Volume 1 Issue 12

1Indian Weekender | August 21, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian

Fiji | 13

Indian

Event | 20

August 21, 2009Volume 1, No. 12

Waitakere goes Bollywood

New Zealand’s first Indian weekend magazine

At a glance

Today’s Exchange Rates

IW now in WellingtonYour favourite magazine is now available in the capital. Global Vil-lage Unlimited will represent Indian Weekender for its Wellington based content, distribution and advertising. Page 4.

Rasalingam, Khoury honouredThe handsome contribution of two Auckland men to ethnic affairs in New Zealand was recognised and celebrated at a special function in the city this week. Page 7

Here comes colonialism 2.0The industrialised east was colo-nised by the nations of pre-industrial Europe. So is it unreasonable to expect a backlash from the west now that wealth and power are surging back to India and China? Page 14

Are ETFs right for you?If you find the tasks of analysing and picking stocks a little daunt-ing, exchange-traded Funds (ETFs) may be right for you. Our personal finance expert explains. Page 25

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Festivity | 31Peter Foster’s

bombGanesh comes home

2 Indian Weekender | August 21, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian New Zealand

Mumbai police get their sealegs from Auckland

Auckland-based Sealegs International will supply four amphibious marine craft to the Commissioner of Police in Mumbai, India, to be used for patrolling the city’s waterways and coastline.

The Indian government has stepped up maritime surveillance around its vast 7000 km coastline following terrorist attacks in Mumbai late last year. The terrorists had used the sea route along the western coast of the Arabian Sea to launch the attacks that left nearly 180 people dead.

Sealegs’ amphibious technology was iden-tified by the police agency as being ideally suited to the varied tasks of this patrol, where the ability to conduct extensive on-water re-connaissance and rapid interdiction needs to be performed independent of boat launch and retrieval facilities.

The company’s chief executive Mr David McKee Wright said that the sales are a result of close co-operation with the company’s recent-ly appointed re-seller in the Indian market, New Wave Distributors (India) Pvt. Ltd, re-flecting Sealegs’ international market devel-opment strategy.

“Our Indian Sealegs dealer is one of the largest boat dealers in India and that has cer-tainly made things easier. Having said that, although the decision-making was relatively quick post the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, bu-reaucratic processes and procedures meant it did take some time for the actual order to be placed,” Sealegs International’s sales manager Greg Ewen told Indian Weekender.

New Wave Distributors, had made a pre-

sentation to the Indian Security agencies on the need of amphibious boats, soon after the Mumbai carnage, as India has practically no water front infrastructure.

“Sealegs allows the operator to drive into the water just about anywhere, so it was the ideal solution for quick deployment and pa-trolling vessels along the open beaches of Mumbai,” Mr Ewen said.

The aluminium-hulled Sealegs amphibi-ous boats are fully configured and include a newly developed ‘rugged helm’ console for heavy duty handling by operational person-nel. The boats are also equipped with Sealegs’ own ‘XRT’ extended run time feature, allow-ing for prolonged operational capability in hot and humid conditions when driving on land or when deployed in flood/rescue roles.

“India is potentially a huge market. However, cost is a determining factor for many and Sealegs is built to a very high stan-dard, with a lot of thought and care invested into the engineering process and the finished product, so there is always a certain price for that high standard of quality,” Mr Ewen said. The company was working closely with the Indian distributor making presentations to various government agencies like Defence, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Police.

McKee Wright sees the deployment of Sealegs vessels in this high profile role as a clear endorsement of the unique capabilities of the proprietary amphibian technology and as a launch pad into the varied requirements of the Indian government.

The use of Sealegs vessels in a marine po-

licing role further extends the ongoing success that Sealegs has achieved in securing export sales of Fire/Rescue configured vessels, to ju-risdictions as varied as Rome and Malaysia.

Built to European CE and U.S. Coast Guard specifications, Sealegs amphibious marine craft are currently being targeted at international markets in co-operation with re-gional re-sellers and with the support of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

The company has a staff in excess of 50 people and has two factories in Auckland’s North Shore. The first factory focuses on the fabrication of the all aluminium hulls and the second on the final assembly. Sealegs is managed by entrepreneurs, David McKee Wright and Maurice Bryham. Sealegs Corpo-ration Limited is a public company listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange Main Board (NZX:SLG).

North Shore based company provides amphibious craft to help guard Mumbai’s coastline

deV NAdKARNI

Indian software giant Infosys technologies, which has had a presence in Australia for over seven years, launched a new Consulting and Systems Integra-tion practice across Australia and New Zealand a couple of months ago.

The practice represents a major evolution in the value Infosys offers its clients and adds a significant new initiative as a consulting partner.

Infosys Australia chief executive Jackie Korho-nen visited Auckland last week and hinted at plans of opening an office in Wellington. She also said that an office in Auckland was a possibility down the line.

“New Zealand is well known as an innovative market. Infosys is looking forward to helping New Zealand organisations become more competitive by tapping into the best of the global talent pool along with the wealth of skills available locally,” Ms Korhonen told Indian Weekender.

Over a dozen Infosys Australia consultants are already in the country working on client sites.

Infosys Technologies is India’s second largest software exporter and employs over 100,000 people in its development centres across the world.

The new consulting practice formalises a trend toward more strategic engagements for Infosys Australia, which earlier in the year completed a portfolio analysis project for ING Australia, recom-mending next steps in the application lifecycle for a number of core applications as part of that com-pany’s two-year technology transformation project.

Infosys has consciously launched the new prac-tice at a time when the global economy is putting pressure on companies to rein in costs, Ms Korho-nen said.

“Our new Consulting and Systems Integration practice will allow us to engage with clients earlier in the project lifecycle, by providing the technology and process strategy that supports transformational business goals, as well as the execution of that strat-egy,

“When times are good, businesses want to focus on growth rather than on transforming under-lying processes and strategies. But when the market starts to contract, you can’t afford to ignore ineffi-ciencies. You must transform,” she added.

Infosys plans to grow the Australian and New Zealand consulting teams to include senior busi-ness architects, change management specialists and program directors.

- Indian Weekender news desk

Infosys to set up base in NZ

bIg PLANs: Jackie Korhonen, CEO of Infosys Australia


Indian New Zealand

The Mumbai-headquartered Bank of Baroda, one of India’s largest commercial banks is set to provide trade finance when it opens its first branch in Auckland through a subsidiary, soon after it receives clearance from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to set up operations. Mr S.C. Vermani has been named the managing di-rector of the subsidiary in New Zealand.

The bank has an extensive overseas presence among Indian financial institutions with some 76 offices in 26 countries. In the past year, despite the downturn, the bank’s overseas business con-tributed 23% to net profit and 22.5% to its total business. For the first quarter ended June 2009, it posted 85% growth in net profit compared with the same period a year ago.

While formally announcing its entry into New Zealand, the bank’s chairman and manag-ing director M.D. Mallya also said that in the next couple of months two branches in Uganda would come up and added that a Malaysian venture

was also planned during the year, signaling the bank’s plans to extend its global presence.

Mr Mallya hinted at the acquisition route: “We are a strong bank ... It has the capability. If the opportunity presents itself, we will also react to it,” he said.

The Bank has been in the Pacific region for nearly five decades having opened its first Pacific branch in Fiji in the early 1960s to serve the large and thriving Gujarati business community that had made the South Pacific country its home. It also has a presence in Australia.

It’s first overseas operation started in the early 1950s with an office in Mombassa in Kenya. The bank started by Maharaj Sayajirao Gaikwad of the then princely state of Baroda completed 100 years last year.

Its first New Zealand branch will be in central Auckland.


Bank of Baroda to start operations in NZ

Sport is really impor-tant for children. It’s a great way to exer-cise and it teaches valuable teamwork, leadership and fair play skills.

E n c o u r a g i n g young New Zealand-ers to get involved in sport when they’re at school can lead to a lifetime of involve-ment – and a future generation of fitter, healthier kiwis.

That’s why the National-led Government is committed to helping more children take part in organised sport at school, after school, and during the holidays. We want all Kiwi kids to have the opportunity to play sport.

We know many schools struggle to find coaches, referees, and volunteers to support sports teams, let alone promote those teams to their pupils. And we know too many of our sports clubs are struggling to keep their com-petitions running. We understand how hard it is for them to find the coaches, administra-tors, and other officials needed with limited funds. We need to overcome these challenges.

Our Kiwisport initiative answers calls from schools, clubs, and regional sports trusts for greater support and investment in sport for children. It delivers $82 million over the next four years directly to the frontline. This funding comes from savings that have been identified in social marketing campaigns, websites and tagged funding programmes.

We believe it’s better to invest money di-rectly into schools and organisations helping

to deliver sport. Kiwisport will see more chil-dren getting active and enjoying sport.

We’re providing $45 million directly to schools around the country over the next four years. Each school will have the f lexibility and freedom to spend the money in a way that ensures more of their pupils get access to sport without layers of bureaucracy and heavy-handed reporting.

The other $37 million will go into a region-al partnership fund, which will be allocated across the 17 regional sports trusts around New Zealand. This will build stronger links between schools, sports clubs, and private sporting providers as they aim to give more kids the chance to play sport.

National is committed to increasing oppor-tunities for children to get involved in sport.

Schools and sports clubs play a crucial role in introducing young New Zealanders to or-ganised sport. By providing funding directly to schools and regional sports trusts, Kiwis-port will make a difference. More children will see the benefits of physical fitness, being part of a team, developing leadership skills, and having fun.

Success for school sportJohN Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand

PACIFIC PReseNCe: Bank of Baroda branch in Ba, Fiji.


Indian New Zealand

Ethnic Council doyens recognisedThe handsome contribution of two Auckland men to ethnic affairs in New Zealand was recognised and celebrated at the Fickling Centre in central Auckland on Monday, August 17.

At a function jointly organised by the Auckland Ethnic Council and the Waitakere Ethnic Board, Philip Khoury and N Rasalingam were honoured with certificates of merit for their long service to the country’s ethnic communities.

Mr Khoury began his long association with ethnic communities in 1986 representing the Leba-nese community in Auckland and helped organise the first national conference of ethnic councils in 1990. Both he and Dr Rasalingam have worked closely on ethnic affairs over the past two decades.

Dr Rasalingam, QSM came to New Zealand from Sri Lanka in 1970 and has been serving ethnic communities and refugees ever since. He has been associated with the refugee community in Glenn Innes and has been President of the Auckland Ethnic Council, and has been closely associated with the Auckland Refugee Council and the New Zealand Ethnic Council.

Auckland Mayor John Banks presented the certificates. Speaking on the occasion, Mr banks recalled his student days at the Avondale College saying in the early 1960s, the college was pretty much a mono-ethnic, mono-cultural institutions. The ethnic diversity that one encounters today in Auckland is to be celebrated, he said.

Mr Banks also outlined the importance of having and empowering community councils in the new structure of the Auckland Supercity – a sentiment that was shared by other speakers like Auckland Re-gional Council chairman Mike Lee and Waitakere Deputy Mayor and Councillor Penny Hulse.

The speakers shared their views on several aspects of the Supercity, but all agreed that the in-terests of Auckland’s diverse ethnic communities must be taken on board. Ms Hulse said that just three schools in Waitakere City had pupils of 140 differ-ent ethnicities. She underscored the importance of a

ethnically diverse Supercity Council.Mr Lee, a fifth-time ARC Councillor, said that

in recent years, local government had “moved too far away from ordinary folk,” and reiterated his stand that council and assets and services needed to be publicly owned by the people of the city.

National MP Jackie Blue represented Prime Minister John Key. The proceedings began with a Bharata Natyam dance item presented by Ishara. Waitakere Ethnic Board President Ann Pala con-ducted the proceedings.

The Auckland Ethnic Council also presented four of its ongoing projects to the gathering. The projects cover activities engaging youth, organ donors, prevention and mitigation of type-II diabetes and capacity building within the community.


LoNg INNINgs: Mayor of Auckland John Banks presents the certificates to Dr Rasal-ingam and Philip Khoury.

Indian Weekender, Global Village Unlimited ink strategic dealKiwi Media Group, the publishers of Indian Weekender and Wellington based Global Village Unlimited (GVU) have inked a strategic partner-ship between the two companies.

Among several business projects that the two companies will co-operate on as part of the strategic partnership in the coming months, GVU will bring Indian Weekender not only to the Indian community in Wellington but also the wider Kiwi community in and around the capital.

As part of this partnership, GVU will rep-resent the Indian Weekender for its Wellington based content, and advertising.

“We see Indian Weekender as a quality product offering quality news and features to the community and provides a good representation of the Indian community in terms of the balance it offers. GVU is all about quality and the use of knowledge and new media in bringing that knowledge to the two markets – New Zealand and India – that it is active in,” GVU director

Raga D’silva said.GVU is also the sole rep-

resentative for India’s largest publication group, The Times of India (which is also the largest English daily in the world) and its growing stable of highly successful online offerings.

In addition, GVU provides support to New Zealand businesses to make an entry in to the dynamic but complex Indian market, and helps Indian businesses form suitable alliances here in New Zealand.

“Raga’s business is very focused in aligning the commerce and culture of the two countries – New Zealand and India, which is a very im-portant aspect of what Indian Weekender stands for. It was therefore a very natural move for us to form an alliance of this kind with GVU,” Indian Weekender editor-in-chief Dev Nadkarni said.


The Asia New Zealand Foundation is launching an inaugural scholarship as a way of attracting more Asian New Zealanders into journalism.

The scholarship will apply to the 2010 cal-endar year and be for the value of $5000 to be paid on completion of the successful candidate’s course of journalism study. It is designed to en-courage greater representation of Asian commu-nities in mainstream New Zealand journalism.

A 2007 survey of New Zealand journalists undertaken by the New Zealand Journalism

Training Organisation (NZJTO) showed that only about 2% of all journalists working in the mainstream English language news media were Asian. This is despite Asian New Zealanders making up about 10% of the population.

For eligibility criteria and more information, email Charles Mabbett on [email protected] or call on 04 470 8701.

The deadline for applications is November 30, 2009.

Kiwi Asian journalism scholarship


Indian

From November 1 it will be against the road rules for drivers to text or talk on a handheld cell phone while driving.

The change is part of the Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule and will see drivers using handheld mobile phones receive an infringement notice consisting of an $80 fine and 20 demerit points. Transport Minister Steven Joyce says that driver distraction – particularly through the use of cell phones – is a real issue on our roads.

“There are a lot of other distractions while driving but handheld mobile phone use has grown to become a significant problem. The reality is we need to send a strong signal to all road users that it’s not on. “Texting and driving, in particular, is a total no brainer.” Drivers will still be able to use hands-free devices and two-way radio under the ban. There would also be an exemption for 111 calls made for genuine emergencies.

- IW news desk

New cell phone usage rule from NovemberNew Zealand

In New Zealand, we have been lucky to have FM radio with multiple sta-tions. However, the Access community radio on fre-quency 104.6 stands out quite differently among these, as it is the only radio station catering to the varied communities in the country.

In Auckland it is known as Planet FM104.6. Migrant Heritage Charitable Trust Inc (MigHT-i) saw an opportunity to use this medium to enhance the cause of the Marathi community and provide them with a platform, where they could hear Marathi literature, songs, Kathaka-than, Kavita, Batmya and radio plays. Prashant Belwalkar of MigHT-I believes that radio has a lot to offer to the Maharashtrian community in New Zealand. Given that the website of the radio station www.planetaudio.org.nz beams live streaming audio and gives the listeners an ability to hear the programs for a week, it was an oppor-tunity in the making for MigHT-i.

On Wednesday nights at 9.25pm you can listen to the program titled ‘Bhramanti’ which literally means ‘travelogue’ wherein Prashant brings to you news, views, Kathakathans and a variety of community programmes. Sunday’s “Nabhovani” literally meaning ‘airwaves’ brings songs, poetry and interviews to the audience.

