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13-10-11, issue
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Tel: 905-670-1522, Fax: 416-661-7273 Vol.8 , No. 1099 Thursday, October 13, 2011 27 Assu , Nanaksahi Calendar 543
www.SikhPress.ca
T: 905-670-1522 - [email protected]
Bhullar choosen as a Minister of Service in Alberta
Three prominent Calgary MLAs lost
their seats around the cabinet table after
Premier Alison Redford handed their
portfolios out to other MLAs on Wednes-
day. Cindy Ady, Yvonne Fritz, and Lind-
say Blackett were all shuffled to the back
bench. Blackett’s Culture and Commnu-
ity Spirit post falls under the new name
Culture and Community Services and
will be overseen by Heather Klimchuk.
Blackett said he expected the new pre-
mier to make a few changes. “I expected
her to shake things up,” he said, but
added he was a little disappointed not to
have been chosen. “I thought I had a
chance,” he said. “I thought I did a good
job over the last 3 1/2 years. “But that’s
politics. You don’t cry about it.” Blackett
said Klimchuk will have an easier time
than he did when he took the job, be-
cause of what he and his staff accom-
plished during his tenure. “I think it’s
going to be a little easier for her because
of some of the inroads we made,” he
said. “I wish her all the best.” Fritz’ Chil-
dren and Youth Services portfolio falls
under the new cabinet position of Human
Services to be filled by David Hancock.
Ady lost the Tourism, Parks and Recre-
ation portfolio to Jack Hayden, of
Drumheller-Stettler. The offices of Ady
and Fritz said neither were available for
comment on Wednesday. The only rookie
minister from Calgary is Manmeet
Bhullar of Calgary-Montrose, who was
sworn in as Minister of Service Alberta.
Jonathan Denis of Calgary-Egmont re-
turns to the table, turning in his Housing
and Urban Affairs portfolio — now
under the umbrella of the new Municipal
Affairs portfolio — for the Public Secu-
rity ministry. Denis will also act as So-
licitor General. Ron Leipert, MLA for
Calgary-West, turns the energy portfolio
over to Ted Morton, and moves over to
Finance. In total, there are four ministers
— including the premier herself — who
represent ridings in Calgary.
Harper's Tories keep 10 point lead over rivalsThe federal Conservatives are keeping a
comfortable 10-percentage-point lead
over their political opponents, nearly half
a year after the party won a majority gov-
ernment, a new poll suggests.
The poll, conducted by Nanos
Research for CTV and The Globe and
Mail, shows the Conservatives are lead-
ing with 39 per cent support.
Meanwhile, the NDP have 29 per
cent and the Liberals trail the frontrun-
ners with 24.5 per cent support.
Regionally, party support echoes
the results of the federal election, with
the Conservatives leading in Ontario
with 40.9 per cent support and the Liber-
als second with 31.9 per cent.
The NDP had 23.1 per cent of
Ontario support.
In Quebec, the picture is much
different:
The NDP leads the pack with 43.7
per cent
The Conservatives are second with 20.2
per cent
Liberals trail with 17.9 per cent
Bloc Quebecois sit at 14.4 per cent
In the West, the Conservatives
continue to dominate, with 56 per cent
support in the Prairies and 46.1 per cent
in British Columbia.
Meanwhile, the NDP rank higher
in the Prairies than they do in B.C., with
23.8 and 22.3 per cent, respectively.
In B.C., the Liberals have moved
into second place, with 26.1 per cent sup-
port. But the party doesn't fare as well in
the Prairies, however, with only 17.5 per
cent. The survey polled 1,210 Canadians
of voting age between Sept. 25 and Oct.
2 of this year. Of those polled, 968 iden-
tified themselves as committed voters,
meaning the poll is accurate to within 3.2
percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Jobs take centre stage
During last spring's federal elec-
tion campaign, health care constantly
polled as the most pressing issue for
Canadians. However, recent numbers
suggest that the economy has surpassed
the other issues.
Among those polled, the econ-
omy was listed as the most important na-
tional issue by 31.9 per cent of people.
Health care, meanwhile, polled at
28.2 per cent, with education and the en-
vironment trailing at 8 and 5.3 per cent
respectively.
High taxes were the chief con-
cern for 3.7 per cent of voters.
Courageous Journalism02 October 13, 2011
SIKH’S THE FOUNDERS OF EAST AFRICAN RAILWAYS The 59 Class Beyer-Garratts were the largest and most powerful locomotives ever built tooperate on a metre gauge railway. Designed to haul 1200 ton freight trains over the steepeast African mountains, they proved to be as tough as the terrain they conquered. The 59 Class Beyer-Garratt was the cul-
mination of half a century of experience
with articulated locomotives. They were
designed and built to answer a desperate
need: to haul heavy loads on the tight
curves and steep gradi-
ents on some of the most
difficult terrains in the
world - the railways of
east Africa.
Railways in east,
west and southern Africa
are mainly of metre and
3ft 6in gauge, though
there are scattered lines
of narrower gauge. Many
of them were built at the
end of the last century,
during the grab for
colonies, to exploit the
natural resources of the
continent by carrying
them overland to the sea
for export.
Building a railway
Kenya and Uganda,
British protectorates
since 1894/5, were de-
pendent for their external
trade on the port of
Mombasa. To link the
port with the hinterland a
metre gauge railway was
started in 1896, pushing
north-west to reach the
site of Nairobi in 1899.
Nairobi was then a
swampy plain devoid of
habitation but destined to
become Kenya's capital.
The line was extended
through mountainous
country, to reach Lake
Victoria -source of the
White Nile - at Kisumu
in 1901.
Various branches were
built to open up the coun-
try and later to link with
the system in Tanganyika
(now Tanzania), previ-
ously a German colony.
An extension to Kampala, the capital of
Uganda, was not completed until 1931.
Nairobi is reached after a climb of
5750ft (1750m). Beyond, the line climbs
a further 7700ft (2347m) to Uplands be-
fore descending 6000ft (1830m) to the
floor of the Great Rift Valley. A final
climb takes the line to its summit at
Timbora, 9136ft (2784km) above
sea level. The terrain through which
these lines were built called for heavy,
sustained gradients and many curves.
Consequently the railways' capacities
were generally very limited. Much of the
line was originally laid with 501b/yd rail,
but by the late 1920s the Mombasa -
Nairobi section had been relaid with new,
heavier 801b/yd rail and this was subse-
quently extended to Kampala. This sort
of railway and the Beyer-Garratt articu-
lated locomotive became synonymous.
Enter the Garratt
The Garratt's use of two engine
units carrying fuel and water (water in
the front, fuel and water in the rear) gave
good flexibility on curves, while the
boiler cradle was carried on pivots be-
tween them. This allowed a very large
boiler to be mounted, its firebox com-
pletely unobstructed by wheels below it.
The spread of weight over many axles -
14 or 16 in the case of the east African
machines - kept individual axleloads
down while providing ample adhesion
and therefore power.
The first Beyer-Garratt, a small
locomotive produced for work in Tasma-
nia, Australasia, was built in 1909 and is
now in the National Railway Museum,
York. The articulated locomotive concept
grew steadily into the South African
giant built in 1930 which is now pre-
served in the Museum of Science and In-
dustry, Manchester.
In 1926 the Kenya & Uganda
Railway placed its first Garratt order, for
four EC Class 4-8-2+2-8-4 wood-burn-
ing engines, which were used west of
Nairobi and permitted to haul 457 tons
on the 1 in 50 gradient. After a satisfac-
tory two year trial the railway decided
that its future lay with Garratts for main
line work. Successive orders culminated
in the majestic EC class 4-8-4+4-8-4
(later Class 57). These locomotives insti-
tuted through running between Nairobi
and Kampala. Different types of Garratt
locomotives handled the given loads suc-
cessfully until the early 1950s when,
thanks to continuous traffic growth, the
Mombasa - Nairobi section became a
bottleneck with exports and imports
being seriously delayed. By now the
track here had been relaid with 951b/yd
rail and was already supporting the 17'/2
ton axleload of the EA class 2-8-2s. Care-
ful study of locomotive forces acting on
the track showed that axleload up to 21
tons could be borne, provided that the
weight tapered off at each end of the lo-
comotive.
Production of the 59s
In 1954 the UK locomotive
builder, Beyer-Peacock, was asked to
produce a new and much bigger 4-8-2+2-
8-4 Garratt, capable of hauling 1200 ton
trains on the 1 in 66 gradients and with
the enormous tractive effort of 83,3501b.
The 34 engines of the 59
Class were delivered in
1955 in an attractive liv-
ery of dark red lined out
in yellow. Most were
given names of moun-
tains in east Africa.
Everything possi-
ble was built into the en-
gines to give sustained
power and high mileage
between overhauls. They
had bar frames ma-
chined from 4V2in thick
slabs and roller bearings
on all axles and big ends.
The boiler was enor-
mous, with a barrel di-
ameter of 7ft 6in - 6in
larger than the LNER's
solitary 2-8-0+0-8-2
Garratt - and was oil
fired. If they had burned
coal (and provision was
made to fit a mechanical
stoker if a change to coal
was ever necessary), the
grate would have had an
area of 72sq ft - half as
much again as a Bulleid
Merchant Navy Pacific.
The front and rear tanks
were of Beyer-Peacock's
later streamlined form
and a power reverser
was provided. Air brak-
ing for engine and train
was standard.
An interesting
feature built into the 59s,
like all engines for east
Africa since pre-war
days, was ease of con-
version to 3ft 6in gauge
if there was a link with
the systems in Rhodesia
(now Zambiaand Zim-
babwe) and South Africa. All wheel rims
were just over one inch wider than nor-
mal, so that new tyres could be shrunk on
to suit the wider gauge. On test the spec-
ified 1200 ton load was handled comfort-
ably and even exceeded. Such was the
impact of these remarkable locomotives
and their heavier trains (1400 tons per-
mitted between the coast and Nairobi)
that within 12 months the main line op-
eration was back to normal and conges-
tion at Mombasa was at an end.
Working days
During normal service the 59s were
manned by two regular crews on a ca-
boose basis, one working and one resting
in a van with sleeping accommodation,
changing over at eight hour intervals.
The engines were kept very clean and the
cabs were polished and immaculate.
(Cont.. to next issue)
Sikh Press Special
THE SIKHS IN EAST AFRICAThe history of the Sikhs of East Africa begins with the
Railway - though detachments of Sikh Regiments had
seen service in certain parts of East Africa in previous
years. The Sikhs who were brought over from India to
build the old Uganda Railways were skilled workmen -
carpenters, blacksmiths and masons. They were quick to
adept themselves to the specialised requirements of the
Railways and many became fitters and turners and
boiler-makers.
