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Sam Rao Blog Archives:    (CLICK FOR( JULY 2010 ONWARDS- Current
JAN 2010 - June 2010

June 2009 to Dec 2009 Jan 2009 to june 2009     JAN 2007 to OCT 2008 Dec 2008

JULY 2006- DEC 2007  ! JAN 2006 to JULY 2006)   !    2005      !  2003/2004   

SEE BELOW   BLOG  JAN 2010 To JUNE 2010

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SLIDE SHOWS-  PHOTO BLOGS 

The SIVASHANKARS MEEt PREZ OBAMA- KAVYA- US Spelling Bee Champ 2009 & HER SISTER VANYA!!!-This is my Fabvorite picture. Kavya is extreme Left and Vanya is in front   You Can TELL That we have a Futire Senator or even President of USA on our hands. Democrats pray that she doesnt go to GOP!!

TIMES SQUARE Terroist Pleads Guilty in a Calm & Chilling Testimony!!-  FAISAL SHEHZAD, a Pakistani American who recently became a US Citizen- after years of living a comfortable life in the USA- mostly Connecticutt- was arrested after he planted a Car bomb in TIMES SQUARE recently.  When produced before the Judge on arraignment- FAISAL Calmly recounted and Confessed to his role in a potential Lethal bombing. He shrugged off the Judges'  Q's about innocent Children, women etc who may have got killed or injured!.      What prompts a person to become so deranged, anti social and uncaring? Especially a guy who had lived comfortable in the USA and see around him 100's of cases of immigrants from all walks of life including Muslims!! live harmoniously and in peace.     That Such guys were so incensed about issues 1000's ,iles away- enough to hurt unconnected, innocent men, women and Children with a callous attitude?   All Good People in All Communities Please CONDEMN Such actions. Please Speak up AGAINST such behavior. Please identify and isolate such Anti Social  people aND THISE WHO INCITE THEM   SHAME!

CONGRATS  SAINA NEHWAL- WINS 3rd INTERNATIONAL BADMINTON TITLE Indian Badminton Champ and WORLD No. 3 SAINA NEHWAL of India, Won the 2010 INDONESIAN OPEN  SuPER SERIES badminton Title with a straight-sets win over SAYAKA SATA (Japan) on June 20th. Saina beat Sato 21-19 13-21 21-11 in 45 minutes. to win her 4rd successive title, having won the Indian Open Grand Prix and the Singapore Open Super Series Tournament June 15, 2010. SAINA NEHWAL Has been in Superb form this year and in on course already of breaking into World Badminton Top 5 Women- A Gail She nd her Coach had set earlier. CONGRATS SAINA- JAI HO- The NEw Shinig Star in Asia and India's Sports Heronie!! <>MICHAEL JACKSON DIED A YEAR AGO- Time Flies Fast! What a Great Performer! AND While a great performer he had lots of issues including charges of pedophilia, child abuse etc brought against him- which he settled out of court...  Celebrate his performances and Dont get confused by defending his pecularities. Many times Glamor has a way of glossing over personality ...flaws etc and Dont lose focus   MJ- Great Electrifying performer. (Thats it) CONGRATS  NIKKI NAMRATA HALEY- Candidate GOP GOVERNOR- SOUTH CAROLINA Indian-American Nikki "Namrata' Haley won the Republican nomination for Governor of South Carolina after a runoff election A win in Nov will make Ms Haley the 1st Woman & Asian Indian American Governor of South Carolina. Nikki defeated Bob Inglis (R) 6-term incumbent. Great news that Nikki has nudged the Glass Ceiling & Ol' Boys network Also Niki represents a minority Within the Asian Indian Community- who are Predominatly Democrat Oriented- even if Fiscally Conservative ( no pun intended ;-))      But  Wish Namrata Success & Also Wish that she PROUDLY represent her actual heritage! MARATHON WIMBLEDON Tennis Game FINALLY Ends Isner beats Mahut in the final set 70-68!!!! Just thinking abt it makes you tired! The match started TUESDAY and FINISHED Thursday! Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68     Mahut Couldnt ride out the Elephant final game!!! No dishonor- Both players literally gave their all.    Jai Ho! CONGRATS!

World Cup Football/ Soccer - on ESPNJune 11- South Africa

SHIRDI SAI BABA CENTER & TEMPLE OPENS in MILPITAS Imnaugration- Prana Prathistha June 18th, 19th and 20th  ALL WELCOME

HUMAN EVOLUTION -

 
5500 year old Shoe Found   Archealogists Find 5,500 year old Preserved Shoe in Cave (Armenia) Humans (oids) were inventive and clever- the same design is seen in Europe even much later
BHUTAN Measures GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS Bhutan USes Gross National Happiness as an indicator - rather than GNP or GDP only and they have a Secretary of State for Happiness - How sool is that - The Sec. looks at Health, Education, Vitality etc as indicators
!! http://grossnationalhappiness.com/


