Tale of two chauvinists

Tale of two chauvinists - Mumbai Mirror

"Banerjee issued a statement that got some press, criticising Ontario province’s liberal government for giving small tax credits to companies that hire new immigrants. Banerjee added that the Canadian federal government’s immigration policies had resulted in “poor-qualified newcomers” to arrive in the country.

By “poor-qualified” immigrants the France-born, Canada-raised Banerjee obviously was referring to people who arrive from economically depressed, sometimes war-torn parts of the world, people who do not have doctoral degrees and MBAs, and they end up working as janitors and restaurant workers.

Banerjee claims to speak on behalf of all of Canada’s Hindus and sometimes even the smartest section of that country’s media falls for that lie, which is a shame.

Then last week the Canada-born and a hugely successful stand-up comic Russell Peters made a trip to India to promote his film Speedy Singhs. As has been reported extensively in India, Peters took the opportunity to criticise Bollywood (although he claims not to have seen a single popular Indian film) and many people associated with the industry from Aishwarya Rai to Aamir Khan! Peters has made a career with irreverent humour, but there is a thin line between what is funny and what is irresponsible. And Peters crossed that line many times during his trip to India."

Tradition forces girls into prostitution – The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery

Tradition forces girls into prostitution – The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery - CNN.com Blogs

Actor Anil Kapoor is involved with this project: "Indian film star Anil Kapoor, as a patron of Plan India, said: "A lot of the rehabilitated women are ensuring that the girls from their families don't get thrown into the practice.

"It's a small step, but one in the right direction. Changing the mindset of the people in the village is key.

"Now that the women themselves are taking a stand against prostitution, I am hopeful, optimistic, we can end this tradition.

He took a CNN Freedom Project crew to the village in Bharatpur district where Puja showed us the progress.

Often, young girls are pushed into the sex business by their own fathers and brothers. The men see nothing wrong with it.

They say it is a tradition that has been passed down through generations. It began with the devdasi culture (devdasi means servant of God)..."

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Gay Old age Home in Gujarat

Gay Old Homage | Inauguration | Gujarat | Hanmenteshwar Village | Narmada River Banks

India's first old age home for gays to be built in Gujarat...pretty progressive...

Tribe Desi, vol 241: Flying Rani | Delhi Metro the new lovers' hangout?

Yes, the email version looks much better - please subscribe at TribeDesi.com...thx

