Re: Not Required Indian, NRI: Sid Harth
bademiyansubhanallah
From Burkina Faso to Djibouti, Indians are everywhere
Kartikeya, TNN 9 October 2009, 01:55am IST
MUMBAI: This may well be the ultimate ode to the globetrotting Indian
who, for centuries, has been criss-crossing the world in search of
opportunity and adventure — Indian citizens are today permanent
residents of all but three countries in the world.
The ministry of overseas Indian affairs has registered the presence of
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in 180 of 183 countries of the world. The
numbers may vary from just two in Lebanon to almost a million in the
United States of America but the fact is that Indians call the whole
world their home. It is only in North Korea, Pakistan and Bhutan that
not a single NRI is to be found.
NRIs are Indians, who like steel tycoon Laxmi Mittal, proudly hold on
to their blue Indian passports while living in another country. They
are also different from ordinary Indian citizens who obtain visas and
go abroad to work or study for a limited period of time. NRIs remain
citizens of India but enjoy the right to live and work permanently in
another country of their choice.
Indians can now be found in the remotest corners of the Earth. Go to
the Republic of Palau, a speck of an island nation in the Pacific
Ocean which is one of the world's youngest sovereign states, and you
will find five NRIs there. And don't be surprised to find 20 of them
living in the mountains of Bolivia or a 375-strong Indian community
living in tiny Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.
Historically, Indian communities have had a major presence in several
parts of the world. Be it Gujarati merchants who settled in East
Africa, Tamil Chettiars who lived in south-east Asia or indentured
labourers taken from Bihar to work on plantations in the West Indies,
Indians have been migrating to other countries for centuries. During
the two World Wars, they fought for the British army and settled down
in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. The NRIs were a
post-independence addition to this long list of migrants.
But it is also true that, historically, the NRI's favoured
destinations have been First World countries or West Asia, where
employment opportunities abound. But the latest data confirm that in a
globalized world, NRIs are making opportunities in literally every
corner of the Earth.
The largest number of NRIs are in Saudi Arabia (17 lakh) followed by
the United Arab Emirates (14 lakh) and the US (9 lakh) but what is
more fascinating is they can also be found — albeit in minuscule
numbers — in Slovenia (10), Montserrat (10), Iceland (21), Bosnia and
Herzegovina (30) and Burkina Faso (150).
Experts also point out that, if People of Indian Origin (PIOs) — a
term for citizens of other countries who have an Indian ancestry — are
included, then both Pakistan and Bhutan would also find it difficult
to shake off the Indian links to their populations.
...and I am Sid Harth
bademiyansubhanallah
'Australia is an advert for multi-culturalism, not me'
Rashmee Roshan Lall , TNN 10 October 2009, 11:09pm IST
The Australian High Commission in Delhi does not seem like a building
under siege. It is well-ordered, bordered by impeccable green sward.
Here, the sound of India’s often inchoate anger at "Australian racism"
to Indian students seems very distant. But it is Peter Varghese’s job
to hear – and answer – India’s charges. He is Australia’s new high
commissioner in Delhi, and his origins in Kerala, birth in Kenya and
Australian upbringing make him possibly Canberra’s best advertisement
for multi-cultural inclusiveness. But, "I’m not", he tells Rashmee
Roshan Lall.
Would you agree this is a difficult time for any Australian high
commissioner in Delhi?
Only to the extent that we have this one issue, which has been a
difficult issue. If you take the overall picture, I would say it is a
terrific time rather than a difficult time because this is a
relationship that is already improving fast and which, in my view can
go a lot further. So I see it as a time of opportunity rather than a
time of difficulty. I’m not dismissive of the student issue because I
understand the concerns that people have in India and I certainly
understand the concerns that parents might have about the security of
their kids. But we’re dealing with that issue and taking steps to
ensure that Indian students and world/international students are
properly looked after and are confident that over time, we’ll be able
to resolve or put behind us this problem.
You use the word ‘problem’. So it must be a difficult time to be
Australian high commissioner in India?
It’s patently a perceived problem.
You’re calling it a ‘perceived problem’?
I think it’s an issue that’s been considerably beaten up in the media.
I’m referring to the image that may have been conveyed that this was a
rampant problem throughout Australia. Now, that’s not to say that I’m
dismissive and that the attacks haven’t occurred, that those attacks
were serious and we take them seriously and they ought to be
condemned. But this idea that somehow all Indians in Australia are
under threat or that Australians are a marauding group of Indian-
bashers is obviously, completely and absolutely wrong.
Would you agree that this is a difficult time for a man who is
ethnically Indian to represent Australia in New Delhi?
Again, see, I wouldn’t put the emphasis on the difficulty of it. In
any diplomatic assignment, you’re going to have to deal with difficult
issues or deal with problems that need to be resolved. That’s just
part and parcel of the job. I don’t in any way feel daunted by that
and I want to put the issue in perspective and point out that there
are a lot of other things happening in the relationship and to view it
simply as a difficulty because the student issue has been a high-
profile problem, would be to take it out of perspective.
But isn’t it inevitable that Indians will see your appointment here as
a quick, meaningless symbolic gesture of inclusiveness by Australia?
And isn’t there a risk that some Australians might see you as overly
soft to your country of ethnic origin? An overloaded plate you’ve got
there.
As you know, my appointment was in the works for a very long time and
it was decided well before the student issue came up. If people do
perceive it in that way then all I can do is to point out that wasn’t
the case. And I don’t think it’s a question of being soft or hard, the
job of a high commissioner is to represent the interests of his
country and to convey messages as precisely and as effectively as
possible. I’ll try to do that as best I can. If some people think it’s
a soft-sell, well, so be it.
When was your appointment decided then? More than six months ago?
Oh the appointment was decided well before the student issue. It was
decided last year.
Is this a dream job for you, interpreting your country of ethnicity to
your adopted country?
I sought the job and in our system in Australia, you are able to
express an interest in particular positions if you’re in the
diplomatic service. I sought the job essentially for professional
reasons. I think this is a big relationship with a lot of growth
tissue left in it. There are very few of those available to a
professional Australian diplomat because big relationships are usually
well-established relationships, which have some room for growth but
nothing like the quantum of growth which I believe this relationship
has.
Would Australia’s other ‘big’ relationship be with China?
China is also a big relationship but our relationship with China is
not identical to our relationship with India. Particularly, when you
get into the strategic area, it’s a different sort of calculation.
Would it be right to describe Australia as more fearful when it comes
to China and more fierce with India? Or the other way round? Or is
that not a good description at all?
‘Fearful’ and ‘fierce’, no no, I wouldn’t ascribe those adjectives to
either relationship actually. We’re certainly not fearful of China. We
have a very strong economic relationship with China. Economic links to
China are important for the Australian economy and we have a broadly
based dialogue with China. With India, we have an economic
relationship that is growing fast, it hasn’t reached the dimensions –
yet - of our relationship with China but we also have ties of history
that are important, we share broadly a similar institutional framework
in terms of our system of government, our judicial system, the rule of
law and very important, in my view, we’re both democracies, we’re both
pluralist societies that are bigger than the sum of our parts. I think
all of those elements of the relationship with India will help us
build a stronger bilateral relationship. I don’t think there’s much
mileage in comparing Australia’s relationship with India and its
relationship with China because these are not zero-sum games. We build
our relationship with India across a very broad front. But we don’t
see this as coming at the expense of other relationships.
Do you think it’s characteristic of the Indian establishment
constantly to compare, for instance, America’s relationship with India
and with Pakistan; Australia’s relationship with India and with
China?
If it is, it’s not something that struck me or has been raised with
me. In relation to Australia, I haven’t had the sense that the Indian
establishment – whoever they may be – are approaching the issue in
that way. And I don’t think that what Australia does with China should
be seen by any one in India as having a negative impact on India’s
interests.
But, how can India not help but be irritated when Australia votes on
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a way identical to China’s view of
Arunachal Pradesh?
I don’t think it is identical to the Chinese position. The last time I
checked, I don’t think China would have been an enthusiastic supporter
of having the India country strategy (of the ADB) include projects in
Arunachal Pradesh, which is Australia’s position. We were a strong
supporter of including Arunachal Pradesh in the India country
strategy. This is why I think to see Australia’s position as pro-
China, anti-India is quite mistaken. We did support an ADB management
position because we accepted the ADB management’s view that it didn’t
want to be drawn into a bilateral border dispute. But it didn’t affect
our support for projects in Arunachal Pradesh being funded by the ADB
under the India country strategy.
So do you believe Arunachal Pradesh is part of India?
Australia doesn’t take a position on bilateral border disputes. Our
view is that bilateral border disputes should be resolved peacefully
between the two claimants. We don’t take a position one way or the
other but as I said, we were supportive of the ADB funding projects in
Arunachal Pradesh as part of the India country strategy.
Would you regard yourself as Australia’s best advertisement for multi-
cultural inclusiveness here in India, right now?
I wouldn’t regard myself as an advert in any way. Look, the best
advert for Australian multi-culturalism is the journey we have taken
in Australia from where we were in the 1950s to where we are in 2009.
In other words, in the space of one generation, to be able to move
from a society, which formally still practised the ‘white Australian’
policy, to a country in 2009, which is composed of people from every
part of the world. I think that’s the best advertisement for
Australian multi-culturalism.
But could there be a better advertisement for Australian multi-
cultural inclusiveness here in India right now than you?
I view my position here as an Australian diplomat who happens to have
an Indian background rather than putting the stress on having the
Indian background.
That’s true but surely, you can’t fail to notice that if anyone says
Australia is racist, you can reply, ‘look at me. I represent the
country’.
To that extent, obviously, to have someone represent Australia from as
multi-cultural a background as I have must say something about the
broader Australian community. But it’s not something I want to wear on
my sleeve.
It must be very difficult for you? Correct me if I’m wrong but some
countries’ policy was never to post one such as yourself to represent
them in India, land of their ethnic origin?
In the past, some countries certainly had that policy. I’m not sure
too many today would have the same.
So, what has changed?
The world has changed. The number of people who might potentially be
posted to a country that they had some connection with has grown a
lot. And I think our systems have more confidence in the
professionalism and the undivided loyalties of their citizens. That’s
a good thing because it can be an advantage.
It can if you speak the language. Do you speak any Indian language?
No, I don’t.
So how can it be an advantage? Is it just that you’re more likely than
an Anglo-Saxon Australian diplomat to know Indian mindsets in your
bones?
Having an Indian heritage and growing up with India, in a sense, being
a backdrop to your life, may help in understanding the place a little
bit better and in communicating with the Indians but I’m not saying
this is a clear-cut example of a clear advantage. I’m just saying it
may help.
Do you have family here in India?
I’ve got a lot of family in Kerala. I can’t say I’ve kept in close
touch with all of my family in Kerala but there are some family
members – uncles and cousins – that I have kept in touch with. All my
mother’s and father’s side of the family, they’re all still in Kerala,
so, it’s a large family tree.
So it’s not a close relationship you have with your parents’
families?
I haven’t been to Kerala since 1994 – that’s the last visit I made and
that was a very brief visit. And before that, I was in Kerala in 1973
I think. I’m not a regular visitor, you can see.
When did you get to Australia?
I was only eight.
Are you totally Australian? Do you have Australian ‘cultural habits’?
I regard myself as an Australian and it would be impossible for me to
do my job if I didn’t regard myself as Australian. I consider my,
well,‘cultural habits, my lifestyle, my values, my worldview to be
very Australian.
I deliberately used the term ‘cultural habits’ because in January, a
43-year-old Filipino machine operator in Townsville, Queensland, was
sacked for using water rather than toilet paper. It was said to be a
very un-Australian ‘cultural habit’. It happened on Australia day.
Really, on Australia day?
Yes. And it struck me at the time that if this could happen, what hope
then of any accommodation with Indian students with their very
distinct ‘cultural habits’?
I don’t know that case so I don’t know what all the facts were. But in
Australia you can’t arbitrarily go round sacking people. We do have a
system of rights and protections, which would apply to everyone and
so, if in this case, there was an element of arbitrariness, there is a
bit of recourse available. But not knowing the complete
circumstances...I don’t think those sort of incidents add up to a huge
amount.
Sure, but what lessons if any, for Indian students who are of a
different cultural construct from Australians, mainly because they
aren’t from the metros but small town India?
Well, people come to Australia from all sorts of backgrounds – urban
backgrounds, rural backgrounds. Some may be familiar with life in a
sophisticated western environment and others may not. And for all of
them, there will be a period of adaptation, some more quickly than
others. So to the extent that some of the Indian students coming to
Australia may be unfamiliar with the environment that Australia
represents – whether it’s the urban environment that they’re
unfamiliar with or the western lifestyle, is another reason for
students to be properly briefed before they come to Australia. That’s
one of the things we’re trying to do.
Australia needs the money Indian students provide; Indians need the
gloss provided by a ‘foreign’ education in Australia. Is it a
symbiotic relationship? A parasitic one? Or one that symbolizes the
law of the jungle – survival of the fittest?
I wouldn’t use any of those biological or Darwinian analogies. The
broad issue here is that there is a complementarity between the
education deficit in India and Australia’s capacity to offer education
to overseas students. I think that broad complementarity is a plus.
It’s a means of bringing Australia and India closer than they might
otherwise be. To the extent that we’ve had some problems, then,
they’re all eminently fix-able. That’s what we’re doing.
But with respect, High Commissioner, will you accept the fact that
Indian students with the best grades generally go to the US or UK and
head for Australia and New Zealand only if they can’t go elsewhere?
I don’t know if you can generalize to that extent because we clearly
are attracting Indian students to our top universities. They are high-
quality students and they choose to go to Australia and presumably
they had the option to go some of these other places you’ve mentioned.
But, they’ve chosen to come to Australia. So, I think Australian
education institutions – the good ones, the high-quality ones – are
attracting good Indian students. But it’s also the case that many
Indian students are coming to Australia for vocational training. I
don’t think we should look down on them. Australia has a very well
established system of vocational training and to the extent that there
is a complementarity between what India needs for its skills base and
what we have to offer, I say all the better. I don’t think we should
get too concerned about the fact that there may be many Indians going
to Australia for vocational training.
Is it true that you’re trying to come up with ways to provide an
Australian education to people who want it here in India?
As a supplementary part of the educational relationship. The Indian
government itself is now thinking seriously about permitting foreign
educational providers to set up in India and if that proves to be the
case, that’s something Australian education-providers ought to look
at. I don’t know whether they will or not. These aren’t decisions that
governments make. We don’t direct educational institutions to set up
shop in other countries. But I would hope that if the regulatory
environment in India is changed to allow foreign campuses or education
providers to operate here, then I would hope that some Australian
educational institutions would take up that opportunity. We do have
experience amongst our educational institutions of operating in other
countries.
Tell me about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) you’re working on. By
when can we expect it and what will it do for us and for you?
We have to take things a step at a time. The first step was to conduct
a feasibility study and we’re very close to finishing it. My
expectation is that the feasibility study will recommend an FTA, or in
favour of commencing negotiations on FTA. Then it would be up to the
governments of each country to decide if they want to take it forward.
Our view would be that there would be benefit in starting an FTA
negotiation and in concluding as comprehensive an FTA as possible. But
how long that will take or whether both sides will agree to that soon,
that’s not in my hands. These are issues for the two governments to
resolve. In terms of the benefit, like all FTAs, we would hope that it
would facilitate trade and investment, address market-access issues.
What do you want to import that India doesn’t let you so far?
We’d look at an FTA covering goods and services and that would involve
gaining better access than we currently do in a range of sectors. To
take just one example, we’d be interested in having access to legal
services in India. If you look at India’s agricultural sector, we’d be
interested in issues like ‘logistics supply plans’.
But not retail? Not supermarkets? Because that ‘aint happening?
I don’t want to pre-empt what Australian businesses might be
interested in doing. It’s not the government’s job to advise business
to do x, y or z. The government’s job is to create an environment
which is as conducive to business interaction as possible. So ideally,
if an Australian supermarket chain wanted to set up shop in India, in
an ideal world, we’d hope there were no impediments. Whether
Australian supermarket chains are queuing up to do that is a separate
question. But FTA negotiators focus on the regulatory systems and the
impediments to trade and investment. The fewer of those impediments
the better. No country is going to lift all impediments, all
restrictions because all countries have distinct reasons – good or bad
– to impose some restrictions. But FTAs are meant to reduce them too.
So the FTA could take years, if it happened at all?
If you look at the history of FTA regulations, many have taken years.
But we might set a precedent and conclude an FTA very quickly.
A cheesy last question. Which culinary dish best represents Australia
to you, who is of Indian ethnicity, and which Indian dish spells India
to you?
This is actually quite a complicated question. It’s not got a simple
answer because there is no typically Australian dish. Although, you’ll
have many people who’d say something like a meat pie is typically
Australian. Or a chicko-roll, which you probably don’t know.
I can guess. Like a pepperoni roll?
Like a spring roll with vegetables and meat inside. Or a pavlova
(could be typically Australian) though New Zealand might argue. My
view is that the characteristic feature of Australian cuisine now is
that it is eclectic. It draws from all different culinary styles and
what might make it uniquely Australian is the quality of the
ingredients. The particular mix – fusion cooking has become very
popular – means that it’s not unusual for an Australian family in the
space of one week to eat food from two or three different culinary
traditions. They might have pasta one night, stir-fry the next, a
curry or something or a steak and veg. It’s now become the pattern of
eating in Australia to reach into different culinary traditions, which
are all there because of the migrant experience. Incidentally, that
makes Australians very good travelers because they’re not scared of
‘foreign’.
But it is a bit mongrel?
Oh yeah. Culture is an eclectic thing. But you can write books about
what is Australian cuisine and still not get an answer.
So what’s your favourite dish symbolizing India, round here, not in
Australia?
We still as a family, twice a year, have appam and duck curry for
breakfast at Easter and Christmas, which is a Kerala tradition. And
we’ve maintained it all these years. And even the next generation – my
nephews and nieces, who’ve married and had children, maintain the
tradition.
That’s resolutely Indian?
Yes, resolutely Indian.
Not like most Australian food that’s pretty non-specific?
Yes.
A bit like the country perhaps?
A bit like the country, yes. What makes a dish distinctively
Australian? I suppose, anything cooked by an Australian becomes an
Australian dish.
bademiyansubhanallah
Schemes to get NRI scientists back home
STAFF WRITER 11:19 HRS IST
New Delhi, Oct 11 (PTI) India has stepped up its drive to attract NRI
scientists back to their homeland as part of efforts to boost quality
research in universities and institutes across the country.
The re-entry programmes, launched by the Department of Biotechnology
(DBT), offer scientists a handsome remuneration, an institute of their
choice to work and freedom to take up research (PhD) scholars under
their wings.
The programmes -- DBT-Wellcome Trust Fellowships, Ramalingaswami
Fellowships and DBT Science Chair -- have generated "great enthusiasm"
among the NRI scientists, who are keen to get back to their
motherland.
"I am flooded with applications for the re-entry packages," Maharaj
Kishan Bhan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, told PTI here.
bademiyansubhanallah
He read the tea leaves and made a fortune
October 10, 2009
First Published: 23:28 IST(10/10/2009)
Last Updated: 01:53 IST(11/10/2009)
“After coming to London in 1991, we took up a small room, which had
one table that two people would share. We started trading in tea and
now we have become the world’s second largest company in the tea
industry.”
There is no conceit lacing the voice of the founder and Managing
Director of Global Tea and Commodities, Nadeem Ahmed, but it is with
great pride that he says that he still hasn’t given up his Indian
passport, and neither have his two sons.
Sitting in his plush London home in the city’s post Regent Street,
Nadeem talks about his journey over the last 18 years and how he built
his empire using the ‘From bush to Cup’ strategy. “We bought several
tea gardens in African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi,
which the British Government was selling because they were suffering
heavy losses. In a few years, we reduced costs heavily and made them
profitable again.”
The grandson of tobacco businessman, Haji Ilahi, and son of Sir Abdul
Rahim, Nadeem entrusted the job to his trusted Indian managers. “I
used to take great interest in tea gardens in India, so I brought
plantation managers with me from India.”
Indian managers look after his tea plantations in Africa, and Global
Tea and Commodities, which employs 500 workers, imports tea from India
in huge quantities. This is mixed into the company’s noted brands such
as ‘Typhoo’ and ‘Brooke Bond’ to add flavour.
The company, with its annual turnover of £1billion (Rs 8,000 crore),
owns two of Britain’s popular tea brands —Typhoo and Brooke Bond — and
several other big products.
Born and brought up in Kolkata, Nadeem still visits India four-five
times in a year. “It feels very good to go home. Home is where the
family is, and my family is in Kolkata.”
His father, Sir Abdul Rahim, contributed greatly to the establishment
and running of schools, orphanages and hospitals. Perhaps it is his
father’s legacy that makes him say: “In India, businessmen don’t spend
even a small part of what they earn on society, the way Bill Gates has
done. In this, the Tata group has set a fine example. They have done
a lot for the country in the past 100 years.”
In Britain, Nadeem Ahmed’s ‘Typhoo’ brand had tough competition from
Tata’s ‘Tetley’ brand, but he says: “Tata is our competitor but in
social causes he is my inspiration.”
Nadeem does not believe that he had to ever face any difficulties in
Britain because of being an Indian. According to him, a more
equitable/ unbiased society than Britain would be hard to find in the
world.
A fashion and interior designer, his wife has artfully decorated his
home. A photograph of his two young sons taken near the Taj Mahal
hangs on the wall. “My older son is studying finance and accounting at
the London School of Economics, and the younger one is a brilliant
mathematician. He will go to the Imperial College.”
Nadeem wants to hand over his business to his sons in the future and
do some social work. Nadeem, who speaks clear and precise Hindi, says:
“Insha-Allah, I want to go to India and retire, and do social work
there.”
First of a 10-part BBC Hindi series on lesser-known Indians who have
made it big in the UK.
bademiyansubhanallah
Our party is the real sakti of ethnic Indians: MIC
Press Trust Of India
Kuala Lumpur, October 12, 2009
First Published: 13:36 IST(12/10/2009)
Last Updated: 13:38 IST(12/10/2009)
As a new ethnic Indian party was launched this weekend, country's
largest ethnic Indian political party, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
claimed it is the real sakti or power of the minority community in
Kuala Lumpur.
Reacting on the formation of 'Makkal Sakti', or People's Power, that
vowed to serve the ethnic Indian population in the country, the deputy
president of MIC G Palanivel said their party "was not a new baby" but
a 63-year-old born in a temple.
"The MIC was created out of an intense fire which still burns in the
heart of every MIC member. It was born out of nationalism and a party
which is a signatory to the Merdeka (independence) Agreement,"
Palanivel said.
Asserting that MIC is working hard on the ground, he said ethnic
Indians have an emotional link with it and recalled that country’s
first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had once said: "Even if there
was only one Indian in the MIC, I would only talk to the MIC."
"But unfortunately we no longer live in the era of leaders like
Tunku," he said.
Malaysia's ethnic Indians, mostly Tamils, comprise eight per cent of
the country's population of 27 million people.
He said it is the widespread anger against Barisan that resulted in
its defeat in 2008 general elections and is unfair to blame MIC for
it.
"The MIC is only a minority. So, how could it have brought about the
downfall of the coalition. How can we alone bring about the fall of
the strong Barisan governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor,"
Palanivel said.
bademiyansubhanallah
Samy Vellu must step down, says Malaysia's Mahathir
Indo-Asian News Service
Kuala Lumpur, September 19, 2009
First Published: 00:50 IST(19/9/2009)
Last Updated: 00:54 IST(19/9/2009)
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, in a fresh broadside
against Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu,
Friday called him "a liability" and demanded that he step down.
Mahathir criticised Vellu for the second time in a week, saying that
his leadership of the MIC "has failed", reported NST Online, the
website of the New Straits Times.
Vellu, 74, who has been MIC president since 1979, was re-elected for
the ninth time some weeks ago. His term lasts till 2012.
The MIC, which has traditionally spoken for Malaysia's nearly two
million ethnic Indian community, is a constituent of the ruling
coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) since Malaysia became independent in
1957.
Mahathir warned that Vellu "will become a liability to the BN in the
next general election, deue in 2013, because his leadership has
failed".
The BN lost its two-thirds majority in parliament in the general
election in March last year and control of five of 13 states, when a
bulk of ethnic indians was perceived to have moved away from it.
The MIC was reduced to three seats in parliament and Vellu himself
lost his 11th attempt at re-election to parliament.
Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia for two decades, when Vellu had served as
a minister under him, said he was worried that the people's support
for the Barisan would erode and the coalition would be the 'victim'
because Samy Vellu was still leading the MIC.
"Samy Vellu must step down as party president because he must take
responsibility for the party's failure in the last general election
and for his own loss," Mahathir said in an interview with Bernama, the
official news agency.
"If we look at other countries, whenever a leader fails, he resigns.
In Japan he commits harakiri. We're not asking him (Samy Vellu) to
commit harakiri. You (Samy Vellu) have failed to lead the MIC until
you yourself lost," he said.
Mahathir had said in an interview on the eve of the MIC's general
assembly last week that Vellu had "stayed too long".
Vellu flayed this remark after his team swept the MIC polls. An
overzealous delegate demanded that a "shoe garland" be placed around
Mahathir's portrait. Vellu suspended him and apologised to Mahathir.
"I will meet him (Mahathir) personally to explain the whole episode
and extend my apology," Vellu said in a statement, The Star reported
Friday.
Mahathir said he did not feel anything about the incident and added:
"Nothing would have happened to me."
Mahathir, who stepped down in 2003, said he had "a right" to criticise
Vellu, or anyone, for the sake of BN's future.
Known for his acerbic tongue, Mahathir had run a campaign against his
hand-picked successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Badawi stepped down as the prime minister in April after the coalition
fared badly in the election.
"Malaysian leaders still do not understand that when they fail they
should resign of their own volition, no need for others to tell them.
When you fail, your party fails. You are responsible," he said.
Mahathir said: "Samy Vellu performed worse than Pak Lah (Badawi) but
he did not want to relinquish the post. He should have resigned before
things got to this stage.
"I've criticised Pak Lah, who's Samy Vellu that I cannot criticise?"
Badawi's successor and present Prime Minister Najib Tn Razak who
addressed the MIC assembly last Saturday also asked the party leaders
to "reach out to the Indian community" and win back their support.
It was not enough to be popular within party ranks, he told the MIC
leaders in a apparent reference to internecine squabbles.
They should not be seen as "arrogant", Razak told them.
chhotemianinshallah
Ismail Merchant collection fetches 6,53,000 pounds
PTI 8 October 2009, 05:48pm IST
LONDON: India-born and internationally acclaimed film producer, Ismail
Merchant's collection of paintings and other items was sold here for
6,53,000 pound at leading auction house Christie's.
The top lot of Merchant's collection comprised the painting "The Thugs
of India: halt at the shrine of Ganesh" by August Theodor Schoefft, a
19th century Hungarian artist, who also worked at the court of Ranjit
Singh in Lahore. It fetched 91,250 pounds, a Christie's statement said
today.
"The fact that the sale did so well, nearly reaching its top estimate,
is a tribute to Ismail Merchant's taste as a collector, and the
variety of all the objects he assembled. There was something for
everyone. What a pity he wasn't at Christie's this morning - how he
would have loved it," James Ivory, partner of late Ismail Merchant
said.
The other items in this rare collection were films props and posters
from the late producer's movies.
chhotemianinshallah
Hip-hop star with Punjab roots tops US charts
PTI 10 October 2009, 04:04am IST
NEW YORK: Indian-origin British artist Jay Sean aka Kamaljit Singh
Jhooti has grabbed the number one spot on America’s ‘Billboard 100’
chart with his debut song “Down” featuring hip-hop star Lil Wayne.
The 28-year-old shot ahead of artists like Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and
Kanye West on the Billboard, which lists the most popular songs in the
US. “Down,” is his debut single that topples ‘Black Eyed Peas’ song
that has ruled the top spot for a record-breaking 26 weeks. “This is
insane. It’s just incredible to have reached No 1 with my first
release in America. It’s difficult for me to put into words. My head
is spinning,” the artist said.
Sean’s parents came from Punjab to UK and settled in Southall, where
the singer of Sikh Punjabi descent was born. True to his roots, the
performer made a guest appearance in Bollywood film ‘Kya Kool Hai
Hum’, and performed at the Zee Cine Awards with a combination of
bhangra and hip hop.
“I’ve been grinding hard for the last seven years releasing records
independently and now to have the biggest record in the US this week,
its just a dream come true,” said Sean, who dropped out of medical
school to pursue a career in music.
Sean’s first album in 2004, ‘Me Against Myself’, became a huge success
in India. Last year, he went to Mumbai, Noida, Hyderabad and Pune on
his first tour of the country. Later this month, he will join Justin
Timberlake at a concert benefiting hospitals for children.
chhotemianinshallah
Indian student goes missing in NZ, family suspects 'foul play'
PTI 12 October 2009, 03:41pm IST
MELBOURNE: An Indian student has gone missing in Auckland, New Zealand
and his close relatives, with whom he was living, suspect 'foul play'
in his disappearance.
23 year-old Srikanth Rayadurgam, who was to start a diploma in
culinary arts at Auckland University of Technology, is reported
missing since October one, after he failed to return to his sister's
home in Mt. Albert, nzherald newspaper reported quoting local police.
Rayadurgam came to New Zealand in February and was living with his
older sister and her family and working part-time as a chef in an
Indian restaurant, before starting his course.
His desperate family launched a search for him after finding
Rayadurgam had withdrawn NZD 250 on the day he went missing. His
brother-in-law Nagesh Kakanoor found his empty wallet found dumped on
a cycle track nearby, his left shoe, bag and coat stuffed under a rock
on the beach.
Auckland police, on being informed, made aerial and boat searches in
the area and even sent vessel divers, but have still to trace the
missing Indian student.
"He would not have gone into the water. Based on the clues we have got
it's definitely foul play," Nagesh said, as the family awaits a word
on him.
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commissioner has approached the New Zealand
authorities to extend all assistance to trace Rayadurgam.
bademiyansubhanallah
Urban Nomads in Paris, Montana Blackfoot Indians
« We scantiness the airwaves oktober 9th, 2009 · Geen Reacties
Bill Kronblum, professor at CUNY, has had a identical fascinating
fixation. At times 14 he worked on a dairy acreage. He joined the
amity segment as it was started and taught chemistry and physics on
the Ivory Coast in French.
He lived with a polygamist family there, consisting of a inhibit,
three wives, and 14 children. In 1968 in the Northeast outskirts of
Paris, (zone militaire), where multifarious communist ideas were held,
he followed some gypsies on holiday the bus to their shantytown. There
are 250,000 Roma gypsies in the globe, and anent 80,000 currently in
Brooklyn. These were the Boyash gypsies, into a admit of the Roma
gypsies. Roma means people, so they were identical excusive in area
themselves Roma and anyone else was unmistakably not Roma. Gypsies
originated in India and their sophistication was Sanskrit. By the 14th
century they were in Europe.
The women in this gypsy family would be effective fortunes, and the
men would knock together up fenders and dents on cars.
The family Kronblum stayed with were the Ivanoviches. They were also
bestial traders who descended from brook baiters/showers, making a
living from showing bears doing tricks. The Boyash in the belated 60’s
were review b reckon total number the conclusive people to do this:
the custom dated abandon to the 12th century but was in the absence of
gone away from at this without delay. He gave the Ivanoviches affluent
to prorogue with them and certificate them.
A inhibit named Atget invented this teachings, and took pictures of
the in any case gypsy modus operandi Kronblum stayed in. He was
interested in something called visual sociology: depicting sociology
in photos. Now there is a careless of gypsy piece of good luck in
Europe. They are seen as the lowest conformation of people.
Additionally, 650,000 Romas were killed in the Holocaust. This made
him more au courant of the state of excitement of relationships
between people pertaining to other species.
Kronblum was sent to Montana to analyze a job that convoluted
Blackfoot Indians, whites, and bears. When whites came, the Blackfoot
attacked stainless settlers. The buffalo was the most cipher resource
on the Blackfeet, so things got grievous when Buffalo went dead, in
agreement to the unhappiness of being confined in a qualification.
They tried to purposefulness prairie dogs as a resource.
When exemplar grease and gas was discovered on their acreage in the
1950’s they got a scads of riches, but from without delay to without
delay the resources were depleted they went abandon into deficit. They
went into ranching on a while with some good fortune. The astounding
into a admit was that they kept photos and documentation of their
modus operandi.
The bears in the Rockies started to feed-bag gone away from of brawl
cans and they no longer wanted to feed-bag their exemplar management:
berries, salmon, etc. Grizzly bears are distressful, so we needed to
hold these bears in their beset in some practice. But to be able this
modus operandi, affluent needed to point gone away from from the
whites within reach. A brawl accumulation was proposed, which the
Blackfoot Indians liked, because it would despair them jobs. Kronblum
was working on the department of the retired in the 90’s, and was sent
to Montana to demand to the core this job.
The whites told Kronblum that they didn’t need Indians encompassing
their houses. He not only develop a entranced discredit of Indians
next to whites, but also that Indians had a entranced competitive
against whites. His eyes were opened to how relations between people
can, and oftentimes subsist impressed other species. Solving the state
of excitement of the bears was farcical without teamwork between the
whites and Indians. An bite of this is that whites had pigs that would
pass encompassing peculiarly in the clam beds from which Indians got
their nutriment. Thus, multifarious primordial issues of chute had to
do with non-human species. Because there was no teamwork, the brook
state of excitement got worse.
Bill Kronblum, professor at CUNY, has had a identical fascinating
fixation. Later on an infusion of topping improved the job. At times
14 he worked on a dairy acreage. He joined the amity segment as it was
started and taught chemistry and physics on the Ivory Coast in
French.
He lived with a polygamist family there, consisting of a inhibit,
three wives, and 14 children. These were the Boyash gypsies, into a
admit of the Roma gypsies. In 1968 in the Northeast outskirts of
Paris, (zone militaire), where multifarious communist ideas were held,
he followed some gypsies on holiday the bus to their shantytown.
There are 250,000 Roma gypsies in the globe, and anent 80,000
currently in Brooklyn. Roma means people, so they were identical
excusive in area themselves Roma and anyone else was unmistakably not
Roma. Gypsies originated in India and their sophistication was
Sanskrit.
The family Kronblum stayed with were the Ivanoviches. By the 14th
century they were in Europe. The women in this gypsy family would be
effective fortunes, and the men would knock together up fenders and
dents on cars. They were also bestial traders who descended from brook
baiters/showers, making a living from showing bears doing tricks. The
Boyash in the belated 60’s were review b reckon total number the
conclusive people to do this: the custom dated abandon to the 12th
century but was in the absence of gone away from at this without
delay. He was interested in something called visual sociology:
depicting sociology in photos.
He gave the Ivanoviches affluent to prorogue with them and certificate
them. A inhibit named Atget invented this teachings, and took pictures
of the in any case gypsy modus operandi Kronblum stayed in. Now there
is a careless of gypsy piece of good luck in Europe. They are seen as
the lowest conformation of people.
Kronblum was sent to Montana to analyze a job that convoluted
Blackfoot Indians, whites, and bears. Additionally, 650,000 Romas were
killed in the Holocaust. This made him more au courant of the state of
excitement of relationships between people pertaining to other
species. When whites came, the Blackfoot attacked stainless settlers.
The buffalo was the most cipher resource on the Blackfeet, so things
got grievous when Buffalo went dead, in agreement to the unhappiness
of being confined in a qualification. They went into ranching on a
while with some good fortune.
They tried to purposefulness prairie dogs as a resource. When exemplar
grease and gas was discovered on their acreage in the 1950’s they got
a scads of riches, but from without delay to without delay the
resources were depleted they went abandon into deficit. The astounding
into a admit was that they kept photos and documentation of their
modus operandi.
The bears in the Rockies started to feed-bag gone away from of brawl
cans and they no longer wanted to feed-bag their exemplar management:
berries, salmon, etc. A brawl accumulation was proposed, which the
Blackfoot Indians liked, because it would despair them jobs. Grizzly
bears are distressful, so we needed to hold these bears in their beset
in some practice.
But to be able this modus operandi, affluent needed to point gone away
from from the whites within reach. Kronblum was working on the
department of the retired in the 90’s, and was sent to Montana to
demand to the core this job. The whites told Kronblum that they didn’t
need Indians encompassing their houses. Solving the state of
excitement of the bears was farcical without teamwork between the
whites and Indians. He not only develop a entranced discredit of
Indians next to whites, but also that Indians had a entranced
competitive against whites. His eyes were opened to how relations
between people can, and oftentimes subsist impressed other species.
An bite of this is that whites had pigs that would pass encompassing
peculiarly in the clam beds from which Indians got their nutriment.
Thus, multifarious primordial issues of chute had to do with non-human
species. Later on an infusion of topping improved the job. Because
there was no teamwork, the brook state of excitement got worse.
bademiyansubhanallah
Obama seeks light and knowledge from Diwali
Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN 15 October 2009, 04:20am IST
WASHINGTON: In an expansive gesture to Indians worldwide as much as to
showcase his – and America’s -- multi-cultural affections, US
President US President Barack Obama lights an oil lamp during Diwali
celebrations in White House. (AFP Photo)
More Pictures
Related videos
More Videos »
Barack Obama on Wednesday lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White
House to ''symbolize victory of light over darkness.'' ( Watch
Video )
Although it was the Bush White House that began celebrating Diwali,
the Indian festival of lights, in 2003, Obama became the first
President to personally grace the ceremony -- a brief affair that
began with a rather incongruous performance by the well-regarded Hindi
a-capella group Penn Masala, and ended with a Sanskrit invocation by a
priest from the local Siva-Vishnu temple.
''This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here
in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by
lighting Diyas, or lamps, which symbolize the victory of light over
darkness, and knowledge over ignorance,'' Obama said on the occasion,
adding, ''And while this is a time of rejoicing, it's also a time for
reflection, when we remember those who are less fortunate and renew
our commitment to reach out to those in need.''
The Diwali ceremony shared the platform with another event where Obama
signed an executive order re-establishing the President’s advisory
committee and White House initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders. By hosting both events together, the U.S President, who is
clearly comfortable being a composite of American, Asia-Pacific, and
African cultures, brought together an unusual coalition in the White
House East Room of Asian-Americans, Indian-Americans, and Pacific
Islanders. All three groups have much in common as successful
minorities but seldom work together.
The half-hour East Room celebration was attended by a mixed crowd of
hyphenated Asians, Americans, and Indians. India’s Commerce Minister
Anand Sharma and Ambassador Meera Shankar dropped by, and several
Indian-Americans in administrative positions in Washington attended.
The White House kept it light and simple. A box of Indian mithai
(sweets) was placed on some 150 chairs that filled the East Room but
there was no food fest or song and dance.
After his remarks, much of which was devoted to the Asian-American
initiative, there was a single lamp that Obama lit from a candle. The
Siva-Vishnu temple priest, dressed in ceremonial togs with an enormous
three-forked tilak on his forehead, kept his invocation short --
chanting ''Asatoma Sadgamaya'' (Lead us from the unreal to the real,
from darkness to light, from death to liberation) from the
Upanishads.
Obama, having lit the White House diya (a word he handled with aplomb)
and wished everyone a ''Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak,'' listened
intently as the priest ended with ''Om Shanti Shanti.'' He returned
the priest’s Namaste and then shook his hands before striding out to
attend to the business of war.
''Thank you Mr President for being the first president to come to the
Diwali ceremony,'' a gadabout journalist called out to Obama. ''Yes,
how about that,’’ the President shot back.
The President spent much of the morning with his ''war
council'' (formally, the national security team) in the White House
Situation room assessing US strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
chhotemianinshallah
Indian-American Bharat Desai among Forbes eight self-made stars
IANS 15 October 2009, 08:02pm IST
WASHINGTON: Indian-American billionaire Bharat Dasai has been featured
in Forbes annual list of America's 200 Best Small Companies among
"eight self-made stars who have built tidy empires in an array of
industries".
"Small companies can yield big fortunes, especially if you run the
show," said the US business magazine on Thursday.
"One of the self-made members on our list, billionaire Bharat Dasai,
is the 212th richest American, by Forbes estimates."
His wealth vehicle: Syntel, the information-technology services
provider that Dasai founded with wife Neerja Sethi, in Troy, Michigan,
in 1980. The company went public in 1997 as the tech boom raged.
Kenya-born Dasai started Syntel (No. 27 on Forbes Best Small Companies
list) while doing his MBA from the University of Michigan.
Last February, Dasai stepped down as chief executive, but as chairman
of the board, he maintains a 43 percent stake in his company. "That's
a good thing when your company just cleared $101 million on $405
million in revenue in the last 12 months," commented Forbes asking:
"What recession?"
"He has strategic chops to spare: He played for India in the 1994
bridge world championship."
Forbes annual list of America's 200 Best Small Companies features
outfits that have annual revenue between $5 million and $750 million,
have been publicly traded for at least a year and have a stock price
no lower than $5.
"In most cases, the original founders have moved on, sold out or no
longer play a key role in the operations. But a handful of these high
fliers are still controlled by the savvy entrepreneurs who birthed
them," Forbes noted, listing the eight stars.
chhotemianinshallah
Indian-American legislator raises $400,000 for Congress bid
IANS 15 October 2009, 01:02pm IST
WASHINGTON: Raj Goyle, an Indian-American member of the Kansas House
of Representatives, has set a record by raising $403,083.68 during his
first three months as a candidate for Congress.
The amount is the highest amount of money ever raised in the first
quarter by a challenger in the history of Kansas' 4th Congressional
District, according to Examiner.com.
Goyle had also set a record for raising the most money ever for a
state house race when he ran for office the first time in 2006.
He set a record by winning that election and serving the 87th district
as the first Indian-American member of the Kansas legislature. He may
have set a record for the youngest freshman legislator to take a major
piece of legislation onto the floor and have it passed.
Now he wants to set the record of being the first Indian-American to
serve Kansas' 4th Congressional District, only the third ever to serve
in the US House of Representatives.
"I'm proud to have the support of so many people," Goyle said. Goyle
got contributions from over 800 individual donors. Half of the
contributions to his campaign were $100 or less.
Goyle was elected to the Kansas State House of Representatives in
2006, defeating a three-term incumbent. Goyle won re-election in 2008
with 67 percent of the vote.
He is seeking the seat now held by Todd Tiahrt, who is not running for
re-election in order to run for the Senate.
Among the Republican candidates are businessmen Mike Pompeo and Wink
Hartman as well as state senators Dick Kelsey and Jean Schodorf.
Kansas' 4th Congressional District has been in Republican hands since
1994 when Tiahrt unseated Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman.
The Wichita-based district went 58 percent for Sen. John McCain last
year and 64 percent for President George Bush in 2004. It includes all
or parts of 11 southeast Kansas counties.
chhotemianinshallah
Egyptian sentenced to life for killing NRI in UK
STAFF WRITER 12:13 HRS IST
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Oct 16 (PTI) An Egyptian illegal immigrant who stabbed to
death and then robbed an Indian-origin resident in the London suburb
of Wembley has been jailed for life.
In the Old Bailey court, Judge Giles Forrester termed Egyptian Sami
Salama, 37, as a "vicious and callous" murderer for killing 48-year-
old Dilip Unadkat, a shop worker in West End, in the bedroom of his
flat Wembley, in November 2008.
Judge Forrester ruled that Salama went to Unadkat's flat intending to
kill him and then stole thousands of pounds worth of family jewellery
he had recently brought back from a trip to India.
Salama stabbed Unadkat five times through the chest, and then covered
the body with a moisturiser to hide DNA evidence.
He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years, and will be
deported when he is eventually released.
bademiyansubhanallah
Three Indian students thrashed, robbed in Australia
PTI 17 October 2009, 02:35pm IST
MELBOURNE: In the backdrop of racial attacks against Indians, three
students of the community were bashed and robbed when they were
returning home at night.
The latest incident took place on Thursday night at around 10.30 pm
(local time) when the victims were on their way home from Sunshine
station along Anderson road, The Age reported.
Three to four persons approached the victims from behind near Derby
Road Reserve demanding their wallets and cellphones, the police said
in the report.
One of the victims a 26-year-old student from Sunshine handed over his
wallets and mobile phone and escaped from the spot, the report said.
While the other two students aged 24 and 27 were thrashed by the
offenders who also stole their cellphones.
The 24-year-old man received head injuries in the attack and the 27-
year-old man suffered soreness to his upper body, the report said.
bademiyansubhanallah
Two Indian Americans among six held in US for insider-trading
PTI 17 October 2009, 10:27am IST
NEW YORK: Six persons, including two Indian Americans and a Sri Lanka-
born billionaire, have been arrested in connection with the largest
hedge fund insider-trading ever.
Besides Tamil-origin Raj Rajaratnam, the founder of Galleon Group, the
two Indian Americans identified as Anil Kumar (51) and Rajiv Goel (51)
were arrested in the USD 20 million hedge fund insider-trading case
yesterday, said Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern
District of New York.
While Rajaratnam is a resident of New York, Kumar and Goel live in
California. The other three involved in this case, unveiled today, are
Danielle Chiesi (43) from New York; Robert Moffat (53) from
Connecticut and Mark Kurland (60) from New York.
If convicted all of them face imprisonment of up to 20 years,
according to the indictment, which reads that the defendants
"routinely received inside information directly or indirectly from
insiders and provided it to each other for the purpose of trading
based on the information", filed in the US court.
Noting that this should be a wakeup call for the Wall Street, Bharara
-- an Indian American recently appointed to this powerful post by US
President Barack Obama -- termed it as a decisive action against fraud
on the Wall Street. PTI LKJ BS
"It should be a wakeup call for every hedge fund manager and every
Wall Street trader and every corporate executive who is even thinking
about engaging in insider trading," Bharara said.
"As the defendants in this case have now learned the hard way, they
may have been privy to a lot of confidential corporate information,
but there was one secret they did not know: we were listening," he
said.
"Today, tomorrow, next week, the week after, privileged Wall Street
insiders who are considering breaking the law will have to ask
themselves one important question: Is law enforcement listening?"
Bharara said in a statement.
"Make no mistake -- the USD 20 million in illicit profits come at the
expense of the average public investor," Joseph Demarest, Assistant
Director-in-Charge of the New York Office, said.
"Where knowledgeable businessmen are unscrupulous and act without
control, the result is unadulterated greed. The FBI's role in
combating white collar crime is to ensure integrity in the
marketplace, to protect the average investor, and by extension, the
economy," he said.
According to the two complaints unsealed in Manhattan federal court,
Rajaratnam, Kurland, Chiesi, and others repeatedly traded on material,
non-public information given as tips by insiders and others at hedge
funds, public companies, and investor relations firms -- including
Intel, IBM, McKinsey, Moody's Investors Services Inc., Market Street
Partners, Akamai Technologies, Inc. and Polycom Inc.
As a result of their insider trading, Rajaratnam, Chiesi, Kurland and
others earned millions of dollars of illegal profits for themselves
and the hedge funds with which they were affiliated.
One of the insiders, Kumar, profited from investments in Galleon.
Goel, also an insider, received profitable trades in a personal
account managed by Rajaratnam, the complaints said.
Telephone conversations between Rajaratnam and Chiesi, intercepted
based on court-authorised wiretaps of phones, as well as consensually
recorded conversations with an individual who subsequently became a
cooperating government witness (the CW), revealed that Rajaratnam,
Kurland, Chiesi and the CW routinely received inside information
directly or indirectly from insiders and provided it to each other for
the purpose of trading based on the information.
The material, non-public information pertained to upcoming earnings
forecasts, mergers, acquisitions, or other business combinations (the
Inside Information), said the statement issued by the Department of
Justice.
