Sessions after he was fired by Mr Trump.There is no set timeline for Mr Rosenstein's departure, however.CBS News reports that Mr Rosenstein will depart in the next few weeks, after Mr Barr is expected to take

over, in order to ensure a smooth transition.According to Fox News and ABC News, Mr Rosenstein had long planned to leave after two years as deputy

attorney general. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told Fox News on Wednesday, January 9, thatshe knew "the deputy attorney general has always planned to roughly stay around two years".

"My guess is that he is making room for the new attorney general to build a team that he wants aroundhim," she added. Rosenstein has spent his career at the Department of Justice, and most recently served for12 years as the US Attorney General for the state of Maryland before beginning his current role in April 2017.

Deputy Attorney General RodRosenstein is reported to have

plans to resign

Official portrait

Embassy of India Celebrates ChristmasWASHINGTON (TIP): A Christmas

celebration was organized at Embassy ofIndia on January 4, 2019. The event wasattended by a large number of guests fromIndian diaspora, including members of theIndian Christian community andrepresentatives from media. Chargéd'affaires Ambassador Santosh Jhaaddressed the gathering. The programincluded invocation by Rev Binoy AkkalayilLucka, Parochial Vicar, St. LawrenceCatholic Church.

Dr. Graceson Kannamplave of theEvangelical Order highlighted thesignificance of Christmas and its relevanceto India.

The celebration featured singing ofChristmas carols by the choir of MemorialFirst India Methodist Church Choir.

(Source: Indian Embassy)

The event was attended by alarge number of guests

6 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019INDIA

Ayodhya hearing on29th as judge recuses

NEW DELHI (TIP): The hearing in thepolitically sensitive Ayodhya dispute wasdeferred to January 29 after Justice UULalit, part of a five-judge ConstitutionBench set up to decide the case, todayrecused himself.

The development took place after seniorcounsel Rajiv Dhavan, representing aMuslim party in the case, pointed out thatJustice Lalit had as a lawyer represented acontemnor in a contempt matter relatingto the Ayodhya case against former UttarPradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh in1997.

While pointing out the possible conflictof interest at the outset of the hearing,Dhavan said he was not seeking JusticeLalit’s recusal. But the judge showed“disinclination” to participate in the RamJanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case hearingany further.

Led by Chief Justice of India RanjanGogoi, the Bench had Justice SA Bobde,Justice NV Ramana and Justice DYChandrachud on it.

If talks can be heldwith Taliban, why notHurriyat: Farooq

KOLKATA (TIP): Referring to IndianArmy Chief Bipin Rawat's comments onholding talks with the Taliban for peace inAfghanistan, former Jammu and KashmirChief Minister Farooq Abdullah onThursday asked why the centre was notinitiating a dialogue with the Hurriyatleaders in the Valley.

Speaking at a seminar entitled 'J&K--The Road Ahead' in Kolkata, Mr Abdullahsaid leaders like former Indian PrimeMinister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held talkswith the separatist leaders to end the cycleof violence in the state.

General Rawat had on Wednesday saidthere should be talks with the Taliban tobring peace in Afghanistan, but assertedthat the engagement must be without anypreconditions.

National Conference presidentAbdullah also emphasised that Army andforce can never solve the internal crisis inKashmir and hoped that dialogues to solvethe issues would be reinitiated after theLok Sabha polls.

BJD to fight Lok Sabhapolls on its own

BHUBANESWAR (TIP): Odisha ChiefMinister Naveen Patnaik today said theBiju Janata Dal (BJD) will fight theupcoming Lok Sabha polls on its own andidentified rising fuel prices, growingagrarian distress and unemployment asthree major issues which will dominatethe elections.

Soon after the poll results in Rajasthan,Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, thefour-time Odisha chief minister had saidthat the Bharatiya Janata Party lost afterignoring farmers' plight and notimplementing the MS SwaminathanCommittee recommendation.

While participating in an interactiveprogramme of India Today's Mind Rocks,2019, Mr Patnaik indicated that the sameagrarian distress will play a key role in theupcoming elections in the country.

"Rising fuel prices, growing agrariandistress and unemployment are the threemajor issues to dominate the 2019 generalelections," he said.

Alok Verma removed as CBI chief byPM Modi-led selection committee

NEW DELHI (TIP): A three-membercommittee led by Prime Minister NarendraModi on Thursday by a majority vote removedAlok Verma as CBI Director, two days after theSupreme Court scrapped a government orderand reinstated him.

The committee, which also includedMallikarjun Kharge, the Congress party’sleader in the Lok Sabha, and Supreme CourtJustice A K Sikri, removed Verma afterconsidering the Central VigilanceCommission’s (CVC) investigation ofcorruption charges against the officer.

There were eight counts of charges ofcorruption and dereliction of duty againsthim in the CVC report. Modi and Sikri, whoappeared as a nominee of Supreme CourtChief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, agreed with theCVC's report and Kharge dissented.

Verma has been posted as Director GeneralFire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards,under the Union Home Ministry. NageshwarRao will be incharge of the CBI.

The Congress party said on Twitter thecommittee hadn’t given Verma a chance todefend himself and this showed Modi was “tooafraid” of an independent investigation ofallegations of corruption against hisgovernment.

The Supreme Court reinstated Verma onTuesday as CBI Director and set aside theCVC's and the government's October 23 orderremoving him but said he will not take anypolicy decision till the PM-led committee goesinto the issue afresh.

Verma, a 1979-batch IPS officer, will retire atthe end of this month.

TRIED TO UPHOLD CBI INTEGRITY: VERMAAlok Verma, who was removed from the post of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

director two days after resuming office, has claimed that he was transferred on the basis of"false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations".

Talking about the issue, Verma said that the CBI must function without externalinfluences."I have tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were beingmade to destroy it," he said.

He also said, "I have been transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of thecommittee which was assigned the task of deciding my future course of action as DirectorCBI. I have stood up for the integrity of the institution, and if asked, will do it again in orderto uphold the rule of law."

Govt plans basic income for poor, aid for farmers

NEW DELHI (TIP): With its legislation on a 10per cent quota for the general category poor injobs and education getting parliamentary backingin the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led government is now exploring the possibility ofproviding direct benefit transfers to those belowthe poverty line (BPL) through a universal basicincome (UBI) and for farmers through directinvestment support.

According to sources, the government mayannounce a UBI of Rs 2,500 per month initially tofamilies below the poverty line. The money wouldbe directly transferred to this section whileending other sops such as food and LPG subsidy tothem, the sources said.

The UBI dole is expected to take care of half thenutritional requirements of a family of five inrural areas and one-third requirement of thosewho make the urban poor. The government isexpected to budget around Rs 32,000 crore forApril-June 2019.

Sources said the actual number of beneficiarieswould depend on the funds that the Reserve Bankof India transfers to the national exchequer.Persons below poverty line are estimated to be27.5 per cent of the country’s population.

The 2017 Economic Survey had flagged the UBIscheme as “a conceptually appealing idea” and apossible alternative to social welfare programmestargeted at reducing poverty.

The UBI was signalled in the BJP manifesto forthe assembly elections in Rajasthan where theparty said it would arrive at the income figure“after taking into consideration (thebeneficiary’s) income from various sources andthe government benefits (he receives)”.

For the farmers, who comprise 47 per cent of

the country’s population, the government isconsidering an adaptation of Telangana’s RythuBandhu scheme where farmers tilling less thanan acre of land would be given Rs 4,000 per acre, ora proportion thereof depending on the size ofland holding, for each of the two cropping seasons— Rabi and Kharif.

The money for transfers to farmers would beshored up by discontinuing the subsidies onfertilisers and seed, the sources said, indicatingthat a clear picture of the scheme would emergein July — the start of the cropping season.

Transfers to farmers would be dispensed withafter an updation of land records with recognisedtenancy by the state to ensure that it does not go tothe landowner. The states, in turn, would beencouraged to establish lease farming as anintegral part of index of Ease of Doing Agri-Business.

NCW notice to RahulGandhi over remarkagainst Nirmala

NEW DELHI (TIP): The NationalCommission for Women (NCW) onThursday issued a notice to Congresspresident Rahul Gandhi for his“extremely misogynistic, offensive andunethical” remarks against DefenceMinister Nirmala Sitharaman at a rallyin Jaipur.

In the notice, the women’s panel saidit has taken suo motu cognisance ofnews reports which appeared invarious print and electronic mediadated January 9, “wherein it is reportedthat you have allegedly made remarksinsulting against a woman minister”.

“What is @rahulgandhi trying toimply with his misogynistic statement-“... ek mahila say kaha meri rakshakiijiye?” Does he think women areweak? The irony- calling anaccomplished defence minister of thelargest democracy a weak person.@nsitharaman @narendramodi@ncwindia,” NCW chief RekhaSharma tweeted. The Congress chief atthe farmers’ rally on Wednesday hadsaid, “The watchman with a 56-inchchest ran away and told a woman,Sitharaman ji, defend me. I won’t beable to defend myself, defend me.”

The NCW in the notice said, “It hasbeen reported that you allegedly said“..... the PM ran away and asked a‘mahila’—- a veiled reference to DefenceMinister Nirmala Sitharaman —- todefend him”.

7 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019INDIA

At 80, Sheila Dikshitback to steer DelhiCong in LS polls

NEW DELHI (TIP): In a politicaldevelopment in thenational Capitalahead of the LokSabha polls thisyear, former DelhiChief MinisterSheila Dikshit wason Thursdayappointed as thechief of the DelhiCongress.

Her name was cleared by none otherthan party chief Rahul Gandhi following abrainstorming meeting of State Congressleaders on Thursday.

Dikshit is an old war horse and afavourite among the party workers for herexperience of being three-time ChiefMinister of Delhi. In view of her age andhealth concerns, the Congress hasappointed three working presidents toassist her.

Dikshit, 80, makes a comeback into Delhipolitics ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.The longest serving Chief Minister ofDelhi — from 1998 to 2013 — Dikshit stayedaway from active politics following theCongress’ defeat in Assembly elections.Dikshit had represented Gole Marketconstituency of New Delhi thrice and wasone of the most successful Chief Ministerswho is credited for adorning the landscapeof Delhi.

Interestingly, she replaces Ajay Maken,who is known as her protégé-turned-bêtenoire. Maken had been appointed presidentof the Delhi Congress following the party’sdefeat in the Assembly elections in 2014,when Dikshit was vanquished by AamAadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal.

AICC incharge of Delhi Congress PCChacko announced Dikshit’s appointmentat a Press conference at the partyheadquarters.

The three working presidents who willassist Dikshit are: Devendra Yadav, a two-time MLA and AICC secretary, RajeshLilothia, also a two-time MLA, AICCsecretary and known Dalit leader, andHaroon Yusuf, who was a Minister in theDikshit Government.

Maken had earlier conveyed to the partyleadership, his inability to continue as theDPCC chief in view of the serious healthissues he is facing. He is suffering from aspinal ailment, said sources close to theDelhi leader.

Despite being perceived as havingworked hard to revive the party in Delhi,Maken met with little success electorally.The party failed to win any of the threemunicipalities in Delhi, and could notregister a victory in the by-elections.According to sources, he was unhappywith a section of party leaders who want toforge an alliance with the AAP in Delhi.

With just months to go for the generalelections, this is Dikshit’s third majorassignment from the party after rulingDelhi for 15 consecutive years. She servedas Kerala Governor and then Congress hadnamed her the chief ministerial candidateduring the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

During her three terms, she became theface of development of Delhi but the rise ofKejriwal due to corruption against theCongress led to her downfall after 15 yearsin the saddle. After her loss she wasappointed Governor of Kerala in 2013 butshe resigned after Narendra Modi came topower in 2014. She was briefly given chargeof Uttar Pradesh but quit for healthreasons.

Mayawati, Akhilesh may announcealliance for 2019 Lok Sabha election

LUCKNOW (TIP): Samajwadi Party (SP)president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samajparty (BSP) chief Mayawati have called ajoint press conference in Lucknow onSaturday where they are expected to formallyannounce their alliance for the 2019 LokSabha polls.

National secretary of SP, RajendraChaudhary as well as BSP’s, Satish ChandraMishra issued a statement today about thejoint press conference.

“Yes, what else could the joint pressconference will be about since the alliancehas been in works since March last year,” saidan SP leader when asked about the event.

The two parties first publically spoke aboutthe alliance in March last year and thenexperimented with it in three Lok Sabhabypolls and one state assembly bypolls. TheBJP lost all those seats to the alliance. The SP-BSP alliance can be a formidable oppositionto the BJP which won 71 Lok Sabha seats inUP in 2014.

Akhilesh is also likely to call on Mayawation Friday.

The two leaders, in a recent meeting inDelhi, discussed the modalities of seatsharing for the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UttarPradesh, according to sources

The talks, sources said, did not account forthe Congress. It was proposed that both

parties will equally distribute between them78 Lok Sabha seats. They won’t fieldcandidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the LokSabha constituencies of Congress presidentRahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi,respectively, sources added.

Akhilesh and Mayawati have so far ruledout Congress as a partner of the alliance,because the grand old party is looking atcontesting more than a dozen seats, which theSP and the BSP are not ready to concede, said

another leader familiar with negotiations.When asked to comment, Congress

president Rahul Gandhi in an interview toGulf News said that the party has the abilityto surprise people with results in UP. “Thereare very interesting things that the Congressparty can do in Uttar Pradesh... the Congressidea is very powerful for Uttar Pradesh. So,we are very confident of our ability in UttarPradesh and we will surprise people,” he said.

Source: HT

Regional parties back in game; Congressregains confidence

NEW DELHI (TIP): The political weatherin India is going to be the hottest like neverbefore as we go for the national election, inwhich political powerhouse Prime MinisterNarendra Modi will be taking on thereenergised opposition led by Congress chiefRahul Gandhi and a slew of regional satraps.Overall, the 2019 election may not be a repeatof 2014 as the lost out opposition regains theground focused on the line of attack.

The picture became clearer after two yearsof back-to-back state assembly elections andby elections as 2017 showcased the victorystreak of Modi-led BJP while the juggernautgot halted after the resurgent Congress foughtback under the leadership of Gandhi in 2018.Congress has recaptured power in majorstates like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan andChhattisgarh and rested power in Karnatakain alliance with HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal(Secular) or JDS. It inched scarily closer toBJP in the December 2017 assembly electionin Gujarat. Another fear for BJP is the rise ofregional parties, especially when its NDAallies are busy ending the ties.

In Uttar Pradesh, where BJP and its allieswon 73 Lok Sabha seats out of the 80 in 2014,Mayawati's Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP)and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi party (SP)have decided to go together. The scene ismurky in Maharashtra, where BJP and ShivSena together won 41 out of 48 seats. Atpresent, BJP and Sena are at loggerheads,attacking each other. Sena chief UdhavThackeray earlier said that the party wouldcontest election alone. BJP is looking to patchup when PM visits the state next week, whilethe reports say that Congress and SharadPawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)have almost concluded seat sharing.

BJP went ahead in seat sharing in Bihar,dividing the seats equally with NitishKumar's JDU after giving six seats to Ram

Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).BJP, which won 22 seats in the state in 2014,will be contesting from only 17 seats. JDU is abig gainer in the game as it got 17 seats inplace of the 2 seats it won in 2014.

Congress and its ally Lalu Prasad Yadav'sRashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are yet to finaliseits seats.

Seating sharing for Congress in TamilNadu (with DMK), Andhra Pradesh (withTDP), Karnataka (with JDS) and Jharkhand(with JMM) may not be a tough task as thepartners agreed upon the common agenda ofremoving the BJP government from thepower. But BJP's equations with alliancepartners are not presently in good terms aswe have seen it broke relations with PDP, TDP,Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP and Asom GanaParishad (AGP), besides many smallerparties. Its traditional allies Shiv Sena and

Apna Dal appear disappointed with BJP. ButBJP under Modi-Shah duo had proved earlierthat it is capable to pull off victory even indifficult situations--- for instance the victoriesin north eastern states, including Tripura.

