indian weekender 9 january 2015

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The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians Auckland Christchurch Wellington Hamilton Palmerston North Hastings Invercargill

9 January, 2015 Vol. 6 Issue 23 | www.iwk.co.nz

New Zealands frst Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper FREE COPY


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CONTENTS

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9 January 20153

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COVER STORY

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USHERING IN THE NEW YEARIts the New Year!! No matter how manytimes you say that making New Yearsresolutions is clich.so yesterday..I so

dont do them.yet, each one of us tends

to want to make a fresh start each year. The

reason is simple all of us want to improve on

the life we are living and hence the new year

becomes a time to reect, to take stock and

to try to create a better version of ourselves.However, inspite of it all only a few days

later we nd ourselves having settled back into

old habits and old routines. This is perhaps

why we constantly nd ourselves settling for

less.

A wise person once said If you always do

what youve always done, then youll always

get what youve always got. So heres a list of

New Years resolutions that you can keep and

must consider

Let Go (of all that does not serve you

anymore) This can be a hard one but a

great starting point and is often what drags

us down. So take stock and let go.

Raise your standards (but stay realistic)

While its important to keep moving ahead,

its important to learn that even small steps

forward take you closer to your goal.

Accept that you are imperfect but you are

enough. Its important to embrace your

shortcomings and imperfections, no one is

perfect but its important to love who you

are and like someone said no one can be

your than you!

Know your cheer leaders and support

group. Expect that in your climb to the

top you will falter or fall its important

to know the people who will cheer you

on even when that happens. People who

believe in you even in times that you are

unsure of yourself.

Let love be your guiding light. Its true that

love makes the world go round. Make

sure that no matter what you do or who you

are with -you stay grounded in love.

Stay present dont rush. Often in our rush

to get ahead, we fail to appreciate the Now.

And yet the two things that you have no

control over are yesterday and tomorrow,

so lets live in the present moment.

Practice gratitude. Be grateful for whatever

you have and also for whatever you dont.

The universe has a funny way of delivering

to you what you are grateful for.

Believe in miracles. Its only when you

believe, you receive. If they can happen to

others- they can happen to you so believe

and keep the faith.

Love the person in the mirror. Buddha said

love and compassion are not complete

unless they include yourself. So love

the person you see in the mirror and be

compassionate. Remember to not be too

hard on yourself.

Live Remember that you were born to

be happy so live, count your blessings,

savour your life and cherish those around

you for life is the biggest treasure of all.

Indian Weekender caught up with a few

people and asked

What do you look forward to in 2015??

Hrilina Sabharwal

I am looking forward to

developing a hobby and engaging

myself in outdoor activities in

2015.

Shamika Pujara

In the new year 2015, Ive decided

not to quit smoking or drinking

because nobody likes a quitter.

Rachna Vijan

In 2015, I want to seek guidance

from the universe, have faith and

listen to the universe.

Sandeep Batra

2014 has been a good year for

my family as well as business.

Everyone has ups and downs and

I also had many. But for 2015 I am

trying to move with a positive outlook. I am

planning my schedule in advance, like for a

month or so. I just hope that I could follow it

too. I have been quite busy in my business last

year, but this year I want to maintain a balance

between my family and work life.

Vikram Thakur

Last year was full of struggles and

hard work. Thank god it passed and

I hope this year doesnt go the same

way. I just came 10 months back

and from then I have been struggling to settle

down with the work environment here. For this

year I just hope that I and my wife settle down

properly and our life takes a good start again. I

wish everyone a very Happy New Year.

Debbie Sharma: In 2015 I am

looking forward to keeping things

simple, living in the present as life

is uncertain.


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COVER STORY

ALL THATLL JAZZ UP THE YEAR!The only time you should ever look back, is to see how far youve come. In keepingwith this spirit let us look at some pointers that made us proud in 2014, and list somemore to look forward to in 2015

Paula Ray

THE YEAR THAT WAS:

Our beloved New Zealand won many an

accolade in 2014. According to the HSBC Expat

Explorer Survey, New Zealand was declared

the topmost country to raise children. What

helps is the fact that according to Transparency

International, New Zealand is also the country

with the lowest level of perceived corruption in

the public sector.

Couple these qualities with another well-

known, yet no less amazing, fact: the Telegraph

Travel Awards conducted a worldwide survey,

the biggest of its kind with more than 90,000

people voting their favourite travel destination.

And, New Zealand was named the worlds best

country.

In the wake of these statistics, Prime Minister

John Key had commented: We believe one the

real strengths of the tourism experience in New

Zealand is that it lives up to the hype. Too often

people go to a destination where ultimately it

is never as good as the brochure, whereas in

New Zealand we think people come and get an

experience that is better than the brochure.

Key has himself lived up to the hype since the

National Partys third victory in a row, giving

the national economy a much-needed stability.

It was in 2014 that New Zealand became the

21st country to participate in the G20 summit

and the country has also taken steps to build up

trade relationships with China, South Korea as

well as India comprising that part of the globe

from where the highest number of immigrants

comes to NZ.

On a lighter note, names like Bruno Mars,

Lionel Richie, Michael Buble, Miley Cyrus,

Justin Timberlake, Lorde, Mariah Carey and

Katie Perry have graced the land with their

performances. The subsequent hype generated

by their concerts has been equally astounding.

THE YEAR THAT IS:

The year 2015 has denitely begun with

a bang. Firstly, the weather has changed

signicantly in the last week of December.

Those of us, who were complaining about a

non-existent summer in New Zealand, have

denitely retracted their statements. Summer is

here and it is denitely here to stay for the next

few weeks.

In fact, there is more reason to head to

the beach. If we go by the nancial pundits,

the NZ dollar is gaining in strength quite

unprecedentedly this year.

Continued on Pg 5


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COVER STORY

SUBWAY Franchise for Sale in Auckland CBD

Motivated Vendor wantsquick sale.

Asking price $180,000 + StockCMB 44741

NZ$ soars higher than ever:

Stuff.co.nz reports that New Zealand dollar

has hit its highest level against its Aussie

counterpart since December 1983. At 95.73

AUD, by the end of 2015 the Kiwi currency

might achieve parity with its neighbour for

the rst time since the Australian dollar was

oated by then-treasurer Paul Keating.

This phenomenon has not only reinstated the

trust of the people on the current government,

but investors and traders are gaining condence

to plan their investments. If the economy

continues at this pace, brighter days are

denitely ahead.

Better to be safe than sorry:

One of the most unfortunate incidents

towards the end of last year the Sydney siege

has somehow woken us up to the uncertainties

of life and made us aware of our safety rights.

Perhaps that can be considered one of the

reasons why the anti-terrorism bill has gained

condence of political leaders lately.

Since its last reading by 94 votes to 27,

the opposing political party members at the

Parliament have realised that the fear is real. If

it can happen three hours away, it can happen

to us too. So the measures suggested by the

government are gradually gaining support and

hopefully, we will have stronger anti-terrorism

laws by the end of this year.

Swing it like Sachin:

Come February and the world will focus its

lenses on the antipodes. The 2015 ICC Cricket

World Cup, the 11th ICC Cricket World Cup,

is scheduled to be jointly hosted by Australia and

New Zealand from 14th February to 29th March.

A total of 49 matches will be played at 14 venues

with Australia staging 26 matches at its famous

grounds in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra,

Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. New

Zealand will host the balance of 23 matches in

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton,

Napier, Nelson and Wellington.

The nal will be played at the Melbourne

Cricket Ground. One

Continued from Pg 4

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COVER STORY

*Tickets subject to availability. Conditions apply. A one-off service/delivery fee per transaction and credit/debit card processing fee applies.

Tickets on sale now atcricketworldcup.com

ADULTS FROM , CHILDREN FROM *Coming to New Zealand & Australia February - March

cwc

of the worlds largest international sports

tournaments, there will be 14 competing teams

and more than 400 accredited players and

ofcials taking part in it.

The promotions and run-up to the tournament

is one of those highlights that will grab many

an eyeball and will be a treat to look forward

to this year. The participating teams include:

England, South Africa, India, Australia, Sri

Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, New

Zelaland, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Afghanistan,

Scotland and United Arab Emirates. The teams

will draw cricket fans from all corners of the

globe, marking a busy period in tourism.

