Indian

Indian November 13, 2009

Log on to www.iwk.co.nz Volume 1, No. 18
New Zealand’s first Indian weekend magazine
For free distribution

At a glance
Feast of Indian classical music
Ty Burhoe, on tabla, and
Shubhendra Rao, sitar, begin
the New Zealand leg of their
world tour with a live concert in
Auckland on Friday, November 27.
Page 6

The art of caring for your heart

Indians are more prone to
heart disease than many other
ethnicities. The Heart Foundation
is now actively developing
communication directed at this
high risk group, telling them how
to keep their heart in good shape.
Page 19

What’s desi about desi ghee?

The fear of fat seems to be driving
the humble desi ghee from our
Indian kitchen. But we have been
using it for almost 5000 years.
So what’s the deal with this desi
ghee?
Page 25

Rise of the Nifty

There are few markets among
emerging economies with the
breadth of choice available in
India and few companies that
show the kind of growth rates
that Indian corporates have been
notching up.
Page 29
Today’s Exchange Rates
1 NZD =
USD 0.74
INR 34.3
FJD 1.40
EURO 0.49

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Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 1

Indian
Indian Rewa to be made in Christchurch?
Andrea Deuchrass
An Indian company is eyeing up Christchurch
as a manufacturing base for 30,000 electric
cars, spurred on by New Zealand’s new free
trade agreement with China.
But the deal – understood to be under ne-
gotiation – is partially contingent on secur-
ing $US20 million private capital from New
Zealand investors.
The company, Reva, is a joint venture with
a New York based fund, but based in Banga-
lore. It has the largest deployed fleet of electric
cars in 24 countries worldwide, with 3000 EVs
(electric vehicles) on the road.
A New Zealand manufacturing base could
provide up to 400 jobs and earn the country
$100 million in exports.
Investment New Zealand’s manager of clean
technology Chris Mulcare said New Zealand’s
brand positioning, renewable energy, research
and development and FTA with China made
the country an attractive option.
“New Zealand is a nexus between India and
China,” he said at this week’s New Zealand
Private Equity Venture Capital Association
conference.
New Zealand had potential to become the
nexus between the two countries in other areas
of clean technology, Mr Mulcare said.
Christchurch was a good fit, as it already
had a manufacturing hub, with many compa-
nies already servicing the automotive industry,
including hybrid city bus company, Design-
line, he said.
“It’s a good opportunity to develop a bridge
with India and capitalising on the high level of
skill we have in engineering and technology
services, along with our boutique manufactur-
ing businesses.”
Reva’s NXR and NXG cars are designed to
2 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
New Zealand
use about 80% fewer parts than a
conventional or hybrid car, and
are manufactured in different
markets using solar power,
cleaned with rainwater and in
Europe, their lithium ion bat-
teries are recycled.
At the conference, Mr
Mulcare was asked about a
conflict between EV’s and
biofuel. “Biofuels will be
challenged by the avail-
ability of biomass, until
you get marine algae into
the play, but you’re not
going to have electric air-
planes either.
“There are multiple
options and they can both
sit alongside each other.”
Retaining ownership?
New Zealand does not
have the capital needed to
develop clean-tech plants
and a licensing play is a better
model, according to The Warehouse
founder Stephen Tindall.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Tindall en- dend flow
dorsed biofuel company LanzaTech, one of the for New Zealand in-
most promising clean-tech investments for his vestors, Mr Tindall said the goal was to have non-disclosure agreements and K1W1 was un-
K1W1 angel investor company. as much ownership as possible, while follow- dertaking due diligence.
LanzaTech is targeting China’s steel mill ing a licensing model that took a percentage This would include taking New Zealand
industry, using its proprietary microbe to per litre. based technology and IP and licensing it
produce ethanol and high value chemicals “Let the steel companies put in plants and around the world, he said.
from industry off-gas, reformed methane and we take as much as we can.” “There is nowhere near enough New
syngas. In the last week, Mr Tindall said two other Zealand capital to fund these [manufacturing
Ethanol had potential to grow to a $113 technologies with even bigger potential had ap- and production plants] in different countries.”
billion industry by 2020, he said. proached the company. - Andrea Deuchrass in the
Asked how to retain ownership and a divi- After the meeting, he said he was bound by National Business Review Online
Indian
Dalai Lama to visit
New Zealand next month
In December 2009 His Holiness the 14th Dalai
Lama of Tibet will visit New Zealand to give
a couple of public talks imparting the message
of love, compassion, kindness and universal
responsibility as also Buddhist teachings. He
is visiting the country at the invitation of the
Tibetan Buddhist community of New Zealand.
One of these talks, on the topic of ‘A Peaceful
Mind’, will be held at the Vector Arena on Satur-
day, December 5 at 2pm. On Sunday he will give
a public teaching on ‘Nagarjuna’s Commentary
on Bodhicitta’ from 10.00am to 3.30pm.
Loved and respected worldwide as a man of
peace, a scholar and spokesman for better un-
derstanding among people and religions, he was
awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his non-
violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.
He has consistently advocated policies of
non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggres-
sion. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to
be recognised for his concern for global environ-
mental problems.
He has travelled to more than 62 countries
spanning 6 continents. He has met with presi-
dents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of
major nations. He has held dialogues with the
heads of different religions and many well-
known scientists.
Since 1959, which is when he began his exile,
he has received over 84 awards, honorary doctor-
ates, and prizes in recognition of his message of
peace, non-violence, inter-religious understand-
ing, universal responsibility and compassion. He
has also authored more than 72 books.
The visit is an excellent opportunity for New
Zealanders to see and hear him in person.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both
The number one
place* Kiwis like Josh
turn to get the job
done is Yellow.
The Auckland book closes soon.
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*Source TNS Conversa Independent Research, September 2009
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet.
He was born on July 6, 1935, to a farming family,
in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo,
northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child,
who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time
was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th
Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas
are believed to be manifestations of Avalokitesh-
vara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compas-
sion and patron saint of Tibet.
- Indian Weekender news desk
™
Job done. ™
COLENSO0119E
Srikanth family looking for closure
The family of a missing Auckland student
is looking for closure as the search for their
beloved brother and brother-in-law continues.
Srikanth Rayadurgam, 23, a student
of AUT, has been missing since Thursday
October 1, when he was last seen leaving his
sister, Padma Kakanoor’s, Mt Albert home to
attend classes at the university.
His family has long suspected foul play in
the disappearance since his personal belong-
ings were found near the Westhaven Marina
after Srikanth was reported missing.
“Every few days I talk to my parents in
India (Hyderabaad) and they want answers,”
Mrs Kakanoor told the Indian Weekender.
“Every day I tell them the same thing, but
it’s hard for them to understand.
“Every day we are looking for answers, but
there’s nothing, every day we hope someone
one will come around with some answers,”
Mrs Kakanor said.
Mrs Kakanoor said she appreciated the
efforts of the police and the support of the
Indian community in finding her brother, who
was 10 years younger than her.
“He has always been like a son, and we
are at a loss as to why and how this has come
about.”
Mrs Kakanoor said she was still hopeful
Srikanth would be found, so that there would
be some closure for the family.
Police have confirmed to the Kakanoor
family that a body found earlier this week in
the Waitemata Harbour was not that of Sri-
kanth.
Srikanth had been in the country since
February to study for his Diploma in Hospital-
ity studies while working as a part-time chef.
“It is totally out of character for him to
have disappeared like this,” brother-in-law
New Zealand
Nagesh Kakanoor told the Indian Weekender
earlier last month.
“He was always friendly, bubbly and trust-
worthy – no issues at all. He was studying,
working and was very happy.”
Srikanth, originally from Hyderabaad,
was last seen by Mr Kakanoor’s nine-year-
old son Rohit as he left their Prospera Terrace
home to attend classes at AUT. Earlier, he had
spoken to his sister by phone. He has another
elder sister who lives in the United States.
“His parents in Hyderbad are devastated,”
Mr Kakanoor said.
Srikanth usually went to work at the Shahi
Indian Restaurant at around 5pm, but the
family later found out that he had been told to
take a day off by the restaurant manager.
When Srikanth did not return home by
10pm, the family started getting worried and
informed police at 1am as it was out of charac-
ter for him to stay out without informing them.
The next day, a woman found Srikanth’s
wallet near the Westhaven Marina, and con-
tacted the family.
Mr Kakanoor said they later went down
and found a shoe, business cards and his back-
pack (unzipped) in the water. On Saturday,
they found Srikanth’s chef jacket in the water.
The police dive team spent whole day
searching the Westhaven Marina area near
where Srikanth’s belongings were found but
were not able to find anything.
Agastya Pesara, president of the AUT
Indian Students Association, said his members
were concerned about Srikanth’s welfare and
appealed to members of the public to help with
inquiries.
Anyone with any information on Srikanth
please contact the nearest police station.
- Arvind Kumar
3
Indian
New Zealand
Groundbreaking social issues Less money for Manukau roads
conference this month
A groundbreaking confer- munity and Social Services
ence on social policy and (NSCSS) says that the con-
community development in Auckland’s community ference will attract all the
a ‘Supercity’ environment development future hinges major players in the social
will be held in Auckland this policy field in Auckland. “It
month. upon local government, is important to plan region-
The conference, community agencies, central ally, in collaboration with
“Passing Go” will look at Central Government. Our
social issues in Auckland government, academics, intention is to bring together
and how the ‘Supercity’ influencers and participants
changes in local government funders and communities in the public policy sector Maintenance of Manukau’s local roads will have which means less going into local roads, road
will affect the delivery of - all thinking, talking, and throughout Auckland, to to be cut or delayed following a reduction in Gov- safety programmes, public transport, walking
services to the community. consider potential solutions ernment funding, says Manukau City Council. and cycling facilities,” Cr Collings says.
Key speakers include planning together to Auckland’s key social Manukau City Council Transport Portfolio Manukau City Council’s Accountability and
Minister of Social Devel- policy issues.” Leader David Collings says provincial areas Performance Committee will meet next Tuesday
opment and Employment Carol Ryan, Manager at aren’t the only ones who will suffer from changes to decide how to reprioritise its transport pro-
Paula Bennett, Minister of Local Government Raeburn House says “Auckland is undergoing a to Government transport funding policies. gramme following the changes to transport
Rodney Hide. There will also be a debate featur- period of massive change. We have a golden op- “Manukau is facing a $7 million cut in funding.
ing a number of Auckland’s mayors. portunity to work together to plan for the needs funding from NZTA. This means the council’s Meanwhile, construction is due to begin next
Keynote speaker Megan Courtney from In- of our entire population from Wellsford in the options are to increase rates or do less to main- month to provide access to new burial areas
spiring Communities, a leading figure in New north to the south of Franklin – and everywhere tain and improve local roads. being developed at Manukau Memorial Gardens.
Zealand’s community development movement, in between.” “The community has told us loud and clear Works include a bridge across the Waokauri
says, “This conference is essential. Auckland’s The conference is hosted by community they can’t afford any increase in rates. This Creek to link the eastern and western sections
community development future hinges upon local groups North Shore Community and Social Ser- means we’ll have to do less road resurfacing, of the cemetery, supporting roads, street lighting
government, community agencies, central gov- vices and Raeburn House, with support from the maintenance and improvements each year. Some and a new entranceway to the western block.
ernment, academics, funders and communities - North Shore, Auckland, Waitakere and Manukau local roads that really need work soon will have The bridge features two 3-metre wide traffic
all thinking, talking, and planning together.” City Councils. Other councils throughout greater to wait. lanes and pedestrian walkways. The walkways
Dr Emma Davies of the Institute of Public Auckland are also involved in promotion and in “One of the big problems with delaying will sit outside the arch structure, which will
Policy at AUT is presenting new research at the providing speakers and delegates. maintenance and resurfacing is that we will have provide a protective barrier for pedestrians.
conference. She says that, “The current reforms The full-day conference will be held in poorer quality roads. This ends up costing more Downer EDI Works Limited will begin the
are bringing together a huge range of communi- the Harbour Function Centre, North Harbour in the long term because there will come a point construction of the bridge and access roads in
ties – with different cultures, different income Stadium, Albany on 20 November 2009. where we’ll have to spend more to get roads back early November.
levels, and different ways of doing things. We There are limited seats, so early registration up to standard. The $3 million project is expected to be com-
need to ensure that all the residents of this great is recommended. The cost of registration is $90 “There is also uncertainty about whether pleted by June 2010.
city have access to the services and support that early bird, $120 after that. we’ll get funding for a number of other roading The existing eastern block is reaching full
they need in order to live fulfilling and produc- Register at the following website. projects, for example upgrades to roads around capacity and internal access is needed by 2010 to
tive lives.” www.passing-go.org Flat Bush needed to cope with development. ensure continuity of burial services.
Yvonne Powley, CE of North Shore Com- - Indian Weekender newsdesk “The national priority is now state highways,

4 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Migrants urged to use
licensed immigration advisers
Migrants should only seek immigration advice
from someone who is licensed to give it or who is
exempt, Barry Smedts, Registrar of Immigration
Advisers, said today.
Mr Smedts was commenting on suggestions
that there are many people able to give immigra-
tion advice.
“The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act
exists to prevent migrants becoming the victim
of poor advice and ensure New Zealand’s inter-
national reputation as a migrant destination is
not damaged as a consequence,” Mr Smedts said.
“This could be from someone who sets them-
selves up as an immigration adviser, or from
well-meaning would-be experts. Once a person
is licensed, the Immigration Advisers Authority
and Immigration New Zealand provide guidance
and support on immigration matters, continu-
ing professional development and best practice
client management systems.
“Whenever someone gives immigration
advice, the first question the migrant asks them
should be ‘are you licensed or exempt?’ This
way, the migrant can be certain that the person
who is giving the advice has demonstrated that
they meet New Zealand government quality
standards.
“All licensed advisers have a valid photo
ID which includes the Immigration Advisers
Authority Trademark. They will also have a
certificate with their name on it, which must be
displayed prominently in their place of business.
Mandatory licensing of onshore advisers
came into effect on 4 May this year. The Im-
migration Advisers Authority takes an educative
role in the first instance to point out to individu-
als or companies where their activities may fall
short of the law, before any further action is con-
sidered.
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Ravi Shankar to Play at New Zealand
International Arts Festival
Mr Smedts said that research recently com-
missioned by the Authority shows clear evidence
that migrants are more satisfied with the service
they receive from licensed advisers than from
unlicensed advisers.
“We are encouraged by this result, as it shows
that there is a correlation between the high pro-
fessional standards we ask of licensed advisers
and the level of satisfaction that their clients
receive. Migrants are often in a vulnerable po-
sition; if they take the wrong course of action,
they may be deported or have their application
refused.
“Any migrant who needs immigration advice
can look at our Register of licensed immigration
advisers on our website, www.iaa.govt.nz, or
find out more about the exemptions – people who
can give immigration advice without needing a
licence.
“Migrants are entitled to the same consum-
er protection that New Zealanders expect as a
matter of course, and the Immigration Advisers
Authority is in place to ensure they are protected
from poor immigration advice,” Mr Smedts said.
New Zealand
Legendary sitar virtuoso, Ravi Shankar,
will perform as part of his 90th birth-
day celebration tour, with his daughter
Anoushka Shankar, who also plays the
sitar and is a composer in her own right at
the Festival 2010 on Friday March 12 at the
Michael Fowler Centre.
“It is a real coup for us to have Ravi
Shankar performing as part of the New
Zealand International Arts Festival. This
historic performance has just been an-
nounced as part of an Australasian tour and
the only performance in New Zealand is
being presented in Wellington at the Festi-
val.” says Lissa Twomey, Artistic Director.
Described as the “Godfather of World
Music” by the late George Harrison of the
Beatles, it is almost 30 years since Ravi
Shankar last performed in New Zealand.
In a career spanning 70 years, he has taken
his country’s music to the world.
In the 1950’s, he was introduced to vir-
tuoso violinist Yehudi Menuhin who was
visiting India at the time, and Menuhin
invited Shankar to the United States.
Within 10 years Mr Shankar was the most
famous Indian musician in the world, in-
spiring musicians from the Beatles to jazz
saxophonist John Coltrane and composer
Phillip Glass.
Mr Shankar, Anoushka Shankar and
group will perform one concert at Festival
2010 on March 12 at the Michael Fowler
Centre.
5
Indian
Feast of Indian classical
music this month
Ty Burhoe, on tabla, and Shubhendra Rao, sitar,
begin the New Zealand leg of their world tour
with a live concert in Auckland on Friday, No-
vember 27.
The evening of classical music will be held at
the Saint Columba Church, 92 Surrey Cres, Grey
Lynn, from 7pm.
Ty has been a disciple of the great tabla
maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain, since1990. From
that time, Ty has dedicated to music as a career
and as a spiritual path. Through his teacher’s in-
spiration, he has established new territory for the
tabla, which continues to attract international
acclaim.
He is known for his sensitive accompani-
ment and melodious style. While his study of the
classical tradition and his touring as a classical
accompanist continue to grow, he is also inter-
nationally recognised for being instrumental in
creating unusual collaborations that weave tabla
with other various world traditions.
He has become well known not only for his
talents as a tabla player, but also for his extensive
experience as a recording and live concert pro-
ducer, Ty’s website says.
He has been featured on many soundtracks
for film and video, including the recent academy
award winning documentary, Born into Broth-
els.
Organically, these experiences led him to
open his own Indie label “Tala Records” in 2004.
Ty works with a broad range of artists including
Ustad Zakir Hussain, Art Lande, Krishna Das,
Curandero (Miguel Espinoza), Ustad Sultan
Khan, Bela Fleck, Walter Becker, Steve Gorn,
Mamadou Diabate, Rick Alan, Howard Levy,
Kitaro, Bill Dougals and many more.
MP Ashraf Choudhary’s office re-launched
On the side, he is the tour assistant for
his teacher Ustad Zakir Hussain, touring and
helping produce and manage concerts world-
wide. Ty also teaches “sound” workshops and
tabla intensives throughout the world.
Ace composer and performer, Shubhendra
Rao is ranked amongst the key soloists of India.
Distinguished as a musical bridge to many
cultures, he creates an experience for his audi-
ence that ‘is not aimed at titillating the senses,
but to seize the soul’.
A disciple of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi
Shankar, Shubhendra has established himself
not only as a master of his instrument but also
as a thinking musician, constantly endeavoring
to carry his instrument beyond conventional
boundaries, says his website.
Hailed as a worthy successor to his Guru’s
tradition, Shubhendra has performed at major
music festivals and concert halls like Broadway
and Carnegie Hall in New York, WOMAD fes-
tival in Guernsey, UK, National Arts Festival in
South Africa, Theatre de le Ville in Paris and
Doverlane Music Conference in India. In 2007,
he was awarded the “Youth Icon for Classical
Music” by the popular Television Network, Zee
Television Network.
The duo will feature in a second concert in
Nelson on November 28, at the Suter, 208 Bridge
St (8.30pm) (tickets $30 Everyman Records),
and will hold a sound workshop the following
day from12-2pm at Fairfield House, Trafalgar St.
Registration $45, 03 548-3640.
For more information, visit www.talarecords.
com
- Indian Weekender news desk
Raymond Pillai’s last Book
launched in Auckland
pictured: Ex-student Reshmi Prasad, Justice Jai Ram Reddy, Subhash Appana,
and ex-House Deputy Speaker Gyanendra Prasad.
Old St. Michael’s Church in the Corban Estate
in West Auckland attracted a number of notables
from Fiji for a quiet Sunday function to launch
the last book by renowned Fiji writer and teacher
Raymond Pillai who was known to acutely feel
the “pulse” of sentiments and emotions that
marked the transitions of the cane-farming
Indian community in Fiji.
Born in 1942 in the burning town of Ba
during the era of the all-powerful Colonial Sugar
Refinery Company (CSR), when the Indo-Fijian
voice for rights in the country of their adoption
was at its most precarious, Raymond was truly
the product of a defining era.
His writings clearly bore this out and “La-
bourers’ Lament” is one that was singled out
by former Leader of the Opposition and In-
ternational Court judge, Jai Ram Reddy as he
launched Raymond’s last book aptly titled “The
End of the Line”.
A number of Raymond Pillai’s contempo-
raries, friends, and students then shared their
experiences and thoughts about the poet, writer,
teacher, and husband who was called to rest in
2007. The list included close friend Sachida
Reddy (late Fiji parliamentarian KS Reddy’s
son), former unionist and Fiji Labour Party stal-
wart Shiva Sankaran, and author of “Tears in
Paradise” Rajendra Prasad.
A number of Raymond’s New Zealand
friends also shared their experiences in a moving
tribute to the prominent son of Fiji. These includ-
ed Father Peter Murphy whose Massey Catho-
lic Parish Raymond and his family were a part
of. Westgate Kip Mcgrath director Alan Brown
New Zealand
saw Raymond as a dedicated teacher who gave
the same seriousness to his task whether he was
handling a children’s class or one that had adults.
Gwen Deverel, an ex-USP colleague who later
worked with Raymond in NZ shared some fond
memories of the remarkable gentleman. And
fellow writer Ines Hellberg read an unpublished
poem titled “Pukeko” that piqued the audience.
The last speaker was former Deputy Speaker
of Fiji’s House of Representatives, Auckland
lawyer Gyanendra Prasad, who recalled how he
always struggled with English as an academic
subject until he encountered Raymond Pillai at
the University of the South Pacific. Raymond had
a way with the English language that brought it
to life and made it so simple, he said.
As a sequel to the book launch, the Raymond
Pillai Foundation Trust was also launched. Reg-
istered as a Charitable Trust in Fiji, this foun-
dation has “financial help to educate needy chil-
dren in Fiji” as its main focus. Friends mentioned
how Raymond valued education as a ticket out
of poverty and a passport to success in life for
the marginalized and needy. This Trust would
perpetuate his dreams and aspirations in others.
A bank account in the name of the trust has
been opened in Fiji with an initial endowment
fund established by founding members. The
trustees include Raymond’s wife, Yoga Pillai
who hosted the Corban Estate function. Those
interested in the Trust can contact Yoga (yo-
gapillai@hotmail.com), Vimal Raj Reddy (vi-
malrreddy@hotmail.com) or Kavinesh Reddy
(jkevi@connect.com.fj).
- Subhash Appana. Email subhasha@ais.ac.nz

Labour MP Dr Ashraf Choudhary’s Out-of- the ethnic community.

