Indian

Indian Log on to www.iwk.co.nz

April 1, Volume 2,
No. 25
New Zealand’s first Indian weekend magazine
For free distribution

New Zealand | 4 Bollywood | 20 Viewpoint | 25

Parishrut gets a ‘Time to create Taj Mahal or Tejo
worthy backer  space for gay in Mahalaya?
mainstream’

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Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 1

Indian

2 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Cricket’s superstars to set up $100 m academy in NZ
On the eve of the final of the world’s biggest
cricket tournament, the ICC World Cup, sources
have revealed that cricket greats and superstars
from six countries are coming together in an en-
terprise that will see the setting up of what could
be the world’s largest and most professionally
run cricket academy in New Zealand.
The academy with a total projected cost of
$110 million to be invested in acquiring land,
building facilities, equipment and global pro-
motion across three years, will initially have an
investment component of $57.1 million in the
first phase, which will begin later this year, if all
approvals are obtained by the promoter group.
Identities of the 12 main promoters – all
present and past cricketing superstars from
India, New Zealand, Australia, West Indies,
England and Sri Lanka – will be revealed at a
mega media event in Mumbai on Monday, April
4, a couple of days after the World Cup final.
All the 12 superstars are currently in India
to witness the tournament – some of them even
playing in the competing teams – sources close
to the proposed academy told Indian Weekender.
The World Stars Cricket Academy, which is
registered as a company in the Cayman Islands,
has applied to the New Zealand government for
the acquisition of a 440 hectare parcel of land in
an as yet undisclosed location. The academy’s
operations in New Zealand will be subject to
several approvals including the most important
one from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO).
When contacted by Indian Weekender, the
office declined to give details of the application
from the World Stars Cricket Academy citing
privacy and commercial sensitivity reasons. But
Shishir Nandan Agarwal, who is co-ordinating
matters for the academy in New Zealand, Aus-
tralia and Fiji along with his colleagues Mehmet
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Which of these men are behind the academy?
Istwan, J. Selwyn Mascaranghe and Askaran
Naidu revealed to Indian Weekender that the ap-
plication had indeed been lodged with the office
a couple of weeks ago.
The Melbourne based Dr Mascaranghe said
all the investment would come into the country
in three of four tranches as the academy had
solid backers. The company would not look at
raising money here in New Zealand, though
listing it on New Zealand and Australian stock
exchanges was a possibility in the future. But
as of now the 12 cricket superstars who are the
main promoters of the academy are not looking
at diluting their equity in the enterprise, he said.
Six of the superstar cricketers are believed
to have visited New Zealand along with other
investors to scout for locations and meet real
estate companies in the past 18 months, Dr Mas-
caranghe said.
Mr Agarwal, who shares his time between
Invercargill and Cardiff in the UK, said that
the South Island was a strong contender for
housing the academy. “There is plenty of land,
the climate is great and the town councils are
very supportive of the idea,” he said. But the
final decision on the location of the academy
would depend on a number of factors. Asked if
the recent earthquakes had brought the promot-
ers around to favouring the North Island, Mr
Agarwal said that was not the case.
A source that did not wish to be named told
Indian Weekender that Auckland and Hamilton
were also in the running as destinations.
Indian Weekender has learned that the
New Zealand
idea for the academy has been on the cards for
several years now and the 12 players and inves-
tors and managers of the enterprise reportedly
met in Zurich, Switzerland in January to finalise
details that will be formally revealed at Mon-
day’s media conference.
Speaking from Ankara, Turkey, Lead Tech-
nical Consultant Mehmet Hosain Istvan said this
would be the most advanced cricket academy
in the world and will produce the world’s best
cricketing talent in all departments of the game.
“There will be a facility that can dupli-
cate any pitch and atmospheric conditions in
the world’s great cricketing locations – so we
can duplicate the humidity of Chennai or the
dryness and heat of Sharjah right there in New
Zealand,” he said. These pitches will be housed
in three climate controlled stadiums within the
academy’s complex.
The academy would also double up as venues
for international games including rugby, Mr
Istvan said. Mr Istvan, who grew up in Turkey
and the UK, is one of the game’s top adminis-
trators and infrastructure specialists and has a
record of building sports facilities around the
world.
None of the officials Indian Weekender
spoke to were prepared to reveal the identities of
the players who were backing the project. “That
will be officially conveyed to the world’s media
on Monday next week,” Mr Agarwal said.
However, Indian Weekender’s enquiries in
Mumbai have revealed that four Indian legends,
two famous Australian, New Zealand and
England players each and one each from Sri
Lanka and the West Indies will front up for the
high profile academy.
-Indian weekender news desk
CONT’D PG. 4
3
Indian
Parishrut gets a worthy backer
Indian Weekender article helps bring in a sponsor
Parishrut being awarded the trophy
DEV NADKARNI
Parishrut Jhina, who lives, breathes, eats and
sleeps motorbikes and is simply crazy about
two wheelers, has found a generous backer
whose funding will help him realize some of
his immediate dreams.
Indian Weekender featured Parishrut in
our February 17 issue this year, telling his
story about his passion for motorbikes and his
participation in some of the toughest rallies
CONT’D from PG.3
Disclaimer- Today is the 1st of April, Happy April Fools Day
4 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
in the Himalayas. The profile highlighted
how Parishrut’s dreams were hampered by
his difficulty in finding sponsors both in New
Zealand and India.
“Thanks to the Indian Weekender article,
I was approached by a fantastic sponsor,”
Parishrut says. The sponsor is none other than
V Giri, the founder of Auckland’s popular and
fast growing money transfer service, Relianz
Forex.
“I had seen Parishrut in my office a few
CM
MY
CY
CMY
New Zealand
times but didn’t know he had this unique
passion until I read it in your paper,” Mr Giri
told Indian Weekender.
“I also read that he needed sponsorship, so
Relianz approached him. He is a simple, hard-
working and deserving lad and we thought it
would be great if we could help him achive his
dream part of the way.”
For the 25-year-old student who works as a
bakery chef in Auckland, motorbikes are not
just style statements but the avenue for partic-
ipating in what he calls “ultimate adventure.”
He participated in the Maruti Suzuki Raid
de Himalaya 2010 rally. The route passes
through one of the most difficult and inhos-
pitable natural terrains for motorbikes in the
western Himalayas, running a length of 2000
km of barely tarred roads, dirt tracks and slush
caused by rain. It covers some of the highest
motorable places in the world. Riders have to
often encounter freezing weather conditions.
The sport is certainly not for the faint
hearted and can frighten people who are not On the dirt track…
up to the challenge. Parishrut rode to glory in
the formidable rally winning the trophy in the in a trailer truck with special clamps to hold
‘Unmodified Indian Bike’ category, and also bikes. Parishrut pays $50 a day for the privi-
bagged overall eighth position in the chal- lege of practice on the tracks.
lenging Motoquad (Xtreme Section). Pursuing his studies and working at the
In New Zealand, Parishrut practices and same time, Parishrut’s heart lies in two-
participates in rallies around the country. wheeler rallying. Now his hopes of partici-
Sponsors for the sport are few and far between pating in more challenging rallies and doing
and it is a struggle to persevere with his the hard yards have got a welcome boost from
passion, he had told Indian Weekender. His the timely sponsorship from Mr Giri and his
long time mentor Vikram takes him around company Relianz Forex.
Indian
New Zealand
Indian Film Festival opens in Auckland
The second “Bollywood and bey
ond” film festival got off to a star
Manukau’s Hoy t’s cinema complex t last week in
with the screening of New Zealand
winning short film entr y Blank Spa ’s prize-
ces.
The film had earlier won the gran
d prize at the second annual Indi
tival’s short film competition. Film an Film Fes-
maker Rajneel Singh spoke brie
screening of his hugely entertain fly before the
ing and cleverly made three-minut
e film.
The festival opened with the scre
ening of Onirban Dhar’s feature
am” that has already been screene length film “I
d at some of the big film events
world. The director was present across the
at the screening and answered que
the audience on the night. stions from

Also present was one of the film

’s protagonists and financier of the
claimed actress Juhi Chawla, who project, ac-
also fielded questions from the aud
gave the background for her invo ience and
lvement in the alternative genre
film.
The festival has a number of film
s that are beyond the pale of stan
wood fare, showcasing Indian film dard Bolly-
making talent in parallel cinema,
the commercial masala films chu away from
rned out by the world’s biggest
factories in India. film production

Festival director Mitu Bhowmick

Lange of the Melbourne based Min
Films welcomed the opening nigh d Blowing
t’s audience and set the tone for
troducing some of the people beh the festival in-
ind the festival and the night’s scre
ened films.
Ms Bhowmick Lange said she was
encouraged to see a bigger aud
the one that had assembled for ience than
the inaugural festival last year. The
had its run in Australian metros festival has
before being screened here and
annual event in Oceania, accordi will now be an
ng to Ms Bhowmick Lange.

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga

confirmed as candidate
for Maungakiekie
Maungakiekie National Party Electorate
Chair Dr Lee Mathias has announced that
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has been confirmed
as the Maungakiekie candidate for the
National Party in the upcoming general
election on November 26 2011.
 
“As the Local MP for Maungakiekie I am
honoured and privileged to be selected as
the National Party candidate for the upcom-
ing election,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
 
“These are difficult times for our country and
we need strong and decisive leadership. I
look forward to the campaign ahead and the
opportunity to once again serve my com-
munity in a John Key led Government.
“Maungakiekie is at the heart of Auckland’s
diversity and represents the vibrant and
bustling change of metropolitan Auckland, 
with the iconic One Tree Hill as its jewel.
I’m proud to be this communities voice in
Parliament.
“During my first term, we have reopened the
Onehunga Rail line, opened the Manukau
Harbour crossing, opened a Services Acad-
emy at Tamaki College and have opened a
new operating theatre for elective surgery in
Greenlane. We also saw thousands of our
young people take part in the “Breakaway”
youth initiatives and have invested mil-
lions of dollars in new funding for our local
schools.
“I am proud of the work we have achieved,
but there is still much more to do. I will
continue to campaign for the full restoration
of the Onehunga foreshore, the replanting
of a tree on One Tree Hill and the advance-
ment of the Tamaki Transformation Project. 
I will also continue to work with community
groups on the Ellerslie Racecourse re-devel-
opment and the AMETI projects.
 
“I am humbled by all those who have put
their faith and trust in me. I look forward to
building on that support and to campaign
on the vision and  aspirations that John Key
has set for our country,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is the Deputy-
Chairman of the Commerce Select Com-
mittee and a member of the Finance and
Expenditure Select Committee. He held the
Maungakiekie seat with a majority of 1,942
votes at the last election.