Sunday: 11.00 am NabhovaniWednesday: 09.25 pm BhramantiBAND: FMFrequency: 104.6Web: www.planetaudio.org.nzFeedback: [email protected]

MigHT-i has tied up with e-sakal (website of one of Maharashtra’s biggest newspapers) to

provide an update on the latest happenings in Maharashtra. They are also supported by Cre-ative Communities (Creative NZ) in this endea-vour, which will tap into the talents of the Ma-harastrians in Auckland as well as wider New Zealand. Future plans include programmes for senior citizens, womens’ issues and Youth pan-orama on the lines of Yuvavani in India.

Prashant says that they recently finished a programme on children participation and are now looking forward to an area that is of common interest to all Maharashtrians – drama.

MigHTi is bringing out the first full-fledged radio play “Suryachi Pille” written by Vasant Kanetkar on Planet FM 104.6 on Sundays at 11.00am. This will be on Air from Sunday August 30. It will be serially aired on consecu-tive Sundays. The voices to this play have been rendered by Kaustubh Pethe, Devdutta Paran-jape, Vijay Parulkar, Sunil Gadgil , Kalyani Gadgil, Jayashree Sonar, Mrunal Niphadkar and Prashant Belwalkar. This is the first of several such plays that MigHTi plans to bring to the radio. It will open doors for a lot of budding artists in the community.

Many a senior citizen has noted that they never felt far away from their homeland when they hear Marathi radio here. It brings back memories of their youth when radio was the only medium available to them. They have “requests” which include Natyasangeet, Bhavgeet, Abhang , which are catered to by this station. Mighti also takes the opportunity to invite ideas, sug-gestions and feedback from the wider commu-nity in Auckland. Those wishing to participate in the radio programmes may also get in touch with Prashant on [email protected] or call on 095348000.

MigHTi is also bringing two special pro-grammes based on Hindustani and Carnatic music on September 19 and 3rd October. Watch out for the details in the next issue.

MigHTi brings Marathi to the Airwaves

When we were recently invited to an opening of Little India’s new restaurant in Upper Hutt, we decided to take the long drive (for a Wellingtonian, anything beyond 15 minutes is a long drive) into the scenic beauty of Upper Hutt.

Being after sun set, we obviously missed out on enjoying the scenic beauty, but nevertheless, the event itself made it up for that. It was an exception-ally well attended event with the who’s who of the Indian community, with our very own Jugnu Gill being the ever gracious host, greeting everyone at the door, and ushering them into his new restaurant. The restaurant has been decorated in line with the other Little Indias across New Zealand, and has the smart, elegant, and ethnic Indian touch.

That to me is what Jugnu Gill represents to the wider community in New Zealand: class, elegance and – most importantly – humility.

Jugnu Gill was born in India; he completed his schooling from Sherwood College, Nainital and then joined the prestigious St Xaviers College in Mumbai. After two years he went on to London for further ed-ucation and completed a degree in computer science. He set off on a career in computing which also took him to the US.

Somewhere along the line, computing and a burning desire to entire the hospitality scene with his other passion (for North Indian cuisine) fused.

Around the same time as the passion of cross-ing over was building in Jugnu’s heart and mind, his brother Sukhi Gill an accountant from England moved to New Zealand in late 1980’s and opened his first Little India in Dunedin in 1991. Jugnu joined him in Dunedin in 1993 and was thrown into the deep end to learn the in’s and out’s of running a res-taurant.

Since then the family business has expanded into other parts of New Zealand: Dunedin to Queen-stown to Christchurch to Wellington to Hamilton to Auckland to Tauranga to Nelson to Melbourne – now with multiple restaurants in Christchurch, Wel-lington and Hamilton.

Jugnu continues to create his magic across New Zealand inspiring other Indians and the wider com-munity to dream and do things that the heart desires.

- Raga D’silva

Little India makes another splash


Indian India

Mumbai: With the total deaths numbering 28, panic about swine flu has reached alarming levels in India. Pune has emerged as the epicen-ter of the disease with 13 of the 26 deaths. Ban-galore comes a second with 5 deaths.

India has to deal with the dual problems of the virus itself and the panic and rumours that go with it. A total of 1,390 have been confirmed infected in this nation of 1.2 billion people.

“The amount of frenzy or hysteria is totally disproportionate to the overall reality of the disease,” Dr. Jai Narain, the head of the region-al communicable disease office for the World Health Organisation, said last week.

Adding to this is the breathless reporting and updates of the 24 hour news channels, which has helped whip up media frenzy, resulting in people wearing surgical masks even when in cities with relatively low cases of the disease.

In Delhi where no deaths were reported so far, people are wearing masks on the streets. In the streets of Mumbai and Pune people have been seen either with masks or handkerchiefs or ladies with dupattas around their noses/mouth. This, in spite of a government directive saying one need not wear masks on the streets unless they or a family member is infected.

Pharmacists are doing brisk business of selling masks at a premium and they say people are also stocking up on drugs for common cold and flu.

The Indian government on its part has stepped up its fight against the disease, with setting up of more testing centres and increas-ing its stock of the anti viral drug Tamiflu to 30 million doses. Interestingly, the drug Tamiflu is

available only in the government run hospitals and not in the retail markets. Though the private sector and the general public are crying hoarse over this decision, the government says that it has taken this decision to prevent the virus from becoming immune to the drug.

All schools in Pune and Mumbai have been shut down for 10 days. Movie theatres for have been shut for three days and malls have been asked to tone down their traditional Indepen-dence Day holiday sales to keep away crowds.

Adding to the burden of the government testing centres is the fact that people with regular symptoms of flu are lining up to be tested. In Lucknow parents are insisting that all children be tested. On August 15 a record number of 27,308 persons walked into the testing certres of which 60 tested positive while on the same day India recorded maximum number of positive cases in a day so far ie.169.

Though the fatality rate of the virus is rela-tively low, scientists worry that it could eventu-ally mutate into a more deadly strain, opines Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil, a professor of epidemiol-ogy at Christian Medical College in Vellore also adding, “I cannot see anything to panic about. These kinds of rumours are not good for the health of the nation.”

Yet the flu has garnered far more attention than any of the host of fatal diseases including tuberculosis which kills more than 1000 people a day in India, according to World Health Organi-sation figures.

- All India stories by Shobha Rao, India Correspondent

Swine flu panic spreads across India Mumbai: Bollywood superstar and one of the most

recognized Indian star in the US, Shah Rukh Khan was detained for ‘secondary inspection’ at Newark airport near New York in the early hours of Saturday, (India time).

Incidentally Shah Rukh was en route to an event in Chicago to celebrate India’s IndepenceDay. Khan was reportedly held in the immigration area and re-peatedly questioned for about two hours.

“I told them I was a movie star who had recently visited the US to shoot my film, but nothing seemed to convince the immigration officer” Khan said. Autograph seeking fans, other immigrations offi-cers who vouched for him did not fail to impress the officer.

His hand baggage was inspected and he was taken to a room where he was questioned about the purpose of his visit, the names and phone numbers for the event organisers, which films he had acted in, why has was carrying so much cash ($1500), why his checked-in baggage had not arrived (it hadn’t been loaded in London!) and many such “irrelevant” ques-tions according to Khan.

During the ordeal he was not allowed the use of his phone and at the end of the questioning he was allowed just one call. Khan who said he felt

“angry and humiliated” by the entire experience, called Congress MP Rajiv Shukla, who, in turn, spoke to the Indian consulate and the American au-thorities who finally released him.

Khan who is a frequent visitor to the US, and who has a work permit says that he was subjected to the grilling because of his last name, his Muslim identity.

The Indian minister for Information and Broad-casting Ambika Soni denounced Shah Rukh’s de-tention and said, “I don’t think that this manner of detaining is justified. There should be a tit-for-tat re-sponse.” The outrage in India over this incident had the new US ambassador Timothy Roemer go into quick damage control mode. He issued a statement “Shah Rukh Khan is a global icon whose films are much loved even by the Americans, and he is always welcome in the US.”

But by all accounts Khan doesn’t feel so welcome and says he will review his plans whether to visit the US again.

Shah Rukh Khan detained at US airport

New Delhi: Noted Indian social worker Deep Joshi, along with five others has been named for the pres-tigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2009, consid-ered as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

Joshi, 62, born in a remote village in Pithoragarh, has a Masters degree from the prestigious Mas-sachusetts Institute of Technology. He has worked with the Ford Foundation and Systems Research In-stitute and has over thirty years of experience in the field of rural development and livelihood promotion.

He is being recognised for “his vision and leader-

ship in bringing professionalism to the NGO move-ment in India, by effectively combining “head” and “heart” in the transformative development of rural communities,” the Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation said in a press state-ment at its headquarters in Manila, Philippines. Joshi on his part said, “I am delighted to get this honour. But the award is not for an individual – it is for an idea, for the development of rural population. We need educated people to go to the rural areas and wok for their welfare.”

Magsaysay Award for Indian social activist


Indian

B h u b a n e s h w a r : Laxman Hembram, a 13-year-old boy belonging to the primitive Juang tribe from the border area of May-urbhanj, Orissa, has

represented India at the Tunza International Children and Youth conference on Environ-ment-2009 in Seoul from August 17 to 20.

The meet, organised by United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), had asked students to write essays on the theme “Climate change: our challenge”. The

judging panel chose Laxman’s essay from thousands of entries that were received. He had written in Oriya, which was translated into English.

Laxman, a class IX student of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, was flown to Seoul on August 15, with all his expenses paid by the UNEP. As many as 750 delegates from 150 countries participated in the confer-ence.

“I am excited about Seoul. I will tell the world leaders in English how climate change has impacted tribal lifestyle,” an excited Lamxan, who has been working hard on his presentation for the conference, said.

Orissa tribal speaks at UN meetIndia

Suspicious Korean ship found anchored off Andamans

Men demand freedom from the ‘tyranny’ of wives

Chennai: The Indian Coast Guard has impounded a North Korean ship, apparently carrying merchan-dise of sugar off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after more than a six-hour chase.

The MV Musen dropped anchor off Hut Bay Island on Wednesday August 5, without permission. It had been anchored for more than 48 hours until it was spotted by some passengers from a ferry who brought it to the notice of the authorities. Sources said that passengers spotted the ship anchored on an isolated stretch of seas about 7 km from Hut Bay.

Navy chief Admiral Suresh Mehta said that earlier some North Korean ships had been caught in Indian waters while clandestinely transporting missile and nuclear components to Pakistan, although the ship’s manifesto claimed that it was carrying sugar and water purification equipment.

The impounded ship has been thoroughly checked and the crew interrogated. What makes it more embarrassing for the Navy and Coast Guard is that they are supposed to be on high alert after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The captain of the ship Yon Jonge Sun has admitted that the ship dropped anchor off Hut Bay without anybody noticing it for almost two days. An official said “ The captain has not been able to explain what the vessel was doing all this while. He says there was an engine failure, but why he diverted from the route in the 6th degree channel remains unclear.”

Admiral Mehta said the ship “had no business to be in Indian territorial waters without the requi-site permission.” Interrogators are still puzzled why the ship dropped anchor in the extremely rough and isolated patch and it would have been undetected if not for the ferry. Investigations are still in progress.

Shimla: On India’s Independence Day, August 15, a group of men, met in Shimla to make plans to demand for ‘equal rights’ and ‘freedom’ – from ‘harassment’ by their wives.

A Bangalore based NGO Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), along with another NGO Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP), the state of Maharashtra’s Purush Suraksha Sanstha and Uttar Pradesh’s Pati Paramesh Kendra organised the event.

“On Independence Day we will raise the issue of freedom and dignity of harassed husbands. More than 100 men, representa-tives of 30,000 other harassed husbands from across the country, will converge at a day-long meeting to come up with strategies to take on their wives,” Anil Kumar, president of SIFF, had told media persons before the event.

Kumar also reiterated that, “the Indian law is biased when it comes to husbands, as it often favours the wives. Be it in the case of custody of children for divorced couples or false al-legations of domestic violence and dowry ha-rassment, the law generally takes the side of women, without listening to the side of men.”

To substantiate his claim Kumar also cited SIFF data on male suicides across India.

“Around 120,000 harassed husbands in

India have com-mitted suicide in the last four years. In fact, husbands com-mitting suicide because of h a r a s s m e n t is double the number of wives c o m m i t t i n g suicide in the country,” claims the founder of CRISP.

The charter of demands by husbands would include a separate men’s welfare ministry on the lines of the women and child welfare ministry, equal taxation for men and women, change in inheritance laws, amendment to the domestic violence prevention law, and man-datory joint custody of children for divorced couples.

“We’re meeting at Shimla, not to draw a gender dividing line. We want to discuss a social issue and find solutions as the country is seeing a large number of divorces,” a spokes-person of SIFF said.

Perth: India’s Petronet LNG, the country’s biggest liquefied natural gas importer, is in talks with Ca-nadian producer Interoil on buying a stake in Interoil’s proposed Papua New Guinea project, a senior executive said last week.

Petronet Managing Director Prosad Dasgupta also told reporters on the sidelines of the LNG World conference in Perth that the company was seeking more LNG from Chevron’s Gorgon project in Western Australia and from an ExxonMobil project in Papua New Guinea.

- www.pacificbusinessonline

India’s Petronet seeks stake in PNG project


Indian Fiji

SUVA --- The Peo-ple’s Charter for Change Peace and Progress will be used as a guideline while Government works on a new Constitution, says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

PM Bainimarama told the FijiSUN, that the charter is about changes and for government to put in place reforms to cater for it.

“These changes are required to be included in the new Constitution,” said PM Bainimarama.

“So the charter will be used as a guideline.” He said Fiji’s roadmap clearly defines the

changes that are bound to take place for a better Fiji.

The 1997 Constitution was revoked by the former President Ratu Josefa Iloilo in April, this year.

Ratu Iloilo announced the measures in support of the move towards electoral reforms by the PM Bainimarama-led government and gave them a five-year mandate to make the relevant changes.

Fiji will now adopt new changes following the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution and Ratu Iloilo said it’s to facilitate the holding of a true demo-cratic and parliamentary election.

Ratu Iloilo assures members of the public that the basic human rights of all citizens shall be pro-tected in the new law.

He subsequently appointed a Prime Minister and his cabinet following the events of December 5, 2006 and gave them a mandate to adhere to.

“The government has been in existence for over two years and they have performed.

PM Bainimarama said Fiji is working towards its roadmap for the next five years before election takes place.

The charter will be used as guidelines in order for Government put in place all the possible reforms that are going to move the country forward.

- www.pacificbusinessonline.com

Suva: After a refurbishment and redevelopment, the Tradewinds Hotel & Convention Centre at Lami just outside western Suva has re-branded to the Novotel Suva Lami Bay. Suva’s newest 4 star international hotel boasts new ocean view guest rooms fitted with 32” LCD televisions, high speed internet, room service and mini bar facili-ties. “Husk” Restaurant is Suva’s newest restau-rant complimented by “Tonique” – Suva’s only bar specialising in Gins from around the world.

Meanwhile a new luxury hotel conjuring up visions of ancient China with stunning ‘Venice of the East’ waterways set among tropical land-scape with modern lifestyle amenities is coming up in Nadi. Scheduled to welcome and capti-vate global visitors and domestic travellers in

late 2010, SSS Nadi Hotel with 184 guestrooms will showcase a style of hospitality that is syn-onymous with luxury and excellence in China’s 5-star properties.

The development marks the entry by SSS In-ternational, a wholly-owned investment of China Suzhou Youth Travel Service Co. Ltd. (SYTS) from Suzhou, a thriving city for economic devel-opment in east China’s prosperous Jiangsu Prov-ince. The introduction of SSS Nadi Hotel is sure to create a new benchmark for luxury accom-modation and enhance the scope of Fiji’s tourism and hospitality offerings.

The investment marks China’s growing en-gagement in Fiji.

SUVA --- The post of the President is now open to all races and not specifically for the indigenous Fijians, says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, Fiji Live reports.

This included people from the country’s second biggest community, the Indo-Fijians or Indians.

Following the State farewell to outgoing Presi-dent Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu over the weekend, Com-modore Bainimarama yesterday said the next Presi-dent would be decided at the next Cabinet meeting.

“We will decide on who to take up the role of the President in our next Cabinet meeting,” he said. When asked whether the presidency role can be filled by a person of any race as part of the govern-ment’s non-racial discrimination policy, Commo-dore Bainimarama said there is a great possibility.