It is going to be a direct fight between BJPand Congress in at least five major states---Gujarat, MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh andHaryana, while in others the regional partieswill wield its powers. The non-BJP and non-Congress parties like Mamata Banerjee'sTrinamool Congress, Naveen Patnaik's BijuJanata Dal (BJD), K ChandrashekarRao's?Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), YSJaganmohan Reddy YSR Congress, the leftparties including CPM and CPI, Aam AdmiParty and NC and PDP in Jammu andKashmir will be other major regional forceswho can challenge the national biggies intheir respective regions.

In each of the three recent elections inPakistan, in 2008, 2013 and last year in July,a different political party won and formed

the government. The Pakistan People's Partyin 2008, following Benazir Bhutto'sassassination, had two Prime Ministers in itsfive-year tenure; but with Asif Zardari asPresident of Pakistan, this five-year tenure isbetter known as Mr. Zardari's government.Similarly, after 2013, the Pakistan MuslimLeague's Nawaz Sharif made a remarkablereappearance in Pakistan's political scene andbecame Prime Minister for the third time, onlyto be debarred and removed from office, andsubsequently imprisoned, and was replaced byone of his party members as Prime Minister.The 2013 government, even with Mr. Sharifbehind bars, was known as his government.The third transition, or 'experiment' as it hasbeen called since last year well before theelections took place, was for Pakistan'smilitary and judiciary, the so-called'establishment', to work together and ensurean electoral victory for the third politicalparty in as many elections, with Imran Khanwinning.

The electoral results in 2008 and 2013 werenot unexpected. After Benazir Bhutto's killing,a sympathy wave led to her party winningenough seats to form a coalition government,but with its particularly poor performance inits five-year tenure, Mr. Sharif's victory wasalso not unexpected. Despite the incarcerationof Mr. Sharif and the multiple cases againsthim in 2017 and 2018, the general perceptionwas that his party would probably get re-elected, albeit with a smaller majority. Mr.Khan's victory followed on a multi-monthstrategy by the establishment to ensure thathe would win, with ample evidence suggestingthat he was ushered in with much help frombehind the scenes. His shell-shocked victoryspeech a few hours after the electionssuggested that even he was taken aback whenvictory was handed to him.

Five months onFive months is a long enough time to be able

to assess what a new government has doneand the direction it intends to follow. Both theZardari government of 2008 and the Sharifgovernment in 2013 quickly went into takingnumerous decisions soon after being elected.In 2008, with support from the Opposition ledby Mr. Sharif, Mr. Zardari and his governmentworked together to jointly address issuesconcerning the economy, and to remove thethen President of Pakistan, PervezMusharraf, by initiating a process to have himimpeached, leading to his resignation.Differences emerged between Mr. Sharif and

Mr. Zardari over issues about an amnestygranted to political leaders and about thereinstatement of members of the judiciarydismissed while General Musharraf wasPresident. Nevertheless, the main purposeapparent from the beginning had been servedand was clear from the start, to reclaimpopular political space from the military, andto reassert the sovereignty of the law. Mr.Sharif, when he was elected in 2013, from thevery first moment, started work on addressingPakistan's biggest problem at that time, theelectricity crisis which was crippling theeconomy. After taking several decisionswithin days of assuming power, he started toput the economy on some track, and agreed toan International Monetary Fund program.

The most noticeable demonstration of Mr.Khan's government over the last five monthshas been best reflected in its ineptitude,indecision, bumbling, sanctimoniousness. Forthe past five months, we have been waiting forsome major policy direction, vision, even justa simple decision on what to do next, butnothing so far has emerged. Other than the'we will put all the corrupt politicians in jail'mantra, this government has been lacking inforesight and a sense of purpose. It is notinexperience which is the cause for this.Although Mr. Khan has not held a job formany years - his last paid job was probably asPakistan's cricket captain - most of hisMinisters and advisers have been ingovernment with one political party oranother. In fact, many worked with GeneralMusharraf when he was President. The manyclaims that Mr. Khan makes about strongleadership seem to be undermined with himin charge of Pakistan's government.

Perhaps the most urgent and pressingproblem facing Pakistan today is that of aneconomy quickly going into a crisis state,largely on account of inaction anduncertainty created by the Finance Minister.Pakistan's growth rate in the fiscal yearending in June 2018 was 5.8%, the highest in

13 years. For the current fiscal year theexpectations are that it will be closer to 3%.Inflation today is the highest in six years, andinterest rates have been driven to double-digitlevels with the Pakistani rupee depreciating34% in 12 months. There is a growing balanceof payments crisis, with exports stagnant andimports still rising, along with a fiscal deficitof more than 6% of GDP. The stock markethas fallen, as have investor confidence andratings of the economy. Foreign directinvestment has fallen drastically since early2018. The China Pakistan-Economic Corridor(CPEC), which was touted as Pakistan's'Marshall Plan', seems to have completelygone off the radar for now, as the Chineserethink their strategy for Pakistan. Knowingall this, Mr. Khan and his finance andeconomic team have done little to stabilizePakistan's economy, to draw a strategy toaddress these exacerbating problems. Otherthan begging for loans from the only threefriends Pakistan is left with - Saudi Arabia,China and the UAE - there has been anabsence of ideas about what to do. Thepopulist promises of the election manifesto ofMr. Khan, of making Pakistan a modelwelfare state on the lines of the Prophet'sMedina, of providing millions of jobs andhouses to Pakistanis, will all come undoneunless the economy is first fixed.

A controlled democracyThe single most prominent feature of Mr.

Khan's five months has been his repeatedpronouncements that he and his governmentare 'on the same page' with Pakistan's militaryand judiciary. Unlike Mr. Zardari and Mr.Sharif, both fairly astute and experiencedpoliticians, and not having had anygovernment experience, Mr. Khan probablydoesn't realize the consequences of what thismeans and how being on the same page withdominating and powerful unelectedinstitutions undermines and stifles theagency of elected governments. Rather thanhaving used the short breathing spacefollowing his electoral victory by taking someresolute decisions, his inactions may not onlyreflect his inability to understand how to runa government but might simply be because heexpects others on this 'same page' to do hisbidding. In many ways, with a media that isstrangulated, and politicians of theOpposition being hounded in the name of'accountability', Pakistan may be back to itstried and trusted model of controlleddemocracy.

(The author is a political economist based inKarachi. He teaches at Columbia University in

New York, and at the IBA in Karachi)

Think of the billionswho are hungry

Government of India does not tireof boasting about the country'seconomic growth rate. It has

fanciful narratives of its gloriousachievements. Enthused with the idea ofintroducing the most modern bullettrains while it cannot maintain safe andtimely services on existing tracks,making tall promises to provide housingto all in the next few years, they do notprobably want to face the reality thatthe country is still way behind inproviding food to billions who either gohungry or are underfed andmalnourished.

The Global Hunger Index 2018 ranksIndia at 103rd out of 119 countries onthe basis of three leading indicators-prevalence of under-weight childrenunder five years, under-five mortalityrate, and the proportion ofundernourished in the population.

15% of population is undernourished;195 million people go hungry daily; 30%of children under 5 are under-weight;58% of children stunted before they aretwo; one in four children malnourished;3000 children die every day due to lackof food; 24% under 5 deaths in India;30% of neo-natal deaths in India.

It is paradoxical that despite Indiaproducing more than sufficient food tofeed its population, it is unable toprovide access to food to 300 millionpoor. The amount of food wasted,almost 40% is mind boggling.

Wholly engrossed in the politics ofreligion, region and caste, the rulershave forgotten their primary duty asrulers. Their Rajdharma centersaround grabbing power to rule, not torule well. What a shame on the countrywhich is billed to be one of three mostpowerful economies of the world by2050!

What a shame on the rulers who livelike princes, wearing designer clothescosting thousands of dollars, live inpalatial houses, protected by scores ofsecurity men, riding the best of cars, andflying the best airlines in the world,making big money by hook or by crook,all at the cost of the common people ofIndia who do not get the basic food tosurvive, not to speak of leading a decentlife.

Indian media need to focus on thisissue almost on a daily basis, as they doon non-issues, to create a publicopinion to put pressure on thegovernment to take revolutionarydecisions to remedy the situation.

Every time, there are elections athand, all sorts of promises are made tothe people by all political outfits. Peopleare lulled in to a dreamworld, only toget the rude shock, post poll, that theywere taken for a ride.

Will there ever be a change for thebetter?

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8 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019EDITORIAL

AS I SEE IT

Imran Khan's performance so far asPM: Still nothing to show for

“In October last year, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in apublic address stated that Pakistanis should stop worrying,"Ghabrain nahin, hausla rakhain (do not worry, have fortitude)."But after five months of waiting for the government to deliveron its numerous promises, perhaps it is now time to really startworrying", says the author.

Imran Khan appears to be banking on theestablishment to help him and Pakistan out

of its economic crisis

India has been independent for 72 years.From 1947 to 1967, for 20 years, India, as ayoung democracy, had too many problems

to deal with. One, it had a severe shortage offood. During this period, USA helped India byexporting food under what is known as PL-480.The law provided for India paying to the US inrupee.US also helped India's green revolutionproject, even as Mexico helped India growhigh yield varieties of wheat. It helped Indiaattain food self-sufficiency.

The Green revolution modernized Indianfarms resulting in tremendous increase infood production. India has been not only a netexporter of food but also one of the leadingexporters competing with the US andAustralia. India has proved the fallacy ofEnglish Economist Malthus's theory thatfood production cannot overtake

overpopulation. There is every reason forIndia to be proud to produce food for its 1.3billion people and also export, makingsizeable foreign exchangeearnings. Indiashould be commended for creative and hardwork to achieve it.

It is paradoxical that despite Indiaproducing more than sufficient food to feed itspopulation, it is unable to provide access tofood to 300 million poor. The amount of foodwasted, almost 40% is mind boggling.

The Global Hunger Index 2018 ranks Indiaat 103rd out of 119 countries on the basis ofthree leading indicators-prevalence of under-weight children under five years, under-fivemortality rate, and the proportion ofundernourished in the population.

It is estimated that nearly 40 per cent of thefruit and vegetable, and 20 per cent of the foodgrains that are produced, are lost due toinefficient supply chain management.

It is a shame that India has the largestundernourished and hungry population in theworld. 15% of population is undernourished;195 million people go hungry daily; 30% ofchildren under 5 are under-weight; 58% ofchildren stunted before they are two; one in fourchildren malnourished; 3000 children die everyday due to lack of food; 24% under 5 deaths inIndia; 30% of neo-natal deaths in India.

DESPITE BEING A FOOD SURPLUSCOUNTRY, INDIA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TOCURB FOOD GRAIN WASTAGE. TOPPING ITALL, THE PRODUCED FOOD, TOO ISWASTED.

Each year, wheat equivalent to Australia'sannual grain production is wasted in India.The magnitude of the problem isunacceptable. In Australia 0.75% of grainwas wasted. India is wasting 67 million tonsyearly. THAT IS MORE THAN NATIONALOUTPUT OF THE U.K. AND ENOUGH FOODFOR BIHAR. The value of lost food -Rs.92,000crore-nearly two-thirds of what it costs theGovernment to feed 600 million poor Indians.This results in lower supplies and add to theinflation, thus reducing the farmer's income.The farmers of India have already started arevolution to protest and it is an importantelection issue.

One million tons of onions vanish on their

way from farms to markets, as do 2.2 milliontons of tomatoes. Overall, 5 million eggscrack or go bad due to lack of cold storage.

THE MAGNITUDE OF WASTE ISMINDBOGGLING AND UNACCEPTABLE.

A report in a Punjab media said: "Over95,000 bags of rotten wheat lying in thestatehouse of the Haryana State WarehousingCorporation at Bani village will fetch thecorporation much less than one rupee per kg.The highest bid received is 62 paise per kg.

Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assamdo not have the capacity to handle stocks formore than 13-75 days. Himachal Pradesh,Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhandand Assam cannot even handle their stocksfor a month.

Indian media reports that the bureaucracyclaims to solve problems on files, raisingqueries after queries and so called inter-departmental consultations. Rather thanlooking and rectifying this issue, the leadershave lost touch and are busy with foreigntrips. Instead of conducting unnecessarydelaying tactics of investigations, theGovernment of India must place this hugeproblem on its front burner. India has beenneglecting the 300 million of its poor for toomany years. Political parties come and go butthe problem is aggravated.

COOKED FOOD MUST BE DELIVERED TOTHE POOR. THE GOAL SHOULD BE TODELIVER TWO NUTRITIOUS MEALS PERDAY.

The villages have no facilities to cook foodand serve the poor. India must startdiscussing how best to prepare and deliverfood. Streamlining and distribution should bescientific and modern marketing. TheGovernment officials have failed and provedthat they are not competent to handle thisproblem existing all these years.

Food Corporation of India, a public sectorcorporation should be privatized immediately.No excuses can be accepted like given for notbeing able to find a buyer for Air India. Feedingthe poor is an emergency because every day toomany are perishing due to lack of food.

INDIA CANNOT CALL ITSELF ADEMOCRACY IF IT FAILS TO FEED THEPOOR.

We strongly recommend that India consultsleading management and marketingconsultants such as McKinsey Consulting andothers to get professional recommendations

for discussion by the Indian Parliament andmake decisions.

CONCLUSIONS AND NEXT STEPS:

1. Identify the problem of Food Waste andsuggest solutions. Identify the problem ofdistribution of food grains from the farmerto the consumers. Identify the entireprocess that delivers food from the farmersto the consumers including storage,warehousing, transportation byrefrigerated trucks and trains, retailing, etc.

2. Privatize the Food Corporation of India -this is prerequisite to solve No.1 above.

3. Consult with internationally reputedprofessional Management and MarketingConsultants for solutions.

4. Come up with necessary legislation toensure food is not wasted and that everysingle Indian gets two square meals, at theleast. Prime Minister should presentrecommendations to the Parliament fordecision and approval

5. Entrust the project to the private industrythat has replaced the FCI.

Today, India as the largest democracyshould be ashamed for not doing anything tosolve the ever-nagging problem for severalyears. By taking the right steps without delayIndia can eliminate waste and feed the 300million poor of India. This will also answerthe complaints and protests of the farmersreceiving low prices for their production.

It is important that Prime Minister Modiattaches top priority to this critical problemof great magnitude. This is not a time forblame game for the failure of variousadministrations. Indian media need to focuson this issue almost on a daily basis, as theydo with non-issues, to create a public opinionto put pressure on the government to takerevolutionary decisions to remedy thesituation. Tell Prime Minister Modi his bullettrain can wait until a population of India isnot forced to go without food.

(Ven Parameswaran, MBA, Columbia BusinessSchool, was President & CEO, First AsianSecurities Corporation, New York; Senior

Adviser to Imagindia Institute, a think tank inNew Delhi. Email: vpwaren@gmail.com)

By Ven Parameswaran

9THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 PERSPECTIVE

THE PARADOX OF INDIA: 360 Million Poor Starve while 40% of Food is wasted

The Global HungerIndex 2018 ranks India

at 103rd out of 119countries on the basis

of three leadingindicators-prevalence of

under-weight childrenunder five years, under-five mortality rate, and

the proportion ofundernourished in the

population.

Millions of tons of wheat rots in the open as India runs out of warehouse space to store itsgrowing grain stockpile

An estimated 61,824 tons of food grains have been damaged between 2011-12 & 2016-17.

15% of population isundernourished; 195 million peoplego hungry daily; 30% of childrenunder 5 are under-weight; 58% ofchildren stunted before they aretwo; one in four childrenmalnourished; 3000 children dieevery day due to lack of food; 24%under 5 deaths in India; 30% of neo-natal deaths in India.

It is paradoxical that despite India producing more than sufficientfood to feed its population, it is unable to provide access to food to300 million poor. The amount of food wasted, almost 40% is mindboggling.

Indian media need to focus on this issuealmost on a daily basis, as they do withnon-issues, to create a public opinion toput pressure on the government to takerevolutionary decisions to remedy thesituation.

10 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019WORLD

Argentina: Thousandsmarch against

President Macri’sausterity measures

LIMA (TIP): Thousands of Argentinesmarched through downtown Buenos Aireson Thursday in the first of a series ofdemonstrations to protest the soaringcosts of public utilities and transportationunder President Mauricio Macri’sausterity program.