The story of the construction of the Uganda Rail-
way is well known in history with many books written
about it -'Man Eaters of
Tsavo' is one of the
books which narrates
the genuine fear of the
labourers, who gave
their lives in the jungles
of Kenya while building
the Railways. The early
settlers had to face these
marauding lions that
were a constant threat to
their lives. It is only nec-
essary to mention that
these famous man-eat-
ing lions seem to have had a great partiality for Sikhs as
their staple diet. Anyway, these stout sons of the Punjab
continued to push the twin lines of steel forward, lions
and leopards notwithstanding.
These early Sikhs were soon joined by their ed-
ucated brothers. There was no department of the pioneer-
ing Railway without its Sikhs. A number of policemen,
ranging from inspectors to constables, were also sent
from India to become the vital instrument of maintaining
law and order. They remained in the country for several
years. Many, but not all, of the original Sikh arrivals re-
turned to India to be replaced and augmented by others
who came of their own volition. Their skills and industry
were always in great demand.
The Sikhs penetrated into every nook and corner
of East Africa to erect the buildings and to build the
roads; to undertake general maintenance work on the
farms; to serve in the offices and to assume charge of the
hospitals. The manner in which the Sikhs increased their
usefulness to Kenya is a saga of resource and initiative
and perseverance.
They undertook with confidence any type of
work, which required skill and industry. They became
highly successful farmers. They responded magnifi-
cently to the growing needs of the country by improving
and diversifying their capabilities. They became contrac-
tors and furniture makers.
SIKHS IN KENYA
During the latter half of
the last century, a large
number of migrantsrom
the Indian sub-continent
flocked to the shores of
East Africa in dhows
under considerable hard-
ship. It was not until 1895
that there was an intensive
Sikh presence in the coun-
try when a contingent was
brought to Mombasa in
order to police the Uganda railway as well as the caravan
routes into the hinterland. After which, the Sikh military
contact and presence intensified with Sikh soldiers
being brought to deal with the Kabaka's uprising in
1898 in Uganda and other similar excursions. However,
it was the building of the Uganda railway, which wit-
nessed a large influx of Sikhs into Kenya with most ar-
riving as indentured workers.
While a number of Sikhs opted to return to their
homeland when the railway was completed the majority
remained in Kenya, sparking a wave of free immigrants
from all walks of life who brought with them particular
skills which have since been linked inextricably with
Kenya's subsequent development.
(Cont.. to next issue)
October 13, 2011 03 Courageous Journalism
Jagmeet Singh`s Victory/ What does it mean?
Friends bid tearful adieu to Jagjit Singh
Ghazal losesits voice
You simply could not envisage that Jagmeet after
contesting his election on NDP plateform from the same
riding as a MP will be elected as the Member of
Provincial Parliament so soon.Well things do happen.On
October 6, 2011 that historic victory celebrated itself
with showers of congratulations amongst shouts and
dances (Bhangra). People who distanced from this man
wearing Dumala came forth to hug him and accept him
as their own. Leaving aside the traditional leadership all
the communitywas thrilled and excited. This victory was
nothing short of emancipation of some sort of deliver-
ance from captivity to freedom.
The major question before the Sikh community
is what message does his victory sends to his commu-
nity?
My deep rooted allegiance has been with Liberal
Party since long and still is with this Party. I come from
that batch of people who were enamoured with the
Trudeau era. It was but natural that I should keep some
distance from Jagmeet on political grounds. That does no
way mean that I should be detached from my roots.
Going back some 26 years, in Punjab, it was
itchingly irritant to think of Jathedar Gurcharn Singh
Tora, sticking to the Chairmanship of SGPC for 25
years. It was not only wrong, but abusive. This question
of power hunger haunted me. Now after 25 years Sikh
political dominance of old hawks reflect in the same way
in Canada that they oppose vehemently the new idealogy
and new blood. This is the major cause of retardation in
the progress of the Sikh religion and politicts. Older
generation is hindering the growth of the new generation.
Infect, my objective of this article was Jagmeet
and his victory. Jagmeet is a new generation, young man
of 31. He is intellectual and a thinker; Lawyer by profes-
sion and graduate from Canadian Universities. Along
with his credentials we must accept his lack of experi-
ence and seasoned politics.
Surprisingly, we can find in every nook and cor-
ner of our community most experienced people, but they
have no drive and vision to envisage the direction. Infact
they abuse their experience. They waste their energy in
building walls of hatred and division rather than cohesion
and integration. Experience of self aggrandisation in no
experience for integration.
Our suggestive inroad tells that he should come out now
of the victory parades and self amelioration and stick to
the positive targets and achievements to sermount ahead.
The Punjabi Press in the last provincial election
did rightly discus these problems and its solutions
thoroughly. We do understand that Jagmeet will be a
back-bencher, yet his input and cotribution could be
immense if rightly executed. Libral goverance as
Minority will definitely need the exclusivity of Jagmeet
Singh as a valuable vote in decision making.
I would like to unscrew another hard nut to say
that in politics controvercial objective are not resolved
by creating hostility; but by wisdom, logic and tactics.
That makes the way smooth. Capsules are the best
chemistry for bitter medicines.
There are major problems and objectives to
achieve in Brampton. For example peel memorial hospi-
tal and services, need for University, for more Govern-
ment offices and jobs. These are some of the major needs
and problems to be resolved and tackled. There will be
lots of problems and issues that will be comimg forth
time to time and need to be resolved diplomatically.
May be; there are people who see his distinctive
headgear and have their hopes too high as Sikh MPP.
There may be many who see his wise head and aspire
their Panthic problems to be resolved through and by
him. His political strategy will be determined by his
wisdom and watchful four years of walking on this coal
fire. On these tests and trials his analysis will be tried.
His supporter must remember that he is the
Member of Provincial Parliament of Ontario, is not the
medical practioner of all the ills and issues of the Sikhs.
Any Punjabi media that thinks this wise is far away from
reality. Jagmeet Singh apart from being the MPP from
NDP platform is the epitome of the Sikh Youth who
worked day and night for his success. Therefore it is
paramount that he keeps his heels deeply dug in his roots.
Another most important thing to remember is that people
suppoted him on his own individual personality flag. No
matter they were Liberal or Conservative, they all look
for his own personal chrisma and voted him in. It is now
needful that he stands immovable on his promises and
principles to dispense with what he said on his election
platform. He must remember he said many times that, “
He does not want to be a leader; but to be a servant ( SE-
VADAR)” Selfless service can make all things possible.
Sukhminder Singh Hansra
Citizens across the social spectrum from
celebrities to commoners arrived to
mourn the death of ghazal singer Jagjit
Singh on Monday. "Every singer wears a
fine kurta, drapes a shawl and sits before
a harmonium . But try and find another
artiste like Jagjitji in this world," said
ghazal singer Raj Kumar Rizvi at the fu-
neral. "His selection of poetry, his pa-
tronage of new talent and his abundant
but silent charity all put him in a class
apart." The death register at the Chan-
danwadi electric crematorium listed
entry number 1510 as Jagjit Singh Dhi-
man, a 70-yearold Hindu whose family
chose to pay the optional fee of Rs 250
although the service is free. He was born
Sikh, however, so the last rites were a
blend of Hindu and Sikh ceremonies. A
Sindhi priest Rajeshwar Maharaj, who
was invited from the US to perform the
funeral, led Singh's younger brother Kar-
tar and his widow Chitra through the rit-
uals. Singh's body was laid upon a bed
of flowers at Chandanwadi hall and
scores of fans filed past for a last glimpse
before it was carried to the inner chamber
. At 1.10 pm, mourners were asked to
step back before the body was inserted
into the electric furnace, and at the final
moment loud cries of "Jo bole so Nihal ,
Sat Sri Akal" mingled with Hindu chants.
Monday was Sharad Purnima,
the brightest night of the year. And it be-
came a little brighter as a new star en-
tered the celestial firmament.
The first time I heard about Jagjit Singh, I was recording withMadan Mohan who told me, 'Ek Jagjit naam ka ladka aayahai bahut achcha gaata hai.' When I heard his voice I wasbowled over, but somehow Jagjitji's voice was not consideredsuitable for film heroes at that time.
-Lata Mangeshkar
From tiny living rooms made entirely of
floral cotton tapestry to large drawing
rooms with striped silk curtains, the
voice of Jagjit Singh cut across the mid-
dle- and upper-class barrier in India dur-
ing the '80s and the '90s.
As the sun set, the first bars of
Jagjit and his wife Chitra's music started
wafting across neighbourhoods in small
towns and bustling metros. Woh kaagaz
ki kashti, they sang nostalgically, woh
baarish ka paani.
On Monday morning, Jagjit
Singh, now 70, breathed his last. He had
been in hospital since September 23,
when he suffered a sudden brain haem-
orrhage a few hours before he was due to
perform with compatriot Ghulam Ali at
Shanmukhanand Hall.
Two surgeries were performed
over the next couple of weeks but doctors
could neither save him, nor revive him
from a coma. There was some improve-
ment over the last three days, but a car-
dio-respiratory arrest on Monday
morning was the last straw. "Our efforts
to revive him failed," said Dr Nitin
Dange, a neurosurgeon at Lilavati.
Wife Chitra, who hadn't left the
hospital since his admission, was in-
formed a few minutes later. Even As film
and music stars - Shabana Azmi, Javed
Akhtar, Subhash Ghai, Gulzar, and San-
jay Khan, to name a few - rushed at the
hospital to express their condolences,
Chitra was too distraught to speak.
By evening, his brothers, Jaswant
and Kartar had flown in from Jaipur and
Delhi, and taken his body to his Warden
Road home. The cremation will be held
at Chandanwadi at 4 pm on Tuesday.
"When I was eight, I would put
Jagjit on my lap and play with him. He
was everybody's laadla. From the age of
six, he showed a flair for singing. Watch-
ing people listen to Jagjit sing would fill
my heart with pride," his elder brother,
Jaswant, told Mumbai Mirror. "It hurts
me immensely that he is younger than
me and yet passed away before me. Last
year, he come down to Jaipur and stayed
with us for a concert. He seemed happy."