Galleon Group is a hedge fund with up to USD 7 billion in assets under
management. Out of the USD 20 million, Rajaratnam alone made USD 12.7
million in illegal profits for Galleon.
bademiyansubhanallah
Forced to eat beef, NRI's wife gets divorce
Shibu Thomas, TNN 17 October 2009, 03:08am IST
MUMBAI: A man forcing his traditional Indian wife to consume beef,
pork and alcohol, forcing her to pose in skimpy clothes and uploading
such photographs on a website amounts to cruelty, the Bombay high
court has decreed. A division bench of Justice P B Majumdar and
Justice R V More on Friday upheld a family court order allowing a
Ghatkopar resident to divorce her US-based husband.
"This is an eye-opener for parents whose daughter is going to marry a
person settled in a foreign country," said the judges. "In such cases
they are required to take appropriate care to find out the credentials
of the person who has settled in the other country. If the matrimonial
knot is tied without proper verification, it may result in serious
difficulties, as has happened in the present case."
Naina, 32, married California resident Ritesh Karnik (36) in June 2002
in Nashik according to Hindu Vedic rites and moved to the US with him.
Their marital bliss did not last long, with Naina returning to India
within seven months and filing for divorce.
The aggrieved wife claimed that after reaching the US, Ritesh insisted
on her discarding her traditional lifestyle for the American one. He
made her cut her hair and eat beef and pork, even asking her to cook
meat on days when she was fasting, "showing no respect for Gods and
Hindu deities". When she refused, he would deny her money to buy
Indian food, and she had to survive on bread and jam. Her other
grievances: on a trip to Hawaii, Ritesh forced her to wear "short and
vulgar dresses", "mix with boys and girls in parties" and later
uploaded her photographs on websites.
Ritesh's lawyers, while denying that he had uploaded her photographs,
argued that there was no cruelty in asking one's wife to cook a
certain food or wear a particular kind of outfit. "Naina married
Ritesh with the full knowledge that she was required to settle in
America. Consequently she cannot make any complaints regarding the
lifestyle which she was required to follow," Ritesh's advocate
contended, adding that she was expected to "adjust" to the environment
of the new country.
The judges, however, did not buy this argument. "It is not expected
from Naina to sacrifice her own culture and adopt an atmosphere which
may not suit a lady (brought up in a) different Indian culture
altogether," remarked the court. "To ask a wife to wear a particular
type of outfit or compelling her to take wine or alcohol, in our view,
can be said to be an act of cruelty to the wife. Even if the husband
compels the wife to mix with his friends when she is unwilling, it
would also amount to cruelty to her." The judges also took a strong
view of Naina's allegation that her photographs in short dresses of
the couple's trip to Hawaii were uploaded on websites under fake
profiles. "Normally no wife will tolerate the projection of her
photographs on websites," the judges said.
Naina told the court that she did not want any maintenance from
Ritesh. During the hearing of the appeal, Ritesh offered divorce if
Naina withdrew all the criminal cases she had registered against him
under the cyber crime laws for allegedly uploading her photographs.
Naina refused. The court also rejected Ritesh's plea for a retrial in
the family court — Ritesh had said that while he would not come to
India, his mother should be allowed to testify on his behalf.
(Names of the couple have been changed to protect their identities)
chhotemianinshallah
Sikh security officers to wear turban in US
Posted On Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Agencies
Washington, Oct 21:
Sikhs in US will be allowed to serve in uniform with their beards and
turbans under a legal settlement reached with the US Department of
Homeland Security, a Sikh advocacy group claimed on Wednesday.
In a statement, Sikh Coalition said the Department of Homeland
Security has agreed to pay Raghbir Singh, a Sikh who wears a beard and
turban in accordance with his religious beliefs, monetary damages for
his wrongful termination in 2005.
"Holding the federal government accountable for discriminating against
Sikhs sends a strong message to private employers. If the government
includes Sikh-Americans in its workforce, it should encourage other
employers to do the same," said Harsimran Kaur, legal director, Sikh
Coalition.
"Beyond monetary recognition, we're pleased the government recognised
the need to edit its policies to accommodate for religious
differences," said Khari Tillery, who represented Singh along with the
Sikh Coalition and Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights.
"Singh's turba
n and beard did not affect his ability to perform his job duties and
he was an exemplary employee," he argued.
Singh is a former contracted federal security guard who was fired from
his Fresno post in 2005 when his supervisors reported that his beard
and religious turban failed to comply with homeland security uniform.
chhotemianinshallah
Obama appoints Indian-American Rajiv Shah to head USAID
11 Nov 2009, 0842 hrs IST, Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN
WASHINGTON: Indian-Americans won one of their highest-ever
appointments in the US government when President Obama on Tuesday
nominated Dr Rajiv Shah as administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID).
Dr Shah, who currently serves as Under Secretary for Research,
Education and Economics and Chief Scientist at the US Department of
Agriculture, will take his new job after he is confirmed by the
Senate. With a budget of over $ 40 billion and nearly 2000 employees,
USAID is an independent federal agency that is responsible for most US
non-military foreign aid, the developmental face of Uncle Sam.
"The mission of USAID is to advance America's interests by
strengthening our relationships abroad. Rajiv brings fresh ideas and
the dedication and impressive background necessary to help guide USAID
as it works to achieve this important goal," President Obama said
while announcing Shah's nomination.
Shah, a graduate of University of Michigan, earned his M.D. from the
University of Pennsylvania Medical School and his Master of Science in
health economics at the Wharton School of Business. He also attended
the London School of Economics, before becoming a policy wonk,
variously working at the World Health Organisation, advising the Gore
2000 presidential campaign on health care policy, and most recently
before joining the Obama administration, serving as Director for
Agricultural Development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
At USDA, he managed the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic
Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistical Service and
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and was responsible
for overseeing more than 10,000 staff worldwide including 2,200
federal scientists and a budget of more than $2.6 billion. He also
launched the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) - a new
scientific institute created to elevate and enhance the capacity of
agricultural research to address sustainable food production, climate
change, bioenergy and human nutrition.
But the job as USAID administrator is a major promotion, elevating him
to a crucial job that involves advancing US foreign policy objectives
by supporting economic growth, agriculture and trade; health;
democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance. Although
its predecessor agency International Cooperation Administration dates
back to World War II and the Marshall Plan, USAID was formally
constituted in 1961 and is considered a crucial foreign policy arm of
the US government.
The agency typically receives foreign policy guidance from the
Secretary of State, and expectedly, Hillary Clinton warmly welcomed
the Shah's appointment, describing him as a "leader in the development
community, an innovative and results-oriented manager, and someone who
understands the importance of providing people around the world with
the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty and chart their
own destinies."
"A trained medical doctor and health economist, Raj has the skills and
experience to lead a reinvigorated USAID in the 21st century. He has a
record of delivering results in both the private and public sectors,
forging partnerships around the world, especially in Africa and Asia,
and developing innovative solutions in global health, agriculture, and
financial services for the poor," Clinton said in a statement.
Shah will have his hands full once he is confirmed by the State since
the USAID administrator's post has been vacant for several months with
an acting administrator holding the fort after Obama came to office.
In fact, the nine-month vacancy at the top of USAID had attracted the
ire of Congress, whose members noted that it was the "only major
agency in the government without a captain at a time when American
leadership in development around the world is more needed than ever."
In a September 18 letter to Obama urging him to expeditiously appoint
a USAID administrator, Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar
complained that USAID has been shut out of the interagency processes
related to US policy in places such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
Iraq.
"We recommend that you give strong consideration to selecting a
candidate that has already gone through the vetting process and that
has experience in global development. We believe that time is of the
essence, and that the longer we wait for a new leader for the Agency,
the more serious the problems become," they said.
Iraq and Afghanistan are among the biggest recipients of USAID dollars
and Pakistan is soon expected to join the top ranks since much of the
US non-military assistance to Islamabad is expected to be sent through
USAID. As of September 2009, the USAID said it had contributed more
than $ 170 million in assistance to conflict-affected population in
Pakistan.
Sid Harth
OCI cardholders are hot for Indian assignments
15 Nov 2009, 1950 hrs IST, Ishani Duttagupta, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: The government’s decision to get tough on business visas
for foreigners has vastly improved the employability prospects of
thousands Most expensive cities for expats of Indian-origin people
settled overseas and triggered a surge in applications for the
overseas citizenship of India (OCI) scheme.
Until recently, the Indian government followed a liberal policy of
allowing a large number of occupations and employees of companies to
come to and work with business visas. But with the new rules, the
simpler business visa is restricted to a much smaller number of people
who can come to India to explore possibilities of setting up
businesses. The employment visa is mandatory for skilled and qualified
foreigners who come to India for employment.
Multinational companies are finding it simpler to hire these so-called
OCI cardholders, who enjoy a multiple entry, multipurpose life long
visa to visit India. The card provides a lifelong visa to the holder,
sparing them the need to obtain separate work permits.
For these cardholders, the OCI is also not just about an emotional
connect to their country of origin, it makes eminent business sense
too. Especially for erstwhile Indian nationals living in the west.
Predictably, Indian missions overseas are witnessing a deluge in OCI
applications, the number of OCI cards issued by consulates around the
world has risen to 501,339 in the second week of November 2009 from
around 350,000 issued in January this year. Several Indian consulates
are grappling with a huge backlog of applications.
“The countries from where we have the maximum demand include the US,
the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand,” a senior official of the
ministry of overseas Indian affairs told SundayET. According to a
recent report by the Washington DC-based Migration Policy Institute,
43% of the OCI cards were issued through Indian consulates in the US
and 13% in the UK.
Launched in 2005, the OCI is the closest to any form of dual
citizenship permitted by India. Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), who
migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country
other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as
long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or
the other.
OCI holders are treated on par with NRIs for economic, financial and
educational matters and only don’t have political rights and rights to
buy agricultural and plantation properties. They are also exempt from
registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)
on their arrival in the country.
Immigration and tax experts feel that the OCI card could gain further
traction and prominence as companies that need to send staff members
to India tap into their available pool of people of Indian origin.
“A MNC employee holding the OCI card could be a better choice to
deliver services in India,” says Kuldip Kumar, executive director for
tax and regulatory services at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
KPMG executive director Vikas Vasal agreed, saying India’s growing
importance as an economic destination could boost the allure of the
OCI status.
Employment consultants say companies with large operations in India
are looking at their human resources pool to find OCI cardholders for
key positions in India. “This will definitely create more
opportunities for the pool of people of Indian origin within such
companies. In fact, even when hiring new people, many of these MNCs
will now look for PIOs with the available set of skills,” says Rajesh
Srinivasan, partner at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
With various global players looking at scaling up business operations
in India, it is often becoming necessary to quickly deploy highly
skilled resources in the country.
“OCI cardholders can travel at very short notice and take up
assignments in India, while others could get caught up in bureaucratic
delays over their employment visa. I know of many companies that are
following an active policy of moving PIOs to India for business
expansion,” says Mumbai-based immigration lawyer Poorvi Chothani.
Sid Harth
Indians top US international student chart for eighth year
16 Nov 2009, 1542 hrs IST, PTI
HOUSTON: Despite the economic meltdown, India has maintained its
position as the top sender of students to America for the eighth
consecutive year, with a record 103,260 students enrolled in various
US universities for the year 2008-09.
According to the Open Doors report, released today by the Institute of
International Education (IIE) with support from the US Department of
State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the number of
international students at colleges and universities in the US
increased by 8 per cent to an all-time high of 671,616 in the 2008-09
academic year.
The 8 per cent rise in international student numbers is the largest
increase reported since 1980-81 and marks the third year of
significant growth.
India has once again surpassed China as the leading place of origin
for international students in the United States.
However, while Indian student enrolment increased by 9 per cent from
last year, that of China (98,510) shot up by 21 per cent. South Korean
enrolment (75,065) is up 9 per cent.
Open Doors 2009 reports that the number of "new" international
students -- those enrolled for the first time at a US college or
university in Fall 2008 -- increased by 16 per cent.
Sid Harth
UK Parliamentarians seek 'English test' for visa applicants
15 Nov 2009, 1234 hrs IST, PTI
LONDON: As Britan moves to tighten rules for immigrants, top
parliamentarians have called for a compulsory "English test" for those
applying for UK NRI investments in India visas, a move that could
impact thousands of Indians seeking to move to the country.
The British lawmakers warned that stringent new checks were necessary
to curb abuses of the system and bring immigration "firmly and fairly
under control".
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling and the Liberal Democrat Home
Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne asked the three main parties to adopt a
"common approach" to immigration as Prime minister Gordon Brown vowed
to curb immigration to the UK.
Former Labour social security minister Frank Field and former
Conservative Party Defence Minister Nicholas Soames also underlined
the need for new restrictions on spouses coming into the country, the
Daily Mail said today.
They were quoted as saying by the British tabloid that immigrants
should demonstrate they can speak English so they can "participate
satisfactorily in our society, be able to find work, and know their
rights and responsibilities."
In an open letter to Home Secretary Alan Johnson, Grayling and Huhne
said "it is necessary to deal with a number of abuses of the present
system if immigration is to be brought more firmly and fairly under
control."
Those seeking entry to the UK currently have to complete such a test
before they are granted British citizenship, but the parliamentarians
want the 'English language test' to be made part of the process to be
extended to visa applicants.
Over the past three years, the UK has seen the introduction of e-
Borders to check individuals in and out of the country and the
implementation of the points-based system which ensures that only
those who benefit the economy can come here to work.
Prime Minister Brown vowed on Thursday to shut the doors to highly
skilled non-EU doctors and engineers, and said his government will
consider NRI investments in India denying visa to students seeking
entry to short-term programmes.
Brown has pledged to tighten the new points-based entry system before
the next general election in June next year as large-scale immigration
had put key public services in the country under severe strain and may
be turned into a key electoral issue by the right wing anti-immigrant
parties.
Sid Harth
Immigrants now require 'permission' to stay in UK
13 Nov 2009, 1750 hrs IST, PTI
LONDON: Further tightening its noose on immigrants, the UK has
proposed a bill under which five current application categories
available to such NRI investments in India people will be replaced
with a clear-cut concept - 'permission' to be in the country.
Under the new Immigration Bill, immigrants will either be granted
permission or refused, making the rules easier for applicants and
staff.
Those in the United Kingdom must gain permission or face removal for
breaking the law.
These proposals are the next step in building on the rapid progress
the government has made in tightening up Britain's border controls.
Over the past three years the UK has seen the introduction of e-
Borders to check individuals in and out of the country and the
implementation of the points-based system which ensures that only
those who benefit the economy can come here to work.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown had announced that doors will
be shut to highly skilled non-EU doctors and engineers, and the
government will consider denying visa to students seeking entry to
short-term programmes.
In order to bring together the essential changes that have already
taken place, the government is proposing a new bill to bring forward a
new legal framework to simplify and consolidate 40 years of
immigration laws.
"This government has implemented the biggest overhaul of the
immigration system for a generation, and it is important that UK laws
reflect these changes," Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas
said.
"I believe that Parliament should be in primary control of immigration
- this bill will ensure that Parliament and not case law determines
policy," he added.
He said the draft immigration Bill will enable the government to work
more efficiently and is the next step in bringing together the strong
measures put in place to control our borders and making them simple to
use and enforce.
The new, temporary, time-limited, permission will be given for a
particular purpose to visit, work or study and is subject to
conditions such as access to work or public funds.
Permanent residents will be given permission without any time limit or
conditions attached.
The draft bill also proposes a new streamlined power of expulsion
replacing the current powers of deportation and removal, individuals
who are issued with an expulsion order will be required to leave the
UK and will not be able to re-enter while the order is in force.
A tough new menu of conditions is proposed for those on immigration
bail, including restrictions on residence, work or study, access to
public funds, and reporting and electronic monitoring.
The government also published proposals for a new streamlined asylum
support system wherein those plying with the rules will be rewarded
and tough stance will be taken against those who do not streamline the
current complex system of support.
"I believe our proposals strike a fair balance between supporting
asylum seekers while their claim is being determined and encouraging
the return of those who have no protection needs and who have no right
to be in the UK," Woolas said.
Sid Harth
UK to tighten immigration norms
13 Nov 2009, 0122 hrs IST, AGENCIES
LONDON: British prime minister Gordon Brown said on Thursday that
doctors and other professionals from outside Europe would be prevented
from taking up jobs in the country, in a crackdown on immigration.
Ahead of a major speech on immigration later on Thursday, Brown
pledged to tighten the points based system for determining which
migrants can work in Britain, saying immigration would fall under his
government.
“One of the reasons that immigration will fall is the tightening of
the new points system and it will continue to tighten over the next
few months,” Brown said in an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper.
Brown said immigration had been a source of “economic, social and
cultural strength for Britain”, but he understood concerns about the
impact of a rising population on employment, wages and the cost of
housing.
“I know people worry about whether immigration undermines their wages
and the job prospects of their children and they also worry about
whether they will get a decent home for their families,” he said.
“They want to be assured that the system is tough and fair. They want
to be assured that newcomers to the country will accept their
responsibilities... obey all the laws, speaking English is important,
making a contribution.” Britain faced a shortage of doctors and nurses
when Brown’s Labour Party came to power in 1997, and thousands have
been recruited from overseas in recent years.
“We have now done a huge amount to train a new generation of medical
staff in our country,” he said. “We are now looking at how we can
close the skills gap in this country so we can take occupations off
the list where we need to recruit from abroad.”
Sid Harth
Britain student visas will be tougher to get
13 Nov 2009, 0118 hrs IST, Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN
NEW DELHI: Visa rules for UK-bound students may get tougher as British
prime minister Gordon Brown spelled out a review of student visas to
be jointly conducted by the UK home office and department for
business, innovation and skills in a speech on immigration at West
London on Thursday.
The review would ‘‘look at the case for raising the minimum level of
course for which foreign students can get a visa,’’ Brown said.
The report will be in this December and would also ‘‘examine the case
for introducing mandatory English-language testing for student visas
other than for English courses, and also review rules under which
students on lower qualification courses work part time, especially
those on short courses, to look at whether temporary students are
filling jobs that would be better filled by young British workers.’’
Speaking to TOI on the issue of raising the minimum level of course
for which foreign students can get a visa, Sam Murray, official
spokesperson of UK Border Agency, said: ‘‘At present, a general
student can get a confirmation of acceptance for studies or a visa
letter for courses that lead to an approved qualification approved at
level 3 or the same as or above on the national qualifications
framework, among others. What we got from the speech is that this
level is to be reviewed’’.
At present, student visas are granted under the Tier 4 of the point-
based system introduced in March 2009 whereby a student needs 40
points to be eligible for a visa. Thirty points are based on the visa
letter, which also acts as a sponsorship letter and 10 points for the
proof of availability sufficient fund.
While English testing is so far not mandatory for Tier 4, this aspect
would also come under review and, maybe, made mandatory for the Tier 4
visa as well.
Sid Harth
Brown vows to curb entry of doctors, professionals to UK
13 Nov 2009, 0328 hrs IST, PTI
LONDON: Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday pledged to curb the
entry of doctors and other professionals from outside Europe into the
UK in a Most expensive cities for expats new crackdown on immigration,
a move likely to adversely impact thousands of Indians.
Signalling a major shift in the Labour government's immigration
policy, the Prime Minister vowed to "stem rising tide of migration".
He said his government plans to restrict the points based system for
determining which migrants can work in Britain.
"One of the reasons that immigration will fall is the tightening of
the new points system and it will continue to tighten over the next
few months," Brown told the Daily Mail in an interview ahead of a
major speech on immigration today.
Even as insisting that immigration had been a source of "economic,
social and cultural strength" for Britain, Brown said the points-based
system, introduced last year to control the entry of non-EU citizens
to the UK by grading incomers on the skills they can offer the
country, would be further toughened up.
In a major policy change, Brown is expected to announce that the door
is being closed to non-EU hospital consultants, civil engineers,
aircraft engineers and ship's officers, the report said.
"I know people worry about whether immigration undermines their wages
and the job prospects of their children and they also worry about
whether they will get a decent home for their families," he
underlined.
Brown pledged to tighten the new points-based entry system before the
next general election in June next year as large-scale immigration had
put key public services in the country under severe strain and may be
turned into a key electoral issue by the right wing anti-immigrant
parties.
The Labour government has faced controversy as local doctors have
struggled to find employment.
Last week, Home Secretary Alan Johnson admitted ministers had failed
to grasp growing public concern about the pressures on jobs and public
services.
"I understand people's concerns when they hear suggestions that levels
of immigration are going to rise. Especially in difficult economic
times, people have concerns," said Brown, who is preparing for a tough
electoral battle with the Conservative Party which is ahead in most
opinion polls.
He said the British citizens want "to be assured that the system is
tough and fair". "They want to be assured that newcomers to the
country will accept their responsibilities...obey all the laws,
speaking English is important, making a contribution," he underlined.
"We ask people to show that they abide by our laws, we ask people to
show that they understand our constitution and our democracy, we ask
people to show that they understand the values of liberty, fair play
and responsibility," Brown was quoted as saying by the British
tabloid.
Brown said the latest assessments were that net migration, which hit
more than 290,000 in 2005, has fallen by more than 40 per cent over
the last year - and pledged it would fall further.
He said this is "not an arbitrary cap". "We are going to be setting
out a programme for making sure that we in Britain can train our
British young people and British workers who are looking for jobs,"
Brown underlined.
Sid Harth
Sid Harth
Over 11,000 H-1B slots still up for grabs in US
12 Nov 2009, 2303 hrs IST, PTI
WASHINGTON: Over 11,000 H-1B visa slots, once the most sought-after
among Indian professionals, are still vacant against the Congress-
mandated cap of 65,000 for the fiscal 2010, according to US
immigration authorities.
"As of October 30, approximately 53,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions had
been filed," the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
said.
This is against the Congressionally-mandated cap of 65,000 H-1B visas
for this year.
This is for the first time in several years that thousands of H-1B
visas are still to be filled up. In previous years, the entire visa
slots used to be grabbed on day one. Many a times, the USCIS had to
resort to a computerised lottery to determine the successful
candidates.
The USCIS also announced that it has approved sufficient H1-B
petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of
20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap.
"Any H1-B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced
degree will now count toward the general H1-B cap of 65,000," it
said.
"USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced
degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been
received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact
that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn," it
said.
bademiyansubhanallah
THE NEW GLOBAL INDIAN
NOVEMBER 17, 2009, 12:24 A.M. ET.
Desis in the (White) House By S. MITRA KALITA..
They are the hottest tickets in town: invitations to the first
official dinner at the White House.
The Obamas' guest of honor on Nov. 24 will be Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh. Some invites already have gone out but many wannabe
attendees are still waiting …somewhat anxiously.
Will they make the cut?
This being the Indian community—one of the most affluent and
successful immigrant groups in the U.S.—everybody thinks they're a
Somebody. And with this dinner bigger than the dinner President George
W. Bush held for Mr. Singh in 2005, the chances of getting in are
higher. Well, maybe. Politico reported that talk-show celebrity Oprah
Winfrey might be there, which means the Obamas are inviting friends,
which means the president of the South Asian Optometry Association of
the Greater Houston area doesn't stand a chance.
Back in July 2005, President Bush had less than 150 guests, many of
them prominent donors to the Republican Party or the heads of
companies from Infosys Technologies to Ethan Allen Inc. While the
White House is declining to comment, people with knowledge of the
affair say it could draw between 300 and 400. The White House remains
mum on exactly who will be there, saying a guest list will be
disclosed on the actual day.
Asia Society president Vishakha N. Desai confirmed her attendance next
week, saying it will mark her third dinner at the White House for a
visiting Indian official. (The Obama dinner for Singh is technically
not a "state dinner" since the Indian president is the head of state—a
bestowment in itself a technicality given the clout Pratibha Patil
really has.)
Last time around, Ms. Desai sat next to Mr. Singh and described the
experience as an "amazing honor."
"Each White House takes a slightly different spin on the dinner," Ms.
Desai said. Her husband, Robert Oxnam, also was president of the Asia
Society in the 1980s and remembers actress Raquel Welch, for example,
at the 1985 dinner hosted by Ronald and Nancy Reagan honoring
Singapore's longtime Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. President Clinton
invited 700 people over for dinner with Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, the last and largest such banquet of his presidency. The
guest list included the late NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla and
celebrities such as tennis player Vijay Amritraj and model Christie
Brinkley. That dinner featured desi hints with Darjeeling tea, a pea
and cilantro soup, and a dessert spread with fruits such as mango and
litchis included.
The Bush dinner for Mr. Singh also tried to nod to the guest of
honor's homeland. The saffron tablecloths were topped with trumpeting
elephants made of flowers (a convenient meeting of the GOP symbol with
an important animal in Indian culture). Among other fare, the Bushes
served basmati rice and a slew of ice creams, from cashew to chocolate-
cardamom.
"Mrs. Bush introduced me to Mrs. Singh by saying I was CEO of the
'best home furnishing company of the world,'" Farooq Kathwari,
president of Ethan Allen, recalled this week. "She then turned to me
and asked me if that was true. I said how could I argue with her."
South Asians--here and there--are certainly watching Mr. Obama's
overtures toward India with interest. After Mr. Obama won the
election, Indian media widely reported that he "snubbed' Mr. Singh by
not returning his congratulatory call. Mr. Singh refuted the accounts,
saying he was busy traveling and the two could not connect. And in
both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mr. Obama's initial trips
to Asia, India did not make their itineraries. Mrs. Clinton did go in
July, carrying the dinner invitation for Mr. Singh.
As conflict in Pakistan and Afghanistan escalates, Mr. Obama faces a
tricky balancing act in not allowing relations with India to appear
driven by foreign-policy concerns with its neighbors. Mr. Bush was
especially lauded for his ability to cement such an independent
relationship, most notably by guiding the nuclear deal to passage.
"There was a feeling that Bush had given India very special
consideration. Since the arrival of the Obama administration, there is
a feeling among Indian media and some elites that India is losing its
special status in the U.S.," Ms. Desai said. "In India's 62-year-old
history as an independent nation, the U.S. and India have been
estranged partners for a longer time than allies.This relationship is
still young. It has to be nurtured. So it's great to have the first
state visit."
Great, if you can get in.
"Usually they come pretty much at the last minute," a hopeful Sharad
Lakhanpal said of the coveted invitation. The rheumatologist, medical
professor and past president of the American Association of Physicians
of Indian Origin attended the Bush-Singh dinner in 2005 but hasn't
heard a peep this time around. "I may be wrong but I think if they
send out invitations early, people might inundate them with requests,"
said Dr. Lakhanpal, who added that he wasn't even president of the
physicians group when he went to dinner last time.
"Dinner" feels a misnomer for what really is an elaborately
orchestrated affair, beginning with a welcome reception on the White
House south lawn. Guests' names are announced, but couples are usually
not seated together. (Just like at weekend dinner parties, Aunty heads
one way and Uncle the other…) There's been much speculation over who
will provide the entertainment next week. The White House has asked
Indian community groups for help finding singers, dancers and other
performers, according to members of those groups that requested
anonymity.
Mr. Obama already has won over much of the Indian diaspora, too, with
last month's celebration of Diwali at the White House; Mr. Bush
actually was the first to add Diwali to the presidential calendar, but
that was usually marked in the Old Executive Office Building and the
president himself did not attend. This year, Mr. Obama combined Diwali
with signing an executive order to set up a commission for Asian
Americans. He also asked the a cappella group, Penn Masala, to
perform.
View Full Image
Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama lights an oil lamp in celebration of
Diwali in the East Room of the White House in Washington, October 14,
2009. (REUTERS/Larry Downing)
.And in a greeting passed from one desi to another, posted on
countless Facebook walls and status updates, Mr. Obama explained
Diwali and its meaning for various religious groups.
But Rediff.com reported that the actual celebration of Diwali in the
White House also resulted in jockeying for admission. "We have no idea
how many Indian Americans are being invited or have been invited to
what was essentially in the past six years a desi event," an unnamed
community activist told the web site.
It appears admission to the Diwali function is not an automatic "in"
to next week's dinner.
As of Monday, DJ Rekha, born as Rekha Malhotra, the New York-based
deejay who helped make bhangra a household word, hadn't yet received
an invite—even though she met Mr. Obama at the Diwali function last
month. She wasn't sweating it though.
"I'm on Letterman tonight," said Ms. Malhotra, adding that she's
playing with musicians Wyclef Jean, Cyndi Lauper and Neel Murgai.
Maybe that will help her chances. Or maybe the White House is just
running on Indian standard time.
—S. Mitra Kalita is the Wall Street Journal's deputy global economics
editor.
chhotemianinshallah
Canada owes its prosperity to Punjabi settlers: PM Harper
18 Nov 2009, 2122 hrs IST, PTI
AMRITSAR: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his country owes
its prosperity to the hard work and grit of about 1.2 million Punjabi
immigrants.
"1.2 million Punjabis out of which more than eight lakh are from
Indian Punjab are settled in Canada and making significant
contribution to strengthening the Canadian economy," Harper, who was
here to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, said at a meeting with
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Describing Punjabis as partners in the progress of Canada, the Premier
said they have been contributing to the country's development through
their hard work and grit for more than a century.
He also evinced keen interest in exploring feasibility of setting up
joint ventures with the state government in Punjab for the promotion
of agro-based industries and boosting its power sector, an official
release said.
The Deputy CM told the visiting Premier that farmers in Punjab were
not getting remunerative price for their produce and asked him to
explore the possibility of transferring technical expertise from
Canada to help farmers in the state add more value to their products.
Citing the state's growing power needs, he said it could benefit
immensely from Canadian expertise in the power sector.
chhotemianinshallah
Indian couple in Australia alleges racist attack
18 Nov 2009, 2036 hrs IST, PTI
MELBOURNE: An Indian couple living in a Melbourne suburb today claimed
that a group of three people, including two women, beat them up with
an iron rod and a steel chair in an apparent racist attack.
Rodney Raj and his wife Rathna said they were attacked on November 14
in their home in Bundoora, 19 km north-east from the Melbourne central
business district.
Describing the ordeal to Indian television channel 'Times Now', Rodney
said at around 10.30 pm, he heard his dog barking and opened the door
to find two girls and a boy on his porch. He told them to go away.
But after some time, he heard a sound in his garage and went there to
see that a chair has been put atop his car and they were "scanning my
letter-box". When he asked them what was happening, the man "started
running towards me and grabbed me. I grabbed him back," Rodney said.
"One of the woman grabbed the chair, the other woman had an iron post.
One woman started bashing me with the chair and the other woman
started bashing me with the iron post. I took 3-4 blows before I fell
to the ground. The guy sat on me and started punching me. He landed
about 6-7 blows on my face and kept saying he would kill me," Rodney
said.
When her wife rushed in, the girls "started teasing her and tried to
get her clothes off," he claimed. He went to protect her and took more
blows, he said.
There was no police confirmation of the incident, neither it was
reported in Australian media
bademiyansubhanallah
Galleon case suspect on the run in Mumbai: FBI
Press Trust Of India / New York November 09, 2009, 0:22 IST
Deep Shah, an Indian-origin suspect in the largest ever hedge fund
scam in the US, is on the run and is believed to be in Mumbai, federal
authorities have said.
Shah, 27, and Gautam Shankar, 35, were among the 14 new suspects
charged on Thursday in the $53 million insider trading scam by the
FBI.
While Shah is a former analyst at the Moody’s Investor Service,
Shankar who has already pleaded guilty, is a former proprietary trader
at Schottenfeld Group in New York.
According to federal authorities, Shah gave insider information about
Hilton Group takeover by Blackstone Group LP, to one Roomy Khan, 51,
who has previously worked with Intel Corp and Galleon who then passed
it over to main accused Raj Rajaratnam who is of Sri Lankan origin.
It is not clear at this point whether the US will request for
extradition of Shah, who is believed to be in Mumbai, or whether he
can be tried in India.
Two other Indians were charged in the fraud earlier along with
Rajaratnam, Galleon Group founder and one of America’s richest men.
Rajiv Goel, director in strategic investments at Intel Corp’s
investment arm, and Anil Kumar, a director at global management-
consulting firm McKinsey & Co, both 51, were charged for fraud last
month.
chhotemianinshallah
Hindus ask new Sofia mayor to urgently improve Roma plight.
Monday, 23 November 2009 10:16
Hindus and Jews have strongly urged newly elected mayor of Sofia
(Bulgaria) Yordanka Fandakova to improve the plight of Roma people
residing in Sofia, who were reportedly facing apartheid like
conditions.
Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich,
prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; in a joint
statement in Nevada today, said that mayor Fandakova should make Roma
upliftment her first priority as their maltreatment was a dark stain
on the face of Sofia and Bulgaria.
Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, and Rabbi
Freirich stressed that it was simply immoral to continue staying
apathetic and silent spectator ignoring Roma plight, who reportedly
regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education,
hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower
life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, stereotypes,
mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization,
appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, etc.
Commissioner for Human Rights of Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg,
who recently concluded a three-day visit to Sofia, visited a Roma
settlement in the Republika district of Sofia where he assessed the
living conditions as inhumane. “No one should live in these conditions
in today’s Europe” he declared.
Capital and largest city of Bulgaria, Sofia is the second oldest city
in Europe whose roots can be traced back to about 7000 years. Lonely
Planet has described Sofia as "city waking up after decades of
slumber".
-Sampurn Media
Sid Harth
In Dubai, thriving Indian clubs with a dark side?
RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL, TNN
23 November 2009, 11:43am IST
DUBAI: What do Miss Seema, Miss Ritu, Miss Kareena and Miss Sonam have
in common, other than standing in a cavern in one of Dubai’s most
successful Indian entertainment clubs? All of them are young, dressed
in provocative mini skirts or diaphanous lehngas and condemned to
moving their hips to tuneless renderings of Hindi film songs for seven
hours each night, seven days a week.
After that, if you believe the goody-goody accounts provided by the
girls and their employer, they are bussed demurely home to shared
accommodation, where they sleep the sleep of the just. Next quarter,
next month or next week, Miss Seema, Miss Ritu, Miss Kareena and Miss
Sonam might give way to Miss Anjali, Miss Rita, Miss Sonali and Miss
Divya. It doesn’t matter much. ‘‘These aren’t their real names, new
girls in the 19 to 27 age group are always available and change keeps
everything fresh,’’ explains Sadanand Shetty, the 30-something owner
of Dhamaal, which is expanding as an Indian entertainment club chain
despite the recession.
Could Shetty’s clubs and the half-dozen or so other such be the dark
side of Indian commerce in Dubai, where prostitution is illegal but
the police themselves report deporting 4,300 prostitutes in 2006? It
would hardly be surprising even though pimping and the sex trade has,
till now, been linked with other nationalities, notably Chinese and
Russian. Shetty and the girls insist they do nothing more titillating
than dancing in skin-tight clothes. But insiders are sceptical. ‘‘I
think there is something happening there that isn’t widely spoken
about. I do think the girls ply the trade,’’ says a young man who has
worked for the club for years.
Another, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he knew the
girls sold their bodies or what would be their incentive to dance
well? ‘‘They are not allowed tips on stage.’’
Add to that the Indian population math. The Indian embassy in UAE says
about a million Indians live in Dubai and the northern Emirates, ie
Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. An estimated two-
thirds of this million are lone men because UAE allows workers the
luxury of family only if they earn over 4,000 dirhams or $1,100 a
month. This sum is beyond the means of most Indians in Dubai because
they are overwhelmingly unskilled construction, agricultural or
domestic workers, or engaged in skilled and semi-skilled work.
These lone men keep the Dhamaal chain throbbing, so much so that on
the weekday night TOI visited, one club was packed with at least 150
enthusiastic customers at 2am. Shetty claims he pays the girls
anything between Rs 40,000 and Rs 2 lakh a month as well as full board
and lodging ‘‘to dance, do shows, nothing more...they can’t have
contact with customers, they can’t even go off with boyfriends because
it will damage their reputation — and ours.’’
But some of the girls appeared to be breaking all of Shetty’s stated
rules and openly flirting with and signalling to favoured regulars.
Whatever they do — or don’t — India’s female exports to Dubai are
hardly unique. With its 180 nationalities, the city-state is brimming
over with ethnicity-specific ‘entertainment clubs’. And Shetty says
it’s not unusual in seeing the Indian ‘entertainment club’ as a
sunshine sector, where each bottle of whisky is priced at 1,000
dirhams or five times its cost.
He insists he acquires a performer’s visa for each of the 14-strong
contingent of girls in each club. ‘‘The performers are drawn from
different Indian states,’’ says the Mumbaikar with pan-Indian pride,
adding ‘‘we have agents looking out for likely candidates”.
Singer Miss Roshni from Kolkata, whose role appears roughly equivalent
to that of Mother Superior at a convent, says the girls are looked
after tenderly. There is general agreement — and some proof at least —
of this. Backstage, the girls are encouraged to snack on home fare
such as fresh parathas, dahi, subzi, pickles and gallons of hot tea.
Hani, who runs a small business that keeps Shetty’s girls’ hairdos
immaculate throughout the evening, says the Dhamaal founder is almost
unique in the Dubai entertainment sector. Clearly, even the dark side
of Dubai may have its silver lining and hearts of gold.
Sid Harth
More Indian Americans returning to India
25 Nov 2009, 1526 hrs IST, PTI
The number of Americans of Indian-origin coming back to India,
especially South India, has increased in the last few years as the
opportunities Most expensive cities for expats available for them here
had increased, an American official said on Tuesday.
Even the number of Americans, especially students coming to India for
studies had increased, Bryan W Dalton, consul and chief of Consular
Services, US Consulate at Chennai, told reporters in Madurai.
Another reason for Americans coming to India was Bollywood.
Some people who did not find jobs in America were also returning, he
said. Stating that the number of H-1B visa seekers had come down, he
said that this could be due to global economic meltdown and hoped the
situation would improve once the United Staes economy picked up.
On complaints regarding rejection of visas for students, he said that
Indian students were contributing a lot in the field of research and
103,000 students were studying in America.
He said the visa was rejected only if the certificates and other
credentials were found to be fake or the student was not qualified
enough or did not submit enough documents for issue of visa.
"No qualified student with good academic background is denied a visa.
Even the dependents of Green cardholders visa is denied only if we
suspect their ability to take care of the dependents in America", he
said.
The number of visa applications processed at Chennai had come down
from 240,000 to 190,000 from October 2008 to September 2009. One
reason could be that a separate consulate had been opened at
Hyderabad, Dalton said.
Though visa could be sought at any of the consulate offices, it would
be easy for the consul officials to process the applications faster if
the respective state residents sought the visa from the nearest
Consul.
To a question, he said there were only few cases of fake Indian
passports being submitted at Chennai for visa.
He denied that Indian Muslims were treated differently at US airports
and said the same security check procedure was followed for all by the
immigrant and security officials at various airports in America.
Sid Harth
Canada introduces express business visas for Indians
22 Nov 2009, 0140 hrs IST, PTI
TORONTO: Canada has announced a new liberal business visa regime for
Indian businessmen to catch up with other industrialised nations in
boosting Most expensive cities for expats
The new visa regime was announced by the government here close on the
heels of the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India.
Under the new system, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said
applications from Indian citizens for business visas will be cleared
within 24 hours. The express visa service offers multiple entry visas
to applicants.
Along with the liberal visa regime, Toronto has also announced that a
new nuclear cooperation pact and a mutual investment protection
agreement was on the fast track. The nuclear agreement will pave the
way for supply of enriched uranium for India's civil nuclear energy
needs.
"We're actively negotiating a nuclear cooperation pact and have an
investment protection agreement, and have established one of our most
widespread overseas networks in India, with three new trade offices
opened by our government since 2006," Kenney said.
"We have also decided to double the number of Indian students coming
to Canada," the minister said adding that the country is working with
India on several initiatives aimed at boosting bilateral trade,
currently at a "ridiculously low" level, to around USD 15 billion in
next five years.
The minister was speaking at a function last night organised by the
Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce also attended by Indian Consul General
to Canada, Preeti Saran.
Describing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to India as
"extremely successful, Consul General Preeti Saran said that it would
go a long way in strengthening strategic partnership between the two
countries. She added that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's visit to
India next month would further strengthen cooperation in the energy
sector.
Meanwhile, Ontario Minister of Government Services Harinder Takhar
commended the contributions made by Indo-Canadians in the economic
development of Canada and said that India's rapidly growing economy
and its commitment to expand investment would provide significant
opportunities for investors in a variety of sectors, including
infrastructure, education, and energy.
ICCC President Asha Luthra said that Chamber of Commerce has taken a
number of initiatives to boost bilateral trade and investment between
the two countries, and also highlighted ICCC's achievements in the
past one year.
Sid Harth
US officials to audit more companies for hiring illegal immigrants
21 Nov 2009, 0013 hrs IST, New York Times
WASHINGTON: Immigration enforcement officials said on Thursday that
they were expanding a program for auditing companies that might have
hired illegal immigrants and had notified 1,000 companies this week
that they would have to undergo such a review.
John Morton, who heads Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as
ICE, announced the new initiative, saying it was part of the
administration’s plan to deal with companies that hire illegal
workers. "ICE is focused on finding and penalizing employers who
believe they can unfairly get ahead by cultivating illegal
workplaces," Morton said.
He said that because the program was a law enforcement operation, he
would not identify the companies that would undergo an audit except to
say that they had been selected as a result of investigative leads and
their connection to public safety and national security.
The language suggests the audits will affect private companies
involved in infrastructure operations like gas and electric utilities
and contractors on military bases but not retailers and manufacturers
of nonessential goods.
The announcement of the action appears to be part of a two-pronged
strategy by Homeland Security officials to crack down on companies
that regularly rely on illegal workers while simultaneously trying to
reward companies that are diligent in checking the documentation of
prospective workers.
At a separate event on Thursday, Janet Napolitano, the secretary of
Homeland Security, urged American consumers to favor companies that
make efforts to ensure that they do not hire illegal immigrants.
To that end, Napolitano said that her department was permitting
companies that use a new computerized system to check the legal status
of employees to feature a special logo on their products and ads
saying "I E-Verify."
The E-Verify campaign allows employers to match a prospective
candidate’s name against a database that combines several government
lists, including Social Security, passport and border information.
The first audit conducted by ICE covered 654 companies and resulted in
the filing of formal notices to seek a fine from 61. ICE officials
said they were considering seeking fines from an additional 267
companies from that first audit.
An audit consists of ICE officials checking each worker’s Employee
Eligibility Verification Form, known as an I-9, to determine what
steps were taken to confirm the person was eligible to be hired. If
irregularities are found, the companies may then be fined for lax
monitoring.
The strategy is part of the Obama administration’s effort to reduce
illegal immigration by forcing companies to fire unauthorized workers
rather than by conducting raids at the workplace, actions that are
often accompanied by great personal trauma, including deportation and
the dividing of immigrant families.
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, a leading Republican on immigration policy,
on Thursday sharply criticized the administration’s approach. Smith
said it was unwise to end "worksite enforcement" actions, or raids.
"The most effective means we have of making these jobs available to
American citizens and legal immigrants is U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement worksite enforcement actions," he said. "Each time ICE
detains and deports an illegal immigrant worker, ICE creates a job for
an American worker."
The audits, however, have resulted in large-scale dismissals at the
hands of employers, leaving the government one step removed.
In September, American Apparel, a clothing maker with a large garment
factory in downtown Los Angeles, fired about 1,800 immigrant employees
– more than a quarter of its work force – after a federal audit turned
up irregularities in identity documents the workers presented when
they were hired.
Sid Harth
Indians top US international student; Chinese catching up fast
17 Nov 2009, 1427 hrs IST, PTI
WASHINGTON: Indians remained the biggest group of foreign students in
the United States in the last academic year, but Chinese scholars are
showing growing interest in American varsities and are fast levelling
up.
The number of foreign students in US grew by eight per cent to touch
an all time record level of 671,616 in 2008-2009, the sharpest growth
since 1980-81, with students from India making up the majority of
entrants at 103,260, according to the Open Doors 2009 figures released
yesterday.
But, China is fast catching up with more than 98,510 students heading
for US, showing an increase of almost 21 per cent. This foreign
student influx is proving an economic boon to the US.
"China was the largest sending country for many years until India
surpassed it. China may again surpass India," Peggy Blumenthal,
executive vice president and COO of the Institute of International
Education, said.
The study showed that American varsities because of their reputation,
flexibility and enrolment drive attract more foreign students than any
other country and this was generating a revenue of more than $ 18
billion and an engine to kickstart the troubled US economy again.
While, two thirds of the Indian students start at the graduation
level, a fair number also are in professional courses, the study
said.
In 2007-08 and 2008-09, students from India made up slightly more than
15 per cent of the total foreign student population in the US.
chhotemianinshallah
PM officially approves dual-nation Indian professional
Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN 26 November 2009, 06:11pm IST
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday gave his
official stamp of approval to the transcontinental, bi-national Indian
professional who straddles two countries, despite the Indian
government’s reluctance to offer dual citizenship to expatriate
Indians.
Inviting ''all Indian-Americans and non-resident Indians who wish to
return home to India in one capacity or another,'' the Prime Minister
told a gathering of the Indian community here, ''You no longer have to
make a choice between here and there. Modern technology and our
flexible policies have opened possibilities of working in both
places.''
He said India has already experienced this ''reverse brain drain'' in
the last few years, but he preferred to call this ''brain gain'' or a
meeting of minds, suggesting that he had no issues with expats
continuing to have links with their adopted country while working in
India or vice versa. Some studies in the US, notably several by Vivek
Wadhwa of Duke University, have expressed concern about foreign talent
in the US, especially from India and China, returning home permanently
after absorbing skills from the American university system and
workplace.
The Prime Minister’s bold offer was premised on what he said was a
''commonality of values and interests'' between India and the United
States which had ''matured into a strong strategic partnership of
global dimension.''
''I want to see a true intellectual and business partnership between
Indians and Americans in years to come. We are similar in so many
ways. We are both free and open societies. We are both plural, multi-
ethnic, multi-racial and multi-religious societies. Metaphors like
salad bowl, melting pot and the rainbow have been used to describe
both our societies,'' Singh told a 600-plus strong gathering at a
reception hosted by Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar.
''We are constantly dealing with issues like coalition building,
dealing with civil society organizations, non-governmental activism
and the free consumer -- of goods and ideas. This is what makes it
easy for Indians to adapt themselves to the US and, dare I say, for
Americans to adapt themselves to India. I hope you will be the bridge
that will continue to connect our two nations and societies,'' he
added.
The Prime Minister’s daughter, Amrit Singh, is a New York-based
judicial activist with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Singh also took an implicit dig at ties between neighboring Pakistan
and China with the U.S, saying, ''Our relationship is not born out of
a crisis or any one concern; nor does it exist in the context of any
other relationship. It is nurtured by our shared values; and the bonds
and mutual respect that exist between the people of our two democratic
and pluralistic societies.''
The Indian community reception was Singh’s last public engagement
before he left Thursday morning to attend the Commonwealth meeting in
Trinidad on his way back to India after a three-state state visit to
the United States that was from all accounts a success.
bademiyansubhanallah
PM invites Indian diaspora to see new creative India
Press Trust Of India
Port of Spain, November 27, 2009
First Published: 09:19 IST(27/11/2009)
Last Updated: 10:22 IST(27/11/2009)
Identifying education and business as areas of reconnecting with
Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday invited them
to undertake a "pilgrimage" to the "new creative India" and be active
partners of the country's development and progress by making use of
investment and business opportunities.
He said India, whose education system was once an envy of the world,
had "lost ground" over last three decades and his government was
committed to correct the situation.
Addressing a reception for Indian community here soon after his
arrival from Washington, Singh told them that India
is on the move and is reaching out to the world with confidence and in
a spirit of live and let live.
Reaching out to the People of Indian Origin, he said, "You are, for
millions of Indians, the most visible symbol of
our own globalisation process... For us, globalisation is a natural
means of linking up with the international community
of Indians."