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 5

Indian
NZ opens consular office in Mumbai
DEV NADKARNI
New Zealand Immigration Minister
Jonathan Coleman inaugurated a new
consular office for New Zealand in Mum-
bai on March 17.
The office is located in the heart of
Mumbai’s swanky new business hub,
the Bandra Kurla Complex, that houses
offices of some of the world’s biggest
corporations.
Join the St John-Indian Weekender
ambulance project & help the community...
6 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Speaking at the inauguration Dr Cole-
man said, “The opening of the Consulate
General symbolises the commitment of
New Zealand government to our relation-
ship with India.
“It also demonstrates New Zealand’s
commitment to increased synergy for
travel between India and New Zealand
and business and investment opportuni-
ties.”
India is New Zealand’s eighth largest
export market, up from 24th place three
years ago, and it a market that is valued
at over NZ$1.2 billion.
In the run up to the Free Trade Agree-
ment, New Zealand is hoping to partner
with India in industries like agricultural
technology and the cold chain for the ag-
riculture and food industry, information
technology, aviation, wood and green
New Zealand High Commissioner Jan
technologies.
Henderson and Consul General and
Trade Commissioner Gavin Young
The newly opened office will provide
among other dignitaries from both the
consular services such as processing vi-
nations were also present at the inaugu-
sas besides providing support for trade,
ration. 
investment and tourism.
The new consular facility that also
National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, who
functions as an embassy office will be
was present at the opening said, “The
instrumental in strengthening trade and
new office will facilitate visa-seekers
cultural ties between India and New
from southern states, Maharashtra and
Zealand.
Gujarat.”
New Zealand
Pointing to the future possibilities of
growing trade between the two coun-
tries, Mr Bakshi said, “India is New
Zealand’s eighth largest export market,
up from 24th three years ago. There are
emerging opportunities.
New Zealand also formally launched its
unified branding for apples in India. New
Zealand exporters have consolidated
their offering under one umbrella brand,
so consumers in India will be able to
easily identify the premium quality New
Zealand apples.
Former Black Caps great Richard
Hadlee, who was present at the launch
told the Press trust of India, “New Zea-
land apples are known around the world
for their delicious taste, combined with
their healthy qualities, and I think people
here in India will really enjoy them-from
kids to cricket stars.”
Through the launch in India, the brand
hopes to reach out to not only the in-
creasingly health-conscious consumer
but also to the suppliers of fresh apples.
The New Zealand apple industry is
looking to find supply-chain partners for
the commercialisation of exclusive new
varieties and Indian growers seeking
advanced horticultural practices.
Indian
Accomplished director assures memorable experience
DEV NADKARNI
Dildar’s director Jayanta Bhaduri’s passion and
experience in theatre runs deep and goes back
to his younger days in Kolkata. Moving to New
Zealand did not dim any of that passion and
drive.
Ever since he chose Auckland as his second
home, he has been associated with the Pro-
basee Bengali Association Inc of New Zealand
and has been a leading member of its team for
various social and cultural activities notably
their annual Bengali Drama presentation.
Over the years he has strived to band togeth-
er like-minded people in Auckland, working
with a handful of friends to form the core group
running the Rangmanch theatre group, which
has presented two highly acclaimed and memo-
rable Hindi theatre productions in the past three
years.
Starting off with Bengali plays, Rangmanch
moved to staging Hindi plays because of the
wider appeal in Auckland’s relatively small
Indian community, Mr Bhaduri told Indian
Weekender.
The well-known personality in Auckland’s
cultural fraternity of the migrant Indian com-
munity said the “fabulous” audience response to
the first two Hindi productions – Zimmedari in
2008 and Ballabhpur ki Kahani in 2010 – has
encouraged the group to stage at least new pro-
duction every year.
“We are sure Dildar will be as well received
as the previous two.” Mr Bhaduri said each of
the plays were different in theme and style. The
3-act, 7-scene Zimmedari was about relation-
Dildar to steal hearts next weekend
Play to raise funds for Indian community’s St John Ambulance project
Buoyed by the grand success of its previ-
ous plays “Zimmedari” – in 2008 and “Bal-
labhpur Ki Kahani” in 2010, Rangmanch
presents its latest Hindi production “Dildar”
at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Epsom
Girls grammar School Auditorium in Auck-
land next weekend.
The show on Friday, April 8, is a fundraiser
for the Indian Weekender Make a difference
to St John Ambulance project, which is
aimed at donating a fully equipped ambu-
lance to the St John Ambulance Brigade
from New Zealand’s Indian community.
The proceeds of the fundraising show will
all be donated to this cause (see end of
story for ticketing information).
“Dildar – The untold story of an Artist” is set
in the northern Indian city of Lucknow is
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
“We are sure Dildar will be as well received as the
previous two.” Mr Bhaduri said each of the plays
were different in theme and style. The 3-act, 7-scene
Zimmedari was about relationships, while Ballabhpur
ki Kahani was an “intellectual comedy,” he said.
ships, while Ballabhpur ki Kahani was an “in-
tellectual comedy,” he said.
The humble, soft spoken Mr Bhaduri is
himself a gifted actor – a fact that does not come
across in a casual encounter with the self ef-
facing man. “His literary acumen and sense of
drama are of the highest level and his passion to
about a simple person but an artist at heart
Dildar, who is loved by all for his simplicity
and golden heart.
The many twists and turns in his artistic life
and the kaleidoscope of circumstances that
shape him and his outlook are the leitmotif
of the play, which is an inspired adaptation
of a popular Somerset Maugham short
story.
Poverty, hardships and a heartless social
system force Dildar to forgo his artistic
pursuits and take up a salesman’s job with
a flourishing shoe merchant.
His unfulfilled artistic aspirations keep dis-
turbing him no end and spiritually he finds
himself struggling every now and then,
searching for his true identity.
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
reach out to the wider audience is what led to the
creation of Rangmanch,” says one of the found-
ing members of the theatre group.
It was a challenge finding actors and at first,
Mr Bhaduri said. The group started auditioned
wide for its first Hindi play and was fortunately
able to compile a growing database of people
But as a result of a lottery win, society, with
all its known and unknown evils come to
the fore trying to lure him, which Dildar
thinks of as unethical and abstains from
getting involved.
In this kaleidoscopic background he comes
in contact with a downtrodden destitute
girl. Her simplicity, high moral values and
sense of self-respect create a stunning im-
pact in his mind. Dildar develops a unique
bond with the girl and the events that follow
change his life.
Dildar is the common man who goes out
of way to help all who come to him. If not
with anything tangible – it is with his love,
sympathy and understanding.
He seeks the path of truth and spirituality
thorough acts of benevolence towards the
New Zealand
who were interested in volunteering their time
and talent into Ragmanch’s productions.
“It’s a complete voluntary effort,” Mr
Bhaduri said. “It’s commendable because it
means tremendous commitment of time and
effort. Meeting three or four times a week for
months for rehearsals in the run up to a play’s
staging is quite something.”
Asked how Rangmanch selects a production,
Mr Bhaduri said it considered several factors.
“We look at how thought-provoking and en-
tertaining it can be for the kind of Audiences
we have in Auckland – and also the local talent
available,” he said.
The multi-character Dildar, which has eight
scenes and about half a dozen backstage co-or-
dinators is as much an entertainer as a existen-
tially thought-provoking story, according to Mr
Bhaduri. It has songs, music and an audio-visual
sequence, he said.
For Dildar, Mr Bhaduri decided to take on
a small role, preferring rather to channelise his
considerable experience in all departments of
theatre to directing the multicast, multi scene
production.
Indian Weekender is proud to be associated
with Ranmanch and its latest production Dildar,
the first show of which is dedicated to fundrais-
ing for the Indian Weekender Make a Differ-
ence to St John Ambulance project, which seeks
to donate a fully equipped ambulance to New
Zealand’s largest ambulance service from the
Indian community in New Zealand.
For further details of the play please see the
advert in this edition of Indian Weekender or log
on to www.rangmanch.org.nz
poor and the down trodden.
How far he succeeds or will Dildar succeed
at all?
The play is directed by Jayanta Bhaduri,
and has a cast of 23 actors. The play with a
run time of two and quarter hours is spread
across as many as eight scenes and prom-
ises to be as interesting as Rangmanch’s
previous offerings.
For tickets to the Friday
April 8 show, please
call 021-1712777 or 021-
2211131. The price of the
tickets is $50, being a
fundraiser for the Make
a Difference to St John
project.
7
Indian
Krazzy Tunes
drives audience crazy
ented and experienced
members of the Desi
Fever band led by bass
guitarist and band direc-
tor Shivan Padayachi.
Arranged by veteran
lead guitarist Vijay
Murthy, the ensemble
showed great virtuos-
ity from the word go,
starting up with R D
Burman’s unforgettable
background title score
of the immortal Bolly-
wood potboiler Sholay.
Also in the band
were Shalend on tra-
ditional percussion (table and
Anybody who did not make it to the Avon- dholak) and as many as three Kishores – Anup
dale College Auditorium for the Krazzy Tunes – Kishore, Vimal Kishore and the young Nigel Kishore
Tadka Maarke concert last Sunday surely missed on keyboards, octopads and the Congo respectively.
a fabulously entertaining gig that had the audience Featured for the first ever time in a Bollywood
riveted to stunning performances by so many tal- musical concert in Auckland, were two instruments
ented Aucklanders. that have been part of Hindi film musical landscape
Krazzy Tunes brought together a bouquet of for decades – the accordion and the saxophone.
Auckland’s talented performers, some well known Senior artiste Frank Stephens played the accordion
and some performing for the very first time. The and the young Aura Irani regaled the audience on the
artistes’ ages ranged from teenage to mature – but saxophone.
everyone of them performed with great elan. The dozen singers were a mix of
Providing the musical backbone and embellish- known Kiwi
ing the dozen singers’ performances Indian voices and
was the tal- some new ones,
some even per-
forming for the
first ever time.
Among the new
were Kavinesh,
Moushumi,
Priya, Shashi,
Karam Veer
and the baby
of the team
Shirley, per-
forming for
the first time
8 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
New Zealand
on a concert platform. happens all too often in performances here. Kudos
But the manner in which they held forth on the are due to Ravi Nyayapati for this awesome achieve-
stage rendering their numbers, the audience would ment and to Akshay Gupte who managed the light-
never have guessed that these were new perform- ing adroitly.
ers. The numbers presented were an excellent mix Audience reaction to most of the performances
of genres and ranged from several periods of Indian was spontaneous and peppered with clamour for
cinema from the black and white days to the latest ‘once more’ after many songs. The accompaniment
films. of the experienced band and the manner in which
Kanik, Sneha and Auckland’s longtime favourite they subtly encouraged and supported the young
Ashish along with guest singers Manju and Viraj singers is indeed commendable.
were among the known voices that have regaled Show comperes Sneha Shetty and Suneet Ranga-
audiences before. A rajan glued together the diverse
tinge of emotion that
crept into the show
since this was Ash-
ish’s last performance
for a while in New
Zealand.
The talented
young singer has just
secured admission
into the prestigious
A R Rahman School
of Music back in
India and is leaving
to study there in less
than a month’s time.
Ashish’s perfor-
mances will surely
be missed by New
Zealand audiences
but we do wish he will come back time and again
with his sharpened talents. items of the show with their skillful commentary and
Mention must be made of Viraj’s rendition of navigation.
Mukesh’s classics – the first, which was dedicated to Ram Iyer and his Cultural Forum of India Events
the people of Christchurch and Japan who lost their must be commended for bringing together such
lives in the earthquakes and tsunami.   diverse talent irrespective of age, experience and
A highlight of the proceedings so very well and standing on a single platform to present such aes-
professionally organised by Cultural Forum of India thetic fare in such a seamless, elegant style.
Events was the perfect synchronisation of the taste- Krazzy Tunes – Tadka Maarke is one gig that
fully designed audio visual backdrop as the perfor- deserves to be scaled up. Don’t miss subsequent per-
mances unfolded. formances – of which there will be many, to be sure.
The graphics were superb, understated enough Indian Weekender was proud to have co-presented
not to take the attention away from the main per- the show last week.
formances on stage and went off without a glitch, -Indian Weekender arts correspondent
something that
Indian
India

German
stunt-biking
ace thrills India
Kolkata: Kolkata played host to some of the most exciting
stunts on Monday as World Free Style Biking champion
Chris Pfeiffer performed few of his crazy moves in the city
as a part of the ‘Red Bull Chris Pfeiffer India Tour’.

Riding on a BMW 800R, Pfeiffer thrilled the city by show-

casing death defining stunts -- a first for many of the
people who had never seen him perform.

His gig here at the City of Joy on Monday, marked the

beginning of his India tour.

Pfeiffer said, “On my first trip last year, I heard so much

about the Bengalis, and their contribution to India’s culture,
freedom struggle and food, that I really wanted to make it
to Kolkata.”

“And now, I can’t wait to perform in what am told is one of

India’s most passionate cities,” he said before his perfor-
mance in the city.

After Kolkata Chris is scheduled to tour in 9 other cities of

India which will include Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore and
Coimbatore.

In 2010, the biking genius had made his first tour in India.

No effect of Tri-Valley on Ansari releases book

Visa procedure s: US Consul
DIVYANSHU DUTTA ROY  apprehensive about the procedure and screening
Indian students who want to study in the United
States for the coming school year need not worry
about tighter screening procedures in wake of
the Tri-Valley University incident, an American
consul has said.
Earlier this year, a crackdown by the U.S. Im-
migration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had re-
portedly found that the Californian university was
charging students, most of whom were Indians, to
help them illegally migrate and work in America.
While some of the students got transferred to
other institutions, some were radio-tagged as part
of the following criminal investigations which
led to unpleasant exchanges between the foreign
offices of the two countries.
The university, which had around 1,500 Indian
students, was officially closed down on Mar 17.  between USD 16,000 to USD 45,000 per year, stu-
On Wednesday, at an advisory session organ-
ised here for prospective Indian students, U.S.
consul William Rowland said they should not be
since regulations had not changed.
“Laws haven’t been changed in the wake of
what happened there. So I don’t think there is need
for any special concern in view of the Tri-Valley
incident,” Rowland said.
At the programme organised in the American
Center in Kolkata, consulate officials familiarised
students with the technicalities of applying to
study in the States.
“We are proud to host over a hundred thousand
Indian students in the U.S. Most of the students
from Kolkata are doing their PhDs there and we
want to reach out to more undergraduate students
through outreach sessions like this,” Rowland
said.
While studying the U.S. could cost anything
dents queuing up to apply for visas only increase
in numbers every April -- the primetime for visa
requests, said consul officials.
on Bismillah Khan
New Delhi: Vice President Hamid Ansari
on Monday released a book on Indian
shehnai legend Bismillah Khan titled
‘Bismillah Khan : The Maestro from
Benaras’.
The book written by Juhi Sinha is based
on the life of the talented shehnai player
who spent a significant portion of his
life in the city of Varanasi, also known
as Benaras.
“The book gives an insightful look into
the home and heart, muse and music
of one of the greatest artists that India
has produced,” Ansari said at the event
which also marked the birth anniversary
of Khan.
Referring to Sinha, the author of the
book, Ansari commented: “Such type of
a book was very much needed and so
many music lovers will learn a lot from
this useful book,”
Besides sketching the life and works of
Khan, the book also mentions about the
city of Varanasi and the cultural roots
of it.
He was the third classical musician to
be awarded the highest civilian honour
in India, ‘Bharat Ratna’, in 2001.
After entertaining his fans for long
period of time, the legendary musician
died in the year 2006.

PM couplet had a charm: Sushma

New Delhi, Mar 24 (IBNS) Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) Leader of Opposition in Lok
Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said the
reply of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
in couplet to a combative one recited by her
taking on the government on the Cash-for-
Vote scam had some charm and worked as a
coolant.
“His couplet had a charm. I did smile. It
cooled the tempers,” Swaraj, who is emerging
as one of the most articulate Indian lawmak-
ers in Parliament,  told NDTV in an interview
a day after the fiery debate on the issue.   reply had cooled things down.
On Wednesday during an intense debate
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
on the Cash-for-Vote issue, Swaraj had at-
tacked the Prime Minister with strong argu-
ments and also recited a couplet that when
translates in English asks the PM to come
clear on the issue instead of blaming it on
others and remaining wishy-washy.
“I concluded my speech with a  couplet, it
was a combative couplet. It means it is you
who is accountable, don’t do wishy-washy,”
she told the channel.
She said she had questioned the leadership
of the PM through her couplet but the PM’s
She also admitted that she was earlier
overruled by her  party on the issue of the
Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) when
she had condoned the PM after he admitted
his mistake on the appointment of the corrup-
tion chief despite objections of Swaraj in the
panel that chose the CVC.
“I admit I was overruled,” she said about
the party decision on the CVC issue even
after Swaraj relented on the issue.
She said the party president (Nitin
Gadkari) had clearly told the media later that
the   partyline was different from what she
said.
“My response is also based on issues. I
thought the matter should rest,” Swaraj said,
adding that the PM had admitted his mistake
in Jammu but was not admitting it clearly in
Parliament which forced her to stand on her
feet and extract a clear statement in the house
from the PM.
The PM had admitted his error of judge-
ment in appointing the CVC in Parliament
after Swaraj pressed for it.
She said in the past also party leaders like
L K Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee were
overruled in the past and there is no issues in
admitting that.
“I was overruled, not snubbed,” she said.  
9
Indian
India

Kashmir making efforts to repatriate pandits: Omar 

NEYAZ ELAHI
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minis-
ter  Omar Abdullah has said that his government is
working on a multifaceted programme for return
of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) to the Valley, who fled
during the insurgency, and make them feel secure.
“Creation of economic opportunities for Kash-
miri Pandit youths and reservation in Government
jobs for them are being focused as a meaningful
incentives to the community to encourage their
return to the Valley in a conducive and peaceful
atmosphere”, he said on Tuesday speaking to a
group of students from University of Chicago in
USA.
He said the uplift of those Kashmiri Pandits
who have not left the Valley during the distur-
bance is also equally important as they are bereft
of the benefits available to the migrant Kashmiri
Pandits under PMRP and other schemes.
Talking to the students who are in Jammu
and are currently working on a research project
on Kashmiri Pandits, the Chief Minister said that
Prime Minister   Dr. Manmohan Singh recently
inaugurated the satellite-township of two-room
tenement at Jagti, Nagrota for Kashmiri Pandit
migrants living in camps in Jammu.
The Chief Minister said that about 2,500
Kashmiri Pandit youth have been provided jobs in
the Valley and job orders for equal number is in
the pipeline.
“This is as a part of the initiative taken to en-
courage younger generation to return to the Valley
and get involved in the economic and life activi-
ties,”  he said adding that transit accommodation
and other required facilities have also been put in
place for these youth.
The CM enumerated other measures and
steps afoot to create conducive atmosphere for the
return of KPs to the Valley.
However, he said, the restoration of sense of
security was imperative to help smooth and large
scale return of KPs to the Valley.
“There is tremendous improvement in the situ-
ation since the KPs migration from the Valley.
However, the complete restoration of peace
and total elimination of fear psychosis has to be
worked out,” he said and added that the Govern-
ment is doing whatever possible with the assis-
tance of the Centre to make effective dent in this
regard.
“About 3 lakh KPs visited Mela Kheer
Bhawani in the Valley last year in a conducive
atmosphere and hopefully this trend will further
improve giving boost to the confidence of KPs re-
garding their return,” he said.
University of Jammu is hosting the group of
students from University of Chicago, USA and as-
sisting them in their research project on Kashmiri
Pandit migrants. 