Parliament office was relaunched on Saturday
October 17 in Otara. The role of this office is
to provide advice, advocacy and liaison with
members of the ethnic community. They can
express their views and concerns that they may
have on various issues of relevance to them.
The launch was also an opportunity for
various members of the ethnic community to
get together and meet with Dr Ashraf Choud-
hary’s new assistant, Alamgir Afridi.
The program started with Dr Choudhary
thanking everyone present. He said that the re-
launch of his out of parliament office was long
overdue. He further added that the office would
serve as a point of contact for members of the
ethnic community.
Leader of the Labour Party Phil Goff was the
chief guest. In his speech, he greeted the gath-
ering of about 200 addressing each of segments
of the ethnic community. He thanked everyone
adding that the ethnic community had added
much culture and diversity to New Zealand
society. He added that the ethnic community
has always been important to the Labour party
and that Labour has always been supportive of
Mr Goff took a moment to provide his con-
dolences to the victims of the recent bombings
that have taken place in Pakistan adding that no
matter what the motives are it is not right for
innocent people to die. Mr Goff also thanked
and commended Dr Ashraf Choudhary MP for
his work in the ethnic community over the past
seven years and more recently as an Associate
Spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs.
Also present at the occasion were other
Labour MPs Chris Carter, Sua William Sio,
Ross Robertson, Raymond Huo, and many
community leaders and members representing
the Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani commu-
nities.
All the guests present were extremely
pleased to have been part of the ceremony.
The ceremony concluded with Hon Phil Goff
cutting the red ribbon and officially opening
the office. Following the official opening guests
had the opportunity to mix and mingle and talk
with Mr Goff and other Labour MPs and have
their photos taken.
- Indian Weekender newsdesk
Students’ expo a success
The next International Students Expo will be held in Auckland in May next year, organisers said.
The announcement follows the success of the inaugural International Students Expo, organised
and promoted by Working In, held over October 30-November 1 at the SkyCity Convention Centre,
in Auckland.
Over the course of two days, international students had the chance to meet with education institu-
tions and service providers that can help them choose the next step in their education path.
Immigration New Zealand was also on hand to discuss with students future immigration options
and explain how their education can lead to their career as a skilled migrant in New Zealand.
Joint CEO of Working In, Hayley Roberts said, “The International Student Expo is a forum where
international students can meet face to face with universities and educational institutes and discover
their next study choices in NZ or Australia. International students are already here in NZ and being
able to attend an event like this with lots of study options on show can help them determine their next
academic step.”
The list of exhibitors that attended the first edition of the expo included institutions as renowned as
the ANZ Bank, Deakin University, La Trobe University, Servilles Academy, Wellpark College, Avon-
more Tertiary Institute, University of Canterbury and The Professional Bar & Restaurant School,
among others.
“The inaugural expo was very well received by students and exhibitors and we thank all partici-
pants for supporting the first event,” commented Ms Roberts.
For the exhibitors, it was an opportunity to talk to students and present them with new options
for their future. “We have established many contacts and the people we spoke to were interested and
wanting to deal with us,” said ANZ Bank’s Michelle Proudfoot.
The next International Student Expo will take place in Auckland on 1 and 2 May 2010. The event
will then travel to Sydney (8 and 9 May), Brisbane (12 May) and Melbourne (15 and 16 May).
- Indian Weekender news desk

6 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
India
Mahindra’s answer to the Fatwa against ‘Vande mataram’
Rickshaw takes a bow – New Delhi: Jamait-e-Ulema Hind or the JEU,
has passed a resolution at their Deoband national
convention meet, against the singing of the na-
ity affairs, opposed amendments in Article 377
and 33 per cent reservation for women, calling it
‘unnecessary and unacceptable’.

and so does Nissan’s

tional song ‘Vande Mataram’ as its reciting is On the concluding day of the convention yoga
against Islam. guru Baba Ramdev demonstrated his skills to
The JEU says that some of the verses in the the thousands of muslim clerics gathered there.
patriotic song are against the tenets of Islam. The Darul Uloom had issued a fatwa in favour of

reply to Tata’s Nano

The Muslim Law Board justified the deci-
sion saying that Muslims can’t offer prayers to
anyone but Allah. Kamal Farooqui, a prominent
leader of the Board said, “We love the nation but
can’t worship it.”
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram was
also an invitee and speaker at the convention. He
has come under a lot flak for attending this meet
especially after the declaration of the fatwa, al-
though Chidambaram claims he had no knowl-
edge about it when he went there.
Some of the other resolutions passed were that
the government should not interfere with minor-
yoga after some clerics last year banned Muslims
from practising it.
Leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and
the Bharatiya Janata Party have demanded an
immediate arrest of the JEU members and reg-
istration of police complaints for making anti-
national statements.
Praveen Togadia the general secretary of the
VHP said that “Disrespect to national song is
an anti-national act and hence all the clerics of
‘Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’, who adopted the resolu-
tion must be booked under laws relating to the
anti national and subversive acts.”

Braveheart Rukhsana This school has no students

India’s Mahindra & Mahindra has launched
a four wheel version of a category of vehicle
that has so far been restricted to three wheel-
ers in India.
The tiny Gio carves out a niche that’s a
notch above India’s prevalent three-wheeled
runabouts like the longstanding Bajaj au-
torickshaw pick-up but uses a conventional
four-wheel layout. The Gio is effectively the
answer to hitherto three wheeled options like
the Bajaj and Piaggio rickshaws.
It is powered by a two-cylinder, .44-litre
diesel engine that is rated at only 9.1 horse-
power. Yet, Mahindra says it is capable of
hauling up to a 500kg load in its 5-foot cargo
box and returning up to an astounding 67 mpg.
Mahindra expects the overall market size
to be around 15,000 vehicles per month. And
is planning about 2,000 to 3,000 units per
month to begin with.
Mahindra’s engine supplier for the Gio is
Kohler Engines, an American company that
makes diesel and gas motors for lawn mowers,
garden tractors, concrete construction equip-
ment, pressure washers and other products.
It’s four-speed transmission is built by Ma-
hindra.
Perhaps even more astonishing than the
Gio’s tiny footprint, high mpg and cargo car-
rying capability is its price tag, which starts at
1.65 lakh, or only $3,525 US dollars.
The company has said it would soon be
releasing a passenger version of Gio. It is ex-
pected that just like the cargo version, the pas-
senger carrier version would also be equipped
with a 9.1 HP Kohler engine and will be man-
ufactured in Mahindra’s Haridwar plant.
While the Gio has been developed keeping
in mind intra-city transportation require-
ments, the passenger variant could be posi-
tioned for inter-city travel as well on lines of
now in the Police Force but just one teacher
Madurai: The Panthadi Elementary School in
Srinagar: Rukhsana Kausar who shot into the heart of the city of Madurai is perhaps the
the Tata Magic. There is a CNG-version also limelight for killing a Lashkar-e-toiba ter- only school to have no students but just one
on the cards at a later date. rorist and injuring another has been ap- teacher. The lone teacher Ms. Alageswari duti-
Meanwhile, Nissan has announced its pointed as Special Police Officer (SPO) in fully comes to school, signs the attendance reg-
answer to the Tata Nano, called the world car the Jammu and Kashmir police force, an ister and sits through the day and leave in the
V on October 30. It will launch a new small official announced. evening when it is school closing time.
car in Thailand, India and China in March Her brother and uncle who also helped Back in 2007 the school had about 10 stu-
2010, in an effort to topple the Tata Nano as in fending off the terrorists have been dents distributed from classes I to V. In 2008 the
the developing world’s car of choice. absorbed into the force. There had been number reduced to 4 and in the academic year
The first new car launched by Nissan spe- rumours that Rukhsana was being shifted ending 2009 there were none. The school has
cifically aimed at these emerging markets to Delhi for security reasons, but senior been running thus as even the poorer sections of
will be called the V -- for versatility -- and superintendent of police denied these the society prefer private schools to the ones run
Nissan expects a staggering one million sales reports. by the government.
by 2013.
The first details of the ambitious little
auto reveals a gameplan lifted from the Tata
Nano: fewer and cheaper auto parts. The V
will feature 20 percent fewer parts than the
average Nissan and they will be almost totally
locally made in their intended markets.
The V will feature a 3-cylinder diesel or
gasoline engine, just a 41-litre fuel tank and
highly-engineered plastic in place of less
cost- and fuel-efficient steel and aluminium.
The hatchback model will be released in
2010, with a sedan and CUV model in 2011.
The car will be sold in Europe and the US in
2011, eventually reaching nearly 150 coun-
tries.
Prices were not announced, but the car will
probably compete not just with the super-bud-
get-friendly Nano but also with the upcoming
Ford Fiesta world car, which is expected to be
unveiled with similarly ambitious designs at
the Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
Nissan is the eighth best-selling automaker
in the world this year and works in partner-
ship with France’s Renault, the tenth bestsell-
er, which would make them the fourth-largest
automaker globally when combined.
- Indian Weekender news desk

Sikhs seek justice for 1984 riot victims

Chandigarh: Life in Punjab was paralysed on Tuesday, November 3 as a state-wide bandh
was observed to protest against the “denial of justice to the families of thousands of
people killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.”
The bandh was called by radical Sikh groups such as Khalsa Action Committee, Dal
Khalsa and the Damdami Taksal.
All commercial establishments, educational institutions and shops were closed making
the bandh near total.
In an unusual move the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee (SGPC), did not
support this bandh. Perhaps seeing the overwhelming response to the bandh the SGPC
now has decided to hold ‘Akhand Path’ in its over 250 associated gurdwaras across the
region to seek justice for the 1984 riot victims.
According to SGPC chief Avtar Singh, Sikhs would be seeking justice if they partici-
pate in the ’Akhand Path’ and ‘ardas’
Meanwhile all other sects of Sikhs have strongly condemned the decision of the SGPC
not to participate in the bandh and have called their action as a “matter of shame”

Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 7

Indian
India
Dalits enter temple for Major fire in Indian Oil
first time in Tamil Nadu
Chennai: After 100 years, Dalits in a village in Tamil Nadu for the first time were allowed to enter
depot in Jaipur
into Ekambareshwarar Temple. This historic moment was made possible by the intervention of the Jaipur: In one of the worst accidents in the level inquiry into the disaster. Teams from the
government and local administration. history of the Indian Oil Corporation ( IOC), a Army and Bombay high have reached the site
Nearly 70 Dalits, escorted by revenue and police officers entered the century old temple and major fire swept through the storage fuel tanks of are trying to assist in rescue and relief opera-
offered prayers. Women and children dressed in their best brought flowers and other offerings. IOC at the distribution terminal on the outskirts tions. Initial estimates say the loss to IOC could
Said one ecstatic Dalit “ It is a historic day for all of us. For generations all we could do was stand of Jaipur on 29 October. be more than 150 crores.
100 feet away from the entrance and pray.” The fire claimed 13 lives, injuring more than
A tripartite meeting involving non-Dalits, Dalits and government officials had reached an agree- 150 persons. Officials fear the death toll could
ment on allowing entry to Dalits to the temple. go up as there is no exact knowledge of the Environmental effects of the fire
number of people trapped inside. The fire contin- Environmental experts say that the
ues to rage and officials say it will have to burn fire has resulted in the city’s worst
itself out, which would take 5-6 days. Efforts ecological disaster. With the arrival

Modi down with swine flu

are on to prevent the spread of fire in a horizon- of winter thethick smoke emanating
tal way as the tanks are melting under the high
from the accident site would down
temperature.
Reports say that the fire broke out after a over the city creating a haze and
Gandhinagar: Swine flu has taken in its grip the pipeline valve failed when petrol was being affecting visibility and could cause
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Modi transferred from the IoC terminal to Bharat Pe- respiratory problems.
tested positive for the virus two days after re- troleum’s storage nearby. The Met department
turning from a trip to Russia on 28, October. recorded a tremor measuring 2.3 on the Richter Residents are already complaining
The 59-year-old Modi showed symptoms of scale around the time the first explosion was of irritation in their eyes and skin.
cold, cough and fever and had inisisted on the heard at 7.36pm. Such was the impact of the ex-
Layers of grey matter could be seen
H1N1test. He will be kept in isolation at his res- plosions that windows of houses even 3km away
were damaged. enveloping the city ever since the
idence for seven days where a team of doctors
are attending on him. The explosions created panic among thou- billowing flames started. The health
Meanwhile eight swine flu deaths, including sands of students, of over a dozen engineering department has not yet set up any
four in Maharashtra, were reported in India Sat- and management institutes in the adjoining special cell for tackling the aftermath
urday, taking the toll to 473, health authorities areas. People living in nearby areas are being of the disaster.
said here. evacuated to safer places.
Also, 77 new cases of the infection were re- The petroleum ministry had ordered a high
ported in the country, taking the total number
of people infected with the contagious flu to

Nation pays homage to

13,861.
According to the World Health Organisa-
tion (WHO), more than 700 people have died of
swine flu this week raising the number of fatali-

Indira Gandhi
ties from the viral disease to 5,712 worldwide.

New Delhi: Hundreds of people flocked to Shakti

Sthal, in New Delhi, to pay respects to former
prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 25th death
anniversary, on Saturday 31, October.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Con-
gress president Sonia Gandhi were amongst the
first to pay their tributes at the memorial on the
banks of the Yamuna river.
An exhibition on the life and times of Indira
Gandhi, national integration rallies across the
country and blood donation camps were some
of the events organized by the Congress on the
occasion.
On this occasion Sonia Gandhi gave away
the prestigious 24th Indira Gandhi Award for Na-
tional Integration for the year 2008 to noted jour-
nalist, writer and human rights activist Balraj
Puri at a function in New Delhi.
In 1984, Indira Gandhi launched Operation
Blue Star to crush secessionist movement in
Punjab and sent troops into the Golden Temple
of Amritsar. Her assassination was the violent
response to the action.
Her death had also triggered massive anti-
Sikh riots which killed more than 3000 people
over three days in the capital.

G-suits for madam president

New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil, the first woman president of the country will be flying in the most
potent fighter jet of the Indian Air Force, the Sukhoi-30, sometime in the end of November, from the
air force base in Pune.
Military style detailing has started for the journey as the president is the Supreme Commander of
the armed forces in the country.
Her predecessor A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had also flown in the Sukhoi-30, but his keen eye was looking
at the performance of the machine, the working of which he was familiar with. In contrast Patil will
be flying for about 30 minutes and an air force official said that president would be given a “slow and
steady ride but it won’t be boring”. She would be shown a few basic manoeuvres that would give her
an idea of the capabilities of the fighter.
So far the planning is perfect, but the air force is faced with a unique problem, they do not have a
G-suit, flying suit and boots to fit the petite president. The G-suit is made up of a special material and
has inflatable bladders which press tightly against the stomach region of the flyers in fighter planes. It
is to be worn over or under the flying suit. This helps them to withstand high acceleration or g-force.
Incidentally the Indian Air Force does not have any female fighter pilots, from whom the president
could have borrowed the suits and boots.

8 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Fiji

Fiji’s century old Penal Bank of South Pacific

Code replaced
Suva: Fiji’s 100 year old Penal Code is going to
be replaced by a new Crimes Act scheduled to
come into effect on February 1 next year says At-
torney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the Crimes Act
would bring about some ground breaking provi-
sions in Fiji’s criminal justice system. “Essen-
tially it modernises (and) reforms the laws in Fiji,
it makes us compliant with many outstanding
matters pertaining to our international obliga-
tions,” he told the media.
The Act also provides for previously unrec-
ognised crimes against humanity.
“Things like sexual violence, sexual persecu-
tion, sexual slavery and forced prostitution etc
and we have also specific provisions pertaining
to offences of slavery, sexual solitude and decep-
tive recruiting,” said Sayed-Khaiyum.
“We have (covered) trafficking in persons
and children. As you know some international
observations have previously said that Fiji was
not compliant with various provisions pertain-
ing to international or human trafficking. This
will make us compliant with that. We have a
new offence of people smuggling and related of-
fences. So these are some of the international of-
fences,” he said.
In addition, said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji’s
courts would now have extended geographical
jurisdictions. “So if I’m sitting in Australia and
offering a bribe to somebody in Fiji previously
there were anomalies regarding whether it fell
within the jurisdiction of the courts or not. Those
anomalies will now be removed,” he added.
People procuring the services of a prostitute
can now be charged under the new Act.
Similarly, he said the penalty for desecrat-
ing a place of worship had been increased while
crimes relating to computer hacking had also
been added to the Act. The provisions under
which spouses and de-facto partners are allowed
to give evidence against their partners in a court
of law, have also been strengthened. Mr Sayed-
Khaiyum said a new sentencing penalties decree
will ensure there is consistency in sentencing.
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
revolution in Fiji, Telcos in
bank service bid
Suva, Fiji: The Bank of South Pacific is poised
to revolutionise banking in Fiji with the intro-
duction of mobile banking, says the Fiji Times.
While this is in the pipeline for most of
the banks, BSP general manager Greg Watson
said they were ready to introduce it within six
months.
BSP is expected to take over Colonial Na-
tional Bank’s operations from next month with
only the Reserve Bank of Fiji and Papua New
Guinea’s central bank approvals pending.
Though the amount is undisclosed, BSP
will take over the insurance business including
other CNB interests such as the Suva Private
Hospital.
Talking of the impending takeover, Mr
Watson who has extensive banking experience
in the South Pacific region said BSP would
be bringing its “PNG experience” to the Fiji
market.
“We have a very wide representation, by far
the largest in PNG with about 60 per cent the
market share in 35 centres,” Mr Watson said.
have approached the Reserve Bank of Fiji in
their interest to offer basic banking services
through mobile phones.
Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Sada
Reddy said these types of services would
further enhance the promotion of financial in-
clusion in Fiji, especially in terms of mobilising
savings and easy access to remittances.
“In addition, this will provide increased
choice of financial services available to people
in geographically isolated and remote areas of
Fiji,” Mr Reddy said.
He made the comments at the Novotel Lami
microfinance workshop on “Medium-Term
Strategy for Financial Inclusion in Fiji”.
Mr Reddy said the financial system was a
locomotive for growth and banks were the main
players in this system. Their importance came
with responsibilities as well.
“No doubt banks have contributed to the de-
velopment of the country over the years,” Mr
Reddy said.
“However, I would like to see them play a

More Chinese to tour Fiji

“We have about 500,000 to 600,000 custom- more influential role and active role in address-
ers in PNG. ing the unbanked population through financial
“Our strength is that we are focusing only inclusion.
on the South Pacific. “Of course, we understand that banking is
The Fiji government and tourism stakeholders “We have introduced SMS banking in PNG, a very specialised area and risks need to be
said last week that they expect tourism numbers mobile banking to villages, changing the way managed carefully so that depositors’ interests
to boom with increased airlines servicing Fiji of banking.” are safeguarded.
and a direct flight from China to Fiji. BSP entered the local market in 2006, taking “I therefore strongly believe that the com-
It has already been confirmed that Australian over the operations of the Pakistan-based Habib mercial banks operating in Fiji can play a more
airlines Jetstar, a low-cost Qantas subsidiary, Bank, and since then it has been able to multi- active role in the economic and social devel-
and V Australia will start servicing Fiji within ply its business six or seven times. opment of our country by providing banking
months with competition expected to heat up. “We are full commercial bank, we have a services to suit the needs of our people in the
The direct flight from Hong Kong to Nadi starts wide range of electronic products and we are medium and long term”.
on December 3. customer focus -- we understand the Pacific
Fiji will get direct connectivity to the way of doing things,” Mr Watson said. - Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
Europe market. Fiji’s Tourism Minister Aiyaz Meanwhile, Telecommunications operators
Sayed-Khaiyum said opportunities and tourism
numbers were expected to increase dramatically.
The Chinese Embassy Counsellor in Fiji, Fei
Mingxing, said the recent move by Air Pacific
was a great one and would increase tourist
Indian IT majors eye Fiji for investment
numbers from Asian countries. Suva, Fiji: Representatives of four large Indian ICT firms will be in Fiji later this month to
explore business opportunities here.
This follows on the heels of global contact centre, Mindpearl, setting up its operations at

Fiji-Australia expulsions help no one: the Kalabu Tax Free Zone, and has the Fiji government’s investment promotion arm excited.
“Of the four that we have got confirmed, two of them are actually manufacturing compa-
nies,” said Fiji Trade and Investment Board chief executive officer Annie Rodgers.

business council
Suva: The Australia-Fiji Business Council has
called on Australia’s Government to soften its
hard-line stance against the coup-installed mili-
tary government in Fiji.
The Council’s president, Brian Anderson,
says the increasingly difficult relations between
the two countries are making it harder to do busi-
ness, and this is costing ordinary citizens jobs.
He said the latest round of diplomatic expul-
sions help no one, but creates a great deal of un-
certainty.
“Fiji is struggling for more investment as it
is, and this sort of thing only creates more un-
certainty,” he said.
“Business cannot operate in a climate of un-
certainty.”
He said what’s needed from both sides is a
willingness to talk.
“The countries are going to have to talk to
each other. I can understand the country expel-
ling the high commissioner in response to theirs
being kicked out of Fiji, but I don’t think at the
end of the day it does much,” he said.
- Indian Weekender news desk
Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews
“They manufacture phones and other products in the ICT area. One of them is a producer
of the LG mobile phone and Philips. So two are in manufacturing, one is in voice over internet
services, and one is in the area of back office processing.
“One of the companies is actually sending their Vice President. For the three others it will
be their CEOs. So we are pretty excited.”
The Indian businessmen will meet key stakeholders in Fiji, both in Government and the
private sector.
The FTIB is hopeful that two other large ICT operators will come out of India before the
year end.
“Given the fact that we can get Mindpearl here to do a bigger operation than they do in
other countries, we hope that we can achieve something like that for these companies who are
coming down,” said Rodgers.
“Again, it depends on our planning and how well we answer their questions, how well we
showcase Fiji, and believe me we’re going to do a good job on that front.”
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ FijiLive