Among the few hundred people
who thronged the hospital by afternoon
were admirers and numerous fans who
had never known his personally; just
through his music. Tardeo's Hema Ahuja,
a 39-year-old who says she hasn't missed
a single Jagjit Singh concert in 20 years,
talked about his last performance at
Worli in September. "After all these
years, I had met him for the first time
then. My husband and I got a photo
clicked with him. We had no idea it was
the last time we'd see him live," she said,
weeping.
Another fan at the hospital was
Harish Baijal, a police officer from
Nashik. He said a concert in Aurangabad
in 2005 stood out as his greatest Jagjit
Singh memory. "It was a concert for
mentally challenged kids. When we went
to him to pay his fees for the show, he
chased us away, saying he never charged
for a good cause."
Jagjit is survived by his wife Chi-
tra, with whom he performed success-
fully until their son Vivek died in a freak
road accident in 1990. Chitra has not per-
formed publicly since then. His step-
daughter Monica, who was Chitra's
daughter from a previous marriage, died
two years ago.
Brother Jaswant said that since
Jagjit was a brilliant student, their father,
Amar Singh, had wanted him to become
an IAS officer. "But by becoming a
singer, he truly made him Amar."
Courageous Journalism04 October 13, 2011
416-661-7272www.Hansra.ca
One Stop for effective and comprehensive Advertising!
Benefits All
Brampton Deserves Attention!
Apple of My Eye
by Shelley WaliaI heard about Steve Jobs's death while I was listening to the songs of the six-
ties' singer, Joan Baez. Her songs are poignant and I was further saddened by the
thought that Steve and she had once dated.
Steve is gone, but his passionate commitment to innovation has left a pro-
found mark on me. I find it difficult to distinguish between him and his products,
between the dance and the dancer. And as I
also belonged, like him, to the counter-cul-
ture of the sixties, I have some indefinable
affinity to his approach to life. I feel I have
known him deeply owing to my long and
happy association with the Apple
Macintosh.
I first heard of Steve when we
reached Cambridge in the mid-eighties. The
university had opened an Apple Macintosh
store where computers were available at a
discount. I remember my wife and I buying
our first Apple Classic, commonly know as
the Macintosh, at a whopping cost of £800.
My wife, who was doing her doctoral re-
search at Cambridge, used it to type her the-
sis. It was the first real personal computer
possessing the fanatical care, elegance and 'the aloof sheen of Steve's personality'.
It had a 40mb memory which we then upgraded to 80.
Though out of our reach, this was the only computer which already had the
facility of a mouse and windows that were later hijacked by Microsoft. I look at the
Apple Mac today and realise the enthusiasm and the creativity behind the sleepless
nights Steve must have spent on each meticulous detail, even on the font, the colour
of the cord or the cardboard packing in which we carried it to our flat.
Within a few years came the SE and the LC Apple Macintoshes but we
doggedly remained faithful to our Classic. And then, one day, there appeared the
Apple Powerbook, a laptop! I remember our excitement the day we paid over £1800
for it. We brought it back to India where it was the envy of everyone who saw it. In
those days, very few people in India possessed laptops. So rare were the Apple ma-
chines especially, that once when our printer cartridge ran dry, we were driven to
Nehru Place in Delhi where too it was unavailable.
But by the mid-nineties, the Apple Laser Printer became available and we
managed to bring one home. It cost us £1500. Luckily, being scholars, we didn't
have to pay any duty on it which was then 300 per cent --a formidable charge few
could afford.
Many years have gone by and we have graduated to other Apple products
like the Ipod, the Iphone and the Ipad. Just the other day, because of being in disuse
for many years, the Powerbook went dead. The Classic still stares at us longingly
from one corner. Steve's spirit still lives on in the age-old Apple machines that we
remain loyal to even though they are no longer in use, having been replaced by faster
machines. They are the reminders of the story of inspiration of a visionary who
never went to any business school, was neither a software nor a hardware engineer,
but one who always thought differently. His courage to follow his heart and his in-
tuition is a lesson for each one of us who have a history that we share with him.
The Provincial election is now behind
us. Ontario needs to move forward, as
Liberals would say Forward Together.
So, Let`s move forward because Bramp-
ton deserves the McGuinty Govern-
ment`s attention!
No doubt NDP and PC party has
made significant gain in the election, it
means Ontarians didn`t give premier
McGuinty a clean slate, because of the
many un-popular decisions his Govern-
ment has made during past 8 years. He
was articulate enough during election
campaign not to let opposition party’s
grill him for them just enough.
T he oppositions were always try-
ing to lay a knockout punch to Liberals
discussing HST, but it blew up in their
face. NDP just couldn`t make their case
and Mr. Hudak got caught between Lib-
erals and his Federal CP cousins who
signed a HST deal with the province of
Quebec just days before election and
promised to give $2.2 billion for subsidy
to implement HST in Quebec on Janu-
ary 2013.
How could Hudak oppose it.
After all if Hudak wanted to run a Gov-
ernment, he needed money and support
of his federal counter part. So he kept
quite.
Dalton McGuinty was able to
throw few punches at the opposition
leaders during “leader`s debate” when
he said if you think HST is a bad tax
then why don`t you abolish it.
Dalton McGuinty was talking
about renewed energy has a better plans
for Ontario, this was what Tim Hudak
tried very hard to accomplish and to get
the 905 ridings to go for him when he
knew 416 riding were not falling for the
blue colour. His over half a dozen trips
to Brampton Springdale showed nothing
but desperation.
McGuinty also came to Bramp-
ton but he came with a sense of confi-
dence. He came to Chrysler Canada be-
cause his Government had bailed out
Chrysler. He came to MDA in Bramp-
ton, Ontario who is the proud designer
of two-armed robot that NASA is using.
MDA has over 400 high tech employ-
ees.
Lastly he came to Garden Ban-
quet Hall where he was accompanied by
Bollywood actor Anil Kappor, his
brother Bonny Kapoor and Canadian
Film maker Deepa Mehta. Over 1000
people attended this rally where Deepa
Mehta reminded everyone about
Hudak`s despicable comment about for-
eign workers. She jokingly laid a heavy
punch on the creditability of Tim Hudak.
This was probably the last nail in
coffin for the 905 and gave the grits
some much needed gains in Brampton.
McGuinty`s Liberals were able to de-
liver, but part of Brampton`s city council
also went against McGuinty, which was
ineffective and perhaps even backfired
for local candidates. This may be a po-
litical black hole with caught some city
councillors by surprise, but the
McGuinty Government can not afford to
hold that against the people of Bramp-
ton.
Brampton needs Peel Memorial
Hospital scheduled to open in 2015 as
promised. The city also needs a univer-
sity campus, better transportation, gov-
ernment offices for Jobs, better health
care services at Brampton Civic Hospi-
tal.
The Sikh community, which in
most ridings supported the Liberal Party
during this and many elections before
deserves the premier`s attention to ex-
empt Sikhs from wearing helmet when
riding a motor cycle while wearing a
turban.
Brampton is the center of alot of
political turmoil, Brampton has power
at must not be ignored.
Steve is gone, but his passionate commitment
to innovation has left a profound mark on me.
I find it difficult to distinguish between him
and his products, between the dance and the
dancer. And as I also belonged, like him, to the
counter-culture of the sixties, I have some in-
definable affinity to his approach to life.
by Sukhminder Singh Hansra
05 October 13, 2011 Courageous Journalism
by Dr. Amarjeet Singh
Despite a firm public rebuke adminis-
tered just four weeks ago, to the current
Indian Army Chief General Vijay Kumar
Singh, by a junior Indian Minister of
State for Defence, Pallam Raju, (carried
prominently by the popular widely read
INDIA TODAY Magazine in its issue of
August 29, 2011 & other Indian publica-
tions: (> http://indiatoday.intoday.in
/story/pallam-rajutells- army-chief-not-
to-stir-up-age-row-again/1/149461.html
<) headlined, “Don’t stir up age row
again, Pallam Raju tells Army chief” ) the
egomaniacal ‘mad’ Indian General (a
thick-skinned Haryana Jat) has not given
up. Political observers feel that General
V. K. Singh is playing his last card by try-
ing to provoke a confrontation with Nu-
clear armed China and Pakistan (which
while creating an existential threat to the
Sikh Homeland of Indian occupied Pun-
jab, its people and its holy Sikh shrines
located on the India- Pakistan border)
would make it very difficult for the
morally repugnant Indian rulers in Delhi
to let the next in line General Bikram
Singh, a Sikh, from taking charge of the
Indian Army in May 2012. That is the
time when the armed confrontation could
be at its peak and India could be at an ad-
vantage in the middle of its short two
month long annual ‘nuclear weather win-
dow’ against Pakistan and China during
the summer Monsoon. For a back-
grounder please read our Column, Khal-
istan Calling, dated July 27, 2011
headlined, “Indian Army Chief’s ‘date of
birth’ shenanigans to dishonestly gain an
extra year of service as Army Chief con-
tinue, making the institution of the Indian
Army & India, objects of ridicule —
Gen. V. K. Singh should remember that,
‘he that is shameless is graceless” >
h t t p : / / w w w . k h a l i s t a n -
affairs.com/wp/?p=829 The INDIA
TODAY article dated August 29, 2011,
mentioned in the above paragraph, head-
lined, ‘Don’t stir up age row again, Pal-
lam Raju tells Army chief,’ states that,
“In a snub to Army Chief V. K. Singh,
Minister of State for Defence Pallam
Raju said on Monday the age controversy
should not be stirred up again as a deci-
sion has already been made. The Army
chief has filed a statutory complaint
against the government ruling on his age.
He wants Defence Minister A. K. Antony
to consider his plea based on merits. The
government had recently ordered that the
Army chief’s date of birth was May 10,
1950 and not 1951 as the chief’s records
showed. However, State minister Raju
has said the controversy should not be
raked up again. “Let’s not create contro-
versies. The Ministry of Defence has al-
ready taken a view on this issue,” Raju
is reported to have said. Sources told
Headlines Today that General Singh de-
cided to knock on Antony’s doors as he
was extremely disappointed with the
Ministry of Defence’s ruling on his age.
The Army is not commenting officially,
but sources said the Army chief is not in
clined towards the legal option. The chief
wants to exhaust all possibilities and sat-
isfy himself about the Ministry of De-
fence’s order.”
According to an earlier INDIA
TODAY article, “the entire confusion
stems from the fact that two separate
branches of the army have separate date
of birth records of the army chief. While
the adjutant general’s branch - the official
record keeper - mentions his date of birth
as 10, May 1951, based on his high
school certificate issued by the Rajasthan
Board of Secondary Education, the mili-
tary secretary section- which handles
promotions and postings - shows it as
May 10,1950, as mentioned in his UPSC
form for the National Defence Academy.
