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The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians Auckland Christchurch Wellington Hamilton Palmerston North Hastings Invercargill
30 January, 2015 Vol. 6 Issue 26 | www.iwk.co.nz
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R-DAY SPECIAL
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R-DAY SPECIAL
INDIAS POWER PLAY: THE 66THREPUBLIC DAY Maya Shivam
Though India became a free nationon August 15, 1947, it declareditself a Sovereign, Democratic and
Republic state with the adoption of
the Constitution on January 26, 1950.
A salute of 21 guns and the
unfurling of the Indian National Flag
by Dr Rajendra Prasad heralded the
historic birth of the Indian Republic
on that day. Thereafter, 26th of
January was decreed a national
holiday and was recognised as the
Republic Day of India.
The Constitution gave citizens
of India the power to choose their
own government and paved the
way for democracy. Dr Prasad took
oath as the rst President of India
at the Durbar Hall in Government
House and this was followed by the
Presidential drive along a ve-mile
route to the Irwin Stadium, where he
unfurled the National Flag.
Today, India boasts of being the
largest democracy in the world and
the Republic Day is synonymous
with the Countrys power display.
This year, military precision
blended seamlessly with cultural
diversity at Indias 66th Republic
Day parade, where US President
Barack Obama was the chief guest.
Heavy armour, marching
contingents of the armed forces
and the paramilitary and police
forces, interspersed with brass and
pipe bands - tableaux depicting the
multifarious multicultural heritage of
this rich vast land and schoolchildren
dancing merrily in spite of the chill
marked the event, crowned by a
ypast that many apprehended would
not happen due to the weather.
For the rst time, an all-womens
contingent drawn from the three
services was featured at the event,
while the Indian Army, the Indian
Navy and the Indian Air Force also
elded all-women contingents.
Keeping up with the theme of Nari
Shakti (Women Power), this year
saw women ofcers in the lead in
numerous contingents.
In another rst, a day before,
a woman ofcer from the Indian
Air Force - Wing Commander Puja
Thakur, led the ceremonial guard
of honour presented to visiting
US President Barack Obama at
Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Thakur was seen -- and heard
-- giving commands, which were
followed by the national anthems of
the US and India. The 21-gun salute
boomed next.
Thakur then escorted Obama for
the inspection of the tri-service guard
of honour.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi drove to India Gate to lay
a wreath at the Amar JawanJyoti
memorial to the unknown soldier.
He later drove back to the saluting
base at Rajpath to welcome Obama
and President Pranab Mukherjee,
who took the salute at the two-hour
parade.
There were many rsts at this
Republic Day event. The tableaux
depicting Make in India, Swachh
Bharat, Beti Bachao to name a few,
were seen at the parade for the rst
time, along with the regulars like the
Dare Devils and the ypasts by the
ghters of the Indian Air Force that
are amongst the all time favourites.
The following features bring to
you more details on the splendor and
celebration that marked the Indian
Republic Day this year.
The Indian Weekender wishes all
its readers a very happy Republic
Day.Continued on Pg 4
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Continued on Pg 5
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Womens power, pomp, Obama at R-Day Vishnu Makhijani
If the annual Republic Day parade isknown for its pomp and splendour,the 66th edition will remain etched in
the memory for two other factors - the
womens power showcased during
the two-hour event and the presence
of US President Barack Obama as
the chief guest on the occasion.
Quite appropriately, the honour of
leading the marching contingents was
given to the one drawn from the three
services, while the Indian Army, the
Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force
also elded all-womens contingents.
A woman led the Indian Navy
contingent while a tableau depicted
the success achieved by an all-
womens team in scaling the worlds
highest mountain, Mount Everest.
All this, coupled with a woman
leading the contingent that presented
a guard of honour to US President
Barack Obama Sunday is reportedly
Modis way of showcasing womens
power in India - despite the many
stories of atrocities on women and the
odds stacked against them socially.
With woman power as the theme
for this years Republic Day parade,
there was another feather in the cap
when Captain Haobam Bella Devi
unfurled the tricolour at Rajpath, New
Delhi.
Devi hails from Manipur. A second
generation army ofcer, she belongs
to the Indian Armys Ordnance Corps.
According to the custom, the ag
is unfurled after the president ascends
the podium along with the chief guest.
The commanding ofcer of
Presidents Bodyguard gives
command for salute. The national ag
is unfurled, the national anthem is
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Continued on Pg 6
played and 21-gun salute is given.
The day began cloudy and rainy and there
were apprehensions that the ypast, one of
the most-eagerly awaited events at the parade,
would be curtailed but, in the end, the weather
cleared sufciently for this to take place though
the sky remained overcast.
Before the proceedings began, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, resplendent in a tricolour turban
and for whom it was his rst Republic Day
parade, drove to India Gate to lay a wreath at
the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial to the unknown
soldier.
He later drove back to the saluting base
at Rajpath to welcome Obama and President
Pranab Mukherjee, who took the salute at the
two-hour parade.
Before it commenced, Mukherjee handed
over posthumous Ashok Chakras - the nations
highest military award in peacetime - to the
widows of Major Mukund Vardarajan and Naik
Neeraj Kumar Singh, who were killed in counter-
insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Continued from Pg 5
As in the past, the marching
contingents stole the show with
their dazzling array of ceremonial
uniforms, leaving the audience in
the jam-packed stands - despite the
cold - spoilt for choice: the blue and
gold trimmed tunics of the 61 Cavalry
contrasting with the vivid red turbans
of the Brigade of the Guards, the
red-gold turbans of the Jammu and
Kashmir Light Infantry and the green-
blue turbans of a Territorial army unit
attached to the Punjab Regiment.
Most of the paramilitary and police
contingents were in regulation khaki
but they too got a look-in, thanks
to their ceremonial cummerbunds,
sashes and turbans.
Notably, the mechanised columns
were down to a minimum this time
around - perhaps to paper over the
fact that 70 percent of the hardware
with the armed forces is imported, a
situation that Modis Make in India
initiative hopes to reverse.
The music, as usual, made for
considerable patriotic fervour, what
with rousing tunes like Sare Jahan
Se Aacha, Hanste Lushai, Kadam
Kadam Badahe Ja and Sound Barrier,
many of which had Obama keeping
time - which he also did when the
tableaux came on with their wealth of
folk music.
This also made for a seamless
blend of military might and heritage
as 25 tableaux - 16 from the states
and nine from various ministries -
graphically displayed Indias rich
cultural diversity.
Andhra Pradesh chose to do this
through a harvest festival; Madhya
Pradesh highlighted the Bhagoria
festival of love and matchmaking;
Uttarakhand through the pilgrimage
to Kedarnath; Sikkim through
cardamom farming, Assam by re-
creating Majuli, the worlds largest
river island; Telangana by re-creating
the Golconda fort and Haryana
with likeness of the Sultanpur Bird
Sanctuary - quite naturally, with
twittering birds.
The Make in India tableau by
the department of industrial policy
and promotion depicted a mechanised
lion against the backdrop of a smart
city. The campaign aims to promote
manufacturing in India.
Another pet project of the prime
minister, the Beti Bachao Beti
Padhao programme, a campaign
against female foeticide which he
launched from Panipat in Haryana Jan
22, was also featured in a tableau.
And, as usual, the ower-bedecked
tableau of the Central Public Works
Department drew loud applause. It
featured the source of the Ganga river
high up in the Himalayas.
The weather began to lift as the
tableaux were rolling down Rajpath
and just as the schoolchildren had
nished their routines, three Mi-35
attack helicopters of the IAF streamed
in through the somewhat cloudy sky.