Education and business are the "two major areas through which we are
reconnecting with the people of Indian origin worldwide," he said in
the capital of Trinidad and Toboga, whose almost half of 1.3 billion
population is of
Indian origin.
Noting that India seeks to tap the wellspring of Indian creativity and
enterprise from around the world, Singh said his government was
committed to cementing a "new bond of mutually-beneficial
collaboration" between India and the
people of Indian origin around the world.
"Our ability to do so will depend on our ability to forge
partnerships, on the one hand, and our ability to provide the proper
environment for the flowering of such partnerships at home," Singh
said at the event attended by Indian-origin Ministers, MPs and
business leaders of Trinidad and Tobago.
"I want all those people of Indian origin who have never been to India
to make a pilgrimage and discover the new
creative India that is in the making. I invite you to make use of
investment and business opportunities that India now
offers," the Prime Minister said.
Referring to the education sector, Singh said there was time when the
Indian gurukul system and universities at Takshila, Nalanda and
Nagarjuna were the envy of the world.
"Even after independence, Indian colleges and universities continued
to attract students from all over the world. In the last 20 to 30
years, we have lost ground both because both because we failed to
incentivise our institutions
to become global players and foreign universities became more
aggressive in marketing," he said.
"I invite you to be active partners of a new India and walk with us in
finding new pathways of development and progress. I invite you to feel
the love and affection of Mother India and feel the warmth of her
embrace," Singh said.
He said the cornerstone of India's interaction with its diaspora
remains its shared culture -- both ancient and modern -- and that he
would like to see children of people of Indian origin get
opportunities wherever they are living to
learn classical Indian dance and music.
"At the same time, we must expand modern means of satellite-based
communication so that Indian film, music and television can reach your
homes even though you may be distant from India physically," he said.
"As I have often said, if there is one phenomenon in the world over
which the sun truly never sets, it is the phenomenon of the global
community of people of Indian origin," the Prime Minister said.
Observing that the 21st century would be the "knowledge century", he
said India was proud of its inheritance in this respect and in
overseas Indians have played an extremely important role in global
brand building in this respect.
chhotemianinshallah
November 27, 2009
The Indian Community in Myanmar
Guest Column by Dr. V. Suryanarayan
The Indian Community in Myanmar is one of those forgotten children of
Mother India. The tragic status of the community has not been
sufficiently brought to light by any institution in India..
The Singhvi Committee Report:
According to the Singhvi Committee Report, the total Indian population
in Myanmar is estimated to be 2.9 million, of which 2,500,00 are
People of Indian Origin (PIO), 2,000 are Indian citizens, and 400,000
are stateless.1 Regarding the Stateless category, it must be mentioned
that all of them are born in Myanmar, they belong to the third or
fourth generation. But since they do not have any “documents to prove
their citizenship under the Burmese citizenship law of 1982” they are
deemed to be “stateless.”2 As T. P. Sreenivasan, former Indian
Ambassador to Myanmar has pointed out “they had no rights either in
the land of their origin or in their land of adoption, and neither the
two governments seemed concerned.”3 In fact, of the Indian diaspora,
Myanmar has the largest number of “stateless” people.
History:
Historically, like other parts of Southeast Asia, Burma came under the
spell of Indian cultural influences. Thanks to priests, princes,
poets, and artists, the Indian culture spread into Burma in a big way;
the spread of Buddhism directly from India and indirectly through
Ceylon profoundly influenced all aspects of Burmese life.
If one leaves aside this glorious chapter in the history of India, the
contacts with the outside world, especially during the colonial
period, had been accompanied by sorrow, misery, and impoverishment.
Imperialist domination made India the pivot of the British Empire and
the vast reservoir of manpower were exploited to serve the colonial
interests of Britain. Large armies of labourers, soldiers, clerks, and
traders migrated to different parts of the Empire to serve the
politico-economic interests of Britain. Few money lenders and educated
people also went to those countries on their own initiative.
Indigenous and Alien Minorities
An important clue to the understanding of modern Burmese history is to
keep in mind the demographic and ethnic diversity in the country. With
more than 100 ethnic groups, languages, and dialects, no other country
in Southeast Asia displays such a diversity. It is a veritable
kaleidoscope. Historically Burma had been the buffer among the
neighbouring countries of China, India, and Thailand.
More than 2,000 years of cultural interaction among various races and
ethnic groups has resulted in the development of diverse ethnic
settlements, residing both in the mountainous frontier zones and
lowland plains. Burma has a population of 56 million, the majority
Burman number nearly two-thirds. The largest minorities are Shan – 9
per cent and Karen – 7 per cent. Other indigenous minority groups
include Mon, Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayan, Danu, Akha, Kokang, Lahu,
Rohingyia, Tavoyan, and Wa peoples. They constitute nearly 5 per cent
of the population.
Until the annexation of Burma as an integral part of the Indian Empire
in 1886, the country had never existed as a unified State. What is
more, the British permitted many indigenous groups living in the
frontier areas to have their own administrative set up. It was only
after independence that the Government made attempts to integrate the
various ethnic groups into one nation. The nation-building experiment
was based on the language, culture, and religion of the majority
Burmans. This policy was resisted by the minority groups, many of them
belonging to the Christian faith. The post-independence history of
Burma is full of struggles by the minority groups for autonomy and
self-determination.
The Chinese and the Indians who migrated to Burma under the protective
umbrella of the British rule are considered to be alien minorities,
unlike the ethnic groups mentioned before, who are indigenous
minorities. It may also be pointed out that the history of Myanmar is
riddled with two types of struggles, one fight against the military
junta for restoration of democracy and the struggle by the minorities
for autonomy and self-determination. The problems of the alien
minority groups – Indians and the Chinese – for citizenship and fair
treatment have not attracted the attention that they richly deserve.
The Chinese have one advantage, compared to the Indians, though their
number is less than that of the Indians, they have far greater
economic clout and they own a disproportionate share of the Burmese
economy. The good relations between the People’s Republic of China
(PRC) and the military junta have also led to a situation where their
problems are attended to with greater sensitivity by the military
rulers. According to media reports, the number of Chinese has been
increasing in the country with many of them settling down in the
Burmese side of the Sino-Burma border.
Indians not Homogenous
The geographical contiguity, with India sharing both land and maritime
boundaries with Burma, facilitated large-scale migration of Indians
into Burma. Though the term Indians encompassed all sections of people
who migrated from British India – which today consists of India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal – the Indians were not a homogenous
group. In terms of religion, there were Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs, and
Christians. In terms of language, there were Bengalis, Hindi-speaking
people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Tamil-, Telugu-, and Malayalam-
speaking people from the former Madras Presidency and Punjabi-speaking
people from Punjab. They belonged to various caste groups and were
also economically stratified, the rich Chettiars, the poor Tamils, and
Hindi-speaking people, and the English educated middle classes from
all parts of the country.
What must be remembered is that the Burmese perception of Indians
depended upon which strata of society various Indian groups occupied
in the Burmese society. The Burmese had contempt for the poor Indians,
who monopolised jobs such as scavenging, rickshaw pulling, and other
menial jobs, which the Burmans themselves were reluctant to do. They
hated the Chettiars, who lent money at exorbitant rates and gradually
became absentee landlords in Lower Burma.
Social tensions began to build up when the Moslems from Bengal began
to marry Burmese women, exploiting the simple traditions of the
Burmese. Since Islamic law permitted polygamy, intermarriages became a
common practice among the Indian Moslems. What added fuel to the fire
was the fact that many of them deserted their wives when they returned
to their native villages. The educated Indians, who became doctors,
lawyers, teachers, and political leaders, were an object of envy and
admiration and there was friendly interaction between the Indian and
Burmese intelligentsia. The Burmese nationalist leaders had great
admiration for leaders like Gandhiji and Nehru and the educated Indian
middle classes represented the best of Indian nationalist traditions.
Indian Influx into Burma
Condemned and despised in their native villages, whether in Bengal,
Bihar, United Provinces, and Madras Presidency, the Indian working
classes braved the seas, provided the much needed labour to clear the
swamps in Lower Burma and malaria-infested jungles and in that process
also became the most exploited and vulnerable section of the Indian
population. The laissez-faire policies of the British Raj and the
xenophobic and ultra-nationalist policies of the governments in
independent Burma have contributed to this unprecedented saga of human
misery.
As the nationalist movement in Burma began to gather momentum, it also
took an anti-Indian dimension. The alienation of vast tracts of
agricultural land to Indian Chettiars, the Burmese entry into the
labour markets following the depression of the 1930s, which was
hitherto an exclusive Indian domain; the opening of the University of
Rangoon and consequent turning out of Burmese graduates searching for
clerical jobs – all these provided the fertilizer for the growth of
anti-Indian sentiments. There were large scale riots against the
Indians in the 1930s, due to social, economic, and cultural reasons.
The Burmese nationalists wanted freedom not only from the British
political domination but they were also equally keen to throw out the
yoke of Indian economic stranglehold.
Japanese Occupation
The period of Japanese Occupation, 1942–45, was the darkest period in
the history of the Indian community in Burma. The war entirely
destroyed the pre-war economy and the commanding position which the
Indian community enjoyed. Some Chettiars saw the writing on the wall
and even before the war began they repatriated their vast wealth from
the country. The majority of Indians suffered untold misery and
hardship. Nearly 500,000 Indians left the country and out of these
nearly half of them died on the way. Those who were left in Rangoon
joined the Indian National Army in large numbers. At a later period,
they also supported the Burmese demand for independence.
Introduction Of Citizenship Rules and Land Reforms
The independent Government of Burma introduced large number of
progressive measures to give the land back to the tiller. These
measures naturally hit the interests of Chettiars very badly. The
Standard Rent Act, Tenancy Disposal Act, Agricultural Debt Relief Act,
Land Nationalisation Act, Agricultural Bank Act, and Burma Foreigners
Act – all these had the cumulative effect of depriving the Chettiars
of their enormous wealth. No one, with a tinge of social conscience,
could protest against these progressive measures. At the same time,
the compensation paid to the landlords was meagre; what is more, the
Chettiars found it difficult to repatriate their money into India due
to stringent foreign exchange restrictions.
When the new Constitution was promulgated, it was stipulated that
those who had been in continuous residence in Burma for eight out of
the past ten years immediately preceding war years were eligible for
citizenship. But the immediate prospects of stability in the country
were so uncertain that most Indians preferred to sit on the fence and
did not apply for citizenship
Adding to the political uncertainty was the assassination of Aung San,
who was generally considered to be a great friend of India and the
Indian community. Only 400,000 applications were received for
citizenship and out of these only 10,000 were granted Burmese
citizenship. The rest were treated as aliens. When the Government
introduced Burmanisation of public services in the 1950s large number
of Indians employed in the railways, water transport, customs, post
and telegraph, and public works and other departments were retrenched.
In the 1960s under the Burmese Socialist Programme, the government
even nationalized petty trade. These measures sounded the death knell
of the poorer sections of the Indian community in Burma. To add insult
to injury, they were not even allowed to bring back their savings to
India. Women were not even allowed to take back their Mangalyasutra.
The repatriates also complained of demonetization of currency notes,
expropriation of properties, confiscation of valuables, and
unimaginable humiliations. According to the Policy Note issued by the
Government of Tamil Nadu, from June 1963 onwards, 1,44,353 Burmese
repatriates have returned to India.4 What is more tragic, even after
the lapse of forty-five years, the compensations due to these people
have not been settled.
Annadurai’s Initiative to Settle Compensation
C.N. Annadurai, who became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu when the
DMK was voted to power in the 1967 elections, was very concerned about
the developments in Burma and was keen to resolve the issue of
compensation expeditiously. In a conversation with the author, Thomas
Abraham, then Minister Counsellor in the Indian Embassy in Rangoon,
recalled his meeting with Annadurai in the Chief Minister’s residence
in Mambalam. The meeting was arranged through the good offices of
common friends. After discussing the pros and cons of the matter,
Annadurai wrote a letter to the central government suggesting that
India should enter into a long term agreement with Burma for the
import of rice and the compensation due to Burmese repatriates could
be adjusted in the proposed deal. It may be recalled that during 1967
India was facing an acute crisis in food grains. On his return to
Rangoon, Thomas Abraham also made a similar proposal to the Ministry
of External Affairs. It is unfortunate, but true, that these concrete
proposals did not elicit any favourable response from New Delhi
New Delhi’s Hands off Policy Towards The Indian Community in Myanmar
The author had discussions with several Indian diplomats based in
Rangoon as to why the issue of the status of the “stateless people” of
Indian origin in Myanmar never figured in the bilateral discussions
between the two countries. Ambassador Parthsarathy, who along with
J.N. Dixit, played a big role in re-establishing cordial relations
with the military junta, informed the author that after establishing
good rapport with the military junta, he wanted to take up the
question of stateless people and arrive at an amicable solution.
Attempts made by Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan to kindle interest in the
subject turned out to be a futile exercise. In his recently published
memoirs, Words, Words, Words: Adventures in Indian Diplomacy, T.P.
Sreenivasan has described the consequences of New Delhi’s “hands off
policy” with regard to the Indian community in Myanmar. Though the Ne
Win government expelled the Indian petty traders, the authorities
wanted the Indian farmers to stay back to provide continuity in rice
cultivation. When Sreenivasan visited them, he found the farmers had
become “totally impoverished.” Their quality of life was “extremely
poor.” Ironically they did not have even “rice to eat” as the
procurement authorities “lifted their produce wholly.” They had to
consume low-quality rice, which the State did not want to procure for
export.5
Future of Indian Community in Myanmar
Two contrasting views about the prospects of the Indian community in
Myanmar are given below, one by a Burmese bureaucrat and the other
from the Singhvi Committee Report. Thet Lwin, who is a member of the
Myanmar Academy of Arts and Science, Ministry of Education, Government
of Myanmar, in a recent essay on Indians in Myanmar has presented an
optimistic view. To quote Thet Lwin, “Indian presence in Burma is a
historical legacy; a section of Myanmar’s Indian community is engaged
in business while a majority is in agriculture or in menial labour …
The younger generation through education is moving fast towards
integration into the mainstream Myanmar society. The rise of India has
a profound impact on the image-building attempts of overseas Indians.
For Myanmar Buddhists, India is the place for pilgrimage, and for
those of Indian stock, it is the country of their forefathers. Culture
and religious links could be strengthened by promoting tourism.”6
Unlike the above statement, which is couched in the best diplomatic
parlance, but which hides the actual reality, the comments made in the
Singhvi Committee Report reflects the reality. To quote the Singhvi
Committee Report, the Indians are “fairly impoverished in Myanmar,”
the more prosperous elements having left, following waves of
nationalization and other measures which hurt their livelihood. The
educational scene is pathetic. At one time, the faculty and alumni of
the University of Rangoon comprised mainly of Indians. Today, “there
are hardly any Indian students in the Universities,” and results in a
virtual extinction of a professional class. The main reason was that
“between 1964 and 1988, Indians were denied admission to the
Universities and professional courses.”7
Conclusion
In early January 2010, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be celebrated
with great pomp and splendour. The ministers of the Central
Government, the concerned government officials, and the assembled
delegates will harp on the necessity to speed up the administrative
procedures relating to Overseas Indian citizenship. In June 2010, the
DMK government in Tamil Nadu will be organizing another equally
important conference in Coimbatore on Tamil as a classical language.
True to Dravidian traditions, Chief Minister Karunanidhi and his loyal
lieutenants will sing paeans of praise about the greatness of Tamil
Language and how Tamil culture has spread and enriched the traditions
of several countries in the world. Will the delegates in these two
conferences have the time to discuss about the abject living
conditions of the Indian community in Myanmar, many of them Tamil-
speaking people of Indian Origin? Unlikely, because New Delhi and
Tamil Nadu are more keen to provide legitimacy to the authoritarian
government in Myanmar. Naturally they will not like to focus on
embarrassing issues, which impinge upon bilateral relations such as
the plight of the unfortunate children of Mother India.
(Dr. V. Suryanarayan is Senior Professor (Retd), Centre for South and
Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras. He can be reached at e-
mail surya...@sify.com)
NOTES
1. Singhvi Committee Report, pp. xvii–xx.
2. T.P. Sreenivasan, Words, Words, Words: Adventures in Indian
Diplomacy (New Delhi: Pearson Longman, 2008), p. 198.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Sreenivasan, Words, Words, Words, pp. 195–202.
6. Thet Lwin, “Indians in Myanmar,” K. Kesavapani, A. Mani, and P.
Ramasamy, Eds., Rising India and Indian Communities in East Asia
(Singapore: ISEAS, 2008), pp. 485–98.
7. Singhvi Committee Report, pp. 259–62.
Posted by Naxal Watch at 9:26 PM
Sid Harth
No exodus of Indians due to Dubai World crisis: Vayalar Ravi
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, November 28, 2009
First Published: 19:14 IST(28/11/2009)
Last Updated: 20:29 IST(28/11/2009)
There is no cause for worry over potential job losses among Indians
employed in the Gulf following the the multi-billion-dollar debt
default risk faced by Dubai World, Minister for Overseas Indian
Affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Saturday.
"There is no need to panic," the minister told IANS over the phone
from Chennai, adding: "I have feedback from our consulate general in
Dubai and our embassies there. We are not expecting any kind of exodus
of Indian workers to India."
According to Ravi, there was some impact in the Gulf region at the
beginning of the meltdown last year but the situation had changed
since then.
"I even announced this in parliament. About 100,000 Indian workers had
returned from Dubai at that time. But many of them have gone back
now," the minister pointed out.
"India won't be affected by Dubai’s debts."
The state-run Dubai World stunned the global financial world Thursday
when it announced it would need to restructure its debt, estimated at
$59 billion, to pre-empt default and asked creditors for a six-month
deferment.
The conglomerate has a host of companies under its fold with interests
in a wide range of businesses such as realty, infrastructure,
logistics and economic zones. It operates not just in the region but
across a clutch of countries, including India.
The total debt of Dubai as an emirate is estimated at $80 billion.
There were some concerns in India among the families of expatriate
Indians working in the Gulf since the region accounts for nearly half
of the country's inward remittances worth $25 million annually.
An estimated five million Indians work in the region.
But key policy-makers like Ravi, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Reserve Bank of Governor D.
Subbarao have sought to calm the nervous, saying the impact on the
Indian economy will be negligible.
Sid Harth
He read the tea leaves and made a fortune
October 10, 2009
First Published: 23:28 IST(10/10/2009)
Last Updated: 01:53 IST(11/10/2009)
“After coming to London in 1991, we took up a small room, which had
one table that two people would share. We started trading in tea and
now we have become the world’s second largest company in the tea
industry.”
There is no conceit lacing the voice of the founder and Managing
Director of Global Tea and Commodities, Nadeem Ahmed, but it is with
great pride that he says that he still hasn’t given up his Indian
passport, and neither have his two sons.
Sitting in his plush London home in the city’s post Regent Street,
Nadeem talks about his journey over the last 18 years and how he built
his empire using the ‘From bush to Cup’ strategy. “We bought several
tea gardens in African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi,
which the British Government was selling because they were suffering
heavy losses. In a few years, we reduced costs heavily and made them
profitable again.”
The grandson of tobacco businessman, Haji Ilahi, and son of Sir Abdul
Rahim, Nadeem entrusted the job to his trusted Indian managers. “I
used to take great interest in tea gardens in India, so I brought
plantation managers with me from India.”
Indian managers look after his tea plantations in Africa, and Global
Tea and Commodities, which employs 500 workers, imports tea from India
in huge quantities. This is mixed into the company’s noted brands such
as ‘Typhoo’ and ‘Brooke Bond’ to add flavour.
The company, with its annual turnover of £1billion (Rs 8,000 crore),
owns two of Britain’s popular tea brands —Typhoo and Brooke Bond — and
several other big products.
Born and brought up in Kolkata, Nadeem still visits India four-five
times in a year. “It feels very good to go home. Home is where the
family is, and my family is in Kolkata.”
His father, Sir Abdul Rahim, contributed greatly to the establishment
and running of schools, orphanages and hospitals. Perhaps it is his
father’s legacy that makes him say: “In India, businessmen don’t spend
even a small part of what they earn on society, the way Bill Gates has
done. In this, the Tata group has set a fine example. They have done
a lot for the country in the past 100 years.”
In Britain, Nadeem Ahmed’s ‘Typhoo’ brand had tough competition from
Tata’s ‘Tetley’ brand, but he says: “Tata is our competitor but in
social causes he is my inspiration.”
Nadeem does not believe that he had to ever face any difficulties in
Britain because of being an Indian. According to him, a more
equitable/ unbiased society than Britain would be hard to find in the
world.
A fashion and interior designer, his wife has artfully decorated his
home. A photograph of his two young sons taken near the Taj Mahal
hangs on the wall. “My older son is studying finance and accounting at
the London School of Economics, and the younger one is a brilliant
mathematician. He will go to the Imperial College.”
Nadeem wants to hand over his business to his sons in the future and
do some social work. Nadeem, who speaks clear and precise Hindi, says:
“Insha-Allah, I want to go to India and retire, and do social work
there.”
First of a 10-part BBC Hindi series on lesser-known Indians who have
made it big in the UK.
Sid Harth
Abandoned by parents, sikh boy stranded in London
Nagendar Sharma, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, November 20, 2009
First Published: 01:07 IST(20/11/2009)
Last Updated: 01:09 IST(20/11/2009)
He is all of 12. Parents are on the run and he is stuck in London for
the last 20 months.
Gurinderjit Singh wants to be back in Punjab with his grandparents,
but without a passport, he can’t be home.
Singh was found abandoned on a street in the Asian-dominated western
London suburb of Southall on March 18, 2008. His parents, Mohinder
Singh and Deepinder Kaur, used forged documents to travel and are in
hiding to evade arrest and deportation.
Gurinderjit Singh is living with an Indian family appointed guardian
by the West London Borough of Ealing council (local authority), which
governs Southall.
“Both are in Europe. Mohinder is believed to be in Italy, while
Deepinder is stated to be…in the United Kingdom,” the Ealing Council
told the Punjab and Haryana High Court last week.
The council moved the court after the ministry of external affairs and
the Indian high commission in London failed to arrange an emergency
passport for the boy.
Singh’s passport is with his parents. “This has become a torture for
him,” the council said.
In its petition, the council criticised the ministry’s non-cooperative
attitude.
“Gurinderjit’s uncle (Mohinder’s brother) came forward to claim his
guardianship and filed a case in Punjab, but it can’t be decided in
the boy’s absence,” council’s lawyer Anil Malhotra told the court.
He said the family division of the London high court had asked the
Indian authorities to cancel the old passport and issue a new one to
Singh.
“The MEA and high commission both have cited rules, saying an
application for issuing a passport or an emergency certificate should
be signed by parents in case of a minor,” Malhotra told the court.
The MEA refused comment, saying it was a matter to be decided by the
court.
Sid Harth
Lakshmi Mittal richest biz tycoon in South Africa
Press Trust Of India
Johanneburg, November 02, 2009
First Published: 11:11 IST(2/11/2009)
Last Updated: 11:15 IST(2/11/2009)
India-born steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal remains the richest business
tycoon in South Africa despite his fortune having halved in the past
year due to the global recession.
Mittal heads the Rich List, a ranking of the 150 wealthiest
businessmen in South Africa released here by the weekly Sunday Times,
for the fifth consecutive year, even though he is not living in South
Africa.
He has been included in the list because of his shareholding in
Arcelor Mittal SA, the steel company born out of Mittal's takeover of
former state-owned monopoly Iscor.
According to the Rich List, Mittal remains at the top of the list
despite the value of his stake in Arcelor Mittal SA having come down
to more than half in the past year, from 45.7 billion rand to 16.95
billion rand owing to weak global markets.
The Rich List is based on an analysis of holdings of all companies
listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange.
Mittal narrowly beat South African businessman Patrice Motsepe of
African Rainbow Minerals, whose stake value stood at 14.246 billion
rand.
Their nearest rival Nicky Oppenheimer was way below them with just 5.3
billion rand. Only four South African Indian businessmen -- Ragi
Moonsamy (61), Akhter Deshmukh (143), Mustaq Brey (145) and Yogesh
Narsing (147) -- made it to the list of 150.
Sid Harth
NRIs to build Taj Mahal replica in New Zealand
Indo-Asian News Service
Auckland, October 20, 2009
First Published: 10:28 IST(20/10/2009)
Last Updated: 10:36 IST(20/10/2009)
A group of Indians has drawn up a $20 million plan to build a replica
of the Taj Mahal in this New Zealand city.
The miniature version of the monument to love is planned to be built
at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in New North Road, in the Auckland suburb
of Eden Tce.
"What we want is a building that will reflect the grandeur and the
rich Indian culture and history, and be the pride of the community
here," New Zealand Herald on Tuesday quoted the centre's chairman Kanu
Patel as saying.
The replica may include a marble mausoleum, a pool and gold-plated
ornaments.
The Mahatma Gandhi Centre, which cost $6 million to build, sits on a
hectare formerly occupied by Findlay's Bakery. The Auckland Indian
Association bought it for $1.9 million in 1990.
The centre launched its fundraising efforts this month.
Patel said: "The new building will benefit not only the Indian
community but also Auckland City - as a tourist attraction, maybe - so
I think there is a good reason for us to be receiving support from
local government and charities."
He said the centre had hosted some of the community's most significant
social, cultural, religious and musical events and festivals over the
years, and the new building would be doing the same, "only on a larger
scale".
"Having a piece of land this size in central Auckland is like sitting
on a gold mine, and we just have to maximise its potential.
"Since we own the land, we will be putting all the $20 million into
the building, and I think it can go quite a long way," Patel said.
He went on to say that said ideas from the community would play a big
part in determining exactly what the new structure would look like,
and building would start when "enough money is raised".
"The challenge will be to find a balance in the new building, which
has to be iconic and at the same time multi-functional.
"The centre is, and will continue to be, the heart and the hub of the
Indian community - where celebrations, weddings, classes and religious
observations take place."
Local business owners generally supported the Taj Mahal idea, but said
they would adopt a wait-and-see approach.
Dairy operator Satiyam Bheema didn't think the development would
affect his business, but said he might start selling souvenirs if it
became a tourist draw.
However, student Becca Smith, who is renting a flat on a neighbouring
street, said she was concerned about the impact the development would
have on parking space.
Sid Harth
For success, roots are key: Juss
Mehboob Khan, Hindustan Times
November 02, 2009
First Published: 00:09 IST(2/11/2009)
Last Updated: 00:14 IST(2/11/2009)
“Mera joota hai jaapani, sar pe laal topi roosi, phir bhi dil hai
Hindustani (My shoes are from Japan, my hat is from Russia, but my
heart remains Indian),”… these lyrics from a half-century-old
Bollywood movie are what Professor Satvinder Juss sang when we
questioned him about his Indian identity.
Evidently, Juss, law professor at King’s College University in London
is an Indian at heart. Born in Tanzania and educated in Britain, he is
perhaps the first person of Indian origin to have become a professor
of law in any British university.
Actively juggling his many roles as a professor, barrister, judge and
human rights expert amongst others at the world-renowned King’s
College University, Juss visits India frequently.
He moved to Britain from Tanzania when he was 10 years old.
“I firmly believe that to be successful in life, one should remain
connected to one’s roots. You would be surprised to learn that even
though I have never resided in India, I still consider myself to be
an Indian,” said Juss.
Not satisfied at just proudly proclaiming his Indian identity, Juss
is making constant efforts to establish a connection with India.
“As a child, I never got the opportunity to visit or stay in India.
But in the past five years, I have made frequent trips to India. In
addition to learning Indian languages, I am also establishing
relations with Indian educational institutions,” he said.
Having honed his language skills by watching Hindi movies, Juss said,
“No one should part with their roots because it is only our bond with
our roots that help frame our personal identity as we progress in
life.”
For someone who teaches a subject as serious as law, Juss has a
cherubic smile. In his multiple roles, which one does he cherish the
most? “If each person concentrates on becoming a good human being,
then that goodness will be evident in any task that one does. Thus, my
effort is also to be a good human being, no matter what role I
undertake.”
In the 1960s, thousands of families like those of Juss migrated to
Britain from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
That their journey was not easy, said Juss. “My father was a British
employee in Tanzania, but on coming to Britain, his education, merit
and experience were ignored. He was asked work below his competency
levels. My father became determined to study further; he attained his
degrees alongside work and established a respectable position for
himself in the society.”
Recalling his childhood days when he saw his father battle for
justice, he learnt his lessons in life -- that the path to success can
only be attained by working hard and remaining resolute. It was then
that he decided to study law.
Juss acknowledged that he was able to establish a name for himself
because of the excellent opportunities that he received in Britain. He
said, “India will do well to adopt the fine practices in the British
system which provides everyone equal opportunities to succeed.”
Sid Harth
Venkatesan Vembu Friday, November 27, 2009 9:14 IST
A recent Silicon Valley gathering of Indians organised by an Indian
thinktank revealed a distinct 'homeward bound' mood among those who
had "gone West" in search of fame and fortune. Asked how many among
the audience planned to return to India, as many as 75% raised their
hands, recalls Indian-American entrepreneur-turned-academic Vivek
Wadhwa.
"Large numbers of the Valley's top young guns (and some older bulls as
well) are seeing opportunities in other countries and are returning
home," notes Wadhwa. "And a return ticket home also puts their career
on steroids." Quality-of-life considerations in their home country
also weighed to a considerable extent in the "return of the native".
To that extent, prime minister Manmohan Singh's invitation today to
all Indian-Americans and non-resident Indians to "return home" only
reflects an underlying reality that's already playing out. The US
'green card' was once the ultimate lifetime achievement trophy for the
middle-class Indian professional as he headed West; today, with the
American Dream wracked by self-doubt induced by an economy in deep
trouble, the one thing that's greener than a green card is the grass
back home in India.
An Indian economy on a high-growth path and the promise of more, the
exciting new career and entrepreneurial opportunities it opens up, and
the comforting familiarity of all things Indian are evidently
incentives that induce many NRIs to be drawn back home by the
invisible umbilical cord that always bound them to Mother India.
There is, of course, much to commend about this "brain gain" -- this
return home of the millions of immensely talented 'global Indians' who
pitted themselves against the best and the brightest in the world,
fared well, and kept the Indian tricolour fluttering in faraway lands.
In the nation-building endeavour that's still far from complete, they
constitute a significant human capital with a wealth of global
exposure, and have much to contribute by way of ideas and innovation.
But there are equally compelling reasons why they shouldn't all come
back 'home'. For one, as India gradually grows as an economic power
and enhances its profile on the world stage, it needs a critical mass
of brand ambassadors who can project an image of a polished, confident
and global India. It needs 'spokespersons' who can influence local
communities and domestic politics wherever they are, and who can shape
foreign governments' responses with their masterly power of
persuasion. It needs 'thought guerrillas' who can infiltrate foreign
minds across all sections of society and embed positive images of a
resourceful and multiply talented India.
As was revealed at the White House banquet in honour of Manmohan
Singh, there is a critical mass of Indian-Americans who are doing
their bit to burnish the image of Brand India. In virtually every area
of human endeavour -- from politics to literature to business and much
else -- Indians and Indian-Americans have acquitted themselves
creditably and enhanced India's profile in the US. In particular,
their visibility in the arts and mass media space -- think of Fareed
Zakaria, Manoj Night Shyamalan, Sanjay Gupta, among others --
influences for the better the way India is perceived, particularly
among the thought leadership. This is so even if they are all US
citizens and therefore not always batting for India.
At a recent event at Duke University, Wadhwa recalled that when he
went to public school in New York City in the late 1960s, he was
"ashamed to be an Indian..." But a generation later, he noted, "my
children feel proud to be an Indian. When Americans look at Indians,
they think they are smart, high-tech CEOs, doctors or IT workers."
Much of that radical change in mindsets in the US came about because
of the 'insurrection' of skilled Indian professionals -- like Wadhwa
himself -- in the American landscape. That enterprise needs to be
advanced even deeper into US civil society -- and the same
'revolution' needs to be exported to other parts of the world,
including continental Europe, East Asia and Australia.
An inverse of what happens to India's image abroad when a popular (and
positive) insurgency of that sort doesn't happen is manifest in
Australia, where young Indians have been subjected in recent months to
street violence. The critical mass of visible Indians in Australia are
vocational-stream 'students' from small-town India who are exploiting
a window of immigration opportunity there. The perception of Indians
as visa-violating 7-11 store clerks is imprinted in Aussie minds. That
image would be forever altered if we had a few Indian-origin stand-up
comedians performing in smoky Sydney bars or doing piece-to-camera
segments on ABC television.
Manmohan Singh is a man of wisdom, and during his recent US tour,
projected an image of a thoughtful, articulate leader who can speak
with equal felicity about Af-Pak affairs and the dollar's status as a
reserve currency. But his 'invitation' to NRIs to return home is best
ignored. As India steps out onto the world stage, it needs Brand
Ambassadors to implant themselves around the world. This is precisely
the wrong time for them to pack their bags and head home.
http://www.dnaindia.com/opinion/column_nris-don-t-come-home_1317044
chhotemianinshallah
Prashanth G N, TNN 3 December 2009, 02:17am IST
BANGALORE: Sajid’s story is truly heart-breaking and captures the
brutality of the Dubai meltdown. “I received an SMS from my company
about my job termination. I was in Bangalore for a short holiday.
The message was surprising as I didn’t have any advance notice. I’m
now thinking of a job in another company in Dubai at half my salary,
or in Bangalore itself. Right now, I am banking on my savings,” says
this former employee of a private banking firm in Dubai.
It now appears that many Dubai-based NRIs in Bangalore for an eight-
day Eid break have started receiving job termination SMSes, like
others in Meerut and elsewhere.
Commercial Street’s long-time forex trader Sheikh Saleem, who
interacts with nearly 10,000 to 15,000 clients in Dubai, told TOI:
“Many NRIs working in Dubai showed me these SMSes — they just say
‘Your Job is Terminated’. No notice, pink slip or any alert.” Saleem
added, “Many NRIs left their cars at Dubai airport with notices inside
stating they’re unable to repay the loan. They had to leave
immediately because Dubai is very strict on loans.”
Saleem said many NRIs applied to other companies in Dubai and
Bangalore too. “They’re getting jobs but with 50% pay cut. Many are in
a dilemma whether to go back at a lower salary or stay here itself and
find a stable job. Only the highly skilled, educated and with job
specialisation can now land jobs in other companies in Dubai.”
NRIs with children studying in Dubai are the worst affected. Having
lost his job, the father cannot return to Dubai and his children can’t
continue studying there. Some lucky ones have families in Bangalore
itself and their children study here.
chhotemianinshallah
Punjab Newsline Network
Thursday, 03 December 2009
LUDHIANA: The police has nabbed a woman and her son, travel agents,
for duping youths on the pretext of sending them abroad.
Kulwant Kaur and Raj Kumar were on the run for the past six months
after they were booked by the Jodhewal police for cheating Harjeet
Singh of Rs 2.80 lakh on the pretext of sending him to Hong Kong.
According to the police, Kulwant Kaur was running the alleged
immigration racket for the past seven years at Jagraon. Her sons
Rashem Singh and Kuldeep Singh, who were settled in Hong Kong, would
help her in the business. Harjeet Singh complained that they took Rs
2.8 lakh from him, but neither sent him abroad nor returned the money.
He then lodged a complaint with the police, who booked them for fraud.
Gurwinder Singh, in charge of the economic offences wing, said the duo
would assure the youths that once they reached Hong Kong they would be
given jobs. They used to charge a premium for illegally sending them
abroad.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/21492/138/
chhotemianinshallah
traditions
Punjab Newsline Network
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
NEVADA(USA): Hindus have commended the hospital in Hungary town of
Gyongyos for reportedly setting up a special room for Roma patients
and their visitors to practice their cultural rituals.
Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on
Tuesday, described it as a “step in the right direction” and urged
other hospitals of Hungary also to make similar accommodations to
speed-up the integration of Roma.
This hospital in eastern Hungary was reportedly the scene of a
cultural misunderstanding in 2002 when about a dozen Roma and police
officials were injured in the conflict over the mourning behavior of
Roma over the death of a relative. Roma have reportedly certain
traditions linked to birth and death and they expressed their emotions
differently than other Hungarians. This hospital is also reportedly
considering having Roma liaison officers.
Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further
said that in Hungary, despite various government initiatives, Roma
reportedly continued to face blatant discrimination, shanty town
living, an atmosphere of hostility, huge unemployment rate, lower life
expectancy, prejudice, significantly higher school dropout rate,
racism, bias and stereotyping, school segregation, social exclusion,
mistrust, human rights violations, etc. According to an estimate, less
than 1% of Roma obtained higher education degrees.
Rajan Zed pointed out that instead of reportedly continuing to
marginalize Roma socially, this country of Lake Balaton, romantic
Danube River, Franz Liszt and Bela Bartok, should be more embracing of
Roma brothers and sisters who had been reportedly living with them
since 14th century. Hungarian government should be more proactive in
protecting Roma and other minorities. Zed urged all religious leaders,
religions and denominations of Hungary to work for the upliftment of
Roma, because religion told us to help the helpless.
Roma in Hungary, whose estimated numbers sometimes reach around one
million, form about ten percent of total Hungary populace, which makes
it largest Roma minority as percentage of total population in the
world. Current demographic trends indicate that in 2050, about 21
percentage of Hungary population will be Roma.
Zed stressed that it was moral obligation of Europe to take care of
its largest minority Roma population and stop human rights violations
suffered by them, who numbered around 15 million and lived in
apartheid like conditions. There seemed to be no coherent and
effective policy to assimilate them into the society. Their alarming
condition was a social blight for Europe and the rest of the world.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/20700/112/
chhotemianinshallah
PTI 9 December 2009, 04:51pm IST
LONDON: Britain has tightened immigration rules from January for
Indian IT professionals seeking to move to the UK under inter-company
transfers.
From next year, workers in this category will need to have 12 months
experience instead of six months as at present with their employer
before they can be transferred to the UK, official sources said.
The immigration category will be closed as a route to permanent
settlement in the UK.
This means that IT professionals who come to the UK under inter-
company transfer will not be allowed to settle here permanently even
after the mandatory stay of five years.
Immigration officials also denied reports that the Tier 2 (Intra
company transfer) category of the points-based system was providing a
loophole for Indian IT companies to bring foreign workers into the
UK.
Under an intra-company transfer, an employer can fill vacancies in its
UK operations by bringing across some of its existing foreign-based
staff.
It has been claimed that this enables jobs in the IT and other sectors
to be taken by migrants who are paid less than resident workers.
bademiyansubhanallah
PTI 9 December 2009, 08:40am IST
MELBOURNE: In yet another attack on Indian students in Australia, a 23-
year-old youth was stabbed in the chest by unidentified assailants
here on Wednesday, police said. ( Watch Video )
The student, who was also a cabbie, was attacked and left to bleed on
a Brunswick West street, police said.
The victim parked his taxi outside his girlfriend's home on Collier
Crescent in the wee hours and rang her to bring his dinner outside
when someone approached his vehicle, The Age reported.
His girlfriend heard the driver scream out over the phone as he was
attacked, police officer Greg Johnson was quoted as saying by the
paper.
The woman ran outside and found her boyfriend lying outside the car,
bleeding with a single stab wound to the chest. Police do not believe
the attack was racially motivated or an attempted robbery as the man
still had cash in his pocket and his mobile phone, the paper said.
Investigators are examining whether another car was involved. The taxi
has damage to the rear of the vehicle and bits of a broken front
headlight were found near the scene.
"That is certainly one of the lines of inquiry we'll be looking along,
that it could be a road rage incident," Johnson said.
Why do you think Indians are being attacked in specific in Australia?
Is the Australian government doing enough to curb the attacks?
Readers' OpinionsComment
Another Indian student attacked in Australia
amit,mumbai,says:indians should stop going to australia
[9 Dec, 2009 1159hrs IST]
SHOUKAT FIRFIRAY,KUWAIT,says:Such violence we have to accept in our
society despite of strong action in place. We should know recent
incident taken place in Maharashtra Assembly that attack on muslim MLA
when he took oath in Hindi some extremist (whom we can decorate as
Australian Racist) attacked for not taking oath in Marathi. I do not
understand where does national language stand is it for only north
belt or upto central government. So attack on our student taking place
in foreign country where our people should abide by local law and
order and leave peacefully rather than engaging in any violence. We
should learn first how to live in peace in our home grown country.
[9 Dec, 2009 1134hrs IST]
Prof. Ramesh Sinha, Freelancer,Malviya Nagar, ND,says:No end to
attacks on Indians in Australia has been perpetual concern for fellow
countrymen. Have governments of both countries ceased taking the
incidents seriously with the passage of time ? Or has the public
pressure for final and amicable solution of the problem waned out ? No
one has the answer. One point of view that draws attention of prudent
people inside or outside the country is what has gone wrong with INDO-
OZ tie of friendship which, used to be an example before the world
till yesterday. The flaws of Indians in course of abiding basic
demands of discipline or aptitude in Australian soil are also to be
investigated on India's part. What are the lacunea in Indian behaviour
that are suddenly seen negatives by the people of that country too are
to be examined first before charging the other part. In this course
the daily life style, relations and behavioral gesture of Indians
living there are to be mended first before placing the issue for
negotiation. We cannot ignore the fact that there is surely some fly
in the ointment, else this sort of vengeance, hoistility or hatred
can't sustain for such long period. If not, the Australian government
should be suggested to take up serious steps in curbing the incidents
by evoking harder laws for own offending countrymen, BUT, the trend
must come to an end now and now itself.
[9 Dec, 2009 0956hrs IST]
victor,toronto,says:This is now getting kind of surprising. 1)
Australia is the only country where it is happening . 2) I have never
been there , so it's only the Australian's who can give a possible
explanation of an inactive Australian Government and it's lack of
interest in providing justice to Indian community. 3) It is also
displaying a new low of Indian Government for failing to issue a
travel warning for students traveling to Australia.
[9 Dec, 2009 0954hrs IST]
Mohammed,Chennai ,says:And Indians still want to go there? At least if
you Indians are there try and defend yourselves. Join a gang and
commit some violence. It is disgraceful that Indians are getting
beaten up all over the world and not even retaliating. Please do not
follow Mohammed Gandhi's 'peace' message. He destroyed India and Hindu
pride. Why should you also be accused of being a coward? Take up a
stone and hurl it at an innocent aussie.
[9 Dec, 2009 0950hrs IST]
Rajiv Mahapatra,Melbourne,says:Another attack another victim and
unsurprisingly its an Indian again. The police claims it to be a case
of road rage and not racism. It appears that melbourne is the hub of
the most aggresive people on planet who for no good reason are willing
to stab and kill people. Unfortunately everytime something like this
transpires, invariably the victim is an Indian. Brazen uncontrolled
aggression or blatant racist attack -- let the people decide.
[9 Dec, 2009 0904hrs IST]
bademiyansubhanallah
PTI 5 December 2009, 07:42pm IST
TORONTO: A 23-year-old Indian student has been sentenced to 42 months
in jail for his role in a street racing accident here two years ago
that left a truck driver dead and his family "overwhelmed with
grief".
Ravi Badhwar was handed down the ruling by Justice Bruce Glass on
Thursday, who said he and two others raced at high speeds for more
than 44 km, which led to collision of vehicles and ultimate death of
48-year-old trucker David Virgoe in June 2007, Canadian newspaper The
Star reported.
Badhwar had shown no mitigating remorse for his actions that day,
Glass added.
The Indian student, however, maintained his innocence throughout the
trial, and only shook his head when asked if he had anything to say
before being led away in handcuffs, the report said.
A jury had earlier found Badhwar "guilty of criminal negligence
causing death by street racing and failing to remain at the scene of
the fatal accident".
Justice Glass sentenced Badhwar to 30 months on the criminal
negligence conviction and 12 months for failing to remain, both
sentences to be served consecutively, it said. He also faces automatic
deportation to India after serving out his sentence.
Two other drivers involved in the accident, 21-year- old Nauman Nusrat
and 22-year-old Prab Multani, earlier pleaded guilty and were each
sentenced to 30 months. Nusrat also received a lifetime driving ban.
Readers' OpinionsComment
Indian student jailed for 42 months in street racing case in Toronto
Adam,Canada,says:I'm from the area that this happend in and i am happy
to see the ideas of justice and decorum are common to every person.
Politicians the world over could learn quite a bit from the people
posting here =)
[6 Dec, 2009 1218hrs IST]
DeeArr,UAE,says:Excellent judgement. Sure if it was in India, all
these irrespossible young men would have gone out of jail within no
time. Its like PAY AND GO!!! Indian govt should enforce such laws in
INDIA to safeguard our society and innocent citizens.
[6 Dec, 2009 1134hrs IST]
Shyam,USA,says:He deserve much more punishment. He killed a person by
negligence, ran away and denied guilt in trial. In India, he could
have gone clear if came from well to do family or used money to bribe.
[6 Dec, 2009 0318hrs IST]
kris,canada,says:Here is something Indian police and justice system
can learn. You break the law regardless who you are, you pay the
price.If this would have happen in India these guys would have gone
scott free. Police would have taken the bribe,bought the wittnesses,
screwed up the case so badly and after 15 years these guys would have
no punishment.Jutice system is impotent and police is disgrace to the
nation and all this because our corrupt politicians.
[6 Dec, 2009 0046hrs IST]
S Mathew,Toronto, Canada,says:I'm sure every minute he'll regret for
what he had done and rightfully so. Had it been in India this guy
would likely have not been brought to book. One of them got a life
time ban - every time when he wants to move around he has to ask
someone to drive him around no matter whether he is physically and /
or financially capable of owning and driving a car.
[6 Dec, 2009 0032hrs IST]
Lalit,Chennai,says:He took an innocent man's life - he deserves to
spend longer than 42 months behind bars - at least 7 years without
parole, for involuntary manslaughter.
[5 Dec, 2009 2149hrs IST]
Shreya,NY,says:I feel sorry for the truck driver's family and feel
that Ravi Badhwar deserves this punishment, along with his other two
friends. It is heinous to kill somebody, and then flee from the crime
scene. It is high time that uncivilized and immoral people like him
realize, that they have moved from India to a place where law is given
more respect and one cannot get away by doing things you normally can
do away with in India. I am ashamed to admit, that many of the
students who come to study in countries like US, Canada, Australia do
not have the courtesy nor education to appreciate the difference of
culture and laws of the country who mercifully admit them in.
[5 Dec, 2009 2148hrs IST]
Sanjay,FL, USA,says:Indians need to understand that they can not
disregard the laws like they do back home. If these kids were a
minister's son they would have never been arrested let alone brought
to court if they were in India. GOOD. Let them rot in jail for a
while.
[5 Dec, 2009 2143hrs IST]
Noor Danish,kitakyushu,says:1.Need more sever punishment 2.Implement
this in indian cities too. Last december when i visited banglore i was
horified. i too a taxi from banglore airport taxi service(Third left
shop on exit gate from international gate). Driver was driving as if
he has no idea or training about driving. Too fast on so bad road,
over taking from wrong side, no signal...............it was most
horrific experience for me and my foreigner friends too. we felt happy
that we reached hotel from airport rather than travelling from japan
to banglore. the risk in such small journy was higher than traveling
on plane. Be aware of this service provider!!
[5 Dec, 2009 2133hrs IST]
mindshare,mumbai,says:Hope we can replicate similar punishment in
india!!!
[5 Dec, 2009 2027hrs IST]
bademiyansubhanallah
Heather Timmons, NYT News Service 1 December 2009, 09:35am IST
NEW DELHI – When 7-year-old Shiva Ayyadurai left Mumbai with his
family nearly 40 years ago, he promised himself he would return to
India someday to help his country.
