Trump Signs Executive Order to Weaken Obamacare; Says the ...

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We wish our Readers a Happy Diwali

Trump Signs Executive Order toWeaken Obamacare; Says the order is ‘only the beginning’

The executive order, says Trump is "only the beginning". Trump, the candidatehad vowed to dismantle Obamacare on a priority basis and October 12 executive

order is the first step in that direction. File photo

WASHINGTON (TIP): President DonaldTrump on Thursday, October 12, used hispresidential powers to weaken Obamacareafter fellow Republicans in Congress hadfailed to repeal the 2010 law which he loathedno end and have been itching to do away with.

Trump signed an executive order aimed atletting small businesses band together acrossstate lines to buy cheaper, less regulatedhealth plans for their employees with fewerbenefits.

It is Trump's first definitive step todismantle Obamacare since taking office inJanuary. He had promised during his electioncampaign that one of his top priorities will beto dismantle former President BarackObama's signature domestic policyachievement.

Trump has come under severe criticism atthe hands of Femocratic leaders for havingtaken to signing an executive order on the

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Diwali at Times Square is now aFestival of New York City

NEW YORK CITY (TIP):

Mayor Bill de Blasio mayplease take note that theIndian festival of Diwali hasnow grown beyondacommunity festival and hasbecome a festival of NewYork City. The amazinggathering of thousands ofpeople of various hues at thecenter of universe-the TimesSquare-on October 7 is atestimony to this fact.

SANKARA EYEFOUNDATION andEVENGURU INC brought topeople a fun-filled day thathighlighted cultural dancesand musical performances,Diwali Bazaar and mouth-watering Indian cuisine,interactive Diya lighting

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Diya lighting ceremony on stage.

Photo courtesy Parikh Worldwide Media

A Reprieve for Talwars: Allahabad High Court saysthe couple did not kill Aarushi

Aarushi's parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar File photo

ALLAHABAD (TIP): In a welcome reprieve toTalwars, the Allahabad High Court, on October 12,reversed a CBI court judgment and acquitted dentistcouple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar of the charge ofmurdering their 14-year-old daughter Aarushi anddomestic help Hemraj, 45, in May 2008. The 263-pageverdict ends, at least for now, the nine- year ordeal of

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‘I hope the new generationunderstands the spiritual natureof the Indian classical music andcontinues to keep the traditionalive: USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN

NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Veteran musician and Sarodmaestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan expressedhope that the newgeneration understands the spiritual nature of Indianclassical music and will continue to keep the tradition alive.The maestro was addressing the audience in New York onOctober 5 at an interactive session moderated by India's

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Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty(left) in conversationwith Ustad Amjad Ali Khan at the Indian Consulate on

October 5.

2 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017ADVERTISEMENT

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4 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017NEW YORK

Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA)Celebrates Diwali; Honors Four

MELVILLE, NY (TIP): Rajasthan Association ofNorth America (RANA) celebrated DIWALI on SundayOctober 8 at the Huntington Hilton Hotel. The gatheringincluded about 360 prominent guests of Rajasthanidescent. The occasion reflected a festive mood and as apart of the celebrations - four people of Rajasthandescent were honored for their accomplishments. Theyincluded Mrs. Chandra Mehta, Dr Jugal K. Agrawal, Mrs.Sangita Sancheti and Mrs. Sharda Kotahwala.

The President of RANA Dr. Ajey Jain in his remarkssaid that the celebrations reflected RANA's commitmentto women's empowerment. Women these days worry lessabout fitting into glass slippers and more aboutshattering glass ceilings. The three women honoreesexemplified this and have done better than the best. The

RANA celebrations also included women's Karva ChauthCelebrations.

Honorable Congressman Tom Suozzi was the ChiefGuest and said in his remarks that the oldest and thebiggest democracies are joining hands to bring a newand peaceful world order. Padma Bhushan ManjulBhargava - the world-renowned Mathematician andyoungest ever Professor of Mathematics at PrincetonUniversity and winner of Field's Medal in Mathematics(called the Nobel Prize in Mathematics) also graced theoccasion.

The evening included a masterpiece performance bySamir and Dipali Music Group from Mumbai, India.Thefunction ended with a multicourse Rajasthani dinner,catered by Mint Restaurant.

Honorees. From L to R: Mrs. Chandra Mehta, Mrs. SangitaSancheti, Dr. Jugal K. Agrawal, Mrs. Sharda Kotahwala

Photos / Suresh Jilla

Padma Bhushan Manjul Bhargava - Renowned mathematicianand Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University and

winner of Field's Medal with the office bearers of RANA. L to R:KK Mehta, Manjul Bhargava, Dr. Anil Gupta, Dr. Ajey Jain

L to R: Dr N. Hadpawat, Honorable Congressman Tom Suozzi,Dr. Ajey Jain, Dr Ajay Lodha

Karva Chauth Celebrations

A Fundraiser for Prevention of Avoidable Blindness Community appreciates the humanitarian work of Eye Foundation of America

EDISON, NJ (TIP): The Eye Foundation ofAmerica New Jersey Regional Chapterorganized a fundraiser to support theFoundation's projects at Royal Albert's Palacehere on October 7. Regional Director of theFoundation Chengad Sridhar extended awarm welcome to the guests and spoke aboutthe projects of the Foundation.

Mr. Sridhar said there were three majorprojects being undertaken by the Foundation.

Cataract, Glaucoma and Retinopathy were theareas the Foundation was working on.

Speaking on the occasion, the Foundation'sfounder and President, eminentophthalmologist Dr. VK Raju said that theFoundation has been serving the communityfor the last 39 years. With its work spread overmore than 25 countries, including India andthe US, the Foundation has treated more than2,000,000 outpatients. The doctors associated

with the Foundation have performed morethan 300,000 eye surgeries. Some 25000surgeries have been performed on children. Itis a mammoth task, Dr. Raju said.

Video presentations about the eye ailmentsand treatments offered by the Foundationwere made and guests encouraged to take themessage round that childhood blindness canbe and should be avoided.

The presentation for Cataract was done by

Dr Prema Modak who explained in detailcauses of Cataract.

Dr Leela Raju explained about Glaucomaand Retinopathy.

The event was followed by Dr Surya Seshanand children speaking about the legacy oftheir father who was a great supporter of E FA. Harini Vasudevan and SureshRamachandran entertained the visitors withtheir melodious singing.

Dr. VK Raju, Founder and President of the Eye Foundation of America, flanked by two of hisclose associates, speaks about Foundation's projects

Family of Dr. Surya Seshan speaking about the legacy of their father who was a great supporterof E F A. Dr. Raju is seen at extreme right. Photos / Suresh Jilla


6 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017NEW YORK

Diwali at Times Square is now a Festival of New York CityCONTD FROM PAGE 1

ceremonies and the world's best digital fireworks display.The vision of the creator of Diwali at Times Square Mrs. NeetaBhasin was to showcase India's rich culture, art, heritage anddiversity became reality on October 7th when performances ofvarious local artists like Avish Jain, Rianjali, Masala Bhangra,Bollywood Axion, NYU Garba group, Columbia Raas Garbaand the famed Shiamak Davar Group and many other groupsperformed on. Diwali Festival started with the Diya Lightingceremony on stage and followed by the auspicious GaneshVandana by the child prodigy Sparsh Shah.

"The Light-Up Times Square Concert" that commenced from6 PM following the Diya Lighting Ceremony on stage and onthe tallest screens of Times Square was attended by theglitterati and the dignitaries such as the Consul General ofIndia Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty, Congresswoman CarolynMaloney, Borough President Gale A. Brewer, Jennifer fromGovernor Cuomo Office, representative from NYC Comptrolleroffice, District Leader Ms. Neeta Jain and others.

The Light Up Times Square Concert showcased dazzlingperformances by some of the biggest names in theentertainment industry! Sanjeeda Sheikh and Aamir Ali, theromantic duo that has swept India away with theirperformances in Nach Balliye, presented scintillating dance

routines for the attendees at Times Square. The attendees alsoenjoyed - Chhammak Chhalo famed, the maverick singerHamsika Iyer, who made the audience dance to her tune andHey Baby singer Raman Mahadevan; the crowd was leftgasping for more by none other than the master dancer, the"chumeswari" judge and performer Master Terence Lewis. Theevent was brought to an end by the new-age performer MickeySingh, who made the young crowd sing along.

This historic event was brought to us with the support ofSANKARA EYE FOUNDATION, a not for profit organizationthat is committed to eradicate curable blindness from India.An event of this stature could not have been possible withoutthe sponsors like Air India, McDonalds, Yupp TV, DirecTVNow, Hotstar and others. Diwali at Times Square 2017 was alsoimmensely supported by the media at large - mainstreammedia partner Daily News, broadcasting partners TV Asia andJus Punjabi, radio partner Mera Sangeet and many more.

SANKARA EYE FOUNDATION and EVENTGURU INC isextremely grateful to the sponsors, the media, the celebrities,the volunteers, and the amazing crowd who came andsupported this monumental event and help us create historyonce again in the heart of New York city, Times Square.

Diya lighting with countdown on Express screen

Terence Lewis gives a scintillating performance

Sanjeeda Sheikh & Aamir Ali cast a spell

Hamsika Iyer was simply captivating

Raman Mahadevan regaled A superbBharatnatyam performance

Kajol Bishnoi

EDISON, NJ (TIP)- Edison hostedthe first US premier of Cheer Haran, a90-minute Hindi documentary basedon Jaat reservation agitation thatclaimed many lives, paralyzedHaryana and shamed India across theglobe last year.

The title reminds us of the heinousincident from the Mahabharata asLast year around mid-February,Haryana was in a similar situation,unguarded and abandoned, when all ofa sudden, the JAAT agitation for OBCreservation flared up into adevastating inferno of sectarianviolence. Women were allegedly gang-raped by mobs. The film tries todecipher why turned things turnedviolent, whether the brutality could

have been averted?''Produced by Twister

Entertainment and directed byKuldeep Ruhil, who was born andbrought up in Dahakora village nearRohtak. Ruhil, an actor and writer,says, "The tagline of the movie is'February 2016: Haryana lost peace,harmony and 31 kids' and it peeps intothe psyche of people, post agitation."

The documentary has been shot inHaryana, Delhi and Gurgaon, and hastwo songs dedicated to those killed inpolice firing."We interviewed theaffected families, Haryana ChiefMinister Manohar Lal Khattar andFinance Minister Capt Abhimanyu,and officials. We tried to show bothsides of this violence," says Ruhil,who is now based in Mumbai.

As a film maker it's my duty toprevent and show the reality ofHaryana." On being asked about thereason behind portraying it as adocumentary and not a feature film,the director said, "The reason behindthe documentary is that a featurecould be a statement with conclusion.But that could not be the idea becausethere would be no explorationotherwise. The documentary servesthe reality." He also added, "You willsee that the real victims and survivorsare still positive but thesereservations has kept alive the castdiscrimination.Cheer Haran depicts atrue picture of Jaat reservationagitation that claimed many lives andsoon to be released in India on over 100screens.

Hindi Documentary'Cheer Haran: The Disrobement'premiered in Big Cinemas, New Jersey


8 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017NY/NJ/CT

Secularism is the character of India and we must nurturethe bouquet: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

INTERVIEW

Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khandoes not need an introduction. Thewhole world knows him as "Sarod

Samrat" Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. All his life, hespread the message of love, peace andharmony globally through his music. For him'Music is God' that connects people.

In a candid conversation with Bidisha Roy,Ustad Amjad Ali Khan shared his views aboutunrest in the society. The 'Global PeaceAmbassador' started the conversation with aclear message to the world.

TIP - You always talk about peaceand harmony…?

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan - First of all I wouldrequest President Donald Trump to ban theguns and weapons. I am so sad to hear aboutthe Las Vegas incident. Then I realized thathaving guns is fundamental right ofAmerican people but it's very dangerous forthe safety of every human being of Americaand the way people have been killed in LasVegas is very sad. Even children here carryguns to schools. I am hoping that Mr Trumpwould immediately ban these weapons. This isvery unhealthy for the whole society. Peopleshould have them for their safety but notwithout license. Arms should not be sold likevegetables.

TIP - Talking about India we say thatwe belong to a secular country. Butin the present situation can we takepride in our secularism?

Amjad Ali Khan - I grew up in India. The

people of India made me Amjad Ali Khan. Igot love and encouragement from everycorner of India. Why only me? BismillhaKhan Saab, Vilayat Khan Saab, Bade GhulamAli Khan Saab. The interesting thing of ourcountry is - in spite of so many religions we alldepend on each other and that is our strength.Only one religion can't take India to moon orsun. Amjad Ali Khan plays sarod. But who

makes the sarod of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan?Mr Hemendra Chandra Sen - a Bengaligentleman from Rashbehari Avenue Kolkata.He makes beautiful instruments and he mademy sarod. Without him by sarod could nothave been appealing. This way we depend oneach other. In every era - no matter whichpolitical party is ruling the country - we haveseen good people, bad people. Fortunately, we

have more peace loving people. Secularism isthe character of our country and because ofthat the whole world respects India. It's like abouquet of flowers. We have to maintain thischaracter of our country. This is the duty ofevery Indian to maintain the beauty of ourcountry. Every religion in India hascontributed to the success of our country. Wemust nurture the bouquet of India.

TIP - Any form of art - music, canunite people. Do you think allmusicians should come together forthat?

Amjad Ali Khan - Music connects the world.In our country we say 'Swar hi Ishwar hai.'There are two kinds of music - one is puresound and another is based on language.Language is ruling the world. Because oflanguage the politicians are winning theelections and sometimes loosing for thelanguage as well. So, language creates thebarrier. Music is gift of god. Every humanbeing is born with sound and rhythm. Theheartbeat is an indication of rhythm. Thewhole world is going through lot ofuncertainty. Every country is going throughproblems. Then what is the role of education?Education can't create compassion andkindness. I can't think a PhD beingcommunal. There is something wrong in oureducation system right from the verybeginning - not only in India but all over theworld. My father taught me that all of us havea common god. Sooner we realize this, itwould be good for every country.

The Indian Panorama Assistant Editor Bidisha Roy caught up with the great musician at theIndian Consulate in New York on October 5 where he had come to speak on his recent book

"Master on Masters", and asked him a couple of questions

Meeting with Romila Thapar BY DR. VK RAJU

It was a dream come true when I finally goto see the great historian. I recalled thecomment of Indira Majumder on Romila.

"It was a breath of fresh air! The tallhistorian Romila Thapar took an editorialpen, a new orientation to observe the eventsof history! Here is an author who haspenned the book "History of India "50 yearsago with all the young energy and emotionsof the newly emancipated India! The authorlooked at the data on India with lensespowered with contemporary beliefs andideals. But the same author forty years latertook the courage,

kind of cleared her eyes to look at thehistorical events, facts, people's attitude,philosophy,

values, morals and perspectives of life!Here in the revision of "History of India"she talks about -History is not just the kingsand queens, dates when they were born andmarried and won a war! History is about thepeople of the land, the way of life andculture!

Romila Thapar understood the essence ofthe history of a nation, pulse of the land,including people, dynasty, means ofproduction, social mores, and religiouspractices. Romila Thapar added to theknowledge base of world history throughher work -The Penguin History of EarlyIndia: From the Origins to AD 1300!"

I was overwhelmed with emotion to seethis wonderful lady. The time I spent withher was educative and elevating. I long tolook her up again and have a share of hersublime thoughts. Hopefully, soon.

Author with Romila Thapar at her residence inDelhi earlier this year

Chairman Crowley decriesPresident Trump's Threat to

Abandon Puerto Rico

QUEENS, NY (TIP): House DemocraticCaucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) issuedthe following statement after PresidentTrump said he plans to abandon the people ofPuerto Rico as the island rebuilds followingrecent hurricanes:

"President Trump's threats are a slap in theface to the people of Puerto Rico. We cannotabandon our brothers and sisters who aresimply asking for the same aid and assistanceto rebuild their homes, economy, and livesthat any U.S. citizen would expect from theirgovernment following an unprecedented

natural disaster and humanitarian crisis."When 90 percent of the island still lacks

electricity and the majority of people lackaccess to clean drinking water, the Trumpadministration must intensify its support ofPuerto Rico - not issue baseless threats toabandon these Americans.

"Our commitment to helping Puerto Ricorebuild must be measured in months andyears - not days and weeks. President Trump'sthreats to abandon Puerto Rico show a deepdisregard for the pain and suffering of ourfellow Americans. This is simply wrong."


10 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017EDITORIAL

Analyzing the Indian foreignpolicy from the nation's Capitalhas the virtue of local input, but

in the end, it has an echo-chamber effect.A three-day visit to the UAE, at theinvitation of the Dubai Department ofCivil Aviation to deliver a keynotespeech at the AVSEC - a biannualaviation security gathering of globalactors - gave one a chance to reassess theGulf, the West Asian region and India'splace in it.

Firstly, the Sunni-Shia divide is nowlayered with a Sunni-Sunni split, withTurkey aligning with Qatar againstSaudi Arabia and the UAE. While Qatarieconomy is bleeding, the slowing down ofthe UAE economy is palpable. Propertyprices have fallen in Dubai after recoveryfrom the 2008 downturn. In Abu Dhabi,despite deeper oil revenue-laden pockets,the excess supply of property iscompelling the government to quietly bardisplay the of 'to-let' signs. Yemeniintervention alongside Saudi Arabia istaking its toll on finances and people.Arabic newspaper Al Khaleej, on October11, had extensive visual coverage ofpictures of children of 'martyrs' beingconsoled by the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince,Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed. UAEmilitary planes apparently have beenferrying the injured Yemeni civilians fortreatment to Indian hospitals. An IndianAbu Dhabi-based tycoon has combinedsycophancy with profit by directing themto his son-in-law's recently acquiredchain of Delhi hospitals.

Secondly, the newly elevated SaudiCrown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman,is tightly aligned with and advised by hisnamesake, the Crown Prince of AbuDhabi. This is a far cry from the oldnarrative of Sheikh Zayed, the creator ofmodern UAE, having resisted the Saudiannexation of Al Ain. The bonhomiebetween the two heirs to thrones is aproduct of shared concerns about ArabSpring uprooting their autocraticregimes. It was enhanced by resentmentover President Obama unshackling Iran,by a nuclear deal with it, to facilitate thefight against the IS in Syria-Iraq. Theircollective lobbying with the Trump team,even before Trump assumed office,helped draw him to the Riyadh summit,where he reversed Obama's Irandoctrine, treating it as a selective partnerrather than a permanent antagonist. Theconsequences of this flip-flop are stillplaying out negatively.

Thirdly, the UAE has taken badlyPakistani reluctance to send troops toYemen as it thought Nawaz Sharif owedit a debt for having intervened withPresident Musharraf in 1999, incombination with Saudi Arabia, toorganize his exile rather thanincarceration. The Indian Governmentand PM Modi are using thisdisenchantment to cement relations withthe Saudis and Emiratis. Incidentally,Musharraf divides his time between afancy house in the elite Dubai

neighborhood of Emirates Hills, andLondon. There are whispers that Modi isheaded to the UAE again early next year,to further isolate Pakistan from itserstwhile allies and please Malyalis inKerala where the BJP is desperatelyseeking a political toehold.

The Saudis and Emiratis are finallyseriously looking to invest in India. TheAbu Dhabi Investment Authority is thethird-biggest sovereign fund in theworld, behind the trillion-dollarNorwegian and $900-billion Chinesefunds. It has been wooed for long, butIndia so far presented investmentchallenges for sovereign funds. When theUAE did make a significant investmentvia its telecom giant Etisalat in an Indianpartner, the 2G spectrum scam hit thedeal. Special purpose vehicles wereattempted to channelize incoming funds,but to little avail. Now, it seems anarrangement to the satisfaction of bothsides is in the works. Even defensecooperation is possible as India hasallowed the private sector to taptechnologies, including from the West,narrowing thus the gap between Gulfcountries' desire for cutting-edge defenseequipment and India marketing largelyantiquated stuff.

Saudi Aramco CEO indicated the newapproach, saying that they were lookingat 'mega investments' as India was now a'market of investment priority and not achoice anymore'. India, on its part, isdiversifying its procurement base withthe arrival of the first cargo of US crude.The Gulf oil industry, seeing the US nowas a competitor rather than a hungryconsumer, is turning to India and China.Saudi Aramco has just opened an Indiaoffice. Saudi King Salman has visitedRussia. The Saudis are trying to haveRussia agree to an extension of anearlier deal on production cuts to help oilprice recovery. But the split with Qatarand Iran remains at the heart of any

OPEC strategy as, indeed, US shale gasand oil production.

Sheikh Zayed once told a visitingIndian dignitary the story of an Arabshepherd losing a sheep every week towolves. He was advised to keep dogs. Hedid, but then discovered he had toslaughter a sheep any way to feed them.The wolf in this case is the US, merrilyselling new weapons systems to bothsides, while merely rattling its sabre atIran. India has to realize that excessivebonhomie with the UAE and SaudiArabia will complicate its ability toengage Iran and Qatar. Euphoria overthe allotment of temple land duringModi's last trip to the UAE is meretheatre as Sheikh Zayed had quietlyearmarked a huge site for a cremationground in 2002, which would have had atemple. Sheikh Mohammad is merelycontinuing his father's tolerant andinclusive policies and not making aspecial gesture for PM Modi, or India.

The Saudi-Emirati alliance will gettested first in how the Yemen war turnsout. Using Trump to bait Iran will onlyexacerbate matters. The succession inSaudi Arabia may yet be contested,despite UAE support for PrinceMohammed bin Salman. The Dubairuler, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid, isquietly watching the impact on his city'sconnectivity to the entire regioncurtailed. He has the maturity and guileof the founders of the UAE - his ownfather and Sheikh Zayed. The youngerpower wielders i.e. the two Mohammadsin Abu Dhabi and Riyadh haveoverplayed their hand and the regionawaits resolution. The wolf, meanwhile,continues to howl, unconcerned aboutthe uncertainty he causes. PM Modimust study the maze beforerecommencing his 'huggy-feely' journeythrough it.

(The author is a former Secretary,Ministry of External Affairs)

Let us Share the Festive Spirit

India is a country of festivals and festivities. Ourforefathersmade sure that we have occasions to cometogether andcelebrate. I do not think any othercountry in the world can

match India's number andvariety of occasions to celebrate. Goto any part of Indiaand you find a fair sprinkling of theseoccasions across thewhole year.

Deepavali is a festival that is celebrated in some form ortheother in almost every part of the country. Thenomenclaturemay differ but the festive spirit remains thesame. The foodmade may be different but the excitementof cooking andsharing it remains the same.

The two communities-the Hindus and the Sikhsbothcelebrate Deepavali with much gusto. However,theycelebrate this occasion for different reasons. WhiletheHindus celebrate the occasion of Rama's returningtoAyodhya, after a long period of exile of 14 years duringwhichhe experienced terrible struggle and ultimatelyvanquishedevil, the Sikhs celebrate the return toAmritsar of their sixthMaster, Guru Hargobind. It is saidthat Guru Hargobindinsisted on Moghul ruler to free the52 princes of small hillstates in Himachal or else he wouldalso stay put with them inthe prison at Gwalior. TheMoghul emperor who had greatregard for the Guru agreedto free them. Thus, GuruHargobind, too, vanquished eviland came home victorious. Seethe parallel moral of thetwo stories.

Here in the US, we see Diwali being celebrated with greatenthusiasm in almost every big city. Dallas can boast of thelargest Diwali mela where normally 50,000 visitors gather towitness the festivities which include episodes from Ramayanaand an entertainment program with the participation offamous singers from India, besides the fireworks.

New York, similarly, has a number of organizations whichcelebrate Diwali in a big way. We recently witnessed at leasttwo such big events. Both drew large crowds and won applauseof visitors. One was the AIA organized Diwali at South StreetSeaport. And, the other was Diwali at Times Square organizedby Neeta Bhasin of ASB Communications.

The strength of the Indian American community made itpossible for a Ranju Batra to have a Diwali Stamp issued by theUS postal department. So, let us celebrate our unity andstrength.

I would like to congratulate all our readers on thisfestiveoccasion and wish the festive spirit is shared. It isby sharingjoys that we multiply them. The two words-sharing and caringare magic mantras for happiness,steps ahead of joyousness.These festive occasions provideus an opportunity to show howcaring we are. By sharing,we show our care. And in caring forothers lies all truehappiness. Let us celebrate Deepavalitogether in ashared manner and enjoy the festive mood thattheoccasion brings.

Let festive spirit prevail. Happy Diwali.

AS I SEE IT

THE INDIAN PANORAMA PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT//PPUUBBLLIISSHHEERR:

Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja

VVIICCEE PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT:: Chitagam Saluja

CCHHIIEEFF EEDDIITTOORR:: Prof Indrajit S.