Fiji’s leader sends clear business signal to Australia, NZ

Suva: Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainima-
rama has used the annual gathering of business
executives at the Exporter of the Year Awards to
tell recalcitrant neighbours Australia and New
Zealand that all is well between them and Fiji at
the business level.
“We need to view and indeed separate the
political from trade, tourism and the economy,”
Commodore Bainimarama said to applause from
the audience, in reference to last week’s tit-for-tat
diplomatic expulsions first by Fiji and followed
by Australia and New Zealand.
Commodore Bainimarama said while the
governments of Fiji, Australia and New Zealand
had taken respective positions regarding their
interaction at the political and diplomatic level,
his government would not let “such issues affect
or discourage trade, tourism, business co-opera-
tion, collaboration and investment”.
“On the contrary, we encourage more trade,
investment and tourism between our traditional
partners of Australia and New Zealand.”
Commodore Bainimarama said he again
offered engagement at all levels with the two
governments “on a level playing field in which
our sovereignty and dignity is respected and
maintained. Such engagement must encourage
trade, investment and friendship for the mutual
benefit of our countries”.
Meanwhile, representatives of the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund are
expected in Fiji this week as the Government
looks for financing of its land reform to be imple-
mented early 2010.
The land reform agenda is part of a set of
reforms Commodore Bainimarama said were de-
signed to help Fiji achieve its true potential.
The visit follows the annual meetings of the
IMF and World Bank in Istanbul early last month
that was attended by Bainimarama, Reserve
Bank of Fiji Governor Sada Reddy and Finance
Ministry permanent secretary John Prasad.
Commodore Bainimarama said the banks’
representatives will get a better sense of the situ-
ation here before a decision on its loan to Fiji is
made.
He said the Reserve Bank of Fiji and Finance
Ministry will work with the visiting party.
In July this year, Commodore Bainimara-
ma announced his roadmap to returning Fiji to
democratic elections in 2014, conditional to the
implementation of certain reforms.
He said the land reform is intended to salvage
Fiji’s struggling sugar industry and open up more
opportunities for tourism and agriculture.
He said his government will ensure that taukei
(indigenous) landowners get an attractive return
when they give out their land for lease.
Indigenous Fijian landowners own about 90
per cent of all the land in Fiji.
- Pacificbusinessonline.com/ Pacnews

Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 9

Indian
Community
Guru Nanak Devji’s Parkash Utsav celebrated with fervour
The 540th Prakash Utsav of Sri Guru Nanak
Devji, the founder of Sikhism, was celebrat-
ed with great fervour on November 2. Hun-
dreds of devotees thronged the Sri Dasmesh
Darbar in Papatoetoe in the evening – they
included not only Sikhs but also the Hindus
and Indians from other states of India. Some
Kiwis also attended the evening – sending out
the message how Indians have been accepted
and merged in the mainstream here.
The celebrations started with the chang-
ing of ‘Chola Sahib’ of Sri ‘Nishan Sahib’ by
Sikh volunteers and it was raised aloft amid
the chanting of ‘Bole so Nihal – Sat Sri Akal’.
Dignitaries of the evening included list
MPs Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Melissa Lee
and Dr. Cam Calder who were extended a
warm welcome by Mr Prithipal Singh Basra
on behalf of the Sikh Sangat and the Sewak
Committee.
Mr Singh brief ly highlighted Guru
Nanak’s contribution for the welfare of
the common man in society – how Nanak’s
sermons were in a very simple language
easily understandable by one and all and how
he raised his voice against the exploitation of
poor by rich, of lower caste by upper caste name; ‘Kirt Karo’ – earn your livelihood website are invited from the community.
people, superstitious practices and proved honestly and ‘Vand Chako’ – share with those Mr Prithipal Singh Basra, Mr Ajit Singh
himself to be a great social reformer. who don’t have. Randhawa and Mr Beant Singh Jador hon-
Guru Nanak spread the message of Ms Melisaa Lee and Dr. Cam Calder also oured the distinguished guests on behalf of
oneness of all human beings irrespective of extended greetings to the Sangat. the Sewak Committee.
their caste, class or social status and oneness On this auspicious occasion the website Website creator Jasbir Dhillon was pre-
of God. of the Gurudwara was officially launched by sented with a Siropa for his ‘Nishkaam’ sewa
Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi congratulated the MPs. The address is www.sridasmeshdar- and his invaluable contribution towards the
the Sangat on this auspicious day and urged bar.com. You can read Guru Granth Sahib on community. Guru Ka Langar was served to
upon them to follow Guru Nanak’s teachings line, listen Japji Sahib, Rehraas Sahib, Anand the devotees.
in true spirit in deeds and actions in our day Sahib and also view Kirtan from Sri Darbar The Gurupurab celebrations’ grand finale
to day life. Sahib Amritsar and listen to live Kirtan from concluded with a wonderful display of fire-
Raj Bedi – the Secretary before giving his Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar. It also has several works equally enjoyed by kids and parents.
vote of thanks, shared with the Sangat three other useful and informative links for the - Indian Weekender news desk
Tenets of Sikhism gifted by Guru Nanak benefit and convenience of the community. Photos: Harjinder Singh Basiala
Devji. ‘Naam Japo’ – Always remember his Suggestions and feed back for updating this

10 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
A successful model for
social harmony
I recently led the New Zealand delegation at the
fifth Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue –
where our nation was praised for being leaders in
the way multi-ethnic and multi-faith communi-
ties exist in harmony.
We are a country with a successful model for
social harmony, which is based on the celebra-
tion of our diversity.
The New Zealand delegation was made up
of men and women representing many religions,
including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Bud-
dhism, and Sikhism.
And naturally, forum attendees were treated
to a Waiata at the end of my keynote speech,
which sparked huge interest from the other coun-
tries’ delegates – many of whom took photos as
we showed the world how all religions could cel-
ebrate our country’s culture.
During the conference, I was asked to
address the only international press conference
to talk about our country’s success in achieving
social harmony and peace.
The Interfaith Dialogue gave us a platform to
provide an insight into our multicultural, inter-
faith and inter-generational practices that ensure
faith followers of all persuasions can not only
stay true to their religion, but also participate in
all aspects of Kiwi life.
New Zealand is largely a secular society but
is also home to many religions. Recent statistics
show that Christianity is our largest faith with
2.1 million people, while our second largest
group is agnostic with 1.29 million.
Our model of success, however, is based
on celebrating our multi-ethnic and multi-faith
communities through events like Diwali, Eid,
Christmas (Maori New Year) Chinese New Year,
Korean New Year and the many others, where
New Zealanders from all walks of life come to
Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue: New Zealand delegates per-
form a Waiata at the end of Hon Pansy Wong’s keynote speech at the fifth Asia-
Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Perth, Australia.
celebrate.
The theme of this year’s Interfaith Dialogue
was, ‘Future Faith Leaders’ and the New Zealand
delegation represented this well, with a mix of
long-standing community leaders and also those
who are eager to carry the torch in the future.
The New Zealand delegation ran the work-
shop on media and utilising the internet to
enhance knowledge and understanding of our
inter-faith communities and it was interesting
to see the dynamic the young people brought
to the discussion – with some suggesting social
networking sites could be utilised, while others
suggested video games as an option.
It provided us with an ideal opportunity to
talk about the challenges and opportunities of
interacting with the media.
Deadlines, resource issues and a lack of
empathy means many news outlets struggle to
know or identify interviewees with in-depth
knowledge within many faiths and minority
communities.
For many journalists writing or talking about
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Community
religion or ethnic minority cultures, the default
tends to label individuals willing to comment as
community leaders or to adhere to stereotypes,
especially where these stereotypes are widely
held and there is pressure to meet a deadline.
One of the biggest challenges that many from
within our ethnic and faith communities face
when dealing with the media is also collective
identity; where often an entire community will
be put under the spotlight instead of the individ-
ual at the centre of the story.
While it is perhaps unrealistic to expect all
media to have on their staff experts of all reli-
gions, it is possible to improve general under-
standing of the issues and personality so that
major offence can be avoided.
Some community leaders are already taking
proactive steps of communication with media
such as releasing press statements, writing
letters to the editor to correct misreporting, and
making themselves available for interviews with
journalists and making their status clear as being
an individual or on behalf of an organisation –
and not the entire community.
New Zealand is an active nation when it
comes to promoting dialogue between different
communities and media, one such example is the
Asia-Pacific Regional Media Programme, where
journalists went to a retreat in South East Asia to
examine issues related to reporting on ethnic mi-
nority communities while away from the pres-
sures of deadline. Many indicated that this was a
very helpful process.
I am pleased that New Zealand will be
holding a second Regional Media Programme in
early 2010.
Also, through the media exchange pro-
gramme, we send three young New Zealand
journalists to Southeast Asia each year for work
experience, to allow them to see life through a
different lens.
Domestically, New Zealand’s Office of
Ethnic Affairs holds media forums with com-
munity groups, mainstream media and ethnic
media outlets. These forums provide an oppor-
tunity for networking and inform attendees on
the nature of media in New Zealand.
A component of this project is the Building
Bridges programme, which looks at the relation-
ship between the New Zealand Muslim commu-
nity and the media, and promotes more dialogue
between the Muslim and non-Muslim communi-
ties.
New Zealand does not assume social
harmony comes naturally and we appreciate that
it is something that we have to work at. It was a
pleasure to demonstrate to the world that New
Zealand is a country that is happy to have the
voices of our diversity heard both domestically
and on the world stage.
-Hon Pansy Wong,
Minister for Ethnic Affairs
11
Indian
Community
Devotional singing for Book on Diversity published
humanity’s welfare
Sathya Sai Service Organisation of New Zealand organised non-stop 24 hours devotional singing
(Akhanda Bhajans) session at three venues: Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington from 6pm on Satur-
day November 8 to 6pm on Sunday November 9.
This was the Global Annual Event organised by the Sai devotees all over the world in all lands. It
was being done not for the sake of one individual, one nation, or one community. It was for the welfare
of humanity as a whole.
The event commenced with the lighting of the ‘Akhanda Jyothi’ (sacred lamp) that was kept
burning for 24 hours. Thus the sacred lamp was lit in each country during the 24 hour period based
on local time.
Due to the time zone New Zealand was ahead of many countries to start the singing sessions. As
the earth revolves, lamps were lit in all countries according to the local time, and by the time the
westernmost country lighted the lamp, easternmost countries had completed the ‘Akhand Bhajans’.
Before the event was completed here, the world was in a girdle of sacred lamps lit round the globe
by Sai devotees. This sacred lamp not only helps to concentrate the minds of devotees but promotes
also a sense of spiritual unity and harmony among the devotees.
Sai Organisation that promotes the unity of faiths has set up an example in New Zealand, by
singing devotional songs in Sanskrit, English and Maori languages. The songs were dedicated to all
aspects of God and faiths.

Rajinder Singh and Daljit Singh JP with Jocelyn Armstrong

Renowned Kiwi writer transforming the country into

‘Akhand Bhajans’ held at Auckland
Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 84th Birthday
Celebration would be held the follow-
ing venues:
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009
l South Auckland: Skipton Hall, 53
Skipton Rd, Mangere; Time: 7:15 pm-
9:30 pm
l Central Auckland: Mahatma Gandhi
Hall, 145 New North Rd, Eden Tce;
Time:7:00 pm -9:00 pm
l West Auckland: Kelston Commu-
nity Centre, 126 Awaroa Rd, Kelston;
Time:6:30 pm-9:45 pm
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009
l East Auckland: Edgewater Col-
lege, 32 Edgewater Drive, Pakuranga;
Time:4:30 pm-7:30 pm
Blood Donation
When: Saturday, 21 Nov 2009, 10 am
– 3 pm
Venue: Blood Bank, Dilworth Building,
71 Great South Road, Epsom
Note: Over 80% of us will require
Blood products in our lifetime
- Indian Weekender news desk
Jocelyn Armstrong’s This book gives a brief a multicultural society. Part
book Discovering Diver- 2 focuses on the six major
sity was launched recent- overview of the Sikh religion world religions: Christian-
ly and senior members of which is one of world’s newest ity, Hinduism, Buddhism,
the NZ Sikh Society had Judaism, Islam and Sikhism.
been specially invited religions. The Sikh Temples of Part 3 prepares students
for this occasion as there Takanini, Otahuhu, Hamilton to conduct a social inquiry
have been quite a few ref- based on what they have
erences to the prosperous and Bombay Hills have also learned. The book includes
Sikh community in New been pictorially featured in this personal histories of young
Zealand. people following these faiths,
This book gives a informative book. giving the reader an appre-
brief overview of the ciation of some of the chal-
Sikh religion which is one of world’s newest reli- lenges they face.
gions. The Sikh Temples of Takanini, Otahuhu, Interesting and thought-provoking activi-
Hamilton and Bombay Hills have also been pic- ties are included throughout the book, focusing
torially featured in this informative book. in particular on cultural interaction. The text is
Jocelyn Armstrong has many years experi- illustrated with specially commissioned photo-
ence as a secondary school teacher, most recent- graphs for which the photographer was granted
ly at Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland. She access to mosques, temples, churches, and the
has international experience in interfaith work. homes of some of the people featured in the
Discovering Diversity explains and explores book.
the major world religions that now form part Jocelyn says the book “gives a light outline of
of the fabric of New Zealand’s multicultural immigration into New Zealand, the consequent
society. It introduces the reader to some of the development of our multi-cultural and multi-
beliefs and practices of these faiths, with the faith communities, and an introduction to the
aim of increasing empathy, understanding and main world religions now present.”
knowledge. The textbook engages students by incor-
Its curriculum focus is Social Studies Level porating the history of the religions in New
5, and it covers the Achievement Objectives: Un- Zealand and specific examples of how young
derstand how cultural interaction impacts on cul- people observe their religions here and how their
tures and societies; Understand that people move religions influence their lives and identity.
between places and how this has consequences The text also encourages discussion, with
for the people and the places; Understand how each section including activities for students
the ideas and actions of people in the past have to evaluate and analyse the concepts and the
had a significant impact on people’s lives. strengths and challenges of diverse values and
Part 1 looks at how the introduction of Chris- beliefs. The book is published by Pearson Educa-
tianity helped shape New Zealand as a bicultural tion New Zealand.
nation, and at how more recent immigration is - Photos by Harjinder Singh Basiala

For all your

legal needs
Aaron Kashyap
BA, LLB
Barrister and solicitor
Level 1, 351 Manukau Road, PO Box 26-596, DXCP 32513, Epsom, Auckland
Mobile: 0274 857 302 Phone: (09) 6238277 Fax: (09)6235177
Email: aaron@kashyaplaw.co.nz

12 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Diwali: the celebrations continue
The Founders Theatre in Hamilton came alive
recently with a magnificent Diwali 2009
function being organized by Indian Cultural
Society Waikato Inc.
For Hamilton, the Diwali function by
Indian Cultural Society has become an
eagerly anticipated annual event.
People from all over the country f lock to
the Founders Theatre on fun-filled day of
music, dance, food and culture. The annual
event offers a unique opportunity to celebrate
and explore India’s diverse culture and tradi-
tions, including authentic regional food, arts,
and entertainment.
An extensive cultural programme was pre-
pared by the organisers for the October 25
function.
For the first time in Hamilton, the secre-
tary and chief organizer Roy Vellara proved
that an Indian function could start and finish
ion time. At sharp 6.50pm, as advertised, the
curtain lifted for the first programme and the
curtain was down at sharp 9.30pm.
The programme, consisting of 28 items
that was arranged two months earlier, went
on serially without changing or cancelling
even one item – astonishing many community
leaders who were present at the theatre. A
Kiwi view of the Diwali narrated in the docu-
mentary gave western audience an elaborated
picture about the legend of Diwali and Indian
hospitality as well.
The opening scene itself was different
from the 19 years history of Indian Cultural
Society and everyone liked the change and
advance thinking.
The welcome speech was not just
“welcome”, but a very humorous one that
cleared all questions about the Indian Cultur-
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an intensive cultural programme consisting
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Eminent V4U Entertainments group from
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the audience spellbound with “Tribute to
Bollywood”. Starting the programme with a
combined Indian and Maori dance “Welcome
to NZ” by Monisha Dance Group stunned the
spectators, participants brought alive the cul-
tural heritage of India through their dances
and songs.
Energy levels were high when the Bangra
and Giddha stunned the spectators. A few
classical dance items based on Kathak Rap,
Bengali folk, Kuchipudi and Tamil folk en-
thralled the audience. “Moon Light” fusion
performance by Monisha School of dance
warmed up the stage, which was followed by
Salam Bollywood and Rajasthani folk.
The Govan Dance by Tatiana and Bolly-
wood dance by Generation Y- Priya & Group
received the audience with a thunderous ap-
plause. The quality maintained in every item
was immaculate and the audiences were anx-
The Diwali mela in Hamilton held for the first time by GOPIO Waikato Inc. and Indi-
iously waiting for the next item.
An audience of around 1200 people attend- anz Global Associatioon was a big success.
ed the function. All western participants were
impressed by the quality hosting of the Indian More than 15 ethnicities gave 22 performances while multi faith groups expressed
Cultural Society Waikato Inc, great hospital- overwhelming response at the event.
ity, and the fascinating intricacies of Indian
culture and society. Humanity First and other associates collected donations for victims of the Samoa
Society president Harkrishen Kung said, Tsunami relief fund. The festival is expected to grow bigger next year with more
“next year is the 20th anniversary of Indian Indian and other organisations joining hands, Ms Suman Kapoor said.
Cultural Society and planning for a bigger
event”. Participants included a huge audience, community leaders, Members of Parliament
Tim Mecendoe (National), Sue Moroney (Labour) David Banett (National), GOPIO
- Indian Weekender news desk
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 Indian
Indian
Viewpoint
Four days that shook India
We Indians are diehard optimists – after all, we were able to survive a thousand years of foreign
rule. Which is why a year after the savage and coordinated terror attack on Mumbai, it’s not
inappropriate to say that something good may have come out of it.
Indeed, most Indians feel that somebody has to pay for all this. Hanging the lone terrorist
caught alive isn’t enough. This is not a time for forgiveness or lighting candles because 164 in-
nocent people were murdered, many of them tortured to death. Ask the mothers, children, wives
and husbands of those killed and chances are they won’t be in the mood to forgive.
There is no doubt the attack was Pakistan’s handiwork. Ironically, it came the same day that
India and Pakistan negotiated a joint anti-terrorism mechanism, agreeing to exchange infor-
mation on terrorists. No surprises there because the line between private jehadi networks and
state-sponsored terror mongers in Pakistan has become blurred. President Zardari may want
to curb the ISI but even if he succeeds, the numerous jehadi outfits, their ranks swollen with
Pakistanis, Afghans, Arabs, Chechens, even the odd converted European, are raring to go and
commit mayhem in India.
While this runaway terrorism has hit India hard, the average Pakistani is now paying for it
too. Today, there are almost daily bombings in Pakistan. The country is indeed imploding – the
situation is so bad that last month the Pakistani government closed schools and colleges nation-
wide. The average citizen there is now totally petrified to step out of their home.
So are we condemned to live with elements within Pakistan tormenting us at will? Not if our
policymakers change course. According to R. Vaidyanathan, analyst and professor of finance,
Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, if Pakistan is dismantled and the idea of Pakistan is
gone, many of our domestic issues will also be sorted out.
Says Vaidyanathan: “Will the Indian elite go for the jugular or just light more candles and
scream at the formless/nameless political class before TV cameras? It is going to be a long haul
and maybe in a decade or so, we can find a solution to our existential crisis of being attacked
by barbarians from the West. We need to combine strategy and patience and completely throw
to the dustbin the Gujral Doctrine by that mumbling prime minister (I.K. Gujral) about treating
younger brothers with equanimity.”
“The doctrine essentially suggests that if we are slapped on both the cheeks we should feel
bad that we do not have a third cheek to show. Gujral, according to security experts, seems to
have dismantled our human intelligence assets inside Pakistan, which has resulted in the gory
deaths of thousands of Indian citizens in the last few years. Such is our strategic thinking in this
complex world since our political class is not adequately briefed and the elite don’t think through
issues. Better to be simple in our talks and vicious in our actions rather than the other way.”
India’s policymakers are finally coming to terms with the idea that two can play the game.
Checkmating Pakistan’s ISI, which recently tried to blow up the Indian embassy in Kabul, and
is one of the leading terror exporters, is therefore, a key strategy. It is interesting that India,
which has few if any citizens in Afghanistan, has four consulates there. There’s a reason for that.
All four consulates are primarily directed at weakening Pakistan’s position in Afghanistan and
denying it the “strategic depth” it seeks.
“Afghan intelligence, the Afghan President, the Afghan Government – don’t talk of them. I
know what they do. They mislead the world. They talk against Pakistan, because they are under
the influence of Indian intelligence, all of them,” former Pakistan dictator Pervez Musharraf told
CNN in an interview last week.
India has slowly started encircling Pakistan. New Delhi is constructing the new Afghan Par-
liament building, new highways linking Kabul to Iran, new power projects and conducting other
aid measures.
Indeed, New Delhi is no more apologetic about better security and a much stronger military.
Finally, after centuries of neglect our ancient federation is creating a military that will make
the mighty Wehrmacht look like the boy scouts in comparison. India today has the world’s third
largest army, fourth largest air force and fourth largest navy. India also has the largest constel-
lation of spy satellites that are helping curb terrorist infiltration.
All this is not about avenging Mumbai, it is sending a clear message to the world that an
Indian backlash, when and if it comes, will be devastating.
– Rakesh Krishnan
Indian Weekender Volume 1 No 18
Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited
Group editor-in-chief: Dev Nadkarni dev@indianweekender.co.nz
Online editor: Arvind Kumar arvind@indianweekender.co.nz
India Correspondent: Shobha Rao shobha@indianweekender.co.nz
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is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearingv in the publication
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, New Market
and printed at APN Print, Ellerslie, Auckland
Copyright 2009. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
14
Letters
Making of a visionary
Firstly, thanks for India Weekender for sharing Dr. Kantis’ inspiring journey with us. Glen Innes
Branch is our family doctors – doctors and staff are very friendly, helpful and they are faithful to
their employer and to the customers. My family is happy with their services. Well Done-Best Wishes
for his family and his employees
Subra M Subramaniam
What was the Methodists’ aim?
Any examination of the Methodist church’s aims in Fiji needs to be approached from an understand-
ing of what the Methodist church actually stood for - the conversion of sinners to a Godly life (in their
terminology). Butadroka was a self-serving ignoramus who in no way represents the norm of Chris-
tianity - he can’t even be considered a Christian in the Bible sense. To use him to lend credence to
Ms Gounder’s opinions about the Methodist church in particular, or Christians in general, is unfair.
Max Wigglesworth
Building a legacy
I am proud of those trustees, who are going out of their way to make things better for the future
generation of our Zarathusti community. I offer my full support in whatever little way, I & my V4U
Entertainments Team can support. Keep up the good work. Best wishes, Viraf Todywalla.
Viraf Todywalla
--
Congratulations to Bharvi
It was extremely heartening to read this candid, honest story. It was probably one of the most honest
stories I have read in a while. Congratulations and keep up the great work Bharvi. We are very proud
of you.
Raga
--
Wow - what an amazing woman Bharvi is - a real role model. She doesn’t let anything get in her way.
Well done for following your dream. I hope your life here goes really well.
Grace Bassett
You make us Indians feel proud of you! Working as a high school teacher @ Papatoetoe I know how
you feel like being there out in the community! Great to see an Indian woman overcoming so many
odds and making her dreams come true. Would be great to have more role models like you!
Su Mukund
Its really a great achievement.Inspite of all odds you have done very well.Its really great to take care
of your family and at the same time go to work.You are an inspiration for all of us.
Firdosh Patel
May your story inspire others. You are a great example for the entire Indian community. Keep it up
and make sure you get more Indians to get fit.
Munish Bhatt
Congratulations on your achievement!
I am proud of you for following your dreams especially considering your struggles. You are a great
role model for other Indian women and for your children. Congratulations once again.
Sukhdeep Johal
Congratulations Bharvi !! Good on you for holding on to your dream. It’s really very encouraging to
see how despite so many obstacles you have not compromised and are now living your dream. Hope
all goes well for you and stay safe. You definitely are an inspiration!
Fleur Cartwright
Congratulations Bharvi! Good on you. We are proud of you. Good luck with the future.
Arunesh Singh
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Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Comment