In June, Ayyadurai, 45, moved from Boston to New Delhi hoping to make
good on that promise. An entrepreneur and lecturer at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a fistful of American
degrees, he was the first recruit of an ambitious government program
to lure talented scientists of the so-called desi diaspora back to
their homeland.
"It seemed perfect," he said recently of the job opportunity. It
wasn’t.
As Ayyadurai sees it now, his Western business education met India’s
notoriously inefficient, opaque government, and things went downhill
from there. Within weeks, he and his boss were at loggerheads. Last
month, his job offer was withdrawn. Ayyadurai has moved back to
Boston.
In recent years, Mother India has welcomed back tens of thousands of
former emigrants and their offspring. When he visited the United
States this week,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally extended an invitation "to
all Indian Americans and nonresident Indians who wish to return home."
But, like Ayyadurai, many Indians who spent most of their lives in
North America and Europe are finding you can’t go home again.
About 100,000 "returnees" will move from the United States to India in
the next five years, estimates Vivek Wadhwa, a research associate at
Harvard University who has studied the topic. These repats, as they
are known, are drawn by India’s booming economic growth, the chance to
wrestle with complex problems, and the opportunity to learn more about
their heritage. They are joining multinational companies, starting new
businesses and even becoming part of India’s sleepy government
bureaucracy.
But a study by Wadhwa and other academics found that 34 percent of
repats found it difficult to return to India – compared to just 13
percent of Indian immigrants who found it difficult to settle in the
United States. The repats complained about traffic and congestion,
lack of infrastructure, bureaucracy and pollution.
For many returnees the cultural ties and chance to do good which drew
them back are overshadowed by workplace cultures that feel
unexpectedly foreign, and can be incredibly frustrating. Sometimes
returnees discover that they share more in their attitudes and
perspectives with other Americans or with the British than with other
Indians. Some stay just a few months, some return to the West after a
few years.
Returnees run into trouble when they "look Indian but think American,"
said Anjali Bansal, managing partner in India for Spencer Stuart, the
global executive search firm. People expect them to know the country
because of how they look, but they may not be familiar with the way
things run, she said. Similarly, when things don’t operate the way
they do in the United States or Britain, the repats sometimes
complain.
"India can seem to have a fairly ambiguous and chaotic way of working,
but it works," Bansal said. "I’ve heard people say things like ‘It is
so inefficient or it is so unprofessional.’" She said it was more
constructive to just accept customs as being different here.
Sometimes, the better fit for a job in India is an expatriate who has
experience working in emerging markets, rather than someone born in
India who has only worked in the United States, she said.
While several Indian-origin authors have penned soul-searching tomes
about their return to India, and dozens of business books exist for
Western expatriates trying to do business here, the guidelines for the
returning Indian manager or entrepreneur are still being drawn.
"Some very simple practices that you often take for granted, such as
being ethical in day to day situations, or believing in the rule of
law in everyday behavior, are surprisingly absent in many situations,"
said Raju Narisetti, who was born in Hyderabad and returned to India
in 2006 to found a business newspaper called Mint, which is now the
country’s second business paper by readership.
He said he left earlier than he expected because of a "troubling
nexus" of business, politics and publishing that he called "draining
on body and soul." He returned to the United States this year to join
The Washington Post.
There are no shortcuts to spending lots of time working in the
country, returnees say. "There are so many things that are tricky
about doing business in India that it takes years to figure it out,"
said Sanjay Kamlani, the co-chief executive of Pangea3, a legal
outsourcing firm with offices in New York and Mumbai. Kamlani was born
and raised in Miami, where his parents emigrated from Mumbai, but he
has started two businesses with Indian operations.
When Kamlani started hiring in India, he met with a completely
unexpected phenomena: Some new recruits would not show up for work on
their first day. Then, their mothers would call and say they were sick
for days in a row. They never intended to come at all, he realized,
but "there’s a cultural desire to avoid confrontation," he said.
The case of Ayyadurai, the MIT lecturer, illustrates just how
frustrating the experience can be for someone schooled in more direct,
American-style management. After a long meeting with a top bureaucrat,
who gave him a handwritten job offer, Ayyadurai signed on to the
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, or CSIR, a government-
funded agency that reports to the ministry of science.
The agency is responsible for creating a new company, dubbed CSIR-
Tech, to spin off profitable businesses from India’s dozens of public
laboratories. Currently, the agency, which oversees 4,500 scientists,
generates just $80 million in cash flow a year, even though its annual
budget is the equivalent of half a billion dollars.
Ayyadurai said he spent weeks trying to get answers and responses to e-
mails, particularly from the person who hired him, the CSIR director
general Samir K. Brahmachari. After several months of trying to set up
a business plan for the new company with no practical input from his
boss, he said, he distributed a draft plan to CSIR’s scientists asking
for feedback, and criticizing the agency’s management.
Four days later, Ayyadurai was forbidden from communicating with other
scientists. Later, he received an official letter saying his job offer
was withdrawn.
The complaints in Ayyadurai’s paper could be an outline for what many
inside and outside India say could be improved in some workplaces
here: disorganization, intimidation, a culture where top directors’
decisions are rarely challenged, and a lack of respect for promptness
that means meetings start hours late and sometimes go on for hours
with no clear agenda.
But going public with such accusations is highly unusual. Ayyadurai
circulated his paper not just to the agency’s scientists but to
journalists, and wrote about his situation to Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh. India is "sitting on a huge opportunity" to create new
businesses and tap into thousands of science and technology experts,
Ayyadurai said, but a "feudal culture" is holding the country back.
Brahmachari said in an interview that Ayyadurai had misunderstood
nearly everything – from his handwritten job offer, which he said was
only meant to suggest what Ayyadurai could receive were he to be
hired, to the way Ayyadurai asked scientists for their feedback on
what the CSIR spinoff should look like.
To prove his point, Brahmachari, who was two hours late for an
interview his office had scheduled, read from a government guidebook
about decision-making in the organization. Ayyadurai didn’t follow
protocol, he said. "As long as your language is positive for the
organization I have no problem," he added.
As the interview was closing, Brahmachari questioned why anyone would
be interested in the situation, and then said he would complain to a
reporter’s bosses in New York if she continued to pursue the story.
Readers' Opinions
Expat Indians find it tough to return home
ssmoorthy,carmel usa,says:It is heartening to hear some expats want to
go to India and help.If you have money,plenty of money,and an idea or
a product you can go and do what you want.You should not mind to give
money for getting routine work done.If you are an academician or a
researcher you should forget to go to India because of the bureaucracy
and jealosy factors.It is not like in the western countries that the
researchers get the equipment or encouragement,in India it is a never
ending obstruction and you can die of frustration.These are in
addition to daily living adjustments.
[5 Dec, 2009 0404hrs IST]
Rohan Deshpande,Portland ,says:Mr Shiva Ayyadurai is priviledged to
have that choice since he is US citizen.Many of returnees are
tempeorary visa holders(H1-B visa etc) who have no choice to return
back if things don't materialize for them in USA.
[5 Dec, 2009 0144hrs IST]
Ashok,UK,says:I read the article with much amsusement and thereafter I
spent a longer time reading some of the comments that this article
elicted from readers. Seems the core point , both in the article and
the comments seem to be forgotten. Choosing a country to live , in a
globalised world is basically a matter of adapting to the particular
country's cultural , attitudes and work ethics. Thats what all the
people of any Nationalities , comming to any country respect and adapt
to. Failure to do so , shall only mean for the individual, to be a
misfit in the system. Thats what all people who left country to live
and work in another , suucessfully, had to do. If one is so passionate
about changing the system of one's adopted country or the system of
his/her own country, then thereto are means that can be followed by
staying put within a system that one does not like and bringing about
the change like Mahatma Gandhi did in the past. Thats why Mahatma
Gandhi is called a True Leader and revered till date. What's the point
of this article or the debate and bashing a system that exists in a
country about?
[4 Dec, 2009 1945hrs IST]
hortense vaughan,AUSTRALIA,says:The greatest NRI was a bloke named
Mohindas Ghandi who came back to India and changed a lot of things for
the betterment of India's people. What India needs is another like
Ghandi
[4 Dec, 2009 1243hrs IST]
Nishant Kumar,Chicago,says:In US,UK or other similar countries, system
is organized and more ethics are observed in daily life. More
transparency and better communications. In India, people are
programmed to oppose ethics and efficiency. Talk about ethics and
efficiency you are immediately out of this planet and face severe
insult. An individual who have lots of skills to work under already
optimized system can not work in the environment, where he wants to
make changes but not willing to change. Changing system and people is
a very gradual process and very uncomfortable one too. Most of the
common people would not be able to spend their life in such discomfort
and not getting quick results. Specially when they can have quite
comfortable life without much problem. So conclusion is, if a person
does not have patience and leadership skill and loves comfortable life
and want quick results would not like to return India back. Question
is : Why someone will leave comfort and quality life? For the love of
home country or for gaining self satisfaction or to repent at the end?
[4 Dec, 2009 0033hrs IST]
Meenakshi Pande,Mumbai,says:I lived in Japan for approx 1 year
recently. I found that no place is better than India, no matter India
is full of dirt and corruption. Every country has its own problems.
Instead of blaming India and Indians, it would be great if you all
work in the interest of upliftment of our own country no matter where
you live(UK,US,Canada,Japan... anywhere...)I love my India and I
believe that if we all(living in India and abroad) unite, we can make
a big difference.
[3 Dec, 2009 1851hrs IST]
Vikram,UK,says:I have lived in USA and UK for last 5 years. Also, I
have regularly visiting India and stayed for few months at a time.
People are the same be it in India or in USA/UK. Also, India is not
very far from becoming an fully developed country. The only small
difference I see is in the attitude. There is a 'Chalta hai' attitude
in India which need to change. There are 2 things we need to take care
of: 1) Let us Religiously follow all Rules and Regulations. This
includes the simplest of traffic rules. Don't worry if others follow
them or not. Small drops make the ocean. 2) Let us all do our work
honestly and to the best of our ability. Even if it is a job of street
sweeper, do it well. Try to be the best street sweeper around.
[3 Dec, 2009 1847hrs IST]
am,syd,says:well living in Australia for years I dont expect people in
India to behave the same as Australia. That is why they are two
different countries. However, i will expect more from the govt about
basic structure. I cannot blame to the public that they cannot drive
properly but the problem is govt does not do anything ... how many of
us knows the road rule. you cannot expect to get the license without
giving bribe. So these are not the part of our people but the ground
that is Govt. West has their own drawback , guy, no humanity,
[3 Dec, 2009 1719hrs IST]
Rohit,Australia,says:To some of the NRI's who are complaining about
the pollution, corruption and inefficiency of the indian beauracracy,
all i can say is instead or whinging try making a difference for once.
You know that it is not going to be a walk in the park in terms of
changing people attitudes overnight. The NRI's should instead be
inspired by the rapid growth and change in attitudes that the country
has witnessed in the last decade. This sea of change will only get
faster with time whether with the help of NRI's or not. The next
generation has huge aspirations and is overtly optimistic about the
future of the nation and with youngsters like that I would say India
is well on its way. The NRI's also need to recognise the fact that
this is a country with huge population, enemies on all sides and an
old mindset from the British Raj era running the country. These
problems will inevitably tackled as the country progresses bringing
with it change in approach and mindset.
[3 Dec, 2009 1336hrs IST]
Anand Kalra,Delhi,says:Almost 99% comments are ripping apart each
others (common target is NRI community). Please have a look at the
post "Anuj,Noida,says: , [2 Dec, 2009 1037hrs IST]". This one gives
some solutions which look feasible and good. Thanks for few solutions,
Anuj, India needs people like you who are solution oriented and not
grouchy by nature. Please instead of blaming each other, if you can't
come up with a solution, don't comment. The immediate need of hour is
to double or triple the inadequate police force as well as traffic
police force.
[3 Dec, 2009 1111hrs IST]
The Indians Abroad,USA,says:We all make a promise to comeback....but
the promise is forgotten over time....you get used to the new place,
the new culture, the new values and the social conveniences....A lot
has been written on this topic on NRI sites. The Indians Abroad
[3 Dec, 2009 0943hrs IST]
Manish,Vadodara,says:If expats don't want to come back, no problem,
they have their own choice. But when there are problems abroad, don't
expect Indian Govt to help you out. Also, if there are problems like
RECESSION, pl. don't come to India. You are not welcomed here in that
scenario. Also, don't teach ethics to Indians. Though we are not that
aware about social aspects, ethically we are far better than any
American, Europian or Gulf Country people. Don't forget these people
have ruled India & Indian people very cruelly and today also their
attitude about Indians is no different. I think most of expats don't
want to come back for years because they are selfish and they have no
rights to say anything about India or Indians. For me, staying few
yeras abroad and coming back to India is okay. Vande Mataram !!!
[3 Dec, 2009 0842hrs IST]
nri,ca,says:One who hails from poor or middle class family manage to
come abroad they adapt to the lifestyle. One established many would
try to bring their relatives also here. To me everyone has different
scenario to which they make decision. Rich people with connection like
life king size. Upper middle class likes the freedom they get in
India. Poor and middle class are the people who wants to break into
upper middle class and Rich so as to have a sense of achievement and
make a comfortable, enjoyable humane living. One who does so then
thinks of giving it back by helping the poor and needy by some means.
Some succeed most fail. What's the fuss about.
[3 Dec, 2009 0459hrs IST]
Sanjay Dalmia,UK,says:Both the glasses are half full,I mean half
empty.Everybody wants to have their cake and eat it too.I have known
loads of people who have never been abroad and would do anything to do
so.I have known loads of people who are well settled abroad but
remember India all the time.Ihave also known people who have returned
to India after staying abroad and moaning about life and conditions in
India.People have different perspectives of life, their situations are
different, their own perspectives and situations also change with
time.Any kind of extreme opinion is incorrect.Neither is India
unlivable, nor is it without problems. Similarly spending time abroad
and then returning to India is not unpatriotic.Neither is India
anybody's property nor is US or UK.I do not think all Indians who are
living abroad or tend to do so are harming India.Similarly I dont
think just by staying in India anybody has done a great favour to the
country.Its a very individual thing and there is no right or wrong in
this.This article was all about the fact that returning Indians find
it difficult to adjust particularly for first few years.It is
understandably obvious.I enjoyed comments from our learned readers.
[3 Dec, 2009 0438hrs IST]
PeeYat,NYC/Mumbai,says:Some of the comments made by Indian from
Australia shows his lack of understanding of the indian values.
Drinking old monk or smoking goldflake or shouting on sachin's 6
doesnt make you more indian than someone who doesnt do them. Perhaps
you first need to understand the Indian culture and then open ur trap.
If you are so much of an Indian, why the hell are you in Aus. I dont
think any of us need to prove how much of Indians are we. Each of us
living outside India have a right to decide where to stay and
unfortunately some of us dont think India will become like US/UK in
the next 10-20 yrs. Just look at the situation in Mumbai, 1 yr after
26/11, no action from the Govt. no action from the police, no change
is attitude or behavior. Human life has no value in India. India is
getting better and a great place to live if you are filthy rich. All
said and done, I can say that my love for India can never fade off
regardless of where I live. I think ppl like you need to look at
urself and learn to take some criticism. Its because of ppl like you,
India will always have issues and people will never be united. Talk
about Aussie Scum, go check the mirrror.
[2 Dec, 2009 2358hrs IST]
Kishore,CA, USA,says:Another thing. A lot of people who sent their
messages from India seem to think that India developed on its own.
That's bullcrap. A lot of foreign institutiosn invested in India. A
lot of NRIs sent billions and billions of dollars to India which got
circulated. A lot of multinationals outsourced their work to India.
Without the software boom and the multinationals India would be what
it was 20 years back.
[2 Dec, 2009 2323hrs IST]
Kishore,CA, USA,says:I could give a million reasons why it makes sense
NOT to go to India but because of lack of space, I will stick with a
few: a) Inefficiency in everything that Indians do starting from the
electrician to the plumber to the netas b) huge, pushy, smelly crowds
everywhere be it temples, theaters, roads, train stations or shops c)
horrible filth and trash and garbage everywhere on the roads, the
likes of which is unheard of anywhere in the world. d) no respect for
rules and regulations by anybody. traffic completely stops when a neta
or a movie star is passing by. e) racism everywhere. maharstrians hate
biharis, biharis hate southerners, southerners hate northerners and
basically everybody hates everybody f) fair skinned people acting like
they are better than dark skinned people and everybody else agreeing
to that via their actions g) extremely noisy celebrations where it
doesn't matter what time of the day it is be it early in the morning
or in the mid night or in the afternoon h) corruption and more
corruption. bribes for every damn thing. i) morally bankrupt police
force j) horrible work culture that encourages people to jump ship
every other day; people juggling two or three job offers sometimes
with utter selfishness with no regard to anything else k) goondaism
and rowdyism. people staring at ladies like they want to rape them on
the spot l) beggars running after you with their pans everywhere you
go m) bandhs and hartals for no good reason. protests on the road that
completely disrupt life n) zeero security - you never know when you
will die in a bomb attack.
[2 Dec, 2009 2315hrs IST]
SGulati,VA,says:Looks like we went are really upset about the Indian
way of living; we have been in this situation when we left and we will
continue to be in the same scenario in 2050. So why complaint? we
thought we were the same old when we left for India after living in
USA but we are not. We can say Sir to Gora, but not to our own fellow
countrymen, because we think we are above him, but to a safaiwala in
USA, we way how are u, thanks, blah blah.. this means we are
hypocrates, and never accepting the reality of life.
[2 Dec, 2009 2122hrs IST]
Aditya,UAS,says:I think the article is right in a way at the ending
paragraph. When we move out of India, we are ready to change our self
to adapt the foreign culture, but when we come back instead of
changing ourselfs we end up complaning about dust, traffic etc........
[2 Dec, 2009 2043hrs IST]
Indian,Australia,says:The problem here is that the so called "expats"
and NRIs that do return to India, are out of touch with their Indian
counterparts and are not in-tune to the social and professional
circumstances in India, while maintaining that edge of carrying a
western perspective. Whilst they believe they can contribute to
India's economy and want to instill the ethos of Western progress and
entrepreneurship in a completely vibrant environment, there are some
fundamental flaws in their adaptability to Indian culture. I have
lived in Australia for most of my life, and my "Indianness" can range
from drinking a glass of Shiraz and eating Pasta, while discussing the
flaws in the Wallabies' scrum, with work colleagues in Sydney, to
having a quarter of Old Monk with a Goldflake King, with friends/
cousins, all whilst shouting at a TV screen when Sachin hits a 6, in
Delhi. This is a unique characteristic that is only evident in those
of us who have maintained a certain identity and affinity to India
throughout our lives, despite living in a foreign country. It is a
persona that is very rare to find unless you have consciously made an
effort to divest those qualities that may classify you as a "fob" -
fresh off the boat, a term that is generally used by the cooler/hipper
and assimilated NRIs, either it be in the US/UK/Australia. Most NRIs
take with them a view of India that is outdated and is heavily
cluttered with their personal judgements about things mentioned in
this article, such as infrastructure, pollution, poverty etc. Most
Indians live with this fact and our country is coming a long way to
slowly but surely, tackle these issues, but it's not something you pin-
point as an Indian. Leave that to the cliche BBC/NPR/ABC documentaries
and accounts of India from non-Indians which every so often patronise
our progress by contrasting it with obvious inefficiencies that we
know exist. I could go on, but unless the NRI/Expat sucks it up and
becomes a "true Indian", he/she will always find it difficult to cope
with our social etiquette, political bureaucracy, the "Indian Standard
Times" that everyone's clocks are tuned to and many other complaints
about India that NRIs tend to adopt in order to appear more civilised
and principled.
[2 Dec, 2009 1842hrs IST]
Anu.,Mumbai,says:As long as we live here we accept things the way they
are. Living abroad and returning is a different scene. We are aware of
the fact that there is ample scope for improvement. Yes,current living
has been proven workable, working around this foundation,we could move
ahead in building a better India.We should welcome non resident indian
and encourage them to build a better us.
Infrastructure,Education,Health care,Housing,Quality and all. I am
back after 17years.
[2 Dec, 2009 1719hrs IST]
Ashwini ,Stockholm,says:India is indeed a mystery place. While it is
my motherland in this life , so I have certain obligations and duties
towards India, I can also not deny the poor attitude and sometimes
basic human values lacking in the people despite ours having such a
glorious past of grand culture , philosophy and values of life. One
thing I do not like about India is that Indians do not like
themselves. e.g. you can see this openly at any crossroad where
everyone is in hurry to get past first . This shows the attitude of
Indian people and how they treat each other .They have no respect for
their fellow Indians. I should go first, This is the attitude. You
come to western land and see how people are respectful towards others.
I do agree that vedic culture is almost disappearing but still there
are remnants of it and one can see in the basic social setup. SO I
think that if we can revive our vedic culture then definitely we can
make india the best place as it was in the history of the world. But
unfortunately India is trying to become like USA and europe by
adopting their practices. But you can see that Americans and Europeans
are not happy either so if India follows them then it is sure that in
future we will also turn up like them , unhappy and frustrated despite
material progress. So the only solution which I see is to revive the
Vedic culture which has disappeared due to centuries of mughal rule,
British rule and now american values and hollywood and TV culture
[2 Dec, 2009 1710hrs IST]
Avinash Baliyan,Germany,India,says:even some guys who are commenting
here are using Doctor before their names , and most of them lived in
west and still their thinking does not changed , how can u expect the
indians living in india to change their thinking
[2 Dec, 2009 1634hrs IST]
Krishna,Bangalore,says:Since someone is expat, that person is not
above the people who decided to stay in India. Expats have high
expectations when they return which is the reason for dissatisfaction.
They should look at their peers and get satisfied. Few years back NRIs
were Non-resident Indian as now they are termed as Not-required-
Indians:-). The intent for their return is not to come back to home
country to serve but need of a place after getting pink-slip in
western countries. Dr. Manmohan and India have done enough to
accomodate and nothing more is needed.
[2 Dec, 2009 1618hrs IST]
Manish,Hyderabad,says:After reading some of the comments (as most of
them have same flavor), I really appreciate the points raised by our
NRI brothers. I lived in Europe, Canada and Middle east since 1990 and
came back to India in 2005. About 15 yrs. and was really having big
time trying to understand the system here. So I started with small
steps and after 4 yrs of struggle I can say i was able to do a little
for our society by providing some insight into some of the younger
generation. It may be small in number for some of you but still I have
tried what is in my range. I am also proud that at lest now i have few
younger generation people working with me towards betterment of their
personal life. If I can not change a city, state, metro etc.. at least
I tried to do it with educating individuals and am happy about it.
Yes, problems are there in India and it is with Indian attitude too
but I feel that if something has to be done for the country then it is
we who will have to do and take necessary steps, No will come from
outside to help building this country. My Family, My Kid, My Life...
if everyone will think like that then who will really think of "My
Country". And yes I know people call such person a fool who even
thinks like that... But may be I am a fool. I opted for a job of
Professor just like Ayyadurai to teach and share my ideas with young
guns of India. Though no Govt. gave me any job offer or any helping
hand, but I still am working step by step with my agenda clear in my
mind. Yes people do migrate for greener pasture and must migrate but
if not 100% at least 10% effort of taking pain and doing something for
the country is not a bad idea. We all want Govt. to take care of all
whatever is happening... is it same back in all developed country or
people are responsible for carrying out their own task? Why you NRI's
want Govt support for everything? Did Govt. of US or UK supported you
for everything? Knowing that system is bad here then 1) You should not
take such assignment which you feel you are not capable of handeling.
2) After taking up the assignment why don't you try to find out ways
to perform a task than to start a conflict. (Why to have a situation
of conflict diverting your energy and efficiency) 3) After failing
completely blame the system here back in India and go back as if there
is no way things can move here. When you leave India it takes lot of
time for you to adjust to the new country and it's civilization. Just
going to work and earning money is not the thing you do there... So
when you come back to India feel the same way... take little time to
adjust rather than complaining about everything from the day one. (I
have seen 99% of the NRI's doing so). By doing so you only earn enemy
here and then get obstacle. It will be nice if you take some time ...
analyze how things work here and what are you strength to move
forward, then there will not a conflicting situation... anyway the
discussion can go a long way.. My way is take small steps to achieve
Bigger Goals...
[2 Dec, 2009 1616hrs IST]
Indrajit,Mumbai,says:NRI's please watch Swades Movie, Starring Sharukh
Khan..! Dont watch it for Shahrukh.Try to understand what message the
movie wants to propagate..! after that..!Watch the legend of Bhagat
Singh..! and if u still think india is Bad ..then u r not welcome..!
his is our country and we respect only those who respect our
country..! What say Indians.. :) Proud to be an Indian..!
[2 Dec, 2009 1545hrs IST]
Kamala Narayanan,Bangalore,says:Hi - Just see how many non NRIs have
commented on this article. This itself shows who are the folks who
just keep gribbing and whining and who are folks enter the garbage and
clean.I am not telling we are perfect , but certainly not as bad as
depicted by the NRIs. I travel frequently to USA and trust me they are
just robots working there. I was really surprised and shocked to find
that people have schemes to save even for their funeral. That is the
least one can expect from his/her family and if thats not there then
what is the point in just having great infrastructure , malls, cars,
etc. And trust me non of these NRIs are coming back for country's
good, they are back for their own good. All they know is to check the
carolie count of the food they eat and have mineral water. If India
has survived and progresses well without Ayyadurai for 40 years it can
definetly do the next 40 years. So, Mr.Ayyadurai, please try again
after 40 years and see if you are at your level for you to consider
living with us.
[2 Dec, 2009 1427hrs IST]
Anuj,Noida,says:Well we all seem to blame each other. Indians blame
NRIs and NRIs blame for poor state of affairs in India. I too have
been in US for more than 2 years and it's equally been more than 2
years I came back to India. Well, when I came back to India, I too had
few difficulties in adjusting to things. It seems ridiculous that I
spent my 25 years in India and just 2 years of abroad stay changed me.
Reason is, of my 25 years stay in India, I never happened to see what
is called "perfection in governance". I never saw a single day when I
was not struck in traffic jams (because of poor and corrupt traffic
policing). I never saw a single rainy season when there was no water
logging in cities (include metros too, blame it to municipal
corporations). I never saw a single day when there was no power cut
(blame it to poor power distributions, losses and power theft). Not a
single day went by when I didn't read news of murders, rapes, theft
etc. etc (blame it to corrupt, and inadequate police staff). However,
this was completely changed when I went abroad when I saw the
perfection and efficiency in governance. I realized that for my 25
years, I have been living in rut, not by choice but was forced too. So
it's obvious when I came back to India, I found myself in same old
inhumane lifestyle and took time in getting used to it. But I have my
family here, I have my roots here so I will have to live here only.
Having said that, since I have seen perfect system, I can elevate our
living standard and make it a better place to live. Few suggestions if
implemented, would definitely make good improvements. ...1) Increase
accountability for various departments. Regarding traffic problems,
mostly it is due to encroachments of roads. Police of each station and
chowki should be made accountable for this. There should be NO
TOLERANCE in encroachments. And if there is any encroachment found in
any street, then police of that "thaana" has to be PUNISHED. Trust me,
this will improve things drastically. ...2) Stop power thefts in our
neighborhoods and we too should detest it. Prepare a vigilance team to
look out for power thefts and make them accountable if any where it is
found. Punishment has to be severe if power theft is found. This will
come only when someone is made accountable for this. ...3) We
seriously lack in number of police staff. Hire more police and double
its numbers. I seriously find inadequacy of police in India. ...4) In
case of water logging, held municipal corporations accountable and
punish them severely. And the biggest change is, government should
just run the government. Government should seek participation of
private companies in day to day life and should have control on them.
So that government can make somebody (other than government itself)
accountable for poor state of affairs. ....... .. If we could
implement what is written here, our life be much more happier if not
perfect. Period.
[2 Dec, 2009 1037hrs IST]
Kanaka Srinivas,Hyderabad,says:Before commenting pls think one where
we were born and bought up before we fly abroad. From where we have
obtained the necessary qualifiacation for flying abroad? It has become
fashion, especially to NRIs, to pull down India and make fun or pass
ugly comments about country. First of all we should Show ourselves in
what ever conditions we may be. we have to accept the fact and support
the country at least in International Areana. NRIs pls note.
[2 Dec, 2009 0826hrs IST]
Mathew,USA,says:It might sound unpleasant but its better people like
Brahmachari remain as Brahmachari. Offsprings with his attitude would
destroy India.
[2 Dec, 2009 0824hrs IST]
Dr. Satheesh Krishnamurthy,Dublin,says:As with many of you, i am also
living in Europe for the past 8 years and i go to India atleast twice
a year and everytime i make sure a point to visit Universities and
Schools in India, to share the knowledge and any collaborative
appraches to help the motherland. The last time i visited india is 15
days back, this time i met few ppl in policy making of higher
education in India, felt the same way as Adhikari and it is very tough
when ppl are not transparent and reservation qouta systems for
what.... its insane, ppl makes only poilitcs and fo votes, they
neither develop country nor share wisdom, they gain money and conquer
others. The point here is we need strong leader who can show
transparency and throw the elements causing troubles, which is what
dream india requires. I completley agree with Kalam, where he goes for
younger minds,because older gen are more corrupted with false thoughts
and motivation...
[2 Dec, 2009 0628hrs IST]
Mathew,Toronto, Canada,says:My 2 cents (sorry paise): Please don't say
that people who live the country are opportunists - if they are then
so are most of the Indians. Because, how many of us are living in the
village / town that's our native - Only a handful, if at all. If an
NRI can be blamed of leaving India for greener pastures so can most of
us be too - for at least we left our town / village for a better life!
The most obnoxious problem of India is its political set up and the
rampant corruption. I don't mind walking on a dirty road only if we
have the administration that knows the road is dirty and needs to be
cleaned up. Our biggest problem is that many of the Indians either
don't realize what India's grievous problems are or can't do anything
about it or even worse don't care about it! After all, it's true that
we get a Government that we deserve. I still love India, would love to
be around my friends and relatives - but if that's at the cost of
stomaching the corrupt politicians who harass me day in and day out,
I'll think and lean towards being an annual visitor.
[2 Dec, 2009 0522hrs IST]
Blue Moon,USA,says:It's very shameful to see people have turned this
article into India Vs. USA. I have come to notice that there are very
few people who are making fair comments on this article. People are
mainly complaining about India and people who are hating western
countries mainly USA. First yes India has problem that does not mean
it's not a good place to live. In my case, I am most likely to end up
staying in USA for a good reason. Most people don't seem to understand
that we are living in Capitalist society where individuals act in
their own interest. There is a reason why someone lives abroad, may be
they want to be rich or they like western culture, nothing is wrong
with that. And there are also people who will not live anywhere but in
India, and yeh nothing is wrong with that as well. Couple people
pointed out that NRIs are not welcome back in India. A) Who care what
you think? B) If the world runs by idiots like you then we will be in
deep trouble and C) you are guys need to get outside of the cafe (from
where you are writing all this Garbage) and see how much globalized
this world has become. Both countries have problems at national levels
and I definitely don't advise anyone to make it any personal. It's
ridiculous to say all this Americans are killing people around the
world (because that has nothing to do with article). Just for your
information, Iraq war and Afgan wars are very unpopular in USA. At the
same time, some NRIs should stop complaining about the peoples'
attitude in India cause I haven't seen much different in their
attitude in here. I think it's just in our blood to be like that. So
people on both sides of this arguments needs to chill out.
[2 Dec, 2009 0340hrs IST]
Poppy,London,says:You know that most Indians love India but really
does India love Indians ? Ask yourself that simple question.Indians
have had to leave India due to poverty or better prospects
abroad .India is supposed to have a functioning govt. for goodness
sake.While I know that its a poor country its also a country that can
have nucleur weapons and I find that just a bit too much to take while
at the same time the Indian govt EXPECTS Indians to show love for
India despite being poor or hungry or having to seek some semblence of
a decent life elsewhere.Its not easy to leave one country and make a
life elsewhere and then have India expect that somehow WE OWE YOU
(India) something.India is an ancient civilsation yet the Indian
people have been brainwashed to believe that the people should help
the govt. by creating jobs for them.What is the Indian govt. doing for
the Indian people in the first place thats of use and what can they do
for the NRI? My father had to leave India at 15 .He had no father,no
work and no money.He did well outside and he always loved India and
cried when he remembered that he had to leave due to the conditions
there.But I asked him...what has India ever done for you ? He gets
ripped off by all and sundry if he is on vacation .The Indian people
are conditioned to expect nothing while the ministers expect
everything.Charming.
[2 Dec, 2009 0340hrs IST]
Blue Moon,USA,says:It's very shameful to see people have turned this
article into India Vs. USA. I have come to notice that there are very
few people who are making fair comments on this article. People are
mainly complaining about India and people who are hating western
countries mainly USA. First yes India has problem that does not mean
it's not a good place to live. In my case, I am most likely to end up
staying in USA for a good reason. Most people don't seem to understand
that we are living in Capitalist society where individuals act in
their own interest. There is a reason why someone lives abroad, may be
they want to be rich or they like western culture, nothing is wrong
with that. And there are also people who will not live anywhere but in
India, and yeh nothing is wrong with that as well. Couple people
pointed out that NRIs are not welcome back in India. A) Who care what
you think? B) If the world runs by idiots like you then we will be in
deep trouble and C) you are guys need to get outside of the cafe (from
where you are writing all this Garbage) and see how much globalized
this world has become. Both countries have problems at national levels
and I definitely don't advise anyone to make it any personal. It's
ridiculous to say all this Americans are killing people around the
world (because that has nothing to do with article). Just for your
information, Iraq war and Afgan wars are very unpopular in USA. At the
same time, some NRIs should stop complaining about the peoples'
attitude in India cause I haven't seen much different in their
attitude in here. I think it's just in our blood to be like that. So
people on both sides of this arguments needs to chill out.
[2 Dec, 2009 0340hrs IST]
Vissa,USA,says:I guess its very easy for us to sit here away from
india and criticize it. yes there are problems there and there are
problems here too....when you come here as students how many of us
have worked shitty jobs (yes even janitorial jobs!!) just so we can
pay tuition or have that extra money for fun trips etc. would we have
ever considered doing those jobs back home? no there its a prestige
issue. like someone else said we are doing jobs here that dont require
much skill and wasting away any intellect that we may have......always
worried about losing our jobs so take all the **** that is thrown at
us......always waiting for the GC to come thru so then we can move to
another better paying job. i dont know if anyone remembers, when the
war broke out in the middle east years ago, all the indians there came
running back to india. Although they call someother place home, when
that came under attack they all came crawling back! its all easy to
throw blame when we are in a comfy zone, when that picture starts to
crumble or comes under threat thats when we are willing to accept
anything, why not accept it that way now.
[2 Dec, 2009 0305hrs IST]
Naina,USA,says:@Ranjeev Mishra - I guess it should start from you.
Action speaks louder than words :) Its very sad to see that even after
being well educated, people like Mr. Bramhachari lack in
professionalism.. when people in india start to realise that
subordinates work "with" them rather than "under" them, a lot of
problems will be solved. Looking at the people and thier behaviour, I
do not know if there is anything in India that you can feel proud of.
Gone are those days where people used to treat each other with love
and respect. They say, India is know for its values.. where are these
values gone???? I dont see any of it existing anymore.. Every
individual who has gone back to india with high aspirations has been
disappointed miserably. Ofcourse, getting back to your roots is always
nice but there are lot of other things that influence you day to day
life...
[2 Dec, 2009 0259hrs IST]
Sunil,UK,says:A 7 year old promised himself that he would come back to
help his country? lol..give me a break.
[2 Dec, 2009 0254hrs IST]
Paddy,US,says:The grass is always greener on the other side. India's
tremendous growth and glitzy cities (as shown in flowing tributes by
the likes of Thomas Friedman) mask an inherent lack of transparency
and a firm grip by the feudal political hierarchy. Make no mistake.
India is prosperous not because of any inherent system but because the
political class allows it to be so. Contrast this with the US where
the system inherently allows transparency ... Why ? Because if not,
the questioner will leave and establish a competing company which will
turn around and kick you where it hurts most ! In the example above,
this Brahmachari guy is used to a babu-style autocracy which only the
likes of Dhirubhai knew how to "manage". He surely cannot be expected
to respect any person with brains. That's just not in his DNA !!
[2 Dec, 2009 0250hrs IST]
SK,USA,says:I have been in the States for around 4 years now. I am
currently a PhD student, but I taught in India between my master's and
doctorate. This was after having worked as an instructor for 2 years
along with my MA in the US. Apropos the article, I can understand the
frustration that Mr. Ayyadurai must have experienced. I saw tremendous
institutional resistance to professionalism, excellence, and
creativity at every level, and I now understand why some of my own
teachers who studied overseas and have been teaching in India are so
unmotivated. That being said, my teaching stint in India has been the
most fulfilling phase of my career thus far. All the structural
problems were offset by a delightful group of willing learners. Our
students want to be pushed to think hard, to excel, and to achieve
professional success. Maybe I just got lucky with a great batch of
students! Maybe it is the nature of my profession! Maybe I am
overgeneralizing! However, the joy of giving something back to your
"own people" is unparalleled. So, I am seriously thinking of going
back after finishing my studies in America. (Not all my teachers are
disillusioned---some share my view and have encouraged me to return.)
I enjoy good rapport with my undergraduate students in America too,
but it's really more about me than them--I think I will feel more at
ease when I am in an environment where I share cultural codes with my
audience. And that I think is the key! Each one of us has to find a
niche that works best for oneself. It will be a long, long time before
large-scale systemic changes fully come into effect in India, but
change in our own limited professional spheres is possible.
[2 Dec, 2009 0128hrs IST]
Vinod Dawda,UK,says:I think most people find it difficult as they
assume they can continue from where they left in their overseas
accomplishment.They should ask how long it took for them to build
success overseas. I am sure they face many failures and rejections.
India is no different. What is hardest is the link between the past
relationships and the present. The gap is hard to bridge in a hurry.
Children who have grown up abroad with the security provided by their
well of parents are a long way off before they can have any discipline
or appreciation of being self made from scratch. Killing bureaucracy
makes even working as a charity quiet tricky as nothing seem as it is
projected.
[2 Dec, 2009 0122hrs IST]
jiwanj,united kingdom,says:NRI means NOT REQUIRED INDIANS once you get
used to smooth sailing in lefe at work and home overseas ,it is
difficult to get used to "Chlata hai" "Chai pani" : "What is in for
me" or who you know One gets frustrated and then back home. " NRI's
like " AASMAN SE GiRe, KHAJOOR ME LATKE" Best to those who can make
it.
[2 Dec, 2009 0112hrs IST]
Sanjay,Mumbai,says:The first sentence of this story made me laugh
"When 7-year-old Shiva Ayyadurai left Mumbai with his family nearly 40
years ago, he promised himself he would return to India someday to
help his country" Common, a seven year old going to US can only be
excited about visiting Disnely Land. Promise to do someting for
country is a hilarious thought.
[2 Dec, 2009 0055hrs IST]
Manish,US,says:I read this story in NYTimes a week back. This story is
about ppl who are not indians anymore, as they are brought up in US
for most of the time in their lives and connected to india through
news items, stories from parents etc. I am not questioning their
affesction toward motherland but things do not work in India as in US.
It doesn't mean that Indian work style can not yield success. One need
to have patient & spend time in grassroot before jumping on India
growth story even he has best intentions.
[2 Dec, 2009 0043hrs IST]
RG-Tex,Houston, Texas,says:It is surprising many readers seem to have
missed the point. I have lived in the US for more that a quarter of a
century. But when I do make my annual visits to the desh, I try to do
so with a balanced view. No, I do not want India to be like the US.
Indians are one of the most intelligent people in the world, and yet
it is amazing how they are equally capable of electing the most
corrupt set of politicians, and they prefer to live in a very corrupt
country. Almost every facet of Indian life is beset with corruption,
babudom, and stark inefficiencies. And it does not matter if the US or
US is more advanced or less, or even whether NRIs only sermonize. What
matters is the appalling attitude of Indians to take things lying
down. The national psyche is at the low end of the moral yardstick.
India is known to be the country with a deep sense of spiritualism.
And yet this the country where children are made to work in horrid
conditions, where law & order barely exists, and where you can't even
make a simple travel plan (because you are almost sure there will be
delays, cancellations, bandhs, and strikes somewhere along the route,
and where your best friend's dad is the biggest crook in the
neighborhood (and they are all proud of it). I think many will agree,
that the US has at least one thing - like it or not, Americans have a
huge national pride, almost tantamount to some kind of hubris, but it
is real. Indians on the other hand, also have a huge national pride,
but will do almost everything in their power to destroy their own
country by cheating the system, not paying their 'share', not giving
back to the country, or even caring for the many unfortunate Indians
who are not able to make end meets, and so on. Sometimes I really
think, many Indians do not really love their country, else why would
they treat their country so callously?
[2 Dec, 2009 0034hrs IST]
Sujesh Arukil,Pittsburgh,says:Hey all you guys calling this
plagiarism, just check the line below the title. Times Of India has
given appropriate recognition to the source! So just chill!
[2 Dec, 2009 0031hrs IST]
pravi,Canada,says:I agree. The traffic and infrastructure need 1000
times improvement. Politicians and authorities are just for eating
funding. I went to India to few months ago.. road traffic and driving
manners are dangerously bad. When will our politicians realize that
better roads will be the path towards progress? I guess they are
interested only in the progress of their bank balance.
[2 Dec, 2009 0024hrs IST]
An Indian Abroad,UK,says:You guys have made this country a living
hell.... Tell me a single good thing (Except our Family system and
some good culture). You have an Italian governing your policies...
Traitors within home... Inefficient systems... In fact there is
nothing except a fake good feeling of pride.... Now please start
abusing me for saying the fact after all this is what you have been
doing all your life....
[2 Dec, 2009 0023hrs IST]
Lance,Toronto,says:I have traveled around the world and met fellow
Indians. Most of them miss the life in India. The problems with NRIs
(esp from the US) returning to India is that they want the work in the
same environment as in the US. They are arrogant with their bosses and
not willing to change. When we travel to a foreign country, we
experience racism and abuse, but we are ready to endure it. We do our
best to adapt. But after working in a foreign country for many years,
we are not ready to change and criticize the system. We talk of
corruption in India, but forget that the volume in terms of dollars of
corruption in many of the developed countries is much higher. We do
not see it because we do not experience it on a day to day basis. Each
country has its pros and cons. If we want to live there, we should be
able to adapt to the cons. There has been more change in India during
the last decade than any of the developed countries. Do we see mass
shootings of people in India? Look at the commuters in the NY subway
when they travel at night. See how scared they looked. I traveled
around the streets of Mumbai at 2am without wondering whether I would
be mugged. That is why NRIs after losing their jobs want to come back
to India. India is better of without them. In spite of all its
defaults, I love India because I am an Indian.
[2 Dec, 2009 0017hrs IST]
phi1400,USA,says:Indians abroad who have any intention of doing good
for our country must think in long term perspective. India is not
ideal in many ways and everything cannot change immediately. If bright
people who have studied/conducted research in top universities abroad
join the system, over the years they can reach influential positions.
It is at that time that they can make big difference by playing
important role in policymaking. In cases like that of Ayyadurai (who
is probably very good if MIT appoints him on its staff), confrontation
in the first few days of joining the system certainly served his own
ego but in the long run the system lost the services of a talented
individual. If he had shown patience, maybe he could have risen to
lead CSIR one day. As we all know, the previous CSIR director, Dr.
Raghunath Mashelkar left a top faculty position in the UK to become a
faculty at National Chemical Laboratory in Pune in his young days.
When after several years later he had the opportunity to run CSIR, he
could put CSIR on world map. The $80M revenue of CSIR labs may seem
small on a global scale but has anyone asked the question what the
revenue was before Dr. Mashelkar's tenure? Nobody even knew of CSIR
back then ... forget having any mention of it in a newspaper like NYT.
So the key is for good people to stay put in the system if the
intention is to do something for the country - and I believe this
applies to all walks of life - not just education/research.
[2 Dec, 2009 0016hrs IST]
bala srinivasan,saginaw.mich.usa.,says:THE REALITY CHECK FOR INDIANS
WHO HAVE SPENT EVEN A MINIMUM TIME OF ONE YEAR IN USA IS WHAT INDIA
IS,WHAT INDIA CAN BE.THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF INDIA BEING
REGIONAL&NARROW MINDED FOR PURELY SELFISH REASONS HAVE NO COMPULSIONS
IN EVEN ATTEMPTING TO STREAM LINE INDIA FOR 21ST CENT
GROWTH&PROGRESS.MAY BE WE ARE WAITING FOR A CHANAKYA TO ENERGISE
INDIAN NETAS&BABUS TO TAKE CHARGE OF OUR FUTURE DESTINY.TILL THEN WE
KEEP LISTENING TO CORRUPT,INEFFICIENT,SELFISH NETAS ORGANISING ANNUAL
PARVASI DIWAS FOR THEIR AGENDA.
[2 Dec, 2009 0016hrs IST]
G RAo,Bangalore,says:This is so true I too lived forget in west but in
next door Muscat & DUbai for last seventeen years and my efforts since
a year have failed to integrate with corruption, lack of even basic
ettiquets, manners, disgusting road manners & behavior in public etc.
I feel pity for people who keep crowing about our great culture and
past> I am sorry we are culture less, manner less, corrupt society.
finally merit has no meaning in India.
[2 Dec, 2009 0002hrs IST]
Bidyut,India,says:Thanks Asish for your sweet remark to Mr. Paul
Gordon,who is completely unware of Indian Culture & Value.Mr Paul,
Times of India is world largest selling English Newpaper,they cant
committ such mistake. You need to introspect to your own culture
before pointing fingure to one of the World's Greatest Culture. I hope
you will learn you culture first before comment some one's culture.
Those who are criticising India, they dont have any right to say
anything. Because they did nothing for the developement for India,
left her for their personal gains. Its very easy to sit there &
comment. If you people have so much problem with India, then dont come
here or try to contribute to make it better place to live in if you
people are planning to come back.
[1 Dec, 2009 2352hrs IST]
Ranjeev Mishra,Baltimore,says:Where does all our Indian pride goes
when we start complaining about India? Isn't the country a true
reflection of ourselves? Just because we are in US/UK for our careers,
we think that India is no longer fit for us? If so why can't we go
there and try and make it better? Someone has to right?
[1 Dec, 2009 2345hrs IST]
Arun Roy,UK,says:True there is traffic snarls in every major Indian
city, incompetent police and a painstakingly slow officialdom. However
this man comes back after almost a lifetime in America. And you expect
the Indian administrators to hand him everything from day one. There
is something called technological espionage, haven't you heard about
it? This man should have first settled down to his new surroundings,
understood the paradigms of the organisation and proven his commitment
before contacting senior scientist on his own. I see mischief here.
Trust me I work for a major defence consortium and no one, believe me
no one, gets access to information before proving his commitment. The
problem in India is that we seem to have no pride in our own system
and anyone can come from abroad demanding to be treated as a king. And
if that is not given, then we Indians pull our own system down. What a
shame. Within weeks no one can deliver the goods for an organisation,
if anyone really wants to deliver the goods he or she must first spend
few years to understand the organisation. This does not mean not doing
your day job, it means doing more than your day job. I will
congratulate the CSIR director for being astute, he protected
intellectual property being developed in India. However there is a
definite need to become more technology friendly, improve internal
communication within government organisation and most importantly
reduce procedural delays by clearly defining objectives and line of
authority.
[1 Dec, 2009 2335hrs IST]
xyzeeeee,canada,says:I can't get over the attitude of Mr. Brahmachari.
If anyone, who is in decision making role in India see this, please
atleast take some action against people like him to show that India is
making effort to improve.