Macri has slashed governmentsubsidies for public utilities to reduce thecountry’s chronic fiscal deficit, pushingelectricity and gas rates up more 2,000 percent since the start of his term, localmedia have estimated.

“The only way to stop this is topeacefully protest,” union leader PabloMicheli said on local TV channel AmericaTV.

Inflation neared 50 per cent and the pesolost close to 50 per cent of its value againstthe dollar last year. The IMF announced a$50 billion lifeline for Argentina in June.

The crisis has dimmed Macri’s chancesof being re-elected in an electionscheduled for the last quarter of the year.

Protesters on Thursday carried effigiesof Macri and signs that read “Enough ofthe Macri/IMF austerity program” as theymarched past the city’s obelisk monumenttoward Congress. (Reuters)

President NicolasMaduro to start newterm as Venezuela

isolation growsCARACAS (TIP): Venezuelan

President Nicolas Maduro begins a secondterm in office on January 10, shrugging offinternational criticism that his reelectionlast year was illegitimate but facingfurther isolation as an economic crisisfuels a humanitarian emergency.

Leaders from the ruling Socialist Partyhave disavowed criticism of Maduro’sinauguration, which will keep him at thehelm of the OPEC member until 2025, andcalled for rallies in his support. Oppositionleaders, however, have portrayed theinauguration as the moment at whichMaduro will be internationally branded adictator following a widely boycotted 2018election that many foreign governmentsdescribed as a farce.

But continued support from themilitary, a fractured opposition and arelentless crackdown on opposition criticsmeans that Maduro appears to face fewserious challenges at home, despite theinternational outcry.

“They’ve tried to turn a constitutionalswearing-in ceremony into a world war,”Maduro said during a news conference onWednesday. “But whether there’s rain,thunder or lightning, we’re going totriumph.” He will be sworn in by theSupreme Court rather than the opposition-run congress, which has been stripped ofits powers since the Socialist Party lostcontrol of it in 2016 – a move thatunderpins opposition criticism thatMaduro has consolidated a dictatorship.

Maduro will then head to a ceremony atVenezuela’s military academy, signalingthe importance of the armed forces in hisgoverning coalition. His triumphalistdiscourse echoes that of his predecessor,late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, whoused abundant oil revenues to floodVenezuela with consumer goods whileproviding heavily subsidized food andmedicine. (Reuters)

UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyncalls for election to break Brexit impasse

LONDON (TIP): British Labour leaderJeremy Corbyn called on lawmakers onThursday to help his opposition party “breakthe deadlock” over Brexit and support his callfor a motion of no confidence in thegovernment to trigger an election. Pledging tovote against Prime Minister Theresa May’sdeal next week, Corbyn said only a Labourgovernment could secure an accord with theEuropean Union that would re-unite Britain, amove that would, he acknowledged, mostprobably require an extension of the Brexittalks with Brussels.

Parliament is deadlocked over how toproceed with Brexit, Britain’s biggest shift inforeign and trade policy in more than 40 years,and is expected to vote against May’s deal onTuesday plunging the departure from the EUinto deeper uncertainty. With less than threemonths before Britain leaves the EU, May haswarned lawmakers if they do vote down herdeal, they would be opening the way for adisorderly exit or for Brexit not to happen atall. Corbyn said if May had confidence in herdeal, she should “call that election and let thepeople decide”. “If the government cannotpass its most important legislation then theremust be a general election at the earliestopportunity,” he told journalists and workersin the northern English city of Wakefield.“Clearly, Labour does not have enough MPs inparliament to win a confidence vote on itsown. So members across the House (ofCommons) should vote with us to break thedeadlock,” he said, adding Labour would call avote of no confidence when it had the greatestchance of success.

‘AGAINST THE CLOCK’He said only an election would give the

winning party “a renewed mandate tonegotiate a better deal” that could passthrough parliament, adding an election and

renegotiation would most probably mean anextension to Article 50, which began Britain’sdivorce proceedings in March 2017. Anyextension would require the agreement of theother 27 EU member states. “Moving intooffice at a period right up against the clock,there would need to be time for thatnegotiation,” Corbyn said. “An extensionwould be a possibility, because clearly therehas to be time to negotiate.”

Outright victory for either party in anelection is far from certain, and some Labourlawmakers have cautioned against holdinganother vote at a time when Brexit passionsare rising and the country remains deeplydivided. A survey by pollster YouGov in lateDecember and early January showed Laboursix points behind the Conservatives after thetwo parties have been almost neck-and-neckfor weeks. For now, May is sticking to herguns. Even with opposition from hardlineBrexit campaigners strengthening in herConservative Party, May, who heads a

minority government, has refused to retreatfrom both her deal, which envisages closetrading ties with the EU, and the timetable forBritain to leave the bloc on March 29. Tryingto persuade parliament to back her plan, asource said May was “minded” to accept aproposal from Labour lawmakers to addreassurances on workers’ rights andenvironmental protections.

But critics say her efforts will fall short andwith no majority in the parliament,lawmakers are increasingly trying to force aplan B, with suggestions ranging from leavingwithout a deal to staging a new referendum.Corbyn has been lukewarm in his support ofa second vote on Britain’s membership of theEU. “If a general election cannot be securedthen we will keep all options on the table,including the option of campaigning for apublic vote,” he said on Thursday. “But anelection must be the priority. It is not only themost practical option, it is also the mostdemocratic option.” (Reuters)

Tennis fixing probe: Spain arrests 83people, including 28 players

MADRID (TIP): Spanish police say 28 professional tennis players,including one who participated in last year’s US Open, have beenlinked to an international organized group accused of fixing matches.Authorities said on Thursday the players tainted results after takingbribes from an Armenian ring that was dismantled in October. Fifteenpeople were arrested at the time, including some of the tennis players.

Eleven houses were raided and police seized luxury vehicles, ashotgun, credit cards, and 167,000 euros ($191,000) in cash. It wasn’tclear if the player who took part in the U.S. Open was among thosedetained.

Police accused Spaniard player Marc Fornell-Mestres, whosehighest career singles ranking was 236th in 2007, of acting as the linkbetween players and the Armenian ring that bribed them for bettingpurposes. No other names had been immediately disclosed byauthorities.

The 36-year-old Fornell-Mestres was provisionally suspended fromprofessional tennis at the end of last year, according to the TennisIntegrity Unit, which said the suspension related to an investigationinto “alleged breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.”Fornell-Mestres was ranked 1007th in singles and 772th in doubles atthe end of 2018.

It was a warning by the Tennis Integrity Unit in 2017 that promptedSpanish authorities to begin the investigation.

Police said the organized group bribed the players to guaranteepredetermined results and used the identities of thousands ofcitizens to place international bets on the matches. Authorities saidmembers of the Armenian ring attended the matches to ensure theplayers complied with what was previously agreed.

European Union law enforcement agency Europol, which supportedthe operation led by Spanish authorities, said at least 97 matches fromlower-tier Futures and Challenger tournaments were fixed.

In total, 83 people were implicated in the probe, including thealleged leaders of the Armenian group. More than 40 bank accountsused by those allegedly involved with the ring were blocked byauthorities. (AP)

Russia accuses Japan of distortingprospects for peace deal

MOSCOW (TIP): Russia slapped down Japaneseassertions that a deal was in the offing to resolve adecades-old dispute over a chain of islands, accusingTokyo of distorting agreements struck with Moscow tobreak the deadlock. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ismaking a push towards a treaty with Russia over theislands and is due to hold talks with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin this month, but Moscow has shown nowillingness to concede control over the islands.

Russia and Japan have been in dispute for seven decadesover island territories captured by Soviet troops in the lastdays of World War Two. They are known in Russia as theSouthern Kuriles and in Japan as the NorthernTerritories. Russia’s foreign ministry saim d late onWednesday it had summoned Japan’s ambassador inMoscow to complain about comments made by Tokyo that itsaid “crudely distort the essence of agreements betweenRussia and Japan’s leaders on accelerating the negotiationprocess…”

“Such statements cannot be regarded except as anattempt to artificially aggravate the atmosphere aroundthe problem of the peace treaty, to impose one’s ownscenario for its resolution on the other side,” it said.

The ministry drew attention late on January 9 tocomments made by Japan about the need to reach anunderstanding with Russians living on the islands abouttheir transfer to Japanese control.

The ministry also protested comments it said that Tokyohad made about Moscow refusing to pay compensation toJapan for “occupying” the islands.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said onJanuary 10 that Tokyo had already conveyed its stance toMoscow, but declined to comment on details. (Reuters)

11THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 SOUTH ASIA

Pakistan Wants To ReformMadrassas. Experts Advise Fixing

Public Education FirstISLAMABAD (TIP): Youths sporting

peach fuzz sway as they chant parts of theQuran. They sit in the courtyard of asprawling Islamic seminary, or madrassa, onthe outskirts of the village of MeerMuhammad, in Pakistan's rural heartland inPunjab.

By graduation, these students should havememorized Islam's holiest book and finerpoints of Islamic law. They will have masteredlittle else.

They need little else, argues MuhammadSaleem Asif, a religious scholar and theprincipal of the madrassa, the Roza TulQuran Al Kareem school. These students,repeating the words of God, raise the spiritsand morals of their community, he says.

"The seminaries deal with man's spiritualissues," Asif says. "They bless thecommunities around them."

But in the village, just around the cornerfrom the madrassa, the principal of agovernment-funded girls' high school worriesabout the seminary's influence, and its lack ofbasic education. "This is a matter of concernfor our entire society," says Abida Akram. "Itry [to] keep my students and my kids awayfrom the madrassas. They contaminate thestudents' minds, and if they remainunchecked, it will lead to disaster."

Akram gestures toward a muddy lane,where the madrassa keeps another compoundfor its female students. It is dank and dirty, incontrast with the well-lit compound reservedfor older boys, which features new computerequipment.

Many of the madrassa's female students

and teachers wear long robes and face veils, astyle of dress imported from Saudi Arabia,which follows a harsh interpretation of Islam.Akram says her school takes in themadrassa's female dropouts, whom shedescribes as poorly educated.

"I don't think they have learned anything inthe seminaries," she says.

These scenes and tensions play out acrossPakistan, where madrassas flourish. From anestimated 150 at Pakistan's independence in1947, there are now some 32,000 madrassasattended by some 2.5 million students,

according to Azmat Abbas, author ofMadrassah Mirage: A Contemporary Historyof Islamic Schools in Pakistan. (Otherestimates range as high as more than 60,000madrassas).

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan hassaid he wants the madrassas to producebetter-qualified students. "Seminary studentsshould also become engineers and doctors,"Khan said last August, in his first publicaddress. He called on madrassas to introducea core curriculum including subjects likemath, English and science. (NPR)

Alleged war criminal named second-in-command of Sri Lanka army

COLOMBO (TIP): Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a generalaccused by the United Nations of war crimes to the country's second-highest army ranking,evoking an outcry from rights groups.

Major General Shavendra Silva was accused of committing war crimes during the civil warin Sri Lanka, which ended after 37 years in 2009.

Silva took part in a massive assault on Tamil Tiger separatists in the war, during which theSri Lankan army committed gross abuses against civilians.

Silva formally assumed the duties of his new position on Thursday, the army said in astatement.

Human rights organisation International Truth & Justice Project (ITJP), which has focusedits work on atrocities committed during the Sri Lankan civil war, called the appointment "ashocking new low for Sri Lanka".

"Major General Shavendra Silva was named by a United Nations investigation for his part incommanding the 58 Division, which was the unit responsible for repeated and deliberateattacks on hospitals, food distribution queues and displacement camps in 2009, resulting in tensof thousands of civilian deaths in a matter of months," a statement by the organisation said.

According to Yasmin Sooka, the executive director of ITJP, Silva could and should bearrested if he ever travels abroad in his current role.

"Sri Lanka now has a chief of army staff who risks arrest every time he travels abroad, ifany country is foolish enough to give him a visa," said Sooka.

The statement added that "there is more than enough evidence to charge him forinternational crimes should the opportunity arise".

"This is arguably the most wanted man in Sri Lanka. A decade on, tragically, he is beingpromoted instead of standing trial."

A number of Sri Lankan army generals have been denied visas to travel to Western nationsover their alleged role in attacks against civilians.

President Sirisena said Silva's "experience and leadership will bring strength and courage"to Sri Lanka's armed forces. According to rights groups, at least 40,000 ethnic Tamils werekilled by government forces during their final push to defeat the separatist rebels.

Sri Lanka's successive governments have resisted calls for an independent investigation intothe conduct of troops during the final months of the conflict. President Sirisena came to powerin January 2015, promising justice for war victims but his administration has been accused ofdithering ever since.

Sirisena, unlike his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, agreed to investigate war crimes but nogenerals have stood trial or been brought to justice. (Alzajeera)

Police raid 'Buddha boy'ashram in Nepal

KATHMANDU (TIP): Authorities inNepal raided one of the ashrams of aspiritual leader -- whose supporters believehe is the reincarnation of Buddha -- whileinvestigating the disappearance of four ofhis followers.

Uma Prasad Chaturvedi, a spokesman forNepal's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB),said police began searching the ashram, atype of spiritual monastery, north of thecapital, Kathmandu, after getting a tip that abody was buried there.

The police search of the premises failed touncover any human remains. The four peoplemissing, two men and two women,worshipped at other ashrams associated withRam Bahadur Bomjan, according toChaturvedi. Their families have not heardfrom them in more than two years, he said.

"We don't have complaints specificallyagainst Bomjan," Charurvedi said. "Sincethese missing people are missing from hisashram, we may have to question himeventually. But we haven't done that just yet."

He said followers who live at the ashramare being questioned. Bomjan could not bereached for comment. Officials with BodhiShrawan Dharma Sangha, the organizationthat manages Bomjan's ashrams, issued astatement that didn't address thedisappearances, but said, "we are sad anddisappointed about the recent mediareports." The statement made no specificmention of the four missing individuals. Thecase has thrown Bomjan, 28, into thespotlight more than a decade after he firstgained international attention. (CNN)

Afghanistan: Morethan 30 security men

killed in Taliban attackKABUL (TIP): The Taliban launched a

series of attacks on security checkpointsin four Afghan provinces early on January10, killing 32 members of the securityforces and pro-government militias,provincial officials said.

Both sides in Afghanistan’s 17-year warhave kept up attacks this winter, with theTaliban inflicting a heavy toll ongovernment forces, and the US militaryand their government allies killingTaliban field commanders with air strikes.

At the same time, tentative peace effortshave been under with US SpecialRepresentative for AfghanistanReconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad holdingthree rounds of talks with the Taliban,although the insurgents called off a fourthround this week.

The latest Taliban attacks came in thenorthern provinces of Kunduz, Baghlan,Takhar, and Badghis in the west.

Ahmad Fahim Qarluq, the chief of theQala-e-Zal district in Kunduz, said a largenumber of Taliban attacked securitycheckpoints in the early hours, killing 10soldiers and police and wounding 11.Qarluq said 25 Taliban fighters werekilled.

In neighbouring Baghlan and Takharprovinces, the Taliban killed 16 membersof pro-government militias in attacks onoutposts, officials said. They also said theTaliban suffered heavy casualties.

To the west, in Badghis province,Jamshid Shahabi, spokesman for thegovernor, said six members of the securityforces were killed and 10 wounded inclashes. (Reuters)

Bangladesh man jailedfor ‘photoshopping’

pictures of Sheikh Hasina,

Manmohan SinghDHAKA (TIP): A 35-year-old

Bangladeshi man has been sentenced toseven years in prison for circulatingphotoshopped images of Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina and other politiciansincluding former Indian premierManmohan Singh, amid criticism that hergovernment is using tough internet lawsto silence dissent. Monir Hossain fromTangail was jailed by Bangladesh CyberTribunal judge Mohammad As-ShamsJoglul Hossain on Wednesday. Monir hadbeen on bail and appeared in court for theverdict, bdnews24.com reported.

Alamgir Hossain and Subrata Shil —two others accused in the case startedunder the the Information andCommunication Technology (ICT) Act —were acquitted as charges against themwere not proved, the report said.