“Io! Sega ni rawa ni dua e tarova ya (Yes! Nobody can stop that),” Commodore Bainimarama said.

Ratu Epeli Nailatikau is currently acting in the role following the official retirement of Ratu Josefa

on July 31. Ratu Epeli was earlier appointed by the government as the Vice-President. The PM said his government’s new road map is to build a non racial Fiji and they would work towards that.

In the past the post of the President and Vice President had been specifically reserved for the in-digenous Fijians and the appointing authority was the Great Council of Chiefs.

With the abrogation of the constitution, the power of the appointment of the President is with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

The Executive Authority of the State is vested in the President who is the Head of State and sym-bolises the unity of the State. The President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Fiji Military Forces.

Fiji’s first President was the late Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau and he was succeeded by the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. President Ratu Josefa Iloilo was the country’s third.

- www.pacificbusinessonline.com

Suva: Fiji’s 15 head coach and former Wallaby rep Ilivasi Tabua’s has been sacked by the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) board.

In a statement, the board said the termination of his contract was a result of a recent alcohol related incident in the middle of the Pacific Nations Cup tournament this year.

The FRU Board considers, as serious miscon-duct unbecoming of a person in that position, it said.

Chairman Bill Gavoka stressed the FRU can never condone inappropriate behaviour.

“The National Coach is a role model to his players, fellow coaches and to the many young rugby followers around the country,” Gavoka said.

“It is one of the most senior positions in the or-

ganisation and one that has to be held in high regard. The incident is serious enough to warrant termina-tion, more particularly when it occurred during the tournament in which the team rules had specifically prohibited alcohol consumption.”

A ferocious defender nicknamed “The Human Skewer” during his playing days, Tabua joined the FRU as the High Performance Unit Academy Coach in September 2006 before taking over as the National Head Coach from Wayne Pivac in January 2007.

He coached the Flying Fijians to the 2007 Pacific Nations Cup and to the quarter finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

- Fiji Live/ www.pacificbusinessonline.com

Charter to be a guide, says Bainimarama Novotel Suva Lami Bay opens

Fiji Presidency is now open to all

Fiji’s 15 coach Ilivasi Tabua fired


Indian Fiji

Fiji’s most prominent pugilist, Joy Ali headlined a blockbuster boxing programme at the Vodafone Arena in Suva on August 15. His opponent, Jo Naleca, had been lining up a challenge over the past 3 years. At stake was the newly-created Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF)’s alphabet-free Junior Middleweight Title.

In the build-up to the fight both boxers taunted each other and called for a heads-on slugfest. Both were undefeated at home even though Ali had a blighted international record with a crushing 1-minute blowout at the hands of Argentine Javiar Mamani at the same venue two years back.

An excited public filled the venue expecting the stylish boxer-puncher to upset the fighter. Yours truly had predicted a points victory to Naleca if Joy failed to KO him (Fiji Sun 16/8/09). The Naitasiri lad did indeed dance around in the first round, but the second showed that he was not strong enough to rock Ali with his crosses.

With ex-champion Jo Ravudi in his corner, Naleca tried every trick in the trade with some quickly picked up by referee Vereniki Raiwalui. Crowd intimidation also entered in round 2, but Joy stuck to his game plan and the result was a foregone conclusion as Naleca finally fell in the 9th with 2 hooks and an uppercut.

The main supporting bout had another exciting

title match-up between Joy’s brother Junior Farzan and Naleca’s brother Waisale Ratu for the Junior Welterweight title. Just 2 months back Junior had squeaked out a controversial points victory over a disappointed Ratu. This was reckoning time. And it did not disappoint.

Junior came out firing right from the opening bell and had Ratu on the floor in the first stanza. That set the pace as the taller Ratu went into defen-sive mode and forgot about his vaunted right cross. He decided to continuously clinch with a shorter man and fight at close range. This suited Farzan who used his infighting skills to wear down and derail the Naitasiri man through another knock-down before finishing him off in the 11th.

Much is now expected of the two brothers as promoter Abdul Feroz looks for overseas oppo-nents. He has talked about a warm-up bout against Australian-based Ghanaian Joseph Khwadjo before pitting Joy against “The Man” Anthony Mundine in December in Fiji. Junior is expected to fill the main supporting bout against overseas opponents in both programs. Boxing is indeed on the up in Fiji.

- Subhash Appana.Widely regarded as the “encyclopedia” of boxing

in Fiji, Subhash Appana has acted as match-maker, time-keeper, ring announcer and judge on

a number of occasions. [email protected]

Suva: Fiji’s counsellor at the Fiji Embassy in Brussels is to return to the country to take up his new post as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Public Service Commission chairman, Josefa Serulagilagi confirmed that Solo Mara will take up the position once the incumbent, Peceli Vocea, is confirmed as Fiji’s Ambassador in Brussels.

He said the Fiji government is yet to get a confirmation from Brussels on Mr Vocea’s posting there.“It has been more than two months now,” he told FijiLive.

Suva: The much-anticipated Fiji Methodist Church’s fundraising scheduled for this Satur-day has been cancelled, reports Fiji Live.

Also the church’s different circuits will not be allowed to hold their choir competitions.

The Fijian administration said it has estab-lished that those with political intentions have been influential in the planning of the circuit choir competitions, a breach of the agreement made with the new administration at the Church headquarters.

Permanent secretary for Information Lt-Col Neumi Leweni stated a permit will be issued to the Standing Committee to hold its meeting on the necessary issues to be addressed by the con-ference proper.

“It will not be an extended Standing Commit-tee meeting as agreed to in the last meeting.”

It has also been confirmed that there will be no permit issued for any gathering to welcome delegates from abroad.

While the Church has been notified of this, there has been no comment from its executives.

Efforts to obtain a comment from assistant general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra at the church headquarters proved futile.

Representatives of the Fijian Methodist Church in California and Australia are expected to be in Suva this week for the fundraising event.

The trip had been planned prior to the State’s decision late yesterday.

Joy Ali Flattens Foe Fiji authorities ban Methodist Churchfundraising

Suva: Two Bollywood movies are ex-pected to be shot in Fiji later this year, says the Fiji Audio Visual Commission.

Manager marketing and public rela-tions Florence Swamy said the films to be produced under the Abbas-Mastan banner would commence production after the month of Ramadan.

She said representatives of the pro-duction company would be in Fiji next month to finalise locations and sign con-tracts.

Swamy said this would generate an enhanced positive press for Fiji from the international media as the stars that will be coming to Fiji to film here always attract the press, thereby raising the profile of Fiji.

Such exposure is unrivalled and will most definitely boost Fiji’s profile over-seas as a production destination, hope-fully catching the eye of other producers from Bollywood as well as Hollywood, she said.

With the movie to be distributed worldwide, this meant that Fiji will receive widespread publicity as a desti-nation.

“This is also expected to create expo-sure for Fiji as a holiday destination and the resulting implications of such expo-sure to tourism cannot be underscored enough,” she said.

“As a result of these films, a substan-tial number of jobs are expected to be created.”

- Ashwini Prasad, Fiji Times Online

Bollywood comes to Fiji

Solo Mara to be Fiji’s foreign permanent secretary


Indian Community

The Black Craps consisting of Justin, John, Steve, Rees and Bernard visited India for about weeks and visited Calcutta, Mumbai, Varanasi and a few other cities. Justin Brown has also written a well received book called "Bowling through India".

They played a friendly cricket match with Kiwi Indians at the sprawling

grounds at Gurdwara Takanini Sahib, which was aired last week on prime time in Close Up. The Kiwi Indians were lead by Bhupinder Singh who is a promising player and has a great potential to be part of our National Team - the black caps.

The other players in the team were Amarinder Singh, Navdeep, Raja, Gurpreet m Gurluvleen, Harpreet, Pavan, Mandeep, Gurseerat, Manbir and Jagdeep.

After the game which everyone enjoyed, the teams and those attending partook of the langar in the communitykitchen at the Gurdwara which serves free food on a 24/7 basis 365 days a year. This event was coordinated by Daljit Singh JP who is the President of the Supreme Sikh Council and Rajinder Singh President of the Auckland Sikh Society.

Black Craps a big hit

HIttINg bIg: The 5 Black Craps with the Indian Players who were supported by Daljit Singh JP President of the Supreme Sikh Council and Rajinder Singh President of the Auckland Sikh Society.

Shooting for the short film being made in Auck-land has ended and could be released in the country as early as September, director Sreeman Myadam said.

The 15-minute movie, titled P.R (Permanent Residence) was shot over three says starting August 14 at locations around Auckland.

The story revolves around a man who should return to his home country as he is not able to obtain his permanent residence in New Zealand.

But he dosen’t wanted to go back to his home country without the permanent residence. Deceit in love and relationships occur as he tries to secure his permanent residence through immoral methods.

“It’s a real life story of my people all over the world,” said Sreeman, who is from India. Sreeman has been an assistant to several well known directors in India and is also eyeing a bigger project in India soon.

Sreeman is off to India this week to finalise editing and other technical aspects of the movie.

Cast includes Rakesh Rathee (hero), Sophie

Hewitt (heroine) Chetan Punj, Shekeram, Soni Prasad, Sufia Ali, Freddy.

Story, screenplay, direction: Sreeman Myadam. Producer: Rahul Sirigiri (Link 2 Ser-vices (NZ) Ltd), Title of the Film:- P.R ( Per-manent Residence), Assistant Director: Sufia Ali, Cameraman: Sandeep Khurana, Make Up: Tasneem Small, Nuraan Waggie, Megan

Track n Trolly: Jackie & John, Equipment: Khurana Productions.

- Arvind Kumar

Following last year’s resounding success, the Auckland Indian Association has announced an even bigger Navratri festival at their usual venue, Mahatma Gandhi Centre between Saturday, Sep-tember 19 and Sunday, September 27, according to the association’s officials.

The start time will be 8pm and as in previous years, the daily events will continue until late. Entry is free before 8pm on every night except on Friday and Saturday. Aarati will be held at 9-30 pm (Sunday to Thursday) and at 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

Garba and Dandiya will be to the accompani-ment of live music by singers and musicians from India. Of course, as usual, there will be a sumptu-ous spread of Panipuri, Bhelpuri, Patodi, Samosa, Kachori, Pav Bhaji, Dosa, Hot chips plus many more items. Mineral water, soft drinks and tea and coffee will also be available.

For more information, call Dr Lingappa Kal-burgi on : (09) 815 3448, Parshottam Govind on (09)419 0792 or Dhiru Patel on (09)626 6134.

Auckland’s Indian film shoot concludes

Bigger, brighter Navratri celebrations this year


Indian

A near-capacity audience turned up to watch Anwesha and Abhas perform at the Logan Campbell Centre on July 25. They were not dis-appointed, after being treated to close to four hours of fabulous entertainment from the charm-ing duo, as well as some of the best local singing talent.

Both Anwesha and Abhas were at their very best. Abhas started the proceedings with a moving rendition of “Satyam Shivam Sunda-ram” and that really set the tone for the evening.Anwesha then captivated the audience with “Na jiya laage na”, “Manmohana Bade Jhoote”, her soaring taans sending the crowd into rapture. Gliding effortlessly to newer material, she had people dancing in the aisles with “Mindblowing Mahiya” and “Hum to aise hai bhaiya”.

But what really brought the house down was, of course, “Mere Dholna”, the deafening ap-plause at the end of this song testimony to the mesmerising effect she has when she sings this song. Abhas, on the other hand, was the consum-mate entertainer, with a magical stage presence and his trademark soaring voice which captured the essence of every song he sang, most notably “Na to karvan ki talash”, “Aoge Jab tum sajana”, and the special section on Mohd Rafi. The duets that he sang with Anwesha were extraordinary: Kuhu Kuhu bole koyelia, Jaane jaan is dil mein, and finishing off the show in great style with Kajrare.

The local singers did a fabulous job too, with Arpita, Ashish, Ritika (who was also the MC), Rachit, Sayanti, Naveen, Avish and Bishnupri-ya – all leaving their mark and heightening the intensity of the show. The backing musicians also did a commendable job, with visiting key-board virtuoso Indrajit Dutta leading from the front and providing a tight sound all throughout the show. Dancers from the Monisha School of Dance added a dash of colour and grace to the proceedings and were thoroughly appreciated by the knowledgeable audience.

The show, originally planned for three hours,

stretched to nearly an hour longer. Toward the end of the concert, the space in front of the stage turned into a veritable dance floor with cheering music lovers, young and old, all completely lost in the magic woven by these two young prodi-gies.

Abhas contributed to this in no small measure by abruptly setting off into weaving runs through the aisles, microphone in hand, singing and liter-ally exhorting the listeners to get to their feet and join the celebration of music.

A special 2-DVD set featuring the entire show is now available for music lovers. The concert was recorded professionally using state-of-the-art recording equipment, and the feed-back about the visual clarity and sound quality has been positive. The collector’s edition DVD, priced at only $ 15.00, is available with the or-ganisers who can be contacted on 09-6294158.

- IW news desk

Community

HH Goswami 108 Shri Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshree will be visiting New Zealand from August 31 to September 2 en route to his first visit to the Fiji Islands. This will be his third to New Zealand. He was last here in September 2006.

Swamiji is a direct descendent of Shrimad Vallabharcharyaji (Mahaprabhuji) the founder of the Pushti Marg faith and currently heads the sixth ‘Gadi’ (Chair) based at Shree Kalyanrayji Mandir in Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

In spite of his various spiritual, religious and social activities in India, he commits time to visit the United States and the United Kingdom regularly to enlighten the Vaishnavs there on the rituals and practices of the Pushti Marg, focus-ing particularly on the youth.

He is the initiator and chief executive of the renowned ‘Vaishnav Yuva Sangathan’ and founder of various charitable, educational and religious trusts. He is fluent in Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati, Vraj, Marvadi, Urdu and English lan-guages and has published numerous articles, books and poetic compositions.

He was the youngest to be installed to one of the seven ‘Gadis’ of the Pushti Sampraday. He was also the youngest of the 1200 religious leaders invited by the United Nations to attend

‘The World Millennium Peace Summit of Spiri-tual & Religious Leaders’ in 2000.

He has attended many other international conferences and summits and has facilitated community projects in India and abroad includ-ing the reconstruction of the “Amarapur Village” (renamed ‘Shree Vallabhacharyanagar’) de-stroyed in the 2001 earthquake; the construction of two new hospitals, the Shree Vallabhacha-rya Mahaprabhuji Hospital-1 at Bahadarpur, Sankheda and the Shree Vallabhacharya Ma-haprabhuji Hospital-2 at Kaladarshan Crossing, Waghodia Road, Vadodara (Baroda) and the establishment of International Youth Forum at various centres in the USA and England to en-courage the young to be responsible members of society by undertaking cultural, religious and social activities.

Vaishnav Parivar NZ Inc is greatly honoured to have Swamiji as their spiritual leader (Guruji) to guide them in the years to come. In the short time since its incorporation on May 21, 2004, VPNZ now celebrates several significant reli-gious events and festivals annually, and their fortnightly satsang continues to attract growing participation of Vaishnavs.

During this short visit Swamiji will deliver one Vachanamrut on September 1 at 7.30pm at the Halsey Drive Primary School Hall in Lyn-field, Auckland. Everyone is welcome to attend. For further details please contact Deepesh Parikh. His email is [email protected]

- IW news desk

Goswami Dwarkeshlalji Maharaj coming to NZ

Abhas and Anwesha has the audience in raptures


IndianMessage & LettersIndian

From the Editor

Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, Unit O, 8 Bishop Lenihan Place, East Tamaki, Manukau 2013 and printed at APN Print, Ellerslie, Auckland Copyright 2009. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Indian Weekender Volume 1 No 12Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limitedgroup editor-in-chief: Dev Nadkarni [email protected] editor: Arvind Kumar [email protected] Correspondent: Shobha Rao [email protected] technical officer: Rohan Desouza rohan@ indianweekender.co.nzdesign: Tanmay Desai [email protected] / www.desaign.co.nzAdvertising: Reggie Singh - 021 160 6704, [email protected] or Giri Gupta - 021 221 1131 Please email original editorial contributions, community notices and pictures to [email protected] expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearingv in the publication Please send us your name, street address and phone number along

with a cheque for $30 payable to Kiwi Media Group and mail it to Unit O, 8 Bishop Lenihan Place, East Tamaki, Manukau 2013. The amount would cover the costs of mailing and handling 26 issues.