Italian envoy summoned over turban issue

New Delhi: India on Wednesday conveyed to Italy strongly its disapproval over insult of The matter was also raised in the Rajya Sabha where Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party
Indian golf coach Amritinder Singh at the Milan airport twice within a week, where he (BJP) MP SS Ahluwalia, during the Zero Hour, questioned the Indian government’s stance
was forced to remove his Sikh turban during security check by the same airport official. on the issue.

The Italian envoy has been summoned to the External Affairs ministry’s office in the South He said the turban was a form of God’s blessings and its insult cannot be tolerated in a
Block on Wednesday evening to register India’s protest. country where the Prime Minister is himself a Sikh.

Singh, coach of top Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, was made to remove his turban and put External Affairs minister SM Krishna, in his response, said that the matter has been duly
in the tray with shoes and other stuff during security check by the same official at the Milan taken up with the Italian authorities and the envoy has also been summoned for an explana-
airport twice in a week. tion.

The first instance had already drawn reaction from India, but Italy’s assurance of no repeti- Whenever there is an insult to Sikhs, we take it as national insult. We take it up in that
tion of such instance was found to be hollow. spirit,Krishna said.

10 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
India

Chocolates all the way

trans world features
RE D E F I NI NG YOUR SUPPL E M EN T S
WOMEN – ENTERPRISE- HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE

Enterprising Indian women are turning peoples’ fasci-

nation for chocolates into thriving business ventures.
Baishali Mukherjee reports
One is the queen of the sweet tooth, the other the ian, and contains only cocoa butter, these are
queen of your heart. Chocolates and women are pure chocolates unlike other compound choco-
two most celebrated symbols of love. lates in the market,” she claims.
What can be a more romantic wedding gift Delhi based Subhatra Priyadarshini, 25, the
than a bride and a brain behind ‘Choc of the
bridegroom figure Town’ is a software gradu-
made of chocolate? Or ate. The inherent desire to
a bride showing her do something on her own
love to the groom with nudged her to leave her IT
a pure chocolate Taj job and join a six-month
Mahal ? entrepreneurial course
All these and much specially designed for
more are on offer at women. Her choice was a
Chocolate Hut, Hyder- premium range of hand-
abad. An enterprise made and customized seven years. also offer small cakes which two love-birds can
by K Lakshmi, wife of chocolates. “Our products don’t cut deep holes into the enjoy. For those with a higher budget we have
a businessman who is “The idea was to customers’ pockets. That’s one reason we have accessories like earrings, heart shaped pen-
into supplying cocoa provide an online gift people coming back to us. Also we keep impro- dants, bracelets etc along with the chocolates,”
ingredients, she has service for people staying vising them by bringing in variations catering to Sengupta informs.
been associated with away from family, friends Indian taste buds,” explains Sengupta. For weddings they provide chocolates that
chocolates literally due to job, higher studies During special occasions like the Valentine’s match the colour of the wedding card. The
since her marriage. and other reasons,” Priya- Day, raksha bandhan, and weddings, Open Oven packing is mainly done in a traditional manner
Cocoa is the main in- darshini says, adding, “We
gredient for making also have corporate clients
chocolates. as we believe corporate
“I started to take gifting has a high demand
interest in chocolate compared to personal, but
after my marriage and personal gifts have a high
read articles related to potential market, which is
the product whenever our main focus.”
I came across one. The wide range of
One day an article in chocolates includes a
the local newspaper Choco Textbox which can
regarding consump- be personalised to express
tion of outdated im- any message the customer
ported chocolates by children which led them to wants. The venture also customises the taste ac-
ill health, caught my attention. It eventually mo- cording to the customer’s preferences.
tivated me to get into the chocolate industry to “We have more than 15 varieties of flavours
make good and premium chocolates,” she says. to choose from. We constantly innovate to create
Lakshmi’s first trainer was her husband new chocolates for every occasion. What’s
himself. Later, she pursued her passion for more, the chocolates are hand-made and with no
chocolate and gradually developed different and preservatives.”
individual flavours for fillings like caramels, Reshma Sengupta of Kolkata took up making
truffles, nuts, nut paste, liquor, Sugar Free, etc. chocolates as her vocation when she had to stop
What started as a humble effort by supplying her profession as an interior designer due to a
home made chocolates to near and dear ones has physical constraint. “After I gave up my interior
expanded to a business enterprise with 12 stores designing profession my father and brother who
across the city. are into food industry pushed me to do some-
“After the initial positive response from thing on my own and advised me to use my
my friends and family, I decided to have my skills at chocolate making in a professional way.
own chocolate store. Today we are catering That, together with my husbands support, initi-
to around 65 corporate clients including Mi- ated me into this business,” Sengupta informs.
crosoft, UBS, Oracle, CA, Ascends, Delliote, She is self-taught though she did attend gets abuzz with activity. with hand made paper boxes, and dry or crystal
Mahendra, among others,” confides the upbeat workshops with chefs. With two outlets named “Depending on the occasion we bring out flowers or other conventional Indian motifs.
businesswoman. In the field since 1998, she has ‘Open Oven’ and a factory located centrally, different products with different packaging and What started as a hobby for Pooja Goyal of
never compromised on the health factor looking Sengupta is catering to corporate big wigs like accessories. For Valentine’s Day we have teddy Bangalore has become her vocation now. Choco-
for profit. “We make our own chocolates from ITC, Microsoft, Assam Company, Times of bears and heart-shaped chocolates with vibrant lates always attracted Pooja and when her cousin
cocoa beans. Our chocolates are 100% vegetar- India etc as well as the private clients for the last packaging that ranges between Rs 30-35. We offered her a training in the secrets of making
the brown bite she simply plunged in. After her
training she tried her hands at making the item
for some of her close friends. Getting unexpect-
ed appreciation from them prodded her to make
hampers for the upcoming raksha bandhan.
“After that people kept coming back for my
chocolates. Next year I had my own stall at our
society carnival and it was a big success. After
that, things kind of took off,” she says. Cre-
ative as she is, Goyal sold her idea of gifting
newborns with a small souvenir of hand made
chocolates in upmarket city hospitals. “I made
different packages for boys and girls. The idea
was appreciated by both the hospitals and the
new parents. I have also made chocolate sou-
venirs for car dealers who gift them to the new
buyers as a token of good wish,” Goyal informs.
Remember protagonist Vianne Rocher in
Lasse Hallstrom’s hit film Chocolat whose
tempting hand-made chocolates created a storm
in a conservative French village? Indian women
may be taking a leaf out of her example combin-
ing it with sound business sense. Vive chocolat
– long live chocolate! is their mantra.
Trans World Features (TWF)

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 11

Indian
India Briefs
British “pedophiles” arrested in Mumbai
Mumbai: Duncan Grant and Alan Waters, two Britons
whose acquittal by a high court in child abuse cases in
India was overturned by the Supreme Court on Friday,
were arrested by the Mumbai police on Monday. The
two had been accused and also convicted of sexually
abusing street children in a Mumbai shelter – Anchor-
age – they used to run along with an Indian, William D
Souza. The Supreme Court on Friday had upheld the
six years’ jail sentence by a trial court in 2006 though
the Bombay High Court in 2008 had acquitted them
since it was not convinced with the statements of the
witnesses. But the Supreme Court said “the analysis of
the prosecution witness confirms the fact these three
used to have sex with children.”
Coca Cola launches juice range
Mumbai: After Minute Maid Pulpy Orange & Minute
Maid Nimbu Fresh, beverage major Coca-Cola In-
dia has announced the launch of its Minute Maid
100% juice range in India. The latest offering is made
available in three flavours- Apple, Grape and Orange-
developed at the company’s Research & Development
Laboratory in Gurgaon. Minute Maid 100% juice has
been made available in two pack sizes- 200 ml and 1
litre tetrapak, all priced at Rs 20 and Rs 85 respectively.
The product will be available in all leading modern
trade outlets across the country and in general retail
outlets in Punjab.
Khushboo violates poll code in Tamil Nadu
Theni (Tamil Nadu): South Indian actress and Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK’s) star campaigner
Khushboo has been booked for violating poll code, the
police said. “Khushboo has been booked under two
12
India
cases for violating the Model Code of Coduct-one for the central theme, with the imagery of war and dark
allegedly blockading road and disrupting traffic while romanticism associated with it. Most of the designs
campaigning at Palanichetti area in Theni; the other, for have been made with metallic colours on black, further
taking out a convoy of eight cars without prior permis- highlighting the contrast between war and peace. The
sion at two places,” said a senior police officer. The designs draw inspiration from military art and related
actress joined the ruling DMK in May last year after the art forms, which were at it popular high in the old days.
Supreme Court recently quashed cases against her Myntra ‘Combact Series’ T-shirts are priced at Rs. 399.
on her controversial remarks on pre-
marital sex in an interview a couple of
years back. She is already involved
with social work in the areas of HIV/
AIDS, transgender and cancer and
had opined that direct entry into poli-
tics will provide with a bigger platform
to work better. Khushboo’s entry into
DMK spelt benefit for the party ahead
of the state polls as she has a major
fan following in the state, with fans
even constructing a temple for her.
Tamil Nadu will undergo assembly
elections on April 13.
Myntra.com launches ‘Combat
Series’ T-shirts
 
Mumbai: E-commerce company Myn-
tra.com has launched ‘Combat Series’
T-shirts to support effort to stop war
and detach the glory long associated
with it. The inspiration for the combat
series has been drawn from the dark
face of war, and is aimed at making
all realize the futility of war, said the
company. Black has been kept as
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
 Indian
India

India celebrate semis victory

India, runners up in 2003, booked a place in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka after
Best thing about ou
helping each other.
r team is our unity
It is a team sport-
. We are not critici
zing each other, ev
Indian captain M erybody is
beating Pakistan by 29 runs in the semi-final at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) S Dhoni af ter the
win.
Stadium here Wednesday. The country erupted in joy and cricket fans took the streets.
Scenes of revelry after the win in cricket-crazy Kolkata

Photos Avishek Mitra/IBNS

ble.
en c e - Anil Kum
ly the differ
as certain
Fielding w

It was the
pr
Khan on essure. You have
Pakistan to
collapse avert pressure- Im
ran

e led
r o r s in s election h
honi’s er o se
e s a id - despite D e msd! - Rahul B
It has to b autifully. Well don
be
the team

pko bhi.!
.. Aur S ACHIN aa
A tujh e salaam....
make! M
In d ia .. .. . Diya ghu he k B ac h
chan”
n e te a m !- A b h is
Tried my “Well do AR AM!!!!!!
b es
Shahid A t. I apologize to m A N D E E E EEEE MAT
fridi afte y nation- V
r the los Pakistan
s. captain

It is like p
la
to be goin ying the final. The
g to Mum p
bai (the v ressure of an India
enue of fi
nal)- Harb -Pakistan match is
hajan Sin d
gh after ouble. Happy
the matc
h.
Felt bad fo
r
Riaz too.. Afridi though, his r ha n
Hard luck e Imran K
, but Resp action after the la ife of
ect:)- Sh
ilpa She
st ball, w
ell played K h a n, former w
tt y by mim a
ed India- Je
Well play

India beat Pakistan to enter World Cup final after eight years
Mohali: India, runners up in 2003, booked
a place in the World Cup final against Sri
Lanka after beating Pakistan by 29 runs in
the semi-final at the Punjab Cricket Asso-
ciation (PCA) Stadium here Wednesday.
Virender Sehwag (38) hit nine fours and
Sachin Tendulkar, reprieved by referral
and dropped four times, went on to make
85 from 115 balls as India compiled 260-9
despite Pakistani left-arm seamer Wahab
Riaz’s career-best 5-46.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Hafeez struck
43 and Misbah-ul-Haq made a defiant 56
but the team was all out for 231 in the final
over.
Opting to bat first, India started off well
with Sehwag striking five fours in an over
from the wayward Umar Gul and had
amassed 38 by the end of the fifth over.
But Sehwag was lbw trying to turn one
from Riaz to leg and as India reached 50.
Tendulkar soon displayed some exquisite
timing before he was given out lbw on 23
to the spin of Saeed Ajmal.
Umpire Ian Gould’s decision looked per-
fectly correct as Tendulkar was hit playing
across the line but under review the ball
tracking system indicated it was turning
down the leg-side sufficiently to miss the
stumps.
There was an appeal for a stumping
next ball which was also rejected after
a replay. Then followed a string of drop
catches for Tendulkar on 27, 45 and 81.
Riaz soon brought Pakistan firmly back
in the contest with wickets in successive
balls to restrict India to 141-4 by removing
Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh.
Tendulkar saw a thick edge brush the
gloves of Kamran to the exasperation of
the Afridi, who went wicketless for the first
time in the tournament.
Then on 81 the younger Akmal brother
Umar dropped off Mohammed Hafeez but
it was a tough chance.
But 15 short of the landmark Tendulkar
drove to extra-cover where Afridi made no
mistake, and the run-rate soon dropped
below five for the first time since the end
of the second over.