Laugh out loud:

The Canadian number one stand-up

comedian, Russell Peters, will be in Auckland

in mid-March as part of his Almost Famous

World Tour. It will feature Peters latest take on

some of his favourite communities, jobs he can

understand, cell phones, dating and his uncle

whos never been punched in the mouth, plus

Peters signature lightening fast improvisation

with the audience.

If you are lacking a reason to smile, this

could well be that opportunity to exercise the

curvy muscles and pick up a few one-liners on

the Kiwis. Who knows!

In reel-time:

Last, but not the least, is our attraction to

the silver screen. What will keep us glued to

the screen this year includes the reel version of

Fifty shades of grey. Even if the book hasnt

caught your attention, there is a chance that the

lm might. Perhaps because it is easier to sit

through a lm, than sift through the pages of a

pulp ction.

Other titles to look forward to include The

Boy Next-door starring JLo; Focus starring

Will Smith; Avengers Age of Ultron starring

Robert Downey Jr; Black Mars starring

Johnny Depp; and Mission Impossible 5

starring Tom Cruise.

If Hollywood is not your thing, try catching

Bollywood releases like Anurag Kashyaps

Bombay Velvet; Big B starrer Shamitabh;

Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer

Bajrangi Bhaijaan; Ranbir Kapoor and

Katrina Kaif starrer Jugga Jasoos; Sanjay

Leela Bhansalis Bajirao Mastani; and the

much, much awaited Detective Byomkesh

Bakshy by Dibakar Banerjee.

Continued from Pg 5


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SPECIAL FEATURE

The journey from the heartto the mind Maya Shivam

In early December the Indian Weekender had published a story on how the big Christchurchearthquake had driven Team IWK to look to be able to contribute to the after effects of the quakein a manner that the contribution is ongoing and it grows over time. This journey had taken us

to New Delhi where the team visited the Jai Prakash Narayan Trauma Centre and this initiated a

dialogue between the visionaries of three countries New Zealand, India and the United States. Wealso had introduces some specialists who are to be involved in the proposed project.

Taking the story further we now have Dr. Sagar Galwankar, MBBS, DNB, FACEE (INDIA),

MPH. Diplomat. ABEM (USA) Chief Executive Ofcer of the INDO-US Emergency and Trauma

Collaborative,Faculty of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, USA, Chairman

of the Academic College of Emergency Experts in India who has written to the Indian Weekender.

Building a Kiwi-Indo-USA partnership in healthsciences and technology: The gateway to growth!

Building positive partnerships is the corefoundation of progress! This is a factwhich is not only known but also successfully

tested. Health Research, Health Education and

HealthCare are key areas where science and

technology nds a major foot hold for its sheer

existence. Today the major challenge to any

nation is the health of its citizen. The health

indicators steer the economy and its growth

be it the most developed economy or the

economies in transition. No nation is immune

from potential for diseases, disorders, natural

disasters and developing strategies to tackle the

challenges.It is these challenges which are the window

of opportunities wherein if partnerships are

built between Institutions, Individuals and

nations then a positive progress can be made

in bettering the health of the citizens and thus

improving the global health at large.

Recently there has been a tremendous focus

on building partnerships between nations with

emerging economies. The KIWI partnership

is one such important partnership which is yet

to be capitalized for bettering the health of the

world.

The success of the existing partnership

between India and the United States in the eld

of Emergency and Trauma Medical Sciences

(INDUSEM) has resulted in exponential

growth of Emergency and Trauma - Research,Education and HealthCare in India. A decade

INDUSEM has facilitated policy and growth

of Trauma Centers, A strong Disaster Response

system, a single emergency telephone number

and landmark research and innovations done in

the eld of Emergency Medicine and Trauma.

Today the results of these innovations is saving

lives in India and modifying health policy for

progressive growth. INDUSEM has cemented

better relations between India and the United

States building on collaborations between

Individuals, Institutions and various agencies

of the Governments of United States and India.

Recently Visionary leaders from New

Zealand (Indian Weekender) met up with

Leaders of INDUSEM and also had detailed

discussions with the Science and Technology

Minister of India Dr. Harsha Vardhan. It was

decided that a conscious effort be made to

develop the KIWI partnership with INDUSEM.

Exchange of Knowledge, Joint Researchand Education Opportunities, Collaborations

between Physician Leaders, partnerships

between Health Institutions will be the

fundamental to bringing the KIWI partnership

to INDUSEM initiative.

Health Development is one of the most

vibrant economic aspects which no nation

can ignore. By bringing the perspectives and

potentials of New Zealand to the world stage,

joint education undertakings, joint research

initiatives in Biotechnology, Nanotechnology

and key development initiatives in improving

health care by incorporating technology, can

open new doors for economic growth in New

Zealand.

The United States partnership with India

has catapulted the growth of ElectronicHealth Records, Nano Biotechnology for

diagnosing and treating patients with Infectious

Diseases, Heart Disorders and Cancer,

Sonography Sciences, Simulation Education,

Drug Development and HealthCare Systems

development.

Dr Sagar Galwankar

Continued on Pg 8


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SPECIAL FEATURE

The creation of Indias First Paper Less

Electronic Health Recording System in the

largest Medical Hospital and College the All

India Institute of Medical Sciences under the

leadership of Professor Dr. Deepak Aggarwal,

Building of the largest trauma emergency

care health system and training doctors across

India by leaders like Professor Dr. Sanjeev

Bhoi and Professor Dr. Aggarwal, patenting

the Nobel Prize potential technology of point

of care diagnostics in infectious diseases and

cancer by Professor Dr. Shyam Mohapatra

from USA are some of the key achievements

of the INDUSEM partnerships which have

directly impacted growth of industry and Nano

Biotechnology in India.

Recently the Government of the largest

state of India Uttar Pradesh launched the

Silicon Valley UP Government championed

SVADESH program focused on HealthCare

Investments in Education, Research and Care in

India by the USA Silicon Valley Partners. This

is considered the largest ever Foreign Direct

Investment project in India.

Keeping the above in perspective the

Government, Health Institutions, Research

Bodies in New Zealand should now be

looking keenly to join this initiative by Indian

Weekender in partnership with INDUSEM to

create similar opportunities in New Zealand.

Bringing the patented technologies from

United States to benet the health care system

in New Zealand and partnering with India

which produces over 30,000 English Speaking

Physicians and Health Scientists annually can

denitely impact the New Zealand Growth

Story.

Inviting the INDUSEM leaders and key

players in policy making New Zealand should

take the steps for partnership geared at positive

progress.

It is well known that Success is only

measured once there is success. The path to

success begins with creatively converting

challenges into opportunities.

Collaboration is the key step on the path of

success!

Indian Professor isinducted to FloridaInventors Hall of Fame Indian Weekender Exclusive

S

hyam Mohapatra, PhD, a pioneer of

applied biomedical nanotechnology, was

among six inventors announced as the rst

inductees into the newly established Florida

Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. Mohapatra joins

Thomas Edison (1847-1931), the most prolic

inventor in U.S. history, and John Gorrie, MD

(1803-1855), the father of air conditioning

and refrigeration, as members of the Florida

Inventors Hall of Fames inaugural class. Other

2014 inductees are Robert Cade, MD (1927-

2007), a University of Florida professor who

developed the hydrating sports drink Gatorade;

William Glenn, PhD (1926-2013), a Florida

Atlantic University professor who invented the

high-denition camera for NASA; and Shin-

Tson Wu, PhD (1953- ), a University of Central

Florida professor whose liquid crystal research

has widely impacted display technology

worldwide.

Indian Weekender caught up with Dr

Mohapatra to bring its readers his prole. Dr.

Shyam S. Mohapatra is a distinguished health

professor, Associate Dean at the College of

Pharmacy, Vice Chair of Research for Internal

Medicine, Director of the Translational

Medicine-USF Nanomedicine Research

Center at the University of South Florida,

and a Research Career Scientist and Principle

Investigator at the James A. Haley VA Hospital

in Tampa, FL.

