British-Indian singer seeks desi dance team to feature in new song

British Indian singer and songwriter Jay Sean has launched a contest for desi dance teams to create their own, original choreography to a brand-new song from his recently released album, "All or Nothing." Sean debuted in the Asian underground scene as a member of the Rishi Rich Project with "Dance with You," which reached No. 12 on the U.K. Singles Chart in 2003.

After a gap of nearly four years, he returned in 2008 with "Ride It," which reached No. 11 in the U.K. charts. In 2009, his American debut single "Down" topped the Billboard Hot 100, making him the first solo artist of Asian origin and first U.K. urban act to top the Hot 100.

It is his most successful single to date, having sold 3 million copies in the United States.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Autumn arrivals: Ministers, diplomats, officials

September is one of those travel junket months for lawmakers in many countries including the United States and India. It also coincides with `serious' events like the start of the annual United Nations General Assembly meetings and the World Bank/International Monetary Fund roundups.

This year there is also the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate that President Obama formed in March, which will see representatives from 17 countries including India, converge here. Not to mention the Group of 20 meetings in Pennsylvania scheduled for Sept. 245-25. Not least of all, these visits build up the momentum for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's November state visit to this country.

These are apart from the already stepped up high level interchanges that have become a feature of U.S.-India bilateral relations.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Clinton appoints Pandith United States representative to Muslims

Farah Pandith, originally from Srinagar, has been doing outreach work with Muslims in Europe and Eurasia at the State Department for several years now.

That role significantly expand- ed June 26, when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appointed her the U.S. representative to Muslim communities globally.

This newly created position announced June 26, requires Pandith to step up her efforts "to engage with Muslims around the world on a people-to-people and organizational level," a press statement said.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com/

Bobby Kumar elected Chairman of the Reform Party United States of America

Bobby Kumar, a political activist in Nassau County, has been elected Chairman of the Reform Party USA, the first Indian American ever to be elected to head a political party at the national level. He planned to travel around the country to meet state party activists starting March 5, he told Desi Talk.

The Reform Party was established in 1996, after maverick businessman Ross Perot ran for President and lost in 1992. It covers 27 states in the country. All 27 voted for Kumar in the Feb.17 elections, Frank McKay, outgoing Chair of the Reform Party told Desi Talk. The party is affiliated with the Independence Party of United States which covers 12 states. None of the states overlap. Together the two parties cover 39 states.

He is my brother from another mother," McKay said referring to Kumar. "We are very proud of him. He is up for the job and he is going to do an incredible job because he has talent and is wonderful with people.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Zee Television launches ‘Dance India Dance'

Encouraged by the success of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa,' which has produced some of India's most talented singers, Zee TV and UTV launched a new reality dance show, ‘Dance India Dance,' on January 30.

The show, hosted by Tarana Raja and Jay Bhanushali, revolves around finding the most talented young dancer, Zee TV USA said in a press release.

After eight worldwide auditions, including submissions from South Asians in the United States, the field has been narrowed to 24 finalists, from 15 to 25 years old.

Over the course of the show, each of the 24 aspirants is trained by top Bollywood choreographers, such as Terence Lewis, Geeta Kapoor and Remo.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Preet Bharara among Obama's choices for U.S. Attorney

Preet Bharara, 40, Chief Counsel to Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is on President Barack Obama's shortlist for U.S. Attorney in Manhattan.

According to the New York Times of January 29, Bharara as well as famed defense lawyer Mark Pomerantz, and Lev Dassin, Acting U.S.Attorney for Manhattan, are in the running for what is considered one of the most prestigious federal prosecutor positions.

Being appointed the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan is a stepping stone to higher things.

Bharara is already a Washington icon of sorts for his reputation of being a fair and even handed investigator born of years as Assistant U.S. Attorney from the Southern District of New York from 2000 to 2005.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Teaching Hindi as a foreign language

In order to maintain the heritage languages from India many associations and organizations are doing various purposeful activities. However, teaching a heritage language as a foreign language in public schools offers an opportunity to revive and maintain that language. This has two fold benefits; one is for those who immigrated to the United States at a very young age and could not maintain their language as schools have no programs in their native language.

Secondly this opens the door for those children whose parents want their children to learn their native language. In continuation to the success of writing Hindi and Punjabi Regents Exams in New York City High Schools there is one high school in New York City that took an initiative to teach Hindi as a Foreign Language. That school is John Adams High School in Queens. After finding the availability of Hindi and Panjabi language regents examination the assistant principal, George Badia contacted Sushma Malhotra, assistant principal and supervisor of the Languages Other Than English (LOTE/Foreign languages) Hindi and Punjabi Regents. He expressed his interest of starting Hindi classes in his school.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

STAR, DIRECTV sign multi-year deal extension

DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite TV service provider and STAR, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation and Asia's leading media and entertainment company, on September 24 announced the signing of a multi-year deal for continuing carriage of STAR India PLUS, STAR I ONE, STAR India NEWS and VIJAY in the U.S.