[1 Dec, 2009 2332hrs IST]
jayanthi,India,says:I fully agree with Ayyadurai that our country is
totally bogged down with feudal culture otherwise with the potential
our youngsters have we can do wonders. Shame on Mr.Bramachari who not
only comes late for the interview and meetings and has the audacity to
talk about protocol. Totally unprofessional
[1 Dec, 2009 2325hrs IST]
dilip,mumbai,says:OF COURSE ,EVEN I WANT TO COME BACK,LOOK AT OUR
INFRA,SLUMS AND GARBAGE EVERY WHERE IN MUMBAI .SO MUCH OF CORRUPTION
AND POLLUTION .SO MUCH MONEY IS EATEN BY THE POLITICIANS,THTS Y OUR
IND WILL BE ALMOST BE THE SAME.SHAME ON U BMC.I LOVE INDIA
[1 Dec, 2009 2310hrs IST]
Ashish Tuteja,California,says:Right said Paul Gordon, this article was
published in NYT, but how foolish of you that you didn;t even notice
that they have already credited the effort of the reporting agency,
read the top part and you'l get to know what i mean
[1 Dec, 2009 2309hrs IST]
PeeYat,NYC/Mumbai,says:I am not shocked to see some comments that
India doesnt care/need about Indians living in US/UK. There are issues
when I come back to India. The "chalta hain" and "I dont care"
attitude is what pisses me off. The way rich people, politicians,
celebrities have disregard for the law. The "anything
(riots,bandh,fights,morchas,disruption of normal life) can happen
anyday". The list goes on and on. But all this is bearable if people
who return are making more than what they made in US/UK. However, I
found some members' comments about Indians in West have no respect/
forget the indian culture, become like slaves etc. If Indians abroad
work in labor jobs, its for a reason. Example, the laborers in UAE
have a much better lifestyle in UAE than would ever have in India.
India is getting better and but the attitude/dadagiri will never
change. You cannot just return to india out of love. Paisa hain to
life mast hain is and will always be true. Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra.
[1 Dec, 2009 2306hrs IST]
Sujesh Arukil,Pittsburgh,says:I have been in the US for 5 years.
Worked here, lived here with 5 other roommates in a single room, then
to my own rented apartment and now married to my long time girlfriend
in India, we both have bought a house. Work is good here and work was
good back in India when I worked there. The problem with we NRIs is
this, that we expect India to be the same as it was when we were
there... most of us think of going back because our family is there,
or our long lost friends are there and those awesome good memories
that we have had in India and when we decide to go back (in my case
vacations of a month), we find everything is different from the place
we are living in and suddenly we forget, that once upon a time, we
went to the US from India and struggled, lived in shoddy conditions,
stayed hungry to save those little extra dollars. I have a problem
with both NRIs who go to India and whine and complain and as well as
those idiots who say that these guys left India in search of greener
pasture. What is wrong in looking for greener pasture? How many of you
are from small towns and villages in India and moved to big cities
because of greener pasture? How many of you have dreamt of going to
the US and then when it did not happen, feel sour about it? I have
worked hard, no matter where I worked, collected some money and sent
it home to my family. I did what I had to, saw the opportunity to help
myself, my family and my future generation. Do I feel like I am an
American? No, I dont, do I feel like I belong here in the US? no I
dont... but still, this is a good place, I like working here, I have
welcomed the culture that was a alien to me and yet I am as Indian as
I have always been. We do plan to go back to India someday and when we
do, India would have grown, changed in all respect.. the only problem
I would see is going through it all again to adjust once more, to
start the circle from scratch. India is my country, I was born there,
I was brought up there... I can never forget it and I can never
abandon it... my kids might be different, then again, it will be their
life and what they decide to do with it!! For now, I am happy being
here and reading news from my country, cherishing the good things back
home in India, waiting for the next trip home... that is where I
belong, and US... this is where I live!
[1 Dec, 2009 2206hrs IST]
IloveIndia,Houston,TX,says:We all know the problems in India and we
all know what should be done to work up the system efficiently, we all
should work together and find ways to combine the best of both worlds
rather than complaining and trying to find the personal comfort zone.
[1 Dec, 2009 2148hrs IST]
RG-Tex,Houston, Texas,says:This Brahmachari should immediately been
thrown out on his behind. His statement, threatening the press, and
overall attitude speaks volumes. This kind of anti-business, ego-
driven and useless attitude, is found all over India among the babus
(sometimes even in private companies like Airlines). It is no wonder,
that India is still far behind in economic progress than China. I have
met many Americans who eagerly go to India to set up businesses,
establish business alliances, or simply work, but come back badly
burnt by egotistical simpletons like this Brahmachari. Its a darn
shame!
[1 Dec, 2009 2136hrs IST]
shri,US,says:The prime minister wanted NRIs back so that they can take
leadership in changing India not to complement what you missed in
WEST.
[1 Dec, 2009 2134hrs IST]
Raghav,Washington DC,says:To Paul Gordon that accused of copyrights
and Indian culture. Seriously, what sort of hollow blabbering is that?
It's typically associated with an American for a good reason. Yes,
it's an unedited reproduction of NYT article duly credited to the
original author, Heather Timmons and NYT news services as authorized
reproduction would require in IPR. Does it even sink into your
ignorant grain sized little brain? NYT and TOI have just teamed up to
bring it to more readers. Here is the link to the original article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/business/global/28return.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=expatriate%20indian&st=cse
[1 Dec, 2009 2110hrs IST]
Prakash Krishnan,Tanzania,says:When someone decides to return home for
good he has to consider all the consequences good and bad. The work
culture, ethics etc are lacking in India as per the article. But there
is a lot of improvement in these areas during the last dacade. But the
advantage of working in India is that you are not a foreigner here. In
my experience, wherever you work outside, you are not treated equally.
Even though in theory all are treated equally, but in practice this
seldom happens. It is also interesting to be with your own culture and
civilisation at least during the end of your career.
[1 Dec, 2009 2109hrs IST]
Wrishi,London,says:There are, as we all know, twofold adjustment home-
bound Indians need to do, one within the work-place and the other is
within the society. In terms of work-place adjustments, Indian and UK
(haven't work in USA, so can't comment!) the basic difference is that,
in UK, responsibilities and expectations are better managed at every
level and everybody (starting from the top level management to the
bottom order) has a more empowerment which increases the efficiency
and in turn productivity. Now this down side in India is generally
compensated either with number of employees or the number of hours an
employee has to work, which 'works' (as observed by Anjali Bansal) as
value of human labour, especially at the lowest level, is less beyond
healthy limits in India. However, this empowerment etc are some of the
good-practices anyone going-back should try to inculcate in the
workplace (that's why you wanted to go back right? to share what to
learned in the west?), and hey, no change is easy (especially when you
have show people beyond the immediately tagable benefits), is it? So,
if you want to go back, be ready to be tough and flexible at the same
time. In terms of society adjustments, yes, India has higher
environment pollution, corruption level and devoid of the facilities
we take for grated in west. However, you will probably be closer to
your family, can experience the culture you are starving (are you?)
for and also be befitted by the same low value of human labour by
hiring number of maids, cleaners and chauffeurs!!!! So there are both
ve and -ve sides, same as for any decision we take in life!
[1 Dec, 2009 2030hrs IST]
Ruchir,Canada,says:Hey Paul Gordon, Before you comment on this as
being a copyright theft, you should read the attribution on the top of
the Article. "Heather Timmons, NYT News Service 1 December 2009,
09:35am IST". And, BTW, How do you know that the copyright was
violated? How do you know that TOI did not obtain the permission? How
do you know that the so called 'blatant reproduction' was not legal?
And how to do you link that supposed behaviour to 'Indian Culture'?
Whatever your roots are - it is obvious you are very ignorant.
Probably, TOI has been around longer than NYT. And BTW, the news are
sold by Reuter and other agencies including NYT for republishing all
over the world. And just in case you never noticed, in this beautiful
media world, news is bought and sold just like any other commodity.
You are so ignorant unfortunatley.
[1 Dec, 2009 2029hrs IST]
Vinod,Illinois,says:I left for US as a student in 1981 and have been
here since then. I am not one of those debating whether to return to
India to work or retire. I make frequent trips to India to connect
back with my family and friends and always look forward to those
trips. In recent years I have seen the "standard of living" in India
improve considerably compared to what I was used to when I was a
youngster living in India. Though I see this change for better during
each and every trip I always also experience how much India(ns) have
not changed in their societal attitudes. Every Indian prides in their
prowess on how easily they can get "things done" whether it be
restoring power in their houses after a thunderstorm when the whole
town is in the dark, withdrawal of funds from a a bank where there is
a long line, or being able to travel in a AC train compartment even
when thy do not have the ticket to do so etc. Unless these young
Indians begin to realize that such 'personal powers' are nothing to
crow about, the entire outwardly progress the country enjoys seems
minuscule.
[1 Dec, 2009 2022hrs IST]
Sayan Bhattacharya,NJ, USA,says:Don't blame India for providing a less
hospitable environment for livelihood. Back in the 60s and the 70s the
West had a warped image of Indians as well and the looks you would get
made it equally inhospitable. But we came by the hordes and our sheer
volume mollified the situation. I am confident that if ex-pats with an
enriched world experience throng back to India the issues there would
be alleviated as well. No country or system is built overnight. You
are a selfish crybaby if you expect things to be served on a platter
all the time.
[1 Dec, 2009 1959hrs IST]
Paul Gordon,New York,says:This article originally appeared in NYT.
Blatant reproduction of copyrighted material speaks volumes to the
Indian culture.
[1 Dec, 2009 1941hrs IST]
Brian,Boston, MA,says:The last sentence of the article sums the
mentality of this Guy Brahmachari. He is a Joker (with his funny
moustache). This is how things work in India. Its always my way or
highway. If you do not agree with me then you are out. One way to work
is that to identify problems and addressing them. Obviuosly when Mr.
Durrai tried to do that it hurt King size ego of this Dr. Brahmachari
and led to this action. I have been told by many of my colleagues of
Indian origin who know this joker that he is less of a scientist and
more of a politician. No wonder nothing comes out from any of the CSIR
labs in India. India will never reach the status of China unless it
tries to address the problem and take less as criticism. I am sure Mr
Durrai with his accomplishments will get similar or better position in
US. Things may have gone down here a bit but talent is still respected
and there are scores of example for that.
[1 Dec, 2009 1915hrs IST]
Naimish,UAE,says:vande mataram! who cares about infrastructure &
transpotation. i am ready to face it. its my luck that my indian
brother will push me in the local train. i dont need to worry about
attitude of people anymore. "i will behave in india as i behaved
abroad." people will learn what they see. till our morals are high &
our education system is strong, talent will emerge. talents will
change the attitude. attitude will change people. people will change
politics.
[1 Dec, 2009 1914hrs IST]
Manoj,Bangalore,says:India doesn't need these bounty hunters who left
India for greener pastures to USA. And now, when its drying up in USA,
they plan to come back. They don't belong to anywhere.
[1 Dec, 2009 1851hrs IST]
Prabodh Lele,Potomac, MD, USA,says:I like to add my thoughts on this
story. but before I state my thoughts, I would like to provide brief
biography that gives me a unique perspective, I think. I came to this
country after getting my BE in Vadodara 50 years ago, got advanced
degrees and stayed and worked in the US. My wife is also from Baroda
and we were married in Minneapolis 48 years ago and raised two
children, both born here and now married to "Euros" (Some called them
Americans, but our children reminded us that they both are also
Americans, Indian-Americans(Desi); their spouses are European-
Americans, in short Euros). I was mid level manager in the largest
American company and then I was with a consulting firm when I worked
in several countries in Europe, middle-east, Africa and Asia. And then
I go an opportunity of working i India. I came for three months and
stayed for 3 years, thanks to the management of the business. And
India has changes and it still remains the same. The young generation
I worked with have the same aspirations as the American me and women I
worked with - better more comfortable life with a car to go anywhere
he/she wants to go, be comfortable in an AC room during hot days and
be free from all the social restrictions, especially the women. Almost
all young women were either Panjabi dress (yes, I still call that
although most young people don;t think that way - hey I have not
changed) or western slack and shirt, almost never a sari. And all of
them wanted to work hard to able able to afford the comfortable life.
And good education of children Exactly same as my daughter and son
want for their children. And everyone detested corruption. If they
could, they would eliminate it. They never took money but had accepted
that as a way of life to get anything done. And that is where the big
difference. My both children went to Ivy leagues schools. I did not
know anyone there and I did not have to pay anyone anything to gain
admissions for them. And when a Police officer stopped me for
speeding, he gave me a ticket and I paid the fine to the government.
The idea of paying him/her never occured. Not so when my car was
stopped at Chembur circle. The police never gave a ticket but the
driver settled with him in cash (so he told me). I heard from everyone
how much it cost them to gain admission for their children in school.
And the lack of traffic discipline, etc. I could go on complaining
about this. But almost everyone I worked with also heated it as much
as I did, but they accepted it as a matter of life. That I could not
accept. But even in the US, you find that the Indians who came here at
different times, in their lives as well as times act very different.
Those who come at young age (I mean 21-25), unmarried - men share
house work with women. But those who have come later in life having
lived as a man and wife family in India, men liver traditional way,
not sharing house work. These are the people who feel comfortable as
expats because that's the way they had lived before. People like me
who came at a young age and grew up here as a family feel out of place
socially in India. I could write a clot more but I realize that this
is just a comment, not an article.
[1 Dec, 2009 1845hrs IST]
Jay,ATL,says:The article is right on the money. I have been away for
23 years and cannot fathom being back working in an environment that
even while going to work is act of congress. the discipline of a
working enviroment does not exist in majority of cases. it is very
difficult for us to take a step back into chaos.
[1 Dec, 2009 1845hrs IST]
nitin,lucknow,says:While reading comment, one thing is obvious. Most
NRIs are complaining abt India, whereas most ppl living in India even
though they complain still they are being a part of it and loving it.
When NRIs return to India they think they are doing great favor to
India. This attitude will always pain you. When you went to America,
did u think that u r doing a great favor to US? NO. Similarly when you
are returning to your homeland, to your own people you are not doing a
favor to them. The moment you will leave this attitude you will live a
happy life in India. This I am saying from experience of returning
back to my Lucknow town after living in US for 10 years and now living
a happy life in Lucknow.
[1 Dec, 2009 1826hrs IST]
Lloyd Fernandez,Muscat,says:Ladies and Gentlemen, We keep forgetting
one issue here, when we left India for the west we found it difficult
to adapt to the west's culture and procedures an then we finally
analysed them and got to like them very much and some we still dont
like. When we go back to India, we have to adapt to change whcih we
learnt very much in the west and ultimately get used to it and enjoy
much less stress. I have been out of India myself since 1974 and in
many countries spaning from Europe, middle east and to Australia,
theres' nothing like home.
[1 Dec, 2009 1818hrs IST]
Maneet Singh,Melbourne, Australia,says:I am an NRI living in Australia
for four years now. From day one I had decided that I ll go back where
I belong. Many said my decision would change with time once I get used
to better things in life provided by the developed world. I agree that
traffic, pollution, corruption etc are a big problem in india but
blinded by the colour of money we tend to overlook the real problems
we face in developed world like racism, emotional disconnect and B
grade jobs that we settle for even if we are more than qualified to do
highly skilled proffesional jobs. I have seen desi engineers driving
taxi, dentists working in a call center etc. Did someone say 40% of
employees at NASA are indians? If yes, it would be interesting know
their job profile. I can live away from india but cannot take india
out of my heart. I m happy that I have booked a one way ticket to my
home where my heart is.
[1 Dec, 2009 1812hrs IST]
Hemant,Bangalore,says:Till such time we dont bring changes in our
social systems incorporating infrastructure, health, education and
sports on top level, few people would like to come back to India and
if they do it wont be for long. Even today, i can read in newspapers
the desperation faced by many Indians to go abroad insearch of jobs.
Hiding in trucks, boats, ships etc. I wonder, if given a free ticket
and a job overseas,how many of us will actually deny and stay back in
India? As ancient as a nation we may be, so are our attitudes and
beliefs. From this arises the cultural matrix of India. As amazing as
we are in terms of diversity of languages, traditions and local
habits, it also stands as a testimony to our unity today.
Unfortunately that unity didn't come from our own will and drive but
the efforts of the British who managed to subdue all the pricely
states and bring them under one flag. Let us accept that over the last
sixty odd years we have done poorly in terms of health care,
population control, education and last but not the least, sports. We
have a fundamental flaw in our approach to doing things in life. I
dont know what the cause is but if i look at the soap operas on indian
TV, it aptly reflects what goes on at a common man's level. Add all
this and get it onto a national level- we more or less stand there. We
all are responsible for what we are as a nation today. The ealrier we
stop cribbing and blaming our politicians and the earlier we start
working together can we start a revolution to rid us of corruption,
superstitions, blind belifs and so on. The last time we had a mass
movement was to drive the British out and since then we have limited
our selves to trade unions to carry out strikes.
[1 Dec, 2009 1758hrs IST]
Dev,australia,says:western cultures have been exposed to global ways
and immigrants of all nations for a long time so change has come quite
easier..Though its possible for a country like India to change its
ways by itself, it is a bit more difficult task. (but im sure india
can change its ways)
[1 Dec, 2009 1751hrs IST]
Pratap Singh Tomer,Qatar,says:India need me as Prime Minister just for
five years, I will get all expat Indians back to India on simmilar
jobs may be with a bit less salaries, Expat Indian means not NRI's who
are in USA,UK or Canada, it means even the low wage Indian labourer
working in Middle-East or anywhere else outside India, thats how it
should be and to be looked at. Wake up !!
[1 Dec, 2009 1750hrs IST]
RB,TN,says:How come an Italian woman with an IQ of a jelly fish is
running the biggest democracy in the world! NRIs are and you wimps?
[1 Dec, 2009 1749hrs IST]
Pranay,United Kingdom,says:Every country deals with problems relating
to corruption and other issues......the main point is that we need to
be afraid of the law. Effective law and goverance is a big deterrant.
We are happy to abide and accept rules of a foreign land , yet we dont
follow rules of our home country.
[1 Dec, 2009 1727hrs IST]
IndianInUK,UK,says:I am one of those who have born and brought up in
India and working in UK for nearly 5 years. As every Expats say, even
I do attach their statements. The worst thing at our country is
attitude and not infrastructure. For ex.1) 'The boss' (doesnt matter
he is a Director/GM/Manager) he expects a coffee/Tea while he steps in
to the office and that too should be served by a peon. Though there is
a coffee machine, he expects it to be served by them. 2) Cabin
culture. TBH, you cant see those culture in these countries and so it
is very transparent work culture. Maybe the senior official might be
having a little more desk space. thats it. 3) When I was in Mumbai, I
went for an interview which was scheduled by 10 a.m. I was on time
infact even before 10. The HR Director, the interviewer came by noon
and he didnt even bother to say sorry for being late and not informed
to any of his "Secretary/PA" as well. Moreover, though he has turned
late, he was sorting something in his office rather than I was called
for an interview. I got the call by 12.30...What I should've done is
walk out from the interview. But cant help it...everyone is in need of
a job. For those who are feeling that we are criticising our
motherland,is totally wrong. We love to turn our country and in my
honest opinion people who say who are doing enough by staying there
are useless because you enjoy your work to be completed and so you
bribe, you want to rush because you start from home very late and so
you jump the queue, whereas we (expats) dont (If not everyone a
majority of us dont, I bet because we have criticised for being on
time). Atleast we teach them whenever we go, its upto you to change
it. And dont say that we have flewn out to have a greener side.
Everyone does, always sour grapes story with people like you. First,
try to accept the mistakes in the system. If not no one can improve
our country. Jai Hind. Just to let you know guys...We are more
patriotic and we do spread good things about our country in this side
of the world...
[1 Dec, 2009 1725hrs IST]
I Gupta,New York,says:For those who try to repatriate themselves back
to India: Think about the time you moved to a new country/ or your
parents moved to a new country -- typically you started at the
bottom....had some time to absorb the culture, make mistakes, you had
to be humble to learn the ropes from people sometimes far less
experienced than yourself....you did not have it easy and your ego got
battered before you learned the ways of surviving and adjusting in the
new culture and country you adopted. You did not change the people in
the country you had adopted....you had to change yourself. When you
choose go back to India you have to be humble too and it is you who
will have to change. Unfortunately....you are no longer going back at
the bottom where you have the time to learn....you are going back
because it is an opportunity that makes you feel you are at a higher
level (emotionally and/or in your position.) Despite the fact that you
are possibly being brought in to the position to make change....It is
wrong to think that one can just swoop in and make changes to a style
of working suddenly just because you have arrived there. It takes time
and a lot of patience and humility to make changes. Unless you have
that in you....you are the wrong candidate for the position. You are
setting yourself up for a lot of frustration, heartache and failure.
[1 Dec, 2009 1715hrs IST]
Avner Barak,Bangalore,says:How is it possible for someone who is 7
years old to leave 40 years ago?
[1 Dec, 2009 1715hrs IST]
Alok,Cyprus,says:I have seen most of Indians living in abroad without
any dignity and self respect, reason is they themselves.... educated
people are doing labor jobs because of currency difference. I know
these people have commitments and liabilities back at home but I will
say they should not loose their self respect and dignity and spoil our
country name.. People abroad see Asians as cheap labors.. I hate
this... I will say we better go back to India and prove that without
us Indians this world economy cannot move... we Indians are used like
slaves for no reasons.... we work very hard than anyone in this world
and we are most intelligent but still we have no respect because we
like ourself to be treated like slaves.... I request you all expats
please go back to India and live with respect and make our country
proud... give light to your own house not neighbors house...
[1 Dec, 2009 1714hrs IST]
RK,Bangalore,says:I came back to India in April 2009 after spending 6
years in US. It's all in the mind set with which we come back. I am
extremely happy to be back. There is dust, pollution, filth etc, but
what have we contributed to improve? With so much of knowledge of
cleanliness gained by living in US, we can at least create awareness
among our co-workers and neighbours in our locality? NRIs expect
things work the same way as they do in western countries. Change that
notion and understand that there is far more population density than
those countries. As rightly said by Michael, Chennai, people are fine
to adjust to the severe change in life style when they go from India
to US, but do not want to accept the change when they come back from
US to India. Well, people who complain can remain where ever they are,
India has not come this far because of expats, it's because of it's
own hard work. Things will improve, it just takes time. When India is
a developed country, please don't come back singing 'Mera Bharat
Mahan' or 'Jai Hind', you will be insulting those phrases...
[1 Dec, 2009 1650hrs IST]
Keyur,Birmingham, UK,says:I believe ego and lack of initiative is the
main root cause for every problem in INDIA. And it's not only in
INDIA, this porblem exist in every Indian community even outside
INDIA. We used to follow every rules and regulation when we live with
any British or American but same is not true if we are living with any
Indian.
[1 Dec, 2009 1647hrs IST]
Sharan,R,says:India will never improve. India will never develop.
Working in India is and will always be a nightmare. No dignity of
labor. No value for life. We cling onto our so called great ethical
culture which I don't think has any value at all. No big deal.
American culture is much better, much more humane. (I'm not talking
about Religion here, just culture). India is definitely waste for
those who have gone abroad and returned. Full of corruption, hatred.
Educated Students are fighting over castes and film stars and
politicians are increasing this attitude. I'm from Andhra. Remove
Chowdaries, Reddies and Naidus (eliminate them) and I'm sure my State
will improve. Same way at national level.
[1 Dec, 2009 1644hrs IST]
M.S.Kamath,Bangalore,says:Expat Indians have left India long back, for
good, when things were much better here, compared to now. They should
not return whether PM is inviting them or not. Our politicians have
made a system that works only for them and the vested interests. They
are deeply entrenched. As of now, there is very little hope any
improvement.
[1 Dec, 2009 1643hrs IST]
afzal,saudi arabia,says:DEAR NRIS , NEVER EVER DO THAT MISTAKE OR
RETURNING BACK TO INDIA SAYING GOOD BYE TO THE FORIEGN LAND, IF YOU DO
SO THE CONSEQUENSES WILL BE VERY BAD YOU WILL NOT ONLY BE CHEATED AND
LOOTED, BUT MAY ALSO BE KILLED.. ALL ALIKE THE POLITICIANS THE
BUISSNESS THE RESIDENT WIVES ALL ALIKE- HAVE TIME AND AGAIN ONLY DONE
SO-SO FAR, ONE GOOD EXAMPLE I HAVE A FRIEND WIFE WHO TOOK AWAY ALL THE
MONEY , THE PROPERTY INCLUDING THE CHILDREN AND THE MANS BUISSNESS
LEAVING HIM TO DIE AFTER MARRYING SOME ONE ELSE SO NEVER EVER DARE TO
RETUNE FOR GOOD TAKE TIME TO DO SO AND GRADUALLY COME BACK DONOT TAKE
THE STEPS ALL OF A SUDDEN.
[1 Dec, 2009 1635hrs IST]
Kieron,UK,says:As Nash Raina,London commented earlier, the first thing
the locals hold against you is the fact that you are a 'repat'. This
is evident from the tone of some locals' comments e.g. Not Required
Indians return to India because they have been laid off (Pink Slip or
P45 as the case may be). As the son of a failed repat, I can only say
these are the result of either sour grapes or complete ignorance. Most
'repats' have a very healthy nest-egg to return to - maybe not as
substantial as Sam Pitroda's, but still. Even if someone does not have
any savings to fall back on, the Social Security safety net in the UK
provides for most of anyone's basic needs - in fact a NRI (Not
Required in India) who does not drink, can even save from some of the
generous allowances. Hope TOI do publish this comment.
[1 Dec, 2009 1629hrs IST]
Sandip patel,UK,says:I am living in working in UK since last 7 years.
I have been to India many times and I have seen so much improvement in
infrastructure and wealth to the people. I hope it will improve and
increase and spread to all the people living in India. Only thing is
lacking is attitude which is still the same. We need dramatic attitude
improvement towards for country, for other religions, for other
people, for women and for your employees. India is better place to
live but we can make best place to live. So, my request to follow
Indian please change it you attitude and make our country to best
place to live. Jai Hind.
[1 Dec, 2009 1623hrs IST]
Pankaj,Czech,says:Hi Myself Pankaj from Central Europe , IT
Professional.. I know Now india has became a BIG IT hub and peoples
are willing to part of that success but still India has lot of
problems. especially in structure of companies. the person who seated
on TOP and always expect work from bottom peoples. because of that
there have big personality differences. Employees can not sit with
their BOSS and share personal thing other then work. BOSS always
maintain some distance with employees. i think peoples who work in
outside India and behave with his Boss like colleagues can not work in
Indian culture. working Hours in India is not well defined employee
has timing to come office but not leaving ..because of that most of IT
professional suffered with mentally and socially pressure. They
totally lost their social life and behave like devotee...i don't think
money does matter if you have tension free life.... I don't think
government can help until we don't take initiative to change it..
Calculation.--- Change working structure and remove BOSS culture and
define the strict office timing (leaving )
[1 Dec, 2009 1616hrs IST]
gauri,india,says:Do your own research TOI. This is lifted straight out
of International Herald Tribune. Be Desi and ORIGINAL for a
change.....
[1 Dec, 2009 1604hrs IST]
rkpatel,wn,nz.,says:ALL-INDIANS SAY THIS AND THAT..!! But HOW CAN
THERE BE CORRUPTION,IF WE WERE SELFLESS or UNSELFISH..!! WE-HUMANS in
general and WE-INDIANS in particular,regardless of WHAT OUR
EDUCATION,PROFESSION,POSITION,BUSINESS etc and WHAT WE SAY;but WE are
not only like the INSECTS,BIRDS,BEASTS,BRUTES or ANIMALS;but also WE
ARE even LOWER than THEM..!! Think about that for a moment..!!
rkpatel, wn,nz.
[1 Dec, 2009 1520hrs IST]
Jason Bourne,Delhi,says:This is absolutely true even in my life as
well. It is almost a year since am back, and it was really great
difficulty to settle in India, I tried Hyderabad, Bangalore and now
Noida...Even day in and day out I am the first one to complain and get
angry. From the company I work to the house I live it is really hard
to tune. But as time goes by..I am settling down understanding the
people and culture and how this country functions...with its politics
and corruption. But I love the freedom you get in your motherland,
which is unavailable in any other country. Am tuning in and will live
to see this country rise and shine.
[1 Dec, 2009 1516hrs IST]
dhananjay,bangalore,says:Key to happy living in India is how you
structure your life. I live in Koramangala and work in Domlur -
commute that takes me 15 to 20 minutes peak hour. I fix my
appointments around lunch time when the traffic is less. I am a member
of Koramangala Club which is 5 minutes commute. My only other ambition
is Karnataka Golf Assn. membership which is again 20 minutes commute
from home 5 minutes from my office. Driving License / Passport need to
be renewed once in 10 years. Other utility bills can be paid on-line.
I avoid any party which is on the other side of MG Road as it takes up
too much driving time. In any case, we have call taxis which are quite
good. Maybe I should become counsellor to these NRIs on balanced happy
living!
[1 Dec, 2009 1506hrs IST]
faisal,dhahran,says:The people coming back to India from the West are
far superior to those in India. However, the corruption in India is a
massive problem. Everything is a stand still in government office and
at government companies unless you pay bribes at every step. This is
the only way to get the government employee to do their job and
process your stuff, otherwise it sits there for months. The government
employee is doing nothing but holding things in order to get the
bribes. They have an official salary but their unofficial salary
through bribes is massively much higher. Their interest is to make it
very slow in order to get bribes.
[1 Dec, 2009 1503hrs IST]
Sunil Gupta,London,says:I recently visited Delhi after 8 years and
quite shocked to see things. When I landed at Delhi airport on 17
November 2009. I was standing with my wife and two kids at the
immigration counter AT 4 am early in the moning. Sir, we stood 2 hours
in the queue like many other passengers because all the immigation
officers were busy in fighting with their boss. They were openely
using abusive language and fighting with their bosses because they
wanted to go home and didn't want to take any further passengers. They
were openely abusing Indian workers who were coming back fom Middle
east and immigration officers also had no hesitation in abusing some
of the African people who were visiting India. This is the language
used by one of the immigration officer to a passenger: Are you a Deaf?
Cant you hear? At Delhi airport, in the duty free shops , now days
their is a sign board on all the duty free shops that Indian rupees
will not be accepted from non Indian passport holders. There were so
many foreigners at Delhi airport, who didnt know how to spend their
remaining Indian rupees? Sir, isn't it shame that in our own country,
we are not accepting Indian rupees?? After my recent visit to Delhi, I
must say that Government bodies/machinery need to work hard in the
country otherwise India would be a suitable country only for
politicians and big businessman or powerful people only. India dream
cant be sold beyond a point.
[1 Dec, 2009 1459hrs IST]
Gizza,Sydney,says:In my last post I forgot to mention about the
institutionalised biases put in place. No NRI higher caste Hindu in
their right mind would come to a country where they are treated as
second-class citizens. Personally I don't understand why the
reservation system was based on caste. Even in the Sanskrit
Panchatantra and Hitopadesha, there are stories about poor Brahmins
(So much for caste discrimination). A better way would be to give
reservations based on income. This will mean poor Shrudra and Dalits
PLUS poor Brahmins, Kshatriyas and poor Vaishyas can receive a decent
education.
[1 Dec, 2009 1456hrs IST]
jay,boston, usa,says:.. It is not we mean to say i.e. India is correpu
and US is not.. My dear friends it is how it affects you.. I am a
student in US...We dont live a supress life nor do we follow rules
because we are afraid and its mother land.. 98/100 americans follow
rules, show courtesy and life the life you live.. Nobody is above the
law and in US and they value hardwork.. seriously no one in amewrica
cares whether your are rich, poor, famous or whatever.. the point is..
can you do the work.. do it.. if cannot move on.. honestly.. i would
love to come back to India after studying.. but things dont look
nice.. i follow all rules b ut I dont expect anything from others.. I
am not blaming India neither the politicians nor the people.. Its
something which needa a change.. No Indian who is in America says its
just to for sake that India is like this or that.. My dear friends..
we all care for our country..your have a different vieew.. but
honestly.. thats the truth.. we need a change !!! blessss !!!
[1 Dec, 2009 1450hrs IST]
Gizza,Sydney,says:Anjali Bansal is very wrong. Being lazy and
disrespectful of rules, like my chachas, maasis and other relatives
are in India (some poor, some relatively rich) is not a different
"custom." These attributes were not part of Indian culture 1000 years
ago. NRIs/PIOs come back because they love India's history and admire
their origins. However nearly all of the ones that I know (And I am
one of them) are hugely critical of the country in its modern form.
And no, just bringing us back won't fix the poverty issue. You need to
listen to what the overseas Indians have to say (particularly when it
comes to work ethic and enforcing laws) because we have lived in
countries that were rich and stay rich and prosperous. Also I can't
how everybody takes corruption for granted. Again corruption (except
VERY minor) rarely occurs in the First-World because if it did it will
become the Third-World. I am not denying it completely but business in
India is probably 90% corrupt whereas in the US, UK, Europe, Japan,
Australia, etc. it is 10%.
[1 Dec, 2009 1450hrs IST]
Milind,South Africa,says:Lack of professionalism especially in
government offices, corruption in day to day activities like getting
electricity connected, nepotism, interference by politicians, overall
lawlessness on the roads- the list of problems is endless. These
problems keep Indians away from India and drive some of those who try
and return.
[1 Dec, 2009 1447hrs IST]
hussain,India,says:I strongly disagree with this, they blame
traffic,unprofessionalism and so on, but the thing is those peoples
are in comfort zone they fear they will not get that much salary . But
i believe one all those guys will come irrespective of the quoted
things. I feel very bad to read the reasons.
[1 Dec, 2009 1447hrs IST]
vishal agrawal,Mumbai,says:I gave up my job and came back for my
country. Yes i find it tough but so what?
[1 Dec, 2009 1443hrs IST]
Ajay Joshi,Vadodara,says:I must agree that it is hard to get adjusted
but it is not impossible. It takes a bit of time. Getting used to
Indian work culture or corporate culture is even more difficult. So
start your own business if you can.
[1 Dec, 2009 1437hrs IST]
Vignesh Balagopal,Helsinki,says:Koi bi desh perfect nahi hota... Usse
behathar banana he....
[1 Dec, 2009 1436hrs IST]
shashank mahajan,ann arbor,says:if polar beer wants to move from
alaska to hawaii, he should not expect hawaii to grow snow all of a
sudden. a system 50 year old cannot be changed in 1 year.
[1 Dec, 2009 1434hrs IST]
R RAJAGOPAL,CHENNAI,says:I am commenting again after seeing the
beautiful posting by Mr Rafi Siddiqui,Pune. Well said Sir, this is the
spirit of a true Indian. Like I said, INDIA & INDIANS are NOT going to
change anytime soon. All the adjectives thrown by USA based gentlemen
may be true BUT INDIA is jumping from 19th to 21st Century {ECONOMIST
Magazine said this} and will become a Middle Size Power by 2020 with a
Per Capita income of US$ 6,000 {against US$ 750 now}. If FDI is US$ 30
Billions now {in spite of all corruption, crime, etc., etc.,}, then
you can imagine what would the volume & frequency of the FDI rush
then. INDIA & CHINA are the two engines of growth over the next
several decades & in 2025 INDIA will have the maximum millions of
youth workforce {higher than even CHINA}. So, do you want to spend
your life talking about Corruption/ Traffic Congestion/ Filthy roads
etc., OK do that & stay over wherever you are if you are happy. BUT
take my word for it, many stretches of the Indian Expressways match
that of CHINA & USA. Have the attitude like Brother Siddique and take
your chances - you won't regret. Dr Brahmachari is not an ordinary guy
- he is the successor to Dr Mashelkar - even USA doesn't have many
Mashelkars!! Stay whereever you are BUT do not degrade people
particularly some body from the lands of President George Bush!!
[1 Dec, 2009 1427hrs IST]
Akshay,Pune,says:Why would anyone ever want to RETURN to India by
CHOICE.....
[1 Dec, 2009 1425hrs IST]
Manpreet Singh,New Delhi,says:Hi, Its better to stay in USA, the
standard of living is too high. We would need another 100 years to get
ourself developed. You can see there is no respect for old people, no
peace, politician are blood sucker, Poor Roads, No electricity, No
Water (contaminated), no medical benifits, no law, corrupt officers,
bad red lights, no benifits of tax, no security. Atleast in USA, the
corruption is not at low end, it will remain at top so the common
people won't be harrased and will enjoy a good life. regards
[1 Dec, 2009 1424hrs IST]
hortense vaughan,australia,says:it is not suprising that westernised
NRI's have difficulty in coping with the squalor stench filth in India
but most of all with the corruption and chalta ,hai attiktude of
RI.s.. If only they could get good Indian food and sweetmeats in the
USA and Europe they would not bother in coming back to ,the mother
country with its inbuilt prejudices bigotries and violence much worse
than those in their foreign lands they migrated to.
[1 Dec, 2009 1417hrs IST]
G.RAMACHANDRAN,MUMBAI,says:WELL! YOU CANNOT HAVE THE CAKE AND EAT IT
TOO!!!!!
[1 Dec, 2009 1413hrs IST]
Victor,USA,says:Let me say something about my experiance in corporate
India. I was working with an MNC in Bangalore for almost 3.5 years and
a few days before the 2004 new year's eve, I got fired from my job.
Why? My manager thought that i was inefficient based on the feedback
given by my team lead. I argued with my manager that if they were not
happy with my performance why wasn't it communicated beforehand. I
told him about my consistent good performance ratings for the past
years and firing without even giving a chance to improve is not right.
But he didn't listen and forced me sign my resignation. I left his
office with a heavy heart not knowing what to do next. I went home,
mulled over whatever that had happenned and I understood that personal
prejudice, boss-subordinate attitude and lack of workculture is the
reason why i got fired. That day I decided that I'm gonna become far
better and successful than all those folks who were responsible for
firing me. I worked hard for the next 1 year and came to the US by the
end of 2004. I joined a fortune 500 company and gave my best in
everything I did. Soon I was promoted to a senior position and today
I've successful career with annual earnings of around $100k per annum
along with benefits. I have got my own fancy car to drive, a luxury
apartment to live and I'm living a life which many people in India
could only dream of. I'm glad at the decision I made to come to US and
I'm pretty much sure that I might not have accompolished anything if I
were in India. Will I go back to India. Hell no. I will put a bullet
through my head than getting back to that nasty workculture. Looking
back at the people who fired me, all I can say is "SO LONG LOSERS AND
THANKS FOR FIRING ME FOR WITHOUT YOU I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN WHAT I'M
CAPABLE OF ".
[1 Dec, 2009 1409hrs IST]
Jikesh,USA,says:There is NO LAW and Order in India. Country without
rules and regulation, may make progress but in end it turns to BIG
ZERO. INDIA is good example of country without any rules and
regulation. Here Money is biggest strength. People with money is not
given importance, there lives is not important, if they dies no body
take it seriously. I have live both in abroad and in india, and good
thing i like in abroad is they have RULES and Regulation, so everybody
have fear of doing wrong things. I agree in abroad also people do
crime, but ratio is far-far less. Atleast in end people have faith
that they would get justice, but in india, people don't have that much
confidence, as everything is corrupted. I can keep on speaking on
this, but i would definitely join politics one day to make a better
nation. I love india, but fact is i can't stay in india.
[1 Dec, 2009 1402hrs IST]
R.M.S,Bremen, Germany,says:R.M.S, Bremen, Germany, says: If it was so
simple to start a business in India, you mean to say that so many
talented young Indians within India would have kept quiet for all
these years. It is THE way of living, in India. Rich becomes richer,
poor becomes poorer which is what we call unity in diversity. The only
thing you could probably do as an expat is start a social organisation
in India, which also at times could get into trouble. There was a time
when the second and third generation politicians in India turned into
gentlemen after being educated overseas.... However, the present day
young politicians even differ on this account. Gone are those days
when a few crores was the thing that Indians could comprehend.. Now
every politician/aspirant is looking at some thousands of crores as
the primary target to achieve, with which they can own industries
aborad, have lavish bungalows aboroad and hoard huge cash reserves in
foreign banks. Now you also see that our politicians (their relatives)
themselves have big chain of corporate houses doing all sorts of
business in technology, manufacturing or the service indutry to name a
few... When this is the case why will they allow new entrepreneurs,
whether Indians or Expat Indians. Expats should also realise that
prestigious business schools in India teach various foreign business
models and not how to deal with the local red tapeism. Best thing
would be to return back when you have enough money and become a
teacher so that some good moral values can atleast be inculcated in
the younger generation.... Else have your money and retreat back to a
quiet countryside location and enjoy... afterall it is your own hard
earned money !!!
[1 Dec, 2009 1401hrs IST]
Rocky,India,says:The things which are inefficient and exploiting ..
doesn't mean to expect as custom.. be clear .. somebody is raising
voice or highlighting it, we must respond positively, to make India
better .. not to take pride and making others to accept it.
[1 Dec, 2009 1401hrs IST]
Naresh,Bangalore,says:I want to believe that Appadurai's is a stray
one. I too am a returnee for the past 16 months. Yes, the traffic is
awful, the bureaucracy is sluggish, the pollution is bothersome but
those cant be reasons to chuck it all. Yes, work environment and the
job at hand is critical. In our case, my wife got a great job and I
have a business so we are doing fine. When I see the youthful
exuberance and the can-do spirit of the youth here, I am reminded of
that spirit during the 90s in the san francisco bay area. This
energizes me. This by itself is reason enough to want to be in India
NOW.
[1 Dec, 2009 1359hrs IST]
IndianByHeart,Delhi, India,says:My background: Studied and worked in
US for 5 years. Working in India for last 2 years. My 2 cents: I also
used to feel in the same way the expats are feeling but I think there
is another side of the coin too. People who leave India and go to US/
Canada very easily accept the rules there and then they forget "Indian
values and attitude" that they themselves were a part of. In US/Canada
also, they stay as "third class" citizens. Then they use the same
"Indian attitude" and think that they can help India. On Indian Govt:
Yes, corruption should go. Yes, law and order is not there. But do you
know there is no law and order in US also.....where there are black
people....go to Detriot and you'll know....lol Yes, I agree lot of
things need to change, but change needs time. Who has given time to
India? only 50 years of independence. Compare this with 300 years of
US. Remember, US was also like India 50 years ago and it is going to
become worse than India in next 50. People of India are scatterred and
divided but when the time will come, they'll unite and history proves
it time and again. To expats: In fact, India does not need your help.
You should help yourself in US/Canada and get a life. Truth is that
you are the ones who want to return to India. When you find out that
your children are gone, culture is a mess and your old age is
pathetic, then you want to return to India. Your heart will tell you
how much you miss India when you are not there. You all keep harping
about bad things in India but you know there are so many good things
about India that are missing in other countries. Why don't you look at
them? If people want to return: Think what you can do rather than crib
about what is wrong in India. I think people who cannot work in India
because of bossy culture do not know that actually this exists in US
also. People don't know it exists because they say 'yes' to boss
everytime :-) And people who return to India have huge 'egos' and
thats why they cannot work here For me, taking care of my parents was
first priority and I never regret my decision. My entire family is
happy. This is a greatest gift and I think I would have never got this
in the US. Observation: There are so many US/British citizens who are
settled in India now. They never talk of these problems. Expats should
take a lesson from them and learn the good things about India and its
culture. So, if people can just compromise on 2-3 problems, they can
do a lot. Jai Hind!
[1 Dec, 2009 1358hrs IST]
Ananda Goswami,Kolkata, India,says:Let us look at the bright side of
things Indian. If you return after 40 years, you will find that things
haven't changed at all. Isn't it a refreshing difference from the
West? It is best to live abroad and visit the past from time to time.
[1 Dec, 2009 1355hrs IST]
Jikesh,USA,says:There is NO LAW and Order in India. Country without
rules and regulation, may make progress but in end it turns to BIG
ZERO. INDIA is good example of country without any rules and
regulation. Here Money is biggest strength. People with money is not
given importance, there lives is not important, if they dies no body
take it seriously. I have live both in abroad and in india, and good
thing i like in abroad is they have RULES and Regulation, so everybody
have fear of doing wrong things. I agree in abroad also people do
crime, but ratio is far-far less. Atleast in end people have faith
that they would get justice, but in india, people don't have that much
confidence, as everything is corrupted. I can keep on speaking on
this, but i would definitely join politics one day to make a better
nation. I love india, but fact is i can't stay in india.
[1 Dec, 2009 1354hrs IST]
Viswanath,Bhopal,says:Bureaucracy is the main hurdle people come
across in India. Despite being an independent nation, every citizen is
treated as a culprit by the Indian administration right from village
to central secretariat. It is the duty of the citizen to prove his /
her innocence. Whether it is about opening an account in a bank,
obtaining a ration card, including name in the voters list, getting
some papers from the village / panchayat office, everywhere the same
distrust is evident. Further to these, each state in this republic is
behaving as if they are independent. They have their own taxes, entry
levy ... the list is endless. Look at Europe, any citizen from these
independent countries can smoothly travel across the entire European
countries with out any levy! We need to learn a lot and we need
improve a lot.
[1 Dec, 2009 1353hrs IST]
Jikesh,USA,says:There is NO LAW and Order in India. Country without
rules and regulation, may make progress but in end it turns to BIG
ZERO. INDIA is good example of country without any rules and
regulation. Here Money is biggest strength. People with money is not
given importance, there lives is not important, if they dies no body
take it seriously. I have live both in abroad and in india, and good
thing i like in abroad is they have RULES and Regulation, so everybody
have fear of doing wrong things. I agree in abroad also people do
crime, but ratio is far-far less. Atleast in end people have faith
that they would get justice, but in india, people don't have that much
confidence, as everything is corrupted. I can keep on speaking on
this, but i would definitely join politics one day to make a better
nation. I love india, but fact is i can't stay in india.
[1 Dec, 2009 1352hrs IST]
Himmat222,Mumbai,says:Cast based reservations, corruptions and
notorious politicians/beaurocrats form big hurdles.
[1 Dec, 2009 1346hrs IST]
Arun Das,Mumbai,says:This is a real problem for the NRIs to return
back to Home. There was a yell by Maharashtra govt. that mumbai will
be converted to Shanghai like city. Unfortunately Maharashtra govt.
could not make Mumbai a proper Mumbai city. Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai
and all other cities are in bad shape. All state governments in India
are same and equally inefficient, lazy and useless if expressed in a-
nut-shell. People of states elect wrong people with wrong philosophy
in mind and result is useless state govrnments. People of India in
general do not know how to live life and cast votes on the basis of
religion, language, cast, creed and so on. Development and better life
is unknown to Indians in general.
[1 Dec, 2009 1339hrs IST]
rozee,delhi,says:Attention NRIs!!! dont boast of your intelligence and
proffesionalism.do u think students who are not lucky enough to go
outside and study are not intelligent?? do u think that guys studying
here are unproffesional. you all lucky and too rich to go outside. but
that doesn't mean that America has no corruption. all are well-
behaved, proffesional. Everycountry has its own problems. If u cant
adjust to Indian culture then fine, be there where you are. india has
not stopped developing without you all. India has now third largest
growing economy. we dont want your intelligence and proffessionalism.
thanks!!!
[1 Dec, 2009 1339hrs IST]
Kausar ,Mumbai,says:I lived in EU for few years before returning to
India last year. The 1st thing that hit me was people are not polite -
Thank You & Sorry types, infact if you say these words too often you
are looked at as some nutcase who is vulnerable enough to be taken for
a ride. Secondly nobody cares about 'public' infrastructure or even
their own lives for that matter, much less animals and cruelty towards
them. And then we have cobwebs of traditions - e.g. road processions,
bandhs/strikes and noisy celebrations etc, which if opposed can cause
you severe harm and seclusion in 'society'...one can see through this
only when one lives abroad for a while and then returns...hence the
expat experience highlighted in the article.