Minorites Drive US Population Growth Minorities Drive US populaion Today Census showed (as of July 1 '09) minorities made up more than half the population in 317 counties, four states (Hawaii, New Mexico, California, Texas) and the District of Columbia.eg In Atlanta Suburb Gwinnett County- In 1990 88% of the under-20 population was non-Hispanic white In 20...09, only 41.6% were.
"The whole county just flipped," Johnson says. "It's driven by blacks, Hispanics and Asians."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2010-06-10-census-minorities_N.htm
8 Ex Union Carbide Officials Convicted over Gas Leak
25 years AFTER the Bhopal Gas leak Dec 2-3, 1984 - 6 officials of Union Cabide at that time have been found guilty and sentenced to Jail and Fine
The long road to justice is a moral victory of sorts as many 1000's people are dead, their children affected also dead an...d the fines are about $2000 each.
"Compensation" of any kind to the victims has never really materialized and ensuring that does not seem a priority!
See article http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/world/asia/08bhopal.html?src=me
  (Armenia) Humans (oids) were inventive and clever- the same design is seen in Europe even much later
JOHN WOODEN- Legendary BasketBall Coach Dies at 99   John Wooden UCLA Coach Basketball Legend Dies at 99 yrs old
Wooden coached the dominant UCLA team in 70's w/ players like Kareem Abdul, Bill Walton, Jerry West etc to name a few His assistants also had prolific careers Among his many achievements were back to back NCAAA Championships and domnance in the 70's and 80's. UCLA's records have niot been equalled since and at best couple other College teams came close to upseting them during his tenure.      RIP




June- Highlevel Indian Delegation on US State Department Visit
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Welcomed her Counterpart from India HM Krishna and Various Other Delegates on a Very Upbeat and Cordial Visit/
DETAILS HERE

CONGRATS! AADITH MOORTHY (13) WIns USA National Geography Bee 2010   Indian-American AADITH MOORTHY (13) wins US National Geography Bee 2010
8th Grader Aadith Moorthy of Palm Harbor, Florida won the prestigious Nat'l Geographic Bee and won $25,000 and a trip to the Galagapgos Island(!!!) Oliver Lucier (13) finished 2nd and won $15,000.
QUOTE:" I feel great. Mission accomplished."  Jai Ho! CONGRATS!

 CONGRATS- ANAMIKA VEERAMANI- US SPELLING BEE CHAMP 2010 The Howard Scripps Spelling Bee- The Premier Spelling Bee in the USA Once AGAIN Crowned a bright Indian-American as Champ.  14 year Old ANAMIKA VEERAMANI Beat 273 contestants from across the United States and Canada and emerged the Best Speller for 2010.
  lThis marks the 8th Indina American Champ in the last 12 years of the Contest- now televised on ESPN and ABC Prime Time
  Amamika attends 8th Grade at  Incarnate Word Academy and plays golf, likes to dance Indian Classical Music and Dance! nad has performed in concerts with the violin. She wants to go to Harvard to become a cardiovascular surgeon. Anamika also excels in Swiming and Science andhas placed in many Science Fairs    A large contingent of Indian-Americans were present inthe tournament
QUOTE: Anamika-" Go Cavs!"  and      "It was too surreal," she said. "It was an amazing experience." Last year Anamika tied for fifth in the spelling bee. She is the eighth Indian-American winner in the last 12 years..JAI HO! CONGRATS!!!

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Indian-Origin Woman Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago- KAMLA PERSAD BISSESAR 58-year-old Kamla Persad Bissesar was elected after a coalition led by her won 29 of the 41 seats in parliament on May 26. She heads the United National Congress party. 40% of T&T are of Indian Origin, 40% African orgin
Jai Ho! Congrats

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Jai Ho Bihar The tough IIT-JEE entrance exam was cracked by the Super 30 Coaching School with All 30 scholarship students passing with total 212 students clearing out of 240. The Super 30 (created to help disadvantaged students) includes kids of of landless farmers, typists, a domestic help and a grade IV go...vernment employee. JAI HO! Super 30 Founder Anand Kumar and ALL Students
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Hat-trick-for-Bihars-Super
-30-All-students-make-it-to-IITs/articleshow/5978946.cms

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MAY MONTH is ASIAN-AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH President Obama's Remarks at Reception Celebrating Asian American
In the East Room 3:50 P.M. EDT Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIy4kKP5kaE

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Congrats! Silicon Andhra (Bay Area) Breaks Guinness World Record NOon Stop Singing-Group- 101 Hrs 5 min 1 sec
CONGRATS! Silicon Andhra 'breaks' Guinness World Record in Vijaywada at the 'Akhanda Sahasra Sankeertanarchana'
 NONSTOP singing
of of hundreds of rare Annamayya Kirtanas.  Organizer Anand Kuchibhatla of Bay Area reports ALready surpassed the current Guinness World Record 'The longest marathon singing by multiple singers lasted 101 hours 5 min 1 sec   The  earlier record was an event organised by Nagys.zénás Cultural Centre (Hungary), Nagyszénás, Hungary, on 11-13 July 2008.Congrats! Silicon Andhra is a Bay rea Org with an international presence  JAI Ho!MAY 31 Salute The Martyrs- Memorial Day USA
May 31 Salute the Martyrs Memorial Day USA
Observed generally as the memorial day for soldiers fallen in battle and also signals the start of Summer season