Monir used to run his ‘Monir Telecom’shop at Tangail’s Nagarpur. He had sentdoctored images of Hasina, late presidentZillur Rahman and former Indian premierSingh to mobile phones of users in 2013,said the verdict. Saturia Police arrestedAlamgir after finding out that he wasshowing around the vulgur ‘photoshoppedimages’ on his phone. Following his arrest,Alamgir told police he got the images fromMonir Telecom. Rights groups havecriticised the government for using theICT laws to silence criticism. Critics havelashed out at the government for crackingdown on free speech and an increasinglyauthoritarian rule. (PTI)

“I’m one of those people who lovesbirthdays,” says Bipasha Basu SinghGrover who turns 40 today. As the

actor plans to celebrate the day with herfamily, she says that her birthdays havealways been memorable.

“Though no life-changing events havehappened around the day, but it’s one of themost important days in my life becausethanks to this day, I can experience such abeautiful life. I am only grateful,” says theactor. On Bipasha Basu's birthday on Monday,apart from her husband and actor KaranSingh Grover sharing a heart-warmingmessage on social media, Dino Morea, her co-star from the movie Raaz has also wished theactress on Twitter along with other Bollywoodcelebrities.

He shared a picture and wrote, '' Happiestbirthday Bipasha wish you loads of love andhappiness.''

A string of Bollywood celebrities also tookto Twitter to wish Bipasha.

Karan Singh Grover tweeted on Sundaynight: "It's the best day of the year again!Happy birthday my love Bipasha. Thank youfor being born and making my life so beautifuland complete!" The Raaz actress took to herInstagram account where she shared a videoof herself blowing the candles.

She captioned the video: "I love mybirthdays. I live this awesome life full of love,thanks to this day. Well all the emotions dokick in on my birthday... but the focuscontinues to stay on the cakes and thebiriyani(rice). It's a ritual."

On the work front, Bipasha is returning tothe big screen after four years with husbandKaran Singh Grover with Bhushan Patel'sAadat.

DEEPIKA IS SO GHARELU, ILOVE IT: RANVEER SINGH

MALAIKA ARORA ANDARJUN KAPOOR ARE INA RELATIONSHIP:KARAN JOHAR

While having candid conversations,Bollywood stars tend to share someexclusive details from their personal

lives on Koffee With Karan. However, this timeit wasn't a Bollywood couple that confirmedtheir relationship on the show, but Karanhimself.

In the recent episode with KL Rahul andHardik Pandya, Karan revealed that ArjunKapoor and Malaika are dating. When thedirector-producer asked Rahul about hiscelebrity crush from Bollywood, the cricketerreplied saying that he doesn't have any. To thisKaran asked if it was Malaika, but thecricketer said that she was his crush but notanymore. Karan asked if it was because shewas dating Arjun Kapoor?

Confirming the rumours, this is how Karanrevealed that Arjun and Malaika are dating.

In one of the previous episodes, Arjunconfirmed that he wasn't single but didn'tconfirm whom he was dating. He also said thathe was open to marriage as he wants stabilityin life. He said, "Last six months have taught tome more about life than I imagined. I was justdoing the right thing at one point of time andthen I realised it snowballed into somethingbeing more relevant and important in my life. Ifinally fell like I have a sense of belonging anda family."

Ranveer Singh is in high spirits thesedays as his latest film Simmba drawscloser to the Rs 200 crore mark. The

actor looked super excited as he arrived likea king while waving to the crowd form thesunroof of his car at the success bash of thefilm. On the personal front too, Ranveer isin a happy state of mind and has beenpraising his wife Deepika Padukone in allhis interviews. In a recent interview withFamously Filmfare, Ranveer can be seencalling her ‘gharelu’ and how he just lovesthis side of hers.

The actor who wears his heart on hissleeve says in the interview, “She is sogharelu...I love it...I love it.” He can also be

seen singing praise of himself by saying, “Iam telling you I am going to be the husbandof the millennium. I am going to glide andbreeze through it.”

The small clip also shows him talkingabout flirting as he says, “Having a politeconversation with a person for a moment isnot flirting.”

The actor is overwhelmed after workingwith Rohit Shetty in Simmba.

The film got good response from thecritics and continues to hold fort ever sinceit hit the theatres on December 28. Simmbais Ranveer’s highest opening film as well.Talking about the film, the actor says,“Everything I was born to do, I have done in

Rohit Shetty’s film from running at highspeed, dialogues, fights to larger-than-lifeprojection from a low angle on a hugecanvas.”

Ranveer has also made a few visits to themovie theatres to witness the reaction ofthe audience.

He was recently spotted by the paparazziwith his face covered with a muffler at theGaiety Galaxy movie theatre.

The actor is now gearing up for therelease of his next flick Gully Boy. He playsa rapper in the film based on the life ofrapper Divine. The film has been directedby Zoya Akhtar and stars Alia Bhatt as theleading lady.

Bipasha Basu turns 40: Raaz co-star Dino Morea wishes the actress on her birthday

Bipasha Basu shared picturesand videos from her birthdaycelebrations with friends and

family.

12 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019BOLLYWOOD

GWYNETH PALTROW REVEALSWHY BRAD PITT LOOKS

SIMILAR TO HIS EXES

MYSTERIOUS FIJI WATERGIRL PHOTOBOMBS STARSAT GOLDEN GLOBES

When nobody was looking, a mysteriousbrunette managed to become firstviral sensation of 2019 by

photobombing almost every red carpet shot atthe Golden Globes 2019. From Nicole Kidman toJim Carrey to Idris Elba to Richard Madden, thewoman holding a tray of Fiji Water bottles andwearing a blue dress photobombed all theleading stars.

While the internet is still deciding if it was asavvy model or a brazen publicity stunt,internet can’t have enough of the woman – nowrevealed to be a Los Angeles-based modelKelleth Cuthbert. She looked directly into thecamera as she walked into the photos of thestars before the 76th Golden Globes ceremony.

She posted the photos on her own account,with one photo bearing caption, “Not the worstway to spend a Sunday... #goldenglobesfijigirl#fijiwatergirl.” The photos soon spawnedmemes and even a spoof Twitter account.

Fiji Water tweeted from its official handle,“We’re so glad everyone is talking about ourwater! “*senses ominous presence* She’s rightbehind us, isn’t she? #FIJIwatergirl”.

Talking to CNet, she said, “I’ve beenphotobombing since I was a kid. My family ...we’re all a bunch of hams.” She called the photowhere she appeared behind Carrey herfavourite. “It went by super fast. It’s a splitsecond. [The actors] are all on a mission.”

It was in the '90s when a young Brad Pittand Gwyneth Paltrow were madly in loveand engaged to get married. However,

the couple broke off their engagement in1997. Unlike his other exes, Gwyneth and heare on amicable terms now and every sooften, the Avengers: Endgame actress wouldopenly speak about Pitt and theirrelationship. Brad went on to get married toJennifer Aniston and then Angelina Jolie.Whereas, Gwyneth was first married toColdplay lead singer Chris Martin, andrecently got married to Brad Falchuk.

There was a recent newspaper clippingfrom an edition of Daily Express, dated backto 2006, featuring Brad Pitt, which was goingviral. The headline read, "Brad: the manwho likes to look like his girlfriend," withphotos of Brad posing with Jennifer,Angelina and Gwyneth. Twitterati wentberserk with the similarities but they toocould not solve the puzzle piece of Brad'sobsession. Leave it to one of his exes to clearthe air and solve the riddle. And no, it's notAngie!

When the clipping was shared onInstagram, Gwyneth went on to comment onthe same revealing, "Or we like to look likehim, let’s face it." Note the use of "we," andwe wonder if Jennifer and Angelina feel thesame way as Gwyneth.

Hilarious, indeed! Last year, while talking to Wall Street

Journal magazine, Gwyneth got candidabout her ex-fiance and how during herbreakup with him in 1997, the level ofscrutiny by the paparazzi was not thatintense in comparison to today's times.

"Cameron Diaz and I talk about this allthe time. We’re like, ‘Thank God in the early’90s there were [so few] paparazzi. ThankGod.’ We cry in gratitude that no one wasfollowing us around and seeing what wewere doing. I remember when Brad Pitt andI broke up, it was on the cover of the NewYork Post and there was no one outside myhouse. That would never happen today," theactress shared.

Margot Robbie will portray Barbie in upcoming movie about the child’s toy

Australian actor Margot Robbie will play Barbie in thefirst live-action feature film about the iconic andcontroversial doll, who has enjoyed multiple careers

in her 60-year lifetime.Toymaker Mattel and movie studio Warner Bros

announced on Tuesday that they were partnering to make thefilm, which will star the Oscar-nominated actress.

Robbie, 28, will also co-produce the film.No plot, title or release date was announced for the film,

which comes 60 years after the adult-figured Barbie fashiondoll was launched in March 1959.

However, a statement from Robbie published by Mattelhints the film will aim to inspire audiences and focus on thepositive aspects of the doll.

"Playing with Barbie promotes confidence, curiosity andcommunication throughout a child's journey to self-discovery," Robbie said. "I'm so honoured to take on this roleand produce a film that I believe will have a tremendouslypositive impact on children and audiences worldwide."

Barbie has adopted more than 200 careers in her lifetime,

including robotics engineer, astronaut and teacher.She is the best-known doll in the world and a cultural icon

celebrated by the likes of Andy Warhol, the Paris Louvremuseum, and the 1997 song Barbie Girl by Scandinavian popgroup Aqua.

But critics said her curves and tiny frame promoted anunrealistic image for young girls, and sales began dropping in2014, leading California-based Mattel to add a wider variety ofskin tones, body shapes, hijab-wearing dolls and science kitsto make the products more educational.

Originally from Dalby in Queensland, Robbie was given herbig break in acting playing Donna Freedman on Neighboursin 2008.

She went on to appear in films such as Wolf of Wall Streetin 2013 and the 2016 superhero movie Suicide Squad.

Robbie was nominated for an Academy Award for herstarring role in the 2017 biopic I, Tonya.

She founded her own production company, LuckyChapEntertainment, in 2014 with her husband Tom Ackerley andsome close friends.

13 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019HOLLYWOOD

14 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019FEATURE

SWAMI VIVEKANANDASwami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk

and one of the most celebrated spiritualleaders of India. He was more than just

a spiritual mind; he was a prolific thinker,great orator and passionate patriot. Hecarried on the free-thinking philosophy of hisguru, Ramakrishna Paramhansa forward intoa new paradigm. He worked tirelessly towardsbetterment of the society, in servitude of thepoor and needy, dedicating his all for hiscountry. He was responsible for the revival ofHindu spiritualism and established Hinduismas a revered religion on world stage. Hismessage of universal brotherhood and self-awakening remains relevant especially in thecurrent backdrop of widespread politicalturmoil around the world. The young monkand his teachings have been an inspiration tomany, and his words have become goals of self-improvement especially for the youth of thecountry.

National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas or SwamiVivekananda Birthday) is celebrated with thegreat joy and enthusiasm in India every yearon 12th of January. It is celebrated tocommemorate the birthday of SwamiVivekananda, maker of the modern India. Itwas first declared by the Government of Indiain the year 1984 to celebrate the birthday ofSwami Vivekananda as the National YouthDay. Since then (1985), it is started celebratingas the National Youth Day all over the country.

NATIONAL YOUTH DAYIt is well known that the Government of

India had declared to observe the NationalYouth Day every year on the birthday ofSwami Vivekananda on 12th of January. Itwas decided by the Government of India inorder to inspire all the youths of countrytowards the philosophy of SwamiVivekananda and his ideals. The birthday ofthe Swami Vivekananda was decided to becelebrated as the National Youth Day tocomplete the aim of making better future ofthe country by motivating the youths throughthe way of life and ideas of the SwamiVivekananda.

It is the aim of great importance ofdistributing the ideas and ideals of the SwamiVivekananda among the youths of India. It isthe great way to wake up the eternal energy ofthe youths as well as their big efforts to makethe country developed.

YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONSSwami Vivekananda was born on 12th of

January in the year 1863 in the PaushaKrishna Saptami tithi. The birthday of theSwami Vivekananda is celebrated every yearat many centres of the Ramakrishna Math,Ramakrishna Mission and their branchcentres according to the Indian culture andtradition. A great mangal aarti, hoom,devotional songs, meditation, religious speechas well as the sandhya aarti is performedwhile celebrating the birthday of the SwamiVivekananda.

ACTIVITIES National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas or Swami

Vivekananda Birthday) is celebrated by theyouths at all the schools, colleges byperforming the parade, speech on SwamiVivekananda, recitations, music, songs,conventions, Yogasanas, presentations,competition for essay-writing, seminar, sportsand etc. Lectures and writings related to theideas of Swami Vivekananda are alsoperformed by the students to inspire theIndian youths.

Variety of other performances are alsocarried out by the people participated in theevent all over the India as well as outside the

country in order to promote education, art,way of life, trust among youths inspire theirinner soul.

An event for two days for all the age groupis organized by the Mission Bhartiyam inUttar Pradesh. This event includes dozen ofactivities and named as the Basti YuvoMahotsav. The day is celebrated by thegovernment, non-profit organizations as wellas corporate groups in their own way.

The event celebration is started in the earlymorning with the pooja of Holy Mother SriSarada Devi, Sri Ramakrishna, SwamiVivekananda and Swami Ramakrishnananda.A great hoom is performed after the pooja bythe Monks and devotees. Then devotees offerpushpanjali and aarti to the statue of SwamiVivekananda. In the end, distribution ofPrasad takes place.

WHY YOUTH DAY CELEBRATEDPhilosophies, teachings and ideas of the

Swami Vivekananda are the great culturaland traditional assets of India. Youths are themost important part of the country who leadsthe country ahead, that’s why youths areselected to be inspired first by the ideas andideals of the Swami Vivekananda. So, theNational Youth Day is started celebratingevery year to encourage and inspire thehonorable youths of the India. Schools andcolleges are delightfully adorned toenthusiastically celebrate the event.

Swami Vivekananda was a great personwho always believed in the youth power tolead and nourish the historical culture of thecountry and carry some advancementrequired by the country to be developed.

Spiritual AwakeningIn 1884, Naredranath underwent a

considerable financial distress due to thedeath of his father as he had to support hismother and younger siblings. He askedRamakrishna to pray to the Goddess for thefinancial welfare of his family. OnRamakrishna’s suggestion he himself went tothe temple to pray. But once he faced theGoddess he could not ask for money andwealth, instead he asked for ‘Vivek’(conscience) and ‘Bairagya’ (reclusion). Thatday marked the complete spiritual awakeningof Narendranath and he found himself drawnto an ascetic way of life.

Life of a MonkDuring the middle of 1885, Ramakrishna,

who had been suffering from throat cancer,fell seriously ill. In September 1885, SriRamakrishna was moved to Shyampukur inCulcutta, and a few months laterNarendranath took a rented villa at Cossipore.Here, he formed a group of young people whowere ardent followers of Sri Ramakrishnaand together they nursed their Guru withdevoted care. On 16 August 1886, Sri

Ramakrishna gave up his mortal body.After the demise of Sri Ramakrishna,

around fifteen of his disciples includingNarendranath began to live together in adilapidated building at Baranagar in NorthCalcutta, which was named RamakrishnaMath, the monastic order of Ramakrishna.Here, in 1887, they formally renounced all tiesto the world and took vows of monkhood. Thebrotherhood rechristened themselves andNarendranath emerged as Vivekanandameaning "the bliss of discerning wisdom".

The brotherhood lived off on alms donatedvoluntarily by patrons during holy begging or‘madhukari’, performed yoga and meditation.Vivekananda left the Math in 1886 and went ona tour of India on foot as a ‘Parivrajak’. Hetravelled the breadth of the country,absorbing much of the social, cultural andreligious aspects of the people he came incontact with. He witnessed the adversities oflife that the common people faced, theirailments, and vowed to dedicate his life tobring relief to these suffering.