Then, in quick succession came
the newly acquired C-130J Super
Hercules medium-lift transport, the
P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft
escorted by MiG-29 combat jets (both
of the Indian Navy), the C-17 heavy-
lift transport escorted by Sukhoi Su-
30 MKI combat jets and the Jaguars.
All this left most spectators with a
feeling of Yeh dil maange more, but
for that theyd have to wait a full year.
It would be a wait well worth it.
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Continued on Pg 8
Of umbrellas, capsand patriotic songs
With the rain playing spoilsport, thedignitaries gathered at Rajpath towitness Indias 66th Republic Day parade
were forced to wear caps and take cover
under umbrellas and raincoats.
US President Barack Obama, the chief
guest at the parade, and wife Michelle
were seated in a roofless bullet-proof glass
enclosure along with President Pranab
Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and
his wife Salma and Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
As it started to drizzle, officials with huge ,
black umbre llas and members of the suppo rt
staff standing next to them sprang into ac tion.
While the Obamas held their own
umbrellas, the Indian dignitaries and leaders
attending the
ceremony had
their better
halves or
their official
staff holding
the cover for
them.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi also held
her own umbre lla. Two seats away, Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah was
seen taking shelter under an umbrella held by
his wife.
Kiran Bedi, the BJPs chief ministerial
candidate for next months Delhi assembly
polls , wore a r aincoat.
Many dignitaries also donned caps to
R-Day
SidelightsR-D
ay
Sidelights
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Continued from Pg 7
prot ect themselves from the cold
and drizzle.
Mukherjee and Ansari sported
fur caps, Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley and senior BJP leader L.K.
Advani wore golf caps while Modi
wore a traditional and colourful
Rajasthani headgear.
MODIS SWACHH BHARAT
STUMBLES AT RAJPATH
Had Prime Minister Narendra
Modi peeked into the enclosures
erected in front of him at Rajpath
when the 66th Republic Day parade
concluded, he might have been
forced to rethink the prospects of
his pet Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, or
Clean India campaign.
Soiled sheets of newspapers,
pamph lets (carrying detai ls of the
parade detai ls) and polyth ene bags
that had been used by the crowdsto clean their seats and cover their
heads during the morning drizzle
were littered all around the VIP
enclosures as the function ended.
Many of the chairs lay toppled
while the seats of almost all of the m
had shoe marks and sludge on them
as the crowd had stood atop them
minutes before to catch a glimpse
of the departing dignitaries.
WE LOVE OBAMA
The camaraderie between
visiting US President Barack
Obama and Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi seems to have
rubbed off on Delhiites as well.
When Obama reached Rajpath
to attend the 66th Republic Day
parade, the crowd climbe d atop
their chairs to catch a glimpse him
and his ride - The Beast.
The crowds cheered, clapped
and waved at Obama and his wife
Michelle. The Obamas too waved
back , much to the delight of the
crowds.
A group of young men even had
a huge yellow-colored poster with
the message - We Love Obama,
with a red heart signifying love.
In fact, the highly publicised
Modi-Obama chair pe charcha on
the verdant lawns of the Hyderabad
House Sunday was a hot topic of
discussion among the audience
as they waited for the parade to
begin . Most of them had gathered
since early morning, braving the
rain and the January chill.
The friendly warmth and
camaraderie between the two
leaders again evident during the
two-hour parade.
WHEN THE WEATHER GOD
SMILED
It was a wet, gloomy start to the
66th Republic Day celebrations
here as sporadic overnight rain
that continued in the morning
threatened the festivities as well as
dampened the spirits of the people.
The crowds gathered for the
function were a worried lot as the
security personnel did not allow
umbrellas inside the venue due
to safety concerns and the light
drizzle could very well have turned
into a heavy shower.
But much to their relief, half
an hour into the parade, the rain
stopped and the dark clouds that
had been hovering overhead
dispersed and later enabled them
to witness the flypast by the Indian
Air Force.
A DOSE OF PATRIOTISM
It may have been a cold, foggy
and wet Republic Day morning
but the people who packe d the
stands, some of whom had walked
for several kilometers to reach
Rajpath, were in a patriotic mood.
Despite the long queues at
the entrances, the crowds raised
slogans like Vande Mataram and
Bharat Mata Ki Jai at regular
intervals. Some of them had small
paper tri-colours pinned to their
shirts and tops while others had tr i-
coloured scarves wrapped on their
heads and around their necks.
Adding to the feel, were soul-
stirring songs like Yeh desh hain
veer jawano ka and Mere desh
ki dharti that blared out of the
address system.
However, the show stealers at
the end of the celebrations were the
saffron, white and green balloons
that were released into the sky
from different corners of Rajpath.
Insights from 66th Indian RepublicDay celebrations in New Delhi, Indiaon January 26th.
US President Barack Obamaarrives in The Beast.
PM Modi, President Mukher-jee, US President Obama andFirst Lady Michelle Obamawave at the crowd.
The tableau of the Indian Railwaysduring R-Day parade
Fly-past at the Republic Day parade.
Republic Day parade underwayat Rajpath in New Delhi.
R-DAY SPECIAL
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Ashoka Chakra for twofallen bravehearts on R-DayMajor Mukund Varadarajan and NaikNeeraj Kumar Singh were Mondayposthumously awarded the nations highest
peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra,
at the Republic Day parade.
Both of them laid down their lives while
ghting heavily-armed terrorists in separate
gun-battles in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
Their widows received the award from
President Pranab Mukherjee.
Varadarajan, of the armys 44 Rashtriya
Ries, died last April year while leading an
anti-terrorist operation in a village in Shopian
district.
A severely Varadarajan continued ghting
the enemy in the operation that resulted
in elimination of three top-ranked Hizbul
Mujaheddin terrorists. He later succumbed to
his injuries.
Singh, also from Rashtriya Ries, got killed
when he came under heavy re from terrorists
while on a search operation in the states
Kupwara district Aug 24, 2014.
A total of 374 gallantry and other defence
decorations to armed forces personnel have
been announced on the occasion of the 66th
Republic Day.
These include an Ashoka Chakra (to Singh
as Varadarajans award had been announced
on Independence Day last year), three Kirti
Chakras, 12 Shaurya Chakras, 48 Sena Medals
(Gallantry), two Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry),
11 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), 28 Param
Vishisht Seva Medals, three Uttam Yudh Seva
Medals, three Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals,
53 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 13 Yudh Seva
Medals, 42 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty),
eight Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 19
Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), four
Bars to Vishisht Seva Medals and 124 Vishisht
Seva Medals.
Wife of late Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh, (below)wife of late Major Mukund Varadarajan receiv-ing Ashok Chakra from President of IndiaPranab Mukherjee
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NEW ZEALAND
Namaste aur shubh kamanae
I hope you and your family enjoy celebrating the 66th anniversary of Indias Republic
Day.
As well as marking an important day in Indias history, this is a chance to recognise
the strong relationship New Zealand has with India, and the valuable contributions
Indian New Zealanders make to the overall success of our nation. Best wishes for the
celebrations and for a safe and prosperous 2015.
John Key
Prime Minister
Namaste, Satsriakal, Assalamu alaikum, Greetings
I would like to send my congratulations to the New Zealand Indian community as
it celebrates Indias Republic Day.
It is always pleasing to see the large numbers of major Indian organisations and
associations from around Auckland join forces to celebrate the occasion.
India is important to New Zealand as it is our main supplier of skilled migrants,
while the number of international students from India has also increased steadily over
the last few years. In the rst eight months of last year just over 15,500 Indian students
were studying in New Zealand, a 60 percent increase over the same per iod in 2013.
There are more than 155,000 Indians living in the country, making it the fastest
growing Kiwi ethnic group.