Why the future belongs to India

Gurcharan Das
In preparing for a much publicised debate in
London on the motion ‘The future belongs to
India, not China’, I was reminded of a conversa-
tion with my mother. She had asked, what is the
difference between China growing at a rate of
10% and India at 8%? I replied that the differ-
ence was, indeed, very significant. If we were to
grow at 10% we could save twenty years. This is
almost a generation. We could lift a whole gener-
ation into the middle class twenty years sooner.
She thought for a while and then said gently, “We
have waited 3,000 years for this moment. Why
don’t we wait another twenty and do it the Indian
way?”
She had understood that the cost of democ-
racy is the price the poor pay in the delay of their
entry into the middle class. She did not elabo-
rate the ‘Indian way’ but it must include taking
a holiday on half a dozen New Year’s Days! It
is easy to get mesmerized by China’s amazing
progress and feel frustrated by India’s chaotic
democracy, but I think she had expressed the
sentiments of most Indians who will not trade
off democracy for two per cent higher growth.
In referring to the ‘Indian way’, my mother
meant that a nation must be true to itself. Democ-
racy comes easily to us because India has his-
torically ‘accumulated’ its diverse groups who
retain their distinctiveness while identifying
themselves as Indian. China has ‘assimilated’ its
people into a common, homogeneous Confucian
society. China is a melting Google on ‘human rights was not always so. When General Reginald Dyer
pot in which differences abuses in China’ yielded opened fire in 1919 in Jallianwala Bagh, killing
disappear while India is Because the Indian state is 47.8 million entries in 13 379 people, Indians realised they could only have
a salad bowl in which the seconds! Democracies dignity when they were free from British rule.
constituents retain their
inefficient, millions of entre- have a safety valve - it The massacre at Tiananmen Square in 1989,
identity. Hence, China has preneurs have stepped into allows the disgruntled to where 300 students were killed, was China’s Jal-
always been governed by let off steam before slowly lianwala Bagh. China today may have become
a hierarchical, centralized the vacuum. When govern- co-opting them. richer than India but the poorest Chinese yearns
state - a tradition that has Both India and China for the same freedom.
carried into the present era ment schools fail, people start have accepted the capital- Because the Indian state is inefficient, mil-
of reform communism. ist road to prosperity. But lions of entrepreneurs have stepped into the
China resembles a busi- private schools in the slums, capitalism is more com- vacuum. When government schools fail, people
ness corporation today. fortable in a democracy, start private schools in the slums, and the result
Each mayor and party sec-
and the result is millions of which fosters entrepre- is millions of ‘slumdog millionaires’. You cannot
retary has objectives relat- ‘slumdog millionaires’. You neurs naturally. A state do this in China. Our free society forces us to
ing to investment, output enterprise can never be as solve our own problems, making us self-reliant.
and growth, which are cannot do this in China. innovative or nimble and Hence, the Indian way is likely to be more en-
aligned to national goals. this is why the Chinese during because the people have scripted India’s
Those who exceed their envy some of our private success while China’s state has crafted its
goals rise quickly. The main problem in running companies. Democracy respects property rights. success. This worries China’s leaders who ask,
a country as a business is that many people get As both nations urbanize, peasants in India are if India can become the world’s second fastest
left out. able to sell or borrow against their land, but the economy despite the state, what will happen
India, on the other hand, can only manage Chinese peasants are at the mercy of local party when the Indian state begins to perform? India’s
itself by accommodating vocal and varied in- bosses. Because India has the rule of law, en- path may be slower but it is surer, and the Indian
terest groups in its salad bowl. This leads to trepreneurs can enforce contracts. If someone way of life is also more likely to survive. This
a million negotiations daily and we call this takes away your property in China, you have no is why when I am reborn I would prefer it to be
system ‘democracy’. It slows us down - we recourse. Hence, it is the party bosses who are in India.
take five years to build a highway versus one in accumulating wealth in China. The rule of law The writer spoke in a debate in London in
China. Those who are disgruntled go to court. slows us down but it also protects us (and our May 2009, in support of the motion ‘The future
But our politicians are forced to worry about environment, as the NGOs have discovered). belongs to India, not China’
abuses of human rights, whereas my search on We take freedom for granted in India but it

When Indian leaders ignored the Pacific Way

Padmini Gaunder
Race relations in Fiji would have been differ-
ent if Indian leaders had understood and re-
spected the Pacific Way
The Pacific Way was an ideology that the
first Prime Minister of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese
Mara, introduced in the 1970s to promote re-
gional solidarity. This was also used to bring
together the different ethnic groups in Fiji,
which had led their separate lives so far, as
one nation.
Vague as the term was it did reflect a tra-
dition of dialogue and discussion in politics,
one scholar has noted. ‘Reciprocity’ and ‘con-
sensus’ are also mentioned as features of the
Pacific Way. Both these features were very
much in evidence in the late 1960s and culmi-
nated in the 1970 Fiji constitution. In the late
1960s/early 1970s the leaders of the two major
ethnic groups in Fiji, the indigenous Fijians
and the immigrant Indians, continued to hold
discussions on all important matters and come
to an agreement for the benefit of the nation.
A Fijian scholar, Simione Durutalo who
was with the Fiji Labour Party dismissed the
‘Pacific Way’ as a pseudo ideology “manufac-
tured by white liberal intellectuals with the
loyal help of their indigenous disciples”. Aca-
demics at the University of the South Pacific
might have been influential in the development
of the concept but to dismiss it as something
manufactured by white intellectuals is not
true.
Durutalo was wrong in his conclusion
that it was “a pseudo ideology” because it
also served a useful purpose in politics as it
acknowledged dialogue and co-operation to
accommodate the needs of the various ethnic
groups. It was part of nation building and in-
tegration and Ratu Mara was successful until
Butadroka started his Fijian nationalist move-
ment.
Unfortunately, in later years, the term ‘the
Pacific Way’ became debased and came to
mean lack of punctuality, lack of organisation
and putting things off to the last minute. In
recent years it has come to mean much worse
things as Satendra Nandan notes: “Destabilis-
ing a democratically elected government with
a few guns is increasingly the Pacific Way”.
It has been pointed out that the “consen-
sus” system as a mode of indigenous Fijian
Even before independence, in April 1969, the
Alliance Party magazine, the Fiji Nation, had
pointed out that the crux of the independence
question was a “representative balance”
between Fijians and Indians.
decision-making is perhaps the least under-
stood institution in Fiji. “It stands in almost
complete contrast to party politics as a social
strategy, requiring prolonged discussions in a
formal, face-to-face setting, punctuated with
ceremony and protocol”. One of the most im-
portant features of this system is that, unlike
in politics, personal accusations are avoided
altogether as a vulgar breach of decorum.
It has been further noted that in Fiji, height-
ened inter-ethnic tensions during elections
used to be caused by the intense criticism
of many of the paramount chiefs. This was
done by the opposition National Federation
Party (NFP) whose leaders after the death of
its founder leader, A. D. Patel, did not under-
stand Fijian sensitivities and traditions. If the
leaders had stuck to the issues and criticised
the government on that basis rather than at-
tacking the persons, a lot of ethnic tensions
could have been avoided.
Even before independence, in April 1969,
the Alliance Party magazine, the Fiji Nation,
had pointed out that the crux of the indepen-
dence question was a “representative balance”
between Fijians and Indians. It continued: “It
is inconceivable that the Fijian community
will agree to an arrangement which would not
assure them of being masters of their own
destiny in their own country”.
To maintain the balance, Fijian political
predominance was necessary since Indians
dominated in education and business. It has
been noted that except during heated dis-
putes, such as those that followed the 1968 by-
elections, Fijian hegemony was not asserted
crudely.
In 1977 the balance was temporarily lost
when the NFP had a narrow victory over the
Alliance with the Fijian Nationalist Party
splitting the Fijian votes, but this victory
was accidental, not planned. The Indo-Fijian
scholar, Professor Subramani, describes in a
short story the rising anger in the Fijian mind
when the chiefly-led Allaince Party lost the
election, but before it could explode and lead
to any violence, the Governor General, Ratu
Sir George Cakobau, acted and appointed a
minority government under Ratu Mara. In
the next general elections, a few months later,
the balance was restored with Fijians flocking
back to the Alliance.
After the 1977 experience it became clear
that all that was needed to topple the Alliance
government was a small split in the Fijian
votes. With a change in NFP’s leadership, the
Indian leaders seemed to overlook the im-
portance of maintaining the balance as they
made concerted efforts to dislodge the Fijian
dominated Alliance Party from power. This,
according to the Indo-Fijian scholar Brij Lal
(who was ousted last week from Fiji), suggest-
ed that they had not yet recognised the dire
consequences that awaited the Indian commu-
nity if the Indian dominated (in fact, almost
exclusively Indian) NFP captured the govern-
ment.
The NFP leaders did not heed the timely
warning of Brij Lal that there would be trouble
if the Alliance government was defeated and
the balance was lost. Instead they went into
another coalition in 1987 with the newly
formed multiracial Fiji Labour Party to topple
Ratu Mara’s Alliance government. It was a
moment when “the centre could not hold” as
the politics of balance governing the two com-
munities fell apart. This destroyed the poten-
tial raised in the 1970s that “a just and fair
multiracial democracy could be made to work
in Fiji”, Brij Lal concluded.
A just and fair multiracial democracy could
have been made to work in Fiji only if the
Indian leaders had accepted Fijian hegemony
(as A. D. Patel had who used to say that Fijians
are “first among equals”) until the country
became integrated with a common identity.
When Sitiveni Rabuka, the third ranking
officer in the Fiji army, staged a coup in 1987
and overthrew the democratically elected gov-
ernment, ethnic Fijians rallied behind him
in support almost to the last man. This was
because although Fijians were prepared to
share power with other groups they were not
going “to relinquish it or to subordinate them-
selves to the will of others”.
At the time of independence the Fijians’
main desire was that “Fiji should be preserved
as a Fijian country”, Ratu Mara noted in his
Memoirs. In other words, they did not want
Fiji to become “a little India of the Pacific”
and they did not want to be marginalized in the
country where they were the original settlers.
Whatever Rabuka’s real reasons might
have been for carrying out the coups, it was
the perception that there was a threat to their
rights as the indigenous people that made
the majority of the ethnic Fijians rally to his
support. Today it is quite clear that the 1987
problem was caused by the loss of balance. If
the Indian leaders had continued to follow the
Fijian system of dialogue and accommoda-
tion, in other words the Pacific Way, then there
would not have been a loss of balance.
Peter Thompson correctly noted: “In 1987
the Fijians were at a wild and critical cross-
roads. As an indigenous community they had
both the power and the will to assert their posi-
tion in Fiji”. And assert it they did.
(Padmini Gaunder’s book, ‘Education and
Race Relations in Fiji’ is available for $15.00.
Those interested may contact her at pgaun-
der@hotmail.com).

Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 15

Indian
When making dreams come true is a way of life
Dev Nadkarni
Stories of men and women who have made good in
their professional lives are many but it is quite rare,
especially in this day and age, to come across people
who while building personal success also gave gen-
erously of their time, energy and selfless hard work
for building successful institutions that have stood
to benefit the larger community – and are poised to
grow and move with the times.
For an immigrant who came to a far more mono-
cultural New Zealand as a young man all the way
from Kenya in 1969, Kanu Patel has not only done
well for himself but over the past nearly quarter of a
century served as a deft helmsman of the country’s
leading Indian community institution – the Auck-
land Indian Association.
“About 23 years ago a friend told me that the old
guard at the Auckland Indian Association was not
making progress and asked me to get involved in the
organisation. Before that I had no involvement other
than occasionally attending Gita class run by the as-
sociation on Sunday evenings. Shortly alter joining
I was appointed Treasurer,” the chairman of the
Auckland Indian Association told Indian Weekend-
er when asked how his long unbroken stint with the
association and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre began.
An accountant by profession, Kanu has built a
hugely successful accountancy firm, Patel Pike and
Associates, from scratch, coming a long way from
his humble beginnings as a store clerk at New World
40 years ago. His talent for managing finances as
also working closely with community leaders and
common people came in handy for the Auckland
Indian Association through its days of struggle.
The success of the association is a fine and rare
combination of dedication, drive and spunk. “The
association bought the present site from Findlays
Bakery in August 1990 for $1.8 million. It was a bold
decision by the then president Ramanbhai Ganda to
purchase the property as we only had $72,315 in our
bank account and the Victoria Street property was
valued at around $500,000,” says Mr Patel.
“From the day we bought the land, Mahatma
16
man of action: Auckland Indian Association Chairman Kanu patel
Gandhi Centre has been a hive of activities with vol-
unteers working on the complex, fund raising team
working hard to seek firstly the donation pledges and
than collecting the donations,” he says. “The work
never finishes – just last month we completed the
dinning area renovation at a cost of $60,000 and are
considering buying the sound system for $80,000.”
Like for most institutions, the early days were
tough going for the association and the Mahatma
Gandhi Centre. But Mr Patel credits the complete
selfless dedication of the association members, its
leaders and some very practical and intelligent fi-
nancial management for the success of the institu-
tion, which today, despite its large financial outlay
over the years is completely debt free with cash to
spare.
“It was never easy making quarterly payments of
$1.2milion over twelve months or securing an ANZ
loan of $600,000. There was a lot of blood sweat and
tears,” says Mr Patel reminiscing. “Setting annual
financial and development goals and achieving them
was always a priority for us.”
All through its various development phases, Mr
Patel, as the main money manager at the association,
never lost sight of his dream of making the institu-
tion debt free as quickly as possible. “That dream
has been achieved and we are very happy and proud
about it,” he says.
Mr Patel especially acknowledges the contribu-
tions of key people like Ramanbhai Ganda QSM,
Ramanbhai Patel JP and Chhotubhai Sima QSM.
But no mention of the centre should go without ac-
knowledging the work, generosity and sacrifice of
common members, he insists.
The community has enjoyed the Mahatma
Gandhi Centre for the past twenty years. It has
held the immensely popular Navratri festival and
Dandiya nights, Yagnas, Diwali Concerts, musicals,
all religious functions, community meetings, run
the Gujarati school classes and opened the Tagore
Library this year. “The Mahatma Gandhi Centre has
brought joy, fun and happiness in the lives of every-
one from the youngest child to the senior citizen,”
says Mr Patel.
But with the rapid growth of the Indian com-
munity especially in Auckland, the demands on the
Centre are ever increasing. “Amongst the executive
committee it is well known that the centre has a
maximum life span of 10 years. After that it will be
uneconomic to maintain the property and parking
will become a major issue,” says Mr Patel. “It is an
undisputed fact that the Mahatma Gandhi Centre
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Personality
has been the best investment we have made for the
community.”
We Indians are completely community oriented
and our lives revolve around our families, communi-
ties and institutions – whether religious or cultural,
observes Mr Patel. “We tend to use the centre more
frequently than say the Aotea Centre, the Auckland
Town Hall or even the beaches. With that in mind
and the size of fast growing Indian community it is
imperative that we build a modem cultural centre
and remain a centre of activities for the community.”
Acknowledging the dream of the founding
fathers, Mr Patel says, “Some who shared the dream
of building the Mahatma Gandhi Centre are no
longer with us, but we share their vision of the future
which is to collectively create a centre that we can
all be proud of and give us a sense of belonging here
in Auckland.”
Asked about the recent media controversy relat-
ing to the building of the new centre that would be
a replica of the Taj Mahal, Mr Patel says that it was
an unfortunate case of miscommunication. “Any
thinking person can tell it is impossible to build a
replica of the fabulous Taj Mahal on a one hectare
site with a budget of $20 million. What we meant
to communicate was that we were planning a build
a cultural icon in Auckland in a manner that the Taj
Mahal is in India. That story was picked up by other
media and there was some needless reaction to it.”
Mr Patel sees the biggest obstacles coming from
negative thinking, personality clashes, ego, lack of
unity of purpose, questions like where the money
will come from. It is not that these attitudes have not
been seen in the past – but that’s a part and parcel of
life, he shrugs.
Just as nothing has deterred him and his team
from achieving the dreams of the centre’s founders
down the years, he is confident that the present set
of leaders and members who share the dedication
and fervour of the founders will achieve the goal
of a proud new functional centre catering to every
modern need of the Indian community.
Indian
Government by Greed: Sophisticated Plunder
Subhash Appana
The last issue of “Government by Greed” tried to
establish the framework within which government
policy regarding assistance schemes for Fijian
business was formulated and implemented. Three
significant characteristics emerged from it: one,
most schemes had a quick-fix political patronage
focus; two, there was a glaring absence of moni-
toring and accountability mechanisms; and three,
a number of players had insidiously entrenched
themselves in key positions that were directly
involved in implementing government programs
that involved public funds.
Indeed by the time Rabuka lost the 1999 elec-
tions, a sophisticated system involving a group of
connected personnel had already hijacked Fiji’s
bureaucracy. Chaudhry’s unexpected electoral
success was going to be a major stumbling block
for this cabal. And the intelligent, perceptive and
openly abrasive PM was not accepting any sub-
quality decisions on government monies.
He immediately went on the offensive by
rolling back the public sector reform program.
This was the little-understood proverbial goose
that promised so many golden eggs (more on this
later). Then he blocked the billion dollar mahoga-
ny deal with Trans Resource Management (TRM),
a George Speight connected US company that was
hoping to raise funds via bonds without following
the conventional path of fronting up with a bag of
investment to help the country harvest the world’s
largest reserves of mahogany.
Perhaps the most significant and dangerous
decision that Chaudhry made was to insist on fi-
nancial acquittals and statements on public funds.
This was something every government before
Chaudhry had been forced to compromise on. The
Native Land Trust Board (NLTB), which collect-
ed some $30m in yearly land rents, had not filed
annual reports for a decade. Chaudhry tried to pry
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Comment
into this and the GM, to Fijian Hold- This provided a key opening for Fiji’s power-
Marika Qarikau, dug ings Ltd. in 1989 players to hijack a pivotal Fijian initiative for per-
in. Lack of accounting and account- after the company sonal gain. And as their methods had now become
In fact part of the showed typical sophisticated, they formed companies for a fee of
reason for the short- ability in disbursing public funds signs of lack of $2 and had these entities buy shares on their behalf
sighted and reactive
Qarikau campaign
for Fijian “assistance” schemes staying power.
This was later con-
with easily accessed funds from NBF and FDB.
In an article titled “How Fijian Provinces
to block lease renew- had already become a part of ac- verted to a grant were betrayed and looted by the Fijian Initiative”,
als in the cane belt when Qarase as- Thakur Ranjit Singh, a graduate student in jour-
had to do with this. cepted practice in public sector cended to power nalism, highlights that on 18 May, 1993 Senator
Chaudhry sensed rot in 2000. Just what Manu Korovulavula moved a motion for an inves-
and moved further governance in Fiji. was Qarase’s link tigation into methods adopted by the FHL Board
onto the use of pro- with FHL? This allowing limited liability companies to buy FHL
vincial allocations. makes for some in- shares without the knowledge of Fiji’s 14 Prov-
Fiji is made of 14 provinces and each is allocated teresting insights on the main theme being raised inces.
$1m for administrative purposes on an annual so far of plunder. As an example, FHL’s 1992 annual report
basis. Chaudhry insisted on audited reports from Fijian Holdings Ltd. showed that the 14 Provincial Councils, Native
each province before releasing the next million. As mentioned earlier, the focus of the pre-2000 Land Trust Board (NLTB) and Fijian Affairs Board
This was considered anathema! pillage appeared to be on entrenching a loosely (FAB) collectively held only 30% of total shares
Lack of accounting and accountability in formed grouping of bureaucrats, consultants and while power-plunderers and their family-owned
disbursing public funds for Fijian “assistance” politicians. This group gravitated around Fiji’s limited liability companies held 70%. “This is a
schemes had already become a part of accepted largest business entity, Fijian Holdings Ltd. (FHL), fraud on the common indigenous people who are
practice in public sector governance in Fiji. My and key Fijian institutions of governance. At this supposed to be shareholders of FHL through their
last article highlighted EIMCOL, an FDB funded stage, the game was played at tempo because no respective provinces” declared the Thakur.
project aimed to get Fijians into the promising one knew when the gravy train would falter and Many of the names involved in the hijacking
retail sector in Fiji. That failed largely because of run dry. of FHL are mentioned in the Peter Foster Dossier.
lack of monitoring, accountability and control. Much of National Bank of Fiji (NBF) and Fiji Some of the more prominent ones include Laise-
Another failed scheme, another set of plunder, Development Bank (FDB) funds were poured into nia Qarase, Navitalai Naisoro and former Minister
another opportunity to siphon off public monies buying “A” class shares in Fijian Holdings Ltd., a Konisi Yabaki. Political power was clearly being
for private purposes, let’s move to the next one. company established in 1984 to conduct business linked with personal wealth creation and many
And there was no shortage of such schemes es- on behalf of the Fijian people. FHL operates as a were learning. Others had just woken up to pos-
pecially during Rabuka’s precarious reign. There virtual monopoly in Fiji and is a huge blue-chip sibilities as focus moved to other opportunities.
was the Commodity Development Framework, company with unlimited potential. Till then!
the Poverty Alleviation Fund, etc. In 1992 a Fijian As the flagship for Fijian business enterprise, - Subhash Appana is an academic and politi-
Commercial Development Unit was also set up FHL was supposed to be owned by provincial cal commentator. The opinions contained in this
in the Central Planning Office of the Ministry of councils, the Native Land Trust Board, the Fijian article are entirely his and not necessarily shared
Finance and Economic Planning. No audit was Affairs Board, and Tikina and village groupings. by any organizations he may be associated with
ever carried out on its use value. At some stage this group was expanded to include both in Fiji and abroad.
In a landmark move, Rabuka loaned $20m individual Fijians and family companies. Email subhasha@ais.ac.nz
17
Indian
Konkanis celebrate
Diwali a little differently
The NZ Amchi Association (Konkani speak-
ing people in NZ) tried to do something a bit
different at their annual Diwali function this
year – they put together a programme of music
and dance lasting an hour and a half.
What made the occasion different was
that there were virtually no rehearsals (of the
whole show) and even the sequence of events
at the actual function were made f lexible to
accommodate the various participants, some
of whom were in the middle of their school
exams and came in specially to perform.
There was therefore an element of sponta-
neity about the programme.
There was a children’s programme to begin
with, put together by Nilima D’Silva that was
various acts: The Konkani group welcoming guests at the start of their
Diwali festivities
hugely enjoyed by the kids who took part.
This set the mood for the rest of the evening.
The song and dance programme started
with a Bharat Natyam dance by Pooja Bhagat,
a young schoolgirl who gave an extremely
professional performance.
The dance troupe “Ignite” – Ritika and
Ajay – gave 3 dances – 2 as a pair and one
solo by Ritika. The dance troupe performs
to larger audiences throughout Auckland
and could be called professional. The perfor-
mances certainly were so – but some of the
members were unable to make it because of
the ongoing exams.
Between the dances, there were songs –
the first by Sandhya Rao, who is a singer and
singing teacher in her own right. Then there
was Rhea Maheshwari (who has also taken
18
part in other singing performances, including
“Kaun Banega Superstar” recently).
Pooja Bhagat came in once more for a Bol-
lywood dance.
The evening of songs and dance ended
with some western music – Vivek Kalambi
(singing), Vivek Divekar (guitar) and Sujata
Divekar (accompanying song) gave us some
James Taylor numbers, followed by Ashok
Bhat (singing and guitar), in some cases ac-
companied by Vivek Divekar and Gautam
Naik on the bongo drums as accompaniment.
The western music went on as people ate and
mingled during and after their meal, which
was, as usual, a contributory meal, enjoyed
by all.
Ashok Bhat (one of the organisers) said
this show would not have been possible
without such enthusiastic participation by the
participants and the other organisers. He also
said that for every person who sang or danced,
there was an equal number who had talent but
could not (or did not) participate this time for
various reasons (including stage fright) – but
hoped that if the NZ Amchis were to do this
in future again, they would have more partici-
pants and ideas.
A lot of ideas (and contribution by way of
props, equipment and help with decorations)
came from the participants, notably Ritika
Badakere, who, along with Ajay Rao, filled in
the gaps left by the other 4 members of Ignite.
- Indian Weekender news desk
National Standards:
a necessary move
Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, National List MP
I believe reading, writing and maths are the fun-
damental building blocks every child needs to be
taught to get the best start in life.
Presently one in five students leaves school
lacking the necessary skills they need to achieve.
National is committed to providing all chil-
dren with the opportunities and tools they need
to realize their potential. Thus we have launched
National Standards which will help more students
achieve and give parents and caregivers a clear
picture on how their child is performing.
The standards will be introduced to primary
and intermediate schools from next year and set
clear and consistent expectations of what stu-
dents should be achieving between Years 1 to 8 in
reading, writing and maths.
The standards explain what children should
have learnt and by when, and helping teachers
and parents spot which children need additional
support. We are making $36 million available
over four years to help those who aren’t meeting
the standards and to lift achievement for all stu-
dents.
I believe that National Standards will help
Greater freedom for our
Golden Kiwis
Hon Pansy Wong, Minister for Ethnic Affairs
A new law making it easier for retired New
Zealanders to travel overseas has been passed
through Parliament.
The Social Assistance (Payment of New
Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension
Overseas) Amendment Bill has passed, which
will allow pensioners to receive their entitle-
ments while living and travel overseas.
It is no secret that our population is aging
and the National-led Government is committed
to ensuring that older New Zealanders have the
freedom they deserve in their Golden Years.
Older Kiwis – including those from within
our ethnic communities - are more active than
ever before and after a lifetime of paying taxes
it makes sense that they should be able to travel
during their retirement and take their entitlement
with them.
The Bill, which has passed through all stages
of Parliament and will soon become Law, is the
first changes to the way our senior citizens can
access their pensions since the 1990s.
Penalising older Kiwis for wanting to move
to another country - or travel through many -
served no particular purpose. It’s not what retir-
ees want and it’s not in line with this National
Government’s philosophy.
We want all New Zealanders to be able to
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Community
deliver a clear and simple way for parents to track
the progress of children through their schooling
life. Parents will get simple language reports
about their child twice a year which will also
inform them about things they can do to assist and
encourage their child to learn at home.
Teachers will use the same tools to measure
children’s progress, and all children will be as-
sessed against the same standard no matter what
school they are at.
The launch of National Standards follows
months of consultation and feedback from teach-
ers, parents and sector groups. I appreciate the
positive feedback we have received about Nation-
al Standards and our other education initiatives
from parents.
National Standards deliver on our pre-election
promise to help all New Zealand children learn
the basic skills they need to do well at school,
prepare for the workforce, and climb the ladder
of opportunity.
Every child deserves the opportunity to
achieve. I’m pleased that we have delivered on our
promise and launched the National Standards.
enjoy the fruits of their labour and that is why
this law has been passed.
The new payment rate means a superannui-
tant will be able to receive up to the full rate of
their entitlement depending on how long they’ve
lived in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and
65 years.
Under the new rules someone who has lived
here for 22.5 years during this period will receive
50 percent of their pension and if they have lived
here 30 years they will receive 66 percent –
whereas in contrast to the old rules they would
only get 50 percent.
Also, under the “grandparent provision” of
the new law, All people who are receiving 50
percent under the current rules will continue to
receive 50 percent , or have their payment rate
increased if they are entitled to more under the
new formula.
This makes sense, because many members
of our ethnic communities have chosen New
Zealand as their permanent home, they have paid
their taxes and they should receive what they are
entitled to.
These changes will ensure that elderly New
Zealanders are getting the entitlements they
deserve and that they have greater freedom in
how they spend their retirement years
Indian
Rotorua Diwali festival attracts thousands
The Rotorua Deepawali Festival 2009 was celebrat-
ed on Saturday, November 7 at the Rotorua Energy
Events Centre. The uniqueness of this festival was
that it was a smoke-free, alcohol-free and meat-free
festival with free entry to the public.
The festival also turned to be an important mile-
stone for Hindu-Maori relations (whakawhanaun-
gatanga). A number of Maori cultural traditions
such as karakia, powhiri, kapa haka were per-
formed during the festival. The respect and rela-
tions that the Hindu Council of New Zealand had
built over the years have brought Hindu community
closer to the Maori community.
More than 3000 Rotorua public and out of town
visitors, along with the Mayor and the councillors,
Maori Elders, Members of Parliament, sponsors,
community and youth leaders, came to participate,
celebrate, enjoy and bless this cultural tradition.
“Our vision was to transform this Hindu festival
into Rotorua community festival and it is already
happening,” said Dr Guna Magesan, Festival coor-
dinator.
Rotorua Deepawali Festival 2009 is proudly
sponsored by Rotorua Trust, First Sovereign, The
Lion Foundation, Asia NZ Foundation, Creative
Communities NZ Rotorua Scheme, The Southern
Trust, and COGS; and supported by Hindu Council
of New Zealand, Rotorua District Council, Settle-
ment Support NZ, Rotorua Ethnic Council, Friends
of India Society, BOP (Rotorua) Indian Association,
Rotorua Fiji Indian Association and other commu-
nity organisations; Waiariki Institute of Technol-
ogy, Rotorua Public Library, and many businesses.
Many dignitaries participated in the opening
ceremony. Kaumatua John Marsh (MBE JP) and
Swami Vigyananand ji recited Maori and Hindu
The art of caring for your heart
Rashmi Shenoy
Indians are more prone to heart disease than many other ethnicities. The Heart Foundation is now actively
developing communication directed at this high risk group, telling them how to keep their hear in good shape.
You can’t live or love without it. Sex and laughter
is good for it and bad news can break it. Let’s get
to the heart of the matter shall we?
The heart has baffled humans since the dawn
of time as the blood pump is ever so complex. It is
a muscle that pumps blood to all the parts of your
body. It provides your body with the oxygen and
nourishment it needs to function effectively. When
your blood flows through your body and returns
to the heart, it follows a complicated pathway. To
keep it simple, look after your heart. A healthy
heart is the most prized possession one can have
today.
I met with Parul Dubé who works as a nutri-
tion adviser at the Heart foundation. She filled me
in on the heart foundation’s initiative to develop
an ethnic-specific shopping guide for the various
cultural groups who are at higher risk for lifestyle
diseases. Almost every other food and shopping
guide available today is targeted at the European
population. A shopping guide was therefore devel-
oped by the heart foundation for our Indian com-
munity containing culturally familiar foods that
meet the nutrient requirements within an afford-
able budget.
The Heart Foundation is a charity organisa-
tion established 41 years ago with an aim to stop
New Zealanders dying prematurely from heart
disease. Since then heart disease death rates in
New Zealand have halved. Yet tragically, cardio-
vascular disease (which includes heart disease and
stroke) remains the number one cause of death in
the country – accounting for 40% of all deaths an-
nually. Statistics show that the rate of cardiovascu-
lar disease amongst Indian people is high and on
the rise (Dr Geeta Gala, Public Health Medicine
Registrar, Mar 08).
Indians, New Zealand’s second-largest Asian
group, have more fat for their size than Europeans
and Polynesians – and generally have a higher dia-
betes and heart attack rate than both Pacific Island-
ers and Maori.
A major dietary factor responsible for this is a
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian leaders at the Rotorua Diwali festival
prayers, respectively, and blessed the occasion.
Natanahira Te pona, Rotorua’s Tohunga Whakairo
(master carver), made a Maori carving and cap-
tured a “Rehua” to celebrate the journey of friend-
ship between Hindu and Maori communities.
John Marsh, along with Natanahira Te Pona and
Shaloh Mitchell, presented the carving to Swami
Vigyananand representing Hindu community. In
return, Swami ji presented a Nataraja statue to John
Marsh’s group.
Carving a symbol of Om and Sun in the Rehua
means so much to Hindu community. The Sun is
described as the soul of the universe, representing
the life-force on earth which sustains everything.
His is the energy of confidence and power, consis-
Over the course of a day, about 100,000 heart beats
shuttle 2,000 gallons of oxygen-rich blood many times
through about 60,000 miles of branching blood vessels
that link together the cells of our organs and body parts.
That’s a hefty job for a fist-sized muscle.
high saturated fat intake amongst the Indian com-
munity. Saturated fat is a type of fat commonly
found in animal products which is the main cause
for raised blood cholesterol levels increasing risk
of heart and blood vessel disease. High saturated
fat ingredients include Ghee, cream, butter and
coconut milk which are often used to enhance
traditional Indian foods. Additionally there is
a higher intake of westernised takeaway foods
which can be high in total fat, saturated fat, sugar
and salt. “These dietary factors are modifiable”
says Parul.
“Small changes in the types of foods chosen at
the supermarket to the preparation techniques em-
ployed at home can make some big improvements.
Combined with diet other key changes to reduce
your risk of cardiovascular disease include being
physically active and not smoking”.
In order to shop wisely the heart foundation is
designing a basic healthy shopping list that would
guide the choice of foods which are culturally
familiar to both meet the nutrient requirements
and provide best value for money for an Indian
family of 4 members (2 adults and 2 children aged
between 8-14 yrs).
The shopping list is in its developmental stage
and should be available by early next year. “We are
hoping to have the shopping lists (downloadable
versions) accessible to different ethnic groups on
the Heart Foundation website”.
The Heart Foundation has previously pub-
tency and inspiration. Carving of Rehua was a big
leap in Hindu-Maori relations.
“We are really humbled and honoured by the
Maori community’s gesture of carving a special
Rehua for our community” said Dr Guna Magesan,
the coordinator of Rotorua Deepawali Festival
and General Secretary of Hindu Council of New
Zealand.
His worship the Mayor, Kevin Winters JP, of-
ficially opened the festival by lighting the lamp.
Grahame Hall ex-Mayor and the current chairman
of Rotorua Trust and Dr Rajen Prasad (Members
of Parliament), and Shashi Patel (Festival Commit-
tee) and a number of councillors were also present.
Best wishes messages were given by President of
lished an Indian specific resource (Good Health
in your hands! Written in Gujarati with English
translation) that outlines culturally appropriate
exercises (dancing/ gardening/ social sports). The
Heart Foundation recently produced the Active
Hearts exercise DVD – to promote physical activ-
ity as part of a healthy lifestyle. It is specifically
designed for people who have had a heart event
or procedure – or who are at risk of heart disease.
Parul’s message to Indian Weekender readers
is to firstly maintain a heart healthy eating pattern,
have a heart health check regularly, know your
numbers e.g. Cholesterol/ Blood Pressure/ Waist
circumference, be active everyday and lastly if you
smoke, seek help from your GP to quit.
Amazing facts about your heart
l Heart disease has been viewed as a man’s
illness. The truth is the heart disease kills women
as it does men. Women don’t tend to experience
the Bollywood standard heart attack in which
gripping chest pain sends you keeling over. Instead
women report tightness, aching or pressure in the
heart, other symptoms like nausea, back, left hand
or jaw pain.
l Some people really do have bigger hearts than
others. It’s not a sign of affection but a signal of un-
derlying heart disease. If left untreated, a big heart
can lead to heart failure.
l A hearty laugh, the kind that sends a stream
of tears from your eyes does more than warm the
Community
Rotorua Ethnic Council, Settlement Support coor-
dinator, and Patron of Hindu Elders Foundation.
The Master of Ceremonies was Ms Pritika Sharma,
and vote of thanks was given by Mr Samir Shah.
Following the opening ceremony there were
various workshops on ancient Indian art (Rangoli)
and yoga. There were also special workshops
on Belly dancing, how to wear a sari, and Indian
cooking (roti making).
A number of young women, including a Maori,
raised some funds with their henna skills and
donated the collection to Ekal Vidyalaya Founda-
tion – one teacher school.
Kaumatua John Marsh also lead a special
powhiri (traditional Maori welcome) in the after-
noon at Apumoana Marae for some of our guests
from Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Taupo, Palm-
erston North and Wellington. More than 50 Hindu
Elders had come from Auckland to support this fes-
tival. Many of them, along with some guests and
artists, stayed at the Apumoana Marae, Rotorua.
A spectacular Indian cultural show was held at
the Energy Events Centre from 6.30 p.m. to 9.00
p.m. A huge response for tickets has resulted in
a waiting list of more than 250 people. After the
cultural show, everyone made their way down to
Government gardens for the concluding fireworks
display at 9.30 pm. Drum beats by Samblasta group
entertained the whole crowd and many people
found it only natural to start dancing to the rhythm
of the music.
This is the sixth time that Hindu Council of New
Zealand had organised a Marae stay for the Indian
community to learn, understand and experience
Maori culture and customs.
Health
soul. Research has shown the guffaw can cause the
lining of blood vessel walls called endothelium to
relax, increasing blood flow for up to 45 minutes
after the laugh attack
l A study found that having an orgasm atleast
3 times a week cut in half the likelihood of death
from coronary heart disease. By some estimates,
a vigorous sex session can double a person’s heart
rate and burn up about 200 calories, or the equiva-
lent of a brisk 15-minute run.
l A glass of Merlot can go straight to the heart,
and recent research shows that so too can the white
variety. Scientists have attributed the heart bene-
fits of reds to grape skins, which are chock full of
certain antioxidants. Since the purple-hued skins
get removed to make Chardonnays, many scien-
tists had assumed white wine probably wouldn’t
do the heart any good. A lab experiment on rats
showed that a grape’s pulp conceals cardio-protec-
tive compounds that rival those found in reds. Red
or white? Just follow your heart. Only don’t overdo
it.
l In under a minute, your heart can pump blood
to every cell in your body. And over the course
of a day, about 100,000 heart beats shuttle 2,000
gallons of oxygen-rich blood many times through
about 60,000 miles of branching blood vessels
that link together the cells of our organs and body
parts. That’s a hefty job for a fist-sized muscle.
Source: http://www.livescience.com/health/
top_10_amazing_heart_facts-1.html These facts
are not verified by the National Heart Foundation.
You can also visit http://www.goredforwomen.
org.nz for more information.
Please continue to support the Heart Founda-
tion; together we will beat heart disease. For more
information on the Heart Foundation visit http://
www.heart foundation.org.nz/
- Rashmi Shenoy works with Hewlett Packard
as a services account manager and writes for
Indian Weekender in her spare time.
19
Indian
Got the wrong Bob?
Mid last month, Google’s Gmail Labs team in-
troduced a new feature dubbed “Got the wrong
Bob?” to help users catch their embarrassing
e-mail faux pas before they are sent to the wrong
recipient in a group message.
The free Web-based e-mail service launched
the feature as a preemptive warning for people
who appear to be ready to accidentally send a
Gmail message to an unintended recipient, ac-
cording to Google engineers Ari Leichtberg and
Yossi Matias.
The feature can be activated by modifying
Gmail Settings. The software has the ability to
recognise groups of people most often communi-
cated with via email by Gmail users, and then let
them know when they are including someone out
of the ordinary.
“Gmail will try to identify when you’ve ac-
cidentally included the wrong person, before it’s
too late,” the engineers said.
Google invites users to put the feature to the
test by faking a blunder by composing a message
to two of three people they want to e-mail. Start
typing the third member of the group, but then
auto-complete on the wrong name. The Gmail
Labs team also switched the name of its “Suggest
Web inventor says sorry for slashes
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World
Wide Web, has confessed that the // in a web
address were actually “unnecessary”.
The forward slashes at the beginning of in-
ternet addresses have long annoyed net users
and now the man behind them has apologised for
using them.
He told the Times newspaper last month that
he could easily have designed URLs not to have
the forward slashes.
“There you go, it seemed like a good idea at
the time,” he said.
Curry kills and rescues!
A heated exchange over
the taste of a curry led
to a woman committing
suicide by setting herself
ablaze and her husband,
who tried to save her,
also succumbed to burns,
police told the Press Trust
of India in Madurai.
Both the 37-year-old
husband and his wife suc-
cumbed to their burns
within hours of each other.
Police said the man had
commented about the taste
of ‘Sambar’ while taking
dinner at their home near
here, leading to a heated
exchange with his wife.
Enraged over her husband’s comments,
the woman doused herself with kerosene and
set herself ablaze. Her husband, who tried to
save her, suffered serious burn injuries, they
said, adding that their two children were also
injured in the melee.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, curry
saved a life. A man who was captured by
the Taliban spent 24 days being starved and
beaten in Afghanistan persuaded his tormen-
tors to release him by cooking them curry,
reports the Daily Telegraph.
Somen Debnath spent three weeks blind-
folded strapped to a chair in a pitch-black
10ft by 10ft dungeon. Debnath was travel-
ling through the war-torn country as part of a
five-year bicycle ride through 33 countries to
promote Aids awareness.
But he was taken by armed militants –
who assumed he was a spy – as he travelled
through the remote region of Herat. Unable to
understand his captors’ commands, Indian-
born Mr Debnath, 28, was regularly beaten
for disobeying orders, starved and repeatedly
20
more recipients” feature to “Don’t forget Bob,” to
join “Got the wrong Bob?”.
“Got the wrong Bob” comes more than a
year after Gmail Labs introduced Mail Goggles,
which prompts users who send an e-mail between
10 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend night to answer
math problems in order to check their coherence.
The idea is that an e-mailer too tired or too drunk
to solve simple math problems probably would
appreciate being rescued from sending a poten-
tially regrettable message.
However, the feature is not perfect. It will not
protect users from sending an e-mail to just two
recipients. If a user sends unpleasant mail to their
boss instead of their confidant with the same first
name, the Gmail team cannot be accept responsi-
bility. That is what the Gmail Labs’ “Undo Send”
feature is designed to do by retrieving freshly
sent email messages.
He admitted that when he devised the web,
almost 30 years ago, he had no idea that the
forward slashes in every web address would
cause “so much hassle”.
His light-hearted apology even had a green
angle as he accepted that having to add // to every
address had wasted time, printing and paper.
Sir Tim is currently director of the World
Wide Web Consortium and he is also working
with the UK government to help open up access
to government data.
told he was going to die.
But after realising that one of his captors
had a very basic grasp of English, he con-
vinced him to allow him to cook them all a
meal. The Taliban kidnappers were so im-
pressed with his banquet they decided he was
‘’safe’’ and let him go.
Mr Debnath, who has a degree from India
in zoology and fine arts, set off on his bike
from his village of Sunderbans, east India, in
2004.
His plan was to visit 191 countries by
2020 to highlight the plight of Aids across
the globe and entered Afghanistan across the
Pakistan border earlier this year.
But last month, as he cycled through the
remote foothills of the Taliban territory of
Herat, 138km from Kabul, Mr Debnath was
snatched by militants, blindfolded and held
hostage.
After 24 gruelling and terrifying days Mr
Debnath was released and will travel home to
tell his family of his ordeal – but has vowed
to visit 191 countries before 2020.
Texting birth,
death registrations
Port Vila, Vanuatu: Vanuatu’s civil status office
is confident a new scheme using text messages
for registering births and deaths will increase
the number of registrations, reports Radio New
Zealand International.
Only about 40 percent of the population is be-
lieved to be registered at present, as many forms
aren’t filled out or get lost on their way to the
capital. The country is trialing a new scheme
on Epi and Santo distributing mobile phones to
health workers, who will text the data to the civil
status office.
The office’s director Joe Iati is looking
forward to good results. “At the moment, there’re
duplications, where the office registers and the
provincial office also registers. We’re trying to
upgrade our system, where there can be only one
Jai ho Indian magazines
Mumbai: Is there a future for magazines? Sooth-
sayers in the media may say that there isn’t, but
given the number of new titles that have been
launched in India in the last year, there is reason to
believe that business is booming.
As various stakeholders of the trade get togeth-
er in New Delhi later this week for the fifth edition
of the Indian Magazine Congress, and while the
deliberations at the event haven’t put up this ques-
tion in the agenda, the fact remains that almost
everyone seems to be asking whether there is a
future for magazines.
A disclosure: Since ‘impact’ is part of the work
I do and the exchange4media Group publishes a
slew of magazines, there is a vested interest in
evangelising the trade and seeing that magazines
aren’t rubbished the way they often are. Pardon my
indulgence with these five pointers…
Quality wins: One of the best ways to win a war
is to outsmart the enemy. Figure what its strengths
are and attempt to neutralise them. Magazines are
at a disadvantage that newspapers can carry all the
stuff they can, at a lesser cost and with better fre-
quency. That’s true, but it’s not impossible to beat
the papers if your product is right. Take the case of
Time Out in Mumbai. The city’s newspapers had
sufficient guides to the arts and leisure, but thanks
to its time-tested international format and good
content, we saw a top quality mag that we haven’t
tired of.
Cash in on the mediocrity of the papers: If
Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd had woken
up some years back to the pleasures of long copy, it
could have checked the growth of an India Today,
Outlook and The Week. Although there are many
who like Crest (the new Saturday paper), I think
Short film contest under way
Ever consider yourself a filmmaker?
Here’s your chance to be one. The organizers of
the Indian Film Festival 2010 are calling for entries
for a Short Film Contest which has great prizes at
stake.
Enter your short film for exhibition alongside
some of the most promising new filmmaking talent
from Australia, New Zealand and India. IFF2010
has life-changing prizes to offer the winner of its
short film and video competition.
Entries close December 24, 2009.
Prizes include:
l A trip to India.
l An internship on a major Bollywood film pro to submit, deadlines and criteria can be found at
duction.
l See your film played to viewership of 300 All queries regarding the competition can be
million+ on World Movies India television directed to competitions@iff2010.com.
channel.
l Television exposure. Watch your film play on tional chance to have your film work widely seen
your own TV on World Movies Australia.
l Walk the red carpet alongside high profile tinent.
members of the Australian, New Zealand and Winning entries will also feature at the Indian
Indian film industries.
l Have your film screened in cinemas in Mel- Perth and Auckland in February and March.
bourne, Sydney, Perth & Auckland.
Closing Date: Check website (www.iff2010.com)
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Variety
ID or number given to children who are born.
And any time we’ll try to enter two records for
the same person, it’ll be detected.”
If the pilot works well, it will be extended to
the whole country by the end of next year.
it’s come a little too late to create an impact. A
good Sunday newspaper would’ve made life dif-
ficult, but mag-owners need to thank the paper-
wallahs for the mediocrity that exists there. And
I don’t think it’s going to end in a hurry. Rejoice!
Web disappoints: Print magazines could’ve
been in trouble if there were robust web avatars
in the business. But that’s not to be. Although the
number of Internet users have grown, save blogs,
standalone online media hasn’t blossomed the way
it ought to have. The content you see today on
some quality sites like Rediff.com is an apology of
what it used to be. I am sure this state of bliss won’t
last forever, but until then: make hay!
Television rules, but print is king: The
Network18 Group needn’t have stuck its neck out
in these recessionary times and bring in the Indian
edition of ‘Forbes’, but I guess the rub-off it offers
means most positive ‘awaaz’ than half a dozen
news channels. The response to ‘Forbes India’ is
super, Editor Indrajit Gupta told me last week. He
needn’t have: the magazine’s good, has had some
‘hat ke’ features and grows on you.
It’s all about the Packaging: Of the various
recaps done post 26/11, the one that I found most
striking was by ‘People’, a celebrity news mag
with heart. Not all our magazines can boast of
the writing we see in international titles, but with
better talent coming into magazines, it will get
there.
It’s India, and it’s ‘saare jahaan se achcha’ for
our mag merchants. Yes, there are several malaises
that afflict the business, but clearly that’s not going
to dampen the spirits of the trade.
Jai ho!
- Pradyuman Maheshwari
Entry Requirements: Your film or video needs to
have SOMETHING to do with India, whether it is
the location, a key Indian crew member, or a refer-
ence to India or Indian culture in the content. Films
should not be more than 10 mins, and can be shot
on any format, although shortlisted films will need
to meet certain quality standards for cinema exhi-
bition. Visit www.iff2010.com for further details.
How to Enter:
Simply download entry form and upload your
film or video on YouTube.
Submitted films must be less than 10min
and have some link to India. Full details of how
www.iff2010.com
The IFF Short Film Competition is an excep-
alongside the best productions from the sub-con-
Film Festival to be held in Melbourne, Sydney,
Indian
Wedding bells for Bollywood babe Shilpa Shetty!
Marriages they say are made in heaven, only
to be celebrated lavishly on earth. And Bolly-
wood weddings are no exception. The latest to
swing on to the ‘marry-go-round’ is vivacious
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty who will tie
the sacred nuptial knot with her business baron
fiancée Raj Kundra on Sunday, November 22nd
amidst fanfare and fervour. According to family
sources, Shilpa will have her hush-hush nuptial
ceremony at her buddy and business associate
Kiran Bawa’s sprawling farmhouse in Khanda-
la. Since the Bollywood biradari will not form
part of the baaraat, a separate grand reception
in Mumbai is planned a few days later. “After
having dated Raj for over two years I realized
that we were ‘made for each other’ both as life
partners and even business partners for our
various commercial ventures including the IPL
cricket team. My parents and my little sister
Shamita were equally delighted about the alli-
ance so I finally decided to plunge into matri-
mony following the quick turn of events to match
the rare auspicious dates,” gushes the affable
APNA NRE SUPER
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
actress who merited little recognition for her
histrionic talents, although she had convincingly
played an ‘AIDS positive victim’ in a maverick
movie ‘Phir Milenge’ co-starring Salman and
Abhishek Bachchan.
Few are aware that Shilpa who is better
known more for her ‘jhatak-matak’ gyrations in
the sensuous item number ‘Main Aayi Hoon UP-
Bihar Lootne’ (in ‘Shool’), has been nominated
for over half-a-dozen awards for her awesome
‘Phir Milenge’ performance and was honoured
for the same with a ‘Young Achiever’ award by
the US Consulate in Mumbai. Ironically, Shilpa’s
claim to global fame happened after dramatically
‘winning’ the UK Celebrity Big Brother reality
TV show. The exuberant yet resilient Shetty
babe won the sympathy-wave of most home-
viewers when she was allegedly made the brutal
butt of racist remarks and barbed taunts by her
house-mate, the late Jade Goody. Later she was
singled out by the Colors TV Channel in India
to host the previous season of ‘Bigg Boss’ where
she had a ball connecting with the housemates.
Bollywood Movie Preview
KURBAAN
(Releasing in New Zealand on
Friday, November 20)
Director: Rensil D’Silva
Story: Karan Johar
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek
Oberoi
Music: Salim – Suleimaan
Director of Photography: Hemant Chaturvedi
Styling: Aki Narula
Location: Philadelphia and New Delhi
It all began with Avantika hailing a cab. Or maybe
not.
Avantika is a professor in psychology, back in
India from New York, come back to care for her
father. She teaches at a Delhi University. Ehsaan
too is a professor who comes in as a substitute,
to teach in the same University. From their first
meeting, there are sparks flying. Ehsaan may have
rubbed her the wrong way trying to steal a cab
from under her nose, but his charm is irresistible.
Avantika can’t hold out against it for long. Despite
his reservations about Ehsaan being a Muslim, her
father agrees to bless their wedding. Avantika and
Ehsaan are married and leave to start their new life
in New York.
As soon as they land, Avantika manages to get a
job for Ehsaan in her university. They set out to look
for a home for themselves, but Ehsaan doesn’t seem
to like any of the houses they see. Finally through
an advertisement of an Indian neighbourhood,
Avantika manages to find a house Ehsaan likes.
aarti chabbria
SURYA
Bollywood
Nevertheless, she continued to shine in her
few performances in films, one of them being
the role of a neglected Indian housewife in the
bohemian Hindi movie ‘Life in a Metro’. “Unfor-
tunately my oomph-quotient has largely eclipsed
my spontaneous acting talent which tends to be
taken for granted,” shrugs Shilpa, who feels that
her acting talent has been underrated.
Right now though, the bride-to-be is terri-
bly busy with the elaborate preparations for her
D-Day (where “D” stands for Dulhan!). She is
confident that her ‘laadli’ sister Shamita who is
under ‘house arrest’ in the ‘Bigg Boss’ house TV
reality show will be given special permission
by Colors to attend her ‘didi’s dhoom-dhaam
shaadi. Curiously enough, Shilpa and Shamita
have ‘acted together’ in this Hindi movie crime-
thriller ‘Fareb’ where they were pitted against
each other as the charming wife and the seduc-
tive ‘other woman’ “It was a crazy mix of sibling
rivalry and revelry”, quips Shamita.
WIN FREE CDs
Indian Weekender, in conjunction with
distributors Mind Blowing Films, is giving
away five FREE music CDs of the new
Bollywood blockbuster movie releasing
in New Zealand on November 20.
Starring hot couple Saif Ali Khan and Ka-
reena Kapoor, Kurbaan will be showing in
SkyCity Westcity, SkyCity Queen St, and
SkyCity Manukau.
Visit www.indianweekender.co.nz on de-
tails on how to be in to win the CDs and
for show times.
Watch this space for more free giveaways
coming your way.
Their neighbours are conservative Muslims
and their lifestyles are a revelation to Avantika.
At a dinner, she is taken away from Ehsaan into
another quarter where all the women dine sepa-
rately. They all seem to blindly accept and obey the
code of conduct set by Nasreen, who along with her
husband Bhaijaan are almost the de facto head of
the neighborhood. All of them look up to her. All
accept another young woman, Salma.
Salma visits Avantika surreptitiously the next
day and asks her not to trust anyone. She tells her
that her own life is in danger and she needs help.
What follows are a series of bizarre events that
turn Avantika’s life upside down and drive her into
a morass of emotions that spin madly out of control
taking her to a point of no return.
- Kurbaan, releasing simultaneously in Aus-
tralia and New Zealand, is distributed by Mind
Blowing Films.
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21
Indian
MAMI International Film-Fest ’09 a celluloid cocktail
of glamour, glitz and global glory!
Chaitanya Padukone
Under the slick supervision of Madame Tina
Ambani (former Bollywood actress and wife of
industrial tycoon Anil Ambani), Amit Khanna
(Chairman Big Pictures), and Festival Chairman
Shyam Benegal, film-maker Yash Chopra, actor-
director Amol Palekar, actress Jaya Bachchan,
the MAMI International Film-Fest ’09 this time
proved to be a celluloid cocktail of glamour, glitz
and global glory! Over 200 select movies from
more than 55 countries were showcased at the
week-long Mumbai-centric festival which was at-
tended by dozens of international film-makers and
actors and first-time directors besides thousands
of ardent cinema-buffs. There was an amazing
celeb star turn-out both at MAMI’s opening and
closing ceremonies. Amidst thundering applause,
the suave Shashi Kapoor and superstar Amitabh
Bachchan who have co-starred together in several
memorable movies especially the all-time land-
mark ‘Deewaar’, were honored with the prestigious
‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ respectively at the
opening and closing ceremonies. Greek maestro
director Theo Angelopoulos was also conferred
with the ‘International’ Lifetime Achievement
Award. Amidst fierce creative competition it was
the UK movie “White Lightning’ and the Austri-
an—Italian flick “La Pivellina” (The Little One)
which bagged the Best Feature Film awards. The
performance awards were presented to vivacious
Danish ‘diva’ Paprika Steen for her awesome per-
formance in the movie “Applause’ which had the
backdrop of showbiz.
Having merited the ‘Best Actor’ honour, for
his sterling histrionics in the U K movie “White
Lightning” it was Edward Hogg who would have
22
literally ‘hogged’ the lime-
light. But he was unable to
attend the MAMI closing
event and a proxy director
picked up his trophy. The
proverbial cherry on the fes-
tival cake for the awardees
was that a grand total cash
prize money amounting to
nearly INR 90 lakhs formed
part of the accolades booty-
bonanza of which Rs 50
lakhs was presented to the
Best Feature Film-makers.
Among the special sur-
prise events was the soft
launching by noted film-
maker Rituparno Ghosh of
petite actress Riya Sen’s
personalized web-site www.
myriyasen.com. “For my
ardent and new fans it’s a
direct short-cut to my heart
and my personal emotions.
And I will make it a point
to respond to them,” assured
the sensuous Sen who has put in a striking cameo
role in Ghosh’s maverick Bengali movie ‘Abo-
homan’ which was screened at the festival.
The second star-tler was the ‘live’ combo of
Sharmila Tagore and daughter Soha Ali Khan
at the fest. Even as her legendary actress mother
Sharmila watched with pride, her dainty daughter
Soha seemed humbled as she modestly acknowl-
edged accolades for her classy performance in
Bollywood
Sangeeta Dutta’s flick challenging as an actress for me was the emotion-
‘Life Goes On’. The ally shattering death-scene of my screen-mother,”
off-beat U K produc- shrugs Soha who recently was mired in mild
tion with its London controversy thanks to her bold, intimate kissing
backdrop had its world scenes with co-star Emran Hashmi in her upcom-
premiere as part of the ing movie ‘Tum Mile”.
Film India Worldwide Considering that she happens to be the daugh-
category at the ongoing ter of the current Censor Board chairperson
MAMI ’09 Internation- (Sharmila, that is) it was not unexpected when
al Fest. As is common cynics took pot-shots at her. “My lead roman-
knowledge by now, tic character in ‘Tum Mile’ is shown as having a
‘Life Goes On’ boasts live-in relationship with Emran’s character. The
of the casting coup of sweet, tame smooch scenes have been shot very
the real life mother- aesthetically minus any obscenity by director
daughter Sharmila and Kunal Deshmukh. When you watch the movie,
Soha playing their ex- the scenes have a smooth flow and will be justified
tended their real-life by the mood of the song on screen. Otherwise the
roles on screen. Admits movie ‘Tum Mile’ is yet another milestone movie
Soha, “Initially, I was against the backdrop historical Mumbai 26/7
apprehensive about co- monsoon deluge which had paralysed the city,”
starring with my mom, insists the young actress who refutes rumors that
who is such an iconic she is refusing offers to act with her star-brother
actress. But then direc- Saif Ali Khan. “No way, I would love to act as a
tor Sangeeta is a close co-star with my brother Saif Ali Khan. But surely
family friend who has not as the hero’s sister. In fact we have done an
worked with us earlier ad-commercial together which fetched us amazing
in Bengali cinema. The movie ‘Life …’ hardly had fan-responses,” she counters. Meanwhile Soha
a couple of scenes where we came together in the who was romantically linked with her ‘Rang De
same frame. At the same time, on hindsight I wish Basanti’ co-star Siddharth is tight-lipped when
I had more footage with my mom, because I got asked to declare whether she has found the ulti-
to learn so much from her whilst shooting. Credit mate “Mr Right” in her off-screen life. “When
goes to director Sangeeta who did not make it a something does happen and the time is right I
contrived gimmick by having both my mom and shall reveal the good news,” she signs off with a
me doing multiple scenes even though the script naughty twinkle in her eyes.
had no scope for it. But one scene which was quite
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Bollywood