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 13

 Indian
Indian
Letters
Shanti at helm of US warship
Indians and PIO are continually proving their leadership and intellectual quality! Proud to be
an Indian!
From the Editor – R Sharma

Sweet as the final victory
For India and Indians everywhere, this semifinal victory over Pakistan would undoubtedly be as
sweet as winning the coveted World Cup that has eluded them since 1983.
Will India win it tomorrow? This is one of those days at the editorial desk when a deadline has
to be met and the issue has to be sent to the press before a major event happens.
There are two things one can do – indulge in all sorts of speculation and analyses to come up none
the wiser about the projected result in a game as uncertain as cricket, or quote someone like Paul
the Octopus, who can’t fight back if you blame them when their prediction goes pear shaped.
But let us look at Wednesday’s victory and why not just the victory but the very contest was so
important for the region and the world.
The semi final match at Mohali could have gone either way, given its total of 260 and an ex-
tremely capable but – in India’s favour – inconsistent and unpredictable Pakistani side.
There will always be those who would say that India could have won it in a far more convincing
fashion, especially following the swashbuckling start that the flamboyant stroke play of Virender
Sehwag gave the Indian innings.
But then, what the heck: a victory is a victory is a victory – even it is whisker thin.
And that is all that has mattered to India and a billion and more Indians around the world, who
had their hearts in their mouths as the two subcontinental titans sparred out there in the middle –
a mega spectacle like no other anywhere in the world.
As well as the more than a billion pairs of eyes all over the globe that watched every move
around that 22-yard strip in the centre of the ground, there is always great interest around the
world when these two nuclear neighbours play in a sporting arena, especially one as highly strung
as cricket – everyone sits up and takes notice – and for all sorts of reasons that go far beyond the
pale of sport.
Whether a political gimmick or genuine gesture, the Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to his
Pakistani counterpart and the latter’s acceptance, along with an entourage of 50 officials – and
the resultant sense of bonhomie that has emerged that has been termed cricket diplomacy has
been viewed positively around the world and drawn praise from all quarters.
US ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said, “We commend the leaders of both countries
for carrying forward with what the media is calling cricket diplomacy. India and Pakistan will
take the talks forward at their own pace, ability and character.
“Continued dialogue, combined with cricket diplomacy, expanding people-to-people ties
and enthusiasm and optimism on both sides, offers promise of a more prosperous and peaceful
region.”
The bonhomie and the spirit that the two teams played with belied the impression of extreme hos-
tility between the nations that is widely conveyed by the media while covering relations between
the two countries. The kind of aggression and sledging one sees when other supposedly far
“ friendlier” countries play one another was conspicuous by its absence.
Which is to the credit to the players, captains, coaches and managements of both sides.
Whether one likes it or not, the two countries are joined at the hip and those ties remain no matter
that a perceptibly hostile relationship has permeated most of the years of their existence as inde-
pendent nations.
The spirit of sportsmanship displayed on the field and the attempt at sensible statesmanship off
the field by the top leaders of the two nations was indeed a welcome step – and there is no doubt
that this game will go some way in providing an impetus to better the relationship between the two
countries.
For India it was indeed an all-important win and traditionally and culturally, the Indian ethos
is wont to show exemplary generosity in its moment of victory. Perhaps this is one such time to
show a little of that spirit in the world beyond the willow and the wicket.
– Dev Nadkarni
Opinion Poll:
Awesome
Awesome - way to go Shanti!!
– Marissa DeSouza
Biased umpiring?
I think this article is biased when it glorifies the Indians and sladers other teams. Every team
has been faced with bias. Remember, how bottles were thrown at West Indies when they were in
Mumbai to play India? How Viv Richards had complained to the umpires then, but they simply
looked through him.
– Dan
Here’s what England did
During the England-South Africa Test at the Wanderers, the Australian third umpire Daryl
Harper came under fire for ruling Graeme Smith not out despite a loud noise from the stump
microphone when the ball passed the bat. Smith went on to score a century and it prompted
England, who are not in favour of the review system, to make an official complaint to the ICC.
So do your research before taking pot shots at the writer. Thanks, Mr Simha for this eye-
opening article. BIAS EXISTS.
– Man about town
Racism is there in real life then it can be expected in sports too. Logical?
You discount the point where it can be safely argued that as racism is there in real life then it
can be expected in sports too. Logical? Would like an answer to that.
– Sanjay
Some people beieve that they are experts but they are not.
“Most umpires by default are neutral” Ask Ian Botham for a second opinion on that.
“It has become a habit of the Indian team to blame the umpires for their incompetence” You
take away my right to protest by saying this - When was the last time Indian team protested
against Umpires...my memory fails me. As regards to Billy’s decision, he was perfectly correct
in standing ...... He is legally right but is it morally correct is the question. Even a murderer has
legal rights but moral?
– Priya Jayan
Most umpires by default are neutral?
Man, what a joke! You seem to live in cuckooland, Prasant. Was Darryl Hair neutral? Was
Steve Bucknor neutral? You say Bucknor just had a howler of a day. What about the 20 years of
bad decisions against India? How many more centuries Laxman, Dravid and Tendulkar would
have made, had there been an Asian umpire. Pakistani umpires are better than a New Zealand
or Aussie one.
– Aryan Agnihotri
Ethnic diversity has economic benefits
The article is a nice approach to the subject relating to New Zealand. But what I feel it best
suits to our Bharat Varsh (India) where a number of ethenic cultures contribute to economic
benefits of the country. One should study the case in details.
– Prof. Deena Bandhu Pandey, History of Att.BHU

Do you think a rest home catering to the needs of the elderly South
Asian community in New Zealand is a good idea for the future, as
has been suggested by the Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust?
YES NO
Ethnic diversity has economic benefits
In the face of recent declaration by few of the European Head of States that the Multicultural-
ism has failed in their country, Mervin has rightly said that,
“One of the biggest challenges in  NZ is the avoidance of the development of insular minority
Can’t say communities that are not connected to everyone else”. The ethnic communities need to respond
to this call by actively collaborating and supporting the work of OEA to build strong connec-

30% 65% 5% tions across communities.

– Selva Ramasami - Wellington Mutamizh Sangam

Indian Weekender Volume 2 No. 25

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editor@indianweekender.co.nz ‘SIT has a natural cultural fit with India’Shanti at helm of US warship
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is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication House rents in Auckland – why are they going up and up?
Indian community continues to rally around
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and printed at APN Print, Ellerslie, Auckland Bollywood actor Navin Nischol dies
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14 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
The media’s wanton scaremongering
dev nadkarni
In today’s times the media’s influence on our
opinions, our very worldview, is near total.
There is hardly an aspect of our lives – the way
we view things, the language and expressions
we use, the clothes we wear, the prejudices and
biases we form, the trends we follow, the things
we converse about and much else – is shaped by
the media.
The more recent blossoming of social media
and their incredibly rapid and wide acceptance
across humanity has strengthened this influ-
ence. Depending upon circumstance and timing,
media’s effect as an agent of action and change
is urgent, instantaneous – whether in creating a
fan following a la Justin Bieber and Susan Boyle
or triggering a revolution as in Egypt and large
swathes of the Middle East at a speed that has
stunned the world.
This easy accessibility to all forms of media
in this age of increasingly device agnostic con-
vergence and its seemingly total influence on
people’s minds – and hearts – is the bugbear of
authoritarian regimes around the world. Follow-
ing the Middle East contagion, these regimes
have not only stepped up the routine monitoring
of the media but have shut down web resources
they fear could trigger mass action. But then
that’s another story.
This strong influence and hold that the media
have on people’s minds obviously puts tremen-
dous responsibility on the people who present
news content and opinion in what a large number
of media consumers consider to be credible and
authoritative purveyors of information.
Unfortunately, though, this sense of respon-
sibility is increasingly lacking not only in rising
numbers of media practitioners but also their
hallowed media houses. This was glaringly seen
in the aftermath of the trifecta of earthquake +
tsunami + nuclear disaster that struck Japan last
month.
The earthquake + tsunami is now believed
Libya and the war of the wimps
Rakesh Krishnan Simha
The Western assault on Libya smacks of vendetta against an independent country; it’s got nothing to do with establishing democracy.
Libya demonstrates the shallowness of Western
diplomacy, which has now finally alienated the
Arabs, virtually to the last man. Well, almost
the last man, because we’re not counting the
stooges in the pay of the West.
It is not a war led by people who want de-
mocracy ushered quickly in the Middle East.
From the very outset it seems that Britain and
France, the two countries who have been per-
sistently tugging at America’s coattails to help
them oust Muammar Gaddafi, are being led by
people who are clearly overcompensating for
their wimpy image.
France’s Nicolas Sarkozy clearly needs a
small, successful war, just like George H. Bush
needed Iraq to combat his wimp image. Sarkozy
is desperate for a war for two reasons.
One, his ex-supermodel wife is known to
snub him openly, especially in front of her ex-
boyfriends. Two, he faces an election soon.
Sarko’s image is down in the dumps and he
thinks a quick war will divert public attention
from his humiliation. Also, the French mili-
tary, not known for any special heroics in the
last 200 years, has belatedly recognised that one
doesn’t have to take on the Germans or Russians
to appear brave. Small countries with smaller
militaries offer more tempting targets. Besides,
France hasn’t won any orders for its new fighter
planes, so clips of Mirages and Rafales thunder-
ing over Libya might generate some interest,
most likely from a future rebel government in
the ‘liberated’ areas.
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
to have taken 18,000 lives and the estimated
US$350 billion cost of reconstruction is the
biggest bill ever seen by the world. The damage
to the nuclear infrastructure, however, has so far
not claimed a life but the coverage of its per-
ceived and conjectured threat has been magni-
fied many times over by much of the world’s
media – at the inhuman cost of putting the
supremely unfortunate human tragedy in the
shade: a tragedy that will linger for years, if not
an entire generation and beyond.
Just days after the disaster, the focus of the
world’s media shifted from the dead and the
This easy accessibility to all forms of media in this age of in-
creasingly device agnostic convergence and its seemingly total
influence on people’s minds – and hearts – is the bugbear of
authoritarian regimes around the world.
untold hardships of the living to stories and
opinions from all sorts of “experts” about pos-
sible radiation that could travel through the at-
mosphere and up the food chain, causing people
in the US and elsewhere around the world to
rush to stockpile iodine supplements and other
preventative measures at inflated prices.
The news media was filled with theory after
sickening theory, with the sole aim seemingly
being perpetrating the scare on a global scale.
Such alarmism in the media is not only unjusti-
fied, it is irresponsible. More than the nuclear re-
actors and the lives of people in Japan, it was the
credibility of both western media practitioners
and their outlets that was in a state of meltdown.
Fortunately, there were a few sane elements
that did a service to the sense of fair play and
brought in a modicum of proportion to the
runaway madness about the global nuclear con-
tamination scare – one report of which warned
Britain is in a deeper hole. The once ruler
of the waves is now waving the rules against its
own people, with deep slashes in public ame-
nities that will effectively reduce the country
to Second World status. The nation has been
mauled by the riots, a hung parliament and the
recession, with the Wall Street Journal saying
So at a time when 100 million Americans are living in
poverty, Obama is forced to jump into a war because
the Republicans and sundry supremacists in the
Western world are calling him a wimp.
that 20 percent of Britons are wallowing in
poverty.
It was amusing to hear Cameron implor-
ing the US for a no-fly zone over Libya, a day
after  the British air force laid off 150 pilots.
And remember that the once proud British Navy
is down to 19 warships – that’s 281 less than
India’s planned naval strength.
Britain, of course, is in no position to criti-
cise Gaddafi after palling around with him the
past few years. London had even pardoned
the Libyan terrorists who bombed an Ameri-
can jumbojet, killing over 250 people. The lure
of petro dollars can make strange bedfellows.
At any rate this is one of the most muddle-
the Pacific Islands to watch out for invasive
species because of the nuclear fallout.
One of these infinitely sane journalists was
the Daily Mail’s science Editor Michael Hanlon,
who effectively explained why the media are
so fascinated by the idea of impending nuclear
catastrophe at the expense of reporting the real
human tragedy that is unfolding before every-
one’s eyes:
“The earthquake and tsunami could not be
comprehended. Tales of survival will emerge
but, in essence, the story of the great Black
Wave is over. The towns are gone, the people
are dead. We need to ‘move the story on’, to use
the media’s dread parlance.
“But the nuclear crisis is all too comprehen-
sible, and on-going. Our fear of the rogue, ef-
fervescent atom, the invisible, DNA-mutating
ultra-poison appears to be primordial. By con-
centrating on the atomic plants we make this
story about the works of Man, not of Nature,
and thus write ourselves back into the centre of
a narrative in which we, in truth, have played
merely the role of hapless and helpless bystand-
ers and victims. Scaremongering and hubris; an
unhappy combination.”
It’s as though the media is incapable of pre-
dicting anything positive – only doing the oppo-
site: scaring people based on conjecture. Have
we seen stories on the legendary resilience of
the Japanese people, their unparalleled experi-
ence in nuclear technology, which they devel-
oped despite the living memory of Hiroshima
headed wars in a long time. Regarding the objec-
tives of the war, Cameron declared that Gaddafi
as the head of his armed forces is a legitimate
target. “Absolutely not,” said his top general,
Chief of Defence, David Richards.
More double standards. A UK defence
spokesman said Gaddafi loyalists burned down
a mosque after seizing control in Zawiyah, illus-
trating the “depths to which his forces are pre-
pared to sink. This is a sign of how far Gaddafi
is prepared to go and why coalition operations
to protect the civilian population are so neces-
sary”.
Oh yes, attacking mosques in Libya is a de-
spicable act of cruelty but when Western forces
do it in Iraq – as they did in 2004 in Kufra, mur-
dering dozens of people – it is an operational
necessity.
And interestingly, last year there was a huge
scandal over the British Army using struc-
tures on a firing range that strongly resembled
mosques. The UK defence spokesman said “it
Comment
and Nagasaki, the greatest human tragedy of all
time?
Has the media considered that it is per-
fectly possible that Japan could not only engi-
neer a containment of the nuclear problem and
the lessons it will learn could go a long way in
making other nuclear power plants elsewhere in
the world safer? Those are possibilities that are
clearly uninteresting to the unabashedly sen-
sationalist global media that is addicted to the
heady fix of seeing soaring statistical graphs
of hits, eyeballs and page views on their flat
screens.
In New Zealand, the media made much of
the predictions of a maverick magician turned
geologist-soothsayer about new quakes in
Christchurch causing children to become so
scared that they forced their parents to leave the
city on the day of the predicted quakes.
Such eroded credibility because of stories
that proverbially cry wolf gives an extremely
convenient handle to authoritarian regimes to
clamp down on the media for exaggerated and
irresponsible reporting – something which we
have seen in fair measure even in the Pacific
Islands context. And when it is not the system
that clamps down on the media, it is people in
power who do so in their individual capacity.
This is not to suggest that media should steer
clear of controversy or soft pedal on blowing the
whistle. In fact, that is their very raison d’etre. It
is just that they must get their facts right; facts
are sacred, opinion is not – and the two must
consciously be kept apart.
The social media certainly are a rich source
of tips and leads for the media but the news
media must never parrot them.
Leave all the goss, the opinion and the
madcap theories of apocalypse and other radio-
active scaremongering to Facebook and Twitter.
Or else prepare for a meltdown of the news
media.
was vital soldiers trained in an environment
which replicated where they were deployed”.
If soldiers are trained to shoot at mosques
in practise, does it take rocket science to under-
stand that they will do so in war?
It would be duh if it weren’t so tragic!
Then we have Barack Obama. While the
European people, unlike their leaders, want
nothing to do with the war in Libya, the majority
of Americans say they want Gaddafi taken out.
The clash of civilisations is pretty much evident
here. For, why else would the American people
want a third front, when their country is inches
from an economic precipice? Not even the most
rabid Pentagon general wants to get entangled in
Libya when the US military is bleeding in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
So at a time when 100 million Americans are
living in poverty, Obama is forced to jump into
a war because the Republicans and sundry  su-
premacists in the Western world are calling him
a wimp.
And finally we have the wimps in the United
Nations – Russia and India, who for a warmer
American embrace have allowed yet another in-
dependent country to be bombed into the stone
age.
(Rakesh Krishnan Simha is a features writer
at New Zealand’s leading media outfit. He has
previously worked with Businessworld, India
Today and Hindustan Times, and was news
editor with the Financial Express.)
15
Indian
Quake causes
a scare in Labasa
Suva: A 5.9 magnitude earth tremor to
the north east of Labasa on the morn-
ing of March 27 caused a scare among
residents.
For some, it reminded them of the hor-
rific scenes on television of the recent
destructive earthquake in Japan.
While others said the tremor was a sign
that people should always be prepared
for such disasters during this current
weather pattern.
When contacted, the Fiji Meteorologi-
cal Services office in Nadi confirmed
the earth tremor occurred at 10.58am.
The duty weather forecaster said the
5.9 magnitude tremor occurred at a
depth of 8.3 miles below sea level.
The tremor lasted for about five sec-
onds and this brought some relief to
those who felt it.
Vunivau resident Krishna Goundar said
his family panicked at first when they
felt the first shake.
He said they just stared at each other
16
Fiji
Fiji’s Elections is set for 2014
without a word.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for For-
eign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola says the
Fijian government is committed to holding
General Elections in 2014.
“That timeline remains and nothing has
changed as far as government is con-
cerned.
  “Government is committed to ensuring that
But after the shake, there was laughter
This statement by Ratu Inoke comes in the good and fair election is conducted”.
because all had the same thoughts of
wake of New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minis-  
the Japanese quake.
ter McCully’s comments that they will only “New Zealand just doesn’t want to recog-
lift travel bans on Fiji once the Fijian Gov- nize nor understand that Fiji needs to give
Labasa businessman Yogeshwar
ernment gives its people a fair
Chand said he was in his shop when
a firm commit- and just elec-
he felt the earth tremor.
ment for return “ This is indicative of the tion system that
to elections. makes up the
“The shelves in the shop holding our
products were shaking for a few sec-
  steps taken by the Fijian multiracial coun-
onds before it stopped. When the shak-
Earlier this
month the Indo-
Government towards try of Fiji.” said
Ratu Inoke.
ing eased, it brought relief because
it was not a case to worry about,” Mr
nesian electoral elections,”  
commission He said these
Chand said.
visited Fiji and said Ratu Inoke. things cannot be
briefed govern- achieved over-
Helen Elizabeth, 14, of Siberia was in
ment on their night, and the
her room when she felt her bed move.
voting system. government has
  set the time to 2014.
“Everyone else was in the kitchen
“ This is indicative of the steps taken by the  
cooking and I was the only one who
Fijian Government towards elections,” said “What more cast-iron assurance can this
ran out to tell them that my bed was
Ratu Inoke. be for New Zealand or any other country
shaking. I though I was dreaming at
  for that matter.”
first but am happy that it was only a
“Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Baini-  
tremor,” Miss Elizabeth said.
marama has time and again emphasized Ratu Inoke said New Zealand have some
his commitment to the elections timeline in real issues to address first before it can,
Residents living close to Labasa Town
2014. make such a swipe at Fiji, and question the
also felt the morning tremor but no
  commitment towards elections in 2014.
damage has been reported.
-Fiji Sun/ Indian Weekender news desk
India offers free services
in Fiji through
k/ Nasik ICC also offers yoga classes
Indian Weekender news des its branches in Suva and Lau toka
Swami/ Fiji Sun tes hea lthy livin g in the
of which promo
Suva: The High Commission country . Dr Mis hra said the goo d
l Cen tre (ICC)
India’s Indian Cultura thing about the course s was tha t its
vari ety of free ser vices
offers a wide conducted free of cha rge and was
to the peo ple of Fiji. e and
available to people of any rac
hra said religion.
Centre director Dr Kamal Mis
offe red cou rse s in carnatic
the centre “With both Fiji and India hav
ing the
l dan ces
vocal music, Indian classica sam e qua lity of mu lticu ltur alis m
Bha ratn atya m
such as Kathak and and we are both lear ning from each
and Indian classical instrument other’s experie nce s, this cre ates a
with
playing of the tabla, harmunium natura l bon d bet wee n us,” Dr Mis hra
vocal and functional Hin di.
said.
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Community