An accomplished scientist and researcher;

Dr. Mohapatra is recognized nationally, as

well as internationally for his expertise in the

eld of nanoscale biomedical diagnostics and

therapeutics in cancers, asthma, viral infections,and traumatic brain injury.

He has produced over 175 publications; both

books and in well-respected industry journals.

Dr. Mohapatra in a true innovator, and has to

his credit 22 U.S. patents, 3 foreign patents, and

numerous pending patent applications. He is

the Founder of Trans Genex Nanobiotech, Inc.

and serves as its Chairman of the Scientic

Advisory Board. Dr. Mohapatra is a Molecular

Biologist with more than 20 years of experience

in drug discovery for allergic diseases including

allergen and virally triggered asthma and has

developed proprietary positions for treatment

of respiratory diseases.

Continued from Pg 7

Continued on Pg 9


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SPECIAL FEATURE

Dr. Mohapatra holds several professional

afliations, which include a member of the

American Association for the Advancement

of Science (AAAS), the National Academy

of Inventors, the USF Academy of Inventors,

the Americana Thoracic Society, the American

Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

to name a few.

Dedicating his lifes work to science research

and education, Dr. Mohapatras academic

philosophy is, My passion for academia is

based on my personal belief that each student

has the potential to bring something unique

and special to the world. I believe in no

student left behind. Through education each

student must self-discover his/her potential.

Although a focused and committed scientist,

Dr. Mohapatra nds joy within the classroom,

and has held professional faculty appointments

at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg and

the University of South Florida. Currently,

he is also the Associate Dean of the Graduate

programs in the University Of South Florida

College Of Pharmacy. Under his leadership,

a graduate certicate program has already

been established and several other graduateprograms are well underway.

Well respected by his students and colleagues

alike, Dr. Mohapatra has served as a supervisor

for several graduate clinical and postdoctoral

fellows and as a peer reviewer for many

journals. Currently, he is the editor of several

journals, which include, but are not limited to,

Clinical Molecular Allergy, Genetic Vaccines

and Therapy (Editor-in-Chief), and Nature

Journals. Dr. Mohapatra is a highly sought after

speaker. He has to his credit numerous national

and international speaking invitations. He serves

as an expert in peer review panels of several

major national and international grant agencies,

including the National Institute of Health. His

current memberships include the UK Research

Council, the Singapore National Institute of

Health Research, the Israel Science Research

Foundation, and the Singapore National

Research Council. He has been a consultant

with and has performed collaborative and

contract research for numerous pharmaceutical

companies, and is on the scientic Advisory

Board of Herbogen, Inc., CA. He

has been involved in several

clinical trials.

Dr. Mohapatra has

received more than $20

million in extramural

funds including funds

from the National

Institutes of Health

(NIH), DOA, ONR,

VA Merit Review Award

and Florida Department of

Health. Mohapatra has had a

distinguished and well celebrated

career. He has been awarded numerous

honors and accolades, which include, but arenot limited to the Alexander von Humboldt

research fellowship (Germany) and Pharmacia

Allergy Research Foundation Award (Sweden).

He is also the recipient of numerous awards

in biotechnology, the Sigma XI award, TBTF

Technology Leadership Award and Global

Corporate Award in Nanotechnology in

2014. Dr. Mohapatra is a chartered fellow

(national Academy of Inventors-2013), VA

Career Scientist Award (James A Haley

Veterans Hospital-2007), Outstanding Faculty

Research Achievement Award (University of

South Florida - 2005), Outstanding Biotech

Achievement Award (University of South

Florida - 2005), Outstanding Faculty Research

Award Sigma Xi (University of South Florida -

2004), and, most became an inaugural inductee

into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame

(2014). Upon his induction, Dr. Mohapatra

was recognized for the following: He invented

intranasal gene transfer technology to help

combat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a

potentially lethal respiratory infection that

can severely affect infants, young

children and the elderly. Dr.

Mohapatras approach, to

elicit a local immune

response in the airways,

has the potential to

deliver genes and other

therapeutics, including

RNA, for a wide

range of respiratory

viruses. Dr. Mohapatras

invention of the oligo-

adenylate synthatase antiviral

technology involving a wellness

gene has been licensed to Kineta

Inc., of Seattle, WA, and the company plans toconduct a Phase I clinical trial in Europe this

year. This technology is being used to create

a vaccine/treatment against several RNA viral

diseases affecting billions of patients world-

wide, including hepatitis C, inuenza, RSV,

and dengue.

Research by Dr. Mohapatra leading to

a rapid HIV-detection kit that provides a

diagnosis in 20 seconds. Dr. Mohapatra and

Subhra Mohapatra, PhD, of the USF Health

Department of Molecular Medicine, invented

a nanoscale ber scaffold, which allows tumor

cells to replicate in a laboratory petri dish

more like tumors grow in the human body. In

addition to facilitating research using three-

dimensional tumors instead of two-dimensional

tumor cell cultures, the technology may help

address several hurdles in cancer therapeutics,

including more effective testing of tumor

response to anti-cancer drugs and screening

biopsied tumor tissue for personalized cancer

treatment. The work led to the development

of a proprietary Tumor-on-a-dish platform,

which TransGenex is commercializing.

Dr. Mohapatras holds his Ph.D. in

Genetics from Australian National University.

Additionally, Dr. Mohapatra holds an MBA in

International Business from the University of

South Florida. He is also a graduate of the USF

Health Leadership Institute. Dr. Mohapatra is

married to Dr. Subhra Mohapatra, Associate

Professor in the Department of Molecular

Medicine at the USF. They have one son,

Alexander Mohapatra who is currently pursuing

his MD/PhD at the University of California,

San Francisco. When hes not in the lab or in

the classroom, Dr. Mohapatra enjoys reading,

gardening, and tennis.

Indian Weekender congratulates thisinventor genius for his accomplishments. You

make us all proud Dr Mohapatra.

Continued from Pg 8

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NEW ZEALAND

Checked in, but checkedout alright!We want to voice what affectsus; we want to be heard. This isour platform to stand unitedagainst all odds

Paula Ray

We were at the Dunedin airport, on ourway back to Auckland, after attendinga conference on the theme: Space Race and

Bodies. One of the academics at the conference

presented a paper on racial proling at airport

security checks and the subsequent bodyfrisking. In fact, the academic of African

origin mentioned being subjected to the same

when she entered New Zealand just a couple

of days ago. This is a worldwide phenomenon,

experienced the moment the authorities realise

you are from a foreign land.

And we were discussing exactly this

particular paper as we made our way towards

security check at Dunedin airport. I was with

a couple of colleagues, both of local origin.

But, as expected, I was stopped at the security

check. It was because my denim pants have a

metal plate - the brand tag on the waist band. So

there I was standing with my hands up, asked

to turn and twist in different directions and lift

up my shirt several times so that the metal tagcould be examined.

What made me uncomfortable was the

scrutiny of a male pair of eyes in full public

view of a busy airport (security check was

being carried out for two ights at that time). If

you need to examine my clothes, I would rather

you do that in an enclosed space. Although I

doubt the other travellers had any interest in

what was going on, I felt conscious of theircasual glances in my direction.

By this time, my Kiwi colleagues had safely

moved on and made their way towards the

boarding gate.

I reiterate that this is not specic to Dunedin

or NZ, but is a worldwide phenomenon. While

being subjected to the mandatory security

check, the conference presenters entire paper

came back to me and made me wonder why is

it the way it is?

Is this an impact of xenophobia? Is it that I

was dressed incorrectly? Perhaps I should have

been careful about not wearing a pair of denims

that had a metal tag - lack of insight on my part.

Or that the airport staff do randomly pick up

travellers for inspection and I happen to be the

chosen one that day.

Whatever the rationale, there has to be

some form of standardisation. It should not

be so random that it ticks off all the boxes to

a stereotype. If at all, I told myself that at least

I dont have a name that would raise security

speculation.