India has undergone many changes since gaining independence in 1947. Let us
hope that it will continue to progress and nd solutions to all its problems and continue
on a path for prosperity for all its citizens, irrespective of their religion, caste, region
or language.It is a day to remember and pay tribute to the great Indian leaders such as
Mahatma Gandhi and the massive independence movement.
As proved by this months meeting between the United States President Barack
Obama and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi your nation is becoming a major
global player and we welcome it as a constructive partner on the international stage.
The Indian community is a ne and valued part of New Zealand society, and one
which is much valued by the Labour Party.
Jai Hind.
Andrew Little,
Labour Leader .
New Zealand First congratulates the Kiwi-Indian community on the occasion of
Indias Republic Day.
This will always be a signicant day on our calendar, as it is for all Kiwi Indians.
As a Kiwi Indian I look back in awe to those who helped achieve independence
for India, and I look forward to building on the links between India and New Zealand.
I hope you all had a wonderful Republic Day.
All the very best.
Mahesh Bindra
List Member of Parliament
New Zealand First
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NEW ZEALAND
Tri-colour flies high at MG Centre Rizwan Mohammad
The 66th Indian Republic Day celebrations
were held with a ag hoisting ceremony
at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre. The event
organised by Auckland Indian Association,
commenced with garlanding the statue of
Mahatma Gandhi and hoisting of the tri-colour
by chief guest Makanbai Goenbai.
This ceremony was further continued by
patriotic songs, Gujarati hymns portraying the
greatness of Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) and
speeches by representatives of various Indian
associations.
Auckland Indian Association which is
led by its President Ashokbhai Darji, was
formed in 1926 and Mahatma Gandhi Centre
was established under the association which
completes its 25 years of existence in 2015. In
the absence of the President, of the association,
acting President Nanette Nathoo who is also the
Vice President of the association, took charge
of the ceremony.
The prime activity of the association is to
maintain and promote Indian culture amongst
its vast community in Auckland and New
Zealand as a whole.
Auckland Indian Association is one of
the wings that come under the New Zealand
Indian Central Association led by Harshad
Patel. He mentions, The country had a roller-
coaster ride since its independence but is now
the powerhouse of the world. With the new
government led by Hon. PM of India Narendra
Modi, India has become one of the challenging
forces both economically and culturally to the
world.
The ceremony ended with the national
anthem and a vote of thanks by the Secretary of
the Association, Shanti Patel, to the community
who were present at the venue for ag hoisting.
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NEW ZEALAND
Diplomatic ties fly high on R-Day IWK Bureau
The 66th Indian Republic
Day celebrations in Wellington
was one of the biggest events in
years. Hosted and organised by
His Excellency the High
Commissioner of India in New
Zealand Mr Ravi Thapar and
Mrs Sharmila Thapar in association
with New Zealand India Friendship
Association (NZIFA), the fanfare
and celebrations were attended
by Ambassadors and Members
of the Diplomatic corps, from
different parts of the world along
with other distinguished guests
from the Kiwi Indian and the
larger Kiwi community. The High
Commissioners from the United
States, United Kingdom, Italy,
Israel and Pakistan graced the
event with their presence.Amongst
other guests at the occasion were
the Mayor of Wellington Celia
Wade-Brown, Minister of Ethnic
Affairs Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga,
MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi,
Leader of the Opposition Andrew
Little and his wife, MP Paul Foster
Bell and Honorary Consuls from
various countries. Amongst other
community leaders were Dr Kanti
Patel, Ranjana Patel, Pritipal
Singh, Roshan Nauhria, Jay
Randhawa, Sunil Kaushal to name
a few.
The celebrations were
inaugurated by the lighting
of the lamp by the Indian
High Commissioner and
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga ,followed
by a brief speech on Indias
economy and its rich culture. The
celebrations were also marked by
cultural performances and food.
The ladies of the diplomatic corps
also accepted and wore bindi (the
dot) signifying their embracing
of the culture and wholehearted
partic ipation in the event.
The celebration back in India this
year has been a huge success,
making history with the presence of
US President Barack Obama . But
the celebration in New Zealand also
made history with it being the
bigges t celebration of the Indian
Republic Day, so far with the High
Commissioner of the United States
in attendance. Mr Thapar left no
stone unturned in making this event
a success.
We bring you a photo feature of
the event along with the speech by
His Excellency- Mr Ravi Thapar.
During its journey of 65 years as a Republic, India has
matured into a US$2.1 trillion economy, which in terms of
Purchasing Power Parity, translates into its being the third
largest economy in the world. Having evolved through
long periods of indigenous kingship and foreign rule,
India deeply values its strong democratic foundations.
Although nourished by its ancient civilizational
heritage and spiritual ethos, it actively pursues the useof scientic and technological tools for securing a better
and prosperous future for its teeming millions. Indias
immense pool of scientists and engineers has always done
the country proud. A few months ago, in September 2014,
they excelled themselves when India became the rst
country in the world to put an indigenously-designed and
manufactured satellite vehicle into the Mars orbit in the
very rst attempt, that too, at a record economical cost of
US$ 74 million, which is less than what it cost to shoot the
Hollywood blockbuster Gravity!
In the current era of globalization, Internet & social
media, jet travel and speedy telecommunications, the
whole world has shrunk into a global community.
Economic prosperity and development are no longer
merely a domestic policy concern or objective.
Various critical, global issues today are not just
addressed in parliaments and multilateral gatherings.
The social media and the virtual international
community too have a considerable say in these
matters. As more and more people connect with the
global highway, the role of the virtual international
community will become even more pronounced.
Global benchmarks and multilateral negotiations
can have a signicant bearing on any initiatives beingattempted for augmenting technology, capital and
projects for upgrading infrastructure in any country.
International cooperation between all countries,
howsoever remote and distant they might be, is hence
of high priority.
In light of this background, India has
been taking principled and informed
positions, based on discussions with
like-minded democracies, on various
issues such as poverty alleviation,
women empowerment, climate
change, reform of the international
monetary and nancial architecture,
international terrorism and all
such matters. As the most populous
democracy in the world, it looks
forward to partnering with all nations
for forging international consensus on
these important themes. We sincerely
hope and believe that given Indias
sustained and active contribution to
all such discussions, it will also have
opportunities to contribute more
tangibly to such issues in the future, as a
permanent member of a reformed and
expanded UN Security Council.
As the world grapples with chronic
trouble spots in the Middle East and in
other parts of the world, and mankind
becomes more and more embroiledin the race for political inuence
and power and weapons, the Indian
time-honoured principles of peace,
ahimsa [non-violence], democratic
governance, yoga and belief in a unied
and universal spiritual consciousness,
which have been extolled in India for
centuries, assume a special signicance.
It is in this light, that as proposed by
Honble Prime Minister of India at the
UN General Assembly in September
2014, a record 177 nations out of the
193 UN members endorsed Indias
resolution / proposal for declaring the
21st of June as the International Yoga
Day.