Saluja

AASSSSIISSTTAANNTT EEDDIITTOORR:: Bidisha Roy

GGRRAAPPHHIICCSS DDIIRREECCTTOORR::

Om Parkash Malik

DDIIRREECCTTOORR AADDMMIINNIISSTTRRAATTIIOONN::

Gauri Beri

CCOONNTTRRIIBBUUTTIINNGG PPHHOOTTOOGGRRAAPPHHEERRSS::

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Vaaho Photographers

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By KC Singh

COMMENTProf I.S.Saluja Closing up the Gulf: India can be the

new market the Arabs are looking for

“The Saudis and Emiratis are finally seriously lookingto invest in India. The Abu Dhabi InvestmentAuthority is the third-biggest sovereign fund in the

world, behind the trillion-dollar Norwegian and $900-billion Chinese funds. It has been wooed for long, butIndia so far presented investment challenges forsovereign funds", says the author.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting the King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud ofSaudi Arabia, at the Royal Court, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 03, 2016.

(Photo courtesy / Flickr)

11PERSPECTIVETHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

By Karan Thapar

Why is Modi silent on the Jay Shah case?

If the PM raised afinger at Vadra'swealth havingincreased due to thesuspicion that hismother-in-law isCongress President,shouldn't he questionif Jay Shah's suddenrise in fortune isconnected to hisfather's position asBJP President?",says the author.

One of the themes in the Prime Minister'scampaign speeches and rallies duringhis early years in office that struck an

immediate chord with the country was hiscomments on how the relatives of powerfulpoliticians grow rich after their parents reachhigh office. This was, of course, something theIndian people knew to be a fact, but Mr Modiwas the first senior politician to speak about it,freely, frankly and frequently.

As far back as August 2013, in Bhuj, Mr Modisaid: "Bhai-Bhateejavad purane dino kedharavahikon mien bharastachar ke moolmein hua karta tha. Samay ke saath ismebadlav aaya hai. Bharastachar mein ek nayadharavahik mama-bhanja aaya aur ab yeh saas,bahu aur damad ki aur badh gaya hai."

Twenty five months later, speaking in SanJose in September 2015, he was more explicit:"Hamare desh mein rajnetaon par kuch hisamay mein aarop lag jate hain. Usne 50 crorebanaya, usne 100 crore banaya. Bete ne 250crore banaya. Beti ne 500 crore banaya. Damadne 1000 crore banaya. Chachere bhai necontract le liya…ye sunne ko milta hai ki nahimilta hai? Mere deshvasiyon, main aaj aapkebeech mein khada hoon, hai koi aarop mujhpe?"

At the time the case that seemed to bestillustrate Mr Modi's rhetoric was that ofRobert Vadra. The Hindu and the BusinessStandard, in a series of reports, alleged hiscompanies' fortunes had jumped from Rs 50lakh to over Rs 300 crore in just six years. Theissue most referred to was the purchase of 3.5acres by Vadra's Skylight Hospitality inManesar in February in 2007. Reports said that24 hours after Vadra bought the land, it wasmutated in his name. Six weeks later, theHaryana government gave permission forcommercial use, thus dramatically increasingits value. Sixty-five days later, the land Vadrabought for Rs 7.5 crore was sold to DLF for Rs 50crore, a profit of 770 per cent.

Yet at the time Skylight Hospitality boughtthe land, its total assets were Rs 1 lakh and thepayment for the land was shown as a bookoverdraft. The newspapers suspected that themoney was advanced by DLF because theyknew Vadra would be able to get the land use

changed and then they could buy it from him,with both parties benefiting. In other words, itwas a sweetheart deal. This impression wasapparently corroborated by the fact that whenAshok Khemka, the Inspector-General ofRegistration, started an inquiry into Vadra'sland dealings, he was immediately transferred,even though it was 11 at night.

Many people believe that recent reports byNDTV and TheWire.in about Amit Shah's sonJay Shah's companies bear an uncannyresemblance to the Vadra saga. The pointsmade by the two media organizations areclaimed to be factually correct and haven't beendisputed though, like the Vadra case, theinferences or conclusions are said to bedefamatory.

TheWire.in reports that the turnover of oneof Jay Shah's companies "increased 16,000times over in the year following the election ofNarendra Modi as Prime Minister". NDTVadds that in the same year loans to 2 of JayShah's companies "rose to 53.4 crore, a jump of4,000 per cent" compared to a total of 1.3 croreup to 2013-14. Going into further detail, the twomedia houses say one of the companies,Temple Enterprises, received an unsecuredloan of 15.76 crore even though it had a 10 year"unimpressive track record". A secondcompany, Kusum Finserve, incorporated in

2012 and with meagre profits of 1.73 crore aftera first year loss, received a line of credit of 25crore. NDTV even questions if it was entitled tothis credit. TheWire adds Kusum Finserve,despite no experience in the energy orinfrastructure sectors, received a 10.35 croreloan from a public sector enterprise IREDA toset up "a 2.1 MW wind energy plant".

All of this leads NDTV to comment:"Whether he (Jay Shah) was deserving, orbenefited from a famous surname, can only beestablished by an inquiry". Separately,TheWire has reported that Tushar Mehta,Additional Solicitor-General, securedpermission to represent Jay Shah in court,even though government law officers can onlyrepresent private parties in exceptionalcircumstances. The website also claims thiswas granted on the 6th though its story onShah, which was the first to appear, was onlypublished on the 8th.

Several questions are now likely to come tothe mind of the voter. If the Shah story isreminiscent of the Vadra episode, don't thePM's comments in 2013 and 2015 apply as muchto the former as they do to the latter? If one wasan example of Bhai-Bhateejavad isn't that alsotrue of the other? If Vadra's good fortunecreates suspicion because his mother-in-law isCongress President, are we not entitled to askwhether Shah's luck is connected to his father'sposition as BJP President? In Vadra's case,nothing criminal has so far been found - andthat's also true of Jay Shah - but that didn't stopthe Opposition and media raising doubts, sonow if the Opposition and media are doing thesame to Shah, is it unprecedentedly awful andunwarranted? Indeed, isn't it the duty of thetwo to raise questions in the interest ofdemocracy even if, occasionally or more often,they turn out to be misplaced?

Both as a candidate and in office, the PM hada lot to say about Robert Vadra. It was, ofcourse, mainly based on suspicion, but thepeople applauded him for it. Today, he's silent.So, don't we have the right to ask why a manwho loves to speak suddenly has nothing tosay?

(The author is a senior journalist and TVcommentator)

Congress workers protest against BJP president Amit Shah and his son Jay Shah (inset) in Mumbai on Monday, October 9.

Photo courtesy / PTI

Many people believe thatrecent reports by NDTV andTheWire.in about Amit Shah'sson Jay Shah's companies bearan uncanny resemblance to theVadra saga. The points madeby the two media organizationsare claimed to be factuallycorrect and haven't beendisputed though, like the Vadracase, the inferences orconclusions are said to bedefamatory.

12 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017US

At least 23 dead, hundredsmissing, as winds fan Californiafires

SONOMA (US) (TIP): Firefighters struggled overnight tohalt the spread of wildfires known to have killed 23 people inNorth California, preparing for winds to shift after one townthreatened by flames evacuated all residents.

The edge of the deadly Tubbs fire was less than two miles(3km) from Calistoga, a Napa Valley community whose 5,000residents left their homes on Wednesday.

Whether the town burns "is going to depend on the wind,"its fire chief Steve Campbell told Reuters early on Thursday."High winds are predicted, but we have not received them yet."

Tubbs is one of nearly two dozen fires spanning eightcounties that, raging largely unchecked since igniting onSunday, have left hundreds of residents unaccounted for.

They have also charred around 170,000 acres (69,000hectares) of land and destroyed some 3,500 buildings since.

While their cause has not been conclusively determined,they are thought to have been sparked by power lines toppledby gale force winds, and fanned by hot, dry "Diablo" winds thatblew into northern California toward the Pacific.

New advisory evacuations were also issued in SonomaCounty late on Wednesday for parts of Santa Rosa, the largestcity in the state's world-renowned wine country, andGesyerville, an unincorporated town of 800 people.

"The winds are predicted to be very erratic," said countryspokesman Barry Dugan. "There will be burst of high guststhat can be ... very unpredictable and difficult when you arefighting a fire and also for residents who we are trying to keepposted."

Wildfires have damaged or demolished at least 13 NapaValley wineries, a vintners' trade group said on Tuesday.

Around 25,000 people remained under evacuation onWednesday as the fires belched smoke that drifted south overthe San Francisco Bay area, where some residents donned facemasks.

STILL MISSING: More than 285 people were still missingin Sonoma County late on Wednesday night, the sheriff saidon Twitter. It was unclear how many might be fire victimsrather than evacuees who not checked in with authorities.

In Santa Rosa, blocks in some neighborhoods resembled warzones, with little left but charred debris, broken walls,chimneys and the steel frames of burned-out cars. (Reuters)

North Korea says Trump has 'litthe wick of war'

MOSCOW (TIP): US President Donald Trump has "lit thewick of war" with North Korea and his country will be madeto pay with "a hail of fire", a Russian news agency quotedNorth Korea's foreign minister as saying on Wednesday.

Tensions between North Korea and the United States+ haverisen in recent weeks over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons andmissile programs.

North Korea has test-fired several missiles+ and conductedwhat it said was a test explosion of a hydrogen bomb as itadvances toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tippedmissile capable of hitting the US mainland.

Speaking to Russia's state-run TASS news agency, NorthKorean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said his country'snuclear program guaranteed peace and safety in the regionand would not be a matter of discussion.

"With his bellicose and insane statement at the UnitedNations, Trump, you can say, has lit the wick of a war againstus," TASS quoted Ri as saying. "We need to settle the finalscore, only with a hail of fire, not words."

Ri has previously called Trump "President Evil" and hiscomments are likely to fuel an escalating war of words+between the US President and North Korean leader Kim JongUn. (Reuters)

‘I’m first lady’: Trump’s ex-wife’s jibe at Melania

WASHINGTON (TIP):: USPresident's Donald Trump's ex-wifeIvana sparked a controversy on Tuesdayby jokingly referring to herself as ''firstlady'' - a jest which elicited a sharpresponse from current First LadyMelania Trump's office.

During an interview with a morningtalk show to promote her new memoir,Ivana, mother to Donald Trump's threeeldest children, made the tongue-in-cheek comment that her status as thePresident's first wife effectively madeher first lady.

"I'm basically first Trump wife. I'mfirst lady, okay?" she quipped.

Ivana revealed that she has a directline to her ex-husband in the WhiteHouse and speaks to him every twoweeks, adding that she keeps their inter-personal communication to a minimumso that Trump's current wife Melaniadoesn't feel jealous.

"I have the direct number to the WhiteHouse but I don't really want to call him(Trump) there because Melania is there,and I don't want to cause any kind ofjealousy or something like that," shesaid.

Ivana's provocative remarks havebeen disparaged by the White House as apublicity stunt to generate buzz abouther new book.

"There is clearly no substance to thisstatement from an ex, this isunfortunately only attention-seekingand self-serving noise," said thestatement issued by Stephanie Grisham,the first lady's spokeswoman.

The statement also slammed Ivana'sview that living in Washington DC mustbe "terrible" for Melania and had shebeen in the latter's shoes, she would havehated it.

"Mrs Trump has made the WhiteHouse a home for Barron and ThePresident. She loves living inWashington, DC and is honoured by herrole as First Lady of the United States.She plans to use her title and role to helpchildren, not sell books," it stated.

This was a pointed reference toIvana's promotions of her upcomingbiography, in which she discusses indetail how she brought up her three

children - Eric, Donald Jr and Ivanka -with her then husband.

The barbed exchange is unusual forthe normally reserved Melania, who hasmostly remained in her husbandshadow, accompanying him on statevisits for the better part of hispresidency.

Trump had married Ivana, a Czech-born model, in 1977. The couple had amessy and much-publicized divorce in1992.

He went on to marry Marla Maples,with whom he had been having an affair,but they divorced six years later.Melania is Trump's third wife (PTI)

Trump administration to terminateObama's climate plan

HAZARD (TIP): The head of theEnvironmental Protection Agency saidMonday that he will sign a new ruleoverriding the Clean Power Plan, anObama-era effort to limit carbonemissions from coal-fired power plants.

"The war on coal is over,'' EPAAdministrator Scott Pruitt declared in thecoal mining state of Kentucky.

For Pruitt, getting rid of the CleanPower Plan will mark the culmination of along fight he began as the elected attorneygeneral of Oklahoma. Pruitt was amongabout two-dozen attorney generals whosued to stop President Barack Obama'spush to limit carbon emissions.

Closely tied to the oil and gas industryin his home state, Pruitt rejects theconsensus of scientists that man-manemissions from burning fossil fuels are theprimary driver of global climate change.President Donald Trump, who appointedPruitt and shares his skepticism ofestablished climate science, promised tokill the Clean Power Plan during the 2016campaign as part of his broader pledge torevive the nation's struggling coal mines.

In his order Tuesday, Pruitt is expectedto declare that the Obama-era ruleexceeded federal law by setting emissionsstandards that power plants could notreasonably meet. Appearing at an eventwith Senate Majority Leader MitchMcConnell, Pruitt said, ``The EPA and no

federal agency should ever use itsauthority to say to you we are going todeclare war on any sector of our economy.''

Obama's plan was designed to cut UScarbon dioxide emissions to 32 percentbelow 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictatedspecific emission targets for states basedon power-plant emissions and gaveofficials broad latitude to decide how to

achieve reductions. The Supreme Courtput the plan on hold last year followinglegal challenges by industry and coal-friendly states. Even so, the plan helpeddrive a recent wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which also are being squeezedby lower costs for natural gas andrenewable power, as well as state mandatespromoting energy conservation. (AP)

13USTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Jayapal, KrishnamoorthiDemand President Trump toStop Surveilling Immigrants andAmerican Citizens

WASHINGTON (TIP): In a letter, led by Indian AmericanRepresentatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and RajaKrishnamoorthi (IL-08) along with Ruben Kihuen (NV-04)members of Congress are demanding that the Trumpadministration terminate efforts to surveil and collectsocial media data on immigrants and American citizens.

A new proposal, set to go in effect on October 18, wouldimpact immigrants, as well as all lawful permanentresidents and naturalized American citizens includingmembers of Congress like Jayapal, Kihuen, andKrishnamoorthi who were born outside the United States.

"Simply put, this proposal is un-American. It flies in theface of freedom of speech, due process, and freedom ofassociation, all of which are cherished founding values thatare meant to protect personal privacy and encouragediscourse and dissent in a free society," wrote therepresentatives.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Securitypublished a new rule in the Federal Register that calls forincluding "social media handles and aliases, associatedidentifiable information and search results" in thedepartment's immigration files, also known as the "A-Files."

In the letter signed by nine members of Congress, therepresentatives said, "This proposal runs counter toAmerican values. The collection of social media data in adragnet as proposed is unwise and has not been proveneffective, particularly when American citizens becometargets. We urge you to retract the Federal Register noticeimmediately."

The letter led by Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Ruben Kihuenand Raja Krishnamoorthi is signed by Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Luis Gutiérrez (IL-04), NydiaVelázquez (NY-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Sheila JacksonLee (TX-18), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03),Albio Sires (NJ-08), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Norma Torres (CA-35), and NanetteBarragán (CA-44).

Texas Tech police officer killed,suspect in custody

LUBBOCK (TIP): Police apprehended a 19-year-oldstudent accused of fatally shooting a Texas Tech Universitypolice officer+ at the campus police station Monday night.

University officials issued an alert saying the suspect wastaken into custody and that the campus lockdown order hadbeen lifted.

In an earlier statement, the university identified thesuspect as Hollis Daniels.

University spokesman Chris Cook said that campuspolice made a student welfare check Monday evening and —upon entering the room — found evidence of drugs anddrug paraphernalia. Officers then brought the suspect tothe police station for standard debriefing.

While at the station, Cook said the suspect pulled out agun and shot an officer in the head, killing him. The suspectthen fled on foot before being apprehended a short timelater.

Texas Tech officials initially issued a lockdown alert tostudents on social media, urging those on campus ``to takeshelter in a safe location."

Additional information was not immediately available.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement about the

shooting late Monday, saying "hearts go out to the family ofthe police officer killed." Abbott also said he had mobilizedstate law enforcement resources to aid in the investigation.(AP)

The new proposal would impact immigrants, as well as alllawful permanent residents and naturalized American citizens

including members of Congress like Jayapal, Kihuen, andKrishnamoorthi

DALLAS (TIP): The Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian FilmFestival (DFW SAFF), created by New York and Dallas-basedarts and entertainment company JINGO Media, was honoredat the Texas Governor's Small Business Forum with the "MostInnovative Small Business of 2017" Award. Organized andhosted by the US-India Chamber of Commerce (DFW), theGovernor's Small Business Forum also recognized three otherNorth Texas small businesses in different categories: TechStarGroup, B12 Consulting and NectarOM.

DFW SAFF was created three years ago to promote theperspectives and voices of the South Asian communitythrough cinema. Founder and festival director Jitin Hingoranisaid: "We are truly honored and humbled to receive this awardfrom Governor Greg Abbott. This is a testament to our strongDFW community, who has embraced our film festival withopen arms and fills out theaters to capacity year-after-year.India is known for its Bollywood films, but we want to createan appreciation for the smaller, independent gems that maynever see the light of day, if it were not for festivals like ours."

The 4th annual DFW SAFF will take place from February 8to 11, 2018, at the AMC Village on the Parkway in Addison,Texas, and it will showcase more than 20 shorts,documentaries and feature films from South Asia. In additionto international and Texas premieres, the festival will alsohost workshops, networking events and a VIP red carpetreception for its invited filmmakers and actors from all over

the world. "We had a lot of nominees this year for the 'MostInnovative Business' Award," says NeelGonuguntla, Presidentof the US-India Chamber of Commerce (DFW). "But DFWSAFF has built a truly innovative business model that leads tocommunity integration through the universally-loved art formof cinema."

Indian American's Endeavor recognized as the'Most Innovative Small Business of 2017'

(From L to R): Nisha Bhatt, Festival Coordinator; JitinHingorani, Founder & Festival Director; Ambica Dev, Artistic

Director. Photo Credit: Amrit Kirpalani

I'm not quitting, I’m notgetting fired: White House

chief of staffWASHINGTON (TIP): The retired

general brought in to instill order at achaotic White House made a rare publicappearance Thursday to declare he'sstaying in his post — and to insist that thepresident's volatile Twitter feed wasn'tmaking his job harder.

"Unless things change, I'm not quitting,I'm not getting fired and I don't think I'llfire anyone tomorrow," chief of staff JohnKelly told reporters during a surpriseshowing at the daily White Housebriefing. "I don't think I'm being firedtoday, and I'm not so frustrated in this jobthat I'm thinking of leaving."

The extraordinary statement drew a bitof laughter, but it reflected ongoingturmoil in the top ranks of a White Houseriven by staff changes, internal feuds andreports that Kelly is growing increasinglyfrustrated in his position.

Trump, in turn, has at times chafed atKelly's efforts to reign in the freewheeling,open-door style that marked his businesscareer and early months in the WhiteHouse. The president has taken to leavingthe Oval Office at times to engage aides,solicit opinions and re-create theunfettered feeling he has told allies hemisses, according to two people who havespoken recently to the president but werenot authorized to discuss privateconversations. Kelly pushed back againstrecent reports that he and Trump wereclashing but acknowledged he hasorganized the White House more tightlyand changed how people interact with thepresident.

"I restrict no one, by the way, from goingin to see him," Kelly said. "But when we goin to see him now, rather than the onesiesand twosies, we go in and help himcollectively understand what — what heneeds to understand to make these vital

decisions."Kelly called his chief of staff position

the hardest and the most important jobhe's ever held — but not the best one. Thatwould be enlisted Marine sergeantinfantryman.

Kelly's 23-minute appearance, the latestin a series of public proclamations ofloyalty to Trump from his underlings,underscored the challenges he facesworking for an ideologically flexible andat times bellicose president.

He said he hoped for a diplomaticsolution to the North Korea crisis eventhough Trump has ridiculed the notion.He insisted that the White House "willstand with those American citizens inPuerto Rico until the job is done" justhours after Trump appeared to threaten toend relief efforts to the hurricane-ravagedisland. And he denied that Trump'simpulsive and sometimes inflammatorytweets made his job more difficult butinsisted he made no effort to curb them.

Kelly said he's read that "I've been afailure at controlling the president, or a

failure at controlling his tweeting, and allthat." But he added that he was "notbrought to this job to control anything butthe flow of information to our president,so that he can make the best decisions."

Despite Kelly's public proclamations,there have been moments of frictionbetween the men.

Trump has grown irritated with someof the restrictions placed on him by Kellyand has vented to friends that he does notlike the media depiction of the chief ofstaff cleaning up a dysfunctional WhiteHouse, according to the people who havespoken with him.

Kelly, meanwhile, has been dismayed byTrump's sniping at fellow Republicansand his focus on culture war issues, likeNFL players kneeling during the nationalanthem, that distract from his legislativeagenda. But the chief of staff insisted thatwidely-shared photos of him appearingfrustrated during Trump's speeches —including one that depicted him with hishead in his hands during the president'saddress to the U.N. (AP)

14 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017INDIA

RSS RULES OUT WOMENENTRY INTO ‘SHAKHAS’

NEW DELHI (TIP): The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) has categorically dismissed reports that it wasconsidering entry of women in “shakhas”—its dailymeetings. In a series of tweets from its official handle, theBJP’s ideological fountainhead termed reports quoting chiefspokesperson Manmohan Vaidya “deliberately concocted”and “baseless”.

“Deliberately concocted baseless reports appeared insome media that the RSS will consider entry of women inshakhas.”

“What Dr Vaidya said was that the RSS works with onlymen in shakhas and through them, we connect with theirfamilies. Shakha work among women is being conducted byRashtra Sevika Samiti.”

"In all programmes and campaigns in society women arealso participating. Women create an atmosphere ofcooperation in families to support the RSS," the Hinduorganisation said on the issue that became viral afterCongress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's observations on thepresence of women in the sangh

Aiming to target the BJP and the RSS in poll-boundGujarat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had told agathering that the saffron party was not interested inwomen’s rights. “How many women are in the RSS? Haveyou ever seen women in shorts working with the RSS? I havenever seen. You see women in the Congress all the time. Inthe RSS, you will never see women. God knows whatmistakes women have committed that they cannot be a partof the RSS,” he said.

Rahul’s words, specifically those related to shorts, invitedsevere condemnation from BJP leaders, who asked him toapologise for “indecent and derogatory” remarks.

Specifically on this point, Vaidya was quoted as saying: “Itis like going to a men’s hockey match and trying to look forwomen players. If you want to see women players, you haveto go to a women’s hockey match.”

“The RSS only had camps for men, but this did not mean itdid not work with women,” he added. Notably, the RashtraSevika Samiti is its parallel organisation, also referred to asits “women wing”.

MALLYA EXTRADITION: INDIAHAS TO REPLY BY NOV 3

NEW DELHI (TIP): India has to reply to the defenceevidence before November 3 in the Vijay Mallya extraditioncase, the hearing for which is scheduled to begin in a UKcourt on December 4.

MEA spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said it has beententatively decided to hold the extradition hearing inDecember at the case management review meeting betweenIndian and UK officials on July 6.

"The extradition request in respect of Vijay Mallya washanded over to UK high commission in New Delhi onFebruary 9, 2017. Mallya was arrested and produced beforethe Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on April 1 8,2017 for extradition hearing and granted conditional bail."India had given in some defence evidence to the UK CrownProsecution Service at the second review meeting onSeptember 14, the MEA spokesperson said.

Mallya was re-arrested on October 4 after the UK CrownProsecution Service, on India's behalf, filed a supplementaryaffidavit, with additional charges of money launderingagainst the liquor baron. However, since the bail conditionsremained the same, Mallya was out by the end of the day.Kumar said a "pre-trial case review" will be held onNovember 20, while the extradition hearing will be onDecember 4. Extradition processes can go on for years. TheDecember hearing will only be the first.

ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS INHIMACHAL ON NOV 9,

RESULT ON DEC 18NEW DELHI (TIP): The Himachal

Pradesh Assembly elections will beconducted in a single phase onNovember 9 while the counting of voteswill take place on December 18, theElection Commission announced today.

The commission, however, chose todefer the announcement of the pollschedule for Gujarat although the tenureof the state Assembly ends on January22, just two weeks after that ofHimachal.

Chief Election Commissioner AKJoti, though, indicated that Gujaratwould go to the polls before December 18.“This is being done to ensure the votingpattern of one state does not affect theother,” he said.

Asked why elections in Gujarat were notannounced simultaneously, Joti said, “Wehave received communication from thestate government about ongoing relief andrehabilitation operations following thefloods. The administration has soughttime before being fully prepared for theelections.”