MTV goes beyond music and

TV: drops both from its name
Mumbai: TV is changing and so is MTV. From
October 17, India’s number one youth desti-
nation, MTV, has transformed itself beyond
music and beyond television. Dropping the
‘Music Television’ from under its logo that
has been around since 1981 since it launched
in the US.
The star cast of ‘All The Best’, Bipasha
Basu, Ajay Devgan along with Mugdha Godse
got together to, well, wish the channel, “All
posing nude’ we will go beyond the music,
beyond TV and beyond the issues to ramble
on about nothing and everything that matters
to you.
MTV What The Hack premieres only on
the web. Wondering how to keep your Hotmail
account protected? Or want to block someone
on Facebook? MTV’s got Ankit Fadia – the
coolest Ethical Hacker in the world to give
you everything from tips, tricks to cheat codes

best of Indian
the Best” for their new look and direction! that will help make your life on the world
MTV also introduced the latest & the young- wide web a whole lot simpler. Bookmark this

“Dropping ‘Music Television’

entertainment
from under the logo is a big sym-
bolic statement and finally closes
the loop on the repositioning exer-
cise MTV kicked off 2 years back.

$125
*
We were born of music, inspired
by music, driven by music – but
not limited by music

est addition to their row of super hot VJ’s, the
sizzling VJ Rhea–from Scooty MTV Teen
Diva 2!
Says Ashish Patil, General Manager –
MTV India & Senior Vice President – Cre-
ative & Content, “Dropping ‘Music Televi-
sion’ from under the logo is a big symbolic
statement and finally closes the loop on the
repositioning exercise MTV kicked off 2
years back. We were born of music, inspired
by music, driven by music – but not limited by
music. MTV is about new ideas, new formats,
new ways of reaching people in the new places
they choose to live in. MTV’s about constant
change and the balls to throw it all away and
make it new and important again. MTV is
beyond music, beyond television.”
Backing up this massive statement is an in-
credible new graphics environment. Made of
the youth, for the youth, almost by the youth –
with elements and expressions unique to their
world. Going back to basics with simple post-
it’s, scrolls, buffering of videos, commer-
cial breaks [pretty much how they consume
media], scraps, comments, RSS feeds, pop
ups and more. Transiting MTV from having
viewers to users.
Also launching are 4 new shows. Of which
only 1 premieres on television! The rest are on
interactive media:
The MTV RANT premieres only on
mobile phones: Rant also known as Rambling
About Nothing Today or the only opinion
that matters. Every week MTV will cherry
pick the raging issue of the week and break it
down, tear it apart or just simply help you look
at it for what it is. From Gary Kirsten’s ‘Sex
improves performance’ dossier to ‘Serena is
show on your TV viewing schedule now! Now
showing across www.mtvindia.com.
MTV Acting Classes premieres only on its
voice portal on 5056882
Finally, classes you wouldn’t dream of
bunking! And the best part is you don’t need
to be in front of the TV. Damn, you don’t even
need to go anywhere to attend them. For the
first time ever, you can attend MTV’s Acting
Classes from your mobile phone! Everyday
MTV VJs will teach, guide and test you on
various acting classes. Rate and get rated on
a different dialogue everyday or a range of
emotions. Enroll today!
Nuon MTV Making the Cut premieres on
TV: 8 designers. 16 models. 1 hot new reality
series to hunt for the best in fashion. Judged
by an expert panel of style gurus & celebrities
including the likes of Lara Dutta, Neil Nitin
Mukesh, Neha Dhupia, Celina Jaitley, Madhur
Bhandarkar, Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Dipan-
nita Sharma and more. Airs every Saturday
@ 6pm starting Oct 17th again only on MTV.
Additionally, MTV is doing a series of
specials with the cast of ‘All the Best’ where
MTV’s literally giving away music & televi-
sion if you spot the change on-air! Enter this
fun contest to win CD’s, live performances by
your favorite artistes, LCD TV’s and more.
It’s difficult to define an icon that has
defined entire generations. But the past is
no reference for the future. The ‘viewer’ is
dying, long live the ‘user’ – the MTV expe-
rience now lives on multiple platforms. The
bottom line is that MTV is about youth tar-
geted entertainment – in all shapes and forms.
- Indian Weekender news desk

Konkani film – ‘Paltadacho Munis’ to open

Indian Panorama of IFFI 2009
New Delhi / Mumbai – November 4: Konkani movie “Paltadacho Munis” (Man beyond the bridge)
produced by NFDC will open the Indian Panorama section of the 40th India International Film
Festival of India (IFFI) 2009 to be held in Goa from November 23 – December 4, 2009. Indian
Panorama will screen 26 feature films and 18 non-feature films.
Recent Bollywood releases “Dev. D” (Anurag Kashyap), “Firaaq” (Nandita Das), “Kaminey”
(Vishal Bhardwaj), “Oye Lucky-Lucky Oye” (Dibakar Banerjee) and “The White Elephant” (Ajiz
Khan) will figure in the feature film section which will also see Marathi movie and India’s official
Oscar entry “Harishchandrachi Factory”. Highest number of six films in Bengali will be screened.
Anirban Datta’s documentary, ‘In For Motion’ that tracks India’s recent development through
motor highways and IT highways, will be the opening film in the non-feature film section.

Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 23

Indian
Sport

Invincible Aussies tame Indian tigers Nadi score

Prashant Belwalkar
Expect the Aussies to defy the odds and a spate
of injuries to come up trumps. Australia bounced
back from a 2-1 deficit to beat India on their home
turf in Guwhati to take an undefeatable lead of 4-2,
making the final match in Mumbai of academic in-
terest. Fresh from their victory over New Zealand
in the ODI championships in South Africa, where
they had plenty of luck and the help from umpires,
luck is what seems to have deserted them in this best
of seven tournament, played in India. Australia is a
world beating team and despite several retirements
and the infusion of new blood, they haven’t lost their
grip on their world beating winning ways.
Australia started the long series in Baroda with a
thrilling victory in a tense match where batting first,
the Aussies rattled up a quickfire 292 thanks largely
to captain Ricky Pontings 74 and Husseys 73 aided
by White (51), Paine (50). Indian top order failed
to click despite some good starts. Gambhir was the
lone fighter with a knock of 68 assisted admirably
with a rear guard action from Harbhajan 49 and
Praveen Kumar 40*. But the heroics fell short of the
target by 4 runs giving the Aussies first blood and a
1-0 lead in the series.
Nagpur, the orange city was the venue of the
second match and for once the much acclaimed
top order of Indian batting line up lived upto its
reputation as MS Dhoni hit a cracking 124 and with
Gambhir (76) and Raina (62) contributing hand-
somely, India posted a mammoth 354 for 7 in their
allocated 50 overs. Once the top order of the Aussie
line up was in the pavilion for just 45 runs, Hussey’s
defiant 57 was not enough to save Australia from a
99 run drubbing. 1-1 and game was on!
Ferozshah Kotla, the venue of the third ODI, saw
the fortunes fluctuating till India staged a recovery
in the later overs thanks to captain Dhoni’s sedate
71*. Earlier the Aussies posted a modest score of 229
courtesy Mr Reliable Hussey (81*), Ponting (59) and
Watson (41). Australia had lost the services of their
key frontline bowler Lee, by the time they reached
Delhi. They were also in danger of losing wicket-
keeper Paine. But the Aussies were confident that
they could defend this total in the dew laden Kotla
ground as the night progressed. Pointing was on
the ball, when Indian were reduced to 53 for 3. But
Yuvraj (78) and Dhoni had other ideas. They batted
sensibly to overhaul the Aussie score and take a 2-1
lead the tournament. Australia lost the services of
Hilfenhaus by this time.
Mohali hosted the crucial 4th match of the tour-
nament and Aussies came back here with a ven-
geance. Despite being depleted of 4 key players of
the original squad, they played with purpose and
method. The match saw 4 run outs in the Aussies
innings which had gone off to a flier with steady
contributions from the top order; Watson (49),
Pointing (52), White (62) and Hussey (40). They
were restricted to a gettable 250 on this picturesque
ground. India started off well with Sehwag (30) and
Tendulkar (40). But once Tendulkar fell to a dubious
lbw to Hauritz none of the others contributed signifi-
cantly and India too saw 2 runouts at crucial stages,
which saw them scoring only 226 runs and handing
the Aussies a lifeline and levelling the series 2-2.
From north to south, as the juggernaut headed
to Hyderabad for the fifth match. The stadium
was packed to capacity, as the crowd were eagerly
waiting for the little master to complete 17,000 runs
in ODIs. They would have to wait as the Aussies
batted first and hammered the Indian bowling with
Watson (93) and Marsh (112) leading the charge.
Cameroon White (57) added some fireworks to set
up a total of 350 for the Aussies. Ponting must have
gone into the break thinking this was enough, but
the little master had some other ideas. Sachin Ten-
dulkar, who was 7 runs short of the landmark duly
completed it with a flick of Johnson and then set
himself up for “one man assault” that he has done
so many times against the Aussies. He rattled up a
quickfire 175 even as the wickets were falling at the
other end. It looked as if, he would single handedly
take on the Aussies and win the match for India. But
as often in the past, Indians have not been able to
finish the job at the death and Shane Watson’s last
over was too much for India as they lost the crucial
match by 3 runs, giving Australia the upper hand in
the series and 3-2 lead.
Guwhati was the venue of the crucial 6th match
as India had to win it to level the series and head to
Mumbai for final showdown. Dhoni won the crucial
toss, but surprised everybody, by electing to bat on
a damp wicket. Aussies, who were missing their top
8 players, had performed admirably so far. Ponting
was leading from the front and the first 30 minutes of
this match were crucial. But it took only 15 minutes
for the Aussies to reduce India to 27 for 5, handing
them the advantage and the match. Ravindra Jadeja
(57) and Praveen Kumar (54*) gave some respect
to the Indian scoresheet as they were bundled out
for 170. Bollinger took his first 5 wicket haul as he
wrecked the Indian batting line up. Watson (49) was
on fire and along with the sedate Hussey (35*) the
Aussies crushed India by 6 wickets and took the
series 4-2 making the the Mumbai match inconse-
quential. India will only be playing for pride when
they take on Aussies in the capital of cricket in India.
At the start of the series, India had chance to
beat the Aussies and claim the top spot. Aussies had
arrived in India with 4 of their key players missing
and lost 4 more as the tournament progressed, but
their never say die attitude proved too much for the
paper tigers to handle and India are left to rue the
mistakes they made in the crucial first match which
they lost by 4 runs and the 5th match which they lost
by 3 runs. Had they won those...but that is the story
of Indian cricket. If only!
IDC soccer
hat-trick
The Nadi Masters side which went down to
NZ Masters in the veterans semifinal of the
IDC soccer at Bill McInley Park on October
25.
Defending champion Nadi powered its
way to a hat-trick of soccer titles when it re-
tained the IDC crown at Bill McKinley Park
last weekend.
Nadi, which had won the previous two
tournaments, hammered Navua 3-0 in the
final of the Fiji-NZ Football Inc organized
tournament held over three days. Earlier,
they beat Rewa 2-0 in the semi-final while
Navua edged out Labasa 1-0 in the other
semi.
And for their efforts, the Nadi senior side
collected a trophy and $4000 cash.
In the veterans’ tournament, NZ Masters
beat Ba 1-0 in a thrilling final to collect a
trophy and $1500.
NZ Masters also featured former Fiji and
Ba star Esala Masi, who scored a total nine
goal in four games and was awarded the
Most Valuable Player prize.
But it wasn’t Masi who clinched the
winner for NZ Masters – the goal scorer was
Rohinet Sharma.
NZ Masters had earlier downed Nadi 3-0
in the semi-final and Ba beat Suva 1-0 in the
other semi.
The tournament was played in fine
weather conditions, and attracted a good
turnout of spectators.
- Arvind Kumar

Black Caps outfox Pakistan!

While the Aussies were playing India in
India, the neighbours down under, Black caps,
were playing Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, which
has been converted into their home ground as
teams refuse to tour Pakistan. It is short series
of 3 ODIs before they f ly to Dubai for the T20
tournament. Both the teams have undergone
some turmoil before the tournament. Paki-
stan, who lost to NZ, in the Champions trophy,
saw the allegations of Match fixing being lev-
elled at the captain and Younis Khan tendered
his resignation. But wiser sense prevailed and
his resignation was rejected. They assembled
a side sans some key bowlers. On the other
hand New Zealand was arriving without their
coach, who quit the job after senior players
revolted against him and questioned his con-
tribution. Vettori was now the coach, captain
and selector of the team. Both had a point to
prove in the desert!
Pakistan eager to avenge their loss in the
ODI championship, started the tournament
with a bang as they rattled up 287 batting first
thanks largely to some sparkling batting by
Afridi (70), Kamran (67*) and Latif (64).
Afridi then turned his magic with the ball has
he helped bundle out the black caps for paltry
149 despite Redmonds (52) and Vettoris (38)
contribution. A mammoth victory (138 runs)
and 1-0 lead in the 3 match series for Paki-
stan.
The second match saw Vettori winning
the toss the NZ and promptly electing to
bat. Brendon McCallum, hit a whirlwind 131
and Guptil chipped in with 62 to give New
Zealand a match winning 303 runs. Pakistan
started the chase strongly and had lost only
1 wicket in their first 124 runs, but they had
taken too long to score those and the pres-
sure to chase the mounting run rate finally
got to the Pakistani batsmen as they lost their
wickets and match to give the Black caps a de-
served victory by 64 runs. 1-1 and the tourna-
ment was heading towards a thrilling finale.
Vettori was lucky with the toss second
time in a row and promptly elected to bat.
McCallum (76) continued from where he
had left off in the second match. Redmond,
Taylor chipped in with useful contributions,
but the fragile black caps once again saw their
inconsistency cropping up as Ajmal ripped
through the middle order to bag 4 wickets and
bundle the NZ team for a paltry 211 in this
crucial match. The chase was on with earnest;
Salman Butt and Khalid Latif marched on to a
47 run opening partnership in 8 overs before
Dan, the Man, came on and immediately got
the wicket of Latif. And the rout started.
Pakistan lost the next 8 wickets for 50 runs
and were reduced to 101 for 9. It all looked
too easy for the Blacks but no 10, Moham-
med Aamer had other ideas. He blasted his
way to a power packed 73* in just 81 balls,
the highest by a no 10 and was supported by
Ajmal (33) to get the score to 199 in quick
time after taking the batting powerplay. The
improbable was in sight as they had to score
run a ball 12 to win the match. The last pair
for Pakistan has already added 103 runs. The
last over was bowled by Oram, 8 runs were re-
quired and tension was palpable everywhere!
However, the fairy tale ended on the first ball
of the 50th over when Ajmal skied a catch at
fine leg which was well judged by Mills who
held on to it admirably. Pakistan falling short
by 7 runs. Black caps once again proved that
they are team to beat when it comes to ODI,
but hats off to Pakistan’s last pair for making
a match of it. The desert storm was won by
New Zealand. Next stop Dubai.
- Prashant Belwalkar

24 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Heritage

Guru Nanak – the first Sikh Guru

Guru Nanak was the first religious leader of the Indian Sub Continent who openly preached caste and gender equality.
Guru Nanak Sahib (the First Nanak, the doctrine (Sikhism).
founder of Sikhism) was born on 15th After visiting dif-
April, 1469 at Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the ferent places in
present distrect of Shekhupura (Pakistan), Punjab, he decided
now Nanakana Sahib. The Birthday of Guru to proceed on four
Nanak Sahib is celebrated on 15th Kartik long tours covering
Puranmashi i.e. full moon day of the month different religious
Kartik. On this day the Birthday of Guru places in India and
Nanak Sahib is celebrated every year. (But abroad. These tours
some other chronicals state that Guru Nanak are called Char
Sahib was born on 20th October,1469) Guru Udasis of Guru
Nanak’s father, Mehta Kalyan Das, more pop- Nanak Sahib.
ularly known as Mehta Kalu was the agent During the four
and Chief Accountant of Rai Bular. Guru journeys, Guru
Nanak ‘s mother was Mata Tripta, a simple, Nanak Sahib visited
pious and extremely religious woman. Nanak different religious
had an elder sister, Nanki, who always cher- places preaching
ished her younger brother. Sikhism. He went
Nanak was an extra-ordinary and differ- to Kurukshetra,
ent child in many ways. God provided him Haridwar, Joshi
with contemplative mind and rational think- Math, Ratha Sahib,
ing. At the age of seven, he learnt Hindi and Gorakh Matta
Sanskrit. He surprised his teachers with the (Nanak Matta),
sublimity of his extra-ordinary knowledge Audhya, Prayag, Va-
about divine things. At the age of thirteen, ranasi, Gaya, Patna,
he learned Persian and Sanskrit and at the Dhubri and Gauhati
age of 16, he was the most learned young in Assam, Dacca,
man in the region. He was married to Mata Puri, Cuttock, Rameshwaram, Ceylon,
Sulakhni ji, who gave birth to two sons: Sri Bidar, Baroach, Somnath, Dwarka, Janagarh,
Chand and Lakhmi Das. In November 1504, Ujjain, Ajmer, Mathura, Pakpattan, Talwandi,
Guru Nanak’s elder sister Nanaki ji took him Lahore, Sultanpur, Bilaspur, Rawalsar, Jawa-
to Sultanpurlodhi where her husband Jai Ram laji, Spiti Vally, Tibet, Ladakh, Kargil, Ama-
ji got him the Job of storekeeper in the Mo- rnath, Srinagar and Baramula. Guru Nanak
dikhana of the local Nawab, Daulat Khan Sahib also paid visit to Muslim holy places.
Lodhi. In this regard he went to Mecca, Medina,
At the age of 38, in August 1507, Guru Beghdad via Multan, Peshawar Sakhar, Son
Nanak Sahib heard God ‘s call to dedicate Miani, Hinglaj etc. Some accounts say that
himself to the service of humanity after Guru Sahib reached Mecca by sea-route.
bathing in “Vain Nadi” (a small river) Near Guru Sahib also visited Syria, Turkey and
Sultanpur Lodhi. The very first sentence
which he ‘ uttered then was, “ There is no
Tehran (the present capital of Iran). From
Tehran Guru Sahib set out on the caravan
Hindu, no Musalman”. He now undertook route and covered Kabul, Kandhar and Jalala-
long travels to preach his unique and divine bad. The real aim of the tour was awakening
the people to realise Nanak in 1539, and after a few days passed
the truth about God into Sachkhand on 22nd September, 1539.
and to introduce Thus ended the wordly journey of this god-
Sikhism. He estab- gifted Master (Guru) of mankind. He rejected
lished a network of the path of renunciation Tyaga or Yoga, the
preaching centres of authority of the Vedas and the Hindu caste
Sikhism which were system. Guru Nanak Sahib emphasised the
called “Manjis”. He leading of householder’s life (Grista), unat-
appointed able and tached to gross materialism. The services of
committed followers mankind Sewa, Kirtan, Satsang and faith in
as its head (preacher ‘One’ Omnipotent God are the basic concepts
of Sikhism). The of Sikhism established by Guru Nanak Sahib.
basic tenents of Thus he laid the foundations of Sikhism. He
Sikhism were wilful- preached new idea of God as Supreme, Uni-
ly conceived by the versal, All-powerful and truthful. God is
people from all walks Formless (Nirankar), the Sole, the Creator,
of life. The seeds the self-existent, the Incomprehensible and
of Sikhism were the Ever-lasting and the creator of all things
sown all over India (Karta Purakh). God is infinite, All knowing,
and abroad in well- True, All-giver, Nirvair, and Omnipotent. He
planned manner. is Satnam, the Eternal and Absolute Truth.
In the year 1520, As a social reformer Guru Nanak Sahib
Babar attacked India. upheld the cause of women, downtrodden and
His troops slaugh- the poors. He attacked the citadel of caste
tered thousands of system of Hindus and theocracy of Muslim
innocent civilians rulers. He was a born poet. He wrote 947
of all walks of life. hyms comprising Japji Sahib, Asa-Di-Var,
Women and children were made captives and Bara-Mah, Sidh-Gosht, Onkar (Dakhani) and
all their property looted at Amiabad. Guru these were included in Guru Granth Sahib by
Nanak Sahib challenged this act of barbar- Guru Arjan Sahib. He was also a perfect mu-
ity in strong words. He was arrested and re- sician. He with the company of Bhai Mardana
leased, shortly after making Babar realising compsed such tunes in various Indian classi-
his blunder. All the prisoners were also re- cal Ragas that charmed and tawed wild crea-
leased. tures like Babar, subdued saging kings, raved
Guru Nanak Sahib settled down at Kartar- bigots and tyrants, made thugs and robbers
pur city (now in Pakistan) which was founded saints. He was a reformer as well as a revo-
by him in 1522 and spent the rest of his life lutionary. God had endowed him with a con-
there (1522-1539). There was daily Kirtan and templative mind and pious disposition. Guru
the institution of Langar (free kitchen) was in- Arjan Sahib called him “the image of God,
troduced. Knowing that the end was drawing
near, Guru Nanak Sahib, after testing his
nay, God Himself ”.
Heritage
Courtesy SGPC Punjab Indian
two sons and some followers, installed Bhai
Lehna ji (Guru Angad Sahib) as the Second

What’s so ‘desi’ about ‘desi ghee’?

ram lingam

The fear of fat seems to be driving the humble desi ghee from our Indian kitchen. But we have been using it for
almost 5000 years. So what’s the deal with this desi ghee?
Hope those divine Diwali sweets have been
gobbled up by now. Ever wondered how many
of them were made in ‘Desi Ghee’. Gone are the
good old days when a family elder insisted that
we eat home-made-sweets because “Beta yeh
shudh Desi Ghee mein bana hai”. What’s the
deal with the ‘desipann’ in the ghee? And what’s
so ‘desi’ about ‘desi ghee’? Why is Ghee still ad-
vertised as ‘Asli’ Ghee – does that mean there is
something called ‘nakli’ ghee?
‘Desi’ ghee, as we know, is ghee made in our
home, without any adulteration, totally organic
and pure (hope the milk from which it’s made is
that way too). ‘Desi’ means country-style-orig-
inal-traditional and doesn’t indicate anything
savagely Indian. So why do persevere to use the
word ‘Desi’ for ghee? Is it a marketing gimmick
or ghee-mick? Is it due to the rich flavor that
ghee gives to food?
It’s become a fashion these days to look at
any oil with suspicion of clogging our arteries.
Everytime I see the ghee-soaked-ghee-dripping-
‘Maalpua’ in a sweet shop I feel sorry for the
person who consumes this high fat indulgence.
I wonder if there could be a ‘fat-free maalpua’.
We feel guilty when we eat anything fried in oil,
what to say about when we make them in or with
ghee. No doubt food made in ghee has a distinct
flavour. But given the modern literacy on fat, is
ghee healthy is a topic for debate.
Ghee to us is still auspicious because it’s
not something you add just to food. Like we all
do Ghee has uses in temples, in the altar of our
homes for the diya lamp, used for skin ailments
The purpose of this column isn’t about nutritional
advice on ghee but to present an edifying perspective
on something that has been consumed since Vedic
times going back over 5,000 years.
or as a skin tonic. My friend from Punjab tells
me that, even today in Punjab this ‘Shudh Desi
Ghee’ is massaged into the scalp of children and
applied as a facial. The traditionalists justify this
practice by saying it’s all for the ‘chamak’ (glow)
in the face and for making the hair ‘resham’
(smooth and bouncy).
We associated ghee with indulgence and
abundance but it has become the first item to
be eliminated while moving towards a healthier
diet. In contrast, the ancient system of natural
medicine of India – Ayurveda ascribes a number
of health benefits to ghee consumption, such as
improved mental functioning, glowing skin and
longevity. Ayurveda journals insist that ghee
contains a high percentage of ‘good fats’ that are
essential for our body.
The purpose of this column isn’t about nu-
tritional advice on ghee but to present an edify-
ing perspective on something that has been con-
sumed since Vedic times going back over 5,000
years. Obviously the best person to consult about
ghee is a qualified Ayurveda consultant.
The word ghee comes from Sanskrit ‘ghrita’.
A Sanskrit verse says “aayurghritam” meaning –
‘Ghee is life’. It has a sacred role in Vedic Hindu
libations and anointment rituals as evinced in the
Yajurveda. The old Rigveda mentions in many
places about butter and ghee. In ancient India,
healing wells full of ghee were made and saved
for times of war, especially for those who suf-
fered wounds. In the Vedic culture of ancient
India ghee is supposed to be made only on the
full or waxing moons, just like even today in
many of the villages of rural Italy, Mozzarella is
only made on the waxing or full moons.
All Indian and western practitioners of Ay-
urveda praise the medicinal properties of organic
desi ghee. The Ayurvedic textbook ‘Charaka
Samhita’ says “Cow ghee promotes memory,
intellect, power of digestion, semen, ojas, kapha
and fat”.
An ancient Indian proverb states that “One
hundred-year-old ghee can cure anything.” Ghee
has its place in many Hindu religious rituals and
sacraments.
However a common question that is asked
is “How is Ghee with cholesterol?” Kathryn
Feldenkreis, in her book, ‘Ghee – A Guide to the
Royal Oil’, explains, ‘‘Cholesterol itself is not
harmful but becomes harmful when it is partly
broken down or oxidised by unstable chemi-
cals called free radicals. Ghee, and particu-
larly organic ghee, has no oxidised cholesterol
or trans-fatty acid and is very stable at higher
cooking temperatures.’’
What about fat and the use of ghee in Ayurve-
da? The Mind-Body guru Deepak Chopra says
“The fear that people have for high cholesterol
is quite far off-the-mark. Because, results have
shown that it is totally unfounded. Why? Dietary
intake of cholesterol doesn’t control cholesterol
levels; it’s your body’s metabolism that controls
cholesterol levels. A lot of it has to do with your
constitutional body type and genetics. We are
not sure if cholesterol is damaging. It may be the
[peroxide] toxic by-product of fat.”
Jo bhi ho, ‘ghee’ is still a ‘desi’ indulgence.
Even the Bollywood he-man Dharmendra paaji,
who is a brand ambassador for Pure Ghee, has ap-
parently attributed the secret behind his success
to pure ghee and milk. Don’t know if this would
help stem Ghee’s obliteration from our kitchens.
But guess what! Here’s some Desi informa-
tion - India still produces some 900,000 tons of
ghee annually.

Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 25

Indian

26 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian

Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz 27

Indian
How would you (and family) cope if you were permanently disabled?
oliver pereira
Are you taking your good health for
granted?
Life doesn’t always turn out the way we
plan .Sometimes we become ill, or we have an
accident and, if it’s serious, we might be left
unable to work.
While for most people the early death of an
income earner would cause serious financial
strain for the spouse left behind, the financial
impact would be just as serious if that income
earner became totally disabled and unable to
work for the rest of their lives. In some cases
the hardship experienced would be even more
profound as ongoing daily living and medical
costs for the disabled person could be signifi-
cant.
Total and permanent disablement (TPD)
cover provides a lump sum and financial
peace of mind, in the event of total and per-
manent disablement through accident or
illness.
Definition of “total disability’
Total and Permanent Disablement is
defined where as a result of Accident or
illness you are so incapicated that you:
1) Cannot do your own job or another
job which your skills may be suited to; or
2) Suffer loss of limbs or sight; or
3) Cannot perform at least two of the
following activities without the physical as-
sistance of someone else:
• Bathing and Showering
• Dressing and undressing
• Eating and Drinking
• Using a toilet
• Moving from place to place by
walking, in a wheelchair, or with a walking
aid.
Or alternatively, you are unable to perform
one of the activities noted above and your
intellectual capacity has reduced or deterio-
...as the death rate declines, there has been a
significant increase in the number of patients with an
impaired level of consciousness and mobility following
a stroke.
rated to such an extent that you require per-
manent and constant supervision.
Good Reasons to have Total & Permanent
Disablement Cover
If the unexpected was to happen - Acci-
dents do happen. 4 out of 10 New Zealanders
suffer some type of disability or long term
illness before the age of 65.*
It helps pay off your debts including
Mortgage - Whatever happens, you’ll have
resources to contribute to your home loan or
other debts, helping to safeguard your fam-
ily’s future
This covers would help pay Medical Ex-
penses - The cost of ongoing medical treat-
ment and possible modifications to your
home or work environment, can put a signifi-
cant strain on your finances.
Maintaining your lifestyle - Without the
ability to earn, you’ll still need to pay the
bills and everyday living expenses.
You can access the best available care
- Employing a full time caregiver is often
necessary, but can be expensive. A lump sum
payout through your cover can assist with the
cost.
Food for thought
One in eight people will have a stroke. It is
the leading cause of major disability in New
Zealand and the third most common cause
of death. Every year 7000 people in New
Zealand have a stroke, (20 per day). 1
The University of Auckland has revealed
a 40% decline in the number of deaths after
stroke in the total population of Auckland,
New Zealand over the past 25 years. However,
as the death rate declines, there has been a
significant increase in the number of patients
with an impaired level of consciousness and
mobility following a stroke. 2
Twenty-nine percent of New Zealanders
have a diagnosed long-term illness or dis-
ability. 3
Males have a two in five chance of suffer-
ing a critical illness between the ages of 30
and 64. 4
The standard norm is to take out a Life
can i win a $150 shopping
voucher when i send money?
Finance
Cover or a Medical Cover.
But just pause & think for a moment that
if you had an accident or illness that serious-
ly affected your ability to work, what would
happen to your wife, children, business,
home or lifestyle?
Sources
1 The stroke Foundation of New Zealand
2007
2 The George Institute for International
Health, in collaboration with Auckland City
Hospital and the University of Auckland
2007.
3 Statistics New Zealand,2004
4 General Cologne Life Re Australia, 2002
* Davies Financial and Actuarial Limited
The above information has been provided
to serve only as a guideline to assist in evalu-
ating your insurance needs. You are encour-
aged to do your own research before arriving
at any decisions.
For further information,
please contact:
Oliver Pereira –
OPM Insurance Services Ltd.
Ph. 0800 66 77 92, Faxmail. 021 551 669,
Mobile. 021 66 77 92
Email. oliver.pereira@xtra.co.nz

To celebrate the opening of your new local Fexco

Pacific branch at 1250 Dominion Rd, Mt Roskill, we’re
giving away a $150 shopping voucher every week
between 31 August and 30 November 2009. Send a
Western Union® Money Transfer and complete this entry
form to enter the draw. Terms and conditions apply. See
instore for details, or visit www.fexcopacific.co.nz.

name:
email:
mobile:

0800 270 000 Money

exchange
available
Pacific www.fexcopacific.co.nz here!

28 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Rise of the Nifty
sunil khemlani
Today, India is one of the most exciting emerg-
ing markets in the world. Its economy has per-
formed impressively in the last few years and
is forecast (by IMF) to grow over 5% in 2009.
There are few markets among emerging econ-
omies with the breadth of choice available in
India and few companies that show the kind of
growth rates that Indian corporates have been
notching up.
On the back of the stellar performance
of these companies (and their related share
prices), we have seen marked appreciation in
India’s two main bourses (exchanges), namely
the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the
National Stock Exchange (NSE). Their re-
spective headline indices - SENSEX and S&P
CNX NIFTY - have risen around 60% year-
to-date (through early November 2009).
The S&P CNX Nifty index covers 50
stocks in 25 sectors of the economy and over
60 per cent of the total market capitalisation
of the underlying bourse, the NSE. The BSE
Sensex index on the other hand tracks 30
stocks in 12 major sectors.
Nifty’s increasing edge
According to data from the two exchanges
in August 2009, NSE’s market capitalisation
stood at Rs 47,01,923, not far behind from the
Bombay Stock Exchange’s valuation of Rs
50,12,966 crore.
[Market capitalisation is simply the worth
of a company in terms of its shares. To put it
simply, if you were to buy all the outstand-
ing shares of all the companies listed in the
exchange, that is the amount you would have
to pay.]
Riding on superior technology and foreign
institutional investors’ preference, the NSE’s
market capitalisation is expected to surpass
its older counterpart, the BSE, for the first
time in history this year. This is creditable
considering that NSE has been functioning
only since 1994 compared to more than 130
years of BSE’s existence!
According to global consultancy, Celent,
the market turnover (trading volume) of NSE
for 2009 is expected to be more than two
times the turnover of the BSE. On August 7,
NSE turnover in value terms was reported at
around Rs 17,650 crore versus BSE’s of about
Rs 5,443 crore.
While BSE has consolidated its position as
the world’s biggest bourse in terms of number
of listed companies, the NSE has become the
world’s second fastest-growing bourse in the
same regard. By 2008, NSE had seen a whop-
ping surge of about 13-times in the number
Mortgage Interest rates: for how long to fix?
RAVI MEHTA
It is impossible for anyone to predict future in-
terest rates with certainty. The big corporate and
financial institutions spend considerable time
and money in forecasting interest rates. Still
their record of forecasting is notoriously poor. I
have been advocating splitting of loan and fixing
for different maturities in my previous columns.
I am still a strong advocate of the same. But
there are certain points worth considering here.
Notable ones are
• RBNZ Governor has reiterated that the
OCR will stay low for next few months.
• US Federal reserve chairman has also
indicated the same.
• On the other hand Australia has
already increased OCR by 50 basis points in last
couple of months. It is expected that Australian
economy will beat other world economies in
terms of growth and the interest rates will rise
further.
We should remember that in New Zealand
as well as in rest of the World, the interest rates
were dropped sharply in response to economic
conditions during last 1 year or so. There is
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Chart of Nifty’s performance this past year
of listed companies since inception (about 100
firms were listed in 1994-95).
Nifty Futures
Not only has the index (and underlying
shares) seen stellar appreciation in recent
times, the derivative market associated with
the Indian exchange has also seen marked im-
provements in volumes as well.
According to the Singapore Exchange
(SGX), where the bulk of the S&P CNX Nifty
India futures contracts trade, the volume of
Nifty contracts traded continued to outper-
form all other listed futures there, growing
33.6% to 9.6 million contracts in FY 2009,
ending in June. (FY2008: 7.2 million con-
tracts). This represents around 16% of overall
SGX Futures and options trading volume.
What is a futures contract?
An agreement to buy or sell a standard
quantity of an underlying instrument - such as
an index or a commodity - on a specific future
date at an agreed price determined at the time
the contract is traded on the futures exchange.
Nifty futures volume picked up steam on
the SGX in late 2007 when investment in
India through participatory notes (PNs) was
banned. PNs, offshore derivative instruments,
were mainly used by hedge funds and high
net worth individuals to park their funds dis-
creetly in stock markets. The ban, however,
always risk that if the
situation demands,
these can be increased We should remember that
sharply.
If we look at the
in New Zealand as well as
fixed interest rates for in rest of the World, the
different maturities at
present (at the time of interest rates were dropped
writing this column
on 8.11.09), we see sharply in response to
that 12 months fixed
rate is close to 6%, 24 economic conditions during
months close to 7%
and 36 months close
last 1 year or so.
to 8%.
Now the question is for how long one
should fix the loan for?
If you fix the loan today for 12 months at 6%
and after 12 months, you get a rate of 8% for re
fixing for next 12 months, your average for 2
years will be 7% and that equals the fixed rate
for 24 months at present.
Similarly if you fix the rate today for 12
months and after 12 months, you get a rate of 9%
was lifted in October 2008 after markets
touched historic lows and foreign funds dried
up. Short-selling of Nifty futures on SGX was
high in 2008 and traders decided the market
trend there.
Also, the continued appeal of dealing in
Singapore stems from the easier disclosure
norms there and the ability of some of the top
Indian punters to generate returns outside of
India (without needing to move their funds
back to India).
Capitalising on the Nifty
Investors can invest in the NIFTY index
in a few different ways, such as index funds
operated by different companies (Exchange-
traded funds were covered in a previous
article), index futures, for example SGX S&P
CNX Nifty futures as discussed above or
through directly purchasing each individual
share (totalling 50) in their exact weightage in
the Nifty index. Needless to say, the later will
prove an extremely challenging task, not to
mention incur huge trading costs (brokerage).
Understanding Future Trading
Here’s an example of how it works:
In anticipating rising stock prices, an in-
vestor buys one contract of Nifty index futures
(through a licensed futures broker in New
Zealand like StoneBridge Securities) that is
currently trading around 4,500 and valued at
for re fixing for next 24
months, your average
for 3 years will be 8%
and that equals the
rate for 36 months at
present. Similarly it
can be calculated for
rates for other maturi-
ties. (There is no cer-
tainty as to how much
the rates can move up
in one year’s time)
But considering
what the RBNZ Gover-
nor is saying, you can
decide to fix for up to 12 months today and ex-
posing yourself to risk of higher rates in future,
thinking that interest rates may not rise by 2% in
next 12 months. That is if you are a risk taker and
can afford to pay higher rates in future. If you are
too conservative, want certainty and do not want
to take any risk, fixing for longer term may be
better. The middle policy is of course splitting
and fixing for different maturities.
Finance
US$9,000 (each SGX Nifty futures contract is
valued at US$2 x index futures value). Since
futures are leveraged instruments traded on
margin, the initial margin requirement in this
case is roughly 10% or around US$900. This
is the amount require to initiate a trade in the
futures contract.
Now since the value of the futures contract
is 2 times the index, each one point change in
the index represents a US$2 gain or loss in the
futures contract. If for example the index rises
to 4,700 and the investor wishes to take profit,
he/she will sell that one futures contract for a
US$400 gain. [US$2 x (index value at selling
– index value at buying)]. Conversely, a de-
crease of the same 200 points in the index
value will result in a $400 loss to the inves-
tor. For simplicity, brokerage costs (though
minimal) are not included in this example.
Another attractive feature of futures
trading is the ability to short-sell (Sell first/
high – Buy later/low), so in essence, an ability
to profit from a declining market as well.
While futures trading has its many pro-
ponents, providing a means to invest in the
prime index of India, investors need to be
aware of the underlying risks they potentially
face. For a more complete understanding of
its risk and rewards, please consult with an
experienced futures advisor.
- Sunil Khemlani
StoneBridge Securities (NZ) Limited
Tel: 0508 874 015 Email: sunil.khemlani@
stonebridgegroup.co.nz
StoneBridge Group is an Australian-
owned trading house (accredited with the
ASX and NZX exchanges) providing advisory
and execution services on Foreign Exchange,
Commodities, Futures & Options, Shares &
CFDs.
“This publication has been prepared on
behalf of and issued by StoneBridge Securi-
ties (NZ) Limited (“StoneBridge”). This is
not an offer to deal in any financial product
and is not specific advice for any particu-
lar investor. StoneBridge believes that any
information or advice (including any recom-
mendation) contained in this publication is
accurate when issued but does not warrant
its accuracy or reliability, and is not liable
for the future performance of transactions
or for any loss or damage arising in connec-
tion with this publication. A full Disclosure
Statement in accordance with the Securities
Markets Act 1988 is available free of charge
on request.”
Another aspect to look at is your present
family income and expected future family
income. If your family income is low at present
and it is expected to go up in future, you may
choose to fix for a shorter term now, so that your
repayment is lower and fix at potentially higher
rate in future, when your income may be higher.
Your income may be low at present due to re-
dundancy, being a student, being on maternity
leave, etc.
Everyone has different financial circum-
stances, different risk profile and also different
risk taking capacity. This article is for general
guidance only; you should seek independent fi-
nancial advice before acting on the same.
- Ravi Mehta is an Auckland based Finan-
cial Advisor and can be contacted on ravi.
mehta@pfsl.co.nz
A 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
29
Indian
WEEKENDCUISINE
CHILLI
CHICKEN
Recipe by Ruby Dhillon
Ingredients:
• 400g- chicken (boneless chicken)
• 2tbs- soya sauce
• 1tsp- sugar
• 1/2tsp- white pepper powder
• ½- capsicum, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1- onion ( small, quartered, layers separated)
• 8 nos- green chillies chopped
• 2tbs- cornflour
• 6-8 cloves- garlic chopped
• ½ cup- spring onion chopped
• 2 cups of water
• Salt according to taste
• 1tbs- oil and oil for frying.
5 Easy tips for Piles, Fisher & Fistula
By Swami Ramdevji
1. Practice Pranayam package of 8 breathing
exercises every day. (Contact us for free Yoga
classes 09 6223308)
2. Doing Gomukh asana and Manduk asana
will give quick recovery.
3.Take Swami Ramdev Ji’s Aloe Vera Juice
twice a day along with Amla Juice and hot
water.
4. Put 2 spoons of Divya churna in two glass
of water overnight. In the morning boil it until
it becomes one glass and then drink it this
There’s a lot more to tippling in Singapore than the Sling
Many of us would be taking the long annual trip to India in the next few weeks – and quite a few would be passing
through Singapore. Here are tips on some great watering holes for those taking a break in the city state and looking
beyond the legendary Singapore Sling.
Many of my clients like to travel on Singapore
Airlines and have a stopover in Singapore.
Almost all of them have used this airline for
years and have had one or more than one stop-
over in Singapore, so I do not have to sell either
the airline or the place, and I take it for granted
that these guys know everything about the city
that is Singapore.
Recently, my take-it-easy attitude was chal-
lenged when a repeat client asked me about bars
in Singapore. Boy, I thought, I had no clue. Well,
I did a bit of research and suggested him a few.
He is back and happily gave me his feedback
about some of them. I think it is a good idea to
write about it for the benefit of Indian Weekend-
er readers.
In Singapore, a new generation of bars and
clubs has emerged. Of late, Dempsey Hill neigh-
bourhood has emerged as happening place in
Singapore with a thriving night life.
Where army barracks once stood surrounded
by tropical jungle, bars and restaurants have been
sprouting at a breakneck pace. The atmosphere
is laidback with alfresco settings, and it is just a
few miles from downtown. Richard Goh opened
Oosh Bar and Lounge in 2006 (22 Dempsey Rd
(65-6475-0002; www.oosh.com.sg) on almost
100,000 sq ft of lush green property.
Indeed, Oosh may evoke memories of your
last tropical getaway. Live musicians often en-
30
Method:
• Marinate chicken pieces in 1tbs soya
sauce, salt and 1tbs cornflour. Keep it for ten
minutes.
• Deep fry chicken in hot oil till light brown.
Heat oil in a wok, Add garlic and chopped
chilies and cook for a minute.
• Add onion and capsicum, cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Add water and bring it to a boil then add sugar,
white pepper powder, salt and rest of the soya
sauce.
• Add chicken, cover and cook for 2 minutes.
• Mix rest of cornflour in water and add to it. Stir
constantly.
• Garnish with spring onions.
will help in piles, fisher& fistula.
5. Avoid eating oily or greasy food.
Next Issue: Nails
FREE YOGA CLASS
Mount Roskill: Monday 6.30pm Santoor Res-
taurant,461 Hillsborough Road. Onehunga:
Wednesday 9.00am Migration Support Services,
101 Church Street, Behind Westpac Bank. Mount
Roskill: Saturday 9.00am Balmoral Temple. Botany
- Sunday 9.30am India trade group, Unit E, 8 Bishop
Lenihan place (Behind Punjabi Dhaba).
Travel
tertain at the main bar; out in the garden, Ba- inings.com.sg) in downtown Singapore, where Singapore offers a good night life now a days”.
linese-style pavilions are set among moodily lit a bar and lounge share space with an operating - Madhup Srivastav
waterfalls and reflecting pools. Service can be post office.
slow, but strong cocktails and the stirring décor During the day, KPO is a sleek cafe, but after
are distraction enough. dark, it fills with down-tempo beats and a mix
A more recent addition to Dempsey is the of locals and tourists. A second floor also opens
White Rabbit (39C Harding Road; 65-6473- up at night, with a lovely open-air balcony where
9965; www.thewhiterabbit.com.sg), where a bar stools are arrayed to overlook the
young and well-heeled crowd competes for atten- whizzing traffic below.
tion with the space itself: a charmingly restored My client says:
chapel, complete with stained-glass windows, “while in Singapore on a
which houses a bustling restaurant and lounge business trip or leisure,
leading out to a garden bar. visit one of these bars
This is co-owned by Mr Wee, who opened and have a good time.
another bar: the beach bar. Opened in May on the
resort island of Sentosa, just off the city’s coast,
the Shack (120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa;
65-6278-9934; www.theshack.com.sg) the bar
resides within an old shipping container and beer
barrels have been recycled as tables.
In the residential area of Mount Emily, look
for an elegant, sprawling colonial mansion with
a terrace out front. This is Wild Oats (11 Upper
Wilkie Rd; 65-6336-5413; www.wildrocket.com.
sg). While the drinks selection is rather stan-
dard, there is an ambitious menu of bar food (the
owner, Willin Low, is also the chef at the nearby
Wild Rocket restaurant).
The most unlikely setting of all may be at
KPO (1 Killiney Rd; 65-6733-3648; www.imag-
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Nichiren’s philosophy brings
peace to the self and the world
Karan Vir Sharma
After the introduction of Buddhism to China
around the 1st century BC, various schools of
thought had cropped up. In the 13th century
AD, Nichiren Daishonin, a Buddhist sage and
philosopher of Japan, having studied all the
existing Buddhist texts and sutras for over 14
years, upheld the Lotus Sutra as the highest
teaching of Buddhism propagated by Gautama
Buddha.
Even to this day, Nichiren’s teachings, con-
cepts and guidance hold good in their applica-
bility for resolving problems of daily life from
the mundane to the most complex.
Nichiren’s philosophy of Buddhism is based
on interpretation of the teachings of Gautama
Buddha that lead to empowerment of the self
rather than reliance on supernatural or external
forces to alleviate life’s problems through ap-
peasement and rituals.
With the Law of Causality (Cause and Effect)
and emphasis on humanism with genuine com-
passion from ones heart as the basis, Buddhism
is a vibrant philosophy of what life is all about.
It is a philosophy of how every moment of our
life ‘ticks’ and what is expected of our behav-
ior as human beings. It teaches equality, respect
for life and upholding its dignity for others and
self.
Nichiren Daishonin evolved simple means
to make people understand the various con-
cepts of Buddhism:
• The Lotus Sutra constitutes the heart of all
Buddhism.
• Buddha-hood is an enlightened state of mind,
which all persons are capable of achieving. He
spoke about the vast potential of the human
mind, realisation of which empowers one to
challenge and alleviate ones problems without
reliance on any supernatural or external source.
• The workings of the universe are all subject
to a single principle or Law. By understanding
that Law, one can unlock the hidden potential in
ones life and achieve perfect harmony with the
self and the environment around oneself.
• The universal Law is defined as “Nam Myoho
Renge Kyo.”
• All phenomena are subject to a strict principle
of cause and effect and the present state of one’s
life is a summation of all the causes one has
himself made.
• By chanting “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” with
a strong conviction and faith in the universal
Law, one creates the most fundamental cause to
offset negative effects from the past and lead to
absolute happiness.
On negative aspects Nichiren taught, that
a life ruled by greed, anger, ignorance, envy,
arrogance and ingratitude can never lead to a
Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz
Feature
happy fulfilling life, no matter how much mate-
rial and social status one may acquire. Surpris-
ingly, Nichiren did not espouse renouncing ma-
terial gains and worldly possessions provided
their acquisition was not a source of unhappi-
ness for others.
THE WORKING OF THE LAW
When, one chants ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo”
in rhythm with the cosmic Law; fusion of the
Law latent deep within one’s self with the ulti-
mate Law of all phenomena results. Such fusion
enables one to draw forth ones innate enlight-
enment or wisdom and empowers one to face
the challenges of life head on, rather than be
subdued by adversities. Deep faith is the key.
It is pertinent to point out that chanting
the mantra is no magical panacea for one’s
problems. Nichiren’s philosophy is based on
reason and rationale rather than on blind faith.
In Nichiren’s philosophy, happiness does not
mean absence of problems; as per him “Never
let life’s hardship disturb you. After all no one
can avoid problems, not even saints or sages.”
Compassion for Nicheren’s followers con-
notes rising beyond the self, to reach out to
offer support and encouragement to those suf-
The beauty of this practice lies
fering till the end of their travails and earnestly in the fact that, one is neither
praying for them.
The beauty of this practice lies in the fact required to undergo any
that, one is neither required to undergo any
change of name or religion, nor restricted from change of name or religion,
performing any other religious social obliga-
tions. One is not put through any ritualistic ini- nor restricted from performing
tiation ceremony either.
Over 12 million people across 190 countries
any other religious social
practise Nichiren’s Buddhist philosophy today. obligations.
This has been brought about mainly through
unrelenting efforts of Dr. Daisaku Ikeda the
third president of Soka Gakkai International
(SGI), a non profit organisation of lay believ-
ers with its headquarters in Japan committed
to promoting peace, culture, and education in
the world, through the practice of the Buddhist
philosophy of Nichiren Daishonin.
It will be of interest to know that many
leading world celebrities are practicing
members of the SGI.
Dr. Daisaku Ikeda has been honoured with
over 250 doctorates and fellowships awarded
by leading universities across the world. He is
recipient of the UN Peace Prize awarded in rec-
ognition of his efforts towards abolishment of
nuclear weapons.
It is a philosophy for all as human beings
to practice and lead a life of true humanism,
true compassion, lasting joy and empower-
ment through value creation in one’s life and of
others thereby enhancing society.
31
Indian

Riya’s new
stunning
persona
The petite and charming Riya Sen is
looking more ravishing than ever these
days. The reason- Riya has lost oodles
of weight and is sporting an all-new
look. Recently, Riya was the cynosure
of all eyes at Subhash Ghai’s party
where she entered late and ended up
receiving a galore of compliments
from those present.

Indian
32 Indian Weekender | November 13, 2009 | www.iwk.co.nz