Lecture at the WorldParliament of Religions

During the course of his wanderings, hecame to know about the World Parliament ofReligions being held in Chicago, America in1893. He was keen to attend the meeting, torepresent India, Hinduism and his Guru SriRamakrishna’s philosophies. He foundassertion of his wishes while he wasmeditating on the rocks of Kanyakumari, thesouthernmost tip of India. Money was raisedby his disciples in Madras (now Chennai) andAjit Singh, Raja of Khetri, and Vivekanandaleft for Chicago on May 31, 1893 from Bombay.

He faced insurmountable hardships on hisway to Chicago, but his spirits remained asindomitable as ever. On 11 September 1893,when the time came, he took the stage andstunned everyone with his opening line “Mybrothers and sisters of America”. He receiveda standing ovation from the audience for theopening phrase. He went on to describe theprinciples of Vedanta and their spiritualsignificance, putting Hinduism on the map ofWorld Religions. He spent the next two and ahalf years in America and founded theVedanta Society of New York in 1894. He alsotravelled to the United Kingdom to preach thetenets of the Vedanta and Hindu Spiritualismto the western world.

Teachings Vivekananda returned to India in 1897

amidst warm reception from the common androyal alike. He reached Calcutta after a seriesof lectures across the country and founded theRamakrishna Mission on May 1, 1897 at BelurMath near Calcutta. The goals of theRamakrishna Mission were based on theideals of Karma Yoga and its primaryobjective was to serve the poor and distressedpopulation of the country. The RamakrishnaMission undertook various forms of socialservice like establishing and running school,collages and hospitals, propagation ofpractical tenets of Vedanta throughconference, seminars and workshops,initiating relief and rehabilitation workacross the country.

His religious conscience was anamalgamation of Sri Ramakrishna’s spiritualteachings of Divine manifestation and hispersonal internalization of the AdvaitaVedanta philosophy. He directed to achieve thedivinity of the soul by undertaking selflesswork, worship and mental discipline.According to Vivekananda, the ultimate goalis to achieve freedom of the soul and thatencompasses the entirety of one’s religion.

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S BIRTHDAY FALLS ON JANUARY 12 ANDIS CELEBRATED AS NATIONAL YOUTH DAY ACROSS INDIA

15 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019FEATURE

GURU GOBIND SINGHCONTRIBUTIONS AND LEGACY OF THE 10TH GURU

Guru Gobind Singh became tenth guru at a young ageafter his father's martyrdom. The Guru engaged inwarfare fighting the tyranny and oppression of Islamic

Mughal rulers who sought to suppress all other faiths andobliterate the Sikhs. He married, raised a family, and alsofounded a spiritual nation of saint soldiers. Though the tenthguru's lost his sons and mother, and countless Sikhs tomartyrdom, he established a method of baptism, a code ofconduct, and a sovereignty which survives until today.

Born at Patna in 1666, Guru Gobind Rai became tenth guruat age 9 following the martyrdom of his father, Ninth Guru TegBahadar.

This year, the birth anniversary of the guru will be observedon January 13.

At age 11 he married and eventually became the father offour sons. The guru, a prolific writer, compiled hiscompositions into a volume known as Dasam Granth.

At age 30, the tenth guru introduced the Amrit ceremony ofinitiation, created the Panj Pyare, the five administers ofinitiation rites, established the Khalsa, and took the nameSingh. Guru Gobind Singh fought important historic battleswhich robbed him of his sons and mother and eventually hisown life at age 42, but his legacy lives on in his creation, theKhalsa. Before his death, he compiled the entire text of AdiGranth Sahib from memory. He infused the scripture with hislight passed to him from First Guru Nanak through thesuccession of subsequent gurus, and ordained the scripturehis everlasting successor Guru Granth Sahib.

Birth and Early Life in PatnaGuru Gobind Singh, the only child of Guru Teg Bahadur

and his wife Gujri, was named Gobind Rai at birth. Guru TegBahadur settled his family in Patna under the protection ofthe local Raja while he toured Assam and Bengal, and was notpresent at the birth. *A Muslim mystic Saiyid Bhikhan Shahjourneyed 800 miles and fasted in a prophetic quest to havedarshan, and get a glimpse, of the infant prince.

The Raja's wife, Maini, had no child of her own and becamevery fond of Gobind Rai. Every day she prepared chole andpoori (spicy chickpea curry and crispy flatbread) for him andhis playmates. She later built a gurdwara in her home whereshe also fed the worshipers chole and poori. This custom stillexists today and the gurdwara is now known as Maini Sangat.

Education and Travel in LakhnaurLeaving his family in the care of Kirpal Chand. Guru Teg

Bahadar resumed his duties went to Chak Nanki (Anandpur)ahead of his family. In 1670 The Guru sent word requestingGobind Rai to be brought to Chak Nanki. Gobind Rai wastutored along the way astounding all who taught him with hisbrilliance. His early education included martial exercise andtraining.

In 1671, Prince Gobind Rai journeyed with his familythrough Danapur where the elderly Mai Ji, fed him khichri(khichdi) from her Handiclay kettle. Mai Ji, saved from herown meager stores until she stockpiled enough to feed theguru's entire family, and all of his entourage. When Mai ji,wished for Gobind Rai to remain with her, he advised her tofeed the hungry in his name. Gurdwara Handi Sahib, ofDanapur, Bihar, has maintained the khichri tradition eversince. Prince Gobind Rai reached Lakhnaur on September 13,1671, C.E. where his formal education of Gurmukhi andPersian began and the Muslim saint Arif-ud-Din came to meethim. The Pir proclaimed afterward to his Muhammadandisciples that darshan of the young prince had revealed to himthe mysteries of the universe, unveiling the secrets of infinity.

Childhood in AnandpurWhen Gobind Rai was about six years old when, at last, he

and his mother joined his father in Anandpur where hiseducation continued. When Gobind Rai was about nine yearsold, a delegation of Hindu Pundits appealed to Guru TegBadadar for help resisting in forced conversion to Islam.Gobind Rai entered the council and asked what the meetingwas about. His father explained, and the boy asked how asolution could be found. His father told him it would requirethe sacrifice of a great man. Gobind Rai told his father, that asa guru, he was the greatest of men.

Inauguration and Father's Martyrdom

Guru Teg Bahadur made arrangements to leave Anandpurin order intervene on behalf of Hindus who were beingforcibly converted to Islam at sword point. Guru Teg Bahadarappointed his nine-year-old son Gobind Rai to be his successorand tenth guru of the Sikhs. Mughal officers acting under theorders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb arrested andimprisoned the Guru and his companions. The Mughalsemployed all manner of atrocities and torture in anunsuccessful effort to coerce Guru Teg Bahadar and hiscompanions to convert to Islam. Guru Teg Bahadar and hiscompanions remained true to their faith until their finalbreath.

WarriorGobind Rai engaged in martial training from early

childhood. He had a child-sized arsenal of weapons. Gameswith his playmates took the form of mock battles. After hisfather's martyrdom, Guru Gobind Rai raised a guard, built afortress, and practiced military maneuvers.

A number of minor conflicts arose with local adversariesover petty jealousies of neighboring kingdoms. After foundingthe Khalsa order, Guru Gobind Singh fought a series of majorbattles attempting to protect his Sikhs and Anandpur fromassault by Mughal forces. Vastly outnumbered, courageousKhalsa warriors defended their holdings to the last breath.

PoetGuru Gobind Singh wrote prolifically while at Fort Paonta

in Sirmaur. He completed the Guru Granth, adding thecompositions of his father Guru Teg Bahadar, but includingonly one of his own. His remaining compositions are compiledin the Dasam Granth. Portions of his most important worksappear in the five prayers, or Panj Bania, of the Sikhs dailyprayer book, Nitnem and include:

Jaap SahibTev Prasad SwayeeAkal Ustat

Other important works are:Shabad Hazaray, which some Sikhs include with theirnitnem.Bichitra Natak, considered by many to be hisautobiography.Chandi di Var, a rousing description of the battle.

Guru Gobind Singh's Langar LegacyWhen living in Patna as a toddler, Gobind Rai had a favorite

food prepared for him daily by a childless queen who fed himwhile holding him on her own lap. Gurdwara Bal Lila of Patna,built as a tribute to the queen's kindness, is a living langarlegacy and serves the tenth guru's favored langar of Chole andPoori to visiting devotees every day. A very old poor womanshared all she had saved to cook a kettle of Khichri for theGuru's family. The tradition of Mai Ji's selfless service iscontinued by Gurdwara Handi Sahib.

Historic Battles Guru Gobind Singh and his Khalsa warriors fought a series

of battles between 1688 and 1707 against Mughal imperialforces advancing the Islamic policies of Emperor Aurangzeb.Though vastly outnumbered valorous Sikh men and womenfearlessly served their Guru's cause with an undying devotionto their last breath.

Personal Sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh Tyranny and warfare exacted a tremendous and tragic toll

personal on Tenth Guru Gobind Singh. His father Ninth GuruTeg Bahadur was absent his birth and away ministering toSikhs during much of the boys' childhood. Guru Teg Bahadurwas martyred by Islamic Mughal leaders when Guru GobindSingh was merely nine years of age. All four of the tenthguru's sons and his mother Gujri were also martyred by theMughals. A great many Sikhs also lost their lives at the handsof the Mughal empire.

Guru Gobind Singh who founded Khalsa in 1699 holds a unique place in the history of this country. Many historians lookupon him as the savior of the Hindus. He was only 9 when he advised his father Guru Tegh Bahadur to make the supremesacrifice for the Brahmins from Kashmir who were being forcibly converted to Islam. When he found all peaceful waysfailing to persuade the Moghul rulers to stop atrocities on the Hindus and desist from forcible conversion, Guru GobindSingh took to arms and waged a relentless struggle to protect the Hindus. He created a group of fearless fighters whodid not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for the Guru and the cause. The struggle cost him his family - mother, wives and

four young children. His is a saga of supreme sacrifice for the people, and for the faith. There is none in world history tomatch his courage of conviction and the spirit of sacrifice.

We, at THE INDIAN PANORAMA, on the occasion of the 353rd birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, pay our respectful tribute to the beloved Master.

Beauty in it's most natural of forms is not only theeasiest to achieve but also the most accessible. All-natural beauty treatments revitalize your skin and

body, and are both effective and affordable. We suggest a fewall-natural beauty treatments for all skin types that you canfind inside your very own kitchen cupboards andrefrigerators.

Oily skinIf your skin tends to get oily, let these all-natural, readily

available products be your new best friends:AVOCADO: Many beauty and health experts recommend theavocado juice for soft, glowing skin. Avocado is rich inVitamin A that essentially offers clear, beautiful skin. Apartfrom this it is loaded with several other minerals likepotassium, iron and copper that can collectively workwonders in giving your skin the right kind of moisture. Youcan simply mash up an avocado or two and apply it on yourskin and rinse it off after 15-20 minutes. Avocado juice is alsoa complete energizer and can boost you up completely.BANANAS: They are rich in Vitamin A as a result of which,bananas help immensely in restoring dull and damaged skin.To give your skin some natural moisturizer, mash a bananaand apply it gently all over your face, keep it on your face foraround twenty minutes and wash it off with some lukewarmwater. Additionally the Vitamin C present in bananas canhelp in giving your skin that natural glow.

Normal skinFor those who're blessed with normal skin that is between

dry and oil and habituates well with any climate, try these:GRAPES: The Vitamin E present in grapes retains themoisture in the skin and also helps in the rejuvenation ofdeal skin cells. Mash a handful of grapes and use cotton toapply it across your face. Wash after a while. For best results,apply it a few times a week. Also, due to the presence ofantioxidants, grapes can act as a natural sunscreen.CUCUMBER: Cucumbers restore moisture and maintain

supple, healthy skin apart from several other benefits."Cucumbers act as a good moisturizer for the body and skin.Antioxidants delay ageing of the skin and thus keep the skinrejuvenated. Simply by keeping cucumber slices on the eyesat night can relieve the puffiness better than any medicationas it contains vitamin C.

Dry skinIf you have skin that generally lacks moisture, here are a

few natural treatments that won't only retain moisture butalso keep it there:COCONUT OIL: Not only is it a natural moisturizer, it alsoacts as a make up remover, and a body scrubber. It sinks deepinside the pores, softens and moisturizes the skin completely,and also cleans away dirt and grime. Additionally, a coconutoil massage is recommended for strong and healthy hair.PAPAYA: These are best known for retaining water andremoving dead skin cells thus giving way to supple, glowingskin. If you have dry skin, mash a papaya with some honeyfor instant skin moisturizing and hydration. Papaya is veryhelpful in combating dry skin problems. Raw papaya pulp isrich in antioxidants especially vitamin C which helps inmoisturizing and brightening the complexion.

Green juices are blood cleansers that can help your faceglow and having a certain quantity of water will helpyou attain clean skin are some of the anti-aging myths

that people are following blindly.Aakriti Kochar, beauty and make-up expert, Oriflame India,

debunks some of the anti-aging myths. A daily green juice is essential to get glowing skin: Green

juices are blood cleansers which help in giving glowingand radiant skin. It is one of the best things to follow ina beauty regime to help your skin look youthful, but it isnot necessarily the only thing one has to do get glowingskin. CTM (Cleansing, toning, moisturising) routine,using a sunscreen, exercising, having a balanced diet areessential too. It is about the complete lifestyle and notone particular habit.

Water is the fountain of youth and three litres isessential for everyone: Water helps keep your body andskin hydrated and helps release toxins in your body.Having three litres of water is good for us but then againit's more than just consuming water that our body needs.

A moisturiser will help eliminate all wrinkles: Amoisturiser helps hydrate your skin from the outside. Anourished skin works longer to keep skin youthful, but toreduce appearance of wrinkles one needs the correct dayor night creams, serums, oils in terms of cosmetics anda healthy lifestyle.

You should start using anti-ageing products as a teen:One should start anti-ageing products as you see thesigns. First signs being dull and dehydrated skin whichresults in loss of elasticity or wrinkles. Ideally, the agewhen one sees the need to use anti-ageing products is30+, but then it may vary by skin type and lifestyles ofpeople.

You don't need sunscreen when its cloudy: One needs towear sunscreen when there is light, i.e. day time, becauseUV rays are present when there's day light/sun lighteven if its cloudy.

Ageing is linked to our genes: Not necessarily, if your

parents/grand parents lead a healthy lifestyle and you donot, your skin age will be different than theirs. Climate,pollution, stress, skin care, lifestyle are the factorsgoverning your skin age.

The more expensive a product, the better the results: Notnecessarily, stress more on the ingredients and qualitythan the price range. Sometimes expensive productshave rich ingredients which might be the reason for itshigher price, but not always.

Frowning or smiling gives you wrinkles: Frowning andSmiling are just facial exercises, in no way can they givesomeone wrinkles. Being stressed, smoking, dry skin,dehydration can be some of the reasons that can give youwrinkles.

Your diet is the cause of how much you age: Your overalllifestyle, including your diet of course, but alsoexercising, stress, etc., are responsible

Makeup with SPF is as good as a sunscreen: Makeup withsunscreen is a good alternative to using too manyproducts and layering it up. It is good to keep your skinlight and protected but can't be as powerful as anindividual sunscreen. Source: IANS

ANTI-AGEING MYTHS WENEED TO STOP BELIEVING

Chicken BiryaniIngredients

Chicken - 750 gms, chopped to bite sized pieces Onions - 3,finely sliced Cashewnut Paste - 1 tblsp Tomatoes - 3 to 4,pureed Basmati Rice - 2 to 3 cups, soaked for 10 minutesGhee - 1 tblsp Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tsp Poppy Seeds - 1tblsp, coarsely powdered Salt as per taste Saffron Strands -1/4 tsp, soaked in 2 tblsp milk Oil - 2 to 3 tblsp Fried Onions -1 cup, to garnish, For the marinade: Curd - 2 cups, beatenCoriander Leaves - 1 tblsp, chopped Red Chilli Powder - 2 tspGaram Masala Powder - 2 tsp Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp Salt- 1 1/2 tsp

Method Mix all the marinade ingredients and rub all over the

chicken pieces.Keep aside for 10 to 20 minutes. - Heat oil in a pan overmedium flame.Add the ginger garlic paste and onions.Saute well for 3 to 4 minutes or until onions turn lightgolden brown. - Add the cashewnut paste, tomatopuree and poppy seeds. - Stir well and simmer for aminute or two.Add the marinated chicken pieces and cover the panwith a lid.Reduce flame to low and cook till the chicken is tender.Drain the rice and rinse well. - Pressure cook till3/4ths done and remove.Place a large, deep pan over low flame.Spread a layer of rice at the bottom followed by a layerof the chicken.Repeat until all the rice and chicken have been usedup, finishing up with a layer of rice on top.Sprinkle the saffron strands with the milk and ghee ontop. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and cook for45 to 60 minutes.Remove when the rice is cooked and chicken pieces aretender. - Gently fluff up the rice using a fork. - Garnishwith the fried onions.