Joti said elections to the two states wereannounced separately in the past too. “Themodel code of conduct comes into forceimmediately,” said Joti, who was flankedby Election Commissioners OP Rawat andSunil Arora. As per rules, the code will beapplicable for the state government as wellas the Centre in matters related toHimachal. The poll notification will be

issued on October 16.For the first time ever, the Election

Commission will set up 136 all-womanmanaged polling booths in Himachal,with each constituency having two ofthem. Also, Himachal will be the secondstate after Goa where voting will takeplace with 100 per cent VVPAT (voterverified paper trail) coverage. The paper

trail machines will be deployed along withEVMs at all 7,521 polling stations,including 42 auxiliary polling stations atremote places.

The Chief Election Commissioner saidVVPAT machines from one polling boothin each of the 68 Assembly segments willbe tallied with EVM results to check thevote count.

Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti announcing the schedule for the HimachalPradesh Assembly elections, at a press conference in New Delhi.

‘From beti bachao it’s now aboutAmit Shah ka beta bachao’

NEW DELHI (TIP): The poll-boundstate of Gujarat on Tuesday saw a high-pitched battle as Rahul Gandhi slammedthe BJP government in the state and theCentre stating that the saffron party hadduped the people of the state by notfulfilling its promises and giving all themoney to industrialists.

On a three-day tour of Gujarat, theCongress vice-president stepped up hisattack on Prime Minister NarendraModi over the alleged business dealingsof BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay, askinghim if he was a "partner" in the "theft".

He said that the BJP had made tallpromises at the time of election butscored a zero when it comes todeliverables. The Gandhi scion sought toplay up issues like farmers' crisis,demonetisation, and lack of jobs in theprime minister's home state.

"How much money did you get in yourhomes out of the so-called Gujaratmodel of development?" Gandhi asked acheering crowd in Vadodara. Gandhialso criticised the state government overthe issue of high debt.

"The debt of Gujarat has reached Rs 2lakh crore. Despite taking so much debtfor development works, there has beenno improvement in the condition offarmers and the poor," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader began day two of

his 'Navsarjan Yatra' in central Gujaratregion by addressing students inVadodara. He made a stop at Padravillage in Vadodara after which heinteracted with Anganwadi workers andKhadi India showroom workers atKarjan.

Gandhi also visited Dabhoi and theninteracted with people displaced due tothe Sardar Sarovar Dam in Pansoli.Gandhi also decided to participate in thetraditional Timli dance with the localsin Chota Udaipur, his last stop for theday. The Congress vice-president, whowas on the second leg of his campaigntour in the poll-bound home state ofModi, frequently raked up the issue ofJay's business dealings to target the

prime minister as well as Shah at about10 small and big public meetings that headdressed throughout the day.

He also criticised Union ministers andBJP leaders who defended the BJPchief's son, saying that they shouldchange the name of the government'sflagship scheme for the girl child —"BetiBachao, Beti Padhao" — to "Amit Shahke bete ko bachao (save Amit Shah'sson)".

"A theft has taken place in front of theeyes of the chowkidar (watchman), butyou are silent. The question is are you awatchman or a partner?" Gandhiquestioned, attacking Modi over a reportpublished in news portal The Wirewhere it claimed that a firm owned byJay saw a huge rise in turnover after theBJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.

Gandhi's comments were a mockery ofModi's comments made at his publicmeetings during the 2014 Lok Sabhacampaign. Modi used to say that he didnot want to become the prime ministerbut a 'chowkidar' of people's wealth.

"The company was formed six toseven years ago. Modiji came (to powerin 2014) and launched 'Start up India','Make in India'. He then introduceddemonetisation and GST. This destroyedsmall businesses and farmers," Gandhitold the gathering.

KEJRIWAL’S ‘AAM AADMI’ CARSTOLEN; AAP LEADERANNOUNCES REWARD

NEW DELHI (TIP): A creaky Wagon R, used by DelhiChief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till the 2015 assemblyelection and which helped cement his position as the "aamaadmi", was on Thursday stolen from outside the DelhiSecretariat, police said.

A senior police officer said the incident happened justbefore noon and was reported to the police around 1 pm. Thecar was parked on the roadside outside the Delhi Secretariat.

The incident has outraged AAP workers, many of whomposted videos of Kejriwal using the car, especially during the2014 Republic Day, after he became the chief minister ofDelhi for the first time.

AAP's Haryana convener Naveen Jaihind has announcedan undisclosed amount as reward for whoever finds thevehicle.

Jaihind had sought the "lucky car" for his campaigningwhen he contested the 2014 Lok Sabha poll from Rohtak.

“I want this car back. There are a lot of emotions,memories attached to it. Whoever returns the car, I will givehim a suitable reward, which will be much more than whathe will get from selling the car," Jaihind said.

Like Jaihind, many AAP volunteers recollect the "iconic"car for it witnessed the ups and downs of the Aam AadmiParty.

The car was witness to two assembly election wins in 2013and 2015 and also to the party's poor performance in the LokSabha polls.

It was "donated" to Kejriwal by Kundan Sharma, asoftware engineer, in January 2013. However, when Kejriwalparted ways with his then party colleagues PrashantBhushan and Yogendra Yadav, Sharma demanded that thevehicle be returned.

Even after Kejriwal became the chief minister inDecember 2013, he refused to use an official car andpreferred his old Wagon-R.

AAP volunteers recall the blue car which had rust anddents on it, giving refuge to a sick Kejriwal, suffering fromsevere cough and cold on a nippy January night in 2014,when he staged a 'dharna' outside the Rail Bhawan againstthe Delhi Police.

The humble hatchback was used by an AAP functionarybefore it was stolen this afternoon.

OFFICIAL ‘DISRESPECTS’NATIONAL ANTHEM IN J-K;STUDENTS, PROTEST

JAMMU (TIP): A student was injured after policeallegedly lathi-charged students and staff of a school inJammu and Kashmir for protesting against a governmentofficial, who, they claimed, disrespected the national anthemplaying there.

The incident happened at Government Model Boys’Higher Secondary School in Kishtwar town on Thursdaywhere assistant commissioner (revenue) (ACR), MohammedSyed Khan had come on a raid to check absenteeism.

However, the national anthem was playing when Khanarrived, and showing least respect, he entered the principal’soffice, took the attendance register and started leaving, whensome teachers asked him to show some respect to the anthemin front of the students, especially as he was a publicservant.

On hearing this, Khan lost his cool and allegedly abusedthe teachers, which in turn angered the students, whoshouted slogans and staged a protest with the teachers.

One of the students said police later came inside theschool and lathi-charged the protesting students andteachers.

15INDIA THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Sex with minor wife, despiteconsent, is rape: Apex court

NEW DELHI (TIP): The SupremeCourt on Oct 11 held that sexualintercourse by a man with his wife, whois below 18 years of age, is rape.

A girl child below the age of 18 cannotbe treated as a commodity having no sayover her body or someone who has noright to deny sexual intercourse to herhusband, the Supreme Court held.

“Human rights of a girl child are verymuch alive and kicking whether she ismarried or not and deserve recognitionand acceptance,” a Bench of JusticesMadan B. Lokur and Deepak Guptaobserved.

The two judges wrote separatejudgments totalling 127 pages. The courtread down Exception 2 to Section 375(rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),which allowed the husband of a girlchild — between 15 and 18 years of age— blanket liberty and freedom to havenon-consensual sexual intercourse withher. Her willingness or consent was ofno concern. The husband in such caseswas not punished for rape.

The exception had remained ananomaly because Section 375 itselfmandated that sex with a girl below 18years of age, with or without herconsent, was statutory rape. Anunmarried girl child can prosecute herrapist, but a married girl child agedbetween 15 and 18 could not even do that,Justice Lokur said, pointing out theinjustice.

“A child remains a child whether sheis described as a street child or asurrendered child or an abandoned childor an adopted child. Similarly, a childremains a child whether she is amarried child or an unmarried child ora divorced child or a separated orwidowed child. At this stage we arereminded of Shakespeare’s eternal viewthat a rose by any other name wouldsmell as sweet — so also with the statusof a child, despite any prefix,” JusticeLokur wrote.

The court, however, refrained fromdealing with the issue of marital rape ofa woman aged above 18.

With this judgment, considered byexperts as trigger to declaring childmarriage void ab initio, the court ended

the decades-old disparity betweenException 2 to Section 375 IPC and otherchild protection laws.

These include the Prohibition ofChild Marriage Act of 2006, Protectionof Children from Sexual Offences Actand Juvenile Justice Act, all whichdefine a “child” as someone who is below18 years of age.

The court held that the exceptionclause to rape, carved out in the IPC,created an unnecessary and artificialdistinction between a married girl childand an unmarried girl child. The clausetook away the right of a girl child tobodily integrity and reproductivechoice. It had even the effect of turning ablind eye to trafficking of the minor girlchildren in the guise of marriage.

India ranked 100th among119 as hunger gets worseNEW DELHI (TIP): Grappling with a

"serious" hunger problem, India has beenranked 100th among 119 developingcountries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI),behind North Korea, Bangladesh and eventhe besieged Iraq, but ahead of Pakistan,according to a report.

India was ranked 97th last year. Thecountry's hunger problem is driven by highchild malnutrition, and underlines the needfor stronger commitment to the social sector,the International Food Policy ResearchInstitute (IFPRI) said in its report.

"India... has the third highest score in allof Asia — only Afghanistan and Pakistanare ranked worse," IFPRI said in astatement.

An increase in GHI indicates theworsening of a country's hunger situation."At 31.4, India's 2017 GHI score is at the highend of the 'serious' category, and one of themain factors pushing South Asia to thecategory of worst performing region thisyear, followed closely by Africa South of theSahara," it added. Among India'sneighbouring countries, China ranks thehighest at 29; Nepal has been ranked 72,Myanmar 77, Sri Lanka 84, Bangladesh 88,Pakistan 106 and Afghanistan 107. NorthKorea ranks 93rd, and Iraq 78th. Now in its12th year, the GHI ranks countries based onfour indicators — undernourishment, childmortality, child wasting and child stunting.

IFPRI said more than a fifth of Indianchildren aged below five weighed too littlefor their height and over a third were too

short for their age. "As of 2015-16, more thana fifth (21%) of children... suffer fromwasting (low-weight-for- height) — up from20% in 2005-2006," IFPRI said. Only threeother nations — Djibouti, SL and SouthSudan — show child wasting above 20%thisyear

HIGHLIGHTS India was ranked 97th last year.

China ranks the highest at 29

Nepal has been ranked 72

Myanmar 77

Sri Lanka 84

Bangladesh 88,

Pakistan 106

Afghanistan 107

GAUTAMBAMBAWALEINDIA'S NEXTAMBASSADORTO CHINA

NEW DELHI (TIP):

Seasoned diplomat GautamBambawale, India's highcommissioner to Pakistan,was on Thursday appointedas the country's next envoy toChina.

This was announcedtonight by the externalaffairs ministry.

A 1984 India ForeignService (IFS) officer,Bambawale is expected totake up the assignmentshortly, the ministry said.

He will replace VijayGokhale.

A deft hand in Sino-Indiarelations, Bambawale optedto learn Mandarin Chineseas his foreign language andserved in Hong Kong andBeijing between 1985 and1991.

He was first the deskofficer for China in theMinistry of External Affairsand served as director in theAmericas Division of theministry, responsible forrelations with the US andCanada (1993-94).

Source: PTI

16 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017INDIANS ABROAD

Indian American Announcescandidacy for Cambridge City CouncilCAMBRIDGE CITY (TIP): Hari I.

Pillai an Indian Americanannouncedhis candidacy for the Cambridge CityCouncil's elections on November 7. Theengineer lived in Cambridge for the last5 years, and currently lives at Alewife.

He was born/raised in the MississippiDelta to Indian immigrants whomigrated here during the '60s. Aftercompleting his BS in Engineering atMississippi State University, Hari movedto Troy, New York, for MS in Engineeringat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)in '97. While at RPI, he became aGraduate Student Senator, taught thenon-traditional Navy studentsDifferential Equations/Calculus in RPI'sExtension Program in Malta, New York,and volunteered at Zoller ElementarySchool in Schenectady.

Right after completing his Master'sDegree in Engineering, Hari worked atGE Power Systems as a Process andQuality Engineer, and eventually movedto the Boston Area. Over the years, hiscareer would meander more or less toother areas, including being a tutor,health and wellness coach at the OakSquare YMCA, and in the last few years,he has been an Account Manager in theTechnology Sector.

"Outside my career, I've involvedmyself in many campaigns for local,state, and federal elections, and did a lotof volunteer work as a MassachusettsService Alliance grant reviewer,mentoring young kids, and volunteer atMassachusetts Correctional Institution -Shirley to promote mindfulness and to

cultivate spiritual practices usingBuddhism as a vehicle. At my work, I'ma member of African AmericanBusiness Leaders for Excellence(ABLE), Asian American ProfessionalGroup, and Pride in addition tomentoring and coaching junioremployees", he wrote on his website.

Hari said his top priorities are:1. Maintaining Cambridge's

uniqueness and not selling-out onour values just for more economicgrowth. I strongly believe that,holistically, we can have strongeconomic growth and a healthybudget and still be true to our values

in a way that preserves our uniquecharacteristics.

2. The Trump Administration's visionof hate has no place here. I offer mycandidacy to be a counterpoint to thevalues of this administration.

3. Lack of shared parking in Alewifeand other parts of Cambridge.Shared parking is a more efficientparking schema, can reducegreenhouse emissions, and optimizethe traffic flow through the parkinglot.

4. Address our dismal internetservices in Cambridge. Why isCambridge's estimates forcommunity broadband much moreexpensive than other cities? Myexperience as an account managerwith Project Management andnegotiating experiences wouldensure that I could add value to theBroadband Commission that wehave set up.

5. Volpe Redevelopment Project - I'magainst MITIMCO's currentproposals of this.

6. Increased Voter Turnout - ForCambridge's municipal elections,like the one we're about to have onNovember 7th, the turnout is only~25%. Just a few decades ago, therate was more than 70% (see chartbelow). We must do something toincrease this. I'd like to see us havingmunicipal elections on even years,and this would increase the numberof voters by 40%. Democracy worksbest when all voices are heard.

Hari was born/raised in the MississippiDelta to Indian immigrants

Indian American Neal KatyalHonored with 'The AmericanCourage Award 2017'

WASHINGTON (TIP): Asian Americans AdvancingJustice | AAJC celebrated its 2017 American Courage Awardsto recognize and celebrate individuals, groups, andcorporations for their commitment and contributions to civilrights, on October 5, 2017. Prominent Supreme Court attorneyNeal K. Katyal is amongthis year's honorees.

Neal K. Katyal, former Acting Solicitor General of theUnited States and is the representing attorney for the state ofHawaii in its challenge to the President's Muslim ban, receivedthe American Courage Award. The honor is for an individualwho has shown extraordinary courage or commitment to civilrights. Neal's prolific body of work includes defending theconstitutionality of the Voting Rights Act and defending therule of law and due process in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.

At the age of 47, Katyal has already argued more SupremeCourt cases than any other minority attorney in U.S. history,except for Thurgood Marshall, with whom he is currently tied.Neal is best known for his work as lead counsel for theGuantanamo Bay detainees in the landmark decision Hamdanv. Rumsfeld, and for successfully defending theconstitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 2011,Katyal led efforts to issue a confession of error by the SolicitorGeneral's office, formally acknowledging and apologizing forits role in Korematsu v. United States. Recently, Katyal servedas the lead attorney for the state of Hawaii's challenge to thePresident's travel ban. It is clear from his work that he has apersonal as well as professional commitment to theadvancement of civil rights.

Katyal was deemed "one of the finest lawyers who hasargued before a court," by Chief Justice John Roberts. In 2011,Neal received the highest award given to a civilian by the U.S.Department of Justice, the Edmund Randolph Award. Nealhas also served as a law professor for nearly two decades atGeorgetown University Law Center, where he was one of theyoungest professors to have received tenure and a chairedprofessorship in the university's history. He also fought tooverturn the patents held by Myriad Genetics that could helpdiagnose breast cancer winning a unanimous Supreme Courtdecision,

Indian American Nisha DesaiBiswal Appointed President ofU.S.-India Business Council

WASHINGTON (TIP): The U.S. Chamber of Commerceannounced that Nisha Desai Biswal has been appointedPresident of the U.S.-India Business Council. "We are thrilledto welcome Nisha Biswal to the U.S.-India Business Counciland to the U.S. Chamber team," said Myron Brilliant, U.S.Chamber executive vice president and head of InternationalAffairs. "She is a driven, visionary leader who has a strong

contd on Page 48

In 2011, Neal received the highest award given to a civilian bythe U.S. Department of Justice

Indian American Professor GrantedNIH 'New Innovator' Award

NEW YORK (TIP): The NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH) has selectedthe laboratory of Indian AmericanNeville Sanjana, an assistant professorin NYU's Department of Biology and anassistant professor of neuroscience andphysiology at NYU School of Medicine,for its "New Innovator" Award. He wasgranted $2.9 million to use a series ofnew technologies - including CRISPRgenome editing and single-cell RNAsequencing - to better understandtranscriptional regulation;

The grant will enable Sanjana, CoreFaculty Member at the New YorkGenome Center, and his team tointerrogate the noncoding regions of thegenome, which is 98 percent of thehuman genome. Utilizing advancedgenome engineering and high-throughput sequencing, the Sanjana Labaims to identify the sequences andproteins that govern gene expression.

The award of nearly $2.9 million overfive years will support the Sanjana Lab'swork in deciphering the logic of generegulation through the development ofnew tools for targeted, precisemodifications to the genome. These newgenome engineering methods includetechniques for denser coverage ofnoncoding regions, scaling up geneticscreens, building multidimensionalreadouts of noncoding function, andidentifying the DNA-binding proteinsthat are found near functional elements.Using this gene editing toolbox, the

Sanjana Lab will test hypotheses thatlink sequence changes in noncodingregions to relevant biologicalphenotypes, such as therapeuticresistance in cancer and thedevelopment of cortical neurons duringearly embryogenesis.

In his proposal to the NIH, Sanjanadescribed his long-term goal to constructa catalog of all functional elements inthe noncoding genome and to map theirinteractions in healthy and diseasestates. His proposal leverages both

established and newly-characterizedCRISPR enzymes to build a platform forunderstanding how noncoding DNA andtranscription factors come together ingene regulation. According to Sanjana,"Although our research into thenoncoding genome is rooted in basicscience questions, the aim is to generateclinically relevant and actionablediscoveries regarding cancer evolutionand treatment, as we have donepreviously with functional screens in thecoding genome."

Professor Neville Sanjana, core faculty member at the New York Genome Center,assistant professor of biology, New York University, and assistant professor of

neuroscience and physiology at NYU School of Medicine, with a Sanjana Lab teammember. Image courtesy of the New York Genome Center.

Biswal will join the U.S. Chamber beginning October 23, 2017

17WORLDTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

EU says little progress made in Brexit talks with Britain

BRUSSELS (TIP): Brexit talks havemade little progress, the EuropeanUnion's negotiator said on Thursday,meaning he cannot yet recommendbroadening the negotiations beyond thefocus on the terms of Britain's exit toinclude key issues such as future traderelations.

Michel Barnier said that despite the"constructive spirit" shown in thisweek's fifth round of talks, "we haven'tmade any great steps forward." On thequestion of how much Britain has to payto settle its financial commitments, hesaid: "We have reached a state ofdeadlock, which is disturbing."

Barnier said he would not be able torecommend to EU leaders meeting nextweek that "sufficient progress" has beenmade to broaden the talks to future EU-British relations, including trade.

The leaders meet in Brussels on Oct.19-20, and with time short to seal a deal ithad been hoped they would agree towiden the talks.

The EU says this can only happenwhen there has been progress on theissues of the financial settlement, therights of citizens affected by Brexit andthe status of the Northern Ireland-Ireland border.

But Britain says these issues areclosely intertwined with their futurerelations like trade and must bediscussed together.

"I hope the member states will see theprogress we have made and take a stepforward" next week, British Brexitenvoy David Davis told reporters.

"We would like them to give Michelthe means to broaden the negotiations.It's up to them whether they do it.Clearly I think it's in the interests of the

United Kingdom and the EuropeanUnion that they do," Davis said.

Barnier said the two sides would workto achieve "sufficient progress" in timefor a subsequent meeting of EU leadersin December.

Britain must leave the EU on March29, 2019, but the negotiations must becompleted within about a year to leavetime for EU states' national parliamentsto ratify the Brexit agreement.

Many businesses are worried thatBritain could leave the EU without atrade deal in place, which would meantariffs on U.K. goods entering, reams ofred tape and chaos at ports. The poundfell Thursday on news of the slowprogress, trading 0.6 percent lower at$1.3145.

European estimates on the size of thedivorce bill have varied from around 60billion euros to 100 billion euros ($70-120billion), but Prime Minister TheresaMay's government has rejected suchnumbers without clearly explaining how

the amount should be calculated."The UK repeated that it was still not

ready to spell out these commitments,"Barnier said. "There have therefore beenno negotiations on this subject."

With the clock ticking, Barnierreaffirmed that parting with "no dealwill be a very bad deal."

"To be clear, on our side, we will beready to face any eventualities, and allthe eventualities," he said.

The British government is underpressure from euroskeptic lawmakers toincrease planning for a "no deal" Brexit,in which the U.K. leaves the bloc withouta trade agreement.

Pro-Brexit lawmakers are urgingMay's government to set aside money fornew customs posts and otherinfrastructure that would be needed inthe event of no deal. Some even sayBritain should walk away from thenegotiations if the EU does not agree tostart the next phase by the end of theyear. (AP)

UK defence giant BAE Systemsto cut almost 2,000 jobs afterTyphoon orders slow

LONDON (TIP): British defence company BAE Systemsannounced nearly 2,000 job cuts on Tuesday, mostly at itsmilitary aircraft operations after orders for its Typhoonfighter jet slowed.

The job losses are part of a shake up by Charles Woodburn,who took over as chief executive in July and plans tostreamline the business and revamp its air and maritimeoperations.

The Eurofighter Typhoon jet has won fewer orders this yearthan the rival Rafale built by France's Dassault Aviation , as amajor order expected from Saudi Arabia has not materialised,although Qatar agreed to buy 24 Typhoons in September.

Britain's Unite union said it would fight the "devastatinglyshort sighted" job losses as BAE said it will also cut around 375jobs at its maritime operations and 150 roles at its AppliedIntelligence business, as part of a reorganisation designed tobe make the business more competitive.

The group, which employs 34,600 people in Britain, hasalready slowed production at two of its plants in Lancashire,northern England, which are involved in making the Typhoonjet.

Based on current orders for its Typhoon and Hawk aircraft,BAE said it needed to reduce the workforce at the unit by up to1,400 roles.

BAE's Warton and Samlesbury plants will suffer the bruntof the losses as around 5,000 people there work on the Typhoonprogramme, which is a joint project between BAE, France'sAirbus and Italy's Finmeccanica.

Unite stood ready to fight the job losses."These planned job cuts will not only undermine Britain's

sovereign defence capability, but devastate communitiesacross the UK who rely on these skilled jobs and the hope of adecent future they give to future generations," Unite'sAssistant General Secretary Steve Turner said.

BAE said in August that any new orders were unlikely toimpact production delivery rates positively for at least 24months, and production would be under constant review.

"We obviously have to review our (Typhoon) productiondemand very carefully," Woodburn said in August.

However, he said he remained confident about future ordersfor the aircraft. (Reuters)

Hate crimes targeting mosques,Muslims doubled in UK: Report

LONDON (TIP): Violence, assaults, arson and other hatecrimes targeting mosques and Muslims more than doubledacross the UK this year, a media report said today, quotinglatest official figures.

Police forces recorded 110 hate crimes directed at Muslimplaces of worship between March and July, up from 47 over thesame six month period in 2016, the Independent reported.

It said the crimes include racist abuse, threats to bombmosques, attacks on mosques and worshippers, damage tovehicles outside mosques, graffiti daubed on buildings, arsonattacks and physical assaults on Muslims arriving and leavingmosques.

Describing the figures as "deeply troubling", Britain'sshadow home secretary Diane Abbott said attacks on anyreligious group or minority are abominable.

"We have seen a rise in anti-Muslim extremism and far-rightactivity online, with a very slow, dinosaur approach fromsocial media companies to take off hate, and an utter denialfor three or four years that this was their responsibility," saidFiyaz Mughal, Director of Faith Matters which works toincrease community cohesion. "They are now taking steps, butthey are baby steps." The latest data was obtained throughFreedom of Information requests made to 45 UK police forces.The figures, based on 42 responses, showed that 25 forces sawan increase in hate crimes directed at mosques, the paper said.

The biggest increase was reported by Greater ManchesterPolice and the second largest increase was in London.

Threats, harassment and other intimidating behaviouroutside mosques more than tripled across the country, from 14crimes in 2016 to 49 in 2017, the paper said.

Violent crime against Muslims attending mosques morethan doubled from five recorded crimes in 2016 to 11 crimes in2017. Crimes recorded as vandalism or criminal damageincreased from 12 in 2016 to 15 in 2017, it added.