In this column, I share my exp eriences thatwould perhaps be familiar to you too.If you can relate to them, please share yourthoughts or similar experiences with me

Ranchhod and Mishra named for QSM Swati Sharma

The Queens Service Medal (QSM) wasinstituted by New Zealand in 1975, atthe same time as the Queens Service Order

(QSO). The purpose of both the QSO and

the QSM is to recognise voluntary service to

the community and also elected or appointed

public ofce. Up to 60 awards of the QSM canbe made each year and recipients are entitled to

use the post-nominal letters QSM after their

names. Military personnel are not eligible to

be awarded the QSM for their military service,

however, community service performed in

a civilian capacity can be recognised by the

award of the QSM.

Each year the Honours list is announced

on the 1st of January and like every year, the

2015 list also boasts of the inclusion of names

of persons of Indian origin. This year there

are two exceptional Indians who have made it

to the Queens honours and are receiving the

Queens Service Medal.

RAMAN RANCHHOD - QSM

There are various forms of giving. Onemay give by dedicating time or knowledge. By

doing this we are in fact rece iving more without

expecting anything in return. This is the mantra

for Mr Raman Ranchhod who receives QSM

for services to the Indian Community.

Mr Raman Ranchhod is currently the

Senior Director of the Ranchhod Group, a

commercial property investment enterprise that

he established with his son, which operates in

Australasia and beyond.

At an early age he became involved in the

Wellington Indian Association, later serving two

terms as Vice President. He was instrumental in

establishing a physical base for the association,

which is also used for social functions, and was

central to many major events in the Wellington

Indian Community, while also conducting

religious Geeta classes.

In 2011 he established the Ranchhod

Foundation to extend his philanthropic work to

medical organisations, which provide voluntary

treatment, and for the education, health,

welfare, cultural and economic development

of disadvantaged people. In India he was

instrumental in the construction of the Laduben

Ranchhod Urban Health Centre in Navsari. He

has funded free eye clinics, high tech hospital

equipment, school equipment and school fees

for children in continued sponsorships for 100

students.

The Ranchhod Foundation has partnered

with World Vision to provide three water

ltration units to rural schools. Mr Ranchhod

has donated health equipment to the Starship

Childrens Hospital in Auckland and to other

Hospitals in Tanzania.

Raman arrived in New Zealand in the

1950s, starting his life in Wellington. He

married in 1964 and has two children and four

grandchildren. For the past ten years he has

been living in Auckland.

PRABODH KUMAR MISHRA - QSM

Prabodh Mishra says he is deeply humbled

by this honour. I am also pleased that it is an

acknowledgement of voluntary service across

a range of Communities and not just Fijian

Community.

Mr. Mishra settled in New Zealand in

1987 after Fijis rst military coup. He was a

Fijian Diplomat having served in London and

New Zealand. In New Zealand, he has been

Human Resources Manager at the Ministry

of Education, Te Papa Tongarewa, the New

Zealand Police Commissioners Ofce andTe Kohanga Reo National Trust. He has

served on the Families Commission Ethnic

Reference Group. He joined the Rotary Club of

Western Hutt in 1993 and has been a Trustee

and President. For three years he has assisted

with the Wellington Regional Asian Health

Alliance in Newtown and Lower Hutt. He has

been an advisor and President of the Fiji Indian

Association, Wellington for three terms.

Mr Mishra has provided free training in

Employment Law for new migrants and assisted

with tax matters and advocated on behalf of

migrants with problems with employers. He

spearheaded a joint project with Rotary and

Fiji Community members to raise funds for the

McIndoe Institute and chaired the Wellington

Fijian Support Group for the Rugby World

Cup 2011. He is currently a Board member and

volunteer at Citizens Advice Bureau, Lower

Hutt and resident JP.

He holds a Masters Degree from Auckland

University and a Certicate in Diplomacy from

Oxford University, UK. He is an Associate

Fellow of NZ Institute of Management (retired)

and Professional Member of Human Resources

Institute of NZ (Retired) He is also a registered

marriage celebrant. Mr. Mishra is a Foundation

Member of Fiji Indian Association and is also

a recipient of Paul Harris Award- Rotarys

highest Award.

Raman Ranchhod Praboth Kumar Mishra


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NEW ZEALAND

SeasonsGreetings from New Zealand First

to the Kiwi Indian community

Mahesh Bindra

New Zealand First MP

Authorised by Mahesh Bindra, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

P

+64 4 817 8364E [email protected]

Private Bag 18888, Parlliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

Get

Indian

Weekenderissues

mailed to your

address

for just $80for a full year

(50 issues)

Email : [email protected]

*Amount covers postage only

Ferry service important to New Zealand

T

he Cook Strait crossing is one of the jewels

in the New Zealand tourism crown. But

unfortunately break downs on the KiwiRail

service cause havoc with travel plans and

freight.

Its a challenging route for any ferry

company because sea conditions are often

rough. That means the ferries crossing between

Wellington and Picton need to be designed for

the purpose.

At present KiwiRail is gearing up to bid

goodbye to the ferry Arahura which has done

50,000 trips across the strait in 31 years.

The Arahura stands out for its reliability. It

must have been value for money. At the time it

was bought in the 80s the price of $45 million

would have been signicant (its equivalent to

about $145m now).

The ship was tailor made in Denmark.

Now KiwiRail are going to replace this ferry

with the Stena Alegra. It will only be on charter,

but the ship hasnt got top marks since it has

been lling in on the run. KiwiRail say it has

fullled only 88% of its scheduled trips.

But they are settling for these secondhand

goods saying it is too costly to buy another

bespoke ship.

In 1983 they put the order in and we got the

specially designed Arahura. Sure shes had the

odd problem, but shes been t for purpose.

Somehow everything went wrong with the

purchase of the Spanish built ferry Aratere, its

been a lemon from the start and a for tune has

been spent on repairs and modications.

New Zealand First believes marinerswho know their ships should be making the

decisions on what ferry will be undertaking the

Cook Strait run. It is part of State Highway One

that crosses the sea so is a vital transport route.

We dont want inferior ships on this service.

Winston Peters

NZ First leader


12/32

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9 January 201512

lKai Po Che! Swati Sharma

Vaishnav Parivar (NZ) Inc., as part of their cultural activities,has been organizing Indian Kite Festival in Auckland forthe last 9 years. This year VPNZ is organizing it at the Avondale

Racecourse grounds, Avondale on 17th January.

Kite ying, on the occasion of Makarsakranti (Uttarayan),

is popular in India. A feeling of competition, leading to joy and

jubilation grips all who celebrate the occasion of thanksgiving

and merry-making.

The fascination and fun associated with kite ying cuts

across age groups and communities. It is a competitive fun sport

where the families enjoy not only ying kites but also outdoing

the rivals kites.

VPNZ imports kites and threads from India each year for

sale at the Festival. You can also buy rafe tickets to win Apple

iPhone 6, Slumberzone Deluxe Queen Bed, 2 off the Samsung

GALAXY Tab 3 and many more attractive prizes. For more

details, see WHATSOn, page 28.

NEW ZEALAND

Auckland celebrates Gurpurab

Swati Sharma

Gurdwara Nanaksar Thath IsherDrabar Manurewa celebrated tenthSikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jis

birthday on 28th December 2014 with

respect and enthusiasm.

Guru Gobind Singhs teachings have

a big impact on Sikhs. In his lifetime,

he stood against the Mughal Rulers

and fought against injustice. In 1699,

Guru Gobind Singh took ve men from

the lower caste of society and baptized

them as His Five Beloveds, endowing

them with great courage and a devotion

to God. It was his dedication to God,

his fearlessness and his desire to protect

the people from being oppressed that

led Guru Gobind Singh to establish the

Khalsa, a military force of saint-soldiers

which he baptized.

Under Guru Gobind Singhs guidance

and inspiration, the Khalsa followed a

strict moral code and spiritual discipline.

It was through his courage that the people

rose against the oppression of the Mughal

ruler in India at the time.

Aside from being a spiritual and a

military leader Guru Gobind Singh was

also a gifted writer who penned a large

body of literary work. Before his death in

1708, he declared the Guru Granth Sahib,

which is Sikhisms Holy Scripture to be

the permanent Sikh Guru.