The issue had come up when General
Singh was being appointed as eastern
army commander. It is being said that he
had made several representations for the
correction of his date of birth in the mil-
itary secretary branch records but it was
not carried out.
General Singh then went on to in-
form the then army chief General Deepak
Kapoor that he would go by whatever
was in the interest of the service. He was
appointed army chief on the basis of his
date of birth being May 10, 1950, (>
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vahan-
vati-decided-on-army-chief-v-k-singh-
age/1/142765.html <) according to which
he would retire in May 2012.
Surprisingly, an Indian Army fi-
nanced website, which follows the Indian
Army line, has been singing a different
song. It has stated that the government’s
decision on the date of birth of the man
who heads the Indian Army may not pro-
vide the closure many have been hoping
for. It quotes ‘experts’ as saying that, “a
complicated and lengthy legal battle
could follow in the next few months and
discussed General V.K. Singh’s age dis-
pute ‘as a question of personal honor for
the Army Chief and the Army’s honor
which is at stake as well’. (> http://indi-
anmilitarynews.wordpress.com/2011/07/
24/vk-singhs-agecontroversy- armys-ho-
nour-at-stake/ ) General V.K. Singh, if he
wants to protect his personal honor in this
disgusting ‘age’ controversy, ought to re-
member the famous couplet by Alexan-
der Pope, the English poet and satirist
(1688-1744) which reads, “Honor and
shame from no condition rise; Act well
your part, there all the honor lies.”
An Opinion piece in the Kolkota-
based Telegraph newspaper yesterday
(October 11, 2011) by retired Air Marshal
Brijesh D. Jayal, headlined, “A Date to
Remember - The succession controversy
has not been good for the army,” says it
all. The respected senior retired Indian
Air Force officer shows his disgust when
he wrote that, “In an unprecedented
move and a first in the annals of the his-
tory of the republic’s armed forces, the
chief of army staff filed a statutory com-
plaint to the defence minister seeking a
review of the latter’s rejection of his ear-
lier appeal requesting that his year of
birth be corrected to 1951 as against
1950. This was to determine his date of
retirement. In yet another dubious first, a
team of members of parliament (mostly
from the BJP) met the prime minister
with a memorandum seeking sympa-
thetic reconsideration in favor of the
COAS (Gen. V.K. Singh. What moti-
vated this move — when clearly there
were two sides to the issue — raises wor-
rying questions. Fortuitously, the prime
minister sidestepped the trap. It can
hardly be a coincidence that just about
the time the ministry had finally ruled
against the chief’s request for change of
age, the erstwhile chairman, chiefs of
staff committee, had, on behalf of the
three service chiefs, taken the unusual
step of writing to the prime minister com-
plaining about the lack of integration be-
tween the ministry of defence and the
three service headquarters that was con-
tributing to prolonged delays in procure-
ment and hampering other higher
management activities. The inescapable
conclusion is that relations between the
ministry and the services have now
reached an undesirable low and continu
(Cont.. to next page)
Indian Army Chief to get an extra year of serviceMusings on the stupid attempts by the Indian Army Chief to get an extra year of service by trying to divert attention from his foolish ambition by planning
provocative military exercises on the borders of two nuclear armed neighbors, China & Pakistan, which could create an existential threat to the SikhHomeland of Indian occupied Punjab during the ‘Nov. – Dec.’time period when the annual ‘Nuclear weather window’ on the subcontinent favors Pakistan
06 October 13, 2011 Courageous Journalism
25 killed in slew of attacks targeting Iraq policeBAGHDAD — A slew of bombings tar-
geted Iraqi police in Baghdad on Wednes-
day morning, including blasts by two
suicide bombers who tried to ram their
vehicles through police station gates.
Iraqi officials said 25 people died and
dozens more were wounded in the car-
nage. The blasts were aimed at the police,
generally considered to be the weakest
section of the country's security forces,
and emphasized that despite Iraq's secu-
rity gains, long-term stability in the coun-
try is still elusive.
U.S. forces are scheduled to leave
Iraq by the end of this year, and Wednes-
day's multi-pronged attack is likely to add
to concerns about whether the Iraqi secu-
rity forces are able to effectively secure
the city. In the southern Karradah neigh-
borhood, 13 people died and 25 were
wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on
a police station, Baghdad police officials
said. Smoke could be seen rising from the
blast site as ambulances rushed to the
scene, their sirens wailing. Iraqi army
helicopters circled overhead.
In the mainly Shiite neighbor-
hood of Hurriyah, a suicide car bomber
targeted a police station and killed nine
people, two Baghdad police officials said.
Twenty-seven people were wounded in
that blast.
Officials said the suicide bombers
both exploded their vehicles at the outer
entrances into the police stations.
"The scene was horrific," said
Salim Ghadban, who was having break-
fast near the Karradah police station
when he heard a loud explosion.
"We saw terrified people, some
injured, running in our direction, and we
rushed to the attacked police station and
saw burned bodies and charred cars," he
said. "We helped cover the burned bodies
until the ambulances arrived."
The attack in Hurriyah was espe-
cially remarkable because the neighbor-
hood is a stronghold of Shiite cleric
Muqtada al-Sadr. It is almost entirely sur-
rounded by blast walls, and access is
tightly restricted through four entrances
manned by the Iraqi army.
Also, a roadside bomb exploded
near a police patrol in western Baghdad,
killing two policemen and wounding an-
other five, police officials said.
A parked car bomb exploded in
western Baghdad targeting a police patrol
but killed one civilian and injured five
people. Three people were also injured by
a roadside bomb that hit a police patrol in
western Baghdad.
A hospital official confirmed the
causalities. The officials all spoke on con-
dition of anonymity because they were
not authorized to speak to reporters.
There was no immediate claim of
responsibility, but such attacks are usu-
ally the work of Sunni militant groups
such as al Qaeda in Iraq. They often tar-
get security forces in their attempt to
destabilize the country and sow havoc.
The military spokesman for
Baghdad, Qassim al-Moussawi, blamed
al Qaeda for the attacks and said they
were an attempt to show people that the
militants are still active. "Every three
months or so, al Qaeda mobilizes all its
resources to launch such attacks in one
day to say that al Qaeda is still able to at-
tack and threaten security posts," he said.
Wednesday's attacks came two days after
a series of explosions targeting security
officials killed 10 people in Baghdad.
ing procrastination to integrate the service
headquarters with the ministry of defence
— a long pending recommendation dating
back to the Kargil review committee — is
harming national security.”
Retired Air Marshal Brijesh D.
Jayal Opinion piece in the Telegraph
newspaper goes on to say that, “It can
hardly be a coincidence that just about the
time the ministry had finally ruled against
the chief’s request for change of age, the
erstwhile chairman, chiefs of staff com-
mittee, had, on behalf of the three service
chiefs, taken the unusual step of writing
to the prime minister complaining about
the lack of integration between the min-
istry of defence and the three service
headquarters that was contributing to pro-
longed delays in procurement and ham-
pering other higher management
activities. The inescapable
conclusion is that relations between the
ministry and the services have now
reached an undesirable low and continu-
ing procrastination to integrate the service
headquarters with the ministry of defence
— a long pending recommendation dating
back to the Kargil review committee — is
harming national security. The present
controversy has struck a mortal blow to
the ethos of the armed forces of the repub-
lic, and conjures up a nightmarish vision
of them being reduced to a mercenary
force. That in the bargain we are also be-
ginning to look like a banana republic of-
fers little solace.” Some political
observers commenting on the ‘inside in-
formation’ in the above quoted Opinion
piece, by Retired Air Marshal Brijesh D.
Jayal, are asking whether an Army Coup
de` tat is in the works in India where cor-
ruption has broken all records?
Incidentally, the Indian Army
Chief told his commanders day before
yesterday, on Monday, during the inaugu-
ration of a five-day conference in New
Delhi, that over 20,000 Indian Army
troops and over 200 tanks, will hold a
massive exercise along the (>
http://news.webindia123.com/news/arti-
cles/Asia/20111010/1848421.html <)
Western border, in the backyard of Indian
Occupied Punjab, sixty miles from the
Pakistan border near Pokharan, in Ra-
jasthan, involving the elite 21 Strike
Corps. He said that the Indian Army has
detailed plans for force accretion along
the western and northern borders with
Pakistan and China as part of its transfor-
mation efforts.
These plans are now being vali-
dated in combat exercises, including the
one happening in the Rajasthan desert, a
top commander said Monday. General
V.K. Singh also told his commanders dur-
ing the inauguration of their five-day con-
ference in New Delhi, on Monday, that the
force accretion was in the pipeline as part
of the efforts to introduce “theatrisati Asia
– what ever that means. The 21 Strike
Corps under the Southern Command will
hold its routine exercise in the western
deserts near Pokharan in November-De-
cember time-frame. The exercise will be
part of the Army’s routine war-games
under which it validates and fine-tunes its
war-fighting concepts and doctrines. The
Sikh Homeland of Indian occupied Pun-
jab, its holy shrines and its people whose
lives and future will be in the line of fire,
if anything goes wrong between India and
Pakistan, have no say in the matter!
There should be no doubt in any
Sikh’s mind that sooner the 28 million
strong Sikh nation, the majority living in
Indian occupied Punjab since 1947, (of
which three million are living free and
prosperous in the Sikh diaspora all over
the world) part company with the Indian
‘deMoncracy’ and carve a separate dem-
ocratic, egalitarian, food and water-rich
buffer state of Khalistan with light indus-
try, located between Pakistan’s Eastern
border and the Jumna river, (South of
Kashmir and South West of the Tibetan
region of China) the better for all con-
cerned. This new Sikh-majority buffer
state (for which every Sikh prays every
day – ‘Raj Karay Ga Khalsa’- Sikhs will
rule) is destined to act as a bridge of inter-
continental commerce and will have the
facility (and tradition of good relations
with its neighbors like Pakistan, Kashmir
and China) to be able to provide transit fa-
cilities for trade and Oil/Gas pipelines be-
tween the eight ‘Stans’ of Central Asia
and the seven countries of the South Asian
subcontinent, which will bring peace and
prosperity to the nearly one billion seven
hundred million people living in the South
Asian region.