DIRECTV became STAR's first distribution partner in the U.S. when the four STAR channels made their American debuts in November, 2004.

"Since their launch in 2004, STAR's leading Indian channels have become household names among DIRECTV's South Asian subscribers," David Wisnia, STAR's Senior Vice President for Distribution and Sales and head of STAR's North American and European offices, was quoted in a press release.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Skydivers set for new heights over Everest

Dozens of skydivers were to attempt the first parachute jumps over Mount Everest, organizers said on September 23.

At least 34 skydivers from 14 countries, including Britain, the United States, Canada, Denmark and New Zealand were planning to jump from an aircraft flying 465 feet above the Everest summit on October 2.

Hurtling past the 8,850-meter peak, the skydivers plan, weather permitting, to freefall for one minute before deploying their parachutes and cruising for 8-10 minutes to land in a flat drop zone at 12,350 feet.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Fedayeen Islam claims responsibility for Pakistan bombing

A group calling itself Fedayeen Islam (Partisans of Islam) claimed responsibility for the suicide bomb attack that killed 53 people at the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital September 20. It made the claim in a call to an Islamabad based correspondent for al Arabiya, an Arab news channel.

"It's either new or it might be a distraction," said a senior intelligence officer. "What we do know is that there was a lot of celebration among the lower ranks of al Qaeda."

The group issued several demands, including that Pakistan ends cooperation with the United States, Arabiya said.

Teams combing the burnt shell of the hotel found more charred bodies after the blast on Sept. 20 evening ignited a blaze that swept through the hotel, part of a U.S.-based chain and a favorite haunt of diplomats and wealthy Pakistanis.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

7th anniversary of 9/11: Pentagon memorial's opening brings closure for many

Surely no one who had seen the Pentagon burning seven years ago could have envisioned the scene that unfolded there on September 11.

When the dedication ceremony for the Pentagon Memorial ended about 10:30 a.m. and the dignitaries had left in their motorcades, the families of Sept. 11 victims began filing into the park, searching for the steel and granite memorial benches with the names of their loved ones. They carried flowers, balloons and photographs, and soon, a festive, almost celebratory mood began to take hold among a group long accustomed to spending the day in sadness.

It was the children who set the tone, really, treating the austere objects like playground equipment rather than representations of the dead. They ran among the rows of benches, playing with the water in the pools below and sliding down their smooth, arcing outlines, a stone's throw from the spot where American Airlines Flight 77 tore into the western side of the Pentagon seven years ago, killing 184.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Tennis Leander Paes and Cara Black win U.S. Open mixed doubles title

Leander Paes and Zimbabwe's Cara Black won the mixed doubles title at the U.S. Open on September 4, beating Briton Jamie Murray and American Liezel Huber 7-6 6-4.

The fifth seeds saved two set points in the first-set tie break before breaking once in the second to clinch their first grand slam title together.

Black hit a crucial volley to save the first set point and Murray, who won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2007 with Jelena Jankovic, netted a volley on the second.

Murray was the only man to lose his serve, in the fifth game of the second, and Paes served out for his eighth grand-slam title, while Black has now won seven, including three mixed.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Undocument families of 9/11 to get legal status

Seven years after September 11, Debra Brown Steinberg, the lawyer for spouses and children of 16 undocumented workers who died that fateful day, feels she is moving toward getting them legal status from Congress. The short list of families may contain Indian or South Asian family members.

"I can't give you any information like that (names) until they finish going through the process and then they will be lawfully 'present'. Hopefully, before September 11," Steinberg told Desi Talk.

Only the U.S. Congress can pass a bill giving the illegal immigrants legal status.

"I have been trying to get a bill passed but the U.S. Congress demanded that unless I identify the families to them, they will not. I couldn't reveal the names because then they would be subject to deportation," Steinberg explained her dilemma.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Senator Hillary Clinton to get roll-call vote at convention

After weeks of maneuvering aimed at producing a display of unity when Democrats gather in Denver later this month, Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign announced on August 14 that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will be formally nominated and her name included in a roll-call vote at the Democratic National Convention.

The move represented the latest, and potentially most important, symbolic gesture by Obama to Clinton supporters, and could blunt the threat of an upheaval on the convention floor. Some Clinton backers have threatened to stage a walkout or leave Denver altogether after she speaks on Aug. 26 to protest what they view as a flawed and sexist party nominating process.

In a joint statement, the two camps said the decision to enter Clinton's name into nomination was mutual, and they countered the idea that she had forced her way back into the spotlight.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Jaydev Desai lead engineer for part of World Trade Center project

His humble demeanor and mild speech belie the important position Jaidev Desai, 65, holds as Lead Mechanical Engineer for part of the project to build the underground garage at the World Trade Center's construction project.