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Need for a credible trade bridge to IndiaExports to India from New Zealand have doubled in the past twelve months and India has moved up to become New Zealand’s thirteenth largest exports market. Last year it was not even in the top twenty. Nothing justifies the need to move quickly on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India than this develop-ment.

The government had made excellent progress with the previous Indian govern-ment that was in place before the recent elections. Then trade minister Kamal Nath had been responsive to New Zealand’s proposals to work toward an FTA and had developed a good rapport with New Zealand officials.

The run up to the election naturally and inevitably slowed down the process. While the UPA government has been voted back to power, it has a new trade min-ister in Anand Sharma. So rapport building with his new office has to begin all over again. But it must be done quickly since no less than 30 countries that have far bigger economies than New Zealand are vying for his attention.

There is no gainsaying the fact that India offers probably the biggest poten-tial for growth than any other country in the world. Enough has been said about the continually growing breadth and depth of its market thanks to near double-digit growth that is pulling millions of people out of the morass of poverty. Every country has recognised this and putting in all efforts to gain a foothold there.

New Zealand has a lot going for it in India in terms of its brand equity and acceptance as an advanced nation that has much to offer in its areas of expertise – agriculture, dairy and technological innovation. What it lacks is a mechanism to raise that profile and bring it to the fore rising above the veritable cacophony of the over two dozen countries trying to grab its attention.

What it also lacks is a credible and efficient organisational mechanism outside government channels to build bridges and launch initiatives for businesses and in-vestors in both countries to come together. This needs vision, creativity and com-mitment and needs work on several levels other than at the commercial one. None of the organisations that claim to be working on promoting business between the two countries demonstrate this. In fact, they all seem a ragtag bunch without a credible plan – and certainly no profile.

Australia, as usual, has beaten us to it and has begun working on the idea in right earnest.

Last week, inaugurating a new institute to promote better understanding with India especially in the wake of the attacks on Indian students, Deputy Prime Min-ister Julia Gillard said, “As the world’s largest democracy and key emerging economy, India is redefining its role in international affairs. Its influence in our region and globally is growing. India is among the top 10 trading partners for Australia and economic relationship between the two countries has grown strong-ly in recent years. The Australian government is committed to building greater understanding between our two peoples.”

In January, it has invited celebrity music director A R Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire fame to perform at a free concert in Sydney. This is bridge building at its best. While New Zealand may lack Australia’s resources to mount such cam-paigns, it has a considerable fund of goodwill to fall back on, which it can use to great effect spurred by some great Kiwi ingenuity.

Now is the time for businesses interested in expanding into India to get their act together and get serious. Waiting any longer may be far too late.

A dynamic mix of rich cultural heritage

As native Fijians and Fiji Indians we have so much to learn from each other. It is the incident of British colonial history that has brought our two cultures together by design. The British imperial colonialists, as they have done in many countries around the world, did not properly envisage the future colliding of two very highly distinct cultural values and traditions and the ramifications that this would bring to the future generations. Let’s all come together for a more inclusive future for all.

- Sam Wasasala

Why the Greeks never came back to India

Many modern scholars both from India and particularly the west have debunked the ‘Aryan race’ theory or the Aryan invasion theory in India as baseless. Colonial historians used the Aryan theory as a ploy only to devalue the ancient history of India and denigrate the cultural heritage. Aryan meant “noble” and was never a race. The Rig Veda says, “Children of Arya are led by light - Rig Veda VII. 33.17’

-Ram Lingam

Rakesh Krishnan responds:

Agree with you 100%. Aryan was never a race. An Aryan was a person of good manners; a noble person. What I meant to say was Greeks and Indians shared the same Aryan heritage of India. Genetic studies confirm the people of Europe and Asia had their origins in India. As you rightly say, the concept of an Aryan race (and the Aryan invasion theory) was sowed by the British to divide Indians. It was a bit lazy of me not searching for the correct expression. Thanks for pointing it out.

After his India sortie Alexander was well and truly Grated , which follows: “Alexander The Grated”

- C Pinto

Yes, I fully agree with you, if the Greeks won the battle against Porus’ soldiers why did they step back from India instead of charging further. Hence the fact was Alexander’s soldiers lost the battle and great king himself was wounded during Hydapses.

- Rahul

As an Indian, the article makes you wonder how much the West has distorted history to demean us. Also makes you wonder if we could have handed out an Alexander-like treatment to the British, if they had the guts to fight a war and not sneak in disguised as traders. A very well researched article indeed. I sincerely hope the West makes it a part of its history books.

- Arindam Dasgupta

MPs and taxpayer funded expenses

Not only it is outrageous it is obscene and reeks of greediness and selfishness. As leaders, the Members of Parliament should set an example and not just fill their pockets first. Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Ba travelled all over the Indian sub-continent on trains and on their two feet and as a result they were fit and trim – and they did not rip off the taxpayers. In this terrible recessionary time the MPs and ministers whilst on official business away from their homes should lodge in ashrams, temples, churches, synagogues, mosques and maraes, boarding houses, and hostels so as to tighten their belts as we hard working taxpayers are doing. And we are indeed fortunate to have MPs of many diverse faiths in our great country. This will be a good way for MPs to touch base with the everyday New Zealanders and under-stand the hardships that the taxpayers are encountering.

- Alton Shameem JP

Brotherly bond from beyond

I couldn’t agree more – one of the most wonderful, genuinely caring, helpful people I have met in my life. Ashish is someone who never hesitates to assist and help people. She has a very loyal fan following and I am one of them. There are some people who touch your lives simply by their sheer presence and their quiet, unassuming personality. That is Ashish – she most definitely has touched mine. In this materialistic, back stabbing world, Ashish is a refreshing breath of fresh air!

- Freddy Variava

Suketu was Great!

I was at the Suketu event and it was great to see people from Indian weekender there. Suketu is a fantastic DJ and I have heard him play before in India. My only complaint about this event was that tickets were advertised as $20 but sold at the door for up to $30.

- Anjali Krishna


Indian

RAKesH KRIsHNAN

Comment

The East needs to be vary of Colonialism 2.0

subHAsH APPANA

Peter Foster drops a bomb on Fiji

Can colonialism make a comeback? Think it’s a far-fetched notion? Then think again. In the 18th and 19th centuries when the world was being colonised by the likes of Spain, Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal and the Dutch, India and China were the two richest countries in the world, together accounting for over 50 per cent of world GDP. And yet the two giant Asian nations were colonised.

If you think colonisation happened when the east was decadent and the west was rising or that India and China neglected their militaries and ignored the foreign threats lurking at their shores, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Take the Maratha navy led by the legendary Admiral of the Fleet, Kanhoji Angre. For 33 years until his death in 1729, Angre’s fleet remained undefeated, routing the British, Dutch and Portu-guese navies on the high seas. Down south, Tipu Sultan’s Mysore was the first kingdom in modern history to use rockets in war, and he used it to deadly effect against the British in 1780 in the Battle of Guntur.

In fact, most Indian rulers of that age had a keen sense of geopolitics. The Mughal emperor Jahangir, for instance, had an ambassador at the Persian court, and every act and word of the Shah was reported back to Delhi. The Mughals, and later the Marathas who replaced them, also kept a close watch on European activities.

When Thomas Roe, the British monarch’s emissary, landed in Surat in 1616, he was made to wait a year before Jahangir granted him an au-dience. Three years later, Roe returned without a trade treaty because Jahangir saw no point in trading with a country that had nothing to offer India.

However, one weak emperor dropped the ball. A hundred years after Roe’s exit, an English embassy had a stroke of luck when one of its members, William Hamilton, a physician of questionable medical skills, managed to relieve the emperor Farrukh Siyar of severe pain in his groin. Farrukh Siyar gratefully signed a decree giving the British inland trading rights, customs

duty exemptions, and the right to keep a garrison. The rest as they say is history.

According to professor Rajesh Kochhar, emeritus scientist at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Chandigarh, “These exemptions gave the English traders com-mercial advantages not only over other European companies but also over Indian traders. More importantly, the various official orders grant-ing trade concessions gave the British a cause to defend, with military strength if needed.”

Today, the east is rising once again. Econo-mists are stunned by the unprecedented flow of manufacturing, finance and wealth to the east.

Magid Igbaria, former professor of management informa-tion systems at Tel Aviv University, writes in The Virtual Workplace: “For all but the last 500 years of human history, the world’s wealth measured in human capital and in goods was concen-trated in Asia. During the past five centuries, the world’s wealth has been concentrated in the west. This era is coming to an end. Today, the great concentrations of human capital, financial power, manufacturing power, and informated power are once again accumulating in the East.”

Indeed, in 30 years India is predicted to over-take the US, even though it is only one-fourteenth the size of the US economy now. That is an in-credible rate of wealth accretion.

The question is will the US and Europe simply watch the world go past? On the contrary, there is a concerted effort by a US-led coalition to stop this trend.

Base instincts: Today the US-led coalition

has over 750 military bases across the globe. Despite the huge costs, this extension of mili-tary power is essential to American hegemony. A slew of European nationalities has followed the American military in its misadventures around the world.

Divide and rule: The Americans are playing up India as a major “regional” power allied with the west. This scares the hell out of the Chinese,

forcing the communists to come out with kneejerk statements calling for India’s breakup, which in turn makes the Indians consider China a natural enemy. Amazingly, since the dawn of history China and India never saw the other as a threat, until the British arrived on the scene and planted the seeds of border problems.

Emissions: After pol-luting the environment for more than a century, the west now wants India and China to cut down emis-sions. It’s a thinly disguised attempt to slow these rapidly growing econo-

mies.The dollar gambit: How powerful (and rich)

would you feel if you could print dollars in your garage? While the rest of the world has to earn a living the hard way, the Americans just print dollars to pay their bills. Need a few hundred billion dollars to pay for the war in Iraq? Need Venezuelan oil? Russian titanium? No problem. The Federal Reserve cranks the lever and the mint starts rolling. Yes, it’s as simple as that and the Americans have been doing it for the past 50 years.

WTO: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called it “archaic, undemocratic and inflexible” and dominated by a small group of

developed countries which indulge in protection-ism. One of its aims is to pry open the agricultur-al markets of Asia – at a time when India has the highest number of farmer suicides. The modern Farrukh Siyars are throwing open strategic areas like nuclear power to the west.

The current method of colonialism is covert, invisible. You don’t have to physically conquer countries if the global economic system can be subverted to ensure your prosperity at the expense of others. The eastern nations invest their dollar earnings in US treasury bonds to the tune of trillions of dollars; these dollars are used by the Americans to maintain their global military supremacy, build increasingly modern weapons, and reward their allies with cash, weapons, and security umbrellas.

For countries like India and China it’s a night-marish scenario. Their dollar holdings erode in value as the American economy tanks and the greenback weakens.

The west is militarily prepared to defend its interests. When Iraq was about to tell its custom-ers it no longer wanted US dollars for its oil…you know what happened next. Iran is the next target because it wants to be paid in a basket of currencies.

The only way this state of affairs can end is if India, Russia, China, Iran, South Africa and other self-respecting countries start accepting each other’s currencies. And importantly, stop accept-ing US dollars that are not backed by gold. That will bring down the American hegemony faster than the Road Runner on a greased highway.

In the first era of colonialism, the then domi-nant eastern nations opened up their economies and territories to western interests over a span of several decades, finally ending up as their colo-nies. Uncannily, Colonialism 2.0 is happening in much the same way.

- About the author: Rakesh Krishnan is a Features Writer with Fairfax New Zealand.

He has previously worked with Businessworld, India Today and Hindustan Times, and was

news editor with the Financial Express.

Unannounced bombings are known to have changed the course of history. When Japan sneaked in its attack on Pearl Harbour on De-cember 7, 1941, WW-II moved to the Pacific as the American giant was forced to wake up and oblige the Imperial Japanese navy. That tipped the balance in that war.

Then on August 6, 1945 President Truman directed the ironically named “Little Boy” to be dropped on Hiroshima. This was followed by the “Fat Man” on the 9th in Nagasaki to force sur-render from a nation that didn’t know the word. Emperor Hiro Hito was finally allowed to sur-render via a radio broadcast to the fallen nation on 15th August 1945.

On 13th August 2009, a finely parceled long-fused bomb was dropped on Fiji and Australia by notorious soldier-of-fortune conman, Peter Foster. The immediate reaction from skeptics and those with darker concerns would be to dismiss it as the ramblings of a proven and convicted trickster who has a huge axe to grind because he just served more than 3 years in a Brisbane jail. Some would also see it as an attempt by a wily mind to return to Fiji and resume the con-job.

This last point has to do with the fact that Foster has had his eyes on a strip of Yasawa that he considers paradise on earth. That beachfront property was leased to a New Zealander when Foster befriended him and actually got a taste of paradise by living on the Kiwi’s goodwill.

While on paradise, Foster found out that the

Kiwi held a Native Land Trust Board (NLTB) lease that gave the actual landowners only 5% of the monies involved. He then befriended the landowners and began to educate them on a new formula that would give them 50% with Foster holding a controlling interest in the new deal.

The Kiwi friend, who was conveniently for-gotten in the process, got wind of this and started asserting his contractual rights. Peter retaliated in characteristic fashion and opened up a path of intrigue that showed all the workings of shady dealings and questionable decisions that became part of the Qarase government.

That saga remains unresolved and Peter wants to make a comeback – that’s why he dropped this bomb, some say. That aside, there is no doubt that Peter was an insider with direct connections to the inner circle where PM Laise-nia Qarase, political strategist and business con-sultant Navitalai Naisoro and Qarase’s campaign

manager, Jale Baba plied their power. Peter therefore, had firsthand knowledge

about the workings of the Qarase government. In his bomb, he has clearly mentioned names, dates and incidents. And no one has yet talked about suing him for any wrong doing. This itself should make skeptics take notice. Shooting the messenger has long been considered the wrong option because it’s the all-important message that gets ignored in the process.

Perhaps the most famous case of inside rev-elation by a criminal involved testimony to a Senate Select Committee by a gangster called Joseph Valachi in 1963. This was the first au-thentic insight that the public had on the work-ings of the mafia; in fact this was the first revela-tion of the very existence of La Cosa Nostra. If Valachi had been ignored, America would still have pretended to be oblivious of the existence of the mafia.

Now we have the Foster Bomb and a few of his more intriguing releases include the fact that there was a clear post-2000 involvement by the Australian government in Qarase’s reign. PM John Howard even seconded his own party pollster Mark Textor to Qarase’s office to guide his 2001 campaign despite the fact that he was known to have supported the Speight coup.

Even more intriguing is the counterfactual that despite the fact that Police Commissioner Isikia Savua was seen to pretend helplessness on national TV as looters plundered Suva un-

checked, he was posted as ambassador to the UN by Qarase and there was not even a squeak from either Australia or NZ.

Foster’s allegation of complicity on the part of A/NZ does get the grey cells churning when one recalls that it was Australia that seconded cop Andrew Hughes as Police Commissioner in Fiji. His job was to hound and bring to justice all the coup plotters of 2000. Yet it took him 7mths to even interview a key figure who had fled to Australia fearing for his life in Fiji.

Andrew Hughes was again supposed to have been involved in a plot to have Bainimarama ar-rested in NZ when he came for the failed peace talks with Qarase in Wellington. Last minute cold feet by NZ authorities let him slip back to Fiji and oust Qarase and his nest of power posers.

The question that begs answering is if this bomb opens up issues of intrigue leading on to the Bainimarama coup of December 2006, why are Australia/ NZ pushing for a return to that façade of democracy when Bainimarama is clearly espousing an attempt to get Fiji truly op-erating as a democracy on par with Australia and NZ? Stay tuned for more on the Foster Bomb.