So every year in the remembrance

of martyr Guru Sahib and his familyGurdwara Nanaksar Thath organises

event. This year, hundreds of people

came to the Gurdwara to par ticipate in the

event. The celebration was started with

the Nishan Sahib di Sewa.Then Sangat

came to the Darbar Sahib. The Ragis

recited the kirtan in grace of Guru ji and

people enjoyed it. On this auspicious day

Spoken Words youth group arranged

a stall of chhabeel and ice cream for

fundraising. Later Lungar was served to

the Sangat.

Above: Sevadar makingKarha Prasad;(below) Raagis doing kirtan during thecelebrations


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NEW ZEALAND


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FIJI

For a brighter tomorrow:BainimaramaPrime Minister Rear Admiral (Ret) VoreqeBainimarama visualises the year 2015 asthe year that will put proper structures in place

to carry Fiji into the future, reports Fiji Times.

That is the way to boost the countrys economy

to maintain growth, keep trade owing and

improved export earnings. Restructuring

of civil services would also improve the

governments ability to serve the people.

All this is to full our vision of Fiji as a

truly modern nation-state in which a population

that is better educated can get jobs that are better

paid and more satisfying, in which Fijian-made

goods become a byword for quality the world

over and in which Fiji cements its place as a pre-

eminent Pacic Island nation and a respected

voice in the world, Bainimarama said.

Reect on the achievements and hope for the

future, was his message to Fijians. No Fijian

can doubt the importance of 2014 by any

standards, a monumental year in our history. It

was the year in which we embarked on our new

and true democracy, a year in which Fijians

voted overwhelmingly for a new beginning,

said the PM.

In our landmark election on 17 September,

we decisively turned our backs as a nation on

the divisions of the past and opted instead for

an inclusive future of hope and great promise.

He said the challenge now was to capitalise on

the events of the past few months.

There is still much to be done to catch

up as a nation on the lost years. The years we

squandered arguing about who deserved more

when we should have been building a better

future for everyone, he said.

Opposition promotesnation building

The success of the September election hasgiven Fijians a springboard upon whichthey can progress towards happiness, freedom

and prosperity.

Opposition Leader Ro TeimumuKepas

highlighted this at his New Year message, andsaid that nation building is the call of the hour

for Fiji.

The elections raised many issues of

fairness and credibility. But they have given

Fiji a basis from which to make progress

towards happiness, freedom and prosperity,

said TeimumuKepa, reports Fiji Times.

These essential elements of nation building

can only be derived from unity and respect,

love of neighbour and governance-based on theprinciple that all citizens are equal under the

law. Let us rid ourselves of the notion that some

are more equal than others and are therefore

entitled to legal protection denied to the rest of

the citizenry.

Initially this may be a challenge, but societal

rebuilding is important, she said. In the

rebuilding of our society after the harm caused

by military rule, we must make dialogue and

negotiation central to achieving peaceful

solutions to Fijis challenges.

Never again should we permit acts of

violence, force, intimidation and illegality

to be the methods we select to change

governments, she said. I stress again that Fiji

must gain strength from the rule of law, proper

parliamentary procedures and social justice forall.

NEWS inBRIEF

Spillage prompts environmental emergencydeclaration

An Environmental Emergency Declaration under the Environment Management Act is nowconrmed for parts of the Cunningham River in Suva, as well as the Suva Coastlinebeginning from the mouth of river Rewa up to the FDB foreshore in Suva. This was conrmed

in a Government statement issued minutes ago following a meeting of the Inter-Agency

Emergency committee that met in Suva earlier today. The declaration has been effective sinceDecember 31, 2014. The statement said that because of serious health concerns, there shall be

no shing or any other recreational activity in these waters, reports Fiji Times.

Fiji cricket jumps up to 40th

The Fiji cricket side has jumped to the 40th spot in the International Cricket Councilrankings, reports Fiji Times. Cricket Fiji general manager Inoke Lesuma said it was a bigmove for the sport, which was on the rise in the country. To be ranked 40 out of 104 cricket

associations worldwide was a great achievement.

Allen tops amateurs golf

Suvas Olaf Frank Grant Allen nished as Fijis top player on the World Amateur GolfRankings for 2014, reports Fiji Times.Allen closed the season moving up nine places to 2048 position. He represented Fiji at the

World Amateur Team Championship in Japan last September and the Asian Pacic Amateur

Championship at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia in October.

Allens best world ranking was 589 back in April 2013.

National Golf Association of Fiji secretary Amitesh Chandra said the 2015 calendar would

be released after the annual general meeting. The international events are the Pacic Games

in Papua New Guinea, Nomura Cup in Dubai and the Asia Amateur Championship in Hong

Kong.

Carpenter condent for Fiji Pearls

Aweek-long camp has been planned for the Fiji Pearls in preparation for the inauguralOceania Netball Tri Series to be held in Suva from January 19 to 22, reports Fiji Times.Coach Kate Carpenter will use the camp session to do the nal touch-ups for the test

matches against the Silver Ferns and Samoa.

Carpenter, the former PNG netball coach, said the 12 best players would be selected based

on tness, experience and skill level.

We have a good balance in the team in all departments, said Carpenter. We have some

good shooters, defenders and midcourt players to choose from and we will select the best.

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reach 60,000 potentialcustomers every week.

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www.iwk.co.nz

9 January 201515

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FIJI

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Kumar urges PM to probe her hurried exitFormer acting permanent secretary foreducation Basundra Kumar has called onPrime Minister Bainimarama to investigate

Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddys hand

in her controversial exit from the ministry,

reports Fiji Times.

Incidentally, Kumar has been a career civil

servant with 26 years in the education sector,

while Reddy, she claimed, had no understanding

of it.

Dr Reddy refused to respond to Mrs Kumars

comments saying he was fed-up of the issue.

Let her make allegations, she does it all the

time, I dont want to know anything.

Kumar explained that she was suspended

from her position after returning from a weeks

leave. I informed them (ministry ofcials) that

I would be taking my whole weeks leave and

that I would resume work again on Tuesday and

nobody said anything to me that I was under

investigation and that I would be investigated.

In fact they should have called me in

the ofce and told me you will be under

investigation and I wouldve taken it nicely

that there is an investigation against me,

Kumar said.She said when she arrived home after her

leave, that very day a Government vehicle

came with her suspension-without-pay letter

and disclosures compiled by the ministrys

team.

I did not see any investigations or any letter

from the Public Service Commission saying that

as acting permanent secretary I had breaches

and I was supposed to be investigated, said

Kumar.

When I looked at the disclosure, I was

quite frustrated, I thought, look at the Minister

for Education - disciplining and sending me on

suspension for no serious problem.

Was there a need for him to send me home

without pay when I had 68 days of leave still

pending? If he wanted me to be out of ofce,he couldve sent me on leave - my 26 years of

clean record has been tarnished by this minister,

it is his propaganda.

I have worked with him and this is what he

wanted me to do for others. But I was objecting

and I was telling him to follow the Government

disciplinary procedures and not sending people

on suspension without any money, she said.

Kumar pointed out that the minister was

elected by the people and it was not right for

him to interfere with operational matters of the

ministry.

Ministry workers are not talking because

they fear being victimised by the minister, they

fear losing their jobs, Kumar added.

This entire disregard to the government

procedures and policies was very offensiveand I thought this man (minister) is targeting to

nish me off, she said.

Kumar explained that she decided to

withdraw her resignation after comments made

to the media by Dr Reddy that her reason to

resign was to evade investigation, reports Fiji

Times.

I decided immediately to withdraw my

resignation and challenge the minister for a fair

and independent investigation.

In the letter that I have written, I have

also said that I also want the minister to be

investigated and the minister to be sent out of

the ofce and an investigation be carried out

by the Prime Minister and the deputy Prime

Minister so that everything surfaces because

those ofcers that are working there in theministry are under duress and I am very much

aware, she said.

When I looked at the disclosure, I was

quite frustrated, I thought, look at the Minister

for Education disciplining and sending me on

suspension for no serious problem.

Was there a need for him to send me home

without pay when I had 68 days of leave still

pending? If he wanted me to be out of ofce, he

couldve sent me on leave. My 26 years of clean

record have been tarnished by this minister, it is

his propaganda.