POTATO ONION FRYIngredients

Potatoes - 500 gms, Onions - 4 to 5, depending on size,Green Chillies - 2, chopped, Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 to 2 tsp,Mustard Seeds - little, Urad Dal - little, Asafoetida Powder -1/2 tsp, Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp, Sambar Powder - 1 tsp,Red Chilli Powder - 2 tsp, Salt as per taste, Curry Leaves -few, Oil - 2 1/2 tblsp

MethodBoil, peel and chop the potatoes.Finely chop the onions and keep aside.Heat oil in a pan over medium flame.Add the mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves andasafoetida powder.Fry for 20 seconds.Add the ginger garlic paste, green chillies and stir-fryfor a minute.Add the onions and saute until golden.Add the potatoes, turmeric powder, salt, sambarpowder and red chilli powder.Stir well and cook for 2 to 4 minutes.Remove and transfer to a serving dish.

FOOD CORNER

Natural moisturisers in your kitchen

16 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019WOMEN

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AN EGG A DAY MAY KEEPDIABETES AWAY

Eating an egg daily can have a beneficial effect on theblood metabolite profile that is related to a lower riskof Type-2 diabetes, a new study shows.

The findings showed that the blood samples of men whoate more eggs included certain lipid molecules that positivelycorrelated with the blood profile of men who remained free ofType-2 diabetes.

“The study explored potential compounds that couldexplain this association using non-targeted metabolomics, atechnique that enables a broad profiling of chemicals in asample,” said lead author Stefania Noerman from theUniversity of Eastern Finland.

Eggs remain one of the most controversial food items.High intake of eggs has traditionally been discouraged,mainly due to their high cholesterol content.

However, eggs are also a rich source of many bioactivecompounds that can have beneficial effects on health. Thismeans that the health effects of consuming eggs are difficultto determine based solely on their cholesterol content, theresearchers said.

For the study, published in Molecular Nutrition and FoodResearch, 239 serum samples were analysed in four groups:men with higher (mean intake one egg per day) or lower(mean intake two eggs per week) egg intake who developedType-2 diabetes (cases) or remained healthy (controls) duringthe mean follow-up of nearly 20 years.

The study suggested some plausible mechanisms whichcould at least partly explain the inverse association betweenegg intake and the previously observed lower risk ofdeveloping Type-2 diabetes.

In addition, the researchers identified several biochemicalcompounds in blood that predicted a higher risk ofdeveloping Type-2 diabetes, including the amino acidtyrosine.

“Although it is too early to draw any causal conclusions, wenow have some hints about certain egg-related compoundsthat may have a role in Type-2 diabetes development.

“Further detailed investigations with both cell models andintervention studies in humans that use modern techniques,such as metabolomics, are needed to understand themechanisms behind physiological effects of egg intake,”Noerman noted. Source: IANS

2 DRINKS DAILY MAY UPIRREGULAR HEARTBEAT RISKEven moderate alcohol

consumption, described as intakeof two drinks daily or 14 per

week, could increase the risk ofirregular heart rhythm condition, warnresearchers.

The team from the Alfred Hospital inMelbourne, Australia, found thatregular moderate alcohol consumption(an average of 14 glasses per week)results in more electrical evidence ofscarring and impairment in electricalsignalling compared with non-drinkersand light drinkers.

Alcohol consumption is therefore animportant modifiable risk factor foratrial fibrillation—an abnormal heartrhythm characterised by rapid andirregular beating of atria—upperchamber of the heart, the researcherssaid.

"Regular moderate alcoholconsumption, but not mildconsumption, is an importantmodifiable risk factor for atrialfibrillation associated with lower atrialvoltage and conduction slowing," saidlead investigator Peter Kistler,Professor from the Heart Centre atAlfred Hospital.

"These electrical and structuralchanges may explain the propensity toatrial fibrillation in regular drinkers. Itis an important reminder for clinicians

who are caring for such patients to askabout alcohol consumption and provideappropriate counselling in those whoover-indulge," he added.

In the study, published in the journalHeartRhythm, the team determined theimpact of different degrees of alcoholconsumption on atrial remodelling

using high-density electroanatomicmapping.

They performed detailed invasivetesting on the atria of 75 patients withatrial fibrillation, 25 in each of threecategories: life-long non-drinkers, milddrinkers and moderate drinkers.

Source: IANS

For weight loss, diet more importantthan exercise. Here’s why

For those planning to hit the gym to lose weight, takenote. A new study suggests that diet is far moreimportant than physical activity including walking,

fidgeting and formal exercise. The reason is becauseexercising increases appetite especially with prolongedendurance exercise or with weight lifting that can ultimatelysabotage the best of intentions, CNN reported.

People who lose weight gradually (about 1 to 2 pounds orupto 1 kg per week) are more successful at keeping weight off,according to the US Centers for Disease Control andPrevention. About 10% of our calories are burned digestingthe food we eat and roughly 10% to 30% are lost throughphysical activity, the study said.

“It could not be more true. What you omit from your diet isso much more important than how much you exercise,”nutritionist Lisa Drayer was quoted as saying to CNN. All ofyour “calories in” come from the food you eat and thebeverages you drink, but only a portion of your “calories out”are lost through exercise, according to Drayer.

The average person — excluding professional athletes —burns 5% to 15% of their daily calories through exercise, saidAlexxai Kravitz, Investigator at the National Institute ofDiabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the US. It is notnearly equal to food intake, which accounts for 100% of theenergy intake of the body, said Kravitz.

All this is not to say that exercise does not have its place. Itis certainly important for building strength and muscle massand flexibility and can help manage diseases, including heartdisease and diabetes. But although exercise can help withweight loss, diet is a much more important lifestyle factor,Drayer noted.

Foods to Eat for Weight LossAVOCADOS are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, dietaryfiber, potassium and phytochemicals. People who eat avocadostend to have lower BMI, body weight and waist circumferencethan people who skip this green superfood, per a study inNutrition Journal. While avocados are higher in calories thanother fruits and vegetables, their satisfying fat and fibercombo may help you slim down. Add some to your salad,

sandwich or taco night for a burst of creaminess and flavor.EGGS are rich in high-quality protein, fats and essentialnutrients, like vitamin D and choline. It's the protein, and thetime of day we tend to eat them, that especially makes them apowerhouse for weight loss. Eating a high-protein breakfastpromotes weight loss, because protein increases satiety whileregulating hunger and appetite hormones, helping fend offyour hunger until lunchtime.BEANS are high in fiber, which is your friend when you'retrying to lose weight because it helps you feel fuller longer,thus controlling hunger. Eating beans and legumes has alsobeen linked with various other health benefits, includinglowering blood pressure, reducing LDL cholesterol andreducing risk of cardiovascular disease. Beans are fairly lowin calories and deliver protein as well. Try them in homemadeveggie burgers, soups and salads.YOGURT is protein-packed and full of probiotics, which aregood for gut health and may help your weight-loss efforts. Yourgut health can impact your weight, and eating more fiber andprobiotics helps keep your gut bacteria happy, which can begood for your metabolism (read more about your gut-weightconnection).

17 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019HEALTH AND FITNESS

TWITTER PLANS TO TEST NEWCONVERSATION FEATURES

Twitter is planning to allow users to try out newfeatures such as status updates to encourageconversations among its users, a media report said.

In an interview to Engadget at Consumer Electronics Show(CES) 2019, a top Twitter executive said that the social mediaplatform would try to involve its users in testing the featuresbefore formally rolling them out for all.

"We want to develop a service for the people that are usingit, and we have to involve people in that way," Sara Haider,Director of Product Management at Twitter, was quoted assaying.

"We have a platform that the world uses to speak theirmind, why not use that as part of our development process?"Twitter is set to start testing the programme in the comingweeks, and while anyone will be able to apply to join, only afew thousand users are actually going to get in, the reportsaid.

Those who participate in the test programme would beable to share their feedback with Twitter.

"We're making some pretty big changes to the wayconversations look and feel on Twitter, and we don't want tojust unveil that one day and what if you don't like it or it's notworking for you?," said Haider.

"We really want to bring our community along for thisjourney and be a part of this. We want to do this kind of thingmore often," Haider added. Source: IANS

Hubble's most advanced camera shut down: NASA

The operations of the Hubble Space Telescope's mosttechnologically advanced camera have been suspendedafter it encountered a hardware problem, NASA said.

However, the telescope will continue to perform scienceobservations with its other three active instruments, whilethe Wide Field Camera 3 anomaly is investigated, the USspace agency said in a statement.

The Hubble Wide Field Camera 3 was installed byspacewalking astronauts during Servicing Mission 4 in 2009.

NASA said that the camera is equipped with back upelectronics that can be called to action should they be neededto recover the instrument.

Hubble is the first major optical telescope to be placed inspace, providing an unobstructed view into the universe.

Launched in 1990, the world's first space telescope helpedconfirm the theory that the universe is expanding, lendingcredence to the Big Bang theory.

Hubble has made more than 1.3 million observations sinceits mission began in 1990, taking pictures of stars andgalaxies of as it whirls around the Earth.

Astronomers using Hubble data have published more than15,000 scientific papers, making it one of the most productivescientific instruments ever built. Source: PTI

MYSTERIOUS FAST RADIOBURST LINKED TO ALIEN

SOURCE DISCOVEREDScientists have detected the second repeating fast radio

burst (FRB) ever recorded, a discovery that may helpdetermine the origin of these mysterious signals which

have been linked with advanced alien technology in the past.Some scientists also believe that FRBs emanate from

powerful astrophysical phenomena billions of light yearsaway. However, the source of these signals, originating fromfar outside our Milky Way galaxy, are not well understood.

In 2017, Harvard scientists have speculated that these FRBsmight be leakage from planet-sized transmitters poweringinterstellar probes in distant galaxies.

They said that since a natural origin cannot be identified, anartificial or alien origin can be contemplated.

“Whatever the source of these radio waves is, it’s interestingto see how wide a range of frequencies it can produce. Thereare some models where intrinsically the source can’t produceanything below a certain frequency,” said Arun Naidu ofMcGill University in Canada, who was part of the team thatdetected the signal.

The discovery of the extragalactic signal is among the first,eagerly awaited results from the Canadian Hydrogen IntensityMapping Experiment (CHIME), a radio telescope inauguratedin 2017.

“Until now, there was only one known repeating FRB.Knowing that there is another suggests that there could bemore out there,” said Ingrid Stairs, a member of the CHIMEteam.

“And with more repeaters and more sources available forstudy, we may be able to understand these cosmic puzzles—where they’re from and what causes them,” said Stairs, anastrophysicist at University of British Columbia in Canada.

The repeating FRB was one of a total of 13 bursts detectedover a period of just three weeks during the summer of 2018,while CHIME was in its pre-commissioning phase and runningat only a fraction of its full capacity.

Additional bursts from the repeating FRB were detected in

following weeks by the telescope, which is located in BritishColumbia’s Okanagan Valley.

Of the more than 60 FRBs observed to date, repeating burstsfrom a single source had been found only once before—adiscovery made by the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Ricoin 2015.

The majority of the 13 FRBs detected showed signs of“scattering,” a phenomenon that reveals information aboutthe environment surrounding a source of radio waves.

The amount of scattering observed by the CHIME team ledthem to conclude that the sources of FRBs are powerfulastrophysical objects more likely to be in locations withspecial characteristics.

“That could mean in some sort of dense clump like asupernova remnant,” said Cherry Ng, an astronomer at theUniversity of Toronto in Canada.

“Or near the central black hole in a galaxy. But it has to bein some special place to give us all the scattering that we see,”said Ng.

Ever since FRBs were first detected, scientists have beenpiecing together the signals’ observed characteristics to comeup with models that might explain the sources of themysterious bursts and provide some idea of the environmentsin which they occur. Source: PTI

Google rolls out activity cards to makesearch more useful

Google has started rolling out anew feature called activity cardsto make it easier for users to pick

up the threads to past searches andcontinue exploring a topic.

"Activity cards will roll out today onmobile web and the Google app inEnglish in the US," Andrew Moore,Google's Product Manager for Searchwrote in a blog post on Wednesday.

So when you revisit a query related toa task you had started in the past, Googlewill show you a card with relevant pagesyou had already visited and previousqueries you had done on this topic.

"As you're looking to build new habitsor pick up new tasks in the new year—whether sticking to an exercise regimen,sprucing up your winter wardrobe, orcollecting new ideas for your home—wehope this new feature helps you alongyour way and makes your search historymore accessible and useful," Moore said.

"If you're logged into your Googleaccount and search for topics andhobbies like cooking, interior design,fashion, skincare and beauty, fitness,photography and more, you may find anactivity card at the top of the resultspage that provides easy ways to continueyour exploration," Moore added.

Users will also be able to add or deleteitems to their activity cards.

If you want to mark a page to read or

reference later, just touch and hold thelink to quickly add items on youractivity card to a collection.

You can access your collections bytapping the menu on the top left of theSearch page (on mobile web), or throughthe bottom bar of the Google app.

Users will be able to control whatappears in their activity card bypressing to delete an item or turn offcards by tapping the three-dot icon,Google said. Moore did not reveal if thefeature would be rolled out globally anytime soon. Source: IANS

18 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019SCIENCE AND TECH

When you revisit a query related to a task you hadstarted in the past, Google will show you a card withrelevant pages you had already visited and previous

queries you had done on this topic.

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICESPOSTS RECORD QUARTERLYPROFIT OF RS 8,105 CRORE

NEW DELHI (TIP): Tata Consultancy Services Ltd,India’s biggest listed company by market capitalisation,reported a record quarterly net profit, helped by gains inBanking, Financial services and Insurance (BFSI) segment.

In a seasonally weak quarter for Indian IT firms due toyear-end holidays, TCS posted a profit of 81.05 billion rupees($1.15 billion) for the Oct-Dec period, up from 65.31 billionrupees a year earlier.

That missed an average estimate of 82.19 billion rupeesfrom 25 analysts, Refinitiv data shows.

TCS, one of the flagship companies of the salt-to-softwarebehemoth Tata Group, said its income from operations grew20.8 percent while revenue from the BFSI segment surged 23percent.

Sequential revenue growth was led by the U.K. and Europe,which rose 25.1 percent and 17.6 percent, respectively, TCSsaid in a statement.

The Mumbai-based company kicks off the December-quarter corporate earnings period for Indian businesses withrival Infosys Ltd scheduled to report on Friday.

TCS shares closed fractionally higher compared with thebroader Mumbai market which ended down 0.31 percent.

Source: Reuters

India-born Gita Gopinath joinsIMF as 1st female chief economist

WASHINGTON (TIP):

Mysore-born Gita Gopinath hasjoined International MonetaryFund as its chief economist,becoming the first woman tooccupy the top IMF post.

Gopinath’s joined last weekat a time, when she believes theworld is experiencing a retreatfrom globalisation, posingchallenges to multilateralinstitutions.

The John Zwaanstra professor of International Studiesand Economics at Harvard University, Gopinath, 47, succeedsMaurice (Maury) Obstfeld as Economic Counsellor andDirector of the IMF’s Research Department. Obstfeld retiredDecember 31.

Announcing her appointment on October 1, IMF ManagingDirector Christine Lagarde described her as “one of theworld’s outstanding economists with impeccable academiccredentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadershipand extensive international experience.” Source: PTI

World Bank President Jim YongKim announces resignation

WASHINGTON (TIP): World BankPresident Jim Yong Kim announcedMonday he would step down nextmonth, more than three years before hiscurrent term was due to expire.