A record number of anti-Semitic crimes were also reportedin the UK in the first six months of this year, with 767incidents recorded, according to the Community SecurityTrust. (PTI)

Spanish PM demands clarity fromCatalonia on independence

MADRID (TIP): Spanish PrimeMinister Mariano Rajoy demanded onWednesday that the Catalan leaderclarify whether he has declaredindependence, issuing a veiled threatthat the central government could limitor rescind the province's autonomy if hehas.

He said the Catalan government'sresponse would be crucial in deciding"events over the coming days."

It is the first time that Rajoy hasopenly said that Article 155 of theSpanish constitution will be the nextstep taken by the government if Catalanauthorities don't backtrack. He said thegovernment "wants to offer certainty tocitizens" and that it is "necessary toreturn tranquility and calm."

Rajoy issued the demand following aspecial Cabinet meeting to respond to anannouncement from the head of thewealthy Catalonia region, CarlesPuigdemont, that he was proceedingwith a declaration of independence butwas suspending it for several weeks tofacilitate negotiations.

In a highly anticipated speechTuesday night, Puigdemont said thelandslide victory in a disputed October 1referendum gave his government in theregional capital, Barcelona, the grounds

to implement its long-held desire tobreak century-old ties with Spain.

But he proposed that the regionalparliament suspend the effects of thedeclaration to commence a dialogue andhelp reduce tension, in what is Spain'sworst political crisis in decades. Thecentral government in Madrid has givenlittle indication it is willing to talk,saying it did not accept the declarationand did not consider the referendum or

its results to be valid.Spanish Deputy Prime Minister

Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said theCatalan leader "doesn't know where heis, where he is going and with whom hewants to go."

She said Puigdemont had putCatalonia "in the greatest level ofuncertainty seen yet."

Article 155 of the Constitution allowsthe central government to take some ortotal control of any of its 17 regions ifthey don't comply with their legalobligations. This would begin with aCabinet meeting and a warning to theregional government to fall into line.Then, the Senate could be called toapprove the measure.

Some 2.3 million Catalans -- or 43 percent of the electorate in thenortheastern region -- voted in thereferendum. Regional authorities say 90per cent were in favour and declared theresults valid. Those who opposed thereferendum had said they would boycottthe vote.

Rajoy's government had repeatedlyrefused to grant Catalonia permission tohold a referendum on the grounds that itwas unconstitutional, since it wouldonly poll a portion of Spain's 46 millionresidents. (AP)

18 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017WORLD

Sushma Swaraj helps citizen of'time tested friend' Russia

NEW DELHI (TIP): Taking note of a news report about aRussian tourist seeking alms at a temple in Tamil Nadu afterhe reportedly ran out of money, external affairs ministerSushma Swaraj on Tuesday offered him "all help."

"Evangelin - Your country Russia is our time tested friend.My officials in Chennai will provide you all help," tweetedSwaraj.

The 24-year-old tourist, Evangelin, was unable to withdrawmoney after his ATM PIN got locked. With no other way out,he decided to sit at the entrance of the Kumarakottam SriSubramanya Swami temple and use his cap to seek alms.

Alerted by locals, the police took him to the police station,where they found his travel documents to be in order. His visais valid until next month.

The police gave him some money and advised him to go toChennai and contact officials at the Russian Consulate forhelp. The minister has long used social media to come to theaid of those in ne ed of help, including those living across theborder. (PTI)

China opposes US move to sendits warship in South China Sea

BEIJING (TIP): China has lodged a strong protest againstthe United States over the entry of an American warship inthe South China Sea. China regards a major part of the sea asits territory though there are contesting claims by four othercountries, including Vietnam and the Philippines

The US decision to send Chafee, a guided-missile destroyer,is seen as an attempt to counter what Washington regards asChinese efforts to establish its hegemony over the region andreduce American influence over the strategic waters.

The American vessel conducted normal manoeuvringoperations near the Paracel Islands, and a string of islets,reefs and shoals in the sea area.

China immediately dispatched military vessels and tried tochallenge the entry of the US destroyer, local reports said.

The US move infringed upon China's sovereignty andsecurity with its "provocation", China's Defense Ministry said.A warship, two fighter jets and a helicopter had scrambled towarn the US ship away, it said. (PTI)

Saudi woman booked for drivingbefore lifting of ban

RIYADH (TIP): Saudi police have penalised a womanfilmed driving a car, a spokesman said Monday, warningagainst violations of a ban on female drivers set to be liftednext June.

Authorities summoned the woman and booked her forflouting traffic regulations after she appeared in a videodriving out of a luxury hotel in the capital Riyadh.

"We call on all Saudi citizens to respect the law and waituntil the ban on women driving formally ends," the policespokesman told AFP.

He did not specify the nature of the penalty, but added thatthe woman filmed leaving the Ritz Carlton hotel had not beenarrested.

He said the owner of the car was separately booked forviolating traffic regulations.

Saudi Arabia last month said it would allow women toobtain driving permits under a royal decree to take effect inJune, sparking euphoria and disbelief among activists wholong fought the ban. (AP)

Gunman kills two guards at Saudiroyal palace

RIYADH (TIP): A gunman shot dead two Saudi guards andwounded three others at the gate of the royal palace in the RedSea city of Jeddah, the interior ministry said.

Royal guards killed the gunman, identified by the ministryas a 28-year-old Saudi national armed with a Kalashnikov andthree grenades.

"An outpost of the royal guard came under fire by a personwho got out of a Hyundai car," the ministry said in a statementon Saturday carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

"He was immediately dealt with and his cowardly act alsoresulted in the martyrdom" of two royal guards, it added.

The US embassy in Saudi Arabia had earlier cautioned itscitizens over reports of the attack. "Due to the possibility ofongoing police activity, American citizens are advised toexercise caution when travelling through the area," theembassy said in a brief statement. (AFP)

China rejects US criticism of OBORpassing through PoK

BEIJING (TIP): Claiming UNsupport for its controversial One BeltOne Road (OBOR) initiative, China onFriday rejected US criticism saying theproject has not changed its stand thatthe Kashmir issue should be resolved byIndia and Pakistan bilaterally.

"We have repeatedly reiterated thatthe China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) is an economic cooperationinitiative that is not directed againstthird parties and has nothing to do withterritorial sovereignty disputes anddoes not affect China's principled stanceon the Kashmir issue," the Chineseforeign ministry told PTI here.

The ministry was responding tocomments by US defence secretary JimMattis that the Belt and Road Initiative"also goes through disputed territory,and I think, that in itself shows thevulnerability of trying to establish thatsort of a dictate".

In a globalised world, there are manybelts and many roads, and no one nationshould put itself into a position ofdictating 'One Belt, One Road', Mattistold a Senate Armed ServicesCommittee during a Congressionalhearing on October 4.

Mattis' comments were widelyinterpreted as the US backing India'sstand on OBOR especially related to the$50 billion CPEC which is being builtthrough Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK). India has protested to China inthis regard.

Rejecting criticism that it is dictatingto the world through OBOR, theministry said it is an "importantinternational public product".

It is an important platform for Chinato cooperate with relevant countries. Itis an open and inclusive developmentplatform and more than 100 countries

and international organisationsactively supported and participated in itsince it was proposed four years ago, itsaid.

More than 70 countries andinternational organisations which havesigned cooperation agreements withChina on OBOR, including the UNGeneral Assembly and the UN SecurityCouncil, have incorporated it in theirimportant resolutions, it said.

Over 130 countries and more than 70international organisations sentrepresentatives to attend theinternational cooperation summit - 'Beltand Road Forum', organised by Chinahere in May and spoke highly of theinitiative, the ministry said.

"This fully explains that the OBORinitiative is in line with the trend of thetimes and conforms to the rules of

development and is in line with theinterests of the people of all countriesand has a broad and bright prospects fordevelopment," the ministry said.

India skipped the Belt and RoadForum due to its sovereignty concernsover the CPEC, a flagship project ofChina's prestigious Silk Road project,officially called OBOR.

The 3,000-km CPEC is aimed atconnecting China and Pakistan withrail, road, pipelines and optical fibrecable networks.It will connect Xinjiangprovince with Gwadar port, providingChina with access to the Arabian Sea.

The project, when completed, wouldenable China to route its oil suppliesfrom the Middle East through pipelinesto Xinjiang, cutting considerabledistance for Chinese ships to travel toChina. (PTI)

First Turkish military convoy entersSyria's Idlib

BEIRUT (TIP): A first convoy of themilitary operation that Turkey iscarrying out in Syria's Idlib provincecrossed into the area late on Thursday,two rebels and a witness said.

The convoy included about 30 militaryvehicles, said Abu Khairo, a commanderin a Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel groupbased in the area, and it entered Syrianear the Bab al-Hawa border crossing,according to a civilian witness.

It was heading to Sheikh Barakat, ahilltop that overlooks large areas ofrebel-held northwestern Syria, but alsothe Afrin area held by the Kurdish YPGmilitia.

The convoy was escorted by fightersfrom Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance ofjihadist groups including the former alQaeda affiliate previously known as theNusra Front, Abu Khairo said.

"The Turkish army convoy is enteringunder the protection of Tahrir al-Shamto take positions on the front line withthe YPG," another FSA official in thearea said.

Turkey said on Saturday it wascarrying out a military operation inIdlib and surrounding areas as part of a

deal it reached with Russia and Iran lastmonth to enforce a "de-escalation" zonein northwest Syria.

The zone is one of several set uparound Syria to reduce warfare betweenrebels, including groups backed byTurkey, and the government, which issupported by both Russia and Iran.

Tahrir al-Sham opposes the de-escalation deal with the government, butits role in escorting the Turkish

reconnaissance team on Sundayindicated there might not be any directmilitary confrontation between itsfighters and Turkey.

The Turkish military operation inIdlib will also include Syrian rebelgroups involved in the Euphrates Shieldoperation that Ankara launched in Syrialast year further to the east, TurkishPresident Tayyip Erdogan said onSaturday. (Reuters)



21NEW YORKTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

NEW YORK- DALLAS

MARKETING STAFF REQUIRED

We are looking for marketing persons for The IndianPanorama print editions and the web portal at a couple oflocations which include Long Island, Queens, Manhattan andBuffalo in New York,Jersey City and Edison in New Jersey,Stamford in Connecticut, Atlanta in Georgia, Houston andDallas in Texas, and Chicago in Illinois.

Persons with experience in newspaper reporting will bepreferred.

The individual must be a person with experience inmarketing and public relations, confident, independent andable to handle marketing on his/her own with minimumsupport from the management.

Compensation will be based on experience with up to 40%revenue created by the individual.

Anyone who would like to work with us part time and onthe basis of revenue sharing may email to

[email protected] or contact at 646-247-9458.

22 THEINDIANPANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017BOLLYWOOD

PLAGIARISM ROW: ANUSHKAGOES BACK ON HER CLAIMSOF ‘DESIGNING’ CLOTHES

CALL FOR FUNCCAASSTT:: ZZaaaann KKhhaann,, SShhuubbhhaannggii MMeehhrroottrraa,, CChhaarruu AArroorraa,,

PPrraassaadd SSiikkhhrree,, PPaarrmmeeeett SSeetthhii

DDIIRREECCTTIIOONN:: JJaannaakk TToopprraannii

GGEENNRREE:: CCoommeeddyy

DDUURRAATTIIOONN:: 22 hhoouurrss 66 mmiinnuutteess

STORYYash incurs heavy losses in the business that his

father left him to oversee. Now, with the help of hisfriends, the young entrepreneur uses unorthodox meansto make all that lost money back.

REVIEWA prankster and popular college student, Yash is the

apple of his father's eye. When his dad chooses to goon a well-deserved break to the United States, heleaves Yash in charge of his call centre business,something that the senior has built up from scratch.While his father chose a conservative way of runningthings, Yash believes in being the first one to get thejob done.

Within the first 20 minutes of the film, Yashmanages to scare away all his father's clients and endsup bankrupting the call centre. But he has a way out.He starts a raunchy, adult hotline where men call-inand talk dirty. His friends Anu (Shubhangi Mehrotra)and Sush (Charu Asopa) pool in with the dirty talkbusiness and he almost makes up all the money asanother tragedy strikes. Now the youngster has tomake twice the amount and pay back the dreadedgangster Daabla Supari (Linesh Fanse).

A coming-of-age comedy, 'Call For Fun' tries to be'cool' and with the times, but it doesn't succeed onaccount of its wavering plot and weak performances.The fact that Yash's father can leave an entire businessto him, knowing his son is a temperamental andimpulsive boy, doesn't quite make sense.

Even before the third act, the movie loses the plotwhen Yash makes a truckload of money helped byonly his friends and with marginal staff. The onlyinteresting and funny bits are when we see theirromance hotline function and that's a very short partof the movie's run-time. The preachy angle it dips in atthe end, where a premium-rate romance hotlinetransforms into a service that helps the elderly, isquite unpalatable.

The only plus is that you now know who is at theend of that expensive adult hotline!

M O V I E R E V I E W

ANUPAM KHER NAMEDFTII NEW CHAIRMAN

Bringing to an end the controversialtenure of Gajendra Chauhan as the chiefof India's premier film and television

school, the ministry of information andbroadcasting appointed acclaimed actorAnupam Kher chairman of the Film andTelevision Institute of India (FTII) onWednesday.

Kher replaced Chauhan, whose selection in2014 ran into rough weather almostimmediately with students and illustriousalumni of the Pune-based institute attackinghis poor track record in filmmaking and acting,besides his alleged inadequacy to handle theaffairs of FTII.

Kher's appointment was widely welcomed bythe film and theatre fraternity. His wife andChandigarh BJP MP, Kirron Kher, tweeted,"Congratulations my dear @AnupamPkher forbecoming FTII Chairman! Know you will do agreat job!" Adman-filmmaker Pritish Nandy,director Prakash Jha, actor-turned-MP PareshRawal and Madhur Bhandarkar were amongthose who welcomed Kher's appointment.

Born in 1955 in Shimla, and a graduate ofDelhi's National School of Drama, Kher isconsidered one of the most prolific andversatile actors in the Hindi film industry . Hisacting career spans over 35 years, with criticallyacclaimed performances in Saaransh (1984),Daddy and Khosla Ka Ghosla! (2006), amongothers. He was also conferred the PadmaBhushan for his contribution to stage andcinema.

Actress-producer Anushka Sharma, whose newlylaunched clothing line NUSH has been accused ofplagiarism, along with her business partner Suditi

Industries has said that "specific designs" will be discarded.Anushka launched her signature apparel line NUSH last

week, and according to a statement issued then, she had beeninvolved in choosing the styles, colours and fabrics for over ayear.

According to reports, some of the brand's pieces have beenlifted from Chinese websites.

Pawan Agarwal, CMD Suditi Industries, explained in astatement on Tuesday: "We have just got to know about thediscrepancies in some designs of our brand NUSH and we aretaking strict action about the same.

"Our process at Suditi industries was that the entireresponsibility of designing and procuring samples was at ourend and we have recently realised that some of our procureddesigns from the Chinese manufacturer were being availableelsewhere too."

Agarwal admitted this was not only a "serious design andprocurement process lapse from our design and procurementteam, but also a breach of trust by the manufacturing companyin China with us".

They have realised that a few of the designs that thecompany bought from the manufacturer were further producedand sold on a Chinese website.

He has said serious actions will be taken against this "breachof faith".

"We would also like to mention that some of the designshighlighted just have commonalities with prevalent fashiontrends and are not copies as mentioned," he said.

"So we along with our partner Anushka Sharma are alsoensuring that these specific designs are not put on floor andwill discard this from our range," he added.

He also clarified that their business partner Anushka was"never part of our designing and procuring process".

"She was only involved in advising us on the styles that couldgo on the floor based on her personal style and sensibility forwhich she had dedicated a lot of her time and effort," saidAgarwal.

In the statement issued when NUSH was launched, Anushkahad said: " I have personally taken interest in the styles ofNUSH, so there's a bit of myself in all the outfits."

23HOLLYWOODTHEINDIANPANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Actor Mandy Moore said she wants tokeep her wedding to TaylorGoldsmith low-key. Reportedly, the

33-year-old actor said she attends a lot oflavish celebrations due to her work andhence she has decided to go private with herwedding. "My job allows me to get dressedup, and take pictures, and be the centre of

attention in a way that makes me slightlyuncomfortable. I've never dreamed ofemulating that in my real life."

"So I think I'll probably take the oppositeroute when it comes to getting married. Idon't think I'm going to have a big, old affair.I think it will be small, and quiet, andprivate," said Moore.

However, wanting a contrast from herwork life is not the only reason the 'This IsUs' star wants a toned-down day when shesaid 'I do'. "I've never dreamed about awedding, or a dress, or any of those details,and no judgement on women that do. I get it!I kind of feel like I was always just who Iwas."

VICTORIA &ABDUL

CCAASSTT:: JJuuddii DDeenncchh,, AAllii FFaazzaall,, EEddddiiee IIzzzzaarrdd,, AAddeeeell AAkkhhttaarr,, PPaauullHHiiggggiinnss,, OOlliivviiaa WWiilllliiaammss

DDIIRREECCTTIIOONN:: SStteepphheenn FFrreeaarrss

GGEENNRREE:: BBiiooggrraapphhyy

DDUURRAATTIIOONN:: 11 hhoouurr 5522 mmiinnuutteess

STORY In her latter years, Victoria, the Queen of England and Empress

of India (Judi Dench), found solace in the company of an Indianclerk Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), who went on to become her Urduteacher, spiritual adviser and closest confidant. Based on ShrabaniBasu's book on this extraordinary true story, the film takes abittersweet look at this little-known friendship that caused a furorewithin the royal household.

REVIEWStephen Frears begins his film by taking us through the

monotonous routine of Queen Victoria as she goes around meetingher social obligations during her Golden Jubilee year (1887). Duringone such royal gatherings, she glances upon Abdul, a wide-eyedIndian boy, who presents her the ceremonial coin (mohur). Despitebeing warned against looking at her, Abdul's childish intriguemakes him stare back at her and flash a nervous smile when theireyes meet, amidst a sea of exasperated privileged people. Abdul'saccidental defiance and indifference to protocol, liberates the queenemotionally, who is a prisoner by her own means. Evidently, a'Hindoo' attendant's rising influence on the queen, rattles membersand servants of the royal family, who later discover that he'sMuslim.

At 82, Judi Dench arrests your attention with her unwaveringscreen presence and eyes that exude a myriad of emotions -mischief, melancholy, loneliness and longing. She humanises hercharacter effortlessly. Your heart goes out to the ageing monarch asshe engages in introspection on a quiet, windy day and tells Abdul,"Everyone I've loved has died, and I just go on and on." Dench is thereason why this fascinating story refuses to seem like a 'scandal'.

Making the most of this incredible opportunity, Ali Fazal holdshis own in front of a legend (Dench). Frears smartly uses Ali's raw,nervous energy and enthusiasm and infuses it in Abdul, organically.However, his one-dimensional portrayal of the munshi, leaves a lotto imagination and thus unexplained. Why was an Indian so devotedto the Queen of England, who ruled his country? Was he naive orjust an opportunist? What was he like as a person? The narrativereduces Abdul to being a mere spectator and that's its biggest flaw.

M O V I E R E V I E W

MANDY MOORE WANTSA SMALL AND QUIET

WEDDING

JENNIFER GARNERADMITS SHE 'STALKS'PEOPLE ON INSTAGRAM

After creating her account on the photo-sharing app Instagram, Jennifer Garnerhas now revealed the reason behind it.

The 45-year-old actress revealed that shedecided to create an account on the social mediaplatform because she became obsessed with'insta-stalking' ballerinas. In a recent interview,the actress shared, "First of all I started Insta-stalking people, mostly ballerinas. But I've soenjoyed watching dancers that I admire fromafar and feeling like I get a little insight intotheir lives and so it just seemed like, OK thatmakes more sense to me."

Adding, "I don't have to go any deeper than Iwanna go, I can kind of be in charge of it. Sowe're having fun with it. It's just my house!" The'Dallas Buyers Club' star's first post on the sitewas a time-lapse video of herself writing thewords ''I am officially on Instagram. So pleasefollow me because isn't that how this works."





28 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017DIWALI SPECIAL

Celebration of Diwali in America

By Inder Singh

Diwali, the festival of lights, is the best known of Hindufestivals in the United States. The legends connected tothe festival are different for different religions.

According to Ramayana, one of the most important epics ofthe Hindu religion, Diwali commemorates the return of LordRama with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, from his 14-year exile after killing the demon king Ravana. Thus, itsymbolizes the victory of good over evil and is celebrated withgreat fervor by one and all. The celebration includes visitingtemples, performing Lakshmi puja, exchanging greetings,sharing sweets with loved ones, attending cultural and talentshows, musical concerts and social parties, besides lightingcandles, earthen lamps and firecrackers where permissible.The annual observance demonstrates the rich history andtraditions of the Hindu faith and provides an occasion for thefollowers to remember their many blessings and celebratetheir hope for a brighter future.

Diwali Celebration by Sikhs and Jains

Sikhs celebrate Diwali as it marks the return of the sixthGuru, Hargobind Rai to Amritsar after he was freed fromthe fort of Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir in October 1619,

where he was imprisoned along with 52 Hindu Kings who wereincarcerated as political prisoners. When the emperor decidedto release the Guru, the latter managed to get all the Hindukings freed at the same time. Guru Hargobindbecame knownas the "Bandi Chhor" (Deliverer from prison) and the event iscelebrated as the Bandi Chhor Divas. The Guru arrived atAmritsar on the Diwali day and the Harmandir (GoldenTemple) was lit with hundreds of lamps to celebrate hisreturn. Every year, the Golden Temple is illuminated in aspectacular display and fireworks are displayed tocommemorate the memory of Guru's return. Sikh templesacross America hold religious gatherings to remember thelegacy of their Guru who fought for social justice and gotfreedom for people who belonged to a different faith.

In Jainism, the occasion celebrates the attainment ofNirvana by Lord Mahavir, the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, onthis day at Pavapuri on Oct. 15, 527 BC, on Chaturdashi ofKartika.

According to a Swetambara legend Mahavira took his seaton a diamond throne in the center of a magnificent hall on theseventh day of his stay. The seat was specially built for him onthe borders of a lake. There were many devotees who came tohear him. According to their rank they arranged themselvesinto twelve grades. The devotees belonged to different sect,class and order. They ranged from king to beggar. On the darknight of the seventh day of his stay the hall was illumined bythe supernatural glow of the Gods who came to listen to him.That day the Lord preached the whole night. He was aware byhis sukladhyayana that his end was drawing near. He thus satwith his hands clasped knees crossed. At dawn he attainednirvana on the day of Kartika Krishna. Mahavira is said tohave delivered the fifty-five lectures explaining the results ofKarma and also recited the thirty-six unasked questions at thenight of his nirvana.

In cities with significant Indian American population,Diwali Melas have become very popular and attract largegatherings of young and old. The organizers arrange for manyfun-filled activities such as magic and puppet shows, hennapainting on palms, stalls of Indian sweets and other eatables,handicrafts and other trinkets besides showcasing the best ofIndian culture. If legally allowed, the effigies of Ravana, etc.are burnt to give historical perspective to the event andcustomary fireworks are displayed to add splendor to thefestivities and increase public participation.

Diwali Celebration in New York and DallasNew York chapter of Association of Indians in America

(AIA) organizes probably the largest Diwali Mela outside India

Fireworks at SouthStreet Seaport Diwali in

New York

Shri Harmandir Sahib(Golden Temple), Amritsar islit on Diwali. Sikhs celebrateDiwali to welcome the return

of their SixthMaster,ShriHargobind to Amritsar

after securing freedom fromGwalior prison of 52 Princes

of Hill States

In Jainism, Diwali is theoccasion to celebrate theattainment of Nirvana by

Lord Mahavir

29DIWALI SPECIALTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

with an estimated attendance of over 100,000 people during thedaylong event at the South Street Sea Port, Manhattan. Theassociation also arranges extravagant display of live fireworksilluminating the east river and New York city skyline.

Times Square, New York is a popular tourist destination. In2013, Diwali was celebrated there for the first time. IndianAmericans from the tri-state area flocked in thousands to seethe day-long extravaganza, showcasing Indian culture, cuisine,music and fashion. Last year (2016), for about 8 hours, liveperformances, fashion shows, dance & music competitions,photography exhibition and other creative programs likerangoli painting provided huge attraction. At night, theskyline dazzled with fireworks.Nita Bhasin, president of ASBCommunications, who has been organizing the event, alsoprovided entertainment with live Indian dances and music.

Dallas Indian Cultural Society, in 2007, organized DiwaliMela celebration of epic proportion at Dallas CowboysStadium in Texas. The founder, Satish Gupta, prefers to callthe celebration, "spirit of India" which attracts 40,000 to 50,000people who get glimpses of the rich Indian culture at play,including the traditional staging of Ram Lilaand burning ofRavana's effigy. It was a mammoth event, unique with noparallel to it in the United States. The society has beenorganizing the Mela annually sometimes excelling their prioryear performance by attracting more people and adding moreattractions.