Vedic math teachers Teeing off for Fiji’s health

graduate online
Auckland: The first batch of Vedic math train- trainers. Of the many persons from all over the
ers from all over the world graduated online in world applying, only 16 individuals from 13
a unique online convocation co-ordinated from cities across 4 countries, Canada, New Zealand,
Auckland last Sunday. India and the United States were accepted into
Conducted by the novel E-Gurukul concept the programme. The occupations of the attend-
that runs Vedic math and other curricula on ees varied from math teachers to IT profession-
ancient Indian practical knowledge subjects, als; from housewives to doctors and from scien-
e-graduation certificates were presented to tists to statisticians.
sixteen graduates who completed the trainers’ “On the whole I think the sessions were a
course from four countries around the world – big success and to my career, it added another
New Zealand, India, the US, Canada and India. feather in the cap in the form of online train-
E-Gurukul.Net was established as a free ing. This Sessions had helped me to connect
virtual educational platform and online campus and train aspiring Vedic maths trainers from
to bring the treasures of scientific knowledge different countries right from the comfort of my
and wisdom of ancient India to the world utilis- home,” said Sai Kiran
ing  internet technol- These students un-
ogy. E-Gurukul’s derwent over 60 hours
operations are physi- of intensive online
cally headquartered training during which The Friends of Fiji Health Foundation’s next year. Indian Weekender is a proud
in Sandringham, they were taught the
fundraising golf round last week was sponsor of the Friends of Fiji Health
Auckland but the intricacies of Vedic
online university’s math. Upon comple- a fantastic success, Daven Naidu, the Foundation and also supported the golf
reach is worldwide. tion of this course, event’s co-ordinator and a leading event.
It has organised each candidate had to volunteer and trustee at the Foundation
over 25 live audio undergo a certification told Indian Weekender. The results of last weekend’s golf
visual virtual ses- process. This process even as below:
sions on various consisted of a submis- Our thanks are due to all our partici- A Division ( 0-12HC)
topics related to sion of both individual pants and sponsors who contributed so Hemant Patel Best Stable ford on count
scientific heritage and group projects, much time, effort and funds to make this back0
and was instrumen- a set of formalised such a success,” Mr Naidu said. Deepak Patel 2nd 
tal in connecting 10 project work that ex- Daven Naidu  3rd.
expert speakers with ceeded 100 pages and ““Everyone received a prizes, golf gift
participants from a live audio visual oral
pack, BBQ and food platter valued B Division (13-36)
various countries. examination given by
All these sessions Mr. Kiran and E-Gu- around $70, during the event. We raised 1. Dr Kanan Raman 1st
were attended by in- rukul. over $36,000 from sponsors and par- 2. Jitendra Khatri 2nd
dividuals all over the ”When I was ac- ticipants. More than $10,000 was given 3. Dharmendra Singh 3rd
globe – right from cepted into this pro- away as prizes and the Friends of Fiji
the comfort of their gramme I was a little Health Foundation raised $21,000 for Non Affiliated : 
homes. All of these apprehensive regard- charity,” he added.
sessions were made
E-Gurukul.Net was ing the teaching venue, 1. Joe Prasad Best Stable ford (Apolo-
available through established as a free virtual i.e., a virtual live audio The foundation recently led a major gies to Joe as there was a mix up with
the internet at no visual classroom over
cost to the attendees. educational platform and the internet. I quickly
health mission to western Fiji, where the
volunteer doctors, nurses and paramed-
cards which came to our attention
after the prize giving) Joe we have your
This past July online campus to bring found the level of ics besides a team of socially minded trophy with us.
and September, E- teaching and the en-
Gurukul.net held an the treasures of scientific thusiasm of the other
citizens from both New Zealand and Fiji 2. Rajiv Kumar 2nd 
helped treat dozens of patients in the 3. Shaneel Naidu 3rd 
online live audio-vi-
sual course explain-
knowledge and wisdom of participants to be at a
very high level. I was island nation for a range of ailments.
ing the basic con- ancient India to the world thrilled to connect Winning Ladies
cepts of Vedic math. with the trainer based The foundation is a completely volun-
Vedic math is the
utilising internet technology. in India and other par- tary effort and depends on fundrais- Naden Maxine Best stable ford.
Indian system of cal- ticipants from across ing and donations for mounting and  Barry Dillion. Best Gross
culation that enables 14 cities spread among running its missions, with doctors and Longest Drive:  Barry Dillion
anyone to calculate complex calculations of 4 countries. health professionals giving freely of NTP: Navin Patel
arithmetic in a very rapid manner (usually 5 “E-Gurukul has demonstrated the power of their time, talent and experience for this Longest Drive (Ladies): Salochana
to 7 times faster than conventional methods), technology by taking internet education to a laudable cause. Singh
it is also considered as the fastest calculation Global level. They are to be congratulated and NTP: Naden Maxine.
method in the world. I very much thank them for allowing me to be Mr Naidu said this was an annual event Lucky Winner of Air Pacific ticket: Rajiv
The Live online course was taught by Sai a part of this worldwide electronic education
and the trophy needed to be defended Kumar.
Kiran from his home in Hyderabad, India. Mr. process.” – said Richard Blum, one of the train-
Kiran is a Vedic math and memory trainer who ees from the US.
has instructed over 250,000 individuals in the “As a Part of Global Education Programmes
past 10 years. This class had over 100 attendees Series, organising free online Vedic mathemat-
from all over the world and it was well received ics teachers training certification programme
as it allowed all participants from various coun- was an important milestone in our endeavour,”
Art of Living Foundation
Welcomes all Wellingtonians
tries to learn the powerful techniques of Vedic one of the trainers, Usha, said.
maths from expert trainer based in India. “The mission was to create skilled trainers
Due to the interest of this course, as part of worldwide who will be able to teach generations “OUR PLACE”
Global Educational Programme series , of students the science of Vedic Math, team at Come! Re-energise & Revitalise
E-Gurukul had decided to promote an in- e-gurukul.net is quite elated for selecting great unitng people from all walks of life, all philosophies and all backgrounds
tensive live audio-visual online teachers train- group of enthusiastic participants. Level 2, James Smith Building
ing certification programme open to qualified “We are totally confident that our first group Corner of Cuba & Manners St, Wellington.
individuals. of trainers will fulfill the mission of e-gurukul
The mission of this free online teachers by creating awareness about power of VM not A WEEKEND OF BLISS & FUN
training was to create skilled trainers world- only as a tool for calculations but also as a pow- 9th & 10th APRIL
wide who will be able to teach generations of erful neurobics (Mental excercise) which boosts
students the science of Vedic math. Even though mental fitness, develops memory and helps to Inaugration By Hon. mayor Celia Wade-Brown - 5pm onward to be followed by
Vedic math is relatively unknown in most parts improve overall efficiency of an individual,” she
musica, dance & a delicious vegetarian dinner
of the world, its ability to transform lives will added.
have great positive benefits on everyone who For more information, Please visit HYPER- Humanitarian Award presented to the Mayor of Christchurch
studies it. LINK “http://www.e-gurukul.net” www.e-gu- Free workshops on breath and yoga for all ages - Special session for kids & teens!
The selection process consisted of appli- rukul.net – Session Link along with simple steps - ALL DAY!! Register Today!!!
cants answering 25 questions to demonstrate can be found in the website. ART OF PARENTING - For the very first time in WELLINGTON CITY!
their qualifications and sincerity in wanting to Contact for more info : 0505 - ART OF LIVING
bring this knowledge to the world as Vedic Math Indian Weekender news desk