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NEW ZEALAND
The prospects for strengthening ongoing cooperation between both countries arehence positive and promising. New Zealand is not merely a major global supplier ofagricultural goods and primary commodities. Rather, many companies here havedeveloped smart and innovative technologies which cannot be commercializedeasily due to New Zealands modest-sized market. Given Indias rich reservoir ofscientists and engineers, professionals and consultants, substantial market andhuge middle class and ever-burgeoning economic requirements and expandinginvestments in infrastructural projects, New Zealand businesses can work closelywith their Indian counterparts for commercializing such technologies for sale notonly in India but also in other markets. The bilateral trade turnover in 2014 wasapproximately to the tune of NZ$ 1.1 billion. There are signicant opportunities forenhancing such engagement. And the investment ows need not only be gearedtowards India. Rather, as has just been established through the allocation of a largeoshore block o the Taranaki coast to ONGC Videsh Ltd. - which is a subsidiary ofits US$ 58 billion parent company Oil & Natural Gas Commission of India - Indiancompanies and corporate majors could also invest in tangible projects in NewZealand.We, at this High Commission, look forward to working with all sections of the NewZealand political, ocial and business community in stepping up multi-facetedcooperation between both countries in all these areas. A good beginning hasalready been made with the establishment of the New Zealand India FriendshipAssociation [ nzifa.org.nz] under the patronage of the High Commission. Poised toconnect centres of excellence and leading members of the professional, businessand talented stakeholder communities in India and New Zealand, the NZIFA can goa long way in deepening ongoing bilateral engagement between both countries.
The current trends of economic interdependence and electronic
connectivity also inuence bilateral relations between India and
New Zealand. In earlier years, the immense geographical divide
between India and New Zealand posed serious constraints in
intensifying linkages. Today, experts and centres of excellence in
both democracies can go digital and jointly evolve positions on
various critical issues confronting the world today. The presence
of a large overseas Indian community also facilitates such
linkages. It is noteworthy that after the last General Elections in
New Zealand in September 2014, three members of the Indianorigin community have made it to the august portals of New
Zealand Parliament. Exchange of high-level visits in recent
years from New Zealand at the level of Prime Minister, Foreign
Minister and other Cabinet-level ministers and from India at the
level of the Speaker of the Lower House of Indian Parliament,
Deputy Chairperson of the Upper House of Indian Parliament
and several Cabinet Ministers have added to the momentum of
ongoing ties.
Both countries have already laid down an extensive, theoretical
framework for strengthening bilateral relations by nalizing
MoUs for enhancing cooperation in the elds of Agriculture,
Education, Science & Technology, Audio-Visual cooperation and
promoting exchanges between supervisory authorities in the
Banking Sector. A Free Trade Agreement and a more elaborate
Air Services Agreement for facilitating better air linkages and
connectivity are also being negotiated. What is now important
is to give practical shape to some of the objectives enshrined in
these bilateral arrangements.
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POWER COLUMN
Kanwaljit Singh BakshiNational List MP
David ShearerLabour MP
Raising achievement for kids back at school
The new school year is starting,with our kids heading back tothe classroom.
National is working hard
to ensure all our kids have the
opportunity to engage in learning
that meets their needs. We want to
make sure theyre getting the best
education they can.
Were making great progress with
kids starting earlier in education,
staying longer, and leaving better
qualied.There will be over 60,000 new
entrants starting school this year,
and we want every single one to
have the chance to do their very best
and grow up to be successful in life.
This wouldnt be possible without
our dedicated teaching profession,
our school leaders, and the parents
and whanau who make sure their
kids are attending early childhood
education (ECE) or school, and
support their learning at home.
National increased ECE funding
to get more young Kiwis into
education earlier, and provide
more targeted services to best suit
communities who need them the
most.At school we introduced National
Standards, so we would have better
data to help identify where more
effort and resources need to be
focused to raise achievement.
And now we are investing in
supporting our great teachers and
principals, and their practices, across
communities of schools.
Nationals $359 million Investing
in Educational Success initiative
will lift achievement in Kiwi schools
by helping schools share their best
resources their best teachers and
principals. Children will benet
from shared teaching practices and
expertise.
Evidence shows quality ofeducation and school leadership
are the two most important factors
in a childs education, so we are
investing in these areas.
We want to see greater
collaboration among schools,
improved transition through the
education system for children, and
better career pathways for teachers.
The rst 11 communities of
schools will begin working together
this year, across different areas of the
country. Together they cover 38,000
students from primary, secondary,
intermediate and area schools.
Were making sure all kids have
their very best shot at succeeding in
education by improving the qualityof teaching and leadership in our
schools.
All parents want to see their
children lead happy, successful
lives. National believes giving every
child the best education possible
will help achieve that.
I havent met anyone whos impressed withATs road design
When Im out and about in myelectorate on the weekend, Isee a lot of Indian families enjoying
the Western Springs Park area.
Its the perfect place for a f amily
picnic in the sun or shade . People
go there because of the space, the
beautiful landscape and the trees in
the middle of our city.
You may have heard that
Auckland Transport wants to chop
down six mature Pohutukawa trees
across on the other side of Great
North Road, opposite Western
Springs.
These trees are beautiful and
without them wed look out
on acres of road and concrete.Auckland Transport is determined
to chainsaw these trees and ignore
the wishes of the community
and elected local board, who
overwhelmingly want to keep and
protec t the 80-year-old trees .
I havent met anyone whos
impressed with Auckland
Transports road design.
When I went to their liaison
meeting last week, I was stunned
at the inexible thinking of their
engineers.
Questions from local people
were treated as annoying
inconveniences.The trees on and near the park is
the reason so many people go to the
park with t heir families. My view is
that if we cant have both roads and
trees, Auckland Transport needs a
new engineering team.
It seemed obvious at the
meeting that a compromise could
be reached that would satisfy
everyone, but Auckland Transport
wasnt interested in exploring any
compromise or alternative.
Surely if we can nd room for
17 road lanes yes 17! then we
can nd room for six trees, with
all their beauty, history shade, andwelcome relief from the acres of
asphalt.
It looks like this disagreement
might go all the way to the
environment court a slow and
expensive process.
My hope is that Auckland
Transport can show some late
exibility, and a willingness to
work with others. A better design
will give Aucklanders the roads we
need without sacricing the historic
Pohutukawa trees that are after all,
the emblem of Auckland City.
Phil GoffLabour MP
Recalling Gandhis leadership, courage and intergrity
It was good to celebrate IndiaRepublic Day on 26 January and itssignicance for Indian communities
around the world. Sixty ve years
ago India completed its transition to
becoming an independent republic
and adopted its new constitution.
Symbolically this occurred on the
same day and month on which,
twenty years earlier, the Indian
National Congress proclaimed its
Declaration of Indian Independence.
Indias Republic Day is a
day to look back on with pride
and acknowledge those who
contributed to the struggle to achieve
independence.
In particular we remember
Mahatma Gandhi for his inspirational
leadership, courage and integrity. He
set an example for the world through
his commitment to non-violent social
activism and social justice for all.
India Republic Day is also a day
to recognise and celebrate Indias
place and role as the worlds largest
democracy. We properly recognise
the tenacity and commitment
of Indians in preserving their
democratic heritage and the human
rights it guarantees when so many
other countries around it have often
succumbed to military coups.
This year India celebrates its
Republic Day with a new Government
and hope that there will be economic
transformation to improve the life of
all its people. India has the worlds
tenth largest economy by GDP.
Early reform by Manmohan Singh
as Prime Minister of the Congress
party contributed to high growth but
in the term of the Congress Party
Government the momentum seemed
to be lost. In particular there was a
widespread recognition of the need
to nd fresh answers to problems of
poverty, corruption and economic
underperformance.
I hope that the new Government
under Narendra Modi considers
advancing negotiations on the free
trade agreement with New Zealand as
part of the reforms needed to promote
Indias economic development.
New Zealands technology and
services, particularly in the agri-
technology area can help Indias
productivity. New Zealands high
quality food products, freed from
the burden of high taxes and tariff
imposed on imported products, can
also help India meet the demand for
high protein, safe and good quality
food which, as incomes improve, is
growing.
India has the worlds largest
population which consumes dairy
products and produces much more
milk than New Zealand. But its
technology and productivity are
low. New Zealand could help India
in this area. New Zealand is the
leading expert on animal husbandry
and technology associated with
dairy herds. It could also help with
technology and services in keeping
produce fresh India suffers a huge
40% loss of fresh produce spoiling
before it gets to market.