Ahmedabad-born Desai is with Liberty Security Partnership (LSP), a joint venture of STV Inc, DMJim Harris, and Washington Group, which is responsible for the underground garage design for the new construction at what is probably the most memorable site in global consciousness, the Twin Towers.

"The World Trade Center is a very big and complex project and the job has been divided amongst various engineering firms," Desai told Desi Talk.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

‘The Dragon's Gift' at Rubin Museum of Art: a glimpse of reclusive Bhutan

In its regulated lifting of the veil that has draped the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan from the world's view so far, one major step is 'The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan' which is coming to the Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) in New York from September 19, 2008 - January 5, 2009, after its historic opening at the Honolulu Academy of Art early this year.

Organized by the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Department of Culture, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs of the Royal Government of Bhutan, 'The Dragon's Gift' is a history making exhibition of rare religious Buddhist art with a special focus on ancient ritual Buddhist dances that have been preserved intact in Bhutan.

The exhibition will have its only east coast showing at RMA. Apart from its museum showings -- early this year in Honolulu, in New York, and in San Francisco in early 2009 -- there was a public celebration by the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington DC in the summer, over the June 29 and July 4 weekends.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

1,012 alumni at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay's Golden Anniversary in New York

In yet another sign of India's rising prominence globally and the influence its educated immigrants exert in the United States, the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, held its Golden Jubilee Anniversary in the world's financial capital, New York City, at Marriott Marquis Hotel Times Square, July 18 through 20, attracting high-power speakers from the U.S. and India.

Some 1,012 alumni and their family and friends attended the event, ‘Looking Ahead: The Next Fifty Years,' where millions were pledged to keep the high standards of the institution, Pradeep Anand, spokesperson for the convention told Desi Talk.

United States is home to an estimated 50,000 alumni, one third of IIT graduates worldwide, according to estimates from organizers. "In excess of 10,000 are from IIT Bombay, though we don't have an exact count," said Anand who heads the Texas branch of the IIT Bombay alumni.

While immigration and decline of math and science education in America constantly make headlines in the media, IIT alumni have been quietly strengthening the engineering, business and academic backbones of America since the 1960's, organizers say, making IPOs traded on NASDAQ and creating thousands of jobs.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Green Cart applications deadline is June 18

Anyone interested in operating one of New York City's new Green Carts should apply now! All applications must be postmarked no later than June 18 . This year's 500 permits are now up for grabs. Another 500 permits will be available in 2009.

Green Carts are mobile food carts that sell only raw fruits and vegetables – such as whole carrots, bananas, apples and berries – in parts of the City where consumption of fruits and vegetables is lowest. Each Green Cart permit allows a cart to operate in selected areas of one borough only. To operate a Green Cart, a valid mobile food vending license and a Green Cart permit are required. The license covers the operator and the permit covers the cart. The license is the same one needed to operate any mobile food cart, and the vendor must apply for one before applying for a permit. For more information on how to apply for a license, visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cdp/green_carts_flow.pdf.

Priority on the Green Cart waiting lists will be given to applicants already on other Health Department mobile food permit waiting lists, disabled United States veterans, disabled persons, and United States veterans who are not disabled.

To read the full article, click here...
TO read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Reliance Entertainment's Big cinemas to open in United States

R eliance Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (REPL) is poised to start its cinema chain in the United States under the brand name Big next month. More than 200 theaters will screen Hindi as well as regional films from India.

Confirming the schedule, a company official said, "We are still renovating and refitting the cinemas we have acquired in some cities there. A formal announcement about their opening will be made later."

Over the last one year, Reliance Entertainment has leased over 200 cinema halls in 28 North American cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Washington.

Rented for long-term leases, these theaters will bear the company's entertainment brand name Big, and not Adlabs, as REPL's cinemas in India are called.

It is learned that REPL has also bought over an American theater management firm to oversee the operations of its Big cinema chain.

REPL may also distribute films overseas. Since it is already into producing movies in Hindi and other Indian regional languages under the Big Pictures banner, its exhibition outlets abroad will help it firm up its distribution venture.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

South Asians have high profile at meeting with Pope

South Asians took front and center seats in an audience with Pope Benedict the XVI, the evening of April 17, at the special Interreligious Gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington. They were visible in the audience of a few hundred people and leaders of various faiths, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jains, in particular that met the revered head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Representatives of four religions drawing links to India and practiced by millions in the United States got to greet the Pope. Hinduism, which according to the commentator, is practiced by 1.8 million people in the U.S., was represented by Dr. Uma Mysorekar from New York, Director of The Hindu Temple Society of North America. She spoke to the Pope for about 40 seconds when greeting him.