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 17

Indian
Rotorua Holi Fest gives importance to youth
The Rotorua public got the opportunity to
celebrate Holi – the Festival of Colours –
on Sunday, march 20. Both children and
adults enjoyed this festival; in particular
playing with coloured powder and water
which was the highlight of the festival.
This colourful festival, held at Rotorua
Soundshell and Village Green, was organ-
ised by a committee comprising mainly
of youths from various communities. The
key objectives of the Holi festival were to
encourage youth participation, nurture
leadership skills, and educate youths to
organise festivals at a community level.
The official festival started at 11.00am with
the lighting of the diya (lamp) and a kara-
kia (prayer) by Kaumatua (Maori elder) Mr.
Eru George. Murali Magesan, one of the
youths in the organising committee, wel-
comed the invited guests. This was fol-
lowed by speeches from His Worship Mr.
Kevin Winters (the Mayor of Rotorua), and
Mr. Todd McClay (Member of Parliament
representing Rotorua). Ms. Nitika Sharma
representing Hindu Youth New Zealand
invited Rotorua youth to the upcoming
New Zealand Hindu Youth Conference to
be held on 7-8 May 2011 at the Auckland
University campus. Master of Ceremony
for the opening ceremony was Dr Meeta
Patel. Ms. Teilah Komene gave the vote of
thanks.
The official welcome was followed by inter-
national cultural performances including
18
Community
Dr. Meeta Patel and Dr. Guna Magesan.
Other volunteers included Tausese Lona,
Teilah Komene, Pritika Sharma and Kirtesh
Naicker from the Tokelauan, Maori and
Fijian communities.
“Given the support this festival is re-
ceiving, it is not difficult to visualise the
potential for the Holi Festival to become
an annual youth festival in Rotorua” said
Ms Praneita Narayan, the coordinator of
this festival.
General Secretary of Hindu Council of
New Zealand Dr Guna Magesan said it
was good to see that youth from both
Hindu Maori communities coming to-
gether to take Hindu-Maori relations
(whakawhanaungatanga) a step further.
Hindu Council of New Zealand has
Respected Maori Elder Eru George lighting the lamp Ms Teilah Komene giving vote of thanks Rotorua youth always given importance for building
playing with colours whakawhanaungatanga not only in Ro-
from different communities and back- torua but also in other cities. For example,
Indian dances, traditional Chinese dances,
ground regardless of their dharma, faiths, the Second Wellington Region Hindu Con-
belly dancing, Salsa, Zumba, singing and
ethnic and personal differences in the ference will be organised at Arohanui ki te
guitar performances. Indoor games of
community spirit of Holi. Tangata Marae (Waiwhetu Marae), Lower
musical chairs, charades, and a quiz on
Hutt on Saturday, 9 April 2011, with Maori
New Zealand were held thereafter.
The Rotorua Holi Festival was a smoke- elder Mr. Te Rira Puketapu leading the
free, alcohol-free and meat-free festival ceremonies. The theme of the conference
The highlight of the festival was the blend-
with free entry to the public. The organ- is “Hindu-Maori Perspectives on Holistic
ing of people from all communities and
ising committee, comprised of repre- Health: from Individual and Whanau to
races as they sprinkled each other with
sentatives from the Indian, Fijian and Community”. The strong parallel between
coloured powder and water at the Village
Maori communities, namely: Praneita Hindu Dharma’s spirit of Vasudhaiv Ku-
Green, to the sounds of Holi folk songs
Narayan, Valencia Herbert, Murali Mag- tumbakam (world is one family) and the
and drum beats that supplemented the
esan, Deepika Magesan, Gabriella Wright vision of Arohanui ki te Tangata (goodwill
high spirit of revelry. The mixing of colours
and Navneet Nair, with guidance from to all men) will be evident there.
signified the coming together of people
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Bollywood

Kalpana’s Bhojpuri song

gets IMA nominations It is her popular number
‘Saiyyan Chhath Kaarat’
from ‘Chhath’ (an India
festival) album titled
‘Aage bilaiya peche
chhathi maiyya’ that got
the nomination.

The ‘Big Star IMA

Awards 2011’ will hon-
our renowned veterans
and respected musi-
cians from the Indian
music fraternity. Each
categor y widely im-
bibes music from differ-
ent backgrounds such
as Hindustani, Carnatic,

Life goes on for

Folk, Gha zal, Qawali,
Jazz, Fusion and Film
music.

Sharmila, Soha
Kalpana has not only
sung Bhojpuri film
songs but has also ren-
dered her voice in Hindi
singer songs besides singing
Mumbai: Renowned Bhojpuri lar
n nom inated her popular chhath (a par ticu
Kalpana’s song has bee dev otio nal son gs) Actor Sharmila Tagore poses with daughter Soha Ali Khan last week for the battery of
Big Sta r IMA genre of Indian
in folk categor y of nal num ber s. photographers ahead of the premier of Life Goes On, an English film by London-based
and dev otio
Awards 2011. Sangeeta Dutta. Life Goes On has brought together the mother-daughter duo for the
first time. “There was a comfort level during the shooting,” said Sharmila. The film on the
migrant experience of a Bengali British family was released on Friday (Mar 25).

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 19

Indian
‘Time to create space
for gay in mainstream’
Rituparno Ghosh, who established himself as a brilliant actor
in Just Another Love Story recently, is about to consolidate
his position as an actor in Sanjoy Nag’s debut film Memories
in March based on Ritu’s own story, Parapaar. The film stars
Deepti Naval, Rituparno Ghosh and Raima Sen in stellar roles.
Rituparno holds out on the film and the intricacies of the clois-
tered gay identity that forms a segment 
What is Memories in March about?
It is about emotional archiving. Arti Mishra,
a Delhi-based middle-aged divorcee, has
to rush to Kolkata when her 28-year-old
son Siddharth, dies in a car crash. As
she goes through his things over the four
days of her stay, wanders around the flat
he lived in, she discovers chapters in her
son’s life she did not know about. So,
she is shocked twice over – once by the
suddenness of the death itself and once
by this window that opens to offer her a
glimpse into his life which is much more
than what she understood or knew. She
meets two of his colleagues, his boss
Arnab, which I have portrayed, and his
peer  Shahana played by Raima. Her
interactions with these two friends of her
dead son lead her to rethink and redefine
many things about life, love, relationships
20
and even death.
What kind of character have you played in
I would say that it is more about the blurring of
the boundaries between the ‘insider’ and the
‘outsider.’ The film is a sort of a challenge posed
to the water-tight compartments we place the
‘insider’ versus ‘outsider’ in.
Memories of March?
I play the dead man’s boss Arnab Mitra,
who, as it later transpires, was also his
lover. When he meets Arti Mishra and
she slowly learns the truth of his relation-
ship with her son, her initial reaction is
of complete animosity and hostility. She
refuses even to believe that her son can
make this kind of choice. Her conclusion
is that the boss has exploited her son
sexually by using his professional office.
But what begins with denial followed by
anger goes through a process of confron-
tation. It finally leads to an acceptance of
choices, of the human body, of relation-
ships that create a ‘family’ away from the
rigid concept of the ‘family’ as we know it.
With acceptance is born a new bonding
between the grieving mother and her dead
son’s grieving friends, who, in a manner of
speaking, knew her son more intimately
than she did. For the first time, an Indian
film is exploring spaces through the life
and death of a homophobic protagonist.
Is this one way of trying to bring the gay
identity into the mainstream?
I would say that it is more about the
blurring of the boundaries between the
‘insider’ and the ‘outsider.’ The film is a
sort of a challenge posed to the water-
tight compartments we place the ‘insider’
versus ‘outsider’ in. The minority for
instance, is seen as an ‘outsider’ by the
mainstream. But the ‘minority’ itself con-
siders the mainstream an ‘outsider.’ Here
we are trying to show that it is possible
for the subjectively defined ‘insider’ and
‘outsider’ to live in peaceful and harmoni-
ous co-existence. I think the time is ripe
to create spaces for the gay person and
his manner of behaviour in mainstream so-
ciety not only and not always through an
amorous relationship. The film shows how
a gay person behaves when he does not
necessarily have a lover. Arti and Arnab
find common bonding in the grief they suf-
fer through the loss of Siddharth who both
loved in their own way.
How does Arti learn about her son Sid-
dharth’s relationship with Arnab?
That part is very delicate and suggestive
and there is no loudness about it. It comes
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Bollywood
across very slowly. When Arti enters
Sidhharth’s apartment for the first time,
it is dark. On the cell-phone, Arnab gives
her precise directions to the switch board
and the lights, tells her where to go to find
what and all this confuses her a little. In
another scene, I have to fetch food from
the kitchen and lay it on the table and
then serve it. When Arti tries to find her
husband’s new cell phone number, Arnab
tells her where to find the list of numbers
on the wall and make the call she wants
to. These are little bytes of action that puz-
zle her, surprise her and then shock her.
So it is not a mother-son story?
The mother-son story is the trigger for
what comes later. It is about death versus
life for example. It is about a new ‘family’
that gets created beyond the popularly
accepted connotation of ‘family’ within a
sexist society. Arti Mishra, within her so-
cially conditioned mindset, assumes that
it is Shahana (Raima Sen) who is her dead
son’s lover. Shahana did indeed have
a crush on her son. But it was Arnab’s
love Siddharth responded to so that is a
strange kind of ‘rivalry’ between Shahana
and Arnab – they are in love with the same
man!
When you are being directed by another
director, doesn’t the urge to correct
things or do things your way interfere in
your work as an actor?
I did feel at certain moments during the
shooting that this given shot or scene
could have been done differently. But I
had to give up after a point of time be-
cause my approach, treatment and style
are very different from Bunty’s (Sanjoy).
My films are smooth – with a proper
beginning, middle and end. Sanjoy’s film
is complete in its totality yet it exudes a
sense of incompleteness I will never be
able to achieve.
 And what about Siddharth, Arti’s dead
son?
He is absent in the entire film. There is
not even a photograph of him in the film
at any place or time. It gives the audience
the opportunity of constructing their own
image of Sidhharth because his absence
is actually a very powerful presence. Once
again, we come back to the insider-outsid-
er dichotomy. A mother has lost her son to
death. But Life has given her two new live
friends in the form of Arnab and Shahana.
Arti had come for the rituals of her son and
also to collect the things he had left be-
hind. But she discovers that these ‘things’
both tangible and intangible, have already
been distributed and dispersed and scat-
tered in ways that make it impossible for
her to ‘gather’ them and ‘take them’ away.
 (–TWF)
Indian
Bollywood

DTBHJ completes 50 days

biggest hit film till date, ‘Fashion’.

Mumbai: Director Madhur Bhan-
darkar is feeling ‘glad’ these days
While, ‘Fashion’ had collected Rs
as his last released movie Dil Toh
26 crore, Dil Toh Baccha Hai’ Ji has
Baccha Hai Ji (DTBHJ) completed
crossed Rs 33 crore mark, the mak-
50 days at the box office.
ers claimed.
Madhur is quite happy on the suc-
Produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak
cess of the film as he adds- “I feel
the film featured few of the popular
so glad that people liked DTBHJ
names in B-town like: Ajay Devgn,
and like they have always loved all
Emraan Hashmi, Omi Vaidya, Shruti
my films, they liked this film as well
Hassan, Shazahn Padamsee and
and the film is proudly enjoying its
Shraddha Das.
50 days at the box office.”
The film had hit the silver screen on
DTBHJ has already surpassed the
Jan 28.
box office collection of Madhur’s

Gurdas Mann comes up

with new album Jogiya
New Delhi: Renowned singer and lyricist
Gurudas Maan released his latest album ‘Jogiya’
in Delhi recently.
The lyrics of this album have been penned
down by Maan himself.
“I am happy to put together music that comes
from my soul for the people who like to hear
me,” Maan said.
“My music is the best way of connecting
with people around the world who have given
me so much love and affections in the years gone
by. I hope they like Jogiya also. I am always so
thankful to each fan of mine,” Maan said.
The music in this album has been given by
Jaidev Kumar while the music videos have been
directed by Manjeet Maan
Jogiya is 35th album of Gurudas Maan and
comprises of a blend of social, romantic, and en-
ergetic tracks.
This year, Gurdas Maan will add one more
feather to his crown as he will be seen perform-
ing at The Royal Albert Hall in UK.