Junoon Band Founder Salman Ahmad Speaks Out Against Violent Islamic Jihad Salman Ajmad of Junoon Band pn Violent Jihad "It is sad to see young Muslims across the planet being brainwashed by
murderous thugs masquerading as holy men. It is cowardly and un-Islamic to kill innocent men, women and children and there are clear fatwas against wanton violence. The people who attempt to kill 
in the name of religion are the enemies of Islam and humanity, they are terrorists, not heroes.Salman Ahmad of Junoon "To defeat brand Taliban and Al Qaeda we need more communication across cultures and promote more interfaith and cross - cultural dialogue. That is the message of Junoon's music, the story of my recent book Rock and Roll Jihad and the work that my wife Dr Samina Ahmad and I do through our nonprofit organization Salman and Samina Global wellness Initiative.
TEENS CLIMB Mt EVEREST
16 yrs ARJUN BAJPAYEE youngest Indian to climb Mt Everest. Apu Sherpa(50 yr) climbs for 20th time Actually ARJUN broke the record as youngest and hours later 13 yrs old
Californian JORDAN ROMERO broke that record. Bajpayee was accompanied by APU
SHERPA (50) who set a world record by climbing Mt Everest for the 20th Time



US Cyclist FLOYD LANDIS Finaly Admits DOPING
American Cyclist FLOYD LANDIS Admits Doping after many Denials. Former  team member of Lance Armstrong, Tour De France etc. Some details of Blood Doping were revealed over the three years of appeals etc and finally Landis faces a lifetime ban from the sport.
Shame!  Landis did a complete Circus with Vehement Denials and asked for his 2nd sample to be tested and got support from many cyclist teammates and others, in fact casting doubt about foreign labs while claiming US labs were better and unbiased!
 Later Landis denied the charges in a Book he wrote- complaining about the Double Standards of the World Doping Agency and THEN He sued the Anti Doping agency in Court and even gave Affadavit under oath denyiong the Doping.   This former team mate of LANCE ARMSTRONG Now Admits to Doping with Growth Hormone, Blood Doping (exchange of blood in large quantities) and noW ACCUSES Lance Armstrong and Others of Doping. as well. SHAME and WHAT A PIECE oF S&&T.
  Most people believe Doping is rampant in Sports esp very competitive ones- where a small advantage is needed to win- but LANDIS has sunk to a really low level after battling all the Agencies and Officials and then admiting and then Squealing on other athletes.
   
Remember PACMAN- One of the earliest Video Games? Its the 30th Anniversary of Pacman! Google page has a salute here! May 21st was the 30th Anniversary


May 20 Happy Eliza Doolittle Day - The Cockney flower seller in My Fair Lady made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the movie and Julie Andrews on Stage - Couple of my favorite actresses growing up




Facebook Blocked in Pakistan followed by YouTube and Twitter Facebook Blocked in Pakistan- I kinda support it (see story)
Facebook was asked to take down some inflammatory pages which had caricatures of Prophet Muhammed. so Pakistan courts decided to (temporarily) block FB- Good idea. Inflamatory and misguided anti  social attempts only feed crime and violence.If you are opposed ...to MF Hussain's depiction of Hindu Godesses in the nude and other acts of Blasphemy against your belief system - then You shpuld oppose this too. ( Freedom of expression is important but greater good does play a role in civil society)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iqKZNUdJFQ6c8ctdkUW
0C-vktIEA
Having said all of the above- now its a different stiry as Pakistan has compounded the problem with Bans on Youtube and twotter- CENSORSHIP is where its goinmg and Thats Against Freedom. 
Pakistani-American Ready To Weed Out Potential Terrorists Amongst Them
CNN Video How some Pakistani-Americans are vigilat and help identify  people who may become radicalized and violent. Hopefully more right minded people join in and together and root out  anti social elements
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/05/16/candiotti.terrorism.search.cnn
Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom Deobandi Issues FATWA Against Birthdays, Women!Work
 IIslamic seminary Darul Uloom Deboand India has issued a Fatwa/  religious ruling that Islam does not permit celebrating BIRTHDAYS
- Earlier against working in banks and opting for an insurance policy
- Against a woman to work and for a family to accept a woman's
earnings........ MODERATE ISLAMISTS Pls speak up! ...I know and am sure there are
lot of Muslims willing to work with all sections of society and NOT  follow such Fatwas ( directly or between the lines etc)
http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/may/17/after-banks-and-insurance-de
oband-targets-birthday-celebrations.htm

  India Wins Aslan Field Hockey Cup 2010 Ipoh, Malaysia India and S. Korea declared Joint winners as match abandoned due to rain This is the 5th time India has won the trophy and first yime the tournament has joint winners Australia beat Malaysia 5-3 to finish 3rd and 4th resp Pakistan finished 5th and China 6th
Great Job!- India had Top Competition and did Well! Jai Ho! Yay Field Hockey

Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad of Connecticutt Confesses planting he car bomb in NY Times Square The Pakistani raised spent his first year as a naturalized US Citizen  being lockedup for a terrorist act- which even Pakistani government officials claimed was inspired by Jihadi outfits on their soil.
  It is sad that someone like Faisal, a young man- who had seen the good amicable life in the USA, with ALL races and Immigrants of all countries living in harmony- still harked back to hatred and bad feelings in his heart and chose a path to main, injure and kill innocent Men, Women and Children with a potentially deadly car bomb.
   Reportely the son of  a Pakistani Air Force Vice Marshall- the Pakistan Armed force once again gets the dubious honor of someone within its ranks being involved in nefarious and anti social acts. 
     While condemnation from rational people of all faiths has been swift- it remains to be seen WHAT steps are teken t counter such activities both before they happen AND Before they germinate!