Khalistan Zindabad
Indian Army Chief to get an extra year of service
Brampton, Ontario — In a strong show ofcommunity spirit, leaders from WilliamOsler Health System, The Credit ValleyHospital and Trillium Health Centre cametogether for a campaign rally to remindstaff, physicians and volunteers of how theTri-Hospital United Way FundraisingCampaign is helping to make a differencein the community. In good-natured funthe hospital CEOs competed in a TrivialPursuit challenge to raise funds and aware-ness for this important campaign that runsuntil October 21. Together, the hospitals— which have sites across Peel Regionand Toronto— are running internal cam-paigns to collectively raise $100,000,which will support vital local social serv-ices, programs and initiatives. The threehospitals already work together in support-ing patients across their communities andthis joint initiative to support United Wayof Peel Region and Toronto takes the part-nership a step further, making a differencein the communities where their patients,employees, physicians and volunteers liveand work. ―Everyone has a role in cre-ating a healthy community that reaches outto those that are vulnerable or in need ofsupport during challenging times in their
lives. Where better than a hospital to findthat caring spirit, and we are proud of ourinvolvement in this year’s United WayCampaign, said Matthew Anderson, Pres-ident and CEO, William Osler Health Sys-tem. ―The fundraising team at ourhospital is very visible as they reach out tovolunteers, staff and physicians. If enthu-siasm, heart, and hard work will get us toour goal of $100,000, I know our jointcampaign will be a success, states saidMichelle DiEmanuele, President andCEO, The Credit Valley Hospital. ―Working side-by-side as three hospital sys-tems, and as friends and neigh-bors, brings us closer togetheron this important fundraisingcampaign. Many of the agenciesfunded through this campaignprovide support to the same peo-ple we treat in our hospitalsevery day. We are pleased tosupport the United Way of PeelRegion to enable their importantfunding of our community part-ners, adds Ruby Brown, ExecuteVice President and Chief Oper-ating Officer, Trillium HealthCentre.
Courageous JournalismOctober 13, 2011 07
“United we can make a difference” Tri-Hospital United Way Fundraising Campaign raises awareness
On Saturday, October 1st,2011 United Care Foun-dation held its 3rd annualYouth Leadership Confer-ence 2011 at the CentralPublic School Arts andRecreation Centre indowntown Brampton.United Care Foundation isa charitable organizationwhich was founded in theyear 2007. Its main aim isto help the poor and or-phan children lead a betterlife and to aid the seniorsin making their life morecomfortable. The founda-tion believes in makingall-rounded individualswho possess the right atti-tude and have the rightsupport and guidance inorder to become leadersby their own initiative.Thus, for this reason thisconference was held andit not only educated the
youths of today about thecurrent poverty situationin the world but also gotthem motivated to realizetheir own potential.The topic of thisyear’s conferencewas Education andLiteracy. It focusedon educating the del-egates about the im-portance of pursuinghigher education andthe importance ofchoosing a careerthat one is passion-ate about. This year,the conference in-cluded three extremelyexperienced speakers. Thefirst speaker was a well-known motivationalspeaker from the GTAarea, Shellyann Siddoo –very talented youngwomen who was pursuinga degree in Neuroscience,
but in a mishap in her lab,lost her sight and use ofher hands. From then on,she became a motiva-
tional speaker and sharesher experiences and in-sight with youth andadults on the importanceof not giving up and waysin which one can fulfilltheir dreams. The secondspeaker was a youth ac-tivist, Matthew Stergiou –
a 17 year old from Brad-ford. Matthew met withformer U.S. Vice Presi-dent Al Gore last year to
learn his InconvenientTruth slideshow and de-livered a very informativesession on that and theimplications of human ac-tion on the global envi-ronment. He has alreadypresented his presentationto over 5000 students, and
seeing his involvement inthe community at such ayoung age was really in-spiring for the delegates
present. Andlast but notleast, the thirdspeaker was theDirector ofUnited CareF o u n d a t i o n ,Mr. KalyanKumar. Mr.Kumar edu-cated the dele-gates on themany differentcareer options
available for the youth oftoday. He shared his ex-pertise on some of theskills required in the workforce along with the im-portance of self-reflectionin choosing the right field.The conference consistedof various hands-on activ-
ities and a leadershipworkshop. The activitiesemphasized the qualitiesnecessary in youth to be-come successful leadersin every aspect of theirlives. Seeing the desire inthe youths to not only be-come informed citizensbut also become active intheir very own commu-nity was indescribable.Mr. Kalyan Kumar, theDirector, said, “Theturnout of youth at eventssuch as this and theirspark to become involvedin their community istruly incredible. We hopeto reach out to moreyouths of our communityin the upcoming year andhope that through theseconferences they will con-tinue to stay active and bethe change they wish tosee in our world.”
Youth Leadership Conference by UnitedCare Foundation – Another great success
Amnesty calls onCanada to arrest BushAmnesty International called onCanadian authorities Wednesday toarrest and prosecute George WBush, saying the former US presi-dent authorized "torture" as he di-rected the US-led war on terror.Bush is expected to attend an eco-nomic summit in Surrey inCanada's westernmost British Co-lumbia province on October 20.London-based Amnesty made acase for Bush's legal responsibilityfor a series of human rights viola-tions in a memorandum submittedlast month to Canadian authoritiesbut only now released to the media."Canada is required by its interna-tional obligations to arrest andprosecute former president Bushgiven his responsibility for crimesunder international law includingtorture," Amnesty's Susan Lee saidin a statement."As the US authori-
ties have, so far, failed to bring for-mer president Bush to justice, theinternational community must stepin. A failure by Canada to take ac-tion during his visit would violatethe UN Convention Against Tor-ture and demonstrate contempt forfundamental human rights." Leesaid.Amnesty, backed by the Interna-tional Civil Liberties MonitoringGroup, says Bush authorized theuse of "enhanced interrogationtechniques" and "waterboarding"on detainees held in secret by theCentral Intelligence Agency be-tween 2002 and 2009. The deten-tion program included "torture andother cruel, inhuman and degradingtreatment (such as being forced tostay for hours in painful positionsand sleep deprivation), and en-forced disappearances," it alleged.
08 October 13, 2011 Courageous Journalism
We are delighted to an-nounce that EcoSikh willjoin the world’s majorfaiths at the Sacred LandCelebration in Assisi, Italythis November. The meet-ing, which is hosted by oursister organization, the Al-liance of Religions andConservation (ARC), andattended by His RoyalHighness Prince Philip willbe the official launch of theGreen Pilgrimage Network,of which Amritsar is afounding member. It willbring together religiousleaders and urban plannersfrom towns and cities of re-ligious significance includ-ing Amritsar, St Albans,Etchmiadzin in Armenia,Jerusalem, Kano in Nigeria,Trondheim in Norway, andof course Assisi to buildtheir capacity for environ-mentally-friendly design.This will be through renew-able energy, increased veg-etation, and cleantransportation on one side,and through food sourcing,eco-friendly accommoda-tion, and prayer on theother hand. Punjab Pollu-tion Control Board headK.S. Pannu, ShiromaniGurdwara ParbandhakCommittee President AvtarSingh Makkar, EcoSikhconvener Dr. RajwantSingh and EcoSikh ProjectManager Ravneet Singhwill be in attendance on be-half of Amritsar. Amritsar isalready making some in-spiring steps to become agreener city. Punjab Envi-ronment SummitThis sum-mer, EcoSikh hosted thefirst ever Punjab Environ-ment Summit. The eventbrought together Sikh lead-ers, scholars, environmen-talists, health professionals,farmers, business ownersand industrialists to form aPunjab-wide network for
the environment. Baba Bal-bir Singh Seechewal knownfor his kar seva on the KaliBein River spoke on theSikh spirit and quoted, “allSikhs of Guru Nanak areEcoSikhs and environmentis a cause of helping the en-tire humanity (Sarbat daBhalla) so all religionsshould stand up to save thePunjab to revive its greensplendor and spread thismessage from their reli-gious centres”. ProfessorJoga Singh, Head of GuruNanak Polytechnic Col-lege, Narinder KaurSandhu, Principal ofRamgharia College, Bal-winder Lakhewali, Presi-dent of the Nature TreeFoundation, Rajbir Singh ofPingalwara Trust, andmany others addressed theaudience on advancing thedream of a greener Punjabthrough the vision of theSikh Gurus. It was held atRamgariah Girls College,Millar Ganj, Ludhiana -Punjab. Guru Ka Bagh:Gurdwara Garden ProjectIsyour gurdwara interested ina community garden?EcoSikh is looking to run apilot garden project withgurdwaras in the UnitedStates to provide physicalactivity for children andadults and fresh vegetablesfor healthier langars. Pleasecontact Bandana Kaur [email protected] ifyou are interested in beingone of the pilots. BaruSahib Educational TrustSwitches to SolarWe areexcited to announce BaruSahib’s Kalgidhar Educa-tional Trust has transitionedto solar energy for its hous-ing arrangements. Withover 2,000 students livingin their hostel, the institutedecided to approach theMinistry of Renewable En-ergy to construct a solar en-
ergy plant, which will pro-duce 200 kilowatt energyplant with 6 to 7 hours ofsunshine to meet the energyrequirements of the hostels.The Institute now saves Rs.8 to Rs.10 lakh annually.The Kalgidhar EducationalTrust plans to extend theirsolar capacity and helpother educational institu-tions learn about the bene-fits of clean energy as analternative to kerosene.EcoSikh at Safar Confer-ence on Sikhi and Wom-enEcoSikh will be inattendance at Safar: OurJourneys Conference at theUniversity of Toronto, On-tario, Canada on October1st, 2011. Safar will bringtogether academics andSikh leaders to discuss the-ological, historical, envi-ronmental andcontemporary perspectiveson Sikh women. Thekeynote speaker is the au-thor of The Birth of theKhalsa: A Feminist Re-memory Sikh Identity Pro-fessor Nikki Guninder Kaurand EcoSikh program man-ager Bandana Kaur willshare research on Sikhwomen and biodiversity inPunjab. Thanks to OurSummer InternsEcoSikhexpresses special thanks toour 2011 summer interns,Amritpan Kaur andPriyanka Kaur from Cali-fornia, and Sikander Singhfrom Ontario, Canada fortheir hard work on ourGreen Gurdwaras initia-tive! Amritpan, a graduateof University of CaliforniaBerkeley worked with BayArea gurdwaras to assesscapacity for energy effi-ciency and waste reduction.Priyanka, a Master’s stu-dent in engineering fromStanford University, ishelping compile our GreenGurdwaras manual to be re-
leased this year. Sikander, astudent of sustainable agri-culture is compiling re-sources on communitygardens for gurdwaras.Thanks to these young, tal-ented future leaders for theirhard work. Thanks toE c o S i k hSupporters:EcoSikh wishesto acknowledge and givespecial thanks to our Sup-porters and Donors, espe-cially S. Daljeet Singh andHarinder Singh from AIPLPvt. Ltd. for donating a Lap-top to EcoSikh operations.In addition, Amanjot SinghKhalsa and team fromWhite Pixels Web SolutionsLtd. has supported EcoSikhin developing our beautifulwebsite. This is a wonderfulway to show concern andsupport for Earth’s well-being and a contribution in
eco-sewa. And finally, astory from history:Once,when Sri Harmandir Sahibwas under construction,Guru Arjun Dev ji wanted tobuy high quality strongbricks, so that they wouldlast for many centuries. Ex-perts from all over Punjabwere hired to come to Am-ritsar (then Ramdas Pur)and exhibit their expertise.A man named Behlo, whowas a devotee of Sakhi Sar-war, came to join, with theaim of earning the generousprofits that were part of sucha huge construction project.But at the very first glanceof Guru ji he fell in devo-tion, became a Sikh and ac-cepted the work as sewa forhis beloved Guru. BhaiBehlo researched for thebest way of producingheavy duty bricks for the Sri
Harimandir. He discoveredthat, when fuelled with do-mestic garbage, bricksovens produce high strengthred bricks – today we wouldsay that this was due to theintrinsic property of the bio-fuel. He found the idea veryinteresting and every day hewould collect garbage fromthe surrounding villages. Hewould carry it in a containeron his head and use it as afuel to bake his bricks. Onthe day when the entireteam of manufacturers’ pre-sented their samples beforeGuru ji, Bhai Behlo's brickswere selected as the bestones. Thus Bhai Behlo’spassionate eco-sewa and re-cycling was accepted. Guruji hugged him to His chestand blessed with a phrase,''Bhai Behlo sabh toanpehlon! ''
The first Sikh judge of the HighCourt was sworn in at theRoyal Courts of Justice yester-day.Rabinder Singh QC, a col-league of Cherie Blair at thehuman rights barristers’ cham-bers Matrix, is only the secondlawyer from an ethnic minoritybackground to be promoted tothe senior level of the judiciary.Mr Singh, 47, is the son of In-dian immigrants. He won alocal council scholarship to theindependent Bristol GrammarSchool and went on to Cam-bridge.He has made a name asone of the country’s most
prominent human rightslawyers since becoming a bar-
rister 22 years ago.In an inter-
view with the Law SocietyGazette before taking office, hesaid: ‘I am a barrister who hap-pens to be a Sikh. I have alwaystried to be a role model, by thework I do. I haven’t said, “I’ma Sikh barrister, look at what Ido”. I’ve just said, “Look atwhat I do”. Everyone can seewhat I am.’ He is best knownthrough his work suggestingthat the 2003 invasion of Iraqbroke international law and forhis part in the landmark 2004House of Lords case that out-lawed indefinite detention offoreign terror suspects.