vol 241| September 24, 2011| Pure.Spicy.Unfiltered Signup | View on the blog    REFLECTIONS Imagine driving from London to India - and then think of your choice of travel - the ubiquitous Indian auto rickshaw - and the first thought you'll get is sore bottoms - but that is what London based Sanjay Sharma did recently, in his "Flying Rani"....read on for more details... ...and oh, in case you missed it, Paris Hilton is in India to launch a line of hand-bags...and Lady Gaga will headline the celebrations for India's debut into Formula 1 circuit at Arjun Rampal's club Lap in Delhi... ...and just in case you were wondering on a more metaphysical level if you will be reincarnated, you might want to read what The Dalai Lama has recently said... In other news, yet more proof business strategy goes on regardless of (or because of) war - from Libyan oil sharing to metal ores in Afganistan: "A consortium led by state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) could invest up to $6 billion in the mine, railroads and a steel plant in a race with China to lock in raw materials for two of the world's fastest-growing economies. The bid also signals India's intention to remain engaged in Afghanistan long after 2014, when U.S.-led forces complete a pullout. The contract for the Hajigak mines in Bamiyan province is potentially the single biggest foreign investment project in war-ravaged Afghanistan but it could be complicated by Pakistan, which is sandwiched between India and Afghanistan and fears closer cooperation between the two..." So we all read about Anna Hazare and his campaign to end corruption, which got a lot of media exposure in India - but not the same results in every country...here is a story from Pakistan: "Has anyone heard of Pakistan?s very own Anna Hazare? His name is Jahangir Akhtar ? a middle-class trader who went on a hunger strike to protest against corruption and plight of the poor in the country. Unfortunately, Akhtar barely managed to gather seven-10 people around him, at any given time, during the eight days of his hunger strike in September. Eventually, Akhtar was convinced to end his protest after a symbolic visit of a parliamentary group on September 21. Perhaps his team was not good at marketing, as there was no media coverage of this event. In this age of information, it?s the media coverage that makes an event big or small. In the case of India, all the media groups, to pressure the Congress government (which they like far less than any other government), backed Anna Hazare. Also, numerous media stalwarts, who had an axe to grind with the government for being exposed in recent financial scams, got a chance to get even. Jahangir Akhtar was never so fortunate to get such media coverage, despite the fact that he had camped in front of the Islamabad Press Club..." Till next time... The DFW Desi Check out the latest Bridal fashion tips from Silk Threads' Ruby Bhandari on Sony TV SOCIETY Delhi Metro now the hangout place for lovebirds?  Interesting article - after the parks got too many stares, now it is the turn of the Delhi Metro to be the hangout place for lovebirds...so have even found love on the crowded trains - but if you want to reduce the "legwork" and talk to the right person, contact our sponsor Jasbina the Matchmaker at Intersections Match... Only in India: This is a sign someone caught on the Metro...can we get any more macabre? Read the full story SOCIETY Girls get less cardiac care in India?    "If the male child's abnormality is corrected in the early stage he will grow as a normal man and can earn for the family. But for girls, most parents think such corrective surgeries are not important, since they will be married off in their adulthood and become the responsibility of her husband," he said. They fear any surgery will leave scars which will cause 'matrimonial problems' later. "Parents would not mind, if the girl dies due to such disease," he added..." read on... FROM OUR SPONSOR: FEATURED NONPROFIT Cankids (providing care for pediatric cancer)  Check out the Fashion event of the year, The Masquerade, in Dallas Friday Sept 30th, to raise funds for pediatric cancer care in India. Please send any recommended Non-profits, with South Asian involvement, to desi@TribeDesi.com, to be considered for inclusion in this newsletter. Thanks 19,000+ active members. To advertise here, please email desi@TribeDesi.com

Delhi Metro: The New Lovers’ Paradise?

Delhi Metro: The New Lovers’ Paradise? - India Real Time - WSJ

Interesting article - after the parks got too many stares, now it is the turn of the Delhi Metro to be the hangout place for lovebirds...

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Indian girls being denied heart treatment by parents who prefer to spend on boys

Indian girls being denied heart treatment by parents who prefer to spend on boys - Telegraph

Young Indian girls suffering from serious heart disease are being denied medical treatment by parents who prefer to spend money on sons or fear surgery will harm their daughters' marriage prospects, a new study has found.

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Five habits of highly annoying Indians | Firstpost

Five habits of highly annoying Indians | Firstpost

Delhi's Battle Against Bribery

Delhi's Battle Against Bribery - SUBCONTINENTAL - Current Intelligence

When Arjun, a Delhi-based photographer, was attempting to relocate his family overseas earlier this year, he found himself breaking a cardinal rule he had set for himself.

He had never paid a bribe in his life, but now he needed a ‘Letter of Good Conduct’ from the police that would allow him to apply for residency abroad, and it quickly became clear that this would not happen without money changing hands.

“I’ve always refused to pay bribes in the past,” he said. “But every time I went to the police station, they would tell me that it would take a few more days.

“We needed the letter in a hurry. There was no choice. In the end, I handed over 2,500 rupees before they would give me the letter.

“It was crazy – having to pay a bribe to prove you are a person of good conduct!”

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• Indian corruption hits all aspects of life (sfgate.com)
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The Rise and Fall of Fat in India

The Rise and Fall of Fat in India - NYTimes.com

"For a long time in India, fat has meant good. For centuries the ideal Indian woman and child have been Rubenesque, with no visible bone structure. Statues of goddesses are well-rounded. Baby pictures of the god Krishna are cuddly. Even in the 1970’s the actress Sridevi, affectionately known as “Thunder Thighs,” used to say she would force herself to overeat in order to “maintain her figure” — the ample one her fans knew and adored.