- The opinions contained here are Subhash Appana’s own and not necessarily shared by

any organizations that he may be affiliated with, both here and overseas.

Email: [email protected]

The industrialised east was colonised by the nations of pre-industrial europe. So is it unreasonable to expect a backlash from the west now that wealth and power are surging back to India and China?

“For all but the last 500 years of human history, the world’s wealth measured in human capital and in goods was concentrated in Asia...”

- Magid Igbaria, former professor of management information systems at

Tel Aviv University

go to www.iwk.co.nz for more


Indian Community

The joyous occasion of Janmashtami, that marks the birth of Lord Krishna, was celebrated with great fervour and gaiety by Hindu communities all over Auckland and New Zealand.

The two main temples in Auckland city – Bharatiya Mandir on Balmoral Road and at Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Eden Terrace – thronged with devotees from about 8pm.

Devotional songs, bhajans, prayers and the pleasant fragrance of incense filled the festive atmosphere at both temples where thousands of people participated.

The devotional singing and celebrations con-tinued till late as the devout kept the vigil until midnight, which is when Lord Krishna, the Avataar of Vishnu the preserver in the Hindu

trinity, was born.Throughout the evening, prasad bhojan was

distributed by volunteers at both temples, which all those present partook of.

Several political leaders paid a visit to the temples and mingled with the crowds.

Reports have also been received of the great Janmashtami celebrations at the Hare Krishna temple in Kumeu where hundreds had gathered to take part in the proceedings that included chanting and singing followed by Prasad bhojan.

Janmashtami was also celebrated by the Indian community throughout New Zealand.

Reports and pictures from other cities in New Zealand are posted on www.iwk.co.nz.

- IW news desk

Gaiety and fervour mark Janmashtami in Auckland

The PHD Chamber is organising an inter-national trade expo “Punjab International Trade Expo 2009” at Amritsar from 2 - 6December 2009, primarily to offer op-portunities to industry, entrepreneurs and corporates from India and abroad. A large number of overseas exhibitors is expected to attend in addition participation from within the country who will showcase their products and engage in business network-ing.

The Government of Punjab is the host state and the expo is being organised in the city of Amritsar in Punjab. Punjab has the highest per capita income (more than double the all-India average) among all states in India and Amritsar is an important

commercial hub of North India. The city also has an international airport.

The expo will have world-class infra-structure to accommodate a large number of exhibitors, business and government del-egations from India and abroad along with media. More than 150,000 business and general visitors are expected to visit the event during the period of 5 days.

Further enquiries to Ms. Shabnam Pareek (email:

[email protected] ) or Krishan Kalra, Secretary General

- PHD CHAMBER. Phone : +91-11-26863801; 26857747 (Direct)

Fax : +91-11-26863135

Punjab International Trade Expo in Dec


Indian


Indian

Independence day Celebrations

India’s 62nd Independence Day was celebrated with a two-hour function at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland today. Organised by the Auck-land Indian Association, the proceedings began with the flag hoisting ceremony – an indoor affair this year because of rains.

The morning began with a short welcome and address by association president Shri Harshad Patel. He said that amidst the economic gloom that had gripped the world, India had weathered the recession well and was poised to lead the global business environment out of the downturn because of its rapid rate of growth.

Senior association member Shri Kantibhai Bhika unfurled the flag escorted and helped by as-sociation secretary Dr Lingappa Kalburgi.

Addressing the gathering after the national anthem was sung, Shri Bhika paid homage to those who had laid down their lives for India’s indepen-dence and outlined the recent successes of Indians all over the world as well as in New Zealand.

As well as a number of prominent citizens of Indian origin, several National and labour Party politicians also attended. Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong, National MP Cam Calder, Labour Party leader and MP Phil Goff and Labour MPs Chris Carter and Rajen Prasad were present.

Ms Wong said that this was the sevent year she was attending Indian I-Day celebrations. She said she was looking forward to the Indian festive season in the coming months saying, “Bollywood will rule again in the month of October,” referring to the highly successful Divali celebrations that have had Bollywood dances as their highpoints over the past few years.

Dr Prasad referred to points from President of India Dr Pratibha Patil’s national address touch-ing upon points of social justice and the need for the benefits of India’s economic success to trickle down to the lower levels of society.

Mr Goff said among his few heroes was Mahatma Gandhi, who he praised for his humility, selflessness, courage and belief in social justice. He said Gandhiji was one of last century’s most inspirational leaders.

He also expressed satisfaction at recent reports that New Zealand had now doubled its exports to India and said he was happy that talks on a free trade agreement between the two countries were under way.

Two justices from India, Smt Hema Kohli and Shri S.K. Misra, visiting New Zealand for a con-ference beginning in Christchurch next week also attended. In her brief speech, Justice Kohli, who had landed only last night said there was much for India to learn from New Zealand on environmental matters.

A variety entertainment programme regaled the audience after the customary speeches. A series of dances from all over India choreographed by Auckland’s leading dance academy, Rachna Natyalaya, and the highly popular Indianz dance group performed superbly to lusty rounds of ap-plause.

A Koli dance from Maharashtra and the final Bhangra presented by the Punjabi Association were also equally appreciated.

Those present were treated to a sumptuous meal after the ceremonies concluded.

- IW news desk

Indian tricolour flies high in Auckland...

JAI Ho: (Top to bottom) Bhangra by commu-nity kids; Another Indian dance performance; Dr Rajen Prasad flanked by Labour MPs Phil Goff and Chris Carter; Ethnic Affairs minister Pansy Wong and National MP Cam Calder; Auckland Indian Association President, Harshad Patel; (main image on right) Kantibhai Bhika and Lingappa Kalburgi hoisting the Indian flag


Indian

The Bay of Plenty (Rotorua) Indian Association celebrated Janmashtami Birth day on August 14 at Gandhi Hall, Gibson Street, Rotorua. The celebration was huge success; over 200 people participated in the function. The evening programme commenced at 8.30 pm with the prayer followed by cultural items till 10.30 pm and the bhajan session carried on till midnight. The highlight of the evening was the drama in Hindi by Piyush Joshi and his son Deep Joshi on Bhagwad Geeta and teachings of Lord Krishna. Another attraction was Vasudev carrying baby Krishna and crossing the Yamuna river, performed by young children, which was enjoyed by all.

The association also celebrated combined festival of Raksha Bandhan and India Independence Day. The association had invited a few guests and dignitaries to participate. Among the guests were His Worship the Mayor Mr Kevin Winters and Mrs Winters, National MP Todd Mclay and his wife, Labour MP Steve Chadwick and Ethnic Council Vice President Hasmukh Chhagan. The highlight of the evening was young girls tying Rakhi to invited guests followed by cultural items based on Raksha Bandhan. Indian Independence Day celebrations took place thereafter. Bhangra dance by young stu-dents on patriotic song of Yeh Desh hai Veer Jawano Kaa was much appreciated.

Indian Independence day Celebrations

...and in Wellington

Indian Independence Day celebrations got off to a colourful start in Wellington on Saturday morning with Indian Wellingtonians turning up in colourful traditional attire.

The event was hosted by Acting High Com-missioner of India in New Zealand, His Excel-lency Kunal Roy, at India House in Lower Hutt.

The celebrations were well attended with Indians of all ages participating in the proceed-ings.

H.E. Kunal Roy hoisted the Indian national flag followed by singing of the national anthem. He then passed on the Independence Day message from the President of India, Smt Pratibha Patil, to the gathering. The ceremony concluded with the

singing of Vande Mataram.Light refreshments were served to the guests.“The special solidarity and the feeling of

‘one-ness’ when the flag was hoisted and the national anthem was sung, and the message of peace and unity by the President, read by His Excellency Shri Kunal Roy, are the things that stood out for me,” said Wellington resident Raga D’silva who covered the event for Indian Week-ender and took photographs.

“I particularly remembered the words ‘mazhab nahi sikata aapas mein bair rakhna’ that were read out – and could not help wishing that it became a slogan of the world today.”

Rotorua resounds withIndian festivities

VANde mAtARAm: Acting High Commissioner His Excellency Kunal Roy addresses the gathering (and right) with young Indian Wellingtonians India House. Photos by Nicola Fenton


Indian

teLstRACLeAR


Indian

On the occasion of its fifth birthday and 25th (silver jubilee) performance Cultural Forum of India is hosting ‘Dhan Ta Nan Bollywood’ Dhamaka with Sumitra Iyer of Star Voice of India fame along with well-known musicians from India. A scintillating performance by some of Auckland’s accomplished singers will be an added attraction to CFI’s double celebrations.

The event will be held on Saturday, October 3 at Dorothy Winstone Centre (Auck-land Girls Grammar School), Howe Street, Auckland. Please feel free to contact Ram Iyer on 021-529982 or [email protected] with any further information that you may require. The show is brought to you in association with Yogiji’s Food Mart.

Cultural Forum of India Ltd. (CFI) is an event management company operating out of Auckland, New Zealand. We help in designing an event concept that reflects the special purpose and image you wish to convey. CFI was formed for promoting Indian music and culture among the locals and Indians living in New Zealand. Its inaugural show ‘Sur 2004’ was held at the Mount Albert War Memorial hall on the auspicious day of Dassera on October 23, 2004. “ We serve as event coordinator-manager to different events. We understand the stress of coordinating internal & external resources and we know what works,” says founder Ram Iyer. “Our vision is to organise and promote quality events and provide complete entertainment to the viewers of New Zealand.” CFI’s strategy is to properly stage and execute events with a focused purpose, says Iyer

Cultural Forum of India’s double celebration

Community

More children will have full tummies thanks to a major funding boost by the government, says Auckland-based National MP, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.

The Prime Minister announced today on the Big Night In Telethon that the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development are jointly funding $320,000 for KidsCan to deliver free food to an extra 7500 kids this year.

KidsCan currently provides free food each week at school for around 8500 financially dis-advantaged children.

Executive Director of KidsCan Julie Helson said the funding from the government “could not have come at a better time. We will now be able to meet the needs of the thousands of hungry children on our waiting list, ensuring they are in better position to learn in the class-

room.”Mr Bakshi said, “I’m really pleased that a

number of local schools will benefit, includ-ing St John the Evangelist School, Yendarra Primary School, Panama Road School, Sir Edmund Hilary Collegiate Junior, Ferguson Intermediate School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otara and Otahuhu Intermediate School.

‘We know many parents are struggling to make ends meet, and that kids can’t learn if they’re hungry.

“This food will really make a difference to the ability of these children to concentrate at school.

“The funding boost is an example of the difference we can make for children and their families when communities come together in a spirit of generosity.”

- IW Newsdesk

Food programme expanding to help Manukau kids

Talks at Ramkrishna Vedanta CentreThe Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre of New Zealand has announced a series of talks by Swami Tadanandaji of Ramakrishna Mission Fiji who will be visiting Auckland.

Swamiji will speak in both Hindi and English on several topics including “Spirituality: what is it really”, “Seeing through the Vedanta-scope”, “The modern spiritual ideal”, “Synthesis of yogas”, “Spiritual practices” and “Divine Grace”.

The talks will be held at Ramakrishna Vedanta centre, 27 Arawa Street New Lynn Auck-land between August 25 and 29 from 7.30pm to 9.00pm on those days. The final talk will be on Sunday, August 30 between 10.30am and 12.30pm and will be followed by Mahaprasad.

Swamiji is keen to meet as many ex-students of Shri Vivekananda College as possible.

For more information on the event, call Jailal on 6267143 or Monnay on 3763103.

Sri Raghavendra Swamy’s 338th Aradha-na-2009” (August 7-9) was celebrated with enthusiasm and festivity by a group of ardent devotees of Sri Guru Raghavendra Bhakti Pra-chara Peeta (SGRBPP), Auckland. This was the seventh year in succession that the func-tion was held.

The function commenced at 8:00 am with a two-hour long Pooja and chanting followed devotional by the singing of many composi-tions of saintls (Dasara Sankeertane) that was rendered by the devotees.

This was followed by a pravachan on “GURU stotra Patana Mahima” – by one of the founder members. The highlight of the day was the newly built, elegant structure of the chariot (ratha) engineered by one of the devotees who donated it to Peeta on that day.

Delicious Prasadam prepared by devotees was served to all in the traditional manner on plantain leaves. A short audio-visual was screened while the devotees partook of the prasadam. The evening session commenced at 6.00pm with sangita seva followed by Tottalu

Seva (cradle seva) to Rayaru.The chairman and the secretary of Peeta fe-

licitated the devotees who worked tirelessly for the event. Around 300 devotees attended.

- More details on www.rayarapeeta.co.nz

Sri Raghavendra’s 338th Archana celebrated

New Zealand Indian Central Association (Inc.)PO Box 1941 - Wellington, New Zealand

President: Ratilal Champaneri Phone: 021 383 859 Email: [email protected]

Gen Secretary: Veer KharPhone: 0274 417 654Email: [email protected]

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1. Are you a member of any of the branches of New Zealand Indian Central Association (If not join a branch and avail this opportunity)

2. Do you have any special talent?

Or

Are you a professional who aspires for more respon-sible roles?

Or

Have you made some outstanding contribution to the community?

3. Do you want to shoulder higher responsibility like being on the boards of various governmental and non-governmental organisations

AtteNtIoN CommuNItY membeRs:

If the answer to all the above is ‘Yes’; then please forward your CV to:secretary, NZICA, P o boX: 1941, Welling-ton. email - [email protected].

NZICA has been asked to collect CVs and recommend members based on their merit.

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First round of CV assessment takes placebefore Diwali in the Parliament on October 13, 2009


Indian

Aaron KashyapBA, LLBBarrister and solicitorLevel 1, 351 Manukau Road, PO Box 26-596, DXCP 32513, Epsom, AucklandMobile: 0274 857 302 Phone: (09) 6238277 Fax: (09)6235177Email: [email protected]

For all your legal needs

Community news in pics

Waitakere goes Bollywood!

The Bapu of Indoor cricket

Left: Grand Gandhi - the winning team with the cup.Right:(L-R) Former Black Cap - Dipak Patel; Gary Troup - Deputy Mayor Manukau City Council and former Black Cap; Nigam Mehta - Event Manager for SPROUTRanjna Patel - Director - East Tamaki Healthcare

The Waitakere National Party celebrated Indian inde-pendence day with a Bollywood experience. The venue resembled a club you would see in the high streets of Mumbai. Men and women of many races dressed in authentic Indian clothing. The bar was serving India’s favourite Kingfisher beer and for a dinner there was a buffet of quality Indian cuisine. The night had many speakers including Anil Thapliyal who spoke on Indian independence, Manoj Tahal the president of Waitakere Indian Association and the honourable Paula Bennett MP for Waitakere also spoke on the his-toric occasion of the 62nd Indian independence. Henna hand painting was happen-ing and while dinner was served large screens showed the critically acclaimed Slumdog Mil-lionaire. The evening was a success with everyone enjoying themselves and to see the Minister of Social Development the honourable Paula Bennett celebrating this occasion hand in hand with Indians and many other races was a humbling thought and a step forward for NZ-Indian relations.

The Waaris brothers lived up to their reputa-tion of a scintillating house full performance at the Telstra Clear Centre Manukau. They were per-forming in Australia and New Zealand as part of their Punjabi Virsa 2009 tour which has now become an annual event and their fans eagerlylook forward to it every year.

The show started with pulsating beats of the dhol and bhangra followed by the performance of a local singer Kamaljit. The three brother made a grand entry and enthralled the audience for well over three hours. They dexterously catered to all sections of the audience. The students who are great fans of Manmohan Waaris’s love songs were the happiest of the lot. A song about Shaheed Bhagat Singh got the crowd pumped up with patriotism and it was well received especially due to the looming Inde-pendence Day celebrations. For the younger audience is was a good dose of pure Punjabi culture and heritage as they danced to the melodious tunes of the Waaris brothers.

Varinder Bareli and Inderjit Kalkat who were the promoters of this very successful show ex-pressed pleasure and satisfaction at the success of the “house full” event. They have promised the people of Auckland to keep up their work of bringing in performers and shows from India and keep the vital cultural link alive. As a sponsor, Indian Weekender was pleased at the quality of the perfor-mance and the overwhelming response the show received. We wish the promoters good luck and hope to be associated with them for all their future events.