Arizona Enacts Racist Law Against All Immigrants esp of Color MThe state of Arizona passed a bill into law whoch allows law enforcement officials to inquire Immigration Status of Any one they deem fit.
  This is blatant Racial profiling- apart from being Immoral and Unethical.
  At the current time when the country and he world is facing severe economic downturn- Arizina politicians have in their "wisdom: chosen to pick on an At Risk and Severley disadvantaged group f people- who are Voiceless.
  The same State wich refuse to celebrate the Great American Civil Rights leader  Martin Luther King Jr recently has once again showed their "pioneer mentality"/
  The shame of the situation is that 'educated leader" politicos have joined hands with blatant racist elements to enact the law.
  With Pres Obama, The White House and many Arizonians OPPOSED t the law- this will be overturned and I hope the residents of Arizona remember who the supporters of thsi racist law were and vote them out!
Pakistani Terrorist to be Hanged Ajmal Kasab Captured Alive after Mumbai Terror Attack Convicted
Ajmail Kasb, a aPakistani National, trained by the Pakistani Army and ISI in Commando tactixs and terrorist warfare was convicted after nearly one year of due process in Indian Court
 Kasab was sentenced to die by hanging on 4 counts by Judge Tahiliayani
 Two others accursed were acquitted in this case- underlining the due proecess and checks and balances accorded by the Indian Justice System
    This marks a searing indiction of Pakistan's complicity and use of illiterate and brain washed youth who are constatntl;y fed propoaganda and drugs and indoctrinated to carry out a proxy war of very sinister and anti social actions.
    The saga of the lone terrorist who was captured by the brave constables of Mumbai Police department and the carnage of the terrorist acs have been well documented.
  The due proecess received by Ajmal Kasab and two others who were acquitted in this particular case is a sign of a responsible democracy and justice system at work in India
    The culmination of the case was also preceeded a month by the confessions of American Terrorist DAVIND (Daood Gilani) Headley in Illionois- who working with US authorities- ple bargained his case and revealed many damning aspects of the Paksitani Army and ISI trained Terror capmps and involement of several Pakistan sponosred terrorist elements.
     With nearly 40% of the dead at VT/ CST Railway station being Indian Muslims, the Terror Attack underscored the  agenda of Paksiatn and Terror Outfits and may have brought Indians of all religions and faith togeher.

Friday Apr 30th- Meet Mani Shankar Aiyer- MP Rajya Sabha, Former Union Minister- Sunnyvale Temple Auditorium- Friday(April 30th) 6:30-8:30PM Free Program Dinner All Community Welcome tulasict@yahoo.com TULASI http://www.indian-american.org/ManisShankarAiyar.pdf

India Commissions 1st Indegenious Built STEALTH SHIP- INS Shivalik India Inducted 'INS Shivalik' in the presence of top brass, including Defense Minister AK Antony.    The 143-metre-long warship, with 6,000-ton displacement, has "versatile control systems with signature management and radar cross-section reduction features.. Other countries  with same capability to build stealth warships are the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, Japan and Italy.    The cost is estimated to be Rs 2,300 crore per ship.with sophisticated add ons as warranted. eg  weapon systems and sensors, including Barak surface-to-air missiles, 'Shtil' air defence system, rapid fire guns and basic anti-submarine warfare weapons.   Two more of the Shivalik class warships will be ready shortly- INS Sahyadri ( Nov 2010) and INS Satpura (2011) QUOTE: "INS Shivalik has the latest stealth features to outsmart the enemy with low radar cross section, be it (even if) of the hull, infra-red or sound signatures Director General for Naval Design Rear Admiral K N Vaidhyanathan. Apr 25 TEmple for GODDESS ENGLISH in UP  Plan is to encourage Dalits to learn/embrace English language- DEKH TERE DUNIYA ME KYA Ho GAYA BHAGWAN- ITNA BADAL GAYA INSAAN! Apr 25 ALIEN LIFE MAY EXIST- Says Astrophysicst STEPHEN HAWKING in Space.Com interview Alien Life May exist- Astrophysicist  and scientist  Stephen Hawking speaks of rudimentary life forms (at least) in space http://www.space.com/news/080421-hawking-aliens-space.html Apr 15 SUNIL CHETTRI DEBUTS FOR US Mjaor League SOCCER@ Kansas City Royals team   SUNIL CHETTRI- One of the Best footballers from India, debuted for the US MLS Sccer for the Kansas City team In a historic game- where Chettri's performance was OK- his team lost 2-1 to Colorada Rapis, he played one session and  received a Yellow Card warning but was historic as it is the FIRST Indian Player in a major US professional Scocer league   Delhi raised Chettri is an Indian of Nepali ancestry and  represented India and several top teams in Indian Leagues as well   He was  India Football/Soccer Player of the Year 2007, and joins the likes of BAICHUNG BHUTIA who plays in the English soccer League CONGRATS CHETTRI- JAI Ho