I have worked with him and this is what he

wanted me to do for others but I was objecting

and I was telling him to follow the Government

disciplinary procedures and not sending people

on suspension without any money, she said.

Kumar said the minister was elected by the

people and it was not right for him to interfere

with operational matters of the ministry.

Ministry workers are not talking because they

fear being victimised by the minister, they fear

losing their jobs, Kumar said.

This entire disregard to the government

procedures and policies was very offensive

and I thought this man (minister) is targeting to

nish me off, she said.

Kumar said she decided to withdraw her

resignation after comments made to the media

by Dr Reddy that she resigned to avoid an

investigation, reports Fiji Times.

I decided immediately to withdraw my

resignation and challenge the minister for a fair

and independent investigation. In the letter that

I have written, I have also said that I also want

the minister to be investigated and the minister

to be sent out of the ofce and an investigation

be carried out by the Prime Minister and the

deputy Prime Minister so that everything

surfaces because those ofcers that are working

there in the ministry are under duress and I am

very much aware, she said.


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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 23

Publisher:Kiwi Media Group Limited

Managing Editor:Giri Gupta | [email protected]

Editor: Maya Shivam | [email protected]

Associate Editor: Paula Ray | [email protected]

Correspondent: Swati Sharma | [email protected]

Graphic Design and Layout:IWK Design Team | designer@ indianweekender.co.nz

Advertising & Business Development Manager:

Gaurav Gupta -M: 021 292 4519 | [email protected]

Sales Manager: Leena M: 022 0151971 | [email protected]

Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | [email protected]

Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher

is not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication

From the desk of theManaging Editor

For last years words belong to last years language

And next years words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning. -TS Eliot

The new year is always an exciting time, when all of us are looking forward to the innitenew possibilities that the new year may bring with it. It has been much the same at IndianWeekender. As we planned for the year ahead, we cannot help but be extremely excited by

what we have planned for our readers this coming year. So look forward to exciting new

issues as we put our heart and soul into enhancing your reading experience. To start with, we

are starting a childrens page and we have lovingly called it Yo! This is so that we make

sure that our publication is enjoyed by the entire family and the little ones are not left out,

especially during their school holidays.

The Queens Honours are out and it makes us proud to see the names of two Indians on the

list. On behalf of the entire Indian Weekender family, we extend our heartiest congratulationsto Raman Ranchhod and Prabodh Mishra for this achievement. We bring to you their proles

in this issue.

In another corner of the world an Indian Professor was inducted to the Florida Inventors

Hall of Fame. This is a huge achievement and we applaud the genius of Dr Shyam Mohapatra

for being placed alongside the likes of none other than Thomas Edison. We have an Indian

Weekender exclusive on Dr Mohapatra and hopefully, in our subsequent issues , we will bring

more from him for our readers.

This has also been the period when stalwarts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan

Mohan Malviya have been acknowledged for their contributions to the country and named as

recipients of Bharat Ratna.

The world also saw the sudden exit of our cricketing Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He

is being called the most brilliant and yet the most controversial of Indian Captains. We will

surely miss his genius, but denitely look forward to what the future of Indian Cricket holds

for us. We also bring you a substantial dose of Dhoni in this issue. Each of us is looking

forward to the World Cup now.

We are also proud to continue to take our readers on the journey that Indian Weekender is

undertaking by trying to establish a relationship between India, USA and New Zealand in thearea of health care. As we take each step forward we bring our readers updates on how we

are going. In an earlier issue, we had reported about the journey to the Jai Prakash Narayan

Trauma Centre and in this issue, we take the journey forward.

This holiday has also been the time for cosmopolitan Indians to get out there and party and

therefore our new serving of Glitterati looks rather colourful.

Approach the New Year with resolve to nd the opportunities hidden in each new day.

-Michael Josephson

In this spirit, I invite all our readers to approach the new year with a renewed enthusiasm

to take life by the horns and face any obstacle that you could be facing at the moment. Make a

fresh start and determine to not give up till we achieve our goals. With this message, on behalf

of Team IWK, I wish all our readers a very happy new year and wish that this year unfolds for

you all your hearts desires and may you achieve all your dreams. May the force be with you!

Giri Gupta

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aimis too high and we miss it but that it is too low and wereach it.

- Michelangelo

BachPronounced: Batch

(noun) Small holiday home or beach house

Usage: Itll be good to spend the weekend at your bach at Piha beach.

Funny bone

Pick of the week

TIP from The TreNCheS

Unfollow, dont Unfriend, them on Facebook

Do you have a Facebook friend who constantly posts annoyingpolitical rants? Or one who cant stop whining about a failedrelationship? This simple trick helps you remove the annoying clutterfrom your news feed:

After login, just click on the grey arrows, which appear on the topright corners of posts and give you the option of unfollowing aperson.

Users can also use the grey arrows to hide stories they are notinterested in reading.

Students hold earthen pitchers lled with water as they take a holy bath ahead of theMagh Mela festival during a ceremony in Ahmedabad.

Photo: Reuters


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OPINION / EDITORIAL

India has unprecedented opportunity to lead byGood Climate Governance By Rajendra Shende

The inconvenient truth is not that globalwarming is undeniably unequivocalbut that we are unable to address it with the

required urgency. And the convenient truth

is not that India is entering a demographic

dividend period and has a demagogue prime

minister, but that India is yet to draw a road

map to leverage these rewards and gains to deal

with the climate change.

The unfortunate fact is that the developing

countries are eternally arguing for international

climate nances that are unlikely to come

so easily, as is evident from the Lima (Peru)

negotiations. At the same time we should not

overlook the fact that a country like India

can gain extraordinary benets for the poor

section of its society by self-nancing the

decarbonization of the national economy.

It is true that common but differentiated

responsibility (CBRD) is the valid, tested

and acceptable principle in international

environmental negotiations to provide for the

development-space of developing countries,

but such principle is equally important at the

national level, to reduce the stark inequality

within the country. In the heat of the scoring

debate, we should not miss the scoring benets

that India stands to gain.

India can take pride that it has now an

inspiring leadership in the form of PM Modi.

That inspiration comes from his creative

ideas as well as from novelty in approaches to

implement them. We all studied for ages that

cleanliness is godliness. The last leader to

reinvigorate a clean India campaign on a mass

scale and leading it by example was Mahatma

Gandhi in 20th century.

Modis Clean India campaign has the

hidden potential to take on the climate change

issue head-on.

The Lima meeting on climate change comes

at opportune time when PM Modis Clean Indiaand Good Governance campaigns launched

at the national level could converge and

transform into a major effective antidote for

global climate problems and also strengthen its

commitment towards the poor people of India.

Climate change is dening challenge of our

times, as stated by the United Nations Secretary

General Ban Ki-moon. Many would say that

the same can be said about poverty, terrorism,

malnutrition, inequality and emerging diseases

like SARS and Ebola hitherto unknown to

humanity. But not many realize that climate

change is the father of all crises.

A World Health Organization (WHO)

report in May 2014, stated that New Delhis

air pollution monitors measured levels of

particulate matter smaller that 2.5 micrometres

- the small particles considered among themost dangerous for lung health - exceeding

350 micrograms per cubic metre of air - one

of the highest levels recorded in Asia. The

emission from burning of coal-red power

generation plants, which is the main reason for

increase of concentration of green house gases

in the atmosphere, is also the main cause of air-

pollution. Biomass burning for cooking, open

brick kilns, open burning of vegetation and

waste also cause in- and out-door pollution.

According to another WHO report, in- and out-

door air pollution in 2012 caused the premature

deaths of around 7 million people worldwide,

mainly poor women and children. It also stated

that India has the highest death rate due to air

pollution. Crisis of poverty and climate changeare locked in vicious cycle that manifests into

inequality.