Being fat is a sign of having made it, like having a Birkin bag. Being fat means you are rich enough to afford a lot of food and to avoid physical labor. Being fat means you’re well-loved and cared for, and perhaps all this ultimately links fatness to happiness. And conversely, being thin has meant being impoverished — economically, socially, cosmetically.

Now we are in the midst of a historical change in connotation: Being fat no longer means that you are prosperous, but rather that you don’t have the time, money or wherewithal to keep yourself in shape."

More Than Taste: Indian Women Turn Westward to Stock Up Their Wardrobes

www.SilkThreads.com

More Than Taste: Indian Women Turn Westward to Stock Up Their Wardrobes | Knowledge@Wharton Today:

According to Satyajit Majumdar, a professor at the School of Management and Labor Studies of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, this trend in clothing is a subset of larger social phenomena. “Society is now more open to women making choices which were earlier not considered favorably. For instance, girls are now moving to different cities for higher [education] or career opportunities, and taking up independent accommodation if hostel facilities are not available.”

He points to another aspect. “As individuals, [Indians] are now becoming more sensitive to the concept of the ‘self’. This includes various aspects like looks, health, clothing and lifestyle. So all businesses which cater to this notion of the ‘individual’ and the ‘self’ are getting more pronounced in the market.”

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• On the Pulse: Westward for Kate Spade (thepulsemagazine.onsugar.com)
• The Great Indian Women of Today ! :) (hemantkhurana81.wordpress.com)

Ginger curry and copious cups of tea: World's oldest marathon runner, 100, reveals secrets of his success

Ginger curry and copious cups of tea: World's oldest marathon runner, 100, reveals secrets of his success | Mail Online:

'If there's something you can't change then why worry about it? Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running.'


Despite being born on April 1, 1911, Mr Singh insisted his age is no April Fool's joke. He is indeed 100 years old and still as fit as a fiddle.


He said he developed his love for running whilst working as a farmer in the Punjab.

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BBC News - Amitabh Bachchan to make Hollywood debut

BBC News - Amitabh Bachchan to make Hollywood debut:

Bachchan will play Meyer Wolfsheim, a Jewish man described as a gambler in F Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel.

The $126m film directed by Baz Luhrmann has begun shooting in Australia.

The Great Gatsby is the story of 1920s high society in the US, the golden age of excess before the Depression.

Luhrmann said he was "personally thrilled that one of the world's greatest screen legends, Amitabh Bachchan, is joining the cast".

"Over the years, Amitabh's films have made a tremendous impression on my life and work. His film Sholay was my introduction to Indian cinema," Luhrmann told Indo-Asian News Service in an email interview.

Luhrmann has spoken about his love for Bollywood movies in the past, and used a popular Bollywood song in his 2001 musical Moulin Rouge.

Bachchan has acted in more than 180 Indian films over a 40-year period. He remains Indian's most popular actor.

Zoya Akhtar and Farah Khan, Bollywood Directors

Zoya Akhtar and Farah Khan, Bollywood Directors - NYTimes.com:

Ms. Akhtar, 38, is among an emerging breed of female directors altering the contours of Bollywood, the Mumbai-based Hindi film industry. It has largely been a boys club behind the scenes. Though women have made inroads into editing, art direction, writing and production in the last decade, there are no studio-head equivalents of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s co-chairman, Amy Pascal, or DreamWorks’ chief executive, Stacey Snider.

Actresses draw the press’s attention, but actors are the bigger power centers, specifically the three unrelated Khans: Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman, who have been stars for two decades. In the past female filmmakers were largely relegated to art-house films and smaller budgets. But now Ms. Akhtar and a handful of other women have cracked Bollywood’s glass ceiling by succeeding where it counts the most: the box office.