Green Amritsar to be Represented at Conference in Assisi, Italy
First Sikh High Courtjudge is sworn in
Don't confront us over'false' plot, Iran warns USIran warned the United States onWednesday to shy away fromany confrontation over whatTehran called baseless allega-tions it plotted to kill the Saudiambassador to Washington.Butthe United States vowed Iranwould be "held accountable" andbegan individual consultationswith UN Security Council am-bassadors -- a possible precursorto international condemnation orsome other action."We're in theprocess of uniting world publicopinion continuing to isolate andcondemn their behavior," USVice President Joe Biden toldUS television networkABC."Nothing has been takenoff the table," Biden said. Iranian
Foreign Minister Ali AkbarSalehi said after a cabinet meet-ing Wednesday: "We do notwant confrontation. (But) if theywant to confront us and imposesomething on us, it will be theend of them." He added, in re-marks carried by the ISNA newsagency, that "if they want to im-pose a confrontation upon theIranian nation, the consequencesof this issue will be more severefor them."Officials have calledthe US claims, made Tuesday bythe US Justice Department andFBI, "false," "mischievous" anda "prefabricated scenario" de-signed to divert attention fromUS woes at home and in theMiddle East.
US Senate rejects Obama's jobs billWASHINGTON: In a blow toPresident Barack Obama, theUS Senate effectively killed ajobs bill at the heart of his ef-forts to turn the sour economyaround in the run up to the No-vember 2012 elections. Law-makers voted 50-49 toadvance the $447 billion dol-lar plan, falling short of the 60senators needed to do so, inthe face of fierce oppositionfrom Republicans eager todeny the president a secondterm. "Tonight's vote is by nomeans the end of this fight,"Obama said in a statement re-leased before the vote was
over but after its outcome wasunmistakable, vowing tomove his plan piecemeal "assoon as possible." And hevowed to pile political pres-sure on Republicans in a seriesof votes aimed at forcing themto oppose funds aimed at help-ing middle class families andblock tax hikes on the veryrichest Americans to pay forthe plan. "With so manyAmericans out of work and somany families struggling, wecan't take 'no' for an answer.Ultimately, the American peo-ple won't take 'no' for an an-swer," said the embattled
president. The bare majorityvote inflated Senate supportfor the measure, as some De-mocrats who backed endingdebate on the legislation hadsaid they would oppose itsfinal passage, a point that ledRepublicans to crow that a bi-partisan majority was rejectingthe bill. Two Democrats brokeranks to oppose the blueprint,while one Republican did notvote, while Democratic SenateMajority leader Harry Reidalso voted against the measurein a parliamentary manoeuvrethat allows him to bring up themeasure again at any time.
October 13, 2011 10 Courageous Journalism
OTTAWA —Canada's top diplo-mat traveled toTripoli on Tuesdayto reopen its em-bassy and announcefunding to helpLibya's ruling Na-tional TransitionalCouncil secureweapons stock-piles.Foreign Af-fairs Minister JohnBaird traveled in anarmored convoy tomeetings in Libya'scapital, accompa-nied by Canadianofficials and busi-ness leaders seekingto restore trade tieswith the war-rav-aged nation.On thetrip were represen-tatives of Suncor,SNC Lavalin, PureTechnology, theCanadian Bureaufor InternationalEducation and theadvocacy groupRights and Democ-racy."Our govern-ment remainscommitted to pro-tecting the Libyanpeople and support-ing their efforts tobuild a brighter fu-ture for them-selves," Baird saidin a statement.Heoffered Canada's"congratulations onthe transformativeevents that have
been taking place inLibya, since the fall
of Tripoli," accord-ing to a pool re-p o r t . " T h eestablishment of anew government isexciting," he said."We're excited bythe roadmap to-wards (electing) anational congress.We're excited aboutthe future role ofwomen in Libya."InTripoli, the ministermet with NTC chairMustafa Abdul Jalilto discuss theprogress of Libya'stransition from therule of strongmanColonel MoamerKadhafi.As well, heannounced a contri-bution of $10 mil-lion to help secure23,000 shoulder-to-air missile launch-ers and chemicalweapons in Kad-
hafi's arsenal. Themoney is part of a
larger internationalcontribution."Thesecurity situation inLibya is still quitevolatile and the riskof these itemsfalling into thewrong hands or in-juring civilians isvery real," Bairdsaid. "Canada seesthis disarmament asa top priority inmaking Libya andthe entire regionsafer."Baird alsohosted a round tablewith Libyanwomen's rights ad-vocates, and metwith representativesfrom non-govern-mental organiza-tions, Libya's socialaffairs ministerAnwar Abu Shagurand oil minister AliTarhouni.At Kad-hafi's former com-
pound, Bairdmugged for photos
with jubilant youthsselling souvenirs of
the revolution.Healso attended a cer-emony to mark thereopening of theCanadian embassyin Tripoli.Ottawahad recalled its am-bassador to Tripoliand shuttered itsembassy there inFebruary, weeksafter protests firsterupted againstMoamer Kadhafi's41-year rule in Feb-ruary.In August,Baird welcomed anew Libyan envoyto Ottawa.
New York, NY – Recent findings from asurvey of U.S. smartphone and tablet own-ers1, conducted by Ipsos OTX MediaCTon behalf of PayPal, indicate that tabletownership increases the frequency of mo-bile shopping, improves the purchase ex-perience – and makes consumers who ownboth devices use their smartphone moreoften. The study revealed that tablet own-ership increases mobile purchase fre-quency, with owners of tablets (as well assmartphones) buying nearly twice as oftenas those who only have smartphones (seefigure 1). Further, more than 40 percent ofthese “dual owners” made more than 20mobile purchases over the past year. Per-haps most strikingly, nearly two-thirds ofdual owners indicated higher overallspending due to their mobile purchasingactivity.
“Dual owners have the classic markings ofearly tech adopters, including skewinghigh-income and male,” says Todd Board,SVP of Ipsos OTX MediaCT. “That said,our study clearly suggests that owningboth a smartphone and tablet can posi-tively reinforce mobile shopping andspending habits.”“We are starting to seemore retailers take advantage of this trendby tailoring their mobile websites and appsfor tablets. With more shoppers planningto use tablets to shop this holiday season,and quite often using them from the com-fort of their own home, we expect that re-tailers will see quite a bit of ‘couchcommerce’ this year,” says Laura Cham-bers, Senior Director of Mobile, PayPal.“We are predicting that the first big spikein mobile shopping will be right afterThanksgiving dinner, where consumers
will be shopping from their tablets andsmartphones right from their couch – afantastic early opportunity for retailers toengage their customers.”As shown in Fig-ure 2, dual owners are significantly morelikely (63%) to indicate increased overallspending on mobile purchases, versusowners of smartphones only (29%). Tabletowners may be enticed to spend more dueto the device’s larger screen and keyboard,and touchscreen capabilities, which tabletowners say improve the shopping experi-ence.The study also found that the additionof a tablet complements the smartphoneshopping experience. In fact, the resultsshow that dual owners still prefer smart-phones for a wider range of m-commercetasks (see Figure 3).Says Board, “Where dual owners have apreference between devices for mobile
commerce activities, most preferences arein favor of the smartphone. They’re easierto use for swiping the device for couponsor QR codes, listening to audio with pri-vacy, and buying in some public settings,and also preferred for making a final pur-chase. Also, while smartphones seem pre-ferred for app-based purchases, tabletsseem preferred for website-based pur-chases, probably tied to the ‘couch com-merce’ theme of at-home purchasing wealso see in our data.”Board concludes that,“The profile and habits of these ‘dual own-ers’ are still fluid, with tablet adoption stillearly. The bottom line, though, is thatowners of both devices are raising theirhands to say ‘I want to spend money withthese devices,’ and retailers have an oppor-tunity to help them do so as much as they can.”