Diwali Celebration in AmericanUniversities

There are about 100,000 Indian students from India invarious universities in America. A large number of Indian

American students are also enrolled in American universities.Diwali celebration in Duke, Princeton, Howard, Rutgers,Carnegie Mellon and several other university campusesbrings Indian student groups together and helps them stayconnected with their culture and tradition.

Diwali at the White House

In 2003, the PresidentGeorge W. Bush agreed to the long-standing demand of the Indian community and celebratedDiwali at the White House in the presence of several invitedIndian community leaders. Although the president neverparticipated in the Diwali festivities, yet it became an annualtradition at the White House. The celebration of Diwali at theWhite House also shows the growing clout of the IndianAmerican community in the United States. In 2009, BarackObama became the first US president to light a "diya" oil lamp,in the presence of a Hindu priest, in a White House ceremonyfor the festival of lights. In communicating his warm greetingsat the occasion, he remarked that Diwali marked the return ofthe Lord Ram from exile when small lamps lit his way home.In 2010, the Vice President led the commemoration. In 2011,President Obama again lit the White House Diya while aHindu priest chanted Slokas, or prayers. In 2016, lighting diyain the Oval Office of the White House, President Obama said,"On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and yourloved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali."

Diwali Celebration by US CongressThe US Senate and the House of Representatives

in October 2007 unanimously passed Resolutions299 and 747 respectively, recognizing the "religiousand historical significance of the festival ofDiwali." The passage of the resolutions may besymbolic, but it is a testament to the increasedawareness of the Indian community in America.The U.S. Congress celebrated Diwali, for the firsttime, on October 29, 2013, amidst chanting of Vedicmantras by a Hindu priest. Over two dozeninfluential lawmakers along with eminent Indian-Americans gathered at the Capitol Hill to lit thetraditional "diyas". The event was organized by thetwo Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus onIndia and Indian Americans, Congressmen JoeCrowley and Peter Roskam in recognition of increasingpresence of the Indian-American community.

US Postal Service Issues Diwali PostageStamp

On October 5, 2016, the USPostal Service fulfilled thelong standing demand ofIndian Americans,andreleased Diwali Postagestamp commemorating thefestival of Diwali. Thededication ceremony tookplace at the ConsulateGeneral of India, New York,in the presence of ConsulGeneral Ambassador RivaGanguly Das,Representative CarolynMaloney, Diwali StampProject Chair Ranju Batra,USPostal Service Vice President for Mail Entry and PaymentTechnology Pritha Mehra, India's former PermanentRepresentative to the United Nations Ambassador HardeepSingh Puri, now a minister in Modi cabinet and manymembers of the local Indian American community.

(The author regularly writes on Indian Diaspora. He is theauthor of The Gadar Heroics - life sketches of over 50 Gadar

heroes. He is Executive Trustee of Global Organization ofPeople of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Foundation. He was chairman

of GOPIO from 2009-2016, president from 2004-2009,president of National Federation of Indian American

Associations (NFIA) from 1988-92 and chairman from 1992-96. He was founding president of Federation of Indian

Associations in Southern California. He can be reached [email protected])

Music and Masti at AIA SouthStreet Seaport Diwali in New

York on October 1, 2017

Diwali at Times Square,October 7, 2017 drew hugecrowds and earned great

applause

Dallas Fort Worth Diwali draws around 50,000 visitors and isthe largest Diwali celebration, outside India

Diwali celebration at theRutgers University is a great

attraction

US Congresswoman TulsiGabbard lights the lamp atthe first Diwali on Capitol

Hill. Photo courtesyRediff.com

Diwali Stamp is unveiled atthe UN. Seen from left to

right: Ravi Batra,Ambassador Syed

Akbaruddin, Diwali StampProject Chair Ranju Batra,

Acting President of UNGeneral Assembly MwabaPatricia Kasese-Bota, and

Ambassador AndreiDapkiunas of Belarus

Photo/ Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia

Michelle and Barack Obamacelebrating Diwali at the

White House


HISTORY, SIGNIFICANCE ANDIMPORTANCE OF DIWALI

The sacred and brilliantly lit festival ofDiwali is an integral part of the ancientIndian civilization and its history is

magnificently intertwined with origins andevolution of Hindu religion.

Today, this festival has become epitome ofenjoyment and is celebrated with greatexuberance across the country. The meremention of Diwali conjures up images ofdiyas, firecrackers and gifts; however, Diwaliis not just about these things, there is a muchdeeper significance to it. Tracing the roots ofthis festival and understanding its historymay help one actually fathom the realmeaning of Diwali. This article is an endeavorto shed light on the history behind the originsand grand celebrations of this vivaciousfestival.

The traces and clues to the history ofDiwali are embedded in different interestingand fascinating legends of Hindu mythologythat are corroborated by various ancientreligious scriptures, such as the Puranas. Thefestival of Diwali is celebrated for five days inIndia and each day holds its own importance.The first day of Diwali festivities is known asDhanteras or Dhantryaodashi, which iscelebrated on the 13th day of the month ofAshwin. As per the legend, it is believed thaton this day, Dhanvantari - the physician of thegods came out of the ocean with a pot ofamrit, while it was being churned by the godsand the demons. This is believed to be amomentous day for the mankind. It is alsobelieved that Goddess Lakshmi alsooriginated from the ocean on this day. Hence,the day is considered very auspicious forfinancial investments.

The mystical history behind the second dayof Diwali festivities is also quite interesting.It is said that on this day, Lord Krishna alongwith his wife Satyabhama, vanquished ademon named Narakasura. This demon afterattaining a boon from the gods had become sopowerful that both heaven and earth hadbecome defenseless against him. He not onlydefeated Lord Indra but also stole the pricelessearrings of Mother Goddess Aditi. Hisatrocities did not stop at this; he also abducted16,000 daughters of saints and deities. To endhis torturous reign, Lord Krishna killed him aday before Diwali and the day came tocelebrated as Narak Chaturdashi.

The third day of the festivities, known asDeepavali, is the most important day ofDiwali celebrations as it involves grandrevelry. Hindu mythology traces historicorigins of Deepavali back to the great epicRamayana that narrates the life saga of LordRama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. As perthis epic, the first Deepavali was celebrated bythe people of Ayodhya to commemorate thereturn of Lord Rama along with his wife Sitaand brother Laxman from a 14 year long exile.The fourth day has its own mythologicalhistory and commemorates the act of LordKrishna, in which he picked up a hillocknamed Govardhan situated near Mathura toprotect the villagers from insistent rain.

The last and final day of Diwali festivities isknown as Bhai Dooj. It is believed that on thisday, Lord Yama visited his sister Yamuna andwas so happy to spend time with her that hedeclared that whosoever brother shall visit hissister on this day will be blessed with healthand wealth. Thus, the day is dedicated to thepious relationship between a brother andsister. Apart from Hindu mythology, thehistory of Diwali is also closely related with

histories of Sikh and Jain communities. TheSikhs celebrate the day as it was on this daythat their sixth Guru, Guru Har Govindattained freedom from Mughal captivity,whereas the Jains celebrate Diwali as theybelieve that Lord Mahavira, the founder ofJainism, attained 'Nirvana' on this day.

31DIWALI SPECIALTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Diwali, the festival of lights, illuminatesthe darkness of the New Year's moon,and strengthens our close friendships

and knowledge, with a self-realization!Diwali is celebrated on a nation-wide scale

on Amavasya - the 15th day of the darkfortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin,(October/November) every year. It symbolizesthat age-old culture of India which teaches tovanquish ignorance that subdues humanityand to drive away darkness that engulfs thelight of knowledge. Diwali, the festival oflights even to-day in this modern worldprojects the rich and glorious past of India.

AssamThe largest of the states in the northeast of

India is Assam whose capital, Guwahati, hasan inspired location on the banks of the RiverBrahmaputra. Amidst Assam's verdantlushness and wild sanctuaries, much of therest of the state is devoted to tea plantationwhich yield the strong Assam leaf popular allover the world.

The celebration of Diwali in Assam rangesfrom the diyas and mithai to singing the aartiwith the whole family and then celebratingwith firecrackers the epic moment thatsymbolizes the victory of good over evil.People also pull out the little electric lights tosubstitute for diyas and light up the houseearly.

Countless flickering oil lamps and lights arelit in houses all over Assam, making it a nightof enchantment. Worship of Lakshmi, thegoddess of wealth, and fireworks andfestivities are an essential part of thecelebrations. Beautiful lamps are hungoutside homes that are symbolic of thespiritual light dispelling evil and the darknessof ignorance.

Doorways are decorated with torans orflower garlands with mango leaves andmarigolds. Rangolis are drawn with coloredpowders to welcome guests. Businessestablishments and families perform, chopdapujan or veneration of their business books.Everyone feasts and shops and starts newprojects or ventures.

PunjabA state, whose name is synonymous with

exuberance, prosperity and an intensepassion for life, Punjab or 'Panj Aab' literallymeaning five rivers, is, as it were, the veryheart of the country. The lightening of lampson festival of Diwali is a way of payingobeisance to god for attainment of peace, love,wealth, health and knowledge. And on Diwalifestival night people worship God andGoddesses and place Diyas (earthen lamps) inthe home, in verandahs, courtyards, andgardens, as well on outer walls and onrooftops. It is time for Pooja and tradition andalso time for fun and revelry.

In Punjab, Diwali Festival is the time foreveryone to rejoice, looking forward to abright future. Enthusiastically enjoyed bypeople of every religion, it's magical andradiant touch creates an atmosphere of joyand festivity. Diwali, festival of lights,symbolizes the victory of righteousness andlifting of spiritual darkness. The preparationsof Diwali begin well in advance. People startdecorating their homes, preparing sweets,thousand of lamps are lit to create a world offantasy. Each house entrance is made colorfulwith lovely traditional motifs of "Rangoli"designs to welcome Laxmi, the goddess ofwealth and prosperity.

In villages cattle are adorned andworshiped by farmers as they form the mainsource of their income. In the south, cows areoffered special veneration as they supposed tobe the incarnation of goddess Laxmi and

therefore, they are adorned and worshiped onthis day. In Punjab, winter crops are sown andthe day following Diwali is celebrated asTikka. On Tikka day, with saffron paste andrice, sisters place an auspicious mark on theirbrother's forehead, gesturing to ward off allharms from her brother.

Diwali is also the anniversary of GuruHargobind ji being released from the prison atGwalior Fort. In was on this day in 1619 A D.Diwali of Amritsar was out-of-the-world.Today, the entire Golden Temple isilluminated with traditional lamps ofdifferent colors during Diwali. The reflectionof the temple in the shimmering water of theholy pool binds the eye, to the many-a-splendored pageant. Fire works display by thetraditional professionals recreates the glory ofthe times gone past.

Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh - one of the most populous

states of India is also one of the most ancientcradle of Indian culture. Two great Riversalong with one mythological river that ofSaraswati flow through this state. The HinduFestival of Diwali is celebrated with greatvigor over here. The state wears a vibrantcolor throughout the Diwali festival.

The beautiful Kartik Purnima festival orthe Dev Deepawali celebrated in Varanasi orBenaras, is a visual delight. Varanasi is theland of festivals. The full moon night afterDiwali falling in November - December is thesacred day for all the people. The ghats ofVaranasi come alive with thousands ofbrightly lit earthen lamps. The lamps then aregently left on the River. Visitors throng inlarge numbers to watch this spectacularevent.

The festival Diwali celebrates thehomecoming of Rama with firecrackers andthe lighting of earthen lamps. Ramlilaperformances during Dussehra commemoratethis joyous event as well. Traditionally the

characters of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana,Shatrughan and Bharat are played byBrahmin boys who are trained by theliladhari, the leader of the troupe. These arezestfully celebrated with song, dance, andmerriment; others with solemnity, fervor, fast,or feast. These fairs and festivals help thepeople keep the culture vibrant and promoteartistic activities.

West BengalIn West Bengal, Lakshmi puja is celebrated

five days after Dussehra, on the full moon day(Purnima). On the following new moon day(Amavasya), coinciding with Diwali, goddessKali is worshiped. Kali, the more aggressiveform or the destructive incarnation of GoddessDurga, has a terrifying look. She destroys allevils. Lamps are lit in her honor, and in return,she promises a renewal of life and justice onearth.

In West Bengal, it is not Lakshmi puja but

Kali Puja which makes the festival unique. Kaliis generally a goddess to be feared rather thanvenerated. But, Diwali is also celebrated withgreat enthusiasm and it is a time for gaiety andfeasting. The houses are decorated and lit withdiyas. Two or even four plantain leaves decoratethe entry to the house or property, with a row ofdiyas at the doorstep. The entire family gathersaround for Lakshmi puja in the evening.

Diwali Festival stretches over three days, buton Amavasya the final day, the celebrations andlights are less. The first two festival days areimportant, with feasting, drinking, gambling,family gatherings, lights and fire crackersoccupying time from dusk to dawn. In WestBengal, the pious festive air and not thematerial goods, mainly marks the occasion. Nonew clothes, no new utensils, no new gold. Infact nothing new at all on Diwali day, as all theshops are shut tight except those selling sweetsand fire crackers. Gifts are limited to sweetsand dry fruits.

CELEBRATIONS ACROSS INDIA

32 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017INDIANS ABROAD



BANDI CHHOR DIVASBandi Chhor Divas, or

Prisoner Liberation Day,when the sixth Guru, Guru

Hargobind, was liberated fromGwalior Fort and took 52 prisonersto freedom along with him.

It coincides with Hindu festival ofDiwali. This coincidence hasresulted in similarity of celebrationamongst Sikhs and Hindus.

The Sikhs celebrate this day asBandi Chhor Divas i.e., "the day ofrelease of detainees", because thesixth Nanak had agreed to hisrelease on the condition that theother fifty-two detainees would alsobe released. These other fifty-twodetainees were the vassal kings whohad done something to annoy theemperor.

Emperor Jahangir hadimprisoned the sixth Nanakbecause he was afraid of the Guru'sgrowing following and power. TheSikhs on this day, which generallyfalls in october-November, hold aone-day celebrations in theGurdwaras. So in the evening,illuminations are done with Deewé(earthen oil lamps) or candles andfireworks. The celebrations are heldboth in the Gurdwaras and inhomes.

The story of Divali for the Sikhsis a story of the Sikh struggle forfreedom. From the time of GuruNanak (1469 – 1539), the founder ofSikhism, popular seasonal or folkfestivals like the harvest festival ofVaisakhi, or ancient mythologicalfestivals like Holi and Divali, orworship rituals like Aarti, began totake on a new significance for theGuru’s students, the Sikhs. TheGuru used these festivals andspecial days e.g. first day of eachlunar month, as symbols or pegs forhis teaching themes. And so theSikhs were slowly diverted fromdarkness of superstitious ritualismbased on fear and ignorance to anenlightened ideology based onreason and belief in One Creator.The enlightened ideology of GuruNanak gave new significance toancient festivals like Divali andVaisakhi

So what about Divali, the festivalof lights when, according to Indianlore, Lord Rama returned homeafter destroying the demon godRavana who had taken away Rama’swife, Sita? The story, of course, hasno significance in the Sikhtradition. However, in the Sikhstruggle for freedom from theoppressive Mughal regime, thefestival of Divali did become thesecond most important day after theVaisakhi festival in April.

The Sixth Guru Hargobind, wasfreed from imprisonment in thefamous fort of Gwalior by EmperorJahangir in October, 1619. Thereason for the young Guru’simprisonment was no more thanreligious bigotry. The Guru’s father,Guru Arjan, had been martyred forthe same reason. According to Sikhtradition, the Guru agreed to befreed only if the other Indian chiefs(rajahs) imprisoned with him were

freed. Jahangir was under pressurefrom moderate but influentialMuslim religious leaders like HajratMian Mir, a friend of the Guru. Sohe relented grudgingly andordained, Let those rajahs be freedwho can hold on to the Guru’s coattails and walk out of prison. He hadin mind no more than four or fivebeing freed with the Guru. However,the Guru was not to beoutmanoeuvred in this way. Heasked for a special coat to be madewith 52 coat tails - same number asthe rajahs in prison with him! Andso the rajahs were freed and theGuru became known popularly asthe Bandi Chhor (Deliverer fromprison). He arrived at Amritsar onthe Divali day and the Har Mandar(now known as the Golden Temple)was lit with hundreds of lamps i.e.he was received in the same way asthe Lord Rama and the day came tobe known as the Bandi Chhor Divas(the day of freedom).

Guru Hargobind reachedAmritsar on the eve of Diwali, afterhis release from Gwalior fort,during the reign of Jahangir.ThePeople illuminated the GoldenTemple and the city splendidly tocelebrate the return of their Guruto the city. Thereafter, Diwali isbeing celebrated at Amritsar withgreat pump and show, and also witha lot of religious fervour.

During the fair, religiouscongregations are held at ManjiSahib, Akal Takhat and Baba Atalwhich continue for three days. Alarge number of poets and singersalso participate. Recitation ofGranth Sahib is done at DarbarSahib, Akal Takhat and variousgurudwaras in the vicinity ofGolden Tample. Early in themorning, pilgrims take a holy dip inthe scared tank, while reciting JapjiSahib and thereafter, they go to theGolden Temple for paying theirobeisance. They make offerings ofvarious kinds both in cash and kind,such as flowers, candy-drops andparched-rice grains, but mostly theofferings are of karah parshad.which is prepared and sold to thepilgrims by the management.

Circumambulation of the tank isconsidered sacred by the pilgrims.

Illuminations and pyrotechnicdisplay are the unique features ofthe Diwali celebrations. Amammoth gathering in theparikarma and on the adjoiningbuildings witness to their greatdelight the multicolored lightsthrown up in the sky and theirreflections in the water of the tank.Chain of the electric lights hangalong the causeway and on theDarshani Deorhi. Small earthenlamps lighted and fed with sarsonoil are arranged in lines all aroundthe tank. All buildings in thecompound are bedecked withcoloured lights. Candles and smallearthen lamps fed with pure gheeare floated in the tank.

This fair is attended by people inthe large numbers who come fromfar and near. A large number ofvisitors take shelter in theverandahs of the various buildingsin the premises. All local inns, resthouses and other common placesare packed to capacity. The freemess, called Guru Ram Dass Langar,remains open for all. The wholefunction is organised by ShiromaniGurudwara ParbhandhakCommittee. During the fair,qualified doctors render freemedical service to the pilgrims.

Thenceforth, the Sikh struggle for

freedom, which intensified in the18th Century, came to be centredaround this day. In addition to theVaisakhi day (now in April), whenKhalsa, the Sikh nation wasformally established by the TenthGuru Gobind Singh, Divali becamethe second day in the years when theKhalsa met and planned theirfreedom strategy.

Celebration Of Bandi ChorrhDivas

On the occassion of Bandi ChorrhDivas, Sikhs observe a one-daycelebrations in the Gurdwaras. Inthe evening, illuminations arelighted with Deewé (earthen oillamps) or candles and fireworks arealso bursted. Such celebrations areheld both in the Gurdwaras and inhomes.

Sacrifice of Bhai Mani SinghAnother important Sikh event

associated with Divali is themartyrdom in 1734 of the elderlySikh scholar and strategist BhaiMani Singh, the Granthi (priest) ofHarmandar Sahib (Golden Temple).He had refused to pay a special taxon a religious meeting of the Khalsaon the Divali day. This and otherSikh martyrdoms gave furthermomentum to the Khalsa strugglefor freedom and eventually successin establishing the Khalsa rulenorth of Delhi

Bhai Mani Singh was a great

scholar and he transcripted the finalversion of Guru Granth Sahib upondictation from Guru Govind Singh jiin 1704. He took charge ofHarmandir Sahib's management on1708. Diwali was not celebrated inGolden Temple at that time. In 1737,he received permission from Mogulemperor of Punjab, Zakaria Khanfor celebrating Diwali at GoldenTemple for a massive tax of Rs. 5,000(some authors say it was Rs10,000).Invitations were sent to the Sikhs allover India to join Bandi ChhorhDiwas celebrations at HarmandirSahib. Bhai Singh thought he wouldcollect the tax-money from the Sikhsas subscriptions who wouldassemble for the purpose of DiwaliCelebrations. But Bhai Mani SinghJi later discovered the secret plan ofZakariya Khan to kill the Sikhsduring the gathering. Bhai ManiSingh Ji immediately sent messageto all the Sikhs not to turn up forcelebrations. Bhai Mani Singh couldnot manage to arrange the money tobe paid for tax. Zakariya Khan wasnot happy about the situation andhe ordered Bhai Mani Singh'sassassination at Lahore byruthlessly cutting him limb-by-limbto death. Ever since, the greatsacrifice & devotion of martyr BhaiMani Singh Ji is remembered on theBandi Chhorh Diwas (Diwali)celebration.



37SPIRITUALITYTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Nowhere is the bond of brotherly-sisterly love glorified with suchgrandeur as in India. Hindus celebrate

this special relationship twice every year,with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan andBhai Dooj.

After the high voltage celebrations ofDiwali, the festival of lights and firecrackers,sisters all over India get ready for 'Bhai Dooj' -when sisters ceremonize their love by puttingan auspicious tilak or a vermilion mark onthe forehead of their brothers and perform anaarti of him by showing him the light of theholy flame as a mark of love and protectionfrom evil forces. Sisters are lavished withgifts, goodies and blessings from theirbrothers. Bhai Dooj comes every year on thefifth and last day of Diwali, which falls on anew moon night. The name 'Dooj' means thesecond day after the new moon, the day of thefestival, and 'Bhai' means brother.

Legends Bhai Dooj is also called 'Yama Dwiteeya' as

it's believed that on this day, Yamaraj, the Lordof Death and the Custodian of Hell, visits hissister Yami, who puts the auspicious mark onhis forehead and prays for his well being. Soit's held that anyone who receives a tilak fromhis sister on this day would never be hurledinto hell. According to one legend, on this day,Lord Krishna, after slaying the Narakasurademon, goes to his sister Subhadra whowelcomes him the lamp, flowers and sweets,and puts the holy protective spot on herbrother's forehead. Yet another story behindthe origin of Bhai Dooj says that whenMahavir, the founder of Jainism, attainednirvana, his brother King Nandivardhan wasdistressed because he missed him and wascomforted by his sister Sudarshana. Sincethen, women have been revered during BhaiDooj.

In Bengal this event is called 'Bhai Phota',which is performed by the sister whoreligiously fasts until she applies a 'phota' ormark with sandal wood paste on her brother'sforehead, offers him sweets and gifts andprays for his long and healthy life. Everybrother eagerly awaits this occasion thatreinforces the bond between brothers andsisters and their affectionate relationship. It'san opportunity for a good feast at the sister'splace, coupled with an enthusiastic exchangeof gifts, and merriment amid the resoundingof conch shells in every Bengali household.

Significance Like all other Hindu festivals , Bhai Dooj

too has got a lot to do with family ties andsocial attachments. It serves as a good time,especially for a married girl, to get togetherwith her own family, and share the postDiwaliglee. Nowadays, sisters who are unable tomeet their brothers send their tika - the spot ofprotection - in an envelope by post. Virtualtilaks and Bhai Dooj e-cards have made it eveneasier for brothers and sisters, who're faraway from each other, specially remembertheir siblings on this propitious occasion.

Uttar Pradesh In Uttar Pradesh, at first, sisters give a

piece of cloth, knotted into a circular shape,full of batashas (sugar balls) to their brothers.This piece of cloth is called as 'aabf'. For eachbrother, there are two aabf. After all therituals, sisters apply a tika of roli and rice onthe forehead of the brothers and then perform

aarti, praying for the long and happy life oftheir brothers. At last, they offer sweets tothem and then the story of Bhai Dooj isnarrated.

Bengal In Bengal this festival is called Bhai Phota.

On this day, sisters observe fast till the time allthe traditional customs have been performed.After this, they apply tika made ofsandalwood paste, ghee and kohl (kajal) ontheir brothers' forehead. Then the aarti isperformed and sisters give sweets to theirbrothers to eat. Kheer and coconut laddus arethe traditional sweets which are prepared onthis day.

Bihar In the Bihar, the festival of Bhai Dooj is

celebrated in the most unique way. The sisterscurse their brothers in order to keep the evilspirits and dangers away from them. At first,they say very bad things to their brothers andthen prick their own tongue with a wildprickly fruit as a punishment. By doing this,they ask their brothers to forgive them for the

ill behaviour and mistakes which they havedone till the date. Besides this, there is aunique custom in which brothers eat grains ofbajri with water, from the hands of theirsisters.

Punjab In Punjab, the day after Diwali is celebrated

as tika and on this day, sisters make a pastewith saffron and rice and apply tika on theirbrothers' forehead to keep away all thedifficulties and dangers from them. After this,they exchange gifts and sweets among eachother.

Gujarat Bhai Dooj in Gujarat is known as Bhai Beej

and on this auspicious occasion, sisters get upearly in the morning and then the traditionaltilak ceremony is held. After this, theyperform aarti of their brothers and pray fortheir good fortune and life. Then they offersweets to their brothers and in return thebrothers bless them and exchange gifts.