Dealing with climate change could

prove to be a convenient way to tackle air

pollution. Improving the energy efciency of

all electrical appliances like air-conditioners,

fans and lighting by about 10-15 percent could

help India in reducing coal consumption in the

power generation plants, thereby reducing air

pollution. Such efciency enhancement can be

achieved by simple technology and behaviour

changes. India can avoid the unnecessary

investment in building at least 120 big power

generating plants of 500 MW as per the report

of National Energy Research Laboratory

of Berkley in USA. Indias leadership in

agreeing to reduce emissions of powerful

Hydrouorocarbons ( HFCs) and refrigerantsused in air-conditioners could catalyze the

energy efciency revolution as hinted in

the communiqu signed between President

Obama and PM Modi in Washington DC,

this September. Enhancing the fuel efciency

standards in vehicles, trains, ships and planes

is also required.

While recognising that the Lima climate

meeting is apt and timely platform for India

to transform and strengthen its clean India

movement, it is important for India to propose

Good Climate Governance as the theme to

move towards Paris 2015 where the world is

likely to make and strengthen its commitment

to keep the rise in global temperature below 2

degrees Celsius.Good climate governance is about decision-

making that should be participatory - that

includes all vulnerable and least developed

countries, consensus oriented - unlike what

happened in Copenhagen, accountable to the

loss and damage, transparent - on nances

and technology transfer, responsive - to the

needs of the poorest countries, effective and

efcient - in managing the administration,

equitable and inclusive and follows the rule

of the UN Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC). It is also about keeping

the promises and commitment of emission

reduction and nances and not about excuses

under wordy-pretext.

Maximum governance and minimum

government is PM Modis mantra for

coming years. India in Lima should pitch formaximum climate governance and minimum

sliding-back governments as the way forward

to Paris 2015.

Rajendra Shende is Chairman of TERRE

Policy Centre and former director UNEP. The

views expressed are personal.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Apostle of peace, humanitypersonied Ashok Tandon

A28-year-old dhoti-kurta clad young manwas jostling to push his blanket-wrappedbaggage into the unreserved compartment of

a passenger train at Delhi Railway station on

May 8, 1953.It was a send off for Shyma Prasad

Moookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana

Sangh (predecessor of the present day Bharatiya

Janata Party), on a mission to enter Jammu &

Kashmir defying the entry-permit order of the

government and demanding full integration of

the state into the Indian Union.

On the call of duty was a journalist-turned

hitherto unfamiliar political secretary to

Mookerjee - Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Mookerjee was arrested on May 10, 1953 on

the J&K border while entering the state and was

taken to Srinagar jail.

He sent Vajpayee back to Delhi with a

message for the party rank and le to continue

the agitation against what he then termed Ek

desh mein Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan, and DoNishan Nahin Chalenge (in one country there

cant be two constitutions, two prime ministers

& two ags).

Mookerjee died under mysterious

circumstances while in custody in Srinagar on

June 23, 1953. And young Vajpayee, with his

oratorical eloquence relentlessly went on to

spread his political mentors message across

the country and made an indelible mark as a

debutant on the political scene of independent

India.

Vajpayee entered the Lok Sabha from

Balrampur in UP in the second general

elections in 1957 and his maiden speech

earned him laurels from many contemporary

veteran parliamentarians, including the then

prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who, while

introducing Vajpayee to a visiting foreign

dignitary once said this young man one day

will become the countrys prime minister.

Vajpayee remained a member of parliament

for 47 years, elected 11 times to the Lok Sabha,

and twice to the Rajya Sabha. But the issue of

Jammu & Kashmir always remained foremost

in his mind. He was a staunch critic of Nehrus

Jammu & Kashmir policy.

A poet by hear t, Vajpayee articulated poetry

as one of the means of expressing himself in

any given situation. He would often recite one

of his poems during the course of his speeches

to convey his message for the occasion andenthral his audience.

One of his poems on Jammu & Kashmir

Mastak Nahi Jhukega sums up Indias

position on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir.

As external affairs minister in the 1977

Janata Party government, Vajpayee pursued

the policy of friendly relations with Indias

neighbours, including Pakistan, on the principle

of peaceful co-existence & mutual respect. His

famous quote you can change friends but not

your neighbours went on to become a dictum

in the Indian foreign ofce establishment.

Resolving all the outstanding issues with

Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu &

Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner throughbilateral dialogue without any third party

intervention was Vajpayees mantra when he

became the prime minister, rst for 13 days in

1996, then for 13 months in 1998 and again for

a full ve-year term in 1999.

The successful nuclear test Operation

Shakti in Pokhran on May 13, 1998, was

Vajpayees strategic master stroke which hedefended as a deterrent rather than a weapon

of mass destruction. He put India in the league

of the worlds elite nuclear club yet announced

moratorium on future testing. He carried his

message of peace to Pakistan during a bus

journey to Lahore on February 19, 1999.

The Delhi-Lahore Bus Service Sada-e-

Sarhad (Call of the Frontier) was launched

as a symbol of the efforts of the Vajpayee

government to promote peaceful and friendly

relations with Pakistan on the basis of

reciprocity.

And now the NDA-2 under the stewardship

of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked

upon the mission of accomplishing the

unnished agenda of Vajpayee for a terrorism-

free prosperous South Asia.Modi picked up the thread where Vajpayee

had left in matters of Indias pro-active policy

of improving relations with all immediate

neighbours was on display at the very outset

of the NDA-2 when heads of all the SAARC

member countries were invited to witness

Narendra Bhais swearing -in-ceremony at the

forecourt of majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan in

Lutyens Delhi.

Modi, who has always held Vajpayee in

highest esteem and considered him his role

model, never misses a chance to eulogize the

larger-than-life towering personality of this

living legend.

Ashok Tandon was media advisor to

former prime minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee.

`The views expressed are personal.


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INDIA

Modi happy over ghats, says world now listens to IndiaPrime Minister Narendra Modi recentlyexpressed joy after seeing the spruced upghats along the Ganga in Varanasi, and said theworld was now listening to India.

He also declared that the railways will neverbe privatized.

And in his bid to promote the Clean Indiacampaign, Modi symbolically cleaned a narrowlane near the Assi ghat and nominated ninepeople as well as groups to take up the cause.

The nine include popular comedian KapilSharma, former police ofcer Kiran Bedi andMumbais famed dabba walas who deliverhome-made lunch to thousands in that city.

The others are Nagaland Governor P.B.Acharya, danseuse Sonal Mansingh, formercricketer Sourav Ganguly, media barons RamojiRao and Arun Purie, and the Indian Institute ofChartered Accountants.

During his day-long visit to Varanasi, hisLok Sabha constituency, Modi inspected the

progress of work at Assi ghat, which he visitedNov 8 while launching the Swachh BharatAbhiyaan in Varanasi.

He walked a few hundred metres towardsthe ghat, one of the more prominent ones alongthe Ganga, and thanked the people and NGOsfor cleaning its banks.

These banks, which had become heapsof mud, have been restored to their old glory.

I thank all the people who did this work, avisibly pleased prime minister said.

Speaking at the Banaras Hindu University,Modi said the UN decision to declare June 21as the World Yoga Day was proof that Indiasvoice was now being heard.

He said he had requested the UN inSeptember to declare a World Yoga Day.

Within 100 days, 177 countries became co-

sponsors to this proposal which itself is a worldrecord, he said to thunderous applause.

This, he added, was a changed situation

when whatever India said was taken seriously.

At a later function where he laid the

foundation stone for the expansion of a

locomotive workshop, Modi declared that his

government was not privatizing the railways.

Those who are spreading lies that railways

is being privatized... this is not our thought or

intention, he said, triggering clapping in the

crowd of railway employees and others.

We dont see railways only as a means

to travel. We see it as the backbone of Indias

development. What we want to do is to put

more money for development of railways. This

will help.

He said railway universities would be set up

in all four parts of India.

The prime minister paid oral tributes at the

statue of Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder

of BHU who was nominated for Bharat Ratna.

At the BHU, Modi also urged Indians to

grab the global opportunities coming their way

and said he wished to see India exporting good

teachers to other countries.

Earlier, at a function at Swatantra Bhawan

in the BHU campus, Human Resource

Development Minister Smriti Irani said several

of the initiatives undertaken on the educationfront were Modis brainchild.

Later, the prime minister laid the foundation

stone of an Rs.110 crore Inter-University

Centre for Teacher Education, launched the

Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National

Mission on Teachers and Teaching and the Wi

connectivity of the entire BHU campus.