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 21

Indian
‘Ash, me under no false illusion of grandeur’
Abhishek Bachchan has turned a busy bee these days promoting his much-awaited films Game and Dum Maaro
Dum, both releasing in April. TWF correspondent Sreya Basu catches up with the actor in Mumbai
Do you think promoting a film well plays an
important role in deciding its Box Office fate?
We can’t force today’s audience to come and
see a film. We can try to excite you as much as
possible by us through promotions, sending
out five star dinners and promos (laughs).
Will you say the same for Game?
Game is a film I am very excited about
because it’s my first film with two very dear
friends of mine-Farhan Akhtar ( producer) and
Ritesh Sidhwani (producer). We had been
waiting for very long to work together on the
right script. I have really enjoyed myself while
making the film. It’s my favourite genre- who-
dunit murder mystery-and wanted to do one
desperately. I have seen the film and it has
turned out fantastic. So I am very confident
about it. I have been a huge fan of Abhinay
Deo (director) for a very long time; especially
his commercials. I was actually trying for a
very long time to get him to do a film with me
and he kept saying ‘no’.
Now-a-days all big budget films are doing well.
What do you have to say about that?
You know, you have to go with the film. Yes,
Bollywood “baddie”
Bob Christo dies
Bangalore: Bollywood actor of Austra-
lian origin, Bob Christo, who acted in
numerous movies playing the white-
skinned baddie for over two decades,
passed away in Bangalore on March
20. He was in his seventies.
The actor died of “rupture of left ven-
tricle free valve”, reports said.
Robert John Christo, popularly known
as Bob Christo,  was an engineer but
went on to become an actor in Bolly-
wood, playing the quintessential White
villain of Bollywood.
His bald face and sinewy physique
soon made him a popular action vil-
lain whom the heroes would fight and
vanquish after a lot of effort.
He began career in the late 1970s
22
budgets do matter if it’s insanely priced. But
here, we haven’t made the film (Game) for Rs
10 crores and are selling it for Rs 18 crores. We
are not doing that. We are not here to make
money, but to make a quality film that we all
can be proud of. I hope this film does
well…that’s the only thing we can do.
You have three pretty women (Sarah Jane
Dias, Shahana Goswami, Kangana Ranaut)
in Game. Who threw most tantrums at you?
Boman Irani (laughs). Boman, Jimmy (Sher-
and had featured in a famous fight
sequence against Amitabh Bachchan
in the 1978-blockbuster Don, but got
a major break in 1980 with the film
Abdullah made by actor Sanjay Khan.
He did not look back since as al-
most every film drafted him in action
scenes.
Bob had worked in over  200 films in
Hindi and other Indian languages. He
played the villainous British officer in
many films and took all the beating in
films like Mr India.
In the United States, he used to work
as a visiting professor at premier busi-
ness schools.
During later stage of his life, he worked
as a Yoga instructor in Bangalore.
gill) and Anupam uncle (Kher)-all three of
them are very beautiful. But Boman was the
most troublesome.
You have a second release in April-Dum
Maaro Dum…
Dum Maaro Dum is a film by my childhood
friend Rohan (Sippy) and was equally exciting
to make as Game. I play ACP Vishnu Kamath
in Dum Maaro Dum. He’s a self-destructive
cop fleeing his own past. I was given charge
Bickram Ghosh launches
Tagore Lounge
SUPRIYO HAZRA
Kolkata: The flavours of Rabindrasangeet un-
derwent a new transformation on Thursday
night as new-age percussion star Bickram Ghosh
presented three compositions of Rabindranath
Tagore in a completely new sound scape.
The concert was part of the launch of
Ghosh’s new album ‘Tagore Lounge’ where he
has added new soundscape to the popular com-
positions of Tagore.
M.K. Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal,
launched the album at Kolkata’s iconic Town
Hall.
“I felt like doing something on Rabindranath
Tagore for a long period of time and here it is,”
Ghosh said.
“I have uniquely worked for this album and
I feel that there is a unique freshness in the ap-
proach by the singers who have very well in-
corporated the wealth and grandeur of tradition
into this project,” the composer said.
Ghosh mentioned that although he has ex-
perimented with the sound scaping, he has
carefully maintained the aesthetics of Tagore’s
compositions.
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Bollywood
to destroy the drug mafia in Goa.
Of late, we are seeing you experimenting
with characters. How are you picking your
scripts?
Lot of the time, you hear a script that inspires
you and you do it. That’s the way I work. I
never worked based on a strategy…that, now
I will do comedy, then action, and then I will
do something else. It’s just so happened that
now I am doing a murder mystery (Game) and
then, an action thriller (Dum Maaro Dum).
You are also doing Dhoom 3. That’s an action
film too…
Dhoom 3 will be end of next year. There will be
three-four releases before that.
When will your fans see you and Aishwarya
(Rai Bachchan) together on screen again?
I don’t know…may be whenever a right script
is ready.
Recently, you and Aishwarya have been
voted the “It” couple of Bollywood. What do
you have to say about that?
Really? I didn’t know that. But honestly, the
two of us have no false illusions of grandeur
“I carefully maintained the aesthetics of Gu-
rudev’s composition. The soundscaping and the
new approach to the songs have been done by
keeping all these factors in mind,” he said.
Ghosh has blended Indian acoustic instru-
ments like tabla, sitar and sarod along with
Western instruments like drums and bongos in
this album that took nearly one and half years
for preparation.
Apart from the concert on Thursday
evening, the audience also witnessed a unique
fashion show where the Tollywood (Bengali
film industry) celebrities walked the ramp by
wearing the designs of noted fashion designer-
duo Monapali.
“We took the inspiration from Rabin-
drananth Tagore’s paintings and poems,” Pali
Sachdev said.
“The celebrity models wear chadars, sarees
and kurtas (Indian dresses) on Thursday night,”
she said.
Singer Usha Uthup, actor Jaya Seal (wife
of Bickram), Arindam Seal and Jessica Gomes
walked the ramp by donning the collections of
Monapali.     
 (Photos: Avishek Mitra) 
Indian
‘I am scared of heights’
Riteish Deshmukh will be seen playing a college principal in his upcoming comedy film
F.A.L.T.U. The actor chats up with Sreya Basu in Mumbai
So you will again be seen in a comedy
film?
  F.A.L.T.U   is a young and unique film. And I
am glad that I got to play a young college princi-
pal (Baaji Rao) in this film; like my status is the
film says kuch karne ko tha nehin toh faltu mein
principal ban gaya.
Can you elaborate on your character?
As I told you, that I play a young principal, who
is a little elder to the students, but can rightly fit
in as their friend and guide. He tells his students
that excelling in studies is not the only achieve-
ment in life, but there are other spheres where
the youths need to be encouraged too. I direct
them to the right directions in my own way.
The word faltu means worthless. Has
anyone so far used the term for you?
May be. I don’t know if anyone has called me
faltu behind my back. How will I know? But
thankfully no one has called me faltu on my
face so far. Anyone can say anything behind my
back. Doesn’t matter. However, as a child, many
a time, I was told ke faltu mein cricket kyu khel
rahen ho? Faltu mein kyu time waste kar rahen
ho? Jake homework karo.
Can you remember one time you did
something that was you thought faltu?
There are so many things. I am very scared of
heights, so much so that if I stand on a chair,
I feel scared to get down…I have a phobia.
When I was in New York, I went for skydiving.
I jumped from 17,000 feet. That time I thought
was faltugiri I am doing and why am I was doing
it! May be, I thought by doing these things, I
will conquer my fear. After I dived and landed
below, I was fine; but I couldn’t go for a second
jump….I was so scared. So then I realized, faltu
mein jump maar di maine. I am still scared of
heights (laughs).
You are playing a principal in F.A.L.T.U.
Rani Mukerji turns 33
Mumbai: Bong beauty of Bollywood Rani Mukerji
turns 33 on Monday and is said to have plans of
celebrating the occasion with close friends.
Media reports said that the gorgeous actor will go
for a picnic with few of her best friends to mark the
occasion.
The beautiful actor who has always been appreci-
ated by her fans for her excellent acting skills, had
made her B-town debut in a film titled ‘ Raja Ki
Aayegi Baraat’.
Rani was seen playing the role of a rape victim in
that not so commercially hit movie that had hit the
silver screen in 1997.
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Bollywood
Veteran actor
Navin Nischol dies
Mumbai: Actor Navin
Nischol died of a massive
heart attack in Mumbai
on March 19.
A film and television actor of repute, Nis-
chol made his debut with ‘Saawan Bha-
don’ in the early 70s opposition Rekha.
 
 He was the first gold medalist from the
Film and Television Institute of India.
 
 Nischol is best remembered for his char-
acter in the hit television serial ‘Dekh Bhai
Dekh’.
 
 The veteran actor starred in several hit
films, including ‘Buddha Mil Gaya’, ‘Kho-
sla ka Ghosla’ and ‘Break Ke Baad’.
 
 Nischol’s personal life was marred in
controversy towards the end. His wife
Geetanjali committed suicide in 2006.
Did your school/college principal ever  
thrash you for your faltugiri?  Nischol was charged with abetting sui-
No, I was a good student, yaar. Neither my prin- cide, though he was later acquitted.
cipals nor my parents ever thrashed me for any-
thing. But I am sure, when I joined films, many
people thought kya faltugiri kar raha hai. But I
enjoyed myself…I still do. And so, am proud of
my faltugiri.
But of late, we are not seeing you in too
many films…
That’s why I chopped off my hair…abhi film
nehin hai toh faltu mein baal kaat liya. (Laughs).
I get what you meant. Before I did this film, I
might have felt bad if anyone called me faltu.
But now it feels cool because here we showed
that it’s not bad, but good to be a faltu.
With whom do you think you make the
There are numerous reports on your hottest pair?
linkups recently. What do you have to Sajid Khan (filmmaker). We make a good
say? couple. When we both wear green clothes, we
Kuch toh log kahenge; logon ka kaam hai kehna. look evergreen. (Jokingly)
However, it was in Karan Johar’s ‘Kuch Kuch Hota
Hai’ where she seen sharing the screen space with
sister Kajol and Shahrukh Khan that made her a
star in Bollywood.
Since then Rani kept on entertaining her in several
avatars.
Rani gained overwhelming appreciation from her
admirers for her wonderful portrayal of the char-
acter of a blind and deaf woman in Sanjay Leela
Bhansali directed movie ‘Black’.
Her last released film ‘No One Killed Jessica’ also
gained acclaim from her fans who saw Rani play-
ing the role of a reporter.
23
Indian
Questions that inspire INDIA
ram lingam
The ultimate questions that inspire India are in
India’s wisdom traditions. The wisdom traditions
spring from the ‘Upanishads’ which are found in
the end portion of the Vedas. These ‘Upanishads’
have such fascinating and stimulating questions
that they have been inspired the East for more than
5000 years. What were those intriguing questions
of the ancient Indian minds?
In the sphere of religion and spirituality, the
‘Upanishads’ collectively called as Vedānta is
probably the only ancient system of philosophy
that encourages questioning, inquiry and reason-
ing that leads to a discovery of the truth. Upani-
shads being the oldest and the most authoritative
scriptures of India are interestingly presented in an
inquiry based ‘Question-and-Answer’ conversa-
tion format. This style of the Upanishads, in fact,
even coincides with the modern ‘critical thinking’
approach which is key to any scientific study. The
key approach used in the ‘Upanishads’ is based on
scientific reasoning and not dogma.
About this scientific temper in Hindu religion,
the world renowned Vedānta teacher Swami Chin-
mayananda remarks ‘…it has been an immortal
tradition among the Hindus to have open discus-
sions between the teacher and the taught, called
Satsanga. This privilege is not available in all reli-
gions of the world. In fact, Vedānta alone thus dares
to proclaim a perfect freedom for the intellect.’ He
further remarks that in Hinduism there is no check
to curb the intellectual freedom of the seekers to
question their sacred texts.
Upanishads form the very core of Hindu phi-
losophy. Traditionally, the number of Upanishads
given is 108 of which 11 are classified as ‘principal’
Upanishads as they have been commented through
centuries by philosophers, especially by Ācharya
Shankara.
24
The 11 major Upanishads are ‘Isha Upanishad,
Kena Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Prashna Upa-
nishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Māndukya Upani-
shad, Taittiriya Upanishad, Aitareya Upanishad,
Chāndogya Upanishad, Svetāsvatara Upanishad
and Brhadāranyaka Upanishad’.
The Upanishads are the very fuel to Hindu spir-
itual thought. In fact the national motto of ‘Saty-
ameva Jayate’ (Truth alone prevails), accepted by
both the government and the people of India consti-
“In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and
as elevating as that of the Upanishads. They are des-
tined sooner or later to become the faith of the people.”
- German Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 – 1860)
tutionally, is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad
belonging to the Atharva Veda.
The philosophical questioning in the Upani-
shads were simply not the standard 5W’s and 1H
(Who, What, When, Where, Why and How). In
fact they came out of much reflection. Thus ques-
tions were permitted and presented logically in the
knowledge tradition universally termed as the path
of knowledge - Gyān mārg. This path of inquiry
(vichār) gets tread mostly by those who have a
natural intellectual inclination to think and analyse
their way, in their seeking. There is no question
of blind faith or dogma in this path as the teacher
of the Upanishad points out the way in the most
logical manner that appeals to a rational intellect.
About this approach, the great Indian phi-
losopher Dr.S.Radhakrishnan observes “The
Upanishads, though remote in time from us, are
not remote in thought. The Upanishads deal with
questions which arise when men begin to reflect
seriously and attempt answers to them which are
not very different, except in their approach and em-
phasis from what we are now inclined to accept…
When we read them we cannot help being im-
pressed by the exceptional ability, earnestness and
ripeness of mind of those who wrestled with these
ultimate questions”.
The questions in the Upanishads are not the
shallow curiosity type. The questions are far
deeper – dealing with the purpose of life, ways to
get ever lasting joy, source of creation, God etc that
is churned out only after some serious reflection.
Quite often in the Upanishads, one finds directed
questions asked by seekers of truth to the enlight-
ened teacher, initiating an illuminating dialogue
about the higher truths as experienced by the
teacher.
Here is a sample of questions asked by the intel-
lectual seekers of ancient India.
In the Mundaka Upanishad Shaunaka, a house-
holder asks sage Angirasa: “What is that knowing
which all others are known? Can we know the most
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Heritage
fundamental knowledge for knowing everything?”
In the Brhadāranyaka Upanishad, Maitreyi
asks her Sage husband Yagnavalkya: “Tell me,
venerable Sir, of that alone which you know to be
the only means of attaining Immortality.”
The Kena Upanishad starts with the question:
“What activates our mind?  What is the mind of the
mind? What is behind the mind? What is behind
our senses activating them?”
The young Nachiketa in the Katha Upanishad
asks Lord Yama: “What happens to a person after
death? Some say that he exists; some say that a
person does not exist.”
Of the 6 questions in the Prashna Upanishad,
the first is asked by Kabandhi to Sage Pippalada,
“Sir, from where are all the creatures born?”
Naturally the Holy Bhagavad Gita, which is
considered as the essence of the Upanishads, also
follows the typical Upanishadic dialogue style
wherein Arjuna asks some 12 questions to Lord
Krishna on topics of practical philosophy. Rooted
in the tradition, Lord Krishna too advises to Arjuna
(in ch 4, v34) that the seeker of truth should ask
proper questions (pariprashnena) to the Guru.
Such is the tradition of philosophical question-
ing in the highest of Hindu scriptures. The answers
to the many questions on life abound in the Upani-
shads, but are recommended to be best learnt under
the feet of a Guru.
Interestingly, this heritage of questioning con-
tinues till today. Often we see our Indian Gurus,
the world over, answering all sorts of questions
bombarded at them. Just check out You Tube for
a range of questions to modern day Gurus – be it
a Juggi Vasudev, HWL Poonja (Papaji), Osho Ra-
jneesh, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
or a Jiddu Krishnamurti. The Upanishadic style
still continues to inspire.
Indian
Viewpoint

 Taj Mahal or Tejo Mahalaya?

PADMINI GAUNDER There had been attempts to hush up find-
One of the most popular tourist attractions ings regarding the Taj Mahal by the Indian
in India today is the Taj Mahal. The story government from the time of Prime Minis-
of the Taj Mahal is well known. It was built ter Nehru. Professor Oak was dismissed
by the second last Mughal Emperor, Shah as a mad man and reprimanded by the
Jahan, in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Ma- supreme court when he took the matter
hal. But after it was completed Shah Jahan there. The government of India was appre-
was overthrown by his own son, Auran- hensive about Prof. Oak’s book causing
gazeb, who imprisoned him till he (Shah communal tensions. So the government     
Jahan) died. It is said that Shah Jahan tried to have the book withdrawn from the
could see the musoleum he had built from bookshops and “threatened the Indian
his prison window. Today it is considered publisher with dire consequences”, the
a symbol of love. BBC reported in 2000.