Maharashtra & Goa Marathi communities in Maharashtra and

Goa called this festival as Bhav Bij. On thisday, sisters draw a square on the floor inwithin the boundaries of which the brothershave to sit. After they are seated, it is a customfor to have a bitter fruit named Karith. Afterthis, the rituals and applying the Tilak,traditional sweets such as Shrikhand Puri andBasundi Puri are served.

BHAI DOOJ: THE BOND OFBROTHERLY-SISTERLY LOVE

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‘If Hindus don’t maintain Hinduism, who shall save it? If India’s ownchildren don’t cling to their faith, who shall guard it? Indian alone can

save India, and India and Hinduism are one.’

INGREDIENTS500 gm minced mutton, 1 teaspoon gingerpowder, 2 pinches asafoetida, 6 tablespoonvegetable oil, 2 tablespoon gram flour (besan), 1cup water, 4 clove, 1 1/2 teaspoon red chillipowder, 3 teaspoon aniseed, 3 tablespoonyoghurt (curd), 3 crushed black cardamom, 3pinches salt, 1/2 teaspoon garam masalapowder, 2 bay leaf

Method For preparing this yummy mutton recipe,

take a large bowl and add minced muttonin it along with the spices - red chillipowder, ginger powder (1/4 teaspoon),aniseed powder (1 teaspoon), asafoetida(1 pinch), yoghurt (1 tablespoon), oil (2tablespoons), black cardamom seeds,gram flour or besan and half of the salt.Knead well with your hand till the spicesare well blended and the mixture starts togrease your hands.

Make 15 equal portions of the mixture. Ona flat greased surface, roll each portion

gently into round ball. Put these aside.

Next, put a kadhai on medium flame andheat 4 tablespoons of oil in it. On the otherhand, mix red chilli powder and yoghurttogether and make a paste of it. When theoil is hot enough, add the yoghurt pasteand stir briskly. When the oil separates,add the water and stir again.

Add the remaining ginger powder, aniseedpowder and garam masala powder,asafoetida, cloves, bay leaves, blackcardamom skins and the remaining saltinto the pan. Cook till the gravy comes to aboil.

Carefully slide in the koftas, one at a timeand cook on high flame till the gravy startsto thicken. Lower the flame and cook,stirring gently till the oil separates. Whenthe mutton kofta is cooked completely,serve it hot with rice or butter naan.

38 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017WOMEN

INGREDIENTS250 gm urad dal, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 2medium tomato, 2 medium onion, 1/2tablespoon dried ginger powder, 1/2tablespoon chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon garammasala powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds,1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder, salt asrequired, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

Method Take a chopping board and chop one

onion in cubes and chop tomatoes. Cutthe other onion into thin slices.

ow take a pressure cooker and addcleaned dal and cubed onions into it.Cook until the dal and onions becomesoft and tender.

Now, put a saucepan on medium flameand add ghee in it. When the ghee is hotenough, add the sliced onion pieces intoit and saute until light brown. Next addall the spices: green cardamom,cinnamon, jeera, cloves, mace powder,and fry until the jeera turns a little

brown and the essence starts coming.Once the spices leave their aroma, addthe fresh methi leaves in the pan.

Then add the chopped tomatoes in thesaucepan along with turmeric, chillipowder, red chilli powder, dried gingerpowder along with garlic powder. Let thetomato absorb all the spices and sautefor a minute or two until the oil beginsto separate.

Now add the dal and onions mixture intothe pan and mix well. Cover with a lidand let them cook for about 7-8 minutes.Once the dal is cooked, stir nicely andadd the garam masala and salt asrequired.

You can serve this delicious dal with hotchapati or steamed rice. Garnish withfreshly chopped coriander leaves.

MUTTON KOFTA

SKINCARE STEPS FORFLAWLESS SKIN

Who doesn't like the idea of clear,soft and glowing skin? In thequest for good skin, we women

have done everything from buyingexpensive products to parlour sessions.But, are you treating your skin right?Here are 6 tips that you must follow toget that good skin:

Morning waterForget your morning cup of tea or

coffee, the first thing you need to do isdrink water. When we wake up, our bodyis dehydrated and that's why you shoulddrink water first.

Double CleansingKorean women known for their

flawless skin swear by this technique.Double Cleansing is a way of cleansingyour face twice. First, it is advised toclean your face using an oil cleansersans water. Next, wash it off with awarm cloth, this helps to remove all thegrime and make-up. The second stepinvolves using a regular cleanser toremove all the dirt and sweat.

Use a tonerIf you're skipping the toner, then

you're missing a big skincare step.Toners help to maintain the pH level ofthe skin and even shrink the pores. Youshould stay away from alcohol-basedtoner and look for natural ingredients.You can also use gulab jal (rose water) asa toner.

Always moisturiseThe key to healthy skin is

moisturising. Even if you have an oilyskin texture, you must moisturise usinga gel-based cream. By keeping your skinhydrated, you will fight away the signs ofageing.

Use a serumGrowing up comes with a lot of

responsibilities and skin issues. That's

one of the reasons, you should invest ina specific serum for your skin issues. Beit dark spots, dry skin or pigmentation, aspecific serum at night will give yourskin all the pampering it needs.

Don't forget to scrubWith time our skin tends to get dull.

That's why you must maintain your skinby weekly sessions. Depending on yourskin type, you can exfoliate 2-3 times aweek. This will buff away the dead skincells and give your skin that extra glow.Never exfoliate your skin at night, asthis can make your skin extra prone totanning the next day.

F O O D C O R N E RBHARUCHI DAL

WAYS TO GET RID OFSMELLY ARMPITS

Body odour is normal, but smelly armpits cansometimes get out of hands. Even regular baths, goodamount of perfumes can't seem to solve this issue. We

all know that that the underarm odour can be embarrassing.To solve this discomforting issue, we have listed 6 ways youcan get rid of smelly armpits.

Anti-bacteria body washIt's the bacteria that smells and not the perspiration. Look

for body washes with Benzoyl Peroxide, which can help toreduce bacteria and prevent the body odour.

Apple cider vinegarYou can also apply some apple cider vinegar to fight off

the bacteria. It will help to reduce the odour by balancing thepH level of the skin. Don't worry about the smell of applecider vinegar, as it fades out when dry. Avoid this hack ondays you have recently shaved or waxed.

Always dry before applying anythingNot drying properly before applying antiperspirant or

deodorant can also trigger the bad odour. Make sure you dryyourself properly before applying the stick.

Try a different brandA lot of times, a specific deodorant or antiperspirant

doesn't blend with our skin. If you feel that your stick or spray is not making the cut, then you must changeyour brand or product. Sometimes the chemistry of yourskin and fragrance doesn't work and makes you smell badinstead.

39HEALTH&FITNESSTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Traumatic experiencesup heart disease risk

According to a recent study, traumatic events take atoll on the heart, especially after the menopausetransition.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in women. Todate, little research has been done to study the impact oftraumatic experiences on vascular health as a precursor toheart disease.

Even less work has focused on this relationship during themenopause transition when the risk of heart disease isnaturally increasing, along with deteriorating endothelialfunction. (The endothelium is the inner lining of the heartand blood vessels.) In this study of 272 pre — andpostmenopausal nonsmoking women, researchers testedwhether a greater number of lifetime traumatic experienceswas related to poorer endothelial function, independent ofdemographic characteristics, other heart disease riskfactors, estradiol, and childhood abuse history.

The result was that women reporting a higher number oftraumatic experiences three or more had poorer endothelialfunction which can make them more susceptible to a cardiacincident. Source: ANI

EBOLA VACCINE FOUND SAFE

The worst Ebola outbreak ended in 2016 after infectingmore than 28,000 people and killing about 11,300 peopleworldwide. This outbreak forced the medical experts

to take some serious action to combat the disease, whichincluded setting up of trial vaccines to stop the disease.

Now it seems that those vaccines are managing to showsome promising data as a group of researchers have foundan Ebola vaccine is safe for children as well as adults andproduces an immune response.

Talking about the vaccine, Professor Sanjeev Krishna, ofSt George's University of London's Institute for Infection andImmunity, said, “An unprecedented Ebola outbreak showedhow it is possible for academics, non-governmentalorganisations, industry and funders to work effectivelytogether very quickly in times of medical crisis.

The results of the trial show how a vaccine could best beused to tackle this terrible disease effectively.” Adding, “Weneed a system of specialists, medical experts and organisersthat maintains vigilance against outbreak diseases likeEbola. We should continue to improve ways to make,evaluate and deliver vaccines when they are needed, often inparts of the world lacking in infrastructure for diagnosinginfections and providing treatments.”

EATING WALNUTS, SOYBEAN CAN WARDOFF DIABETES RISK

Eating a diet rich in omega-6polyunsaturated fats, particularlyfound in walnuts, fish, soybean

and sunflower oils, can significantlyreduce a person's risk of developingType-2 diabetes, suggests a recent study.

These findings shed a new light on thepotential health benefits of omega-6,which is found in bean and seed oilssuch as soybean and sunflower oils andin nuts, and support clinicalrecommendations to increase dietaryintake of omega-6 rich foods.

The results indicate that theindividuals, who had the highest bloodlevel of linoleic acid, the major omega-6fat, were 35 per cent less likely to developType-2 diabetes in the future than thosewho had the least amount.

Lead author Dr. Jason Wu from TheGeorge Institute for Global Health inSydney said that a simple change in dietmight protect people from developingType-2 diabetes, which has reachedalarming levels around the world.

Senior study author DariushMozaffarian from the Tufts Universityin Massachusetts stated that the peopleinvolved in the study were generallyhealthy and were not given specificguidance on what to eat. Yet those whohad the highest levels of blood omega-6markers had a much lower chance ofdeveloping Type-2 diabetes.

The team analysed data from 20

studies involving 39,740 adults from 10countries, in whom 4,347 new cases ofdiabetes occurred over time.

They tested the participants for twokey omega-6 markers - linoleic acid andarachidonic acid.

Linoleic acid was associated withlower risk, while levels of arachidonicacid were not significantly associatedwith either higher or lower risk ofdiabetes.

Dr. Wu noted that they the majoromega-6 fat is linked to lower risk ofType-2 diabetes.

Linoleic acid is not formed in the bodyand can only be obtained from the diet.

The results suggest that eating foodsrich in linoleic acid may lower risk ofType-2 diabetes.

The research appeared in the LancetDiabetes and Endocrinology journal.

Source: ANI

AFTER GREEN TEA, NOW BLACK TEAMAY HELP YOU SHED EXTRA KILOS

Everybody is aware about the benefits of green tea, but arecent study has suggested that black tea also maypromote weight loss and other health benefits by

changing bacteria in the gut.According to the University of California — Los Angeles

Health Sciences researchers, a study on mice showed thatblack tea alters energy metabolism in the liver by changing thegut metabolites.

The study found that both black and green tea changed theratio of intestinal bacteria in the animals: The percentage ofbacteria associated with obesity decreased, while bacteriaassociated with lean body mass increased.

The new findings showed that black tea polyphenols, whichare too large to be absorbed in the small intestine, stimulatethe growth of gut bacterium and the formation of short-chainfatty acids, a type of bacterial metabolites that has been shownto alter the energy metabolism in the liver.

Lead author Susanne Henning said that it was known thatgreen tea polyphenols are more effective and offer more healthbenefits than black tea polyphenols since green tea chemicalsare absorbed into the blood and tissue.

Henning added that black tea, through a specific mechanismof the gut microbiome, may also contribute to good health andweight loss in humans.

The results suggested that both green and black teas areprebiotics, substances that induce the growth of goodmicroorganisms that contribute to a person's well-being.

In the study, four groups of mice received different diets --two of which were supplemented with green tea or black teaextracts: Low-fat, high-sugar

High-fat, high-sugar and green tea extract High-fat, high-

sugar and black tea extract After four weeks, the weights ofthe mice that were given green or black tea extracts, droppedto the same levels as those of the mice that received the low-fatdiet throughout the study.

The researchers also collected samples from the mice's largeintestines (to measure bacteria content) and liver tissues (tomeasure fat deposits).

However, only the mice that consumed black tea extract hadan increase in a type of bacteria called Pseudobutyrivibrio,which could help explain the difference between how black teaand green tea change energy metabolism.

The research is published in the European Journal ofNutrition. —ANI

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40 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017SCIENCE & TECH

FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM BACKAFTER BRIEF GLOBAL OUTAGE

LONDON (TIP): The services of Facebook and Instagramwere restored after the social media platforms went downreportedly due to a global connection problem with Europeand North America, the worst affected by the fault.

As per a report in The Guardian, users of both socialmedia sites began reporting problems late Wednesdayafternoon. By evening, the number of reported problems haddropped to normal levels.

"Earlier today, a networking issue caused some people tohave trouble accessing Facebook services.

"We quickly investigated and started restoring accesswithin about an hour and we have nearly fixed the issue foreveryone. We're sorry for the inconvenience," a Facebookspokesperson was quoted as saying.

The report said the services on both website and appswere affected. Some users were able to access their accounts,with others suggesting only certain parts of the websiteswere functioning.

However, Facebook's instant messaging service Messengerwas unaffected.

The social media giant said it was "aware that some peopleare currently having trouble accessing Facebook andInstagram". The problems led to the hashtag#FacebookDown trending globally on Twitter.

Some users were greeted by a message when they tried tolog into their accounts.

"Facebook is down for required maintenance right now,but you should be able to get back on within a few minutes.In the meantime, read more about why you're seeing thismessage. Thanks for your patience...," the message read.

Facebook, which acquired Instagram for $1 billion in 2012,has over two billion monthly active users. Instagram,meanwhile, has 800 million monthly and 500 million dailyactive users — 200 million of whom use 'Stories' feature.

Source: IANS

Apple teams up with LG displayfor future foldable iPhone

Apple has partnered with LG Display to develop afoldable OLED display. Apple is likely to use thefoldable display panel in one of its future iPhones.

According to a report in the Korean website The Investor,Apple has decided to go with LG and not Samsung (SamsungOLED displays are the best in the industry) owing to the fearthat specifications could be leaked as Samsung is its archrival.

“According to The Bell, LG Display recently created a taskforce to develop a foldable OLED screen for the new iPhonemodel,” the report said on Thursday.

The foldable iPhone panel production could start from2020. LG has reportedly completed its own foldable OLEDpanel prototype and has been upgrading the durability andthe yield rate. The company recently started its first OLEDproduction for phones at its E5 plant in Gumi, NorthGyeongsang Province.

Apple is also considering investing in LG to speed upOLED production. Meanwhile, Samsung is exclusivelysupplying panels for the latest iPhone X -- the first OLEDiPhone.

NASA PROBE SPOTS POSSIBLESOURCE OF SAND ON MARS

WASHINGTON (TIP): NASA's MarsReconnaisance Orbiter (MRO) hasbeamed back an image showing onepossible place where sand grains arebeing produced on the red planet today.

The region exhibits dark material thatis being eroded from dark layers in thebedrock of a semicircular depressionnear the boundary of the Southernhighlands and the Northern lowlands,NASA researchers said.

Downslope lineations support thenotion that these dark sediments arederived locally, and did not accumulatehere by coincidence because of thewinds.

The grains of sand that make up sanddunes on Earth and Mars have ahazardous existence because of the waythat they travel.

Wind-blown sand is lifted above thesurface of each planet before crashingonto the ground and bouncing in asequence of repeated hops, a processcalled saltation.

Sand grains can also roll along theground as they are blown by the wind,and they are also jostled by other sand

gains that are similarly flying across thesurface.

All of these repeated impacts tend towear down the sand grains,smoothening them into a more sphericalshape and breaking off small fragmentsthat supply the vast dust deposits ofMars.

This process, known as comminution,

ultimately destroys sand grains andlimits the length of time that theparticles exist.

The fact that we see active sand duneson Mars today requires that sandparticles must be resupplied to replacethe grains that are lost over time.However, modern day sources of sand onMars were not known. Source: PTI

Universe’s missingmatter discoveredLONDON (TIP): Scientists have for the first time detected the missing

matter in our universe - present in the form of strings of hot gas linkinggalaxies — that was unaccounted for by previous space observations.

Apart from the mysterious and elusive dark matter — that is thought topermeate the majority of the universe — models of the universe predict thatthere should be about twice as much ordinary matter than what has beenobserved so far.

Researchers from Institute of Space Astrophysics in France and Universityof Edinburgh in the UK found the missing matter — made of particles calledbaryons — linking galaxies together through filaments of hot, diffuse gas.

"There is no instrument that we have invented yet that can directly observethis gas. It has been purely speculation until now," said Richard Ellis atUniversity College London.

The researchers instead took advantage of a phenomenon called theSunyaev-Zel'dovich effect that occurs when light left over from the big bangpasses through hot gas, 'New Scientist' reported.

As the light travels, some of it scatters off the electrons in the gas, leavinga dim patch in the cosmic microwave background — remnants from the birthof the cosmos.

In 2015, the Planck satellite created a map of this effect throughout theobservable universe. Since the tendrils of gas between galaxies are so diffuse,the dim blotches they cause are far too slight to be seen directly on Planck'smap.

Researchers selected pairs of galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveythat were expected to be connected by a strand of baryons.

They stacked the Planck signals for the areas between the galaxies, makingthe individually faint strands detectable en masse. Source: PTI

HP PAVILION POWER NOTEBOOKLAUNCHED IN INDIA

HP Inc on Monday launched ‘PavilionPower’ notebook in India. Aimed atcreative professionals, the notebook is

available at a starting price of Rs 77,999.The Pavilion Power notebook is equipped

with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics cardand latest 7th-generation quad-core Intelprocessors.

“With HP ‘Pavillion Power’, we are reachingout to the creative professionals seeking tofulfill their passions by turning visions intoreality. Being a leader in the consumer PCsegment, HP has strived to bring the bestvalue to its customers -- from design, form-factor to engineering and performance,” saidAnurag Arora, Head-Consumer PersonalSystems, HP Inc India, in a statement.

The device has full-HD IPS display alongwith audio by “B&O Play” and HP “AudioBoost”. The notebook features hybrid storageof 128GB Peripheral Component InterconnectExpress (PCIe) solid-state storage device (SSD)and 1TB hard disc drive (HDD) storage.

The HP fast-charge technology enables 90per cent charging in 90 minutes. ‘PavilionPower’ comes pre-installed with MS OfficeHome and Student 2016 Edition. The devicewill be available in three variants at leadingretail stores.

Microsoft Edge coming soon to Android and iOS

Microsoft on Thursdayannounced expanding its Edgebrowser to the mobile

platform. The company has rolled out apreview version of the browser for iOSand Android, but the access iscurrently reserved for WindowsInsiders, a program for early testers.Microsoft Edge had debuted withWindows 10 in 2015 and existedalongside Microsoft’s default InternetExplorer on newer PCs and laptops.

The mobile version of the Edgefocuses on a seamless switch betweenPC to mobile phones. “From PC tomobile, you can browse seamlesslyacross your devices, while yourinformation syncs in the background.Go anywhere and pick up where youleft off by easily moving contentbetween your mobile device and yourWindows 10 PC. Your passwords andfavourites are synced across yourdevices so your browser is always

personalized to you,” says Microsoft onits website.

It comes with a Hub View that allowsyou to easily find and manage contentsuch as reading list, history, andfavourites, among others. It also has aReading View that lets you customisethe content layout on a web page forbetter reading. Other key features ofthe browser include a built-in QR CodeReader, voice search and InPrivatemode for private browsing.

41BUSINESSTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Working on plan torebuild capacity of

banks: JaitleyWASHINGTON (TIP):

Finance Minister Arun Jaitleyhas said the government, facedwith a “catch-22 situation” overthe issue of non-performingassets, is working on a plan torebuild the capacity of India’sbanking sector so as to supportgrowth.

Jaitley, who is on a week-longvisit to the US to attend theannual meetings of the International Monetary Fund andthe World Bank, also said reforming the banking system isthe top agenda of the government.

“Today, with global growth turning around, we areworking to put up an actual plan in play to deal with thebanking situation, which is top of our agenda. We need torebuild the capacity (of the banking sector),” Jaitley toldstudents of Harvard University in Boston.

“I inherited a banking system whose monies were lying innon-performing assets...are unable to service the debt. Weare faced with a catch-22 situation as to how do we improvethe capacity of the banks so that they can support growth,”he said.

So, all these factors together adversely impacted theprivate sector, the minister said. Jaitley, however, also notedthat bigger enterprises did not suffer, because theyapproached the bond market and foreign funding which wereavailable at much cheaper rates. Source: PTI

Industrial output rises to 4.3% NEW DELHI (TIP): Industrial production grew at a nine-

month high of 4.3% in August, mainly on account of robustperformance of mining and power sectors coupled withhigher capital goods output, official data showed today.

IIP growth during April-August period of this fiscal stoodat 2.2%, down from 5.9% in same period in 2016-17.

Inflation unchanged at 3.28%Retail inflation came in at 3.28% in September, unchanged

from August, despite softening of vegetable and cerealprices, according to government data. The retail inflationstood at 4.39% in September 2016. Source: PTI

Alibaba launches $15 billionoverseas R&D drive

BEJING (TIP): China’s top e-commerce firm, AlibabaGroup Holding Ltd, is launching a $15 billion drive to buildoverseas research hubs as the deep-pocketed firm looks tocompete with global leaders in e-commerce, logistics andcloud technology.

The Alibaba ‘Damo’ academy would launch eight researchbases in China, Israel, the United States, Russia andSingapore and was hiring 100 researchers to work onartificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and fintech,the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Alibaba DAMO Academy will be at the forefront ofdeveloping next-generation technology that will spur thegrowth of Alibaba and our partners”, chief technologyofficer Jeff Zhang said.

The Chinese giant and its affiliates have undergone arapid expansion in the past year, bringing it into directcompetition with US e-retailer Amazon.com Inc, as well asglobal payments, cloud and logitics firms.

TATAS EXIT MOBILE BIZ,MERGE LOSS-MAKING

UNIT WITH AIRTELNEW DELHI/MUMBAI (TIP): The

shakeout in mobile telecom continued asthe Tata Group quit the highly-competitive sector after nearly 15 years,merging its loss-making consumermobile business, consisting of TataTeleservices Ltd and Tata TeleservicesMaharashtra Ltd, with Bharti Airtel.

The struggling venture is saddledwith debt of over Rs 40,000 crore, but theTatas will clear past liabilities and duesas part of the deal. It highlights therapid consolidation in the sector afterthe aggressive launch of services byMukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio inSeptember last year.

It follows on the heels of Vodafone andIdea - the second and third largesttelecom companies respectively -agreeing to merge to become No 1 with acombined subscriber base of over 400million, overtaking Airtel. Airtel, forwhich this is the seventh acquisition infive years, will gain access to around 180MHz of spectrum spread across 850MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands.Importantly, it will add Tata's nearly 40million mobile subscribers to its ownbase of 280 million customers, taking itcomfortably past the 300-million mark.

"The merger is on a debtfree and cash-free basis," the companies said in astatement. In effect, Bharti will get theTata consumer mobile businessvirtually for free.

Airtel, however, will have to assume aportion of Tata's unpaid spectrumpayment liability, which is estimated tobe Rs 2,000 crore, but has to be paid on adeferred basis.

"We believe today's agreement is thebest and most optimal solution for theTata Group and its stakeholders.Finding the right home for ourlongstanding customers and ouremployees has been the priority for us,"Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaransaid.

"We have evaluated multiple optionsand are pleased to have this agreementwith Bharti." Bharti Airtel chairmanSunil Mittal said the deal marks furtherconsolidation in the Indian mobileindustry.

"On completion, the proposedacquisition will undergo seamlessintegration, both on the customer aswell as the network side, and furtherstrengthen our market position inseveral key circles," he said, adding thataddition of Tata's spectrum makes "anattractive business proposition."

Tata Group is now in the initial stagesof exploring a combination of itsenterprise business with TataCommunications and its retail fixed lineand broadband business with Tata Sky.

It is, however, believed that the dealmarks the beginning of a growingrelationship between the two corporates

which could span businesses such asDTH, enterprise and undersea cable.The joint statement from the companiesmade a reference to this, "Tata andAirtel will work together to furtherexplore other areas of cooperation, thatwill be value accretive for both groups."

The sale of the ailing consumermobile services is the second majortransaction during Chandrasekaran'sleadership of Tata Sons. Last monthTata Steel agreed to merge its strugglingEuropean business with Germany'sThyssenkrupp. Since taking charge atthe helm of the conglomerate inFebruary, Chandrasekaran's immediatepriorities have been finding solutionsfor problematic businesses such as TataTeleservices, Tata Steel Europe, andTata Motors India. Cutting down group'sover $26 billion debt is another key focusarea. Source: TOI

HIGHLIGHTS The merger is on a debtfree and cash-free basis

Bharti will get the Tata consumer mobile business virtually for free

The deal marks the beginning of a growing relationship between the twocorporates which could span businesses such as DTH, enterprise andundersea cable

Lufthansa to buy over half ofbankrupt Air Berlin’s planes

BERLIN (TIP): Years of struggle for Germany’s second-ranked airline Air Berlin appeared close to an end Thursday, asairborne behemoth Lufthansa announced plans to buy morethan half the bankrupt carrier’s planes.