Among the five young religious leaders who shook hands personally with the Pope and presented him religious momentos was Ravi Gupta, 25, Assistant Professor of Religion at Centre College, Kentucky, who offered the symbol 'Om' to the Pope.


To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Astute, indomitable and brilliant - he created legal history in United States

Gopal Raju's casual demeanor, boyish looks and apparent shyness hid a steeliness and chutzpah that emerged whenever a crisis surfaced.

He displayed both qualities during the nerve racking libel suit against India Abroad News Service by Ajitabh Bachchan in connection with the Bofors kickback scandal in 1991 for which I (as the agency's London bureau chief) was responsible - and single-handedly went on to create legal history in the United States.

To realize Raju's astuteness in the landmark judgment for which leading U.S. newspapers and television networks will forever remain grateful to this humble Indian with a razor sharp mind and easy manners, some background is required.

In 1990 at the CBI's request, the Swiss authorities froze six coded accounts into which alleged kickbacks of around $50 million from the import of 410 Bofors howitzers had been deposited.

Following investigation, however, Swiss bankers discovered a sixth "inter-connected" account.

Thereafter, Bo Anderson, a correspondent for Dagens Nyheter, the leading Swedish newspaper credited with several Bofors exposes, relying on CBI and Indian legal sources, declared that the account was Ajitabh Bachchan's, brother of the film icon Amitabh in the January 31, 1990 edition of his journal.

This report was widely quoted by several newspapers and agencies, including the IANS bureau in London which I then represented.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Kalam enthralls Indian Americans with his India 2020 vision

Former president and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam enthralled an Indian American audience with his vision for India in the year 2020 and exhorted the expatriates "to give the knowledge and experience back to the motherland".

Addressing a gathering of about 800 people, including community leaders and students at the Hindu Temple in Flushing, he encouraged everyone to dream big, to achieve with integrity and to ignite the minds of youth of this world.

For NRIs and persons of Indian origin (PIOs), his message was clear: "We should give 100 percent to where we live and work, while we commit to give back our knowledge and experience to our motherland also."

Kalam said that since the end of his presidential term last year, he has interacted with over one million people and youth to formulate his vision for India. Earlier, on March 24, he addressed the students at the 12th Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) held with the theme of "India Imagine".

The forum is designed to serve as a platform for thought-leaders, professionals and policy makers to define their perception of the global Indian and discuss the wave of new imagination that is spurring the nouveau Indian to create unprecedented opportunities.

"This resource of the youth is an important building block for transforming India into a developed nation. If you have an aim in life, realize that spent time cannot be recovered," Kalam said.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Tuberculosis Day, March 24 - Tuberculosis at historic low; foreign-born most at risk

The Health Department announced on March 24, World Tuberculosis Day, that TB reached another all-time low in New York City in 2007. A total of 914 cases were reported in 2007 – a 4 percent decrease from 2006 and a 76 percent decrease from the high levels seen in the early 1990s. Despite this continuing progress, New York City's TB rate is still more than double the national rate (11.4 versus 4.4 cases per 100,000 people).

"We continued to make progress this past year, but many challenges remain – especially among New York City's immigrant communities," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Health Commissioner of New York City. "Tuberculosis can be prevented and cured and all care and treatment in our centers is free and given without any questions about immigration status."

Immigrant New Yorkers accounted for 71 percent of new cases in 2007, with a rate of 24 cases per 100,000 people. The rate among New Yorkers born in the United States was 5.7 per 100,000.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

'Pan Desi' launches TV Network for South Asians

Pan Desi, an English-language television network was officially launched on March 22 on CoLours TV. Targeting South Asians living in the U.S., the network is the first to be available to over 50 million people everyday during prime time. The new network will capture the American Desi experience by targeting key Desi demographics and age groups.

Pan Desi programming will be aired daily during Prime Time at 9 PM (8 Central) on CoLours TV. CoLours TV is a pioneer in multicultural television.

Pan Desi is led by key senior management and advisory board with experience at NBC, CBS and American Express. Pan Desi is also benefited by alliances with the best in class content providers.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com

Manhattan Taxi workers continue campaign to allow cell phones while driving

N eeru Singh, 22, the New York taxi cab driver who was attacked by her passenger on March 18, says she is not scared and will continue to drive a taxi. She is also going to push for legalizing cell phone use so cab drivers in danger can call for help and be saved just like she was.

"On that day, March 18, I was a little bit confused after the incident," she told Desi Talk, "But by next day I was okay. Yup, I am still driving. I was really lucky to have my friends on the phone."

On Tuesday March 18th morning at 9:30am, she was on her way to 27th Street and Broadway when her passenger began hurling racial abuses at her. "She asked where I was from and if I were Muslim or Hindu and then she started yelling at me that we were the cause of all the problems," Singh is quoted saying in a press release.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.desitalk.com