From Chanakya to Yogi, Modi The SalubriousStatesman

- Maya Shivam

Yoga a practice not alien to any Indianand now becoming a global phenomenon.With the growing awareness around health and

mindful living around the world, Yoga has seen

a marked popularity in not just the east but in

the westerns world as well. Most wellness gurus

preach the body, mind and spiritual benets that

the practice of yoga brings. Needless to say that

Prime Minister Modi is a living example of this

practice. Yoga has invariably found mention

in Modis exchanges with important world

leaders including with President Obama. He

explained the benets of Yoga to Obama over

their White House dinner, while Modi sipped

warm water as he was fasting and the President

expressed admiration for Modis energy and

vigour. Modi also gifted a book on Yoga to hisAustralian counterpart Tony Abbott.

Calling for a change in lifestyle and for

creating consciousness, Modi in his UNGA

speech said Yoga could even help deal with

climate change. Yoga is an invaluable gift of

our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of

mind and body; thought and action; restraint

and fulllment; harmony between man and

nature; a holistic approach to health and well

being. It is not about exercise but to discover the

sense of oneness with yourself, the world and

the nature, he said. Following his speech the

proposal to celebrate June 21 as International

Yoga Day was tabled.

In a huge global endorsement for yoga, 175

out of 193 members of the UN, countries as

diverse as the US and Syria, Russia and Britain,and China and the Philippines, agreed by

acclamation to declare June 21 the International

Yoga Day, recognizing the ancient Indian

sciences holistic approach to health and well-

being. The UN General Assembly (UNGA)

resolution said a goal of the Yoga Day was the

wider dissemination of information about the

benets of prac tising yoga would be benecial

for the health of the world population.

This is a clear testimony to the enthusiastic

cross

cultural

a n d

universa l

appeal that

yoga enjoys

amongst membercountries of the United

Nations.

In his own unique style the Prime Minister

Modi tweeted upon hearing the news -Elated!

Have no words to describe my joy.

Countless people across the world made

yoga an integral part of their lives. Congrats

to them! This will inspire many more people

towards yoga. Yoga has the power to bring

the entire humankind together! It beautifully

combines Gyan (knowledge), Karm (work) and

Bhakti (devotion). he stated. It is estimated that

250 million people around the world practice

yoga, over 20 million of them in the US. June

21 has a cultural and cosmic s ignicance as it is

the day of the Summer Solstice in the northern

hemisphere when the daylight hours are the

longest.

B.K.S. Iyengar, one of yogas great modern

propagators explains: Yoga, an ancient but

perfect science, deals with the evolution of

humanity. Yoga means union - the union of

body with consciousness and consciousness

with the soul. Yoga cultivates the ways of

maintaining a balanced attitude in day to day

life and endows skill in the perfor-mance of

ones actions.

For

centuries,

p e o p l e

from all walks

of life have

practiced yoga,recognizing its unique

embodiment of unity between

mind and body. Yoga brings thought and action

together in harmony, while demonstrating a

holistic approach to health and well-being,

Portuguese Ambassador Alvaro Mendonca e

Moura told the UNGA in a speech delivered on

Kutesas behalf.

Going beyond the view of yoga as physical

and mental disciplines, Modi promoted it as

a holistic way of life that stresses harmony

between man and nature and simpler lifestyles

and can help ght climate change.

Introducing the resolution, Indias Permanent

Representative Asoke Kumar Mukerji said it

recognizes that wider dissemination of yogas

benets would be benecial for the health of the

world population. The resolution was adopted

along with a package of measures dealing with

international health and cooperation. On the

relevance of yoga to the problems of climate

change and environment, Mukerji cited Modis

remarks on how the broader vision of yoga

can have an impact. We need to change our

lifestyles, he quoted from Modis September

speech. Yoga can bring communities together

in an inclusive manner that generates respect

and can promote peace and development.The diverse benets it brings, he said,

were promoting resilience against non-

communicable diseases and even helping

people deal with stress in emergency situations.

Energy not consumed is the cleanest energy.

We can achieve the same level of development,

prosperity and well-being without necessarily

going down the path of reckless consumption...

By changing our lifestyle and creating

consciousness, it can help us deal with climate

change.

Talking on this, Sushma Swaraj said:

While on one hand, we consistently advocate

a proactive and innovative approach for making

India and the greater South Asian region more

prosperous, at the same time, we are thinking

and acting on new measures to project Indiassoft power- the unparalleled cultural richness,

diversity and uniqueness of India and its

people.

She said an unprecedented 177 of the total

193 member states of the UN co-sponsored a

resolution on the International Yoga Day.In

the history of the United Nations, this is the

highest number of co-sponsors ever for any

resolution of this nature, Sushma Swaraj said.

Co-sponsorship, quite simply, meant

that these countries not just supported India,

but expressed their public willingness to

own the initiative as well, she added. The

sheer number of supporters as well as the

smooth adoption also symbolises the strong

international support that the recent diplomatic

endeavours of our government have evoked on

the world stage, she said while decribing it a

new breakthrough in Indian diplomacy.

Terming these as a critical part of a new

Indias breakthrough diplomacy, the external

affairs minister said: From Make in India to

Swachh Bharat and now International Yoga

Day they are all small steps in our journey to

ensure a vibrant, happy and prosperous India,

whose imprint and inuence are felt far beyond

our own shores.


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INDIA

BJP vs AAP: Taking the battle to thesocial media

Armed with state-of-the-art laptops,computers and high-speed internetconnections, a team of a dozen young IT

professionals supported by hundreds of

volunteers on the ground are heading the BJPs

war room for the Delhi assembly polls and

working round-the-clock to counter their arch

rivals - the AAP.

Set up at the Delhi BJP headquarters at 14,

Pandit Pant Marg earlier last month, the warroom has professionals, some of whom work

part-time or have taken a sabbatical from their

jobs, to critically analyse posts, comments and

tweets on Facebook and Twitter that talk about

the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its policies or

leaders.

According to Sumeet Bhasin, who heads the

BJPs Information Technology (IT) cell under

which the war room has been set up, the partys

top leadership has specically asked the team to

be aggressive on the social media.

War rooms are set up before every election

but this time we have intensied our efforts and

the results are showing. We were not this active

earlier, Bhasin told media adding that Prime

Minister Narendra Modis liking for technologyand social media acted as a major push.

According to him, the number of members

of the partys Facebook page rose from around

11 lakh to over 13 lakh in just four weeks.

On an average the BJP posts on Facebook

are getting over 10,000 likes while the posts

from AAP are liked by around 5,000 people,

he said.

Bhasin credits the achievement to his team

of youngsters, who not only analyse Facebook

posts and tweets, but also scout for potential

volunteers.

At present, the party has over hundred

volunteers in Delhi who cover 52 of the 70

assembly seats. The number is likely to rise to

around 500 by the time Delhi goes for polls,Bhasin said.

The job of the volunteers is to spread the

partys message to the masses and help shape

their opinions in our favour, he said though

quickly claried that none of the professionals

or volunteers were being paid.

And having conquered Facebook, the

team has now their eyes set on Twitter and

WhatsApp.

Facebook is our base and all other mediums

like WhatsApp, Twitter, E-mail, SMS etc. are

like distribution channels. But having said that,

we will start a similar aggressive campaign

on Twitter starting next week and few weeks

before the polling takes place WhatsApp will

also be used to reach out to the people, saidBhasin.

The party is already using WhatsApp to

connect over 15,000 party members through

250 groups in Delhi with the top leadership

wherein the members can interact with each

other and their leaders.

Vajpayee, Malviya named for Bharat Ratna

The government named former primeminister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and latefreedom ghter-educationist Pandit Madan

Mohan Malaviya for Indias highest civilian

honour, the Bharat Ratna.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said:

The president has been pleased to award

Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan

Malaviya (posthumously) and to Shri Atal

Bihari Vajpayee.

The announcement came a day ahead of

Vajpayees 90th birthday and coincidentally

Malaviyas 153rd birth anniversary on 25

December, the Christmas. The Narendra

Modi government observed Dec 25 as Good

Governance Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the

announcement

indian weekender 9 january 2015

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