Canada's top diplomat reopens embassy in Tripoli
New Study Shows that Owners of Both a Smartphone anda Tablet Spend More Time and Money on Mobile Shopping
Indian Ocean tsunamiwarning system testedINDONESIA: Nations along the Indian Ocean aretesting a UN-backed early tsunami warning systemput in place after the massive 2004 wave off westernIndonesia that left more than 230,000 people dead ormissing. Wednesday's exercise _ the first full-scale test of thesystem _ tested communication and emergency re-sponse. Evacuation drills were held in India andMalaysia, with bulletins sent by telephone, email,SMS and fax to more than 20 countries taking part. The switch was flipped by officials at Indonesia's Me-teorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency at8:05 a.m. _ the same time a magnitude-9.2 earthquaketriggered a tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004, that barreledinto a dozen nations. The agency said the test would last until 8pm and thatno glitches were immediately detected.
Top Dawood aide IqbalMirchi held in London
NEW DELHI: MemonIqbal Mohammed aliasIqbal Mirchi, underworlddon Dawood Ibrahim's
close aide and an accusedin the 1993 serial bombattacks on Mumbai who isranked among the top 50drug barons of the world,was arrested by LondonPolice on Tuesday for alocal offence in the UK. The 61-year-old Mirchi iswanted by Mumbai Policein connection with a num-ber of narcotic drugs-re-lated cases and also forhis alleged role in the
1993 serial blasts. An In-terpol Red Corner Notice(RCN) has been pendingagainst him since 994.
"Interpol has con-firmed his arrest inLondon. He is cur-rently being ques-tioned there. Indiawill contact UK au-thorities throughdiplomatic channels
and try for his extradi-tion," said an officialhere. Mirchi was earlierarrested in London in1995 by Scotland Yard ondrug terrorism charges butIndia could not get himextradited as chargesagainst him were laterdropped. Since then, hehas been reportedly livingin London and Dubai andrunning a global drug syndicate.
10 October 13, 2011 Courageous Journalism
Auto Section
The new BMW 6 Series
Coupe stars in Mission
Impossible: Ghost Proto-
col, releasing worldwide
in December 2011. The
much-awaited action
thriller will witness Hol-
lywood actor Tom Cruise
driving around in this
new BMW 6 Series
Coupe.
The upcoming action
film is the fourth film in
the Mission Impossible
series starring Tom
Cruise who reprises his
role of an IMF Agent
Ethan Hunt; the flick is
directed by Brad Bird.
The new BMW 6 Series
will be on offer with a
choice of two variants in
India: the BMW 650i
Coupe (Petrol) and the
BMW 640d Coupe
(Diesel) and is open to
bookings at BMW deal-
erships. The car will be
available as a Com-
pletely Built-up Unit
(CBU) at ex-showroom
price of Rs. 84,99,000
and Rs. 74,99,000 re-
spectively.
The new BMW 6 Series
Coupe is a statement of
luxury and performance
and sets a new bench-
mark in its own class. On
one hand, it is perfectly
designed coupe that fea-
tures exclusive equip-
ment and allows
extremely comfortable
travelling. And on the
other hand, it is a spirited
premium sports car that
leaves no wishes unful-
filled. The car is also
available with an op-
tional ‘M Sports’ pack-
age.
Armed with a two liter mill with Quattro,
Audi Q5's will be available in showrooms
across India from October this year priced
at Rs. 35.13 lakhs ex-showroom Maha-
rashtra as a CKD unit.
The German car manufacturer, Audi has
announced the launch of its Audi Q5 Busi-
ness Edition. The small SUV from Audi
is powered by a 2.0 liter TDI motor pump-
ing out 172 PS of power and 300 Nm of
torque at 1750 rpm with a fuel efficiency
of 12 kilometers to a liter. 17 inch alloys,
xenon plus headlamps, daytime running
lights, and an infotainment system with
concert radio will run as standard equip-
ment on the car.
“The Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q is perfectly
equipped to further strengthen our leader-
ship position in the luxury SUV segment.
As the Audi Q5 already has a broad fan
base in India, this attractive price will now
make this premium experience accessible
to a wider customer base who aspire to
own a luxury SUV endorsed by our ‘Vor-
sprung durch Technik’ philosophy. The
Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q powered by a dynamic
and efficient engine is also equipped with
best in-class interior and infotainment fea-
tures,” said Michael Perschke, Head, Audi
India.In order to enhance the driving
pleasure, a multi-function steering wheel,
leather interiors with wood panels and
rear parking aid would also be a part of
the Audi Q5 Business Edition. “Audi
India has experienced formidable growth,
even surpassing annual sales of 3003 cars
for 2010 in the first seven months of 2011.
In July 2011, we sold 343 cars – a growth
of 52 percent over the same period last
year. Our focus is on strengthening our
portfolio through the introduction of prod-
ucts like the Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q which are
extremely relevant for India and also the
expansion of our dealer network. With the
opportunity that India presents, we are
confident of achieving our retail sales tar-
get of 5000 cars by the end of 2011,”
added Perschke.
The car would be available as a Complete
Knock-Down unit for now.
Audi Q5 Business Edition tobe launched in October 2011
Skoda Laura vRS: First Drive The new BMW 6 Series Coupe debutsin Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
It already had the go and now
Skoda has added the much
needed show as well. India's
most performance focused has
finally been unleashed. Say
hello to the Skoda Laura
vRS!Reading novels was
never my thing, however there
are always some narratives
which become an absolute
must read. For me it was “The
strange case of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde”. Ever since I read it
in my younger days I was
completely besotted by it. The
whole notion regarding the
split personality bit wherein
within the same person there
are two distinct personalities
had me captivated to no end.
In fact the novels impact is
such that it has become a part
of the language, with the
phrase “Jekyll and Hyde”
coming to mean a person who
is vastly different in moral
character from one situation to
the next.But my reference here
is not a person but the all new
Skoda Laura vRS. Now before
we delve into the cars charac-
ter lets take a look at a little
vRS history. The Skoda Oc-
tavia became a popular car
since its inception, however it
was the diesel sold in higher
numbers primarily because the
petrol motor wasn’t upto the
mark. That’s when Skoda un-
leashed the Octavia with the
magical vRS badge. With a
stonking 1.8 litre turbocharged
mill pumping out 150 PS,
stiffer suspension set-up and a
hot looking body-kit, the vRS
was the enthusiasts dream.
While there were other fast
cars too, none were as focused
as this Skoda. With the new
Laura taking the older Oc-
tavia’s place there were a lot
of people awaiting the vRS
badge. And although a little
late, it’s finally here.To add to
the show, the Laura vRS now
comes with a sportier front
bumper with an integrated lip
spoiler which comes with fog
lights of a different design as
well. There are also the twin
spoke alloys which look ab-
solutely fab. Then there is the
boot spoiler which is a must
for a car with any sort of
sporty intentions. The exhaust
tips too are now polished twin
pipes and definitely look
the part.
October 13, 2011 11Courageous Journalism
The saying, ‘good things come in small
packages’ suits her the most. Be it her on
screen presence or the variety of roles
she’s portrayed, actress Divya Dutta
surely knows how to hold her
ground firmly — against
both stalwarts and fresh-
ers.
Her forthcoming
film, My Friend Pinto
sees her play a fun
and crazy character,
very different from her
last outing in Stanley
Ka Dabba. “My role is
that of a star no more in
the reckoning. She’s
sexy and naughty,” she in-
forms.
My Friend... saw her share the
frame for the first time with
youngster Prateik and she’s thor-
oughly impressed with his acting
skills. “When we first
met, he was very shy and
barely said hello while
I’m not a person to stop at
a hello. In the film, we’ve shared the best
of scenes and it was very important for
us to break the ice at the earliest, which
we did. And our on screen chemistry is
funny and endearing,” she states. While
she calls her experience on My Friend...
a picnic, she’s glad to have been asoci-
ated with a film-maker like Sanjay Leela
Bhansali too.
With about 15 years in the industry, what
keeps Divya going is an ability to dis-
cover a side in her that hasn’t been
shown on screen before. “Mine has been
the most non-clichéd career — a sort of
complete reversal. When my contempo-
raries are calling it a day, I’m starting off.
I love breaking stereotypes and hate to
have a particular image,” she explains.
So, would that mean she’s been under-
utilised as an actor over the years?
“When a child is growing up, it takes
time for him and people around him to
know what he’s cut out for — having
worked with so many actors and film-
makers, I can now say I’m getting work
that brings out the best in me,” opines
Divya.
The actress is currently working on Zilla
Ghaziabad, Vikram Bhatt’s Dangerous
Ishq, Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine and
two international flicks. “Apart from
these films, I’m hosting a film-based
quiz show on television to get acquainted
with a completely different zone and this
because I get bored pretty soon,” adds
Divya. And is there a wish list? “I want
to do a sexy, item number — hopefully
soon,” she signs off.
With a rather successful in-
nings in Bollywood, today
actor Asin's as much a star
in B-Town as she is down
South. And though she ad-
mits that technically there's
not much difference when
it comes to comparisons
between the two industries,
there's a certain difference
when it comes to the audi-
ence's perception of the
stars.
“Down South I think audi-
ences like it when the star
is like one amongst them -
they're simple and without
make-up when they go
out - that's valued as
'one of us', but it's dif-
ferent in Bollywood.
There's much more at-
tention, scrutiny and
speculation, since it's
a national platform,
the audiences also ex-
pect a star to be a star
24x7. They like to see
a little bit of stardust on a
star all the time!” she says.
As for the stars, Asin feels
that there can't be compar-
isons among actors and
finds it hard to say who's a
bigger crowd-puller, be-
tween her favourites Surya
and Salman Khan.
“Salman's such a craze na-
tionwide and Surya's a big
star down South and has
done a few movies in
Hindi as well so I really
wouldn't know,” adds Asin.
Talking about her equation
with Salman on Simi Gare-
wal's talk
show, she reveals that
Salman's a very chilled out
person, but there's no ques-
tion about resisting him. “I
never saw him in that
light. He is very at-
tractive, but for me
he was somebody
who I looked up to in
a very respectful
way, somebody I ad-
mired. So that never
really crossed my
mind,” she says.
"He is full of masti
all the time on sets
and I'm always the
bakra,” she smiles
recalling an inci-
dent when he ac-
tually challenged
her to eat a bug.