The deal has sparked controversy in the European aviationsector, with the German government facing accusations ithelped steer the process under a plan to build the Frankfurt-based carrier into an all-conquering juggernaut.

Germany’s largest airline will snap up some 81 of Air Berlin’s144 aircraft and take on 3,000 of its 8,500 staff, Lufthansa chiefexecutive Carsten Spohr said in Berlin, hailing it as a “greatday” for his company.

Lufthansa is set to sign its deal with Air Berlin at noon localtime (1000 GMT). Air Berlin is “continuing to negotiate today”with Easyjet, the other bidder chosen for exclusive takeovertalks with a Thursday deadline, a spokesman told news agencyDPA. Spohr said that Easyjet was interested in between 20 and30 of Air Berlin’s medium-range aircraft.

Lufthansa has yet to say how much it will pay under the deal,but Spohr told newspaper Rheinische Post Thursday that the

group would invest 1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) related to thetakeover. He added that 80 aircraft was the largest addition toLufthansa’s fleet that competition authorities would accept.

European authorities must now decide whether to giveThursday’s deal a green light, in a process that could take“several weeks or months,” Air Berlin chief executive ThomasWinkelmann said last week.

In the meantime, the carrier will operate flights as asubcontractor for the buyers, as insolvency rules forbid it fromoperating flights on its own account after October 28.

42 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017ASTROLOGY

Horoscope Forecast for OCTOBER 2017

Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrologicalconsultations. He can be reached at

[email protected] and on phone 011-91-9825470377

www.bejandaruwalla.com

Bejan Daruwalla is world's most famous astrologertoday.He appears regularly on world wide TV shows.Bejan whohas been a professor in English, hasauthored a number ofbooks on astrology. India'sPrime Minister Narendra Modi, on March 29, 2012,lunched one of Bejan's books, '2012-End of theWorld? Bejan contributes to a number of

journals andnewspapers in many parts of the world whichincludeBerkley Communications (London) Times ofIndia(Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) and TheIndianPanorama ( New York and Texas). Bejan'spredictionshave mostly been correct and people theworld overrely on his predictions.

BEJAN DARUWALLA Email- [email protected] | Phone : +91-9825470377 | www.bejandaruwalla.com

Today there is computerized voice type analysis. My observation is you, Scorpio, Taurus and Libra are blessed with the baritone which persuades people to do your bidding. This iscertainly yoga time or yoke time or partnerships of all possible sorts. I suggest yoga and partnership with God will be exceptionally fruitful. Enjoy it. Life is sweet but short.

AriesBuying - selling investment, be it of any sortshould be mighty exciting and tempting.Material goods are certainly fine and desirable.Agreed. But matters of the spirit are even moreso. Tantra and mantra, religious ceremonies forthe dead and the living should give you sweetsatisfaction and the courage to go onwards.

TaurusLoans and funds will have a special significancefor you. You should take all possible precautionsabout your health by Yoga, allopathy,homeopathy, ayurvedic. Each of us are differentand react differently to these mighty systems ofhealing. Be kind to servants, colleagues andpets. Hobbies and romance favored the first 13days.

GeminiThe feeding frenzy of the fish Piranha couldseize you and your desires could very welloverwhelm you. That is only human. But thereal secret is to diversify your desires anddistinguish between what is great and what ishorrible. Be tolerant of others and learn themighty lesson of forgiving your own self let notyour attachments run away with you.

CancerCreative juices, children and hobbies will govery well with the domestic scene, property anda possible change of place. In other words, a fullplate. Magic and mystery and the secrets ofnature could be revealed to you through a dreamor even worshipful actions and decent behavior.The trick and the ticket is to be bold and fearless.

LeoThe focus will surely shift to house, home,renovation, decoration, alteration speciallyfrom the next month. Trips and ties were meantjust for you. Vastu ceremony, prayers andpilgrimages are more than possible. In fact, forone year the domestic scene and foreign landswill have your attention.

VirgoHarvest time. All that you have waited for andworked for, should come true between October11, 2017 to November 8, 2018. Have courage, trustin God, serve the world faithfully and you will berewarded a thousand times over. We all have aright to rewards. Complete detachment is onlyfor spiritual masters and sages.

LibraYou are right at the very center of the turningcosmic will. That means you have the power toimprove your own self and thereby change forthe better the lives of others. Your relationshipswill be dynamic, magnetic and help you to helpothers. Right on Amitabh Bachchan's October11, Jupiter changes signs. A happy augury.

ScorpioGenetics, chemicals, heavy investments andsurprisingly enough improvement of memoryitself will be possible because the enzyme, knownas HDAC2 will be stopped from blocking synapticgenes. Within the next 12 months the birth ofcreation, improvement of the cellular system,circuits of the brain, mighty investment inphilanthropy and climate change could well kindlein all of us the hope of a bright and happier future.

SagittariusYou will progress enormously and rapidly if youdo your work in absolute secrecy. Technologyand chemicals and anything to do with fuels,aviation, racing, speculation, CID and espionageshould be right up your street. Hospitals,asylums, social welfare centers will need yourhelp and guidance. Prayers will be granted.

CapricornSocialize, be friendly and affable, circulate, jointclubs if you do so within the next 11 months youwill be the favorite of Dame fortune. The rarecombination of spirituality and conviviality ismost certainly foretold. Alliances, marriage,partnerships, contacts and contracts are allmeant just for you. Also trips and ties.

AquariusA chance to be the top gun and show your powerand might. That is okay. But with it if you arereasonable, humble and if common sense is notuncommon to you, you will be doubly great. Alittle control will lead to great good. Yes, I agreefully that you are a born humanitarian. That'syour true identity.

PiscesThe whole world can be a ball whirlingbetween your eyebrows. One eye will be theillusion. The other eye will be the reality. Itmeans you will be living on many levels anddifferent plains of reality, humanity andspirituality. For once even my intuition failsme and I cannot describe fully the immensepossibilities which will absolutely open out foryou in the next 11 months.

Ganesha says cross over time, Olympian hop-step-jump time as Jupiter the protector of the cosmossteps into Scorpio from October 11 this year. It means big push to designer babies, all chemicals and

genes, buying and selling, magic, mystery and mastery of the flesh and the spirit. This awesome periodwill last till November 8, 2018. Genes, chemicals, climate changes, bio-pharmaceuticals show the way toa brighter future. Not to worry. It is absolutely certain that there will be the mighty marriage of technology

and humanity beyond all that you can even imagine. Take heart, and march onwards spiritual warrior!

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44 THEINDIANPANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017DIWALI SPECIAL

DIWALI CELEBRATIONSAROUND THE WORLD

The growing ethnic and cultural diversityof Hindu religion throughout the worldprovides the opportunity to participate

in the celebrations and rituals of Diwalifestival that enhances the feelings of being partof a close-knit group of Indians. Most Diwalicelebrations around the world focus on familyand friends and it is a time to reflect on the pastand envision for a future, perhaps, in a worldwhere people live together in harmony.

Outside India also, as Diwali approaches,people clean their home to escape bad luck inthe upcoming year and families gather for afeast and stay up late, celebrating with the helpof crackers and sweets. They believe that theHindu goddess of good luck visits homes thatare brightly lit. Children make "diyas" whichare small clay lamps to light and bring the goodluck goddess to their home so they can receivenew clothes and toys. One family may havemany thousand of these little diyas decoratingtheir home.

MauritiusDiwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm

at Mauritius as this country have great Indiancrowd. The Diwali celebrations at Mauritius isas good as in India. The festival of lights-Diwali is celebrated in October/November.Diwali marks the victory of Rama over Ravanaand also commemorates Krishna's destructionof the demon Narakasuran. Earthen oil lampsare placed in front of every home turning theisland into a fairyland of flickering lights.

Mauritius is a beautiful landmass full ofpicturesque landscapes and enchanting spots.Mauritius accounts a 63% of Indian majorityof which 80% follow Hinduism. Hence,celebration of almost all the Hindu festivals inthis island is a common phenomenon. InMauritius, Diwali celebration is an age-oldtradition. Beautiful rows of twinkling candlesand lamps of all sorts are lit all over the islandto celebrate the return of the hero of theRamayana, Rama, from his 14 years of exile.

Besides celebrating the victory of good overevil and light over darkness, the little flickeringlights also symbolize the beginning of summer.The main day of the festivities is seen as aparticularly auspicious day for merchants tomake up their accounts and balances for theprevious year, to go unburdened into the next.After the morning prayers, Hindus sharesweets prepared specially for the occasion withfamily members, neighbors and friends of anyfaith, in accordance with the multiculturalspirit of Mauritius.

NepalSurrounded by majestic Himalayas, Nepal,

is a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society andthe only Hindu Kingdom of the world. Hindusin Nepal celebrate the Diwali festival withbright lights, gift exchanges, fireworks, andelaborate feasts to welcome Lakshmi, thegoddess of light and wealth. Various housesand shop front in Katmandu, Nepal, displaysthe bright lights typical of Hindu communitiesduring Diwali.Diwali is celebrated here withthe usual Hindu festivities and rituals. Diwaliin Nepal is known as Tihar. Just like mostplaces in India Diwali is celebrated here tohonor the goddess of wealth and god ofprosperity-Lakshmi and Ganesh respectively.The festival here continues for five days. Everyday has its special significance. The first day isdedicated to cows as they cook rice and feed thecows believing that goddess Lakshmi comes oncows. The second day is for Dogs as the Vahana

of Bhairava. Preparation of delicious foodespecially meant for the dog is a typicalcharacteristic of the day. Lights and lamps arelit to illuminate the entire surrounding andsome of the specialty items are prepared tomark the third day of the festival. Fireworks,Lamps and crackers are widely used. Thefourth day is dedicated to Yama, the Hindu Godof Death. He is prayed for long life. The fifthfinal day is Bhhaya Dooj dedicated for thebrothers who are wished long life andprosperity by their sisters.

IndonesiaThe name Indonesia came from two Greek

words: "Indos" meaning Indian and "Nesos"meaning islands. The majority of populationin Indonesia follows Islam. Hindus constituentabout 2% of Indonesia's total population.However, the Indonesian island of Bali isfamous for celebrating the festival of Diwali, asa majority of the population here are Indians.It is one of the most revered festivals of thelocals here. The celebration and rituals of thefestival is mostly similar to that celebrated bytheir counterparts in India.

Sri LankaSri Lanka is on the extreme southeastern

point of India. Related to the epic ofRamayana, Diwali holds a special importancefor the people here. The festival is marked byillumination, making of toys of enamel andmaking of figures out of crystal sugarpopularly known as Misiri. The sugar crystalstake the place of sweets. Hindus light oil lampsto invite the blessings of Lakshmi, the goddessof wealth. Burning of crackers in the eveningof the festival is a common practice of thisfestival. Srilanka's celebration may lack manyof the traditional aspects of Diwali such asgames, fireworks, singing and dancing, but thetradition of a large meal is admirablypreserved.

BritainThe Indians are the second largest ethnic

minority in Britain. To get rid of the feeling ofmissing their homeland, especially duringfestival times, the Indians here celebrate mostof the festivals. In Britain, as in India, theDiwali festival is a time for thoroughly spring-cleaning the home and for wearing new clothesand most importantly, decorating buildingswith fancy lights.The British city of Leicesteris noted for its Diwali Festival celebrations.

The occasion of Diwali is marked by visit tothe local temple to worship the shrine ofgoddess Lakshmi. The festival here iscelebrated according to the Hindu solarcalendar, in one of the cold, damp and windymonths in Britain. But still the enthusiasm ofthe festival celebration makes the task ofleaving small lamps on windowsills or by opendoorways possible ignoring the chill. The

Lamps and Diyas play their part inmaintaining the atmosphere of Diwali in thehome.

AustraliaAustralia the wonderful island country on

Indian Ocean has an estimated 100000 Indiansas settled in Australia. Most of them are thefollower of the Hindu religion. Though, someof the Indians here are recent arrivals thatbelong to the affluent sections of the Indiansociety. Due to the large number of Hindu here,Diwali is one of the major festivals that iscelebrated with great enthusiasm. Thelightening of lamps and diyas on Diwali is acommon practice. However, the non-availability of the appropriate material of orsome other reason have influenced thecelebations and has given in the touch ofmodernity in the celebration of the festival oflight.

Diwali fireworks in Melbourne.

Fireworks explode near the Wheel of Light during Diwali celebrations in Leicester.

45SOUTH ASIATHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Pakistan senators reject raisingmarriage age as 'un-Islamic'

ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistanisenators have rejected a bid to raise thelegal age of marriage for women from 16to 18, a senator told AFP, declaring it "un-Islamic" in a decision condemned byhuman rights activists.

The senate body tasked withexamining the amendment decidedagainst it unanimously earlier thisweek, government senator MuhammadJaved Abbasi told AFP on Thursday.

"According to Islamic traditions, it'sunderstood that a girl becomes adult inbetween 12 to 16 years of age, so how canwe define an age for marriage," Abbasisaid.

Child marriage remains common insome areas of deeply conservativePakistan, where woman have soughttheir rights for decades.

A previous attempt to amend themarriage bill last year was scuttled by areligious body which branded it"blasphemous" and against Islam.

The Council of Islamic Ideology saidthere was no specific age limit formarriage in sharia law as an individualcan marry when he or she reaches

puberty and puberty cannot be definedby age.

Human rights activists todayslammed the latest decision.

"Those who blocked this amendmentshould be ashamed of themselves," saidactivist Hina Jilani.

"Their interpretation is wrong," shesaid, adding that doctors clearly adviseagainst the marriage of young girls forhealth reasons.

"We will confront this extremist andfundamentalist ideology and will launchprotest," she said. (AFP)

Election Commission of Pakistanissues non-bailable arrestwarrants for Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD (TIP): The Election Commission of Pakistan(ECP) on Thursday issued non-bailable arrest warrants forImran Khan, chairman of the opposition party PakistanTehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), in the contempt of court case againsthim for repeatedly failing to appear before it for the hearingand for failing to send a written apology to the ECP for hisabsence from court.

Akbar S Babar, a former PTI leader, had filed the case withthe ECP seeking Imran Khan's disqualification overallegations that his party was receiving funds from foreignsources.

ECP chairman Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan ordered onThursday that the PTI chairman be arrested and brought tothe next hearing of the case on October 26. Naeemul Haq, PTIspokesperson, said the party would challenge the warrants inIslamabad High Court (IHC).

The ECP had issued bailable arrest warrants for Khan onSeptember 14 for failing to appear for the contempt of courtproceedings. On the PTI's petition, the Islamabad High Court(IHC) had later suspended the arrest warrants.

"The ECP has issued a new warrant in the same case wherea bailable warrant was already suspended. We will challengethe decision in court and will also look into the matterwhether this is contempt of the IHC's decision or not," BabarAwan, PTI's member and lawyer said. (PTI)

3 members of Ahmadiyyacommunity sentenced to death inPakistan

LAHORE: Three members of the persecuted Ahmadiyyacommunity have been sentenced to death in Pakistan's Punjabprovince for committing blasphemy by tearing up posters thatdemanded boycott of the minority sect.

They have also been fined Rs 200,000 each and in case theydon't pay the fine, they would undergo six months of rigorouspunishment.

Additional District and Sessions Judge of Sheikhupuradistrict of Punjab province Mian Javed Akram announced theverdict yesterday after the prosecution submitted evidenceand presented all witnesses in the case.

A blasphemy case registered against them in May in 2014 fortearing religious posters.

According to Sharqpur police station official MuhammadAshar, the people had displayed posters in the village urgingsocial boycott of the Ahmadiyya community. "The posterscarried Islamic verses," he said.

On removing the posters, a complaint was filed against thethree men that led to their subsequent arrest.

The convicts admitted before the court that they hadremoved the posters for demanding social boycott ofAhmadiyya community but not to commit blasphemy.

Their counsel will challenge the verdict in the higher court.Yesterday, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in- law

Mohammad Safdar launched a tirade against the Ahmaddiyacommunity, demanding their exclusion from the governmentand military service.

The Ahmadiyya community was declared non-Muslims inPakistan through a constitutional amendment in 1974 duringthe tenure of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

This measure was later followed with former president GenZiaul Haq, making it a punishable offence for Ahmadiyyas tocall themselves Muslim or to refer to their faith as Islam.

The community is also banned from preaching as well asfrom travelling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. They are alsonot allowed to publish any material propagating their faith.

Members of the community in Pakistan have often beentargeted. (PTI)

Rajapaksa's son arrested forprotesting outside Indian consulate

COLOMBO (TIP): The elder son of former Sri Lankanpresident Mahinda Rajapaksa has been arrested along withtwo other parliamentarians for protesting outside the Indianconsulate in Hambantota over the proposed lease of an airportto an Indian company.

The members of the Joint Opposition backing ex-presidentMahinda Rajapaksa staged the demonstration to protest theSri Lankan government's deal with India to handover theMattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) inHambantota in the country's Southern Province. (PTI)

Army in 'systematic' campaign to driveRohingya from Myanmar: UN

GENEVA (TIP): Myanmar's"systematic" crackdown on theRohingya is aimed at permanentlyexpelling the minority Muslimcommunity from their home in Rakhinestate, the United Nations saidWednesday.

The UN report, which is based oninterviews with refugees who have fledto Bangladesh, details a campaign byMyanmar's military to terrorise theRohingya through atrocities that rangefrom indiscriminate killings to rape.

"Brutal attacks against Rohingya innorthern Rakhine State have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic,with the intent of not only driving thepopulation out of Myanmar butpreventing them from returning to theirhomes," the UN said.

UN researchers spoke to people whoarrived in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar areasince August 25, when militant attackson Myanmar's security forces inRakhine sparked a major militarybacklash. More than half a millionpeople have fled, UN figures show.

But the probe found that the latestwave of military "clearance operations"in Rakhine actually began before thatdate, possibly in early August,contradicting government claims thatthe crackdown was a response tomilitant strikes.

The investigation outlines an army-led campaign to erase the Rohingya'sconnection to their homeland in themajority Buddhist nation, where theyhave suffered persecution for decades.

Myanmar's troops also often operate"in concert with armed RakhineBuddhist individuals," the UN said.

"In some cases, before and during theattacks, megaphones were used toannounce: 'You do not belong here -- go toBangladesh. If you do not leave, we willtorch your houses and kill you'," it said.

The findings were based oninterviews conducted in Bangladeshbetween September 14 and 24, withresearchers finding evidence of abusesdesigned to "instil deep and widespreadfear" among the Rohingya population.

This included accounts of soldierssurrounding homes and firingindiscriminately as residents ran fortheir lives as well as uniformed mengang-raping women and girls, some asyoung as five.

One statement, "received by anextremely credible source, referred to a(pregnant) woman whose stomach wasslit open after she was raped", the reportsaid.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva,researcher Thomas Hunecke also saidthe UN had "very credible information"that Myanmar's military had plantedlandmines along the Bangladesh border.

"It is highly likely that these mines

have been planted in order to prevent theRohingya population from returning",he said. Teachers, as well as cultural,religious and community leaders havealso been targeted in the latestcrackdown "in an effort to diminishRohingya history, culture andknowledge", the report said.

"Efforts were taken to effectively erasesigns of memorable landmarks in thegeography of the Rohingya landscapeand memory in such a way that a returnto their lands would yield nothing but adesolate and unrecognisable terrain," itadded.

The UN team said it spoke tohundreds of people in a series of 65interviews, some with individuals andsome with groups of up to 40 people.

UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad AlHussein, has previously described thecrackdown as "a textbook example ofethnic cleansing." (AFP)

46 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017MISCELLANY

QATAR - US TIES WITNESS A SURGE: SEETHARAMANPRAKASH M SWAMY

NEW YORK (TIP): Doha Bank hosted aknowledge sharing session on "Qatar- USBilateral Opportunities" at HotelMetropolitan, New York on Oct.10.The eventwas well attended by leading Corporates whowere keen to hear more about US - Qatarbilateral relationships and to explore furtherbusiness opportunities with Doha Bank.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO, Doha Bank gaveinsight on global economies. He said"According to IMF July 2017 Outlook,economic activity in both advancedeconomies and emerging and developingeconomies is forecast to accelerate in 2017, to 2percent and 4.6 percent respectively, withglobal growth projected to be 3.5 percent.Current global growth prospects areencouraging, though the pace of growth isstill weaker than desirable."

Dr. R. Seetharaman highlighted on USeconomy and Qatar - US Bilateralrelationships. He said "US economy hadexpanded at an annual rate of 3 percent in thesecond quarter of the year. U.S. economicgrowth will take a mild hit in the thirdquarter from Hurricane Harvey and Irma.The U.S. economy lost 33,000 jobs inSeptember even as the unemployment rate fellto 4.2 percent. Despite this Federal Reservepolicymakers have recently signaled theycontinue to see gradual U.S. interest-ratehikes ahead. Qatar's trade with US was closeto $ 6Bn in 2016.

The US is the sixth largest trading partnerof Qatar. US exports to Qatar mainlyconsisted of Aircraft, Vehicles, ElectricalMachinery and Optical Medical Instruments.U.S. imports from Qatar mainly fuel andfertilizers. In Oct 2015 Qatar and the US havesigned a memorandum of understanding(MoU) to establish economic and investment

dialogue. In August 2016 Qatar's sovereignwealth fund made a $622-million purchase, astake in the company that owns New York'sEmpire State Building.

In June 2017 the United States and Qatarhave signed a deal for the purchase of F-15fighter jets with an initial cost of $12bn. InAugust 2017 Qatar's National Anti-MoneyLaundering and Terrorism FinancingCommittee (NAMLC) has engaged the US-based Financial Integrity Network (FIN) as itsprincipal strategic adviser for enhancing thecountry's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) system.

Building on the nearly $26bn invested in theUS since 2015, Qatar Investment Authority hascommitted to investing another $10bn and

expanding the portfolio to includeinfrastructure projects. Qatar- US Bilateralrelationships witness a surge."

Dr. R. Seetharaman gave insight on therecent developments in Qatar. He said "Qatarwill raise LNG production by 30% to 100mtpawithin five to seven years after lifting amoratorium on gas development earlier thisyear. Qatar ranked 18th in 'the GlobalCompetitiveness Report 2016-17' and standssecond in the region. A new law for PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) businesses in Qatarshould provide an additional level of comfortto the private sector and foreign investors.

Qatar Lending growth till August 2017 wasmore than 6% YTD and deposit growth wasmore than 9% YTD in 2017. In Feb 2017, Qatar

issued a new law on arbitration inspired bythe UNCITRAL Model Law, an internationaltemplate for law on arbitration. In terms offood security, Qatar now have many localcompanies that are supporting the countryand it can develop these businesses furtherand boost its food production to provide bothlocally and internationally.

Qatar Budget 2017 has allocated for keysectors such as health, education andinfrastructure QR87.1bn (US$23.9bn) which ismade up made up of nearly 44% of the totalexpenditure in the 2017.Transportation andinfrastructure projects, which represented amain pillar of enhancing sustainabledevelopment, have been allocated QR42bn.(US$11.51bn). The accomplishment of the NewOrbit Highway will facilitate the world cupinfrastructure works as per schedule.

Qatar's landmark residency plan is awelcoming social and economic reform. It willattract skilled expats to have a career in Qatar.It will also encourage investors as they wouldbe able to launch business ventures. It willhelp migrants to further integrate withQatar's society. The landmark residency planwill enhance expatriates' participation inQatar's economy and society in various formsand thereby contribute to sustainable growthof Qatar. Qatar has also waived entry visarequirements for citizens of 80 countries."

Convening all these global business leadersin New York, was a powerful reminder of theinvaluable role that accurate information,communication and reporting plays in thebusiness community. The presentation wasinspiring and useful. It restored trust andfertile ground.

The business audience was able to see theopportunities that Qatar is offering. Qatar'score value and hard work were highlighted asthey lead to a peaceful and resilient society.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO, Doha Bank giving insight on global economies

NEW YORK CITY (TIP): RubinMuseum of Art (RMA) in New York ishosting "Ragas Live Festival-24 hoursof sacred sound" on October 21-22,where guests with a $280 ticket gethandpicked gallery sleeping spotunder an artwork and may bringbedding.

Starting 10 am on October 21 andending at 10 am on October 22, thisovernight Indian classical musicconcert, whose tagline is "Color yourmind at Ragas Live Festival",includes performances by over 50master musicians and is a first forRMA. Museum will also providelounge areas in the lobby for naps andspaces where guests can makethemselves cozy.

A worldwide audience will sharethis "immersive 24-hour globallistening experience" in real time viaa live radio broadcast. Museum Caféwill serve "mango lassis", and theevent includes meditation andtraditional Hindu sunrise puja(prayer).