While Indian farmers with an
average herd size of two dont
want to compete directly with New
Zealand on dairy, there is room for
NZ to aim for the top of the market
and to complement local production
in helping meet growing demand.
New Zealands Free Trade
Agreement with China has worked
to the benet of both countries.
An agreement with India would
do the same as our two countries
have complementary economies
and much in common in terms of
language, heritage and commitment
to democracy.
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NEW ZEALAND
Auckland Council serving up exciting Youth Employment Pledge partners
Three of Aucklands leadinghospitality businesses andAuckland Council itself have signed
pledges to further advance the
councils targeted effort to help the
citys 23,000 unemployed young
Aucklanders.
A pledge signing event hosted
by Mayor Len Brown saw
InterContinental Hotels Group,
SKYCITY Entertainment Group,
Hilton Auckland and Auckland
Council make a commitment to
tackle their citys youth employment
issue head-on. The signing formally
recognised and acknowledged the
employers collaborative efforts
to date to improve employment
opportunities, as well as those that
will be made in the future.
Len Brown said he was very
encouraged by Aucklands major
employers stepping up to sign up.
Pledge partners are attracted
by the opportunities the council
initiatives such as Youth Connections
provide to overcome the barriers to
youth employment and develop ways
to equip the next generation with the
right skills.
Auckland Council has 16
graduates entering the second year
of their programme with a further
41 starting next month, 22 summer
interns, 11 cadets who joined the
organisation in October last year
and a further 30 places available
this year. More Youth Employment
Pledge partners are in the pipeline
and council has set a target of 50 by
the end of June this year.
As part of the councils youth
employment work two
youth employment
summits have been
held with a third,
JobFest15, taking place
on February 21 at MIT.
JobFest15 is expected
to attract 1000 work
ready young people and
50 businesses with jobs
to offer.
MAYORALDRIVENews from the Counci l
Mayor Len Brown at the youth employment pledge signing with ATEEDsGeneral Manager Economic Growth Patrick McVeigh and Auckland Councilcadet Antonio Taulutoa.
Home growntalent headlines175th festivities
Afree, family friendly concert atBarry Curtis Park on WaitangiDay, produced by Auckland Council in
par tnersh ip with Toi o Manukau, will
mark the 175th anniversary of the signing
of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Wellington based reggae
group Tomorrow People headlines
a strong line-up that includes AnnieCrummer, Moana and the Tribe, Tama
Waipara and Whenua Patuwai. Comedian
Mike King will host the event.
Mayor Len Brown says, February
6th this year is particularly significant,
marking the 175th anniversary of the
signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The day-long free event offers
Aucklanders and their families, a
destination to gather and have fun through
sharing music, crafts, entertainment and
food.
The concert, the regions largest
Waitangi Day event, begins at 10am with
a mihi whakatau - ceremonial welcome
- and kapa haka performance fromManurewa Marae, Te Tai Tonga.
South Auckland all girl group
Soul 7, kick off the live stage show
at 11am followed by Moana and the Tribe.
New to t he e ven t th is y ear is Auckla nd
Museums popular summer childrens
progra mme, Tma ki Tal es.
Youngsters can listen to stories, design
a street flag, weave a tututuku, handle
Taonga Puoro and watch master carvers
work on a variety of commissioned
piec es.
On show also, nine replicas of the
original signing sheets of the Treaty of
Waitangi.
The day is focused on providing asafe, zero waste, alcohol and smoke-free
experience, encouraging Aucklanders to
make the most of the fantastic free local
music acts whilst learning more about
our unique history in a relaxed whnau
friendly setting.
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NEW ZEALAND
Editorial
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland
Printed at Guardian Print, Ashburton
Copyright 2014. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Indian Weekender Volume 6 Issue 26
Publisher:Kiwi Media Group Limited
Managing Editor:Giri Gupta | [email protected]
Editor: Maya Shivam | [email protected]
Associate Editor: Paula Ray | [email protected]
Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | [email protected]
Reporter: Rizwan Mohammed | [email protected]
Chief Technical Ofcer: Rohan Desouza | [email protected]
Graphic and Layout Design:Yashmin Chand | designer@ indianweekender.co.nz
Advertising & Business Development Manager:
Gaurav Gupta -M: 021 292 4519 | [email protected]
Sales & Marketing Manager: Leena M: 022 0151971 | [email protected] and Admin.: Farah Khan | [email protected] expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisheris not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication
- Kim Garst
StokedPronounced: Stoked
Very pleased or excited,
Usage: I was stoked to win the race!
A tribute to R K Laxman
Pick of the week
TIP from The TreNCheS
If you have ever had to give eye dropsto a small child, you know how hard it
can be. Ask your child to lay down andcloser his/her eyes. Place a small dropon the inside corner of the eye. Thedrop will slip onto the eye ball as soonas the child opens his/her eyes.
Wing Commander Pooja Thakur walked US President Barack Obama for the inspection ofthe tri-service Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Jan 25th. Thiscame as Nari Shakti (woman power) was the theme for the Republic Day parade this year.
If you dont value your time, neither wil l others.Stop giv ing away your t ime and talents. Value
what you know and start charging for i t.From the desk of theManaging Editor
OOn behalf of the entire team at Indian Weekender, I wish to extend my heartiest greetingsto all Indians on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day. This year the Republic Day hasbeen a milestone with many rsts.
The world seemed to have stopped to watch as India created history with the President of
United States attending the Republic Day celebration for the rst time, this also being the rst
time that the President of the United States has visited India twice during his term in ofce.
Incidentally it was also the rst time that the US President broke his security protocol and
stayed out in the open for so long, as he watched the celebrations.
The turnout at Rajpath was massive, in spite of the drizzle. The crowd cheered their beloved
leader as Modi arrived and the cheering continued as President Obama arrived in the Beast.
The celebration itself was unparalleled, with India displaying its best and its mightiest.
As contingents proceeded down Rajpath one could not help but be proud of the upward path
that India is currently on. As usual, the daredevils took everyones breath away and the y-
past by out ghter aircrafts seemed to get the attention of the crowds, in spite of the weather
conditions. The all women contingents were the star attraction and were a rst.
Indeed it was a time of great excitement as we all watched the chemistry between Modi and
Obama unfold over the three-day visit. In this issue we bring you the big and small stories of
the Republic Day celebrations and the big and small events around Obamas India visit. This
visit saw many highlights: while on the one hand there seemed almost a sense of urgency in
the US wanting to partner with India on various levels, on the other hand there were many light
and memorable moments that these three days brought. We have tried to cover a lot of these
stories and yet due to space constraints there were some that we have saved for the next issue.
So it wasnt only Indias power play that made the world stop in its tracks. It is also this
new-found friendship with the United States that the world is stopping to note. The two super
powers are indeed emerging as natural partners.
Amidst all this fanfare and excitement, the nation sadly bid farewell to the much-loved
common man. RK Laxman was a legend and we bring you a tribute to his genius, in this
issue.
We are also starting a new column, in this issue, to encourage a healthy discussion on whowe call ethnic and why. We would like to hear the thoughts of our readers. Do write back to us.
It is indeed heartening to note that Indias Republic Day was celebrated with enthusiasm
and fanfare even in New Zealand. We bring you snippets of the biggest ever celebration held
under the very dynamic and energetic Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Ravi
Thapar at Wellington. This was attended by many diplomats, community leaders and also the
High Commissioner of the United States to New Zealand.