- Harjinder Singh Basiala

Punjabi Virsa a big success


Indian Community

Botany’s favourite Indian one-stop-shop, Saluja’s Food and Spices completes three years this week. “It has been hugely exciting,” says Maneesh Saluja, who runs the popular store with wife Aprajita. “In the past three years, we’ve learned so much about products, customer pref-erences and the so many aspects of the retail business – but what’s most satisfying is that we have made so many friends.”

Maneesh has had a successful business career back in Ludhiana, India, where he helped run several departments of the family’s garment manufacturing, distribution and exports indus-try. “I spent 15 years in that business, which has more than 100 employees and is still run by my father,” Maneesh says. “Working on and manag-ing so many aspects of the business helped me greatly in honing my commercial skills.”

Maneesh was responsible for starting the export division and that took him to several countries around the world. “That’s when I began considering the idea of living and de-veloping a business in a different country. One thing led to another and soon we found ourselves here in New Zealand.”

Maneesh and Aprajita spent the first couple of years keenly studying different commercial aspects of doing business in a country like New Zealand that is so different in so many ways from India. “We looked around quite a bit and began thinking differently. We worked around the realities here and after careful consideration, decided on getting into the retail business,” says Maneesh.

Having decided on getting into retail, the couple began scouting for the right place. “It was

no easy decision,” says Maneesh.

After months of studying Auckland’s de-mographics and statis-tics, the Salujas zeroed in on Botany. “This was not a place too many people recommended. Also, it is quite expensive here. But we saw the potential. There were a fair number of Indians and people of Indian origin from dif-ferent countries and there was also a sophisticated western segment of population that is interested in trying out new things, so we decided on this place.”

Saluja’s Food and Spices is conveniently located at Bishop Dunn Place just off Te Irirangi Drive in what is now one of Botany’s busiest shopping hubs.

“We got this store up and running in mid-August 2006,” says Aprajita. Being new in FMCG industry it was a tough challenge for the couple. The biggest challenge in those early days was to get customers through the door, say both Maneesh and Aprajita.

“But we took things coolly and did our plan-ning systematically,” says Maneesh. As well as the nitty-gritties of ordering merchandise and managing inventory and displaying stocks, they paid careful attention to customer service. “I kept notes of customer preferences and sugges-tions that we followed up quite meticulously,”

says Aprajita. By and by, the

footfalls began to increase and soon enough, they began to develop familiar-ity with repeat cus-tomers. “Actually, we have enjoyed our customers’ support from the word go,” says Aprajita. “I must say we received encouragement from them in the early days.”

“We did some media advertising. But what really got us going was word of mouth public-ity – which indeed is priceless,” says Maneesh.

Backed with the strong overseas experience in Business we have been maintaining and in-creasing our product range with the growing consumer demand.

Maneesh and Aprajita acknowledge the con-tribution of son Atharv and daughter Arshia in the running of the store. “They have been our biggest support from the day one, they have been equally dedicated to the store as us,” says Maneesh.

So what brought the Salujas so much cus-tomer goodwill?

“Top quality product, fair pricing and per-sonalised customer service are something to which we have always paid careful attention to and constantly improved upon,” says Maneesh.

Saluja’s Food and Spices is a modern retail

outlet: well appointed, well lit and squeaky clean with soft traditional Indian music filling the air. The couple’s friendly manner is apparent as they greet every customer walking through the door and hold conversation with most of them.

Asked the reasons for the relatively quick success of their store and what makes it tick, the couple suggests we’d rather ask their customers for opinions. “We’d rather not say this ourselves, please feel free to talk with our customers,” says Aprajita.

“We’ve been shopping here ever since Salu-ja’s began,” says Pramila Sareen. “The very first impression was great: the customer service has always been good and has got friendlier all the time. They offer so many conveniences. We can pre-order on phone, they are well organised unlike other shops which are cluttered. Many of our friends shop there and everyone has a good experience.”

“They’re a happy bunch of people and are very helpful,” says Prakash Grover. “We enjoy going there, they are always courteous. Once my wife was feeling a bit unwell while shopping. They helped her with the groceries all the way to the car. That was really good of them.”

Maneesh and Aprajita is certainly a happy couple as they look back on their three years of running the store. But they don’t intend resting on their laurels. “We’ve got plans ahead,” says Maneesh, but will not say what they are. “But in the meantime we’ll concentrate in making the shopping experience at Saluja’s better all the time. On the occasion of our third anniversary, we’d like to express our thanks for our growing, loyal customer family.”

Delivering Botany’s happiest Indian shopping experience

BusinessProfile

seRVICe WItH A smILe: Maneesh Saluja


Indian


Indian bollywoodShAhID KAPooR tells JyoThI VeNKATeSh on the eve of the release of Kaminey that ever since he went public about his break up with Kareena, he has become very shy…

What made you say yes to Vishal’s offer to cast you in Kaminey?I told Vishal Bharadwaj when I met him that I was very keen to work with him when he expressed his ardent desire to make his type of commercial film, not the regular and routine one. Vishal narrated a few concepts to me but the concept of the twins in Kaminey immediately appealed to me and I told him on the spot that I wanted to be on board in the film.

What is Kaminey all about?Kaminey is about a pair of twin brothers – Charlie and Guddu. I am playing a double role. Charlie lisps while Guddu has a stutter problem. They are as different as chalk and cheese. And they can’t stand the sight of each other. Till one fateful rainy night, their lives cross.

Which role was tougher to play?Charlie and Guddu compliment each other and cover most aspects of the human mind. It was not an easy task to play the character of Charlie who lisps. I had to work on his physical appearance a lot because it is quiet different from that of mine. Believe it or not, I actually had to work hard on my body for a whole year even before the film went on the floors. I had to sacrifice on my intake of food too. I had to look 22 or 23.

does it mean that it was cakewalk to play guddu?It was quite difficult to play the character of the stammering Guddu. I did not want to make then char-acter of Guddu look like a caricature. Hence I met a speech therapist. I made it a point to interact with some members of stammering clubs, to get into the skin of the stammering character, it was essential for me to go through an internalized process.

do you agree that you have gambled by taking up a different double role?It is a misconception among actors that you should stink or look ugly and menacing when you set out to play a negative character. You can play a negative character with aplomb and yet appear handsome. It is very rarely that an actor is able to lay his hands on a good script. In was hooked on to the script of Kaminey even when Vishal narrated it to me. I need to take up films where I am not just presented as a star but the actor in me also gets to the fore with my performance.

do you mean to say that it is not a big risk?Though per se Kaminey is a love story, I would say that it was a difficult film not only for Vishal Bha-radwaj but also me as an actor. Yes. I knew that I was taking a big risk when I said that I was keen on doing a film like this especially after having come up with a romantic hit like Jab We Met. I knew that it was a difficult and different step for me. It did take guts on my part to say yes to Vishal but then I wanted to push the envelope as an actor and get into an entirely different league as an actor.

Aren’t you worried that your stardom will be affected if you take up roles like in Ka-miney?The toughest aspect of Kaminey is that our creative space is very limited because we have to cater to an all India audience. If I am accepted in this film, it will open new doors for my career. Films like Lagaan, Rang de Basanti and Chak De India were not expected to click at the box office. I hope Kaminey too, follows suit. It is not necessary that an actor should do only similar kinds of three types of roles.

How scared are you about the audience reaction to Kaminey at the box office?The audience will either accept a film like Kaminey instantly or reject it. The flip side to it is that if it does not click, by virtue of having accepted the film, people would definitely say that it was a grave mistake on my part as an actor. However if it clicks, I would be lauded for my foresight as an actor. It was doubly tough because I had to play both the characters simultaneously in the same location.

did saif and Kareena turn down the roles you and Priyanka have essayed in Kamin-ey?I too read in papers that then role was offered to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Chopra but they had turned it down. To tell you the truth, I did not ask Vishal even once whether he had considered some other actor for the roles of Chandu and Charlie in Kaminey, because I feel that whether it is that of Chandu or Charlie, it is a fantastic role which no other actor would have dared to turn it down.

How was the experience of working with Priyanka Chopra in Kaminey?I thought that Priyanka Chopra is a good actor before I started working with her in Kaminey. Now, after having worked with her, I know for a fact that she is a very good actor. I should say that working in Kaminey was a great challenge for her because I have a double role in it. What I like about her is the fact that though most of the other actors are very selfish, she is not a selfish actor at all, but a very intelligent one. Priyanka is a very positive person. I would call her a very good team player. Her overall attitude is to make a good film.

Is that the reason you are seeing Priyanka these days?I get linked to every actress, whether it is Vidya Balan earlier or Priyanka and Rani now because besides the fact that I am single, I have worked with Priyanka in Kaminey and I am now working with Rani Mukerjee in Dil Bole Hadappa. Tomorrow, I would not be surprised if I am linked with Anushka Sharma just because I am working with her in Yashji’s new film directed by Parmeet Sethi.

does it mean that the rumors linking the two of you are not true?I am fed up yelling from the roof tops that there is nothing between me and Priyanka. We are just good friends and I do not mean it in the filmi way. I am very private about my personal life. In fact I am not an introvert but then I have become very shy of talking about my personal life, ever since Kareena and I had a public break up. I find it very difficult to deal with my personal life when it becomes too public.

What did you learn when your relationship with Kareena turned sour?Every one of us learns from every relationship of yours. There is no point in blaming either party when a relationship goes kaput. There are several reasons which lead to two people calling off their relationship after it is public.

Is it true that you have turned down your mother actress Neelima Azeem’s offer to cast you in her debut film as a director?I do not want to talk about my mother wanting to make a film with me, because it is far too premature.

What has happened to your plans to work under your dad Pankaj Kapoor’s direction?I am looking forward to working with my dad in a film that he will be directing by the end of this year.

“You learn from every relationship”

CELEB SPEAK


Indian bollywood

Indian

KatrinaKaif


Indian bollywood

Actor Milind Soman, who has been in the news for openly escorting his latest girlfriend (Rock On actress) Shahana Goswami following his dramatic split with French actress-wife Mylene Jampanoi, seems to be on cloud nine these days. Besides being on a high, thanks to “the warm rapport” he shares with his special friend (read soul mate), the sinewy Soman is ecstatic about his latest ‘under-wraps’ completed movie Sig-nature. “It’s a mind-blowing subject where as a sports-coach I am the centre of attraction with Shilpa Shetty playing my doting wife and Esha Deol oozing her massive ‘crush’ on me. “The social-suspense thriller film directed by veteran Partho Ghosh (of Agnisakshi and 100 Days) will shock audiences when they see Shilpa Shetty defying her glamour-puss image and playing

a demure plain Jane wife,” insists Soman, who has been lately attempting films of all genres and languages, including a Marathi (Gandh) flick and even Tamil and Telugu movies. “In my latest Telugu movie Satyameva Jayate, my nega-tive role is similar to what Ajay Devgan played in Khaakee. In fact, instead of mumbling the usual one, two three, four, I learnt the nuances of the difficult Telugu lingo to ensure that my lip-movements perfectly match the dubbing,” en-thuses the fitness freak actor who has also been part of the cast for a Swedish movie called ARN.

Coming back to Signature, we ask Milind what the experience was like working with Shilpa. Last heard there were reports that Shilpa,

whose character in the film has a bizarre ‘tantrik’ twist, would often laugh aloud eerily during the shots. “That’s not true. There was nothing un-natural about Shilpa’s laughter. She had another reason for that. During the romantic song picturi-sations, I would find it rather awkward doing my lip-sync and trying to dance. This would result in Madame Shilpa having a hearty laugh at my expense. But it was good fun that helped us to de-stress,” Milind says with a smile. According to him, the two shared a terrific chemistry on screen. “At least on-screen, I guess I am damn good at playing a husband,” chuckles the Bheja Fry actor.

There is also talk that his role as a ‘sports-coach’ is a smart take-off on Shah Rukh Khan in Chak De. However, Milind denies this outright.

“Hey, I am definitely not under any sports-movie hang-over. Since I am an expert swimmer and an athlete (remember he participated in the Mumbai Marathon) the role fitted me like a glove and I have played it my own way,” he clarifies. Is it true that Esha’s negative role as an obsessive stalk-ing lover reminded him of real-life female fans who had last hounded him? “Actually, Esha’s role is shown as an extreme case who is hell-bent on hooking me. In reality, I would shudder to meet a maniac fidaa-fan like her. Fortunately my die-hard female fans off-screen were not as besotted as her,” shrugs Milind.

- Chaitanya Padukone

Not many are aware that ‘Bhajan Samrat’ Anup Jalota is a huge cricket-buff and is ‘pally’ with most of the cricketing luminaries including Kapil Dev. The jovial Jalota known for his witty repartees will soon be seen flaunting his ‘cricket connection’. The versatile senior singer has discreetly recorded an eloquent vocal tribute titled ‘Bhaarat Ki Shaan’, composed by him with lyrics written by a software engineer (‘Chhotu’) dedicated to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. Says Anup, “It’s a ten-minute ‘long-playing’ score akin to Tendulkar’s brilliant performance as an ace batsman. For the first time in my singing career of three decades, I have recorded a ‘single’ in vocal and instru-mental tracks, that too as a tribute to a great cricketer. Never get ‘run out’ in life has always been my mission-mantra. We hope to release this unique track within a couple of months from now,” reveals the singer who has his own ‘take’ on the infectious cricket-mania.

“Cricket is like a ‘religion’ in India, but we have to ensure that there is no over-dose of the game. Otherwise it’s bound to make fans lose their enthusiasm in watching the non-stop telecast of suc-cessive series,” insists the ‘religious’ vocal music singer who celebrated his birthday recently (July 29) with an offbeat twist. “This time I decided to surprise all my celeb invitees with a live qawaali performance by eminent singer Munnawar Masoom. Although I am a bhajan-ghazal exponent, I make it a point to sing a couple of popular qawwalis at my ghazal concerts, which even my fans enjoy,” laughs Anup whose next dream-project in the pipeline is a tribute album to the iconic-maverick legend Kishore Kumar.

Devotional Singer Anup Jalota ‘singles’ out Sachin Tendulkar for his latest ‘score’

When Milind Soman played on-screen husband to Shilpa Shetty


Indian bollywood

“I am enjoying my single status right now”Rosa Catalano on ‘Life after Saif’ and her career

Saif’s Italian ex beau Rozza Catalano has been unable to check out the Khan’s first home pro-duction ‘Love Aaj Kal’, which incidentally had Saif ‘convincingly’ romancing two ‘foreign’ artistes Giselle (Harleen) and Florence (Jo) on screen. Some cine-buffs even wondered whether his whirlwind fling with signorina Catalano off-screen, aided him in his slick performance. Responds Rosa, “Hey, I am just back from a month-long tour of Europe. I was freaking out with friends and family. I could not catch up on any of the Bollywood releases out here. Anyway my good wishes are always with ‘him’ (read Saif) in whatever he does,” declares the model-actress, adding that she has lately been on a high. Before we probe as to which spirits she sipped, she chuckles, “It was performing all those dare-devil stunts in the upcoming Khatron Ke Khiladi reality TV show, (Colors Channel) which swung me into ecstasy.”

Khatron ke Khiladi apart, there is a lot hap-pening in Rozza’s professional life. Taking time off from her favourite Capoeira (a native Brazil-ian dance-exercise) fitness sessions, which she indulges in whenever she is not busy shooting, Rozza settles down to talk about her career and her future plans. For one, she is quite miffed with people referring to her as the “latest firang item-girl in B-town who is set to upstage Yana Gupta”. “It’s true that dancing is my passion and I have done item-songs for a few Bollywood movies like ‘Shaurya’ and Sunny Deol’s ‘Chamku’. But I hate being tagged as an item-dancer because there’s much more to me. Producers are now signing me on for well-defined roles. One of them is a movie ‘Ek Second—Jo Zindagi Badal De’ directed by Partho Ghosh where I play the role of Jackie Shroff’s foreigner wife. There are other films in

the anvil too,” she reveals, adding that she has now appointed an agent to co-ordinate her work in Hindi films. However, she has been having a tough time communicating with the agent, who speaks only in chaste Hindi. “It is no doubt an effort but on the flip side, I would say it is a bless-

ing in disguise because I get to regularly learn new Hindi words and phrases from him,” laughs Rosa who being an ‘Indophile’ relishes Indian spicy food, freaks out on mangoes, and has a fetish for ethnic outfits and Hindi songs even off-screen.