Indian Embassy worker MADHURI GUPTA Arrested for Spying FOR Pakistan Ms Madhuri Gupta (53)- was arrested by India's Intlligence Bureau for passing classified info to Pakistan.  Apparently Ms Gupta- amUrdu language analyst stationed in Pakistan recently had been passing on intel to her Pakistani handlers. for at least 8 ,omths-since when the IB had run a counter intelligence campaign against her. Earlier she was in Bagdadh, Iraq and Kuala Lampur, Malysia.   As her story unravels, this bust came just before the SAARC meet in thimpu bhutan- perhaps signaling that India was not ready for a full court press of reconciliation with Pakistan any time soon- at least until the resolution of the MUMBAI TERROR ATTACK 2008 with Pakistan directly complicit and the Richard Headley case in USA.- where Headley has already plead guilty and named Pakistan Officers and ISI as being responsible for the Terroristic attacks.     GUPTA may have been coerced via a 'honey trap' ie being romanced bya Pakistani spy ( known as RANA) and the single woman may have come underhis influence directly or via blackmail. Media reports have speculcated that the Urdu language expert may have even converted to Islam- though GREED, MONEY and DISGRUNTLED  WORKER May be the reasons for the spying.   Unfortunately in such instances, a tit for tat will be seen soon- with Pakistan sacrificing some low level employee and naming them as spy for India ( This has been the Modus Operandi fora while now) Apr 17 DIPIKA PALLIKAL WINS WORLD WOMEN'S SQUASH TITLE   DIPIKA PALLIKAL a 18 year old Chennai Lass has won the 2010 Womens International Squash Players Assoc Title   Her first International title and in time for the CommonWealth Games in June bodes well for India. The 4th seed Dipika Pallikal beat Emma Beddoes of Britain 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6 and won the  Women's International Squash Player's Association (WISPA) title  Saturday April 17.   With her good looks and great game- we predict that Dipika will be poster girl for Brand India and several commercial offerings soon! QUOTE :"Feels great! I had won a lot of junior titles but this one is special. I am just 18, have a long way to go but this win will certainly boost my rankings and confidence. CONGRATS DIPIKA JAI Ho! EARTH DAY April 22  HAPPY EARTH DAY  This is the 40th Anniversary of EARTH DAY (est 1970)  Lets Make Every Day an Earth Day ITS IN OUR HANDS- WHAT WE hAVE HERE & WHAT WE CAN LEAVE BEHIND Apr 14 Dr AMBEDKAR Birth Anniversary Apr 14 Dr B Ambedkar Birth Anniversary- Also known as the “Father of Indian Constitution”,he was an activist for the Dalits. He had several doctorates in law, economics and political science and was 1st Law Minister of India and received the Bharat Ratna in 1990, India's highest civilian award

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Apr 14 Dr AMBEDKAR Birth Anniversary Apr 14 Dr B Ambedkar Birth Anniversary- Also known as the “Father of Indian Constitution”,he was an activist for the Dalits. He had several doctorates in law, economics and political science and was 1st Law Minister of India and received the Bharat Ratna in 1990, India's highest civilian award

RANA DASGUPTA Wins Commenwealth Writers Prize 2010 Indo-Brit novelist Rana Dasgupta,has won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for the Best Book. His novel Solo -- a story on a century of communist and post-communist regimes in Bulgaria     Australian author Glenda Guest won the Best First Book prize for Siddon Rock. Dasgupta's book is about Ulrich, a blind, reclusive 100-year-old man from Bulgaria narrates an armchair journey through a century of violent politics, forbidden music, lost love and failed chemistry. The prize is by the Commonwealth Foundation and the Macquarie Group Foundation The prize aims to reward the best of Commonwealth fiction written in English  The winner of the Best Book Prize is invited to London for an audience with Queen Elizabeth

PANDIT RAVISHANKAR TURNS 90 yrs old April 7 Pandit Ravi Shankar sitarist turns 90 years old. A living legend and an icon in World Music. Be proud of him and his legacy and Indian culture and heritage Pandit ji is a living treasyre in both India and US and declared such.  A Bharat ratna in India and also Three Grammy Awards and numerous accolades in his career.    His two daughters Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones are each following in his footsteps by carrying on his brilliant legacy in Music April- FAUJA SINGH To RUN MARATHON at Age 90 India born/raised Fauja Singh 99 years old will run Luxembourg Marathon- attempt World record. Ha run Dozen marathons since he started in 1981 I met him in Union City couple years ago. Ladies mobbed him ( young and old- esp Married ones :-0) Jai Ho