[1 Dec, 2009 1325hrs IST]
raju,uae,says:Given a choice I would prefer to live outside India. I
have seen so many countries some less privileged ones but even these
are much better. Our corrupt system,beaurocracy,favouritsm,red
tapism,criminals in politics,rude behaviour,insensitive
approach,selfish atttitude,indiscipline in every walk of life.....and
much more.Law is not equal for all. Just take todays news.Serena
williams is fined 40 lacs just because she uttered 'i will kill you'
to the linesman. In India a person actually committing murder goes
scot free. Tiger Woods is also in the news and I read that though he
has not complained to police his wife may be charged if she has hit
him. Such flimsy things will go unnoticed in India.In fact the media
will make heros if celebrities are involved and these clebrities will
in turn cry foul saying they are victimised because they are public
figures. This comparison is enough to show where we stand vis s vis
others.Look at the way Madu Koda defies the law.We are a 4th world
country with uncivilized society. Just look at the way public
properties are burnt,damaged. Are we civilized? How can India progress
if we have mob mentality who indulge in violence? Govt takes cover
under democracy, right to demonstrate, diversity etc. India does not
command respect because of its own govt and its people
[1 Dec, 2009 1325hrs IST]
Manj,Bangalore,says:Living in India is a challenge. He who overcomes
the challenge is the one who succeeds. One common grouse against India
is its inefficiency in getting work done, compared to its western
counterparts. Be it UK or USA, the preferred relocation countries,
Indians find the going very easy at their new homeland, compared to
their mother-landand are lulled into complacency. When they return to
"Hamaara Bharat", they realize that their skills developed in US/UK is
not enough to get-by here. Once back here, they inadvertantly depend
on the "system" to get everything in order. Once that doesn't happen,
they feel lost.
[1 Dec, 2009 1324hrs IST]
MK KAUL,MUMBAI,says:Even if we have many problems in our country we
can not compare with the facilties provide by developed nation.This
should not be an excuse for not retuning to India after all those who
have gone abroad many years back will find India to be a better
country now as compared when they left many years ago.
[1 Dec, 2009 1323hrs IST]
dash,Anand,says:I came to Mumabai airport and very happy to see a
hording on the way regrding anti corrupion but when i reached Bandra
teminus to broad the train.The police at platform number one saw my
airline tag and wanted to check my baggage since I am comming from
abroad.I agreed as per the seurity check they checked me and my
bage.They saw my some imported material like sweets,perfume etc.finaly
they wanted me to give some money for leting me out.till I paid they
grilled me since i had a laptop and pen drive with me. This is how our
police miuse the power in the name of secuirty.Beware of NRI traveling
by train from bandra.
[1 Dec, 2009 1312hrs IST]
P.G.Rajagopal,Abu Dhabi,says:Apropos Heather Timmons report 'Expat
Indians find it tough to return home'. The story is very true. Shiva
Ayyadurai's fate awaits every non-resident Indians. Shiva has rightly
assessed that a sort of 'fedual culture'in our genes restrain the
progess. There are no nore feudal land lords in India; but trade union
leaders and political parties' bosses have supervened upon. Those who
are employed at government sectors see their employment just to get
their monthy salaries, not to do the actual work. Still they are
greedy; hold the Government to ransom to meet their never ending
demands; they talk louldy about their 'rights' never ever bothered to
perform their 'duties'; they find a sort of pleasure in giving maximum
trouble to the innocent public to seek their services. What we need is
a total change in attitude. I strongly believe that any thing owned
and managed by a government does not work properly. The trade unions
spoil the very purpose of which it was established. "Pay your union
membership fee and keep your job" is the now solgan which is very loud
and clear in Indian panorama!The communist parties in India still
continue their 'shadow wars' with extinct land lords. I am complacent;
I have accepted the inevitable fate of permenently going back to India
graciously; till then let me see India only as a holiday destination
to spend my annual holidays; as long as I am a NRI I don't pay
tax...right?
[1 Dec, 2009 1310hrs IST]
Rao,Melbourne, Australia,says:Well, all the "NRI bashers" on this
discussion, couple of things I would like to tell you all. It is
either that you are unable to get out of the "RUT" in India because
you don't have the required skills that is needed overseas or you are
"too pampered" and "well-fed" by the Indian Government's Corruption
and Caste system. I know for sure that given a choice every 'patriotic
citizen' in India is ready to pack their bags and run overseas, be it
even for a holiday or best case settle abroad (hook or crook methods).
So where is your actual patriotism that you are boasting of and using
it to bash the NRIs? The second thing - The entire country felt very
proud when India recently bought 200 tonnes of gold from IMF. Does
anyone know where the money came from? Majority of it has been coming
from NRIs who send foreign currency in MILLIONS of DOLLARS every
month. How come such acts by NRIs are not thought as patriotism?
Another point- if the exports of Indian food items have grown, it is
largely coz the huge NRI community is contributing to it by
'consuming' it. And here again, we have DOLLAR earnings for India. How
did the REAL ESTATE segment grow so much? coz of NRI money being
invested in India. I have plenty other reasons why NRIs across 180
countries are important to India. I would run out of space and the
editor will not post this in the discussion. So please stop "NRI
Bashing".... we love our country too .... and we do whatever is
possible from our side.
[1 Dec, 2009 1310hrs IST]
Sameera,Manila,says:We expatriates can tolerate everything about India
except for the way the work is carried out in India. India will make
immense progress and be a better place to live if people inculcate the
Western work culture rather than their lifestyle.
[1 Dec, 2009 1257hrs IST]
raphael parambi,melbourne (at present),says:I have returned to India
after a gap of 21 year in top management positions abroad, with a view
to doing social work. Yes there are challenges but there is also the
satisfaction. The important thing is to accept the good with the bad &
to research & anticipate what to expect.
[1 Dec, 2009 1256hrs IST]
India will not arise, unless the bureucracy exists,Singapore,says:If
our PM wants India to arise and shine, he must hand pick the
implementors and administrators who have the right attitude to support
his agenda. Just by inviting Indians who have served other countries
outstandinglly and leaving them at the mercy of the arrogant and
useless administrative service, will compund the problem of the
creating the image of an emerging strong India. We Indians are best at
doing the most difficult things easily, but we are quite lethargic in
doing simple things the easier way. The present Govt administration
setup was born out of the British model, where the employee is treated
as a servants of their master. The boss is not governed by any rules.
[1 Dec, 2009 1252hrs IST]
Raju Kumar,Laluland ,USA,says:looking for work in india being american
like you are begger you goto india only if you have lots lots of
money,do not complain do not do monkey business just enjoy.when u go
othe indian think the american babu came or british babu came with
lots of money, Bharat mata has billion people to feed do not disturb
her live in peace and let them live in peace stay in america and
britian u feel good here in social security if have have paid tax.Jai
Hind.
[1 Dec, 2009 1251hrs IST]
AM,Boston, USA,says:I've only been away from India for a couple of
years, so I'm not exactly an "expat", but it's only after coming to
the US that I understood what exactly is wrong with India. We are a
nation of corrupt, selfish and morally bankrupt people. Unethical
behavior has seeped into every aspect of society. Policemen torture
and imprison innocents to curry favors with the rich and powerful.
Every institution - law enforcement, legislature judiciary, media,
even the armed forces, are thoroughly and completely corrupt. No
institution has any legitimacy.Society is overcome with fear and lack
of trust.An utterly self-centered mindset pervades every institution
and every aspect of life. Every seat of power is dominated by
ruthless, self-centered egomaniacs. We will never overcome these
problems if we keep denying them. India will never reach her potential
unless we are collectively willing to introspect on the degenerate,
unethical society we have become.
[1 Dec, 2009 1246hrs IST]
MP,Surat,says:Boss This is India, no doubt that our Government has
started a Good initiative to call back all the Talent. Its india and
we have very complex situation prevailing here in our country, as for
the improvement we need to work collectively and somewhere or the
other we have to face this kind of difficulties, otherwise how we will
know the real problem in our Country. we cannot expect all the systems
working like other coutry do. we have different kind of model of
working. Kuddos to them who fought with the situation and made
differance.
[1 Dec, 2009 1242hrs IST]
babu,pollachi, TN India,says:I recently moved back to India after 4
years of stint in usa. I love India so much but I just want to
sugarcoat and say coming back to India such a wonderful thing. I've
listed the pros and cons that I see:- Pros:- 1. Infrastructure is
better than what we had 5 years back. Looking at all the projects that
are going on, I believe in another 3-4 years we will have world class
roads in most part of the India. 2. Look at the government websites,
tons of information out there. You have contact details for every
minister in India. People will slowly make use of this. In another
5-10 years this website will be our first go for any government
related stuff. 3. Youngsters are getting into politics. In another
5-10 years there will be majority of youngsters in politics and
administration. Cons 1. Still there are quite a few corrupted
politicians. 2. People lack self-discipline. 3. By culture we are
selfish people. We care for our family first. No matter what happens
to others, I and my family have to live better life. 4. 40% of our
population lacks basic facilities like shelter, toilet, food etc...No
one cares. Even if someone cares, it is all to the point where they
can make publicity out of it. Right now India stage is like cat on the
wall. Hopefully the cat will jump on to the right side
[1 Dec, 2009 1233hrs IST]
R RAJAGOPAL,CHENNAI,says:This is an issue going on for several years &
has gained sudden interest again because INDIA is growing at a
frenetic pace, is already the 3rd largest economy in the world in PPP
terms {a fair method since it takes on board the purchasing power's of
the respective currencies}. A Global Consulting group estimated -
before the current recession - that over 150,000 expats would come
into INDIA over the next 5-6 years in top managerial positions. By
2025, INDIA would be the really Second Largest economy in real terms
even if it maintains a 7.7 - 8.0% GDP Growth which is doable. So, we
need people who can work under the current environment & ambience &
share the profits of the growth. Pesons who think that they can come
here & reform the system & teach us how to conduct business OR our
professions will soon become disillusioned. These so called minus
points will not go away. No one points out the Plus Points e.g., 90%
of the urban poulation at least can get to see a doctor without
appointment for normal illnesses. How many weeks one has to wait for
that in USA & how many weeks one has to wait for a surgery under the
NHS in UK? I can ask a 100 questions about life in USA & Western
Europe? Life is not always counted in GDP terms OR Snarl Free Traffic
BUT for a country jumping from 19th to 21st Century, these ""MINUS
POINTS"" are acceptable. So the Ayyadurais of USA can remain there &
we will manage with the Ayyadurais of India.
[1 Dec, 2009 1233hrs IST]
Saratchandran,Australia,says:Most of the expats, at one or the other
time, think of returning home. They would only to be reminded of the
poor infrastructure, lack of hygiene and bureaucratic delays and
dishonesty, which makes anyone's life a hell. If politicians can be
more honest and take pride of their country and do things to make
changes to the above matters, India would become an attractive and a
livable place for many who would want to return and they will.
[1 Dec, 2009 1230hrs IST]
Jayjit,Bangalore,says:People say it is "brain drain", when people went
abroad, but the truth is that they are "escapist" and "opportunist".
They just think for them self, and always looking for opportunity for
them self. They don't bother about their family, county etc. After
working (what ever the work!!) in abroad for few years they think they
are the boss and people are in India are idiots. Now as Indian economy
is growing thanks to those hard working nation loving people, who want
to stay and work for India. Now this "opportunist" people want to come
back, without knowing the ground reality and not even bother to
understand. That is reason NRI's can not work in India, it is NRI's
mentality causing the problem not Indian.
[1 Dec, 2009 1223hrs IST]
Prashant Purohit,Pune,says:Please don't think that you are helping
india, you are helping yourself. India is a fast developing country
and it's good if you choose to comeback, welcome back. If you can't
survive, choose your own way.
[1 Dec, 2009 1222hrs IST]
Jagabandhu Kar,Nigeria,says:Expats looking for Job outside have some
thing to gain in a foreign country like more salary, savings, use of
technical, commercial knowledge, better education of western world,
clean climate, better work culture, freedom and/or any anyother reason
best of priority of individual concerned. Staying a long time away
from India, the person acclimatised to new culture and system of the
new country and get fit to stay a long and in due course embrace more
of new culture of that country. When situation warrants some one to
come back to India, he/she faces a lot of challenges of renewed
cultural change of our own country, fierce competition during the
changed times, detoriating knowledge base of the person about the
place and people of India. Moreso delinkage of his kith and kin in
India also a factor to be accounted for. Unless the forces( both
positive/negative) which are strong enough for one to come back, he
tries to stay in the country of work. This is how this goes in the
life of all expatriates.
[1 Dec, 2009 1153hrs IST]
Sachin,Mumbai,says:Hi Tarun, I am saddened and at the same time amused
by your comment. We need to realise that yes, indeed there are places
in the world where people can live honestly, and we as a nation do
have some problems to be sorted out. Not to say that we do not have
anything to contribute to the world, and we definitely do, but at the
same time we can do better by accepting that our cities are dirty,
infrastrcuture is missing, business at large is based on personal
relations and corruption rather than honest and professional
transactions and this is probably the reason outsiders don't find our
country very easy to live in. As a matter of fact, nor do we! So let's
stop denying what is true and accept, and try and change what is
wrong.
[1 Dec, 2009 1153hrs IST]
Sanket ,Singapore ,says:I feel if an expat indian is hired to work in
India, he/she should be able to adapt to the working culture. You
cannot expect a US or Europe style working environment in India.
Actually this every environment which we call 'inefficient' and
'opaque' works as an entry barrier for every tom, dick and harry from
the west to come and exploit business opportunities. A person of
indian origin actually has a added advantage to work as bridge between
foreign and indian businesses. If the bridge is not there or required
what is the point to hiring foreign returning indian and a premium
price. You can rather hire a equally capable local person at a cheaper
price. Cultural and business sensitivity is always unique to every
place and a successful professional is someone who can transcend this
and use to his/her advantage. In business this is termed as
competitive advantage which is extremely important in the success of
any individual or a business as whole. Expat indian should look beyond
the problems in India and use these very problems to their competitive
advantage if they want to carve out a successful future for them in
India. I myself am an Indian living in Singapore for over 10 years and
worked in India for a short period. As an indian i see myself been
better equipped to deal with the business practices in India than any
of my local colleagues, thus giving me a competitive edge...
[1 Dec, 2009 1128hrs IST]
Shivananda,Nayak,says:Please dont come. you are not welcomed to india
back.
[1 Dec, 2009 1125hrs IST]
Raghav,Europe,says:What to say !!!! . Going by my story , i returned
to India after a couple of yrs in Europe . The co was a multinational
and things were goin on well initially when i kept my mouth zipped .
But after abt 2 months , when i started to open up and wanted to put
my arguments up front , i found my subordinates showing a strange
attitude of sorts . From a third person ,i came to know that they
thought i was showing off after my European stint. Some how i put
these things behind me , but within months of service , i could tale
no more . I quit my job and left India
[1 Dec, 2009 1123hrs IST]
Ram Singh,Delhi,says:First it was Pakistan-India, now it is China-
India. But my friends, take my word, thirty years from now with 1.6
billion population of under and mal-nourished, it will be Africa-
India. Our inherent racism (caste system), our inherent corruption (do
sins, take a bath in holy water and all sins are forgiven), our
inherent indifference (open your eyes and see around yourself), our
inherent arrogance (ours is the greatest culture - but is it??!!!),
our inherent heirarchy system (yes sir; boss is God, subordinate is
Dog), one day not only we but our country too will have to pay for its
sins. And how, even now it is like sub-Saharan Africa at many places,
and two to three decades from now, it will all be like sub-Saharan
Africa. Ours is going to be the next dark continent of the world.
Change your attitudes now, so that we are able to save our country.
Still there is hope, but hope without action is meaningless. Act now
to be good, kind, not support corruption, remove caste system, stop de-
humanising your fellow citizens, or it will be too late.
[1 Dec, 2009 1122hrs IST]
Jay,Sydney, Australia,says:I am an NRI and am planning to go back to
India. I am not bothered by the so call dirt, dust, corruption,
attitude. Do you know why? Its because I belong to the country and
will never be a foreigner there as I am elsewhere. India is home. As
the saying goes, you can take and Indian out of India, but you can't
take India out of an India. Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
[1 Dec, 2009 1120hrs IST]
Manish,USA,says:Of course! I myself is NRI and I can never adjust to
Indian culture, dust, lack of water etc. etc.
[1 Dec, 2009 1118hrs IST]
Krishna,Switzerland,says:India is still corrupt and lacks in Basic
Infrastructure. Bingo
[1 Dec, 2009 1117hrs IST]
Your Muse,World,says:All the comments posted on TOI blogs by POIs and
NRIs still living in Western countries should be proof that Indians
they may be in origin, but they think like the locals in the countries
they have settled, except for the propagators of Hindu fascism. When
it comes to Hindu fascism, they are adamantly blind and deaf to
liberal values around them. Thus, falling for the pseudo nationalistic
hype of NRIs and POIs who would never want to live in India but are
ever ready to offer solutions to Indian problems as if it were the US
or Western Europe, needs to be taken with sacks of salt. Indian
Americans have made it big in the US. They migrated as high achievers
to a country they did not help build. Yet they write that native
Indians who have lived disadvantaged lives for millennia in India
should be treated as they were as high achieving migrants in the
world's only super power the US! Write: LOOKS LIKE AN INDIAN BUT
THINKS LIKE AN AMERICAN, IN OTHER WORDS THESE ARE AMERICANS WITH AN
INDIAN FACE, in large letters wherever POIs and NRIs from the US work
in India. In the US, it is each man to his own. It is a country of
tough lone pioneers. Nobody, except the African slaves, were taken by
force to the new country. All who went there went in search of better
lives than in their own home countries, not to Americans or their own
countries a favour. The favour was only for themselves. The Native
Americans were overpowered and they have hardly any say in their land
of tough lone outsider pioneers. All this has to be taken into
consideration while dealing with Indians coming from the US, exposed
to such a history and culture. Ordinary Iraqis complain that the
Iraqis who came after living in the West for many years, to rule them
post 2003, are not Iraqis at all, merely Americans with Iraqi looks.
That rule applies to Indian Americans returning to India. It is in
human nature to adapt to their environment and to love what is more
comfortable. So if an Indian prefers to live in the West where
everything is more efficient, it should not come as a surprise. Only
they should drop the pseudo nationalism that they display in books and
on blogs. How many NRIs and POIs, who have achieved their wealth and
fame and acquired white wives, are constantly writing ultra patriotic
books, while living in the West. If they return to achieve more fame
and name in India, they expect local Indians to consider it a
sacrifice on their part! We don't hear the same sort of pseduo
nationalism from Chinese or Japanese settled in the US. Why? America
continues to remain a great place for tough lone pioneers and high
achievers, with little or no place for Native Americans, the true
owner of the land. Indian Americans should not try to impose that kind
of rule on Indians living in India because India is not a land of
recent settlers, although it does have a history of waves of
settlements - Aryan, Muslim - Arab and Moghul, since 1500 also West
European - Portuguese, Dutch, French, British. Of the European most
left, but not all.
[1 Dec, 2009 1115hrs IST]
Can-eye,Noida,says:I think it is best that the expats stay in their
pritine environments. They are not 'smart' enough to beat the system.
India is the real 'foreign' destination for the expats. I lived in the
US for 2 years being called FOB ( fresh off the boat), by my own
countrymen who made it a few decades ago to USA. Nobody is as
condescending as the Indians themselves and treat their own people
poorly. India has ample talent and shrewd minds to have survived this
down turn. We dont need ABCD's to make our country any better.
Cheers !
[1 Dec, 2009 1114hrs IST]
jnansk,u.s.,says:am agreeing to all that has been written. Corruption
and old left over British bureaucracy are the two which will make
expats not to return and adjust. The infrastructure, traffic and
pollution will take another 25 years to smooth out. Yet some of us who
are retired keep going back as a volunteer to help homeless and
destitute children to get education, good health and living condition
in India. Harder is to find the Honest non corrupted NGO's
[1 Dec, 2009 1111hrs IST]
Radha,Bangalore,says:The comment "Then, their mothers would call and
say they were sick for days in a row" sounds bizarre and unreal.People
here in India are as much professionals as anywhere else in the world.
Besides, Indians settled abroad have had their education from some of
the premier institutes here. Let us not for get that.
[1 Dec, 2009 1111hrs IST]
Sudhir,Orissa,says:India is a place for 2 classes of people: 1) Those
who can dare to cheat and exploit others and 2) Those who can take
being exploited as a part of life. Unfortunately, most NRIs cannot
identify themselves with any of these....
[1 Dec, 2009 1110hrs IST]
thomas,UAE,says:Yes, most of the expatriates wants to return to india
& settle down but because of corrouption in Govt. offices, lack of
infrastructure they forced to stay back or move to another country.
[1 Dec, 2009 1105hrs IST]
Sreenivas,Abu Dhabi,says:I will add one more "Lawlessness".
[1 Dec, 2009 1105hrs IST]
MVK,Abroad,says:Why stay abroad many years, even after 3-4 years, I
feel it is almost impossible to return to India. It's absolutely NOT
on the grounds on 'money we get'! Its the attitude of govt officials,
politicians, and big bosses! In India if you have to get any work done
in govt offices, either need to pay "something" at every level or have
to have a good political connection! Sad for the big demo(n)cracy!
Unless we see every human as equal and not discriminate people on the
basis of their cast/class/grades etc, India will be the most
unliveable place. Also politicians, govt paid employees must own the
responsibility of the work they are entrusted to! Looking at the
infrastructure, roads, living conditions--NRI's will have to think 10
times before they can take a decision to return!
[1 Dec, 2009 1105hrs IST]
Janet Paes,Nevada, USA,says:All countries have similar issues in
different colors. The responsibility lies on individuals. You can find
happiness or sadness anywhere. Bottom line is don't whine. Try to do
better for yourself every day wherever you are. Life is fun..There is
Love everywhere so is Pain. Look at the right place
[1 Dec, 2009 1104hrs IST]
Rudraksh Vyas,Sydney, Australia,says:Expats who decide to move back,
should properly evaluate the realities of life in India. India has
surely developed, but still has a long way to go. Life in western
countries and India is still not comparable at any level, so its good
to know what you are getting into. I plan to move back and therefore
am mentally preparing myself to adjust according to India's way of
life, but this does not mean that i plan to succumb to practices i
don't approve off. I plan to do my best to make a positive difference
in whatever way possible but surely don't expect things to change
overnight. All the best to all the people like me who are planning to
take a bold step into the unknown and hope to bring about a positive
change in their own unique manner.
[1 Dec, 2009 1102hrs IST]
Why do you want to know,Jupiter,says:NRIs, please do India a favour
and stay where you are. The last thing my country now needs is 100,000
jerks who can only whine, whine and whine and complain about
everything they see around, but contribute nothing. So we're better
off the way we are, and trust me, we are INCREDIBLY happy here.
[1 Dec, 2009 1101hrs IST]
venkat,Dubai, UAE,says:This should come as no surprise to anyone who
knows India and the way the government works. All the development that
has taken place in India since 1991 (the time we decided to do away
with a Soviet style economy)is because of individual initiative from
"Islands of excellence" in what I may call a sea of turmoil. These
"islands" are the private sector which have propelled India to the
heights it occupies now. The only drag on the system is the way the
corrupt government operates and we probably will need the British or
some other colonial power to occupy India for another 300yrs and kick
our backside before we can get out act together. My advice to all
expats living outside India is to never permanently return to Mera
Bharat Mahan unless you get a kick at being treated like a dog.
[1 Dec, 2009 1058hrs IST]
Amitabh,Pune,says:Problem with the expat is thy think by returning
they are doing a favor to India. why compare a developed economy like
US with India ? this is always bewildering. I returned back after 6
years stint in US initial couple of months were really terrible with
traffic and pollution but slowly I got used to. I guess one point to
keep in mind is just because you lived abroad for few years and have
change in attitude dosen't mean entire population will have shift in
attitude. Still there are lots of poor and general population has lot
many thing to worry about. The best course of action is to see if
there are changes from what it was before you can expect India to be
come US in a decade. India is young vibrant and I do see positive
changes in peoples attitude. How the things shapes up still to be seen
but but its useless to compare and expect things to change overnight.
[1 Dec, 2009 1056hrs IST]
Amit,Australia,says:I am out of india for a few years now..I left
after my University and I use to live like everyone in Mumbai.After
moving abroad ...and with the success now ...I look back to agree that
India cannot offer a platform to grow to a honest, skilled &
hardworking common man. What I have realised is ....for India to grow
the common man of India will need to change from the inside.There
needs a change in awareness...mass awareness.They have been living a
life of "Dont Care attitude" all their life.Sab Chalta hai !! Also I
have noticed ...our corporate culture in India ...mainly
MNC's ,everyone does a lot of unnecessary talking ..always Big talk
BUT no Action! Please remember India's growth today is mainly credited
to the "Gift of English language from the British"- that the US,Europe
have their Cheap labour Callcenters in India.....Dont mistake it for
Hardwork. The day countries like china, Thailand, Philipines offer
english speaking labour...India will be on the back seat. TCS, Wipro
have already started investing in China SE Asia. There is tremendous
potential in India as a global economy...but the common man will
always live a struggling life. We need a shift of mental
awareness..Attitude in our day to day activities. Finally for all my
brothers in India ...All the expats here spend time to express their
feelings out of the love for India and hope to See India
prosper....Please do not misunderstand , this is not Arrogance. We all
need to work together to bring this change. Amit Dwyer
[1 Dec, 2009 1056hrs IST]
Anoop,Kolkata,says:People like Mr. Brahmachari should be sacked
immediately. CSIR should apologise for the inconvenience caused to
Ayyadurai and re-instate him immediately.
[1 Dec, 2009 1055hrs IST]
Madhu,Arkansas, US,says:I second Karan's opinion (San Francisco) - you
can tolerate everything else like pollution, politics, RSS,
regionalism but attitude of people and lack of courtesy are big pain
points. When you get used to people smiling and greeting you Good
morning and have a nice day and come back to India to be only scolded
at every traffic junction is definitely harassment.
[1 Dec, 2009 1050hrs IST]
Maru,Riyadh,says:I lived 15 yrs abroad and I visit India 3 times a
year. Because of my frequent visit I won't be shocked about the
change. The saddest part I see when coming out of the Airport is the
backward infrastructure i.e the roads, nothing changed for 15 yrs in
my state i.e Kerala. I am seeing roads and bridges left under
construction as it is for the last 10yrs. By looking at it I cry in my
heart, when we will overcome this. The government should first develop
infrastructure that will reduce cost and increase efficiency. We
cannot compare work culture in India with that of western countries
because our country's situation is different and has its own problems.
The only thing we could do is to adjust with the local culture and it
takes a week for me to accept and adjust. I have not thought of
working here but to do something of my own. We have lot of possitive
to look than the negative. In India People are so free and independant
which we will not find in any in Western countries. In US there are so
many laws and rules and they fine people breaking those. In India
those are not there that is why poor people survive and are happy
compared to their western counterpart.
[1 Dec, 2009 1049hrs IST]
tarun,jaipur,says:the real thing is when we are outside India we are
ready to accept rules and even live a suppressed life. No country is
free of corruption,beaurocratic sluggishness
[1 Dec, 2009 1043hrs IST]
Tobby Thomas,Bangalore,says:As a nation we have a problem of wanting
maximum gains for minimum efforts. Hoodwinking is considered as an
artful business acumen and smart thing to do. Articulation (only) is
considered as acheivement. Worse still, this articulation is limited
only till defining issues. Never for solving issues. The higher up you
go the more intensely these things are practiced. All change (even to
the basic minimum) is expected to be driven from the topmost echelons.
We have made all this into a legitimate working culture. So be it
government or private businesses. In professional organisations, this
would be considered as ludicrous if practiced anywhere above the
bottom of the pyramid. Little wonder that repatriates like Ayyadurai
and others find themselves like a fish out of water. Their sincere
efforts only try to stir an ocean with a spoon. I wish all of them
good luck in their return to roots. The roots have long decayed since
the earliest times of our independence.
[1 Dec, 2009 1041hrs IST]
GP,Dubai,says:The "yes sir" culture in india.. the "boss" culture in
india need to change.. accountability needs to be improved. In this
case am sure India has lost a fresh mind from US, who could otherwise
wud have brought in some positive change in the system.
[1 Dec, 2009 1040hrs IST]
SK,Indore,says:Govt. and bureacracy is big time put off for people
want to settle back in India. Local governance is more than just being
chaotic. It is sad that people think it is customary the way it is and
it works. No it doesn't. It actually sucks. There is urgent need of
paradigm shift in the way govt. and bureacracy approaches to the
people in India (NRI included).
[1 Dec, 2009 1038hrs IST]
Ashish ,Sydney,says:If any NRI is thinking to return to India, then
don't expect ways of developed world in a developing country. Think
how you can contribute to the Indian Economy understanding the
challenges that lie in the Indian System of politics, government,
private sector and the social setup. We can't expect things to change
suddenly, but look at what India was before 1990s and what it's now...
I came to Australia to explore new avenues in career, and am fortunate
that in next few years after I get my Environmental Science
qualifications, I can expect to go back to Delhi and work in the
Environmental Protection sector. And yes, am prepared for the
challenges that lie ahead in this task. I think young Indians who
don't get career opportunities in India due to intense competition
should go aborad, get qualified/skilled, and come back to make a
difference. I feel proud that today world is looking at India and
China as the emerging super powers of the East. Jai Hind!
[1 Dec, 2009 1035hrs IST]
RAJESH,BANGALORE,says:The term Not required Indians is apt , when
these guys left for better prospects totally ignoring the countries
needs , making good money , now being laid off want to return home.
The country does not need them now and they can rest in peace where
ever they are.
[1 Dec, 2009 1029hrs IST]
jiya,canada,says:there should be respect for each other . they should
start giving some identity card as proof coming from outside country
only nri they say but if they start respecting nris in country instead
of caste they will feelto go back to our motherland as they will get
same treatment as they get usa or rest of world(clearity in system in
necessary
[1 Dec, 2009 1029hrs IST]
Rai Janardan,Perth,says:In my view, if all of us just complain about
India and do nothing about it then things would never change. We are
being citizen, what we have done so far for India. I guess is time for
all us to stoping running away from reality and get our head down
together to help India out of its bad. Anyone can just simply blame
for anything but have you ever thought that what and how you could
contribute to help our motherland. For God shake wherever you go, you
will be treated like dog if your motherland does not have clean image.
So stop talking bad about India, try to do something to make thing
better for new India... Someone has to start and many will join as
long as you do the right thing from begining... Jai Hind.
[1 Dec, 2009 1025hrs IST]
Vishal,Mumbai,says:i completely agree with the article. I am one of
those expats and I have only lived in the US for over 5 years. I yet
find it very difficult to adjust to the basic working culture, the
hypocrisy as well as the bureaucracy. I think we definitely are
intelligent people with a ton of opportunities available. I am not
trying to put anyone down but stating a fact and the the problem lies
in ignoring the same. We dont need to imbibe the Western ways of life
but can definitely improve our ethics and efficiencies only to benefit
our country and its people.
[1 Dec, 2009 1025hrs IST]
Govind,Mumbai,says:I feel this is all hypocrits! they will do any job
in other countries , read even cleaning shits of foreigners, to
running errands and driving to corner grocery shops..............its
endliesss. The will accept to be second and third grade citizens in
other countries but will not miss opportunities to criticize and blame
india for any reason......... These people misses their homeland,
culture, and tradition everything very much evident from the fact that
they want to have their foot in India, last period of life in India,
they want to die in India peacefully ( by far most of the NRI wish
this, though not all to my knowledge ) Just becasue you've little edge
on priviledge and advantage doesn't mean there is attitude problem by
and large by every Indians...... Anyway, agruments will can go
on...........but ask basic questions to yourselves. 1) did your
forefathers have this priviledge of being in western countries? 2) is
it that your will power has shallowed? that you can't take cuts and
challenges that come across? 3) Do you really want to contribute to
your mother country or its just you poeple are speaking on both the
ways - blaming and showing that you love and care India 4) Are you
clear what you want? would you be there beside India when India needs
you? 5) Are you putting too much value to money, galmour and other
issues to that of love kindness and other essential living and
givings! My meaning is clear and cut. NRI becomes a laughable stocks
in the end and also make India down. As I know from my friends, on
their back, their so called western friends disapproves of blaming and
criticizing their own country. Problems and difficulties are there
everywhere, USA or other wester countries also took years to
evolve......why you expect overnight changes in India??? Beside this
NRI's want to come and enjoy in India straight away without
contributing to the Indian and Indian society. Means they need ready
platter and hand to feed their mouths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No doubt, we
have to take their contribution in terms of money, but they are taking
back twice and thrices of what they give to us. They enjoy and also
demands the extra premium for being NRIs. So this balances their
overall contributions. Its they have to decide, either leave it or
take it, either join us or keep at bay. We would not say we don't care
but for sure we have other businesses to finish. So if infra structure
is not developed, if we are poor or attitude is problem......please
enjoy your stay whereever you are and we will pray for your soul rest
in peace for future.
[1 Dec, 2009 1021hrs IST]
vaibhav,usa,says:Someone said rightfuly = if there was noble prize
for:- - Corruption, population, pollution, Filth, illiteracy,
backwardness, Terrorism, etc etc, India will win every year. I love my
country, but every year when i come i find the same old setup, same
mentality, and ever increasing pollution & population. Kindly move out
of few big cities and go to interios of India - U'll feel as if u r
300 year behind. SO where is the progress ?. Does an average India
feels i ? For him its everyday strugle to survive.
[1 Dec, 2009 1019hrs IST]
Ajay,USA,USA,says:Another 2 imp reasons are CRIME and no fear about
Law and order. Every body is DADA in India.
[1 Dec, 2009 1018hrs IST]
Jarnail,Haryana,says:Haha let dear Dr Brahmachari tattle to the
reporters bosses in New York. Typical government-class loser. Good
only at playing political games, and useless at his job.
[1 Dec, 2009 1017hrs IST]
rakesh,Bangalore,says:Govt institutions makes your feel NRI stands for
"Non required Indians" , however there are Insititute's like IIT &
IISc which have been able to bring ,retain & benifit from NRI people
[1 Dec, 2009 1011hrs IST]
Krish,Bangalore,says:I returned from US 4 yrs before. I also see lot
of issues in India. We can't just keep on blaming others for these
issues. Each of us have to take some initiative to improve the
situation in Inida. It can't be done overnight. I create awareness
among co-workers regarding bad things about "SIR" culture and the need
for treating office boy to managers with equal and proper dignity etc.
[1 Dec, 2009 1011hrs IST]
sundara raman,chennai,says:Well...this is not a first of its kind!
Ofcourse, it would be foolish to even think that one could come back
to India and contribute towards its betterment...remember, it is
forbidden!!! One would end up only in frustration, anger,
disappointment, desperation, humiliation, insulted, ignored, alas
would be left all alone only to suffer in despair!!! You would be
punished & penalised & held guilty if you were to be patriotic,
truthful, honest, and last but not the least "have a heart"...!!! Your
own people would see you differently - attitude, strangely they claim
that we have!!!! They / We are so used to the rut that we can't live
without it!!! When you know what you are missing, you could work
towards it...but when you don't know what you are missing, it would be
a miserable lesson to teach them!!! The Unity in Diversity is
perishing...divide and rule is becoming the name of the game!!! Only
education could better things!!! So, my dear fello Indians living out
of India, purely my personal opinion is keep your plans of returning
back under your wraps...it would take generations to change even the
attitude, forget other worldly things that you miss!!! you only have
one life...first rule is to give your family the best, the thought of
even contributing to our motherland itself is a great gesture that is
not even prevailing for 99% of all of us - Indians!
[1 Dec, 2009 1011hrs IST]
michael,Chennai,says:Well, every country has its problems and India
certainly has its shares. A lot of things must change, not primarily
to accomodate the expats, but for the people of India. What I find a
little funny is people are fine with adjusting to the severe change in
life style when they go from India to US but complain a lot when they
come back. The fact that CSIR sacked him is not a surprise. Can you
expect to stay in the job in any organization after doing a similar
thing? India welcomes NRIs back home but I think the move back will be
smooth only if the returnee is willing to adapt to local condition.
[1 Dec, 2009 1010hrs IST]
Anirud,Singapore,says:This story first appeared in New York Times,
November 28, 2009. TOI omitted (perhaps due to fears of litigation,
understandable) part of that report about Samir Brahmachari, the CSIR
director-general. It makes for interesting reading- how someone who
calls himself a scientist behaves like a petty bureaucrat. The sad
fact is that this Dr. Brahmachari is a celebrity of sorts in India-
for what and why one wonders- but his work has attained little
significance in the international arena. So, one wonders- what kind of
people are put in charge of these elite places, and whether the govt
is really serious about promoting science and tech?
[1 Dec, 2009 1007hrs IST]
Kunal Sen,Pune,says:You can always keep blaming your country. India
bashing seems to be a favourite amongst "NRI"'s. Please do India a
favour and remain where you are. We are proud to be Indians and will
do whatever little we can to better our motherland. We refuse to run
away from her for greener pastures. Singh - every country has its
share of problems. Attitude or infrastructure, it remains within every
one of us to adapt and to build. Build a new future for all of us.
Enough said. One cannot expect to defend his/her motherland from ones
own "brethren". It would be futile.
[1 Dec, 2009 1005hrs IST]
raman,USA,says:Please try to acknowledge the source of your article.
That is the minimum courtesy that can be extended to the source. I am
sorry, if i have missed your acknowledgment.
[1 Dec, 2009 1001hrs IST]
Gurpreet,Bangalore,says:Unless we eradicate corruption which is
embedded into the deepest roots of our society, it is virtually
impossible for any of the NRI's to even think of coming back to their
nation.
[1 Dec, 2009 0957hrs IST]
sanjeev,LA,says:Dear Abhijit Banerjee, It's not a matter of culture,
it's the matter of corruption flowing in the Indian System. Our
culture does not talk of taking/giving bribes. If Jessica Lal can be
killed for no reason, and being a high profile girl, still justice is
pending, what about NRI's they are no more street smart, like rest of
India. Remember justice delayed is justice denied. The same way there
are so many things which need to be revolutionalized in India, from
the PM to CM, from Babu to Commissioner, land reforms, etc etc.
[1 Dec, 2009 0956hrs IST]
Sam M,Pune,says:This laid back, lazy and orthodox culture is the bane
of India's existence and this is exactly what pulls it back two steps
when it takes a step forward in the right direction. We need crutches
like reservations rather than merit to enable us to walk about.
[1 Dec, 2009 0956hrs IST]
Harsh ,Delhi,says:India has made progress and still developing inspite
and despite of 'NRIs', if they don't like some or other thing of
India, then they should remain and be happy wherever they are.....
[1 Dec, 2009 0954hrs IST]
Vipon Chopra,Yangzhou, China,says:As proud Indians (Jai Ho)our grass
roots are firmly embedded in our homeland. Internationally we always
rise to discussions relating to 'Mera Bharat Mahan' booming economy.
Instead of being silent observers there is a lot that we can do for
our motherland. Our PM has genuinely invited expats to come home. Let
us be the prodigal son! But ... but... our mental faculties work
overtime as the pros are not going to the fields for harvesting but
they are keen to harvest and field our country's meteoric rise. The
elephant has finished stirring and now almost standing up and blowing
the trumpet of 'here we come'. Our mechanism requires drastic
overhauls and find ways and means of how to escalate the progress
rather than finding impediments to strew in the threshold. Our systems
apparently are outdated and prosaic need to be rebooked from a
different realistic angle and not viewed through frosted glass of
'hope'. How can we germinate ideas favourably from root to enviable
foliage, is the question we all need to mull and find an amicable
solution, rather than using manpower to burn buses, derail trains,
amass wealth for generations we have ever seen...!! Our basic thinking
back home has to undergo a major change and overhaul. 'Ask not what
the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country.'
[1 Dec, 2009 0952hrs IST]
sonu,hydrabad,says:Most expats are living in a dream world of their
own...when they lose a job at their place, they think of coming back
else they are comfy out there. In India, things evolve out of their
own, and expats advices and opinion makes only mild tremors in the
Indian society. This need to change for good.
[1 Dec, 2009 0941hrs IST]
Rafi Siddiqui,Pune,says:An Indian is an Indian at heart throughout his/
her life and being an Indian he/she also desires to go and live
abroad. I lived abroad for 33 years and returned last year to settle
in India BUT doing so was on my mind from day one. i visited India
twice a year, I drove here and rode on scooters to stay acclimatized,
I happily offered bribes when asked for and I am happy being back to
my country. Instead to living in an Undhyoo, idli, dosa Pani puri
culture somewhere in New Jersey and dying to go for Indian functions
anywhere in my Indian clothes, I prefer to live in my original India
as it is. Long live Bharat.
[1 Dec, 2009 0937hrs IST]
Sharad,US,says:Having worked for over 10 years in western countries,
any desi will become a cultural misfit to work in India, even with
desi private companies, forget government environment. Government
employees and their daily life attitude is a huge huge let down to
India. Though everyone is taught "nagrik-shastra" no one tries to
imbibe even a few good learnings from there. Government officials and
politicians dont want progress as that will hamper the easiness with
which they pull out money from innocent illiterate common man. With so
much of friction, it will take a very big resolve and completely
carefree attitude to work ones way towards progress in the Indian
system.
[1 Dec, 2009 0923hrs IST]
Anirban Banerjee,Hyderabad,says:So typical of a top level bureaucrat -
to stop, publicly criticize and intimidate any attempt to bring
transparency to the system. The root cause of the problem is : Wide
scale sacking culture is not there in India. People think they are
gods in their own area and positions. No wonder we hardly ever invent
anything at all....and that too outside Indian soil.
[1 Dec, 2009 0918hrs IST]
indianinus,usa,says:no forward caste people living/earning abroad will
return to india, thanks to corrupted indian govt and their reservation
policies for college admission and jobs
[1 Dec, 2009 0913hrs IST]
Singh,USA,says:I am one of those who are trying to return to India.
After working in Europe, Japan and USA, I thought I should return and
work in India. The main problem is attitude not the infrastructure.
From top to bottom, everyone carries a huge ego without any solid
foundation. People with PhDs from Akad Bakkad universities behave as
they know everything in science (why they are researching is not known
yet)!! We need to change attitude not the infrastructure. This
Brahmchari guy and his wife (also a scientist) is in news for many
wrong reasons. Best part of the article was when he mentioned he will
compalin to the boss of reporter.
[1 Dec, 2009 0901hrs IST]
Abhijit Banerjee,Singapore,says:Every nation has its own work culture.
An american Indian should be smart enough to balance both cultures and
slowly change things..rather than expect Indian orgs to be a replica
of US orgs, take a confrontational position, then crib and leave. We
all need to be global citizens and adapt to local needs...keep
ambitions realistic..fyi I am a NRI myself and have worked with grass
root orgs in India, there are challenges but nevertheless there are
opportunities in those challenges.
[1 Dec, 2009 0855hrs IST]
Dr. Mathias,Indore, MP,says:I've returned to India after twenty years
abroad and find it extremely challenging to adjust to Indian life,
work culture, corruption and lack of discipline in daily life. India
has the potential to be the third biggest economy by 2050 but it's the
people, particularly in government, the police department,
electricity, telephone, railways, etc, whose mindset needs to be
challenged to change.
[1 Dec, 2009 0852hrs IST]
Karan,San Francisco,says:To me the biggest problem in India is
people's horrible attitude. Other thing you might be able to ignore.
[1 Dec, 2009 0848hrs IST]
J Panicker,New Jersey, USA,says:This article is so very true to every
word. I myself am a Tourism Consultant. I am more than willing to help
India in any way possible. All the top leaders, when they visit U S,
ask us to go and help our motherland ! They have to realize why
Indians are so successful in U S, but not in India. When we go to
India we can't approach even their peon. They don't answer or return
any phone calls and don't reply to any emails ! Most these senior
officials look at and treat us with contempt. These officials live in
their comfort zone protected by a vast network of subordinates who
block any access to the public. They don't want to change any thing.
What they say in public is nothing but rhetoric, pure rhetoric !
India's bureaucracy is still very much the old British Colonial style
- serve your master, not the public, which works best for them ! And
an NRI is still not at all recognized in India in any way and he has
to act like a resident to avail any of the local facilities. These
things are not going to change in the near future as long as the
people at the top are not sincere to change!
[1 Dec, 2009 0843hrs IST]
S S Subramanian,Singapore,says:Dear Sirs, When expats return to India,
we are not expecting the same salary levels as in USA or Singapore, we
can tolerate noise, pollution, corrution, traffic congestion etc etc.
What we are not able to tolerate the feudal mind set and the
bureaucracy at every level. Nothing in gets done in time. Government
offices, banks do not anwer any emails. None wants to take up
responsiblity for any mitakes. I can give two examples. When two
unwanted guests entered in the White House party, the Secret Service
accepted their mistake and failure. About a month back in Singapore,
there was some mix up in the Chemotherapy treatment of some cancer
patients, who were given some overdose by mistake. Immediately the
government accepted the mistake was done by the hospital and imported
some antidaote from USA and saved the patients. This can never happen
in India. In Singapore there was recently APEC meeting attended by
Presidents of China, Russia and USA and another 25 counries.The people
here never experienced any traffic dislocation, sudden closure of
roads etc. This is daily happening in India. How many patients die
becuse their ambulances are blocked due to road closure or bandh or
VIP passing thro. This list can be endless. I am not sure whether you
will publish this letter. S S subramanian
[1 Dec, 2009 0833hrs IST]
P.Barman,Menlo Park, USA,says:I have lived in USA for about 45 years
and retired hear but at times I go back to visit my brothers and
sisters and eat rich indian food. I am amazed New Delhi is so huge it
has grown from 1-2 million to now some estimate of 20 million. Road
are poor and no one drives correctly and how do the pedestrians
survive is mystery to me. Lack of Water and Electricity and they think
they are well off because they have cell phones. Taxi is the best in
India and they should rent an large Qualis or Sumo to be little
safer.You have to see it to believe it.
[1 Dec, 2009 0825hrs IST]
Nash Raina,London,says:I can fully relate to Mr. Ayyadurai's story. I
spent about 3 years in India, returning from Canada. I just couldn't
handle it any more and just left my job and India last May. It was a
good decision to leave. No offence to anyone but frankly a lot needs
to change in India before it can actually accomodate 'repats'. I could
have explained my reasons to quit - but the list is too long. Major
ones that I can think of is the corporate 'caste system'. Bloated
egoes of executives and endless hurdles in getting something done from
the government. Being a repat is the first thing the locals hold
against you...enough said.
[1 Dec, 2009 0811hrs IST]
Gautam De,New Jersey, USA,says:This was reported in the New York Times
last weekend. True, after 10 years in USA, I find that though in US
one has to do many things on his own, without cheap labor of servant
or maids, though there are hardships of a capitalist country, a
constant fear of losing job, unforgiving weathers, still mind becomes
terrorized in the thought of returning to India. After living a while
in US, a yearning to live with near and dear ones and to do my bit for
my motherland with whatever I learnt in the terrific system in US
definitely rises. However that takes a back seat whenver the hostile,
rowdy and deliberately brazen attitude of all parts of administration
comes into mind - federal or state. Worst is obviously my home state
West (or Waste?) Bengal. The fact is there is just no accountability
in the entire Government machinary makes the Govt. employees insulated
against any complain any one would like to make without result - be it
a clerk or be it a Director of C.S.I.R.. I have seen personally the
horrendous inefficient and loss making example of a CSIR laboratory in
Calcutta myself. I felt these so called 'laboratories' are shame of
the nation. What goes on in the name of research there is just sheer
wastage and looting tax payers' money without proper oversight at any
level within the administration. I personally know a recent event
where an Air India customer representative disconnected call from a
prospective customer to buy ticket from New Jersey to Calcutta as 'she
was busy', primarily because she knew damn well, that her salary,
bonus, promotion and pension will be safe regardless her lack of duty!