“We were shoot-
ing in Bangkok and
Salman brought a bug.
It was raw and he's like
'have it'. He thought that I’d
be yelling and throwing a
heroine tantrum but I didn't.
I said calmly 'achha okay',
and just swallowed it. So
actually he didn't really get
the reaction he expected,”
shares Asin revealing her
'wicked side'. “Yes, at times
I can be wicked! You know,
I kind of get away with a lot
of things,” she smiles.
What about love? Talking
about the last time she went
on a date, she says, “I did-
n't know it was
a date, I thought
I was just going
out with a friend
but apparently it
was a date and
that would be a
year back.”
However, Asin
reveals that she's
not exactly a ro-
mantic. “I think
I'm a contradic-
tion. Somewhere,
I'm very emo-
tional, sentimental
and a romantic, but
I also think with
my head. I don't let
my emotions run
away with me as well. So I
don't know what to call
myself - I'm confused!”
A casual use of the word
'dumb' by Bollywood superstar
Shah Rukh Khan landed him
in a trouble here after a differ-
ently-abled girl took objection
to it, prompting him to apolo-
gise and correct himself.
Khan, 45, who was speaking at
a promotional event for his lat-
est film Ra.One, said he is
keen to act in Tamil movies but
only in a "dumb" character be-
cause he did not know the lan-
guage and it would be difficult
to deliver dialogues with per-
fection.This led to a sharp re-
action from an audience
member who said the actor
should avoid using the word
'dumb' while referring to peo-
ple with speech impairment.
Promptly apologising, Khan
asked Jayashree for the right
word to be used to refer people
with speech impairment and
she suggested "you can use the
word mute."
The Bollywood Badshah was
talking to the audience after
launching the music for
Ra.One promo here.
Khan also expressed his thanks
to superstar Rajinikanth for ac-
cepting his offer to play a
cameo role in Ra One, which
will be simultaneously re-
leased in Tamil, Telugu and
Hindi on Diwali.
He also paid a return visit to
Rajinikanth, who flew to
Mumbai on October 2, putting
his health issue aside to shoot
for Khan's dream project
Ra.One.Khan spent about 15
minutes with Rajnikanth."He
was well when I spoke to him.
He is very keen to start work,"
Khan said, replying to a ques-
tion on Superstar's health.
Rajnkanth will be seen in the
role of 'Chitti', the robot, in the
science-fiction film Ra.One.
An item number on
Divya Dutta'swish list
Salman Khan vs Surya: Who will Asin choose?
Shah Rukh Khan apologises forusing word 'dumb' for mute
Shahid-Anushkato romance again
His directorial venture Band Baaja Baarat, pro-
duced by YRF, made Anushka Sharma an overnight
star. And now we hear that Maneesh Sharma is al-
ready chalking out plans for his third collaboration
with YRF.
Reportedly, the di-
rector has decided
to get the produc-
tion house's blue-
eyed girl Anushka
and her Badmaash
Company. co-star
Shahid Kapoor to
star in the project.
A source informed
us that Sharma,
who is currently
filming his second
YRF project Ladies
Vs Ricky Bahl, has
simultaneously been working on his next romantic
comedy, slated to go on floors next year. The source
explained, "The last time that Anushka and Shahid
worked together was in the YRF production, Bad-
maash Company.
Their on-screen chemistry was so convincing that
many thought that it stemmed from an off-screen
romance. And after watching Shahid's performance
in Mausam, YRF and Maneesh decided that
Anushka and Sasha were an apt pair for the film."
R e p o r t e d l y ,
Anushka and
Shahid are cur-
rently trying to
adjust their dates
for the same.
"The film has
been scripted by
Jaideep Sahni,
who also wrote
the scripts of the
three block-
busters - Chak
De, Rab Ne
Bana Di Jodi and
Bunty Aur
Babli," added the source.
When contacted, YRF spokesperson said, "Ma-
neesh is still shooting Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. He
will complete his next script and finalise the cast
after the release of Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, on De-
cember 9."
12 October 13, 2011 Courageous Journalism
Children love to roam
throughout the house and
especially intrude into the
areas where they are not
supposed to. Kitchen is
one such part of the
house. Especially if the
age group is toddlers or
those upto 12 years old,
they are prone to several
accidents in the kitchen.
When you design your
kitchen and when you set
up the things in it, your
child is the person whom
you should think of first.
This will prevent running
after him or her or con-
stantly putting things
away from the reach.
In United States alone
there were more than 50
thousand kitchen acci-
dents happened, most of
them involved with kids
and negligence on the part
of parents. It is vital to
make sure that your
kitchen is kids-safe be-
cause not only your kids
but the friends of your
kids may come to your
kitchen. You don’t want to
keep running behind
every kid.
Following are the points
you need to take into ac-
count:
• If you have a tod-
dler at home, place a
child-safety gate at the
kitchen entrance. Tod-
dlers have a habit of
pulling things or playing
with objects. This could
be risky.
• When designing
the kitchen interior, keep
certain things in mind.
Make latches or locks for
lower cabinets. Always
keep certain cabinets at
higher levels where they
can be accessed by elders.
You can keep sharper
things at such places.
• Also have the
switchboards at heights
and make sure to unplug
all the appliances when
not in use.
• Avoid using table
cloths or mats on the
kitchen table as kids can
pull them easily.
• Have a safe place
to keep the oven or stove
where your child cannot
reach and also make sure
there is no stool or chair
nearby!
• Have a broad
kitchen platform and keep
the hot stuff at the back-
end. Even if the kitchen
platform is broad, do not
place the child on it even
casually!
These all are very basic
safety tips which should
be taken care of. I would
love to hear your thoughts
and experiences of mak-
ing your kitchen a safe
place your young kids.
Please leave me a com-
ment and let me know.
Andy Borowitz recently wrote and
article on alarm bells (in a date or
potential relationship) on The New
Yorker. He claims that he once
asked a woman if she wanted him
to bring anything and was emailed
a request for duct tape, shovel,
chain saw and garbage bag!
While that pushes the envelope a
bit far, in the dating pool, direct
questions often end up with inter-
esting results. And those who’re
single, and looking (hard or other-
wise), do have interesting stories to
tell. It seems Mars and Venus speak
different languages — and that
makes the game a hazardous one.
People keep thinking about that
brilliant conversational gambit that
would move them from the grey
zone into monochrome. But it
seems there are none. Whatever
happened to plain speak?
Let’s start with the apparently in-
nocuous question, ‘Do you want to
go out for a drink?’ 28-year-old IT
professional Ramona was fairly
confident this is sufficiently neutral
grounds that would give her some
idea if the toes could be dipped in
the murky waters of dating. She en-
dured a half an hour diatribe about
how the concerned person’s parents
are old and have ‘Indian values’,
how they would never support
somebody drinking and how we
should try to adjust our ‘ways’
when we’re looking at something
long-term. To spot the silver lining,
good she asked or she’d never
know about those Indian values,
would she?
And the shoe didn’t fit so pretty on
the other foot either. For 31-year-
old investment banker Sagnik, this
invitation, extended to a petite par-
cel he’d been eyeing for long, re-
sulted in the worst night ‘since
ISCE results’. “She took it rather
literally, kept slamming one
drink after the other, flirted
with half the guys in the bar
and pronounced me the
best drinking buddy ever,”
he rues.
Many times bitten and
forever shy media per-
son Sumangal says he’s
staying on the side-
lines. At 32, he
says “I’ve had
enough of coy
protests and aggressive rejoinders.
When I ask a woman out for a
movie and dinner, it’s just a state-
ment that I’d like to get to know
her better. I’m fed up with being
told ‘I don’t think of us in that
way.’ Well guess what, I don’t
think of us in that way either, it’s
just a date. And then there’s the
outrage, as if a movie date is an
assault of some sorts. Well, I’m
staying home every Friday now,”
he vents.At least, he tried. Am-
ritesh, a close friend of Sagnik’s
and a former believer in the adage
silence speaks, spent the entire
summer deeply in love with a
bank teller. After opening two ac-
counts and getting half his family
and friends to become loyal cus-
tomers, he also got to eat the
sweets being distributed on the oc-
casion of the lady’s impending
marriage. “We’ve opened ac-
counts on two matrimonial web-
sites. Sifting through dozens of
possibilities and rejecting
dozens more is working
out to be
t h e r a -
p e u -
tic,” he
muses.“Nothing works,” says
Sagnik. “If you ask a woman out
for a drink, she’s probably think-
ing of roofies (rohypnol). If you
ask her out for home-cooked din-
ner or coffee, she thinks you’re
ready to pounce, and if you don’t,
you just get resigned to see her
walk into the sunset with some-
body who’s probably doing all
that and more,” he complains.It
seems there’s some merit in that
great Indian fallback ‘I want to
make fraandship with you’. Min-
gling isn’t such an easy job for sin-
gles these days.
This wrinkled dry fruit can be your secret to youthful skin!
Apart from being great for people who are suffering from
constipation, it works wonders for the skin. It has necessary
vitamins, mineral, carbohydrate and fats. As it is rich in an-
tioxidants, it helps to absorb free radicals which means wrin-
kle formation does not happen early! So, have
these directly or add them in your favourite dish. Prunes don't
always have to be part of sweet dish or desserts. You can pre-
pare tandoori aloo with prunes in it! Find out how.
150 grams California Prunes
1 kg Potatoes
50 grams Broken Cashew Nuts
20 grams Chaat Masala
20 grams Chopped Ginger
20 grams Chopped Green Chilly
30 grams Kamrak
30 grams Chopped Coriander
Salt according to taste
Oil adequate for frying
100 ml Mint Chutney
Peel the potatoes, scoop out the center with a potato peeler.
Cut the peeled potato into chips and fry it in oil until crispy.
Boil the potato
shell until al-
most done.
Chop Califor-
nia Prunes and
mix all the
other ingredi-
ents with the
fried potato
chips. Stuff the
mixture into the
boiled potato
shells. Arrange
the stuffed po-
tatoes on skewers and roast them in a tandoor or oven till the
color is golden. Cut the roasted potatoes into half and sprinkle
with chopped coriander and chaat masala. Serve the chatpata
California Prune Bharwan Tandoori Aloo hot with mint chut-
ney.
This is not the end, you can also make prune and palak
kababs, koftas, halwa and many more.
Asian Vegetable
Prune Power
Ingredients
Directions
Why it's hard to finda date these days
How To Make Your KitchenA Safe Place For Kids
Hugging HandsIf your hands feel left out in
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