Music Executives And Yoga Studio Owner Team Up For Wanderlust Festival

Music Executives And Yoga Studio Owner Team Up For Wanderlust Festival - Companies & Execs - Portfolio.com:


“People were loving that yoga experience, and we thought, Why couldn’t we do this?” Hoess said.

Turns out they could: The two men and Grant founded the Wanderlust Festival, now in its third year of producing events that combine live music and yoga. The music business has had its share of financial troubles, from piracy to declining concert ticket sales during the economic downturn, but according to Yoga Journal’s most recent study, Americans spend upwards of $5.7 billion a year on yoga, and those numbers only seem to be on the rise.

Al Qaeda affiliate HuJI suspected in Delhi blast | Reuters

Al Qaeda affiliate HuJI suspected in Delhi blast | Reuters

Diwali to be celebrated at Whole Foods in Minneapolis - spoiler alert...

If you are anywhere close to Minneapolis, MN, around Oct 22, 2011, you might want to stop by the local Whole Foods to get a cooking class and try the sample dinner...but if you are Indian, and read the description of what is being offered, not sure if you would be that excited...

"Traditional Festive Indian Cooking Class/Dinner Thandai – Nectar of the Gods made with sweetened milk, almonds and saffron. Onion Bhajias – the classic onion ring made the Indian way – with a chick pea tempura Nut Studded Chicken Korma  – A stunning entrée of creamy chicken in a korma sauce, generously dotted with dried fruits and nuts! Elaichi Pulao – Basmati Rice pilaf delicately scented with the queen of spices – cardamom! Aloo Fry – Spicy stir fry of cubed potatoes – a traditional Indian fare. Shahi Badami Burfi --  Almond fudge, A must have dessert/sweet that is relished and given away in gift boxes during Diwali..."

Someone's creative juices were sure in overdrive...

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New York police manhandle Indian on Broadway

rediff.com US edition: New York police manhandle Indian on Broadway:

"The plan was that Menon, a 46 year-old consultant with J P Morgan, and his wife Surekha Collur, a physician at a Brooklyn hospital, would go out to eat at Mirchi, a new Indian restaurant in Greenwich Village, and then make it in time to catch the show at the Martin Beck Theatre, at 45th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

What Menon did not know was that, based on the suspicion of the Telecharge operator, the telephone service that sold him the tickets, there were four New York City police officers waiting at the theatre to nab him. When the couple arrived on the scene, the officers, fearing that Menon was a terrorist who was about to blow up the theatre, pounced on him, handcuffed him and dragged him into the street outside the theatre, while his seven-months pregnant wife watched in horror..."

The economics of good looks: The line of beauty

The economics of good looks: The line of beauty | The Economist:

"Daniel Hamermesh, an economist at the University of Texas, has long written about “pulchronomics”. In “Beauty Pays” he reckons that, over a lifetime and assuming today’s mean wages, a handsome worker in America might on average make $230,000 more than a very plain one. There is evidence that attractive workers bring in more business, so it often makes sense for firms to hire them. Whether rewarding them accordingly—and paying their less attractive peers more stingily—is good for society is another matter..."

Zoo mystery: How did apes and birds know quake was coming?

Zoo mystery: How did apes and birds know quake was coming? - The Washington Post:

The zoo documented a broad range of animal behavior before, during and after the tremor that began in central Virginia and shook much of the eastern United States. For example, a gorilla, Mandara, shrieked and grabbed her baby, Kibibi, racing to the top of a climbing structure just seconds before the ground began to shake dramatically. Two other apes — an orangutan, Kyle, and a gorilla, Kojo — already had dropped their food and skedaddled to higher turf.

Ahimsa Milk?

Londoners pay for cows' pensions - News & Features, Farming - Independent.ie:

The Hindu Ahimsa Foundation guarantees that no cows, bulls or calves will be slaughtered in the production of its milk.

Launched on the market last week, 50 London families have already ordered Ahimsa milk at a cost of £2.25/litre (€2.59/l), plus delivery.