HAPPY BAISAKHI Celebrated All over India Solar Harvest Festival Baisakhi = Celebrated All over India &  Indian housholds as New Year =Baisakhi (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, HP etc) Bihu (Assam) Naba Barsha(Bengal, Tripura, NE States and nepal) Puthandu (Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka) Vishu (Kerala) and New Year to Hindu households all over the world! Jai Ho!  Kabaddi!Kabaddi! Good News Just in Time for Baisakhi !!  India beats Pakistann to Retain World cup in Kabaddi 58-24 India thrashed Pakistan in the final to win the 2010 Kabaddi World Cup crown at Guru Nanak stadium in Ludhiana  and India had an Unbeated record in the tournament    India and Pakistan, Britain, USA, Iran, Italy, Canada and Australia took part in the 2010 Kabaddi World Cup.   The semi finals were India beat Canada 57-36   and Pakistan beat Italy 57-33   The prize money is Rs 1 crore for Team Indiaand  Pakistan  Rs 50 lakh.    Rivalry on the sports field is encouraged not elsewhere http://www.zeenews.com/news618611.html JAI HO! April7Chinese Cyber Spy ring penetrates Indian Defense establishments and many other "secure" documents- Trapped by US/Canada Counter Spy department http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/science/06cyber.html?pagewanted=print TINTIN  COMICS NOW IN HINDI  Black island= Kala Dweep Jai Hind, says Tintin For the first time, the entire collection of Tintin comics will be available in Hindi. Wonder how Captain Haddock will swear in Hindi!!  :-) I can teach him JaI Ho! JAI HO!

Sachin Tendulkar is God- One more historic Game Cricket Sachin Tendulkr scored yet another record in Cricket by scoring 200 n,o in a 50 over linited over game against the top bowling team of South Africa. The event was in Gwalior and sachin lasted all through the innings. He played 147 balls, 25 x4, 2 x6 and 82 singles in his knock.  Tendulkar who has the highest scored runs in Cricket hostory and also max centuries etc is still a humble person and well liked by all players Quote: ' Mumbai is for ALL Indians and Others Welcome Your Holiness Dalai Lama ji- Despite immense pressure form the Chinese Givernment President Barrack Obama welcomed His holiness The Dalai Lama to the US and The White House Congrats President Obama for standing up for USA principles ( inspite of the huge Trade Deficit with China)

HOCKEY WORLD CUP 2010- Delhi Chak de India! Come On Team India Hockey- We all have been waiting a while! Start with a bang on Sunday and Keep on going! Feb 28- Mar 13- New Delhi Hero Honda World Cup Hockey 2010 Here comes Top Notch Hockey! SCHEDULE World Cup Hockey 2010 @ New Delhi Feb 28- Mar 13, 2010 http://www.merinews.com/hockey/worldcup/schedule.jsp Pakistan cricket hit by Another Match Fixing Allegation On Feb 26,2010 PCB Chairman Ijas Butt reveled in an official press conference in Pakistan. that the Intenational cricket Control (ICC) has handed evidence and proof of Match fixing by two current Pakistani players.  Allegations are against Kamran Akmal and Naved Ul Hassan according to press reports. This followd the recent suspension of Captain shahid Afridi for tampering with the official ball and last weeks sacking of a PCB Board member for match fixing and previous bans and fines on players for the same offence.The Int'l News- )Pakistan News)  Link  http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=99569

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The 2010 Winter Olympics Start Friday Feb 12, 2010- Vancouver This is the first indoor Opening Ceremonies in the event's 86-year history, More than 2,500 athletes and 10,000 journalists have gathered in Vancouver BC in Canada, and a television audience of three billion is expected to tune in over the course of the 15-day competition at Vancouver British columbia in Canada    The WINTER OLYMPICS will see a parade of a wide variety of Athletes from all over the world  and along with traditional powerhouses at the Winter Sports ie from EU  and USA (216 Athletes!!) and even hosts Canada-in a  wide variety of sports, the noteworthy are the athemetes from countries not viewed as typical Winter Olympics countries. (especially as countries like Jamaicas and most Arabian and African countries etc are not known for being snow bound At all!  A Few countries do have a diverse climate in theor country like India, nepal and Pakistan- famous for Himalayas  but are not traditionally thought of as regular participants in Winter olympics  In this Winer Olympics 2010, INDIA has 3 Athletes, Pakistan has 1 and Nepal 2 athletes (see below)  More noteworthy is the Islamic Republic of IRAN - which along with half a dozen athletes is also fielding a lone Woman athlete ( with head scarf!)     MAY THE GAMES BEGIN Friday Feb 12 and ALL NATIONS HAVE  A GOOD GAME    GO USA  216 ATHLETES  and GO OTHERS LIKE BELOW with JUST A COUPLE ATHLETES too!   Go OLYMOICS SPIRIT! Other Athletes from the Indian subcontinent Marjan KALHOR AlpineSki IRAN Abbas Muhammed Alpine Skiing Pakistan Sherpa  Dacchiri Cross Country skiing NEPAL Shyam Kumar Shakkal Alpine Skiing NEPAL

SHIVA KESHAVAN Luge      INDIA NAMGIA lJAMYANG Alpine Skiing INDIA TASHI LUNDUP CrossCountrySki INDIA