Although she still nurses a ‘soft corner’ for her mentor-cum-ex-beau Saif Ali Khan more as a “silent well-wisher”, her dream-dude is none other suave Akshaye Khanna . “Given a choice I would love to work with Akshaye because he is such an awesome performer. But Hrithik Roshan’s dances and screen-charisma also fas-cinate me,” she confesses on second thoughts. Incidentally, Rosa won the hearts of ace choreog-raphers Saroj Khan and Ahmed Khan when she danced to their tunes for two different songs in a forthcoming film. “It was an awesome privilege working with both of them. They did seem im-pressed when I completed my song portions much ahead of the schedules that too with the right lip-sync. It was just that I had learnt the Hindi lyrics and understood the translated meanings well in advance. So I knew precisely the right expres-sions,” claims the Italian model whose “dream” is to briefly meet Madame Sonia Gandhi someday. “The way Sonia-ji has blended so beautifully into Indian culture, her moral strength and leadership qualities are truly an inspiration for me,” she jus-tifies. Wasn’t Rosa hunting for a new emotional anchor after her bizarre break-up with Saif Ali ? “Since I believe in giving 100 per cent to a rela-tionship, I am in no frantic hurry to get hooked on to someone just for the heck of it. Right now I am enjoying my single status, while my ‘work’ is my constant partner,” she declares as a parting shot.

- Chaitanya Padukone

Although she still nurses a ‘soft corner’ for her mentor-cum-ex-beau Saif Ali Khan more as a “silent well-wisher”, her dream-dude is none other suave Akshaye Khanna .

It was years ago when Indian cinema was taking it’s first steps in the international arena that a Hollywood scribe coined the term “Bollywood” to describe the fledgling Indian industry in derisive fashion. Over the years the derisively named Bollywood has time after time proved that it and indeed the entire Indian film industry has much more substance than the west would give it credit for.

Bollywood has been constantly evolving and now boasts of a global audience from Alaska to Adelaide and Montreal to Mogadishu. Millions of fans across continents love every tear that trickles down the shapely heroine’s cheek, every punch that the hero throws and every latka and Jhatka of the item numbers on celluloid.

Traditionally too Bollywood has provided cheap and affordable entertainment to the masses in India and therefore to even think of recession in Bollywood is almost sacrilege … Daiya re daiya, ka hoi joun hamar phillumwa band ho jayi? Ka kari hum thod maja mare ke wastin? However unthinkable or unpalatable it may be, that is the reality in a globalised world. Although the industry captains may not ac-knowledge it in public the signs are there for all to see. For the last 2-3 quatrers no major film with A-list star cast has been released except perhaps the Akshay Kumar thriller flick 8x10 Tasveer, Abhishek Bacchan’s Delhi-6, both of which sank without causing a single ripple.

Most major productions that are on the floors have had their schedules pushed back (depend-ing on the stage of completion). The Abhishek starrer “Drona” for example spent Rs. 22 crores (approximately NZ$8.5 million) on the villain’s get up and associated special effects alone! Many keenly awaited projects have also been downscaled in terms of budget. Singh may have been King a couple of seasons ago but in Bol-lywood today “Recession is King”. Some of the movies that have been released in the recent

past are Anubhav, 99, Aloo Chat, Coffee House, Detective Nani, Zor laga ke Haiya, etc. The one common thread between them being no A-list star cast, small budget and off beat/cross over themes and a limited release in B&C class territories.

Big banners and premier production houses like Ronnie Screwwala’s UTV, Pritish Nandy Com-munications and a few others have either post-poned or down sized projects. The stars too are not entirely untouched by the re-cession. Many A-list stars have reduced their asking price and have also reduced their signing amount. Many of them have also gone for trade-ins of territory collections instead of taking a full pay cheque. Estab-lished thespians like Rajanikant have even gone so far as to refund the distributors losses on his big budget films like “kuselan”, which was remade in Hindi as Billu (barber!) with King Khan in the lead.

However it’s not all doom and gloom in Bol-lywood just yet. The later half of 2009 is all set to witness some fireworks at the box office with a long list of top notch directors and actors vying for the title of “ viewers favourite”.Some of the forthcoming flicks that you can look

forward to are: Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year star-

ring Rishi & Neetu da puttar…decked up as a sardar a la Sunjay Dutt in ‘Sarhad Paar’

& Salman Khan in ‘Heroes’.

Kites- A Hrithik Roshan home produc-tion directed by Anurag Basu and not Rakesh Roshan but still start-ing withtheir perrinialy favourite alphabet‘K’. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut

My name is Khan- This film re-unites the super-hit jodi of all time (SRK & Kajol), that was last seen in Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ .Rumour has it that the story is an intensely emotional one based on a true story.

Paathshaala - di-rected by Milind Ukey the film stars Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia, Nana Patekar&

Suniel Shetty. According to reports it is India’s most lavish children’s film yet! .

Run Bhola Run - A comedy thriller di-rected by Neeraj Vora Starring old war horse Govinda,Amisha Patel ,

Tusshar Kapoor and Celina Jaitley.

Mai aur Mrs.Khanna – A Salman Khan home production of sorts the under the joint Banner of Sohail Khan Productions & UTV Motion Pictures.Star Cast: Salman Khan, Govinda, Sohail Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Preity Zinta.

Veer - directed by Gadar director, Anil Sharma, Veer is a big budget magnum opus a period film set in the 18th century.It’s story is reportedly penned by Salman Khan himself.

De Dana Dan - Comedy is back and so is Priyadarshan doing what he does best. Hope-fully it will recreate the laugh riot magic of Hera Pheri. The movie stars hot onscreen pair-Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar,Suniel Shetty , Paresh Rawal,Sameera Reddy and Neha Dhupia also star in the film.

London DreamsFlim: London Dreams Director:Vipul Shah ,Cast: Salman khan Asin , Ajay Devgan. A lavishly mounted movie with an A list star cast after the successful Namastey London by the same production team.

Three Idiots- is the tentative title for Rajkumar Hirani’s upcoming film starring Mr.Perferction Aamir Khan.The film also starrs Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi.

Kaminay- Vishal Bharadwaj’s come back flick starring Shahid Kapur, Priyanka Chopra and Amol Gupte(the creative director of Taare Zameen Par). Easily one of the awaited films of 2009, you will see Shahid Kapur in a double role here. The look of Shahid is going to be totally different for Kaminay and it is reportedly kept under the wraps. The movie is supposed to be a comedy with a difference.

Enjoy…

Recession in Bollywood: kabhi khushi kabhi ghamRajesh Krishnamurthy takes a sneak peek at what’s coming our way later this year

Big banners and premier production houses like Ronnie Screwwala’s UTV, Pritish Nandy Com-munications and a few others have ei-ther postponed or down sized projects. The stars too are not entirely untouched by the recession.


Indian Finance Law

Reviewing interest ratesRAVI meHtA NeeLAm mCdoNALd

Over the past few weeks, the data emerging from various financial markets, business confidence reports, consumer confidence reports and retail sales figures from different countries around the globe are confirming the fact that worst is behind us.

In line with that the world share markets have climbed. The companies have come up with better than expected results.

The result is that there is optimism in world financial markets. The investors are shirking risk aversion and are investing in riskier assets namely equities and currencies which were bet-tered towards the last year.

If the economy performs too well, there is risk that inflation will be a big problem in the next 2-3 years. Correspondingly the interest rates will also shoot up.

New Zealand is a small economy. Our ex-change rate and interest rates are all influenced by world economies, particularly by Australia.

A couple of weeks ago, job numbers came out better than expected in Australia. It is widely speculated that Australia will be raising the in-terest rates within next few months.

The effect is that here in New Zealand medium and long term interest rates have gone up with three year rate moving by almost 50 basis points. This is in spite of the fact that official

cash rate is very low and Reserve bank Governor has repeatedly said that it will remain low for a period of around next 10-12 months.

What should consumers do in this situation?A few months ago when the mortgage rates

were falling, people were breaking their fixed rates and putting everything on floating paying hefty penalties. Now when the rates are going up, people are again getting panicky and are in a hurry to fix the rates. This is human tendency. No one can predict the interest rates and the econom-ic conditions accurately, that is the reason I have been advocating diversification of risk in my pre-vious columns. I have been suggesting splitting the loan into different amounts and fixing them for different maturity periods. No one can tell precisely the term you should fix your mortgage loan for, but I feel the financial markets are over optimistic about future growth of economy and consequently higher interest rates resulting from higher inflation.

Though corporates around the world have come up with surprisingly good results, the fact is that most of the profits have been achieved by cost cutting measures like laying off employees. The consumer around the world particularly in US and Europe has slowed down spending. The reason is not only rising unemployment but also the fact that they are saving more as they have

been scared by the devastating effect of econom-ic crisis.

It will take some time for their confidence to be restored. Till then there cannot be full fledged economic recovery. Although there are some experts who are predicting that there will be sharp recovery, there are many economists who believe that the process will be very slow – there even could be a dip again. Remember, ultimately the Government stimulus will be withdrawn and it will have negative effect on world economies when it is done.

If someone can afford to take risk of fixing at higher rates in future, they may be better off fixing for shorter term now. However, those with large loans or those who do not want to take risk, for them, still my preferred strategy would be to split the loan into 3-4 parts and fixing these for different fixed rate terms.

Note: Based on data figures as on August 16.

- Ravi Mehta is an Auckland based Financial Advisor and can be contacted on

[email protected] disclosure statement under Securities

Markets Act relating to his services is available on request and is free of charge.

For further information, please visit website www.professionalfinancial.co.nz

What Is an ETF?An ETF is essentially a portfolio of stocks

(or in some cases other investments) that trade on a stock exchange much like a regular stock does. Its performance tracks an underlying index, which the ETF is designed to replicate. An S&P 500 ETF for example tracks the per-formance of a basket of stocks that make up the underlying components of the S&P 500 index.

An ETF’s price changes throughout the day, f luctuating with supply and demand, unlike a mutual fund that has its net-asset value (NAV) calculated at the end of each trading day.

By owning an ETF, you get the diversi-fication of an index fund plus the f lexibility of a stock. Because ETFs trade like stocks, you can short sell them, buy them on margin and purchase as little as one share. Another advantage is that the expense ratios of most ETFs are lower than that of the average mutual fund. When buying and selling ETFs, you pay

your broker the same commission that you’d pay on any regular trade.

Varieties of ETFs The first exchange-traded fund was the

S&P 500 index fund (nicknamed spiders because of their SPDR ticker symbol), which began trading on the American Stock Ex-change (AMEX) in 1993. Today - tracking a wide variety of sector-specific, country-specific and broad-market indexes - there are hundreds of ETFs trading on the open market.

According to Morgan Stanley, by the end of 2007, there were 1,171 ETFs trading worldwide, with assets approaching US$ 800 billion.

You can pretty much find an ETF for just about any kind of sector of the market. For example, if you were interested in the bio-technology sector, perhaps Barclay’s iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (ticker IBB) would be worth looking into. Does the Indian market pique your interest? Then

take a look at the Societe Generale’s Lyxor ETF India (S&P CNX NIFTY) (ticker FC6). Or if you’d like exposure to the gold sector, then maybe Standard & Poors Depository Re-ceipts’ SPDR Gold Trust (ticker 087) might be for you.

ETFs- right for you?ETFs are index funds at heart, so inves-

tors are encouraged to study the philosophy of index investing which downplays stock picking in favour of buying the market.

ETFs can be a valuable component for any investor’s portfolio, from the most sophisti-cated institutional money manager to a novice investor who is getting started. Like other in-vestments, it is important for the investor to evaluate the different options to ensure the right ETF is chosen for the job.

- Sunil KhemlaniStoneBridge Securities (NZ) Limited

Tel: 09 308 0787 Email: sunil.khemlani@stonebridge-

group.co.nz

This is not an offer to deal in any finan-cial product and is not specific advice for any particular investor. A full Disclosure

Statement in accordance with the Securities Markets Act 1988 is available free of charge

on request.

Are ETFs right for you?If you find the tasks of analysing and picking stocks a little daunting, exchange-traded Funds (eTFs) may be right for you.

Mr J Singh from Pukekohe writes to say that last Saturday he was stopped at a police ckeck-point and breath tested. He refused the offer of legal advice at the time. His evidential breath test re-turned a reading of 589mcg/l.

He lives with his wife and two children. He has full time employment. Mr Singh further advises that he has been convicted of a drink drive offence in May 2006. He wants advice because he has to appear in the District Court in two weeks time.

Looking at the facts I can see that this is his second offence. The maximum penalty for this second offence is imprisonment for three months or a fine of $4,500, as well as a mandatory minimum disqualification for six months or more.

Mr Singh will definitely be disqualified for six months or more. He will be fined. When deciding about the fine the court will consider his family, his work and his financial situation. Indefinite disqualification

If Mr Singh’s previous offence within the past five years involved:• a breath level higher than 1000 micrograms or• a blood level higher than 200 milligrams or• an offence against either s59 or s60 of the Land Transport Act 1998 (which relates to failing to remain or accompany or to permit a blood speci-men to be taken), then in this instance the court must make an order for indefinite disqualification until the Director removes the disqualification under $100.

The director cannot remove the indefinite dis-qualification for a minimum of one year and one day and until such time as the disqualified person has completed the necessary steps including at-tendance at an assessment centre.Can Mr Singh’s car be confiscated?

In this case the court must order that his motor vehicle be confiscated. In deciding whether to make an order under this section of the Act, the court must have regard to any undue hardship that making of the order would cause in relation to his trade, business, occupation or employment: any undue hardship on any other person who would otherwise have the use or benefit of the motor vehicle. There is a possibility that his car is con-fiscated.

Can Mr Singh be eligible for a work/limited license?

No. Mr Singh will not be eligible for a work/limited License because of the five year rule. His second offence has taken place within five years since his first offence.

My advice for anyone in a similar position is to consult a lawyer.

- If you have any questions about criminal or traffic law, please write to Neelam McDonald at [email protected]. Please indicate if you would like your name and address to be printed. The information contained in this article or response is intended to provide general in-formation. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. Readers should seek independent legal advice in particular matters.

EBA (Drink Drive Charge – Second time)


Indian


Indian

WeeKeNdCUISINE

Recipe by Ruby dhillon

Recipe by shri desai

Marinate chicken with beaten yoghurt, Onion rings, chopped green chillies and all the powder masalas. Cover and keep it aside for two hours.Melt butter in a wok. Add garlic paste stir it then add ginger paste and cook it for 40 seconds. Add chopped tomatos and cook till they are soft.Add marinated chicken to it stirring often over a moderate to high heat, adding a splash of water if necessary.Add lemon juice and cook chicken until it is fully tenderized and well coated with the gravy.Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Shred the chicken breast in small bite size piecesCube or make balls us-ing a melon baller after deseeding itCube cucumber with the skin onSlice onion after trimmingChop lettuce leavesUse whole mint leaves – 8 to 10Mix and fold everything in bowl including spices and honey mustard dressingSprinkle spicy noodles on top just before serving so they do not get soggy.

tip: For a subtle onion flavor replace it with spring onion’s green portion only.

1-Medium chicken6- Onions cut into rings1- Cup yoghurt (beaten)3- Tomatos chopped1tsp- Ginger paste1tsp- Garlic paste3- Green chillis chopped (or according to your taste)2tsp- Lemon juice1tsp- Red chilli powder1tsp- Garam masala powder1tsp- Coriander powder1tsp- Cumin powder2tbs- ButterSalt according to taste

Cooked Chicken Breast 1(if salted then adjust the 00 seasoning when mixing)Rock Melon ½Cucumber ½Red Onion ½ Iceburg Lettuce 1Fresh Mint leaves few sprigsCrispy Noodles 1 packHoney Mustard Dressing Enough to make the salad moist 00 and evenly coatedRock salt-crushed To tasteCrushed black pepper To taste

5 easy tips for Psoriasis and eczema

By Swami Ramdevji

1. Take 2 tablets of Kayakalp Vati 00 twice a day.

2. Apply Kayakalp Oil in the effected 00 areas twice a day.

3. Practise breathing exercises 00 (pranayam) everyday, especially 00 Kapal-bhati and Anulom-Vilom for 00 at least 15 mins each in the morn 00 ing and evening.