It goes to the credit of the citizens of a Country when the whole world joins them to
celebrate their democracy. With India emerging as a new power not just in terms of being the
largest democracy in the world but also because of its growth rate and development in various
other areas under a capable and efcient leadership.
Lets take a moment to be proud of the country and dedicate ourselves to our own growth
and development. Lets do this for our own sake and for the sake of our country. I would like
to end with the words from John F. Kennedy ask not what your country can do for you, ask
what you can do for your country.
Vande Mataram! Jai Hind!
Giri Gupta
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OPINION / EDITORIAL
Is race dependent onspace? Paula Ray
Global cities around the world boast of thediverse ethnicities they support. In fact,displaying the diversity often turns into an
obscene game for going global. More on this
later; rst let us try to understand: what does the
word ethnic actually mean?
Ethnic can be understood as a sub-group
of people within a larger population who
share common cultural traditions, customs
and even descent. As such, the people of a
nation comprises of one dominant community
and several other ethnic communities.
It would not be wrong to presume that
overlapping customs and traditions of
diverse ethnic groups help the sub-groups
to coalesce and collectively they form thecomplex whole.
In this sense, several ethnic groups
make up the population of a city, say, like
Auckland which has an enviable mix of
peop le who are Chinese , Kore an, Ind ian,
Arabic, Spanish, and more.
It is the composition of these ethnic
groups that make some cities of NewZealand more diverse than the others.
While Wellington has a presumably higher
south Asian population, Auckland has more
number of east and south-east Asian people.
But as an immigrant-friendly nation, the
New Zeal and gove rnment trie s to look aft er
the needs of each and every community,
by way of cele bra ting var ious cult ura l
festivities unique to them through the year.
The Office of Ethnic Affairs, as the
government department is labelled, identifies
each matawaka or ethnic group by its
peoples cult ura l valu es, cus toms, beli efs ,
languages, traditions and characteristics
that differ from the wider society. The
celebration of these people through theircustoms and traditions has become part of
the Governments affairs.
This does not come as a surprise.
As the Office rightly says: a quarter of
New Zealanders were born overseas.
Accommodating and addressing their
diverse interests make the country one of the
most ethnically diverse nations at the OECD
(Organisation for Economic and Cooperative
Development).
In this sense, diversity adds to the
economic, social and cultural development
of the nation.
The fact that the government has
demarcated a separate office or cell for suchactivities goes to prove the proactivity of the
governing body in safeguarding the interest
of the diverse people. But then, at the same
time, does it not segregate the society by
identifying the differences of the sub-groups
within the wider population?
Being a predominantly immigrant nation,
how does New Zealand government identify
who is not an ethnic community? Yes, the
Office of Ethnic Affairs does say that the
ethnic groups are not part of the dominant
group within the nations population. But
then, the dominant British population is also
a migrant group of people whose numbers
have only multiplied over the years.Does the standing of a race depend on the
physica l sp ace they occu py? What abou t th e
native inhabitants of the land? Are they part
of the dominant group or do belong to yet
another ethnic sub-group? Lets find out in
our next round of ethnic-babble!
Obama visit paves way for new era inIndia-US ties Arun Kumar
U
S President Barack Obamas historic visit
to be the chief guest at Indias Republic
Day celebrations turned out to be much more
than symbolic as it helped cut the nuclear knot
and paved the way for a new era in India-US
relations.
US Deputy National Security Advisor
Ben Rhodes believes the signal that is being
sent from Obama and Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to their respective governments
is going to catalyse a lot of activity.
It also sends a message to the world, I
think, that the US and India are going to be
closer partners going forward, he told US
reporters accompanying President Obama at a
brieng in New Delhi.
And thats entirely consistent with the
presidents focus on the Asia-Pacic region
and building closer relations with emerging
powers, particularly the worlds largest
democracy here in India, he said.
Recognising the importance of their
deepening economic and commercial ties,
India and the US also decided to expand their
annual strategic dialogue into a US-India
Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.
The last two days have demonstrated that
over the years India and the United States
have systematically forged an indispensable
partnership , as US Commerce Secretary
Penny Pritzker put it.
Pritzker, who would now jointly lead the
expanded dialogue with Secretary of State John
Kerry, said the developments were indicative
of a new day in the commercial relationshipbetween India and the United States.
The talks in New Delhi may not have led to
setting up goals for reducing carbon emissions,
but John Podesta, counsellor to the president,
was upbeat about Modis aggressive
programme to produce clean and renewable
energy.
Our ability to partner with India to
help produce 100 gigawatts of solar power
betwe en now and 2022, is part of a shif t
across the globe towards cleaner forms of
energy, he said and it is being done in
conjunction with tackling the problem of
climate change.Obama and Modi had turned a corner for
the United States and India, by resolving
issues in a long-stalled nuclear deal that for
years kept US nuclear power companies from
doing business in India, noted Alyssa Ayres,
senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South
Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Ayres, a former US deputy assistant
secretary of state for South Asia, suggested
that the US should now aim for bigger
economic plans with India by backing Indias
membership of Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation body.
Obama, coming out of this symbolic andimportant visit to India, should demonstrate
that Washington will do its part for Indias
future by integrating India into economic
regimes focused on delivering growth, she
wrote in a commentary in Fortune. Influential
Politico magazine, noting that the US and
India were getting serious about nuclear
trade, wondered if it was a New era for
US-India relations.
Christian Science Monitor too saw signs
of a changing US-India relationship amid
the pomp on Delhis Rajpath noting that
a trip to New Delhi designed to mend old
differences had kicked off with a nucleardeal.
But the influential New York Times
summed it up saying Obamas acceptance
of Modis invitation this year was seen in
New Delhi as a gr eat t ribu te to Indi a, a sign
of the countrys arrival on the world stage.
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FIJI
NEWS inBRIEF
FNPF sells shares for a
whopping $17mThe Fiji National Provident Fund Investment Ltd sold its 51 per cent stake inPenina Ltd for $17 million to Tappoo Holdings Ltd. The chairman of FNPFmentioned that the initial investments of FNPF Investments Ltd. Of $5.6 million was
established in 2006 that comprised land and cash contributions.
The shares of Penina Ltd, the owner of the Tappoo City Complex in Suva has
shown gains of more than $11 million or in other words 1204 per cent. Penina Ltd
declared and paid the dividends to two of its shareholders of $1.9 million before the
settlement took place.
Tappoo Holdings Ltd will take over the responsibility for the $37m loan liability
that Penina Ltd has with a commercial bank, Mr Kodagoda said. The sale achieved
an amicable solution for both parties and the divestment is the best possible outcome
for the fund both commercially and in terms of long-term investment strategy.
He also mentioned that the investments in Penina Ltd were made prior to the
appointments of the present board members, and the decision to add fund ensured
that the sales provided good results.
Tappoo Group Chairman Kanti Tappoo added that acquisition and investment of
such a magnitude posed a huge challenge for the investors and they had to be looked
on a long-term basis. The proceeds from this sale are expected to be invested in
other FNPF projects that are in the pipeline. The chairman further added that they
had invested carefully in their multi-storey departmental store and food court at the
Tappoo City Complex.
Education to get a boost
The Ministry of Education of Fiji has decided to offer 100 enthusiastic couplesa salary increment to move out to the less provisional rural and maritime areaswith a goal to improve the standard of education there.
The Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy mentioned that he had a meeting
arranged with his staff members to search 100 willing couple explaining that have
to take the challenge to manage and fix major educational issues in the rural areas.
Ive asked for a list of 100 couples who are willing to go into rural and maritime
areas and we will talk with them first, because we want to know that they dont havea babysitting issues or parents to look after, Dr Reddy said.
And for them we will give them an increment. Well tell them well look after
you, after three years we will promote you, but go there and change these schools.