There is, however, another theory little Probably it was feared that it would stir
known by the majority who visit India. It up Hindu nationalism and lead to con-
is believed that Shah Jahan did not really flicts between the Hindu and the Muslim
get the Taj Mahal built from scratch but he population of the country. So Prof. Oak’s
built it over a Hindu temple dedicated to work was not widely known in India. The
Lord Siva, Tejo Mahalaya, which he trans- BBC suggested that one way to settle the
formed (converted) into the Taj Mahal. controversy would be to have international
observers come and check the evidence
An Indian historian, Prof. Nagesh Oak, and decide if there is any validity in these
published a book in 1965 to prove that it claims by Prof. Oak. That does not seem
was originally a Hindu temple. I first heard likely to happen even though Prof.Oak
about Prof. Oak and his work from Mr. K.C. was not the only one to believe that the Taj
Ramrakha, the Mahal was originally a Hindu temple.
former Fiji Par-
There are others
liamentarian. Mr.
Ramrakha said “It is believed that Shah Jahan did not really get the Taj Mahal built from scratch who are also
when he first vis-
ited the Taj Mahal
but he built it over a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva, Tejo Mahalaya, saying similar
things now.
he was quite
struck by certain
which he transformed (converted) into the Taj Mahal” And those who
say it are not
obvious signs all Indians or
which suggested Hindus. Ste-
to him that it was once a Hindu temple. phen Knapp, a researcher, is one. There is
When he mentioned this to his guide he also an American scholar, Prof. Marvin H.
(the guide) talked of Prof. Oak’s book. Mills, a professor of architecture, who also
claims that it has Hindu origins. These are
It is generally accepted that the Taj Mahal two of the leading non-Indians who have
is a blend of Hindu and Persian architec- questioned the popular story about the
ture and as an obvious example is given Taj Mahal being a musoleum built by Shah
the main dome where there is a spiral Jahan for his wife Mumtaz but there are
topped by a moon, which is considered an many more.
Islamic symbol. But the horns of the moon
are pointing upward so that it looks like the I am not sure what the attitude of the In-
trident, a symbol of Siva. (The crescent dian government now is to the controversy
moon can also symbolize Siva as it is seen about the Taj Mahal. But today, there does
on His head). It is also claimed that there not seem to be much point in trying to
is ‘om’ on the walls of the Taj Mahal. suppress any information because if any-
one is interested it is all readily available
We are told that the carvings of Hindu rock on the internet.
cut temples and the Maan Singh palace
in Gwalior influenced the design of the Taj In conclusion, Taj Mahal or Tejo Mahalaya,
Mahal. The question is whether there is it is an outstanding work of architecture, a
more than the influence of Hindu temples thing of beauty, and hopefully, it remains
and palaces as Prof. Oak had claimed. a joy, if not forever, for many centuries to
come.

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 25

Indian
How is the Auckland housing market panning out?
RAVI MEHTA
As expected the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
cut Official cash rate by 0.50% to 2.50% in the last
review. Majority of economists don’t expect the rate
to be hiked at least for next 6-9 months period.
The banks have passed on the decrease in OCR
to consumers by way of reduction in floating and
short term fixed rates. With this reduction, housing
affordability has increased. The rents being on
the rise, it is making more sense for those who are
renting, instead should buy their own homes.
Similarly, though there is reduction in tax gains
to property investors due to changes in tax rules, but
they have been compensated through higher rents
and lower interest rates for the same. That is perhaps
the reason that though Business and Consumer con-
fidence is very low, Property Investor’s confidence
is on the rise.
The new house construction activity is very low
due to lack of funding available to developers. With
demand continuously exceeding the supply, the
house prices should ultimately rise.
There are many positive catalysts for housing
market. The New Zealand economy will get a boost
with Rugby World cup. The Christchurch recon-
struction activity will start within next 12 months
or so. The demand for construction material and
for construction labour will go higher. It will put
upward pressure on cost of new construction.
If the land prices do not go down, the cost of con-
struction of new houses will be higher than what it is
now. Further if the New Zealand dollar depreciates,
it will put upward pressure on the cost of imported
construction material. There will be demand from
Japan, and the higher oil prices will push the prices
of construction material even higher worldwide.
The ultimate result being, that increased cost will be
passed by builders to end customers in the form of
increased house prices.
The above factors point towards a rebound in
26
house prices. Steady rise in house prices is good for
economy as it helps in lifting consumer confidence.
Higher consumer confidence results in higher
spending lifting the overall economy.
Of course Reserve bank will not allow any asset
price bubbles to build up. As per recent statement
from Reserve bank Governor, in addition to raising
interest rates, Reserve Bank may use other methods
like asking banks to restrict loan to value ratios or
increasing banks’ reserve rate requirements to check
house price inflation if the house prices rise too fast.
Right now, more and more banks/lending insti-
tutions have started relaxing their criteria. More of
those have started to lend up to 95% of house value.
Of course the criteria are tough, but this shows that
these financial institutions have also got confidence
in housing market.
EMPTY
Ravi Mehta is an Auckland based Financial Advisor
and can be contacted on HYPERLINK “mailto:ravi.
mehta@pfsl.co.nz” ravi.mehta@pfsl.co.nz. A dis-
closure statement under Securities Markets Act re-
lating to his services is available on request and is
free of charge.
A word of caution:
Though most of commentators including me
expect a rise in house prices, one should take into
consideration his/her own financial circumstances
before making a decision about buying a house.
Though interest rates are very low these days,
these will not stay at these levels for ever. The rise in
interest rates will be very steep once the economic
conditions improve. Remember, before the onset
of financial crisis, floating rate was around 10.90%
Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz
Column
which is around 5.70% today. When deciding to take
a mortgage, figure out your repayment capacity at
least over next 5 years period. Current 5 years rate
for most of lenders is in excess of 7.50%. Though, it
is not certain that next 5 years interest rate average
will be 7.50%, still it is a good indicator. (as per ex-
pectation theory of interest rates) Even if you keep
your loan on floating, you should repay at least equal
to your mortgage installment what it should be at
7.50%. It will help you to reduce your loan faster
and your Principal will be down by the time rates
are high and you will be able to repay your install-
ment calculated at higher interest rate but on lower
Principal amount reducing the pain.
One should always diversify risk and assets. Not
all your wealth should be tied in one asset class. Just
think, if someone has all his/her wealth tied up in
multiple properties in one town and there is a natural
calamity, will he/she be able to absorb the shock?
With the help of money from insurance, one may be
able to reconstruct, but consider what will be impact
on prices of properties.
Though house prices are expected to rise, one
should not be tempted to over commit. Buying
off the plan with settlement few months away and
thinking, you will be able to sell before settlement
is mere speculation. Nothing is certain in this world;
you should not over commit yourself.
Have adequate insurance cover in place for your
assets. All of property investors buy fire insurance
for their properties, but there are not many who buy
insurance for lost rentals. If the property is destroyed
by fire, it may take very long to have it in original
condition again. Though insurance company will
cover your cost of reconstruction, you will be en-
titled to lost rental only if you have bought that
cover. Landlord protection policy is other policy you
should consider buying. Take financial advice in this
regard.
Indian

EMPTY

Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 27

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Column By Ruby Dhillon

Recipe
Your Questions – Answered !
Varsha Asrani Fiery Chicken
l 1kg-chicken boneless
I am often fielding questions from clients and acquaintances which are purely based on myths or information l 1tsp-garam masala
l 1-onion chopped
sourced from the web or hear-say. I have also received queries from you’ll through my email and I thought I l 4-green chillies chopped
would respond to them through this article, as this could benefit the wider group l 3tbs-ginger paste
l 3tsp-coriander seeds
Question: Since I use Vegetable Oil, can I can make a difference. doesn’t eat as much – I am worried he will l 4-whole dry red chillis
use it as much as I want? get skinny, can you help? For the gravy
Answer: Vegetable oil is definitely a bet- Question: I am a fifty year old married Answer: Universally, children are more l 7tsp-coriander seeds

ter option but it is important that we take in
consideration the quantity and it’s source –
some plant oils best suited to Indian cooking
could be soybean and rice bran. Olive oil
is also a good option however what needs
to be considered for its smoking point and
it’s cost factor. The key fact that needs to
be considered is that any oil is nothing but
fat and is high in energy and needs to be
woman, why am I not losing any weight,
although I have reduced my food intake?
Answer: There is a very clear co-relation be-
tween age and weight loss with food intake
playing an important role. As we grow older
“The key fact that needs to
be considered is that any
l 10-whole dry red chillis
interested in playing and eating is gener-
l 5tsp-garlic paste
ally a hinderance in their activity. Especially
l 4-green chillies
for school going children where choice is
l 3tsp-Ginger paste
between eating or playing, latter always finds l 3-cups tomato chopped
the favour. However there is an issue where l 1tbsp-fenugreek
over a period of time if the child isn’t eating l 1tsp-garam masala
well may start to lose weight. This could
lead to a feeling of tiredness and lethargy l 6tbsp-oil
Salt according to taste
and may potentially cause low concentra-
l

consumed in a balanced quantity. tion levels at school. This can be addressed

Question: I drain water off when I cook rice,
will this remove the carbohydrates off?
Answer: Unfortunately not, If that was true
carbohydrate would be a water soluble nutri-
ent, straining off water does not remove the
carbs neither does it cut back the calories,
you need to watch your portion sizes.
Question: I do the entire house work, will
that be considered against as exercise /
physical activity?
Answer: Although it is a good practice to
do some activity at home, your routine work
does not let you burn off as much calories
a gym workout / fitness activity would do.
In addition to any house work like cleaning,
vacuuming or gardening it is essential that
you include at least a 30 minute physical
workout at the gym or even a run at the park
oil is nothing but fat and is
high in energy and needs
to be consumed in a bal-
anced quantity.”
our muscle mass decreases and we tend to
burn off less calories, this sometimes gets
replaced with fat if we do not burn enough or
if we do not manage our food intake. This is
particularly true for the overweight category
and if it is doubled with a sedentary lifestyle.
Just eating less is not going to help – you
need to increase your activity as well. I would
recommend see a health professional to get
yourself assessed.
Question: My child plays so much but
in different ways like providing them more
snack options in place of three meal options.
The fundamental aim is to maximise energy
levels, do not aim for high sugary snacks as
these tend to cause tiredness after a burst
of activity and aren’t long lasting, consult a
health professional as they may be able to
provide with more options that could help.
I would like to thank all those who have
raised these queries, keep them coming as
these help us de-mystify a lot of myths and
clarify doubts.
This article is a general guideline ONLY. Please
see, a health professional for individual conditions
and needs.
Varsha Asrani is a New Zealand Registered Dieti-
tian. For personal consultations or any questions,
suggestions or views please email her on info@
varshaasrani.com.
Method
For gravy
Crush coriander seeds and whole red chillis
together.
Heat oil in a wok add garlic paste and sauté
over medium heat until light
brown. Add crushed coriander & red chillis,
sauté for 30seconds, add green chillis and
ginger, sauté for 30seconds. Then add
tomatoes and fry until oil
comes on the top. Now add fenugreek and
salt. Sprinkle garam masala and stir and
keep aside.
In another wok Heat oil fry onions,green
chillis and Ginger,sauté over medium heat
for 2minutes.
Add crushed coriander with whole red
chillis, stir for 15 seconds ,add chicken, re-
duce to low heat and fry for a minute. Then
add gravy to it and fry till gravy becomes
thick and coats the chicken.
Sprinkle garam masala and serve hot with
naan bread or basmati rice.

28 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz 29

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NON RESIDENT INDIAN

AGAINST CORRUPTION
IN INDIA
PHONE: 09- 6223308
email: nriagainstcorruption@gmail.com

Aim: Corruption Free India.

Vision: Creating awareness among the Non -Resident Indians &

Resident Indians.

India, Republic of Scams

Commonwealth games (CWG) fraud 60,000 crores,

13 billion dollars (2010)
[Conservative estimate!!!]

CWG cost comparisons

2002 (UK): Rs 2,100 crores
2006 (Australia): Rs 5,000 crores
2010 (India): Rs 60,000 crores!!!
2014(UK,estimated): Rs 2,200 crores!!!

Original estimate of India’s CWG is 617.5 crores.90% of infrastruc-

ture development costs were looted. 900+ crores billed for about
85 croresstadium.
India, Republic of Scams

-Deccan Herald, Jan 9, 2011

JMJK
Retail Outlets.
West Auckland 
Aarkh Foods - 222 Swanson Rd Henderson. Ph:836 7666 
Saffron Food - 214 Universal Drive Hender-son. Ph:836 2005 
MALABARI SPICE MERCHANT-18 Delta Avenue, Newlynn, Ph:  09 8264549
Top-in-Town - 583 Sandringham Rd, Sandringham. Ph:846 9009 
Shahnaz Husain Nz - 40 Lincon Road, Phone 09-908 2440

Central Auckland
Khyber Royal Oak - 822 Manukau Rd Royal Oak. Ph:625 1766
Yogi Ji’s - 26 Carr Rd Mt Roskill. Ph:624 5757 
Top-in-Town - 583 Sandringham Rd Sandringham. Ph:846 9009 
Spice Supermarket - 537-539 Sandringham Road, Phone: (09)-815-1748.
Payless - 333 Sandringham Rd. Ph:963 6167 
 
East Auckland
Saluja - Unit 13   2 Bishop Dunn Pl Flat Bush. Ph:265 1502 

South Auckland
Kwality Baazar - 286 Great South Rd Papatoe-toe. Ph:277 9596 
Indo-Sprice - 12E Puhinui Rd Manukau. Ph:277 6007 
Rockyz-Manurewa - 154 Great South Rd M-nurewa. Ph:266 6688

Rotorua 
Shahji’s Royal Masala - 1122 Eruera Street, Off Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010, New
Zealand (07) 348 0280

Wellington 
Hare Krishna Higher Taste Restaurant -  Customhouse Quay, Wellington 6011,
New Zealand (04) 472 2233

30 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz

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32 Indian Weekender | April 1, 2011 | www.iwk.co.nz