4. Drink 100% Amla juice and 100% 00 Aloe vera juice with hot water 00 twice a day.

5. Avoid wearing synthetic clothes 00 hence wear cotton more often.

Next issue:

diabetes

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Paneer Makhani Pasanda Honey Mustard ,Rock Melon and Crispy Noodle Salad


Indian

The discussion is intense around the table at the Waterfront, Port Vila’s popular watering hole. The assortment of experts, consultants and in-vestors – some of them from halfway across the globe and first timers in these parts – proffer their individual takes on what makes the deni-zens of this little Melanesian country, Vanuatu, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean the happiest in the world.

According to the Happy Plant Index com-piled by British think-tank New economics Foundation, Vanuatu is one of the top five hap-piest countries in the world, the other four being Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica and Panama.

“It’s hard to understand,” says one tippler. “Their healthcare is poor, their roads are appall-ing and they have to pay for their kids’ primary school.”

“The problem is that the stuff you think gives you happiness is not necessarily seen the same way by these people,” retorts another. “That’s why it’s hard for us to understand.”

Yet another joins issue with the method that has been used to rank the countries. “It is ri-diculous that all of the developed world ranks so low on the index.” He rather cynically attributes “this happiness index business” as an exercise to make the least developed countries feel good “because there’s little else to cheer about.”

After several more rounds of theorizing – from strong Vanuatu Kava to pre-modern life-styles – amply fuelled by local ‘Tusker’ beer some of the group decide to ask a local for the secret of their eternal joy.

Clutching on to the short sleeve of a passing bar hand’s electric-blue island shirt, one of them staggers on to his feet and makes bold to ask: “What’s it that makes you guys the happiest in the world?”

“Huh?” says the hapless man half-smiling and looking around the table with Mad Maga-zine mascot Alfred E. Neuman’s classic quiz-zical expression, obviously clueless about what we’re trying to get out of him. After what seems an interminable moment come the words in a reassuring tone, “Bro’, don’t worry, be happy.” Smiling broadly he makes his way towards the

bar.C4’s endearing paradise

The bar hand is not alone in his bliss-ful ignorance of his country’s ‘most happy in the world’ status. Next day, I ask the question to a cabbie, a vendor at the sprawling produce market and the sales girl selling me a Tamtam (a popular local icon that’s a must on handicraft shopping list). Smiles are all I receive by way of replies.

Finally, I find a semblance of an answer at the unique Ekasup village

just outside the capital Port Vila. “Just call me C4,” says the bare-bodied, grass-

skirted English-speaking gent who welcomes us into the village and will be our guide for the visit. “C4? How do you spell it,” I ask pen and notepad in hand. “The letter C and the number 4,” he says. “That’s the best way you write my native name in English.” C4, I scribble. Reminds me of the wise C3PO of the Star Wars movies.

Ekasup is perhaps one of the South Pacific’s best attractions in cultural tourism. It offers an equally exotic and educative slice of pre-modern life in Vanuatu. One is amazed at what humans can do in the face of adversity with natural mate-rials available at hand.

C4 shows us how to make and use spears, bows and arrows, snare chicken, fish in the brook and even construct a natural fridge that can pre-serve otherwise perishable food for as long as five years --with absolutely no source of power!

“So what makes Vanuatu the happiest place

on earth,” I ask C4 as we tuck into a natural meal cooked right before our eyes, served on banana leaf dishes. “Look at this village,” says C4. “You don’t need money for this kind of life. We use everything that nature’s given us and it’s given everyone plenty – you find your happiness in it.” Shades of the Dalai Lama?

He spots me looking for a bin to dump my leaf-plate. “Just chuck it,” he says. “It’s natural and biodegradable – it recycles naturally. Every-thing here comes from nature and goes back to her.”

Another C4-ism: “We don’t need a museum, we’re a continuously living culture.”

“C 4 Contentment,” I think as I step into the bus for the short bumpy ride back into Port Vila.Potholes, potholes everywhere – even in the air!

If Ekasup transports you to another age, Van-uatu’s roads transport you to another cratered planet. “Every year the pot holes just get bigger. But this is not as bad as it was last year,” says my cabbie. “Why?” I ask. “Did some foreign aided for the road project come through?”

“No,” he replies. “We hear of so much foreign aid coming in all the time – the potholes never get filled. But we had the election last year so some of the potholes especially on the roads going into villages got a bit better.”

On my bumpy Air Vanuatu flight back into Auckland an elderly Kiwi schoolteacher vol-unteering in Vanuatu who is sitting next to me says, “I’d never imagined we’d have Vanuatu’s potholes even in the air.”

Personality

A safe haven for people who transcend boundaries FARIdA mAsteR

I have always believed that emigrants are a bunch of terribly brave people. To begin with, they are ready to commit professional suicide in exchange of a mouthful of sky and are willing to transcend bound-aries and divorce their close-knit families back home for a lungful of fresh air. Starting from scratch, suf-fering from an identity crisis, coping with a huge dent in their self-esteem when they grab the first job available, adjusting to cultural differences in the way they dress, speak and present themselves, the list is endless...

Cushioning the fall and making it easier for emigrants to come to terms with living in a new country where rugby rules the roost and recession is now well, a way of life, have been Dolly and Aspi Shahlori. Meet the feisty and friendly couple (if you haven’t known them already) who built Parsiana lodge in the late 1990s only because they didn’t want others to go through the same bitter experiences that they have had, when they first migrated to New Zealand nineteen years ago.

Anyone who has lived or walked into the Par-siana lodge, almost a landmark in the suburb of Pakuranga, would know that it makes perfect fodder for a television script. Be it `Shortland Street’ or a `Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi...’ there are lots of interest-ing goings-on with each resident at the lodge. It’s a home away from home to a merry-mix of students, couples, families, tourists on a pit stop to Auckland and sometimes even elderly parents who may have had major disagreements with their family and walked out of the house!

From a lonely hearts club where boy meets girl and gets married under the keen eye of Dolly and Aspi – but not without the usual soap opera of their life unfolding – to families making the lodge their home because they find comfort and solace in com-munity living, it’s a meeting ground for people of all ethnicities, culture and age.

There have also been those long standing resi-dents at the Parsiana Lodge who have gone around helping other new migrants by driving them around for their first job interview, guiding them and provid-ing support to new comers. Strange as it may sound, it’s almost like a welcoming committee, which is there to shield you from the rough and tumble of finding your way in a new city.

Dolly Shahlori, who has a Masters in Public Health and is also an immigration agent, has always been able to keep everyone abreast with the latest goings on in the government agencies and what’s expected of them when they enter a new country – since she has been a patron of a lot of agencies and

organisations. She, along with her husband Aspi and their lovely kids, Zeeba and Darian have always rolled out a warm welcome to make migrants feel at home. It’s almost a flame of hope for those who have taken the leap of faith and moved bag and baggage to a foreign country!

In short, it’s due to Dolly and Aspi’s nurturing nature that the Parsiana lodge is happy place to be in – mainly because it drives away the clouds of gloom even in a wet and dreary clime. At any given time, there is a potluck or a movie night happening, if not there are picnics, parties or long drives being planned. What sets it apart from other commercial living places is that it’s enveloped with a sense of

bonhomie and joie de vivre. “Like now, we have with us an elderly Kashmiri

lady who needs constant observation due to sei-zures. But her daughter-in-law who is doing her PhD is secure with the knowledge that there are people at the lodge who will take care of her in case of an emergency, just in case she is not there,” says Dolly who has currently moved to Sydney with her family but frequently visits home to make sure every one is well looked after.

Then there have been times when Aspi has been guardian to some of the international students staying at the lodge who are doing their engineering or hospitality degree in Auckland. And that includes trips to the principal’s office when the students wag college. He tries to play the dutiful father at the best of times. And the worst! For the girl students they have early curfew timings!

From newly married couples who are trying to settle down to a new life, to being there for an indi-vidual who had a sex- change operation and getting everyone to accept him and support him through out the transitionary period, both Dolly and Aspi have played a central character in the script that is waiting to be staged.

Or then converted into a short comedy film based on Parsiana lodge.

travel

What’s their secret?Dev Nadkarni visits the world’s happiest country

AN AssembLed LeAF FRIdge

Assembling a ‘ leaf fridge

Schoolkids have a break.

Abseiling down a waterfall


Indian Heritage

Lord Ganesh ~ A God with an elephant head and big body riding a mouse. Sounds paradoxical and illogical? It may not be so absurd if we under-stand the hidden symbolism in Ganesh’s image.

Of all deities in the Hindu pantheon Lord Ganesh is worshipped first and foremost in any ceremony, worship and even before starting any rituals for other deities. The images of Lord Ganesh is all-pervading right from the sculp-tures in 5,000 year old ancient temples includ-ing monuments in other parts of Asia to T-shirts, craft mels, wedding cards, invitations and even the popular Indian cinema. Nothing in the Hindu world begins without invoking the beloved ele-phant-headed God.

Symbolism of Lord GaneshLord Ganesh’s image is a composite of el-

ephant head and man, traditionally mounted on a mouse with four arms. Without guidance from Gurus, the hidden and main symbolism of Gane-sha’s image seems difficult to comprehend and may appear absurd. Though there are many sym-bolic interpretations, to the devoted seeker every part of his image is symbolic in the path of true wisdom.

According to many masters in the knowledge tradition of Hinduism, Lord Ganesh’s large el-ephant head is symbolic of mighty understand-ing that is required to pursue the highest path of knowledge. The trunk of Lord Ganesh symbol-izes the intellect which discriminates fully to resolve gross problems in the inside & outside world. His large mouth and big belly represents wide appetite for life digesting all that life has to offer.

His ears represent continuous and intelligent listening to the teacher as he himself listened to Veda Vyāsa and understood it fully while scrib-ing the Mahābharata. He has only one tusk, with the other broken off indicating the pursuit of going beyond the pairs of opposites ~ likes and dislikes.

His four hands represent the four inner facul-ties we have. In one hand he has rope, in another an axe. With the axe, he cuts off the attachments of his devotees to the limited, binding world and with a rope he pulls them nearer to truth and ties them to the highest goal. In his third hand he holds a modaka representing the reward of disciplined practice and with the other hand in the abhaya (fearless) mudra he offers protection on a person’s journey through life, especially the spiritual one.

We also find a mouse bowing down close by in the midst of sweet food yet looking up at the Lord. This denotes the power of desire which is the ‘mouse’ within each personality which can eat away even mountain of merit in it. This power of desire is to be used for doing service keep the vision of the Lord symbolized by looking up.

Ganesh’s popular names

The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit mix of 2 words - gana, meaning a group, multitudes, hosts and isha meaning lord. Also is his another popular name - Ganapati which is a compound composed of ‘gana’ meaning ‘group’, and pati, meaning “ruler” or “lord”.

According to commentators, the word ‘gana’ also means groups of sense organs, organs of action, pancha pranas (the five vital airs or life forces) (the five vital life forces), antahkarana (the four inner equipments of mind, intellect, memory and ego) the pancha mahabhutas (the five elements in nature) etc. He is the master, and naturally guides and leads them in the right di-rection. Vināyaka is a common name for Ganesh that appears in the Purānas and is reflected in the naming of the eight famous Ganesha temples in Mahārāshtra known as the ‘Astavināyak’ temples.

Ganesh ~ the God of successTo the faithful, Lord Ganesh is the remover

of obstacles, be it spiritual or material. Accord-ing to many Indian spiritual masters, the worship of Ganesh depicts the commencement of man’s spiritual journey with a form to its culmination in formless God-consciousness.

Lord Ganesh is the God of success as he is as-sociated with wisdom, understanding, learning, forethought, power and overcoming obstacles (vighna) which are key ingredients of material and spiritual success. As the remover of obsta-cles, he is invoked at the start of every journey or important venture, marriage, religious rite, construction of house or factory, house warming, studies etc.

Ganesha chaturthi marks the birth of the Lord Ganesh or Ganapati. This year it falls on 23rd August.

Invoking the grace of Lord Ganesh, may all our obstacles be removed in life by ‘Mastering our Buddhi for any Achievement’. After all, our buddhi (intellect) is the most important resource we have to discriminate and decide what is good for us and discover the Ganesha within ourselves.

Wishing you a happy and auspicious Ganesh chaturthi.

Ganpati Bappa Morya.

There’s probably no deity in any of the world’s faiths that can be represented and expressed in such a variety of ways as Ganesh – one of India’s most loved and recognisable gods.

Google ‘Ganesh’ in the images tab and you will encounter a literally endless array of pic-tures, graphics, illustrations, paintings and sculp-tures of the elephant-headed deity fashioned out in an equally endless variety of material ranging from pen and ink to flowers, leaves and almost anything else.

It’s not for nothing that one of Ganesh’s names is “Ananta”, which indeed means endless and infinite. He is regarded as the God of all be-ginnings and the Lord of creativity. It is therefore small wonder that he lends himself to being rep-resented in infinite ways, yet never once losing his identity or all the wonderful things he stands for.

And it’s not surprising, too, that the modern computer graphics tool of choice is the mouse, which indeed, is Ganesh’s inseparable compan-ion!

Ganesh has inspired India and Indians through the ages. It was Ganesh, too, that helped

light the spark of India’s freedom struggle as a movement of the masses: Lokmanya Tilak used the festival to get around colonial British rules that prevented mass assemblies of people to prevent Indians from coming together. Under the guise of religious fervour, Tilak mobilised the masses by spreading the message of freedom during the festivities.

He is perhaps the most widely travelled of Indian deities – and since ancient times. His likeness has been found in ancient civilisations across the world from Japan, China and South East Asia to Eastern Europe and even Mexico and other countries of South America. There is a museum in the Indian city of Pune that has docu-mented these instances.

He is one deity that is dear to all regions of the Indian subcontinent and is worshipped ev-erywhere. In fact, he is a deity who has more following around the – world including millions of non-Indians – than any other Indian icon. Ganesh, by his very nature, makes an intimate connection with his devotees and for many is as much God as friend.

The Essence of Ganesh The Lord of endless creative energy

How well do you know Ganesh?

Ganesh Chaturthi falls on SundayRAm LINgAm deV NAdKARNI

1. one of these is not a name of ganesha) Vighnahara b) Shurpakarna c) Markandeya d) Gajamukha

2. one of these is a brother of ganesha) Mushaka b) Skanda c) Vyasa d) Kripa

3. According to a story, ganesh’s ve-hicle, the mouse was aa) A bird b) An elephant c) A lizard d) A demon

4. Which sage dictated the mahabhara-ta to ganesh? a) Vyasa b) Vasishtha c) Vishvamitra d) Agastya

5. the Public celebration of the gane-shotsav was started by a) Mahatma Gandhi b) Veer Savarkar c) Lokmanya Tilak d) Vivekananda

6. one of these is not a Astavinayaka destinationa) Ranjangaon b) Ozhar

c) Theur d) Titvala7. one is not supposed to look at the ____ on ganesh Chaturthi daya) The sun b) The moon c) North star d) Peepal tree

8. Ananta Chaturdashi is the day when one a) Installs Ganesh idols b) Immerses Ganesh idols c) Does both d) None

9. ganas were the hordes who were in the command of a) Indra b) Vishnu c) Brahma d) Shiva

10. Which of these flowers is closely identified with ganesha) Red hibiscus b) Yellow rose c) Violet gladiolus d) Pink rose

1. Markandeya2. Skanda3. A demon4. Vyasa5. Lokmanya Tilak

6. Titvala7 The Moon8Immerses Ganesha idols9. Shiva10. Red hibiscus


Indian

Documents

Volume 1 Issue 12