Unless Government has any intention to bring accountability in every
rank - with the risk of losing vote of the Government made
Frankenstein of Govt. employees and their family - this will be the
order of the day in India, making it a horrible place to live and
work. Even die hard patriot would not like to subjugate humself in a
place, where human beings are not treated as human beings, unless they
have political connection to intimidate a Govt. employee.
[1 Dec, 2009 0806hrs IST]
Selva,NJ,says:Also expat Indians cannot tolerate this mentality of "I
am the boss. You shall do what I say and only what I say. You will not
think out of the box. You shall obey my orders and only call me by
title of SIR"
[1 Dec, 2009 0736hrs IST]
Hemanath,Bangalore,says:Just minus 2 things from India a) Corruption
b) reservations. We will have expats from across the world return to
India. India can never ever grow with these 2 things.
[1 Dec, 2009 0735hrs IST]
Eddy,Davis, CA, USA,says:Ex-pats can tolerate inconveniences and even
lack of comforts, but they cannot live with corruption, noise, traffic
and pollution. And these are well established facts of life in India.
[1 Dec, 2009 0637hrs IST]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Indians-Abroad/articleshow/msid-5286531,curpg-2.cms
bademiyansubhanallah
PTI 1 December 2009, 03:47pm IST
WASHINGTON: Priyanka Singha, an Indian-origin girl from California has
been crowned as the 28th Miss Indian American, beating contestants
from 25 cities across the USA.
The beauty pageant, open for Indian-origin people was hosted on
November 21 in Tampa, Florida.
Priyanka was crowned as the Miss Indian American by Bollywood actor
Neha Dhupia in a glittering ceremony last weekend. Earlier last month,
Priyanka won the title of Miss India Northern California.
She will represent the US in Miss India World Pageant, to be held on
March 27, 2010 at Durban, South Africa.
Shivali Vyas, a resident of Tampa and a student at the University of
South Florida was the first runner-up. Illinois-based Disha Patel was
the second-runner up.
The beauty pageant was a part of the fifth Asian American Convenience
Stores Association (AASCA) convention.
bademiyansubhanallah
Press Trust Of India
Washington, December 12, 2009
First Published: 10:55 IST(12/12/2009)
Last Updated: 10:56 IST(12/12/2009)
An Indian American organisation has asked the Government of India to
take quick action to prosecute and bring to justice all the 68 persons
found guilty in the Liberhan Commission report on the demolition of
Babri Masjid in 1992.
"We firmly believe that quick action to prosecute and punish the
guilty will go a long way in preventing future such mischief and will
begin the process of healing the wounds and damage done to the fabric
of communal harmony," said Non Residents for Secular and harmonious
India (NRI-SAHI), in a statement issued yesterday.
"We call upon the new Home Minister P C Chidambram to follow the
instructions of Justice Liberhan to prosecute and bring to justice all
the 68 persons found to be guilty of violation of the laws of the
land," NRI-SAHI said.
Applauding the report by Justice Man Mohan Singh Liberhan, NRI-SAHI
thanked him for the patience he has shown for 17 years against the
"obstructionist and delaying tactics" of the BJP and its allies.
"We agree with the commission’s conclusion that the destruction of
Babri Masjid was the first step in their efforts to destroy the
secular character of the India," NRI-SAHI said.
bademiyansubhanallah
Indo-Asian News Service
Washington, December 12, 2009
First Published: 12:18 IST(12/12/2009)
Last Updated: 12:19 IST(12/12/2009)
A physical therapist, a money launderer and a patient recruiter trio,
including two people of Indian origin, have pleaded guilty in
connection with multiple health care fraud schemes in Detroit.
The three, Baskaran Thangarasan, 37, Sandeep Aggarwal, 38, and Wayne
Smith, 47, pleaded guilty this week before two district court judges
in Michigan, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced
Friday.
Thangarasan and Smith face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
and a $250,000 fine; Aggarwal faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in
prison and a $500,000 fine, it said.
According to information contained in plea documents, Thangarasan, a
licensed physical therapist, admitted that he began working around
September 2003 as a contract therapist for a co-conspirator.
Thangarasan admitted that between September 2003 and May 2006, his co-
conspirators submitted claims to the Medicare programmes totalling
approximately $5,055,000 for files that were falsified by him.
Medicare actually paid approximately $2,325,000 on those claims.
Thangarasan admitted that throughout the conspiracy, he was fully
aware that Medicare was being billed for occupational therapy services
he had falsely indicated he had performed.
In his plea in the same case, Aggarwal admitted to assisting co-
conspirator Suresh Chand in laundering the proceeds of Chand's
Medicare fraud scheme.
Chand, who pleaded guilty in September 2009 to conspiracy to commit
health care fraud and conspiracy to launder money, admitted to
conspiring to submit approximately $18 million in fraudulent physical
and occupational therapy claims to the Medicare programme.
Aggarwal, who admitted working at Chand's office, acknowledged that
his role in the scheme was to set up sham entities at Chand's
direction, with the purpose of using those entities to distribute the
proceeds of the fraud to the various co-conspirators.
According to plea documents, one such entity was called Global Health
Care Management Services. Aggarwal admitted in his plea that he and
Chand laundered approximately $393,000 through this sham entity.
Smith pleaded guilty to an indictment that charged he transported and
paid Medicare beneficiaries to attend Sacred Hope Center, a
Southfield, Michigan infusion clinic.
bademiyansubhanallah
PTI
Saturday, December 12, 2009 13:55 IST
Washington: An Indian-American has been sentenced by a US court to 21
years and 3 months in prison for a 2008 armed bank robbery during
which he shot a bank teller in the hand leaving her "permanently"
injured and took away USD 23,471 along with two of his accomplices.
The verdict against 43-year-old Anirudh Lakhan Sukhu was delivered
yesterday by the Maryland Court, which also sentenced him to four
years of supervised release after completion of his 21 years and 3
months imprisonment, said US attorney for the District of Maryland Rod
J Rosenstein.
According to his plea agreement, Sukhu met two conspirators, Sharman
Said and Omar Burnett, on November 20, 2008 to plan a robbery of the
Bank of America located on Ten Oaks Road in Clarksville, Maryland.
That same morning, the robbers rode to the bank in Sukhu's pick-up
truck and entered, brandishing guns and announcing the robbery.Burnett
brandished his handgun, vaulted the counter and demanded money from
the tellers.
Sukhu, armed with a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun, entered an office
where a bank employee was hiding and ordered the employee to come out.
"When the employee moved, Sukhu fired, shooting the employee in the
hand and permanently injuring her," the plea agreement stated.
Sukhu then also vaulted the counter and took money from the tellers,
which he placed in a red and black bag, while Said remained at the
front door, armed with a handgun, and served as a look-out. The
robbers took USD 23,471 and fled from the bank in the truck.
A witness called 911 and gave a description of the vehicle used in
robbery.
Law enforcement officers pursued the robbers at high speeds through
four counties. The robbers eventually abandoned the truck in
Montgomery County near Said's home and fled on foot.
Burnett fired at police and was killed. The stolen money, a second
handgun and a sawed-off shotgun used during the robbery were seized
near Burnett's body.
The other handgun was recovered near the abandoned truck.
Said escaped by hiding in his home, and was subsequently arrested on
January 8, 2009.
Sukhu called 911 to falsely report that he had been the victim of a
carjacking involving his pick-up truck, the same truck used in the
robbery.
During a subsequent interview with police, he admitted to
participating in the robbery and also that he was the robber who fired
the shotgun, injuring the bank employee, the US Department of Justice
said.
bademiyansubhanallah
PTI
Saturday, December 12, 2009 11:42 IST
Chicago: IIT alumnus Vikram Buddhi was today sentenced to four years
and nine months in prison and an additional three years of supervised
release by a US court for posting hate messages in 2006 against former
president George Bush and calling for bombings of American
infrastructure.
Indiana court district jdge James Moody said the supervised release
would be monitored by a probation officer.
Buddhi was arrested in 2006 after being convicted of aking threats to
Bush, the then Vice President Dick Cheney and their wives, and calling
for bombings of US infrastructure.
The 38-year-old Phd student of Purdue University, convicted in 2007,
had fired his lawyer yesterday when his sentencing hearing began. He
represented himself in the court and said "the trial was unfair. I am
not the kind of person the government is trying to portray".
After the sentence, Buddhi wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, spoke
for a little while with his former lawyer. He was then taken into
custody and led out of the courtroom. Buddhi has a right to appeal
against the judgement in a Chicago court within 10 days.
Since Buddhi was representing himself, the notice of appeal can be
filed through the court or by his previous lawyer Arlington Foley,
whom he had fired but remained his stand-by counsel.
"Every person has a right to appeal. The court has asked me to ensure
that (the notice of appeal) is filed," Foley told reporters after the
sentencing.
Buddhi has been in jail since 2006 and Foley said the Bureau of
Prisons would take that into account before determining the total time
that he would now be required to spend in a US prison.
Typically if somebody is sentenced to 57 months, he would serve
approximately 85 per cent of that time and "most likely" would be
given credit for the months he has already spent in jail," Foley said
adding that Buddhi has already spent a couple of years in jail and
that could be deducted from his sentence of 57 months.
After completing his sentence, Buddhi could also be deported to India.
While the deportation would be handled by a different authority in
Chicago, Foley said if Buddhi is a candidate for deportation, the fact
that "he is a convicted and the nature of the charge against him would
weigh very heavily when the authorities determine whether he should be
deported".
During the two-day sentencing hearing, Buddhi argue that since he had
got "ineffective assistance" of the counsel and faced the "gravest
error of justice", his sentence should be shortened. "I got the short
end of the stick," he added.
Fighting his own case, the 38 year old Phd student from Purdue
University tried hard to convince the judge and put up several
arguments, even at the cost of making Moody impatient.
Moody ruled that he did not find the defendant's "arguments and the
mitigating factors he presented persuasive enough" to give him a
shorter sentence.
Not giving up, Buddhi repeatedly argued before the judge that that the
messages posted on the internet were not "threats" but "just opinions"
and if any unbiased persons had read the mails, they would notice that
there is "no intention of inflicting any harm". "Every person has a
right to his or her opinion," he said.
Anybody who goes to online message boards should read a warning that
tells people that the messages are just opinion of the person posting
them and should not be taken seriously for any other purposes, Buddhi
argued.
He said he did not have anything against the US and "I support the war
in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Those messages were posted just to challenge
the mind, to cajole, to see what the effect would be if a different
picture is presented.
US troops are killing Iraqis, Afghansitanis and the bad guys. If
instead of saying US troops are killing Iraqis, it is said that Iraqis
are killing US troops, the picture changes and becomes very dramatic".
He mentioned news reports of "US soldiers raping and killing young
women" and how people are being "blindfolded" and torture tactics
being used. "But just to challenge the mind, you turn the picture
around. Many people don't view the picture from the other end," he
said.
He stated he had a good educational background and had won awards
while he was teaching mathematics at Purdue. Trying to strengthen his
argument, Buddhi said he has many anglosaxan friends, had assisted war
veterans, had never been to Iraq and attended the premier Indian
Institute of Technology from where other graduates also come to the US
chhotemianinshallah
13 Dec 2009, 1616 hrs IST, PTI
LONDON: An influential group representing migrants from India and
other non-European Union countries has petitioned Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to Most expensive cities for expats
In a letter to Singh, executive director of HSMP Forum Amit Kapadia
said the current categories of 'Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)' and
'People of Indian Origin (PIO)' cards fell short of the security
provided by a full Indian passport.
Kapadia noted that Indian immigrants constituted a vast presence in
180 countries, and had a deep sense of commitment to their adopted
countries.
He wrote: "Having pursued our goals relentlessly for years, many of us
have earned the right to citizenship, which consolidates our position
in our adopted country and facilitates investments in our home country
in terms of trade, property and other financial matters".
He added: "Although we have embraced a different culture and a way of
life, India still remains our home to which most of us return at
regular intervals. Such investments are our way of offering gratitude
to the motherland, and also serve the country's economy".
Kapadia regretted that at a time when Indian migrants were in a better
position to make significant contribution to the country's economy,
the Indian government was denying them dual citizenship.
"When mutual collaboration is the need of the hour, the Indian
government's policy of denying dual citizenship and making us
relinquish our Indian passports in order to accept foreign citizenship
is a major deterrent and a source of great disappointment," Kapadia
wrote.
Dual citizenship, he said, was very important for those Indian
migrants who had already obtained citizenship of the adopted country
and for those who were in a state of dilemma in applying for foreign
citizenship.
"The OCI and POI cards fall short of the security that is given by the
Indian passport. It robs us of the psychological assurance about our
national identity and severs our sense of belonging with our
motherland," Kapadia added.
The OCI card, he said, deprived migrants of the right to vote, and
noted that Indian immigrants in the UK enjoyed voting rights in UK
elections as citizens of the Commonwealth.
"Today, Indian professionals are scattered all over the globe and
India cannot afford to stick to the single citizenship policy if it
wishes to harness on the achievements and the influence wielded by
Indian immigrants.
"Majority of the democratic countries offer dual citizenship to its
citizens or permit their citizens to hold on to their citizenship even
when they apply for foreign citizenship," Kapadia wrote.
chhotemianinshallah
10 Dec 2009, 1835 hrs IST, PTI
LONDON: Skilled migrant workers and their dependants in Britain will
receive an identity card for foreign nationals when they successfully
apply to NRI investments in India extend their stay in the country,
from January 2010.
Under regulations approved by the British parliament yesterday, all
Tier 2 applications made inside the UK on or after January 6, 2010,
will involve enrolment of the applicant's biometric information
(fingerprints and photograph).
Migrants in other categories such as students must enrol their
biometrics and obtain an identity card for foreign nationals when they
apply to extend their stay in the UK.
There are now 11 Home Office biometric enrolment centres around the
UK.
Britain has tightened immigration rules from January for Indian IT
professionals seeking to move to the UK under inter-company
transfers.
From next year, workers in this category will need to have 12 months
experience instead of six months as at present with their employer
before they can be transferred to the UK, official sources said.
The immigration category will be closed as a route to permanent
settlement in the UK.
This means that IT professionals who come to the UK under inter-
company transfer will not be allowed to settle here permanently even
after the mandatory stay of five years.
Under an intra-company transfer, an employer can fill vacancies in its
UK operations by bringing across some of its existing foreign-based
staff.
It has been claimed that this enables jobs in the IT and other sectors
to be taken by migrants who are paid less than resident workers.
The Home Office, however, said that this was not true. "Workers coming
to the UK in the Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) category must be paid
the going rate", it said.
Sid Harth
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/5332507.cms
Indian woman victim of honour killing in UK?
chhotemianinshallah
15 Dec 2009, 0417 hrs IST, Tapash Talukdar & Anirvan Ghosh, ET Bureau
MADHAPAR | BANGALORE: Around 3,000 families live in Madhapar, but the
village in Gujarat’s Kutch district holds Rs 5,000 crore as savings in
bank NRI investments in India and post office accounts — a staggering
Rs 1.7 crore per family.
Down south in central Kerala, the slightly larger Kumbanad-Kozhencheri
belt has Rs 5,400 crore parked in bank deposits.
During the boom years, the largely enterprising communities from these
two diverse regions poured in money earned in West Asian and North
American destinations into these towns, building plush homes and a
raft of businesses. But that has now received a rude jolt. The crores
are flowing out, and for once, the shoe is on the other foot.
As the global financial crisis tipped the West into a painful
recession, and with the Dubai crisis now making things worse, the
dollar-dirham rich non-resident Indians belonging to these towns are
now dipping into these reserves.
The local business networks in these small towns that has developed
over years catering to these NRIs’ urge-to-splurge are scrambling for
survival.
Anandbhai Patel returned to Madhapar from Dubai last month after this
employer — a construction company — asked him to go on leave.
“I don’t know whether if I will get my job back when I return,” he
says, adding that he is banking on the savings back home to finance
the loans he had incurred in Dubai. His banker RV Jain, senior general
manager at Bank of Baroda, says that in the last one year, foreign
remittances have halved from Rs 120 crore a month to Rs 50-60 crore.
“Earlier, we had people queuing up to make deposits. Now, people come
here mostly to withdraw money,” Mr Jain says.
The borrowed prosperity shows in this village, 3 km off Bhuj, the hub
of a devastating earthquake in 2001.
Plush bungalows and offices of a dozen banks, many with cash machines,
dot the canal which separates the modern settlement (Navo Vaas) from
the centuries-old original village (Juno Vaas).
According to the last Census, residents of Madhapar have the longest
lifespan in India with an average age of 69 years. Many still live off
farms, though the village is sprinkled with internet cafes, retail
stores, restaurants, inns and even cab rentals.
“Now, it seems that the curse of the recession has finally fallen on
us,” says Jadhavbhai Varsani, 70, who owns a retail store.
In Kerala’s forex belt, the worries are much more. With 44.3 emigres
per every 100 households, the elderly make up a bulk of those who have
stayed back in the Kumbanad-Kozhencheri belt.
Among them is A Koshy, 70, a resident of Thiruvalla. Remittances from
his son in Dubai have stopped coming, and Mr Koshy is now dipping into
his personal savings to pay for house and car loans.
“My son had to give away his luxury car for a pittance, and might have
to do the same with his apartment,” he says.
The remittance economy had spun off its own business offspring in the
jewellery, automotive and realty segments. That money had driven down
enthusiasm for traditional cash crops such as rubber, coffee beans,
cocoa, pepper and ginger, and the clock has come full circle now.
“There has been a drop of 30 to 35 per cent in sales in the mid-
segment category,” says the manager of a car dealership. With gold
prices rising and inflows down to a trickle, jewellery shops are
struggling for customers.
Real estate development, the most visible sign of recent prosperity
that provided jobs to 25 lakh people in the state has also come to a
halt. Hoardings at city junctions announce the arrival of a whole new
market for affordable housing.
Nonetheless big builders are worried. “A lot of investment had been
planned there on the basis of projected demand linked to the expansion
of the technology parks. And then came the crisis in the US economy
and now Dubai. Our target was the NRI segment, but it is precisely
them that is facing a hard time,” says SN Raghuchandran Nair,
president of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers.
In Madhapar too, the worst hit are the same sectors. Ditto with Ena,
another NRI hotspot village near Surat, which is dotted with plush
villas and streets populated with BMWs and Mercs. Here too sales
executives say snob value is now a distant memory.
Local jeweller Mohan Khokhani says that on an average an NRI used to
spend about Rs 4-5 lakh on marriage purchases. “Now, they are not
buying for investments as gold prices are high and have cut down
budgets for marriages too,” he says.
The Patels of Madhapar started emigrating during the 1960s and ‘70s to
work abroad, and in true Gujarati spirit, set up their own businesses,
The Kutch Madhapar Karyalay was formed in London in 1968 and there are
other Madhaparian associations in other cities as well.
Navinbhai Patel, 57, who had emigrated 20 years ago, one such active
Madhapari in London, where he runs a groceries shop and his wife runs
a boutique in Neasden in north London.
Patel comes to India every winter, but says this year is different.
“Forget about bringing in foreign money, this time around I have even
cut down my expenditure by around 80%,” he says.
That’s bad news for the village as a large chunk of small businesses
here are dependent on the so-called ‘NRI season’, when the rich non-
residents come home and splurge on food, travel and entertainment and
buying jewellery, clothes or on family weddings.
The local economy has been hit badly forcing some 100-odd locals to
diversify into making china-clay for construction.
“The men have to find out an alternative to make a living,” says
Varsani.
While Kutch witnessed brisk industrial activity after the Gujarat
earthquake in 2002, Madhapar remained untouched because it was
perceived as prosperous and self-reliant, says Rajesh Bhatt, president
of Bhuj Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
That image is taking a hit, and Madhapar will have to now look
within.
chhotemianinshallah
14 Dec 2009, 2057 hrs IST, ET Bureau
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When a state’s bank coffers hold more than Rs
37,000 crore in NRI deposits – a historic high – the feeling must be
one of supreme contentment. In NRI-rich Kerala, however, there is,
instead, an eerie feeling of the financial kind as the state watches
developments in Dubai and the Gulf region that form its premier source
of remittances.
Thousands of Keralite families would have been troubled over the
weekend about the fortunes of Nakheel, the property development arm of
the government-owned Dubai World. They woke up on Monday to the cheery
news of Abu Dhabi stepping in with a handout of $ 10 billion to help
the company pay off its debts.
Says KC Zachariah of the Centre for Development Studies here, a long-
time Gulf watcher: “The handout by Abu Dhabi will reduce the pressure
on Keralites that much, though it is too early to talk about the long
term”.
Mr Zachariah says he is, however, optimistic about the prospects of
expatriate Keralites, considering their “proven ability to maneuver
through any situation, and coming to each others’ help in a crisis”.
The banking industry in the state has an optimistic take on the
situation: Says VA Joseph, managing director of the South Indian Bank:
“There is no cause for alarm either from the banking industry
perspective or from the remittance aspect. Indian banks have very
little exposure there, and as for remittances, there has not been any
major impact as expatriates have continued to place faith in Indian
banks”.
Mr Joseph says the job losses, estimated to be roughly 37,000 among
expatriate Keralites, are mostly from the unskilled labour classes,
who have not been known as major savers, making the impact less harsh
on the banking sector.
The South Indian Bank is the third largest grosser of non-resident
Keralite deposits after the State Bank of Travancore and the Federal
Bank.
Rajesh Raja, head of NRI business of Dhanalakshi Bank feels the impact
will not be much. “The worst is over, and only a few sectors like the
construction sector has been affected. We do not expect an adverse
impact”, says he.
Officials at SBT say that remittances have not been impacted and that
the feedback from the bank’s clients does not paint an alarming
picture. However, an official of the North Malabar Gramin Bank said
remittances had been showing a declining trend over the past six
months, well before the Dubai jitters hit the headlines.
The mood in the banking industry is upbeat, but a survey by the Centre
for Development Studies has shown that as many as 90,000 households in
the state that received remittances in 2008 did not receive any money
in 2009. That explains the palpable anxiety in the state even as
bankers feel bullish.
chhotemianinshallah
13 Dec 2009, 2001 hrs IST, REUTERS
DUBAI: Heavy rain pounded Dubai on Sunday adding to the gloom of the
emirate's debt woes a day before the deadline of the $3.52 billion
bond by state-owned developer Nakheel, with no word on how it will be
handled.
Dubai's stock market did soar for a second consecutive session on
Sunday as traders reacted to a surge in Nakheel's bond price last week
on mounting speculation it will repay.
The Islamic bonds, or sukuk, had been trading around 110 cents to the
dollar before the government shocked investors on November 25 with a
request for a six-month standstill on the debt of state-linked Dubai
World.
The announcement sent the sukuk down to mid-40 lows, but closed on
Friday at about 54 cents to the dollar.
Fund managers and bankers regard Monday's outcome as the litmus test
for Dubai World's planned $26 billion restructuring and Dubai as a
whole for resolving its debt burden. But the odds of Nakheel, the
developer of palm-shaped islands, repaying are low.
"It's very hopeful people (speculating)," says a Dubai-based fund
manager. "It seems very strange that if Dubai World intended to pay
they would have gone through the last two weeks of pain."
A sudden u-turn and repayment would placate disappointed and confused
investors in the immediate term. Dubai's handling of the situation has
tarnished its reputation.
Dubai's finance chief on Thursday tried to reassure investors saying
its actions were more important than its public image. But, Dubai
World has few options. "The key thing is the lack of clarity," said
Nish Popat, ING's head of fixed income in the Middle East. "What's
needed more than anything else is some sort of information to
understand what the plans are going forward and how they are
progressing."
Reflecting rising repayment hopes, five-year credit default swaps for
Dubai fell more than 30 basis points on Friday to 533 basis points,
according to CDS monitor CMA DataVision, compared with a peak of
almost 700 bps at the end of November.
The level is still high given the CDS was quoted at about 300 bps
before the November 25 announcement. "The CDS spreads are better, and
news of a hedge fund buying into Nakheel - this is all positive ...
even if you buy Nakheel at 50, and they pay out 70, you're still
making good money," said a banker from a Dubai government-controlled
lender.
If Nakheel does not pay on Monday, it would technically be in default,
but it would still give its restructuring team a two-week grace period
to reach an agreement with creditors.
December 28 is the final cut off point. After that a cross default
clause in its original prospectus will be triggered that covers
Nakheel and its guarantor Dubai World, adding to the overall debt
burden.
Regional markets have been struggling for weeks under the issue.
"Prices are so distorted right now," said Haissam Arabi chief
executive at Gulfmena Alternative Investments. "Tomorrow is a big day,
until we get some clarity (about Dubai's debt) there will be no real
trend. The main catalyst we are waiting for is Nakheel news."
STRIKING A DEAL
Analysts have speculated Nakheel could repay its bond at 70 cents to a
dollar and issue new debt for the remainder.
"Such an outcome would be beneficial for both parties involved," EFG
Hermes analyst Fahd Iqbal wrote in a research report. "Creditors would
receive a portion of their money back with a promise for the remainder
to be delivered at a later stage while Dubai World, along with other
government related parties, would have continued access to capital
markets."
With time running out for a deal on Nakheel's bond, bondholders may
have to accept some impairment, leaving Dubai World free to negotiate
with longer-term debt holders.
But vociferous minority holders of Nakheel's bond are still demanding
repayment, which could lead to potentially damage larger claims.
The third option is for Dubai World to outline details of its
restructuring plans and announce a standstill agreement with its
creditors. This would make Nakheel's bond date irrelevant in the grand
scheme of things and buy valuable time for Dubai.
"It would bring confidence if there is a settlement of good faith or
they restructure or they pay, but the rest will linger as there is
debt outstanding to corporates, contractors and all kinds of
creditors," said John Sfakianakis, chief economist at Banque Saudi
Fransi-Credit Agricole Group in Riyadh.
Dubai's government and affiliated firms owe non-financial Japanese
companies roughly $7.5 billion in credit that had not been collected
as of October 31, a study by Japan's government showed.
In addition, fears that Dubai's debt problems are not limited to the
state-linked firm has already battered investor confidence. In
February, Borse Dubai has $2.5 billion of debt maturing, while Dubai
ruler's own firm Dubai Holding will face almost $1.9 billion of debt
repayments in the first half of 2010.
"There is no precedent for such a situation in the region - tomorrow
is D-Day," said one banker.
chhotemianinshallah
14 Dec 2009, 2308 hrs IST, REUTERS
DUBAI/LONDON: Dubai's debt relief request has shattered faith in its
once-booming property market and Abu Dhabi's $10 billion bailout will
do little to tempt overseas buyers back to the emirate until late 2011
and beyond.
Dubai's ailing property market had already soured thanks to the global
economic crisis, long before the Dubai World empire sought a
standstill on $26 billion of debt. Now its woes have turned hopes of a
recovery into fears of second collapse in capital values.
"It (the debt standstill request) will definitely delay the recovery
of the property market by 18 months to the second half of 2011," said
Patrick Rahal, a Doha-based senior asset management analyst at bank
The First Investor.
Fellow United Arab Emirates member Abu Dhabi has dug deep to rescue
Dubai from a possible default on a $4.1 billion Islamic bond owed by
government-linked developer Nakheel, but the injury to investor
confidence will take much longer to heal.
"I wouldn't like to even guess when this market might return to the
good times," said Jonathan Thompson, global head of real estate at
KPMG in London, discounting the possibility of Dubai becoming a major
mainstream commercial marketplace.
Prices are down some 50 percent from their peaks in late 2008, while
billions of dollars worth of office, hotel and mall projects have been
put on hold or cancelled.
"The handling of the situation has eroded confidence and we will see
how that is revised," said Saud Masud, head of research and senior
real estate analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at UBS.
"The psychological impact (of the bailout) is positive but
fundamentally the market is still weak. The main problem is still
oversupply and so we are just going back to pre Nov. 25," Masud said,
adding property prices are still expected to slide a further 20-30
percent by the second half of 2011.
A spectre of fresh fire sales continues to haunt the market, some
analysts said, diluting the impact of the Abu Dhabi's generous bailout
package.
Investors shocked by the government's decision not to guarantee the
debts of related entities like Nakheel will encourage some nervous
investors to cash out early, putting new downward pressure on prices,
said Sana Kapadia, vice president of equity research at EFG-Hermes in
Dubai.
Rental demand is likely to remain weak until Dubai, famous for its
seven-star hotels and palm tree-shaped islands, manages to convince
western corporations it can preserve its status as the most important
financial centre in the Gulf region.
This will be easier said than done, Thompson said.
"Dubai has done itself a lot of damage as an international financial
centre," he told Reuters. "The best Dubai can hope for is that it
stays as an important retail centre ... But will this become a global
business hub? I suspect not. People will not feel safe about putting
huge sums of money there," he said.
OVERSEAS
News of the Abu Dhabi rescue has done little to restore Dubai's badly
dented reputation in the eyes of overseas property investors who had
already relegated the supply drenched emirate to the bottom of their
property investment wish lists.
Even opportunistic property investors like London's Enstar Capital are
retreating from Dubai, citing concerns a painful debt restructuring in
the emirate is just the beginning.
"One of our biggest fears is that Dubai's reported debts of $75
billion are actually in fact much larger," said Enstar co-founder
Farid Alizadeh.
Alizadeh's concerns are seen in recent credit default swap pricing for
Dubai Holding Commercial Operations, the personal investment vehicle
of the Sheikh Mohammed, which many market watchers see as a bellwether
for Dubai's creditworthiness.
End-of-day pricing from Markit on Friday showed the buyer of
protection against a possible default by Dubai Holding paid the
equivalent of $1.86 million a year to cover $10 million of debt for a
five-year period, up from about $650,000 on Nov. 24.
"Having seen what has happened in Iceland and others, investors in
such times go to what are deemed safe havens and if Abu Dhabi is
bailing Dubai out then it will be Abu Dhabi which will be deemed a
safe haven and not Dubai," Enstar co-founder Simon Lyons added.
chhotemianinshallah
Briton of Indian origin given indefinite jail term
PTI
A British citizen of Indian origin who had an ‘obsessional hatred’ for
the legal profession has been jailed indefinitely for attacking a team
of lawyers with acid.
The 55-year-old Ashok Mahajan has been jailed for splashing contents
of a bottle of hydrochloric acid over a barrister, a solicitor and a
pupil after his case for racial discrimination claim was dismissed.
A former accountant, Mahajan had a decade-long history of courtroom
outbursts including an incident when he threw a shoe at one barrister
and threatened to shoot him.
Mahajan was given an indefinite period of imprisonment by the Sothward
Crown Court for public protection after reports indicated he posed a
high risk of serious harm to members of the legal profession.
He was convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with
intent following a three-week trial earlier this year.
Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith said Mahajan was the most difficult
defendant he had ever dealt with.
The judge told him: “I have had extensive dealings with you, Mr
Mahajan, over the last six months, and I have no doubt whatsoever that
there is a very significant risk of serious injury being caused by you
committing further specified offences.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article66743.ece
chhotemianinshallah
PTI 14 December 2009, 04:09pm IST
MUMBAI: A 40-year-old NRI from Dubai, who was arrested in a fraud
case, allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a building in
suburban Andheri, police said on Monday.
Deepak Mehta was arrested last Wednesday when he landed at the Indira
Gandhi International airport in Delhi and was brought to Mumbai in
connection with a fraud case registered against him by diamond trader
Bhavesh Shantilal in 2007.
"Yesterday, Mehta was taken to Guru Kripa building in suburban
Andheri, where his sister and nephew stay, for investigation. He
pushed the police officials and tried to escape and jumped from the
building," Assistant Commissioner of Police Dilip Suryavanshi said.
Police have recorded the statement of Mehta's relatives and
preliminary investigations reveal that it was a case of "custodial
suicide", he said.
Statements of the police officials who were part of the team present
during the incident has also been recorded, he added.
According to the complaint filed by Shantilal, Mehta and his friend
Nirav Mehta had approached him in February 2007 posing as diamond
brokers and expressed desire to purchase diamonds.
"In April, 2007 the duo told me that they had a foreign customer who
wanted to buy diamonds. The next day they came to my suburban officer
with a Russian woman who selected a few diamonds worth Rs 1.6 crore,"
Shantilal said in his complaint.
The trio left saying they would return the next day. The following
day, the two men came to Shantilal's office and told them that the
Russian lady was in another diamond merchant's office nearby and
wanted to compare the diamonds before buying them.
Shantilal handed over the diamonds to them. After sometime, when he
tried calling the duo, they wouldn't answer his calls.
Following this, Shantilal lodged a case of cheating with the police.
chhotemianinshallah
PTI 15 December 2009, 02:34pm IST
HOUSTON: An Indian-American man has been sentenced by a US court to 12
years in jail and ordered to pay $68 million for his involvement in an
elaborate Internet scam that obtained a whopping $200 million by
illegally selling addictive medicines to cyber customers and drug
users.
Rakesh Jyoti Saran (47) of Arlington in Texas was sentenced on
December 11 to 144 months in federal prison, said US Attorney James T
Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. He was also asked to pay $68
million in restitution.
Saran, the last defendant to be sentenced in this case, pleaded guilty
to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and other
federal offences, two counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy
to distribute controlled substances.
He has been in federal custody since May 2009. Saran was arrested in
2005 on charges outlined in a 201-count federal indictment which
alleged that he and five co-defendants conspired from 1999 to 2005 to
commit healthcare fraud, wire fraud and money laundering and to
illegally distribute controlled substances in a drug diversion
scheme.
According to plea papers filed in court, Saran operated 23 Texas-
incorporated pharmacies through two firms he owned -- Carrington
Healthcare Systems and Infinity Services Group.
Saran's pharmacies purchased expensive pharmaceuticals -- including
addictive painkillers and psychiatric medications -- by fraudulently
representing to the wholesalers that the drugs were for distribution
to prisons, hospital and other facilities, according to the plea
papers.
The pharmacies then distributed the drugs without valid doctors'
prescriptions to Internet customers, drug users and others who paid up
to four times the cost if the drugs had been obtained legally,
authorities said.
Saran's co-defendants previously pleaded guilty, receiving prison
terms ranging from 33 months to eight years.
As part of his plea agreement, Saran forfeited assets earned from his
illegal activities, including more than $1,000,000 in cash seized at
his residence, over $375,000 found in bank accounts, $390,000 in
cashiers' checks and money orders, several vehicles and a home under
construction in Arlington which was sold by the US Marshals Service
for $1,200,000 through an Internet auction in May 2008.
Saran also used his pharmacies to operate a "store front" website
designed to facilitate the distribution of controlled substances to
internet customers.
Using the website, drug users illegally acquired controlled substances
and dangerous drugs without valid prescriptions and without doctors'
intervention, paying up to four times the actual cost.
Saran also used his pharmacies to fill pharmaceutical orders from
other Internet Facilitation Centers (IFC) involved in the illegal
distribution of dangerous drugs and controlled substances.
Additionally, Saran also played an integral role in providing
promethazine cough syrup with codeine, hydrocodone, and alprazolam to
individuals who illegally sold these drugs "on the street," acquiring
approximately $20 million in proceeds for doing so.
chhotemianinshallah
Reshmi R Dasgupta, ET Bureau 17 December 2009, 11:19am IST
NEW DELHI: Ice cream major Haagen-Dazs probably did not realise that a
sign that was meant to tempt the Capital’s crème de la crème to its
premium Wrong choice of words ‘international-quality’ ice-creams would
instead land it in hot water.
A day before the US brand opened its first outlet in a south Delhi
mall, it put up signboards around the area for a “preview for
international travellers” with the telling rider, ‘Entry restricted
only to holders of international passports’.
An Indian who saw the sign and was turned away from the store — only
because of lack of space due to weekend rush, according to Haagen-Dazs
— took a photograph. He e-mailed it to a Times of India blogger;
within minutes it had gone around the globe ( Sorry, Indians not
allowed ), inciting a hail of protests that left the company red-
faced.
“An error was made in the creative execution,” Anindo Mukherji, MD of
General Mills India, which markets the brand here, said, adding more
precisely: “It was a wrong choice of words, and we regret the error.”
As there are no such things as ‘national’ passports — they are after
all used only for international travel
— it was apparent that ‘international’ was used as another word for
‘foreign’. And since the booklet’s only use, once the holder clears an
airport immigration counter, is as a proof of nationality, the clear
implication was that only foreigners would be allowed for the
‘preview’. It was not, however, intended to be a case of reworking the
old British sign, ‘Dogs and Indians not allowed’.
“No one was turned away because of nationality,” insisted Arindam
Haldar, director, Haagen-Dazs. “I was present on all days. If people
were refused entry momentarily, it was only due to overcrowding as
there was a rush.” Obviously, Haagen-Dazs is here to tap the Indian
market, not keep it out, but the words of the teaser campaign left the
company vulnerable to the charge of apartheid. And it was compounded
by the very poor choice of words by TBWA, the agency that did the
teaser campaign.
Upon sustained queries to company officials about the intention of the
campaign, it emerged that what Haagen-Dazs really wanted to convey was
‘Now get a taste of abroad right here in India’. But by preferring
several long words — that are liable to be misinterpreted — instead of
short, clear ones, they ended up generating a lot of heat: something
that ice-cream brands, in particular, should steer clear of, if they
don’t want their market to melt away, thanks to offended
sensibilities. Especially, since it plans to open 30 to 40 outlets in
the next few years.
chhotemianinshallah
IANS 19 December 2009, 10:30am IST
WASHINGTON: A Sikh graduate student, working as a part-time pizza
delivery person, was thrown into a swimming pool and brutally
assaulted in West Texas, according to the Sikh Coalition, a community
advocacy group.
When the young man, whose identity has been withheld for his
protection, brought pizzas for delivery into a home, four men took the
pizzas and started eating without paying, while hurling racial
epithets and threatening him.
"I'm going to **** you up in Iraq, I'm going to **** you up in
Afghanistan, I'm going to **** you up over here," they were quoted as
saying by the Coalition in a media release. But it did not say when
the incident took place.
The four men then grabbed the Sikh student and threw him into a
swimming pool. The four attackers surrounded the pool, kicking him in
the head and body. Every time he tried to escape, they would stomp or
hit at him.
For 20 minutes, he swam for his life trying to escape. He eventually
seized an opportunity to flee and barely made it to his car with two
men in pursuit, the community group said.
Though the local police were called shortly after the attack, they
failed to respond adequately, the community group alleged. The police
classified the incident as a misdemeanor, which means that the
attackers may not have to serve any jail time, it said.
The local police also did not file the incident as a hate crime, the
group said. "It is clear from the attackers' references to 'bin Laden'
and 'Go back to Afghanistan' and the fact that they kicked off his
turban that this assault targeted not only him as an individual, but
his Sikh identity."
However the Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently investigating the
matter as a possible federal hate crime after being contacted when the
local police department refused to prosecute the attackers for hate
crime, the Sikh Coalition said.
chhotemianinshallah
21 Dec 2009, 0100 hrs IST, PTI
LONDON: Thousands of young Indians, mainly from Punjab, are entering
Britain on falsely obtained student visas, a media report claimed on
Sunday.
Undercover reporters found foreign agents offering would-be students
10,500 pounds loans so they can convince the UK Border Agency in their
visa applications that they have enough money in their bank account to
pay fees and support themselves in Britain.
The money is handed back to the lender as soon as it has appeared on
bank statements for a month, the Sunday Times report said.
The cost to the student is a 7 per cent interest charge and 200 pounds
processing fee, which amounts to about 935 pounds. In a covertly
filmed investigation, the newspaper claimed it has established that
the scam is operating widely in towns in Punjab.
It threatened to undermine new Home Office immigration rules which
ministers insisted would reduce the number of new arrivals.
Instead, the number of visas granted to Indian students has nearly
doubled in the past year, from 29,000 to 52,000. According to the
report, many have no intention of studying and simply disappear after
entering the UK.
The new points-based entry system was created by Liam Byrne, the
former immigration minister and now chief secretary to the Treasury.
Students need 40 points to come to Britain. They receive 30 for
holding a course offer from a college or university and 10 for proving
that they can pay fees and support themselves.
The report quoted Vikram Choudhri, criminal lawyer to the chief
minister of Punjab, saying: "Thousands of students are going to the UK
every year to work and earn there.
Their main motive is to go and settle and very few go to universities.
"Under the new rules, students have to show they have 7,200 pounds in
their bank accounts plus the first year's fees for a course in London,
or 5,400 pounds plus a year's fees for a course outside the capital.
The report also cited a number of cases where visa agencies in
different Punjabi towns trying to help the undercover reporter to get
visa to the UK. The report said in Pakistan, however, checks appear to
have been less than thorough. In September, the Home Office reported
that just 29 out of 66,000 visa applicants from Pakistan had been
interviewed in the past year.
chhotemianinshallah
18 Dec 2009, 2040 hrs IST, PTI
BANGALORE: UK Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson on Friday sought
to allay concerns on the changes to the country's migration rules,
saying the
route to Britain for skilled and qualified workers and investors would
remain open.
Launching the Indian Institute of Science-UK lecture series 2010, he
said all the major Indian IT players now operate in the UK, which also
wants to make sure that Britain is the country of choice for new
innovative Indian firms when they position themselves for the European
market or establish a European research and development presence.
"I know that there are concerns among some in India that changes to
the UK's migration system might put this at risk," Mandelson said.
"But I can guarantee you that while we do have to guard the system
against abuse, the route to Britain for skilled and qualified Indian
workers and investors will remain open."
He also said the UK is increasingly keen to partner with India on
publicly funded development research.
chhotemianinshallah
Press Trust of India / New York December 22, 2009, 18:46 IST
People with Indian roots are fast climbing up the American corporate
ladder and today there are as many as eight such CEOs including the
likes of Indra Nooyi and Vikram Pandit, who run big US corporations,
according to a Forbes list titled, 'Eight Indian CEOs At Big US
Companies.'
PepsiCo's Madras-born Indra Nooyi tops the list Indian-origin CEOs in
the US.
"The chief executive of PepsiCo would be prominent no matter what. The
fact that the current one--Indra Nooyi--is an Indian immigrant makes
her all the more noteworthy," Forbes said.
The Nagpur-born Vikram Pandit, the embattled CEO of the ailing Wall
Street giant Citigroup, is the other prominent native Indian in the
corner office.
"It's not a not a surprise that we're seeing Indians rise in corporate
ranks," the US magazine quoted Richard Herman, the co-author of a book
on migrants to the US -- 'Immigrant Inc,' as saying.
The others in the prestigious league include Adobe Systems' Shantanu
Narayen, Francisco D'Souza of Cognizant, storage devices firm LSI's
Abhijit Talwalkar, Jai P Nagarkatti of biopharma Sigma-Aldrich, audio
and infotainment equipment firm Harman International's Dinesh C
Paliwal and Surya Mohapatra of Quest Diagnostics.
Elaborating on the rising number of Indians at the top, Herman said,
"of all the immigrant groups coming in today, Indians are head-and-
shoulders above others, and this is partly because of their English
language skills and also the advanced education that many of them are
bringing to the US."
According to the publication, technology is a field particularly
receptive to the foreign born. Francisco D'Souza, whose grandparents
hailed from Goa, heads the IT services provider Cognizant.
D'Souza joined the company in 1994 and within three years had gone up
the ranks to become director of North American operations.
Shantanu Narayen is the other techie who is at the helm at Adobe
Systems.
However, despite these personal success stories the number of
immigrants who are leading corporate America, Indian or otherwise, is
still a tiny fraction.
"Americans are having a tough time dealing with global diversity,"
Herman adds, "but just look at who was running the TARP financial-
rescue fund--Neel Kashkari--an Indian-American who is now joining bond
giant Pimco as a managing director."
Future CEO candidates might want to look for a tough assignment in
order to break through, he said.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/eight-indian-origin-ceos-at-big-us-cos-forbes/81469/on
Sid Harth
IANS 24 December 2009, 07:24pm IST
NEW DELHI: Five people, including a Spaniard, have been arrested for
allegedly sending unemployed youth from Punjab to European countries
on fake documents but genuine visas obtained with the help of a
Spanish diplomat here, police said Thursday.
The Special Operations Squad (SOS) of the Crime Branch Wednesday
arrested Anand Malkani (31), Amar Pal Singh (28), Satish Rattu (36)
and Maxon Tito (47) and their Spanish accomplice Gerardo Morante
Mendez (36) for illegally sending people to Spain and other European
countries on Schengen visas obtained through fraudulent means.
They were arrested from south Delhi's Lajapt Nagar area. Two laptops,
12 passports, a visa sticker, a Santro car and other incriminating
material were recovered from them, police said.
"Mendez has contacts with a diplomat in the Spanish Embassy. Through
this diplomat, he managed to get genuine visas on the basis of forged
supportive documents," Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime
Branch) Neeraj Thakur said.
"The gang used to charge Rs.800,000 to Rs. 10,00,000 from their
clients and the money was distributed amongst the accused persons and
their agents. They used to target people wanted to go abroad but did
not have required documents," he added.
Thakur said police have informed the concerned agencies about the
alleged involvement of the Spanish diplomat.
"We can not reveal his name and do not want to say any thing about the
individual," he added.
chhotemianinshallah
IANS 22 December 2009, 10:16am IST
WASHINGTON: Pepsico chief executive Indira Nooyi inevitably tops the
list of what Forbes calls "Eight Indian-Flavoured CEOs" who lead US
corporations with revenues of at least $2 billion as the premier
business magazine chronicles the rise of Indians in corporate ranks in
America.
"The chief executive of PepsiCo would be prominent no matter what. The
fact that the current one - Indira Nooyi - is an Indian immigrant (and
female, in case you've been living under a rock) makes her all the
more noteworthy," it says.
"It's not a surprise that we're seeing Indians rise in corporate
ranks," Forbes quotes Richard Herman, co-author of a book on migrants
to the US, Immigrant, Inc, as saying in an article published Monday.
"Of all the immigrant groups coming in today, Indians are head-and-
shoulders above others, and this is partly because of their English
language skills and also the advanced education that many of them are
bringing to the US."
"Despite these personal success stories the number of immigrants who
are leading corporate America, Indian or otherwise, is still a tiny
fraction," according to Forbes. But, says Herman, "look at where the
data was ten years ago and maybe it was zero or one [Indian then]."
Future CEO candidates might want to look for a tough assignment in
order to break through, he says. "Americans are having a tough time
dealing with global diversity, Herman adds, " but just look at who was
running the Tarp financial-rescue fund - Neel Kashkari"- an Indian-
American who is now joining bond giant Pimco as a managing director."
Of the featured eight, Nooyi, 53, says Herman, is part of a growing
trend where US companies are being created, or led, by foreign-born
individuals who bring in something special.
Vikram Pandit, the embattled CEO of Citigroup, is the other prominent
native Indian in the corner office.
"Prior to joining the ailing bank he was president of Morgan Stanley's
investment banking, fixed income and capital markets businesses and
cofounded and was the chairman of a hedge fund, Old Lane Partners,"
Forbes notes.
Third on the list is Kenya-born Francisco D'Souza heads Cognizant
Technology Solutions, which outsources IT services for its Western
world clients.
D'Souza, 40, whose grandparents hailed from Goa in India, joined the
company in 1994 when it was founded and within three years had gone up
the ranks to become director of North American operations.
Next comes Shantanu Narayen, 46, at the helm at Adobe Systems. The
diversified software company's flagship Internet video tool is Flash.