Musical instruments to be usedduring the festival include sitar,kanjira, tabla, bansuri, sarod,sarangi, harmonium, mridangam,santoor, etc. It would showcase somehundreds of years old compositionsand includes many artists from India.

Welcoming RMA for hostingfestival of ragas, which werehistorically integral to Hinduismwith roots going back to ancient

Vedas, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, ina statement in Nevada, said that arthad a long and rich tradition inHinduism and the elements ofmusical theory were first found inSama-Veda.

Rajan Zed, who is President ofUniversal Society of Hinduism,urged major art museums of theworld, including Musee du Louvreand Musee d'Orsay of Paris,Metropolitan Museum of Art in NewYork, Los Angeles Getty Center, UffiziGallery of Florence (Italy), ArtInstitute of Chicago, Tate Modern ofLondon, Prado Museum of Madrid,National Gallery of Art inWashington DC, etc., to frequentlyorganize Hindu art/culture focusedexhibitions/shows/concerts, thussharing the rich Hindu art heritagewith the rest of the world.

Ragas are stated to be melodieswith highest expression of Indianclassical music and envisioned asmanifestation of the divine. Some are

associated with various Hindu deitieslike Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, etc.Sage Narada is said to have playedsome ragas. Many ragas producefeeling of reverence, hope, passion,love, joy, devotion, peace, etc. Effectsof ragas have been described asbringing dead back to life, curingmadness, causing rain, starting fire,etc.

RMA claims to "spark new ways ofseeing the world", hosts "out-of-the-ordinary experiences" and haswelcomed over 1.4 million visitors.With five gallery floors, it describesitself as "space to contemplate ideasthat extend across history and spanhuman cultures". Robert M. Baylisand Patrick Sears are TrusteesPresident and Executive Directorrespectively.

Hinduism, oldest and third largestreligion of the world, has about 1.1billion adherents and moksh(liberation) is its goal. There areabout three million Hindus in USA.

Rubin Museum New York hosting 24-hour ragasfestival where one can bring bedding to sleep

An Open Letter to President Trump

STOP USING AMERICA'S CHILDREN ASPAWNS: EXTEND DACA

Ireceived a letter justbefore I left office from aman. I don't know why

he chose to write it, but I'mglad he did. He wrote thatyou can go to live in France,but you can't become aFrenchman. You can go tolive in Germany or Italy, butyou can't become a German,an Italian. He went throughTurkey, Greece, Japan andother countries. But he saidanyone, from any corner ofthe world, can come to livein the United States andbecome an American."

-President Ronald

Reagan

The Trumpadministration is againusing America's children as pawns, unfairly pushing harsh policies to pushhis own agenda. Proposals last Sunday threaten to derail efforts to protectthe Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applicants fromdeportation. 800,000 of young immigrants, many of whom were broughtinto the U.S. illegally as children, are being exploited in a deadly game of catand mouse.

It is un-American to link the fate of Dreamers to an unreasonable anti-immigrant wish list. Congress must immediately pass the bipartisan DreamAct independently, and on its own merits. With Democrats threateninggridlock in Congress, it is the American people who suffer most when thisimpasse happens. Playing the Trump card has taken on a mean-spiritedmeaning.

The President's unreasonable demands include overhauling the country'sgreen-card system, hiring 10,000 more immigration officers and building thequixotic wall along the southern border. Trump administration officialssaid the president will insist on their passage in exchange for supportinglegislation that would extend the DACA program. contd on Page 48

The future of America's continued successrests on its young people, many of whom areDACA recipients. As an immigration lawyer,immigrant and community advocate, Albert

Baldeo knows firsthand that Dreamersdeserve a better chance to succeed and help

build America.

47TRAVELTHE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

Kerala's backwaters—a network ofnatural waterways, lagoons and lakes—run parallel to its coast. The rich

vegetation, biological diversity and gentle paceof village life in the backwaters leave anindelible impression on visitors. TheAlappuzha-Kumarakom stretch is the mostpopular, but there are several other routeswhich offer quieter yet equally scenicexperiences. The backwaters are synonymouswith 'kettuvallams'—houseboats designed likerice barges—but country canoes and publicferries are interesting options for those lookingfor some local flavour.

AlappuzhaOften likened to Venice, Alappuzha, also

known as Alleppey, in central Kerala, is themost popular entry point into the backwatersaround Vembanad Lake. There's a pretty beachwith an old pier and lighthouse, but the realdraw is the network of canals which can beexplored on luxury houseboats, speedboats andferries.

The Alappuzha District Tourism PromotionCouncil offers the cheapest cruises, includingthe popular one between Alappuzha and Kollamwhich operates every day, from August toJanuary (Rs 300 including lunch for 8 hours).There's also a daily three-hour-long sunsetcruise (Rs 200), canoe rides (Rs 200 per hour) andovernight stays in houseboats (Rs 4,000 for non-AC and Rs 4,500 for AC, all-inclusive).

Alappuzha is at its festive best during theNehru Boat Snake Boat Race, generally held onthe second Saturday of August every year. Theregatta takes place on the Punnamada Lake, andalso features ceremonial processions andmagnificent floats. The highlight of the event isthe synchronised rowing of traditional 30-metre-long snake-boats or 'chudan valloms',which have a raised prow resembling a snake.

KumarakomPart of the Kuttanad region, picturesque

Kumarakom is an archipelago scattered on theeastern edge of the Vembanad Lake. This area'snatural splendour and way of life were vividlydescribed in Arundhati Roy's Man BookerPrize-winning, 'The God of Small Things'.Kumarakom has a string of luxury resortsincluding the Coconut Lagoon, KumarakomLake Resort and Vivanta by Taj - Kumarakom,located right on the backwaters and guests canrove about the canals on boating and fishingtrips. The 14-acre Kumarakom Bird Sanctuaryis an ornithologist's paradise and home toegrets, darters, herons, herons, waterfowls andkingfishers. The sanctuary also welcomesseasonal guests including the elusive Siberianstork, between the months of November andMay.

KollamThe backwaters around Kozhikode are also

not as touristy and consequently much lesscrowded. Houseboats can be hired at the piernear the Purrakkattiri Bridge on the Ullery-Perambra road, 10 kilometres outsideKozhikode. The prettiest routes wind along theCanoly Canal, Kallai River and Elathur. Anexcursion to the scenic Kadalundi BirdSanctuary, set amidst hillocks and by an estuary,is highly recommended. The sanctuarycomprises of a group of small isles where theKadalundi River meets the Arabian Sea, and ishome to over 100 species of native birds and 60kinds of migratory birds.

KozhikodeLess-known than the backwaters of central

Kerala, the backwaters around Kozhikode arealso not as touristy and consequently much lesscrowded. Houseboats can be hired at the piernear the Purrakkattiri Bridge on the Ullery-Perambra road, 10 kilometres outsideKozhikode. The prettiest routes wind along theCanoly Canal, Kallai River and Elathur. Anexcursion to the scenic Kadalundi BirdSanctuary, set amidst hillocks and by an estuary,is highly recommended. The sanctuary

comprises of a group of small isles where theKadalundi River meets the Arabian Sea, and ishome to over 100 species of native birds and 60kinds of migratory birds.

ValiyaparambaThe northern backwaters in Valiyaparamba

are the quietest of the lot. Around 30 kilometresaway from Bekal, Valiyaparamba is located inthe Kasaragod district of north Kerala. Fed byfour rivers, this sprawling backwater hasseveral small and scenic islands. For a shortvisit, take a Kerala State Water TransportDevelopment ferry from Kotti near the town ofPayyannur, towards Ayitti Jetty.

The comfortably furnished Bekal Boat Stayoffers one of the few overnight houseboat tripsto the area.

You can also stay at the ValiyaparambaRetreat, which has two rooms and twobungalows sandwiched between a pristinebeach and the backwaters. It is located 15kilometres north of the town of Payyannur, andalso organises excursions on motor boats andcountry canoes.

EXPLORING KERALA’SBACKWATERS

48 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017TURN PAGE

contd from page 1

Trump Signs Executive Order...issue where Republicans had earlier failed in their repeated

attempts to bring down Obamacare.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump

of "using a wrecking ball to single-handedly rip apart ourhealthcare system."

"Having failed to repeal the law in Congress, the president issabotaging the system", Schumer said.

The House of Representatives in May passed Republicanlegislation to gut Obamacare. But attempts by SenateRepublicans to repeal and replace Obamacare failed in Julyand September, in part because the proposed legislation wouldhave caused millions of Americans to lose healthcarecoverage.

Republicans call Obamacare, which extended healthinsurance to 20 million people, a government intrusion intoAmericans' healthcare, and have been promising for sevenyears to scrap it.

Trump's order weakens Obamacare in part by giving peoplemore access to plans that do not cover essential health benefitssuch as maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs, andmental health and addiction treatment.

Obamacare, known formally as the Affordable Care Act,requires most small business and individual health plans tocover those benefits.

The order also sought to change an Obama-era limit on thetime span people can use short-term health insurance plans,which are cheaper but cover few medical benefits. Those plansare currently limited to three months.

Trump said the order was "only the beginning" and that hisadministration would take additional actions. He said hewould "pressure Congress very strongly to finish the repealand the replace of Obamacare once and for all."

The action could open Mr. Trump to legal challenges fromDemocratic state attorneys general, who have said they willsue Mr. Trump if he tries to destroy Obamacare.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat,said Trump's executive order is just another step towardimploding the Affordable Care Act. "It should come as nosurprise that California is prepared to fight in court to protectaffordable healthcare for its people," Becerra said. "We'reheading in a different direction."

Trump has taken a number of other steps since January toweaken or undermine Obamacare. He has not committed tomaking billions of dollars of payments to insurers guaranteedunder Obamacare, prompting many to exit the individualmarket or hike premiums for 2018.

The administration also halved the open enrolment period,which begins Nov. 1, and slashed the Obamacare advertisingand outreach budget.

‘I hope the new generation...Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, on his new book

'Master on Masters', which released in March this year inIndia.

'Master on Masters' is a 'deeply personal book' about thelives and times of some of the greatest icons of Indianclassical music. Having known these stalwarts personally,Maestro recalls anecdotes and details about their individualmusical styles, bringing them alive.

Twelve eminent musicians of the twentieth century appearin the book - Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Begum

Akhtar, Alla Rakha, Kesarbai Kerkar, Kumar Gandharva, M.S.Subbulakshmi, Bhimsen Joshi, Bismillah Khan, Ravi Shankar,Vilayat Khan and Kishan Maharaj.

In writing about them, Amjad Ali Khan transcends theGharana and north-south divide, and presents portraits ofthese great artists that are drawn with affection, humor andwarmth. Through pictures, anecdotes and personalexperiences the book provides interesting insights into lives ofthe stalwarts who contributed to the glory of the Indianclassical musical tradition in India.

Talking about the inspiration behind writing this book, hesaid, "My father (Haafiz Ali Khan) used to say, always find outquality of other musicians. That is what I have done. We haddifference of opinions and fought with each other for ourdifferent gharanas. But I had great personal bond with them(the 12 maestros). I miss their presence. This is my humblehomage to the greats."

Ustad Amjas Ali Khan also spoke about the individualmusical styles of the twelve musicians featured in his book.Highlighting the spirituality of Indian classical music, hesaid, "I hope the new generation understands the spiritualnature of the Indian classical music and continues to keep thetradition alive." His two sons Amaan Ali Bangash and AyaanAli Bangash were also present at the event. Ustad Amjad AliKhan will perform in New York on Saturday, November 4, 2017at the Carnegie Hall.

A Reprieve for Talwars...the Noida couple, who were sentenced to life by a Ghaziabad

CBI court in November 2013 for the double murder that notonly transfixed but also shook the nation with its element offilicide. But the central question remains - who killed Aarushiand Hemraj?

The Division Bench of Justices BK Narayana and AKMishra read out the operative part of the judgment in a jam-packed courtroom and acquitted the couple, saying neither thecircumstances nor the evidence was enough to hold themguilty.

Ending the Talwars' nine-year ordeal, the court said theCentral Bureau of Investigation had based its case purely oncircumstantial evidence that did not quite add up. Finding nodirect evidence, the court gave the benefit of doubt to thecouple and quashed the CBI court's sentence of lifeimprisonment.

On November 25, 2013, the CBI trial court had held themguilty of the double murder. Since then, the Talwars have beenimprisoned in Dasna jail, Ghaziabad. They challenged the CBIverdict in the Allahabad High Court in January 2014. Theirrepeated pleas for bail were turned down. After daily hearings,the High Court concluded the arguments and reserved itsjudgment on September 7 this year.

According to the counsel for the Talwars, the court saidthere was a "strong alternative theory" in the case. He said thecourt refuted the CBI theory that there was no third person inthe house when the murders took place.

CBI counsels said they would first study the entire judgmentand then decide if the verdict was to be challenged in theSupreme Court or not.

Dasna prison jailer Dadhiram Maurya said the Talwars feltthey had got justice and were praying. "After having breakfast,they had been praying. Their schedule was normal. She(Nupur Talwar) said they got justice today and had tears ofjoy."

Aarushi was found dead inside her room in the Talwars'Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The suspicioninitially fell on 45-year-old Hemraj, who was missing at thattime. But his body was recovered from the terrace of the housea day later. As the Uttar Pradesh Police drew flak over shoddyinvestigation into the case, the then Chief Minister Mayawatirecommended a probe by the CBI.

Group Captain BG Chitnis (retd), Nupur Talwar's father,said, "I am grateful to the judiciary for the verdict. They havereally suffered. They are emotionally drained. At my age, itwas very trying to see my daughter behind bars."

Lawyer Rebecca John, who was part of the Talwars' legalteam, claimed the whole case was based on "innuendos".

(Source: PTI)

contd from Page 16

Indian American Nisha Desai...record of advancing United States business across the

growth markets of Asia and throughout India. Under herstrong leadership, we're confident the U.S.-India BusinessCouncil will play a critical role growing commercialpartnership, investment, and innovation across the world'soldest and largest democracies."

Biswal served as Assistant Secretary for South and CentralAsian Affairs in the U.S. Department of State from 2013 to 2017,

where she oversaw the U.S.-India strategic partnership duringa period of unprecedented cooperation, including launchingthe U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. Inrecognition of her efforts, Biswal was awarded the prestigiousSamman Award by the President of India in January 2017. Shepreviously served as Assistant Administrator for Asia at theU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Biswalalso spent over ten years on Capitol Hill, serving as staffdirector on the State, Foreign Operations AppropriationsSubcommittee and the Foreign Affairs Committee in theHouse of Representatives. ? Most recently, she was a senioradvisor with the Albright Stonebridge Group, where shehelped expand the firm's India and South Asia practice.

"I am honored and excited by the opportunity to lead theU.S.-India Business Council and to join the leadership of theU.S. Chamber of Commerce during a period of historicopportunity for both countries," said Biswal. "As one of themost significant and fastest growing markets, India is animportant economic partner for the United States. Likewise,Indian companies are investing in ever greater numbers herein the United States. I am proud to be part of an organizationwhich will play such a critical role shaping U.S.-Indiarelations, and I am thrilled at the chance to help our companiesdeliver a brighter, more prosperous future for the citizens ofthe United States and India." Biswal has served on the board ofthe U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and is a current memberof the U.S. Institute of Peace International Advisory Counciland the Institute for Sustainable Communities Board ofDirectors.

"UPS applauds Nisha being named as the new president ofthe U.S.-India Business Council," said Jim Barber, president ofUPS International. "At this critical time, she will bringdynamic leadership and well-established economic expertiseto the mission of improving the U.S.-India relationship."Biswal will join the U.S. Chamber beginning October 23, 2017.

contd from Page 46

STOP USING AMERICA'S...The specific list includes limiting family-based green cards

to spouses and the minor children of U.S. citizens and lawfulpermanent residents and creating a point-based system,boosting fees at border crossings, make it easier to deport gangmembers and unaccompanied children, and overhaul theasylum system.

It also includes new measures to crack down on "sanctuarycities," which don't share information with federalimmigration authorities, among other proposals-like NewYork City. The ability of federal, state and local authorities todetain illegal immigrants would be fully enshrined in law.Visitors who come legally but overstay their visas, would nowface a misdemeanor penalty.

"These priorities are essential to mitigate the legal andeconomic consequences of any grants or status to DACArecipients," White House legislative affairs director MarcShort, unashamedly and inhumanely, told reporters. "We'reasking that these reforms be included in any legislationconcerning the status of DACA recipients."

Initiated under President Barack Obama, DACA protectedand helped 800,000 young Americans, helped them to emergefrom the shadows, and shielded them from deportation. Itallowed them to continue working legally in the U.S. Trumpannounced a phase-out of the program last month, but he hasgiven Congress six months to come up with a legislative fix,but it is an inhumane proposal that makes these innocent livesunwilling pawns in the vicious game of politics.

In a joint statement, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosiand Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the list"goes so far beyond what is reasonable" and "fails to representany attempt at compromise. The Administration can't beserious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if theybegin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to theimmigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans.If the President was serious about protecting the Dreamers,his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so," they said.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, is justified in accusing theadministration of trying to "use Dreamers as bargaining chipsto achieve the administration's deportation and detentiongoals. Congress should reject this warped, anti-immigrantpolicy wish list. Immigrants are humans; we should craftpolicies that treat them as such."

Mr. President, you can, and must do, better!Albert Baldeo

New York

(Albert Baldeo is a civil rights activist and communityadvocate. As President of the Baldeo Foundation and Queens

Justice Center, he has continued to fight for equal rights,dignity and inclusion in the decision making process. He can be

contacted at the Baldeo Foundation: (718) 529-2300.)






54 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017SPORTS

INDIA END U-17 WORLD CUP CAMPAIGNIN AGONY, SUFFER 0-4 LOSS TO GHANA

NEW DELHI (TIP): Rank outsiders Indiaended their maiden FIFA U-17 World Cupcampaign in a cry of pain and agony as theywere handed a 0-4 thrashing by two-timechampions Ghana in their final group matchon Oct 12.

The Indians played their hearts out in thefinal Group A game but that was not enoughas formidable Ghana outplayed them in alldepartments.

The scoreline, though, would not tell theexact story.

Captain Eric Ayiah scored twice -- in the43rd and 52nd minutes -- while second halfsubstitutes Richard Danso (86th) andEmmanuel Toku (87th) struck once each tobreak the hearts of the 52,614 homesupporters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The fans had turned up in large numbers,hoping that their players would come up withanother inspiring show, like they had doneagainst Colombia in the previous match.

With Colombia beating the USA 3-1 in theother Group A game in Mumbai, Ghanatopped the group. Colombia also qualified inthe round of 16 as they finished second. USAhad to be content with the third place.

All the three - Ghana, Colombia and USA -ended with three points each. But Ghana hadthe best goal difference of plus four whileColombia and USA had plus two each. As thenumber of goals scored between USA andColombia were also the same - 5 - the rankingwas decided on head to head record.

To be fair to the Indians, they had not done

too badly in the tournament against the bestin the world. Built into a team in around twoyears through scouting from across thecountry and being trained together by headcoach Luis Norton de Matos for just sevenmonths, it was not expected to even performlike this.

They were also unlucky not to have added atleast a goal each in the match against USA(which they lost 0-3) and against Colombia(which they narrowly lost 1-2).

Vastly superior in physique, speed and skill,the Ghanians totally dominated the match asfar as both possession and shots wereconcerned. Ghana also needed a win to be sure

of a top two finish in the group and hence anautomatic knock-out berth, prompting them tokeep the Indian citadel under seize throughoutthe match. It was desperate defending for mostpart of the match with nine outfield playersbehind the ball in their own half with onlyAniket Jadhav lurking upfront. Even Anikethad to run deep down and help his team-matesin the wake of the wave of Ghana offensive.

The crowd cheered lustily to spur the homeplayers but it was too much for the Indians tokeep on defending all the time against therampaging Ghana attackers and they wiltedunder the enormous pressure.

As de Matos had picked his two key players

for Ghana, Sadiq Ibrahim and Bismark Owusu-- the left and right wingers respectively --tormented the Indians time and again withtheir speed and deft manoeuvres.

In the first 45 minutes, all that India couldmanage was a 16th minute free-kick at the edgeof the box, which Sanjeev Stalin took, only forthe Ghanaian goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim toclear without a fuss.

To be fair to India, Ghana also did not havetoo many strikes on target. Ghana captain EricAyaih had a fierce right-footer in the 35thminute tipped over by goalkeeper DheerajSingh. A short while later, Ibrahim Sulley had ashot at the Indian goal, which was again savedby Dheeraj. It was a matter of time the Ghanagoal came and it all started from the right flank.Sadiq Ibrahim cut through the right, sent a lowcross, which Dheeraj tried to collect with a divebut spilled over and Ayaih was there to firehome with a bullet right-footed shot.

The second half was not much different asIndia defended grimly but Ghana ended thehosts' flickering hopes of getting any point fromthe tournament with Ayiah finding the targetonce again, in the 52nd minute, for his secondgoal of the night.

De Matos pulled out captain Amarjit Singhand replaced him with striker Rahim Ali to tryand look for at least a goal.

India had two shots at the opposition goal latein the match through Rahim Ali andLalengmawia, another second half substitute,but they did not trouble the Ghana keepermuch.

ASHISH NEHRA DECIDES TOHANG UP HIS BOOTS

HYDERABAD (TIP): Veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehratoday decided to call time on his injury-ravaged career after nextmonth’s opening T20 against New Zealand at his home ground inNew Delhi, saying “it is always good to retire when people areasking why rather than why not”. “I have spoken to the teammanagement as well as the chairman of selection committee thatthe game against New Zealand has come in Delhi. So it can’t getbigger than retiring in front of your home fans where I played myfirst Ranji Trophy game 20 years ago,” said Nehra.

The 38-year-old seamer made the announcement on the eve ofthe third and final T20I against Australia here. Nehra confirmedthat he won’t be playing IPL as well.

Having made his India debut back in 1999, Nehra has played 17Tests, 120 ODIs and 26 T20 Internationals. He has picked 44 Testwickets, besides 157 ODI and 34 T20 scalps. He could have played alot more but for regular injuries. Nehra made his latest Indiacomeback for the ongoing T20 series but did not get a look-in in thefirst two games. He came into the series hoping to play all matchesbut soon realised that the younger bowler were the first choice.“When I came into the series, I came prepared to play all games. Ispoke to the captain and the coach straightaway,” Nehra said. “Mythinking is that I should be in the XI if I am available. If you see,I’ve played in all the T20 games in the past two years.”

Nehra said it was not a decision he made overnight and reachedthe conclusion after seeing the young pacers do well. “Bhuvi isready with the way he is bowling. Earlier, Bumrah and I wereplaying but now Bhuvi is doing well. And there is also no big eventlined up in the next 5-6 months,” said Nehra.

He said he could have easily played international cricket foranother year and also the next IPL. “It is very important for me toknow what people think about me in the dressing room. So now,they all are saying I can easily play for another one to one-and-a-half years. My thinking has always been that it is good to retirewhen people are asking why than why not. I always wanted toretire on a high.”

Messi waves hismagic wand

QUITO (TIP): A magical Lionel Messi hat-trick carriedArgentina to a 3-1 win over Ecuador on Tuesday and booked theirplace at next year’s World Cup finals in Russia.

With Argentina facing the dire possibility of missing out on aWorld Cup for the first time since 1970, their brilliant captaindelivered when it matter most with three goals in the rarefied airof Quito.

The twice World Cup winners finished third in the 10-teamSouth American group, going through with Brazil, Uruguay andColombia as the automatic qualifiers. Peru grabbed a playoffplace against Oceania champions New Zealand at the expense ofChile, who were beaten 3-0 by Brazil on Tuesday.

“Today Argentina took a great step forward,” said coach JorgeSampaoli. “I hope that with the time to prepare that we’ll have,we can be competitive (in Russia) like we were today.” WhileSampaoli was delighted with his captain’s performance, he saidthe side had to stop relying on him so much. “We’ve got to fix itso not everything depends on Messi,” he added.

Messi had not been at his best in Argentina’s stutteringcampaign and failed to score in their previous three drawnqualifiers, which had left them in sixth place and out of thequalifying berths for Russia heading into Tuesday’s game. AWorld Cup without Argentina seemed an even bigger possibilitywhen Romario Ibarra put Ecuador ahead in the opening minuteafter he got the better of Javier Mascherano and beat SergioRomero with a low shot.

But Argentina, who had managed only one previous win inQuito, in 2001, equalised 11 minutes later when Messi tappedhome after a one-two with Angel Di Maria. Messi then putArgentina ahead in the 20th minute, firing a superb shot pastMaximo Banguera into the top corner, and completed his hat-trick just past the hour, shaking off three tired Ecuadordefenders before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeperand into the net. Messi, enjoying a little bit of extra space seldomafforded against rival South American defences, joinedUruguay’s Luis Suarez as the all-time joint top scorers inCONMEBOL qualifiers with 21 goals.



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