The list of willing couples is expected to be ready in a months time and the
teachers will be deployed in another two months. Mr Reddy also mentioned that the
structures in these schools in the rural areas will also need to be renovated because
the wooden structures are almost 40 years old and bear a risk to crumbling to the
ground.
He also explained that the schools in the rural and maritime areas can get potential
technological assistance via donations from business enterprises to the Education
Ministry. Weve got a donation of 5000 tablets from India and we will distribute
those to maritime and interior schools where we dont have proper facilities. He
added.
FNPF increase employerscontribution
The Fiji National Provident Fund has asked the employers to pay 10 per cent as amandatory contribution towards their employees retirement plans. The currentannouncement has been followed by governments 2015 Budget Plans, an increase of
25 per cent from the previous 8 per cent mandatory employers contributions.
This move by the government has been taken in order to boost the savings for
the members and increase their income statement at retirement. This change in
regulation is effective January 1st 2015 and all the employers need to comply as
soon as possible.
The maximum amount of contribution is 30 per cent from a compulsory member.
Therefore, 10 per cent will be paid by the employers, 8 per cent by the employees
and 12 percent of additional and/or excess contributions. The excess contributions
are paid my some employers as a part of their employees benefits paid above
mandatory employer contribution.
FNPF chief executive, Aisake Taito said allowing members to pay additionalcontributions towards their FNPF means that members can save more for retirement.
Our core area of business, again this could not be emphasised enough is to ensure
that members have a decent income to live comfortably at retirement.
The Fund therefore will continue to explore opportunities to secure the future
for our members, Mr Taito said
Indian Republic Day
celebrations in Fiji
Indian community in Fiji celebrate Indias66th Republic Day hailed by Indian HighCommissioner. At the residence of the Indian
High commissioner in Tamavua, Suva, around
100 members of the Indian community gathered
to commemorate the day.
Its a very big moment when we celebrate
Republic Day away from home and Fiji is also
home for us in other ways so we had the ag
hoisting in the morning and the amazing thing
is, this is perhaps the rst place in the world
where the Indian ag in unfold as part of the
celebration of Republic Day so Fiji is the rst
in the world to celebrate the day, mentioned
Indian High Commissioner Gitesh Sharma.
India gained its independence on August
15, 1947 however the constitution came into
existence on January 26, 1950, he added, and
that is why they had always celebrated this
day in January. So as of that day we became
masters of our own destiny. We became a truly
democratic nation and as we say we are the
worlds largest democracy, he said.
One of the things that you will nd is that
we have Indian communities all over the world,
our general message to them is to integrate and
contribute to society where ever they are.
We say that people here are connected with
India and we are happy that they are with us
and we celebrate the fact that they have been
very good Fijians citizens who also love their
own country.
This ceremony was later celebrated at the
Grand Pacic Hotel in Suva which was graced
by the presence of Prime Minister Voreqe
Bainimarama.
It is an extreme honour that Mr
Bainimarama is with us today on our Republic
Day celebration, Mr. Sharma said.
Mr Bainimarama was among Members of
Parliament, and Diplomatic Corps who were
present. The President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau
was unavailable for the ceremony since he was
out of town.
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NAMOSTE OBAMA
India, US achieve breakthrough in civil
n-deal implementationIndia and the US Sunday (25 Jan)announced the much-anticipatedbreakthrough agreement on
commercial implementation of their
landmark civil nuclear deal, six years
after it was signed, and also entered a
new strategic phase of co-production
of some defence projects, as Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
visiting US President Barack Obama
held talks marked by much warmth
and camaraderie.
Both Obama and Modi announced
that the breakthrough had been
arrived at in the civil nuclear deal
- which ended decades of Indias
nuclear isolation because of its refusal
to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty (NPT) - during the joint press
interaction after a marathon over
three-hour talks at the Hyderabad
House which was referred to as Chai
Pe Charcha.
Modi said in his speech: I am
pleased that six years after we
signed our bilateral agreement, we
are moving towards commercial
cooperation, consistent with our law,
our international legal obligations,
and technical and commercial
viability.
Obama, describing it as a
breakthrough understanding, said
the two leaders agreed to advance
our civil nuclear cooperation and we
are committed to moving toward full
implementation.
It is an important step and shows
us how we can work together to
elevate our relationship.
The deal is done... We have
broken the logjam of the past few
years, said Foreign Secretary
Sujatha Singh, brieng newspersons
later.
She acknowledged that the
political leadership played key role
in pushing forward the agreement.
In the eld of defence, the two
sides renewed the 10-year Defence
Framework Agreement and the
Defence Trade and Technology
Initiative (DTTI).
The new framework is to enhance
the bilateral defence partnership
with more intensive joint military
exercises and maritime security
efforts among others.
Under the DTTI, which is for
co-production, both have agreed on
four projects, including the Raven
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and
the roll-on, roll-off intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance
module for the Lockheed Martin-
manufactured C-130 J transport
aircraft, Sujatha Singh said.
Both sides are also to form a
working group to explore technology
for aircraft carriers and also share the
design of jet engine technology.
Modi, in his opening address
in English at the press interaction,
said both have decided to take our
growing defence cooperation to a
new level.
In the eld of energy, Obama
expressed interest in participating
in Indias 100 gigawatt solar energy
project.
Both sides also resumed talks on
the bilateral investment treaty and on
a totalisation agreement.Continued on Pg 20
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NAMOSTE OBAMA
Michelle arrives in Indo-American designers creation
US First Lady MichelleObama landed in India lastweek looking chic in an ensemble
designed by India-born BibhuMohapatra, who is based in New
York.
She had accompanied US
President Barack Obama on a
three-day state visit to India.
Michelle wore a geometric-
print black and white knee- length
dress with blue-oral motifs asshe emerged from the US Air
Force One jet with her husband.
She completed the outt with a
matching coat with the same motifs
and print and looked stunning in
the outt.
Mohapatra, who specialises
in womens luxury wear withdaywear and evening wear, shared
a photograph of the US First Lady
wearing his creation along with one
of his ramp shots.
The President and the
First Lady arrive in #india. @
michelleobama wearing @
bibhumohapat ra #spring15 poppy
print dress and coat @otusnews @
christyrillingstudio @cfda @vogue
@bergdorfs thank you #MK and @
johnnywright220 Xb, the design er
posted on Instagram.The power couple were
welcomed by Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi at the
VVIP terminal of the Indira Gandhi
International Airport, New Delhi.
A suit to suit his styleAclose look at Narendra Modisbandhgala suit that he wore fora joint appearance with US President
Barack Obama in New Delhi,
showed it was a customised marvel
- with the prime ministers full
name Narendra Damodardas Modi
written in pinstripes.
Modi wore the deep blue
bandhgala suit Sunday (25 Jan)
evening at Hyderabad House when he
stepped out for a Chai Pe Charcha
meet and a press conference with
Obama.
It would have passed off as a
regular ensemble that the Indian
leader aunts every now and then,
but zoomed images of the outt have
revealed another story altogether --
his name was intricately woven into
the fabric.
Fashion designers say the nesse
with which Modis name features in
the fabric requires special technique,
and that the fabric is most likely
hand-woven.
Its a very ne jacquard technique
of weaving. Its not embroidery,
and its cost would be dependent on
the bre and technique, designer
Samant Chauhan told media,
indicating that developing such a
fabric could cost anything between
Rs.80,000 up to Rs.500,000.
Designer Raakesh Agarvwal says
its daring on Modis part to wear it
for an important event.
The name was so intricately
woven that it looked like pinstripes. I
think its quite a daring choice... This
personalised textile is the in thing.
From (international brands)
Burberry to Hermes, all are doing it,
Agarvwal told media.