"At least one top boss of Indian descent is plotting a growth
strategy," says Forbes of Quest Diagnostics' head Surya Mohapatra,
fifth on the list. Mohapatra has raised $750 million from the capital
markets for acquisitions.
Also featured are Dinesh Paliwal of Harman International, Jai P.
Nagarkatti of Sigma-Aldrich and Abhijit Talwalkar of LSI.
Paliwal, a native of the city of the Taj Mahal, joined Harman, a sound-
systems company in Stamford, Connecticut, as chief executive in 2007.
Prior to that he spent 22 years at ABB Group and set up its operations
in China and north Asia.
Nagarkatti joined Sigma-Aldrich in 1976 as a development chemist, and
after heading the company's scientific research business was appointed
COO, in August 2004.
Talwalkar was appointed chief executive of LSI of Milpitas,
California, in May 2005. Earlier, he was at Intel's digital enterprise
group. He joined Intel in 1993 after stints at Sequent Computer
Systems (now part of IBM), Bipolar Integrated Technology Inc. and
Lattice Semiconductor Inc.
Sid Harth
Kalyani Kaul appointed a Recorder by Queen Elizabeth
Kalyani Kaul
London: Prominent barrister of Indian-origin Kalyani Kaul, who has
handled high-profile cases in the U.K., has been appointed a Recorder
by Queen Elizabeth and will soon preside over hearings in county
courts.
The 49-year-old Kalyani, who was the third highest paid barrister in
terms of legal aid payments in 2005, has been practising law in
Britain for the last 26 years. She studied Law in the London School of
Economics (LSE).
Major cases handled by her include government of Rwanda vs Munyaneza,
an extradition case against the government of Rwanda earlier this year
relating to charges of genocide.
Ms. Kalyani, who specialises in serious crime cases, has handled the
case relating to the Chohan murders in 2005, when five members of the
family were kidnapped and murdered. It was the longest murder trial at
the Old Bailey.
Ms. Kalyani is the daughter of well-known journalists Mahendra Kaul
and Rajni Kaul, both of whom worked for long years with the Voice of
America (VoA) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The post of Recorder is a fee paid post and there is no minimum
sitting requirement. As a Recorder, Ms. Kalyani will prepare cases for
trial and preside over hearings in county courts.
A Recorder is also considered for authorisation to sit as Deputy High
Court Judges in the Chancery and the Queen’s Bench Divisions of the
High Court and sit in the Royal Courts of Justice or county courts
(specialist civil jurisdiction).
Ms. Kalyani also represented Bachan Kaur Athwal, the oldest woman to
be tried for murder, relating to an ‘honour killing’ in which she
(aged 70) was supposed to have taken her daughter-in-law to the Punjab
and had her murdered. She also represented Anthony Sawoniuk in
relation to his trial for Second World War Crimes (multiple murders),
tried in the U.K. in 1999 in relation to offences in Belarus in 1942.
Ms. Kalyani is the vice-president of the Association of Women
Barristers. — PTI
Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/30/stories/2009123054842000.htm
Sid Harth
PTI Thursday, December 31, 2009 19:28 IST
London: Mota Singh, the UK's first Sikh and Asian judge, was knighted
by Queen Elizabeth II today, receiving the highest civilian honour for
his services to the administration of justice and community relations.
"I really feel little humbled. It is such a great honour. It means
recognition of the services rendered to the British community at
large," an elated Mota Singh, who is also a Queen's Counsel, told PTI.
His decision to wear a white turban in court, instead of a wig, came
to be seen as a sign of a multicultural Britain.
A Ramgarhia Sikh, 79-year-old Mota Singh was raised and educated in
Nairobi, Kenya. In 1954, he shifted to England to compete the
remaining part of his studies of law. He joined the English bar in
1967 and within months developed a successful practice in civil law.
He will now be known as Sir Mota Singh.
Mota Singh, who had said that he never experienced racism in Britain
when he became the country's first Sikh and Asian judge in 1982, was
knighted by Queen Elizabeth in her New Year Honours List 2010.
London-based Mota Singh was honoured for "services to the
Administration of Justice, Community Relations and to the Voluntary
Sector."
Mota Singh, who has been a prominent member of Britain's Asian
community and sits on several trusts and boards, had said in a recent
speech: "I am a Sikh. As a Sikh, I have found no difficulty in
adjusting to life in Britain, in integrating into the society here."
"I cannot recall an occasion when I have felt that my way of life was
at risk and, by and large, I have found no difficulty in reconciling
my personal life, lived in accordance with the tenets of my faith,
with life as a fully-fledged member of British society," Mota Singh
had said in the speech.
"At the heart of our thinking is a Britain where Christian, Muslim,
Hindu, Jew, Sikh and others can all work and live together, each
retaining proudly their own faith and identity, but each sharing in
common the bond of being, by birth or choice, British; in stark terms
- in our loyalty to this country, our country," he had said.
Besides Mota Singh, 18 other NRIs figure in the Queen's New Year
Honours List.
Prominent among them is Achhar Paul Dharni, who has been awarded the
MBE (Member of the British Empire) for services to business and to the
community in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
68-year-old Dharni who is also the chairman of Bradford's Hindu
Cultural Society, emigrated to the city from India in 1963. He worked
as a bus driver, ran and sold his own insurance broker and travel
companies.
Dharni was a key figure behind the £3million project to build the
Laxmi Narayan Hindu temple in Leeds Road, which was opened by the
Queen in May 2007.
In his reaction, he said "I'm honoured. It's good for the whole Indian
community and it will bring more people forward to do the work I have
been doing all my life."
Sid Harth
PTI Monday, January 4, 2010 16:43 IST
Houston: A top Indian-American "shopaholic" executive, with a US-based
electronic goods firm was fired after she allegedly embezzled a
whopping $20 million from the company fund to pay for a lavish
lifestyle.
Sujata Sachdeva, Koss Corporation cice president of finance, was
arrested by the FBI for embezzling $4.5 million from Koss in just a
few months ago. Sachdeva, who worked at Koss since 1992, claims she is
a "shopaholic" or compulsive shopper, a clinical condition known as
oniomania.
She was fired on Christmas eve, after a preliminary audit by Koss
determined the fraud exceeded $20 million since 2006.
The Milwaukee-based designer and seller of stereo-phones, plans to
restate its financial statements. In a release, Koss said it has fired
Sachdeva, who was the company's vice-president of finance and
secretary and the primary suspect in the embezzlement.
The company said it also has placed on unpaid administrative leave two
members of the company's accounting staff who served under Sachdeva.
Koss said it has expanded the scope of its internal investigation of
unauthorised transactions to include fiscal years since 2006 and to
the present. Koss found several credit card statements in her office,
as well a pile of unworn women's luxury clothing with price tags still
attached. She admitted to falsifying documents and using company funds
to pay for personal items.
chhotemianinshallah
Rachna Singh, TNN 4 January 2010, 01:25am IST
JAIPUR: Habib Hussain of Moradabad, who hid in a toilet on an Air
India flight from Saudi Arabia to return to his own country, says he
did so for his two children, his pregnant wife, and an ailing mother.
After his bizarre experience, Habib says he has realised that `aadhi
roti' (half a piece of bread) at home is better than one in an alien
land. He also said Indian labour is sold like cattle in that country.
He had sold his two `bigha' land for Rs 1.25 lakh and left behind just
about Rs 11,000 for his family after paying the agent. He now
tearfully says, ``There was no point in staying in Saudi. I just had
to return. My wife was two months pregnant when I left and will have a
baby any time now. My family was hungry here; I was hungry there. I
was better off earning Rs 80 a day and feeding my family rather than
living on a promise of Rs 15,000-20,000 and not getting a paisa.
``I know there could have been serious problems during the flight, but
I had confidence in my countrymen. Moreover, I was ready to face any
consequence in India which would have been better than living in Saudi
Arabia,'' he says.
``After grazing goats until noon, I offered namaz. In the evening,
after helping a Haji with his bags, I slipped into a toilet in the
lower deck of the aircraft. Forty-five minutes after the plane took
off, an air hostess saw me. After she heard my story, she gave me a
seat and food,'' said Habib.
All that Habib got to eat in the six months that he was away was one
roti and a bowl of dal worth Re 1 each day - bought from the money
that the Hajis tipped him with. ``I didn't get a penny from my
employer and started saving whatever I could to get back to my
country. I could manage to save Rs 800 and thought if my passport was
returned to me, I could board a flight to India. But whenever we asked
for our passports, we were kicked and thrashed and made to work for
over 14 to 18 hours a day,'' he said.
``Indian labour is sold in Saudi like cattle and thousands of Indians
from UP and Bengal are suffering there. They are helpless without
their passports,'' said Habib. ``My agent (Imran) got an assignment to
provide 50 labourers from India. We were recruited and sent in groups
of five, 10 and 20. After landing, I was made to work in Jeddah for a
month. I grazed goats during the day and worked as a cleaner at the
airport in the evenings. I worked for 14-18 hours a day. Thereafter, I
was sold to a `khafil' or agent in Medina who required 500 people. In
Medina, I worked for over 15 hours daily. I wept and wondered how my
family was doing back home,'' he said.
``My father passed away two years back and my mother is ill and needs
medication. I just want to get back home. I hope my case will be seen
with empathy. Who will feed my children if I am put behind bars?'' he
asked.
chhotemianinshallah
IANS 3 January 2010, 05:08pm IST
NEW DELHI: Nearly 25,000 British doctors of Indian origin are set to
return to India within two to four years and some of them are "most
likely to join the seven AIIMS-like institutions" proposed to be set
up by the central government.
"There are around 15,000 young Indian-origin doctors undergoing
training in different parts of Britain who will return to India,"
Ramesh Mehta, president of the British Association of Physicians of
Indian Origin, told IANS.
"Also, at least 10,000 senior doctors of Indian origin who are
retiring from their jobs in the UK, are set to return to India," said
the doctor, currently on an Indian tour.
He said they have already talked to the Indian health ministry and
have got a favourable response. "The government has allowed us to come
back and practise."
He said the ministry told the association that there will be a problem
in finding quality doctors to man the seven new medical colleges
modelled after the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
"We believe that these young doctors who are undergoing training in
the UK currently, can be of great help in the new AIIMS-like
institutes," he said.
The central government has given a go ahead to seven AIIMS-type
medical institutions in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa,
West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Each of these institutes
will come up with a cost of Rs.300 crore (Rs.3 billion).
Each new institution would have an 850-bed hospital, including
superspecialty facilities and 39 departments covering all major
disciplines of medicine. The medical colleges will also have the
provision to take in 100 undergraduate students each per year as well
as facilities for imparting Post Graduate and doctoral courses in
various disciplines.
Mehta also said the Indian government's plan to start a three-and-a-
half-year rural medical course can benefit from these British doctors.
"We are ready to play a part in training doctors whom government will
post in rural areas."
The health ministry and the Medical Council of India (MCI) have
proposed to start a rural medical course called Bachelor of Rural
Medicine and Surgery (BRMS) in district hospitals. This will help
doctors to get posted in rural areas and improve the healthcare
delivery system at village level.
chhotemianinshallah
Agencies
Posted: Jan 05, 2010 at 1001 hrs IST
Melbourne A partially-burnt body found in Australia's New South Wales
province last week is believed to be of a 25-year old Indian national,
police said on Tuesday, in what might be the second fatality in a slew
of vicious attacks on Indians.
The body found on a roadside near Griffith last week is yet to be
formally identified but police believe it is that of an Indian man, an
ABC report said. Australian officers are in touch with the man's
family in India and the Indian Consulate to help with identification.
Detectives from State Crime Command will today help local officers in
a search of the Willbriggie area where the body was found as part of
the investigation into his death.
Nitin Garg, a 21-year old Indian was stabbed to death in Melbourne on
Saturday night, becoming the first casualty in a series of attacks on
members of the community here. A union organiser at Griffith said he
has heard of serious assaults in Willbriggie.
Harry Goring from Australian Workers Union said he was aware of unpaid
labourers taking matters into their own hands. Police, however, did
not say if they were investigating claims that the man owed money to
harvest labourers.
"Over last 12 months there's been two assaults around that area,
people endeavouring to retrieve money for labour," Goring said,
adding: "I'm not saying for a moment that it's this with this man, but
there have been a number of fracas in relation to Indian people
pursuing certain individuals". Goring said action is needed to ensure
legal processes are followed by contractors.
"From Centrelink to Immigration, Fair Work, Workcover, we all need to
do a sustained effort to fix this problem," he said.
Goring said there has been a huge increase in contract labour,
particularly Indian students, and many are being ripped off. "It's a
weekly occurrence. We don't hear about the one and two's that are
happening. It only becomes sensational when a large group gets ripped
off," he said.
Contending that he gets weekly complaints about wages being stolen, hr
aksed farmers to ensure contractors are legitimate.
"You and I will never know the amount of people who are lining up for
payment, and as they're doling out the dollars, where they thought
they were going to get USD 200, they then have to barter and argue for
a percentage of that amount.
"They arrive on our doorstep without any plans, without accommodation
and they are scooped up by so-called contractors," he said.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Partially-burnt-body-of-Indian-migrant-found-in-NSW/563609/
chhotemianinshallah
Press Trust Of India
Toronto, January 05, 2010
First Published: 15:28 IST(5/1/2010)
Last Updated: 15:30 IST(5/1/2010)
A Canadian author of Indian-origin has received the prestigious
Governor General's Literary Award, the top prize in the field in the
country.
Toronto-based Moyez Gulamhussein Vassanji won the USD 25,000 award for
his book A Place Within: Rediscovering India in the non-fiction
category.
"An utterly brilliant, evocative memoir that ranges across the
landscapes of culture, memory, identity and history," the award jury
commented on the book, published by Doubleday Canada.
Ottawa's Canada Council for the Arts and Governor General of Canada,
Michaelle Jean honour the finest of the Canadian literature in
fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature (text and
illustration) and translation.
Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed congratulated Vassanji for
bringing pride to the whole community in North America and urged him
to mentor younger Indo-Canadian writers.
Literature in India went back to epigraphic inscriptions of the Indus
Valley (around 2,000 BCE) and standardised forms were developed very
early in the history of Sanskrit writing, Zed, who is chairperson of
Indo-American Leadership Confederation, said in a statement in Nevada
(USA) today.
Born in 1950 in Kenya and raised in Tanzania, 59-year-old Vassanji
began his career as a theoretical nuclear physicist and moved to
Canada in 1978. He has twice been awarded with Giller Prize for his
novels.
Sid Harth
Reuters
First Published : 05 Jan 2010 11:38:45 AM IST
MELBOURNE: A partially-burnt body found in Australia's New South Wales
province last week is believed to be of a 25-year old Indian national,
police said today, in what might be the second fatality in a slew of
vicious attacks on Indians.
The body found on a roadside near Griffith last week is yet to be
formally identified but police believe it is that of an Indian man, an
ABC report said.
Australian officers are in touch with the man's family in India and
the Indian Consulate to help with identification.
Detectives from State Crime Command will today help local officers in
a search of the Willbriggie area where the body was found as part of
the investigation into his death.
Nitin Garg, a 21-year old Indian was stabbed to death in Melbourne on
Saturday night, becoming the first casualty in a series of attacks on
members of the community here.
Comments
Indians are two faced Bastards. There is one set of rules for Hindians
and another for non-Hindis. When 20,000 innocent Tamils Civilians( who
had nothing to do with LTTE Terrorists!) were Massacred, these F*cks
in Delhi said nothing. But when 2 North Indians are attack in
Australia, these Buggers protest. The way i see it, we call as Vithi
in Tamil. For the Sin that Hindians did in Sri Lanka towards Tamils,
GOD punishes these fellows. That is called Law of Nature. What goes
around comes around! The same Hindians are brutally Terrorising
innocents in Kashmir and NE India, and that is ok with New Delhi. As
Arundhati roy put it, as long as Hindians have the resources of
others, they dont cares about the lives of those hapless Kashmiris or
Manipuris or Nagas. Hindians are Resource Thieves and Liars!
By Kumar
1/5/2010 7:56:00 PM
Australia has always been hostile towards Asians there,including the
Asian Australians. But violence to this extent is very shocking.
By ram
1/5/2010 7:05:00 PM
Australian govt is not a racist one like Lanka. Indians were silent
when their country helped the racist Lankan govt with military
weapons. Thousands of children were killed in aerial bombardments and
shelling. No Indian condemned it. Why so much outcry when one or two
north Indian students are killed? Are north Indian lives more precious
than Tamils? India did not cut trade relations with Lanka for the
genocidal attacks on Tamils. Why Hindustani fellows want to snap ties
with Australia for attacks on north Indians? When relationship with
Lanka is more important than lives of Tamils, the same should be
applicable to Australia. There are numerous problems in India, we
should concentrate on them.
By Aadhavan
1/5/2010 2:23:00 PM
When i see these news articles my heart goes out to all family members
who have high hopes about there children and they have to come to
terms to these. I begin to wonder if all the racial abuse and hatred
in Australia are really true or these are just some isolated
incidents. some times I feel what can be expected of people who belong
to a country started out as a convict continent prison.
By indian
1/5/2010 12:26:00 PM
What a shame, Do we have a government? Unless and until india cuts all
trade and other ties with Australia in case of further attacks, any
tlak withAustralia will be useless and more indians will be attacked
&unfortunately even killed&then the crooked indian government
suppoirted by jehadis and vatican agents will come out with strong
speeches&will do NOTHING again.It is duty of hindus& hindu parties
like RSS,VHP&BJP to organize strong protests not only in Parliament,
but in the streets as well as in media&they have to shout that ALL
hindus&sikhs&buddhists and all helpless indians except jehadis&vatican
agents will be protected at all costs not only in India but outside
India.Hope Gadkari and BJP do not continue to sleep&hope they make
nation-wide agitation for protection of hindus and sikhs in Australia
and other countries since they are the tagetted nd crucified people
now in Australia&europe,etc
By True Hindustani
1/5/2010 11:49:00 AM
chhotemianinshallah
Posted 1 hour 40 minutes ago
Updated 1 hour 23 minutes ago
Stabbed to death: Indian man Nitin Garg (AAP: Supplied)
Audio: India warns Melbourne unsafe (AM) Map: Melbourne 3000
Related Story: Student stabbing fuels safety concerns Related Story:
Police probe 'every avenue' in Indian's death Related Story: No
evidence for race link in Indian attacks: Crean Related Story: Family
pleads for help to get stab victim's body back Related Story: Gillard
condemns Footscray killing Related Story: Indian anger over Footscray
'crime on humanity' The Indian government has issued an advisory
urging Indian students to be cautious in Australia and warning them of
an alleged spike of attacks in Melbourne.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued the official advisory in
response to the killing of 21-year-old Indian graduate Nitin Garg, who
was stabbed to death in Melbourne on Saturday night.
It singles out Melbourne as a street-crime hotspot and says acts of
violence against Indians have often been accompanied by verbal abuse
and fuelled by alcohol and drugs.
The Indian government is calling on Indian students to be alert and
telling them not to travel alone at night or carry large amounts of
cash.
It says while most Indian students have had a positive experience in
Australia, assaults and robberies have been on the rise, despite the
efforts of Victorian police.
Yesterday, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Crean called for calm
and said Melbourne was not the only city in the world where attacks
took place.
A spokesman for Mr Crean says the advisories for Indian students
travelling to Australia are a matter for the Indian government, and
Melbourne has one of the lowest homicide rates in the world.
The Victorian Government says it does not want to respond to the
Indian statement.
'Doomed' student market
The New Delhi vice-president of the Association of Australian
Education Representatives in India, Bubbly Johar, says Mr Garg's death
has further damaged Australia's reputation as a safe and affordable
destination for Indian students.
He says if the Australian Government fails to act, the Indian student
market will fall apart.
"The market is absolutely doomed. Which parent will allow students to
go to a country like this?" he said.
"The market is 90 per cent down in India and this will continue; it's
not going to stop."
Mr Johar says the debate over whether Mr Garg's killing was racially
motivated misses the point.
He says the most important thing is to ensure the safety of Indian
students in Australia and acknowledge the terrible loss for Mr Garg's
family.
"We do agree that Australia is not a racist country, we do agree
that," he said.
"But parents have lost their child. Whether it's racist or not racist
doesn't bother anyone now. Losing the most precious thing in your
life, is your child."
'Provoking fear'
Deakin University criminologist Darren Palmer says the way authorities
have handled the reports of assaults on Indian students may have
invited the extra scrutiny of Melbourne.
"In relation to the latest case, there was a quick attempt to come out
and defend Melbourne, Victoria and Australia's reputation, and in a
way that ups the ante," he said.
"That puts it on the international stage automatically."
But Dr Palmer says claims in the Indian government's statement cannot
be verified.
"The level of detail in which they've gone into in their analysis in
the warning seems rather unusual," he said.
"And the findings, if you like, are questionable, at least in terms of
the lack of detailed knowledge we have about trends in violent attacks
against Indians in Australia."
Dr Palmer says there is no strong evidence that the number of
robberies and assaults in Melbourne has been on the rise in recent
months, as the statement says.
"There's not really that kind of strong evidence there and the kind of
data that's collected is poor in terms of being able to identify
racial indicators," he said.
"Most Australian police forces do not record the race of the victims
and offenders."
And he says making such a statement without strong evidence to support
the claim is a dangerous move.
"One, it can cause unnecessary panic that you are actually overstating
the risk to such an extent that people can dramatically change their
behaviours, whether it's people wanting to come here as students or
whether it's people who are here and how they behave," he said.
"On the other hand I guess there is a more basic message [in the
statement] that people have to potentially change their behaviours in
terms of protecting against victimisation.
"But you're on a dangerous path down there where you actually can
start to blame the victims for the victimisation. So you've got to
tread very cautiously and not unnecessarily provoke fear."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/06/2786322.htm
bademiyansubhanallah
Punjab Newsline Network
Wednesday, 06 January 2010
CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought a meeting
with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convey his concern over
incidents of racial attacks on Punjabis in Australia.
According Harcharan Bains, media adviser to the Chief Minister, Badal
has also written to the PM in this regard and demanded that the issue
be taken up with the Australian Government immediately. Bains said the
Chief Minister had written that since Punjabis were the most affected,
the matter was of grave concern to the state.
Bains also said that Sukhbir had sought an appointment with the
Australian High Commissioner on Wednesday and would convey the concern
of the Punjabi community to him.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/22376/38/
bademiyansubhanallah
January 8th, 2010 ians
NRIs will be able to cast their votes by the time the country holds
its next general elections, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here
Friday.
“I recognise the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to
exercise their franchise and to have a say in who governs India,” the
prime minister told the annual conclave for the Indian diaspora.
“We are working on this issue and I sincerely hope that they will get
a chance to vote by the time of the next regular general elections,”
he said at the eighth edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
“In fact, I would go a step further and ask why more overseas Indians
should not return home to join politics and public life as they are
increasingly doing in business and academia.”
Some 1,500 delegates from 50-plus countries are attending the conclave
that the country hosts annually to connect with its 25 million
diaspora in 130 countries.
The prime minister said while people all over were legitimately proud
of India’s vibrant democracy, the government had not been able to
deliver in full measure on the enormous promise and potential of the
country.
“I recognise the frustration well wishers feel when they lament why
things don’t work faster or why well formulated plans and policies
don’t get implemented as well as they should be.”
He said there was a price India was paying to carry all sections of
its people along in national development, but that was a price worth
paying.
“It is probably true we are a slow moving elephant but it is equally
true that with each step forward we leave behind a deep imprint.”
http://www.thelatestnews.in/nris-can-vote-soon-manmohan-singh/27671.html
chhotemianinshallah
Kartikeya, TNN, 9 October 2009, 01:55am IST
MUMBAI: This may well be the ultimate ode to the globetrotting Indian
who, for centuries, has been criss-crossing the world in search of
opportunity and adventure — Indian citizens are today permanent
residents of all but three countries in the world.
The ministry of overseas Indian affairs has registered the presence of
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in 180 of 183 countries of the world. The
numbers may vary from just two in Lebanon to almost a million in the
United States of America but the fact is that Indians call the whole
world their home. It is only in North Korea, Pakistan and Bhutan that
not a single NRI is to be found.
NRIs are Indians, who like steel tycoon Laxmi Mittal, proudly hold on
to their blue Indian passports while living in another country. They
are also different from ordinary Indian citizens who obtain visas and
go abroad to work or study for a limited period of time. NRIs remain
citizens of India but enjoy the right to live and work permanently in
another country of their choice.
Indians can now be found in the remotest corners of the Earth. Go to
the Republic of Palau, a speck of an island nation in the Pacific
Ocean which is one of the world's youngest sovereign states, and you
will find five NRIs there. And don't be surprised to find 20 of them
living in the mountains of Bolivia or a 375-strong Indian community
living in tiny Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.
Historically, Indian communities have had a major presence in several
parts of the world. Be it Gujarati merchants who settled in East
Africa, Tamil Chettiars who lived in south-east Asia or indentured
labourers taken from Bihar to work on plantations in the West Indies,
Indians have been migrating to other countries for centuries. During
the two World Wars, they fought for the British army and settled down
in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. The NRIs were a
post-independence addition to this long list of migrants.
But it is also true that, historically, the NRI's favoured
destinations have been First World countries or West Asia, where
employment opportunities abound. But the latest data confirm that in a
globalized world, NRIs are making opportunities in literally every
corner of the Earth.
The largest number of NRIs are in Saudi Arabia (17 lakh) followed by
the United Arab Emirates (14 lakh) and the US (9 lakh) but what is
more fascinating is they can also be found — albeit in minuscule
numbers — in Slovenia (10), Montserrat (10), Iceland (21), Bosnia and
Herzegovina (30) and Burkina Faso (150).
Experts also point out that, if People of Indian Origin (PIOs) — a
term for citizens of other countries who have an Indian ancestry — are
included, then both Pakistan and Bhutan would also find it difficult
to shake off the Indian links to their populations.
chhotemianinshallah
PTI, 8 July 2009, 05:32pm IST
NEW DELHI: An estimated 1.5 lakh Indian workers have come back home
from the United Arab Emirates due to economic crisis and recession,
the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday.
Replying to a question, Overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi
informed the House that an estimated 50,000 to 1,50,000 workers have
returned to India as result of the delay in execution of projects due
to economic slowdown and recession in the UAE.
He said most of the workers have returned to India on leave without
pay with the expectation that they would be able to go back to the
Gulf country once the situation improves.
Ravi said while Indian Missions in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
and Qatar have informed that there has been some job losses in these
countries, some Indians have also returned from Malaysia due to
economic slowdown.
"Information received from Indian Missions in Afghanistan, Syria,
Sudan, Brunei, Libya, Jordan and Lebanon indicate that there is no
report of Indians affected by the recession," the Minister said.
Noting that slowdown has affected almost all sections of people in the
US, Ravi said, "Indians working in the US are mostly professionals and
the extent of job losses by Indians is, therefore, slightly mitigated
by their indispensability to their organization."
Replying to a separate question, Ravi said the Government has already
strengthened the Indian embassies in the US and UAE by posting
counselors to render assistance to the Indian workers.
"They will be assisted by local Indian professionals in extending
legal, medical and financial counselling to the workers in need," he
added.
chhotemianinshallah
Sachin Parashar, Himanshi Dhawan & Ananthakrishnan G, TNN,
5 February 2009, 03:24am IST
NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s not quite the end of the petro-
dollar dream yet, but hundreds of Indians employed in the Gulf are
forced to return home as the global recession hits the region. If the
steady trickle of Gulf returnees turns into a tide, India could face a
major crisis.
Authorities say the situation at the moment is not alarming, though
reports of wage cuts and spiked jobs have been pouring in from the
region hit hard by sinking oil prices and tottering construction, real
estate and tourism sectors.
There are no hard numbers on the extent of the crisis. The Indian
embassy in UAE says 20,000 Indians have returned from that country
alone in the past four months. But these include those who were anyway
planning to return and others coming on leave. ‘‘Some of them have
been sent back for the time being and may return soon,’’ ambassador to
UAE, Talmiz Ahmed, told TOI. Sources in airlines say, across carriers,
there has been a dramatic increase in bookings to India from the
Gulf.
Of the 5 million overseas Indian workers, 90% have jobs in the Gulf
and South-East Asia. Till early 2008, the Gulf was in midst of a
construction and realty boom and had been attracting Indian workers.
Migrations from India had increased from 4.66 lakh in 2003 to 8.09
lakh in 2007. But things have changed since.
There are reports of construction projects coming to a halt across the
Middle East. A case in point is the prestigious Nakheel Harbour and
Towers in Dubai. Earlier known as Al Burj and expected to be the
world’s tallest tower, work on the project was suspended last month.
As the recession spreads, also facing the axe are Indian
professionals, technicians and low-skilled workers. Even those in
sales and marketing have been hurt because they were mostly
subcontracted by large companies which now look upon these staff as
dispensable.
Indian workers in the Gulf contribute nearly 40% of the $27 billion in
overseas remittances that come to India — accounting for 3% of India’s
GDP. World Bank has said remittances generated by South Asian workers
in the Gulf will come down by 9%. If the Middle-East economic crisis
deepens, India faces a double whammy of dipping remittances on one
hand, and jobless returnees flooding the domestic market on the
other.
Kerala, of course, is likely to bear the brunt if things go from bad
to worse. Remittances earned by Malayalees have fuelled construction,
tourism and education in the state. In the past decade, however, many
Malayalee emigrants had left the Gulf as labour laws there got harsher
and the wage-expenditure mismatch widened. But that doesn’t seem to
have dimmed expectations back home.
But to some, the situation is not all that dire. Going by the findings
of the Indian embassy in UAE, which accounts for 1.5 million out of
the 4.8 million Indian workers in the Gulf, there is no reason to
panic. At least not yet. ‘‘As of now, we have found no evidence to
suggest largescale departure of Indian workers,’’ ambassador Ahmed
said.
Ahmed said reports on layoffs in the construction business were highly
exaggerated. ‘‘I can say that out of 10 projects, at least five are
going ahead. Of the remaining, some are merely on hold. In fact, the
overall sentiment is one of optimism as the financial base of the
country is sound. That’s true for other Gulf countries as well,’’ he
said.
Others argue that Kerala is no longer as dependent on remittances as
in the past. Researchers Irudaya Rajan and Zachariah call the
migration situation in Kerala in the last four years ‘‘immobility in
mobility’’. ‘‘The number of emigrants was 18.4 lakh in 2003; it was
18.5 lakh in 2007. The number of return emigrants had been 8.9 lakh in
2003; it was 8.9 lakh in 2007 also,’’ states a study conducted by the
duo.
Readers' Opinions
Comment
Recession jolts Gulf, Indians head home
VADIVELU PRABAKRAN,DUBAI, UAE,says:A person who staying here in gulf
for the past 16 years so, in that last twelve years in UAE along with
school going kids who was affected and returning back to india. i am
openly accepting your content and its reflecting the indian community
who dependent of construction. The result of recession already hit the
real estate market and there is no takers for the developed properties
and the property price came down to 45 % of the Peak august 2008. The
developers including my employer and dubai government owned developers
taken the situation advantage and started suspending the projects
there by the entire construction industry of urban development
excluding the infrastructure project contractors were force to stop
and resulted this massive scale down of workers. The ambassador of
Indian embassy is not well informed about the ground situation
prevails at Dubai emirates and the poor workers who paid money to get
employment situation will be at worse hit. I dont think these workers
will have knowledge to report their job loss to consulate or embassy.
These will knew the embassy job is to issue the passport and related
services. My personal experience and opinion that our missions were
doing only passport and visa services with understaffed and i dont
think they will track our community well being. My personal experience
on previous occasions similar to this one is these workers will forced
to leave the company and go for illegal status until their debts were
cleared. In the earlier occasions only few greedy employers were
abandonng the workers and now the entire construction industry forcing
their own workforce to take up illegal status which affected my heart
and decided to leave the country and settle back in india. As a gulf
indian resident who worked in UAE and majority of life in dubai
deserted by his own industry he served and forced to stay until my
kids final exams at march 1st week. If our mission really want to keep
track or support to our community they shall call our people to
register about the job loss and their life ruins.
[5 Feb, 2009 1304hrs IST]
R.Lakshminarayanan,Kuwait,says:I work in Kuwait for over 25 years and
though the financial sectors are affected to a great extent, there is
no fear that Indians will loose their jobs. There could be a wage and
cut in other benefits but that too will be only for a short period
until the situation improves. This Government is doing its best to
tide over the present crisis. Rumour mongers are on the rise and just
pass on unnecessary messages to their friends so as to make the
situation panicky.
[5 Feb, 2009 1301hrs IST]
V.Sivasubramaniam,Coimbatore,says:It is time that the money hoarded by
our country men in SWISS BANKS is brought back and used for the next
10 Five year projects and other welfare activities.
[5 Feb, 2009 1146hrs IST]
BOBBY,UAE,says:WHEN INDIA IS NOT MUCH HIT BY THE RECESSION KERALA
WOULD HAVE BEEN DEFINETLY HIT AS A MAJOR REVENUE OF THE STATE COMES
FROM THE GULF.SO WAKE UP YOUNG MEN AND START MAKING A LIVING IN THE
STATE INVEST AND GROW RATHER THAN RUNNING AFTER POLITICS AND STOP
GETTING EXPLOITED BY THE POLITICIANS.LEARN FROM THE NEIGHBOURING
STATES LIKE KARNATAKA,TAMILNADU AND GUJARAT.
[5 Feb, 2009 1107hrs IST]
Cybeh,Delhi,says:Well the story is not true as stated by the high
commissioner, there are thousands of them who lost job in Dubai as
reality has taken a hit, which is the stand stone of Dubai economy and
to worse it all pathetic HR practices and no governance makes it a
horrible place to work. Its all about money in Gulf and nothing else,
now even that is loosing sheen as living cost is increasing manyfold.
[5 Feb, 2009 1039hrs IST]
Sreejit,Dubai,says:Good Stuff..
[5 Feb, 2009 0955hrs IST]
Hussain,Sharjah,says:I think the Indian Ambassador to UAE is living in
a fool's paradise. I live in Dubai and know for a fact that there
almost 70% of projects are stalled because there is no money. The
entire world knows that the booming property and real estate bubble in
Dubai has finally burst. almost 90% of those who were buying were
speculative buyers. No one now wants to invest and all prestigious
projects are at a standstill. the top 6 real estate companies alone
like Emaar, Nakheel and Tatweer have sacked 3500 employees. One of my
cousins has been sacked and he was working for one of the largest
Construction companies in Dubai. Most of the white collar indian
emigrant workers are just waiting for the academic year of Indian
schools to get over in March when most people will at least send their
families back to India due to job losses and cost of living spiralling
up. Even schools are badly hit and in 1 school alone there are more
than 2000 TC's ready that means at least 1500 families are ready to
fly back home.
[5 Feb, 2009 0934hrs IST]
Jenboy,Hong Kong,says:The hard working people from Kerala have
transformed deserts in the middle east into the most wonderful cities
in the world but unfortunately the communist have not let a single
industry establish in their own state of Kerala. The communist funded
unions arrive to disrupt work even before the foundation stone of a
new factory is laid. This policy is bond to hit hard should things
worsen in the middle east. The situation was bad during the Iraq
invasion of Kuwait when the state govt was least prepared & people
were putup in camps in Mumbai. But this time the crises will be far
worse than last time as all countries seem to be affected.
[5 Feb, 2009 0932hrs IST]
Hari Sankar Sharma,Dubai, UAE,says:The situation is really worrying
and the government should initiate all actions to reduce the damages
or effects of such happenings. ( What the government can do is another
good and interesting question, since the government was enjoying the
good times due to the remittances from the gulf region, they should do
something now is the logic) Downplaying the situation would not help.
There is no exaggeration and the situation is really bad as most of
the returnees have gone to gulf only a couple of years before to cater
to the construction boom there. And therefore they would require all
the possible supports in this relocation.
[5 Feb, 2009 0904hrs IST]
indian,China,says:Please do not post and publish such stories. The
more the people Read such stories, more they get tensed. thousands
come on vacation during oct,nov and dec. More you publish about global
economic recession, more people will start locking up money in their
lockers and not spending it. This will not help the recession, it will
have an opposite effect. Please Stop talking about recession. It
affecting people's mind.
[5 Feb, 2009 0828hrs IST]
Ashish,Delhi,says:After UK it's the NRI's in gulf who are hit by
recession. This is certainly not good news as the revenues coming home
will subside dramatically..
[5 Feb, 2009 0547hrs IST]
chhotemianinshallah
PTI, 26 November 2008, 09:17am IST
LONDON: There are "grave implications" of the current economic
downturn for 1.5 million people of Indian origin working and living in
Britain, according to the Indian Workers Association (IWA).
The IWA cautioned that as in the past, rising unemployment and
economic hardships may lead to people directing their anger against
migrants, including those who have roots in India.
"Repercussions of this crisis could have grave implications for the
migrant population, including the 1.5 million people of Indian origin
living in Britain," IWA secretary general Harsev Bains told.
Bains said that according to a recent memo from the Home Office, a
rise in anti-immigrant sentiment and ethnic tension was being
anticipated in the near future.
"The hardships of the 1930s had turned some Britons against foreigners
with the rise of fascism and the cyclic recession of the 1980s gave
way to race riots, he said.
"With the opening up of European borders immigration has increased
dramatically and with it the electoral base of the parties of the far
right.
The IWA, one of the oldest ethnic organisations in Britain, was set up
in 1938 to further the cause of India's independence. Over the years,
it has been in the forefront of several anti-racism struggles.
The IWA was set up in Coventry but it was the arrival of immigrants
from Punjab during the 1950s that led to its expansion all over the
UK.
bademiyansubhanallah
Posted by Vamban on Jan 8th, 2010 20:09:02
New Delhi, Jan 8 – The ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) Friday welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s
assurances to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) that his government would
try to ensure voting rights for them by the next general elections.
BJP spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it was a good idea but its
implementation will need a lot of homework.
‘This matter also came up when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime
minister. The issue is of dual voting rights. The government will have
to find a solution to this,’ he said, adding that it would entail
constitutional amendments.
Asked if the BJP would support the government on the issue, Naqvi said
his party would definitely consider such a proposal. He said the BJP-
led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had also taken steps
to enhance honour of NRIs.
Congress spokesman Manish Tewari also welcomed the government’s
intention to give voting rights Indians living abroad. ‘We welcome
what the Prime Minister has said. We hope the government will take
steps to implement it,’ he said.
Asked about the constitutional steps needed, he said: ‘The party hopes
the government will be able to work its way through it.’
Addressing the eighth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas here, the prime minister
said the government recognised the legitimate desire of Indians living
abroad to have a say in who governed India, and hoped that they will
get a chance to vote by the time of the next general elections.
http://www.vamban.com/bjp-congress-welcome-move-to-give-nris-voting-rights/
bademiyansubhanallah
Posted by Vamban on Nov 29th, 2009 11:57:02
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 29 – AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes,
whose father is from Goa, has been named the Airline CEO of the Year
(2009) by Jane’s Transport Finance magazine in London.
Born in Kuala Lumpur to a Goan father and Malacca Portuguese mother,
45-year-old Fernandes is the pioneer of budget airline who influenced
the country’s open sky aviation policy.
Jane’s, a Britain-based publication which is a provider of market
intelligence and integrated solutions to the transport, defence and
security sectors in over 180 nations, gives annual awards to
outstanding achievers in the airline, airport, rail, road and shipping
sectors.
‘The award recognises Fernandes’ vision and AirAsia’s success in the
toughest airline market in decades,’ the publication said.
In a statement Saturday, Fernandes attributed his win to his workforce
of 6,500 employees and the airline’s culture of innovation.
‘We have grown AirAsia together, with everybody pitching in with
ideas, actively finding new ways to increase efficiency, improving
service by effectively combining technology and personal touch while
aggressively and smartly marketing our brand,’ he added.
AirAsia currently has 82 aircraft that fly 120 routes to more than 60
destinations across Asia.
The airline has flown more than 75 million passengers in less than
eight years.
Prior to debuting in aviation, Fernandes had a long stint in the field
of music, becoming the youngest chief of Warner Music. Before that he
was with Richard Branson’s Virgin Music.
http://www.vamban.com/indian-origin-official-named-airline-ceo-of-the-year/
chhotemianinshallah
Passport to Murder - 28 Sept 09
Poonam Taneja investigates allegations that some British Asians are
going back to India and plotting to murder spouses or relatives.
Listen
“We believe that the conspiracy to murder was hatched here in the UK.
Whilst my brother was in India for two to three weeks, his wife we
believe, arranged for the lover to go out to India and we believe he
contacted his best friend...and he is the one who actually carried out
the murder."
The story of ‘Raju’ and his family. It may sound far fetched but it’s
something that this family has been trying to solve for over a decade.
In this Asian Network Reports Special we investigate just how serious
and widespread the practice of 'outsourced murder' is . Could there
potentially be 200 unsolved cases of British Asians who are so called
'missing' or had 'an accident' in India and the sub continent ? Are
these in reality murder cases? Is a combination of alleged police
corruption of India's police forces and apathy both in India and the
UK making it easy for British Asians to hatch a plot to murder abroad?
Just how hard is to prove and will 'Raju' and his family finally get
fresh hope . Hear his story in Asian Network Reports Special: Passport
To Murder.
*Note :All the names in the documentary have been changed to protect
identity of all involved.
Since making this programme, the British man accused of murdering his
wife during a holiday to India has had murder charges against him
dropped due to a lack of evidence. He insists his wife was not
murdered but the victim of a tragic accident. Meanwhile, the
Metropolitan police say all efforts will continue to ensure a full and
thorough investigation and hope to travel to India to carry out
enquiries there as soon as possible.
Producer : Perminder Khatkar.
Read what others have said..
Pawan Chandigarh
Its a good story and also a very much real. It shows the inhuman face
of the Punjabi community settled abroad and who have the money power
they are using it to kill others. Nobody should have the right to kill
ones life.
kelly kaur. Birmingham
I have set up an organisation that helps vulnerable mem, women and
chioldren uin thsi situation. I belivie that we should speak more
about it openly and if it shames the family than they shouldn't be
doing this in the 1st place. People are not aware that their is help
there and my organisation can help. Throughcare Housing. I to was in a
similar situation but am a surviour.
sim in luton
I believe that the police force in india is corrupt.If you get stopped
by them and you say that you have no money they will straight forward
give you a fine but they will ask you to ask any of the passengers if
they have money and you end up giving it to them.so if they ask for
money for a simple thing like a traffic fine then for them to hide any
knowledge about a murder is not not something big.In india money
talks.
Mr Cobentry in West Midlands
I know that women from India are miss treated by families from the UK
and are taken for granted. Using these vulnerable women as slaves to
do the cooking, cleaning and everything the in-laws say’s is like
slavery and disrespectful. This happens in every small Asian
communities from all religions and every Asian knows about it, if they
say they don’t know its a LIE.... Most cultural backgrounds don’t like
to see the disgrace on there families and these murders do happen
abroad because of the shame it brings to the family…(its like Chinese
whispers but worse). It may seem odd, to think it’s all the husbands
fault in the relationship, but women are equally to blame especially
the mother in-laws as they think no women can replace her position for
her precious son? lol These families keep the women away from the
public eye to protect their family name as it all comes down to
SUSPICIAN and JEALOUSY. If you cant trust your partner you don’t have
a relationship and this will save a life!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/documentaries/passporttomurder.shtml
chhotemianinshallah
being too ambitious in wooing the NRIs to exercise their right to
franchise in India?
Saturday, January 9, 2010 14:55 IST
Prime minister Manmohan Singh in his address at the annual gathering
of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas held for the Indian Diaspora, stated
that the long-held promise of the government allowing NRIs to vote in
the general elections may be fulfilled soon.
He also mentioned that the government is planning to change the
definition of who is the ‘citizen’.
While Indians at home are still averse to voting, is the government
being too ambitious in wooing the NRIs to exercise their right to
franchise in India?
chhotemianinshallah
PTI Saturday, January 9, 2010 10:10 IST
Melbourne: A 29-year-old Indian-origin man was set ablaze by a group
of four attackers here today, a week after a student from the country
was stabbed to death amid a slew of assaults on the community in
Australia.
The man, who suffered 15% burns including on his arms, chest and face,
was admitted to 'The Alfred' hospital after he was attacked shortly
before 2 am local time in Melbourne's Essendon area.
The man, who was not identified, and his wife left a dinner party in
Essendon, in the city's northwest, between 1.30 am and 2 am and drove
to their nearby home in Grice Crescent. He dropped his wife at home
and had gone to park his car when he was attacked, local media
reported.
Police said that as he was getting out of the car, four men attacked
him, pushing him back against the vehicle and pouring an unknown fluid
on him. One of the men then ignited the fluid with a lighter before
all the attackers fled. The victim, who is now in a stable condition
in the hospital, ran from the car while peeling off his clothes, 'The
Age' reported.
The attack comes a week after the stabbing death of 21-year-old Indian
graduate Nitin Garg in a Yarraville park while he was on his way to
his part-time job in a restaurant.
The body of another Indian youth, 25-year-old Ranjodh Singh, was found
beside Wilga Road in Willbriggie in the neighbouring state of New
South Wales on December 29. The incident was reported earlier this
week.
A police spokeswoman said investigators do not yet know any motive or
circumstances surrounding today's Essendon attack. "They don't believe
it was racially motivated at this stage," she said.
The ABC reported that the man is of Indian origin but said police do
not know whether he is an Australian citizen.
The incident is being investigated by the arson and explosives squad.
Police appealed for public assistance to locate the victim's clothes,
which he shed as he fled the scene.
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_indian-origin-man-set-on-fire-in-melbourne_1332656
Sid Harth
STAFF WRITER 20:7 HRS IST
New Delhi, Jan 9 (PTI) Contending that Maharashtra powered India's
growth, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today asked NRIs to invest in the
state that is witnessing rapid growth fuelled by a strong and highly
diverse industry base.
Outlining a slew of projects, including the Delhi-Mumbai freight
corridor, he said, "I look forward to overseas Indians joining in this
ambitious endeavour, both as contributors and as users."
Addressing the 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Chavan said the freight
corridor would open up opportunities for NRIs for participation in
industrial and other townships, logistics, transport and social
development.
He said Maharashtra had witnessed nine per cent growth for the past
several years and contributed 13 per cent to the national income.
Maharashtra should be of particular interest to all overseas Indians
as its economy is the most globally connected in India, Chavan said.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/460819_Chavan-invites-NRIs-to-invest-in-Maharashtra
Sid Harth
STAFF WRITER 19:27 HRS IST
New Delhi, Jan 9 (PTI) Government today announced an ex-gratia payment
of Rs 2.5 lakh for the family of Nitin Garg who was killed in an
attack in Australia last week.
The Ministry of External Affairs made the announcement as the body of
the 21-year-old was brought home from Australia.
In a statement, the MEA said the government of India had also borne
all expenses for the repatriation of the body of the deceased to
India, including transportation.
An officer of the Consular, Passport and Visa Division of MEA was at
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport this afternoon and
assisted in the release of Garg's body, it said.
Earlier, Indian Consulate in Melbourne extended all necessary
facilitation for early release of the body of the victim and its
repatriation to India, the statement said.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/460762_Govt-to-give-Rs-2-5-lakh-ex-gratia-for-Nitin-s-family
Sid Harth
Manmohan Impressed By Malaysian Sikhs Success, Says Darshan
NEW DELHI, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was
impressed with the Malaysian Sikh community's social and economic
success, said Malaysia National Sikhs Movement president Tan Sri
Darshan Singh Gill.
He said the premier was happy over the contribution of Sikhs towards
the development of Malaysia.
Earlier, Darshan presented a coffee-table book which he had authored,
and titled 'Sikh Community in Malaysia', to Manmohan at his residence
in Delhi where the former attended the eighth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
conclave.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=467228