S. KOREAN 1st Lady Traces Ancestry to Ayodhya South Korea 1st Lady Kim Traces her Ancestry to Ayodhya- via Genetics and Family history Korea's first lady Kim Yoon-ok is a descendant of one of India's royal families dating back two thousand years, according to the presidential office of South Korea    Archeologists discovered a stone with two fish kissing each other in Korea, which is a unique cultural heritage linked to a royal family in Ayodhya. Ms Kim is a descendant of Heo Hwang-ok, a princess who travelled from an ancient kingdom in Ayodhya, India, to Korea.    Heo arrived on a boat and married King Suro of Korea's Gaya Kingdom in A.D. 48, according to Samguk Yusa, an 11th-century collection of legends and stories. An analysis of DNA samples taken from the site of two royal Gaya tombs in 2004 in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, confirms that there is a genetic link between the Korean ethnic group and certain ethnic groups in India. ther's name. The Heo clans trace their origins to them, and regard Heo as the founder of their lines Mrs Boa Sra Last Known Speaker of Bo language of Andaman Islands Dies The Last known speaker of ancient Indian Andamanese language of Boa. A member of the elusive Bo tribe of Great Andaman Islands- who have lived in same place for 65,000 years are one of the ancient people of India,  She was an Indian Icon RIP

NASA publishes possible evidence of Water and "Life" on Saturn's moon NASA publishes possible evidence of life sustaining water on Saturns moon This is scientific exploration By Cassini spaceraft and analysis  Using a plasma spectrometer, new evidence that liquid water lies beneath the surface on the Saturn moonof Enceladus has been discovered by Nasa scientists, suggesting that life may exist Cassini scientist Andrew Coates said the evidence gathered by Cassini pointed to other constituents for life, such as carbon, plus a source of heat to keep the water liquid.  "While it's no surprise that there is water there, these short-lived ions are extra evidence for subsurface water," said Dr Coates, from University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory.  The evidence gathered by Cassini pointed to other constituents for life, such as carbon, plus a source of heat to keep the water liquid.  And where there's water, carbon and energy, some of the major ingredients for life are present. ," said Dr Coates, from University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory. Indian/Pakistani Double Tennis Win ATP tennis  Rohan Bopanna (India) and Aisam Quereshi<> India-Pak Doubles pair win ATP tennis Championship in South Africa In Johannesburg, the doubles pair of ROHAN BOPANNA (ind) & AISAM QUERESHI (Pakistan) won the Championship-2-6, 6-3, 10-5 This is another instance of keeping politics OUT of sports and encouraging people-People exchange Indian American JHUMPA LAHIRI named to US Co­m­mittee on Arts and Humanities, along with five other distinguished persons by President Obama Feb 2010 Her debut collection of stories, Interpreter of Maladies, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000, while her novel, The Namesake, was turned into a film by director Mira Nair. Her latest story collection, Unaccustomed Earth, has won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and the Vallombrosa-Gregor von Rezzori Prize. Also named along with Lahiri are painter-photographer Chuck Close and ent­ert­ainment executives and arts patrons Fred Gold­r­ing, Sheila Johnson, Pam­ela Joyner and Ken Solomon.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL New Secretary General is Sunil Shetty 1st Indian to head A I Shetty, an Indian national, has been the Director of the UN's Millennium Campaign for the past six years and the Chief Executive of international anti-poverty NGO ActionAid before then. "We are thrilled that Salil will be joining us and leading Amnesty International as we renew our fight to end injustice – campaigning with those imprisoned because of their ideas, those on death row, those being tortured, and those who have their rights denied because they live in poverty," said Peter Pack, the chair of Amnesty's International Executive Committee [the organization's governing body].   "As we approach our 50th anniversary, we have ambitious plans to expand our work, especially in the global south, and Salil has a solid track record in mobilising people, civil society, governments and international organizations in the fight for people’s rights and dignity. He’s absolutely the right person to take Amnesty International into the next stage of our work," added Peter Pack.     "I feel privileged to be given this amazing opportunity at a time when the world needs human rights for all more than ever before," said Salil Shetty.    Salil Shetty will start in June 2010. He succeeds Irene Khan who steps down after eight years as Amnesty International’s Secretary General on 31st December 2009.

UN Indian Peacekeeping Forces in Haiti There are presently 140 Indian paramilitary personnel who are heavily armed, eleven unarmed police officers and one military staff  in Haiti.    With experience dealing with disasters esp Earthquakes and Hurricanes etc, The Indian peacekeeping contingent in Haiti via the United Nations is drawing praise for their efforts and contributions. Haiti government also welcomed the Indian troops and sauted the efforts of india in rushing aid and material to the devastated country Paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force personnel have been guarding banks and other vital centres in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, to prevent looting besides providing security to Indians in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. The Indian contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) who were present even before the earthquake, did not suffer causalities after the 7.0 quake that hit the Caribbean nation on January 12, according to the United Nations. tioned in Port-au-Prince.     Seen here    The Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti Leander Paes/ Cara Black Win Australian Open 2010 Mixed Doubles Melbourne:  Top seeds India's Leander Paes and Zimbabwe's Cara Black won the 2010 Australian Open mixed doubles championship  beating 10th seeds Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and Jaroslav Levinsky of Czechoslovakia 7-5, 6-3 in just about 1,5 hours.     The triumph gave India's L Paes his 11th overall and fifth mixed doubles title. With this, Paes has equalled one-time doubles’ partner Mahesh Bhupathi’s tally.