Another designer, Gautam Gupta
is sure that the fabric is not machine
made as the technique would not
have given it the nesse that the
material had. He also said that if the
outt was made in Italian wool, it
would be very expensive.
This is not the rst time a
leader has worn an ensemble
with his own name all over
it. Ousted Egyptian leader
Hosni Mubarak is also
said to have aunted a
similar suit back in 2011.
Since taking charge
as prime minister, Modi
has impressed the fashion
community and the common
man with his sartorial choices.
Whether it is with his well-tted
bandhgala suits, his half-sleeved
kurta and brightly coloured Nehru
jackets or his choice of an orange
shawl; Modis style statements have
always been eye-catching; so much
so that during the Obamas visit for
the countrys 66th Republic Day
celebrations, he stole the thunder
from the US First Lady as far as
fashion was concerned.
His pinstripe-with-his-name suit
has generated a lot of buzz on social
networking mediums.
Former actress Twinkle Khanna,
who calls herself @mrsfunnybones
on Twitter, posted: So wht if NaMo
wears a suit with his name on it?
Better than carrying bags with LV
LV all over (referring to fake Louis
Vuitton). Well if ur name is Lucky
Verma then maybe.
(From L- R) Michelle during her arrival to India; duringAt Home; R-Day parade at Rajpath; departure fromIndia.
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lModi, Obama unveil steps for new high tobusiness, trade tiesIndia-US business links wereset for a quantum jump withPrime Minister Narendra Modis
assurance of consistent policies
and welcoming environment
leading to US President Barack
Obama announcing steps to lead to
$4 billion trade with and investment
in India.
Over the next two years, our
Export Import Bank (EXIM)
will support $1 billion Made In
America goods exports to India.
Our Overseas Private Investment
Corporation will support lending
small and medium businesses
across India in more than $1 billion
in loans. And our US Trade and
Development Agency will invest
nearly $2 billion in renewable
energy in India, Obama said in his
address at the US-India Business
Summit in New Delhi Monday (26
Jan).
Listing out more steps, he
said the US was ready to help in
broadband connectivity and build
better roads .
We need to make sure that
economic growth in both India
and US is inclusive. Diaspora
investment initiative will aid
India, he said.
US exports to India is nearly 35
percent. Indian investments in our
country is growing as well. Those
Indian investments are supportingjobs across America . Our growing
trade relations are also a win for
India. Both Indian and US workers
are beneting from the ties,
Obama added.
Saying that there is a lot of
untapped trade potential, he
added: PM Modi agrees that there
is a lot of scope to improve the
trade relations. We have to focus
on making doing business easier in
both our countries.
In his address earlier, Modi
said the state should be driven by
policie s which should be consisten t
so as to draw more investments,while revealing US investments in
India jumped by 50 percent in the
rst six months of his government.
State should be policy-
driven. That will help investment.
Consistency is another very
important aspect that will bring
more investments in the country.
These things will address many
proble ms, he said .
He assures US business that they
will nd environment that is not
only open, but also welcoming.
It will make it easy to do
business; our immediat e target is
to bring us from the rear ranks of
the world into the top 50. You will
nd a tax regime that is pr edictable
and competitive. We have removed
some of the excesses of the past.
We will now soon address theremaining uncertainties.
Our goal is an economy where
skills, infrastructure and resources
will not be constraints to growth,
he said, adding heavy investments in
infrastructure and agriculture will
improve the economy.
Noting that in the world of
economics, numbers are often an
unforgiving mirror to performance,
Modi said: They are telling us
that we are on the right path. Our
economic growth has increased by
a percentage point.
Today, business sentiments
in India are the strongest amongmajor Asian markets. Consumer
condence in India has turned
positive afte r three yea rs.
Stressing the India-US
partnership will be vital for
prosperity at home and our
economic leadership abroad,
he held it will also help address
global challenges of our times.
Turning to President Obama,
Modi said that with his support,
quite simply, the joined hands of
India and the United States will
make this world a better place
for all. With your leadership, Mr.
President, and with the support ofour gifted people, we will turn our
commitments into concrete action.
The US-India Business
Council (USIBC) along with
Indias department of industrial
policy and promotion (DIPP) , the
Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) and the Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) organised the
summit.
Before this meeting, Modi,
speaking at the interactive India
US CEO Forum, highlighted
key priorities of his government
including improving Ease of
Doing Business, and the Make
in India initiative. He also added
it is extremely important to listen
to investors, as this helps speed up
decisions.
Reacting to the statements by
Modi and Obama, CII presidentAjay Shriram expressed hope that
the newly-announced US-India
Strategic and Commercial Dialogue
will convene soon to chart out
the path for enhanced bilateral
economic cooperation.
He also welcomed Modis
commitment to making the business
environment in India easier and
more predictable. In this regard,
he welcomed the new cell being
set up in the PMO to fast track US
investments in India.
It is these steps, he noted,
that will help step up the USs
engagement in the Indianeconomy.
They are telling usthat we are on the rightpath. Our economicgrowth has increasedby a percentagepoint. Today, businesssentiments in India arethe strongest amongmajor Asian markets.Consumer confidencein India has turnedpositive after threeyears
US can be Indias best partner: ObamaRecalling the historic addressof Swami Vivekananda, USPresident Barack Obama Tuesday
won over his audience by referring
to them as sisters and brothers of
India and said he rmly believes
America can be Indias best partner
and together the two nations can
bring more prosperity to their people.
In his final engagement in Ind ia,before flying to Riyadh and then
home, the US president addressed a
town hall-style meeting in Siri Fort
auditorium, where he said: India
and the US are not just natural
partners, I believe that America can
be Indias best partner, I believe
that.
Addressing an invited gathering
of young people, civil society and
diplomats, the US president reached
out to the audience with many
Hindi words like Namastey,
Dhanyavad and even some
references to Bollywood films,
which had the crowd ecstatic.
He said he was absolutelyconvinced that when both the
democracies stand together they can
produce more jobs, oppor tunities
and prosperity for their people. I
believe tha t, he said.
Recalling the historic address
of Swami Vivekananda, Obama
began his town hall meeting with
the invocation sisters and brothers
of India and talked about how
the philosopher-sage introduced
Hinduism and yoga to America in a
city that was his hometown.
He recalled Swami Vivekananda
and his famous speech in Chicago,
exactly 100 years ago, where he
addressed the gathering as sistersand brothers of America and
said he was going to address the
audience likewise.
Obama struck a personal chord
with the mainly youthful crowd,
saying he was very impressed with
Continued on Pg 23
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If the grandson ofa cook can becomepresident, and the teaseller can become the
prime minister, so canyoung people from thehumblest of origins dareto dream big and realisetheir aspirations,
the daredevilry of the motorcycle
contingent riding Royal Enfield
bikes and wished he could ride a
bike t oo.
But the Secret Service does not
let me ride motor cycles, he said,
and also remarked that he cannot
dance as well as his wife Michelle.
In a speech where he touched
on the need for India and the US to
work together on climate change,
on how the US can partner India
in its growth story, in defence
cooperation and becoming partners
in the security of the Asia-Pacific
region, the American president
also stressed on the need for
the government to uphold the
freedom of religion written in the
constitution of both the countries.
He also spoke of the civil
nuclear deal that both countries
are pushing ahead with, saying
it would help bring electricity to
homes in India and more clean
energy.
He said the US wants to partner
India in its infrastructure push,
building port s, bull et trains, smar t
cities and develop technology
that we do with closest allies and
also touched on cooperation in
tackling terrorism.
In the beginning, Neha Buch,
a young representative of Indian
NGO Prabha, introduced Obama
to the audience as a m