“It has been a great honor to serve aspresident of this remarkableinstitution, full of passionateindividuals dedicated to the mission ofending extreme poverty in our lifetime,” Kim said in astatement. Kim, who took over leadership of the globallender in 2012, is to join an as-yet unnamed firm focusing oninvestments in developing countries.

World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva will serve asinterim president upon Kim’s February 1 departure, thebank said in a statement.

Tata’s Jaguar Land Rover cuts 4,500 jobsworldwide on weak China demand

LONDON (TIP): Buffeted by weakdemand in China and otheruncertainties in the motor industry, theTata-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) onThursday confirmed shedding 4,500 jobsin addition to the 1,500 jobs it terminatedin 2018.

The announcement raised furtherBrexit-related concerns by MPs andothers in constituencies where JLRoperates in the UK. Motor companies areamong several who have deplored lack ofcertainty on the way forward on Brexitscheduled for March 29.

JLR said its next phase of ‘Charge andAccelerate’ transformation programmeaims to deliver £2.5 billion in costreductions and cashflow improvementsover 18 months as well as long-termstrategic operating efficiencies.

The next phase of the programme isexpected to begin with a voluntaryredundancy programme in the UK with aview to creating a leaner, more resilientorganisation with a flatter managementstructure.

Ralf Speth, CEO of JLR, said: “We aretaking decisive action to help deliverlong-term growth, in the face of multiple

geopolitical and regulatory disruptionsas well as technology challenges facingthe automotive industry”.

“The ‘Charge and Accelerate’programme combines efficiencymeasures with targeted investment,safeguarding our future and ensuringthat we maximise the opportunitiescreated by growing demand forAutonomous, Connected, Electric andShared technologies”.

The company said its ‘Charge andAccelerate’ programme has identifiedover £1 billion of improvements, withmore than £500 million already realised

in 2018. The savings and improvementsachieved will enable Jaguar Land Roverto fund vital investments into technologyto safeguard its future, it added.

Speth said: “The next chapter in thestory of the Jaguar and Land Roverbrands will be the most exciting - andchallenging - in our history. Revealingthe iconic Defender, investing in cleaner,smarter, more desirable cars andelectrifying our facilities to manufacturea future range of British-built electricvehicles will all form part of building aglobally competitive and flourishingcompany”. Source: HT

WITH MORE TARIFFS, US-CHINA TRADE OUTLOOK

LOOKS GRIM, SAYS DATAWith seven weeks to go until a

deadline that could see the U.S.ramp up tariffs on Chinese

goods once again, the economic damagewrought by the months-long trade war isbecoming clearer even as a pathway to alasting resolution remains muddied.

While Chinese goods going to the U.S.initially held up in the face of highertariffs due to so-called front-loading,their value slumped in the final quarterof 2018, according to the latest availabledata. For sales going the other direction,the crunch was more immediate. In bothcases, further declines are on the cards ifthe talks fail to produce a resolution.

Negotiators from both the U.S. andChina expressed optimism after mid-level talks wrapped in Beijing this week,boosting sentiment across globalmarkets. Still, the path forward remainsunclear: Another round of talks hasn’tbeen scheduled, and the governmentshutdown in the U.S. has dominatedPresident Donald Trump’s attention.

Both Trump and Chinese VicePresident Wang Qishan were slated toappear later this month at the WorldEconomic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,providing an opportunity for high-leveldialogue. But the shutdown may yetprevent Trump’s appearance, accordingto a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Companies in both countries justwant to see a deal get done.

“We urge both governments to use thetime remaining in the 90-day negotiatingperiod to make tangible progress on theimportant issues at the core of thecurrent dispute: equal treatment offoreign companies in China, as well as

China’s intellectual property andtechnology transfer policies,” said JakeParker, vice president of Chinaoperations at the U.S.-China BusinessCouncil in Beijing. “Uncertainty is badfor business.”

As evidence mounts by the day thatthe slowdown in China’s economy isworsening, policy makers in Beijing arefocusing on getting rid of the duties thatTrump has leveled on Chinese goodssince last year, according to a formerhigh-level official briefed on thegovernment’s thinking. U.S. officialsappear to want to maintain the pressureof tariffs, the official said.

China and the U.S. will move aheadwith trade talks as scheduled, Ministryof Commerce Spokesman Gao Feng toldreporters in Beijing at a regular weeklybriefing Thursday, without giving any

further details over when they wouldtake place. He wouldn’t confirm reportsthat Vice Premier Liu He will visit theU.S. soon to meet U.S. TradeRepresentative Robert Lighthizer.

Meanwhile, the economic risks aregrowing. Economists now see the threatof deflation in China after producerprice inflation slowed sharply inDecember, to the weakest pace since2016.

That would not only squeezecorporate profitability at home, but alsoput pressure on global price gains, asexport prices usually follow those atfactory gate. With industrial output andretail sales growth both at the weakestlevels in a decade, China’s woes wouldalso mean softer demand for imports,hurting other economies including theU.S. Source: Bloomberg

19 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019BIZ AND FINANCE

20 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019MISCELLANY

contd from page 1

Trump threatens todeclare national

emergency over borderwall

Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial tostop the flow of illegal immigrants andsmuggling of drugs into the country.

The Democrats who support bordersecurity measures, argue that constructinga wall is not the best use of taxpayers'money. A day earlier Trump walked out of aSituation Room meeting with Congressionalleaders on border security after HouseSpeaker Nancy Pelosi said no to his proposalfor a border wall.

The meeting further deepened thepolitical crisis in the country and thereseems to be no end to the ongoing partialgovernment shutdown, which is all set tobreak the old record of 21 days on Saturday.

The Democrats have said that funding fora border wall is out of the question.

"This is a national emergency," he saidadding "I would like to do the deal throughCongress because it makes sense to do itthrough Congress. The easy route for mewould have been to declare a nationalemergency to do it. I will tell you, this is atremendous crisis at the border," he added.

"Look at President Obama's statementsfrom the past, numerous statements wherehe calls it a crisis. This is a crisis. You havehuman traffic, you have drugs, you havethem coming in, you have gangs. MS-13(gang), we're taking them out by thethousand and bringing them back. This is acrisis," Trump said.

"And they don't come in through thecheckpoints, which they do also. They go inbetween the checkpoints, where you don'thave any barriers," he told said.

"If we don't make a deal, I would say itwould be very surprising to me that I wouldnot declare a national emergency and justfund it through the various mechanisms,"said the president before leaving for a visitto the southern border in Texas.

"And by the way, there's more than onemechanism, there's various mechanismsand the lawyers tell me 100 per cent," hesaid.

The Washington Post reported Thursday,January 10, that Trump administration waslying groundwork to declare nationalemergency to build wall, eyeing unusedArmy Corps money.

The Post quoted two officials saying thatthe administration is searching for unusedmoney in the Army Corps of Engineersbudget. President Trump has urged theArmy Corps to determine how quicklycontracts could be signed and whetherconstruction could begin within 45 days,according to an official who spoke on thecondition of anonymity.

The administration is specifically eyeinga disaster spending bill passed by Congresslast year that includes $13.9 billion infunding allocated for a variety of projectsbut not spent. Trump reiterated Thursday,January 10 that he may declare a nationalemergency if Democrats don't give him whathe wants. (With inputs from PTI)

Trump Mocked India'sPM Modi: India

responded to Trump's'Afghan library' dig

Trump suggested the contribution was ofno useto reconstruction efforts in the countryand that India's contribution to developmentin Afghanistan was minimal.

"That's like five hours of what we spend,"the US president mocked.

"And we're supposed to say, 'Oh, thank you

for the library.' I don't know who's using it inAfghanistan, " Trump said.

India has rejected US President's commentssaying New Delhi has provided $3bn indevelopment assistance to the war-torncountry.

A statement provided to media bygovernment sources in New Delhi said: "Indiaplays a significant role as a developmentpartner," in Afghanistan, with projects aimedat achieving "a tangible improvement in thelives of its people".

As the "largest donor in the region", NewDelhi has helped with infrastructure projects,humanitarian assistance and economicdevelopment, the statement said.

The projects include a 218-kilometre road, adam providing irrigation to farmers andtraining programs for more than 3,500Afghans in India.

New Delhi has also provided 1.1 milliontons of wheat to Afghanistan as well as a 400-bed children's hospital built in 1972 andrenovated after the fall of the Taliban in 2002.

Former Trump LawyerMichael Cohen to Testifyto Congress: New York

Times image and could intensify his legal woes.Mr. Cohen, a close confidant of Mr. Trump

when he was a real estate developer andpresidential candidate as well as informally aspresident, was privy to all kinds ofinformation and goings on in Trump's diversecircles, including the innermost circle.

It is too well known that Mr. Trump's innercircle and key moments are under scrutiny byboth the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III,and federal prosecutors in New York.

One may not be taken by surprise if thereare some fireworks when Mr. Cohen appearson national television under oath.

10% EWS reservationBill challenged inSupreme Court

The Rajya Sabha passed it with 165 votingin its favorand 7 against on Wednesday, a dayafter the Lok Sabha had approved TheConstitution (One Hundred and TwentyFourth Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The Bill was approved after the Houserejected five amendments moved byOpposition members.

The quota will be over and above theexisting 50 per cent reservation to SCs, STsand Other Backward Classes (OBCs). (With

inputs from PTI)

22 of DFW's FilmFestivals join forces tobring the Community a

Film Festival toremember

SYNOPSIS: In a post 9/11 Pakistan facedwith challenges of war and conflict, a questfor self-identity leads the inspirationaljourney of a music show to help reclaim therich and vast musical heritage of thisregion. In doing so it has become one of thebiggest music initiatives from this side ofthe world, bringing together unique culturalexperiences and genres, including but notlimited to folk, sufi, rock, pop and rap music.We discover the show from its humblebeginnings, living through its spirit to reachthe heart of the experience, as artists unifyeastern and western sounds to make musicthat will resonate across the globe;impacting all involved and planting theseeds for an ongoing inward reflectiontowards who we are as individuals and as apeople.

Grisly Mexican gang battle nearUS border leaves 21 dead

MEXICO (TIP): The charredremains of 21 people killed in asuspected gang battle have beenfound in a Mexican border town, justover the river from where USPresident Donald Trump wasseeking to win support on January10 for his plan to build a border wall.Officials in the notoriously violentborder state of Tamaulipas said theywere investigating the incident,which took place in Ciudad MiguelAleman, after discovering the bodieson Wednesday. Seventeen of thebodies were burned.

Trump visited McAllen, Texas onThursday afternoon, about 90kilometers (56 miles) from CiudadMiguel Aleman. He threatened to useemergency powers to bypassCongress and get billions of dollarsto pay for the wall. He has justified that demand by saying that undocumented migrants, criminals and illegal drugshave been pouring across the border. Statistics show illegal immigration has fallen to a 20-year low, while many drugsare believed to enter through legal ports of entry.

In Tamaulipas, turf wars between the local Gulf Cartel and its chief rival, the Zetas, have been a key source ofbloodshed over recent years. One body found was wearing the remains of a baseball cap bearing the letters and logo ofthe Gulf Cartel, while others wore the remains of bullet-proof vests with the same insignia, according to the photos.

Luis Rodriguez, a spokesman for state police, said in a statement that it appeared gunmen from the Gulf Cartel hadfought with members of the Northeast Cartel, a group that split off from the Zetas. Irving Barrios, the state’s attorneygeneral, said in a radio interview that authorities found semi-automatic weapons and bulletproof vehicles at the site.

The area is “greatly fought over” by traffickers of arms and drugs as well as those who help undocumented migrantsto cross to the United States, he said. Another confrontation on January 10 morning between an armed group andmilitary forces in Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, also in Tamaulipas, left five people dead and one military officer injured,said a representative from the state’s peace coordination group. (PTI)

Drought-hit Australiahas third-warmest year

on record in 2018MELBOURNE (TIP): Australia had its third warmest

year on record in 2018, a year marked by severe drought inparts of the country and a prolonged bushfire season, theBureau of Meterology said, with the dry conditionsexpected to persist in coming months. Maximumtemperatures across Australia were the second-warmest onrecord at 1.55 degrees C (2.8 degrees F) above average, justbehind the hottest year in 2013.

The average temperature across Australia in 2018 was1.14 degrees C above the average for 1961 to 1990, makingnine of the past 10 years hotter than average, the bureausaid in its annual climate statement.

Annual rainfall was the seventh lowest on record overthe southeastern quarter of the country. “It was a toughyear for people dealing with the drought,” Bureau seniorclimatologist Lynette Bettio said in a statement. Thebureau sees little change in the near term.

“The next three months look like a continuation of thewarm and dry conditions that we’ve seen actually over thelast 24 months or so,” Karl Braganza, the bureau’s head ofclimate monitoring told reporters. El Nino-like weatherconditions that have prevailed in the Pacific Ocean couldalso suppress rainfall this year, although it was unclear yethow that would develop.

El Nino is usually associated with lower than usualrainfall in eastern Australia. For 2018, Australia’s rainfallwas 11 percent below the average for 1961 to 1990 at 413millimetres (16.3 inches), which the bureau said was due tonatural variability as well as climate change.

The warmer temperatures and a windy winter alsomeant more evaporation, which led to a rapid and intensedrying of the landscape, the bureau said. (PTI)

Makar Sankranti is celebrated acrossthe country in different ways and thecultural significance of the festival

varies geographically as we move from onestate to another, with every state celebratingand welcoming the new season of harvest intheir own indigenous manner.

What makes the festival stand apart fromthe other Indian Hindu Festivals is the factthat the date of Makar Sankranti is fixed.Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti istransition.

There is a sankranti every month when thesun passes from one sign of the zodiac to thenext. The popular Indian festival “MakarSankranti” is the first Indian festival falls inNew Year.

SignificanceThe significance of the Makar Sankranti

festival is that it marks the day where there isa significant movement in the zodiac – thearrangement of the earth’s dial around thesun – and this movement brings about a newchange in the way we experience the planetitself. There are many sankrantis through theyear; the two significant ones being MakarSankranti, and right opposite, after summersolstice is Karka Sankranti. In between, thereare many Sankrantis – every time the zodiacsign changes, it is called a Sankranti tosuggest the movement of the planet, tounderstand that our life is sustained andnourished by this movement. If thismovement ceases, everything about us willcease. On the 22nd of December, the solsticehappened, that means in relation to the sun,the movement or the tilt of the planet reachesits maximum. Now, from this day onwards, thenorthern movement is strong. Things reallystart changing upon the earth. From MakarSankranti onwards, winter is being relievedstep by step.

This movement is also a significant aspectin the way we reap from this planet. There wasa time when human beings could eat onlywhat the earth offered. Then we learned howto get what we wanted from the earth; this iscalled agriculture. When we were hunting andgathering, we only picked up what was there.It is like when you were an infant, you ate orswallowed whatever your mother gave you.When you became a child, you asked for whatyou wanted. So we grew up a bit and starteddemanding and getting what we wanted, butstill, you can only get what you want to a pointthat She is willing. If you stretch it beyondthat, you will not only not get it, you will getsomething else. That is calledindustrialization. Agriculture is coaxing theMother to give what you want.Industrialization is ripping her apart. I amnot speaking against something. I want you tounderstand the way our minds are transiting,the way human activity is transiting from onelevel to another.

So this is a day when we remind ourselvesthat everything that we are is what we takefrom this planet. I see everywhere in theworld, people are talking about giving. I don’tknow from where they give. You can only take– either you take gently or you grab. Did youcome with your own property fromsomewhere? What is there to give? You canonly take. Everything is offered. Take sensibly,that is all there is.

The harvest festivalThe Makar Sankranti festival is also known

and referred to as the harvest festival becausethis is the time when harvesting is completeand there are big celebrations. This is the daywe acknowledge all those who assisted inmaking the harvest. The farm animals play ahuge role in harvesting, so the following day isfor them and is called Mattu Pongal. The firstday is for the earth, the second is for us andthe third is for the animals and livestock. See,they are placed a little higher than us becausewe exist because of them, they do not existbecause of us. If we were not here, they wouldall be free and happy. But if they were nothere, we couldn’t live.