AR RAHMAN Wins TWO GRAMMYS 2010 ~ Jai Ho!   Following in a remarkable run in 2009, Indian Music Director, composer AR RAHMAN  added two Grammys to his tally by winning twice for his compositions at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY AWARDS at Los Angeles. So far RAHMAn for his compositions in the 'Slumdog Millionaire' movie, has won two Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award and the Golden Globe      Complete List Grammy Winners 2010 RAHMAN won for 1)Best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture category and 2) Song "Jai Ho" - Best motion picture song category JAI HO!! An estatic Rahman said, " Insane, eh? I never even dreamt about winning all these awards," "I once again want to thank the Almighty, my spiritual Sufi teachers - Ameen Peerullah Malik Sahib, Danny Boyle, Fox, the whole 'Slumdog...' creative team, all the awesome actors in the movie and Resul Pookutty. My whole team, Gulzarji, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Vijay Prakash, my friend and sound engineer the late H. Sridhar.... "My agents Sam Schwartz and Amos Newman, my mentors Mani Ratnam, Shekhar Kapur and Subhash Ghai, and mentor in the west, Andrew Lloyd Webber, folks at id-PR, Allison and Courtney... extraordinary musicians from Chennai and Mumbai, my mother, my father, my sisters and my lovely wife and children... And all my well wishers from the world who keep me going... Jai ho India!".   COMPLETE LIST GRAMMY WINNERS 2010

PAKISTAN CRICKET CAPTAIN BITES BALLS- Pak vs Australia 2010  Cheater Caught Redhanded! In an over the top incident on the field in Australia, during an official cricket match, Pakistan Captain SHAHID AFRIDI was seen biting the seams of the cricket ball- to gain unfair advantage while bowling,    The idiotic and unsportsmanlike conduct was captured on camera by the 26 movie and telecast cameras around  the stadium, even though Afridi tried to shield the act with another Pakistani bowler Rana Naved in front of him! (Duh! as if that would shield him from the eyes in the sky!)      This disgusting cheating act further de moralizes the Pakistani Cricket which has been embroiled in a series of internal problems including poor performances. Pakistn had alrady lost the cricket test series 4-0 and were on the verge of losing the International One Day version series 5-0 - when this latest incident occured,  Pakistani Captain Afridi has previously been caught and fined for deliberately using his boots and spike to dig up the cricket pitch- which can be used to extract spin and unexpected bounce - in a test match games VS England five years ago.      This latest shameful act was condemned by many cricket fans world wide including Pakistanis but a larger questions looms is HOW and WHY Do Pakistani Think they can get away with lies and decietful behaviour.all the time!    In a series of recent incidents, the Pakistani cricket players and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been at loggerheads, Changes in Captaincy has been done after several fights, last year the visiting Sri Lanka Cricket team was attacked by Terrorists in Pakistan, while the Pakistani Cricket Team bus was missed- as they were 'delayed' by 5 minutes, A star bowler was banned fro drug use and another was suspended for a fight in the dressing room  and earlier allegations of match fixing and throwing games against the team were levelled officially.The current team was formed after the PCB had its own fights and selectors and the Board had nasty public and media fight, leading ti resignations of Coach, Board members etc.          In all this individual Pakistani platersdo remain talented but all this has left a sour taste in every fans mouth.  It should be noted that similar allegations have been posed against the Government of Pakistan eg with AQ KHAN the nuclear scientist who sold nuclear bomb secrets to the highest bidder and the antics of ex President Gen. Musharraff who nurtured the terrorists Taliban and siphoned millions of Dollars from USA and allied nations etc    We wish and hope that appropriate penalties are imposed by the International body and not a slap on the wrist by the PCB and good sportsman ship and good cricket comes out of this latest fiasco and maybe after some more sould searching good Pakistani citizens will surface and assert themselves!    SHAME HO  SHAME KARO!

JANUARY 26, 2010 HOUSTON NAMES A DISTRICT AS  MAHATMA GANDHI DISTRICT

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  TOP INDIA CIVILIAN AWARDS 2010
 PRESTIGIOUS PADMA AWARDS 2010 ANNOUNCED 
The Annual PADMA Awards- The Padma vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shree/ Shri were announced by the Government of India
See Complete List here

AAMIR KHAN KUZHUR NARAYANAN	PRATAP C REDDY MALLIKA SARABHAI	ILLAYARAJA NOOKALA C	AR RAHMAN SULTAN KHAN	V. SEHWAG UK SIVARAMAN

President Obama on India's Republic Day Jan 26, 2010- Official statement    I send my warmest wishes on behalf of the American people to the people of India and to those here in America and around the world who are celebrating Republic Day. As the world’s largest democracies, the United States and India have a strong shared... belief in the values of liberty, pluralism, and religious tolerance.     This Republic Day is particularly special because it marks India’s Diamond Jubilee. In the sixty years since the Indian Constitution was adopted, we have built a strong and vibrant partnership. I was pleased that Prime Minister Singh was the honored guest for the first state dinner of my Presidency. It was a chance to celebrate the great and growing partnership between our two Nations, and the friendship between our peoples. Indeed, the more than two million Indian Americans in the United States enrich every corner of our great nation – leading in government, science, industry and the arts. And as our peoples continue to build upon that friendship, let our governments continue to work together to advance peace, prosperity, and stability around the globe.

More Details soon.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR- BLOG ARCHIVES

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