It is one of the major Indian harvest festivalcelebrated on 14th of January of every year.It’s an important festival of the Hindus andcelebrated almost everywhere in the countryin myriad cultural forms and different names.Every region celebrate it in innumerableways, according to the localization, cultureand traditions.

Delhi and HaryanaDelhi and Haryana and many neighbouring

states consider Sakraat or Sankranti to be amain festival of the year.

Churma of ghee, halwa and kheer arecooked specially on this day. One brother of

every married woman visits her home with agift of some warm clothing for her and herhusband's family. It is called "Sidha". Womenused to give a gift to their in-laws, and thisrituals called "Manana". The recipient will sitin a haweli (main palace where men sittogether and share hookka). Women go tohaweli to sing folk songs and give gifts.

PunjabIn Punjab, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as

Maghi. Bathing in a river in the early hourson Maghi is important. Hindus light lampswith sesame oil as this is supposed to giveprosperity and drive away all sins. A majormela is held at Sri Muktsar Sahib on Maghiwhich commemorates a historical event inSikh history.

Culturally, people dance their famous"bhangra". They then sit down and eat thesumptuous food that is specially prepared forthe occasion. It is traditional to eat "kheer",rice cooked in milk and sugarcane juice. It isalso traditional to consume khichdi andjaggery. December and January are thecoldest months of the year in the Punjab.Maghi represents the change of the season towarmer temperatures and increase indaylight.

Rajasthan and West MP "Makar Sankrati" or "Sankrat" in the

Rajasthani language is one of the majorfestivals in the state of Rajasthan. The day iscelebrated with special Rajasthani delicaciesand sweets such as pheeni (either with sweetmilk or sugar syrup dipped), til-paati, gajak,kheer, ghevar, pakodi, puwa, and til-laddoo.

Specially, the women of this region observea ritual in which they give any type of object(related to household, make-up or food) to 13married women. The first Sankrantiexperienced by a married woman is ofsignificance as she is invited by her parentsand brothers to their houses with her husbandfor a big feast. People invite friends andrelatives (specially their sisters anddaughters) to their home for special festivalmeals (called as "Sankrant Bhoj"). People giveout many kind of small gifts such as til-gud(jaggery), fruits, dry khichadi, etc. toBrahmins or the needy ones.

Kite flying is traditionally observed as apart of this festival.On this occasion the skyin Jaipur and Hadoti regions is filled withkites, and youngsters engage in conteststrying to cut each other's strings.

Tamil NaduPongal is a four-day festival in Tamil Nadu:

Day 1 marks Bhogi Pandigai, Day 2 is ThaiPongal, Day 3 Maattu Pongal and KaanumPongal is celebrated on day 4.

The festival is celebrated four days from thelast day of the Tamil month Maargazhi to thethird day of the Tamil month Thai.

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21 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019SPIRITUALITY

MAKAR SANKRANTI: THE WAY ITIS CELEBRATED ACROSS INDIA

22 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019SPORTS

TEST SERIES WON, NOWINDIA SET SIGHTS ON LIMITED-OVERS CONTEST

SYDNEY (TIP): While the Test team is still savouring themaiden Test series win in Australia, the limited-oversspecialists, including veteran MS Dhoni, hit the nets at theSydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. With the 2019 ODIWorld Cup on the horizon, the focus has firmly shifted towhite-ball cricket. India have a long white-ball season linedup ahead of the marquee tournament in England thissummer, with three ODIs in Australia and another five ODIsin New Zealand along with a three-match T20I series.

Australia will then visit India for a return leg of five ODIsand two T20Is, before the 2019 Indian Premier League seasongets underway on March 23.

Dhoni, along with Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma,Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Yuzvendra Chahal, DineshKarthik and Khaleel Ahmed, have joined the Indian teamhere. On Wednesday, four members of the newly arrivedbunch trained at the SCG. Dhoni, Dhawan, Jadhav andRayudu went through the paces ahead of the first ODI inSydney on Saturday.

Meanwhile, former Australia and Netherlands pacer DirkNannes complimented Jasprit Bumrah for his ‘tough’ stepup from limited-overs to Test cricket without any disruptionin rhythm or fitness. “I think the change from white ball toTest cricket is easier when you have got the skills, and hecertainly does have that. But the challenge is to be able to doit consistently – hitting the same spot time and time again,and he does that exceptionally well,” Nannes said.

“I think his dismissal of Shaun Marsh in Melbourne wasabsolutely magnificent. I cannot think of many othersituations where a batsman was set up so beautifully, andthe bowler executed a T20 skill in a Test to dismiss him. Thatwas something special,” he added. Source: PTI

Aaron Finch and Co to wearretro kit in ODI series

Australia take on India in the three-match ODI seriesstarting Saturday and the hosts are all set to turnback the clock and wear the jersey similar to what

Alan Border and his troops wore against India in the 1986series. The first ODI will be played at the Sydney CricketGround (SCG) and the Aussie players will be seen wearingthe colours of their yesteryear heroes.

Aussie pacer Peter Siddle, who is making his comebackinto the ODI team, said that the players are excited with thisnew look. “I might just pull out the headband,” Peter Siddlewas quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “I will have to askZamps (Adam Zampa) to borrow one of his and go with theDK (Lillee) headband. We’ll see what we pull out onSaturday.”

India become first Asian team to win aTest series in Australia. It took 71 yearsfor an Indian team to realise a dream

no one else could

Indian team does not supportinappropriate comments: Virat

Kohli on Pandya, Rahul rowSYDNEY (TIP): Indian captain Virat

Kohli has said it out loud and clear thatit has been made clear to Hardik Pandyaand KL Rahul that their controversialcomments made on Koffee with Karanare not acceptable. He also mentionedthat their personal opinions are not theview of the Indian cricket team.

“From the Indian cricket team pointof view, any inappropriate commentsthat are made in that scenario aresomething that we definitely don’tsupport and the two concerned playersfelt what has gone wrong and they haveunderstood the magnitude of what’shappened,” Kohli said at the SCG aheadof the opening ODI against Australia.

“Definitely it has to hit anyone hard,they will definitely understand thethings that have not gone right,” headded.

The captain also said that althoughthey are waiting for the verdict to comeout, it does not change the way theIndian team thinks and plays the sport.

“We, definitely, as the Indian cricketteam do not support views like that andthat has been communicated. I candefinitely say that as the Indian cricketteam and responsible cricketers wedefinitely don’t align with those viewsand those are purely individual views,”he said.

“We are still waiting for a decision tobe made but from the Indian cricketteam point of view, this changes nothingin terms of our beliefs in the changeroom. It does nothing to the spirit thatwe’ve been able to create within thechange room and these are purelyindividual opinions and something as Isaid which is inappropriate,”Kohliadded.

Hardik Pandya, KL Rahulset to be suspended

Barely 24 hours to go before India line-up their playing eleven for the first ofthe three One-day Internationals againstAustralia in Sydney, captain Virat Kohliand coach Ravi Shastri are clueless ifthey can pick all-rounder Hardik Pandyaand batsman KL Rahul in the team.

Reason: BCCI has been forced to seeklegal advice on the matter because CoAmember Diana Edulji, who firstadvocated a two-match ban for thecricketers before sending them ashowcause notice, has now asked forone.

The matter pertains to Pandya andRahul's comments on filmmaker KaranJohar's show 'Koffee With Karan' thatwas streamed four days ago. Thecomments have largely been deemed - inthe mainstream and social media - as"cringeworthy" and "disgusting".Insiders say "this is not a legal issue atall. This is about BCCI's own Code ofConduct for cricketers. This is simplywaste of time." Clause 17 & 18 of theBCCI's constitution, although, call foreither the Apex Council or anombudsman to intervene in suchmatters.

Kohli and Shastri, are meanwhile keptwaiting. Until a reply comes in writingfrom BCCI's legal team, the CoA is in noposition to take any action. The board's

inability to take the call stems from aseries of e-mails that have beenexchanged between members of the CoAand Edulji's refusal to agree with CoAchairman Vinod Rai on all mattersconcerning BCCI. Below is a trail of e-mails that present a detailed scenario ofwhat transpired.

On Wednesday, January 9, at 10.38am,hours after Twitter had feasted onPandya and Rahul's talk show withJohar, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri wrote ane-mail to Rai and Edulji, stating: "It isbeen brought to our notice that (HardikPandya and KL Rahul) made a fewstatements which have not been wellreceived in the media. We would suggestthat a notice be sent seeking explanation

within 24 hours. Please advise."To this, Rai replied at 11.26 am and

said: "Only within 24 hours."At 11.29 am, Edulji replied to both

stating (verbatim): "Strict action shouldbe taken against both as they can't speakabout women in such a manner. Theyshould be banned for a match or two toshow we respect women and won't allowplayers to be disrespectful."

To this, Rai replied an hour later,insisting notices should be sent, andsaid: "Send the notice. We can decide theaction today."

Pandya then went on to tweet anapology before drafting his reply to theshowcause notice. Rahul sent a separatee-mail.

'APOLOGY DOESN'T APPEAR SINCERE'Soon after receiving the replies, Rai wrote to Edulji and Johri, saying: "The

apology has obviously been drafted by the agency. Doesn't appear sincere. I aminclined to suggest a penalty. But since I have not seen the clip, maybe Diana wouldlike to suggest some penalty. There should be a penalty? What do you feel? Could bedifferent for both players depending upon what they have said in the show."

Sources say his views were based on the logic that Rahul remained relativelyguarded while Pandya did most of the talking.

Rai then went through the excerpts of what was spoken on Johar's show andreplied again: "I have seen the remarks made by these two players on the show inprint today. Very crass. No apology can cover it. I had asked Diana to suggest apenalty because I had not seen the clip. I think we need to give both of them a two-match suspension. If Diana agrees, Rahul please draft an appropriate instructionand issue today as their explanations have come in. Separately please prepare anadvisory to all BCCI contracted players and support staff."

However, Edulji, who had earlier advised the two-match ban, retracted from herearlier statement and instead wrote back to Rai and Johri, saying: "The (BCCI)secretary and legal (Amarchand Mangaldas) may kindly opine". Sources sayBCCI's legal team Amarchand Mangaldas is clear that this is not a legal matter butone that involves the BCCI's own Code of Conduct.

Board secretary Amitabh Choudhary said: "Suspension must happenimmediately." BCCI's acting president CK Khanna wrote: "Comments are crass andhighly irresponsible. I suggest strict action." Board treasurer Anirudh Chaudhrytoo wrote a lengthy email, recalling how Cricket Australia acted with a sense ofurgency in the case of Steven Smith and David Warner. He added that agents ofplayers need to be regulated and as far as the punishment is concerned, "a two-match suspension seems to be only a stop-gap arrangement."

"The comments such as the ones that have been made would definitely havepainted a large, red target on the back of the players for potential recruiters for theorganized syndicates who attempt to indulge in match-fixing across the globe,"stated Chaudhry in his email and suggested a sensitisation process. "The entireteam and support staff must go through a sensitisation process. The (BCCI) CEO(Rahul Johri) may join them in the sensitisation as well as recommended by Ms.Veena Gowda, advocate."

W E E K LY H O R O S C O P EJANUARY 14 - JANUARY 20, 2019

Aries: Ganesha says there are pending domesticissues to deal with, like the health of children,spouse and parents. There are expenses andindulgences. There could also be emotionalissues to resolve. There could be break-up,separations, divorce and few other relatedissues. There are powerful energies at play. Asthe period ends, you are at peace with yourself.There are several unfinished projects and yourhands are full. You are on overdrive andpushing hard.

Taurus: You look for mentally stimulating relationshipand interesting activities that keep youcharged and challenged. As the periodprogresses, there is powerful intensity in allyour endeavors. There could also be severalaffairs of the heart. There is an independentand rebellious streak. There are strong egodrives and you refuse to take anything lyingdown. The best solution is to avoid situationsthat are inflammable.

Gemini: Your inner world is playing with demons.Relationships are a real casualty here. You willfind it unusually difficult to relate to others,even at the platonic or cordial level. Therecould be separations and breakdowns. As theperiod ends, there are maudlin moments andflashbacks to a life well lived, even if notappropriately at all times. This is a great timefor creative folks. There are money and honey,rewards and awards, applause and accolades.There is also new love.

Cancer: You party, shop, eat, drink, indulge. You buybeautiful things and surround yourself withthem. There may be holidays, and you take offto exotic locales. The period started slowly andnow it is hotting up. This is a powerful phase.You work hard, earn money and fame. As theperiod progresses expenses skyrocket. You arein overdrive, on a fantastic bull run. Therecould be a new home as you gather severalluxuries in your kitty.

Leo: The grand times continue. You have the Midastouch. You simply cannot do anything wrong.You are charged, and want to be a person ofconsequence. There could also be minorscrapes, accidents, or health issues. By midperiod, you power your way ahead. You makemoney, spend, but expensive things, makeexcellent investments and your portfoliogrows. There could be international holidays,business expansion, new collaborations,money and honey.

Virgo: There is a purpose in what you do. You put allof your attention and energy into gettingahead and attaining your goals. There aresignificant encounters and you grow as aperson. There is a lot of family bonding,fellowship and love. You run through theopposition with ease. There are rewards andawards, plaudits and applause. As the periodprogresses you love for the arts is stimulated.There could be profitable travel, celebrationsand festivities.

Libra: You could be scattered and undisciplined,wanting to be everywhere all the time. Youlook for new experiences and want to breakfrom routine. As the period progresses you areriding high. There could also be unnecessaryexpenses and several emotional challenges.There are many domestic issues to sort out.There are love and lust, money and honey, lifeand death, coming together and breaking up,marriages, engagements and separation.

Scorpio: You are emotionally excitable and easilyirritated or angered. There could be fissures inrelationships. You look for happiness but it iselusive. There are domestic issues to handle,and medical emergencies. There is newintensity. You are powered and charged. Thereis money to be made as well as new deals to besigned. Despite this, you sign big deals andsucceed in important negotiations. Therecould be festivities and celebrations at home,marriages and engagements.

Sagittarius: This is a powerfully creative phase. Youexpress yourself in every possible way. Youhave lofty ambitions and you do all that ittakes to achieve your target. Someone fromanother culture will enter your life andplay a significant role. There is stabilityduring the middle of the period. You areoptimistic, energetic, joyous, happy,affirmative, eager and friendly to everyone.This is also a good time for inheritancesand games of chance.

Capricorn: You take a break from routine and doanything that is different from theordinary. This will revitalize andrejuvenate you. There are expenses of allkinds and some misunderstandings to clearup. You may also join yoga classes, go formeditation, try alternative therapy, and doeverything you can to reinvent yourself.There could also be new love. Take care ofyour health.

Aquarius: You want to change the status quo; youwant the world to sit up and notice yourunique achievements. There are luckybreaks and windfalls and money flows outof your fingers. You excel in groupdiscussions, contractual negotiations andconferences during the middle of theperiod. There could be international traveltoo. As the period ends, you are at yourcreative best. You are imaginative, andsensitive to the world around you.

Pisces: You are the wings of inspiration and thereis no holding you back. You dazzle like ameteor across the night sky. There is traveltoo. You are ideating in a hurry. By midperiod, your energies flow easily and youenjoy the company of others. This is agreat time for group activities. You arefilled with vitality and pumped up withnew ideas about life and living. There arehappy moments with the family. There isintense bonding.

Shree Ganeshaya Namah

Bejan Daruwalla is world's most famousastrologertoday. He appears regularly onworld wide TV shows. Bejan who has been aprofessor in English, hasauthored a numberof books on astrology. India'sPrime MinisterNarendra Modi , on March 29, 2012,lunchedone of Bejan's books, '2012- End oftheWorld? Bejan contributes to a number ofjournals andnewspapers in many parts of theworld which includeBerkley Communications(London) Times of India(Delhi, Mumbai,Kolkata, Chennai) and The IndianPanorama (New York and Texas). Bejan'spredictionshave mostly been correct andpeople the world overrely on his predictions.

Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrological

consultations. He can be reached at

info@bejandaruwalla.com and on phone

011-91-8141234275www.bejandaruwalla.com

23THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 ASTROLOGY

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